Government Schemes [India & States] Current Affairs MCQs

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The Prime Minister launched the Bima Sakhi Yojana in Panipat, Haryana. The scheme is an initiative by the Life Insurance Corporation (LIC) to empower women aged 18-70 with Class 10 education. Women will receive specialized training, financial literacy, and insurance awareness. They will get a stipend of Rs. 7,000 in the first year, Rs. 6,000 in the second, and Rs. 5,000 in the third year. Female agents will also earn commissions, starting with Rs. 48,000 in the first year. The goal is to appoint 2 lakh Bima Sakhis in three years, with the possibility of future development officer roles.

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The Kalaignar Kaivinai Thittam scheme was recently launched in Tamil Nadu. The Kalaignar Kaivinai Thittam aims to assist artisans and craftspersons aged 35 and above with relevant experience by providing loan assistance of up to ₹3 lakh, along with a 25% subsidy capped at ₹50,000. Subsidy is granted after completing skill and entrepreneurship training and is proportional to loan tranches. Loans have a 90% credit guarantee cover and 5% interest subvention reimbursement. The scheme targets new or diversified activities, not business expansions, and has no income ceiling. Applicants must not have received a subsidy exceeding ₹1.5 lakh from Tamil Nadu schemes in the past five years.

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The Credit Guarantee Scheme (CGS) for electronic negotiable warehouse receipts (e-NWRs) based Pledge Financing was launched to help small farmers avoid distress selling. It aims to provide credit to small farmers to prevent distress selling of crops. A corpus of Rs 1,000 crore is allocated for post-harvest finance. Farmers can avail loans against electronic negotiable warehouse receipts (e-NWRs) after storing commodities in WDRA-accredited warehouses. Loan coverage includes up to Rs 75 lakh for agricultural purposes and up to Rs 200 lakh for non-agricultural purposes. The scheme improves access to credit and supports farmers financially post-harvest.

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West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee launched the Banglar Bari housing scheme, fully funded by the state government. The first installment of ₹60,000 was distributed to 42 beneficiaries from 21 districts. More than 28 lakh beneficiaries have been identified, with each receiving ₹1.2 lakh by December 2025. Beneficiaries in Junglemahal and remote areas will get ₹1.3 lakh. The scheme addresses delays in funds from the Centre under PM Awas Yojana. The state will bear ₹14,773 crore for the scheme, with 16 lakh more beneficiaries to be covered by 2026.

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AAP chief Arvind Kejriwal announced the Dr. Ambedkar Samman Scholarship for Dalit students. The scholarship offers full financial support for Dalit students to pursue higher education abroad. It covers tuition fees, travel costs, and living expenses for studying at top universities worldwide. The initiative ensures deserving Dalit students can access world-class education without financial barriers. This step by the Delhi government aims to empower the Dalit community through higher education opportunities.

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Karnataka’s Shakti scheme, launched on June 11, 2023, aims to enhance women’s mobility through free bus travel on State-run buses. Since its inception, daily ridership increased from 93.46 lakh to 116.63 lakh passengers. The scheme is part of five flagship initiatives by the Congress government, though reimbursement for transport corporations is pending. The Karnataka State Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC) and Bengaluru Metropolitan Transport Corporation (BMTC) have expanded their fleets, introducing luxury and electric buses to meet rising demand.

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Operation Green Scheme was launched in 2018 to enhance the production, supply, and marketing of horticulture produce in India. It focuses on the value chain of Tomato, Onion, and Potato (TOP) for both short-term and long-term interventions. The scheme also aims to support other perishable agricultural commodities. It is implemented under two parts: Atmanirbhar Bharat Package and Operation Flood. The scheme is managed by the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare and funded by National Agrcicultural Cooperative Marketing Federation of India (NAFED).

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Cargo-handling capacity at Indian ports rose by 87% in nine years, with Tamil Nadu’s Kamarajar Port showing a 154% increase. Kamarajar Port, formerly Ennore Port, is located 24 km north of Chennai, Tamil Nadu. It is India’s 12th major port and the first corporatized port, operating as a public company. It was declared a major port under the Indian Ports Act, 1908, in March 1999, it is owned by Chennai Port Trust. It operates under the landlord port model, where the port authority regulates while private companies manage operations.

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IIM Bangalore conducted two studies under the SAAR-Sameeksha Series of the Smart Cities Mission, focusing on education and women’s safety improvements. 50 impact assessment research studies are part of the Sameeksha Series. “Smart Cities and Academia Towards Action & Research (SAAR)” program is a joint initiative of Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs (MoHUA), National Institute of Urban Affairs (NIUA) and and leading Indian academic institutions. The initiative aims to document key projects and improve urban development by involving academia in assessing and providing feedback on smart city projects.

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India is promoting compressed biogas (CBG) as a future fuel to reduce fossil fuel usage and transition to renewable energy. CBG is produced from agricultural waste, animal waste, municipal solid waste, press mud, and sewage sludge. However, adoption of CBG plants has been slow, with only 115 plants operational as of December 2024, far from the 5,000 plant target by 2030. The GOBARdhan scheme, launched in 2018 under Swachh Bharat Mission Grameen-Phase II, focuses on converting cattle dung, agricultural waste, and organic materials into Biogas, CBG, and bio-fertilizers. It promotes a circular economy by turning waste into wealth. The scheme is managed by the Department of Drinking Water and Sanitation, Ministry of Jal Shakti.