RAS question
Palanhar Yojana in Rajasthan provides support for:
Correct answer: (A) Orphan and destitute children.
Palanhar Yojana in Rajasthan supports orphan and destitute children by giving financial assistance to the foster families who care for their upbringing and education.
Explanation
Palanhar Yojana is aimed at children who lack secure family support, especially orphan and destitute children. The scheme gives financial assistance to the Palanhar, or foster family, so that the child's care, education and upbringing do not collapse because of the absence of parental support. The Rajasthan Economic Review 2025-26 places Palanhar Yojana in the Children section under social security and separately refers to Palanhar beneficiaries while describing financial support linked to education and training. That official context matches the core idea in the question: this is a child-protection and social-security intervention, not a maternity, disability or old-age welfare scheme.
Why the other options are wrong
- (B) Pregnant women are covered by maternity and childbirth-support schemes such as JSY, while Palanhar Yojana is framed around support for children through foster families.
- (C) Disabled persons have separate welfare schemes, whereas Palanhar Yojana concerns children needing care and support through a Palanhar family.
- (D) Elderly persons are supported through separate pension schemes, not through a child-focused foster-care assistance scheme like Palanhar Yojana.
Concept
This tests Rajasthan welfare schemes under social security, especially the target group and delivery mechanism of state schemes. RAS repeatedly asks such questions because scheme-beneficiary matching is a direct way to test applied knowledge of Rajasthan's economy and governance.