**Executive Summary**
This report details the major welfare schemes implemented by the Ministry of Tribal Affairs for Scheduled Tribes (STs), as presented to the Lok Sabha on 23 March 2026. It outlines large-scale infrastructure projects, livelihood missions, and educational scholarships aimed at saturating gaps in tribal habitations. Key highlights include multi-year budgetary outlays for the Dharti Aaba and PM JANMAN missions, alongside procedural requirements for State Governments to secure project approvals.
**Key Points / Main Content**
**Major Infrastructure and Development Missions**
* **Dharti Aaba Janjatiya Gram Utkarsh Abhiyan (DAJGUA):** A five-year mission launched in October 2024 with an outlay of ₹79,156 Cr to bridge infrastructure gaps in 63,843 villages across 30 States/UTs.
* **PM JANMAN:** A three-year mission (₹24,000 Cr) focused on Providing Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups (PVTGs) with essential services, including housing, clean water, sanitation, and telecom connectivity.
* **Grants under Article 275(1):** 100% central grants provided to States to improve administration in Scheduled Areas and bridge infrastructure gaps in health, education, and sanitation.
**Livelihood and Economic Empowerment**
* **Pradhan Mantri Janjatiya Vikas Mission (PMJVM):** Focuses on sustainable livelihoods through the procurement of Minor Forest Produce (MFP) at Minimum Support Price (MSP).
* **Van Dhan Vikas Kendras (VDVKs):** Established as centers for value addition and marketing of tribal produce via TRIFED.
**Educational Initiatives and Infrastructure**
* **Eklavya Model Residential Schools (EMRS):** Aims to establish 728 schools (one in every block with >50% ST population) to provide quality education to 3.5 lakh students.
* **Pre-Matric and Post-Matric Scholarships:** Financial aid for students with a parental income ceiling of ₹2.50 lakhs per annum, disbursed via Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT).
* **National Overseas Scholarship:** Provides 20 annual awards (17 for STs, 3 for PVTGs) for postgraduate and doctoral studies abroad for candidates with family incomes below ₹6.00 lakhs.
* **National Fellowship & Scholarship:** Supports meritorious ST students pursuing M.Phil/Ph.D. research or professional courses in premier Indian institutions.
**Institutional Support and Research**
* **Tribal Research Institutes (TRIs):** Financial support for infrastructure, documentation of cultural heritage, and the establishment of Tribal Freedom Fighters Museums.
* **Grant-in-Aid to Voluntary Organizations:** Funding for NGOs to run residential schools, hospitals, and mobile dispensaries in tribal areas.
* **Centres of Excellence (CoE):** Support for reputed universities and research institutions to conduct policy-oriented research on tribal issues.
**Impact Analysis**
**State Governments and UT Administrations**
**Impact:** They serve as the primary implementation agencies for infrastructure, scholarships, and livelihood programs, receiving 100% or shared central funding.
**Action Required:** Must submit detailed project proposals and annual action plans through their Tribal Welfare Departments for appraisal by the Project Appraisal Committee (PAC).
**Scheduled Tribe (ST) Students**
**Impact:** Access to high-quality residential schooling and financial assistance for domestic and international higher education.
**Action Required:** Eligible candidates must apply through designated online portals and meet specific merit and parental income criteria.
**Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups (PVTGs)**
**Impact:** Targeted for "saturation" of basic facilities including safe housing and clean water within a 3-year timeframe.
**Action Required:** Participation in localized interventions and identification through habitations for service delivery.
**NGOs and Voluntary Organizations**
**Impact:** Eligible for grants to manage healthcare and educational facilities in tribal regions.
**Action Required:** Submit applications via the NGO grants portal and undergo physical inspections and evaluations by district and state authorities.
Key Entities Referenced
Dharti Aaba Janjatiya Gram Utkarsh Abhiyan: A major scheme launched in 2024 to saturate infrastructural gaps in 63,843 villages and provide livelihood opportunities to tribal communities with an outlay of ₹79,156 crore.
Pradhan Mantri Janjati Adivasi Nyaya Maha Abhiyan (PM-JANMAN): A mission focused on providing basic facilities like housing, clean water, and sanitation to Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups (PVTGs) households and habitations.
Article 275(1) of the Constitution: The constitutional provision under which 100% central grants are released to states to improve administration in Scheduled Areas and the welfare of tribal people.
Eklavya Model Residential Schools (EMRS): An educational initiative started in 2018-19 to provide quality residential education to tribal children in blocks with significant Scheduled Tribe populations.
Project Appraisal Committee (PAC): The key departmental body responsible for evaluating, appraising, and approving project proposals and grant allocations for various tribal welfare schemes.
