The steady decline of India’s Parsi (Zoroastrian) population has long raised concerns about the survival of one of the country’s smallest and most distinctive minority communities. Against this backdrop, the Union government’s Jiyo Parsi Scheme, launched in 2013–14, has emerged as a targeted demographic intervention. Recent disclosures in Parliament and an independent evaluation study have renewed focus on its outcomes and future.
Why the Parsi population decline matters
Census data show a sharp fall in the Parsi population from about 1.14 lakh in 1941 to 57,264 in 2011. Unlike many demographic trends driven by poverty or migration, the Parsi decline is largely attributed to low fertility rates, late marriages, and lifestyle factors within an urbanised, ageing community. Given the Parsis’ notified minority status under the National Commission for Minorities Act, 1992, the decline raises questions of cultural preservation, diversity, and the role of the state in supporting vulnerable communities.
Origins and objectives of the Jiyo Parsi Scheme
The Jiyo Parsi Scheme was conceived as a focused response to arrest and reverse this demographic trend. Launched by the Ministry of Minority Affairs in 2013–14, its central objective is to encourage childbearing within the Parsi community by addressing medical, financial, and awareness-related barriers rather than through coercive or blanket incentives.
Key components and eligibility framework
The scheme operates through three interlinked components:
- Medical Assistance: Financial support for infertility treatment, pregnancy-related complications, and newborn care, available to Parsi couples with annual family income up to ₹30 lakh.
- Health of Community: Assistance towards the care of children and dependent elderly family members, for families with income up to ₹15 lakh annually.
- Advocacy: Awareness campaigns to inform the community about reproductive health options and scheme benefits.
Funds are released directly to beneficiaries through Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT), following biometric authentication and verification by state governments, reflecting a push for transparency and targeted delivery.
Performance record and demographic outcomes
Between 2020–21 and 2024–25, government expenditure under the scheme amounted to ₹17.64 crore, during which 232 babies were reportedly born with support from the programme. While the absolute numbers remain modest, they are significant given the small base population of the community and its historically low fertility levels.
Independent evaluation and policy credibility
An evaluation study conducted in 2025 by the International Institute for Population Sciences (IIPS) provides an important evidence base. According to the findings, the scheme has largely succeeded in reaching its intended beneficiaries, with near-universal acknowledgment among respondents of its usefulness in encouraging childbirth. Such third-party validation strengthens the policy credibility of a scheme that operates in a sensitive social and cultural domain.
Debates and limitations in demographic interventions
Despite positive feedback, the scheme raises broader questions. Can financial and medical support alone offset deep-rooted sociocultural patterns such as late marriages and preferences for smaller families? There are also concerns about sustainability, cost-effectiveness, and whether similar models can or should be replicated for other communities facing demographic stress.
Future outlook and Finance Commission considerations
The government is currently considering the continuation of the Jiyo Parsi Scheme in the next Finance Commission cycle. This decision will likely weigh its symbolic value in preserving cultural diversity against its measurable demographic impact. More granular data from future censuses and long-term fertility trends will be crucial in assessing whether the scheme can achieve population stabilisation rather than short-term gains.
What to note for Prelims?
- Parsis are a notified minority under the National Commission for Minorities Act, 1992.
- Jiyo Parsi Scheme launched in 2013–14 by the Ministry of Minority Affairs.
- Three components: Medical Assistance, Health of Community, Advocacy.
- DBT-based implementation with biometric authentication.
- IIPS conducted evaluation study in 2025.
What to note for Mains?
- State role in addressing demographic decline of micro-minorities.
- Ethical and policy dimensions of pronatalist interventions.
- Effectiveness of targeted welfare schemes versus broader social change.
- Use of evidence-based evaluations in continuation of public schemes.
- Link between cultural preservation and social policy.
