Which existing government schemes were in the news in 2026?
Ten flagship schemes hit milestones between February and July 2026: PMJDY crossed 57.78 crore accounts, PMJJBY and PMSBY completed 11 years with 27.43 crore and 58.09 crore cumulative enrolments, APY crossed 9 crore enrolments on 21 April 2026, and PMMY passed 57 crore loans worth about ₹40.07 lakh crore. NAMASTE, PLISFPI, Poshan 2.0, Mission Shakti and Mission Vatsalya also recorded major updates.
None of the entries in this chapter are new schemes. They are older flagship programmes that hit a milestone, anniversary or major update between February and July 2026 — and they are exactly the source of the “which scheme just crossed X crore beneficiaries” question that gets asked alongside genuinely new approvals. The Jan Suraksha trio in particular (PMJJBY, PMSBY, APY) all completed 11 years in May 2026, which is why their cover amounts get confused with each other under exam pressure.
Flagship Schemes in the News schemes at a glance
| Scheme / initiative | Status | Ministry / department |
|---|---|---|
| Pradhan Mantri Jan-Dhan Yojana (PMJDY) — 2026 Financial Inclusion Milestone | EXISTING FLAGSHIP SCHEME · Launched 28 Aug 2014 | Department of Financial Services |
| Pradhan Mantri Jeevan Jyoti Bima Yojana (PMJJBY) — 11-Year Milestone | EXISTING SOCIAL SECURITY SCHEME · Launched 9 May 2015 | Department of Financial Services |
| Pradhan Mantri Suraksha Bima Yojana (PMSBY) — 11-Year Milestone | EXISTING SOCIAL SECURITY SCHEME · Launched 9 May 2015 | Department of Financial Services |
| Atal Pension Yojana (APY) — 9 Crore Enrolment Milestone | EXISTING PENSION SCHEME · Launched 9 May 2015 | Dept of Financial Services / PFRDA |
| Pradhan Mantri MUDRA Yojana (PMMY) — 11 Years and Tarun Plus Update | EXISTING CREDIT SCHEME · Launched 8 Apr 2015 | Department of Financial Services |
| NAMASTE — National Action for Mechanised Sanitation Ecosystem | EXISTING CENTRAL SECTOR SCHEME · Launched FY 2023-24 | Social Justice & Empowerment, with MoHUA |
| PLI Scheme for Food Processing Industry (PLISFPI) — 2026 Performance Update | EXISTING PLI SCHEME · Approved 2021 | Food Processing Industries |
| Saksham Anganwadi & Poshan 2.0 — 2026 Beneficiary Update | EXISTING NUTRITION MISSION | Women & Child Development |
| Mission Shakti — 2026 Women Safety and Empowerment Update | EXISTING WOMEN-EMPOWERMENT MISSION · From April 2022 | Women & Child Development |
| Mission Vatsalya — Revamped Portal and 2026 Child Protection Update | EXISTING CHILD-PROTECTION MISSION | Women & Child Development |
Download the full GHATAK notes (free PDF)
All 98 entries, February to July 2026, with ministry, outlay, target and exam trigger for every scheme. 69 pages. No sign-up.
Pradhan Mantri Jan-Dhan Yojana (PMJDY) — 2026 Financial Inclusion Milestone
EXISTING FLAGSHIP SCHEME · Launched 28 Aug 2014
Ministry: Department of Financial Services
PMJDY gets an unbanked household its first bank account, with no minimum balance, so government payments reach them directly rather than through cash or middlemen.
Why it is in the news: PIB reported a major financial-inclusion milestone in March 2026 with updated account, deposit and participation figures.
- As on 25 February 2026: 57.78 crore Jan-Dhan accounts; deposit balance about ₹2,94,702 crore.
- Women account holders: 32.21 crore, 55.8% of the total; rural and semi-urban accounts about 45.17 crore, 78.2%.
