**Executive Summary**
This report details the budgetary allocations and implementation strategies for welfare schemes, scholarships, and social protection programmes targeting Scheduled Castes (SCs), Other Backward Classes (OBCs), and senior citizens. Issued on March 24, 2026, as a response to Lok Sabha Unstarred Question no. 5093, the document highlights a budget increase to over 13,343 crore for the 2024-25 period. It emphasizes transparency through digital tracking, performance-linked fund releases, and enhanced outreach through dedicated portals and helplines.
**Key Points / Main Content**
* **Financial Inclusion and Empowerment**
* Enhanced loan funding to provide affordable finance and reduce borrowing costs for vulnerable groups.
* Focus on promoting self-employment and income-generating activities for SCs and OBCs.
* Total departmental scheme allocations increased annually from 10,100.62 crore in 2021-22 to 13,343 crore in 2024-25.
* **Awareness and Accessibility Measures**
* Organization of awareness camps, workshops, and outreach programmes across States and Union Territories.
* Use of digital platforms, dedicated portals, and Information, Education and Communication (IEC) materials via social and electronic media.
* Strengthening of specialized helplines, such as "Elderline" for senior citizens.
* **Administrative Monitoring and Transparency**
* Implementation of the Single Nodal Agency (SNA) and SNA-SPARSH systems for efficient fund flow.
* Mandatory adoption of Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) mechanisms and submission of Utilization Certificates.
* Monitoring via digital tracking, review meetings, and mandatory third-party evaluations and audits.
* Strict linkage of fund releases to performance and compliance.
* **Major Welfare Schemes and Allocations**
* **Scheduled Castes:** Significant funding for Post Matric Scholarships (6,359.9 crore) and the PM-AJAY scheme (2,140 crore).
* **Social Defence:** Support for the SMILE scheme for marginalized individuals and the National Action Plan on Drug Demand Reduction.
* **Backward Classes:** Funding for the PM YASASVI scholarship scheme and interest subsidies for overseas studies.
**Impact Analysis**
**Target Beneficiaries (SCs, OBCs, EBCs, and Senior Citizens)**
**Impact**
Beneficiaries gain increased access to higher education through scholarships (domestic and overseas) and affordable capital for entrepreneurship. Senior citizens and persons with disabilities benefit from improved information access through strengthened helplines and outreach.
**Action Required**
Eligible individuals should use dedicated digital portals and helplines to register for schemes and access financial benefits.
**State/UT Governments and Implementing Agencies**
**Impact**
These entities are subject to more rigorous financial oversight and must transition to standardized digital fund-flow systems.
**Action Required**
Agencies must implement SNA-SPARSH fund flow systems, ensure timely submission of Utilization Certificates, and comply with performance-linked criteria to secure continued fund releases.
**Voluntary Agencies and Stakeholders**
**Impact**
Organizations receiving assistance for welfare funds are under increased scrutiny through inspections and third-party audits.
**Action Required**
Stakeholders must maintain transparent records and participate in regular monitoring reviews and digital tracking updates.
Key Entities Referenced
Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment: The primary government body responsible for the budgetary allocation and implementation of welfare schemes for Scheduled Castes, OBCs, and senior citizens.
PM-AJAY (Pradhan Mantri Anusuchit Jaati Abhyuday Yojana): A major umbrella scheme designed to reduce poverty and improve socio-economic indicators for Scheduled Caste communities.
PM YASASVI (PM Young Achievers Scholarship Award Scheme for Vibrant India): A comprehensive scholarship framework providing educational financial assistance to OBC, EBC, and Denotified Tribe students.
SHREYAS (Scholarships for Higher Education for Young Achievers Scheme): An initiative encompassing multiple fellowship and coaching sub-schemes for Scheduled Castes and OBC students pursuing higher education.
SMILE (Support for Marginalized Individuals for Livelihood & Enterprise): A focused initiative providing welfare and rehabilitation measures for transgender persons and individuals engaged in the act of begging.
Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment
WELFARE SCHEMES, SCHOLARSHIPS AND
SOCIAL PROTECTION PROGRAMMES
Posted On: 24 MAR 2026 4:09PM by PIB Delhi
The details of budgetary allocation under the welfare Schemes, scholarships and social protection
programmes for Scheduled Castes (SCs), Other Backwards Classes (OBCs) and senior citizens are at
Annexure-I.
The enhanced funding on loans have increased access to affordable finance for SCs, OBCs and other
vulnerable groups, reduced the effective cost of borrowing and promoted self-employment and income-
generating activities.
Multiple measures have been taken to improve accessibility and awareness of welfare schemes such as
organization of awareness camps, workshops and outreach programmes across States/Union Territories
(UTs), use of digital platforms and dedicated portals, and publicity through print, electronic and social
media using Information, Education and Communication (IEC) materials. Participation in exhibitions,
fairs and stakeholder engagements has also been encouraged to widen outreach. In addition, helplines such
as Elderline for senior citizens and awareness generation initiatives for persons with disabilities have been
strengthened to ensure better access to information and services.
