More than 42 crore poor people received financial assistance of Rs 65,454 crore under the Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Package Posted On: 20 JUN 2020 2:17PM by PIB Delhi

As part of the Rs 1.70 lakh crore Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Package, the Government announced free food grains and cash payment to women and poor senior citizens and farmers. The swift implementation of the package is being continuously monitored by central and state governments. More than42crore poor people received financial assistance of Rs 65,454crore under the Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Package.

The progress achieved so far, under various components of PMGKP is as follows: Rs 17,891 crore front loaded towards payment of the first instalment of PM-KISAN to 8.94 crore beneficiaries.

Rs 10,325 crore credited to 20.65crore(100%) women Jan Dhan account holders as first installment.Rs. 10,315 crore credited to20.62crore (100%) women Jan Dhan account holders with second installment.Rs. 10,312 crore credited to20.62 crore (100%) women Jan Dhan account holders with third installment.

Total Rs 2814.5 crore disbursed to about 2.81 crore old age persons, widows and disabled persons in two installments.Benefits transferred to all 2.81 crore beneficiaries in two installments. 2.3 crore Building & Construction workers received financial support amounting to Rs 4312.82crore.

So far 113Lakh MT of food grains have been lifted by 36 States/UTs for April.37.01 LMT of foodgrains have been distributed,covering 74.03crorebeneficiaries by 36States/UTs for April 2020. 36.42 LMT of food grains have been distributed, covering 72.83 crore beneficiaries by 36 States/UTs for May 2020.

13.59 LMT of foodgrains have been distributed, covering 27.18 crore beneficiaries by 29 States/UTs for June 2020. Out of 5.8 LMT of Pulses allocated for three months, 5.68LMT of Pulses have been dispatched to various states/UTs.

Total 3.35LMT Pulses have been distributed so far to 16.3 crore household beneficiaries out of 19.4 crore such beneficiaries.28 States/UTs have distributed 100% Pulses for April, 20 States/UTs have completed 100% distribution for Pulses for May, 7 States/UTs have completed 100% distribution for June.

Under Atma Nirbhar Bharat, Government announced Free food grains supply and Chana to migrants for 2 months.As on 19th June ,2020, 6.3 LMT foodgrains has been lifted by 36 States/UTs and 34,074 MT of Chana have also been dispatched to States/UTs for the Scheme.

Total 8.52 crorePMUY cylinders have been booked and already delivered for April and May 2020 under this scheme so far.And 2.1 crore PMUY cylinders booked for June 2020 and 1.87 crorePMUY free cylinders delivered to beneficiaries for June 2020.

20.22Lakh members of EPFO has taken benefit of online withdrawal of non-refundable advance from EPFO account amounting to Rs. 5767crore. Increased rate has been notified w.e.f 01-04-2020.In the current financial year, 88.73crore person’s man-days of work generated. Further, Rs 36,379crore released to states to liquidate pending dues of both wage and material.

24% EPF contribution transferred to 65.74 Lakh employees account amounting to Rs. 996.46crore Under District Mineral Fund (DMF), States have been asked to spend 30% of the funds,which amounts to 3,787 Cr and that 183.65 cr has been spent so far.

Insurance Scheme for health workers in Government hospitals and Health care centers operationalized w.e.f. 30 March, 2020. New India Assurance Scheme is implementing the scheme. The Scheme has been extended up to September.

To make India a sporting superpowerwe have to ensure that sports becomes a viable career option for youngsters : Shri Kiren Rijiju Posted On: 19 JUN 2020 7:20PM by PIB Delhi

In a move to tap into the expertise of past sporting champions for grassroot-level training of athletes and also to ensure a sustained source of income for them in the sports ecosystem, the Sports Ministry has decided to establish 1000 Khelo India Centers (KIC) at the district level across the country. These centers will either be run by a past champion or have them as coaches. The decision, while strengthening grassroot level sports, will also ensure that past champions can contribute in to making India a sporting superpower while earning a livelihood from sports.

