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Panchayat Raj and Rural Development · Chapter 5

Central flagship rural schemes

What to remember

  • MGNREGS gives a legal right to wage work, PMAY-G gives pucca houses, NRLM builds livelihoods, PMGSY builds roads, SBM-G aims at sanitation and ODF villages, JJM aims at household tap water, and NSAP gives social pensions.
  • Most of these are run by the Ministry of Rural Development, except JJM and SBM-G, which are under the Department of Drinking Water and Sanitation of the Ministry of Jal Shakti, with States, DRDAs and Gram Panchayats as the implementing agencies.
  • Gram Sabha has a role in selecting works and beneficiaries, and social audit is part of the design. Names, rules and sharing patterns change, so check the latest official release.

Scheme at a glance

SchemeLaunchObjectiveMain agency
MGNREGS2006 (Act of 2005)Wage employment guarantee in rural areasGram Panchayat and Programme Officer; Ministry of Rural Development
PMAY-G2016 (replaced Indira Awaas Yojana)Pucca houses for rural poorMinistry of Rural Development; DRDA and State
DAY-NRLM2011Livelihoods through SHGsState rural livelihoods missions (SERP in AP)
PMGSY2000All-weather roads to unconnected habitationsState agencies, with NRIDA at the Centre
SBM-G2014Open-defecation-free villages and solid and liquid waste managementDepartment of Drinking Water and Sanitation, State and Panchayats
JJM2019Tap water connection to every rural householdMinistry of Jal Shakti; State public health bodies and village water committees
NSAP1995Social assistance for old, widows, disabled, bereaved familiesMinistry of Rural Development; State governments

MGNREGS

The Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act was passed in 2005 and the scheme (MGNREGS) was started in February 2006 from Bandlapalli in Anantapur, Andhra Pradesh. Key features of the design under the 2005 Act:

  • Right-based and demand-driven. Any rural household whose adult members volunteer to do unskilled manual work can ask for work.
  • 100 days of guaranteed work per household in a financial year.
  • Job card is issued to each household after registration with the Gram Panchayat.
  • Work should be given within about 15 days of the demand; otherwise an unemployment allowance is due.
  • Work should, as far as possible, be within 5 km of the village; extra wages are due if beyond.
  • At least one-third of the workers should be women.
  • Payment of wages is due within 15 days; delays carry compensation.
  • Gram Sabha recommends works; Gram Panchayat implements a major part of the works. Contractors and machines are not allowed in the design.
  • Social audit is compulsory. Records such as muster rolls, job cards and measurement books are checked in the Gram Sabha.
  • Works include water conservation, drought-proofing, rural roads, land development and renovation of tanks.
  • The cost of wages is borne by the Centre; the material cost is shared with the State in a fixed ratio.

Note: Parliament has passed a new law, the Viksit Bharat-Guarantee for Rozgar and Ajeevika Mission (Gramin) (VB-G RAM G) Act, 2025 (President's assent December 2025), which replaces the 2005 Act and raises the guarantee from 100 to 125 days per household. Many exams still ask about the original scheme, so learn its design well and check the latest official release for the new law.

PMAY-G

The Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana-Gramin replaced the Indira Awaas Yojana from April 2016, with the aim of "Housing for All". Features:

  • Assistance for building a pucca house with basic facilities for rural homeless and kutcha-house families.
  • Beneficiaries were identified through Socio-Economic and Caste Census (SECC) data and then checked by the Gram Sabha.
  • Money goes through Direct Benefit Transfer to the beneficiary's bank account, in instalments linked to progress, tracked by geo-tagged photographs.
  • Minimum house size is about 25 square metres, with a place for hygienic cooking.
  • Convergence: a toilet through SBM-G and unskilled labour days under MGNREGS.
  • Cost is shared between the Centre and the States, with a higher Central share for north-eastern and Himalayan states.
  • Priority to SC/ST, minorities, disabled, widows and families of defence personnel, and the house is generally registered in the name of the woman or jointly.

DAY-NRLM

Covered in the previous chapter: it promotes SHGs of poor women, their federations, bank credit, skills and livelihoods. Launched in 2011 as Aajeevika, it was renamed Deen Dayal Antyodaya Yojana-NRLM in 2015. It is implemented through State Rural Livelihoods Missions.

