Government Schemes [India & States] Current Affairs MCQs

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The Union Minister of State for the Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances & Pensions, Dr Jitendra Singh, will present the Anubhav Awards 2025 on August 18 in New Delhi. This year, the National Anubhav Awards Scheme expanded to include employees from Central Public Sector Enterprises (CPSEs) and Public Sector Banks (PSBs) for the first time, along with Central Government employees. The scheme is run by the Department of Pension and Pensioners’ Welfare (DoPPW) to honor retired government employees. It encourages retirees to share their experiences on the “Anubhav Portal” and contribute to nation-building. The initiative helps document India’s administrative history through written stories by retired officials.

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Recently, exporters got relief as they may now avail duty-free import benefits under the Advance Authorisation Scheme (AAS) even if goods were shipped before the licence was issued. The Advance Authorisation Scheme (AAS) allows duty-free import of inputs that are physically used in the manufacture of export products. It exempts import duties like Basic Customs Duty, Additional Customs Duty, Anti-dumping Duty, and others under certain conditions. The Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT) sets product-wise norms under the Standard Input-Output Norms (SION).

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The Mukhya Mantrir Jiban Anuprerana Scheme has been launched in Assam to support research scholars. It offers one-time financial assistance ranging from ₹25,000 to ₹40,000 to eligible scholars. Special provisions are included for divyang (persons with disabilities) researchers studying in public institutions. The scheme aims to remove financial barriers and promote research and development in the state. This initiative reflects the government’s focus on improving educational opportunities and academic growth.

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The Chamundi Hills project in Karnataka has finally progressed under the Pilgrimage Rejuvenation and Spiritual Heritage Augmentation Drive (PRASHAD) scheme after years of delay. PRASHAD stands for Pilgrimage Rejuvenation And Spiritual Heritage Augmentation Drive. It was launched in 2014-15 by the Ministry of Tourism as a Central Sector Scheme. The scheme supports integrated development of pilgrimage and heritage destinations. It provides financial help to state governments and Union Territories for improving tourism infrastructure.

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Recently, the Prime Minister launched the ‘Baraputra Aitihya Gram Yojana’ in Odisha to honour the legacy of Odia icons by transforming their birthplaces into cultural heritage sites. The initiative aims to establish memorials that include museums, interpretation centres, statues, and libraries. It will help preserve Odisha’s rich cultural history while promoting cultural tourism across the state.

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Recently, India marked 10 years of the Atal Mission for Rejuvenation and Urban Transformation (AMRUT), launched on June 25, 2015, to improve urban life. AMRUT focused on water supply, sewerage, urban mobility, and green spaces in 500 cities, prioritizing services for the urban poor. AMRUT 2.0, started in 2021 with an outlay of ₹2.99 lakh crore, aims for universal water and sewerage coverage using advanced monitoring like Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA). The nodal ministry for the Atal Mission for Rejuvenation and Urban Transformation (AMRUT) is the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs (MoHUA).

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Recently, the Haryana government announced the launch of the Lado Lakshmi Scheme to support women from economically weaker sections. This scheme will give ₹2,100 every month to women from Below Poverty Line (BPL) families. The scheme is inspired by the existing Haryana Ladli Lakshmi Yojana to help financially poor women. Its goal is to empower women, improve their livelihoods, and reduce poverty and economic inequality in Haryana.

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Recently, the Union Cabinet chaired by the Prime Minister of India approved the Employment Linked Incentive Scheme. The Employment Linked Incentive Scheme supports employment generation, skill enhancement, and social security in all sectors, with a focus on manufacturing. It was announced in the Union Budget 2024-25 as part of the Prime Minister’s package of five schemes for 4.1 Crore youth with a budget of Rs 2 Lakh Crore. It aims to create over 3.5 Crore jobs in two years, with 1.92 Crore first-time workforce entrants.

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Recently, the Andhra Pradesh government launched the Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan Vidyarthi Mitra Kits scheme. The scheme is named after India’s second President and renowned teacher to keep education above politics. More than 35 lakh students will get free school kits under this scheme. The total cost is Rs 953.71 crore, with Rs 778.68 crore from the state and Rs 175.03 crore from the Centre.

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Madhya Pradesh Cabinet led by Chief Minister (CM) Dr. Mohan Yadav approved Mukhyamantri Vrindavan Gram Yojana to develop model rural villages. Villages with at least 2,000 people and 500 bovines will be developed as Vrindavan Grams. The scheme promotes cow rearing, organic farming, solar energy, water conservation, and rural entrepreneurship. Rashtriya Raksha University campus to be set up in Bhopal with ₹1.05 crore yearly support for three years.