The Pradhan Mantri Anusuchit Jaati Abhyuday Yojana (PM-AJAY), implemented by the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment, has seen 18,093 villages declared Adarsh Grams as of September 8, 2026, reflecting efforts to improve infrastructure, basic services and quality of life in Scheduled Caste-majority villages.
Under the Adarsh Gram component of PM-AJAY, more than 47,200 villages have been covered, benefiting over 47.79 lakh citizens across the country. A total of 46,944 development works have been completed, while 27,032 Village Development Plans (VDPs) have been prepared under the scheme, the Ministry said.
PM-AJAY aims to advance the socio-economic and educational empowerment of Scheduled Caste communities through infrastructure development, livelihood promotion, education and improved access to essential services.
Adarsh Gram Development
Under the scheme, Scheduled Caste-dominated villages are developed as model villages by addressing critical gaps in infrastructure and essential services. An Adarsh Gram is envisioned as a village where people have access to basic services, the minimum needs of all sections of society are met, and disparities are reduced to a minimum.
The scheme has three components: development of Scheduled Caste-dominated villages into Adarsh Grams, Grants-in-Aid for socio-economic projects at the State and District levels, and construction and repair of hostels.
₹1,730 Crore Released Under Grants-in-Aid
The Grants-in-Aid component provides financial assistance for State- and District-level projects aimed at the socio-economic advancement of Scheduled Castes. It focuses on increasing the income of beneficiaries through comprehensive livelihood projects, skill development and related infrastructure.
The component also seeks to improve socio-economic development indicators by creating essential infrastructure in Scheduled Caste-dominated villages and promoting literacy and school enrolment among Scheduled Caste students through residential schools wherever required.
The Ministry said approximately ₹1,730 crore was released directly to States under this component from the financial year 2021-22 to 2025-26. The support has extended skilling and livelihood opportunities to more than 2.5 lakh individual and group beneficiaries.
785 Student Hostels Completed
Under the hostel component, PM-AJAY seeks to encourage Scheduled Caste students to pursue quality education by providing access to accommodation, particularly for those from rural and remote areas.
As of September 2026, a total of 785 student hostels had been completed under the scheme. For the financial year 2026-27, the Government has allocated ₹61.46 crore in central assistance for two hostel projects—one for girls and one for boys—which will provide accommodation for 264 students.
Digital Platforms Strengthen Monitoring
The launch of the PM-AJAY Mobile App and PM-AJAY Portal marks a step towards strengthening implementation and monitoring under the scheme. The digital platforms facilitate a shift from paper-based workflows to end-to-end digital processing on a real-time basis.
According to the Ministry, technology-enabled governance is improving information access, monitoring and data-driven decision-making. The digital framework also aims to strengthen coordination, transparency, accountability and efficiency in the delivery of welfare interventions.
Centrally Funded Scheme with Defined Allocation Framework
PM-AJAY is a 100 per cent Centrally Funded Scheme, with States and Union Territories able to supplement the resources wherever required.
Under the funding framework, up to 50 per cent of funds may be used for gap-filling activities in selected Adarsh Gram villages. Up to 5 per cent is allocated for establishing and operating Technical Support Groups and Project Implementation Units at the Central, State and District levels. Up to 2 per cent is earmarked for the construction and repair of hostels, including support for Central Institutions, while the remaining funds are provided as Grants-in-Aid for projects at the District and State levels.
Grants-in-Aid allocations take into account factors including the Scheduled Caste population and the ratio of the State Scheduled Caste Sub-Plan (SCSP) to the Annual Plan in relation to the Scheduled Caste population of States and Union Territories.
Following the completion of infrastructure projects, their maintenance and operation are the responsibility of the concerned State Governments or implementing agencies. Under the hostel component, the Government of India also provides central assistance for maintenance.
-PIB inputs
