Government Welfare Schemes: Key Notes & Top 25 MCQs for UPSC Exams
If you are a common citizen and want security, convenience, and respect in life, it is important to know what the government's welfare schemes can do for you. Education, health, employment, women's empowerment, elderly care, or help to farmers—the Government of India runs several welfare schemes for every sector. Through these schemes, the government wants to empower the weaker sections of society to be self-reliant and have equal opportunities. In this article, you will know what the benefits of these schemes are, who is eligible, and how you can join them.
| Category | Key Benefits |
|---|---|
| Education |
• Mid-Day Meal Scheme – nutritious meals • Samagra Shiksha Abhiyan – better schools • Kasturba Gandhi Balika Vidyalaya – girls’ education • Online scholarships via NSP • Unnat Bharat Yojana – rural youth higher education |
| Health |
• Ayushman Bharat – ₹5 lakh insurance • Jan Aushadhi – affordable medicines • Free vaccines (Mission Indradhanush) • Janani Suraksha – delivery assistance |
| Employment |
• PMEGP – self-employment loans • MNREGA – 100-day job guarantee • Mudra & Startup India – promote entrepreneurship • Digital Skill Mission – digital jobs • Stand Up India – loans to SC/ST & women |
| Agriculture |
• PM-KISAN – ₹6000 yearly • Fasal Bima – crop insurance • Machinery Subsidy – modern tools • e-NAM – fair prices • Kisan Credit Card – low-interest loans |
| Women Empowerment |
• Sukanya Samriddhi – for daughters • Beti Bachao Beti Padhao • Ujjwala – free gas connections • Helpline 181 & Nirbhaya Fund – safety & support |
| Senior Citizens & Disabled |
• Vaya Vandana Yojana – monthly pension • Atal Pension – old-age support • Divyangjan Scheme – aids for the disabled • NSAP – poor family pensions • LIC Jeevan Jyoti – low-cost insurance |
| Digital India |
• All services are online via Digital India • UMANG app – 100+ services • CSC – rural digital access • Aadhaar + DBT – direct subsidies • Digital Literacy – smartphone access |
How do government schemes benefit education?
Government schemes are a means of making education accessible to all, especially to poor and rural children.
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Under the Mid-Day Meal Scheme, children get nutritious food in school, which improves nutrition levels and attendance.
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Under the Samagra Shiksha Abhiyan, schools are provided with better resources and teachers.
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Schemes like Kasturba Gandhi Balika Vidyalaya promote the education of girls, especially those from minority and backward classes.
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Scholarships are now available online through the National Scholarship Portal, simplifying the application process.
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The Pradhan Mantri Unnat Bharat Yojana is helping rural youth access higher education.
How do health schemes benefit people?
Government health schemes provide both financial relief and life security.
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Ayushman Bharat Yojana offers free health insurance up to Rs 5 lakh for beneficiaries.
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The Jan Aushadhi Yojana offers affordable and quality medicines, reducing the cost of treatment of the listed health issues.
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The National Immunization Campaign provides free vaccines to protect children and pregnant women from dangerous diseases.
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Programs like Mission Indradhanush promote vaccination across all sections.
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The Janani Suraksha Yojana is to give financial assistance for institutional delivery.
How does the Government support self-employment?
Government schemes provide new livelihood opportunities and promote self-reliance.
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The Pradhan Mantri Rojgar Srijan Karyakram (PMEGP) provides financial assistance for self-employment.
Rural residents are guaranteed employment for 100 days a year under the MNREGA scheme.
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Startup India and Mudra Yojana motivate youth and women towards entrepreneurship.
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The National Digital Skill Mission equips youth with digital skills, thereby increasing their employment opportunities.
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Stand Up India Yojana provides easy loans to Scheduled Castes/Tribes and women to start businesses.
What are the agriculture and farmer assistance schemes?
Schemes made for farmers help make them self-reliant.
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Under the Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi (PM-KISAN), every farmer gets ₹6000 annually.
In the event of a natural calamity, the Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana offers compensation for crop damage.
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The Agricultural Machinery Subsidy Scheme gives a huge subsidy on the purchase of modern machinery.
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The e-NAM portal is meant to help Indian farmers get a fair price for their existing or destroyed crops.
