More than ₹1,730 crore has been released directly to states under the Grants-in-Aid component of the Pradhan Mantri Anusuchit Jaati Abhyuday Yojna (PM-AJAY) from FY 2021-22 to FY 2025-26, according to the latest data as of September 2026. This substantial financial commitment has enabled the scheme to extend skilling and livelihood support to over 2.5 lakh individual and group beneficiaries across the country. The funding represents a significant investment in targeted socio-economic empowerment initiatives for Scheduled Caste communities, with the scheme being a 100% centrally sponsored scheme launched in FY 2021-22 to achieve comprehensive socio-economic and educational empowerment of Scheduled Caste communities. Under the scheme, priority is given to families and persons with an annual income of up to ₹2.50 lakh per annum, with SC members of SC-majority groups also eligible for benefits. The scheme targets caste-based deprivation through places (SC-majority villages) and through people (income-tested GIA beneficiaries), with the reach being modest at over 2.5 lakh livelihood beneficiaries against an SC population of 16.6% of India.
The Adarsh Gram component has achieved remarkable progress in transforming SC-majority villages into model communities. As reported by the government factsheet, 47,243 villages have been covered under this initiative, benefiting more than 47.79 lakh citizens across the country. The program has completed 46,944 development works and prepared 27,032 Village Development Plans (VDPs). For infrastructure development, villages having 40 per cent or more SC population and a total population of 500 or more are eligible for grants under the scheme. As of September 2026, 18,093 villages have been declared as Adarsh Grams, reflecting significant progress in improving infrastructure, basic services and quality of life in Scheduled Caste-majority villages. An 'Adarsh Gram' is defined as one wherein people have access to various basic services, with the minimum needs of all sections of society fully met and disparities reduced to a minimum. These villages are envisioned to have all essential infrastructure and universal access to basic services required for dignified living, creating an enabling environment for every resident to realize their full potential.
The scheme has made substantial investments in educational facilities to encourage quality education among Scheduled Caste students. According to the government factsheet, 785 student hostels have been completed as of September 2026, providing accommodation for students from SC communities. The government has allocated central assistance of ₹61.46 crore for FY 2026-27 to construct two hostel projects - one for girls and one for boys - to accommodate 264 students. This infrastructure development aims to enable students to access quality education and overcome traditional barriers to higher learning, particularly benefiting students hailing from rural and remote areas of the country. The hostel component supports students from rural and remote areas, with separate girls' hostels like the FY 2026-27 project helping with gender inclusion. As of 2024-25, 891 hostels have been sanctioned with 69,212 beneficiaries and ₹936.27 crore released, with about 69,000 students already using PM-AJAY hostels. The construction and repair of hostels is one of the key means to encourage students belonging to Scheduled Castes to attain quality education, with the hostel component specifically aimed at providing residential facilities for SC students from rural and remote areas.
The recent launch of the 'PM-AJAY' Mobile App and 'PM-AJAY' Portal represents a significant technological advancement in scheme management. As reported by the government factsheet, these digital platforms aim to transition from paper-based workflow to an end-to-end digital workflow on a real-time basis. The Government has launched 'PM-AJAY' Mobile App and 'PM-AJAY' Portal for expedited and quality implementation of the PM-AJAY Scheme. The app supports field surveys in 24 Indian languages and requires geo-tagged, time-stamped photos of assets to reduce leakage and 'ghost assets'. Good governance is built on the principles of transparency, accountability and efficiency, with digital technologies transforming the planning, delivery and monitoring of public programmes. Technology-enabled governance improves information access, strengthens monitoring and supports data-driven decision-making, while enhancing coordination, transparency and the overall effectiveness of programme implementation. The scheme plays a significant role in advancing socio-economic and educational empowerment of Scheduled Caste communities through targeted interventions that promote sustainable livelihoods, quality education, and improved infrastructure.
