PM‑AJAY Goes Digital: Portal-App Launched to Transform SC Welfare

Exam‑Focused Points

• PM‑AJAY  stands for  Pradhan Mantri Anusuchit Jaati Abhyuday Yojana  – launched  2021‑22 ,  100% centrally sponsored .

• Merger of three schemes : Pradhan Mantri Adarsh Gram Yojana, Special Central Assistance to SC Sub Plan, and Babu Jagjivan Ram Chhatrawas Yojana.

• Three components : (1) Adarsh Gram, (2) Grants‑in‑Aid, (3) Hostel.

• Eligibility (individuals) : SC persons below poverty line for income‑generating & skill programmes;  villages with ≥50% SC population  for infrastructure grants.

• Digital launch (May 26, 2026) : PM‑AJAY portal + AJAY mobile app; inaugurated by Union Minister  Dr. Virendra Kumar .

• Coverage : >47,000 SC‑majority villages, >4 million beneficiaries.

• Adarsh Gram indicators : 50 socio‑economic indicators across 10 domains (drinking water, sanitation, education, health, roads, electricity, clean fuel, agriculture, financial inclusion, digitisation, livelihood & skill development).

• Grants‑in‑Aid details : Financial assistance up to ₹50,000 or 50% of asset cost for livelihood assets; projects must be comprehensive (skill training + income generation).

• Hostel component : For top‑ranked NIRF higher education institutions and govt‑funded schools.

• Fund allocation : Up to 50% for Adarsh Gram, up to 5% for administration/M&E, up to 2% for hostel construction/repair; remaining for Grants‑in‑Aid based on SC population & SCSP criteria.

• Nodal ministry : Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment.

FAQ (Frequently Asked Questions)

Q1: What is PM‑AJAY?
A: PM‑AJAY (Pradhan Mantri Anusuchit Jaati Abhyuday Yojana) is a 100% centrally funded umbrella scheme launched in 2021‑22 for the socio‑economic upliftment of Scheduled Caste communities.

Q2: What are the three main parts of PM‑AJAY?
A:  Adarsh Gram  (converting SC‑majority villages into model villages),  Grants‑in‑Aid  (financing livelihood, skill and infrastructure projects), and  Hostel  (building hostels in quality educational institutions).

Q3: Who is eligible for benefits under PM‑AJAY?
A: For income‑generating and skill programmes,  SC persons below the poverty line . For infrastructure development,  villages with 50% or more SC population  are eligible.

Q4: When were the PM‑AJAY portal and mobile app launched?
A: They were launched on  26 May 2026  by Union Minister Dr. Virendra Kumar. The portal and app fully digitise the scheme’s implementation, monitoring and fund management.

Q5: How does the digital platform help field staff?
A: The  AJAY mobile app  enables  offline surveys , digital beneficiary registration, real‑time Village Development Plan generation, and  geo‑tagged, time‑stamped photographs  for verifying hostel construction – all without needing constant internet connectivity.