PM Jan Dhan Yojana (PMJDY) 2026
⚠️ DPDP Rules, 2025 (14 Nov 2025) amended Section 8(1)(j) of the RTI Act — public-interest override now under Section 8(2). Read the note →
Direct answer. Pradhan Mantri Jan Dhan Yojana is India's financial-inclusion scheme — every Indian (10+) with Aadhaar can open a zero-balance bank account at any branch, any day, in 30 minutes. Comes with a free RuPay debit card, ₹2 lakh accident cover, overdraft eligibility up to ₹10,000, and direct DBT enrolment. 53+ crore accounts opened (largest in the world). ₹0 application cost.
Quick Answer
Walk into any PSU bank, private bank, or RRB with Aadhaar.
30-minute account opening, zero minimum balance.
Free RuPay Debit Card — physical card delivered in 7–10 days.
₹2 lakh accident cover (PMJDY-RuPay).
₹10,000 overdraft eligibility after 6 months of regular operation.
Direct DBT credit for all eligible schemes.
Helpline: 1800-11-0001 (toll-free, 24×7).
What is this scheme
PMJDY launched on 28 August 2014 under Department of Financial Services. Goals: every Indian household with at least one bank account, financial literacy, credit access, insurance, pension. Phase 2.0 (since 2018) added overdraft expansion and more insurance benefits.
Key benefits
Zero-balance — no minimum balance, no penalty.
RuPay Debit Card — free, accepted everywhere ATMs work.
₹2 lakh accident insurance — automatic with RuPay card use within 90 days.
₹10,000 overdraft — short-term emergency credit (after 6 months regular use).
PMJJBY ₹2 lakh life cover — opt-in at ₹436/year.
PMSBY ₹2 lakh accident cover — opt-in at ₹20/year.
DBT-ready — auto-routes scheme money (LPG subsidy, MGNREGA wages, scholarships, PMAY).
Mobile banking, internet banking, UPI — all enabled.
Who is eligible
| Criterion | Detail |
| Age | 10+ years (10–18 = minor account with guardian) |
| Citizenship | Indian resident |
| Existing accounts | OK to have other accounts; PMJDY can be additional |
| Aadhaar | Required (or Aadhaar enrolment number with proof) |
| Address | Any Indian address (formal or self-declaration) |
| Income | No bar — open to all |
Documents required
Aadhaar card (mandatory, mobile-linked preferred)
OR PAN card + 1 OVD (Officially Valid Document — Voter ID, DL, Passport)
Photograph — passport-size
Address proof (Aadhaar address used by default)
If you have no documents at all: open a “Small Account” with self-declaration + photograph. Limit ₹50k/year credit, ₹10k/month withdrawal — convertible to full account once you produce ID.
Step-by-step application
Visit any PSU/private/RRB bank branch.
Ask for “Jan Dhan Yojana” form OR fill regular savings form selecting “Basic Savings Bank Deposit Account (BSBDA)”.
Submit Aadhaar + photo. Officer scans → eKYC.
Account number issued same day, passbook in 5–7 days.
RuPay Debit Card delivered to address in 7–10 days. PIN sent separately.
Aadhaar–bank seeding mandatory for DBT — ask officer to do at the same visit.
Activate UPI: download bank's app or BHIM, link account.
Common mistakes
Not asking for Jan Dhan specifically — branches sometimes default to regular savings (which has minimum balance). Insist on PMJDY/BSBDA.
No Aadhaar–bank seeding — DBT silent failure.
RuPay card unused 90+ days — loses accident cover. Use at least once per quarter.
Multiple Jan Dhan accounts — only one allowed per person. Earlier accounts deactivated.
Overdraft application before 6 months — banks reject. Wait the full window + use account regularly.
Latest updates (2026)
PMJDY 2.0 continues — overdraft limit being raised to ₹15,000 in select states.
Account dormancy — banks now require annual KYC re-confirmation via Aadhaar OTP (free, online).
Cross-border UPI — Jan Dhan accounts now usable in UAE, Singapore, France via UPI International.
Jan Suraksha + Jan Dhan integration — PMSBY + PMJJBY auto-offered at account opening.
FAQ
Can I close my Jan Dhan account?
Yes — visit branch with passbook + ID, fill closure form. No fee. Outstanding balance refunded.
Is Jan Dhan account taxable?
Same tax rules as any savings account — interest above ₹10,000/year is taxable. Most Jan Dhan accounts have low balance and don't trigger.
Why is my overdraft application denied?
Common reasons: less than 6 months operation, irregular transactions, not Aadhaar-seeded, existing loan default. File RTI to bank for grounds + reapply.
Does Jan Dhan get me Ayushman Bharat?
Not automatically. Ayushman Bharat eligibility is based on SECC 2011 + Awas+ (rural) and 70+ age (universal). Check at beneficiary.nha.gov.in.
Can I deposit cash at any branch (not just home branch)?
Yes — most PSU banks allow cash deposit at any branch. Some impose ₹0–50 fee at non-home branches above ₹50k cumulative monthly.
You may also be eligible for
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PM Mudra — small business loan up to ₹20 lakh
e-Shram — universal worker registration
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Sources
{REVIEWED}
Last reviewed: 3 May 2026.
Visual / Infographic prompts
SVG icon prompts (use any AI image gen)
Minimal flat icon of an Indian RuPay debit card with chip + Indian flag stripe.
Clean line-art icon of a piggy bank with rupee symbol, zero-balance label.
Simple shield icon enclosing '₹2 lakh' with a heartbeat line through it.
Feature image prompt
Realistic warm-toned photo: an Indian woman in a saree holding a Jan Dhan passbook + RuPay card outside a PSU bank branch in a tier-2 city, soft golden hour light, natural smile.