Maarg Manthan · Topic 15.4

Development Action Plan for Scheduled Castes (DAPSC)

Current Affairs & Government Schemes › Schemes for SC/ST/OBC/Minorities and Divyangjan · Topic 15.4

The Development Action Plan for Scheduled Castes (DAPSC) is the budgetary mechanism under which Union ministries earmark funds for the welfare of Scheduled Castes in proportion to their share in the population, which was about 16.6 per cent in the 2011 Census. It is the renamed form of the Special Component Plan, introduced in 1979, which became the Scheduled Castes Sub Plan, and it was renamed DAPSC in 2017-18 when the Planning Commission's plan-non-plan system was ended. A parallel plan exists for Scheduled Tribes. The Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment is the nodal ministry, and the Union Budget carries a statement showing allocations for SC welfare across ministries.

5 min read · UPSC Prelims · Current Affairs & Government Schemes · Schemes for SC/ST/OBC/Minorities and Divyangjan

At a Glance

Full form Development Action Plan for Scheduled Castes
Earlier names Special Component Plan 1979, Scheduled Castes Sub Plan
Renamed 2017-18
Principle Earmark funds in proportion to SC population
SC share About 16.6% (2011 Census)
Nodal ministry Social Justice and Empowerment
Exam link UPSC Prelims, Current Affairs and Government Schemes: Schemes for SC/ST/OBC/Minorities and Divyangjan

Where Does It Fit?

This topic explains how funds for Scheduled Castes are earmarked in the whole budget, not in one scheme. The previous topic covers a scheme that spends a part of this money. Previous topic: Pradhan Mantri Anusuchit Jaati Abhyuday Yojana (PM-AJAY). Next topic: Eklavya Model Residential Schools (EMRS).

How Does DAPSC Work?

Feature	Details
Principle	Union ministries and states set aside funds for SC welfare, at least in proportion to the SC share in population, so that general schemes also benefit them
Origin	The Special Component Plan was introduced in 1979 as part of the Plan, and later called the Scheduled Castes Sub Plan
Renaming	After the end of the plan and non-plan divide, the Sub Plan was renamed the Development Action Plan for Scheduled Castes from 2017-18, with NITI Aayog guidelines
Statement	The Union Budget carries a statement that lists allocations for SC welfare by ministry and scheme
Scope	Ministries must identify schemes with direct and indirect benefits to SC communities and report spending
Nodal agency	The Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment coordinates and monitors, and NITI Aayog issued the guidelines

What Are the Gaps and Reforms?

Notional allocation: earmarked funds are often not spent for SC welfare, and some schemes are counted even when benefits to SC are indirect
Non-lapsable demand: parliamentary committees and commissions have asked for non-lapsable funds so that unspent money rolls over
Task Force: the 2006 Task Force on the SCSP and TSP reviewed the working and asked for stricter earmarking
Ministry coverage: a large number of ministries and departments are supposed to report SC allocations, but compliance varies
Scale: the amount shown in the budget statement runs into a large sum, but only a part is directly targeted to SC households
State plans: most states have their own SC sub-plan laws or budget statements, with Andhra Pradesh, Telangana and Karnataka having statutory frameworks
Karnataka and others: some states have passed laws to make the earmark binding and to bar diversion of funds
Link to PM-AJAY: the scheme spends part of the earmarked sum, as in Pradhan Mantri Anusuchit Jaati Abhyuday Yojana (PM-AJAY)

What Else Should You Remember?

Population base: Scheduled Castes were about 16.6 per cent of the population in the 2011 Census, and the next census, scheduled for 2027, will update this base
Constitutional link: Article 46 asks the State to promote the interests of weaker sections, and Article 341 provides the list of Scheduled Castes
National Commission: the National Commission for Scheduled Castes under Article 338 monitors safeguards and advises on planning
Tribal parallel: the Tribal Sub Plan was renamed the Development Action Plan for Scheduled Tribes, with the earmark linked to ST share of about 8.6 per cent
Link to the tribal scheme: see Pradhan Mantri Adi Adarsh Gram Yojana (PMAAGY) for a scheme under the tribal plan
Link to scholarships: post-matric scholarships form a large share of DAPSC spending, as in Post-Matric and Pre-Matric Scholarship Schemes for SC/ST/OBC Students
Criticism: diversion of funds to roads, buildings and general schemes, weak outcome data and limited transparency of spending
Evaluation: social audit, disaggregated data and a public dashboard could improve accountability
Fiscal federalism: states carry out much of the spending, so central earmarking works only with matching state action
Way forward: make the earmark non-lapsable, publish outcome-linked scheme lists and strengthen the role of the National Commission for Scheduled Castes

Why Does It Matter for the Exam?

