UPSC 2017-18: PIB Summary and Analysis October 14

Sampoorna Bima Gram (SBG) Yojana

• In a bid to provide affordable life insurance services to people, particularly those living in rural areas of the country, the government launched SBG and expanded the coverage of Postal Life Insurance (PLI).
• Under SBG at least one village (having a minimum of 100 households) will be identified in each of the revenue districts of the country, wherein endeavour will be made to cover all households of that identified village with a minimum of one RPLI (Rural Postal Life Insurance) policy each.
• Coverage of all households in the identified Sampoorna Bima Gram village is the primary objective of this scheme.
• The benefits of PLI will no more be confined to government and semi-government employees only, but will also be available to professionals such as doctors, engineers, management consultants, chartered accountants, architects, lawyers, bankers etc. and to the employees of listed companies of NSE (National Stock Exchange) and BSE (Bombay Stock Exchange).
• The decision has been taken to enlarge the cover of social security and bring the maximum number of people under the protection of Postal Life Insurance (PLI).

Postal Life Insurance (PLI) 

• PLI, introduced in 1884, is one of the oldest life insurance schemes for benefit of government and semi-government employees.
• In the beginning, the upper limit of life insurance was only Rs 4000, which has now increased to Rs 50 lakh.
• It covers employees of Central and state governments, Central and state public sector undertakings, universities, government-aided educational institutions, nationalized banks, local bodies, autonomous bodies, joint ventures having a minimum of 10% Govt./PSU stake, credit co-operative societies etc.
• PLI also extends the facility of insurance to the officers and staff of the Defence services and para-military
• Apart from single insurance policies, Postal Life Insurance also manages a group insurance scheme for the extra departmental employees (Gramin Dak Sevaks) of the Department of Posts.

PLI offers 6 types of plans

• Whole Life Assurance (SURAKSHA)
• Convertible Whole Life Assurance (SUVIDHA)
• Endowment Assurance (SANTOSH)
• Anticipated Endowment Assurance (SUMANGAL)
• Joint Life Assurance (YUGAL SURAKSHA)
• Children Policy (BAL JEEVAN BIMA)

Rural Postal Life Insurance (RPLI)

• On the other hand, Rural Postal Life Insurance (RPLI), introduced on March 24, 1995 on the recommendations of the Malhotra Committee, provides insurance cover to people residing in rural areas, especially weaker sections and women living in rural areas.
• Low premium and high bonus is the unique feature of PLI and RPLI schemes.
• As on March 31, 2017, there were 46.8 lakh PLI and 146.8 lakh RPLI policies across the country.

Deep Dharohar

• With an aim to revive the lost classical and folk traditions of the festival Diwali and promote and conserve India’s diverse heritage, the Ministry of Culture on Friday organised here an event “Deep Dharohar”.
• During the event, the minister also released a book titled “Living Traditions, Tribal and Folk Paintings of India”, published under the matrix of “Ek Bharat Shreshtha Bharat” by the Cultural Mapping team of the Ministry of Culture and CCRT.
• With around 50 stalls, the festival is showcasing the rich repository of red, grey and black ware potters, reed (sikki) artisans, rural sculptors, Madhubani, Gond, Phad and Pattachitra art, lacquer workers, bell-metal and bamboo artisans.
• A group of 100 artisans chosen by the Zonal Cultural Centres and knowledge partners from seven regions of the country are interfacing with organisations like the Asian Heritage Foundation, INTACH’s Intangible Cultural Heritage team, Dastkaari Haat Samiti, Centre for New Perspectives, TRIFED etc. for creative collaboration in creating sustainable livelihood hubs/clusters

Mitra Shakti 2017

• The fifth India-Sri Lanka Joint Training Exercise MITRA SHAKTI 2017 started with a grand Opening Ceremony conducted at Aundh Military Station, Pune
• The exercise is based on Counter Terrorist Operations and an Infantry company from both the countries
• The India – Sri Lanka joint training exercise MITRA SHAKTI 2017 in its fifth edition will send a strong signal to the world that both India and Sri Lanka understand the emerging threat of terrorism and stand shoulder to shoulder in countering this menace.