Government Schemes [India & States] Current Affairs MCQs

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Amid rising inflation hitting 10% for rice, the government has decided to start selling rice under the ‘Bharat’ brand at Rs 25 per kilo through public distribution channels. This is an attempt to boost supply and make the staple more affordable as high cereal costs drive food inflation. The government already sells atta and pulses under the Bharat brand to stabilize prices.

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Uttar Pradesh has retained top rank for the third straight year in ensuring extensive usage of the Supreme Court e-committee’s Inter-Operable Criminal Justice System (ICJS), a nationwide platform integrating courts, police, prisons and forensic labs. Over 1.56 crore entries have been logged by U.P. so far through the single window arrangement which enables seamless information exchange at every stage – from FIR registration to imprisonment. Madhya Pradesh and Bihar trail at second and third position respectively. The wide adoption by U.P. police aims to employ ICJS’s data analytics to predict crimes, manage law & order situations better and reduce pendency of cases.

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The National Sickle Cell Anaemia Elimination Mission was launched by the Health Ministry on 1st July 2023 at Shahdol, Madhya Pradesh to screen people across India for sickle cell disease. It aims to screen 7 crore people over 3 years, focusing on tribal populations and other high prevalence areas across 17 states. The mission provides screening, prevention and management of sickle cell anemia. Its goal is to eliminate the disease in India through early detection and intervention.

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The West Bengal government plans to develop a tea park spread over 10-12 acres along the banks of the Hooghly River near Kolkata. It aims to establish an export-oriented tea processing and packaging facility inspired by Dubai’s models that Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee observed during her Middle East visit. The initiative seeks to boost Darjeeling tea exports by value-addition leveraging Kolkata port’s connectivity. The tea industry stakeholders have welcomed the proposal to enable large scale investment in upgrading technology for the terrace tea gardens.

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The food security scheme in Rajasthan, previously known as Indira Rasoi Yojana, has been renamed to Shree Annapurna Rasoi Yojana by the BJP-led government under Chief Minister Bhajanlal Sharma. This scheme aims to provide subsidized meals to the people, especially the underprivileged, to ensure that no one goes hungry. Along with the name change, the government grant per subsidized meal has been increased, and the weight of the meal per plate has also been raised. The renaming of the scheme aligns with the current government’s initiatives in the state and reflects their commitment to providing nutritious and affordable food to those in need.

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West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has recently launched the “Yogyasree” social welfare scheme, aimed at providing free training modules for Scheduled Caste (SC) and Scheduled Tribe (ST) students in the state. The initiative focuses on preparing these students for entrance and competitive examinations, demonstrating the government’s commitment to educational empowerment. The Yogyasree scheme includes the establishment of fifty training centers across West Bengal, providing cost-free training for SC and ST students, with a specific emphasis on competitive examinations. Furthermore, 46 centers will extend similar opportunities for those aspiring to secure government jobs and pursue careers in civil services.

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The Union Housing and Urban Affairs Minister has announced tenders for the PM-eBus Sewa scheme, aiming to deploy 10,000 e-buses across Indian cities. The scheme operates on a 10-year Public Private Partnership model, where states/cities manage services and the central government provides subsidies from a Rs 57,613 crore fund. Covering cities with populations over 300,000, it has two segments: augmenting city bus services and associated infrastructure, and supporting green urban mobility initiatives for reducing greenhouse gas emissions

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Prime Minister Narendra Modi released the first installment of the PM-JANMAN scheme, a part of the Pradhan Mantri-Janjatiya Adivasi Nyaya Maha Abhiyan (PM-JANMAN), dedicated to the welfare of poor tribals. Launched on November 15, 2023, with a budget of ₹24,000 crore, the scheme aims to benefit tribals, particularly those in particularly vulnerable tribal groups (PVVTGs). In a video conference with 100,000 beneficiaries, Modi emphasized the government’s commitment to the welfare of the weakest sections, transferring funds directly to their bank accounts for the construction of permanent houses under the PM Awas Yojana-Gramin.

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The Central government is extending basic facilities to the endangered Kolam tribe through the Jan Jati Adivasi Nyay Maha Abhiyan, focusing on health and education. Kolam tribes, concentrated in Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, and Andhra Pradesh, are designated as Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Group. Historically, they served as priests for the Gond tribe. Primarily farmers, they’ve transitioned from shifting cultivation to settled farming. They speak Kolami and other languages, using Devnagari script for writing.

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The Assam government launched the Mukhyamantri Mahila Udyamita Abhiyaan (MMUA) to empower rural women entrepreneurs. This financial assistance scheme targets women beyond Self-Help Groups, emphasizing family planning for eligibility. The goal is to transform participants into “Rural Micro Entrepreneurs” with a ₹1 lakh annual income target. While general and OBC women must have no more than three children, Moran, Muttock, and tea-tribe community members can apply with four or fewer. ST and SC women are eligible with no more than four children.