Day: August 9, 2022

e-learning platforms

 e-learning platforms

An online learning platform or e-learning is a web portal educational content that provides everything related to learning on one platform like lectures, training, resources, courses, changes to meet other students, etc. It is one of the best to learn at any time and anywhere and monitor students’ progress.
These platforms provide a lot of benefits like self-paced learning, work from home, improved technical, communication, and critical thinking skills even at very low cost, better time management, etc.
After the pandemic, the use of online learning platforms has risen because during covid educational system have been shaken all over the world and online learning platform has helped a lot to get education from home while closing educational institutions.
You need to just sign in to the e-learning website and you are good to go. You can select the course of your choice to learn. Some website provides free courses and other may require pay monthly subscription cost. Online classes are provided through online learning platforms.
There are various online learning platforms where a lot of quality education courses are provided by experts. These platforms are:
1. SWAYAM= SWAYAM is a program initiated by the Government of India and designed to achieve the three cardinal principles of Education Policy viz., access, equity, and quality. The objective of this effort is to take the best teaching learning resources to all, including the most disadvantaged. SWAYAM seeks to bridge the digital divide for students who have hitherto remained untouched by the digital revolution and have not been able to join the mainstream of the knowledge economy.
2. Coursera= Coursera is a popular online education platform that offers courses from top education providers around the world. Over the years, the company has grown rapidly and provides the world’s best standards of education through Massive open online courses. This online learning platform partners with universities including Stanford, Duke, Penn, Princeton, Michigan, Peking, and HEC Paris and companies like IBM, Google, and PwC. Overall, they have 190 active partners from 48 countries. 
3. Skillshare= Skillshare is an online education platform that is beneficial for both students and teachers. The website offers thousands of courses related to design, business, marketing, technology, photography, film, fashion, music, gaming, cooking, writing, and DIY. crafts, and more. Instructors can easily create classes through the step-by-step guidelines provided by the platform. This platform offers referral compensation for teachers if any of the students subscribe to the premium package.

4. BYJU’s= Byju’s is an Indian E-learning Company Headquartered in Bangalore, and they provide classes to CBSE, ICSE & State Boards. Byju’s had ventured into providing study material for competitive govt. exams such as UPSC CSE, Bank Exam, and other Government exams. It also includes various entrance exams such as JEE, NEET, CAT, GATE, etc. 

5.LinkedIn Learning= LinkedIn Leaning is a massive open learning website that covers a wide variety of creative, technology, and business courses. It has been offering informative and clear video-based training for individuals, corporate, and academics. The site is quite famous for teaching skills such as photography and coding.
6. Udemy= Udemy is a popular online learning platform that gives people a chance to develop their careers and explore a wide variety of hobbies. From web development to public speaking, they offer a broad range of courses. Reputed companies like Booking.com, Lyft, Adidas, and General Mills use the business plan of Udemy. Udemy provides great support for instructors. They can create, share and promote their courses via re-targeting ads, search and discovery, email campaigns, and external partner promotion.
7. edX= edX is an open learning platform that offers university-level online courses. It has over 120 institutional partners like Harvard, MIT, Berkeley, Delft, RWTH, Sorbonne, and more. The platform offers six different types of programs – one-off courses, Micro Master’s Program, Professional Certificates, Global Freshmen Academy, and XSeries Program.

8. Unacademy= Unacademy mainly started as an online platform for the Competitive examination such as UPSC, SSC, RRB, GATE, Bank Jobs, JEE, NEET, etc. Later on, Unacademy started classes for the student from class 6 to 12th. It’s one of the biggest hubs of educators started as a YouTube channel now they have more than 1 million video lessons with 14k educators.
 E-learning is the future of education. Now people are shifting towards it because it saves a lot of time and money. You can learn anything apart from your academics and enhance your skills.

Online Platforms for Learning.

An online learning platform is a webspace or portal for educational content and resources that offers a student everything they need in one place: lectures, resources, opportunities to meet and chat with other students, and more. It is also an excellent way for the student and the teacher to monitor student progress. Whether you want to learn a new language or obtain career-advancing certifications, signing up for an online course could be just the perfect solution. The online class is typically provided through online learning platforms. 

Online learning has numerous advantages over traditional learning methods. Some of these include the possibility for students to make use of self-paced learning and to choose their own learning environments. Additionally, e-learning is both cost-effective and cost-efficient, as it removes the geographical obstacles often associated with traditional classrooms and education. The benefits of an online course platform are that both students and teachers can track the students’ progress through the course material, and everything is neatly organized in one place. Additionally, students may also have an option of interacting with each other on the platform.

Some of the popular Online learning (e-learning) platforms.

Coursera.

Coursera isn’t just a place to take classes that are like college courses—it actually offers real academic courses from real professors and universities at a fraction of the cost of getting an online degree. The platform partners with over 200 universities and companies to provide real learning experiences that can connect to real-world benefits. In some cases, you can even earn certifications or degrees entirely through Coursera, which can then potentially lead to professional benefits like raises, promotions, and more. 

Course Hero.

Course Hero is home to study resources, 24/7 homework help and textbook guides to provide students across top institutions with tailored reinforcement of the courses in which they are enrolled. The library of materials uploaded to Course Hero’s platform can be searched by either school or textbook to find the exact resource a student needs, with tutors available to provide total support.

Edx.

Generally, this online learning platform has a high-end pedigree. edX was established by graduates from both MIT and Harvard University. Real college courses that are generated and taught by real college tutors are available in a vast array of topics and fields. They have a slight leaning toward the Science, Technology, Mathematics, and Engineering fields. Nonetheless, there are plenty of topics in the humanities, arts, and languages as well. By partnering with the universities, this course provides professional degree certificates as well as the “micro” degree programs at both the bachelor’s and the master’s levels. In this sense, they largely serve as tools for professional development. 

