PMJAY, or Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana, is a health insurance scheme launched by the Government of India to provide financial protection against high medical costs for economically vulnerable individuals and families. As per the Ayushman Bharat eligibility, PMJAY primarily targets economically vulnerable households. Families with up to 5 members have PMJAY eligibility.

However, there is no restriction on the family size for families that qualify based on the “deprivation” or “automatic” categories of the SECC database, which include categories such as manual scavengers, primitive tribal groups, and legally released bonded labourers. You need to check these details according to the Ayushman Bharat card eligibility.

To be eligible for Ayushman Bharat Yojana, applicants need to meet certain criteria laid out by the government.

How to Check Ayushman Bharat Yojana Eligibility Online on Govt. Portal

Individuals can check their eligibility for PMJAY by visiting the official website of Ayushman Bharat or through offline methods.

Online Method
You can check your Ayushman Bharat eligibility check online by following these steps:

• Visit the official website of Ayushman Bharat Yojana – https://www.pmjay.gov.in/.
• Click on the “Am I Eligible” tab on the homepage.
• Enter your mobile number and captcha code on the next page and click the “Generate OTP” button.
• Enter the OTP received on your mobile number and click the “Verify OTP” button.
• On the next page, you must provide basic details such as name, state, age, family members, and income details.
• After filling in all the details, click the “Submit” button.

If you are eligible for Ayushman Bharat Yojana, the website will display a message indicating the same, along with details of your eligible benefits. If you are not eligible for the scheme, the website will explain why you are not eligible. Thus, you can go for the Ayushman Bharat card eligibility check, and you will get to know all the information. You will understand the complete process if you carefully check Ayushman’s card eligibility.

Offline Method

You can also check your PMJAY eligibility offline by visiting the nearest Common Service Centre (CSC). You will need to provide all the necessary documents required for the Ayushman Bharat eligibility check, and the CSC operator will help you check your eligibility.

If you are eligible for the scheme, you can proceed to register and get your Ayushman Bharat card. The registration process is simple and easy; all you need to do is fill in the Ayushman Bharat registration form with relevant information. Once your application is successfully processed, you will receive the Ayushman Bharat card, which can be used to avail of benefits under the scheme.

PMJAY Eligibility Criteria for Rural People (PMJAY Rural)

Before applying, you must know the Ayushman Bharat Yojana eligibility for rural people. The beneficiaries under PMJAY are identified through the SECC database, a comprehensive survey conducted by the government to identify households living in rural areas based on their socioeconomic status. Families that fall under the following categories are eligible:

• Families live in only one room with kutcha walls and a roof.
• Families with no adult members between the ages of 16 and 59.
• Female-headed households with no adult male members between 16 and 59.
• Families have at least one disabled member and no non-disabled adult member.
• SC/ST households.
• Landless households derive a major part of their income from manual casual labour.

Deprivation Criteria: PMJAY also considers deprivation criteria to determine eligibility for rural beneficiaries. These criteria include:

• Families with no adult member who is literate or has completed 10 years of education.
• Families with no adult member who is gainfully employed (government or private sector job, self-employment).
• Families with no adult member who owns a motorised 2/3/4 wheeler or mechanised farming equipment.
• Families with no member who owns a refrigerator.
• Families with no member who owns a landline or mobile phone.

Once you know the eligibility for Ayushman card, you can apply under the scheme and enjoy all the benefits.

PMJAY Eligibility Criteria for Urban People (PMJAY Urban)

It is always best to check Ayushman Bharat card eligibility for urban families, and then only you will know whether you are coming in that category. Urban families falling under any of the following categories come under the Ayushman card eligibility criteria:

• Families living in one-room makeshift houses with no proper walls or roofs.
• Families are living in dilapidated houses.
• Families without adult members aged 16 to 59 years.
• Families headed by a single woman with no adult male member aged 16 to 59 years.
• Families with disabled members and no non-disabled adult members.
• Families are living on alms.
• Manual scavenger families.
• Primitive tribal groups.
• Homeless families.

