New Delhi: India has achieved near-universal banking coverage, with 99.92 per cent of inhabited villages 6,00,868 out of 6,01,328 now having access to a banking outlet within a five-kilometre radius, the Government informed the Lok Sabha.
According to data uploaded by banks on the Jan Dhan Darshak (JDD) App, the expansion has been made possible through an extensive banking network comprising over 1.81 lakh bank branches, 17.36 lakh Business Correspondents (BCs) and 1.65 lakh India Post Payments Bank (IPPB) centres as of July 17, 2026.
The Government stated that its objective has been to ensure that every inhabited village has access to a banking outlet whether through a bank branch, Business Correspondent or India Post Payments Bank within a five-kilometre radius, particularly in rural and remote areas.
To further strengthen financial inclusion, the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has permitted commercial banks, small finance banks, payments banks, local area banks and regional rural banks to open branches anywhere in the country without prior approval, subject to the condition that 25 per cent of new branches are opened in unbanked rural areas.
The Government also noted that the rollout of banking outlets in uncovered regions remains a continuous process overseen by the State Level Bankers’ Committees (SLBCs) and Union Territory Level Bankers’ Committees (UTLBCs) in consultation with state governments, banks and other stakeholders.
Highlighting the progress of the Pradhan Mantri Jan Dhan Yojana (PMJDY), the Ministry said that 58.77 crore Jan Dhan accounts had been opened across the country as of July 17, 2026, with total deposits amounting to Rs 3,12,414 crore.
The Government also outlined several digital initiatives aimed at ensuring transparency and timely disbursal of agricultural credit. These include the Jan Samarth Portal, which serves as a one-stop digital platform for government-sponsored loans and subsidy schemes, enabling faster loan applications and digital evaluation.
Other initiatives include NABARD’s e-KYC application, the KRISHIKA platform developed by the Department of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare, and digital applications developed by banks to facilitate beneficiary identification, loan processing and monitoring.
The Ministry further highlighted the Kisan Rin Portal (KRP), launched in September 2023, which enables Aadhaar-based beneficiary verification and accelerates digital claim settlements under the Modified Interest Subvention Scheme (MISS) for loans availed through the Kisan Credit Card (KCC) scheme.
Addressing concerns over cyber fraud in digital payments, the Government said it, along with the RBI, has undertaken several initiatives to strengthen cybersecurity and safeguard financial transactions.
Among these is the establishment of the India Digital Payment Intelligence Corporation (IDPIC), which uses Artificial Intelligence (AI), Machine Learning and Big Data Analytics to share real-time fraud intelligence and alerts with banks and financial institutions.
The RBI has also issued Master Directions on Digital Payment Security Controls, prescribing minimum security standards for internet banking, mobile banking and card payments. Additionally, it has introduced an AI-based tool named ‘MuleHunter’ to help banks identify and curb the use of money mule accounts.
The Ministry also noted that the Indian Cyber Crime Coordination Centre (I4C) under the Ministry of Home Affairs is actively monitoring digital lending applications. Citizens can report cyber financial frauds and illegal loan applications through the National Cybercrime Reporting Portal and the 1930 cybercrime helpline.
The RBI and banks continue to conduct awareness campaigns through SMS alerts, radio broadcasts and electronic banking awareness and training (e-BAAT) programmes to educate customers on cyber fraud prevention and risk mitigation.
