1. 2.18 Crore pucca houses completed till 11th March under Pradhan Mantri Awaas Yojana-Gramin
Tags: Government Schemes National News
According to the government, 2 crore 18 lakh pucca houses have been built till March 11, 2023, under the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana-Gramin (PMAY-G).
An overview of the news
In a written reply to a question in the Rajya Sabha, Minister of State for Rural Development Sadhvi Niranjan Jyoti said that under the scheme, states and union territories have already sanctioned 2.85 crore pucca houses to the beneficiaries.
Out of these, a total of two crore 94 lakh houses have been allotted to the beneficiaries.
The government has set a target of constructing two crore 95 lakh pucca houses with basic facilities by March 2024.
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.
2. Green national highway corridor project to be implemented in four states
Tags: Government Schemes National News
India and the World Bank have signed aloan agreement for the construction of the Green National Highway Corridors Project (GNHCP) in four States.
An overview of the news
These four states are-Himachal Pradesh, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh and Andhra Pradesh.
Agreement has been signed for construction of 781 kilometer green national highway corridor in these states with a line of credit of $500 million.
Road Transport and Highways Minister Nitin Gadkari gave this information in a written reply to a question in the Rajya Sabha on March 15.
About Green National Highways Corridor Project
It will assist the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH) to construct 781 km of highways.
It will integrate safe and green technology designs such as local and marginal materials, industrial by-products and other bioengineering solutions.
It will also support the Bharatmala Pariyojana programme.
Components of the project
Sustainable development and maintenance of National Highways.
Institutional Capacity Enhancement and Road Safety.
Research and Development.
Objective of GNHCP
To demonstrate safe and green highways keeping in mind climate resilience and use of green technologies by incorporating provisions for conservation of natural resources, use of cement-treated reclaimed asphalt pavement.
Use of local/marginal materials such as lime, fly ash, waste plastic, bio-engineering measures such as hydroseeding, coco/jute fibre, etc.
It will enhance the capacity of the Ministry to mainstream green technologies.
3. 3 lakh 61 thousand crore rupees loan given to MSMEs under Emergency Credit Line Guarantee Scheme
Tags: Economy/Finance Government Schemes National News
Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) have so far been given a loan of Rs 3 lakh 61 thousand crore under the Emergency Credit Line Guarantee Scheme (ECLGS).
An overview of the news
Minister of State for Finance Dr. Bhagwat Kisanrao Karad gave this information in a written reply to a question in the Lok Sabha on March 14.
He informed that this scheme covers all sectors of the economy.
About Emergency Credit Line Guarantee Scheme
It was announced as part of the Atma Nirbhar Bharat Package in 2020.
Its objective is to help businesses including MSMEs to meet their operational liabilities and resume business in view of the distress caused by the COVID-19 crisis.
It provides 100 percent guarantee to lending institutions for any losses incurred due to non-payment of ECLGS funding by borrowers.
The scheme is under the operational domain of the Ministry of Finance, Department of Financial Services (DFS).
4. Over 38 crore loans provided since launch of Pradhan Mantri Mudra Yojana
Tags: National Economy/Finance Government Schemes National News
In a written reply to a question in the Lok Sabha on March 14, Minister of State for Finance Dr. Bhagwat Kisanrao Karad said that since the launch of the Pradhan Mantri Mudra Yojana in April 2015, more than 38 crore loans have been disbursed so far.
An overview of the news
He informed that out of this, more than 26 crore loans have been given to women entrepreneurs.
About 20 crore loans have been disbursed to SC, ST and OBC borrowers.
The Ministry of Labor and Employment had conducted a large sample survey at the national level to assess the employment generation under the Pradhan Mantri Mudra Yojana.
According to the results of the survey, 1 crore 12 lakh net additional employment has been generated in the country from2015 to 2018 by this scheme.
Pradhan Mantri Mudra Yojana
It was launched on 8 April 2015.
Under the scheme, the people of the country are given loans up to a maximum of 10 lakhs to start their own small business.
Any person who wants to further his business can take a loan under this scheme.
People are issued a Mudra card to avail loans under this scheme.
The loans are provided through Banks, Non-Banking Financial Companies (NBFCs), Micro Financial Institutions (MFIs), and other financial intermediaries.
