1. Nai Roshan Scheme
*The Minister of Minority Affairs recently said that the government has been successfully implementing the “Nai Roshni” Scheme for Leadership Development of Minority Women from 2012-13.
*The scheme aims to empower and instill confidence among minority women by providing knowledge, tools and techniques for interacting with Government systems, Banks and other institutions at all levels.
*The scheme is implemented through Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs). The scheme is implemented with the involvement of the Gram Panchayat at village level and Local Urban bodies at the District level.
1. Swarajya Se Surajya: Saal Ek Shuruwaat Anek
--Good Governance
§ Ministry of Information and Broadcasting
§ Nurturing of team India through the emphasis on co-operative and competitive federalism
§ Unprecedented 10% increase in the devolution of funds to states
§ More funds to be passed on through reforms in Auction process of coal and other minerals
§ NITI Aayog constituted for National development through genuine Centre-State partnership
§ National Judicial appointments Commission
§ Expenditure management Commission to rationalize Government expenses
§ Bio-metric attendance rolled out for Government employees; resulting in higher productivity and responsiveness
§ Record Parliamentary Efficiency---Number of sittings highest in a decade and 47 bills passed (highest in 6 years)
2. 'Sarve Santu Niramayah'
Health Assurance to All - Mission Indradhanush
§ Vaccination cover against 7 deadly disease;
§ More than 89 lakh children to be covered by 2020
§ 35 lakh already immunized
3. Our Daughters - Our Pride'
Sukanya Samriddhi Yojana
§ Under this scheme a saving account can be opened by the parent or legal guardian of a girl child of less than 10 years of age (born on or after: 02-December-2003; For FY 2014-15) with a minimum deposit of ₹ 1,000/- in any post office or authorised branches of commercial bank.
§ ---For the FY 2015-16, Government of India has declared an interest rate of 9.2 per cent on SSY scheme. It was 9.1% for FY 2014-2015; yearly compounded.—this is tax exempted.
§ ---The account will remain operative for 21 years from the date of opening of the account or till marriage of the girl child.
§ ---Partial withdrawal up to 50 per cent of the account balance is allowed, only once after the girl child completes age of 18 years, for the purpose of financing her higher education.
§ ---Per girl child only single account is allowed. Parents can open this account for maximum two girl child. In the event of birth of twin girls in 2nd birth or birth of 3 girl child's in 1st birth itself, this facility will be extended to third child.
§ ---Minimum deposit amount for this account is ₹ 1,000/- and maximum is Rs.1,50,000/- per year. And also money to be deposited for 14 years in this account
§ ---Passbook facility is available for the Sukanya Samriddhi Account
§ ---From the FY 2015-16, the interest earned in this account will be exempted from taxes.
§ 43 lakh accounts opened in post offices with a total deposit of Rs 562 crore
4. Su-Shasan' - Transparent and Corruption-free Government
§ Free Allotment and auction related
§ Spectrum Allocation—Most successful ever-yielding Rs. 1.09 lakh crores
§ Mines Act modernized replacing the discretionary mechanism with a transparent and competitive auction process
§ LED bulbs---74% reduction in the prices (rs 310 to Rs. 82) due to transparent procurement
§ Coal Auction and allotment---3.35 lakh crores mobilized from 67 blocks (out of 204 cancelled blocks) over the lifespan of mines.
§ All proceeds in Coal auction and allocation goes to the Coal Bearing states—West bengal; Odisha; Jharkhand; Chattisgarh and Madhya Pradesh
§
5. Dharti ki Dharohar---
§ Leaving behind a better Planet (environment Sustainablity)
§ Rs 38, ooo crores to be transferred to states for afforestation under the CAMPA Law
§ Campa—Compensatory Afforestation Fund Management and Planning Authority
§ GOI has also allocated funds to protect 5- endangered species of the nation:---
1. Dugong (sea cow),
2. Gangetic Dolphin,
3. Great Indian Bustard,
4. Manipur Brow Antler Deer (Sangai) and
5. Wild Water Buffalo
§ In due course, others will be taken up as well
§ The number of tigers increased to 2226
§ 27% increase in the population of Asiatic Lions in Gir
§ 30% subsidy to 2-3-4 wheeler electric commercial vehicles
§ All environmental clearances to be made online.
