Yeshasvini Scheme

"Yeshasvini Cooperative Farmers Health Care Scheme" (Yeshasvini Scheme) was introduced by the State Government to the Co-operative farmers of Karnataka. 

Scheme was operationalised with effect from 1st June 2003. 

Karnataka has become role model state with the introduction of ‘Yeshasvini Self Funded Health Care Scheme’.

Features : 

• Yeshasvini is one of the largest Self Funded Healthcare Scheme in the country.
• It is a contributory scheme wherein the beneficiaries contribute a small amount of money every year to avail any possible surgery during the period.
• The beneficiaries are offered cashless treatment subject to conditions of the scheme at the Network Hospitals spread across the State of Karnataka

MNREGA

• MNREGA will help implement direct benefit transfers.
• MNREGA has brought momentum in the financial inclusion of our rural population. More than four crore accounts have been opened in banks while more than that have been opened in post offices. These accounts will assist us in reaching the incentives of the Direct Benefit Transfer Scheme to the rural population

National Inland waterway

National Waterway

National Waterway 1: 

It will starts from Allahabad to Haldia with a distance of 1620 km. The NW 1 runs through the Ganges, Bhagirathi and Hooghly river system. It will be the longest National Waterway in India.

National Waterway 2: 

a stretch on Brahmaputra River from Sadiya to Dhubri in Assam state.

National Waterway 3: 

runs from Kollam to Kottapuram. The 205 km long West Coast Canal is India’s first waterway with all time navigation facility.

National Waterway 4: 

connects Kakinada to Pondicherry through Canals, Tank and River Godavari along with Krishna River.

National Waterway 5: 

connects Orissa to West Bengal using the stretch on Brahmani River, East Coast Canal, Matai River and Mahanadi River Delta.

National Waterway 6: 

It is the proposed waterway in Assam state and will connect Lakhipur to Bhanga in river Barak.

Credit Risk Guarantee Fund

• The Government has approved the establishment of a Credit Risk Guarantee Fund Trust (CRGFT) for low income housing, with an initial corpus of Rs.1000 Crore. The Credit Risk Guarantee Fund Trust has been registered on 1st May, 2012 and the Credit Risk Guarantee Fund Scheme has been launched on 31st October, 2012.
• Under the Scheme, the Trust will provide guarantee to lending agencies for housing loans extended by them to persons belonging to the Economically Weaker Sections / Low Income Groups upto Rs. 5 Lakh, without any third party guarantee or collateral security. 
• The lending institutions eligible to avail benefit of the Guarantee cover under the Scheme are Scheduled Commercial Banks, Regional Rural Banks, Urban Co-operative Banks, Non Banking Financial Companies-Micro Finance Institutions (NBFC-MFIs), Apex Co-operative Housing Finance Societies registered under the State Co-operative Societies Act and Housing Finance Institutions registered with National Housing Bank (NHB).

Earn While You Earn

Earn While You Learn

Organisation : Ministry of Tourism

Objective : To inculcate appropriate tourism travel traits and knowledge amongst trainees to enable them to work as ‘student volunteers’.

Features : The salient features of the Scheme are: 
i. College-going students pursuing graduation courses or graduates in the age group of 18 to 25 years will be eligible for the training programme. i. The candidates are selected by following a transparent procedure. 

iii. The duration of each programme is 21 working days. 

iv. The course contents is finalized by the Ministry of Tourism/ implementing Institutes in consultation with stakeholders. 

The Indian Institute of Tourism & Travel Management (IITTM), had been authorized to conduct the training programmes at its Centres in Gwalior, Delhi and Bhubaneshwar and one in the city of Hyderabad. Besides, the Jamia Milia Islamia University was also authorized to conduct a training programme at its campus in Delhi.

Project Arrow

• Introduced in 2008 by department of Posts
• Objective: To transform the existing India Post infrastructure across the country by upgrading key postal operations such as mail delivery, remittance and banking services.
• Under the project, the exterior and interior of the post offices have undergone a transformation. Service delivery has been upgraded through information technology-enabled procedures.

Electronic Project Proposal System

The Electronic Project Proposal System (e-PPS) is a web-based system that covers the complete life-cycle of funding of R&D projects, starting from online submission of project proposals for funds, to monitoring and management of funded projects. It supports the following processes:

• Online submission of project proposals
• Evaluation of proposals by experts
• Project recommendations
• Project Monitoring

Viability Gap Fund

• VGF is a government’s initiative to assist private investors or entities to set up projects of high economic worth
• Private investors are not interested in building infrastructure as financial return is less so government extends its support to the investors by sharing a fraction of the cost, making the project viable.
• Typically, VGF is provided in competitively bid projects. The central government meets up to 20% of capital cost of a project being implemented in Public Private Partnership (PPP) mode by a central ministry, state government, statutory entity or a local body. The state government, sponsoring ministry or the project authority can provide another 20% to attract .
• Those needing the least VGF assistance will be awarded the project. The Ministry of Finance administers the scheme. 
• Projects in a number of sectors such as roads, ports, airports, railways, inland waterways, urban transport, power, water supply, other physical infrastructure in urban areas, infrastructure projects in special eco-nomic zones, tourism infrastructure projects are generally eligible for VGF. 
• The Viability Gap Funding Scheme provides financial support in the form of grants, one time or deferred, to infrastructure projects undertaken through public private partnerships with a view to make them commercially viable. GoI has established a Viability Gap Fund to aid the PPP infrastructure projects which face the viability gap due to inherent nature of the project. 

