Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced the launch of the PM 'Surya Ghar: Muft Bijli Yojana' with an investment of over Rs. 75,000 crore, for installing solar rooftops for households. This project aims to light up 1 crore households by providing up to 300 units of free electricity every month.
To familiarise the scheme among Indians, the government will incentivise Urban Local Bodies and Panchayats to promote the installation of rooftop solar systems in their jurisdiction.
The government will also ensure that there is no cost burden on the common man by dispersing subsidies directly to the beneficiary's bank account and heavily concessional bank loan. Also, all stakeholders will be integrated into a National Online Portal which will further convenience.
Feb 10, 2024
Cabinet Okays Rs. 6,000 crore Scheme for Formalisation of Fisheries Sector
The Union Cabinet approved a Rs. 6,000 crore sub-scheme, under the flagship Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana (PMMSY) launched in 2020, with the objective of formalising the largely unorganised fisheries sector in the country.
The formalisation will be done through the creation of a national fisheries digital platform, facilitating access to institutional finance for the sector and creating an insurance product which would cover at least 100,000 hectares of aquaculture farms during the project period.
Almost half of the total project cost that is around Rs. 3,000 crore will come from public financing that includes World Bank and the AFD external financing while the balance is expected investment from the private sector and the beneficiaries.
The scheme will run for four years starting from FY-24, incentivising fisheries and aquaculture microenterprises through performance grants for improving fisheries sector value-chain efficiencies including creation and maintenance of jobs, and incentivising micro and small enterprises through performance grants for adoption and expansion of fish and fishery product safety are the other main objectives of the programme.
Feb 09, 2024
Jharkhand CM Distributes First Installment of Abua Awas Yojana
Jharkhand Chief Minister Champai Soren distributed letters of acceptance and first instalments to 24,827 families of Kolhan region in the first phase of the Abua Awas (housing) Yojana.
Of the total applications received from 2,92,624 families in Kolhan region, the government identified 1,05,810 families under the scheme from East Singhbhum district, 1,03,319 families from West Singhbhum and 83,495 families from Seraikela-Kharswan district.
In the first phase, the CM will hand over 24,827 letters of acceptance in Kolhan division comprising 8,138 families from East Singhbhum district, West Singhbhum (10,252) and Seraikela-Kharswan district (6,437) along with the first instalment of Rs. 30,000 each, which were transferred to their bank accounts through DBT.
Former CM Hemant Soren had launched the scheme in November 2023 to provide houses to the homeless and those who were deprived of the benefit under the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (PMAY).
Feb 08, 2024
Uttarakhand Becomes First State to Clear Uniform Civil Code Bill
The Uniform Civil Code (UCC), Uttarakhand, Bill 2024, which seeks to govern and regulate the laws related to marriage and divorce, successions, live-in relationships, and matters related thereto was passed in the Assembly following a two-day discussion. The Bill was now sent to President Droupadi Murmu for her assent after which it will become a law.
Introduced by Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami, deliberations were held on the UCC Bill before the House approved it by a voice vote. Uttarakhand became the first state to get a common law on marriage, divorce, land, property and inheritance for all citizens, irrespective of their religion. The code, however, will not apply to the Scheduled Tribes.
Although Goa is governed by a UCC (Portuguese Civil Code), the Assembly did not pass any law. The code was retained after its liberation in 1961.
Maharashtra Government Decides to Introduce 'Chief Minister Vayoshree Yojana'
Aimed at improving the lives of senior citizens and boosting confidence in cooperative societies, the Maharashtra government announced a series of initiatives covering various sectors. From welfare schemes to development projects, these measures reflect the government's commitment to addressing the needs of its citizens and fostering growth across the state.
The introduction of the 'Chief Minister Vayoshree Yojana' would benefit around 15 lakh senior citizens suffering from physical or mental disabilities. Under this scheme, eligible citizens above the age of 65 will receive financial assistance of three thousand rupees, providing much-needed support and relief to vulnerable members of society.
Feb 07, 2024
Rajya Sabha Passes Bills Seeking to Modify SC/ST List in Odisha and Andhra
The Rajya Sabha passed two Bills, which seek to modify the list of Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes in Odisha and Andhra Pradesh.
The Upper House cleared the Constitution (Scheduled Tribes) Order (Amendment) Bill, 2024, and the Constitution (Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes) Order (Amendment) Bill, 2024, by voice vote.
The first Bill seeks to modify the SC/ST list in Andhra Pradesh, while the second seeks to modify the SC/ST list in Odisha. Both bills were piloted by Tribal Affairs Minister Arjun Munda.
Munda said that both Bills were brought with long-term planning. In Andhra Pradesh, three more ethnic groups — Bondo Porja, Khond Porja, Parangiperja — were added to the list of STs. While in Odisha, four groups were in the list. All these are Primitive Vulnerable Tribal Groups (PVTGs) and they have been added to the scheduled list after 75 years of Independence.
There are 75 PVTGs which are spread from Andaman Island to the mainland. The government has started a scheme and worked in mission mode with a target to reach them in the far-flung areas in which they reside.
Rajya Sabha Passes Bill to Amend Water Act, Decriminalise Minor Pollution-linked Crimes
The Rajya Sabha passed the Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Amendment Bill, which seeks to decriminalise minor offences related to water pollution, and exempt certain categories of industrial plants from statutory restrictions.
The Bill, which seeks to amend the Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1974, was approved by the Rajya Sabha by voice vote.
According to the Bill, the central government will be empowered to exempt certain categories of industrial plants from the application of Section 25 relating to restriction on new outlets and new discharges.
According to the proposed law, the central government will prescribe the manner of nomination of chairpersons of State Pollution Control Boards. It also empowers the central government to issue guidelines on the matters relating to the grant, refusal or cancellation of consent by any state board for establishment of any industry, operation or process, or treatment and disposal system or bringing into use of new or altered outlets.