Government Welfare Schemes and Programmes
Category : UPSC
WELFARE SCHEMES AND PROGRAMMES
Introduction
Economic planning is the making of major economic decisions what and how much is to be produced, how, when and where it is to be produced, and to whom it is to be allocated by the comprehensive survey of the economic system as whole. (H.D. Dickinsom)
BANKING AND INSURANCE
National Pension Scheme
Launched: January 1, 2004
Objective: To change the existing pension scheme.
Features: The New Pension Scheme works on defined contribution basis and will have two tiers - Tier-I and II.
Contribution to Tier-1 is mandatory for all Government servants joining Government service on or after 1-1-2004 (except the armed forces in the first stage), whereas Tier-II will be optional and at the discretion of Government servants.
In Tier-I, a Government servant will have to make a contribution of 10% of his basic pay plus DA, which will be deducted from his salary bill every month by the PAO concerned.
The Government will make an equal matching contribution.
However, there will be no contribution from the Government in respect of individuals who are not Government employees.
Tier-I contributions (and the investment returns) will be kept in a non-withdraw able Pension Tier-1 Account. Tier-
II contributions will be kept in a separate account that will be withdraw able at the option of the Government servant.
Government will not make any contribution to Tier-11 account.
The existing provisions of Defined Benefit Pension and GPF would not be available to the new recruits in the central Government service, i.e. to the Government servants joining Government service on or after 1-1-2004.
Dhanlakshmi Scheme
Launched: 2008
Objective: Cash transfer for the girl child with insurance cover for ensuring the survival of the girl child and assuring a better life.
Features: All girls born after 19 November 2008 are eligible for the scheme.
The scheme can be claimed on enrolment in school and retention in school till Standard 8.
Insurance maturity cover will be given for the girl child born after 19 November 2008 and if the girl child remains unmarried till the age of 18 years, she will get Rs. one lakh.
Rashtriya Swasthya Bima Yojana
Launched: April 1, 2008
Main Objectives: To provide health insurance coverage to the unrecognized sector workers belonging to the BPL category.
Features: Providing cashless insurance for hospitalization in public as well as private hospitals.
Central Government contributes 75% of the estimated annual premium i.e. Rs. 565 of total premium amount of Rs. 750 per family per annum and 25% by state government.
Every Below Poverty line (BPL) people and their family members (a family unit of five) holding a yellow ration card is the beneficiaries under this scheme.
The beneficiary has to pay Rs. 30 per annum as registration/renewal fee to get biometric-enabled smart card for identifying their eligibility.
Under the scheme, beneficiary will be covered with medical care of up to 30,000 Rupees for the beneficiary per annum.
All pre-existing illnesses are also covered from day one.
Beneficiary is also eligible to receive transportation cost within a limit of Rs. 1000 per annum.
The scheme was revamped in October 2014 as a part of Shrameva Jayantey event to include the following:
The revamped RSMY is set to enroll the RSMY?s beneficiaries? bank account with Aadhaar card and also includes smart card, third-party audits and a call centre for grievances.
Workers from construction sector were also included as beneficiary.
Single central smart card to be issued to include other welfare schemes.
National Crop Insurance Programme
Launched: 2013
Objectives: To providing financial support to farmers for losses in their crop yield, to assist in maintaining flow of agricultural credit, to encourage farmers to adopt progressive farming practices and higher technology in agriculture and thereby.
Features: Providing insurance coverage and financial support to the farmers in the event of failure of crops and subsequent low crop yield.
The programme includes Modified National Agricultural
Insurance Scheme (MNAIS), Weather Based Crop Insurance Scheme (WBCIS) and Coconut Palm Insurance Scheme (CPIS).
Actuarial premium rates are charged with a provision of subsidy up to 75 %, which is shared by the Central and State Governments on 50:50 basis.
Risk coverage for pre-sowing/prevented sowing and post-harvest losses due to cyclone in coastal areas.
Providing coverage against weather deviation from the notified standards on the basis of weather data received from the notified Automatic Weather Stations (AWSs) and Automatic Rain-gauges (ARGs).
Pradhan Mantri Jan Dhan Yojana (PMJDY)
Launched: August 28/2014
Main Objective: Financial inclusion and access to financial services for all households in the country.
Pradhan Mantri Jan Dhan Yojana (PMJDY) is a national mission to bring comprehensive financial inclusion of all the households in the country. Under the PMJDY, any individual above the age of 10 years and does not have a bank account can open a bank account without depositing any money.
The scheme was to ensure the access to financial services such as banking/savings & deposit Accounts, remittance, credit, debit cards, insurance and pension in affordable manner. The scheme was mostly targeted to the people belonging to the Below Poverty Line but is beneficial to everyone who does not have a bank account.
Jan Dhan Accounts entered into a controversy after the demonetisation of high denomination notes. The deposits in Jan
Dhan accounts, have more than doubled to Rs. 87000 crore in 45 days post demonetisation. Between November 10, 2016 to December 23, 2017, the total deposites in Jan Dhan accounts reported is Rs. 41523 crore in 48 lakh accounts. It is alleged that many money lenders deposited their unaccounted money in these accounts.
Pradhan Mantri Sukanya Samriddhi Yojana (PMSSY)
Launched: January 22, 2015.
Main Objective: Secure the future of girl child.
Sukanya Samriddhi Scheme is a phenomenal step by the Gol and it was launched on 22nd January, 2015. It is a part of GoI?s, ?Beti Bachao-Beti Padhao? initiative.
It is an ambitious small deposit savings scheme for a girl child.
Under the scheme, a saving account can be opened in the name of girl child and deposits can be made for 14 years. After the girl reach 18 years of age, she can withdraw 50% of the amount for marriage or higher study purposes.
After the girl completes 21 years of age, the maturity amount can be withdrawn including the interest at rates decided by Government every year.
The investments and returns are exempted under section 80C of Indian income tax act. The maximum investment of Rs. 1.5 lakh per year can be made while minimum deposit is Rs. 1000 per year.
In case of more than one girl child, parents can open another account on the different name but only for 2 girl child. Only exception is that the parents have twins and another girl child.
Pradhan Mantri MUDRA Yojana (PMMY)
Launched: April 8, 2015
Main Objective: Financial support for growth of micro enterprises sector.
Pradhan Mantri MUDRA (Micro Units Development and
Refinance Agency) Yojana was launched with purpose of funding to the non-corporate small business sector. Pradhan Mantri Mudra Yojana (PMMY) is open and is available from all Bank branches across the country.
The small business/startups or entrepreneurs can avail loans from Rs.50 thousand to 10 Lakh to start/ grow their business under the three.
(i) Shishu: Covering loans upto Rs. 50,000.
(ii) Kishor: Covering loans above Rs. 50,000 and upto Rs. 5 lakh.
(iii) Tallin: Covering loans above Rs. 5 lakh and up to Rs. 10 lakh.
The products under the scheme are:
Pradhan Mantri Jeevan Jyoti Bima Yojana (PMJJBY)
Launched: May 9, 2015.
Main Objective: Provide life insurance cover to all Indian citizens.
Pradhan Mantri Jeeven Jyoti Bima Yojana is a government backed life insurance scheme in Indian aimed at increasing the penetration of life insurance cover in India. The scheme is open and available to all Indian citizens between the age of 18 to 50 years.
Under the scheme, the policy holder can get a life insurance cover of Rs.2 lakh with an annual premium of just Rs. 330 excluding service tax. All the Indian citizens between 18-50 years of age with a saving bank account are eligible to avail the scheme.
Pradhan Mantri Suraksha Bima Yojana (PMSBY)
Launched: May 9, 2015.
Main Objective: Provide accidental insurance cover to all Indian citizens.
Pradhan Mantri Suraksha Bima Yojana is also a government backed accident insurance scheme in India aimed at increasing the penetration of accidental insurance cover in India. The scheme is open and available to all Indian citizens between the ages of 18 to 70 years.
Under the scheme, the policy holder can get a insurance cover for a sum of Rs. 2 lakh in case of accidental death or permanent full disability or a sum of Rs. 1 lakh in case of partial but permanent disability. Annual premium is just Rs. 12 per person per year excluding service tax. All the Indian citizens between 18 to 70 years of age with a saving bank account are eligible to avail the scheme. The scheme is valid for one year and it can be renewed every year.
Atal Pension Yojana (APY)
Launched: May 9, 2015.
Main Objective: Increase the number of people covered under any kind of pension scheme.
Atal Pension Yojana is one of the three Jan Suraksha schemes launched by PM Narendra Modi. APY is aimed at increasing the number of pension scheme beneficiaries across the country. The scheme is especially targeted to the private unorganized sector and is open to all Indian citizens between the ages of 18 to 40 years.
Under the scheme, the beneficiary have to make contribution for at least 20 years before he/she can get pension after attaining age of 60 years. The scheme provides a monthly pension of Rs. 1000 to Rs. 5000 per month based on the contribution amount.
