The first municipal corporation in India was established by the British in Presidency of Madras.
55% of the population depends on agriculture and allied activities and it contributes 18% to the Gross value Added to Indian economy.
Steps taken by government for Agriculture.
Kisan Credit Card:
The Kisan Credit Card Scheme is implemented by Commercial Banks, Cooperative Banks and Regional Rural Banks throughout India.
The Scheme has led to increase in credit flow for agricultural activities. The scope of the KCC has been broad-based to include both needs like investments in agriculture as well as short term loans needed by farmers for his daily needs.
KCC Scheme has since been simplified and converted into ATM enabled debit card with any number of withdrawals within the limit.
Scope of middlemen to interfere is thus reduced.
Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana
PMFBY has been approved for implementation from kharif 2016 along with Unified Package Insurance Scheme (UPIS) and a new Weather Based Crop Insurance Scheme (WBCIS).
Under the PMFBY, a uniform maximum premium of only 2 per cent will be paid by farmers for all kharif crops and 1.5 per cent for all rabi crops.
In case of annual commercial and horticultural crops, the maximum premium to be paid by farmers will be only 5 per cent.
The premium rates to be paid by farmers are very low and balance premium will be paid by the Government to protect farmers against crop loss due to natural calamities.
It was setup to evolve a price structure and to advise on the price policy (MSP) of 23 crops.
These include seven cereal crops , five pulse crops , seven oilseeds , copra (dried coconut), coon, raw jute and sugarcane fair and remunerative prices (FRP) instead of MSP.
CACP submits its recommendations to the
government. Before
preparing the pricing policy reports, the Commission
seeks views of various state governments, concerned
national organizations and ministries.
Factors that go in determining prices:
have been inscribed on the World Heritage List of UNESCO in 2004.
National Archives of India - New Delhi
It was established in 1891 in Kolkata and is the official custodian of all non current records of permanent value to the Government of India.
Functions :
It has a high job creation potential of about 90 jobs per 10 lakh investment.
e-Tourist Visa
Launched in 2014 currently it is available to 150 countries and has generated Rs. 1.35 lakh crore worth of earnings for the country.
Total 4.5 lakh tourists have used this facility and 16 airports in India have this scheme.
Medical Tourism (also called medical travel, health tourism
or global healthcare) is also promoted by the Tourism Ministry and private sector plays a major role in this.
Ek Bharat Shreshtha Bharat
Launched on 31st October 2015 on occassion of Sardar Patels birth anniversary, the program aims to celebrate the diversity of India.
Objectives:-
Members of Parliament Local Area Development Scheme
Under this scheme each MP gets Rs. 5 crore for creating durable assets in his constituency. This is a non lapsable scheme and nodal ministry is Ministry of Statistics.
Niryat Bandhu Yojana
National Pension System
Schemes of Digital Transformation
Naval Exercises
ReCAAP
Regional Cooperation Agreement on Combating Piracy and Armed Robbery against ships in Asia
National Cadet Corps
Established in 1948 it currently has 15 lakh cadets. The motto is "Unity and Discipline".
Tithi Bhojan
The scheme was started in Gujarat and is being encouraged to be adopted at the national level.
The family can contribute to the Mid day meal program in a school by providing sweets or other delicacies in addition to normal food.
The family shall do it as a means of celebrating special occassions like "birth of a child" / "clearances of exam" etc.
‘Digital Gender Atlas’
The ‘Digital Gender Atlas’ uses geographical representation and numeric data at state, district and block levels and gives information on key indicators for girls education at primary, upper primary and secondary level for three years.
This shall help in identifying and ensure education of vulnerable girls like girls with disabilities.
Rashtriya Aavishkar Abhiyan:
Rashtriya Aavishkar Abhiyan was launched in July 2015, to motivate and encourage children of the age-group 6-18 years, in science, mathematics and technology.
Padhe Bharat Badhe Bharat (PBBB)
was launched in 2014 to ensure quality at the foundational years of schooling i.e., classes I and II. Through this programme it will be ensured that all children are able to read with comprehension as well as basic numeracy skills.
‘Saransh’
in 2014 for affiliated and CBSE schools. It helps the schools to look at their performance at an aggregate level and at the level of each student.
SAMVAY:
Framework to allow vertical and lateral mobility within vocational education system and between the current education systems.
Deen Dayal Upadhyay Centres for Knowledge Acquisition and Upgradation of Skilled Human Abilities and Livelihood (KAUSHAL)
Unnat Bharat Abhiyaan:
IIT, IISER, NIT to adopt villages and develop appropriate rural technologies for sustainable development through peoples’ participation.
Yukti - Yogya Kalakriti ki takneek
skill development and upgradation of design and technologies enhancing the economic prospects of those engaged in traditional crafts and arts as a means of livelihood.
SAKSHAM - Scholarship for Differently-Abled Children
Scheme of AICTE aims at providing encouragement and support to differently-abled children to pursue technical education.
Ishan Uday
UGC has launched a special scholarship scheme for students of north east region, Ishan Uday from the academic session 2014-15.
