10.61T-Feb 2018 Flashcards
POLITY AND GOVERNANCE :
RATIONALIZATION OF AUTONOMOUS BODIES
• Recently, government has approved the closure of two autonomous bodies viz., Rashtriya Arogya
Nidhi (RAN) and Jansankhya Sthirata Kosh (JSK)
• The functions of these bodies are proposed to be vested in Department of Health & Family Welfare
(DoHFW)
BACKGROUND
• In 2014, government has constituted Expenditure Management Commission (EMC) to suggest
major expenditure reforms that will enable the government to reduce and manage its fiscal deficit at
more sustainable levels.
• The PMO has set up a high-powered committee headed by NITI Aayog vice-chairman to look into the
EMC’s recommendations
• NITI Aayog had undertaken, inter alia, a review of the 19 Autonomous Bodies under the DoHFW,
which have been formed under Societies Registration Act, 1860 and recommended to rationalize
them.
RASHTRIYA AROGYA NIDHI (RAN)
• It is a centrally sponsored scheme
• It was set up in 1997 under the Ministry of Health & Family Welfare.
• It provides financial assistance to patients who are living below poverty line and suffering from major
life threatening diseases to receive medical treatment at any of the 12 super specialty Government
hospitals / institutes or other Government hospitals.
• The states are needed to create their own State illness funds in which central government provides
funding to the extent of 50% of contribution made by State Govt/Union Territories.
• Assistance in RAN is not directly provided to the Patient but is given to the Superintendent of the hospital
• Central Government/State Government/PSU employees are not eligible.
JANSANKHYA STHIRATA KOSH (JSK)
• The National Population Stabilisation Fund has been set up as an autonomous body registered as
a Society under the Societies Registration Act, 1860.
• It was set up in 2005 by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare with an aim to achieve population
stabilization
• The JSKs Annual Report and Accounts are tabled in Parliament and its accounts can be audited by the
Comptroller and Auditor General of India
• All State governments are members of JSK.
• The Union Health Minister is the chairperson of the General Body.
• The Governing Board is the principle policy forming body of JSK and is chaired by the Secretary of
Health and Family Welfare
• The governing board is responsible for approving various projects and programmes.
• JSK implements two schemes, namely, Santushti and Prerna
SANTHUSHTI
• It is a strategy of JSK for the highly populated states of India.
Those states are Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Jharkhand, Chhattisgarh and
Odisha.
• Under this strategy, JSK, invites private sector gynaecologists and vasectomy surgeons to conduct
sterilization operations in Public Private Partnership mode
PRERNA
• It is a Responsible Parenthood Strategy, launched in seven focus states viz. Bihar, Uttar Pradesh,
Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, Odisha, and Rajasthan.
• To recognizes and awards couples who have broken the stereotype of early marriage, early childbirth
and repeated child birth and have helped change the mind-sets of the community.
• The scheme is meant only for BPL families
- E-WAY BILL
The GST Council at its recent meeting has agreed to implement the national e-way bill system for
intra-state movement of goods from April 1.
ABOUT
• The E-way bill (Electronic way bill) is a document to be generated online under the GST system,
when goods of the value of more than ₹50,000 are shipped inter-State or intra-State.
• If a consignment is found without an E-way bill, a penalty of ₹10,000 or tax sought to be evaded,
whichever is greater, can be levied.
• Transporter liability: If neither the consignor nor the consignee has generated the E-way Bill, the
transporter of the goods becomes liable to generate it
• When the consignor or transporter generates the E-way bill, the recipient for the consignment has to
either accept or reject it on the portal. If no action is taken by the recipient in 72 hours, it shall be
taken as accepted
• The E-way bill must be raised before the goods are shipped and should include details of the goods,
their consignor, recipient and transporter.
• Both the GST levy and the E-way bill were expected to root out such transit delays, while at the same
time plugging tax evasion
- VILLAGE RESOURCE CENTRE (VRC)
• These are being set up by ISRO with the help of selected NGOs, Trusts and State Government
Departments.
• So far, the ISRO has set up 473 Village Resource Centres (VRCs), on a pilot scale.
ABOUT
• It is a unique initiative that uses Satellite Communication (SATCOM) network and Earth
Observation (EO) satellite data to address the needs of the rural villages
• The VRCs have provided various space technology enabled services such as tele-healthcare, teleeducation, natural resources information etc.
