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Thiruvananthapuram, <keyword id="19896018" type="General" weightage="100" keywordseo="Kerala" source="keywords">Kerala</keyword>: In a move to empower school children, the <keyword id="22767948" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Kerala-General-Education-Department" source="keywords" meta.keywordsubtype="org" meta.entityname="Kerala General Education Department" meta.hostid="83" meta.entityid="Kerala General Education Department">Kerala General Education Department</keyword> has added 'Fact-Checking' modules as part of new <keyword id="21870096" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="ICT-textbooks" source="keywords">ICT textbooks</keyword> for Classes 5 and 7, designed to help students recognize fake news and perform fact-checking on online platforms. The move by the Kerala government was implement even ahead of UK which reportedly is is planning to revise their primary curriculum by including this topic. Earlier in 2022, Kerala Infrastructure and Technology for Education (KITE), the technology arm of Kerala General <keyword id="19921999" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="education-department" source="keywords">Education Department</keyword>, had imparted Fake News prevention and awareness creation training for 19.72 lakh students of Grades 5 to 10, as part of the Digital Media Literacy programme. It was the first time in India that such a massive training was given to 9.48 Lakh Upper Primary students and 10.24 High school students with the help of 5920 trainers. The 2.5 hours of training which was titled 'Satyameve Jayathe' focused on four sections which included the 'Use of the Internet in day-to-day life', 'Social Media requires us', 'Rights and Wrongs in Social Media' and how to prevent the spread of fake news. The false information shared through digital media, the negative impact it creates on society and the verification of the authenticity of information were made part of the training through various 'Case Studies'. The training also focused on areas such as understanding the influence of digital media in information transactions, creating an urge towards knowing non-factual interference in digital media and how to react to them constructively, acquiring technical knowledge in understanding the truth behind transacted messages, developing skills to identify and react to glitches in information transaction through media literacy. It also includes specific areas such as the meaning and definition of Misinformation and Dis-Information and their impact on society, non-factual and misinterpreting information shared through digital media, the social impact of facts presented in an emotional language, authenticity of information etc. "The new ICT textbook includes chapters that equip students to identify fake news and malicious content, embodying the spirit of Satyameva Jayate", said K.AnvarSadath, CEO, of KITE. Next year, when the ICT textbooks for Classes 6, 8, and 9, and 10 are revised, they will incorporate the latest developments in this field. Not only does it teach students to identify fake news and verify its authenticity, but the chapter titled 'Let's Search the Internet' in the Class 5 ICT textbook also covers how to effectively manage screen time. Similarly, the Class 7 ICT textbook chapter titled 'Let's Search and Find' elaborates on the importance of verifying the authenticity of information and explains why spreading or sharing false information is a crime. Further, the ICT textbook also includes information about the precautions to be taken before sharing information with others, the need to educate those who provide such information about its potential consequences, and the concept of copyright. In the new (same) ICT textbook for Class 7, for the first time in the country, 4 lakh students have been given the opportunity to learn Artificial Intelligence (AI). Textbooks in Malayalam, English, Kannada and Tamil media are available at www.samagra.kite.kerala.gov.in.

Kerala government implements 'Fake News detection' in school textbooks

The <keyword id="20417468" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="department-of-drinking-water-and-sanitation" source="keywords">Department of Drinking Water and Sanitation</keyword> has received a budgetary allocation of Rs 77,390.68 crores for the fiscal year 2024-2025. This figure reflects a minimal increase of only 0.5 per cent from the revised estimate of Rs 77,032.65 crore announced in budget 2023-2024. A substantial portion of this financial year's allotment for the <keyword id="22519676" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="drinking-water-and-sanitation" source="keywords">Drinking Water and Sanitation</keyword> department is directed towards the <keyword id="19971121" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="jal-jeevan-mission" source="keywords">Jal Jeevan Mission</keyword> (JJM), which received Rs 69,926.65 crore, a marginal rise from the revised estimate of Rs 69,846.31 crore in 2023-2024. This flagship programme aims to provide functional household tap connections to every rural household by 2024, focusing on ensuring regular and adequate <keyword id="19939560" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="water-supply" source="keywords">water supply</keyword>. Additionally, the Dr Syama Prasad Mookerjee National Institute of Water and Sanitation (SPM-NIWAS) has been allocated Rs 95 crore, a huge rise from the Rs 3 crore it got in the last revised estimate. The <keyword id="20200832" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="swachh-bharat-mission" source="keywords">Swachh Bharat Mission</keyword> (Gramin), which focuses on maintaining Open Defecation Free (ODF) status and enhancing waste management in rural areas, has been allocated Rs 7,192 crore. This allocation remains consistent with the budget for the previous fiscal year and continues to support <keyword id="22519675" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="sanitation-efforts" source="keywords">sanitation efforts</keyword> nationwide. The budget also includes significant funding for water supply and sanitation at Rs 64,302.85 crore, an increase from the previous year's Rs 64,138.41 crore. For economic services, the budget includes Rs 35.78 crore for the Secretariat and capital outlay on general economic services. This is an increase from Rs 32.65 crore in the revised budget, indicating a focus on enhancing administrative and infrastructural capacities. Additional allocations include Rs 7,632.19 crore for Northeast India, aimed at improving water and sanitation facilities in these regions. Grants-in-aid to state governments have been set at Rs 5,169.86 crore, while grants to Union Territories are allocated at Rs 250 crore.

