₹1.84 Lakh Crore in Unclaimed Financial Assets: FM Nirmala Sitharaman Launches ‘Apki Poonji, Apka Adhikar’ Campaign

Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Saturday (October 4, 2025) revealed that financial assets worth ₹1.84 lakh crore are currently lying unclaimed with banks and financial regulators across India. She urged officials to ensure that these funds are returned to their rightful owners through greater awareness and proactive efforts.

Speaking at the launch of the “Apki Poonji, Apka Adhikar” (Your Money, Your Right) campaign in Gandhinagar, Ms. Sitharaman said the unclaimed funds are in the form of bank deposits, insurance policies, provident fund balances, and shares. Gujarat Finance Minister Kanubhai Desai and senior officials from banks and the Finance Ministry were also present at the event.

“Unclaimed monies are lying with the banks, RBI, or the Investor Education and Protection Fund (IEPF). We have to find the rightful owners and hand over the money to them,” Ms. Sitharaman said.

She assured the public that the unclaimed assets are “completely safe”, adding, “The government is the custodian of these funds. Anyone with valid documents can claim their money through banks, SEBI, or other authorized agencies.”

The Finance Minister outlined the three As — Awareness, Access, and Action — as the guiding principles of the campaign:

• Awareness: Government and bank officials must inform citizens about unclaimed assets and guide them to claim their rightful money.

• Access: Simplify access through the RBI’s UDGAM (Unclaimed Deposits Gateway to Access Information) portal and special help desks at banks.

• Action: Officials must act swiftly on claims and assist people in completing the necessary documentation.

Ms. Sitharaman explained that if funds remain unclaimed for a long time, they are transferred between entities — for instance, from banks to the RBI in the case of deposits, or from SEBI to the IEPF for stocks and securities. “The moment you claim it, you get it,” she said, emphasizing the need to spread awareness about the UDGAM portal.

She also highlighted Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s personal initiative in encouraging the Finance Ministry to reach out to citizens and bridge the information gap.

Praising Gujarat’s efforts, Ms. Sitharaman appreciated the Gujarat Gramin Bank for pledging to send its officials to every village in the state to identify rightful owners of unclaimed deposits.

The three-month campaign aims to reunite thousands of individuals and families with their long-forgotten financial assets, reinforcing public trust and promoting financial inclusion across India.