Ministry of Finance

More than Rs 36,659 crore transferred by using Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT)  through Public Financial Management System (PFMS)in the Bank accounts of 16.01 crore  beneficiaries  during COVID 2019 lockdown

Cash Benefits announced under Prime Minister Garib Kalyan Package also being transferred by using DBT Digital Payment Infrastructure

PFMS usage for DBT Payments increased over last #3 FYs;  total DBT amount disbursed increased from 22% in FY 2018-19 to 45%in FY 2019-20

DBT ensures Cash benefit directly credited into the account of the beneficiary, eliminates leakage and improves efficiency

Dated: 19 APR 2020

More than Rs36,659 crore has been transferred by using Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT)  through Public Financial Management System (PFMS) inthe Bank accounts of 16.01 crore beneficiaries  during COVID 2019 lockdown by the  Controller General of Accounts (CGA) office ,Department of Expenditure,Ministry of Finance.

Direct Benefit Transfer ensures that the cash benefit is directly credited into the account of the beneficiary, eliminates leakage and improves efficiency.

The aforesaid cash amount has been transferred by  using robust digital payments technology PFMS (Public Financial Management System) for making DBT payments under Central Schemes (CS) /Centrally Sponsored Schemes (CSS) /CASP schemes .

Main Highlights :

1. More than Rs 36,659 Crores ( Rs. 27,442 crores [Centrally sponsored Scheme CSS+ Central Sector Schemes (CS)] +Rs. 9717 [State Govternment] ) transferred by using Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT)  through Public Financial Management System (PFMS) in the Bank accounts of 16.01 crore beneficiaries (11.42 crores [CSS/CS] + 4.59 crores [State ]) during COVID 2019 lockdown (24th March 2020 till 17thApril 2020)

2. Cash Benefits announced under Prime Minister Garib KalyanYojna Package also being transferred by using DBT Digital Payment Infrastructure. Rs500  each was credited in the women account holder of Jan- Dhan accounts. Till 13th April 2020 the total number of women beneficiaries were 19.86 Crores , which resulted in disbursement of Rs 9,930 crores (as per data of  Department of Financial Services).

3. PFMS usage for DBT Payments increased over last #3 FYs with Total DBT amount disbursed has been increased from 22% in FY 2018-19 to 45% in FY 2019-20.

The following are the details of cash benefits transferred by using PFMS for making DBT payments during COVID 19 period (24^th March 2020 till 17^thApril 2020).

1. During COVID 19Lockdown i.e24^th March 2020 till 17^thApril 2020 ;  the DBT payments under all the Central Sector/Centrally Sponsored Schemes through PFMS amounted to Rs. 27,442.08crore  in the accounts of 11,42,02,592beneficiaries through schemes like PM KISAN, Mahatma Gandhi National Employment Guarantee Scheme (MNREGS), National Social Assistance Program(NSAP), Prime Minster’sMatruVandanaYojana (PMMVY), National Rural Livelihood Mission (NRLM), National Health Mission (NHM), Scholarship Schemes of various ministries through National Scholarship Portal (NSP).

2. Apart from above mentioned schemes, payments were also made under the PM GaribKalyanYojana, Rs 500 was credited in the women account holder of Jan- Dhan accounts. Till 13th April 2020 the total number of women beneficiarieswere19.86 crore, which resulted in disrbursement of Rs 9,930 crore (as per data of  Department of Financial Services).

3. During COVID 19 period, many State Governments like UP, Bihar, MP, Tripura, Maharashtra, J&K, AP and others   have used DBT to transfer cash in the bank accounts.Through 180 welfare schemes ,the State Governments using PFMS have disbursed to4,59,03,908 beneficiaries, an amount of Rs. 9,217.22crore between 24^th March 2020 till 17^th April 2020.

Summary of DBT payments for Top 10 Centrally Sponsored Schemes/Central SectorSchemes:

Scheme	Period :  [24-Mar-2020 till 17-Apr-2020]
	Beneficiaries Paid	Amount (IRs Crore)
PRADHAN MANTRI KISAN SAMMAN NIDHI (PM-Kisan)-[3624]	8,43,79,326	17,733.53
MAHATMA GANDHI NATIONAL RURAL GURANTEE PROGRAM-[9219]	1,55,68,886	5,406.09
INDIRA GANDHI NATIONAL OLD AGE PENSION SCHEME (IGNOAPS)-[3163]	93,16,712	999.49
INDIRA GANDHI NATIONAL WIDOW PENSION SCHEME(IGNWPS)-[3167]	12,37,925	158.59
National Rural Health Mission-[9156]	10,98,128	280.80
Pradhan MantriMatruVandanaYojna-[3534]	7,58,153	209.47
PRE MATRIC SCHOLARSHIP FOR MINORITIES-[9253]	5,72,902	159.86
Food Subsidy for Decentralized Procurement of Foodgrains under NFSA-[9533]	2,91,250	19.18
INDIRA GANDHI NATIONAL DISABILITY PENSION SCHEME(IGNDPS)-[3169]	2,39,707	26.95
NATIONAL SOCIAL ASSISTANCE PROGRAMME ( NSAP)-[9182]	2,23,987	30.55