6. Swacch Bharat
§ A nation-wide people-driven movement initiated
§ Over 58 lakh toilets build in 2014-15
§ Target to build 6.6 Crore toilets by 2019---support for building individual toilets increased to Rs 12, 000 for BPL households
§ All schools across the country to have toilets within one year---4.2 toilets in all
§ In April, 2015 Nadia became the first district in India to become Defacation-free
§ Nadia district could achieve this feat due to its collaborative effort with the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) and World Bank aimed at construction of toilets across the district.
§ Incidentally, in order to eliminate open defecation from the rural landscape of the state, the Chief Minister of West Bengal Mamata Banerjee formally launched the Mission Nirmal Bangla (MNB) on 30 April 2015 and declared the day as Nirmal Bangla Diwas to mark the occasion.
§ The mission is akin to the Swachh Bharat Mission (SBM) in its objectives which was launched on 2 October 2014--- with the objective of ensuring cleanliness in all the 4041 statutory cities and towns of the country by 2 October 2019 which marks the 150th birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi.
§ Banko Bikano—Bikaner government Open Defecation Scheme. Bikaner builds the largest number of toilets in 2014-15 overcoming all odds like water scarcity and size. It also took the overall sanitation coverage to 80% in just 2 years. Bikaner also has the highest number of Open Defecation Free (ODF) panchayats in Rajasthan. Thus out of 219 Gram Panchayats, 180 are now ODF. –All of these were just achieved in just two years under a special sanitation programme, Banko Bikano (brave and beautiful) supported by the Ministry of Water and Sanitation programme of the World Bank.
---In 2011, the sanitation coverage in the district the second largest in Rajasthan and fourth largest in the country was just 20% which has now touched to 80%.
§
7. Annadata Sukhi Bhava' - Farmers' Welfare
§ Relief to farmers affected by natural calamities
§ Compensation against crop-damage increased by 50%
§ Eligibility for receiving support lowered from 50% to 33%
§ Grain quality norms relaxed for procurement
§ Strong Positions at Global WTO negotiations---Securing our farmers’ long term interests
§ Farm Credit target raised to rs 8.5 lakh crores ensuring convenient access to loans at concessional rates
§ Use of Mobile governance in agriculture given a fillip with more than 550 crore SMS sent to about 1 crore farmers as advisories and information.
§ Loans restructured---and re-scheduled for the affected farmers
§ Actively working with States to Create a Unified National Agriculture Market for a better deal for farmers
§ Paramparagat Krishi Vikas Yojana (PKVY) launched to promote Organic Farming
§ Various steps taken to empower sugarcane farmers—250% increase in the ethanol blending and increase of Import Duty
8. Saksham Bharat
Education and Skills Development---
§ Dedicated ministry for the skill development created
§ National Skill Mission and National Skill Development Policy
§ Skill Certification given Academic Equivalence under School to Skill Programme
§ 76 lakh youth provided Skill Training
Saksham –or Rajiv Gandhi Scheme for Empowerment of Adolescent Boys (2014)
§ Aims at all-round development of Adolescent Boys and make them self-reliant, gender-sensitive and aware citizens, when they grow up.
§ It cover all adolescent boys (both school going and out of school) in the age-group of 11 to 18 years subdivided into two categories, viz. 11-14 & 14–18 years.
Sabla—Or Rajiv Gandhi Scheme for Empowerment of Adolescent Girls (2010)
§ Empowering adolescent girls (Age) of 11–18 years with focus on out-of-school girls by improvement in their nutritional and health status and upgrading various skills like home skills, life skills and vocational skills.
§ Implemented in 205 districts across the country in a pilot basis
§ It is being implemented using the platform of Integrated Child Development Services Scheme. The scheme has two major components namely nutrition and non-nutrition component.
§ Nutrition is being given in the form of Take Home Ration or Hot Cooked Meal for 11 to14 years out of school girls and 14 to18 years to All AGs, out of school and in school girls.
§ In the Non Nutrition component, the out of school Adolescent Girls 11 to18 years are being provided IFA supplementation, Health check-up and Referral services, Nutrition and Health Education, Counselling and guidance on family welfare, Adolescent Reproductive Sexual Health (ARSH), child care practices and Life Skill Education and vocational training. A sum of Rs. 650 crores including Rs. 65 crore for North Eastern Areas has been allocated for Sabla for 2013-14.
