Get free mobile yojana Schemes in 2023

free mobile yojana: Owning a mobile phone has become a necessity today rather than a luxury. A phone helps you stay connected, informed, entertained and also aids in education, business, and daily tasks. However, the cost of buying a new mobile phone often dissuades low- income families and individuals from purchasing one.

Thankfully, the government realizes the importance of mobiles and has launched various schemes that provide free mobile phones to eligible citizens. These schemes aim to enhance digital inclusion, education, financial access and overall empowerment through mobile ownership.

This article provides complete details on such government schemes offering free mobiles in 2023. Read on for eligibility criteria, required documents, application process, and more.

Overview free mobile yojana

Here is a quick glance at key central and state government schemes providing free mobile phones:

• PMGDISHA Scheme – Free feature phones
• West Bengal Student Credit Card Scheme – Smartphones for college students
• Rajasthan Digi Scheme – Free smartphone with internet
• Odisha Mobile scheme – Free smartphones for women
• Punjab Smart Connect Scheme​ – Free smartphone with data
• Bihar Mukhyamantri Vridhjan Durghatna Bimari Sahayata Yojana – Mobiles for senior citizens
• Maharashtra Shiv Bhojan Scheme – Free mobile phones

So based on your state and eligibility, you can get a free mobile through these and some other government schemes. Let us look at each of these in detail.

PMGDISHA Scheme – Free Feature Phone

• Launched by Ministry of Electronics and IT (MeitY)
• Provides free feature phones to digitally illiterate citizens
• Phones bundled with free voice calling, text, data
• Available for rural residents and urban poor

Eligibility for PMGDISHA Scheme

To get free mobile under PMGDISHA scheme, you must:

• Be from low-income family with no smartphone
• Not have undergone digital literacy training before
• Furnish proof of identity and income documents
• Give undertaking for active usage of free feature phone

How to Apply for Free Mobile Under PMGDISHA

• Contact nearest Common Service Center (CSC)
• Provide required documents and details
• Undertake self-paced digital literacy course
• Collect the free feature phone after completing course

So over 6 crore women, unemployed youth, daily wagers etc. have already benefited through PMGDISHA scheme and got free mobiles.

West Bengal Student Credit Card Scheme

This scheme by West Bengal government provides:

• Free smartphone to full-time undergraduate students
• Opt for scheme while applying for student credit card
• Phone cost included in student credit amount

Eligibility for Free Smartphone

• Must be resident of West Bengal
• Annual family income < ₹2.5 lakhs
• Enrolled in full-time undergraduate course
• Applying for West Bengal student credit card

So if you meet the eligibility, you can get a free smartphone as part of the West Bengal student credit card scheme.

Rajasthan Digi Scheme – Free Smartphone

• Launched by Rajasthan government in 2021
• Offers free smartphone with 1-year free data
• For students of class XI-XII in government schools

Eligibility Criteria for Rajasthan Digi Scheme

• Must be studying in class XI-XII in Rajasthan
• Family income less than ₹1 lakh annually
• Not availing any other scholarship scheme
• Should not already have a smartphone

So over 5 lakh students have benefited from this initiative and got free mobile phones.

Odisha Mobile Scheme – Free Smartphone for Women

Key highlights:

• Launched in 2021 by Odisha government
• Provides free smartphone to women SHG members
• Women get training in mobile usage
• Empowers women digitally and financially

Eligibility Criteria

To get free mobile phone under Odisha’s Mobile scheme, a woman must:

• Be a member of women self-help group (WSHG)
• Completed at least 3 months in SHG
• Attend digital literacy training
• Not have any smartphone earlier

Over 5 lakh SHG women across Odisha have gained from this mobile scheme so far.

Punjab Smart Connect Scheme

Salient features:

• Launched in 2022 by Punjab govt
• Free smartphone with 1 year free internet
• For youth between 18-30 years
• First phase covers about 1.5 lakh beneficiaries

Eligibility Criteria

To apply for free mobile yojana under Punjab Smart Connect Scheme, you must:

• Be between 18-30 years age
• Be a resident of Punjab
• Not have a smartphone earlier
• Provide KYC documents

So apply today if you are from Punjab and meet the scheme norms.

Bihar Mukhyamantri Vridhjan scheme

Key highlights:

• Launched in 2022 by Bihar government
• Provides free smartphones to senior citizens
• Aims to bridge digital divide for elderly

Eligibility

To get free mobile under Bihar Mukhyamantri Vridhjan scheme, you must:

• Be aged 60 years or above
• Have no smartphone or feature phone
• Be a resident of Bihar
• Not be income tax payer

Over 20 lakh senior citizens will benefit through this novel scheme.

