Government Schemes MCQs for UPSC Prelims with Answers and Explanations

This UPSC Prelims practice paper on government schemes has 15 questions on the flagship schemes that are asked again and again in the Prelims and quoted in the Mains. The questions test the year of launch, the ministry, the objective and the key numbers such as the amount of benefit. Each answer has a short explanation. After the key, you will find a scheme table, a six-point method to study any scheme, and tricks to avoid confusion.

Why Government Schemes Matter for UPSC

Schemes connect governance, economy, agriculture, social justice and current affairs in one topic. In the Prelims, the UPSC asks about the objective, the beneficiaries or the implementing agency. In the Mains, schemes are used as examples of policy, with their strengths, gaps and suggestions. A student who knows the main schemes of each sector can write better answers on poverty, health, farmers and women empowerment. Always check the latest changes from the PIB or the ministry website, because schemes are often merged or renamed.

Instructions

• Total questions: 15. Suggested time: 15 minutes.
• Each correct answer gives 2 marks and each wrong answer deducts 0.66 marks, as in the real Prelims.
• Attempt all the questions first and check the answer key only after you finish.

Practice Questions

Q1. Under the PM-KISAN scheme, eligible farmer families receive income support of
(a) Rs 3,000 per year
(b) Rs 6,000 per year
(c) Rs 12,000 per year
(d) Rs 10,000 per year

Q2. The health cover under Ayushman Bharat PM-JAY is up to
(a) Rs 1 lakh per family per year
(b) Rs 3 lakh per family per year
(c) Rs 5 lakh per family per year
(d) Rs 10 lakh per family per year

Q3. The Jal Jeevan Mission aims to provide
(a) Piped drinking water to all urban wards
(b) Functional household tap water connection to every rural home
(c) Irrigation canals to every village
(d) Sewerage connection to every household

Q4. The Swachh Bharat Mission was launched on
(a) 15 August 2014
(b) 2 October 2014
(c) 26 January 2015
(d) 1 July 2015

Q5. The Pradhan Mantri Jan Dhan Yojana is mainly related to
(a) Crop insurance
(b) Financial inclusion
(c) Rural housing
(d) Skill development

Q6. Under the Atal Pension Yojana, the guaranteed monthly pension after the age of 60 ranges from
(a) Rs 500 to Rs 2,000
(b) Rs 1,000 to Rs 5,000
(c) Rs 2,000 to Rs 8,000
(d) Rs 5,000 to Rs 10,000

Q7. The Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana provides
(a) Crop insurance to farmers
(b) Subsidised fertiliser to farmers
(c) Loans to rural women
(d) Minimum price for crops

Q8. The Beti Bachao Beti Padhao scheme was launched from
(a) Panipat in Haryana
(b) Varanasi in Uttar Pradesh
(c) Jaipur in Rajasthan
(d) Pune in Maharashtra

Q9. Under the MUDRA Yojana, the Shishu category covers loans up to
(a) Rs 10,000
(b) Rs 50,000
(c) Rs 5 lakh
(d) Rs 10 lakh

Q10. The Stand-Up India scheme supports
(a) Farmers and fishermen
(b) Women and SC/ST entrepreneurs
(c) Street vendors
(d) Ex-servicemen

Q11. The Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana provides
(a) Free LPG connections to women of BPL households
(b) Free electricity to farmers
(c) Free houses to the urban poor
(d) Free ration to all families

Q12. The Digital India programme was launched in
(a) 2014
(b) 2015
(c) 2016
(d) 2017

Q13. PM Gati Shakti is a
(a) Scheme for rural electrification
(b) National Master Plan for multimodal connectivity
(c) Scheme for solar parks
(d) Scheme for farm mechanisation

Q14. PM POSHAN is the new name of the
(a) Integrated Child Development Services
(b) Mid-Day Meal Scheme
(c) Public Distribution System
(d) National Food Security Mission

Q15. The National Education Policy 2020 replaced the 10+2 school structure with
(a) 5+3+3+4
(b) 6+3+3
(c) 4+4+4
(d) 8+4

