Society & Welfare
Welfare and Development Programmes
Central Welfare Schemes: Architecture and Flagships
Central welfare schemes for CGPSC GS-V: Central Sector vs CSS, DBT, and flagships for food, health, housing, water and work (as of 2026).
Prerequisites
- Directive Principles and Fundamental Duties: Articles 38, 39, 41, 42 and 47 are the constitutional source of the welfare state
- Poverty, Unemployment and Inclusive Growth: poverty lines and the history of anti-poverty programmes
- Centre-State Relations: grants under Articles 275 and 282, which fund most schemes
The Hook: One Household, Ten Schemes
Connect
Take one Baiga household in Kabirdham district in 2026. The eldest woman’s name is on the ration card, so the family gets free rice. The new pucca house came under PMAY-Gramin. A tap in the courtyard came under the Jal Jeevan Mission. The gas cylinder came under Ujjwala, the hospital bill was covered by an Ayushman card, and the husband’s wage work now falls under the VB-G RAM G Act. The mother gets Mahtari Vandan money from the State, and the grandfather draws an old-age pension.
That is ten schemes and at least five ministries, with two governments sharing the cost. How is this system designed? Who pays for what, how does money reach the household, and which central schemes must a GS-V answer name?
Why it matters: Mains P-VII GS-V names “welfare programmes” directly. Questions ask you to evaluate a scheme, compare approaches (cash vs kind, targeted vs universal) or examine Centre-State issues in welfare. You need a frame (this page), the facts of the flagships (this page, plus the linked Economy pages), and the analysis tools in Evaluating Welfare Schemes.
Dates on every figure
Schemes are renamed, merged, extended and re-funded every budget. Every amount and status below is as of 2026 unless another date is given. In an answer, write “as of 2026” or the year of the figure.
The Constitutional Basis of Welfare
India’s welfare state (कल्याणकारी राज्य) rests on the Directive Principles of State Policy (Part IV). They are not enforceable in court, but they are “fundamental in the governance of the country” (Article 37).
| Article | Welfare principle | Schemes that give it effect |
|---|---|---|
| 38 | Social order with justice; minimise inequality of income | All redistributive schemes |
| 39(a) | Adequate means of livelihood for all citizens | Wage employment (VB-G RAM G), DAY-NRLM |
| 41 | Right to work, education and public assistance in old age, sickness, disability | Rural work guarantee, NSAP pensions |
| 42 | Just and humane conditions of work and maternity relief | PMMVY, Maternity Benefit Act |
| 45 | Early childhood care and education up to age 6 | Anganwadi services |
| 46 | Educational and economic interests of SCs, STs and weaker sections | Scholarships, tribal sub-plans, PM-JANMAN |
| 47 | Raise nutrition levels and public health | NFSA, Poshan 2.0, PM-JAY |
Courts have read several of these into Article 21 (right to life). The right to food litigation (PUCL v. Union of India, from 2001) turned the mid-day meal and ICDS into court-monitored entitlements and paved the way for the NFSA, 2013.
How Central Schemes Are Built
Central Sector vs Centrally Sponsored
| Feature | Central Sector Scheme (केंद्रीय क्षेत्र योजना) | Centrally Sponsored Scheme, CSS (केंद्र प्रायोजित योजना) |
|---|---|---|
| Funding | 100% by the Centre | Shared between the Centre and States |
| Implementation | Central ministry or its agencies (often straight to the beneficiary) | State governments implement |
| Subjects | Mostly Union List subjects, or direct transfers | Mostly State and Concurrent List subjects (health, agriculture, rural development) |
| Examples | PM-KISAN, PM Vishwakarma, PM SVANidhi | PMAY-G, Jal Jeevan Mission, Saksham Anganwadi and Poshan 2.0, NHM, the rural work guarantee |
The 2015 rationalisation of CSS
After the 14th Finance Commission raised the States’ share of the divisible pool of central taxes to 42% (2015–20), the Centre cut back on the number and share of CSS. A Sub-Group of Chief Ministers, set up on 9 March 2015 under the NITI Aayog Governing Council and convened by the Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister, recommended a smaller, clearer structure:
| Category | What it is | Funding pattern (general category States) |
|---|---|---|
| Core of the Core | Six umbrella schemes for social protection and inclusion: NSAP, the rural employment guarantee, and umbrella programmes for SCs, STs, minorities and other vulnerable groups | Existing pattern retained (largely or fully central) |
| Core | Schemes for national priorities (housing, drinking water, health, nutrition, education, agriculture) | 60:40 (Centre:State); 90:10 for North-Eastern and Himalayan States |
| Optional | States may choose to join | 50:50; 80:20 for NE and Himalayan States |
The Sub-Group also recommended that the number of CSS should not exceed 30 and that States get flexibility to use part of the funds for local needs.