§ Merged Nutrition Programme for Adolescent Girls (NPAG) and Kishori Shakti Yojana (KSY).
9. Neeranchal
§ To give an added impetus to watershed development in the country, a new programme called “Neeranchal” with an initial outlay of ` 2,142 crores in the current financial year.
§ Pashmina Promotion Programme (P-3) and a programme for the development of other crafts of Jammu & Kashmir is also to be started. For this a sum of Rs. 50 crores is set aside
10. Shyama Prasad Mukherji Rurban Mission
§ Shyama Prasad Mukherji Rurban Mission will be launched to deliver integrated project based infrastructure in the rural areas.
§ The scheme will also include development of economic activities and skill development.
§ The preferred mode of delivery would be through PPPs while using various scheme funds.
§ It is based on the example of Gujarat that has demonstrated successfully the Rurban development model of urbanization of the rural areas, through which people living in the rural areas can get efficient civic infrastructure and associate services.
11. One Rank One Pension Scheme
§ One pension scheme for all military personnel in the current session of the Parliament.
§ This is a scheme which will ensure that the soldiers of the same rank and also the same length of service will get the same pension, irrespective of their retirement date.
§ In simple words, it requires equal pension for those who retired in one particular year; as those who retires in another year at the same position, and for the same duration of services rendered. Also the difference in pension of present and past pensioners in the same rank occurs on account of the number of increments earned by the defence personnel in that rank.
§ Till now there were no such rules; While every pay commission bumps the salaries of government servants, pensions of ex-servicemen remain the same.
§ Any hike in the pension scheme will thus automatically be passed to the past pensioners
Implication of such a scheme-- The launch of this scheme is expected to push up the defence expenditure of the Centre’s defense payments by a record 40%; and posing fresh challenges to keep the Centre’s fiscal deficit within the budgetary target of 4.1 % of the GDP.
Why it is being demanded—
---Civilian employees retire at 60; while military personnel retire much earlier based on ranks when family liability is maximum and also second option for career is impossible
--Most of the officers retire at early 50’s,
---Terms and conditions of military service is much tougher than civilian employees
---Soldiers undergo hardships postings; with risk of life and restriction towards fundamental rights
---Successive pay commissions have widened the gap between veterans who have retired earlier and those who retire late
**Till now, the scheme is yet to be rolled out.
12. AMRUT—
---Atal Mission for Rejuvenation and Urban transformation
§ To recast the country’s urban landscape, the Centre has given nod to the Atal Mission for Rejuvenation and Urban Transformation (AMRUT), with an outlay of Rs 50,000 crore.
§ AMRUT is the new avatar of the Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission (JNNURM). But in a significant departure from the earlier mission, the Centre will not appraise individual projects.
§ Under this mission, 10% of the budget allocation will be given to states and union territories as incentive based on the achievement of reforms during the previous year.
§ AMRUT, which seeks to lay a foundation to enable cities and towns to eventually grow into smart cities, will be implemented in 500 locations with a population of one lakh and above----It would cover some cities situated on the stems of main rivers; a few state capitals and some important cities located in hill areas; islands and tourist centres.
§ Under this mission the states gets the flexibility of designing schemes based on the needs of identified cities and in their execution and monitoring.
§ States will only submit their state annual action Plans to the centre for broad concurrence based on which funds will be released. But, in a significant departure from JNNURM, the central government will not appraise individual projects.
§ AMRUT adopts a project approach to ensure basic infrastructure services relating to water supply, sewerage, storm-water drains, transportation and development of green spaces and parks with special provision for meeting the needs of children.
§ States will only submit state annual action Plans to the centre for broad concurrence based on which funds will be released.
§ But, in a significant departure from JNNURM, the central government will not appraise individual projects.
Central assistance will be to the extent of 50% of project cost for cities and towns with a population of up to 10 lakhs and one-third of the project cost for those with a population of above 10 lakhs.
13. Education Schemes of the GOI
(a) Swayam—Leveraging Mass open online courses to enable Mass Online Education
· Study Webs of Active –Learning for Young Aspiring Minds
· Programme of the Ministry of Human resources, GOI
· At least one crore students are expected to benefit in 2 to 3 years through this initiative
· All courses would be offered free of cost under this programme however fees would be levied in case learner requires certificate.
