Introduction
Since 2014, the BJP-led Narendra Modi government has initiated a series of transformative schemes aimed at promoting inclusive growth, financial empowerment, social welfare, and infrastructure development. These schemes reflect the government’s commitment to addressing various socio-economic challenges and ensuring a better quality of life for its citizens.
Key initiatives like the Pradhan Mantri Jan Dhan Yojana have revolutionized financial inclusion, bringing millions into the formal banking sector. The Make in India campaign has sought to position India as a global manufacturing hub, while Digital India aims to digitally empower every citizen.The Swachh Bharat Mission has made significant strides in improving sanitation and public health.
Schemes like the Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana and the Atal Pension Yojana have targeted specific societal needs, ensuring access to clean cooking fuel and providing financial security in old age, respectively.The Startup India initiative has fostered a culture of innovation and entrepreneurship, vital for economic growth and job creation. Moreover, the Ayushman Bharat scheme represents a landmark in healthcare, aiming to provide affordable healthcare to millions.
Each of these schemes, among others, embodies the government’s vision of a developed and self-reliant India, characterized by equitable growth and sustainable development.
List of Some Important Government Schemes
1.Pradhan Mantri Jan Dhan Yojana (PMJDY)
Launched on August 28, 2014, the Pradhan Mantri Jan Dhan Yojana (PMJDY) sought to ensure comprehensive financial inclusion by providing every household with bank accounts and access to financial services like credit, insurance, and pension. This initiative not only aimed to bridge the gap between the unbanked and banking services but also to directly transfer benefits of government schemes, eliminating middlemen and fostering transparency.
2.Make in India
With its inauguration on September 25, 2014, Make in India emerged as a flagship initiative to position India as a manufacturing hub on the global map. Targeting 25 sectors of the economy for job creation and skill enhancement, this campaign sought to attract foreign direct investment, stimulate innovation, and enhance skill development, thereby fostering economic growth and employment generation.
3.Swachh Bharat Mission (SBM)
The SBM, launched on October 2, 2014, epitomized the government’s commitment to sanitation and public health. This mission aimed at eradicating open defecation by October 2019 through the construction of toilets, promoting hygiene practices, and improving waste management. The broader vision was to pave the way for a cleaner and healthier India, with an emphasis on community participation.
4.Digital India
Unveiled on July 1, 2015, Digital India was conceived to transform India into a digitally empowered society and knowledge economy. Focused on three core components – digital infrastructure as a utility to every citizen, governance and services on demand, and digital empowerment of citizens – this initiative aimed to provide digital access to services and information to all, thereby fostering digital literacy and inclusivity.
5.Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (PMAY)
The Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (PMAY), launched on June 25, 2015, aimed to address the urban housing shortage among the EWS/LIG and MIG categories through a comprehensive mission to ensure affordable housing for all by 2022. The scheme was designed to provide central assistance to implementing agencies via States and UTs for in-situ rehabilitation of slum dwellers, promotion of affordable housing for weaker sections through credit linked subsidy, and subsidy for beneficiary-led individual house construction/enhancement.
6.Ayushman Bharat – Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB-PMJAY)
Launched on September 23, 2018,Ayushman Bharat – Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB-PMJAY) is the world’s largest health insurance/assurance scheme fully financed by the government. It provides a cover of Rs. 5 lakhs per family per year for secondary and tertiary care hospitalization across public and private empaneled hospitals in India. The scheme aims to mitigate the financial risk arising out of catastrophic health episodes, thereby ensuring health coverage for the bottom 40% of India’s population.
7.Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana (PMUY)
The Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana (PMUY) is an initiative by the Government of India aimed at safeguarding the health of women and children by providing them with clean cooking fuel, namely Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG), thus preventing health hazards associated with cooking based on fossil fuels and firewood. Launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on May 1, 2016, in Ballia, Uttar Pradesh, the scheme has been a cornerstone in promoting cleaner and more efficient cooking fuel options in rural and underprivileged households across India.
8.Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi (PM-KISAN)
Initiated on February 24, 2019,Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi (PM-KISAN)aimed to augment the income of small and marginal farmers by providing them with income support of Rs. 6,000 per year. The scheme was designed to enable them to meet their agricultural needs and support their families, thereby fostering inclusive growth.
9.Skill India
Launched on July 15, 2015, Skill India aimed at training over 40 crore people in India in different skills by 2022. It includes various initiatives like the National Skill Development Mission, the National Policy for Skill Development and Entrepreneurship 2015, Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Vikas Yojana (PMKVY), and the Skill Loan scheme, among others. The objective was to enable the youth to take up industry-relevant skill training that would help them secure a better livelihood.
10.Startup India
The Startup India initiative is a flagship campaign of the Government of India, intended to build a strong ecosystem for nurturing innovation and startups in the country. Announced on August 15, 2015, and formally launched on January 16, 2016, by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the scheme aims to empower startups to grow through innovation and design, drive sustainable economic growth, and generate large-scale employment opportunities.Announced on August 15, 2015, and formally launched on January 16, 2016, Startup India aimed to build a strong ecosystem for nurturing innovation and startups in the country. The initiative aimed to drive sustainable economic growth and generate large-scale employment opportunities.
11.Atal Pension Yojana (APY)
The Atal Pension Yojana (APY) is a government-backed pension scheme in India, primarily targeted towards the unorganized sector workers. Launched in June 2015 by the Government of India, it aims to provide a stable income to individuals in their old age, ensuring financial security and independence.
12.Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao
The “Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao” (BBBP) scheme, which translates to “Save the Daughter, Educate the Daughter,” was launched by the Indian Government on January 22, 2015. This campaign was initiated to address the issue of declining Child Sex Ratio (CSR) and to promote the welfare of girl children in India. The scheme aims on generating awareness to change societal attitudes and improve the efficiency and effectiveness of welfare services intended for girls.
13.Pradhan Mantri MUDRA Yojana (PMMY)
The Pradhan Mantri MUDRA Yojana (PMMY) is a flagship scheme of the Government of India launched on April 8, 2015, by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. MUDRA stands for Micro Units Development & Refinance Agency Ltd. The primary aim of PMMY is to provide loans up to 10 lakh to small/micro enterprises and non-corporate small business sectors that are in need of credit to grow and develop their businesses.
Conclusion
In conclusion, the array of schemes launched since 2014 underlines the Indian government’s proactive approach to governance. While challenges remain in implementation and impact assessment, the direction set forth by these initiatives holds the promise of transforming India into a more inclusive, sustainable, and economically vibrant nation. As India continues on this path of development, the continued focus on innovation, inclusivity, and sustainability will be key to realizing the full potential of these initiatives.