Pradhan Mantri Jan Dhan Yojana

A National Mission for Financial Inclusion (NMFI), namely, Pradhan Mantri Jan Dhan Yojana (PMJDY) was launched across the Country in August, 2014 by the Prime Minister with the idea to ensure that citizens envisage their financial activities. PMJDY provides universal banking services for every unbanked household, based on the guiding principles of banking the unbanked, securing the unsecured, funding the unfunded and serving unserved and underserved areas. In order to give impetus to financial inclusion initiatives of the Government, PMJDY scheme was extended beyond 14.08.2018 with the focus on opening of accounts shifting from “every household” to “every unbanked adult”. The scheme has been made more attractive with upward revision in OD limit from Rs. 5,000/- to Rs. 10,000/- and Accidental insurance cover on RuPay card holders from Rs.1 lakh to Rs.2 lakhs. PMJDY has been successful in increasing banking penetration and promoting financial inclusion across the country. The scheme has ensured access to various financial services like availability of basic savings bank account, access to need based credit, remittances facility, insurance and pension to the excluded sections i.e. weaker sections & low-income groups.

Updated:Feb 2026

Key Benefits & Advantages

PMJDY offers comprehensive banking services to promote financial inclusion:

  • Basic Savings Bank Deposit Account (BSBDA) with zero balance requirement
  • Small Account/Chota Khata for those without documents
  • Free RuPay Debit Card with ₹2 lakh accident insurance coverage
  • Overdraft facility up to ₹10,000 after 6 months of satisfactory conduct
  • Access to banking services through Business Correspondents (BCs)/Bank Mitras
  • Mobile banking and digital payment facilities
  • No account opening or maintenance charges
  • Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) facility for government subsidies

Eligibility Criteria

PMJDY eligibility criteria for opening bank accounts:

Must be an Indian National
No age restrictions for adults
Minors above 10 years can open accounts with guardian support
No minimum income requirement
Available for both individuals and joint accounts
One PMJDY account per person allowed
Can be opened even without traditional documents (Small Account option)

Step-by-Step Application Process

Online Application Method

  1. 1 Visit participating bank's official website or mobile app
  2. 2 Select PMJDY account opening option
  3. 3 Fill online application form with personal details
  4. 4 Upload required documents (Aadhaar, photo, address proof)
  5. 5 Complete eKYC verification process
  6. 6 Submit application and receive acknowledgment
  7. 7 Visit nearest branch for account activation and card collection

Offline / In-Person Method

  1. 1 Download account opening form from PMJDY portal
  2. 2 Fill form with personal and bank details
  3. 3 Attach required documents and passport-size photograph
  4. 4 Visit nearest participating bank branch
  5. 5 Submit completed form with documents
  6. 6 Complete KYC verification with bank official
  7. 7 Receive account number and RuPay debit card

Required Documents Checklist

Essential documents for PMJDY account opening:

Aadhaar card (primary identity and address proof)
Government ID proofs (Voter Card/PAN Card/Ration Card)
Address proof (Passport/Driving License/Utility Bills)
Passport-size photographs (2-3 copies)
Filled and signed PMJDY account opening form
Mobile number for SMS banking services
Nominee details and documents (optional but recommended)

Official Statutory References & Sources

Frequently Asked Questions

Direct Application Portals

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