Government Schemes 2026 for UPSC Prelims Every Major Scheme, Sorted Ministry-wise
Between February and October 2026, the Union Cabinet cleared schemes worth more than ₹9 lakh crore in combined outlays. This guide arranges the important ones by nodal ministry, with outlay, tenure and the facts most likely to be turned into a statement question in UPSC Prelims 2027.
UPSC rarely asks whether you have heard of a scheme. It asks whether you know which ministry runs it, whether it is Central Sector or Centrally Sponsored, and whether the outlay in statement 2 is real. One wrong ministry name in a four-statement question can cost you an answer you were sure of.
That is why a plain list of names is not enough for Government Schemes 2026 for UPSC Prelims. You need the schemes arranged the way the examiner thinks about them: by nodal ministry, with the numbers attached. At Legacy IAS Academy, we have watched scheme questions go from easy marks to negative marking for students who revised names without context.
This guide does that work for you. Prelims 2026 took place in May, so schemes approved after that, including Semicon 2.0, PM Surya Sarovar Yojana and the NSAP restructuring, become fair game for Prelims 2027. Map them against the UPSC Prelims Syllabus 2027 and start your revision now, not in April.
How to Read Government Schemes 2026 for UPSC Prelims
Before the ministry-wise list, fix one habit. For every scheme, build a five-point card in your notes. If you can fill all five boxes from memory, you are ready for any statement question on it.
- Nodal ministry or department. This is the most common trap in scheme questions.
- Type of scheme. Central Sector (100% Centre-funded) or Centrally Sponsored (cost shared with States).
- Outlay and tenure. Most 2026 approvals run from FY 2026-27 to FY 2030-31, which matches the 16th Finance Commission cycle.
- Target or key number. For example 5,000 MW, ₹1.5 lakh or 18 trades.
- Version and predecessor. Many 2026 schemes are "2.0" versions or renamed successors of older schemes.
In 2026 many schemes were extended or renamed rather than created new. Examples include PM-KISAN to 2030-31, NSAP as Pradhan Mantri Samajik Sahayata Yojana, and Startup FoF 2.0. UPSC loves "Consider the following statements" on these: what changed, what stayed the same, and which earlier scheme it replaced. Go through the scheme questions in our UPSC Prelims previous year question papers to see the pattern for yourself.
Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers' Welfare
PM-KISAN extended to 2030-31
The Cabinet approved continuation of PM-KISAN from 2026-27 to 2030-31 with an outlay of about ₹3.15 lakh crore, the largest single scheme approval of the year. Eligible land-holding farmer families still receive ₹6,000 a year in three instalments of ₹2,000 through DBT. The scheme was launched on 24 February 2019 at Gorakhpur, Uttar Pradesh. For the static background behind farm schemes, use our GS3 Agriculture notes.
Other agriculture schemes and initiatives in news
| Scheme / Initiative | Key Facts for Prelims |
|---|---|
| Bharat-VISTAAR | Announced in Budget 2026-27; Phase 1 launched March 2026. A multilingual, voice-first AI platform for farm advisories. |
| Coconut Promotion Scheme | Budget 2026-27 announcement to raise coconut productivity. It sits alongside support for cocoa, cashew and sandalwood in coastal areas. |
| PM Dhan-Dhaanya Krishi Yojana | Completed one year on 11 October 2026. Kutch, Dahod and Chhota Udepur (Gujarat) won excellence awards. |
| Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana (RKVY) | Centrally Sponsored, launched 2007. Maharashtra became the first State to qualify for its second instalment in 2026. |
| Anhydrous Ammonia as fertiliser | Permitted for 3 years under Clause 20A of the Fertiliser (Control) Order, 1985. It must contain at least 82% nitrogen, and the aim is to cut urea imports. |
Ministry of Rural Development & Ministry of Panchayati Raj
Pradhan Mantri Samajik Sahayata Yojana (NSAP renamed)
On 14 October 2026, the Cabinet approved continuation of the National Social Assistance Programme for 2026-27 to 2030-31 with ₹53,428 crore. The programme is fully centrally funded and now carries a new name: Pradhan Mantri Samajik Sahayata Yojana. The key change is in disability pensions. Eligibility now starts at 40% disability instead of 80%, and assistance is set at ₹375 a month (ages 0–79) and ₹625 (80+). NSAP itself dates back to 15 August 1995. Our GS2 Social Justice notes cover the welfare framework behind it.
