Jiyo Parsi Scheme (2025)

Policy Update
Atharva Salunke

Background:

The Jiyo Parsi Scheme, initiated in 2013-14 by the Ministry of Minority Affairs, is a first-of-its-kind Central Sector scheme to stem the falling Parsi population in India. Taking cognizance of the demographical woes of the community, the scheme follows a scientific intervention and systematic measures for stabilizing and incrementally increasing their numbers. It works through three different components: Medical Assistance, Health of the Community, and Advocacy. 

Under the Medical facet, subsidies are offered to couples for infertility treatment and allied medical interventions. The Health of the Community facet offers subsidies for child care and dependent elderly, hence encouraging couples to have more children without incurring extra expenses.

The Advocacy facet is oriented towards counseling, awareness generation, workshops, and social media utilization to tackle fertility-related issues and enhance community health. Given through State Governments and Parsi institutions, benefits are directly sent to beneficiaries through DBT after verification through biometrics and official means. The scheme has generated favorable results in reviving the Parsi community. 

Functioning:

The Jiyo Parsi Scheme operates through three major components namely Medical Assistance, Health of the Community and Advocacy. It is implemented during the 15th Finance Commission cycle from 2021-22 to 2025-26 with a total budgetary provision of ₹50 crore. This is a 100 percent Central Sector Scheme carried out with the support of State Governments and Parsi institutions.

Table 1: Year-wise Outlay of Jiyo Parsi Scheme (₹ in crore)

Under the Medical Assistance component, financial support is provided to address fertility issues through Assisted Reproductive Technologies which include In-Vitro Fertilization, Intra Cytoplasmic Sperm Injection and other modes including surrogacy.

The assistance covers a maximum of ₹6 lakh or actual expenditure whichever is less at ₹1.5 lakh per cycle for up to four cycles of infertility treatment. Additionally, a maximum of ₹4 lakh or actual expenditure is available for other medical expenses after conception towards childbearing. For post-natal care of a newborn child from birth to six weeks, couples can avail up to ₹2.5 lakh or actual expenditure whichever is less.

The Health of the Community component provides ₹8,000 per month for childcare till the age of 18 years. Further, assistance of ₹10,000 per month is provided for each dependent elderly family member aged 60 years or more.

The Advocacy component focuses on counselling sessions, seminars, outreach programmes, medical camps, publicity brochures, advocacy films and social media campaigns to effectively reach eligible couples. All financial assistance is disbursed through the Direct Benefit Transfer mode after biometric authentication and necessary verification to ensure transparency.

Table 2: Financial Assistance under Jiyo Parsi Scheme

Performance:

The Jiyo Parsi Scheme has made promising strides toward its goal of stabilizing and growing the Parsi community in India. For the Health of the Community (HoC) component, large amounts of money have been expended in several states, especially in Maharashtra and Gujarat where the Parsi community is densely concentrated.

During the financial year 2023-24, as many as 155 children and 77 dependent elderly were covered under the scheme at an outgo of ₹2.41 crore. In 2024-25, coverage increased further to 146 children and 73 elderly at an assistance of ₹2.24 crore. For the period 2025-26 up to September 22, 2025, 143 children and 58 elderly benefactors have already been provided with support, which works out to ₹51.64 lakh. This depicts consistent outreach and utilization of the scheme.

*Data for 2025-26 is updated as on 22nd September 2025. 

Table 3: Beneficiaries and Funds Released under Jiyo Parsi Scheme (2023-26)

The medical assistance component has also helped in critical support for fertility treatments, and advocacy activities like seminars, workshops, medical camps, brochures, advocacy films, and social media campaigns have sensitized the community. The Direct Benefit Transfer mechanism, supported by biometric verification, helps ensure that financial assistance is transferred to genuine beneficiaries in an efficient and transparent manner.

Ever since its introduction in 2014-15, the Scheme for Jiyo Parsi has recorded consistent increase in allocations and utilization. Beginning with ₹0.50 crore in 2014-15, allocations increased step by step to ₹1.55 crore in 2016-17 and then to ₹4 crore in 2018-19, with almost full expenditure.

In 2021-22, even with an allocation of ₹3 crore, expenditure reached a peak at ₹5 crore, evidencing high demand. Nevertheless, usage fell to ₹2.70 crore in 2022-23 and ₹1.00 crore in 2023-24. Allocations in 2024-25 amounted to ₹5.53 crore with expenditure of ₹4.03 crore as of December 2024, reflecting better performance and reiterating government commitment towards the Parsi community.

