Antyodaya 12 Years Overview

Source: PIB
GS I: Social Empowerment, GS II: Welfare Schemes for Vulnerable Sections of the Population, GS III: Inclusive Growth and issues arising from it

Overview

1. News in Brief
2. Key  Highlights
3. UPSC Prelims Practice Question

Why in the News?

The Press Information Bureau has highlighted the Government of India’s efforts over the past 12 years to implement the principle of Antyodaya.

News in Brief

• The Government has pursued the principle of Antyodaya, focusing on the upliftment of the poorest and most marginalised sections of society.
• Social welfare initiatives have been implemented for tribal communities, scheduled castes, minorities and sanitation workers to improve their socio-economic conditions.
• To ensure inclusive growth, social justice, dignity, and last-mile delivery of development benefits, leaving no one behind.

Key Highlights

• Tribal Development through PM JANMAN
  • Launched for 75 Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups (PVTGs) across 18 States and 1 UT.
  • Covers housing, roads, drinking water, electrification, mobile towers, hostels, healthcare, and skill development.
  • 491 Van Dhan Vikas Kendras(collecting, processing and selling forest-based products) operationalised out of a target of 500.
  • 38,391 PVTG members trained under entrepreneurship programmes.
• PM-JUGA (Dharti Aaba Janjatiya Gram Utkarsh Abhiyan)
  • Involves 17 ministries.
  • Focuses on the comprehensive development of tribal-majority villages and PVTG habitations through coordinated interventions.
• Expansion of Eklavya Model Residential Schools (EMRS)
  • Provides quality residential education for scheduled tribe students.
  • 499 schools are operational with over 1.56 lakh students enrolled.
  • 323 additional schools are under construction.
  • 597 EMRS students cleared JEE and NEET in 2024-25, compared to only 2 in 2022-23.
• Preservation of Tribal Heritage
  • Support provided to Tribal Research Institutes in 29 states and UTs.
  • 11 Tribal Freedom Fighter Museums sanctioned across 10 states.
  • Celebration of Janjatiya Gaurav Divas to honour tribal freedom fighters and Bhagwan Birsa Munda.
• Empowerment of Scheduled Castes
  • PM-AJAY
    • Covers 47,334 villages across  597 districts.
    • Benefits over 4 crore SC citizens and 83 lakh households.
    • Focus on infrastructure, livelihood, skill development, and village development.
  • DAPSC
    • Dedicated SC welfare framework covering 38 ministries and 239 schemes.
    • Supports education, housing, healthcare, skills, and livelihoods.
• Scholarship support
  • SHREYAS
    • Supports SC, OBC and EBC students.
    • In 2025-26,
      • 4,156 students supported under Top Class Education.
      • 990 students benefited from Free Coaching.
      • 72 students received National Overseas Scholarships.
  • SHRESHTA
    • Residential education support for SC students from classes IX-XII.
    • Benefited 19,754 students across 288 institutions in 2025-26.
• Minority Welfare through PM VIKAS
  • Focuses on industry-oriented skill development.
  • As of June 2026,
    • 73,200 enrollments
    • 12,429 candidates trained.
    • 1,405 candidates certified in various job roles.
• NAMASTE Scheme 
  • Promotes mechanised sanitation and safety for sanitation workers.
  • Expanded in 2024 to include waste pickers in urban and rural areas.
• Aspirational Districts and Blocks Programme
  • Covers 112 Aspirational Districts and 500 Aspirational Blocks.
  • Focuses on health, education, agriculture, nutrition, and financial inclusion.
  • Encourages data-driven governance and last-mile service delivery.

Conclusion

• India’s development strategy increasingly focuses on targeted inclusion, saturation coverage, skill development, educational access, and social dignity.
• Strengthening last-mile delivery and ensuring effective implementation of welfare schemes will remain crucial for achieving the vision of Viksit Bharat 2047.

UPSC Prelims Practice Question

Consider the following statements regarding Antyodaya initiatives in India

1. 1. PM JANMAN targets Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups (PVTGs).
   2. SHRESHTA provides residential education support for Scheduled Caste students.
   3. NAMASTE aims to mechanize sanitation work and improve worker safety.

Which  of the statements given above is/are correct?

a) 1only

b) 1 and 2 only

c) 2 and 3 only

d) 1,2 and 3

Answer: d) 1,2 and 3

Key Takeaways

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