RBI's UDGAM portal helps registered users search for unclaimed bank deposits across participating banks in one place. It does not pay the money or settle a claim. If a search identifies a possible deposit, the account holder, nominee or legal heir must follow the relevant bank's claim process. Money transferred to RBI's Depositor Education and Awareness Fund can still be claimed through the bank.
UDGAM stands for Unclaimed Deposits Gateway to Access Information. The steps below follow RBI's published UDGAM FAQ, dated 5 March 2024, read again on 4 November 2026. The guide also uses RBI's DEA Fund FAQ and SBI's official claim procedure. It does not assume an old participation count is the number of banks available now.
| Question | Answer |
|---|---|
| What does UDGAM do? | Searches unclaimed deposits across participating banks |
| Who settles a claim? | The bank holding the relevant customer record |
| What is a UDRN? | A reference assigned to an unclaimed account or deposit |
| Does transfer to the DEA Fund remove ownership? | No, a refund can still be claimed |
| Is there a refund claim deadline under the DEA scheme? | No specific time limit is prescribed |
How to search unclaimed deposits on the UDGAM portal
The official portal address linked by RBI is udgam.rbi.org.in. RBI says a user registers with a name and mobile number. Registration identifies the person using the search service; the details used in a deposit search concern the account holder or entity whose money is being traced.
For an individual account search, the FAQ asks for the account holder's name, one or more banks, and one or more identifying inputs. The listed inputs are PAN, driving licence number, voter ID number, passport number and date of birth. These are alternatives in the published search framework, not an instruction to possess every listed document.
If those identifiers are unavailable, RBI says the account holder's address can be used in their place for the search. Old passbooks, deposit receipts and correspondence may help a family reconstruct the name, bank and address used when the account was maintained. Enter the holder's details carefully rather than assuming the searcher's current address belongs in every field.
Non-individual searches use the entity's name and selected bank or banks. The additional identifiers listed are the authorised signatory's name, PAN, Corporate Identification Number and date of incorporation. The FAQ also provides the address alternative for entities.
What does a UDGAM search result mean?
A result is a lead to an account record, not a completed ownership check. RBI says the search output provides information on each bank's claim or settlement process. Follow the relevant bank's process after identifying a possible match rather than treating a similar name as sufficient evidence of entitlement.
The Unclaimed Deposit Reference Number, or UDRN, is generated by the bank's core banking system and assigned to an unclaimed account or deposit transferred to the DEA Fund. RBI explains that it supports claim settlement while avoiding identification of the holder or account branch by third parties through the reference itself.
Keep the reference and the search details together with any old account documents. A missing result does not establish that no old account exists: the FAQ describes a service for participating banks and deposits within the DEA Fund framework. It is not presented as an unrestricted search of every account at every Indian bank.
Why are deposits transferred after ten years?
RBI's DEA Fund FAQ covers deposit balances not operated upon for ten years or more, and amounts remaining unclaimed for that period. The categories include savings, current, fixed or term, and recurring deposit accounts, along with certain other specified balances.
The entire amount, including accrued interest as at transfer, goes to the fund. That transfer does not mean the customer's claim is cancelled. RBI says the bank repays an eligible claimant, including applicable interest for an interest bearing deposit, and then seeks the equivalent refund from the fund. No particular interest rate is assumed in this guide.
There is no specific time limit prescribed under the scheme for the customer or depositor to claim the refund. RBI nevertheless encourages claiming once an unclaimed amount becomes known. The government's explanation of unclaimed asset recovery similarly confirms that ownership continues after transfer.
What documents does the bank need for a claim?
The exact requirements depend on who is claiming and the bank's process. As one concrete example, SBI's official claim page asks an individual customer to visit a branch with the prescribed request, valid identity and address proof, and a recent photograph. It describes reactivation after verification or processing a specific request for final claim and closure.
For nominees and legal heirs, SBI requires the relevant documents and compliance with its claim settlement procedure. Non-individual claims require the organisation's letterhead, authorised signatures and supporting identity and address records, with additional documents where required. These SBI instructions should not be treated as the complete checklist for another bank.
Our guides to bank nomination rules, deposit insurance and bank statement entries explain related records. UDGAM supplies the search route; the bank's verification establishes the claim and the next action on the account.
