Financial Literacy Week (FLW) 2026 for the Union Territories of Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh was organised on February 9 by the Reserve Bank of India (RBI), Jammu, at Hotel Vivanta, Jammu.

The event was graced by Chief Secretary, Government of UT of J&K, Atal Dulloo, as the Chief Guest, in the presence of Chandrashekhar Azad, Regional Director, RBI Jammu.

The programme was attended by dignitaries including Rachna Sharma, Secretary, Rural Development and Panchayati Raj Department; Vidhu Shekhar, Additional Deputy Commissioner, Jammu; Deepak Dubey, Joint Director Information, Jammu; Vikas Mittal, General Manager and Officer-in-Charge, NABARD Jammu; Sunit Kumar, Chief General Manager, J&K Bank; controlling heads of banks; and other officers and representatives from Government departments, RBI, banks and financial institutions, and the UT Level Bankers’ Committee (UTLBC) of J&K and Ladakh.

Earlier, FLW 2026—being observed from February 9 to 13—was inaugurated by RBI Governor Sanjay Malhotra in Mumbai. The RBI has been observing Financial Literacy Week annually since 2016, each year focusing on a specific theme targeted at particular segments of the population.

The objective of FLW is to spread awareness on key financial topics through focused campaigns. The theme for this year is “KYC – सुरक्षित बैंकिंग की ओर पहला कदम / KYC – Your First Step to Safe Banking.” The sub-themes include the basics of Know Your Customer (KYC), the Central KYC Registry (CKYC), and account hygiene and discipline. The theme underscores the importance of KYC as the foundation of safe and secure banking.

In his opening remarks, Chandrashekhar Azad stated that last year a nationwide campaign was conducted at the Gram Panchayat level to achieve saturation of Financial Inclusion (FI) schemes. As part of the initiative, re-KYC of bank accounts was carried out by banks across the country. RBI Jammu, in coordination with banks and other stakeholders in the UTs of Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh, actively participated in the campaign to facilitate KYC re-enrolment of eligible account holders in every Gram Panchayat.

Building on the awareness created through the re-KYC campaign, FLW 2026 aims to educate the public on all aspects of KYC. The focus is on clarifying that while KYC is an essential regulatory requirement, it is simple to comply with due to the availability of safe and convenient modes. The campaign also seeks to familiarise people with facilities such as the Central KYC Registry (CKYC), which simplifies the KYC process.

Additionally, the campaign emphasises the need to remain vigilant against fake calls, messages, and links related to KYC updates that can result in financial fraud. It also aims to sensitise people about the serious consequences of becoming money mules by falling prey to fraudulent inducements.

Throughout the week, the RBI, in collaboration with banks and other stakeholders, will organise awareness programmes and outreach activities across the country, including the UTs of Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh. These efforts will continue throughout the year to ensure sustained impact. Through this collective initiative, RBI seeks to reinforce the message that KYC is not merely a regulatory formality, but a crucial step towards building a secure and trustworthy financial ecosystem.