Scheme

Information

Agriculture Infrastructure Fund (AIF)

Launched:

May 2020 under Atmanirbhar Bharat Abhiyan

Implementing Agency:

National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD)

Objective

Mobilize medium to long-term debt financing for post-harvest management infrastructure and community farming assets.

Beneficiaries

Farmers, Primary Agricultural Credit Societies (PACS), Farmer Producer Organisations (FPOs), Self-Help Groups (SHGs), and State Agencies/APMCs.

Financial Assistance

₹1 Lakh Crore provisioned for loans.

Interest subvention of 3% per annum.

Credit guarantee coverage under Credit Guarantee Fund Trust for Micro and Small Enterprises (CGTMSE) for loans up to ₹2 Crore.

Eligible Projects

Supply chain infrastructure for crop clusters, including export clusters.

Organic inputs production and bio-stimulant production units.

Smart & precision agriculture infrastructure.

PPP projects under Central/State/Local Governments.

Management & Monitoring

Managed through an Online Management Information System (MIS) platform.

National, State, and District-level Monitoring Committees oversee progress.

Key Initiative – BHARAT Campaign

Banks Heralding Accelerated Rural & Agriculture Transformation (BHARAT)

Launched to increase loan adoption and enhance infrastructure investments.

Benefits

Reduction in post-harvest losses.

Direct priority sector lending for unviable projects.

Promotion of agri-entrepreneurs and start-ups.

Cheaper agricultural products for consumers.

Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi (PM-KISAN)

Objective

Provide income support of ₹6,000 per year to landholding farmers.

Ensure financial assistance for agricultural inputs and domestic needs.

Beneficiaries

All landholding farmers, except exclusions.

Financial Assistance

₹6,000 per year in three equal installments of ₹2,000 each.

Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) mode for seamless disbursement.

Eligibility

Landholding farmers, identified by State/UT Governments.

Self-registration available through:

oPM-KISAN mobile app

oPM-KISAN portal

oCommon Service Centers (CSC)

Exclusions:

Institutional landholders.

Former & present constitutional post holders.

Ministers, MLAs, MPs.

Income tax payees.

Professionals (Doctors, Engineers, etc.).

Government officials & pensioners receiving ₹10,000/month or more.

Kisan Credit Cards (KCC) Linkage

PM-KISAN beneficiaries are eligible for KCC.

Short-term loans available for crop and animal/fish rearing.

Interest rate of 4% on timely repayment.

Prevention of Diversion of Funds

Physical Verification Module: 5% of beneficiaries verified annually.

Aadhaar authentication for accurate identification.

Income Tax payee verification to prevent ineligible disbursements.

Management & Monitoring

Project Management Unit (PMU) at the Central Level.

State Governments advised to set up dedicated PMUs for smooth implementation.

Grievance Redressal

Grievance Redressal Committees at State/UT levels.

Complaints resolved within two weeks for quick action.

Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana (PMFBY)

Objective

Provide comprehensive crop insurance from pre-sowing to post-harvest.

Ensure income stability for farmers.

Encourage adoption of modern agricultural practices.

Beneficiaries

All farmers, including sharecroppers and tenant farmers.

Financial Assistance & Premium Rates

Farmers pay a fixed premium:

oKharif crops: 2.0% of sum insured.

oRabi crops: 1.5% of sum insured.

oCommercial & Horticultural crops: 5.0% of sum insured.

Government shares the remaining premium cost:

o90:10 (for NE States).

o50:50 (for other states).

Coverage of Risks

✔ Basic Coverage (Mandatory):

Yield losses due to drought, floods, pest attacks, landslides, and natural disasters.

✔ Add-on Coverage (Optional):

Prevented sowing, localized calamities, and post-harvest losses.

✔ General Exclusions:

Losses due to war, nuclear risks, malicious damage, and preventable risks.

Implementation Model

Demand-driven scheme.

Voluntary for States & Farmers.

Insurance Company selection for 3-year tenure.

Key Initiatives

✔ DigiClaim:

Direct claim settlement via Public Finance Management System (PFMS).

✔ Weather Information Network Data Systems (WINDS):

Uses hyper-local weather data for risk assessment.

✔ Yield Estimation System (YES-TECH):

Tech-driven yield estimation at Gram Panchayat level.

✔ Door-to-Door Enrollment App (AIDE/Sahayak):

Facilitates farmer enrollment.

✔ FASAL Project:

Satellite-based crop monitoring.

✔ National e-Governance Plan in Agriculture (NeGPA):

Digital agriculture services for farmers.

✔ CROPIC:

Collection of Real-Time Observations and Photos of Crops for monitoring.

Benefits

Mitigates risks & stabilizes farmer income.

Enables financial inclusion through timely credit and insurance.

Scheme

Information

Assistance to Medical Device Clusters for Common Facilities (AMD-CF) Scheme

Implementing Agency:

Small Industries Development Bank of India (SIDBI) as Project Management Agency

Objective

Strengthen Medical Device Clusters by providing financial assistance for:

oCommon Infrastructure Facilities

oTesting Laboratories

Components & Financial Assistance

1. Assistance for Common Facilities

Objective:

Create Common Infrastructure Facilities in medical device clusters.

