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Indian government extends helping hands to poor people by building houses for them

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3 years ago

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In order to provide the under-priviledged better living conditions, the Indian government initiated the PM Awas Yojana in 2014. Under it, till March 24, 2022, more than 2 crores 32 lakh pucca (concrete) houses have been completed.

People who had believed that life would now pass on pavements and huts, the government itself handed over the keys of the houses to these families. These houses consist of all the amenities including toilets, electricity connection under the Saubhagya scheme, LED bulb under the Ujala scheme, gas connection under the Ujjwala scheme, and water connection under Har Ghar Jal Yojana. That is, the poor beneficiary no longer needs to visit government offices separately for these facilities. Despite the hurdles caused by Corona in the last two years, this work was not allowed to slow down.

Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana – Urban (PMAY-U), a flagship Mission of Government of India being implemented by Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs (MoHUA), was launched on June 25, 2015. The Mission addresses urban housing shortage among the EWS/LIG and MIG categories including the slum dwellers by ensuring a pucca house to all eligible urban households by the year 2022, when Nation completes 75 years of its Independence.

The Mission provides Central Assistance to the implementing agencies through States/Union Territories (UTs) and Central Nodal Agencies (CNAs) for providing houses to all eligible families/ beneficiaries against the validated demand for houses for about 1.12 crore. As per PMAY(U) guidelines, the size of a house for Economically Weaker Section (EWS) could be upto 30 sq. mt. carpet area, however States/UTs have the flexibility to enhance the size of houses in consultation and approval of the Ministry.

In continuation to this government’s efforts towards empowerment of women from EWS and LIG unlike earlier schemes, PMAY (U) has made a mandatory provision for the female head of the family to be the owner or co-owner of the house under this Mission.

Jamna of Lanji block of Balaghat, Madhya Pradesh lives with her two daughters. They were living in a dilapidated house that could fall any day. Jamna says that in such a situation, the Modi government has supported, my house has become pucca now. Bhagwanta Devi of Dewas is also happy that now there will be no problem during the monsoon. Such stories from every state and district of the country that poor people are getting pucca houses.

The Ministry of Housing & Urban Affairs has initiated Affordable Rental Housing Complexes (ARHCs), a sub-scheme under Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana – Urban (PMAY-U). This will provide ease of living to urban migrants/ poor in Industrial Sector as well as in non-formal urban economy to get access to dignified affordable rental housing close to their workplace.

MoHUA has initiated the Global Housing Technology Challenge – India (GHTC-India) which aims to identify and mainstream a basket of innovative construction technologies from across the globe for the housing construction sector that are sustainable, eco-friendly and disaster-resilient.

In Madhya Pradesh, 5.25 lakh such beneficiaries were handed over the keys of the house under the ‘Griha Pravesham’ program. During the event, Prime Minister Narendra Modi himself interacted with many beneficiaries. The Prime Minister said in the programme, “When efforts of an honest government and efforts of empowered poor come together, poverty is defeated”.

He further said the campaign of providing pucca houses to the poor is not just a government scheme but a commitment to instill confidence in the rural poor. It is the first step to give courage to the poor to come out of poverty. When poor people have a roof over their head, they can focus on educating their children. The Prime Minister said the previous government had built “only a few lakh houses for the poor in their tenure. My government has built 2.5 crore houses for them. Of these, 2 crores are in villages. Women too have the ownership rights of around two crore houses built under the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana. And, work didn’t slow down despite Corona.”

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No user fee collection from two-wheelers at toll plazas: Govt

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4 days ago

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August 21, 2025

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New Delhi, Aug 21: The government on Thursday clarified that no user fee is levied from two-wheelers at the toll plazas on National Highways and National Expressways across the country.

The clarification came after reports surfaced that the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) would collect user fees from two-wheeler riders at toll plazas.

“In reference to the fake news circulating on social media regarding toll collection from two wheelers on toll plaza, NHAI would like to clarify that no user fee is levied from two wheelers at the Toll plazas on National Highways and National Expressways across the country,” the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways said in a statement.

User fee on National Highways is collected as per the National Highway Fee (Determination of Rates and Collection) Rules, 2008, and there is no proposal to charge toll fee from the two wheelers, the ministry added.

According to the rules, the user fee at toll plazas is charged from four or more wheeled vehicles which include categories like car, jeep, van or light motor vehicle/light commercial vehicle, light goods vehicle or mini bus/bus or truck/heavy construction machinery (HCM) or earth moving equipment (EME) or multi axle vehicle (MAV) (three to six axles)/ oversized vehicles (seven or more axles.

