Forgotten money 

December 11, 2025

Thousands of crores belonging to Indian citizens remain unclaimed across banks, insurance companies and investment platforms. The government has now launched an effort to help people recover these funds, with Prime Minister Narendra Modi drawing attention to the Your Money, Your Right campaign. The initiative was formally introduced by Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman in October in Gujarat.

According to data shared by the Prime Minister, banks are currently holding about Rs 78,000 crore in unclaimed deposits. Insurance companies have nearly Rs 14,000 crore that has not been collected by policyholders or their nominees. Mutual fund firms are sitting on around Rs 3,000 crore in unclaimed investments, while unpaid dividends amount to nearly Rs 9,000 crore. Modi said these numbers have surprised many citizens and noted that the funds represent years of savings and investments made by families. He said the campaign aims to ensure that every individual can retrieve what belongs to them.

The initiative is being driven by several government departments and financial regulators. The Department of Financial Services and the Ministry of Finance are coordinating the effort. The Reserve Bank of India, the Securities and Exchange Board of India, the Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority of India, and the Pension Fund Regulatory and Development Authority are all involved. The Investor Education and Protection Fund Authority is also taking part in the exercise.

Banks, insurance firms, mutual fund houses and pension fund managers have been asked to assist citizens by simplifying claim processes and improving access to information. Earlier this year, Sitharaman directed financial regulators to run a coordinated campaign to trace unclaimed deposits and dues across sectors. The drive covers money lying in bank accounts, unpaid dividends, dormant shares, mutual fund units and insurance claims.

The government has said the objective is to bring greater transparency, make financial institutions more responsive and help citizens recover money that has remained idle for years.