Vijayadashami 2025: Dussehra’s Victory in Finance & Payments
The Citizen Advocate Summary: Declaring April 11 as Safe ePay Day
Proposing April 11 as Safe ePay
Day to mark UPI’s pilot launch on April 11, 2016, by NPCI with 21 banks,
initiated by Dr. Raghuram G. Rajan in Mumbai. This initiative celebrates UPI’s
seamless integration of banking and merchant payments.
April 11 – Declare ‘Safe ePay
Day’,
Yes, April 11 is vacant in the UN
Observance Day
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Dussehra 2025 – Vijayadashami’s Message & RBI Claim Window
“October 1,
2025 marks Vijayadashami (Dussehra) and the RBI’s new scheme for inoperative
accounts & unclaimed deposits. The race to reclaim has begun.”
------------------------------------------------------
🔥 October
1, 2025 – Vijayadashami / Dussehra
Triumph of Good over Evil, Knowledge over
Ignorance, Security over Chaos
🪔 Part 1 —
Introduction: Vijayadashami & RBI’s New Beginning
October 1, 2025 is no ordinary date. It carries the fragrance
of incense, the glow of diyas, and the thunder of fireworks. Across India,
millions gather to mark Vijayadashami (Dusshera) — the day when good
triumphs over evil, knowledge defeats ignorance, and light overcomes darkness.
Ramlila stages come alive, Ravana’s effigies blaze into ash 🔥, and in Bengal, the idols
of Maa Durga are immersed with both tears and chants.
But this year, the festival of victory carries a
second, quieter significance — one that begins not in temples or fields, but in
the very heart of India’s financial system. The Reserve Bank of India (RBI)
has chosen this very day to launch a nationwide initiative:
👉 The
Scheme for Facilitating Accelerated Payout of Inoperative Accounts and
Unclaimed Deposits (Oct 1, 2025 – Sept 30, 2026).
🎯 Why
Today Matters Double
On one side, families celebrate Rama’s triumph over Ravana 🏹 and Durga’s victory over
Mahishasura 🪔.
On the other, citizens are now empowered to reclaim forgotten money lying in
banks — in accounts long inactive, or deposits left untouched.
It is as if the symbolism of Dusshera — burning away deception
and restoring justice — has been mirrored in the financial world. The RBI is
saying: let no rightful wealth remain trapped in shadows; let it return to
its true owners.
🏁 The Race
Has Begun - Linking Vijayadashami to Safe Digital Finance
Dusshera is often seen as a moment of climax — the
decisive arrow that sets Ravana aflame, the final stroke of Durga that fells
the demon. But it is also a beginning — of new harvests, new learnings,
new journeys.
The RBI’s scheme embraces this same duality. With the press
release on September 27, and its official start today, it has opened a one-year
window for banks and depositors to act. From October 1, 2025 to
September 30, 2026, the call is clear:
⚡ “The
race has begun — not of arrows, but of awareness; not to slay demons, but to
reclaim what is rightfully yours.”
This race is not against others, but against time. Just as
Ravana’s effigy burns swiftly, so too must citizens act swiftly to file claims,
reactivate accounts, and ensure that unclaimed wealth returns home.
📜 Part 2 —
The RBI Scheme Explained Simply - Why secure digital payments are today’s
victory over fraud
Not all victories come from battlefields — some are won in the
quiet balance sheets of banks, in the dusty ledgers of forgotten accounts, in
the sighs of families who never knew a deposit was waiting for them.
That is the space the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has
stepped into with its new initiative.
Launched on October 1, 2025, and valid till September
30, 2026, this scheme is designed to make it faster, easier, and more
rewarding for customers (or their legal heirs) to reclaim money lying idle
in banks.
💡 What is
an Inoperative Account?
- A
bank account that has no customer-initiated transaction for 2 years
or more.
- Such
accounts are still valid, but they lie dormant, vulnerable to being
forgotten.
💡 What is
an Unclaimed Deposit?
- Fixed
deposits, savings accounts, recurring deposits, or other balances that
have been untouched for 10 years or more.
- Banks
transfer these funds to the Depositor Education and Awareness (DEA)
Fund managed by the RBI.
- But
importantly, depositors or their heirs can still claim this money back.
🎯 Why Did
RBI Launch This Scheme?
- Customer
protection: To ensure rightful owners do not lose access
to their money.
- Awareness
drive: Many citizens are unaware that such funds
even exist.
- Simplification:
Standardized, accelerated process across banks.
- Encouragement: By
offering payout incentives (a percentage of the unclaimed amount)
when claims are settled.
📊 Table 1:
Scheme at a Glance
|
Type of Deposit / Account |
Condition |
Accelerated Payout %* |
Claim Window |
|
Savings / Current A/c 🏦 |
Inoperative > 2 yrs |
5% of balance |
Oct 2025 – Sept 2026 |
|
Term / Fixed Deposit 📑 |
Unclaimed > 10 yrs |
7.5% of deposit |
Oct 2025 – Sept 2026 |
|
Recurring Deposit 💰 |
Unclaimed > 10 yrs |
7.5% of deposit |
Oct 2025 – Sept 2026 |
|
Other eligible deposits 🪙 |
Per RBI list |
5–7.5% |
Oct 2025 – Sept 2026 |
*The payout % is an additional incentive, over and
above the original principal + accrued interest (where applicable), to
encourage claimants to act within the scheme year.
🪔 Why
Today’s Launch is Symbolic
Just as Vijayadashami declares a decisive victory, the
RBI has declared war against inertia, neglect, and financial unawareness.
Deposits once lost in the fog are being brought into the light.