Beneficiaries must provide valid identification documents such as an Aadhaar card or any other government-issued identification document to establish their identity and eligibility. Also, the beneficiaries must be enrolled in the PMJAY program through the designated enrollment process, including filling out the application form and providing the necessary information. You must carefully review the Ayushman Bharat scheme eligibility to know every detail.

Who is not eligible to avail of coverage under the Ayushman Bharat Yojana?

According to the official guidelines of Ayushman Bharat Yojana, the following persons are not eligible to claim insurance under this scheme:

1. Central and state government employees and their family members who are entitled to medical care under another scheme.
2. A person whose income exceeds the established eligibility criteria.
3. Individuals who own automobiles, mechanical fishing boats, farm equipment, and individuals who hold xanx credit cards exceeding certain limits.
4. Those who have a refrigerator or landline phone.
5. Individuals owning irrigated land exceeding 2.5 hectares or non-irrigated land exceeding 5 hectares.
6. Individuals who have family members who pay income tax.
7. Individuals hospitalized for procedures not covered by the scheme.
8. Those who have been hospitalized for more than 15 consecutive days.

It is important to note that the eligibility criteria may vary slightly from state to state in India as implementation of the program is done by each state government.

Conclusion

It’s important to note that the eligibility criteria for PMJAY may vary slightly from state to state as implementation is done at the state level. Therefore, it’s recommended to check with the local authorities or the official PMJAY website for the most up-to-date and accurate information on eligibility for the scheme. PMJAY is a targeted scheme to provide health insurance coverage to economically vulnerable families in urban and rural areas of India.

The eligibility criteria may vary depending on the guidelines issued by the government and implementing agencies at enrollment. It is recommended to check the latest guidelines and requirements from the official PMJAY website or the designated PMJAY enrollment centres for accurate and up-to-date information.

FAQs

Is PMJAY available for all individuals in India?
PMJAY is available to eligible individuals and families who are identified as per the SECC database and meet the specified criteria. It does not cover all individuals in India but is targeted towards providing health insurance coverage to economically deprived and vulnerable families.

Can I avail of PMJAY benefits if I have a pre-existing medical condition?
Yes, PMJAY covers pre-existing medical conditions. Families with one or more members suffering from specified diseases, such as cancer, cardiovascular diseases, kidney diseases, etc., are eligible for PMJAY benefits. However, it’s important to note that PMJAY covers only specified diseases and procedures as listed in the scheme and not all medical conditions.

Can I avail of PMJAY benefits if I have health insurance from another source?
PMJAY is a government-funded health insurance scheme designed to provide coverage to individuals and families who do not have access to health insurance from other sources. However, if you have health insurance from another source, you may still be eligible for PMJAY benefits if you meet the criteria, such as socioeconomic deprivation, presence of specified diseases, and recent hospitalization for specified procedures.

NPS funds are deposited into the bank account of the customers at the time of exit or withdrawal from the scheme by the Pension Fund Regulatory and Development Authority (PFRDA), the organization that runs the National Pension System (NPS). Instant bank account verification has been made mandatory for crediting .Bank account verification will be done as per penny drop method.

The notification issued by PFRDA states that verification as per the penny-drop method is required to process requests for exit or withdrawal from the NPS scheme and to make amendments in the bank account details of subscribers.
Money will not be withdrawn without verification

If the CRA fails to do the penny drop verification, exits and withdrawals from the NPS scheme or changes in the subscriber’s bank account cannot be made.

CRA will send verification information

If the penny-drop verification fails, the CRA will have to send the information to the subscriber’s mobile number and e-mail ID and advise them to contact their nodal officer and POP for the same. Apart from this, CRA will have to inform the nodal officer and POP of that subscriber about the absence of penny-drop verification.

Let us tell you, whenever the penny drop verification of a subscriber fails, the CRA does additional verification. Additionally, utmost care is taken before processing any withdrawal request.

