10.

SCHEMES IN NEWS
10.1. PM SVANIDHI
Why in news?
Recently, the Government has extended deadline of the PM Street Vendor’s Atma Nirbhar Nidhi (PM SVANidhi) Scheme
till 2024.
Objective Features
• To facilitate working capital • It is a Central Sector Scheme.
loan up to `10,000 at subsidized • It was launched by the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs in 2020 for providing
rate of interest. affordable working Capital loan to street vendors to resume their livelihoods that have
• To incentivize regular been adversely affected due to Covid-19 lockdown.
repayment of loan; and • The duration of the scheme initially was until March 2022.
• To reward digital transactions. • It has been extended till December 2024, with focus on:
o Extension of lending period till December 2024;
o Introduction of 3rd loan of upto ₹50,000 in addition to 1st & 2nd loans of ₹10,000
and ₹20,000 respectively.
o To extend ‘SVANidhi Se Samriddhi’ component for all beneficiaries of PM SVANidhi
scheme across the country.
• Interest subsidy: The vendors, availing loan under the scheme, are eligible to get an
interest subsidy @ 7%.
• Target beneficiary: Street vendors/ hawkers vending in urban areas, as on or before
March 24, 2020, including the vendors of surrounding peri-urban and rural areas.
• Criteria for eligible vendors:
o Street vendors in possession of Certificate of Vending / Identity Card issued by
Urban Local Bodies (ULBs).
o The vendors, who have been identified in the survey but have not been issued
Certificate of Vending / Identity Card.
• Eligibility of
States/UTs: The
Scheme is
available for
beneficiaries
belonging to only
those States/UTs
which have
notified Rules and
Scheme under
Street Vendors
(Protection of
Livelihood and
Regulation of
Street Vending)
Act, 2014.
o Beneficiaries
from
Meghalaya,
which has its
own State
Street
Vendors Act
may, however, participate.
• Digital transactions: The scheme will incentivize digital transactions by vendors through
cash back facility.
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 • Lending Institutions: Scheduled Commercial Banks, Regional Rural Banks, Small Finance
Banks, Cooperative Banks, Non-Banking Financial Companies, Micro-Finance
Institutions and SHG Banks.
SVANidhi se Samriddhi programme
• ‘SVANidhi se Samriddhi’ is an additional program of PMSVANidhi was launched on
4th January 2021 in 125 cities in Phase 1.
• Objective
o To map the socio- economic profile of the PM SVANidhi beneficiaries and their
families
o Assess their potential eligibility for various Central welfare schemes and facilitate
the linkages to these schemes. For eligible schemes (See infographics)
• Quality Council of India (QCI) is the implementing partner for the programme.

10.2. JAL JEEVAN MISSION

Why in News?
Union Ministry of Jal Shakti informed that over 11 crore rural households of the country have access to tap water
connections.
Objective Key features
• To provide functional • The program is implemented by the Ministry of Jal Shakti in collaboration with state
household tap governments.
connections (FHTC) by • Key features
2024 to every rural o Shift of focus for water supply from 'habitations to households'
household. o Focus on 'service delivery' & 'functionality' – public utility
• To prioritize provision o Community ownership to ensure 'long-term sustainability' of water supply schemes
of FHTCs in quality o Central role of women and weaker sections in managing water supply
affected areas, villages o Special focus on children – piped water supply in schools, anganwadi centres and
in drought prone and ashramshalas
desert areas, Sansad o Potable drinking water in quality-affected habitations
Adarsh Gram Yojana o Surveillance of water quality by the local community involving women.
(SAGY) villages, etc. • Institutional mechanism for
• To provide functional the implementation of JJM
tap connection to o National Jal Jeevan
Schools, Anganwadi Mission (NJJM)
centres, GP buildings, o State Water and
Health centres, Sanitation Mission
wellness centres and (SWSM)
community buildings o District Water and
• To monitor Sanitation Mission
functionality of tap (DWSM)
connections. o Village Water &
• To promote and Sanitation Committee
ensure voluntary (VWSC)/ User Committee
ownership among • Components under JJM
local community by o Efforts should be made to
way of contribution in source funds from
cash, kind and/ or different sources/
labour and voluntary programmes and convergence is the key
labour (shramdaan). o Development of in-village piped water supply infrastructure to provide tap water
• To empower and connection to every rural household.
develop human o Development of reliable drinking water sources and/ or augmentation of existing sources
resource in the sector. to provide long-term sustainability of water supply system
• To bring awareness on o Wherever necessary, bulk water transfer, treatment plants and distribution network to
various aspects and cater to every rural household
o Technological interventions for removal of contaminants where water quality is an issue
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 significance of safe o Retrofitting of completed and ongoing schemes to provide FHTCs at minimum service level
drinking water. of 55 lpcd;
o Greywater management
o Capacity building of various stakeholders and support activities to facilitate the
implementation.
• Fund sharing pattern
o 100% for Union Territories without legislature
o 90:10 for North Eastern & Himalayan States and UTs with legislature and
o 50:50 for rest of the States.
• Water Quality Monitoring & Surveillance (WQM&S): Under JJM, States/UTs can utilize upto 2%
of their annual allocation of funds for WQM&S activities which includes setting up and
strengthening of water quality testing laboratories, procurement of equipment, etc.

