Pradhan Mantri Anusuchit Jaati Abhyuday Yojana (PM

Policy Update
Aditi Singh Kaushik

Background:

Pradhan Mantri Anusuchit Jaati Abhyuday Yojana (PM- AJAY) is a scheme launched by the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment, Government of India in 2021- 22. As a centrally sponsored initiative, it has been launched and implemented with an aim to promote socio-economic development of the Scheduled Castes by ensuring adequate residential infrastructure, employment generation and other opportunities. Three erstwhile Centrally Sponsored Schemes – Pradhan Mantri Adarsh Gram Yojana (PMAGY), Special Central Assistance to Scheduled Castes Sub Plan (SCA to SCSP), and Babu Jagjivan Ram Chhatrawas Yojana (BJRCY) have been merged to form a comprehensive scheme in the form of PM – AJAY. It is, therefore, a merger scheme.

The scheme consists of three components: Adarsh Gram, Grants-in-Aid, and Hostel. Collectively, these core components work towards the development of Scheduled Caste villages into ‘Adarsh Grams’, creation of infrastructure in SC dominated villages, and construction of hostels/ residential schools fully or partially funded by the Central/ State/ UT Governments. PM – AJAY has been implemented in 28 States and Union Territories.

Functioning:

There are vital components under the scheme which enable PM – AJAY to function holistically. Some of these components include-

Annual Action Plans – Although the scheme is fully- funded by the Central Government, States and UTs have the liberty to provide additional funds. However, to receive funds from the Central Government, the concerned states and union territories are required to submit an Annual Action Plan (AAPs) online via the PM -AJAY Portal. As of now, 25 states have submitted Perspective Plans for FY 2023-24, 2024 – 25, and 2025-26. Additionally, a total of Rs. 457.82 Crore has been released for around 8,146 projects aimed at skill development for FY 2023-24 & 2024-25.

Integrated Development through Adarsh Gram – Adarsh Gram aims at transforming villages dominated by Scheduled Castes into ‘model villages.’ Villages with more than 40% SC population, and a total population of 500, are eligible for selection under this vital component, which was also included in the erstwhile Pradhan Mantri Adarsh Gram Yojana. The primary objective of this component is to ensure the integrated development of Scheduled Castes majority villages, by developing requisite infrastructure, and ensuring basic necessities like drinking water, sanitation, and education.

Grants-in-aid for District/ State Level Projects – Previously included in the Special Central Assistance to Scheduled Caste Sub – Plan, this component aims to reduce poverty by providing financial assistance to Comprehensive Livelihood Projects, and other infrastructure development projects in SC majority villages. The objective of such projects is to create livelihood generation, additional financial assistance and sustainable income to the Scheduled Castes. Additionally, these Grants-in-aid provide funds for the development of hostels and residential schools.

Hostels and Residential Facilities – This component aims to increase literacy and enrolment of individuals from the Scheduled Castes in schools and higher educational institutions. Institutions targeted to achieve the goals of this component particularly include top- ranking institutions as per the National Institutional Ranking Framework (NIRF), and institutions that are fully or partially funded by the Central, State/ UT Governments. Enrolment of students from the Scheduled Castes is also encouraged by providing adequate residential facilities in quality institutions and residential schools when required.

Impact and Performance:

Creation of Adarsh Gram- Since 2018-19, around 29,847 villages have been selected for transformation under the Adarsh Gram component of PM-VIJAY. Out of those villages, 11,076 have been declared as Adarsh Gram. In FY 2023-24, a total of 1,260 villages were declared as Adarsh Gram, whereas in FY 2024-25, the number stood at 4,928 villages, with 4,25,821 beneficiaries identified.

Grants-in-Aid for Socio- Economic Development- Since FY 2021-22, 9,549 projects have been approved under this component. Additionally, central assistance of Rs. 1,219.80 Crores has been released since then, which has benefitted 2,01,006 Scheduled Caste beneficiaries. In the past two years, 25 states have submitted Perspective Plans. It is also vital to highlight that Rs. 457.82 Crore has been released for 8,146 projects, including 987 projects for skill development during FY 2023-24, and 2024-25 under this component.

Creation of Hostels and Residential Facilities – Around 2% of the allocated funds are utilized for the construction and maintenance of hostels. As of April 2025, 891 hostels have been sanctioned under the Hostel component, of which 96 hostels are under construction. These sanctions cover around 69,212 beneficiaries, and an amount of 936.27 Crore has been released for the same.

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Fig 1.1

Emerging Issues:

Need for Greater Assistance to the Northeast Region- Speaking at the meeting of the Central Advisory Committee (CAC) in February 2025, Assam Minister for Social Justice and Empowerment, Pijush Hazarika, urged the CAC to increase the hostel component for Assam and the Northeast under the PM – AJAY Scheme. The Minister reiterated that the Northeast, in comparison to other parts of the country, requires more support and assistance through the scheme.

Improvement in Socio- Economic Indicators –There exists a need to improve the identified socio- economic indicators, also known as Monitorable Indicators framed to ensure the holistic development of myriad SC communities residing in the country. An improvement in the indicators shall be viewed as the right step to serve dual purposes – a) Elimination of disparity between SC and Non – SC population. b)- Raising the level of indicators to that of the national average.

Way Forward:

The formation and implementation of Pradhan Mantri Anusuchit Jaati Abhyuday Yojana (PM -AJAY) is a significant step towards ensuring holistic representation of the Scheduled Castes in India. The inclusion of focused interventions and collaborative efforts via the creation of Adarsh Grams, Grants-in-Aid, and Residential Facilities in around twenty – eight States and Union Territories stands out as some of the most vital components of the scheme. It becomes imperative to highlight that a uniform functioning of PM-AJAY, along with its core components, also requires active community participation, enhanced collaboration amongst stakeholders, and participation of state and district – level authorities. It is through these concentrated efforts that we can bring the objectives and goals of the scheme to fruition.

References:

Pradhan Mantri Anusuchit Jaati Abhyuday Yojana (n.d). https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=1970043
Parliament Question : Achievements and Initiatives Regarding PM- Ajay Scheme. (n.d.). https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=2112697
Kumar, S., Kataria, R., & Aggarwal, R. (2025). Pradhan Mantri Anusuchit Jaati Abhyuday Yojana (PM-AJAY). https://socialjustice.gov.in/writereaddata/UploadFile/86481744793621.pdf
Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment, Department of Social Justice and Empowerment, Department of Social Justice & Government of India. (2023). Pradhan Mantri – Anusuchit Jaati Abhyuday Yojana (PM – AJAY). https://socialjustice.gov.in/schemes/104
Sharma, T. (2025, February 8). Pijush Hazarika urges higher hostel grant for Northeast region. The Sunday Guardian Live. https://sundayguardianlive.com/news/pijush-hazarika-urges-higher-hostel-grant-for-northeast-region

About the Contributor:

Aditi Singh Kaushik is a Research Intern at IMPRI. She also holds a Master’s degree in Political Science from Banaras Hindu University. Her research interest lies in understanding the evolving roles of traditional and organic intellectuals in post-colonial countries, within a Gramscian framework.

Acknowledgement: The author extends his sincere gratitude to the IMPRI team and Ms. Aasthaba Jadeja for her invaluable guidance throughout the process.

Disclaimer: All views expressed in the article belong solely to the author and not necessarily to the organisation.