
New Delhi, June 27: The Unified Payments Interface (UPI), which began as a simple digital payment platform a decade ago, has transformed into the backbone of everyday digital transactions in India. According to an official fact sheet released on Saturday, UPI transactions surged from just 20 million in the fiscal year 2016-17 to over 2.4162 trillion in the fiscal year 2025-26.
The statement highlighted that the Jan Dhan, Aadhaar, and Mobile (JAM Trinity) initiative has significantly changed the landscape of financial inclusion and the delivery of government benefits directly to citizens. This initiative has connected millions to the formal banking system, providing them with easier and more transparent access to government services.
The Prime Minister’s Jan Dhan Yojana has accelerated the expansion of banking services across the country. The number of Jan Dhan accounts rose from 147.2 million in March 2015 to 577.8 million by February 2026. During this period, the total deposits in these accounts increased from ₹156.7 billion to ₹29.4 trillion.
According to the fact sheet, Aadhaar has provided secure and rapid digital identification in the country. Enrollment in Aadhaar was only 4.2 million in 2010-11, but it has now surpassed 1.44 billion by March 2026. This has made digital authentication more secure and user-friendly.
Mobile connectivity has further strengthened the JAM Trinity, expanding access to digital services nationwide. By March 2026, 85.5% of Indian households owned at least one smartphone, with over 1.09 billion people using the internet.
These three initiatives have laid a robust foundation for an inclusive governance model under Digital India. By June 2026, over ₹51 trillion has been directly transferred to the accounts of 1.76 billion beneficiaries through Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT), enhancing transparency and expediting the delivery of government benefits.
DigiLocker has revolutionized the availability of secure digital documents, replacing traditional paper documents. By March 2026, over 706.9 million users had registered on this platform, with more than 8.5 billion digital documents issued. This has made document verification faster, paperless, and more reliable.
The Government e-Marketplace (GeM) has made the government procurement process more transparent, faster, and fully digital. By June 2026, the total Gross Merchandise Value (GMV) recorded on GeM exceeded ₹18.4 trillion, including ₹5 trillion in transactions during the fiscal year 2025-26. This platform has provided over 1.1 million micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) with access to government markets.
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