Government Schemes Eligibility – Complete Guide

Posted on 16 de novembro de 2025

Learn How to Check Eligibility for India’s Most Important Welfare Programs

India has several major government welfare programs focused on supporting low-income families, farmers, women, and vulnerable groups.
This guide will help you understand the basic eligibility criteria, who can apply, and what benefits each scheme provides, based on rules officially published by the Government of India.

⭐ 1. PM-Kisan Samman Nidhi

Provides ₹6,000 per year to eligible farmers (paid in 3 instalments).

Eligibility (official):

  • Applicant must be a farmer (owning cultivable land).
  • Land ownership records must be updated.
  • Institutional landholders are not eligible.
  • Certain categories are excluded, such as:
    • Income tax payers
    • Government employees (some exceptions apply)

Required documents:

  • Aadhaar
  • Bank account
  • Land records

⭐ 2. Ayushman Bharat – Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (PM-JAY)

Provides up to ₹5 lakh per family per year for hospitalization.

Eligibility (official):

Eligibility is based on SECC (Socio Economic Caste Census) data, with categories such as:

  • Homeless individuals
  • Households with no adult member (16–59)
  • Manual scavenger families
  • Tribal communities
  • Landless laborers

Key points:

  • No enrollment fee
  • No limitation on family size
  • Government hospital + empaneled private hospital coverage

⭐ 3. Ration Card / Public Distribution System (PDS)

Provides subsidized food grains to low-income families.

Eligibility (official):

Eligibility varies by state, but typically includes:

  • Low-income families (based on state poverty line)
  • Priority Household (PHH) categories
  • Antyodaya Anna Yojana (AAY) for the poorest families

Benefits include:

  • Wheat, rice, sugar at subsidized prices
  • Access to multiple welfare-linked schemes

⭐ 4. Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (PMAY – Housing)

Provides financial assistance for affordable housing for low-income families.

Eligibility (official):

  • Applicant must not own a pucca house
  • Must belong to:
    • EWS (Economically Weaker Section)
    • LIG (Low Income Group)
    • MIG-I / MIG-II
  • Aadhaar required
  • Only one application per family

Benefits:

  • Interest subsidy through Credit Linked Subsidy Scheme (CLSS)
  • Support for construction or buying a house

⭐ 5. Ujjwala Yojana (LPG Connection)

Provides free LPG connection to women from BPL families.

Eligibility (official):

  • Must be a woman from a Below Poverty Line household
  • Household should appear in SECC list
  • No existing LPG connection in the family

Benefits:

  • Free LPG connection
  • First refill often subsidized
  • Safety training included

⭐ 6. National Social Assistance Programme (NSAP)

Includes pensions for elderly, widows, and persons with disabilities.

Eligibility (official):

  • Belong to Below Poverty Line households
  • Categories include:
    • Indira Gandhi National Old Age Pension
    • Widow Pension
    • Disability Pension

Benefits:

  • Monthly financial assistance
  • Amount and conditions may vary by state

⭐ 7. Jan Dhan Yojana (Bank Account Scheme)

Enables citizens (especially low-income families) to access banking services.

Eligibility (official):

  • Indian citizen with valid identity
  • No minimum balance required

Benefits:

  • Zero-balance bank account
  • Overdraft facility
  • Accident insurance coverage

⭐ 8. PM Udyog / Small Business Support

Supports self-employed individuals and small businesses.

Eligibility (official):

  • Indian citizens starting micro or small local businesses
  • Aadhaar + bank account required
  • No specific education requirements

Benefits:

  • Loans
  • Subsidies
  • Entrepreneurship support

🔎 How to Check Eligibility for These Schemes

Citizens can verify eligibility using:

✔ Official Government Portals:

  • india.gov.in
  • pmkisan.gov.in
  • nfsa.gov.in
  • pmaymis.gov.in
  • mera.pmjay.gov.in
  • uidai.gov.in (Aadhaar services)

✔ State portals

Many programs have state-level variations.

✔ Local government centers

Common Service Centres (CSC) can help with verification and registration.

📌 Conclusion

India’s welfare programs are designed to support families that need help with income, food, healthcare, housing, and social protection.
By understanding the eligibility criteria, citizens can access the right scheme at the right time.