United Nations Calls India’s Jan Dhan Yojana a Global Model for Women’s Empowerment

India’s ambitious financial inclusion initiatives are gaining global recognition, with a senior official from United Nations praising the country’s efforts to expand banking access for women. The flagship financial inclusion initiative, Pradhan Mantri Jan Dhan Yojana, has successfully brought formal banking services to hundreds of millions of women, significantly advancing economic empowerment and digital financial inclusion.

At a press conference ahead of the upcoming Commission on the Status of Women annual meeting, a senior representative from UN Women highlighted India’s digital identity and banking infrastructure as a powerful example for other countries seeking to empower women and expand financial access.

UN Praises India’s Financial Inclusion Strategy

A Model for Empowering Women and Girls

Speaking to journalists, Sandra Hendriks, Director of Policy at UN Women, acknowledged India’s approach as an inspiring model for nations working toward gender equality and economic inclusion.

She noted that India’s efforts to integrate digital identity systems with financial services have enabled millions of women to participate more actively in the formal economy.

According to Hendriks:

"The Indian government's example of enabling digital identification for its entire population of women and girls, notably, which constitutes one-fifth of the entire population of women and girls in the world, is indeed a model".

She further added:

"The lowering of requirements for women and girls across India to have a digital bank account also is a model".

Digital Financial Inclusion: A Transformative Pathway

Why Financial Access Matters for Women

Highlighting the importance of financial inclusion, Hendriks emphasized the transformative role digital banking plays in empowering women economically and socially.

She said:

"Digital financial inclusion is an absolutely imperative and transformative pathway for women and girls,"

Access to banking services allows women to manage savings, receive government benefits, access credit, and build financial independence—critical components of sustainable economic growth and gender equality.

The Role of Pradhan Mantri Jan Dhan Yojana

A Landmark Financial Inclusion Programme

Launched in 2014 by the Government of India, the Pradhan Mantri Jan Dhan Yojana (PMJDY) has emerged as one of the world’s largest financial inclusion programmes.

Now in its 12th year, the scheme has dramatically expanded banking access for previously unbanked populations, especially women in rural and low-income communities.

Key Achievements of PMJDY

• Over 290 million women now have access to formal banking services through the scheme

• Women hold 56 per cent of the total accounts opened under PMJDY

• Millions of households have been connected to financial services for the first time

The programme also integrates with India’s broader digital ecosystem, enabling direct benefit transfers, digital payments, and government welfare distribution.

Aadhaar’s Role in Expanding Banking Access

Digital Identity Driving Financial Inclusion

A key enabler of the success of PMJDY has been Aadhaar, India’s biometric-based digital identification system.

Aadhaar provides a unique identity to residents, allowing financial institutions to verify individuals quickly and efficiently. This simplified verification process has reduced barriers that previously prevented many women from opening bank accounts.

Through Aadhaar-enabled authentication, millions of women—particularly those in rural areas—have been able to access banking services without complex documentation requirements.

Legislative Reforms Empowering Women

Policy Changes Supporting Financial Independence

Hendriks also emphasised the role of supportive legal frameworks in enabling financial inclusion.

She stated:

"PMJDY is a model because it shows the transformative power and potential of legislative change for women and girls, and when laws support women and girls to thrive, that is, open a bank account, have their own business, this is when lives actually change".

India’s policy reforms, including simplified account-opening procedures and digital financial infrastructure, have significantly contributed to expanding economic opportunities for women.

Global Gender Equality Still Faces Challenges

UN Report Highlights Persistent Inequality

Ahead of the Commission meeting, Antonio Guterres, Secretary-General of the United Nations, released a report on the global status of women.

The report revealed that gender inequality continues to exist in legal frameworks worldwide.

It noted:

"Globally, women have 64 per cent of the legal rights of men, as discriminatory legal frameworks continue to prevail".

Despite these challenges, the report emphasised that progress remains possible with strong political will and inclusive policies.

The report added:

"Progress is possible".

However, it also stressed the importance of ensuring equal justice and opportunities for women globally:

"Achieving it requires a focus on access to substantive and participatory justice outcomes for women and girls, centred on the fundamental human rights to non-discrimination and equality, and an understanding of systemic exclusion and power asymmetries".

Why India’s Model Matters Globally

Lessons for Developing Economies

India’s digital financial inclusion framework offers valuable lessons for developing nations aiming to empower women and promote inclusive growth.

The combination of digital identity, accessible banking services, and supportive policies has created a powerful ecosystem enabling women to participate more actively in the economy.

Key factors behind India’s success include:

• Large-scale digital identity infrastructure

• Simplified bank account opening processes

• Government-backed financial inclusion programmes

• Integration with digital payment systems

These initiatives collectively help reduce poverty, improve economic participation, and strengthen financial resilience among women.

Conclusion

India’s financial inclusion initiatives, particularly the Pradhan Mantri Jan Dhan Yojana, have emerged as a global benchmark for empowering women through digital banking and financial access. By leveraging digital identity systems like Aadhaar and implementing supportive policy reforms, the country has successfully connected millions of women to the formal financial system.

Recognition from the United Nations highlights the broader global significance of India’s model, demonstrating how targeted policy interventions can transform lives and promote gender equality. As countries around the world strive to improve financial access and economic opportunities for women, India’s experience provides a powerful example of how digital infrastructure and inclusive policies can drive meaningful social and economic change.