Match the central government programmes in Column I with the years of their introduction given in Column II and provide the correct answer from the options given below: Column I A. National Rural Employment Guarantee Act B. Pradhan Mantri Jan Dhan Yojana C. Employment Assurance Scheme D. Pradhan Mantri Gramodaya Yojana Column II 1. 2000 2. 2005 3. 2014 4. 1993

National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (NREGA)

• The National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (NREGA) was enacted in India in 2005.
• It was later renamed the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA) in 2009.
• This act aims to provide a legal guarantee for at least 100 days of wage employment in a financial year to every rural household whose adult members volunteer to do unskilled manual work.

Pradhan Mantri Jan Dhan Yojana (PMJDY)

• The Pradhan Mantri Jan Dhan Yojana (PMJDY) was launched on August 28, 2014.
• It is a financial inclusion program aimed at providing access to financial services such as banking accounts, insurance, and pension to the underprivileged sections of society.
• The scheme focuses on opening bank accounts for the unbanked population and aims to promote financial literacy, secure savings, and ensure that subsidies and benefits reach the intended beneficiaries directly.

The Employment Assurance Scheme (EAS)

• The Employment Assurance Scheme (EAS) was launched in India in 1993.
• Its primary objective was to provide employment to rural poor families by offering a minimum of 100 days of wage employment in a year to every eligible household in rural areas.
• It was later merged with other schemes, including the National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (NREGA), which expanded and institutionalized the concept of employment assurance.

Pradhan Mantri Gramodaya Yojana (PMGY)

• The Pradhan Mantri Gramodaya Yojana (PMGY) was launched in 2000.
• It is a rural development program aimed at improving the quality of life in rural areas through various components. The key objectives of the scheme include:
• Improving facilities such as roads, drinking water, sanitation, and electricity
• Focus on health, education, and housing to improve the overall living standards.
• Supporting rural employment, agriculture, and self-employment opportunities.