Why this matters for Chhattisgarh in 2026
Most big welfare schemes are now Core schemes at 60:40. Since 1 July 2026, rural wage employment under the VB-G RAM G Act has also moved to 60:40 for general category States, whereas under MGNREGA the Centre paid all unskilled wages. For a revenue-limited State like Chhattisgarh, which also funds large schemes of its own (Mahtari Vandan, Krishak Unnati), the State share of central schemes is a growing fiscal pressure. See Financial Relations.
The delivery backbone: DBT and JAM
- Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) (प्रत्यक्ष लाभ अंतरण) began on 1 January 2013. Cash goes straight into the beneficiary’s bank account instead of passing through intermediaries.
- It runs on the JAM trinity: Jan Dhan accounts (PMJDY, 28 August 2014), Aadhaar identification and Mobile phones. The term was popularised by the Economic Survey 2014–15.
- DBT covers both cash (PM-KISAN, PMMVY, pensions, scholarships, wages) and in-kind transfers authenticated by Aadhaar (ration at ePoS machines).
The Flagship Central Schemes by Sector (as of 2026)
The Economy chapter covers the employment, inclusion and farm schemes in depth. This table collects the flagships a GS-V answer draws on, with the design feature you would comment on.
Food and nutrition
| Scheme | Key facts | Design feature to analyse |
|---|---|---|
| National Food Security Act, 2013 (राष्ट्रीय खाद्य सुरक्षा अधिनियम) | Up to 75% rural, 50% urban population; 5 kg per person (priority households), 35 kg per household (Antyodaya); eldest woman (18+) as head of household | A legal right, not a scheme |
| PM Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana (PMGKAY) | NFSA grain free since 1 January 2023; extended from 1 January 2024 for five years | Universal free grain within NFSA coverage |
| PM POSHAN | Renamed the Mid-Day Meal Scheme in 2021; hot cooked meals in government schools | Nutrition + school attendance |
| Saksham Anganwadi and Poshan 2.0 | Anganwadi services for children under 6, pregnant and lactating women; about 13.9 lakh anganwadi centres (2026) | See Women and Child Development |
Health
| Scheme | Key facts | Design feature |
|---|---|---|
| National Health Mission | NRHM (2005) + NUHM (2013); ASHA workers; Janani Suraksha Yojana (2005, cash for institutional delivery) | Public provision plus conditional cash |
| Ayushman Bharat: PM-JAY (प्रधानमंत्री जन आरोग्य योजना) | Launched 23 September 2018; ₹5 lakh per family per year for secondary and tertiary hospital care | Insurance model: the State buys care from public and private hospitals |
| PM-JAY for the elderly | From 29 October 2024, all citizens aged 70+ regardless of income (Ayushman Vay Vandana card); families already covered get a top-up of up to ₹5 lakh for the 70+ member | A universal, age-based health entitlement |
| Ayushman Arogya Mandir | Health and Wellness Centres (the other pillar of Ayushman Bharat) renamed; primary care, screening, free medicines | Prevention and primary care |
Housing, water, sanitation and energy
| Scheme | Key facts | Design feature |
|---|---|---|
| PMAY-Gramin (from 1 April 2016) | Restructured Indira Awaas Yojana; ₹1.20 lakh (plains) / ₹1.30 lakh (hilly, difficult, IAP districts); beneficiaries from SECC 2011 and Awaas+ lists, verified by the Gram Sabha; extended to build 2 crore more houses by 2028–29 | Asset creation; women’s ownership encouraged |
| PMAY-Urban (June 2015) and PMAY-U 2.0 (2024) | EWS/LIG/MIG urban housing; 2.0 targets 1 crore more homes | Credit-linked and beneficiary-led options |
| Swachh Bharat Mission (2 October 2014) | Toilets for open-defecation-free (ODF) villages; rural India declared ODF on 2 October 2019; Phase II focuses on ODF Plus (solid and liquid waste management) | Behaviour change, not only construction |
| Jal Jeevan Mission (announced 15 August 2019) | Functional household tap connections (“Har Ghar Jal”); about 15.8 crore of 19.36 crore rural households (about 82%) had taps by early 2026; the Union Cabinet extended the mission to December 2028 (March 2026), shifting focus from building pipes to service delivery | Infrastructure vs reliable supply |
