Government Schemes & Programmes Current – Comprehensive Study Notes for RPSC

Introduction

The subtopic Government Schemes & Programmes Current is a high-yield area within the Current Affairs paper of the RPSC examination. Over the years, this subtopic has consistently appeared in the form of direct factual questions, true/false statements, matching exercises, and “incorrect feature” identification. An analysis of 32 previous year questions (PYQs) from 2016 to 2024 reveals that RPSC tests both national flagship schemes (e.g., PM-KISAN, Ayushman Bharat, PM-Ujjwala) and Rajasthan-specific state schemes (e.g., Bhamasha Yojana, Mukhya Mantri Nishulk Dava Yojana, Indira Rasoi Yojana, Chief Minister Chiranjeevi Health Insurance Scheme). The questions demand precise recall of launch dates, funding ratios, implementing agencies, eligibility criteria, and distinguishing features.

Why does this subtopic matter for RPSC aspirants? First, it accounts for roughly 8–10% of the Current Affairs paper, and the questions are often straightforward if the student has systematically compiled and revised scheme details. Second, many schemes are interconnected—for instance, understanding the difference between Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Aarogya Yojana (national) and Ayushman Bharat Mahatma Gandhi Rajasthan Swasthya Bima Yojana (state) requires clarity on coverage, funding, and implementation. Third, RPSC frequently tests incorrect statements (as seen in PYQs 2018, 2021, 2023, 2024), which means the student must know not just the correct fact but also the plausible wrong alternatives that examiners set as traps.

The level of difficulty is moderate. Most questions are factual, but some require analytical comparison (e.g., “Which feature is incorrect?”). The student is expected to memorise specific numbers—percentage shares, monetary limits, dates—and also understand the broader objective of each scheme. This chapter will teach you everything you need: from first-principles definitions of “scheme” and “programme” to deep dives into every tested scheme, with mnemonics, comparison tables, and worked examples from the actual PYQs.

By the end of this chapter, you will be able to:

• Distinguish between national and state schemes with overlapping names.
• Recall launch dates, funding patterns, and implementing agencies for all schemes that have appeared in PYQs.
• Identify common traps in “incorrect statement” questions.
• Predict future question angles based on tested patterns.

Let us begin by building the conceptual foundation.

Core Concepts & Foundations

Before diving into individual schemes, it is essential to understand the terminology and framework used by the Government of India and the Government of Rajasthan when designing and implementing welfare programmes.

Scheme (Yojana): A scheme is a time-bound, target-oriented set of activities with a defined objective, budget, and implementing agency. It may be fully funded by the central government (Centrally Sponsored Scheme), fully by the state government (State Plan Scheme), or jointly (shared funding). Examples: Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana (central), Mukhya Mantri Nishulk Dava Yojana (state).

Programme: A programme is a broader umbrella that may encompass multiple schemes. For instance, the National Health Mission is a programme that includes schemes like Janani Suraksha Yojana and Rashtriya Bal Swasthya Karyakram. In RPSC questions, the terms “scheme” and “programme” are often used interchangeably, but you must note the distinction when it appears in a statement.

Centrally Sponsored Scheme (CSS): A scheme where the central government bears a fixed percentage of the cost, and the state government bears the remainder. The funding ratio varies—for example, Rashtriya Gram Swaraj Abhiyaan originally had a 60:40 ratio (central:state) for most states, but RPSC 2021 tested that the statement “funding pattern is 60:40” was wrong for Rajasthan (the correct ratio is 75:25 for special category states, but Rajasthan is not special category; the question specifically said the statement was incorrect, meaning the actual ratio for Rajasthan under that scheme was different—we will clarify in the deep-dive section).

State Plan Scheme: A scheme fully funded by the state government from its own budget. Examples: Bhamasha Yojana, Anuprati Yojana, Indira Rasoi Yojana.

Nodal Department/Agency: The department or organisation responsible for implementation. For instance, National Health Authority is the nodal agency for Ayushman Bharat PM-JAY (tested in RPSC 2021). Rajasthan Renewable Energy Corporation Limited (RRECL) is the nodal agency for PM-KUSUM Component A in Rajasthan (tested in RPSC 2023).

Funding Pattern (Cost Sharing): The ratio in which central and state governments contribute. This is a favourite RPSC trap. For example, National Mission on Agriculture Extension and Technology had a 60:40 central-state share for most states, but for Rajasthan the state share was 40% (tested in RPSC 2021). Always verify the specific ratio for Rajasthan.

Eligibility Criteria: The conditions that a beneficiary must satisfy. For Aastha Scheme (RPSC 2024), the correct eligibility is “families in which 2 or more people are specially abled with more than 40% disability”—not just any disabled person or any BPL cardholder.

Launch Date: The official date when the scheme was inaugurated. RPSC has tested dates for Mukhya Mantri Nishulk Dava Yojana (2 September 2011), Indira Mahila Shakti Nidhi (18 December 2018), PM Kisan Maandhan Yojana (12 September 2019). These must be memorised precisely.

Slogan/Tagline: Some schemes have a distinctive slogan. Indira Rasoi Yojana is associated with “Koi Bhukha Na Soye” (tested in RPSC 2023). Rashtriya Gram Swaraj Abhiyaan has the slogan “Aapni Yojana Aapno Vikas” (tested in RPSC 2021).

Insurance Cover Amount: For health insurance schemes, the annual cover per family is a common question. Ayushman Bharat Mahatma Gandhi Rajasthan Swasthya Bima Yojana provides ₹4.50 lakh per family per year for critical illnesses (tested in RPSC 2021). Chief Minister Chiranjeevi Health Insurance Scheme also provides ₹4.50 lakh per family per year (tested in RPSC 2021).

Component/Sub-scheme: Larger schemes like PM-KUSUM have multiple components (A, B, C). Component A deals with installation of small solar power plants (0.5 MW to 2 MW). RPSC 2023 tested which agency implements Component A in Rajasthan—Rajasthan Renewable Energy Corporation Limited.

Rurban Mission: The Shyama Prasad Mukherji Rurban Mission (SPMRM) aims to create “rurban” clusters—rural areas with urban amenities. RPSC 2023 tested this as the scheme that makes rural regions physically, socially, and economically sustainable.

Now that we have the vocabulary, let us explore each major scheme cluster in depth.