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10. SCHEMES IN NEWS
10.1. MEMBERS OF PARLIAMENT LOCAL AREA DEVELOPMENT SCHEME
(MPLADS)
Why in news?
Recently, the Government has released the Revised Guidelines on Members of Parliament Local Area Development
Scheme (MPLADS) 2023.
Objectives Salient Features
• To enable • The MPLAD Scheme is a Central Sector Scheme, fully funded by the Government of India.
the • The scheme was announced in 1993.
Members of • Initially, the administration of MPLADS was with the Ministry of Rural Development. Since 1994, the
Parliament administration of the Scheme has been vested with the Ministry of Statistics and Programme
(MPs) to Implementation (MoSPI).
recommend o MoSPI is responsible for the release of funds, policy formulation and prescribing monitoring
works of mechanisms for the implementation of the MPLAD scheme.
developmen • The Government has recently launched the new Web-Portal for implementation of the Revised Fund Flow
tal nature Procedure under MPLADS to facilitate:
with o Real-time monitoring,
emphasis on o Greater transparency and accountability in the system
the creation o Improved efficiency and effectiveness
of durable ✓ The new MPLADs guidelines and the web portal will come into effect from April 2023.
community • Fund Entitlement
assets based o The annual MPLADS fund entitlement per MP constituency is Rs. 5 crore which shall be released, in
on the two equal instalments of Rs 2.5 crore each, by Government directly to the District Authority of the
locally felt Nodal District of the Member of Parliament concerned.
needs. o MPs are to recommend every year, works costing at least 15 per cent of the MPLADS entitlement for
the year for areas inhabited by Scheduled Caste population and 7.5 per cent for areas inhabited by
Scheduled Tribe population.
o In wake of the COVID pandemic, MPLADS was suspended from April 6, 2020 to November 9, 2021,
and no funds were allocated to the scheme for FY 2020-21.
• The role of an MP is, however, limited to the recommendation of a project. The onus is on the district
authority to sanction, execute and complete the recommended project within a particular timeframe.
o As per guidelines, a District Collector, District Magistrate or District Commissioner is the authority to
implement MPLADS. For municipal corporations, the Commissioner or Chief Executive Officer
functions as the authority.
o It stipulates that all recommended eligible works have to be sanctioned within 75 days from the date
of receipt of the recommendation.
• Lok Sabha Members can recommend works within their Constituencies and Elected Members of Rajya
Sabha can recommend works within the State of Election with select exceptions.
o An elected MP can also recommend works anywhere in the country outside the usual region in which
he/ she can recommend work, subject to the following conditions:
✓ There shall be ceiling of Rs. 25 lakhs in a financial year per MP for all such recommendations,
except in case of calamity.
✓ Any MP can consent their MPLADS funds upto Rs. One Crore per annum for rehabilitation and
reconstruction works in areas affected by natural "calamity of severe nature" in any part of the
country, subject to certain conditions.
• Nominated Members of both the Rajya Sabha and Lok Sabha can recommend works anywhere in the
country.
• The funds under MPLADS are non-lapsable both at the end of the Union Government and at the end of the
District Authority.
o The unspent balances of a particular year are utilized in the subsequent year(s).
• Interest accrued on the annual fund will have to be mandatorily remitted to the Consolidated Fund of
India (CFI).
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10. SCHEMES IN NEWS
10.1. SAMARTH (SCHEME FOR CAPACITY BUILDING IN TEXTILES SECTOR)
SCHEME
Why in News?
The SAMARTH scheme has been made operational by the government until March 2024.
Objective Key Features
• To provide • It is an umbrella skilling programme of Ministry of Textiles.
demand-driven, o The scheme was formulated by Ministry of Skill Development & Entrepreneurship (MSDE).
placement • The Scheme aims to train 10 lakh persons (9 lakhs in organised & 1 lakh in traditional sector).
oriented skilling • It is implemented through Implementing Partners (IPs).
programme in the
organized textile
and related
sectors to
promote skilling
and skill up-
gradation in the
traditional sectors
of handlooms,
handicrafts,
sericulture and
• The major processes adopted in the implementation of scheme are:
jute.
o Training Centres proposed by the implementing partners are to be physically verified through
• To incentivize and dedicated Government agencies.
supplement the o End to End Digital solution for ease of implementation and monitoring.
efforts of the
• The trainee must be a citizen of India possessing an Aadhaar Card (unless exempted under Aadhaar
industry in
Act, 2016) with age over 14 years.
creating jobs in
• It has been formulated with advanced features such as:
the organized
o Aadhaar Enabled Biometric Attendance System (AEBAS)
textile and
o Training of Trainers (ToT)
related sectors,
o Mobile app for different stakeholders to ease out monitoring and implementation mechanism.
covering the
o Third party assessment and certification by assessment agencies
entire value chain
o Web based Management Information System (MIS) on-line monitoring of the training process
of textiles,
etc.
excluding
o The training centres should provide minimum 30 hours of soft skills training
Spinning and
o Public Grievance redressal with designated Grievance Redressal Officer from Ministry of Textiles
Weaving.
• Funding: The scheme assistance will be only towards the cost heads covered under the Common
• To enable
Norms of the MSDE and agreed to by the Ministry under this scheme.
provision of
• Placement: Employment linkage is mandated in the courses under organized textile sector with
sustainable
mandatory placement of 70% in entry level and 90% for upskilling programmes.
livelihood either
o Wage compensation in traditional sector courses is being undertaken.
by wage or self-
o For self-employment, concessional credit under the Pradhan Mantri MUDRA Yojana will be
employment to
provided for beneficiaries.
all sections of the
society across the
country.

