Government Schemes [India & States] Current Affairs MCQs

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PM Young Achievers Scholarship Award Scheme for Vibrant India (PM-YASASVI) is an initiative by the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment aimed at providing financial assistance and educational support to students from Other Backward Classes (OBC), Economically Backward Classes (EBC), and Denotified Tribes (DNT). It merged earlier programs like the Dr. Ambedkar Post-Matric and Pre/Post-Matric Scholarships for EBCs and DNTs starting in 2021-22. The scheme provides scholarships from Class 9 to post-secondary studies. The objective is to empower disadvantaged groups by removing financial barriers, ensuring they complete their education.

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Prime Minister Narendra Modi launched the expanded Ayushman Bharat-Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB-PMJAY) scheme. The scheme will cover all individuals aged 70 and above, regardless of their socio-economic status. Each eligible senior citizen will receive a benefit cover of ₹5 lakh per year in empanelled hospitals across India. This expansion is part of a ₹12,850 crore health initiative aimed at benefiting 60 million senior citizens. Senior citizens from families already under AB-PMJAY can access an additional ₹5 lakh cover. Those not covered by the scheme will also receive up to ₹5 lakh annually on a family basis. The expansion will be supported by an outlay of ₹3,437 crore.

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Two million applications have been successfully registered under the PM Vishwakarma scheme. The scheme is run by the Ministry of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises. It is a central sector scheme designed to support traditional artisans and craftspeople in rural and urban areas. The objectives include recognizing artisans as Vishwakarmas and providing skill upgrades. The scheme also aims to promote their brands and create market linkages to access new growth opportunities.

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The government approved the PM-Vidyalaxmi scheme with a budget of Rs 3,600 crore for five years from FY 2024-25. It aims to provide financial aid to meritorious students in top higher education institutions (QHEIs). Students with family incomes up to Rs 8 lakh are eligible for 3% interest subvention on loans up to Rs 10 lakh, with no collateral or guarantor required. The scheme aims to benefit over 22 lakh students annually, with a digital loan application process. The scheme complements other education loan initiatives and will be managed through a unified portal, “PM-Vidyalaxmi.”

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Prime Minister Modi celebrated a decade of the One Rank One Pension (OROP) scheme, honoring India’s veterans and ex-service personnel. OROP ensures uniform pensions for personnel retiring in the same rank and service length, regardless of retirement date. Pensions are re-fixed based on the average pensions of 2013 retirees in the same rank and service length. Arrears are paid in installments, with family pensioners and gallantry awardees receiving it in one go. Pensions are re-fixed every five years, managed by the Department of Ex-Servicemen Welfare, Ministry of Defence.

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The ‘Ladki Bahin Yojana’, launched by Maharashtra’s Mahayuti government, provides a monthly stipend of Rs 1,500 to underprivileged women aged 21-65, with an annual family income cap of Rs 2.5 lakh. Prime Minister Narendra Modi highlighted the scheme’s significance during a rally in Nashik, emphasizing his government’s commitment to women’s empowerment and criticizing the opposition for opposing it. The initiative is part of a broader agenda to uplift marginalized communities and enhance social welfare in the state, especially ahead of the upcoming assembly elections.

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The Rajasthan College Education Commissionerate directed 20 government colleges to paint their facades and entry halls orange under the Kayakalp Scheme. The Kayakalp Scheme, launched by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare in 2015 under Swachh Bharat Abhiyan, aims to promote cleanliness and improve healthcare quality. It focuses on cleanliness, hygiene, infection control, and eco-friendly practices in Public Health Facilities (PHFs). The scheme rewards PHFs for outstanding cleanliness and hygiene and encourages regular assessment. Assessments occur at three levels: internal, peer, and external, with scores documented yearly to track improvements.

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West Bengal has launched the Taruner Swapna Scheme. The Taruner Swapna scheme is a government initiative that provides eligible higher secondary students from government schools with Rs 10,000 to buy a tablet or mobile phone. Students from at least 15 districts of West Bengal, including Kolkata, have been affected by the scheme. There have been allegations of irregularities in the scheme, including some students receiving the grant twice, while others did not receive it at all.

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The Union Cabinet approved the “One Nation One Subscription” scheme for nationwide access to scholarly research articles and journals. It will be administered through a digital, user-friendly process for government higher education institutions and central R&D labs. The scheme supports research and innovation, complementing the ANRF initiative. Information and Library Network (INFLIBNET) will coordinate the national subscription, providing access to journals through a unified portal. The scheme covers all government-managed higher education and R&D institutions. Rs. 6,000 crore is allocated for the scheme from 2025 to 2027. It enhances the government’s education initiatives and access to quality higher education.

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The Namo Lakshmi Yojana, launched by Gujarat’s Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel, provides financial assistance of Rs 50,000 over four years to girl students from standards 9 to 12. With a budget of Rs 1,250 crore for the fiscal year, the initiative aims to empower girls through education and address financial barriers that lead to dropouts. Since its inception, it has benefitted around 10 lakh girls, disbursing over Rs 138.54 crore in aid.