18 hours ago
The Prime Minister will provide financial assistance to the 6 lakh beneficiaries of UP under Pradhan Mantri Awaas Yojana – Gramin.
Pradhan Mantri Awaas Yojana – Gramin (PMAY-G):
♦ The PMAY-G scheme was launched in 2016, and its goal is to provide pucca houses with basic facilities for all homeless households and families living in kutcha and dilapidated houses by 2022.
♦ Convenience facilities include water, gas, toilet and electricity supply for all households.
♦ Under PMAY-G, new technologies are being used to build houses.
♦ Due to the use of the Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) platform, the time to build houses under the scheme was reduced from 314 days in 2015-16 to 114 days.
♦ According to PMAY, the minimum size of the house has also been increased to 25 square meters.
♦ Based on appropriate verification by Gram Sabha, the beneficiaries are determined based on the housing deprivation parameters and exclusion criteria specified in the 2011 Social and Economic Caste Census (SECC).
4 days ago
PCRA has launched a one-month mass awareness campaign "SAKSHAM" to spread awareness about "Green and Clean Energy".
About SAKSHAM:
♦ The SAKAHAM (Sanrakshan Kshamta Mahotsav) is a campaign launched by Petroleum Conservation Research Association (PCRA).
♦ The main aim of this campaign is to make the public aware of the protection and effective use of petroleum products, which will bring better health and the environment.
♦ The campaign aims to raise awareness of the adverse health and environmental effects of increased carbon footprint.
♦ The idea behind the initiative is to persuade consumers to switch to cleaner fuels and make behavioural changes to use fossil fuels intelligently.
♦ The campaign carried out various pan-Indian activities, such as cyclothon, farmer workshops, seminars, painting competitions, CNG car driving competitions, etc., will popularize the benefits of using clean fuels among the general public.
♦ Key driving factors include: moving toward a gas-based economy, using fossil fuels more cleanly, relying more on domestic resources to drive biofuels, achieving renewable targets within a prescribed period, and increasing the use of electric vehicles to reduce carbon emissions from transportation, clean fuels such as hydrogen, and digital innovations in all energy systems.
Petroleum Conservation Research Association (PCRA):
PCRA is a registered society. It is established under the Ministry of Petroleum & Natural Gas, Government of India. As a non-profit organization, PCRA is a national government agency dedicated to promoting energy efficiency in various economic fields. Help the government to propose petroleum protection policies and strategies to reduce the country’s excessive dependence on oil demand.
15 days ago
Govt of India’s UJALA (Unnat Jyoti by Affordable LEDs for All) and SLNP (Street Light National Programme) completes six years of Illuminating India efficiently. Both plans were first implemented by Energy Efficiency Services Limited (EESL), a PSU joint venture under the Ministry of Electricity of the Government of India.
UJALA:
The plan was launched in 2015. The goal is to replace 770 million incandescent lamps with LED bulbs and eliminate the high cost of LEDs, which have previously been used in energy-saving systems. Implement this program to establish phased LED distribution. The purpose is to promote efficient lighting and increase awareness of using efficient equipment to reduce electricity bills and protect the environment. This is the largest home lighting project in the world.
SLNP:
The National Street Lamp National Plan is a government initiative aimed at improving energy efficiency in the country.
17 days ago
Swachh Swasth Sarvatra is a joint venture of the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare and the Ministry of Drinking Water and Sanitation.
Highlights:
♦ Swachh Swasth Sarvatra is a joint venture of the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare and the Ministry of Drinking Water and Sanitation.
♦ The program was launched in 2016 and aims to achieve better health outcomes by improving sanitation and increasing people’s awareness on healthy lifestyles.
♦ In this case, one-time one-time grant of Rs. 10 lakh is provided to the non-Kayakalp winner Community Health Center (CHC) located in the ODF block.
♦ Kayakalp is an award for public health facilities in recognition of their contributions to Swachh Bharat Abhiyan.
♦ The purpose of the grant is that the resource will help CHC become a Kayakalp winner.
29 days ago
The new route under the UDAN scheme has been labeled Belgaum – Surat – Kishangarh. UDAN, which stands for ‘Ude Desh Ka Aam Nagrik’, aims to make air travel affordable and widespread.
UDAN Scheme:
The scheme is a part of the National Civil Aviation Policy (NCAP) and is jointly funded by the Government of India and State Governments. The following are its main functions:
The duration of the scheme is 10 years.
Airlines participating in UDAN are selected through a competitive bidding process
The central government will provide the following:
- Subsidies to bridge the Value Gap Funds (VGF) of participating airlines
- Concessional GST on tickets booked using the scheme
- Code sharing for flights according to this policy
The state government will expand the following measures:
- Reduce GST to 1% within ten years
- Coordinate with oil companies to promote refueling facilities
- Provide land for airport and auxiliary development
- Trained security personnel
- Utility subsidy rate
- 20% of VGF
Airport operators (such as AAI) will provide the following benefits:
- There are no parking, landing and storage fees at participating airports
- No TNLC (Terminal Navigation Landing Charges)
- Allow airlines selected through the bidding process to perform ground handling services
- The Airports Authority of India discounts the RNCF (Route Navigation and Facilitation Charges) to 42.4% of the normal rate
46 days ago
A team from the National Jal Jeveen Mission (NJJM) will visit Andhra Pradesh to provide technical assistance to the state to achieve the goal of "HarGhar Jal" under the flagship program "Jal Jeveen Mission", And identify different issues and challenges, and document good practices.
Key Facts:
♦ This is a flagship program of the Union Government, which aims to provide all rural households with sufficient drinking water of prescribed quality on a regular and long-term basis.
♦ The Union and state governments are working together to achieve this ambitious goal of providing guaranteed drinking water to rural households.
46 days ago
MNRE (Ministry of New and Renewable Energy) issued guidelines for the implementation of feeder-level Solarisation under component C of the PM-KUSUM scheme.
Highlights:
♦ The KUSUM program consists of three parts.
- Component A includes the installation of distributed ground-mounted renewable energy power plants.
- Component B includes the installation of an independent solar agricultural pump.
- Component C includes Solarisation for grid-connected agricultural pumps.
♦ The goal of Component-C of the PM-KUSUM plan is to provide farmers with reliable daytime electricity and increase their income by purchasing excess solar energy, thereby encouraging them to save water.
♦ In the case of feeder-level solarization, farmers will obtain reliable solar energy for irrigation during the day, but there is no provision to sell excess solar energy.
♦ Therefore, farmers can be encouraged to save water and increase income.
♦ DISCOM (Distribution Company) should evaluate the average electricity demand of farmers in a certain area based on various factors.
♦ This power requirement will be considered as baseline power consumption.
♦ DISCOM should encourage farmers to use electricity that is lower than the baseline electricity consumption.
♦ This kind of electricity saving should be regarded as surplus electricity injected by farmers, and DISCOM will use the surplus electricity to pay for these surpluses at a predetermined electricity price.
♦ This will be an important measure to maintain the groundwater level.
53 days ago
According to government regulations, the production-related incentive (PLI) program for bulk drugs and medical devices has shown an encouraging response from the pharmaceutical and medical device industries.
Highlights:
♦ The plan provides production-related incentives to promote domestic manufacturing and attract substantial investment, including cell phone manufacturing and specific electronic components, including assembly, testing, marking and packaging (ATMP) units.
♦ The plan should expand the incentive range for incremental sales (beyond the base year) of goods manufactured in India and belonging to the target market segment (above the base year) to 4% to 6% within five years after the defined base year.
♦ The plan will be implemented through a node agency, which should act as a project management agency (PMA), responsible for providing secretarial, management and implementation support, and performing other duties assigned by the Ministry from time to time.
