Over the past twelve years, India’s sustained public interventions have expanded access to essential services, reducing deprivation across underprivileged households. Nearly 25 crore people escaped multidimensional poverty through expanded welfare delivery and social protection measures. Rural tap water coverage increased from 3.23 crore households in 2019 to 15.84 crore by May 2026. Over 12.11 crore household toilets were built, raising rural sanitation coverage from 39% in 2014 to universal coverage. PM Ujjwala Yojana provided over 10.57 crore free LPG connections. Ayushman Bharat issued 43.93 crore health cards. PMGKAY ensured free foodgrains for over 81 crore beneficiaries. Female primary school dropout rates declined sharply from 4.6% in 2013-14 to 0.3% in 2024-25.
Strategic Paradigms in Poverty Alleviation
Average inflation declined from 8.1% during 2004–2014 to 5.1% during 2014–2025. Multidimensional poverty declined sharply from 29.17% in 2013–14 to 11.28% in 2022–23 – a 17.89 percentage-point reduction. Nearly 25 crore people were lifted out of multidimensional poverty during this period.
Universal Access to Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene
Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM): Launched in 2019, fiscal allocations expanded by approximately 488% between 2020-21 and 2026-27, reaching ₹67,670 crore. Household tap water coverage increased from 3.23 crore in August 2019 to 15.84 crore by May 2026, covering 81.87% of total 19.35 crore households. Moreover, 2.77 lakh villages achieved 100% tap water coverage.
In Aspirational Districts, household tap water coverage increased from 23.62 lakh in August 2019 to 2.20 crore by May 2026. Schools with tap water connectivity increased from 29,711 to 9.23 lakh. Anganwadi Centres with tap water rose from 15,464 to 9.66 lakh.
Swachh Bharat Abhiyan – Urban: Budget outlay increased from ₹62,009 crore under SBM-U Phase 1 (2014–2021) to ₹1.41 lakh crore under SBM-U 2.0 (2021–2026) – an increase of approximately 128.3%. Door-to-door waste collection increased from 43% in 2014 to 98% in 2026. Waste processing rose from 16% in 2014 to 82% in 2026. Individual household toilets completed: 63.74 lakh units (108.62% of target). Community and public toilets: 6.36 lakh units (125.46% of target). 4,692 cities declared Open Defecation Free (ODF); 4,314 cities certified as ODF+; 1,973 cities as ODF++.
Swachh Bharat Abhiyan – Grameen: Budget allocations increased from ₹3,929 crore in 2014–15 to ₹7,192 crore in 2026-27. Over 12.11 crore individual household toilets constructed. Sanitation coverage increased from 39% in 2014 to 100% in 2019. India declared ODF in 2019. As of March 2026, over 5 lakh villages attained ODF Plus status.
Clean Cooking, Renewable Energy, and Rural Electrification
PM Ujjwala Yojana (PMUY): Launched in 2016, as of May 2026, over 10.57 crore free LPG connections provided to women from BPL households. Total LPG connections increased from 14.52 crore in 2014 to 33.39 crore in 2026 – a rise of around 129.9%.
PM Surya Ghar: Muft Bijli Yojana: Launched in 2024, budget allocation increased to ₹22,000 crore in 2026-27 from ₹6,250 crore in 2024-25. As of April 2026, the scheme benefitted 36.8 lakh households.
Universal Village Electrification: Under SAUBHAGYA (launched 2017), 100% of willing households were electrified nationwide by March 2019. Under DDUGJY (launched 2014), 100% village electrification achieved by 2025. Average daily electricity supply in rural areas increased from 12.5 hours in FY2014 to 22.6 hours in FY2025; in urban areas from 22.1 to 23.4 hours.
Public Health and Food Security Systems
Ayushman Bharat – PMJAY: Launched in September 2018, provides annual health insurance coverage of ₹5 lakh per family to nearly 12.37 crore economically vulnerable families. As of May 2026, over 43.93 crore Ayushman Cards issued. Hospitalizations increased from 29.96 lakh in June 2019 to 12.03 crore by May 2026, with total treatment costs of ₹1.80 lakh crore. ABDM introduced Ayushman Bharat Health Accounts – 88.33 crore ABHA accounts created. Over 1.85 lakh Ayushman Arogya Mandirs facilitated 540 crore visits.
Under Ayushman Bharat Vay Vandana Yojana, more than 1.20 crore senior citizens enrolled, with approximately 13.84 lakh treatments delivered at cost exceeding ₹3,000 crore. AIIMS operational increased from 8 (1947-2014) to 15 in the last 12 years.
Child & Maternal Health Interventions: Under PMSMA, over 7 crore antenatal check-ups conducted. Mission Indradhanush immunized 5.46 crore children and 1.32 crore pregnant women. Maternal Mortality Ratio declined from 130 per 100,000 live births (2014-16) to 88 (2021-23). First-trimester antenatal care visits rose from 59% to 76.2% between 2015-16 and 2023-24.
Food Security: PMGKAY (launched 2020) provides free foodgrains to over 81 crore beneficiaries, extended for five years in January 2024. Over 5.50 lakh (99.8%) of Fair Price Shops are automated for Aadhaar-based distribution. One Nation One Ration Card has facilitated over 2.07 billion transactions. Stunting among children declined from 38.4% (NFHS-4) to 29.3% (NFHS-6); underweight children fell from 35.8% to 31.8%.