• The major benefits of the VRC programme include,
o Advisories related to agriculture like crop pest and diseases, fertilizer/pesticides, organic
farming, crop insurance etc.; livestock/poultry,
o Career guidance to rural students,
o Skill development and vocational training etc.to the rural population.
- PREVENTION OF CRUELTY TO ANIMALS (KARNATAKA AMENDMENT) ORDINANCE, 2017
It was promulgated by Government of Karnataka and it recently received assent of the President.
• It seeks to exempt kambala and bullock-cart racing from the ambit of the Prevention of Cruelty to
Animals (PCA) Act, 1960.
ABOUT KAMBALA
• It is traditional buffalo slush track race in Karnataka similar to Jallikattu.
• This annual event starts in November and lasts till March every year.
• The festival is dedicated to Kadri’s Lord Manjunatha, an incarnation of Lord Shiva.
PREVENTION OF CRUELTY TO ANIMALS ACT (PCA), 1960
• It was enacted, under Article 48 of the constitution, to prevent the infliction of unnecessary pain and
suffering on animals
• It deals with captive and domestic animals.
• Chapter IV of the act deals with the regulation of experimentation
• Chapter V requires mandatory registration of performing animals
• It regulates animal markets, dog breeders, aquarium and pet fish shop owner
• As per PCA Act, it is an offence against a person who incites any animal to fight with a view to provide
entertainment.
• The act also deals with restrictions on exhibition and training of performing animals
• It has also established Animal Welfare Board of India as a statutory body
• It extends to whole of India except J&K
ANIMAL WELFARE BOARD OF INDIA
• Established in 1962 as a statutory body under PCA Act, 1960
• Comes under the jurisdiction of MoEFCC
• It consists of 28 Members, who serve for a period of 3 years
• Headquarters: Chennai
• Functions:
• Providing advice to the union government on matters relating to the promotion of animal
welfare and animal welfare laws
• Recognition of animal welfare organizations and providing financial assistance to them
• Prescribes changes to animal welfare laws and rules
• Working to raise awareness among the public
- MAHANADI WATER DISPUTE
• The Ministry of Water Resources, River Development and Ganga Rejuvenation has constituted
Mahanadi Water Dispute Tribunal for adjudication of longstanding disputes between Odisha and
Chhattisgarh over sharing of Mahanadi river water.
• The tribunal was formed under Section 4 of Inter-State River Water Disputes Act, 1956 following
directives of Supreme Court.
MAHANADI RIVER
• It is a major river in East Central India.
• It is bounded on the north by the Central India Hills, on the south and east by the Eastern Ghats
and on the west by the Maikala range.
• It has a total course of 851 km.
• The river majorly flows through the states of Chhattisgarh and Odisha and smaller portions of river
basin falls in Jharkhand, Maharashtra and Madhya Pradesh
• It originates from the highlands of Chhattisgarh through collection of an array of streams and
reaches Bay of Bengal.
• Amongst peninsular rivers, in water potential and flood producing capacity, it ranks second to the
Godavari.
• It is one of the most-active silt depositing streams in the Indian subcontinent
• The Hirakud Dam built on the river has formed a man-made lake 55 km long. The Debrigarh wildlife
sanctuary is also located near the dam.
• Puri, at one of its mouths, is a famous pilgrimage site.
• Major tributaries:
o Right bank: Ong, Parry river, Jonk, Tel
o Left bank: Seonath, Mand, Ib, Hasdeo, Kelo
• Six other small streams between the Mahanadi and the Rushikulya draining directly into the Chilka
Lake also forms the part of the basin
• The basin is subject to severe flooding occasionally in the delta area due to inadequate carrying
capacity of the channels
• Kelo irrigation project is being implemented Chhattisgarh on Kelo River, a tributary of Mahanadi
River.
OTHER FACTS
• Water is a state subject, inter-state river and river valleys are placed in Union List in the 7th
schedule of the constitution
• Article 262, empowers the parliament to provide by law that neither the Supreme Court nor any other
court shall exercise jurisdiction in respect of inter-state water disputes
• The Inter-State Water Dispute Act (1956), constituted under this article to adjudicate the disputes
• This act empowers Central government to set up an ad hoc tribunal for the adjudication of a dispute
between two or more states
• The decision of tribunal would be final and binding on the parties of the dispute
• Neither Supreme Court not any other court have jurisdiction with respect to disputes referred to
such tribunal under this act
• However, Supreme Court still allows these matters through “Special Leave Petition” under article
136
- COMMITTEE ON INSTITUTES OF EMINENCE
• Recently, government has constituted an Empowered Expert Committee (EEC) to select 20
Institutions of Eminence.
