1. PM Modi to launch PM Vishwakarma Scheme on Vishwakarma Jayanti in New Delhi
Tags: Government Schemes
Prime Minister Narendra Modi will launch the "PM Vishwakarma" scheme at the India International Convention and Expo Center in Dwarka, New Delhi on September 17, 2023.
An Overview of the News
“PM Vishwakarma” scheme aims to support traditional artisans and craftsmen.
The Central Government will fully fund it with an allocation of Rs 13,000 crore.
Artisans (Vishwakarma) can register free of cost through Common Service Centres.
They will be given identity through PM Vishwakarma certificate and ID card.
The scheme also includes a toolkit incentive of ₹15,000 along with offering skill upgradation, and primary and advanced training.
Artisans will get access to collateral-free credit assistance with concessional interest rates.
Incentives will be provided for digital transactions and marketing assistance.
Eighteen traditional crafts like carpentry, blacksmithing, goldsmithing, pottery, and tailoring will be covered.
Vishwakarma Jayanti:
It is a Hindu festival dedicated to the divine architect, Vishwakarma.
The celebration includes not only engineers and architects but also artisans, craftsmen, mechanics, blacksmiths, welders,andindustrial workers.
Prayers are also offered for the smooth operation of machines and equipment.
Vishwakarma Jayanti falls on 'Kanya Sankranti' of the Hindu calendar, usually between 16 and 18 September in the Gregorian calendar.
The festival is also celebrated in Nepal, and Haldia in West Bengal is known for its Vishwakarma Puja celebrations.
2. Social welfare scheme “Kalaignar Magalir Urimai Thogai Thittam” to be launched by Tamil Nadu Government
Tags: Government Schemes State News
Tamil Nadu government will provide monthly assistance of Rs 1,000 to more than 1 crore female family heads through Kalaignar Magalir Urimai Thogai Thittam.
An Overview of the News
Chief Minister MK Stalin officially announced the scheme, with the launch date set for September 15.
The scheme aims to provide Rs 1,000 per month to 1.06 crore eligible women who are heads of families.
Beneficiaries will receive financial assistance through direct bank transfers and will be provided with ATM cards for easy access.
The government emphasizes on effective implementation and will use SMS notifications to communicate with beneficiaries.
Out of 1.63 crore applications received, 1.06 crore have been accepted, highlighting the substantial impact of the scheme.
About Tamil Nadu
The state was formed on 26 January 1950 but its boundaries were redrawn on 14 January 1969.
It is located at the mouth of the Arabian Sea, Bay of Bengal, and Indian Ocean.
Governor - Ravindra Narayan Ravi
Chief Minister - M.K.Stalin
Assembly seats - 235 seats
Rajya Sabha seats - 18
Lok Sabha seats - 39
3. Launch of Mukhya Mantri SABAL Yojana in Himachal Pradesh
Tags: Government Schemes
On September 4, 2023, Chief Minister Sukhwinder Singh Sukhu inaugurated the Mukhya Mantri Sporting Abilities, Rebuilding Aspirations and Livelihood Scheme (SABAL) at Nadaun in the Hamirpur district of Himachal Pradesh.
An Overview of the News
The goal of SABAL Yojana is to improve the lives of differently-abled children by connecting them to the mainstream of society.
Around 400 schools in Hamirpur, Solan, and Shimla districts will get government aid, which will include necessary facilities and opportunities for specially-abled children.
A 2% reservation quota has been allotted in government jobs for specially-abled persons.
The education stipend for disabled children will be increased to Rs.1000.
The Himachal Pradesh government aims to empower over 7,000 specially-abled children through the SABAL scheme.
Launch of 'Abhyas Himachal' and 'Teacher Sahayata' chatbots
In the same program, Chief Minister Sukhwinder Singh Sukhu also launched 'Abhyas Himachal' and 'Teacher Sahayata' chatbots on the Swift Chat App.
These chatbots use conversational Artificial Intelligence (AI) to support convenient text revision for students.
They offer quizzes and educational videos to enhance the learning and teaching experience in the classrooms.