♦ The target market includes mobile phones and other electronic components such as transistors, diodes, thyristors, resistors, capacitors and nanoelectronic components such as microelectromechanical systems.
♦ According to the plan, companies that produce mobile phones priced above 15,000 rupees will receive up to 6% of the incremental sales of all such mobile phones produced in India.
♦ In the same category, companies that manufacture such phones owned by Indian nationals have been rewarded at Rs 2 billion for the next four years.
♦ The plan will attract a large amount of foreign investment in this field, while also encouraging domestic mobile phone manufacturers to expand their operations and operations in India.
55 days ago
Union Health Minister reviews implementation of the National Digital Health Mission and Ayushman Bharat – PMJAY. The National Health Mission (NHM) was launched by the government of India in 2013.
National Health Mission:
The National Health Mission (NHM) was launched by the government of India in 2013 subsuming the National Rural Health Mission and National Urban Health Mission. It was further extended in March 2018, to continue until March 2020. It is headed by Mission Director and monitored by National Level Monitors appointed by Government of India.
Some of the Objectives of the National Digital Health Mission:
- Establishment of Digital Health Systems.
- Creation of Registries
- Enforcement of adoption of open standards by all national digital health stakeholders
- Establishment of Standardized personal health records
- Enterprise-class health application systems.
Salient Features of National Digital Health Mission:
1. The institutional framework of the mission runs at different levels starting from the apex level, followed by the board of directors, CEO and operations.
2. It is an IT-enabled healthcare infrastructure system
3. Health ID – It will be a repository of all the health-related information. Every participating stakeholder including healthcare providers and Indian citizens will be part of this health ID system on a voluntary basis. A unique health ID will be created by every citizen interested to access the benefits of this mission.
4. Health data consent managers will be linked with unique health IDs of the patients; who will aid the seamless exchange of the health records between the patient and the doctors.
5. The healthcare services will be provided through a mobile app or through an official website.
6. Digi Doctor – He/she will be the one who will be responsible for providing healthcare services across the country. An interested healthcare professional can act as a digital doctor to provide prescriptions to patients sitting in a different location altogether. He/she will be assigned free digital signatures which can be used to prescribe medicines.
Ayushman Bharat Programme:
The Ayushman Bharat programme was launched in 2018 to address health issues at all levels – primary, secondary, and tertiary. It has two components: i) Pradhan Mantri Jan ArogyaYojana (PM-JAY), earlier known as the National Health Protection Scheme (NHPS) ii) Health and Wellness Centres (HWCs)
Ayushman Bharat is an integrated approach comprising health insurance and primary, secondary and tertiary healthcare. The HWCs are aimed at improving access to cheap and quality healthcare services at the primary level. PM-JAY will cover the financial protection for availing healthcare services at the secondary and tertiary levels. Ayushman Bharat is the largest government-funded healthcare programme in the world with over 50 crore beneficiaries. It has been dubbed ‘Modicare’.
Need for Ayushman Bharat:
♦ The 71st round of the National Sample Survey Office (NSSO) revealed many grim numbers about the country’s healthcare system.
♦ About 86% of rural households and 82% of urban households do not have access to healthcare insurance.
♦ Over 17% of the country’s population spend a minimum of 1/10th of their household budgets on availing health services.
♦ Unexpected and serious healthcare problems often lead families to debt.
♦ Over 19% and over 24% of the urban and rural households respectively meet their healthcare financial needs through borrowings.
♦ To address these grave concerns, the government, under the National Health Policy 2017, launched the Ayushman Bharat programme along with its two sub-missions, PMJAY and HWCs.
60 days ago
Release interest subsidy loans from the Micro Irrigation Fund (MIF).
Highlights
♦ The micro-irrigation fund created by NABARD with a scale of Rs 5000 crore was put into operation in 2019-20.
♦ The purpose of the fund is to promote the use of discount loans to expand the coverage of micro-irrigation by developing special and innovative projects, and to encourage micro-irrigation to exceed PMKSY-Per Drop More Crop regulations.
♦ Encourage farmers to install micro-irrigation systems.
Some of the Objectives of PMKSY:
♦ Increase the accessibility of irrigation facilities and the expansion of arable areas under guaranteed irrigation area (HarKhetkoPani).
♦ Improve farm water efficiency and reduce water waste.
♦ Integrate water source, distribution and efficiency through appropriate technology.
♦ Ensure the comprehensive development of the rain-fed area by the following methods:
♦ Groundwater regeneration
♦ Methods of watershed protection
♦ Run-off
♦ Provide livelihoods and other NRM (natural resource management)activities.
♦ Promote extension activities of farmers and field workers, such as:
♦ Catchment
♦ Water management
♦ Crop adjustment
Some of the major Components of PMKSY are:
♦ Accelerated Irrigation Benefit Program (AIBP)
♦ HarKhetKoPani (HKKP)
♦ Per Drop More Crop (PDMC)
♦ Watershed Development (WD)
60 days ago
The Union Education Minister held a review meeting on the progress of the Unnat Bharat Abhiyan Plan (UBA) via video conference. Unnat Bharat Abhiyan is inspired by the vision of transformative change in the rural development process, and it uses knowledge institutions to help build an inclusive Indian architecture.
Highlights:
♦ The Ministry of Human Resources Development (MHRD) launched UBA to connect higher education institutions including Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs), National Institutes of Technology (NITs) and Indian Institute of Science Education and Research (IISER) with local communities Cooperation to meet development challenges through appropriate technology.
♦ The mission of the plan is to enable higher education institutions to work with people in rural India to jointly identify development challenges and develop appropriate solutions to accelerate sustainable growth.
♦ It also aims to establish a virtuous circle between society and an inclusive academic system by providing knowledge and practices for emerging industries, and to improve the capacity of the public and private sectors to respond to the needs of rural development in India.
♦ Currently, according to the UBA plan, 2,474 research institutes have adopted 13,072 villages.
♦ The technical interventions under the plan have been able to change the living conditions of the village.
♦ Technical interventions under UBA cover different topics, which are roughly classified as follows:
- Sustainable agriculture
- Water resources management
- Craftsmen, industry and people's livelihood
- Infrastructure (infrastructure and services) and rural energy system
♦ Through intervention in the above-mentioned fields, various new and old technologies have been developed, which have changed the living conditions in the countryside.
63 days ago
The problems faced by rural workers who rely on the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Program (MGNREGS).
Highlights:
♦ According to a study by the Indian company LibTech, many workers are forced to go to the bank multiple times, increasing travel costs and loss of income, and face the trouble of repeated refusal to pay, biometric errors and misinformation, just to make their own wages.
♦ The study found that almost 40% of workers must go to bank branches multiple times to withdraw money.
♦ The branch is usually located at the block headquarters, far from home. The time at the bank is three to four hours. Workers also lose their wages when they try to withdraw money.
♦ This effectively solves the situation where one-third of the weekly salary is spent.
♦ Studies have also found that only one in ten workers will receive a text message stating that their wages have been recorded. One-third of workers must visit bank branches to find out whether their wages have been credited.
♦ It was also discovered that although they were told that the salary was credited, they found that the money was not credited to the account.
♦ The challenge of the last mile makes it difficult for workers to get their wages in time.
♦ During the COVID-19 pandemic, this situation has worsened as transportation has become more difficult.
63 days ago
The Union Minister for Food Processing Industries inaugurates capacity building component as a part of PM-FME Scheme.
Highlights:
♦ The Minister also released GIS One District One Product (ODOP).
♦ The GIS One District One Product digital map of India provides detailed information on ODOP products in all states and provides convenience for stakeholders.
♦ The digital map also has indicators for tribes, SC, ST and ideal areas.
♦ This will enable stakeholders to make concerted efforts for the development of its value chain.
67 days ago
Union Cabinet has revealed the Production-Linked Incentive (PLI) Scheme to encourage domestic manufacturing investments in ten key sectors.
