PIB Summary - 5th August 2025 | PIB (Press Information Bureau) Summary - UPSC PDF Download

Schemes for Upliftment of Scheduled Castes

 Overview 

Kala Sanskriti Vikas Yojana (KSVY) is a scheme by the Ministry of Culture to promote art and culture in India, with special support for artists from Scheduled Castes (SC). It provides financial assistance and opportunities for cultural activities. 

 Funds Allocation & Utilization 

 The table below shows the funds allocation and utilization for the Kala Sanskriti Vikas Yojana (KSVY) over the financial years 2021-22 to 2024-25:

The 100% budget utilization across all four years indicates efficient implementation of the scheme. 

 Scheme Components 

The KSVY consists of several components aimed at supporting various aspects of art and culture:

• Guru–Shishya Parampara Support (Repertory Grant): This component supports a guru (teacher) and a group of disciples (shishyas) in performing arts. 
• Promotion of Art & Culture Assistance: This includes grants for national cultural organizations, cultural function and production grants, support for Himalayan heritage, and assistance to Buddhist and Tibetan organizations. 
• Infrastructure Support: Funding for studio theatres and cultural spaces in non-metro and metro areas. 
• Scholarships & Fellowships: Various fellowships and scholarships for artists and researchers in the field of culture. 
• Support to Veteran Artists: Financial assistance to senior artists with low income. 
• Seva Bhoj Yojana: Reimbursement of certain taxes for institutions providing free food services. 

 Monitoring & Implementation 

 The implementation of the KSVY is monitored through various mechanisms to ensure proper utilization of funds. 

• Utilisation Certificates: Fund utilisation is verified through Utilisation Certificates as per the General Financial Rules (GFR) 2017. 
• Chartered Accountant Certification: Certification by a Chartered Accountant is required to validate the utilisation of funds. 
• Evidence of Expenditure: Vouchers, photographs, videos, and completion certificates are part of the evidence required for fund utilisation. 
• On-site Inspections: Officials from the Ministry of Culture conduct physical inspections to verify the proper utilisation of funds on-site. 

 Analysis – Relevance to UPSC 

• Inclusivity in Cultural Policy: The KSVY’s special focus on Scheduled Castes (SC) artists highlights its commitment to uplifting marginalized communities, aligning with social justice goals. 
• Efficiency: The full utilization of allocated funds each year reflects effective governance and budget management. 
• Holistic Support: The scheme provides support at all levels, from grassroots (Guru-Shishya grants) to veteran artists, infrastructure, large institutions, and free-food providers, demonstrating comprehensive policy coverage. 
• Monitoring Mechanisms: The use of GFR-based documentation and on-site inspections for fund accountability exemplifies best practices in public fund management, a key governance theme. 

 Way Forward 

• State-specific Targeting: Explore contextual deployment of the scheme in states with higher concentrations of SC artistic talent, despite its centralised nature. 
• Expand Outreach: Increase awareness among SC artists and communities about the scheme to ensure equitable access and participation. 
• Impact Evaluation: Incorporate qualitative feedback from beneficiaries and track outcomes beyond mere fund disbursement to assess the scheme’s impact effectively. 
• Expand Scale: Consider raising the intake for fellowships and scholarships or increasing grant ceilings for deserving cases to enhance support. 

PRASAD and SDS Schemes

PRASHAD and Swadesh Darshan: Enhancing India's Spiritual and Heritage Tourism

India’s diverse spiritual and cultural heritage is a significant asset for tourism. To tap into this potential, the Government has initiated schemes like PRASHAD and Swadesh Darshan aimed at developing top-notch infrastructure and improving visitor experiences at religious and heritage sites.

PRASHAD Scheme

Objective: The PRASHAD scheme focuses on enhancing pilgrimage and heritage tourism infrastructure at selected religious sites across India. It aims to promote comprehensive spiritual tourism by improving visitor facilities and connectivity.

Key Statistics:

• Launched in 2014-15 by the Ministry of Tourism.
• 54 projects approved across 28 States and Union Territories.
• Notable sites include Varanasi, Dwarka, Amarkantak, Somnath, Kedarnath, Puri, and Mathura-Vrindavan.
• Many projects are completed, while others are ongoing with phased fund disbursements.

