Atmanirbhar Panchayat Programme | PM Surya Ghar: Muft Bijli Yojana | PM Vidyalaxmi Scheme

Atmanirbhar Panchayat Programme

Government Schemes

Context

• Union Minister of Panchayati Raj launched the Atmanirbhar Panchayat Programme, the SAMARTH Panchayat Portal and released the Model OSR (Own Source of Revenue) Rules for Panchayati Raj Institutions.

Atmanirbhar Panchayat Programme

• Implementation – Ministry of Panchayati Raj

• Objective – It enables Gram Panchayats and Block Panchayats to identify local assets and opportunities and develop them, with dedicated technical support from the Ministry, into bankable, revenue-generating projects that build sustainable OSR. 

SAMARTH Panchayat Portal

• Implementation – Ministry of Panchayati Raj
• Objective – to strengthen the financial capacity of Gram Panchayats through technology-enabled management of OSR. 
• SAMARTH enables Gram Panchayats to digitally manage the complete OSR lifecycle, from taxpayer registration and demand generation to online payments, collection and real-time monitoring.

PM Surya Ghar: Muft Bijli Yojana

Environment

In News

• The PM Surya Ghar: Muft Bijli Yojana received over 75 lakh applications, with 39.7 lakh rooftop solar systems installed, benefiting 48 lakh households through ₹27,343.9 crore in Central Financial Assistance.

PM Surya Ghar Muft Bijli Yojana

• • Launched in – 2024
  • Ministry: Ministry of New and Renewable Energy. 

• Objective: Installing rooftop solar (RTS) & providing free electricity for up to 300 monthly units for 1 Crore households. 

• Uniqueness – It is the world’s largest domestic rooftop solar initiative, transforming India’s energy landscape
• Subsidy: The scheme offers a subsidy of up to 40% to households. 

PM-Surya-Ghar-Muft-Bijli-Yojana-eligibility– Model Solar Village: 

• An allocation of ₹800 crore has been designated for this component, with ₹1 crore provided to each selected Model Solar Village.
• To qualify as a candidate village, it must be a revenue village with a population of over 5,000 (or 2,000 in special category states).
• This initiative aims to promote solar energy adoption and empower village communities to achieve energy self-reliance. 

PM Vidyalaxmi Scheme

Government schemes

Context

• PM-Vidyalaxmi is supporting equitable higher education by providing collateral-free education loans and interest assistance. 

PM-Vidyalaxmi 

• Launched in – November 2024

• Financing – Central Sector Scheme

• Objective –  to provide collateral-free, guarantor-free education loans to meritorious students.

• Implemented – Ministry of Education (Department of Higher Education)

Key Features

• Target: Meritorious students admitted to the top 860 Quality Higher Education Institutions (QHEIs) based on NIRF rankings.
• Loan Security: Collateral-free and guarantor-free.
• Credit Guarantee: 75% credit guarantee by the central government for loans up to ₹7.5 lakh.
• Interest Subvention: 3% interest subsidy during the moratorium period for students with an annual family income up to ₹8 lakh (for loans up to ₹10 lakh).
• Digital Integration: Operates through a unified portal; payouts are disbursed via Central Bank Digital Currency (CBDC) wallets.