Important Indian Government Schemes Since Independence (1947-2026) #
This document provides a chronological list of major central government schemes in India from 1947 to 2026, including launch years and brief descriptions. The list focuses on notable schemes across sectors like agriculture, rural development, health, education, and economic reforms. Schemes are selected based on their impact and historical significance.
| Launch Year | Scheme Name | Brief Description |
|---|---|---|
| 1952 | Community Development Programme (CDP) | Aimed at overall rural development through community participation and infrastructure improvement. |
| 1960 | Intensive Agriculture Development Program (IADP) | Offered loans for seeds and fertilizers to enhance agricultural productivity. |
| 1964 | Intensive Agriculture Area Programme (IAAP) | Developed special harvest programs in selected agricultural areas. |
| 1966 | High Yielding Variety Programme (HYVP) | Boosted food grain productivity using modern inputs and varieties. |
| 1972 | Food Subsidy | Subsidized food grains for low-income groups; major financial outlay in budgets. |
| 1973 | Drought Prone Area Programme | Protected drought-affected areas through environmental balance and groundwater development. |
| 1973 | Crash Scheme for Rural Employment | Generated employment opportunities in rural regions. |
| 1975 | Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS) | Addressed malnutrition and health issues for children under 6 and mothers. |
| 1975 | Twenty Point Programme | Focused on poverty eradication and improving living standards. |
| 1977 | Urea Subsidy | Subsidized urea for farmers; significant budget allocation. |
| 1977 | Desert Development Programme | Controlled desert expansion and maintained environmental balance. |
| 1977 | Food For Work Programme | Provided food grains in exchange for labor in rural areas. |
| 1979 | Training Rural Youth for Self Employment (TRYSEM) | Offered educational and vocational training for rural youth. |
| 1980 | Integrated Rural Development Programme (IRDP) | Promoted overall development for rural poor. |
| 1980 | National Rural Employment Programme (NREP) | Generated employment for rural workforce. |
| 1980 | Interlinking of Rivers Project | Developed water resources by linking rivers. |
| 1987 | National Child Labour Projects (NCLP) | Eliminated child labor in hazardous industries. |
| 1993 | Members of Parliament Local Area Development Scheme (MPLADS) | Allowed MPs to fund local development works. |
| 1995 | National Social Assistance Programme | Provided financial aid to elderly, widows, and disabled. |
| 1995 | National Programme of Nutritional Support to Primary Education / Mid-Day Meal Scheme | Provided cooked meals in schools to improve nutrition, enrolment, attendance, and retention. |
| 1997 | Eklavya Model Residential School (EMRS) | Improved education for tribal students. |
| 1997 | National Tuberculosis Elimination Program (NTEP) | Controlled and eliminated tuberculosis. |
| 1997 | Targeted Public Distribution System (TPDS) | Targeted subsidized food grains to households below and above the poverty line. |
| 1999 | Kishore Vaigyanik Protsahan Yojana | Encouraged students in science research. |
| 2000 | Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana (PMGSY) | Provided all-weather road connectivity to rural villages. |
| 2000 | Antyodaya Anna Yojana (AAY) | Ensured food security for the poorest families. |
| 2001 | Sampoorna Grameen Rozgar Yojana | Created wage employment and community assets in rural areas. |
| 2001 | Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan (SSA) | Universalized elementary education through school infrastructure, enrolment, and teacher support. |
| 2003 | Pradhan Mantri Swasthya Suraksha Yojana (PMSSY) | Improved healthcare access through new institutions like AIIMS. |
| 2005 | Janani Suraksha Yojana | Promoted institutional deliveries to reduce maternal mortality. |
| 2005 | National Health Mission | Strengthened public health systems across India. |
| 2005 | Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission (JNNURM) | Supported urban infrastructure, governance reforms, and basic services for the urban poor. |
| 2006 | Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA) | Guaranteed 100 days of wage employment to rural households. |
| 2007 | Rashtriya Swasthya Bima Yojana (RSBY) | Provided health insurance coverage for poor and unorganized-sector workers. |
| 2011 | National Rural Livelihoods Mission / Aajeevika | Promoted self-help groups and livelihood opportunities for rural poor households. |
| 2013 | Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) | Transferred subsidies and welfare benefits directly to beneficiaries’ bank accounts. |
| 2014 | Make in India | Promoted manufacturing and investment in India. |