Reason for penny drop verification failure

• Invalid account number/account type
• Invalid/wrong IFSC code
• name not correct
• Account Inactive
• account closure
• Account does not exist
• account transfer
• credit freeze
• Account type mismatch

Budget 2023: Even before the Union Budget, the government has given good news. Goods and Services Tax ie GST will not be levied on the incentives given by the government to banks to promote RuPay Debit cards and low-value BHIM-UPI transactions.

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The Finance Ministry has given this information. Last week, the Union Cabinet approved an incentive scheme of Rs 2,600 crore for banks to promote RuPay debit cards and low-value BHIM-UPI transactions in the current financial year.

Incentive to Government banks as a percentage of the value of RuPay Debit Card transactions and low value BHIM-UPI transactions up to Rs 2,000 under the Incentive Scheme for Promotion of RuPay Debit Card Rupay Debit Card and low value BHIM-UPI transactions pays the amount. The Payment and Settlement Systems Act, 2007 prohibits banks and system providers from accepting or making payments to anyone through RuPay Debit Cards or BHIM.(ads2)

Let us tell you that UPI has created a record of 782.9 crore digital payment transactions worth Rs 12.82 lakh crore in December alone. At the same time, in a circular sent to the Chief Commissioners of GST, the Ministry said that the incentive is directly related to the subsidy linked to the value of the service. It does not form part of the taxable value of the transaction under the provisions of the Central GST Act, 2017.

GST rate It added, “As recommended by the Council, it is clarified that the rates given by the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) to promote RuPay Debit Card and low value BHIM-UPI transactions GST will not be applicable on the incentives given. Such transaction is in the form of subsidy and will not be taxed.

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Income Tax News: There is good news for crores of taxpayers on the new year. If you also pay income tax, then from now on you will have to pay only 5% tax. Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman (FM Nirmala Sitharaman) has given a big gift to the people on the new year.

Income Tax Slab: There is good news for crores of taxpayers on the new year. If you also pay income tax, then from now on you will have to pay only 5% tax. Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman (FM Nirmala Sitharaman) has given a big gift to the people on the new year. Preparations are going on in full swing for the budget across the country, in such a situation, everyone from the middle class to the employed is expecting a big tax relief this time.

While giving information, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman

has said that from now on many people will have to pay only 5% tax. Whether you adopt the new tax regime or the old tax system, but now you will not have to pay heavy tax.

Income Tax: Income tax is an important tax for all. This tax is special for all people from middle class to upper class, but now the government is going to give big relief to those who pay income tax.

 Government employees can get great news in the new year. The exercise of preparing the general budget for the financial year 2023-24 has started. Meanwhile, the Finance Minister has been demanded to increase pension under social security and make adequate provision for maternity benefits. Let’s know the latest update.

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The new year can bring many great news for government employees. While on the one hand there is talk of sealing many big decisions related to salary, on the other hand there are chances of increase in pension and maternity benefits. Actually, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman will present the budget for the next financial year (Union Budget 2023) on February 1, 2023. Along with this, the preparations for the budget are also going on at a fast pace. Meanwhile, big economists have demanded to increase pension under social security and make adequate provision for maternity benefits before the budget of the next financial year.

Demand to increase pension

In fact, economists have demanded the Finance Minister to increase pension under social security and make adequate provision for maternity benefits. For this, he has written a letter to the Finance Minister. Those who have signed the letter include Jean Dreze, Professor Emeritus at Delhi School of Economics, Pranab Bardhan, Professor Emeritus at University of California Berkeley, R Nagaraj, Professor of Economics at Indira Gandhi Institute of Development Research (IIDR), Mumbai, IIT Delhi Professor of Economics Ritika Khera, Honorary Professor of JNU Sukhdev Thorat and others are included. The economists who signed the letter have also demanded full implementation of maternity rights under NFSA norms in the budget for the financial year 2023-24. Let us tell you that at least Rs 8,000 crore will be required for this.

