Government Schemes [India & States] Current Affairs MCQs

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The Ministry of External Affairs received approval to establish nine One-Stop Centres (OSCs) for supporting women in vulnerable situations. Seven OSCs with shelter homes will be set up in Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, UAE, Jeddah, and Riyadh, while Toronto and Singapore will have OSCs without shelters. A dedicated budget line has been introduced to facilitate these initiatives, with support from the Indian Community Welfare Fund (ICWF). ICWF provides emergency aid like boarding, travel, medical care, legal assistance, and repatriation. Legal panels assist abandoned women and resolve minor legal issues for overseas Indian nationals.

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The Central Government has revised food item prices under the Pradhan Mantri Poshan Yojana, earlier called the Mid-Day Meal Scheme. Renamed in September 2021, it serves hot meals to students in Balvatika and classes I-VIII in Government and Government-aided schools. The scheme aims to combat hunger, improve nutrition, boost school attendance, and enhance focus in classroom activities. It also supports children during summer vacations in drought or disaster-affected areas. Recently, the Ministry of Education raised the ‘Material Cost’ by 13.70% based on the inflation index from the Labour Bureau. The scheme is centrally sponsored and managed by the Ministry of Education.

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Himachal Pradesh CM Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu launched six welfare schemes on his government’s two-year completion. The launch event took place in Bilaspur, where financial assistance was distributed to beneficiaries. One key scheme, Indira Gandhi Sukh Shiksha Yojana, was rolled out with Rs 1.38 crore disbursed to 5,145 beneficiaries. Eligible children under 18 receive Rs 1,000 monthly and financial aid for higher education. With a Rs 53.21 crore annual budget, the scheme aims to prevent child exploitation and support vulnerable families.

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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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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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The Delhi High Court directed an MoU between the Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare and the Delhi Government for implementing PM-ABHIM. PM-Ayushman Bharat Health Infrastructure Mission (PM-ABHIM) is a Centrally Sponsored Scheme with Central Sector Components, having a budget of ₹64,180 crore (2021-22 to 2025-26). It is the largest pan-India scheme to strengthen healthcare infrastructure at primary, secondary, and tertiary levels. The scheme addresses critical gaps in health infrastructure, surveillance, and health research in urban and rural areas.

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The Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT) extended the deadline for the Vivad Se Vishwas scheme to January 31, 2025, from December 31, 2024. The scheme was announced in Union Budget 2023-24. The Vivad Se Vishwas scheme is modeled on the 2019 Sabka Vishwas Scheme for indirect taxes. It facilitates the settlement of disputed tax, interest, and penalties. The scheme also grants immunity from prosecution under the Income-tax Act for matters included in the declaration.

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The Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances & Pensions issued guidelines for the 28th National Awards for e-Governance (NAeG) 2025. The NAeG is one of the most prestigious awards for digital governance in India. The National Awards for e-Governance (NAeG) scheme aims to promote excellence in e-Governance initiatives. The awards include a Trophy, Certificate, and cash incentives—Rs 10 lakh for Gold Awardees and Rs 5 lakh for Silver Awardees. 16 awards will be given this year, with 10 Gold and 6 Silver. The Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances & Pensions is the nodal ministry.

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A delegation from Andhra Pradesh, including Ministers and officials, will visit Karnataka to study the Shakti scheme, which offers free bus travel for women on non-premium State-run buses. Andhra Pradesh is considering launching a similar scheme. The 15-member delegation will engage with KSRTC officials to understand the operational aspects, benefits, and challenges of the scheme. Shakti Yojana, implemented by Karnataka’s Congress government, has been running successfully for more than a year. The Shakti scheme has significantly increased ridership, adding 23.17 lakh passengers daily.

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The industry has urged the government to extend the Remission of Duties and Taxes on Exported Products (RoDTEP) scheme for Export-Oriented Units (EOUs) and Special Economic Zones (SEZs) until September-end amid global economic uncertainties. RoDTEP was introduced under the Foreign Trade Policy 2015-20, effective from January 1, 2021. The scheme offsets taxes and duties on exported goods that are not otherwise refunded. It aims to boost exports by reducing taxes on exported products. RoDTEP replaced the Merchandise Export Incentive Scheme (MEIS) to ensure WTO compliance. The Department of Revenue, Ministry of Finance administers RoDTEP, which follows global trade principles.