PM-SURAJ Portal

Category: Indian Polity and Governance — Social Justice

PM-SURAJ stands for Pradhan Mantri Samajik Utthan evam Rozgar Adharit Jankalyan. It is a government initiative intended to improve access to credit and support for disadvantaged sections of society.

Key facts

  • Launched: March 2024.

  • Nodal ministry: Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment.

  • The portal is designed to facilitate access to credit-related support for eligible disadvantaged entrepreneurs.

  • It focuses on supporting economically disadvantaged groups, including eligible members of Scheduled Castes, Other Backward Classes and sanitation-worker communities, subject to applicable programme rules.

  • It aims to improve financial inclusion, entrepreneurship and livelihood opportunities.

Importance

  • Helps connect eligible beneficiaries with credit and livelihood support.

  • Encourages self-employment and small-enterprise development.

  • Supports broader social and economic empowerment.

UPSC key pointers

  • PM-SURAJ is associated with social justice and livelihood-based empowerment.

  • It should not be confused with PM SVANidhi, which focuses on street vendors.

  • Access to credit and entrepreneurship support are central themes.

  • Eligibility and financial assistance depend on the applicable programme provisions.