A large section of rural India continues to live in unsafe and temporary housing, facing leaking roofs during monsoons, harsh cold in winter and extreme heat in summer, conditions that often turn life-threatening. To address this long-standing challenge, the Central Government has launched a new rural housing survey and application process for Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana-Gramin (PMAY-G) 2026, aiming to ensure that no eligible family is left out of the scheme.

The nationwide survey, which began in January 2025, is expected to be completed within five months. Following the completion of the survey, a final list of beneficiaries will be published, and eligible families will begin receiving financial assistance to construct permanent homes.

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Under PMAY-G, beneficiaries are provided up to Rs 1.20 lakh for house construction in rural areas. In several states, when combined with other government schemes, the total assistance can increase to Rs 2.20 lakh.

Officials said the survey is the most critical phase of the scheme, as earlier assessments had excluded many genuinely needy families due to incomplete or inaccurate data. The new exercise focuses on identifying families living in temporary, damaged or extremely unsafe houses, ensuring assistance reaches those in the greatest need.

Once selected, funds will be transferred directly into beneficiaries’ bank accounts to maintain transparency and eliminate intermediaries. In many states, payments are released in instalments based on construction progress to ensure timely and quality completion.

Priority will be given to families without permanent houses, those living below or near the poverty line, widows, the elderly, persons with disabilities, and members of the Scheduled Castes and the Scheduled Tribes.

The government has introduced the ‘Awaas Plus’ mobile app for digital data collection. For households without internet or smartphone access, offline surveys are being conducted by village secretaries, panchayat representatives and designated survey teams through door-to-door visits.

Surveyors are recording details of family income, housing condition, household size and social category, along with photographs of the existing house. Authorities have urged residents to provide accurate information, as beneficiary selection will depend entirely on this data.

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Officials said the scheme has already transformed the lives of lakhs of rural families by improving living standards, enhancing health and safety, supporting children’s education and generating local employment through construction activities.

Villagers living in unsafe housing conditions have been encouraged to participate in the survey to secure the benefits of the scheme and realise the goal of owning a permanent home by 2026.