1. Gaya and Nalanda of Bihar selected by Union Government for development under Swadesh Darshan 2.0 scheme
Tags: place in news Government Schemes State News
Gaya and Nalanda in Bihar has been included by the Government of India under the Swadesh Darshan 2.0 scheme. Punaura Dham in Sitamarhi District of Bihar has been selected for development under the PRASHAD Scheme of the Government of India.
This information was given by the Union Tourism Minister G. KIshan Reddy in the Lok Sabha on 19 December 2022.
Swadesh Darshan 2.0
Government of India launched Swadesh Darshan scheme in 2014-15 for integrated development of theme based tourist circuits for eg Buddhist circuit, Ramayana circuit, desert circuit etc. It was later revamped and re-launched as Swadesh Darshan 2.0 with the focus on developing sustainable and responsible tourism destinations.
The Central government provides assistance to the State /Union Territories government to develop the tourism Infrastructure.
Pilgrimage Rejuvenation and Spiritual Heritage Augmentation Drive (PRASHAD)
The Government of India launched the PRASAD scheme in the year 2014-2015 under the Ministry of Tourism. This scheme focuses on developing and identifying pilgrimage sites across India for enriching the religious tourism experience. Under this scheme the Central government provides assistance to the state government.
2. PM launches Grih Pravesh programme for over 2 lakh beneficiaries under Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana
Tags: Government Schemes Sports News
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on 18 December inaugurated and laid the foundation stone of several development projects worth over 6,800 crore rupees in Tripura and Meghalaya.
Important facts
The projects include 'Grih Pravesh' programme for beneficiaries under Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana - Urban and Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana - Rural.
These houses, developed at a cost of over Rs 3400 crores, will cover over 2 lakh beneficiaries.
Other projects include connectivity projects for widening of Agartala Bypass (Khairpur-Amtali) NH-08 under PMGSY III, foundation laying of 32 roads with a length of over 230 km and improvement projects of 112 roads with a length of over 540 km.
The Prime Minister also inaugurated the State Institute of Hotel Management at Anandnagar and Agartala Government Dental College.
About Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana
The Ministry of Housing and Urban Poverty Alleviation launched the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana rural in 2016.
The scheme was initiated with the objective of ‘Housing for All by 2022’.
The scheme has 2 Components - Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (Urban) and Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (Rural).
Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana Gramin was earlier called Indira Awas Yojana which was renamed in March 2016.
3. Pradhan Mantri Jan Vikas Karyakram (PMJVK)
Tags: Government Schemes National News
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Minority Affairs Minister Smriti Zubin Irani in a written reply to a question in the Lok Sabha on 15 December said that the Pradhan Mantri Jan Vikas Karyakram (PMJVK) is being implemented by the Ministry of Minority Affairs with the objective of infrastructure development.
About Pradhan Mantri Jan Vikas Karyakram (PMJVK)
It is a Centrally Sponsored Scheme (CSS).
It aims to develop infrastructure projects in identified areas for socio-economic development.
Under this the priority areas are education, health, skill development, women centric projects etc.
It has been implemented in 1300 identified Minority Concentration Areas (MCAs) of the country.
Projects under PMJVK are implemented and managed by the concerned State/ UT Government.
- In the North Eastern Region (NER), the states of Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland, Sikkim and Tripura come under PMJVK.
The scheme is now implemented in all Districts of the country including all the Aspirational Districts.
Beneficiaries under PMJVK
Communities notified as minority communities under the National Commission for Minorities Act, 1992 will be taken as minority communities.
Currently, 6 Minorities communities have been notified as Minority Communities. These are - Muslims, Sikhs, Christians, Buddhists, Zoroastrians (Parsis) and Jains.
4. Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Kaam Karyakram (PMKKK) renamed as Promotion of Prime Minister's Heritage (PM Vikas) Scheme
Tags: Government Schemes National News
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The Minister of Minority Affairs, Smriti Zubin Irani in a written reply to a question in the Lok Sabha on 15 December informed that the Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Ko Kaam Karyakram (PMKKK) has now been named as Pradhan Mantri Virasat Ka Samvardhan (PM VIKAS) Scheme.
Important facts
This integrated scheme amalgamates the five earlier schemes of the Ministry – Seekho aur Kamao, Ustad, Hamari Dharohar, Nai Roshni and Nai Manzil.
The scheme has been approved by the cabinet for the period of 15th Finance Commission.
PM VIKAS aims to improve the livelihood of minorities, especially artisan communities, by using components of skill development, education, women leadership and entrepreneurship.