· Professors of centrally funded institutions like IITs, IIMs, central universities will offer online courses , with the collaboration of foreign Universities as well
· Subjects offered-- engineering education, social science, energy, management, basic sciences.
(b) Pandit Madan Mohan Malaviya for Teacher’s training programme—
· Launched to raise the quality of training
(c) UDAAN—Scheme dedicated to the development of Girl Child Education
· UDAAN is an initiative by CBSE to enable disadvantaged girl students to transit from school to post-school professional education specially in Science and Mathematics
· support 1000 disadvantaged girls per year and provide them free online resources in Class XI and Class XII
· Selection based on merit and economic criterion
· Those selected will be provided tablets that have preloaded content, in addition to regular tutorials, assessments and study materials, along with regular tracking, monitoring and feedback forms to parents.
(d) National e-Library---National access to educational material
(e) GIAN---Global initiative of Academic Network
· Bringing eminent faculty from across the globe to teach in India and augment teacher-student interation
· Avenues for possible collaborative research
(f) Five New IITs and Six New IIMS to be set with a number of Institutes specialized in different fields and Four New AIIMS in India
(g) National Scholarship Portal---Single platform for students to avail the Central government Schemes
(h) Pradhan Manntri Vidyalaya Karyakram---Student loans will be enabled under this programme
(i) Saksham—
· scholarship for differently-abled children by AICTE, Ministry of Human Resource Development, Government of India that aims to award 1000 scholarships per annum to differently abled students to pursue technical education based on merit in the qualifying examination to pursue technical education
· The scholarship amount under the scheme is Rs 30,000 or tuition fees and Rs 2,000 per month for contingency allowance for 10 months.
(j) Pandit Din Dayal Upadhyay Grammen Kaushal Yojana—Youth Employment scheme
· TO provide on-the-job training
· It was launched by on 25 September 2014 by Union Minsters Nitin Gadkari and Venkaiah Naidu on the occasion of 98th birth anniversary of Pandit Deendayal Upadhyay. It aims to target youth, under the age group of 18–35 years
· To train 10 lakh rural youth in 3 years
(k) Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Vikas Yojana—
· Plan outlay of rs 1500 cr
· skill training of youth (flagship programme) to be implemented by the Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship through the National Skill Development Corporation (NSDC). The scheme will cover 24 lakh persons.
· Skill training would be done based on the National Skill Qualification Framework (NSQF) and industry led standards.
· Under the scheme, a monetary reward is given to trainees on assessment and certification by third party assessment bodies. The average monetary reward would be around Rs.8000 per trainee
· Training would include soft skills, personal grooming, behavioral change for cleanliness, good work ethics.
· Skill training Development Management System (SDMS) would be put in place to verify and record details of all training centres a certain quality of training locations and xcourses.
· Biometric system and video recording of the training process
· robust Grievance Redressal mechanism would be put in place to address grievances
Important features of the railway Budget 2015
**********************************************
Railway Minister Suresh Prabhu on Thursday (26th of Feb ) presenting the NM govt first Full year railway budget left passenger fares untouched and also steered clear of announcing any new trains. Instead he launched a slew of measures aimed at making train travel easier, more comfortable and safer.
The Railway Budget will be a part of the several campaigns initiated by Narendra Modi like Swatchh bharat, Make in India and Digital India. It is not a document in isolation.
1. Cleanliness: Make Swatch rail Force behind the Swatch Bharat initiative. The railway minister announced the creation of a separate department for cleanliness. Professional agencies would be engaged and adequate training would be provided to the railway staff; setting up waste-to-energy conversion plans. Build new toilets covering 650 additional stations and replacing existing toilets with 17, 388 bio toilets. Bring out design for vacuum toilets in the upcoming 6 months; Extend built-in dustbins for to non-AC coaches.
2. Be Linen: The National Institute of Fashion technology or NIFt will design bed linen for railways. Online booking of disposable bed rolls will be made available soon.
3. Helplines: The government has set up two 24*7 helplines. Commuters would have to dial toll free numbers 138 for travel related queries and 182 for security related queries. Mobile applications to redress railway related complaints to be developed soon.
