Lok Sabha Question No. 2793 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2025-12-17
Subject: Jiyo Parsi Scheme
Ministry: MINORITY AFFAIRS
Asked by: Shri Jashubhai Bhilubhai Rathva

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF MINORITY AFFAIRS LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2793 TO BE ANSWERED ON 17.12.2025

## JIYO PARSI SCHEME

## 2793.    SHRI JASHUBHAI BHILUBHAI RATHVA:

Will the Minister of MINORITY AFFAIRS be pleased to state:

(a)  the  current  population  trend  of  the  Parsi  community  in  the  country  and  whether  any  recent demographic assessment has been undertaken in connection with the Jiyo Parsi Scheme and if so, the details thereof;

(b) whether the Government has conducted any evaluation or impact study of the Jiyo Parsi Scheme since its launch;

(c) if so, the key findings regarding its effectiveness in reversing or stabilising population decline;

(d) the details of major components and eligibility criteria under the scheme including the income limit prescribed for availing benefits under the medical assistance component;

(e) the details of financial and physical achievements under the Jiyo Parsi Scheme during the last five years, including the number of beneficiaries supported and the total expenditure incurred; and (f) whether the Government proposes to expand or revise the scheme in view of demographic trends and if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

## THE MINISTER OF MINORITY AFFAIRS

## (SHRI KIREN RIJIJU)

(a) to (f) The  population  of  Parsis  (Zoroastrians),  a  notified  minority  community  under  the National Commission of Minorities Act 1992, has declined from 1,14,000 in 1941 to 57,264 in 2011 as per census data. In order to arrest the decline in population and reverse the trend, the Government of India through the Ministry of Minority Affairs launched the Jiyo Parsi Scheme in 2013-14.  The scheme has three components:

i)  Medical  Assistance -to  provide  financial  assistance  to  Parsi  couples  for  treatment  for infertility,  pregnancy  complications  and  new-born  complications;  this  is  available  to  Parsi couples with annual family income upto  Rs 30 lakh.

ii)  Health  of  Community -to  provide  financial  assistance  to  Parsi  couples  towards  care  of children and dependent elderly family members; this is available to Parsi couples with annual family income upto Rs 15 lakh.

- iii) Advocacy -to create awareness about the benefits available under the scheme.

The assistance under the scheme is being released to the beneficiaries through Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) mode after biometric authentication and other verifications by the respective State Governments.

During the last 5 years (i.e., 2020-21 to 2024-25), expenditure of Rs 17.64 crore was incurred and 232 babies were born under the scheme.

An evaluation study of the  scheme was conducted by International  Institute  for  Population Sciences (IIPS) during 2025. According to the report submitted by IIPS, the scheme has been largely successful in  reaching  its  intended  population  and  there  was  a  near-universal  acknowledgement among the respondents about the usefulness of the scheme in increasing the Parsi population.

The scheme is being considered for continuation during the next Finance Commission cycle.

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