Government relaxed exclusion criteria under the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana-Gramin (PMAY-G)

Current Context: The government has recently relaxed the “automatic exclusion” criteria under the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana-Gramin (PMAY-G).

• This change allows more families to benefit from the rural housing scheme. 
• Here are the key updates:
• Eligibility Expansion: Families owning two-wheelers, motorised fishing boats, refrigerators, and landline phones, and earning up to ₹15,000 per month, are now eligible.
• Continued Exclusions: Households owning motorised three/four-wheelers, mechanised agricultural equipment, or having a Kisan Credit Card with a credit limit of ₹50,000 or above, remain ineligible.
• Additionally, households with any member as a government employee, those paying income or professional tax, and those owning more than 2.5 acres of irrigated land are still excluded.
• This relaxation aims to make the scheme more inclusive and help achieve the target of constructing two crore additional houses by 2028-29.

Question:

1 Which of the following families are now eligible for Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana-Gramin (PMAY-G) under the relaxed criteria?

• A) Families earning up to ₹15,000 per month
• B) Families owning motorised three/four-wheelers
• C) Families with a Kisan Credit Card with a credit limit of ₹50,000 or above
• D) Families with any member as a government employee

Answer: A) The eligibility expansion now includes families earning up to ₹15,000 per month, along with those owning two-wheelers, motorised fishing boats, refrigerators, and landline phones.