Maarg Manthan · Topic 15.3

Pradhan Mantri Anusuchit Jaati Abhyuday Yojana (PM-AJAY)

Current Affairs & Government Schemes › Schemes for SC/ST/OBC/Minorities and Divyangjan · Topic 15.3

The Pradhan Mantri Anusuchit Jaati Abhyuday Yojana (PM-AJAY) is a centrally sponsored scheme of the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment, started in 2021-22, that merged 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 aims to reduce poverty among Scheduled Castes, improve socio-economic indicators in SC-majority villages and provide hostels for SC students. It has three components: Adarsh Gram for integrated village development, Grants-in-Aid for livelihood and skill projects, and Hostels. It is implemented in 28 states and Union Territories, with funds shared between the Centre and states.

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

At a Glance

Full form Pradhan Mantri Anusuchit Jaati Abhyuday Yojana
Ministry Social Justice and Empowerment
Started 2021-22
Merged PMAGY, SCA to SCSP, BJRCY
Components Adarsh Gram, Grants-in-Aid, Hostel
Coverage 28 states and Union Territories
Exam link UPSC Prelims, Current Affairs and Government Schemes: Schemes for SC/ST/OBC/Minorities and Divyangjan

Where Does It Fit?

This topic is the main development scheme for Scheduled Caste communities. It follows the scholarship schemes and leads into the funding principle behind SC welfare, the special plan within budgets. Previous topic: Post-Matric and Pre-Matric Scholarship Schemes for SC/ST/OBC Students. Next topic: Development Action Plan for Scheduled Castes (DAPSC).

What Are the Three Components of PM-AJAY?

Component	What it does
Adarsh Gram	Integrated development of villages with a large SC population, so that gaps in roads, schools, health, drinking water and sanitation are filled and each such village is declared an Adarsh Gram when it meets set indicators
Grants-in-Aid	Funds for district and state level projects on livelihood, skill development, income generation, such as training, assets for self-employment and small enterprises
Hostel	Construction of hostels for SC boys and girls in schools and colleges, as per norms, so that students from remote areas can continue studies
Merged schemes	Pradhan Mantri Adarsh Gram Yojana, Special Central Assistance to Scheduled Castes Sub Plan and Babu Jagjivan Ram Chhatrawas Yojana
Funding	A centrally sponsored scheme, with the Centre and states sharing costs, and a higher central share for special category states
Digital tools	A PM-AJAY portal and mobile app track projects, funds and indicators

What Progress Is Reported?

Villages: a July 2026 report based on a government release said about 16,759 villages had been declared Adarsh Grams out of roughly 47,000 covered villages, with over 46,000 development works completed, as reported
Beneficiaries: the same report spoke of more than 47 lakh citizens benefitted through the Adarsh Gram component, as reported
Village plans: village development plans were reported for over 24,000 villages, which shows plans are ahead of full declaration
Hostels: hundreds of hostels have been completed, and earlier reports mentioned about 785 student hostels completed, so numbers should be checked for the latest date
Selection of villages: villages with a high SC population, often more than 40 per cent, are considered, according to the guidelines
Indicators: a village is declared Adarsh when it has reached a set of monitorable indicators in areas such as education, health, sanitation and livelihoods
Central review: a central advisory committee reviews the scheme and suggests changes
Link to tribal scheme: the tribal counterpart is a separate programme, as in Pradhan Mantri Adi Adarsh Gram Yojana (PMAAGY)

What Else Should You Remember?

Why merge schemes: separate small schemes had overlapping aims, and merging was meant to reduce fragmentation and improve delivery
SCA to SCSP: Special Central Assistance to the Scheduled Castes Sub Plan gave central money to states as an addition to their own SC sub-plan outlay
Babu Jagjivan Ram Chhatrawas Yojana: the earlier hostel scheme named after the Dalit leader and former Deputy Prime Minister
Link to budget plan: the Development Action Plan for Scheduled Castes sets the earmark for SC welfare across ministries, as in Development Action Plan for Scheduled Castes (DAPSC)
Link to scholarships: hostels and scholarships work together for retention, as in Post-Matric and Pre-Matric Scholarship Schemes for SC/ST/OBC Students
Constitutional link: Article 46 on weaker sections and Article 17 on abolition of untouchability form the base of SC welfare policy
SC population: Scheduled Castes were about 16.6 per cent of the population in the 2011 Census
Criticism: uneven pace across states, fund release delay, quality of assets and the risk of treating villages as units when many SC households live in mixed villages
Challenges: weak monitoring of outcomes, low demand-driven planning and shortage of staff at state level
Way forward: outcome-based indicators, social audit, direct support for enterprise and better coordination with line departments

Why Does It Matter for the Exam?

