To preserve, promote and protect the rich tangible and intangible cultural heritage of the country
To involve youth and children so as to connect them with various aspects of Indian culture
The programmes conducted cater to the needs of all sections of society and are aimed at promoting a sense of pride about India’s ancient and diverse culture amongst the citizens of India
Areas: Dance, Music, Theatre, Art, Literature, Museums, Archives, Libraries, Archaeology, Anthropology, Folk culture and Buddhist traditions
AdarshSmarak Scheme for Conservation of Monuments
(Topic: Indian Monuments and its Conservation)
Objective-
To make monument visitor friendly
To upgrade/provide wash rooms, drinking water, signage, cafeteria and Wi-Fi facility
To provide Interpretation and audio-video centers
To streamline waste water and garbage disposal and rain water harvesting system
To make monument accessible to differently abled
To implement Swachh Bharat Abhiyan
The Archaeological Survey of India has identified 25 monuments for AdarshSmarak Scheme for up-gradation of tourist related amenities
GS-2
Road Mapping Through Satellites
(Topic: Infrastructure and Technology)
Use of space technology for preparation of
Detailed Project Reports,
Monitoring of Construction
Road Asset Management
MOU: Between NHAI with that of Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO)& North East Centre for Technology Application and Research (NECTAR) for use of space technology
Employment of several technologies/procedures/methods:
Construction and maintenance of Indian roads such as cold mix & warm mix technologies for bituminous roads,
Use of waste plastic, industrial waste (copper slag, zinc slag, steel slag etc.),
Use of mastic asphalt, micro-surfacing,
Design & specifications for construction and maintenance of roads & bridges,
Procedures for road safety measures,
Use of fly ash in road embankment,
Methods for maintenance of cement concrete roads, etc.
Memorandum of Understanding between India and Indonesia in the field new and renewable energy cooperation
(Topic: India and its international relations)
Objective-
To establish the basis for a cooperative institutional framework
To encourage and promote technical bilateral cooperation on new and renewable energy issues on the basis of mutual benefit, equality and reciprocity
Areas of cooperation—
Capacity building,
Exchange of scientific and technological information and data,
Transfer of technology on non-commercial basis,
Development of joint research or technical projects on subjects of mutual interest,
Encouragement and promotion of investment,
Encouragement of policy dialogue and other areas
E-Library
(Topic: Issues relating to development and management of Social/Services relating to Health, Education, Human Resources)
Objective—
Integrate existing digital contents across educational institutions
Provide single window access with e-learning facility to different groups of users
E-Library-
Provide all kind of e-learning materials to learners under the ‘National Mission on Education through Information and Communication Technology’ (NMEICT)
E-Books available in institutional libraries are connected to the National e-Library
Material can be searched and located through this National e-Library
All NCERT made available freely through the National e-Library
The collections include textbooks for all classes in English, Hindi and Urdu versions converted into e-pub-3.0 format
Available with an exclusive license for free download and dissemination
Cleaning of Ganga and Yamuna
(Topic: Water Resources, Development and Management)
1985: Ganga Action Plan (GAP)
1993:Yamuna Action Plan (YAP)
2009: Setting up of ‘National Ganga River Basin Authority’ (NGRBA) for:
Effective abatement of pollution
Conservation of the river Ganga by adopting a holistic approach with the river basin as the unit of planning
2015:‘NamamiGange Program’
Comprehensive approach to rejuvenate the river Ganga and all its tributaries under one umbrella by consolidating the existing ongoing efforts
Primary focus of the program is on pollution abatement through construction of-
Sewage Treatment Plants,
Common Effluent Treatment Plants,
Ghat Development,
Solid Waste Management
Other activities to be undertaken-
Bio-diversity conservation,
Large scale tree plantation,
Making villages along river Ganga Open Defecation Free (ODF),
Research studies and public outreach programmes
Note:Yamuna being one of the tributaries is included under the ‘NamamiGange program’
Expansion of Healthcare Services
(Topic: Issues relating to development and management of Health Services)
Special measures taken under National Health Management (NHM) for the expansion of health services-
Launch of India Newborn Action Plan (INAP)
Intensified Diarrhoea Control Fortnight
Integrated Action Plan for Pneumonia and Diarrhoea (IAPPD)
National Deworming day
Launch of Mission Indradhanush:
New vaccines
Launch of Nationwide Anti-TB drug resistance survey
Kala Azar Elimination Plan
Kayakalp–Award to Public Health facilities
Operational Guidelines have been issued under NHM on
NHM Free Drugs Service Initiative
NHM Free Diagnostic Services Initiative
Mobile Medical Units
Swachhta Guidelines for public Health Facilities
“2016: UK-INDIA Year of Education, Research and Innovation” Launched
(Topic: Human Resource Development)
India and United Kingdom launched a joint initiative “2016: UK-INDIA Year of Education, Research and Innovation”
Global Initiative of Academic Networks GIAN Program: Enable more UK academicians to come to India in 2016
Mutual interest in research could be picked up out of the ten research priority areas under IMPRINT (IMPacting Research Innovation and Technology)
Under the UK Generation India program, they would be looking forward to send 25,000 UK students to India during the next 5 (five) years
The third phase of UK-India Education and Research Initiative (UKIERI-III), will provide a basic framework for the bilateral cooperation between India and UK over the next 5 years
Focus on:
Leadership and faculty development,
Integration of skills in the education system,
E-partnership & research incubation,
Development of blended learning courses to increase employability, with focus on manufacturing and service sectors, to meet the requirements of “Make in India”
Enhancing mobility
