Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi (PM-KISAN)

Highlights:

• Under this programme, vulnerable landholding farmer families, having cultivable land upto 2 hectares, will be provided direct income support at the rate of Rs 6,000 per year.
• This income support will be transferred directly into the bank accounts of beneficiary farmers, in three equal installments of Rs 2,000 each.
• This programme will be funded by Government of India. Around 12 crore small and marginal farmer families are expected to benefit from this.
• The programme would be made effective from 1st December 2018 and the first installment for the period upto 31st March 2019 would be paid during this year itself. This programme will entail an annual expenditure of Rs 75,000 crore.

About Rashtriya Kamdhenu Aayog

• The "Rashtriya Kamdhenu Aayog" has been established to upscale sustainable genetic up-gradation of cow resources and to enhance production and productivity of cows.
• The Aayog will also look after effective implementation of laws and welfare schemes for cows. Besides advising Gaushala and gausadan involved in protecting cows, the body will also help in coordination between livestock farmers and cooperatives, FPOs, dairy entrepreneurs etc.

Background:

• Rashtriya Gokul Mission has been started for the first time in the country by Modi Government to promote the country's  cattle and buffaloes, to preserve their genetic resources in scientific and holistic form and for continuous growth in the productivity of Indian bovine.
• Considering its importance, Rs 250 crore allocations for it in Budget 2018-19 have been raised to Rs 750 crore.

Aim of the Scheme

• The “Rashtriya Gokul Mission” has been launched by the Government for conservation and development of indigenous breeds in a focused and scientific manner.
• The mission also envisages establishment of integrated cattle development centres, Gokul Grams to develop indigenous breeds including upto 40% nondescript breeds.
• Rashtriya Gokul Mission is a focussed project under National Programme for Bovine Breeding and Dairy Development, with an outlay of Rs 500 crore during for three years from 2014-15 to 2016-17.

Objectives:

The Rashtriya Gokul Mission is being implemented with the objectives of:

1. development and conservation of indigenous breeds
2.  breed improvement programme for indigenous cattle breeds to improve their genetic makeup and increase the stock;
3.  enhancement of milk production and productivity;
4.  upgradation of nondescript cattle using elite indigenous breeds like Gir, Sahiwal, Rathi, Deoni, Tharparkar, Red Sindhi  and
5. distribution of disease free high genetic merit bulls for natural service.

Implementing Agency:

Rashtriya Gokul Mission is being implemented through “State Implementing Agencies (SIA) viz Livestock Development Boards.

All Agencies having a role in indigenous cattle development are “Participating Agencies” like CFSPTI, CCBFs, ICAR, Universities, Colleges, NGO‟s, Cooperative Societies.

Funding Pattern:

Scheme is implemented on 100% grant-in-aid basis

Target /Beneficiaries:

Rural cattle and buffalo keepers irrespective of caste, class and gender.

Components:

Funds under the scheme are allocated for:

a) establishment of Integrated Indigenous Cattle Centres viz “Gokul Gram”;

b) strengthening of bull mother farms to conserve high genetic merit Indigenous Breeds;

c) establishment of Field Performance Recording (FPR) in the breeding tract

d) assistance to Institutions/Institutes which are repositories of best germplasm;

e) implementation of Pedigree Selection Programme for the Indigenous Breeds with large population;

f) Establishment of Breeder‟s Societies: Gopalan Sangh

g) distribution of disease free high genetic merit bulls for natural service

h) incentive to farmers maintaining elite animals of indigenous breeds;

i) heifer rearing programme; award to Farmers (“Gopal Ratna” ) and Breeders‟ Societies (“Kamadhenu” );

j) organization of Milk Yield Competitions for indigenous breeds and k) organization of Training Programme for technical and non technical personnel working at the Institute/Institutions engaged in indigenous cattle development.

Tax Benefits in Budget 2019-20

Highlights:

• Individual taxpayers having taxable annual income up to Rs.5 lakhs will not be required to pay any income tax.
• The Finance Minister said that persons having gross income up to Rs. 6.50 lakhs are not required to pay any income tax if they make investments in provident funds, specified savings and insurance etc.
• Additional deductions such as interest on home loan up to Rs. 2 lakh, interest on education loans, National Pension Scheme contributions, medical insurance and medical expenditure on senior citizens etc, are also provided for in the Interim Budget 2019-20.
• Thus tax benefit of Rs. 18,500 crore is proposed to be provided to an estimated 3 crore middle class and small taxpayers comprising self employed, small business, small traders, salary earners, pensioners and senior citizens.
• For salaried persons, Standard Deduction is being raised from the current Rs.40,000 to Rs.50,000. This will provide additional tax benefit of Rs. 4,700 crore to more than 3 crore salary earners and pensioners.
• Exemption on levy of income tax on notional rent on a second self-occupied house is also now proposed. Currently, income tax on notional rent is payable if one has more than one self-occupied house.
• TDS threshold on interest earned on bank/post office deposits is being raised from Rs.10,000 to Rs.40,000.
• TDS threshold for deduction of tax on rent is proposed to be increased from Rs. 1,80,000 to Rs.2,40,000 for providing relief to small taxpayers.

Pradhan Mantri Shram-Yogi Maandhan

Highlights:

• The Government proposes to launch a mega pension yojana namely 'Pradhan Mantri Shram-Yogi Maandhan' for the unorganised sector workers with monthly income upto Rs. 15,000.
• While presenting the Interim Budget 2019-20 in Parliament today, the Union Minister for Finance said that half of India’s GDP comes from the sweat and toil of 42 crore workers in the unorganised sector working as street vendors, rickshaw pullers, construction workers, rag pickers, agricultural workers, beedi workers, handloom, leather and in numerous other similar occupations.
• The Government must provide them comprehensive social security coverage for their old age. Therefore, in addition to the health coverage provided under ‘Ayushman Bharat’ and life & disability coverage provided under ‘Pradhan Mantri Jeevan Jyoti Bima Yojana’ and ‘Pradhan Mantri Suraksha Bima Yojana’, Government proposes to launch a mega pension yojana namely 'Pradhan Mantri Shram-Yogi Maandhan' for the unorganised sector workers with monthly income upto Rs. 15,000.
• Finance Minister said that this pension yojana shall provide them an assured monthly pension of Rs. 3,000 from the age of 60 years on a monthly contribution of a small affordable amount during their working age.
• An unorganised sector worker joining pension yojana at the age of 29 years will have to contribute only Rs. 100 per month till the age of 60 years.
• A worker joining the pension yojana at 18 years, will have to contribute as little as Rs. 55 per month only. The Government will deposit equal matching share in the pension account of the worker every month.
• It is expected that at least 10 crore labourers and workers in the unorganised sector will avail the benefit of 'Pradhan Mantri Shram-Yogi Maandhan' within next five years making it one of the largest pension schemes of the world.
• A sum of Rs. 500 crore has been allocated for the Scheme. Additional funds will be provided as needed. The scheme will also be implemented from the current year.