AFCAT Study Notes – Government Schemes
(General Awareness & Current Affairs)
1. Simple Explanation
Government schemes are structured programmes launched by the Indian government (central or state) to address specific socio‑economic problems. They provide financial assistance, subsidies, services or incentives to targeted groups such as farmers, women, students, senior citizens, etc. In the AFCAT syllabus, you are expected to know the name, launch year, target group, key benefits, and any recent updates of major schemes.
2. Key Points – Major Central Schemes (2024‑25)
| Sector | Scheme (Launch Year) | Target Group | Main Benefit | Key Features |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Housing | PMAY (Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana) – 2020 | Below‑poverty‑line (BPL) families | Affordable housing & interest‑subsidy loans | • Urban & rural variants • 70% interest subsidy on home loan • Credit-linked subsidy (CLS) |
| Agriculture | PM‑Fasal Bima Yojana – 2020 | Farmers (all crops) | Crop‑insurance coverage | • 100% premium‑waiver for small & marginal farmers • 50% waiver for others |
| PM‑Kisan Samman Nidhi – 2019 | Farmers | ₹5,000/year | • Direct cash transfer in 3 tranches | |
| Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchai Yojana – 2015 | Farmers | Irrigation facilities | • 30% subsidy on irrigation projects | |
| Health | Ayushman Bharat – 2018 | All Indians | Health insurance (PM‑JAY) | • ₹5 lakh coverage per family • 100% cashless at empanelled hospitals |
| Pradhan Mantri Suraksha Bima Yojana – 2013 | All citizens | Accident insurance | • ₹30,000 coverage for accidental death/injury | |
| Education | SGPA (Siksha Gyan Prasaar) – 2017 | School children (6‑14 yrs) | Free textbooks | • 100% free textbooks for 6‑th to 10‑th grades |
| KVPY (Kishore Vaigyanik Protsahan Yojana) – 2005 | Students | Scholarship for science research | • 3‑year scholarship + stipend | |
| Employment | PMKVY (Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Vikas Yojana) – 2015 | Youth (18‑35 yrs) | Skill development | • 100% skill training + certification |
| Energy | Saubhagya – 2019 | Rural households | Free electricity connection | • 100% subsidy for BPL families |
| PMGKY (Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana) – 2015 | Rural areas | Road connectivity | • 100% subsidy on rural roads | |
| Digital | Digital India – 2015 | All citizens | Digital infrastructure | • 100% free broadband for 1 lakh U‑INRs |
| e‑Sanjeevani – 2021 | Rural patients | Tele‑medicine | • Free video consultation | |
| Women & Children | Beti Bachao – Beti Padhao – 2015 | Girls & families | Education & health | • Financial incentive for education, free health camps |
| Jeevan Pramaan – 2015 | All insured | Life insurance | • ₹3 lakh coverage for 9,000 families per year |
Tip: Focus on launch year (helps in recent news) and unique benefit (e.g., 70% loan subsidy, 100% subsidy, direct cash transfer).
3. Worked Example – Calculating Subsidy under PMAY (Rural)
Scenario:
A family from a rural area wants to construct a house costing ₹15,00,000. They have a salaried income of ₹10,00,000 per annum and apply under PMAY‑Rural (Rural Housing Scheme).
| Item | Details | Calculation |
|---|---|---|
| House Cost | ₹15,00,000 | – |
| Interest‑Subsidy | 70% of interest on the loan | Suppose loan amount = ₹13,50,000 (90% of cost). Interest rate = 9.5% p.a. Annual interest = 13,50,000 × 9.5% = ₹1,282,500. Subsidy = 70% × 1,282,500 = ₹897,750 |
| Credit‑Linked Subsidy (CLS) | 10% of loan amount (if income ≤ ₹3,00,000) | Income is ₹10,00,000 → CLS not applicable. |
| Total Subsidy | Interest‑subsidy + CLS | ₹897,750 + ₹0 = ₹897,750 |
| Amount to be paid by the family | Loan amount – Subsidy | ₹13,50,000 – ₹897,750 = ₹7,52,250 |
Result: The family receives ₹897,750 as subsidy, reducing their loan burden to ₹7,52,250.
Quick Check:
If the family had an income ≤ ₹3,00,000, add 10% CLS (₹1,35,000) to the subsidy.
4. Quick Revision Summary
- PMAY – Affordable housing, 70% interest subsidy; 100% interest subsidy for B