A letter was also written to the former Finance Minister

According to the information given by the news agency language, economists have told in this letter that they had earlier written letters to former Finance Minister Arun Jaitley on December 20, 2017 and December 21, 2018. He has written in this letter, ‘We are reminding you again through the letter. We have tried to identify 2 priorities for the next Union Budget. In this, first, there is a provision for increase in pension for social security and second, adequate maternity benefits.

It has also been written in the letter that the central government’s contribution to the pension of the elderly under the National Old Age Pension Scheme (NOAPS) has remained stagnant at just Rs 200 per month since 2006. While this is not correct. The central government’s contribution should be increased immediately to at least Rs 500 (if possible more). In fact, in view of the rising inflation, this demand has been raised earlier also from the pensioners.(ads2)

Discussion on widow pension is also possible

The letter states, “Based on the existing 2.1 crore pensioners, an additional provision of around Rs 7,560 crore is required for this. Similarly, the pension for widows should be increased from Rs.300 per month to Rs.500 per month. It has been told that the pension item for widows will cost Rs 1,560 crore.

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New Delhi: Recently there was news that the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) is reviewing the Unified Payment Interface (UPI) and may levy charges on payments made through UPI.

Now the Ministry of Finance has given relief information. The ministry said that the government is not considering levying any charge on the UPI payment service.

The Finance Ministry tweeted, “UPI is one such digital platform which is highly convenient for the public and has a major contribution to the economy. No charges are being considered for the UPI payment service. Other options will be considered for cost recovery for service providers.”

UPI is a digital public good with immense convenience for the public & productivity gains for the economy. There is no consideration in Govt to levy any charges for UPI services. The concerns of the service providers for cost recovery have to be met through other means. (1/2)

— Ministry of Finance (@FinMinIndia) August 21, 2022

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What is UPI

Let us tell you that UPI is a real time payment system, which allows instant transfer of money from one bank account to another bank account. The special thing is that you can transfer money through UPI anytime, night or day.

How UPI System of Money Transfer Works Using the UPI facility is quite easy. For this, you have to download any UPI app like Paytm, PhonePe, Google Pay, BHIM etc. in your mobile. You can use this system by linking your bank account with the UPI app. Through UPI, you can link one bank account with multiple UPI apps. At the same time, multiple bank accounts can be operated through one UPI app.

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The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has amended bank locker rules, which will take effect on January 1, 2023. Know the changes in regulations for locker facilities.

The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has amended the bank locker rules, which include providing customers with updated locker agreements. The rules will take effect from January 1, 2023.

As per an RBI notification, the agreements must follow the model drafted by the Indian Bank Association (IBA). “Banks shall ensure that any unfair terms or conditions are not incorporated in their locker agreements. Further, the terms of the contract shall not be more onerous than required in the ordinary course of business to safeguard the interests of the bank,” the notification on August 18, 2021, reads. 
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It also asked the banks to renew their customer locker agreements by January 1, 2023.
In light of these changes, social media is abuzz with queries. For instance, one user asked: “My wife and sister-in-law jointly hold a locker in a bank where my sister-in-law has a savings account. Can we request the bank to delink my sister-in-law’s savings account (with her consent) from the locker and make my wife the sole owner? Or do we need to close the locker and apply for a new one in my wife’s name?” 

The Solution

Shreejith Menon, chief operating officer, operations, customer service & facilities at Fincare small finance bank, says, “A customer can get the joint holder removed from the locker facility without closing the locker and continue the facility with a single name.”

Further, Sanchay Sinha, country head and senior general manager of retail banking at South Indian Bank Limited, adds the holders must submit a joint request letter to delink their names from the locker.

Opening A Bank Locker

Opening a bank locker isn’t a daunting task, but the availability of safes in the desired branch is a concern. Every branch has a list of available lockers and a waitlist for lockers.

So when one applies for a locker, the bank branch acknowledges the customer’s application and assigns one or gives him a waitlist number if no lockers are available.

