India, Aug. 30 -- Twelve years after its launch in August 2014, the Pradhan Mantri Jan Dhan Yojana (PMJDY) stands as one of the largest financial inclusion drives in modern economic history. With more than 55 crore basic savings bank accounts opened and cumulative deposits exceeding Rs.2.5 lakh crore, the programme has reshaped welfare administration in India. By connecting the unbanked to the formal banking system, the state built an efficient digital pipeline for Direct Benefit Transfers (DBT), plugging leakages in rural welfare delivery, fertiliser subsidies, and disaster relief. Yet, celebrating universal account ownership risks confusing administrative access with real economic empowerment. A bank account that acts merely as a condui...