Highlights:
♦ PLI centres to support homegrown assembling and cut down on imports by giving money motivators on gradual deals from items made in the nation.
♦ Other than welcoming unfamiliar organizations to set shop in India, the plan means to urge neighbourhood organizations to set up or extend, existing assembling units.
♦ 10 new areas added. The ten areas have been recognized based on their capability to make occupations and make India confident, which include:
- Advance ChemistryCell (ACC) Battery
- Electronic/Technology Products
- Automobiles& Auto Components
- Pharmaceuticals drugs
- Telecom & Networking Products
- Textile Products: MMF segment and technical textiles
- Food Products
- High-Efficiency Solar PV Modules
- White Goods (ACs & LED)
- Speciality Steel
74 days ago
The Union government has dispensed more than Rs. 42,700 crore to 20.6 lakh resigned defence personnel through the One Rank One Pension (OROP) scheme, which was told 5 years prior in 2015.
Highlights:
♦ OROP infers the payment of the uniform benefits to military officials for a similar position for a similar length of administration, independent of the date of retirement.
♦ OROP suggests overcoming any issues between the rate of pension of current and past retirees at intermittent spans.
♦ Prior to OROP, ex-servicemen used to get benefits according to the Pay Commission's suggestions of when they had resigned.
♦ Uttar Pradesh and Punjab have the most noteworthy number of OROP recipients. Military Personnel who had resigned till June 30, 2014, are covered under it.
♦ The execution of the plan depended on the proposal of the Koshiyari board, a 10 part all-party parliamentary board framed under the chairmanship of Bhagat Singh Koshiyari.
♦ The choice to actualize OROP was given by a request in November 2015, with the advantage compelling from July 2014 itself. This had been a long-standing interest of ex-servicemen in the nation.
♦ Military Personnel resigned up to 30.06.2014 were covered under this Order. OROP implies that each trooper who resigns in a similar position gets a similar pension, independent of his date of retirement.
74 days ago
Ministry of MSME, Government of India, has alerted the general public and potential entrepreneurs against cheating in the name of Prime Minister’s Employment Generation Programme (PMEGP).
Highlights:
♦ The PMEGP is a central sector scheme launched in 2008. It is administered by Ministry of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSME)
♦ The PMEGP programme is being implemented by the KVIC (Khadi and Village Industries Commission) at the national level. It is the only one nodal agency for the implementation of the programme.
♦ The Scheme is implemented through banks, District Industries Centres (DICs), State KVIC Directorates and State Khadi and Village Industries Boards (KVIBs) at the state level.
♦ Individuals over the age of 18 years, Self Help Groups (SHGs), Cooperative Societies engaged with the creation, and establishments that are enlisted under the Societies Registration Act of 1860 are qualified for benefits under this program. There is no pay roof while setting up the undertaking.
♦ Help is given distinctly to the new units, units that have profited government appropriations under either the state or the central government plans; existing units are not qualified for subsidy under PMEGP.
♦ To accomplish comprehensive development the nation over, at least 75 activities will be granted to each area.
♦ Physically challenged, OBC, SC/STs, ladies, northeastern local candidates in rural regions are qualified for a higher pace of appropriation.
78 days ago
Union Cabinet Minister of Chemicals and Fertilizers Shri D.V. Sadananda Gowda holds a review meeting of Pradhan Mantri Bhartiya Janaushadhi Pariyojana (PMBJP). PMBJP (Pradhan Mantri Bhartiya Janaushadhi Pariyojana) was launched in 2008 by the Department of Pharmaceuticals under the Janaushadi Campaign, which was renamed as PMBJP in 2015-16.
Highlights:
♦ PMBJP scheme has achieved sales of Rs. Three hundred fifty-eight crores worth of pharma products through 6600 Janaushadhi Kendras during the first seven months of the fiscal year 2020-21 (till October 31) and is likely to surpass Rs' sales. 600 crore for the entire year.
♦ The sales figure has seen a drastic increase from Rs 7.29 crore in 2014-15 to Rs. 433 crore in 2019-20.
♦ The BPPI (Bureau of Pharma PSUs of India) was appraised for ensuring the supply of medicines, drugs, and other pharma products like masks to people at affordable rates during the Covid-19 pandemic.
♦ The implementing agency of the PMBJP is BPPI. BPPI was established in December 2008 under the Department of Pharmaceuticals and registered as an independent society under the Societies Registration Act, 1860.
Aim:
The scheme plans to extend the coverage of quality generic medicines, thus reducing the out-of-pocket expenditure on drugs and redefining the unit cost of treatment per person. PMBJP also aims to create awareness about generic medicines through education and publicity so that quality is not synonymous with only a high price.
Pradhan Mantri Bhartiya Janaushadhi Kendras:
It is also known as Janaushadhi Kendras, were set up across the country under PMBJP to provide generic drugs. Generic drugs are marketed under an approved name rather than a brand name. Under this scheme, all drugs procured are tested for quality assurance at the NABL (National Accreditation Board Laboratories) accredited laboratories and are compliant with the World Health Organisation Good Manufacturing Practices (WHO GMP) benchmarks.
Janaushadhi Week:
This week was celebrated across the country from March 1 to March 7, 2020, to educate the general public about the benefits of price and quality of the medicines sold at Jan Aushadhi Kendras.
Janaushadhi Sugam Application:
This application was launched in August 2019 to help people in- Locating nearby Janaushadhi Kendra through Google Maps and searching for Janaushadhi generic medicines. It helps in Analysing product comparison of generic versus branded medicine in the form of Maximum Retail Price (MRP) and overall savings, etc.
83 days ago
Union Minister for Science & Technology launched “SERB-POWER (Promoting Opportunities for Women in Exploratory Research)” Scheme, designed exclusively for women scientists.
Highlights:
♦ The scheme will have two components: SERB-POWER Fellowship and SERB-POWER Research Grants
SERB-POWER Fellowship:
♦ Goal: Women researchers in 35-55 years of age. Up to 25 Fellowships per year and not more than 75 at any point in time.
♦ Components of support: Fellowship of Rs. 15,000/- per month in addition to regular income; Research grant of Rs. 10 lakh per annum; and Overhead of Rs. 90,000/- per annum.
♦ Duration: Three years, without the possibility of extension, once in a career.
SERB-POWER Research Grants:
♦ Level I (Applicants from IITs, IISERs, IISc, NITs, Central Universities, and National Labs of Central Government Institutions): The scale of funding is up to 60 lakhs for three years.
♦ Level II (Applicants from State Universities/Colleges and Private Academic Institutions): The scale of funding is up to 30 lakhs for three years.
♦ POWER Grant will be regulated through terms of reference conforming to SERB-CRG (Science and Engineering Research Board -Core Research Grant) guidelines.
♦ While a Search-cum-Selection Committee constituted for the purpose will help in identifying the POWER Fellowship, the existing Programme Advisory Committee (PAC) mechanism will be used to select the POWER Research Grants.
♦ It is proposed to institute 25 POWER Fellowships annually. A total of 50 POWER Grants each will be sanctioned in Level I & Level II per annum.
SERB:
The Science and Engineering Research Board (SERB) is a statutory body established through a SERB Act 2008. Supporting basic research in emerging areas of Science & Engineering is the primary and distinctive mandate of the Board. It is under the Department of Science and Technology. It serves as a premier agency for planning, promoting and funding of internationally competitive research in emerging areas. It Identifies major inter-disciplinary research areas, and individuals, groups or institutions and funds them for undertaking research.
84 days ago
PM Modi lauded beneficiaries of the PM Street Vendors Atmanirbhar Nidhi (PM SVANidhi) Scheme, and also most of the beneficiaries were repaying their loans on time. So far, 24.76 lakh applications have been received, of which 12.37 lakh have been sanctioned, and over 5 lakh loans have been disbursed.
