The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) and the State Bank of India (SBI) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to enhance digital payment services for users of the eMigrate portal. This collaboration aims to provide additional payment options through SBI’s payment gateway, SBIePay, benefiting Indian migrant workers and recruiting agents.
Objective
The primary objective of this MoU is to further facilitate and enhance the scope of safe and legal migration for Indian migrant workers. The integration of SBIePay will streamline the payment process for various emigration-related fees.
eMigrate Portal
Launched in 2014, the eMigrate portal assists Indian workers emigrating to countries requiring emigration checks by making the process online and transparent. It brings together foreign employers, registered recruiting agents, and insurance companies issuing the Pravasi Bhartiya Bima Yojna on a single platform, promoting seamless, safe, and legal migration.
Features
- Voluntary Registration: The portal allows voluntary registration for emigrants holding ECNR category passports who are proceeding for overseas employment.
- Payment Gateway Integration: The MoU introduces SBIePay as an additional digital payment service, facilitating various transactions with zero transaction charges for payments made through UPI, credit/debit cards, and NEFT via net banking of all Indian banks.
Signing Ceremony
The MoU was signed by:
- Bramha Kumar, Joint Secretary (OE & PGE) on behalf of the Ministry of External Affairs.
- Neelesh Dwivedi, General Manager (NW-I) from the SBI’s side at the Sushma Swaraj Bhawan.
Implementation
The SBIePay service will be operational after successful integration with the eMigrate portal. This initiative is expected to further promote safe and legal migration for Indian workers.
Multiple Choice Questions (MCQ):
- What is the primary objective of the MoU between the Ministry of External Affairs and SBI?
- A) To introduce a new visa process
- B) To enhance digital payment services for eMigrate portal users
- C) To offer foreign exchange services
- D) To promote tourism
- Answer: B) To enhance digital payment services for eMigrate portal users
- Which payment gateway will be integrated with the eMigrate portal as per the MoU?
- A) PayPal
- B) Paytm
- C) SBIePay
- D) Google Pay
- Answer: C) SBIePay
- When was the eMigrate portal launched?
- A) 2012
- B) 2014
- C) 2016
- D) 2018
- Answer: B) 2014
- Who signed the MoU on behalf of the Ministry of External Affairs?
- A) Sushma Swaraj
- B) Neelesh Dwivedi
- C) Bramha Kumar
- D) Ramesh Kumar
- Answer: C) Bramha Kumar
- What kind of passports does the eMigrate portal support for voluntary registration?
- A) Diplomatic passports
- B) ECNR category passports
- C) Ordinary passports
- D) Temporary passports
- Answer: B) ECNR category passports
- What will be the transaction charges for payments made through UPI, credit/debit cards, and NEFT as per the MoU?
- A) 2%
- B) 1%
- C) NIL
- D) 0.5%
- Answer: C) NIL
- Where was the MoU signing ceremony held?
- A) SBI Headquarters
- B) Ministry of Finance
- C) Sushma Swaraj Bhawan
- D) Rashtrapati Bhavan
- Answer: C) Sushma Swaraj Bhawan