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The Kisan Credit Card Scheme provides an easy loan facility to farmers, and that too at a minimum interest rate.
| Scheme Name | Key Benefits |
|---|---|
| Ayushman Bharat Yojana | Free health insurance coverage up to ₹5 lakh per family per year for secondary and tertiary care hospitalization. |
| Jan Aushadhi Yojana | Provides affordable and quality generic medicines through Jan Aushadhi Kendras, reducing the cost of treatment. |
| National Immunization Programme | Free vaccines for children and pregnant women to protect against deadly diseases like measles, polio, TB, and hepatitis. |
| Mission Indradhanush | Special immunization drive to ensure that all children under 2 years and pregnant women are fully vaccinated. |
| Janani Suraksha Yojana | Financial assistance to pregnant women for institutional delivery, especially in rural and low-income groups. |
| Pradhan Mantri Surakshit Matritva Abhiyan | Assured comprehensive antenatal care to pregnant women on the 9th of every month at government health facilities. |
| Rashtriya Swasthya Bima Yojana (RSBY) | Health insurance for BPL families provides protection from major health expenses. |
| National Health Mission (NHM) | Strengthens public health systems and improves access to quality healthcare across rural and urban areas. |
What are women's empowerment schemes?
The government's schemes empower women economically, socially, and educationally.
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Sukanya Samriddhi Yojana is one of the investment options for the purpose of education and marriage of daughters in the future.
The Beti Bachao Beti Padhao program seeks to advance education for girls and gender equality.
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The Ujjwala Yojana gives women the right to health and hygiene by providing them free gas connections.
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The Women Helpline 181 provides 24x7 services for safety and assistance.
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The Nirbhaya Fund of the Central Government is meant for the safety of women and guarantees assistance of any kind in times of need.
What are the elderly, disabled, and social Security schemes?
The government also does not forget those who deserve special care.
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The Pradhan Mantri Vaya Vandana Yojana is a scheme that offers a fixed monthly pension to senior citizens of the nation.
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The Atal Pension Yojana of the government will provide financial security to workers in the unorganized sector in their old age.
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The Divyangjan Empowerment Scheme provides customized aids and devices for disabled citizens.
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The National Social Assistance Program of the Central Government will give pension and relief assistance to those families who live below the poverty line.
Life insurance facility is available through LIC Jeevan Jyoti Bima Yojana at a nominal premium.
Merits and Demerits of Populist Schemes
Populist schemes may provide immediate relief, food security, and employment opportunities to the poor. But this increases the financial burden on the government. The unemployed become dependent. Its use can be political. It becomes an obstacle to long-term development.
| Aspect | Merits | Demerits |
|---|---|---|
| Poverty Relief | Immediate support for low-income families | Can create dependency and reduce initiative |
| Food Security | Ensures no family goes hungry | Burden on government finances |
| Political Appeal | Boosts public trust in leadership | Often misused for vote-bank politics |
| Health & Education | Wider access to basic services | Quality may be compromised |
| Employment Support | Skill development and job assurance | Can hinder private sector initiative |
How is Digital India useful in citizen services?
Now, all facilities have been linked to online and digital platforms.
All government services are accessible to all citizens with a single click. This is due to the Digital India campaign.
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The Umang app of the Government makes it possible for all citizens to access 100+ government services on mobile.
Digital services are being introduced in rural regions via the CSC (Common Service Center).
Subsidies are sent straight to the beneficiaries' accounts through Aadhaar and DBT (Direct Benefit Transfer).
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Digital Literacy Campaign is connecting the rural public to smartphones and digital services.
Top 25 MCQs on Government Welfare Schemes for UPSC Exams
Test your understanding of government welfare schemes through 25 carefully designed UPSC-level MCQs covering objectives, beneficiaries, funding mechanisms, implementation challenges, outcomes, and recent policy developments.
1. "Pradhan Mantri Jan Dhan Yojana" (PMJDY) is primarily aimed at:
a) Providing free food
b) Financial Inclusion (Opening bank accounts for the unbanked)
c) Building houses
d) Cleaning rivers
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Answer: b) Financial Inclusion (Opening bank accounts for the unbanked)
It holds the Guinness World Record for opening the most bank accounts in one week. It offers zero-balance accounts and RuPay debit cards.
