Government Schemes [India & States] Current Affairs MCQs

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The Union Government plans to showcase the PM-KUSUM (Pradhan Mantri Kisan Urja Suraksha evam Utthan Mahabhiyan) scheme to African and island nations through the International Solar Alliance platform. The scheme was launched in 2019 to provide energy and water security to farmers and increase their income. It also aims to de-dieselize agriculture and reduce environmental pollution. The target is to add 34,800 Megawatt (MW) of solar capacity by March 2026. The Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) is the nodal ministry.

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Recently, Prime Minister Narendra Modi attended a special Krishi programme at the Indian Agricultural Research Institute, New Delhi. He launched two major schemes worth ₹35,440 crore to strengthen Indian agriculture. The PM Dhan-Dhaanya Krishi Yojana (₹24,000 crore) aims to boost productivity, crop diversification, irrigation, storage, and farm credit across 100 districts. The Mission for Aatmanirbharta in Pulses (₹11,440 crore) focuses on raising pulse production, expanding cultivation by 35 lakh hectares, and ensuring procurement and value chain support.

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Civil Aviation Minister Rammohan Naidu Kinjarapu launched ‘Fare Se Fursat’, a first-of-its-kind fixed airfare scheme by Alliance Air. The scheme aims to make air travel affordable and predictable for passengers. Under this, air tickets will have a single fixed fare, constant regardless of the booking date or day of departure. The pilot phase will run from October 13 to December 31, 2025, on select routes. The scheme aligns with the UDAN (Ude Desh Ka Aam Nagrik) vision of making air travel accessible to all. It removes the stress of dynamic pricing, ensuring fare transparency and cost predictability. The initiative mainly benefits passengers from Tier-2 and Tier-3 cities and first-time flyers.

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Recently, the Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI) launched the Scheme for Innovation and Technology Association with Aadhaar (SITAA). SITAA aims to strengthen India’s digital identity ecosystem and tackle security threats like deepfakes, spoofing, and presentation attacks. It brings together startups, academic institutions, and industry players to co-develop secure, scalable, and globally benchmarked solutions for Aadhaar authentication. The pilot phase has three challenges: Face Liveness Detection, Presentation Attack Detection (PAD), and Contactless Fingerprint Authentication. Solutions must prevent spoofing, be privacy-compliant, scalable, and compatible with Aadhaar systems.

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The State Councils of Educational Research and Training (SCERTs) recently released application forms for the National Means cum Merit Scholarship Scheme (NMMS) for various states. National Means cum Merit Scholarship Scheme (NMMS) is a Centrally Sponsored Scheme launched in May 2008. Its objective is to award scholarships to meritorious students from economically weaker sections to prevent dropout at class VIII and encourage continuation to secondary education. The scheme is available on the National Scholarship Portal (NSP), a one-stop platform for student scholarships. Scholarships are for classes IX to XII in recognized Government, Government-aided, and local body schools.

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Deendayal Antyodaya Yojana – National Rural Livelihood Mission (DAY-NRLM) is implemented by the Ministry of Rural Development as one of the world’s largest poverty alleviation programmes. It was launched in 2010 (restructured from SGSY) and renamed DAY-NRLM in 2016, it aims to reduce rural poverty through self-employment and skilled wage employment. The mission focuses on four pillars – Social Mobilization, Financial Inclusion, Sustainable Livelihoods, and Social Inclusion. It is a centrally sponsored scheme, jointly funded by the Centre and States. More than 10 crore rural women are organized into 90 lakh Self Help Groups (SHGs) across 28 states and 6 UTs (as of June 2025).

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The Union Cabinet, chaired by Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, approved the Export Promotion Mission (EPM) announced in Union Budget 2025–26. EPM aims to strengthen India’s export competitiveness, especially for Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs), first-time exporters, and labour-intensive sectors. Total outlay of Rs.25,060 crore is allocated for FY 2025–26 to FY 2030–31. EPM replaces multiple fragmented schemes with a single, outcome-based, digitally driven mechanism adaptable to global trade challenges.

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Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma launched the ‘Prerona’ scheme to support students preparing for the Class 10 board exams, as reported by Press Trust of India. Under this scheme, every Class 10 student will get ₹300 per month till the exams end for study materials and basic nutrition. The support is universal and not linked to family income. It covers students under the Assam State School Education Board and Central Board of Secondary Education Adarsha Vidyalayas in Assam.

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The Pradhan Mantri Wi-Fi Access Network Interface (PM-WANI) scheme was approved on 9 December 2020 to expand Broadband through public Wi-Fi. It aligns with the National Digital Communications Policy (NDCP) 2018 for strong digital infrastructure. Wi-Fi is delivered by Public Data Offices (PDOs) under Public Data Office Aggregators (PDOAs). As of 26 November 2025, 3,91,599 PDOs (hotspots) are active across India. Reforms by the Department of Telecommunications in September 2024 allow Fiber to the Home (FTTH) use, hotspot aggregation, roaming, and mobile data offload. Existing home and business Wi-Fi can join PM-WANI for income.

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In December 2025, Bihar Education Minister Sunil Kumar announced the Mukhyamantri Bharat Darshan Yojana for government school students. The scheme is launched by the Government of Bihar to promote cultural awareness, national integration, and experiential learning. It will help students understand India’s history, geography, society, and heritage through real travel exposure. Selected students of Classes 9 to 12 from state-run secondary schools will go on educational tours. They will visit major monuments, cultural centres, and scenic places across India. The scheme expands the earlier Mukhyamantri Bihar Darshan Yojana, which covered only state-level tours for primary and middle school students.