Budget 2024-25: Drinking water and sanitation dept gets a mere 0.5% boost

The first draft of a new simplified <keyword id="20211090" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="income-tax-law" source="keywords">income tax law</keyword>, as proposed in the Budget, will be prepared by an internal committee of the tax department and will undertake stakeholder consultation before finalising the legislation, <keyword id="20419783" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="revenue-secretary" source="keywords">Revenue Secretary</keyword> <keyword id="301743" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Sanjay-Malhotra" source="Orion">Sanjay Malhotra</keyword> said on Thursday. Malhotra said that the exercise is not linked to bringing a new <keyword id="22542056" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="direct-taxes-code" source="keywords">direct taxes code</keyword>, but a comprehensive review of the <keyword id="6354751" type="General" weightage="100" keywordseo="Income-Tax" source="Orion">income tax</keyword> law. Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman in her Budget speech earlier this week announced that a comprehensive review of the Income-tax Act, 1961 will be completed in six months. "The purpose is to make the Act concise, lucid, easy to read and understand. This will reduce disputes and litigation, thereby providing tax certainty to the taxpayers. It will also bring down the demand embroiled in litigation," Sitharaman said. To a question whether the review would mean that the government will come with a direct tax code, Malhotra said "It is not a new direct tax code... It is a comprehensive review". He said the first draft of the <keyword id="22542055" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="simplified-Income-Tax" source="Orion">simplified income tax</keyword> law, post the review, would be prepared by an internal committee of the tax department. "We would like to have a collaborative approach.... The first draft will be prepared by an internal team and then we will see how to go ahead with stakeholder consultation," Malhotra said at an interactive session with industry chamber Ficci.

First draft of new and simplified Income Tax law to be prepared by internal tax dept committee: Revenue Secretary

The <keyword id="19903456" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Income-Tax-department" source="keywords">Income Tax department</keyword> on Wednesday said 'substantial <keyword id="20138064" type="General" weightage="100" keywordseo="tax-savings" source="keywords">tax savings</keyword>' are expected for a vast majority of taxpayers due to reduction in the <keyword id="22526761" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="long-term-capital-gains" source="keywords">long term capital gains</keyword> <keyword id="45031" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="tax" source="Orion">tax</keyword> (LTCG) rate in the <keyword id="19895040" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="real-estate" source="keywords">real estate</keyword> sector. The Budget has reduced tax rates on capital gains earned from sale of house properties held for long term, but has removed the <keyword id="22142879" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="indexation-benefit" source="keywords">indexation benefit</keyword> available to taxpayers. The LTCG has been reduced from 20 per cent with indexation benefit to 12.5 per cent without indexation for the real estate sector. The indexation benefit allowed taxpayers to compute gains arising out of sale of <keyword id="801267" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="capital-assets" source="Orion">capital assets</keyword> after adjusting inflation. In a post on X, the income tax department said the nominal real estate returns are generally in the region of 12-16 per cent per annum, much higher than inflation. "The indexation for inflation is in the region of 4-5 per cent, depending on the period of holding. Therefore, substantial tax savings are expected to a vast majority of such taxpayers," it said. Giving a comparison of benefits based on the holding period of the real estate property, the I-T department said the new <keyword id="22422932" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="tax-rate" source="keywords">tax rate</keyword> without indexation is beneficial in most cases. For property held for five years, the new regime is beneficial when property has appreciated 1.7 times or more, while for a property held for 10 years, it is beneficial when the value has increased 2.4 times or more. For a property purchased in 2009-10, if value has increased to 4.9 times or more, it is beneficial, it said. "From the above examples, it is clear that only where returns are low (less than about 9-11 per cent per annum) that the earlier tax rate is beneficial, but such low returns in real estate are unrealistic and rare," the I-T department said. As per the changes brought in the 2024-25 Budget, the government has retained the indexation benefit for taxpayers on properties bought or inherited before 2001. The changes in the tax rate have been made effective from July 23, 2024.

