Shillong, July 3: Meghalaya has nearly touched the 10-lakh mark in Pradhan Mantri Jan Dhan Yojana (PMJDY) accounts and recorded 32.76 crore digital transactions in 2025-26, reflecting the state’s rapid strides in financial inclusion and digital adoption.

The figures were highlighted during a PIB Shillong Varta on “Financial Inclusion and Digital Empowerment – 12 Years of the Government”, which brought together officials from the Reserve Bank of India (RBI), State Bank of India (SBI), academia and the media to review the progress made in expanding banking access and digital services. The meeting was held on July 2.

According to SBI, Meghalaya had 9.99 lakh PMJDY accounts as of March 31, 2026, equivalent to 42,152 accounts per lakh adult population. SBI alone accounts for 3.55 lakh of these accounts, or 36 per cent of the state’s total Jan Dhan accounts.

The state has also witnessed significant enrolment under social security schemes, with 5.08 lakh beneficiaries under Pradhan Mantri Jeevan Jyoti Bima Yojana (PMJJBY), 9.36 lakh under Pradhan Mantri Suraksha Bima Yojana (PMSBY), and 1.02 lakh under Atal Pension Yojana (APY).

Speaking at the event, RBI’s Officer-in-Charge in Shillong, Olden Nongpluh, said the past 12 years had witnessed a paradigm shift in financial inclusion through the Jan Dhan-Aadhaar-Mobile (JAM) Trinity, Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) and digital public infrastructure.

He noted that 98 per cent of account holders in Meghalaya have adopted at least one digital mode of transaction, with efforts underway to achieve universal and meaningful digital adoption.

Highlighting India’s digital transformation, SBI Deputy General Manager Ejaz Ahmad said the country recorded 21,860 crore digital transactions during FY 2025-26, emerging as a global leader in digital payments, while Meghalaya alone accounted for 32.76 crore transactions.

Officials said DBT and Aadhaar-based authentication had transformed welfare delivery by ensuring benefits reach genuine beneficiaries directly, reducing leakages and improving transparency.

The workshop also underscored the growing focus on financial literacy and cyber security. RBI officials informed that 16 Centres for Financial Literacy are functioning across all 55 Community Development Blocks in Meghalaya, reaching more than seven lakh people in 6,169 villages through awareness programmes on digital payments, social security schemes and responsible financial practices.

Panellists at the event said that while banking access has expanded significantly, the next phase of financial inclusion must focus on improving financial capability, encouraging meaningful use of banking services and strengthening cyber resilience.

They also called for greater financial literacy in rural areas and the use of local languages to ensure that digital empowerment reaches the last mile.