Government launches Seva Bhoj Yojna

Government shows its philanthropic side!Union Ministry of Culture launched Seva Bhoj Yojna, a new scheme to provide financial assistance on purchase of specific food items by Charitable Religious Institutions (CRIs) for free distribution among people.

• Under this scheme, the Centre’s share of Central Goods and Services Tax (CGST) and the Interstate GST charged on raw food materials purchased by the religious institutions will be refunded.

Details abut the Seva Bhoj Yojna:

• The scheme aims to reimburse the Central Government's share of Central Goods and Services Tax (CGST) and Integrated Goods and Service Tax (IGST) to lessen the financial burden of religious and charitable institutions providing food, prasad, langar (Community Kitchen), Bhandara- free of cost without any discrimination to public and devotee.

Beneficiaries:

• Religious and charitable institutions such as temples, gurudwara, mosque, church, dharmik ashram, dargah, matth, monasteries etc. having existence for at least five years and serve free food to at least 5000 people in a month.
• Grant will be given to such institutions if they are covered under Section 10 (23BBA) of Income Tax (IT) Act or are institutions registered as Society under Societies Registration Act (XXI of 1860) or as Public Trust under any law for time being in force of statuary religious bodies or institutions registered under Section 12AA of IT Act.

Selection:

• All eligible religious and charitable institutions first must be registered with the Darpan portal of NITI Aayog and get a Unique ID generated by it.
• Thereafter, they shall enroll themselves in CSMS Portal on the Ministry of Culture’s website in the prescribed format.
• The applications will be examined by the committee constituted for this purpose.
• On basis of recommendation of the committee, competent authority in Ministry of Culture will register these institutions for reimbursing claim of CGST and Central Government's share of IGST paid on mentioned specific items.

Question:

Q. What is the name of the new scheme launched by the Union Ministry of Culture to provide financial assistance on purchase of specific food items by Charitable Religious Institutions (CRIs) for free distribution among people?
a. Preeti Bhoj Yojna
b. Seva Bhoj Yojna
c. Sarv Bhoj Yojna
d. None of the above