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10. SCHEMES IN NEWS
10.1. CREDIT GUARANTEE SCHEME FOR MICRO AND SMALL ENTERPRISES
(CGMSE)
Why in news?
Revamped Credit Guarantee Scheme for Micro and Small Enterprises (CGMSE) was launched recently.
Objectives Salient Features

• To strengthen credit • The scheme was formally launched in 2000.

delivery system and • The Ministry of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises, GoI and SIDBI established a Trust named
facilitate flow of credit Credit Guarantee Fund Trust for Micro and Small Enterprises (CGTMSE) to implement the
to the MSE sector. Scheme.
• Availability of bank o The corpus of CGTMSE is being contributed by the GoI and SIDBI in the ratio of 4:1
credit without the respectively.
hassles of collaterals / • Eligible
third party enterprises: Both
guarantees. the existing and
• To enable access to the new
finance for unserved, enterprises are
under-served and eligible to be
underprivileged, covered under
making availability of the scheme.
finance from • Eligible activity:
conventional lenders Manufacturing
to new generation and services
entrepreneurs. including Trading
(Retail /
Wholesale Trade)
and Educational /
Training
Institution. SHG
and agriculture
are ineligible for
coverage.
• Eligible Lending
Institutions: All
Scheduled
Commercial Banks, selected Regional Rural Banks, NBFCs, Small Finance Banks (SFBs), Scheduled
Urban Co-operative, Microfinance Institutions (MFIs) etc.
• Eligible Credit Facility: Fund and non-fund based (Letters of Credit, Bank Guarantee etc.) credit
facilities up to 500 lakh per eligible borrower are covered.
• Annual Guarantee Fee (AGF): AGF will be charged on the guaranteed amount for the first year
and on the outstanding amount for the remaining tenure of the credit facilities.
o Recently, guarantee fees for loans upto ₹1 crore is reduced by 50% bringing the minimum
guaranteed fee to the level of 0.37% pa only.
• Claim settlement when account turns NPAs: The lending institution may invoke the guarantee
in respect of credit facility when accounts turn into Non-Performing Assets.
o However, initiation of legal proceedings as a pre-condition for invoking of guarantees is
now waived for credit facilities upto 10 lakh (earlier 5 lakh).
• Tenure of Guarantee: The Guarantee cover under the scheme is for the agreed tenure of the
term loan/composite credit. In case of working capital, the guaranteed cover is of 5 years or
block of 5 years.

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10.2. FAME (FASTER ADOPTION AND MANUFACTURING OF HYBRID AND
ELECTRIC VEHICLE) SCHEME
Why in news?
A Parliamentary Panel observed that Government
achieved only 52% of the target during the last four years
under the 2nd phase of the FAME scheme.

Objective Features
• To increase • Ministry: It was launched in 2015 under the Ministry of Heavy Industry and Public Enterprises.
demand for hybrid • Background: The scheme is a part of the National Mission on Electric Mobility (NEMMP).
and electric o NEMMP was launched in 2013. It aims to achieve 6-7 million sales of hybrid and electric
vehicles by making vehicles year on year from the year 2020 onwards.
them more • Implementation: The FAME scheme is implemented through the following verticals:
affordable and o Demand Incentives
accessible. o Establishment of a network of Charging Stations
• To reduce the o Administration of Scheme including Publicity, IEC (Information, Education & Communication)
country's activities etc.
dependence on • Monitoring: By Project implementation and sanction committee, headed by the Secretary
fossil fuels. (Department of Heavy Industry).
• To reduce air Phases of the scheme
pollution, and • FAME India - Phase 1 (2015-2019): It had four focus areas - technological development, demand
mitigate the generation, pilot project, and charging infrastructure components.
impact of climate • FAME India - Phase 2 (2019-
change. 2022): It focuses on the
electrification of public and
shared transportation.
o The scheme aims to
provide incentives to
various categories of
vehicles, including
electric two-wheelers,
electric four-wheelers,
hybrid four-wheelers, e-rickshaws, and e-buses.
• FAME II – Redesigned (2022-2024): The scheme was redesigned based on the experience of Covid-
19 pandemic and feedback from the industry and users.
o The redesigned scheme aims at faster proliferation of Electric Vehicles by lowering the upfront
costs. This would be through increased incentives and aggregating demand for making
procurement more viable.
To know more about Electric Vehicles (EVs), kindly refer to Article 5.8 Electric Vehicles (EVs) Policy, March 2023 Edition
of Monthly Current Affairs Magazine