Ministry of Tribal Affairs
WORKS UNDER SCHEMES OF MINISTRY OF
TRIBAL AFFAIRS
Posted On: 23 MAR 2026 2:14PM by PIB Delhi
The Union Minister of State for Tribal Affairs Shri Durgadas Uikey today informed Lok Sabha that
the major schemes/programmes being implemented by the Ministry of Tribal Affairs for the welfare
of Scheduled Tribes are as follows:
Dharti Aaba Janjatiya Gram Utkarsh Abhiyan: Hon'ble PM launched Dharti Aaba Janjatiya Gram Utkarsh
Abhiyan on 2nd October, 2024. The Abhiyan comprises of 25 interventions implemented by 17-line Ministries and
aims to saturate infrastructural gaps in 63,843 villages, improve access to health, education, Anganwadi facilities
and providing livelihood opportunities benefiting more than 5 crore tribals in 549 districts and 2,911 blocks in 30
States/UTs in 5 years. The Abhiyan has total budgetary outlay of Rs.79,156 Cr (Central share: ₹56,333 Cr and
State share: ₹22,823 Cr).
The detailed guideline of the scheme can be seen at: https://tribal.nic.in/downloads/dajgua/DAJGUAguidelines-
30102024.pdf
Under the scheme of Dharti Aaba Janjatiya Gram Utkarsh Abhiyan (DAJGUA) the proposals are submitted by the
State Govt./ UT Administration through Pr Secretary, Tribal welfare Department for approval of the Project
Appraisal Committee (PAC) constituted for consideration of Grants for this purpose.
State wise details of projects approved by PAC during Financial Year are uploaded on this Ministry’s website and
can be seen at below URL: https://tribal.nic.in/display_PAC_DAJAGUAMinutes.aspx
Pradhan Mantri Janjati Adivasi Nyaya Maha Abhiyan (PM JANMAN): Government has launched Pradhan
Mantri Janjati Adivasi Nyaya Maha Abhiyan (PM-JANMAN) on 15th November 2023, which is celebrated as
Janjatiya Gaurav Divas. The mission with financial outlay of around Rs.24,000 Crore aims to saturate PVTG
households and habitations with basic facilities such as safe housing, clean drinking water and sanitation, improved
access to education, health and nutrition, road and telecom connectivity, electrification of un-electrified households
and sustainable livelihood opportunities in time bound manner in 3 years.
The detailed guideline of the scheme can be seen at: https://tribal.nic.in/downloads/PM-JANMAN/PM-JANMAN-
OperationalGuidelines2024.pdf
Under PM JANMAN, as per the guidelines of the interventions of multipurpose centres (MPCs) implemented by
Ministry of Tribal Affairs, the proposals are submitted by the State Govt./ UT Administration through Pr
Secretary/Secretary, Tribal Welfare Department for approval of the Committee (PAC) constituted for consideration
of these proposals in the Ministry.The details of the approvals of the Committee are uploaded on the website of the Ministry (https://tribal.nic.in/PM-
JANMAN.aspx).
Pradhan Mantri Janjatiya Vikas Mission (PMJVM): The Ministry of Tribal Affairs is implementing the
Pradhan Mantri Janjatiya Vikas Mission (PMJVM) to promote sustainable livelihoods and entrepreneurship among
tribal communities. The mission was formed by merging two earlier schemes related to Minimum Support Price
(MSP) for Minor Forest Produce (MFP) and development and marketing of tribal products. Under the scheme,
MSP is declared for selected MFPs and designated State agencies undertake procurement when market prices fall
below the MSP. The mission also focuses on value addition, sustainable collection, infrastructure development, and
strengthening market linkages for tribal products. It is implemented through TRIFED, with financial support to
States for establishing Van Dhan Vikas Kendras (VDVKs) as centres for value addition and marketing of MFP and
other tribal produce.
The detailed guideline of the scheme can be seen at:
https://tribal.nic.in/downloads/Livelihood/Guidelines/PMJVMGuidelines.pdf
Under the scheme, the State government submits the proposal relating to infrastructure development / creation to
the TRIFED along with a Detailed Project Report (DPR) for financial support. The TRIFED constitutes a Project
Appraisal Committee (PAC) for their appraisal and approval.
Eklavya Model Residential Schools (EMRS): Eklavya Model Residential School (EMRS) was started in the year
2018-19 to provide quality education at par with Navodaya Vidyalaya to the tribal children in their own
environment. Under the new scheme, Government decided to establish 440 EMRSs, one EMRS in every block
having more than 50% ST population and at least 20,000 tribal persons (as per census 2011). 288 EMRS schools
were initially funded under Grants under Article 275(1) of the Constitution, which are being upgraded as per the
new model. Accordingly, Ministry has set the target to set up total of 728 EMRSs benefiting around 3.5 lakh ST
students across the country.