4. Ticketing: You will be issued an unreserved ticket quickly. The minister announced Operation Five Minutes for unreserved ticketing. This would be achieved by providing multiple options for ticketing like hot buttons, coin vending machines, single destination teller, multi-lingual portal, unreserved tickets on smart phones among other things. Also concessional e-tickets for differently abled persons, unreserved tickets for smartphones; automatic ticket vending machines with smart cards and currency options. Integrated ticketing system on the lines of railway cum road tickets.
5. Surveillance Cameras: For the safety of women commuters, surveillance cameras would be installed on select routes and ladies compartments of suburban railway lines
6. Mobile phone charging: All general class compartments will have mobile phone charging points. The number of such points would increase in sleeper class too.
7. Station Facilities: 200 more stations added to ADARSH STATION Scheme. Wi-Fi zones to be extended to more stations, facility of self-operated lockers to be made available at stations, online booking of wheel chair on payment basis for senior citizens, patients and differently abled passengers would be made possible through ITCTC for select stations.
8. Increasing Train Speed: Speed of 9 railway corridors to be increased from the existing 130 kmph to 160 and 200 kmph respectively so that inter-metro journeys like Delhi-Kolkata and Delhi-Mumbai can be completed overnight.
9. Catering: e-catering in 108 trains to be introduced from January 2016. Ordering food through IRCTC website at the time of booking the tickets; setting up base kitchen in the specific divisions to be run by reputed agencies for serving quality food; expansion of water vending machines in selected stations are among the other facilities declared.
10. Comfortable Travel: NID approached to design user friendly ladders to climb the upper berths; more reservation for senior citizens to the lower berths; TTEs to be instructed to help senior citizens, pregnant women, and differently abled persons. Middle bay coaches to be reserved for women and senior citizens; Provision of Rs 120 crore for lifts and escalators (76% higher); Newly manufactured coaches to be Brailley enabled; building wider entrances for differently abled persons; allocation for passenger amenities up by 67%.
11. Financing cell in the railway Board: It will seek advices from experts in the railways field and helps in mobilising the resources to meet the budgetary requirements.
12. Foreign Rail Technology Cooperation Scheme: The Scheme aims to achieve the higher quality service for the nation. This is being launched because Technology intensive and complex projects like speed raising and station redevelopment require lot of handholding by a specialized agency in terms of preparatory work, exploring technology options and managing bid processes.
13. Gandhi Circuit: It has been decided to promote tourism in the country through Gandhi Circuit. Indian Railways will join this effort through Incredible Rail for Incredible India. The Gandhi circuit will be set up by the Indian Railways Catering and Tourism Corporation (IRCTC) to mark the 100 years of the return of Mahatma Gandhi from South Africa to India.
14. Kisan Yatra: It is a special travel scheme for farmers to visit farming and marketing information centres.
· Setting up ‘Kayakalp’ to help in Technology Up gradation: It is an innovation council proposed to be setup. It will be set up for the purpose of business re-engineering and introducing a spirit of innovation in Railways:
Latest Update (20/03/2015) : Ratan Tata to head the Council. The purpose of the council is to recommend innovative methods and process for the improvement, betterment and transformation of the Indian Railways. The Council
· MUTP-III project for Mumbai. (Mumbai urban Transport Project)
· Malviya Chair at IIT BHU for Railway technology excellence: Varanasi This chair will help in the development of new materials used in all assets of the Railways
· Train Protection Warning Systems and Anti colliding system to be developed by RDSO
· Automatic Freight Scheme to be launched in Pan India.
· 8.5 lakh crore rupees to be invested in the railways in the next 5 years
· Operating ratio proposed at 88.5%. Best ever in 9 years.
· Increase track length by 20 per cent and passenger carrying capacity from 21 to 30 million.
· Facility of self operated lockers at stations
Safety Apps: (Source: The Hindu Dated: 27/02/2015)
1. Mobile App being developed to redress complains. Facility to start from march 1 in the Northern Railway
2. Radio Based Signaling: Design project to be taken up wih IIT Kanpur for alerts at unmanned level crossing
3. Priority to Women: Nirbhaya Fund to be used for augmenting the security of women passengers.
4. For a safe Ride:
(a) Five year safety plan to be framed by June 2015;
(b) Recommendations of the Kakodkar Safety Committee: to be examined by April
©, Surveillance cameras: In select mainline coaches and women’s coaches without intruding into privacy
(d) Geo spatial technology: to be used to provide audio visual warning to the road users at unmanned level crossings
(e ) Train collision Avoidance Systems: to be installed in select routes.
