16,022 Villages Declared Adarsh Gram Under PM-AJAY, Rs 11,186 Crore Released

As many as 16,022 villages have been declared Adarsh Gram under the Pradhan Mantri Anusuchit Jaati Abhyuday Yojana (PM-AJAY), with more than Rs 11,186 crore released under its three components since 2014-15, the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment said.

Social Justice and Empowerment Secretary Sudhansh Pant said the scheme is aimed at promoting socio-economic development among Scheduled Caste communities through improved infrastructure, livelihood opportunities and access to education.

Under the Adarsh Gram Component, Rs 3,545.103 crore has been released for 48,811 selected villages from FY 2014-15 to date. Of these, 16,022 villages have achieved the prescribed development indicators and have been declared Adarsh Gram.

The component focuses on addressing gaps in basic infrastructure and essential services in villages with a significant Scheduled Caste population.

Under the Grant-in-Aid Component, Rs 7,142.692 crore has been released to states and Union Territories. The assistance has benefited 34.61 lakh people through skill development, livelihood promotion, income-generating projects and other interventions designed to expand economic opportunities.

The Hostel Component has received Rs 498.215 crore for 244 hostels, covering 24,131 beneficiaries. The component supports the construction and expansion of hostel facilities to improve access to educational opportunities for Scheduled Caste students.

During FY 2024-25 and FY 2025-26, Rs 629.26 crore was released under the Adarsh Gram component, while 8,823 villages were declared Adarsh Gram. A further Rs 705.638 crore was released under Grant-in-Aid, benefiting 1,782 persons.

Under the Hostel component, Rs 80.115 crore was released for 46 hostels, covering 5,664 beneficiaries during the two financial years.

Implemented as a merged Centrally Sponsored Scheme since 2021-22, PM-AJAY combines the erstwhile Pradhan Mantri Adarsh Gram Yojana, Special Central Assistance to Scheduled Castes Sub Plan and Babu Jagjivan Ram Chhatrawas Yojana.