Ministry of Minority Affairs through its PM VIKAS Scheme is a Central Sector Scheme which seeks to facilitate opportunities for minority communities in education, skilling, and employment to ensure their inclusive development. In this scheme projects are allocated to Project Implementing Agencies (PIAs) irrespective of States. Therefore, details of allocation State wise is not maintained. No proposal has been made to enhance a separate allocation under the PM VIKAS Scheme specifically for Punjab as any candidate of Indian nationality belonging to minority community as notified under National Commission of Minorities Act 1992, (Buddhists, Christians, Muslims, Jains, Parsis, and Sikhs) is eligible to apply for the scheme. Further in the States/UTs where some other minority communities notified by respective State/UT Governments exist, they may also be considered eligible for the scheme but should not occupy more than 5% of the total seats in PM VIKAS scheme.

This information was given by Union Minister of Minority Affairs Shri Kiren Rijiju in a written reply in Rajya Sabha today.

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