New Delhi, Aug. 4: India has reached a major milestone in financial inclusion, with 99.92 per cent of the country’s inhabited villages now having access to a banking outlet within a five-kilometre radius, the Centre informed Parliament on Monday.
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In a written reply in the Lok Sabha, Minister of State for Finance Pankaj Chaudhary said 6,00,868 of India’s 6,01,328 inhabited villages are currently served through bank branches, Business Correspondents (BCs) or India Post Payments Bank (IPPB) outlets, based on data available on the Jan Dhan Darshak (JDD) platform.
As of July 17, 2026, the country’s banking ecosystem comprised more than 1.81 lakh bank branches, 17.36 lakh Business Correspondents and 1.65 lakh India Post Payments Bank centres, significantly expanding access to formal financial services across urban, rural and remote regions.
The minister said the government’s priority remains ensuring that every inhabited village has a banking outlet within a five-kilometre radius. Supporting this objective, the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) allows commercial banks, small finance banks, payments banks, local area banks and regional rural banks to open branches without prior approval, provided at least 25 per cent of new branches are established in unbanked rural areas.
The expansion of banking infrastructure is being monitored through State Level Bankers’ Committees (SLBCs) and Union Territory Level Bankers’ Committees (UTLBCs), which coordinate with banks and state governments to identify uncovered locations and facilitate the establishment of new banking outlets based on local requirements and business viability.
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The government also highlighted the continued success of the Pradhan Mantri Jan Dhan Yojana (PMJDY), under which 58.77 crore bank accounts have been opened across the country. These accounts collectively held deposits worth ₹3.12 lakh crore as of July 17, 2026, underscoring the growing reach of formal banking services.
To further improve access to institutional credit, particularly for farmers and rural communities, the Centre has introduced several digital initiatives, including the Jan Samarth Portal, which offers a single digital platform for government-sponsored loan and subsidy schemes, enabling faster loan applications and approvals.
Other technology-driven measures include NABARD’s e-KYC application, the KRISHIKA platform developed by the Department of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare, and digital banking applications that streamline beneficiary identification, loan processing and monitoring.
The Kisan Rin Portal (KRP), launched in September 2023, has also strengthened agricultural lending by enabling Aadhaar-based beneficiary verification and expediting claim settlements under the Modified Interest Subvention Scheme for Kisan Credit Card loans.
Highlighting efforts to safeguard digital banking, the minister said the government and the RBI have introduced multiple cybersecurity initiatives to combat online financial fraud.
These include the establishment of the India Digital Payment Intelligence Corporation (IDPIC), which enables banks and financial institutions to share real-time fraud intelligence using artificial intelligence, machine learning and big data analytics. The RBI has also issued comprehensive Master Directions on Digital Payment Security Controls, prescribing minimum cybersecurity standards for internet banking, mobile banking and card-based payment systems.
Additionally, the RBI has deployed ‘MuleHunter’, an AI-powered tool designed to detect money mule accounts and strengthen fraud prevention mechanisms across the banking system.
The Indian Cyber Crime Coordination Centre (I4C) under the Ministry of Home Affairs continues to monitor digital lending applications, while citizens can report cyber financial fraud through the National Cybercrime Reporting Portal and the 1930 helpline. Banks and the RBI are also conducting nationwide awareness campaigns through SMS alerts, radio broadcasts and the Electronic Banking Awareness and Training (e-BAAT) programme to promote safe digital banking practices.
The latest figures reflect India’s sustained push towards universal financial inclusion, supported by expanded banking infrastructure, digital innovation and stronger cybersecurity measures aimed at making banking services accessible, secure and inclusive for every citizen.