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miniFlame
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A new cyber espionage tool linked to the Flame virus has been infecting computers in Lebanon, Iran and elsewhere. Kaspersky Lab — credited with revealing the Flame virus earlier this year — dubbed the new malware “miniFlame”, and said it was “a small and highly flexible malicious program designed to steal data and control infected systems during targeted cyber espionage operations”. Russia-based Kaspersky said “miniFlame” “is based on the same architectural platform as Flame” — widely reported to be part of an American-Israeli effort to slow Iran’s suspected nuclear weapons drive.
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##Question:miniFlame##Answer: A new cyber espionage tool linked to the Flame virus has been infecting computers in Lebanon, Iran and elsewhere. Kaspersky Lab — credited with revealing the Flame virus earlier this year — dubbed the new malware “miniFlame”, and said it was “a small and highly flexible malicious program designed to steal data and control infected systems during targeted cyber espionage operations”. Russia-based Kaspersky said “miniFlame” “is based on the same architectural platform as Flame” — widely reported to be part of an American-Israeli effort to slow Iran’s suspected nuclear weapons drive.
| 822
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Order of Australia
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Australian Prime Minister Julia Gillard announced that the iconic Indian cricketer Sachin Tendulkar will be conferred the membership of the Order of Australia, an honour “rarely” awarded to non-Australians. Tendulkar is not the first cricketer to be made an Order of Australia AM as in 2009, West Indies legend Brian Lara was also made an honorary member.
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##Question:Order of Australia##Answer: Australian Prime Minister Julia Gillard announced that the iconic Indian cricketer Sachin Tendulkar will be conferred the membership of the Order of Australia, an honour “rarely” awarded to non-Australians. Tendulkar is not the first cricketer to be made an Order of Australia AM as in 2009, West Indies legend Brian Lara was also made an honorary member.
| 823
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The track child scheme
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The track child scheme envisages putting in place a child tracking system which is aimed at maintaining real time data of all children availing rehabilitation services under the Integrated Child Protection Scheme . The software also provides for setting up a national portal containing identification details of the children under various schemes as well as missing children reported in the police stations. The portal would facilitate matching of the children availing services under the Integrated Child Protection Scheme with the reported missing children.
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##Question:The track child scheme ##Answer: The track child scheme envisages putting in place a child tracking system which is aimed at maintaining real time data of all children availing rehabilitation services under the Integrated Child Protection Scheme . The software also provides for setting up a national portal containing identification details of the children under various schemes as well as missing children reported in the police stations. The portal would facilitate matching of the children availing services under the Integrated Child Protection Scheme with the reported missing children.
| 824
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The government-sponsored schemes have contributed to a significant increase in the population covered by health insurance in the country, scaling up at a pace possibly unseen elsewhere in the world. Comment
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A World Bank study on health insurance in India has recommended increasing health insurance coverage for both outpatient and inpatient care to include all poor and near-poor patients. It suggests a balanced approach, building upon infrastructure already available, augmenting it with accessible private capacity and utilising the lessons learned from the existing government-sponsored health schemes. The World Bank study named ‘ Government-sponsored Health Insurance in India: Are You Covered? ’ carried out for the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare says over 300 million people or more than 25 per cent of India’s population gained access to some form of health insurance by 2010. More than 180 million of these were people below the poverty line. It also suggests that new and innovative health financing schemes can help India progress towards universal health coverage. It estimates that more than 630 million people or half the country’s population was likely to be covered with health insurance by 2015. The recommendations of the report are totally opposite to the report of the High Level Expert Group on Universal Health Coverage that has suggested moving away from insurance. The study provides new knowledge that will help policy makers at a time when India is rapidly expanding the breadth and depth of health coverage, he added. According to the study (based on secondary data), over the past five years, government-sponsored schemes have contributed to a significant increase in the population covered by health insurance in the country, scaling up at a pace possibly unseen elsewhere in the world. The new generation of health insurance from the government has pioneered many innovative features. They hold the potential to spearhead reforms in the public delivery system by strengthening accountability by linking financing to outputs. However, the current coverage is far from comprehensive and the schemes face many challenges One of the main challenges of these health insurance schemes is that these are focussed on inpatient, often surgical care. Besides, working on deepening their benefit packages, the government schemes also need to address several issues like cost containment, quality enhancement, consumer information and monitoring and evaluation. We need a more robust and effective scheme like the RashtriyaSwasthyaBimaYojana covering a larger section of society, particularly poor, but some issues like unnecessary surgeries need to be addressed.
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##Question:The government-sponsored schemes have contributed to a significant increase in the population covered by health insurance in the country, scaling up at a pace possibly unseen elsewhere in the world. Comment##Answer: A World Bank study on health insurance in India has recommended increasing health insurance coverage for both outpatient and inpatient care to include all poor and near-poor patients. It suggests a balanced approach, building upon infrastructure already available, augmenting it with accessible private capacity and utilising the lessons learned from the existing government-sponsored health schemes. The World Bank study named ‘ Government-sponsored Health Insurance in India: Are You Covered? ’ carried out for the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare says over 300 million people or more than 25 per cent of India’s population gained access to some form of health insurance by 2010. More than 180 million of these were people below the poverty line. It also suggests that new and innovative health financing schemes can help India progress towards universal health coverage. It estimates that more than 630 million people or half the country’s population was likely to be covered with health insurance by 2015. The recommendations of the report are totally opposite to the report of the High Level Expert Group on Universal Health Coverage that has suggested moving away from insurance. The study provides new knowledge that will help policy makers at a time when India is rapidly expanding the breadth and depth of health coverage, he added. According to the study (based on secondary data), over the past five years, government-sponsored schemes have contributed to a significant increase in the population covered by health insurance in the country, scaling up at a pace possibly unseen elsewhere in the world. The new generation of health insurance from the government has pioneered many innovative features. They hold the potential to spearhead reforms in the public delivery system by strengthening accountability by linking financing to outputs. However, the current coverage is far from comprehensive and the schemes face many challenges One of the main challenges of these health insurance schemes is that these are focussed on inpatient, often surgical care. Besides, working on deepening their benefit packages, the government schemes also need to address several issues like cost containment, quality enhancement, consumer information and monitoring and evaluation. We need a more robust and effective scheme like the RashtriyaSwasthyaBimaYojana covering a larger section of society, particularly poor, but some issues like unnecessary surgeries need to be addressed.
| 825
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The finalised draft of the Land Acquisition, Resettlement and Rehabilitation (LARR) Bill provides for rehabilitation and resettlement of land owners in all private purchases, but the threshold-level on which this will apply has been left to State governments. Discuss
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The restriction on amount of irrigated multi-crop land and net sown area available for acquisition has also been left to the discretion of the States. Earlier, the quantity of irrigated multi-cropped land that could be acquired was capped at five per cent. The rehabilitation and resettlement, as is known by now, will be in monetary terms , except in irrigation projects. The payment of compensation will be a one-time affair with no obligation on the buyer to be involved in the building of infrastructure and providing amenities for those being rehabilitated. The acquirer will put all the money in an escrow account and an agency established under the act will oversee the building of infrastructure etc. For the first time it is stipulated in this law that where private land is purchased, rehabilitation and resettlement will apply, but when and under what circumstances the States will have to decide. The threshold beyond which it is applied is left to the State governments. The Bill provides for the baseline compensation that should be paid or the minimum package that should be applied. Earlier, rehabilitation and resettlement on private purchases applied to all acquisitions above 100 acres in rural areas and 50 acres in urban areas.
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##Question:The finalised draft of the Land Acquisition, Resettlement and Rehabilitation (LARR) Bill provides for rehabilitation and resettlement of land owners in all private purchases, but the threshold-level on which this will apply has been left to State governments. Discuss ##Answer: The restriction on amount of irrigated multi-crop land and net sown area available for acquisition has also been left to the discretion of the States. Earlier, the quantity of irrigated multi-cropped land that could be acquired was capped at five per cent. The rehabilitation and resettlement, as is known by now, will be in monetary terms , except in irrigation projects. The payment of compensation will be a one-time affair with no obligation on the buyer to be involved in the building of infrastructure and providing amenities for those being rehabilitated. The acquirer will put all the money in an escrow account and an agency established under the act will oversee the building of infrastructure etc. For the first time it is stipulated in this law that where private land is purchased, rehabilitation and resettlement will apply, but when and under what circumstances the States will have to decide. The threshold beyond which it is applied is left to the State governments. The Bill provides for the baseline compensation that should be paid or the minimum package that should be applied. Earlier, rehabilitation and resettlement on private purchases applied to all acquisitions above 100 acres in rural areas and 50 acres in urban areas.
| 826
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Concentrated solar power Projects
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Concentrated solar power involves systems of mirrors that concentrate a large area of sunlight onto a small area. The concentrated light is converted to heat, with a turbine and electrical power generator — converting the heat into electricity. Since CSP allows for storage of electricity, large-scale CSP presents several potential benefits for India’s energy profile. These include supplying electricity to help India meet its base-load needs, providing supplemental electricity during times of peak usage and ensuring grid stability.
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##Question:Concentrated solar power Projects##Answer: Concentrated solar power involves systems of mirrors that concentrate a large area of sunlight onto a small area. The concentrated light is converted to heat, with a turbine and electrical power generator — converting the heat into electricity. Since CSP allows for storage of electricity, large-scale CSP presents several potential benefits for India’s energy profile. These include supplying electricity to help India meet its base-load needs, providing supplemental electricity during times of peak usage and ensuring grid stability.
| 827
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Discuss how the Aadhaar-enabled service delivery system can be used as a potent weapon to eliminate corruption and fraud
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Reduced leakages Government highlighted the benefits associated with the integration of schemes with Aadhaar for stakeholders, ranging from better compliance management and reduced leakages to better accountability in service delivery and improvement in efficiency. Aadhaar card users can now directly access as many as six government schemes. In addition to getting the benefit of the social sector schemes promoting financial inclusion, those holding the Aadhaar card with a 12-digit number can offer proof of identity and address anywhere in the country. The Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act’s wages and pensions and scholarships will be paid though the card after the integration, even as the UID is already an online identity platform used for authenticating beneficiaries. Aadhaar project would benefit millions of people battling poverty, unemployment and diseases and facilitate the transfer of cash benefits directly to the accounts of beneficiaries. It will ensure the extension of benefits to the deserving people and do away with the role of middlemen. Complaints on subsidy on gas connections, diesel and fertilizers not reaching the needy people will be resolved Aadhaar project is an instance of the important role modern technology was playing in governance This is the biggest social inclusion scheme of its kind in the world. It will bring about a transformation in the common people’s lives and help them in getting subsidies [meant] for them. The poor would benefit the most from Aadhaar cards as the government would be able to correctly identify beneficiaries of a wide range of schemes based on the UID number. Criticism However, civil society activists and government officials associated with the implementation of social sector schemes are sceptical about the efficacy of the as-yet-untried Aadhar cards will be able in achieving all this. They point out that in the government’s flagship schemes such as the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme, senior citizens’ pensions and government scholarships, the cash transfers are already being made directly into bank accounts. The real corruption takes place in the purchase of materials such as cement, not so much in the payment of wages.
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##Question:Discuss how the Aadhaar-enabled service delivery system can be used as a potent weapon to eliminate corruption and fraud##Answer:Reduced leakages Government highlighted the benefits associated with the integration of schemes with Aadhaar for stakeholders, ranging from better compliance management and reduced leakages to better accountability in service delivery and improvement in efficiency. Aadhaar card users can now directly access as many as six government schemes. In addition to getting the benefit of the social sector schemes promoting financial inclusion, those holding the Aadhaar card with a 12-digit number can offer proof of identity and address anywhere in the country. The Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act’s wages and pensions and scholarships will be paid though the card after the integration, even as the UID is already an online identity platform used for authenticating beneficiaries. Aadhaar project would benefit millions of people battling poverty, unemployment and diseases and facilitate the transfer of cash benefits directly to the accounts of beneficiaries. It will ensure the extension of benefits to the deserving people and do away with the role of middlemen. Complaints on subsidy on gas connections, diesel and fertilizers not reaching the needy people will be resolved Aadhaar project is an instance of the important role modern technology was playing in governance This is the biggest social inclusion scheme of its kind in the world. It will bring about a transformation in the common people’s lives and help them in getting subsidies [meant] for them. The poor would benefit the most from Aadhaar cards as the government would be able to correctly identify beneficiaries of a wide range of schemes based on the UID number. Criticism However, civil society activists and government officials associated with the implementation of social sector schemes are sceptical about the efficacy of the as-yet-untried Aadhar cards will be able in achieving all this. They point out that in the government’s flagship schemes such as the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme, senior citizens’ pensions and government scholarships, the cash transfers are already being made directly into bank accounts. The real corruption takes place in the purchase of materials such as cement, not so much in the payment of wages.
| 828
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What are the key determinants of child marriage in India. Discuss in detail
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Key determinants of teenage wedlock Lack of education -The UNFPA report indicates that girls from rural areas in India were twice more likely to be married than urban girls. Rural settings - Those with nil education were thrice more likely to become victims compared to those with secondary or higher education. Poor economic status -While minor girls from the poorest families had a 75 per cent possibility of being married, 16 per cent from the richest households ended up the same way. Social norms and perceptions are important factors too . Hence the approach to deal with the two strata should have many commonalities and yet be different. Providing education, creating awareness and offering incentives linked to delayed marriages are more important for the lower strata. Changing social perceptions should be the priority in the case of rich parents.
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##Question:What are the key determinants of child marriage in India. Discuss in detail##Answer:Key determinants of teenage wedlock Lack of education -The UNFPA report indicates that girls from rural areas in India were twice more likely to be married than urban girls. Rural settings - Those with nil education were thrice more likely to become victims compared to those with secondary or higher education. Poor economic status -While minor girls from the poorest families had a 75 per cent possibility of being married, 16 per cent from the richest households ended up the same way. Social norms and perceptions are important factors too . Hence the approach to deal with the two strata should have many commonalities and yet be different. Providing education, creating awareness and offering incentives linked to delayed marriages are more important for the lower strata. Changing social perceptions should be the priority in the case of rich parents.
| 829
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The Human DNA Profiling Bill
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The Human DNA Profiling Bill seeks to establish a DNA Profiling Board that will lay down the standards for laboratories, collection of human body substances and custody trail from collection to reporting. It also has a provision for setting up a National DNA Data Bank
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##Question:The Human DNA Profiling Bill ##Answer:The Human DNA Profiling Bill seeks to establish a DNA Profiling Board that will lay down the standards for laboratories, collection of human body substances and custody trail from collection to reporting. It also has a provision for setting up a National DNA Data Bank
| 830
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In order to empower PRIs comment upon the decentralization & operational issues involved.
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Decentralisation Issues i) Some states have followed a ‘big bang’ approach to decentralisation. While this may be difficult to emulate, states should be incentivised to fully empower local bodies through linking the volume of both CSS and FC releases in proportion to the extent of decentralisation achieved. ii) Local bodies should be assisted both by the Central and State Governments for developing their administrative structure as well as meeting the costs of establishment. iii) It is desirable that all funds relating to local governments be routed through the local bodies and not through any statutory or non-statutory body whose activities overlap with theirs. All such parallel bodies may be abolished so that funds flow directly to the local bodies through the State Governments. Operational Issues i) PRIs, in turn, should be motivated to maximise their own tax and non-tax revenues through streamlining administration, enhancing tax assessment and collection efficiency and improving quality of services. ii) There should be an arrangement for advance sanction as well as automatic transfer of funds to local bodies to ensure predictability of devolutions, in terms of both volume as well as timing. iii) The recommendations of the FC-XI to enhance the ceiling on profession tax as well as taxing Central Government properties should be operationalised. iv) ULBs should be supported in implementing reforms to enable them to improve their credit rating and obtain market-based financing. v) PRIs should be provided support for meaningful compilation of accounts. This should include firming up of accounting formats and standards facilitating appropriate audit of their transactions as well as building an interactive electronic network linking accounting, auditing, performance review, financing, and monitoring functions. As submission of utilisation certificates has proved a major hurdle in the past, these steps will also ensure that State Governments are able to fully draw down the grants of the Finance Commission. vi) The C&AG should issue directions for classification of revenue receipts of the states providing details of duties, tolls and fees collected consistent with Article 243(I) of the Constitution so that the SFCs can make appropriate recommendations. vii) The work of the SFCs needs to be streamlined and strengthened in many ways. There needs to be some standardisation in the methods and approaches of the SFCs. SFCs could use templates which help in assessing needs as well as in preparing their reports more systematically and uniformly. SFCs are also hampered by lack of good quality data. FC-XIII also needs to address these issues. viii)The National Finance Commission and the State Finance Commissions should be constituted simultaneously. Synchronising the periods of the FC and the SFCs may be required to avoid the problem of ‘gap’ years in the transfers. ix) There should be an SFC cell in each state to monitor efficient and effective data availability. This cell could also monitor and evaluate the performance of the PRIs at regular intervals. Setting up of an independent national agency to facilitate data and support exchanges among different SFCs could also be considered.
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##Question:In order to empower PRIs comment upon the decentralization & operational issues involved.##Answer:Decentralisation Issues i) Some states have followed a ‘big bang’ approach to decentralisation. While this may be difficult to emulate, states should be incentivised to fully empower local bodies through linking the volume of both CSS and FC releases in proportion to the extent of decentralisation achieved. ii) Local bodies should be assisted both by the Central and State Governments for developing their administrative structure as well as meeting the costs of establishment. iii) It is desirable that all funds relating to local governments be routed through the local bodies and not through any statutory or non-statutory body whose activities overlap with theirs. All such parallel bodies may be abolished so that funds flow directly to the local bodies through the State Governments. Operational Issues i) PRIs, in turn, should be motivated to maximise their own tax and non-tax revenues through streamlining administration, enhancing tax assessment and collection efficiency and improving quality of services. ii) There should be an arrangement for advance sanction as well as automatic transfer of funds to local bodies to ensure predictability of devolutions, in terms of both volume as well as timing. iii) The recommendations of the FC-XI to enhance the ceiling on profession tax as well as taxing Central Government properties should be operationalised. iv) ULBs should be supported in implementing reforms to enable them to improve their credit rating and obtain market-based financing. v) PRIs should be provided support for meaningful compilation of accounts. This should include firming up of accounting formats and standards facilitating appropriate audit of their transactions as well as building an interactive electronic network linking accounting, auditing, performance review, financing, and monitoring functions. As submission of utilisation certificates has proved a major hurdle in the past, these steps will also ensure that State Governments are able to fully draw down the grants of the Finance Commission. vi) The C&AG should issue directions for classification of revenue receipts of the states providing details of duties, tolls and fees collected consistent with Article 243(I) of the Constitution so that the SFCs can make appropriate recommendations. vii) The work of the SFCs needs to be streamlined and strengthened in many ways. There needs to be some standardisation in the methods and approaches of the SFCs. SFCs could use templates which help in assessing needs as well as in preparing their reports more systematically and uniformly. SFCs are also hampered by lack of good quality data. FC-XIII also needs to address these issues. viii)The National Finance Commission and the State Finance Commissions should be constituted simultaneously. Synchronising the periods of the FC and the SFCs may be required to avoid the problem of ‘gap’ years in the transfers. ix) There should be an SFC cell in each state to monitor efficient and effective data availability. This cell could also monitor and evaluate the performance of the PRIs at regular intervals. Setting up of an independent national agency to facilitate data and support exchanges among different SFCs could also be considered.
| 883
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Establishing synergies of audit by CAG with social audit in case of local governance ensures complete grassroots level accountability. Discuss the statement & substantiate your answer.
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Audit is recognized as a fundamental tool for ensuring accountability and in India, the CAG’s audit has been able to provide the necessary degree of assurance to the public at large about the economy, efficiency and effectiveness of funds spent by various governments. However, in view of the size, scale and extent of implementation of Governmental activities in a country like India, in spite of the availability of a large human resource pool, it is not possible for the coverage by Government audit to be as extensive and detailed as required in the beginning to ensure complete grassroots level accountability. It is recognition of this reality and a gradual creation of consciousness among people of their own rights and powers that has strengthened the movement for ‘social audit’ accompanied by the ‘Right to Information’. Social audit seeks to be a participative, popular and persistent evaluation of Governmental activities. In the rural areas, jan sunwais (public hearings) have been used by peoples’ organisations like the Mazdoor Kisan Shakti Sangathan as a means of empowerment to enable villagers to speak out and be heard. Such hearings demand access to muster rolls, vouchers and records of bill payments of development projects at the panchayat level. There have been similar initiatives on the urban side, under the aegis of NGOs like Parivartan that have sought to evaluate expenditure on road, sanitation and drainage works in the slums of Delhi besides the PROOF campaign in Bangalore, a collaborative effort of four non-profit, independent, non governmental organisations for carrying out budget analysis and fiscal performance audit of Bangalore Mahanagar Palike (BMP). With focus on disclosure, debate, dialogue and discussion, the initiatives focussed on the use of public funds and involve citizens in performance audit. Instructions have been issued by the Ministry of Rural Development (MORD) which stipulate that the Gram Sabha should be specifically empowered to conduct social audit or collective audit by the Gram Sabha, into all public works and beneficiary oriented programmes implemented at the village level under various schemes of the MORD. These instructions also require that the completion certificate for all village level public works should be awarded by the Gram Sabha, and such a certificate of completion can be awarded by the Gram Sabha only after conducting social audit of the work in question. Recent schemes like NREGP have also built in social audit as an essential component of the Scheme at different stages. With a view to establishing synergies between Social and Government Audit, the Manual of Instructions for Audit of PRIs issued by CAG specifically advises audit teams to take into account the findings of social audits and action pending to be taken thereon. Wherever mandatory, audit teams are advised to see whether meetings are held as prescribed as also the doubts on the quality of works raised at such meetings apart from ensuring that bills, vouchers, details of labour and material components are given sufficient publicity as required. They are also required to see if appropriate action has been taken on any mismatch reported in social audit between expenditure on village work and the actual valuation of the work. While social audit has its place in ensuring grassroots level accountability, a recent study has revealed that for public goods like rural infrastructure projects, strong external audit has a greater deterrence and is therefore more effective in reducing missing expenditure and curbing corruption related to the material components. In contrast, the social audit mechanism has a relatively greater impact in reducing labour expenditure. The study suggests that grassroots monitoring may be more effective for government programmes that provide private goods (subsidized food, education, healthcare, etc.) where individual citizens have a personal stake that goods are delivered and leakage is minimised. In view of substantial flow of funds to local governments and lack of effective control mechanism, a strong top down monitoring through government audit is essential to reducing corruption and missing expenditure in government programmes. Taking cognizance of the growing importance of social audit, seminars and workshops conducted by the CAG have deliberated on the subject and attempted to work out the contours of any collaboration between Government and social audit in the future.
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##Question:Establishing synergies of audit by CAG with social audit in case of local governance ensures complete grassroots level accountability. Discuss the statement & substantiate your answer.##Answer:Audit is recognized as a fundamental tool for ensuring accountability and in India, the CAG’s audit has been able to provide the necessary degree of assurance to the public at large about the economy, efficiency and effectiveness of funds spent by various governments. However, in view of the size, scale and extent of implementation of Governmental activities in a country like India, in spite of the availability of a large human resource pool, it is not possible for the coverage by Government audit to be as extensive and detailed as required in the beginning to ensure complete grassroots level accountability. It is recognition of this reality and a gradual creation of consciousness among people of their own rights and powers that has strengthened the movement for ‘social audit’ accompanied by the ‘Right to Information’. Social audit seeks to be a participative, popular and persistent evaluation of Governmental activities. In the rural areas, jan sunwais (public hearings) have been used by peoples’ organisations like the Mazdoor Kisan Shakti Sangathan as a means of empowerment to enable villagers to speak out and be heard. Such hearings demand access to muster rolls, vouchers and records of bill payments of development projects at the panchayat level. There have been similar initiatives on the urban side, under the aegis of NGOs like Parivartan that have sought to evaluate expenditure on road, sanitation and drainage works in the slums of Delhi besides the PROOF campaign in Bangalore, a collaborative effort of four non-profit, independent, non governmental organisations for carrying out budget analysis and fiscal performance audit of Bangalore Mahanagar Palike (BMP). With focus on disclosure, debate, dialogue and discussion, the initiatives focussed on the use of public funds and involve citizens in performance audit. Instructions have been issued by the Ministry of Rural Development (MORD) which stipulate that the Gram Sabha should be specifically empowered to conduct social audit or collective audit by the Gram Sabha, into all public works and beneficiary oriented programmes implemented at the village level under various schemes of the MORD. These instructions also require that the completion certificate for all village level public works should be awarded by the Gram Sabha, and such a certificate of completion can be awarded by the Gram Sabha only after conducting social audit of the work in question. Recent schemes like NREGP have also built in social audit as an essential component of the Scheme at different stages. With a view to establishing synergies between Social and Government Audit, the Manual of Instructions for Audit of PRIs issued by CAG specifically advises audit teams to take into account the findings of social audits and action pending to be taken thereon. Wherever mandatory, audit teams are advised to see whether meetings are held as prescribed as also the doubts on the quality of works raised at such meetings apart from ensuring that bills, vouchers, details of labour and material components are given sufficient publicity as required. They are also required to see if appropriate action has been taken on any mismatch reported in social audit between expenditure on village work and the actual valuation of the work. While social audit has its place in ensuring grassroots level accountability, a recent study has revealed that for public goods like rural infrastructure projects, strong external audit has a greater deterrence and is therefore more effective in reducing missing expenditure and curbing corruption related to the material components. In contrast, the social audit mechanism has a relatively greater impact in reducing labour expenditure. The study suggests that grassroots monitoring may be more effective for government programmes that provide private goods (subsidized food, education, healthcare, etc.) where individual citizens have a personal stake that goods are delivered and leakage is minimised. In view of substantial flow of funds to local governments and lack of effective control mechanism, a strong top down monitoring through government audit is essential to reducing corruption and missing expenditure in government programmes. Taking cognizance of the growing importance of social audit, seminars and workshops conducted by the CAG have deliberated on the subject and attempted to work out the contours of any collaboration between Government and social audit in the future.
| 884
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Discuss the ‘Municipal Best practices’ recognised by the 13th Finance commission
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The report identified a number of best practices which could be usefully emulated by most municipalities. These included: i) Maintenance of municipal finance statistics. ii) Resource mobilisation. iii) Expenditure compression through outsourcing and Public Private Participation(PPP). iv) Adoption of accrual accounting. v) Delegation of funds, functions and functionaries (FFF). vi) Transfer of funds from GoI/State Governments. vii) Accountability of local bodies to the Citizens ‘Charter/NGO participation, etc. viii) Slum development
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##Question:Discuss the ‘Municipal Best practices’ recognised by the 13th Finance commission##Answer:The report identified a number of best practices which could be usefully emulated by most municipalities. These included: i) Maintenance of municipal finance statistics. ii) Resource mobilisation. iii) Expenditure compression through outsourcing and Public Private Participation(PPP). iv) Adoption of accrual accounting. v) Delegation of funds, functions and functionaries (FFF). vi) Transfer of funds from GoI/State Governments. vii) Accountability of local bodies to the Citizens ‘Charter/NGO participation, etc. viii) Slum development
| 885
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“There can be no difference of opinion in the House that our judiciary must be both independent of the executive and must also be competent in itself. And the question is how these two objects can be secured“. In light of this statement, discuss the provisions provided in our constitution to ensure the independence of the judiciary.
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Many provisions are provided in our constitution to ensure the independence of the judiciary. The constitutional provisions are discussed below: Security of Tenure:The judges of the Supreme Court and High Courts have been given the security of the tenure. Once appointed, they continue to remain in office till they reach the age of retirement which is 65 years in the case of judges of Supreme Court (Art. 124(2)) and 62 years in the case of judges of the High Courts (Art. 217(1)). They cannot be removed from the office except by an order of the President and that too on the ground of proven misbehavior and incapacity. A resolution has also to be accepted to that effect by a majority of total membership of each House of Parliament and also by a majority of no less than two third of the members of the house present and voting. Procedure is so complicated that there has been no case of the removal of a Judge of Supreme Court or High Court under this provision. Salaries and Allowances:The salaries and allowances of the judges is also a factor which makes the judges independent as their salaries and allowances are fixed and are not subject to a vote of the legislature. They are charged on the Consolidated Fund of India in case of Supreme Court judges and the Consolidated Fund of state in the case of High Court judges. Their emoluments cannot be altered to their disadvantage (Art. 125(2)) except in the event of grave financial emergency. Powers and Jurisdiction of Supreme Court: Parliament can only add to the powers and jurisdiction of the Supreme Court but cannot curtail them. In the civil cases, Parliament may change the pecuniary limit for the appeals to the Supreme Court. Parliament may enhance the appellate jurisdiction of the Supreme Court. It may confer the supplementary powers on the Supreme Court to enable it work more effectively. It may confer power to issue directions, orders or writs for any purpose other than those mentioned in Art. 32. Powers of the Supreme Court cannot be taken away. Making judiciary independent. No discussion on conduct of Judge in State Legislature / Parliament: Art. 211 provides that there shall be no discussion in the legislature of the state with respect to the conduct of any judge of Supreme Court or of a High Court in the discharge of his duties. A similar provision is made in Art. 121 which lays down that no discussion shall take place in Parliament with respect to the conduct of the judge of Supreme Court or High Court in the discharge of his duties except upon a motion for presenting an address to the President praying for the removal of the judge. Power to punish for contempt: Both the Supreme Court and the High Court have the power to punish any person for their contempt. Art. 129 provides that the Supreme Court shall have the power to punish for contempt of itself. Likewise, Art. 215 lays down that every High Court shall have the power to punish for contempt of itself. Separation of the Judiciary from the Executive: Art. 50 contains one of the Directive Principles of State Policy and lays down that the state shall take steps to separate the judiciary from the executive in the public services of the state. The object behind the Directive Principle is to secure the independence of the judiciary from the executive. Art. 50 says that there shall be a separate judicial service free from executive control.
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##Question:“There can be no difference of opinion in the House that our judiciary must be both independent of the executive and must also be competent in itself. And the question is how these two objects can be secured“. In light of this statement, discuss the provisions provided in our constitution to ensure the independence of the judiciary. ##Answer:Many provisions are provided in our constitution to ensure the independence of the judiciary. The constitutional provisions are discussed below: Security of Tenure:The judges of the Supreme Court and High Courts have been given the security of the tenure. Once appointed, they continue to remain in office till they reach the age of retirement which is 65 years in the case of judges of Supreme Court (Art. 124(2)) and 62 years in the case of judges of the High Courts (Art. 217(1)). They cannot be removed from the office except by an order of the President and that too on the ground of proven misbehavior and incapacity. A resolution has also to be accepted to that effect by a majority of total membership of each House of Parliament and also by a majority of no less than two third of the members of the house present and voting. Procedure is so complicated that there has been no case of the removal of a Judge of Supreme Court or High Court under this provision. Salaries and Allowances:The salaries and allowances of the judges is also a factor which makes the judges independent as their salaries and allowances are fixed and are not subject to a vote of the legislature. They are charged on the Consolidated Fund of India in case of Supreme Court judges and the Consolidated Fund of state in the case of High Court judges. Their emoluments cannot be altered to their disadvantage (Art. 125(2)) except in the event of grave financial emergency. Powers and Jurisdiction of Supreme Court: Parliament can only add to the powers and jurisdiction of the Supreme Court but cannot curtail them. In the civil cases, Parliament may change the pecuniary limit for the appeals to the Supreme Court. Parliament may enhance the appellate jurisdiction of the Supreme Court. It may confer the supplementary powers on the Supreme Court to enable it work more effectively. It may confer power to issue directions, orders or writs for any purpose other than those mentioned in Art. 32. Powers of the Supreme Court cannot be taken away. Making judiciary independent. No discussion on conduct of Judge in State Legislature / Parliament: Art. 211 provides that there shall be no discussion in the legislature of the state with respect to the conduct of any judge of Supreme Court or of a High Court in the discharge of his duties. A similar provision is made in Art. 121 which lays down that no discussion shall take place in Parliament with respect to the conduct of the judge of Supreme Court or High Court in the discharge of his duties except upon a motion for presenting an address to the President praying for the removal of the judge. Power to punish for contempt: Both the Supreme Court and the High Court have the power to punish any person for their contempt. Art. 129 provides that the Supreme Court shall have the power to punish for contempt of itself. Likewise, Art. 215 lays down that every High Court shall have the power to punish for contempt of itself. Separation of the Judiciary from the Executive: Art. 50 contains one of the Directive Principles of State Policy and lays down that the state shall take steps to separate the judiciary from the executive in the public services of the state. The object behind the Directive Principle is to secure the independence of the judiciary from the executive. Art. 50 says that there shall be a separate judicial service free from executive control.
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The Supreme Court has original, appellate and advisory jurisdiction. Discuss.
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The Supreme Court has original, appellate and advisory jurisdiction. Its exclusive original jurisdiction extends to any dispute between the Government of India and one or more States or between the Government of India and any State or States on one side and one or more States on the other or between two or more States, if and insofar as the dispute involves any question (whether of law or of fact) on which the existence or extent of a legal right depends. In addition, Article 32 of the Constitution gives an extensive original jurisdiction to the Supreme Court in regard to enforcement of Fundamental Rights. It is empowered to issue directions, orders or writs, including writs in the nature of habeas corpus, mandamus, prohibition, quo warranto and certiorari to enforce them. The Supreme Court has been conferred with power to direct transfer of any civil or criminal case from one State High Court to another State High Court or from a Court subordinate to another State High Court. The Supreme Court, if satisfied that cases involving the same or substantially the same questions of law are pending before it and one or more High Courts or before two or more High Courts and that such questions are substantial questions of general importance, may withdraw a case or cases pending before the High Court or High Courts and dispose of all such cases itself. Under the Arbitration and Conciliation Act, 1996, International Commercial Arbitration can also be initiated in the Supreme Court. The appellate jurisdiction of the Supreme Court can be invoked by a certificate granted by the High Court concerned under Article 132(1), 133(1) or 134 of the Constitution in respect of any judgement, decree or final order of a High Court in both civil and criminal cases, involving substantial questions of law as to the interpretation of the Constitution. Appeals also lie to the Supreme Court in civil matters if the High Court concerned certifies : (a) that the case involves a substantial question of law of general importance, and (b) that, in the opinion of the High Court, the said question needs to be decided by the Supreme Court. In criminal cases, an appeal lies to the Supreme Court if the High Court (a) has on appeal reversed an order of acquittal of an accused person and sentenced him to death or to imprisonment for life or for a period of not less than 10 years, or (b) has withdrawn for trial before itself any case from any Court subordinate to its authority and has in such trial convicted the accused and sentenced him to death or to imprisonment for life or for a period of not less than 10 years, or (c) certified that the case is a fit one for appeal to the Supreme Court. Parliament is authorised to confer on the Supreme Court any further powers to entertain and hear appeals from any judgement, final order or sentence in a criminal proceeding of a High Court. The Supreme Court has also a very wide appellate jurisdiction over all Courts and Tribunals in India in as much as it may, in its discretion, grant special leave to appeal under Article 136 of the Constitution from any judgment, decree, determination, sentence or order in any cause or matter passed or made by any Court or Tribunal in the territory of India. The Supreme Court has special advisory jurisdiction in matters which may specifically be referred to it by the President of India under Article 143 of the Constitution. There are provisions for reference or appeal to this Court under Article 317(1) of the Constitution, Section 257 of the Income Tax Act, 1961, Section 7(2) of the Monopolies and Restrictive Trade Practices Act, 1969, Section 130-A of the Customs Act, 1962, Section 35-H of the Central Excises and Salt Act, 1944 and Section 82C of the Gold (Control) Act, 1968. Appeals also lie to the Supreme Court under the Representation of the People Act, 1951, Monopolies and Restrictive Trade Practices Act, 1969, Advocates Act, 1961, Contempt of Courts Act, 1971, Customs Act, 1962, Central Excises and Salt Act, 1944, Enlargement of Criminal Appellate Jurisdiction Act, 1970, Trial of Offences Relating to Transactions in Securities Act, 1992, Terrorist and Disruptive Activities (Prevention) Act, 1987 and Consumer Protection Act, 1986. Election Petitions under Part III of the Presidential and Vice Presidential Elections Act, 1952 are also filed directly in the Supreme Court.
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##Question:The Supreme Court has original, appellate and advisory jurisdiction. Discuss. ##Answer:The Supreme Court has original, appellate and advisory jurisdiction. Its exclusive original jurisdiction extends to any dispute between the Government of India and one or more States or between the Government of India and any State or States on one side and one or more States on the other or between two or more States, if and insofar as the dispute involves any question (whether of law or of fact) on which the existence or extent of a legal right depends. In addition, Article 32 of the Constitution gives an extensive original jurisdiction to the Supreme Court in regard to enforcement of Fundamental Rights. It is empowered to issue directions, orders or writs, including writs in the nature of habeas corpus, mandamus, prohibition, quo warranto and certiorari to enforce them. The Supreme Court has been conferred with power to direct transfer of any civil or criminal case from one State High Court to another State High Court or from a Court subordinate to another State High Court. The Supreme Court, if satisfied that cases involving the same or substantially the same questions of law are pending before it and one or more High Courts or before two or more High Courts and that such questions are substantial questions of general importance, may withdraw a case or cases pending before the High Court or High Courts and dispose of all such cases itself. Under the Arbitration and Conciliation Act, 1996, International Commercial Arbitration can also be initiated in the Supreme Court. The appellate jurisdiction of the Supreme Court can be invoked by a certificate granted by the High Court concerned under Article 132(1), 133(1) or 134 of the Constitution in respect of any judgement, decree or final order of a High Court in both civil and criminal cases, involving substantial questions of law as to the interpretation of the Constitution. Appeals also lie to the Supreme Court in civil matters if the High Court concerned certifies : (a) that the case involves a substantial question of law of general importance, and (b) that, in the opinion of the High Court, the said question needs to be decided by the Supreme Court. In criminal cases, an appeal lies to the Supreme Court if the High Court (a) has on appeal reversed an order of acquittal of an accused person and sentenced him to death or to imprisonment for life or for a period of not less than 10 years, or (b) has withdrawn for trial before itself any case from any Court subordinate to its authority and has in such trial convicted the accused and sentenced him to death or to imprisonment for life or for a period of not less than 10 years, or (c) certified that the case is a fit one for appeal to the Supreme Court. Parliament is authorised to confer on the Supreme Court any further powers to entertain and hear appeals from any judgement, final order or sentence in a criminal proceeding of a High Court. The Supreme Court has also a very wide appellate jurisdiction over all Courts and Tribunals in India in as much as it may, in its discretion, grant special leave to appeal under Article 136 of the Constitution from any judgment, decree, determination, sentence or order in any cause or matter passed or made by any Court or Tribunal in the territory of India. The Supreme Court has special advisory jurisdiction in matters which may specifically be referred to it by the President of India under Article 143 of the Constitution. There are provisions for reference or appeal to this Court under Article 317(1) of the Constitution, Section 257 of the Income Tax Act, 1961, Section 7(2) of the Monopolies and Restrictive Trade Practices Act, 1969, Section 130-A of the Customs Act, 1962, Section 35-H of the Central Excises and Salt Act, 1944 and Section 82C of the Gold (Control) Act, 1968. Appeals also lie to the Supreme Court under the Representation of the People Act, 1951, Monopolies and Restrictive Trade Practices Act, 1969, Advocates Act, 1961, Contempt of Courts Act, 1971, Customs Act, 1962, Central Excises and Salt Act, 1944, Enlargement of Criminal Appellate Jurisdiction Act, 1970, Trial of Offences Relating to Transactions in Securities Act, 1992, Terrorist and Disruptive Activities (Prevention) Act, 1987 and Consumer Protection Act, 1986. Election Petitions under Part III of the Presidential and Vice Presidential Elections Act, 1952 are also filed directly in the Supreme Court.