Sinha adds, “Customers don’t need to open a savings account in the same bank for availing lockers.” The facility is offered to all KYC-compliant customers regardless of their relationship with the bank. One year Locker Rent is collected from the customer in advance, he said.

Customers must have valid KYC documents, fill out the application accompanied by a passport-size photograph, and a signed and stamped locker agreement document (in IBA specified format), and pay the locker rent for the entire year in advance. 

“Due diligence is carried out for all customers. All locker holders need to execute the locker agreement in the latest IBA format,” adds Sinha.

Things To Keep In Mind

In a notification in August 2021, the RBI stated that banks must obtain a term deposit from the customer at the time of locker allotment to save them from a potential situation where the customer neither operates the locker nor pays the rent. The term deposit would cover rent for three years and charges to break open the vault if the need arises.
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“Banks, however, shall not insist on such term deposits from existing locker holders or those who have satisfactory operative accounts,” the notification said. 

The nominee will get full access to the locker if the original keeper dies without a will. “In cases where there is a valid nomination/clear survivorship clause, the claim from the nominees should be settled based on nomination clause,” said Sinha.

Suppose there was no nominee or a will. In that case, the legal heirs must comply with specific rules like submitting a signed claim application, death certificate of the locker holder, and KYC documents, among others, to claim the locker. 

Banks have been collecting the locker rent in advance as a rule for the past year. So if one surrenders the locker before time, a proportionate amount of advance rent will be refunded by banks.

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It has become a mandatory process to link your PAN with Aadhaar. This is an important process because this will allow your income tax returns to be processed. Linking of your PAN with Aadhaar is also required if you are carrying out banking transactions for amount of Rs.50,000 and above.

The process to get your PAN linked with Aadhaar is very simple. We will have a look at some of the steps you can follow to link your PAN with Aadhaar.
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How to Link PAN Card with Aadhaar Card?

Process to Link PAN Card with Aadhaar with Penalty

The procedure to link the PAN Card with the Aadhaar with a penalty is mentioned below:

• Visit https://www.incometax.gov.in/iec/foportal.
• Under the ‘Quick Links’ section, you will find the ‘Link Aadhaar’ option, click on it.
• On the next page, enter your name, mobile number, Aadhaar number, and PAN.
• Verify the information that is provided by clicking on the ‘I validate my Aadhaar Details’ option.
• Click on ‘Continue’.
• You will receive an OTP on the registered mobile number. Enter the OTP and click on ‘Validate’.
• Once the penalty is paid, the process of linking the PAN and Aadhaar will be complete.
• Credit score

PAN-Aadhaar Linking Deadline

Last Date to Link Aadhaar and PAN Extended by the Government

The last date to link the Aadhaar and Permanent Account Number (PAN) has been extended by the government until 31 March 2023. Earlier, the last date was 31 March 2022. However, fines will be levied in case individuals do not link the PAN and Aadhaar by 31 March 2022. In case the PAN and Aadhaar are linked between 1 April 2022 and 30 June 2022, the fine will be Rs.500. The fine will be Rs.1,000 if the Aadhaar and PAN are linked from 1 July 2022.

Ways to Linking PAN with Aadhaar

There are two ways through which you can link PAN and Aadhaar. These are:

1. Through the Income Tax e-filing website

2. Sending an SMS to 567678 or 56161

>>Linking PAN with Aadhaar Online ( Through the e-filing Website)

Step 1: Visit Income Tax Site by clicking on the link https://www.incometax.gov.in/iec/foportal.

Step 2: Under ‘Quick Links’, click on ‘Link Aadhaar’. Provide the PAN, Aadhaar number, and name as mentioned in the Aadhaar card

Step 3: Enter details such as PAN Number, Aadhaar number, your name on Aadhaar, and your mobile number, Tick the square if only the birth year in mentioned in the Aadhaar card, and also tick the box where you agree to get your Aadhaar details validated. Click on ‘Link Aadhaar’.

