Question: Recently, which state has launched the Universal Old-Age Pension Scheme for 36 lakh beneficiaries?
(a) Madhya Pradesh
(b) Chhattisgarh
(c) Uttar Pradesh
(d) Bihar
Answer: (d)
Related facts:
- On 14th June 2019, Chief Minister Nitish Kumar launched a universal old age pension scheme – Mukhyamantri Vridhajan Pension Yojna (MVPY).
- This scheme aims to cover an estimated 36 lakh senior citizens who were still not privy to any salary, pension or family pension.
- The scheme brings all elderly under a social security plan with the initiation of direct benefit transfer (DBT) for a respective monthly entitlement of Rs 400 for people in the age group of 60-79 years and Rs 500 for those 80 years and above.
- Till now, only BPL persons above 60 years were covered under the prevalent old age pension scheme.
- The government had announced the scheme in February in State Assembly and later the State Cabinet had sanctioned a sum of Rs 384 crore from Bihar Contingency Fund for the payment of the universal old age pension scheme for financial year 2019-20.
- The state government is likely to incur an additional annual revenue expenditure of Rs 1,800 crore.
Links:
https://www.hindustantimes.com/patna/bihar-cm-nitish-kumar-launches-universal-old-age-pension-scheme-for-36-lakh-beneficiaries/story-J9vCjoTjsFx7ZlXSMAcuWK.html
http://www.uniindia.com/nitish-launches-universal-old-age-pension-scheme-in-bihar/east/news/1631857.html
https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/wealth/personal-finance-news/budget-2019-pension-scheme-for-bharat/articleshow/67803280.cms?from=mdr
https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/patna/bihar-first-state-to-launch-universal-old-age-pension-scheme/articleshow/69791720.cms