The Ministry of Minority Affairs has said that the PM VIKAS Scheme is a Central Sector Scheme meant to create opportunities for minority communities in education, skilling, and employment. The clarification matters for UPSC because it concerns scheme design, eligibility rules, and the distribution of benefits under a welfare programme for socially and educationally disadvantaged groups.

Union Minister of Minority Affairs Kiren Rijiju gave this information in a written reply in Rajya Sabha. The reply also clarifies that project allocation under the scheme is made to Project Implementing Agencies rather than on a State-wise basis.

Eligibility and allocation rules

The Ministry of Minority Affairs has said that no proposal has been made to create a separate allocation under the PM VIKAS Scheme specifically for Punjab. The eligibility framework remains based on nationality and community status, not on a special State quota.

According to the written reply, any candidate of Indian nationality belonging to a minority community notified under the National Commission for Minorities Act, 1992 is eligible to apply. The notified communities named in the reply are Buddhists, Christians, Muslims, Jains, Parsis, and Sikhs.

The Ministry of Minority Affairs also stated that in States and Union Territories where other minority communities notified by the respective State or Union Territory governments exist, such communities may be considered eligible, but they should not occupy more than 5% of the total seats in PM VIKAS Scheme.

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