Despite a huge surge in total deposits in Jan Dhan accounts following demonetisation, about one-fifth of these accounts still have no balance.
The net addition in the 25.8 crore Jan Dhan accounts was just ₹288 crore during the week ended December 7, taking total deposits to about ₹74,610 crore.
The percentage of zero balance accounts, however, remained flat at about 22.9 per cent despite the addition of ₹29,000 crore in total deposits in about 30 days after demonetisation of high-value notes took effect on November 9.
After the initial surge, total deposits in Jan Dhan accounts have seen a decline week after week. As much as ₹1,487 crore was parked in these accounts during the seven days ended November 30, as against ₹8,283 crore in the previous week.
The accretion was ₹18,615.54 crore a week after demonetisation, which moderated to less than half — ₹8,582.57 crore — from November 17-23.
Deposits in the 25.8 crore such accounts totalled ₹74,609.50 crore at the end of December 7, as per the Finance Ministry’s data.
The upper limit for deposits in Jan Dhan accounts is ₹50,000.
The overall amount was ₹72,834.72 crore in 25.68 crore accounts at the end of November 23.
After Prime Minister Narendra Modi surprised the nation with the demonetisation of ₹500 and ₹1,000 notes on November 8, deposits in Jan Dhan accounts have increased by ₹28,973 crore. As of November 9, the balance in about 25.5 crore such accounts was ₹45,636.61 crore.
Last week, the government said that inflows into Jan Dhan accounts have come down significantly after it warned people not to allow their accounts to be misused for converting black money into white.