Pradhan Mantri Jeevan Jyoti Bima Yojana (PMJJBY) — 11-Year Milestone
EXISTING SOCIAL SECURITY SCHEME · Launched 9 May 2015
Ministry: Department of Financial Services
For a small yearly premium this gives an account holder ₹2 lakh of life cover, so if they die for any reason their family is not left with nothing.
Why it is in the news: The Jan Suraksha schemes completed 11 years in May 2026 and PIB reported fresh cumulative enrolment and claim figures.
- Life cover: ₹2 lakh, death due to any reason.
- Cumulative enrolments: over 27.43 crore as on 29 April 2026; claims paid over ₹21,512.50 crore.
Pradhan Mantri Suraksha Bima Yojana (PMSBY) — 11-Year Milestone
EXISTING SOCIAL SECURITY SCHEME · Launched 9 May 2015
Ministry: Department of Financial Services
PMSBY is PMJJBY’s sister scheme but for accidents specifically, with an even smaller premium covering accidental death or disability.
Why it is in the news: PMSBY completed 11 years in May 2026 and PIB reported fresh enrolment and claim-settlement figures.
- Accidental death or permanent total disability cover: ₹2 lakh; permanent partial disability: ₹1 lakh.
- Cumulative enrolments: over 58.09 crore as on 29 April 2026; ₹3,667.52 crore paid across 1,84,662 claims.
Atal Pension Yojana (APY) — 9 Crore Enrolment Milestone
EXISTING PENSION SCHEME · Launched 9 May 2015
Ministry: Dept of Financial Services / PFRDA
Aimed mostly at workers with no formal pension, such as street vendors or daily-wage workers, APY lets them contribute small amounts for a guaranteed pension later.
Why it is in the news: APY crossed the 9 crore gross-enrolment mark on 21 April 2026 and completed 11 years in May 2026.
- Guaranteed monthly pension options: ₹1,000, ₹2,000, ₹3,000, ₹4,000 or ₹5,000, depending on contribution.
- Gross enrolments crossed 9 crore on 21 April 2026; FY 2025-26 alone saw over 1.35 crore new enrolments, the highest annual figure since inception.
Pradhan Mantri MUDRA Yojana (PMMY) — 11 Years and Tarun Plus Update
EXISTING CREDIT SCHEME · Launched 8 Apr 2015
Ministry: Department of Financial Services
MUDRA gives small entrepreneurs a business loan without collateral, and the loan category grows as the business proves it can repay.
Why it is in the news: PMMY completed 11 years in April 2026; PIB highlighted collateral-free credit, Tarun Plus and cumulative lending milestones.
- Four loan categories: Shishu up to ₹50,000; Kishor ₹50,000 to ₹5 lakh; Tarun ₹5-10 lakh; Tarun Plus ₹10-20 lakh for successful repeat Tarun borrowers, added October 2024.
- By late March 2026: over 57 crore loans and about ₹40.07 lakh crore sanctioned cumulatively; about 60% of accounts belong to women.
NAMASTE — National Action for Mechanised Sanitation Ecosystem
EXISTING CENTRAL SECTOR SCHEME · Launched FY 2023-24
Ministry: Social Justice & Empowerment, with MoHUA
Cleaning sewers and septic tanks by hand is dangerous and has killed workers for decades. NAMASTE aims to end that by profiling every such worker and providing safety gear and health cover.
Why it is in the news: NAMASTE appeared repeatedly in PIB during February to July 2026, covering worker profiling, PPE distribution and Ayushman coverage.
- By July 2026: over 89,000 sewer and septic tank workers and over 2.81 lakh waste pickers profiled; over 87,000 PPE kits distributed to SSWs and over 1.84 lakh to waste pickers.
PLI Scheme for Food Processing Industry (PLISFPI) — 2026 Performance Update
EXISTING PLI SCHEME · Approved 2021
Ministry: Food Processing Industries
This rewards food companies with cash incentives for increasing production and sales, aiming to build large globally competitive Indian food brands.