Ishan Vikas
programme has been launched with a plan to bring selected college and school students from the north eastern states into close contact with IITs, NITs and IISERs during their vacation periods for academic exposure.
Udaan
It seeks to enhance the enrolment of girl students in prestigious technical education institutions through incentives & academic support.
Saakshar Bharat
scheme of Adult Financial Education and Skill Development
Pragati
providing encouragement and support to girl child to pursue technical education.
Shaala Darpan
ICT application to provide mobile access to parents of students of government and government aided schools.
Swayam
Swayam is a Massive Open Online Courses (MOOCs) initiative on a national platform to provide free courses
Global Initiative for Academic Network
Foreign scientists and entrepreneurs, are engaged with the institutes of higher education in India
Growing Aptitude in Numerical Innovations and Training
organized to commemorate the birth anniversary of Srinivasa Ramanujan and to actively promote interest of students in mathematics.
Q.Consider the following statements:
1. The Standard Mark of Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) is mandatory for automotive tyres and tubes.
2. AGMARK is a quality Certification Mark issued by the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO).
Which of the statements given above is/are correct? (UPSC CSAT 2017)
1 only
2 only
Both 1 and 2
Neither 1 nor 2
Ans . A
AGMARK is issued under Indian Act
Q.With reference to the ‘National Intellectual Property Rights Policy’, consider the following statements:
1. It reiterates India’s commitment to the Doha Development Agenda and the TRIPS Agreement.
2. Department of Industrial Policy and Promotion is the nodal agency for regulating intellectual property rights in India.
Which of the above statements is/are correct? (UPSC CSAT 2017)
1 only
2 only
Both 1 and 2
Neither 1 nor 2
Ans . C
Q.With reference to ‘Quality Council of India (QCI)’, consider the following statements:
1. QCI was set up jointly by the Government of India and the Indian Industry.
2. Chairman of QCI is appointed by the Prime Minister on the recommendations of the industry to the Government
.
Which of the above statements is/are correct? (UPSC CSAT 2017)
1 only
2 only
Both 1 and 2
Neither 1 nor 2
Ans . C
Q.What is the aim of the programme ‘Unnat Bharat Abhiyan’? (UPSC CSAT 2017)
Achieving 100% literacy by promoting collaboration between voluntary organizations and government’s education system and local communities.
Connecting institutions of higher education with local communities to address development challenges through appropriate technologies.
Strengthening India’s scientific research institutions in order to make India a scientific and technological power.
Developing human capital by allocating special funds for health care and education of rural and urban poor, and organizing skill development programmes and vocational training for them
Ans . B
Q.With reference to ‘Asia Pacific Ministerial Conference on Housing and Urban Development (APMCHUD)’, consider the following statements:
1. The first APMCHUD was held in India in 2006 on the theme ‘Emerging Urban Forms — Policy Responses and Governance Structure’.
2. India hosts all the Annual Ministerial Conferences in partnership with ADB, APEC and ASEAN.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct? (UPSC CSAT 2017)
1 only
2 only
Both 1 and 2
Neither 1 nor 2
Ans . D
2006’s theme was “A Vision for Sustainable Urbanization in the Asia-Pacific by 2020”.
Besides, since 2016’s summit’s theme was emerging urban formAPMCHUD’s ministerial conference is a biennial event
Q.With reference to the role of UN-Habitat in the United Nations programme working towards a better urban future, which of the statements is/are correct?
1. UN-Habitat has been mandated by the United Nations General Assembly to promote socially and environmentally sustainable towns and cities to provide adequate shelter for all.
2. Its partners are either governments or local urban authorities only.
3. UN-Habitat contributes to the overall objective of the United Nations system to reduce poverty and to promote access to safe drinking water and basic sanitation.
Select the correct answer using the code given below: (UPSC CSAT 2017)
1, 2 and 3
1 and 3 only
2 and 3 only
1 only
Ans . B
UN-Habitat also partners with private organizations and civil society also.
Q. The Global Infrastructure Facility is a/an (UPSC CSAT 2017)
ASEAN initiative to upgrade infrastructure in Asia and financed by credit from the Asian Development Bank.
World Bank collaboration that facilitates the preparation and structuring of complex infrastructure Public-Private Partnerships (PPPs) to enable mobilization of private sector and institutional investor capital
Collaboration among the major banks of the world working with the OECD and focused on expanding the set of infrastructure projects that have the potential to mobilize private investment.
UNCTAD funded initiative that seeks to finance and facilitate infrastructure development in the world.
Ans . B
World Bank had launched it in 2014
Q.With reference to ‘National Investment and Infrastructure Fund’, which of the following statements is/are correct?
1. It is an organ of NITI Aayog.
2. It has a corpus of Rs. 4, 00,000 crore at present.
Select the correct answer using the code given below: (UPSC CSAT 2017)
1 only
2 only
Both 1 and 2
Neither 1 nor 2
Ans . D
NIIF is under Department of Economic Affairs.
setup in Budget 2015, with Rs.40k crores
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