Pradhan Mantri Virasat Ka Samvardhan (PM VIKAS) Scheme

Why in News?

Recently, The Ministry of Minority Affairs has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT), Patna under the PM VIKAS Scheme.

• Aim – To build the capacity of minority communities through modern and traditional skilling, education, entrepreneurship, and cultural heritage preservation, ensuring sustainable livelihoods and inclusive growth.
• Type – Central Sector Scheme.
• Launched in – 2024
• Nodal Ministry – Ministry of Minority Affairs (MoMA).
• Implementing Agency
  • Minority community institutions
  • Industry bodies with placement linkages
  • Central/State institutions, PSUs, universities, institutions of national importance
• Integration of schemes - It integrates 5 earlier livelihood schemes — Seekho aur Kamao, USTTAD, Hamari Dharohar, Nai Roshni, and Nai Manzil.
• Objectives - Provide targeted skill training and employment opportunities.
• Preserve and promote cultural heritage, including Intangible Cultural Heritage (ICH).
• Offer formal education and certification to school dropouts (Classes 8, 10, 12).
• Empower minority women through leadership and entrepreneurship support.
• Improve employability via market and credit linkages.

• Eligibility and Identification
• Indian nationals from notified minority communities (Muslims, Christians, Sikhs, Buddhists, Jains, Parsis).
• Aadhaar + Aadhaar‑linked bank account mandatory.
  • Age – 14–45 years (skilling/education); 18–45 years (women leadership).
  • Reservation – 33% women (skilling), 50% women (education), 100% women (leadership).
  • 3% seats reserved for PwDs – Limited inclusion of EWS non‑minorities (25% in traditional, 15% in other components).
• Coverage – Pan‑India implementation through convergence with Pradhan Mantri Jan Vikas Karyakram (PMJVK) infrastructure and partnerships with IITs, NITs, CSIR institutes, and state agencies.
• Features
  • Skilling – (National Skills Qualifications Framework) NSQF‑aligned training for both traditional crafts and modern sectors, ensuring placement‑linked outcomes.
  • Education – Bridge programmes via the National Institute of Open Schooling (NIOS) for school dropouts with certification up to Class 12 and a 40% pass‑rate target.
  • Women Empowerment – Leadership and entrepreneurship training with Biz Sakhis mentoring, career counselling, and enterprise support.
  • Infrastructure – Convergence with PMJVK community assets; new infrastructure only where gaps exist or augmentation is required.
  • Employment – Placement target of 75% beneficiaries, with at least 50% in the organized sector; self‑employment allowed in informal trades.
  • Cultural Preservation – Documentation, GI tagging, cultural tourism, and minority “Parvs” to showcase and sustain Intangible Cultural Heritage.

 References

1. PIB | PM VIKAS
2. PM VIKAS | Minority Affairs