Schemes and RBI Circulars mentioned in C.A Flashcards

Question

The “AAPDA Mitra” a disaster management scheme of the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) is implemented in how many districts and what is the outlay of the scheme?

Answer 1

It is implemented in 350 disaster-prone districts with an outlay of ₹369 crores. It aims to train 1 lakh youth volunteers in disaster management.

Answer 2

Ans- * It was extended for 5 years from FY2021-22 to FY2025-26 with an outlay of ₹4100 crores * The two components of the scheme are a) Flood Management Program (FMP)- The outlay of this is ₹2940 crore and it aims to provide funding for flood control, anti-erosion, drainage development etc. The funding pattern for general states is 60:40 whereas, for special states is 90:10 respectively b) River Management and Border Area (RMBA)- The outlay of this is ₹1160 crores and it aims to develop flood control, anti-erosion and pre-construction activities at the border area rivers. 100% financial assistance will be provided by the central government under this component.

Answer 3

Ans- * It was launched for the beneficiaries of the PM SVANIDHI scheme to provide a 22-week entrepreneurship training to street vendors. The government has partnered with Flipkart to impart training to street vendors * It will be implemented by 20 centres of the National Institute of Entrepreneurship and Small Business Development (NIESBUD), Noida and 10 centres of the Indian Institute of Entrepreneurship (IIE), Guwahati * It will be launched in 10 cities namely Bhopal, Kanpur, Indore, Varanasi, Bharatpur, Shillong, Silchar, Dibrugarh, Guwahati and Sambalpur * 40%

Answer 4

Ans- * Till FY2021-22 to FY2025-26 with an outlay of ₹1180 crore * Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA). Out of a total ₹1180 crore, ₹885 crore will be funded by the MHA and ₹294 crore will be funded from the Nirbhaya fund

Answer 5

₹21000 crore. With this release, an amount of more than ₹3 lakh crore has been transferred to more than 11 crore farmers’ families.

Answer 6

about ₹3800 crore

Answer 7

It was announced on 13 Feb 2024 with an outlay of ₹75000 crore and it aims to light up 1 crore houses by providing 300 units of free electricity per month. The scheme will Save up to 15000 to 18000 rupees annually for households from free solar electricity and selling the surplus to the distribution companies. Central Financial Assistance (CFA) for Residential RTS Systems - A CFA of 60% of the cost of residential RTS system for 2Kw and a CFA of 40% of the cost of residential RTS system for 2 to 3 kw is provided as a subsidy for installation cost. At current benchmark prices, this will mean: - Rs 30,000 subsidy for 1 kW system - Rs 60,000 for 2 kW systems - Rs 78,000 for 3 kW systems or higher - CFA is capped at 3kw up to ₹78000 - Collateral-free low interest loan of around 7% of the cost of residential RTS system is provided up to 3kw ** a) ₹4950 crore b) 18000 Mw of RTS capacity c) - For installed capacity above 10% & up to 15%, over and above the installed base capacity: 5% of the applicable cost for capacity achieved above 10% of the installed base capacity - For installed capacity above 15% over and above the installed base capacity: 5% of the applicable cost for capacity achieved above 10% and up to 15% of the installed base capacity + 10% of the applicable cost for capacity achieved beyond 15% of the installed base capacity Applicable Cost: It is the benchmark cost for RTS Capacity of 1 Kw, which is ₹50000 for General States and ₹55000 for special category states d)- The DISCOMs shall allocate 10% of the incentives received (up to Rs. 1 crore) for a rewards system for DISCOM officials and functionaries. - The DISCOM shall allocate at least 50 % of the incentives (up to Rs 1 crore of allocation per division) for dedicated utilization at the division and subdivisional level. Other Features of the Scheme: - A Model Solar Village will be developed in each district of the country to act as a role model for adoption of rooftop solar in rural areas. -Urban Local Bodies and Panchayati Raj Institutions shall also benefit from incentives for promoting RTS installations in their areas. -The scheme provides a component for payment security for renewable energy service company (RESCO) based models as well as a fund for innovative projects in RTS. Outcome and Impact - It will save household electricity bills and will also increase their additional income. -It will also result in addition of 30 GW of solar capacity through rooftop solar in the residential sector. -It will result in reduction of 720 million tonnes of CO2 equivalent emissions over the 25-year lifetime of rooftop systems. -It is estimated that this scheme will also create around 17 lakh direct jobs in manufacturing, logistics, supply chain, etc

Answer 8

The Dairy Infrastructure Development Fund was subsumed under the AHIDF scheme, thus now enabling dairy cooperatives under the interest subvention of 3% and Credit guarantee of up to 25% of the project cost under the AHIDF fund scheme.

Answer 9

From 51% to 75%

Answer 10

It will cater to the students of classes 6th to 12th in the age category of 10-18 years identified in the 55 EMRS students. The project will involve screening students for health issues such as anaemia, Hemoglobinopathies, malnutrition, tuberculosis etc.

Answer 11

Ans- * The SAGE portal and initiative was launched in 2021 under the “Atal Vayo Abhuyday Yojana” to identify and support startups engaged in providing innovative solutions, products and services for the welfare of the elderly. * An equity support of up to ₹1 crore per project, for up to 49% government equity in startups. * IFCI Venture Capital Funds Ltd

Answer 12

Ans- * A) 56.80 crore farmers’ applications have been enrolled and over 23.22 crore farmer applicants received claims. * B) Nearly ₹31139 crores and they received over ₹155977 crores for this claim. * C) 41% * D) 27%, 42%

Answer 13

Ans- * The scheme aims to create a storage capacity for storing 100% of India’s foodgrain production. It aims to achieve this by integrating PACS godowns with the foodgrain supply chain and converging various schemes such as the Agriculture Infrastructure Fund (AIF), Agricultural Marketing Infrastructure Scheme (AMIS), Sub Mission on Agricultural Mechanization (SMAM) etc. Thus, enabling farmers to avail various subsidies and interest subvention for their foodgrain stored at the PACS godowns. * It will be implemented by the NCDC (National Cooperative Development Cooperation) with the support of NABARD, FCI, CWC (Central Warehousing Corporation) etc. Apart from this, Modi also laid the foundation stone for 500 PACS for the construction of godowns and agri-infrastructure and inaugurated a project for the computerization of 18000 PACS across the country.

Answer 14

Ans- * The scheme was announced in 2023 and it aims to install 4000 MWh of Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) capacity by 2030-31 and targets achieving a Levelized Cost of Storage (LcoS) of ₹5.5-₹6.6 per kWh. * The outlay of the scheme is ₹9400 crore and financial support for up to 40% of the Capital Cost will be provided as the VGF.

Answer 15

553 railway stations at a cost of ₹19000 crore

Answer 16

42 locations were identified under 4 categories namely Culture & Heritage destination, Spiritual destination, Ecotourism and Amrit Dharohar destination and Vibrant Village destination.

Answer 17

Ans- * A) It is a Central Sector scheme launched for the development of industries and employment generation in the Northeastern region of India and to create productive economic activity in the manufacturing and service sectors of the northeast. The outlay of the scheme is ₹10037 crore which is divided into two parts which are: Part A- It will provide incentives to the industrial units. The total outlay for this part is ₹9737 crores Part B- It is related to the implementation and institutionalization arrangements of the scheme. The outlay for this is ₹300 crore 60% of the outlay of Part A is earmarked for 8 northeastern states and 40% of the outlay is for the First-in-first-out basis. * B) Tenure of the scheme is 10 years till 31 March 2034 * C) It will be implemented by the DPIIT, Ministry of Commerce & Industry in partnership with state governments * D) Zone A (Industrial advanced districts) and Zone B (Industrial Backward Districts) * E) 4 years * F) ₹250 crore * G) Investment-based incentives: Where GST is applicable- Zone A- 30% of the value of investment in Plant & Machinery/Construction of building & durable physical assets up to ₹5 crore Zone B- 50% of the value of investment in P&M/Construction of building & durable physical assets up to ₹7.5 crore Where GST is not applicable- Zone A- 30% of the value of investment in Plant & Machinery/Construction of building & durable physical assets up to ₹10 crore Zone B- 50% of the value of investment in P&M/Construction of building & durable physical assets up to ₹10 crore Interest Subvention: Zone A- 3% interest subvention for 7 years Zone B- 5% interest subvention for 7 years Manufacturing & Services Linked Incentive for New units only (Where GST is applicable): Zone A- 75% of the value of investment in P&M Zone B- 100% of the value of investment in P&M

Answer 18

Ans- * The “IndiaAI Mission” was approved with an outlay of ₹10300 crore for 5 years to nurture India’s overall AI Innovation Ecosystem through Public-Private Partnerships. The key objectives of the mission are - Bolster India’s global leadership in AI - Foster technological self-reliance - Democratize AI benefits across all societal strata - Ensure ethical and responsible AI deployment * 7 Components of the India AI Mission are: - IndiaAI Compute Capacity (10000 GPU) - IndiaAI Innovation Centre (IAIC) - IndiaAI Datasets Platform - IndiaAI Future Skills - IndiaAI Application Development Initiative - IndiaAI Startup Financing - Safety & Trusted AI Under the “IndiaAI Compute Capacity” component, 10,000 Graphic Processing Units (GPUs) will be deployed

Answer 19

Ans- * A subsidy of ₹300 per 12.5 kg cylinder for up to 12 refills per year is provided under the scheme * ₹12000 crore * 10.25 crore * 29%

Answer 20

Ans- * It was increased by 82% from ₹290 crore to ₹528 crore for FY2024-25 and FY2025-26 * 330 FPOs and 800 SHGs will be set up * - “Sub Component for research on blends and value-added products in international markets” for enhancing research and diversifying exports - “Sub Component for Quality Assurance” with an outlay of ₹39.9 crore out of which ₹20 crore will be used to set up and upgradation of tea testing labs. - “Sub Component of Technological Intervention for Tea Plantation” for carrying out activities such as precision farming, drone-surveys, traceability, blockchain etc.

Answer 21

Ans- * Regional Rural Banks * A- All Client trades placed on the IIBX will be against a 110% advance buy order of the expected value of the bullion intended to be purchased B- A global sub-limit will be determined with reference to the Net open Overnight Position Limit (NOOPL) in Gold/Silver for banks for up to 1 tonne of gold equivalent. * The IIBX is located at GIFT, IFSC in Gujarat. It is India's first bullion exchange and 3rd of its kind in the world.

Answer 22

₹20 lakh to ₹30 lakh per annum

Answer 23

Ans- * Instant Payment System (IPS) app of Mauritius * MauCAS card scheme. With this, Mauritius has become the first non-Asian country to issue cards using the Rupay network. * Sri Lanka

Answer 24

Rastra Bank of Nepal

Answer 25

Ans- * 2% for the Manufacturers and Merchant exporters under 410 HS line 3% for MSMEs under any HS line. HS line here stands for Harmonized System Code which is assigned to each product traded internationally, the HS Code categorizes products based on their characteristics and composition. * With effect from FY2023-24, the banks which have priced their interests charged on loans greater than “4% + Repo Rate” prior to subvention would be restricted from participating under the scheme till they furnish an undertaking to the DGFT. * ₹10 crore per Financial Year

Answer 26

Clearing Corporation of India (CCI) The RBI Retail Direct Scheme (‘Scheme’) was launched on November 12, 2021 to facilitate retail investors to invest in Government Securities. The Scheme enables individuals to open Retail Direct Gilt Accounts with the Bank and access the Government Securities market - both primary and secondary. Account Aggregator is a Non-Banking Finance Company (NBFC) engaged in the business of providing the service of retrieving financial information from one financial institution to another based on an individual's direction and consent. No financial information of the individual is retrieved, shared or transferred by AA without his / her explicit consent. Entities may enrol themselves on AA framework as Financial Information Provider (FIP) viz. banking company, non-banking financial company, asset management company, depository, depository participant, insurance company, insurance repository, pension fund etc. and as Financial Information User (FIU) which is an entity registered with and regulated by any financial sector regulator.

Answer 27

Ans- * Acing Development of Innovative Technologies with IDEX (ADITI). Under this scheme, startups are eligible to avail of grants-in-aid up to ₹25 crores for research, development and innovation in the defence technology sector. It aims to develop 30 deep tech technologies and create a Technology Watch tool to bridge the gap between the expectations and requirements of the armed forces * It has an outlay of ₹750 crore for a 2023-24 to 2025-26 period. * From ₹1.5 crore to up to ₹10 crore

Answer 28

Ans- * For paying fares for the Public Transport System * There should be a positive net worth of a minimum ₹5 crore as per the latest balance sheet at the time of submitting the application and a minimum positive net worth of ₹15 crore after receiving authorization. * ₹50000 per month subject to the overall limit of the PPI * PPIs will be issued by banks in such cases while Non-banks will work in the marketing, distribution and provision of services to the PPI holder. * Cross-Border Outward Remittances: - The cross-border outward transaction limit is up to ₹10000 per transaction and up to ₹50000 per month. - Full KYC PPIs issued by banks having AD-1 (Authorized Dealers Category 1) licenses are allowed in cross-border transactions. - Cross-border PPIs cannot be used for making payments under the Liberalised Remittance Scheme (LRS). Cross-Border Outward Remittances: - Under cross-border inward remittances, amounts up to ₹50000 can be credited into the full KYC PPIs under the MTSS (Money Transfer Service Scheme) of the RBI. If the amount exceeds ₹50000, the entire amount will be credited to the bank account. - Bank and non-bank PPI issuers, appointed as Indian agents of authorised overseas principals, shall be permitted to issue full-KYC PPIs.

Answer 29

- Section 27(2): The RBI can instruct a banking company to provide statements and information about its business or affairs within a specified timeframe. - Section 35A: The Reserve Bank can issue directions to banking companies if it deems necessary for public interest, banking policy, or to safeguard depositors' interests, prevent misconduct, or ensure proper management. Section 56: Act applicable to Cooperative Banks

Answer 30

Ans- * 90 days prior * Section 12 A of the SARFAESI Act, 2002

Answer 31

Ans- * The PM-Samajik Utthan Evan Rojgar Adharit Jankalyan (PM-SURAJ) scheme was launched to provide credit support to 1 lakh entrepreneurs hailing from marginalised communities through Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT). The credit support is provided through banks, MFIs, NBFCs and other organizations. * ₹720 crore

Answer 32

Ans- * SIDBI * It covers 11000 existing Jan Aushadi Kendras and proposes to cover an additional 15000 Jan Aushadi Kendras. * ₹2 lakh * SIDBI will fund 80% of the project cost up to ₹4 lacks for setting up Jan Aushadi Kendras, which will facilitate expenses on Furniture & Fixtures, Computer, AC, Refrigerator etc. SIDBI will use the “GST Sahay” technology platform to provide credit support under this program. * 50

Answer 33

The MoRD signed the MoU with IIT Delhi to launch the project "BhuPRAHARI," an ambitious initiative aimed at leveraging ground and space-based geospatial technologies along with Artificial Intelligence to monitor and manage assets under the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA).

Answer 34

It was launched by NITI Ayog to foster Grassroots Entrepreneurship and Self-reliance among the populace of Aspirational Blocks, propelling them towards sustainable growth and prosperity. As a part of this initiative, indigenous local products from 500 Aspirational Blocks have been mapped and consolidated under Aakanksha, which is a dedicated window for the Aspirational Blocks Programme under the brand name on the GeM portal.

