1) PM launches GNFC’s cashless/less cash township model across 12 States
•Prime Minister Narendra Modi launched in Nagpur, a cashless/less cash township model, developed by Gujarat Narmada Valley Fertilizers and Chemicals Ltd (GNFC), across 81 townships in 12 States.
•These townships will deliver 2.5 lakh cashless transactions per day, translating into 9 crore cashless transactions in a year. GNFC’s township at Bharuch in Gujarat became India’s first cashless township after demonetization.
•The 81 townships included 56 in Gujarat and 25 in other States that have chosen to follow the cashless or less cash model. GNFC facilitated the model across these States under the auspices of National Institution for Transforming India Aayog.
2) UP govt, Centre sign MoU for 'Power for All' scheme
•Uttar Pradesh government and the Centre have signed an MoU for the 'Power for All' scheme in the state.
•The aim of this scheme is to ensure 24-hour quality power supply in the state by October 2018 and electric connection to every house and agriculture field by 2019.
•The papers were shared between UP Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath and Union Minister of State for Power Piyush Goyal in the presence of UP Power Minster Shrikant Sharma. The project will cost above rupees 40 thousand crore out of which 20 thousand crore will be spent till 2018.
•With the signing of 'Power for All' agreement government also introduced UJALA Scheme under which consumers were distributed Quality based energy saving LED bulbs, tube lights and fans at a cheaper rate.
3) Pradhan Mantri Mudra Yojana tops target for 2016-17, loans cross target of Rs 1.8 lakh crore
•Loans extended under the Pradhan Mantri Mudra Yojana (PMMY) during 2016-17 have crossed the target of Rs 1,80,000 crore for 2016-17.
•Sanctions currently stand at Rs 1,80,087 crore with final data still awaited from some of the smaller non-banking lenders. The Union Budget has announced a target of Rs. 2.44 lakh crore for Mudra Loans during 2017-18. There would be a special focus within the Mudra Scheme on convergence with other government schemes, deepening connect with borrowers and meeting credit requirements of trainees completing skilling course.
4) IRDAI launches web portal for insurers
•The Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority of India (IRDAI) has launched a web portal for insurers that will allow them to register and sell policies online.
•The portal 'isnp.irda.gov.in' is also open to intermediaries in the insurance business. In March 2017, IRDAI had issued guidelines on e-commerce for the insurance sector. Insurance companies, brokers, and corporate agents can sell and service insurance policies through this platform.
5) Himachal Pradesh bags Krishi Karman Award 2015-16
•The Union Ministry of Agriculture has selected Himachal Pradesh for the Krishi Karman Award 2015-16 for the commendable increase in food grains production.
•Himachal Pradesh is being selected for this award for the third time. According to the State Agriculture Minister Sujan Singh Pathania, during last five years, the total food grains production has increased from 14.94 lakh tonne to 16.34 lakh tonne.
•The award would carry a trophy, citation and cash prize. The state was also conferred the Krishi Karman Award for 2011-12 for the increase in wheat production and in 2014-15 for increasing food grains production.
6) Income Tax department launches 'Operation Clean Money-II'
•The Income Tax department has launched the second phase of the ‘Operation Clean Money’ to investigate over 60,000 individuals with an aim to detect black money generation post demonetisation.
•The Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT), the policy-making body of the income tax department has detected the flow of black money into the banks amounting to over Rs 9,334 crore between November 9, 2016 and February 28, 2017.
•The first phase of ‘Operation Clean Money’ was launched on January 31, 2017. In the first phase, the department went through e-verification of large cash deposits into the banks after the demonetization and had sent online queries and investigated around 17.92 lakh persons.
