Schemes( upsc)

Swavalambini

A structured entrepreneurship initiative for young women in Higher Education Institutions
Provides skill development, mentorship, funding support, and incubation opportunities.

Implemented by: National Institute for Entrepreneurship and Small Business Development (NIESBUD) and NITI Aayog.

Ministry: Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship (MSDE).

Aim of the Initiative:

Enhance women’s participation in entrepreneurship through structured training and mentorship.

Promote self-employment and economic independence among young women.

Encourage at least 10% of trained participants to establish successful enterprises.

Key Features

Multi-Stage Training Approach:
Entrepreneurship Awareness Programme (EAP): 2-day workshop for 600 students on business fundamentals.

Entrepreneurship Development Programme (EDP): 40-hour advanced training for 300 students covering finance, market linkages, compliance, and legal aspects.

Six-Month Mentorship Support: Helps participants transition from ideation to enterprise creation.

Faculty Development Programme (FDP):
Trains educators to mentor and guide women entrepreneurs within HEIs.

Recognition & Rewards:
Award to Rewards Initiative: Recognizes top-performing women entrepreneurs.

Nationwide Implementation:
Initially launched in Eastern HEIs (IIT Bhubaneswar, NEHU Shillong, Gauhati University, etc.).
Now expanded to BHU, University of Hyderabad, Maulana Azad National Urdu University, and more.

Government Initiatives to Counter Obesity:

National Health Mission (NHM) – NP-NCD: Focuses on screening, early diagnosis, and behavior change to prevent obesity and related diseases under the National Programme for Prevention and Control of Non-Communicable Diseases (NP-NCD).

Fit India Movement & Khelo India Programme: Encourages physical activity in daily life through Fit India School Certification, while Khelo India promotes sports participation and athletic excellence with modern facilities.

POSHAN Abhiyaan (2018): Aims to combat childhood obesity by promoting balanced nutrition and initiatives like Poshan Vatikas (Nutri-Gardens) for homegrown healthy food.

Eat Right India Movement (FSSAI): Includes the ‘Aaj Se Thoda Kam’ campaign to reduce fat, salt, and sugar intake, along with Front-of-Pack Labelling (FOPL) to identify High-Fat, Salt, and Sugar (HFSS) foods.

RUCO Initiative (FSSAI): Repurposes Used Cooking Oil to prevent harmful fat consumption, converting it into biofuel instead of allowing reuse in the food chain.

MISHTI Scheme

The Mangrove Initiative for Shoreline Habitats & Tangible Incomes (MISHTI) scheme is a government-led initiative aimed at increasing the mangrove cover along the coastline and on salt pan lands. 

“MISHTI” comes after India joined the ‘Mangrove Alliance for Climate’ launched during the 27th Conference of Parties (COP27) to the UNFCCC held in Egypt in November 2022.

It was launched by the Ministry of Environment, Forest & Climate Change on the occasion of World Environment Day, i.e., 5th June 2023. 

MISHTI envisages the restoration/reforestation of mangrovescovering approximately 540 sq.km., spreading across 9 states and 3 union territories for a period of five years commencing 2023-24 onwards.

The scheme is primarily focused on the Sundarbans delta, Hooghly Estuary in West Bengal, India, and other bay parts of the country, but also includes other wetlands in the country.

Under the MISHTI scheme, the government is providing financial assistance to local communities to undertake mangrove plantation activities. 

The scheme also involves awareness campaigns to educate people about the importance of mangroves and their role in protecting the environment.

The plantation activities are carried out in a participatory manner, involving local communities and NGOs, to ensure sustainability and community ownership of the initiative. 

It leverages the strengths and provisions of different government schemes and initiatives such as the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MGNREGS), the Compensatory Afforestation Fund Management and Planning Authority (CAMPA) Fundand other relevant sources.

Aadhaar Good Governance Portal

It is aimed at streamlining the approval process for Aadhaar authentication requests.

It was launched by the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY).