**KATRA-Line opened for Vaishno Devi pilgrims and New SIX Pilgrim trains launched
Civil Aviation Schemes
· Construction of New Integrated terminal buildings at Mohali; Tirupati; Bikaner; Khajuraho at completion stage
· Terminals at Kadapa and Bikaner completed
· Air India joined prestigious Star Alliance, one of the largest Air alliances
· Safer Skies---FAA has upgraded India’s International Aviation Safety Audit (IASA) to a higher safety rating; enabling and more flights
· To promote regional connectivity, up-gradation of airports at Hubli; Belgaum; Kishangarh; Tezu and Jharsuguda commenced
Shipping
· Sagarmala Project Launched for the Comprehensive port-led economic development through development of vibrant Coastal communities
What is Project Sagarmala:
The Sagarmala project seeks to develop a string of ports around India’s coast. The prime objective of the Sagarmala project is to promote port-led direct and indirect development and to provide infrastructure to transport goods to and from ports quickly, efficiently and cost-effectively.
Therefore, the Sagarmala Project shall, inter alia, aim to develop access to new development regions with intermodal solutions and promotion of the optimum modal split, enhanced connectivity with main economic centres and beyond through expansion of rail, inland water, coastal and road services.
· China’s String of Pearls aims to surround India by developing ports in neighbor countries and possible convert them in military base at later
· But, Project Sagarmala only aims to modernize the existing India’s maritime infrastructure by modernizing the existing major ports of India and setting up new ports as well.
· A key element of the project is the setting up of some 10 coastal economic regions (CERs), which will be the focal point for economic development along India’s vast coastline of over 7,000km
The Sagarmala will address challenges by focusing on THREE pillars of development, namely---
Þ Supporting and enabling Port-led Development through appropriate policy and institutional interventions and providing for an institutional framework for ensuring inter-agency and ministries/departments/states’ collaboration for integrated development,
Þ Port Infrastructure Enhancement, including modernization and setting up of new ports, and
Þ Efficient evacuation to and from the hinterland
The main blueprint for the project: was set up in 2003 by the then PM of India A B Vajpayee. He had proposed the project with the following features:
· Setup Sagarmala Development Authority (Similar to National highway Authority of India)
· Financing: Maritime Development Cess (5 paise/kg on cargo)
· Will improve ports, shipping industry, inland water transport and coastal shipping
· PPP and FDI to gather more investment
Two Initiatives by NDA Government
Ø Project Sethusamudram:
To link Palk Bay with Gulf of Mannar and facilitate maritime trade through it
Ø Project Sagarmala
To modernize minor and major ports of India + setup new ports. ($22 billion USD
Steps taken:
1. Shipping ministry formed new Committee to setup two major ports
a. Sagar, West Bengal.
b. Dugarajapatnam, Andhra Pradesh Simandhra.
2. Together they’ll add new port capacity of 100 MTPA.
3. Established Indian maritime university @Chennai, with campuses in: Kochi, Kandla, Kolkata, Mumbai to address the manpower issue.
4. 100% FDI permitted for port development projects (automatic route), along with reliefs in Income tax for such investors.
5. 12th FYP aims to add ~2500 MTPA port capacity.
6. PPP projects approved at Mumbai, Ennore, Kandla and Kolkata ports DBFOT Design, Build, Finance, Operate and Transfer basis.
7. Released guidelines on New Land Policy for Major Ports to help them leverage their land resources for commercial advantage.
8. Ford signed a MoUs to export the cars from Chennai plant via Ennore Port for next ten years.
9. Tadadi, Karnataka: proposal to setup a new Greenfield Seaport here.
10. 4th Container Terminal at JN Port
11. Automatic Identification System (AIS) system and Vessel Traffic Management Services (VTMS) in all the Ports.
12. Statutory body: DG Shipping to implement Merchant Shipping Act and perform regulatory functions (Like DGCA in aviation sector)
Key features of the Project:
§ Cargo Movement---(a) Simplifying procedures used at ports for cargo movement and (b) Promotes usage of electronic channels for information exchange leading to quick, efficient, hassle-free and seamless cargo movement.