2. Under "MGNREGA," the government guarantees how many days of wage employment per year to rural households?
a) 50 days
b) 100 days
c) 150 days
d) 200 days
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Answer: b) 100 days
The Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act ensures "Right to Work" for adult members willing to do unskilled manual work.
3. "Ayushman Bharat" (PM-JAY) provides health insurance coverage of up to _____ per family per year.
a) ₹1 Lakh
b) ₹2 Lakh
c) ₹5 Lakh
d) ₹10 Lakh
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Answer: c) ₹5 Lakh
It is the world's largest government-funded healthcare program, covering secondary and tertiary care hospitalization for poor families.
4. Which scheme aims to provide clean cooking fuel (LPG connections) to women from BPL households?
a) PM Ujjwala Yojana
b) PM Ujala Yojana
c) PM Awas Yojana
d) PM Gram Sadak Yojana
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Answer: a) PM Ujjwala Yojana
It aims to replace smoke-emitting chulhas (stoves) with LPG cylinders to protect the health of women and reduce indoor air pollution.
5. Under "PM Kisan Samman Nidhi" (PM-KISAN), eligible farmers receive an annual income support of:
a) ₹2,000
b) ₹6,000
c) ₹12,000
d) ₹5,000
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Answer: b) ₹6,000
The amount is credited directly into the bank accounts of farmers in three equal installments of ₹2,000 each.
6. "Beti Bachao Beti Padhao" aims to address which critical issue?
a) Lack of schools
b) Declining Child Sex Ratio (CSR) and women empowerment
c) Malnutrition
d) Child labor
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Answer: b) Declining Child Sex Ratio (CSR) and women empowerment
Launched in 2015, it targets districts with low sex ratios to prevent gender-biased sex selective elimination.
7. "MUDRA Yojana" provides loans to small and micro enterprises. Which is NOT one of its loan categories?
a) Shishu (up to ₹50k)
b) Kishore (₹50k to ₹5 Lakh)
c) Tarun (₹5 Lakh to ₹10 Lakh)
d) Vridha (above ₹10 Lakh)
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Answer: d) Vridha (above ₹10 Lakh)
There is no "Vridha" category. MUDRA stands for Micro Units Development and Refinance Agency.
8. The "Swachh Bharat Mission" (SBM) had the primary target of making India:
a) Plastic Free
b) Open Defecation Free (ODF)
c) Pollution Free
d) Carbon Neutral
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Answer: b) Open Defecation Free (ODF)
It focused on building toilets and behavioral change. Phase 2 focuses on ODF Plus (waste management).
9. "Atal Pension Yojana" (APY) is focused on providing pension benefits to workers in the:
a) Government sector
b) Unorganized sector
c) IT sector
d) Defense sector
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Answer: b) Unorganized sector
It provides a guaranteed minimum monthly pension ranging from ₹1,000 to ₹5,000 after the age of 60.
10. "PM Awas Yojana" (PMAY) aims to achieve "Housing for All." What are its two verticals?
a) Urban and Rural (Gramin)
b) North and South
c) Rich and Poor
d) Flats and Bungalows
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Answer: a) Urban and Rural (Gramin)
It provides financial assistance to eligible beneficiaries to construct pucca houses with basic amenities.
11. "Mission Indradhanush" is related to:
a) Irrigation
b) Banking reforms
c) Immunization (Vaccination) of children and pregnant women
d) Rainbow decoration
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Answer: c) Immunization (Vaccination) of children and pregnant women
It aims to fully immunize children against vaccine-preventable diseases like Diphtheria, Tetanus, Polio, and Measles.
12. "Sukanya Samriddhi Yojana" is a small savings scheme dedicated to:
a) Senior Citizens
b) Girl Child
c) Farmers
d) Soldiers
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Answer: b) Girl Child
Parents can open an account for a girl child under 10 years old. It offers a high interest rate and tax benefits.
13. What is the core objective of the "Jal Jeevan Mission"?
a) Building dams
b) Providing functional household tap connections (Har Ghar Jal) to every rural home
c) Cleaning the ocean
d) Bottling water
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Answer: b) Providing functional household tap connections (Har Ghar Jal) to every rural home
The goal is to ensure regular and long-term supply of potable water in adequate quantity and prescribed quality.