Implementation & Issues:

• The scheme is implemented by State and Union Territory Governments.
• Common challenges include delays in tendering, local capacity issues, design setbacks, and incomplete documentation.
• The Ministry of Tourism monitors progress and encourages timely completion of projects.

Project Examples:

• Completed Projects:
• Dwarka (₹10.46 crore)
• Somnath (₹45.36 crore)
• Amarkantak (₹49.99 crore)
• Kedarnath (₹34.77 crore)
• Ongoing Projects:
• Ambaji (Gujarat)
• Annavaram (Andhra Pradesh)
• Simhachalam Temple (Andhra Pradesh)
• Bhadrachalam (Telangana)
• Foreclosed Projects:
• Puri (Odisha)
• Yamunotri-Gangotri (Uttarakhand)

Swadesh Darshan Scheme

SD 1.0 (2014-2022):

• Focused on developing tourism based on thematic circuits such as Coastal, Desert, Tribal, Eco, Buddhist, Spiritual tourism, etc.
• 76 projects were sanctioned with a total outlay of ₹5,290.30 crore.

Notable Projects under SD 1.0:

• Ayodhya (UP): ₹127.21 crore, the largest individual project.
• Tehri (Uttarakhand): ₹69.17 crore for adventure and eco-tourism.
• Kumbhalgarh Fort circuit (Rajasthan), Kurukshetra (Haryana) under Krishna Circuit.

SD 2.0 (Launched 2022):

• Shifted from circuit-based to destination-based tourism development.
• Emphasizes sustainability, community involvement, and responsible tourism.
• 52 projects were sanctioned with a total approved outlay of ₹2,108.87 crore.

Experience-Based Tourism under SD 2.0:

• Bodh Gaya Meditation Centre (Bihar) – ₹165.44 crore.
• Bhoramdeo Corridor (Chhattisgarh) – ₹145.99 crore.
• Alappuzha Water Wonderland (Kerala) – ₹93.17 crore.
• Eco and Coastal experiences in Goa: Colva Beach, Porvorim Creek.
• Mechuka Adventure & Cultural Park (Arunachal) – Adventure tourism in Northeast.

Other Complementary Schemes:

• Dekho Apna Desh (2020): Promotes domestic tourism awareness through various tools like webinars, quizzes, and social media campaigns.
• Capacity Building for Service Providers (CBSP): Focuses on training, certification, and upskilling local tourism stakeholders such as tour operators, homestay owners, and local artisans.

Conclusion:

•  The PRASHAD and Swadesh Darshan schemes collectively aim to position India as a leading destination for spiritual and heritage tourism.
• Their success relies on sustainable practices, local community involvement, and timely project execution. 

Measures To Promote Women Entrepreneurs

Introduction

 Women entrepreneurship is a significant driver of inclusive economic growth, but as of 2024, only about 20% of MSMEs in India were owned by women. The Indian government recognizes the potential of women-led enterprises in job creation and economic transformation and has implemented a multi-faceted, scheme-driven approach to uplift and empower women entrepreneurs across various sectors, regions, and social strata. 

Relevance: GS 3 (Entrepreneurship), GS 2 (Gender Inclusivity)

Policy Measures and Institutional Support for Women-Led MSMEs

Udyam Registration & Udyam Assist Portal

Launched: July 2020 (Udyam), January 2023 (UAP) 

•  Fully online, paperless self-declaration-based registration. 
•  PAN/GSTN optional for registration via UAP. 
•  Eligible for Priority Sector Lending (PSL) and Ministry scheme benefits. 
•  Special drives to register women-owned MSMEs conducted. 

Public Procurement Policy

Mandate: 3% of annual procurement by CPSEs and Ministries must be from women-owned MSEs. 

•  Aims to create assured market linkages and boost demand for women-led enterprises. 

Financial Incentives & Credit Support

(a) Credit Guarantee Scheme for Women (since Dec 2022)

Higher guarantee cover: Up to 90% (vs 75% for others). 