The platform follows the recent amendments to the Aadhaar Authentication for Good Governance (Social Welfare, Innovation, Knowledge) Rules, 2025, under the Aadhaar Act of 2016.

The new rules are designed to support good governance and improve the delivery of various welfare services and benefits.

This portal is part of ongoing efforts to simplify processes, enhance service delivery, and improve the overall ease of living for citizens.

The portal shall work as a resource rich guide, and offer detailed SOPfor authentication seeking entities on how to apply and how to onboard for Aadhaar authentication.

Face Authentication may also be integrated in the customer facing apps of private entities, which will enable anytime anywhere, authentication.

Key Facts about Aadhaar

It is a 12-digit unique identification number issued by the Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI) to every individual resident of India. 
It serves as proof of identity, which is linked to the individual's biometric and demographic information. 

The Aadhaar programme was launched in 2009 by the UIDAI with the goal of providing a unique and verifiable identity for every resident of India. 
It is now mandatory for a number of government services and is also being used by private companies for identification purposes.

SWAYATT Initiative

It was launched on 19th February, 2019.

It was conceptualised with a clear objective of invigorating participation of women-led enterprises and youth in public procurement.

It is rooted in GeM’s foundational pillar of social inclusion, SWAYATT is portal’s commitment to enhance ease of doing business and establish direct market linkages to annual public procurement for startups, women entrepreneurs, Micro & Small Enterprises (MSEs), Self Help Groups (SHGs) and youth, especially those from backward sections of the society.

Since inception, the initiative is focused at facilitating the training and onboarding of last-mile sellers, developing women entrepreneurship and encouraging participation and small-scale businesses in government procurement.

Key Facts About Government e Marketplace

It is an Online Market platform that was set up in2016 to facilitate the procurement of goods and services by government ministries, departments, public sector undertakings (PSU) etc.

It has been envisaged as the National Procurement Portal of India.

This portal was developed by the Directorate General of Supplies and Disposals (Ministry of Commerce and Industry) with technical support from the National e-governance Division (Ministry of Electronic and Information Technology).

GeM is a completely paperless, cashless and system-driven e-marketplace that enables procurement of common-use goods and services with minimal human interface.

Indian Partition Refugee Assistance Scheme

🧤The Central government scheme to provide financial assistance to over 5,000 Hindu and Sikh families who migrated to India from Pakistan’s West Punjab after the 1947 partition has faced several challenges.

🧤 Out of 5,764 eligible families, only 903 families have received the grant so far, with several claims being unable to process due to the lack of original documents such as refugee cards. 

🧤The scheme has also been affected by corruption allegations and demands for bribes from revenue officials. 

🧤Additionally, the division of the grant amount among several members of the family has resulted in a low payout for some families.

🧤The J&K administration conducted special camps to help families apply for the grant, but many have not been able to produce the required documents.

🧤 The Ministry of Home Affairs reimburses the funds to the J&K administration based on the verification of records done by them, and the scheme has been extended till March 31, 2024, with ₹25 crore allotted for the scheme in the 2023-24 budget.

One Nation-One Port (ONOP) Initiative:

A nationwide port standardization initiative designed to unify port documentation, streamline operations, and enhance global trade efficiency in India.

Ministry: Ministry of Ports, Shipping, and Waterways (MoPSW)

Aim:
Remove inconsistencies in port documentation and processes.

Enhance ease of doing business by reducing delays and inefficiencies.

Improve global trade competitiveness by standardizing logistics.

Reduce carbon footprint through efficient port operations

Key Features:
Standardized Port Documentation: Reduces paperwork, bringing container operation documents down by 33% (143 to 96) and bulk cargo documents by 29% (150 to 106).

Sagar Ankalan LPPI Index: Introduced to benchmark port performance and drive operational excellence.

Integration with Digital Trade: Supports the MAITRI initiative for AI and blockchain-based trade facilitation.

Bharat Ports Global Consortium: Strengthens global supply chains and expands India’s maritime footprint.

Aligned with PM GATI SHAKTI and National Logistics Policy: Supports India’s economic growth strategy through seamless logistics and trade infrastructure.
 

