Government Schemes [India & States] Current Affairs MCQs

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The PM Internship Scheme 2025 is launched by the Ministry of Corporate Affairs to provide hands-on industry experience. It is a 12-month apprenticeship program with 1,25,000 vacancies across various sectors. The scheme helps participants develop industry-relevant and soft skills like teamwork and communication. Eligible candidates include 10th, 12th, ITI, Polytechnic, Diploma, or Graduates aged 21-24 years. Applications are open online from October 12, 2024, to March 12, 2025. Selected interns will receive a ₹5000 monthly stipend and a one-time benefit of ₹6000.

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The Department of Pharmaceuticals organized an industry dialogue in Mumbai on the Pharma MedTech sector (PRIP) Scheme to boost R&D and innovation in the Pharma-MedTech sector. The event brought together industry leaders, research institutes (ICMR, CSIR, NIPERs), and associations to discuss collaborations and industry-academia partnerships. The PRIP Scheme, launched by the Ministry of Chemicals and Fertilizers, aims to make India a global leader in Pharma-MedTech R&D.

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Pradhan Mantri Virasat Ka Samvardhan (PM VIKAS) is a Central Sector Scheme under the Ministry of Minority Affairs. It merges five schemes: Seekho Aur Kamao, Nai Manzil, Nai Roshni, USTTAD, and Hamari Dharohar. It focuses on uplifting six notified minority communities through skilling, women leadership, education, and infrastructure development. Credit linkages are provided through the National Minorities Development & Finance Corporation (NMDFC). Export Promotion Council for Handicrafts (EPCH) supports artisans in marketing, branding, and training.

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The Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) notified the Electronics Components Manufacturing Scheme to boost India’s global position in electronics manufacturing. The scheme is horizontal, covering consumer electronics, medical devices, automobiles, power electronics, and grids for wider economic impact. It supports passive components like resistors, capacitors, relays, sensors, and more; active components are covered by the India Semiconductor Mission (ISM). The scheme offers three types of incentives: turnover-linked, capital expenditure (capex)-linked, and hybrid models.

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Maharashtra Chief Minister announced free electricity for 80% of farmers in the state by December 2026. The government plans to generate 16,000 megawatts (MW) of solar power to provide 12-hour daytime electricity. This is part of the Mukhyamantri Saur Krishi Yojana (MSKY), a state initiative to promote solar-powered farming. MSKY includes off-grid solar pumps and decentralized solar projects for irrigation. The scheme aims to reduce power subsidies, cut pollution by replacing diesel pumps, and promote sustainable agriculture. It also helps ease the financial load on other electricity consumers while making farming more eco-friendly

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Public sector banks (PSBs) have raised concerns about the slow uptake of the PM Vidyalaxmi scheme. These concerns relate to the implementation of the scheme. The PM Vidyalakshmi scheme, a Central Sector Scheme, provides financial support to meritorious students for higher education. It targets students admitted to India’s top 860 Quality Higher Education Institutions (QHEIs), ranked by the National Institutional Ranking Framework (NIRF). Students receiving other government scholarships or fee reimbursements are not eligible for this scheme. Students who discontinue studies or are dismissed for academic or disciplinary reasons are also ineligible for the scheme’s benefits. Loans can be applied for through the PM Vidyalakshmi portal, which offers a seamless, digital application process by integrating with various banks.

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The Rajasthan government has launched the One Time Settlement Scheme (OTS) to provide relief to farmers and small entrepreneurs while strengthening the financial position of land development banks. Announced in the 2025-26 budget, the first phase of the scheme will run from May 1 to September 30, 2025. The scheme applies to loans disbursed by the Rajasthan Minorities Finance and Development Cooperative Corporation Limited (RMFDCC), overdue by March 31, 2024.

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The Chief Minister of Madhya Pradesh recently approved changes to improve the Mukhyamantri Kanya Vivaah/Nikah Scheme, making it more effective and transparent. The scheme was started in 2006 by the Social Justice and Disabled Welfare Department of the Madhya Pradesh Government. It is implemented through the Deendayal Antyodaya Mission, which focuses on supporting poor and marginalized communities. The aim of the scheme is to give financial help to poor, destitute, abandoned, and widowed girls. It does this by organizing mass marriage and nikah (Muslim marriage) events. The recent changes aim to ensure better monitoring and reach of the benefits.

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The Delhi government recently launched the Ayushman Vay Vandana scheme, offering senior citizens aged 70 and above a health cover of up to ₹10 lakh annually. The scheme combines ₹5 lakh coverage from the central government’s Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB PM-JAY) with an additional ₹5 lakh from the Delhi government. Chief Minister Rekha Gupta and Union Minister Hardeep Singh Puri inaugurated the scheme at Thyagaraj Stadium. They distributed the first batch of Ayushman Vay Vandana cards to beneficiaries. These cards will store complete medical records, enable regular check-ups, and provide emergency service details.

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India’s SVAMITVA scheme will be highlighted at the World Bank Land Conference in Washington, D.C., showcasing its role in digitalising rural land records. SVAMITVA stands for Survey of Villages and Mapping with Improvised Technology in Village Areas and was launched in 2020 as a central sector scheme. It aims to give rural residents legal documents for their residential properties to help them access loans and other financial services. Drone technology is used to survey land parcels in rural inhabited areas across India in phases. The scheme helps bring financial stability to rural citizens by treating property as a financial asset. It also ensures accurate land records for better rural planning and governance. The Ministry of Panchayati Raj (MoPR) is the nodal ministry for implementing the scheme. State Revenue or Land Records Departments implement the scheme with support from State Panchayati Raj Departments.