Highlights:
♦ The Scheme was launched on June 1, 2020, by the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs for providing affordable Working Capital loans to street vendors to resume their livelihoods that have been affected due to Covid-19 lockdown.
♦ By the Scheme, vendors can avail a working capital loan of up to Rs. 10,000, which is repayable in monthly instalments in the tenure of 1 year. The loans would be without collateral.
♦ On timely/ early repayment of the loan, an interest subsidy @ 7% per annum will be credited to the bank accounts of beneficiaries through Direct Benefit Transfer on a quarterly basis. There will be no penalty on early repayment of the loan. The Scheme promotes digital transactions through cashback incentives up to an amount of Rs. 100 per month.
♦ The scheme targets to benefit over 50 lakh street vendors. The duration of the Scheme is till March 2022.
♦ The lending institutions under the Scheme include Scheduled Commercial Banks, Regional Rural Banks, Small Finance Banks, Cooperative Banks, NBFCs, Microfinance institutions and Self Help Group banks.
91 days ago
NDA government has launched various schemes for the empowerment of farmers emphasized by BJP President JP Nadda. The PM Kisan Samman Nidhi Yojana scheme has deposited Rs. 6,000 in the account of 10 crore farmers.
Highlights:
♦ The BJP-led NDA government has deposited over Rs. 92,000 directly into the bank accounts of 10 crore farmers under PM Kisan Samman Nidhi Yojana Scheme.
♦ The soul of India resides in the farmers, and it is the farmer who is the backbone of India.
♦ PM Narendra Modi took up the cause of the farmers and implemented the report of MS Swaminathan.
♦ For the first time, Minimum Support Price (MSP) of one and a half times the cost was given to the farmers.
♦ The three Farm Acts are the Essential Commodities (Amendment) Act, 2020, The Farmers Produce Trade and Commerce (Promotion and Facilitation) Act, 2020 and The Farmers (Empowerment and Protection) Agreement on Price Assurance and Farm Services Act, 2020.
94 days ago
Central Agriculture Minister Narendra Singh Tomar launched AYUSHMAN SAHAKAR scheme on October 19, 2020. The scheme is a special way to assist cooperatives to play an essential role in the creation of healthcare infrastructure in the country.
Highlights:
♦ AYUSHMAN SAHAKAR scheme has been designed by the National Cooperative Development Corporation (NCDC).
♦ National Cooperative Development Corporation (NCDC )would extend term loans to prospective cooperatives to the tune of 10 thousand crores in the upcoming years.
♦ The pandemic has brought into focus the requirement of creation of more facilities. The fund by NCDC would give a boost to the provision of healthcare services by cooperatives.
♦ The scheme will be a step towards strengthening farmer's welfare activities by the Union Government.
♦ Ayushman Sahakar scheme fund would also assist cooperative hospitals in taking up medical / Ayush education. NCDC’s scheme aligns itself with the focus of the National Health Policy, 2017, covering the health systems in all their dimensions.
♦ NCDC's scheme also provides working capital and margin money to meet operational requirements. The scheme provides interest subvention of one percent to women majority cooperatives.
♦ NCDC was established under an Act of Parliament in 1963 for the promotion and development of cooperatives. Since 1963, it has extended around Rs.1.60 lakh crore as loans to cooperatives.
98 days ago
Union Education Minister Shri Ramesh Pokhriyal Nishank virtually launched the 'KAPILA' Kalam Program for Intellectual Property Literacy and Awareness campaign on October 15, 2020. 'KAPILA' Kalam Program for Intellectual Property Literacy and Awareness campaign was launched on the 89th birth anniversary of former President and Scientist Late Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam.
Highlights:
♦ The ‘KAPILA’ Kalam Program helps those students who pursuing education in higher educational institutions will get information about the correct system of the application process for patenting their invention and they will be aware of their rights.
♦ The Institution Innovation Council (IIC 2.0) annual report was also presented on the occasion and the launch of IIC 3.0 was announced and its website was also launched.
♦ It is also decided that the week of October 15th to 23rd will be celebrated as 'Intellectual Property Literacy Week'.
♦ Institution Innovation Council was established by the Ministry of Education in 2018.
♦ IICs have been established in about 1700 higher educational institutions and it was marked that IIC will be established in 5000 higher educational institutions under IIC 3.0.
♦ Intellectual Property Literacy Week will be celebrated by conducting a number of activities will be organized from October 15th to October 23, in which online awareness will be created about the system and the importance of the process of applying for a patent.
99 days ago
Union Health Minister Dr.Harsh Vardhan launched the second phase of “Thalassemia Bal Sewa Yojna” on 14 October 2020. He launched the second phase of Thalassemia Bal Sewa Yojna for the underprivileged Thalassemic patients, virtually from Nirman Bhawan.
Aim:
The Scheme aims to provide a one-time cure opportunity for Haemoglobinopathies like Thalassaemia and Sickle Cell Disease for patients who have a matched family donor.
Highlights:
♦ Thalassemia Bal Sewa Yojna” was launched in 2017 and it is funded by Coal India Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR).
♦ This is the Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation (HSCT) program that aims to provide a one-time cure opportunity for Haemoglobinopathies like Thalassaemia and Sickle Cell Disease.
♦ In India every year nearly 10-12,000 children are born with thalassemia major.
♦ The eligibility for the scheme - Patients whose yearly family income is Rs. 5 lakhs and or less .
♦ Dr. Harsh Vardhan congratulated all the doctors who have done successful transplantation without physician fee.
♦ The scheme has been extended to cover Aplastic Anaemia patients for a total of 200 such patients from this year. Such cases can be prevented by counselling using the Ayushman Bharat – Health & Wellness Centres network.
120 days ago
Prime Minister Narendra Modi launched the 'Age Appropriate Fitness Protocols' via virtual conferencing, on the first-anniversary occasion of the Fit India Movement.
Fit India Dialogue:
♦ Fit India Dialogue focuses on the fitness interests of every age group.
♦ The main objective is to bring into play different dimensions of fitness.
♦ The Dialogue aims to draw ideas of health and fitness from citizens in taking the Fit India Movement forward.
♦ The Age Appropriate Fitness Protocols are laid for three age groups namely 5–18, 18–65 and above 65.
Fit India Movement:
Fit India Movement is a nation-wide campaign. The movement aims to encourage drill physical activity and sports in their everyday lives. The entire program has been conceptualized by PM Modi. The movement was launched on the occasion of National Sports Day in 2019. National Sports Day is celebrated on 29 August every year, to honour the legendary hockey player Major Dhyan Chand Singh.
126 days ago
Gujarat State government has announced a subsidy scheme to encourage use of electric vehicles. The scheme will augment e-vehicle charging facilities, the State government has also announced financial assistance of Rs.50 lakh to set up charging infrastructure. The scheme aims challenges posed by climate change.
Scheme Highlights:
♦ The scheme aims to provide subsidy support to students studying above Class 9 to purchase two-wheelers.
♦ Also, individuals and institutional beneficiaries will get subsidy support for three-wheelers.
♦ The scheme will offer subsidy of Rs.12,000 for a battery-operated electric two-wheeler, and Rs.48,000 for an e-rickshaw (three-wheeler).
♦ The subsidy will be provided for the first 10,000 two-wheelers and 5,000 three-wheelers.
♦ To support the initiatives for climate change, the Gujarat State government has signed memorandums of understanding (MoUs) with 10 organisations for various objectives.
135 days ago
Prime Minister Narendra Modi is to digitally launch the Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana (PMMSY) on 10 September. He will also launch the e-Gopala App, which aims for a comprehensive breed improvement marketplace and information portal for the direct use of farmers. PM is expected to launch several other initiatives in the fisheries and animal husbandry sectors in Bihar.
Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana
PMMSY is a flagship scheme of the Government of India (GoI). The scheme is for the focused and sustainable development of the fisheries sector in the country. The estimated investment under the scheme is Rs. 20,050 crores for the implementation during a period of 5 years from FY 2020-21 to FY 2024-25. This is the highest ever in the fisheries sector. PMMSY scheme will be launched in all States/Union Territories (UTs) as a part of the AatmaNirbhar Bharat Package.
Highlights:
♦ PMMSY aims to enhance fish production by an additional 70 lakh tonne and increase fisheries export earnings to Rs.1,00,000 crore by 2024-25.
♦ The scheme focuses to double the incomes of fishers and fish farmers and to reduce post-harvest losses from 20-25% to about 10%.
♦ The scheme also aims to generate an additional 55 lakhs direct and indirect gainful employment opportunities in the fisheries sector and allied activities.
♦ PMMSY will address critical gaps in fish production and productivity, quality, technology, post-harvest infrastructure and management, modernization. It will strengthen traceability, value chain, establishing a robust fisheries management framework, and fishers' welfare.
♦ PMMSY envisage several interventions like Aquaculture in saline/alkaline areas, fishing vessel insurance, Nucleus Breeding Centres, support for new/up-gradation of fishing vessels/boats, Bio-toilets, E-Trading/Marketing, Sagar Mitras, Integrated Aqua parks, Aquatic Laboratories Network and Extension Services, Fisheries and Aquaculture start-ups, Incubators, Integrated coastal fishing villages development, Traceability, Certification and Accreditation, RAS, Biofloc & Cage Culture, Fisheries Management Plans, etc.
♦ The scheme will emphasize interventions for quality brood, seed, and feed, special focus on species diversification, critical infrastructure, marketing networks, etc.
♦ PMMSY scheme adopts ‘Cluster or Area-based approaches’ and the creation of Fisheries clusters through backward and forward linkages.
♦ It will focus on employment generation activities such as seaweed and ornamental fish cultivation.
About e-Gopala App
e-Gopala App is an information portal for the direct use of farmers. The app is a comprehensive breed improvement marketplace. Currently, there is no digital platform is available in the country for farmers to manage livestock including selling and buying of disease-free germplasm in all forms.
Highlights:
♦ The app will guide farmers for animal nutrition, treatment of animals using appropriate ayurvedic medicine/ethnoveterinary medicine.
♦ The app is expected to meet the need. The digital platform will manage the availability of quality breeding services like Artificial Insemination, veterinary first aid, vaccination, treatment, etc.
♦ The e-Gopala App will provide solutions to farmers by sending alerts on the due date for vaccination, pregnancy diagnosis, calving, etc and inform farmers about various government schemes and campaigns in the area.
135 days ago
Chief Minister YS Jagan Mohan Reddy launched YSR Sampoorna Poshana and YSR Sampoorna Poshana Plus schemes on 7 September. The scheme aims to provide nutritious food to pregnant women, lactating mothers, and children.
Highlights:
♦ Under the schemes, Anganwadis will serve as pre-primary I and II schools. The scheme aims to lay a strong foundation for the first standard where the medium of instruction will be in English.
♦ So, 55,607 Anganwadis will impart bridge courses and prepare the children to enter the schools with basics besides having nutritious food.
♦ It is expected that over 30.16 lakh mothers and children will be benefited from the two schemes.
♦ The schemes will address malnutrition and anaemia among pregnant and lactating mothers and children aged between 6-72 months
♦ The schemes will provide supplementary nutrition through Anganwadi centres.
♦ The schemes will involve an expenditure of Rs.1,100 per beneficiary every month.
♦ More than 30.16 lakh pregnant women, lactating mothers, and children belonging to Below Poverty Line (BPL) families will be benefited from the new initiative.
147 days ago
Pradhan Mantri Jan-Dhan Yojana (PMJDY) successfully completed 6 years on 28th August 2020. Under the scheme, 63.6% Rural PMJDY accounts and 55.2% Women PMJDY accounts have been created. The PMJDY scheme has been the foundation stone for the Modi government’s people-centric economic initiatives.
Highights:
♦ The PMJDY scheme was launched on 28th August 2014 by teh Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The main aim of the scheme is to provide poor people access to financial services, namely, Banking/ Savings & Deposit Accounts, Remittance, Credit, Insurance, Pension in an affordable manner.
♦ The scheme ensures access of financial products and services at an affordable cost and the use of technology to lower cost and widen reach.
So far, about 8 crore PMJDY accountholders receive Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) from the Government under various schemes.
♦ The scheme was extended with new features and the focus was shifted from Every Household to Every Unbanked Adult.
♦ Under this initiative, Jan Dhan Darshak App, a mobile application, was launched with an aim to provide a citizen centric platform for locating banking touch points such as bank branches, ATMs, Bank Mitras, Post Offices, etc. in the country.
♦ Over 8 lakh banking touchpoints have been mapped on the Geographic Information System (GIS) App. The facilities under Jan Dhan Darshak App could be availed as per the need and convenience of common people. The web version of this application could be accessed at the link http://findmybank.gov.in.
158 days ago
The Chief Minister of Chattisgarh Bhupesh Baghel has announced the launch of the Padhai Tuhar Para Scheme (Education up to your locality), a new scheme on 15th August, Independence Day. Under the scheme, the students will be able to study in their own neighbourhoods as classes were suspended due to the outbreak of covid-19.
Padhai Tuhar Para Scheme:
♦ Padhai Tunhar Para scheme aims to teach children with the help of the community in the villages.
♦ The scheme was launched to take the Padhai Tunhar Duar scheme, an online education platform further.
♦ The state government launched the scheme to benefit around 2.2 million children are getting its benefit.
♦ Also, the CM has launched a Bluetooth-based programme called Bultu ke Bol with an aim to introduce to provide study materials to students in remote areas with no access to the Internet.
160 days ago
Prime Minister Narendra Modi launched the National Digital Health Mission on the 74th Independence day. It is expected that the mission would revolutionize India’s health sector.
Highlights:
♦ Under the National Digital Health Mission, every Indian will receive a unique health identity card.
♦ The mission features Tele-consultation and E-Pharmacies.
♦ Every citizen who holds the cards shall allow one-time access to the doctors and health care providers during their visit to the hospitals.
♦ National Digital Health Mission Mission allows patients to access health services remotely.
♦ The card will ensure permission to access confidential medical data which will be provided for every visit by the patient himself. It will assure the privacy and maintenance of the patient. Also, the control of access to the digital records ♦ will be completely in the hands of the patient and the doctors will be able to access the medical record every time only at the will of the patients.
160 days ago
Odisha has topped in the implementation of the Atal Mission for Rejuvenation and Urban Transformation (AMRUT) scheme. As per the data provided by the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs, Odisha has secured a score of 85.67%. Also, Chandigarh and Telangana have secured the second and third positions followed by Gujarat and Karnataka.
AMRUT scheme:
♦ AMRUT scheme was launched by PM Narendra Modi in June 2015.
♦ The scheme aims to establish an infrastructure that will ensure robust sewage networks and water supply for urban transformation.
♦ Under the mission, efforts have been made towards universal coverage of water supply, construction of sewage treatment plants, and improving green spaces in the 9 AMRUT cities of Odisha.
♦ The nine cities are Balasore, Bhubaneswar, Baripada, Cuttack, Sambalpur, Rourkela, Bhadrak, Berhampur, and Puri. These cities are covered under the AMRUT scheme in Odisha.
♦ A total of 191 projects are grounded in the state. Out of the total 1919 projects, 148 projects have been implemented and the rest are likely to be completed by March 2021.
