Solution (b)

Explanation:

Stand-Up India Scheme – 

• Stand Up India Scheme was launched on 5 April 2016 to promote entrepreneurship at grass root level for economic empowerment and job creation. 
• This scheme seeks to leverage the institutional credit structure to reach out to the underserved sector of people such as Scheduled Caste, Scheduled Tribe and Women Entrepreneurs so as to enable them to participate in the economic growth of nation.
• This scheme is being implemented by Ministry of Finance. (Hence, Statement (b) is incorrect)
• The objective of this scheme is to facilitate bank loans between Rs.10 lakh and Rs.1 crore to at least one Scheduled Caste (SC) or Scheduled Tribe (ST) borrower and at least one woman borrower per bank branch of SCBs for setting up a Greenfield enterprise.

As on 26.02.2021, more than 81% i.e., 91,109 accounts with an amount of Rs. 20,749 crore have been sanctioned to women entrepreneurs under Stand Up India Scheme.

Article reference: More than 81% account holders are Women under Stand Up India Scheme

Solution (c)

Explanation:

Horticulture Production in India

• Total Arable land in India is 159.7 Ha, while area under Horticulture production is 27.17 %. (So statement 1 is incorrect.)
• As per given data, horticulture production has increased in terms of total production since last three years. (So statement 2 is correct)
• The Fruits production is estimated to be 102.03 Million Tonne compared to 97.97 Million Tonne in 2018-19.
• The production of Vegetables is estimated to be 188.91 Million Tonne, against 183.17 Million Tonne in 2018-19.
• So, statement 3 is correct.

Article reference:  Release of Final Estimates of 2019-20 of Area and Production of Horticultural Crops

Solution (a)

Temple Architecture of Hoysala

• The architecture of the Hoysalas is a hybrid of the nagara style of temple architecture of north India and the dravidian style from the South. 

• The temples were built on platforms and had a star shaped plan.

• A navaranga was usually included as a place for people to gather and participate in cultural programs such as music and dance performances, story-telling from mythology, and religious discourses. 
• Visual elements such as a gently curving bell shaped chajja, and lathe turned stone pillars with circular rings carved on them are typical stylistic elements of Hoysala architecture. 
• Rich sculptural decoration is a mark of the highest artistic achievement of the Hoysalas. 
• The exterior walls of the numerous temples were intricately decorated with stone sculptures and carving. 
• These sculptures are rich with religious and cultural iconography depicting gods and goddesses, wars and victories, dance and music, hunting, games, processions, and the dress, jewelry, and daily life of people and scenes from the Ramayana, Mahabharata, and the Bhagavatham. 
• The temples were built of a soft chlorite-schist stone quarried nearby that was especially soft when first quarried and hardened on contact with air. 

• Other smaller temples, shrines, and mantapa dot the town. Mantapa that are pavilions or pillared halls of all sizes are a typical feature and occurred with temples and without.

In addition to supporting both Shaivite and Vaishnavite sects of Hinduism, the Hoysala rulers gave court recognition and status to Jainism, a religion that prescribes a path of non-violence and self-control as paths to spiritual liberation and emphasizes the equality of all beings. (So, Statement 3 is incorrect)

Article link: Declaration Of World Heritage Sites By UNESCO

Solution (b)

Statement 1: The National Council for Teacher Education, in its previous status since 1973, was an advisory body for the Central and State Governments on all matters pertaining to teacher education, with its Secretariat in the Department of Teacher Education of the National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT). Despite its commendable work in the academic fields, it could not perform essential regulatory functions, to ensure maintenance of standards in teacher education and preventing proliferation of substandard teacher education institutions. (So, statement 1 is correct)

Statement 2: The National Policy on Education (NPE), 1986 and the Programme of Action thereunder, envisaged a National Council for Teacher Education with statutory status and necessary resources as a first step for overhauling the system of teacher education.

The National Council for Teacher Education as a statutory body came into existence in pursuance of the National Council for Teacher Education Act, 1993 in August, 1995. ( Hence, statement 2 is incorrect)

Objectives

• To achieve planned and coordinated development of teacher education system throughout the country.
• To regulate and properly maintain the Norms and Standards in the teacher education system and for matters connected therewith.
• It aims at training individuals for equipping them to teach pre-primary, primary, secondary and senior secondary stages in schools, non-formal and part-time education, adult education (correspondence) and distance education courses.

Article link: Steps taken by National Council of Teacher Education to strengthen the teacher education system

Solution (d)

Command Area Development and Water Management (CADWM) Programme

Government of India is implementing Command Area Development and Water Management (CADWM) Programme which was brought under Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchai Yojana (PMKSY) – Har Khet Ko Pani 2015-16 onwards. 

The main objectives of CADWM program are: 

1. Utilize irrigation potential created (IPC) under the project soon after its creation; 
2. Improve water use efficiency; 
3. Increase agricultural productivity and production; and 
4. Bring sustainability in the irrigated agriculture in a participatory environment.

Under CADWM Scheme operated by the Department of Water Resources, River Development and Ganga Rejuvenation, financial assistance is given to the States for creation of Micro irrigation infrastructure in the canal irrigated commands with an aim to improve water use efficiency and promote micro-irrigation.  

It is provisioned in the CADWM scheme that micro-irrigation shall cover at least 10% of the targeted CCA of the Project. 

Central Assistance @ 50% are being provided with a cost norm of Rs.50,000 per hectare for development of micro irrigation infrastructure covering construction of sump, installation of water pump, and laying of piped conveyance system up to the field head. (So, Statement (d) is incorrect)

Article link: Water Crisis Due to Water Exploitation