The Pradhan Mantri Dakshta Aur Kushalta Sampann Hitgrahi (PMDAKSH) Yojana is a Central Sector Scheme launched in 2020-21 by the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment. The scheme aims to enhance the competency levels of marginalized groups, including Scheduled Castes (SCs), Other Backward Castes (OBCs), Denotified Tribes (DNTs), Economically Weaker Sections (EWS), and Safai Karamcharis (including waste pickers), to improve their employability for both wage and self-employment, fostering their socio-economic development. Eligibility criteria include an annual family income limit of less than Rs. 3.0 lakh for OBC and EWS candidates; however, this income limit is waived for SC, DNT, and Safai Karamchari candidates. The scheme has been allocated a budget of Rs. 450 crore for the period 2021-22 to 2025-26, with a budget estimate of Rs. 130 crore for 2025-26. This information was provided by the Union Minister of State for Social Justice and Empowerment, Shri B.L. Verma, in a written reply in Lok Sabha.
Key Entities Referenced
PMDAKSH Yojana: A Central Sector Scheme launched to enhance competency level of different target groups.
Scheduled Castes (SCs): One of the target groups of the PMDAKSH Yojana.
Other Backward Castes (OBCs): One of the target groups of the PMDAKSH Yojana.
Denotified Tribes (DNTs): One of the target groups of the PMDAKSH Yojana.
Economically Weaker Section (EWS): One of the target groups of the PMDAKSH Yojana.
Safai Karamcharis: One of the target groups of the PMDAKSH Yojana, including Waste Pickers.
Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment: The ministry responsible for the PMDAKSH Yojana.
Lok Sabha: The lower house of the Parliament of India, where a question about the PMDAKSH Yojana was raised.
Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment
OBJECTIVES OF PM-DAKSH YOJANA
Posted On: 29 JUL 2025 4:14PM by PIB Delhi
PM-DAKSH Scheme is a Central Sector Scheme which was launched in 2020-21 with an objective to
enhance competency level of the different target groups like Scheduled Caste's (SCs), Other Backward Caste's
(OBCs), De-notified Tribes (DNTs), Economically Weaker Section (EWS), Safai Karamcharis including
Waste Pickers to make them employable both in wage-employment and self- employment for their social
economic development. Most of the persons from the target group are having minimal economic assets;
therefore, provision of training and enhancing their competencies is essential for economic empowerment/
upliftment of these marginalized target groups.
Under the scheme, any Other Backward Caste's (OBCs) and Economically Weaker Section (EWS) candidates
whose annual family income is less than Rs. 3.0 lakh is eligible to get training whereas there is no income
limit for the candidates belonging to Scheduled Caste's (SCs)/De-notified Tribes (DNTs), Safai Karamcharis
including Waste Pickers.
The scheme has been approved for an amount of Rs. 450 Cr. from the years 2021-22 to 2025-26. There has
been no change in Budget Estimate of 2025-26, which is Rs. 130 Crore under PM-DAKSH Scheme.
This information was provided by UNION MINISTER OF STATE FOR SOCIAL JUSTICE AND
EMPOWERMENT, SHRI B.L. VERMA, in a written reply to a question in Lok Sabha today.
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VM
(Lok Sabha US Q1469)
(Release ID: 2149715)