Financial Inclusion Milestones under the National Mission for Financial Inclusion The Ministry of Finance, through Union Minister Smt Nirmala Sitharaman , briefed Parliament on the scale and impact of flagship schemes aimed at banking the unbanked, securing the unsecured and funding the unfunded. The data reflects cumulative achievements up to February‑March 2026, underscoring the government’s push for inclusive growth. Key Developments (as of 25 Feb 2026) Pradhan Mantri Jan Dhan Yojana ( PMJDY ) : 57.78 crore accounts opened with total deposits of ₹2.94 lakh crore. Women hold 55.8% (32.21 crore) of these accounts; 78.2% are in rural‑semi‑urban areas. Pradhan Mantri Jeevan Jyoti Bima Yojana ( PMJJBY ) : 26.88 crore enrolments providing Rs 2 lakh life cover. Pradhan Mantri Suraksha Bima Yojana ( PMSBY ) : 57.11 crore enrolments. Atal Pension Yojana ( APY ) : 8.84 crore beneficiaries. Pradhan Mantri Mudra Yojana ( PMMY ) : 57.26 crore loans worth ₹39.48 lakh crore sanctioned. Stand‑Up India Scheme ( SUPI ) : 2.75 lakh loans totalling ₹62,790 crore approved (as of 31 Mar 2025). Important Facts & Figures Total Jan Dhan deposits: ₹2,94,702 crore . Rural‑semi‑urban penetration: 78.2% of PMJDY accounts. Women’s participation: 55.8% of Jan Dhan accounts. Collateral‑free credit under PMMY: ₹39.48 lakh crore to micro‑enterprises. Insurance coverage under PMJJBY & PMSBY reaches over 84 crore individuals. UPSC Relevance These schemes illustrate the government's strategy to achieve NMFI objectives. Understanding the scale, gender‑wise distribution, and rural outreach is crucial for GS‑3 questions on financial inclusion, poverty alleviation, and welfare delivery mechanisms. The integration of JAM platform showcases the role of technology in governance, a recurring theme in ethics and governance (GS‑4) and digital economy (GS‑3). Way Forward While the numbers are impressive, the Ministry must focus on: Improving account utilisation – converting dormant balances into productive credit. Strengthening insurance claim settlement mechanisms to enhance beneficiary confidence. Expanding pension coverage under APY to reach more informal workers. Leveraging JAM for real‑time monitoring of benefit delivery and fraud prevention. Continued monitoring and periodic audits will ensure that financial inclusion translates into genuine economic empowerment, a key metric for assessing the success of India’s inclusive growth agenda.