New Delhi, Nov. 1 -- A total of 1.74 lakh development works have been identified across 13,959 villages in 22 states under the Adarsh Gram component of the Pradhan Mantri Anusuchit Jaati Abhyuday Yojana (PM-AJAY) over the past four years, but only 43,802 have been completed, according to information provided by the Department of Social Justice and Empowerment in response to an RTI query.
The figures indicate that around 25 per cent of the identified works have been completed so far, with significant differences in implementation across states.
Uttar Pradesh recorded the highest number of identified projects at 41,949, but only 2,282 were completed, translating into a completion rate of around 5.5 per cent. Tamil Nadu reported 33,881 identified works, of which 6,856 were completed, while Madhya Pradesh completed 6,034 of its 19,924 projects.
Odisha recorded 8,642 completions out of 18,110 identified works, while Karnataka completed 6,901 of 15,706. Rajasthan reported 3,756 completed projects against 7,131 identified works, and Chhattisgarh completed 3,403 of 8,953.
Among other states, Himachal Pradesh completed 1,950 of 7,354 identified works, while Assam completed 893 of 2,821. Maharashtra reported 873 completions against 3,089 projects. Andhra Pradesh completed 384 of 5,375 works, while Jammu and Kashmir reported 160 completions out of 2,066. Punjab completed 113 of 1,178 identified works. Jharkhand reported 175 identified projects but no completed work.
PM-AJAY is a centrally sponsored scheme aimed at improving the socio-economic conditions of Scheduled Caste communities. Under its Adarsh Gram component, villages with a Scheduled Caste population exceeding 40 per cent and a total population of at least 500 are eligible for selection.
The RTI response showed that 11,332 villages were selected in 2022-23, followed by no fresh selections in 2023-24 and 2024-25. Another 17,451 villages were selected in 2025-26, taking the cumulative number to 28,783.
West Bengal accounted for the highest number of fresh selections in 2025-26, with 8,044 villages, followed by Bihar with 2,884 and Uttar Pradesh with 2,093. Madhya Pradesh recorded 755 selections, Rajasthan 547, Odisha 497, Punjab 470 and Karnataka 463.
The department said 13,459 villages were declared Adarsh Grams over the four years. These included 3,330 in 2022-23, 2,297 in 2023-24, 4,539 in 2024-25 and 3,293 in 2025-26. Karnataka topped the list in 2025-26 with 792 declared villages, followed by Odisha with 459, Uttar Pradesh with 446, Andhra Pradesh with 340 and Madhya Pradesh with 255.
A village qualifies for Adarsh Gram status after securing at least 70 out of 100 marks on prescribed development indicators and achieving Open Defecation Free status.
Development is assessed through 50 indicators covering 10 areas, including drinking water, sanitation, education, healthcare, nutrition, social security, housing, roads, electricity, clean fuel, agriculture, financial inclusion, digitisation and livelihoods. Village development plans are prepared after identifying gaps in these facilities and services.
The government sanctioned a total of Rs 917.22 crore under the Adarsh Gram component during the four years. The amount included Rs 51.62 crore in 2022-23, Rs 236.3 crore in 2023-24, Rs 326.1 crore in 2024-25 and Rs 303.2 crore in 2025-26.
The RTI response also provided details of the overall financial performance of PM-AJAY. In 2022-23, against a budget estimate of Rs 1,950 crore, the revised estimate was Rs 1,062.39 crore and expenditure stood at Rs 164 crore. In 2023-24, the corresponding figures were Rs 2,050 crore, Rs 450 crore and 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 figures stood at Rs 2,140 crore, Rs 1,250 crore and Rs 686.473 crore, respectively.
Responding to a question about the gap between allocations and actual expenditure under the Adarsh Gram component in 2025-26, the department attributed variations to differences in the submission and approval of proposals, implementation progress and utilisation of funds by state and Union Territory governments and their agencies.
The department maintained that funds were released in accordance with prescribed conditions and that no funds were withheld or delayed at its level.
PM-AJAY has three components: development of Scheduled Caste-dominated villages into Adarsh Grams, grants-in-aid for state and district-level projects for Scheduled Caste communities, and construction of hostels in schools and higher educational institutions.
Published by HT Digital Content Services with permission from Millennium Post.