*Total Beneficiaries Paid 11,42,02,592 / Amount :Rs. 27,442.08 crore [as in para (i) above]

Summary of DBT payments of top 10 schemes of State Governments:

State	Scheme	Period :  [24-Mar-2020 till 17-Apr-2020]
		Beneficiaries Paid	Amount (RsCrore)
Bihar	DBT- Education Department-[BR147]	1,52,70,541	1,884.66
Bihar	Corona sahayata-[BR142]	86,95,974	869.60
U.P.	वृद्धावस्था/किसानपेंशनयोजना-[9529]	53,24,855	707.91
U.P.	UP-National widow pension scheme (3167)-[UP10]	26,76,212	272.14
Bihar	MukhyamantriVridhjan Pension Yojana-[BR134]	18,17,100	199.73
U.P.	कुष्ठावस्थाविकलांगभरणपोषणअनुदान-[9763]	10,78,514	112.14
Bihar	Bihar State Disability Pension Scheme-[BR99]	10,37,577	98.39
Assam	AS - Old Age Pension From State Contribution(OAPFSC)-[AS103]	9,86,491	28.88
Bihar	MUKHYAMANTRI VISHESH SAHAYATA-[BR166]	9,81,879	98.19
Delhi	Delhi Financial Assistance to Senior Citizen-[2239]	9,27,101	433.61

    *Total Beneficiaries Paid 4,59,03,908 / Amount :Rs. 9217.22 crore  [as in para (iii) above]

DBT payment growth using PFMS during the last three years :

PFMS usage for DBT Payments has increased over last #3 FYs wherein Transaction count increased to 11%  during FY 2018-19 (compared to Fy 2017-18) and 48% in FY 2019-20. The total DBT amount disbursed increased from 22% in FY 2018-19 to 45%in FY 2019-20.

BACKGROUND:

Ministry of Finance (MoF), Government of India, decided on mandatory use of Public Financial Management System (PFMS) of the office of Controller General of Accounts (CGA) for payment, accounting and reporting under DBT and directed (December 2014) all implementing Ministries/Departments to ensure that no payments under DBT schemes were processed unless the electronic payment files for such payments were received through PFMS from 1st April 2015. Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) is a major reform initiative launched by Government of India to re-engineer the existing cumbersome delivery processes using modern Information and Communication Technology (ICT), by transferring benefits into the bank/postal accounts, preferably Aadhaar seeded, of accurately targeted beneficiaries, as well as in-kind transfers from Government to individual beneficiaries.

Payment ecosystem of DBT in PFMS

Beneficiary management in PFMS Beneficiary data can be entered into PFMS through either of the two modes viz.

1. through Excel upload from PFMS user interface and/or

2. through Secure File Transfer Protocol (SFTP) servers of the integrated external system(s)/ Line of Business (LoB) applications

3. PFMS also does pre-validation of Bank Accounts/Postal accounts and validation of Aadhaar number on National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI) Aadhaar mapper.

DBT includes in-kind and cash transfers to beneficiaries as well as transfers/honorariums given to various enablers of government schemes like community workers, etc for successful implementation of the schemes.

Transfer of cash benefits from Ministries/Departments is donethgrogh PFMS:

(a)        directly to beneficiaries from Ministries/Departments;

(b)        through State Treasury Account; or

(c)        through any Implementing Agency as appointed by Centre/State Governments.

BENEFITS OF DBT:

DBT intends to achieve (through CARE):

1. Curbing pilferage and duplication

2. Accurate targeting of the beneficiary

3. Reduced delay in payments , and

4. Electronic transfer of benefits, minimizing levels involved in benefit flow.

RM/KMN
(Release ID: 1616022)

 

Ministry of Finance

As a relief to MSMEs, I-T refunds worth Rs 5,204 Crore issued in last 10 days: CBDT

Dated: 17 APR 2020

The Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT) today said that Income tax refunds to nearly 8.2 lakh small businesses (proprietors, firms, corporate and trusts) worth Rs 5,204 Crore have been issued since 8th April 2020. These income tax refunds would help MSMEs to carry on their business activities without pay cuts and layoffs in Covid-19 pandemic situations.

The CBDT said that since the Government’s decision vide Press Note dated 8^th April 2020, I-T department has till date issued nearly 14 lakh refunds up to Rs 5 lakh each in order to help taxpayers in COVID-19 pandemic situation. Keeping its focus on providing relief to the small businesses in MSME sector, CBDT will further issue refunds of Rs 7,760 Crore earliest possible.