Antyodaya Anna Yojana

What is Antyodaya Anna Yojana?

• AAY was launched by the cetral government in December 2000.
• Under the scheme 1 crore of the poorest among the BPL families covered under the targeted public distribution system are identified.
• Twenty five kilograms (kg) of food grains were made available to each eligible family at a highly subsidized rate of Rs. 2 per kg for wheat and Rs.3 per kg for rice. This quantity has been enhanced from 25 to 35 kgs with effect from April, 2002.
• The scheme has been further expanded in June 2003 by adding another 50 lakh BPL families. 

National Investment Fund

• NIF was established in 2005 to channelize the proceeds generated through the sale of minority shareholding of CPSEs(Central Public Sector Enterprise). The Fund would be maintained outside the Consolidated Fund of India.
• Government  sells part of its shares in the market, and get ca$h. (it is called Disinvestment)
• Government puts that cash in this NIF, instead of the consolidated fund of India.
• The income from the Fund is to be used for the following broad investment objectives:
• 75% to finance selected social sector schemes, which promote education, health and employment
• 25% to meet the capital investment requirements of profitable and revivable CPSEs that yield adequate returns, in order to enlarge their capital base to finance expansion/diversification
• However, because of the difficult economic situation caused by global slowdown, the government in November 2009 decided to utilize proceeds from disinvestment only for social sector spending. This exemption is applicable till March 2013.
• NIF fund managers are:
• UTI Asset Management Company Ltd.
• SBI Funds Management Company (Pvt.) Ltd.
• LIC Mutual Fund Asset Management Company Ltd.
• No approval is required to get money out of this fund.

Health Minister's Discretionary Grant

• Under the HMDG scheme, a maximum help of Rs. 50,000 was provided to the poor and needy as part of the expenditure made on hospitalization for major surgical interventions and treatment of major diseases including heart ailments, kidney transplant, hip and knee replacement, cancer, AIDS, hepatitis and tumour.
• Current guidelines: Help is granted up to Rs. 20,000 if the cost of treatment is Rs. 50,000; up to Rs. 40,000 if the cost is above Rs. 50,000 and up to Rs. 50,000 if it is above Rs. 1,00,000
• Fresh Guidelines : Assistance of Rs. 50,000 if the estimated cost of treatment is Rs. 1,00,000; Rs. 75,000 (above Rs. 1,00,000 and up to 1,50,000) and Rs 1,00,000 (above Rs 1,50,000).
• The new areas urology, nephrology, gastroenterology, liver transplant and surgery for portal hypertension, cases of complicated diabetes which require one-time treatment such as amputation or renal transplant.
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Banking Ombudsman Scheme

• The RBI notified the Banking Ombudsman Scheme, 1995 on June 14, 1995
• To provide for a system of redressal of grievances against banks
• Currently, there are 15 Banking Ombudsmen with specific jurisdiction covering the 29 States and seven Union Territories in India.
• Since January 2006, the BOS is fully financed and administered by the RBI and its serving officers in the rank of Chief General Managers and General Managers are posted as Banking Ombudsmen.
• It looks into a wide range of complaints pertaining to deficiency in banking service rendered by Scheduled Commercial banks, Scheduled Primary Urban Co-operative banks and the Regional Rural banks.
• Currently, there are 27 grounds on which customers can approach the Banking Ombudsman mentioning deficiency in banking services. 

Science ,Technology and Innovation Policy 2013

• PM Manmohan Singh inaugurated a new science policy, the Science, Technology and Innovation Policy (STI) 2013that lays greater emphasis on innovation, setting up research institutes and encouraging women scientists with an aspiration to place itself among the top five scientific powers in the world by 2020.
• Objectives :
• Private Partners in R&D : Create a policy environment for enhanced private sector collaboration in research and innovation and to form international alliances to fulfill the national agenda.
• Increase Gross Expenditure : Increasing gross expenditure in R&D to 2% of GDP from the current 1% in this decade
• Speed Delivery : Expedite the pace of discovery and delivery of science-led solutions for faster, sustainable and inclusive growth.
• Careers : Make careers in science, research and innovation lucrative, setting up world-class infrastructure for R&D for gaining global leadership in some select frontier areas of science.
• India introduced its first Scientific Policy Resolution in 1958 which was directed to "foster, promote and sustain" the cultivation of science and scientific research in all its aspects. 
• It focused on the need to attain technological competence and self reliance.        

