March 27, 202613 min read

Important Government Schemes for Competitive Exams 2026: Complete List for SSC, Banking, UPSC and State PSC

Complete list of important government schemes for competitive exams 2026 — organized by ministry and theme with launch year, key features, budget and targets. Covers financial inclusion, agriculture, health, education, housing, employment, women & child, infrastructure, and Digital India schemes.

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Government schemes are one of the most heavily tested topics in the General Awareness / General Knowledge section of virtually every competitive exam in India — SSC CGL, CHSL, Banking (IBPS PO/Clerk, SBI), RBI Grade B, UPSC CSE, and State PSC exams all dedicate significant marks to this area. The challenge isn't that schemes are difficult to understand — it's that there are hundreds of them, and you need to know the right details for exam questions.

This guide organises all important government schemes by theme, with the exact details that exam questions test: scheme name, launch year, implementing ministry, key feature, and financial target or benefit amount.

How Schemes Are Tested in Exams

Before the list, understand what examiners actually ask:

SSC (CGL/CHSL/MTS): "Under which scheme does the government provide ₹6,000 per year to farmers?" — Direct factual questions
Banking (IBPS/SBI): "PM Jan Dhan Yojana was launched in which year?" or "What is the insurance cover under PMJDY?" — Specific numbers and features
UPSC Prelims: "Consider the following statements about PMAY... which is/are correct?" — Multi-statement verification requiring deeper knowledge
RBI Grade B: "Which of the following schemes is implemented by NABARD?" — Ministry/implementing agency-level questions

The table format below gives you everything you need for all these question types.

Financial Inclusion Schemes

Scheme	Year	Ministry/Agency	Key Feature	Amount/Target
PM Jan Dhan Yojana (PMJDY)	2014	Finance	Zero-balance bank accounts for unbanked households	52+ crore accounts opened; ₹2 lakh accident insurance, ₹30,000 life cover
PM MUDRA Yojana	2015	Finance	Collateral-free loans to micro/small enterprises	Shishu (up to ₹50,000), Kishore (₹50K–₹5L), Tarun (₹5L–₹10L)
Stand-Up India	2016	Finance	Loans to SC/ST and women entrepreneurs	₹10 lakh to ₹1 crore per borrower
PM SVANidhi	2020	Housing & Urban Affairs	Micro-credit for street vendors	₹10,000 (1st loan), ₹20,000 (2nd), ₹50,000 (3rd); 7% interest subsidy
Atal Pension Yojana (APY)	2015	Finance	Guaranteed pension for unorganised sector workers	₹1,000–₹5,000/month pension after age 60
PM Jeevan Jyoti Bima (PMJJBY)	2015	Finance	Life insurance for 18–50 age group	₹2 lakh cover at ₹436/year premium
PM Suraksha Bima (PMSBY)	2015	Finance	Accident insurance for 18–70 age group	₹2 lakh cover at ₹20/year premium
Sukanya Samriddhi Yojana	2015	Finance	Savings scheme for girl child	Current interest rate: 8.2%; tax-free maturity

Exam tip: PMJDY, MUDRA, and the three Jan Suraksha schemes (APY, PMJJBY, PMSBY) are the most frequently asked financial inclusion schemes. Know the exact amounts and eligibility for each.

Agriculture Schemes

Scheme	Year	Ministry/Agency	Key Feature	Amount/Target
PM-KISAN	2019	Agriculture	Direct income support to all farmer families	₹6,000/year in 3 instalments of ₹2,000
PM Fasal Bima Yojana (PMFBY)	2016	Agriculture	Crop insurance at subsidised premium	Kharif: 2%, Rabi: 1.5%, Commercial: 5% premium
Kisan Credit Card (KCC)	1998 (revamped 2020)	Agriculture/NABARD	Short-term credit for farmers	Up to ₹3 lakh at 4% interest (after subsidy)
e-NAM	2016	Agriculture	Online trading platform for agricultural produce	1,361 mandis integrated across 23 states
Soil Health Card	2015	Agriculture	Soil testing and nutrient recommendation	Free soil testing for all farmers
PM Kisan Samman Nidhi	2019	Agriculture	Same as PM-KISAN (full name)	11+ crore beneficiaries
Namo Drone Didi	2023	Agriculture	Drones to women SHGs for agricultural use	15,000 SHGs to get drones; ₹15 lakh subsidy per drone
PM Kisan Maandhan	2019	Agriculture	Pension scheme for small/marginal farmers	₹3,000/month after age 60; ₹55–₹200/month contribution

Exam tip: PM-KISAN is the single most asked agriculture scheme. Remember: ₹6,000 per year, 3 instalments, all landholding farmer families (no income criterion), direct bank transfer.

