PM-AJAY’s Adarsh Gram component benefits 47.59 lakh citizens; 16,759 villages declared as Adarsh Grams
PM-AJAY progress update highlights village development, hostel funding, and digital monitoring for Scheduled Caste welfare
- The ministry reported that PM-AJAY’s Adarsh Gram component covered 47,316 villages, benefited 47,59,399 citizens, completed 46,782 development works, and prepared 24,133 Village Development Plans.
- The ministry said 16,759 villages have been declared Adarsh Grams and ₹22.50 crore has been allocated in FY 2026-27 for three hostel projects, including two girls’ hostels, for 750 students.
- The ministry said PM-AJAY uses the PM-AJAY Portal and the AJAY Mobile Application for online implementation, fund tracking, beneficiary monitoring, and geo-tagged reporting.
The Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment has reported fresh progress under the Pradhan Mantri Anusuchit Jaati Abhyuday Yojana (PM-AJAY), a scheme for the socio-economic empowerment of Scheduled Caste communities. The update matters because PM-AJAY combines village infrastructure, livelihoods, hostels, and digital monitoring under one framework for inclusive development.
What the Ministry said now
The ministry said the Adarsh Gram component has covered 47,316 villages and benefited 47,59,399 citizens across India. The ministry also said 46,782 development works have been completed and 24,133 Village Development Plans (VDPs) have been prepared.
UPSC may use PM-AJAY to test the design of welfare schemes for Scheduled Castes, the role of village-level infrastructure in inclusion, and the use of digital monitoring in scheme implementation. A Mains answer can assess whether convergence, community participation, and outcome-based tracking improve delivery for marginalised communities.
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