Under the Pradhan Mantri Jan Dhan Yojana (PMJDY), what is the maximum overdraft amount available per household to an account holder after six months of satisfactory conduct of the account?

Introduction / Context:
Pradhan Mantri Jan Dhan Yojana (PMJDY) is India's flagship financial inclusion scheme, aimed at providing basic banking facilities to every household. One of its key features is an overdraft facility offered to eligible account holders after they demonstrate satisfactory account operation. The question asks about the maximum overdraft amount per household under the original scheme design.

Given Data / Assumptions:

• We are referring to the basic savings bank deposit accounts opened under PMJDY.
• The overdraft is available after at least six months of satisfactory account conduct.
• The limit is applied on a per household basis, not per individual if multiple members have accounts.
• We consider the original limit that is widely tested in general awareness exams.

Concept / Approach:
The overdraft facility under PMJDY is intended as a small credit line to meet emergency needs and encourage formal financial behaviour. The scheme initially allowed an overdraft of up to Rs 5,000 per eligible household. Later improvements and higher limits have been discussed, but exam questions on static aspects usually refer to the original design. To answer correctly, we recall the standard figure mentioned in government notifications and exam material.

Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Recognise that PMJDY offers an overdraft facility linked to successful use of the account.Step 2: Recall that, after at least six months of satisfactory conduct, one account holder in a household becomes eligible for an overdraft.Step 3: The widely quoted overdraft ceiling is Rs 5,000 per household under the original scheme.Step 4: Compare this with the options: Rs 5,000, Rs 10,000, Rs 2,000 and Rs 15,000.Step 5: Match the remembered figure to Rs 5,000 and select it as the correct answer.

Verification / Alternative check:
Government press releases and PMJDY official summaries clearly mention that the overdraft facility is up to Rs 5,000 per household, after satisfactory operation of the account for six months, with preference given to the woman of the household. Many competitive exam guides repeat this number in their banking awareness sections. This confirms that Rs 5,000 is the figure expected in such questions.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:

• Rs 10,000: Some later enhancements discussed higher limits, but the original and most tested limit in exams is Rs 5,000.
• Rs 2,000: This is significantly below the officially notified overdraft ceiling and is not the standard figure.
• Rs 15,000: This amount is far higher than what is offered under PMJDY and does not match any widely known policy provision.

Common Pitfalls:
A frequent mistake is to confuse PMJDY overdraft limits with other microcredit schemes or Kisan Credit Card limits. Another issue is mixing up later policy discussions with the values that actually appeared in official notifications at the time. To remain accurate, students should link PMJDY with a basic overdraft of up to Rs 5,000, life and accident insurance components, and the emphasis on at least six months of satisfactory account conduct.

Final Answer:
The maximum overdraft available under PMJDY after six months of satisfactory account conduct is Rs 5,000 per household.