PCR and PoA Act Scheme Statistics: Central Assistance, Relief and Inter-Caste Marriage Incentives
· 2 min read · 2 official sources
The Centre released Rs 495.29 crore to states in 2024-25 to enforce the PCR Act and the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, and 99,216 atrocity victims received relief that year, according to the Ministry of Social Justice. Year-wise totals since 2020-21 and state-wise figures are below.
Centrally Sponsored Scheme for Implementation of the PCR Act, 1955 and the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, 1989: key numbers
Infographic
Central assistance, relief and incentives by year
All-India totals of central assistance released to states and UTs, persons given relief, and persons given inter-caste marriage incentives under the scheme.
| Year | Central assistance (Rs crore) | Persons given relief | Inter-caste marriage incentives |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2020-21 | 593.42 | 83,777 | 20,237 |
| 2021-22 | 610.11 | 88,859 | 24,062 |
| 2022-23 | 392.70 | 88,172 | 14,225 |
| 2023-24 | 535.30 | 79,667 | 21,083 |
| 2024-25 | 495.29 | 99,216 | 26,050 |
Source: socialjustice.gov.in, as on 31 March 2025
Top 12 states by central assistance (2024-25)
Central assistance released in 2024-25 to the 12 states that received the most under the PCR and PoA Acts scheme.
| State | Central assistance (Rs crore) |
|---|---|
| Uttar Pradesh | 89.49 |
| Madhya Pradesh | 88.12 |
| Karnataka | 48.66 |
| Bihar | 46.34 |
| Odisha | 38.49 |
| Tamil Nadu | 32.18 |
| Gujarat | 30.12 |
| Haryana | 28.74 |
| Maharashtra | 24.52 |
| Rajasthan | 18.62 |
| Chhattisgarh | 16.88 |
| Telangana | 16.19 |
Source: socialjustice.gov.in, as on 31 March 2025
Top 12 states by atrocity victims given relief (2024-25)
Number of atrocity victims and dependants who received relief under the scheme in 2024-25, for the 12 states with the highest numbers.
| State | Persons given relief |
|---|---|
| Uttar Pradesh | 20,074 |
| Madhya Pradesh | 19,359 |
| Bihar | 15,443 |
| Rajasthan | 10,269 |
| Maharashtra | 5,661 |
| Tamil Nadu | 5,586 |
| Karnataka | 5,167 |
| Andhra Pradesh | 4,554 |
| Telangana | 3,635 |
| Gujarat | 2,659 |
| Odisha | 2,402 |
| Chhattisgarh | 1,338 |
Source: socialjustice.gov.in, as on 31 March 2025
Top 10 states by inter-caste marriage incentives (2024-25)
Persons given the incentive for inter-caste marriage, where one spouse is from a Scheduled Caste, in 2024-25. Kerala and Punjab figures were not available.
| State | Persons given incentive |
|---|---|
| Maharashtra | 8,566 |
| Karnataka | 2,798 |
| Tamil Nadu | 2,476 |
| Haryana | 2,350 |
| Odisha | 2,039 |
| Gujarat | 1,775 |
| Madhya Pradesh | 1,646 |
| West Bengal | 1,510 |
| Chhattisgarh | 1,061 |
| Himachal Pradesh | 959 |
Source: socialjustice.gov.in, as on 31 March 2025
How central assistance reaches victims
What the numbers show
This scheme pays the central share of what states spend to enforce two laws: the Protection of Civil Rights Act, 1955 and the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, 1989. In 2024-25 the Centre released Rs 495.29 crore, and 99,216 victims or dependants received relief. Another 26,050 persons got the incentive for an inter-caste marriage where one spouse is from a Scheduled Caste. Relief to victims and marriage incentives are the two largest uses of the money.
The trend over the years
Central releases were Rs 593.42 crore in 2020-21 and Rs 610.11 crore in 2021-22, fell to Rs 392.70 crore in 2022-23 and recovered to Rs 535.30 crore in 2023-24. The number of people given relief rose to its five-year high of 99,216 in 2024-25, even though releases that year were lower than in 2023-24. Releases depend on when states send their claims and spending reports, so a low year often reflects delayed paperwork rather than fewer cases.
State differences
Uttar Pradesh (Rs 89.49 crore) and Madhya Pradesh (Rs 88.12 crore) received far more than any other state in 2024-25. They also report the most victims given relief. Maharashtra stands out on inter-caste marriage incentives, with 8,566 in 2024-25 out of 26,050 nationally. Several states, including Andhra Pradesh, Jharkhand and Punjab, received no central assistance in 2024-25, and Uttar Pradesh reports no inter-caste marriage incentives under this scheme.
What the figures do not tell you
The table counts money released by the Centre, not what states spent from their own budgets or paid out to victims in the same year. Relief counts come from state reports and some states, such as Kerala and Punjab, did not report 2024-25 figures. The numbers also do not show how many atrocity cases were registered or how many ended in conviction; those come from NCRB.
Where to check the numbers
The Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment publishes the state-wise tables on its scheme page, and its year-end review on PIB gives the latest release figure for the calendar year.
Frequently asked questions
How much central assistance was released under the PCR and PoA Acts scheme in 2024-25?
Rs 495.29 crore was released to states and UTs in 2024-25, according to the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment. Between 1 January and 30 November 2025, Rs 506.02 crore was released.
How many atrocity victims received relief in 2024-25?
99,216 persons received relief under the scheme in 2024-25. Uttar Pradesh (20,074), Madhya Pradesh (19,359) and Bihar (15,443) had the highest numbers.
How many couples got the inter-caste marriage incentive?
26,050 persons were given the inter-caste marriage incentive in 2024-25, the highest in the five years from 2020-21. Maharashtra alone accounted for 8,566.
Which state gets the most money under this scheme?
Uttar Pradesh received Rs 89.49 crore in 2024-25, closely followed by Madhya Pradesh with Rs 88.12 crore. Some states, such as Andhra Pradesh, Jharkhand and Punjab, received nothing that year.
How is the cost shared between the Centre and states?
Spending above the committed liability is shared 50:50 between the Centre and states with a legislature. Union Territory administrations get 100 per cent central assistance.
Eligibility, documents and how to apply: Centrally Sponsored Scheme for Implementation of the PCR Act, 1955 and the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, 1989 full guide
Charts, data files and the infographic are free to download, share and embed with a link back to this page.
Sources
This guide was checked against these official pages:
- socialjustice.gov.in (socialjustice.gov.in/schemes/39)
- pib.gov.in (www.pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=2209488)