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Public Interest Litigation is a good thing when it is used to enforce the rights of the disadvantaged, But it has now been diluted to interfere with the power of the government to take decisions on a range of policy matters. Discuss.
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PIL jurisdiction began haltingly with little idea of its potential when the Supreme Court, in 1979, entertained complaints by social activists drawing the attention of the Court to the conditions of certain sections of society or institutions which were deprived of their basic rights. However, over the years, the social action dimension of PIL has been diluted and eclipsed by another type of “public cause litigation” in courts. In this type of litigation, the court’s intervention is not sought for enforcing the rights of the disadvantaged or poor sections of the society but simply for correcting the actions or omissions of the executive or public officials or departments of government or public bodies. Examples of this type of intervention by the Court are innumerable. In the interest of preventing pollution, the Supreme Court ordered control over automobile emissions, air and noise and traffic pollution, gave orders for parking charges, wearing of helmets in cities, cleanliness in housing colonies, disposal of garbage, control of traffic in New Delhi, made compulsory the wearing of seat belts, ordered action plans to control and prevent the monkey menace in cities and towns, ordered measures to prevent accidents at unmanned railway level crossings, prevent ragging of college freshmen, for collection and storage in blood banks, and for control of loudspeakers and banning of fire crackers. In recent orders, the Supreme Court has directed the most complex engineering of interlinking rivers in India. The Court has passed orders banning the pasting of black film on automobile windows. On its own, the Court has taken notice of Baba Ramdev being forcibly evicted from the Ramlila grounds by the Delhi Administration and censured it. The Court has ordered the exclusion of tourists in the core area of tiger reserves. All these managerial exercises by the Court are hung on the dubious jurisdictional peg of enforcing fundamental rights under Article 32 of the Constitution. In reality, no fundamental rights of individuals or any legal issues are at all involved in such cases. The Court is only moved for better governance and administration, which does not involve the exercise of any proper judicial function. In its most activist and controversial interpretation of the Constitution, the Supreme Court took away the constitutionally conferred power of the President of India to appoint judges after consultation with the Chief Justice, and appropriated this power in the Chief Justice of India and a collegium of four judges. In no Constitution in the world is the power to select and appoint judges conferred on the judges themselves. The Court is made the monitor of the conduct of investigating and prosecution agencies who are perceived to have failed or neglected to investigate and prosecute ministers and officials of government. Cases of this type are the investigation and prosecution of ministers and officials believed to be involved in the Jain Hawala case, the fodder scam involving the former Chief Minister of Bihar, Lalu Prasad Yadav, the Taj Corridor case involving the former Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh, Mayawati, and the recent prosecution of the Telecom Minister and officials in the 2G Telecom scam case by the Supreme Court. Matters of policy of government are subject to the Court’s scrutiny. Distribution of food-grains to persons below poverty line was monitored, which even made the Prime Minister remind the Court that it was interfering with the complex food distribution policies of government. In the 2G Licenses case, the Court held that all public resources and assets are a matter of public trust and they can only be disposed of in a transparent manner by a public auction to the highest bidder. This has led to the President making a Reference to the Court for the Court’s legal advice under Article 143 of the Constitution. In the same case, the Court set aside the expert opinion of the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) to sell 2G spectrum without auction to create greater teledensity in India. The Court has for all practical purposes disregarded the separation of powers under the Constitution, and assumed a general supervisory function over other branches of governments. The temptation to rush to the Supreme Court and 21 High Courts for any grievance against a public authority has also deflected the primary responsibility of citizens themselves in a representative self government of making legislators and the executive responsible for their actions. The answer often given by the judiciary to this type of overreach is that it is compelled to take upon this task as the other branches of government have failed in their obligations. On this specious justification, the political branches of government may, by the same logic, take over the functions of the judiciary when it has failed, and there can be no doubt that there are many areas where the judiciary has failed to meet the expectations of the public by its inefficiency and areas of cases. Justice Jackson of the U.S. has aptly said: “The doctrine of judicial activism which justifies easy and constant readiness to set aside decisions of other branches of Government is wholly incompatible with a faith in democracy and in so far it encourages a belief that judges should be left to correct the result of public indifference it is a vicious teaching.” Unless the parameters of PIL are strictly formulated by the Supreme Court and strictly observed, PIL which is so necessary in India, is in danger of becoming diffuse, unprincipled, encroaching into the functions of other branches of government and ineffective by its indiscriminate use.
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##Question:Public Interest Litigation is a good thing when it is used to enforce the rights of the disadvantaged, But it has now been diluted to interfere with the power of the government to take decisions on a range of policy matters. Discuss. ##Answer:PIL jurisdiction began haltingly with little idea of its potential when the Supreme Court, in 1979, entertained complaints by social activists drawing the attention of the Court to the conditions of certain sections of society or institutions which were deprived of their basic rights. However, over the years, the social action dimension of PIL has been diluted and eclipsed by another type of “public cause litigation” in courts. In this type of litigation, the court’s intervention is not sought for enforcing the rights of the disadvantaged or poor sections of the society but simply for correcting the actions or omissions of the executive or public officials or departments of government or public bodies. Examples of this type of intervention by the Court are innumerable. In the interest of preventing pollution, the Supreme Court ordered control over automobile emissions, air and noise and traffic pollution, gave orders for parking charges, wearing of helmets in cities, cleanliness in housing colonies, disposal of garbage, control of traffic in New Delhi, made compulsory the wearing of seat belts, ordered action plans to control and prevent the monkey menace in cities and towns, ordered measures to prevent accidents at unmanned railway level crossings, prevent ragging of college freshmen, for collection and storage in blood banks, and for control of loudspeakers and banning of fire crackers. In recent orders, the Supreme Court has directed the most complex engineering of interlinking rivers in India. The Court has passed orders banning the pasting of black film on automobile windows. On its own, the Court has taken notice of Baba Ramdev being forcibly evicted from the Ramlila grounds by the Delhi Administration and censured it. The Court has ordered the exclusion of tourists in the core area of tiger reserves. All these managerial exercises by the Court are hung on the dubious jurisdictional peg of enforcing fundamental rights under Article 32 of the Constitution. In reality, no fundamental rights of individuals or any legal issues are at all involved in such cases. The Court is only moved for better governance and administration, which does not involve the exercise of any proper judicial function. In its most activist and controversial interpretation of the Constitution, the Supreme Court took away the constitutionally conferred power of the President of India to appoint judges after consultation with the Chief Justice, and appropriated this power in the Chief Justice of India and a collegium of four judges. In no Constitution in the world is the power to select and appoint judges conferred on the judges themselves. The Court is made the monitor of the conduct of investigating and prosecution agencies who are perceived to have failed or neglected to investigate and prosecute ministers and officials of government. Cases of this type are the investigation and prosecution of ministers and officials believed to be involved in the Jain Hawala case, the fodder scam involving the former Chief Minister of Bihar, Lalu Prasad Yadav, the Taj Corridor case involving the former Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh, Mayawati, and the recent prosecution of the Telecom Minister and officials in the 2G Telecom scam case by the Supreme Court. Matters of policy of government are subject to the Court’s scrutiny. Distribution of food-grains to persons below poverty line was monitored, which even made the Prime Minister remind the Court that it was interfering with the complex food distribution policies of government. In the 2G Licenses case, the Court held that all public resources and assets are a matter of public trust and they can only be disposed of in a transparent manner by a public auction to the highest bidder. This has led to the President making a Reference to the Court for the Court’s legal advice under Article 143 of the Constitution. In the same case, the Court set aside the expert opinion of the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) to sell 2G spectrum without auction to create greater teledensity in India. The Court has for all practical purposes disregarded the separation of powers under the Constitution, and assumed a general supervisory function over other branches of governments. The temptation to rush to the Supreme Court and 21 High Courts for any grievance against a public authority has also deflected the primary responsibility of citizens themselves in a representative self government of making legislators and the executive responsible for their actions. The answer often given by the judiciary to this type of overreach is that it is compelled to take upon this task as the other branches of government have failed in their obligations. On this specious justification, the political branches of government may, by the same logic, take over the functions of the judiciary when it has failed, and there can be no doubt that there are many areas where the judiciary has failed to meet the expectations of the public by its inefficiency and areas of cases. Justice Jackson of the U.S. has aptly said: “The doctrine of judicial activism which justifies easy and constant readiness to set aside decisions of other branches of Government is wholly incompatible with a faith in democracy and in so far it encourages a belief that judges should be left to correct the result of public indifference it is a vicious teaching.” Unless the parameters of PIL are strictly formulated by the Supreme Court and strictly observed, PIL which is so necessary in India, is in danger of becoming diffuse, unprincipled, encroaching into the functions of other branches of government and ineffective by its indiscriminate use.
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The constitution gives the states power to frame laws on all the subjects included in the state list. But the central government has the authority to interfere even in these powers of states under special circumstances. Discuss.
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At the Resolution of Rajya Sabha - The Union Parliament will be authorized to pass a law on a subject of state list about which the Rajya Sabha passes a resolution with 2/3rds majority of the members present and voting saying that subject has attained national importance. Such a resolution of the Rajya Sabha will give the Parliament the Legislative power for one year at a time. The power may be extended yearly till the need is felt. Request of the states - Art. 252 empower the Parliament to legislate on a matter in the state list if two or more states desire that any of the matter in the state list be regulated by the Parliament. Any Act pressed cannot be amended by a State Legislature to which the law applies. Failure of the constitutional machinery - The Parliament is empowered to pass laws on the state subject for the state in which emergency has been proclaimed because of the failure of constitutional machinery. It may delegate his Legislative Power concerning the states to the President of India if it so deems necessary. During emergency - The Parliament has the authority to pass laws on any subjects of the state list during the emergency proclaimed because of war and external aggression etc. Such a law may be made for the whole of India or any part thereof. Enforcement of International treaties - The Parliament has the power to make law on any item of the state in order to implement some international treaty or agreement or convention. Assent of President is essential - Some Bills are reserved by the Governor for the signature of the President after being passed by the state Legislature e.g. Bills concerning restrictions as the powers of High Courts and Bills concerning acquisitions on property by the state by paying compensation etc. The President has the power of absolute veto over the Bills which are thus reserved by the Governors for his signature.
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##Question:The constitution gives the states power to frame laws on all the subjects included in the state list. But the central government has the authority to interfere even in these powers of states under special circumstances. Discuss. ##Answer:At the Resolution of Rajya Sabha - The Union Parliament will be authorized to pass a law on a subject of state list about which the Rajya Sabha passes a resolution with 2/3rds majority of the members present and voting saying that subject has attained national importance. Such a resolution of the Rajya Sabha will give the Parliament the Legislative power for one year at a time. The power may be extended yearly till the need is felt. Request of the states - Art. 252 empower the Parliament to legislate on a matter in the state list if two or more states desire that any of the matter in the state list be regulated by the Parliament. Any Act pressed cannot be amended by a State Legislature to which the law applies. Failure of the constitutional machinery - The Parliament is empowered to pass laws on the state subject for the state in which emergency has been proclaimed because of the failure of constitutional machinery. It may delegate his Legislative Power concerning the states to the President of India if it so deems necessary. During emergency - The Parliament has the authority to pass laws on any subjects of the state list during the emergency proclaimed because of war and external aggression etc. Such a law may be made for the whole of India or any part thereof. Enforcement of International treaties - The Parliament has the power to make law on any item of the state in order to implement some international treaty or agreement or convention. Assent of President is essential - Some Bills are reserved by the Governor for the signature of the President after being passed by the state Legislature e.g. Bills concerning restrictions as the powers of High Courts and Bills concerning acquisitions on property by the state by paying compensation etc. The President has the power of absolute veto over the Bills which are thus reserved by the Governors for his signature.
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The Punchhi commission’s recommendations regarding governor of the states is worth an appreciation but its implementation seems a challenge. Comment.
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Punchhi commission made very pertinent observations regarding the qualifications, appointment and removal of governors. As for qualifications pertaining to governor, the Punchhi Commission was forthright in suggesting that the nominee should not have participated in active politics at even local level for at least a couple of years prior to his appointment. It also endorses the Sarkaria Commission recommendation that a governor be an eminent person and must not belong to the State where he is to be posted. While endorsing the recommendation made by the National Commission on Review of Working of the Constitution (NCRWC), it explicitly says that the appointment of governor should be entrusted to a high powered Committee comprising the Prime Minister, Home Minister, speaker of the Lok Sabha and Chief Minister of the concerned State. Besides, the Vice – President too can be involved in the process. It also recommended that the State Chief Minister have a say in the appointment of governor. Unlike the Sarkaria Commission report, the Punchhi Commission report strongly recommends that a governor should be given a fixed five – year tenure. While strongly deprecating the arbitrary dismissal of governors, it said that the practice of treating governors as political football must stop. Emphasizing that removal of a governor be for a reason related to his discharge of functions , it has proposed provisions for impeachment by the State legislature along the same lines as that of the President by Parliament . The Punchhi Commission also felt that governors should have the right to sanction prosecution of a minister against the advice of the council of ministers. It also recommended that a Constitutional amendment be brought about to limit the scope of discretionary powers of the governor under Article 163 (2) of the Constitution. At the same breath, it also recommended that governors should have the right to sanction prosecution of a minister against the advice of the council of ministers. However, it wanted that the convention of making them Chancellors of Universities be done away with. It also advocated that governors should not sit on decisions and must decide matters within a four – month period. Punchhi Commission laid down clear guidelines for the appointment of Chief Ministers. While upholding the view that a pre – poll alliance should be treated as one political party, it lays down the order of precedence that ought to be followed by the governor in case of a hung house as follows : (a) Call the group with the largest prepoll alliance commanding the largest number ;( b) The single largest party with support of others; (c ) The post – electoral coalition with all parties joining the government ; and lastly , (d) The post – electoral alliance with some parties joining the government and remaining including independents supporting from outside . The Punchhi Commission strongly came out in favour of amending Articles 355 and 356 to enable the Centre to bring specific trouble torn areas under its rule for a limited period. To check its misuse by Centre , it has proposed “localizing emergency provisions” under both these Articles contending that localized areas either a district or parts of a district be brought under Governor’s rule instead of the whole State and its duration must not be more than three months. It, however, backs their right to give sanction for the prosecution of ministers against the advise of the State government.
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##Question:The Punchhi commission’s recommendations regarding governor of the states is worth an appreciation but its implementation seems a challenge. Comment. ##Answer:Punchhi commission made very pertinent observations regarding the qualifications, appointment and removal of governors. As for qualifications pertaining to governor, the Punchhi Commission was forthright in suggesting that the nominee should not have participated in active politics at even local level for at least a couple of years prior to his appointment. It also endorses the Sarkaria Commission recommendation that a governor be an eminent person and must not belong to the State where he is to be posted. While endorsing the recommendation made by the National Commission on Review of Working of the Constitution (NCRWC), it explicitly says that the appointment of governor should be entrusted to a high powered Committee comprising the Prime Minister, Home Minister, speaker of the Lok Sabha and Chief Minister of the concerned State. Besides, the Vice – President too can be involved in the process. It also recommended that the State Chief Minister have a say in the appointment of governor. Unlike the Sarkaria Commission report, the Punchhi Commission report strongly recommends that a governor should be given a fixed five – year tenure. While strongly deprecating the arbitrary dismissal of governors, it said that the practice of treating governors as political football must stop. Emphasizing that removal of a governor be for a reason related to his discharge of functions , it has proposed provisions for impeachment by the State legislature along the same lines as that of the President by Parliament . The Punchhi Commission also felt that governors should have the right to sanction prosecution of a minister against the advice of the council of ministers. It also recommended that a Constitutional amendment be brought about to limit the scope of discretionary powers of the governor under Article 163 (2) of the Constitution. At the same breath, it also recommended that governors should have the right to sanction prosecution of a minister against the advice of the council of ministers. However, it wanted that the convention of making them Chancellors of Universities be done away with. It also advocated that governors should not sit on decisions and must decide matters within a four – month period. Punchhi Commission laid down clear guidelines for the appointment of Chief Ministers. While upholding the view that a pre – poll alliance should be treated as one political party, it lays down the order of precedence that ought to be followed by the governor in case of a hung house as follows : (a) Call the group with the largest prepoll alliance commanding the largest number ;( b) The single largest party with support of others; (c ) The post – electoral coalition with all parties joining the government ; and lastly , (d) The post – electoral alliance with some parties joining the government and remaining including independents supporting from outside . The Punchhi Commission strongly came out in favour of amending Articles 355 and 356 to enable the Centre to bring specific trouble torn areas under its rule for a limited period. To check its misuse by Centre , it has proposed “localizing emergency provisions” under both these Articles contending that localized areas either a district or parts of a district be brought under Governor’s rule instead of the whole State and its duration must not be more than three months. It, however, backs their right to give sanction for the prosecution of ministers against the advise of the State government.
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Comment upon the issues raised by the thirteenth finance commission
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- It favoured bringing of GST - Empowered committee of state finance commission should be transformed into statutory council. - Wanted restriction on too many centrally sponsored schemes - Favoured reforms in various central and state public sector undertakings in matters such as disinvestment, accounts & restructuring - Didn’t favour more creation of funds outside consolidated funds - Favoured more reforms in state FRBM legislations - At union level favours targeted approach for revenue surplus - Recommendations of state finance commission should be appropriately and timely implemented - Grants given to states should be utilized well - AT national level in planning and financial matters,issues of states and local matters should be taken care of. - It also favoured suitable putting effect the Medium Term Fiscal Plan (MTFP), and there should be better implementations. - More linkage mechanisms to link national and states finance commissions.
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##Question:Comment upon the issues raised by the thirteenth finance commission##Answer:- It favoured bringing of GST - Empowered committee of state finance commission should be transformed into statutory council. - Wanted restriction on too many centrally sponsored schemes - Favoured reforms in various central and state public sector undertakings in matters such as disinvestment, accounts & restructuring - Didn’t favour more creation of funds outside consolidated funds - Favoured more reforms in state FRBM legislations - At union level favours targeted approach for revenue surplus - Recommendations of state finance commission should be appropriately and timely implemented - Grants given to states should be utilized well - AT national level in planning and financial matters,issues of states and local matters should be taken care of. - It also favoured suitable putting effect the Medium Term Fiscal Plan (MTFP), and there should be better implementations. - More linkage mechanisms to link national and states finance commissions.
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The UPSC is the watchdog of merit in India & thus it is believed to be the most efficient institution but it is not free from functional loopholes. Comment.
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UPSC is watchdog of merit system in India. Functional loopholes- - Advisory nature of upsc report- (art 323) undermines the dignity of constitutional authority - No consultation of upsc by parliament with regard to reservation of posts for the backward classes, sc’s & st’s. - UPSC-CVC conflict on disciplinary matters - Limitations in classification of services - Loopholes due to secrecy nature of the office.
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##Question:The UPSC is the watchdog of merit in India & thus it is believed to be the most efficient institution but it is not free from functional loopholes. Comment. ##Answer:UPSC is watchdog of merit system in India. Functional loopholes- - Advisory nature of upsc report- (art 323) undermines the dignity of constitutional authority - No consultation of upsc by parliament with regard to reservation of posts for the backward classes, sc’s & st’s. - UPSC-CVC conflict on disciplinary matters - Limitations in classification of services - Loopholes due to secrecy nature of the office.
| 892
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Planning commission role has almost changed since its formation. Evaluate the changing role of planning commission in present economic context.
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- - Indicative planning now ( directive before) - Focus on increasing efficiency of utilization of resources available as against increasing plan outlays. - Centralizing tendancy of planning commission diluting, now it acts as coordinating mechanism to make coherent public policy in order to attain spirit of cooperative fiscal federalism - Promotion of PPP for facilitation of market - Integrated role with holistic approach for public policy.
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##Question:Planning commission role has almost changed since its formation. Evaluate the changing role of planning commission in present economic context. ##Answer:- - Indicative planning now ( directive before) - Focus on increasing efficiency of utilization of resources available as against increasing plan outlays. - Centralizing tendancy of planning commission diluting, now it acts as coordinating mechanism to make coherent public policy in order to attain spirit of cooperative fiscal federalism - Promotion of PPP for facilitation of market - Integrated role with holistic approach for public policy.
| 893
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Discuss the effect of 80th and 88th amendment of constitution in distribution of tax revenues.
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m
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##Question:Discuss the effect of 80th and 88th amendment of constitution in distribution of tax revenues.##Answer:m
| 954
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Land alienation is now a days a major problem faced by tribal people of India. Comment on this statement
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The large development projects undertaken by the government encroaches upon the tribal land. Large scale displacements and unsatisfactory compensation and rehabilitation are common place, leading to further backwardness and seclusion. Because of their diversity they lack a common voice to bargain collectively, this large scale displacement and land alienation has huge impact on their livelihood Impact assessment- 1. Landlessness: Expropriation of land removes the main foundation upon which people's productive systems, commercial activities, and livelihoods are constructed. 2. Joblessness: The risk of losing wage employment is very high both in urban and rural displacements for those employed in enterprises, services or agriculture. Yet creating new jobs is difficult and requires substantial investment. 3. Homelessness. Loss of shelter tends to be only temporary for many people being resettled; but, for some, homelessness or a worsening in their housing standards remains a lingering condition. In a broader cultural sense, loss of a family's individual home and the loss of a group's cultural space tend to result in alienation and status deprivation. 4. Marginalisation. Marginalisation occurs when families lose economic power and spiral on a “downward mobility” path. Many individuals cannot use their earlier-acquired skills at the new location; human capital is lost or rendered inactive or obsolete. Economic marginalisation is often accompanied by social and psychological marginalisation. 5. Food Insecurity. Forced uprooting increases the risk that people will fall into temporary or chronic undernourishment, defined as calorie-protein intake levels below the minimum necessary for normal growth and work. 6. Increased Morbidity and Mortality. Displacement-induced social stress and psychological trauma, the use of unsafe water supply and improvised sewage systems, increase vulnerability to epidemics and chronic diarrhoea, dysentery, or particularly parasitic and vector-borne diseases such as malaria and schistosomiasis. 7. Loss of Access to Common Property. For poor people, loss of access to the common property assets that belonged to relocated communities (pastures, forest lands, water bodies, burial grounds, quarries and so on) result in significant deterioration in income and livelihood levels.
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##Question:Land alienation is now a days a major problem faced by tribal people of India. Comment on this statement ##Answer:The large development projects undertaken by the government encroaches upon the tribal land. Large scale displacements and unsatisfactory compensation and rehabilitation are common place, leading to further backwardness and seclusion. Because of their diversity they lack a common voice to bargain collectively, this large scale displacement and land alienation has huge impact on their livelihood Impact assessment- 1. Landlessness: Expropriation of land removes the main foundation upon which people's productive systems, commercial activities, and livelihoods are constructed. 2. Joblessness: The risk of losing wage employment is very high both in urban and rural displacements for those employed in enterprises, services or agriculture. Yet creating new jobs is difficult and requires substantial investment. 3. Homelessness. Loss of shelter tends to be only temporary for many people being resettled; but, for some, homelessness or a worsening in their housing standards remains a lingering condition. In a broader cultural sense, loss of a family's individual home and the loss of a group's cultural space tend to result in alienation and status deprivation. 4. Marginalisation. Marginalisation occurs when families lose economic power and spiral on a “downward mobility” path. Many individuals cannot use their earlier-acquired skills at the new location; human capital is lost or rendered inactive or obsolete. Economic marginalisation is often accompanied by social and psychological marginalisation. 5. Food Insecurity. Forced uprooting increases the risk that people will fall into temporary or chronic undernourishment, defined as calorie-protein intake levels below the minimum necessary for normal growth and work. 6. Increased Morbidity and Mortality. Displacement-induced social stress and psychological trauma, the use of unsafe water supply and improvised sewage systems, increase vulnerability to epidemics and chronic diarrhoea, dysentery, or particularly parasitic and vector-borne diseases such as malaria and schistosomiasis. 7. Loss of Access to Common Property. For poor people, loss of access to the common property assets that belonged to relocated communities (pastures, forest lands, water bodies, burial grounds, quarries and so on) result in significant deterioration in income and livelihood levels.
| 977
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“The seas are the ultimate receptacle for land-based pollution and it is interesting to assess the stress on coastal seas caused by this pollution.”In light of this statement comment upon the various causes of marine pollution in India.
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There are some major sources of marine pollution. 1. Domestic Sewage Domestic sewage is perhaps the major pollutant in coastal areas of India. Some 4.4 km 3 of such wastes are discharged into the seas off India each year. For example, Mumbai discharges 365 million tons of sewage effluent to the sea annually and Kolkata about 396 million tons. Perhaps the major problem in India is that only a small proportion of this sewage is treated before discharge. The situation could improve when the tertiary level treatment plants and the 3 km sewage outfalls are completed in Mumbai and the Ganga Action Plan is implemented. Nevertheless, upgrading sewage treatment facilities would be the greatest single contribution to the reduction of coastal pollution in India. As an example of the problem, Mahim Bay in Mumbai occupies 64km 2 and once had a healthy ecosystem with fisheries, oyster beds, mangroves and migrating birds. It is now one of the most polluted areas in the country. The dissolved oxygen levels in the water of the Bay sometimes fall below 1 mg/1 and hydrogen sulphide (denoting anoxia) can be detected depending on the stages of the tide. Water has high nutrient contents (denoting Eutrophication), high biological oxygen demand and high coliforms bacteria counts. The near shore waters display severe organic pollution, especially during ebb tides, resulting in low biomass and a fauna consisting mainly of species from low trophic levels. Essentially specially then, Mahim Bay is an open sewer which may affect the health of the local communities. In addition, the benthic fauna of Mumbai is badly depleted, resulting in the loss of fisheries. Fisheries are retreating from shore and fishermen now have to go at least 10 km offshore to get a worthwhile catch. The main health hazards for humans are gastrointestinal diseases resulting from the consumption of contaminated seafood. In the long run, there is another threat. Because of the high productivity of the surface water of the Arabian Sea caused by upwelling of deep sea-water, the intermediate-depth waters off the west coast of India are poor in oxygen and have a renewal time of only four years. As a result, these waters may be vulnerable to perturbation, either by an increased flux of organic carbon from pollution or an increased productivity of surface waters caused by climatic change. In either case, this could lead to these waters becoming completely anoxic and lifeless, with major implications. 2. Industrial Wastes About 0.44 km 3 of industrial waste are annually discharged into the seas around India. Many industries such as paper, textile, chemical, pharmaceutical, plastic, food, leather, jute, pesticide and oil contribute to this waste and particular attention need to be paid to heavy metals like lead, zinc, cadmium and mercury, and also to elements such as chromium used in the leather industry. In general, the concentrations of these elements in seawater, sediments and biota in offshore areas do not pose a problem. Discharge of these elements into the rivers also tends not to cause major problems to the marine environment. For example, 55 percentages of the metals discharged into the Ganges settle out in the estuarine and river mouth region and only 15 percentages reach the Bay of Bengal. In Mahim Bay and Thane Creek, Mumbai the concentrations of heavy metals in marine organisms are quite high, indicating environmental degradation to an extent that some marine species are unfit for human consumption. An estimate has been made of heavy- metal discharge into the Ulhas River, which drains into Thane Creek in Mumbai. The estimate was based on monitoring of 18 of the 48 major industries operating in the region. It showed that 11 tons of Cu, 400 tons of Zn, 7 tons of Hg and 0.5 tons of Cr are discharged into the river annually. This explains the massive impact on Thane Creek. A major source of metal pollution in India is fly ash from power stations. Over 100 million tons of fly ash is produced each year and much of it is transported in the atmosphere before deposition. It is a major source of contamination of heavy metals such as cadmium in the rivers and estuarine sediments in the vicinity of such power stations. Other sources of metal pollution include drainage water, weathering of spoil heaps and anti- fouling paints used to paint fishing boats and trawlers. 3. Pesticides A total of 381,000 tons of pesticides and other halogenated hydrocarbons are used in India each year, of which 55,000 tons are used in agriculture. The total annual consumption of DDT and its isomers is 107,000 tons per year. These chemicals have two principal applications, as pesticides, herbicides and fungicides in agriculture and in the control of vector-borne diseases such as malaria. These compounds are extremely persistent in the environment and the seas are their ultimate repositories. It is believed that up to 25 percentage of the DDT used to date may have been transferred to the sea. In India, pesticide concentrations are much higher on the east coast than on the west coast and are transported there by the large rivers on the east coast. These compounds have a demonstrable impact on marine biota and result in reproductive failures in birds and fish and inhibition of photosynthetic activity. It should be emphasized that terms pesticides and fungicides are a misnomer. Th compounds are in fact biocides. Their indiscriminate effects on biota have been well-known over 30 years and are well documented in Rechel Carson's classic book Silent Spring. Impact of DDT on wildlife is particularly damaging and this is the main reason that it has banned in most western countries. In India, DDT is used principally for malarial control. Howe despite a substantial initial impact and helping to bring down new malarial cases to about 200 per year, there are now over 2 million new cases per year as a result of mosquitoes become resistant to DDT. Doubt has now been cast in the efficacy of DDT in the control of malaria, In India, huge quantities of biocides are used each year and there is a clear need to re' reliance on them, particularly DDT which should be banned outright as it is a dangerous In the west, much effort is being directed into the development of biodegradable pesticide Although these are more expensive chemical than traditional ones there is an urgent need review India's excessive reliance on biocides in the cause of environmental restoration. 4. Oil One of the main tanker routes for the transport of oil is from the Gulf to the Far through the Arabian Sea. Apart from tanker accident and oil well blowouts, the main source of pollution in the marine environment is ballast discharge and bilge washing. The occurrence of slicks and, tar balls along this tanker route are well documented. The tar particles have a reside time of 30-45days before they start sinking and tar-like residues are wasted up on the west beaches of India. Particularly during the SW monsoon a peak of about 750-1000 tons of deposits was recorded on these beaches in the mid 1970s. This type of pollution appears to leveled off or even decreased since then as a result of a decrease in the volume of oil transport: along these routes. In any case, vigilance is required to control such pollution. Thus these are the main source of marine pollution around India. The list is by no nr complete. For instance, it does not mention the impacts of (i) soil erosion and land reclaim (ii) disposal of solid wastes (litter), (iii) mining, (iv) modification of the hydro cycles of rivers dams and (v) the sitting of nuclear power plants on the coast. Similarly, the impact of this pollution on sensitive environments such as estuaries, coral reefs and mangrove forests is not discuss It is however clear that this is a major problem.
|
##Question:“The seas are the ultimate receptacle for land-based pollution and it is interesting to assess the stress on coastal seas caused by this pollution.”In light of this statement comment upon the various causes of marine pollution in India. ##Answer:There are some major sources of marine pollution. 1. Domestic Sewage Domestic sewage is perhaps the major pollutant in coastal areas of India. Some 4.4 km 3 of such wastes are discharged into the seas off India each year. For example, Mumbai discharges 365 million tons of sewage effluent to the sea annually and Kolkata about 396 million tons. Perhaps the major problem in India is that only a small proportion of this sewage is treated before discharge. The situation could improve when the tertiary level treatment plants and the 3 km sewage outfalls are completed in Mumbai and the Ganga Action Plan is implemented. Nevertheless, upgrading sewage treatment facilities would be the greatest single contribution to the reduction of coastal pollution in India. As an example of the problem, Mahim Bay in Mumbai occupies 64km 2 and once had a healthy ecosystem with fisheries, oyster beds, mangroves and migrating birds. It is now one of the most polluted areas in the country. The dissolved oxygen levels in the water of the Bay sometimes fall below 1 mg/1 and hydrogen sulphide (denoting anoxia) can be detected depending on the stages of the tide. Water has high nutrient contents (denoting Eutrophication), high biological oxygen demand and high coliforms bacteria counts. The near shore waters display severe organic pollution, especially during ebb tides, resulting in low biomass and a fauna consisting mainly of species from low trophic levels. Essentially specially then, Mahim Bay is an open sewer which may affect the health of the local communities. In addition, the benthic fauna of Mumbai is badly depleted, resulting in the loss of fisheries. Fisheries are retreating from shore and fishermen now have to go at least 10 km offshore to get a worthwhile catch. The main health hazards for humans are gastrointestinal diseases resulting from the consumption of contaminated seafood. In the long run, there is another threat. Because of the high productivity of the surface water of the Arabian Sea caused by upwelling of deep sea-water, the intermediate-depth waters off the west coast of India are poor in oxygen and have a renewal time of only four years. As a result, these waters may be vulnerable to perturbation, either by an increased flux of organic carbon from pollution or an increased productivity of surface waters caused by climatic change. In either case, this could lead to these waters becoming completely anoxic and lifeless, with major implications. 2. Industrial Wastes About 0.44 km 3 of industrial waste are annually discharged into the seas around India. Many industries such as paper, textile, chemical, pharmaceutical, plastic, food, leather, jute, pesticide and oil contribute to this waste and particular attention need to be paid to heavy metals like lead, zinc, cadmium and mercury, and also to elements such as chromium used in the leather industry. In general, the concentrations of these elements in seawater, sediments and biota in offshore areas do not pose a problem. Discharge of these elements into the rivers also tends not to cause major problems to the marine environment. For example, 55 percentages of the metals discharged into the Ganges settle out in the estuarine and river mouth region and only 15 percentages reach the Bay of Bengal. In Mahim Bay and Thane Creek, Mumbai the concentrations of heavy metals in marine organisms are quite high, indicating environmental degradation to an extent that some marine species are unfit for human consumption. An estimate has been made of heavy- metal discharge into the Ulhas River, which drains into Thane Creek in Mumbai. The estimate was based on monitoring of 18 of the 48 major industries operating in the region. It showed that 11 tons of Cu, 400 tons of Zn, 7 tons of Hg and 0.5 tons of Cr are discharged into the river annually. This explains the massive impact on Thane Creek. A major source of metal pollution in India is fly ash from power stations. Over 100 million tons of fly ash is produced each year and much of it is transported in the atmosphere before deposition. It is a major source of contamination of heavy metals such as cadmium in the rivers and estuarine sediments in the vicinity of such power stations. Other sources of metal pollution include drainage water, weathering of spoil heaps and anti- fouling paints used to paint fishing boats and trawlers. 3. Pesticides A total of 381,000 tons of pesticides and other halogenated hydrocarbons are used in India each year, of which 55,000 tons are used in agriculture. The total annual consumption of DDT and its isomers is 107,000 tons per year. These chemicals have two principal applications, as pesticides, herbicides and fungicides in agriculture and in the control of vector-borne diseases such as malaria. These compounds are extremely persistent in the environment and the seas are their ultimate repositories. It is believed that up to 25 percentage of the DDT used to date may have been transferred to the sea. In India, pesticide concentrations are much higher on the east coast than on the west coast and are transported there by the large rivers on the east coast. These compounds have a demonstrable impact on marine biota and result in reproductive failures in birds and fish and inhibition of photosynthetic activity. It should be emphasized that terms pesticides and fungicides are a misnomer. Th compounds are in fact biocides. Their indiscriminate effects on biota have been well-known over 30 years and are well documented in Rechel Carson's classic book Silent Spring. Impact of DDT on wildlife is particularly damaging and this is the main reason that it has banned in most western countries. In India, DDT is used principally for malarial control. Howe despite a substantial initial impact and helping to bring down new malarial cases to about 200 per year, there are now over 2 million new cases per year as a result of mosquitoes become resistant to DDT. Doubt has now been cast in the efficacy of DDT in the control of malaria, In India, huge quantities of biocides are used each year and there is a clear need to re' reliance on them, particularly DDT which should be banned outright as it is a dangerous In the west, much effort is being directed into the development of biodegradable pesticide Although these are more expensive chemical than traditional ones there is an urgent need review India's excessive reliance on biocides in the cause of environmental restoration. 4. Oil One of the main tanker routes for the transport of oil is from the Gulf to the Far through the Arabian Sea. Apart from tanker accident and oil well blowouts, the main source of pollution in the marine environment is ballast discharge and bilge washing. The occurrence of slicks and, tar balls along this tanker route are well documented. The tar particles have a reside time of 30-45days before they start sinking and tar-like residues are wasted up on the west beaches of India. Particularly during the SW monsoon a peak of about 750-1000 tons of deposits was recorded on these beaches in the mid 1970s. This type of pollution appears to leveled off or even decreased since then as a result of a decrease in the volume of oil transport: along these routes. In any case, vigilance is required to control such pollution. Thus these are the main source of marine pollution around India. The list is by no nr complete. For instance, it does not mention the impacts of (i) soil erosion and land reclaim (ii) disposal of solid wastes (litter), (iii) mining, (iv) modification of the hydro cycles of rivers dams and (v) the sitting of nuclear power plants on the coast. Similarly, the impact of this pollution on sensitive environments such as estuaries, coral reefs and mangrove forests is not discuss It is however clear that this is a major problem.
| 978
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What are “biodiversity hotspots”? Name the biodiversity hotspots of of India& give reasons for the biodiversity loss in hotspots
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A biodiversity hotspot is a biogeographic region with a significant reservoir of biodiversity that is under threat from humans. To qualify as a biodiversity hotspot on Myers 2000 edition of the hotspot-map, a region must meet two strict criteria: it must contain at least 0.5% or 1,500 species of vascular plants as endemics , and it has to have lost at least 70% of its primary vegetation. Around the world, at least 25 areas qualify under this definition, with nine others possible candidates. These sites support nearly 60% of the world's plant, bird, mammal, reptile, and amphibian species, with a very high share of endemic species. Three regions that satisfy these criteria exist in India, these are- - The western ghats - The eastern Himalayas - The Indo Burma region There are four main reasons why species are being threatened in these biodiversity hotspots Habitat destruction: As recently as 30 years ago, most of the regions in these biodiversity hotspots were inaccessible and remote. Now, due to better infrastructure, contact of these areas with humans has increased. Activities such as logging of wood, increased agriculture, increased human habitation has led to destruction of forests and pollution of rivers. These factors are causing species ranges to reduce and habitats to become choppy. The government planned to establish habitat corridors, but these plans have not yet materialized in most areas. Activities such as mining, construction of large dams, highway construction has also caused significant destruction of habitats. Resource mismanagement: Increased tourism without proper regulation has led to pollution and environmental degradation. Prime example are pilgrimage destinations like Rishikesh and hill stations like Dehradoon . These spots, once nestled in the pristine ranges of the Himalayas, are now dirty commercial destinations. Places like Dehradoon are even experiencing a construction boom so large that illegal immigrants from Bangladesh are also flocking there. Religious destinations in the Himalayas, where devotees flock in millions now, are also hot destinations for medicinal plant trade, which has threatened plant life in the area. Poaching: Large mammals such as the tiger, rhinoceros and the elephant once faced the distinct possibility of complete extinction due to rampant hunting and poaching. However, efforts by conservationists since the 1970s has helped stabilize and grow these populations. Still, the trade in tiger hide, elephant tusks, tiger teeth, rhinoceros horn remains profitable and rampant. Climate change: Although dire IPCC predictions of Himalayan glaciers melting by 2035 have been retracted, there is no doubt that several Himalayan glaciers are melting. In the Western Ghats, studies have shown that the deciduous and the evergreen forests of Karnataka are the most at risk. Climate change may significantly affect the temperatures, rainfalls and water tables in the Western Ghats, according to an assessment by the Government of India.
