Government Schemes [India & States] Current Affairs MCQs

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Rajasthan Chief Minister Bhajan Lal Sharma launched the Mukhya Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi, an income support scheme, at Krishi Upaj Mandi in Tonk. The first installment of Rs 650 crore was released to 65 lakh farmers. Eligible farmers will receive Rs 2000 annually in three installments, alongside the Rs 6000 from the central PM-KISAN scheme. The Cooperative Department is the nodal agency for implementation.

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The Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) sanctioned seven new private sector projects under the Technology Development Fund (TDF) scheme. Established to promote self-reliance in defence technology under the ‘Make in India’ initiative, the TDF is a Ministry of Defence program executed by DRDO. It supports MSMEs and startups, providing up to 90% funding for projects costing up to INR 50 crore, with a maximum development period of four years.

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The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) recently allowed resident individuals to open Foreign Currency Accounts (FCA) in International Financial Services Centres (IFSCs) at GIFT City, Gujarat, under the Liberalised Remittance Scheme (LRS). Introduced in 2004, LRS simplifies remitting funds outside India, allowing residents, including minors, to remit up to USD 250,000 per financial year. This excludes corporates and trusts, and covers any permissible current or capital account transactions.

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The tea industry seeks higher rates under the RoDTEP scheme to boost export competitiveness. RoDTEP, a flagship export promotion scheme by India’s Commerce Ministry, refunds unrebated central, state, and local duties on inputs. Announced in September 2019, it replaced the MEIS scheme following a WTO ruling. Effective January 1, 2021, RoDTEP supports crucial export sectors to enhance competitiveness, create jobs, and promote economic growth, aiming for Aatmanirbhar Bharat.

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Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren announced village-level camps to enroll women in the ‘Mukhya Mantri Bahan Beti Maiqui Swabalamban Protsahan Yojana,’ providing Rs 1,000 per month to women aged 21-49. At a Sahibganj district event, he unveiled projects worth Rs 88 crore. The scheme, approved on June 28, will benefit 45 lakh women and cost the state Rs 5,500 crore annually, aiming to empower and make women self-reliant.

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The Union Budget introduced the Pradhan Mantri Janjatiya Unnat Gram Abhiyan, aimed at improving the socio-economic status of tribal communities. The scheme will use a saturation approach to target tribal-majority villages and aspirational districts, focusing on education, health, and skill development. It plans to cover 63,000 villages and benefit 5 crore tribal people nationwide.

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The Finance Minister announced NPS Vatsalya, a new scheme under the National Pension Scheme (NPS) to help parents and guardians plan for their children’s future financial needs. Parents can open an account for their minor children, with funds accumulating until the child turns 18. Upon adulthood, the amount transfers to a standard NPS account and can be converted into a non-NPS plan. NPS, a voluntary retirement scheme, enables individuals to build a retirement corpus through regular contributions. Open to all Indian citizens, including non-residents, NPS invests in market-linked instruments, offering potentially higher returns than traditional fixed-income options.

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Launched on May 10, 2023, the ‘Poshan Bhi Padhai Bhi’ (PBPB) initiative aims to upskill Anganwadi workers to enhance early childhood care, education, and nutrition services for children under six. By June 2024, 11,364 State Level Master Trainers and 1,877 Anganwadi Workers have been trained. The program focuses on transforming Anganwadi centres into learning hubs with quality infrastructure and play equipment. It includes two curriculum frameworks: “Navchetana” for children from birth to three years, emphasizing holistic stimulation, and “Aadharshila” for children aged three to six years, covering all developmental domains. Special attention is given to Divyang children.

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Jharkhand’s government, led by Chief Minister Hemant Soren, has launched Mukhyamantri Maiyaan Samman Yojana. This scheme provides financial aid to women for their empowerment, education, health, and nutrition. Seen as a pre-election move before the legislative assembly elections in late 2024, the government will hold enrollment camps across the state from August 3-10, 2024.

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The Pradhan Mantri Kisan Urja Suraksha evam Utthaan Mahabhiyan (PM-KUSUM) has achieved only 30% of its targets so far, raising concerns about meeting its 2026 deadline. It was launched in 2019. PM-KUSUM aims to reduce diesel use in farming, ensure water and energy security, boost farmers’ incomes, and reduce environmental pollution. The goal is to add 34.8 GW of solar capacity by March 2026. The Ministry of New and Renewable Energy oversees the scheme.