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11. APPENDIX

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10. SCHEMES IN NEWS
10.1. UDE DESH KA AAM NAGRIK (UDAN)
Why in news?
The Ministry of Civil Aviation has launched the 5.1 version of the Regional Connectivity Scheme (RCS) - Ude Desh Ka Aam
Nagrik (UDAN) to enhance the connectivity to remote areas of the country and achieve last mile connectivity through
helicopters.
Objectives
• To facilitate / stimulate
regional air connectivity
by making it affordable to
the masses by supporting
airline operation through
o Concessions by
Central Government,
State Governments,
and airport operators
o Financial (Viability
Gap Funding or VGF)
support.
• To provide connectivity
to un-served and under-
served regions through
revival of existing air strips
and airports.
o Under-served
airports are those
which do not have
more than 7 flights a
week (14 for priority
areas), while
unserved airports are
those where there
are no scheduled
commercial flights.
• To generate Employment
in the sectors like Airport
Operation, Aircraft
Maintenance, Air Traffic
Control and Technical
Staff.
• To promote tourism,
along with the tourist
spots, route in the north-
east have also been
connected.
109
Salient Features
• It is a flagship programme of the Regional Connectivity Scheme for upgrading the under-
serviced air routes.
• The scheme was initiated in 2016 to fulfill the aspirations of the common citizen by
following the vision of ‘UdeDeshkaAamNagrik’, with an enhanced aviation infrastructure
and air connectivity in tier II and tier III cities.
• This Scheme shall be under the purview of the Ministry of Civil Aviation.
• Airports Authority of India (AAI) is designated as implementing agency.
• Salient features of the RCS-UDAN
o Limited government support: The Scheme aimed to achieve its objectives through
monetary (VGF) and non-monetary benefits offered to airline operators, provided for a
limited duration of 3 years.
✓ Airlines were expected to establish routes and commence commercial operations
within this support period.
o Cooperative Federalism: State-level coordination committees were constituted to
extend various concessions and benefits to airline operators under the Scheme and to
monitor airport infrastructure development.
o Capped airfares: Airfares on the seats on which VGF is provided are capped at affordable
rates, as determined by the government.
o Transparent, competitive bidding: The Scheme uses a transparent, two- step bidding
process to select the airline operators.
✓ A market-based approach is used to establish the subsidy level within the pre-
specified VGF caps.
o Technology enabled processes: A web-based mechanism has been adopted to
efficiently implement the Scheme.
o Sustainably funded Scheme: UDAN was a first of-its-kind scheme, which funds regional
connectivity through the levy of a small fee on the flights operated on certain categories
of domestic routes.
• The scheme has been continuously amended to keep it in line with ever evolving priorities
and objectives of the government.
• Features of different versions of UDAN:
o UDAN 1.0 (December 2016): Selected unserved and underserved airports across the
country were connected through subsidized flights.
o UDAN 2.0 (September 2017): There was enhanced focus on hilly areas, and
Northeastern and island states to enhance connectivity to these under connected
regions.
o UDAN 3.0 (October 2018): Inclusion of Tourism Routes under UDAN 3 in coordination
with the Ministry of Tourism
✓ Inclusion of Seaplanes for connecting Water Aerodromes
✓ International Air Connectivity Scheme was also introduced and incorporated within
the broader framework of RCS-UDAN.
o UDAN 4.0 (December 2019): Focus on awarding and operationalizing cancelled routes
of past UDAN rounds as well as routes specifically requested by State governments,
Ministry of Tourism and Ministry of DONER.
o UDAN 5.0 (April 2023): To further enhance the connectivity to remote and regional
areas of the country and achieve last mile connectivity.
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 ✓ Focuses on Category 2(20-80) and Category 3(>80) seats.
✓ The earlier stage length cap of 600 km is waived off and there is no restriction on
the distance between the origin and destination of the flight.
✓ Viability gap funding (VGF) to be provided will be capped at 600 km stage length
for both Priority and Non-Priority areas which was earlier capped at 500 km.
✓ Airlines would be required to commence operations within 4 months of the award
of the route. Earlier this deadline was 6 months.
✓ The same route will not be awarded to a single airline more than once, whether in
different networks or in the same network.
✓ Novation process for routes from one operator to another is simplified and
incentivized.

10.2. FAME II
Why in news?
Recently, the Government has reduced subsidy on Electric vehicles under FAME II (Faster Adoption of Manufacturing of
Electric Vehicles).
Objectives Salient Features
• To encourage • Faster Adoption and Manufacturing of (Hybrid &) Electric Vehicles in India (FAME-India) Scheme is
faster adoption of launched under National Mission on Electric Mobility in 2011 under National Electric Mobility
electric and hybrid Mission Plan 2020.
vehicle by the way o Scheme is implemented by the Ministry of Heavy
of market creation Industries.
and indigenization. • FAME- Phase I was initially approved for a period of 2
• To provide fiscal years, commencing from 2015 with a total outlay of Rs.
and monetary 895 crores.
incentives for o The Scheme has been extended from time to time,
adoption and with the last extension allowed for a period up to
market creation of 31st March 2019.
both hybrid and • Government has approved Phase-II of FAME Scheme
electric with an outlay of Rs. 10,000 Crore for a period of 3 years
technologies commencing from 1st April 2019.
vehicles in the o FAME India Phase II has been extended till 2024.
country. • Key features of FAME Phase II
• To achieve the o Focus on public transportation: FAME II has greater
target of more focus on demand-creation by pushing adoption of

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 than 30% electric EVs in public transport/commercial segment (in comparison to consumer segment).
vehicles by 2030. ✓ It is planned to support 10 Lakhs e-2W (electric – 2-Wheeler), 5 Lakhs e-3W, 55000 4Ws
• To encourage the and 7000 Buses.
switch to electric ✓ Privately owned registered e-2Ws are also covered under the scheme as a mass segment.
mobility to reduce ✓ Recently, the Government has put a cap on incentives for electric two-wheelers which will
carbon emissions be 15 per cent of the ex-factory price of vehicles from 40 percent at present.
in line with the o Applicability: Vehicles, fitted with only advanced chemistry battery, meeting with minimum
COP 21 agreement technical criteria and registered as Motor Vehicle as per CMVR shall be eligible for incentive
and save fuel. under the scheme.
o Demand Incentives: Out of total budgetary support, about 86 percent of fund has been allocated
for Demand Incentive to create demand for EVs in the country.
o Local manufacturing: Special incentives will be given for local manufacturing of critical
components for electric vehicles, especially the lithium ion batteries.
✓ Only advanced battery and registered vehicles will be incentivized under the scheme.
o Establishment of charging infrastructure: About 2700 charging stations will be established in
metros, million plus cities, smart cities, and cities of hilly states across the country.
✓ The guidelines propose to set up at least one charging station in a grid of 3km x 3km in the
cities and on both sides of highways connecting major city clusters at every 25km.
✓ Existing retail outlets of oil marketing companies (OMCs) will be given higher preference
for setting up public charging stations.