Kisan Vikas Patra
Launched: March 3, 2015 (Re-Launched)
Main Objective: To provide safe and secure investment avenues to the small investors.
Kisan Vikas Patra is an investment scheme wherein the invested money will get doubled in 8 years and 4 months. However, investors would not get any tax benefit for their investment in Kisan Vikas Patra unlike in PPF. The Kisan Vikas Patra certificates would be available in the denominations of Rs. 1,000. 5,000, 10,000 and 50,000 and there is no upper limit on investment in KVPs.
Vidya Lakshmi Portal Education Scheme
Launched: 15 August, 2015
Objective: Provide educational loans to students.
Features: It is a web-based portal where students can apply for loan. Common educational loan application form is available to students. Students have the advantage of applying to three banks at a time. However, the interest rate will be as per the applicable rules of an individual bank. This reduces the Student?s time of approaching different banks.
Gold Monetisation Schemes
Launched: November 4, 2015.
Main Objective: To reduce the reliance on gold imports over time.
The programme is to lure tonnes of gold from households into the banking system. Under the scheme, people can deposit gold into the banks and earn interest based on the value of the gold.
Key features of the scheme are following;
· The scheme accepts a minimum deposit of 30 gm of raw gold in the form of a bar, coin or jewellery.
· There is no maximum limit of investment.
· The scheme allows premature withdrawal after a minimum lock-in-period, subject to a penalty.
· The scheme is implemented through designated commercial banks.
· An interest @2.5% per annum is paid on the investment.
· The short term deposits offered under GMS can be redeemed in either gold or in rupees at current rate applicable at the time of redemption.
Vrishtha Pension Bima Yojana 2017
Launched: 2017
Objective: To provide social security during old age and
Protect elderly persons aged 60 years and above.
Features: It will ensure an assured pension based on a guaranteed rate of return of 8% per annum for ten years, with in option to opt for pension on a monthly, quarterly, and half yearly and annual basis. The Government will bear the differential return i.e., the difference between the return generated by LIC and the assured return of 8% per annum as subsidy on an annual basis. The scheme will be implemented through Life
Insurance Corporation of India (LIC).
SCHEMES/PROGRAMMES RELATED WITH AGRICULTURE AND RURAL DEVELOPMENT
Minimum Support Prices (MSP)
Launched: 1966-67
Objective: To protect the farmers from fluctuating farm produce price.
Features: The Minimum Support Prices are a guarantee price for their produce from the Government. The main objectives are to support the farmers from distress sales and to procure food grains for public distribution. If the market price for the commodity falls below the announced minimum price due to bumper production and glut in the market, government agencies purchase the entire quantity offered by the farmers at the announced minimum price. 26 commodities are currently covered under the scheme
-paddy, wheat, barley, jowar, bajra, maize and ragi, gram,
arhar/tur, moong, urad and lentil, groundnut, rapeseed/mustard, toria, soyabean, sunflower seed, sesamum, safflower seed and nigerseed, copra, de-husked coconut, raw cotton, jute, sugarcane and Virginia flu cured (VFC) tobacco.
Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana
Launched: December 25, 2000
Objectives: The aim was to provide roads to all villages
1. with a population of 1000 persons and above by 2003
2. with a population of 500 persons and above by 2007
3. in hill states, tribal and desert area villages with a population of 500 persons and above by 2003
4. in hill states, tribal and desert area villages with a population of 250 persons and above by 2007
Features: Roads to be made in areas with a minimum population of 500 in the plains and 250-plus in hill states, tribal districts and desert areas.
The project to be funded by both the central government (60%) and states (40%), after a recommendation by state finance officials.
Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA)
Launched: February 6, 2006
Objectives;
1. To enhance livelihood security in rural areas by providing at least 100 days of wage employment in a financial year to every household whose adult members want to do unskilled manual work.
2. Creating durable assets such as roads, canals, ponds, wells, etc.
Features:
1. Employment is to be provided within 5 km of an applicant?s residence, and minimum wages are to be paid.
2. MGNREGA is to be implemented mainly by gram panchayats (GPs). The involvement of contractors is not allowed. Labour-intensive ideas like creating infrastructure for water harvesting, drought relief and flood control are preferred.
3. NREGA to help in protecting the environment, empowering rural women, reducing rural-urban migration and fostering social equity, among others.
Gramin Bhandaran Yojana
Launched: March 31, 2007
Objectives: Creation of scientific storage capacity with allied facilities in rural areas to meet the requirements of farmers for storing farm produce.
Features:
1. Promotion of grading, standardization and quality control of agricultural produce to improve their marketability.
2. Prevention of distress sale immediately after harvest by providing the facility of pledge financing and marketing credit by strengthening agricultural marketing infrastructure.
3. This scheme can be availed by a group of financial institutions/banks listed under the scheme.
Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana (RKVY)
Launched: August 1, 2007
Objectives: To provide States and Territories of India with the autonomy to draw up plans for increased public investment in agriculture by incorporating information on local requirements, geographical/climatic conditions, available natural resources/technology and cropping patterns in their districts, to increase the productivity of Agriculture and its allied sectors.
Features:
The eligibility of a state for the RKVY depends upon the state maintaining or increasing the State Plan expenditure for Agricultural and Allied sectors
The base line expenditure is determined based on the average expenditure incurred by the State Government during three years prior to the previous year.
The preparation of the district and State Agriculture Plans is mandatory
The scheme encourages convergence with other programmers suchas NREGS.
The pattern of funding is 100 percent Central Government
Grant.
If the state lowers its investment in the subsequent years, then the balance resources for completing the projects already commenced would have to be committed by the states.
It is an incentive scheme, hence allocations are not automatic
It will integrate agriculture and allied sectors comprehensively
National Food Security Mission (NFSM)
Launched: 2007
Main Objectives: To increase production and productivity of wheat, rice and pulses on a sustainable basis so as to ensure food security of the country. It aims at reducing the yield gap in respect of these crops through dissemination of improved technologies and farm management practices.
Key Features:
1. The total financial implications for the NFSM were to be Rs. 4,882.48 crore during the XI Plan (2007-08 2011-12).
2. Restoration of soil fertility and productivity at the individual farm level. Creation of employment opportunities and enhancing farm level economy from farm profits to restore confidence amongst the farmers.
3. Beneficiaries are allowed to choose to draw loans from the Banks, in which case subsidy amount prescribed for a particular component for which the loan availed will be released to the Banks. Otherwise it is directly allocated to state government which distributes among them.
4. Promotion of improved technologies such as seed, Integrated Nutrient Management including micronutrients, soil amendments, IPM and resource conservation technologies along with capacity building of farmers.
5. Subsidies are also given for farm instruments and technologies such as Rotovators, Sprinkler Sets, Multi Crop planters, etc.
6. Productions of breeder seeds are done under ICAR while certified seeds and pulses are implemented by State and District agencies.
Pradhan Mantri Adarsh Gram Yojana (PMAGY)
Launched: 2009-10
Objectives: Development of villages having a higher ratio (over 50%) of people belonging to the scheduled castes through convergence of central and state schemes and allocating financial funding on a per village basis.
Features:
1. Elimination of poverty, but reduction in its incidence by at least 50% within three years.
2. Universal adult literacy.
3. 100 % enrolment and retention of children at the elementary stage (I-VIII).
4. Reduction of infant mortality rate (per thousand live births) to 30 and maternal mortality rate (per lakh) to 100, by 2012.
5. Village should fulfill the Nirmal Gram Puraskar norms of the Deptt. Of Drinking Water Supply, M/o Rural Development, i.e., these villages should be 100 % open defecation free.
6. Access to safe drinking water facility to all villagers on a sustainable basis.
7. 100% institutional deliveries for pregnant women.
8. Full immunization of children.
9. Achieving all weather road connectivity to the village.
10. 100% registration of deaths and births in the village.
11. No child marriages, and child labor.
12. No public consumption of liquor and other intoxicating substances.
13. 100% allotment of Pradhan Mantri Gramin Awaas Yojana (PMGAY) houses to all eligible families.
Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana (PMFBY)
Launched: October 11, 2014.
Main Objective: Provide insurance cover to rabi and kharif crops and financial support to farmers in case of damage of crops.
In order to make crop insurance simpler and cheaper for the farmers and to provide them with better insurance services, a Central Sector Scheme of Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana (PMFSY) was launched by the Government of India replacing NAIS and MNA1S.
Key features of the PMFBY are following:
1. Maximum Insurance charges payable by fanner is 2% of sum insured or Actuarial rate (whichever is less) for Kharif crops, 1.5% for Rabi crops and 5% for commercial horticultural crops.
2. Insuring income of the farmer and not crop per se.
3. In PMFBY, there will not be a cap on the premium and reduction of the sum insured.
4. Promises to provide prompt and easy settlement of claims through the use of technology like GPS, smart phones, remote sensing and drones to access actual crop damage.
5. 25 per cent of the likely claim will be settled directly on farmers account.