Why it is in the news: PIB issued a detailed April 2026 review showing approvals, incentive payments, jobs and capacity created.
- Outlay: ₹10,900 crore. As of February 2026: 165 applications approved across 274 project locations; ₹2,162.55 crore incentives paid.
- Employment created: about 3.39 lakh jobs, above the original 2.5 lakh target; processing capacity up about 34 lakh metric tonnes a year.
Saksham Anganwadi & Poshan 2.0 — 2026 Beneficiary Update
EXISTING NUTRITION MISSION
Ministry: Women & Child Development
Poshan 2.0 merges the Anganwadi nutrition programme with early-childhood education, feeding pregnant women, mothers, young children and adolescent girls.
Why it is in the news: PIB reported fresh beneficiary figures as on 28 February 2026 and highlighted the mission during March parliamentary updates.
- Three sub-verticals: nutrition support; Early Childhood Care and Education; Anganwadi infrastructure, the Saksham Anganwadis.
- Beneficiaries as on 28 February 2026: 7.68 crore children; 57.90 lakh pregnant women; 56.44 lakh lactating mothers; 15.62 lakh adolescent girls.
Mission Shakti — 2026 Women Safety and Empowerment Update
EXISTING WOMEN-EMPOWERMENT MISSION · From April 2022
Ministry: Women & Child Development
Mission Shakti bundles most women’s safety and empowerment services under one umbrella: Sambal handles crisis and protection, Samarthya handles empowerment.
Why it is in the news: PIB repeatedly highlighted Mission Shakti during March to July 2026, including its Sambal and Samarthya architecture.
- Sambal, safety and security: One Stop Centre, Women Helpline, Beti Bachao Beti Padhao, Nari Adalat.
- Samarthya, empowerment: Shakti Sadan, Sakhi Niwas, PM Matru Vandana Yojana, Palna, SANKALP.
- Women Helpline 181 is linked with the Emergency Response Support System 112.
Mission Vatsalya — Revamped Portal and 2026 Child Protection Update
EXISTING CHILD-PROTECTION MISSION
Ministry: Women & Child Development
Mission Vatsalya protects children in difficult situations — orphaned, missing, or in conflict with the law — through shelters and care institutions. The 2026 news is a digital upgrade.
Why it is in the news: A revamped Mission Vatsalya Portal was highlighted on 18 March 2026, integrating TrackChild and Khoya-Paya into a unified platform.
- Revamped portal highlighted 18 March 2026, integrating TrackChild and Khoya-Paya into one digital child-protection platform.
- Stakeholders: State Child Protection Societies, Child Welfare Committees, Juvenile Justice Boards, Special Juvenile Police Units and Child Care Institutions.
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between PMJJBY and PMSBY?
PMJJBY is life insurance: Rs 2 lakh cover on death due to any reason. PMSBY is accident insurance: Rs 2 lakh for accidental death or permanent total disability, and Rs 1 lakh for permanent partial disability. Both were launched on 9 May 2015.
How many Jan Dhan accounts are there?
57.78 crore as on 25 February 2026, with a deposit balance of about Rs 2,94,702 crore. Women hold 32.21 crore of those accounts, 55.8% of the total, and rural and semi-urban accounts number about 45.17 crore, 78.2%.
What are the four MUDRA loan categories?
Shishu up to Rs 50,000, Kishor from Rs 50,000 to Rs 5 lakh, Tarun from Rs 5 lakh to Rs 10 lakh, and Tarun Plus from Rs 10 lakh to Rs 20 lakh for successful repeat Tarun borrowers, added in October 2024.
What are the two verticals of Mission Shakti?
Sambal covers safety and security, including One Stop Centres, the Women Helpline, Beti Bachao Beti Padhao and Nari Adalat. Samarthya covers empowerment, including Shakti Sadan, Sakhi Niwas, PM Matru Vandana Yojana, Palna and SANKALP.
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