♦ Under the scheme, the Universal coverage of piped water supply has been completed by laying or replacing 400 km of pipeline to date, and all the nine AMRUT cities will have 100 percent network coverage by December 2020.
♦ Also, several parks with well-conceived landscaping and rejuvenation facilities, open gyms, and jogging trails have been developed.
162 days ago
Assam State Government launched "Orunodoi scheme", a mega scheme for women's financial empowerment. Under the mega scheme, a district-wise selection of beneficiaries will begin from August 17. The beneficiaries will receive the amount in the bank account of a female family member on the first day of every month. The scheme will begin from the month of October 2020.
Orunodoi scheme:
♦ The scheme will provide Rs.830 per month each to 17 lakh poor families under the ambitious “Orunodoi” scheme.
♦ The Assam state government has allocated a sum of Rs.280 crore for the new scheme.
♦ It is expected that this will be the biggest scheme in Assam which will initially benefit at least 17 lakh families and the number would subsequently increase to 25 lakh.
♦ The Orunodoi scheme focuses on empowering women while contributing to economic development.
♦ The scheme aims to help the poor households to meet their medical, nutritional, and academic needs besides to meet the additional spending during various festivals.
♦ Under the Orunodoi scheme, priority will be given to households with widows, divorced, unmarried or separated women, and disabled persons.
♦ Inorder to avail the benefits of the scheme, the beneficiary should be a permanent resident of Assam, and their composite household income should be less than Rs.2 lakh per annum.
♦ People who have certain movable and immovable assets including land, big houses, vehicles, electronic gadgets, and most government and semi-government employees, would be excluded benefitting from the scheme.
163 days ago
Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel launched Indira Van Mitan Yojana on the occasion of World Tribal Day. The scheme aims to make the forest dwellers in the state self-reliant.
Indira Van Mitan Yojana:
♦ Under the Indira Van Mitan Yojana, youth groups will be formed in 10,000 villages of tribal area of the state. All forest-based economic activities will be conducted through these groups. The groups will work to provide self-employment and prosperity of the forest dwellers through these groups.
♦ The groups will also ensure arrangements for procurement, processing and marketing of forest produce.
♦ The scheme aims to add 19 lakh families from scheduled areas.
♦ The groups will manage trees. They will collect the forest produce from the trees of the forest areas and get economic benefits.
♦ The estimated cost of a unit would be around Rs.10 lakh. An amount of Rs.8.50 crore will be made available for the establishment of forest produce processing units in 85 development blocks of scheduled areas.
♦ Inorder to increase the income of forest dwellers fruit and vegetation plants will be planted instead of timbers in the forests.
185 days ago
Union Human Resource Development (HRD) Minister Ramesh Pokhriyal ‘Nishank’ is to launch virtually the Manodarpan initiative of Ministry of Human Resource Development (MHRD) 21 July 2020. Manodarpan is an initiative under Atmanirbhar Bharat Abhiyan, to provide psychosocial support to students for their Mental Health and Well-being.
Highlights:
♦ The initiative is launched due to the need to focus on continuing education on the academic front and the mental well-being of the students.
♦ Manodarpan will cover a wide range of activities to provide Psychosocial Support to the students for their Mental Health and Well-being during the COVID-19 outbreak and beyond.
♦ All the students, teachers, and parents across India have been directed to join the initiative to keep a healthy lifestyle and lead a stress-free life.
♦ The Manodarpan initiative has been included in the Atma Nirbhar Bharat Abhiyan.
♦ The initiative is a part of strengthening human capital and increasing productivity and efficient reform and initiatives for the Education sector.
♦ Atma Nirbhar Bharat Abhiyan was launched on 12th May 2020 by the Prime Minister Narendra Modi as a stimulus package for revitalising the economy of India post COVID-19 outbreak.
194 days ago
Ayushman Bharat Yojana
Under February 2020 to 30th Ayushman Bharat Yojana at the Health and Wellness Centers across the country, around 8.8 crore Indian people have taken advantage of healthcare services since ISt June 2020. At the time of the COVID-19 Lockout, the country-wide health and wellness centers conducted 6.53 lakh yoga and wellness sessions. Once the ATL App Development Modules are implemented, it will be the largest App learning initiative at school level around the world. Currently 5100 Atal Tinkering Labs have already been built in over 660 districts across the country.
8.8 Crore Hits
Highlights from All India Data Available (from 1st February 2020 to 30th 2020) Of the 8.8 crore population: 1.41 crore population with hypertension 1.34 crore were found with diabetes oral, breast, or cervical cancer 1.12 crore. In June 2020: 5.62 lakh patients were dispensed with hypertension medicines while 3.77 lakh medicines were dispensed through the Health and Wellness Centers for patients with diabetes. Step Taken by the government during the COVID-19 pandemic to ensure medical services under the Yojana Until December 31 , 2020, 29,365 health and wellness centers were located across the country. In the first half of 2020 (from January to June) 12,425 new Health and Wellness Centers throughout the country were operationalised. The total number of health and wellness centers offering treatment as of 1st July 2020 under Ayushman Bharat Yojana was 41,790.
195 days ago
63rd National Fish Farmers Day
India celebrates 10th July every year as the "National Fish Farmers Day" to honor the fish farmers, aquapreneurs& fisher folks in recognition of their accomplishments in the field and their contribution in the growth of the fisheries sector in the country. This year it was 63rd National Fish Farmer's Day.
On July 10th, the Department of Fisheries, Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying in association with the National Fisheries Development Board (NFDB) hosted a webinar on the occasion of National Fish Farmers Day.
Background History:
Every year, on 10 July, the National Fish Farmer's Day is celebrated in memory of scientists Dr. K. H. Alikunhi and Dr. H.L. Chaudhury who successfully demonstrated induced breeding (Hypophysation) technology in Indian Major Carps on 10 July 1957 at the former CIFRI Pond Culture Division in Cuttack, Odisha. (presently Central Institute of Freshwater Aquaculture, CIFA, Bhubaneswar). The event aims to draw attention to changing the way the country manages fisheries resources to ensure sustainable stocks and healthy ecosystems.
The event is celebrated every year by congratulating outstanding farmers, aquapreneurs, and farmers in appreciation of their accomplishments in the field and their contribution to the development of the country's fisheries sector. Apart from officials, scientists, professionals, entrepreneurs, and stakeholders, fishermen, and fish farmers from across the nation will participate in the event.
About NFBD Webinar:
On July 10th the Department of Fisheries, Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry, and Dairying in association with the National Fisheries Development Board (NFDB) hosted a webinar on the occasion of National Fish Farmers Day. Shri Giriraj Singh, Union Minister for Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying, Shri P. C. Sarangi, Minister of State for Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying, Dr. Rajeev Ranjan, Secretary, Department of Fisheries, Government of India and senior officials from the Department of Fisheries graced the occasion.
Interacting with fishermen, officials, scientists, entrepreneurs at various locations across the country, Union Minister for Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying, Shri Giriraj Singh observed that to consolidate the achievements of the Blue Revolution and pave the way from NeeliKranti to ArthKranti, under the leadership of Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi The "Pradhan MantriMatsyaSampadaYojana" (PMMSY) has been launched with the highest investment ever of Rs. 20,050 crore over the next five years in order to realize its goal of doubling the farmer 's income. This scheme would tackle critical gaps in fish production and sustainability, efficiency, technology, post-harvest infrastructure and management, improving and enhancing the value chain, traceability, creating a comprehensive system for fisheries management and welfare for fishermen.
Shri Giriraj Singh said that providing ‘Quality Seed’ of fish is very important in enhancing production and productivity in the country. On the occasion of 'National Fish Farmers Day,' Shri Giriraj Singh announced that the NFDB, in collaboration with the NBFGR, will undertake the work of developing 'Fish Cryobanks' in various parts of the world, which will promote the availability of 'fish sperms' of desired species to fishermen at all times. This will be the first time in the world when "Fish Cryobank" will be created, which can bring a revolutionary change in the country's fisheries sector to boost fish production and productivity, thereby enhancing prosperity among the fishermen.