JAL VIDYUT DPR portal

1. Developed by: The JAL VIDYUT DPR portal is a digital platform developed by the Central Electricity Authority (CEA).
2. Purpose:  It is designed to monitor survey and investigation activities related to Hydro Electric Projects and Pumped Storage Projects (PSPs).
3. Aim: It aims to expedite workflows and streamline communication between developers and appraising agencies. It aligns with the government’s ease of doing business initiatives by reducing timelines for appraisals and approvals of DPRs.
4. Key Features and Benefits
1. Strategic Initiative for Hydropower Development: The portal supports the development of hydropower and PSPs which are essential for grid stability and energy transition.
2. Improved Project Management and Coordination: It provides a comprehensive overview of a project’s development status. It enhances coordination among various stakeholders during the Detailed Project Report (DPR) preparation process.
3. Centralized Digital Platform: It also offers a single platform for monitoring all survey and investigation activities related to Hydro and PSP projects.
4. Enhanced Efficiency and Transparency: It enables real-time tracking of tasks and pending actions.

PUNCH Mission


NASA’s PUNCH Mission has been in news due to its groundbreaking approach to studying the Sun’s atmosphere and space weather.
About Polarimetry to Unify the Corona and Heliosphere (PUNCH) mission

It is an advanced solar observation project designed to study the Sun’s outer atmosphere, track the origins of solar winds, and analyze Coronal Mass Ejections (CMEs).

It is the first solar mission designed specifically to use polarisation of light to measure the Sun’s corona and solar wind in 3D.

The mission aims to study the Sun’s corona and its transition into solar wind using advanced imaging techniques.

Objectives

To continuously observe and track solar winds and CMEs as they travel through space.

To improve space weather predictions, helping protect Earth’s satellite-based communication, GPS navigation, and power grids from solar disturbances.

To investigate the forces and energies responsible for accelerating solar winds and CMEs.

To contribute to better understanding of interplanetary space dynamics by studying how solar materials evolve as they move through the solar system.

Mission Design and Instruments

PUNCH consists of four identical, suitcase-sized satellites, each weighing approximately 64 kg.
The mission will deploy three Wide Field Imagers (WFI) and one Narrow Field Imager (NFI) to capture high-resolution images of the Sun’s corona.
Each camera will take polarised images every four minutes and unpolarised images every eight minutes, allowing scientists to create a detailed 3D representation of the solar wind and corona.

The four satellites will function as a single, virtual instrument, providing continuous, large-scale imagery of the Sun’s outer atmosphere.

Significance of the PUNCH Mission

The mission will provide critical data for understanding solar activity and its effects on space weather, benefiting both Earth and future space exploration missions.

By offering real-time, high-resolution observations, PUNCH will enhance scientists’ ability to predict and mitigate the effects of solar storms.
Unlike previous solar missions that focused on specific regions, PUNCH will provide a continuous, large-scale view of the corona and heliosphere.

NAKSHA Scheme

The NAtional Geospatial Knowledge-based Land Survey of Urban Habitations (NAKSHA) is a new initiative launched under the Digital India Land Records Modernization Programme (DILRMP). It is 100% centrally funded scheme.

Aim: It aims to create accurate digital maps of urban areas to streamline land governance, improve property ownership records, and facilitate urban planning.

Implemented by:Department of Land Resources (DoLR) under the Ministry of Rural Development.

Objective of the Scheme

Create a comprehensive and accurate geospatial database for urban land records.

Integrate aerial and field surveys with GIS technology to modernize land management.

Improve decision-making in urban planning, land use, and property transactions.

It has been implemented across 152 urban local bodies in 26 states.

Selected cities meet two criteria:

Area less than 35 sq km
Population less than 2 lakh
Expected Benefits of NAKSHA
Digitized, accurate urban land records.
Faster and more efficient urban planning.
Reduction in land disputes.
Improved property tax collection for urban local bodies.
Simplified property transactions and better credit access for owners.

