Central Advisory Committee Concludes High-Level Review of PM-AJAY; Outlines Future Roadmap for Scheduled Caste Upliftment

📌 Summary:

• Central Advisory Committee (CAC) for Pradhan Mantri Anusuchit Jaati Abhyuday Yojana (PM-AJAY) concluded high-level national meeting at Manthan Hall, GPOA-3, New Delhi
• Chaired by Union Minister for Social Justice & Empowerment Dr. Virendra Kumar; attended by State SJ&E Ministers from Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Telangana, Rajasthan, Haryana; Members of Parliament; NCSC; NITI Aayog; Ministry officers
• Minister emphasised states-Centre coordination and time-bound utilisation of funds; announced PM-AJAY scope will be expanded to reach more aspiring SC communities
• Cumulative performance review (FY 2021-22 to FY 2025-26): 15,387 villages successfully declared as "Adarsh Gram"
• ₹1,730+ crore released to states under Grant-in-Aid Component; benefits to 2.5 lakh+ individual/group beneficiaries via skilling and asset creation
• 785 student hostels completed — promoting safe residential facilities and higher education enrolment
• AJAY Mobile App rolled out — digital field surveys in 24 Indian languages, geo-tagged time-stamped photo verification for all community assets
• Forward roadmap (paradigm shift): (1) expand scope across all three PM-AJAY components; (2) comprehensive livelihood and skill development; (3) increased fund allocation for SC hostels (social cohesion + educational empowerment)

🎯 UPSC Relevance: GS2 (Government welfare schemes for vulnerable sections — SCs; Centre-State coordination in scheme implementation; role of advisory committees); GS1 (Social empowerment of Scheduled Castes — Adarsh Gram model)

📝 Prelims Facts:

• PM-AJAY = Pradhan Mantri Anusuchit Jaati Abhyuday Yojana (Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment)
• 3 components: Pradhan Mantri Adarsh Gram Yojana (PMAGY), SC Sub-Plan (Grant-in-Aid; formerly SCA to SCSP), Babu Jagjivan Ram Chhatrawas Yojana (BJRCY)
• Cumulative Adarsh Gram villages declared: 15,387 (up to FY 2025-26)
• Grant-in-Aid released: ₹1,730+ crore (FY 2021-22 to FY 2025-26)
• Hostels completed: 785
• AJAY Mobile App: digital surveys in 24 Indian languages
• National Commission for Scheduled Castes (NCSC): constitutional body under Article 338

🔑 Key Term: Pradhan Mantri Adarsh Gram Yojana (PMAGY) — flagship component of PM-AJAY for integrated development of SC-majority villages (≥50% SC population) into "Adarsh Grams" through convergence of central and state schemes.