• 10% concession in annual guarantee fees.
• Impact: Reduces risk for lenders; encourages credit flow to women entrepreneurs. 

(b) Prime Minister’s Employment Generation Programme (PMEGP)

•  Women beneficiaries: 39% of total. 
• Higher subsidy: 35% for women vs 25% for general category. 
•  Supports non-farm micro-enterprise creation in rural and urban areas. 

Capacity Building & Skill Development Initiatives

(a) Skill Upgradation & Mahila Coir Yojana

•  Targets women artisans in the coir sector. 
•  Aims at value addition, product diversification and enhanced employability. 

(b) Trade Fair Subsidies

•  Women entrepreneurs get 100% subsidy for participation in trade fairs (vs 80% for others). 
•  Encourages exposure, B2B linkages, and market development. 

Focused Interventions through MSDE, NIESBUD & IIE

(a) PM Vishwakarma Yojana (2023)

•  Supports traditional artisans & craftspeople, including women across 18 trades. 
•  Offers skill training, toolkit incentives, credit, and market linkages. 

(b) Yashasvini Campaign

•  Nationwide awareness campaign targeting existing & aspiring women entrepreneurs. 
•  Focuses on handholding, mentoring, and linking to government schemes. 

Special Interventions for Marginalized Women Entrepreneurs

(a) PM JANMAN (March 2024) – Entrepreneurship for PVTGs

•  Target group: Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups. 
•  Trained so far: 37,161 beneficiaries, of which 31,560 are women (85%). 
•  Support includes skill-building and VDVK (Van Dhan Vikas Kendra) development in 18 states. 

(b) Dharti Aaba Janjatiya Gram Utkarsh Abhiyan (DAJGUA)

•  Focus: Capacity building of 1,000 VDVKs in 30 tribal districts. 
•  As of June 2025: 30 participants trained in ToT, including 15 women. 

Youth & Student-Focused Interventions

(a) Swavalambini Programme (Feb 2025)

•  Launched in collaboration with NITI Aayog’s Women Entrepreneurship Platform. 
•  Targets: Assam, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Telangana, Uttar Pradesh. 
•  Focus: 
•  1,200 female students: Entrepreneurship Awareness Training (EAP). 
•  600 students: Entrepreneurship Development Programme (EDP). 
•  Includes seed funding, mentoring, and recognition under “Awards to Rewards” initiative. 

(b) Institutional Development: EDCs and Incubation Centres (North East Focus)

• Entrepreneurship Development Centres (EDCs) & Incubation Centres (ICs)
•  Goal: Build entrepreneurial ecosystems in educational institutions of NE region. 
•  Status: 
•  30 EDCs and 4 ICs in 8 North Eastern states. 
•  600 mentors trained, 912 participants trained via EDP. 
•  600 of these were women (65%). 
•  100 ideas to be incubated, 900 to receive seed support. 

Key Performance Highlights (Cumulative)

Challenges Persist

 Despite proactive schemes, several structural barriers limit the scale-up of women-led enterprises, including: 

•  Low financial literacy and creditworthiness. 
•  Social mobility restrictions in rural & tribal areas. 
•  Digital divide and lack of business formalization. 
•  Weak integration into global/domestic supply chains. 

Recommendations

•  Digital Literacy + Mobile First Services for women entrepreneurs (especially in rural areas). 
•  Women-focused incubators & accelerators at the district level. 
•  Gender-segregated MSME data to improve policy targeting. 
•  Encourage private sector-NGO partnerships for mentoring & funding. 
•  Expand procurement quotas and enforce the existing 3% mandate strictly. 

Conclusion

•  India’s multi-ministerial push, encompassing skill-building to credit access, reflects a growing commitment to mainstreaming women-led entrepreneurship. 
• With over 31,000 tribal women trained, 39% PMEGP participation, and initiatives like Swavalambini and PM Vishwakarma, the ecosystem is gradually evolving. 
• However, sustained efforts in capacity-building, digital access, and market integration are essential to bridge the gender gap in entrepreneurship.