Day 11 Prelims 20+: Schemes in News
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In today’s Prelims 20+, we turn our attention to Schemes in News — a consistently high-yield area in the UPSC Prelims. These questions assess your awareness of recent government initiatives, their objectives, implementing ministries, target beneficiaries, and unique features.

Table of Content 
Ministry wise
MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE & FARMERS WELFARE
MINISTRY OF CHEMICAL & FERTILISERS
MINISTRY OF CIVIL AVIATION
MINISTRY OF COMMERCE & INDUSTRY
MINISTRY OF CONSUMER AFFAIRS, FOOD AND PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION
MINISTRY OF EDUCATION
MINISTRY OF ELECTRONICS & IT
MINISTRY OF FINANCE
MINISTRY OF FISHERIES, ANIMAL HUSBANDRY & DAIRYING
MINISTRY OF FOOD PROCESSING INDUSTRIES
MINISTRY OF HEALTH & FAMILY WELFARE
MINISTRY OF HEAVY INDUSTRIES
MINISTRY OF HOUSING AND URBAN AFFAIRS (MOHUA)
MINISTRY OF JAL SHAKTI
MINISTRY OF MICRO, SMALL & MEDIUM ENTERPRISES
MINISTRY OF NEW AND RENEWABLE ENERGY
MINISTRY OF PANCHAYATI RAJ
MINISTRY OF PERSONNEL, PUBLIC GRIEVANCES & PENSIONS
MINISTRY OF PETROLEUM AND NATURAL GAS
MINISTRY OF PORTS, SHIPPING AND WATERWAYS
MINISTRY OF ROAD TRANSPORT & HIGHWAYS (MOR&TH)
MINISTRY OF RURAL DEVELOPMENT
MINISTRY OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
MINISTRY OF SOCIAL JUSTICE AND EMPOWERMENT
MINISTRY OF STATISTICS AND PROGRAMME IMPLEMENTATION
MINISTRY OF TRIBAL AFFAIRS
MINISTRY OF TEXTILES
MINISTRY OF WOMEN AND CHILD DEVELOPMENT
MISCELLANEOUS SCHEMES
Click here to download pdf of Schemes in News

SCHEMES

MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE & FARMERS WELFARE

Digital Agriculture Mission:

  • Purpose: Build a digital agriculture ecosystem with innovative solutions and timely, reliable crop and farmer information.
  • Type: Central Sector Scheme except components of Support to states/ UTs (Centrally Sponsored).
  • Intended beneficiary: Farmers
  • Tenure: 5 Years (FY 2021-22 to FY 2025-26)

Agriculture Infrastructure Fund:

  • Purpose: To address the existing infrastructure gaps and mobilize investment in agriculture infrastructure.
  • Type: Central Sector Scheme
  • Implementing Agency: NABARD (National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development)
  • Tenure: Up to 2032- 33
  • Objective: To mobilize a medium to long term debt financing facility for investment in viable projects for post-harvest management Infrastructure and community farming assets.
  • AIF was launched as part of the Atmanirbhar Bharat Abhiyan (Self-Reliant India Campaign) announced by the Centre in May 2020.

AgriSURE (Agri Fund for Start-ups & Rural Enterprises) Scheme:

  • Purpose: To support innovative, high-risk, high-impact activities in agriculture and allied areas.
  • Fund’s sponsors: Government of India and NABARD
  • Investment Manager: NABVENTURES Ltd., a wholly owned subsidiary of NABARD
  • Tenure of the Fund: 10 years
  • Objectives:
    • Foster investment in agriculture and rural start-ups by supporting Alternative Investment Funds (AIFs).
    • Strengthen farm produce value chains for better profits through profitable forward and backward linkage systems.
    • Create jobs for skilled rural and urban youth.
    • Retain and attract youth to agriculture.
  • AgriSURE Fund has two schemes:
    • AgriSURE – FoF Scheme:
      • Supports Category I & II AIFs investing in Start-ups in preferred sectors.
      • Investments in SEBI-registered sector-agnostic, sector-specific, and debt AIFs.
      • Corpus: ₹450 crore, and Max Investment per AIF: ₹25 crore or 5% of AIF corpus, whichever is lower.
    • AgriSURE – Direct Scheme:
      • Direct equity investment in DPIIT-recognized early-stage Start-ups incorporated in India.
      • Corpus: ₹300 crore and Max Investment per Start-up: ₹25 crore, as per AIF regulations.

Cluster Development Programme:

  • Government has launched new digital platform CDP-SURAKSHA to disburse subsidies to horticulture farmers.
  • CDP aims to improve exports of targeted crops by about 20% and create cluster-specific brands to enhance the competitiveness of cluster crops.
  • Purpose: To leverage geographical specialisation of horticulture clusters and promote integrated development of pre-production, production, post-harvest, logistics, branding, and marketing activities.
  • Type: Central Sector Scheme
  • Benefits: Financial Assistance of up to Rs 100 crore for Mega, Rs 50 crore for Midi, and Rs 25 crore for Mini types of clusters.
    • Mega cluster→ Area = >15,000 ha→ up to Rs 100cr
    • Midi cluster→ Area = 5000-15000 ha→ up to Rs 50cr
    • Mini cluster→ Area = up to 5000 ha→ up to Rs 25cr 
  • Implementing Agency: National Horticulture Board (NHB)

Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi (PM KISAN):