Full form: Pradhan Mantri Anusuchit Jaati Abhyuday Yojana
Components: Adarsh Gram, Grants-in-Aid, Hostel
Merged schemes: three earlier schemes, including a hostel scheme named after Babu Jagjivan Ram
Ministry: Social Justice and Empowerment
Common errors: confusing with PMAAGY, which is for tribal villages

As an analytical point, merging schemes can give states flexibility, but results depend on strong plans and honest monitoring of outcomes. Counting villages declared as Adarsh Grams should be paired with tracking of actual gains in education, income and dignity.

Why Is This Topic Important?

Prelims Components and merged schemes are asked
Mains SC welfare and scheme convergence
Linkage Joins DAPSC, scholarships and PMAAGY

What Came Next?

The next topic covers the budget-based plan that earmarks funds for Scheduled Castes. Next topic: Development Action Plan for Scheduled Castes (DAPSC).

Key People and Terms

Anusuchit Jaati Scheduled Caste
Abhyuday Upliftment
Adarsh Gram Model village
SCSP Scheduled Castes Sub Plan
BJRCY Babu Jagjivan Ram Chhatrawas Yojana
Grants-in-Aid Project funds for states

Exam Corner

Points to Remember

Started in 2021-22 by Social Justice and Empowerment.
Three components: Adarsh Gram, Grants-in-Aid, Hostel.
Merged three schemes, including SCA to SCSP.
Centrally sponsored scheme in 28 states and UTs.
Tribal counterpart: PMAAGY.

Do Not Confuse With

PM-AJAY and PMAAGY SC development scheme versus tribal village scheme
PM-AJAY and DAPSC A scheme versus a budget earmarking mechanism
PM-AJAY and PM-JANMAN SC communities versus particularly vulnerable tribal groups

Memory Hook

AJAY has three parts: village, grants, hostel.

Mains Angle

Questions ask about SC welfare and design of schemes. These points give a balanced frame.

Design Merged scheme with three components
Gaps Pace, monitoring, mixed villages
Way forward Outcome indicators and social audit

A Question You May Face

An original practice question, not a past paper question.

“Discuss the rationale for merging schemes for Scheduled Caste development and assess how PM-AJAY addresses social and economic gaps.”

How to Answer

Intro Explain the merger and components.
Rationale Reduced overlap and flexibility.
Gaps Pace, monitoring, targeting.
Way Outcome based and social audit.

GS Relevance

Prelims: components, merged schemes, ministry, target groups. GS Paper 2: welfare of Scheduled Castes, convergence, hostels and livelihoods.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is PM-AJAY?

PM-AJAY is the Pradhan Mantri Anusuchit Jaati Abhyuday Yojana, a centrally sponsored scheme of the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment started in 2021-22. It merges three earlier schemes and works through Adarsh Gram, Grants-in-Aid and Hostel components for Scheduled Caste development.

Which ministry runs PM-AJAY?

The Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment, through its Department of Social Justice and Empowerment, runs PM-AJAY. States and Union Territories implement it, and a central advisory committee reviews progress and suggests changes in the guidelines.

Which schemes were merged into PM-AJAY?

PM-AJAY merged the Pradhan Mantri Adarsh Gram Yojana, the Special Central Assistance to Scheduled Castes Sub Plan and the Babu Jagjivan Ram Chhatrawas Yojana. The merger was meant to reduce overlap among schemes and give states flexibility within one framework.

What are the three components of PM-AJAY?

The three components are Adarsh Gram, which develops villages with a large Scheduled Caste population, Grants-in-Aid, which funds livelihood and skill projects, and Hostel, which builds hostels for Scheduled Caste students. Together they target income, village gaps and education access.

What is the latest status of PM-AJAY?

A July 2026 report, based on a government release, said about 16,759 villages were declared Adarsh Grams out of roughly 47,000 covered villages, with over 46,000 works completed. Numbers vary by date, so the ministry and PIB releases should be checked.

PYQ Practice — Statement Analysis

1 PM-AJAY merged three earlier schemes.

True

One was the Babu Jagjivan Ram Chhatrawas Yojana.

2 PM-AJAY is run by the Ministry of Tribal Affairs.

False

It is run by Social Justice and Empowerment.

3 Hostel is a component of PM-AJAY.