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10. SCHEMES IN NEWS
10.1. SMART CITIES MISSION
Why in news?
Recently, The Government has decided to extend the Smart Cities Mission deadline by one year from June 2023 to June
2024.
Objectives
• To promote cities to
provide core
infrastructure, clean and
sustainable environment
through the application of
‘smart solutions’.
• To drive economic
growth and improve
quality of life through
comprehensive work on
social, economic, physical
and institutional pillars of
the city.
• To create replicable
models which act as
lighthouses to other
aspiring cities.
119
Salient features
• The Mission is operated as a Centrally Sponsored Scheme since 2015 and extended till 2024
by Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs.
• Smart City Features
o Creating walkable localities - reduce congestion, air pollution and resource depletion,
boost local economy, promote interactions and ensure security.
o Preserving and
developing open
spaces like parks,
playgrounds, etc.
o Promoting a
variety of
transport
options —
Transit Oriented
Development
(TOD), public
transport and
last mile para-
transport
connectivity.
o Promoting
mixed land use
in area-based
developments.
o Giving an
identity to the
city — based on
its main
economic activity, such as local cuisine, health, education, etc.
o Applying Smart Solutions to infrastructure and services in area-based development in
order to make them better.
• The Mission will cover 100 cities.
• The implementation of the Mission at the City level will be done by a Special Purpose Vehicle
(SPV) created for the purpose.
o It will plan, appraise, approve, release funds, implement, manage, operate, monitor
and evaluate the Smart City development projects.
• The Smart City proposal of each shortlisted city is expected to encapsulate either a
retrofitting or redevelopment or greenfield development model, or a mix thereof and a
Pan-city feature with Smart Solution.
• Funding: The Union Government gave financial support to the extent of Rs. 48,000 crores
over 5 years (FY15-FY20) i.e., on an average Rs.100 crore per city per year.
o An equal amount on a matching basis is to be provided by the State/ULB.
o Additional resources are to be raised through convergence, from ULBs’ own funds, grants
under Finance Commission, innovative finance mechanisms such as Municipal Bonds,
other government programs and borrowings.
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 • The emphasis has been given on the participation of private sector through Public Private
Partnerships (PPP).
• There is no standard definition or template of a smart city.
• ICCCs (Integrated Command and Control Centers) have been operationalized in all the 100
Smart Cities, which have been envisaged to act as the brain and nerve center of the enabling
cities with a decision support system for enhancing quality of life for its citizen.
o These ICCCs are playing important role in ensuring better monitoring and efficiency in
areas like traffic management, solid waste management, water distribution
management.
o Smart Cities have effectively used ICCCs and related Smart infrastructure for better
management of the COVID-19 pandemic.

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APPENDIX

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122 www.visionias.in ©Vision IAS
 Copyright © by Vision IAS
All rights are reserved. No part of this document may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted in any
form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise, without prior permission of Vision
IAS.
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10. SCHEMES IN NEWS
10.1. PRADHAN MANTRI SHRAM YOGI MAAN DHAAN (PM-SYM)
Why in the news?
Recently, 21% unorganised workers have exited from the PM-SYM owing to growing inflation and high cost of living.
Objectives Salient features
• To ensure • It is a Central Sector Scheme administered by the Ministry of Labour and Employment.
old age • It is implemented through Life Insurance Corporation of India and CSC e-Governance Services India Limited
protection (CSC SPV).
for o LIC will be the Pension Fund Manager and responsible for Pension pay out.
Unorganized o The enrolment will be carried out by all the Common Services Centres (CSC) in the country.
Workers. o There will be no administrative cost to the subscriber as it is a purely Social Security Scheme of
Government of India.
• It is a voluntary and contributory
pension scheme, under which the
subscriber would receive a minimum
assured pension of Rs 3000/- per
month after attaining the age of 60
years.
• Also, if the subscriber dies, the spouse
of the beneficiary shall be entitled to
receive 50% of the pension as family
pension.
o Family pension is applicable only
to spouse.
• Requirements:
o Aadhar card
o Savings Bank Account / Jan
Dhan account number with Indian Financial System Code (IFSC).
• Contribution by the Subscriber: Primarily, the mode of contribution is on monthly basis by auto-debit.
However, it will also have provisions of quarterly, half yearly and yearly contribution.
o First contribution is to be paid in cash at Common Service Centre.
o The Union Government will also give equal matching contribution in his pension account.
o Once the beneficiary joins the scheme at the entry age of 18-40 years, the beneficiary has to contribute
till 60 years of age.
• Exit scheme: The exit provisions of scheme have been kept flexible.
o If beneficiary moves to any organized sector and remains there for a minimum period of 3 years, his
account will be active, but Government’s contribution (50%) shall be stopped.
o If he/ she exits the scheme within a period of less than 10 years, the beneficiary's share of contribution
only will be returned to him with savings bank interest rate.
o If he/she is unable to contribute owing disability or any other reasons, beneficiary may opt voluntarily
to exit the scheme after minimum 5 years of regular contributions.
• Default of Contributions: If a subscriber has not paid the contribution continuously, he/she will be allowed
to regularize his contribution by paying entire outstanding dues, along with penalty charges, if any, decided
by the Government.
• One can join PM-SYM also in addition to Atal Pension Yojana, if eligible.

