Meghalaya logs 32.76 crore digital transactions as digital banking adoption rises

Meghalaya recorded 32.76 crore digital transactions and nearly 10 lakh Jan Dhan accounts during 2025-26, officials said on Thursday.

RBI Shillong General Manager Olden Nongpluh said the Jan Dhan-Aadhaar-Mobile (JAM) Trinity, Direct Benefit Transfer and Digital Public Infrastructure have significantly expanded banking access, improved transparency and accelerated digital adoption across the country.

Participating in a panel discussion, he said 98 per cent of bank account holders in Meghalaya have adopted at least one digital mode of transaction, while efforts are underway to achieve universal and meaningful digital adoption.

SBI Deputy General Manager Ejaz Ahmad said the state had 9.99 lakh Pradhan Mantri Jan Dhan Yojana accounts as on March 31, 2026, with SBI accounting for 3.55 lakh, or 36 per cent, of the total.

He said enrolment under the Centre’s social security schemes has also grown, with 5.08 lakh beneficiaries under the Pradhan Mantri Jeevan Jyoti Bima Yojana, 9.36 lakh under the Pradhan Mantri Suraksha Bima Yojana and 1.02 lakh under the Atal Pension Yojana.

India recorded 21,860 crore digital transactions during 2025-26, while Meghalaya accounted for 32.76 crore transactions, Ahmad said.

SBI Chief Manager H Khongsai said the bank operates 113 branches and nearly 300 Customer Service Points across Meghalaya, with more than 98 per cent of its customers now using digital and alternate banking channels.

RBI Manager Pankaj Kumar said 16 Centres for Financial Literacy functioning across all 55 Community Development Blocks have reached over seven lakh people in 6,169 villages through awareness programmes on digital payments, financial literacy and cyber safety.

During the panel discussion, the speakers said the next phase of financial inclusion should focus on improving financial literacy, strengthening cyber resilience and encouraging meaningful use of digital financial services, particularly in rural areas.