Answer 35

** The outlay of the scheme is ₹500 crore which includes: - Subsidies/Demand Incentive for electric 2W (e-2W) and electric 3W including registered e-rikshaws & e-carts and L5 (e-3W): Rs.493.55 crore - Administration of Scheme including Information, Education & Communication) activities and fee for Project Management Agency: Rs.6.45 crore. Tenure: April 1 2024 to 31 July 2024 ** 3,72,215 EVs

Answer 36

Ans- * A) Arunachal Pradesh * B) The mission aims to escalate oil palm cultivation and elevate Crude Palm Oil production to 11.20 lakh tonnes by 2025-26. It is currently operational in 15 states nationwide, covering a potential area of 21.75 lakh hectares. * C) The total outlay is ₹11040 crore and ₹5870 crore for North East Region * D) - For purchase of planting material and management: ₹70000 per hectare - For purchase of harvesting tools: ₹290000 - For establishing custom hiring Centers (CHC): ₹25 lakhs * E) - A special assistance of Rs 100000 per hectare for the purchase of planting material and management - The Government of India will pay a differential payment of 2% on the Crude Palm Oil (CPO) price to farmers. The Differential Payment is financial support provided to bridge the gap between the market price of a commodity (in this case, CPO) and a predetermined benchmark or support price. - Special assistance of Rs 5 crore is allocated for oil palm processing mills in the NER.

Answer 37

Ans- * It is launched under the Pradhan Mantri Virasat Ka Samvardhan (PM VIKAS) Scheme of the Ministry of Minority Affairs, through the Delhi Sikh Gurdwara Management Committee (DSGMC), which is a Statutory Body established for the welfare of the Sikh community. This program will target 10,000 youth and women and seeks to provide modern skills training in employment-oriented job roles, promote Sikh artisans such as Sikligars and other groups who are practising traditional arts & crafts forms, foster women leadership and entrepreneurship, and education for school dropouts. * ₹100 crore

Answer 38

Shri Gyanesh Kumar and Dr Sukhbir Singh Sandhu

Answer 39

Ans- a) The minimum Investment required is ₹4150 Cr (USD 500 Mn) and the timeline for manufacturing is 3 years for setting up manufacturing facilities in India, and to start commercial production of e-vehicles. - Domestic value addition (DVA) requirement during manufacturing is a localization level of 25% by the 3rd year and 50% by the 5th year will have to be achieved. The Bank guarantee will be invoked in case of non-achievement of DVA and minimum investment criteria defined under the scheme guidelines. The Bank guarantee will be returned only when 50% DVA is attained and the investment of at least Rs 4,150 crore has been made, or to the extent of duty foregone in 5 years, whichever is higher. b) The customs duty of 15% (as applicable to Completely Knocked Down (CKD) units) would be applicable on vehicles of minimum Cost Insurance Freight (CIF) value of USD 35,000 and above for a total period of 5 years subject to the manufacturer setting up manufacturing facilities in India within a 3-year period. c) - The total number of EVs allowed for import would be determined by the total duty foregone or investment made, whichever is lower, subject to a maximum of ₹6,484 Cr (equal to incentive under the PLI scheme). - A maximum of 40,000 EVs imported at the rate of not more than 8,000 per year would be permissible if the investment is USD 800 Mn or more d) - Global group Revenue (from automotive manufacturing) should be a minimum of ₹10000 crore - Global Investment of the Company or its Group Companies in fixed assets (gross block) of ₹ 3,000 crore

Answer 40

Ans- * Kisan Credit Card Fisheries scheme * It was Launched in 2022 and is a first-of-its-kind online platform for directly connecting lenders with beneficiaries. Citizens can avail of loans under various Central government schemes under 4 loan categories - Education - Agri Infrastructure - Business Activity - Livelihood

Answer 41

Ans- * A) It will be conducted across 23 states and approximately Approximately 37 lakh learners will appear for this important nationwide assessment. The FLNAT will be held in the District Institutes of Education and Training (DIETs) and Government/aided schools serving as test centres. - The assessment comprises three subjects - Reading, Writing, and Numeracy - each carrying 50 marks, totalling 150 marks. This test is developed to evaluate the foundational literacy and numeracy skills of registered non-literate learners - Qualifying learners will receive a certificate issued by the National Institute of Open Schooling (NIOS), recognising their achievement in acquiring foundational literacy and numeracy skills * B) It covers the age group of 15 and above and 5 crore learners with 1.00 crore per year by using “Online Teaching, Learning and Assessment System (OTLAS)” in collaboration with the National Informatics Centre, NCERT and NIOS. * C) The 5 objectives of the scheme are (i) Foundational Literacy and Numeracy, (ii) Critical Life Skills, (iii) Vocational Skills Development, (iv) Basic Education and (v) Continuing Education - Priority will be given to the Girls and women, SC/ST/OBC/Minorities, Persons with Special Needs (Divyangjans), Marginalized/ Nomadic/ construction workers/ laborers/etc. - Focus shall be on all Aspirational districts of NITI Aayog, districts with literacy rates less than the National/State average, districts with female literacy rates less than 60% as per the 2011 Census * D) The outlay of the scheme is ₹1037.90 crore including a Central share of Rs.700.00 crore and a State share of Rs.337.90 crore. - The Central and State shares are in the ratio of 60:40 for general states and for North Eastern Region (NER) and the Himalayan States the funding ratio is 90:10 - For UTs with legislature, the ratio is 60:40, except in the UT of Jammu & Kashmir where the ratio is 90:10, and for all other UTs without legislature, the Central share is 100%.

Answer 42

After 1st April 2023, - the limit on the ceiling for guarantees has been enhanced from Rs. 2 crores to Rs. 5 crores. - The Annual Guarantee fees reduced from 0.75% to 0.37%. - Increase in the threshold limit from Rs. 5 Lakh to Rs. 10 Lakhs for waiver of legal action.

Answer 43

Ans- A) A savings or current account in which there are no customer-induced transactions for a period of over 2 years is called an inoperative account. - The banks shall not allow any debit transaction in an inoperative account unless there is a customer-induced activation. - Banks-induced transactions will not be considered for the purpose of classifying an account as inoperative. B) Balances in savings/current accounts which are not operated for 10 years, or term deposits not claimed within 10 years from the date of maturity are classified as ‘unclaimed deposits’. C) - Banks should undertake at least an annual review in respect of accounts, where there are no customer-induced transactions for more than a year. - Banks should communicate to the account holders through email, SMS or letters that there has been no operations over a period of one year. The message should clearly mention if the customer will not do any transactions in the next one year the account will become inoperative. - The banks shall make available the facility of updation of KYC for activation of inoperative accounts/ unclaimed deposits at all branches (including non-home branches) and through the Video-Customer Identification Process (V-CIP) if requested by the account holder. - Interest on savings accounts shall be credited on a regular basis irrespective of the fact that the account is in operation or not. - The banks are not permitted to levy penal charges for non-maintenance of minimum balances in any account that is classified as an inoperative account. - No charges shall be levied for activation of inoperative accounts

Answer 44

Ans- A) - Companies - NBFCs including Housing Finance Companies - InvITs and REITs - All India Financial Institutions - Any other body corporate with a minimum net worth of Rs.100 crore, provided it is eligible to raise debt. - Co-operative societies and limited liability partnerships with a minimum net worth of ₹100 crore, may also issue CPs under these Directions, subject to the condition specified from time to time B) - All residents of India. - Non-residents are eligible subject to the conditions as per FEMA Act 1999 C) ₹5 lakh and in the denomination of ₹5 lakhs thereafter D) Commercial Papers (CP) - 7 days to 1 year Non-Convertible Debentures (NCD)- 90 days to 1 year The settlement cycle for OTC trades in CPs and NCDs shall be either T+0 or T+1. E) - CPs and NCDs shall be issued in dematerialised form and held with a depository registered with SEBI. - Issuance of a CP/NCD with options (call/put) is not permitted. - Issuance of a CP/NCD is not permitted to be underwritten or co-accepted. - The primary issuances of CPs and NCDs, including both payment of funds to the issuer and issue of CPs and NCDs to the investors, shall be settled within a period not exceeding T+4 working days. - Total subscription by all individuals, including Hindu Undivided Families, in any primary issuance of CPs or NCDs shall not exceed 25% of the total amount issued F) - CPs shall be issued at a discount to the face value. - NCDs shall be issued at a discount to the face value or with a fixed or floating rate coupon. - The coupon on the floating rate of NCDs shall be linked to a benchmark published by a Financial Benchmark Administrator or approved by the Fixed Income Money Market and Derivatives Association of India (FIMMDA) for this purpose. - The coupon on the floating rate of NCDs can also be linked to policy rates published by the Reserve Bank. G) The minimum credit rating, assigned by a Credit Rating Agency (CRA), for the issuance of CPs and NCDs shall be ‘A3’ as per rating symbol and definition prescribed by SEBI. H) Issuers of CPs and NCDs are permitted to buy back the CPs and NCDs before maturity. Such buybacks shall be subject to the following conditions: - The buyback of CPs can be made only after 7 days from the date of issue. The buyback of NCDs can be made only after 90 days from the date of issue. - The investors shall have the option to accept or reject the buyback offer. - Buyback of CPs and NCDs shall be at the prevailing market price. - CPs and NCDs bought back, partially or in full, shall be extinguished on the date of buyback. Buyback means when a company buys back its own shares from their shareholders.

Answer 45

Earlier, the term ‘Bulk Deposits’ meant single Rupee term deposits of ₹15 lakh and above. According to the recent review, “Bulk Deposit” for Primary (Urban) Co-operative Banks would now mean: i. Single Rupee term deposits of ₹1 crore and above for Scheduled UCBs categorised as Tier 3 and 4 UCBs under the revised regulatory framework. ii. Single Rupee term deposits of ₹ 15 lakh and above for all other UCBs (i.e., other than Scheduled UCBs in Tier 3 and 4).

Answer 46

Ans- * Uniform interest rate: It will be applicable till the balance in the account is up to ₹1 lakh. Differential interest rate: It will be applicable when the balance in the account exceeds ₹1 lakh. No interest shall be paid on deposits held in domestic current accounts. * - The minimum tenor of the term deposit should be 7 days. In the case of an NRE (Non-Resident External) term deposit, the minimum deposit should be 1 year. - Differential interest rates shall be offered only on bulk deposits. - Cooperative banks can provide term deposits without premature withdrawal option only on term deposits above Rs.1 crore. * 1% per annum

Answer 47

Ans * - Banks shall have met the applicable regulatory capital requirement for each of the last three financial years including the financial year for which the dividend is proposed. - The net NPA ratio, for the financial year for which the dividend is proposed, shall be less than 6%. * Maximum dividend Payout ratio to shareholders is 50%, if there is 0 Net NPA ratio. The dividend Payout Ratio is the ratio between the amount of the dividend payable in a year and the net profit for the financial year for which the dividend is payable.

Answer 48

“Orchestrating Customer Delight through an Empowered Internal Ombudsman”.

Answer 49

Ans- * a. The Internal Ombudsman shall either be a retired or serving officer, in the rank equivalent to a General Manager of another bank / Financial Sector Regulatory Body / NBSP / NBFC / CIC, having necessary skills and experience of a minimum 7 years of working in areas such as banking. b. The Internal Ombudsman shall previously not have been employed, nor presently be employed, by the regulated entity or the regulated entity’s related parties. c. The Internal Ombudsman shall not be over 70 years of age before the completion of the tenure. * a. The Deputy Internal Ombudsman shall either be a retired or serving officer, not below the rank of Deputy General Manager of another bank / Financial Sector Regulatory Body / NBSP / NBFC / CIC, having necessary skills and experience of minimum 5 years of working in the field of banking. b. The Deputy Internal Ombudsman shall not be over 70 years of age before the completion of the tenure. In the temporary absence of the Internal Ombudsman, exceeding a period of 15 working days, the Deputy Internal Ombudsman may function as the Internal Ombudsman for the limited purpose of reviewing the rejected complaints. * a. The tenure of the Internal Ombudsman / Deputy Internal Ombudsman in the regulated entity shall be a fixed term of not less than 3 years, but not exceeding 5 years. b. The Internal Ombudsman / Deputy Internal Ombudsman shall not be eligible for reappointment or for extension of term in the same regulated entity. c. The Internal Ombudsman / Deputy Internal Ombudsman cannot be removed before the completion of his / her contracted term without the explicit approval of the Reserve Bank of India. * a. Complaints related to corporate frauds, misappropriation etc., except those resulting from deficiency in service, if any, on the part of the regulated entity; b. References in the nature of suggestions and commercial decisions of regulated entities. However, service deficiencies in cases falling under ‘commercial decisions’ will be valid complaints for the Internal Ombudsman; c. Complaints/references relating to (i) internal administration, (ii) human resources, or (iii) pay and emoluments of staff in the regulated entity; d. Complaints which have been decided by or are already pending in other fora such as the Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission, courts, etc.; e. Disputes for which remedy has been provided under Section 18 of the Credit Information Companies (Regulation) Act, 2005.

Answer 50

** 1. Base Layer comprises of: a. Non-deposit-taking NBFCs below the asset size of ₹1000 crore. b. NBFCs undertaking the following activities- - NBFC-Peer to Peer Lending Platform (NBFC-P2P), - NBFC-Account Aggregator (NBFC-AA), - Non-Operative Financial Holding Company (NOFHC) - NBFCs not availing public funds and do not have any customer interface. 2. Middle Layer comprises of: a. all deposit-taking NBFCs (NBFC-Ds), irrespective of asset size, b. non-deposit taking NBFCs with asset size of ₹1000 crore and above c. NBFCs undertaking the following activities. - Standalone Primary Dealers (SPDs), - Infrastructure Debt Fund - Non-Banking Financial Companies (IDF-NBFCs) - Core Investment Companies (CICs) - Housing Finance Companies (HFCs) - Infrastructure Finance Companies (NBFC-IFCs) 3. Upper-Layer comprises of: a. The top ten eligible NBFCs in terms of their asset size shall always reside in the upper layer, irrespective of any other factor. b. NBFCs which are specifically identified by the Reserve Bank of India. 4. Top Layer comprises of: a. If the Reserve Bank is of the opinion that there is a substantial increase in the potential systemic risk from specific NBFCs in the Upper Layer. Such NBFCs shall move to the Top Layer from the Upper Layer. b. Ideally it remains empty ** NBFCs whose asset size is of ₹ 500 cr or more are considered as systemically important NBFCs. ** ₹10 crore. However, for NBFC-P2P, NBFC-AA, and NBFCs with no public funds and no customer interface, the NOF shall continue to be ₹2 crore.

