Pradhan Mantri Anusuchit Jaati Abhyuday Yojana (PM-AJAY) under the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment has benefited over 47.59 lakh people across 47,316 villages, with 16,759 villages declared as Adarsh Grams. The government says the scheme is driving inclusive development, livelihood generation, digital governance, and infrastructure improvement for Scheduled Caste communities.
Key Highlights
- PM-AJAY has benefited over 47.59 lakh people across 47,316 villages nationwide.
- 16,759 villages have been declared Adarsh Grams under the scheme.
- 46,782 development works have been completed, with 24,133 Village Development Plans prepared.
- Rs 22.50 crore allocated in FY27 for three hostel projects benefiting 750 Scheduled Caste students.
Pradhan Mantri Anusuchit Jaati Abhyuday Yojana (PM-AJAY) is continuing to strengthen the socio-economic empowerment of Scheduled Caste (SC) communities through focused interventions aimed at poverty reduction, livelihood creation, infrastructure development, and inclusive growth, according to the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment.
The ministry stated that the PM-AJAY scheme has so far covered 47,316 villages, benefiting 47,59,399 citizens across India under its Adarsh Gram component. The programme follows a technology-enabled, outcome-oriented implementation framework to ensure transparency and efficient delivery of benefits.
According to official data, 46,782 development works have been completed, while 24,133 Village Development Plans (VDPs) have been prepared. As a result, 16,759 villages have been officially declared Adarsh Grams, reflecting significant improvements in basic infrastructure, public services, and quality of life in villages with substantial Scheduled Caste populations.
The government has also allocated Rs 22.50 crore in FY2026-27 for the construction of three hostel projects, including two girls’ hostels, which will provide accommodation facilities for 750 students from Scheduled Caste communities to improve access to education.
Union Minister for Social Justice and Empowerment Dr. Virendra Kumar said that PM-AJAY plays a vital role in reducing socio-economic disparities through targeted interventions, community participation, and institutional strengthening. He highlighted that the scheme promotes inclusive growth by empowering local communities and encouraging convergence among various development programmes.
The scheme comprises three major components. The Adarsh Gram component focuses on the integrated development of villages with a significant Scheduled Caste population. The Grants-in-Aid component supports livelihood generation, skill development, and income-enhancing activities, while the Hostel component provides financial assistance for constructing and renovating hostels to improve educational opportunities for Scheduled Caste students.
To enhance transparency and monitoring, the ministry has implemented a digital governance framework through the PM-AJAY Portal and the AJAY Mobile Application. These digital platforms facilitate Village Development Plan preparation, project appraisal, fund tracking, beneficiary monitoring, and geo-tagged reporting, enabling end-to-end online implementation and effective oversight of the scheme.
PM-AJAY continues to expand its impact by improving infrastructure, education, livelihoods, and digital governance, reinforcing the government’s efforts to promote inclusive development and socio-economic empowerment of Scheduled Caste communities.
FAQs
1. What is PM-AJAY?
PM-AJAY (Pradhan Mantri Anusuchit Jaati Abhyuday Yojana) is a central government scheme aimed at improving the socio-economic conditions of Scheduled Caste communities through infrastructure, livelihood, education, and skill development initiatives.
2. How many people have benefited under PM-AJAY?
According to the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment, 47,59,399 people have benefited under the scheme across 47,316 villages.
3. How many villages have been declared Adarsh Grams?
A total of 16,759 villages have been declared Adarsh Grams under the PM-AJAY scheme.
4. What is the FY27 allocation for hostel projects under PM-AJAY?
The government has allocated Rs 22.50 crore in FY2026-27 for three hostel projects, including two girls’ hostels, benefiting 750 students.
