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The Pradhan Mantri Jan Dhan Yojana (PM-JDY) completed 12 years of operation this month. The Indian government launched the financial inclusion programme in 2014 to provide basic banking services to citizens who did not have bank accounts. 
How PM Jan Dhan Yojana Reached 59 Crore Bank Accounts in 12 Years


According to government data released on August 19, 2026, the programme has opened 59.09 crore bank accounts since its launch. This is a major increase from the 14.72 crore accounts recorded in 2015.

Growth and Demographics

The data shows that the program primarily serves people outside major cities. Rural and semi-urban areas hold 45.95 crore of the accounts, while urban and metropolitan areas account for 13.14 crore.
Women hold a majority of these accounts, with female beneficiaries owning 32.92 crore accounts.
Total deposits in PM-JDY accounts have also grown. Account holders have deposited ₹3,16,514 crore as of August 2026, compared to ₹15,670 crore in March 2015.

Account Features and Eligibility

Any Indian citizen can open a PM-JDY account. The banks do not charge fees for opening the account, and they do not require account holders to maintain a minimum balance. People can also open joint accounts.
To open an account, citizens must visit a bank branch or an authorised bank agent. They must submit an application form, a passport-size photograph, and valid identification documents. Accepted documents include an Aadhaar card, PAN card, voter ID, or standard address proofs like utility bills.

Financial Benefits

The scheme provides several financial tools to account holders:
  • Debit Cards: Banks issue a free RuPay debit card to account holders. As of August 2026, banks have issued 41.29 crore cards.
  • Insurance: The RuPay card includes an accident insurance cover. The National Payments Corporation of India pays the premium for this insurance. Accounts opened after August 2018 receive a ₹2 lakh cover, while older accounts receive a ₹1 lakh cover.
  • Overdraft: After six months of regular account use, one person per household can access an overdraft facility of up to ₹10,000.
  • Interest and Government Transfers: The accounts earn standard savings interest. Users can also link these accounts to receive Direct Benefit Transfers (DBT) and enroll in government pension, insurance, and micro-loan programs.
In 2018, the government updated the program's target. The initial goal was to provide an account to every household. The current goal is to provide a bank account to every unbanked adult in the country. The 12-year data indicates that the PM-JDY continues to integrate more citizens into the formal financial system.