Pradhan Mantri Janjatiya Unnat Gram Abhiyan

1. At a Glance

• PM-JUGA (also branded Dharti Aaba Janjatiya Gram Utkarsh Abhiyan / DAJGUA) is the largest tribal-village development mission in India's history, aimed at saturating infrastructure, health, education, Anganwadi and livelihood gaps in tribal-majority villages. [1][2]
• Implemented by Ministry of Tribal Affairs as a convergence mission of 17 line ministries delivering 25 interventions in 63,843 villages across 30 States/UTs over 5 years (FY 2024-25 to FY 2028-29). [1][2][3]
• High-yield UPSC topic — links Article 275(1), Fifth/Sixth Schedule, PVTG/PM-JANMAN, Aspirational Districts and convergence governance.

2. Why in the News

• 11 February 2026: MoS Tribal Affairs Durgadas Uikey informed Rajya Sabha of PM-JUGA's coverage (63,843 villages, 549 districts, 2,911 blocks, 30 States/UTs, >5 crore beneficiaries, ₹79,156 Cr outlay). [1]
• Continued rollout reviews and inter-ministerial convergence workshops in 2025 by Ministry of Tribal Affairs under DAJGUA. [3]

3. Background & Evolution

• 23 July 2024: Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman announced PM-JUGA in Union Budget 2024-25 for socio-economic upliftment of tribals. [4]
• 18 September 2024: Union Cabinet approved PM-JUGA with outlay ₹79,156 Cr. [2]
• 2 October 2024 (Gandhi Jayanti): PM Narendra Modi launched the Abhiyan as DAJGUA from Hazaribagh, Jharkhand, also marking Birsa Munda's 150th birth anniversary year ('Dharti Aaba' = Birsa Munda). [5]
• Builds on earlier tribal schemes — PM-JANMAN (for PVTGs, Nov 2023), Eklavya Model Residential Schools (EMRS), and Article 275(1) grants.

4. Core Static Facts

• Nodal Ministry: Ministry of Tribal Affairs (with 17 line ministries — Jal Shakti, Rural Development, Health, Education, Power, MNRE, MSME, Ayush, Telecom, etc.). [1][2]
• Total Outlay: ₹79,156 Crore — Centre ₹56,333 Cr + States ₹22,823 Cr. [1][2]
• Tenure: 5 years (FY 2024-25 to FY 2028-29). [2]
• Coverage: 63,843 tribal-majority villages | 549 districts | 2,911 blocks | 30 States/UTs. [1]
• Beneficiaries: >5 crore tribal people (~half of India's ST population). [1][2]
• Interventions: 25 (covering pucca housing, piped water, roads, electricity, mobile connectivity, health sub-centres, EMRS expansion, Vandhan Kendras, tribal homestays, skill development, sustainable livelihoods, sickle-cell mission, etc.). [1]
• Inclusion: Also covers tribal-minority pockets (e.g., Raigarh) and Aspirational Districts. [1][2]

5. Multi-Dimensional Analysis

• Social: Targets Scheduled Tribes (8.6% of population per Census 2011) facing literacy, IMR, MMR and poverty gaps; aims for saturation rather than coverage — every eligible household to receive every entitlement. [1][2]
• Administrative: Pure convergence model — no new vertical scheme; existing flagship programmes (Jal Jeevan Mission, PMAY-G, PMGSY, Saubhagya, etc.) layered onto tribal villages with ring-fenced targets and a 17-ministry coordination architecture under MoTA. [1][3]
• Constitutional: Implements DPSP Article 46 (promotion of educational and economic interests of SCs/STs); reinforces Fifth Schedule governance and complements Article 275(1) grants-in-aid.
• Economic: Boosts rural-tribal demand via housing, electrification, livelihood (Vandhan, homestays under Swadesh Darshan); ₹56,333 Cr central capex over 5 years. [2]
• Ethical/Governance: Tests cooperative federalism — state share of ₹22,823 Cr makes state buy-in critical; risk of unequal uptake across non-Schedule-V states (NE).

6. Recent Developments (last 12-18 months)

• Feb 2026: Rajya Sabha statement on coverage and outlay. [1]
• 2025: MoTA consultative workshops with line ministries on convergence-driven livelihood frameworks under DAJGUA. [3]
• 2 Oct 2024: PM launch from Hazaribagh, Jharkhand. [5]
• 18 Sep 2024: Cabinet approval. [2]
• 23 Jul 2024: Budget announcement. [4]

7. Prelims Hooks

• PM-JUGA = Dharti Aaba Janjatiya Gram Utkarsh Abhiyan (DAJGUA); "Dharti Aaba" refers to Birsa Munda. [5]
• Launched on 2 October 2024 from Hazaribagh, Jharkhand by PM Modi. [5]
• Announced in Union Budget 2024-25 by FM Nirmala Sitharaman. [4]
• Cabinet approval: 18 September 2024. [2]
• Outlay: ₹79,156 Cr (Centre ₹56,333 Cr + States ₹22,823 Cr). [1][2]
• Coverage: 63,843 villages, 549 districts, 2,911 blocks, 30 States/UTs. [1]
• Beneficiaries: >5 crore tribal persons over 5 years. [1]
• 25 interventions by 17 line ministries, coordinated by Ministry of Tribal Affairs. [1][2]
• Distinct from PM-JANMAN (which targets only 75 PVTGs, launched 15 Nov 2023).
• Covers tribal-minority pockets like Raigarh as well. [1]
• It is India's largest tribal village development programme to date. [2]

8. Mains Relevance

• GS-I: Society — Tribal issues, scheduled tribes, social empowerment.
• GS-II: Governance — Welfare schemes for vulnerable sections; mechanisms, laws, institutions for protection of STs; convergence and cooperative federalism.
• GS-III: Inclusive growth; infrastructure saturation in rural/tribal areas.
• Probable stems:
• "Convergence, not creation, is the new paradigm of tribal welfare. Critically evaluate in the context of PM-JUGA."
• "Examine how PM-JUGA differs from PM-JANMAN in objectives, target group and implementation architecture."
• "Discuss the constitutional and administrative framework underpinning tribal-village development in India."

9. Related Topics to Study Next

• PM-JANMAN — sister scheme for PVTGs; high MCQ confusion risk.
• Article 275(1) & Fifth/Sixth Schedule — constitutional base for tribal governance.
• Eklavya Model Residential Schools (EMRS) — embedded education intervention.
• Aspirational Districts Programme (NITI Aayog) — overlapping geography.
• Forest Rights Act, 2006 — land/livelihood backbone for tribal villages.
• Vandhan Yojana / TRIFED — livelihood intervention nested in PM-JUGA.
• Sickle Cell Anaemia Mission (2023) — health intervention converged into PM-JUGA.
• PESA Act, 1996 — local self-governance in Schedule V areas.

10. Common Errors / Trap Areas

• Confusing PM-JUGA with PM-JANMAN — JANMAN is only for 75 PVTGs (Nov 2023); JUGA is the broader tribal-village mission (Oct 2024).
• Wrong launch site — launched from Hazaribagh, Jharkhand, not Ranchi or Khunti.
• Wrong ministry — nodal is Ministry of Tribal Affairs, not Rural Development, despite 17-ministry convergence.
• Outlay split — note ₹79,156 Cr total = ₹56,333 Cr Centre + ₹22,823 Cr States; not fully centrally funded.
• "Dharti Aaba" is a title for Birsa Munda, not a place name.