Government Schemes

CURRENT AFFAIRS February 2020

YUVIKA programme

Issue
The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) has launched the "Young
Scientist Programme 2020" for school children, named YUva VIgyani
KAryakram (YUVIKA).

Background
The YUVIKA programme was started in 2019 to increase the interest of
students in space activities. It was launched by ISRO in tune with the
Central government’s vision of “Jai Vigyan, Jai Anusandhan”.

Through the programme, the students can meet scientists at the different
ISRO centres, visit their labs and also participate in lectures and practical
classes.
Three students from each State and Union Territory will be selected and
five additional seats will be reserved for Overseas Citizen of India (OCI)
students.
The YUVIKA programme will be held for two weeks at any one of the ISRO/
DOS centres located at Ahmedabad, Bangalore, Shillong and
Thiruvananthapuram.
It is expected that programmes like YUVIKA might produce good number of
scientist in coming years and would lead to national intergartion and
nation building.

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Government Schemes February 2020
CURRENT AFFAIRS
The criteria for selection includes:
Performance in the Class 8 examination
Prizes in school events like elocution, debate, essay writing
Winning in District/State/National/International level sports activities
Being Scouts and Guides/NCC/NSS member
Studying in a rural school

Notes

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Government Schemes
CURRENT AFFAIRS February 2020

Vivad se Vishwas scheme

Issue
The government has introduced The Direct Tax Vivad se Vishwas Bill, 2020,
which led to an uproar in Parliament.

Background
At present there are as many as 4,83,000 direct tax cases pending in
various appellate forums. The idea behind the scheme is to reduce
litigation in the direct tax arena.

Details
The Bill is aimed at resolving direct tax related disputes in a speedy
manner. In the last budget, Sabka Vishwas Scheme was brought in to
reduce litigation in indirect taxes. It had resulted in settling over 1,89,000
cases.
Vivad se Vishwas Scheme, which is to do for direct tax related disputes
exactly what Sabka Vishwas did for indirect tax related disputes.
Under the proposed Vivad Se Vishwas scheme, a taxpayer would be
required to pay only the amount of the disputed taxes and will get complete
waiver of interest and penalty provided he pays by 31st March, 2020.
Those who avail this scheme after 31st March, 2020 will have to pay some
additional amount. However, the scheme will remain open only till June 30,
2020. The scheme also applies to all case appeals that are pending at any
level.

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Significance of scheme
Over Rs 9 lakh crore worth of direct tax disputes are pending in the courts.
The government hopes to recover a big chunk of this in a swift and simple
way, while offering the taxpayers the relief of not having to fight the case
endlessly.

How did ‘Sabka Vishwas scheme’ perform?

The government expected to have raised Rs 39,500 crore from the Sabka
Vishwas scheme, which was only about indirect tax disputes.
The amnesty window for Sabka Vishwas closed on January 15 and close to
1.90 lakh crore applications, in relation to taxes worth Rs 90,000 crore
were received.
One of the standout successes of this scheme was Mondelez India Foods
Pvt Ltd (which was earlier known as Cadbury India) settled one of its most
controversial tax disputes with the government under this scheme.
The firm was accused of evading taxes to the tune of Rs 580 crore
(excluding taxes and penalties). In the end, Mondelez paid Rs 439 crore on
January 20 under the amnesty scheme.

Notes

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Government Schemes
CURRENT AFFAIRS February 2020

Kerala’s ban on CFL and filament bulbs

Issue
Kerala government has made a bold announcement that the state will
impose a ban on the sale of compact fluorescent lamps (CFL) and
incandescent (filament) bulbs starting November this year as part of
sustainable energy policy.

Background
The project is also part of the long-term sustainable energy policy of the
government to reduce the dependence on conventional energy sources
and instead maximise potential on renewable sources like solar and hydel
power.

Details
The announcement is in line with the government project of ‘Filament-free
Kerala’ envisaged in 2018 as part of the state’s Urja Kerala mission.
Streetlights and bulbs in government offices across the state will be
converted to light-emitting diode (LED) under the mission.
LED bulbs are energy-efficient than filament or CFL bulbs and will,
therefore, generate less waste. Also, filament bulbs contain the mercury
element which, when broken, is polluting in nature.
The government has said that nearly 2.5 crore LED bulbs have been
produced on a mass scale in the state for public consumption.
Consumers in the state can place orders for LED bulbs on the KSEB
website in exchange for existing filament bulbs.

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Government Schemes February 2020
CURRENT AFFAIRS
The project to install solar panels on rooftops of households and
residential complexes is also being promoted for sustainable living.

