Over 3.05 crore beneficiaries across the eight states
REGIONAL / NATIONAL: India’s financial inclusion journey in the North Eastern region is entering a new usage-led phase with over 3.05 crore beneficiaries now connected to formal banking channels across eight states and deposits under Pradhan Mantri Jan Dhan Yojana crossing ₹9,700 crore signalling a clear shift from account opening to active banking usage in some of the country’s most geographically challenging markets.
The momentum comes close on the heels of the government’s recent call urging banks to strengthen digital infrastructure and physical outreach in villages where branch-led banking remains limited. The move is expected to further accelerate the adoption of assisted banking models, particularly through Business Correspondent (BC) centres that have increasingly become the primary banking touchpoint for rural and semi-urban households.
Official financial inclusion data across the eight North Eastern states shows that more than 2.71 crore beneficiaries—nearly 89% of the total—are serviced through rural and semi-urban banking touchpoints, underlining the growing dependence on doorstep and assisted banking services.
Among the states, Tripura with 11.59 lakh beneficiaries and deposits of over ₹685 crore, where as Assam leads the region with over 2.58 crore beneficiaries and deposits of nearly ₹7,484 crore, Meghalaya with 9.07 lakh beneficiaries and balances exceeding ₹482 crore and Manipur with 10.90 lakh beneficiaries and deposits of over ₹314 crore. States including Arunachal Pradesh, Mizoram, Nagaland and Sikkim are also witnessing steady participation, collectively reflecting a broad-based rise in banking adoption across the region.
The data also indicates growing digital participation, with over 1.91 crore RuPay cards issued to beneficiaries across the region pointing to deeper integration of customers into the formal financial ecosystem.
For millions living across hilly terrains, border districts, tribal belts and interior habitations where traditional bank branches remain sparse, BC centres are increasingly becoming the face of everyday banking—enabling customers to deposit cash, withdraw savings, receive direct benefit transfers, access pensions, insurance services, remittances, Aadhaar-enabled banking, Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi benefits and other government services closer to home.
One of the key players supporting this transformation is BLS E-Services Limited, which currently operates Business Correspondent centres across multiple North Eastern states in partnership with State Bank of India, HDFC Bank, and Canara Bank.
Building on the growing adoption of assisted banking across these states, BLS plans to add another 1000 BC centres across the North East over the next 18-24 months, with a strategic focus on underserved districts in Arunachal Pradesh, Nagaland, Mizoram, and Manipur.
“India’s North East region is clearly moving beyond financial inclusion in its traditional sense. What we are now witnessing is active banking behaviour. Customers are increasingly visiting BC centres not just for opening accounts or subsidy withdrawals, but for regular cash deposits, savings, pensions, remittances and day-to-day banking needs. That reflects rising trust in assisted banking,” said Lokanath Panda, COO, BLS E-Services Limited.
He added, “With the government’s renewed focus on strengthening last-mile banking infrastructure, BLS is fully geared up to further expand its BC footprint across the North Eastern states in partnership with leading banks, ensuring quality banking services reach even the most remote customers.”
BLS currently operates over 1000 Business Correspondent (BC) centres across the North Eastern region covering over 60 districts and serving customers in some of India’s most remote and geographically challenging locations. Its last-mile banking footprint extends from Tawang to Dibang Valley in Arunachal Pradesh, to interior clusters of Kiphire in Nagaland, to Gomati and Unakoti in Tripura where the network supports banking access to customers who earlier travelled hours in the hilly terrain for basic banking services now access deposits, withdrawals and government benefits closer to home through local BC centres. BLS’ last-mile touchpoints are operational across Upper Assam, Lower Assam and Barak Valley, which have emerged as one of BLS’s highest transaction centres in the region.
Industry experts believe that with improving digital connectivity, rising financial literacy and growing trust in neighbourhood banking touchpoints, assisted banking could emerge as one of the strongest drivers of the next phase of financial inclusion in the North East.
For millions living far from conventional bank branches, the neighbourhood BC centre is no longer just an alternative—it is steadily becoming their primary bank.