Last 12 Months Current Affairs, Download Yearly GK PDF (English)

177 Pages·2017·2.39 MB·English

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Current Affairs Year Book 2018 PDF

Dear readers,

This PDF is a complete docket of important Current Affairs news and events that occurred in the year 2018. This file is important
and relevant for all competitive exams like, SSC, Railways, IB, and other Govt. Exams.

Schemes
Launched by Union/State Govt.

December

1. SC introduced Witness Protection Scheme, 2018 in pilgrimage every year, the expenses for which
India will be borne by the government.
• The Supreme Court (SC) introduced a witness 3. Jammu & Kashmir Govt. launches AB-PMJAY Scheme
protection regime in the country noting that one • Jammu and Kashmir Governor Satya Pal Malik
of the main reasons for witnesses turning hostile launched the ambitious “Ayushman Bharat-
is that they are not given security by the State. Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB-PMJAY)”
• It also announced that the Witness Protection scheme which would benefit over 31 lakh
Scheme, 2018 will come into effect immediately residents in the state.
across all States. • The governor distributed golden cards among 10
• This scheme is aimed at enabling a witness to eligible beneficiaries for availing the annual
depose fearlessly and truthfully, would be the health cover facility, marking the launch of the
law of the land till Parliament enacted suitable scheme in the state.
legislation. 4. Pradhan Mantri Matru Vandana Yojana
• The Witness Protection Scheme 2018 was • Pradhan Mantri Matru Vandana Yojana is a
framed by the Central government based on the conditional cash transfer scheme for pregnant
inputs received from 18 States/Union and lactating women of 19 years of age or above.
Territories, 5 States Legal Services Authorities • The scheme is launched by the Ministry of
and open sources including civil society, three Women and Child Development Government of
High Courts and police personnel, as well. India.
2. Delhi Govt. launches Free Pilgrimage Scheme for • The programme, which became applicable from
Senior Citizens January 1, 2017 provides a cash incentive of Rs
• Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal launched 5,000 in three instalments to pregnant women
the 'Mukhyamantri Tirth Yatra Yojana' which and lactating mothers for the first child through
offers free travel packages for senior citizens Direct Benefits Transfer (DBT).
from Delhi to five religious circuits. 5. PRASAD Scheme of Ministry of Tourism
• Under this free pilgrimage scheme, a Delhi • The Centre has included Gangotri and Yamunotri
resident above 60 years will be eligible to take in Uttrarakhand, Amarkantak in Madhya Pradesh
free pilgrimage along with his or her spouse. and Parasnath in Jharkhand under a central
• 1100 senior citizens from each Assembly scheme to develop pilgrimage and heritage
Constituency would now undertake free destinations in the country.

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• With the new additions, the number of sites • Under the scheme ‘Prasad’, the Ministry of
under the PRASAD scheme has now become 41 Tourism provides Central Financial Assistance
in 25 states. (CFA) to State Governments/Union Territory
• The scheme was launched by the Ministry of Administrations for development and
Tourism in 2014-15. beautification of the identified pilgrimage
• PRASAD stands for -Pilgrimage Rejuvenation destinations.
and Spiritual, Heritage Augmentation Drive.

November

1. Ministry of HRD launches faculty development • The objective is to prepare second tier academic
programmes - LEAP & ARPIT heads who are potentially likely to assume
• A unique initiative of online professional leadership roles in the future.
development of 15 lakh higher education faculty About ARPIT programme
using the MOOCs platform SWAYAM, Annual • ARPIT is a 40-hour module with 20 hours of
Refresher Programme in Teaching (ARPIT) video content offered in a highly flexible format
was launched on 13th Nov. and can be done at one’s own pace and time.
• The ministry of human resource development • There are built-in assessment exercises and
also launched Leadership for Academicians activities as part of the academic progression in
Programme (LEAP) which will be implemented the course.
through 15 top institutions like IITs, TISS, DU, • At the end of the course, they will be a terminal
JNU and IISERs and also include a week training assessment which can be either online or a
in a foreign campus of the likes of Harvard written examination.
University, Oxford University, Purdue University • All faculties who have successfully completed the
and NTU Singapore, among others. online refresher course will be certified.
2. Eight States achieve 100% household electrification
About LEAP programme under Saubhagya scheme
• LEAP is a three-week flagship leadership • 8 States which achieved 100% household
development training programme (two-weeks electrification under Pradhan Mantri Sahaj Bijli
domestic and one-week foreign training for Har Ghar Yojana - Saubhagya scheme are Madhya
second level academic functionaries in public Pradesh, Tripura, Bihar, Jammu and Kashmir,
funded higher education institutions. Mizoram, Sikkim, Telangana and West Bengal.
• LEAP programme will be offered by 15 NIRF top • With this, total 15 States in India have 100 per
ranked Indian Institutions namely, IIT Roorkee, cent household electrification.
IIT Kanpur, NIT Trichy, Indian Institute of • Prime Minister Narendra Modi launched Rs
Science Education and Research (IISER) Kolkata, 16320-Crore ‘Pradhan Mantri Sahaj Bijli Har
Jawaharlal Nehru University, University of Delhi, Ghar Yojana'- Saubhagya on September 25, 2017
IIT Bombay and TISS Mumbai, among others. to mark the birth anniversary of Pandit
Deendayal Upadhyaya.
• The scheme aims to achieve the goal of universal
Objective of LEAP household electrification in the country by March
31, 2019.