Majority of taxpayers to have substantial tax savings due to reduction of long term capital gains on real estate: IT Dept

<ul><li>Delhi HC stays <keyword id="701249" type="General" weightage="50" keywordseo="transport-dept" source="Orion">Transport Dept</keyword>'s notice, saving Ola, <keyword id="1042120" type="General" weightage="80" keywordseo="uber" source="Orion">Uber</keyword>, and Rapido from suspension of ride-sharing services.</li><li>A division bench of Justices Suresh <keyword id="15491952" type="General" weightage="50" keywordseo="kumar-kait" source="Orion">Kumar Kait</keyword> and <keyword id="2581533" type="General" weightage="50" keywordseo="neena-bansal-krishna" source="Orion">Neena Bansal Krishna</keyword> directed the <keyword id="62110" type="General" weightage="100" keywordseo="transport-department" source="Orion">Transport Department</keyword> to refrain from taking any coercive measures against Rapido and other ride-sharing platforms.</li></ul>New Delhi, In a major relief to Ola, Uber, and Rapido, the Delhi High Court on Friday put a stay on the public notice and show cause notice issued by the city Transport Department, halting the ride-sharing platforms. A division bench of Justices Suresh Kumar Kait and Neena Bansal Krishna directed the Transport Department to refrain from taking any coercive measures against Rapido and other ride-sharing platforms until a comprehensive policy is formulated. In February, the app-based aggregators were prevented from plying bike taxis on the road without commercial permits. The Transport Department, ordering an immediate halt to the bike taxi services provided by these platforms, had warned that any violation will result in penal action. The public notice by the Transport Department said that the companies defying the orders will be fined up to Rs 1 lakh, as the use of bikes for commercial purposes violated the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988. Following the High Court decision, Uber has expressed its gratitude towards the court's order providing protection to the company against coercive actions regarding its bike taxi service in the capital city. "We welcome the High Court's order to give Uber protection from coercive action on bike taxis in Delhi. This will bring relief to drivers on our platform whose livelihood had been impacted by the ban as also to the hundreds and thousands of riders who choose to ride on Moto for affordability and last mile connectivity. We are committed to serving the city and being the platform of choice for riders and drivers alike," said Uber in a statement. SEE ALSO: <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/tech/apps/news/is-whatsapp-secretly-listening-to-your-private-conversations-heres-how-to-check/articleshow/100155980.cms">Is WhatsApp secretly listening to your private conversations? Here’s how to check</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/tech/news/google-pixel-6a-vs-pixel-7a-smartphone-comparison-with-price-and-features/articleshow/100177889.cms">Google Pixel 6a vs Pixel 7a: Is Google's latest mid-ranger worth the extra ₹12,000?</a>

Relief for ride-sharing platforms as Delhi HC put stays on Transport Department notice

