VISION IAS www.visionias.wordpress.com www.visionias.cfsites.org www.visioniasonline.com GENERAL STUDIES PRELIM 2011: CURRENT AFFAIRS PART I: SCHEMES /PROGRAMMES / POLICIES Swavalamban scheme It is a pension scheme for workers in the unorganised sector who do not have access to the social security net. Under the scheme subscribers would get Rs.1,000 from the government each year for a subscription amount of Rs.12,000 per year New Pension System (NP)S account. The scheme will remain valid for this financial year and for the next three consecutive fiscals. A subscriber can enter the scheme at the age of 18 years and will be eligible for pension after turning 60. On turning 60, the pensioner can withdraw 60 per cent of his contribution, while the balance will be given as a monthly annuity by the LIC. The LIC has been appointed one of the many aggregators who will collect subscription amounts from subscribers. The Scheme shall be managed by Pension Fund Regulatory and Development Authority (PFRDA )and Government will release its contribution to PFRDA for crediting the same to the NPS accounts of eligible subscribers. Launch Date:26 September( 78th birthday of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh) National water policy and climate change Spurred by the need to look at climate change impact on water resources, the Centre is formulating a revised National Water Policy in consultation with the States and other stakeholders to ensure basinlevel management strategies. This would deal with variability in rainfall and river flows due to climate change. Integrated Children Protection Scheme The Government of India, Ministry of Women & Child Development has formulated a new Centrally Sponsored Scheme Integrated Child Protection Scheme (ICPS) with the objective to provide a safe and secure environment to the children in the country who are in need of care and protection as well as children in conflict with law. The intervention includes, inter-alia, financial support for setting up and / or maintenance of Homes for children in need of care and protection and those in conflict with law, setting up of child protection structure state child protection society, capacity building, advocacy etc. VISION IAS www.visioniaswordpress.com 1
Specific Objectives: To institutionalize essential services and strengthen structures. To enhance capacities at all levels. To create database and knowledge base for child protection services. To strengthen child protection at family and community level. To ensure appropriate inter-sectoral response at all levels. To raise public awareness. Bharat Nirman Rajiv Gandhi Seva Kendra To be developed at a cost of Rs. 25 lakhs, The Panchayat Ghars have been envisaged as the mini secretariat. It will have services of seven computer operators to update the records. Bharat Nirman Rajiv Gandhi Seva Kendra will act as the village knowledge resource centre and help in ensuring that the benefits of development reach out to the needy and the poor in rural areas. It would be a forum for the village people to interact and exchange their experiences and would provide logistic support and record keeping facility. It shall be a single window for providing the information on the MGNREGS and will also help in efficient implementation of MGNREGA at Panchayat and Block level and in providing space for greater and more transparent interaction with the local people. Funding: The source of funding for the construction of Bharat Nirman Rajiv Gandhi Sewa Kendras will come from BRGF, MGNREGA and other relevant schemes. Jawaharlal Nehru National Solar Mission One of the eight National Missions outlined in National Action Plan on Climate Change, the Jawaharlal Nehru National Solar Mission (JNNSM) specifically focuses on solar energy and its role in minimizing future emissions. The Government has launched JNNSM in January, 2010 with a target of 20,000 MW grid solar power (based on solar thermal power generating systems and solar photovoltaic (SPV) technologies), 2000 MW of off-grid capacity by 2022 (i.e. 22000 MW by 2022). The Mission will be implemented in three phases. The first phase will be of three years (upto March, 2013, target-1,100 MW grid connected+200 MW off- grid=1300 MW), the second till March 2017 and the third phase will continue till March, 2022. National Centre for Photovoltaic Research and Education has been set up at IIT-Bombay. VISION IAS www.visioniaswordpress.com 2
Pradhanmantri Adarsh Gram Yojana (PMAGY) The Government has launched a new scheme called Pradhanmantri Adarsh Gram Yojana (PMAGY) for the integrated development of scheduled castes dominated villages in the country. There are about 44,000 villages in which the population of scheduled castes is above 50 per cent. The new scheme PMAGY will be launched on a pilot basis in 1000 such villages. Under this Scheme, each village would be able to avail gap funding of Rs.10 lakh over and above the allocations under Rural Development and Poverty Alleviation Schemes. On successful implementation of the pilot phase, the PMAGY would be extended in coming years. Status: PMAGY was launched at Village 18 BB, Block Padampur, District Sriganganagar, Rajasthan. The pilot scheme has been taken up for implementation in five States of which four are Bihar, Rajasthan, Tamil Nadu (225 villages in each state) and Assam (100 villages) Fifth state U.P. is yet to respond to the government's invitation. [note: PMAGY is speculated as a replica of U.P.'s Ambedkar Village scheme] Mid term appraisal of XI plan The Cabinet has approved the mid-term appraisal(mta) of the Eleventh Five-Year Plan (2007-12), which scaled down the average growth target of the economy to 8.1 per cent from 9 per cent. The MTA will now be placed before the National Development Council. The Planning Commission had projected in the MTA that the economy would expand by 8.5 per cent in the current fiscal and rise to 9 per cent in 2011-12. Background: The commission had set an average annual growth target of 9 per cent for the Eleventh Plan -- beginning with 8.5 per cent in the first year and closing with 10 per cent in the last year of the Plan period. Year 2007-08 9% 2008-09 6.7 % 2009-10 7.4 % 2010-11* 8.5% 2011-12* 9% *projected GDP growth rate VISION IAS www.visioniaswordpress.com 3