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##Question:What are “biodiversity hotspots”? Name the biodiversity hotspots of of India& give reasons for the biodiversity loss in hotspots##Answer:A biodiversity hotspot is a biogeographic region with a significant reservoir of biodiversity that is under threat from humans. To qualify as a biodiversity hotspot on Myers 2000 edition of the hotspot-map, a region must meet two strict criteria: it must contain at least 0.5% or 1,500 species of vascular plants as endemics , and it has to have lost at least 70% of its primary vegetation. Around the world, at least 25 areas qualify under this definition, with nine others possible candidates. These sites support nearly 60% of the world's plant, bird, mammal, reptile, and amphibian species, with a very high share of endemic species. Three regions that satisfy these criteria exist in India, these are- - The western ghats - The eastern Himalayas - The Indo Burma region There are four main reasons why species are being threatened in these biodiversity hotspots Habitat destruction: As recently as 30 years ago, most of the regions in these biodiversity hotspots were inaccessible and remote. Now, due to better infrastructure, contact of these areas with humans has increased. Activities such as logging of wood, increased agriculture, increased human habitation has led to destruction of forests and pollution of rivers. These factors are causing species ranges to reduce and habitats to become choppy. The government planned to establish habitat corridors, but these plans have not yet materialized in most areas. Activities such as mining, construction of large dams, highway construction has also caused significant destruction of habitats. Resource mismanagement: Increased tourism without proper regulation has led to pollution and environmental degradation. Prime example are pilgrimage destinations like Rishikesh and hill stations like Dehradoon . These spots, once nestled in the pristine ranges of the Himalayas, are now dirty commercial destinations. Places like Dehradoon are even experiencing a construction boom so large that illegal immigrants from Bangladesh are also flocking there. Religious destinations in the Himalayas, where devotees flock in millions now, are also hot destinations for medicinal plant trade, which has threatened plant life in the area. Poaching: Large mammals such as the tiger, rhinoceros and the elephant once faced the distinct possibility of complete extinction due to rampant hunting and poaching. However, efforts by conservationists since the 1970s has helped stabilize and grow these populations. Still, the trade in tiger hide, elephant tusks, tiger teeth, rhinoceros horn remains profitable and rampant. Climate change: Although dire IPCC predictions of Himalayan glaciers melting by 2035 have been retracted, there is no doubt that several Himalayan glaciers are melting. In the Western Ghats, studies have shown that the deciduous and the evergreen forests of Karnataka are the most at risk. Climate change may significantly affect the temperatures, rainfalls and water tables in the Western Ghats, according to an assessment by the Government of India.
| 979
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Write a note on the biomass sector in India. Its problems & challenges ahead.
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Biomass power plants in India are based mostly on agricultural waste. Gasifier-based power plants are providing a great solution for off-grid decentralized power and are lighting homes in Bihar, courtesy Husk Power Systems and DESI Power. While for providing grid-based power 8-15 MW thermal biomass power plants are suitable for Indian conditions, they stand nowhere when compared to power plants being set up in Europe which are at least 20 times larger. Energy from biomass is reliable as it is free of fluctuation unlike wind power and does not need storage to be used in times of non-availability as is the case with solar. Still it is not the preferred renewable energy source till now, the primary reason that may be cited is the biomass supply chain. Biomass availability is not certain for whole year. Biomass from agriculture is available only after harvesting period which can stretch only for 2-3 months in a year. So there is a need to procure and then store required quantity of biomass within this stipulated time. Some of the Indian states leading the pack in establishing biomass-based power supply are Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, and Maharashtra. Ironically, states having agricultural-based economy have not properly been able to utilize the opportunity and figure low on biomass energy utilization. Only Uttar Pradesh has utilized large part of the biomass potential in north Indian States and that is mainly due to the sugarcane industry and the co-generation power plants The electricity generation could be cheaper than coal if biomass could be sourced economically but ssome established biomass power plants tend to misuse the limit of coal use provided to them (generally 10-15% of biomass use) to keep it operational in lean period of biomass supply. They are not able to run power plants solely on biomass economically which can be attributed to : Biomass price increases very fast after commissioning of power project and therefore government tariff policy needs an annual revision Lack of mechanization in Indian Agriculture Sector Defragmented land holdings Most of the farmers are small or marginal Government policy is the biggest factor behind lack of investment in biopower sector in states with high biomass potential. Defragmented nature of agricultural lands do not allow high mechanization which results in reduction of efficiency and increase in procurement cost. Transportation cost constitutes a significant portion of the costs associated with the establishment and running of biomass power plants. There is need of processing in form of shredding the biomass onsite before transportation to increase its density when procurement is done from more than a particular distance. While transportation in any kind or form from more than 50 Km becomes unviable for a power plant of size 10-15MW. European power plants are importing their biomass in form of pellets from other countries to meet the requirement of the huge biopower plants. Not all the biomass which is regarded as agri-waste is usually a waste; part of it is used as fuel for cooking while some part is necessary to go back to soil to retain the soil nutrients. According to conservative estimates, only two-thirdof agricultural residues could be procured for power production. And as human mentality goes waste is nothing but a heap of ash for the farmer till someone finds a way to make profit out of it, and from there on the demand of waste increases and so its price. Though there is nothing wrong in transferring benefits to the farmers and providing them a competitive cost of the agri-waste but operations becomes increasingly unviable with time. A robust business model is necessary to motivate local entrepreneurs to take up the responsibility of supplying biomass to processingfacilities. Collection centres covering 2-3 villages can be set up to facilitate decentralization of biomass supply mechanism.Biomass power plant operators may explore the possibility of using energy crops as a substitute for crop wastes, in case of crop failure. Bamboo and napier grass can be grown on marginal and degraded lands.
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##Question:Write a note on the biomass sector in India. Its problems & challenges ahead. ##Answer:Biomass power plants in India are based mostly on agricultural waste. Gasifier-based power plants are providing a great solution for off-grid decentralized power and are lighting homes in Bihar, courtesy Husk Power Systems and DESI Power. While for providing grid-based power 8-15 MW thermal biomass power plants are suitable for Indian conditions, they stand nowhere when compared to power plants being set up in Europe which are at least 20 times larger. Energy from biomass is reliable as it is free of fluctuation unlike wind power and does not need storage to be used in times of non-availability as is the case with solar. Still it is not the preferred renewable energy source till now, the primary reason that may be cited is the biomass supply chain. Biomass availability is not certain for whole year. Biomass from agriculture is available only after harvesting period which can stretch only for 2-3 months in a year. So there is a need to procure and then store required quantity of biomass within this stipulated time. Some of the Indian states leading the pack in establishing biomass-based power supply are Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, and Maharashtra. Ironically, states having agricultural-based economy have not properly been able to utilize the opportunity and figure low on biomass energy utilization. Only Uttar Pradesh has utilized large part of the biomass potential in north Indian States and that is mainly due to the sugarcane industry and the co-generation power plants The electricity generation could be cheaper than coal if biomass could be sourced economically but ssome established biomass power plants tend to misuse the limit of coal use provided to them (generally 10-15% of biomass use) to keep it operational in lean period of biomass supply. They are not able to run power plants solely on biomass economically which can be attributed to : Biomass price increases very fast after commissioning of power project and therefore government tariff policy needs an annual revision Lack of mechanization in Indian Agriculture Sector Defragmented land holdings Most of the farmers are small or marginal Government policy is the biggest factor behind lack of investment in biopower sector in states with high biomass potential. Defragmented nature of agricultural lands do not allow high mechanization which results in reduction of efficiency and increase in procurement cost. Transportation cost constitutes a significant portion of the costs associated with the establishment and running of biomass power plants. There is need of processing in form of shredding the biomass onsite before transportation to increase its density when procurement is done from more than a particular distance. While transportation in any kind or form from more than 50 Km becomes unviable for a power plant of size 10-15MW. European power plants are importing their biomass in form of pellets from other countries to meet the requirement of the huge biopower plants. Not all the biomass which is regarded as agri-waste is usually a waste; part of it is used as fuel for cooking while some part is necessary to go back to soil to retain the soil nutrients. According to conservative estimates, only two-thirdof agricultural residues could be procured for power production. And as human mentality goes waste is nothing but a heap of ash for the farmer till someone finds a way to make profit out of it, and from there on the demand of waste increases and so its price. Though there is nothing wrong in transferring benefits to the farmers and providing them a competitive cost of the agri-waste but operations becomes increasingly unviable with time. A robust business model is necessary to motivate local entrepreneurs to take up the responsibility of supplying biomass to processingfacilities. Collection centres covering 2-3 villages can be set up to facilitate decentralization of biomass supply mechanism.Biomass power plant operators may explore the possibility of using energy crops as a substitute for crop wastes, in case of crop failure. Bamboo and napier grass can be grown on marginal and degraded lands.
| 980
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Discuss the various causes, regions and effects of Soil erosion in India.
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CAUSES OF SOIL EROSION IN INDIA 1)Heavy population pressure on land: - forest cover as low as 20.55% of total area – population continues to rise at a rapid rate – more forests are destroyed – heavy pressure on land. 2)Nature of Rainfall:- receives 80 to 90 per cent of rainfall in the monsoon season. – heavy downpour during during monsoon months causes floods. - remaining months – droughts – these affect soils 3)Overgrazing – number of domestic animals, esp cattle highest in world – cattle freely graze in open lands making them bare of vegetation-winds carry away dry soil particles - Rajasthan 4). Bad farming techniques – plough fields in traditional ways – small size of holdings, absence of terracing, contour cultivation, crop rotation, improper use of manure have caused erosion 5) Topography – North –Eastern parts of India, Shiwaliks and the hilly regions in south India are affected by soil erosion because of steep slopes and heavy rainfall. During heavy rainfall, soils are washed away by running water down the slope. 6) Deforestation: destruction of forests for cultivation – cutting of trees exposes the soil to water and wind which leads to soil erosion REGIONS OF SOIL EROSION *Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, UP, Gujarat, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka. Worst affected areas include: * The badlands of Chambal and Yamuna rivers * The piedmont zone of the western Himalayas * The Chotanagpur plateau region * The Tapi-Sabarmati valley region in Gujarat * The regur soil area of Maharashtra * The dry areas of Rajasthan, Gujarat and Haryana EFFECTS OF SOIL EROSION: * Loss of fertile top soil * Lowering of the underground water table and decreasing soil moisture * Drying of vegetation and extension of arid lands, increase in the frequency of droughts and floods * Silting of river and canal beds, Recurrence of landslides, adverse effect on economic prosperity and cultural development * Wind erosion reduces the productive capacity of soil, as most of the nutrients required by the plants are carried by the wind.
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##Question:Discuss the various causes, regions and effects of Soil erosion in India. ##Answer:CAUSES OF SOIL EROSION IN INDIA 1)Heavy population pressure on land: - forest cover as low as 20.55% of total area – population continues to rise at a rapid rate – more forests are destroyed – heavy pressure on land. 2)Nature of Rainfall:- receives 80 to 90 per cent of rainfall in the monsoon season. – heavy downpour during during monsoon months causes floods. - remaining months – droughts – these affect soils 3)Overgrazing – number of domestic animals, esp cattle highest in world – cattle freely graze in open lands making them bare of vegetation-winds carry away dry soil particles - Rajasthan 4). Bad farming techniques – plough fields in traditional ways – small size of holdings, absence of terracing, contour cultivation, crop rotation, improper use of manure have caused erosion 5) Topography – North –Eastern parts of India, Shiwaliks and the hilly regions in south India are affected by soil erosion because of steep slopes and heavy rainfall. During heavy rainfall, soils are washed away by running water down the slope. 6) Deforestation: destruction of forests for cultivation – cutting of trees exposes the soil to water and wind which leads to soil erosion REGIONS OF SOIL EROSION *Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, UP, Gujarat, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka. Worst affected areas include: * The badlands of Chambal and Yamuna rivers * The piedmont zone of the western Himalayas * The Chotanagpur plateau region * The Tapi-Sabarmati valley region in Gujarat * The regur soil area of Maharashtra * The dry areas of Rajasthan, Gujarat and Haryana EFFECTS OF SOIL EROSION: * Loss of fertile top soil * Lowering of the underground water table and decreasing soil moisture * Drying of vegetation and extension of arid lands, increase in the frequency of droughts and floods * Silting of river and canal beds, Recurrence of landslides, adverse effect on economic prosperity and cultural development * Wind erosion reduces the productive capacity of soil, as most of the nutrients required by the plants are carried by the wind.
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Why Tamil Nadu coast receive rainfall during retreating monsoon and not during South Western monsoon?
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During SW monsoon, T.N Coast is in rain-shadow region. Around September, with the sun fast retreating south, the northern land mass of the Indian subcontinent begins to cool off rapidly. With this air pressure begins to build over northern India, the Indian Ocean and its surrounding atmosphere still holds its heat. This causes the cold wind to sweep down from the Himalayas and Indo-Gangetic Plain towards the vast spans of the Indian Ocean south of the Deccan peninsula. This is known as the Northeast Monsoon or Retreating Monsoon. While travelling towards the Indian Ocean, the dry cold wind picks up some moisture from the Bay of Bengal and pours it over peninsular India and parts of Sri Lanka. Cities like Madras, which get less rain from the Southwest Monsoon, receive rain from this Monsoon. About 50% to 60% of the rain received by the state of Tamil Nadu is from the Northeast Monsoon.
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##Question:Why Tamil Nadu coast receive rainfall during retreating monsoon and not during South Western monsoon? ##Answer:During SW monsoon, T.N Coast is in rain-shadow region. Around September, with the sun fast retreating south, the northern land mass of the Indian subcontinent begins to cool off rapidly. With this air pressure begins to build over northern India, the Indian Ocean and its surrounding atmosphere still holds its heat. This causes the cold wind to sweep down from the Himalayas and Indo-Gangetic Plain towards the vast spans of the Indian Ocean south of the Deccan peninsula. This is known as the Northeast Monsoon or Retreating Monsoon. While travelling towards the Indian Ocean, the dry cold wind picks up some moisture from the Bay of Bengal and pours it over peninsular India and parts of Sri Lanka. Cities like Madras, which get less rain from the Southwest Monsoon, receive rain from this Monsoon. About 50% to 60% of the rain received by the state of Tamil Nadu is from the Northeast Monsoon.
| 982
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Explain the latitudinal and longitudinal extent of India both of mainland and Indian Union
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India lies entirely in the Northern Hemisphere. i. The main land of India extends between 8° 4' N and 37° 6' N latitudes and between 68° 7' E and 97° 25' E longitudes. ii. Addition of Andaman and Nicobar Islands and the Lakshadweep, to the main land makes it the Indian Union. Andaman and Nicobar Islands lie to south-east and south-west of the mainland in the Bay of Bengal. The Lakshadweep Island lies in the Arabian Sea. Extents of these Island groups are: Andaman and Nicobar Island: Latitudinal extent = 6° 45' N to 14° N Longitudinal extent = 92° E to 94° E Lakshadweep Islands: Latitudinal extent = 8° N to 12° 3' N Longitudinal extent = 71° E to 74° E The southernmost p6int of the Indian Union is Indira Point 6° 45' N passes through the Indira Point. Hence the exposé of the Indian Union is from 6° 45' N to 37° 6' N and from 68° 7' E to 97° 25' E. Indira Point got submerged in the sea water on Dec. 26, 2004 during Tsunami. But it has again emerged and is visible.
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##Question:Explain the latitudinal and longitudinal extent of India both of mainland and Indian Union##Answer:India lies entirely in the Northern Hemisphere. i. The main land of India extends between 8° 4' N and 37° 6' N latitudes and between 68° 7' E and 97° 25' E longitudes. ii. Addition of Andaman and Nicobar Islands and the Lakshadweep, to the main land makes it the Indian Union. Andaman and Nicobar Islands lie to south-east and south-west of the mainland in the Bay of Bengal. The Lakshadweep Island lies in the Arabian Sea. Extents of these Island groups are: Andaman and Nicobar Island: Latitudinal extent = 6° 45' N to 14° N Longitudinal extent = 92° E to 94° E Lakshadweep Islands: Latitudinal extent = 8° N to 12° 3' N Longitudinal extent = 71° E to 74° E The southernmost p6int of the Indian Union is Indira Point 6° 45' N passes through the Indira Point. Hence the exposé of the Indian Union is from 6° 45' N to 37° 6' N and from 68° 7' E to 97° 25' E. Indira Point got submerged in the sea water on Dec. 26, 2004 during Tsunami. But it has again emerged and is visible.
| 983
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Write a short note on Madden–Julian oscillation.
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The Madden–Julian oscillation (MJO) is the largest element of the intraseasonal (30–90 days) variability in the tropical atmosphere. It is a large-scale coupling between atmospheric circulation and tropical deep convection. Rather than being a standing pattern (like ENSO) it is a traveling pattern, propagating eastwards at approximately 4 to 8 m/s, through the atmosphere above the warm parts of the Indian and Pacific oceans. This overall circulation pattern manifests itself in various ways, most clearly as anomalous rainfall. This was discovered by Roland Madden and Paul Julian. The MJO is characterized by an eastward progression of large regions of both enhanced and suppressed tropical rainfall, observed mainly over the Indian Ocean and Pacific Ocean. The anomalous rainfall is usually first evident over the western Indian Ocean, and remains evident as it propagates over the very warm ocean waters of the western and central tropical Pacific. This pattern of tropical rainfall then generally becomes nondescript as it moves over the cooler ocean waters of the eastern Pacific (except over the region of warmer water off the west coast of Central America) but occasionally reappears at low amplitude over the tropical Atlantic and higher amplitude over the Indian Ocean. The wet phase of enhanced convection and precipitation is followed by a dry phase where thunderstorm activity is suppressed. Each cycle lasts approximately 30–60 days. Because of this pattern, The MJO is also known as the 30–60 day oscillation, 30–60 day wave, or intraseasonal oscillation.
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##Question:Write a short note on Madden–Julian oscillation. ##Answer:The Madden–Julian oscillation (MJO) is the largest element of the intraseasonal (30–90 days) variability in the tropical atmosphere. It is a large-scale coupling between atmospheric circulation and tropical deep convection. Rather than being a standing pattern (like ENSO) it is a traveling pattern, propagating eastwards at approximately 4 to 8 m/s, through the atmosphere above the warm parts of the Indian and Pacific oceans. This overall circulation pattern manifests itself in various ways, most clearly as anomalous rainfall. This was discovered by Roland Madden and Paul Julian. The MJO is characterized by an eastward progression of large regions of both enhanced and suppressed tropical rainfall, observed mainly over the Indian Ocean and Pacific Ocean. The anomalous rainfall is usually first evident over the western Indian Ocean, and remains evident as it propagates over the very warm ocean waters of the western and central tropical Pacific. This pattern of tropical rainfall then generally becomes nondescript as it moves over the cooler ocean waters of the eastern Pacific (except over the region of warmer water off the west coast of Central America) but occasionally reappears at low amplitude over the tropical Atlantic and higher amplitude over the Indian Ocean. The wet phase of enhanced convection and precipitation is followed by a dry phase where thunderstorm activity is suppressed. Each cycle lasts approximately 30–60 days. Because of this pattern, The MJO is also known as the 30–60 day oscillation, 30–60 day wave, or intraseasonal oscillation.
| 984
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Discuss the bio-energy potential of India
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India's renewable energy sources have the potential to generate 68,000MW of green power costing under RS.6 (€0.098) per unit, according to a report by funding agency The World Bank. The study, titled Potential of Renewable Energy in India, states: 'Developing indigenous renewable energy sources, which have low marginal costs of generation, are more economically viable in the long run.' According to the study, the 68,000MW can be produced from a variety of renewable sources, including biomass, wind and hydro. The nation currently produces around 1,70,229MW of energy from all sources, but the nation's demand for electricity is expected to rise by 7.4% a year during the next quarter of a century. This will see generation capacity increase five-fold in India is to supply this growing, and demand. The nation's government has set an ambitious target, which, if met, could see at least 40,000MW of additional renewable energy capacity installed.
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##Question:Discuss the bio-energy potential of India##Answer:India's renewable energy sources have the potential to generate 68,000MW of green power costing under RS.6 (€0.098) per unit, according to a report by funding agency The World Bank. The study, titled Potential of Renewable Energy in India, states: 'Developing indigenous renewable energy sources, which have low marginal costs of generation, are more economically viable in the long run.' According to the study, the 68,000MW can be produced from a variety of renewable sources, including biomass, wind and hydro. The nation currently produces around 1,70,229MW of energy from all sources, but the nation's demand for electricity is expected to rise by 7.4% a year during the next quarter of a century. This will see generation capacity increase five-fold in India is to supply this growing, and demand. The nation's government has set an ambitious target, which, if met, could see at least 40,000MW of additional renewable energy capacity installed.
| 985
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Why Western Ghats are covered by thick evergreen forests while the Eastern Ghats are covered by deciduous type forests?
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The Western Ghats, having more altitude than the Eastern Ghats , are standing on the wind ward side to the monsoon, and consequently gets a considerable amount of rainfall, which causes of the thicker evergreen forests. But the eastern sides does not get the great content of rainfall as it is not having the comparable higher altitude to winder the south-west monsoon. Only the retreting north-east monsoon cause a meager quantity of rainfall as it contains the lesser water-vapour than its south-west counterpart. So, the eastern coast is mainly covered with deciduous type of forests. It is well-known that the heavier rainfall will cause move evergreen forests rather than the deciduous type of forests.
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##Question:Why Western Ghats are covered by thick evergreen forests while the Eastern Ghats are covered by deciduous type forests? ##Answer:The Western Ghats, having more altitude than the Eastern Ghats , are standing on the wind ward side to the monsoon, and consequently gets a considerable amount of rainfall, which causes of the thicker evergreen forests. But the eastern sides does not get the great content of rainfall as it is not having the comparable higher altitude to winder the south-west monsoon. Only the retreting north-east monsoon cause a meager quantity of rainfall as it contains the lesser water-vapour than its south-west counterpart. So, the eastern coast is mainly covered with deciduous type of forests. It is well-known that the heavier rainfall will cause move evergreen forests rather than the deciduous type of forests.
| 986
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The central location of India at the head of the Indian Ocean is considered of great significance. Why?
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The central location of India at the head of the Indian Ocean is considered of great significance because - a) It has given India a strategic advantage due to the Trans Indian ocean routes which connect the countries of Europe in the West and the countries of East Asia. b) This helps India to establish close contact with West Asia, Africa and Europe from the Western coast and with the Southeast and East Asia from the Eastern coast. c) The vast coastline and the natural harbours have benefitted India in carrying out trade and commerce with its neighbouring and distant countries since ancient times. d) It has given India a distinct climate than the rest of the Asian Continent. e) No other country has such a long coastline on the Indian Ocean as India. It is India’s eminent position in the Indian Ocean which has given the name of an Ocean after it.
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##Question:The central location of India at the head of the Indian Ocean is considered of great significance. Why? ##Answer:The central location of India at the head of the Indian Ocean is considered of great significance because - a) It has given India a strategic advantage due to the Trans Indian ocean routes which connect the countries of Europe in the West and the countries of East Asia. b) This helps India to establish close contact with West Asia, Africa and Europe from the Western coast and with the Southeast and East Asia from the Eastern coast. c) The vast coastline and the natural harbours have benefitted India in carrying out trade and commerce with its neighbouring and distant countries since ancient times. d) It has given India a distinct climate than the rest of the Asian Continent. e) No other country has such a long coastline on the Indian Ocean as India. It is India’s eminent position in the Indian Ocean which has given the name of an Ocean after it.
| 987
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Which are the major physiographic divisions of India? Contrast the relief of the Himalayan region with that of the Peninsular plateau.
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The major physiographic divisions of India are the following – 1. The Himalayan Mountain Wall of the north. 2. The Northern Plains. 3. The Peninsular Plateau. 4. The Indian Dessert. 5. The Coastal Plains. 6. The Islands. The following table compares and contrasts between the relief of the Himalayan region with that of the Peninsular plateau. Himalayan Region 1. The Himalayas are young fold mountains of comparatively recent origin. 2. They are the highest mountains in the world. 3. Many great rivers like - the Indus, the Ganges and the Brahmaputra originate from the Himalayas. 4. The Himalayas are formed of the sedimentary rocks. 5. They are formed at the edge of the Indo-Gangetic Plain. 6. Important hill stations like - Shimla, Mussoorie, Darjeeling, Nainital are found on the Himalayas. PENINSULAR PLATEAU: 1. They are a part of the oldest structures of the Indian subcontinent. 2. The Central Highlands are formed of low hills and there is no high peak of world-wide fame in these hills. 3. Very few rivers like - the Narmada and the Tapti originate from these hills. 4. The Central Highlands are formed of igneous and metamorphic rocks. 5. They are formed at the edge of the Deccan Plateau. 6. No well known hill station is found here
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##Question:Which are the major physiographic divisions of India? Contrast the relief of the Himalayan region with that of the Peninsular plateau. ##Answer:The major physiographic divisions of India are the following – 1. The Himalayan Mountain Wall of the north. 2. The Northern Plains. 3. The Peninsular Plateau. 4. The Indian Dessert. 5. The Coastal Plains. 6. The Islands. The following table compares and contrasts between the relief of the Himalayan region with that of the Peninsular plateau. Himalayan Region 1. The Himalayas are young fold mountains of comparatively recent origin. 2. They are the highest mountains in the world. 3. Many great rivers like - the Indus, the Ganges and the Brahmaputra originate from the Himalayas. 4. The Himalayas are formed of the sedimentary rocks. 5. They are formed at the edge of the Indo-Gangetic Plain. 6. Important hill stations like - Shimla, Mussoorie, Darjeeling, Nainital are found on the Himalayas. PENINSULAR PLATEAU: 1. They are a part of the oldest structures of the Indian subcontinent. 2. The Central Highlands are formed of low hills and there is no high peak of world-wide fame in these hills. 3. Very few rivers like - the Narmada and the Tapti originate from these hills. 4. The Central Highlands are formed of igneous and metamorphic rocks. 5. They are formed at the edge of the Deccan Plateau. 6. No well known hill station is found here
| 988
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‘Proper farming techniques can help in soil conservation.’ Explain by giving three examples
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* Terracing of hill slopes is effective in controlling soil erosion. Terracing is cutting into the hill slopes in a series of large steps made up of flat fields. * Constructing bunds across hill slopes and filed boundaries is effective in reducing soil erosion. Bunds are low mud walls or embankments that help to obstruct the flow of water. * Contour ploughing should be practised. It involves ploughing along the outline of the field in a circular manner. This prevents the soil from being washed away by running water.
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##Question:‘Proper farming techniques can help in soil conservation.’ Explain by giving three examples##Answer:* Terracing of hill slopes is effective in controlling soil erosion. Terracing is cutting into the hill slopes in a series of large steps made up of flat fields. * Constructing bunds across hill slopes and filed boundaries is effective in reducing soil erosion. Bunds are low mud walls or embankments that help to obstruct the flow of water. * Contour ploughing should be practised. It involves ploughing along the outline of the field in a circular manner. This prevents the soil from being washed away by running water.
| 989
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How decentralization of industries helps in lowering regional disparities
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• Employment opportunities are created in every region of the country. • Equitable distribution of national income is made possible. • it removes regional disparities in the industrialization of the country. • There is a check upon the concentration of population in certain parts of the country.
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##Question:How decentralization of industries helps in lowering regional disparities##Answer:• Employment opportunities are created in every region of the country. • Equitable distribution of national income is made possible. • it removes regional disparities in the industrialization of the country. • There is a check upon the concentration of population in certain parts of the country.
| 990
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Write a short note on energy crops
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An energy crop is a plant grown as a low-cost and low-maintenance harvest used to make biofuels, such as bioethanol, or combusted for its energy content to generate electricity or heat. Energy crops are generally categorized as woody or herbaceous plants; many of the latter are grasses. Commercial energy crops are typically densely planted, high-yielding crop species where the energy crops will be burnt to generate power. Woody crops such as willow or poplar are widely utilised. If carbohydrate content is desired for the production of biogas, whole-crops such as maize, Sudan grass, millet, white sweet clover and many others, can be made into silage and then converted into biogas. Through genetic modification and application of biotechnology plants can be manipulated to create greater yields, reduce associated costs and require less water. However, high energy yield can be realized with existing cultivars
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##Question:Write a short note on energy crops##Answer:An energy crop is a plant grown as a low-cost and low-maintenance harvest used to make biofuels, such as bioethanol, or combusted for its energy content to generate electricity or heat. Energy crops are generally categorized as woody or herbaceous plants; many of the latter are grasses. Commercial energy crops are typically densely planted, high-yielding crop species where the energy crops will be burnt to generate power. Woody crops such as willow or poplar are widely utilised. If carbohydrate content is desired for the production of biogas, whole-crops such as maize, Sudan grass, millet, white sweet clover and many others, can be made into silage and then converted into biogas. Through genetic modification and application of biotechnology plants can be manipulated to create greater yields, reduce associated costs and require less water. However, high energy yield can be realized with existing cultivars
| 991
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Why do we need a standard meridian for India? Explain
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India is situated from west to east in about 30 longitudes. It takes 4 minutes to cross a longitude (24 hours -r 360 longitudes). India is situated between 67° E to 97° E (approximately). Hence, there is a two hours' difference in the timings of the westernmost extremity and the easternmost extremity. If there is no standard meridian (longitude) in India, we have to advance our watch by 4 minutes on each longitude, if we travel from west to east. In order to avoid the problem we have chosen 82° 30' E as standard meridian and its local time is taken a standard throughout the country.
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##Question:Why do we need a standard meridian for India? Explain##Answer:India is situated from west to east in about 30 longitudes. It takes 4 minutes to cross a longitude (24 hours -r 360 longitudes). India is situated between 67° E to 97° E (approximately). Hence, there is a two hours' difference in the timings of the westernmost extremity and the easternmost extremity. If there is no standard meridian (longitude) in India, we have to advance our watch by 4 minutes on each longitude, if we travel from west to east. In order to avoid the problem we have chosen 82° 30' E as standard meridian and its local time is taken a standard throughout the country.
| 992
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Write a short note on Aquifer
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An aquifer is a body of saturated rock through which water can easily move. Aquifers must be both permeable and porous and include such rock types as sandstone, conglomerate, fractured limestone and unconsolidated sand and gravel. Fractured volcanic rocks such as columnar basalts also make good aquifers. The rubble zones between volcanic flows are generally both porous and permeable and make excellent aquifers. In order for a well to be productive, it must be drilled into an aquifer. Rocks such as granite and schist are generally poor aquifers because they have a very low porosity. However, if these rocks are highly fractured, they make good aquifers. A well is a hole drilled into the ground to penetrate an aquifer. Normally such water must be pumped to the surface. If water is pumped from a well faster than it is replenished, the water table is lowered and the well may go dry. When water is pumped from a well, the water table is generally lowered into a cone of depression at the well. Groundwater normally flows down the slope of the water table towards the well.
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##Question:Write a short note on Aquifer##Answer:An aquifer is a body of saturated rock through which water can easily move. Aquifers must be both permeable and porous and include such rock types as sandstone, conglomerate, fractured limestone and unconsolidated sand and gravel. Fractured volcanic rocks such as columnar basalts also make good aquifers. The rubble zones between volcanic flows are generally both porous and permeable and make excellent aquifers. In order for a well to be productive, it must be drilled into an aquifer. Rocks such as granite and schist are generally poor aquifers because they have a very low porosity. However, if these rocks are highly fractured, they make good aquifers. A well is a hole drilled into the ground to penetrate an aquifer. Normally such water must be pumped to the surface. If water is pumped from a well faster than it is replenished, the water table is lowered and the well may go dry. When water is pumped from a well, the water table is generally lowered into a cone of depression at the well. Groundwater normally flows down the slope of the water table towards the well.
| 993
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Comment on Polluter pays principle
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The Polluter Pays Principle (PPP) is an environmental policy principle which requires that the costs of pollution be borne by those who cause it. In its original emergence the Polluter Pays Principle aims at determining how the costs of pollution prevention and control must be allocated: the polluter must pay. Its immediate goal is that of internalizing the environmental externalities of economic activities, so that the prices of goods and services fully reflect the costs of production. Bugge (1996) has identified four versions of the PPP: economically, it promotes efficiency; legally, it promotes justice; it promotes harmonization of international environmental policies; it defines how to allocate costs within a State. The normative scope of the PPP has evolved over time to include also accidental pollution prevention, control and clean-up costs, in what is referred to as extended Polluter Pays Principle . Today the Principle is a generally recognized principle of International Environmental Law, and it is a fundamental principle of environmental policy of both the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) and the European Community. The PPP is normally implemented through two different policy approaches: command-and-control and market-based. Command-and-control approaches include performance and technology standards. Market-based instruments include pollution taxes, tradable pollution permits and product labeling. The elimination of subsidies is also an important part of the application of the PPP. At the international level the Kyoto Protocol is an example of application of the PPP: parties that have obligations to reduce their greenhouse gas emissions must bear the costs of reducing (prevention and control) such polluting emissions.
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##Question:Comment on Polluter pays principle##Answer:The Polluter Pays Principle (PPP) is an environmental policy principle which requires that the costs of pollution be borne by those who cause it. In its original emergence the Polluter Pays Principle aims at determining how the costs of pollution prevention and control must be allocated: the polluter must pay. Its immediate goal is that of internalizing the environmental externalities of economic activities, so that the prices of goods and services fully reflect the costs of production. Bugge (1996) has identified four versions of the PPP: economically, it promotes efficiency; legally, it promotes justice; it promotes harmonization of international environmental policies; it defines how to allocate costs within a State. The normative scope of the PPP has evolved over time to include also accidental pollution prevention, control and clean-up costs, in what is referred to as extended Polluter Pays Principle . Today the Principle is a generally recognized principle of International Environmental Law, and it is a fundamental principle of environmental policy of both the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) and the European Community. The PPP is normally implemented through two different policy approaches: command-and-control and market-based. Command-and-control approaches include performance and technology standards. Market-based instruments include pollution taxes, tradable pollution permits and product labeling. The elimination of subsidies is also an important part of the application of the PPP. At the international level the Kyoto Protocol is an example of application of the PPP: parties that have obligations to reduce their greenhouse gas emissions must bear the costs of reducing (prevention and control) such polluting emissions.
| 994
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Write a short note on- Eco-Innovation?
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Eco-innovation is defined as any form of innovation aiming at significantly and demonstrable progress towards the goal of sustainable development, through reducing impacts on the environment or achieving a more efficient and responsible use of resources. Environmentally friendly innovations are expected for example to aid in the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions, use resources such as water and raw material more efficiently, increase the use of recycled materials and produce quality products with less impact on the environment and to implement more environmentally friendly production processes and services.
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##Question:Write a short note on- Eco-Innovation? ##Answer:Eco-innovation is defined as any form of innovation aiming at significantly and demonstrable progress towards the goal of sustainable development, through reducing impacts on the environment or achieving a more efficient and responsible use of resources. Environmentally friendly innovations are expected for example to aid in the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions, use resources such as water and raw material more efficiently, increase the use of recycled materials and produce quality products with less impact on the environment and to implement more environmentally friendly production processes and services.
| 995
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Why the Rann of Kutch is not cultivated.
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Rann of Kutch is a tidal flat which cannot be cultivated. It is salty and marshy as it was once a shallow part of the sea.
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##Question:Why the Rann of Kutch is not cultivated. ##Answer:Rann of Kutch is a tidal flat which cannot be cultivated. It is salty and marshy as it was once a shallow part of the sea.
| 996
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Mention two favourable effects of the Himalayas on the economy of India.
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* The rivers originating from the Himalayas are responsible for the formation of plains. These plains provide fertile alluvial soil. So most of the people are engaged in agriculture. * Slopes of Himalayas have been terraced for cultivation of fruits, food crops and plantation crops. * The Himalayan ranges are rich in forest resources and pastures. So most of the people are engaged in lumbering and animal rearing. * Rivers flowing from Himalayas has a great potential to generate hydroelectricity.
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##Question:Mention two favourable effects of the Himalayas on the economy of India. ##Answer:* The rivers originating from the Himalayas are responsible for the formation of plains. These plains provide fertile alluvial soil. So most of the people are engaged in agriculture. * Slopes of Himalayas have been terraced for cultivation of fruits, food crops and plantation crops. * The Himalayan ranges are rich in forest resources and pastures. So most of the people are engaged in lumbering and animal rearing. * Rivers flowing from Himalayas has a great potential to generate hydroelectricity.
| 997
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Reason out why the difference between the duration of day and night is hardly felt at Kanyakumari but it is not so in Kashmir.
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: Kanyakumari, which lies in the south, is nearer to the Equator than Kashmir which lies in the northernmost part of India. Days and nights are almost of equal duration on the equator but as we go away from it the difference between the day and night goes on increasing. As Kanyakumari is much nearer to the equator than Kashmir so, the difference between the duration of day and night is hardly felt at Kanyakumari but it is not so in Kashmir.
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##Question:Reason out why the difference between the duration of day and night is hardly felt at Kanyakumari but it is not so in Kashmir. ##Answer:: Kanyakumari, which lies in the south, is nearer to the Equator than Kashmir which lies in the northernmost part of India. Days and nights are almost of equal duration on the equator but as we go away from it the difference between the day and night goes on increasing. As Kanyakumari is much nearer to the equator than Kashmir so, the difference between the duration of day and night is hardly felt at Kanyakumari but it is not so in Kashmir.
| 998
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Name the type of soil found on the summit of the Eastern Ghats. How is it formed?
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Laterite soil. Laterite soil is formed by leaching. These soils are formed under conditions of high temperature and heavy rainfall with alternate wet and dry periods. Thus its formation takes place strictly under monsoon conditions. Residual soils formed by leaching in areas of heavy rain. Leaching is a process in which the nutrients get percolated down below the soil due to heavy rainfall; thus leaving the top soil inFertile. Also called DESILICATION. Laterite soils are found in elevated areas which receive very high rainfall. As a result, top soil gets washed away. This process is called leaching.
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##Question:Name the type of soil found on the summit of the Eastern Ghats. How is it formed? ##Answer:Laterite soil. Laterite soil is formed by leaching. These soils are formed under conditions of high temperature and heavy rainfall with alternate wet and dry periods. Thus its formation takes place strictly under monsoon conditions. Residual soils formed by leaching in areas of heavy rain. Leaching is a process in which the nutrients get percolated down below the soil due to heavy rainfall; thus leaving the top soil inFertile. Also called DESILICATION. Laterite soils are found in elevated areas which receive very high rainfall. As a result, top soil gets washed away. This process is called leaching.
| 999
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Deltaic alluvium is more fertile than the coastal alluvium. Comment
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because as the coastal alluvium being mixed with sands, has been lacked the meagre power of water-preserving than its counter parts. The deltaic alluvium has been riched with newly river-deposited alluvial components. (The Deltaic alluvium is found in deltas of the Ganga-Brahmaputra, Godavari, Mahanadhi and Kaveri rivers. The Coastal alluvium is found in coastal sides of Peninsular India.).
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##Question:Deltaic alluvium is more fertile than the coastal alluvium. Comment##Answer:because as the coastal alluvium being mixed with sands, has been lacked the meagre power of water-preserving than its counter parts. The deltaic alluvium has been riched with newly river-deposited alluvial components. (The Deltaic alluvium is found in deltas of the Ganga-Brahmaputra, Godavari, Mahanadhi and Kaveri rivers. The Coastal alluvium is found in coastal sides of Peninsular India.).
| 1,000
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Assess the role of mineral exploration in achieving economic development of our country. Suggest measures to ensure a balance between mineral exploration and environmental sustainability.
