1 . PM-AJAY (Pradhan Mantri Anusuchit Jaati Abhyuday Yojana)
Syllabus Mapping: GS II: Welfare Schemes for Vulnerable Sections • Social Justice • Inclusive Development
- The Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment informed Parliament that the Government has proposed the continuation of PM-AJAY for 2026–31 with an enhanced financial outlay.
- An independent evaluation by the Development Monitoring and Evaluation Office (DMEO), NITI Aayog found the scheme to have improved infrastructure, education, livelihoods and overall quality of life in Scheduled Caste-dominated villages.
- PM-AJAY (Pradhan Mantri Anusuchit Jaati Abhyuday Yojana) is a Central Sector Scheme launched in 2021-22 for the socio-economic development of Scheduled Castes (SCs).
- The scheme is implemented by the Department of Social Justice & Empowerment, under the Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment.
- PM-AJAY subsumed three erstwhile schemes:
- Pradhan Mantri Adarsh Gram Yojana (PMAGY)
- Special Central Assistance (SCA) to Scheduled Caste Sub Plan (SCSP)
- Babu Jagjivan Ram Chhatrawas Yojana (BJRCY)
- It has three components:
- Adarsh Gram – Development of SC-majority villages through gap-filling infrastructure and basic civic amenities.
- Grants-in-Aid (GIA) – Support for livelihood generation, skill development and income-generating projects.
- Hostels – Construction of hostels to improve educational access for Scheduled Caste students.
- The scheme contributes to the constitutional mandate under Article 46, which directs the State to promote the educational and economic interests of Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes and other weaker sections.
- The Development Monitoring and Evaluation Office (DMEO) is an evaluation arm of NITI Aayog, responsible for conducting independent assessments of major Government programmes and schemes.
2. Coastal Cargo Promotion Scheme (CCPS)
Syllabus Mapping: GS III: Infrastructure • Ports • Logistics • Blue Economy
The Union Budget 2026–27 announced the Coastal Cargo Promotion Scheme (CCPS) to increase the combined share of coastal shipping and inland waterways in India’s freight movement from 6% to 12% by 2047.
- Coastal shipping refers to the movement of goods and passengers between Indian ports without calling at a foreign port and is a cost-effective, fuel-efficient and low-carbon mode of transport.
- The Government provides a 40% concession on vessel- and cargo-related port charges for coastal cargo vessels to promote modal shift from road to waterways.
- A Priority Berthing Policy has been notified to reduce turnaround time and improve utilization of coastal vessels.
- GST on bunker fuel used by Indian-flag coastal vessels has been reduced from 18% to 5% to lower operating costs.
- A Green Channel Clearance system has been introduced for faster evacuation of coastal cargo at ports.
- The Coastal Shipping Act, 2025 provides the statutory framework for regulating and promoting coastal shipping in India.
- Operational Ro-Pax services include:
- Ghogha–Hazira (Gujarat): Reduces travel time from 12 hours by road to about 4 hours by sea.
- Mumbai–Mandwa (Maharashtra): Reduces travel time to Alibaug from about 4 hours to nearly 1 hour.
- More than 65 lakh passengers and 15 lakh vehicles/cargo trucks have benefited from Ro-Pax and passenger ferry services.
- Dedicated coastal berths have been developed at 10 major ports, including JNPA, Mumbai, Chennai, Cochin, Paradip, Visakhapatnam, Kamarajar, New Mangalore, Syama Prasad Mookerjee and V.O. Chidambaranar Ports.
- Promotion of coastal shipping complements flagship initiatives such as Sagarmala Programme, PM Gati Shakti National Master Plan, and the Maritime India Vision 2030, aimed at reducing logistics costs and strengthening the Blue Economy.
3. Start-up Village Entrepreneurship Programme (SVEP)
Syllabus Mapping: GS II: Poverty Alleviation • Rural Development • Self-Help Groups | GS III: Inclusive Growth • Entrepreneurship
- The Ministry of Rural Development highlighted the progress of the Start-up Village Entrepreneurship Programme (SVEP), under which 32 lakh rural enterprises have been supported (as of 30 June 2026).
- Around 86% of entrepreneurs belong to SC, ST, OBC and Minority communities, making SVEP a key instrument for inclusive rural entrepreneurship and non-farm livelihood promotion.
- SVEP, launched in 2016, is a sub-scheme of Deendayal Antyodaya Yojana – National Rural Livelihoods Mission (DAY-NRLM).
- The programme promotes non-farm micro-enterprises by providing business training, mentoring, financial assistance, market linkages and institutional support to Self-Help Group (SHG) members and rural households.
