Pradhan Mantri Janjatiya Unnat Gram Abhiyan
1. At a Glance
- PM-JUGA (also branded Dharti Aaba Janjatiya Gram Utkarsh Abhiyan – DAJGUA) is a 5-year (FY 2024-25 to FY 2028-29) mission for saturation-mode socio-economic development of tribal-majority villages and aspirational tribal blocks. [S1][S2]
- Largest tribal-village development scheme in India's history with 25 interventions across 17 line ministries, anchored by the Ministry of Tribal Affairs. [S2]
- Critical for UPSC: budget speech announcement → Cabinet approval → PM launch sequence in 2024, plus convergence model and links to Article 342, Fifth/Sixth Schedules, and PESA/FRA architecture.
2. Why in the News
- 5 Feb 2026: Ministry of Tourism launched "Development of Homestays in Tribal Areas" as a sub-scheme of Swadesh Darshan under PM-JUGA, funding ₹5 lakh community + ₹5 lakh for 2 new rooms + ₹3 lakh for renovation per household. [S5]
- Continues operationalisation since PM Modi's launch at Hazaribagh, Jharkhand on 2 October 2024. [S3]
3. Background & Evolution
- 23 July 2024: Announced by FM Nirmala Sitharaman in Union Budget 2024-25. [S1]
- 18 September 2024: Union Cabinet approved PM-JUGA. [S1]
- 2 October 2024: PM Modi launched DAJGUA from Hazaribagh, Jharkhand (Gandhi Jayanti). [S3]
- 15 November 2024 (Janjatiya Gaurav Divas / Birsa Munda 150th birth-anniversary year commencement): PM at Jamui, Bihar, inaugurated 30 Mobile Medical Units under DAJGUA and 23 MMUs under PM-JANMAN. [S4]
- Predecessor/parallel: PM-JANMAN (Nov 2023) for Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups (PVTGs). [S4]
4. Core Static Facts
- Nodal Ministry: Ministry of Tribal Affairs. [S2]
- Total Outlay: ₹79,156 crore (Centre ₹56,333 cr + States ₹22,823 cr). [S2]
- Coverage: 63,843 tribal villages in 549 districts, 2,911 blocks, 30 States/UTs. [S2]
- Beneficiaries: ~5 crore tribal persons (≈half of India's ST population). [S2]
- Village eligibility (plains): population ≥ 500 with ≥ 50% ST population; aspirational tribal blocks also covered. [S2]
- Interventions: 25, implemented by 17 line ministries (convergence model). [S2]
- Constitutional anchors: Article 342 (notification of STs); Fifth & Sixth Schedules; PESA 1996; Forest Rights Act 2006 (relevant context).
- Sub-scheme example: Tribal Homestays under Swadesh Darshan (Ministry of Tourism, FY 2025-26). [S5]
5. Multi-Dimensional Analysis
Social - Targets gaps in education, health, nutrition, housing for tribal households; saturation approach (not project mode). [S2] - Cultural preservation via tribal homestays promoting community-based responsible tourism. [S5]
Economic - Alternate livelihoods through tourism, Van Dhan, skilling; ₹13 lakh max per homestay household. [S5] - Convergence with PMAY-G, Jal Jeevan Mission, PMGSY, DDU-GKY under one umbrella. [S2]
Administrative / Governance - 17-ministry convergence is the central design innovation but also the biggest implementation risk (coordination, fund-flow tracking, GIS dashboard). [S2] - Centre-State funding ratio ~71:29 implies state buy-in is critical. [S2]
Legal / Constitutional - Operates within Fifth/Sixth Schedule areas; must respect Gram Sabha primacy under PESA, 1996 and FRA, 2006.
