Jan Dhan Accounts Completing 10 Years Undergo Re-KYC: Key Update for Account Holders

Jan Dhan Account Re-KYC: The government of India and public sector banks have initiated a crucial verification drive for Pradhan Mantri Jan Dhan Yojana (PMJDY) accounts that are completing 10 years in 2025.

Account holders must complete the mandatory re-Know Your Customer (re-KYC) process by September 30, 2025, to ensure the continued active status of their accounts and uninterrupted access to banking services.

This nationwide initiative includes doorstep re-KYC camps specifically organized by public sector banks to facilitate easy and convenient compliance, particularly targeting financially underserved and rural populations. This step reinforces the government’s commitment to financial inclusion, digital empowerment, and secure banking.

Background: The Jan Dhan Scheme and Its Impact

Pradhan Mantri Jan Dhan Yojana is a flagship financial inclusion program, launched on August 28, 2014. The scheme has been one of the world’s largest financial inclusion initiatives, successfully opening more than 47 crore bank accounts across India by 2025.

As a decade has passed since the scheme’s launch, many of these accounts are reaching a 10-year milestone, prompting the government and banks to ensure KYC details remain current for legitimate and secure banking.

• প্রধানমন্ত্রী জন ধন যোজনা (Pradhan Mantri Jan Dhan Yojana): Account খোলার পদ্ধতি, সুবিধা এবং শর্তাবলী

What is Jan Dhan Account Re-KYC and why Is It Important?

Know Your Customer (KYC) is a mandatory process regulated by the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) to verify the identity and address of bank customers to prevent fraud, money laundering, and illicit activities.

For Jan Dhan accounts, re-KYC ensures:

1. The account remains active and accessible.
2. The customer’s identity is confirmed to prevent unauthorized use.
3. Compliance with financial regulations and government guidelines.
4. Smooth continuation of government benefits transferred through Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT).

Timeline and Process of Re-KYC for Jan Dhan Accounts

The government, in conjunction with public sector banks and the Department of Financial Services (DFS), has set a deadline of September 30, 2025, for all Jan Dhan accounts completing 10 years to undergo re-KYC.

Jan Dhan Re-KYC Stepwise Process

1. Notification to Account Holders: Banks have started sending SMS, email, and physical communication to customers reminding them about the re-KYC requirement.

2. Doorstep Re-KYC Camps: To enhance accessibility, especially for rural and senior citizens, banks have organized mobile camps where officials visit customers’ homes or community centers.

3. In-Person Re-KYC at Branches: Customers can also visit their respective bank branches to update their KYC information.

4. Digital Re-KYC: Selected banks provide options for video KYC or online submission of updated documents through secure portals.

Role of Public Sector Banks and Financial Institutions

Public sector banks (PSBs) like State Bank of India, Punjab National Bank, Bank of Baroda, Canara Bank, and others play a vital role in the re-KYC drive. These banks operate the majority of Jan Dhan accounts with extensive rural and semi-urban reach.

To ensure high compliance rates, PSBs have:

1. Deployed dedicated teams for door-to-door verification in hard-to-reach areas.
2. Collaborated with local government bodies and NGOs to mobilize account holders.
3. Incorporated biometric authentication using Aadhaar-enabled services.

Benefits of Completing the Re-KYC

For Jan Dhan account holders, completing re-KYC offers several advantages:

• Uninterrupted Access to Banking Services: Avoid account dormancy or deactivation.
• Continued Access to Government Benefits: Subsidies, pensions, and schemes linked to Jan Dhan accounts require active status.
• Security: Reduced risk of fraud, identity theft, and unauthorized account use.
• Future Upgrades: Eligibility for new financial products and credit facilities that demand updated KYC.
• Full Eligibility for Insurance Benefits: Jan Dhan accounts often come with accidental insurance and overdraft facilities which require re-KYC validation.

Challenges and How the Government is Addressing Them

The vast scale of Jan Dhan accounts and diversity of account holders present logistic and awareness challenges for re-KYC compliance, like illiteracy and lack of digital literacy in rural areas complicate understanding and accessibility issues for elderly or disabled customers. Moreover, there are also challenges on reluctance or distrust among marginalized communities towards banking and documentation.

Government and banking institution are handling these challenges very tactically like, extensive awareness campaigns through social media in multiple languages, doorstep re-KYC facilities reducing the need for travel and simplifying re-KYC document requirements in line with RBI norms.

Expert Views on the Re-KYC Drive

Financial inclusion experts recognize the re-KYC initiative as a critical step for strengthening India’s banking ecosystem.

Dr. Suman Rao, a financial inclusion specialist, said, “Re-KYC for Jan Dhan accounts is essential to maintain a clean and secure database. It ensures that benefits reach legitimate beneficiaries and enables the government to monitor and plan welfare policies effectively.”

Bankers highlight that the drive will not only improve service quality but also enable identification of inactive or dormant accounts, helping better utilization of banking resources.

Review from Beneficiaries

Lakshmi Devi, a resident of a village in Uttar Pradesh, shared, “The bank staff came to my home to update my Jan Dhan account. It was very helpful because I cannot travel easily.”

Raju Kumar, a small shop owner, said, “I receive government subsidies directly in my account. I was worried when I heard about re-KYC, but the bank’s help made it easy.”

Conclusion: Jan Dhan Account Re-KYC

The re-KYC exercise for Jan Dhan accounts completing 10 years is a significant milestone protecting the rights and interests of millions of Indians. With concerted efforts from the government, banks, and communities, this process promises to strengthen the foundation of financial inclusion in India.

By ensuring updated and verified customer information, the banking fraternity can better serve the diverse needs of India’s population, empowering them with access to secure, reliable, and comprehensive financial services for years to come.