About Himachal Pradesh
Formation - 1 November 1956
Capital - Shimla and Dharamshala (Winter)
District - 12
Governor- Shiv Pratap Shukla
Chief Minister - Sukhwinder Singh Sukhu
Rajya Sabha- 3 seats
Lok Sabha- 4 seats
4. Government of India launches Literacy Week to promote gaiety: New India Literacy Program
Tags: Government Schemes
The Ministry of Education in India is celebrating Literacy Week from September 1 to 8, 2023, to promote awareness about the ULAS-New India literacy program.
An Overview of the News
The Literacy Week aims to encourage mass participation and inculcate a sense of responsibility among all citizens in achieving complete literacy in India.
Various stakeholders including students, teachers, volunteers, government employees and citizens will participate in the campaign.
Ullas- New India Literacy Program is a Centrally Sponsored Scheme in line with the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020, which will run from 2022 to 2027.
The scheme comprises five components: Foundational Literacy and Numeracy, Important Life Skills, Basic Education, Vocational Skills and Continuing Education.
The scheme's logo and slogan, "Understanding of Lifelong Learning for All in Society" (ULLAS) and "Jan Jan Sakshar," were launched by the Union Education Minister, Shri Dharmendra Pradhan, on July 29, 2023, during the celebration of the 3rd anniversary of NEP 2020 in New Delhi.
Important Points:-
International Literacy Day, observed annually on 8 September, advocates for the celebration of literacy as both a fundamental human right and a tool to address various social issues.
The ULLAS Mobile App serves as a platform where learners and volunteers can connect with literacy and educational programs.
The National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 is a comprehensive framework in India designed to revamp the education system in line with the demands of the 21st century.
DIKSHA Portal is a digital platform that provides access to a wide range of educational resources for students.
5. ASI to unveil 'Adopt a Heritage 2.0' program, Indian Heritage App and e-permission portal
Tags: Government Schemes
The Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) will launch the "Adopt a Heritage 2.0 Programme," the Indian Heritage App and e-permission portal on September 4, 2023, to preserve India's cultural heritage.
An Overview of the News
ASI protects 3696 monuments across India, which showcase the country's rich cultural heritage and contribute to its economic development.
ASI aims to enhance and maintain these heritage sites by launching the "Adopt a Heritage 2.0" program on 4th September 2023 at Samvet Auditorium, IGNCA, New Delhi. The revised program invites corporate stakeholders to use their CSR funds to enhance facilities at these monuments.
Program Overview:
ASI's "Adopt a Heritage 2.0" program is a reimagined version of a scheme launched in 2017.
It clearly outlines the specific features required for various monuments as per the AMASR Act 1958.
Corporate Stakeholders A dedicated web portal: www. One can apply for the adoption of any monument or specific features through Indianheritage.gov.in.
The portal provides details about monuments available for adoption, gap analysis and estimated financial requirements.
Importance of Cultural Heritage:
Union Minister for Culture, Tourism and Development of North Eastern Region G Kishan Reddy emphasized the importance of cultural heritage in shaping India's identity.
Heritage monuments are not just structures; They represent the history, art and architecture of India.
The "Adopt a Heritage 2.0" program encourages corporate stakeholders to participate in preserving these monuments for future generations.
Selection Process:
The selection process involves due diligence, discussions with various stakeholders, and assessment of economic and developmental opportunities at each monument.
The selected stakeholders will be responsible for developing, providing, and maintaining facilities related to cleanliness, access, safety, and knowledge.
Stakeholders adopting heritage sites will be recognized as responsible and heritage-friendly entities.
The initial term of appointment will be five years, which is likely to be extended for another five years.
Indian Heritage Mobile App:
ASI will launch a user-friendly mobile app called "Indian Heritage" on September 4, 2023.
The app will showcase India's heritage monuments, including state-wise descriptions, photographs, a list of public facilities available, geo-tagged locations, and a feedback mechanism for citizens.
The launch of the app will be in phases, starting with ticketed monuments in Phase I, followed by the rest of the monuments.
E-Permission Portal:
An e-permission portal will also be launched, which will be available at www.asipermissionportal.gov.in.
The portal streamlines the process of obtaining permission for photography, filming, and developmental projects at monuments.
It aims to remove the operational and logistical hassles associated with obtaining various permissions.
6. Law Minister launches Tele-Law 2.0
Tags: Government Schemes
Union Minister Arjun Ram Meghwal launches Tele-Law 2.0 for legal advice.
An Overview of the News
Screening of the "Tele-Law" documentary, chronicling the journey of Tele-Law from 2017 to 2022.