| PM Ujjwala Yojana (1 May 2016, Ballia) | Free LPG connections in the name of women of poor households; Ujjwala 2.0 in 2021 | Access is easy; refills are the test |
Work, livelihoods, social security and farmers
| Scheme | Key facts (details in Economy chapters) |
|---|---|
| VB-G RAM G Act, 2025 | Replaced MGNREGA from 1 July 2026; 125 days per rural household; up to a 60-day farm-season pause; 60:40 funding (90:10 NE/Himalayan). See Poverty Alleviation and Employment Programmes |
| DAY-NRLM (June 2011) | Women’s SHGs; Lakhpati Didi; Chhattisgarh’s version is Bihan (बिहान) |
| NSAP (15 August 1995) | Old-age, widow and disability pensions; family benefit |
| PMJJBY / PMSBY / APY (9 May 2015) | Life cover ₹2 lakh (₹436 a year) / accident cover ₹2 lakh (₹20 a year) / pension ₹1,000–₹5,000 |
| PM-KISAN (2019) | ₹6,000 a year in three instalments to landholding farmer families; Central Sector. See Crop Insurance and Income Support |
Tribal and area programmes
| Scheme | Key facts |
|---|---|
| Aspirational Districts Programme (January 2018) | 112 districts; convergence, collaboration, competition; several are in Bastar and north Chhattisgarh |
| PM-JANMAN (15 November 2023) | Saturation mission for PVTGs; in Chhattisgarh: Baiga, Kamar, Pahadi Korwa, Birhor, Abujhmaria |
| Dharti Aaba Janjatiya Gram Utkarsh Abhiyan (2024) | Saturation of basic services in tribal-majority villages through convergence of many ministries |
Analysis: Patterns in India’s Welfare Design (Mains material)
- From schemes to rights (2005–2013): RTI (2005), NREGA (2005), Forest Rights Act (2006), RTE (2009) and NFSA (2013) turned benefits into legal entitlements with grievance redress.
- From subsidies to “new welfarism” (2014 onwards): the State delivers private goods (a bank account, a house, a toilet, a gas connection, a tap, cash) through DBT, at scale and with visible results. Critics say public goods (school quality, primary health care) got less attention.
- From targeted to near-universal: free NFSA grain, PM-JAY for all 70+, and Har Ghar Jal aim at saturation rather than BPL targeting.
- Centralised design, State delivery: ministries in Delhi design guidelines, but States implement and increasingly co-fund. States complain of one-size-fits-all rules and branding; the Centre points to national standards and monitoring dashboards.
- Convergence is the frontier: a PMAY house is built with VB-G RAM G labour days, a toilet from SBM, a tap from JJM and a gas connection from Ujjwala. Saturation missions (PM-JANMAN, Dharti Aaba, and the State’s Niyad Nellanar) are built on this idea.
Memory Tricks
Constitutional welfare articles: '38-39-41-42-47'
“Justice, Livelihood, Work, Mothers, Nutrition”: Art 38 social justice, 39 livelihood, 41 right to work and public assistance, 42 maternity relief, 47 nutrition and health.
CSS funding: 'Core 60, Optional 50, Hills 90'
Core schemes 60:40, Optional 50:50, NE and Himalayan States 90:10 for core schemes. Core of the Core = the six “protection” schemes (pensions, rural jobs, SC, ST, minorities, other vulnerable groups).
The 2014–19 'household kit' order: B-T-G-H-W
Bank account (PMJDY, Aug 2014) → Toilet (SBM, Oct 2014) → Gas (Ujjwala, May 2016) → House (PMAY-G, Apr 2016) → Health card (PM-JAY, Sept 2018) → Water tap (JJM, Aug 2019).
Don’t Confuse
| This | vs | That |
|---|---|---|
| Central Sector: 100% Centre (PM-KISAN) | vs | Centrally Sponsored: shared, State implements (PMAY-G, JJM) |
| Core CSS: 60:40 | vs | Optional CSS: 50:50 |
| PM-JAY: ₹5 lakh per family per year | vs | Vay Vandana card: all 70+, regardless of income (Oct 2024) |
| NFSA: legal entitlement (2013) | vs | PMGKAY: makes the NFSA grain free (2023; 5-year extension from 2024) |
| Ayushman Arogya Mandir: primary care centres | vs | PM-JAY: hospital insurance |
| SBM (2014): toilets, ODF | vs | JJM (2019): tap water; extended to Dec 2028 |
| MGNREGA (2005–2026): Centre paid all unskilled wages | vs | VB-G RAM G (from 1 July 2026): 60:40 sharing |
Common Mistakes
Trap 1: MGNREGA as a current scheme
From 1 July 2026, rural wage employment runs under the VB-G RAM G Act, 2025. A 2026 answer that calls MGNREGA “the current flagship” is out of date. Use MGNREGA for history and comparison.
