The Indian government has introduced a new campaign, “आपकी पूँजी, आपका अधिकार” (Your Capital, Your Right), focused on raising awareness about unclaimed financial assets among citizens.
The campaign was launched by Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman (pictured) in Gandhinagar, Gujarat, with participation from state and central officials, as well as representatives from the Reserve Bank of India (RBI), Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority of India (IRDAI), Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI), and other financial bodies.
At the event, Sitharaman explained that the campaign’s purpose is to inform the public about their entitlement to unclaimed funds, which include deposits, insurance payouts, dividends, mutual fund holdings, and pension balances.
“Unclaimed deposits, insurance proceeds, dividends, mutual fund balances, and pensions are not mere entries on paper; they represent the hard-earned savings of ordinary families – savings that can support education, healthcare, and financial security,” she said.
The campaign is structured around three main objectives:
Efforts will be made to educate individuals on how to locate unclaimed assets, provide digital resources and local outreach, and ensure that claims are settled efficiently and transparently.
“These three pillars will help bridge the gap between citizens and financial institutions, promoting community awareness and ensuring that every individual can reclaim their rightful savings with dignity and ease,” Sitharaman said.
Regional rural banks and other financial organizations were recognised for their efforts in recent Know Your Customer (KYC) drives, which have helped maintain connections between account holders and the formal financial sector.
Sitharaman encouraged all institutions to continue these efforts to ensure that citizens can access their rightful funds.
Department of Financial Services (DFS) Secretary Shri M. Nagaraju reported that, as of August 2025, over ₹75,000 crore in unclaimed deposits have been moved to the RBI’s Depositor Education and Awareness Fund.
Additionally, unclaimed insurance proceeds total more than ₹13,800 crore, mutual fund balances are around ₹3,000 crore, and unpaid dividends exceed ₹9,000 crore.
Nagaraju emphasised the need for prompt and fair claims processing.
“Claims must be processed quickly, fairly, and without unnecessary hurdles to citizens, so that they walk away with clarity and confidence,” he said.
The campaign will be conducted across all states and union territories from October to December 2025. Digital demonstrations and helpdesks are planned to assist individuals in tracing and claiming their unclaimed assets.
The initiative is being coordinated by the DFS, with involvement from RBI, SEBI, IRDAI, PFRDA, IEPFA, and various financial institutions.
In a related development, the insurance sector has moved forward with digital transformation through the launch of the Bima Sugam India Federation (BSIF) website.
The platform was unveiled at the IRDAI headquarters in Hyderabad, with IRDAI chairman Ajay Seth describing it as a step toward building digital infrastructure for insurance in India.
“This initiative will empower policyholders, deepen insurance penetration, and ensure transparency and fairness across the value chain. The launch of the website is an important milestone, and I am confident that with collective industry commitment, the vision of ‘Insurance for All by 2047’ – as part of the Prime Minister’s mission of Viksit Bharat 2047 – will become a reality,” Seth said.
The Bima Sugam platform is intended to serve as a unified interface for customers, insurers, and intermediaries.
The BSIF plans to roll out features in phases, with a focus on security and regulatory compliance. The platform will become fully operational as insurers and partners complete technical integrations.