PMGSY

The Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana was launched on 25 December 2000. Its aim is to give all-weather road connectivity to eligible unconnected habitations. At the start, habitations with a population of 500 or more in plains (250 or more in hill, tribal and desert areas) were targeted. It is a centrally sponsored scheme, with technical and quality control through State agencies and the National Rural Infrastructure Development Agency (NRIDA). Later phases (PMGSY-II and III) upgraded existing roads and linked important rural hubs. Roads are built to fixed standards with a five-year maintenance requirement on the contractor.

SBM-G

The Swachh Bharat Mission (Gramin) was launched on 2 October 2014. It replaced the Nirmal Bharat Abhiyan, which in turn came from the Total Sanitation Campaign. Its first phase aimed to make villages Open Defecation Free (ODF) by building household toilets and changing behaviour. The next phase, ODF Plus, focuses on keeping the ODF status and on solid and liquid waste management, grey water and plastic waste. Gram Panchayats play a key role in village-level planning and cleanliness.

JJM

The Jal Jeevan Mission was launched in August 2019 under the Ministry of Jal Shakti. It aims to provide a Functional Household Tap Connection (FHTC) to every rural household, with a service standard of 55 litres per person per day. It uses a community approach: the Gram Panchayat or a village water and sanitation committee plans, operates and maintains the system, and the community pays a small share of cost. It is called "Har Ghar Jal". Water quality testing and source sustainability are emphasised.

NSAP

The National Social Assistance Programme started on 15 August 1995. It supports families below the poverty line with:

ComponentBeneficiary
Old age pension (IGNOAPS)Elderly persons
Widow pension (IGNWPS)Widows
Disability pension (IGNDPS)Persons with severe disability
National Family Benefit SchemeFamily on death of the main earning member
AnnapurnaFood grain for eligible senior citizens not receiving pension

It is based on Article 41 (Directive Principle on public assistance in old age, sickness, disability). States may add to the Central pension amounts.

Who implements what

LevelRole in the schemes
CentreMakes the scheme guidelines, shares cost, monitors through online systems
StateAdds its own rules, gives its share, runs the State mission or agency
DistrictDRDA or district officers plan, supervise and review
MandalProgramme Officer and MPDO coordinate work and payments
Gram PanchayatRegisters households, selects works, runs village-level work, helps in beneficiary lists
Gram SabhaApproves lists and works, and holds the social audit

Common design features

  • Direct Benefit Transfer to bank accounts reduces leakage.
  • Geo-tagging and online monitoring are used to track assets and progress.
  • Social audit and public display of lists give accountability.
  • Convergence links schemes, such as a house (PMAY-G), a toilet (SBM-G), a tap (JJM), work days (MGNREGS) and a livelihood group (NRLM) for one household.
  • Priority to the poorest, women, SC/ST and disabled persons appears in most schemes.

Why these schemes matter to Panchayats

The Eleventh Schedule lists rural housing, drinking water, roads, sanitation, poverty alleviation and social welfare. The flagship schemes put these subjects into action, and the Gram Panchayat is the first point of contact for citizens. The Secretary prepares lists, records and certificates for them, which links this chapter with the previous one.

Exam traps

  • PMAY-G is housing; PMGSY is roads; PMAY-G replaced IAY, and PMGSY did not replace any scheme.
  • SBM-G is sanitation (Department of Drinking Water and Sanitation, Ministry of Jal Shakti); JJM is drinking water (Jal Shakti).
  • MGNREGS was launched in 2006 in Anantapur (AP), while the Act is of 2005.
  • NSAP (1995) is older than NRLM (2011).
  • NRLM is about SHGs and livelihood, not wage employment.
  • ODF is not the same as ODF Plus.
  • MGNREGS payment is by wages for unskilled work; contractors are barred in the design.
  • Annapurna gives food grain, not cash.