<ul class="summary-list"><li>US policymakers should be concerned about a BRICS-led dedollarization, Thomas Hill wrote for the Atlantic Council.</li><li>New members can provide BRICS with new trade affiliations to promote dedollarization.</li></ul>The recent expansion of BRICS should be a key cause of concern for the US, as new members along with countries who want to join could amplify dedollarization, according to a former State Department official.Writing <a href="https://www.atlanticcouncil.org/blogs/menasource/china-dedollarization-north-africa/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">for the Atlantic Council,</a> Thomas Hill noted that Egypt, among others, was added to the BRICS club while Algeria and Tunisia were turned down.And it foreshadows how North African countries may become some of the "most aggressive advocates" for de-dollarization, he warned."The BRICS-led dedollarization effort should alarm US policymakers, especially in light of the recent BRICS membership expansion," wrote Hill, who is currently the director for the North Africa Program at the US Institute of Peace. "It is clear that traditional US allies, such as Egypt, Saudi Arabia, and the UAE, are already exploring ways to dedollarize, and that Beijing is helping that process move forward."This year, the economic bloc — originally composed of Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa — has touted <a href="https://markets.businessinsider.com/news/currencies/de-dollarization-dominance-yuan-china-brics-alternative-currency-sanction-russia-2023-4">plans to take on the greenback's dominance</a> in the global financial system.While BRICS' attempts to replace the dollar's hegemony have had limited impact so far, the coalition also elected to admit six new states in August, creating an opportunity for greater global coordination, Hill explained.He added that they will provide BRICS with access to fresh trade affiliations that can promote alternative currencies."By including Egypt, BRICS can influence Algerian and Tunisian de-dollarization through Egyptian leadership inside existing trade regimes. Through Egypt, the UAE, and Saudi Arabia, BRICS will have expanded access to the Greater Arab Free Trade Area (GAFTA) and the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa," Hill wrote. "Collectively, the expanded BRICS network via these trade organization connections now eclipses 90 countries."Signs of change are showing. In October, <a href="https://markets.businessinsider.com/news/currencies/dedollarization-egypt-chinese-yuan-panda-bonds-lower-rates-dollar-debt-2023-10#:~:text=Egypt%20issued%20yuan%2Ddenominated%20panda,another%20shift%20towards%20de%2Ddollarization.">Egypt issued yuan-denominated panda bonds</a> to help pay its debt, while the Bank of Russia now includes the Egyptian pound among currencies used to set ruble exchange rates.Elsewhere, a joint effort between China, Hong Kong, Thailand, and the UAE looks to develop a digital currency platform that will create a digital yuan for cross-border payments, Hill said.Even a partial weaning off the greenback will likely weaken incentives to stick to the SWIFT finance mechanism, an international banking network that has been <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/russia-economy-collapse-putin-moscow-gdp-outlook-ukraine-war-sanctions-2023-11">used by the US to apply sanctions</a>. Global coordination against the dollar would also impact US fiscal health, limiting the country's ability to run large federal deficits and keep debt costs grounded, Hill said."For US policymakers, the BRICS de-dollarization effort should cause concern," he said, adding that the federal government needs an interagency process with backing from lawmakers.

BRICS-led dedollarization should alarm the US as new members could be most aggressive against the greenback, former State Dept. official says

The income tax (I-T) department has selected 68,000 high-value transaction cases on a pilot basis pertaining to the financial year 2019-2020 for e-verification. Within six months, it has disposed of 35,000 cases, said <keyword id="121964" type="General" weightage="50" keywordseo="central-board-of-direct-taxes" source="Orion">Central Board of Direct Taxes</keyword> Chairman <keyword id="225455" type="General" weightage="80" keywordseo="nitin-gupta" source="Orion">Nitin Gupta</keyword>. Gupta said that the I-T department had taken several progressive steps to encourage voluntary tax compliance and facilitate a transparent and non-intrusive tax administration. One such major initiative is the e-Verification Scheme, 2021, which was notified on December 13, 2021. The chairman said that the scheme provided an opportunity for taxpayers to accept the mismatch of information vis-a-vis the original income tax return (<keyword id="6374875" type="General" weightage="80" keywordseo="itr" source="Orion">ITR</keyword>) filed and it was found that many taxpayers have filed updated ITRs. The e-Verification scheme aims to share and verify such financial transaction with the taxpayer that appears to be either unreported or under-reported in the ITR filed by the taxpayer. The department has been collecting information on financial transactions from multiple sources. Earlier, a part of it was shared with taxpayers in the 26AS statement. However, with a view to effectively utilise the data collected from various sources, the entire information is now displayed to the taxpayer through the <keyword id="12452909" type="General" weightage="50" keywordseo="annual-information-statement" source="Orion">Annual Information Statement</keyword> (<keyword id="153265" type="General" weightage="80" keywordseo="ais" source="Orion">AIS</keyword>). The AIS provides a facility for the taxpayer to object to any information if the source has reported any such information. The department confirms the said information with the source and if the source states that there is no error, the said information is subjected to risk assessment for e-verification. The entire process of e-verification is digital, with notices issued electronically and responses by the taxpayers also submitted electronically. On the completion of the enquiry, a verification report is prepared electronically without any physical interface with the taxpayer. According to the department, the scheme was getting very encouraging responses as 15 lakh updated returns have been filed so far and the department has got revenue of Rs 1,250 crore from updated returns. This also includes cases of e-verification where the assessee has filed an updated return after e-Verification. The scheme is extremely beneficial to taxpayers as it enables them to explain the financial transaction with evidence. It also helps in data correction and thereby prevents the initiation of proceedings on misreported information. It provides an opportunity to correct updated income that may not have been appropriately reported in ITR filed by taxpayers. It nudges taxpayers towards voluntary compliance by providing an opportunity to the taxpayer to update the return of income tax under Section 139 (8A) of the Income Tax Act, 1961. SEE ALSO: <a target="_blank" class="c-link c-message_attachment__title_link" href="https://www.businessinsider.in/tech/news/amazon-mega-electronics-days-sale-best-deals-on-wearables-audio-products-and-more/articleshow/98602219.cms">Amazon Mega Electronics Days sale – best deals on wearables, audio products and more</a> <a target="_blank" class="c-link c-message_attachment__title_link" href="https://www.businessinsider.in/finance/banks/news/existing-startup-founders-will-struggle-even-to-get-existing-capital-sopnendu-mohanty-of-singapore-monetary-authority/articleshow/98603636.cms">Existing startup founders will struggle even to get existing capital: Sopnendu Mohanty of Singapore Monetary Authority</a>

