Government Schemes & Programs Current Affairs - 2026-09-11

Background: Launched in early 2024, the PM-Surya Ghar Muft Bijli Yojana aims to provide free electricity to households through rooftop solar installations. Current Context: As of September 2026, the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy has announced an expansion of the scheme to cover an additional 2 million households, focusing on semi-urban areas. Impact: This initiative is expected to reduce the financial burden of electricity bills on low-income families while significantly boosting India's renewable energy capacity and contributing to the national net-zero emission targets by 2070.

Background: The Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA) provides 100 days of guaranteed wage employment. Current Context: On September 11, 2026, the Ministry of Rural Development mandated a new 'Real-Time Digital Verification' system for wage disbursements. This system links Aadhaar-based payment bridges directly with local panchayat work logs to eliminate intermediaries. Impact: This move aims to curb leakages and ensure that wages reach the beneficiaries' bank accounts within 48 hours of work verification, thereby enhancing transparency and efficiency in the delivery of rural welfare benefits across the country.