From Margins to Mainstream

• SMILE = Support for Marginalized Individuals for Livelihood and Enterprise — umbrella Central Sector Scheme of the Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment (MoSJE) targeting two highly marginalised groups: transgender persons and persons engaged in begging.
• Launched 12 February 2022 by Union Minister Dr Virendra Kumar; flagship vehicle for operationalising the Transgender Persons (Protection of Rights) Act, 2019 and the NALSA v. Union of India (2014) judgment.
• UPSC relevance: GS-II (vulnerable sections, government schemes), GS-I (society), with strong Prelims hooks on numbers/components.