Speaking about this decision to provide a platform for past champions to be professionally involved in sport, Union Minister of Youth Affairs and Sports, Shri Kiren Rijiju said, “As we strive to make India a sporting superpower, one of the things we have to ensure is that sports becomes a viable career option for youngsters. Only when sports can offer a sustained means of livelihood to athletes, even after they stop playing competitive sports, will parents be motivated to allow their children to take up sports as a serious career option. And that is the only way to tap the best talent, who may otherwise decide to take up other career options. This decision is a step in that direction. We want to ensure that anyone who has played sport at the national level has a life of dignity and financial stability.”

A shortlisting mechanism has been put in place to identify past champions who are eligible to either establish their own academy or work as a coach in a KIC. The first category of athletes who will be considered are those who have represented India at recognised international competitions under a recognised NSF or association. The second category is of medal winners in Senior National Championship conducted by a recognised NSF or a medal winner at the Khelo India Games.

The third category of past champions are those who have won medals in the National All India University Games. The fourth category will include those who have represented the state in a senior National Championship conducted by recognised NSFs or participated in Khelo India Games. An exception has been made in the case of Jammu and Kashmir, Andaman and Nicobar islands and Ladakh, where coaches trained with NIS certification will also be eligible to apply.

To build the country-wide network of Khelo India Centres, existing SAI extension centres will be given the option of converting into a KIC and recruiting a past champion to avail the financial grant under the scheme. Any past champion can also establish a new KIC with infrastructure owned by themselves, the central and state government, local authorities, clubs or educational institution.

To be eligible for grant under the scheme, the past athlete will be required to personally impart full-time training to athletes at the centre. Organisations which have been promoting sports for at least 5 years will also be eligible to establish a KIC, provided they recruit past champions as coaches. Organisations in J&K, Ladakh, Daman and Diu, Andaman and Nicobar Islands, Lakshadeep and north east states are exempt from this 5-year rule.

Training will be imparted at the Khelo India Centres in 14 Identified Sports for Excellence in Olympics (ISEO) including archery, athletics, boxing, badminton, cycling, fencing, hockey, judo, rowing, shooting, swimming, table tennis, weightlifting, wrestling. Football and traditional sports have also been included.

The grant to each KIC will be extended for remuneration of the past champion athlete as coach, support staff, purchase of equipments, sports kits, consumables, participation in competition and events. The process of identifying new KICs will be carried out by the sports department of the respective state and union territory in liaison with District Collectors and the proposal will be forwarded to the Sports Authority of India’s regional centre for further evaluation. During the current Financial Year, 100 KICs are planned to be established.

Labour Bureau has been compiling Consumer Price Index Numbers for Agricultural Labourers and Rural Labourers every month on the basis of the price data collected from 600 sample villages spread over 20 States by visiting personally to the designated outlets. In view of the containment measures taken to limit the spread of COVID-19, the personal visit of the field staff was suspended w.e.f. 19th March 2020 and prices were collected through electronic means of communication. In the month of May 2020, the price data was received from 433 villages which were collected, to the extent possible, through personal visits and telephone calls.

The All-India Consumer Price Index Numbers for Agricultural Labourers and Rural Labourers (Base: 1986-87=100) for the month of May, 2020 increased by 5 points and 6 points to stand at 1019 (One thousand and nineteen) and 1025 (One thousand and twenty five) points respectively. The major contribution towards the rise in general index of Agricultural Labourers and Rural Labourers came from food, with (+) 4.44 points and (+) 4.70 points respectively, mainly due to rise in prices of rice, arhar dal, masur daal, ground nut oil, meat goat, poultry, vegetables and fruits etc.

The rise/fall in index varied from State to State. In case of Agricultural Labourers, it recorded an increase of 2 to 19points in 14 States and a decrease of 1 to 7 points in 5 States while it remained stationary for Rajasthan State. Tamil Nadu State with 1208 points topped the index table whereas Himachal Pradesh State with 788 points stood at the bottom.

