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.

Raksha Bandhan will be celebrated across India on Friday, August 28, 2026, coinciding with Shravana Purnima. The festival, which celebrates the bond between brothers and sisters, will also bring a state-specific holiday for bank branches in several parts of the country. However, August 28 is not a uniform bank holiday across India, with closures varying according to the Reserve Bank of India’s city-wise holiday calendar.

The day is also significant from an astronomical perspective as a partial lunar eclipse is scheduled for August 28. According to NASA’s eclipse data, the partial lunar eclipse will reach its greatest phase at around 4:12 UTC, with the event falling during the August 27–28 eclipse period.

Raksha Bandhan on August 28

Raksha Bandhan is traditionally observed on the full moon day of the Hindu month of Shravana, also known as Shravan Purnima. On the occasion, sisters tie rakhi on their brothers’ wrists and offer prayers for their well-being, while brothers traditionally express their affection and commitment to protect their sisters.

In 2026, the festival falls on August 28. Shravana Purnima begins on August 27 and continues into August 28, making the latter the principal day for Raksha Bandhan observances in many parts of the country.

Bank Holiday Is Not Nationwide

Although Raksha Bandhan is widely observed, bank branches will not be closed across every state and city on August 28. The RBI holiday calendar provides for regional closures based on local festivals and observances.

According to the latest city-wise holiday information, bank branches are scheduled to remain closed in several locations, including Bhopal, Ahmedabad, Dehradun, Jaipur, Jammu, Kanpur, Kochi, Lucknow, Shimla, Srinagar and Thiruvananthapuram. Other reports also list states such as Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan, Uttarakhand, Gujarat and parts of the northeastern region among areas where closures apply.

Customers planning branch visits should therefore check the holiday schedule applicable to their city rather than assuming that all bank branches will be shut. Digital services such as internet banking, mobile banking, UPI and ATMs generally remain available even when physical branches are closed.

Lunar Eclipse Adds Significance

August 28 will also coincide with a partial lunar eclipse. NASA lists the event as the second lunar eclipse of 2026, following the total lunar eclipse in March. The August event has a maximum eclipse magnitude of about 0.93 and reaches its greatest point at approximately 4:12 UTC.

Because eclipse visibility depends on the location of the Moon relative to the horizon, the event should not automatically be treated as visible from every part of India. Astronomical timings should also be distinguished from religious interpretations or local Panchang calculations.

PMJDY Anniversary Connection

August 28 also marks the anniversary of the Pradhan Mantri Jan Dhan Yojana (PMJDY), which was launched by the Government of India on August 28, 2014. The date therefore marks 12 years since the financial-inclusion scheme was launched.

The anniversary connection should not, however, be confused with a newly announced national government programme. There is no indication in the information available for this report of a separate nationwide mega government event specifically scheduled for August 28, 2026.

What People Should Know

For the public, August 28 is primarily important as the date of Raksha Bandhan and Shravana Purnima, while the bank holiday status depends on the location. People who need branch-based banking services should verify their local bank holiday before visiting.

The lunar eclipse is a separate astronomical event and does not by itself mean that all banking or government activities will be suspended. Religious practices surrounding the eclipse, including beliefs concerning Sutak or the timing of rituals, vary according to regional traditions and Panchang calculations.

With Raksha Bandhan, Shravana Purnima and the lunar eclipse occurring around the same date, August 28 is set to be a notable day on India’s religious and cultural calendar, while the PMJDY anniversary adds a separate public-policy milestone to the date.