Insurance Sector Schemes

Aam Aadmi Bima Yojana

• Launched in 2007
• Covers death and disability insurance for the benefit of rural landless households.
• Insurance to the head of the family or earning member of the family of rural landless households b/w the age of 18 and 59 years against natural death or accidental death and partial/permanent disability.
• Annual premium payable is Rs 200
• 50% of the premium shall be payable by the Union Government from a separate fund created by the govt and operated by LIC and the remaining 50% by the State Government.
• Also provides for educational aid to the beneficiaries’ children studying from 9^th to 12^th standard as an extended benefit.
• A separate fund has been set up for providing scholarship to the children of beneficiaries.

Janashree Bima Yojana

• Launched in August 2000
• Life insurance protection to people who are BPL or marginally above poverty line.
• Persons aged b/w 18 years and 59 years and who are members of the identified 45 occupational groups are eligible for the scheme.
• Premium of Rs 200 per member
• 50% of premium comes from Social Security Fund maintained by LIC, rest 50% borne by the member and/or nodal agency.

RGESS (Rajiv Gandhi Equity Savings Scheme)

• Tax benefits for investing up to Rs 50,000 in the capital markets for first-time retail investors with an annual income of Rs 10 lakh. 
• The scheme initially announced in Budget 2012 had allowed tax benefits for investments in stocks. Later, Exchange Traded Funds (ETFs) and MFs were included under its ambit. 
• Open to retail investors who have opened demat accounts but have not made any transactions in equity or derivatives till the notification of the scheme. 
• Open to retail investors who have opened demat accounts but have not made any transactions in equity or derivatives till the notification of the scheme. 
• All those opening fresh accounts would also be eligible to participate in RGESS. 
• Investments can be made in various installments during a year.
• Total lock-in period: 3 years,including an initial lock-in of one year in the stock/ETF/MF in which the money has been invested. 
• Stocks listed under BSE 100 or CNX 100 or those of PSUs which are Navratnas, Maharatnas and Miniratnas would be eligible. 
• Investment in follow-on offers of these companies would also be eligible for tax deduction. 

Women and Child Development

National Policy for Children 2012

• Acknowledges every person below the age of 18 years as a child  and that childhood is an integral part of life with a value of its own, and a long term, sustainable, multi-sectoral, integrated and inclusive approach is essential for the pleasant development and protection of children.
• Guiding Principles : 
• Right of every child to life, survival, development, education, protection and participation
• Equal rights for all children without discrimination
• The policy has identified the following as the undeniable rights of every child, and has also declared these as key priority areas:
• Survival 
• Health
• Nutrition
• Education
• Development
• Protection
• Participation
• National Coordination and Action Group (NCAG)  be established in order to supervise the performance of National Policy for Children.
• National Commission for Protection of Child Rights and State Commissions for Protection of Child Rights are to ascertain that the principles of the policy are valued in all sectors at all levels. There is a condition for reassessment of the policy every 5 years.
• Ministry of Women and Child Development will be the nodal ministry for supervising and coordinating the effectuation of the policy and will lead the review process for the policy.

National Policy on Information Technology 2012

Key Areas of the policy :

• Enhance revenues of IT and ITES (Information Technology Enabled Services) Industry from 100 Billion USD currently to 300 Billion USD by 2020 and elevate exports from 69 Billion USD currently to 200 Billion USD by 2020. 
• Encourage innovation and R&D in cutting edge technologies and development of applications and solutions in areas like localization, location based services, mobile value added services, Cloud Computing, Social Media and Utility models. 
• Offer fiscal benefits to SMEs and Startups for adoption of IT in value creation 
• Build a pool of 10 million additional skilled man-power in ICT. 
• Make at least one individual in every household e-literate. 
• Provide for mandatory delivery of and affordable access to all public services in electronic mode. 
• Adoption of Open standards and promote open source and open technologies.

Tourism

• The ‘Go Beyond’ campaign focuses on promoting lesser known destinations to domestic as well as international tourists
• “Find what you Seek”, targets the international tourists who imagine a need and find its realization in India.

AWARDS

• Best State/ UT Comprehensive Development of Tourism (Rest of India) : 
  

  
  

  Andhra Pradesh.
• Best State/ UT Comprehensive Development of Tourism 
  (North East, Jammu and Kashmir ) : 
  Jammu & Kashmir.
•  Best Heritage City :  Warangal City (AP)

Labour and Employment

KaushalVikasYojana

• To set up 3000 new Industrial Training Institutes (ITIs) & 5000 Skill Development Centres (SDCs) in Public Private Partnership (PPP) mode.
• To provide vocational training to the youth from socially & economically disadvantaged groups of society.

Urban Development

Swarna Jayanti Shahari Rozgar Yojana

• Swarna Jayanti Shahari Rozgar Yojana (SJSRY) aimed at providing gainful employment to the urban unemployed and under-employed poor, by financing the self employment ventures by the urban poor living below the poverty line, skills training and also through providing wage employment by utilizing their labour for construction of socially and economically useful public assets by Ministry of Housing & Urban Poverty Alleviation