6. There will be one insurance company for the entire state.
7. The scheme also provides for coverage of post-harvest losses.
8. Covers iocalised crop iosses like hailstones.
9. The scheme is implemented through Ministry? Agriculture and farmers welfare designated;' empanelled Agriculture Insurance company of India and same private insurance companies.
10. Comprehensive risk insurance is provided to cover yield losses due to non-preventable risks such as Natural fire and lightning, storm, hailstrom, cyclone, Typhoon, Hurricane,
11. Tornado, Flood, Induration and Landslide, Drought, Dry spells, Perts/Diseases etc.
Crop Insurance Schemes
· Comprehensive Crop Insurance Scheme : 1985
· National Agricultural Insurance Scheme : 1999
· Weather based Crop Insurance Scheme : 2007
· Modified National Agricultural Scheme : 2010
· Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana : 2014
Sansad Adarsh Gram Yojana (SAGY)
Launched: October 11, 2014.
Main Objective: Social, cultural, economic, infrastructure developments in the villages, i.e. development of model villages called ?Adarsh Gram?.
Key features of the SAGY are following:
· Each MP should adopt a village of his choice, which should not be his own or his in-laws. This should be turned into a model village by 2016. Then for the next three years, two more villages should be chosen and developed. After 2019, one village should be taken up every year till 2024.
· Emphasis on empowering the poor families.
· Transforming villages into model villages by providing all round infrastructural development along with emphasis on gender equality, women empowerment and dignity, social justice, cleanliness, community service, peace, harmony and eco-friendliness.
· Pucca houses for homeless villagers and proper sanitation facilities.
· Smart schools with IT-enabled classrooms, e-libraries and web-based teaching. Also, each student will have universal access to education facilities up to Class X.
· Basic health care facilities to all with health card, medical examination, and total immunisation.
· Provided are piped drinking water, connectivity to the main road, electricity supply to all households, libraries in the village, telecom and broadband connectivity including CCTVs in public areas.
Rashtriya Gokul Mission
Launched: December 16, 2014
Main Objective: To conserve and develop indigenous bovine breeds.
Rashtriya Gokul Mission aims to conserve and develop indigenous breeds in a focused and scientific manner. It is a focussed project under National Programme for Bovine Breeding and Dairy Development, with an outlay of Rs.500 crore during the 12th Five Year Plan.
Key features of Rashtriya Gokul Mission are following:
· The Mission will be implemented with the objectives to:
* development and conservation of indigenous breeds.
* undertake breed improvement programme for indigenous cattle breeds so as to improve the genetic make-up and increase the stock.
* enhance milk production and productivity.
* upgrade nondescript cattle using elite indigenous breeds like Gir, Sahiwal, Rathi, Deoni, Tharparkar, Red Sindhi.
* Distribute disease free high genetic merit bulls for natural service.
· Funds under the scheme will be allocated for:
(a) Establishment of Integrated Indigenous Cattl Centres viz. ?Gokul Gram?;
(b) Strengthening of bull mother farms to conserve high genetic merit Indigenous Breeds;
(c) Establishment of Field Performance Recording (FPR) in the breeding tract.
(d) Assistance to Institutions/Institutes which are repositories of best germplasm;
(e) Implementation of Pedigree Selection Programme for the Indigenous Breeds with large population;
(f) Establishment of Breeder's Societies: Gopalan Sangh
(g) Distribution of disease free high genetic merit bulls for natural service
(h) Incentive of farmers maintaining elite animals of indigenous breeds;
(i) Heifer rearing programme; award to Fanners (?Gopal Ratna?) and Breeders' Societies (Kamandhenu?);
(j) Organization of Milk Yield Competitions for indigenous breeds and
(k) Organization of Training Programme for technical and non-technical personnel working at the Institute/ Institutions engaged in indigenous cattle development.
Pradhan Mantri Gram Sinchari Yojana (PMGSY)
Launched: July 1, 2015
Main Objective: Irrigating the field of every fanner and improving water use efficiency to provide ?Per Drop More Crop?.
The scheme is aimed to attract investments in irrigation system at field level, develop and expand cultivable land in the country, enhance ranch water use in order to minimize wastage of water, enhance crop per drop by implementing water-saving technologies and precision irrigation.
All the States and Union Territories including North Eastern States are covered under the programme.
The government has approved Rs. 50,000 crore for the implementation of Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinclair Yojana for next 5 years, i.e., up to 2020.
Soil Health Card Scheme
Launched: February 17, 2015
Main Objective: To help farmers to improve productivity from their farms by letting them know about nutrient/fertilizer requirements for their farms.
The soil health card studies and reviews the health of soil or rather a complete evaluation of the quality of soil right from its functional characteristics, to water and nutrients content and other biological properties. It will also contain con-ective measures that a farmer should adopt to obtain a better yield.
Deen Dayai Upadhyaya Gram Jyoti Yojana (DDUGJY)
Launched: July 25, 2015
Main Objective: Electric supply feeder separation (rural households and agricultural) and strengthening of sub-transmission and distribution infrastructure including metering at all levels in rural areas.
DDUGJY will help in providing round the clock power to rural households and adequate power to agricultural consumers. The earlier scheme for rural electrification viz. Rajiv Gandhi Grameen Vidyutikaran Yojana (RGGVY) has been subsumed in the new scheme as its rural electrification component.
Shyama Prasad Mukherji Rurban Mission
Launched: February 21, 2016.
Main Objective: To create 300 rural clusters across the country and strengthen financial, job, and lifestyle facilities in rural areas.
Rurban Mission is a solution for both villages and cities in the country that would promote growth of villages and its residents at the place where they are. Under the mission, the government will identify and develop 300 rural clusters with urban like facilities in the next 3 years.
Key features of SPMRM are the following:
· Identified clusters will be geographically contiguous Gram Panchayats with a population of about 25000 to 50000 in plain and coastal areas and a population of 5000 to 15000 in desert, hilly or tribal areas.
· The funding for Rurban Clusters will be through various schemes of the Government converged into the cluster. The SPMRM will provide an additional funding support of up to 30 per cent of the project cost per cluster as Critical Gap Funding (CGF) as Central Share to enable development of such Rurban clusters.
· Fourteen components have been suggested as desirable for the cluster, which would include; Skill development training linked to economic activities, Agro Processing/Agri Services/Storage and Warehousing, Digital Literacy, Sanitation, Provision of piped water supply, Solid and liquid waste management, Village streets and drains. Street lights, fully equipped mobile health unit, upgrading school/higher education facilities, Inter-village road connectivity, Citizen Sender Centres- for electronic delivery of citizen centric seivices/e-gram connectivity. Public transport. LPG gas connections.
Rashtriya Gram Swaraj Abhiyan
Launched: 29, Februaly 2016
The Rashtriya Gram Swaraj Abhiyan will strengthen the Panchayati Raj System across the countly and address critical gaps that constrain its success. RGSA seeks to:
· Enhance capacities and effectiveness of Panchayats and the Gram Sabhas;
· Enable democratic decision-making and accountability- in Panchayats and promote people's participation;
· Strengthen the institutional structure for knowledge creation and capacity building of Panchayats;
· Promote devolution of powers and responsibilities to Panchayats according to the spirit of the Constitution and PESA Act;
· Strengthen Grain Sabhas to function effectively as the basic forum of peoples participation, transparency and accountability within the Panchayat system;
· Create and strengthen democratic local self-government in areas where Panchayats do not exist;
· Strengthen the constitutionally mandated framework on which Panchayats are founded.
Gram Uday Se Bharat Uday Abhiyan
Launched: 14 April, 2016.
Main Objective: Prime Minister Narendra Modi launched Gram Uday Se Bharat Uday Abhiyan? (Village Self Governance Campaign) to strengthen Panchayati Raj in villages and ensure social harmony in villages. It was launched on the occasion of 125th birth anniversary of Dr. Babasaheb Amebdkar at his birthplace at Mhow, Madhya Pradesh.
Key Facts:
· The campaign aims to generate nation-wide efforts to strengthen Panchayti Raj, increase social harmony across villages- promote rural development and foster farmers? welfare and livelihoods of the poor.
· It is eleven day compaign (from 14th April to 24th April, 2016) will mainly focus on generating nationwide efforts on promoting above mentioned aim of the campaign.
· The campaign will be run jointly by the union Ministries of Rural Development, Social Justice, Agriculture. Labour and information and Broadcasting along with the States Governments.
· Panchayat level programmes: Between 14th April to 16th April, 2016, a 'Social Harmony Programme? will be conducted in all Gram Panchayats.
· In this programme, villagers will resolve to strengthen social harmony.
Saur Sujala Yojana in Chhattisgarh
Launched: November 2016
Objective: To provide solar powered irrigation pumps to farmers at a subsidized price.
Features: Solar powered irrigation pumps of 3HP and 5HP capacity worth Rs. 3.5 lakh and Rs 4.5 lakh respectively would be distributed to the farmers by March 31, 2019. The beneficiaries would get the pumps at the subsidized price.