Income Tax dept selects 68,000 high-value transaction cases for e-verification

<ul class="summary-list"><li>The Federal Student Aid office just found violations that cost taxpayers $6 million from 2015 to 2018.</li><li>The defunct RWM Fiber Optics incurred 16 violations, while 2,100 former students of Harrison College are eligible for debt relief.</li><li>The Education Dept. is in the process of reforming the student-loan system amidst calls to cancel all debt.</li></ul>In the Education Department's latest move to protect student-loan borrowers, it found on Tuesday that violations of student-aid requirements and school closures from 2015 to 2018 cost taxpayers over $6 million in liabilities.The Federal Student Aid (FSA) office announced in a press release that RWM Fiber Optics - a for-profit, now defunct school - improperly handled <keyword id="35522" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="60" keywordseo="student-loans">student loans</keyword> and related aid, leaving borrowers with unfair debt loads. It also noted that the 2,100 students who attended Harrison College's 11 campuses are eligible for loan forgiveness after its 2018 closure. This follows the Education Department's <a href="https://www.ed.gov/news/press-releases/new-negotiated-rulemaking-committee-focus-student-loans-targeted-discharge-and-forgiveness-authorities?utm_content=&amp;utm_medium=email&amp;utm_name=&amp;utm_source=govdelivery&amp;utm_term=ry&amp;utm_term=">announcement</a> last week that it will form a negotiated rulemaking committee to address a range of issues affecting student loan borrowers, like debt forgiveness from fraudulent schools."All institutions are expected to serve the best interests of their students, not serve themselves," FSA Chief Operating Officer <keyword id="374607" type="PERSON" weightage="60" keywordseo="Richard-Cordray">Richard Cordray</keyword> said in a statement. "Schools that engage in bad behavior or that suddenly close their doors, leaving students out in the cold, will be held accountable, and we expect other schools to pay attention to the actions we are taking today."Specifically, FSA found that before RWM's closure in 2018, the school falsified information to make students eligible for aid they did not qualify for, fictionalized diplomas that students did not earn, and submitted student aid information without the student's knowledge without checking if the information was accurate. RWM also used the Federal Work Study program to pay students to clean bathrooms and collect garbage, which didn't help further students' careers as the program required. FSA concluded that the school conducted 16 "egregious" violations worth over $2.4 million.FSA also found that students who attended Harrison College, which closed in 2018, are eligible to get their students loans discharged given that they were unable to complete their programs due to the school's closure. Harrison owes almost $4 million to taxpayers who paid to forgive loans for those borrowers.Insider previously <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/elizabeth-warren-richard-cordray-student-loan-debt-cancelation-fsa-cfpb-2021-5">reported</a> that Cordray's role in student aid could signify a possible remedy to the <keyword id="1737245" type="COMPANY" weightage="60" keywordseo="Student-Debt">student debt</keyword> crisis given his alliance with Massachusetts Sen. <keyword id="213453" type="PERSON" weightage="60" keywordseo="Elizabeth-Warren">Elizabeth Warren</keyword>, a prominent advocate for student debt cancellation.Last month, he <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/student-loan-debt-servicers-richard-cordray-biden-education-department-2021-6">rescinded</a> a Trump-era <keyword id="28351" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="60" keywordseo="policy">policy</keyword> that restricted states' abilities to oversee student-loan servicers, and separately, the Education Department has begun to <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/student-loan-debt-cancellation-payment-pause-borrowers-disabilities-defrauded-2021-6">forgive debt</a> for students who were defrauded by for-profit schools.But while the department is in the process of <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/student-loan-debt-relief-biden-education-department-regulatory-agenda-vague-2021-6">implementing changes</a> to the student-loan system as a whole, through reforming loan forgiveness programs and working to give eligible borrowers student debt relief, the process could take years, and advocates want President Joe <keyword id="60973" type="PERSON" weightage="60" keywordseo="Biden">Biden</keyword> to act quickly on <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/elizabeth-warren-chuck-schumer-ayanna-pressley-student-loan-debt-biden-2021-8">widescale student debt forgiveness</a> for every borrower.

