Why in news?
The Union government has been running a national campaign called “Your Money, Your Right” since 4 October 2025 to help citizens reclaim unclaimed financial assets lying with banks, insurance companies, mutual funds and other financial institutions. By early December 2025, camps had been held in over 470 districts and about ₹2,000 crore had been returned to rightful owners.
Background
Large sums of money remain unclaimed in India due to dormant bank accounts, forgotten insurance policies, uncashed dividends and unpaid dues from companies. According to official estimates, unclaimed deposits in banks exceed ₹78,000 crore, while insurance companies hold over ₹14,000 crore. In addition, mutual funds retain roughly ₹3,000 crore in unclaimed units and there are billions of rupees in unpaid dividends.
Key components of the campaign
- 3A framework: The campaign is built around Awareness, Accessibility and Action. Citizens are made aware of their rights through advertisements and camps; easy accessibility is provided through online portals; and action is encouraged by guiding people through the claim process.
- Dedicated portals: Regulatory bodies have launched user‑friendly platforms such as the Reserve Bank’s UDGAM portal for bank deposits, the Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority’s Bima Bharosa portal for insurance proceeds, the Securities and Exchange Board’s MITRA portal for mutual funds and the Investor Education and Protection Fund Authority’s portal for unclaimed dividends. These portals allow people to search for unclaimed assets with their name and quickly file claims.
- Facilitation camps: Thousands of camps organised in villages and towns provide one‑on‑one assistance. Representatives from banks, insurance firms and regulators help people fill forms and submit required documents.
- Regulatory collaboration: The campaign brings together multiple regulators – RBI, SEBI, IRDAI, PFRDA and the Corporate Affairs Ministry – along with state governments to streamline verification and settlement.
Why this matters
- Unclaimed money is a hidden resource. Returning it strengthens household finances and stimulates consumption.
- The movement promotes financial literacy by teaching people about bank accounts, insurance benefits and investments.
- By strengthening record‑keeping and data sharing among institutions, the campaign reduces the probability that funds remain idle in the future.
- It also increases trust in financial institutions, since citizens see regulators taking proactive steps to safeguard their interests.
Conclusion
“Your Money, Your Right” is more than a publicity drive. It seeks to return billions of rupees to their rightful owners and encourages people to stay engaged with their financial assets. Continued coordination between regulators, banks and state governments will be necessary to sustain the momentum and ensure that future deposits do not go unclaimed.
Sources: PMI