Answer 51

Ans- ** - SROs should be set up as a not-for-profit company registered under Section 8 of the Companies Act, 2013. - To ensure transparency and clarity regarding the organisation's purpose and activities, the Memorandum of Association (MoA) of the applicant company should explicitly state the operation as an SRO-FT as one of its primary objectives. - The SRO-FT should put in place systems for managing ‘user harm’ instances that come to its notice or are referred to it by the Reserve Bank or any other stakeholder. - The SRO-FT should not set up entities/offices overseas without the prior approval of the Reserve Bank. ** One third

Answer 52

Ans- A) - the exposure to an individual borrower does not exceed 15% of Tier-I capital; and, - the exposure to a group of connected borrowers/parties does not exceed 25% of Tier-I capital. - Exposure limits applicability: All types of fresh exposures taken by UCBs after March 13, 2020. UCBs had to reduce their exposures exceeding the new limits by March 31, 2023 B) UCBs shall have at least 50% of their aggregate loans and advances comprising loans of not more than ₹25 lakh or 0.2% of their Tier-I capital, whichever is higher, subject to a maximum of ₹1 crore, per borrower/party. C) - The exposure of UCBs to HRC loans would be limited to 10% of their total assets. The limit can be exceeded by an additional 5% for granting housing loans to individuals within priority sector eligibility limits. D) Tier 1 UCBs- up to ₹60 lakh Tier 2, 3 & 4 UCBs- up to ₹140 lakh E) - The total amount of deposits placed by a UCB with other banks (inter-bank) shall not exceed 20% of its total deposits as of March 31 of the previous year. - And deposits placed by a UCB with any single bank shall not exceed 5 per cent of its total deposits as of March 31 of the previous year. F) Placement/Acceptance criteria for UCBs for accepting deposits from other UCBs: i. Applicable minimum CRAR plus 1%. ii. Gross NPAs of less than 7% and Net NPAs of not more than 3%. iii. Net profit for at least 3 out of the preceding 4 years subject to it not having incurred a net loss in the immediately preceding year. iv. No default in the maintenance of CRR / SLR during the preceding financial year. v. Sound internal control system with at least two professional directors on the Board. vi. Core Banking Solution (CBS) fully implemented. Phase-out plan if the UCBs do not meet the criteria: i. UCBs have to phase out 10% of deposits by March 31 of the financial year in which the UCB became ineligible to accept such deposits, and 40%, 70% and 100% by the end of the following financial years. ii. During the phase-out period, such UCBs shall not accept further deposits from UCBs and shall not open new deposit accounts of UCBs. The renewal of existing deposits is allowed subject to compliance with the phase-out plan mentioned above. iii. in case the concerned UCB again attains the criteria prescribed in paragraph (a), it shall be eligible to accept deposits from UCBs and will not be required to implement the phase-out plan. G) The total unsecured loans and advances (with surety or without surety or for cheque purchase) granted by a UCB to its members should not exceed 10% of its total assets as per the audited balance sheet as of 31 March of the preceding financial year. UCBs can grant loans/Advances for up to 35% of their total assets as per the audited balance sheet at the end of the preceding financial year, subject to the following conditions: - The priority sector loan portfolio should not be less than 90% of the gross loans - It shall comprise priority sector loans and the exposure to any individual borrower shall not exceed ₹40,000/- - CRAR of not less than 9% as per the latest Inspection Report and audited financial statements. - Gross NPAs of not more than 7% as per the latest Inspection Report and audited financial statements. H) - In terms of Section 20(1)(a) of the Banking Regulation Act, 1949, a primary (urban) cooperative bank cannot grant loans and advances on the security of its own shares. Section 20A (1) of the Banking Regulation Act, 1949 (As applicable to Co-operative Societies) stipulates that a UCB shall not, except with the prior approval of the Reserve Bank, remit in whole or in part any debt due to it by - 1. any of its past or present directors, or 2. any firm or company in which any of its directors is interested as director, partner, managing agent or guarantor, or 3. any individual, if any of its directors is his partner or guarantor. In terms of Section 20A (2) of the said Act, any remission made in contravention of the provisions of sub-section (1) above shall be void and of no effect. I) UCBs shall not make, provide or renew any loans and advances or extend any other financial accommodation to or on behalf of their directors or their relatives, or to the firms/companies/concerns in which the directors or their relatives are interested (collectively called as “director related loans”). Further, the directors or their relatives or the firms/companies/concerns in which the directors or their relatives are interested shall also not stand as surety/guarantor to the loans and advances or any other financial accommodation sanctioned by UCBs. The following categories of Director related loans are exempted from the purview of the above instructions: 1. Regular employee-related loans to staff Directors, if any, on the Boards of UCBs; 2. Normal loans, as applicable to members, to the Directors on the Boards of Salary Earners' UCBs; 3. Normal employee-related loans to Managing Directors/ Chief Executive Officers of UCBs; 4. Loans to Directors and their relatives against Government Securities, Fixed Deposits and Life Insurance policies standing in their own name.

Answer 53

Ans- ** - Licensed Tier 3 and Tier 4 Primary (Urban) Co-operative Banks will be eligible for inclusion in the Second Schedule of the RBI Act, 1934 - CRAR of at least 3% more than the minimum CRAR requirement applicable to the UCB - And no major regulatory and supervisory concerns. ** a. The CRAR shall be at least 1% point above the minimum CRAR applicable to a UCB as of the reference date; b. Net NPA of not more than 3%; c. Net profit for at least three out of the preceding four years subject to it not having incurred a net loss in the immediate preceding year; d. No default in the maintenance of CRR / SLR during the preceding financial year; e. Sound internal control system with at least two professional directors on the Board; f. Core Banking Solution (CBS) fully implemented; and g. No monetary penalty should have been imposed on the bank on account of violation of RBI directives/guidelines during the last two financial years. The Basel-3 norms have prescribed a minimum CRAR of 8% but in India, RBI has prescribed a CRAR of 9% for Scheduled Commercial Banks and 12% for Public Sector Banks.

Answer 54

Ans- ** - AD Category-I banks are permitted to remit advance payment on behalf of Qualified Jewellers as notified by International Financial Services Centres Authority (IFSCA) for 11 days for import of gold through India International Bullion Exchange IFSC Ltd (IIBX). - Valid Tariff Rate Quota (TRQ) holders under the India-United Arab Emirates (UAE) Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) as notified by the IFSCA have been permitted to import gold under specific Indian Trade Classification (ITC)(HS) codes through IIBX against the Tariff Rate Quota (TRQ). - AD Category-I banks may allow valid TRQ holders under the India-UAE CEPA to remit advance payment for 11 days for the import of gold through IIBX against the TRQ ** The directions contained in this Circular have been issued under Section 10(4) and Section 11(1) of the Foreign Exchange Management Act (FEMA), 1999 (42 of 1999).

Answer 55

Ans- ** The index for September 2023 stands at 418.77 as against 395.57 for March 2023, which was announced on July 27, 2023 ** Base Year- 2018, Base value- 100 ** The RBI-DPI comprises 5 broad parameters that enable measurement of the deepening and penetration of digital payments in the country over different time periods. These parameters are – (i) Payment Performance (45%), (ii) Payment Enablers (weight 25%) (iii) Payment Infrastructure – Supply-side factors (15%), (iv) Payment Infrastructure – Demand-side factors (10%), (v) Consumer Centricity (5%). Each of these parameters has sub-parameters which, in turn, consist of various measurable indicators

Answer 56

Ans- ** IOS survey- 105th Round. The survey assesses business sentiment based on qualitative responses on a set of indicators pertaining to demand conditions, financial conditions, employment conditions and the price situation. SIOS survey- 40th Round. The survey assesses the business situation for the current quarter (Q4:2023-24) from selected companies in the services and infrastructure sectors in India and their expectations for the ensuing quarter (Q1:2024-25) based on qualitative responses on a set of indicators pertaining to demand conditions, financial conditions, employment conditions and the price situation. The outlook on key parameters for the two subsequent quarters (Q2:2024-25 and Q3:2024-25) is also covered. ** M/s Genesis Management & Market Research Pvt. Ltd

Answer 57

Ans- * - Card issuers shall not enter into any arrangement or agreement with card networks that restrain them from availing the services of other card networks. - Card issuers shall provide an option to their eligible customers to choose from multiple card networks at the time of issue. [CHOICE DIRECTIVE]. The CHOICE directive shall not be applicable to credit card issuers with the number of active cards issued by them being 10 lacks or less in number. * Section 10 (2) and 18 of the Payment and Settlement System Act, 2007 Card networks, also known as payment networks or payment processing networks, are organizations that facilitate the transfer of funds between merchants, card issuers (such as banks or financial institutions), and cardholders during electronic transactions. These networks provide the infrastructure and technology necessary to process payments made with credit, debit, prepaid, and other types of payment cards. Examples of prominent card networks include Rupay, Visa, Mastercard, American Express, Discover, UnionPay, and JCB (Japan Credit Bureau).

Answer 58

Ans- * Legal Structure: The applicant must be a not-for-profit company registered under Section 8 of the Companies Act, 2013. It should have adequate net worth and infrastructure to fulfil SRO responsibilities continually. Shareholding should be sufficiently diversified, with no entity holding 10% or more of its paid-up share capital. Sector Representation: The applicant must represent the sector and have specified membership or submit a roadmap to attain it within a reasonable timeframe. Professional Competence and Integrity: The applicant and its directors must demonstrate professional competence, fairness, and integrity to the satisfaction of the Reserve Bank. They should not be involved in any legal proceedings detrimental to sector interests, nor have convictions for offences, including moral turpitude/economic offences. Fit and Proper Criteria: The applicant must be fit and proper for SRO recognition in all aspects, agreeing to function according to the prescribed objectives and responsibilities. * 1/3rd of the board

Answer 59

Ans- ** ₹150000 crore. The Reserve Bank of India may trigger fresh floatation of market loans when the Government of India utilises 75% of the WMA limit. ** Interest rate: Repo Rate, Overdraft: 2% above the Repo Rate ** Within 3 months Ways & Means Advance (WMA) is a short-term credit facility provided by the RBI to state and central governments for their mismatch in receipts and expenditures. They are provided for short-term and have to be repaid within 3 months from the date of receiving. - WMAs are meant for temporary mismatches, not to finance long-term government spending. - They can be helpful for unforeseen situations where the government's income falls short or there are delays in tax collection. The Two Types of WMAs are: a- Normal WMA: These are clean loans provided against the government's creditworthiness. There's no collateral involved. b- Special WMA (SWMA): These are secured loans provided against the government securities held by the state. They come with a slightly lower interest rate compared to normal WMAs.

Answer 60

Ans- ** UDGAM refers to Unclaimed Deposits-Gateway to Access Information, which is an online portal developed by RBI. It facilitates the registered users to search unclaimed deposits/accounts across multiple banks in one place in a centralised manner. Users cannot claim unclaimed deposits from the UDGAM portal or the RBI. It facilitates only a) the search of unclaimed deposits/accounts across multiple banks in one place and b) provides information on the claim/settlement process of each bank (which will be available in the search result). ** There are 30 banks part of the UDGAM portal and they cover 90% of unclaimed deposits ** a. Individuals: For searching unclaimed deposits in the individual category, a user has to provide inputs such as the name of the account holder, the name of the bank (one or more banks can be selected) and any one or more of the five inputs viz., Permanent Account Number (PAN), Driving License Number, Voter ID Number, Passport Number and Date of Birth of the account holder. b. Non-Individuals: For searching unclaimed deposits in the non-individual category, a user has to provide inputs such as name of the entity, name of the bank (one or more banks can be selected) and any one or more of the four inputs viz., Name of the authorised signatory, PAN, Corporate Identification Number (CIN) and Date of Incorporation. Even if none of the above mentioned information is available, the user can type the address of the account holder or the entity (as the case may be), in place of these inputs mentioned above for undertaking the search.

Answer 61

- "The Depositor Education and Awareness Fund (DEA Fund) Scheme, 2014" was created by the Reserve Bank of India under Section 26A of the Banking Regulation (BR) Act, 1949 to promote financial literacy by raising awareness among depositors for their rights, responsibilities and options related to banking and financial services. - This scheme establishes the Depositor Education and Awareness Fund (Fund), which is funded by unclaimed deposits and unclaimed amounts in deposit accounts of banks that have remained inactive or dormant for 10 years or more by the depositor. - The funds accumulated under the DEAF Scheme are utilized for various activities and initiatives aimed at promoting depositor education and awareness.

Answer 62

** - It was launched by the Department of School Education and Literacy (DoSEL), Ministry of Education To inspire the youth of the country to become “catalysts of change”. - Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s first school in his hometown Vadnagar in the Mehsana district of Gujarat is being developed as a model school called “PRERANA”. - The Prerna School will offer a 5-day programme of Experiential and immersive learning to Students of Grades IX to XII. The week-long camp/programme at Prerana School is a journey of inspiration to invoke the 3 following fundamental themes: a) Who am I? b) What is our history and Cultural Heritage? c) What can I do for my country? ** It held for five batches of 20 participants each from five states and one Union Territory: Haryana, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Gujarat and UT of Daman and Diu

Answer 63

Ans- A) Outlay- ₹400 crore, Tenure- till FY2025-26 B) Support will be provided under the Mission for the following types of projects: 1. Mission Mode Projects with short-term (0-5 years) horizon. 2. Grand Challenge Projects with a mid-term (0-8 years) impact horizon. 3. Blue Sky Projects have a long-term (0-15 years) horizon. 4. Centers of Excellence C) - Upto 100% of the total project cost will be provided to Academic Institutions, Universities, Government/Non-profit research organizations, and Academia/National R&D lab partners. - Upto 80% of the total project cost will be provided to Private institutes/research organizations and industries. D) The Pattern of release of Central Financial Assistance (CFA) will be on a milestone basis: - up to 30% of the total assistance excluding the institutional overheads would be released along with the sanction depending on the requirement of equipment in the project. - The balance assistance excluding the institutional overheads would be sanctioned as per the annual allocation based on the progress/milestone achieved in the project. E) - Overhead charges are restricted up to 8% of the project cost for the projects costing up to Rs. 1 Crore. - In case of the project cost of Rs. 1 to 5 Crore, the overhead charges will be 8% of the project cost or Rs. 15 lakh whichever is less. - In case of the project cost of more than Rs. 5 Crore, the quantum and overhead charges will be decided/approved by the MNRE on a case-to-case basis

Answer 64

** Tenure- It will be implemented for a period of eight years from FY2023-2024 to FY2030-2031 by the Department of Science and Technology, Ministry of Science and Technology. Outlay- ₹6003 crore, Tenure- 2023-24 to 30-31 ** - The Mission aims to seed, nurture and scale up scientific and industrial R&D and create a vibrant & innovative ecosystem in Quantum Technology (QT). - The Mission objectives include developing intermediate-scale quantum computers with 50-1000 physical qubits in 8 years in various platforms like superconducting and photonic technology. - Mission Implementation includes setting up four Thematic Hubs (T-Hubs) in top academic and National R&D institutes in the domains of quantum Computing, Quantum Communication, Quantum Sensing & Metrology and Quantum Materials & Devices. The hubs will focus on the generation of new knowledge through basic and applied research as well as promote R&D in areas that are mandated to them.

Answer 65

** 10 GWh ** It was launched in 2021 by the Ministry of Heavy Industries with an outlay of ₹18100 crore. It aims to achieve the manufacturing capacity of Fifty (50) giga-watt hours (GWh) of the ACC. ** The beneficiary firm has to ensure achieving a domestic value addition of at least 25% and raise it to 60% within 5 Years while also making the mandatory investment of Rupee 225 crore /GWh for committed capacity within 2 Years.

Answer 66

– Listed SFBs with a Schedules status with a net worth of ₹1000 crore - Gross NPA of 3% or less and Net NPA of 1% or less in the past 2 financial years - SFBs must have reported a net profit in the past 2 financial years and must have met the prescribed capital adequacy norms - Should have operated for at least 5 years as SFBs

Answer 67

Ans- a) - The Chair of the board shall be an independent director and In the absence of the Chair of the board, the meetings of the board shall be chaired by an independent director. - At least half of the directors attending the meetings of the board shall be independent directors. b) The quorum for the board meetings shall be one-third of the total strength of the board or three directors, whichever is higher. c) - The ACB shall be constituted with only non-executive directors (NEDs) and at least two-thirds of the members attending the meeting of the ACB shall be independent directors. The meetings of the ACB shall be chaired by an independent director who shall not chair any other committee of the Board. - The Chair of the Board shall not be a member of the ACB. - The ACB shall meet at least once a quarter with a quorum of three members. - The Chair of the ACB shall not be a member of any committee of the board which has a mandate of sanctioning credit exposures. D) - The board shall constitute an RMCB with a majority of NEDs (Non-Executive Directors). - The RMCB shall meet with a quorum of three members. - At least half of the members attending the meeting of the RMCB shall be independent directors of which at least one member shall have professional expertise/ qualification in risk management. - Meetings of RMCB shall be chaired by an independent director who shall not be a Chair of the board or any other committee of the board. - The Chair of the board may be a member of the RMCB only if he/she has the requisite risk management expertise. - The RMCB shall meet at least once in each quarter. E) - The board shall constitute an NRC made up of only NEDs. - The NRC shall meet with a quorum of three members. - At least half of the members attending the meeting of the NRC shall be independent directors, of which one shall be a member of the RMCB (Risk Management Committee of the Board). - The meetings of the NRC shall be chaired by an independent director. - The Chair of the Board shall not chair the NRC. F) Age Limit- 75 years Tenure- 8 years. After completing eight years on the board of a bank the person may be considered for re-appointment only after a minimum gap of three years. G) Up to ₹30 lakh per annum will be provided to NEDs as their sitting fees and expenses H) 15 years. The individual will be eligible for reappointment for a minimum gap of 3 years. MD&CEO or WTD who is also a promoter/ major shareholder, cannot hold these posts for more than 12 years. However, in extraordinary circumstances, at the sole discretion of the Reserve Bank such MD&CEO or WTDs may be allowed to continue up to 15 years I) The overall age limit is 70 years and Within the overall limit of 70 years, as part of their internal policy, individual bank Boards are free to prescribe a lower retirement age for the WTDs, including the MD&CEO.