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3. Gujarat tops in implementing Ayushman Bharat (CSIF)’ created by the National Cooperative
• Gujarat has emerged as the top performer of the Development Corporation (NCDC).
Centre’s ambitious health financing scheme - 7. CCEA approves ACROSS scheme
Ayushman Bharat-Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya • Prime Minister Narendra Modi chaired Cabinet
Yojana (AB-PMJAY), which was launched on Committee of Economic Affairs (CCEA) has
September 23, promises health coverage of Rs 5 approved continuation of nine sub-schemes of
lakh per family to over 10 crore poor families. umbrella scheme “Atmosphere & Climate
• Over 3.4 lakh beneficiaries have been treated Research-Modelling Observing Systems &
under the scheme since its launch until Services (ACROSS)” during 2017-2020.
November 24, according to the National Health • The scheme aims at improving skill of weather
Agency. and climate forecast through sustained
• Tamil Nadu ranked second at 54,273 hospital observations, intensive Research &
and Chattisgarh third at 53,180. Development.
• The scheme refers to the atmospheric science
4. Health Ministry launches Integrated Disease programs of the Ministry of Earth Sciences
Surveillance Programme (IDSP) (MoES).
• Ms. Preeti Sudan, Union Health Secretary did 8. Government Launches Bhasha Sangam initiative -
soft-launch of the Integrated Disease • The government has launched a unique initiative
Surveillance Programme (IDSP) segment of the called Bhasha Sangam to introduce school
Integrated Health Information Platform (IHIP) in students to 22 Indian languages.
seven states. • The initiative, under Ek Bharat Shreshtha Bharat,
• The path-breaking initiative will provide near- was active for the period between 22nd
real-time data to policymakers for detecting November 2018 – 21st December 2018.
outbreaks, reducing the morbidity and mortality • Bhasha Sangam is a programme for schools and
and lessening disease burden in the populations educational institutions to provide multilingual
and better health systems. exposure to students in Indian languages.
5. Gau Samridhi Scheme launched by Kerala govt. 9. UP Govt launches Women empowerment resolution
• Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan launched campaign –
the ‘Cow Samridhi Plus Scheme’ to provide • Uttar Pradesh Government launched the Women
insurance coverage to dairy farmers in the state. Empowerment Resolution Campaign to develop
• The government subsidized scheme, as abilities in women for leadership and rights.
proposed, will give insurance coverage to dairy • The purpose of this campaign is to ensure the
farmers at low premium rates. empowerment of women through different
6. Yuva Sahakar Scheme launched by Agriculture programs in the state.
Ministry • It was launched by Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister
• Union Minister of Agriculture and Farmers’ Yogi Adityanath in Lucknow on November 20,
Welfare, Radha Mohan Singh launched the ‘Yuva 2018.
Sahakar-Cooperative Enterprise Support and 10. Union HRD Minister launches ‘Institution’s
Innovation Scheme. Innovation Council (IIC)’Program
• Aim - The schemes aim for attracting youth to • Union HRD Minister Prakash Javadekar launched
cooperative business ventures. the ‘Institution’s Innovation Council (IIC)
• The scheme will be linked to Rs 1000 crore program under Innovation cell in New Delhi.
‘Cooperative Start-up and Innovation Fund