Skill Share.

Whereas many online class platforms do confer college-style classes, Skillshare is not formal and is mainly targeted at boosting creative skills. Some business and marketing classes exist on this online education platform. Most of the courses though tend to have a focus on the creative fields and are administered by practicing experts in various fields. Common examples of these fields are interior design, visual arts, animations, films, and photography. 

LinkedIn Learning.

Formerly called Lynda.com, LinkedIn Learning is an educational platform that confers professional course training in the fields of technology, business, creative fields, and technology-related areas mainly in the form of videos. The online learning marketplace is largely available as a premium service for the users of LinkedIn and has so far provided well over 16,000 courses in a whopping 7 languages. Its focus is mainly to aid individuals in investing in their professional development. 

Udemy.

If you want to learn something, it’s probably on Udemy. The site is less of a unified platform and more of a portal or repository where students can access well over 100,000 courses on every topic imaginable. There’s not one standard format for a Udemy course—the platform allows instructors to design multimedia lectures with audio, video, and text elements, plus readings, quizzes, and other activities. Udemy allows students to preview classes they’re interested in and does offer a 30-day refund if you’re dissatisfied.

FutureLearn.

FutureLearn lets you learn online from universities and companies all over the world, including Anglia Ruskin University, King’s College London, Monash University, and the University of Wollongong. On top of their university partnerships, they also partner with specialist organizations such as Accenture, Amnesty International, the British Library, and UNESCO. From personal development video lessons to employment-related course content, FutureLearn definitely deserves its place near the top of our best online learning platforms list.

Online Platforms for Learning.

An online learning platform is a webspace or portal for educational content and resources that offers a student everything they need in one place: lectures, resources, opportunities to meet and chat with other students, and more. It is also an excellent way for the student and the teacher to monitor student progress. Whether you want to learn a new language or obtain career-advancing certifications, signing up for an online course could be just the perfect solution. The online class is typically provided through online learning platforms. 

Online learning has numerous advantages over traditional learning methods. Some of these include the possibility for students to make use of self-paced learning and to choose their own learning environments. Additionally, e-learning is both cost-effective and cost-efficient, as it removes the geographical obstacles often associated with traditional classrooms and education. The benefits of an online course platform are that both students and teachers can track the students’ progress through the course material, and everything is neatly organized in one place. Additionally, students may also have an option of interacting with each other on the platform.

Some of the popular Online learning (e-learning) platforms.

Coursera.

Coursera isn’t just a place to take classes that are like college courses—it actually offers real academic courses from real professors and universities at a fraction of the cost of getting an online degree. The platform partners with over 200 universities and companies to provide real learning experiences that can connect to real-world benefits. In some cases, you can even earn certifications or degrees entirely through Coursera, which can then potentially lead to professional benefits like raises, promotions, and more. 

Course Hero.

Course Hero is home to study resources, 24/7 homework help and textbook guides to provide students across top institutions with tailored reinforcement of the courses in which they are enrolled. The library of materials uploaded to Course Hero’s platform can be searched by either school or textbook to find the exact resource a student needs, with tutors available to provide total support.

Edx.

Generally, this online learning platform has a high-end pedigree. edX was established by graduates from both MIT and Harvard University. Real college courses that are generated and taught by real college tutors are available in a vast array of topics and fields. They have a slight leaning toward the Science, Technology, Mathematics, and Engineering fields. Nonetheless, there are plenty of topics in the humanities, arts, and languages as well. By partnering with the universities, this course provides professional degree certificates as well as the “micro” degree programs at both the bachelor’s and the master’s levels. In this sense, they largely serve as tools for professional development. 

Skill Share.

Whereas many online class platforms do confer college-style classes, Skillshare is not formal and is mainly targeted at boosting creative skills. Some business and marketing classes exist on this online education platform. Most of the courses though tend to have a focus on the creative fields and are administered by practicing experts in various fields. Common examples of these fields are interior design, visual arts, animations, films, and photography. 

LinkedIn Learning.

Formerly called Lynda.com, LinkedIn Learning is an educational platform that confers professional course training in the fields of technology, business, creative fields, and technology-related areas mainly in the form of videos. The online learning marketplace is largely available as a premium service for the users of LinkedIn and has so far provided well over 16,000 courses in a whopping 7 languages. Its focus is mainly to aid individuals in investing in their professional development. 

Udemy.

If you want to learn something, it’s probably on Udemy. The site is less of a unified platform and more of a portal or repository where students can access well over 100,000 courses on every topic imaginable. There’s not one standard format for a Udemy course—the platform allows instructors to design multimedia lectures with audio, video, and text elements, plus readings, quizzes, and other activities. Udemy allows students to preview classes they’re interested in and does offer a 30-day refund if you’re dissatisfied.

FutureLearn.

FutureLearn lets you learn online from universities and companies all over the world, including Anglia Ruskin University, King’s College London, Monash University, and the University of Wollongong. On top of their university partnerships, they also partner with specialist organizations such as Accenture, Amnesty International, the British Library, and UNESCO. From personal development video lessons to employment-related course content, FutureLearn definitely deserves its place near the top of our best online learning platforms list.

Cultural diversity and it's types

Cultural diversity and it’s types

Cultural diversity

The things you do and the practices you were taught inform who you become . Culture is a broad term that encompasses beliefs , values , norms , behaviours, and overall can be understood as our ” way of being”. 

Everyone has their own culture and beliefs . In India also people follow different cultures, every state has their own culture even the every place has their own culture and people of that place follow it .

Cultural diversity is about appreciating that society is made up of many different groups with different interests, skills, talents and needs . It also means that you recognise that people in society can have different religious beliefs and sexual orientation to you .

