It's a common story in many Indian families: a relative passes away, and their hard-earned money gets locked away in forgotten bank accounts or old insurance policies, simply because nobody knows how to access it. An almost unbelievable sum of₹1.84 trillion is currently lying unclaimed in such dormant assets across the country.To tackle this massive issue, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman has launched a new, nationwide campaign with a very clear and empowering message: "Your Money, Your Right" ("Aapki Poonji, Aapka Adhikar"). The campaign's goal is straightforward: to help ordinary citizens and their legal heirs find and reclaim what is rightfully theirs.A Three-Month Nationwide DriveThis intensive, three-month campaign will run from October to December 2025. It is a major collaborative effort between the Department of Financial Services and India's top financial regulators, including the Reserve Bank of India (RBI), the Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI), and the Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority of India (IRDAI).Why Is So Much Money Lying Unclaimed?The reasons are often quite simple and relatable. Many people are simply unaware of how to even begin the process of claiming a deceased relative's assets. In other instances, a simple change of address or phone number means that financial institutions have lost contact with the account holder, eventually leading the funds to be classified as dormant or unclaimed.A Simple Plan: "Awareness, Access, and Action"During the campaign launch in Gandhinagar, Gujarat, the Finance Minister laid out a simple three-pronged strategy to get this money back to its owners:Awareness: The first and most crucial step is a massive public information drive to let people know that these unclaimed funds exist and are being held safely by the government until claimed. Sitharaman has even encouraged citizens to become "ambassadors" for the campaign by spreading the word within their own communities.Access: The campaign aims to make the process of finding these lost assets much easier. It will provide on-the-spot guidance and showcase digital tools specifically designed for this purpose. A key tool being highlighted is the RBI'sUDGAM (Unclaimed Deposits-Gateway to Access Information) portal. This centralized and user-friendly website allows people to search for unclaimed deposits across multiple banks, all in one place.Action: Finally, the initiative is working to simplify the actual claims process itself. Clear Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) and Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) have been developed to make the process more transparent. Special financial inclusion exhibitions, with stalls from banks, insurance companies, and mutual funds, will offer direct, in-person assistance to the public.Finance Minister Sitharaman has assured the public that all unclaimed money is secure, with the government acting as its custodian until the rightful owner is found. This campaign is a powerful call to action, empowering citizens with the tools and information they need to recover their hard-earned money.
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