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India's Jan Dhan Scheme: 12 Years of Expanding Banking Access

The Prime Minister's Jan Dhan Scheme started in 2014 to give a basic bank account to every household that did not have one.

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Key Points

6 points
1

Accounts opened: about 590 million (59 crore).

2

Female beneficiaries: about 330 million (33 crore).

3

Total deposits: about 316,514 crore Indian rupees, nearly 20 times the 2015 amount.

4

RuPay cards issued: about 410 million (41 crore).

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No minimum balance required to keep the account open.

6

Small credit (overdraft) up to 10,000 Indian rupees is available to eligible households.

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Summary

By August 2026, about 590 million accounts had been opened, with most of them in rural and semi‑urban areas.

Women account for roughly 330 million of the holders, helping them gain financial independence.

Deposits grew from 15,670 crore Indian rupees in 2015 to 316,514 crore Indian rupees in 2026, showing a huge rise in saving habits.

Each account includes a RuPay debit card, free accident insurance, and the option to borrow up to 10,000 Indian rupees after six months of good account activity.

The scheme also links to other government benefits such as pension plans and direct cash transfers.

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New Words to Learn

9 words
financial inclusion
making sure all people, especially those with low income, can use banking services like saving and borrowing
formal banking
using official banks that follow government rules and regulations
overdraft
a short‑term loan that lets you spend a little more than the money in your account
beneficiary
a person who receives money or benefits from a program
digital payments
paying for goods or services using a phone, computer or card instead of cash
insurance
a service that gives you money if something unexpected like an accident happens
pension
money saved to be used after you stop working
identity verification
checking documents such as a photo ID to prove who you are
RuPay
India's own debit card system that works like a credit‑card for buying things
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