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Most of India's mineral deposits are concentrated, in the eastern and central parts and are under extensive extraction. The methodologies applied are surface or open cast or underground mining. In open cast mines, vegetation and soil have to be removed to reach the mineral deposits. Thus, flora, fauna and productive soil is lost. The soil dumps are subject to erosion besides occupying large land surfaces. In case of underground mining tunnels are needed which also cause problems of debris, land subsidence, and loss of land which might be under natural vegetation or cultivation. The area, thus lost due to mining is quite large and increasing every year. Mining on hill slopes disrupts the natural drainage. For every tonne of saleable ore about two tonnes of mine spoils must be removed and dumped. This process destrop original vegetation on slopes and also retards natural regeneration. There are 4,052 working mines (excluding oil gas and some other minerals). There are 478 coal mines, many of which are open cast ones. Ironically, these are generally in rich forest and agricultural areas. One of the most pronounced and lasting ill effects of mining in India is the qualitative and quantitative deterioration of water resources. Limestone quarrying in Doon valley has decreased the drinking water potential of 18 villages by 50 per cent. Ore fines and toxic substances carried by rainwater pollute the water floun and make it unfit for human consumption. Further issues like Local inhabitants and their expectations and rights Availability of proper commercial transportation facilities due to terrain and interior locations of much of these resource areas. Proper mining policies and allocation of mining areas for exploration Issues of internal security - red corridor Ambiguity between centre and state for proper resource use Tech. inputs and use of latest tech. specially from international colaborations Public private partnership Should also be discussed here.
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##Question:Assess the role of mineral exploration in achieving economic development of our country. Suggest measures to ensure a balance between mineral exploration and environmental sustainability.##Answer:Most of India's mineral deposits are concentrated, in the eastern and central parts and are under extensive extraction. The methodologies applied are surface or open cast or underground mining. In open cast mines, vegetation and soil have to be removed to reach the mineral deposits. Thus, flora, fauna and productive soil is lost. The soil dumps are subject to erosion besides occupying large land surfaces. In case of underground mining tunnels are needed which also cause problems of debris, land subsidence, and loss of land which might be under natural vegetation or cultivation. The area, thus lost due to mining is quite large and increasing every year. Mining on hill slopes disrupts the natural drainage. For every tonne of saleable ore about two tonnes of mine spoils must be removed and dumped. This process destrop original vegetation on slopes and also retards natural regeneration. There are 4,052 working mines (excluding oil gas and some other minerals). There are 478 coal mines, many of which are open cast ones. Ironically, these are generally in rich forest and agricultural areas. One of the most pronounced and lasting ill effects of mining in India is the qualitative and quantitative deterioration of water resources. Limestone quarrying in Doon valley has decreased the drinking water potential of 18 villages by 50 per cent. Ore fines and toxic substances carried by rainwater pollute the water floun and make it unfit for human consumption. Further issues like Local inhabitants and their expectations and rights Availability of proper commercial transportation facilities due to terrain and interior locations of much of these resource areas. Proper mining policies and allocation of mining areas for exploration Issues of internal security - red corridor Ambiguity between centre and state for proper resource use Tech. inputs and use of latest tech. specially from international colaborations Public private partnership Should also be discussed here.
| 1,001
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Assess the Groundwater pollution situation in the country and enlist the various major pollutants regionally based on various studies. What measures needs to be taken to contain this problem.
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The main ground water quality problems inIndiaare as follows. Salinity:- Salinity in ground water can be of broadly categorised into two types, i.e Inland Salinity and Coastal salinity Inland Salinity Inland salinity in ground water is prevalent mainly in the arid and semi arid regions of Rajasthan, Haryana,PunjabandGujarat, Uttar Pradesh,Delhi, Andhra Pradesh Maharashtra, Karnataka and Tamil Nadu. Inland salinity is also caused due to practice of surface water irrigation without consideration of ground water status. The gradual rise of ground water levels withtime has resulted in water logging and heavy evaporation in semi arid regions lead tosalinity problem in command areas. Coastal Salinity The Indian subcontinent has a dynamic coast line of about 7500 km length. It stretches from Rann of Kutch in Gujarat to Konkan and Malabar coast to Kanyakumari in the south to northwards along the Coromandal coast to Sunderbans in West Bengal . InIndia, salinity problems have been observed in a number of places in most of the coastalstatesof the country. Problem of salinity ingress has been conspicuously noticed in Minjur area of Tamil Nadu and Mangrol – Chorwad- Porbander belt along the Saurashtra coast. Fluoride 85 % of rural population of the country uses ground water for drinking and domestic purposes.High concentration of fluoride in ground water beyond the permissible limit of 1.5mg/l poses the health problem. Arsenic The occurrence of Arsenic in ground water was first reported in 1980 inWest BengalinIndia. Apart fromWest Bengal, Arsenic contamination in ground water has been found in the states ofBihar,Chhatisgarh and Uttar Pradesh &Assam. Iron High concentration of Iron (>1.0 mg/l) in ground water has been observed in more than 1.1 lakh habitations in the country. Ground water contaminated by iron has been reported fromthe states ofAndhra Pradesh,Assam,Bihar, Chhattisgarh,Goa,Gujarat, Haryana, J& K, Jharkhand Karnataka Kerala. Madhya Pradesh Maharashtra, Manipur, Meghalaya Orissa, Punjab, Rajasthan, Tamil Nadu, Tripura, Uttar Pradesh, West Bengal &UT of Andaman & Nicobar. Nitrate Nitrate is a very common constituent in the ground water, especially in shallow aquifers. The source is mainly from anthropogenicactivities. High concentration of Nitrate in water beyond the permissible limit of 45mg/l causes health problems.High Nitrate concentration in ground water inIndiahas been found in almost all hydrogeological formations Some other pollutants are chromium, manganese and organic material, fertilizres, pesticides mineral oil etc. Some major causes of ground water pollution are shown in fig. below. Impacts The stealthily growing health crisis could be worse in rural India where facilities to even detect chronic health problems arising out of water contamination do not exist. Nearly 80% of India's rural drinking water comes from underground sources. Drinking fluoride-laden water beyond safe levels can lead to fluorosis which hits teeth and bones. Arsenic causes problems in the nervous system, reduces IQ level in children and in extreme cases can also cause cancer. Chromium is a known carcinogen. Presence of nitrates in drinking water leads to what is commonly called as blue baby disease which hits infants and can lead to respiratory and digestive system problems. These chemicals have appeared in the water sources either due to too much water being drawn from deeper and deeper in the ground, or due to industrial and human waste contamination. Arsenic and fluoride are typically found in groundwater where chemicals have leeched from the bedrock due to over-exploitation of the source. Heavy metals are likely to flow in from industrial waste dumped untreated into water-systems. Nitrates are likely to appear in groundwater because of excess or repetitive use of fertilizers over time. Quality monitering The chemical quality is being monitored by Central Ground Water Board once in a year through a network of about observation wells located all over the country, in regular monitoring programme. Apart from these observation wells the quality is also monitored through various studies like ground water management studies, ground water exploration etc. Conclusions and Policy Inferences Preventive and curative mea sures against pollution and contamination of groundwater may continue to receive low priority for years to come, and technological measures to prevent the ill effects on human health will get priority in short term. Demineralization using RO system can remove all hazardous impurities from drinking water and would be cost effective in many situations where unwanted chemichals in groundwater are above permissible levels. The cost of demineralization is falling rapidly. Saudi Arabia meets 20 per cent of its total water needs from desalinated sea water, and Saudi technologists believe desalination costs would fall so rapidly over the coming decades that desalination will be cheaper than pumping coastal aquifers. Low cost treatment methods are available for removal of arsenic from groundwater. There are, however, challenges that water utilities would face such as building technical and managerial skills to design, install, operate and manage water treatment systems, making people pay for treated water and building knowledge and awareness among communities about groundwater quality issues and treatment measures. For the long run, policies need to be focused on building scientific capabilities of line agencies concerned with WQM, water supplies, and pollution control; and restructuring them to perform WQM and enforcement of pollution control norms effectively and to enable them implement environmental management projects. NOTE: 1 explanatory diag. send through mail
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##Question:Assess the Groundwater pollution situation in the country and enlist the various major pollutants regionally based on various studies. What measures needs to be taken to contain this problem.##Answer:The main ground water quality problems inIndiaare as follows. Salinity:- Salinity in ground water can be of broadly categorised into two types, i.e Inland Salinity and Coastal salinity Inland Salinity Inland salinity in ground water is prevalent mainly in the arid and semi arid regions of Rajasthan, Haryana,PunjabandGujarat, Uttar Pradesh,Delhi, Andhra Pradesh Maharashtra, Karnataka and Tamil Nadu. Inland salinity is also caused due to practice of surface water irrigation without consideration of ground water status. The gradual rise of ground water levels withtime has resulted in water logging and heavy evaporation in semi arid regions lead tosalinity problem in command areas. Coastal Salinity The Indian subcontinent has a dynamic coast line of about 7500 km length. It stretches from Rann of Kutch in Gujarat to Konkan and Malabar coast to Kanyakumari in the south to northwards along the Coromandal coast to Sunderbans in West Bengal . InIndia, salinity problems have been observed in a number of places in most of the coastalstatesof the country. Problem of salinity ingress has been conspicuously noticed in Minjur area of Tamil Nadu and Mangrol – Chorwad- Porbander belt along the Saurashtra coast. Fluoride 85 % of rural population of the country uses ground water for drinking and domestic purposes.High concentration of fluoride in ground water beyond the permissible limit of 1.5mg/l poses the health problem. Arsenic The occurrence of Arsenic in ground water was first reported in 1980 inWest BengalinIndia. Apart fromWest Bengal, Arsenic contamination in ground water has been found in the states ofBihar,Chhatisgarh and Uttar Pradesh &Assam. Iron High concentration of Iron (>1.0 mg/l) in ground water has been observed in more than 1.1 lakh habitations in the country. Ground water contaminated by iron has been reported fromthe states ofAndhra Pradesh,Assam,Bihar, Chhattisgarh,Goa,Gujarat, Haryana, J& K, Jharkhand Karnataka Kerala. Madhya Pradesh Maharashtra, Manipur, Meghalaya Orissa, Punjab, Rajasthan, Tamil Nadu, Tripura, Uttar Pradesh, West Bengal &UT of Andaman & Nicobar. Nitrate Nitrate is a very common constituent in the ground water, especially in shallow aquifers. The source is mainly from anthropogenicactivities. High concentration of Nitrate in water beyond the permissible limit of 45mg/l causes health problems.High Nitrate concentration in ground water inIndiahas been found in almost all hydrogeological formations Some other pollutants are chromium, manganese and organic material, fertilizres, pesticides mineral oil etc. Some major causes of ground water pollution are shown in fig. below. Impacts The stealthily growing health crisis could be worse in rural India where facilities to even detect chronic health problems arising out of water contamination do not exist. Nearly 80% of India's rural drinking water comes from underground sources. Drinking fluoride-laden water beyond safe levels can lead to fluorosis which hits teeth and bones. Arsenic causes problems in the nervous system, reduces IQ level in children and in extreme cases can also cause cancer. Chromium is a known carcinogen. Presence of nitrates in drinking water leads to what is commonly called as blue baby disease which hits infants and can lead to respiratory and digestive system problems. These chemicals have appeared in the water sources either due to too much water being drawn from deeper and deeper in the ground, or due to industrial and human waste contamination. Arsenic and fluoride are typically found in groundwater where chemicals have leeched from the bedrock due to over-exploitation of the source. Heavy metals are likely to flow in from industrial waste dumped untreated into water-systems. Nitrates are likely to appear in groundwater because of excess or repetitive use of fertilizers over time. Quality monitering The chemical quality is being monitored by Central Ground Water Board once in a year through a network of about observation wells located all over the country, in regular monitoring programme. Apart from these observation wells the quality is also monitored through various studies like ground water management studies, ground water exploration etc. Conclusions and Policy Inferences Preventive and curative mea sures against pollution and contamination of groundwater may continue to receive low priority for years to come, and technological measures to prevent the ill effects on human health will get priority in short term. Demineralization using RO system can remove all hazardous impurities from drinking water and would be cost effective in many situations where unwanted chemichals in groundwater are above permissible levels. The cost of demineralization is falling rapidly. Saudi Arabia meets 20 per cent of its total water needs from desalinated sea water, and Saudi technologists believe desalination costs would fall so rapidly over the coming decades that desalination will be cheaper than pumping coastal aquifers. Low cost treatment methods are available for removal of arsenic from groundwater. There are, however, challenges that water utilities would face such as building technical and managerial skills to design, install, operate and manage water treatment systems, making people pay for treated water and building knowledge and awareness among communities about groundwater quality issues and treatment measures. For the long run, policies need to be focused on building scientific capabilities of line agencies concerned with WQM, water supplies, and pollution control; and restructuring them to perform WQM and enforcement of pollution control norms effectively and to enable them implement environmental management projects. NOTE: 1 explanatory diag. send through mail
| 1,002
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The issue of land resource allocation and utilization is at the core of optimal economic development and also achieving social harmony. Critically examine the various aspects related to this issue.
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Land could basically be divided under following categories - Forest or natural vegetation cover - Agriculture - Industries and commercial purposes - Public utilities - Residential - wasteland Problems from lack of proper land use policy : The competing claims between the aforementioned categories and lack of a proper set of policy, directions and mechanism of resolving such competing claims leads to most of the problems associated In addition to many local and regional issues, two recent examples from West Bengal, Nandigram and Singur and the third from Uttar Pradesh, acquisition of land in Greater NOIDA are there. In the case of Nandigram there was a proposal to acquire 38,000 acres of land and transfer it for industrial purpose. In Singur land was actually acquired and made over to the Tata Group for setting up a factory to manufacture the Nano car. In both cases public agitation led to abortion of the schemes. In the case of Nandigram there was a great deal of violence, whereas in the case of Singur the government first enacted legislation to take back the land, which has now come under a permanent injunction from the high court because the Act was declared ultra vires. In the case of Greater NOIDA the Supreme Court has struck down both the stated purpose of acquisition and the process of acquisition. About land use Policy: Identification of land for various development purposes has become a very challenging task for land administrators. Allocating lands on ad-hoc basis creates various kinds of problems and development efforts suffer. There is concern for food security in the country. Further, there are concerns for environmental pollution and degradation issues arising out of various industrial and other developmental efforts interfering with the long term issues of ecological balance at the local as well as country level. Therefore, there is a need to make a balanced approach in the land management which calls for appropriate land use planning/country planning. We have systems in place for town planning and a lot of work has been done in States/UTs in this field. However, there does not appear to be such vision or planning for the rural areas. It is becoming, increasingly important to have a perspective plan for at least 10-15 years for proper utilization of scarce, land resource available with the country. With this objective in view, it is necessary to decide a future course of action in this field, so that all the concerns of sustainable development, environment promotion, food security, industrialization etc. are suitably addressed. The Department of Land Resources under the Ministry of Rural Development is the nodal agency in India for this. Stakeholders who are mainly the development functionaries and planners of state and central governments should be involved. Eminent persons working in this field should share their experiences. In India 60 per cent of its land area is arable, approximately 30 per cent is under forests, grazing or other common use and only 10 per cent is uncultivable wasteland. Locating non-agricultural activity on land best suited for agriculture should not be permitted in a Land Use Policy. In location planning, therefore, a national land use policy is of vital importance. This would then govern our land acquisition policy and whereas land and resources would always be available where necessary for development, the logic of appropriate land use would apply and, therefore, opposition to land acquisition or land assignment could be reduced to a minimum. We need land for roads, railway tracks, airports, city expansion, industrial location, mining, afforestation, etc. For example, the rivers of peninsular India are not perennial because they are not snow-fed and, therefore, their health is dependent on the forests of the catchment. A national land use policy would zealously guard these forests and their conversion to other use would be prohibited. As policy would be based on logic which any citizen could grasp, ordinarily there would be public support for forest protection. We need land for grazing, but unfortunately many of our state governments have adopted policies which have virtually eliminated grazing areas. For example, in Madhya Pradesh under the old dispensation at least 15 per cent of the land in a village was reserved for nistar and, therefore, collectively formed part of the village commons. But successive governments followed in reducing village commons till now in Madhya Pradesh by law only two per cent of the village area. A proper land use policy should reverse this and attempt to restore village commons so that at least the fodder and fuel requirements of a village are met. Location of industrial activity on fertile land must be discouraged and uncultivable wasteland should be used for this purpose. Gujarat is the one state where government by way of policy has decided not to acquire fertile land for industrial purpose, but to encourage industry to locate in areas such as Kutch where land is totally unsuitable for cultivation. If we take a holistic view of land as a resource and then assign to it an appropriate use we would be able to adopt a sensible land acquisition policy, a logical activity location policy and a framework within which agricultural growth would accelerate in tandem with urban development and industrialisation, with the latter not competing with agriculture and moving forward at the cost of agriculture. All this is possible if we have a properly thought out national land use policy. Also the recent Land Acquisition, Rehabilitation and Resettlement (LARR) Bill with its various provisions looks forward to improve land use policy.
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##Question:The issue of land resource allocation and utilization is at the core of optimal economic development and also achieving social harmony. Critically examine the various aspects related to this issue.##Answer:Land could basically be divided under following categories - Forest or natural vegetation cover - Agriculture - Industries and commercial purposes - Public utilities - Residential - wasteland Problems from lack of proper land use policy : The competing claims between the aforementioned categories and lack of a proper set of policy, directions and mechanism of resolving such competing claims leads to most of the problems associated In addition to many local and regional issues, two recent examples from West Bengal, Nandigram and Singur and the third from Uttar Pradesh, acquisition of land in Greater NOIDA are there. In the case of Nandigram there was a proposal to acquire 38,000 acres of land and transfer it for industrial purpose. In Singur land was actually acquired and made over to the Tata Group for setting up a factory to manufacture the Nano car. In both cases public agitation led to abortion of the schemes. In the case of Nandigram there was a great deal of violence, whereas in the case of Singur the government first enacted legislation to take back the land, which has now come under a permanent injunction from the high court because the Act was declared ultra vires. In the case of Greater NOIDA the Supreme Court has struck down both the stated purpose of acquisition and the process of acquisition. About land use Policy: Identification of land for various development purposes has become a very challenging task for land administrators. Allocating lands on ad-hoc basis creates various kinds of problems and development efforts suffer. There is concern for food security in the country. Further, there are concerns for environmental pollution and degradation issues arising out of various industrial and other developmental efforts interfering with the long term issues of ecological balance at the local as well as country level. Therefore, there is a need to make a balanced approach in the land management which calls for appropriate land use planning/country planning. We have systems in place for town planning and a lot of work has been done in States/UTs in this field. However, there does not appear to be such vision or planning for the rural areas. It is becoming, increasingly important to have a perspective plan for at least 10-15 years for proper utilization of scarce, land resource available with the country. With this objective in view, it is necessary to decide a future course of action in this field, so that all the concerns of sustainable development, environment promotion, food security, industrialization etc. are suitably addressed. The Department of Land Resources under the Ministry of Rural Development is the nodal agency in India for this. Stakeholders who are mainly the development functionaries and planners of state and central governments should be involved. Eminent persons working in this field should share their experiences. In India 60 per cent of its land area is arable, approximately 30 per cent is under forests, grazing or other common use and only 10 per cent is uncultivable wasteland. Locating non-agricultural activity on land best suited for agriculture should not be permitted in a Land Use Policy. In location planning, therefore, a national land use policy is of vital importance. This would then govern our land acquisition policy and whereas land and resources would always be available where necessary for development, the logic of appropriate land use would apply and, therefore, opposition to land acquisition or land assignment could be reduced to a minimum. We need land for roads, railway tracks, airports, city expansion, industrial location, mining, afforestation, etc. For example, the rivers of peninsular India are not perennial because they are not snow-fed and, therefore, their health is dependent on the forests of the catchment. A national land use policy would zealously guard these forests and their conversion to other use would be prohibited. As policy would be based on logic which any citizen could grasp, ordinarily there would be public support for forest protection. We need land for grazing, but unfortunately many of our state governments have adopted policies which have virtually eliminated grazing areas. For example, in Madhya Pradesh under the old dispensation at least 15 per cent of the land in a village was reserved for nistar and, therefore, collectively formed part of the village commons. But successive governments followed in reducing village commons till now in Madhya Pradesh by law only two per cent of the village area. A proper land use policy should reverse this and attempt to restore village commons so that at least the fodder and fuel requirements of a village are met. Location of industrial activity on fertile land must be discouraged and uncultivable wasteland should be used for this purpose. Gujarat is the one state where government by way of policy has decided not to acquire fertile land for industrial purpose, but to encourage industry to locate in areas such as Kutch where land is totally unsuitable for cultivation. If we take a holistic view of land as a resource and then assign to it an appropriate use we would be able to adopt a sensible land acquisition policy, a logical activity location policy and a framework within which agricultural growth would accelerate in tandem with urban development and industrialisation, with the latter not competing with agriculture and moving forward at the cost of agriculture. All this is possible if we have a properly thought out national land use policy. Also the recent Land Acquisition, Rehabilitation and Resettlement (LARR) Bill with its various provisions looks forward to improve land use policy.
| 1,003
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Examine the role of Organic farming in Indian Agriculture, with special emphasis on its contribution towards improvements in Agricultural Productivity, and enhancing earning potential for the farming community.
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Aim of organic agricultural systems is to achieve optimum production of nutritious food without the use of artificial fertilizers or manufactured pesticides. In organic agriculture, nutrient inputs are capped and soil biological processes supported. The biological capacity of the soils should be used for sustaining agriculture production. Research conducted by scientists had proved that organic farming ensured more productivity than chemical farming in rain-fed areas, though it cannot be said in general. The research indicated that in organic farming, crop yield increases and cost of production decreases. Besides, by providing chemical-free yield, organic farming also helps the economic empowerment of farmers. In general, organic farming is not suppose the increase productivity over a short span, though improvements in soil condition and reduced soil pollution can be expected. At a time when the area under organic cultivation in the country is yet to cross 1 per cent of the total agricultural land, the small hilly State of Sikkim has stolen the show as its entire agriculture is set to go organic by 2015. The State has only around 60,000 hectares of farmland and already 40 per cent of it is under organic cultivation. Nearly 40 per cent of the State’s farmland is under certified organic cultivation. As part of its plan to make the entire State take to organic cultivation by 2015, Sikkim has banned the use of chemical fertilizer and pesticides from 2003 itself. Going organic has twin advantages of protecting the health of people by avoiding chemical fertilizer and pesticides, and getting premium value for the produce. Madhya Pradesh accounts for nearly 40 per cent of the total area under certified organic farming in the country. Though most of it is due to cotton fields, the state has an immense potential to bring even food crops under organic cultivation. What may help the state’s cause is that agriculture is already organic by default in many tribal-dominated districts because farmers either don't have the resources to use chemical fertilizers or lack access to them. Even on the employment generation front organic farming has immense potential , for example, an ASSOCHAM study has shown that it has potential to create 60 lac jobs in MP and 80 lac jobs in Rajasthan , over the next 5 years. In general, in India, landholdings of our farmers are also very small. Hence we need to maximise agricultural income to ensure them a decent living. Organic farming has come as an appropriate option for us as we can send our produce to niche markets not just in India but also abroad to get maximum returns for farmers. After setting aside certain quantum for domestic consumption, the remaining produce is sent to niche markets in foreign countries. A premium of about 25 per cent is offered to organic produce with respect to prices. Organic farming is adding to the tourism potential of the States and providing additional income to farmers as, for example, the Sikkim government has also taken up organic tourism. Nature tourism is being promoted by setting up home stays in villages that have been declared “completely organic”.
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##Question:Examine the role of Organic farming in Indian Agriculture, with special emphasis on its contribution towards improvements in Agricultural Productivity, and enhancing earning potential for the farming community.##Answer:Aim of organic agricultural systems is to achieve optimum production of nutritious food without the use of artificial fertilizers or manufactured pesticides. In organic agriculture, nutrient inputs are capped and soil biological processes supported. The biological capacity of the soils should be used for sustaining agriculture production. Research conducted by scientists had proved that organic farming ensured more productivity than chemical farming in rain-fed areas, though it cannot be said in general. The research indicated that in organic farming, crop yield increases and cost of production decreases. Besides, by providing chemical-free yield, organic farming also helps the economic empowerment of farmers. In general, organic farming is not suppose the increase productivity over a short span, though improvements in soil condition and reduced soil pollution can be expected. At a time when the area under organic cultivation in the country is yet to cross 1 per cent of the total agricultural land, the small hilly State of Sikkim has stolen the show as its entire agriculture is set to go organic by 2015. The State has only around 60,000 hectares of farmland and already 40 per cent of it is under organic cultivation. Nearly 40 per cent of the State’s farmland is under certified organic cultivation. As part of its plan to make the entire State take to organic cultivation by 2015, Sikkim has banned the use of chemical fertilizer and pesticides from 2003 itself. Going organic has twin advantages of protecting the health of people by avoiding chemical fertilizer and pesticides, and getting premium value for the produce. Madhya Pradesh accounts for nearly 40 per cent of the total area under certified organic farming in the country. Though most of it is due to cotton fields, the state has an immense potential to bring even food crops under organic cultivation. What may help the state’s cause is that agriculture is already organic by default in many tribal-dominated districts because farmers either don't have the resources to use chemical fertilizers or lack access to them. Even on the employment generation front organic farming has immense potential , for example, an ASSOCHAM study has shown that it has potential to create 60 lac jobs in MP and 80 lac jobs in Rajasthan , over the next 5 years. In general, in India, landholdings of our farmers are also very small. Hence we need to maximise agricultural income to ensure them a decent living. Organic farming has come as an appropriate option for us as we can send our produce to niche markets not just in India but also abroad to get maximum returns for farmers. After setting aside certain quantum for domestic consumption, the remaining produce is sent to niche markets in foreign countries. A premium of about 25 per cent is offered to organic produce with respect to prices. Organic farming is adding to the tourism potential of the States and providing additional income to farmers as, for example, the Sikkim government has also taken up organic tourism. Nature tourism is being promoted by setting up home stays in villages that have been declared “completely organic”.
| 1,004
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‘Conventional energy sources are still a major major source of our nation’s energy requirements’. In light of this statement enlist measures to ensure efficient and judicious use of conventional energy sources.
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Briefly, Fossil fuels such as petroleum products, Coal, gas, along with large hydroelectric projects are called as conventional energy sources. They account for most of the energy sources in our country. Hence there is a need for bringing in efficiency in their use . explain the various dimensions associated with this.
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##Question:‘Conventional energy sources are still a major major source of our nation’s energy requirements’. In light of this statement enlist measures to ensure efficient and judicious use of conventional energy sources.##Answer:Briefly, Fossil fuels such as petroleum products, Coal, gas, along with large hydroelectric projects are called as conventional energy sources. They account for most of the energy sources in our country. Hence there is a need for bringing in efficiency in their use . explain the various dimensions associated with this.
| 1,005
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What is the aim of the World Wildlife Fund – India’s ( WWF-India) campaign for the ‘Tiger of the Ganges’ along with the major concerns related to the species.
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The three-day ‘Save Ganga, Save Dolphin’ campaign was launched by the U.P. Government in association with the World Wildlife Fund - India (WWF - India) and involving NGOs and local volunteers. It was also meant to collect baseline information on distribution of the dolphins and population status in the State. Called the ‘Tiger of the Ganges,’ the Gangetic dolphin is an indicator animal (predator). It is one of the four species found worldwide and enjoys the same position in the river ecosystem as the tiger in the forest. With the riverine system facing multiple threats, the number of dolphins declined to about 1,600 in 2005 (when the last census was conducted in a fragmented manner) from 4,000-5,000 in 1982. It is said that at the turn of the last century, the Gangetic dolphin population was around 50,000. Now, a survey is being conducted by separate teams along 16 stretches of the Ganga and its tributaries in the State.The first ever step to conserve the Gangetic dolphin has a twin objective of knowing the headcount of the mammal and publicising the campaign for its conservation. Many boats were pressed into service to cover about 2,800 km of the Gangetic river system in Uttar Pradesh in the first major initiative towards creating awareness of conserving the critically endangered species of Gangetic dolphin (Platanista Gangetica). The species is endemic to the Gangetic river system. To save dolphins from extinction, the Union government has declared them as the national aquatic animal. The dolphins found in the Ganga are a rare species. The river dolphins are also found in Yamuna, Chambal, Brahmaputra, Subansiri and Kulsi rivers. Since the river dolphin is at the apex of the aquatic food chain, its presence in adequate numbers symbolises greater bio-diversity in the river system. WWF says the annual mortality rate of the dolphins ranges from 130 to 160 and the growth of the animal is slow. Fragmentation of rivers with dams and barrages causing lean flow, siltation, pollution and indiscriminate extraction of river water, apart from dolphins being accidentally caught in fishermen’s nets, are a major threat to their survival.
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##Question:What is the aim of the World Wildlife Fund – India’s ( WWF-India) campaign for the ‘Tiger of the Ganges’ along with the major concerns related to the species. ##Answer:The three-day ‘Save Ganga, Save Dolphin’ campaign was launched by the U.P. Government in association with the World Wildlife Fund - India (WWF - India) and involving NGOs and local volunteers. It was also meant to collect baseline information on distribution of the dolphins and population status in the State. Called the ‘Tiger of the Ganges,’ the Gangetic dolphin is an indicator animal (predator). It is one of the four species found worldwide and enjoys the same position in the river ecosystem as the tiger in the forest. With the riverine system facing multiple threats, the number of dolphins declined to about 1,600 in 2005 (when the last census was conducted in a fragmented manner) from 4,000-5,000 in 1982. It is said that at the turn of the last century, the Gangetic dolphin population was around 50,000. Now, a survey is being conducted by separate teams along 16 stretches of the Ganga and its tributaries in the State.The first ever step to conserve the Gangetic dolphin has a twin objective of knowing the headcount of the mammal and publicising the campaign for its conservation. Many boats were pressed into service to cover about 2,800 km of the Gangetic river system in Uttar Pradesh in the first major initiative towards creating awareness of conserving the critically endangered species of Gangetic dolphin (Platanista Gangetica). The species is endemic to the Gangetic river system. To save dolphins from extinction, the Union government has declared them as the national aquatic animal. The dolphins found in the Ganga are a rare species. The river dolphins are also found in Yamuna, Chambal, Brahmaputra, Subansiri and Kulsi rivers. Since the river dolphin is at the apex of the aquatic food chain, its presence in adequate numbers symbolises greater bio-diversity in the river system. WWF says the annual mortality rate of the dolphins ranges from 130 to 160 and the growth of the animal is slow. Fragmentation of rivers with dams and barrages causing lean flow, siltation, pollution and indiscriminate extraction of river water, apart from dolphins being accidentally caught in fishermen’s nets, are a major threat to their survival.
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Heat budget of earth
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Heat Budget is a numerical account of net heat received and sent back by earth. Since earth neither consumes nor produces energy, hence the overall heat budget is balanced. It could also be called global energy budgets or global energy balance. Consider that the insolation received at the top of the atmosphere is 100 per cent. While passing through the atmosphere some amount of energy is reflected, scattered and absorbed. Only the remaining part reaches the earth surface. Roughly 35 units are reflected back to space even before reaching the earth’s surface. Of these, 27 units are reflected back from the top of the clouds and 2 units from the snow and ice-covered areas of the earth. The reflected amount of radiation is called the albedo of the earth. The remaining 65 units are absorbed, 14 units within the atmosphere and 51 units by the earth’s surface. The earth radiates back 51 units in the form of terrestrial radiation. Of these, 17 units are radiated to space directly and the remaining 34 units are absorbed by the atmosphere (6 units absorbed directly by the atmosphere, 9 units through convection and turbulence and 19 units through latent heat of condensation). 48 units absorbed by the atmosphere (14 units from insolation +34 units from terrestrial radiation) are also radiated back into space. Thus, the total radiation returning from the earth and the atmosphere respectively is 17+48=65 units which balance the total of 65 units received from the sun. This is termed the heat budget or heat balance of the earth. This explains, why the earth neither warms up nor cools down despite the huge transfer of heat that takes place.
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##Question:Heat budget of earth##Answer:Heat Budget is a numerical account of net heat received and sent back by earth. Since earth neither consumes nor produces energy, hence the overall heat budget is balanced. It could also be called global energy budgets or global energy balance. Consider that the insolation received at the top of the atmosphere is 100 per cent. While passing through the atmosphere some amount of energy is reflected, scattered and absorbed. Only the remaining part reaches the earth surface. Roughly 35 units are reflected back to space even before reaching the earth’s surface. Of these, 27 units are reflected back from the top of the clouds and 2 units from the snow and ice-covered areas of the earth. The reflected amount of radiation is called the albedo of the earth. The remaining 65 units are absorbed, 14 units within the atmosphere and 51 units by the earth’s surface. The earth radiates back 51 units in the form of terrestrial radiation. Of these, 17 units are radiated to space directly and the remaining 34 units are absorbed by the atmosphere (6 units absorbed directly by the atmosphere, 9 units through convection and turbulence and 19 units through latent heat of condensation). 48 units absorbed by the atmosphere (14 units from insolation +34 units from terrestrial radiation) are also radiated back into space. Thus, the total radiation returning from the earth and the atmosphere respectively is 17+48=65 units which balance the total of 65 units received from the sun. This is termed the heat budget or heat balance of the earth. This explains, why the earth neither warms up nor cools down despite the huge transfer of heat that takes place.
| 1,009
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Relation between earthquakes and Tsunami.
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Tsunamis (Seismic sea waves): Tsunami is a Japanese word for ‘Harbour Waves’. They are sometimes referred to as ‘Tidal Waves’ but since they have nothing to do with tides, the name is quite misleading. Most Tsunamis are generated by under sea seismic events (earthquakes). In open sea, their heights may be only less than a meter but when they come on to shore, they may develop into heaves having extraordinary heights. The waves travel over the ocean in ever-widening circles, but they are not perceptible at sea in deep water. When a tsunami arrives at a distant coastline, it causes a rise in water level. Normal wind-driven waves, superimposed on the heightened water level, attack places inland that are normally above their reach. Hence, as a caution people should not approach the shore with the retreat of one of the waves of Tsunami, as the next wave may arrive with a longer amplitude. Very large tsunamis occur more than once every 10 years and nearly all originate in the Pacific Ocean and or Indian Ocean. Japan has suffered the largest share of tsunami disaster. The earthquake of 26 Dec, 2004 at Sumatra resulted into a catastrophic Tsunami that killed over 2,20,000 people, mostly in Indonesia, Sri Lanka, Thailand, India and Malaysia. The Indian plate subducted that Myanmar Plate to cause the quake. It made the earth tilt by around on inch from its aris. The quake moved small islands by 20m. Adverse effects of Tsunami: Human casualisties. Loss of property – Cattle, crops, fishing, tourism, transport system, communication system. Destruction of beaches. Shifting of location of small Is. Deposition of sand on coastal plains. Destruction of marine ecology – Fishes and corals. Social problems – mental stress, epidemics, restlessness, fear psychosis.
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##Question:Relation between earthquakes and Tsunami.##Answer:Tsunamis (Seismic sea waves): Tsunami is a Japanese word for ‘Harbour Waves’. They are sometimes referred to as ‘Tidal Waves’ but since they have nothing to do with tides, the name is quite misleading. Most Tsunamis are generated by under sea seismic events (earthquakes). In open sea, their heights may be only less than a meter but when they come on to shore, they may develop into heaves having extraordinary heights. The waves travel over the ocean in ever-widening circles, but they are not perceptible at sea in deep water. When a tsunami arrives at a distant coastline, it causes a rise in water level. Normal wind-driven waves, superimposed on the heightened water level, attack places inland that are normally above their reach. Hence, as a caution people should not approach the shore with the retreat of one of the waves of Tsunami, as the next wave may arrive with a longer amplitude. Very large tsunamis occur more than once every 10 years and nearly all originate in the Pacific Ocean and or Indian Ocean. Japan has suffered the largest share of tsunami disaster. The earthquake of 26 Dec, 2004 at Sumatra resulted into a catastrophic Tsunami that killed over 2,20,000 people, mostly in Indonesia, Sri Lanka, Thailand, India and Malaysia. The Indian plate subducted that Myanmar Plate to cause the quake. It made the earth tilt by around on inch from its aris. The quake moved small islands by 20m. Adverse effects of Tsunami: Human casualisties. Loss of property – Cattle, crops, fishing, tourism, transport system, communication system. Destruction of beaches. Shifting of location of small Is. Deposition of sand on coastal plains. Destruction of marine ecology – Fishes and corals. Social problems – mental stress, epidemics, restlessness, fear psychosis.
| 1,010
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Relation between Climate Change and Global Warming
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Climate change is the phenomenon of change in the various or any of the constituent parts of climate, like temperature, moisture content, pressure conditions, etc. these changes could be caused by natural or man made causes. Global warming is the phenomenon of increase is average temp. of globe. It is main anthropogenic cause is release of green house gases due to emissions . It could also be caused by natural causes, like volcanic activity etc.. Melting of polar and Glacial ice, rising sea levels are outcomes of global warming. Hence global warming is one of the aspects associated with climate change. The 2007 Fourth Assessment Report (AR4) by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) indicated that during the 21st century the global surface temperature is likely to rise a further 1.1 to 2.9 °C (2to 5.2°F) for their lowest emissions scenario and 2.4 to 6.4 °C (4.3to 11.5°F) for their highest.
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##Question:Relation between Climate Change and Global Warming##Answer:Climate change is the phenomenon of change in the various or any of the constituent parts of climate, like temperature, moisture content, pressure conditions, etc. these changes could be caused by natural or man made causes. Global warming is the phenomenon of increase is average temp. of globe. It is main anthropogenic cause is release of green house gases due to emissions . It could also be caused by natural causes, like volcanic activity etc.. Melting of polar and Glacial ice, rising sea levels are outcomes of global warming. Hence global warming is one of the aspects associated with climate change. The 2007 Fourth Assessment Report (AR4) by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) indicated that during the 21st century the global surface temperature is likely to rise a further 1.1 to 2.9 °C (2to 5.2°F) for their lowest emissions scenario and 2.4 to 6.4 °C (4.3to 11.5°F) for their highest.
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Tarai region and its significance
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TheTaraiis a belt of marshy grasslands , savannas , and forests located south of the outer foothills of the Himalaya , the Siwalik Hills , and north of the Indo-Gangetic Plain of the Ganges , Brahmaputra and their tributaries. The Tarai belongs to the Terai-Duar savanna and grasslands ecoregion . In northern India , the Tarai spreads eastward from the Yamuna River across Himachal Pradesh , Haryana , Uttaranchal , Uttar Pradesh and Bihar . Corresponding parts of West Bengal , Bangladesh , Bhutan and Assam east to the Brahmaputra River are called Dooars .The lowland plains of the Tarai lie at an altitude of between 67 and 300 m. North of the Tarai rises the Bhabhar , a narrow but continuous belt of forest about 8–12 km wide. The Tarai is crossed by the large perennial Himalayan rivers Yamuna, Ganges, Sarda , Karnali , Narayani and Kosi that have each built alluvial fans covering thousands of kmsquarebelow their exits from the hills. The Terai was heavily forested with Sal before heavy logging began in the 19th century, particularly for use as railroad sleepers. Inner Terai valleys historically were agriculturally productive but extremely malarial .