51,000 farmers would be benefitted in the state with the launch of the scheme in next two years.
Pradhan Mantri Gramin Digital Saksharta Abhiyan
Launched: 8th February 2017
Objective: To promote digital literacy in rural areas
Features: Under the scheme, 25 lakh people will be trained in the FY 2016-17; 275 lakh in 2017-18; and 300 lakh in 2018-19. The cost for this project is Rs. 2,351.38. To ensure equitable geographical reach, each of the 250,000 Gram Panchayats across the country will be registered on an average of 200-300 candidates. Digitally literate persons will be able to operate computers/digital access devices, send and receive emails, access government services, browse internet, search for information, undertaking cashless transactions, etc. The scheme will be implemented under the guidance of Ministry of Electronics and IT in collaboration with States/UTs.
SCHEMES/PROGRAMMES RELATED WITH HOUSING AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT
Rajiv Awas Yojana
Launched: 2009
Objectives: Improving and provisioning of housing, basic civic infrastructure and social amenities in intervened slums.
Features: Providing basic amenities such as water supply, sewerage, drainage, internal and approach roads, street lighting and social infrastructure facilities in slums and low income settlements adopting a 'whole city' approach. It would also provide subsidized credit.
· Allocation for housing and provision of basic amenities to urban poor enhanced to Rs.3, 973 crore in the Union Budget 2009-10.
2. The schemes for affordable housing through partnership and the scheme for interest subsidy for urban housing would be integrated into the Rajiv Awas Yojana which would extend support under Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission (JNNURM) to States that are willing to assign property rights to people living in slum areas.
Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (PMAY)
Launched: 25 June, 2015.
Main Objective: Achieve housing for all by the year 2022, 2 crore in Urban and 3 crore homes in Rural areas.
Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana is an ambitious scheme of Narendra Modi Government. Under the PMAY, the government aims to provide about 5 crore affordable homes to the people belonging to EWS and LIG categories by the year 2022. There is a target of building 2 crore homes in urban area and 3 crore in rural areas across the country.
Under the scheme, the government will provide financial assistance to the poor home buyers, interest subsidy on home loan and direct subsidy on homes bought under the scheme.
Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana Gramin
Government to construct 1 crore pucca (permanent) houses for the rural poor in the next three years. A total of 4 crore homes would be constructed under PMAY-G in rural areas across the country by the year 2022.
The scheme is expected to boost job creation in rural areas.
The project will be implemented in a span of three years from 2016-17 to 2018-19 with a budget of Rs. 81,975 crore.
Of the total estimated expenditure, Rs. 60,000 crore will come from budgetary allocations and the remaining through NABARD.
· The cost of unit (house) assistance is to be shared between central and state governments in the ratio 60:40 in plain areas and 90:10 for north-eastern and hilly states.
· Beneficiaries of the rural houses would be chosen according to data taken from the Socio-economic Caste Census of 2011.
· An allowance of Rs.120,000 in plain areas and Rs. 130,000 in hilly areas will be provided for construction of homes.
· The unit size will be enhanced from the existing 20 sq. mt to up to 25 sq. mt including a dedicated area for hygienic cooking.
· Provision of toilets at Rs.12000/- and 90/95 days of unskilled wage labour under MGNREGA over and above the unit cost.
· Funds will be transferred electronically directly to the account of the beneficiary.
· The beneficiary would be facilitated to avail loan of up to Rs. 70000 for construction of the house which is optional.
· Special Projects to be sanctioned to states based on situational exigencies and special needs.
New Update: Home loans up to Rs. 2 lakh taken in 2017 for maintenance or up-gradation of homes under PM Awas Yojana Gramin will receive interest subvention of 3%. The scheme is also expected to generate employment in the rural areas, especially in the construction sector which is currently the 2nd largest employers in India.
PMAY-G Home Loan Scheme 2017
Narendra Modi on 31st December 2016 has announced new home loan scheme for PM Awas Yojana- Gramin beneficiaries.
Under the new home loan scheme, the beneficiaries will be provided interest subvention 3% on home loan of upto Rs.2 lakh taken in 2017 for new house construction or extension of housing in rural areas.
Atal Mission for Rejuvenation and Urban Transformation (AM RUT)
Launched: June 24, 2015.
Main Objective: Providing basic services (e.g., water supply, sewerage, urban transport) to households and build amenities in cities which will improve the quality of life for all, especially the poor and the disadvantaged.
The purpose of Atal Mission for Rejuvenation and Urban
Transformation (AM RUT) is to
(i) ensure that every household has access to a tap with assured supply of water and an sewerage connection,
(ii) increase the amenity value of cities by developing greenery and well maintained open spaces (e.g., parks); and
(iii) reduce pollution by switching to public transport or constructing facilities for non-motorized transport (e.g., walking and cycling).
National Heritage City Development and Augmentation Yojana (HRIDAY)
Launched: January 21, 2015
Main Objective: Bringing together urban Planning, economic growth and heritage conservation in as inclusive manner to preserve the heritage character of each Heritage City.
With a duration of 27 months (completing in March 2017) and a total outlay of INR 500 Crores, the Scheme is being implemented in 12 identified Cities namely, Ajmer, Amaravati, Amritsar, Badami, Dwarka, Gaya, Kanchipuram, Mathura, Puri, Varanasi, Velankanni and Warangal, The scheme is implemented in a mission mode.
Smart City Mission
Launched: June 25, 2015.
Main Objective: To develop 100 cities all over the country making them citizen friendly and sustainable.
Under the mission, the NDA Government aims to develop smart cities equipped with basic infrastructure and offer a good quality of life through smart solutions. Assured water and power supply, sanitation and solid waste management, efficient urban mobility and public transport, robust IT connectivity?, e-governance and citizen participation along with safety of its citizens are some of the likely attributes of these smart cities.
Implementation of Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana- Gramin has been approved by the Narendra Modi Government on 23rd March in a cabinet meeting. The rural housing scheme will help achieve housing for all by 2022 in rural areas across the country.
Latest Update: Number of homes to be constructed under PMAY-G has been increased by 33% from 3 crore to 4 crore by the year 2022.
To address the gap in rural housing and in view of Government?s commitment to provide 'Housing for All? by 2022, the scheme of IAY has been re-structured into Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana Gramin (PMAY-G) w.e.f. 1st April, 2016.
Smart Ganga City Scheme
Launched: August 13, 2016
Union Minister for water Resources River Development and Ganga Rejuvenation Sushri Uma Bharti and Union Urban Development Minister Shri M. Venkaiah Naidu on August 13, 2016 launched Smart Ganga City Scheme in ten important cities.
Key Facts:
· These cities are- Haridwar, Rishikesh, Mathura Vrindavan, Varanasi, Kanpur, Allahabad, Lucknow, Patna, Sahibgunj and Barrackpore.
· National Mission for Clean Ganga (NMCG) has chosen these cities in the first phase for infrastructure development for sewage treatment.
· This will be on hybrid annuity mode based on PPP model.
· Learning from the past experience of Ganga action plan her Ministry this time has gone for hybrid annuity mode based on PPP model.
· Though in the first phase only ten cities have been taken up but gradually more and more cities will be taken up.
SCHEMES/PROGRAMMES RELATED WITH TECHNOLOGY EDUCATION AND SKILL DEVELOPMENT
TECHNOLOGY, EDUCATION AND EMPLOYMENT
Rashtriya Madhyamik Shiksha Abhiyan
Launched: March 2009
Objective: Increasing the enrolment rate to 90 % at secondary and 75% at higher secondary stage, by providing a secondary school within reasonable distance of every home. It also aims at improving the quality of secondary education by making all secondary schools conform to prescribed norms, removing gender, socio-economic and disability barriers, and providing universal access to secondary level education by 2017.
Features:
1. Important physical facilities to be provided which include, additional class rooms, (ii) laboratories, (iii) libraries, (iv) art and crafts room, (v) toilet blocks, (vi) drinking water provisions, etc.
2. The scheme is implemented by the states with financial support from central government with a funding pattern of 75:25 between Centre and States (90:10 for Special Category and North Eastern States).
3. The scheme extends the benefit to aided secondary schools for quality interventions excluding infrastructure support and teachers and staff salaries.
Udaan Scheme
Launched: November 14, 2014
Main Objective: Encouraging girls for higher technical education and aims to provide a platform that empowers girl students and provides them with better learning opportunities.
It is a mentoring and scholarship scheme to enable meritorious girl students to transit from schools to technical education without much difficulty and also aims to enrich and enhance teaching and learning of mathematics and science at senior secondary school level by providing free only resources for all.
Unnat Bharat Abhiyan
Launched: 2014
The Ministry of Human Resource Development (MHRD) has launched a programme called Unnat Bharat Abhiyan with an aim to connect institutions of higher education, including Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs), National Institutes of Technology (NITs) and Indan Institutes of Science Education and Research (USERs) etc. with local communities to address the development challenges through appropriate technologies.