Step 4: Enter the Captcha code. (Visually challenged users can request for an OTP instead of the captcha code. The OTP will be sent on the registered mobile number)

Step 5: Click on the ‘Link Aadhaar’ button.

>>Linking PAN with Aadhaar by Sending an SMS

To link PAN with Aadhaar by sending an SMS. You need to follow the steps mentioned below:

Step 1: Type UIDPAN 12-digit Aadhaar 10-digit PAN on your mobile

Step 2: Send it to 567678 or 56161

SMS ‘UIDPAN Aadhaar-number PAN-number to 567678

>>Steps to check PAN-Aadhaar status

Given below are the steps you will have to follow to check the status of your PAN-Aadhaar status pre-login:

Step 1: Visit Income Tax Site by clicking on the link https://www.incometax.gov.in/iec/foportal.

Step 2: Under ‘Quick Links’, click on ‘Link Aadhaar Status’.

Step 3: Enter your PAN and Aadhaar number and click on ‘View Link Aadhaar Status’. You will be able to view the status of your PAN-Aadhaar linking on the page.

You can check the status of linking of Aadhaar with PAN via the SMS facility as well. You will have to send an SMS to 567678 or 56161 in format given below:

UIDPAN < 12-digit Aadhaar number> < 10-digit Permanent Account Number>

If your Aadhaar has been successfully linked with PAN then you will be able to see the message ‘Aadhaar (Aadhaar number) is already associated with PAN..in ITD database. Thank you for using our services’.

Importance of Linking PAN Card with Aadhaar Card

Both the PAN card as well as the Aadhaar card are unique identification cards that serve as proof of identity that are necessary for registration and verification purposes.

The government has urged all entities to link their PAN cards with their Aadhaar cards. This is being done for the following purposes:

Prevent Tax Evasion:

By linking the Aadhaar and PAN cards, the government will be able to keep tabs on the taxable transactions of a particular individual or entity, whose identity and address will be verified by his Aadhaar card. This will effectively mean that every taxable transaction or activity will be recorded by the government.
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As a result, the government will already have a detailed record of all the financial transactions that would attract tax for each entity, making tax evasion a thing of the past.

Multiple PAN Cards:

Another reason for linking PAN with Aadhaar is to reduce the occurrence of individuals or entities applying for multiple PAN cards in an effort to defraud the government and avoid paying taxes.

By applying for more than one PAN card, an entity can use one of the cards for a certain set of financial transactions and pay taxes applicable for those. Meanwhile, the other PAN card can be used for accounts or transactions that the entity wishes to conceal from the Income Tax department, thereby avoiding paying tax on them.

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The preparation for the General Budget 2023-24 (Budget 2023-24) is going on in full swing. The government can give big relief to taxpayers in the budget to be presented in February next year.

In fact, industry body Assocham has demanded the government to double the income tax exemption limit in the next budget. Assocham has said that if the tax exemption limit is increased from the current Rs 2.5 lakh to Rs 5 lakh, then the demand will increase. This will boost consumption in the economy. At present, income up to Rs 2.5 lakh is not taxed for common citizens. This limit is Rs 3 lakh for senior citizens and Rs 5 lakh for super senior citizens (80 years).

Now companies are insisting on increasing capacity

Assocham President Sumant Sinha said that companies in sectors like steel and cement are now planning to increase capacity. Talking about the risks, he said that there could be a global recession and this would affect foreign trade. In such a situation, India’s GDP can also be affected.

In its pre-budget recommendations, Assocham said the government should raise the income tax exemption limit to at least Rs 5 lakh to leave more disposable income in the hands of the consumer . . The industry body said that this should boost consumption in the economy.

Consumption will get a boost

Sinha said that due to the boom in both direct and indirect taxes, the government has enough scope to increase the income tax exemption limit. Assocham Secretary General Deepak Sood said that leaving more money in the hands of the consumer would encourage consumption, which would have a positive impact on economic growth.