The CBDT reiterated its request that in around 1.74 lakh cases, responses are awaited from taxpayers regarding reconciliation with their outstanding tax demand for which a reminder email has been sent asking them to respond within 7 days so that the refund can be processed earliest. 

It may be noted that these responses can be provided online through the taxpayer e-filing account on: www.incometaxindiaefiling.gov.in

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RM/KMN

(Release ID: 1615506)

 

Ministry of Electronics & IT

Government of India Gives 4 Months’ Rental Waiver to the IT Companies Operating from Software Technology Parks of India (STPI) Centers

Dated: 16 APR 2020

In view of the challenges thrown by COVID19 outbreak and consequent lockdown, the Government today took a major decision to provide relief from payment of rental to the small IT units operating out of the Software Technology Parks of India (STPI).  Most of these units are either Tech MSMEs or startups. 

The Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) has decided to provide rental waiver to these units housed in STPI premises in the country from 01.03.2020 till 30.06.2020 i.e. for 4 months period as of now. 

Software Technology Parks of India (STPI) is an autonomous society under Ministry of Electronics & Information Technology, Government of India and it has 60 centers across the country. The initiative to provide rental waiver to the units located in these centers will provide relief to the industry in this crisis situation emerged due to COVID19 pandemic. This initiative will provide benefit to nearly 200 IT/ ITeS MSMEs, operating from these 60 STPI centers. The total cost of the rental waiver provided to these units during 4 months period from 01.03.2020 to 30.06.2020 is estimated to be around Rs. 5 Crore. This effort is also in the larger interest of around 3,000 IT/ ITeS employees who are directly supported by these units.  

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(Release ID: 1615052)

 

Government of India

Department of Revenue

Ministry of Finance

Central Board of Direct Taxes

New Delhi, 15th April, 2020

PRESS RELEASE

Over 10.2 lakh Refunds worth Rs.4,250 Crore issued in a Week by CBDT

In pursuance to the Government’s decision vide Press Note dated April 8th 2020 to issue pending income tax refunds up to Rs. 5 lakh in order to help taxpayers in a Covid-19 pandemic situations, the Central Board of Direct taxes (CBDT) today said that it has already issued over 10.2 lakh refunds totalling to around Rs. 4,250 crore as on April 14th 2020. These refunds are over and above the 2.50 crore refunds already issued in FY 19-20 till March 31st 2020 totalling to Rs. 1.84 lakh crore.

CBDT further said that about 1.75 lakh more refunds are in the process of issuance in this week. These refunds would get credited directly to the taxpayer bank account in 5-7 business days from issuance. However, in around 1.74 lakh cases, email responses are awaited from taxpayers regarding reconciliation with their outstanding tax demand for which a reminder email has been sent asking them to respond within 7 days so that the refund can be processed accordingly. 

It may be noted that these reminder emails from I-T department are in fact for the benefit of taxpayers as it seeks them to confirm their outstanding demand, their bank accounts and reconciliation of defect/mismatch prior to issue of refund.

CBDT appealed that it is in the interest of taxpayers to provide a response to such emails at the earliest so that refunds could be processed and issued at the earliest. CBDT has requested taxpayers to check their email and login to their e-filing account to respond to the I-T Department immediately.

CBDT also said that it has noted in a few media, including social media, some questions are being raised with regards to CBDT’s computerised email to the taxpayers to respond within 7 days for enabling the department to process refund.  In this regards, it is clarified that these are the necessary routine process related communications to the taxpayers to seek response on defective ITRs, prima facie adjustments and where confirmation is sought about certain claims made by them. In all such cases, a quick response from the taxpayer would enable the I-T Department to process their refunds expeditiously.

(Surabhi Ahluwalia)

Commissioner of Income Tax

(Media & Technical Policy)

Official Spokesperson, CBDT

 

Ministry of Finance

IT Department to release all pending income tax refunds up to Rs 5 lakhs immediately ; Around 14 lakh taxpayers to benefit

All GST & CUSTOM refunds also to be released; to provide benefit to around 1 lakh business entities including MSMEs Rs 18,000 crore of total refund granted immediately

Dated: 08 APR 2020

In the context of the COVID-19 situation and with a view to provide immediate relief to the business entities and individuals, it has been decided to issue all the pending income-tax refunds up to Rs. 5lakh, immediately. This would benefit around 14 lakh taxpayers.

It has also been decided to issue all pending GST and Custom refunds which would provide benefit to around 1 lakh business entities, including MSME. Thus, the total refund granted will be approximately Rs. 18,000 crore.

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RM/KMN

(Release ID: 1612291)