Answer Key with Explanations

1. Q1: (b) PM-KISAN, launched in 2019, gives Rs 6,000 a year in three equal instalments of Rs 2,000 directly to the bank accounts of eligible farmer families.
2. Q2: (c) PM-JAY provides a cover of up to Rs 5 lakh per family per year for secondary and tertiary hospital care at empanelled hospitals.
3. Q3: (b) The Jal Jeevan Mission, under the Ministry of Jal Shakti, focuses on a functional tap water connection (FHTC) in every rural household.
4. Q4: (b) The Swachh Bharat Mission was launched on 2 October 2014, the birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi.
5. Q5: (b) Launched in August 2014, the scheme gives every household access to a basic bank account, along with remittance, credit, insurance and pension facilities.
6. Q6: (b) The Atal Pension Yojana is meant for workers in the unorganised sector. Subscribers aged 18 to 40 can choose a monthly pension from Rs 1,000 to Rs 5,000.
7. Q7: (a) The PMFBY, launched in 2016, gives insurance cover against crop loss from natural calamities, pests and diseases, with low premium rates for farmers.
8. Q8: (a) The scheme was launched at Panipat, Haryana, in January 2015 to improve the child sex ratio and promote the education of girls.
9. Q9: (b) MUDRA (Micro Units Development and Refinance Agency) has three categories: Shishu (up to Rs 50,000), Kishore (Rs 50,000 to Rs 5 lakh) and Tarun (Rs 5 lakh to Rs 10 lakh).
10. Q10: (b) Stand-Up India promotes greenfield enterprises by giving bank loans of Rs 10 lakh to Rs 1 crore to at least one SC/ST borrower and one woman borrower per bank branch.
11. Q11: (a) Ujjwala was launched in 2016 from Ballia, Uttar Pradesh, to give LPG connections to women of poor households and reduce indoor smoke from firewood.
12. Q12: (b) Digital India was launched on 1 July 2015 to make government services available electronically and to improve digital infrastructure and literacy.
13. Q13: (b) PM Gati Shakti, launched in October 2021, is a digital platform and master plan to coordinate infrastructure projects across roads, railways, ports, airports and waterways.
14. Q14: (b) The Mid-Day Meal Scheme was renamed PM POSHAN in 2021. It provides a hot cooked meal to children in government and government-aided schools.
15. Q15: (a) NEP 2020 proposes a 5+3+3+4 structure covering the foundational, preparatory, middle and secondary stages.

Scheme Table by Sector

A Six-Point Method to Study Any Scheme

1. Launch: Year, date and place of launch if it is famous (for example, Panipat for Beti Bachao Beti Padhao).
2. Ministry: The ministry that runs it, such as Jal Shakti for Jal Jeevan Mission.
3. Objective: One line that explains why the scheme exists.
4. Beneficiary: Who gets the benefit: farmers, women, BPL families, the unorganised sector.
5. Funding: Central sector, centrally sponsored or state scheme, and the cost sharing.
6. Issues and updates: Challenges, audit remarks and the latest news.

Make one flashcard or one row in a sheet for each scheme with these six points. Compare it with our notes on the Indian economy and governance for the background.

Central Sector vs Centrally Sponsored Schemes

A central sector scheme is fully funded and run by the Union government, as in PM-KISAN. A centrally sponsored scheme is run by the states but funded by the Centre and states together in a fixed ratio, as in many education and health programmes. This difference is a favourite of the UPSC.

Tricks for Solving Scheme Questions

• Link the name to the sector: "Fasal" means crop, "Jal" means water, "Awas" means housing and "Poshan" means nutrition.
• Remember the numbers in pairs: PM-KISAN: Rs 6,000 in three instalments; PM-JAY: Rs 5 lakh; Atal Pension: Rs 1,000 to 5,000; Stand-Up India: Rs 10 lakh to 1 crore.
• Watch for renamed schemes: The Mid-Day Meal became PM POSHAN, and the Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna was renamed in 2021. The old name may appear in the options.

How to Revise Schemes Every Week

Choose two sectors every week, read for 45 minutes and test yourself for 30 minutes. For the way to maintain current affairs notes, read our current affairs routine, and use the reports and indices practice paper for the next test.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

• Learning only the names: Know the objective and the beneficiary too.
• Mixing the launch years: Many schemes were launched in 2014 to 2016, so write the years in a timeline.
• Ignoring the ministry: A question may ask which ministry runs the scheme.
• Using outdated numbers: Check the latest benefit amount and coverage.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Which government schemes are important for UPSC?

PM-KISAN, Ayushman Bharat PM-JAY, Jal Jeevan Mission, Swachh Bharat Mission, Jan Dhan Yojana, PM Fasal Bima Yojana, Atal Pension Yojana, MUDRA, Digital India and PM Gati Shakti are important.

How much money does a farmer get under PM-KISAN?

Eligible farmer families get Rs 6,000 per year in three instalments of Rs 2,000 each.

What is the health cover under Ayushman Bharat PM-JAY?

PM-JAY gives a health cover of up to Rs 5 lakh per family per year for hospitalisation at empanelled hospitals.

Which ministry runs the Jal Jeevan Mission?

The Jal Jeevan Mission is run by the Ministry of Jal Shakti.

What is the difference between a central sector and a centrally sponsored scheme?

A central sector scheme is fully funded and run by the Centre, while a centrally sponsored scheme is shared between the Centre and the states in a set ratio.

What are the three categories of the MUDRA loan?

The categories are Shishu (up to Rs 50,000), Kishore (Rs 50,000 to Rs 5 lakh) and Tarun (Rs 5 lakh to Rs 10 lakh).

When was the Digital India programme launched?

Digital India was launched on 1 July 2015.

What is the new name of the Mid-Day Meal Scheme?

The Mid-Day Meal Scheme was renamed PM POSHAN in 2021.

How can I remember government schemes for the Prelims?

Make flashcards with the launch year, ministry, objective, beneficiary, funding and latest update, and revise two sectors every week.

Are government schemes asked in the UPSC Mains?

Yes. Schemes are used in Mains answers on governance, agriculture, health, social justice and economy, with their strengths and weaknesses.

Where can I find the latest information on schemes?

Use the PIB website, the official website of the ministry and a trusted monthly current affairs compilation.

How many scheme questions should I practise every week?

Solve about 30 to 40 scheme questions a week, and review the mistakes and any changes in the schemes.