Department of Social Justice and Empowerment Unveils Landmark Annual Report 2025-26: A Blueprint for Inclusive Growth
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Explore the Department of Social Justice and Empowerment's Annual Report 2025-26, detailing record expenditures, impactful schemes, and a commitment to uplifting marginalized communities in India. The Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment (MoSJE) has officially released its much-anticipated Annual Report for the financial year 2025-26, providing a comprehensive overview of its policies, programmes, and achievements in fostering an inclusive and equitable society across India. This report underscores the government's unwavering dedication to the welfare and empowerment of disadvantaged and marginalized sections, showcasing significant progress and strategic initiatives aimed at social, educational, and economic upliftment.
Highlighting Record Achievements: A Year of Unprecedented Growth
The financial year 2025-26 has been a landmark period for the Department of Social Justice & Empowerment, marking its highest-ever expenditure. The Department recorded an impressive outlay of ₹11,810.82 crore, signifying a substantial increase of nearly 14% compared to the ₹10,409.00 crore spent in the preceding financial year 2024-25. This record-breaking expenditure highlights a focused approach to the timely utilization of funds, ensuring that welfare-oriented schemes deliver maximum impact to their intended beneficiaries.
This commitment to financial allocation and effective deployment is consistent with broader national trends emphasizing robust welfare frameworks. For instance, state initiatives, such as Haryana's landmark welfare drive, which saw the transfer of ₹3,309 crore to millions through Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT), mirror the central government's efforts to ensure financial aid reaches beneficiaries directly and efficiently. Similarly, Telangana's 2024-25 budget, unveiled with a substantial ₹2.75 Lakh Crore and core welfare guarantees, further illustrates a nationwide concerted effort towards social security and inclusive growth. Such significant investments underscore a collective vision for a society where all citizens have access to opportunities and support.
Empowering Through Education: Scholarship Successes
Education remains a cornerstone of empowerment, and the Department has made significant strides in providing access to quality education for Scheduled Castes (SCs) and Other Backward Classes (OBCs). During 2025-26, up to November 30, 2025, a substantial amount of ₹7,210.80 crore was released to 61.71 lakh Scheduled Caste beneficiaries under the Post-Matric Scholarship Scheme. Additionally, the Pre-Matric Scholarships Scheme for SCs and Others disbursed ₹604.15 crore to 30.74 lakh beneficiaries.
The Scheme for Residential Education for Students in High Schools in Targeted Areas (SHRESHTA) saw 2,915 SC students admitted to 151 private residential schools for the 2025-26 academic session, with ₹79.37 crore reimbursed for school fees. These schemes, along with initiatives like the Student Resource Centre (SRC) and Mentorship Support Ecosystem (SME), play a crucial role in strengthening student support systems and reducing dropout rates among marginalized cohorts. The Department also offers Free Coaching to SC and OBC students for competitive examinations, with financial assistance up to ₹75,000 for coaching fees and a ₹4,000 monthly stipend for eligible students.
Targeted Interventions: Uplifting Diverse Communities
The report meticulously details the Department's broad mandate, which encompasses the welfare of various marginalized sections, including Scheduled Castes (SCs), Other Backward Classes (OBCs), Senior Citizens, Victims of Substance Abuse, Transgender Persons, Persons engaged in Beggary, De-notified and Nomadic Tribes (DNTs), Economically Backward Classes (EBCs), and Economically Weaker Sections (EWS).
For Scheduled Castes and OBCs
Beyond scholarships, the Department implements the Pradhan Mantri Anusuchit Jaati Abhyuday Yojana (PM-AJAY) to provide livelihood and infrastructure support. During 2025-26, ₹307.28 crore was disbursed, benefiting 25,930 SC beneficiaries under this scheme. The National Scheduled Castes Finance and Development Corporation (NSFDC) and National Backward Classes Finance and Development Corporation (NBCFDC) continue to provide financial assistance and skill development programs to foster economic independence among these communities.
Addressing Substance Abuse: Nasha Mukt Bharat Abhiyaan
The Nasha Mukt Bharat Abhiyaan (NMBA), a flagship campaign against drug abuse, demonstrated significant reach in 2025. The initiative successfully engaged with 11.33 crore people, including 4.27 crore youth and 3.33 crore women, in its comprehensive efforts to prevent substance abuse and promote rehabilitation. Such widespread outreach underscores the importance of robust monitoring and transparent implementation to ensure that welfare programs achieve their intended impact and that public funds are utilized effectively, minimizing instances of fraud or mismanagement. This focus on integrity in welfare delivery aligns with broader governmental efforts to crack down on financial irregularities, as exemplified by cases like ED Cracks Down: ₹6 Crore Property Attached in Assam's Ayushman Bharat Fraud Case, highlighting the ongoing commitment to accountability across all public service sectors.
Welfare for Senior Citizens and Transgender Persons
The Department's commitment extends to ensuring dignity and support for senior citizens through schemes like the Atal Vayo Abhyuday Yojana (AVYAY) and the Rashtriya Vayoshri Yojana (RVY). These initiatives provide financial assistance, healthcare, and assistive devices to eligible elderly individuals, promoting healthy and dignified aging. For transgender persons, the Ministry operates the National Portal for Transgender Persons, facilitating access to various welfare measures and legal protections under the Transgender Persons (Protection of Rights) Act, 2019.
Sanitation Workers and Persons Engaged in Beggary
In a significant move towards ensuring dignity of labor, the National Action for Mechanised Sanitation Ecosystem (NAMASTE) program profiled 19,492 sewer and septic tank workers, conducted 285 workshops, and supplied 68,952 PPE kits during the year. Furthermore, waste pickers have been added as a new target group under this initiative, recognizing their vital contribution and addressing their occupational hazards. The Department also implements programs for the rehabilitation and welfare of persons engaged in beggary, aiming to provide them with opportunities for social and economic reintegration.
A Broader Vision for Social Justice
The Annual Report 2025-26 reiterates the Ministry’s vision to build an inclusive society where all target groups can lead productive, safe, and dignified lives. Through a network of statutory bodies, commissions, national institutes, and public sector undertakings, the Ministry coordinates policy formulation, scheme implementation, regulatory oversight, research, and capacity building. This holistic approach ensures that interventions are well-planned and effectively delivered, fostering significant improvements in the welfare of these groups.
Conclusion
The Department of Social Justice and Empowerment's Annual Report 2025-26 stands as a testament to the government's unwavering commitment to its most vulnerable citizens. The record expenditure, coupled with the wide array of targeted schemes and their measurable impacts, paints a picture of progressive and compassionate governance. As India moves forward, the insights and achievements detailed in this report will serve as a crucial guide for further strengthening the social fabric and ensuring that the fruits of development reach every segment of society, building a truly inclusive nation.