General Awareness

GOVERNMENT POLICIES AND SCHEMES - December 2018

Dec 2018

Feb 25, 2019

Direct Cash Benefit Scheme

Prime Minister Narendra Modi launched the Rs. 75,000 crore Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi (PM-KISAN) cash transfer scheme for small and marginal cultivators.
The scheme was announced in the interim budget on February 1 ahead of national polls due this summer.
Rs. 6,000 would annually be transferred in three installments into bank accounts of farmers with less than two-hectare land holdings.

Banned Unregulated Deposit Schemes

In a bid to clamp down on Ponzi and fake deposit schemes, the government has, through an ordinance, banned unregulated deposit schemes.
The ordinance has also put in place a mechanism that will penalise the operation and advertisement of such unregulated schemes with jail time as well as monetary fines.
The Banning of Unregulated Deposit Schemes Ordinance 2019 states that any deposit scheme not registered with the government would be treated as an unregulated deposit scheme and would, as such, be banned.
This extends to the entire country except Jammu and Kashmir and is to come into force immediately.
As per the ordinance, no deposit taker shall directly or indirectly promote, operate, issue any advertisement soliciting participation or enrolment in or accept deposits in pursuance of an unregulated deposit scheme.

Feb 23, 2019

Hundred-day Job Guarantee Scheme

The Congress government in Madhya Pradesh rolled out its flagship 'Mukhyamantri Yuva Swabhiman Yojana' that guarantees 100 days of employment every year to urban youth from economically weaker sections.
The scheme, as part of which youth would be imparted skill development training, was launched by Chief Minister Kamal Nath.
As per reports, each youth enrolled under the scheme will get total Rs. 13,500 for the 100 days period.

Feb 22, 2019

Asia's First Draft Law on Same-sex Marriage

Taiwan proposed a draft law to allow same-sex marriage in Asia`s first such bill, but the legislation was criticised by rights activists and conservative groups amid a heated debate over marriage equality.
Voters opposed marriage equality in a series of referendums in 2018, defining marriage as between a man and a woman and asking for a special law to be enacted for same-sex unions.
The draft law unveiled by cabinet would give same-sex couples similar legal protections for marriage as heterosexuals, but marriage in civil law would remain defined as between a man and woman.
Taiwan`s parliament is expected to vote on the draft bill by late May, a deadline for legislation set by the constitutional court in May 2017 when it ruled that same-sex couples had the right to legally marry.

Feb 14, 2019

Bill for 5% Reservation to Gujjars

The Rajasthan government cleared a bill in the Assembly to give a five per cent quota in jobs and educational institutes to Gujjars and four other communities agitating for it.
The Rajasthan Backward Classes (Reservation of Seats in Educational Institutes in the State and of Appointments and Posts in Services under the State) Amendment Bill, 2019, will give reservation to Gujjars and the other castes.
The bill seeks to increase the backward classes' reservation from the present 21 per cent to 26 per cent with five per cent reservation to Gujjars, Banjaras, Gadia Lohars, Raikas and Gadaria.
The statement on the objective and reasons of the bill stated that the five castes are most backward and require five per cent separate reservation.

Bill to Compensate Ponzi Scheme Victims

The Lok Sabha passed a bill to provide for a mechanism to compensate the investors who put in their money in ponzi schemes.
The Banning of Unregulated Deposit Schemes Bill, 2018, has incorporated recommendations made by the parliamentary standing committee on finance and was passed on the last day of the budget session.

Feb 10, 2019

PMSYM Pension Scheme

As per a Labour Ministry notification, all unorganised sector workers up to 40 years of age can subscribe to the Pradhan Mantri Shram Yogi Maandhan (PMSYM) scheme, which entails a minimum monthly pension of Rs. 3,000, from February 15.
The scheme, announced by Finance Minister Piyush Goyal in the Budget for 2019-20, is targeted at unorganised sector workers with monthly income of up to Rs. 15,000.
This Scheme is called the Pradhan Mantri Shram Yogi Maandhan, 2019. It shall come into force on the 15th day of February, 2019.
The scheme will cover unorganised workers who are working or engaged as home based workers, street vendors, mid-day meal workers, head loaders, brick kiln workers, cobblers, rag pickers, domestic workers, washer men, rickshaw pullers, landless labourers, agricultural workers, construction workers, among others.

Share on

TCY Analytics (View Subscription Plans)

Subscribe to GK Updates

I want to receive

GK Tags

October GK, September GK, August GK, INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS, ENVIRONMENT, BUSINESS AND ECONOMY, SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY, SPORTS, NATIONAL AFFAIRS, DEFENCE, PERSONS IN NEWS, DAYS AND EVENTS, AWARDS AND HONOURS, GOVERNMENT POLICIES AND SCHEMES, GENDER/ HEALTH/ EDUCATION, ART AND CULTURE, BOOKS AND AUTHORS, TOURISM AND HOTEL INDUSTRY AWARENESS, ART AND CULTURE, LAW AND CONSTITUTIONAL AFFAIRS

Start Discussion

On any topic

Take Tests

Compiled from GK updates

Login

Sign Up

Forgot Password

Download TCY App

Unlock All Services and Enjoy The Premium Benefits

US$ 10

US$ 13

US$ 15

US$ 17

US$ 19

US$ 20

US$ 21

US$ 22

US$ 23

US$ 24

US$ 25

US$ 26