14. "PM Fasal Bima Yojana" (PMFBY) provides insurance coverage for:
a) Farmer's Life
b) Farmer's House
c) Crops (against failure due to natural calamities, pests, diseases)
d) Tractors
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Answer: c) Crops (against failure due to natural calamities, pests, diseases)
It replaced older schemes to provide comprehensive risk coverage from pre-sowing to post-harvest losses.
15. "Stand Up India" promotes entrepreneurship specifically among:
a) Men only
b) SC, ST, and Women entrepreneurs
c) Urban youth
d) Retired soldiers
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Answer: b) SC, ST, and Women entrepreneurs
It facilitates bank loans between ₹10 lakh and ₹1 Crore to set up a greenfield enterprise.
16. The "UDAN" (Ude Desh ka Aam Naagrik) scheme focuses on:
a) Space travel
b) Regional Aviation Connectivity (Making air travel affordable)
c) High-speed trains
d) Free bus rides
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Answer: b) Regional Aviation Connectivity (Making air travel affordable)
It caps airfares for short flights and connects underserved airports to the main aviation grid.
17. "PM SVANidhi" provides collateral-free working capital loans to:
a) Big industries
b) Street Vendors
c) Teachers
d) Doctors
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Answer: b) Street Vendors
Launched during COVID-19, it helps street vendors resume their livelihood with loans up to ₹10,000 (initially).
18. "Skill India" (PM Kaushal Vikas Yojana) aims to:
a) Provide academic degrees
b) Provide industry-relevant skill training to youth
c) Send youth abroad
d) Give unemployment allowance
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Answer: b) Provide industry-relevant skill training to youth
It focuses on "outcome-based" training to make the youth employable in various sectors.
19. The "Mid-Day Meal Scheme" (now PM POSHAN) provides lunch to children in government schools to improve:
a) Sports performance
b) Nutritional status and school attendance
c) Cooking skills
d) Teacher salaries
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Answer: b) Nutritional status and school attendance
It is the world's largest school feeding program, ensuring hot cooked meals for primary and upper primary students.
20. "PM Gati Shakti" is a national master plan for:
a) Sports development
b) Multimodal Connectivity Infrastructure
c) Nuclear energy
d) Space research
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Answer: b) Multimodal Connectivity Infrastructure
It integrates planning across 16 ministries (Railways, Roads, etc.) to reduce logistics costs and ensure seamless connectivity.
21. "Digital India" campaign's vision centers on three key areas. Which is NOT one of them?
a) Digital Infrastructure as a Utility
b) Governance and Services on Demand
c) Printing more currency notes
d) Digital Empowerment of Citizens
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Answer: c) Printing more currency notes
Digital India aims to transform India into a digitally empowered society and knowledge economy.
22. "NAM" (National Agriculture Market) or e-NAM is:
a) A farming video game
b) A pan-India electronic trading portal for farm produce
c) A fertilizer brand
d) A weather app
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Answer: b) A pan-India electronic trading portal for farm produce
It connects existing APMC mandis to create a unified national market for agricultural commodities.
23. "PLI Scheme" stands for:
a) Production Linked Incentive
b) Public Loan Interest
c) Private Land Investment
d) Primary Learning Institute
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Answer: a) Production Linked Incentive
It gives financial incentives to companies to boost domestic manufacturing and exports in sectors like electronics, pharma, and textiles.
24. "Saansad Adarsh Gram Yojana" (SAGY) encourages Members of Parliament (MPs) to:
a) Build malls
b) Adopt and develop villages into model villages
c) Buy land
d) Live in villages
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Answer: b) Adopt and develop villages into model villages
MPs identify villages in their constituency to develop physical and institutional infrastructure.
25. "PM Vishwakarma" scheme is launched to support:
a) IT professionals
b) Traditional artisans and craftspeople (Blacksmiths, Potters, etc.)
c) Scientists
d) Teachers
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Answer: b) Traditional artisans and craftspeople (Blacksmiths, Potters, etc.)
It offers toolkit incentives, collateral-free credit support, and skill training to these traditional trades.
Online Courses, Reference Books, & Websites
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| Online Courses |
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Informative and interesting read on Govt Welfare Schemes
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