The objectives of Unnat Bharat Abhiyan broadly two-fold:
(i) Building institutional capacity in Institutes of higher education in research & training relevant to the needs of rural India.
(ii) Provide rural India with professional resource support from institutes of higher education, especially those which have acquired academic excellence in the field of Science, Engineering & Technology and Management.
Padhe Bharat Badhe Bharat
Launched: 2014
Objective: To improve the reading and writing skills of children in classes I and II, along with their mathematics skills.
Features: An amount of INR 762 crore had been approved for the states. The union government had also sanctioned INR 2352.57 crore to the states and union territories so that they could improve their existing quality programmes.
The programme provides several facilities such as an ideal environment full of books and reading material for children and timely distribution of the same. It is also supposed to have an appraisal system as well as mentoring of new teachers. The teachers are expected to play a major part in the programme becoming successful in the long run and they are responsible for finishing the curriculum in the prescribed time. The teaching will primarily be done in mother tongue.
Digital India
Launched: July 1, 2015
Main Objective: To deliver Government services to citizens electronically by improving online infrastructure and by increasing Internet connectivity.
Digital India Programme is centred on three key areas:
(i) Digital Infrastructure as a Utility to every citizen.
(ii) Governance and services on demand, and
(iii) Digital empowerment of citizens.
With the above vision, the Digital India Programme aims to provide:
· Broad band Highways.
· Universal access to mobile connectivity.
· Public internet access programme.
· e-governance : Reforming government through
· Technology.
· e-Kranti: Electronic delivery of services, information for all.
· Electronic manufacturing: Target net zero imports. IT for jobs.
· Early harvest programme.
Key projects of Digital India Programme are:
· Digital Locker System: Aims to minimize the usage of physical documents and enable sharing of e-documents across agencies.
· My Gov. in: A platform for citizen engagement in governance.
· Swachh Bharat Mission Mobile App.
· e-sign framework
· Online Registration System.
· National Scholarship portal.
· Digital India Platform.
· Bharat Net and Next Generation Network.
Skill India
Launched: July 16, 2015
Main Objective: Trai n over 40 crore people in India in different skills by 2022.
The main goal of Skill India Program is to create opportunities, space and scope for the development of talents of the Indian youth. The scheme also targeted to identify new sectors for skill development and develop more of those sectors which have .already been put under skill development for the last so many years.
Features of ?Skill India?
· The emphasis is to skill the youths in such a way so that they get employment and also improve entrepreneurship.
· Provides training, support and guidance for all occupations that were of traditional type like carpenters, cobblers, welders, blacksmiths, masons, nurses, tailors, weavers etc.
· More emphasis will be given on new areas like real estate, construction, transportation, textile, gem industry, jewellery designing, banking, tourism and various other sectors, where skill development is inadequate or nil.
· The training programmes would be on the lines of international level so that the youths of our country cannot only meet the domestic demands but also of other countries like the US, Japan, China, Germany, Russia and those in the West Asia.
· Another remarkable feature of the ?Skill India? programme would be to create a hallmark called ?Rural India Skill?, so as to standardise and certify the training process.
· Tailor-made, need-based programmes would be initiated for specific age groups.
Deen Dayal Upadhyaya Grameen Kaushalya Yojana (DDUGKY)
Launched: July 25, 2015
Main Objective: To achieve inclusive growth, by developing skills and productive capacity of the rural youth from poor families.
DDUGKY aims to train rural youth who are poor and provide them with jobs having regular monthly wages. It is one of the cluster initiatives of the Ministry of Rural Development that seeks to promote rural livelihoods. It is a part of the National Rural Livelihood Mission (NRLM- the Mission for poverty reduction called Aajeevika.
Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Vikas Yojana (PMKVY)
Launched: 16 July, 2015
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on January 8, 2017 announced that the government is planning to launch Pravasi Kaushal Vikas
Yojana to train Indian youth for overseas employment.
· The announcement was made at the inauguration of the 14th Pravasi Bharitya Divas Convention in Bengaluru, Karnataka.
· Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Vikas Yojana (PMKVY) is the flagship scheme of the Ministry of Skill Development & Entrepreneurship (MSDE).
· The programme seeks to train and certify Indians who are seeking ovreseas employment.
· The objective of this Skil Certification Scheme is to enable a large number of Indian youth to take up industry-relevent skill training that will help them in securing a better livelihood. Individuals with prior learning experience or skills will also be assessed and certified under Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL)
· Under this Scheme, Training and Assessment fees are completely paid by the Government.
· The scheme will be implemented through the National Skill Development Corporation (NSDC).
National Apprenticeship Promotion Scheme
Launched: 19th August, 2016.
The Union Government has notified National Apprenticeship Promotion Scheme (NAPS) for providing apprenticeship training to over 50 lakh youngsters in order to create more jobs. The Scheme has an outlay of Rs. 10,000 crore with a target of 50 lakh apprentices to be trained by 2019-20. It is first of its kind scheme notified to offer financial incentives to employers.
Key Features of Scheme
· NAPS will be implemented by Director General of Training (DGT) under the aegis of Union Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship (MSDE).
· Under it, Central Government for the first time will provide financial incentives to the employers to engage apprentices
· Central Government will also directly share 25% of the total stipend (maximum of 1,500 rupees per month per apprentice) payable to an apprentice with employers. In addition, it will support basic training which is considered an essential component of apprenticeship training.
· The Central Government will bear the 50% of the total expenditure incurred on providing basic training to an apprentice.
Vidyanjali Scheme
Launched: 2016
To boost community participation in government schools, HRD ministry has launched Vidyanjali scheme inviting volunteers to hold public speaking, storytelling, play acting sessions and participate in other co-scholastic activities.
Under the programme, volunteers, including Indian diaspora, retired persons, like teachers, government officials, defence personnel, professionals, and women who are home makers, will offer their services for co-scholastic activities for children from class I to VIII. The activities would include reading to children, helping them with creative writing, public speaking, play acting and preparing story books with children.
Under the scheme. Schools will be able to through an app contact people who are willing to volunteer for their services to children.
Vidyanjali will also cover initiatives under Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR).
SWAYAM Prabha
Launched: July 18, 2016.
Government has approved a project to launch the ?SWAYAM Prabha? -a project for operationalising 32 Direct to Home (DTH) Television Channels for providing high quality educational content to all teachers, students and citizens across the country interested in lifelong learning. There will be new content of four hours every day, which would be telecast six times a day allowing the students to choose the time of his/her convenience.
The main features of SWAYAM Prabha would be as under:
(i) Curriculum based course contents covering diverse disciplines such as arts, science, commerce, performing arts, social sciences and humanities subjects, engineering, technology, law, medicine, agriculture etc.
(ii) Covers all level of education: School education, undergraduate, postgraduate, engineering, out of school children, vocational courses and teacher training.
Pradhan Mantri Yuva Yojana
Launched: 2016
The Union Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship has launched of Pradhan Mantri Yuva Yojana (PMYY) to scale up an ecosystem of entrepreneurship for youngsters. The scheme was launched by Union Minister of State (I/C) for Skill Development and Entrepreneurship Rajiv Pratap Rudy to marked 2nd Foundation Day of Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship (MSDE).
Key Facts:
· PMYY is MSDE?s flagship scheme on entrepreneurship education and training.
· The scheme spans over five years (2016-17 to 2020-21) with a project cost of Rs. 499.94 crore.
· It will provide entrepreneurship education and training to over 7 lakh students in 5 years though 3,050 institutes.
· It will provide easy access to information and mentor network, incubator, credit and accelerator and advocacy to create a pathway for the youth.
· The institutes under the PMYY include 2-200 institutes of higher learning (colleges, universities, and premier institutes), ITIs 500 It is, 300 schools and 50 entrepreneurship development centres through Massive Open Online Courses (MOOCs).
Utkarsh Bangia Scheme - West Bengal
Launched: 16 February 2016
Objective: Giving vocational training to school dropouts
Features:
· The scheme provides benefits in the form of free vocational training that would help students gain employment and better life
· Providing training ranging from 400 to 1200 hours free of charge. Under this scheme, beneficiaries will be trained in driving, tailoring, repairing television and other electronic equipment's, beautician courses etc
· On successful completion the courses beneficiaries will be given certificates
· Ensuring that the students get the opportunity of campus placements after their training
· Polytechnic and ITI training to 6 lakh students every year will be provided under the scheme
Atal Innovation Mission (AIM) and SETU In NITI AAYOG
Launched: 2016
Objective: To promote innovation and entrepreneurship
Features:
· AIM and AIM Directorate will be established that will help in implementation of mission activities in a focused manner.
· Its headquarters will be in New Delhi.
· NITI Aayog will hire Mission Director and other appropriate manpower. Mission High Level Committee (MHLC) will guide the Mission.
· It will take all decisions related to approval of requisite guidelines and implementation of various elements of AIM and SETU. Govt Schemes in India.