Impact:

The Jiyo Parsi Scheme has had a quantifiable effect in turning the declining trend of the Parsi community in India. The scheme has allowed over 400 Parsi children, including 414 up to 2022-23, to be born since its introduction in 2013-14, giving the community new hope. The scheme has eliminated both medical and socio-economic obstacles that previously deterred couples from having more children by providing medical help to overcome infertility, providing financial assistance towards childcare and dependent old, and raising awareness through advocacy programmes.

The launch of the online Jiyo Parsi portal has also enhanced accessibility by allowing couples to apply, monitor application, and access support in an efficient manner. Direct Benefit Transfer mechanism of the scheme provides transparency and accountability in disbursal.

Emerging Issues:

In spite of its success, the Jiyo Parsi Scheme has its limitations because financial support alone cannot address the demographic crisis. Parsi couples do not marry early, opt for smaller families, value their professional and urban lifestyles, and consequently show lesser inclination towards having more children.

Monetary support, as useful as it is, tends to be viewed as insufficient in relation to the overall expense and burden of child-rearing. Furthermore, reliance on medical measures ignores underlying social issues like low birth rates and late births. To actually turn the population around, the scheme has to extend beyond money incentives and promote cultural renewal, community involvement, and more social support for family expansion.

Way Forward:

It is recommended that community-driven initiatives such as matchmaking platforms, family counseling, and youth engagement programmes be introduced to reduce delays in marriage and parenthood. More focus needs to be put on reviving culture through appreciation of families having many children and undertaking campaigns that rejoice Parsi heritage. The program also needs to include education-oriented workshops for young adults to manage careers and families, along with flexible childcare facilities. In addition, there is a need to coordinate with Parsi organizations and local bodies to establish an active ecosystem that goes beyond healthcare support and promotes long-term population sustainability.

References:

1. Government of India, Ministry of Minority Affairs. (2024, December 9). Jiyo Parsi scheme [Unstarred Question No. 1557, Rajya Sabha]. https://sansad.in/getFile/annex/266/AU1557_cyXZJE.pdf?source=pqars
2. Government of India, Ministry of Minority Affairs. (n.d.). Jiyo Parsi scheme: Improved guidelines – A central sector scheme for the welfare of the micro minority Parsi community. https://minorityaffairs.gov.in/showfile.php?lang=1&level=1&ls_id=836&lid=1055
3. Government of India, Ministry of Minority Affairs. (2025, September 11). Details of funds released to beneficiaries under Health of Community (HoC) component of Jiyo Parsi scheme for 2023-24 (updated as on 11th September, 2025).  https://jiyoparsi.minorityaffairs.gov.in/documents/Details-of-funds-released-to-beneficiaries-under-HoC-for-2023-24-18September2025.pd
4. Government of India, Ministry of Minority Affairs. (2025, August 25). Details of funds released to beneficiaries under Health of Community (HoC) component of Jiyo Parsi scheme for 2024–25 (updated as on 25th August, 2025). https://jiyoparsi.minorityaffairs.gov.in/documents/HoC-Payment-for-FY-2024-25.pdf
5. Government of India, Ministry of Minority Affairs. (2025, September 22). Details of funds released to beneficiaries under Health of Community (HoC) component of Jiyo Parsi scheme for 2025–26 (updated as on 22nd September, 2025). https://jiyoparsi.minorityaffairs.gov.in/documents/Details-of-funds-released-to-beneficiaries-under-HoC-for-2025-26-22September2025.pdf
6. Press Information Bureau. (2024, July 24). Jiyo Parsi scheme. PIB Delhi. https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=2036363
7. Government of India, Ministry of Minority Affairs. (2025). Annual report 2024–2025. Retrieved from https://www.minorityaffairs.gov.in/WriteReadData/RTF1984/1753865161.pdf
8. Press Information Bureau. (2024, December 18). Jiyo Parsi portal provides convenience and access for beneficiaries to apply for benefits and track applications. PIB Delhi. https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=2086060
9. Press Information Bureau. (2025, February 1). Strengthening diversity: India’s efforts to empower minority communities. PIB Delhi. https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=2098457
10. Press Information Bureau. (2024, December 16). Empowering minorities: Building inclusive India! PIB Delhi. https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=2084716#_ftn7

About the Contributor:

Atharva Salunke is a Policy Research Associate at NITI TANTRA and a Research Intern at IMPRI. He has recently graduated with a Bachelor’s degree in Political Science from Sir Parashurambhau College, Pune.

Acknowledgement: The author extends his sincere gratitude to the IMPRI team and Ms. Aasthaba Jadeja for her invaluable guidance throughout the process.

Disclaimer: All views expressed in the article belong solely to the author and not necessarily to the organisation.

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