Content:

1. PM YASASVI Scheme
2. PM Suryaghar

PM YASASVI Scheme

Background

• PM YASASVI Scheme: Launched with the intent to empower students from marginalized communities (OBC, EBC, and DNT), the PM YASASVI Scheme aims to provide educational, social, and economic benefits to talented students, enabling them to excel and contribute to the nation’s development.

Relevance : GS 2(Schemes)

Objectives of PM YASASVI

• Empowerment of Marginalized Students: The scheme targets students from OBC (Other Backward Classes), EBC (Economically Backward Classes), and DNT (De-notified and Nomadic Tribes) communities. This demonstrates the government’s effort to bridge the socio-economic gap and ensure inclusive growth.
• Social Justice and Inclusivity: In alignment with the government’s motto of ‘Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas,‘ the scheme ensures that students from underprivileged backgrounds receive support to pursue higher education and realize their full potential.

Program Features and Benefits

• Pre-Matric Scholarship:
  • ₹1.25 lakh annual scholarship for students in classes 9 to 12.
  • Focuses on ensuring that students from economically disadvantaged backgrounds can continue their education through high school without financial constraints.

• Post-Matric Scholarship:
  • Financial assistance worth ₹12.75 crore for higher education at the college level.
  • This large-scale funding indicates the government’s commitment to securing a future for these students beyond secondary school, opening up avenues for advanced studies and professional growth.

• Top-Class Education Support:
  • The scheme emphasizes providing students with access to high-quality education, likely through tie-ups with prestigious institutions or by supporting exceptional academic programs.

• Hostel Construction for OBC Students:
  • Ensures that students from OBC communities can access better living and study facilities while pursuing their education, especially those who might need to relocate for their studies.

Future Prospects

• Sustaining Growth: The success of the PM YASASVI Scheme in empowering students will depend on continued investments in education, access to quality resources, and ensuring that beneficiaries are not only provided financial aid but also mentorship and career guidance.
• Nationwide Implementation: With students from 21 states already involved, the scheme’s national scope could foster greater regional representation and inclusivity in India’s educational landscape.
• Long-term Goals: The scheme could also be a model for future educational reforms aimed at reducing disparities and ensuring equitable opportunities for all, contributing to overall socio-economic development.

Broader Social Welfare Agenda

• Alignment with SDGs: The PM YASASVI Scheme is in line with the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly Goal 4 (Quality Education) and Goal 10 (Reduced Inequality).
• Integration with Other Welfare Schemes: Such as the National Social Assistance Programme and various initiatives under the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment, aimed at improving social justice and equality.

PM Suryaghar

Context and Objective: PM Suryaghar and PM Kusum— emphasizes the role of ordinary citizens in India’s renewable energy transition. Both schemes aim to empower individuals economically while contributing to India’s renewable energy goals.

Relevance : GS 2(Schemes)

PM Suryaghar-Muft Bijli Yojana

• Objective: Empower citizens to become energy producers.
• Implementation: Citizens can install solar power systems and sell the generated electricity to Discoms (Electricity Distribution Companies).
• Economic Impact: This initiative not only provides energy independence but also enables beneficiaries to earn income through the sale of surplus electricity.
• Key Message: The “PM Suryaghar” scheme transforms beneficiaries into active contributors to India’s renewable energy ecosystem.

PM Kusum Scheme

• Objective: Promote solar-powered irrigation systems, particularly for farmers.
• Key Benefits:
  • Subsidies: Provides financial assistance for the installation of solar-powered irrigation pumps, which reduces dependence on conventional electricity for farming.
  • Economic Benefits: Improves agricultural productivity by providing a reliable, cost-effective energy source for irrigation.

Stakeholders and Roles

• Union Minister Pralhad Joshi: Emphasized the importance of citizen involvement in India’s renewable energy transformation. He recognized the beneficiaries as the “real ambassadors” of the country’s renewable energy movement, stressing their role in shaping the nation’s energy future.
• Secretary, MNRE, Ms. Nidhi Khare: Highlighted the Ministry’s commitment to feedback-driven improvement, ensuring that the schemes align with beneficiary needs and are effectively implemented.
• MNRE Joint Secretary Shri Lalit Bohra: Participated in the event, underscoring the Ministry’s engagement with beneficiaries.

Scheme Impact and National Vision

• Empowerment of Common Citizens:
  • The government’s focus on decentralized energy production (especially solar energy) aligns with India’s broader goals of energy transition and carbon neutrality.
  • Empowering ordinary citizens through schemes like PM Suryaghar and PM Kusum has the potential to transform rural economies, reduce dependence on fossil fuels, and contribute to achieving India’s renewable energy targets.

• Contribution to India’s Renewable Energy Goals:
  • As part of India’s Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) under the Paris Agreement, these initiatives contribute to scaling up solar energy capacity and achieving the target of 500 GW of non-fossil fuel energy by 2030.
  • Both schemes directly contribute to India’s green energy transformation, enhancing energy security while fostering sustainable growth.

Challenges and Future Considerations

• Awareness and Accessibility:
  • Ensuring the widespread awareness of these schemes, especially in remote areas, is crucial for maximizing participation.
  • The ease of registration on the PM Suryaghar portal is a step in the right direction, reducing barriers to entry for potential beneficiaries.

• Sustaining Momentum:
  • The government must sustain subsidies and financial incentives to ensure long-term viability, particularly for farmers and rural populations with limited capital.

• Integration with Grid and Storage Solutions:
  • For beneficiaries to fully capitalize on solar energy production, integration with the national grid and efficient energy storage solutions are necessary to handle surplus power and ensure consistent supply.