🏹 Part 3 —
Parallels with Dusshera: Victory in Myth, Victory in Money
Festivals are not just rituals — they are anchors that
help us interpret today’s challenges through the lens of timeless stories.
Vijayadashami is one such anchor.
🔥 Ravana’s
Ten Heads ↔ Forgotten Deposits
Each unclaimed deposit is like a “head of Ravana” — waiting to
be struck down by awareness and action.
🪔 Durga’s
Victory ↔ Citizens Empowered
Citizens reclaiming deposits is an act of empowerment — a
victory over neglect, ignorance, and bureaucracy.
📚
Vidyarambham ↔ Financial Literacy
Learning how to check, claim, and protect deposits is the new
Vidyarambham.
🌿 Shami
Leaves ↔ Shared Prosperity
When unclaimed deposits return to rightful owners, it is like
exchanging prosperity — wealth is renewed and shared.
📊 Table 2:
Mythic Parallels & Financial Symbols
|
Festival Symbol |
Mythic Meaning |
Modern Financial Parallel |
|
Ravana’s heads 🔥 |
Arrogance, deceit |
Forgotten, scattered deposits |
|
Durga vs Mahishasura 🪔 |
Triumph of Shakti |
Citizens reclaiming wealth |
|
Vidyarambham 📚 |
Beginning of learning |
Financial & digital literacy |
|
Shami/Apta leaves 🌿 |
Gold, prosperity |
Wealth returned to families |
|
Burning effigies 🎆 |
End of evil |
End of financial neglect |
🏦 Part 4 —
How Citizens Can Act: Step-by-Step Guide
Here is a simple step-by-step process to reclaim your rightful
money 👇
📊 Table 3:
Citizen’s Roadmap to Claim
|
Step |
Action |
Tools / Documents |
Result |
|
1️⃣
Identify |
Check old accounts, FDs |
Passbooks, FD receipts |
Shortlist possible claims |
|
2️⃣ Search |
Use RBI’s UDGAM portal |
PAN / Voter ID / Mobile |
Confirm unclaimed deposits |
|
3️⃣
Approach |
Visit branch of account |
Claim form |
Bank initiates process |
|
4️⃣ Submit |
Provide KYC & proof |
Aadhaar, PAN, receipts, heirship docs |
Bank validates |
|
5️⃣
Receive |
Get payout |
Bank transfer |
Balance + 5–7.5% incentive |
Each account revived, each deposit reclaimed is one more arrow
that strikes at the Ravana of forgetfulness. 🏹🔥
💳 Part 5 —
Safe ePay Day Connection: The Larger Vision
Vijayadashami is not only about ending one battle; it is about
setting the tone for the future.
📊 Table 4:
Vijayadashami Themes ↔ Safe
ePay Parallels
|
Vijayadashami Theme |
Symbolism |
Safe ePay Parallel |
|
Rama’s arrow 🎯 |
Truth strikes deceit |
Fraud-free payments |
|
Durga’s trident 🪔 |
Power defeats arrogance |
Awareness defeats scams |
|
Ravana’s effigy 🔥 |
End of evil |
End of online fraud |
|
Shami leaves 🌿 |
Shared prosperity |
Inclusive financial safety |
|
Vidyarambham 📚 |
New beginnings |
Digital literacy & vigilance |
On April 11, when we imagine Safe ePay Day, we are
essentially carrying forward the spirit of Vijayadashami into the digital age.
✨ Part 6 —
Closing Reflections
Every festival is a mirror. It reflects not only the past but
also the responsibilities of the present.
🌸 This
Vijayadashami, let us not only watch the fireworks in the sky, but also light
the lamps of awareness in our financial lives. Let us celebrate not only with
rituals but with action — reclaiming deposits, securing payments, and ensuring
that every family stands victorious.
Because the true joy is not just in watching effigies burn,
but in knowing that fraud, neglect, and insecurity cannot survive where
awareness thrives.
📜
Disclaimer
This article is for informational and awareness
purposes only, based on publicly available RBI guidelines and cultural
references. Readers are advised to consult their respective banks or RBI’s
official website for complete and updated details before taking any financial
action.
🌿💳🧠🌍Appeal for Safe ePay Day 🌟
## Call to Action
I urge governments, financial institutions, businesses, and
communities worldwide to join hands in declaring April 11 as **Safe ePay Day**.
Let’s celebrate UPI’s milestone by making **Safe ePay Day** a
global movement for secure, innovative fintech.
Together, we can build a future where financial access is
universal, and every e-payment is safe—starting with **Safe ePay Day** in 2026.
No Vada Pav,
not even one bite,
Till SafeePay Day takes off in flight.
Quirky vow with a Mumbai flair—
Announce the date, and I’ll be there!
📌
References
1. Nayakanti,
P. (2025, September 7). September 07 — National Buy a Book Day and April 11
— Safe ePay Day: Building Trust, One Page and One Payment at a Time.
Medium.
Retrieved from https://medium.com/@nshantin/september-07-national-buy-a-book-day-and-april-11-safe-epay-day-building-trust-one-80483f34d7e7
2. Nayakanti,
P. (2025, August 13). 218th Lalbagh Flower Show via RV Road Interchange!
Innovation in Banking.
Retrieved from https://innovationinbanking.blogspot.com/2025/08/august-13-metro-rides-blooms-218th.html
Prashant Nayakanti. (n.d.). LinkedIn profile. Retrieved
September 2025, from
https://in.linkedin.com/in/prashantnayakanti
RBI 01) https://www.rbi.org.in/Scripts/BS_PressReleaseDisplay.aspx?prid=61330
https://www.rbi.org.in/Scripts/bs_viewcontent.aspx?Id=4724