One-liners

  • 1. MGNREGS guarantees 100 days of work under the 2005 Act.
  • 2. MGNREGS was launched from Anantapur in Andhra Pradesh.
  • 3. One-third of MGNREGS workers should be women.
  • 4. PMAY-G aims at Housing for All in rural areas.
  • 5. PMAY-G replaced the Indira Awaas Yojana.
  • 6. PMGSY was launched on 25 December 2000.
  • 7. NRIDA supports PMGSY.
  • 8. SBM-G was launched on 2 October 2014.
  • 9. JJM aims at a functional tap connection for every rural household.
  • 10. JJM was launched in 2019 under the Jal Shakti Ministry.
  • 11. NSAP started on 15 August 1995.
  • 12. The Gram Sabha approves works and beneficiaries.

Practice questions

  1. Under the 2005 Act, how many days of guaranteed work does MGNREGS give a rural household per year?

    1. 50 days
    2. 200 days
    3. 100 days
    4. 150 days
    Answer

    C. 100 days

    The original Act guarantees 100 days of unskilled manual work.

  2. MGNREGS was launched in February 2006 from which place in Andhra Pradesh?

    1. Kakinada
    2. Tirupati
    3. Bandlapalli in Anantapur
    4. Vijayawada
    Answer

    C. Bandlapalli in Anantapur

    The scheme began at Bandlapalli village in Anantapur.

  3. Under MGNREGS, at least what share of workers should be women?

    1. Two-thirds
    2. One-half
    3. One-tenth
    4. One-third
    Answer

    D. One-third

    The Act requires one-third participation of women.

  4. The unemployment allowance under MGNREGS is due when work is not given within about

    1. 6 months
    2. 15 days of demand
    3. 60 days
    4. 1 day
    Answer

    B. 15 days of demand

    If work is not provided in about 15 days, an allowance is due.

  5. Under MGNREGS, work should as far as possible be within how many kilometres of the village?

    1. 10 km
    2. 1 km
    3. 25 km
    4. 5 km
    Answer

    D. 5 km

    Beyond 5 km, extra wages are due.

  6. MGNREGS wages are due within

    1. 3 months
    2. 1 year
    3. 15 days
    4. 6 months
    Answer

    C. 15 days

    Delay beyond 15 days carries compensation.

  7. Which body recommends the works under MGNREGS?

    1. Finance Commission
    2. Public Service Commission
    3. Gram Sabha
    4. High Court
    Answer

    C. Gram Sabha

    The Gram Sabha recommends works; the Panchayat implements them.

  8. What is compulsory for MGNREGS works?

    1. Private ownership
    2. Social audit
    3. Contractor bidding
    4. Use of heavy machines
    Answer

    B. Social audit

    Social audit is built into the design.

  9. PMAY-G replaced which earlier rural housing scheme?

    1. Jawahar Rozgar Yojana
    2. SGSY
    3. NSAP
    4. Indira Awaas Yojana
    Answer

    D. Indira Awaas Yojana

    PMAY-G replaced IAY from April 2016.

  10. PMAY-G aims at

    1. Drinking water taps
    2. Pucca houses for rural homeless and kutcha-house families
    3. Old-age pension
    4. Rural roads
    Answer

    B. Pucca houses for rural homeless and kutcha-house families

    It is a rural housing scheme under 'Housing for All'.

  11. Beneficiaries of PMAY-G were identified using

    1. Only lottery
    2. Only the Collector's wish
    3. SECC data, verified by the Gram Sabha
    4. Only Sarpanch's list
    Answer

    C. SECC data, verified by the Gram Sabha

    SECC data was checked by the Gram Sabha.

  12. How is PMAY-G assistance paid to beneficiaries?

    1. In cash by the Sarpanch
    2. By post
    3. As a loan only
    4. By Direct Benefit Transfer in instalments linked to progress
    Answer

    D. By Direct Benefit Transfer in instalments linked to progress

    Money goes directly to bank accounts and is tracked by geo-tagged photos.

  13. PMGSY was launched in

    1. August 2019
    2. October 2014
    3. June 2011
    4. December 2000
    Answer

    D. December 2000

    PMGSY began on 25 December 2000.

  14. PMGSY mainly provides

    1. Houses
    2. All-weather road connectivity to habitations
    3. Tap water
    4. Pensions
    Answer

    B. All-weather road connectivity to habitations

    It builds rural roads to unconnected habitations.

