Maarg Manthan · Topic 15.7

PM-JANMAN (Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups)

Current Affairs & Government Schemes › Schemes for SC/ST/OBC/Minorities and Divyangjan · Topic 15.7

The Pradhan Mantri Janjati Adivasi Nyaya Maha Abhiyan (PM-JANMAN) is a mission of the Ministry of Tribal Affairs, launched on 15 November 2023, Janjatiya Gaurav Divas, at Khunti in Jharkhand, to bring basic services to the 75 Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups (PVTGs) in 18 states and the Union Territory of Andaman and Nicobar Islands. It has a total outlay of 24,104 crore rupees, of which about 15,336 crore rupees is the central share and 8,768 crore rupees the state share, for 11 interventions run by nine ministries. The coverage period is 2023-24 to 2025-26. Targets include pucca houses, roads, piped water, electricity, health, education and livelihoods in PVTG habitations.

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

At a Glance

Full form Pradhan Mantri Janjati Adivasi Nyaya Maha Abhiyan
Launched 15 November 2023, Khunti, Jharkhand
Ministry Tribal Affairs
Target group 75 PVTGs in 18 states and one UT
Outlay 24,104 crore rupees
Period 2023-24 to 2025-26
Exam link UPSC Prelims, Current Affairs and Government Schemes: Schemes for SC/ST/OBC/Minorities and Divyangjan

Where Does It Fit?

This topic focuses on the smallest and most vulnerable tribal communities. It builds on the tribal schemes covered earlier and comes before the schemes for minorities and persons with disabilities. Previous topic: Van Dhan Vikas Yojana (Tribal Livelihoods). Next topic: Scheme for Development of Minorities (Pradhan Mantri Jan Vikas Karyakram).

What Does PM-JANMAN Provide?

Feature	Details
Target group	75 communities notified as Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups in 18 states and the Andaman and Nicobar Islands
Outlay	24,104 crore rupees: about 15,336 crore rupees from the Centre and 8,768 crore rupees from states
Interventions	11 interventions by nine ministries, covering housing, roads, water, electricity, health, education, nutrition, skills and livelihoods
Housing	Pucca houses with toilets and connections, mainly through the rural housing scheme, with a target of about 4.9 lakh houses, as announced
Connectivity and water	Road links to PVTG habitations under the rural roads scheme and piped water under the Jal Jeevan Mission
Services	Mobile medical units, hostels, Anganwadi centres, multipurpose centres, electrification and Van Dhan Vikas Kendras

Who Are the PVTGs and What Is the Background?

Origin of the category: the Dhebar Commission of 1960-61 identified groups with low literacy, declining or stagnant population and a pre-agricultural level of technology, called Primitive Tribal Groups
Renaming: the category was renamed Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups in 2006 on a recommendation of the Ministry, as the older term was seen as offensive
Criteria: pre-agricultural technology, low literacy, declining or stagnant population and a subsistence economy
Number: 75 PVTGs live in 18 states and one Union Territory, with Odisha having the highest number at 13, as per ministry lists
Examples: Birhor, Sahariya, Baiga, Chenchu, Great Andamanese, Jarawa, Onge, Sentinelese and Toda
Earlier scheme: the Development of PVTGs scheme gave grants through conservation-cum-development plans
Constitutional link: Scheduled Tribes are notified under Article 342, and PVTGs are a sub-category within them
Link to Van Dhan: kendras in PVTG areas are part of the plan, as in Van Dhan Vikas Yojana (Tribal Livelihoods)

What Else Should You Remember?

Why a separate mission: PVTGs live in remote forest areas with poor roads and services, and general schemes miss them
Convergence: nine ministries, including rural development, health, education, power, telecom and women and child development, share targets
Link to rural housing: housing is built under PMAY-G rules with relaxed norms, as in Pradhan Mantri Awaas Yojana – Gramin (PMAY-G)
Link to rural roads: connectivity uses PMGSY norms for small habitations, as in Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana (PMGSY)
Broader mission: the Dharti Aaba Janjatiya Gram Utkarsh Abhiyan covers 63,843 villages through 25 interventions of 17 ministries, and is wider than this mission, as reported
Village scheme: see Pradhan Mantri Adi Adarsh Gram Yojana (PMAAGY) for tribal-majority villages
Status: the coverage period ended in 2025-26, and the government has pushed delivery targets for both missions, as reported in 2026, so the extension or new phase should be checked
Spending: actual spending of about 1,367 crore rupees was reported for 2023-24 in a reply to Parliament, which is a fraction of the three-year outlay and typical of a new mission
Challenges: identification of habitations, enrolment of people without documents, remote geography and staff shortages
Way forward: document camps, community participation, flexible norms and regular third-party review

Why Does It Matter for the Exam?

