Ministry of Minority Affairs holds 2nd Meeting of Jiyo Parsi Advisory Committee today in Mumbai

1. At a Glance

Jiyo Parsi is a Central Sector Scheme of the Ministry of Minority Affairs (MoMA) launched in 2013-14 to arrest the demographic decline of India's Parsi (Zoroastrian) community [S2][S3].
The 2nd Advisory Committee meeting was held in Mumbai on 28 Feb 2026 under Dr. Chandra Shekhar Kumar, Secretary, MoMA [S1].
UPSC relevance: micro-minority welfare, demographic policy, federal welfare delivery, and Article 29-30 minority rights framework.

2nd meeting of the Jiyo Parsi Advisory Committee convened on 28 Feb 2026 in Mumbai, focused on population stabilisation and community support measures [S1].
Attended by reps of Maharashtra & Gujarat Minority Welfare Depts, Bombay & Gujarat Parsi Panchayats, and NMDFC [S1].
Follows the IIPS (Mumbai) evaluation study of 2025 which found the scheme "largely successful" [S3].

2013-14: Scheme launched by MoMA after Parsi numbers collapsed from 1,14,000 (1941) to 57,264 (2011 Census) [S3].
2017: "Jiyo Parsi Publicity Phase-2" launched at Mumbai by then Minister Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi [S2].
2021-22 onward: Scheme revamped with direct financial assistance components added to the earlier advocacy/medical-only model [S2].
2025: International Institute for Population Sciences (IIPS) evaluation completed [S3].
2026 (Feb): 2nd Advisory Committee meeting; cumulative outcome — >490 Parsi children born and ₹35.05 crore disbursed to Parsi couples [S2][S3].

Nodal Ministry: Ministry of Minority Affairs (Central Sector — 100% Union funded) [S2].
Implementing partner / financial vehicle: National Minorities Development & Finance Corporation (NMDFC) [S1].
Evaluation agency (2025): International Institute for Population Sciences (IIPS), Mumbai [S3].
Three components: 1. Medical Assistance — infertility/pregnancy/new-born treatment; eligibility annual family income ≤ ₹30 lakh [S2]. 2. Health of Community — childcare & dependent-elderly support; eligibility ≤ ₹15 lakh [S2]. 3. Advocacy — awareness generation [S2].
Outcomes to date: >490 births facilitated; ₹35.05 crore disbursed [S2].
Parsi population: 57,264 (Census 2011), down from 69,601 (Census 2001) and 1,14,000 (1941) [S3].
Constitutional anchor: Articles 29 & 30 (cultural/educational rights of minorities); Parsis notified as a minority under the National Commission for Minorities Act, 1992 [S3].

Social/Demographic: Tackles delayed marriages, low fertility, endogamy norms, ageing community — issues highlighted at the 2nd meeting [S1]. Only scheme in India explicitly aimed at increasing a community's population.
Administrative: Coordinated through state Minority Welfare Depts of Maharashtra & Gujarat (where >85% Parsis reside) plus community panchayats — a rare state-community-Centre tripartite model [S1].
Legal/Constitutional: Operationalises Art. 29-30 protections; Parsis are a notified minority under NCM Act, 1992; coexists with constitutional duty (Art. 25-28) of religious freedom [S3].
Ethical/Governance: Raises debate on community-targeted natalist policy vs universalist welfare; income ceilings up to ₹30 lakh make it unusually high-bracket among minority schemes [S2].
Historical: Parsis migrated from Persia (8th-10th c. CE), concentrated in Gujarat (Sanjan) then Bombay; disproportionate role in industry (Tatas, Godrej, Wadia) despite micro-minority status.

Jiyo Parsi launched in 2013-14 by Ministry of Minority Affairs (NOT Ministry of Health) [S2].
It is a Central Sector Scheme (100% Union-funded), not a CSS [S2].
Three components: Medical Assistance, Health of Community, Advocacy [S2].
Income ceiling: ₹30 lakh (Medical) / ₹15 lakh (Health of Community) [S2].
Implemented via NMDFC [S1].
2025 evaluation conducted by IIPS Mumbai [S3].
Parsi population in Census 2011: 57,264 [S3].
Parsi population in Census 2001: 69,601 [S3].
>490 births facilitated; ₹35.05 cr disbursed (as of 2025) [S2].
2nd Advisory Committee chaired by Secretary, MoMA — Dr. Chandra Shekhar Kumar on 28 Feb 2026 in Mumbai [S1].
States represented: Maharashtra and Gujarat [S1].
Parsis notified as a minority under NCM Act, 1992 [S3].

GS-I: Indian Society — population & associated issues; diversity; role of religious minorities.
GS-II: Welfare schemes for vulnerable sections; mechanisms for protection of minorities; government policies & interventions.
Question stems: 1. "Examine the rationale and design of the Jiyo Parsi Scheme in the context of micro-minority welfare in India." 2. "Targeted natalist policies for declining communities pose ethical and constitutional dilemmas. Discuss with reference to Jiyo Parsi." 3. "Evaluate the role of community panchayats and the NMDFC in implementing minority welfare schemes."

NMDFC — financing arm for minority schemes.
National Commission for Minorities Act, 1992 — statutory framework defining Parsis as a minority.
Articles 29-30 — cultural & educational rights of minorities.
PM-VIKAS (merged minority skilling scheme, 2022-23) — sister umbrella programme.
Sachar Committee (2006) — benchmark on minority status (focused on Muslims, useful contrast).
Census 2011 demographic data — for community-wise religious figures.
Total Fertility Rate (TFR) & NFHS-5 — links to demographic policy.
Hashimpura / TADA cases & minority rights — judicial contour.

Wrong ministry: it is Minority Affairs, NOT Health & Family Welfare or WCD.
Wrong launch year: 2013-14, not 2014-15 or 2017 (2017 was Phase-2 publicity).
Confusing IIPS Mumbai (evaluator) with NITI Aayog.
Assuming it is a Centrally Sponsored Scheme — it is Central Sector, fully Union-funded.
Mixing Census numbers — Parsi population in 2011 is 57,264, not "under 50,000".
Parsis are a notified religious minority (along with Muslims, Christians, Sikhs, Buddhists, Jains) — Jains added only in 2014.

[S1] Ministry of Minority Affairs holds 2nd Meeting of Jiyo Parsi Advisory Committee, Mumbai — https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=2233899 — (tier: 1)
[S2] Jiyo Parsi Scheme facilitated birth of 490+ children; ₹35.05 cr disbursed — https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=2222787 — (tier: 1)
[S3] Jiyo Parsi Scheme largely successful (IIPS evaluation) — https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=2205040 — (tier: 1)
[S4] Declining Parsi Population in the Country — https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=1807702 — (tier: 1)