📷 Image: Wikimedia Commons / Ministry of Information and Broadcasting
Sarkari Yojana
One in Four Jan Dhan Accounts Inoperative, 57.2 Million Hold Zero Balance, RTI Shows
✍️ Business Standard
🗓 06 Sep 2026, 02:35 PM
👁 31
An RTI filing reveals that 25% of Jan Dhan accounts are currently inactive and 57.2 million accounts have a zero balance, highlighting gaps in the financial inclusion drive.
A Right‑to‑Information (RTI) request obtained by Business Standard indicates that roughly one in four Pradhan Mantri Jan Dhan Yojana (PMJDY) accounts are presently inoperative. The data also shows that 57.2 million accounts across the country have a zero balance, suggesting limited usage by many beneficiaries.
The findings raise concerns about the effectiveness of the flagship financial inclusion scheme, which aims to provide every household with a basic bank account, a RuPay debit card and access to credit and insurance. While the programme has succeeded in opening over 450 million accounts since its launch in 2014, the new figures point to a substantial proportion of dormant or unused accounts.
Banking officials have previously warned that inactive accounts could be de‑activated after a period of non‑use, but the RTI data suggests that many accounts remain technically active despite having no funds. The Ministry of Finance has not yet responded to queries on steps being taken to reactivate or consolidate these dormant accounts.
Analysts say the numbers underscore the need for stronger financial literacy initiatives and targeted outreach to encourage account activity, especially in rural and low‑income segments where the scheme was most needed.
The RTI disclosure adds to a growing body of evidence that while account opening numbers are impressive, actual utilization remains a challenge for policymakers seeking to deepen financial inclusion in India.
The findings raise concerns about the effectiveness of the flagship financial inclusion scheme, which aims to provide every household with a basic bank account, a RuPay debit card and access to credit and insurance. While the programme has succeeded in opening over 450 million accounts since its launch in 2014, the new figures point to a substantial proportion of dormant or unused accounts.
Banking officials have previously warned that inactive accounts could be de‑activated after a period of non‑use, but the RTI data suggests that many accounts remain technically active despite having no funds. The Ministry of Finance has not yet responded to queries on steps being taken to reactivate or consolidate these dormant accounts.
Analysts say the numbers underscore the need for stronger financial literacy initiatives and targeted outreach to encourage account activity, especially in rural and low‑income segments where the scheme was most needed.
The RTI disclosure adds to a growing body of evidence that while account opening numbers are impressive, actual utilization remains a challenge for policymakers seeking to deepen financial inclusion in India.