Financial Literacy Week 2026 Inaugurated by Chief Secretary for J&K And Ladakh

The Financial Literacy Week (FLW) 2026 for the Union Territories of Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh was officially kicked off by Chief Secretary, Atal Dulloo. The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) is hosting this week-long event from February 09 to February 13, 2026, with a primary focus on enhancing financial awareness and promoting safe banking practices among the populace.

Attendees at the event included prominent figures like Rachna Sharma, Secretary of Rural Development and Panchayati Raj Department; Vidhu Shekhar, Additional Deputy Commissioner of Jammu; Deepak Dubey, Joint Director of Information in Jammu; Vikas Mittal, GM/O-i-C of NABARD, Jammu; Sunit Kumar, CGM of J&K Bank; heads of various banks; as well as officials and representatives from government departments, RBI, banks, financial institutions, and UTLBC J&K and Ladakh.

In his address to bankers and stakeholders, the Chief Secretary emphasized the significance of financial inclusion as a reflection of the Gandhian principle of “Sarvodaya through Antyodaya”. He highlighted the critical role of financial access and empowerment in achieving seven out of the seventeen Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

Chief Secretary Dulloo also commended the collaborative efforts made during the recently concluded three-month financial inclusion campaign, which saw substantial progress in updating KYC details for nearly 5.9 lakh accounts, covering around 51 percent of the targeted accounts.

Furthermore, he noted the ongoing initiatives by institutions like RBI, NABARD, SEBI, PFRDA, and banks to enhance financial literacy and awareness among citizens. The integration of financial literacy lessons into the JKBOSE curriculum, alongside livelihood training and skill development programs, is a testament to the growing importance of financial education.

This year’s theme, “KYC – Your First Step to Safe Banking”, underscores the need for a Centralised KYC mechanism to streamline financial transactions, improve credit access, ensure account hygiene, and bolster defense against financial fraud and cyber threats.

Chief Secretary Dulloo stressed the importance of grassroots outreach through platforms like Common Service Centres (CSCs) and Self Help Groups (SHGs) to enhance financial awareness at the community level. He also advocated for utilizing ATM kiosks, social media, and railways to promote financial literacy and empowerment.

The theme for FLW 2026, “KYC – Your First Step to Safe Banking”, aims to educate the public on various sub-themes related to KYC compliance, including Basics of Know Your Customer (KYC), Central KYC Registry (CKYC), and Account Hygiene and Financial Discipline.

Chandrashekhar Azad, Regional Director of RBI Jammu, highlighted the success of last year’s campaign and emphasized the importance of educating the public on all aspects of KYC compliance to build a secure and transparent financial ecosystem.

Throughout the week, RBI, in collaboration with banks and stakeholders, will conduct awareness programs and outreach activities to promote the importance of KYC as a fundamental step towards ensuring a secure and trustworthy financial environment for all.