New Delhi: A total of 1.74 lakh development works were identified across 13,959 villages in 22 states under the Pradhan Mantri Anusuchit Jaati Abhyuday Yojana's (PM-AJAY) Adarsh Gram component over the past four years, of which 43,802 have been completed so far, according to an RTI reply.
PM-AJAY is a centrally sponsored scheme implemented by the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment for the integrated socio-economic development of Scheduled Caste communities across the country.
The Adarsh Gram component aims to integrate development of Scheduled Caste-dominated villages by addressing gaps in basic infrastructure and essential services. Villages with more than 40 per cent Scheduled Caste population and a total population of 500 or more are eligible for selection under the component.
Uttar Pradesh led with the highest number of 41,949 works, of which 2,282 have been completed, registering an average completion rate of 5.5 per cent, data provided by the Department of Social Justice and Empowerment showed.
It was followed by Tamil Nadu, where 33,881 works were identified, of which 6,856 have been completed, while Madhya Pradesh had 19,924 identified works and 6,034 completions. Their average completion rates stood at 20.6 per cent and 34.8 per cent, respectively.
Odisha reported 18,110 identified works, of which 8,642 have been completed, while Karnataka had 15,706 works identified and 6,901 completed.
Rajasthan reported 7,131 identified works, of which 3,756 have been completed, while Chhattisgarh recorded 8,953 identified works and 3,403 completions.
Andhra Pradesh had 5,375 identified works, of which 384 have been completed, while Himachal Pradesh reported 7,354 works and 1,950 completions.
Maharashtra reported 3,089 identified works and 873 completions, while Assam had 2,821 identified works and 893 completions.
Jammu and Kashmir reported 2,066 identified works, of which 160 have been completed. Punjab had 1,178 identified works and 113 completions, while Jharkhand reported 175 identified works but no completed work.
The RTI reply also provided details of villages selected under the Adarsh Gram component, and those subsequently declared Adarsh Grams.
A village can be declared an Adarsh Gram after achieving a score of at least 70 out of 100 on the prescribed development indicators, and obtaining Open Defecation Free (ODF) status.
In the 2022-23 financial year, 11,332 villages were selected under the scheme, while no fresh selections were reported in 2023-24 and 2024-25. In 2025-26, 17,451 villages were selected, taking the cumulative number of villages selected to 28,783.
West Bengal accounted for the highest number of villages selected, with 8,044 in 2025-26, followed by Bihar with 2,884 and Uttar Pradesh with 2,093. Madhya Pradesh reported 755 selections, Rajasthan 547, Odisha 497, Punjab 470 and Karnataka 463.
The department reported that 3,330 villages were declared Adarsh Grams in 2022-23, 2,297 in 2023-24, 4,539 in 2024-25 and 3,293 in 2025-26, taking the total to 13,459 over the four financial years.
In 2025-26, Karnataka had the highest number of 792 villages declared Adarsh Grams, followed by Odisha with 459, Uttar Pradesh with 446, Andhra Pradesh with 340 and Madhya Pradesh with 255.
The development of selected villages is assessed against 50 monitorable indicators across 10 domains, including drinking water and sanitation, education, health and nutrition, social security, rural roads and housing, electricity and clean fuel, agriculture, financial inclusion, digitisation, and livelihood and skill development.
Village development plans are prepared after identifying gaps in these facilities and services, with funds provided for undertaking the required development works.
The RTI reply also provided year-wise details of funds released under the Adarsh Gram component. In 2022-23, Rs 51.62 crore was released; in 2023-24, Rs 236.3 crore was sanctioned; in 2024-25, Rs 326.1 crore was allotted; and in 2025-26, Rs 303.2 crore was given, taking the total amount sanctioned in four years to Rs 917.22 crore.
PM-AJAY has three components -- development of SC-dominated villages into Adarsh Grams, grants-in-aid for state- and district-level projects aimed at the socio-economic development of Scheduled Castes, and construction of hostels in higher educational institutions and schools.
The RTI reply also provided the overall budget estimates, revised estimates and expenditure under PM-AJAY for the four financial years.
Against a budget estimate of Rs 1,950 crore in 2022-23, the revised estimate was Rs 1,062.39 crore and expenditure stood at Rs 164 crore.
In 2023-24, the budget estimate was Rs 2,050 crore, the revised estimate Rs 450 crore and expenditure Rs 471.11 crore.
For 2024-25, the budget estimate was Rs 2,140 crore, the revised estimate Rs 800 crore and expenditure Rs 736.16 crore. In 2025-26, the corresponding figures were Rs 2,140 crore, Rs 1,250 crore and Rs 686.473 crore.
Asked about the difference between budget allocation and actual expenditure under the Adarsh Gram component in 2025-26, the department said variations could arise over differences in submission and approval of proposals, implementation progress and utilisation of funds by state and Union Territory governments and their implementing agencies.
It asserted that funds were released as per prescribed conditions, and that no funds were withheld or delayed at the department's level.
