Why in news?
On 17 December 2025 the Union Minister for Minority Affairs informed Parliament that the Jiyo Parsi Scheme has been largely successful in reaching its target population. An evaluation by the International Institute for Population Sciences (IIPS) recorded 232 births over the last five years and widespread appreciation among the Parsi community.
Background
The Parsis are followers of Zoroastrianism and are recognised as a notified minority community in India. The community’s numbers have sharply declined—from an estimated 1.14 lakh in 1941 to 57,264 in the 2011 census—due to late marriages, low fertility and high migration. To arrest this decline and stabilise the community, the Ministry of Minority Affairs launched the Jiyo Parsi Scheme in 2013–14.
Components of the scheme
- Medical Assistance: Financial support is provided for infertility treatment, assisted reproductive technology, pregnancy complications and care of newborns. Couples with an annual family income up to ₹30 lakh are eligible.
- Health of the Community: Assistance is given to couples for childcare and for supporting dependent elderly family members. This component is available to couples with an annual family income up to ₹15 lakh.
- Advocacy: The programme funds awareness campaigns, counselling and community outreach to encourage early marriage, discourage endogamy and promote larger families. It also seeks to correct misconceptions surrounding fertility treatments.
- Direct Benefit Transfer: Payments under all components are released directly to beneficiaries after biometric authentication and verification by state governments.
Recent progress
Between 2020‑21 and 2024‑25 the scheme spent about ₹17.64 crore and supported 232 births. The IIPS evaluation found near‑universal recognition of the scheme among Parsis and noted that medical assistance has helped many families overcome infertility. The government is considering continuing the scheme in the next Finance Commission cycle.
Significance
By providing medical, social and advocacy support, Jiyo Parsi seeks to preserve the cultural heritage of the Parsi community and demonstrates India’s commitment to protecting minority groups.
Source: PIB
