Write briefly on any four of the following: Deen Dayal Gram Jyoti Yojana (DDUGJY); Housing for All in India (Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana – PMAY); Financial Inclusion in India; Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Vikas Yojana (PMKVY); Groundwater Depletion in India

Deen Dayal Gram Jyoti Yojana (DDUGJY)

Launched in December 2014, the Deen Dayal Upadhyaya Gram Jyoti Yojana aims to ensure round-the-clock power supply to rural areas, a cornerstone of inclusive development and rural productivity.

Key features:

• Focus on feeder separation separating agricultural and non-agricultural feeders to ensure continuous domestic supply.
• Strengthening of sub-transmission and distribution networks, metering, and reduction of Aggregate Technical and Commercial (AT&C) losses.
• Integration with Saubhagya Yojana (2017) to achieve 100% household electrification.

Achievements:

• By 2023, India achieved 100% village electrification (26.3 crore households powered).
• Power losses in rural areas reduced from 26% (2014) to 18% (2023) (Ministry of Power).

Under DDUGJY, Haryana completed feeder segregation in all 22 districts, modernized 3,000+ distribution transformers, and ensured 24×7 rural supply through “Mahara Gaon Jagmag Gaon” initiative recognized by the Ministry of Power for best implementation (2021).

Housing for All in India (Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana – PMAY)

Launched in 2015, PMAY aims to achieve “Housing for All by 2024.”

Key components:

• PMAY–Urban: For cities and slums, focuses on affordable housing partnerships, beneficiary-led construction, and in-situ slum redevelopment.
• PMAY–Gramin: Provides pucca houses with basic amenities to rural poor.
• Credit-Linked Subsidy Scheme (CLSS): Interest subsidy (up to 6.5%) for economically weaker sections and middle-income groups.

Achievements:

• As of March 2024, over 3.12 crore houses completed nationwide (Ministry of Housing & Urban Affairs).
• 80% beneficiaries are women, reflecting inclusive ownership.

Haryana constructed 4.2 lakh houses under PMAY–Urban, focusing on slum redevelopment in Gurugram, Panipat, and Faridabad. Under PMAY–Gramin, 98% target achieved, transforming kutcha houses into climate-resilient homes.

Impact:

PMAY has improved living standards, spurred employment in construction, and driven demand for cement, steel, and MSMEs contributing nearly 1.2% to GDP growth (NITI Aayog, 2023).

Financial Inclusion in India

Financial inclusion is essential for inclusive growth, ensuring access to financial services for every citizen.

Major initiatives:

1. Pradhan Mantri Jan Dhan Yojana (PMJDY) – Over 52 crore accounts opened; ₹2.2 lakh crore total deposits (as of 2023).
2. Direct Benefit Transfers (DBT): Over ₹6.3 lakh crore transferred directly to beneficiaries annually, reducing leakages.
3. UPI Revolution: 2023–24 saw ₹170 lakh crore worth of digital transactions, making India the world leader in real-time payments (RBI Data).
4. Microfinance & Mudra Loans: 42 crore loans sanctioned (₹23 lakh crore) under PM MUDRA Yojana, boosting women entrepreneurship.
5. Haryana’s State Rural Livelihood Mission (HSRLM) linked 2.3 lakh women SHGs to formal banking. UPI adoption grew 120% in 2023–24, ensuring direct cashless payments in rural belts like Jhajjar and Hisar.

Impact:

India’s bank account ownership rose from 35% (2011) to 78% (2023) (World Bank Global Findex). Financial inclusion has empowered rural communities, reduced poverty, and digitized the welfare ecosystem.

Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Vikas Yojana (PMKVY)

Launched in 2015, PMKVY is the flagship skill-development program under the Skill India Mission, aimed at improving employability among youth.

Objectives:

• Train youth in industry-relevant skills through short-term courses.
• Recognize prior learning (RPL) and promote entrepreneurship.
• Align skills with National Skill Qualification Framework (NSQF).
• Progress:
  • By 2024, 1.4 crore individuals trained; 60% placed in jobs (MSDE Report 2024).
  • Introduced PMKVY 4.0 (2023–26) with focus on green jobs, AI, drones, and EV maintenance.

Haryana launched “Kaushal Haryana Portal” and established India’s first Skill University (Gurugram) to link education with industry demand. Over 3 lakh youth trained under PMKVY 3.0.

Impact:

PMKVY has reduced youth unemployment (urban youth unemployment fell from 12.6% in 2018 to 8.3% in 2023, PLFS). It promotes a skilled workforce for Atmanirbhar Bharat and supports MSMEs’ labour needs.

Groundwater Depletion in India

Groundwater meets 65% of irrigation and 85% of drinking water needs in India, yet over-extraction has led to alarming depletion.

• India withdraws ~250 billion m³ annually 25% of global extraction (CGWB, 2023).
• 64% districts are semi-critical or overexploited; northern states worst affected.
• Reasons: Water-intensive crops (paddy, sugarcane), free electricity for pumps, and unregulated borewells.

Consequences:

• Lowering of water table by 1–1.5 meters annually in Punjab, Haryana, and UP.
• Land subsidence, increased fluoride/nitrate contamination, and reduced agricultural productivity.

Government Measures:

• Atal Bhujal Yojana (2019): Promotes community-based water management.
• Jal Shakti Abhiyan: Focuses on rainwater harvesting and recharge structures.
• National Aquifer Mapping (NAQUIM): Covers 25 lakh sq. km area for sustainable extraction.
• Haryana’s Mera Pani Meri Virasat Scheme (2020) incentivizes farmers to shift from paddy to maize, saving up to 2000 liters of water per kg of produce. The state also launched Atal Jal Yojana pilots in Mahendragarh and Kurukshetra for micro-irrigation.

Without urgent measures, India could face severe groundwater stress by 2030 (NITI Aayog Water Index). Sustainable cropping, water pricing, and aquifer recharge are key to securing India’s water future.