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Direct Benefit Transfer Used for Bihar Flood Relief Assistance

Source:The Hindu ↗

Why It Matters

Directly relates to Bihar state governance, disaster management mechanisms, and social security implementation through digital means, which are high-yield areas for BPSC exams.

Summary

The Bihar Chief Minister transferred ₹579 crore in relief assistance directly to the bank accounts of flood-affected citizens across the state to mitigate losses incurred during recent flood disasters, utilizing direct benefit transfer mechanisms.

Key Points

  • The Bihar Chief Minister transferred ₹579 crore directly to the bank accounts of flood-affected families in the state.
  • The financial assistance aims to provide immediate relief to people suffering from crop, property, and livelihood losses due to floods.
  • Utilizes digital direct benefit transfer (DBT) mechanisms to ensure transparency and efficiency in disaster relief disbursement.

Important Terms

Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) relief assistance

An electronic disbursement mechanism used by the government to transfer welfare funds and relief assistance directly into the bank accounts of beneficiaries, eliminating intermediaries and curbing leakages.

UPSC context

Tested in BPSC General Studies (Paper II - Polity/Economy/Governance) regarding transparent welfare delivery and public financial management in Bihar.

Source
State Government of Bihar

The executive governing authority of Bihar responsible for state administration, social welfare implementation, law enforcement, and disaster management operations during seasonal floods.

UPSC context

Crucial for BPSC questions on Bihar governance, administrative structure, disaster response mechanisms, and state-level welfare policies.

Source

Prelims Trap

all flood relief funds in Bihar are directly disbursed by the National Disaster Management Authority via central portals.

Aspirants often assume flood relief is funded entirely by central disaster funds, ignoring that states deploy specific state-level schemes and portals like Aapda Sampoorti.

Static Concepts Connected

Geography of Bihar

What are the major northern rivers of Bihar that cause recurring seasonal floods?

  • Kosi River: Kosi River: Known as the 'Sorrow of Bihar', originating in Tibet/Nepal and joining the Ganga.
  • Gandak River: Gandak River: Originates in Nepal, forms part of Bihar's boundary, and causes severe inundation.
  • Bagmati and Kamla: Bagmati & Kamla: Flash-flood prone Himalayan rivers flowing through north Bihar plains.

Cross-Topic Patterns

  • Flood Management and Himalayan River Basins

    Bihar's recurring monsoon floods caused by Himalayan rivers like the Kosi link directly to questions on geographical river basins and disaster mitigation strategies in GS Paper II.

  • Digital Governance in State Welfare Delivery

    The use of Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) and the Aapda Sampoorti portal reflects e-governance initiatives in state administration and fiscal federalism.

Bihar flood relief mechanisms (DBT limits, Aapda Sampoorti portal, and major northern rivers) will feature in GS Paper II/Prelims.

Linked PYQs · 2

Linked PYQs · 2

  • 2022BPSC_PRELIMSGS1

    The 'Digital India Award, 2020' was given to the Bihar Government for

  • 2024-IBPSC_PRELIMSGS1

    Which river is known as the ‘Sorrow of Bihar’?