  • Purpose: To supplement the financial needs of all landholding farmers’ families in procuring various inputs and also domestic needs.
  • Type: Central Sector Scheme
  • Beneficiaries: All the landholding farmers, subject to certain exclusions
  • Benefits: ₹6,000 per year in three equal instalments of ₹ 2,000 each every four months. 
  • Salient features:
    • Beneficiary Identification: State/UT governments are responsible.
    • Self-Registration: Available via mobile app, PM-KISAN portal, and Common Service Centers (CSC).
    • Mandatory Land Records: Exceptions for forest dwellers, North-Eastern states, and Jharkhand with special land record provisions.
  • Kisan Credit Cards (KCC): Provided to PMKISAN beneficiaries for short-term loans with a 4% interest on timely repayment.
  • Preventing Fund Misuse: Includes physical verification of 5% beneficiaries annually, Aadhaar authentication, and Income Tax payee verification.
  • Project Management Unit (PMU): Central PMU oversees monitoring; states may set up their own PMUs.
  • Grievance Redressal: Complaints should be resolved within two weeks by the Grievance Redressal Committee.
  • Exclusion: Higher economic status beneficiaries are ineligible.

Namo Drone Didi Scheme:

  • Purpose: Empower women-led SHGs by equipping them with drone technology to provide agricultural services.
  • Aim: To provide drones to 15,000 selected Women SHGs for providing rental services to farmers for agriculture purpose (application of liquid fertilizers and pesticides for the present).
  • Type: Central Sector Scheme
  • Tenure: 2024-25 to 2025-2026

MINISTRY OF CHEMICAL & FERTILISERS

Pradhan Mantri Bhartiya Janaushadhi Pariyojana (PMBJP):

  • Purpose: To provide quality generic medicines at affordable prices to the masses
  • Type: Central Sector Schemes
  • Retail outlet: PMBJP Kendra to sell affordable generic medicines to all citizens.
  • Implementing Agency: Pharmaceuticals & Medical Devices Bureau of India (PMBI)
  • Product Basket: Includes Ayurvedic immunity boosters, surgical devices, and medicines for major therapeutic areas like: Cardiovascular, Anti-cancer, Anti-diabetic, Anti-infective, Anti-allergic, etc.

MINISTRY OF CIVIL AVIATION

Ude Desh Ka Aam Naagrik (UDAN)/ Regional Connectivity Scheme (RCS):

  • Purpose: To enable air operations on underserved / unserved routes, promote balanced regional growth and make flying affordable for masses.
  • Type: Central Sector Scheme
  • Support to airlines: In the form of Concessions and Viability Gap Funding (VGF)
  • Implementing Agency: The Airports Authority of India (AAI).
  • Objective: The scheme focuses on improving unserved air routes in underserved regions of the country and fulfilling the aspirations of the common citizens.
  • Krishi UDAN: Supports farmers in transporting agricultural products to boost value realization, focusing on the North-East and tribal districts.
  • International Air Connectivity Scheme (IACS): Helps states establish international airport connectivity in response to their requests.
  • UDAN Version 5.0 to 5.4:
    • UDAN 5.0→ Removed the 600 km cap and prioritized ready-to-operate airports
    • UDAN 5.1→ Expanded helicopter routes with enhanced Viability Gap Funding and reduced airfare caps
    • UDAN 5.2→ Focused on small aircraft and improved operational flexibility for last-mile connectivity
    • UDAN 5.3 & 5.4→ Addressed discontinued routes to enhance point-to-point air connectivity

MINISTRY OF COMMERCE & INDUSTRY

Uttar Poorva Transformative Industrialization Scheme (UNNATI), 2024:

  • Purpose: To strengthen the industrial ecosystem in the North East region and attract new investment.
  • Type: Central Sector Scheme
  • Tenure: Up to 2034 along with 8 years of committed liabilities.
  • Nodal Agency: North-Eastern Development Financial Corporation Ltd. (NEDFi) for the disbursal of incentives.
  • Incentives are provided to support industrial expansion and streamline operations in manufacturing and service sectors.
  • Districts are categorized in two zones:
    • Zone A: Industrially Advanced Districts.
    • Zone B: Industrially Backward Districts.
  • Minimum investment:
    • Manufacturing→ ₹1 Crore in Plant & Machinery
    • Services→ ₹50 lakhs in construction of building & other durable physical assets
    • Micro industries→ ₹50 lakhs for both manufacturing and service sector
    • Maximum eligible benefits to a single unit from all components of the scheme: Rs. 250 Crore
  • Components of scheme:
    • CII (Capital Investment Incentive)→ Financial support for new & expanding units
    • CIS (Capital Interest Subvention)→ Financial relief for new & expanding units
    • MSLI (Manufacturing & Services Linked Incentive)→ Exclusively for new units

National Industrial Corridor Development Programme (NICDP):

  • Purpose: To develop futuristic industrial cities in India and to cultivate a dynamic industrial ecosystem by attracting investments.
  • Type: Central Sector Scheme
  • Objective: To develop new industrial cities as Smart Cities, integrating next generation technologies to position the nation as a global hub for manufacturing and investment.
  • Corridors and Projects: Programme comprises 32 projects across four phases under 11 corridors.