  15. Which agency supports PMGSY at the national level?

    1. NABARD
    2. SERP
    3. NRIDA
    4. DRDA only
    Answer

    C. NRIDA

    The National Rural Infrastructure Development Agency supports PMGSY.

  16. Swachh Bharat Mission (Gramin) was launched on

    1. 2 October 2014
    2. 25 December 2000
    3. 1 July 2011
    4. 15 August 1995
    Answer

    A. 2 October 2014

    SBM-G began on Gandhi Jayanti in 2014.

  17. ODF stands for

    1. Open Defecation Free
    2. Organised Development Fund
    3. Open Drinking Facility
    4. Open Distribution Format
    Answer

    A. Open Defecation Free

    ODF means villages free from open defecation.

  18. The phase of SBM-G that focuses on sustaining ODF status and waste management is

    1. TSC
    2. ODF Plus
    3. IAY
    4. SGRY
    Answer

    B. ODF Plus

    ODF Plus includes solid and liquid waste management.

  19. Jal Jeevan Mission aims to provide

    1. Roads to every village
    2. Pension to every elder
    3. A functional household tap connection to every rural household
    4. Houses to every family
    Answer

    C. A functional household tap connection to every rural household

    JJM is 'Har Ghar Jal'.

  20. The service standard under JJM is

    1. 500 litres
    2. 5 litres
    3. 1,000 litres
    4. 55 litres per person per day
    Answer

    D. 55 litres per person per day

    JJM targets 55 litres per capita per day.

  21. JJM comes under which Ministry?

    1. Ministry of Rural Development
    2. Ministry of Home Affairs
    3. Ministry of Jal Shakti
    4. Ministry of Finance
    Answer

    C. Ministry of Jal Shakti

    JJM is under Jal Shakti, not the rural development ministry.

  22. The National Social Assistance Programme was launched in

    1. 2006
    2. 2000
    3. 2014
    4. 1995
    Answer

    D. 1995

    NSAP started on 15 August 1995.

  23. NSAP is linked to which Directive Principle?

    1. Article 41
    2. Article 44
    3. Article 40
    4. Article 48
    Answer

    A. Article 41

    Article 41 deals with public assistance in old age, sickness and disability.

  24. Annapurna scheme under NSAP provides

    1. Tap water
    2. Food grain to eligible senior citizens
    3. Cash for housing
    4. Loans for farming
    Answer

    B. Food grain to eligible senior citizens

    Annapurna gives food grain to those not receiving a pension.

  25. The National Family Benefit Scheme gives help when

    1. A tap is fixed
    2. The main earning member of a poor family dies
    3. A house is built
    4. A road is laid
    Answer

    B. The main earning member of a poor family dies

    It gives a lump sum to the bereaved family.

  26. Which scheme is run mainly by the Ministry of Rural Development?

    1. Jal Jeevan Mission
    2. Ujjwala
    3. PMGSY
    4. Mid-day Meal
    Answer

    C. PMGSY

    PMGSY is under the rural development ministry.

  27. The 'convergence' idea under PMAY-G means

    1. Linking a house with a toilet and work days
    2. Ending subsidies
    3. Merging districts
    4. Merging Panchayats
    Answer

    A. Linking a house with a toilet and work days

    A PMAY-G house is linked with SBM-G toilet support and MGNREGS labour days.

  28. Direct Benefit Transfer is used in schemes mainly to

    1. Increase delay
    2. Hide records
    3. Replace banks
    4. Reduce leakage
    Answer

    D. Reduce leakage

    Money goes straight to bank accounts.

  29. Which scheme focuses on forming Self-Help Groups of poor women?

    1. DAY-NRLM
    2. JJM
    3. SBM-G
    4. PMGSY
    Answer

    A. DAY-NRLM

    DAY-NRLM builds SHGs and federations.

  30. Consider the statements about MGNREGS under the 2005 Act. 1. It is demand-driven. 2. Contractors are encouraged.

    1. 1 only
    2. 2 only
    3. Both 1 and 2
    4. Neither 1 nor 2
    Answer

    A. 1 only

    Contractors and machines are barred in the design.

