The Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment has released details of the Pradhan Mantri Anusuchit Jaati Abhyuday Yojana (PM-AJAY), a merged scheme aimed at improving conditions for Scheduled Caste communities across India. Over the past 12 years, the scheme has distributed more than Rs. 11,186 crores through three separate components targeting village development, direct assistance, and educational facilities.
The three components and their reach
PM-AJAY combines three earlier schemes under one framework since 2021-22. Each component addresses different needs:
- Adarsh Gram Component: Rs. 3,545.103 crore has been spent on 48,811 selected villages. So far, 16,022 villages have been formally declared Adarsh Gram after meeting set development standards. The focus is on building infrastructure and basic services in villages with large Scheduled Caste populations.
- Grant-in-Aid Component: Rs. 7,142.692 crore has reached State and Union Territory governments. This money supports skill training, job creation projects and income-generating activities. It has benefited 34.61 lakh people so far.
- Hostel Component: Rs. 498.215 crore has been used to build and expand 244 hostels housing 24,131 students. These facilities help Scheduled Caste students access education away from their home villages.
In the most recent two financial years (2024-25 and 2025-26), the government released Rs. 629.26 crore for village development, Rs. 705.638 crore for direct assistance programmes, and Rs. 80.115 crore for hostel facilities.
What this means for you
If you belong to a Scheduled Caste community, PM-AJAY offers multiple pathways for improvement. Your village may become eligible for infrastructure upgrades if it is selected as an Adarsh Gram. You can access skill training and livelihood support through the grant-in-aid component if your State implements these programmes. Students can find hostel accommodation to pursue education in cities and towns, removing the barrier of distance from schooling.