• It is a centrally sponsored scheme launched by the Ministry of Food Processing Industries (MOFPI).
• Support to Individual micro units:
  • Micro enterprises will get credit linked subsidy at 35% of the eligible project cost with ceiling of Rs.10 lakh.
  • Beneficiary contribution will be minimum 10% and balance from loan.
  • On-site skill training & Handholding for DPR and technical upgradation.
• The expenditure under the scheme would be shared in 60:40 ratio between Central and State Governments, in 90:10 ratio with North Eastern and Himalayan States, 60:40 ratio with UTs with legislature and 100% by Centre for other UTs.

PM CARES for Children Scheme

• It aims to support children who have lost both the Parents or legal Guardian or Adoptive Parents or Surviving Parent to COVID-19 pandemic during the period starting from 11th March 2020.
• The objective of the Scheme is to ensure comprehensive care and protection of Children in a sustained manner, and enable their wellbeing through health insurance, empower them through education and equip them for self-sufficient existence with financial support on reaching 23 years of age.
• Fixed Deposit - PM CARES will contribute through a specially designed scheme to create a corpus of Rs 10 lakh for each child when s/he reaches 18 years of age.
• This corpus will be used to give a monthly financial support/ stipend from 18 years of age, for the next five years to take care of his or her personal requirements during the period of higher education.
• On reaching the age of 23 years, s/he will get the corpus amount as one lump-sum for personal and professional use.
• School Education - Child under 10 years will be given admission in the nearest Kendriya Vidyalaya or in a private school as a day scholar.
• Child between 11-18 years will be admitted in any Central Government residential school such as Sainik School, Navodaya Vidyalaya etc.
• Support for Higher Education - The child will be assisted in obtaining education loan for Professional courses / Higher Education in India as per the existing Education Loan norms.
• The interest on this loan will be paid by the PM CARES.
• Health Insurance - All children will be a beneficiary under Ayushman Bharat Scheme (PM-JAY) with a health insurance cover of Rs. 5 lakhs.
• The premium amount for these children till the age of 18 years will be paid by PM CARES.
• Implementing Agency - The Ministry of Women and Child Development shall be the nodal Ministry for execution of the scheme at the central level.
• Department of the State/UT government dealing with the Juvenile Justice set up in the State shall be the nodal agency at State level. The District Magistrates shall be the nodal authority at District level for execution of the scheme.

Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi

• It is a central sector scheme that guarantees direct income support of Rs.6,000 for farmers to help them meet farm inputs and other costs during the crop season.
• The amount will be given in three instalments of Rs.2000 each.
• The cash transfer is not linked to the land size and hence it becomes an income supplement to landowning households.
• However, it has left the landless tenants out of its scope.
• PM Kisan Maan Dhan Yojana is a central sector and pension scheme for only small and marginal farmers who own less than 2 hectares of land. (while PM-KISAN is for all farmers)

• All small savings in India are not qualified for the EEE or exempt-exempt-exempt status and enjoys triple tax exemptions.
• For example Investments in Public Provident Fund comes under the EEE category, but Investments under the National savings certificate comes under the EET category (Interest is taxed).
• The interest rates on all small savings scheme are revised for every quarter by the Government of India (not by RBI).
• Investments in small savings schemes are also highly safe because of the sovereign guarantee of the government of India. They are therefore almost risk-free.

• It is the flagship scheme of the Ministry of Skill Development & Entrepreneurship (MSDE) launched in 2015 and implemented by National Skill Development Corporation (NSDC).
• Training and Assessment fees are completely paid by the Government.

• For effective implementation of various schemes and programmes of the Ministry of Women and Child Development, all major schemes of the Ministry have been classified under 3 umbrella schemes viz.
• Saksham Anganwadi and POSHAN 2.0 - Anganwadi Services, Poshan Abhiyan, Scheme for Adolescent Girls, National Creche Scheme
• Mission VATSALYA - Child Protection Services and Child Welfare Services
• Mission Shakti (Mission for Protection and Empowerment for Women)
• SAMBAL (One Stop Centre, Mahila Police Volunteer, Women's Helpline/Swadhar/Ujjawala/Widow Homes etc.)
• SAMARTHYA (Beti Bachao Beti Padhao, Creche, Pradhan Mantri Matru Vandana Yojana/ Gender Budgeting/Research

Pradan Mantri Swasthya Suraksha Nidhi (PMSSN)

• It is a single non-lapsable reserve fund for share of Health from the proceeds of Health and Education Cess levied under Section 136-b of Finance Act, 2007.
• A non-lapsable reserve fund for Health in the Public Account.
• Proceeds of share of health in the Health and Education Cess will be credited into PMSSN.
• Accruals into the PMSSN will be utilized for the flagship schemes of the Ministry of Health & Family Welfare namely,

1. Ayushman Bharat - Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB-PMJAY)
2. Ayushman Bharat - Health and Wellness Centres (AB-HWCs)
3. National Health Mission
4. Pradhan Mantri Swasthya Suraksha Yojana (PMSSY)
5. Emergency & disaster preparedness and responses during health emergencies
6. Any future programme/scheme that targets to achieve progress towards SDGs and the targets set out in the National Health Policy (NHP) 2017.

