Gandhinagar, Gujarat — Union Finance and Corporate Affairs Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on October 4, 2025, formally inaugurated a three-month nationwide awareness drive titled “Aapki Punji, Aapka Adhikar” (Your Money, Your Right), aimed at facilitating the settlement of unclaimed financial assets across the country.
The campaign, backed by the Department of Financial Services under the Finance Ministry, is being carried out in collaboration with key financial regulators — the Reserve Bank of India (RBI), Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority (IRDAI), Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI), and the Investor Education & Protection Fund Authority (IEPFA) under the Ministry of Corporate Affairs.
Why This Campaign?
Unclaimed financial assets — such as dormant bank deposits, unpaid dividends, insurance policy benefits, mutual fund proceeds, and shares — often languish due to lack of awareness, missing or outdated account details, or procedural hurdles.
What the Campaign Will Do
Over the October to December 2025 period, the campaign will roll out multiple initiatives:
Public outreach & stalls: A special financial inclusion exhibition will feature stalls from banks, insurance companies, mutual funds, pension institutions, and regulators to help citizens engage directly.
On-the-spot guidance: Experts will assist in tracing unclaimed assets, updating records (such as contact information, nominee details), and walking people through claim procedures.
Digital tools & demonstrations: Step-by-step demos of online portals and digital tools will be showcased to simplify the process for citizens.
Regulator-created resources: Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs), Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs), and simplified procedural guides will be provided to ensure consistency across regulators.
Government’s Objectives & Promise
The Finance Ministry has emphasized that every rupee saved by citizens — whether lying dormant or unclaimed — should reach its rightful owner or their heirs. This initiative is part of a broader push to strengthen financial inclusion and increase transparency across India’s financial ecosystem.
By activating public participation and awareness, the campaign hopes to:
Reduce the volume of unclaimed assets held across financial institutions
Empower citizens with knowledge and tools to access their funds
Build trust in financial institutions through accountability and cleanup of dormant liabilities
Challenges & Expectations
While the campaign is ambitious, its success will depend on:
the ability to reach remote and financially marginalized populations
ensuring all regulators coordinate seamlessly
simplifying procedural requirements further to minimize friction for claimants
continuous follow-up beyond the three-month drive to ensure claims are processed
If executed well, “Aapki Punji, Aapka Adhikar” could help unlock significant sums of unclaimed assets and reconnect thousands of individuals with funds due to them.
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