SUPPORT FOR MARGINALIZED INDIVIDUALS FOR LIVELIHOOD AND ENTERPRISE (SMILE) SCHEME

• Umbrella Central Sector Scheme of the Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment (MoSJE) consolidating welfare interventions for transgender persons and persons engaged in begging.
• Launched 12 February 2022 by Union Minister Dr. Virendra Kumar; aims at identification, rescue, rehabilitation, shelter, skilling and livelihood for two of India's most marginalised groups.
• UPSC relevance: directly maps to GS-II (welfare schemes for vulnerable sections) and frequent Prelims scheme-ministry pairing questions.