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##Question:Tarai region and its significance##Answer:TheTaraiis a belt of marshy grasslands , savannas , and forests located south of the outer foothills of the Himalaya , the Siwalik Hills , and north of the Indo-Gangetic Plain of the Ganges , Brahmaputra and their tributaries. The Tarai belongs to the Terai-Duar savanna and grasslands ecoregion . In northern India , the Tarai spreads eastward from the Yamuna River across Himachal Pradesh , Haryana , Uttaranchal , Uttar Pradesh and Bihar . Corresponding parts of West Bengal , Bangladesh , Bhutan and Assam east to the Brahmaputra River are called Dooars .The lowland plains of the Tarai lie at an altitude of between 67 and 300 m. North of the Tarai rises the Bhabhar , a narrow but continuous belt of forest about 8–12 km wide. The Tarai is crossed by the large perennial Himalayan rivers Yamuna, Ganges, Sarda , Karnali , Narayani and Kosi that have each built alluvial fans covering thousands of kmsquarebelow their exits from the hills. The Terai was heavily forested with Sal before heavy logging began in the 19th century, particularly for use as railroad sleepers. Inner Terai valleys historically were agriculturally productive but extremely malarial .
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Reasons and impact of cloud burst
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Acloudburstis an extreme amount of precipitation, sometimes with hail and thunder , which normally lasts no longer than a few minutes but is capable of creating flood conditions. Colloquially, the term cloudburst may be used to describe any sudden heavy, brief, and usually unforecast rainfall. Meteorologists say the rain fall rate equal to or greater than 100mm per hour is a cloudburst.The associated convective cloud , can extend up to a height of 15km above the ground. During a cloudburst, more than 20mm of rain may fall in a few minutes. When there are instances of cloudbursts, the results can be disastrous. Cloudburst also responsible for Flash flood creation. In the recent years cloud bursts have taken place in Mumbai, Leh, Ukhimath – uttarakhand, Doda, Tehri Causing huge damage to life and property.
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##Question:Reasons and impact of cloud burst##Answer:Acloudburstis an extreme amount of precipitation, sometimes with hail and thunder , which normally lasts no longer than a few minutes but is capable of creating flood conditions. Colloquially, the term cloudburst may be used to describe any sudden heavy, brief, and usually unforecast rainfall. Meteorologists say the rain fall rate equal to or greater than 100mm per hour is a cloudburst.The associated convective cloud , can extend up to a height of 15km above the ground. During a cloudburst, more than 20mm of rain may fall in a few minutes. When there are instances of cloudbursts, the results can be disastrous. Cloudburst also responsible for Flash flood creation. In the recent years cloud bursts have taken place in Mumbai, Leh, Ukhimath – uttarakhand, Doda, Tehri Causing huge damage to life and property.
| 1,013
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Commercial surrogacy has been relegated to the realm of an ordinary business contract. Discuss the issues related to Surrogacy in light of the above statement
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Surrogacy in India Surrogacy is growing rapidly by the day, thanks to India emerging as a centre for medical tourism and being one of the few countries in the world where commercial surrogacy is widely available. Estimates for the value of this industry range from Rs. 20 billion to $2.3 billion. Today, the small Gujarat town of Anand, well known for its milk products, has rapidly put itself on the global map as the most fertile ground for ‘surrogacy tourism’ . All evidence suggests that the phenomenon has now spread from cities to smaller towns in India, with many of the centres calling themselves in vitro fertilisation (IVF) clinics to avoid public scrutiny. Normlessness in India with respect to Surrogacy The laws meant to regulate surrogacy are still in nascent stages, as they are stuck at various legislative levels. The only guidelines currently related to this field are those of the Indian Medical Association (IMA), which date back to 2006. There is not much emphasis given to the setting up of norms to govern this growing industry. The IMA guidelines are more like normative principles that are required to be followed and not statutory instruments that invite penalties. The legal situation in India is in sharp contrast to that existing in many other countries. In Germany and Canada, surrogacy is outlawed or prohibited; in the U.K., it is highly regulated and very expensive. In Germany, over the last three years, there have been two controversial cases. The first, in 2008, involved twins born to a surrogate mother; the second arose barely a year ago. In both cases, German authorities refused to automatically give passports to children born of surrogate procedures carried out in India. The main reason for the refusal of visas was because surrogacy is not allowed in Germany. At present, in India the understanding between the surrogate mother and the commissioning parents is considered a contract, with a mention made of compensation to be paid to the mother. So although the guidelines recognise the existence of commercial surrogacy, it is relegated to the realm of an ordinary business contract. In other words, jurisprudence developed for commerce along with medical guidelines are the only form of regulation of a business that is referred to — and one can only assume without irony — as ‘wombs for rent’. The Law Commission of India has brought out a report on surrogacy and the urgent need for regulation entitled, ‘Need for Legislation to Regulate Assisted Reproductive Technology Clinics as well as Rights and Obligations of Parties to a Surrogacy’. Unfortunately, this report, too, is now over three years old and the draft legislation on the issue — The Assisted Reproductive Technologies (Regulation) Bill, 2010 (ART) is still nowhere in sight as a legally enforceable statute. The issues in the ART Bill The draft Bill itself is not without contentious issues since it is drafted from the perspective of the commissioning parents. The methods of payment to the surrogate and the other arrangements it lays down seem to suggest that the surrogate figures low in the list of priorities in terms of care and protection. This is disturbing considering that surrogacy raises several ethical considerations including the fact that it leaves poor women at the mercy of a capricious system. These women often have no other recourse other than commercial surrogacy arrangements to buy themselves and their families out of debilitating circumstances. The number of pregnancies, the types of procedures and the care of the surrogate are all matters that have been inadequately addressed, both by the medical system as it exists today and the Bill. There is also the issue of race and ethics to be considered. In addition, it is pertinent to note that there is hardly the required encouragement to look at adoption as a viable alternative to surrogacy to parents willing to consider this as an option to add to their family. The Supreme Court, in the 2008 case of Baby Manji Yamada v/s Union of India discussed surrogacy and noted that commercial surrogacy is reaching industrial proportions because of the ready availability of poor surrogates. But while civil society groups, the media, the courts and the Law Commission have periodically focused on the various negative aspects of the surrogacy industry, the apathy of the country’s own legislators makes one wonder what is required to spur them to address the serious ethical and moral dimensions of this unregulated enterprise.
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##Question:Commercial surrogacy has been relegated to the realm of an ordinary business contract. Discuss the issues related to Surrogacy in light of the above statement##Answer: Surrogacy in India Surrogacy is growing rapidly by the day, thanks to India emerging as a centre for medical tourism and being one of the few countries in the world where commercial surrogacy is widely available. Estimates for the value of this industry range from Rs. 20 billion to $2.3 billion. Today, the small Gujarat town of Anand, well known for its milk products, has rapidly put itself on the global map as the most fertile ground for ‘surrogacy tourism’ . All evidence suggests that the phenomenon has now spread from cities to smaller towns in India, with many of the centres calling themselves in vitro fertilisation (IVF) clinics to avoid public scrutiny. Normlessness in India with respect to Surrogacy The laws meant to regulate surrogacy are still in nascent stages, as they are stuck at various legislative levels. The only guidelines currently related to this field are those of the Indian Medical Association (IMA), which date back to 2006. There is not much emphasis given to the setting up of norms to govern this growing industry. The IMA guidelines are more like normative principles that are required to be followed and not statutory instruments that invite penalties. The legal situation in India is in sharp contrast to that existing in many other countries. In Germany and Canada, surrogacy is outlawed or prohibited; in the U.K., it is highly regulated and very expensive. In Germany, over the last three years, there have been two controversial cases. The first, in 2008, involved twins born to a surrogate mother; the second arose barely a year ago. In both cases, German authorities refused to automatically give passports to children born of surrogate procedures carried out in India. The main reason for the refusal of visas was because surrogacy is not allowed in Germany. At present, in India the understanding between the surrogate mother and the commissioning parents is considered a contract, with a mention made of compensation to be paid to the mother. So although the guidelines recognise the existence of commercial surrogacy, it is relegated to the realm of an ordinary business contract. In other words, jurisprudence developed for commerce along with medical guidelines are the only form of regulation of a business that is referred to — and one can only assume without irony — as ‘wombs for rent’. The Law Commission of India has brought out a report on surrogacy and the urgent need for regulation entitled, ‘Need for Legislation to Regulate Assisted Reproductive Technology Clinics as well as Rights and Obligations of Parties to a Surrogacy’. Unfortunately, this report, too, is now over three years old and the draft legislation on the issue — The Assisted Reproductive Technologies (Regulation) Bill, 2010 (ART) is still nowhere in sight as a legally enforceable statute. The issues in the ART Bill The draft Bill itself is not without contentious issues since it is drafted from the perspective of the commissioning parents. The methods of payment to the surrogate and the other arrangements it lays down seem to suggest that the surrogate figures low in the list of priorities in terms of care and protection. This is disturbing considering that surrogacy raises several ethical considerations including the fact that it leaves poor women at the mercy of a capricious system. These women often have no other recourse other than commercial surrogacy arrangements to buy themselves and their families out of debilitating circumstances. The number of pregnancies, the types of procedures and the care of the surrogate are all matters that have been inadequately addressed, both by the medical system as it exists today and the Bill. There is also the issue of race and ethics to be considered. In addition, it is pertinent to note that there is hardly the required encouragement to look at adoption as a viable alternative to surrogacy to parents willing to consider this as an option to add to their family. The Supreme Court, in the 2008 case of Baby Manji Yamada v/s Union of India discussed surrogacy and noted that commercial surrogacy is reaching industrial proportions because of the ready availability of poor surrogates. But while civil society groups, the media, the courts and the Law Commission have periodically focused on the various negative aspects of the surrogacy industry, the apathy of the country’s own legislators makes one wonder what is required to spur them to address the serious ethical and moral dimensions of this unregulated enterprise.
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The Finance Ministry proposal to create a National Investment Board with extraordinary authority to supersede individual ministries and decide the fate of expensive infrastructure projects is a retrograde measure that strikes at the root of democratic gov
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What is NIB The Government proposes to set up a National Investment Board (NIB) to monitor and advise ministries on expediting projects entailing investments in excess of Rs 1,000 crore. The NIB will be supported by a small dedicated secretariat in the DEA which will identify key projects that require continual monitoring. Under chairmanship of PM. Aims /Objectives/ Functions of NIB The stated objective of forming an NIB chaired by the Prime Minister, under the Government of India (Allocation of Business) Rules, 1961, is to prescribe time limits for approvals. The main purpose is to oversee and monitor large projects which will give a fillip to India’s economic growth. The process of granting/refusing approvals to FDI proposals under the approval route has become quicker after the setting up of the Foreign Investment Promotion Board (FIPB) and the NIB is expected to have a similar beneficial impact on granting/refusing approvals/clearances to key projects, especially in the infrastructure sector. The NIB will prescribe different time limits for requisite multiple approvals in consultation with the ministries and if they renege on these deadlines, the authority of the concerned Ministry/Department would stand transferred to the NIB for taking the decision. Detailed analysis of the delays indicates that there are two basic sets of approvals/clearances which need to be addressed. The first is regulatory approval accorded under the relevant law as exemplified by the Environment Clearance and Forest Clearance. A time frame may have been prescribed under rules for some of the clearances but delays often occur because of the inadequate administrative arrangements to facilitate/support the procedure for timely grant/refusal of clearance. The second is purely in the realm of administrative decisions, with each step consuming several days or weeks. Closer supervision and monitoring would considerably reduce the time taken for such approvals. It will go a long way in eliminating red tape, reducing litigation and also bring back investment. Criticism The Finance Ministry’s proposal to create a National Investment Board with extraordinary authority to supersede individual ministries and decide the fate of expensive infrastructure projects is a retrograde measure that strikes at the root of democratic governance. The basic tenets of all law-making include public participation, equity and justice, more so when it comes to the environment and welfare. India’s laws on protection of the environment, forests, wildlife and tribal welfare enshrine these principles, and the country has been centre-staging them when negotiating international treaties and protocols. But a brazen attempt is being made using the fig leaf of ‘delays’ in grant of regulatory approvals and clearances to negate all this and strip individual ministries of their lawful role, and to transfer their decision-making powers to an NIB. The Ministry of Environment and Forests, which is cast by industry as the villain when it comes to project clearances, is justified in opposing this misadventure. The stated objective of forming an NIB chaired by the Prime Minister, under the Government of India (Allocation of Business) Rules, 1961, is to prescribe time limits for approvals. Its functions, however, are far-reaching and would seriously erode the powers and autonomy of individual ministries. Their procedures and decisions will become subject to review by an investment-focused superior entity, with predictable consequences. Taking the long view, Board proponents would do well to remember that they seek to exploit a stock of invaluable, limited natural capital. There is, thus, a need to assess the sustainability of development, and not be guided solely by narrow measures of economic performance. Considering the authoritarian character that an all-powerful committee will inevitably acquire, it would be prudent for the Cabinet to give up the NIB proposal. It can achieve better outcomes by focusing on administrative elements within ministries, and introducing accountability in project approvals.
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##Question:The Finance Ministry proposal to create a National Investment Board with extraordinary authority to supersede individual ministries and decide the fate of expensive infrastructure projects is a retrograde measure that strikes at the root of democratic gov##Answer:What is NIB The Government proposes to set up a National Investment Board (NIB) to monitor and advise ministries on expediting projects entailing investments in excess of Rs 1,000 crore. The NIB will be supported by a small dedicated secretariat in the DEA which will identify key projects that require continual monitoring. Under chairmanship of PM. Aims /Objectives/ Functions of NIB The stated objective of forming an NIB chaired by the Prime Minister, under the Government of India (Allocation of Business) Rules, 1961, is to prescribe time limits for approvals. The main purpose is to oversee and monitor large projects which will give a fillip to India’s economic growth. The process of granting/refusing approvals to FDI proposals under the approval route has become quicker after the setting up of the Foreign Investment Promotion Board (FIPB) and the NIB is expected to have a similar beneficial impact on granting/refusing approvals/clearances to key projects, especially in the infrastructure sector. The NIB will prescribe different time limits for requisite multiple approvals in consultation with the ministries and if they renege on these deadlines, the authority of the concerned Ministry/Department would stand transferred to the NIB for taking the decision. Detailed analysis of the delays indicates that there are two basic sets of approvals/clearances which need to be addressed. The first is regulatory approval accorded under the relevant law as exemplified by the Environment Clearance and Forest Clearance. A time frame may have been prescribed under rules for some of the clearances but delays often occur because of the inadequate administrative arrangements to facilitate/support the procedure for timely grant/refusal of clearance. The second is purely in the realm of administrative decisions, with each step consuming several days or weeks. Closer supervision and monitoring would considerably reduce the time taken for such approvals. It will go a long way in eliminating red tape, reducing litigation and also bring back investment. Criticism The Finance Ministry’s proposal to create a National Investment Board with extraordinary authority to supersede individual ministries and decide the fate of expensive infrastructure projects is a retrograde measure that strikes at the root of democratic governance. The basic tenets of all law-making include public participation, equity and justice, more so when it comes to the environment and welfare. India’s laws on protection of the environment, forests, wildlife and tribal welfare enshrine these principles, and the country has been centre-staging them when negotiating international treaties and protocols. But a brazen attempt is being made using the fig leaf of ‘delays’ in grant of regulatory approvals and clearances to negate all this and strip individual ministries of their lawful role, and to transfer their decision-making powers to an NIB. The Ministry of Environment and Forests, which is cast by industry as the villain when it comes to project clearances, is justified in opposing this misadventure. The stated objective of forming an NIB chaired by the Prime Minister, under the Government of India (Allocation of Business) Rules, 1961, is to prescribe time limits for approvals. Its functions, however, are far-reaching and would seriously erode the powers and autonomy of individual ministries. Their procedures and decisions will become subject to review by an investment-focused superior entity, with predictable consequences. Taking the long view, Board proponents would do well to remember that they seek to exploit a stock of invaluable, limited natural capital. There is, thus, a need to assess the sustainability of development, and not be guided solely by narrow measures of economic performance. Considering the authoritarian character that an all-powerful committee will inevitably acquire, it would be prudent for the Cabinet to give up the NIB proposal. It can achieve better outcomes by focusing on administrative elements within ministries, and introducing accountability in project approvals.
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Every person with mental illness has the right to exercise all civil, political, economic, social and cultural rights. Critically analyse the Mental Healthcare Bill in light of the above statement.
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What is the Bill about? The Mental Health Care Bill, 2012, provides for mental health care which shall be of the highest quality possible and shall be provided in a manner that preserves the dignity of the person with mental illness. If the Bill becomes an Act of parliament, then every person shall be entitled, if the person so wishes, to medical insurance covering treatment to a person suffering from mental illness and no insurance company shall make any insurance policy providing insurance against sickness which excludes or restricts the treatment of persons suffering from mental illness. Positives The new Bill contains many protections to persons with mental illness. It bars prolonged hospitalisation, chaining, compulsory tonsuring, forced sterilisation, and electro-convulsive therapy without anaesthesia, and defends rights of patients to privacy, personal clothes and protection from abuse. It also prescribes that all persons with mental illness have the right to dignity, and to live in, be part of, and not segregated from society. The Bill also mandates that mental health services shall be integrated into general health services at all levels – primary, secondary and tertiary, and that these services shall be available in the neighbourhood. If enforced, this will draw a curtain on the long tragic history of injustices and abuses which characterised large, segregated mental hospitals. The opening sections of the Bill are forthright in admitting that persons with mental illness suffer discrimination, and that the current law has failed to protect their rights and promote their access to health care. It goes on to assure all persons the right to ‘affordable’ good quality public health care. The government also proposes to ban electro convulsive treatment (ECT) (electric shocks) for minors as well as its direct administering to adults and has recommended its use only in rare cases only under general anaesthesia.It also proposes grant of medical insurance for patients who till now are not covered for insurance. The Bill also seeks to broaden the definition of mental illness and recommends decriminalisation of suicide and proposes to ban tonsuring (of heads) of the sick under treatment in mental homes. Negatives Radical mental health activists are dismayed because the new Bill still allows involuntary admissions of patients against their will. They are uncompromising that the will of the patient should be absolute regarding whether or not she wishes to accept treatment and care. Disability groups are against involuntary admissions which are literally forced admissions and can be misused against people with mental illness. The groups are also advocating community mental healthcare and an end to establishment of more institutions such as psychiatric facilities. That is also what is stated by UNCRPD (UN Convention on Rights of Persons with Disability), which India ratified in 2007. While the world community is talking about de- institutionalising mental health sector, the Bill proposes that anyone can set up mental health institutes. The penalty provisions for such institutes set up without permission are not deterrent enough, as there is only a fine of Rs 50,000 proposed on the first offence. The MHC Bill makes a mockery of medical ethics and patient consent. In the last couple of years alone, media has exposed gross human rights violations within these institutions. The Advance Directive procedure in the Bill is complex and impossible to achieve. Advance Directive is a will of sorts which anyone can write in advance to mention the kind of treatment he/she wants or does not want in case of mental illness in future. However, the law also gives caregivers, relatives and NGOs the right to seek cancellation of such directives by appealing before the Mental Health Review Commission, which has been proposed in the new law and takes away the role of judiciary in admission and discharge of mentally ill people into institutions.
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##Question:Every person with mental illness has the right to exercise all civil, political, economic, social and cultural rights. Critically analyse the Mental Healthcare Bill in light of the above statement.##Answer:What is the Bill about? The Mental Health Care Bill, 2012, provides for mental health care which shall be of the highest quality possible and shall be provided in a manner that preserves the dignity of the person with mental illness. If the Bill becomes an Act of parliament, then every person shall be entitled, if the person so wishes, to medical insurance covering treatment to a person suffering from mental illness and no insurance company shall make any insurance policy providing insurance against sickness which excludes or restricts the treatment of persons suffering from mental illness. Positives The new Bill contains many protections to persons with mental illness. It bars prolonged hospitalisation, chaining, compulsory tonsuring, forced sterilisation, and electro-convulsive therapy without anaesthesia, and defends rights of patients to privacy, personal clothes and protection from abuse. It also prescribes that all persons with mental illness have the right to dignity, and to live in, be part of, and not segregated from society. The Bill also mandates that mental health services shall be integrated into general health services at all levels – primary, secondary and tertiary, and that these services shall be available in the neighbourhood. If enforced, this will draw a curtain on the long tragic history of injustices and abuses which characterised large, segregated mental hospitals. The opening sections of the Bill are forthright in admitting that persons with mental illness suffer discrimination, and that the current law has failed to protect their rights and promote their access to health care. It goes on to assure all persons the right to ‘affordable’ good quality public health care. The government also proposes to ban electro convulsive treatment (ECT) (electric shocks) for minors as well as its direct administering to adults and has recommended its use only in rare cases only under general anaesthesia.It also proposes grant of medical insurance for patients who till now are not covered for insurance. The Bill also seeks to broaden the definition of mental illness and recommends decriminalisation of suicide and proposes to ban tonsuring (of heads) of the sick under treatment in mental homes. Negatives Radical mental health activists are dismayed because the new Bill still allows involuntary admissions of patients against their will. They are uncompromising that the will of the patient should be absolute regarding whether or not she wishes to accept treatment and care. Disability groups are against involuntary admissions which are literally forced admissions and can be misused against people with mental illness. The groups are also advocating community mental healthcare and an end to establishment of more institutions such as psychiatric facilities. That is also what is stated by UNCRPD (UN Convention on Rights of Persons with Disability), which India ratified in 2007. While the world community is talking about de- institutionalising mental health sector, the Bill proposes that anyone can set up mental health institutes. The penalty provisions for such institutes set up without permission are not deterrent enough, as there is only a fine of Rs 50,000 proposed on the first offence. The MHC Bill makes a mockery of medical ethics and patient consent. In the last couple of years alone, media has exposed gross human rights violations within these institutions. The Advance Directive procedure in the Bill is complex and impossible to achieve. Advance Directive is a will of sorts which anyone can write in advance to mention the kind of treatment he/she wants or does not want in case of mental illness in future. However, the law also gives caregivers, relatives and NGOs the right to seek cancellation of such directives by appealing before the Mental Health Review Commission, which has been proposed in the new law and takes away the role of judiciary in admission and discharge of mentally ill people into institutions.
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What are the key objectives of the National Policy on Electronics. Also briefly mention the key strategies that the Government should adopt to achieve these objectives
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Objectives The key objectives of the Policy are: (i) To create an eco-system for a globally competitive Electronic System Design and Manufacturing (ESDM) sector in the country to achieve a turnover of about USD 400 billion by 2020 involving investment of about USD 100 billion and employment to around 28 million people at various levels. (ii) To build on the emerging chip design and embedded software industry to achieve global leadership in Very Large Scale Integration (VLSI), chip design and other frontier technical areas and to achieve a turnover of USD 55 billion by 2020. (iii) To build a strong supply chain of raw materials, parts and electronic components to raise the indigenous availability of these inputs from the present 20-25 per cent to over 60 per cent by 2020. (iv) To increase the export in ESDM sector from USD 5.5 billion to USD 80 billion by 2020. (v) To significantly enhance availability of skilled manpower in the ESDM sector. Special focus for augmenting postgraduate education and to produce about 2500 PhDs annually by 2020. (vi) To create an institutional mechanism for developing and mandating standards and certification for electronic products and services to strengthen quality assessment infrastructure nationwide. (vii) To develop an appropriate security ecosystem in ESDM. (viii) To create long-term partnerships between ESDM and strategic and core infrastructure sectors - Defence, Atomic Energy, Space, Railways, Power, Telecommunications, etc. (ix) To become a global leader in creating Intellectual Property (IP) in the ESDM sector by increasing fund flow for R&D, seed capital and venture capital for start-ups in the ESDM and nanoelectronics sectors. (x) To develop core competencies in strategic and core infrastructure sectors like telecommunications, automotive, avionics, industrial, medical, solar, Information and Broadcasting, Railways, etc through use of ESDM in these sectors. (xi) To use technology to develop electronic products catering to domestic needs, including rural needs and conditions, as well as international needs at affordable price points. (xii) To become a global leader in the Electronic Manufacturing Services (EMS) segment by promoting progressive higher value addition in manufacturing and product development. (xiii) To expedite adoption of best practices in e-waste management. (xiv) To source, stockpile and promote indigenous exploration and mining of rare earth metals required for manufacture of electronic components. Key Strategies for the GoI to achieve these Objectives (i) Creating eco-system for globally competitive ESDM sector: The strategies include provision of fiscal incentives for investment, setting up of electronic manufacturing clusters, preferential market access to domestically manufactured electronic products, setting up of semiconductor wafer fabrication facilities, industry friendly and stable tax regime. Based on Cabinet approval, a high level Empowered committee has been constituted to identify and shortlist technology and investors for setting up two semiconductor wafer manufacturing fabrication facilities. Based on another Cabinet approval a policy for providing preference to domestically manufactured electronic goods has been announced. Separate proposals have also been considered by the Cabinet for approval of Modified Special Incentive Package for the ESDM Sector and for setting up of Electronics Manufacturing Clusters (EMCs). (ii) Promotion of Exports: The strategies include aggressive marketing of India as an investment destination and providing incentives for export, (iii) Human Resource Development: The strategies include involvement of private sector, universities and institutions of learning for scaling up of requisite capacities at all levels for the projected manpower demand. A specialized Institute for semiconductor chip design is also proposed. (iv) Developing and mandating standards to curb inflow of sub-standard and unsafe electronic products by mandating technical and safety standards which conform to international standards. (v) Cyber security: To create a complete secure cyber eco-system in the country, through suitable design and development of indigenous appropriate products through frontier technology/product oriented research, testing and validation of security of products. (vi) Strategic electronics: The strategies include creating long-term partnerships between domestic ESDM industry and strategic sectors for sourcing products domestically and providing Defense Offset obligations for electronic procurements through ESDM products. (vii) Creating ecosystem for vibrant innovation and R&D in the ESDM sector including nanoelectronics. The strategy includes creation of an Electronic Development Fund. (viii) Electronics in other sectors: The strategy includes supporting and : developing expertise in the electronics in the following sectors of economy: automotive, avionics, Light Emitting Diodes (LEDs), Industrial, medical, solar photovoltaics, Information and Broadcasting, Telecommunications, Railways, Intelligent Transport Systems, and Games and Toys. (ix) Handling e-waste: The strategy includes various initiatives to facilitate environment friendly e-waste handling policies.
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##Question:What are the key objectives of the National Policy on Electronics. Also briefly mention the key strategies that the Government should adopt to achieve these objectives##Answer:Objectives The key objectives of the Policy are: (i) To create an eco-system for a globally competitive Electronic System Design and Manufacturing (ESDM) sector in the country to achieve a turnover of about USD 400 billion by 2020 involving investment of about USD 100 billion and employment to around 28 million people at various levels. (ii) To build on the emerging chip design and embedded software industry to achieve global leadership in Very Large Scale Integration (VLSI), chip design and other frontier technical areas and to achieve a turnover of USD 55 billion by 2020. (iii) To build a strong supply chain of raw materials, parts and electronic components to raise the indigenous availability of these inputs from the present 20-25 per cent to over 60 per cent by 2020. (iv) To increase the export in ESDM sector from USD 5.5 billion to USD 80 billion by 2020. (v) To significantly enhance availability of skilled manpower in the ESDM sector. Special focus for augmenting postgraduate education and to produce about 2500 PhDs annually by 2020. (vi) To create an institutional mechanism for developing and mandating standards and certification for electronic products and services to strengthen quality assessment infrastructure nationwide. (vii) To develop an appropriate security ecosystem in ESDM. (viii) To create long-term partnerships between ESDM and strategic and core infrastructure sectors - Defence, Atomic Energy, Space, Railways, Power, Telecommunications, etc. (ix) To become a global leader in creating Intellectual Property (IP) in the ESDM sector by increasing fund flow for R&D, seed capital and venture capital for start-ups in the ESDM and nanoelectronics sectors. (x) To develop core competencies in strategic and core infrastructure sectors like telecommunications, automotive, avionics, industrial, medical, solar, Information and Broadcasting, Railways, etc through use of ESDM in these sectors. (xi) To use technology to develop electronic products catering to domestic needs, including rural needs and conditions, as well as international needs at affordable price points. (xii) To become a global leader in the Electronic Manufacturing Services (EMS) segment by promoting progressive higher value addition in manufacturing and product development. (xiii) To expedite adoption of best practices in e-waste management. (xiv) To source, stockpile and promote indigenous exploration and mining of rare earth metals required for manufacture of electronic components. Key Strategies for the GoI to achieve these Objectives (i) Creating eco-system for globally competitive ESDM sector: The strategies include provision of fiscal incentives for investment, setting up of electronic manufacturing clusters, preferential market access to domestically manufactured electronic products, setting up of semiconductor wafer fabrication facilities, industry friendly and stable tax regime. Based on Cabinet approval, a high level Empowered committee has been constituted to identify and shortlist technology and investors for setting up two semiconductor wafer manufacturing fabrication facilities. Based on another Cabinet approval a policy for providing preference to domestically manufactured electronic goods has been announced. Separate proposals have also been considered by the Cabinet for approval of Modified Special Incentive Package for the ESDM Sector and for setting up of Electronics Manufacturing Clusters (EMCs). (ii) Promotion of Exports: The strategies include aggressive marketing of India as an investment destination and providing incentives for export, (iii) Human Resource Development: The strategies include involvement of private sector, universities and institutions of learning for scaling up of requisite capacities at all levels for the projected manpower demand. A specialized Institute for semiconductor chip design is also proposed. (iv) Developing and mandating standards to curb inflow of sub-standard and unsafe electronic products by mandating technical and safety standards which conform to international standards. (v) Cyber security: To create a complete secure cyber eco-system in the country, through suitable design and development of indigenous appropriate products through frontier technology/product oriented research, testing and validation of security of products. (vi) Strategic electronics: The strategies include creating long-term partnerships between domestic ESDM industry and strategic sectors for sourcing products domestically and providing Defense Offset obligations for electronic procurements through ESDM products. (vii) Creating ecosystem for vibrant innovation and R&D in the ESDM sector including nanoelectronics. The strategy includes creation of an Electronic Development Fund. (viii) Electronics in other sectors: The strategy includes supporting and : developing expertise in the electronics in the following sectors of economy: automotive, avionics, Light Emitting Diodes (LEDs), Industrial, medical, solar photovoltaics, Information and Broadcasting, Telecommunications, Railways, Intelligent Transport Systems, and Games and Toys. (ix) Handling e-waste: The strategy includes various initiatives to facilitate environment friendly e-waste handling policies.
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Will polio eradication go the way of malaria and yellow fever, or will it prove to be successful like smallpox? Give your views along with supporting arguments
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(In this question you have to highlight the challenges for eradicating Polio) Eradication campaigns are the most ambitious and technically complex of global health programmes. Eradicating a disease is a venture requiring single minded determination to succeed, technical expertise, generous funding and a huge helping of luck. The global campaign to eradicate polio will require all of this if it is to succeed.. The challenges for wiping Polio Consider what polio eradication involves: it aims to wipe off the face of the earth the virus that causes polio. This virus is one of the most basic forms of existence on earth — a sliver of RNA encased in a protein coat, visible only through powerful electron microscopes. This speck of genetic material has to be hunted down and driven to extinction. Because it can only reproduce in human beings, if enough humans are immune to it, the virus will eventually find no place to reproduce and will die out. The polio campaign’s strategy is to build enough population immunity through large-scale immunisation campaigns to drive the virus to extinction. But with hundreds of thousands of non-immune children born every minute in countries where the polio virus still exists, this is not an easy task. The polio virus remains stubbornly entrenched in pockets of Nigeria, Pakistan and Afghanistan and the campaign is set to miss a 2012-end deadline to end transmission of the wild, or natural polio virus globally Eradication campaigns also have to be time bound. They are expensive, high intensity public health programmes that only make sense if they meet their goals within a defined time. If they drag on too long, they pull resources away from other public health priorities. The geo-political fault lines: Disease control and eradication programmes are not merely about health; they are also about politics and governance. Health and politics are intertwined, and global disease eradication campaigns are where the global and the local meet and often clash. One reason Afghanistan, Pakistan and Nigeria are struggling is because the polio campaign has become enmeshed in the geopolitical fault lines of the post 9/11 world. In all three countries, the polio campaign is seen by Islamist militants and clerics as a proxy for western interests. Local versus global issue: All local communities do not embrace the idea of polio vaccination. Polio is not a major public health issue in the countries it exists in. Malaria, measles, diarrheal diseases, lower respiratory tract infections and malnutrition are the major causes of illness and death in children. Yet when their children suffer from these common illnesses, people often need to travel long distances and pay money to get medical care. In contrast, vaccination against polio is delivered to their doors free. This raises suspicion and anger: why has polio been give such priority, and if it is possible to deliver polio vaccine like this, why can’t other more urgent health care also be brought to people’s door steps? But those who refuse polio vaccination for their children are not ignorant; they are pointing to the gap between their health priorities and health priorities set by international organisations. Polio has been difficult to eradicate partly because of this gap between local and global priorities. A key lesson for future global health programmes is to find ways to reduce this democratic deficit between what people in developing countries feel their greatest health needs are, and the kind of programmes that are developed at the global level by the WHO and international donor agencies. The polio eradication campaign is a crusade, and like all crusades, is eternally optimistic about the chances of success. But with time and money running out, the future of the polio eradication programme is still an open question.
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##Question:Will polio eradication go the way of malaria and yellow fever, or will it prove to be successful like smallpox? Give your views along with supporting arguments##Answer:(In this question you have to highlight the challenges for eradicating Polio) Eradication campaigns are the most ambitious and technically complex of global health programmes. Eradicating a disease is a venture requiring single minded determination to succeed, technical expertise, generous funding and a huge helping of luck. The global campaign to eradicate polio will require all of this if it is to succeed.. The challenges for wiping Polio Consider what polio eradication involves: it aims to wipe off the face of the earth the virus that causes polio. This virus is one of the most basic forms of existence on earth — a sliver of RNA encased in a protein coat, visible only through powerful electron microscopes. This speck of genetic material has to be hunted down and driven to extinction. Because it can only reproduce in human beings, if enough humans are immune to it, the virus will eventually find no place to reproduce and will die out. The polio campaign’s strategy is to build enough population immunity through large-scale immunisation campaigns to drive the virus to extinction. But with hundreds of thousands of non-immune children born every minute in countries where the polio virus still exists, this is not an easy task. The polio virus remains stubbornly entrenched in pockets of Nigeria, Pakistan and Afghanistan and the campaign is set to miss a 2012-end deadline to end transmission of the wild, or natural polio virus globally Eradication campaigns also have to be time bound. They are expensive, high intensity public health programmes that only make sense if they meet their goals within a defined time. If they drag on too long, they pull resources away from other public health priorities. The geo-political fault lines: Disease control and eradication programmes are not merely about health; they are also about politics and governance. Health and politics are intertwined, and global disease eradication campaigns are where the global and the local meet and often clash. One reason Afghanistan, Pakistan and Nigeria are struggling is because the polio campaign has become enmeshed in the geopolitical fault lines of the post 9/11 world. In all three countries, the polio campaign is seen by Islamist militants and clerics as a proxy for western interests. Local versus global issue: All local communities do not embrace the idea of polio vaccination. Polio is not a major public health issue in the countries it exists in. Malaria, measles, diarrheal diseases, lower respiratory tract infections and malnutrition are the major causes of illness and death in children. Yet when their children suffer from these common illnesses, people often need to travel long distances and pay money to get medical care. In contrast, vaccination against polio is delivered to their doors free. This raises suspicion and anger: why has polio been give such priority, and if it is possible to deliver polio vaccine like this, why can’t other more urgent health care also be brought to people’s door steps? But those who refuse polio vaccination for their children are not ignorant; they are pointing to the gap between their health priorities and health priorities set by international organisations. Polio has been difficult to eradicate partly because of this gap between local and global priorities. A key lesson for future global health programmes is to find ways to reduce this democratic deficit between what people in developing countries feel their greatest health needs are, and the kind of programmes that are developed at the global level by the WHO and international donor agencies. The polio eradication campaign is a crusade, and like all crusades, is eternally optimistic about the chances of success. But with time and money running out, the future of the polio eradication programme is still an open question.
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Beggary is not only an economic evil but also a social evil. Comment.
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What is Beggary According to the 1959 law on beggary, Bombay Prevention of Begging Act, anyone perceived as having “no visible means of subsistence” and “wandering about” can be branded a beggar and detained in certified institutions for a period of not less than one year and up to 10 years for second time offenders. The problems faced by Beggars Detention of not only poor beggars but also of disabled persons and persons trying to eke out a living by offering small articles for sale. Rag pickers and de-notified tribes engaged in earning paltry sums by singing, dancing, fortune telling or performing have also been at the receiving end of the archaic law. Recognition of Archaic laws For the first time, perhaps, the failure of the law has been recognised and the Delhi and Maharashtra governments have given an in principle nod to ending it. In Delhi, a committee has been set up to give recommendations to the government on what needs to be done next. It is an extraordinary admission of how badly the law has functioned and that it cannot afford to be continued. It is the responsibility of the State to take care of people in destitution and there can be no compromise on that. The law is unconstitutional and is more about social control than helping persons in beggary. The anti-poor prejudice is so deep in our country that they are treated as a nuisance and criminalised. Moreover, the presence of mobile courts that are sent to round up beggars is also a presumption of guilt on the part of the beggars. Instead, they should be given vocational training and supported to support themselves. Some Social Initiatives MohdTarique of Koshish, TISS (Tata Institute of Social Sciences) runs rehabilitation programmes including legal aid, reintegration with families and vocational training units inside the beggar’s homes. Around 200-250 people are picked up in a month and brought to the homes in Delhi, he says. Tarique and his team motivate and counsel beggars to give up begging and take up livelihood and link them with employers. Many ex-beggars have found employment as car mechanics, security, in furniture and tea shops, mostly in the informal sector. But for this to work on a mass scale, there is need for recognition and the government’s increased support. The solution The idea of ending beggary has to start with ending the causes of beggary. It is one of the methods of survival for people who don’t have enough, to go to those who have enough, when they are hungry. It is drastically wrong to criminalise such a thing. The law should go and the State should provide complete care. There should be a helpline for the hungry and the system should be able to reach any hungry person anywhere. Instead of people giving food and clothes on the streets in an undignified manner, systems should be put in place to do the same. There needs to be a structural change and political will.
