Government Schemes [India & States] Current Affairs MCQs

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The Cabinet approved an amendment in the Pradhan Mantri JI-VAN Yojana to provide financial support for Advanced Biofuel Projects. The scheme promotes the production of 2nd-generation (2G) bioethanol from renewable sources like lignocellulosic biomass. Launched in 2019, it was recently extended until 2028-29. It is implemented by the Centre for High Technology under the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas. The objective of scheme is to establishing commercially viable 2G ethanol projects, providing farmers income from agricultural waste, and addressing environmental pollution. Financial support is provided through Viability Gap Funding (VGF).

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An evaluation of 254 Kasturba Gandhi Balika Vidyalayas (KGBVs) by NCERT identified issues like lack of transparency in fund use, weak infrastructure, teacher shortages, low salaries, and student safety concerns. KGBVs, launched in 2004, are residential schools for girls from SC, ST, OBC, and minority communities in educationally backward areas. They aim to improve access and quality of education for girls in regions with low female literacy and high gender gaps. The scheme reserves 75% of seats for these disadvantaged groups and 25% for girls from poor families.

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The Eknath Shinde-led Maharashtra government launched the ‘Mukhyamantri Majhi Ladki Bahin Yojana’ on the occasion of Raksha Bandhan. This scheme will provide ₹1500 monthly to over one crore women in Maharashtra. It is modeled after Madhya Pradesh’s ‘Ladli Behna Yojana’ but will be a permanent initiative. The scheme aims to protect and support women’s interests in the state, symbolically tied to the Raksha Bandhan festival.

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Himachal Pradesh CM Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu launched the ‘Mukhyamantri Bal Paushtik Aahar Yojana’ to provide nutritious food to government schoolchildren. The scheme offers boiled eggs or fruits once a week to students from nursery to class eight. Fresh fruits will be locally sourced based on children’s preferences. It complements the existing mid-day meal scheme, covering 15,181 schools and 5,34,293 students. The state allocated Rs.12.75 crore for the scheme in 2024-25. The CM also launched a scheme to provide free tablets to primary school teachers to enhance digitalization in education.

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KVIC and the Department of Posts are collaborating to enhance the implementation of PMEGP across India. PMEGP is a central scheme under the Ministry of Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises. It aims to create employment in rural and urban areas by supporting new self-employment ventures. The scheme helps traditional artisans and unemployed youth to find work locally, reducing rural-to-urban migration. It also aims to increase the wage-earning capacity of workers and boost employment growth in rural and urban areas.

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The Department of Post under the Union Ministry of Communication launched the Deen Dayal SPARSH Yojana to promote stamp collecting among students. The scheme aims to encourage philately as a hobby from a young age. Postmaster General Krishna Kumar Yadav announced it at a stamp exhibition in Ahmedabad. Philately involves collecting and studying postage stamps and related items. The scheme is open to students in classes VI to IX from recognised schools. It aims to develop interest and research in stamps among children across India.

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The Union Cabinet approved the ‘Vigyan Dhara’ scheme, unifying three Department of Science and Technology schemes. Vigyan Dhara is a central sector scheme aimed at boosting science and technology in India. It combines three key areas: S&T Institutional and Human Capacity Building, Research and Development, and Innovation and Technology Development. Managed by the Department of Science and Technology, it streamlines S&T initiatives to enhance India’s capabilities. The scheme has a budget of Rs.10,579.84 crore for the period 2021-22 to 2025-26. It aims to improve fund utilization and align sub-schemes. The goal is to strengthen India’s S&T and innovation ecosystem.

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The Jharkhand cabinet recently approved lowering the minimum age limit for the Mukhyamantri Maiyan Samman Yojana (MMSY) from 21 to 18 years. This change aims to benefit an additional 800,000 women. Launched on August 3, 2024, MMSY provides Rs 1,000 each month to eligible women from families below the poverty line. Annually, Rs 12,000 will be deposited into the bank accounts of all qualified women through the Direct Benefit Transfer Scheme.

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The Union Cabinet approved the PM E-DRIVE Scheme to promote electric mobility, replacing the FAME programme. It has a budget of Rs 10,900 crore over two years, proposed by the Ministry of Heavy Industries. The scheme aims to boost electric vehicle adoption by offering upfront incentives for EV purchases. It focuses on building the required charging infrastructure to support EV use. The goal is to reduce the environmental impact of transportation and improve air quality. The scheme promotes EVs, mass public transport, and advanced EV technologies to enhance sustainability.

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Nirmala Sitharaman, the Union Finance Minister, launched the NPS Vatsalya scheme for minors on 17 September 2024 in New Delhi. The event was attended by schoolchildren and held in 75 locations across India. The scheme was initially announced in the 2024-25 union budget. NPS Vatsalya is regulated by the Pension Fund Regulatory and Development Authority (PFRDA).
It allows parents or guardians to open an account for their children to save for future financial needs. The funds accumulate until the child turns 18, after which they are transferred to a standard NPS account.