Education Access and Learning Outcomes
Samagra Shiksha Abhiyan: Launched in 2018-19, 4,073 schools upgraded, 1.49 lakh ICT and digital initiatives implemented, 25,000 schools covered under skill education. Schools with functional female sanitation facilities expanded from 13.5 lakh in 2013–14 to 14.2 lakh by 2024–25. Female drop-out rate at primary school decreased from 4.6% (2013-14) to 0.3% (2024-25); at secondary school from 14.5% to 11.5%.
Beti Bachao Beti Padhao: Launched in 2015, sex ratio improved from 943 (Census 2011) to 1,020 females per 1,000 males by 2021. Secondary school enrolment for girls expanded from 75.51% in 2014–15 to 80.2% by 2024–25.
Kasturba Balika Vidyalayas: Sanctioned KGBVs increased from 3,609 in 2014–15 to 5,639 in 2024–25. Student enrolment increased from 3.52 lakh in 2014–15 to 7.11 lakh in 2024.
Infrastructure and Connectivity
Pradhan Mantri Awaas Yojana – Urban: Budget allocations rose from ₹4,175 crore in 2015–16 to ₹18,625 crore in 2026–27 (increase of 346.1%). Over 98.10 lakh houses completed between 2015 and 2026, compared to only 8.04 lakh during 2005–2014. Around 96% of houses under PMAY-U 2.0 are registered in the name of a woman.
PMAY – Gramin: Budget allocations increased from ₹21 crore in 2015–16 to ₹54,917 crore in 2026–27 (growth of approximately 2.61 lakh%). 3.91 crore houses sanctioned and 3.03 crore completed as of May 2026. Around 75% of beneficiaries are women.
Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana (PMGSY): Budget allocation increased from ₹386 crore (2014–15) to ₹19,000 crore (2026–27). 99.6% of eligible habitations connected with all-weather roads. Completed road length increased from 3.86 lakh km (2000–2014) to 4.11 lakh km (2014–2026). Completed bridges rose from 484 to 10,256.
Livelihoods, Skills, and Financial Security
DAY-NRLM: Women’s participation in SHGs increased from 2.37 crore to 10 crore. SHGs rose from 21.31 lakh to 91.75 lakh. Loan disbursement expanded from ₹22,944 crore to ₹1.2 lakh crore. Lakhpati Didi (launched 2023) has enabled 3.07 crore rural women to become entrepreneurs. Over 9 lakh Community Resource Persons currently active.
Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Vikas Yojana (PMKVY): Over 1.64 crore youth have received skill training since inception. Under PMKVY 4.0, 27.43 lakh candidates trained across 38 sectors focusing on emerging skills such as AI and Industry 4.0.
Viksit Bharat – Guarantee for Rozgar and Ajeevika Mission (Gramin): Persondays generated increased from 1,660 crore (FY 2006–14) to 3,036.7 crore (FY 2014–25). Women’s participation increased from 48% to 58.19%.
eShram Portal: Registrations increased from 14.40 crore (Dec 2021) to 31.64 crore (May 2026).
PM Vishwakarma Yojana (launched 2023): Over 30 lakh artisans registered; 23.97 lakh received skill training; 5.92 lakh artisans received sanctioned credit.
PM SVANidhi: Beneficiaries increased from 26.37 lakh (Nov 2021) to 75.27 lakh (May 2026). Cumulative loan disbursements reached ₹17,710.55 crore; female beneficiaries account for 46%.
Stand Up India Scheme (inaugurated 2016): Sanctioned ₹62,807.46 crore to 2.75 lakh beneficiaries.
Social Security Coverage
– Atal Pension Yojana: Beneficiaries increased from 48.80 lakh in 2016–17 to 8.96 crore in 2025–26
– PM Jeevan Jyoti Bima Yojana: 27.33 crore beneficiaries covered
– PM Suraksha Bima Yojana: 57.92 crore people covered
– PM Shram Yogi Maan-dhan: 52.99 lakh unorganized workers registered
Financial Inclusion
Pradhan Mantri MUDRA Yojana: Cumulative loan accounts expanded from 3.49 crore in 2016 to over 57 crore by 2026. Approximately 49% of loans sanctioned to entrepreneurs from SC/ST/OBC communities. 66% of loans (38.29 crore), amounting to ₹16.88 lakh crore, disbursed to women entrepreneurs.
Pradhan Mantri Jan Dhan Yojana (launched 2014): Beneficiaries increased from 17.9 crore (Aug 2015) to 58.16 crore (May 2026) – increase of around 224.9%. Total balance in these accounts stands at ₹3.02 lakh crore. 13.55 lakh Bank Mitras delivering branchless banking services.
Tribal Development
PM-JANMAN (launched 2023): As of February 2026, 2.66 lakh houses, 1,949 km of roads, 750 Mobile Medical Units completed; piped drinking water access to 8,473 villages; electrified 1.36 lakh households; operationalized 2,390 Anganwadi centres.
Eklavya Model Residential Schools: Operational schools increased from 129 (2014–15) to 499 (May 2026), with enrolment of 1.54 lakh students.
From Antyodaya to Sarvodaya
India’s welfare architecture has evolved from entitlement-based delivery toward saturation-driven coverage. Sustained public investment, targeted welfare interventions, and technology-enabled governance expanded access to basic amenities and better livelihood opportunities. Women-led development, grassroots entrepreneurship, and SHG-driven economic participation have emerged as key pillars of this transformation. Together, these interventions reflect a broader movement from “Antyodaya to Sarvodaya” – empowering the most vulnerable sections while driving national growth.
Disclaimer: This is an abridged version of the original PIB article “Empowering the Poor: A Decade of Inclusive Transformation” (June 8, 2026). Key facts and data have been retained. For the complete article, please refer to the official PIB website.