Historical / Symbolic - Launch timed with Gandhi Jayanti (2 Oct 2024) and dovetailed with Birsa Munda 150th birth anniversary (Nov 2024). [S3][S4]
6. Recent Developments (last 12–18 months)
- Sept 2024: Cabinet approval. [S1]
- 2 Oct 2024: Launch at Hazaribagh. [S3]
- 15 Nov 2024: 30 MMUs flagged off under DAJGUA from Jamui. [S4]
- 2025-26: Tribal Homestay sub-scheme under Swadesh Darshan notified by Tourism Ministry. [S5]
7. Prelims Hooks
- PM-JUGA announced in Union Budget 2024-25 by FM Nirmala Sitharaman. [S1]
- Total outlay ₹79,156 crore; Centre share ₹56,333 cr, State share ₹22,823 cr. [S2]
- Covers 63,843 villages, 549 districts, 2,911 blocks, 30 States/UTs. [S2]
- Beneficiaries ≈ 5 crore tribal persons. [S2]
- Mission period: FY 2024-25 to FY 2028-29 (5 years). [S2]
- 25 interventions across 17 line ministries. [S2]
- Nodal Ministry: Ministry of Tribal Affairs (NOT Ministry of Rural Development). [S2]
- Launched by PM at Hazaribagh, Jharkhand on 2 October 2024. [S3]
- Alias: Dharti Aaba Janjatiya Gram Utkarsh Abhiyan (DAJGUA) – "Dharti Aaba" refers to Birsa Munda. [S3]
- Plains eligibility: village with ≥500 population & ≥50% ST. [S2]
- Tribal Homestay sub-scheme is under Swadesh Darshan, Ministry of Tourism, FY 2025-26. [S5]
- Homestay funding ceiling: ₹5 lakh community + ₹5 lakh new rooms + ₹3 lakh renovation. [S5]
- Distinct from PM-JANMAN (which targets PVTGs specifically). [S4]
8. Mains Relevance
- GS-II: Welfare schemes for vulnerable sections (STs); inter-ministerial coordination; centre-state finances.
- GS-I: Tribal society, post-independence integration.
- GS-III: Inclusive growth, rural livelihoods.
Likely question stems: 1. "PM-JUGA represents a shift from project-based to saturation-based tribal development. Examine its design, convergence architecture, and implementation challenges." (GS-II) 2. "Compare PM-JANMAN and PM-JUGA in addressing the developmental deficits of India's tribal population." (GS-II) 3. "Discuss how community-based tourism interventions like the Tribal Homestay sub-scheme can balance livelihood and cultural preservation in Fifth Schedule areas." (GS-I/III)
9. Related Topics to Study Next
- PM-JANMAN — sister scheme for PVTGs; frequently paired in MCQs.
- PESA Act, 1996 — governance framework in Scheduled Areas.
- Forest Rights Act, 2006 — individual/community forest rights.
- Fifth & Sixth Schedules — constitutional basis for tribal administration.
- Eklavya Model Residential Schools (EMRS) — converges under PM-JUGA.
- Van Dhan Yojana / TRIFED — tribal livelihood ecosystem.
- Swadesh Darshan 2.0 — parent of the Homestay sub-scheme.
- Aspirational Districts/Blocks Programme — overlapping target geographies.
10. Common Errors / Trap Areas
- Wrong ministry: It is Ministry of Tribal Affairs, not Rural Development or Panchayati Raj. [S2]
- Conflating with PM-JANMAN: PM-JANMAN = PVTGs (75 groups); PM-JUGA = broader ST-majority villages. [S4]
- Launch date confusion: Cabinet approval Sept 2024, PM launch 2 Oct 2024 at Hazaribagh — not 15 Nov (which was Birsa Munda Jayanti, Jamui). [S3][S4]
- Outlay split: ₹79,156 cr is Centre + State combined, not central-only. [S2]
- Naming: PM-JUGA ≡ DAJGUA; "Dharti Aaba" = Birsa Munda's epithet, not a separate scheme. [S3]
- Homestay sub-scheme sits under Swadesh Darshan / Tourism Ministry, even though PM-JUGA is anchored by Tribal Affairs. [S5]
11. Sources
- [S1] Cabinet approves Pradhan Mantri Janjatiya Unnat Gram Abhiyan — https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=2055996 — (tier 1)
- [S2] India's Largest Tribal Village Development Scheme (PIB backgrounder PDF) — https://static.pib.gov.in/WriteReadData/specificdocs/documents/2025/jul/doc2025722590201.pdf — (tier 1)
- [S3] PM launches Dharti Aaba Janjatiya Gram Utkarsh Abhiyan from Hazaribagh, Jharkhand on 2nd October 2024 — https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=2061196 — (tier 1)
- [S4] PM to visit Jamui, Bihar on 15 November to commemorate Janjatiya Gaurav Diwas (150th birth anniversary of Birsa Munda) — https://pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=2073379 — (tier 1)
- [S5] Ministry of Tourism — Pradhan Mantri Janjatiya Unnat Gram Abhiyan (Homestays sub-scheme, 5 Feb 2026) — https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=2223766 — (tier 1)