Meanwhile, the NHAI sold over 5 lakh FASTag-based annual toll permits in just four days, collecting Rs 150 crore in revenue. Tamil Nadu recorded the highest number of purchases of annual passes in four days, followed by Karnataka and Haryana.

Further, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, and Andhra Pradesh recorded the highest number of transactions through FASTag annual passes at toll plazas, a statement by NHAI said. Private vehicles can now use an annual toll pass for free passage through toll plazas on national highways and expressways, with each pass priced at Rs 3,000.

The annual pass is valid for one year from activation or for 200 toll trips, whichever occurs first.

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India To Clock 6.7% Growth Outpacing RBI Monetary Policy Committee’s 6.5% Recent Forecast

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6 days ago

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August 19, 2025

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New Delhi: India is expected to clock 6.7 per cent growth in the first quarter of the current fiscal (FY26), outpacing the RBI Monetary Policy Committee’s (MPC’s) recent forecast of 6.5 per cent, credit rating agency ICRA said on Tuesday.The rating agency report projects the growth in the gross value added (GVA) to stand at 6.4 per cent in Q1 FY2026.

Improved transmission of monetary easing and the recent announcement of forthcoming GST rationalisation may help to shore up urban consumption sentiments ahead of the festive season, the report said.”ICRA estimates a double-digit growth in net indirect taxes (in nominal terms), aided by the sharp uptick in the government of India’s indirect taxes (+11.3 per cent in Q1 FY26 from -3.1 per cent in Q4 FY2025), despite the narrower contraction in its subsidy outgo,” said Aditi Nayar, Chief Economist, Head-Research and Outreach, ICRA.

“Benefitting from robust government capital as well as revenue spending, upfronted exports to some geographies and nascent signals of improved consumption, the pace of expansion in economic activity in Q1 FY2026 is estimated at 6.7 per cent,” Aditi Nayar said.The rating agency estimates the YoY growth in the services GVA to increase to an eight-quarter high of 8.3 per cent in Q1 FY26, from 7.3 per cent in Q4 FY25, supporting the overall GVA expansion in that quarter.

In particular, the combined non-interest revenue expenditure of 24 state governments reported a double-digit YoY growth of 10.7 per cent in Q1 FY26, up from 7.2 per cent in Q4 FY25.Likewise, the Central government’s non-interest revenue expenditure saw a turnaround, recording a YoY growth of 6.9 per cent against a contraction of 6.1 per cent in the previous quarter, said the report.

Rural sentiments, as reflected in the Current Situation Index (CSI) improved further in the July 2025 (100.6) round of the RBI’s Rural Consumer Confidence Survey, reflecting favourable trends in farm output in the last two cropping seasons, and the upbeat outlook for the ongoing kharif season, and a considerable cooling in the rural CPI inflation.

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Indian Railways Introduces Discounted ‘Round Trip Package’ To Ease Festive Season Travel

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2 weeks ago

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August 9, 2025

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New Delhi: To avoid rush by ensuring hassle-free ticket booking experience during the upcoming peak festive seasons, the Ministry of Railways on Saturday said that it has decided to formulate a ‘Round Trip Package’ on discounted fare and rebates benefit.

The move will facilitate passengers and redistribute the peak traffic for a larger range during peak festival seasons and ensure both sides utilisation of trains, including special trains.

“It has been decided to formulate an experimental scheme named as Round Trip Package for festival rush on discounted fare,” the Railways Ministry stated.

According to the ministry, the scheme will be applicable for those passengers who choose their return journey during the prescribed period.

Under this scheme, rebates shall be applicable when booked for both the onward and return journey for the same set of passengers.

Passenger details of the return journey will be the same as those of the onward journey. Passengers can book their tickets from August 14 for the advance reservation period (ARP) date of October 13.

“An onward ticket shall be booked first for the train start date between 13th October 2025 and 26th October 2025, and subsequently return journey ticket shall be booked by using the connecting journey feature for the train start date between 17th November and 1st December 2025,” the Ministry stated.

However, advance reservation period will not be applicable for booking of return journey.

Other conditions to avail the benefits of the railway’s new special scheme are the booking shall be permissible only for confirmed tickets in both directions, total rebates of 20 per cent shall be granted on base fare of return journey only, booking under this scheme shall be for the same class and same O-D pair for both onward and return journey.

According to Railways, no refund of fare shall be permissible for the tickets booked under this scheme.

This scheme shall be allowed for all classes and in all trains, including special trains (Trains on demand), except trains having Flexi fare.

In addition, no modification will be allowed on these tickets in either of the journeys, and there will be no discounts, Rail travel coupons, Voucher-based bookings, or Passes be admissible during return journey booking on concessional fare.

Passenger can book their ticket via both online and offline modes; however, both onward and return journey tickets must be booked using the same mode (online or offline).

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