• It will be headed by former Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) N Gopalaswami.
• Total 104 institutions (public or private) have applied for the status.
ABOUT INSTITUTES OF EMINENCE
• The scheme was started by University Grants Commission (UGC).
• It aims to help 20 higher education (10 public and 10 private) institutions from country break into
top 500 global rankings in 10 years, and then eventually break into top 100 over time.
• These selected institutions are proposed to have greater autonomy compared to other higher
education institutions
o They will be free to decide their fee for domestic and foreign students and have flexible
course duration and structure.
o The selected institutions will have the liberty to enrol up to 30% foreign students
o They will be able to recruit up to 25% foreign faculty, while there will be no such limit for
selected private institutions
o They will be exempted from approvals of government or UGC for academic
collaborations with foreign institutions, except institutions in MEA and MHA’s list of
negative countries.
• The 10 state-run institutions will have an additional benefit — provision of ₹10,000 crore over a
period of 10 years, over and above the regular grants.
• There will be no financial assistance to the private institutions.
• Eligibility to apply: Top 50 universities of the National Institute Ranking Framework or those who
have secured ranking among top 500 of the Times Higher Education World University Rankings, QS
University Rankings or Shanghai’s Academic Ranking of World Universities
o The private Institutions of Eminence can also come up as Greenfield ventures provided
sponsoring organisation submits convincing perspective plan for 15 years.
NOTE
• The Constitution has not prescribed the qualifications (legal, educational, administrative or judicial)
of the members of the Election Commission.
• The Constitution has not specified the term of the members of the Election Commission.
• The Constitution has not debarred the retiring election commissioners from any further appointment
by the government.
- CAUVERY WATER DISPUTE
• The Supreme Court has recently delivered its verdict on Cauvery water dispute.
HIGHLIGHTS
• The Supreme Court reduced Tamil Nadu’s quota of water by 14.75 tmcft and increased
Karnataka’s share to 284.75 tmcft to meet Bengaluru’s drinking water needs
• Tamil Nadu will get 404.25 tmcft, which will be 14.75 tmcft less than what was allotted by the tribunal
in 2007
• The 2007 tribunal award of 30 tmcft to Kerala and 7 tmcft water to Puducherry will remain unchanged.
• It said its order on Cauvery water allocation will continue for the next 15 years.
• SC highlighted that no state can claim exclusive right to a river passing through different states and
kept drinking water on the highest pedestal.
CAUVERY RIVER
• The river originates in Karnataka’s Kodagu district, flows into Tamil Nadu and reaches the Bay of
Bengal at Poompuhar
• River basin covers Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Karnataka, and Puducherry
• The total length of the river from origin to outfall is 800 km
• It is bounded by the Western Ghats on the west, by the Eastern Ghats on the east and the south and
by the ridges separating it from Krishna basin and Pennar basin on the north.
• The Nilgiris extend Eastwards to the Eastern ghats and divide the basin into two natural and political
regions i.e., Karnataka plateau in the North and the Tamil Nadu plateau in the South
• The city of Bangalore is situated just outside this basin.
• Important industries in the basin include cotton textile industry in Coimbatore and Mysore, cement
factories in Coimbatore and Trichinapally and industries based on mineral and metals.
• Soils: The principal soil types found in the basin are black soils, red soils, laterites, alluvial soils,
forest soils and mixed soils.
• Red soils occupy large areas in the basin.
• Alluvial soils are found in the delta areas
• The river descends from the South Karnataka Plateau to the Tamil Nadu Plains through the
Sivasamudram waterfalls (101 m high).
• Other waterfalls: Hogennekkal Falls
Cauvery Left Bank Tributaries Harangi, Hemavati, Shimsha and Arkavathy. Rigth Bank Tributaries :Lakshmantirtha, Kabini, Suvarnavati, Bhavani, Noyil and Amaravati. MAJOR PROJECTS IN CAUVERY BASIN • Krishnarajasagar (Karnataka) • Mettur dam • Cauvery delta system • Bhavani • Hemavati • Harangi • Kabini MEKEDATU PROJECT • It is being constructed across Cauvery River at Mekedatu, Karnataka • It has become a matter dispute between Karnataka and Tamil Nadu
- NATIONAL HUMAN RIGHTS COMMISSION (NHRC)
• The NHRC has retained its ‘A’ status of accreditation of Global Alliance of National Human Rights
Institutions (GANHRI) for fourth consecutive term.