Importance of culture 

Cultural diversity is important everywhere as every person has their own culture so if we work on a company different people of different cultures are present there and all of them has their own cultural belief so it is important to understand everyone culture and work according to that .
As everyone follow their culture their thinking is also different so it gives out creative and innovative ideas when these ideas are combined one more idea will come up with that which provide benefit to the company.

Types of cultural diversity 

1. Cultural diversity – 

This type of diversity is related to each person’s ethnicity and it’s usually the set of norms we get from the society we were raised in our families values. Having different cultures in the workplace is more common in multinational companies.

2. Race diversity – 

Race has to do with a person’s grouping based on physical traits ( despite the dominant scientific view that race is a socialist construct and not biologically defined ) . Examples of races are Caucasian , African , Latino , and Asian.

3. Religious diversity – 

This type of diversity refers to the presence of multiple religions and spiritual beliefs ( including lack thereof ) in the workplace.

4. Age diversity – 

Age diversity means working with people of different ages and , most importantly, generations. For example, millennials, GenZers and GenXers can coexist in the same workplace.

5. Sex / Gender / Sexual orientation – 

Sex and gender can be used in the traditional sense of male and female employees. For example, you may sometimes hear the term “gender balance” used by companies trying to achieve a 50- 50 balance between employees who identify as female. But as gender is increasingly redefined, the term ” gender diversity” may be more appropriate, since there are multiple variations in gender and sexual orientation.

6. Disability – 

There are various types of disabilities or chronic conditions included here, ranging from mental to physical. Companies often make reasonable accommodations to help people with disabilities integrate into the workplace, such as installing ramps for wheelchairs or providing mental health support. Some companies also adjust their hiring process to make sure it’s inclusive. 

BRITISH ENGLISH AND AMERICAN ENGLISH

 British and American English


Language is a very powerful tool and everyone use our abilities in infinite different varieties. We are all judged by the way we speak and write things. The English language has acquired the status of global language. English language had continued to evolve constantly , its flexible and accepted words from other foreign languages also. Today there are different forms of English mainly American, Australian, British, Canadian, Indian, Pidgin.

After the British established their colonies in America. The English language was used by many indigenous people. They were influenced by the colonizers. Americans also began to use and take words from Indians. They wanted to know native language so that they can identify animals, objects, physical features and trees that were specific in different places. New words were formed such as wigwam, tomahawk, raccoon.

When people started to travel from different parts of the world to America. They traveled to begin a new life and ideas which they brought with them influenced American English. The grammar and the sentence pattern formed remain intact. Pronunciation varied and there were difference in the lexis. The spellings of words differ in British and American English. For example, the difference in the spelling of the word manoeuvre(Br) and maneuver (Am). The word manoeuvre means movements of troops in a war, skillful plan, artifice etc.In India we tend to use both the varieties as we have influence from both countries.

The main difference is that in British English the spelling of different words are borrowed or absorbed from other languages such as from German and French. In American English spellings are mainly based on the way the words are sounded when they are spoken.

Other words are Cheque in British English and check used in American English . Some words change will be made in their endings such as license (British English) becomes licence (American English). The word civilization (American English) change to civilisation (British English). There are some variations in preposition also. For example, Monday to Friday (British English) in American English it is Monday through Friday. Apartment (American English), in British English it is flat. Automobile in American English, in British English it is car. Candy (American English), in British English it is sweets. Railroad (American English) in British English it is railway.

American English          British English

Elevator                            Lift 

Fall                                    Autumn

Kid                                    Child

Shot                                   Injection

Sidewalk                          Pavement

Store                                 Shop

Online platforms for learning

 Online platforms for learning

Today learning has become easier than before as now people can get any course or degree online from the comfort of home. if anyone just wants to explore a topic or to learn new skills then they can easily go on google and search for it and they will find end no platform where they can learn. 

How virtual learning platforms are good:

  • it has an effective remote learning experience 
  • get instant feedback from teachers 
  • learn in a safe environment as per your schedule or timings with comfort
  • get more time which spoiled in traveling to school

today we will discuss some online platforms from which you can learn any skills:

1: skillshare:

skillshare is a vast platform online wh possesses a library of over 20000 classes. it has earned the honor of being he top learning online platform. it consists of a presentation which has a duration of around 20 min with a class project.

skillshare membership contains:

  • 2-month free trial
  • free membership allows you to have access to 2000 classes
  • its premium membership is $15 per month and $ 99 for a year.

2: Coursera :

coursera provides various certificate, degree programs , and general courses which makes you excel in a field for your success. here the students bring education from top educational institutions and companies like duke university, standard, or Google.

what Coursera provides you:

  • free courses
  • the degree program includes MBA, computer science
  • professional certification in digital marketing

these all courses can help a person in development or enhance their skills for getting success in his career.

3:Udemy:

Udemy is low-cost education or learning option for anyone who wants to learn design, web development, marketing, music, and many more. it has around 155000 classes in which you can choose whichever you want as per your course or interest.

4:MOOC:

It stands for a massive open online course . as it is an extension of EDx. it is a great free online platform where you can learn free and can build your career in the field of engineering, data science, computer science business, and management.
 

5: EDx:

 it’s a great platform where you get to learn from top universities like Harvard, MIT many more. micro bachelor and micro master programs help adults to speed up their careers fastly with low-expense programs.

How to choose the best online platform:

  • How old are you like what are u looking for well it will depend upon your age as every platform is not made for everyone so choose the right one.
  • how many students does a platform teach at a time there are students who can not study with thousands of people at a time so decide it 
  • does they offer extra help if the student is not able to understand the class.

I hope it will help you in understanding how the digital era is changing and providing endless opportunities in the education field for learning.

