September 15, 2026
#Business

PM Modi may announce benefits for 32 crore Jan Dhan account holders on Independence Day

Prime Minister Narendra Modi is expected to announce benefits for about 32 crore Jan Dhan account holders in his Independence Day address this week to provide a boost to the government’s financial inclusion drive, official sources said.

There could be a doubling of overdraft facility to Rs 10,000 under the Pradhan Mantri Jan Dhan Yojana (PMJDY) account holders as part of the government’s effort to fund the unfunded, they said.

Besides, the government may announce attractive micro insurance scheme on the occasion, the sources said. The free accident cover under the RuPay Card holders could be increased from Rs 1 lakh.

The Phase II of PMJDY will come to an end on August 15 and the scheme would be due for a revamp with further goals, the sources said, adding that the Prime Minister’s Independence Day speech would be the best platform to make announcement.

PMJDY, the flagship financial inclusion drive, was launched in August 2014. The first phase ended on August 14, 2015 was focussed on opening basic bank accounts and RuPay debit card.

In addition, the government may raise the pension limit under Atal Pension Yojana (APY), announced in 2015-16, to up to Rs 10,000 per month from the existing slab of up to Rs 5,000.

In order to address the longevity risks among the workers in the unorganised sector, and encourage them to voluntarily save for retirement, the government had started the Swavalamban Scheme in 2010-11.

However, coverage under Swavalamban Scheme is inadequate mainly due to lack of clarity of pension benefits.

PM Modi may announce benefits for 32 crore Jan Dhan account holders on Independence Day

Suresh Prabhu asks officials to hold another