Executive Summary:
The Ministry of Rural Development is implementing the Pradhan Mantri Awaas Yojana Gramin (PMAYG) to provide housing assistance in rural areas. To further this initiative, the AwaasPlus App 2024 has been introduced for conducting surveys and identifying eligible households. The scheme aims to provide assistance for the construction of 2 crore additional houses during FY 2024-25 to 2028-29. AI/ML technologies are being used to prevent fraud.
Key Points / Main Content:
AwaasPlus App 2024:
* Purpose: To conduct surveys for identifying additional eligible households using eKYC face-based authentication.
* Features:
* Assisted survey through pre-registered surveyors
* Self-Survey facility available for eligible households.
* Housing typology selection
* Aadhar based eKYC Face authentication
* Data capture of household, conditions of existing house, time stamped and geo tagged photo capture of existing house and proposed site of construction.
* Works in online and offline modes
PMAYG Implementation:
* Objective: "Housing For All" in rural areas by providing assistance for constructing pucca houses.
* Timeline: Scheme implementation approved for FY 2024-25 to 2028-29 to provide assistance for construction of 2 crore additional houses.
AI/ML for Fraud Prevention:
* Recommendation System: Identifies house attributes in photos to recommend final photograph for approval.
* Anomaly Detection: Calculates similarity scores between inspected houses and nearby houses to prevent fraud.
* eKYC: Uses Aadhaar integration and AI-enabled face authentication for beneficiary verification.
* Liveliness Detection: Eye blink motion detection for beneficiary identification.
Awaas SAKHI Support Application:
* Designed to streamline access to PMAYG by consolidating key information and resources.
Impact Analysis:
Beneficiaries:
* Impact: Access to scheme-related resources and information through the AwaasPlus App; subject to eKYC and AI-based verification.
* Action Required: Utilize the self-survey feature on the AwaasPlus App if eligible; participate in eKYC and face authentication processes.
Surveyors:
* Impact: Use the AwaasPlus App for assisted surveys; adhere to data capture requirements.
* Action Required: Register and use the AwaasPlus App for conducting surveys, ensuring accurate data capture and adherence to guidelines.
Government of India (Ministry of Rural Development):
* Impact: Enhanced ability to identify eligible households, monitor scheme progress, and curb fraudulent activities.
* Action Required: Oversee the implementation of the AwaasPlus App and AI/ML technologies, monitor their effectiveness, and make necessary adjustments to the scheme.
States/UTs:
* Impact: Responsible for conducting surveys and identifying additional eligible households using the Awaas 2024 mobile app
* Action Required: Conduct surveys for identification of additional eligible households using eKYC face based authentication through the Awaas 2024 mobile app and with modified exclusion parameters.
Key Entities Referenced
Pradhan Mantri Awaas Yojana Gramin (PMAYG): A rural housing scheme implemented by the Ministry of Rural Development, Government of India, to provide assistance to eligible rural households for the construction of pucca houses.
AwaasPlus App: An application introduced under PMAYG to help beneficiaries access scheme-related resources and information. (Replaced by Awaas 2024)
Ministry of Rural Development: The Government of India ministry responsible for implementing the Pradhan Mantri Awaas Yojana Gramin (PMAYG).
Awaas 2024: Mobile application used for conducting surveys for identification of additional eligible households using eKYC face based authentication under PMAYG.
Aadhaar: A 12-digit individual identification number issued by the Unique Identification Authority of India. Used for eKYC and beneficiary verification in PMAYG.
AwaasSAKHI Support Application for Knowledge, Help and Innovation: An innovative mobile application designed to streamline access to PMAYG by consolidating key information and resources in one place.
Artificial Intelligence (AI): Technology used under the PMAYG to curb fraudulent activity and provide information of possible malpractices during house construction.
eKYC: Electronic Know Your Customer, used for authentication of beneficiaries through Aadhar based face authentication
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF RURAL DEVELOPMENT
DEPARTMENT OF RURAL DEVELOPMENT
LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2547
ANSWERED ON 05/08/2025
INTRODUCTION OF AWAASPLUS APP UNDER PMAY-G
2547. Smt. AparajitaSarangi:
Shri Trivendra Singh Rawat:
Smt. Himadri Singh:
Shri ParbhubhaiNagarbhaiVasava:
Dr. Manna LalRawat:
Shri LumbaramChoudhary:
Shri Praveen Patel:
Shri ChintamaniMaharaj:
Dr. Hemang Joshi:
Shri NabaCharanMajhi:
Shri ChavdaVinodLakhamshi:
MsKangnaRanaut:
Dr. Rajesh Mishra:
Shri Janardan Mishra:
Shri RajkumarChahar:
Will the Minister of RURAL DEVELOPMENT be pleased to state:
(a) the objective and purpose of the AwaasPlus App 2024
introduced under Pradhan MantriAwaasYojana-Gramin (PMAY-
G);
(b) the details of the features of the AwaasPlus App which may
help PMAY-G beneficiaries access scheme-related resources
and information;
(c) whether PMAY-G uses AI/ML technology to curb fraudulent
activities during house inspections; and
(d) if so, the details thereof?
Page 1 of 3ANSWER
MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF RURAL DEVELOPMENT
(DR. CHANDRA SEKHAR PEMMASANI)
(a) & (b): The Ministry of Rural Development is implementing the
Pradhan MantriAwaasYojana- Gramin (PMAY-G) w.e.f. 1st April 2016
to provide assistance to eligible rural households for the
construction of Pucca houses with basic amenities to achieve the
objective of "Housing For All" in rural areas. Under the PMAY-G, the
initial target was to provide assistance for the construction of 2.95
crore houses during FY 2016-17 to 2023-24. The Government of
India has approved the implementation of the scheme during FY
2024-25 to 2028-29 to provide assistance for the construction of 2
crore additional houses.
In accordance with the approval of the Government of India, a
new survey is also being conducted for identification of additional
eligible households by the States/ UTs using eKYC face based
authentication through the Awaas+ 2024 mobile app and with
modified exclusion parameters.
Awaas+ 2024 Mobile application is a unique app specially
designed under the Pradhan MantriAwaasYojana-Gramin (PMAY-G),
having features as under:-
i. Assisted survey through pre-registered surveyors,
ii. “Self-Survey” facility is available for eligible households in
Awaas+2024 app,
iii. Housing typology selection,
iv. Aadhar based e-KYC Face authentication,
v. Data capture of household, conditions of existing house, time
stamped, and geo tagged photo capture of existing house and
proposed site of construction,
vi. The app works in online as well as offline mode.
The Ministry has also developed AwaasSAKHI (Support
Application for Knowledge, Help and Innovation) - an innovative
mobile application designed to streamline access to PMAY-G by
consolidating key information and resources in one place.
Page 2 of 3(c) & (d): Usage of Artificial Intelligence (AI)/ Machine Learning
(ML) model is done under the PMAY-G to curb fraudulent activity and
provide information of possible malpractices, and the details are
provided as under:-
i. Recommendation System module identifies various house
attributes such as pucca wall, pucca roof, kutcha wall, kutcha
roof, logo, window, door, and person in the uploaded photos of a
completed house and recommends a final photograph for
approval.
ii. Anomaly Detection and Fraud Prevention module calculates
similarity score between the photograph of house that is being
inspected and other houses in the vicinity to prevent any kind of
fraudulent activity in this regard.
iii. e-KYC of the beneficiaries through integration with Aadhaar and
AI-enabled face authentication technology to conduct
verification of PMAY-G beneficiaries.
iv. Liveliness Detection: Eye Blink/ Motion detection feature in
Awaas App for identification of the beneficiaries.
*****
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