In case of Rural Labourers, it recorded an increase of 1 to 18 points in 15 States and a decrease of 1 to 7 points in 5 States. Tamil Nadu State with 1194 points topped the index table whereas Himachal Pradesh State with 838 points stood at the bottom.

Amongst states, the maximum increase in the Consumer Price Index Numbers for Agricultural Labourers and Rural Labourers was experienced by Karnataka state (19 points and 18 points respectively) mainly due to rise in the prices of rice, jowar, ragi, meat goat, poultry, vegetables and fruits, bidi, and barber charges etc. On the contrary, the maximum decrease in the Consumer Price Index Numbers for Agricultural Labourers and Rural Labourers was experienced by Bihar state (- 7 points each ) mainly due to fall in the prices of maize, onion, fruits & vegetables etc.

A Memorandum of Understanding has been signed between Ministry of Housing & Urban Affairs and Small Industries Development Bank of India (SIDBI), here today, in order to engage SIDBI as the Implementation Agency for PM Street Vendor’s AtmaNirbhar Nidhi (PM SVANidhi) - a Special Micro-Credit Facility for Street Vendors.

The MoU was signed by Shri Sanjay Kumar, Joint Secretary on behalf of Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs (MoHUA) and Shri V. Satya Venkata Rao, Deputy Managing Director, SIDBI, in the presence of Shri Hardeep S. Puri, Hon’ble Minister of State (Independent Charge) MoHUA.

As per the MoU terms, SIDBI will implement the PM SVANidhi Scheme under the guidance of MoHUA. It will also manage the credit guarantee to the lending institutions through Credit Guarantee Fund Trust for Micro and Small Enterprises (CGTMSE).

It will develop and maintain a customized and integrated IT Platform providing end-to-end solutions, including documentation of all the processes and workflows for an end-to-end solution, through a Portal and a Mobile App, to ensure engagement and information flow between Urban Local Bodies (ULBs), Lending Institutions, Digital Payment Aggregators and other stakeholders.

It will leverage the network of lending Institutions like Scheduled Commercials Banks (SCBs), Non-Bank Finance Companies (NBFCs), Micro Finance Institutions (MFIs), Co-operative Banks, Small Finance Banks (SFBs), Regional Rural Banks (RRBs), etc. for the Scheme implementation.

With a view to ensure effective implementation, SIDBI shall also provide a Project Management Unit (PMU), comprising of domain experts in training/ capacity building, project and platform management, Information Education and Communication (IEC), banking, NBFC and MFI sectors etc., for the period of PM SVANidhi i.e. upto March 2022.

It is pertinent to mention that PM SVANidhi was launched by the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairshad, on June 01, 2020for providing affordable Working Capital loan to street vendors to resume their livelihoodsthat have been adversely affected due to Covid-19 lockdown.This scheme targets to benefit over 50 lakh Street Vendors.

Under the Scheme, the vendors can avail a working capital loan of up to Rs. 10,000, which is repayable in monthly instalments in the tenure of one year. On timely/ early repayment of the loan, an interest subsidy @ 7% per annum will be credited to the bank accounts of beneficiaries through Direct Benefit Transfer on quarterly basis. There will be no penalty on early repayment of loan.The scheme promotes digital transactions through cash back incentives up to an amount of Rs. 100 per month. Moreover, the vendors can achieve their ambition of going up on the economic ladder by availning the facility of escalation of the credit limit on timely/ early repayment of loan.

Context: The Punjab government, last week, constituted a three-member civil services board to decide on IAS transfers and postings in the state.

Opposition to this move: This notification providing for fixed tenure of IAS officers has left some leaders in the state upset.

It is because they feel appointment and transfer of IAS officers are a prerogative of the state. They say, If their term is fixed, it will not only create functional and administrative problems, but also overstep the authority and jurisdiction of the state government.

With the fixed tenure rule and Chief Secretary’s board having all power to examine a recommendation for a transfer, the leaders feel their influence has been reduced to a naught and all power handed to the CS.