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##Question:Beggary is not only an economic evil but also a social evil. Comment. ##Answer:What is Beggary According to the 1959 law on beggary, Bombay Prevention of Begging Act, anyone perceived as having “no visible means of subsistence” and “wandering about” can be branded a beggar and detained in certified institutions for a period of not less than one year and up to 10 years for second time offenders. The problems faced by Beggars Detention of not only poor beggars but also of disabled persons and persons trying to eke out a living by offering small articles for sale. Rag pickers and de-notified tribes engaged in earning paltry sums by singing, dancing, fortune telling or performing have also been at the receiving end of the archaic law. Recognition of Archaic laws For the first time, perhaps, the failure of the law has been recognised and the Delhi and Maharashtra governments have given an in principle nod to ending it. In Delhi, a committee has been set up to give recommendations to the government on what needs to be done next. It is an extraordinary admission of how badly the law has functioned and that it cannot afford to be continued. It is the responsibility of the State to take care of people in destitution and there can be no compromise on that. The law is unconstitutional and is more about social control than helping persons in beggary. The anti-poor prejudice is so deep in our country that they are treated as a nuisance and criminalised. Moreover, the presence of mobile courts that are sent to round up beggars is also a presumption of guilt on the part of the beggars. Instead, they should be given vocational training and supported to support themselves. Some Social Initiatives MohdTarique of Koshish, TISS (Tata Institute of Social Sciences) runs rehabilitation programmes including legal aid, reintegration with families and vocational training units inside the beggar’s homes. Around 200-250 people are picked up in a month and brought to the homes in Delhi, he says. Tarique and his team motivate and counsel beggars to give up begging and take up livelihood and link them with employers. Many ex-beggars have found employment as car mechanics, security, in furniture and tea shops, mostly in the informal sector. But for this to work on a mass scale, there is need for recognition and the government’s increased support. The solution The idea of ending beggary has to start with ending the causes of beggary. It is one of the methods of survival for people who don’t have enough, to go to those who have enough, when they are hungry. It is drastically wrong to criminalise such a thing. The law should go and the State should provide complete care. There should be a helpline for the hungry and the system should be able to reach any hungry person anywhere. Instead of people giving food and clothes on the streets in an undignified manner, systems should be put in place to do the same. There needs to be a structural change and political will.
| 1,020
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Briefly enumerate the recommendations of the Sri Krishna Commite on Financial Sector reforms
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Under the existing architecture, the financial sector is regulated by eight agencies: the RBI, SEBI, the IRDA, the PFRDA, the FMC, SAT, deposit insurance agency DICGC and the Financial Sector Development Council (FSDC). As per the proposal of the Committee, there would be five new agencies besides the RBI and the FSDC. The new ones would be UFA, FSAT, FRA, DMO and Resolution Corporation. The unification of regulation and supervision of financial firms such as mutual funds, insurance companies, and a diverse array of firms which are not banks or payment providers, will yield consistent treatment in consumer protection and micro-prudential regulation across all of them. At present, while the stock market is regulated by SEBI, the activities in the commodities market are looked after by the FMC. The insurance sector is regulated by the IRDA, while the PFRDA is responsible for managing the pension sector. Suggesting far-reaching legislative reforms in the financial sector, a government-appointed panel, on Monday, said key regulators such as the Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI), the Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority (IRDA), the Pension Fund Regulatory and Development Authority (PFRDA) and the Forward Markets Commission (FMC) should be merged into a Unified Financial Agency (UFA). The Financial Sector Legislative Reforms Commission, headed by former Justice B. N. Srikrishna, has also suggested setting up of a financial redressal agency (FRA) to address consumer complaints against companies across the financial sector. The Approach Paper, on which the Commission will seek comments from the stakeholders, underlined the need for establishing an independent debt management office (DMO) and a Financial Sector Appellate Tribunal (FSAT) to hear appeals against regulators. These changes will alter the Indian financial landscape from eight financial regulatory agencies to seven. The UFA, it said, would deal with all financial firms other than banking and payments. It would also yield benefits in terms of economies of scale in the financial system. The Paper says there is a need for separating the adjudication function from the mainstream activities of a regulator, so as to achieve a greater separation of powers. It further says that the laws for the financial sector need to enshrine regulatory independence. This involves enshrining an appointment process for senior regulatory staff, fixed contractual terms, controlling the loss of independence that comes from the possibility of extension of term or promotion, removing the power of government to give directions, bringing transparency to board meetings. The Commission, as per its mandate, would draft a body of law, which would ensure establishing sound financial regulatory agencies. The Financial Sector Legislative Reforms Commission (FSLRC) was set up to recast the financial sector legislations in tune with the contemporary requirements of the sector. At present, there are over 60 Acts and multiple rules and regulations that govern the financial sector. The fragmented regulatory architecture has led to a loss of scale and scope that could be available from a seamless financial market with all its attendant benefits of minimising the intermediation cost.
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##Question:Briefly enumerate the recommendations of the Sri Krishna Commite on Financial Sector reforms##Answer:Under the existing architecture, the financial sector is regulated by eight agencies: the RBI, SEBI, the IRDA, the PFRDA, the FMC, SAT, deposit insurance agency DICGC and the Financial Sector Development Council (FSDC). As per the proposal of the Committee, there would be five new agencies besides the RBI and the FSDC. The new ones would be UFA, FSAT, FRA, DMO and Resolution Corporation. The unification of regulation and supervision of financial firms such as mutual funds, insurance companies, and a diverse array of firms which are not banks or payment providers, will yield consistent treatment in consumer protection and micro-prudential regulation across all of them. At present, while the stock market is regulated by SEBI, the activities in the commodities market are looked after by the FMC. The insurance sector is regulated by the IRDA, while the PFRDA is responsible for managing the pension sector. Suggesting far-reaching legislative reforms in the financial sector, a government-appointed panel, on Monday, said key regulators such as the Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI), the Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority (IRDA), the Pension Fund Regulatory and Development Authority (PFRDA) and the Forward Markets Commission (FMC) should be merged into a Unified Financial Agency (UFA). The Financial Sector Legislative Reforms Commission, headed by former Justice B. N. Srikrishna, has also suggested setting up of a financial redressal agency (FRA) to address consumer complaints against companies across the financial sector. The Approach Paper, on which the Commission will seek comments from the stakeholders, underlined the need for establishing an independent debt management office (DMO) and a Financial Sector Appellate Tribunal (FSAT) to hear appeals against regulators. These changes will alter the Indian financial landscape from eight financial regulatory agencies to seven. The UFA, it said, would deal with all financial firms other than banking and payments. It would also yield benefits in terms of economies of scale in the financial system. The Paper says there is a need for separating the adjudication function from the mainstream activities of a regulator, so as to achieve a greater separation of powers. It further says that the laws for the financial sector need to enshrine regulatory independence. This involves enshrining an appointment process for senior regulatory staff, fixed contractual terms, controlling the loss of independence that comes from the possibility of extension of term or promotion, removing the power of government to give directions, bringing transparency to board meetings. The Commission, as per its mandate, would draft a body of law, which would ensure establishing sound financial regulatory agencies. The Financial Sector Legislative Reforms Commission (FSLRC) was set up to recast the financial sector legislations in tune with the contemporary requirements of the sector. At present, there are over 60 Acts and multiple rules and regulations that govern the financial sector. The fragmented regulatory architecture has led to a loss of scale and scope that could be available from a seamless financial market with all its attendant benefits of minimising the intermediation cost.
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What are the implications of hiking FDI in insurance to 49 %. Discuss in detail
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The Union Cabinet granted approval for increase of foreign direct investment (FDI) limit in the insurance sector from the present 26 per cent to 49 per cent. Alongside, it also cleared amendments aimed at attracting investments and bringing transparency in the working of the insurance companies. The approved amendments include that the foreign equity cap is proposed to be kept at 49 per cent as provided in the Insurance Laws (Amendment) Bill, 2008, as against the 26 percent. This is done to meet the growing capital requirement of insurance companies. Foreign re-insurers will be permitted to open branches only for re-insurance business in India and the provisions of Section 27E, which prohibits an insurer to invest directly or indirectly outside India the funds of policy holder, would apply to such branches. To encourage health insurance in India, the capital requirement for a health insurance company is now proposed at Rs.50 crore (instead of Rs.100 crore for general insurance companies) with a view to reducing the entry barrier to a priority sector in the insurance space. The government has also revised the definition of ‘health insurance business’ to clearly stipulate that health insurance policies would cover sickness benefits on account of domestic as well as international travel. Regarding the obligatory underwriting of third party risk on motor vehicles, a separate Motor Vehicle Insurance and Compensation Legislation is being proposed by the government and the concerns of the Standing Committee regarding the obligatory third-party insurance on motor vehicles will be taken care of, the statement said. The public sector general insurance companies and the GIC will be permitted to raise capital from the market to meet the future capital requirements, provided that the government’s shareholding would not be allowed to come below 51 per cent at any point of time. To improve the functioning of surveyors and bring in greater transparency, certain modifications are made to provide for regulations on qualifications regarding appointment of surveyors and to strengthen the Institute of Indian Insurance Surveyors and Loss Assessors (IIISLA). The amendments proposed in the Bill seek to do away with the existing statutory prescriptions pertaining to licensing insurance surveyors and loss assessors etc. and leave these issues to be addressed by way of regulations.
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##Question:What are the implications of hiking FDI in insurance to 49 %. Discuss in detail##Answer:The Union Cabinet granted approval for increase of foreign direct investment (FDI) limit in the insurance sector from the present 26 per cent to 49 per cent. Alongside, it also cleared amendments aimed at attracting investments and bringing transparency in the working of the insurance companies. The approved amendments include that the foreign equity cap is proposed to be kept at 49 per cent as provided in the Insurance Laws (Amendment) Bill, 2008, as against the 26 percent. This is done to meet the growing capital requirement of insurance companies. Foreign re-insurers will be permitted to open branches only for re-insurance business in India and the provisions of Section 27E, which prohibits an insurer to invest directly or indirectly outside India the funds of policy holder, would apply to such branches. To encourage health insurance in India, the capital requirement for a health insurance company is now proposed at Rs.50 crore (instead of Rs.100 crore for general insurance companies) with a view to reducing the entry barrier to a priority sector in the insurance space. The government has also revised the definition of ‘health insurance business’ to clearly stipulate that health insurance policies would cover sickness benefits on account of domestic as well as international travel. Regarding the obligatory underwriting of third party risk on motor vehicles, a separate Motor Vehicle Insurance and Compensation Legislation is being proposed by the government and the concerns of the Standing Committee regarding the obligatory third-party insurance on motor vehicles will be taken care of, the statement said. The public sector general insurance companies and the GIC will be permitted to raise capital from the market to meet the future capital requirements, provided that the government’s shareholding would not be allowed to come below 51 per cent at any point of time. To improve the functioning of surveyors and bring in greater transparency, certain modifications are made to provide for regulations on qualifications regarding appointment of surveyors and to strengthen the Institute of Indian Insurance Surveyors and Loss Assessors (IIISLA). The amendments proposed in the Bill seek to do away with the existing statutory prescriptions pertaining to licensing insurance surveyors and loss assessors etc. and leave these issues to be addressed by way of regulations.
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Give arguments for de-control of the sugar sector by giving freedom to mills to sell their produce in open market. Also describe briefly the present system of sugar quota.
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The Centre fixes the sugar quota to be sold in the open market and, for ration shops supply, forces mills to sell 10 per cent of their production (known as levy sugar) at lower than the market price. The Rangarajan Committee has suggested de-control of the sugar sector by giving freedom to mills to sell their produce in open market and removing the obligation on the industry to supply the sweetener at below market price for ration shops. While other sectors of the economy have been freed over the years, the sugar sector continues to be under government control, right from production to distribution. Levy sugar obligation and administrative control on non— levy sugar need to be dispensed with immediately-this will free the industry from burden of the government’s welfare programme. The state governments should buy sugar directly from the open market for ration shops and sell the same at price determined by them. It also said that the Centre should give Rs 3,000 crore subsidy to the States to bear procurement expenses. The removal of controls would not affect domestic prices, but rather improve the financial health of sugar mills, thereby timely payment of cane arrears to farmers. In order to prevent piling up of cane arrears, the panel has also suggested retaining two major controls but with minor changes. It suggested that the government continue with fixing of fair and remunerative price (FRP) of sugarcane and also make it mandatory to mills to share 70 per cent of revenue from sugar and other by—products to farmers.
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##Question:Give arguments for de-control of the sugar sector by giving freedom to mills to sell their produce in open market. Also describe briefly the present system of sugar quota.##Answer:The Centre fixes the sugar quota to be sold in the open market and, for ration shops supply, forces mills to sell 10 per cent of their production (known as levy sugar) at lower than the market price. The Rangarajan Committee has suggested de-control of the sugar sector by giving freedom to mills to sell their produce in open market and removing the obligation on the industry to supply the sweetener at below market price for ration shops. While other sectors of the economy have been freed over the years, the sugar sector continues to be under government control, right from production to distribution. Levy sugar obligation and administrative control on non— levy sugar need to be dispensed with immediately-this will free the industry from burden of the government’s welfare programme. The state governments should buy sugar directly from the open market for ration shops and sell the same at price determined by them. It also said that the Centre should give Rs 3,000 crore subsidy to the States to bear procurement expenses. The removal of controls would not affect domestic prices, but rather improve the financial health of sugar mills, thereby timely payment of cane arrears to farmers. In order to prevent piling up of cane arrears, the panel has also suggested retaining two major controls but with minor changes. It suggested that the government continue with fixing of fair and remunerative price (FRP) of sugarcane and also make it mandatory to mills to share 70 per cent of revenue from sugar and other by—products to farmers.
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What are the benefits that can accrue to the people as a result of the launch of Aadhaar Enabled Service Delivery
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The government will roll outAadhaarEnabled Service Delivery initiatives in 51 districts across the country. These services will be linked to various government schemes such as MNREGA wage payments, PDS distribution, payment of social security benefits such as old-age payments, distribution of LPG cylinders, etc. A number of state governments are already ready to roll out these initiatives.Currently, 23croreresidents have enrolled for anAadhaarnumber, while 21croreAadhaarnumbers have been issued. There are many benefits associated with such integration for various stakeholders, ranging from better compliance management to reduced leakages and increased efficiency and accountability in service delivery. Some Case Studies of Aadhaar In Aurangabad, Maharashtra, payments under the Scholarship and Old Age Pension Social Security Welfare Scheme were made via theAadhaarEnabled Payment System, with beneficiaries getting their dues after authenticating their identity via a micro-ATM device. LPG cylinders were delivered to residents of Mysore, Karnataka using theAadhaarEnabled Service Delivery mechanism, which involved authenticating the identity of the resident through a hand-held device. InRamgarhdistrict of Jharkhand, money which was transferred by Jharkhand Government directly to the beneficiaries’Aadhaar-linked bank accounts under the MNREGSprogram,was withdrawn by residents through amicroATMdevice operated by a Business Correspondent.
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##Question:What are the benefits that can accrue to the people as a result of the launch of Aadhaar Enabled Service Delivery##Answer:The government will roll outAadhaarEnabled Service Delivery initiatives in 51 districts across the country. These services will be linked to various government schemes such as MNREGA wage payments, PDS distribution, payment of social security benefits such as old-age payments, distribution of LPG cylinders, etc. A number of state governments are already ready to roll out these initiatives.Currently, 23croreresidents have enrolled for anAadhaarnumber, while 21croreAadhaarnumbers have been issued. There are many benefits associated with such integration for various stakeholders, ranging from better compliance management to reduced leakages and increased efficiency and accountability in service delivery. Some Case Studies of Aadhaar In Aurangabad, Maharashtra, payments under the Scholarship and Old Age Pension Social Security Welfare Scheme were made via theAadhaarEnabled Payment System, with beneficiaries getting their dues after authenticating their identity via a micro-ATM device. LPG cylinders were delivered to residents of Mysore, Karnataka using theAadhaarEnabled Service Delivery mechanism, which involved authenticating the identity of the resident through a hand-held device. InRamgarhdistrict of Jharkhand, money which was transferred by Jharkhand Government directly to the beneficiaries’Aadhaar-linked bank accounts under the MNREGSprogram,was withdrawn by residents through amicroATMdevice operated by a Business Correspondent.
| 1,024
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Discuss in detail India’s initiatives in rebuilding Sri Lanka in the post Eelam war era.
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The nearly three-decade long armed conflict between Sri Lankan forces and the LTTE came to an end in May 2009. During the course of the conflict, India supported the right of the Government of Sri Lanka to act against terrorist forces. At the same time, it conveyed at the highest levels its deep concern at the plight of the mostly Tamil civilian population, emphasizing that their rights and welfare should not get enmeshed in hostilities against the LTTE. The conclusion of the armed conflict saw the emergence of a major humanitarian challenge, with nearly 300,000 Tamil civilians housed in camps for Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs). The Government of India put in place a robust programme of assistance to help these IDPs return to normal life as quickly as possible. In June 2009,Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh announced a grant of INR 5 billion (SLR 12 billion) for relief and rehabilitation in Sri Lanka. In the immedate aftermath of the end of armed conflict, India provided a total of 250,000 family relief packs for the IDPs. It also established an emergency medical unit in the IDP camps, which treated over 50,000 IDPs and carried out over 3000 surgeries from March to September 2009. Medicines worth SLR 225 million (INR 9.2 crores) were also supplied to Sri Lankan authorities. India also consistently advocated the need for IDPs to be resettled to their original habitations as early as possible. In order to help with this, India provided shelter assistance by way of supplying 10,400 tonnes of galvanized iron (GI) sheets (a total of over one million sheets) between August 2009 and May 2011for constructing temporary housing for IDPs. In addition, 95,000 starter packs of agricultural implements were supplied to help resettling families begin livelihood generating activities. The Government of India also supplied 400,000 bags of cement to help IDPs rebuild their shelters. Since the requirement of de-mining was a major constraint on the speed of resettlement, the Government of India fully financed seven Indian de-mining teams, engaged in various sectors in northern Sri Lanka to help expedite resettlement. With the shift from relief and rehabilitation to reconstruction and development, the Government of India turned its attention to the housing requirements of the IDPs. During the visit of President Mahinda Rajapaksa to India from 8-11 June 2010, an announcement was made by Prime Minister Singh that India would support a programme to reconstruct 50,000 houses in Sri Lanka. The groundbreaking ceremony of the pilot phase of the Project for one thousand ouses covering all the five districts of Northern Province was held during the visit of the Minister of External Affairs of India Mr. S.M. Krishna to Sri Lanka in November 2010 at Ariyalai near Jaffna. The work on the pilot phase is in advanced stages of completion. The first lot of completed houses was handed over to beneficiaries during the visit of Minister Krishna to Jaffna on 18 January 2012. An MOU with the Government of Sri Lanka on the modalities of implementation of the next phase of the Project for remaining 49,000 houses was also signed during this visit. The next phase, which is expected to be launched soon, will cover the Northern, Eastern, Central and Uva Provinces in terms of its spatial spread and involve construction of new dwelling units and repairs of existing houses. Since agriculture is the primary means of livelihood in the areas affected by the conflict, Government of India has focused its attention on supporting this sector with a view to jumpstart the revival of the local economy through a wideranging programme for agricultural renewal. The proposals that were taken up for urgent implementation include supply of seeds for the Maha and Yala seasons in Sri Lanka in 2010-11 and supply of tractors and other machinery to farmer organizations in northern Sri Lanka. 500 tractors with four implements each (rotovator, tiller, cage-wheel and disk plough) have been supplied to farmer organizations and agrarian service centres in the Northern Province. The total cost of the project is SLR 600 million (INR 25 crores approx). To cater to the transportation needs of persons being resettled and to aid revival of their livelihoods, India has also undertaken a project for supply of 10,000 bicycles to returnees in Northern Province. Sri Lanka is one of the major recipients of development credit given by the Government of India. A line of credit of $167.4 million for repair and upgradation of the tsunami-damaged Colombo-Matara rail link is already fully operational. The upgraded coastal railway track between Galle-Matara was inaugurated on 16 February 2011. During his visit to Sri Lanka in January 2012, Minister of External Affairs Mr. S.M. Krishna handed over the Galle-Hikkeduwa segment. Another line of credit of $800 million for track laying and supply of rolling stock for the northern railway line was announced during the visit of the President of Sri Lanka to India in June 2010. Of this amount, an agreement for a credit line of US $416.39 million was signed in November 2010 to support construction of Medawachchiya to Madhu, Madhu to Talaimannar and Omanthai to Pallai railway lines in Northern Sri Lanka. Another agreement for a credit line of US $ 382.37 million for track laying on the Pallai-Kankesanthurai railway line, setting up of signaling and telecommunications systems for the Northern railway line and other projects as may be mutually agreed by the Governments of India and Sri Lanka was signed during the visit of Minister Krishna in January 2012.
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##Question:Discuss in detail India’s initiatives in rebuilding Sri Lanka in the post Eelam war era. ##Answer:The nearly three-decade long armed conflict between Sri Lankan forces and the LTTE came to an end in May 2009. During the course of the conflict, India supported the right of the Government of Sri Lanka to act against terrorist forces. At the same time, it conveyed at the highest levels its deep concern at the plight of the mostly Tamil civilian population, emphasizing that their rights and welfare should not get enmeshed in hostilities against the LTTE. The conclusion of the armed conflict saw the emergence of a major humanitarian challenge, with nearly 300,000 Tamil civilians housed in camps for Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs). The Government of India put in place a robust programme of assistance to help these IDPs return to normal life as quickly as possible. In June 2009,Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh announced a grant of INR 5 billion (SLR 12 billion) for relief and rehabilitation in Sri Lanka. In the immedate aftermath of the end of armed conflict, India provided a total of 250,000 family relief packs for the IDPs. It also established an emergency medical unit in the IDP camps, which treated over 50,000 IDPs and carried out over 3000 surgeries from March to September 2009. Medicines worth SLR 225 million (INR 9.2 crores) were also supplied to Sri Lankan authorities. India also consistently advocated the need for IDPs to be resettled to their original habitations as early as possible. In order to help with this, India provided shelter assistance by way of supplying 10,400 tonnes of galvanized iron (GI) sheets (a total of over one million sheets) between August 2009 and May 2011for constructing temporary housing for IDPs. In addition, 95,000 starter packs of agricultural implements were supplied to help resettling families begin livelihood generating activities. The Government of India also supplied 400,000 bags of cement to help IDPs rebuild their shelters. Since the requirement of de-mining was a major constraint on the speed of resettlement, the Government of India fully financed seven Indian de-mining teams, engaged in various sectors in northern Sri Lanka to help expedite resettlement. With the shift from relief and rehabilitation to reconstruction and development, the Government of India turned its attention to the housing requirements of the IDPs. During the visit of President Mahinda Rajapaksa to India from 8-11 June 2010, an announcement was made by Prime Minister Singh that India would support a programme to reconstruct 50,000 houses in Sri Lanka. The groundbreaking ceremony of the pilot phase of the Project for one thousand ouses covering all the five districts of Northern Province was held during the visit of the Minister of External Affairs of India Mr. S.M. Krishna to Sri Lanka in November 2010 at Ariyalai near Jaffna. The work on the pilot phase is in advanced stages of completion. The first lot of completed houses was handed over to beneficiaries during the visit of Minister Krishna to Jaffna on 18 January 2012. An MOU with the Government of Sri Lanka on the modalities of implementation of the next phase of the Project for remaining 49,000 houses was also signed during this visit. The next phase, which is expected to be launched soon, will cover the Northern, Eastern, Central and Uva Provinces in terms of its spatial spread and involve construction of new dwelling units and repairs of existing houses. Since agriculture is the primary means of livelihood in the areas affected by the conflict, Government of India has focused its attention on supporting this sector with a view to jumpstart the revival of the local economy through a wideranging programme for agricultural renewal. The proposals that were taken up for urgent implementation include supply of seeds for the Maha and Yala seasons in Sri Lanka in 2010-11 and supply of tractors and other machinery to farmer organizations in northern Sri Lanka. 500 tractors with four implements each (rotovator, tiller, cage-wheel and disk plough) have been supplied to farmer organizations and agrarian service centres in the Northern Province. The total cost of the project is SLR 600 million (INR 25 crores approx). To cater to the transportation needs of persons being resettled and to aid revival of their livelihoods, India has also undertaken a project for supply of 10,000 bicycles to returnees in Northern Province. Sri Lanka is one of the major recipients of development credit given by the Government of India. A line of credit of $167.4 million for repair and upgradation of the tsunami-damaged Colombo-Matara rail link is already fully operational. The upgraded coastal railway track between Galle-Matara was inaugurated on 16 February 2011. During his visit to Sri Lanka in January 2012, Minister of External Affairs Mr. S.M. Krishna handed over the Galle-Hikkeduwa segment. Another line of credit of $800 million for track laying and supply of rolling stock for the northern railway line was announced during the visit of the President of Sri Lanka to India in June 2010. Of this amount, an agreement for a credit line of US $416.39 million was signed in November 2010 to support construction of Medawachchiya to Madhu, Madhu to Talaimannar and Omanthai to Pallai railway lines in Northern Sri Lanka. Another agreement for a credit line of US $ 382.37 million for track laying on the Pallai-Kankesanthurai railway line, setting up of signaling and telecommunications systems for the Northern railway line and other projects as may be mutually agreed by the Governments of India and Sri Lanka was signed during the visit of Minister Krishna in January 2012.
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Where does India stand in the launch vehicle programme, particularly the delayed GSLV?
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TheGeosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle(usually known by its abbreviation,GSLV) is an expendable launching systemoperated by theISRO. It was developed to enable Indiato launch its INSAT-type satellites into Geo stationary orbitand to make India less dependent on foreign rockets. GSLV has accomplished seven launches to date, since its first launch in 2001 through its most recent launch in 2010. Two launches have been successful, with one launch partially successful. Four launches have failed. The eighth flight for the GSLV is scheduled for early 2013. The Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle (GSLV) project was initiated in 1990 with the objective of acquiring launch capability for Geosynchronous satellites. Until then, India depended on the former Soviet Unionfor the launch of heavy satellites. GSLV uses major components that are already proven in thePSLV launchers in the form of the S125/S139 solid booster and the liquid fueled rocket engine. The first development flight of GSLV Mk.I (GSLV-D1) was launched on 18 April 2001. GSLV-F04 is the fifth flight of India's Geosynchronous Satellite launch Vehicle (GSLV), launched INSAT-4CR satellite, into a Geosynchronous Transfer Orbit (GTO) of 170 km perigee and 35,975 km apogee with an orbital inclination of 21.7 degree with respect to equator on September 2, 2007. Subsequently, the satellite was manoeuvred into geostationary orbit using its own propulsion system.
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##Question:Where does India stand in the launch vehicle programme, particularly the delayed GSLV?##Answer:TheGeosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle(usually known by its abbreviation,GSLV) is an expendable launching systemoperated by theISRO. It was developed to enable Indiato launch its INSAT-type satellites into Geo stationary orbitand to make India less dependent on foreign rockets. GSLV has accomplished seven launches to date, since its first launch in 2001 through its most recent launch in 2010. Two launches have been successful, with one launch partially successful. Four launches have failed. The eighth flight for the GSLV is scheduled for early 2013. The Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle (GSLV) project was initiated in 1990 with the objective of acquiring launch capability for Geosynchronous satellites. Until then, India depended on the former Soviet Unionfor the launch of heavy satellites. GSLV uses major components that are already proven in thePSLV launchers in the form of the S125/S139 solid booster and the liquid fueled rocket engine. The first development flight of GSLV Mk.I (GSLV-D1) was launched on 18 April 2001. GSLV-F04 is the fifth flight of India's Geosynchronous Satellite launch Vehicle (GSLV), launched INSAT-4CR satellite, into a Geosynchronous Transfer Orbit (GTO) of 170 km perigee and 35,975 km apogee with an orbital inclination of 21.7 degree with respect to equator on September 2, 2007. Subsequently, the satellite was manoeuvred into geostationary orbit using its own propulsion system.
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India-New Zealand Education Council
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The Council has been constituted to draw up a framework and devise mechanisms of co-operation and set the agenda for improving educational relations between the two countries. India and New Zealand expressed their commitment to earmark US $ 1 million annuallyto enhance the cooperative activities through specific programmesdesigned by the India-New Zealand Education Council. Theprogrammeswill include joint research, student mobility, faculty development, qualifications framework as well as vocational education and training, among others.
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##Question:India-New Zealand Education Council ##Answer:The Council has been constituted to draw up a framework and devise mechanisms of co-operation and set the agenda for improving educational relations between the two countries. India and New Zealand expressed their commitment to earmark US $ 1 million annuallyto enhance the cooperative activities through specific programmesdesigned by the India-New Zealand Education Council. Theprogrammeswill include joint research, student mobility, faculty development, qualifications framework as well as vocational education and training, among others.
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SKA Pathfinder telescope
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Australia unveiled a colossal radio telescope that will allow astronomers to detect distant galaxies and explore the depths of the universe with unprecedented precision. The Australian SKA Pathfinder telescope , at the remote Murchison Radio-astronomy Observatory in the Western Australian desert, is made up of 36 antennas, each 12 metres in diameter.The Aus$140 million ($140 million) facility can survey the sky much faster than existing telescopes, with the antennae sensitive to faint radiation from the Milky Way, giving it the ability to detect distant galaxies. Studying the radio waves would tell astronomers unique details about the cosmos.
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##Question:SKA Pathfinder telescope##Answer:Australia unveiled a colossal radio telescope that will allow astronomers to detect distant galaxies and explore the depths of the universe with unprecedented precision. The Australian SKA Pathfinder telescope , at the remote Murchison Radio-astronomy Observatory in the Western Australian desert, is made up of 36 antennas, each 12 metres in diameter.The Aus$140 million ($140 million) facility can survey the sky much faster than existing telescopes, with the antennae sensitive to faint radiation from the Milky Way, giving it the ability to detect distant galaxies. Studying the radio waves would tell astronomers unique details about the cosmos.
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The Botnet programme
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The most disturbing trend is the emergence of organised e-syndicates, which are employing tools like botnet, through which malware such as trojans, viruses, worms and other malicious programmes can be distributed in the network either as an attachment with spam emails or other methods The botnet programme acts as an agent to take control of multiple computers without the knowledge of individual users, by infecting the systems using malware or through unintended download of infected software by users. The infector then remotely controls the network of computers to generate spam emails; attack intended targets including individuals and websites to cause massive disruption; and steal sensitive data, use storage space of the user or consume Internet bandwidth.
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##Question:The Botnet programme##Answer:The most disturbing trend is the emergence of organised e-syndicates, which are employing tools like botnet, through which malware such as trojans, viruses, worms and other malicious programmes can be distributed in the network either as an attachment with spam emails or other methods The botnet programme acts as an agent to take control of multiple computers without the knowledge of individual users, by infecting the systems using malware or through unintended download of infected software by users. The infector then remotely controls the network of computers to generate spam emails; attack intended targets including individuals and websites to cause massive disruption; and steal sensitive data, use storage space of the user or consume Internet bandwidth.
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The Neutrino oscillation
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Neutrino oscillationis quantumphenomenon whereby a neutrinocreated with a specific lepton flavorcan later be measuredto have a different flavor. The probability of measuring a particular flavor for a neutrino varies periodically as it propagates. Neutrino oscillation is of theoritical and experimentalinterest since observation of the phenomenon implies that the neutrino has a non-zero mass, which is not part of the original standard model of particle physics.
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##Question:The Neutrino oscillation##Answer:Neutrino oscillationis quantumphenomenon whereby a neutrinocreated with a specific lepton flavorcan later be measuredto have a different flavor. The probability of measuring a particular flavor for a neutrino varies periodically as it propagates. Neutrino oscillation is of theoritical and experimentalinterest since observation of the phenomenon implies that the neutrino has a non-zero mass, which is not part of the original standard model of particle physics.
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‘Project Ground Truth’
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Ground truthis a term used in remote sensing; it refers to information collected on location. Ground truth allows image data to be related to real features and materials on the ground. The collection of ground-truth data enables calibration of remote-sensing data, and aids in the interpretation and analysis of what is being sensed. Examples include cartography,analysis of satellite imageryand other techniques in which data are gathered at a distance. ‘Project Ground Truth’, Google’s very secret mapping programme, revealed that base layers for Google maps source data from the U.S. Census Bureau, the Geological Survey, and of course, from the famous – infamously discontinued after its launch in India – Google Street View vans that have clocked over 5 million miles till date. All this is, of course, crunched by Google’s sophisticated algorithms and clever, rigorous code.
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##Question:‘Project Ground Truth’##Answer:Ground truthis a term used in remote sensing; it refers to information collected on location. Ground truth allows image data to be related to real features and materials on the ground. The collection of ground-truth data enables calibration of remote-sensing data, and aids in the interpretation and analysis of what is being sensed. Examples include cartography,analysis of satellite imageryand other techniques in which data are gathered at a distance. ‘Project Ground Truth’, Google’s very secret mapping programme, revealed that base layers for Google maps source data from the U.S. Census Bureau, the Geological Survey, and of course, from the famous – infamously discontinued after its launch in India – Google Street View vans that have clocked over 5 million miles till date. All this is, of course, crunched by Google’s sophisticated algorithms and clever, rigorous code.
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What do you mean by ‘Burning’ in Nuclear waste handling language
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Burning means you bombard radioactive elements having longer half-lives with high-energy neutrons and convert them into some other elements that will have much shorter half-lives thereby mitigating the concerns of long-lived radiotoxicity. So if you have a large reactor programme, you can have a reactor specifically for burning the waste. It can be done either in fast spectrum reactors. This is the scientific solution to waste management. India is one of the countries doing a lot of work on this.
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##Question:What do you mean by ‘Burning’ in Nuclear waste handling language##Answer:Burning means you bombard radioactive elements having longer half-lives with high-energy neutrons and convert them into some other elements that will have much shorter half-lives thereby mitigating the concerns of long-lived radiotoxicity. So if you have a large reactor programme, you can have a reactor specifically for burning the waste. It can be done either in fast spectrum reactors. This is the scientific solution to waste management. India is one of the countries doing a lot of work on this.
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THIS IS A TEST
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This is answer format nn
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##Question:THIS IS A TEST##Answer:This is answer format nn
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Write a short note on Ocean Acidification.
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Ocean acidification refers to the ongoing consistent decrease in the pH of the Ocean water. When CO2dissolved in the Ocean water, it creates Carbonic Acid (H2CO3) and increases the Hydrogen Ion (H+)concentration in the ocean. - The Ocean acidification has fastened only after the Industrialization. - Pre?Industrialization pH of the ocean water was 8.179. - In the 20th century, it came down to 8.1074, which corresponds to an increase of H+ ions by 19%. - At present the pH of the Ocean water is 8.069 and this corresponds to an increase of 28.8% in the H+ Ions since Industrialization of the 18th century. Impacts of Oceanic Acidification - The absorption of the CO2 by the world's Oceans helps in mitigating the climatic effects of CarbonDioxide emissions. But the decrease in the pH will give negative impact to the oceanic organisms such asthe Calcifying animals. - The result will be seen in the Oceanecosystem and food chains. - The organisms such as corals, echinoderms, crustaceans and mollusks will be severely affected. Thisis because the falling pH makes the oceans under saturated with the CaCO3, and the result is that rate ofdissolution of calcareous material would increase. The decreased pH may also lead to the hypercapnia in the ocean biota. Hypercapnia refers to the CO2induced acidification of body fluids, which may lead to adverse effects.
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##Question:Write a short note on Ocean Acidification.##Answer:Ocean acidification refers to the ongoing consistent decrease in the pH of the Ocean water. When CO2dissolved in the Ocean water, it creates Carbonic Acid (H2CO3) and increases the Hydrogen Ion (H+)concentration in the ocean. - The Ocean acidification has fastened only after the Industrialization. - Pre?Industrialization pH of the ocean water was 8.179. - In the 20th century, it came down to 8.1074, which corresponds to an increase of H+ ions by 19%. - At present the pH of the Ocean water is 8.069 and this corresponds to an increase of 28.8% in the H+ Ions since Industrialization of the 18th century. Impacts of Oceanic Acidification - The absorption of the CO2 by the world's Oceans helps in mitigating the climatic effects of CarbonDioxide emissions. But the decrease in the pH will give negative impact to the oceanic organisms such asthe Calcifying animals. - The result will be seen in the Oceanecosystem and food chains. - The organisms such as corals, echinoderms, crustaceans and mollusks will be severely affected. Thisis because the falling pH makes the oceans under saturated with the CaCO3, and the result is that rate ofdissolution of calcareous material would increase. The decreased pH may also lead to the hypercapnia in the ocean biota. Hypercapnia refers to the CO2induced acidification of body fluids, which may lead to adverse effects.
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Compare the amount of nuclear waste generated with that of waste generated from coal power plants? What are some of the recent steps taken by Government to minimize N- waste?
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In a Nuclear Plant Entire spent fuel is not waste; plutonium and uranium are recycled which contribute to about 97-98 per cent of the spent fuel. So only the remaining two to three per cent of spent fuel is waste. This is unlike our coal power stations where whatever coal you put into the plant turns into waste (like ash) and other emissions. Secondly, the amount of coal that has to go into a power station for the same capacity is also different. If we compare it with nuclear power plants, uranium requirement is about 30,000 times less. So the amount of coal we carry to make a power station of some capacity is much more. All I am saying is that in terms of waste volume there is no comparison between coal and nuclear power stations. The N- waste can be divided into two parts — one where within 300 years, 99 per cent of the waste becomes non-radioactive and the rest is going to remain radioactive for a longer time. We are recently working towards the development of a process where we can separate waste that becomes non-radioactive within 300 years. A pilot plant will become operational [to separate the two types of waste] next year. Process development in the lab was completed some time back. The pilot plant will be followed by a demonstration plant, and then by commercial plants. The plant will be in Tarapur, Mumbai. Taking care of the waste that remains radioactive for about 300 years is not of much concern. Properly designed buildings and structures can stand for 300 years. The waste is first vitrified in the vitrification plant operational in India. It is put in steel canisters, which in turn will be put in steel over-packs. Over-packs will again be put in another steel casing. So there will be three to four layers of steel casing in addition to vitrification. It will finally be kept in concrete structures/buildings. Concrete buildings are used for structural, shielding and ventilation purposes.
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##Question:Compare the amount of nuclear waste generated with that of waste generated from coal power plants? What are some of the recent steps taken by Government to minimize N- waste?##Answer:In a Nuclear Plant Entire spent fuel is not waste; plutonium and uranium are recycled which contribute to about 97-98 per cent of the spent fuel. So only the remaining two to three per cent of spent fuel is waste. This is unlike our coal power stations where whatever coal you put into the plant turns into waste (like ash) and other emissions. Secondly, the amount of coal that has to go into a power station for the same capacity is also different. If we compare it with nuclear power plants, uranium requirement is about 30,000 times less. So the amount of coal we carry to make a power station of some capacity is much more. All I am saying is that in terms of waste volume there is no comparison between coal and nuclear power stations. The N- waste can be divided into two parts — one where within 300 years, 99 per cent of the waste becomes non-radioactive and the rest is going to remain radioactive for a longer time. We are recently working towards the development of a process where we can separate waste that becomes non-radioactive within 300 years. A pilot plant will become operational [to separate the two types of waste] next year. Process development in the lab was completed some time back. The pilot plant will be followed by a demonstration plant, and then by commercial plants. The plant will be in Tarapur, Mumbai. Taking care of the waste that remains radioactive for about 300 years is not of much concern. Properly designed buildings and structures can stand for 300 years. The waste is first vitrified in the vitrification plant operational in India. It is put in steel canisters, which in turn will be put in steel over-packs. Over-packs will again be put in another steel casing. So there will be three to four layers of steel casing in addition to vitrification. It will finally be kept in concrete structures/buildings. Concrete buildings are used for structural, shielding and ventilation purposes.
| 1,059
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Write a short note on “Carbon Leakage”
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Carbon Leakage is another issue with the Clean Development Mechanism. It is defined as increase in emissions outside a region as a direct result of the policy measures to cap emission in this region. - This means that the domestic climate mitigation policy is less effective and more costly in containing emission levels, a legitimate concern for policy?makers. - One example of the stringiest policies is Carbon Tax, or Carbon Cess applicable in many countries. How does Carbon Leakage work? We take an example of two countries A and B. - Country A has a very strict emission policy and due to its stringent policy, the costs involved in the production increases. - Country B has a less strict and flexible emission policy and due to this flexible policy, the costs involved in the production are less as compared to country A, keeping all other factors constant. So, a company located in country A faces increased costs due to emissions pricing as a result of the strict climate policy. The company would take some action and as a result may decide to go for reducing, closing or even relocating the production to Country B with less stringent climate policies. This means that the Country A was though able to cut emissions, but now Country B will increase the emissions due to transfer of greenhouse gas intensive industries from Country A to B. The result is more Green House Gases emission and more industrial jobs. - This shift may be from Country to Country, Province to Province, Region to Region or any other way out.