204 days ago
GoI launched Accelerate Vigyan to strengthen the scientific research mechanism. The new scheme was launched by the Science and Engineering Research Board (SERB). The scheme aims to provide a single platform for research internships, capacity building programs, and workshops across the country.
Accelerate Vigyan:
♦ The main objective of the Accelerate Vigyan scheme is to give more thrust on encouraging high-end scientific research and preparing scientific manpower, which can lead to research careers and knowledge-based economy.
♦ It aims to recognize that all research has its base as the development of quality and well-trained researchers.
♦ AV will initiate and strengthen mechanisms to identify research potential, training, mentoring, and hands-on workshop on a national scale.
♦ It aims to expand the research base, with three broad goals, namely,
consolidation/aggregation of all scientific programs
initiating high-end orientation workshops
creating opportunities for research internships for those who do not have access to such resources/facilities
♦ The AV plans to work on a mission mode with respect to its component dealing with consolidation/aggregation of all major scientific events in the country.
♦ Also, an Inter-Ministerial Overseeing Committee (IMOC) that involves all the scientific ministries/departments and a few others has been constituted for the purpose of supporting SERB in implementing the AV scheme in a successful manner.
207 days ago
Centre launched the PM Formalization of Micro Food Processing Enterprises (PM FME) scheme as a part of Atmanirbhar Bharat Abhiyan. It was launched by Union Minister for Food Processing Industries Harsimrat Kaur Badal on 29 June.
PM Formalization of Micro Food Processing Enterprises (PM FME):
♦ Centrally Sponsored PM Formalisation of Micro food processing Enterprises scheme was launched by the Ministry of Food Processing Industries (MoFPI).
♦ The scheme aims to provide financial, technical, and business support for the upgradation of existing micro food processing enterprises.
♦ The PM FME Scheme will generate a total investment of Rs.35,000 crore.
♦ It will also generate 9 lakh skilled and semi-skilled employment and benefit 8 lakh units through access to information, training, better exposure, and formalization.
♦ The scheme will be implemented over a period of five years from 2020-21 to 2024-25 with an outlay of Rs.10,000 crore.
♦ The expenditure for the scheme will share a 60:40 ratio between Central and State Governments, in 90:10 ratio with North Eastern and the Himalayan States, 60:40 ratio with UTs with the legislature, and 100% by Centre for other UTs.
209 days ago
Tripura State government announced the Mukhyamantri Matru Pushti Uphaar scheme. The scheme aims to provide nutrition kits to pregnant and lactating women. The scheme is expected to benefit 40,000 women from the state. The initiative was launched as many pregnant women and infants in the state suffer from malnutrition.
Mukhyamantri Matru Pushti Uphaar scheme:
♦ Under the scheme, nutrition kits will be provided to the pregnant & lactating women. Each kits cost around Rs.500.
♦ Each kit will have food items and grocery supplies, such as peanuts, soya beans, mixed pulses, jaggery, and ghee.
♦ The state government has estimated to incur an expenditure of Rs.8 crore every year for the initiative.
♦ Under this initiative, the pregnant women will be tested four times at a nearby Primary Health Centers (PHC). After the check-up, the beneficiaries will be given a nutrition kit after each test.
♦ The scheme will be in addition to the Pradhan Mantri Matru Bandana Yojana.
♦ Previously, the state had allocated Rs.5,000 each under the Matru Bandana Yojana to 58,996 beneficiaries.
215 days ago
PM Narendra Modi launched Garib Kalyan Rojgar Abhiyaan on 20 June. The scheme is to empower and provide livelihood opportunities in areas/ villages that witness a large number of returnee migrant workers affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. The campaign was flagged off by the PM from village Telihar, Block Beldaur, district Khagaria, Bihar through Video-Conference. PM announced that an amount of Rs.50,000 crores will be spent for building durable rural infrastructure under the Garib Kalyan Rojgar Abhiyaan.
Garib Kalyan Rojgar Abhiyaan:
♦ Under Garib Kalyan Rojgar Abhiyaan, a campaign of 125 days will work in mission mode.
♦ The mission is coordinated by 12 different Ministries/Departments, including Panchayati Raj, Road Transport & Highways, Mines, Rural Development, Drinking Water & Sanitation, Environment, Railways, Petroleum & Natural Gas, New & Renewable Energy, Border Roads, Telecom and Agriculture.
♦ A total of 116 districts will be undertaken by Garib Kalyan Rojgar Abhiyaan. The districts are:
Bihar - 32 districts
Uttar Pradesh - 31 districts
Madhya Pradesh - 24 districts
Rajasthan - 22 districts
Odisha - 4 districts
Jharkhand - 3 districts
♦ The list of 25 works and activities that are targeted to be taken up are:
Construction of Community sanitation centre (CSC)
Construction of cattle sheds
Construction of Gram Panchayat Bhawan
Construction of poultry sheds
Works under 14th FC funds
Construction of Goat Shed
Construction of National Highway works
Construction of Vermicompost structures
Water conservation & Harvesting works
Railway
Construction of Wells
RURBAN
Plantation works
PM Kusum
Horticulture
Bharat Net
Construction of Anganwadi Centers
CAMPA plantation
Construction of rural housing works
PM Urja Ganga Project
Rural connectivity works
KVK training for Livelihoods
Solid and liquid waste management works
District Mineral Foundation Trust (DMFT) works
Construction of farm ponds
♦ The initiative will provide livelihood opportunity to returning migrants and similarly affected rural citizens
♦ Saturate villages with public infrastructure and create livelihood opportunities viz. Roads, Housing, Anganwadis, Panchayat Bhavans, various livelihood assets, and Community Complexes among others.
236 days ago
Centre has approved the Bihar State's Jal Jeevan Mission Annual Action Plan. As per the plan, the State has provided 100% coverage of all households with functional tap water connections by 2020-21. The plan was approved by the Ministry of Jal Shakti.
Highlights:
♦ Bihar State is planning to provide tap connections to the remaining 1.50 Crore households in 2020-21.
♦ The government of India has allocated Rs.1832.66 Crore for this during 2020-21.
♦ The State Government is all set with the roadmap to implement the target.
♦ A proper plan is in place for 100% coverage of all 38 districts during 2020-21 has been prepared by the State government.
♦ Bihar Government is giving special attention to providing 100% of Functional Household Tap Connections (FHTCs) in Aspirational districts, quality-affected habitations, and SC/ST villages.
♦ The move initiated by the state is due to the abundance of groundwater and surface water in Bihar.
241 days ago
The Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana (PMMSY) has announced its plan to enhance fish production to 220 lakh metric tons (MT) by 2024-25 from 137.58 lakh MT in 2018-19 at an average annual growth rate of about 9%. The announcement was made by the Union Minister for Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying Giriraj Singh.
Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana:
♦ The scheme will bring about Blue Revolution through the sustainable and responsible development of the fisheries sector in India.
♦ PMMSY scheme will be implemented over a period of 5 years from FY 2020-21 to FY 2024-25 in all States/Union Territories.
♦ The scheme aims to double export earnings to Rs.1,00,000 crore.
♦ It also aims to generate about 55 lakh direct and indirect employment opportunities in the fisheries sector.
♦ The scheme is dedicated to aiding the fishers, fish farmers, fish workers, fish vendors, and other stakeholders associated with the fisheries sector.
♦ The scheme will envisage an estimated investment of Rs.20,050 crores comprising a Central share of Rs.9,407 crore, the State share of Rs.4,880 crore, and Beneficiaries contribution of Rs.5,763 crore.
