Nirmala Sitharaman Launches Initiative to Help Citizens Reclaim Bank Deposits, Insurance, MFs & Pensions

byPaytm Editorial TeamOctober 6, 2025
Investing in Fixed Deposit Scheme

 Source: PIB

The Union Finance Minister, Smt. Nirmala Sitharaman, launched the nationwide financial awareness campaign “आपकी पूँजी, आपका अधिकार” in Gandhinagar on October 4, 2025. The campaign is designed to help citizens trace and reclaim unclaimed financial assets, including bank deposits, insurance proceeds, mutual fund balances, dividends, and pensions. The campaign was inaugurated in the presence of State Finance Minister Shri Kanubhai Desai, along with Secretary, DFS Shri M. Nagaraju, the Executive Director of the Reserve Bank of India, whole-time members of IRDAI, SEBI, and PFRDA, senior officials from the Union and State Governments, and representatives of leading financial institutions.

During the campaign launch, Smt. Nirmala Sitharaman emphasized that the initiative carries a simple yet powerful message: every rupee saved by citizens must return to them or their families, ensuring that unclaimed assets are not left unutilized.

Key Highlights of the Campaign

  • 3As Strategy: The campaign is guided by Awareness, Accessibility, and Action.
    • Awareness: Ensuring citizens are informed about how to trace their unclaimed financial assets.
    • Accessibility: Providing user-friendly digital tools and conducting district-level outreach to make the process simple.
    • Action: Facilitating time-bound and transparent claim settlements so citizens can reclaim their assets with confidence.
  • Beneficiary Recognition: Certificates were handed to citizens who successfully reclaimed their unclaimed deposits.
  • Nationwide Coverage: The campaign will run across all districts in States and Union Territories from October to December 2025.
  • Citizen Support: Digital demonstrations and helpdesks will assist individuals in tracing and claiming their unclaimed financial assets efficiently.

Secretary, DFS, Shri M. Nagaraju highlighted that as of August 2025, over ₹75,000 crore of unclaimed deposits have been transferred to the RBI’s Depositor Education and Awareness Fund. Additionally, unclaimed insurance proceeds exceed ₹13,800 crore, mutual fund balances are around ₹3,000 crore, and unpaid dividends total more than ₹9,000 crore. So far, nearly 172 crore shares have been moved to the Investor Education and Protection Fund.

The campaign builds on India’s broader financial inclusion achievements — from Jan Dhan Yojana and UPI to Direct Benefit Transfers — ensuring that citizens not only access financial services but also reclaim what rightfully belongs to them.

Read in detail: All You Need To Know About DBT (Direct Benefit Transfer

Launched from Gujarat, the “आपकी पूँजी, आपका अधिकार” campaign reinforces the Government’s commitment to making financial inclusion meaningful, transparent, and accessible for every household. Coordinated by the Department of Financial Services (DFS), Ministry of Finance, the campaign brings together the RBI, SEBI, IRDAI, PFRDA, IEPFA, along with banks, insurance companies, mutual funds, and pension institutions, creating a unified platform to assist citizens in reclaiming unclaimed financial assets.

Author

Paytm Editorial Team

The Paytm Editorial Team is a collaborative group of writers, editors, and industry experts. We're dedicated to bringing you the latest insights, news, and guides on digital payments, financial services, and the technology that's shaping India's economy. We offer easy-to-follow guides and insights to help you explore Paytm’s products, features, and services. Our goal is to provide clear, reliable, and helpful information to empower you on your financial journey.

FAQs

What is the “आपकी पूँजी, आपका अधिकार” campaign?

A nationwide initiative to help citizens trace and reclaim unclaimed financial assets like deposits, insurance proceeds, mutual funds, dividends, and pensions.

What are the guiding principles of the campaign?

The campaign follows the 3As strategy — Awareness, Accessibility, and Action to ensure citizens can claim their assets easily and transparently.

When will the campaign be conducted?

It will run across all States and Union Territories from October to December 2025.

How can citizens participate in the campaign?

Citizens can use digital demonstrations and helpdesks to trace and claim unclaimed deposits, insurance proceeds, mutual funds, dividends, and pensions.

Which institutions are involved in the campaign?

The campaign is coordinated by DFS and implemented with RBI, SEBI, IRDAI, PFRDA, IEPFA, banks, insurance companies, mutual funds, and pension institutions.
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