Health Schemes

Scheme	Year	Ministry/Agency	Key Feature	Amount/Target
Ayushman Bharat – PMJAY	2018	Health	World's largest health insurance scheme	₹5 lakh/family/year for secondary & tertiary care; 55 crore beneficiaries
PM Jan Aushadhi Yojana	2008 (revamped 2015)	Chemicals & Fertilizers	Affordable generic medicines through Jan Aushadhi Kendras	10,000+ stores; medicines at 50–90% cheaper than branded
Mission Indradhanush	2014	Health	Full immunisation of children under 2 years	Targets 90% immunisation coverage
Ayushman Bharat – Health & Wellness Centres	2018	Health	Primary healthcare centres at village level	1.5 lakh centres across India
PM National Dialysis Programme	2016	Health	Free dialysis for BPL patients	Available at district hospitals via PPP model
AMRIT (Affordable Medicines and Reliable Implants for Treatment)	2015	Health	Discounted cancer and cardiac medicines/implants	Medicines at 50–90% discount

Exam tip: Ayushman Bharat PMJAY is the most tested health scheme. Key facts: ₹5 lakh per family per year, cashless and paperless, covers 1,949 procedures, based on SECC 2011 data for beneficiary identification.

Education and Skill Development Schemes

Scheme	Year	Ministry/Agency	Key Feature	Amount/Target
Samagra Shiksha Abhiyan	2018	Education	Integrated scheme for school education (pre-school to Class 12)	Merged SSA, RMSA, and Teacher Education schemes
PM YASASVI	2023	Social Justice	Scholarship for OBC/EBC/DNT students	₹75,000 (Class 9–10) and ₹1,25,000 (Class 11–12) per year
National Education Policy (NEP) 2020	2020	Education	Overhaul of education structure — 5+3+3+4 replacing 10+2	6% GDP target for education spending
Skill India Mission	2015	Skill Development	Skill training for youth	Target: 40 crore people by 2022 (extended); PMKVY is the flagship component
PM Kaushal Vikas Yojana (PMKVY)	2015	Skill Development	Short-term skill training with certification	Free training + ₹8,000 reward on certification
Digital Saksharta Abhiyan (DISHA)	2017	Electronics & IT	Digital literacy for rural households	Target: 6 crore rural households
National Apprenticeship Promotion Scheme (NAPS)	2016	Skill Development	Promote apprenticeship in industry	25% stipend sharing by govt (up to ₹1,500/month)

Housing Schemes

Scheme	Year	Ministry/Agency	Key Feature	Amount/Target
PM Awas Yojana – Gramin (PMAY-G)	2016	Rural Development	Pucca house for rural BPL families	₹1.20 lakh (plains), ₹1.30 lakh (hilly/difficult areas) + MGNREGA labour
PM Awas Yojana – Urban (PMAY-U)	2015	Housing & Urban Affairs	Affordable housing for urban poor	Interest subsidy of 3–6.5% on home loans; ₹2.67 lakh max subsidy for EWS
PM Awas Yojana 2.0	2024	Housing & Urban Affairs	Extension with enhanced targets	3 crore additional houses; ₹10 lakh assistance under BLC

Exam tip: PMAY questions often test the difference between rural and urban components, the subsidy amounts, and the income categories (EWS, LIG, MIG-I, MIG-II).

Employment and Entrepreneurship Schemes

Scheme	Year	Ministry/Agency	Key Feature	Amount/Target
MGNREGA	2005 (2006 implementation)	Rural Development	Guaranteed 100 days of wage employment per rural household	₹267–₹374/day (varies by state); world's largest employment guarantee
PM Rozgar Mela	2022	DoPT	Recruitment drive for 10 lakh government posts	Direct appointment letters to selected candidates
Startup India	2016	DPIIT/Commerce	Tax benefits, funding, and regulatory support for startups	3-year tax holiday, self-certification, ₹10,000 crore Fund of Funds
PLI Scheme (Production Linked Incentive)	2020	Various ministries	Incentivise domestic manufacturing	₹1.97 lakh crore across 14 sectors
PM Vishwakarma	2023	MSME	Support for traditional artisans and craftspeople	₹13,000 crore; collateral-free loans up to ₹3 lakh; skill training
PM Employment Generation Programme (PMEGP)	2008	MSME/KVIC	Subsidy for setting up micro enterprises	15–35% subsidy on projects up to ₹50 lakh (manufacturing) / ₹20 lakh (service)

Women and Child Development Schemes

Scheme	Year	Ministry/Agency	Key Feature	Amount/Target
Beti Bachao Beti Padhao	2015	WCD	Improve child sex ratio and girls' education	Multi-sectoral campaign across all districts
PM Matru Vandana Yojana (PMMVY)	2017	WCD	Cash incentive for pregnant women	₹5,000 in 3 instalments (₹11,000 for 2nd girl child)
Ujjwala Yojana	2016	Petroleum & Natural Gas	Free LPG connections for BPL women	10+ crore connections; ₹1,600 per connection
One Stop Centre (Sakhi)	2015	WCD	Integrated support for women facing violence	700+ centres providing medical, legal, counselling, and police support
PM CARES for Children	2021	PM Office	Support for children orphaned during COVID	₹10 lakh corpus at age 18; free education; health insurance till age 23
Mission Shakti	2022	WCD	Umbrella scheme for women's safety and empowerment	Includes Sambal (One Stop Centre, Mahila Police Volunteer) and Samarthya (Beti Bachao, PMMVY, creches)