Swachh Vidyalaya Abhiyan
Launched: 2016
Objective: To promote cleanliness in schools
Features: Each school will have separate toilet for boys and girls. Availability of clean drinking water is ensured. Focus on hand sanitation. Proper cleaning mechanism to form part of the scheme.
SCHEMES/PROGRMMES RELATED WITH EMPLOYMENT AND POVERTY ALLEVATION
Antyodaya Anna Yojana (AAY)
Launched: 25 December 2000
Main Objectives: To provide highly subsidized food to millions of the poorest families.
Key Features:
· 1 crore of the poorest among the BPL families covered under the targeted public distribution system are identified.
· Twenty five kilograms (kg) of food grains were made available to each eligible family at a highly subsidized rate of Rs. 2 per kg for wheat and Rs.3 per kg for rice.
· This quantity has been increase from 25 to 35 kgs with effect from April, 2002.
· Once a family has been recognized as eligible for the AAY, they are to be given a unique ?Antyodaya Ration Card.? This card acts as a form of identification, proving that the bearer is authorized to receive the level of rations the card describes.
Sampoorna Grameen Rozgar Yojana
Launched: September 25, 2001
Objectives: Providing additional wage employment and food security, alongside creation of durable community assets in rural areas.
Features:
· The annual cost of Rs. 10,000 crore which included 50 lakh tones on food grains.
· The cash component shared between the Centre and the States to be in the ratio of 75:25.
· Food grains were provided free of cost to the States/UTs.
· Minimum wages paid to the workers through a mix of minimum five kg of food grains and at least 25 per cent of wages in cash.
· Implemented by all the three tiers of Panchayati Raj Institutions. Each level of Panchayat was an independent unit for formulation of Action.
· Resources distributed among District Panchayats,
Intermediate Panchayats and the Gram Panchayats in the ratio of 20:30:50.
National Rural Livelihood Mission
Launched: June 2011
Objectives: Promoting self-employment and organization of rural poor.
Features:
· Ensuring that at least one member from each identified rural poor household, preferably a woman, is brought under the Self Help Group (SHG) network in a time bound manner. NRLM would ensure adequate coverage of vulnerable sections of the society such that 50% of the beneficiaries are SC/STs, 15% are minorities and 3% are persons with disability, while keeping in view the ultimate target of 100% coverage of BPL families.
· Strong institutions of the poor such as SHGs and their village level and higher level federations would be promoted.
· Ensuring that the poor are provided with the requisite skills for: managing their institutions, linking up with markets, managing their existing livelihoods, enhancing their credit absorption capacity and credit worthiness, etc.
· Subsidy would be available in the form of revolving fund and capital subsidy.
National Urban Livelihood Mission (NULM)
Launched: 24 Sep, 2013
Objective: Providing shelter equipped with essential services in phased manner to urban poor including urban homeless and addressing the livelihood concerns of urban poor including urban homeless.
Features:
· Mobilization of urban poor households into thrift and credit based Self- Help Groups.
· Providing assistance for skill development to enhance capacity of urban poor for self-employment or better salaried employment.
· Providing financial assistance to individuals/groups of urban poor for setting up gainful self-employment microenterprises/ventures, suited to their skills, aptitude.
Make in India
Launched: 25 September, 2014.
Main Objective: To encourage multinational, as well as domestic companies to manufacture their products in India and create jobs and skill enhancement in 25 sectors.
The major objective behind the initiative is to focus on job creation and skill enhancement in 25 sectors of the economy. The initiative also aims at high quality standards and minimising the impact on the environment. The initiative hopes to attract capital and technological investment in India.
Startup India, Standup India
Launched: January 16, 2016
Main Objective: To provide support to all start-up businesses in all aspects of doing business in India.
Under the scheme, the start-ups will adopt self-certification to reduce the regulatory liabilities. An online portal, in the shape of a mobile application, will be launched to help start-up founders to easily register. The app is scheduled to be launched on April 1.
19 Plans for Starts-ups
1. Self-certification - The start-ups will adopt self-certification to reduce the regulatory liabilities. The self-certification will apply to laws including payment of gratuity, labour contract, provident fund management, water and air pollution acts.
2. Start-up India hub - An all-India hub will be created as a single contact point for start-up foundations in India, which will help the entrepreneurs to exchange knowledge and access financial aid.
3. Register through app - An online portal, in the shape of a mobile application, will be launched to help start-up founders to easily register. The app is scheduled to be launched on April 1.
4. Patent protection - A fast-track system for patent examination at lower costs is being conceptualised by the Central government. The system will promote awareness and adoption of the Intellectual Property Rights (IPRs) by the start-up foundations.
5. Rs. 10,000 crore fund - The government will develop a fund with an initial corpus of? 2,500 crore and a total corpus of Rs. 10,000 crore over four years, to support upcoming start-up enterprises.
The life Insurance Coiporation of India will play a major role in developing this corpus. A committee of private professionals selected from the start-up industry will manage the fund.
6. National Credit Guarantee Trust Company - A National Credit Guarantee Trust Company (NCGTC) is being conceptualised with a budget of Rs.500 crore per year for the next four years to support the flow of funds to start-ups.
7. No Capital Gains Tax -At present, investments by venture capital funds are exempt form the Capital Gains Tax.
The same policy is being implemented on primary-level investments in start-ups.
8. No Income Tax for three years ? Srat-ups would not pay Income Tax for three years. This policy would revolutionise the pace with which start-ups would grow in the future.
9. Tax exemption for investments of higher value - In case of an investment of higher value than the market price, it will be exempt from paying tax.
10. Building entrepreneurs - Innovation-related study plans for students in over 5 lakh schools. Besides, there will also be an annual incubator grand challenge to develop world class incubators.
11. Atal Innovation Mission ? The Atal Innovation Mission will be launched to boost innovation and encourage talented youths.
12. Setting up incubators? A private-public partnership model is being considered for 35 new incubators and 31 innovation centres at national institutes.
13. Research parks ? The government plants to set up seven new research parks, including six in the Indian Institute of Technology campuses and one in the Indian Institute of Science campus, with an investment of Rs.100 crore. Each.
14. Entrepreneurship in biotechnology - The government will further establish five new biotech clusters, 50 new bio-incubators, 150 technology transfer offices and 20 bio-connect offices in the country.
15. Dedicated programmes in schools - The government will introduce innovation-related programmes for students in over 5 lakh schools.
16. Legal support - A panel of facilitators will provide legal support and assistance in submitting patent applications and other official documents.
17. Rebate -A rebate amount of 80 per cent of the total value will be provided to the entrepreneurs on filing patent applications.
18. Easy rules - Norms of public procurement and rules of trading have been simplified for the .stari-ups.
19. Faster-exit - If a start-up fails, the government will also assist the entrepreneurs to find suitable solutions for their problems. If they fail again, the government will provide an easy way out.
Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Yojanaye (PMGKY)
Launched: April 2015
Main Objective: Implement the pro-poor welfare schemes in more effective way and reaches out to more poor population across the country.
· Declaration under it can be made by any person in respect of undisclosed income in the form of cash or deposits in an account with bank or post office or specified entity.
· Declarant of undisclosed income needs to pay 30% tax, 10% penalty and 33% Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Cess on the tax, all of which add up to around 50%.
· Besides, declarant must make mandatory deposit of 25% of undisclosed income in the zero-inerest Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Deposit Scheme, 2016 with lock-in period of 4 years.
· The income declared under it will not be included in the total income of the declarant under the Income-tax (IT) Act for any assessment year.
· Besides, declarations made under it will be kept confidential and shall not be admissible as evidence under any Act (ex. Wealth-tax Act, Central Excise Act, Companies Act etc.) However, declarant will have no immunity under Criminal Acts mentioned in section 199- 0 of the Scheme.
· No declaration of undisclosed cash or deposit in accounts under this Scheme will render tax, surcharge and cess totalling to 77.25% of such income, if declared in the return of income. In case the same is not shown in the return of income a further penalty @ 10% of tax shall also be levied followed by prosecution.
Pradhan Mantri Rojgar Protsahan Yojana (PMRPY)
Launched: 2016
Objective: To incentivize employers for generation of new employment.
Features: Government will be paying the 8.33% Employment Pension Scheme (EPS) contribution of the employer for the new employment. The employer is incentivized for increasing the employment base of workers in the establishment, and also a large number of workers will get jobs in such establishments.
A direct benefit is that these workers will have access to social security benefits of the organized sector.
SCHEMES/PROGRAMMES RELATED WITH HEALTH AND SANITATION
Swachh Bharat Abhiyan
Launched: October 2, 2014.
Main Objective: To fulfil Mahatma Gandhi?s dream of a clean and hygienic India.
Swachh Bharat Mission is being implemented by the Ministry of Urban Development (M/o UD) and by the Ministry of Drinking Water and Sanitation (M/o DWS) for urban and rural areas respectively.