Launch of "Tele-Law-2.0", which integrates Tele-Law and Nyay Bandhu apps, along with the release of an informative e-tutorial.
Unveiling the fourth edition of the Voice of Beneficiaries booklet, featuring real-life stories of individuals whose lives were positively impacted by Tele-Law.
The presentation of the “Achievers Catalogue”, highlights the top-performing paralegal volunteers, village-level entrepreneurs, panel lawyers and state coordinators categorized by sectors for the year 2022-2023 and April to June 2023-2024.
Tele-Law operates within the framework of the Designing Innovative Solutions for Holistic Access to Justice (DISHA) scheme, which has already facilitated over 50 lakh legal consultations.
The Disha scheme, launched in 2021, has a duration of five years (2021-2026) and aims to promote and increase access to justice for all in India.
Tele-Law 2.0:
The Department of Justice (DoJ) is conducting a program called Tele-Law 2.0 as part of its commitment to Article 39A, which aims to provide "justice for all".
The primary goal of the Tele-Law program is to positively impact the lives of one crore (ten million) beneficiaries by achieving this milestone well before the year 2026.
Tele-Law Programs:
In 2017, the Tele-Law program was launched.
The Department of Justice (DOJ) collaborated with the National Legal Services Authority (NALSA) and CSC e-Governance Service India Limited to facilitate the delivery of legal aid to the underprivileged population.
The primary objective of this partnership was to ensure that marginalized communities have access to legal aid by leveraging Common Service Centers (CSCs).
Nyay Bandhu App:
This app is part of Tele-Law 2.0, which combines Tele-Law services and the Nyaya Bandhu Android application.
Its primary goal is to provide free legal guidance and representation to citizens.
Nyay Bandhu (Pro Bono Legal Services) was started in 2017.
The objective of this initiative is to establish a nationwide framework to provide free legal aid.
“Pro bono legal services” means providing legal assistance voluntarily and without charge.
The Latin phrase "pro bono" translates to "for free" in English.
7. Government of India launches 'My Bill Mera Adhikar' scheme to encourage customer bill requests
Tags: Government Schemes
The government of India is launching a scheme called 'Mera Bill Mera Adhikar', which is an ‘Invoice Incentive Scheme’.
An Overview of the News
The scheme called 'My Bill My Right' aims to promote the practice of customers requesting bills for all their purchases. This initiative is being launched in collaboration with various state governments.
The scheme includes two grand prizes of Rs 1 crore each, which will be awarded to the lucky winners every quarter. In addition, there will be 800 lucky draws with prize money of Rs 10,000 each, as well as 10 draws on a monthly basis with prizes of Rs 10 lakh each.
To participate, bills with a minimum value of Rs 200 can be submitted through the mobile application 'Mera Bill Mera Adhikar', which is available on both iOS and Android platforms.
Bills can also be uploaded through the web portal 'web.merabill.gst.gov.in'.
The pilot phase of the scheme is scheduled to begin on September 1, 2023. Initially, it will be launched in specific regions, namely Puducherry, Dadra Nagar Haveli, Daman, and Diu, as well as in the states of Assam, Gujarat, and Haryana.
8. Cabinet approves PM-eBus service scheme
Tags: Government Schemes
The cabinet under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi approved the "PM-eBus Seva" initiative.
An Overview of the News
The PM-eBus Sewa scheme aims to augment city bus services by deploying 10,000 e-buses through the Public-Private Partnership (PPP) model.
The estimated cost of the scheme is Rs 57,613 crore, with support of Rs 20,000 crore from the central government.
The scheme will facilitate bus operations for 10 years.
Targeting deprived areas:
The scheme covers cities with more than three lakh inhabitants based on the 2011 census.
Preference will be given to underserved cities that lack organized bus services.
Inclusion: Union Territory Capitals, North Eastern Region, and Hill States.
Employment Generation:
Anticipated Direct Employment Generation: 45,000 to 55,000.
It is resulting in the deployment of around 10,000 e-buses for city bus operations.
Plan Division:
Section A - City Bus Detail (169 Cities):
This component focuses on scaling up city bus operations by introducing 10,000 e-buses through the PPP model.
It also includes upgrading depot infrastructure and building power infrastructure (eg, substations) for e-buses.
