India’s Women-Focused Banking Program hailed by the United Nations as a Global Model

Current Context: The Pradhan Mantri Jan Dhan Yojana (PMJDY), launched in 2014, is India’s flagship financial inclusion program.

• In March 2026, United Nations Women (UN Women) hailed PMJDY as a global model for women’s empowerment ahead of the 70th Commission on the Status of Women (CSW70).
• Sandra Hendriks, Director of Policy at UN Women, praised India’s Aadhaar‑based digital identification and simplified account‑opening norms.
• The scheme has brought banking services to 290+ million women, who now hold 56% of all Jan Dhan accounts.
• It has enabled financial independence, household agency, access to credit, savings, and economic participation, especially in rural and underserved areas.
• Built on India’s digital public infrastructure (Aadhaar, zero‑balance accounts, RuPay cards, overdraft, insurance, and Direct Benefit Transfers), PMJDY shows the transformative power of legislative change.

Question:

Q.1 In March 2026, which international organization described the Pradhan Mantri Jan Dhan Yojana as a global model for women’s financial empowerment?
a) World Bank
b) UNDP
c) UN Women
d) IMF

Answer: c) UN Women praised PMJDY as a global example of financial inclusion and women’s empowerment.