Infrastructure Schemes

Scheme	Year	Ministry/Agency	Key Feature	Amount/Target
Bharatmala Pariyojana	2017	Road Transport & Highways	National highway development	83,677 km of roads; ₹10.63 lakh crore budget
Sagarmala	2015	Ports, Shipping & Waterways	Port-led development and coastal connectivity	800+ projects; ₹8.57 lakh crore investment
Smart Cities Mission	2015	Housing & Urban Affairs	Transform 100 cities with smart infrastructure	100 cities selected; area-based and pan-city solutions
Jal Jeevan Mission	2019	Jal Shakti	Tap water to every rural household	Target: 19.3 crore rural households by 2024 (extended)
UDAN (Ude Desh ka Aam Nagrik)	2016	Civil Aviation	Affordable regional air connectivity	Airfare capped at ₹2,500/hr for 500 km
PM Gati Shakti	2021	Commerce	Integrated multimodal infrastructure planning	₹100 lakh crore National Master Plan
Namami Gange	2014	Jal Shakti	Clean Ganga river rejuvenation	₹20,000 crore; 407 projects in 5 states
Swachh Bharat Mission	2014	Jal Shakti / Housing & Urban Affairs	ODF India + solid waste management	12+ crore toilets built; ODF declared in 2019

Digital India Schemes

Scheme	Year	Ministry/Agency	Key Feature	Amount/Target
Digital India	2015	Electronics & IT	Umbrella programme for digital transformation	3 pillars: Digital Infrastructure, e-Governance, Digital Empowerment
UPI (Unified Payments Interface)	2016	NPCI/RBI	Real-time mobile payment system	14+ billion transactions/month (2025); world's largest real-time payment system
DigiLocker	2015	Electronics & IT	Cloud storage for official documents	300+ crore documents; linked to Aadhaar
UMANG App	2017	Electronics & IT	Unified mobile app for government services	1,900+ services from 200+ departments
Aadhaar	2009 (UIDAI)	Electronics & IT	Unique biometric identity for residents	140+ crore enrolments
BharatNet	2011 (revamped 2015)	Telecom	Broadband connectivity to gram panchayats	Target: 2.5 lakh gram panchayats with optical fibre
Common Service Centres (CSC)	2006 (expanded under Digital India)	Electronics & IT	Digital service delivery points in rural areas	5+ lakh CSCs operating as Village Level Entrepreneurs

Quick Revision: Most Frequently Asked Schemes

If you're short on time, focus on these — they appear in almost every exam:

PM-KISAN — ₹6,000/year, 3 instalments, all farmer families
Ayushman Bharat PMJAY — ₹5 lakh/family/year health cover
PM Jan Dhan Yojana — Zero-balance accounts, ₹2 lakh accident cover
PM Awas Yojana — Rural: ₹1.20 lakh; Urban: interest subsidy up to 6.5%
Ujjwala Yojana — Free LPG for BPL women
MUDRA Yojana — Shishu/Kishore/Tarun loan categories
MGNREGA — 100 days guaranteed employment
Jal Jeevan Mission — Tap water to every rural household
Startup India — 3-year tax holiday, Fund of Funds
Swachh Bharat Mission — ODF India, 12+ crore toilets

How to Study Schemes Effectively

Simply reading this list once won't help you retain it for exam day. Here's a proven approach:

Theme-based study: Study all schemes of one ministry together (as organized above) rather than randomly. This creates mental grouping
Focus on numbers: Exam questions love specific numbers — ₹6,000, ₹5 lakh, 100 days, ₹2,500. Make flashcards with scheme name on one side and key numbers on the other
Ministry mapping: Practice matching schemes to their implementing ministry — this is a common question format
Year of launch: Many questions simply ask "When was X launched?" — maintain a year-wise list
Monthly updates: New schemes are announced in every Budget session and on national occasions. Follow our Current Affairs Preparation guide to stay updated

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: How many schemes should I memorise for SSC/Banking exams? For SSC and Banking, knowing 40–50 major schemes thoroughly is sufficient. Focus on the schemes listed in the "Quick Revision" section above, plus 30–40 more from the tables. For UPSC, you need deeper understanding — not just names and numbers, but implementation challenges, beneficiary criteria, and scheme convergence. Q: Do exams ask about state government schemes too? UPSC and State PSC exams may ask about major state schemes (like Rythu Bandhu in Telangana or Kalia in Odisha). SSC and Banking exams focus almost entirely on central government schemes. If you're preparing for a specific State PSC, study that state's flagship schemes in addition to central schemes. Q: Are old schemes (pre-2014) still asked in exams? Yes. MGNREGA (2005), Aadhaar (2009), KCC (1998), and other foundational schemes are still regularly tested. Don't skip a scheme just because it's old — if it's still operational, it's still exam-relevant. Q: How do I keep track of scheme modifications and new launches? Follow the Union Budget speech (February), Independence Day speech (August 15), and monthly PIB highlights. Budget sessions are when most scheme modifications (enhanced allocation, expanded coverage, name changes) are announced. Our Government Exam Calendar 2026 tracks all major events relevant to exam preparation.