Section B - Green Urban Mobility Initiative (181 Cities):
This section emphasizes green initiatives such as bus priority systems, multimodal interchange facilities, automatic fare collection systems based on National Common Mobility Card (NCMC), and charging infrastructure.
Operational Support:
States and cities are responsible for managing bus services and operator payments.
Central Government Support: Subsidy as per the scheme provisions.
E-Mobility Promotion:
The scheme is set to take forward e-mobility by offering comprehensive support to electricity infrastructure behind the meter.
In addition, cities will receive assistance for the development of charging infrastructure as part of the Green Urban Mobility initiative.
This holistic support will accelerate the proliferation of energy-efficient electric buses and encourage innovation within the e-mobility sector, ultimately fostering a more robust supply chain for electric vehicles.
Environmental Benefits:
Transition to electric mobility: reduction of noise, air pollution, and carbon emissions.
The anticipated shift to bus-based public transport will reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
9. Union Cabinet approves “PM Vishwakarma” Central Sector Scheme
Tags: Government Schemes
Union Cabinet approves new Central Sector Scheme 'PM Vishwakarma' to support traditional artisans and craftsmen of rural and urban India
An Overview of the News
The "PM Vishwakarma" scheme has a financial allocation of Rs 13,000 crore for a period of five years (FY 2023-24 to FY 2027-28).
Its main objective is to support traditional artisans and craftsmen, both rural and urban, who work with manual skills and tools.
Preservation of Tradition:
The objective of the scheme is to maintain the Guru-Shishya Parampara (guru-shishya parampara) of passing on traditional skills within the families of artisans and craftsmen.
Enhancing Quality and Access:
One of the goals is to enhance the quality and expand the reach of artisan-made products and services.
The scheme envisages the integration of these artisans into both the domestic and global value chains.
Benefits for Artisans:
Artisans and craftsmen will get official recognition through a "PM Vishwakarma" certificate and an identity card.
Financial assistance will be provided, with a credit available up to Rs. 1 lakh (1st installment) and Rs 2 lakh (2nd installment), which includes a concessional interest rate of 5%.
Opportunities for skill improvement, toolkit incentives, incentives for digital transactions, and marketing support are also part of the plan.
Business Coverage:
Initially, the scheme will cover eighteen traditional trades under the "PM Vishwakarma" umbrella.
These trades include carpenter, boat builder, gunsmith, blacksmith, hammer and tool kit maker, repairman, hearse, potter, sculptor (sculptor, stone carver), stonecutter, cobbler (charmkar)/shoemaker/ Footwear Artisans, Masons, Basket/Mat/Broom Makers/Coir Weavers, Doll and Toy Makers (Traditional), Barbers, Malabars, Washermen, Tailors, Fishing Net Makers
10. Government of India launched 'Meri Mati Mera Desh Campaign'
Tags: Government Schemes
To mark the completion of 75 years of independence, Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav (AKAM) was celebrated as a people-led initiative.
The Government of India launched the 'Meri Mati Mera Desh Campaign' to continue the AKAM festival.
An Overview of the News
Various activities were organised in and around Delhi from 9th to 15th August 2023 in line with the campaign's theme.
Establishment of Amrit Vatika: 'Amrit Vatika' was created at each station to revive the environment and rejuvenate the earth ('Vasudha Vandhan'), planted 75 saplings of native species to symbolise the nation's connection with nature.
Panch Pran Pledge: All the participants took the 'Panch Pran pledge, emphasising the commitment to the environment and sustainable living.
Air Force Station Arjangarh:
Establishment of 'Amrit Vatika' at Baba Mangal Das Park, Aya Nagar.
Ved Pal (Consultant & Municipal President) cooperated with station authorities for a successful event.
Bovapur Village near Air Force Station Hindon:
'Amrit Vatika' was built around 'Amrit Sarovar' near Air Force Station Hindon.
Joint Director of Nehru Yuva Kendra Sangathan Prabhat Kumar assisted the station officials.
Air Force Station Palam:
The drive was carried out at the Indo-Korean Friendship Park near the station.
In association with Sunil Kataria, Delhi Cantonment Board.
'Veeron Ka Vandan' initiative on 15th August 2023 in honour of freedom fighters.
Felicitation Program:
Participation of retired personnel from the Armed Forces, Central, and State Police.
Highlighting the importance of the campaign, a felicitation program was organised.