DILRMP 3.0
The Digital India Land Records Modernisation Programme 3.0 is now a Central Sector Scheme worth ₹565.50 crore for 2026-31. Remember three parts. First, Bhu-Aadhaar (ULPIN), a 14-digit ID for every land parcel. Second, 75 Registration Seva Kendras modelled on Passport Seva Kendras. Third, scaling up NAKSHA for urban land records.
Other rural governance initiatives
- Mission Samriddh Gaon (MoRD): aims for poverty-free, employment-rich villages. It is being piloted in Budni (Sehore) and Khategaon (Dewas) blocks of Madhya Pradesh.
- National Campaign on Entrepreneurship-II: runs under DAY-NRLM from 21 August to 21 November 2026. It supports the target of 6 crore Lakhpati Didis, and its enterprise cadres are called "Udyam Sakhis".
- Atmanirbhar Panchayat Programme and SAMARTH Portal (MoPR): SAMARTH is India's first unified digital platform for Panchayat Own Source Revenue. It was released along with Model OSR Rules.
- DAANVEER (MoPR): lets citizens donate computers to gram panchayats through the Meri Panchayat app.
Energy Ministries: MNRE, Power and Petroleum & Natural Gas
Energy produced the most new names in 2026, and it overlaps with Environment and Geography questions. Learn this section well, and pair it with our GS3 Environment & Ecology notes.
| Scheme | Ministry | Outlay & Tenure | Prelims Hooks |
|---|---|---|---|
| PM Surya Sarovar Yojana (PM-SSY) | MNRE (SECI implements) | ₹5,070 crore; FY 2026-27 to 2030-31 | 5,000 MW of floating solar with co-located storage of at least 2 hours (10,000 MWh). NISE puts India's floating solar potential at about 102 GWp. |
| Green Energy Corridor Phase-III | Power | ₹1,86,405 crore | Intra-State transmission plus 50 GWh of battery storage. It is meant to evacuate up to 135 GW of renewable power by FY 2032-33, and projects are bid on the BOOM model. |
| Samudra Manthan – National Offshore Exploration Scheme | Petroleum & Natural Gas | ₹84,084 crore; five years | Seismic surveys and drilling in deepwater and ultra-deepwater areas. It is aligned with HELP 2016 and OALP. |
| GOBARdhan – National Circular Bioenergy Scheme | Multi-ministry (check final guidelines) | ₹23,731 crore; FY 2026-27 to 2035-36 | Fixes an administered price of ₹2,110 per MMBTU for Compressed Biogas. The aim is a roughly ten-fold rise in CBG output. |
| Small Hydro Power Development Scheme | MNRE | Approved 18 March 2026 | Revival support for small hydro capacity. |
Floating solar is a classic UPSC question because it links three syllabus areas: energy, water bodies and land use. If PM-SSY shows up in 2027, expect a statement about evaporation savings or the storage requirement, not just the outlay. — Legacy IAS Faculty
MeitY & Commerce: Chips, Phones and Startups
Semicon 2.0 (India Semiconductor Mission 2.0)
The Cabinet approved Semicon 2.0 on 15 July 2026 with ₹1,27,500 crore, up from the ₹76,000 crore of ISM 1.0, which was approved in December 2021. It was first announced in the Union Budget 2026-27. The mission rests on six pillars: chip design, equipment and materials, fabs, ATMP/OSAT and more, with design as the first focus.
Mobile Phone Manufacturing Scheme (MPMS)
MPMS was approved on the same day as Semicon 2.0. It carries ₹62,500 crore for FY 2026-27 to 2030-31 and replaces PLI-LSEM, which ended on 31 March 2026. Manufacturers get sales-linked incentives of 2.25% to 5%. Indian brands get an extra 3% for design and R&D, and everyone can earn up to 1.5% more for sourcing key components domestically.
Startup India Fund of Funds 2.0 (DPIIT)
Approved on 14 February 2026 with a ₹10,000 crore corpus. Like FFS 1.0 (2016), it does not fund startups directly. It invests through SEBI-registered Alternative Investment Funds and prioritises deep-tech and innovative manufacturing startups. FFS 1.0 had committed its full ₹10,000 crore to 145 AIFs.
Also from Budget 2026-27
- Electronics Components Manufacturing Scheme: outlay proposed to rise from ₹22,919 crore to ₹40,000 crore.
