1) 8 schemes de-linked from Central support.
- The government has decided to delink eight Centrally Sponsored Schemes (CSS), including.
- National e-Governance Plan.
- Backward Regions Grant Funds.
- Modernisation of Police Forces.
- Rajiv Gandhi Panchayat Sashaktikaran Abhiyaan (RGPSA).
- Scheme for Central Assistance to the States for developing export infrastructure.
- Scheme for setting up of 6000 Model Schools.
- National Mission on Food processing.
- Tourist Infrastructure.
- As per the General Budget 2015-16, there are 31 schemes to be fully sponsored by the Union Government.
- 24 schemes will now be run with the changed sharing pattern (the Centre and State funding patterns will undergo a change with States to contribute higher share).
2) Introduction of the Atal Pension Yojana.
- The Finance Minister has, announced a new initiative called Atal Pension Yojana (APY) in his Budget Speech for 2015-16.
- The APY will be focused on all citizens in the unorganized sector, who join the National Pension System (NPS) administered by the Pension Fund Regulatory and Development Authority (PFRDA) and who are not members of any statutory social security scheme.
- Under the APY, the subscribers would receive the fixed pension of Rs. 1000 per month, Rs. 2000 per month, Rs. 3000 per month, Rs. 4000 per month, Rs. 5000 per month, at the age of 60 years, depending on their contributions.
- The minimum age of joining APY is 18 years and maximum age is 40 years.
- Benefit of APY: Fixed pension for the subscribers ranging between Rs. 1000 to Rs. 5000, if he joins and contributes between the age of 18 years and 40 years. The contribution levels would vary and would be low if subscriber joins early and increase if he joins late.
- Eligibility for APY: Atal Pension Yojana (APY) is open to all bank account holders who are not members of any statutory social security scheme.
- Age of joining and contribution period: The minimum age of joining APY is 18 years and maximum age is 40 years. Therefore, minimum period of contribution by the subscriber under APY would be 20 years or more.
- Focus of APY: Mainly targeted at unorganised sector workers.
- Enrolment and Subscriber Payment: All bank account holders under the eligible category may join APY with auto-debit facility to accounts, leading to reduction in contribution collection charges.
- Enrolment agencies: All Points of Presence (Service Providers) and Aggregators under Swavalamban Scheme would enrol subscribers through architecture of National Pension System.
- Operational Framework of APY: It is Government of India Scheme, which is administered by the Pension Fund Regulatory and Development Authority. The Institutional Architecture of NPS would be utilised to enrol subscribers under APY.
- Funding of APY: Government would provide
- Fixed pension guarantee for the subscribers.
- Would co-contribute 50% of the subscriber contribution or Rs. 1000 per annum, whichever is lower, to eligible subscribers.
- Would also reimburse the promotional and development activities including incentive to the contribution collection agencies to encourage people to join the APY.
3) The Pradhan Mantri Jeevan Jyoti Bima Yojana announced.
- The scheme is available to people in the age group of 18 to 50 and having a bank account.
- People who join the scheme before completing 50 years can however, continue to have the risk of life cover up to the age of 55 years subject to payment of premium.
- Premium: Rs. 330 per annum. It will be auto-debited in one instalment.
- Payment Mode: The payment of premium will be directly auto-debited by the bank from the subscribers account.
- Risk Coverage: Rs. 2 Lakh in case of death for any reason.
- Terms of Risk Coverage: A person has to opt for the scheme every year. He can also prefer to give a long-term option of continuing, in which case his account will be auto-debited every year by the bank.
- The scheme will be offered by Life Insurance Corporation and all other life insurers who are willing to join the scheme and tie-up with banks for this purpose.
4) Pradhan Mantri Suraksha Bima Yojana announced.
- Pradhan Mantri Suraksha Bima Yojana which aims to increase the insurance penetration in India by providing life cover at a very low annual premium.
- This scheme will be linked to the popular scheme “Pradhan Mantri Jan Dhan Yojana”.
- Scheme is available to the people falls in the age group of 18 years to 70 years having bank account.
- Premium: Rs. 12 per annum i.e. Rs. 1 per month.
- Payment Mode: The premium will be directly auto-debited by the bank from the subscribers account.
- Risk Coverage: For accidental death and full disability - Rs. 2 Lakh and for partial disability – Rs. 1 Lakh.
- Eligibility: Any person having a bank account and Aadhaar number linked to the bank account can give a simple form to the bank every year before 1st of June in order to join the scheme. Name of nominee to be given in the form.
- Terms of Risk Coverage: A person has to opt for the scheme every year. He can also prefer to give a long-term option of continuing in which case his account will be auto-debited every year by the bank.