The detailed guideline of the scheme can be seen at:
https://tribal.nic.in/downloads/EMRS/Guidelines/EMRS%20Guidelines%20November%202020.pdf
Under the scheme, based on the proposal received from the State/UT Government or State/UT EMRS Society the
National Education Society for Tribal Students (NESTS) examines the admissibility and submit a proposal to the
Ministry of Tribal Affairs. Ministry releases the fund to the National Education Society for Tribal Students at the
beginning of the financial year for release to State Society.
Grants under Article 275(1) of the Constitution: Under the Proviso to Article 275(1) of Constitution, Grants are
released to States, having ST population for raising the level of administration in Scheduled Areas and for the
welfare of tribal people. This is a Special Area Programme and 100% grants are provided to States. Funds are
released to the State Governments depending on the felt needs of ST population to bridge the gap in infrastructure
activities in the fields of education, health, skill development, livelihood, drinking water, sanitation, etc.
The detailed guideline of the scheme can be seen at:
https://tribal.nic.in/downloads/Article275/Article275Guidelines2025.pdf
Under the programme of “Proviso to Grants under Article 275(1) of the Constitution”, funds are provided to State
Governments with notified STs based upon proposals received from the State Government duly approved by
Executive Committee of the State (headed by Chief Secretary) and after appraisal and approval thereof by a Project
Appraisal Committee (PAC) constituted in this Ministry for this purpose.
State wise details of projects approved by PAC during Financial Year 2024-25 are uploaded on this Ministry’s
website and can be seen at below URL: https://tribal.gov.in/display_PAC_minutes.aspxGrant-in Aid to Voluntary Organizations working for the welfare of Scheduled Tribes: Under the scheme of
Grant-in-Aid to Voluntary Organizations working for the welfare of Scheduled Tribes, the Ministry funds projects
in the fields of education and health, covering residential schools, non-residential schools, hostels, mobile
dispensaries, ten or more bedded hospitals, livelihood, etc.
The detailed guideline of the scheme can be seen at: https://tribal.nic.in/downloads/NGO/NGO-
GIAtoVOsGuidelines.pdf
Under the scheme, NGOs/Voluntary Organizations submit their application on NGO grants portal in the prescribed
format along with required documents. The proposals are forwarded to district authority for its physical inspection.
District authorities conduct field inspections and send its report to state govt., if found satisfactory. Based on the
inspection report and eligibility under the scheme guidelines, the State Government/UT Administration forwards
the proposal with its recommendations to the Ministry.
In the case of new projects, after receipt of application as above, the NGO Division of the Ministry of Tribal
Affairs gets it appraised through third party and places eligible cases before the Project Appraisal Committee
(PAC) for consideration. The committee evaluates the proposal in accordance with scheme guidelines and
recommends suitable projects for financial assistance. Based on the recommendations of the PAC and approval of
the competent authority, grants-in-aid are considered by the Ministry for implementation of the approved projects,
which are subsequently monitored through reports, inspections, and submission of utilization certificates.
Pre-Matric Scholarships to ST students: The scheme is applicable to students who are studying in Classes IX –
X. Parental income from all sources should not be more than Rs.2.50 lakhs per annum. Scholarship of Rs.225/-per
month for day scholars and Rs.525/-per month for hostellers is given for a period of 10 months in a year.
Scholarship is disbursed through the State Government/UT Administration. Funding ratio is 75:25 between Centre
and States for all States except North East and Hills States/UT like Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand and Jammu and
Kashmir where it is 90:10. For UTs without legislature sharing pattern is 100% Central share.
The detailed guideline of the scheme can be seen at: https://tribal.nic.in/downloads/guidelines/pre-
matric/guidelines-Pre-matric-17-Oct-2022.pdf
Under the scheme, the funds are released to States/UTs based on utilization and compliance with scheme
guidelines, and thereafter disbursed to eligible beneficiaries. It is a beneficiary-oriented DBT scheme implemented
through State-level verification and monitoring systems.
Post Matric Scholarship to ST students: The objective of the scheme is to provide financial assistance to the
Scheduled Tribe students studying at post-matriculation or post-secondary levels to enable them to complete their
education. Parental income from all sources should not be more than Rs.2.50 lakhs per annum. Compulsory fees
charged by educational institutions are reimbursed subject to the limit fixed by the concerned State Fee fixation
committee and scholarship amount of Rs.230 to Rs.1200 per month, depending upon the course of study is paid.
The Scheme is implemented by the State Governments and Union Territory Administrations. Funding ratio is 75:25
between Centre and States for all States except NE and Hilly States/UT of Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand and
Jammu and Kashmir where it is 90:10. For UTs without legislature sharing pattern is 100% Central share.
