<h1>Banks Map 1.59 Lakh Areas Under PMJDY; RBI Eases Rules for Rural Banking Expansion.</h1> Under the Pradhan Mantri Jan-Dhan Yojana (PMJDY), 1.59 lakh Sub-Service Areas (SSAs) have been mapped by banks, each serving 1,000 to 1,500 households. Of these, 0.33 lakh SSAs have bank branches, while 1.26 lakh are covered by interoperable Business Correspondents. The Reserve Bank of India allows domestic Scheduled Commercial Banks to open banking outlets without prior approval, provided 25% are in unbanked rural centers. The expansion of banking outlets is managed by State Level Bankers' Committees in collaboration with state governments and stakeholders, considering RBI guidelines, business plans, and commercial viability.