5) `Go India` Smart Card for Train Tickets.
- ‘Go-India’ smart card scheme has been launched on pilot basis on two sectors i.e. New Delhi-Mumbai and New Delhi-Howrah.
- The smart card can be used at nominated Unreserved Ticketing System (UTS)/ Passenger Reservation System (PRS) counters and at Automatic Ticket Vending Machines (ATVMs) on these two sectors for issuing tickets.
- Salient features of the Go-India smart card are
- The card can be get issued by paying minimum Rs. 70 where passenger will get Rs. 20 balance. After that, card can be recharged for Rs. 20 or in multiple of Rs. 50 upto Rs. 5000.
- Maximum limit on Go-India smart card is Rs. 10,000.
- Go-India smart card has life time validity.
6) Lok Sabha passes Citizenship bill.
- A Bill to amend the Citizenship Act, one of the six items on which government had issued ordinances passed by the Lok Sabha.
- The Citizenship (Amendment) Bill, 2015 seeks to remove disparity between Persons of Indian Origin cardholders and Overseas Citizens of India cardholders.
- Person may register for overseas citizenship card (OCC) such as
- Minor children whose parent or parents are Indian citizens.
- Spouse of an Indian citizen or OCI/ PIO cardholder subjected to certain conditions.
- Person who is a citizen of another country, meets one of several conditions of Citizenship Act, 1955 then his great grandchild may register.
7) Government gets 107 applications for allotment of 43 mines to PSUs.
- The Coal Ministry today received 107 applications from PSUs like NTPCBSE, SAIL, BSE, DVC and NLC for allocation of 43 coal blocks to be given to state-run firms.
- 107 applications were received for 43 coal blocks for allocation to government entities.
- The companies which have applied for Gare Palma II mine in Chhattisgarh, include NTPC, Singareni Collieries Company Ltd, Andhra Pradesh Power Generation Corporation and Gujarat State Electricity Corporation.
8) Election Commission launches NERPAP throughout the country.
- The Election Commission of India has launched National Electoral Roll Purification and Authentication Programme (NERPAP) throughout the country with the prime objective of bringing a totally error free and authenticated electoral roll.
- During the programme, EPIC data of electors will be linked with Aadhar data of UIDAI for the purpose of authentication.
- Electors have been provided the facility to feed their respective Aadhar number through sms, email, mobile application and National Voters Service Portal (NVSP) using web services through election commission website.
- Collection and feeding of Aadhar will also be done by Electoral Registration Officer (ERO) by organizing Special Camp, Voter Facilitation Centers, e-Seva centers and Citizen Service Centers authorized by the DEOs.
9) Nitin Gadkari Launches `Shipping Samvad`.
- Union Minister of Shipping, Road Transport & Highways Shri Nitin Gadkari launched a website “Shipping Samvad”.
- The objective of the website is to invite innovative ideas and suggestions from general public and experts related to Indian maritime sector for improvements in the shipping, ports and inland waterways sector.
- The Ministry will also upload the draft policies/ new initiatives from time to time on the portal for the valuable suggestions/ feedback from the citizen.
- Website: http://www.shipmin.gov.in/samvad/index.php
10) INCOIS launches app for fishermen.
- A clutch of products developed by the Hyderabad-based Indian National Centre for Ocean Information Services (INCOIS), including an Android app for ocean information services.
- The app, developed in-house by the INCOIS` Marine Fishery Advisory Services team is for the benefit of fishermen.
- An Atlas of potential fishing zones in Indian exclusive economic zone (EEZ) was another product that was launched at the 5th user interaction workshop of the INCOIS.
11) Extension of PDS Kerosene and Domestic LPG Subsidy Scheme, 2002 and Freight Subsidy (for Far flung Areas) Scheme, 2002.
- The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA), chaired by the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, has given its approval to extend the PDS Kerosene and Domestic LPG Subsidy Scheme, 2002 and Freight Subsidy (for far-flung areas) Scheme.
- The approval will help in reducing the under-recovery of the Oil Marketing Companies (OMCs).
- The Government was providing a subsidy of Rs. 22.58 per 14.2 kg. LPG cylinder and Rs. 0.82 per litre on PDS Kerosene and Domestic LPG Subsidy Scheme, 2002.
- Besides, freight subsidy was also being provided to PDS Kerosene and Domestic LPG consumers in far-flung areas under the Freight Subsidy (for far-flung areas) Scheme, 2002.
12) Swachh Vidyalaya Abhiyan launched.
- The Ministry of Human Resource Development has launched Swachh Vidyalaya Programme under Swachh Bharat Mission with an objective to provide separate toilets for boys and girls in all government schools within one year.
