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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Bad loans in Kisan Credit Card (KCC) accounts have risen by 42% in scheduled commercial banks, excluding RRBs. KCC was introduced in 1998 to provide farmers easy access to credit for buying seeds, fertilizers, and other inputs. Extended in 2004 to cover investment credit for allied and non-farm activities. In 2018-19, KCC was extended to fisheries and animal husbandry farmers for working capital needs. It was implemented by Scheduled Commercial Banks, RRBs, Small Finance Banks, and Cooperatives.

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The Ministry of Education launched the third edition of the Prime Minister’s Scheme for Mentoring Young Authors (PM-YUVA 3.0) scheme to mentor young authors under 30. The program promotes reading, writing, and book culture in India while providing mentorship and publishing opportunities. It focuses on three themes: Indian Diaspora’s role in nation-building, the Indian Knowledge System, and Makers of Modern India (1950-2025). The scheme aligns with National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 to build a knowledge-driven ecosystem. The National Book Trust, India, will implement PM-YUVA 3.0.

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The Government of India extended the Employees’ State Insurance (ESI) Scheme to 15 more districts in Uttar Pradesh. Now, 74 out of 75 districts in Uttar Pradesh are covered under the scheme. The total number of districts covered under the ESI scheme in India is 689 out of 778. Newly covered districts include Ambedkar Nagar, Bahraich, Gonda, Jalaun, Kannauj, and others. ESI Scheme is India’s largest social insurance scheme, administered by Employees’ State Insurance Corporation (ESIC). It was launched by Prime Minister Jawahar Lal Nehru in Kanpur and New Delhi on 24 February 1952.

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The Government of India has discontinued Medium-Term and Long-Term Government Deposits (MLTGD) under the Gold Monetisation Scheme (GMS) from March 26, 2025. Gold Monetisation Scheme (GMS) was launched in November 2015 as an improved version of the Gold Deposit Scheme (GDS) and Gold Metal Loan (GML) Scheme. It allows individuals, institutions, and government entities to deposit idle gold in banks and earn interest. Depositors can redeem the gold in cash, bars, or coins upon maturity but not in its original form. The scheme aims to mobilize idle gold, bring it into the formal economy, and reduce gold imports to lower the Current Account Deficit (CAD).

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The Jharkhand government has announced a lump sum payment of ₹7,500 under the Mukhyamantri Maiyan Samman Yojana for January-March 2025. Women without Aadhaar-linked bank accounts will still receive this payment temporarily until March 2025. To continue receiving benefits after March 2025, beneficiaries must link their bank accounts with Aadhaar and maintain a single account. The Jharkhand cabinet, led by Chief Minister Hemant Soren, approved this amendment along with 18 other proposals. 38 lakh women have already received the payment, while 20 lakh more will receive it by March 31, 2025. The Mukhyamantri Maiya Samman Yojana is a welfare initiative by the Jharkhand government. It provides financial assistance to economically disadvantaged women in the state.

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A Parliamentary Standing Committee urged the Education Ministry to release over ₹4,000 crore in Samagra Shiksha Abhiyan (SSA) funds for Tamil Nadu, Kerala, and West Bengal. The funds are withheld as these states have not signed the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for the PM SHRI scheme. The report emphasized that SSA predates PM SHRI and is crucial for implementing the Right to Education (RTE) Act. PM SHRI (PM Schools for Rising India) is a centrally sponsored scheme under NEP 2020 to establish 14,500 model schools with holistic education, 21st-century skills, and eco-friendly infrastructure.

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The Union Cabinet, chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, approved the Electronics Component Manufacturing Scheme with Rs.22,919 crore funding. The scheme aims to boost electronics manufacturing, increase Domestic Value Addition, and integrate Indian companies with Global Value Chains. It targets Rs.59,350 crore investment, Rs.4,56,500 crore production, and 91,600 direct jobs along with many indirect jobs. Differentiated incentives will help Indian manufacturers overcome challenges, develop technology, and scale production. The initiative supports India’s goal of becoming self-reliant in the electronics supply chain under the Atmanirbhar Bharat vision.

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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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The Government of India approved a 9.5% hike in material cost under the PM-POSHAN (Pradhan Mantri Poshan Shakti Nirman) scheme, with ₹954 crore extra central spending for 2025–26 from May 1, 2025. PM-POSHAN, earlier known as the Mid-Day Meal Scheme, is run by the Ministry of Education to provide hot cooked meals to 11.20 crore children in Balvatikas and Classes 1 to 8 across 10.36 lakh schools. It aims to improve children’s nutrition and boost school enrollment, attendance, and retention.