PM-AJAY scheme covers 47,328 villages for SC development: Athawale
Synopsis
The Centre's PM-AJAY scheme has reached 47,328 villages across India under its Adarsh Gram Component, with 46,642 development works completed and 47.59 lakh SC beneficiaries already covered — but with 1.10 crore identified, more than half are yet to be reached, making execution the real story.
Key Takeaways
47,328 villages have been selected nationwide under the PM-AJAY Adarsh Gram Component for SC community development.
3.28 lakh development works and 1.10 crore beneficiaries identified; 46,642 works completed and 47.59 lakh beneficiaries covered so far.
435 villages in Telangana are part of the scheme; 472 of 3,529 identified education-sector beneficiaries in the state have received benefits.
The Adarsh Gram Component targets saturation of 50 socio-economic indicators across 10 development sectors .
Progress is tracked via the PMAGY Portal ; state governments are conducting validation of self-declared Adarsh Gram villages.
The Centre is implementing the Pradhan Mantri Anusuchit Jaati Abhyuday Yojana (PM-AJAY) to advance the socio-economic development of Scheduled Caste (SC) communities, with 47,328 villages selected nationwide under its Adarsh Gram Component, Minister of State for Social Justice and Empowerment Ramdas Athawale informed the Rajya Sabha on Monday, 3 August. The disclosure came through a written reply to a query raised by member Anil Kumar Yadav Mandadi.
Scheme Reach and Progress
Across the country, 3.28 lakh development works and 1.10 crore beneficiaries have been identified under PM-AJAY. Of these, 46,642 development works have been completed, and 47.59 lakh beneficiaries have already been covered through various interventions, according to Athawale's written reply.
The Adarsh Gram Component focuses on the integrated development of selected villages by achieving saturation of 50 monitorable socio-economic indicators across 10 development sectors, including education, infrastructure, livelihoods, and essential services. A Need Assessment Survey is conducted to establish baseline status, and identified gaps are addressed through convergence with Central and State government schemes or through direct PM-AJAY interventions.
Telangana's Share Under the Scheme
Of the 47,328 villages selected nationally, 435 are in Telangana. In the education sector alone within the state, 3,529 beneficiaries have been identified, of whom 472 have already received benefits under the scheme, the minister stated.
Monitoring and Third-Party Audit
Progress made by states and Union Territories is regularly updated through the PMAGY Portal. On the question of third-party audits, Athawale noted that states and Union Territories have been directed to verify the self-declaration of Adarsh Gram villages under the component. Validation is being carried out by the respective State and UT Governments.
Broader Objective
The PM-AJAY Adarsh Gram Component is designed to promote inclusive and sustainable rural development by improving access to education, infrastructure, livelihoods, and essential services for SC communities. This comes amid broader policy emphasis on targeted welfare delivery through scheme convergence rather than standalone outlays. With nearly half the identified beneficiaries yet to be saturated, the pace of implementation in the coming months will be closely watched.
Point of View
328 villages, 1.10 crore identified beneficiaries — but the saturation rate tells a more cautious story: fewer than half the identified beneficiaries have been covered, and only 46,642 of 3.28 lakh works are complete. The scheme's reliance on state-led self-declaration and self-validation for Adarsh Gram status raises accountability questions that a robust independent audit mechanism would resolve. Without verifiable, third-party-confirmed outcomes, PM-AJAY risks repeating the pattern of welfare schemes that look impressive on portals but underdeliver at the village level.
NationPress
4 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the PM-AJAY scheme and what does it aim to do?
The Pradhan Mantri Anusuchit Jaati Abhyuday Yojana (PM-AJAY) is a Central government scheme aimed at the socio-economic development of Scheduled Caste communities. It works by selecting villages under its Adarsh Gram Component and saturating 50 socio-economic indicators across 10 development sectors including education, infrastructure, and livelihoods.
How many villages are covered under PM-AJAY's Adarsh Gram Component?
A total of 47,328 villages have been selected across India under the Adarsh Gram Component of PM-AJAY, as informed by Minister of State Ramdas Athawale in the Rajya Sabha on 3 August.
What is the current progress of PM-AJAY in terms of works and beneficiaries?
Of the 3.28 lakh development works identified, 46,642 have been completed. Of the 1.10 crore beneficiaries identified, 47.59 lakh have already been covered through various interventions under the scheme.
How many PM-AJAY villages are in Telangana and what is the status there?
Telangana has 435 villages under the PM-AJAY Adarsh Gram Component. In the education sector, 3,529 beneficiaries have been identified in the state, of whom 472 have received benefits so far.
How is PM-AJAY monitored and audited?
Progress is tracked through the PMAGY Portal, which is updated regularly by states and Union Territories. For auditing, states and UTs have been directed to verify the self-declaration of Adarsh Gram villages, with validation being carried out by respective state and UT governments.
