Pradhan Mantri Anusuchit Jaati Abhyuday Yojana (PM-AJAY)

 

Pradhan Mantri Anusuchit Jaati Abhyuday Yojana (PM-AJAY)






Introduction

The Pradhan Mantri Anusuchit Jaati Abhyuday Yojna (PM-AJAY) is a comprehensive initiative by the Government of India, launched in FY 2021-22, aimed at the socio-economic upliftment of Scheduled Castes (SCs).





 It is a merger scheme of three erstwhile Centrally Sponsored Schemes, namely, 

  • Pradhan Mantri Adarsh Gram Yojana (PMAGY), 
  • Special Central Assistance to Scheduled Castes Sub Plan (SCA to SCSP) 
  • and Babu Jagjivan Ram Chhatrawas Yojana (BJRCY). 


Implemented by 

Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment,



the scheme focuses on reducing poverty, enhancing educational opportunities, and improving infrastructure in SC-dominated areas.​



FUNDING   


The scheme is 100% funded by the Central Government. However, the States/UTs are free to provide additional funds from their own resources if they so desire. 


The states are required to submit their Annual Action Plans (AAPs) online through the PM-AJAY portal in order to receive funds from the central government. 


The planning process is decentralized, allowing for the creation and approval of projects at both state and district levels.​ 


In 2024-25, the central government received 234 project submissions from state governments, in which 83 projects got sanctioned with 1.18 lakh funds released.


The Scheme implemented in total 28 States and UTs. Arunachal Pradesh, Nagaland, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Andaman & Nicobar Islands, Dadra Nagar Haveli, Daman & Diu, Ladakh& Lakshadweep are not covered under this scheme.

 

Eligibility Criteria for the Scheme

 

  • The Scheduled Castes persons living below the poverty lines are eligible for getting benefits under the various Income Generating Schemes and Skill Development Programmes.

  • In case of Infrastructure Development, the villages having 50% or more SC population are eligible for grants under the Scheme.


Key Components of the Scheme

 

1. Adarsh Gram Development  




Transforming SC-majority villages into ‘Adarsh Grams’ (model villages) by filling critical gaps in infrastructure and services.​ 


Up to 50% of the total allocated funds under the scheme to the States/UTs are used for gap-filling activities for selected villages.


 In FY 2024-25, 4,991 villages have been declared as Adarsh Gram and 4,25,821 beneficiaries have been benefited. Further, 29,846 villages have been selected for this component for 2025-26. Till March 2025, more than 11,000 villages have been declared as Adarsh Grams.


An ‘Adarsh Gram’ 


is one wherein people have access to various basic services so that the minimum needs of all the sections of the society are fully met and disparities are reduced to a minimum. 



 basic services (like drinking water, sanitation, education, nutrition, etc.) that are necessary for a dignified living, creating thereby an environment in which everyone is enabled to utilize his/her potential to the fullest.


2. Grants-in-Aid for Socio-Economic Projects

INCLUDED


Construction of hostels/residential schools.​



  • livelihood projects

  • including 

  • skill development and related infrastructure.​

  • Financial assistance



  • towards loans taken by beneficiaries for asset acquisition/creation required for livelihood generation.​

 

The balance available funds under the scheme, after the share for other three components has been taken out, will be provisionally allocated to the States/UTs in proportion to their SC Population (50% weightage) and on the basis of the ratio of Special Component Plan (now known as State SCSP) to the Annual Plan as compared to the SC population in the States/UTs. 



The State Scheduled Caste Sub-Plan (SCSP), is an umbrella strategy to ensure flow of targeted financial and physical benefits from all the general sectors of development for the benefit of SCs. 25 States have submitted Perspective Plans for 2023-24, 2024-25 & 2025-26 and Rs. 457.82 crore has been released for 8,146 projects including 987 projects for skill development during 2023-24 & 2024-25 under this component.

 



3. Construction of Hostels

This component includes building hostels in higher educational institutions ranked under the National Institutional Ranking Framework (NIRF) and funded by the Centre/State/UT Governments. 


Similarly, it also includes constructing hostels in schools funded by the Centre/State/UT Governments and recommended by the Ministry of Education.​ 


Up to 2% of the total allocated funds are utilized for hostel construction and repair. 


So far, 891 hostels are sanctioned (27 hostels sanctioned during 2024-25) under the PM-AJAY covering 69,212 beneficiaries and an amount of Rs.936.27 crore has been released, thereby encouraging students belonging to scheduled castes to attain quality education.


4. Monitoring and Evaluation

This component has an allocation of up to 5% of the total funds for administrative expenses, including:​

  • Development of a centralized Management Information System (MIS).​
  • Hiring institutions for technical resource support and manpower.​
  • Provision of office equipment and IT facilities.​
  • Undertaking evaluation projects and social audits.​
  • Social Audit of the scheme implementation.

During 2024-25, Rs. 6.64 crore has been utilized as administrative expense under PM-AJAY.


 SOURCE PIB

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