DFS's Financial Inclusion Campaign Launched Across All Gram Panchayats

The Financial Inclusion Saturation Campaign will be conducted over a period of three months, from July 1 to September 30, 2025, covering the entire country at the grassroots level.

In a major stride towards achieving universal financial empowerment, the Department of Financial Services (DFS) under the Ministry of Finance has launched a nationwide Financial Inclusion (FI) Saturation Campaign, starting July 1, 2025. The campaign aims to ensure that every adult in the country has access to basic banking and insurance services, along with essential financial awareness, by targeting all 2.70 lakh Gram Panchayats (GPs) and Urban Local Bodies (ULBs).

The campaign, launched simultaneously at 33 key locations across India, was attended by a diverse set of stakeholders, including public representatives, State Government officials, banking partners, SLBC Conveners, and beneficiaries. In Gujarat, the event was virtually inaugurated by the Chief Minister, highlighting the importance the states have accorded to this effort.

---

Campaign Duration and Scope

The Financial Inclusion Saturation Campaign will be conducted over a period of three months, from July 1 to September 30, 2025, covering the entire country at the grassroots level. The campaign's key objective is to bridge the last-mile gap in financial inclusion by providing a comprehensive bouquet of services and updates through local outreach camps.

---

Key Activities Under the Campaign

Each GP and ULB will host dedicated outreach programs offering the following services:

1. Re-KYC of Bank Account Holders

• Update Know Your Customer (KYC) details where due, to prevent account freeze and promote secure banking.

2. Account Opening for Unbanked Adults

• Facilitate opening of Jan Dhan accounts under the Pradhan Mantri Jan Dhan Yojana (PMJDY) to ensure that every adult has a functional bank account.

3. Enrolment in Government Insurance and Pension Schemes

• Pradhan Mantri Jeevan Jyoti Bima Yojana (PMJJBY) – Life insurance of ₹2 lakh at a nominal annual premium.

• Pradhan Mantri Suraksha Bima Yojana (PMSBY) – Accidental insurance of ₹2 lakh.

• Atal Pension Yojana (APY) – Defined pension benefits for unorganized sector workers.

4. Digital Literacy & Fraud Awareness

• Special sessions on digital fraud prevention, safe online transactions, and steps to avoid phishing and cyber scams.

5. Access to Unclaimed Deposits & Grievance Redressal

• Guide citizens on reclaiming dormant or unclaimed bank deposits and assist with filing complaints through formal grievance mechanisms.

6. Nomination Updates in Bank Accounts

• Facilitate the addition or update of nominations, an often-neglected but critical feature to ensure smooth asset transfer in emergencies.

---

Day 1 Response: A Strong Beginning

On the first day of the campaign, 2,087 Gram Panchayats hosted outreach camps across the nation. Reports from the field, including locations such as Delhi and Bargarh (Odisha), indicated a positive and enthusiastic turnout from citizens, particularly beneficiaries of central schemes and rural residents previously unbanked or uninsured.

Banking correspondents and financial literacy counselors conducted on-the-spot enrollments, answered queries, and provided demonstrations of digital banking apps and UPI-based payments.

---

Policy Significance and Vision

The campaign is a key step in fulfilling the vision of financial inclusion for all, as envisioned under PM Narendra Modi's "Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas" agenda. It complements flagship reforms such as:

• Digital India

• Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT)

• Jan Dhan-Aadhaar-Mobile (JAM) Trinity

• PM Garib Kalyan Yojana

This initiative seeks not only to improve financial access but also to promote financial resilience and literacy, empowering citizens to save, invest, insure, and plan for the future.

---

Future Outlook and Expectations

The campaign is expected to:

• Onboard millions of citizens into the formal financial system.

• Strengthen the social security net through wide coverage of insurance and pension schemes.

• Help in targeted subsidy transfers and ensure that no beneficiary is left behind.

• Educate citizens on secure financial behavior, thereby reducing instances of digital fraud.

Monitoring mechanisms, coordinated by DFS and local authorities, will track daily progress, and states will be graded on coverage efficiency, enrolments, and issue resolution.

A Grassroots Revolution in Financial Access

The nationwide Financial Inclusion Saturation Campaign is not just an administrative exercise—it is a people's movement toward financial dignity, empowerment, and security. With banks, governments, and communities working in unison, the campaign represents another landmark in India's journey toward becoming a digitally empowered and financially inclusive nation.