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• HRD Ministry has established Innovation cell at • Out of the 25 percent procurement mandated
AICTE with purpose to systematically foster from MSMEs, 3 percent must now be reserved
culture of Innovation in all Higher Education for women entrepreneurs.
Institutions (HEIs) across the country.
11. PM launches Support and Outreach Programme for 12. Saura Jalnidhi scheme launched by the Odisha Govt.
MSME Sector • This scheme has been launched by the Odisha
• Prime Minister Narendra Modi launched Micro, Government only for Former for their filed
Small and Medium Enterprises (MSME) Support irrigation.
and Outreach Programme. Key points
• As part of this programme, PM unveiled 12 key • Under this scheme, farmers will be given 90%
initiatives which will help the growth, expansion subsidy and 5,000 solar pumps.
and facilitation of MSMEs across the country. • This scheme is only for those who have farmer
• There are five key aspects for facilitating the identical and minimum land should be 0.5 acres.
MSME sector which include - access to credit, 13. Swadesh Darshan Scheme: Two North East Circuit
access to market, technology upgradation, ease Projects inaugurated in Arunachal Pradesh
of doing business, and sense of security for • Union Ministry of Tourism has inaugurated two
employees. important projects as part of Development of
Aim - It aims to boost MSME sector it is one of important North East Circuit under Swadesh Darshan
sector for major generations of employment Scheme in Arunachal Pradesh.
opportunities. Swadesh Darshan scheme
• It was launched by Union Tourism Ministry in
Key points 2015 with objective to develop theme-based
• It will run for 100 days covering 100 Districts tourist circuits in the country.
throughout the country. • These tourist circuits developed will be
• Under Access to Credit aspect of this porgramme, developed under on principles of high tourist
Government will launch 59 minute loan portal value, competitiveness and sustainability in
to enable easy access to credit for MSMEs. integrated manner.
• Loans upto Rs. 1 crore will be granted in- 14. Govt hikes outlay for first phase of FAME India
principle approval through this portal, in just 59 scheme to Rs 895 crore
minutes. • The government has increased the outlay by Rs
• Government will give 2% interest subvention 100 crore to Rs 895 crore for the first phase of
for all GST registered MSMEs, on fresh or the FAME India scheme to promote mass
incremental loans. adoption of electric vehicles, having extended the
• For exporters who receive loans in pre-shipment scheme four times, according to an official
and post-shipment period will get increase in notification.
interest rebate ranging from 3% to 5%. • The phase-I of the Faster Adoption and
• All MSMEs or companies with turnover more Manufacturing of (Hybrid) and Electric Vehicles
than Rs. 500 crore will now be compulsorily (FAME India) scheme was supposed to be
brought on Trade Receivables e-Discounting implemented over a two-year period
System (TReDS). commencing from April 1, 2015.
• Public sector companies have now been asked to
compulsorily procure 25 percent, instead of 20
percent of their total purchases, from MSMEs.

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October

• The partner institution shall be in the top-500 of
1. SPARC’ scheme - The Union Minister of Human Q5 World University Rankings or in the top-200
Resource Development Prakash Javadekar launched the of Q5 World University Rankings by subject.
‘SPARC’ scheme. 2. IMPRESS’ scheme launched
• The objective of the scheme is to boost India • With an aim to promote policy research in social
specific research in social and pure sciences. science areas Union HRD Minister Prakash
• Here ‘SPARC’ stands for - 'Scheme for promotion Javadekar launched ‘IMPRESS’ scheme in the
of Academic and Research Collaboration'. country.
"SPARC will focus on joint research projects in focus • ‘IMPRESS’ stands for - Impactful Policy Research
areas, including technology, science and social sciences, in Social Sciences.
which are of relevance to India. Key points:
Aim of the SPARC scheme - • The scheme will provide an opportunity for
• SPARC scheme aims at improving the research social science researchers in any institution in
ecosystem of India’s higher educational institutions by the country which includes all universities
facilitating academic and research collaborations (central and state).
between Indian Institutions and the best institutions in • Budget Outlay - The scheme will be
the world. implemented at a total cost of Rs. 414 crores till
Key points of the Scheme: March 2021.
• The SPARC scheme envisages supporting around • Implementing Agency – The scheme will be
600 proposals for a total outlay of Rs 418 Crores implemented by the Indian Council of Social
over two years. Science and Research (ICSSR).
Budget Outlay - Human Resource Development (HRD) • The IMPRESS scheme will open up new avenues
Ministry announced a budget of Rs 418 crore from 2018- in Research aiming at visible impact on
20 on collaborative research between Indian and foreign Technology, Economy, Society, Culture - B.B.
institutes. Kumar (ICSSR Chairman)
Collaboration with foreign countries: • Under IMPRESS, 1,500 research projects will
• SPARK scheme will facilitate academic and be awarded for two years to support social
research collaborations between Indian science research in the higher educational
Institutions the best institutions in the world institutions.
from 28 selected nations. Objective of IMPRESS Scheme - The objective of the scheme
National Coordinating Institute is as follows
• Indian Institute of Technology Kharagpur is the • To identify and fund research proposals in social
National Coordinating Institute to implement the sciences with maximum impact on the
SPARC programme. governance and society.
Eligibility • To ensure selection of projects through a
• All Indian Institutions ranked in the overall top- transparent, competitive process on online
100 or category-wise top-100 in the India mode.
Rankings (NIRF) are eligible to apply. • To provide opportunity for social science
researchers in any institution in the country,
• Only such private institutions which are falling in
including all Universities (Central and State),
the above category, and also recognised under
Section 12(8) of UGC Act are eligible.