MINISTRY OF CONSUMER AFFAIRS, FOOD AND PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION

NATIONAL FOOD SECURITY ACT (NFSA), 2013:

  • Purpose: To provide food and nutritional security in human life cycle approach
  • Type: Centrally sponsored scheme
  • Coverage: 67% of the country’s population (75% of the rural and 5o% of the urban population)
  • Identification of Household: Based on the NSS Household Consumption Survey data for 2011-12
  • Objective: A legal right to persons belonging to “eligible households” to receive food grains at subsidised price (called Central Issue Prices/CIPs) under the Targeted Public Distribution System (TPDS).
  • Foodgrains benefit:
    • Central Issue Price:
      • Rice: 3/kg 
      • Wheat: 2/kg
      • Coarse-grains: 1/kg
    • Monthly Entitlements:
      • PHH: 5 kg/person
      • AAY: 35 kg/family
  • Maternity Benefit: Pregnant women and lactating mothers are entitled of not less than Rs. 6,000. 
  • Food Security Allowance: Compensation for non- supply of entitled food grains or meals
  • Penalty Provisions: State Food Commission enforced penalties for non-compliance

MINISTRY OF EDUCATION

Samagra Siksha Abhiyaan- An Integrated Scheme for School Education:

  • Purpose: Improving school education holistically as a continuum from Pre-school to Class 12
  • Type: Centrally Sponsored Scheme
  • Implementing agency: State Implementation Society (SIS) at the State/UT level
  • Tenure: 2021 to 2026
  • Objective: Universal Access, Equity and Quality, promoting Vocationalisation of Education and strengthening of Teacher Education Institutions (TEIs).
  • Subsumed:
    • Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan: Universalizes elementary education with infrastructure support per RTE Act, 2009.
    • Rashtriya Madhyamik Shiksha Abhiyan (RMSA): Enhances access and quality of secondary education.
    • Teacher Education Scheme: Develops infrastructure for teacher training and academic support for elementary and secondary schools.

PM SHRI Schools (PM ScHools for Rising India):

  • Purpose: Provide equitable, inclusive, and joyful education while nurturing holistic, well-rounded individuals with 21st-century skills.
  • Type: Centrally Sponsored Scheme
  • Beneficiaries: More than 20 lakh students are expected to be direct beneficiaries of scheme
  • Tenure: 5 years (2022-23 to 2026-27).
  • Green Schools: Incorporation of eco-friendly practices like solar panels, water conservation, waste management, and plastic-free initiatives.

One Nation One Subscription (ONOS):

  • Purpose: To provide universal access to more than 13,000 scholarly journals from 30 major international publishers.
  • Type: Central Sector Scheme.
  • Coverage: 6,300+ government Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) and central government R&D laboratories.
  • Target Beneficiaries: 1.8 crore students, faculty, researchers, All Higher Educational Institutions, central government R&D institutions
  • Administration: Coordinated by INFLIBNET, an autonomous inter-university center of the University Grants Commission (UGC).
  • Periodic Reviews: Anusandhan National Research Foundation (ANRF) will periodically assess the usage of ONOS and the publication output of Indian authors to ensure effective utilization of resources.

“Pradhan Mantri Vidyalaxmi” (PMVidyalaxmi):

  • A Comprehensive Student Loan Initiative.
  • Eligibility: Students admitted through open competitive exams or merit-based admission in the top 860 quality Higher Educational Institutions (QHEIs)
  • MONITORING: Through PM Vidyalaxmi portal, developed and maintained by Canara Bank. 

MINISTRY OF ELECTRONICS & IT

Digital India Programme:

  • Purpose: To transform India into a digitally empowered society and knowledge economy
  • Nature: Umbrella programme that clubs together various e-governance initiatives across Ministries and Departments
  • Leveraging private sector: Public Private Partnerships (PPP) are preferred wherever feasible to implement e-Governance projects.
  • Implementation: By the entire Government with overall coordination by the MeiTY.
  • 9 Pillars:
    1. Broadband Highways→ Provide high-speed internet to rural and urban areas through National Optical Fibre Network (NOFN) and other initiatives.
    2. Universal Access to Mobile Connectivity→ Improve mobile network infrastructure, especially in rural and remote areas.
    3. Public Internet Access Programme→ Establish Common Service Centres (CSCs) and Post Offices as multi-service delivery points to provide internet access and digital services.
    4. e-Governance: Reforming Government through Technology→ Digitize government processes, improve workflow automation, and promote online access to services.
    5. e-Kranti – Electronic Delivery of Services→ Deliver government services electronically in areas such as education, health, agriculture, and justice.
    6. Information for All→ Ensure open access to information for citizens through online platforms and social media.
    7. Electronics Manufacturing→ Promote domestic electronics manufacturing to reduce imports and boost the Make in India initiative.
    8. IT for Jobs→ Provide training and skill development in IT to increase employability, especially for rural youth.
    9. Early Harvest Programmes→ Implement quick-win projects such as biometric attendance, email for government staff, and Wi-Fi in universities.
  • Project management structure:
    • Monitoring committee: Chairperson = Prime Minister 
    • Digital India Advisory Group: Chairperson = Minister of Communication & IT
    • Apex committee: Chairperson = Cabinet Secretary 

MINISTRY OF FINANCE

NPS Vatsalya Yojana:

  • Purpose: Encouraging early savings for children by opening National Pension System (NPS) accounts
  • Regulated by: Pension Fund Regulatory Authority of India (PFRDA)
  • Eligibility: All minor citizens (up to 18 years of age)
  • PRAN: A unique Permanent Retirement Account Number (PRAN) is issued in the minor’s name.
  • NPS Vatsalya is a Contributory Pension Scheme.
  • Guardians:
    • The account is operated by the guardian (natural/legal) with the minor as the sole beneficiary.
    • NRIs/OCIs require a separate form and an NRE/NRO bank account.
    • The guardian automatically becomes the nominee, eliminating the need for separate nomination.
  • Withdrawal and Exit:
    • Lock-in Period: 3 years.
    • Withdrawal: Up to 25% of the contribution after lock in period allowed for education, specified illness, and disability. Maximum of three times.
    • Exit on Attainment of 18 Years: If the corpus exceeds ₹2.5 lakh, 80% is used to purchase an annuity, and 20% can be withdrawn as a lump sum. If the corpus is ₹2.5 lakh or less, the entire amount can be withdrawn as a lump sum.