Incentives:

70% of the approved project cost or ₹20 Cr, whichever is lower.

90% for Himalayan & NE States (₹20 Cr limit per cluster).

Execution:

Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV) to be formed by medical device manufacturers in the cluster.

At least 5 manufacturing units must be SPV members.

State Governments can also promote clusters.

Equity Holding:

Individual manufacturing units: Max 40% equity in SPV.

Medical device enterprises: Min 51% equity in SPV.

2. Assistance for Testing Facilities

Objective:

Strengthen the availability of Medical Device Testing Laboratories.

Incentives:

70% of the project cost or ₹5 Cr, whichever is lower.

90% for Himalayan & NE States (₹5 Cr limit per cluster).

Eligibility:

National/State-level Government or Private institutions.

Must create a separate account for fund utilization.

National Medical Devices Policy, 2023

Vision:

Make Idia a global leader in medical device manufacturing & innovation.

Target: 10-12% global market share in the next 25 years.

Goal:

Grow India's medical devices sector from $11 billion to $50 billion by 2030.

Strategic Focus Areas

1.Regulatory Streamlining:

oFaster approvals & compliance simplifications.

2.Infrastructure:

oEstablish medical device parks & testing facilities.

3.R&D & Innovation:

oPromote indigenous technology development.

4.Investments:

oAttract private & foreign investments.

5.Human Resource Development:

oUpskilling workforce in medical technology.

6.Brand Positioning:

oEnhance India's global presence in the medical devices sector.

Pradhan Mantri Bharatiya Jan Aushadhi Pariyojana (PMBJP)

Implementing Agency:

Pharmaceuticals & Medical Devices Bureau of India (PMBI)

Objective

Provide affordable generic medicines to the masses.

Reduce out-of-pocket expenditure on medicines.

Retail Outlets

PMBJP Kendras established across India to sell affordable generic medicines.

Beneficiaries

All citizens, especially economically weaker sections.

Financial Incentives

For PMBJP Kendra Owners:

₹5 Lakh incentive at 15% of monthly purchases (capped at ₹15,000 per month).

One-Time Special Grant:

₹2 Lakh for Furniture & IT Equipment.

Applicable to women, Divyang, SC/ST entrepreneurs, and North-Eastern & Aspirational Districts.

Key Features

Product Basket:

Wide range of medicines, including:

oAyurvedic medicines, cardiovascular, anti-cancer, anti-diabetics, anti-infectives, anti-allergic, and surgical products.

Quality Assurance:

Procurement only from WHO-GMP and FSSAI certified suppliers.

NABL-accredited drug testing.

Regular testing and cost comparison with branded medicines.

Inventory Management:

SAP-based automated stock monitoring system.

Stringent Blacklisting Policy:

Vendors/Suppliers failing supply are blacklisted or penalized for delays.

Key Initiatives

Primary Agricultural Credit Societies (PACS):

Allowed to operate PMBJP Kendras for wider outreach.

Janaushadhi ‘Suvidha’ Sanitary Napkins:

Priced at ₹1 per pad.

Oxo-biodegradable materials promoting clean & green India.

Jan Aushadhi Sugam App:

Allows users to locate nearby Jan Aushadhi Kendras.

Search generic medicines and compare costs.

Scheme

Information

Ude Desh Ka Aam Naagrik (UDAN) / Regional Connectivity Scheme (RCS)

Objective

Enable air operations on underserved/unserved routes.

Promote regional connectivity and balanced economic growth.

Make air travel affordable for the masses.

Improve aviation infrastructure in Tier II and Tier III cities.

Why in News?

Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) Audit Report on UDAN laid in Parliament, evaluating the scheme’s progress and impact.

Key Features

Subsidized Airfares:

Capped at ₹2,500 per seat for flights covering 500-600 km.

50% of seats (9-40 per flight) offered at subsidized rates.

Viability Gap Funding (VGF):

Supports airline operators for operating loss-making routes.

Financial Support:

Centre bears 80% of VGF; State Governments bear 20%.

For NE States, Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, & UTs: 90:10 cost-sharing ratio.

Self-Financing Mechanism:

Funded through Regional Connectivity Fund (RCF), collected via levy on domestic flights.

Implementation & Monitoring

Route Selection:

Airline operators propose routes & bid for VGF support.

States/UTs must offer concessions, including:

oFree security & fire services.

oConcessional land & utility rates.

oFree land for RCS airports.

Selection Process:

Demand-driven to ensure flexibility in route identification.

Project Monitoring Committee:

Ensures strict compliance and implementation of the scheme.

Key Initiatives under UDAN

Lifeline UDAN:

Launched during the COVID-19 pandemic for essential medical and logistical supplies.

Krishi UDAN:

Supports farmers in transporting agricultural products.

Focuses on Northeast and tribal areas to improve value realization.

International Air Connectivity Scheme (IACS):

Developed by Ministry of Civil Aviation (MoCA).

Helps State Governments establish international air connectivity.