- Why in news
- On 10 August 2026, the Minority Affairs Minister told the Rajya Sabha in a written reply which schemes serve minority communities, including hill-based ones, across the country and in West Bengal.
- What it is
- PM VIKAS (Pradhan Mantri Virasat Ka Samvardhan) is a Central Sector Scheme of the Ministry of Minority Affairs. It merges earlier livelihood schemes into one integrated programme for education, skilling and employment of minority communities. It works alongside PMJVK, which builds community infrastructure in minority concentration areas.
- Scheme type
- PM VIKAS is an integrated Central Sector Scheme run by the Ministry of Minority Affairs.
- Components of PM VIKAS
- Four components: Skilling and Training, Women Leadership and Entrepreneurship, Education, and Infrastructure Development through convergence with PMJVK.
- PMJVK
- PMJVK is a Centrally Sponsored Scheme creating community infrastructure in Minority Concentration Areas, in sectors such as health, education, skilling, drinking water, sanitation, sports and renewable energy.
- Notified minorities
- Six communities are centrally notified: Buddhists, Christians, Jains, Muslims, Parsis and Sikhs.
- Delivery channel
- NMDFC works through State Channelising Agencies nominated by states; in West Bengal this is WBMDFC.
Don’t confuse with Central Sector vs Centrally Sponsored: PM VIKAS is a Central Sector Scheme (Centre funds it fully), while PMJVK is a Centrally Sponsored Scheme (cost shared with states).
Don’t confuse with PM VIKAS vs PMJVK: PM VIKAS focuses on skilling, education and livelihood; PMJVK builds community infrastructure in minority concentration areas.
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
- Merging five livelihood schemes into one reduces duplication and gives a single framework for minority skilling, education and women's entrepreneurship.
- Credit through NMDFC with income-based tiers targets economically weaker minority families.
Problems
- Delivery depends on State Channelising Agencies, whose capacity and reach vary across states, especially in remote hill areas.
- Awareness and access to schemes can be low among small and remote minority communities.
Way forward
- Strengthen state channelising agencies and monitor outcomes with district-level data.
- Widen outreach and awareness in hill and remote areas.
Put in your answer
PM VIKAS merger: Example of scheme rationalisation: five schemes (Seekho Aur Kamao, USTTAD, Hamari Dharohar, Nai Roshni, Nai Manzil) merged into one.
- 2023Mains GS2 · Q18Analyse linkages between education, skill and employment given skill programmes' success
- 2021Mains GS2 · Q7Comment on strengthening 'Earn while you learn' to make vocational training meaningful
- 2016Mains GS2 · Q16Government measures to make manpower educated, skilled and employable
- 2001Prelims Q13Which statements on notified minority communities and constitutional protection are correct
- 2009Prelims Q11Purpose for which the Deepak Parekh Committee was constituted
- 2011Prelims Q33Benefits of being notified a national minority, including exclusive educational institutions
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: Integrated scheme merging five older schemes, linked to PMJVK. Schemes are 16% of Prelims news questions, but this reply is routine.
Worth revising until Prelims 2028: most news questions come within two years of the event.