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##Question:Write a short note on “Carbon Leakage” ##Answer:Carbon Leakage is another issue with the Clean Development Mechanism. It is defined as increase in emissions outside a region as a direct result of the policy measures to cap emission in this region. - This means that the domestic climate mitigation policy is less effective and more costly in containing emission levels, a legitimate concern for policy?makers. - One example of the stringiest policies is Carbon Tax, or Carbon Cess applicable in many countries. How does Carbon Leakage work? We take an example of two countries A and B. - Country A has a very strict emission policy and due to its stringent policy, the costs involved in the production increases. - Country B has a less strict and flexible emission policy and due to this flexible policy, the costs involved in the production are less as compared to country A, keeping all other factors constant. So, a company located in country A faces increased costs due to emissions pricing as a result of the strict climate policy. The company would take some action and as a result may decide to go for reducing, closing or even relocating the production to Country B with less stringent climate policies. This means that the Country A was though able to cut emissions, but now Country B will increase the emissions due to transfer of greenhouse gas intensive industries from Country A to B. The result is more Green House Gases emission and more industrial jobs. - This shift may be from Country to Country, Province to Province, Region to Region or any other way out.
| 1,060
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"The wetlands are most biologically diverse of all ecosystems supporting numerous plant as well as animal lives." In light of this statement, discuss the various functions of the wetlands.
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The major functions of wetlands involve the water filtration, water storage, biological productivity, andprovide habitat for wildlife. Water Filtration: Wetlands remove the excess nutrients and slow the water allowing particulates to settle out of the waterwhich can then be absorbed into plant roots. It has been proved that up to up to 92% of phosphorus and 95%of nitrogen can be removed from passing water through a wetland. The pollutants get settled by sticking tothe soil particles. Some wetlands accumulate the heavy metals and this decrease the pollutant load of thesurrounding waters. The wetlands support a vast and intricate food web and these complex food chains host various microbes andbacteria on which the invertebrates feed upon. These invertebrates can filter up to 90% of bacteria in thisway. Water Storage: The wetlands are able to store around 1?1.5 million gallons of floodwater per acre. The water is stored and isslowed. This allows the recharging of the groundwater. Biological Productivity: The wetlands are able to absorb nutrients and are highly biologically productive because they producebiomass very quickly, almost equivalent to the tropical rainforests. The efficiency in creation of the biomassmakes them important for the development of alternate sources of energy. Wildlife Habitat The wetlands are important wildlife habitats. Many species are dependent upon wetlands.
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##Question:"The wetlands are most biologically diverse of all ecosystems supporting numerous plant as well as animal lives." In light of this statement, discuss the various functions of the wetlands.##Answer:The major functions of wetlands involve the water filtration, water storage, biological productivity, andprovide habitat for wildlife. Water Filtration: Wetlands remove the excess nutrients and slow the water allowing particulates to settle out of the waterwhich can then be absorbed into plant roots. It has been proved that up to up to 92% of phosphorus and 95%of nitrogen can be removed from passing water through a wetland. The pollutants get settled by sticking tothe soil particles. Some wetlands accumulate the heavy metals and this decrease the pollutant load of thesurrounding waters. The wetlands support a vast and intricate food web and these complex food chains host various microbes andbacteria on which the invertebrates feed upon. These invertebrates can filter up to 90% of bacteria in thisway. Water Storage: The wetlands are able to store around 1?1.5 million gallons of floodwater per acre. The water is stored and isslowed. This allows the recharging of the groundwater. Biological Productivity: The wetlands are able to absorb nutrients and are highly biologically productive because they producebiomass very quickly, almost equivalent to the tropical rainforests. The efficiency in creation of the biomassmakes them important for the development of alternate sources of energy. Wildlife Habitat The wetlands are important wildlife habitats. Many species are dependent upon wetlands.
| 1,061
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Discuss the features of Eastern Himalayas Biodiversity Hotspot.
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Phyto?geographically, the Eastern Himalaya forms a distinct floral region and comprises of Nepal, Bhutan,states of East and North?East India, and a contiguous sector of Yunnan province in South?Western China. - In the whole of Eastern Himalaya, there are an estimated 9,000 plant species, out of which 3,500 (i.e.39 per cent) are endemic. - In the Indian portion, there occurs some 5,800 plant species, roughly 2,000 (i.e. 36 per cent) of whichare endemic. - At least 55 flowering plants endemic to this area are recognized as rare, for example, the Pitcher Plant(Nepenthes khasiana). - The area has long been recognized as a rich centre of primitive flowering plants and is popularlyknown as the 'Çradle of Speciation'. - Species of several families of monocotyledons, Orchidaceae, Zingiberaceae and Arecaceae are found inthe area. Gymnorperms and Pteridophytes (ferns) are also well represented here. - The area is also rich in wild relatives of plants of economic significance e.g. rice, banana, citrus, ginger,chilli, jute and sugarcane. It is also regarded as the centre of origin and diversification of five palms of commercial importance, namely coconut, arecanut, palmyra palm, sugar palm and wild date palm. - Tea (Thea sinensis) has been cultivated in this region for the last 4,000 years. Many wild and alliedspecies of tea, the leaves of which are used as a substitute for tea, are found in the North East, in theirnatural habitats. -The Taxol plant (Taxus wallichiana) is sparsely distributed in the region and is listed under the reddata category due to its overexploitation for extraction of a drug effectively used against cancer. - As regards faunal diversity, 63 per cent of the genera of land mammals in India are found in thisregion. During the last four decades, two new mammals have been discovered from the region ?Golden Langur from Assam?Bhutan region, and Namdapha Flying Squirrel from Arunachal Pradesh,indicating the species richness of the region. The region is also a rich centre of avian diversity morethan 60 per cent of the bird species found in India have been recorded in the North East. The regionalso hosts two endemic genera of lizards, and 35 endemic reptilian species, including two turtles. Ofthe 240 Indian amphibian species, at least 68 species are known to occur in the North East, 20 ofwhich are endemic. From Namdapha National Park itself, a new genus of mammal, a new subspecies of a bird, six newamphibians’ species, four new species of fish, at least 15 new species of beetles and six new species of flieshave been discovered.
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##Question:Discuss the features of Eastern Himalayas Biodiversity Hotspot.##Answer:Phyto?geographically, the Eastern Himalaya forms a distinct floral region and comprises of Nepal, Bhutan,states of East and North?East India, and a contiguous sector of Yunnan province in South?Western China. - In the whole of Eastern Himalaya, there are an estimated 9,000 plant species, out of which 3,500 (i.e.39 per cent) are endemic. - In the Indian portion, there occurs some 5,800 plant species, roughly 2,000 (i.e. 36 per cent) of whichare endemic. - At least 55 flowering plants endemic to this area are recognized as rare, for example, the Pitcher Plant(Nepenthes khasiana). - The area has long been recognized as a rich centre of primitive flowering plants and is popularlyknown as the 'Çradle of Speciation'. - Species of several families of monocotyledons, Orchidaceae, Zingiberaceae and Arecaceae are found inthe area. Gymnorperms and Pteridophytes (ferns) are also well represented here. - The area is also rich in wild relatives of plants of economic significance e.g. rice, banana, citrus, ginger,chilli, jute and sugarcane. It is also regarded as the centre of origin and diversification of five palms of commercial importance, namely coconut, arecanut, palmyra palm, sugar palm and wild date palm. - Tea (Thea sinensis) has been cultivated in this region for the last 4,000 years. Many wild and alliedspecies of tea, the leaves of which are used as a substitute for tea, are found in the North East, in theirnatural habitats. -The Taxol plant (Taxus wallichiana) is sparsely distributed in the region and is listed under the reddata category due to its overexploitation for extraction of a drug effectively used against cancer. - As regards faunal diversity, 63 per cent of the genera of land mammals in India are found in thisregion. During the last four decades, two new mammals have been discovered from the region ?Golden Langur from Assam?Bhutan region, and Namdapha Flying Squirrel from Arunachal Pradesh,indicating the species richness of the region. The region is also a rich centre of avian diversity morethan 60 per cent of the bird species found in India have been recorded in the North East. The regionalso hosts two endemic genera of lizards, and 35 endemic reptilian species, including two turtles. Ofthe 240 Indian amphibian species, at least 68 species are known to occur in the North East, 20 ofwhich are endemic. From Namdapha National Park itself, a new genus of mammal, a new subspecies of a bird, six newamphibians’ species, four new species of fish, at least 15 new species of beetles and six new species of flieshave been discovered.
| 1,062
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Discuss the various possible risk reduction measures of the earthquake.
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Community preparedness: Community preparedness is vital for mitigating earthquake impact. The most effective way to save you even in a slightest shaking is 'DROP, COVER and HOLD'. Planning: The Bureau of Indian Standards has published building codes and guidelines for safe construction of buildings against earthquakes. Before the buildings are constructed the building plans have to be checked by the Municipality, according to the laid down bylaws. Many existing lifeline buildings such as hospitals, schools and fire stations may not be built with earthquake safety measures. Their earthquake safety needs to be upgraded by retrofitting techniques. Public education is educating the public on causes and characteristics of an earthquake and preparedness measures. It can be created through sensitization and training programme for community, architects, engineers, builders, masons, teachers, government functionaries teachers and students. Engineered structures: Buildings need to be designed and constructed as per the building by laws to withstand ground shaking. Architectural and engineering inputs need to be put together to improve building design and construction practices. The soil type needs to be analyzed before construction. Building structures on soft soil should be avoided. Buildings on soft soil are more likely to get damaged even if the magnitude of the earthquake is not strong.Similarproblems persist in the buildingsconstructed on the river banks which havealluvial soil.
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##Question:Discuss the various possible risk reduction measures of the earthquake.##Answer:Community preparedness: Community preparedness is vital for mitigating earthquake impact. The most effective way to save you even in a slightest shaking is 'DROP, COVER and HOLD'. Planning: The Bureau of Indian Standards has published building codes and guidelines for safe construction of buildings against earthquakes. Before the buildings are constructed the building plans have to be checked by the Municipality, according to the laid down bylaws. Many existing lifeline buildings such as hospitals, schools and fire stations may not be built with earthquake safety measures. Their earthquake safety needs to be upgraded by retrofitting techniques. Public education is educating the public on causes and characteristics of an earthquake and preparedness measures. It can be created through sensitization and training programme for community, architects, engineers, builders, masons, teachers, government functionaries teachers and students. Engineered structures: Buildings need to be designed and constructed as per the building by laws to withstand ground shaking. Architectural and engineering inputs need to be put together to improve building design and construction practices. The soil type needs to be analyzed before construction. Building structures on soft soil should be avoided. Buildings on soft soil are more likely to get damaged even if the magnitude of the earthquake is not strong.Similarproblems persist in the buildingsconstructed on the river banks which havealluvial soil.
| 1,063
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Discuss the various adverse effects of the cyclones & its possible risk reduction measures.
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First, in a sudden, brief onslaught, high winds cause major damage to infrastructure and housing, in particular fragile constructions. They are generally followed by heavy rains and floods and, in flat coastal areas by storm surge riding on tidal waves and inundating the land over long distances of even upto 15 kilometer inland. Physical damage – structures will be damaged or destroyed by the wind force, flooding and storm surge. Light pitched roofs of most structures especially the ones fitted on to industrial buildings will suffer severe damage. Casualties and public heath – caused by flooding and flying elements, contamination of water supplies may lead to viral outbreaks, diarrhea, and malaria. Water supplies – Ground and pipe water supply may get contaminated by flood waters. Crops and food supplies – high winds and rains ruin the standing crop and food stock lying in low lying areas. Plantation type crops such as banana and coconut are extremely vulnerable. Salt from the sea water may get deposited on the agricultural land and increase the salinity. The loss of the crop may lead to acute food shortage. Communication – severe disruption in the communication links as the wind may bring down the electricity and communication towers, telephone poles, telephone lines, antennas and satellite disk and broadcasting services. Transport lines (road and rail) may be curtailed, Lack of proper communication affects effective distribution of relief materials. Possible Risk Reduction Measures:- Coastal belt plantation - green belt plantation along the coastal line in a scientific interweaving pattern can reduce the effect of the hazard. Providing a cover through green belt sustains less damage. Forests act as a wide buffer zone against strong winds and flash floods. Without the forest the cyclone travel freely inland. The lack of protective forest cover allows water to inundate large areas and cause destruction. With the loss of the forest cover each consecutive cyclone can penetrate further inland. Hazard mapping – Meteorological records of the wind speed and the directions give the probability of the winds in the region. Cyclones can be predicted several days in advance. The onset is extensive and often very destructive. Past records and paths can give the pattern of occurrence for particular wind speeds. A hazard map will illustrate the areas vulnerable to cyclone in any given year. It will be useful to estimate the severity of the cyclone and various damage intensities in the region. The map is prepared with data inputs of past climatological records, history of wind speed, frequency of flooding etc. Land use control designed so that least critical activities are placed in vulnerable areas. Location of settlements in the flood plains is at utmost risk. Siting of key facilities must be marked in the land use. Policies should be in place to regulate land use and building codes should be enforced. Engineered structures – structures need to be built to withstand wind forces. Good site selection is also important. Majority of the buildings in coastal areas are built with locally available materials and have no engineering inputs. Good construction practice should be adopted such as:- - Cyclonic wind storms inundate the coastal areas. It is advised to construct on stilts or on earth mound. - Houses can be strengthened to resist wind and flood damage. All elements holding the structures need to be properly anchored to resist the uplift or flying off of the objects. For example, avoid large overhangs of roofs, and the projections should be tied down. - A row of planted trees will act as a shield. It reduces the energy. - Buildings should be wind and water resistant. - Buildings storing food supplies must be protected against the winds and water. - Protect river embankments. Communication lines should be installed underground. - Provide strong halls for community shelter in vulnerable locations. Flood management – Torrential rains, strong wind and storm range leads to flooding in the cyclone affected areas. There are possibilities of landslides too. Flood mitigation measures could be incorporated Improving vegetation cover – The roots of the plants and trees keep the soil intact and prevent erosion and slow runoff to prevent or lessen flooding. The use of tree planted in rows will act as a windbreak. Coastal shelterbelt plantations can be developed to break severe wind speeds. It minimizes devastating effects. The Orissa calamity has also highlighted the need for urgent measures like shelterbelt plantation along cyclone-prone coastal areas. Species chosen for this purpose should not only be able to withstand the impact of strong cyclonic winds, but also check soil erosion.
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##Question:Discuss the various adverse effects of the cyclones & its possible risk reduction measures.##Answer:First, in a sudden, brief onslaught, high winds cause major damage to infrastructure and housing, in particular fragile constructions. They are generally followed by heavy rains and floods and, in flat coastal areas by storm surge riding on tidal waves and inundating the land over long distances of even upto 15 kilometer inland. Physical damage – structures will be damaged or destroyed by the wind force, flooding and storm surge. Light pitched roofs of most structures especially the ones fitted on to industrial buildings will suffer severe damage. Casualties and public heath – caused by flooding and flying elements, contamination of water supplies may lead to viral outbreaks, diarrhea, and malaria. Water supplies – Ground and pipe water supply may get contaminated by flood waters. Crops and food supplies – high winds and rains ruin the standing crop and food stock lying in low lying areas. Plantation type crops such as banana and coconut are extremely vulnerable. Salt from the sea water may get deposited on the agricultural land and increase the salinity. The loss of the crop may lead to acute food shortage. Communication – severe disruption in the communication links as the wind may bring down the electricity and communication towers, telephone poles, telephone lines, antennas and satellite disk and broadcasting services. Transport lines (road and rail) may be curtailed, Lack of proper communication affects effective distribution of relief materials. Possible Risk Reduction Measures:- Coastal belt plantation - green belt plantation along the coastal line in a scientific interweaving pattern can reduce the effect of the hazard. Providing a cover through green belt sustains less damage. Forests act as a wide buffer zone against strong winds and flash floods. Without the forest the cyclone travel freely inland. The lack of protective forest cover allows water to inundate large areas and cause destruction. With the loss of the forest cover each consecutive cyclone can penetrate further inland. Hazard mapping – Meteorological records of the wind speed and the directions give the probability of the winds in the region. Cyclones can be predicted several days in advance. The onset is extensive and often very destructive. Past records and paths can give the pattern of occurrence for particular wind speeds. A hazard map will illustrate the areas vulnerable to cyclone in any given year. It will be useful to estimate the severity of the cyclone and various damage intensities in the region. The map is prepared with data inputs of past climatological records, history of wind speed, frequency of flooding etc. Land use control designed so that least critical activities are placed in vulnerable areas. Location of settlements in the flood plains is at utmost risk. Siting of key facilities must be marked in the land use. Policies should be in place to regulate land use and building codes should be enforced. Engineered structures – structures need to be built to withstand wind forces. Good site selection is also important. Majority of the buildings in coastal areas are built with locally available materials and have no engineering inputs. Good construction practice should be adopted such as:- - Cyclonic wind storms inundate the coastal areas. It is advised to construct on stilts or on earth mound. - Houses can be strengthened to resist wind and flood damage. All elements holding the structures need to be properly anchored to resist the uplift or flying off of the objects. For example, avoid large overhangs of roofs, and the projections should be tied down. - A row of planted trees will act as a shield. It reduces the energy. - Buildings should be wind and water resistant. - Buildings storing food supplies must be protected against the winds and water. - Protect river embankments. Communication lines should be installed underground. - Provide strong halls for community shelter in vulnerable locations. Flood management – Torrential rains, strong wind and storm range leads to flooding in the cyclone affected areas. There are possibilities of landslides too. Flood mitigation measures could be incorporated Improving vegetation cover – The roots of the plants and trees keep the soil intact and prevent erosion and slow runoff to prevent or lessen flooding. The use of tree planted in rows will act as a windbreak. Coastal shelterbelt plantations can be developed to break severe wind speeds. It minimizes devastating effects. The Orissa calamity has also highlighted the need for urgent measures like shelterbelt plantation along cyclone-prone coastal areas. Species chosen for this purpose should not only be able to withstand the impact of strong cyclonic winds, but also check soil erosion.
| 1,064
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List the major key findings of the Census 2011
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* Population grows to 1.21 billion * 181 million people added during 2001-11 *Growth declines to 17.64 % from 21.15 % during 1991-2001 *There are 623.7 million males and 586.5 million females *India accounts for 17.5 % of the world’s population, China 19.4 % *First decade (with exception of 1911-1921) which saw addition of lesser people than the previous decade. *Child sex ratio — 914 females against 1,000 males — lowest since independence *Overall sex ratio rises by seven points — 940 females per 1,000 males *Literacy rate goes up from 64.83 % to 74.04 % * 74 % people aged seven and above are literate * 82.14 % male literacy, 65.46 % female literacy *In 2001, male literacy was 75.26 %, female literacy was 53.67 % *Delhi ( 11,297 people per square km) has the highest population density, followed by Chandigarh ( 9,252 ) *Uttar Pradesh is the most populous state with 199 million people while Lakshadweep is the least populated at 64,429 Uttar Pradesh is the most populous sate with 199 million people and Lakshadweep the least populated at 64,429.
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##Question:List the major key findings of the Census 2011##Answer:* Population grows to 1.21 billion * 181 million people added during 2001-11 *Growth declines to 17.64 % from 21.15 % during 1991-2001 *There are 623.7 million males and 586.5 million females *India accounts for 17.5 % of the world’s population, China 19.4 % *First decade (with exception of 1911-1921) which saw addition of lesser people than the previous decade. *Child sex ratio — 914 females against 1,000 males — lowest since independence *Overall sex ratio rises by seven points — 940 females per 1,000 males *Literacy rate goes up from 64.83 % to 74.04 % * 74 % people aged seven and above are literate * 82.14 % male literacy, 65.46 % female literacy *In 2001, male literacy was 75.26 %, female literacy was 53.67 % *Delhi ( 11,297 people per square km) has the highest population density, followed by Chandigarh ( 9,252 ) *Uttar Pradesh is the most populous state with 199 million people while Lakshadweep is the least populated at 64,429 Uttar Pradesh is the most populous sate with 199 million people and Lakshadweep the least populated at 64,429.
| 1,065
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'Future of transportation is in electric vehicles, bio-fuels donot give a viable option for the future.' Discuss
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The future of transportation in India has to be in electric mobility, given the vast limitations of alternatives such as biofuels, which can never replace or become an everlasting solution to diesel and petrol. The government's move towards setting up a National Council on Electric Mobility provides a pointer to the rising appreciation of the need to promote electric vehicles. Contrary to the common belief, biofuels are not really green; they may be producing less carbon but also contribute to the release of nitrous oxide, which is deadlier than carbon. The prospect of a large number of biofuel-driven vehicles on the roads does not augur well in this context. The sheer volumes involved and the large area of land required to produce biofuels make them an unviable option. For instance, To meet the 20 per cent blending target for biodiesel in India, we require 22 million tonnes of biodiesel by year 2020. To produce that quantity from Jathropa plants, we require nearly 32 million hectare (ha) of land, which is almost the same area as wheat sowed in the country. Though the biofuels policy talks about utilising wastelands, only one-third of the total 60 million ha of wastelands is cultivable and even this land does not give enough yield to make the investment viable. Besides, the land has competing demands from renewable energy technologies such as wind and solar energy. On the other hand, India has the potential to produce any amount of electricity, provided there is no undue exploitation of the existing resources. T he whole edifice of modernity achieved through industrialisation by various countries was facing a crisis on account of dwindling resources like oil, coal and natural gas and this formed the basis for the promotion of sustainable development. A part of the solution lies in the scaling down of the cities - decentralization of human settlements and securing an apt urban-to-rural migration. "The future is not bleak, but is bound to be different as it may not allow the same level of profligacy or consumerism that we have indulged in. Similarly, measures like recycling will become a norm rather than an option. The industries have started doing that.
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##Question:'Future of transportation is in electric vehicles, bio-fuels donot give a viable option for the future.' Discuss##Answer:The future of transportation in India has to be in electric mobility, given the vast limitations of alternatives such as biofuels, which can never replace or become an everlasting solution to diesel and petrol. The government's move towards setting up a National Council on Electric Mobility provides a pointer to the rising appreciation of the need to promote electric vehicles. Contrary to the common belief, biofuels are not really green; they may be producing less carbon but also contribute to the release of nitrous oxide, which is deadlier than carbon. The prospect of a large number of biofuel-driven vehicles on the roads does not augur well in this context. The sheer volumes involved and the large area of land required to produce biofuels make them an unviable option. For instance, To meet the 20 per cent blending target for biodiesel in India, we require 22 million tonnes of biodiesel by year 2020. To produce that quantity from Jathropa plants, we require nearly 32 million hectare (ha) of land, which is almost the same area as wheat sowed in the country. Though the biofuels policy talks about utilising wastelands, only one-third of the total 60 million ha of wastelands is cultivable and even this land does not give enough yield to make the investment viable. Besides, the land has competing demands from renewable energy technologies such as wind and solar energy. On the other hand, India has the potential to produce any amount of electricity, provided there is no undue exploitation of the existing resources. T he whole edifice of modernity achieved through industrialisation by various countries was facing a crisis on account of dwindling resources like oil, coal and natural gas and this formed the basis for the promotion of sustainable development. A part of the solution lies in the scaling down of the cities - decentralization of human settlements and securing an apt urban-to-rural migration. "The future is not bleak, but is bound to be different as it may not allow the same level of profligacy or consumerism that we have indulged in. Similarly, measures like recycling will become a norm rather than an option. The industries have started doing that.
| 1,079
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Since the introduction of the New Telecom Policy in 1999, Indian telecom industry has witnessed exponential growth, especially in the wireless segment. Comment upon the recent Govt initiatives taken & road ahead in this sector.
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The industry has evolved as a basic infrastructure on the similar lines of electricity, roads, water etc. The overall tele-density has increased from 4.3 in March 2002 to 78.1 in February 2012, wherein the rural areas registered an increase from 1.2 in March 2002 to 38.5 in February 2012, according to a report titled ‘Telecom Sector in India: A Decadal Profile’ prepared by the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI). Also, the share of telecommunication services (excluding postal and miscellaneous services), as a per cent of the total gross domestic product (GDP), has increased from 0.96 in 2000-01 to 3.78 in 2009 -10. The Government has given estimates that every 10 per cent increase in access of broadband connectivity boosts the GDP by 1.38 per cent. International comparisons (among 222 countries) in the same report show that India has the second largest number of telephone subscribers in the world accounting for 12 per cent of the world’s total telephone subscribers. Government Initiatives The Government of India is focussing on improving rural tele-density and broadband connectivity, effective expansion of the networks with efficient utilisation of scarce spectrum and ensuring equal sharing of highly capital intensive infrastructure. TRAI,the telecom sector regulator, intends to create standards to ensure quality of service for mobile phone companies which deliver mobile data services to the users. Considering the fact that roll out of 3G and 4G high-speed data access services across the country will lead to quantum jump in the number of mobile internet users, the authority is seeking comments from stakeholders in the sector. According to the draft regulations issued, TRAI has created nine parameters benchmarks including service activation clause (that the service would be activated within three hours with a 95 per cent success rate), drop rate (or the network's inability to upload or download, should be below 2 per cent) etc. Telecom service providers would be required to collect and maintain compliance records of each of the nine parameters and submit them to TRAI within 60 days of notification of these new rules. Road Ahead Time-Division long-Term evolution (TD-LTE) market in India is at a nascent stage and expected to pick up in the next couple of years. Analysts predict that TD-LTE subscribers in India would reach 5 million in 2013, with the focus on mobile broadband. Further, smartphone launches by companies such as Nokia, Samsung and Apple will spur significant surge in data consumption. TD-LTE, also called as Long-Term Evolution Time-Division Duplex (LTE TDD), is a 4G mobile telecommunication technology which was developed in China.
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##Question:Since the introduction of the New Telecom Policy in 1999, Indian telecom industry has witnessed exponential growth, especially in the wireless segment. Comment upon the recent Govt initiatives taken & road ahead in this sector.##Answer:The industry has evolved as a basic infrastructure on the similar lines of electricity, roads, water etc. The overall tele-density has increased from 4.3 in March 2002 to 78.1 in February 2012, wherein the rural areas registered an increase from 1.2 in March 2002 to 38.5 in February 2012, according to a report titled ‘Telecom Sector in India: A Decadal Profile’ prepared by the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI). Also, the share of telecommunication services (excluding postal and miscellaneous services), as a per cent of the total gross domestic product (GDP), has increased from 0.96 in 2000-01 to 3.78 in 2009 -10. The Government has given estimates that every 10 per cent increase in access of broadband connectivity boosts the GDP by 1.38 per cent. International comparisons (among 222 countries) in the same report show that India has the second largest number of telephone subscribers in the world accounting for 12 per cent of the world’s total telephone subscribers. Government Initiatives The Government of India is focussing on improving rural tele-density and broadband connectivity, effective expansion of the networks with efficient utilisation of scarce spectrum and ensuring equal sharing of highly capital intensive infrastructure. TRAI,the telecom sector regulator, intends to create standards to ensure quality of service for mobile phone companies which deliver mobile data services to the users. Considering the fact that roll out of 3G and 4G high-speed data access services across the country will lead to quantum jump in the number of mobile internet users, the authority is seeking comments from stakeholders in the sector. According to the draft regulations issued, TRAI has created nine parameters benchmarks including service activation clause (that the service would be activated within three hours with a 95 per cent success rate), drop rate (or the network's inability to upload or download, should be below 2 per cent) etc. Telecom service providers would be required to collect and maintain compliance records of each of the nine parameters and submit them to TRAI within 60 days of notification of these new rules. Road Ahead Time-Division long-Term evolution (TD-LTE) market in India is at a nascent stage and expected to pick up in the next couple of years. Analysts predict that TD-LTE subscribers in India would reach 5 million in 2013, with the focus on mobile broadband. Further, smartphone launches by companies such as Nokia, Samsung and Apple will spur significant surge in data consumption. TD-LTE, also called as Long-Term Evolution Time-Division Duplex (LTE TDD), is a 4G mobile telecommunication technology which was developed in China.
| 1,080
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Many NGOs exist to actively promote, or be involved with wildlife conservation. Discuss.
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The Nature Conservancy is a US charitable environmental organization that works to preserve the plants, animals, and natural communities that represent the diversity of life on Earth by protecting the lands and waters they need to survive. [12] World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) is an international non-governmental organization working on issues regarding the conservation, research and restoration of the environment, formerly named the World Wildlife Fund, which remains its official name in Canada and the United States. It is the world's largest independent conservation organization with over 5 million supporters worldwide, working in more than 90 countries, supporting around 1300[4] conservation and environmental projects around the world. It is a charity, with approximately 60% of its funding coming from voluntary donations by private individuals. 45% of the fund's income comes from the Netherlands, the United Kingdom and the United States. [13] Wildlife Conservation Society Audubon Society Traffic (conservation programme) Safari Club International
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##Question:Many NGOs exist to actively promote, or be involved with wildlife conservation. Discuss.##Answer: The Nature Conservancy is a US charitable environmental organization that works to preserve the plants, animals, and natural communities that represent the diversity of life on Earth by protecting the lands and waters they need to survive. [12] World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) is an international non-governmental organization working on issues regarding the conservation, research and restoration of the environment, formerly named the World Wildlife Fund, which remains its official name in Canada and the United States. It is the world's largest independent conservation organization with over 5 million supporters worldwide, working in more than 90 countries, supporting around 1300[4] conservation and environmental projects around the world. It is a charity, with approximately 60% of its funding coming from voluntary donations by private individuals. 45% of the fund's income comes from the Netherlands, the United Kingdom and the United States. [13] Wildlife Conservation Society Audubon Society Traffic (conservation programme) Safari Club International
| 1,081
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List the major environmental concerns of India & discuss any two of them.
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India is a developing country and like other countries is stuck with many environmental issues. Poverty being the major concerned area causes lack of economic development of people leading to inadequate sanitation and clean drinking water facilities. High growth rate of population is causing lowering of natural resources and deforestation. On the other hand, Economic growth and technological advancements are also playing major role in disturbing natural environment by factors like water, air and nuclear pollution. Though Indian Government is paying attention to major environmental concerned areas of the nation and formulating many environmental polices to keep pace with this alarming situation, yet lots need to be done!!! Major environmental concerns of India are: Air Pollution Noise Pollution Water Pollution Natural Disasters Global Warming Soil and Land Degradation Population Explosion Loss of Biodiversity
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##Question:List the major environmental concerns of India & discuss any two of them.##Answer:India is a developing country and like other countries is stuck with many environmental issues. Poverty being the major concerned area causes lack of economic development of people leading to inadequate sanitation and clean drinking water facilities. High growth rate of population is causing lowering of natural resources and deforestation. On the other hand, Economic growth and technological advancements are also playing major role in disturbing natural environment by factors like water, air and nuclear pollution. Though Indian Government is paying attention to major environmental concerned areas of the nation and formulating many environmental polices to keep pace with this alarming situation, yet lots need to be done!!! Major environmental concerns of India are: Air Pollution Noise Pollution Water Pollution Natural Disasters Global Warming Soil and Land Degradation Population Explosion Loss of Biodiversity
| 1,082
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Discuss the National Forest Commission and India's afforestation program.
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National Forest Commission and India's afforestation program In 2003, India set up a National Forest Commission to review and assess India's policy and law, its effect on India's forests, its impact of local forest communities, and to make recommendations to achieve sustainable forest and ecological security in India.The report made over 300 recommendations including the following: India must pursue rural development and animal husbandry policies to address local communities need to find affordable cattle fodder and grazing. To avoid destruction of local forest cover, fodder must reach these communities on reliable roads and other infrastructure, in all seasons year round. The Forest Rights Bill is likely to be harmful to forest conservation and ecological security. The Forest Rights Bill became a law since 2007. The government should work closely with mining companies. Revenue generated from lease of mines must be pooled into a dedicated fund to conserve and improve the quality of forests in the region where the mines are located. Power to declare ecologically sensitive areas must be with each Indian state. The mandate of State Forest Corporations and government owned monopolies must be changed. Government should reform regulations and laws that ban felling of trees and transit of wood within India. Sustainable agro-forestry and farm forestry must be encouraged through financial and regulatory reforms, particularly on privately owned lands. India's national forest policy expects to invest US$ 26.7 billion by 2020, to pursue nationwide afforestation coupled with forest conservation, with the goal of increasing India's forest cover from 20% to 33%
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##Question:Discuss the National Forest Commission and India's afforestation program.##Answer:National Forest Commission and India's afforestation program In 2003, India set up a National Forest Commission to review and assess India's policy and law, its effect on India's forests, its impact of local forest communities, and to make recommendations to achieve sustainable forest and ecological security in India.The report made over 300 recommendations including the following: India must pursue rural development and animal husbandry policies to address local communities need to find affordable cattle fodder and grazing. To avoid destruction of local forest cover, fodder must reach these communities on reliable roads and other infrastructure, in all seasons year round. The Forest Rights Bill is likely to be harmful to forest conservation and ecological security. The Forest Rights Bill became a law since 2007. The government should work closely with mining companies. Revenue generated from lease of mines must be pooled into a dedicated fund to conserve and improve the quality of forests in the region where the mines are located. Power to declare ecologically sensitive areas must be with each Indian state. The mandate of State Forest Corporations and government owned monopolies must be changed. Government should reform regulations and laws that ban felling of trees and transit of wood within India. Sustainable agro-forestry and farm forestry must be encouraged through financial and regulatory reforms, particularly on privately owned lands. India's national forest policy expects to invest US$ 26.7 billion by 2020, to pursue nationwide afforestation coupled with forest conservation, with the goal of increasing India's forest cover from 20% to 33%
| 1,083
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Discuss the causes of soil alkalinity & how this soil affect agriculture.?
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The causes of soil alkalinity are natural or they can be man-made. The natural cause is the presence of soil minerals producing sodium carbonate (Na 2 CO 3 ) and sodium bicarbonate (NaHCO 3 ) upon weathering . Coal fired boilers / power plants when using limestone rich coal produces ash containing calcium oxide (CaO). CaO readily dissolves in water to form slaked lime (Ca(OH) 2 ) and carried by rain water to rivers / irrigation water. Lime softening process precipitates Ca and Mg ions / removes hardness in the water and also converts sodium bicarbonates in river water in to sodium carbonate.Sodium carbonates further reacts with the remaining Ca and Mg in the water to remove / precipitate the total hardness . Also water soluble sodium salts present in the ash enhance the sodium content in water. Thus river water is made devoid of Ca and Mg ions and enhanced Na by coal fired boilers. Many sodium salts are used in industrial and domestic applications such as Sodium carbonate (washing soda), Sodium bicarbonate (baking soda), Sodium sulphate , Sodium hydroxide (caustic soda), Sodium hypochlorite (bleaching powder), etc in huge quantities. These salts are mainly produced from Sodium chloride (common salt). All the sodium in these salts enter in to the river / ground water during their production process or consumption enhancing water alkalinity. The total global consumption of sodium chloride is 270 million tons in the year 2010. This is nearly equal to the salt load in the mighty Amazon River . Manmade sodium salts contribution is nearly 7% of total salt load of all the rivers.Sodium salt load problem aggravates in the downstream of intensively cultivated river basins located in China, India, Egypt, Pakistan, west Asia, Australia, western USA, etc due to accumulation of salts in the remaining water after meeting various transpiration and evaporation losses. Another source of man made sodium salts addition to the agriculture fields / land mass is in the vicinity of the wet cooling towers using sea water to dissipate waste heat generated in various industries located near the sea coast. Huge capacity cooling towers are installed in oil refineries, petrochemical complexes, fertilizer plants, chemical plants, nuclear & thermal power stations, centralized HVAC systems, etc. The drift / fine droplets emitted from the cooling towers contain nearly 6% sodium chloride which would deposit on the vicinity areas. This problem aggravates where the national pollution control norms are not imposed or not implemented to minimize the drift emissions to the best industrial norm for the sea water based wet cooling towers. The man-made cause is the application of soft water in irrigation (surface or ground water) containing relatively high proportion of sodium bicarbonates and less calcium and magnesium. Agricultural Problems- Alkaline soils are difficult to take into agricultural production.Due to the low infiltration capacity , rain water stagnates on the soil easily and, in dry periods, cultivation is hardly possible without copius irrigated water and good drainage. Agriculture is limited to crops tolerant to surface waterlogging (e.g. rice , grasses ) and the productivity is low.
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##Question:Discuss the causes of soil alkalinity & how this soil affect agriculture.?##Answer:The causes of soil alkalinity are natural or they can be man-made. The natural cause is the presence of soil minerals producing sodium carbonate (Na 2 CO 3 ) and sodium bicarbonate (NaHCO 3 ) upon weathering . Coal fired boilers / power plants when using limestone rich coal produces ash containing calcium oxide (CaO). CaO readily dissolves in water to form slaked lime (Ca(OH) 2 ) and carried by rain water to rivers / irrigation water. Lime softening process precipitates Ca and Mg ions / removes hardness in the water and also converts sodium bicarbonates in river water in to sodium carbonate.Sodium carbonates further reacts with the remaining Ca and Mg in the water to remove / precipitate the total hardness . Also water soluble sodium salts present in the ash enhance the sodium content in water. Thus river water is made devoid of Ca and Mg ions and enhanced Na by coal fired boilers. Many sodium salts are used in industrial and domestic applications such as Sodium carbonate (washing soda), Sodium bicarbonate (baking soda), Sodium sulphate , Sodium hydroxide (caustic soda), Sodium hypochlorite (bleaching powder), etc in huge quantities. These salts are mainly produced from Sodium chloride (common salt). All the sodium in these salts enter in to the river / ground water during their production process or consumption enhancing water alkalinity. The total global consumption of sodium chloride is 270 million tons in the year 2010. This is nearly equal to the salt load in the mighty Amazon River . Manmade sodium salts contribution is nearly 7% of total salt load of all the rivers.Sodium salt load problem aggravates in the downstream of intensively cultivated river basins located in China, India, Egypt, Pakistan, west Asia, Australia, western USA, etc due to accumulation of salts in the remaining water after meeting various transpiration and evaporation losses. Another source of man made sodium salts addition to the agriculture fields / land mass is in the vicinity of the wet cooling towers using sea water to dissipate waste heat generated in various industries located near the sea coast. Huge capacity cooling towers are installed in oil refineries, petrochemical complexes, fertilizer plants, chemical plants, nuclear & thermal power stations, centralized HVAC systems, etc. The drift / fine droplets emitted from the cooling towers contain nearly 6% sodium chloride which would deposit on the vicinity areas. This problem aggravates where the national pollution control norms are not imposed or not implemented to minimize the drift emissions to the best industrial norm for the sea water based wet cooling towers. The man-made cause is the application of soft water in irrigation (surface or ground water) containing relatively high proportion of sodium bicarbonates and less calcium and magnesium. Agricultural Problems- Alkaline soils are difficult to take into agricultural production.Due to the low infiltration capacity , rain water stagnates on the soil easily and, in dry periods, cultivation is hardly possible without copius irrigated water and good drainage. Agriculture is limited to crops tolerant to surface waterlogging (e.g. rice , grasses ) and the productivity is low.
| 1,084
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Doha scores very low – perhaps fatally low – on the ambition to keep the world within safe limits.In light of the above statement discuss the outcome of the Climate change talks at the COP 18 in Doha.