  31. Consider the statements about PMAY-G. 1. It is a road scheme. 2. It replaced the Indira Awaas Yojana.

    1. 1 only
    2. 2 only
    3. Both 1 and 2
    4. Neither 1 nor 2
    Answer

    B. 2 only

    PMAY-G is a housing scheme.

  32. Consider the statements about PMGSY. 1. It was launched in 2000. 2. It was launched in 2014.

    1. 1 only
    2. 2 only
    3. Both 1 and 2
    4. Neither 1 nor 2
    Answer

    A. 1 only

    SBM-G was launched in 2014.

  33. Consider the statements about SBM-G. 1. It deals with tap water. 2. It was launched on 2 October 2014.

    1. 1 only
    2. 2 only
    3. Both 1 and 2
    4. Neither 1 nor 2
    Answer

    B. 2 only

    Tap water is under JJM.

  34. Consider the statements about JJM. 1. It is under the Ministry of Jal Shakti. 2. It uses a community approach with village committees.

    1. 1 only
    2. 2 only
    3. Both 1 and 2
    4. Neither 1 nor 2
    Answer

    C. Both 1 and 2

    Both statements are correct.

  35. Consider the statements about NSAP. 1. It was launched in 2011. 2. It supports the old, widows and disabled.

    1. 1 only
    2. 2 only
    3. Both 1 and 2
    4. Neither 1 nor 2
    Answer

    B. 2 only

    NSAP began in 1995; NRLM in 2011.

  36. Consider the statements about MGNREGS. 1. Social audit is part of the design. 2. Only urban households are eligible.

    1. 1 only
    2. 2 only
    3. Both 1 and 2
    4. Neither 1 nor 2
    Answer

    A. 1 only

    It is for rural households.

  37. Consider the statements about NRLM. 1. It provides houses. 2. It promotes SHGs.

    1. 1 only
    2. 2 only
    3. Both 1 and 2
    4. Neither 1 nor 2
    Answer

    B. 2 only

    Housing is under PMAY-G.

  38. Consider the statements about PMAY-G. 1. Beneficiaries are verified by the Gram Sabha. 2. Money is paid in cash by the Sarpanch.

    1. 1 only
    2. 2 only
    3. Both 1 and 2
    4. Neither 1 nor 2
    Answer

    A. 1 only

    It is paid through DBT.

  39. Consider the statements about SBM-G. 1. ODF Plus includes waste management. 2. SBM-G replaced Nirmal Bharat Abhiyan.

    1. 1 only
    2. 2 only
    3. Both 1 and 2
    4. Neither 1 nor 2
    Answer

    C. Both 1 and 2

    Both are correct.

  40. Consider the statements about the implementing agencies. 1. The Gram Sabha approves lists and works. 2. The Gram Sabha is the Central ministry.

    1. 1 only
    2. 2 only
    3. Both 1 and 2
    4. Neither 1 nor 2
    Answer

    A. 1 only

    The Gram Sabha is the village body of voters.

  41. Consider the statements about JJM and SBM-G. 1. SBM-G is about road connectivity. 2. JJM is about drinking water.

    1. 1 only
    2. 2 only
    3. Both 1 and 2
    4. Neither 1 nor 2
    Answer

    B. 2 only

    SBM-G is about sanitation.

  42. Consider the statements about PMGSY and PMAY-G. 1. PMGSY is about roads. 2. PMAY-G is about roads.

    1. 1 only
    2. 2 only
    3. Both 1 and 2
    4. Neither 1 nor 2
    Answer

    A. 1 only

    PMAY-G is about housing.

  43. Match the scheme with its subject: JJM

    1. Roads
    2. Pension
    3. Housing
    4. Drinking water
    Answer

    D. Drinking water

    JJM provides tap water.

  44. Match the scheme with its subject: NSAP

    1. Drinking water
    2. Sanitation
    3. Roads
    4. Social pensions
    Answer

    D. Social pensions

    NSAP gives pensions and family benefit.

  45. PMGSY targets which kind of places at the start?

    1. Only state capitals
    2. Only big cities
    3. Only airports
    4. Unconnected habitations of eligible population size
    Answer

    D. Unconnected habitations of eligible population size

    Habitations of 500 or more in plains (250 in hills and tribal areas) were targeted first.

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