SWAYATT initiative:

What is SWAYATT

Full Form: Startups, Women & Youth Advantage Through e-Transactions.
Launched On: 19th February 2019.
Ministry: Ministry of Commerce and Industry, Government of India.
Platform: Integrated with the Government e-Marketplace


Aim of SWAYATT:

Promote Inclusion: Enhance participation of women-led enterprises, startups, and youth in public procurement.

Empower Marginalized Groups: Focus on Micro & Small Enterprises (MSEs), Self-Help Groups (SHGs), and backward sections of society.

Facilitate Market Access: Provide direct market linkages to government buyers without intermediaries.

Boost Economic Growth: Encourage hyper-local job creation and inclusive economic development.

Key Features:

Dedicated Storefronts: Includes “Startup Runway” and “Womaniya” for startups and women entrepreneurs.

Training and Onboarding: Focuses on capacity-building for last-mile sellers and women entrepreneurs.

MoU with FICCI-FLO : Collaboration to empower 9,500+ women entrepreneurs through advocacy and training.
Udyam-Verified Sellers: Over 1,77,786 women-led MSEs registered on GeM, fulfilling orders worth ₹46,615 crore.

Startup Ecosystem: Supports 29,000+ startups, with cumulative orders worth ₹35,950 crore.

Schemes under Ministry of Finance

Stand Up India

PMGKY Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Yojana

Aam Admi Bima Yojana

Pradhan Mantri Suraksha Bima Yojana

The Pradhan Mantri Jeevan Jyoti Bima Yojana (PMJJBY – Scheme 2 – for Life Insurance Cover)

Atal Pension Yojana

National Pension Scheme

Pradhan Mantri Vaya Vandan Yojana (PMVVY)

Pradhan Mantri MUDRA Yojana

Pradhan Mantri Jan Dhan Yojana

Bharatiya Bhasha Pustak Scheme

It is a new initiative aimed at making learning more accessible by offering digital textbooks and study materials in various Indian languages. 
Under the Bharatiya Bhasha Pustak Scheme, students in schools and universities will be able to access textbooks and learning resources in digital formats. 

The scheme is designed to benefit students from different linguistic backgrounds by providing study materials in regional languages. 
The initiative aims to bridge the gap in educational resources for students from diverse linguistic groups.

This initiative also complements the government’s previous steps to enhance educational infrastructure, such as the ASMITA (Augmenting Study Materials in Indian Languages through Translation and Academic Writing) initiative.

Key Facts about ASMITA Initiative

It is an initiative to develop 22,000 books in Indian languages in the next five years.

It is a collaborative effort of the UGC and the Bharatiya Bhasha Samiti,a high-powered committee under the Ministry of Education.

The primary objective of this initiative is to promote and integrate Indian languages more deeply into the education system, thereby enriching the learning experience and making it more inclusive.

This project is seen as part of a broader strategy to enhance the accessibility and quality of educational materials across various Indian languages.

Thirteen nodal universities have been identified to lead the project, along with member universities from various regions.

TheUGC has also created a standard operating procedure (SOP) for the book-writing process in each assigned language.

The SOP includes the identification of nodal officers, authors, allocation of title, subject, and programme, writing and editing, submission of the manuscript, review and plagiarism check, finalisation, designing, proofreading and e-publication.

Ni-Kshay Poshan Yojana (NPY)

Union Health Minister unveils key initiatives to boost Nutrition Support for TB Patients and their Families. Monthly support under Ni-Kshay Poshan Yojana increased from the existing ₹500 per month to ₹1000 per month for all TB patients.

Recent Changes in Ni-Kshay Poshan Yojana (NPY)

1 Increased monthly support: Nutritional support under Ni-Kshay Poshan Yojana has been raised from ₹500 to ₹1,000 per month for all TB patients throughout the treatment duration.
2 Additional funding: The government approved an additional allocation of ₹1,040 crores to support the increased nutritional needs.
3 Energy dense nutritional supplementation (EDNS): EDNS introduced for underweight patients (BMI

Key Policy Initiatives for Sustainable Employment

Community-Driven Skilling Initiatives:
◦ Skilling needs should be identified through decentralized community action, involving local bodies like gram sabhas and basti samitis.
◦ A register of those seeking employment should be maintained, and personalized employment plans should be developed in partnership with professionals.
◦ This bottom-up approach will ensure that skilling programs are aligned with local needs and lead to meaningful employment.

