The Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment has its origin from the erstwhile Ministry of Welfare.
Two departments have been under the Ministry
Department of Social Justice and Empowerment (Samajik Nyaya and Adhikarita Vibhag)
Department of Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities (Divyangjan)
The Ministry is entrusted with the welfare, social justice and empowerment of disadvantaged and marginalized sections - scheduled and backward classes, persons with disabilities, senior citizens, victims of drug abuse, transgenders, etc.
Union Minister - Dr. Virendra Kumar
Initiatives for the welfare of Scheduled Class
Scholarship Schemes
Schemes
About
Pre Matric Scholarship for SCs
Post Matric Scholarship for SC students
SHREYAS- Scholarships for HigheREducation for Young Achievers Scheme for SCs
National Fellowship Scheme
National Overseas Scholarship Scheme
Top Class Education
Free Coaching Scheme for SCs and OBCs
SHRESHTA- ScHeme for Residential Education for Students in High Schools in Targeted Areas
Objective- To provide quality education and opportunities for the poorest SC students as per the Constitutional mandate.
Eligibility- SC students studying from class 9th to class 12th whose parental annual income is up to Rs 2.5 lakh per annum
Selection- The students are selected through National Entrance Test for SHRESHTA which is conducted by National Testing Agency.
Unified scheme- PM-AJAY is framed by merging the 3 erstwhile schemes
Pradhan Mantri Adarsh Gram Yojana (PMAGY)
Special Central Assistance to Scheduled Caste Sub Plan (SCA to SCSP)
Babu Jagjivan Ram Chatrawas Yojana (BJRCY)
Objectives-
Reduce poverty of the SC communities
Improve socio-economic developmental indicators
Increase literacy and encourage enrolment of SCs in schools and higher educational institutions
Adarsh Gram- To ensure integrated development of SC majority villages with adequate infrastructure and to realise the objectives of the scheme.
Statuary provisions
Protection of Civil Rights Act, 1955- Prescribes punishment for enforcement of any disability arising from preaching and practice of untouchability, which usually emanate from caste-based discrimination.
Scheduled Castes and the Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, 1989- To prevent atrocities and hate crimes against SC and ST.
National Helpline Against Atrocities (NHAA) is available on toll free number ‘14566’ across the country.
Prohibition of Employment as Manual Scavengers and their Rehabilitation Act, 2013- Prohibits the employment of manual scavengers for the hazardous manual cleaning of septic tanks and sewers.
National Action for Mechanized Sanitation Ecosystem (NAMASTE)
About- It is a central sector scheme for improving the living standards of sanitation workers in urban areas.
Launch year- 2022
Origin- Self-Employment Scheme for Rehabilitation of Manual Scavengers is modified as NAMASTE.
Aim- To provide alternate livelihood support and entitlements to reduce their vulnerabilities.
Joint initiative- Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment (MoSJE) and Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs (MoHUA).
Implementation agency- National Safai Karamchari Finance & Development Corporation (NSKFDC).
Objective - It envisages safety and dignity of sanitation workers in urban India by
Recognizing sanitation workers as one of the key contributors in the maintenance of sanitation infrastructure
Providing them with sustainable livelihood
Enhancing their occupational safety through capacity building and improved access to safety gear and machines
Commission/ Institutes for SCs
About
National Scheduled Castes Finance and Development Corporation
A fully owned Government of India Company under Section 8 of the Companies Act, 2013.
Function - Financing, facilitating and mobilizing funds for the economic empowerment of persons having annual family income up to Rs. 3.00 lakh for both rural and urban areas.
National Safai Karamchari Finance and Development Corporation
Incorporated in 1997 as a not for profit organization under Section 25 of Companies Act.
Objective- To eradicate terrible inhumane and evil practice of manual scavenging by providing financial assistance.
National Commission for Safai Karamcharis (NCSK)
Established as statutory body in 1994 as per provision of NCSK Act 1993, now it acts as non-statutory body.
Objective- To monitor the implementation of the Prohibition of employment as manual scavengers and their rehabilitation Act, 2013.
Dr. Ambedkar Foundation
A society set up in 1992 under the Registration of Societies Act, 1860 and fully funded by the Government of India.
Implements Dr. Ambedkar Centre of Excellence (DACE) for coaching SC students for Civil Services Examination (CSE)
Dr. Ambedkar International Centre
Established in 2017 in New Delhi
Centre of Excellence for research and policy making in the field of socio-economic transformation.
