Scheme
PM-AJAY (Pradhan Mantri Anusuchit Jaati Abhyuday Yojana)
GS2 Welfare schemes · Scheduled CastesPrelims and Mains
- Why in news
- On 25 May 2026 the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment announced the launch of the PM-AJAY portal and mobile app to digitise work under all three components of PM-AJAY.
- What it is
- PM-AJAY is a Centrally Sponsored Scheme of the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment for the socio-economic development of Scheduled Castes. It merges three earlier schemes: the Pradhan Mantri Adarsh Gram Yojana, the Special Central Assistance to Scheduled Castes Sub Plan, and the Babu Jagjivan Ram Chhatrawas Yojana. It works through three components: Adarsh Gram, Grants-in-Aid, and hostels.
- Components
- The scheme has three main components: developing eligible villages into Adarsh Grams, Grants-in-Aid for district and State-level projects, and building and repairing hostels in higher educational institutions.
- Adarsh Gram score
- A village must reach a score of 70 out of 100 on socio-economic development indicators to be declared an Adarsh Gram.
- Village Development Plans
- Need-based plans identify gaps in infrastructure and services and promote convergence with Central and State schemes. Gap-filling aid covers needs that existing programmes cannot fully meet.
- Fund release condition
- No fresh Adarsh Gram funds went to Andhra Pradesh in 2023-24 to 2025-26 because of unspent balance and pending Utilisation Certificates. Releases depend on using earlier funds.
- Merged schemes
- PM-AJAY merged the PM Adarsh Gram Yojana, SCA to SCSP and Babu Jagjivan Ram Chhatrawas Yojana, from 2021-22.
- Launch year
- PM-AJAY was launched in 2021-22 and runs through three components.
- Funds released
- Rs 4,276.62 crore was released up to 2025-26 across 30 states and UTs. States and UTs reported utilisation of Rs 3,185.072 crore.
- Adarsh Gram
- 3,112 villages have been identified since 2018-19 under the Adarsh Gram component.
- Evaluation
- The Development Monitoring and Evaluation Office (DMEO) of NITI Aayog independently evaluated the scheme and found positive impact.
- Proposed continuation
- The Department proposes to continue the scheme from 2026-27 to 2030-31 with a higher outlay.
- Components covered
- The portal and app cover all three components: Adarsh Gram, Grants-in-Aid and Hostels.
- Adarsh Gram indicators
- Model villages are monitored on 50 socio-economic indicators across 10 developmental domains.
- Coverage
- The dashboard records progress in over 47,000 SC-majority villages and over 4 million beneficiaries.
- Fund flow
- The portal is a central database linked to milestone-linked fund flows. Tracking begins once a Village Development Plan is digitally approved.
- Hostel component on the app
- Field inspectors upload geo-tagged, time-stamped photos at building stages to validate progress.
- Scheme type and ministry
- PM-AJAY is a Centrally Sponsored Scheme run by the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment.
Don’t confuse with PM-AJAY vs PM-JANMAN: PM-AJAY is for Scheduled Castes under the Social Justice Ministry. PM-JANMAN targets Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups and is run by the Tribal Affairs Ministry.
Don’t confuse with PM-AJAY vs PM-YASASVI: PM-AJAY is area and project based, including village development. PM-YASASVI is an education scheme for OBC, EBC and DNT students.
Don’t confuse with PM-AJAY vs PMAGY: PMAGY (Pradhan Mantri Adarsh Gram Yojana) was one of the three schemes merged into PM-AJAY. It is now the Adarsh Gram component.
Schemes: 52 Prelims questions since 2013, 10 in Prelims 2026 alone. They test features, the period and who funds it. In Mains, 33 news-triggered questions, mostly GS3.
Why it matters
- Integrates infrastructure, livelihood and skills in SC-dominated villages, reducing disparities in one framework.
- Village Development Plans promote convergence with other Central and State schemes.
- Targets SC-dominated villages with infrastructure, education and livelihood support in one convergent scheme.
- Hostels and grants-in-aid widen educational access for SC students.
- Digital planning and milestone-linked fund flow can improve transparency and speed of delivery to SC beneficiaries.
- Geo-tagged, real-time monitoring strengthens accountability in village and hostel works.
Problems
- Unspent balances and pending Utilisation Certificates block further fund releases, as seen in Andhra Pradesh.
- Many selected villages (267 in Andhra Pradesh) are yet to reach the 70-point score; gap-filling is slow.
- Utilisation lags release: Rs 3,185 crore reported against Rs 4,276 crore released.
- The release gives the Adarsh Gram count as 3,112 identified, with 3,111 declared in Tamil Nadu, which needs clarification and shows uneven reporting.
- Poor connectivity and low digital literacy among field functionaries can limit use of the app.
- Data entered through the portal may be incomplete or inaccurate, and digital tracking does not itself ensure outcomes.
Way forward
- Speed up Utilisation Certificate submission and tie releases to measurable outcomes.
- Strengthen convergence and monitoring so villages reach the Adarsh Gram score on time.
- Speed up fund use through timely state plans and monitoring of outcomes.
- Use independent evaluations such as DMEO's to fix gaps before the 2026-31 phase.
- Train State and district staff and keep offline modes working in low-connectivity areas.
- Verify portal data through social audits and independent evaluation of outcomes.
Put in your answer
DMEO evaluation: NITI Aayog's DMEO found improved access to infrastructure, electricity, banking, healthcare, education and livelihoods in beneficiary villages.
2025-26 release: Rs 1,100.09 crore was released under PM-AJAY in 2025-26 alone.
Digital monitoring example: The PM-AJAY portal shows how milestone-linked fund flow and geo-tagged inspections can be used in welfare delivery.
- 2013Mains GS2 · Q12Critically evaluate restructuring centrally sponsored schemes to aid vulnerable sections
- 2024Mains GS1 · Q18Comment on underprivileged sections not getting affirmative action benefits.
- 2014Mains GS2 · Q11Do schemes protecting resources for backward communities exclude them from urban business?
- 2019Mains GS2 · Q18Discuss why welfare schemes for vulnerable sections are ineffective without awareness and involvement
- 1999Prelims Q22Which social group has the highest poverty extent per 1990s government statistics?
- 2026Prelims Q59Statements on the Parliament's Committee on Welfare of SCs and STs
UPSC’s own questions that come close to this issue, from our Prelims and Mains banks.
No practice question for this one; the card may still help an answer. Why: Lasting scheme with three components (Adarsh Gram, grant-in-aid, hostels); portal launch adds little for a statement. Schemes are 16% of Prelims news questions.
Source: PIB, Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment, 25 May, 19:18 IST · Release 289228
Issue page →Worth revising until Prelims 2028: most news questions come within two years of the event.