Home India Ministry of Finance Government Strengthens Financial Inclusion Ecosystem Through...
Date: 2026-03-16 Category: Press Release State: Union Government Country: India

Government Strengthens Financial Inclusion Ecosystem Through Flagship Schemes

Issued by Ministry of Finance · Not Applicable

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Executive Summary & Key Takeaways

**Executive Summary** This report details the progress of the National Mission for Financial Inclusion (NMFI) and its flagship schemes as of February 2026. It highlights the expansion of banking, insurance, pension, and credit services to unbanked and under-served segments, including women and rural populations. Key milestones include the opening of 57.78 crore Jan-Dhan accounts and the disbursement of significant collateral-free credit through the Mudra and Stand-Up India schemes. **Key Points / Main Content** **Banking and Universal Access (PMJDY)** * A total of 57.78 crore Jan-Dhan accounts have been opened with a deposit balance of ₹2,94,702 crores as of February 25, 2026. * Women hold 55.8% (32.21 crore) of these accounts. * Rural and semi-urban areas account for 78.2% (45.17 crore) of the total accounts opened. **Insurance and Pension Security** * **PMJJBY:** 26.88 crore cumulative enrolments provide a life insurance cover of ₹2 lakh for death due to any reason. * **PMSBY:** 57.11 crore cumulative enrolments provide accidental death or total disability cover of ₹2 lakh, and partial disability cover of ₹1 lakh. * **APY:** 8.84 crore cumulative enrolments recorded to provide monthly pensions to eligible subscribers. **Credit Facilitation and Entrepreneurship** * **PMMY:** Sanctioned 57.26 crore collateral-free loans totaling ₹39.48 lakh crore for micro/small businesses (up to ₹20 lakh) in manufacturing, trading, services, and agriculture-allied sectors. * **SUPI:** Sanctioned 2.75 lakh loans totaling ₹62,790 crores to Scheduled Caste, Scheduled Tribe, and Women entrepreneurs for greenfield projects as of March 31, 2025. **Digital Infrastructure** * The "JAM" (Jan-Dhan, Aadhaar, Mobile) pipeline has been established to link accounts with biometric ID and mobile numbers. * This platform is used by various Ministries for Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) and the delivery of welfare benefits. **Impact Analysis** **Beneficiaries (Unbanked, Women, and Rural Households)** **Impact** They have gained access to formal banking, insurance, and pension security, significantly enhancing their financial stability and inclusion in the formal economy. **Action Required** Eligible individuals should maintain active Jan-Dhan accounts and ensure enrolments in insurance and pension schemes are up to date. **Entrepreneurs (Micro/Small Units, SC/ST, and Women)** **Impact** Access to collateral-free institutional finance and specific credit for greenfield projects has been provided to support income-generating activities. **Action Required** Entrepreneurs must apply through the PMMY or Stand-Up India portals to access sanctioned credit for manufacturing, trading, or service sector projects. **Government Ministries and Departments** **Impact** The creation of the JAM pipeline provides a robust infrastructure for the efficient and transparent delivery of welfare schemes. **Action Required** Ministries must continue to leverage the JAM pipeline to facilitate Direct Benefit Transfers (DBT) for various welfare programmes.

Key Entities Referenced

National Mission for Financial Inclusion (NMFI): The overarching government framework designed to provide universal access to banking, credit, and insurance services for society's upliftment. Pradhan Mantri Jan Dhan Yojana (PMJDY): The primary flagship scheme under NMFI focused on universal banking for unbanked households and securing the unsecured through Jan-Dhan accounts. Pradhan Mantri Mudra Yojana (PMMY): A financial scheme providing collateral-free institutional finance to micro and small business units for income-generating activities. JAM (Jandhan Aadhaar Mobile) pipeline: A robust financial inclusion platform linking bank accounts, Aadhaar, and mobile numbers to facilitate Direct Benefit Transfers (DBT) and welfare delivery. Ministry of Finance: The central government ministry responsible for implementing and overseeing the flagship schemes and the National Mission for Financial Inclusion.
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Ministry of Finance Government Strengthens Financial Inclusion Ecosystem Through Flagship Schemes Insurance, pension and credit schemes strengthen financial inclusion and enhance financial security for beneficiaries across the country 57.78 crore Jan-Dhan accounts opened under PMJDY with deposits of ₹2.94 lakh crore as on 25 February 2026; 56% of accounts held by women Posted On: 16 MAR 2026 4:30PM by PIB Delhi With the aim of upliftment of the various segments of the society by providing access to banking, credit and insurance, the Government initiated the National Mission for Financial Inclusion (NMFI), namely, Pradhan Mantri Jan Dhan Yojana (PMJDY) in August, 2014 to provide universal banking services for every unbanked household based on the guiding principles of banking the unbanked, securing the unsecured and funding the unfunded. However, no poverty alleviation programme is currently being implemented directly by Ministry of Finance. The coverage of beneficiaries through various schemes under NMFI are briefed as under: i. Under PMJDY, a total of 57.78 crore Jan-Dhan accounts with a deposit balance of Rs. 2,94,702 crores have been opened as on 25.02.2026 under PMJDY. Out of these, 32.21 crore (55.8%) Jan- Dhan accounts belong to women and about 45.17 crore (78.2 %) PMJDY accounts have been opened in rural and semi-urban areas; ii. Under Pradhan Mantri Jeevan Jyoti Bima Yojana (PMJJBY), 26.88 crore cumulative enrolments (as on 25.02.2026) have been done to provide life insurance cover of Rs. 2 lakh for death due to any reason; iii. Under Pradhan Mantri Suraksha Bima Yojana (PMSBY), 57.11 crore cumulative enrolments (as on 25.02.2026) have been done to provide one-year accidental cover of Rs. 2 lakh (death or permanent total disability) and Rs. 1 lakh (permanent partial disability) respectively; iv. Under Atal Pension Yojana (APY), 8.84 crore cumulative enrolments (as on 25.02.2026) have been done to provide monthly pension to eligible subscribers; v. Under Pradhan Mantri Mudra Yojana (PMMY), 57.26 crore loans amounting to Rs. 39.48 lakh crore have been sanctioned to provide collateral-free institutional finance to micro/small business units up to Rs.20 lakh for income generating activities in manufacturing, trading, services sectors including activities allied to agriculture (as on 27.02.2026); vi. Under Stand-Up India Scheme (SUPI), 2.75 lakh cumulative loans amounting to Rs. 62,790 crores have been sanctioned to Scheduled Caste / Schedule Tribe and Women entrepreneurs for setting upgreenfield projects in the sectors such as manufacturing, trading, services and activities allied to agriculture (as on 31.03.2025). A robust financial inclusion platform, namely JAM- a Jandhan Aadhaar Mobile pipeline for linking of Jan- Dhan account with mobile number and Aadhaar has been created which is being extensively leveraged by various Ministries and Departments for the delivery of various welfare benefits like Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) etc. This information was given by Union Minister of Finance Smt Nirmala Sitharaman in Lok Sabha today. ***** NB/AD (Release ID: 2240720) Visitor Counter : 336 Read this release in: Urdu , ही

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