Miscellaneous Schemes under Prime Minister’s Office
PRAGATI (Pro-Active Governance and Timely Implementation)
- Objective:
To address common man’s grievances while also monitoring and reviewing important programmes and projects of both the Centre and the States. - Nature: A multi-purpose, multi-modal platform that integrates:
- Digital data management
- Video-conferencing
- Geo-spatial technology
- Structure: Works as a three-tier system involving:
- Prime Minister’s Office (PMO)
- Union Government Secretaries
- Chief Secretaries of the States
- Significance:
- Ensures cooperative federalism by bringing central and state bureaucracies together on one platform.
- Helps in quick resolution of bottlenecks in project implementation.
✅ UPSC Angle: Think of PRAGATI as a direct PMO-led project monitoring system blending grievance redressal + programme implementation.
National Defence Fund (NDF)
- Purpose:
Welfare of members of the Armed Forces (including Para-Military Forces) and their dependents. - Administration:
- Managed by an Executive Committee with the Prime Minister as Chairperson.
- Defence, Finance, and Home Ministers are Members.
- Finance Minister acts as the Treasurer.
- Fund Management:
- Accounts are maintained with the Reserve Bank of India (RBI).
- Entirely dependent on voluntary public contributions – no budgetary support.
✅ Significance: Acts as a public-driven welfare fund for defence personnel and their families.
Prime Minister’s National Relief Fund (PMNRF)
- Background:
- Established in 1948 to help displaced persons from Pakistan after Partition.
- Now used for assisting people in difficult circumstances (natural disasters, medical treatment, etc.).
- Nature:
- Recognized as a Trust under the Income Tax Act.
- Corpus built entirely from public contributions – no budgetary allocation.
- Tax Benefits:
- Donations qualify for 100% income tax deduction under Section 80(G) of IT Act, 1961.
- Fund Management:
- Money invested in scheduled commercial banks.
- Disbursements made with PM’s approval.
✅ Significance: Serves as an emergency relief fund that showcases public participation in national humanitarian efforts.