Several steps have been taken to ensure efficient utilisation of allocated funds. These include
implementation of the Single Nodal Agency (SNA) and SNA-SPARSH fund flow system, adoption of
Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) mechanisms, and mandatory submission of Utilization Certificates. The
Ministry undertakes regular monitoring through review meetings, inspections and digital tracking systems.
Fund releases are linked to performance and compliance, and third-party evaluations and audits are
conducted periodically to ensure transparency, accountability and effective utilization of resources.
The enhanced allocations and strengthened implementation mechanisms are expected to significantly
improve financial inclusion, expand access to welfare programmes and promote entrepreneurship among
target groups.
ANNEXURE-I
This Annexure referred to in part (a) of LokSabhaUnstarred Question no. 5093 to be answered on
24.03.2026.
The details of budgetary allocation under the welfare Schemes, Scholarships and social protection
programmes of the Department of Social Justice and Empowerment.
(Rs. in crore)Sr.No. Programme/Schemes BE BE BE BE
2021- 2022-23 2023-24 2024-2
22
Schemes for Scheduled Castes
1 Post Matric Scholarship for SCs 3415.62 5660.00 6359.14 6359.9
Scholarships for Higher Education for Young Achievers Scheme (SHREYAS) for SCs
2 National Fellowship for SCs 300.00 173.00 163.00 188.00
3 National Overseas Scholarship for SCs 30.00 36.00 50.00 95.00
4 Top Class Education for SCs 70.00 108.00 111.00 110.00
5 Free Coaching for SCs and OBCs 50.00 47.00 47.00 35.00
Total SHREYAS Scheme 450.00 364.00 371.00 428.00
PradhanMantriAnusuchitJaatiAbhyudayYojana (PM AJAY)
6 Total PM-AJAY Scheme 1800.00 1950.00 2050.00 2140.0
7 Strengthening of machinery for Enforcement of 600.00 600.00 500.00 550.00
Protection of Civil Right Act 1955 and Prevention
of Atrocities Act, 1989
8 Scheme of Residential Education for Students in 200.00 89.00 104.65 133.07
High School in Targeted Area (SRESHTA) for SC
9 Pre Matric for SCs and Other 725.00 500.00 500.00 500.00
10 State Scheduled Castes Development Corporations 25.00 0.01
11 Self Employment Scheme of Liberation & 100.00 70.00 97.41 116.94
Rehabilitation of Manual Scavengers
12 VISVAS Yojana (SC) 100.00 50.00 0.01 6.01
13 Venture Capital Funds for SCs 100.00 70.00 70.00 10.00
14 PradhanMantriDakshtaaurKushaltaSampannHitgrahi 60.00 40.00 43.73 65.00Total 7575.62 9393.01 10095.94 10309
2. Schemes for Social Defence
1 AtalVayoAbhyudayYojana-GBS 300.00 150.00 294.97 260.00
2 Assistance to Voluntary Agencies for Welfare of 410.14 279.44
Scheduled Castes – Scheduled Caste Welfare Fund
3 National Action Plan on Drug Demand Reduction 260.00 200.00 311.00 314.00
Support for Marginalized Individuals for Livelihood & Enterprise (SMILE)
4 Integrated Programme for Rehabilitation of 50.00 15.00 20.00 30.00
Beggars
5 Scheme for Tansgender Persons 20.00 30.00 52.91 68.46
Total 630.00 395.00 678.88 951.90
3. Schemes for Backward Classes
PM Young Achievers Scholarship Award Scheme for Vibrant India (PM YASASVI) for OBCs, EBC
1 Pre Matric Scholarship for Other Backward 250.00 478.00 281.00 210.00
Classes, Economically Backward Classes and
Denotified Tribes
2 Post Matric Scholarship for Other Backward 1300.00 1083.00 1087.00 921.00
Classes, Economically Backward Classes and
Denotified Tribes
3 Boys & Girls Hostels for Other Backward 30.00 20.00 30.00 40.00
Classes
4 Top Class School for Other Backward Classes 100.00 150.00
5 Top Class College for Other Backward Classes 90.00 515.00
Scholarships for Higher Education for Young Achievers Scheme (SHREYAS) for OBCs and EBCs
6 Interest Subsidy on Education Loans for 30.00 27.00 29.00 25.00
Overseas Studies for OBCs and EBCs7 National Fellowship for OBCs and EBCs 100.00 53.00 57.00 55.00
Other Schemes
8 VISVAS Yojana(OBCs) 50.00 30.00 0.01 4.01
9 Venture Capital Fund for Backward Classes 20.00 40.00 22.00 40.00
10 PM DAKSH Yojana OBC Component 40.00 44.00 48.74 65.00
11 Scheme for Economic Empowerment of 50.00 28.00 40.40 39.40
DNT/NT/SNTs(SEED)
Total 1870.00 1803.00 1785.15 2064.4
4 Information, Monitoring, Evaluation and Social 25.00 19.50 20.00 10.00
Audit
5 PM Cares 10.00 8.50
Total of all Schemes of the Department 10100.62 11610.51 12589.97 13343
This information is given by the Minister of State for Social Justice and Empowerment,Shri Ramdas
Athawale, in a written reply in the Lok Sabha today.
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