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private institutions with 12(B) status conferred • Under this scheme, sovereign gold bonds will be
by UGC. issued every month from October 2018 to
The identified domains under IMPRESS are as: February 2019.
• This bond will be sold through Stock Holding
• State and Democracy
Corporation of India Limited, Post Office, Stock
• Urban Transformation
Exchange (NSE and BSE).
• Media, Culture and Society Sovereign Gold Bond (SGB) Scheme
• Employment Skills and Rural Transformation • It is aimed at providing alternative to buying physical
• Governance, Innovation and Public Policy gold.
• Under it, bonds are denominated in units of one gram
• Growth, Macro Trade and Economic Policy
of gold and multiples thereof.
• Agriculture and Rural Development
• These gold denominated bonds are restricted for sale
• Health and Environment to resident Indian entities, including individuals,
• Science and Education Hindu undivided families (HUF), trusts, universities
and charitable institutions.
• Social Media and Technology
• The minimum subscription for individual and HUF is
• Politics, Law and Economics
1 gram and maximum is 4 kg.
3. Govt. launches Youth Road Safety Learners Licence
• For trusts and similar entities, maximum
Programme
subscription is 20 kg per fiscal.
• Union Ministry of Road Transport & Highways
• RBI has notified rate of interest of 2.50% per
has launched Youth Road Safety Learners
annum on SGB bonds is payable on half yearly basis.
Licence programme in New Delhi.
6. Digi Yatra: Govt. releases policy on biometric based
• It is Public–private partnership (PPP) initiative
digital processing of passengers at airports
in collaboration with Diageo India and Institute
• Union Ministry of Civil Aviation has released
of Road Traffic Education (IRTE).
policy on biometric based digital processing of
• This programme will help Government to
passengers at airports called Digi Yatra.
achieve its target of reducing road accidents by
• The initiative seeks to promote paperless and
50% by 2020.
hassle-free air travel.
4. Delhi Government launches Chief Minister’s Urban
• It will be operational by end of February, 2019 at
Leaders Fellowship Programme: Delhi government has
Bengaluru and Hyderabad airports.
launched Chief Minister’s Urban Leaders Fellowship
• In later phase, Airports Authority of India (AAI)
Programme that seeks to attract young leaders across
will roll out this initiative at Kolkata, Varanasi,
the country to work with it on addressing some of the
Pune and Vijayawada airports by April 2019.
most pressing urban challenges. It was announced by
Key points:
Delhi Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia.
• The fellows will be paid remuneration of Rs 1.25 • Under Digi Yatra, there will be one-time verification
at departure airport while travelling for first time
lakh per month and Rs 75,000 per month to
using ID.
Associate Fellows.
5. Government opens new series of sovereign gold • After successful verification, facial recognition
bonds scheme for subscription - Union Government biometric will be captured and stored in Digi Yatra
has opened new series of sovereign gold bonds scheme ID.
for subscription. • With this initiative, ticket booking, airport entry and
boarding pass security check-in will be made digital.

