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PM-AJAY: the Centre's merged scheme for Scheduled Castes

By CAShorts DeskPublished Updated Source: PIB explainer, 28 September 2026 (Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment)

Why in news: A government explainer of 28 September 2026 reported PM-AJAY's progress, including 18,093 villages declared Adarsh Grams as of 8 September 2026.

PM-AJAY: the Centre's merged scheme for Scheduled Castes
Illustration (AI-generated)

The Pradhan Mantri Anusuchit Jaati Abhyuday Yojana (PM-AJAY), run by the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment since 2021-22, merged three older schemes for Scheduled Castes. Fully funded by the Centre, it develops model villages, funds livelihood projects and builds hostels. The government said on 28 September 2026 that 18,093 villages had been declared Adarsh Grams.

Syllabus: Prelims · Economy & Social Development; GS1 · Social Empowerment & Secularism; GS2 · Government Policies

In short

The Pradhan Mantri Anusuchit Jaati Abhyuday Yojana (PM-AJAY), launched in 2021-22 and fully centrally funded, serves Article 46's call to promote the educational and economic interests of Scheduled Castes.

PM-AJAY's threecomponentsAdarsh Gramgap-fillingGrants-in-aid forskilling projectsHostels for SCstudents

PM-AJAY's test is conversion, not coverage: turning covered villages into Adarsh Grams and keeping hostels and assets running after central money is spent.

Why it matters

A Scheduled Caste family in a village where most households are Scheduled Caste may still lack a paved lane, a drain or a school building. PM-AJAY gives such a village a development plan and gap-filling money, and gives a young person from it skill training, a livelihood project or a hostel seat near a college. Because the Centre pays the whole cost, a poorer State does not have to find a matching share before work starts. The larger issue is Article 46 of the Constitution, which asks the State to promote the educational and economic interests of Scheduled Castes: whether targeted spending closes the gap, and whether States keep up what is built, since upkeep falls on them.

Prelims pointers

  • PM-AJAY covers Scheduled Caste villages under the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment; the Pradhan Mantri Adi Adarsh Gram Yojana covers tribal villages under the Ministry of Tribal Affairs.
  • Centrally sponsored scheme: implemented by States with central funds, usually with a State share; a central sector scheme is funded and run by the Union itself.
  • Article 46 (Part IV, Directive Principles): the State shall promote with special care the educational and economic interests of weaker sections, especially Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes.
  • Directive Principles, unlike the Fundamental Rights in Part III, cannot be enforced in court (Article 37). Article 17, a Fundamental Right, abolishes untouchability.
  • Article 341: the President notifies the Scheduled Castes of each State after consulting its Governor; only Parliament, by law, can add or remove a caste.
  • Article 338: the National Commission for Scheduled Castes is a constitutional body that monitors safeguards for Scheduled Castes.
  • Adarsh Gram (model village): every resident has basic services, minimum needs are met and disparities are reduced to a minimum.

Practise a UPSC-style question

With reference to the Pradhan Mantri Anusuchit Jaati Abhyuday Yojana (PM-AJAY), consider the following statements:

1. It is implemented by the Union Ministry of Tribal Affairs.

2. It was formed by merging three earlier centrally sponsored schemes meant for Scheduled Castes.

3. The Centre bears its full cost, though States may add resources of their own.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

  1. (a) 1 and 2 only
  2. (b) 2 and 3 only
  3. (c) 1 and 3 only
  4. (d) 1, 2 and 3
Show the answer

Answer: (b) 2 and 3 only

1 is incorrect: PM-AJAY is run by the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment; the Ministry of Tribal Affairs runs the separate Pradhan Mantri Adi Adarsh Gram Yojana for tribal villages. 2 is correct: it merged the Pradhan Mantri Adarsh Gram Yojana, SCA to SCSP and the Babu Jagjivan Ram Chhatrawas Yojana in 2021-22. 3 is correct: it is 100% centrally funded, and States may supplement it if they wish.

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