Biden's Education Dept. just made 2,100 students eligible for debt relief

<ul class="summary-list"><li>Education Sec. <keyword id="11897873" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="miguel-cardona" source="Orion">Miguel Cardona</keyword> announced 323,000 borrowers with <keyword id="11893505" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="disabilities" source="Orion">disabilities</keyword> will get $5.8 billion in student-debt relief.</li><li>He also is "indefinitely" waiving the requirement for those borrowers to submit proof of income.</li><li>Borrowers will no longer have to undergo a burdensome process to get relief, advocates said.</li></ul>President Joe <keyword id="60973" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="biden" source="Orion">Biden</keyword>'s <keyword id="11897874" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="education-department" source="Orion">Education Department</keyword> just took a major step in ensuring borrowers with disabilities burdened by <keyword id="11896049" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="student-debt" source="Orion">student debt</keyword> can get relief.On Thursday, Education Secretary Miguel Cardona announced in a <a href="https://www.ed.gov/news/press-releases/over-323000-federal-student-loan-borrowers-receive-58-billion-automatic-total-and-permanent-disability-discharges">press release</a> that 323,000 borrowers who have a total and permanent disability (TPD) will get $5.8 billion of their student debt automatically discharged. The department also announced it will be "indefinitely" waiving the <keyword id="11896048" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="policy" source="Orion">policy</keyword> for TPD borrowers to require proof of income, which in the past has resulted in a reinstatement of loans if borrowers don't respond."We've heard loud and clear from borrowers with disabilities and advocates about the need for this change and we are excited to follow through on it," Cardona said. "This change reduces red tape with the aim of making processes as simple as possible for borrowers who need support."<a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/grade-point/wp/2016/04/12/obama-to-forgive-the-student-debt-of-permanently-disabled-people/">Established</a> under President Barack Obama, anyone determined permanently disabled by a physician, the Social Security Administration, or the Department of Veteran Affairs are eligible for federal student-debt cancelation, with a requirement to submit documentation during a three-year monitoring period to verify that their incomes did not exceed the poverty line. In March, Cardona <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/biden-education-department-cancels-student-debt-borrowers-disabilities-paperwork-cardona-2021-3">waived</a> that requirement for <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/student-loan-debt-cancellation-payment-pause-borrowers-disabilities-defrauded-2021-6#reversed-a-devos-methodology-for-determining-loan-forgiveness-4">230,000 borrowers</a> with disabilities for the duration of the pandemic, saying at the time it would "ensure no borrower who is totally and permanently disabled risks having to repay their loans simply because they could not submit paperwork."Cardona said in Thursday's announcement that while he is permanently getting rid of the paperwork requirement, he will also consider waiving the three-year monitoring period.Bethany Lilly, the director of income policy at The Arc, an organization advocating for people with disabilities, told Insider following the department's announcement that now, borrowers with disabilities do not have to undergo "an incredibly strenuous and bureaucratic process that doesn't really work.""I am so excited for these borrowers," Lilly said.Insider previously <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/student-debt-canceled-borrowers-disabilities-defrauded-biden-doe-2021-4">reported</a> on the difficult process borrowers with disabilities had to go through just to get the student-debt relief to which they were entitled, with experts saying the paperwork requirements and monitoring period were unnecessary and burdensome steps.According to the press release, the change will go into effect in September and borrowers will then be notified of their debt discharges, and the department expects all discharges to occur before the end of the year.Two weeks ago, six bipartisan senators <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/student-loan-debt-forgiveness-disability-discharge-bipartisan-lawmakers-biden-2021-8">urged</a> Cardona to quickly discharge loans of borrowers with TPD and asked him to get rid of the administrative burdens that accompany the process. <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/student-loan-debt-cancellation-payment-pause-borrowers-disabilities-defrauded-2021-6#cancelled-student-debt-for-some-borrowers-with-disabilities-6">Student-debt relief under Biden</a> now stands at approximately $8.7 billion for about 455,000 borrowers.

