The Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment, Government of India, is entrusted with the welfare, social justice and empowerment of disadvantaged and marginalised sections of society, including Scheduled Castes, Backward Classes, Persons with Disabilities, Senior Citizens, and Victims of Drug Abuse. 

The basic objective of the Ministry's policies, programmes, laws and institutions is to bring these target groups into the mainstream of development by making them self-reliant. It also serves as the nodal Ministry for the welfare of Transgender Persons, and is the nodal Ministry for the welfare of the marginalised and vulnerable sections of society more broadly. 
 

The Ministry functions through two departments — the Department of Social Justice and Empowerment (Samajik Nyaya aur Adhikarita Vibhag) and the Department of Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities (Divyangjan). It is headed by the Union Minister of Social Justice and Empowerment, and its work is carried forward through bureaus, attached institutes, and autonomous bodies — including national institutes for persons with disabilities, the National Institute of Social Defence, and dedicated divisions for Scheduled Castes, Backward Classes, Senior Citizens, and Drug Demand Reduction.