The Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment, through a Press Information Bureau backgrounder posted on April 20, 2026, presented an updated progress report on the SMILE scheme — Support for Marginalized Individuals for Livelihood and Enterprise. Launched on February 12, 2022, SMILE is India's first unified national framework supporting transgender persons and individuals engaged in begging, covering identification, rescue, healthcare, education, counselling, skill development and economic independence. The total scheme outlay for 2021–22 to 2025–26 has been raised to ₹390 crore — ₹265 crore for transgender welfare and ₹125 crore for beggary rehabilitation — representing a 225% rise in annual allocation between 2021–22 and 2025–26. The release reports that 31,055 individuals engaged in begging have been identified and 9,935 rehabilitated, a roughly 32% rate, across 181 cities. Twenty-one Garima Greh shelter homes for transgender persons are operational across 17 states, with three additional homes sanctioned in August 2025. Under Ayushman Bharat TG Plus, eligible transgender beneficiaries receive ₹5 lakh of annual health coverage covering gender-affirming care, hormone therapy and sex reassignment surgery at empanelled hospitals. Other supporting institutions include the National Portal for Transgender Persons, the National Council for Transgender Persons and State Welfare Boards and Protection Cells. The progress note also flags scholarships for transgender students from Class IX through post-graduation as a key inclusion lever for the marginalised cohort.
Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment Releases SMILE Scheme Progress Update on April 20, 2026; ₹390 Crore Outlay, 31,055 Beggary Identifications and 21 Garima Greh Shelter Homes Across 17 States
A Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment release posted on April 20, 2026 reports SMILE scheme progress — ₹390 crore outlay (₹265 crore transgender, ₹125 crore beggary), 31,055 begging-affected individuals identified and 9,935 rehabilitated across 181 cities, 21 Garima Greh shelters operational across 17 states, and ₹5 lakh annual Ayushman Bharat TG Plus health cover.
Key facts
- The Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment published a SMILE scheme backgrounder through PIB on April 20, 2026.
- SMILE — Support for Marginalized Individuals for Livelihood and Enterprise — was launched on February 12, 2022 as India's first unified national framework for transgender persons and individuals engaged in begging.
- Total scheme outlay for 2021–22 to 2025–26 stands at ₹390 crore — ₹265 crore for transgender welfare and ₹125 crore for beggary rehabilitation, marking a 225% rise in annual allocation between 2021–22 and 2025–26.
- 31,055 individuals engaged in begging have been identified and 9,935 rehabilitated, across 181 cities.
- 21 Garima Greh shelter homes are operational across 17 states; 3 additional homes were sanctioned in August 2025.
- Eligible transgender beneficiaries receive ₹5 lakh of annual health coverage under Ayushman Bharat TG Plus, including gender-affirming care, hormone therapy and sex reassignment surgery at empanelled hospitals.
- Supporting institutions include the National Portal for Transgender Persons, the National Council for Transgender Persons and State Welfare Boards and Protection Cells; scholarships are also provided to transgender students from Class IX up to post-graduation.
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Which of the following is the full form of the SMILE scheme whose progress was highlighted by the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment on April 21, 2026?
SMILE stands for Support for Marginalized Individuals for Livelihood and Enterprise. Launched by the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment on February 12, 2022, it is India's first unified national framework supporting transgender persons and individuals engaged in begging across identification, rescue, healthcare, education, counselling, skill development and economic independence.
Frequently asked questions
What does the SMILE scheme stand for and who launched it?
SMILE stands for Support for Marginalized Individuals for Livelihood and Enterprise. It was launched by the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment on February 12, 2022 as India's first unified national framework supporting transgender persons and individuals engaged in begging across identification, rescue, healthcare, education, counselling, skill development and economic independence.
What is the total financial outlay of SMILE for 2021–22 to 2025–26?
The total scheme outlay for 2021–22 to 2025–26 stands at ₹390 crore — ₹265 crore for transgender welfare and ₹125 crore for beggary rehabilitation. This marks a 225% rise in annual allocation between 2021–22 and 2025–26.
How many Garima Greh shelter homes are operational and where?
As per the SMILE progress backgrounder posted on April 20, 2026, 21 Garima Greh shelter homes for transgender persons are operational across 17 states, and 3 additional homes were sanctioned in August 2025. The shelters provide accommodation, food, medical care, recreational facilities and skill development.
What does Ayushman Bharat TG Plus offer to transgender beneficiaries?
Under Ayushman Bharat TG Plus, eligible transgender beneficiaries receive ₹5 lakh of annual health coverage at empanelled hospitals. The cover specifically includes gender-affirming care, hormone therapy and sex reassignment surgery, which were not previously available within mainstream health insurance.
How many beggary-affected individuals have been identified and rehabilitated under SMILE?
As per the April 20, 2026 backgrounder, 31,055 individuals engaged in begging have been identified and 9,935 rehabilitated under SMILE, a roughly 32% rate, across 181 cities. The scheme is implemented through state and city-level partners with grant assistance to NGOs running shelter homes.
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