Convergence of Developmental Initiatives:
◦ Employment cannot be improved in isolation. There should be a convergence of education, health, skills, nutrition, livelihoods, and employment initiatives at the local government level.

Integration of Vocational Training in Higher Education:
◦ Vocational courses and certificate programs should be integrated into undergraduate curricula in colleges. This will enhance the employability of graduates and provide them with the skills needed for the job market.


Standardisation of Healthcare Professional Courses:
◦ Nursing and allied healthcare professional courses should be standardized across all states according to international benchmarks. This will address the demand for healthcare professionals in India and abroad.

Creation of Community Caregiver Cadres:
◦ Community cadres of caregivers should be created to provide crèche services, enabling women to work without fear of leaving their children unattended. This initiative can be modeled on the Community Resource Persons of the Rural Livelihood Mission.

Investment in Industrial Training Institutes (ITIs):
◦ ITIs and polytechnics should be developed as hubs for skill development, with a focus on updating infrastructure and aligning curricula with industry needs. These institutions should also serve as feeder schools for vocational education.

Introduction of Enterprise and Start-up Skills in Schools:
◦ Technology and enterprise should be introduced as subjects in high schools to foster innovation and entrepreneurship among students. This will prepare them for the demands of the modern job market.

Co-Sharing Model of Apprenticeships:
◦ Apprenticeships should be co-shared with industry, ensuring that potential employers have a stake in the skilling process. This will enhance the quality of apprenticeships and improve job placement rates.

Streamlining Capital Loans for Women-Led Enterprises:
◦ Working capital loans for women-led enterprises should be streamlined to help them scale up.
◦ Initiatives like the Start Up Village Enterprise Programme (SVEP) under the National Rural Livelihoods Mission (NRLM) have shown the importance of providing comprehensive support to first-generation entrepreneurs.

Universal Skill Accreditation Programme:
◦ A universal skill accreditation programme for skill providers should be introduced, with state and industry jointly sponsoring candidates. This will ensure the quality of training and increase the employability of the workforce.

Focused Use of MGNREGA Funds:
◦ Seventy percent of MGNREGA funds should be allocated to water-scarce blocks and those with high deprivation, with a focus on the poorest families. This will provide livelihood security and improve the productivity of wage earners.

Scaling Up Apprenticeships:
◦ The scale of apprenticeships should be increased, with a focus on skill acquisition rather than just providing stipends. The government should ensure that employer subsidies are linked to providing wages of dignity upon the successful completion of apprenticeships.

NAKSHA Project:

NAKSHA (National Geospatial Knowledge-based Land Survey of Urban Habitations) is a geospatial technology-driven land survey initiative aimed at creating and updating land records in urban areas to ensure transparency, efficiency, and accuracy in property ownership documentation.

Nodal Ministry: Ministry of Rural Development, Government of India

Implemented by: Department of Land Resources, in collaboration with Survey of India, and National Informatics Centre Services Inc. (NICSI).

Aims & Objectives:
Modernize Urban Land Records: Ensure accurate, updated, and digitalized land ownership records.
Enhance Urban Planning: Facilitate smart city development and infrastructure planning.
Reduce Land Disputes: Minimize property disputes through clear, verifiable records.
Foster Transparency: Establish a Web-GIS-based IT system for land record management.
Support Sustainable Development: Improve urban governance and land resource management.

Key Features:
Drone-Based Land Survey: High-precision aerial surveys for accurate mapping.

Web-GIS Platform: End-to-end IT-based land record management system.
Public Accessibility: Citizens can access digital land records for ease of living.

Pilot Launch in 152 ULBs: Across 26 States and 3 Union Territories (UTs).
Estimated Cost: ₹194 crore (100% funded by the Government of India).