Answer 68

a) - Banks should, at all times, have at least two professional directors on the board - They should have suitable banking experience (at the middle/senior management level) or relevant professional qualifications in the fields of law, accountancy or finance. b) less than ₹100 crore c)- UCBs having asset size of ₹5000 crore or above (as of March 31 of the previous year) are advised to set up a Risk Management Committee (of the Board). - The Board shall decide the membership, scope of work and frequency of meetings of the Risk Management Committee. d) - Those contesting for directorship in urban banks should have been members for a minimum period of two years. - Similarly, members contesting for election to the Board should have had a minimum deposit of any type of Rs. 500 in the urban bank concerned for a minimum period of two years continuously. e) members of a primary (urban) cooperative bank should be permitted to participate in the election of its Board of Management only after being members for a minimum period of 12 months from the date of enrollment. f) The number of such representatives should not exceed one-third of the total number of directors or three, whichever is less.

Answer 69

A) 1) Shortages of notes in soiled note remittances and shortages of notes and coins in currency chest balances: - For notes in denomination up to ₹50: ₹50/- per piece in addition to the loss. - For notes in denomination of ₹100 & above: Equal to the value of the denomination per piece in addition to the loss. - For coins in all denominations: Equal to the value of the denomination per piece in addition to the loss. The recovery of loss and imposition of penalty shall be done immediately on detection of shortage, irrespective of the number of pieces. 2) Counterfeit notes detected in soiled note remittances and currency chest balances: - Penalty at 100% of the notional value of Counterfeit Notes, in addition to the recovery of loss to the extent of the notional value of such notes, will be imposed 3) Mutilated notes (including deliberately cut notes and built-up notes) detected in soiled note remittances and currency chest balances: ₹50/- per piece irrespective of the denomination in addition to the loss. The recovery of loss and imposition of penalty shall be done immediately on detection, irrespective of the number of pieces. B) - Penalty of ₹5,000/- for each instance of irregularity. - Penalty shall be enhanced to ₹10,000/- in case of repetition/recurrence of irregularity in consecutive inspection cycles or earlier Penalties in this domain pertain to: 1) Non-functioning of CCTV, non-compliance with rules/guidelines pertaining to CCTV, recording preservation period and related issues 2) Branch cash/documents kept in the strong room (CC’s vault) 3) Non-utilisation of Note Sorting Machines (NSMs) for sorting of notes (NSMs not used for sorting of high denomination notes, i.e. notes of denomination ₹100 and above, received over the counter or not used for sorting notes remitted to chest / RBI) 4) Non-conduct of surprise verification of currency chest balances - at (i) bimonthly intervals by officials unconnected with the operations of currency chest, and (ii) six-monthly intervals by officials from the Controlling Office Penalty C) - ₹10,000/- for any violation of the agreement or deficiency of service. - ₹5 lakh in case there are more than 5 instances of violation of agreement/deficiency in service by the currency chest/branch in consecutive inspection cycles or earlier. The levy of such penalty shall be placed in the public domain. Penalties in this domain pertain to: 1) Non-issue of coins over the counter to any member of the public despite having stock. 2) Refusal by any bank branch to exchange soiled notes/refusal by any currency chest branch to adjudicate mutilated notes tendered by any member of the public. 3) Denial of facilities/services to linked branches / linked CCs of other banks. 4) Non-acceptance of lower denomination notes (i.e. denomination of ₹50 and below) tendered by members of the public and linked bank branches for exchange/deposit. 5) Detection by RBI of mutilated, built-up, counterfeit notes in reissuable packets prepared by the currency chest branches. D) ₹10000 per ATM

Answer 70

A) - Capital Cost reimbursement of 50% of capital expenditure (inclusive of all taxes) subject to a ceiling of ₹50 lakh per CC. In the North Eastern region, up to 100% of capital expenditure is eligible for reimbursement subject to the ceiling of ₹50 lakh (inclusive of all taxes). - Revenue cost Reimbursement of 50% of revenue expenditure (inclusive of all taxes) for the first 3 years. In the North Eastern region, 50% of revenue expenditure (inclusive of all taxes) is eligible for reimbursement for the first 5 years. B) - Exchange of soiled notes – ₹2/- per packet for exchange of soiled notes in denominations up to ₹50/- and below. - Adjudication of mutilated notes – ₹2/- per piece. C) - ₹65/- per bag for distribution of coins. - An additional incentive of ₹10/- per bag shall be paid for coin distribution in rural and semi-urban areas on the submission of a Concurrent Auditor (CA) certificate to this effect D) Service charge to be levied by the CC on the non-chest branches - Large modern CCs – ₹8/- per 100 pieces. - Other CCs – ₹5/- per 100 pieces. E) - Chest Balance Limit of at least ₹10 billion - Area of the strong room/ vault of at least 1500 sq ft and the Area of the strong room/vault should be at least 600 sq ft for those situated in hilly/inaccessible places states. - Processing capacity of 6,60,000 pieces of banknotes per day. For those situated in the hilly/ inaccessible places, capacity of 2,10,000 pieces of banknotes per day. - Amenability to the adoption of automation and adaptability to implement IT solutions.

Answer 71

** ₹1 lakh and thereafter, in the multiples of ₹50000 ** Penalty- ₹50000 Penal interest- 2% over the prevailing bank rate ** The currency chests shall invariably report all transactions through the CyM-CC portal on the same day by 7 pm

Answer 72

A) Prabhakar Rao Committee B) Pension-paying banks should compensate the pensioner for delay in crediting pension/ arrears thereof at a fixed interest rate of 8% per annum for the delay after the due date of payment and the compensation shall be credited to the pensioner's account automatically without any claim from the pensioner on the same day

Answer 73

A) Section 45 of the RBI Act, 1934 B) Receipts- Physical Mode: ₹40 per transaction Receipts- e-Mode: ₹9 per transaction Pension payments: ₹75 per transaction Payments other than Pension: 6.5 paise per ₹100 turnover - The number of transactions eligible for payment of agency commission should not exceed 14 per pensioner per year. - Agency banks are advised to furnish their claim on agency commission to the Reserve Bank within 60 calendar days from the end of the quarter in which the transactions have been conducted - Agency banks will be liable to pay penal interest at the Bank Rate as notified by the Reserve Bank of India plus 2% for any wrong claims of agency commission settled

Answer 74

Against the price risk of Gold.

Answer 75

- Validity period of at least 3 working days for loans having a tenor of 7 days or more - Validity period of 1 working day for loans having a tenor of less than 7 days The validity period refers to the period available to the borrower, after being provided the KFS by the RE, to agree to the terms of the loan.

Answer 76

** - Banks provide finance up to ₹15,000/- at a concessional rate of interest of 4% per annum to the weaker sections of the community for engaging in productive and gainful activities. - Banks are advised to grant at least 2/5th of the total advances under the DRI scheme to SC/STs - Members of SCs/STs satisfying the income criteria of the scheme can also avail of housing loans up to ₹20,000/- per beneficiary over and above the individual loan of ₹15,000/- available under the scheme. ** The size of land holding should not exceed 1 acre of irrigated land and 2.5 acres of unirrigated land, these do not apply to SCs/STs The Differential Rate of Interest (DRI) scheme is a social banking initiative aimed at providing financial assistance to the economically weaker sections of society at a concessional rate of interest. Launched in 1972, the scheme's primary objective is to ensure access to credit for marginalized individuals who might otherwise be excluded from the formal financial system. The scheme primarily focuses on economically disadvantaged groups, including Scheduled Castes (SC), Scheduled Tribes (ST), and other backward classes (OBC)

Answer 77

A) – Loans up to ₹10 lakh to individual SHG members. Eligibility: SHGs which are more than 2 years old and have accessed 1 dose of a bank loan with timely repayment. - One woman in every SHG under DAY-NRLM may be provided a loan up to ₹1 lakh under the MUDRA Scheme if she is otherwise eligible. - minimum Overdraft Facility of ₹5000 to every woman SHG member having a PMJDY account in accordance with the guidelines issued by the Indian Banks’ Association (IBA) B) For loans outstanding up to ₹5 lakh, for a maximum period of 5 years. In case of a loan amount exceeding ₹5 lakh, reimbursement of credit guarantee fees will be done in proportion to the loan amount. c) - Women entrepreneurs making prompt repayment of credit to financial institutions will be provided 2% interest subvention up to ₹1.5 lakh for a maximum duration of 3 years. - All banks extending credit for enterprises fully or partially owned by women Self Help Group members under DAY-NRLM at an interest rate equivalent to (1-year MCLR + max 3% spread) or a maximum of 14% per annum will be eligible to claim interest subvention under this scheme d) Indian Bank

Answer 78

** Increase by 4.9% to USD 341 billion. However, net services exports grew at a robust pace of 13.6% to USD 162.8 billion ** Decreased by 2% to USD 178.3 billion USD

Answer 79

** increased by 40% from 408 mt in 2019 to 612 mt in March end 2024 ** From 7.37% to 8.15% **USD 641 billion

Answer 80

from 10 million USD to 100 million USD

Answer 81

a) Total UCBs- 1502 Total Branches- 10117 Total Deposits- ₹5.3 trillion Total Advances- ₹3.3 trillion b) Maharashtra has the highest number of UCBs with a total of 475 c) increased by more than 25% from ₹1.73 trillion in FY2022 to ₹2.2 trillion in FY2023 d) - The target is 65% for FY2024-25 and 75% for FY2025-26. However, UCBs had already achieved 66.88% in FY23.

Answer 82

** - Non-banks providing Physical-PA services as of the date of this circular, shall have a minimum net worth of ₹15 crores at the time of submitting the application to the RBI for authorisation and a minimum net worth of ₹25 crores by March 31, 2028. The net worth of ₹25 crore shall be maintained at all times thereafter. - New non-bank Physical-PA (i.e. entities which have not commenced operations before the date of this circular) shall have a minimum net worth of ₹15 crores at the time of submitting the application to the RBI for authorisation and shall attain a minimum net worth of ₹25 crores by end of the third financial year of grant of authorisation ** “Entities which onboard merchants and facilitate aggregation of payments made by customers to such merchants, for purchase of goods and services, using one or more payment channels, in online or physical Point of Sale payment modes through a merchant’s interface (physical or virtual), and subsequently settle the collected funds to such merchants.” Simple Definition: Payment Aggregators (PAs) are third-party platforms that facilitate transactions between merchants and customers by providing a unified interface to process payments through various mechanisms such as card payments, UPI, Bank transfer and digital wallets in a physical Point-of-Sale (PoS) or online in an e-commerce platform. a. Online PAs (PA – O): PAs which facilitate e-commerce transactions in non-delivery versus Payment mode. b. PA – physical Point-of-Sale (PA – P): PAs which facilitate face-to-face/proximity payment for Delivery vs Payment transactions. ** Merchant: Entities which sell/provide goods and services purchased by the customer. They include a marketplace also. a. Small merchants: Physical merchants (those undertaking only proximity/face-to-face transactions) with business turnover less than the threshold limit of Rs. 5 lacks per annum and not registered under Goods and Services Tax. b. Medium merchants: Merchants (physical / online), excluding small merchants, with business turnover less than the threshold limit of Rs. 40 lahks per annum or from ₹5 lakhs to less than ₹40 lakh per annum. Such merchants are not registered under Goods and Services Tax.

Answer 83

G-Sec- 6% of the total outstanding securities in 2024-25 State Government Securities- 2% of the total outstanding securities in 2024-25 Corporate Bonds- 15% of the total outstanding securities in 2024-25 Credit Default Swap- 5% of the outstanding securities in corporate bonds.

Answer 84

** The three pillars are: a) Prepare and Protect b) Build Resilience c) Learn and Adapt These three pillars include 17 indicators ** 1st line of defence- Business Unit Management 2nd Line of defence- Organisational Operational Risk Management function including compliance function 3rd Line of defence- Audit function A RE should set at least one impact tolerance metric for each of its critical operations. At a minimum, there should be a (a) time-based metric (e.g., maximum acceptable duration a critical operation can withstand a disruption), (b) quantity-based metric (e.g., maximum extent of data loss that an RE would accept as a result of disruption) and (c) service level metric (e.g., minimum level of service that an RE would maintain while operating under alternative arrangements.)

Answer 85

* ** - Under the initiative, rural women are trained to become drone pilots for agricultural purposes. * - The initiative aims to enhance economic empowerment and financial autonomy among women, especially in rural areas. * - The initiative aims to equip 15,000 women-led Self-Help Groups (SHGs) with agricultural drones to assist in tasks such as crop monitoring, spraying fertilisers and sowing seeds. This will also provide additional income opportunities for many women.

Answer 86

** The Maharatna scheme was introduced in May 2010, The following are the eligibility criteria: i) Having Navratna status. (ii) Listed on the Indian stock exchange with a minimum prescribed public shareholding of 25% as prescribed under SEBI regulations. (iii) Average annual turnover of more than Rs. 25,000 crore, during the last 3 years. (iv) Average annual net worth of more than Rs. 15,000 crore, during the last 3 years. (v) Average annual net profit after tax of more than Rs. 5,000 crore, during the last 3 years. (vi) Should have significant global presence/international operations. ** - Navratna scheme was launched in 1997. The government grants Navratna status to CPSEs that have obtained an “excellent” or “very good” memorandum of understanding (MoU) rating in three of the past five years. They --- - They should also have a composite score of 60 or above in six selected performance indicators which are: (i) net profit to net worth, (ii) manpower cost to total cost of production/services, (iii) profit before depreciation, interest and taxes to capital employed, (iv) profit before interest and taxes to turnover, (v) earning per share and (vi) inter-sectoral performance. ** The Miniratna scheme was launched in 1997. Miniratnas are divided into two categories. - Category I Miniratna status is considered for those CPSEs that have made a profit in the past three years continuously, with a pre-tax profit of ₹30 crore or more in at least one of the three years, and have a positive net worth. - Category II Miniratnas are those CPSEs that have made a profit for the past three years continuously and have a positive net worth. - Miniratna CPSEs should not have defaulted in the repayment of loans or interest payment on any loan due to the government, and they should not depend upon budgetary support or government guarantees - Maharatna- 13 Navratna- 20 Miniratna Category 1- 54, Miniratna Category 2- 11

Answer 87

** - The RBI’s Retail Direct Scheme was launched in Nov 2021 to enable individual investors to invest in various government securities such as T-Bills, Dated-G-Sec, State Development loans (SDL) and Sovereign Gold Bond (SGB) schemes. It requires investors to open a Retail Direct Gilt (RDG) account with the RBI, enabling them access to the RBI’s NDS-OM retail portal which facilitates the trading of government securities. - An individual can open only one RDG account. The RDG account can be opened singly or jointly with another retail investor who meets the eligibility criteria. - The Gilt account is opened by an investor with a bank or a Primary Dealer (PD). Banks and Primary Dealers further open a Constituents' Subsidiary General Ledger (CSGL) account with the RBI. Thus banks and PDs act as custodians of investors or Gilt Account Holders and maintain holdings of their constituents in a CSGL account with the RBI ** Treasury Bills: Minimum- ₹10000, Maximum -5% of the aggregate nominal amount of the issue within the notified amount as specified by the Government of India, or any other percentage determined by RBI Government of India Dated Securities (G-Sec): Minimum- ₹10000 Maximum- ₹2 crore (face value) per security per auction State Development Loans (SDL): Minimum- ₹10000 Maximum- 1% of the notified amount (face value) per auction Sovereign Gold Bonds (SGBs): Minimum- 1 gram of gold Maximum- 4 grams of gold per fiscal year

