New Delhi, Aug 28 (PTI) A whopping Rs 53 lakh crore has been transferred to crores of beneficiaries of various government schemes through the Direct Benefit Transfer, mostly to Jan Dhan account holders, in the last 12 years.

The government of India's innovative citizen engagement platform, MyGov India, also said on Friday that nearly 33 crore women hold Jan Dhan accounts, representing 56 per cent of all Jan Dhan account holders.

This wider access to formal banking is helping more women participate in the financial system, strengthening household and community-level financial inclusion.

On Friday, the Pradhan Mantri Jan Dhan Yojana (PMJDY) completed 12 years of its existence.

"Through Direct Benefit Transfer, Rs 53 lakh crore has been transferred to beneficiaries, including Jan Dhan account holders. By enabling money to move directly to beneficiaries, the DBT has helped reduce intermediaries and make welfare delivery more transparent and efficient across India," MyGov India said.

Launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi as one of his very first programmes on August 28, 2014, the PMJDY, which is the world's largest financial inclusion initiative, has witnessed a transformation in India's financial landscape, and the scheme has become a torchbearer for financial inclusion worldwide.

The PMJDY ensures that every unbanked adult has access to a basic bank account -with no minimum balance requirement and no maintenance charges. Each account comes with a free RuPay debit card, offering an accident insurance cover of Rs 2 lakh, encouraging digital transactions and financial security. Account holders are also eligible for an overdraft facility of up to Rs 10,000, providing a safety net during emergencies.

Currently, there are 59 crore Jan Dhan accounts, of which 33 crore account holders are women, representing 56 per cent of all Jan Dhan account holders.

With 46 crore Jan Dhan accounts held across rural and semi-urban India, financial inclusion is reaching communities beyond major cities. These accounts represent 78 per cent of all Jan Dhan accounts, reflecting a banking network reaching deeper across India.

Today, nearly 100 per cent of villages have a banking outlet within 5 km. This expansion has brought essential financial services closer to rural communities, helping reduce geographical barriers and making formal banking more accessible to people across the country.

More than 41 crore RuPay cards have been issued to Jan Dhan account holders so far, helping connect millions with digital payment infrastructure. It marks a shift from simply having an account to participating in India's growing digital economy.

Today, 13.5 lakh-plus 'Bank Mitras' are helping bring banking services closer to people beyond traditional branches. By extending the last-mile reach of banking, 'Bank Mitras' are helping make financial services more accessible and convenient across communities.

"A bank account is more than a number. It is a financial identity. From 14.7 crore Jan Dhan accounts in 2015 to 59 crore in 2026, India has expanded formal banking access at an unprecedented scale, bringing millions into the financial system and enabling greater participation in the formal economy," MyGovt India said. PTI ACB ACB MPL MPL