**Executive Summary**
This document is an answer provided by the Minister of Minority Affairs to Unstarred Question †737, addressed on February 4, 2026, regarding the budget allocation for the Pradhan Mantri Jan Vikas Karyakram (PM-JVK), initiatives for minority artisans, modernization of Madrasas, and the Start-up India cluster to prevent youth migration. The document details the government's response to these issues, clarifying budget allocations, existing schemes, and future plans related to minority affairs.
**Key Points / Main Content**
* **PM-JVK Budget Allocation:**
* No block-wise or district-wise allocation is earmarked at the Budget stage in 2026 under PMJVK, including for Kairana and Shamli.
* PMJVK is a demand-driven, centrally sponsored scheme.
* **Support for Minority Artisans:**
* The Ministry supports skilled minority artisans via skill development and market-linkage initiatives under the USTTAD scheme, now part of PM VIKAS.
* 41 Hunar Haats have been organized since 2016, including 9 in Uttar Pradesh.
* The Ministry organizes Lok Samvardhan Parv to enhance market access for artisans.
* **Modernization of Madrasas:**
* The Ministry does not have specific schemes for modernizing Madrasas through technological initiatives or PPP models currently.
* The government is committed to improving education and skill development for all sections of society, including minority communities.
* **Startup India Initiative:**
* The Startup India Initiative (launched in 2016) aims to promote entrepreneurship nationwide.
* Over 2.07 lakh startups have been recognized as of 31.12.2025.
* No Startup India cluster has been proposed to address migration of minority youth specifically.
* Flagship schemes support startups at different stages.
**Impact Analysis**
**Stakeholder: Minority Communities**
* **Impact:** The response clarifies budgetary allocations for infrastructure development in minority-dominated areas. It highlights support for artisans and outlines the government's approach to education and skill development, as well as initiatives for entrepreneurship, but does not mention specific projects.
* **Action Required:** Understand the parameters and objectives of existing programmes for skills development and entrepreneurship, such as PM VIKAS and Startup India, to leverage available resources.
**Stakeholder: Skilled Minority Artisans**
* **Impact:** This response details support mechanisms for skills development, market access, and enterprise development.
* **Action Required:** Engage with the initiatives under PM VIKAS, such as Hunar Haats and Lok Samvardhan Parv, to benefit from market exposure and support from the Export Promotion Council for Handicrafts (EPCH).
**Stakeholder: Madrasas**
* **Impact:** The response clarifies the ministry has no scheme to modernize Madrasas.
* **Action Required:** Look for alternative programmes and support from the government.
**Stakeholder: Minority Youth**
* **Impact:** The response suggests a national-level response to preventing youth migration by way of the Startup India Initiative.
* **Action Required:** Explore flagship schemes that promote entrepreneurship.
Key Entities Referenced
Ministry of Minority Affairs: The central ministry responsible for the schemes and initiatives discussed.
Pradhan Mantri Jan Vikas Karyakram (PM-JVK): A centrally sponsored scheme of the Ministry of Minority Affairs for creation of community infrastructure in Minority Concentration Areas.
USTTAD Scheme: A scheme to support skilled minority artisans, now subsumed under Pradhan Mantri Virasat Ka Samvardhan (PM VIKAS).
Startup India Initiative: A government initiative to promote entrepreneurship and innovation across the country.
Kairana and Shamli: Minority-dominated blocks in Uttar Pradesh for which budget allocation is requested.
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF MINORITY AFFAIRS
LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO- †737
ANSWERED ON- 04/02/2026
BUDGET ALLOCATION FOR PM-JVK
†737. MS. IQRA CHOUDHARY:
Will the Minister of MINORITY AFFAIRS be pleased to state:-
(a) the quantum of amount likely to be allocated in Budget 2026 for infrastructure
development in minority-dominated blocks of Kairana and Shamli under the Pradhan Mantri
Jan Vikas Karyakram (PM-JVK);
(b) whether the Government proposes to set up any special haat or marketing centres under
USTTAD Scheme for skilled artisans like those involved in wood carving and wheel industry
of the region and if so, the details thereof;
(c) whether the Government is working on any new technological initiative or PPP model to
modernise local madrasas by setting up skill development centres there and if so, the details
thereof; and
(d) whether any Start up India cluster has been proposed at the local level to stop the large
scale migration of minority youth to Delhi-Haryana and if so, the details thereof?
ANSWER
THE MINISTER OF MINORITY AFFAIRS
(SHRI KIREN RIJIJU)
(a) Pradhan Mantri Jan Vikas Karyakram (PMJVK) is a demand driven Centrally
Sponsored Scheme of the Ministry of Minority Affairs for creation of community
infrastructure in Minority Concentration Areas. Under the scheme, no block-wise or district-
wise allocation is earmarked at the Budget stage in 2026, including for minority-dominated
blocks of Kairana and Shamli.
(b) Ministry of Minority Affairs supports skilled minority artisans, including those
engaged in wood carving and wheel-based industries, through skill development and market-
linkage initiatives under the USTTAD scheme, now subsumed under Pradhan Mantri Virasat
Ka Samvardhan (PM VIKAS).
Under USTTAD, Hunar Haats was organized to provide domestic and international
market exposure to minority artisans. Since 2016, 41 Hunar Haats, including 9 in Uttar
Pradesh, have been organized, benefiting over 8 lakh artisans and associated persons.
Under PM VIKAS, the Ministry now organizes Lok Samvardhan Parv to further
strengthen market access and enterprise development of minority artisans and organized 05
such events with support from the Export Promotion Council for Handicrafts (EPCH) so far.
(c) The Government, through the Ministry of Minority Affairs, is committed to
improving quality education and skill development for all sections of society, including
minority communities. At present, the Ministry of Minority Affairs does not have any
specific scheme for the modernization of Madrasas through technological initiatives or
Public-Private Partnership (PPP) models.(d) The Government has launched the Startup India Initiative in 2016 to promote
entrepreneurship and innovation across the country, including at the local level. Startups are
recognized by the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT) as per
prescribed eligibility conditions prescribed under G.S.R. notification 127 (E) dated 19th
February 2019. As on 31.12.2025, over 2.07 lakh startups have been recognized, with
presence in all States and UTs.
While no Startup India cluster has been proposed specifically at the local level to
address migration of minority youth, various flagship schemes such as the Fund of Funds for
Startups, Startup India Seed Fund Scheme and Credit Guarantee Scheme for Startups support
startups at different stages. These initiatives, along with ease-of-doing-business reforms and
digital platforms, aim to foster local entrepreneurship and employment generation.
*****