PM Jan Dhan Yojana 2026: ₹10,000 Overdraft, Insurance, Apply

Pradhan Mantri Jan Dhan Yojana (PMJDY) gives any Indian without a bank account a free zero-balance savings account with a RuPay debit card, ₹2 lakh accident insurance and access to an overdraft of up to ₹10,000. As of October 2026 the scheme is active and open for new accounts at every bank branch and Bank Mitra (business correspondent) outlet. It completed 12 years on 28 August 2026 with about 59 crore accounts, according to the Finance Ministry.

Below is what you actually get, the conditions behind the headline numbers, and how to open, use and complain about a Jan Dhan account.

What a Jan Dhan account gives you

A BSBD account also comes with basic free services under RBI rules, including at least four free withdrawals a month (ATM and branch combined). Some banks offer more; check your bank's schedule of charges.

Life cover: a ₹30,000 life cover was offered only to accounts opened in the launch window (15 August 2014 to 31 January 2015) that met the conditions at the time. New account holders should not expect it. For life cover today, enrol in PMJJBY through the same account.

Who can open a Jan Dhan account

• Any Indian resident without a bank account. There is no income limit.
• A minor aged 10 or above can open an account, usually operated with a guardian.
• You can open it at any bank branch or Bank Mitra outlet. Some banks let you start the process online or through their app, but Aadhaar e-KYC or a branch visit completes it.

Documents

• Aadhaar with your mobile number (the simplest route, through e-KYC).
• Or any other officially valid document: voter ID, passport, driving licence, NREGA job card signed by a state official, or a letter from the National Population Register.
• One passport-size photograph.

No documents at all? Under RBI's KYC rules a bank can open a small account on your self-attested photograph and signature or thumb impression. It carries limits: balance at any time up to ₹50,000, total credits up to ₹1 lakh in a year and withdrawals up to ₹10,000 a month. It is valid for 12 months and can be extended for another 12 months if you show that you have applied for an officially valid document.

The ₹10,000 overdraft: the actual rules

The overdraft (OD) is the most searched part of the scheme, and the most misunderstood. It is a small loan, not a grant.

• Limit: up to ₹10,000. Up to ₹2,000 is available without strict conditions; banks decide the higher amount based on how the account has been used.
• Account history: generally after about six months of satisfactory operation, meaning regular deposits, DBT credits or transactions.
• One per household: only one account in a household gets the OD, preferably the woman of the household.
• Age: 18 to 65 years.
• Interest: charged on the amount used, for the days used. The rate is set by the bank; the original scheme terms linked it to a small spread over the bank's benchmark rate. Ask your branch for the rate in writing.
• Credit record: like other bank loans, the overdraft can be reported to credit bureaus. Repaying it on time can start a credit history; not repaying it hurts your score. You can check your CIBIL score free.

Worked example: what the overdraft costs

Assume an illustrative interest rate of 12% a year (your bank's rate may differ).

This is far cheaper than a moneylender or most instant loan apps, which is why the OD is useful for a short emergency. But if the balance stays negative for months, interest keeps building and the bank can stop the facility.

How to open a Jan Dhan account: step by step

1. Go to any bank branch or Bank Mitra near you. Public sector banks, private banks, regional rural banks and India Post Payments Bank all participate.
2. Ask for the PMJDY account opening form (it is available in Hindi, English and regional languages) or ask the staff to open it through Aadhaar e-KYC.
3. Fill in nominee details. This matters for the insurance claim if something happens to you.
4. Submit Aadhaar or another officially valid document and a photograph.
5. Collect your passbook and RuPay card. Activate the card and set a PIN at the ATM or branch.
6. Use the account. Make at least one card transaction every three months (an ATM withdrawal, balance enquiry at a micro-ATM, or a POS or online payment) so the accident cover stays valid.
7. Ask for the overdraft at the branch after the account has a few months of history.

Opening a Jan Dhan account is free. Any person charging a "registration fee" is not part of the scheme.

RuPay card accident insurance: how claims work

The ₹2 lakh accident cover is provided through NPCI's RuPay insurance programme, with an insurer chosen for each year.

• The cardholder must have done at least one successful card transaction (financial or non-financial) at any channel in the 90 days before the accident, including the accident date.
• The nominee should inform the bank and the claim should be intimated within 90 days of the accident. Supporting documents are due within 60 days of intimation.
• Typical documents: claim form, death certificate, FIR and post-mortem report (for accidental death), Aadhaar of the cardholder and nominee, the bank's statement showing the 90-day transaction, and nominee bank details.

The bank branch processes and forwards the claim; the nominee does not have to deal with the insurer directly.

Keep your Jan Dhan account active and KYC updated

Many Jan Dhan accounts opened in 2014-15 crossed ten years, which is when RBI's periodic re-KYC falls due for low-risk customers. The government ran a saturation campaign from 1 July to 30 September 2025 at gram panchayat level for re-KYC and new enrolments. As of mid-2025, about 13 crore of 56 crore accounts were inoperative.

If no customer-initiated transaction happens for two years, the account becomes inoperative and you cannot withdraw until you update KYC. Money is not lost: even if it moves to RBI's Depositor Education and Awareness Fund after ten years, you can claim it back. See how to reactivate a dormant bank account and bank KYC update.

Common reasons people miss Jan Dhan benefits

• No card transaction in 90 days, so the accident claim is rejected.
• No nominee registered, delaying claims for the family.
• Two accounts in one household expecting two overdrafts. Only one gets it.
• Inoperative account due to no transactions or pending re-KYC.
• Paying an agent for "OD approval" or a fake "Jan Dhan payment". The bank decides the OD; no one can buy it for you.

Where to complain

1. Bank branch first. Ask for a written complaint number. Every bank has a grievance redressal officer listed on its website.
2. RBI Integrated Ombudsman. If the bank does not reply within 30 days or you are unhappy with the reply, file free at cms.rbi.org.in or call 14448.
3. CPGRAMS. For scheme-related grievances you can also file at pgportal.gov.in with the Department of Financial Services.
4. Fraud: if someone took money or your OTP in the name of Jan Dhan, report at cybercrime.gov.in or call 1930 immediately. See UPI scams: what to do.

If you already have a regular savings account and want to compare features, read how to choose a savings account.

Key takeaways

• PMJDY is active as of October 2026: a free zero-balance BSBD account with a RuPay card, open at any bank or Bank Mitra.
• The RuPay card carries ₹2 lakh accident cover (₹1 lakh for pre-28 August 2018 accounts), valid only if the card was used in the 90 days before the accident.
• The overdraft goes up to ₹10,000 (₹2,000 without strict conditions), one per household, age 18-65, with interest on the amount used.
• Keep the account active and KYC updated; inoperative accounts block withdrawals and claims.
• Opening is free. Ignore anyone offering paid OD approval or free Jan Dhan cash.