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• For this system, passengers will be registered • The children of construction workers would get
through centralized system and will be given Digi financial assistance for their education in
Travel ID. Industrial Training Institutes (ITIs) and
7. Udyam Abhilasha: SIDBI launches national level polytechnics.
entrepreneurship awareness campaign • While an ITI student will be entitled to get
• Small Industries Development Bank of India financial assistance of Rs. 23,600, a diploma
(SIDBI) has launched Udyam Abhilasha a student to get Rs. 26,300 per annum.
national level entrepreneurship awareness • A total of 1,878 students will get benefit from the
campaign. programme.
• It was launched in 115 Aspirational Districts 9. Odisha govt. launch Food Security Scheme - Odisha
identified by NITI Aayog in 28 States. government launched the State’s own food security
Objectives of Udyam Abhilasha scheme to cover the poor people.
• To inspire rural youth in aspirational districts to • As per the provisions of the scheme, 25 lakh poor
be entrepreneurs by assisting them to set up people left out from the benefits of the National
their own enterprise. Food Security Act, will get rice of 5 kg per month
• To impart trainings through digital medium for one rupee.
across the country, 10. Wage Compensation Scheme for pregnant women:
• To create business opportunities for CSC-VLEs. Assam Government has become the first Indian state to
• To focus on women aspirants in aspirational offer a Wage Compensation Scheme for pregnant women
districts to encourage women entrepreneurship. working in the tea gardens of the state.
• To assist participants to become bankable and Key points
avail credit facility from banks to set up their • Under the scheme, an amount of Rs 12,000 will
own enterprise. be given to the pregnant women so that they can
8. Odisha govt. launched 'Nirman Kusuma' scheme – take care of themselves and the unborn baby.
Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik launched 'Nirman • The compensation of wages to pregnant women
Kusuma' programme for providing financial assistance to will be given in 4 instalments - Rs 2,000 in the
the children of the construction workers for their first trimester, Rs 4,000 in the second trimester,
technical education in the state. Rs 3,000 for institutional delivery and Rs 3,000
Key points: for registration of the child's birth.

September

1. Atal Bimit Vyakti Kalyan Yojna: The Employees’ State • The eligibility for availing Super Specialty
Insurance Corporation (ESIC) has approved a new treatment for dependents of Insured Person has
scheme- Atal Bimit Vyakti Kalyan Yojna for Insured now been relaxed to insurable employment of
Persons covered under the Employees’ State Insurance one year with 156 days of contributions.
Act. • The ESIC also approved the proposal for
Key points: increasing the funeral expenses from existing 10
• This scheme is a relief payable in cash directly to thousand rupees to 15 thousand rupees being
their Bank Account in case of unemployment and paid on the death of Insured Person.
while they search for new engagement.

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2. Swayangsiddha scheme - In an attempt to combat • It is touted as world’s largest healthcare scheme
human trafficking, the West Bengal government rolled that will serve beneficiary population that equals
out a scheme, Swayangsiddha, in different districts of the 27-28 European countries and almost equal to
State. As the per the NCRB data, West Bengal has highest population of Canada, Mexico and US put
recorded case of trafficking among the States. together.
Aim of the scheme – • The scheme will become operational from
• The scheme aims to empower young boys and September 25, 2018 i.e. on birth anniversary of
girls to make informed choices so that they are Deendayal Upadhyay.
less vulnerable to trafficking and child marriage. Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (PMJAY)
• Swayangsiddha means self-reliance and it will be • PMJAY is government-sponsored health insurance
executed by the West Bengal Police. scheme, that will provide free coverage of up to Rs 5
3. Petroleum Minister to launch ‘SATAT’ initiative - lakh per family per year in any government or
• Dharmendra Pradhan, Union Minister of empanelled private hospitals all over India.
Petroleum and Natural Gas & Skill Development • It will cover beneficiaries families identified on the
and Entrepreneurship launched SATAT initiative basis of Socio Economic Caste Survey (SECC) 2011 in
to promote Compressed Bio-Gas as an 444 districts of 30 states/Union Territories.
alternative, green transport fuel. 6. Tamil Nadu Government announces scheme for
• Titled SATAT, the initiative is aimed at providing protection of exotic Neela Kurinji plants
a Sustainable Alternative Towards Affordable • Tamil Nadu government has announced Scheme
Transportation (SATAT) as a developmental for protection of exotic Neela kurinji
effort that would benefit both vehicle-users as (Strobilanthus kunthianus) plants that flower
well as farmers and entrepreneurs. only once in 12 years.
4. Border Infrastructure and Management (BIM) • This scheme comes following complaints that
scheme - Union Government has approved Rs 8,606 these rare and ecologically unique flowers are
crore for 60 projects being implemented under umbrella being packaged and sold on the commercial
scheme of Border Infrastructure and Management (BIM). basis.
• The projects are being implemented in 111 Neelakurinji plant
border districts in 17 states having the • Neelakurinji is a tropical plant species. It is
international borders with Pakistan, China, native to Shola forests in Western Ghats.
Nepal, Bhutan, Myanmar and Bangladesh. • It is also seen in Shevroys Hills in Eastern Ghats,
• The scheme include construction of roads, Anamalai hills and Agali hills in Kerala and
schools, primary health centres, promotion of Sanduru hills in Karnataka.
rural tourism, border tourism, cleanliness 7. Delhi Government launches India’s first scheme for
mission, promotion of sports activities, supply of doorstep delivery of essential government services
drinking water, protection of heritage sites, • Delhi Government has launched scheme for
community centres, connectivity, drainage, to doorstep delivery of 40 essential government
enable sustainable living in border areas. services like caste and marriage certificates,
5. Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana: driving license and new water connections.
• Prime Minister Narendra Modi launched • It is fist home delivery scheme of various
ambitious Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana essential government services in the country.
(PMJAY), under Ayushman Bharat umbrella at • It will help to deal with corruption in delivery of
Ranchi, Jharkhand.
essential government services and promote
• The scheme aims to provide annual health transparent governance.
insurance cover of Rs 5 lakh to 10.74 crore
beneficiary families i.e. over 50 crore
beneficiaries across India.