Prime Minister Dhan-Dhaanya Krishi Yojana (PMDKY)

PMDKY?
A comprehensive agricultural development scheme designed to enhance farm productivity, crop diversification, irrigation, and storage infrastructure.
Ministry & Implementing Agency

Ministry: Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare.

Implementing Agency: Central and State Governments in partnership with NABARD and financial institutions.

Aim of PMDKY:

Boost Agricultural Productivity: Improve crop yield and land utilization in identified districts.
Promote Sustainable Farming: Encourage crop diversification and eco-friendly agricultural techniques.

Strengthen Post-Harvest Infrastructure: Establish panchayat and block-level storage facilities.

Enhance Irrigation Facilities: Expand access to efficient irrigation systems for small and marginal farmers.

Improve Access to Agricultural Credit: Facilitate long-term and short-term credit availability.

Key Features of PMDKY:

Targeted Approach for 100 Districts: Focuses on low-productivity areas with moderate cropping intensity and weak credit availability.

Data-Driven Implementation: Uses data from Department of Financial Services and NABARD to identify districts.

Convergence Model for Fund Allocation: Utilizes existing agriculture and allied schemes from multiple ministries for implementation.

Focus on Small & Marginal Farmers: Aims to benefit 1.7 crore farmers by improving productivity and financial inclusion.

Post-Harvest & Credit Support: Enhances storage infrastructure and access to farm credit for long-term agricultural sustainability.

TRUST Initiative

The India-US TRUST Initiative is a recent agreement between India and the United States to work together to secure the supply of critical minerals like lithium and rare earth elements (REEs), essential for advanced technologies, energy, and pharmaceutical production.

About TRUST Initiative

TRUST stands for: Transforming Relationship Utilizing Strategic Technology.

It is a partnership between India and the US to:

Improve the supply of critical minerals like lithium and rare earth elements (REEs).

Strengthen supply chains for pharmaceuticals, advanced materials, and high-tech products.

Reduce dependence on China, which currently dominates the global supply of critical minerals.

Key Objectives of TRUST

Strengthen supply chains for: Critical minerals (lithium, rare earth, cobalt, etc.), Pharmaceuticals (Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients – APIs) and advanced materialsused in technology and defence.

Encourage technology sharing: It reduce export controls between India and the U.S.A and speed up the transfer of advanced technology between the two countries.

Boost manufacturing and innovation in Semiconductors, Artificial Intelligence (AI), Quantum computing, Defence technology, Space exploration and clean energy solutions.

COMPACT Initiative

The US-India COMPACT (Catalyzing Opportunities for Military Partnership, Accelerated Commerce & Technology) initiative aims to enhance defence collaboration, facilitate technology transfer, and boost bilateral trade while strengthening strategic ties between the two nations.

Key Objectives of the Initiative

Strengthening Defence Relations: The initiative marks a significant expansion of US-India defence cooperation, with plans to sign a 10-year Framework for the US-India Major Defence Partnership within the year.

Advanced Defence Procurements: India is set to increase military purchases worth billions of dollars, including advanced weaponry and military platforms such as the Javelin Anti-Tank Guided Missiles, Stryker Infantry Combat Vehicles, and additional P-8I Maritime Patrol aircraft.

Potential F-35 Deal: While discussions on acquiring the F-35 stealth fighter jets are in the early stages, this move signals a major step towards advanced aerial defence capabilities for India.

Technology Transfer & Joint Production: The two nations have agreed to expand defence co-production and explore joint development in areas such as autonomous systems, missile defence, maritime security, and undersea warfare technologies.

Interoperability & Logistics: The initiative will enhance maintenance, repair, and supply-chain cooperation, ensuring smoother operational capabilities for US-origin defence equipment in India.

Strategic Significance
The US-India COMPACT aligns with broader geopolitical objectives.
It is a key driving force behind the agreement is countering China’s growing influence in the Indo-Pacific region.

The initiative reinforces regional security by enhancing India’s military preparedness and deepening strategic cooperation.