• The accreditation is given to those human rights institutions, which after rigorous process of review
every five years are found fully compliant with UN-mandated Paris Principles.
• ‘A’ status accreditation also grants participation in the work and decision-making of the GANHRI, as
well as the work of the Human Rights Council and other UN mechanisms
• NHRC was awarded ‘A’ status for first time in 1999 which it retained in 2006 and 2011 reviews.
ABOUT GANHRI
• It is formerly known as the International Coordinating Committee of National Human Rights
Institutions
• It is a global network of national human rights institutions (NHRIs)
• It coordinates the relationship between NHRIs and the United Nations human rights system
• It is unique as the only non-UN body whose internal accreditation system, based on compliance with
the 1993 Paris Principles, grants access to UN committees.
PARIS PRINCIPLES
• These were adopted by United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) in 1993.
• It requires human right commissions to protect human rights, including by receiving, investigating and
resolving complaints, mediating conflicts and monitoring activities.
• It also promotes human rights, through education, outreach, media, publications, training and capacity
building, as well as advising and assisting government.
• According to Paris Principles, human right commissions should have autonomy from government,
independence guaranteed by statute or constitution, pluralism, adequate resources and adequate
powers of investigation.
• It also provide the international benchmarks against which NHRIs can be accredited by the GANHRI.
About NHRC
• NHRC is apex statutory watchdog of human rights in the country
• Formed as per the statutory provisions of Protection of Human Rights Act, 1993
• It is multimember body consisting of Chairman and four members
• It has the powers of a civil court
• Its orders on compensation are only recommendatory in nature
• It cannot take up the cases older than 1 year
• The chairman should be a retired chief justice of India.
• President appoints the Chairman and members of the NHRC on the recommendation of the highpowered committee headed by the Prime Minister. The committee includes,
o Prime Minister (Head),
o Lok Sabha Speaker,
o Union Home Minister,
o Deputy Chairman of Rajya Sabha,
o Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha
• Term of Chairman and members : 5 years or until attain the age of 70 years
• The salaries, allowances and other conditions of service of the chairman or a member are determined
by the Central government.
• The Chairman and members can be removed by the President according due process
- HEALTHY STATES, PROGRESSIVE INDIA REPORT
• The report has been released by NITI Aayog.
• It ranks states and union territories based on their year-on-year incremental change in health
outcomes and compare their overall performance with respect to each other.
• The Health Index is a weighted composite Index of indicators in three domains:
• Health Outcomes (70%);
• Governance and Information (12%) and
• Key Inputs and Processes (18%)
HIGHLIGHTS
• States and UTs have been ranked in three categories.
• Among Larger States:
o Top in overall performance: Kerala, Punjab, and Tamil Nadu
o Top in annual incremental performance: Jharkhand, Jammu & Kashmir, and Uttar Pradesh
• Among Smaller States:
o Top in overall performance: Mizoram, Manipur
o Top in annual incremental performance: Manipur, Goa
• Among UTs: Lakshadweep showed both the best overall performance as well as the highest annual
incremental performance.
• The report highlights the need for almost all Larger States to focus on improving the Sex Ratio at
Birth.
• It also notes that while States and UTs that start at lower levels of development are generally at an
advantage in notching up incremental progress over States with high Health Index scores, it is a
challenge for States with high Index scores to even maintain their performance levels
- CORRUPTION PERCEPTION INDEX (CPI) 2017
• It is released by NGO Transparency International.
• India was ranked 81st among 180 countries in Corruption Perception Index (CPI) 2017.
• India has dropped by two ranks from 79th slot in CPI 2016.
• CPI ranks countries on a scale of zero (highly corrupt) to 100 (very clean) based on their perceived
levels of corruption in the public sector.
• The index is compiled by using data of World Bank, World Economic Forum (WEF) and other
institutions
HIGHLIGHTS
• Top 5: New Zealand-1, Denmark-2, Finland-3, Norway-4, Switzerland-5.
• Bottom 6: Sudan-175, Yemen-176, Afghanistan-177, Syria-178, South Sudan-179, and Somalia-180.
• Among BRICS: South Africa-71, China-77, India-81, Brazil-96, Russia-135.