- Biopharma SHAKTI: ₹10,000 crore over five years to make India a global hub for biologics and biosimilars.
- Container Manufacturing Scheme: about ₹10,000 crore over five years to build a domestic container-making ecosystem.
Finance, Chemicals & Fertilizers: Credit and Industrial Parks
Credit guarantees and industrial parks are best understood with the basics of banking and industrial policy in place. Our GS3 Economy notes cover that foundation.
Emergency Credit Line Guarantee Scheme (ECLGS) 5.0
The Cabinet approved ECLGS 5.0 on 5 May 2026 to help businesses facing liquidity stress from the West Asia crisis. It targets ₹2.55 lakh crore of additional credit, including ₹5,000 crore for airlines. NCGTC guarantees 100% for MSMEs and 90% for non-MSMEs and airlines, with no guarantee fee. Borrowers can get up to 20% of their peak Q4 FY26 working capital, capped at ₹100 crore, for loans sanctioned until 31 March 2027.
BHAVYA – Rasayan
The Bharat Audyogik Vikas Yojana – Rasayan (approved 24 July 2026) will build three chemical parks with ₹3,030 crore over FY 2026-27 to 2030-31. The Centre gives up to ₹1,000 crore per park, the State must put in at least ₹500 crore, and each park needs at least 8 sq km of contiguous land.
Health, Road Transport & Social Welfare
| Scheme | Ministry | Key Facts |
|---|---|---|
| PM-RAHAT | Road Transport & Highways | Launched 13 February 2026 under Section 162 of the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988. Cashless treatment up to ₹1.5 lakh per road accident victim for 7 days, on any road. Funded through the Motor Vehicle Accident Fund. |
| AB PM-JAY | Health & Family Welfare | Completed 8 years on 23 September 2026 (launched in Ranchi, 2018). Covers ₹5 lakh per family per year. West Bengal joined in June 2026 as the 36th State/UT. |
| Biovigilance Programme of India (BvPI) | Health (IPC is nodal body) | Launched 21 September 2026 to monitor adverse events in organ and tissue transplants. Completes a trio with Pharmacovigilance (drugs) and Materiovigilance (devices). |
| Nasha Mukt Yuva for Viksit Bharat Sankalp Abhiyan | Social Justice & Empowerment | A 100-week campaign for youth aged 15–35. Builds on Nasha Mukt Bharat Abhiyan (2020). |
Labour, Skilling, Sports & MSME
- PM Viksit Bharat Rozgar Yojana (Labour & Employment): ₹99,446 crore, implemented through EPFO from 1 August 2025 to 31 July 2027. It formalised over 72 lakh first-time workers in its first year.
- VISHWAS 2026 (EPFO): a one-time scheme to settle disputes over damages and penalties under Section 14B of the EPF & MP Act, 1952. It was notified on 29 June 2026 and runs for six months.
- PM-SETU (Skill Development): a ₹60,000 crore plan to upgrade ITIs, with pan-India rollout across 200 ITI clusters approved in July 2026 on a hub-and-spoke model.
- Revamped Khelo India (Youth Affairs & Sports): ₹36,441 crore for 2026-27 to 2030-31, split as ₹29,054 crore for Khelo India and ₹7,387 crore for National Sports Federations. New elements include Khelo India Feeder Schools, Khelo India Utkrishta Vidyalayas and a National Coach Accreditation Board.
- PM Vishwakarma (MSME): completed 3 years on 17 September 2026 with over 30 lakh registrations. It covers 18 trades and offers a ₹15,000 toolkit e-voucher and collateral-free loans up to ₹3 lakh at 5% interest.
Other Ministries: Quick Revision Table
| Ministry | Scheme / Initiative | One-line Hook |
|---|---|---|
| Civil Aviation | UDAN – next phase | 22 MoUs with States/UTs and a Challenge Mode Portal for aerodrome development. |
| Education | ULLAS | Uttarakhand became the 6th fully literate State (95% threshold), and Lakshadweep the first 100% literate UT. |
| Fisheries, AH & Dairying | PMMSY; Livestock Insurance Portal | PMMSY completed 6 years (₹20,050 crore). Under livestock insurance, the farmer pays 15% of the premium. |
| Textiles | Cotton Productivity Mission (Kapas Kanti) | A ₹5,659 crore mission, with the Kapas Darshan bulletin launched at CCI's foundation day. |
| Heavy Industries | PM E-DRIVE | ₹11,900 crore, extended to 31 March 2028. The e-2W subsidy is capped at ₹5,000 per vehicle. |
| Housing & Urban Affairs | Urban Challenge Fund; PM SVANidhi Street Food Hubs | UCF funding is 25% Centre, 25% State and 50% market/PPP. Each food hub gets ₹4 crore. |
Five Prelims Traps in Government Schemes 2026
- Approval date vs launch date. Budget announcement (February), Cabinet approval and notification are three different dates. Semicon 2.0 is a good example: announced in the Budget, cleared by the Cabinet in July.