- Ministry financially supports States/Union Territories inter alia to provide toilets for girls and boys in schools under Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan (SSA) and Rashtriya Madhyamik Shiksha Abhiyan (RMSA).
About Programme:
- Under SSA and RMSA 88,728 toilets have been sanctioned during 2014-15.
- 1.58 lakh toilets as well as dysfunctional toilets have been taken up by Public Sector Undertakings/Corporates for construction/ repairs.
- Besides an amount of Rs. 56.51 crore has been allocated from the Swachh Bharat Kosh for re-construction/repairs of the dysfunctional toilets.
13) Controversial Documentary `India`s Daughter` Goes Viral on Youtube.
- The banned documentary of Leslee Udwin was uploaded on Youtube and aired by BBC (British Broadcasting corporation).
- The documentary film based on the interview of one of the convicts (Mukesh Singh) in the Nirbhaya gang-rape case.
- The government also instructed telecom operators to ensure that the video is not available to their subscribers.
8) Election Commission launches NERPAP throughout the country.
- The Election Commission of India has launched National Electoral Roll Purification and Authentication Programme (NERPAP) throughout the country with the prime objective of bringing a totally error free and authenticated electoral roll.
- During the programme, EPIC data of electors will be linked with Aadhar data of UIDAI for the purpose of authentication.
- Electors have been provided the facility to feed their respective Aadhar number through sms, email, mobile application and National Voters Service Portal (NVSP) using web services through election commission website.
- Collection and feeding of Aadhar will also be done by Electoral Registration Officer (ERO) by organizing Special Camp, Voter Facilitation Centers, e-Seva centers and Citizen Service Centers authorized by the DEOs.
9) Nitin Gadkari Launches `Shipping Samvad`.
- Union Minister of Shipping, Road Transport & Highways Shri Nitin Gadkari launched a website “Shipping Samvad”.
- The objective of the website is to invite innovative ideas and suggestions from general public and experts related to Indian maritime sector for improvements in the shipping, ports and inland waterways sector.
- The Ministry will also upload the draft policies/ new initiatives from time to time on the portal for the valuable suggestions/ feedback from the citizen.
- Website: http://www.shipmin.gov.in/samvad/index.php
10) INCOIS launches app for fishermen.
- A clutch of products developed by the Hyderabad-based Indian National Centre for Ocean Information Services (INCOIS), including an Android app for ocean information services.
- The app, developed in-house by the INCOIS` Marine Fishery Advisory Services team is for the benefit of fishermen.
- An Atlas of potential fishing zones in Indian exclusive economic zone (EEZ) was another product that was launched at the 5th user interaction workshop of the INCOIS.
11) Extension of PDS Kerosene and Domestic LPG Subsidy Scheme, 2002 and Freight Subsidy (for Far flung Areas) Scheme, 2002.
- The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA), chaired by the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, has given its approval to extend the PDS Kerosene and Domestic LPG Subsidy Scheme, 2002 and Freight Subsidy (for far-flung areas) Scheme.
- The approval will help in reducing the under-recovery of the Oil Marketing Companies (OMCs).
- The Government was providing a subsidy of Rs. 22.58 per 14.2 kg. LPG cylinder and Rs. 0.82 per litre on PDS Kerosene and Domestic LPG Subsidy Scheme, 2002.
- Besides, freight subsidy was also being provided to PDS Kerosene and Domestic LPG consumers in far-flung areas under the Freight Subsidy (for far-flung areas) Scheme, 2002.
12) Swachh Vidyalaya Abhiyan launched.
- The Ministry of Human Resource Development has launched Swachh Vidyalaya Programme under Swachh Bharat Mission with an objective to provide separate toilets for boys and girls in all government schools within one year.
- Ministry financially supports States/Union Territories inter alia to provide toilets for girls and boys in schools under Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan (SSA) and Rashtriya Madhyamik Shiksha Abhiyan (RMSA).
About Programme:
- Under SSA and RMSA 88,728 toilets have been sanctioned during 2014-15.
- 1.58 lakh toilets as well as dysfunctional toilets have been taken up by Public Sector Undertakings/Corporates for construction/ repairs.
- Besides an amount of Rs. 56.51 crore has been allocated from the Swachh Bharat Kosh for re-construction/repairs of the dysfunctional toilets.
13) Controversial Documentary `India`s Daughter` Goes Viral on Youtube.
- The banned documentary of Leslee Udwin was uploaded on Youtube and aired by BBC (British Broadcasting corporation).
- The documentary film based on the interview of one of the convicts (Mukesh Singh) in the Nirbhaya gang-rape case.
- The government also instructed telecom operators to ensure that the video is not available to their subscribers.