These components complement each other in the ultimate objective of the scheme to enhance the income of the beneficiaries and provide assistance by facilitating credit and market linkages.
5. UN ranks 'Namami Gange' project among world's top 10 initiatives
Tags: Government Schemes Awards National News
India's 'Namami Gange'- river Ganga rejuvenation project- has been recognised as one among world's 10 most "ground-breaking" initiatives for restoration of natural ecosystems, according to a report released during the UN Biodiversity Conference (COP15).
National Mission for Clean Ganga (NMCG) has won the "Public Water Agency of the Year" award at the Global Water Awards, 2019 by Global Water Intelligence.
Important facts
The award was received by G Ashok Kumar, Director General, Namami Gange, at the 15th Conference of the Convention on Biodiversity (CBD) in Montreal, Canada on 14 December 2022.
Namami Gange was selected from over 150 such initiatives from 70 countries across the globe.
They were selected under the banner of the United Nations Decade on Ecosystem Restoration, a global movement coordinated by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) and the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO).
Recognized initiatives, including Namami Gange, will now be eligible to receive UN support, funding or technical expertise.
Other initiatives included in the World Restoration Flagship
Trinational Atlantic Forest Pact, which aims to protect and restore the forest in Brazil, Paraguay and Argentina.
Abu Dhabi Marine Restoration project that targets safeguarding the world’s second-largest dugong population in Abu Dhabi.
Great Green Wall for restoration to restore savannahs, grasslands and farms across Africa.
Multi-Country Mountain Initiative based in Serbia, Kyrgyzstan, Uganda and Rwanda.
The Altyn Dala Conservation Initiative in Kazakhstan to restore the steppe, semi-desert and desert ecosystems.
The Central American Dry Corridor
Shan-Shui Initiative in China
About Namami Gange
It was approved as a 'Flagship Programme' by the Central Government in June 2014.
It was launched to serve the twin objectives of effective abatement of pollution and conservation and rejuvenation of the national river Ganga.
It is being operated under the Ministry of Water Resources, Department of River Development and Ganga Rejuvenation and Ministry of Jal Shakti.
The program is being implemented by the National Mission for Clean Ganga (NMCG) and its State Program Management Groups (SPMGs).
6. Government extended the PM SVANidhi Scheme
Tags: Government Schemes
The Government of India has extended the PM Street Vendor’s AtmaNirbhar Nidhi (PM SVANidhi) Scheme beyond March, 2022.
Important facts
The extension of the lending period will be till December 2024.
Introduction of 3rd loan of upto ₹50,000 in addition to 1st & 2nd loans of ₹10,000 and ₹20,000 respectively.
To extend ‘SVANidhi Se Samriddhi’ component for all beneficiaries of PM SVANidhi scheme across the country.
About PM Svanidhi Yojana
PM Svanidhi Yojana was launched on June 1, 2020.
This scheme was started with the aim of providing financial support to small shopkeepers and hawkers.
Under the PM Svanidhi Yojana, people who sell goods on the street tracks or do other small jobs can take a loan of up to ₹ 10,000 from the bank.
After repaying the loan taken in the first instance, the beneficiary can get a loan of up to ₹ 20,000 in the second time and up to ₹ 50,000 in the third time.
The tenure of the Svanidhi scheme was earlier till March 2022, but the government has extended the deadline of the Svanidhi scheme till December 2024.
So far 53.7 lakh applications have been received under this scheme, out of which 36.6 lakh applications have been approved and 33.2 lakh loans have been disbursed.
An amount of Rs 3,592 crore has been disbursed under the scheme so far.
7. More than 3 crore 60 lakh pregnant women receive comprehensive antenatal care under PMSMA
Tags: Government Schemes National News
The Government has said that more than three crore sixty lakh pregnant women have received comprehensive antenatal care under the Pradhan Mantri Surakshit Matritva Abhiyan (PMSMA) programme across all States and Union Territories.
Important facts
Dr. Bharti Praveen Pawar, Minister of State for Health and Family Welfare, said this in a written reply to a question in the Lok Sabha on 9 December.
The program was launched with the objective of providing free, assured, comprehensive and quality antenatal care to all pregnant women universally on the 9th of every month.
The percentage of institutional deliveries in public facilities has increased from 52 per cent in 2015-16 to around 62 per cent in 2019-21.
Pradhan Mantri Surakshit Matritva Abhiyan
This is a programme under the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare.
It aims to provide free antenatal services (ANC) and essential treatment to pregnant women on 9th of every month.
The scheme is applicable only for the pregnant women in their pregnancy period of 3 to 6 months.
