Dr. Ambedkar Foundation’s Inter-Caste Marriage and Atrocity Victims Relief Schemes Merged with Centrally Sponsored Scheme from March 31, 2023

The Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment announced that the Dr. Ambedkar Scheme for Social Integration through Inter‑Caste Marriages and the Dr. Ambedkar National Relief to SC/ST Victims of Atrocities Scheme were merged with the Centrally Sponsored Scheme for the Implementation of the Protection of Civil Rights Act, 1955 and the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, 1989, effective 31 March 2023 to avoid duplication. Central assistance is now provided to State Governments and Union Territories, with implementation responsibility lying with them. A special initiative addressed pending backlog cases, releasing incentives in 385 inter‑caste marriage cases amounting to about ₹9 crore.