PROJECT NAMAN (Syllabus: GS Paper 3 – Sci and Tech)

Context: The Indian Army recently launched the first phase of Project NAMAN, with General Upendra Dwivedi, Chief of the Army Staff, and President of the Army Wives Welfare Association (AWWA), in attendance.

Project Naman

• About: It is designed to provide dedicated support and services to Defence Pensioners, Veterans, and their families.
• SPARSH Implementation: Utilizes the SPARSH (System for Pension Administration Raksha) digital system to streamline pension processes and improve accessibility.
• Collaboration: Involves a tripartite MoU between the Indian Army’s Directorate of Indian Army Veterans, CSC e-Governance India Limited, and HDFC Bank Limited signed in September 2023.
• Service Range: Offers SPARSH-enabled pension services, Government to Citizen (G2C) services, and Business to Consumer (B2C) services at a single location.
• Initial Phase Rollout: 14 CSCs established in key Indian cities including New Delhi, Jalandhar, Leh, Dehradun, Lucknow, Jodhpur, Bengdubi, Gorakhpur, Jhansi, Secunderabad, Saugor, Guntur, Ahmedabad and Bangalore.
• Community Impact: Provides essential care and support not only to veterans but also to the entire resident population of military stations and surrounding localities.
• Village Level Entrepreneurs (VLEs): Managed by VLEs selected from veterans or Next of Kin (NOKs), who are trained by CSC e-Governance India Limited.
• Financial Support for VLEs: HDFC Bank provides VLEs with a ₹20,000 monthly grant for the first 12 months to aid in the centres' stabilization and sustainability.