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welfare

“PM-eBus Sewa”

Cabinet approves “PM-eBus Sewa” for augmenting city bus operations; priority to cities having no organized bus service 10,000 e-Buses to be deployed on PPP model in 169 cities; Infrastructure to be upgraded in 181 cities under Green Urban Mobility Initiatives Total estimated cost of the scheme to be Rs.57,613 crore Expected direct employment generation over 45,000 PM-eBus Sewa Scheme Under the PM-eBus Sewa Scheme, 10,000 e-buses will be deployed across cities in the country. The scheme was introduced to give a push to the slow adoption of e-buses in public transport. Support for Operation: Under this scheme, city bus operations will be done on…

19 January, 2024 welfare

EdelGive Hurun India Philanthropy List 2023

Hurun India and EdelGive released the EdelGive Hurun India Philanthropy List 2023. Shiv Nadar, founder of HCL Technologies, has retained the top spot as the leading Indian philanthropist. The list includes philanthropists who donated more than Rs 5 crore in the financial year 2023.

06 November, 2023 welfare

Essential Services Maintenance Act

Essential Services Maintenance Act The Uttar Pradesh government has extended the Essential Services Maintenance Act in the State, banning strikes in all departments and corporations under it for a period of another six months. About ESMA, 1968: The Essential Services Maintenance Act (ESMA) is an act of Parliament of India. Objective: It was established to ensure the delivery of certain services, which if obstructed would affect the normal life of the people. These include services like public transport (bus services), health services (doctors and hospitals). ESMA gives police right to arrest without a warrant anybody violating the Act’s provisions. Implementation:…

26 November, 2020 welfare

Utilise MGNREGA to the fullest capacity

Utilise MGNREGA to the fullest capacity By, Brinda Karat is a member of the Communist Party of India (Marxist) Polit Bureau and a former Rajya Sabha MP Context # The role of the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA) as a lifeline for the working poor in rural India has been proved once again with the experience of the lockdown.   Delayed action # The Central government revised lockdown guidelines to allow MGNREGA work only from April 20, nearly a month after the nationwide lockdown was imposed, and released funds for it belatedly. # But once the money…

01 July, 2020 welfare

Universal Basic Income

Universal Basic Income It’s time for a universal basic income programme in India By, Anil K. Antony is the Convener of INC – Kerala Digital Media, and the National Coordinator of PIIndia.org, a COVID19 action group. Tweets @anilkantony Introduction The ongoing crisis is creating changes that could end up dividing society into pre- and post-COVID-19 days. These changes are also likely to exacerbate the novel challenges accompanying the fourth industrial revolution. Disruptive technologies Today, disruptive technologies like artificial intelligence are ushering in productivity gains that we have never seen before. They are also steadily reducing human capital requirements, making jobs…

01 June, 2020 welfare

Economic package during COVID-19

Economic package during COVID-19 Part of: GS Prelims and GS-III- Economics The Union Finance & Corporate Affairs Minister Smt. Nirmala Sitharaman announced Rs 1.70 Lakh Crore relief package under Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Yojana for the poor to help them fight the battle against Corona Virus. While addressing the press conference here, Smt. Sitharaman said “Today’s measures are intended at reaching out to the poorest of the poor, with food and money in hands, so that they do not face difficulties in buying essential supplies and meeting essential needs.”   Finance Minister announces Rs 1.70 Lakh Crore relief package under…

26 March, 2020 welfare

Oxfam India report: ‘Time to Care’

Oxfam India report: ‘Time to Care Syllabus subtopic: Indian Economy and issues relating to planning, mobilization of resources, growth, development and employment. Role of NGOs, SHGs, various groups and associations, donors, charities, institutional and other stakeholders Prelims and Mains focus: about the key highlights of the report regarding income disparity in India and recommendations News: Oxfam India’s report, “Time to care”, released in Davos, Switzerland, highlights the need for Asia’s third-largest economy to plug a growing rich-poor gap.   Background The findings come at a time when the government is preparing to present the Union budget for FY21 seeking to…

21 January, 2020 welfare

In a first, GST Council votes on tax proposal

In a first, GST Council votes on tax proposal as consensus collapses Syllabus subtopic: Statutory, regulatory and various quasi-judicial bodies. Government policies and interventions for development in various sectors and issues arising out of their design and implementation. Indian Economy and issues relating to planning, mobilization of resources, growth, development and employment.   Prelims and Mains focus: on the key decisions taken in the GST Council meeting and their significance; GST Council and its structure   News: Goods and Services Tax (GST) Council, the federal indirect tax body, broke from its tradition of consensus-based decision-making to vote on a proposal…

19 December, 2019 welfare

SEWA SERVICE TRAINS

SEWA SERVICE TRAINS CONTEXT: Indian Railways has launched 10 ‘Sewa Service’ trains,  to improve last-mile connectivity. These Sewa Service trains will connect small towns with their closest major cities and ease the hassle of travelling for daily passengers. These trains help divert short-distance traffic from roads to the railways.  The railways introduced Sewa Service trains to ensure congestion-free roads and faster ease of movement for the public. MAIN POINTS: These trains will run on the “Hub and Spoke,” Model, thereby facilitating passengers to use these trains to reach the “Hub” for availing onward journey to other major stations.  These measures…

17 October, 2019 welfare

ECONOMICS NOBEL FOR ABHIJIT AND TWO OTHERS

ECONOMICS NOBEL FOR ABHIJIT AND TWO OTHERS   Why was this award given ? For the experimental approach to alleviate Global poverty Who gives the award? Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences Name of the award : Sveriges Riksbank Prize in economic Sciences Awardees : a. Abhijit Banerjee b. Esther Duflo c. Michael Kremer Impact of this approach : a. To fight Global poverty b. Effective interventions for improving educational outcomes and child health. Approach : "Evidence-based approach"- based on the concept of clinical trials of the pharmaceutical industry. Technique used : Breaking down the big picture questions into smaller and…

15 October, 2019 welfare

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