1. Statutory Architecture: Central Sector vs Centrally Sponsored
In competitive examinations, question setters frequently test whether a welfare scheme is a Central Sector Scheme or a Centrally Sponsored Scheme (CSS):
Central Sector Schemes (CS):
- 100% Funded: Financed entirely from the Consolidated Fund of India by the Central Government.
- Implementation: Implemented directly by central ministries or central agencies.
- Examples: PM-KISAN, PM Vishwakarma, National Green Hydrogen Mission, PLI Schemes, BharatNet.
Centrally Sponsored Schemes (CSS):
- Cost Sharing: Shared between Centre and States (General States: 60:40; NE & Himalayan States: 90:10; UTs without legislature: 100% Centre).
- Implementation: Executed by State Government administrative machinery.
- Examples: PM Awas Yojana, Jal Jeevan Mission, Ayushman Bharat PM-JAY, Samagra Shiksha, MGNREGA.
2. High-Yield Welfare Schemes Compendium
| Scheme | Nodal Ministry & Type | Core Entitlements & Target Beneficiaries | Recent Milestone / Exam Focus |
|---|---|---|---|
| PM-KISAN | Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare Central Sector |
Direct income support of $6,000 per year transferred in three equal 4-monthly installments of $2,000 directly into Aadhaar-seeded bank accounts via DBT. | Covers over 11 crore farmer families. eKYC is mandatory using facial recognition on PM-KISAN mobile app. |
| Ayushman Bharat (PM-JAY) | Ministry of Health & Family Welfare / NHA Centrally Sponsored |
Health cover of $5 Lakh per family per year for secondary and tertiary hospitalization care. Cashless and paperless treatment at empanelled public & private hospitals. | 2024 Expansion: Universal coverage approved for all senior citizens aged 70 years and above, irrespective of income/socio-economic criteria. |
| Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM) | Ministry of Jal Shakti Centrally Sponsored |
Provides Functional Household Tap Connection (FHTC) providing 55 litres per capita per day (lpcd) of potable drinking water to every rural household ("Har Ghar Jal"). | Goa became the first "Har Ghar Jal" certified state; Dadra & Nagar Haveli and Daman & Diu first UT. |
| PM Vishwakarma Scheme | Ministry of MSME Central Sector |
Supports traditional artisans across 18 family-based trades (carpenters, blacksmiths, goldsmiths, potters, cobblers). Provides PM Vishwakarma ID, basic/advanced training, toolkit incentive of $15,000, and collateral-free enterprise loans up to $3 Lakh at concessional 5% interest. | Outlay: $13,000 Crore. Preserves Guru-Shishya parampara (traditional apprenticeship). |
| Production Linked Incentive (PLI) | DPIIT / Respective Ministries Central Sector |
Offers 4% to 6% financial incentive on incremental sales (over base year) of goods manufactured in India across 14 champion sectors (mobile manufacturing, medical devices, auto components, pharma). | Key driver of electronics export boom making India the 2nd largest mobile phone producer globally. |