SDG 8: Decent Work & Economic Growth | SDG 10: Reduced Inequalities
Institutions: Ministry of Finance
The Department of Financial Services (Ministry of Finance), in coordination with RBI, IRDAI, SEBI, and IEPFA, will roll out a three-month national awareness campaign from October to December 2025 titled “आपकी पूँजी, आपका अधिकार” (Your Money, Your Right). The campaign will be inaugurated by Union Finance Minister Smt. Nirmala Sitharaman on 4 October from Gandhinagar, Gujarat.
It aims to sensitize citizens about unclaimed financial assets - including insurance claims, bank deposits, dividends, shares, and mutual fund proceeds - and provide on-the-spot assistance to trace, update records, and process claims. Digital tools, SOPs, FAQs, and exhibitions with financial institutions will be part of the effort.
This campaign strengthens financial inclusion, citizen claim rights, and institutional transparency by ensuring that savings or dues don’t remain idle. It also fosters coordination across financial regulators and helps reduce leakages in unclaimed funds management.
What are Unclaimed Financial Assets? → These are funds or investments lying with banks, insurers, mutual funds, or companies that have not been claimed by their rightful owners for a defined period. Examples include dormant bank deposits, unpaid dividends, matured insurance policies, or mutual fund proceeds where contact with the account holder has been lost. They matter because unclaimed assets lock up citizens’ savings, reduce trust in financial institutions, and require strong outreach and redress mechanisms to return money to rightful owners.
What is IRDAI? → The Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority of India (est. 1999) regulates India’s insurance sector. It protects policyholders’ interests, licenses insurers, and monitors claims. For this campaign, it tracks unclaimed or unpaid insurance proceeds.
What is SEBI? → The Securities and Exchange Board of India (est. 1992) regulates securities markets, including stocks, mutual funds, and bonds. It ensures investor protection and market transparency. In this campaign, it addresses unclaimed dividends, shares, and mutual fund units.
What is IEPFA? → The Investor Education and Protection Fund Authority (est. 2016 under the Companies Act, 2013) manages unclaimed dividends, matured deposits, debentures, and shares transferred by companies. It also runs financial literacy and investor protection programmes.
Relevant Question for Policy Stakeholders:
How can state and district financial offices be mobilised effectively so that individuals in rural areas or with low digital access also benefit from this unclaimed assets campaign?
Follow the full news here: PIB Press Release ID 2173503