Answer 88

** - ₹2.11 trillion. The dividend transfer is well above the budgeted figure of ₹1.02 trillion in the Interim Budget for 2024-25 (FY25), which includes dividends from both the RBI and financial institutions. - According to economists, the larger surplus was due to higher income in FY24, both from domestic and foreign assets, which increased its profit - The higher-than-budgeted RBI surplus transfer would help to boost the Government of India's resource envelope in FY25, allowing for enhanced expenditures or a sharper fiscal consolidation ** 6.5% of its balance sheet

Answer 89

A) Banks: All commercial banks with a deposit size of ₹50 Crore and above, as on the date of the audited balance sheet of the previous financial year NBFCs: All Non-Banking Financial Companies (excluding Housing Finance Companies) which (a) are authorized to accept deposits; or (b) have customer interface, with an assets size of ₹100 crore and above as of the date of the audited balance sheet of the previous financial year are eligible under the scheme Note: Core Investment Companies, Infrastructure Debt Fund-Non-banking Financial Companies, Non-Banking Financial Companies-Infrastructure Finance Companies, companies in resolution or winding up / liquidation, or any other NBFC specified by RBI are excluded from the ambit of the RB-IOS, 2021. B) The appointment of the Ombudsman or the Deputy Ombudsman shall be made for a period not exceeding 3 years at a time. - An RBI Ombudsman is a senior official of RBI appointed by RBI to redress the complaints from customers of the REs against “deficiency in service” - “Deficiency in service” means a shortcoming or an inadequacy in any financial service or such other services related thereto, which the RE is required to provide statutorily or otherwise, which may or may not result in financial loss or damage to the customer. - A Deputy Ombudsman is a senior officer appointed by RBI to assist the RBI Ombudsman C) - Compensation up to ₹20 lakh will be provided to the complainant for the consequential losses (Secondary losses) Consequential loss refers to secondary damages that occur as a result of the primary issue or dispute. For example, if the primary dispute is about a financial transaction, consequential losses could include lost business opportunities or additional financial burdens that resulted from the original problem. - An additional compensation of up to ₹1 lakh will be provided to the complainant for the loss of the complainant’s time, expenses incurred and for harassment/mental anguish suffered by the complainant - There is no limit on the amount involved in the dispute that can be addressed by the ombudsman

Answer 90

– Bank of India - Central Bank of India - Canara Bank - Utkarsh Small Finance Bank

Answer 91

** - Outlay for implementation of the scheme in the steel sector is ₹455 crore till FY2029-30 - The scheme will be implemented by Mecon Ltd in the steel sector. Three Thrust Areas under the Scheme for using Hydrogen in the Steel Sector are: Scheme-A: Pilot project to produce Direct Reduced Iron (DRI) using only hydrogen in a vertical shaft furnace. Scheme-B: Use of Hydrogen in Blast Furnace. Scheme-C: Injection of Hydrogen in DRI-making unit. ** Outlay for the implementation of the scheme in the Shipping sector is ₹115 crore till FY2025-26

Answer 92

** - The GREAT scheme aims to foster innovation in the technical textile sector by leveraging startups for R&D and commercialization of new products and technologies in the technical textiles sector. - Under the GREAT scheme, the Ministry of Textiles provides grant-in-aid funding of up to ₹50 lakh per startup ** ₹6.4 lakhs

Answer 93

** The outlay of the scheme is ₹7453 crore, which includes: - ₹6853 crore for installation of 1 Gw of Osshore Wind energy, 500 Mw each off the coasts of Gujarat and Tamil Nadu - ₹600 crore for the upgradation of two ports to meet the logistics requirements for offshore wind energy projects **Power Grid Corporation of India Ltd (PGCIL) ** It aims to support the development of an initial 37 GW of offshore wind energy in India at an investment of about ₹450,000 crore.

Answer 94

** - The Krishi Sakhi Convergence Program (KSCP) is a transformative initiative by the Government of India. It empowers rural women by transforming them into Para-extension Workers by imparting them with training and certification of Krishi Sakhis. - It provides training related to agro-ecological practices, soil health, livestock management, and integrated farming systems. After certification, they can engage in activities related to soil health, crop demonstrations, crop insurance, and horticulture awareness. - As of date 34,000 Krishi Sakhis out of 70,000 have been certified as Para Extension Workers ** The Krishi Sakhi Training Program has been rolled out in 12 states in Phase – 1 which include Gujarat, Tamil Nadu, Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Karnataka, Maharashtra, Rajasthan, Odisha, Jharkhand, Andhra Pradesh, and Meghalaya ** Currently, 30 KSs are working as Local Resource Persons under the Mission Organic Value Chain Development for the North Eastern Region and getting INR 4500 per month. ** The program aims to create 3 crore ‘Lakhpati Didis’ by 2024

Answer 95

** Tenure- 2024-25 to 2028-29 Outlay- ₹2254 crore ** Objectives - To Strengthen the criminal forensic infrastructure to aid an efficient criminal justice system. - to address the shortage of trained forensic manpower, reduce caseload, and align with the goal of achieving a high conviction rate of more than 90% Components: - Establishment of 9 off-Campuses of the National Forensic Sciences University (NFSU) in the country. - Establishment of 7 Central Forensic Science Laboratories in the country. - Enhancement of existing infrastructure at the Delhi Campus of the NFSU.

Answer 96

Outlay- ₹1800 crore. The project will be implemented in 90 Blocks across 20 districts of J&K and will have the project outreach of 300,000 households covering 15 lakh beneficiaries.

Answer 97

₹10000 crore

Answer 98

“Safai Apnao, Bimari Bhagao” campaign was launched under the Swachh Bharat Mission Urban 2.0

Answer 99

- According to draft norms, every exporter should furnish a declaration specifying the amount of the full export value of the goods or services. - The amount representing the full export value of goods and services shall be realised and repatriated to India within 9 months from the date of shipment for goods and date of invoice for services These changes aim to promote ease of doing business, especially for small exporters and importers, while empowering Authorized Dealer banks to provide quicker and more efficient services to foreign exchange customers.

Answer 100

MSME Team initiative- It aims to facilitate 5 lakh micro and small enterprises for onboarding on to the ONDC platform by providing financial assistance for onboarding, cataloguing, account management, logistics, packaging material and design. Yashasvini Campaign- It is a series of mass awareness campaign to empower women-owned informal micro enterprises. It will provide capacity building, training, handholding and mentorship to the women owned enterprises.

Answer 101

** ₹860 crore ** by 2026

Answer 102

Less than 6 months. Table D was amended and withdrawal benefits under the EPS will now depend on the number of completed months of service by the employee

Answer 103

** Custodian banks issuing IPCs will face a maximum intraday risk equivalent to 30% of the settlement amount, classified as capital market exposure (CME). This risk limit is based on the assumption of a 20% downward price movement of equities on T+1, with an additional 10% margin allocated for further potential downward price shifts. ** The issuance of IPCs by custodian banks is restricted to those with agreements granting them an inalienable right over securities for payout upon settlement. However, this clause is waived for pre-funded transactions, requiring clear rupee funds in the customer’s account or credit to the bank’s nostro account in foreign exchange deals before IPC issuance. Irrevocable Payment Commitments (IPCs) : IPCs are commitments made by custodian banks on behalf of their clients (typically institutional investors) to pay a specified amount of money for securities that their clients have agreed to purchase. These commitments are irrevocable, meaning that once issued, they cannot be withdrawn or cancelled by the custodian bank or the client. The primary purpose of IPCs is to guarantee payment for securities in capital market transactions, providing assurance to issuers and underwriters that funds will be available when the securities are delivered. This assurance facilitates the smooth execution of transactions and mitigates the risk of payment default

Answer 104

A) - Entities regulated by a financial sector regulator (including branches of foreign banks operating in India) and having an Average Aggregate Notional Amount (AANA) of outstanding NCCDs (Non-Centrally Cleared Derivatives) of ₹25,000 crore and above, on a consolidated group-wide basis. - Other resident entities having an AANA of outstanding NCCDs of ₹60,000 crore and above, on a consolidated group-wide basis. B) - Non-resident financial entities having an AANA of outstanding NCCDs of USD 3 billion and above, on a consolidated group-wide basis. - Other non-resident entities having an AANA of outstanding NCCDs of USD 8 billion and above, on a consolidated group-wide basis. Variation margin is a variable collateral payment made by clearing members, such as futures brokers, to their respective clearing houses. It is based on adverse price movements of the futures contracts these members hold. When trading futures or other derivatives, this margin helps maintain adequate risk management. It functions as a type of collateral in derivatives trading. Variation Margin shall be exchanged on an aggregate net basis. C) – Domestic entities- - Entities regulated by a financial sector regulator (including branches of foreign banks operating in India) and having an Average Aggregate Notional Amount (AANA) of outstanding NCCDs of ₹60,000 crore and above Initial Margin is a collateral which is collected when entering into a derivatives contract. Unlike the Variation margin which is adjusted daily, the Initial Margin remains constant throughout the derivatives contract. Initial Margin shall be exchanged on a gross basis without any netting of Initial Margin amounts owed by the two counterparties Foreign entities- Non-resident financial entities having an AANA of outstanding NCCDs of USD 8 billion and above The provisions of these Directions shall not be applicable to an NCCD transaction in which one of the counterparties is any of the following entities: - Government of India and State Governments; - A Foreign Sovereign - A Central Bank - Bank for International Settlements - Multilateral Development Banks (MDBs) D) 10 days E) ₹450 crore F) ₹450 crore

Answer 105

A) It provides the framework for financing projects in the Infrastructure, Non-Infrastructure and Commercial Real Estate (CRE) sectors, in three phases which are the Design phase, Construction phase and Operational phase. B) - Individual lender exposure should be less than 10% for aggregate lender exposure up to ₹1500 crore - Individual lender exposure should be 5% or ₹150 crores, whichever is higher for aggregate lender exposure above ₹1500 crore Consortium Arrangements refer to the collaboration of multiple lenders to finance large-scale projects. These arrangements help distribute the risk among several financial institutions and ensure adequate funding for significant and complex projects. C) 85% D) With pre-sanctioned standby credit facilities, lenders can fund cost overruns up to 10% of the original project cost. Additional funding without pre-sanctioned facilities will be priced at a premium, with a minimum additional risk premium of 1%. Funding Cost Overruns refer to the provision of additional financing to cover expenses that exceed the initially budgeted costs of a project during its construction phase. This ensures that projects can be completed despite unforeseen expenses. E) Within 180 days F) Lenders must maintain a general provision of 5% of the funded outstanding during the construction phase. This can be reduced to 2.5% once the project reaches the operational phase and further reduced to 1% if certain conditions are met. Provisioning for Standard Assets involves maintaining financial reserves to cover potential risks associated with project finance loans.

Answer 106

The Pradhan Mantri Annadata Aay Sanrakshan Abhiyan (PM-AASHA) is an umbrella scheme introduced by the Indian government to ensure a Minimum Support Price (MSP) for farmers. Here are the key components of PM-AASHA: Price Support Scheme (PSS): Under this component, central nodal agencies procure pulses, oilseeds, and copra, with active involvement from state governments. The Food Corporation of India (FCI) and the National Agricultural Cooperative Marketing Federation of India (NAFED) play a crucial role in implementing the scheme. The central government bears the procurement expenses and losses. Price Deficiency Payment Scheme (PDPS): In PDPS, the state compensates farmers for the difference between mandi prices and MSP. All oilseeds fall under this scheme. Unlike physical procurement, this approach focuses on direct payments to farmers. Private Procurement & Stockist Scheme (PPPS): In select pilot districts, private agencies collaborate with the government to procure oilseeds. When market prices fall below MSP, authorized private agencies purchase commodities from registered farmers. Issues Associated with the Scheme: The existing procurement infrastructure primarily supports wheat and rice, leaving other crops underserved. Awareness about MSP remains low among farmers, hindering effective implementation

Answer 107

** Fincare Small Finance Bank ** ₹5 lakh

Answer 108

A) ₹5,44,014 crore, which accounted for 56.9% of the total PUC of FDI companies that had reported in the 2022-23 round B) - Nearly half of the sample companies received direct investment from Singapore, Mauritius, and the US - Japan, the Netherlands and the United Kingdom were other major FDI source countries. - A major chunk of the sample companies belonged to the manufacturing, information and communication sectors. C) net sales of the sample companies rose by 21.1% on top of 28.6% growth in the previous year. D) ** Both raw material expenses and Operating expenses grew at the rate of 20.7% during 2022-23 ** The employee remuneration outlay increased in sync with rising business activities. The manpower-intensive services sector recorded a higher rise of 24.3% in employee remuneration compared to a 13.1% rise for the manufacturing sector E) ** Operating profits and post-tax profits rose by 17.5% and 45.2%, respectively. ** Net profit margin improved to 5.9% in 2022-23 from 4.9% the previous year F) Leverage (measured in terms of debt-to-equity ratio) of the sample FDI companies continued to decline and stood at 39.9% during 2022-23. It stood at 19.3% for manufacturing companies and 54.1% for services firms. G) External sources accounted for 52.7% of additional funding of the sample FDI companies during 2022-23 and 56% of the fresh funds were utilised in gross capital formation

Answer 109

** - The PRAVAAH (Platform for Regulatory Application, Validation and Authorization) portal is a secure and centralised web-based portal for any individual or entity to seek authorisation, license or regulatory approval on any reference made by it to the Reserve Bank. - At present, 60 application forms covering different regulatory and supervisory departments of RBI have been made available on the portal. This also includes a general-purpose form for applicants to submit their requests which are not included in any other application form. ** The retail direct portal was launched in November 2021 to facilitate retail investors to open their Retail Direct Gilt accounts with the Reserve Bank of India under the Retail Direct Scheme. The scheme allows retail investors to buy G-Secs in the primary auctions as well as buy and sell G-Secs in the secondary market.

Answer 110

- They are managed by the Reserve Bank Innovation Hub (RBIH). The FinTech Repository encourages both licensed and unregulated fintechs to contribute data, providing aggregate sectoral information, trends, and analytics. Meanwhile, the EmTech Repository focuses exclusively on RBI-regulated entities. - The FinTech Repository provides aggregate sectoral data, trends, and analytics related to fintech companies whereas - The EmTech Repository focuses on the adoption of emerging technologies by RBI-regulated entities. It will provide Insights into the use of technologies like AI, ML, Cloud Computing, DLT, and Quantum Computing. It will provide aggregated data and trends related to technology adoption, helping policymakers and industry members make informed decisions.

Answer 111

1.- Be set up as a not-for-profit company registered under Section 8 of the Companies Act, 2013. - Have diversified shareholding (i.e. No entity should hold 10% or more of its paid-up share capital, either singly or acting in concert). - Explicitly state the operation as an SRO-FT as its primary objective in its Memorandum of Association (MoA). - Minimum Net worth ₹2 crores to be achieved within one year after recognition by RBI or before commencement of operations, whichever is earlier - At least one-third of members of the Board, including the chairperson, should be independent, and without any active association with a FinTech entity. Further, the majority of non-independent directors are to be representative of FinTechs that are currently not directly regulated

Answer 112

– Single rupee term deposit of ₹3 crore or more for Scheduled Commercial banks, excluding RRBs and Small finance banks - A single rupee term deposit of ₹1 crore and more is the definition of bulk deposit for local area banks as applicable in the case of Regional Rural Banks.

Answer 113

** The Line of Credit (LoC) was approved to Guyana for USD 23.37 million ** At least 75% of the contract price for goods, works, and services must be supplied by the seller from India. The remaining 25% of goods and services may be procured by the seller from outside India for the purpose of the eligible contract.

Answer 114

Nostro Account: A domestic bank's account in a foreign bank, holding foreign currency. It is used by the domestic bank to facilitate international transactions and manage foreign currency. Vostro Account: A foreign bank's account in the domestic bank, holding the domestic currency. It is used by foreign banks to facilitate transactions in the domestic currency and manage their operations in the domestic market.

