Source: PIB
Context of the News
The Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment (MoSJE) has launched a centralised PM-AJAY Portal and the AJAY Mobile Application to make the Pradhan Mantri Anusuchit Jaati Abhyuday Yojana (PM-AJAY), the government’s main welfare scheme for Scheduled Castes (SCs), more transparent, faster, and easier to monitor. PM-AJAY is a 100 per cent Centrally Sponsored umbrella scheme launched in FY 2021-22 that brings three earlier SC welfare schemes under one roof: the Pradhan Mantri Adarsh Gram Yojana (PMAGY), the Special Central Assistance to Scheduled Castes Sub Plan (SCA to SCSP), and the Babu Jagjivan Ram Chhatrawas Yojana (BJRCY). The aim of the scheme is to reduce poverty among SC communities by creating sustainable livelihoods through skill development and income-generating assets.
Key Highlights
- Scheme: Pradhan Mantri Anusuchit Jaati Abhyuday Yojana (PM-AJAY).
- Type: 100 per cent Centrally Sponsored umbrella scheme.
- Launched in: FY 2021-22.
- Nodal department: Department of Social Justice and Empowerment, Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment.
Three older schemes merged into PM-AJAY:
| Earlier Scheme | Focus |
|---|---|
| Pradhan Mantri Adarsh Gram Yojana (PMAGY) | Integrated development of SC-dominated villages into model villages |
| Special Central Assistance to Scheduled Castes Sub Plan (SCA to SCSP) | Income-generating projects for SC households |
| Babu Jagjivan Ram Chhatrawas Yojana (BJRCY) | Hostels for SC students |
Three operational pillars of PM-AJAY:
| Pillar | What it does |
|---|---|
| Adarsh Gram (Model Village) development | Targets villages with SC population over 40 per cent and total population of 500 or more; provides ₹2 lakh per village as a gap-filling infrastructure grant and ₹1 lakh for administrative costs; tracked through 50 socio-economic indicators in 10 developmental domains (including drinking water, sanitation, literacy, clean fuel, and financial inclusion) |
| Grants-in-Aid for District and State-Level Socio-Economic Projects | Funds skill development, livelihood programmes, and income-generating assets for SC households below the poverty line (BPL) |
| Hostel Construction | Builds secure hostels in high-quality schools and top-ranked NIRF-listed higher educational institutions for SC students |
Two new digital tools launched:
| Tool | What it does |
|---|---|
| PM-AJAY Portal | Central Management Information System (MIS) to track state-wise allocations, fund flows, and implementation timelines in real time |
| AJAY Mobile Application | Lets field inspectors upload geo-tagged, time-stamped photos from project sites to verify construction milestones before the next fund instalment is released |
Why these tools matter:
(a) Real-time tracking of where central money is going. (b) Photo-based proof of construction progress instead of paper certificates. (c) Geo-tagging prevents ghost projects and duplicate billing. (d) Time-stamped uploads create an audit trail that is hard to tamper with. (e) Faster fund releases for projects that are actually moving on the ground.
About the News
What has been launched?
A centralised PM-AJAY Portal and the AJAY Mobile Application, two digital tools designed to make the PM-AJAY scheme more transparent and easier to monitor.
What is PM-AJAY?
It is the central government’s flagship welfare scheme for Scheduled Castes, launched in FY 2021-22, formed by merging three older schemes (PMAGY, SCA to SCSP, BJRCY) under one umbrella. It is 100 per cent funded by the Centre.
What does PM-AJAY do, in simple terms?
It works on three tracks: (a) Builds model villages in areas where more than 40 per cent of the population is SC and the total population is at least 500, with ₹2 lakh per village plus ₹1 lakh for administrative costs. (b) Funds skill training and livelihood projects for SC families below the poverty line. (c) Builds hostels for SC students in good schools and top-ranked institutions (NIRF list).
Why does the scheme need a portal and an app?
To end the old problem of paper-based reporting, which often hid delays and weak implementation. The portal tracks state-wise funds and timelines in real time, and the app lets field officers prove progress through geo-tagged, time-stamped photos before the next fund instalment is released.
Background Concepts (Q&A)
What is the SC Sub Plan (SCSP)?
