Prime Minister’s Citizen Assistance And Relief In Emergency Situations Fund (PM CARES Fund):
The Delhi High Court recently set aside an order of the Central Information Commission (CIC) directing the Income Tax (IT) department to provide details regarding the tax exemption granted to the PM Cares Fund under the Right to Information Act, 2005.
- PM CARES Fund was created on March 28, 2020, following the COVID-19 pandemic in India.
- It was set up to have a dedicated national fund to deal with any emergency and provide relief to the distressed.
- It has been registered as a Public Charitable Trust.
- The Prime Minister is the ex-officio Chairman of the PM CARES Fund, and the Minister of Defence, Minister of Home Affairs, and Minister of Finance of the Government of India are ex-officio Trustees of the Fund.
- The Chairperson of the Board of Trustees (Prime Minister) shall have the power to nominate three trustees to the Board of Trustees who shall be eminent persons in the fields of research, health, science, social work, law, public administration, and philanthropy.
- Any person appointed a Trustee shall act in a pro bono capacity.
- Objectives is
- To undertake and support relief or assistance of any kind relating to a public health emergency or any other kind of emergency, calamity, or distress, either man-made or natural, including the creation or upgradation of healthcare or pharmaceutical facilities, other necessary infrastructure, funding relevant research, or any other type of support.
- To render financial assistance, provide grants of payments of money, or take such other steps as may be deemed necessary by the Board of Trustees for the affected population.
- To undertake any other activity which is not inconsistent with the above objectives.