• India’s neighbours: Bhutan-26, China-77, India-81, Sri Lanka-91, Pakistan-117, Nepal-122,
Myanmar-130, Bangladesh-143
- GLOBAL DEMOCRACY INDEX (GDI) 2017
• India was ranked 42nd among 165 independent states on annual 2017 Global Democracy Index
(GDI)
• It was released by UK-based, Economist Intelligence Unit (EIU).
• India’s rank has slipped from 32nd in 2016 GDI
• It also classified India as a flawed democracy in 2017 GDI.
ABOUT GLOBAL DEMOCRACY INDEX (GDI)
• The index ranks 165 independent states and 2 territories on basis of 60 indicators grouped in five
different categories
• Those categories include electoral process and pluralism, civil liberties, the functioning of
government, political participation and political culture.
• It categories countries into four broad categories viz. full democracy, flawed democracy, hybrid
regime and authoritarian regime based on their score on a scale from 0 to 10.
• The index was first produced in 2006
HIGHLIGHTS
• Top 10: Norway, Iceland, Sweden, New Zealand, Denmark, Ireland, Canada, Australia, Finland and
Switzerland.
• Bottom 5: Democratic Republic of Congo, Central African Republic, Chad, Syria (166), North Korea
(167)
• Full democracies: Top 19 countries have been included in this category.
• Major Flawed democracies: US, Japan, Italy, India, France, Israel, Singapore, and Hong Kong
• Major Hybrid regimes: Pakistan (110th), Bangladesh (92nd), Nepal (94th) and Bhutan (99th).
• Major Authoritarian regimes: China (139th), Myanmar (120th), Russia (135th) and Vietnam (140th).
• Worst-performing nation: Indonesia, placed at 68th position in 2017 from 48th place in 2016.
• According to the index, Asia (5.63) lagged behind North America (8.56), Western Europe (8.38) and
Latin America (6.26).
ECONOMIST INTELLIGENCE UNIT (EIU)
• It is a British business within the Economist Group providing forecasting and advisory services
through research and analysis.
• It was created in 1946.
EIU-MAJOR REPORTS
• Government Broadband Index
• China Going Global Investment Index
• Global Food Security Index
• Inclusive Growth Opportunities Index
• Worldwide Cost of Living
• Global Liveability Report
GOVT SCHEMES AND PROGAMMES-12. ATAL BHOOJAL YOJANA
• It is a water conservation scheme to tackle the crisis of depleting groundwater level.
• The scheme is to be launched by the Union Government and yet to receive the cabinet nod.
ABOUT
• It will be implemented by the Ministry of Water Resources, River Development & Ganga
Rejuvenation
• Estimated cost: Rs.6,000-crore
• Centre will support half of the total project cost and rest of the budgetary cost will be shared by the
World Bank
• Objective:
o Recharge ground water and create sufficient water storage for agricultural purposes.
o Revival of surface water bodies so that ground water level can be increased, especially in
the rural areas.
• It will be first launched in water-stressed states: Gujarat, Haryana, Karnataka, Maharashtra, Uttar
Pradesh, Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh.
• Its focus is primarily on involvement of communities and convergence with different water
schemes.
- BAL AADHAAR
• The Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI) has launched a blue coloured Aadhaar
Card/Baal Aadhaar for children below five years.
• It will not include child’s biometric information.
• The first biometric update is required at the age of 5 while the second biometric update is required at
the age of 15 and it will be linked to the parents’ UID.
• However, it is not mandatory for children below 5 years to get an Aadhaar
- PRIME MINISTER’S EMPLOYMENT GENERATION PROGRAMME (PMEGP)
• Recently, the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA) has approved continuation of
PMEGP beyond 12th Plan for 3 years from 2017-18 to 2019-20
• The scheme has been extended with total outlay of Rs. 5,500 crore to create sustainable estimated
employment opportunities for 15 lakh persons in three financial years.
MODIFICATION IN THE SCHEME
• Targets under the continuation period has been fixed taking into account extent of backwardness of
states, unemployment, fulfilment of previous year targets and population of States/UTs and availability
of traditional skills and raw material.
• Minimum target of 75 projects per district will be awarded to all districts across country to achieve
Inclusive Growth.
• Higher rate of subsidy (25% to 35%) will be applicable for women, SC/ST, OBC, Physically
Disabled, NER applicants in rural areas.
• A second loan of up to Rs.1 crore to existing and better performing PMEGP units for upgrading with
subsidy of 15%.