Trap 2: PM-JAY coverage per person
PM-JAY gives ₹5 lakh per family per year, not per person. The 70+ extension adds a separate cover, shared by the 70+ members, or a top-up for families already covered.
Trap 3: 'Centrally sponsored' means the Centre pays everything
No. That is a Central Sector scheme. In a Centrally Sponsored scheme the State shares the cost (usually 40% in Chhattisgarh’s case) and implements it.
Trap 4: JJM ended in 2024
The original target year was 2024. The Union Budget 2025–26 announced an extension, and the Cabinet in March 2026 approved the mission up to December 2028 with a restructured, service-delivery focus.
Practice
These are original practice questions written in CGPSC style. They are not previous-year questions.
Level 1: Foundation
- A scheme funded 100% by the Centre and implemented by a central agency is called a ________ scheme.
- Under Ayushman Bharat PM-JAY, the cover is ₹________ per ________ per year.
- The Directive Principle on raising the level of nutrition and improving public health is Article ________.
Answers
- Central Sector
- 5 lakh; family
- 47
Level 2: Prelims MCQs
Q1. Consider the following statements about Centrally Sponsored Schemes (CSS):
- They are implemented by State governments with cost sharing between the Centre and the States.
- For “core” schemes, the usual sharing ratio for general category States is 60:40.
- PM-KISAN is a Centrally Sponsored Scheme with 60:40 sharing.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
- (a) 1 only
- (b) 1 and 2 only
- (c) 2 and 3 only
- (d) 1, 2 and 3
Answer and explanation
(b) 1 and 2 only. CSS are State-implemented and cost-shared; core schemes follow 60:40 (90:10 for NE and Himalayan States). PM-KISAN is a Central Sector scheme, 100% centrally funded, so statement 3 is wrong.
Q2. Match List-I (Scheme) with List-II (Launch):
| List-I | List-II |
|---|---|
| A. Swachh Bharat Mission | 1. 1 May 2016 |
| B. PM Ujjwala Yojana | 2. 23 September 2018 |
| C. Ayushman Bharat PM-JAY | 3. 2 October 2014 |
| D. Jal Jeevan Mission | 4. Announced 15 August 2019 |
- (a) A-3, B-1, C-2, D-4
- (b) A-1, B-3, C-2, D-4
- (c) A-3, B-2, C-1, D-4
- (d) A-3, B-1, C-4, D-2
Answer and explanation
(a) A-3, B-1, C-2, D-4. SBM began on Gandhi Jayanti 2014; Ujjwala at Ballia on 1 May 2016; PM-JAY on 23 September 2018; JJM was announced on Independence Day 2019 and has been extended to December 2028.
Q3. The “Core of the Core” category of Centrally Sponsored Schemes, recommended by the 2015 Sub-Group of Chief Ministers, mainly consists of:
- (a) infrastructure schemes such as roads and urban transport
- (b) social protection and social inclusion schemes
- (c) schemes for the North-Eastern States only
- (d) schemes that States may choose to opt out of
Answer and explanation
(b). The six core-of-the-core umbrella schemes cover social protection and inclusion: NSAP, the rural employment guarantee, and umbrella programmes for SCs, STs, minorities and other vulnerable groups. Option (d) describes optional schemes.
Q4. Which of the following statements about the Jal Jeevan Mission is correct (as of 2026)?
- (a) It was closed in 2024 after achieving 100% coverage.
- (b) It provides community standposts in every village rather than household taps.
- (c) It has been extended up to December 2028 with greater focus on service delivery.
- (d) It is a Central Sector scheme implemented directly by the Ministry of Jal Shakti.
Answer and explanation
(c). About 82% of rural households had tap connections by early 2026, short of the 2024 target, so the mission was extended to December 2028 with a restructured, service-delivery focus. It aims at household tap connections and is a centrally sponsored scheme implemented by States.
Q5. Under Ayushman Bharat PM-JAY, the October 2024 expansion covers:
- (a) all women aged 60 and above
- (b) all citizens aged 70 and above, irrespective of income
- (c) only BPL senior citizens aged 70 and above
- (d) all government pensioners
Answer and explanation
(b). From 29 October 2024, every citizen aged 70+ is eligible through the Ayushman Vay Vandana card, regardless of income. Families already covered get a top-up for their 70+ members.
