Government Schemes [India & States] Current Affairs MCQs

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The Delhi government will sign an MoU with the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare to implement the Pradhan Mantri Ayushman Bharat Health Infrastructure Mission (PM-ABHIM). PM-ABHIM is a Centrally Sponsored Scheme with some Central Sector Components. It has a total outlay of ₹64,180 crore for 2021-22 to 2025-26. The scheme aims to integrate and strengthen health services and public health action. It focuses on improving primary, secondary, and tertiary healthcare. It prepares health systems to respond effectively to pandemics and disasters.

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Haryana Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini launched the Lado Laxmi Yojana to support women financially. Under this scheme, women in Haryana will receive Rs 2,100 per month. The announcement was made during the state’s budget presentation for the financial year 2025-26. The total budget for Haryana was Rs 2,05,017 crore. The scheme aims to provide economic security and empowerment to women.

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Rajasthan government launched the One Time Settlement Scheme (OTS) to support farmers and small entrepreneurs. The scheme aims to protect them from financial crises and stabilize land development banks. Borrowers who repay 100% of overdue medium and long-term loans by July 1, 2024, will get a 100% interest rebate. A 5% subsidy will help borrowers avail loans again. The scheme benefits 36,351 defaulting loan members with Rs. 760 crore overdue loans. The government will spend Rs. 200 crore to ease loan recovery and improve bank finances. It will boost new loans, production, and business recovery.

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The Government of India has discontinued Medium-Term and Long-Term Government Deposits (MLTGD) under the Gold Monetisation Scheme (GMS) from March 26, 2025. Gold Monetisation Scheme (GMS) was launched in November 2015 as an improved version of the Gold Deposit Scheme (GDS) and Gold Metal Loan (GML) Scheme. It allows individuals, institutions, and government entities to deposit idle gold in banks and earn interest. Depositors can redeem the gold in cash, bars, or coins upon maturity but not in its original form. The scheme aims to mobilize idle gold, bring it into the formal economy, and reduce gold imports to lower the Current Account Deficit (CAD).

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The Jharkhand government has announced a lump sum payment of ₹7,500 under the Mukhyamantri Maiyan Samman Yojana for January-March 2025. Women without Aadhaar-linked bank accounts will still receive this payment temporarily until March 2025. To continue receiving benefits after March 2025, beneficiaries must link their bank accounts with Aadhaar and maintain a single account. The Jharkhand cabinet, led by Chief Minister Hemant Soren, approved this amendment along with 18 other proposals. 38 lakh women have already received the payment, while 20 lakh more will receive it by March 31, 2025. The Mukhyamantri Maiya Samman Yojana is a welfare initiative by the Jharkhand government. It provides financial assistance to economically disadvantaged women in the state.

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The Prime Minister’s Wi-Fi Access Network Interface (PM-WANI) framework aims to expand public Wi-Fi hotspots to build a digital India. Public Data Offices (PDOs) set up and operate WANI-compliant Wi-Fi hotspots and must partner with a Public Data Office Aggregator (PDOA) for internet services. As of March 20, 2025, India has 2,78,439 PM-WANI Wi-Fi hotspots. The scheme was launched by the Department of Telecommunication in December 2020. It aims to boost digital infrastructure, especially in rural areas, and generate employment for small and micro-entrepreneurs. It provides low-cost internet to underserved urban poor and rural households.

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A Parliamentary Standing Committee urged the Education Ministry to release over ₹4,000 crore in Samagra Shiksha Abhiyan (SSA) funds for Tamil Nadu, Kerala, and West Bengal. The funds are withheld as these states have not signed the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for the PM SHRI scheme. The report emphasized that SSA predates PM SHRI and is crucial for implementing the Right to Education (RTE) Act. PM SHRI (PM Schools for Rising India) is a centrally sponsored scheme under NEP 2020 to establish 14,500 model schools with holistic education, 21st-century skills, and eco-friendly infrastructure.

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The Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) notified the Electronics Components Manufacturing Scheme to boost India’s global position in electronics manufacturing. The scheme is horizontal, covering consumer electronics, medical devices, automobiles, power electronics, and grids for wider economic impact. It supports passive components like resistors, capacitors, relays, sensors, and more; active components are covered by the India Semiconductor Mission (ISM). The scheme offers three types of incentives: turnover-linked, capital expenditure (capex)-linked, and hybrid models.

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The Government of India approved a 9.5% hike in material cost under the PM-POSHAN (Pradhan Mantri Poshan Shakti Nirman) scheme, with ₹954 crore extra central spending for 2025–26 from May 1, 2025. PM-POSHAN, earlier known as the Mid-Day Meal Scheme, is run by the Ministry of Education to provide hot cooked meals to 11.20 crore children in Balvatikas and Classes 1 to 8 across 10.36 lakh schools. It aims to improve children’s nutrition and boost school enrollment, attendance, and retention.

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The Railway Minister announced that 104 out of 1,300 stations under redevelopment are completed as part of the Amrit Bharat Station Scheme. The Amrit Bharat Station Scheme was launched by Indian Railways in February 2023 to modernize railway stations across India. The scheme follows a long-term and continuous development approach with phased implementation through Master Plans. It focuses on better station access, waiting halls, toilets, lifts/escalators, cleanliness, Wi-Fi, local product kiosks, passenger information systems, and executive lounges. Each station’s design will reflect local culture, heritage, and architecture to enhance the travel experience.