• The entire process of application flow and fund flow will be online
• Merger of Coir Udyami Yojana, a credit linked subsidy scheme to establish coir units, in PMEGP
• Mandatory Aadhaar and Pan card and Geotagging of units
• Dispensing with the ratio of 30:30:40 for KVIC/KVIB/DIC
• Negative list (which contains list of activities not permitted under PMEGP for setting up of micro
enterprises/ projects /units) has been amended, allowing serving/selling non-vegetarian food at
Hotels/Dhabas and Off Farm/Farm Linked activities
• Cap the working capital component for manufacturing units to 40% of the project cost and for
service/trading sector to 60% of the project cost.
ABOUT PMEGP
• PMEGP is major credit-linked subsidy programme
• It is being implemented by Ministry of MSME since 2008-09.
• It formed after merging Prime Minister’s Rojgar Yojana (PMRY) and Rural Employment
Generation Programme.
• It is aimed at generating self-employment opportunities through establishment of micro-enterprises in
non-farm sector by helping traditional artisans and unemployed youth in rural as well as urban
areas.
• Khadi and Village Industries Commission (KVIC) is nodal implementation agency at national level.
• At State and district level, State offices of KVIC, Khadi and Village Industries Boards (KVIBs) and
District Industry Centres (DIC) are the implementing agencies.
SCHEMES ANNOUNCED IN UNION BUDGET 2018-19.15. NATIONAL HEALTH PROTECTION SCHEME (AYUSHMAN BHARAT)
The scheme will integrate two ongoing centrally sponsored schemes viz. Rashtriya Swasthya Bima
Yojana (RSBY) and Senior Citizen Health Insurance Scheme (SCHIS).
• It aims to target over 10 crore families belonging to poor and vulnerable population based on Socio
Economic and Caste Census 2011 (SECC) database.
• Under it, up to Rs.5 lakh insurance cover will be provided to each family per year in secondary
and tertiary care institutions.
• There will be no cap on family size and age in the scheme.
• It includes pre and post-hospitalisation expenses.
• It will cover all pre-existing conditions from beginning of the policy.
• It will also pay defined transport allowance per hospitalization to the beneficiary
• States will be allowed to expand the scheme both horizontally and vertically. They will be free to
choose modalities for implementation.
• States will be required to form State Health Agency (SHA) to implement scheme and at district level
also, a structure for implementation of the scheme will be set up.
• The scheme will work in partnership with NITI Aayog to operationalise a robust, modular and
interoperable IT platform which will involve a paperless and cashless transaction.
• For giving policy directions and fostering coordination between Centre and States, AB-NHPMC will be
set up at apex level.
• It will be chaired by Union Health and Family Welfare Minister.
- OPERATION GREEN
• It is a 500 crore project on the lines of Operation Flood for enhancing production & reducing price
volatility of fruits & vegetables
• Government has decided to start focusing on three basic vegetables namely tomatoes, onions and
potatoes (TOP) initially. They form almost half of vegetable production in the country
• It also aims to promote farmer producers organisations, processing facilities, agri-logistics and
professional management.
• It is essentially price fixation scheme that aims to ensure farmers are given the right price for their
produce.
- EKLAVYA SCHOOL
• Eklavya schools will be established for scheduled caste (SC) and schedule tribe (ST) students by
2022 on the lines of Navodaya schools.
• They will be model residential schools set up in each Block.• They will be established in areas with more than 50% tribal areas and 20,000 tribal people.
• These schools will be part of Navodaya Vidyalayas.
• It will provide training in sports and skill development.
• It has special facilities for preserving local art and culture.
- KISAN URJA SURAKSHA EVAM UTTHAAN MAHAABHIYAN (KUSUM)
• The scheme was announced in Budget 2018-19.
• It is Rs.1.4 lakh-crore initiative to promote decentralised solar power production of up to 28,250 MW
to help farmers.
• In the Union Budget 2018- 19, the Centre has allocated Rs.48,000 crore on the 10-year KUSUM
scheme
ABOUT KUSUM
• It aims to incentivise farmers to run solar farm water pumps and use barren land for generating solar
power to have extra income.
• Implemented by Ministry of New and Renewable Energy
COMPONENTS
• Utilisation of barren land by farmers to generate 10,000 MW of solar energy and sell it to grid.
• Providing incentives to DISCOMS to purchase the electricity produced
• Subsidy to farmers for buying 17.5 lakh off grid solar farm pumps.