Number and outlay: 75 PVTGs, 24,104 crore rupees, 11 interventions
Launch: 15 November 2023, Janjatiya Gaurav Divas, Khunti
History: Dhebar Commission and the 2006 renaming
State with most PVTGs: Odisha, at 13
Common errors: confusing with the broader Dharti Aaba Abhiyan or saying 75 states

As an analytical point, communities that are small and remote need services brought to them with flexible rules. A mission works only if documents, roads and staff reach habitations that general schemes missed.

Why Is This Topic Important?

Prelims PVTG numbers and mission facts are common
Mains Vulnerable tribal communities
Linkage Joins housing, roads, water and health schemes

What Came Next?

The next topic covers an area-based programme for minority communities. Next topic: Scheme for Development of Minorities (Pradhan Mantri Jan Vikas Karyakram).

Key People and Terms

PVTG Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Group
Dhebar Commission 1960-61 tribal commission
Janjatiya Gaurav Divas 15 November, Birsa Munda birth anniversary
Habitation Small settlement
Convergence Combining ministries
Pucca Permanent

Exam Corner

Points to Remember

Launched 15 November 2023 from Khunti, Jharkhand.
75 PVTGs, 18 states and one UT.
Outlay: 24,104 crore rupees; 11 interventions; nine ministries.
Period 2023-24 to 2025-26.
Odisha has the most PVTGs.

Do Not Confuse With

PM-JANMAN and Dharti Aaba Janjatiya Gram Utkarsh Abhiyan Mission for 75 PVTGs versus a wider mission for tribal villages
PVTG and Scheduled Tribe A vulnerable sub-category versus the notified tribe category
PM-JANMAN and PMAAGY PVTG habitations versus tribal-majority villages

Memory Hook

Seventy-five groups, eleven actions, nine ministries, one mission.

Mains Angle

Questions ask about tribal vulnerability and mission design. These points give a balanced frame.

Need Remote and vulnerable communities
Design Convergence of nine ministries
Way forward Documents, flexible norms, review

A Question You May Face

An original practice question, not a past paper question.

“Why do Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups need a separate mission? Evaluate PM-JANMAN.”

How to Answer

Intro Define PVTGs and history.
Need Isolation, low literacy, population decline.
Evaluation Convergence, early spending gaps.
Way Documents, flexible norms, review.

GS Relevance

Prelims: PVTG number, outlay, launch date, interventions, ministries. GS Paper 1: tribal society; GS Paper 2: welfare of vulnerable sections.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is PM-JANMAN?

PM-JANMAN is the Pradhan Mantri Janjati Adivasi Nyaya Maha Abhiyan, launched on 15 November 2023 for the 75 Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups. It has an outlay of 24,104 crore rupees and 11 interventions run by nine ministries to provide housing, roads, water, electricity, health and education.

Which ministry runs PM-JANMAN?

The Ministry of Tribal Affairs leads PM-JANMAN, with nine ministries delivering the 11 interventions, including rural development, health, education, power, telecom, jal shakti and women and child development. State governments implement the works and share part of the cost.

How many PVTGs are covered under PM-JANMAN?

The mission covers 75 Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups living in 18 states and the Andaman and Nicobar Islands. Odisha has the largest number of PVTGs at 13. The category was identified through the Dhebar Commission in 1960-61 and renamed in 2006.

Who is eligible for PM-JANMAN benefits?

Households of the 75 notified Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups living in identified habitations are eligible, and benefits vary by intervention, such as a pucca house, a road to the habitation, piped water, electricity, a hostel place or a mobile medical visit.

What is the latest status of PM-JANMAN?

The coverage period was 2023-24 to 2025-26, and in 2026 the Ministry reportedly pushed delivery targets for it and the Dharti Aaba Janjatiya Gram Utkarsh Abhiyan. Whether it has been extended after March 2026 should be checked on the ministry site and in PIB releases.

PYQ Practice — Statement Analysis

1 PM-JANMAN covers 75 Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups.

True

They live in 18 states and one UT.

2 PM-JANMAN was launched on 15 November 2023.