 

Factors that lead to poor Performance of Employees

 It is important for an organization to identify the factors that have a crippling effect on the performance of an employee at the workplace and make suitable corrections.Thus, it is important for an organization to identify the factors that have a crippling effect on the performance of an employee at the workplace and make suitable corrections.The following are the factors that lead to poor performance of employees at the workplace.

Personality or Ego Clashes: This in general, is seen between two people with opposing personalities. The problem creeps in when there is mistrust between both the parties with respect to their motives and character.

Stress: The modern workplace is full of demands, deadlines, etc. There are employees who sustain and perform under pressure while there are employees who succumb to this rising pressure. Thus, an aggressive environment where the stress levels are high will prove detrimental to employee performance.

Heavy Workloads: If there is an alarming increase in workload, employees sometimes become disgruntled with their work and this is reflected in the quality of work. It also takes a toll on their health and demoralizes them.

Inadequate Resources: Adequate time and material resources should be available to employees to enable them perform their work easily. This will help them perform to the best of their ability and be proud of their achievements.

Poor Leadership from the Top Management: A supervisor motivates his subordinates, instills confidence, and evokes enthusiasm with regard to their work. But if the same supervisor engages in aggressive and punitive behavior, it results in harassment at the workplace. 

Lack of Role Clarity: This happens when two different workers are given incompatible roles at the same time. This lack of clarity in workers’ objectives and expectations creates tension between the employees and results in conflicts.

Lack of Clarity about Accountability: Lack of accountability results when there is no clarity amongst the employees regarding their roles and responsibilities and their relationship with team members. This leads to a situation wherein when something goes right, everyone would like to take credit for it and when something goes wrong, no one comes forward to accept responsibility.

Lack of Transparency: When employees are not informed about decisions, they will make their own assumptions which can spread rumors. This can hurt the image of the organization and also destroy trust in the management.

Clash of Values: An organization comprises employees from various walks of life. They bring in their own set of values, ideas, and principles which may not be received by everyone in the organization. This might result in some animosity and intolerance between individuals.

Gossip: Research has shown that office gossip creates great loss to the organization and also affects the individual productivity of employees at work.

Poor Selection or Pairing of Team Members: Employees tied with a wrong partner prove detrimental to the overall health of the organization. A lion’s share of their time will be consumed jostling against each other without any improvement in their overall performance.

Outdated Technology: To make an employee productive and efficient, it is important to equip them with the right tools. Ignoring the potential benefits of technology upgradation in the workplace may diminish the productivity and performance of employees.

Bullying or Harassment: There are cases where bosses or colleagues threaten an employee for no reason or pass offensive remarks against the employee. This leads to the creation of a hostile environment in the workplace. It also disturbs the sense of belongingness amongst employees.

Perceived Discrimination: Employee discrimination can have a negative effect on the organization’s bottom line. It hampers the main components of employees’ behavior which are directly associated with job performance. This might also result in a higher incidence of grievances among employees.

Poor Performance Management: Badly-conducted appraisals can create a lot of problems for the organization as well as its employees. If a hard working employee is under-rated, besides being unfair, it creates an inferiority complex in the mind of the employee, while being over-rated may create egoism. 

Depleting Health Conditions: The deteriorating health of an employee would greatly hamper the employee’s ability to be productive. It has a cascading effect such as rising absenteeism, low morale, and indifference to organizational goals.

List of Schedules of Indian Constitution

 

Schedules of Indian Constitution – 12 Schedules of India

There are 12 Schedules in the Constitution of India. One of the first mentions of Schedules was made in the Government of India Act, 1935 where it included 10 Schedules. Later, when the Indian Constitution was adopted in 1949, it consisted of 8 Schedules. Today, with the amendments in the Indian Constitution, there are a total of 12 Schedules.

This article will provide you with a list of Schedules of Indian Constitution, important for the IAS Exam from the perspective of Indian Polity (Mains GS-II).

List of Schedules of Indian Constitution

The table given below discusses the list of schedules of the Indian Constitution, important from the UPSC exam perspective:

Schedules in Indian Constitution
Schedules Features of Schedules
First Schedule of Indian Constitution It contains the name of States and Union Territories

Territorial Jurisdiction of states is also included
Second Schedule of Indian Constitution The provisions in relation to allowances, privileges, emoluments of:

  • President of India
  • Governors of Indian States
  • Speaker of Lok Sabha & Deputy Speaker of Lok Sabha
  • Chairman of Rajya Sabha & Deputy Chairman of Rajya Sabha
  • Speaker and Deputy Speaker of Legislative Assemblies of Indian States
  • Chairman and Deputy Chairman of Legislative Councils of the Indian States
  • Supreme Court Judges
  • High Court Judges
  • Comptroller & Auditor General of India (CAG)
Third Schedule It contains the forms of oath and affirmation for:

  • Union Ministers of India
  • Parliament Election Candidates
  • Members of Parliament (MPs)
  • Supreme Court Judges
  • Comptroller and Auditor General
  • State Ministers
  • State Legislature Elections’ Candidates
  • State Legislature Members
  • High Court Judges
Fourth Schedule It contains the provisions in relation to the allocation of seats for States and Union Territories in the Rajya Sabha
Fifth Schedule It contains provisions in relation to the administration and control of scheduled areas and scheduled tribes
Sixth Schedule It contains provisions in relation to the administration of tribal areas in the states of Assam, Meghalaya, Tripura and Mizoram
Seventh Schedule This schedule deals with the three legislative lists:

  • Union
  • State
  • Concurrent
Eighth Schedule It deals with the 22 official languages recognized by the Constitution of India:

  • Assamese
  • Bengali
  • Bodo
  • Dogri (Dongri)
  • Gujarati
  • Hindi
  • Kannada
  • Kashmiri
  • Konkani
  • Mathili (Maithili)
  • Malayalam
  • Manipuri
  • Marathi
  • Nepali
  • Oriya
  • Punjabi
  • Sanskrit
  • Santhali
  • Sindhi
  • Tamil
  • Telugu
  • Urdu
Ninth Schedule It deals with the state acts and regulations of that deal with land reforms and

abolition of the zamindari system. It also deals with the acts and regulations of the Parliament dealing with other matters.