• Solarisation of grid-connected farm pumps involving 7,250 MW capacity
• Solarisation of government departments’ grid connected water pumps involving 8250 MW capacity
- REVITALISING INFRASTRUCTURE AND SYSTEMS IN EDUCATION (RISE) SCHEME
• It aims to lend low-cost funds to government higher educational institutions.
• Under it, all centrally-funded institutes (CFIs), including central universities, IITs, IIMs, NITs and
IISERs can borrow from a Rs.1 lakh crore corpus over next 4 years to expand and build new
infrastructure
• It will be financed via restructured higher education financing agency (HEFA), a non-banking financial
company
- PRIME MINISTER RESEARCH FELLOWSHIP SCHEME
• It is aimed at facilitating cutting edge research by provide high fellowship amounts to B.Tech students
to pursue PhD in IITs and IISc.
• It will be implemented for period of seven years beginning 2018-19 at total cost of Rs.1650 crore.
• Under it, best students who have completed or are in final year of B. Tech/Integrated M.Tech/M.Sc.
courses in Science and Technology streams from IISc/IITs/IISERs/ NITs/IIITs will be offered direct
admission in PhD programme in IITs/IISc.
• Maximum of 3000 Fellows would be selected in three year period, beginning 2018-19.
• Monthly fellowship: Rs.70,000 for first two years, Rs.75,000 for 3rd year and Rs.80,000 in 4th and
5th years
• Research grant: Rs.2.00 lakh for period of 5 years to cover their foreign travel expenses for
presenting research papers in international conferences and seminars.
- KISAN CREDIT CARD TO FISHERMEN AND CATTLE OWNERS
Kisan Credit Card was extended to fishermen and cattle owners.
• It will enable them to avail the easier loans.
• It will help people associated with milk production business in rural areas by providing financial
assistance and also to fisheries
- AFFORDABLE HOUSING FUND (AHF)
• Affordable Housing Fund (AHF) will be created under National Housing Bank (NHB).
• It will be funded from priority sector lending shortfall and fully serviced bonds authorised by Central
Government.
• It will be used to construct one crore households in the rural areas Pradhanmantri Awas Yojana.
- GOBAR-DHAN YOJNA
• Gobar-Dhan Yojana (also known as Galvanizing Organic Bio-Agro Resource Fund scheme) aims
to improve lives of the villagers.
• The scheme focuses on managing and converting cattle dung and solid waste in farms to useful
compost, biogas and bio-CNG.
• It will also help in keeping the village clean while increasing income of farmers and cattle herders.
• Under it, villagers will be mobilized to create self-help groups (SHGs) and creative societies that will
help in clean energy and green jobs initiative.
INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS :24. GREY LIST OF FINANCIAL ACTION TASK FORCE (FATF)
• Recently, Pakistan has confirmed that it will be added on ‘grey list’ of the Financial Action Task
Force (FATF) in June 2018
• Earlier, Pakistan was on the FATF grey-list from 2012 to 2015
• The list featured nine other countries Ethiopia, Yemen, Iraq, Syria, Serbia, Sri Lanka, Trinidad and
Tobago, Vanuatu and Tunisia
• Bosnia and Herzegovina has been moved to the white list.
ABOUT GREY LIST
• It could limit Pakistan’s banking links to the outside world.
• It could squeeze Pakistan’s economy and make it harder to meet its mounting foreign financing
needs, including potential future borrowings from International Monetary Fund (IMF).
• It could lead to downgrading of Pakistan’s debt ratings by international banking and credit rating
agencies
• It could also lead to suspension of international funds and aid to Pakistan such as Coalition Support
Funds (CSF), money which US owes to Pakistan for military operations.
ABOUT FINANCIAL ACTION TASK FORCE (FATF)
• It is an inter‐governmental policy making body
• It aims to establish international standards for combating money laundering and terrorist financing.
• It was established in 1989 during the G7 Summit in Paris
• Headquarters: At OECD headquarters in Paris
• It comprises over 37 members (including European Commission and Gulf Cooperation Council)
• India is also a member
• Functions:
o Set international standards to combat money laundering and terrorist financing.
o Assess and monitor compliance with the FATF standards.Conduct studies of money laundering and terrorist financing methods, trends and techniques.
o Respond to new and emerging threats, such as proliferation financing used for promoting
proliferation of nuclear, chemical and biological weapons.
• The FATF’s decision making body, the FATF Plenary, meets three times per year.