Answer 115

- A weightage of 125% will be assigned to Districts with Per Capita PSL less than ₹9000. Thus it will cover the districts where the credit flow is relatively lower. - A Weightage of 90% will be assigned to districts with Per Capita PSL of more than ₹42000. Thus it will cover the districts where the credit flow is relatively higher. These new weights are applicable from FY2025 to FY2026

Answer 116

1) Microenterprise: Investment in plant and machinery or equipment up to ₹1 crore and turnover up to ₹5 crore 2) Small enterprise: Investment in plant and machinery or equipment up to ₹10 crore and turnover does up to ₹50 crore 3) Medium enterprise: investment in plant and machinery or equipment up to ₹50 crore and turnover up to ₹250 crore

Answer 117

7. Theme 1: “Zero Financial Frauds” 1) Real-time prediction, detection and prevention of frauds in financial transactions using alternate sources of data including publicly available information. 2) Ensuring transaction anonymity in token-based (CBDC) transactions while maintaining financial system integrity. 3) Identifying mule bank accounts/ payment wallets. Theme 2: “Being Divyang Friendly” 4) Accurately identifying banknotes by the visually impaired. The winner across each problem statement will receive ₹40 lakh

Answer 118

‘Prevention and Mitigation of Financial Frauds’

Answer 119

** - On a balance of payments basis (i.e., excluding valuation effects), foreign exchange reserves increased by US$ 63.7 billion during 2023-24 as against a depletion of US$ 9.1 billion during 2022-23. Foreign exchange reserves in nominal terms (including valuation effects) increased by US$ 68.0 billion during 2023-24 as against a decrease of US$ 28.9 billion in the preceding year. - The valuation gain, primarily reflecting the rise in gold price, amounted to US$ 4.3 billion during 2023-24 as against a valuation loss of US$ 19.7 billion during 2022-23.

Answer 120

A)** It was US$ 663.8 billion, an increase of US$ 39.7 billion over its level at the end of March 2023. ** Long-term debt (with an original maturity of above one year) was placed at US$ 541.2 billion, recording an increase of US$ 45.6 billion over its level at the end of March 2023. ** It declined to 18.5% from 20.6% at March-end 2023. Similarly, the ratio of short-term debt to foreign exchange reserves declined to 19.0% at end-March 2024 ** It constituted 42.9% of the total external debt at March-end 2024 and 44.1% of foreign exchange reserves B) The external debt to GDP ratio declined to 18.7% at the end of March 2024 from 19.0% at the end of March 2023. C) It amounted to amounted to US$ 8.7 billion. Excluding the valuation effect, external debt would have increased by US$ 48.4 billion instead of US$ 39.7 billion at end-March 2024 D) USD: 53.8% Indian Rupee: 31.5% Yen: 5.8% SDR: 5.4% Euro: 2.8% E) Non-financial corporations: 37.4% Deposit-Taking corporations: 28.1% General Government: 22.4% Other financial corporations: 7.3% F) Loans: 33.4% Currency & Deposits: 23.3% Trade credit & Advances: 17.9% Debt securities: 17.3% G) It increased to 6.7% from 5.3%

Answer 121

A) The net claims of non-residents declined by USD 5.5 billion on the back of the higher rise in India’s external financial assets of USD 109.8 vis-a-vis external financial liabilities of USD 104.3 billion. Net Claims = External Financial Assets – External Financial Liabilities B) 62% C) over 3/4th of the rise in foreign liabilities D) It increased to 74% in March 2024 from 71.4% a year ago E) - The ratio of net claims of non-residents in India to GDP improved to (-)10.3% in March 2024 from (-)11.3% a year ago, and (-)11.6% two years ago. - A negative ratio means that non-residents hold more financial assets in India than India holds in financial liabilities. In other words, non-residents have a net investment in India.

Answer 122

** USD 250 billion ** 2 billion USD

Answer 123

** The WMA limit was increased to ₹60,118 crore from ₹47,010 crore ** Top 3 States/UTs WMA limits: UP (Rs 6519 cr) > MAH (Rs 6139 cr) > TN (Rs 4582 cr) Bottom 3 States/UTs WMA limits: Puducherry (Rs 175 cr) < Mizoram (Rs 216 cr) < Goa (Rs 258 cr) ** - The maximum SDF limit for States/UTs against CSF/GRF investments will be 50% of the lower of: a) The outstanding balance of the funds as of the last date of the second preceding quarter. b) The current balance held in CSF/GRF. - For ATB (Auction Treasury Bills) investments, the maximum SDF limit will be 50% of the lower of: a) The outstanding balance in ATBs (91/182/364 days) as of the last date of the second preceding quarter. b) The current ATB balance.

Answer 124

** 7.98% FRB 2031 carries a coupon, which has a base rate equivalent to the average of the Weighted Average Yield of the last three auctions (from the rate fixing day i.e. June 07, 2024) of 182 Day T-Bills, plus a fixed spread of One per cent

Answer 125

A) Total Projects implemented: 8200, Total Project Cost: ₹182,583.07 Crores Sector-wise Breakdown: - Water Supply: 3530 projects, ₹112,530.1 Crores - Sewerage and Septage Management: 562 projects, ₹63,790.57 Crores - Water Body Rejuvenation: 2709 projects, ₹5420.5 Crores - Parks Development: 1399 projects, ₹841.91 Crores B) ** As of date, 114 Lakh houses have been grounded for construction while more than 84 Lakh houses have already been completed and delivered to beneficiaries. ** Out of the committed central assistance of ₹2 lakh crore, ₹1.64 lakh crore is released ** - Under CLSS for EWS/LIG/MIG, an Interest subsidy of ₹ 58,868 crore has been approved for 25.04 lakh beneficiaries - The Middle Income Group (MIG) was also added to a government housing scheme for the first time ever through the Credit Linked Subsidy Scheme (CLSS) vertical from 2017-2021 ** Over 94 lakh houses ** 323 Lakh jobs created in total, where 100 Lakh are direct and 223 Lakh are indirect. C) ** It aims to enhance the quality of life in 100 cities through over 8,000 innovative projects worth approximately ₹1.6 lakh crore. ** As of date, 7,160 projects worth ₹ 1,43,778 Crore have been completed and another 854 projects worth ₹ 20,392 crore are in advanced stages of completion. ** GOI has released ₹46,387 crore to 100 cities and 93% of released GOI funds have been utilized.

Answer 126

** Ministry of Coal & Mines launched the NIRMAN portal ** - The scheme will provide financial support of ₹1 lakh to the Preliminary examination qualified candidates with annual family income less than ₹8 lakhs and belonging to Scheduled Caste, Scheduled Tribe, female or third gender; who are permanent residents of any of the 39 operational districts of CIL. - Noble Initiative for Rewarding Mains Aspirants of National Civil Services Examination (NIRMAN)

Answer 127

** Till March 2025 ** As of 03rd July 2024, the 100 Cities have completed 7,188 projects (90% of total projects) amounting to ₹ 1,44,237 crore as part of the Mission. The balance of 830 projects amounting to ₹ 19,926 crore are also in advanced stages of completion.

Answer 128

A) Budget: ₹200 crore, Tenure- till FY2025-26 B) - For Government entities, MNRE will fund up to 100% of the capital cost for equipment, installation, and commissioning of the equipment. - For Non-Government entities, MNRE will fund up to 70% of the capital cost for testing equipment, installation, and commissioning of the equipment. Stages of Disbursement of CFA (Central Financial Assistance): 1st Installment On Selection: 20% of the CFA 2nd Installment On Milestone basis: 70% of the CFA 3rd Installment on Completion: 10% of the CFA C) It will be implemented by the National Institute of Solar Energy (eligible for service charges at 0.5% of the financial support utilized for the projects sanctioned under the Scheme) D) 18 months E) 12 months

Answer 129

** Budget- ₹6238 crore, Tenure- FY2021-22 to FY2028-29 ** 4% to 6% on incremental sales of goods manufactured in India for a period of five years It is estimated that over the period of five years, the PLI Scheme will lead to incremental investment of Rs. 7,920 Crore, incremental Production worth Rs. 1,68,000 Crore, exports worth Rs 64,400 Crore, direct and indirect revenues of Rs 49,300 crore and create additional four lakh direct and indirect employment opportunities.

Answer 130

The Ministry of Defence launched “The GRSE Accelerated Innovation Nurturing Scheme (GAINS 2024) of Garden Reach Shipbuilders & Engineers Limited (GRSE) in Kolkata. It seeks solutions to the problems related to the shipyards and promotes technology development using the start-ups created and nurtured in the country.

Answer 131

A) ** ₹50000 crore ** 370% B) Exports: 1.49 lakh crore Imports: 1.53 lakh crore C) - Mobile phone exports increased to ₹1,28,982 crore - Mobile phone imports decreased to ₹7665 crore D) 60%

Answer 132

** MSE GIFT (Green Investment and Financing for Transformation)- Objective: The scheme will provide support to the MSEs in accessing institutional finance at a concessional rate for adopting clean/green technologies and help them transform into green and sustainable business operations. Outlay: Total Outlay: - Rs.478 crore for 3 years (2023-24 to 2025-26) - Interest Subvention outlay of Rs.350 crore - Risk sharing fund of Rs.125 crores - Information Education and Communication (IEC) component of Rs.3 crores. ** MSE SPICE (Scheme for Promotion and Investment in Circular Economy)- Objectives: The scheme will support MSEs engaged in circular economy projects. Outlay: - Total outlay: Rs.472.50 Crore for 4 years for 2023-24 to 2026-27. - Credit Linked Capital Subsidy of Rs.450 Crore - Awareness Generation and Demand Creation of Rs.15 crores -Information Education and Communication (IEC) component of Rs.7.50 crores Eligible MSEs are eligible for a 25% capital subsidy on the cost of plant and machinery up to ₹12.5 lakh per MSE ** - The MSME TEAM (Trade Enablement and Marketing Initiative) aims at assisting five lakh MSMEs (half would be women-owned MSEs) to onboard the Open Network Digital Commerce (ONDC) platform, through awareness workshops which will include hand-holding assistance for onboarding onto the ONDC. - It aims to provide financial assistance to micro and small enterprises (MSEs) through Seller Network Participants, for catalogue preparation, account management, logistics and packaging material and design. - The objective of the MSME-TEAM Initiative is to provide assistance to micro and small enterprises all across the country. However, awareness workshops will be conducted preferably in Tier 2 and Tier 3 cities and MSME Clusters for greater outreach, especially among women and SC/ST-owned MSMEs.

Answer 133

** Non-Torrefied Pellet Manufacturing Plant: CFA of Rs. 21.0 lakhs/MTPH production capacity with a maximum of Rs. 105 lakhs per project, whichever is lower Torrefied Pellet Manufacturing Plant: - CFA of Rs. 42.0 lakhs/MTPH production capacity with a Maximum of Rs. 210 lakhs per project or 30% of the capital cost considered for plant and machinery of 1 MTPH plant, whichever is lower.

Answer 134

a) ₹4950 crore b) 18000 Mw of RTS capacity c) - For installed capacity above 10% & up to 15%, over and above the installed base capacity: 5% of the applicable cost for capacity achieved above 10% of the installed base capacity - For installed capacity above 15% over and above the installed base capacity: 5% of the applicable cost for capacity achieved above 10% and up to 15% of the installed base capacity + 10% of the applicable cost for capacity achieved beyond 15% of the installed base capacity Applicable Cost: It is the benchmark cost for RTS Capacity of 1 Kw, which is ₹50000 for General States and ₹55000 for special category states d)- The DISCOMs shall allocate 10% of the incentives received (up to Rs. 1 crore) for a rewards system for DISCOM officials and functionaries. - The DISCOM shall allocate at least 50 % of the incentives (up to Rs 1 crore of allocation per division) for dedicated utilization at the division and subdivisional level.

Answer 135

** - Eligibility: Veteran artists aged 60 years and above having annual income not exceeding Rs. 72,000/ - Maximum Financial Assistance: Rs.6,000/- per month. ** - Support is provided to 1 Guru and a maximum of 18 Shishyas in the field of theatre and 1 Guru and a maximum of 10 Shishyas in the field of music & dance. - The Amount of Assistance for Guru is Rs.15000/- p.m. and for the Shishya, the same is Rs.2000-10000/-p.m depending upon the age of the artist.

Answer 136

** - An expenditure of Rs. 2708.64 crore has been incurred for 97,928 beneficiaries for SC (Scheduled Castes) - An expenditure of Rs. 585.02 crore has been incurred for 38,011 beneficiaries for OBCs and EBCs ** - Scholarship is provided to SC students for study in 266 top-class Higher Education Institutions in the country, such as IITs/IITs/IIMs/AIIMS etc. - The scholarship is provided to 125 students every year for study in the top 500 QS Ranking Institutions/ Universities abroad. - 2000 fellowships are provided every year to SC Students for Ph.D. in India. These 2000 slots are over and above the number of SC students selected under the normal reservation policy of the Government for UGC Fellowships. - Free Coaching for SCs and OBCs, is being implemented through empanelled Central Universities for 3500 economically disadvantaged Scheduled Castes (SCs) and Other Backward Classes (OBCs) candidates every year with the objective of empowering them to appear in competitive examinations.

Answer 137

₹8282 crore

Answer 138

- Total Outlay of the scheme is Rs.470.5 crore from National Disaster Response Fund (NDRF). - It will be implemented in 315 most disaster-prone districts of the country. - It will train 1300 trained Aapda Mitra Volunteers as Master Trainers and 2.37 lakh volunteers exclusively from NCC, NSS, NYKS and BS&G (Bharat Scouts &Guides) in disaster preparedness and response. It is in line with the vision of preparing the community as first responders during any disaster.

Answer 139

a) A total of 313 vessel orders encompassing both domestic and export orders have been procured by 39 shipyards since the inception of the scheme, with a total value of approximately Rs. 10,500 crores. b) ₹40 crores c) 30% d) 20%

Answer 140

** Enrolled candidates: 7.35 crore, Trained candidates: 6.39 crore ** 4.78 crore were certified The Pradhan Mantri Gramin Digital Saksharta Abhiyan (PMGDISHA) is a government initiative aimed at enhancing digital literacy in rural India by training 6 crore rural citizens in digital skills and services in 22 scheduled languages and English. The beneficiaries are provided with 20 hours of training consisting of 5 modules namely: (i) Introduction to digital devices (ii) Operating digital devices (iii) Introduction to the Internet (iv) Communications using the internet (v) Application of the internet (includes citizen-centric services) and use of financial tools for undertaking digital cashless transactions.

Answer 141

The Market Development Assistance (MDA) of ₹1500/MT was approved with a total outlay of ₹1,451.84 crore (FY 2023-24 to 2025-26), which includes a corpus of ₹ 360 crore for research gap funding etc

Answer 142

The MSME innovative scheme was launched on 10 March 2022 to promote innovations in the complete value chain from developing ideas into innovative applications through incubation and design interventions. Financial assistance being provided under the scheme is: - Incubation: Financial assistance up to Rs. 15 lakh per idea and up to Rs. 1.00 crore for relevant plant and machines will be provided. - Design: Up to Rs. 40 lakhs for design projects and up to Rs. 2.5 lakh for student projects will be provided. - Intellectual Property Rights: Upto Rs. 5 lakhs for Foreign Patent, Rs. 1.00 lakh Domestic Patent, Rs. 2.00 lakh for GI Registration, Rs. 15,000/- for Design Registration, Rs.10,000/- for Trademark in the form of reimbursement.

Answer 143

The Folk artists are paid a performance fee: 1- Rs. 35,000/- (to the leader/main artist) and 2 Rs. 7000/- (to the accompanying artist) for each performance in the Festival of India.

