On December 3, 2025, Shri S. Venkatesan posed an unstarred question (no. 617) to the Minister of Planning regarding NITI Aayog's studies, guidelines, and ambit related to the implementation of schemes for the development of Scheduled Castes (SCs) and Scheduled Tribes (STs). In response, the Minister of State (Independent Charge) of the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation; Minister of State (Independent Charge) of the Ministry of Planning and Minister of State in the Ministry of Culture, Rao Inderjit Singh, stated that NITI Aayog has not conducted any such study. However, NITI Aayog issued guidelines in 2017 titled 'Guidelines for earmarking of funds for Development Action Plan for SCs and STs (DAPSC & DAPST)'. These guidelines obligate 41 Central Government Ministries/Departments to earmark funds based on the scheme-specific budget. The Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment and the Ministry of Tribal Affairs are responsible for monitoring the DAPSC & DAPST. NITI Aayog is a member of various committees constituted for these purposes. A copy of the guidelines is available at https://www.niti.gov.in/sites/default/files/2019-12/NITI_Aayog_Guideliens_for_SCSP_TSP_2017.pdf.
Key Entities Referenced
Development Action Plan for SCs and STs (DAPSC & DAPST): Scheme requiring earmarking of funds for Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes.
NITI Aayog: Issuer of guidelines and member of committees constituted for DAPSC & DAPST implementation.
Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment: Nodal ministry responsible for monitoring and implementation of DAPSC & DAPST.
Ministry of Tribal Affairs: Nodal ministry responsible for monitoring and implementation of DAPSC & DAPST.
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF PLANNING
LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 617
TO BE ANSWERED ON 03.12.2025
DEVELOPMENTAL ACTION PLAN FOR SCS AND STS
617. SHRI S VENKATESAN:
Will the Minister of PLANNING be pleased to state:
(a) whether NITI Aayog has conducted any study on the implementation of the schemes
regarding mandatory allocations, utilisation etc. for the development of SCs/STs;
(b) if so, pitfalls which have been identified and suggestions made thereon;
(c) the details of latest guidelines issued for effective implementation of such schemes; and
(d) the details of the ambit of NITI Aayog addressing the issues pertaining to the same?
ANSWER
MINISTER OF STATE (INDEPENDENT CHARGE) OF THE MINISTRY OF STATISTICS AND
PROGRAMME IMPLEMENTATION; MINISTER OF STATE (INDEPENDENT CHARGE) OF
THE MINISTRY OF PLANNING AND MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF
CULTURE
(RAO INDERJIT SINGH)
(a) No. Sir.
(b) Does not arise in view of reply to (a) above.
(c) & (d) NITI Aayog has issued guidelines titled ‘Guidelines for earmarking of funds for
Development Action Plan for SCs and STs (DAPSC & DAPST)’ in 2017. As per these
guidelines, 41 Central Government Ministries/Departments are obligated to earmark funds
under the relevant scheme, and such fund allocation is based on the scheme-specific
budget rather than the total budget of the Ministry/Department. The guidelines also
provide that the Nodal Ministries, namely, Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment
and Ministry of Tribal Affairs, are responsible for the monitoring and implementation of
the DAPSC & DAPST. NITI Aayog is a member of various committees constituted for
such purposes. A copy of the Guidelines is available at
https://www.niti.gov.in/sites/default/files/2019-
12/NITI_Aayog_Guideliens_for_SCSP_TSP_2017.pdf
*****