National Programme for Prevention and Control of Cancer, Diabetes, Cardiovascular diseases and Stroke (NPCDCS) approved The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs approved the National Programme for Prevention and Control of Cancer, Diabetes, Cardiovascular Diseases and Stroke (NPCDCS) for implementation of its various components during the remaining period of 11th Five year plan (i.e. 2010-11 & 2011-12) at an estimated outlay of Rs. 1230.90 crore on a cost sharing basis between the Centre and the States at the rate of 80:20. It also approved the inter-usability of funds from one component to another within the same group of diseases, limited to a ceiling of 10%, in order to impart operational flexibility in implementation of these programs. The programme will be implemented in 20,000 Sub-Centres and 700 Community Health Centres (CHCs) in 100 Districts across 15 States/UTs by promoting healthy lifestyle through massive health education and mass media efforts at country level, opportunistic screening of persons above the age of 30 years, establishment of Non Communicable Disease (NCD) clinics at CHC and district level, development of trained manpower and strengthening of tertiary level health facilities. To fill the gap in the health delivery system, about 32,000 health personnel would be trained at various levels to provide opportunistic and targeted screening, diagnosis and management of NCDs. With the successful implementation of the programme, it is expected to achieve behaviour change in the community to adopt healthy life styles. Background: The country is experiencing a rapid health transition with a rising burden of Non-Communicable Diseases(NCDs) which are emerging as the leading cause of death in India accounting for over 42% of all deaths with considerable loss in potentially productive years (aged 35-64 years) of life. According to a WHO report (2002), cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) will be the largest cause of death and disability in India by 2020. It is estimated that the overall prevalence of diabetes, hypertension, Ischemic Heart Diseases (IHD) and Stroke is 62.47, 159.46, 37.00 and 1.54 respectively per 1000 population of India. There are an estimated 25 Lakh cancer cases in India. The cost implications of NCDs to society are enormous and run into thousands of crore of rupees that include direct costs to people with illness, their families and indirect costs to society, due to reduced productivity. Major risk factors for these NCDs are raised blood pressure, cholesterol, tobacco use, unhealthy diet, physical inactivity, alcohol consumption, and obesity which are modifiable. Hence a majority of cancers and CVDs can be prevented and treated if diagnosed at an early stage. Health promotion and prevention of chronic NCDs are yet to be adequately addressed in the country s health system. Presently, Clinical services, too, are not adequately equipped to provide the required level of care for these diseases in primary and secondary health-care settings. Therefore, the appropriate strategies have been devised to be implemented under NPCDCS to ensure that the NCDs can be prevented and managed in an effective manner. VISION IAS www.visioniaswordpress.com 4
National Urban Health Mission (NUHM) The Centre is in the process of finalising the National Urban Health Mission (NUHM) to provide better healthcare facilities to urban slumdwellers. Aim: The Mission, aimed to correct structural imbalances in the public health system in urban areas. Need: Despite proximity to facilities, access to healthcare is severely restricted for the urban poor due to the inadequacy of public health delivery system and lack of resources. The under-five mortality among the urban poor is 72.7, significantly higher than the urban average of 51.9. Several health indicators among the urban poor are worse than those in the rural areas. Components: The Mission will have four components outreach services, primary urban health centres, referral services and emergency medical services. Fund Sharing: While for the first two years the Centre and the State will share the burden in the ratio of 85:15, from the third year (2012-13) onwards, urban local bodies will have to share 10 per cent of the cost, as per the draft. Status: approved by the Expenditure Finance Committee. No time frame to launch. Ministry: Ministry of Health and Family Welfare National Commission on Human Resource for Health (NCHRH) NCHRH is the proposed council aimed at ensuring propriety, increasing efficiency, and providing greater synergy among health professionals and improving the quality of health infrastructure in India. Status: The Prime Minister's Office (PMO) has asked the Ministries of Human Resource Development and Health and Family Welfare to identify linkages between the two proposed regulatory bodies National Commission for Higher Education and Research (NCHER) and the National Commission on Human Resource for Health (NCHRH) being promoted by them respectively to speed up the process of setting up the two authorities. Quality auditing in MNREGS The Union government has decided to conduct a quality auditing of the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MNREGS) in at least two districts in each State over the next eight months. The objective is to study whether the work carried out were properly planned, designed and executed and whether the assets created were of good quality, economical, productive and durable and the extent to which it has strengthened the livelihood resource base of the rural poor. VISION IAS www.visioniaswordpress.com 5
