NATIONAL SCHEMES

VISHWAS 2026

Context: The Employees’ Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO) has launched VISHWAS 2026 to help resolve disputes related to damages and penalties in a simple and peaceful manner.

About VISHWAS 2026

It has been launched by the Employees’ Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO) under the Ministry of Labour and Employment.

The scheme aims to settle disputes related to the levy of damages and penalties under EPF laws through mutual agreement.

Objectives

To encourage voluntary compliance by employers.
To reduce court cases and legal disputes.
To ensure quick settlement of long-pending cases related to penalties and damages.
To protect the interests of employees while resolving disputes.

Key Features

Duration

It will remain in operation for six months from the date of its notification.

Amrit Bharat Station Scheme (ABSS)

Context: The Prime Minister recently virtually inaugurated 75 redeveloped railway stations across 20 states under the Amrit Bharat Station Scheme (ABSS).

About Amrit Bharat Station Scheme (ABSS)

Its aim is to modernize and upgrade railway stations across the Indian Railways (IR) network.

- The scheme focuses on the overall development of stations with a long-term vision.
- It follows a master plan for each station, and improvements are carried out based on the needs and future demand of that station.
- The scheme also aims to improve:

The main goal is to make railway stations cleaner, safer, more comfortable, and passenger-friendly.

Features of Amrit Bharat Station Scheme

Improved Passenger Facilities

Support to Local Economy

Local products will be sold through kiosks under the ‘One Station One Product’ initiative.

Railway stations will be made greener, cleaner, and more attractive through better landscaping and beautification efforts.

‘Pradhan Mantri Formalisation of Micro food processing Enterprises’ (PMFME) Scheme

- Background: The number of beneficiaries who have received credit assistance under the ‘Pradhan Mantri Formalisation of Micro food processing Enterprises’ (PMFME) scheme has crossed the 2-lakh mark.

More than 2 lakh micro food processing enterprises have received credit-linked assistance; this has attracted investments exceeding Rs 20,300 crore.

Approximately 90% of the beneficiaries are first-generation entrepreneurs, and 44% are women. Furthermore, over 75,000 enterprises have been formalised through Udyam, FSSAI, and GST registrations.

About the PMFME Scheme:

- Launched in 2020 under the ‘Atmanirbhar Bharat Abhiyan’ (Self-Reliant India Mission).

Category: Centrally sponsored scheme (Duration: 2020–21 to 2025–26); the financial outlay is Rs 10,000 crore.

Ministry: Ministry of Food Processing Industries (MoFPI).
Objective: To formalise micro food processing enterprises and enhance their competitiveness through financial, technical, and business support.

Key Features:

Credit-linked subsidy: A subsidy of 35% of the eligible project cost (up to a maximum of Rs 10 lakh per enterprise) is provided for upgrading existing enterprises or establishing new ones.
ODOP (One District One Product) Approach: Promoting products unique to a specific district through value addition, branding, and market linkages.
Support for Self-Help Groups (SHGs), Farmer Producer Organizations (FPOs), and cooperative societies: Providing seed capital, credit assistance, skill development, and support for group-based business ventures to SHGs.
Branding and marketing support: Facilitating common branding, packaging, quality certification, and market linkages for ODOP products.

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