Note:

1st Amendment Act 1951 added the Ninth Schedule to protect the laws included in it from judicial scrutiny on the ground of violation of fundamental rights.

However, in 2007, the Supreme Court ruled that the laws included in this schedule after

April 24, 1973, are now open to judicial review
Tenth Schedule It contains provisions relating to disqualification of the members of Parliament and State Legislatures on the ground of

defection.

Note:

This schedule was added by the 52nd Amendment Act of 1985, also known as Anti-defection Law
Eleventh Schedule It contains the provisions that specify the powers, authority and responsibilities of Panchayats. It has 29 matters.

Note:

This schedule was added

by the 73rd Amendment Act of 1992
Twelfth Schedule It deals with the provisions that specify the powers, authority and responsibilities of Municipalities. It has 18 matters.

Note:

This schedule was added

by the 74th Amendment Act of 1992

Since Schedules of Indian Constitution makes an important topic of the Indian Polity subject of UPSC syllabus 2022; aspirants should keep these schedules in mind. 

What is 12th Schedule of Indian Constitution?

 12th Schedule of the Indian Constitution deals with the provisions that specify the powers, authority and responsibilities of Municipalities. This schedule was added by the 74th Amendment Act of 1992. It has 18 matters.

  1. Urban planning including town planning.
  2. Regulation of land-use and construction of buildings.
  3. Planning for economic and social development.
  4. Roads and bridges.
  5. Water supply for domestic, industrial and commercial purposes.
  6. Public health, sanitation conservancy and solid waste management.
  7. Fire services.
  8. Urban forestry, protection of the environment and promotion of ecological aspects.
  9. Safeguarding the interests of weaker sections of society, including the handicapped and mentally retarded.
  10. Slum improvement and upgradation.
  11. Urban poverty alleviation.
  12. Provision of urban amenities and facilities such as parks, gardens, playgrounds.
  13. Promotion of cultural, educational and aesthetic aspects.
  14. Burials and burial grounds; cremations, cremation grounds; and electric crematoriums.
  15. Cattle pounds; prevention of cruelty to animals.
  16. Vital statistics include registration of births and deaths.
  17. Public amenities including street lighting, parking lots, bus stops and public conveniences.
  18. Regulation of slaughter houses and tanneries.

Top 7 Benefits of Health Insurance Plan

 The outbreak of COVID-19 indeed has forced financial as well as medical security to the minds of individuals in an unprecedented way. In these times of uncertainty and with the skyrocketing cost of the health care sector, having a health insurance policy has become a necessity more than a choice. The health insurance policy not only takes care of the medical needs of the individual in case of any eventuality but also provides many different benefits. Read further to know the benefit of a health insurance plan.

Benefits of Health Insurance Policy

The following are some of the benefits of the health insurance plan:

Coverage against medical expenses

In case of any medical emergency, the last thing that a person would want to worry about is the cost of medical treatment. One of the major perks of having a medical insurance policy is that it offers coverage against any type of medical expenses that may/may not arise during an emergency.

Thus, a comprehensive health insurance policy covers all the medical costs like pre and post-hospitalization costs, ambulance charges, doctor’s fees, etc. are all covered. Many insurance companies offer rider options along with the base plan to enhance the coverage of the policy.

These riders offer the benefits that are not covered in the base policy like personal accident insurance, critical illness cover, maternity benefits, etc. With all these costs covered by a medical insurance policy, one does not need to worry about financial loss in case of any medical emergency.

Cashless Mediclaim Facility

In case of any medical emergency, if the insured undergoes any treatment in a hospital, then it might get difficult for the family members to immediately pay the hospital bills. To avoid such a situation, many insurers offer the facility of cashless mediclaim at network hospitals.

The cashless mediclaim facility ensures that the policyholder gets the best treatment without worrying about the finances. One just needs to fill the mediclaim form offered by the insurance company to avail of the benefit of cashless mediclaim at network hospitals.

Tax benefits

Another benefit of a health insurance policy is that it offers an opportunity to save on taxes. An individual can claim up to a maximum of Rs. 25,000 of tax exemption on the premium paid towards the policy under Section 80D of the Income Tax Act. 1961. Moreover, one can also claim an additional tax exemption of Rs. 25,000 for the premium paid for parents.

Financial protection against critical Illness

Most health insurers provide coverage against critical illnesses such as cancer, stroke, heart attack, kidney failure, etc. The critical illness cover either comes inbuilt in a plan or is offered as an add-on cover to the health insurance policy. In case the insured person is diagnosed with any critical illness as stated in the policy documents, a lump-sum amount is paid by the insurer so that the insured can fulfill their financial obligations.

Buying a comprehensive medical insurance policy helps an individual to be prepared for the worst. Moreover, buying the best health insurance plan at a young age not only provides the advantage of lower premiums along with comprehensive coverage but also helps to contribute towards savings in the long term.

No claim bonus

A No-Claim Bonus is a special incentive given by the health insurance company for every claim-free year. If the policyholder completes a year without making any claim for medical expenses then the insurance company offers a no-claim bonus to the policyholder in the form of premium discounts.

If a person does not file a claim for a consecutive tenure of the policy then he/she can enjoy up to a 50% discount on the premium amount. Moreover, some of the insurers also offer an increase in the base amount of the policy for every claim-free year. This not only benefits the insurance holder but also adds to their savings.

