Government Schemes Questions for SSC CGL

Financial Inclusion and Banking Schemes

These schemes aim to bring unbanked populations into the formal financial system. SSC CGL frequently tests the launch year and ministry behind these schemes. The nodal ministry is usually Ministry of Finance.

• PM Jan Dhan Yojana (PMJDY): Launched 28 August 2014, provides zero-balance bank accounts, RuPay debit card, and Rs 2 lakh accident insurance.
• PM Jeevan Jyoti Bima Yojana (PMJJBY): Life insurance scheme, Rs 2 lakh cover on death, annual premium Rs 436, age group 18-50 years.
• PM Suraksha Bima Yojana (PMSBY): Accident insurance, Rs 2 lakh cover, annual premium only Rs 20, age group 18-70 years.
• Atal Pension Yojana (APY): Launched 2015, targets unorganised sector workers, guaranteed monthly pension Rs 1000-5000 after age 60.
• Stand Up India: Launched 2016, loans between Rs 10 lakh and Rs 1 crore to SC/ST and women entrepreneurs.

Housing, Sanitation and Infrastructure Schemes

These schemes focus on basic amenities. SSC CGL tests the full form, target year, and ministry. Most of these fall under Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs or Ministry of Rural Development.

• PM Awas Yojana (PMAY): Housing for All by 2022, launched 2015, covers both urban (PMAY-U) and rural (PMAY-G) components.
• Swachh Bharat Mission: Launched 2 October 2014 (Gandhi Jayanti), aim to make India open-defecation free, nodal ministry is Jal Shakti for rural and MoHUA for urban.
• Smart Cities Mission: Launched 2015, develop 100 smart cities across India, Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs.
• AMRUT (Atal Mission for Rejuvenation and Urban Transformation): Urban infrastructure in cities with 1 lakh plus population, launched 2015.
• PM Gram Sadak Yojana (PMGSY): Rural road connectivity, originally launched 2000 under Vajpayee government — note: pre-2014 scheme still frequently asked.

Agriculture and Farmer Welfare Schemes

Agriculture schemes are heavily tested in SSC CGL. Key facts to remember are launch year, income support amount, and the ministry (Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare unless stated otherwise).

• PM Kisan Samman Nidhi (PM-KISAN): Rs 6000 per year (3 instalments of Rs 2000) direct benefit transfer to farmers, launched February 2019.
• PM Fasal Bima Yojana (PMFBY): Crop insurance scheme, launched 2016, replaced National Agricultural Insurance Scheme.
• Kisan Credit Card (KCC): Provides short-term credit to farmers, originally launched 1998 but revamped in 2019.
• PM Krishi Sinchai Yojana (PMKSY): Har Khet Ko Pani, More Crop Per Drop, launched 2015 for irrigation.
• e-NAM (National Agriculture Market): Online trading platform for agricultural produce, launched 2016, links APMCs across India.

Skill Development and Employment Schemes

These schemes target youth employment and skill building. Questions often test the full form and the nodal ministry.

• PM Kaushal Vikas Yojana (PMKVY): Skill training to youth, nodal ministry is Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship, launched 2015.
• Start-Up India: Launched 16 January 2016, promote innovation and start-ups, nodal ministry is DPIIT under Ministry of Commerce.
• Make in India: Launched 25 September 2014, boost manufacturing, nodal ministry is Ministry of Commerce and Industry.
• MUDRA Yojana (PM Micro Units Development and Refinance Agency): Loans up to Rs 10 lakh for micro enterprises — three categories: Shishu (up to Rs 50,000), Kishore (Rs 50,000-5 lakh), Tarun (Rs 5-10 lakh).
• Deendayal Antyodaya Yojana (DAY-NRLM): Rural livelihood mission, self-help groups for women.

Health and Social Security Schemes

Health schemes are a favourite in SSC CGL. The Ayushman Bharat scheme has appeared multiple times in PYQs. Remember the insurance amount and nodal ministry clearly.