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APPENDIX I: MAHATMA GANDHI NATIONAL RURAL
EMPLOYMENT GUARANTEE (MGNREG) SCHEME, 2005
Objectives
To enhance livelihood security in rural areas by providing at least 100 days of guaranteed wage employment in a
financial year to every household whose adult member volunteers to do unskilled manual work.

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10. SCHEMES IN NEWS
10.1. DIGITAL INDIA PROGRAMME
Why in the news?
Recently, The Government approved the expansion of the Digital India programme with a total outlay of ₹14,903 crores
for a five-year period between 2021-22 to 2025-26.
Objectives Salient Features
• To transform India • It was launched in 2015 to enable digital delivery of services to citizens.
into a digitally • The Digital India Programme is a mission to prepare India for a knowledge future by making
empowered society technology central to enabling change.
and knowledge • It is an umbrella programme that covers multiple projects of various Central
economy. Ministries/Departments and States and Union Territories (UTs).
• To ensure digital o The central ministries/departments and state governments concerned would have the
access, digital overall responsibility for the implementation of various Mission Mode and other projects
inclusion, digital under the Digital India Programme.
empowerment and o It is
bridge the digital implemented
divide. under the
• To ensure that overall
Government services coordination of
are available to the Ministry of
citizens electronically. Electronics and
Information
Technology.
• The programme
management
structure for Digital
India consists of
o a Monitoring
Committee on
Digital India
headed by the
Prime Minister,
o a Digital India Advisory Group chaired by the Minister of Communications & IT and
o an Apex Committee chaired by the Cabinet Secretary.
• The vision is centered on three key areas:
o Digital Infrastructure as a Utility to Every Citizen
✓ High-speed internet as a core utility
✓ Cradle to grave digital identity -unique, lifelong, online, authenticable
✓ Mobile phone & Bank account enabling participation in digital & financial space
✓ Easy access to a Common Service Centre
✓ Shareable private space on a public cloud
✓ Safe and secure Cyber-space
o Governance & Services on Demand
✓ Seamlessly integrated across departments or jurisdictions
✓ Services available in real-time from online &mobile platform
✓ All citizen entitlements to be available on the cloud
✓ Services digitally transformed to improve Ease of Doing Business
✓ Making financial transactions electronic & cashless
✓ Leveraging GIS for decision support systems & development
o Digital Empowerment of Citizens
✓ Universal Digital Literacy
✓ Universally accessible digital resources

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• Some of the key initiatives: Aadhar, Common Service Centres (CSCs), Digi Locker, Digi Sevak,
• Some New Initiatives to be taken up:
10.2. SVAMITVA SCHEME
Why in the news?
The SVAMITVA (Survey of Villages Abadi and Mapping with Improvised Technology in Village Areas) Scheme has recently
been conferred with the National Award for e-Governance 2023 for Application of Emerging Technologies for Providing
Citizen Centric Services.
Objectives
• Creation of accurate land
records for rural planning
and reduce property-
related disputes.
• To bring financial stability
to the citizens in rural
India by enabling them to
use their property as a
financial asset for taking
loans and other financial
benefits.
• Determination of
property tax, which
would accrue to the GPs
directly in States where it
is devolved or else, add to
the State exchequer.
• Creation of survey
infrastructure and GIS
maps that can be
leveraged by any
department for their use.
• To support the
preparation of a better-
quality Gram Panchayat
Development Plan
(GPDP) by making use of
GIS maps
119
✓ All documents/ certificates are to be available on the cloud
✓ Availability of digital resources/services in Indian languages
✓ Collaborative digital platforms for participative governance
✓ Portability of all entitlements through the cloud
Bharat Broadband Network Limited, CERT-In, Centre of Excellence for IoT, Cyber Swachhta
Kendra etc.
o 6.25 lakh IT professionals will be re-skilled and up-skilled under the Future Skills Prime
Programme.
o 9 more supercomputers will be added under National Super Computer Mission.
o Bhashini, the AI-enabled multi-language translation tool (currently available in 10
languages) will be rolled out in all 22 Schedule’s 8 languages.
o Modernisation of the National Knowledge Network (NKN) which connects 1,787
educational institutions.
o 3 Centres of Excellence in Artificial Intelligence on health, agriculture and sustainable cities
will be set up.
Salient Features
• It is a Central Sector Scheme of the Ministry of Panchayati Raj formally launched in 2021.
• It was launched to provide rural India with an integrated inhabited (Abadi) property
ownership solution.
o This will provide the ‘record of rights’ to village household owners in the form of
Property Cards/Title Deeds.
• The scheme aims to cover 6.62 lakh villages from the Financial Year 2020-21 to the Financial
Year 2024-25.
• Financial outlay: Rs. 566 crore for 5 years, 2020-25.
• The main activities under the Scheme are
o Large Scale mapping using Drones: Rural inhabited (Abadi) areas would be mapped by
Survey of India using drone Survey.
✓ Maps generated are geo-referenced maps capturing digital images of properties in
rural abadi areas.
✓ The preparation and distribution of Property Cards based on maps generated is the
responsibility of the respective State Government.
o Establishment of Continuous Operating Reference Station (CORS): The CORS network
supports accurate Geo-referencing, ground truthing and demarcation of lands.
o SVAMITVA Dashboard: A centralised online monitoring and reporting dashboard for real-
time progress monitoring of SVAMITVA implementation.
o DigiLocker App: Beneficiaries can view and download the property card through the
DigiLocker App.
o Gram Manchitra: Funds released to the National Informatics Centre (NIC) for the
Enhancement of the Spatial Planning Application ‘Gram Manchitra’ and Central
Infrastructure.
o Information, Education, and Communication (IEC) activities to spread awareness of the
scheme.
o Setting of Programme management unit at National and State levels.
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APPENDIX 1: BHARATNET