| 2014 | Namami Gange | Conserved and rejuvenated the Ganga River. |
| 2014 | Pradhan Mantri Jan Dhan Yojana (PMJDY) | Achieved financial inclusion through zero-balance bank accounts. |
| 2014 | Swachh Bharat Abhiyan | Nationwide campaign for cleanliness and sanitation. |
| 2015 | Beti Bachao Beti Padhao | Promoted girl child education and survival. |
| 2015 | Pradhan Mantri Mudra Yojana (PMMY) | Provided loans to micro and small enterprises. |
| 2015 | Atal Pension Yojana (APY) | Ensured pension security for the unorganized sector. |
| 2015 | Digital India | Transformed India into a digitally empowered society. |
| 2015 | Skill India | Enhanced skill development for youth employability. |
| 2015 | Soil Health Card Scheme | Provided farmers soil nutrient status and crop-wise fertilizer recommendations. |
| 2015 | Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchayee Yojana (PMKSY) | Expanded irrigation coverage and improved water-use efficiency with the motto “Har Khet Ko Pani”. |
| 2015 | Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (PMAY) | Provided housing support for urban and rural beneficiaries. |
| 2015 | Smart Cities Mission | Promoted urban renewal and technology-enabled city infrastructure. |
| 2015 | Atal Mission for Rejuvenation and Urban Transformation (AMRUT) | Improved urban water supply, sewerage, drainage, and green spaces. |
| 2015 | UJALA Scheme | Distributed LED bulbs to reduce electricity consumption and household energy costs. |
| 2016 | Startup India | Supported entrepreneurship and innovation. |
| 2016 | Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana (PMFBY) | Insured farmers against crop losses. |
| 2016 | Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Yojana | Provided relief to the poor during economic crises like COVID-19. |
| 2016 | Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana (PMUY) | Provided LPG connections to women from poor households to promote clean cooking fuel. |
| 2016 | UDAN / Regional Connectivity Scheme | Made regional air travel affordable and connected underserved airports. |
| 2017 | Saubhagya / Pradhan Mantri Sahaj Bijli Har Ghar Yojana | Provided last-mile electricity connections to unelectrified households. |
| 2018 | Ayushman Bharat - Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (PM-JAY) | Provided health insurance cover for secondary and tertiary care hospitalization. |
| 2018 | POSHAN Abhiyaan | Improved nutritional outcomes for children, adolescent girls, pregnant women, and lactating mothers. |
| 2018 | Pradhan Mantri Annadata Aay SanraksHan Abhiyan (PM-AASHA) | Supported remunerative prices for farmers through procurement and price-support mechanisms. |
| 2019 | Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi (PM-KISAN) | Offered income support to small and marginal farmers. |
| 2019 | Jal Jeevan Mission | Aimed to provide functional household tap connections to rural households. |
| 2019 | PM-KUSUM | Supported solar pumps, grid-connected solar power, and farmer income through renewable energy. |
| 2020 | Atmanirbhar Bharat Abhiyan | Promoted self-reliance through economic stimulus packages. |
| 2020 | Pradhan Mantri Street Vendor’s AtmaNirbhar Nidhi (PM SVANidhi) | Provided collateral-free loans to street vendors. |
| 2020 | Mission Karmayogi | Built capacity for civil servants through training. |
| 2020 | Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana (PMMSY) | Boosted fisheries sector and exports. |
| 2020 | Garib Kalyan Rojgar Abhiyaan | Created employment for migrant workers post-COVID. |
| 2020 | Mission COVID Suraksha | Accelerated COVID-19 vaccine development. |
| 2020 | SVAMITVA Scheme | Used drone surveys to provide property cards and land records in rural inhabited areas. |
| 2020 | PM Formalisation of Micro Food Processing Enterprises (PMFME) | Supported micro food-processing units through credit-linked subsidy and capacity building. |
| 2021 | Production Linked Incentive (PLI) Scheme | Incentivized manufacturing in key sectors (expanded from 2020). |
| 2021 | Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission | Created digital health ecosystem. |
| 2021 | PM MITRA Parks | Developed integrated textile parks to strengthen the textile value chain. |
| 2022 | PM Gati Shakti | Integrated infrastructure planning for multimodal connectivity. |
| 2022 | PM SHRI Schools | Developed selected existing schools as model schools aligned with the National Education Policy. |
| 2022 | PM-DevINE | Funded infrastructure and livelihood projects in the North Eastern Region. |
| 2023 | Vibrant Villages Programme | Developed border villages for security and tourism. |
| 2023 | PM Vishwakarma | Supported traditional artisans and craftspeople through skill training, tools, credit, and market linkage. |