Namami Gange Project
Launched: July 10, 2014.
Main Objective: To integrates the efforts to clean and protect the Ganga river in a comprehensive manner.
?Namami Gange approaches Ganga Rejuvenation by consolidating the existing ongoing efforts and planning for a concrete action plan for future. The interventions at Ghats and River fronts will facilitate better citizen connect and set the tone for river centric urban planning process.
Mission Indradhanush
Launched: December 25, 2014.
Main Objective: To immunize all children as well as pregnant women against seven vaccine preventable diseases namely diphtheria, whooping cough (Pertussis), tetanus, polio, tuberculosis, measles and hepatitis B by 2020.
The aim of Mission Indradhanush is to achieve full immunization in 352 districts which includes 279 mid priority districts, 33 districts from the North East states and 40 districts from phase one where huge number of missed out children were detected.
National Bal Swachhta Mission
Launched: November 14, 2014.
Main Objective: To provide hygienic and clean environment, food, drinking water, toilets, schools and other surroundings to the children.
The Bal Swachhta Mission is a part of the nationwide sanitation initiative of 'Swachh Bharat Mission' launched by the Prime Minister on 2nd October 2014.
HEALTH AND SANITATION
Central Government Health Scheme (CGHS)
Launched: 1954
Objectives: Providing comprehensive medical care facilities to central government employees, pensioners, and their dependents residing in CGHS covered cities.
Features:
1. The dispensary services including domiciliary care
2. Specialists consultation facilities both at dispensary,
3. Arrangement for the purchase, storage, distribution and supply of medicines
4. Health Education to beneficiaries
5. Medical facilities provided through Wellness Centres (previously referred to as CGHS Dispensaries)/polyclinics under Allopathic, Ayurveda, Yoga, Unani, Sidha and Homeopathic systems of medicines
Mid-day Meal Scheme
Launched: 1995
Objective: To enhance enrolment, retention and attendance and simultaneously improving nutritional levels among children.
Features:
Free supply of 100 grams of food grains per child per school day at Primary and 150 grams of food per child per school day at Upper Primary.
Free meals provided to children in primary and upper primary classes in government, government aided, local body. Education Guarantee Scheme, and alternate innovative education centres, Madarsa and Maqtabs supported under Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan, and National Child Labour Project schools run by the ministry of labour.
Subsidy for transportation of food grains is provided to 11 special category states at PDS rate in these states and up to a maximum of Rs.75.00 per quintal for other than special categories States/UTs.
Besides food grains, amid day meal involves cost of cooking.
The cost of construction of Kitchen-cum-store is calculated on the basis of State Schedule of Rates and the plinth area norm laid down by the Department of School Education and Literacy, Ministry of Human Resource Development, Government of India depending on the number of children studying in schools.
Janani Suraksha Yojana (JSY)
Launched: 12 April 2005
Main Objectives: To decrease the neo-natal and maternal deaths in India by promoting institutional delivery of babies.
Key Features:
· The states with a low rate of Institutional deliveries is classified as Low Performing States (LPS) (the states of Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Bihar, Jharkhand, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Assam, Rajasthan, Orissa and Jammu and Kashmir), and the remaining states are termed as High Performing States (HPS).
· Assist the pregnant woman to obtain necessary certifications wherever necessary.
· Provide or help the women in receiving at least three ante- natal care (ANC) checkups including TT injections, IFA tablets.
· Identify a functional Government health centre or an accredited private health institution for referral and delivery.
· Arrange to immunize the newborn till the age of 14 weeks
· Post natal visit within 7 days of delivery to track mother's health after delivery and facilitate in obtaining care, wherever necessary.
TB-Mission 2020
Launched: 28 October 2014
Objective: Eliminate tuberculosis from India by 2020
Features: It aims free diagnosis and treatment to all TB patients irrespective of the provider -government or private hospital.
Anti-TB drugs will be brought under a separate schedule of the national law on drugs to prevent misuse and mandatory notification whenever a new TB case is detected.
Affordable Medicines and Reliable Implants for Treatment (AMRIT)
Launched: 2015
Objective: To reduce the expenditure incurred by patients on treatment of cancer and heart diseases
Features: Retail outlets will sell drugs for cancer and heart diseases at highly discounted rates. The AMRIT pharmacy would be selling 202 cancer and 186 cardio-vascular drugs, and 148 types of cardiac implants at very affordable prices.
Patients can buy medicines and implants at 50 to 60 percent cheaper prices than the open market from AMRIT outlet.
The project has been floated in a tie-up with government- owned HLL Life care Ltd (HLL) which is deputed to establish and run the AMRIT chain of pharmacies across India.
Rs. 6000 Pregnancy Aid Scheme
Announced: 31 December 2016
Objective: To bring down the maternal mortality rate by increasing the number of institutional deliveries across India.
Features: A financial aid amount of Rs. 6000 will be directly transferred to the saving bank account of pregnant women through Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT). The pregnancy aid scheme is being implemented in 53 districts on pilot basis where financial assistance is Rs. 4000. Financial assistance will be provided to pregnant women above the age of 18 years for birth of up to 2 live birth.
National Health Protection Scheme
Launched: 2016
Objective: Health insurance to the poor and BPL
Features: Under the scheme, the poor people will get insurance coverage of 1 lakh. 10 crore families under BPL and other economically backward weaker group will be benefited.
Pradhan Mantri Jan Aushadhi Yojana (PMJAY)
Launched: March 2016 (Expected).
Main Objective: Provides drugs/medicines at affordable cost across the country.
The scheme is a new version of earlier Jan Aushadhi Yojana, to be renamed as Pradhan Mantri Jan Aushadhi Yojana, the scheme aims to open 3000 Jan Aushadhi stores to sell drugs at affordable cost.
Under the scheme, over 500 medicines will be sold through Jan Aushadhi stores at price less than the market price. Private hospitals, NGO's and other social groups are eligible to open the Jan Aushadhi stores with a one-time assistance of Rs. 2.5 lakh from the central Government.
Pradhan Mantri Surakshit Matritva Abhiyan
Pradhan Mantri Surakshit Matritva Abhiyan (PMSMA), an initiative of the Narendra Modi Government, was launched in June 2016.
· The scheme aims at boosting the health care facilities for the pregnant women, especially the poor.
· It also seeks to protect pregnant ladies from infectious diseases.
· Under the scheme, the pregnant ladies will be given free health check-up and required treatment for free on 9th of every month.
· The scheme will be applicable for pregnant women to avail in every government hospitals across India.
· The national programme will provide special free antenatal care to about 3 crore pregnant women across the country in order to detect and prevent high risk pregnancies.
SCHEMES/PROGRAMMES RELATED WITH ELECTRIFICATION
Integrated power Development Scheme (IPDS)
Launched: September 18, 2015.
Main Objective: To ensure 24/7 power for all.
The Government of India will provide financial support of Rs. 45,800 crore over the entire implementation period of IPDS under which strengthening of sub-transmission network.
Metering, IT application, customer care services, provisioning of solar panels will be implemented.
'Prakash Path' - 'Way to Light' - The National LED Programme
Launched: Jan 5, 2015.
Main Objective: To distribute LED bulbs and decrease the power consumption This is one of the many schemes launched by Narendra Modi gvoernment India. The programme has been launched to distribute and encourage the use of LED light bulbs to save both cost and consumption.
Ujwal Discom Assurance Yojana (UDAY)
Launched: 20 November, 2015
Main Objective: To obtain operational and financial turnaround of State owned Power Distribution Companies (DISCOMs) The Scheme aims to reduce the interest burden, reduce the cost of power, reduce power losses in Distribution sector, and improve operational efficiency of DISCOMs.
Pradhan Mantri Jan Ujjwala Yojana
Launched: May 1, 2016
Main Objective: To distribute free LPG connections to the women belonging to 5 crore BPL families across the country.
Salient Features of Ujjwala scheme are following:
· Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA) approved Rs. 8000 crore for the next 3 years.
· Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana will provide 5 crore LPG connections to BPL families, with the financial support of Rs. 1600.
· Budget Speech of 2016 had announced about the scheme and made a budgetary provision of Rs. 2000 crore in the current Financial Year (FY).
· Connections will be issued on the name of women beneficiaries.
· EMI facility will also be provided for stove and refill cost.
· It is complimentary to Prime Minister's Give It Up campaign under which 75 lakh middle class and lower
Middle class households have voluntarily give up their cooking gas subsidy.
Schemes/programmes related with Pilgrimage and Tourism
Swadesh Darshan Yojana
Launched: March 9, 2015.
Main Objective: Develop world class tourism infrastructure. As part of the Swadesh Darshan Scheme, theme based tourism circuits (TBCT) around specific themes such as religion, culture, ethnicity, niche, etc. are identified for infrastructure development across the country.
PRASAD (Pilgrimage Rejuvenation and Spiritual Augmentation Drive
Launched: March 9, 2015.