Answer 144

** It is a Central Sector Scheme that aims to facilitate the low-income students belonging to the Scheduled Castes, De-notified Nomadic and Semi-Nomadic Tribes, Landless Agricultural Labourers and Traditional Artisans category to obtain higher education such as Master’s degree, Ph. D courses by studying abroad. ** Each year scholarship is provided to 125 candidates and 30% of the scholarships for each year are earmarked for female candidates and 125 seats are distributed in the following way: - 115 are for Scheduled Castes candidates - 06 for De-notified, Nomadic and Semi-Nomadic Tribes - 04 are for Landless Agricultural Labourers candidates and Traditional Artisans Eligibility Criteria: - Candidates should have secured at least 60% marks or equivalent grade in the qualifying examination. - The candidate’s total family income from all sources should be less than Rs. 8.00 lakh per annum in the preceding financial year. - The candidate should be less than 35 years of age on 1st April of the selection year. - A candidate must have an unconditional offer of admission from top 500 QS ranked foreign University as per the latest QS rankings.

Answer 145

** - The scheme’s objective is to enhance the competency level of the different target groups like Scheduled Castes (SCs), Other Backward Classes (OBCs), De-notified Tribes (DNTs), Economically Weaker Sections (EWSs), Safai Mitras including Waste Pickers etc. to make them employable both in self-employment and wage-employment for their socio-economic development. - Outlay: ₹450 crore, Budgetary Outlay of FY25: Rs.130 Crore. Tenure: FY2022-FY2026 ** OBC and EWS candidates whose annual family income is less than Rs. 3.00 lakh are eligible to get training and No income limit for the candidates belonging to SC/DNT/Safai Mitras including Waste Pickers.

Answer 146

**309.01 crore person-days were granted in the FY2023-24 under MGNREGA. person-days refer to the total number of days of employment provided to individuals. Essentially, one person equals one day of work for one person. ** It was for every Scheduled Tribe Household in a forest area provided that these households have no other private property except for the land rights provided under the Forest Rights Act (FRA), 2006. The National Mobile Monitoring System (NMMS) was started in the Financial Year 2021-22 to ensure more transparency in the implementation of the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme. Capturing of attendance with geo-tagged, time-stamped twice-a-day photographs of the workers through the National Mobile Monitoring System (NMMS) App for all the works (except individual beneficiary works) has been made mandatory from 1st January 2023.

Answer 147

Rs.1207 crores with budgetary support of Rs.975 crore and Industry Contribution of Rs.232 crore. The scheme aims to provide assistance to Common Technology Development and Services Infrastructure.

Answer 148

₹100 crore stipends

Answer 149

with a budgetary outlay of ₹ 20,000 crore, for five years, up to March 2021. It has been further extended to March 2026 with a budgetary outlay of ₹ 22,500 crore.

Answer 150

Health Benefits Packages related to trauma and polytrauma care at empanelled hospitals will be provided to victims under the AB PM-JAY for up to a maximum of ₹1.5 lakh for a maximum period of 7 days from the date of the accident.

Answer 151

** for ₹2800 per quintal (excluding the cost of transportation). Additionally, if the States/UTs want to procure more than the stipulated 5 kg of free grain per individual, then they can procure that at the same price at Rs 2,800 per quintal instead of the earlier Rs 2,900 per quint ** to about 81.35 crore beneficiaries with a financial outlay of ₹11.80 lakh crore, totally to be borne by the Central Government ** The food grain distributed in 2023-2024 is 497 LMT and up to June 2024, the Centre has distributed 125 LMT.

Answer 152

4 crore OPD registrations - The ABHA-based scan and share service was launched in Oct 2022 under the Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission. It enables patients to conveniently register for OPD appointments by scanning a QR code displayed at the OPD registration counter, thereby instantaneously sharing their ABHA profile for registration. - It is presently operational across over 8270 healthcare facilities spanning 579 districts in 35 States and Union Territories of India. - Leading states in the adoption of this service are Uttar Pradesh (1.11 crore), Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Jammu and Kashmir and Notable usage recorded at AIIMS in Delhi, Bhopal, Raipur, and Bhubaneshwar. - Among all the token generations, approximately 76% are first-time users, while 24% use scan and share for subsequent visits. - NHA offers financial incentives through the ABDM's Digital Health Incentive Scheme (DHIS) for 'Scan and Share' transactions and the generation of electronic health records. The Digital Health Incentive Scheme (DHIS) came into effect on 1st January 2023 NHA has come up with some relaxations like reduced transaction limits in the existing scheme with effective from 1st April 2023. - The policy of the Digital Health Incentive Scheme DHIS of ABDM has been revised, and now all health facilities registered with the Health Facility Registry and Digital Solution Companies can earn an Incentive of up to ₹4 Crore.

Answer 153

** It aims to provide fixed-day, free-of-cost, assured, comprehensive, and quality antenatal care (ANC) on the 9th day of every month, universally to all pregnant women in their 2nd/ 3rd trimesters of pregnancy, at designated public health facilities by Obstetricians/Medical officers. ** From 10 categories to 25 high-risk pregnancy categories

Answer 154

A total of 52.81 crore Jan-Dhan accounts with a deposit balance of ₹ 2,30,792 crores have been opened as of 19.07.2024 under PMJDY. Out of the same, 29.37 crore (55.6%) Jan-Dhan accounts belong to women and about 35.15 crore (66.6 %) PMJDY accounts have been opened in rural and semi-urban areas.

Answer 155

** up to 2000 ha ** In the 6th MI census, 231.4 lakh MI schemes were enumerated, out of which 219.3 lakh (94.8%) were groundwater schemes (Dug well/Shallow tube well/Medium tube well/Deep tube well) and 12.1 lakh (5.2%) were Surface Water schemes (surface flow/surface lift).

Answer 156

Brickwork Ratings India Private Limited

Answer 157

** 1) Accrediting CRAs for credit ratings of bank loans/facilities 2) Authorizing CRAs for independent credit evaluation of resolution plans 3) Approves CRAs for rating of public deposits raised by NBFCs ** ₹25 crore Credit Rating Agencies (CRAs) are specialized organizations that assess the creditworthiness of financial institutions that issue debt. They provide ratings that indicate the likelihood of the issuer defaulting on their debt obligations A credit rating represents the rating agency's opinion on the likelihood of a rated debt obligation being repaid in full and on time. Instruments with AAA rating are considered to have the highest degree of safety and The minus symbol associated with ratings has no negative connotations.

Answer 158

** Authorized persons can facilitate remittances under the LRS (Liberalised Remittance Scheme) to IFSCs for: a) Availing of financial services or products as per the International Financial Services Centres Authority Act, 2019 within IFSCs. b) for all current or capital account transactions, in any other foreign jurisdiction other than IFSCs through a Foreign Currency Account (FCA) held in IFSCs. c) Making investments in IFSCs in securities, except those issued by entities or companies resident in India (outside IFSCs). d) Payment of fees for education to foreign universities or institutions in IFSCs for pursuing specified courses. These provisions allow resident individuals to open Foreign Currency Accounts (FCAs) in IFSCs for these permissible purposes ** The Scheme is not available to corporates, partnership firms, HUF, Trusts, etc. **- opening of foreign currency account abroad with a bank - acquisition of immovable property abroad, Overseas Direct Investment (ODI) and Overseas Portfolio Investment (OPI) as per regulations - extending loans including loans in Indian Rupees to Non-resident Indians (NRIs) who are relatives as defined in the Companies Act, 2013

Answer 159

USD 2.5 million

Answer 160

OPI shall not be made in: 1) Any unlisted debt instruments; or 2) Any security which is issued by a person resident in India who is not in an IFSC; or 3) Any derivatives not permitted by Reserve Bank; or 4) Any commodities including Bullion Depository Receipts (BDRs) ** “Overseas Direct Investment (ODI)” means: (i)Acquisition of any unlisted equity capital or subscription as a part of the Memorandum of Association of a foreign entity, or (ii) Investment in 10% or more of the paid-up equity capital of a listed foreign entity, or (iii) Investment with control where investment is less than 10% of the paid-up equity capital of a listed foreign entity.

Answer 161

Authorized Dealers (ADs) are entities authorized by the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) to deal in foreign exchange. They are classified into three categories: Authorized Dealers Category 1- Can carry out all permissible current and capital account transactions such as trade-related transactions, remittances, and investments. Entities carrying these transactions include Commercial banks, State and Urban Cooperative banks etc Authorized Dealers Category 2- Can handle specified non-trade related current account transactions for activities like private and business travel, education, medical treatment, and remittances for maintenance of close relatives. Entities carrying these transactions include upgraded Full-Fledged Money Changers (FFMCs), select Regional Rural Banks (RRBs), Urban Cooperative Banks (UCBs) Authorized Dealers Category 3- Can carry out specific foreign exchange transactions incidental to their business or activities. This category is more restricted compared to AD-I and AD-II and includes financial institutions like SIDBI, EXIM bank, IFCI

Answer 162

a) Total outlay of Rs 3,06,137 crore for FY 2024-25 to 2028- 29 including Central Share of Rs 2,05,856 crore and State Matching Share of Rs 1,00,281 crore. b) Financial assistance will be provided for the construction of 2 crore more houses, and it is expected to benefit 10 crore individuals c) Unit cost of assistance to beneficiaries to continue at existing rates of Rs.1.20 lakh in plain areas and Rs.1.30 lakh in North Eastern Region/ Hill States. Apart from this, Administrative funds at 2% of the programme funds will be provided with bifurcation of the administrative funds as 1.70% to be released to the States/UTs and 0.30% to be retained at Central Level.

Answer 163

A) 20% of their Tier-1 capital B) loans of value not more than ₹25 lakh or 0.2% of their Tier I capital, whichever is higher, subject to a maximum of ₹1 crore, per borrower. - Tier-1 capital for UCBs is ₹2 crore for UCBs operating in a single district - All other UCBs (in Tier 1, 2, and 3) must have a minimum net worth of ₹5 crore. C) 2 years. A minimum of 40% of Small value loans should be achieved by March 31 2025 and 50% by March 31 2026 D) The exposure to an individual borrower does not exceed 15% of Tier-I capital; and, - the exposure to a group of connected borrowers/parties does not exceed 25% of Tier-I capital. E) up to ₹1.4 crore per individual borrower F) Deposits up to ₹50 crore- ₹50000 per borrower Deposits aove ₹50 crore- ₹1 lakh per borrrower

Answer 164

** - Capital, Asset Quality and Profitability will be the key areas for monitoring in the revised PCA Framework - Indicators to be tracked for Capital, Asset Quality and Profitability would be CRAR, Net NPA Ratio (percentage of net NPA to net advances) and net profit, respectively. ** Risk thresholds for Net NPAs are - Risk threshold 1: 6% to 9% - Risk threshold 2: 9% to 12% - Risk threshold 3: more than 12% Steps to be taken under Risk Threshold 2 are: - Bank to raise capital either from existing members or by the issuance of equity and other permissible capital instruments - Restriction on branch expansion - Restriction on declaration/payment of dividend/donation - Appropriate restrictions on capital expenditure, other than for technological upgradation ** Risk Threshold 1: i. Bank to raise capital either from existing members or by issuance of equity and other permissible capital instruments ii. Restriction on declaration/payment of dividend/donation iii. Appropriate restrictions on capital expenditure, other than for technological upgradation Risk Threshold 2: In addition to mandatory actions of Threshold 1, i. Restriction on branch expansion Risk Threshold 3: In addition to mandatory actions of Thresholds 1 & 2, i. Appropriate restrictions/ prohibition on expansion of the total size of the deposits

Answer 165

14-year and 30-year tenors The Fully Accessible Route (FAR) is a channel introduced by the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) to allow non-residents to invest in specified government securities without any restrictions. Under FAR, eligible investors can invest in certain government bonds without being subject to any investment ceilings. This move aims to ease access for non-residents to the Indian government securities market and facilitate the inclusion of Indian bonds in global bond indices.

Answer 166

a) ₹25 lakh and above and the borrower or a guarantor committing the wilful default is a company, its promoters and the director (s) b) - Large defaulter means a defaulter with an outstanding amount of ₹1 crore and above - where a suit has been filed - or whose account has been classified as doubtful or lost (in accordance with the instructions issued by the Reserve Bank from time to time). C) Deliberate Non-Payment: Borrowers who have the capacity to repay but intentionally avoid fulfilling their debt obligations. Diversion of Funds: Borrowers who divert funds for purposes other than those for which the loan was sanctioned. Siphoning of Funds: Borrowers who siphon off funds, resulting in the asset becoming non-performing. Misrepresentation and Fraud: Borrowers who provide false information or commit fraud to obtain loans. Disposal of Secured Assets: Borrowers who dispose of or remove the secured assets without the bank’s knowledge or permission. D) within 21 days of issuance Other Review mechanisms against Wilful defaulters: - The evidence of wilful default shall be examined by the Identification Committee. After considering the submissions and where satisfied, the Identification Committee shall make a proposal to the Review Committee for classification as a wilful defaulter by explaining the reasons in writing. - The identification of the wilful default should be made keeping in view the track record of the borrowers and should not be decided on the basis of isolated transactions/ incidents. - An opportunity shall be provided to the borrower to make a written representation to the Review Committee within 15 days of a proposal from the Identification Committee. - The borrower shall not have the right to be represented by a lawyer. E) 1 year Other Penal measures against wilful defaulters - No additional credit facility shall be granted by any lender to a wilful defaulter. - No additional credit facility shall be granted by any lender to any entity with which a wilful defaulter is associated. - No lender shall grant credit for new ventures to a wilful defaulter or related entities for 5 years after removal from the LWD (List of Wilful Defaulters). - Wilful defaulters or any entity with which a wilful defaulter is associated shall not be eligible for restructuring of credit facility

Answer 167

** A Dividend Equalisation Fund (DEF) is a reserve fund established by a company to ensure consistent dividend payouts to its shareholders, even during periods of fluctuating profits. This helps provide a stable income stream for investors. Essentially, it smooths out the dividends paid over time, making them more predictable and reliable Directions for Dividend Equalization Fund (DEF) by the RBI: - Transfer of Balances: UCBs are now permitted, as a one-time measure, to transfer the balances in the DEF to general reserves or free reserves. These balances will qualify as Tier-I capital - Prohibition on Dividend Payments from DEF: The RBI reiterated that UCBs cannot use accumulated profits or reserves, including DEF, to pay dividends. Dividends must be paid from the net profit of the current year after making all statutory and other provision - There should be no default in CRR/SLR during the year for which the dividend is proposed. - Disclosure Requirements: UCBs must make suitable disclosures of such transfers in the ‘Notes on Accounts’ to the Balance Sheet ** CRAR requirements: Greater or Equal to 12% NPA requirement: Less than 5%

Answer 168

- Large Non-Bank PSOs: April 1, 2025 - Medium non-bank PSOs: April 1, 2026 - Small Non-bank PSOs: April 1, 2028

Answer 169

** - Project Nexus is an initiative by the Bank for International Settlements (BIS) Innovation Hub aimed at enabling instant cross-border payments by interlinking domestic instant payment systems (IPS) from different countries. - The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has joined this project, which will connect India’s Unified Payments Interface (UPI) with the fast payment systems (FPS) of Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, and Thailand. Indonesia, which has been involved from the early stages, continues to be involved as a special observer. ** by 2026

Answer 170

** i. Every exporter shall furnish to the specified authority, a declaration in the Form specified by RBI, specifying the amount representing the full export value of the goods or services. ii. The exporter shall submit to the Authorised Dealer the documents pertaining to export, within 21 calendar days from the date of shipment in case of goods or from the date of invoice in case of services ** Within 9 months Other directions as per the draft circular on Foreign Exchange Management (Export and Import of Goods and Services) Regulations, 2024: 1) Advance payment for the export of goods and services may be received as per the export contract. Interest payable if any, on such advance payment, shall not exceed the all-in-cost ceiling of trade credit. 2) Where an exporter is unable to fulfil the export obligation within the contracted period, the advance received shall be refunded 3) Advance payment for import of goods and services shall be repatriated by the importer and surrendered to the Authorised Dealer in case of non-import within the contract period 4) An exporter who has not realized the full value of export within the time specified (including extensions, if any) under Regulation may be caution listed by the Authorised Dealer subject to the directions issued by the Reserve Bank. An exporter who has been caution listed shall undertake export only against receipt of advance payment in full or against an irrecoverable letter of credit, to the satisfaction of the Authorised Dealer. The Authorised Dealer may remove the name of the exporter from the caution list, as per the directions issued by the Reserve Bank

Answer 171

Punjab National Bank

Answer 172

** “Managing the Known Unknowns” ** 1) Responsibility: Central banks must own the responsibility to deliver price stability and have the independence to act to achieve it. 2) Transparency and Communication: Clear communication of goals, including an explicit numerical inflation target, is crucial. This transparency enhances accountability and keeps central banks focused on their objective 3) Well-anchored inflation expectations: This principle has become a bedrock of modern central banking, as economic analysis and history have shown that anchoring inflation expectations is important in maintaining low and stable inflation. 4) Central Bank Independence: Central banks must have the autonomy to act decisively to achieve price stability

Answer 173

a) - the maximum loan limit has been raised from ₹1.5 lakh to ₹7.5 lakh - A guarantee against default for up to 75% of the loan will be provided b) Previously, only banks were eligible for facilitating loans. Now, non-banking financial companies (NBFCs), NBFC-MFIs (micro-finance institutions), and small finance banks can also serve as lending institutions.