Pradhan Mantri Mudra Yojana (PMMY):

  • Purpose: PMMY is set up for providing MUDRA loans to the non-corporate, non-farming small & micro enterprises.
  • Type: Central Sector Scheme
  • Intended beneficiary: Any Citizen who has a business plan for a non-farm sector income generating activity
  • Sectors eligible for loan: Manufacturing, trading and services sectors and activities allied to agriculture. 
  • MUDRA: Micro Units Development and Refinance Agency Ltd (MUDRA) is a refinance agency and not a direct lending institution. It provides refinance support to its intermediaries viz. Banks, Micro Finance Institutions (MFIs) and NBFCs. It is registered as a Company under the Companies Act 2013 and as a Non-Banking Finance Institution (NBFC) with the RBI.
  • MUDRA Loan categories:
    • Tarun-Plus→ Loans above 10 lakh and up to 20 lakh
    • Tarun→ Loans above 5 lakh and up to 10 lakh
    • Kishor→ Loans above Rs 50,000 and up to 5 lakh
    • Shishu→ Loans up to Rs 50,000  
  • No Need for Collaterals: Credit Guarantee Fund for Micro Units (CGFMU) provides guarantee coverage for these collateral free micro loans.
  • Interest Rate: Deregulated, with a 2% interest subvention on prompt repayment of Shishu loans under PMMY for 12 months.

MINISTRY OF FISHERIES, ANIMAL HUSBANDRY & DAIRYING

Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana (PMMSY):

  • Purpose: Bring Blue Revolution through sustainable and responsible development of fisheries sector in India.
  • Type: Both Central Sector Scheme and Centrally Sponsored Scheme.
  • Approach: To the extent possible, ‘cluster or area-based approaches’ to be adopted.
  • Tenure: FY 2020-21 to FY 2024-25
  • Targets:
    • Enhanced fish production of 22 million metric tons.
    • Increase of contribution of Gross Value Added (GVA) of fisheries sector to agriculture GVA to 9%.
    • Double export earnings to about Rs. 1 lakh crore.
    • Reduction of post-harvest losses to about 10% (currently 25%)
    • Doubling of incomes of fishers and fish farmer
  • PMMSY Investment: 42% for fisheries infrastructure (harbors, cold chains, markets, villages, deep-sea fishing).
  • Swath Sagar Plan: Includes bio-toilets, vessel insurance, e-trading, resource surveys, and IT databases.
  • National network of Brood Banks: State/UT-based species-specific brood banks for quality fish breeding.
  • Integrated Laboratory Network: For addressing diseases, antibiotics and residues issues, aquatic health management.
  • Aqua Parks: One-stop hubs for fisheries and aquaculture activities.
  • Project Monitoring and Evaluation Unit (PMEU): A fisheries department team led by a Joint Secretary oversees implementation.

MINISTRY OF FOOD PROCESSING INDUSTRIES

Pradhan Mantri Kisan Sampada Yojana (PMKSY):

  • Purpose: Provide a big boost to the growth of food processing sector in the country.
  • Type: Central Sector Scheme
  • Potential benefits: Doubling farmers’ income, creating employment, reducing wastage of agricultural produce.
  • Tenure: From 2021-22 to 2025-26
  • Integrated Cold Chain & Value Addition Infrastructure: Provides seamless cold chain facilities from farm gate to consumer.
  • Creation of Infrastructure for Agro Processing Cluster (APC): Aimed at setting up smaller-scale food processing units, similar to Mega Food Parks.
  • Operation Greens (OG): Announced in Union Budget 2018-19 on the line of “Operation Flood”. Initially the scheme was launched for development of Tomato, Onion and Potato (TOP) value chain.
  • The scheme has two components:
    • Long Term Intervention-Integrated Value Chain Development Projects: Under the union budget 2021-22, its scope was enlarged to 22 perishable crops.
    • Short-Term Interventions: Under “Aatmanirbhar Bharat Package” of 2020 its scope was expanded from TOP crops to all fruits and vegetables (i.e. TOP to TOTAL).

MINISTRY OF HEALTH & FAMILY WELFARE

Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission (ABDM):

  • Purpose: To integrate digital health solutions for continuum of care, and effective utilization of resources.
  • Type: Central Sector Scheme
  • Tenure: 5 years
  • Implementing Agency: National Health Authority (NHA)
  • Objective: To develop robust digital backbone to support the integrated digital health infrastructure and bridging gaps among stakeholders in India’s healthcare ecosystem.
  • ABHA and ABHA App: 14-digit health ID for digital record access; app for uploading/scanning health documents.
  • Health Facility Registry: Database of all public & private healthcare facilities.
  • Healthcare Professionals Registry: Database of all medical professionals (modern & traditional medicine).
  • Unified Health Interface (UHI): Open platform for appointments, teleconsultations, etc.
  • Health Information Exchange and Consent Manager (HIE-CM): Empowers citizens to securely access and share their health records, ensuring that data exchange is driven by informed consent.
  • National Health Claims Exchange (HCX): Standardizes and speeds up insurance claims.
  • ABDM is voluntary in nature including for citizens.