• Ayushman Bharat PM Jan Arogya Yojana (AB-PMJAY): World largest health insurance scheme, Rs 5 lakh per family per year, launched September 2018, Ministry of Health.
• Pradhan Mantri Matru Vandana Yojana (PMMVY): Rs 5000 maternity benefit for first child, Ministry of Women and Child Development.
• Poshan Abhiyaan (National Nutrition Mission): Launched 2018, reduce malnutrition in children and women, Ministry of Women and Child Development.
• Beti Bachao Beti Padhao: Launched 22 January 2015 from Panipat, Haryana, address declining child sex ratio, three ministries jointly implement it.
• Sukanya Samriddhi Yojana: Savings scheme for girl child under 10 years of age, part of Beti Bachao initiative, high interest rate.

Energy and Digital India Schemes

Digital and energy schemes test the aspirant on connectivity and electrification goals. Note the launch year and target carefully.

• Digital India: Launched 1 July 2015, vision of digitally empowered society, Ministry of Electronics and IT (MeitY).
• PM Ujjwala Yojana: Free LPG connections to BPL women, launched 1 May 2016 from Ballia, UP, Ministry of Petroleum.
• Saubhagya Scheme (PM Sahaj Bijli Har Ghar Yojana): Household electrification, launched 2017, Ministry of Power.
• UDAN (Ude Desh ka Aam Naagrik): Regional air connectivity, affordable flights, launched 2016, Ministry of Civil Aviation.
• BharatNet Project: Broadband connectivity to all gram panchayats via optical fibre, Ministry of Communications.

• Confusing PMJJBY (life insurance, Rs 2 lakh, Rs 436 premium) with PMSBY (accident insurance, Rs 2 lakh, Rs 20 premium) — they sound similar but are completely different.
• Mixing up launch locations: Ujjwala Yojana was launched from Ballia UP, Beti Bachao was from Panipat Haryana — SSC directly asks this.
• Saying MUDRA loans go up to Rs 1 crore — the limit is Rs 10 lakh. Stand Up India gives Rs 10 lakh to Rs 1 crore — students swap these two.
• Forgetting that Ayushman Bharat has two components: Health and Wellness Centres (HWC) and PM-JAY insurance — only PM-JAY gives Rs 5 lakh cover.
• Assuming all schemes are under one ministry — always check the nodal ministry. Housing, Skill, Agriculture, Health are all different ministries.

• JJBS for insurance trinity: Jan Dhan (account), Jeevan Jyoti (life), Bima Suraksha (accident) — JJB = Jan, Jeevan, Bima. Premium trick: Rs 436 for life (more risk), Rs 20 for accident (cheap reminder: 20 rupee coin).
• MUDRA tiers by animal size: Shishu (baby) = smallest up to Rs 50k, Kishore (teenager) = middle up to Rs 5 lakh, Tarun (adult) = largest up to Rs 10 lakh.
• For 2014 launches remember Gandhi Jayanti launches: Swachh Bharat = 2 Oct 2014, Make in India = 25 Sept 2014, PMJDY = 28 Aug 2014 — all in the first 2 months of Modi govt.
• Beti Bachao from P-P-P: Place = Panipat, Person = PM Modi, Purpose = Protect girl child sex ratio — triple P.

• SSC CGL Tier 1 typically has 3-4 questions on government schemes. Questions are direct recall type: which year, which ministry, which amount. No calculations needed.
• Focus on schemes launched between 2014 and current year. Pre-2014 schemes asked less frequently but PMGSY (2000), KCC (1998), MGNREGS (2005) remain exceptions.
• Questions often give a description and ask the scheme name — practice both directions: name to fact AND fact to name.
• Nodal ministry questions are increasingly common in recent papers. Memorise at least the ministry for top 15 flagship schemes.
• Ayushman Bharat, PM Kisan, PMJDY, Ujjwala, and PMKVY are the five most repeated schemes in SSC CGL PYQs from 2017-2024 — master these five first before expanding.