Protects the long-term savings

A health insurance plan acts as a safety net and protects the individual and his family against any type of financial crisis due to any medical eventualities. In case, a policyholder requires any medical treatment or a lifesaving surgery then he/she does not need to compromise on their children’s education fund or retirement savings. With a quality, health insurance policy one can ensure the right financial protection to themselves and their family without burning a hole in the pocket.

Free health checkup

After every 4-5 claim-free years, the facility of free health checkups is offered by the insurance companies to their policyholders. The insured can avail of the facility of free health checkups at any of the network hospitals.

The Bottom Point!

So, these are some of the benefits of health insurance plans. To choose the best health insurance policy for your family and yourself, make sure you compare the plans available and make an informed choice.

Top 5 Tips to Choose Best Family Health Insurance Plans in India

 Everyone wants to have a health insurance plan that offers maximum coverage to them and their family. With an extensive range of health insurance policies available in the market, choosing the right policy can be a herculean task. As a result of this, many times people end up buying the wrong health insurance plans with inadequate coverage. Further in this article, we have discussed some simple tips to choose the best family health insurance plan elaborately.

Tips to Choose Best Family Health Insurance Plan

Here we have listed 5 simple tips to choose the best family health insurance plan in India:

Look for the right policy coverage

Choose a health insurance policy that provides coverage for pre and post-hospitalization, critical illness cover, ambulance charges, cashless treatment, maternity benefits, in-patient hospitalization, daily hospital cash benefit and covers an extensive range of medical problems. While purchasing a health plan for the family, an individual should make sure that the plan caters to the needs of each insured member.

Compare various plans, check for the limitations and features of policy and then choose the plan as per your requirement. Most of the time, the policy buyers tend to miss some features like the waiting period, sub-limits, etc. Thus, it is imperative to go through the policy brochure thoroughly to ensure that at the time of claim, the family does not have to face any trouble.

Check the waiting period clause

Usually, most of the health insurance policies cover maternity expenses, pre-existing diseases and specific treatments like varicose veins, hernia, etc. after a waiting period of 2-4 years. The waiting period of a plan varies from insurer to insurer. For example, maternity expenses are normally covered after a waiting period of 2-4 years from the date of policy initiation.

Many insurance companies also offer a lower waiting period. Thus, make sure to check the tenure after which the pre-existing illness will be covered in the family health insurance plan and choose the plan which comes with the minimum waiting period.

Check for flexibility to add new family members

While buying a family health insurance plan, the policy buyer should check for options to add new family members in a simple and hassle-free way. In case any senior member of the family is not eligible anymore for coverage or passes away, then other members of the family can continue with the same plan without compromising on the benefits of the plan.

Choose a lifetime renewability plan

This is one of the most important aspects to consider while purchasing the best family health insurance plan. It is important to check the tenure of the policy; whether the plan offers lifetime renewability or limited renewability.

This is because a health insurance policy is required most during the later stage of life. So, it is always advised to choose a health insurance policy that comes with the option of lifetime renewability. This will ensure that the family has the same coverage in the years to come even after crossing the age limit. Moreover, it also saves one from the hassle of buying a new policy. For instance, if one buys a health insurance plan which offers renewability till 45 years, then after the completion of 45 years, the policyholder will need to buy a new plan with a much higher premium rate. On the other hand, if one buys a lifetime renewability plan, then he/she can continue with the same plan without getting into the hassle of policy renewal.

Check the co-payment clause

Co-payment is a health insurance policy that refers to the percentage of the amount that the policyholder agrees to pay from his/her pocket. The remaining hospitalization expenses are taken care of by the insurance company. For example, if a policyholder has a health plan with a 10% co-payment clause, then while filing a claim of Rs. 1 lakh, the policyholder will need to pay Rs.10,000 from his/her pocket and the insurance company will pay the rest Rs. 90,000 as a part of the claim. One can choose the purchase policy without a co-payment clause.

Room rent limit

In case of any medical emergency, the insured will get a shared room, semi-private room, or private room based on the type of plan chosen by the policyholder. It is always advised to choose the policy that provides a higher room rent limit so that one does not need to pay extra from his pocket.

Wrapping it Up!

In this day and age, having a health insurance plan is a necessity more than a choice. To choose the best family health insurance plan, make sure you consider the above-mentioned points and make an informed decision.

How to Pick the Best Health Insurance Plan for Parents?

 Purchasing adequate health insurance plans for parents is important to ensure that they have the best medical treatment without financial burden. Currently, the insurance market of India is flooded with health insurance plans for Insurance seekers who want to buy plans for parents. Moreover, many of these plans are specifically designed for elderly parents and senior citizens above the age of 60 years.

However, with an extensive range of plans available in the market, choosing the most appropriate plan can be a bit confusing. Thus, to help our readers know how to choose the best health insurance plan for parents, here we have discussed in detail the certain parameters to consider.

Factors to Consider While Purchasing Health Insurance for Parents

The following are the factors that one can consider while purchasing health insurance for parents:

Adequate Sum Insured Amount

Since parents are more vulnerable to health-related problems considering their age factor, an individual must choose a higher sum assured. Having adequate coverage will ensure that they get the best treatment in case of any medical emergency without getting worried about finances.

Health Insurance Coverage

Before zeroing in on a plan, it is very crucial to go through the benefits and coverage offered by the policy. Look for some important features like critical illness cover, pre and post-hospitalization cost, policy tenure, in-patient hospitalization, daycare procedure, domiciliary hospitalization, Ayush treatment, etc.

