Government Schemes [India & States] Current Affairs MCQs

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Ayushman Bharat – Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB-PMJAY) completes seven years since its launch on September 23, 2018 from Ranchi. It is the world’s largest government-funded health assurance scheme, covering over 55 crore beneficiaries. It provides ₹5 lakh annual health cover per family for cashless and paperless treatment across India. The scheme is described as a people’s movement transforming India’s public healthcare, ensuring top-quality and affordable medical services.

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Haryana Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini launched the Deendayal Lado Lakshmi Yojana on 25th September 2025, the birth anniversary of Pandit Deendayal Upadhyaya. The scheme provides Rs 2,100 per month to eligible women to enhance economic and social empowerment. About 20 lakh women aged 23–60 from families with annual income up to Rs 1 lakh will benefit. The scheme has an annual budget of Rs 5,000 crore for 2025–26.

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The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) announced a year-long incentive scheme for banks to reduce unclaimed deposits. The scheme is called ‘Scheme for Facilitating Accelerated Payout of Inoperative Accounts and Unclaimed Deposits’. Banks will receive differential payouts based on the duration an account remains inoperative and the amount of deposits. The scheme aims to reduce both existing unclaimed deposits and fresh inflows to the Depositor Education and Awareness (DEA) Fund. Banks are encouraged to contact depositors to reactivate inoperative accounts and return unclaimed amounts timely. As of June 2025, unclaimed deposits were over Rs 67,000 crore.

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During the Kaushal Deekshant Samaroh at Vigyan Bhawan, New Delhi, the Prime Minister launched the Pradhan Mantri Skilling and Employability Transformation through Upgraded ITIs (PM-SETU) scheme. PM-SETU is a centrally sponsored scheme with an investment of ₹60,000 crore. It aims to modernize 1,000 Government Industrial Training Institutes (ITIs) across India. The scheme follows a hub-and-spoke model with 200 hub ITIs connected to 800 spoke ITIs. Each hub will have innovation centres, production units, incubation hubs, and placement services. The scheme introduces new industry-driven courses and upgrades existing ones.

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The Assam government launched the Shraddhanjali Scheme to provide complete assistance for dignified transportation of mortal remains of people from Assam who die outside the State. The scheme was approved by the State Cabinet on June 22, 2025 and will be implemented by the Special Branch of Assam Police. Families can report deaths through designated helpline numbers, the Chief Secretary, or the Chief Minister’s Office (CMO). The scheme covers students and youth in low-income jobs outside Assam, ensuring logistical, legal, and procedural support for repatriation. Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma called it a humanitarian initiative to reduce financial and emotional burden.

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As of September 2025, Public Sector Banks (PSBs) sanctioned over 5.79 lakh loans worth ₹10,907 crore under PM Surya Ghar Muft Bijli Yojana (PMSGMBY). It aims to provide free electricity to households via solar rooftop installations. It was launched in February, 2024. The scheme offers 60% subsidy for systems up to 2 kW and 40% subsidy for 2–3 kW systems, capped at 3 kW. It promotes Model Solar Villages and incentivizes Urban Local Bodies (ULBs) and Panchayat Raj Institutions (PRIs). It is implemented by National Programme Implementation Agency (NPIA) and State Implementation Agencies (SIAs).

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The Union Government plans to showcase the PM-KUSUM (Pradhan Mantri Kisan Urja Suraksha evam Utthan Mahabhiyan) scheme to African and island nations through the International Solar Alliance platform. The scheme was launched in 2019 to provide energy and water security to farmers and increase their income. It also aims to de-dieselize agriculture and reduce environmental pollution. The target is to add 34,800 Megawatt (MW) of solar capacity by March 2026. The Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) is the nodal ministry.

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Recently, Prime Minister Narendra Modi attended a special Krishi programme at the Indian Agricultural Research Institute, New Delhi. He launched two major schemes worth ₹35,440 crore to strengthen Indian agriculture. The PM Dhan-Dhaanya Krishi Yojana (₹24,000 crore) aims to boost productivity, crop diversification, irrigation, storage, and farm credit across 100 districts. The Mission for Aatmanirbharta in Pulses (₹11,440 crore) focuses on raising pulse production, expanding cultivation by 35 lakh hectares, and ensuring procurement and value chain support.

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Labour and Employment Minister Dr. Mansukh Mandaviya launched the Vishwas Scheme in New Delhi. The launch took place during the 238th meeting of the Central Board of Trustees of the Employees’ Provident Fund (EPF). The scheme aims to reduce litigation by introducing rationalised penal damages under the Employees’ Provident Fund and Miscellaneous Provisions Act. Several digital initiatives were also launched, including a re-engineered return filing module, user management module, and upgraded e-Office and SPARROW system for better APAR management. The board approved simplified and liberalised norms for partial withdrawals to improve member convenience and retirement security.

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Civil Aviation Minister Rammohan Naidu Kinjarapu launched ‘Fare Se Fursat’, a first-of-its-kind fixed airfare scheme by Alliance Air. The scheme aims to make air travel affordable and predictable for passengers. Under this, air tickets will have a single fixed fare, constant regardless of the booking date or day of departure. The pilot phase will run from October 13 to December 31, 2025, on select routes. The scheme aligns with the UDAN (Ude Desh Ka Aam Nagrik) vision of making air travel accessible to all. It removes the stress of dynamic pricing, ensuring fare transparency and cost predictability. The initiative mainly benefits passengers from Tier-2 and Tier-3 cities and first-time flyers.