Over 47.59 Lakh Citizens Benefitted Through Adarsh Gram Component; 16,759 Villages Declared As Adarsh Grams; More Than 46,782 Development Works Completed; 24,133 Village Development Plans Prepared Across The Country

Key Highlights:

• Pradhan Mantri Anusuchit Jaati Abhyuday Yojana (PM-AJAY) has benefited over 47.59 lakh citizens through its Adarsh Gram component.
• 16,759 villages have been declared as Adarsh Grams out of 47,316 covered villages under the scheme.
• A total of 46,782 development works have been completed, and 24,133 Village Development Plans (VDPs) prepared.
• The Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment allocated ₹22.50 Crore for FY 2026-27 for three hostel projects (two for girls) to accommodate 750 Scheduled Caste (SC) students.

Detailed Insights:

• PM-AJAY aims to reduce poverty, create sustainable livelihood opportunities, and improve infrastructure in Scheduled Caste-dominated villages.
• The scheme promotes inclusive development through a technology-enabled and outcome-oriented implementation framework.
• It comprises three major components: Adarsh Gram (integrated village development), Grants-in-Aid (livelihood generation and skill development), and Hostel (educational access).
• A robust digital governance framework, including the PM-AJAY Portal and AJAY Mobile Application, ensures transparent and effective monitoring.
• The scheme reinforces the government's commitment to expanding educational opportunities and addressing socio-economic disparities for SC communities.

Key Concepts Involved:

• Pradhan Mantri Anusuchit Jaati Abhyuday Yojana (PM-AJAY): A flagship scheme for the socio-economic empowerment and holistic development of Scheduled Caste communities.
• Adarsh Gram: A model village developed under PM-AJAY focusing on integrated development, infrastructure, and basic services in SC-majority areas.
• Village Development Plans (VDPs): Comprehensive plans prepared at the village level to guide development activities and resource allocation under PM-AJAY.