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.
New scheme launches are exactly the kind of news item that belongs in your running current affairs notes — see our UPSC Current Affairs guide for a complete system on tracking and revising updates like these throughout the year.
How to Use This List for UPSC Prep
- 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) |
| Pradhan Mantri Uchchatar Shiksha Abhiyan (PM-USHA) | 2013 | Education | 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.