What is the government’s argument in its favour? It says if the officials have a fixed tenure they will be able to provide better administration. They will also feel safe and try to stick to the rules instead of pleasing political bosses.

It says every official requires 3-6 months to get into the groove at his new place of posting. If he stays there for two years, it would mean better delivery and stable tenure to people.

What is a Civil Services Board? What are its functions? To insulate the bureaucracy from political interference and to put an end to frequent transfers of civil servants by political bosses, the Supreme Court had in 2013 directed the Centre and the states to set up a civil services board to consider transfers and postings of bureaucrats among others.

As per rules, all states should have a civil services board to decide on transfers and postings of the bureaucrats.

Functions: The board is mandated to decide on the transfer of a civil servant before completion of his or her fixed tenure. The rules mandate the civil services board to submit an annual report on January 1 to the central government about the date of the meetings held by them.

Composition: The civil services board is headed by chief secretary of a state. It has senior most additional chief secretary or chairman, Board of Revenue, Financial Commissioner or an officer of equivalent rank and status as member.

In addition, it will have Principal Secretary or Secretary, Department of Personnel in the state government as member secretary.

Context: The Indian government has tried to respond to the border dispute with China by training its guns on trade. The idea resonating in Indian streets is that Indians should boycott Chinese goods and thus “teach China a lesson”.

But, given China’s centrality and India’s insignificant share in global trade, banning trade will barely hurt China while adversely impacting Indian consumers and businesses.

Boycotting China is not as easy as data from key sectors show: Smartphones: Market size: Rs 2 lakh Cr. Share of Chinese products: 72%. Telecom Equipment: Market size: Rs 12,000 Cr; Share of Chinese products: 25%.

Auto Components: Market size: 43.1 lakh Cr.; Share of Chinese products: 26%. Internet Apps: Market size: 45.0 Crore smartphone users; Share of Chinese products: 66% of people use at least one Chinese app on their smartphones.

Solar Power: Market size: 37,916 MW; Share of Chinese products: 90% Steel: Share of Chinese products: 18-20%. Pharma/API: Market size: 1.5 Lakh Crore; Share of Chinese products: 60%.

When is “Boycott China” possible? When the economical gap between India and China is narrowed, the country, prompted by emotions of nationalism amid the standoff between the two countries, can boycott Chinese products and carve out a path for ‘Atma Nirbhar Bharat.’

Why is China cheaper? Provision of cheap labour is one of the factors that contribute to cheaper Chinese products. Raw materials are cheaper. They are a significant part of the total cost of the product. Since the Chinese firms invest in bulk purchases for bulk production, it saves the tremendous cost of production.

Efficient business ecosystem comprising of a network of suppliers, component manufacturers, distributors, government agencies, and customers. All have key-roles to play in ironing out the production process.

Business loans are easily accessible, especially for bigger industries which provides a greater financial cushion to businesses in the manufacturing segment.

The Chinese factories have been criticized for their lower compliance with health and safety regulations and environmental protection laws. China follows a Value Added Tax (VAT) system. A tax which is charged only on the “value-added” to a product, material or service at every stage of its further manufacture or distribution. Exported goods are subject to zero per cent VAT. In simpler terms, they enjoy a VAT exemption or rebate policy.

Why ‘Boycott Chinese Products’ Movement is difficult in India? Trade deficit: In 2018-19, India’s exports to China were mere $16.7 billion, while imports were $70.3 billion, leaving a trade deficit of $53.6 billion.

Private Indian companies with Chinese investment: Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) from China stood at a total of $1.8 billion between 2015 and 2019. Chinese tech investors have put an estimated $4 billion into Indian start-ups. Over a period of five years ending March 2020, 18 of India’s 30 unicorns are now Chinese-funded.

China’s dominance in the Indian digital market: Apps with Chinese investments constituted a substantial 50% of top app downloads (both iOS and G Play combined) which includes web browsers, data sharing and social media apps as per the Gateway house report.

