Current Affairs Questions

Explanation :

• Launched in July, 2019, the ‘one nation, one ration card’ is an inter-state ration card portability scheme that allows migrants to get their quota of ration from any public distribution system (PDS) across the country. The Centre plans to extend this scheme to all states by 2020.
• At present, the scheme is operational between Andhra Pradesh and Telangana, as well as of that Maharashtra and Gujarat.
• With effect from 1st October 2019, two new clusters, Kerala and Karnataka and Rajasthan and Haryana, will join the initiative of inter-state portability of ration cards.

Significance:

• This initiative shall be helpful for the large migratory population of the country, who migrate from one part of the country to another in search of job or employment, marriage, or any other reason, and find difficulty in accessing subsidi sed food grains in the present system.

Source: Civil Services Chronicle Online

Explanation :

• Rajasthan’s free medicine scheme secured the highest position with first ranking issued by the National Health Mission (NHM) among the sixteen states of the country.
• The scheme was launched on 2nd October 2011 and it provides 2 components:
  • Free Medicines: To provide commonly-used essential medicines free of cost to patients visiting government healthcare institutions (introduced on 2nd October 2011), and
  • Free Tests: To provide free tests (introduced on 7th April 2011)
• The number of free medicines has been increased from 608 to 712 and free tests from 70 to 90.

Significance

• The initiative was taken aiming to reduce out of pocket expenditure (OOPE) and improve footfalls in public health facilities.

Source: Civil Services Chronicle Online

Explanation :

• On 20^th August, 2019, Punjab government launched its flagship universal health insurance scheme SarbatSehatBimaYojana, benefitting nearly 46 lakh families.
• It is aimed at ensuring the best possible treatment to the beneficiaries free of cost.
• Under the scheme, E-cards will be provide to beneficiaries, who will be able avail annual cashless treatment up to Five lakh per family per year, including pre-existing diseases,
• The scheme has also been extended to around 4,500 journalists accredited to the state or holding yellow cards.
• Equipped with specially designed 1396 treatment packages, the scheme will be implemented through more than 450 empanelled hospitals, including 200 government hospitals.

Significance

• With this scheme, covering 76 percent ofits population, Punjab has become the first state in the country to offer medical insurance cover to the maximum number of its people.

Source: Civil Services Chronicle Online

Explanation :

• On 20^thAugust, 2019, Maharashtra’s Tribal Development Department in association with the Pace Educational Trust launched an academic programme for young tribal students aspiring to be doctors and engineers.
• Inspired by the work of Patna’s Anand Kumar and his Super 30, which prepares smart but underprivileged students to sit for IIT entrance exams, the Super 50 programme will mentor 50 most meritorious tribal students from the State and prepare them for engineering and medical exams.
• It will be a two-year residential programme, where the students will be provided hostel and mess facilities, a tablet, NCERT books and career counselling.

Source: Civil Services Chronicle Online

Explanation :

• Manipur government recently launched the School Fagadaba (Make education better) scheme to ensure better infrastructure, quality education and overall improvement of government schools to make them model schools.
• In the first phase of the scheme, one school from each of the 60 Assembly constituencies in the state has been selected.
• The state government will install biometric attendance machines in government schools to ensure the presence of teachers at their posting places.
• The overall objective is to improve the government schools conditions and to increase the enrollment of students.

Source: Civil Services Chronicle Online

Explanation :

• On 7^th August, 2019, the Andhra Pradesh government announced to launch the NavodayamScheme, a complete outreach programme for thousands of ailing Micro,Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) in the state, with a one-time restructuring of loans that will provide the required lifeline for small industrial units.
• This initiative is to rejuvenate and give topmost priority thrust to facilitate and coordinate growth and development of the MSME sector.
• It will be aimed to provide a lifeline to stressed MSMEs by ensuring that all eligible units are permitted for one-time restructuring of accounts up to March 31, 2020.

Source: Civil Services Chronicle Online

Explanation :

• Statement 1: On 10^th July, 2019, in a major boost to rural road connectivity across the country, the government approved the launch of PMGSY-III. Under this 1, 25,000 km length of road in the states will be consolidated. So, the given statement is correct.
• Statement 2: The funds would be shared in the ratio of 60:40 between the Centre and State for all States except for 8 North Eastern and 3 Himalayan States (Jammu & Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh & Uttarakhand) for which it is 90:10. So, the given statement is incorrect.
• Statement 3: Implementation time period for PMGSY-III will be from 2019-20 to 2024-25. So, the given statement is incorrect.
• Statement 4: Through routes and major rural links connecting habitations to Gramin Agricultural Markets (GrAMs), Higher Secondary Schools and Hospitals will be included under Yojana. So, the given statement is correct.

Explanation :

The administering authority for the Atal Pension Yojana is Pension Fund Regulatory Development Authority (PFRDA).

Explanation :

• It is open to all unorganised workers with monthly income of less than Rs. 15,000. Hence, statement 1 is incorrect.
• Uniform pension amount of Rs. 3000 will be given to its subscriber.
• In Atal Pension Yojna, the government contribution was applicable to only those subscribers who joined the scheme between June 2015 to March 2016, but in case of PMSYM, government contribution is applicable to all the subscribers.

Explanation :

• PvPI was approved by the Government of India in 2010.
• The primary objective of the programme is to create nationwide system for patient safety reporting.