Pradhan Mantri Jan Dhan Yojana (PMJDY)

Pradhan Mantri Jan Dhan Yojana (PMJDY), the biggest financial inclusion initiative in the world, was announced by the Hon’ble Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi on 15thAugust 2014 from the ramparts of the Red Fort and launched by him on 28th August 2014 across the country. While launching the Yojana, the Prime Minister had described the occasion as a festival to celebrate the liberation of the poor from a vicious cycle.

Prime Minister had referred to the ancient Sanskrit verse: Sukhasya Moolam Dharma, Dharmasya Moolam Artha, Arthasya Moolam Rajyam – which puts the onus on the state to involve people in economic activity. “This Government has accepted this responsibility,” the Prime Minister had said. The Prime Minister had also sent email to an estimated 7.25 lakh bank employees, exhorting them to help reach the target of 7.5 crore bank accounts, and bring freedom from financial untouchability.

PMJDY in Guinness Book of World Records
Guinness Book of World Records- External website that opens in a new window also recognised the achievements made under PMJDY. It gave the certificate stating that the “Most bank accounts opened in one week as part of the Financial Inclusion Campaign is 18,096,130 and was achieved by the Department of Financial Services, Government of India from 23rd to 29th August, 2014.” The Union Finance Minister Shri Arun Jaitley said that the PMJDY is a game changer for the economy as it has provided the platform for Direct Benefits Transfer (DBT) which, in turn, will help in plugging leakages in subsidies and thereby provide savings to the exchequer.

What is Pradhan Mantri Jan-Dhan Yojana?

PMJDY is National Mission for Financial Inclusion to ensure access to financial services, namely, Banking/Savings & Deposit Accounts, Remittance, Credit, Insurance and Pension in an affordable manner.

Where can anyone open an account under this scheme?

Account can be opened in any bank branch or Business Correspondent (Bank Mitr) outlet.

• Download Account Opening Form (Hindi) (English)
• Do You Need Help? You can contact PMJDY Help Centres
• National Toll Free Nos: 1800 11 0001 and 1800 180 1111

What documents are required?

• If Aadhaar Card/Aadhaar Number is available then no other documents is required. If address has changed, then a self certification of current address is sufficient.
• If Aadhaar Card is not available, then any one of the following Officially Valid Documents (OVD) is required: Voter ID Card, Driving License, PAN Card, Passport & NREGA Card. If these documents also contain your address, it can serve both as “Proof of Identity and Address”.
• If a person does not have any of the “officially valid documents” mentioned above, but it is categorized as ‘low risk’ by the banks, then he/she can open a bank account by submitting any one of the following documents:
• Identity Card with applicant’s photograph issued by Central/State Government Departments, Statutory/Regulatory Authorities, Public Sector Undertakings, Scheduled Commercial Banks and Public Financial Institutions;
• Letter issued by a gazette officer, with a duly attested photograph of the person.

What are the direct/special benefits?

Special benefits attached to the scheme are:

• Interest on deposit
• Accidental insurance cover of Rs.1.00 lac
• No minimum balance required. However, for withdrawal of money from any ATM with Rupay Card, some balance is advised to be kept in account.
• Life insurance cover of Rs.30,000/-
• Easy Transfer of money across India.
• Beneficiaries of Government Schemes will get Direct Benefit Transfer in these accounts.
• After satisfactory operation of the account for 6 months, an overdraft facility will be permitted
  Access to Pension, insurance products.
• Accidental Insurance Cover, RuPay Debit Card must be used at least once in 45 days.
• Overdraft facility up to Rs.5000/- is available in only one account per household, preferably lady of the household.