The Pradhan Mantri Jan Dhan Yojana (PMJDY) completes 12 years on August 28, 2026, marking a major milestone in India’s financial inclusion drive. Launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on August 28, 2014, the scheme has expanded access to formal banking, digital payments, insurance and other financial services among previously unbanked sections of the population.

According to the latest figures released by the Department of Financial Services, Ministry of Finance, as of August 19, 2026, a total of 59.09 crore PMJDY accounts had been opened across the country. The accounts together held deposits worth ₹3,16,513.80 crore, while 41.29 crore RuPay debit cards had been issued to account holders.

The data also highlights the reach of the scheme among women and people living outside major urban centres. Of the total PMJDY accounts, 32.92 crore, or 55.7 per cent, are held by women. Meanwhile, 45.95 crore accounts, or 77.8 per cent, are located in rural and semi-urban areas. These figures indicate the significant role of the scheme in extending formal banking services beyond metropolitan and urban centres.

PMJDY was launched as the National Mission for Financial Inclusion with the objective of providing affordable access to basic savings accounts, remittances, credit, insurance and pension services. The scheme allows eligible unbanked individuals to open basic savings bank deposit accounts without the requirement of maintaining a minimum balance.

The scheme has also been linked with several social security and financial services. PMJDY accounts can facilitate Direct Benefit Transfer and provide access to schemes including the Pradhan Mantri Jeevan Jyoti Bima Yojana, Pradhan Mantri Suraksha Bima Yojana and Atal Pension Yojana. Eligible account holders can also receive an overdraft facility of up to ₹10,000.

Deposits and account usage rise

The government said the growth in deposits indicates increasing usage of Jan Dhan accounts and greater adoption of saving habits among account holders. The average deposit per PMJDY account stood at ₹5,356 as of August 19, 2026. The latest official data also shows that deposits have increased substantially over the 12-year period, alongside continued growth in the number of accounts.

The expansion has been supported by public-sector banks, regional rural banks, private-sector banks and rural cooperative banks. The official PMJDY progress report records 45.58 crore accounts with public-sector banks, 11.10 crore with regional rural banks, 2.22 crore with private-sector banks and 0.19 crore with rural cooperative banks as of August 19.

JAM architecture strengthens delivery

The government has also highlighted the role of the Jan Dhan-Aadhaar-Mobile (JAM) trinity in strengthening the delivery of welfare benefits. With bank accounts forming the financial-access component, JAM has enabled government benefits and financial assistance to be transferred directly into beneficiaries’ accounts, reducing dependence on intermediaries.

Union Minister of State for Finance Pankaj Chaudhary, marking the 12th anniversary, said the significance of PMJDY should be viewed beyond the number of accounts opened and deposits mobilised, pointing to its role in extending financial services to people at the last mile.

As PMJDY enters its 13th year, the government continues to position the scheme as a key component of India's financial inclusion architecture. Its focus has expanded from opening basic bank accounts to connecting account holders with digital payments, insurance, pension, credit and government benefit transfers.

The latest figures underline the scale of that expansion: nearly 60 crore accounts, more than ₹3.16 lakh crore in deposits, over 41 crore RuPay cards, and a majority of accounts held by women or located in rural and semi-urban areas.

Odisha Tribal Man Carries Sister’s Skeleton to Bank in Desperate Bid for Funds

In a harrowing incident that has drawn attention to procedural hurdles in rural banking, a tribal man from Keonjhar district walked nearly three kilometres carrying the skeletal remains of his deceased sister on his shoulder to an Odisha Gramya Bank branch after staff allegedly insisted on her physical presence to process a withdrawal.

The man, identified as Jitu Munda (also referred to as Jeetu Munda), aged around 50, from Dianali village under Patana block, reached the Mallipasi (or Maliposi) branch on Monday. Eyewitnesses described scenes of panic as he placed the remains on the verandah in apparent protest. Bank employees promptly alerted the police, who reached the spot and calmed the situation.

Repeated Visits Yield No Help

Jitu had been visiting the branch for several days seeking to withdraw approximately ₹20,000 (reports mention ₹19,300 to ₹20,000) from his elder sister Kalara Munda’s account. Kalara, aged 56, had passed away on January 26, 2026. According to officials, Jitu repeatedly informed the staff about her death, yet he was told to bring the account holder in person.

Local police noted that as an illiterate member of the tribal community, Jitu struggled to grasp the formal requirements involving legal heirs, succession certificates, or nominee claims. Sources familiar with the matter said the process was not clearly explained to him, adding to his frustration amid his poor economic condition. The money was reportedly crucial for his livelihood.

Extreme Step Under Scorching Sun

On Monday morning, driven by desperation, Jitu went to the burial site, exhumed his sister’s remains which had been interred about two months earlier, wrapped them in cloth, and carried the skeleton on his shoulder for nearly three kilometres in the blazing heat to the bank. He placed the remains outside the premises, stating later to reporters that he did so to prove she was no longer alive.

The sight caused immediate alarm among customers and staff. Videos and images of the skeleton kept on the bank’s verandah circulated quickly on social media, sparking widespread discussion on ground-level challenges in accessing banking services in remote tribal areas.

Background of the Claim

Kalara Munda’s account had listed her husband and son as nominees, but both had predeceased her, leaving Jitu as the sole surviving family member and claimant. Police Inspector (IIC) Kiran Prasad Sahu and other officials who intervened explained that Jitu did not understand concepts like legal heir documentation.

Local authorities have since stepped in. The administration has directed bank officials to facilitate the withdrawal for Jitu following due procedure, assuring him of necessary assistance. The skeletal remains were respectfully taken back and reburied in the presence of police.

Questions on Banking Awareness in Rural Odisha

This incident has highlighted broader issues of financial literacy and procedural sensitivity in rural and tribal regions of Odisha. Many residents in remote villages like Dianali rely on such small savings for survival, yet complex documentation requirements can prove daunting for those with limited education or access to legal help.

Officials acknowledged that while banks must follow regulatory norms to prevent fraud, greater efforts are needed in customer education, especially for vulnerable sections. Similar past cases in different parts of the country have pointed to gaps in how death claims and succession are handled at the grassroots level.

Jitu’s act, though extreme, appears born out of helplessness rather than any intent to disrupt. Police have not registered any formal case against him so far, focusing instead on resolving the financial matter and providing guidance.

Next Steps and Assurance

As of late Monday, efforts were underway to complete the paperwork so Jitu can access the funds soon. District authorities are also reviewing the bank’s handling of the case to prevent similar situations.

The episode serves as a stark reminder of the distance between policy frameworks and lived realities in India’s hinterlands, where poverty and illiteracy often collide with bureaucratic processes. Local leaders and social workers have called for simplified mechanisms and outreach programmes to improve banking access in tribal-dominated districts like Keonjhar.