Government schemes & initiatives

Answer: (a) 1 and 2 only

A greenfield airport is built on a fresh site. Donyi Polo (Hollongi, Itanagar) and Kushinagar are among the greenfield airports approved under the Greenfield Airports Policy and operationalised in recent years. Vijayawada is an older Airports Authority of India airport at Gannavaram that has been expanded with a new terminal, which makes it a brownfield upgrade.

• ✓ 1. Donyi Polo Airport is the greenfield airport at Hollongi, Itanagar; the Union Cabinet approved the name in November 2022.
• ✓ 2. Kushinagar in Uttar Pradesh is one of the greenfield airports given 'in-principle' approval and later operationalised, as an international airport.
• ✗ 3. Vijayawada is an existing AAI airport at Gannavaram; it is not on the list of 21 approved greenfield airports. Recent work there is a new integrated terminal building at the old site.

Remember · Greenfield = new site. Recent greenfield airports include Donyi Polo (Itanagar), Kushinagar, Mopa, Shivamogga, Sindhudurg, Kalaburagi, Orvakal.

Question and answer: UPSC's official GS Paper I (2024, Series A) — paper ↗ · answer key ↗. Explanation: Minimalist IAS, checked 30 Sept 2026 (how we verify). Permalink · Report an error

Answer: (d) 1, 2 and 3

All three statements are correct. The Digital India Land Records Modernization Programme (DILRMP) is a Central Sector Scheme funded fully by the Centre since 1 April 2016. Digitising cadastral maps is one of its components, and the Government has begun transliterating Records of Rights from local languages into any of the 22 Schedule VIII languages.

• ✓ 1. DILRMP was revamped from the earlier National Land Records Modernization Programme into a Central Sector Scheme with 100% Central Government funding from 1 April 2016.
• ✓ 2. The computerisation of land records under DILRMP includes digitisation of cadastral maps and their integration with the textual Records of Rights.
• ✓ 3. With technical support from C-DAC Pune, the Government has undertaken an initiative to transliterate Records of Rights from the local language into any of the 22 Schedule VIII languages of the Constitution.

Remember · DILRMP: Central Sector Scheme, 100% Central funding since 1 April 2016; components include cadastral map digitisation; Records of Rights are being transliterated into Schedule VIII languages.

Question and answer: UPSC's official GS Paper I (2024, Series A) — paper ↗ · answer key ↗. Explanation: Minimalist IAS, checked 30 Sept 2026 (how we verify). Permalink · Report an error

Answer: (b) 2 only

Only statement 2 is correct: PMSMA encourages private doctors to volunteer at government health facilities. Statement 1 goes wrong because PMSMA is an antenatal (before-birth) care programme run at designated government facilities; it has no six-month post-delivery package.

• ✗ 1. PMSMA guarantees a minimum antenatal package for women in the 2nd/3rd trimesters at designated government facilities, on the 9th of every month. Post-delivery care for six months is not part of it, and it is not offered at any government facility.
• ✓ 2. The programme has a systematic approach to engage the private sector, motivating private practitioners to volunteer for the campaign at government health facilities.

Remember · PMSMA (2016): free antenatal check-up on the 9th of every month for 2nd/3rd-trimester women at designated government facilities; private doctors volunteer.

Question and answer: UPSC's official GS Paper I (2024, Series A) — paper ↗ · answer key ↗. Explanation: Minimalist IAS, checked 30 Sept 2026 (how we verify). Permalink · Report an error

Answer: (b) 2 and 3 only

Statements 2 and 3 are correct: PM-SYM is a contributory pension scheme for unorganised workers that assures ₹ 3,000 a month from age 60. The entry age is 18 to 40 years, not 21 to 40, and family pension goes only to the spouse.

• ✗ 1. Workers aged 18 to 40 years, earning ₹ 15,000 a month or less, can enrol. The lower limit is 18, not 21.
• ✓ 2. It is a voluntary, contributory scheme on a 50:50 basis: the worker pays an age-specific amount and the Central Government matches it.
• ✓ 3. Each subscriber receives a minimum assured pension of ₹ 3,000 per month after turning 60.
• ✗ 4. If the pensioner dies, the spouse receives 50% of the pension as family pension. It is applicable only to the spouse, not to unmarried daughters.

Remember · PM-SYM (2019): unorganised workers aged 18–40, income up to ₹ 15,000; 50:50 contribution; ₹ 3,000 monthly pension from 60; family pension only to spouse (50%).

Question and answer: UPSC's official GS Paper I (2024, Series A) — paper ↗ · answer key ↗. Explanation: Minimalist IAS, checked 30 Sept 2026 (how we verify). Permalink · Report an error