India Achieves Near-Universal Banking Coverage; 99.92% of Villages Now Have Banking Access Within 5 Km

 India has achieved a major milestone in its financial inclusion journey, with 99.92% of inhabited villages now having access to a banking outlet within a 5-kilometre radius, Finance Minister informed Parliament.

According to the latest update, 6,00,868 out of 6,01,328 inhabited villages across the country are now connected to the formal banking network. The achievement reflects years of efforts to expand banking services to rural and underserved regions, ensuring easier access to financial products and government welfare schemes.

The expansion has been driven by a robust banking infrastructure comprising over 1.81 lakh bank branches, 17.36 lakh Banking Correspondents (BCs), and 1.65 lakh India Post Payments Bank (IPPB) centres. These channels have significantly improved banking accessibility, especially in remote areas where traditional bank branches are limited.

Key Highlights

• 🇮🇳 99.92% of India's inhabited villages now have a banking outlet within 5 km.
• 🏦 6,00,868 out of 6,01,328 inhabited villages are covered by the banking network.
• 🌐 Banking expansion is supported by 1.81 lakh+ bank branches, 17.36 lakh Banking Correspondents (BCs), and 1.65 lakh India Post Payments Bank (IPPB) centres.
• 💳 58.77 crore PM Jan Dhan Yojana (PMJDY) accounts are operational.
• 💰 Total deposits in PMJDY accounts have reached ₹3,12,414 crore (as of July 17, 2026).
• 📈 The milestone is expected to further strengthen financial inclusion, digital banking, and Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) initiatives.