The government has pushed forward on financial inclusion through a set of flagship schemes covering banking, insurance, pensions and institutional credit. The Pradhan Mantri Jan Dhan Yojana (PMJDY), launched under the National Mission for Financial Inclusion, set out to bank the unbanked, secure the unsecured and fund the unfunded universal banking access built on that principle. Paired with insurance, pension and credit programs, the schemes have broadened who can access financial services and what social security looks like for them.
As of 25 February 2026, 57.78 crore Jan Dhan accounts have been opened, holding ₹2.94 lakh crore in deposits. Women hold 32.21 crore of those accounts 55.8% of the total and 45.17 crore accounts, or 78.2%, were opened in rural and semi-urban areas.
Banking access, social security and credit, by the numbers
On the insurance side, the Pradhan Mantri Jeevan Jyoti Bima Yojana has logged 26.88 crore cumulative enrolments as of the same date, covering ₹2 lakh in the event of death from any cause. The Pradhan Mantri Suraksha Bima Yojana has 57.11 crore cumulative enrolments, paying out ₹2 lakh for accidental death or permanent total disability and ₹1 lakh for permanent partial disability. The Atal Pension Yojana has reached 8.84 crore enrolments, guaranteeing subscribers a monthly pension after retirement.
Credit access has grown too. Under the Pradhan Mantri Mudra Yojana, 57.26 crore collateral-free loans totaling ₹39.48 lakh crore had been sanctioned as of 27 February 2026, going to micro and small businesses in manufacturing, trading, services and allied agriculture. The Stand-Up India Scheme had sanctioned 2.75 lakh loans worth ₹62,790 crore as of 31 March 2025, aimed at Scheduled Caste, Scheduled Tribe and women entrepreneurs setting up new ventures in similar sectors.
Underpinning all of this is the JAM, a pipeline where Jan Dhan, Aadhaar and mobile numbers are linked together which lets welfare benefits move through the Direct Benefit Transfer system.
Key takeaway: These schemes have extended banking, insurance, pension and credit access while building out the JAM system for digital welfare delivery, strengthening financial security and entrepreneurship across the country.
MCQ Questions:
Question 1:
What does the acronym JAM stand for in India’s financial inclusion architecture?
A. Jan Dhan, Aadhaar and Mobile
B. Jan Dhan, Account and Mobile
C. Jan Suraksha, Aadhaar and Mobile
D. Jan Dhan, Aadhaar and Microfinance
Question 2:
Under the Pradhan Mantri Jeevan Jyoti Bima Yojana (PMJJBY), the insurance coverage provided in case of death is:
A. ₹50,000
B. ₹1 lakh
C. ₹2 lakh
D. ₹5 lakh