The Scheduled Caste Sub Plan (SCSP) is a planning and budgeting mechanism that requires central ministries and state governments to earmark a share of their development funds for the welfare of Scheduled Castes, broadly in proportion to the SC share in the population. The mechanism was first conceptualised in the late 1970s. The Special Central Assistance to Scheduled Castes Sub Plan (SCA to SCSP) was an earlier scheme under which the Centre provided additional, top-up funds to states to boost SCSP outcomes, especially income-generating projects for SC households below the poverty line. It has now been merged into PM-AJAY.
Practice MCQs
Q1. With reference to the Pradhan Mantri Anusuchit Jaati Abhyuday Yojana (PM-AJAY), consider the following statements:
- PM-AJAY is a 100 per cent Centrally Sponsored umbrella scheme launched in FY 2021-22.
- It is implemented by the Department of Social Justice and Empowerment.
- It merges the Pradhan Mantri Adarsh Gram Yojana, the Special Central Assistance to Scheduled Castes Sub Plan, and the Babu Jagjivan Ram Chhatrawas Yojana.
- Its aim is to reduce poverty among Scheduled Caste communities through skill development and income-generating assets.
How many of the above statements are correct? (a) Only one (b) Only two (c) Only three (d) All four (e) None
Q2. Consider the following statements about the Adarsh Gram component of PM-AJAY:
- A village is eligible for Adarsh Gram development if its Scheduled Caste population exceeds 40 per cent and its total population is at least 500.
- Each selected village receives a gap-filling infrastructure grant of ₹2 lakh and ₹1 lakh for local administrative costs.
- Progress is monitored against 50 socio-economic indicators across 10 developmental domains.
- The Adarsh Gram component is implemented exclusively by the Ministry of Rural Development.
Which of the above are correct? (a) 1, 2 and 3 only (b) 1, 3 and 4 only (c) 2 and 4 only (d) 1 and 4 only (e) All four
Q3. With reference to the newly launched PM-AJAY Portal and AJAY Mobile Application, consider the following statements:
- The PM-AJAY Portal acts as a centralised Management Information System to track state-wise allocations and fund flows.
- The AJAY Mobile App allows field inspectors to upload geo-tagged and time-stamped photographs from project sites.
- The digital tools are intended to link the release of subsequent funding instalments to verified on-ground progress.
- The tools also handle direct cash transfers to individual Scheduled Caste beneficiaries.
Which of the above are correct? (a) 1, 2 and 3 only (b) 1, 3 and 4 only (c) 2 and 4 only (d) 1 and 4 only (e) All four
Q4. Consider the following statements about Centrally Sponsored Schemes and the Scheduled Caste Sub Plan:
- A Centrally Sponsored Scheme is typically funded jointly by the Centre and the States.
- A “100 per cent Centrally Sponsored” scheme is funded entirely by the Centre but implemented by the States.
- The Scheduled Caste Sub Plan requires central ministries and states to earmark a share of their development funds for SC welfare, broadly in proportion to the SC share in the population.
- The National Institutional Ranking Framework (NIRF) is operated by the Ministry of Education.
Which of the above are correct? (a) 1, 2 and 3 only (b) 1, 3 and 4 only (c) 2 and 4 only (d) 1 and 4 only (e) All four
Answer Key
- (d), All four statements are correct.
- (a), Statements 1, 2, 3 are correct. Statement 4 is wrong; the Adarsh Gram component is part of PM-AJAY under the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment, not the Ministry of Rural Development.
- (a), Statements 1, 2, 3 are correct. Statement 4 is wrong; the PM-AJAY Portal and AJAY App are designed for project tracking, monitoring, and milestone verification, not for direct cash transfers to individual SC beneficiaries. DBT to individuals is handled through the PFMS and Aadhaar-linked DBT architecture, not the AJAY app.
- (e), All four statements are correct.
Exam Relevance
| Exam | Relevance |
|---|---|
| UPSC Prelims | GS Paper II on Government Schemes, Welfare of vulnerable sections, Social Justice |
| UPSC Mains | GS Paper II on Welfare schemes for SC/ST, Government policies, Social justice |
| BPSC and State PCS | Welfare schemes, Social justice, Current Affairs |
| Banking (RBI Gr B, NABARD) | General Awareness on government welfare schemes |
| NABARD Grade A |