Ayushman Bharat – Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB PM-JAY):

  • Purpose: To achieve the vision of Universal Health Coverage (UHC)
  • Type: Centrally Sponsored Scheme
  • Target: 12 crore families
  • Components: Ayushman Arogya Mandir; Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (PM-JAY)
  • Objective: To reduce the financial burden on poor and vulnerable groups arising out of catastrophic hospital episodes and ensure their access to quality health services.

MINISTRY OF HEAVY INDUSTRIES

PM Electric Drive Revolution in Innovative Vehicle Enhancement (PM E-DRIVE) Scheme:

  • Purpose: Accelerate EV adoption, build charging infrastructure, and enhance the EV manufacturing ecosystem.
  • Type: Central Sector Scheme.
  • Tenure: October 2024-March 31, 2026
  • Target: Incentivize e-2Ws, e-3Ws, e-ambulances, e-trucks, and e-buses
  • Subsidies: Demand incentives for EVs like e-2Ws, e-3Ws, e-ambulances, e-trucks, and other emerging EV categories.

MINISTRY OF HOUSING AND URBAN AFFAIRS (MOHUA):

Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana-Urban 2.0:

  • Purpose: Addressing housing needs of 1 crore urban poor and middle-class families.
  • Type: Centrally Sponsored Scheme except for Interest Subsidy Scheme (ISS) component which is a Central Sector scheme
  • Family: Comprises husband, wife, and unmarried children
  • Tenure: 5 years starting from September 2024
  • Exclusions: Families owning a pucca house or benefiting from government housing in the last 20 years.
  • Four Verticals of PM Awas Yojana (Urban) 2.0:
    • Beneficiary Led Construction (BLC)→ EWS beneficiary to construct house on own land
    • Affordable Housing in Partnership (AHP)→ EWS beneficiary to purchase/avail allotted houses in Apartment projects by public/private sector agencies/parastatal agencies
    • Affordable Rental Housing (ARH)→ Utilizing existing Government funded vacant houses by converting them into ARH under PPP mode or by public agencies.
    • Interest Subsidy Scheme (ISS)→ Max. Loan value ₹25 lakh, Max. House Value ₹35 lakh. 5 Yearly instalments of Loan subsidy  

PM Street Vendor’s Atma Nirbhar Nidhi (PM SVANidhi) Scheme:

  • Purpose: To facilitate collateral-free working capital loans to street vendors to restart their businesses.
  • Type: Central Sector Scheme
  • Beneficiary: Street vendors/ hawkers vending in urban areas and surrounding peri-urban and rural areas.
  • Implementing Agency: Small Industries Development Bank of India (SIDBI).
  • Objective: Facilitate collateral free working capital loan upto ₹10,000, of 1 year tenure, with enhanced loan of ₹20,000 and ₹50,000 in the second and third tranches respectively, on repayments of earlier loans.

MINISTRY OF JAL SHAKTI

Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM): Har Ghar Jal:

  • Purpose: No one is left out‘, thus ensuring tap water supply to every rural home by 2024.
  • Type: Centrally Sponsored Scheme
  • Focus on children: Piped water supply in schools, Anganwadi centres and shramshalas
  • Priority Areas: Districts affected by Japanese Encephalitis & Acute Encephalitis Syndrome, and groundwater contamination (Arsenic, Fluoride, Iron, etc.).
  • Objective: To provide Functional Household Tap Connection (FHTC) to every rural household.

Namami Gange Programme:

  • Purpose: Ganga Rejuvenation
  • Type: Central Sector Scheme
  • Implementing Agency: National Mission for Clean Ganga (NMCG)
  • External Financing: Through World Bank (loan), JICA, Asian Development Bank, etc.
  • 8 Key pillars Under Namami Gange:
  1. Sewerage Treatment Infrastructure
  2. River-Front Development
  3. River-Surface Cleaning
  4. Bio-Diversity
  5. Afforestation
  6. Public Awarenes
  7. Industrial Effluent Monitoring
  8. Ganga Gram

MINISTRY OF MICRO, SMALL & MEDIUM ENTERPRISES

PM Vishwakarma Scheme:

  • Purpose: Holistic support to the traditional artisans and craftspeople
  • Type: Central Sector Scheme.
  • Coverage: Rural and urban areas with a focus on saturating districts in a phased manner.
  • Tenure: FY 2023-24 to FY 2027-28.
  • Objective: To enable recognition of artisans and craftspeople as Vishwakarmas and to provide skill upgradation
  • Inter-ministerial: Scheme will be co-jointly implemented by the Union Ministry of MSME, Skill Development and Finance
  • Inclusivity: Focus on empowering women, SCs, STs, OBCs, specially-abled, transgenders, and residents of NER, island, and hilly areas.

