Overview

• The Ministry of Home Affairs has issued fresh advisories asking states and UTs to draw on the ₹20 crore annual Support to Poor Prisoners Scheme fund to secure bail for indigent inmates.
• Launched in May 2023, the scheme provides up to ₹40,000 per eligible undertrial detainee to cover statutory fines and bail bonds.
• Funds are routed through the National Crime Records Bureau, which serves as the central nodal agency for disbursements under the programme.
• Despite detailed SOPs, most states and UTs have yet to identify eligible prisoners or activate district-level Empowered Committees and state-level Oversight Committees, leaving large portions of the fund unused.
• Data from the India Justice Report 2025 shows jails running at 131% occupancy with undertrial inmates comprising 76% of the population, underscoring the need for prompt fund utilisation.