Under the Prime Minister’s 15-Point Programme, over 50 million scholarships have been awarded to minority students since 2014, empowering them with education and better job opportunities. Additionally, over 900,000 youth from minority communities have received skill training under various government schemes, enhancing their employability.
The Prime Minister’s New 15-Point Programme for the Welfare of Minorities is a strategic initiative aimed at ensuring the socio-economic upliftment of the six centrally recognized minority communities in India: Muslims, Christians, Sikhs, Buddhists, Jains, and Parsis. Introduced to provide equal opportunities in education, employment, and economic development, this programme aligns with the government’s vision of Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas, Sabka Vishwas by fostering inclusive growth.
Key Objectives
The 15-Point Programme is structured around four broad objectives:
- Enhancing Educational Opportunities
- Ensuring Equitable Participation in Economic and Employment Activities
- Improving Living Conditions through Infrastructure Development
- Preventing and Controlling Communal Disharmony and Violence
Each of these objectives is translated into specific welfare schemes implemented by different ministries to achieve targeted results.
The 15 Points of the Programme
1. Pre-Matric Scholarship Scheme
Aimed at students from minority communities, this scheme provides financial aid to students in classes 1 to 10, ensuring that economic constraints do not hinder basic education.
2. Post-Matric Scholarship Scheme
This initiative supports students from classes 11 and 12 up to higher education, helping them pursue undergraduate, postgraduate, and technical courses with scholarships covering tuition fees and maintenance costs.
3. Merit-cum-Means Scholarship Scheme
Designed for professional and technical education students, this scheme provides financial aid to meritorious students from weaker economic backgrounds to encourage higher education.
4. National Minorities Development & Finance Corporation (NMDFC) Loan Schemes
Providing concessional credit to minority entrepreneurs, NMDFC supports self-employment and small businesses through micro-finance initiatives.
5. Samagra Shiksha Abhiyaan (SSA) – Ministry of Education
A flagship programme to ensure inclusive and quality education for all, SSA integrates minority students into mainstream education while addressing infrastructure gaps.
6. Deen Dayal Antyodaya Yojana – National Rural Livelihood Mission (DAY-NRLM) – Ministry of Rural Development
Targeting rural poverty, this scheme promotes self-employment through skill training and financial assistance for women and minority entrepreneurs.
7. Deen Dayal Upadhyay – Gramin Kaushalya Yojana (DDU-GKY) – Ministry of Rural Development
Providing vocational training to rural youth, including minorities, to enhance employability in various sectors.
8. Pradhan Mantri Awaas Yojana (PMAY) – Ministry of Rural Development
Ensuring affordable housing for the economically weaker sections, including minorities, this scheme offers financial assistance for constructing and upgrading homes.
9. Deen Dayal Antyodaya Yojana – National Urban Livelihoods Mission (DAY-NULM) – Ministry of Housing & Urban Affairs
Focusing on urban poverty alleviation, DAY-NULM provides skill development, micro-financing, and support for urban street vendors from minority communities.
10. Priority Sector Lending by Banks – Department of Financial Services
Banks are mandated to earmark 15% of total priority sector lending for minority entrepreneurs to ensure financial inclusivity.
11. Pradhan Mantri Mudra Yojana (PMMY) – Department of Financial Services
Supporting small businesses, this scheme offers collateral-free loans to promote self-employment and micro-enterprises within minority communities.
12. POSHAN Abhiyaan – Ministry of Women & Child Development
Targeting malnutrition among minority women and children, this scheme ensures access to better healthcare, nutrition, and hygiene awareness.
13. National Health Mission (NHM) – Department of Health & Family Welfare
Providing healthcare facilities to underprivileged minority communities, NHM ensures accessible medical services, maternal care, and child healthcare.
14. Ayushman Bharat – Department of Health & Family Welfare
Extending free health insurance coverage up to ₹5 lakh per family per year, Ayushman Bharat benefits economically weaker sections, including minorities, by providing quality healthcare.
15. Jal Jeevan Mission – National Rural Drinking Water Programme – Department of Drinking Water & Sanitation
Aiming to provide clean and safe drinking water to every household, this initiative prioritizes areas with a high concentration of minority populations.
Impact and Achievements
The Modi government’s focus on the holistic development of minority communities has led to tangible outcomes:
- Over 5 million scholarships have been awarded under the Pre-Matric, Post-Matric, and Merit-cum-Means Scholarship schemes.
- 4.5 million beneficiaries have received credit support under the NMDFC Loan Scheme and Mudra Yojana.
- More than 3 million houses have been constructed under PMAY, directly benefiting minorities.
- 2.7 million individuals from minority communities have received skill training under DDU-GKY and DAY-NULM.
- Healthcare access under Ayushman Bharat has covered 3.2 million minority beneficiaries.
- 1.5 million minority women and children have been supported under POSHAN Abhiyaan.
- 7.8 million rural households with minority populations have received clean drinking water under the Jal Jeevan Mission.
The Prime Minister’s 15-Point Programme is a testament to the Modi government’s commitment to inclusive growth and development. By integrating minority communities into mainstream education, employment, entrepreneurship, and welfare initiatives, the programme ensures that no section of society is left behind. As India strides toward Viksit Bharat, such targeted interventions will play a crucial role in fostering social harmony, economic empowerment, and national progress.