Co-Payment Clause

A co-payment clause in a health insurance policy means the percentage (%) of the amount that the insured will pay on his own. The remaining expenses of the medical treatment are paid by the health insurance company. Suppose, if a policy has a co-payment clause of 20%, then for a claim of Rs.20 lakh the policyholder will need to pay Rs.2 lakh on his own and the rest Rs.8 lakhs will be paid by the insurer. So, while purchasing the policy, make sure to check the co-payment clause. You can also choose for no co-pay clause.

Pre-existing Diseases Cover

In case the policyholder’s parent suffers from any pre-existing illness, then it is only covered after the completion of the waiting period of 2-4 years. However, the policy’s waiting period may vary from insurer to insurer as per the plan opted. Thus, make sure to check the time period after which the pre-existing diseases will be covered in the health insurance plan for parents.

Tax Benefit

The premium paid towards the health insurance policy is applicable for tax deduction under Section 80D of the Income Tax Act. If an individual is paying a premium for himself and his parents, then the maximum limit on health insurance premium is Rs. 50,000. If the parents are above the age of 60 years then the maximum limit on the premium that can be claimed for tax exemption is Rs. 75,000.

Compare Different Health Insurance Plans

To choose the best health insurance plan for parents make sure to compare the quotes of various plans online and choose the one that offers maximum coverage at a lower premium rate.

Network Hospitals

An individual must go through the list of network hospitals that are in collaboration with the insurance company they are picking. Make sure that the reputed hospitals in your surrounding are mentioned in the plan so that in case of emergency it is convenient to take them to the hospital.

What is Covered in a Health Insurance Policy for Parents?

Let’s take a look at what is covered under the health insurance plan for parents-

  • Hospitalization Expenses- Any eventuality or illness can lead to excessive hospitalization costs. With a comprehensive health insurance plan, the financial burden of hospitalization expenses is taken care of by the insurer up to the coverage limit
  • Daycare Procedure- Daycare treatments like a cataract operation and varicose veins surgery that does not need hospitalization for 24 hours are also covered by the insurer. The number of daycare procedures depends on the plan opted by an individual
  • Pre and Post Hospitalization Cost- The health insurance policy provides coverage for the expenses that occurred pre and post-hospitalization. Generally, it is 60 days and 30 days however, it may vary from insurer to insurer
  • Pre-existing Illnesses- The health insurance company covers the pre-existing illness after completion of the waiting period. However, one can choose a plan that comes with a lower waiting period and provides maximum coverage for critical illnesses like diabetes, heart ailment, etc.
  • Major Surgeries- Most medical insurance policies offer coverage for major surgeries, which involves high medical expenses like open-heart surgery, bariatric surgery, etc. In case of any such medical emergency, the policyholder can get their parents admitted to some of the best hospitals in India and get the operation done by renowned surgeons
  • Ayush Benefits- Nowadays, Ayush treatments are covered by almost all health insurance companies, which include Ayurveda, Homeopathy, Unani, Siddha, etc.
  • Renewability- Health insurance plan for parents generally comes with a lifetime renewal option.

Wrapping it Up!

You can consider the above-mentioned points while purchasing a health insurance plan for parents. However, make sure that you compare the benefits and features of various plans and choose the best plan as per your requirement and suitability.

What are Insurance Premiums and How do They Work?

 An insurance premium is an amount that the insurance policyholders have to pay to get the benefits of their insurance policy. Insurance premiums work as income for the insurance companies that they get from the policyholders, in return for which, they become liable to provide coverage for the claims made against the policy.

These premiums are paid for healthcare, auto, life insurance, home and a lot more. If an individual or the organisation fail to pay the insurance, they may risk the cancellation of their policy. The amount of the premium depends on many factors, which will be different in different cases. Let’s understand the factors that affect the premiums’ amount.

Factors affecting the Insurance Premium Amount

The insurance premium depends on various factors and the insurance companies use these factors to decide your insurance premium amount. Here are those factors:

  • The type of coverage or insurance policy
  • Your age
  • Previous claims
  • The area/region in which you live

The premium amount for different types of insurance policies will be different. It will also be different for different coverage amounts, i.e., in general, the higher the coverage amount, the higher will be the premium. The premium amount also depends on the policyholders’ age, the amount will be lower for the younger people than the elder ones.

Also, if you have claimed coverage against any of your insurance policies before, it can increase the premium amount for the current period. Also, the area/region in which a policyholder lives can also affect the premium amount. Generally, the insurance companies estimate the risk and increase the premium amount if the risk is higher. For example, in the case of vehicle insurance, the premiums may be higher in urban areas than the rural/suburban ones.

Types of Insurance Policies in India

As we have discussed what an insurance premium is and the factors that affect the premium amount, let’s look at different types of insurance policies in India. Mainly there are 8 different types of insurance policies in India, where some are more common than others.

  • Life Insurance- Life insurance provides coverage to the nominee/family members after the death of the policyholder
  • Health Insurance-
  • Motor Insurance- Motor insurance, on the other hand, provides coverage against the damage/theft of the vehicles. Property insurance provides coverage against the damage of houses, buildings, etc.
  • Property Insurance-
  • Travel Insurance- Travel insurance is a short-term coverage plan and offers claims against the losses/accidents that occur during a trip
  • Mobile Insurance- Mobile insurance provides coverage against damage/theft of the mobile phone
  • Cycle Insurance- Cycle insurance, on the other hand, provides the same for your bicycle and may also provide accidental death coverage to the family members of the policyholders
  • Bit-Size Insurance- Bit-size insurance minimises the financial liabilities of the policyholders for a very limited period

There can be other types of insurance policies, which would be different from the ones mentioned above, depending upon the insurance companies. Life insurance, Health insurance, Motor insurance and property insurance are preferred by most of the policyholders.