Main Objective: Develop world class tourism infrastructure in Amritsar, Ajmer, Amaravati, Dwaraks, Gaya, Kanchipuram, Kedarnath, Kamakhya, Mathura, Puri, Varanasi and Vellankani.
PRASAD scheme aims to create spiritual centres for tourism development within the nation. As part of mission strategy, religious destinations that have potential to be showcased as world-class tourism products are identified and infrastructure is developed on a priority basis.
OTHER SCHEMES/PRO-GRAMMES LUNCHED BY CENTRAL GOVERNMENT
National Child Labour Projects
Launched: 1987
Objective: To eliminate child labor in hazardous industries by 2010.
Key Features:
· Protecting all children below 14 years of age who are working m occupations and processes listed in the Schedule to the Child Labour (Prohibition & Regulation) Act, 1986 or occupations and processes that are harmful to the health of the child.
· Identifying adolescent workers below the age of 18 years in the target area engaged in hazardous occupations/processes
· The overall approach of the project is to create an enabling environment in the target area, where children are motivated and empowered through various measures to enroll in schools and restrict from working, and households are provided with alternatives to improve their income levels.
Prime Ministers 15 Point Programme
Launched: 2006
Objectives: To promote education and ensure an equitable share for minorities in economic activities and employment, through existing and new schemes, enhanced credit support middle class households have voluntarily given up their cooking gas subsidy.
Schemes/Programmes Related With for self-employment, and recruitment to State and Central Government jobs in those districts which have substantial minority population.
Features:
1. Equitable availability of the Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS)
· Improving access to School Education
· Greater resources for teaching Urdu
· Modernizing Madarsa Education
· Scholarships for meritorious students from minority communities
· Improving educational infrastructure through the Maulana
· Azad Education Foundation.
· Self-Employment and Wage Employment for the poor
· Upgradation of skill through technical training
· Enhanced credit support for economic activities
· Recruitment to State and Central Services
· Equitable share in rural housing scheme
· Improvement in condition of slums inhabited by minority communities.
· Prevention of communal incidents
· Prosecution for communal offences
· Rehabilitation of victims of communal riots
Van Bandhu Kalyan Yojana
Launched: July 2014
Objectives: For welfare of Tribal people and particularly to lift human development indices of tribal people.
Features:
Launched on a pilot basis and will be implemented in only one block in each of the 10 states being selected for the scheme.
The states chosen for the scheme are Andhra Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Himachal Pradesh, Telangana, Orissa, Jharkhand, Chattisgarh, Rajasthan, Maharashtra and Gujarat.
10 crore rupees to be provided to each block for the development of various facilities for the Tribal people.
The blocks selected on the recommendations of the concerned States and have very low literacy rate.
Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao Yojana
Launched: January 22, 2015
Main Objective: To generate awareness and improving the efficiency of welfare services meant for women.
The scheme is to have as focussed intervention and multi-section action in almost 100 districts with low Child Sex Ratio (CSR).
Pandit Deendayal Upadhyay Shramev Jayate Yojana (PDUSJY)
Launched: October 16, 2014.
Main Objective: To consolidate information of Labour
Inspection and its enforcement through a unified web portal, which will lead to transperency and accountability in inspections.
A Unified Labour Portal, known as the Shram Suvidha portal was launched under the scheme as a platform to facilitate the implementation of a transparent system for information and database management.
Sagarmala Project
Launched: July 31, 2015.
Main Objective: To transform the existing ports into modern world class ports.
The prime objective of the Sagarmala project is to promote
portled direct and indirect development and to provide infrastructure to transport goods to and from ports quickly, efficiently and cost-effectivcly.
The Sagarmala Project, aimed at port-led development in coastal areas, is bound to boost the country?s economy and the government has lined up about Rs.70, 000 crore for its 12 major ports only.
Vikalp Scheme
Launched: November 1, 2015
Main Objective: For confirmed accommodation in next alternative train for the waitlisted passengers.
Vikalp scheme is available only for the tickets booked through internet for six months and option will be limited to mail and express trains running on Delhi-Lucknow and Delhi-Jammu sectors.
National Sports Talent Search Scheme (NSTSS)
Launched: February 20, 2015
Main Objective: To identify sporting talent among students in the age group of 8-12 years.
The scheme is being implemented by the Sports Authority of India (SA1), under the Ministry of Youth Affairs & Sports for spotting talented young children in the age group of 8-14 years from schools and nurturing them by providing scientific training.
PAHAL- Direct Benefits Transfer for LPG (DBTL) Consumers Scheme
Launched: January 1, 2015.
Main Objective: To send the subsidy money of LPG cylinders directly into the bank accounts of the consumers and increase efficiency & transparency in the whole system.
Under the scheme, the LPG consumer can now receive subsidy in his bank account by two methods. Such a consumer will be called CTC (Cash Transfer Compliant) once he joins the scheme and is ready to receive subsidy in the bank account.
Pradhan Mantri Khanij Kshetra Kalyan Yojana (PMKKKY)
Launched: September 17, 2015.
Main Objective: To Safeguard FIealth, Environment and Economic Conditions of the Tribals.
Pradhan Mantri Khanij Kshetra Kalyan Yojana (PMKKKY) is meant to provide for the welfare of areas and people affected by mining related operations, using the funds generated by District Mineral Foundations (DMF's)
Neeranchal Scheme
Launched: 2015
Objective: Development of the watershed area
Features:
· Implement watershed programmes and rainfed irrigation management practices.
· Reducing surface runoff of rainwater, increasing recharge of ground water and better availability of water in ram fed areas.
Mission Bhagiratha in Telangana
Launched: 2015
Objective: Providing safe drinking water to every households in the rural area.
Features:
· Laying 1.26 lakh km stretch of pipelines to provide water in Telangana towns and villages.
· Provide 100 liters of clean drinking water per person in rural households and 150 liters per person in urban households.
· Provide water to about 25000 rural habitations and 67 urban habitations.
Setu Bharatam Project
Launched: March 3, 2016.
Main Objective: To free all national highways from railway level crossings and renovate the old bridges on national highways by 2019.
Setu Bharatam is an ambitious programme witli an investment of Rs. 50,000 crore to build bridges for safe and seamless travel on National Highways.
208 new ?road over bridges/road under bridges? are envisaged for construction, while 1500 bridges will be widened, rehabilitated or replaced.
Clean My Coach
Indian Railways Cleas My Coach Service has finally launched and is available in 1297 trains running across the country.
Clean My Coach is another step in line with the Indian Railways Cleanliness Drive ?Swachh Rail Swachh Bharat?. It is a Pan India Scheme available in 1297 trains. Under the scheme, if the train passengers finds any cleaning requirements in their coach, they can request the staff through the website or sending an SMS.
Railway Travel Insurance Scheme
The ministry of Railways on September 1, 2016 has rolled out its insurance scheme for passengers, under which they can buy a premium of 92 paise while booking a ticket to get an insurance cover of up to Rs. 10 lakh.
· The new facility will be available to all passengers excluding those travelling by suburban trains, while booking online irrespective of the class.
· For the time being only those booking e-tickets will be able to avail of it.
· The cover will not be applicable for children upto 5 years of age and foreign citizens.
· It will be for passengers holding tickets such as confirmed, RAC and wait-listed.
· The scheme offers travellers/nominees/legal heirs a compensation of Rs. 10 lakh in the event of death or total disability, Rs. 7.5 lakh for partial disability, up to Rs. 2 lakh for hospital isation expenses and ? 10,000 for trans-portation of mortal remains from the place of a train accident or where an untoward incident, including terrorist attack, dacoity, rioting, shootout or arson, occurs.
Urja Ganga
Launched: 2016
Objective: To provide piped cooking (PNG) gas to residents of the eastern region of the country and CNG gas for the vehicles.
Features:
The project will be implemented by gas utility GAIL. It aims at laying a 2,050-km pipeline connecting Jagdishpur (UP) to Haldia (West Bengal) by 2018. In Varanasi, 50,000 households and 20,000 vehicles will get cleaner and cheaper fuel PNG and CNG gas respectively. The project is considered as a major step towards collective growth and development of the Eastern region of India. Under it, overall 20 lakh households will get PNG connections.
Lucky Grahak Yojana
Launched: 25 December, 2016
Objective: To incentivize the consumers using digital payments
Features: The winners would receive a reward payment of Rs. 1000 in their bank account. A total of 15000 winners would be announced every day for next 100 days. The list of winners of Lucky Draw Yojana would be available once the winners are announced. The eligible customers who have done digital transactions after 8th November would be included for the draw. Lucky draw would be done through the computer software where it will randomly pick 15000 transactions id?s every day.
Digi Dhan Vyapar Yojana
Launched: 25 December 2016
Objective: To encourage merchants for use of digital payment methods.
Features: The scheme is meant for merchants who accepts payments through digital modes of payments after
Demonetization announced on 8th November. The scheme will cover transactions between Rs. 50 to Rs. 3000 to encourage poor, middle class and small businesses for cashless payments.
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