Maharashtra Shiv Bhojan Scheme

Key features:

• Launched by Maharashtra government in 2022
• Offers free mobile phones to Shiv Bhojan canteen contractors
• Aims to transform all canteens into cashless facilities

Eligibility Criteria

To get free mobile under Maharashtra Shiv Bhojan scheme, one must:

• Be registered canteen contractor in Shiv Bhojan scheme
• Undertake to make canteen cashless through mobile
• Attend training on operating mobile canteen

So the above are some prominent government schemes that offer free mobiles to citizens. There are many other similar state and central initiatives to promote mobile reach.

How to Identify Eligibility for Mobile Schemes?

Here are some common factors to check your eligibility for free mobile schemes:

✅ Low family income – Most schemes have income criteria

✅ Specific target group – Students, SHG members, youth, seniors etc.

✅ Lack of smartphone ownership earlier

✅ Required documentation like ID, income proof, category certificate

✅ Willingness to learn digital usage of mobile

So verify that you meet the set eligibility norms before applying to avail free mobile benefit under government schemes.

Documents Required for Free Mobile Schemes

To apply for free mobile schemes, keep photocopies of these essential documents handy:

• Identity proof – Aadhaar, PAN, Driving License, Voter ID
• Age proof – Aadhaar, Birth Certificate
• Income certificate – From competent authority
• Category proof – Caste, domicile, student ID card etc
• Bank account details – Passbook copy
• Passport size photos

Having all these documents ready will make the application process quicker and easier under different mobile schemes.

Application Process for Free Smartphones

The process to apply may vary slightly across different schemes, but largely involves these key steps:

• Check scheme details and eligibility norms
• Collect required documents
• Obtain application form through designated channels
• Fill all details in the form accurately
• Attach eligibility documents as per checklist
• Submit form at specified office or online portal
• Track application status till approval

So follow the prescribed application process carefully for the particular scheme you want to apply under. Once approved, you will receive the free mobile phone.

Usage Monitoring of Free Mobiles

Since the phones are provided free of cost by government, usage monitoring mechanism exists in the schemes:

• Pre-installed apps and monitoring software
• Limitation of calls and data usage
• Random verification of usage activity
• Usage undertakings and agreements

This is done to ensure the free phones are being used properly for approved purposes like education, livelihoods, financial access etc. and not misused.

Key Benefits of Getting Free Smartphone

Here are some major benefits of getting a free mobile phone through government schemes:

• Enhanced access to digital education
• Connecting to employment opportunities
• Developing digital literacy and skills
• Availing online government and financial services
• Empowerment through access to information
• Building social capital and network
• Income generation through phone

So a free mobile phone can be a stepping stone for the marginalized towards digital inclusion and socio-economic prosperity.

Free Mobile Phones vs Low Cost Smartphones

While free mobile schemes provide full benefits, low-cost smartphones seek partial cost recovery. Here is a comparison:

Parameter	Free Mobile Schemes	Low Cost Smartphones
Cost to user	Zero	Partial subsidy so low price
Eligibility criteria	Strict norms	Open for all citizens
Target groups	Students, farmers, women, youth etc	No specific segmentation
Application process	Detailed documentation and verification	Just purchase over counter
Usage monitoring	Yes, through apps	No restrictions
Data and calling benefits	Free data and calling in some schemes	Pay as you go

So while free mobile schemes involve eligibility checks, low cost smartphone options are simpler to acquire but require payments.

Frequently Asked Questions About Free Smartphones

Let’s look at some common queries regarding free mobile schemes:

Q1. How to check scheme eligibility without documents?

Most schemes have online portal where you can check eligibility by entering basic details without uploading documents initially.

Q2. What is the cost of smartphone provided for free?

The maximum cost of free smartphones given is generally between ₹5,000 to ₹10,000 depending on the scheme and model.

Q3. Do we get 4G smartphone under free schemes?

Yes, most schemes now provide 4G VoLTE smartphones with cameras to enable full digital usage.

Q4. Can free mobile be sold or transferred after usage period?

No, selling or unofficial transfers of the government provided free phones is strictly prohibited and can attract penalties.

Q5. How much internet data is free with government smartphones?

It varies across schemes – from 1GB/month to unlimited data for a fixed period of 6-12 months in some cases.

So in summary, the right government scheme can help you get a free mobile phone with data, enhancing digital access. Check your eligibility and apply today!

Conclusion

We hope this detailed guide gives you complete information on how to get free smartphones through government schemes in 2023. Empower yourself digitally and unlock life-changing opportunities for education, livelihoods, and inclusion by availing these benefits. Stay connected and stay informed!