♦ The PMMSY aims to infuse new and emerging technologies like Re-circulatory Aquaculture Systems, Biofloc, Aquaponics, Cage Cultivation, etc. to enhance production and productivity, productive utilization of wastelands and water for Aquaculture.
245 days ago
Madhya Pradesh State Government is to launch Everybody will get employment scheme. The scheme will be inaugurated by Madhya Pradesh CM Shivraj Singh Chouhan through video conferencing. Under this scheme, Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MNREGA) job cards will be distributed to the labourers.
Everybody will get employment scheme:
♦ The scheme aims to provide employment to migrant labourers and those labourers who have gone out of the state in search of employment, in their village and gram Panchayat area itself.
♦ For the implementation of the scheme, a large number of employment-oriented activities have been started under the MNREGA scheme. Under this, new labourers will be engaged in these activities.
♦ As per the data provided by the state official, over 19 lakh 92 thousand labourers are working in 22,695 gram Panchayats in the state.
♦ From 1 April 2020 till now, more than 35.45 lakh labourers have been provided employment under MNREGA amid the COVID-19 crisis. The employment included 42.2% of women also.
245 days ago
GoI has launched a scheme for the solarisation of Konark Sun Temple and Konark town in Odisha. The announcement was made by the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy. The main objective of the scheme is to develop the historical Sun temple town of Konark in Odisha as 'Surya Nagri'.
Highlights:
♦ Under the scheme, the Centre aims to set up the 10-MW grid-connected solar project and various solar off-grid applications such as solar drinking water kiosks, solar trees, and off-grid solar power plants with battery storage.
♦ It will be set up with a 100% central financial assistance (CFA) support of around Rs.25 crore from the Government of India through the MNRE.
♦ The implementation of the project will be done by the Odisha Renewable Energy Development Agency (OREDA).
♦ The scheme is expected to meet all the energy requirements of Konark town with solar energy.
246 days ago
The Union Cabinet chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi approved the proposal of the Ministry of Finance (MoF) to launch a new Special Liquidity Scheme for Non-Banking Financial Companies (NBFCs) and Housing Finance Companies (HFCs). The scheme aims to improve the liquidity position of the NBFCs/HFCs.
Proposed Scheme:
♦ The Government has proposed a framework for addressing the liquidity constraints of NBFCs/HFCs through a Special Liquidity Scheme.
♦ As per the scheme, a Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV) would be set up to manage a Stressed Asset Fund (SAF) whose special securities would be guaranteed by the Government of India (GoI) and purchased by the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) only.
♦ The SPV will proceed with the sale of such securities to acquire short-term debt of NBFCs/HFCs.
♦ The Scheme will be administered by the Department of Financial Services, MoF. GoI will issue the detailed guidelines.
♦ A large public sector bank would set up an SPV to manage a stressed asset fund that would issue interest-bearing special securities guaranteed by the Government of India, to be purchased by RBI only.
♦ The SPV would issue securities as per requirement subject to the total amount of securities outstanding not exceeding Rs.30,000 crore to be extended by the amount required as per the need.
♦ The securities that are issued by the SPV would be purchased by RBI. And the proceeds would be used by the SPV to acquire the debt of at least investment grade of the short duration of eligible NBFCs/HFCs.
246 days ago
The Union Cabinet led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi approved the extension for the welfare of Pradhan Mantri Vaya Vandana Yojana (PMVVY). It aims to enable old age income security for Senior Citizens:
Highlights:
♦ As per the approval, the scheme is extended up to 31 March 2023 for a further period of three years beyond 31 March 2020.
♦ It also allowed initially an assured rate of return of 7.40% per annum for the year 2020-21 per annum and thereafter to be reset every year.
♦ Annual reset of the assured rate of interest with effect from 1 April of the financial year in line with the revised rate of returns of Senior Citizens Saving Scheme (SCSS) up to a ceiling of 7.75% with a fresh appraisal of the scheme on breach of this threshold at any point.
♦ It also approved the expenditure to be incurred on account of the difference between the market rate of return generated by LIC (net of expenses) and the guaranteed rate of return under the scheme.
♦ The extension also includes capping Management expenses at 0.5% p.a. of funds of the scheme for the first year of scheme in respect of new policies issued and thereafter 0.3% p.a. for the second year onwards for the next 9 years.
247 days ago
The Union Cabinet chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi approved the implementation of the Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana (PMMSY) on 20 May 2020. The scheme aims to boost investments in the fisheries sector and increase of competitiveness of fish and fisheries products.
Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana:
♦ The Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana scheme aims to bring about Blue Revolution through sustainable and responsible development of the fisheries sector in India under two components namely, Central Sector Scheme (CS) and Centrally Sponsored Scheme (CSS).
♦ The total estimated investment for the scheme is Rs.20,050 crore comprising of the Central government share of Rs.9,407 crore, State government share of Rs.4,880 crore, and Beneficiaries' share of Rs.5,763 crore.
PMMSY Scheme will be implemented during a period of 5 years from FY 2020-21 to FY 2024-25.
♦ The scheme aims to address the critical gaps in the fisheries sector and realize its potential.
♦ The main objective of the scheme is the doubling of fishers, fish farmers, and fish workers' incomes by 2024.
♦ It will ensure the availability of certified quality fish seed and feed, traceability in fish, and including effective aquatic health management.
247 days ago
Ayushman Bharat beneficiaries set a milestone by touching 1 crore count across the country. The scheme is meant only for poor and economically-deprived people in India. The eligible families to avail the benefits of the scheme are fixed based on the Socio-Economic Caste Census (SECC).
Ayushman Bharat:
Ayushman Bharat or the National Health Protection Mission (AB-NHPM) was launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in September 2018 in Ranchi, Jharkhand. The mission is popularly known as Modicare. The flagship health insurance programme of GoI aims to provide Rs.5 lakh hospitalization cover to up to 107.4 million poor and vulnerable families.
Under the mission, over 1.5 lakh sub-centres were converted into wellness centres with an aim to cater to the majority of services such as detection and treatment of cardiovascular diseases, screening for common cancers, mental health, care of the elderly, eye care, etc. The wellness centres under the mission also offer a set of services including mental health services, maternal and child health services, and vaccinations against selected communicable diseases.
248 days ago
Madhya Pradesh state government launched the Charan Paduka initiative. The first of its kind of initiative is for the migrant labourers passing through the Madhya Pradesh.
Charan Paduka Initiative:
♦ Under the Charan Paduka campaign, the migrant labourers who are heading back to their native land will be provided shoes and slippers to reduce their pain.
♦ The campaign is being conducted by the police in most places. It aims to send the labourers to their homes respectfully amid COVID-19.
♦ The Charan Paduka campaign started from the Rau Police Station of Indore.
♦ The new initiative to support migrant labourers has spread in many cities of Madhya Pradesh including Damoh, Umaria, and Sagar.
251 days ago
Chhattisgarh State government is to launch Rajiv Gandhi Kisan Nyay Yojana on 21 May on the commemoration of the death anniversary of former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi. The scheme is aimed to stimulate the rural economy in the state, amid the slowdown caused by by the COVID-19 pandemic.
Rajiv Gandhi Kisan Nyay Yojana:
♦ Under the scheme, the state government will inject Rs.5100 crore into the state's rural economy by directly transferring the grant amount through Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) into the accounts of farmers.
♦ For this scheme, the state had made the provision for the scheme in the Budget 2020-21.
♦ The farmers would be paid Rs.10,000 per acre for paddy, corn, and sugarcane crops, based on the registered and procured area for the Kharif season.
♦ The scheme will benefit over 1.87 million farmers.
♦ The state government also plans to provide a fixed amount per acre based on the registered and notified areas for pulses and oilseed crops.
