PM Garib Kalyan Yojana (PMGKY) is a welfare scheme launched by the Government of India. The scheme provides relief to the economically weaker sections of society during times of crises or emergencies. It aims to alleviate the financial burden faced by vulnerable individuals and families and ensure their well-being.

Source: National Portal of India

Aspirants can refer to this article on PM Garib Kalyan Yojana UPSC for the UPSC Prelims syllabus and GS Paper 3 under UPSC Mains Syllabus, considering the significance of social welfare schemes.

What is Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Yojana (PMGKY)?

Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Yojana (PMGKY) is a government scheme launched in India. It provides relief and support to the economically vulnerable sections of society during challenging times. It aims to alleviate the hardships faced by the poor and underprivileged by offering various welfare measures and benefits. The scheme includes provisions for free food grains, cash transfers, insurance coverage, and other essential services. It ensures the well-being of those in need, particularly during times of crisis or unforeseen circumstances.

Objectives of PMGKY

• The Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Yojana (PMGKY) was launched in 2016 with two main objectives: to curb black money and to initiate income equality.
• To achieve the first objective, the PMGKY offered a one-time opportunity for tax evaders to disclose their unaccounted wealth without facing any penalty or prosecution. The government would charge a tax of 49.9% on the disclosed amount.
• The PMGKY was extended in 2020 in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. The pandemic devastated the Indian economy, and the government wanted to provide financial assistance to the poor and vulnerable.

Study in detail about Vulnerable Children with this link!

Eligibility for PMGKY

The individuals eligible for relief under the 'Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Package (PMGKP)' include:

• All Below Poverty Line (BPL) families.
• Families identified under the Antyodaya Anna Yojana (AAY) by States/UTs based on criteria set by the central government.
• State Governments/Union Territory Administrations identify Priority Households (PHH) based on criteria prepared by States/UTs.

Study in detail about Deen Dayal Upadhyay Grameen Kaushalya Yojana with this link!

Features of PM Garib Kalyan Yojana

• The scheme provides five kilograms of free wheat/rice to more than 80 crore people, and Each family is provided with 1 kg of free whole chana per month.
• The scheme provides free cylinders to BPL (Below Poverty Line) families for three months, per the announcement by the Finance Minister of India.
• Under the PM Garib Kalyan Yojana (PMGKY) scheme, the individual must pay 50% of the untaxed amount.
• The PM Garib Kalyan Yojana (PMGKY) provides employment opportunities to people experiencing poverty. For this purpose, Rs 50,000 crore has been spent till now.
• PMGKY provides Rs 50 lakh insurance coverage to frontline workers.
• The PM Garib Kalyan Yojana (PMGKY) covers as many as 22 lakh health workers.
• The undisclosed wealth and black money can be declared in a confidential manner. Undisclosed income can be in cash or a deposit in an account such as a bank, post office, etc. If the individual agrees to pay 50% of the undisclosed income, the scheme helps to avoid prosecution.
• The scheme also has a provision of investing 25% of the undisclosed income in the PMGKY scheme. This will be refunded without interest after four years.

Also, check out the National Skill Development Mission (NSDM) article for UPSC preparation.

Advantages of PM Garib Kalyan Yojana

• All cardholders get benefits under this scheme.
• 80 crore people also are subsidized through this scheme.
• This scheme provides the beneficiaries with a 5 kg ration in 3 months.
• Under this scheme, you’re given a net 2 rupees kilos and rice 3 rupees kilos.
• The scheme will help alleviate India's poor's economic, health, and food-related distress.

Also, check the article on PM Kisan Samman Nidhi Yojana here.

Issues Concerning PMGKY

• There are many cases where the benefits of PMGKY were denied to the beneficiaries due to the non-completion of biometric authentication.
• Several states experience shortcomings due to the lack of internet/mobile connectivity availability to end-users residing in remote areas.
• There are real-time challenges in implementing these measures. There were insufficient food grains available in government warehouses and issues procurement.

Government Initiatives Related to PMGKY

As part of the extension, the government announced some measures, including:

• Direct cash transfers to poor households: The government would provide direct cash transfers of Rs. 2,000 to each eligible household.
• Increased allocation for the Pradhan Mantri Jan Dhan Yojana: The government would increase the allocation for the Pradhan Mantri Jan Dhan Yojana, a financial inclusion program, to give more people access to bank accounts and financial services.
• Extension of the Mudra Yojana: The government would extend the Mudra Yojana, a micro-credit program, to provide more loans to small businesses.
• Tax breaks for businesses: The government would provide tax breaks to businesses that hire new employees or invest in new equipment.
• The total cost of the PMGKY extension was estimated to be Rs. 1.70 lakh crore.

Study in detail about the Skill India Mission with this link!

Download PM Garib Kalyan Yojana UPSC Exam Notes in PDF here!

We hope this article will be helpful for the aspirants of various competitive exams. You can avail more such notes, test series, current affairs sessions, live coaching and much more from our Testbook app. Ace your preparation by downloading the Testbook App now.