Context:
PM announced ex-gratia from PMNRF to Fire Factory explosion victims in Gujarat.
Prime Minister’s National Relief Fund (PMNRF):
- Origin – Instituted in 1948 by then Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru, to assist displaced persons from Pakistan.
- Currently used to provide support to people affected by natural and man-made disasters.
- Operates entirely on public contributions without any budgetary support.
- The corpus of the fund is invested in commercial banks and other approved agencies; disbursements require the Prime Minister’s approval.
- Not established by Parliament, PMNRF is recognized as a Trust under the Income Tax Act, managed by the Prime Minister or appointed delegates for national causes.
- Voluntary Contributions – Individuals, organizations, trusts, companies, and institutions can make voluntary donations, which are tax-exempt under Income Tax Act, 1961
- Resources are used for –
- Immediate relief for families affected by natural calamities (e.g., floods, cyclones, earthquakes).
- Partial assistance for medical treatments like heart surgery, kidney transplants, cancer care, and acid attack rehabilitation.
Source: PIB
Previous year question
Which of the following statements regarding ‘Green Climate Fund’ is/are correct?
1. It is intended to assist the developing countries in adaptation and mitigation practices to counter climate change.
2. It is founded under the aegis of UNEP, OECD, Asian Development Bank and World Bank.
Select the correct answer using the code given below.
[UPSC Civil Services Exam – 2015 Prelims]
(a) 1 only
(b) 2 only
(c) Both 1 and 2
(d) Neither 1 nor 2
Answer: (a)
Explanation:
The Green Climate Fund (GCF) is a fund within the framework of the UNFCCC.
It was founded as a mechanism to redistribute money from the developed to the developing world, in order to assist the developing countries in adaptation and mitigation practices to counter climate change. Hence statement 1 is correct.
The Fund is governed and supervised by a Board that will have full responsibility for funding decisions and that receives the guidance of the COP. Hence statement 2 is not correct.