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APPENDIX 2: AYUSHMAN BHARAT - PRADHAN MANTRI
JAN AROGYA YOJANA (AB-PMJAY)

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10. SCHEMES IN NEWS
10.1. ATMANIRBHAR BHARAT ROZGAR YOJANA
Why in the news?
Recently, Atmanirbhar Bharat Rozgar Yojana (ABRY) has surpassed its initial employment generation goals leading to job
creation.
Objectives Salient features
• To incentivize • It is being implemented through the Employees Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO).
employers for the • ABRY commenced on October 1, 2020, with registration open until June 30, 2021. The government
creation of new later extended registration until March 31, 2022.
employment along o The benefit shall be available for a period of twenty-four wage months from the date of
with social security registration of the new employee by the employer of the eligible establishment.
benefits. o The number of employees with Universal Account Number (UAN) for whom the employer has
• Restoration of loss remitted EPF/EPS contributions through ECR filed for the wage month of September 2020 up
of employment to the due date shall be taken as a reference base of employees.
during the COVID- • Eligibility criteria of establishments
19 pandemic. o Establishments already registered before the commencement of this Scheme shall have to
• To reduce the employ, over and above the reference base,
financial burden of ✓ A minimum of two new employees (if the reference base of employees is less than or equal
the employers of to 50) and
various ✓ Minimum five new employees (if the reference base of employees is more than 50)
sectors/industries o For new establishments getting covered & registered under EPF & MP Act, 1952 from any date
including MSME during the validity period of this Scheme, the reference base of employees shall be treated as
and to encourage Zero and benefits can be availed for all new eligible employees.
them to hire more • Benefits
workers. o For establishments employing upto 1000 employees, the Government will pay both 12% of
employees and 12% of employers' contribution of wages towards the Employees' Provident
Fund (EPF).
o For establishments employing more than 1000 employees, the Government will pay only
employees' EPF contribution i.e., 12% of wages in respect of new employees.
o An establishment, initially with fewer than 1000 employees in September 2020 ECR, will still
receive employer's share support, even if the EPF members with UAN exceed 1000 in any
month during the scheme.
• Beneficiaries (New employees) under the scheme
o An employee drawing monthly wage of less than Rs. 15000/- who was not working in any
establishment registered with the Employees’ Provident Fund Organization (EPFO) before
1st October, 2020 and did not have a Universal Account Number or EPF Member account
number prior to 1st October 2020 is eligible for the benefit.
o Any EPF member possessing a Universal Account Number (UAN) drawing a monthly wage of
less than Rs. 15000/- who made exit from employment during the Covid pandemic from
01.03.2020 to 30.09.2020 and did not join employment in any EPF-covered establishment up to
30.09.2020 is also eligible to avail the benefit.
• Any eligible new employee under this Scheme shall become ineligible if his/her monthly wage
exceeds 14999/- at any point of time during this scheme period.
• If any new employee is already a registered beneficiary under Pradhan Mantri Rojgar Protsahan
Yojana (PMRPY) / Pradhan Mantri Paridhan Rojgar Protsahan Yojana (PMPRPY), no benefit in
respect of such new employee shall be available under ABRY.

