A focus group discussion with PMJDY beneficiaries during Her Majesty Queen Máxima’s visit to India 

• by MSC
• Jul 23, 2026
• 1 min

On 23rd June 2026, MSC (MicroSave Consulting) convened a focus group discussion with Pradhan Mantri Jan Dhan Yojana (PMJDY) beneficiaries during Her Majesty Queen Máxima of the Netherlands’ visit to India. As the United Nations Secretary-General’s Special Advocate for Financial Health (UNSGSA), Her Majesty Queen Máxima joined the session, which brought beneficiary voices into a global dialogue on financial health. The discussion explored how people experience and navigate formal financial services beyond account ownership. 

The discussion highlighted that PMJDY has significantly expanded financial access. Yet, beneficiaries still face challenges that affect their financial resilience. Participants shared experiences of financial shocks, insurance coverage, regular savings despite irregular incomes, and digital financial services. The conversation also revealed that financial capability often develops through lived experiences rather than traditional financial literacy programs. 

A key insight was the continued importance of business correspondents (BCs) as trusted, community-based banking touchpoints. Beneficiaries described BCs as essential for access to government benefits, transaction support, issue resolution, and confidence in formal financial services. The discussion reinforced that the next phase of India’s financial inclusion journey must strengthen financial health through resilient financial products, trusted human support, and solutions that respond to people’s everyday realities.