Initiatives for the welfare of Backward Class
Scholarship schemes
PM Young Achievers Scholarship Award Scheme for Vibrant India (PM-YASASVI)
Coverage- Other Backward Class (OBC), Economically Backward Class (EBC) and DNT students for pursuing studies from Class IX to XII in reputed school shortlisted by the government.
Implementation agency- National Scholarship Portal.
Preference-30% of the slots shall be reserved for girl students.
National Backward Classes Finance & Development Corporation (NBCFDC)
Incorporated under Section 25 of the Companies Act 1956 in 1992 as a Company not for profit.
Objective - To promote economic and developmental activities for the benefit of Backward Classes.
It provides financial assistance and micro financing and also facilitates skill development of poor persons.
Initiatives for Senior Citizens
Integrated Programme for Senior Citizens (IPSrC)
It is a central sector scheme under which grants in aid are given for running and maintenance of senior citizens homes, mobile medicare units etc.,
It is previously known as Integrated Programme for Older Persons (IPOP) which was launched in 1992.
Elderline
The Ministry has launched National Helpline for Senior Citizens (Toll free No. 14567) to address their grievances.
Launch year- During International Day for Older Persons on 1st October 2021.
Senior Able Citizens for Re-Employment in Dignity (SACRED) portal
Launch year-2021
It allows bringing people together by virtual matching of preferences by providing the senior citizens a platform to connect with the private enterprises for certain positions.
Action Groups Aimed at Social Reconstruction (AGRASR) Groups
It was launched in 2021 for senior citizens to form Self-Help Groups (SHGs).
Senior care Ageing Growth Engine (SAGE) initiative
It was launched in 2021 to act as a “one-stop access” of elderly care products and services by credible start-ups to promote the silver economy.
Rashtriya Vayoshri Yojana (RVY)
Launch year- 2017
Aim- To assist Below Poverty Line senior citizens suffering from age related disabilities/ infirmities
Assistive devices will be distributed free of cost.
Atal Vayo Abhyuday Yojana
Launch year- 2021
Aim- To improve the quality of life of the Senior citizens by providing basic amenities like shelter, food, medical care and entertainment opportunities and by encouraging productive and active ageing.
Vayoshreshtha Samman
National Award for Senior Citizens (Vayoshreshtha Sammans) are conferred to eminent and outstanding institutions or organizations and individuals from different categories.
The Awards are given on 1st October every year by President of India.
Initiatives for Transgender
Transgender persons (Protection of rights) Act, 2019
The Act provides legal recognition of transgender individuals as a third gender, and recognizes their right to self-identification based on their gender identity.
It criminalizes offenses against transgender persons, including physical, sexual, emotional, and economic abuse.
National Council for Transgender Persons
Launch year- 2020
Aim- To advise government on policies, programmes, legislation and projects with respect to transgender persons.
National Portal for Transgender Persons
Launch year- 2020
Role- To obtain certificates and identify cards online without any physical interface with the office of issue.
Ayushman Bharat Yojana
The ministry has signed MoU with National Health Authority for providing a comprehensive medical package to transgenders in convergence with the Ayushman Bharat Yojana.
Coverage- All aspects of transition related healthcare for transgender including hormone therapy, gender reassignment surgery that can be redeemed at all private and government facilities.
Support for Marginalized Individuals for Livelihood and Enterprise (SMILE)
Launch year- 2022
Aim- To provide welfare and rehabilitation to transgenders and the people engaged in the act of begging.
Garima Greh- It is a housing facility to provide food, clothing, recreational facilities etc., to the transgender community and the people engaged in the act of begging.
Initiatives for Drug Abuse
Nasha Mukt Bharat Abhiyan
Launch year- 2020
Aim- To tackle the issue of substance abuse and a vision to make India drug free.
Nasha Mukt Bharat Campaign- It is a three pronged approach to deal with drug use.
Navchetna Modules- Developed for sensitizing students (6th-11th standard), teachers and parents on drug dependence, related coping strategies and life skills.
National Action Plan for Drug Demand Reduction scheme (NAPDDR) - Provides financial assistance to governments, NGOs and government hospitals for drug demand reduction, awareness, capacity building, counselling, treatment and rehabilitation.
It is a national action plan for skilling the marginalized persons of SC, OBC, EBC, Senior Citizens, DNTs, Safai karamcharies including waste pickers, and women.