UJALA scheme
The main objective is to promote efficient lighting, enhance awareness on
using efficient equipment which reduce electricity bills and help preserve
environment.
Every grid-connected consumer having a metered connection from their
respective Electricity Distribution Company can get the LED bulbs at about
40% of the market price under the UJALA Scheme.
The Electricity Distribution Company and Energy Efficiency Services
Limited (EESL) a public sector body of Government of India under Ministry
of Renewable energy is implementing the programme.

Notes

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Government Schemes
CURRENT AFFAIRS February 2020

Government plans for research on indigenous cows

Issue
The government has unveiled a programme to research on ‘indigenous’
cows, which will be funded by multiple scientific ministries.

Background
A 2019 article in the Journal of Animal Research said India had 190.9
million cattle and 43 registered native cattle breeds. The number of
indigenous breeds have decreased considerably.

Details
The initiative, SUTRA PIC, is led by the Department of Science and
Technology (DST). It has the Department of Biotechnology, the Council of
Scientific and Industrial Research, the Ministry for AYUSH (Ayurveda,
Unani, Siddha, Homoeopathy) among others and the Indian Council of
Medical Research as partners.
SUTRA PIC or Scientific Utilisation Through Research Augmentation-Prime
Products from Indigenous Cows, has five themes: Uniqueness of
Indigenous Cows, Prime-products from Indigenous Cows for Medicine and
Health, Prime-products from Indigenous Cows for Agricultural
Applications, Prime-products from Indigenous Cows for Food and Nutrition,
Prime-products from indigenous cows-based utility items.
Researchers from academic organisations as well as capable voluntary
organisations (NGOs) active in India with proven record of accomplishment
in executing S&T-based R&D projects, have been invited to apply for
funding.

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The proposals under this theme should aim to perform scientific research
on complete characterisation of milk and milk products derived from
Indian indigenous cows, scientific research on nutritional and therapeutic
properties of curd and ghee prepared from indigenous breeds of cows by
traditional methods, development of standards for traditionally processed
dairy products of Indian-origin cow.
The exotic / crossbred population has been increased by 20.18% during
the period of last census while population of indigenous cattle has been
decreased by 8.94% during the same duration.
The reasons for depletion of native breeds includes cross-breeding with
exotic breeds, economically less viable, losing utility, reduction in herd
size and the large-scale mechanisation of agricultural operation.

Notes

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Government Schemes
CURRENT AFFAIRS February 2020

Hunar Haat

Issue
Prime Minister Narendra Modi attended an exhibition of ‘Hunar Haat’
under the USTTAD scheme in New Delhi.

Background
‘Hunar Haat’ is an effort to provide international recognition to country's
traditional legacy of arts and crafts.

Details
Hunar Haat” (Skill Haat) is aimed at promoting and supporting artisans
from Minority communities and providing them domestic as well as
international market for display and sell their products.
The exhibition is organized by National Minorities Development & Finance
Corporation (NMDFC) under scheme “USTTAD” (Upgrading the Skills &
Training in Traditional Arts/Crafts for Development) of Ministry of Minority
Affairs.
One of the special feature of this unique “Hunar Haat” is that besides
providing free of cost stall to artisans/craftsmen.
The shortlisted artisans include several State/National Awardees from 5
Minority communities representing as many as 26 states and Union
Territories.
These are Uttar Pradesh, Gujarat, Delhi, Jammu and Kashmir, Rajasthan,
West Bengal and Bihar. Besides these states, artisans from Leh-Laddakh to
Manipur, Nagaland to Kerala are also participating in “Hunar Haat”.

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Government Schemes February 2020
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USTTAD scheme
The scheme “Upgrading the Skills and Training in Traditional Arts/Crafts
for Development (USTTAD) was launched in May, 2015 .
The USTTAD scheme aims at preserving & promoting the rich heritage of
the traditional arts & crafts of the Minority communities.
These crafts have gradually lost their employability in the light of
globalisation & competitive market.

Notes

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Government schemes
CURRENT AFFAIRS February 2020

Changes in crop insurance

Issue
The Centre decided to restrict its premium subsidy in its flagship crop
insurance schemes to 30% for unirrigated areas and 25% for irrigated
areas (from the existing unlimited).

Background
While the average premium rate under PMFBY and RWBCIS at the national
level was 12.32% for 2018-19, for some crops in certain districts, the rate
of premium has been higher than 30% in recent years.