History: Special Component Plan in 1979, then SCSP, then DAPSC in 2017-18
Principle: proportional earmarking, near 16.6 per cent
Nodal ministry: Social Justice and Empowerment
Parallel plan: the ST plan with about 8.6 per cent earmark
Common errors: calling it a scheme with its own beneficiaries and funds, when it is a budget mechanism

As an analytical point, earmarking only works if funds are used for programmes that reach SC households and if unspent amounts are not lost. Without transparent data, the plan can become a bookkeeping device.

Why Is This Topic Important?

Prelims History and the principle are asked as facts
Mains Budget design for social justice
Linkage Joins PM-AJAY, scholarships and constitutional bodies

What Came Next?

The next topic covers residential schools for tribal students. Next topic: Eklavya Model Residential Schools (EMRS).

Key People and Terms

DAPSC Development Action Plan for Scheduled Castes
SCSP Scheduled Castes Sub Plan
Special Component Plan Original 1979 name
Earmarking Setting aside funds
Non-lapsable Unspent money carried forward
Statement Budget document on allocations

Exam Corner

Points to Remember

Origin: Special Component Plan, 1979; DAPSC from 2017-18.
Earmark in proportion to SC population, about 16.6 per cent.
Nodal ministry: Social Justice and Empowerment.
Guidelines issued with NITI Aayog.
ST parallel: about 8.6 per cent.

Do Not Confuse With

DAPSC and PM-AJAY Budget earmark across ministries versus a single scheme
DAPSC and reservation Money earmark versus seats and posts
DAPSC and DAPST Plan for SC versus plan for ST

Memory Hook

Share of people, share of budget: sixteen point six for SC.

Mains Angle

Questions ask about budgeting for social justice. These points give a balanced frame.

Idea Proportional earmarking
Gaps Diversion and lapse
Way forward Non-lapsable funds and data

A Question You May Face

An original practice question, not a past paper question.

“Examine the effectiveness of earmarking funds in the budget for Scheduled Castes and suggest reforms.”

How to Answer

Intro Explain DAPSC and its history.
Strengths Visibility and targets.
Gaps Diversion, lapse, data.
Way Non-lapsable funds, audits.

GS Relevance

Prelims: full form, history, share, nodal ministry. GS Paper 2: welfare of vulnerable sections, budgeting, planning, accountability.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the Development Action Plan for Scheduled Castes?

DAPSC is the budget-based mechanism under which Union ministries earmark funds for Scheduled Castes in proportion to their share of the population, about 16.6 per cent in the 2011 Census. It evolved from the Special Component Plan of 1979 and was renamed in 2017-18.

What was DAPSC called earlier?

It was earlier known as the Scheduled Castes Sub Plan, and before that as the Special Component Plan, introduced in 1979. After the end of the plan and non-plan division in 2017-18, it was renamed the Development Action Plan for Scheduled Castes with revised guidelines.

Which ministry coordinates DAPSC?

The Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment is the nodal ministry for DAPSC, and NITI Aayog framed the guidelines for its working. Each Union ministry reports its allocations for Scheduled Castes, which appear in a statement attached to the Union Budget.

How much is earmarked under DAPSC?

The principle is to earmark funds at least in proportion to the share of Scheduled Castes in the population, about 16.6 per cent in the 2011 Census. In practice, spending varies by ministry, and critics say many allocations are notional or only indirectly benefit SC communities.

What are the main criticisms of DAPSC?

Critics point to diversion of earmarked funds to general projects, lack of non-lapsable provision, weak outcome data and poor compliance by some ministries. Reforms suggested include binding laws, as in some states, public dashboards, social audits and stronger monitoring by the National Commission for Scheduled Castes.

PYQ Practice — Statement Analysis

1 DAPSC replaced the Scheduled Castes Sub Plan name from 2017-18.

True

It began as the Special Component Plan in 1979.

2 DAPSC is a single scheme with its own beneficiaries.

False

It is a budget earmarking mechanism.

3 The earmark follows the SC share in population.