More than64 per cent of the loan accounts opened under the scheme are of women.
Three types of loans under Mudra Yojana
Shishu- Loans up to Rs.50,000.
Kishor - Loans above Rs.50,000 and less than Rs.5 lakh.
Tarun- Loans above Rs.5 lakh and up to Rs.10 lakh.
5. Centre launches MSME Competitive (LEAN) scheme
Tags: Economy/Finance Government Schemes National News
Union Minister for MSME Narayan Rane launched theMSME Competitive (LEAN) Scheme on 10 March.
About the Scheme
It aims to provide a roadmap to global competitiveness for the MSMEs of India.
The scheme will not only strive to improve quality, productivity and performance, but also change the mindset of manufacturers and provide them the ability to become world class manufacturers.
Under this scheme, MSMEs will implement LEAN manufacturing tools like 5S, Kaizen, Kanban, Visual Workplace, Poka Yoka etc. under the able guidance of trained and competent LEAN consultants to acquire LEAN levels like Basic, Intermediate and Advanced.
Through this scheme, MSMEs can significantly reduce wastage, increase productivity, improve quality, expand their markets, operate in a safer manner and ultimately become competitive and profitable.
To assist MSMEs, the government will contribute 90 per cent of the implementation cost and consultancy fee for providing initial support.
There will be an additional contribution of 5 per cent for MSMEs which are owned by women/SC/ST and are part of SFURTI clusters located in North Eastern States.
Nodal Agency of the scheme will be the National Productivity Council (NPC).
Initiatives related to MSME Sector
The Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises Development Act was notified in the year 2006 to address policy issues affecting MSMEs as well as the coverage and investment limits of the sector.
Prime Minister's Employment Generation Program (PMEGP):- It is a credit linked subsidy scheme for setting up new micro enterprises and generating employment opportunities in rural and urban areas of the country. Commencement - 15 August 2008
Scheme of Fund for the Upliftment of Traditional Industries (SFURTI):- Its objective is to organise artisans and traditional industries into clusters and thus provide financial assistance to make them competitive in the current market scenario.
Credit Guarantee Scheme for Micro and Small Enterprises :- Under this scheme launched to facilitate easy flow of credit, guarantee cover is provided for collateral free loans given to MSMEs.
Credit Linked Capital Subsidy and Technology Upgradation Scheme (CLCS-TUS) :- It aims at facilitating technology up-gradation to Micro and Small Enterprises (MSMEs) by providing 15% capital subsidy for purchase of plant and machinery.
CHAMPIONS Portal:- It aims to help Indian MSMEs to establish themselves as national and global champions by resolving their grievances and providing them encouragement, support.
6. PM Modi addresses post-budget webinar on PM Vishwakarma Kaushal Samman
Tags: Government Schemes National News
Prime Minister Narendra Modi addresses the post-budget webinar on 'PM Vishwakarma Kaushal Samman (PM VIKAS)' on 11 March.
An overview of the news
According to the Ministry of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises, this is part of the series of 12 post-budget webinars being organized by the Government of India for ideas and suggestions for effective implementation of the initiatives announced in the Union Budget.
The Prime Minister said that through these schemes, the youth of the country are getting a lot of employment opportunities.
There is a need for a more targeted approachin the field of skill development to get better results and the PM-Vishwakarma scheme is a result of that thinking.
The objective of the PM-Vishwakarma scheme is not only to preserve the rich tradition of traditional artisans and craftsmen but also to develop them.
Now the skill infrastructure system needs to be changed according to their needs.
PM Vishwakarma Kaushal Samman Scheme
This scheme has been announced for traditional artisans and craftsmen in the budget 2023-24.
The objective of the scheme is to improve the quality and accessibility of artisans/craftsmen by integrating them with domestic and global value chains of their products/services.
The scheme includes financial support as well as access to advanced skills, training, knowledge of modern digital technologies and efficient green technologies, brand promotion and social security.
In this scheme, more attention has been given to Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes, Other Backward Classes, Women and Weaker Sections.
Under the Vishwakarma community, more than 140 castesof the country come, which cover a large population of the country.
7. New initiative called 'Beggar Free City' launched in Maharashtra's Nagpur
Tags: Government Schemes State News
In Maharashtra, a new initiative called 'Beggar Free City' was launched in Nagpur.
