30 crore families got Jan Dhan accounts in 3 years: Jaitley

Finance minister Arun Jaitley said the number of zero-balance accounts has reduced from 77% to 20% and even these would become operational once the direct benefit transfer is expanded.

As many as 30 crore families have got bank accounts since the launch of India’s biggest ever bank account opening drive, Jan Dhan Yojana, three years ago, finance minister Arun Jaitley said on Wednesday.

Finance minister Arun Jaitley said biometric identification number Aadhaar was an evolving idea under the previous UPA regime and it did not have legislative backing. (HT File Photo)

About 42% of households were unbanked before the Jan Dhan Yojana, which aims to give every household access to banking facilities by offering them zero-balance accounts across all commercial banks.

Speaking at a conclave on Financial Inclusion, he said the number of zero-balance accounts has reduced from 77% to 20% and even these would become operational once the direct benefit transfer is expanded.

In September 2014, three months after the scheme was launched, 76.81% accounts had zero balance. The number of zero-balance accounts has now come down to 20% of the total, he said.

Nearly 99% of households now have at least one bank account due to Jan Dhan Yojana.

Jaitley said biometric identification number Aadhaar was an evolving idea under the previous UPA regime and it did not have legislative backing.

The Aadhaar legislation, passed during the BJP rule, will stand test of constitutionality of using the unique identification number for giving government benefits, he said.