Details
It also decided to make enrolment of farmers in the Pradhan Mantri Fasal
Bima Yojana (PMFBY) and Restructured Weather Based Crop Insurance
Scheme (RWBCIS) voluntary from the 2020 Kharif season.
At present, under PMFBY and RWBCIS, farmers pay a premium of 2% of the
sum insured for all foodgrains and oilseeds crops of Kharif, 1.5% for all
foodgrains and oilseeds crops of Rabi, and 5% for all horticultural crops.
The difference between actuarial premium rate and the rate of insurance
premium payable by farmers, which is called the Rate of Normal Premium
Subsidy, is shared equally between the Centre and the states.

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Government schemes February 2020
CURRENT AFFAIRS
Implications
One interpretation of this decision is that the burden of premium subsidy
will go up for the states. For example, in the old regime, if a farmer’s Kharif
crop was insured for Rs 1,00,000 and the rate of actuarial premium was
40%, then the premium paid by the farmer was 2% (Rs 2,000), and the
remaining premium was shared by the Centre and the state equally (19% or
Rs 19,000).
In the new regime, for the same sum insured (Rs 1,00,000) and the same
rate of premium (40%), the Centre will give subsidy for premium rates up to
30%. This means that from the Kharif 2020 season , the Centre will have to
pay premium at the rate of 14% (out of 30%, the farmer’s share is 2%, and
the Centre’s and state’s 14% each) instead of the 19% it paid (out of 40%) in
the last Kharif season.
The state has to bear the entire burden of the premium subsidy in cases
where the rate of premium goes beyond the threshold of 30%.
By capping the subsidy for premium rates up to 30%, the Centre wants to
disincentivise certain crops in such areas where growing these crops
involve high risks in terms of crop insurance premiums.
That move will lead to a rise in the rates of premium, as the area covered
under insurance and the number of enrolled farmers are expected to come
down significantly.
As of now the schemes are compulsory for all loanee farmers and optional
for other farmers. Non-loanee farmers under the crop insurance schemes
are much fewer than loanee farmers. If the latter opt out of the schemes,
the number of insured farmers will drastically come down.

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Government Schemes
CURRENT AFFAIRS February 2020

Happiness classes

Issue
On her upcoming visit to India next week along with US President Donald
Trump, First Lady Melania Trump will visit a Delhi government school,
where she will attend a happiness curriculum class.

Background
The curriculum is one of the flagship schemes of the Delhi government in
the education sector launched in July 2018 in all government schools.

Details
The curriculum calls for schools in India to promote development in
cognition, language, literacy, numeracy and the arts along with addressing
the well-being and happiness of students.
It further says that future citizens need to be mindful, aware, awakened,
empathetic, firmly rooted in their identity based on the premise that
education has a larger purpose, which cannot be in isolation from the dire
needs of today’s society.
The objectives of this curriculum include developing self-awareness and
mindfulness, inculcating skills of critical thinking and inquiry, enabling
learners to communicate effectively and helping learners to apply life skills
to deal with stressful and conflicting situations around them.
The curriculum is designed for students of classes nursery through the
eighth standard. Group 1 consists of students in nursery and KG, who have
bi-weekly classes (45 minutes each for one session, which is supervised by
a teacher) involving mindfulness activities and exercise.

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Government Schemes
CURRENT AFFAIRS 23 Feb

Children between classes 1-2 attend classes on weekdays, which involves

mindfulness activities and exercises along with taking up reflective
questions.
The second group comprises students from classes 3-5 and the third
group is comprised of students from classes 6-8 who apart from the
aforementioned activities, take part in self-expression and reflect on their
behavioural changes.
The learning outcomes of this curriculum are spread across four
categories:
becoming mindful and attentive (developing increased levels of self-
awareness, developing active listening, remaining in the present)
developing critical thinking and reflection (developing strong abilities to
reflect on one’s own thoughts and behaviours, thinking beyond stereotypes
and assumptions)
developing social-emotional skills (demonstrating empathy, coping with
anxiety and stress, developing better communication skills)
developing a confident and pleasant personality (developing a balanced
outlook on daily life reflecting self-confidence, becoming responsible and
reflecting awareness towards cleanliness, health and hygiene).
For the evaluation, no examinations are conducted, neither will marks be
awarded. The assessment under this curriculum is qualitative, focusing on
the process rather than the outcome and noting that each student’s
journey is unique and different.

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Government Schemes
CURRENT AFFAIRS February 2020

Maternity benefits reach wrong person

Issue
One in three Aadhaar-based payments for the Centre’s maternity benefit
scheme, or Pradhan Mantri Matru Vandana Yojana (PMMVY), was credited
to a wrong bank account, according to a progress report on Poshan
Abhiyaan (Nutrition Mission) released by the NITI Aayog.

