PROBIZ International - Vol-1 Probiz File final | Page 42

LEGALLY YOURS MEA gifted the easier way to file passport applications T he Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) has amended rules to make the application process for seeking a passport easy and simple. This is a smart move by the government to encourage the people to apply for passport. The new changes brought into effect from 2017 which include documentation for proof of birth, details of parent/ legal guardian, annexes, attestations, married/ divorced person, work related urgent passports. Earlier submitting a birth certificate was compulsory for all applicants born on/after 26th January 1989. Now under the new rules, any of the documents containing the DOB of the applicant will be sufficient. The new passport rules also amend the system of requiring names of both parents at the time of application. An applicant now only needs to provide the name of either one of the parents or the legal guardian. This makes it easier for children with single parents or orphans to apply for a passport. The total number of annexes has been bought down from 15 to 9. Lesser annexes means less trouble for applicant to collate documentation. As annexes needed attestation from a Notary/ Executive Magistrate/ First Class Judicial Magistrate previously, henceforth all these annexes can now be in the form of a self-declaration from the applicant on plain paper. This will spare the applicant from running around the authorities for attestation. The need for a marriage certificate has been discontinued. Also, in case of a divorce the applicant will not be required to provide the name of their spouse. This is another interesting change that has been made taking into consideration changing societal norms. For urgent passports, if a government employee is unable to procure the NOC (no objection certificate) or identity certificate from their employers, they can submit a self-declaration stating that they have given a prior intimation letter to their employer informing that they are applying for an ordinary passport to a passport issuing authority. The centre has announced that new passports will be dispensed without physical verification. The new plan is to connect the passport verification process with crime and criminal tracking network and system project. Now own bigger homes under PM Awas Yojana H ere is good news for home buyers in cities. Changes have been made in government’s affordable housing scheme Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana-Urban. The increase in the carpet area of a house under PMAY-U has been affected across all middle income group categories. For Middle Income Group-I (MIG-I), the carpet area has been increased from 120 sq m to 160 sq m. It has been increased from 150 sq m to 200 sq m in the case of MIG -II. This decision for MIG section was done after inputs from various stakeholders The new rules of the scheme have been given retrospective effect which became operational from January 2017. Under the Credit Linked Subsidy Scheme (CLSS), each beneficiary can avail subsidy up to Rs 2.35 lakh on purchase of home. A 4% interest subsidy is available on loans up to Rs 9 lakh for people with an annual income between Rs 6-12 lakh under MIG-I plan. 3 % interest subsidy is given on loans up to Rs 12 lakh to people with income 42 August 2018 between Rs 12-18 lakh p.a. An amount of Rs 736 crore had been disbursed to 35,204 beneficiaries belonging to the MIG category as of June 11. Earlier, the Centre approved the construction of 1.5 lakh houses for urban poor under the PMAY-U.