MINISTRY OF NEW AND RENEWABLE ENERGY

National Green Hydrogen Mission (NGHM):

  • Purpose: To make India a Global Hub for producing, utilizing, and exporting Green Hydrogen and its derivatives.
  • Type: Central Sector Scheme
  • Tenure: FY 2023-24 to FY 2029-30.
  • Target: 5 MMT/year by 2030, expandable to 10 MMT with exports.
  • Objective: Achieve significant decarbonisation of the economy, reduced dependence on fossil fuel imports, and enable India to assume technology and market leadership in Green Hydrogen.
  • Integrated Mission Strategy:
    • MNRE: Leads coordination and implementation.
    • Ministry of Power: Ensures low-cost renewable energy for Green Hydrogen.
    • MoPNG: Promotes Green Hydrogen in refineries and city gas distribution.
    • Ministry of Chemicals & Fertilizers: Supports green ammonia-based fertilizers.
    • Other Participating Ministries: Transport, Steel, Shipping, Finance, Commerce, Railways, External Affairs, Skill Development, and Education.

Pradhan Mantri Kisan Urja Suraksha Evam Utthaan Mahabhiyan (PM KUSUM):

  • Purpose: To subsidize farmers to install solar irrigation pumps for cultivation
  • Type: Central Sector Scheme
  • Demand driven: Capacities are allocated based on demand received from the states/ UTs
  • Tenure: Till 2026
  • 3 components:
    • Component A→ Decentralized Solar Power Plants
    • Component B→ Standalone Solar Pumps
    • Component C→ Grid-Connected Pump Solarisation

PM-Surya Ghar: Muft Bijli Yojana:

  • Purpose: Boost share of solar rooftop capacity and enable households to generate their own power.
  • Type: Central Sector Scheme
  • Model Solar Village: One village in each district to act as a role model for the adoption of RTS in rural areas
  • Tenure: 2024 to 2026-27
  • Objective: Installation of 30 GW of solar capacity through residential rooftop solar system (RTS)
  • Collateral-Free Loans: Households can access collateral-free low-interest loan products of around 7% for installation of RTS systems up to 3 kW.

MINISTRY OF PANCHAYATI RAJ

SVAMITVA (Survey of Villages and Mapping with Improvised Technology in Village Areas) Scheme:

  • Purpose: To provide an integrated inhabited (abadi) property ownership solution for rural India.
  • Type: Central Sector Scheme
  • Technology Implementation Agency: Survey of India
  • Tenure: 2020-21 to 2024-25
  • Objective: Creation of accurate rural land records for better planning and reduced property-disputes.
  • Drone Mapping: Survey of India maps rural inhabited areas, generating geo-referenced maps capturing digital images of properties in rural abadi areas.

MINISTRY OF PERSONNEL, PUBLIC GRIEVANCES & PENSIONS

National Programme For Civil Services Capacity Building (NPCSCB) – Mission Karmayogi:

  • Purpose: Prescribes capacity-building programmes for civil servants.
  • Coverage: All civil servants (Including contractual employees) across different ministries, departments, organizations and agencies of Union Government.
  • My iGOT: Delivers targeted training courses of individual officer
  • Curated Programs: Cater diverse learning needs of Ministries/Departments and Training Institutions.
  • Objectives: To transform Indian civil services capacity-building landscape by establishing a robust digital ecosystem that enables continuous, anytime, anywhere learning to prepare officials for the future.
  • 6 Pillars:
    • Policy Framework→ New training policies focusing on continuous learning and competency development.
    • Competency Framework→ Shift from rule-based to an indigenous competency framework.
    • Institutional Framework→ Oversight by the PMHR Council
    • i-GOT Karmayogi→ Large-scale comprehensive learning platform.
    • E-HRMS→ Strategic HR management
    • M&E→ Data-driven performance analysis, goal-setting, and real-time monitoring.
  • Institutional Structure:
    • Prime Minister’s (PMHR) HR council
    • Cabinet Secretariat Coordination unit
    • Capacity Building Commissions
    • Karmyogi Bharat SPV (a not-for-profit company)

MINISTRY OF PETROLEUM AND NATURAL GAS

PM Ujjwala Yojana:

  • Purpose: Safeguarding health of women & children by providing them with a clean cooking fuel-LPG
  • Applicant: Woman only who must have attained 18 years of age.
  • Benefits: Deposit-free connection for cooking gas cylinders
  • Primary beneficiaries: Women & Children
  • Objective: To provide deposit-free LPG connections to those low-income families who could not be covered under the earlier phase of PMUY.
  • Eligibility under PMUY: An adult woman from a poor household without an existing LPG connection specific fulfilling criteria. 
  • Beneficiaries:
    • Identified Households from SECC List-2011
    • SC/ST households
    • PMAY (Gramin) beneficiaries.
    • Most Backward Classes
    • Antodaya Anna Yojana
    • Forest Dwellers
    • Residents of Islands/River Islands
    • Tea Garden and Ex-tea Garden Tribes
    • Other Poor Families

MINISTRY OF PORTS, SHIPPING AND WATERWAYS

SAGARMALA:

  • Purpose: To reduce the logistics cost for EXIM and domestic trade with minimal infrastructure investment
  • Type: Central Sector Scheme
  • Funding: Equity support through Special Purpose Vehicles (SPVs) and Budget support
  • Implementation of the projects: Projects will be taken up through Private or PPP mode
  • Objective: Accelerating economic development by harnessing the potential of India’s 7,500 km long coastline and 14,500 km of potentially navigable waterways.
  • Set of Projects under Sagarmala are divided into 5 pillars:
    • Port-led Industrialization
    • Coastal Community Development
    • Coastal Shipping & IWT
    • Port Modernization
    • Port Connectivity