Provides skill development training programmes at free of cost on,
Up-skilling/Re-skilling
Short Term Training
Long Term Courses
Entrepreneurship Development Program
National Institute of Social Defence
It has become an autonomous body and is registered under the Societies Act XXI of 1860 with the Government of NCT, Delhi.
Central advisory body- For the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment.
It is a Centre of Excellence on research and training in the field of social defence.
Department of Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities (PwD)
Key Initiatives/ Schemes
India’s 1st Festival of Inclusion
Theme- “Purple Fest: Celebrating Diversity” held at Goa.
Aim- To showcase how we can come together to create a welcoming and inclusive world for everyone.
Sign Language Day
23rd September is declared by the United Nations as the International Day of Sign Languages.
Indian Sign Language Research and Training Centre (ISLRTC), an autonomous body under the Department of Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities, celebrated the Sign Language Day.
Theme – A world where deaf people everywhere can sign anywhere
Felicitation of Abilympics winners
Abilympics is a global competition for persons with disabilities, to recognize their achievements and encourage them to pursue their dreams.
Unique Disability ID (UDID)
It is a national database for Persons with Disabilities (PwD) that issues a Unique Disability Identity Card to each PwD.
Rights of Persons with Disabilities (RPwD) Act, 2016
Aim- To establish accessibility standards and promote the rights of persons with disabilities.
The act mandates that persons with at least 40% of a disability are entitled to certain benefits such as reservations in education and employment, preference in government schemes, etc.,
Atal Bihari Training Center for Divyang Sports
India's first high-tech sports training centre for Divyangjan equipped with state of the art facilities at Madhya Pradesh.
It aims to promote sports among persons with disabilities and provide them with opportunities to excel in their chosen fields
Disability sector pact
It is signed between India and South Africa.
It holds the promise of strengthening bilateral ties, with specific proposals for cooperation to be implemented during its period of validity, promoting a shared commitment to advancing inclusivity and empowerment for individuals with disabilities in both nations.
E-initiatives
PM Daksh-DEPwD Portal- A comprehensive digital platform for skill training and employment opportunities.
Sugamya Pustakalaya- An online library that contains books accessible to the blind, people with low vision or to persons with any other print disability.
ARJUN Portal- Assistance to Disabled persons for purchasing/fitting of aids/appliances (ADIP) and Rashtriya Vayoshri Yojana Joint Interface for Unique Nomination facilitates empowerment and inclusion of PwDs.
Assistance to Disabled persons for purchasing/fitting of aids/appliances (ADIP) Scheme
Aim- To assist the needy disabled persons in procuring durable and scientifically manufactured appliances.
Implementation- Through NGOs, National Institutes under tMinistry of Social Justice & Empowerment and ALIMCO (a PSU that manufactures artificial limbs).
Eligibility-
Any Indian citizen with 40% disability or more
Monthly income not more than Rs.20000
Must not have received assistance during the last 3 years and for children its last 1 year
Artificial Limbs Manufacturing Corporation of India (ALIMCO)
It is a not for profit company registered under Companies Act, 2013.
It is 100% owned Govt. of India Central Public Sector Enterprises.
Recently, Prime Minister announced Pradhan Mantri Suryodaya Yojana under which 1 crore households will get rooftop solar power systems.
India’s Status of Current Solar Capacity
India currently stands at 4th place globally in solar power capacity.
As per Ministry of New an
The Foreign Contribution Regulation Act, 2010 (FCRA) registration of two prominent non-governmental organisations (NGOs) — Centre for Policy Research (CPR) and World Vision India (WVI) have been cancelled this month.
What is FCRA?
Key provisions of FCRA, 2010
Key aspects
Description
Voice clone fraud has been on the rise in India.
AI voice cloning – It is the process of creating a synthetic replica of a person’s voice through machine learning and speech synthesis technology.It is called as voice deepfakesor audio deepfakes.
Objective – To achieve a high level of na
Steps taken by India to promote Science Communication
Publications and Information Directorate (PID) - An organisation under Council of Science and Industrial Research (CSIR) established in 1951 for publishing and disseminating scientific information in India.
National science magazines- The PI
Universal Basic Income (UBI) can strengthen welfare architecture and unlock the nation’s latent demographic potential.
UBI - It is an income support mechanism typically intended to reach all or a very large portion of the population regardless of their earnings or employment status.
Objective- To provide enough to co