Government Schemes [India & States] Current Affairs MCQs

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The Department of Pharmaceuticals organized an industry dialogue in Mumbai on the Pharma MedTech sector (PRIP) Scheme to boost R&D and innovation in the Pharma-MedTech sector. The event brought together industry leaders, research institutes (ICMR, CSIR, NIPERs), and associations to discuss collaborations and industry-academia partnerships. The PRIP Scheme, launched by the Ministry of Chemicals and Fertilizers, aims to make India a global leader in Pharma-MedTech R&D.

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Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy launched the ‘Rajiv Yuva Vikasam’ scheme to create self-employment opportunities for five lakh unemployed youth in Telangana. The government allocated ₹6,000 crore for the initiative, highlighting its commitment to youth empowerment and economic development. The scheme aims to empower Telangana’s youth and promote self-reliance through strong economic support.

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The Government of India extended the Employees’ State Insurance (ESI) Scheme to 15 more districts in Uttar Pradesh. Now, 74 out of 75 districts in Uttar Pradesh are covered under the scheme. The total number of districts covered under the ESI scheme in India is 689 out of 778. Newly covered districts include Ambedkar Nagar, Bahraich, Gonda, Jalaun, Kannauj, and others. ESI Scheme is India’s largest social insurance scheme, administered by Employees’ State Insurance Corporation (ESIC). It was launched by Prime Minister Jawahar Lal Nehru in Kanpur and New Delhi on 24 February 1952.

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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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Pradhan Mantri Mudra Yojana (PMMY) marked its 10th anniversary in April 2025, celebrating its role in promoting small businesses and financial inclusion. PMMY, launched in 2015 by the Government of India, aims to provide affordable credit to micro and small enterprises. It helps integrate underserved entrepreneurs into the formal financial system through easy access to credit. Loans up to ₹10 lakh are given for non-farm income-generating activities like manufacturing, trading, services, and processing. Loan categories include Shishu (up to ₹50,000), Kishore (₹50,000–₹5 lakh), and Tarun (₹5–10 lakh) based on business stage. No direct subsidy is given, but loans under government-linked schemes with capital support can benefit from PMMY.

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Mission Amrit Sarovar is helping rural people earn more by supporting activities like irrigation, fisheries, duck farming, water chestnut growing, and animal husbandry around water bodies. It was launched in 2022 under Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav to promote water conservation and rural development. The mission plans to build or restore 75 water bodies in every district across India. It aims to fight groundwater depletion and water shortage by using both old and new methods. It works through a mix of government schemes like Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme, 15th Finance Commission Grants, Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchai Yojana, and state programs. Public donations through crowdfunding and Corporate Social Responsibility are also encouraged.

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Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami launched the “Mukhya Sevak Samvad” scheme to directly communicate with beneficiaries of government schemes and assess their ground-level implementation. The initiative aims to understand beneficiaries’ experiences and evaluate the success of these schemes.

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The Jal Shakti Ministry is requesting Rs 2.79 lakh crore additional funding for the Jal Jeevan Mission. The mission was launched by the Prime Minister in 2019. Its aim is to provide tap water connections to around 16 crore rural households, aiming for full coverage by 2028 (previously set for 2024). Key components include source sustainability, greywater management, water conservation, and rainwater harvesting. The mission empowers women by reducing the burden of water collection, improving their health, education, and socio-economic status. It enhances the dignity and quality of life for rural families, contributing to their overall ease of living.

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The Rajasthan government has launched the One Time Settlement Scheme (OTS) to provide relief to farmers and small entrepreneurs while strengthening the financial position of land development banks. Announced in the 2025-26 budget, the first phase of the scheme will run from May 1 to September 30, 2025. The scheme applies to loans disbursed by the Rajasthan Minorities Finance and Development Cooperative Corporation Limited (RMFDCC), overdue by March 31, 2024.

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The Delhi government recently launched the Ayushman Vay Vandana scheme, offering senior citizens aged 70 and above a health cover of up to ₹10 lakh annually. The scheme combines ₹5 lakh coverage from the central government’s Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB PM-JAY) with an additional ₹5 lakh from the Delhi government. Chief Minister Rekha Gupta and Union Minister Hardeep Singh Puri inaugurated the scheme at Thyagaraj Stadium. They distributed the first batch of Ayushman Vay Vandana cards to beneficiaries. These cards will store complete medical records, enable regular check-ups, and provide emergency service details.