Government schemes are a recurring, high-yield topic across UPSC Prelims and Mains — questions test scheme objectives, launch years, implementing ministries, and eligibility, while Mains answers on governance and welfare frequently expect you to cite specific schemes as examples. Rather than chasing daily current-affairs updates, this guide organizes the most important, exam-relevant schemes sector-wise so you can build a durable reference you revise periodically rather than relearn from scratch. We’ll update this list as major schemes are launched or revised.
For Prelims: focus on launch year, implementing ministry, and the one-line core objective — these are what MCQs typically test.
For Mains: know 2-3 schemes per GS-II/III theme (poverty, health, education, employment) well enough to cite as concrete examples in answers.
Revisit this list periodically rather than daily — scheme fundamentals rarely change, but always cross-check current status (some schemes get merged, renamed, or phased out) against the ministry’s official site (india.gov.in or the specific ministry’s site) closer to your exam.
Agriculture & Rural Development
Scheme
Launch Year
Ministry
Objective
PM-KISAN
2019
Agriculture & Farmers Welfare
Direct income support of ₹6,000/year to farmer families
Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana (PMFBY)
2016
Agriculture & Farmers Welfare
Crop insurance against yield loss from natural calamities
Soil Health Card Scheme
2015
Agriculture & Farmers Welfare
Soil nutrient status cards issued every 3 years to guide fertilizer use
Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana (PMGSY)
2000
Rural Development
All-weather road connectivity to unconnected rural habitations
MGNREGA
2006
Rural Development
Legal guarantee of 100 days of wage employment per rural household per year
Deen Dayal Upadhyaya Grameen Kaushalya Yojana
2014
Rural Development
Skill training and placement for rural youth
Health & Nutrition
Scheme
Launch Year
Ministry
Objective
Ayushman Bharat (PM-JAY)
2018
Health & Family Welfare
Health insurance cover of ₹5 lakh/family/year for poor and vulnerable households
Ayushman Bharat Health & Wellness Centres
2018
Health & Family Welfare
Comprehensive primary healthcare closer to communities
Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission
2021
Health & Family Welfare
Digital health IDs and interoperable health records for all citizens
Mission Indradhanush
2014 (3.0 in 2021)
Health & Family Welfare
Full immunization coverage for children and pregnant women
Poshan Abhiyaan
2018
Women & Child Development
Reduce stunting, wasting, and anaemia in children, women, and adolescent girls
Education
Scheme
Launch Year
Ministry
Objective
Samagra Shiksha Abhiyan
2018
Education
Integrated scheme covering school education from pre-school to Class 12
PM SHRI Schools
2022
Education
Upgrade schools as exemplar institutions aligned with NEP 2020
Mid-Day Meal Scheme (PM POSHAN)
1995
Education
Free school meals to improve nutrition and enrolment
STARS Project
2020
Education
Improve learning outcomes and school governance (World Bank-supported)
Strategic funding for state higher education institutions
Employment & Skill Development
Scheme
Launch Year
Ministry
Objective
Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Vikas Yojana (PMKVY)
2015
Skill Development & Entrepreneurship
Short-duration skill training and certification for youth
PM Vishwakarma Scheme
2023
MSME
Skill upgradation, toolkits, and credit support for traditional artisans/craftspeople
Rashtriya Udyamita Vikas Pariyojana
2024
Skill Development & Entrepreneurship
Entrepreneurship education and youth business incubation
Financial Inclusion & MSME
Scheme
Launch Year
Ministry
Objective
Pradhan Mantri Jan Dhan Yojana (PMJDY)
2014
Finance
Universal access to zero-balance bank accounts and basic banking
Pradhan Mantri Mudra Yojana (PMMY)
2015
Finance
Collateral-free loans up to ₹20 lakh for small/micro enterprises
PM SVANidhi
2020
Housing & Urban Affairs
Micro-credit (working capital loans) for street vendors
Housing & Urban Development
Scheme
Launch Year
Ministry
Objective
Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (PMAY)
2015
Housing & Urban Affairs
Affordable housing for urban and rural poor
Amrit Bharat Station Scheme
2023
Railways
Redevelopment and modernization of railway stations
Energy & Environment
Scheme
Launch Year
Ministry
Objective
PM-Surya Ghar: Muft Bijli Yojana
2024
New & Renewable Energy
Rooftop solar installation subsidy targeting 1 crore households
PM KUSUM
2019
New & Renewable Energy
Solarization of agricultural pumps and decentralized solar power for farmers
Infrastructure & Connectivity
Scheme
Launch Year
Ministry
Objective
PM Gati Shakti National Master Plan
2021
Commerce & Industry
Integrated, multi-modal infrastructure planning across ministries
Bharatmala Pariyojana
2017
Road Transport & Highways
Highway and expressway network expansion for logistics efficiency
Note on accuracy: launch years and ministries above are drawn from official scheme documentation and cross-checked against multiple current-affairs sources; a handful of secondary sources online show minor year discrepancies for a few schemes (e.g., PM-USHA is sometimes dated 2013 vs. its major relaunch in 2023) — where we found conflicting dates, we used the original launch year and noted major relaunches separately. Always verify a specific scheme’s current status against the concerned ministry’s official website before an exam.
Related: Recent Committees & Commissions
Government schemes are often discussed alongside recommending bodies like Finance Commissions and expert committees. See our companion guide: Important Committees and Commissions for UPSC.
FAQs: Government Schemes for UPSC
Q1. Are government schemes asked directly in UPSC Prelims?
A. Yes. UPSC frequently asks factual/objective-type questions on scheme objectives, launch years, and implementing ministries, often testing whether a scheme is Centre-funded, state-funded, or centrally sponsored.
Q2. How should I use government schemes in Mains answers?
A. Cite 2-3 relevant, well-known schemes as concrete examples when answering GS-II/III questions on governance, welfare, or economic development — this demonstrates applied knowledge rather than just theory.
Q3. Do I need to memorize every government scheme?
A. No. Focus on major flagship schemes across each sector (agriculture, health, education, employment, housing, energy) rather than trying to cover every scheme ever launched — depth on the important ones beats shallow breadth.
Q4. How often should I revise this list?
A. Government scheme fundamentals are largely static, so a periodic revision (monthly or before major exam stages) is sufficient — just verify a scheme’s current status if it’s been in recent news for a change or revision.