PM Awas Yojana-Gramin: Up to Rs 1.30 lakh for a pucca house, how to apply

The central government runs the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana-Gramin (PMAY-G) so that poor and needy families living in villages can get a pucca house. Families that do not own a pucca house or live in a kutcha house are given up to Rs 1,30,000 for construction, paid directly into their bank account. Registration for Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana 2.0 has now begun.

The scheme was not launched all of a sudden. The Indira Awas Yojana was started in 1996 with the aim of giving village poor their own homes. Later, in 2024, it was renamed Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana-Gramin after several key changes. The scheme's objective is to give a safe, pucca house to those who do not have a solid roof over their heads or who live in huts.

Under the scheme, the minimum area of the house has been fixed at 25 to 30 square metres, and it must have a kitchen facility. Beneficiaries in difficult and hilly areas such as Himachal Pradesh, the northeastern states and Jammu and Kashmir are given assistance of Rs 1,30,000 per unit. A loan of up to Rs 70,000 at 3 percent interest is also available for construction, and a subsidy can be availed on a principal amount of up to Rs 2 lakh.

Beneficiaries also get the benefit of other government schemes alongside. Under the Swachh Bharat Mission, Rs 12,000 is given separately for building a toilet. Under MGNREGA, 95 days of guaranteed employment is provided for work on the house. The Ujjwala Yojana gives a free gas connection, and other government schemes provide drinking water and an electricity connection.

Families eligible for the scheme are those who do not own a pucca house and are currently living in a mud or kutcha house. This includes homeless people, those who beg, particularly vulnerable tribal groups and daily wage labourers. Families with more than two rooms, those who own a two-wheeler, four-wheeler or boat, those holding a credit card with a limit of Rs 50,000 or more, families with a member in government service, families with a monthly income above Rs 10,000, or those who regularly pay income tax will not get the benefit of this scheme.

For applying, an Aadhaar card, bank passbook and its details, a Swachh Bharat Mission number, and an affidavit stating that the applicant does not own a pucca house anywhere are required. Those who are not literate can also use a thumb impression. For online applications, one has to visit the official PMAY-G website and fill in name, mobile number and Aadhaar number, upload consent for using Aadhaar, then click "Register" and fill in the remaining personal and bank details. If a loan is needed, the amount, MGNREGA job card number and Swachh Bharat Mission number must be entered before submitting the form.

After the online process is complete and the name appears in the final list, orders for approving funds are issued. Within 7 days of the order being issued, the first instalment is deposited directly into the beneficiary's bank account through DBT. The full amount is given in a total of 3 to 5 instalments. To check one's name in the list, one has to go to the official PMAY-G website, click on "IAY/PMAYG Beneficiary" under the "Stakeholders" tab, then enter the registration number and captcha code and submit to see the status and list.