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After providing life cover and accident cover, the government is now working on a universal health insurance plan. To begin with, it will provide a seamless solution to the existing cashless health schemes in states by integrating those with the Centre’s direct benefits transfer (DBT) platform. Later, these would be scaled up. “Encouraged by the success of the social security schemes launched earlier this year, we are now looking at products in the health insurance sector by ensuring access. We are discussing it with states,” said a government official who did not wish to be named. The government is holding talks with states providing cashless  health insurance , such as Karnataka, Tamil Nadu and Gujarat. The idea is to provide their schemes through the DBT platform. “We are building a DBT platform. Under that, we will provide SMS and phone call notifications on money transfers. Besides, we are building a web or smartphone app. Once the architecture is ready, we load hea...

The Jammu and Kashmir government will present its annual  budget  on January 22nd in the Legislative Assembly, which will have a 52-day Winter Session beginning from January 18th next year. “Annual financial statement of expenditure for 2016-2017 and presentation of supplementary statement of expenditure for 2015-2016 will be on January 22nd in the state Assembly”, said Kavinder Gupta, Speaker, J&K Legislative Assembly. The Speaker issued a provisional calendar for sittings of the 3rd Session of the 12th Legislative Assembly. “The general discussion on budget will be held on January 25th, 27th and 28th, ending with reply thereto”, he added. As per the Provisional Calendar, starting from January 18th, with the Governor’s address to Legislature, the House sittings will continue till March 9th. It is the longest Budget Session of the state’s Legislative Assembly. According to the calendar, discussion on the motion of thanks on the Governor’s address and the reply thereto wi...