Government Schemes & Programs Current Affairs - 2026-04-17

Background: The government has been working to digitize the delivery of social welfare benefits to reduce leakages. Current Context: On April 16, 2026, the Ministry of Social Justice launched the 'PM-Vikas' (Viksit Kalyan Samarthan) portal. This unified platform integrates over 50 central welfare schemes into a single dashboard. Impact: The portal uses AI-driven analytics to identify eligible beneficiaries automatically, ensuring direct benefit transfer (DBT) reaches the last mile. It significantly reduces administrative delays and enhances transparency in the distribution of subsidies and financial aid to marginalized communities.

Background: The Nari Shakti Udyami scheme was introduced to provide collateral-free credit to women-led MSMEs. Current Context: As of April 17, 2026, the government has expanded the scheme to include rural self-help groups (SHGs) and increased the credit limit from ₹10 lakh to ₹25 lakh. The initiative aims to boost women's participation in the manufacturing sector. Impact: This expansion is expected to empower over 2 lakh women entrepreneurs across India. By lowering interest rates and simplifying documentation, the scheme fosters financial independence and promotes grassroots economic growth.