📚 CSIR‑NET JRF – General Awareness & Current Affairs
Government Schemes – Complete Study Notes
Why are Government Schemes a hot topic?
- They are the instrumentality of the Indian state to realise developmental goals.
- For the CSIR‑NET JRF exam, questions on schemes test policy awareness, policy impact and current affairs.
- A deep understanding of scheme objectives, eligibility, budget allocation and recent amendments is essential to score high.
1. Classification of Schemes
| Category | Typical Focus | Representative Schemes |
|---|---|---|
| Social Welfare | Poverty alleviation, health & nutrition, women & child development | PM‑JDAY, Ayushman Bharat, Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA) |
| Economic Development | Infrastructure, industry, MSME, finance | Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (PMAY), Make in India, Digital India |
| Science & Technology (S&T) | Research & innovation, clean tech, digital infrastructure | Atal Innovation Mission (AIM), National Mission for Clean Ganga (NMCG) |
| Agriculture & Rural Development | Crop insurance, irrigation, market linkages | PM‑Kisan, Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana (PMFBY) |
| Health & Sanitation | Primary health, disease control, sanitation | National Health Mission (NHM), Swachh Bharat Mission (SBM) |
| Environment & Energy | Renewable energy, pollution control | National Solar Mission, National Mission for Sustainable Development (NMSD) |
| Education & Skill Development | Inclusive education, vocational training | National Skill Development Mission (NSDM), Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan (SSA) |
Trick – Many schemes are inter‑linked. For example, PM‑Kisan is an extension of the Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana (PMFBY).
2. Key Schemes – Deep Dive
2.1 Social Welfare
| Scheme | Launch | Objective | Key Features | Budget (FY 2024‑25) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pradhan Mantri Jan Dhan Yojana (PM‑JDAY) | 2014 | Financial inclusion | - 1.5 bn bank accounts opened. - Basic savings, current, and emergency accounts. |
₹1,013 cr |
| Ayushman Bharat – Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB‑PMJAY) | 2018 | Universal health coverage | - ₹5 lakhs per family per year. - Covers secondary & tertiary care. |
₹4,500 cr |
| Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA) | 2005 | Employment & livelihood | - 100 days of wage employment. - Works on public assets. |
₹1.15 trn |
| National Rural Health Mission (NRHM) | 2005 | Primary healthcare | - 1.5 bn rural health workers. | ₹1,500 cr |
2.2 Economic Development
| Scheme | Launch | Objective | Key Features | Budget (FY 2024‑25) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (PMAY) | 2015 | Affordable housing | - ₹1 lakh per family (Rural). - 2 lakh houses by 2024. |
₹7,200 cr |
| Make in India | 2014 | Manufacturing boost | - 25 sectors targeted. - Investment incentive. |
₹10,000 cr |
| Digital India | 2015 | Digital infrastructure | - BharatNet, Digital Locker, e‑Governance. | ₹5,800 cr |
2.3 Science & Technology
| Scheme | Launch | Objective | Key Features | Budget (FY 2024‑25) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Atal Innovation Mission (AIM) | 2016 | Innovation ecosystem | - 200 innovation labs. - Start‑up incubation. |
₹1,200 cr |
| National Mission for Clean Ganga (NMCG) | 2014 | River rejuvenation | - 11,000 projects. - Water‑quality monitoring. |
₹4,500 cr |
| National Mission for Sustainable Development (NMSD) | 2016 | Sustainable development | - 25 sub‑missions. - Climate action. |
₹3,800 cr |