§ Strive to ensure sustainable development of the population living in the Coastal Economic Zone (CEZ)-----This would be done by synergizing and coordinating with State Governments and line Ministries of Central Government through their existing schemes and programmes such as those related to community and rural development, tribal development and employment generation, fisheries, skill development, tourism promotion etc.
§ A National Sagarmala Apex Committee (NSAC) is envisaged for overall policy guidance and high level coordination, and to review various aspects of planning and implementation of the plan and projects.
§ The NSAC shall be chaired by the Minister in-charge of Shipping, with Cabinet Ministers from stakeholder Ministries and Chief Ministers/Ministers in-charge of ports of maritime states as members.
Shipping II---
Jal Marg Vikas project Launched for the Promotion of transportation and Inland waterways down the Ganges (Allahabad to Haldia ) National Waterway 1
· MoU Signed with Iran for the development of the Chabar Port and access to Afghanistan and Central Asian states
· Growth rate of cargo throughout in ports doubled from 4% to 8%
Roads
(a) Bharat Mala Project-- a road built along India's vast west-toeast land border, from Gujarat to Mizoram, at a cost of around Rs 14,000 crore, and linking that to a road network in coastal states, from Maharashtra to Bengal. This is a road network that will, as it were, garland the territory of India. Hence the name.
· The government hopes to finish the project in five years.
· The project will start from Gujarat and Rajasthan, move to Punjab and then cover the entire string of Himalayan states - Jammu and Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand - and then portions of borders of Uttar Pradesh and Bihar alongside Terai, and move toSikkim, Assam, Arunachal Pradesh, and right up to the Indo-Myanmar border in Manipur and Mizoram.
· Strategic Component--- India's attempted answer to improve reach and connectivity in border areas, right across a large part of which lies China's impressive road infrastructure.
· Supplies to India's troops as well as military transport currently happen through poor quality roads. Bharat Mala is designed to address that.
· Economic Component-- borders will open up and border trade will start, and therefore it's India's interest to massively upgrade its border roads infrastructure.
· Much of the new road construction will happen in mountain states where connectivity and economic activity is low.
· Main challenges—Land acquisition and Environment Sustainability
TAX
· Tax exemption limit raised to 2.5 lakh
· Tax exemption limit raised for senior citizens to Rs 3 lakh
· Rs 1.5 lakh - increased investment limit
· Rs 2 lakh - revised housing loan rebate.
Sevo Parmo Dharam
Relief in Times of need
(a) Operation maître---15, 500 Indians and 170 foreign nationals evacuated from 33 countries in Nepal earthquake
(b) Operation Raahat---Rescued 4700 Indians and 1900 foreign Nationals from 48 countries in yemen
(c) Being there for fellow Indians in distress—Evacuation of over 1000 Indians students from Ukraine; 3300 from Libya and 7000 Indians (including nurses) from iran
GyanYug—Science, technology and Innovation
· First country to succeed in MARS Mission in the first attempt
· Successful experimental flight of the next generation launch vehicle and testing of the Indegenous cryogenic Engine technology (GSAT MK III)
· GAGAN---Indian Satellite based Navigation services for civil Aviation operationalized (Third Country in the world)
· Research and Development Based
(a) Atal innovation Mission (AIM)--- network of academic and scientific institutions to inculcate innovation in young minds and to fund start ups across India.
This new Scheme will have provide funds to a network of institutions to conduct research on innovations that can improve economic growth and job creation
(b) SETU—Self Employment Talent Utilization –to be administered by the NITI Aayog; It has come as a boon for young entrepreneurial minds who are struggling to plug in the gaps of cash
For startups : It aims to create around 100,000 jobs through start-ups
Also India is in the fourth position start-up ecosystem in the world after US, UK and Israel.
Power Sector
· Civil Nuclear Co-operation signed: Australia, Canada, France, Russia and USA
· Coal production recorded increase of 3.2 crore tons
· Lowest ever energy deficit—3.6%
· Din Dayal Upadhyay Gram Jyoti Yojana--- aimed to provide continuous power supply to rural India; Rs 75,600 crore for rural electrification under this scheme.
The scheme will replace the existing Rajiv Gandhi Grameen Vidyutikaran Yojana (RGGVY)
Urban Areas—Integrated power Development Scheme--- Strengthening of sub-transmission and distribution network in the urban areas; Metering of distribution transformers /feeders / consumers in the urban areas; and IT enablement of distribution sector and strengthening of distribution network.