MINISTRY OF ROAD TRANSPORT & HIGHWAYS (MOR&TH)

Voluntary Vehicle Fleet Modernization Programme:

  • Purpose: Create ecosystem for phasing out unfit, polluting vehicles via Registered Vehicle Scrapping Facilities (RVSFs) and Automated Testing Stations.
  • Target: Voluntary scrapping of ~1 crore unfit vehicles strictly based on their fitness, irrespective of vehicle age.
  • Strategy: Various incentive and disincentive offered to induce End-of-life vehicle owners to scrap older vehicles.
  • Vehicle Age Limit: no mandatory age limit prescribed for the scrapping of vehicles and they can run as long as found fit.
  • Commercial Vehicles (CVs)→ Fitness test required every 2 years for the first 8 years, then annually.
  • Private Vehicles (PVs)Fitness certificate required for registration renewal after 15 years (valid for 5 years). 
  • Discount being provided by the Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEM) for buying new vehicle against a CoD. 

MINISTRY OF RURAL DEVELOPMENT

Deendayal Antyodaya Yojana- National Rural Livelihoods Mission (Day-NRLM):

  • Purpose: Reduce poverty by organizing rural poor into SHGs and providing self-employment and skilled job opportunities.
  • Type: Centrally Sponsored Scheme
  • Target: To mobilize all rural poor households
  • Monitoring: State Rural Livelihood Missions (SPVs)
  • Objective: Building strong institutions such as Self-Help Groups (SHGs) for the poor, particularly women, and enabling these institutions to access a range of financial services and livelihoods.
  • Beneficiary: All rural poor households with at least one deprivation under SECC 2011.

Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (Gramin) 2.0:

  • Purpose: Housing for All in rural area
  • Type: Centrally Sponsored Scheme
  • Beneficiary Identification: Based on SECC 2011 housing deprivation criteria and Awaas+ survey by MoRD.
  • Tenure: FY 2024-25 to 2028-29
  • Objective: Complete 35 lakh pending houses (not completed till March 2024) to meet the 2.95 crore target of previous phase.
  • Automatic Exclusion criteria: Households with:
  1. Kisan Credit Card with credit limit of Rs. 50,000 or above
  2. Any member as a Government employee
  3. Paying income/ Paying professional tax 
  4. 2.5 acres or more of irrigated land or 5 acres or more of unirrigated land.
  5. Any family member earning more than Rs.15,000 per month
  6. Motorised three/four wheeler 
  7. Mechanised three/ four-wheeler agricultural equipment
  8. Non-agricultural enterprises registered with the Government

Lakhpati Didi Initiative:

  • Lakhpati Didi: It refers to a Self-Help Group member who earns an annual household income of Rupees One Lakh or more in sustainable manner.
  • Income Sustainability: This income is calculated for at least four agricultural seasons and/or business cycles, with an average monthly income exceeding (Rs. 10,000), so that it is sustainable.

MINISTRY OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY

Vigyan Dhara Scheme:

  • Purpose: Strengthen the country’s Science, Technology, and Innovation (STI) ecosystem and contribute to India’s overall development
  • Type: Central Sector Scheme
  • Tenure: 2021-22 to 2025-26
  • Nodal Implementing Agency: Department of Science & Technology (DST)

MINISTRY OF SOCIAL JUSTICE AND EMPOWERMENT

Pradhan Mantri Anusuchit Jaati Abhyuday Yojna (PM-AJAY):

  • Purpose: To enable an area based developmental approach for integrated development of SC dominated villages.
  • Type: Centrally Sponsored Scheme
  • Launched in: 2021-22
  • Implementation and Monitoring: Centralised Management Information System (MIS)
  • Objective: To reduce poverty of the SC communities by generation of additional employment opportunities through skill development, etc.
  • 3 Components:
    • Development of SC dominated villages into an ‘Adarsh Gram’ component→ SC population >40% and total population 2500 (latest Census)
    • Grants-in-aid for District/State-level Projects for Socio-Economic betterment of SCs.
    • Construction/Repair of Educational Hostels for SC students (Boys and Girls)

MINISTRY OF STATISTICS AND PROGRAMME IMPLEMENTATION

Member of Parliament Local Area Development Scheme (MPLADS):

  • Purpose: To address the issue of inequity in development
  • Type: Central Sector Scheme
  • Non-lapsable Fund: Annual MPLADS non-lapsable fund entitlement per MP constituency is Rs. 5 crores
  • Release of fund: Grants in-aid is released directly to the district authorities on receipt of requisite documents
  • Background: Announced in 1993 under the Ministry of Rural Development, administration shifted to MoSPI in October 1994.

MINISTRY OF TRIBAL AFFAIRS

Dharti Aaba Janjatiya Gram Utkarsh Abhiyan (DAJGUA):

  • Purpose: To ensure holistic, sustainable, and inclusive growth, empowering tribal communities to thrive and flourish in a SATURATION Mode.
  • Background: It was announced in in the Budget 2024-25 as Pradhan Mantri Janjatiya Unnat Gram Abhiyan (PM JUGA).
  • Tenure: 2024-25 to 2028-29
  • Nodal Agency: Ministry of Tribal Affairs
  • Objective: To develop enabling infrastructure and enhance socio-economic conditions in selected tribal majority villages (with a population of 500 or more, and at least 50% tribal residents as well as villages in Aspirational Districts with a tribal population of 50 or more). 
  • Coverage: Specific tribal-majority villages with populations of 500 or more, where at least 50% are tribal, and villages, in Aspirational districts, with at least 50 tribal population.

