• Ms.Usha G
• Dr.C.Sumangala

This study empirically examines the effectiveness of the Pradhan Mantri Jan Dhan Yojana (PMJDY) in advancing financial inclusion among women employed in Bengaluru’s informal economy. It specifically investigates whether bank account ownership under PMJDY translates into functional financial usage and financial agency, addressing the gap between access and meaningful inclusion. The study adopts a cross-sectional survey design and is based on primary data collected from 125 women informal workers in selected areas of Bengaluru, namely Peenya, Koramangala, and Jayanagar. The respondents comprised domestic workers, garment workers, construction workers, and street vendors. Data were collected using a structured questionnaire with 14 items measuring awareness, utilization, and socio-economic impact. The analysis employed descriptive statistics and inferential tools, including Chi-square tests and Pearson correlation, using SPSS. The results indicate a substantial awareness–utilization gap in PMJDY implementation. While 71.2% of respondents were aware of basic banking features such as RuPay cards, awareness of ancillary benefits like the overdraft facility was limited to 18.4%. Digital banking adoption was low (21.6%), constrained by smartphone inaccessibility and fear of fraud, highlighting a “Silicon Valley Paradox” where technological proximity does not ensure usage. Statistical analysis confirmed that PMJDY participation significantly improved saving behavior, while digital literacy showed a strong positive relationship with account utilization. However, empowerment outcomes remained partial, with modest gains in financial independence and limited influence on household decision-making and reliance on informal credit sources. The study is limited to select urban localities in Bengaluru and a relatively small sample size, which restricts broader generalization. The cross-sectional design and reliance on self-reported data may limit causal inference and introduce response bias. The findings suggest the need for gender-sensitive financial inclusion measures, including workplace-based banking access, vernacular digital financial literacy initiatives, incentives for digital usage, and simplified procedures for ancillary benefits. It also contributes micro-level, occupation-specific evidence on PMJDY’s effectiveness among urban informal women workers, a group underrepresented in existing literature.

Financial inclusion, PMJDY, Women empowerment, Digital banking, Jan Dhan Yojana

"An Empirical Study on the Effectiveness of PMJDY in Achieving Financial Inclusion for Women in the Informal Economy of Bengaluru", International Journal of Emerging Technologies and Innovative Research (www.jetir.org), ISSN:2349-5162, Vol.13, Issue 2, page no.a166-a171, February-2026, Available :http://www.jetir.org/papers/JETIR2602021.pdf

"An Empirical Study on the Effectiveness of PMJDY in Achieving Financial Inclusion for Women in the Informal Economy of Bengaluru", International Journal of Emerging Technologies and Innovative Research (www.jetir.org | UGC and issn Approved), ISSN:2349-5162, Vol.13, Issue 2, page no. ppa166-a171, February-2026, Available at : http://www.jetir.org/papers/JETIR2602021.pdf