| 2023 | Pradhan Mantri Janjati Adivasi Nyaya Maha Abhiyan (PM-JANMAN) | Targeted development support for Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups. |
| 2024 | Lakhpati Didi | Empowered women to become lakhpatis through self-help groups. |
| 2024 | PM Surya Ghar: Muft Bijli Yojana | Supported rooftop solar installation for households with free electricity up to specified limits. |
| 2024 | Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana - Urban 2.0 | Continued affordable urban housing support for poor and middle-class families. |
| 2024 | Pradhan Mantri Janjatiya Unnat Gram Abhiyan | Focused on saturation of critical social infrastructure gaps in tribal-majority villages. |
| 2025 | Pradhan Mantri Dhan-Dhaanya Krishi Yojana | Enhanced agricultural productivity and farmer welfare (announced in Budget 2025-26). |
| 2025 | Rural Prosperity and Resilience Scheme | Focused on rural economic resilience and infrastructure (Budget 2025-26). |
| 2025 | Urban Challenge Fund | Supported market-led urban transformation, city redevelopment, and water and sanitation projects. |
| 2025 | National Mission on High Yielding Seeds | Announced to strengthen research, seed availability, and climate-resilient high-yielding varieties. |
| 2025 | Mission for Aatmanirbharta in Pulses | Launched to improve pulse productivity, expand cultivation area, and strengthen procurement and processing. |
| 2026 | Regional Connectivity Scheme - Modified UDAN | Approved for FY 2026-27 to FY 2035-36 to expand regional air connectivity and support underserved areas. |
| 2026 | India Semiconductor Mission 2.0 | Announced in Union Budget 2026-27 to strengthen India’s semiconductor manufacturing ecosystem. |
Important West Bengal Government Schemes #
This section lists major West Bengal state schemes separately from central schemes. Dates are based on official state scheme pages where available.
| Launch Year | Scheme Name | Brief Description |
|---|---|---|
| 2013 | Kanyashree Prakalpa | Provides financial support to adolescent girls to continue education and delay early marriage. |
| 2013 | Yuvasree / Yuva Utsaha Prakalpa | Provides financial assistance to eligible unemployed youth registered with employment exchanges. |
| 2014 | Shikhashree | Provides pre-matric assistance to SC and ST day scholars in classes V to VIII. |
| 2015 | Sabooj Sathi | Distributes free bicycles to students of classes IX to XII in government and government-aided schools. |
| 2016 | Khadya Sathi | Provides subsidized food grains to eligible beneficiaries in West Bengal. |
| 2016 | Sabujshree | Gifts a sapling for every newborn child to promote environmental awareness. |
| 2016 | Swasthya Sathi | Provides health coverage through a smart-card based cashless health scheme. |
| 2017 | Samajik Suraksha Yojana | Offers social security benefits to eligible unorganized-sector workers. |
| 2018 | Rupashree Prakalpa | Provides a one-time grant of Rs. 25,000 to economically stressed families for adult daughters’ marriages. |
| 2019 | Krishak Bandhu | Provides financial assistance and life insurance support to farmers and sharecroppers. |
| 2019 | Aikyashree | Provides scholarships and educational support for minority students. |
| 2020 | Jai Bangla Pension Scheme | Consolidates social pension schemes for elderly, widow, disabled, SC, ST, and other eligible beneficiaries. |
| 2020 | Bangla Sahayata Kendra (BSK) | Offers free single-window access to government services and welfare schemes. |
| 2020 | Jal Swapno | Aims to provide household tap water connections across rural West Bengal. |
| 2021 | Lakshmir Bhandar | Provides monthly income support to eligible women to promote financial empowerment. |
| 2021 | Duare Sarkar | Delivers government services and scheme access through outreach camps near citizens. |
| 2021 | Duare Ration | Provides ration items at the doorstep of beneficiaries covered under Khadya Sathi. |
| 2021 | West Bengal Student Credit Card Scheme | Provides education loans to students for higher studies in India and abroad. |
| 2022 | Medhashree | Provides state-funded pre-matric scholarships for OBC students in classes V to VIII. |
| 2025 | Amader Para Amader Samadhan | Lets citizens identify and prioritize local booth-area problems for government implementation. |
| 2026 | Banglar Yuba Sathi | Provides monthly financial assistance to eligible unemployed educated youth aged 21 to 40 years. |
Sources For Verification #
- National Portal of India - Government Schemes
- Prime Minister of India - Major Initiatives
- Union Budget 2025-26 implementation status
- Prime Minister of India - PM Dhan-Dhaanya Krishi Yojana
- Prime Minister of India - Urban Challenge Fund
- Prime Minister of India - Modified UDAN
- West Bengal CMO - Important Schemes
- Bangla Sahayata Kendra - Scheme Directory
- Government of West Bengal - Sabooj Sathi