Pradhan Mantri Vanbandhu Kalyan Yojana:

  • Purpose: To improve the socio-economic conditions of tribal populations and preserve their cultural heritage and identity.
  • Type: Centrally Sponsored Scheme
  • Focus: Integrated development of villages and capacity building through interventions in education and livelihood
  • Tenure: 2021-22 to 2025-26
  • Components:
    • PM Adi Adarsh Gram Yojana 
    • PVTGs development 
    • Support to tribal research institute 
    • Pre-matric scholarship 
    • Post-matric scholarship scheme 

MINISTRY OF TEXTILES

PM MITRA (Pradhan Mantri Mega Integrated Textile Region and Apparel) Park:

  • Purpose: To attract investment, boost employment generation and position itself strongly in the global textile market
  • Type: Central Sector Scheme
  • 5F Vision: Farm to Fibre to Factory to Fashion to Foreign
  • Tenure: 2021-22 to 2027-28
  • Objective: Promote sustainable industrialization and foster innovation (SDG9), modern industrial infrastructure facility for entire value-chain to reduce logistic cost & improve competitiveness.
  • Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV): Jointly owned by Centre (49%) and State (51%) to oversee the project.
  • Finalized Locations: Tamil Nadu, Telangana, Gujarat, Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, Maharashtra.

MINISTRY OF WOMEN AND CHILD DEVELOPMENT

Saksham Anganwadi and Poshan 2.0 (Mission Poshan 2.0):

  • Purpose: Address the challenges of malnutrition through a strategic shift in nutrition content and delivery
  • Type: Centrally Sponsored Scheme
  • Beneficiaries: Children (up to the age of 6 years), adolescent girls, pregnant women, and lactating mothers
  • Tenure: 2021-22 to 2025-26
  • Components:
    • Nutrition support
    • Early childhood care & education 
    • Anganwadi infrastructure 
    • Poshan Abhiyan 

MISCELLANEOUS SCHEMES

Atal Innovation Mission (AIM) 2.0:

  • Purpose: To create an innovation culture and entrepreneurial ecosystem in the country.
  • Type: Central Sector Scheme
  • Tenure: Till March 31, 2028.
  • Nodal Agency: NITI Aayog
  • AIM Framework:
    • Atal Tinkering Labs 
    • Atal Incubation Centers (AICs) & Atal Community Innovation Centers (ACICs)
    • Mentor India Campaign
    • Atal New India Challenges (ANIC)
    • ARISE-ANIC

PM Gati Shakti National Master Plan (PMGS-NMP):

  • Purpose: To improve the productivity of industries and employment opportunities
  • 7 Driving Engines: Railways, Roads, Ports, Waterways, Airports Mass Transport, Logistics Infrastructure
  • Benefits: Break departmental silos, bring down the time and cost overrun of the projects
  • Scope: Covers projects of social as well physical infrastructure
  • Intersectoral and inter-ministerial convergence: 14 Social Sector Ministries/ Departments have been onboarded, namely Ministry of Panchayati Raj, Department of Health and Family Welfare, Department of Post, etc.

PM Internship Scheme:

  • Ministry: Ministry of Corporate Affairs 
  • Purpose: To provide one crore young individuals with valuable internship opportunities over next five years in top 500 companies.
  • Monthly Stipend: ₹5,000
  • Rs 500 from partner companies
  • Rs 4,500 from government via DBT
  • Eligibility: Indian Youth Aged 21-24 Not in full-time employment or education
  • NOT ELIGIBLE: Graduates from IITs, IIMs, National Law Universities, IISER, NIDs, and IIITs

Mission Mausam:

  • Ministry: Ministry of Earth Sciences 
  • Purpose: To position India as a global leader in weather and climate sciences, and making India ‘Weather Ready’ and ‘Climate Smart’, meeting the global standards.
  • Making India Weather-ready and Climate-smart.

Green Tug Transition Program:

  • Ministry: Ministry of Ports, Shipping & Waterways  
  • Purpose: Shift India’s harbour tug fleet from diesel to greener alternatives.
  • Part of Maritime Amrit Kaal Vision 2047→ Targeting a 30% cut in port vessel emissions by 2030
  • ‘Panch Karma Sankalp’

Biotechnology Research Innovation and Entrepreneurship Development (Bio- RIDE):

  • Ministry: Ministry of S&T
  • Purpose: To foster innovation, promote bio-entrepreneurship, and strengthen India’s position as global leader in bio manufacturing and biotechnology.
  • Beneficiaries: Researchers, startups, academic institutions, industries, and entrepreneurs in biotechnology
  • Tenure: 2021-22 to 2025-26 (15th Finance Commission period)

PM Young Achievers’ Scholarship Award Scheme for Vibrant India (PM-YASASVI):

  • Ministry: Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment
  • Purpose: Uplifting students from Other Backward Classes (OBC), Economically Backward Classes (EBC), and Denotified Tribes (DNT).
  • Components:
    • Pre-Matric Scholarship→ ₹4,000 per year For Class IX & X students Income below 2.5 lakh
    • Post-Matric Scholarship→ ₹5,000-20,000 Based on course category For post-secondary education
    • Top-Class Education Support→ Up to 1.25 lakh (Class 9-12) Full funding for top college students at premier institutions
    • Hostel Construction→ Accommodation for socially and educationally backward students

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