Pradhan Mantri Jan Dhan Yojana

What is Pradhan Mantri Jan Dhan Yojana (PMJDY)?

The Pradhan Mantri Jan Dhan Yojana (PMJDY) is India’s National Mission on Financial Inclusion. Launched to ensure that every household in India has access to at least one basic bank account, it has become the world’s largest financial inclusion program.

By 2026, the scheme has banked over 57 crore beneficiaries, moving beyond just “opening accounts” to providing a comprehensive suite of financial services—including credit, insurance, and pensions—to the unbanked and underbanked sections of society.

Core Pillars of the Mission:

Universal Access: Banking facilities available in every village through Bank Mitras (Business Correspondents).
Basic Savings Account: Zero-balance accounts with no hidden charges.
Financial Literacy: Programs to help citizens understand digital payments and savings.
Credit & Insurance: Access to overdraft facilities and accidental insurance.
Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT): A seamless platform for receiving government subsidies (like Gas, Ration, or Pension) directly into the account.

Eligibility for Pradhan Mantri Jan Dhan Yojana

The scheme is designed to be highly inclusive. As of 2026, the eligibility criteria are as follows:

1. General Eligibility

Nationality: The applicant must be an Indian National.
Account Status: The individual should not already have a bank account. PMJDY is specifically for the “unbanked.”
Age Limit: * Any individual above the age of 18 years can open an account.
- Minors above the age of 10 years are also eligible to open an account, which can be operated with the support of a guardian.

2. Special Overdraft (OD) Eligibility

While any eligible person can open an account, the Overdraft facility (up to ₹10,000) has specific requirements:

The account must be satisfactorily operated for at least 6 months.
The applicant should be in the age group of 18 to 65 years.
The facility is available to only one member per household (preferably the lady of the house).

Key Benefits at a Glance (2026 Updates)

Feature	Benefit Details
Minimum Balance	Nil (Zero Balance Account).
Interest	Earn interest on the money deposited in the account.
Debit Card	Free RuPay Debit Card provided to all account holders.
Accidental Insurance	Inbuilt cover of ₹2 Lakh (for accounts opened after 2018).
Life Insurance	Life cover of ₹30,000 (subject to eligibility conditions).
Overdraft Limit	Up to ₹10,000 (with no conditions for the first ₹2,000).

Documents Required for Opening Account

Under the “Know Your Customer” (KYC) simplification rules of 2026, opening a PMJDY account is easier than ever:

Primary Document: Aadhaar Card (if the address has changed, a self-declaration is sufficient).
Alternative Documents: Voter ID, Driving License, PAN Card, Passport, or NREGA Job Card.
Small Accounts: If no official documents are available, a “Small Account” can be opened by submitting a self-attested photograph and signature/thumbprint in the presence of a bank official.