- Successor confusion. MPMS replaces PLI-LSEM. Startup FoF 2.0 follows FFS 1.0. Pradhan Mantri Samajik Sahayata Yojana is NSAP under a new name.
- Funding pattern. NSAP is 100% centrally funded, while AB PM-JAY is cost-shared 60:40 with States (90:10 for NE and Himalayan States). Watch for statements that mix these up.
- Implementing agency vs nodal ministry. SECI implements PM-SSY, but MNRE is the nodal ministry. NCGTC runs ECLGS guarantees under the Department of Financial Services.
- Percentages that sound alike. ECLGS guarantees 100% for MSMEs but 90% for others. Disability pension eligibility moved from 80% to 40%. Expect one of these to be swapped in a statement.
How to Revise Government Schemes 2026 for UPSC Prelims 2027
Let's be honest. By March, you will have three hundred tabs of current affairs open and no memory of which ministry runs GOBARdhan. The fix is not more reading. It is fewer, sharper revisions.
- Build your five-point scheme cards this month, while the approvals are fresh.
- Track new Cabinet approvals as they happen through our Daily PIB Summaries, then consolidate them each month with the PIB Monthly Compilation.
- For scheme-level depth, read our Yojana and Kurukshetra monthly summaries. Kurukshetra is especially strong on rural schemes.
- Test what you remember every day with the Daily Current Affairs Quiz, and do full-length practice in the UPSC Prelims Test Series 2027.
- Don't let scheme revision crowd out Paper II. Run it alongside our CSAT preparation strategy for 2027, especially if maths isn't your strength.
- Revise ministry by ministry, not month by month. The exam tests the structure, not the calendar.
- Cross-check every outlay against the PIB release. Coaching notes and news reports sometimes round numbers differently, for example ₹1.25 lakh crore vs ₹1.27 lakh crore for ISM 2.0.
- Practise elimination. If you are sure of two of the four statements, you can often answer without knowing the other two.
Frequently Asked Questions
Will Government Schemes 2026 come in UPSC Prelims 2026 or 2027?
Prelims 2026 was held in May, so most schemes approved after that will be tested in Prelims 2027. Schemes from the Budget and early 2026, such as PM-RAHAT and Startup FoF 2.0, stay relevant too, because UPSC often looks back 12–18 months.
Which 2026 schemes are the highest priority for Prelims?
Focus first on schemes with large outlays or new concepts: Semicon 2.0, PM Surya Sarovar Yojana, Green Energy Corridor III, PM-RAHAT, GOBARdhan, the renamed NSAP and ECLGS 5.0. These have the clearest links to static syllabus topics.
Should I memorise exact outlays?
Remember the order of magnitude and the funding pattern rather than every digit. UPSC usually tests whether a figure is in lakh crore or thousand crore, or who shares the cost, more than the exact amount.
Where should I verify scheme details?
Use the PIB release of the Cabinet decision and the nodal ministry's website; our Daily Current Affairs page links these each day. Treat any summary, including this one, as a starting point, and check the final scheme guidelines before your last revision.
Key Takeaways
- Most 2026 scheme approvals will be tested in Prelims 2027, so start revising them now.
- For every scheme, learn the nodal ministry, scheme type, outlay, target and predecessor.
- Energy was the busiest area of 2026: PM-SSY, GEC-III, Samudra Manthan and GOBARdhan all deserve dedicated notes.
- Watch the renamed and "2.0" schemes: NSAP became PM Samajik Sahayata Yojana, MPMS replaced PLI-LSEM, and FoF 2.0 followed FFS 1.0.
- Expect percentage swaps in statements: 100% vs 90% guarantees, 80% vs 40% disability thresholds.
- Always verify figures against PIB before final revision, because reported outlays sometimes differ slightly.
