Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana – Urban (PMAY-U) has crossed a major landmark, with more than 1.25 crore houses sanctioned and over 1 crore homes completed and handed over to beneficiaries across India, the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs (MoHUA) announced on 9 August. The figures span both the original scheme and its successor, PMAY-U 2.0, and represent the government's most cited metric of progress on urban affordable housing.

Latest Sanctions: 2.09 Lakh New Houses

At the eighth meeting of the Central Sanctioning and Monitoring Committee under PMAY-U 2.0, held at Sankalp Bhawan, New Delhi, an additional 2.09 lakh houses were sanctioned for economically weaker section (EWS) families. The meeting was chaired by Satendra Singh, Secretary, Department of Urban Development, MoHUA.

The approvals cover 16 states and Union Territories, including Andhra Pradesh, Bihar, Gujarat, Jammu and Kashmir, Maharashtra, Odisha, Tamil Nadu, Telangana, Uttar Pradesh, and others. Of the newly sanctioned homes, 1.42 lakh fall under the Beneficiary Led Construction (BLC) vertical, where eligible families receive financial assistance of up to ₹2.5 lakh to build a pucca house on their own land. A further 67,045 houses were approved under the Affordable Housing in Partnership (AHP) vertical, developed by public or private agencies in collaboration with states and UTs.

PMAY-U 2.0 Cumulative Progress

With the latest round of approvals, total sanctions under PMAY-U 2.0 alone have surpassed 18.38 lakh houses. The breakdown is as follows: 14.40 lakh under BLC, 2.48 lakh under AHP, 1.36 lakh under the Interest Subsidy Scheme (ISS), and 13,046 under Affordable Rental Housing (ARH).

Secretary Satendra Singh conducted a comprehensive review of implementation pace, covering geo-tagging, fund utilisation, beneficiary verification, occupancy status, and overall progress. He emphasised the need for expeditious implementation, timely fund release, and close coordination among all stakeholders to ensure benefits reach every eligible urban family.

Women's Ownership: A Defining Feature

Of the 1.25 crore houses sanctioned across PMAY-U and PMAY-U 2.0, 1 crore homes have been allotted to women — either in the name of the female head of household or in joint ownership. According to the ministry's statement, this policy is guided by the Prime Minister's emphasis on Nari Shakti and is intended to promote financial security, social empowerment, and greater participation in household decision-making.

'Guided by the Prime Minister's emphasis on Nari Shakti, the scheme has prioritised women's ownership of houses, promoting financial security, social empowerment and greater participation in household decision-making. This transformative approach has empowered crores of women with not just a house, but a valuable asset that strengthens families, enhances their sense of dignity and security,' the ministry statement said.

Broader Impact and What Comes Next

Beyond physical housing assets, MoHUA contends that PMAY-U 2.0 is driving social inclusion, improved living conditions, and enhanced economic security for urban EWS families. This comes amid ongoing pressure on urban housing infrastructure as India's cities continue to expand rapidly.

With implementation reviews now a standing agenda item at each sanctioning committee meeting, states and UTs are expected to accelerate grounding and completion of the already-sanctioned pipeline in the months ahead.