PURA The Government has approved the Provision of Urban Amenities in Rural Areas (PURA) Scheme on 21st January 2010 for implementation on a pilot basis during 11th Five Year Plan. The scheme aims at holistic and accelerated development of compact areas around a potential growth centre in a Gram Panchayat (s) through Public Private Partnership (PPP) framework for providing livelihood opportunities and urban amenities to improve the quality of life in rural areas. The Ministry of Rural Development had initially implemented the PURA scheme from 2004-05 to 2006-07 on a pilot basis. However, only seven pilot projects were implemented for drawing an experience for preparing a restructuring scheme in future. One pilot project each was implemented in the state of Andhra Pradesh, Assam, Bihar, Maharashtra, Orissa, Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh during the initial pilot phase of PURA scheme. Background: PURA is a brainchild of former President, A.P.J. Abdul Kalam. PURA mission based on the principle of connectivity physical, electronic, knowledge and economic. Physical connectivity is envisaged as circular roads connecting a group of villages. Rajiv Gandhi Scheme for Empowerment of Adolescent Girls [RGSEAG](SABLA) Rajiv Gandhi Scheme for Empowerment of Adolescent Girls [RGSEAG] SABLA is a scheme proposed by the Ministry for women and child development for Adolescent Girls of 11 18 Years, whereby the Nutrition Programme for Adolescent Girls (NPAG) and Kishori Shakti Yojana (KSY) would be merged with content enrichment. The scheme is proposed to be implemented using the platform of Integrated Child Development Services Scheme. It's a Centrally Sponsored Scheme to be implemented through the State Governments/UTs with 100% financial assistance from the Central Government for all inputs, except supplementary nutrition for which Government of India and States would share on 50: 50 basis. The scheme aims at empowering adolescent girls (AGs) of 11-18 years with focus on out-ofschool girls by improvement in their nutritional and health status and upgrading various skills like home skills, life skills and vocational skills. The scheme also aims at equipping the girls on family welfare, health hygiene etc. Indira Gandhi Matritva Sahyog Yojana (IGMSY) Objective: The objectives of the scheme are to improve the health and nutrition status of pregnant, lactating women and infants. Eligibility: all pregnant and lactating women except Govt and PSU employees. The beneficiaries would be pregnant women of 19 years of age and above for first two live births (benefit for still births will be as per the norms of scheme). VISION IAS www.visioniaswordpress.com 6
Benefits: (conditional cash transfer mode). Each pregnant and lactating woman will receive a total cash incentive of ` 4000/- in three installments between the period from the second trimester of pregnancy to the child attaining the age of 6 months. Fund Sharing: The Scheme will be centrally sponsored with 100% assistance from the Centre. Ministry: Ministry of Women and Child Development Implementation: On pilot basis in selected 52 districts during the remaining period of XI Five Year Plan at a total cost of ` 1000 crore. There will be Steering and Monitoring Committees at all levels to oversee implementation and monitor the progress. An IGMSY Cell within the Ministry of Women and Child Development will also be set up Inception: approved by CECA in Oct 2010. Different entitlements to two categories NAC formula on Food Security Bill 1- priority households to get 35 kg at a subsidised price of Re. 1 a kg for millets, Rs. 2 a kg for wheat and Rs. 3 a kg for rice. 2- general households - to get 20 kg at a price not exceeding 50 per cent of the current MSP for the three grains. Population covered- 75% of total India [ 90% of rural(46%-priority + 44% general) + 50 % of urban(28%- priority + 22% general)] The criteria for categorising households as priority' or general' should be specified by the government of India. {What this means is that those entitled to 35 kg of grain in the price range of Rs 1-3 will form approximately 40 per cent of the total population, while those entitled to 20 kg will form approximately 35 per cent of the population.} Update: An experts group, chaired by chief of the Prime Minister's Economic Advisory Council C. Rangarajan, has been set up by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to examine the recommendations of the National Advisory Council (NAC) on the proposed National Food Security Bill. VISION IAS www.visioniaswordpress.com 7
National Initiative on Climate resilient agriculture The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs has approved the implementation of a new plan scheme National Initiative on Climate Resilient Agriculture to address climate change impact on agriculture and allied sectors. Objective: The main objective of the Scheme is to assess the impact of climate change on agriculture and allied sectors in the country and evolve cost effective adaptation and mitigation strategies. The components of the scheme are: 1. Detailed vulnerability assessment of agro-climate regions and production systems, and the relative vulnerability of different crops, livestock and fishery sectors. 2. Initiate strategic research on adaptation and mitigation at seven major research institutes of the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) on natural resources, major food crops, livestock, marine and freshwater fisheries. 3. Demonstrate available climate resilient practices on farmers' fields in 100 most vulnerable districts of the country. 4. Strengthen research infrastructure to state of the art and capacity building of scientists for undertaking long term research on climate change adaptation. CSAT (CIVIL SERVICES APTITUDE TEST 2011) INTERACTIVE IAS PRELIM MOCK TESTS 2011: GENERAL STUDIES + Current Affairs Notes INTERACTIVE IAS APTITUDE TEST 2011 UNDER THE GUIDANCE OF EXPERT (Expert Guidance, Feedback & Discussion) REGISTRATION OPEN! -THE TEAM VISION IAS - VISION IAS www.visioniaswordpress.com 8 Contact No. : 09650617807, 09968029039 Email : ajay_uor@yahoo.com