• Administration and maintenance of the PMSSN is entrusted to Ministry of Health & Family Welfare.
• In any financial year, the expenditure on such schemes of the MoHFW would be initially incurred from the PMSSN and thereafter, from Gross Budgetary Support (GBS).

National Social Assistance Programme (NASP)

• The National Social Assistance Programme (NSAP) provides financial assistance to the elderly, widows and persons with disabilities in the form of social pensions.
• It is a Centrally Sponsored Scheme implemented by the Ministry of Rural Development.
• The National Assistance Program consists of five sub-schemes:

1. Indira Gandhi National Old Age Pension Scheme (IGNOAPS)
2. Indira Gandhi National Widow Pension Scheme (IGNWPS)
3. Indira Gandhi National Disability Pension Scheme (IGNDPS)
4. National Family Benefit Scheme (NFBS)
5. Annapurna

• Parliamentary Standing Committee on Rural Development in its report submitted to the Lok Sabha on pensions offered under NASP scheme.
• The Committee observed that under National Social Assistance Programme (NSAP), meagre amount of assistance ranging from Rs.200 to Rs.500 per month is provided under the different components of this Scheme.

One Nation One Ration Card (ONORC) Scheme

• The Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food & Public Distribution in association with State/UT Governments is implementing ‘One Nation One Ration Card’ (ONORC) plan for nation-wide portability of ration cards under the National Food Security Act, 2013 (NFSA).
• So far, the facility has been enabled in 32 States/UTs covering nearly 69 Crore beneficiaries, almost 86% of NFSA population of the country.
• This system allows all NFSA beneficiaries, particularly migrant beneficiaries, to claim either full or part foodgrains from any Fair Price Shop (FPS) in the country through existing ration card with biometric/Aadhaar authentication in a seamless manner.
• The system also allows their family members back home, if any, to claim the balance foodgrains on same the ration card.

Gram Ujala Programme

• It is a customized program for rural India, based uniquely and innovatively on carbon finance.
• Under the programme, 7 watt and 12-Watt LED bulbs with 3 years warranty will be given by Convergence Energy Services Limited (CESL) to rural consumers against submission of working Incandescent bulbs.
• It will be implemented in villages of the 5 districts only and consumers can exchange a maximum of 5 LED bulbs available for only Rs.10 each.
• The programme will have a significant impact on India’s climate change action.
• If all 300 million lights in India were replaced, the total energy savings would be 40,743 million kWh/year, avoided peak demand of 22,743MW/year and CO2 reductions of 37 million tons per year.
• Gram Ujala will not only give a fillip to our fight against climate change by increasing energy efficiency, but also usher in a better standard of life, financial savings, and better safety for the citizens in rural areas.
• Gram Ujala Programme will be financed entirely through carbon credits and will be the first such programme in India.

• Mission for Integrated Development of Horticulture (MIDH) is a Centrally Sponsored Scheme for the holistic growth of the horticulture sector covering fruits, vegetables, root & tuber crops, mushrooms, spices, flowers, aromatic plants, coconut, cashew, cocoa and bamboo.
• Under MIDH, Government of India (GOI) contributes 60%, of total outlay for developmental programmes in all the states except states in North East and Himalayas, 40% share is contributed by State Governments.
• In the case of North Eastern States and Himalayan States, GOI contributes 90%

PRISM Scheme

• Promoting Innovations in Individuals, Startups and MSMEs (PRISM) is an initiative of the Department of Scientific and Industrial Research (DSIR), Ministry of Science and Technology.
• It aimed at transforming an individual innovator into a successful technopreneur by promoting, supporting, and funding implementable and commercially viable innovations created for the society.
• Under the initiative, an innovator of Indian nationality - student, professional and common citizen - is provided technical, strategic, and financial assistance by DSIR-PRISM for idea development, prototype development and pilot scaling, and patenting.
• The programme is implemented across various sectors from energy to healthcare to waste management and others.
• The grant is given in two phases: Phase I and Phase II, catering to both the initial innovation stage and the advanced enterprise setup phase through DSIR outreach-cum-cluster innovation centres available throughout India.
• The grant amount in Phase I is around Rs. 2.0 lakhs to Rs. 20.00 lakhs and in Phase II maximum of Rs. 50.00 lakhs.