Level 3: Mains Answer Writing
Q1. Distinguish between Central Sector and Centrally Sponsored Schemes. What are the concerns of States about Centrally Sponsored Schemes? (150 words)
Model answer outline
- Intro: Central schemes are of two types: Central Sector (100% Centre, centrally run) and Centrally Sponsored (cost-shared, State-run).
- Difference: funding, implementing agency, subject area; examples (PM-KISAN vs PMAY-G, JJM).
- States’ concerns:
- Fiscal burden: 40% State share in core schemes; VB-G RAM G now 60:40.
- Rigid guidelines: one-size-fits-all norms (unit costs, staffing) ignore local conditions such as Bastar’s terrain.
- Encroachment on State List subjects (health, agriculture) through conditional grants under Article 282.
- Branding and credit disputes; delays in release of central share.
- Chhattisgarh angle: a State with large own welfare schemes must find matching funds for central schemes.
- Conclusion: follow the 2015 Sub-Group’s spirit: fewer schemes, flexi-funds, and outcome-based grants.
Q2. “Indian welfare policy has shifted from providing public goods to delivering private goods at scale.” Critically examine. (250 words)
Model answer outline
- Intro: Since 2014 schemes have focused on bank accounts, toilets, gas, houses, taps, health cards and cash, often called “new welfarism”.
- Evidence for the claim: PMJDY, SBM, Ujjwala, PMAY, JJM, PM-JAY, PM-KISAN; saturation targets; DBT dashboards.
- Gains: visible, measurable benefits; women named as owners (Ujjwala, PMAY); reduced leakage via JAM; faster delivery.
- Concerns: public goods such as school learning, primary health staff and agricultural research get less attention; use matters more than access (gas refills, toilet use, tap water that actually flows); exclusion through Aadhaar failures.
- Counterpoint: NFSA, Poshan 2.0, Arogya Mandirs and JJM’s service focus show public provision continues.
- Chhattisgarh angle: PDS and PMAY-G (18,12,743 houses approved by the State cabinet on 14 December 2023) are in-kind and asset-based; the State’s own Mahtari Vandan and Krishak Unnati are cash-based.
- Conclusion: private goods and public goods complement each other; outcomes in learning, health and nutrition are the real test.
Quick Revision Table
| Fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Constitutional basis | DPSP: Art 38, 39, 41, 42, 45, 46, 47; Art 21 read with them |
| Central Sector vs CSS | 100% Centre, centrally run vs shared, State-run |
| CM Sub-Group on CSS | Set up 9 March 2015; core of the core (6), core (60:40; 90:10 NE/Himalayan), optional (50:50); max 30 schemes |
| DBT | From 1 January 2013; runs on JAM |
| NFSA / PMGKAY | 2013; 75% rural, 50% urban; free grain since 2023, extended 5 years from 1 Jan 2024 |
| PM-JAY | 23 Sept 2018; ₹5 lakh per family per year; all 70+ from 29 Oct 2024 |
| PMAY-G | 1 April 2016; ₹1.20 / ₹1.30 lakh; 2 crore more by 2028–29 |
| SBM | 2 Oct 2014; rural ODF declared 2 Oct 2019; Phase II ODF Plus |
| JJM | Announced 15 Aug 2019; about 82% rural taps (early 2026); extended to Dec 2028 |
| Ujjwala | 1 May 2016, Ballia; connections in women’s names; Ujjwala 2.0 in 2021 |
| Rural work | VB-G RAM G from 1 July 2026: 125 days, 60:40 |
Key Takeaways
Key Takeaways
- Welfare schemes give effect to the Directive Principles, especially Articles 38, 39, 41, 42 and 47.
- Central Sector schemes are fully central; Centrally Sponsored schemes are shared (core 60:40) and run by States.
- DBT on the JAM trinity is the delivery backbone of central welfare.
- The flagships cover food (NFSA, PMGKAY), health (PM-JAY, Arogya Mandirs), housing (PMAY), water and sanitation (JJM, SBM), energy (Ujjwala), work (VB-G RAM G) and tribal saturation (PM-JANMAN).
- Every figure is time-bound: JJM extended to 2028, PM-JAY widened to all 70+, and MGNREGA replaced in 2026.
What’s Next
- Chhattisgarh Welfare Schemes: A Mains Analysis: how the State’s own schemes add to the central base
- Women and Child Development: Poshan 2.0, Mission Shakti and Mission Vatsalya
- Evaluating Welfare Schemes: targeting, cash vs kind, freebies and outcomes
- Inclusive Growth and Social Security: financial inclusion and social security in detail
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