Queen Maxima of the Netherlands, in her capacity as the United Nations Secretary-General's Special Advocate for Financial Health, praised India's progress in financial inclusion and digital public infrastructure during a three-day visit to Mumbai and New Delhi from June 23 to June 25, 2026. Speaking to the media on June 24, she stated, "I am extremely happy to be back in India. I've been working a lot with India for a long time on financial inclusion. Now, it is about financial health, which is very important...You've done a wonderful job with digital public infrastructure. Now the issue is how to make and use this to improve the lives of the people."
Visit Focuses on Financial Health
The visit, undertaken at the invitation of the Government of India, centers on advancing financial health and building on India's achievements in financial inclusion. According to the Royal House of the Netherlands' official press release, around 89 percent of Indians now have a bank account, with improved access to loans, savings products, insurance, and pensions, supported by initiatives such as Jan Dhan, Aadhaar, and the Unified Payments Interface (UPI). The visit aims to improve the quality of financial services so that people can better manage income and expenses, build savings, invest responsibly, and secure their financial futures.
Meetings and Discussions in Mumbai
On June 24 in Mumbai, Queen Maxima met with nurses and young professionals using digital financial platforms such as 'SalarySe' and 'Jupiter Money' to manage finances, save, and invest. She participated in discussions on financial health challenges faced by women and rural communities, the role of artificial intelligence in providing personalized financial advice, and measures to prevent digital fraud and protect consumers. On June 25, she is scheduled to attend discussions on measuring financial health and promoting financial well-being among Indian women. The Mumbai leg of the visit is to conclude with a meeting with Reserve Bank of India Governor Sanjay Malhotra.
New Delhi Agenda
In New Delhi on June 26, Queen Maxima is scheduled to attend the 'Financial Health Demo Day' at the Gates Foundation, where Indian companies will showcase innovations aimed at improving financial health. She will also participate in discussions on responsible data sharing, AI-powered services for farmers, and pension solutions for workers in the informal sector. The visit is expected to conclude with a meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi, during which Queen Maxima will share her observations and findings from the trip.
Previous Visits and Context
This is Queen Maxima's fourth visit to India in her UN advocacy role, following earlier visits in 2014, 2018, and 2022. When asked about the performance of the Netherlands football team in the FIFA World Cup, she told the media, "We hope to be in the finals. We have a long way to go." The Netherlands Embassy in India, Nepal and Bhutan welcomed her on X, stating, "We welcomed Her Majesty Queen Maxima of the Netherlands to India on her 3-day visit - Mumbai and New Delhi in her capacity as the UN Secretary General's Special Advocate for Financial Health."