Biden's Education Dept. just erased $5.8 billion in student-debt for 323,000 borrowers

<ul class="summary-list"><li>Rep. <keyword id="11971082" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="ilhan-omar" source="Orion">Ilhan Omar</keyword> asked the Education Dept. to release a memo by Oct. 22 on Biden's legal ability to cancel <keyword id="11896049" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="student-debt" source="Orion">student debt</keyword>.</li><li>The department did not respond, and Omar told Insider borrowers "desperately" need that relief.</li></ul>Over two weeks ago, Minnesota Rep. Ilhan Omar led a group of her Democratic colleagues in calling on the <keyword id="11897874" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="education-department" source="Orion">Education Department</keyword> to <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/cancel-student-debt-aoc-ilhan-omar-legal-status-biden-2021-10">release a memo</a> reviewing President Joe Biden's legal ability to cancel student debt broadly by October 22.But October 22 came and went with no response from the Education Department, and Omar told Insider its response is overdue."Millions of borrowers across the country are desperately asking for student debt relief," Omar said. "We know the President can do it with the stroke of a pen. We were told over six months ago that they were just waiting on a memo to determine whether they would give relief, and weeks since we sent a letter asking them to do so. Release the memo. Cancel student debt."An Education Department spokesperson told Insider they plan to respond to the letter.Biden campaigned on <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/student-debt-cancellation-forgiveness-wipe-out-loans-biden-warren-2021-10">canceling $10,000 in student debt</a> per borrower, but he expressed concerns with his legality to cancel a larger amount, like $50,000 - which Omar and other Democrats have called for. To get a resolution on those concerns, White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki <a href="https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/press-briefings/2021/02/17/press-briefing-by-press-secretary-jen-psaki-and-deputy-national-security-advisor-for-cyber-and-emerging-technology-anne-neuberger-february-17-2021/">said</a> in February Biden would ask the Justice Department to review his authority to use executive action to cancel student debt.While it's unclear when the Justice Department actually began that review, White House chief of staff Ron Klain told Politico in April that Biden had also asked Education Sec. <keyword id="11897873" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="miguel-cardona" source="Orion">Miguel Cardona</keyword> to <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/biden-wants-to-cancel-student-loan-debt-ron-klain-says-2021-4">create a memo</a> on the president's legal authority to forgive $50,000 in <keyword id="11896050" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="student-loans" source="Orion">student loans</keyword> per person. But it's been almost seven months since the department began that review, which prompted Omar to lead her colleagues, including New York Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and Massachusetts Rep. Ayanna Pressley, in demanding answers."Doing so will benefit every citizen and support our communities," they <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/cancel-student-debt-aoc-ilhan-omar-legal-status-biden-2021-10">wrote</a> in the letter. "With a single signature, you can improve the <keyword id="11893570" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="economy" source="Orion">economy</keyword>, create new jobs, transform the lives of 45 million Americans, narrow the racial wealth gap, and maintain the trust of voters."Biden has canceled student debt for <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/student-loan-debt-cancellation-payment-pause-borrowers-disabilities-defrauded-2021-6">targeted group of people,</a> like borrowers with disabilities and those defrauded by for-profit schools, but he has remained quiet on whether broad student debt cancellation is coming anytime soon, even as borrowers are preparing to restart student loan payments after what will be nearly two years on February 1."It's a priority for me and for President Biden to make sure that part of the conversation is examining loan forgiveness," Cardona <a href="https://twitter.com/TheAtlantic/status/1453101234425143302">said</a> at The Atlantic's Education Summit on Tuesday. "And those conversations are continuing."

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