Launch of SMILE–Beggary Survey Mobile Application at Chintan Shivir, Chandigarh (24–26 April 2026)

1. At a Glance

SMILE–Beggary Survey Mobile App is a digital field-tool launched by the Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment (MoSJE) to capture real-time survey data of persons engaged in begging, under the SMILE Sub-Scheme on Comprehensive Rehabilitation of Persons Engaged in the Act of Begging [S1][S2].
Examinable as a flagship governance-tech intervention supporting the goal of "Bhiksha Vritti Mukt Bharat" (Begging-Free India) [S2].

Launched on 25 April 2026 during the Chintan Shivir of States/UTs held at Chandigarh from 24–26 April 2026 by MoSJE to strengthen field-level implementation through digital, real-time data capture and monitoring [S1].

Feb 2022 — Umbrella SMILE scheme launched by Union Minister Dr. Virendra Kumar, with two sub-schemes: (i) welfare of Transgender Persons, (ii) Comprehensive Rehabilitation of Persons in Begging [S3].
12 Aug 2022 — SMILE-75 Initiative launched, identifying 75 Municipal Corporations for comprehensive rehabilitation under Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav [S4].
Scope expanded to 181 selected cities for the Beggary sub-scheme by 2025–26 [S2].
April 2026 — Survey Mobile App rolled out at Chintan Shivir, Chandigarh, replacing manual/paper-based reporting [S1].

Full form: SMILE — Support for Marginalized Individuals for Livelihood and Enterprise [S2].
Nodal Ministry: Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment (Department of Social Justice & Empowerment) [S1].
Sub-scheme: Comprehensive Rehabilitation of Persons Engaged in the Act of Begging [S1].
Geographic coverage: 181 cities (as of Jan 2026); 75 Municipal Corporations under SMILE-75 [S2][S4].
Beneficiary data (as on 31 January 2026): 30,257 persons identified as engaged in begging; 8,129 rehabilitated [S2].
Coverage components: identification, rehabilitation, medical facilities, counselling, education, skill development, self-employment [S2].
App functions: digital survey capture, accuracy, transparency, timely reporting, monitoring by district authorities [S1].

Social — Targets one of the most invisibilised vulnerable groups; complements Article 41 (right to public assistance) and Article 38 (DPSPs on social welfare) of the Constitution.
Administrative / Governance — Plugs the gap of delayed and inconsistent reporting from States/UTs; enables real-time MIS for MoSJE [S1]. Operationalises cooperative federalism via Chintan Shivir consultation [S1].
Scientific / Technological — Shifts beggary survey from paper-forms to mobile-based geo-tagged data — part of broader DigitalIndia/GovTech push in welfare delivery.
Ethical — Begging is a dignity and destitution issue; rights-based rehabilitation (vs. criminalisation under colonial-era Bombay Prevention of Begging Act, 1959) is the policy direction.
Economic — Skill-development and self-employment vector links destitute persons to livelihoods, reducing fiscal burden of relief [S2].

31 Jan 2026 — Cumulative figures: 30,257 identified; 8,129 rehabilitated across 181 cities [S2].
24–26 April 2026 — Chintan Shivir of States/UTs convened at Chandigarh on Social Justice schemes [S1].
25 April 2026 — SMILE–Beggary Survey Mobile Application formally launched [S1].

SMILE expands to Support for Marginalized Individuals for Livelihood and Enterprise [S2].
Implementing ministry: MoSJE — NOT Ministry of Women & Child Development, NOT Ministry of Rural Development [S1].
SMILE scheme has two sub-schemes: Transgender Persons + Beggary Rehabilitation [S3].
SMILE-75 covers 75 Municipal Corporations (launched 12 Aug 2022) [S4].
Beggary sub-scheme currently operational in 181 cities [S2].
Survey App launched at Chintan Shivir, Chandigarh, 24–26 April 2026 [S1].
Policy slogan: "Bhiksha Vritti Mukt Bharat" [S2].
As on 31 January 2026: 30,257 identified; 8,129 rehabilitated [S2].
Components: identification, medical, counselling, education, skill development, self-employment [S2].
Umbrella SMILE scheme launched in February 2022 by Dr. Virendra Kumar [S3].

GS-II — Welfare schemes for vulnerable sections (Welfare Schemes for Vulnerable Sections by the Centre and States; Issues relating to development and management of Social Sector / Services relating to Health, Education, Human Resources; Mechanisms, laws, institutions and Bodies constituted for the protection and betterment of these vulnerable sections).
GS-I — Social empowerment, poverty and developmental issues, urbanisation (linkage with urban destitution).
Plausible question stems: 1. "Real-time digital surveys are reshaping welfare delivery for the most invisibilised groups in India. Discuss with reference to the SMILE Beggary Sub-Scheme." 2. "Comprehensive rehabilitation, not criminalisation, is the constitutional path for tackling beggary. Examine." 3. "Evaluate the role of Chintan Shivirs as instruments of cooperative federalism in implementing centrally-sponsored social-justice schemes."

Bombay Prevention of Begging Act, 1959 — colonial law criminalising begging; SC observations in Harsh Mander v. UoI (Delhi HC, 2018) decriminalised begging in Delhi — links to constitutional debate.
NALSA v. Union of India (2014) — basis for SMILE's transgender sub-scheme.
Garima Greh — shelter homes for transgender persons (MoSJE).
PM-DAKSH, NAPS — skill-development convergence for rehabilitated beggars.
Shelter homes under DAY-NULM (SUH) — urban homelessness convergence (MoHUA).
National Action Plan for Skill Training of Persons with Disabilities (NAP-SDP) — MoSJE umbrella delivery model.
Article 38, 39, 41, 46 — DPSPs underpinning welfare for the marginalised.
Chintan Shivirs (Home, Social Justice) — federal consultative tool.

SMILE is under MoSJE, NOT MoHUA or MoWCD.
SMILE covers beggars AND transgender persons — not just one group.
SMILE-75 = 75 Municipal Corporations (under Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav, 2022); current scheme expansion = 181 cities — do not conflate the two numbers.
SMILE is a Central Sector umbrella scheme of MoSJE — not Centrally Sponsored.
App was launched at Chandigarh Chintan Shivir 2026 — not at any National Conference of CMs/DGPs.
"Bhiksha Vritti Mukt Bharat" is the mission tagline of the Beggary sub-scheme, not an independent national mission.

[S1] Launch of SMILE–Beggary Survey Mobile Application at Chintan Shivir, Chandigarh (24–26 April 2026) — https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=2255463 — (tier: 1)
[S2] Support for Marginalized Individuals for Livelihood and Enterprise (SMILE) Scheme — https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=2226198 — (tier: 1)
[S3] Union Minister for Social Justice & Empowerment Dr. Virendra Kumar launches "SMILE" scheme — https://pib.gov.in/PressReleaseIframePage.aspx?PRID=1797968 — (tier: 1)
[S4] Union Minister launches "SMILE-75 Initiative" (12 August 2022) — https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=1851291 — (tier: 1)