Shaphari Scheme

• The scheme was developed by the Marine Products Exports Development Authority (MPEDA).
• Shaphari is a Sanksrit word which means superior quality of fishery products suitable for human consumption.
• Frozen shrimp is India’s largest exported seafood item.
• Certified aquaculture products will help exporters to export their consignments to markets under stringent food safety regulations without the fear of getting rejected.
• The Shaphari scheme is based on the United Nations’ Food and Agriculture Organization’s technical guidelines on aquaculture certification and will have two components — certifying hatcheries for the quality of their seeds and, separately, approving shrimp farms that adopt the requisite good practices.
• The certification of hatcheries will help farmers easily identify good quality seed producers.
• Those who successfully clear multiple audits of their operations shall be granted a certificate for a period of two years.
• The entire certification process will be online to minimise human errors and ensure higher credibility and transparency.

Gender Samvaad

• Ministry of Rural Development’s Deendayal Antyodaya Yojana - National Rural Livelihoods Mission (DAY-NRLM) and the Initiative for What Works to Advance Women and Girls in the Economy (IWWAGE) jointly launched the Gender Samvaad Initiative.
• It was launched as a part of the Azadi ka Amrut Mahotsav launched by the Prime Minister of India.
• It is a unique attempt aims to establish a shared platform to generate awareness on NRLM’s gender interventions across the country, with a focus on hearing voices from the states and of SHG members.

Startup India Seed Fund Scheme (SISFS)

• DPIIT, Ministry of Commerce and Industry has created Startup India Seed Fund Scheme (SISFS) with an outlay of INR 945 Crore to provide financial assistance to startups for Proof of Concept, prototype development, product trials, market entry, and commercialization.
• It will support an estimated 3,600 entrepreneurs through 300 incubators in the next 4 years.
• This would enable these startups to graduate to a level where they will be able to raise investments from angel investors or venture capitalists or seek loans from commercial banks or financial institutions.

• Sahakar Mitra scheme is an initiative by the National Cooperative Development Corporation (NCDC) for young professionals.
• It is launched by the Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers’ Welfare.
• The Sahakar Mitra scheme will help cooperative institutions access new and innovative ideas of young professionals while the interns will gain experience of working in the field to be self-reliant.
• NCDC has designated funds for the paid internship program under which each intern will get financial support over a 4 months internship period.

• PRAYAAS is initiative of the EPFO to disburse pension payment order on the very day of retirement/ superannuation.

Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana (PMMSY)

• It is a scheme to bring about Blue Revolution through sustainable and responsible development of fisheries sector.
• The Scheme will be implemented during a period of 5 years from FY 2020-21 to FY 2024-25.
• The scheme aims to address the critical gaps in the fisheries sector and realize its potential by improving availability of certified quality fish seed and feed, traceability in fish and including effective aquatic health management.
• It also promises to create direct gainful employment opportunities to about 15 lakh fishers, fish farmers, fish workers, fish vendors and other rural/urban populations in fishing and allied activities and about thrice this number as indirect employment opportunities including enhancement of their incomes.

National Policy for Rare Diseases, 2021

• Accordingly, a ‘rare disease’ has been categorised into three groups.

Group 1 Diseases

• Financial support upto Rs. 20 lakh under the Umbrella Scheme of Rashtriya Arogaya Nidhi shall be provided by the Central Government for treatment, of those rare diseases that require a one-time treatment (diseases listed under Group 1).
• Beneficiaries for such financial assistance would not be limited to BPL families, but extended to about 40% of the population, who are eligible as per norms of Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana, for their treatment in Government tertiary hospitals only.

Group 2 Diseases

• State Governments can consider supporting patients of such rare diseases that can be managed with special diets or hormonal supplements or other relatively low cost interventions (Diseases listed under Group 2).

Group 3 Diseases

• The new policy has absolutely no consideration for Group 3 patients, who require lifelong treatment support.
• The policy states that, keeping in view the resource constraint and competing health priorities, it will be difficult for the Government to fully finance treatment of high cost rare diseases.
• The gap can however be filled by creating a digital platform for bringing together notified hospitals where such patients are receiving treatment or come for treatment, on the one hand, and prospective individual or corporate donors willing to support treatment of such patients.

• The Government has proposed a scheme of Mega Investment Textiles Parks (MITRA) to enable the textile industry to become globally competitive, attract large investments, boost employment generation and exports.