A blanket ban on Chinese imports will hurt all small businesses at a time when they are already struggling to survive, apart from hitting India’s ability to produce finished goods.

What can be done? Estimates indicate that a third of the Chinese imports constitute low-tech goods that were either made earlier by Indians, or are still being made but in smaller quantities.

These can surely be discouraged, and re-replaced by local products and brands. In addition, such attempts will prove to be a fillip for the hundreds of small and medium firms, which have languished due to the lack of demand. If the MSME segment kicks off, the overall manufacturing sector will get a boost, which will benefit the ‘Make in India’ scheme.

As local sales grow, Indians will become competitive. They can emerge as exporters of these products, and battle globally with China.

Why in News? India will participate in the virtual meeting of the Russia-India-China grouping on June 23.

The Indian decision to go ahead with the ministerial level exchange has created an opening for de-escalation of tension along the Line of Actual Control with the Russian diplomatic sources indicating that they support “constructive dialogue” over the tension in eastern Ladakh.

What is RIC? Conceived by the then Russian foreign minister Yevgeny Primakov in 1998. The group was founded on the basis of “ending its subservient foreign policy guided by the U.S.,” and “renewing old ties with India and fostering the newly discovered friendship with China.”

Significance and potential of the grouping: Together, the RIC countries occupy over 19 percent of the global landmass and contribute to over 33 percent of global GDP. All three are nuclear powers and two, Russia and China, are permanent members of the UN Security Council, while India aspires to be one.

The trio could also contribute to creating a new economic structure for the world. They could work together on disaster relief and humanitarian assistance.

Importance of RIC for India: It forms the core of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO). India is in a geostrategic sweet spot today. It is important for India as an aspiring power to be able to thwart China’s aspirations of being a hegemon in both the maritime and continental spheres.

Context: U.S. President Donald Trump has signed legislation calling for sanctions over the repression of China’s Uighur Muslims.

Details: The Bill calls for sanctions against those responsible for repression of Uighurs and other Muslim groups in China’s Xinjiang province, where the United Nations estimates that more than a million Muslims have been detained in camps.

It singles out the region’s Communist Party secretary, Chen Quanguo, as responsible for “gross human rights violations” against them. The Bill also calls on U.S. firms operating in Xinjiang region to ensure their products do not include parts using forced labour.

Background: The United Nations estimates that more than a million Muslims have been detained in camps in the Xinjiang region. The U.S. State Department has accused Chinese officials of subjecting Muslims to torture, abuse “and trying to basically erase their culture and their religion.”

Who are Uighurs? Uighurs are a Muslim minority community concentrated in the country’s northwestern Xinjiang province.

They claim closer ethnic ties to Turkey and other central Asian countries than to China, by brute — and brutal — force.

Why is China targeting the Uighurs? Xinjiang is technically an autonomous region within China — its largest region, rich in minerals, and sharing borders with eight countries, including India, Pakistan, Russia and Afghanistan.

Over the past few decades, as economic prosperity has come to Xinjiang, it has brought with it in large numbers the majority Han Chinese,who have cornered the better jobs, and left the Uighurs feeling their livelihoods and identity were under threat.

This led to sporadic violence, in 2009 culminating in a riot that killed 200 people, mostly Han Chinese, in the region’s capital Urumqi. And many other violent incidents have taken place since then.

Beijing also says Uighur groups want to establish an independent state and, because of the Uighurs’ cultural ties to their neighbours, leaders fear that elements in places like Pakistan may back a separatist movement in Xinjiang.

Therefore, the Chinese policy seems to have been one of treating the entire community as suspect, and launching a systematic project to chip away at every marker of a distinct Uighur identity.

Context: 14 states/UTs yet to join the scheme.

About the scheme: One Nation One Ration Card (RC) will ensure all beneficiaries especially migrants can access PDS across the nation from any PDS shop of their own choice.

