Explained: Seva Bhoj Yojna

The Union Ministry of Culture has 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, Centre’s share of Central Goods and Services Tax (CGST) charged on the raw food materials purchased by the religious institutions will be refunded.

Seva Bhoj Yojna

The scheme aims reimburse Central Government share of CGST and Integrated Goods and Service Tax (IGST) of Charitable Religious Institutions (CRIs) who provide food, prasad, langar (Community Kitchen), Bhandara free of cost without any discrimination to public and devotees. This will help to lessen the financial burden of such Charitable Religious Institutions.
Beneficiaries: CRIs 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 month. Such institutions will be given grant under the scheme 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 institutions must registered with Darpan portal of Ministry of Culture. The applications will be examined by committee constituted for purpose. On basis of the recommendation of committee, competent authority in Ministry of Culture will register CRIs for reimbursing claim of CGST and Central Government share of IGST paid on mentioned specific items.

Month: Current Affairs - June, 2018