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10. SCHEMES IN NEWS
10.1. PRIME MINISTER STREET VENDOR’S ATMANIRBHAR NIDHI (PM
SVANIDHI) SCHEME
Why in the news?
Recently, the State Bank of India released a report analyzing the impact of PM SVANidhi on street vendors.
Objective Salient Features
• Facilitate collateral free • A micro-credit scheme for urban street vendors, launched in 2020, to facilitate
working capital loan street vendors in resuming their livelihood activities, which were adversely
upto ₹10,000, of 1 year impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic.
tenure, with enhanced • Type:
loan of ₹20,000 and Central
₹50,000 in the second Sector
and third tranches Scheme
respectively, on • Ministry:
repayments of earlier Ministry of
loans. Housing
• Incentivize regular and Urban Affairs
repayment, through • Implementation: Small Industries Development Bank of India (SIDBI) is the
interest subsidy @ 7% implementation partner of the MoHUA.
per annum; and • Features of the scheme
• Reward digital o Eligibility: Available to all street vendors engaged in vending in urban areas
transactions, by way of as on or before March 24, 2020.
cash back upto ₹1,200 o Criteria for Identification of eligible vendors:
per year. ✓ Street vendors in possession of Certificate of Vending/Identity Card
issued by Urban Local Bodies (ULBs).
✓ Vendors, who have been identified in the survey but have not been
issued a Certificate of Vending/Identity Card.
✓ Vendors, left out of the ULBled identification survey or who have started
vending after completion of the survey and have been issued Letter of
Recommendation (LoR) to that effect by the ULB / Town Vending
Committee (TVC);
✓ The vendors of surrounding development/ peri-urban / rural areas
vending in the geographical limits of the ULBs and have been issued LoR
to that effect by the ULB / TVC.
o Eligible state/UTs: Available for beneficiaries belonging to only those
States/UTs that have notified Rules under the Street Vendors (Protection of
Livelihood and Regulation of Street Vending) Act, 2014.
o Timeline: Extended till December 2024.
o Credit Guarantee: The Scheme has a provision of Graded Guarantee Cover
for the loans sanctioned. It is administered by Credit Guarantee Fund Trust for
Micro and Small Enterprises (CGTMSE).
o SVANidhi se Samriddhi programme: It is an additional program of PM SVANidhi
scheme
o It aims to provide social security benefits to street vendors for their holistic
development and socio-economic upliftment.
o Quality Council of India (QCI) is the implementing partner for the programme.

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10. SCHEMES IN NEWS
10.1. NATIONAL PROGRAMME FOR CIVIL SERVICES CAPACITY BUILDING
(NPCSCB)- MISSION KARMAYOGI
Why in the news?
Karmayogi Bharat celebrated the 1st anniversary of Karmayogi Prarambh an initiative on the iGOT Karmayogi Platform, an
initiative under Mission Karmayogi
Objectives Salient features
• To • Ministry: Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances & Pensions.
transform • Background: Launched in 2020, the programme prescribes capacity building
the Indian programmes for civil servants.
civil • Coverage: The Programme covers all civil servants (including contractual
services employees) across different ministries, departments, organizations and
capacity- agencies of the Union Government.
building • Key approach:
landscape o Aligns work allocations of civil servants by matching their competencies to
by the requirement of the post.
establishing o Emphasizes on on-site learning to complement off-site learning.
a robust o Create an ecosystem of shared learning infrastructure including that of
digital learning materials, institutions and personnel.
ecosystem • Institutional Structure
enabling o Prime Minister’s (PMHR) HR council
continuous o Cabinet Secretariate Coordination unit
anytime- o Capacity Building Commissions
anywhere o Karmyogi Bharat SPV (a not for profit company)
learning to • Karmayogi Prarambh is an online orientation programme
make the o It aims to provide all the necessary details related to government policies
officials for newly appointees recruited through Rozgar Melas.
future o It includes a set of eight courses curated to help all Rozgar Mela appointees
ready. • Impact expected: Direct benefit to 1.5 crore Government officials in the long
run and amplifying impact on citizens who get empowered by the civil
services.

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10. SCHEMES IN NEWS
10.1. RAISING AND ACCELERATING MSME PRODUCTIVITY (RAMP)
Why in news?
Union Minister for MSME launched three sub-schemes under the aegis of RAMP programme.
More on news
The three sub-schemes include:
Sub MSME Green Investment and MSE Scheme for Promotion and MSE Scheme on Online Dispute
scheme Financing for Transformation Investment in Circular Economy (MSE Resolution for Delayed Payments
Scheme (MSME GIFT Scheme) SPICE Scheme)
About Intends to help MSMEs adopt First ever scheme to support circular First of its kind scheme to synergise
green technology with interest economy projects which will be done legal support with modern IT tools and
subvention and credit guarantee through credit subsidy and will lead to Artificial Intelligence to address the
support. realising the dream of MSME sector incidences of delayed payments for
towards zero emissions by 2070. Micro and Small Enterprises.
Raising and Accelerating MSME Productivity (RAMP)
Objectives Salient features
• Improving • Ministry: Ministry of Micro, Small & Medium Enterprises.
access to • Type: Central Sector Scheme.
market and • Launch year: 2022
credit, • Duration: 2021-22 to 2025-26.
• Strengthening • Funding: Total outlay ₹ 6,062.45 crore (₹ 3,750 crore as loan from World Bank and remaining funded
institutions by the Government).
and • Eligibility:
governance at o MSME should be registered under Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises Development (MSMED)
the Centre and Act, 2006.
State, o MSME should have a valid Udyog Aadhaar Number.
• Improving • Target: Improvement in performance of 5.55 lakh MSMEs.
Centre-State • Key approach:
linkages and o Shall implement regulatory, financial, and implementation reforms as well as firm-level access
partnerships, reforms to provide targeted interventions to MSMEs.
• Addressing o Seek to scale up implementation capacity and firm coverage in states of Gujarat, Maharashtra,
issues of Punjab, Rajasthan, and Tamil Nadu.
delayed • Intended benefits:
payments and o Address generic and Covid related challenges in MSME sector.
• Greening of o Bolster inadequately addressed blocks of capacity building, handholding, skill development, quality
MSMEs. enrichment, etc.
o Generate Employment, market promotion, and finance facilitation, and support to vulnerable
sections.
o Usher in larger formalization resulting from the higher impact of the schemes covered under
RAMP.
o Complement the Atmanirbhar Bharat Mission by fostering innovation and enhancement in
industry standards.

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11. APPENDIX
11.1. PRADHAN MANTRI AWAS YOJANA (PMAY-URBAN)

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