Objectives of the scheme
Provide healthy life to pregnant women.
Lowering the maternal mortality rate.
Making pregnant women aware of their health issues and diseases.
Making sure safe delivery and healthy life of the baby.
8. 10th meeting of Empowered Task Force of Clean Ganga Mission
Tags: Government Schemes National News
The Union Minister for Jal Shakti Gajendra Singh Shekhawat chaired the 10th meeting of the Empowered Task Force (ETF) of National Mission for Clean Ganga (NMCG) on 8th December 2022.
Important facts
The Minister reviewed the progress of various components under the Namami Gange Programme.
The Union Minister directed the States and Central Ministries/Departments to expedite the work being done for the overall rejuvenation of river Ganga.
The minister urged the states and central ministries to achieve the targets in a time-bound manner.
Ashok Kumar, Director General, NMCG, briefed the task force about the activities undertaken by Arth Ganga over the past months.
Kumar added that the Ghat Mein Haat initiative was launched under Arth Ganga in the Ganga Basin among other activities.
The Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare informed of the steps taken to build organic farming and natural farming corridors along River Ganga.
National Mission for Clean Ganga(NMCG)
It was registered on 12 August 12, 2011 as a society under the Societies Registration Act 1860.
It serves as the implementing arm of the National Ganga River Basin Authority (NGRBA), which was constituted under the provisions of the Environment Protection Act (EPA), 1986.
It was established to address pollution challenges in the Ganga river.
The operational area of the project covers the Ganga basin and all the states through which the river flows, including Delhi.
The objective is to reduce pollution and ensure rejuvenation of the Ganga river.
9. Government of India invest Rs 5000 crore in the SWAMIH fund to complete housing projects
Tags: Economy/Finance Government Schemes
The government of India has invested an additional Rs 5,000 crore into the SWAMIH Invest Fund-I to help the stressed realty investment platform achieve its final close at Rs 15,530 crore.
Special Window for Affordable and Mid-Income (SWAMIH)
In November 2019, the Union Finance Ministry announced creation of a Special Window for Affordable and Mid-Income Housing (SWAMIH) to provide debt financing for the completion of stressed, brownfield and residential projects registered with regulatory bodies that fall in the affordable, mid-income housing category.
The corpus of the Fund is Rs 12,500 crore with a green shoe option of Rs 12,500 crore. Green Shoe options means that if required an additional Rs 12,500 crore fund will be raised for the SWAMIH scheme.
The Sponsor of the Fund is the Secretary, Department of Economic Affairs, Ministry of Finance, and Government of India on behalf of the Government of India.
The Investment Manager of the Fund is SBICAP Ventures Ltd which is owned by State Bank of India.
The major investors in the fund are Life Insurance Corporation of India (LIC), HDFC, and other major Public Sector Banks.
So far, the fund has given final approvals to 127 projects which will in turn complete over 79,000 homes
Stressed project means that the company which started the residential project is unable to complete the project due to financial problems.
Brown field projects means that no new houses will be built but the existing housing project which is either finished or under construction will be finished.
10. Govt extends rooftop solar scheme till March 2026
Tags: Government Schemes National News
The government on 8 December said the rooftop solar programme has been extended till March 31, 2026, and therefore, subsidy under the programme will be available until the target for the scheme is achieved.
Important facts
The Ministry of New and Renewable Energy has advised that all residential consumers should not pay extra amount to any company for applying on the National Portal, nor should they pay more than the amount fixed by the concerned distribution company for metre and testing.
The ministry said that any vendor, agency or individual demanding additional charges should be informed about the same through email.
Consumers wishing to install solar panels on the roof of their houses can apply through the National Portal.
Under this program, the central government gives a subsidy of Rs 14,588 per kilowatt to a person who installs solar panels on the roof of his house.
About Rooftop Solar Scheme
The Ministry of New and Renewable Energy is implementing the Grid Connected Rooftop Solar Scheme (Phase II) to generate solar power by installing solar panels on the roof of houses.
Phase II aims to achieve a cumulative capacity of 40,000 MW from Rooftop Solar Projects by the year 2022.
The objective of the programme is to promote the grid-connected SPV rooftop and small SPV power generating plants among the residential, community, institutional, industrial and commercial establishments.
To ease the implementation of the scheme, a National Portal was developed, which was launched by PM Modi on 30 July 2022.
The central government has set a target of 450 GW of renewable energy generation by 2030.
Under this, many schemes are also going on, in which a target has been set to provide more than 17 lakh solar pumps to farmers in the country through Pradhan Mantri-Kusum Yojana.