- It follows a community-led enterprise development model, where SHGs, Village Organizations (VOs) and Community Resource Persons–Enterprise Promotion (CRP-EPs) identify, mentor and support entrepreneurs.
- DAY-NRLM is one of the world’s largest rural livelihood programmes, having mobilised over 29 crore rural households into women-led Self-Help Groups (SHGs).
- The programme is implemented through State Rural Livelihood Missions (SRLMs), while Block Resource Centres–Enterprise Promotion (BRC-EPs) coordinate implementation at the block level.
- CRP-EPs are trained and certified community professionals who provide business planning, credit facilitation, mentoring and market linkage support to rural enterprises. At least 90% are selected from SHG households, with women constituting a minimum of 60%.
- Financial support is provided through the Community Enterprise Fund (CEF), besides convergence with schemes such as the Pradhan Mantri Mudra Yojana (PMMY) and institutional bank credit.
- The programme mandates that at least 60% of beneficiaries are women, while ensuring adequate representation of SC/ST communities, minorities and persons with disabilities (PwDs).
- The programme is monitored through a centralized Management Information System (MIS) for tracking enterprise performance, fund utilisation and programme outcomes.
4. First Direct Commercial Container Freight Train to Nepal
Syllabus Mapping: GS II: India & Neighbourhood Relations • Connectivity | GS III: Infrastructure • Logistics • International Trade
- Indian Railways successfully operated the first direct commercial container freight train from Kolkata Port to Biratnagar Customs Yard (Nepal) under the revised India–Nepal Rail Transit Protocol.
- The 40-wagon train carrying canola enables seamless end-to-end rail movement of containerised cargo without transshipment at the India–Nepal border, reducing transit time, logistics costs and cargo handling.
- The service became operational following the revised Letter of Exchange (LoE) signed in November 2025, under the India–Nepal Rail Transit Protocol.
- It facilitates direct rail movement of import and export cargo, improving the efficiency, reliability and competitiveness of bilateral trade.
- Biratnagar Customs Yard is Nepal’s second rail-linked customs terminal for third-country trade after Birgunj Inland Clearance Depot (ICD).
- Containerisation refers to transporting cargo in standardised containers, enabling seamless movement across ships, railways and trucks without unloading the cargo.
- Nepal is a landlocked country and enjoys transit facilities through India under the India–Nepal Treaty of Transit, which provides access to Kolkata, Haldia and Visakhapatnam Ports for third-country trade.
- The India–Nepal Rail Services Agreement (RSA), 2004, provides the operational framework for cross-border rail freight movement, and has been revised periodically to expand rail connectivity and cargo handling facilities.
- India is Nepal’s largest trading partner and the largest source of foreign investment, with rail connectivity emerging as a key pillar of bilateral economic cooperation.
5. PM E-DRIVE Scheme (PM Electric Drive Revolution in Innovative Vehicle Enhancement)
Syllabus Mapping: GS III: Infrastructure • Electric Mobility • Energy • Manufacturing
- The PM E-DRIVE Scheme is being implemented with a financial outlay of ₹10,900 crore to accelerate electric vehicle (EV) adoption, expand charging infrastructure, and strengthen the domestic EV manufacturing ecosystem.
- PM E-DRIVE was notified in September 2024 and subsumed the Electric Mobility Promotion Scheme (EMPS), 2024.
- It is implemented by the Ministry of Heavy Industries with a total outlay of ₹10,900 crore till March 2028.
- The scheme provides demand incentives for electric two-wheelers (e-2W), electric three-wheelers (e-3W), e-trucks, e-ambulances and e-buses, while promoting domestic manufacturing through phased localisation.
- The scheme focuses on three pillars:
- EV demand incentives
- Public EV charging infrastructure
- Strengthening indigenous EV manufacturing ecosystem
- It complements the FAME India Scheme, shifting the focus from initial market creation to large-scale EV adoption and domestic value addition.
- EV manufacturers are required to comply with the Phased Manufacturing Programme (PMP), encouraging localisation of key EV components under the Make in India
- To strengthen the EV value chain, the Government is also implementing the PLI Scheme for Advanced Chemistry Cell (ACC) Battery Storage, aimed at establishing 50 GWh of domestic battery manufacturing capacity.
- The Battery Waste Management Rules, 2022 provide the regulatory framework for collection, recycling and Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) of waste batteries, supporting a circular economy for EV batteries.
- The scheme supports development of a nationwide Public EV Charging Station (EVPCS) network to address range anxiety and facilitate faster EV adoption.
