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March 5th 2019 PIB:-Download PDF Here
Pradhan Mantri Shram Yogi Maan-Dhan (PM-SYM) Yojana
Context:
The Prime Minister launched the Pradhan Mantri Shram Yogi Maan-Dhan (PM-SYM) Yojana.
Details:
- Government of India has introduced a pension scheme for unorganised workers to ensure old age protection for Unorganised Workers.
- The unorganised workers mostly engaged as home-based workers, street vendors, mid-day meal workers, head loaders, brick kiln workers, cobblers, rag pickers, domestic workers, washermen, rickshaw pullers, landless labourers, own account workers, agricultural workers, construction workers, beedi workers, handloom workers, leather workers, audio-visual workers and similar other occupations whose monthly income is Rs 15,000/ per month or less and belong to the entry age group of 18-40 years.
- They should not be covered under New Pension Scheme (NPS), Employees‟ State Insurance Corporation (ESIC) scheme or Employees‟ Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO). Further, he/she should not be an income tax payer.
Features of PM-SYM:
It is a voluntary and contributory pension scheme, under which the subscriber would receive the following benefits:
- Minimum Assured Pension: Each subscriber under the PMSYM, shall receive minimum assured pension of Rs 3000/- per month after attaining the age of 60 years.
- Family Pension: During the receipt of pension, if the subscriber dies, the spouse of the beneficiary shall be entitled to receive 50% of the pension received by the beneficiary as family pension. Family pension is applicable only to spouse.
- If a beneficiary has given regular contribution and died due to any cause (before age of 60 years), his/her spouse will be entitled to join and continue the scheme subsequently by payment of regular contribution or exit the scheme as per provisions of exit and withdrawal.
- Matching contribution by the Central Government: PM-SYM is a voluntary and contributory pension scheme on a 50:50 basis where prescribed age-specific contribution shall be made by the beneficiary and the matching contribution by the Central Government.
- Fund Management: PM-SYM will be a Central Sector Scheme administered by the Ministry of Labour and Employment and implemented through Life Insurance Corporation of India and CSC eGovernance Services India Limited (CSC SPV). LIC will be the Pension Fund Manager and responsible for Pension pay out.
Transport and Marketing Assistance (TMA)
Context:
Department of Commerce of the Ministry of Commerce & Industry has notified a scheme for Transport and Marketing Assistance (TMA) for Specified Agriculture Products.
Objective
- The “Transport and Marketing Assistance” (TMA) for specified agriculture products scheme aims to provide assistance for the international component of freight and marketing of agricultural produce which is likely to mitigate disadvantage of higher cost of transportation of export of specified agriculture products due to trans-shipment and to promote brand recognition for Indian agricultural products in the specified overseas markets.
- The scheme would be suitably included in the Foreign Trade Policy (2015-20).
Coverage
- All exporters, duly registered with relevant Export Promotion Council as per Foreign Trade Policy, of eligible agriculture products shall be covered under this scheme.
- The assistance, at notified rates, will be available for export of eligible agriculture products to the permissible countries, as specified from time to time.
AL NAGAH 2019
Context:
Exercise Al Nagah III, third in the series of bilateral joint exercise between India and Oman is scheduled to be held at Jabel Al Akhdar Mountains in Oman.
Details:
- The exercise will see both the armies exchanging expertise and experience in tactics, weapon handling and firing, with an aim to enhance interoperability in counterterrorist operations in semi-urban mountainous terrain.
National Common Mobility Card (NCMC)
Context:
One Nation, One Card for transport mobility was launched by Prime Minister.
Details:
- The Indigenous Automatic Fare Collection System based on One Nation One Card Model i.e. National Common Mobility Card (NCMC) is the first of its kind in India.
- India’s First Indigenously Developed Payment system for transport consisting of NCMC Card, SWEEKAR (SwachalitKiraya: Automatic Fare Collection System) and SWAGAT (Automated Gate) is based on NCMC Standards.
- These are bank issued Debit/Credit/Prepaid cards and the customer may use this single card for payments across all segments including metro, bus, suburban railways, toll, parking, smart city and retail.
- The stored value on card supports offline transaction across all travel needs with minimal financial risk to involved stakeholders.
The National Annual Rural Sanitation Survey (NARSS) 2018-19
Context:
The National Annual Rural Sanitation Survey (NARSS) 2018-19, conducted by an Independent Verification Agency (IVA) under the World Bank support project to the Swachh Bharat Mission Grameen (SBM-G), has found that 96.5% of the households in rural India who have access to a toilet use it. The NARSS also re-confirmed the Open Defecation Free (ODF) status of 90.7% of villages which were previously declared and verified as ODF by various districts/States.
The key findings of NARSS 2018-19 are as follows:
- 93.1% of households were found to have access to toilets during the survey period (the corresponding figure as per the SBMG MIS in November 2018 was 96%)
- 96.5% of the people who had access to toilets used them
- 90.7% of villages which were previously declared and verified as ODF were confirmed to be ODF. The remaining villages also had sanitation coverage of about 93%
- 95.4% of the villages surveyed found to have a minimal litter and minimal stagnant water
Read the previous PIB articles here.
March 5th 2019 PIB:-Download PDF Here
Also see:
| Issues in News – Swachh Bharat Mission: Evaluation |
| National Pension Scheme |
| Employees’ Provident Fund Organisation |
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