Background
The report says a telephone survey of 5,525 beneficiaries, conducted by
the Ministry of Women and Child Development, revealed that only 60% were
aware of the receipt of the benefits and the bank accounts to which the
money was transferred.

Details
Under the PMMVY, pregnant women and lactating mothers receive ₹5,000
for their first child in three instalments. Each tranche is released upon the
beneficiaries meeting some conditions.
The money is meant to compensate women for loss of wages, and is aimed
at ensuring a healthy nutritional development of the newborn.
The NITI Aayog has called for simplification in documentation and
operational rules to avoid delays. It has proposed to rationalise the
mandatory waiting period of 180 days before the second instalment is
released as well as the compulsory birth certificate for the release of the
third instalment.

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Government Schemes February 2020
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It calls for the training of auxiliary midwives who fill up the mother-child
protection card, which is among the documents needed to get the benefit,
and data entry operators so that application details are entered online and
payments and complaints are processed on time.
This is the second report released by the government on the
implementation of Poshan Abhiyaan. It scores the States and Union
Territories to measure their readiness to execute the programme.
Among the 19 large States, Andhra Pradesh, Chhattisgarh and Madhya
Pradesh scored the top three ranks, followed by Uttarakhand, Himachal
Pradesh, Gujarat, Tamil Nadu and Maharashtra. All these States had an
implementation score of over 70%. Karnataka, Assam and Kerala were at
the bottom, with a score below 55%.
Among the eight small States, Mizoram and Sikkim scored above 75%.
Arunachal Pradesh, Tripura, Manipur and Goa were at the bottom, with
scores below 60%.
Four of the seven Union Territories had a score of over 70%. Dadra and
Nagar Haveli, Chandigarh, and Daman and Diu scored above 75% and were
ranked among the top three Union Territories. Delhi, and Lakshadweep
were at the bottom, with scores below 50%.
The report calls for improving funds utilisation, which was at 20% in large
States, 42% in small States and 5% in Haryana, Tamil Nadu, Punjab, Kerala,
Delhi and Goa.

PM Matru Vandana Yojana (PMMVY)

Pradhan Mantri Matru Vandana Yojana (PMMVY) is a flagship scheme of
the Government under Ministry of Women and Child Development for
pregnant women and lactating mothers.
PMMVY is a direct benefit transfer (DBT) scheme under which cash
benefits are provided to pregnant women in their bank account directly to
meet enhanced nutritional needs and partially compensate for wage loss.
Under the Scheme, Pregnant Women and Lactating Mothers (PW&LM)
receive a cash benefit of Rs. 5,000 in three installments on fulfilling the
respective conditionality, viz. early registration of pregnancy, ante-natal
check-up and registration of the birth of the child and completion of first
cycle of vaccination for the first living child of the family.

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The eligible beneficiaries also receive cash incentive under Janani
Suraksha Yojana (JSY).
Implementation of the scheme is closely monitored by the central and state
governments through PMMVY-CAS, a web based software application.

Eligibility
All Pregnant Women and Lactating Mothers, excluding PW&LM who are in
regular employment with the Central Government or the State
Governments or PSUs or those who are in receipt of similar benefits under
any law for the time being in force.
The date and stage of pregnancy for a beneficiary would be counted with
respect to her LMP date as mentioned in the MCP card.
Case of Miscarriage/Still Birth :
A beneficiary is eligible to receive benefits under the scheme only once.
In case of miscarriage/still birth, the beneficiary would be eligible to claim
the remaining instalment(s) in event of any future pregnancy.
Thus, after receiving the 1st instalment, if the beneficiary has a
miscarriage, she would only be eligible for receiving 2nd and 3rd
instalment in event of future pregnancy subject to fulfilment of eligibility
criterion and conditionalities of the scheme.
Similarly, if the beneficiary has a miscarriage or still birth after receiving 1
st and 2nd instalments, she would only be eligible for receiving 3rd
instalment in event of future pregnancy subject to fulfilment of eligibility
criterion and conditionalities of the scheme.
Case of Infant Mortality: A beneficiary is eligible to receive benefits under
the scheme only once. That is, in case of infant mortality, she will not be
eligible for claiming benefits under the scheme, if she has already received
all the instalments of the maternity benefit under PMMVY earlier.
Pregnant and Lactating AWWs/ AWHs/ ASHA may also avail the benefits
under the PMMVY subject to fulfilment of scheme conditionalities.

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