Answer 174

** - The goal is to create one Model Solar Village per district across India, with the goal of promoting solar energy adoption and enabling village communities to become self-reliant in meeting their energy needs. - Total Outlay: Rs.800 crores, providing ₹1 crore per selected Model Solar Village. Objectives: - Solarize one village per District and promote the uptake of solar rooftops in India. - Promote green and clean energy access to electricity in the villages. - Empower village communities to become more self-reliant in meeting their energy needs and help them save money on energy bills by generating electricity locally and reducing reliance on utility companies. - Develop a 24x7 solar-powered village covering all the households and public areas that acts as a model for other villages to follow. - Promote technologies like solar-based home lighting systems in all households, solar-based water systems in the village, solar pumps for agricultural purposes and the installation of solar streetlights covering village roads and common village infrastructure. ** The village must be a revenue village with a population size of more than 5,000 as per the latest published Census. However, in the case of special category States (States/UTs of Uttarakhand, Himachal Pradesh, J&K, Ladakh, States in the North East including Sikkim, UTs of A&N and Lakshadweep), revenue villages with a population size of more than 2,000 as per the latest census would be eligible. ** Central Financial Assistance: - The winning village in each district, with the highest RE capacity, will receive a central financial assistance grant of ₹1 crore. - Public projects can be supported up to 100% of the project cost, However, in case the projects are for supporting collectives (self-help groups, primary level cooperative societies (PACS, Dairy, Fishery etc) and others) in the village, contribution from the beneficiary collective of at least 10% shall be taken in order for the CFA benefits to be extended to them. - No individual beneficiaries can be included in CFA support under the project DPR for Model Solar Village. The amount of CFA that shall be released to the MSVIA (Model Solar Village Implementation Authority) is as follows: a) 40% of CFA at the time of award of all works in the DPR b) 40 % of CFA after completion of all works undertaken in the DPR and after certification to that effect by the DLC c) 20% of CFA after at least 6 months of operation of all works undertaken

Answer 175

Brickwork Ratings India Private Limited

Answer 176

** 1) Accrediting CRAs for credit ratings of bank loans/facilities 2) Authorizing CRAs for independent credit evaluation of resolution plans 3) Approves CRAs for rating of public deposits raised by NBFCs ** ₹25 crore Credit Rating Agencies (CRAs) are specialized organizations that assess the creditworthiness of financial institutions that issue debt. They provide ratings that indicate the likelihood of the issuer defaulting on their debt obligations A credit rating represents the rating agency's opinion on the likelihood of a rated debt obligation being repaid in full and on time. Instruments with AAA rating are considered to have the highest degree of safety and The minus symbol associated with ratings has no negative connotations.

Answer 177

** Authorized persons can facilitate remittances under the LRS (Liberalised Remittance Scheme) to IFSCs for: a) Availing of financial services or products as per the International Financial Services Centres Authority Act, 2019 within IFSCs. b) for all current or capital account transactions, in any other foreign jurisdiction other than IFSCs through a Foreign Currency Account (FCA) held in IFSCs. c) Making investments in IFSCs in securities, except those issued by entities or companies resident in India (outside IFSCs). d) Payment of fees for education to foreign universities or institutions in IFSCs for pursuing specified courses. These provisions allow resident individuals to open Foreign Currency Accounts (FCAs) in IFSCs for these permissible purposes ** The Scheme is not available to corporates, partnership firms, HUF, Trusts, etc. **- opening of foreign currency account abroad with a bank - acquisition of immovable property abroad, Overseas Direct Investment (ODI) and Overseas Portfolio Investment (OPI) as per regulations - extending loans including loans in Indian Rupees to Non-resident Indians (NRIs) who are relatives as defined in the Companies Act, 2013

Answer 178

2.5 million USD

Answer 179

Info!! The directions apply to all Authorized Dealer Category-I banks and outline the procedures for facilitating overseas investments by Indian residents. It covers Overseas Direct Investment (ODI), Overseas Portfolio Investment (OPI), and investments in International Financial Services Centres (IFSCs). A) OPI shall not be made in: 1) Any unlisted debt instruments; or 2) Any security which is issued by a person resident in India who is not in an IFSC; or 3) Any derivatives not permitted by Reserve Bank; or 4) Any commodities including Bullion Depository Receipts (BDRs) B) “Overseas Direct Investment (ODI)” means: (i) Acquisition of any unlisted equity capital or subscription as a part of the Memorandum of Association of a foreign entity, or (ii) Investment in 10% or more of the paid-up equity capital of a listed foreign entity, or (iii) Investment with control where investment is less than 10% of the paid-up equity capital of a listed foreign entity. C) - Resident individuals may make OPI within the overall limit for the Liberalised Remittance Scheme (LRS) of 250,000 USD - Financial commitment by an Indian entity, exceeding USD 1 billion (or its equivalent) in a financial year shall require prior approval of the Reserve Bank - Any person resident in India having an account appearing as a Non-Performing Asset (NPA) shall obtain a NOC from the lender bank - Overseas investment by way of cash is NOT permitted

Answer 180

Authorized Dealers (ADs) are entities authorized by the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) to deal in foreign exchange. They are classified into three categories: Authorized Dealers Category 1- Can carry out all permissible current and capital account transactions such as trade-related transactions, remittances, and investments. Entities carrying these transactions include Commercial banks, State and Urban Cooperative banks etc Authorized Dealers Category 2- Can handle specified non-trade-related current account transactions for activities like private and business travel, education, medical treatment, and remittances for maintenance of close relatives. Entities carrying these transactions include upgraded Full-Fledged Money Changers (FFMCs), select Regional Rural Banks (RRBs), Urban Cooperative Banks (UCBs) Authorized Dealers Category 3- Can carry out specific foreign exchange transactions incidental to their business or activities. This category is more restricted compared to AD-I and AD-II and includes financial institutions like SIDBI, EXIM bank, IFCI

Answer 181

- 12.52 lakh women milk producers out of 42.48 lakh milk producer members, with a significant participation of 30% - The DIDF (Dairy processing & Infrastructure Development Fund) scheme has been merged into the Animal Husbandry Infrastructure Development Fund, and its implementation has been extended for the next two years (2024-2026) with an outlay of Rs 29,110.25 crore.

Answer 182

A) It was launched in 2019 to improve air quality in 131 non-attainment and Million Plus Cities/Urban Agglomerations across 24 States/UTs B) - The National Clean Air Programme (NCAP) has revised its targets for reducing PM10 levels. Initially, the goal was to achieve a 20-30% reduction in PM10 concentrations by 2024-25 compared to the baseline year of 2017-18. However, this target has now been updated to aim for a 40% reduction in PM10 levels by 2025-26 - Additionally, specific cities have been given annual targets ranging from a 4-15% reduction in PM10 concentrations, along with a 15% improvement in the number of days with good air quality (Air Quality Index less than 200) for 49 Million Plus cities C) Four cities of Gujarat, namely Ahmedabad, Rajkot, Surat, and Vadodara are covered under both Programmes and an amount of ₹1085.2 crore has been provided till 2023-24 for these cities PM10 refers to particulate matter that is 10 micrometres or smaller in diameter. Particulate matter (PM) is a mixture of solid particles and liquid droplets found in the air. PM10 particles are so small that they can be inhaled into the respiratory system, and their size makes them particularly harmful to human health.

Answer 183

a) Total outlay of Rs 3,06,137 crore for FY 2024-25 to 2028- 29 including Central Share of Rs 2,05,856 crore and State Matching Share of Rs 1,00,281 crore. b) Financial assistance will be provided for the construction of 2 crore more houses, and it is expected to benefit 10 crore individuals c) Unit cost of assistance to beneficiaries to continue at existing rates of Rs.1.20 lakh in plain areas and Rs.1.30 lakh in North Eastern Region/ Hill States. Apart from this, Administrative funds at 2% of the programme funds will be provided with the bifurcation of the administrative funds as 1.70% to be released to the States/UTs and 0.30% to be retained at the Central Level.

Answer 184

A) 20% of their Tier-1 capital B) loans of value not more than ₹25 lakh or 0.2% of their Tier I capital, whichever is higher, subject to a maximum of ₹1 crore, per borrower. - Tier-1 capital for UCBs is ₹2 crore for UCBs operating in a single district - All other UCBs (in Tier 1, 2, and 3) must have a minimum net worth of ₹5 crore. C) 2 years. A minimum of 40% of Small value loans should be achieved by March 31 2025 and 50% by March 31 2026 D) - the exposure to an individual borrower does not exceed 15% of Tier-I capital; and, - the exposure to a group of connected borrowers/parties does not exceed 25% of Tier-I capital. E) Up to ₹1.4 crore per individual borrower F) Deposits up to ₹50 crore- ₹50000 per borrower Deposits abve ₹50 crore- ₹1 lakh per borrrower G) 10% of its total assets

Answer 185

** - Capital, Asset Quality and Profitability will be the key areas for monitoring in the revised PCA Framework - Indicators to be tracked for Capital, Asset Quality and Profitability would be CRAR, Net NPA Ratio (percentage of net NPA to net advances) and net profit, respectively. ** Risk thresholds for Net NPAs are - Risk threshold 1: 6% to 9% - Risk threshold 2: 9% to 12% - Risk threshold 3: more than 12% Steps to be taken under Risk Threshold 2 are: - Bank to raise capital either from existing members or by the issuance of equity and other permissible capital instruments - Restriction on branch expansion - Restriction on declaration/payment of dividend/donation - Appropriate restrictions on capital expenditure, other than for technological upgradation ** Risk Threshold 1: i. Bank to raise capital either from existing members or by issuance of equity and other permissible capital instruments ii. Restriction on declaration/payment of dividend/donation iii. Appropriate restrictions on capital expenditure, other than for technological upgradation Risk Threshold 2: In addition to mandatory actions of Threshold 1, i. Restriction on branch expansion Risk Threshold 3: In addition to mandatory actions of Thresholds 1 & 2, i. Appropriate restrictions/ prohibition on expansion of the total size of the deposits

Answer 186

14-year and 30-year tenors

Answer 187

a) ₹25 lakh and above and the borrower or a guarantor committing the wilful default is a company, its promoters and the director (s) b) - Large defaulter means a defaulter with an outstanding amount of ₹1 crore and above - where a suit has been filed - or whose account has been classified as doubtful or lost (in accordance with the instructions issued by the Reserve Bank from time to time). C) Deliberate Non-Payment: Borrowers who have the capacity to repay but intentionally avoid fulfilling their debt obligations. Diversion of Funds: Borrowers who divert funds for purposes other than those for which the loan was sanctioned. Siphoning of Funds: Borrowers who siphon off funds, resulting in the asset becoming non-performing. Misrepresentation and Fraud: Borrowers who provide false information or commit fraud to obtain loans. Disposal of Secured Assets: Borrowers who dispose of or remove the secured assets without the bank’s knowledge or permission. D) within 21 days of issuance Other Review mechanisms against Wilful defaulters: - The evidence of wilful default shall be examined by the Identification Committee. After considering the submissions and where satisfied, the Identification Committee shall make a proposal to the Review Committee for classification as a wilful defaulter by explaining the reasons in writing. - The identification of the wilful default should be made keeping in view the track record of the borrowers and should not be decided on the basis of isolated transactions/ incidents. - An opportunity shall be provided to the borrower to make a written representation to the Review Committee within 15 days of a proposal from the Identification Committee. - The borrower shall not have the right to be represented by a lawyer. E) 1 year Other Penal measures against wilful defaulters: - No additional credit facility shall be granted by any lender to a wilful defaulter. - No additional credit facility shall be granted by any lender to any entity with which a wilful defaulter is associated. - No lender shall grant credit for new ventures to a wilful defaulter or related entities for 5 years after removal from the LWD (List of Wilful Defaulters). - Wilful defaulters or any entity with which a wilful defaulter is associated shall not be eligible for restructuring of credit facility

Answer 188

a) - The scheme was extended from FY2024-25 to FY2028-29 with an outlay of ₹10 lakh crore - The Government Assistance of ₹ 2.30 lakh crore will be provided under the Scheme. b) Families belonging to EWS/LIG/Middle Income Group (MIG) segments having no pucca house anywhere in the country are eligible to purchase or construct a house under PMAY-U 2.0. - EWS households are families with an annual income of up to ₹3 lakh. - LIG households are families with an annual income of ₹3 lakh up to ₹6 lakh. - MIG households are families with an annual income of ₹6 lakh up to ₹9 lakh. C) - The Government Assistance in AHP/BLC verticals under PMAY-U 2.0 will be ₹2.50 lakh per unit. - An additional Grant in the form of a Technology Innovation Grant (TIG) ₹1000 per sqm up to 30 sqm per dwelling unit shall be provided under the AHP component to implementing agencies using innovative building materials, and construction technologies. D) Technology Innovation Grant (TIG) of ₹5000/ per square meter will be provided under the ARH component, including ₹3000/per square metre by the Centre share and ₹2000/ per square meter by State share E) with an increased assistance of ₹2.5 lakh from the earlier ₹1 lakh F) Beneficiaries taking loans of up to ₹25 lahks for a house costing a maximum of ₹35 lahks will now be eligible for a 4% interest subsidy on the first ₹8 lakh of the loan for up to 12 years. The subsidy will be disbursed in 5-yearly instalments, and beneficiaries can access their accounts through a website, OTP, or smart cards. G) A total of 1.18 crore houses have been sanctioned in the first phase of PMAY-U 2.0, while more than 85.5 lakh houses have already been constructed and delivered to the beneficiaries. H) From ₹1000 crore to ₹3000 crore. Further Management of the Credit Risk Guarantee Fund will be transferred to the National Credit Guarantee Company (NCGTC) from the National Housing Bank (NHB) I) The funding pattern between the Centre and the State will be: - General States: 60:40 - UTs with the legislature, Northeast states & Himalayan states: 90:10 - UTs without legislature: 100:0 Other Information: 1- TISM will be set up under PMAY-U 2.0 to guide and facilitate States/UTs and other stakeholders in the adoption of modern, innovative and green technologies and building materials for faster and quality construction of houses. Under TISM, States/UTs/Cities will be assisted through innovative practices and projects in challenge mode focused on disaster-resistant and environment-friendly technologies for climate-smart buildings and resilient housing. 2- In order to seek benefits under PMAY-U 2.0, States/UTs will have to formulate an “Affordable Housing Policy” containing various reforms and incentives for ensuring the active participation of Public/Private entities and promoting the Affordable Housing Ecosystem. ‘Affordable Housing Policy’ will include such reforms which will improve the affordability of ‘Affordable Housing’.