UK: Looking forward to support more UK students to India under ‘Generation UK India’ Program
GS-3
Implementation of National Agriculture Market Project
(Topic: Agriculture and e-technology in aid of farmers)
To bring in—
Operational efficiency
Transparency in the mandi operations
Enhance market access for the farmers
Eliminate information asymmetry
Provide guidance to the States/ Union Territories (UTs) for integration of their regulated wholesale markets with the National Agriculture Market NAM e-platform
Train all participants (farmers, commission agents, traders, employees of the Market, data entry operators, etc.) in the market where the NAM is adopted
Facilitate integration with the implementing agency i.e. Small Farmers Agribusiness Consortium (SFAC)
Strategic Partner (SP)- Provide one year local support to each participating mandi
Set up a help desk to support day to day operations and to answer queries in the State language
Subsidy to Farmers for Purchasing Agricultural Implements
(Topic: Issues related to direct and indirect subsidies)
Initiated by-
Department of Agriculture, Cooperation and Farmers Welfare (DAC&FW) provides Subsidy to farmers through State Governments under different schemes
Schemes-
Sub-Mission on Agricultural Mechanization (SMAM),
National Food Security Mission (NFSM),
National Mission on Oilseeds and Oil Palm (NMOOP),
Mission for Integrated Development of Horticulture (MIDH)
RashtriyaKrishiVikasYojna (RKVY)
Objective-
For proper purchase of various agricultural equipment and machines
Provide subsidy on such agricultural equipment which helps in increasing agriculture production and productivity,
Improve utilization efficiency of costlier inputs such as seeds, fertilizers and irrigation water, besides reducing human drudgery & cost of cultivation
Sub-Mission on Agricultural Mechanization Scheme—
Increasing the reach of farm mechanization to small and marginal farmers through-
Promoting ‘Custom Hiring Centres’
Creating hubs for hi-tech & high value farm equipment
Creating awareness among farmers through demonstration and capacity building activities
Farm Machinery Training & Testing Institutes: Provides training to the farmers on operation, repair and maintenance of agricultural machines and equipment
Steps taken to improve the availability and to contain prices of essential food items
(Topic: Issues of buffer stock and food security)
Steps taken-
National Consultation Meeting held with States/UTs to keep prices of essential commodities, especially pulses and onions under control
Regular review meeting on price and availability situation is being held at the highest level to monitor the price situation and recommend appropriate interventions
Measures taken to improve availability by incentivizing production through higher Minimum Export Price (MSP)
Price Stabalization Fund (PSF) is being implemented to regulate price volatility of agricultural commodities
Advisories issued to State Governments to take strict action against hoarding & black marketing and effectively enforce the Essential Commodities Act, 1955 and the Prevention of Black-marketing and Maintenance of Supplies of Essential Commodities Act, 1980
Encouragement to Domestic Households for Installation of Solar Panels
Aim— Government has set a target for installation of 100 GW solar-power by the year 2022
Steps taken by Government–
Financial support in the form of-
Generation based incentives
Viability gap funding for solar power projects
Fiscal incentives like–
Accelerated depreciation,
Concessional custom duty,
Excise duty exemption,
Income tax holiday for 10 days
Concessional loans from Indian Renewable Energy Development Agency– Bank loans as a part of home loan/ home improvement loan for rooftop solar systems
Subsidy for–
Grid connected rooftop solar systems,
Solar pumping systems,
Concentrated solar thermal and
Other off-grid solar applications
National Mission for Electric Mobility
(Topic: Mobilisation of Resources, Technology, Development and Employment)
A scheme namely FAME – India (Faster Adoption and Manufacturing of (Hybrid &) Electric Vehicles in India) has been formulated by Department of Heavy Industries under National Electric Mobility Mission Plan 2020
Focus of the Scheme–
Technology Development,
Demand Creation,
Pilot Projects,
Charging Infrastructure
Objective-
To allow hybrid and electric vehicles to become the first choice for the purchasers so that these vehicles can replace the conventional vehicles and thus reduce liquid fuel consumption in the country
Setting up public charging stations in various cities where the population of electric vehicles is growing
Benefit-
Pure electric vehicle produces around 35%~45% lower CO2 as compared to equivalent gasoline vehicle in India
In future, in view of more and more renewable energy based electricity production in the country, electric vehicles are going to emit lesser CO2 on a Well-to-Wheel basis
Steps taken to provide security to Railway passengers
(Topic: Railway and Security)
Aim—
To ensure security-Prevention of crime + Registration of cases and Maintenance of law and order over station premises and trains; by strengthening and upgrading of security infrastructure at sensitive stations- by installation of Close Circuit Television (CCTV) Cameras and metal detectors
Steps Taken-
RPF (Railway Protection Force) holds regular coordination meetings with State Police at all levels to ensure proper registration and investigation of crime by Government Railway Police
RPF Crime prevention and detection squads and special teams are formed to keep vigil on the criminals in trains/stations to prevent crime
Joint drives by RPF/GRP (Government Railway Police) and Commercial Department are conducted from time to time against the unauthorized entry of passengers in trains and at railway premises
Passenger outreach programmes have been launched including announcement through loudhailers / PA system, pasting of stickers and providing Security Help Line Number 182 of RPF Security Control Room for security related assistance.
Total 202 Railway stations have been identified for installation of Close Circuit Television (CCTV) cameras etc. under Integrated Security System (ISS) over Indian Railways, out of which so far, CCTV cameras have been installed over 88 stations under ISS and at 114 stations installation of CCTVs is under process