Benefits: no poor person is deprived of getting subsidised foodgrains under the food security scheme when they shift from one place to another. It also aims to remove the chance of anyone holding more than one ration card to avail benefits from different states.

Significance: This will provide freedom to the beneficiaries as they will not be tied to any one PDS shop and reduce their dependence on shop owners and curtail instances of corruption.

Highlights of the scheme: The poor migrant workers will be able to buy subsidised rice and wheat from any ration shop in the country but for that their ration cards must be linked to Aadhaar.

Migrants would only be eligible for the subsidies supported by the Centre, which include rice sold at Rs. 3/kg and wheat at Rs. 2/kg, It would not include subsidies given by their respective state government in some other state.

Standard format of ‘one nation, one ration card’: A standard format for ration card has been prepared after taking into account the format used by different states.

For national portability, the state governments have been asked to issue the ration card in bi-lingual format, wherein besides the local langauge, the other language could be Hindi or English.

The states have also been told to have a 10-digit standard ration card number, wherein first two digits will be state code and the next two digits will be running ration card numbers.

Besides this, a set of another two digits will be appended with ration card number to create unique member IDs for each member of the household in a ration card.

Challenges: Prone to corruption: Every state has its own rules for Public Distribution System (PDS). If ‘One Nation, One Ration Card’ is implemented, it will further boost corruption in an already corrupted Public Distribution System.

The scheme will increase the woes of the common man and, the middlemen and corrupt PDS shop owners will exploit them.

Tamil Nadu has opposed the proposal of the Centre, saying it would result in undesirable consequences and is against federalism.

Way Forward: The current migrant crisis should be seen as an opportunity to develop a national migration policy addressing the challenges faced by migrant workers’ productivity, living conditions and social security.

While this must be done, the government must also fast-track the ONORC scheme because India’s present rights-based regime is based on the assumption that people are sedentary. The ONORC should also include access to health and other things.

It is an anti-inflammatory drug, commonly used to treat conditions in which the body’s immune system does not function properly, and causes inflammation and tissue damage.

Dexamethasone reduces the production of the chemicals that cause inflammation and also reduces the activity of the immune system by affecting the way white blood cells function.

It falls in a category called corticosteroids, which closely mimic cortisol, the hormone naturally produced by the adrenal glands in humans.

Why in News? It has become the subject of discussion after researchers from the Recovery Trial reported that it helps reduce death rates in certain Covid-19 patients.

Popularly known as the ‘Festival of Chariots’, Rath Yatra festival in honour of Puri’s Lord Jagannath is grand celebration.

The festival is dedicated to Lord Jagannath, his sister Goddess Subhadra and elder brother Balabhadra.

All the three deities of the temple – Jagannath, Subhadra and Balabhadra – travel in three different chariots during this festival. The chariots are called Nandighosha, Taladhwaja, and Devadalana respectively.

New chariots for all the three deities are constructed every year using wood even if the architect of the chariots remain similar. Four wooden horses are attached to each chariot.

Why in News? Supreme Court of India has stayed annual Rath Yatra at Puri’s Jagannath Temple in Odisha which was scheduled from June 23. The apex court said that ‘Lord Jagannath won’t forgive us if we allow this year’s Rath Yatra’.

Kodumanal is a village located in the Erode district in Tamil Nadu. It is located on the northern banks of Noyyal River, a tributary of the Cauvery.

It was once a flourishing ancient trade city known as Kodumanam, as inscribed in Patittrupathu of Sangam Literature. It served as a trade-cum-industrial centre from 5th century BCE to 1st century BCE.

The place is an important archaeological site, under the control of State Archaeological Department of Tamil Nadu.

Why in News? The following things have been found during the ongoing excavation at the site:

10 Pots and bowls placed outside three-chambered burial cists and inside the cairn-circle. This has thrown light on burial rituals and the concept of afterlife in megalithic culture.

Other findings: Animal skull, possibly of a wolf or a dog; precious stones; copper smelting units; potteries.