News Overview
Nagpur City Police Commissioner Amitesh Kumar said that a notice under 144 CrPC has been issued in this regard.
Notices were given to people, and chances are also not to be allowed in public places.
It is a joint venture of the Nagpur City Police and the Social Welfare Department of the Nagpur Municipal Corporation (NMC).
Nagpur Municipal Corporation (NMC) has made special arrangements in its owned shelters to restrict homeless people.
The civic bodies have also arranged a bus and an ambulance to shift the beggars caught in the police operation to their shelter homes.
About Maharashtra
Establishment - 1st May 1960
Official Language - Marathi
Neighbouring States - Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Goa, Dadra And Nagar Haveli, Chhattisgarh
Members of Parliament -Lok Sabaha 48 (Rajya Sabha seats 19)
Legislature - Bicameral ( Assembly 289 and council 78 seats)
Literacy - 82.91%
Districts - 36
Major Rivers - Tributaries of Tapti, Bhima, Godavari and Krishna
Capital - Mumbai
Population - 11.23 crore (2011 census)
Governor - Ramesh Bais
Chief Minister -Eknath Shinde
8. Madhya Pradesh govt launches Ladli Bahna scheme
Tags: Government Schemes State News
Madhya Pradesh Government on 5 March launched Ladli Bahna scheme under which each woman will be given one thousand rupees per month.
An overview of the news
Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan inaugurated the process of filling application forms of Ladli Bahna Yojana in the presence of about one lakh women at Bhopal's Jamboree Maidan.
This scheme is being launched with the aim of increasing the economic independence of women in the state, improving their health and nutritional status and increasing their influence on family decisions.
Under the scheme, Rs 1,000 per month will be deposited in the accounts of the native women of the state in the age group of 23 to 60 years.
Applications for the scheme will be filled from March 15 to April 30 and the disbursement of funds will start from June 10.
9. Government Revised Guidelines for MPLADS
Tags: Government Schemes
Minister of State for Statistics and Program Implementation Rao Inderjit Singh (Independent Charge) released the Revised Guidelines on Members of Parliament Local Area Development Scheme (MPLADS)-2023.
An overview of the news:
The Minister also launched the new Web-Portal, for implementation of the Revised Fund Flow Procedure under MPLADS.
The new MPLADs guidelines and the web portal will come into effect from 1-4-2023.
The objective of MPLAD Scheme is to enable the Hon’ble Members of Parliament (MPs) to recommend works of developmental nature with emphasis on the creation of durable community assets based on the locally felt needs.
MPLADS Scheme:
The MPLADS is a Central Sector Scheme fully funded by the Government of India.
It was introduced in December 1993.
The objective of the scheme is to enable MPs to recommend works of developmental nature with emphasis on the creation of durable community assets in the areas of drinking water, primary education, public health, sanitation and roads, etc. primarily in their Constituencies.
The annual MPLADS fund entitlement per Member of Parliament (MP) constituency is Rs.5 crore, released in two instalments of Rs.2.5 crore each, subject to the fulfilment of conditions as per the MPLADS Guidelines.
Lok Sabha Members can recommend works within their Constituencies and Elected Members of Rajya Sabha can recommend works within the State of Election (with select exceptions).
Nominated Members of both the Rajya Sabha and Lok Sabha can recommend works anywhere in the country.
The Ministry of Rural Development initially administered the scheme.
Since October 1994 it has been transferred to the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (henceforth, the Ministry).
Fund Utilisation: At least 15% of the annual outlay of funds must be utilised for Scheduled Caste Population areas and 7.5% for Scheduled Tribes Population areas.
10. Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi Yojana completes 4 years
Tags: Government Schemes National News
On February 24, 2023, the Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi Yojana (PM-KISAN) completed 4 years.
About Prime Minister Kisan Samman Nidhi (PM-Kisan)
It was launched by Prime Minister Modi on February 24, 2019 to meet the financial needs of land holding farmers.
Under this scheme a financial benefit of Rs 6000 per year in three equal instalments is transferred every four months to the bank accounts of farmer families across the country through Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) mode.
It is a Central Sector Scheme with 100 per cent funding by the Government of India.
It is being implemented by the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare.
So far eligible farmer families have received benefits of more than Rs 2 lakh crore in 12 instalments under PM-Kisan.