- Why in news
- On 6 May 2026 the Ministry of Tribal Affairs held a national review meeting with line ministries and State tribal welfare departments on DA-JGUA, PM-JANMAN and Article 275(1) programmes, and announced new initiatives.
- What it is
- PM-JANMAN is a Centre-run mission for the development of Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups (PVTGs), focused on housing, water, roads, health and education in their habitations. Dharti Aaba Janjatiya Gram Utkarsh Abhiyan (DA-JGUA) is a convergence-based programme that brings several Central schemes together to saturate tribal villages with basic services. Grants under the Proviso to Article 275(1) fund tribal welfare and better administration of Scheduled Areas.
- PM-JANMAN target group
- It is dedicated to the comprehensive development of 75 PVTGs.
- DA-JGUA design
- It integrates multiple Central sector schemes within the same tribal habitations, and is now in its third year.
- Survey progress
- About 2 lakh entries were done in 20 days, against a target of about 12 lakh by end-June 2026.
- Adi Karmayogi Abhiyan
- Adi Sewa Kendras are village-level facilitation centres for grievance redressal and entitlement access. Adi Karmayogi Volunteers are local tribal youth acting as grassroots facilitators.
- Outcome-based assessment
- Performance will be judged on measurable outcomes, not expenditure alone; sector-wise quarterly targets are set for line ministries for FY 2026-27.
Don’t confuse with PM-JANMAN vs DA-JGUA: PM-JANMAN targets only PVTGs; DA-JGUA aims at saturation of tribal villages across the country through convergence.
Don’t confuse with Article 275(1) vs Article 244: Article 275(1) provides grants-in-aid from the Centre for tribal welfare; Article 244 provides for administration of Scheduled and Tribal Areas under the Fifth and Sixth Schedules.
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
- Saturation of basic services in remote tribal habitations narrows development gaps for the most vulnerable groups.
- Outcome-based monitoring and household-level data can improve targeting and accountability.
Problems
- Convergence across many ministries and States depends on coordination and timely data sharing.
- Remote PVTG habitations and historical under-service make delivery slow and costly.
Way forward
- Use survey data to fill household-level entitlement gaps, with district-level verification.
- Strengthen last-mile facilitators such as Adi Sewa Kendras and involve States as co-owners.
Put in your answer
Outcome-based monitoring: The Ministry now anchors assessment in measurable outcomes rather than expenditure alone, an example of reform in scheme monitoring.
Convergence model: DA-JGUA is an example of convergence of Central schemes in the same habitations, with district officials responsible for field verification.
- 2016Mains GS1 · Q10Why tribals called Scheduled Tribes; constitutional provisions for their upliftment
- 2026Mains GS2 · Q6Does tribal development policy reflect socially grounded, equity-based governance? Justify.
- 2020Mains GS4 · Q9Tribal district poverty, youth migration, welfare programmes inadequately benefiting tribals
- 2012Prelims Q4Constitutional provisions NGT Act consonant with; includes Article 275(1) grants
- 2019Prelims Q51Statements on PVTGs: state count, criteria, number notified, Irular inclusion
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: Tribal schemes are testable, with 75 PVTGs and Article 275(1) as facts, but this release is only a review meeting.
Worth revising until Prelims 2027: most news questions come within two years of the event.