The detailed guideline of the scheme can be seen at: https://tribal.nic.in/downloads/guidelines/post-matric/Post-
matric-guidelines-15032023.pdfUnder the scheme, the funds are released to States/UTs based on utilization and compliance with scheme
guidelines, and thereafter disbursed to eligible beneficiaries. It is a beneficiary-oriented DBT scheme implemented
through State-level verification and monitoring systems.
National Overseas Scholarships for ST Candidates: The Scheme provides for financial assistance to selected
students to pursue Post Graduation, PhD & Post-Doctoral study abroad. A total of 20 awards are given every year.
Of these, 17 awards are for STs and 3 awards for students belonging to Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups
(PVTGs). Parental/family income from all sources should not exceed Rs.6.00 lakhs per annum.
The detailed guideline of the scheme can be seen at:
https://tribal.nic.in/downloads/guidelines/NOS/RevisedGuidelinesNOS07102022.pdf
Under the scheme, applications are invited through an online portal, and beneficiaries are selected on the basis of
merit through a defined selection procedure, including evaluation of academic performance and, where required,
interview by an Expert Committee. The financial assistance is provided directly to selected students and
institutions through designated mechanisms. It is a centralized beneficiary-oriented scholarship scheme based on
merit selection and direct financial assistance.
National Fellowship & Scholarship for Higher Education for ST students: The scheme provides financial
assistance to meritorious Scheduled Tribe students for pursuing higher education in India. The scheme has two
components: National Fellowship for M.Phil/Ph.D research after post-graduation and National Scholarship for
pursuing graduate and postgraduate professional courses in selected premier institutions. It covers tuition fees,
stipend, books, computer assistance and other academic expenses. Selection is conducted through online
application and merit-based evaluation, and funds are released through Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) via PFMS.
The objective is to increase access of ST students to quality higher education and advanced research opportunities.
The detailed guideline of the scheme can be seen at:
https://tribal.nic.in/downloads/guidelines/NFS/GuidelinesFellowshipandScholarship2022.pdf
Under the scheme, financial assistance is disbursed directly to beneficiaries or institutions through DBT/PFMS
mechanisms. It is a centralized beneficiary-oriented scholarship scheme based on merit selection and direct fund
transfer.
Support to Tribal Research Institutes (TRIs): Under the scheme, the Ministry extends support to the State
Governments through the Scheme to strengthen Tribal Research Institutes (TRIs) in their infrastructural needs,
research & documentation activities and training & capacity building programmes, organization of tribal festivals
yatras for promotion of unique cultural heritage and for promoting tourism and organisation of exchange visits by
tribals, so that the tribal cultural practices, languages and ritual are preserved and disseminated and also for setting
up Tribal Freedom Fighters Museum to acknowledge the heroic and patriotic deeds of tribal people who struggled
against the colonial rule and dedicated their life to the nation.
The detailed guideline of the scheme can be seen at:
https://tribal.nic.in/downloads/TRI/Guidelines/TRI_Guidelines.pdf
Under the scheme, TRIs prepare detailed proposals and annual action plans which are submitted to the Ministry
through State Governments for consideration. These proposals are appraised and approved by an Apex Level
Committee constituted by the Ministry, and funds are released based on approved activities and requirements. The
implementation of approved projects is monitored periodically by the Ministry.
Financial Assistance to Centres of Excellence (CoE): Under this scheme, the Ministry of Tribal Affairs provides
financial support to reputed universities, research institutions, and organizations working in the field of tribal
development to function as Centres of Excellence. The scheme aims to strengthen institutional capacities forconducting high-quality, policy-oriented research on tribal issues, including cultural preservation, socio-economic
development, and rights-based studies. Selected institutions are expected to undertake long-term research projects,
develop policy recommendations, and contribute to knowledge generation for informed decision-making in tribal
development programmes.
The detailed guideline of the scheme can be seen at:
https://tribal.nic.in/downloads/TRI/Guidelines/CoE_Guidline.pdf
Under the scheme, institutions are identified as Centres of Excellence through a Selection Committee constituted
by the Ministry, after which they submit detailed research proposals and programmes for consideration. These
proposals are examined and approved by the Ministry based on scheme guidelines and merit of the studies, and
funds are released accordingly.
The recommendations received from Hon’ble Members of Parliament are duly examined by the Ministry in
accordance with the provisions and procedures prescribed by guidelines of the respective schemes. Such
suggestions are considered while processing proposals received through the prescribed institutional mechanisms,
including proposals submitted by State Governments/UT Administrations and appraised by the competent
committees such as the Project Appraisal Committee (PAC), wherever applicable. The approval of projects is based
on eligibility criteria, scheme objectives, availability of funds and compliance with the respective scheme
guidelines.
*****
RN/
(Release ID: 2243828) Visitor Counter : 89
Read this release in: ही