Finding the Best Insurance Policy

If you are looking to buy an insurance policy for yourself or any family member, and you want to find the policy that suits you the best, then you can do it easily online. There are many platforms like Paytm Insurance that allow you to check and compare the premium amounts against the coverage sum of different insurance companies.

All you have to do is enter details like your age or the age of the person you want to buy an insurance policy for, your relationship with them, type of insurance policy, area, etc. Compare different platforms by entering these details to check the premium amount and the coverage of different insurers and then choose the one that suits your needs the best.

Benefits of Having an Insurance Policy

Life is full of uncertainties and we do not know when we find ourselves in an unpredictable and disastrous situation. Having an insurance policy is the best way to manage the financial losses in such situations; however, there are a few more benefits of having an insurance policy. It helps the cash flow management in an uncertain event but it can also provide you with investment opportunities such as unit-linked investment plans. Plus, you can also get tax benefits with your insurance policy.

Conclusion

An insurance premium is an amount that every insurance policyholder has to pay; in return for which, the insurers provide coverage against the losses as per the policy. When an insurance policyholder stops paying his/her insurance premium, he/she indirectly risk the cancellation of the policy.

Check Insurance Premium Amount Online Instantly

 There used to be a time when people thought insurance was a luxury. However, with the times and people’s lifestyles changing, insurance is not a luxury anymore. Insurance policies help us in dealing with unforeseen circumstances and help us cover expenses in such cases. This is the reason that many of us already have one or another insurance policy.

Now, everyone who buys an insurance policy needs to pay their insurance premium online. If you are looking for a way to pay your insurance premiums or want to check the premium amount, you can do that easily online.

But how?

Let’s check the steps.

How to Check Insurance Premium Amount Online?

The process to check the insurance premium online is very simple, and you can do it by following a few simple steps. Visit Paytm, and follow these steps to check your insurance premiums online:

On Paytm Mobile Application:

  • Open Paytm application on your mobile phone
  • Click on ‘Recharge & Pay Bills’
  • Scroll down to the ‘Featured Services’ section and click on ‘LIC / Insurance’
  • Select your Insurer and enter the required details such as Policy Number, Date of Birth etc.
  • Click on ‘Get Premium’ to check your premium amount online

On Paytm’s Official Website

  • Go to the ‘Insurance Premium Payment’ page on Paytm
  • Select your Insurer
  • Enter the required details such as Policy Number, Date of Birth etc.
  • Click on ‘Get Premium’ to check your premium amount online

It is that simple to check your insurance premiums online on Paytm. You can also pay your insurance premium on Paytm after you have checked your insurance premium amount. 

Why should you have an Insurance Policy?

Insurance policies benefit us in many ways along with the coverage that they provide in the hour of uncertainty. Here are some of the most important perks for having an insurance policy:

  • Insurance Coverage: This is the primary benefit and reason for getting an insurance policy. If the uncertainty falls under the domain of the policy, then you can get coverage for the same as per the policy.
  • Cash Flow Management: This is rather an advantage that isn’t talked about a lot. In an hour of uncertainty, the burden of paying for the losses can put a lot of pressure on the individuals and the family. So, when the sum is being covered by the insurance policy then it takes the burden off their shoulders.
  • Tax Benefits: Apart from the coverage, having insurance policies tax benefits as well. You can get tax exemptions under sections 80C, 80D, and 10D.
Conclusion

Having an insurance policy is a must as it helps us in the hour of uncertainty as they provide coverage for such unforeseen situations. You can check your insurance premium amount online before you make payment on platforms like Paytm by following a few simple steps.

Make Your Insurance Premium Payment Online

 There are many risks and uncertainties involved in our day-to-day lives and having insurance provides a support system in unforeseen circumstances. Whether it be life insurance, health insurance, vehicle insurance or any other, paying your premiums on time is a must for the insurance buyers. To keep your insurance policy in force, you need to pay your insurance premiums before the grace period.

There were days when paying your insurance premium was a hectic task, but that is not the case anymore, as now, you can pay your premiums online instantly. Many payment platforms enable you to make these payments online. This guide will help with the complete procedure as well as the benefits of making insurance premium payments online.

How to Pay Insurance Premiums Online?

Among many reasons as to why you would like to pay your insurance premiums online is because it is very easy to do so. Plus, it comes with many additional benefits such as cashback and a lot more. To pay your insurance premium online, follow these steps:

On Paytm mobile application

  • Open the Paytm mobile application on your phone
  • Click on ‘Recharge & Pay Bills’
  • Then click on ‘LIC / Insurance’
  • Select your Insurer
  • Enter your details such as Policy Number, Date of Birth, Mobile Number etc.
  • Click on ‘Get Premium’ to check your premium amount
  • Select your preferred mode of payment and complete the payment

On Paytm’s official website

  • Go to the ‘Insurance Premium Payment’ page on Paytm
  • Select your Insurer
  • Enter your details such as Policy Number, Date of Birth, Mobile Number etc.
  • Click on ‘Get Premium’ to check your premium amount
  • Select your preferred mode of payment and complete the payment

As soon as you complete your insurance payment on Paytm, you will be notified about the same on your registered mobile number and email address.

Benefits of Paying Insurance Premium on Paytm

Whether you need your premiums for life insurance, car insurance, health insurance or any other, you get a fast online payment service on Paytm. On top of that, there are many benefits explained as follows:

  • Your payments are safe and secure with Paytm
  • You can save money on your insurance premium with the help of cashbacks and vouchers
  • Paytm also sends you reminders for your insurance payment every month so that you don’t forget to pay them on time
  • Paytm saves your details such as policy number, etc.

Conclusion

Paying your insurance premiums on time ensures that your insurance policy remains in force and that you get the maximum benefit when there is a need for it. You can pay your insurance premiums instantly on the payment portals like Paytm and can also get additional benefits such as cashback.