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8. Pradhan Mantri Annadata Aay Sanrakshan Abhiyan facility has been doubled from Rs. 5,000 to Rs.
(PM-AASHA) - The Union Cabinet chaired by Prime 10,000 under the Yojana.
Minister Shri Narendra Modi has approved a new • Age limit increased - The age limit has been
Umbrella Scheme “Pradhan Mantri Annadata Aay revised to 18 to 65 years from the earlier 18 to
SanraksHan Abhiyan’ (PM-AASHA). The Scheme is aimed 60 years.
at ensuring remunerative prices to the farmers for their • Accidental insurance cover raised - The
produce as announced in the Union Budget for 2018. accidental insurance cover has been raised from
• Aim – The scheme aimed at ensuring Rs. 1 lakh to Rs. 2 lakh.
remunerative prices to the farmers for their 10. Govt. revised Pradhan Mantri Jan Dhan Yojana
produce. (PMJDY) – The government has revised the PMJDY
• Objective – To empower farmers and strengthen scheme, to further incentivize people’s participation in
the Agriculture sector. the scheme.
• Allocation - The Cabinet has sanctioned Rs Key points
15,053 crore to implement the PM-AASHA in • Overdraft facility doubled - The Finance
the next two financial years, of which Rs 6,250 Minister Arun Jaitley stated that the overdraft
crore will be spent this year. facility has been doubled from Rs. 5,000 to Rs.
Components of PM-AASHA: Under the PM-AASHA, states 10,000 under the Yojana.
would be allowed to choose from three schemes – • Age limit increased - The age limit for availing
• Price Support Scheme (PSS), overdraft facility under it has also been revised
• Price Deficiency Payment Scheme (PDPS) to 18 to 65 years from the earlier 18 to 60 years.
• Pilot of Private Procurement & Stockist Scheme • Accidental insurance cover raised - The
(PPPS). accidental insurance cover for new RuPay
9. Govt. extends Atal Pension Yojana indefinitely - Union Cardholders has been raised from Rs. one lakh to
Cabinet decided to indefinitely extended Atal Pension Rs. two lakh.
Scheme, which had lapsed in August 2018. To further 11. Swadesh Darshan Scheme: Tourism Ministry sanctions
incentivize people’s participation in the scheme. Rs. 80.37 crore for developing cruise tourism in Kerala.
Atal Pension Yojana (APY) – Note:
• It is a social security scheme launched by the • The scheme was launched by Union Tourism
government in 2015 to provide a defined Ministry with an objective to develop theme-
pension between Rs 1,000 to Rs 5,000. based tourist circuits in the country.
• It had replaced earlier government-backed • The first project under Swadesh Darshan Scheme
pension Swavalamban scheme. ‘North East Circuit: Imphal and Khongjom’ was
Key features of the schemes: inaugurated in Manipur.
• Overdraft facility doubled - The Finance • The project covers two sites i.e. Kangla Fort and
Minister Arun Jaitley stated that the overdraft Khongjom in Manipur.

August

1. O-SMART’ scheme – The scheme is launched by the • O-SMART scheme encompasses 16 sub-projects
Ministry of Earth Sciences related to ocean development activities and
Key points – science for implementation during 2017-18 and
• (O-SMART) stands for - Ocean Services, 2019-20.
Technology, Observations, Resources Modelling • The CCEA approved the scheme for
and Science. implementation during the period from 2017-18
to 2019-20 at an overall cost of Rs 1623 crore.

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