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For the past 20 years, the world has been haggling about who will cut greenhouse gas emissions and how much. In the same 20 years, the science of climate change has become more certain. The world is beginning to witness what the future will look like – more extreme events like the typhoon Bopha and the tropical storm Sandy are expected to cripple life and livelihoods across the world. In fact, as the leader of the Philippine delegation emotionally pointed out, the world is running out of time -- his ocean nation has seen 17 killer typhoons in the past year. Doha is still significant for one thing: the fact that the world has not dismantled the principles that will govern its efforts to cut emissions. These principles, after the bitterest of fights, have been retained and strengthened. The outcome of the conference states that efforts of parties will be taken on the “basis of equity and common but differentiated responsibilities and respected capabilities”. For the US, the issue of equity in the allocation of responsibility has been a red line. The US delegation has made its complete aversion to any mention of the words ‘equity’ or ‘historical emissions’ very clear; its stand has been almost tantamount to open blackmail. At the Copenhagen CoP in 2009, bowing to US pressure, these words had been erased from the document. In the Durban Platform (ADP) negotiations, which will now work to build the agreement for emission reductions post-2020, the word ‘equity’ has not been used for this reason. But instead, it has been agreed, that action will be “under the climate convention”, which in turn is embedded within the framework of equity. It is no surprise then that the US made its reservation and right to future rejection known on these two references. In the final plenary, US climate czar Todd Stern said in no uncertain words that his government will “revoke all attempts to invoke” these principles. Now that the world has to come together to raise its ambition to meet the climate change challenge, the issues of who will cut and how much will have to be decided urgently. The US opposition to using the principle of equity and historical emissions will clearly make the road bumpy and more difficult to traverse. Doha also agreed, importantly, to include the principle of ‘loss and damage’ – estimating the economic and livelihood cost of the growing impacts of climate change to the most vulnerable. This is crucial, as extreme weather events are devastating nations and their economies. It is also agreed that there are linkages between extreme weather events and slow-onset events – the variable rains that lead to droughts, for instance. This was the key demand of island nations and least developed countries. They wanted a mechanism to estimate and compensate for these damages. After much resistance, again from the US, it has been agreed that the world will decide on this mechanism by CoP 19 – to be held in Poland next year. Doha failed because here, the world agreed not to raise its level of ambition to meet the giga-tonne and financial gap in climate negotiations. It had been agreed at the Bali conference in 2007 that the industrialised world needed to cut 45 per cent below the 1990 levels by 2020 to enable a temperature increase of 1.5-2°C – considered to be safe levels. It was agreed that this would be done by Kyoto Protocol (KP) parties by increasing their levels of ambition and by non-Kyoto Protocol parties, mainly the US, by cutting emissions at ‘comparable’ levels. The KP was given its second commitment period – in other words, there is a continuation of a multilateral and rule-based regime to reduce emissions. But the targets set by its Party countries are weak and meaningless. The agreement has been weakened also by the fact that there are huge amounts emissions that are available to countries like Russia to trade and sell in this commitment period because their economies collapsed after the agreement was signed. These assigned amount units (AAUs) were fought for at Doha as Russia, Belarus and Ukraine struggled to keep these emissions free to trade. The final agreement was not satisfactory to Russia, even as European Union and all other KP parties pledged that they would not buy these ‘hot air’ emissions. The US, which was to cut ‘comparable’ levels of emissions, has agreed only to reduce by 3 per cent over 1990 levels. Its target is a cruel joke on the planet. Doha scores very low – perhaps fatally low – on the ambition to keep the world within safe limits. The world is on course for a deadly 2.5 to 5°C increase in temperature, which would be catastrophic by any count. If there is hope, it lies in the fact that the world has, in Doha, agreed to strengthen the framework for future action. But it is action that is needed now.
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##Question:Doha scores very low – perhaps fatally low – on the ambition to keep the world within safe limits.In light of the above statement discuss the outcome of the Climate change talks at the COP 18 in Doha.##Answer:For the past 20 years, the world has been haggling about who will cut greenhouse gas emissions and how much. In the same 20 years, the science of climate change has become more certain. The world is beginning to witness what the future will look like – more extreme events like the typhoon Bopha and the tropical storm Sandy are expected to cripple life and livelihoods across the world. In fact, as the leader of the Philippine delegation emotionally pointed out, the world is running out of time -- his ocean nation has seen 17 killer typhoons in the past year. Doha is still significant for one thing: the fact that the world has not dismantled the principles that will govern its efforts to cut emissions. These principles, after the bitterest of fights, have been retained and strengthened. The outcome of the conference states that efforts of parties will be taken on the “basis of equity and common but differentiated responsibilities and respected capabilities”. For the US, the issue of equity in the allocation of responsibility has been a red line. The US delegation has made its complete aversion to any mention of the words ‘equity’ or ‘historical emissions’ very clear; its stand has been almost tantamount to open blackmail. At the Copenhagen CoP in 2009, bowing to US pressure, these words had been erased from the document. In the Durban Platform (ADP) negotiations, which will now work to build the agreement for emission reductions post-2020, the word ‘equity’ has not been used for this reason. But instead, it has been agreed, that action will be “under the climate convention”, which in turn is embedded within the framework of equity. It is no surprise then that the US made its reservation and right to future rejection known on these two references. In the final plenary, US climate czar Todd Stern said in no uncertain words that his government will “revoke all attempts to invoke” these principles. Now that the world has to come together to raise its ambition to meet the climate change challenge, the issues of who will cut and how much will have to be decided urgently. The US opposition to using the principle of equity and historical emissions will clearly make the road bumpy and more difficult to traverse. Doha also agreed, importantly, to include the principle of ‘loss and damage’ – estimating the economic and livelihood cost of the growing impacts of climate change to the most vulnerable. This is crucial, as extreme weather events are devastating nations and their economies. It is also agreed that there are linkages between extreme weather events and slow-onset events – the variable rains that lead to droughts, for instance. This was the key demand of island nations and least developed countries. They wanted a mechanism to estimate and compensate for these damages. After much resistance, again from the US, it has been agreed that the world will decide on this mechanism by CoP 19 – to be held in Poland next year. Doha failed because here, the world agreed not to raise its level of ambition to meet the giga-tonne and financial gap in climate negotiations. It had been agreed at the Bali conference in 2007 that the industrialised world needed to cut 45 per cent below the 1990 levels by 2020 to enable a temperature increase of 1.5-2°C – considered to be safe levels. It was agreed that this would be done by Kyoto Protocol (KP) parties by increasing their levels of ambition and by non-Kyoto Protocol parties, mainly the US, by cutting emissions at ‘comparable’ levels. The KP was given its second commitment period – in other words, there is a continuation of a multilateral and rule-based regime to reduce emissions. But the targets set by its Party countries are weak and meaningless. The agreement has been weakened also by the fact that there are huge amounts emissions that are available to countries like Russia to trade and sell in this commitment period because their economies collapsed after the agreement was signed. These assigned amount units (AAUs) were fought for at Doha as Russia, Belarus and Ukraine struggled to keep these emissions free to trade. The final agreement was not satisfactory to Russia, even as European Union and all other KP parties pledged that they would not buy these ‘hot air’ emissions. The US, which was to cut ‘comparable’ levels of emissions, has agreed only to reduce by 3 per cent over 1990 levels. Its target is a cruel joke on the planet. Doha scores very low – perhaps fatally low – on the ambition to keep the world within safe limits. The world is on course for a deadly 2.5 to 5°C increase in temperature, which would be catastrophic by any count. If there is hope, it lies in the fact that the world has, in Doha, agreed to strengthen the framework for future action. But it is action that is needed now.
| 1,085
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Racial ideology in Indian society, though not recognised by the Government or academic circles, is experienced on a daily basis by people from the north-east in mainland India. Discuss.
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Mainland India has, for years, exhibited one core characteristic of race thinking in its social interactions with the north-east. The mental and moral behaviour of the north-east have been related to their physical structure. This biological distance-marker (which is now irrelevant in contemporary studies of racism) transformed itself into a social fact by the formation of strongly-held stereotypes of the north-east, especially its women, andthe usage of racial slurs against them. The racial slur chinki is persistently used by mainland India to categorise the north-east (and any person with an east Asian physical structure). The majority of users defend the usage as handy in identifying who is what in this country. This usage is an ideological process to de? ne an unclassi? ed populace who have become the nation’s citizens but do not share, in the popular imagination of the country, its biology, historicity and cultural values. Whatever the nature of its alleged utility, it is grossly wrong to believe chinki exists as a neutral term. It has resisted neutering because it is often and deliberately used as a hostile verbal act, in public, private, educational and professional spaces, to “otherise”, offend, humiliate and taunt. Other than the north-east, the victims of such a corrosive act of naming and shaming include persons with an east Asian physical structure, residing in or visiting this country. However, if a person is from the north-east but does not have the east Asian physical structure that functions as the immediate distance-marker, it is highly unlikely that she would be subjected to racial naming and shaming. Like in any other society where the study of racism is backward, racism in India is misapplied to cultural rejection and looked upon as an individual pathology which must be expected in some proportions in all societies. The country also has a general scepticism of the term racism because of its western historicity. This assertion that “everyone, including the victims of racism, is capable of racism” underpins how racial discourse in any nation state is a complicated, provocative process. A postmodern analysis of racism in India, hinted by Tellis in this quote, stresses the complexities and paradoxes we must always remain alert to in our arguments and explorations of race thinking in India. However, we must also be acutely aware of the danger of demonising the victims and reducing the discourse to an idiotic binary crisis of victim/aggressor. Many of my friends (north-east as well as mainland) dismiss the debate on racism using this binary crisis as their shtick. When a person from the north-east (or a person with an east Asian physical structure) is named, shamed and abused as a chinki in India, protests against such racist practice get counter-attacked in public as well as private discourses by the majority cultural communities of India. They posit that the labelling of various communities is a communal pathology that a diverse society like India has to live with. A familiar line of argument one hears is this: Chinki is an endearing nickname in north India. South Indians are called madrasi by north Indians. What’s the big deal with calling you chinki? First, chinki as an endearing nickname might just be an Indian anomaly. Second, madrasi is a term for cultural rejection used by one dominant cultural player against an equal opponent; it is cultural politics, not racial ideology, and both are equally poisonous. Third, when you call me chinki and abuse me for being chinki, it is a racist gesture and practice that carries a historical baggage of hostility, subjugation and oppression; you are naming and shaming me from a position of power while I have no power to respond to you as your equal. The naming, shaming and abuse is not your human foible. It is a social ideology you have inherited from a social order that has never been challenged for its race thinking. The entrenchment of such racial ideology in our society, though not recognised by our government or academic circles, is experienced on a daily basis by the north-east in mainland India. When Richard Loitam died with a bloody head and Dana Sangma committed suicide after she was accused of cheating in her exam and allegedly humiliated by the invigilator, it was the accumulation of such experiences and the availability of strong informal communication channels that catalysed protests for justice and against racism. In the past, collective experience had been shared as incoherent narratives. For the first time, a sustained articulation sprung forth after the violent deaths of two young students. The mainstream media participated and projected the articulation of racism in India. In the present context, the articulation is limited to personal stories of racism, limited examples of institutional racism and a modest call to include chapters on the north-east in the National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT) books. This articulation needs to be strengthened, deepened and sustained by scholarly attention. If we are serious about tackling the existent racial ideology in our society, our scholars need to go beyond sympathising with the victims and overcome their resistance to mapping racism. We need to diligently create the tools necessary to understand Indian racial ideology. We need to develop ideas and research to create specific political and social idioms to critique our society’s race thinking so that the media can do a more sophisticated job with debates on racism and project critical thinking about race in the country to its audience. Thorough sociological studies on racism are needed to effect a change in government’s policymaking vis-à-vis the social interactions of mainland India with the north-east. If the muteness of academic circles on the racism debate is an indication that it is not a field worth studying, it would be necessary for scholars to explore and create a relevant framework to understand the expressed dissatisfaction of the north-east people in their social interactions with mainland India, and the otherisation they routinely face in private, public, educational or professional spaces.
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##Question:Racial ideology in Indian society, though not recognised by the Government or academic circles, is experienced on a daily basis by people from the north-east in mainland India. Discuss.##Answer:Mainland India has, for years, exhibited one core characteristic of race thinking in its social interactions with the north-east. The mental and moral behaviour of the north-east have been related to their physical structure. This biological distance-marker (which is now irrelevant in contemporary studies of racism) transformed itself into a social fact by the formation of strongly-held stereotypes of the north-east, especially its women, andthe usage of racial slurs against them. The racial slur chinki is persistently used by mainland India to categorise the north-east (and any person with an east Asian physical structure). The majority of users defend the usage as handy in identifying who is what in this country. This usage is an ideological process to de? ne an unclassi? ed populace who have become the nation’s citizens but do not share, in the popular imagination of the country, its biology, historicity and cultural values. Whatever the nature of its alleged utility, it is grossly wrong to believe chinki exists as a neutral term. It has resisted neutering because it is often and deliberately used as a hostile verbal act, in public, private, educational and professional spaces, to “otherise”, offend, humiliate and taunt. Other than the north-east, the victims of such a corrosive act of naming and shaming include persons with an east Asian physical structure, residing in or visiting this country. However, if a person is from the north-east but does not have the east Asian physical structure that functions as the immediate distance-marker, it is highly unlikely that she would be subjected to racial naming and shaming. Like in any other society where the study of racism is backward, racism in India is misapplied to cultural rejection and looked upon as an individual pathology which must be expected in some proportions in all societies. The country also has a general scepticism of the term racism because of its western historicity. This assertion that “everyone, including the victims of racism, is capable of racism” underpins how racial discourse in any nation state is a complicated, provocative process. A postmodern analysis of racism in India, hinted by Tellis in this quote, stresses the complexities and paradoxes we must always remain alert to in our arguments and explorations of race thinking in India. However, we must also be acutely aware of the danger of demonising the victims and reducing the discourse to an idiotic binary crisis of victim/aggressor. Many of my friends (north-east as well as mainland) dismiss the debate on racism using this binary crisis as their shtick. When a person from the north-east (or a person with an east Asian physical structure) is named, shamed and abused as a chinki in India, protests against such racist practice get counter-attacked in public as well as private discourses by the majority cultural communities of India. They posit that the labelling of various communities is a communal pathology that a diverse society like India has to live with. A familiar line of argument one hears is this: Chinki is an endearing nickname in north India. South Indians are called madrasi by north Indians. What’s the big deal with calling you chinki? First, chinki as an endearing nickname might just be an Indian anomaly. Second, madrasi is a term for cultural rejection used by one dominant cultural player against an equal opponent; it is cultural politics, not racial ideology, and both are equally poisonous. Third, when you call me chinki and abuse me for being chinki, it is a racist gesture and practice that carries a historical baggage of hostility, subjugation and oppression; you are naming and shaming me from a position of power while I have no power to respond to you as your equal. The naming, shaming and abuse is not your human foible. It is a social ideology you have inherited from a social order that has never been challenged for its race thinking. The entrenchment of such racial ideology in our society, though not recognised by our government or academic circles, is experienced on a daily basis by the north-east in mainland India. When Richard Loitam died with a bloody head and Dana Sangma committed suicide after she was accused of cheating in her exam and allegedly humiliated by the invigilator, it was the accumulation of such experiences and the availability of strong informal communication channels that catalysed protests for justice and against racism. In the past, collective experience had been shared as incoherent narratives. For the first time, a sustained articulation sprung forth after the violent deaths of two young students. The mainstream media participated and projected the articulation of racism in India. In the present context, the articulation is limited to personal stories of racism, limited examples of institutional racism and a modest call to include chapters on the north-east in the National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT) books. This articulation needs to be strengthened, deepened and sustained by scholarly attention. If we are serious about tackling the existent racial ideology in our society, our scholars need to go beyond sympathising with the victims and overcome their resistance to mapping racism. We need to diligently create the tools necessary to understand Indian racial ideology. We need to develop ideas and research to create specific political and social idioms to critique our society’s race thinking so that the media can do a more sophisticated job with debates on racism and project critical thinking about race in the country to its audience. Thorough sociological studies on racism are needed to effect a change in government’s policymaking vis-à-vis the social interactions of mainland India with the north-east. If the muteness of academic circles on the racism debate is an indication that it is not a field worth studying, it would be necessary for scholars to explore and create a relevant framework to understand the expressed dissatisfaction of the north-east people in their social interactions with mainland India, and the otherisation they routinely face in private, public, educational or professional spaces.
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For Indians, IAP (Indoor Air Pollution) — emanating from chulhas burning wood, coal and animal dung as fuel — has been found to be a big health hazard.Estimate the extent of IAP in India. Also discuss the National Biomass Cookstoves Initiative (NBCI) and how is it different from the earlier National Programme on Improved Chulhas (NPIC).
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The first-ever estimate of the contribution of different risk factors to the global burden of disease between 1990 and 2010 has found that household air pollution from solid fuels have risen from being the second highest risk factor for Indians. The study found that globally, high BP jumped four spots to become the worst risk factor for disease, followed by smoking including second-hand smoke, alcohol, low fruit consump tion and high body fat. For Indians, however, high BP is the third worst threat. The WHO (World Health Organization) had said that IAP was claiming 5,00,000 lives in India every year, most of whom were women and children. India accounted for 80% of the 6,00,000 premature deaths that occur in southeast Asia annually due to exposure to IAP. Nearly 70% of rural households in India don’t even have ventilation. More than 3 billion people rely on burning solid fuels to prepare their meals. Burning solid fuels emits carbon mon oxide, particulates, benzene and formaldehyde which can result in pneumonia, asthma, blindness, lung cancer, TB and low birth weight. WHO estimates that pollution levels in rural Indian kitchens are 30 times higher than recommended levels and six times higher than air pollution levels found in the national Capital. South Asia, where India makes up the largest share of the population, really shows the global risk factor transition. The leading risks are both those associated with poverty, such as under-nutrition and not having clean fuels, and those that largely affect chronic diseases like high BP and smoking. In 2010, the two most important risk factors globally were high BP, responsible for 9.4 million deaths and tobacco smoking, accounting for 6.3 million deaths. Alcohol use was the third most important risk factor that claimed 5 million lives. Collectively, dietary factors and physical inactivity were responsible for 12.5 million deaths. National Biomass Cookstoves Initiatives (NBCI) A National Biomass Cookstoves Initiative (NBCI) was launched by MNRE on 2 nd December 2009 at New Delhi with the primary aim to enhance the use of biomass cookstoves. The initiative stressed the setting up of state-of-the-art testing, certification and monitoring facilities and strengthening R&D programmes. The aim was to design and develop the most efficient, cost effective, durable and easy to use device. The NBCI of MNRE is structured differently from the earlier National Programme on Improved Chulhas (NPIC), although building on the several successes of that programme as also drawing lessons from the experience gained from its implementation. Under this initiative, a series of pilot scale projects are envisaged using several existing commercially – available and better cookstoves and different grades of process biomass fuel. Biomass cookstove is basically a combustion device which burns biomass fuel more efficiently with reduced emissions and offers cleaner cooking energy solutions. Biomass Cookstoves are of two types; fixed type and portable type. The portable cookstoves are also of two types; natural draft and forced draft. Advanced cookstoves utilizing fans are more efficient cookstoves compared to natural draft ones. Each type of cookstove can be used for domestic as well as community cooking applications. The improved cook-stoves may be made with metal, ceramic and terracotta/ pottery (durable type) and combination thereof. With this, the stoves will be categorized as metallic (MS, SS, cast iron and combination thereof), metal clad ceramic/ pottery and ceramic types.
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##Question:For Indians, IAP (Indoor Air Pollution) — emanating from chulhas burning wood, coal and animal dung as fuel — has been found to be a big health hazard.Estimate the extent of IAP in India. Also discuss the National Biomass Cookstoves Initiative (NBCI) and how is it different from the earlier National Programme on Improved Chulhas (NPIC).##Answer:The first-ever estimate of the contribution of different risk factors to the global burden of disease between 1990 and 2010 has found that household air pollution from solid fuels have risen from being the second highest risk factor for Indians. The study found that globally, high BP jumped four spots to become the worst risk factor for disease, followed by smoking including second-hand smoke, alcohol, low fruit consump tion and high body fat. For Indians, however, high BP is the third worst threat. The WHO (World Health Organization) had said that IAP was claiming 5,00,000 lives in India every year, most of whom were women and children. India accounted for 80% of the 6,00,000 premature deaths that occur in southeast Asia annually due to exposure to IAP. Nearly 70% of rural households in India don’t even have ventilation. More than 3 billion people rely on burning solid fuels to prepare their meals. Burning solid fuels emits carbon mon oxide, particulates, benzene and formaldehyde which can result in pneumonia, asthma, blindness, lung cancer, TB and low birth weight. WHO estimates that pollution levels in rural Indian kitchens are 30 times higher than recommended levels and six times higher than air pollution levels found in the national Capital. South Asia, where India makes up the largest share of the population, really shows the global risk factor transition. The leading risks are both those associated with poverty, such as under-nutrition and not having clean fuels, and those that largely affect chronic diseases like high BP and smoking. In 2010, the two most important risk factors globally were high BP, responsible for 9.4 million deaths and tobacco smoking, accounting for 6.3 million deaths. Alcohol use was the third most important risk factor that claimed 5 million lives. Collectively, dietary factors and physical inactivity were responsible for 12.5 million deaths. National Biomass Cookstoves Initiatives (NBCI) A National Biomass Cookstoves Initiative (NBCI) was launched by MNRE on 2 nd December 2009 at New Delhi with the primary aim to enhance the use of biomass cookstoves. The initiative stressed the setting up of state-of-the-art testing, certification and monitoring facilities and strengthening R&D programmes. The aim was to design and develop the most efficient, cost effective, durable and easy to use device. The NBCI of MNRE is structured differently from the earlier National Programme on Improved Chulhas (NPIC), although building on the several successes of that programme as also drawing lessons from the experience gained from its implementation. Under this initiative, a series of pilot scale projects are envisaged using several existing commercially – available and better cookstoves and different grades of process biomass fuel. Biomass cookstove is basically a combustion device which burns biomass fuel more efficiently with reduced emissions and offers cleaner cooking energy solutions. Biomass Cookstoves are of two types; fixed type and portable type. The portable cookstoves are also of two types; natural draft and forced draft. Advanced cookstoves utilizing fans are more efficient cookstoves compared to natural draft ones. Each type of cookstove can be used for domestic as well as community cooking applications. The improved cook-stoves may be made with metal, ceramic and terracotta/ pottery (durable type) and combination thereof. With this, the stoves will be categorized as metallic (MS, SS, cast iron and combination thereof), metal clad ceramic/ pottery and ceramic types.
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Ehat are the salient feaures National Pharmaceutical Pricing Policy, 2012 (NPPP-2012) approved by the Cabinet recently.
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According to the National Pharmaceutical Pricing Policy, 2012 (NPPP-2012), a new Drugs Price Control Order (DPCO) would be notified as soon as possible after the notification of the new policy. It will, however, be replaced but over a period oftime. In due course, however, the Drugs Price Control Order, which is presently mandated under the Essential Commodities Act, would be replaced by specific legislation covering the issue of price control and monitoring of drugs, which would be fine tuned to the requirements of the drugs regulatory regime. The new policy would bring 348 essential drugs under price control, has been tabled in both houses of the Parliament last week. According to it, the National Pharmaceuticals Pricing Authority (NPPA) will be the implementation authority for the new policy and the new DPCO.The NPPA would be provided required organisational and financial support so as to enable it to implement the new policy in an effective, speedy and transparent manner. As per the new drugs policy, all strengths and dosages specified in the National List of Essential Medicines (NLEM) 2011 will be under price control. Also, the ceiling prices (CP) of the drugs will be fixed on the basis of market-based data. According to the policy, ceiling price of the NLEM medicines will be fixed by adopting the simple average price of all the brands having market share more than and equal to 1 per cent of the total turnover of that medicine. Price control over drugs was first introduced in the country in the aftermath of the Chinese aggression by Drugs (Display of Prices) Order 1962 and the Drugs (Control of Prices) Order 1963. The existing drug policy of 1994, which covers 74 bulk drugs, was implemented through Drugs Price Control Order (DPCO) 1995.
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##Question:Ehat are the salient feaures National Pharmaceutical Pricing Policy, 2012 (NPPP-2012) approved by the Cabinet recently.##Answer:According to the National Pharmaceutical Pricing Policy, 2012 (NPPP-2012), a new Drugs Price Control Order (DPCO) would be notified as soon as possible after the notification of the new policy. It will, however, be replaced but over a period oftime. In due course, however, the Drugs Price Control Order, which is presently mandated under the Essential Commodities Act, would be replaced by specific legislation covering the issue of price control and monitoring of drugs, which would be fine tuned to the requirements of the drugs regulatory regime. The new policy would bring 348 essential drugs under price control, has been tabled in both houses of the Parliament last week. According to it, the National Pharmaceuticals Pricing Authority (NPPA) will be the implementation authority for the new policy and the new DPCO.The NPPA would be provided required organisational and financial support so as to enable it to implement the new policy in an effective, speedy and transparent manner. As per the new drugs policy, all strengths and dosages specified in the National List of Essential Medicines (NLEM) 2011 will be under price control. Also, the ceiling prices (CP) of the drugs will be fixed on the basis of market-based data. According to the policy, ceiling price of the NLEM medicines will be fixed by adopting the simple average price of all the brands having market share more than and equal to 1 per cent of the total turnover of that medicine. Price control over drugs was first introduced in the country in the aftermath of the Chinese aggression by Drugs (Display of Prices) Order 1962 and the Drugs (Control of Prices) Order 1963. The existing drug policy of 1994, which covers 74 bulk drugs, was implemented through Drugs Price Control Order (DPCO) 1995.
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The overall decline in HIV cases in India is a cause for increased optimism. However, complacency now could become our greatest enemy. Comment
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Ten years ago, the idea of elimination of HIV would have sounded like a pipe dream. However, this is now considered a realistic goal due to substantial progress made through years of commitment, investment and collective action. New HIV infections now show a declining trend globally. All 11 countries in the World Health Organisation’s (WHO) South-East Asia Region showed a decline by 34 per cent in the past decade. The overall decline in the region is cause for increased optimism. However, complacency now could become our greatest enemy. Those most “at risk” of HIV are disproportionately affected by the disease and are also among the least empowered. They include youth, those who inject drugs, female sex workers, men who have sex with men (MSM), transgender people and migrants. Zero new HIV infections and zero AIDS-related deaths by 2015 can be achieved through greater efforts directed towards “at risk” populations to encourage increased testing. HIV prevention services for these people need to be expanded to battle the concentrated epidemic found in this region. In India, the estimated number of new HIV infections has declined by 56 per cent over the past decade and the total number of people living with HIV is estimated at 24 lakh (the range is 19.3-30.4 lakh). This is good news but it remains essential to continue with public awareness programmes on HIV/AIDS and that messages are regularly conveyed to remind people on the importance to get HIV tested and to be aware of their HIV status. An extremely important role of HIV testing and counselling is that it is also the entry point to HIV care and treatment services. Furthermore it offers access to HIV prevention information which can persuade people who are at-risk to change their behaviour and reduce the risk. In India, TB is also widespread. Thus greater efforts are required to educate newly detected people living with HIV, and those already detected with HIV, to get a TB test. Today a person infected with HIV can remain healthy and live long with antiretroviral therapy. The person can also take measures to prevent spreading the virus to others. However most at-risk populations are reluctant to approach HIV testing and counselling services, so large numbers are not aware of their HIV status, and many continue to become HIV infected. In this region, most “at-risk” populations remain highly marginalised and vulnerable to HIV. The HIV epidemic among them is either long established and largely unresolved or newly emerging and rising at an alarming rate. Overall, South-East Asia still has a significant problem of injecting drug use, with an estimated 4,50,000-5,00,000 drug injectors. Many drug injectors become HIV infected due to sharing of contaminated needles. Due to the stigma, only a minority of HIV-infected drug injectors receive treatment. Despite gradual decline in the general population, HIV prevalence among them remains high, ranging from nine per cent in India to 36 per cent in Indonesia. More than 50 per cent of drug injectors are co-infected with HIV and Hepatitis C in many countries in South-East Asia. Harm reduction programmes need to be expanded to halt the spread of HIV among drug injectors. Men who have sex with men (MSM) and transgender people continue to have an alarmingly high and rising HIV prevalence rate in the region. One in three MSM are reported HIV infected in Bangkok, while nine States in India have more than five per cent HIV prevalence among MSM. Unless HIV prevention measures are improved, it is likely that a substantial growth of new HIV infections in the region could be among MSM. However, many MSM face stigma and discrimination which prevents health-seeking behaviour. Criminalisation of same sex behaviour promotes risky behaviour, prevents MSM from accessing prevention measures and exacerbates social inequalities making them vulnerable to HIV infection. Addressing the health needs of at-risk populations can be challenging when laws and practices criminalise populations at highest risk for HIV, and deter them from HIV prevention and care services. We know what needs to be done for halting and reversing the HIV epidemic among the vulnerable and those at highest risk. There is an urgent need for scaling up services. We need to expand HIV testing and counselling; involve affected and infected communities for spreading awareness about knowing one’s HIV status and enrolment into care for those who test positive. Ongoing support and care is critical as more and more HIV-positive people on treatment live longer. Prevention benefits of early treatment are well established and all the more pertinent for at-risk populations and their partners. The health sector needs to provide more inclusive services for these communities, to promote and support legal and social frameworks that are rights based and consistent with public health and HIV prevention goals. WHO continues to advance and update evidence on newer technologies and treatment initiatives in collaboration with country programmes and other stakeholders to ensure that we move together and faster towards the end of AIDS.
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##Question:The overall decline in HIV cases in India is a cause for increased optimism. However, complacency now could become our greatest enemy. Comment##Answer:Ten years ago, the idea of elimination of HIV would have sounded like a pipe dream. However, this is now considered a realistic goal due to substantial progress made through years of commitment, investment and collective action. New HIV infections now show a declining trend globally. All 11 countries in the World Health Organisation’s (WHO) South-East Asia Region showed a decline by 34 per cent in the past decade. The overall decline in the region is cause for increased optimism. However, complacency now could become our greatest enemy. Those most “at risk” of HIV are disproportionately affected by the disease and are also among the least empowered. They include youth, those who inject drugs, female sex workers, men who have sex with men (MSM), transgender people and migrants. Zero new HIV infections and zero AIDS-related deaths by 2015 can be achieved through greater efforts directed towards “at risk” populations to encourage increased testing. HIV prevention services for these people need to be expanded to battle the concentrated epidemic found in this region. In India, the estimated number of new HIV infections has declined by 56 per cent over the past decade and the total number of people living with HIV is estimated at 24 lakh (the range is 19.3-30.4 lakh). This is good news but it remains essential to continue with public awareness programmes on HIV/AIDS and that messages are regularly conveyed to remind people on the importance to get HIV tested and to be aware of their HIV status. An extremely important role of HIV testing and counselling is that it is also the entry point to HIV care and treatment services. Furthermore it offers access to HIV prevention information which can persuade people who are at-risk to change their behaviour and reduce the risk. In India, TB is also widespread. Thus greater efforts are required to educate newly detected people living with HIV, and those already detected with HIV, to get a TB test. Today a person infected with HIV can remain healthy and live long with antiretroviral therapy. The person can also take measures to prevent spreading the virus to others. However most at-risk populations are reluctant to approach HIV testing and counselling services, so large numbers are not aware of their HIV status, and many continue to become HIV infected. In this region, most “at-risk” populations remain highly marginalised and vulnerable to HIV. The HIV epidemic among them is either long established and largely unresolved or newly emerging and rising at an alarming rate. Overall, South-East Asia still has a significant problem of injecting drug use, with an estimated 4,50,000-5,00,000 drug injectors. Many drug injectors become HIV infected due to sharing of contaminated needles. Due to the stigma, only a minority of HIV-infected drug injectors receive treatment. Despite gradual decline in the general population, HIV prevalence among them remains high, ranging from nine per cent in India to 36 per cent in Indonesia. More than 50 per cent of drug injectors are co-infected with HIV and Hepatitis C in many countries in South-East Asia. Harm reduction programmes need to be expanded to halt the spread of HIV among drug injectors. Men who have sex with men (MSM) and transgender people continue to have an alarmingly high and rising HIV prevalence rate in the region. One in three MSM are reported HIV infected in Bangkok, while nine States in India have more than five per cent HIV prevalence among MSM. Unless HIV prevention measures are improved, it is likely that a substantial growth of new HIV infections in the region could be among MSM. However, many MSM face stigma and discrimination which prevents health-seeking behaviour. Criminalisation of same sex behaviour promotes risky behaviour, prevents MSM from accessing prevention measures and exacerbates social inequalities making them vulnerable to HIV infection. Addressing the health needs of at-risk populations can be challenging when laws and practices criminalise populations at highest risk for HIV, and deter them from HIV prevention and care services. We know what needs to be done for halting and reversing the HIV epidemic among the vulnerable and those at highest risk. There is an urgent need for scaling up services. We need to expand HIV testing and counselling; involve affected and infected communities for spreading awareness about knowing one’s HIV status and enrolment into care for those who test positive. Ongoing support and care is critical as more and more HIV-positive people on treatment live longer. Prevention benefits of early treatment are well established and all the more pertinent for at-risk populations and their partners. The health sector needs to provide more inclusive services for these communities, to promote and support legal and social frameworks that are rights based and consistent with public health and HIV prevention goals. WHO continues to advance and update evidence on newer technologies and treatment initiatives in collaboration with country programmes and other stakeholders to ensure that we move together and faster towards the end of AIDS.
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Give a brief update of the aims and achievement of the Integrated Skill Development Scheme.
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The ISDS was launched as a pilot scheme in 2010 for two years to cater to skilled manpower needs of Textile and related segments through skill development training programmes. The scheme envisages participation of training institutes within the Ministry and private sector as implementing agencies. The scheme has two Components– Component-I for training Institutes within the Ministry and Component II for private sector. The Government meets 75% of the total cost of the project with balance 25% to be met by the implementing agencies with a provision of enhanced level of government assistance in certain circumstances. The average cost per trainee to be borne by the Government is limited to Rs. 7300 for Component-I and Rs. 7500 for Component-II. Under the scheme, funds are not released sector wise or state wise but are released directly to implementing agencies. Of these the funds to the tune of Rs. 63.43crorehave been released for Apparel sector,Rs. 7.57crorefor Jute sector and Rs. 73.00lakhfor Handicrafts sector. Under ISDS, the physical targets are computed implementing agency wise to cover beneficiaries Pan India.Statewisetargets are not fixed. These implementing agencies establish training centres across different states. The industry has considered the scheme to be useful.During the pilot phase, 30 projects with an outlay of Rs. 594.84croretargeting 5.87lakhtrainees were sanctioned. As on October, 2012, 74094 persons have been trained under the scheme. The scheme has covered 24 states in all the sub-sectors of Textiles and clothing. A dynamic web based management information system (MIS) has been developed to capture the progress and information on the projects being executed under Component-I of the scheme.
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##Question:Give a brief update of the aims and achievement of the Integrated Skill Development Scheme.##Answer:The ISDS was launched as a pilot scheme in 2010 for two years to cater to skilled manpower needs of Textile and related segments through skill development training programmes. The scheme envisages participation of training institutes within the Ministry and private sector as implementing agencies. The scheme has two Components– Component-I for training Institutes within the Ministry and Component II for private sector. The Government meets 75% of the total cost of the project with balance 25% to be met by the implementing agencies with a provision of enhanced level of government assistance in certain circumstances. The average cost per trainee to be borne by the Government is limited to Rs. 7300 for Component-I and Rs. 7500 for Component-II. Under the scheme, funds are not released sector wise or state wise but are released directly to implementing agencies. Of these the funds to the tune of Rs. 63.43crorehave been released for Apparel sector,Rs. 7.57crorefor Jute sector and Rs. 73.00lakhfor Handicrafts sector. Under ISDS, the physical targets are computed implementing agency wise to cover beneficiaries Pan India.Statewisetargets are not fixed. These implementing agencies establish training centres across different states. The industry has considered the scheme to be useful.During the pilot phase, 30 projects with an outlay of Rs. 594.84croretargeting 5.87lakhtrainees were sanctioned. As on October, 2012, 74094 persons have been trained under the scheme. The scheme has covered 24 states in all the sub-sectors of Textiles and clothing. A dynamic web based management information system (MIS) has been developed to capture the progress and information on the projects being executed under Component-I of the scheme.
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Comment on the Ground water Quality Scenario in India.Highlight the major problems and also make a note of the various contaminants in Ground water.
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Monitoring of ground water quality is an effort to obtain information on chemical quality through representative sampling in different hydrogeological units. The chemical quality is being monitored by Central Ground Water Board once in a year through a network of about 15000 observation wells located all over the country, in regular monitoring programme. Apart from these observation wells the quality is also monitored through various studies like ground water management studies, ground water exploration etc. The ground water monitoring activity is aimed at generating background data of different chemicals constituents in Ground water on a regional scale. Indian Sub- Continent is endowed withdiverse geological formations from oldest Achaeans to Recent alluviums and characterized by varying climatic conditions in different parts of the country. The natural chemical content of ground water is influenced by depth of the soils and sub-surface geological formations through which ground water remains in contact.In general, greater part of the country,ground water is of good quality and suitable for drinking, agricultural or industrial purposes. Ground water in shallow aquifers is generally suitable for use for different purposes and is mainly of Calcium Bicarbonate and Mixed type. However, other types of water are also available including Sodium-Chloride water. The quality in deeper aquifers also varies from place to place and is generally found suitable for common uses. There is salinity problem inthe coastal tractsand high incidence of fluoride, Arsenic, Iron &heavy metals etc in isolated pockets have also been reported. The main ground water quality problems inIndiaare as follows. Salinity:- Salinity in ground water can be of broadly categorised into two types, i.e Inland Salinity and Coastal salinity -Inland Salinity Inland salinity in ground water is prevalent mainly in the arid and semi arid regions ofRajasthan, Haryana,PunjabandGujarat, Uttar Pradesh,Delhi, Andhra Pradesh Maharashtra, Karnataka and Tamil Nadu. There are several places in Rajasthan and southern Haryana where EC values of ground water is greater than 10000mS /cm at 25 o Cmaking water non-potable. In some areas of Rajasthan andGujarat, ground water salinity is so high that the well water is directly used for salt manufacturing by solar evaporation. Inland salinity is also caused due to practice of surface water irrigation without consideration of ground water status. The gradual rise of ground water levels withtime has resulted in water logging and heavy evaporation in semi arid regions lead tosalinity problem in command areas. -Coastal Salinity The Indian subcontinent has a dynamic coast line of about 7500 km length. It stretches from Rann of Kutch in Gujarat to Konkan and Malabar coast to Kanyakumari in the south to northwards along the Coromandal coast to Sunderbans in West Bengal .The western coast is charactrised by wide continental shelf and is marked by backwaters and mud flats while the eastern coast has a narrow continental shelf and is characterized by deltaic and estuarine land forms. Ground water in coastal areas occurs under unconfined to confined conditions in a wide range of unconsolidated and consolidated formations. Normally, saline water bodies owe their origin to entrapped sea water (connate water), sea water ingress, leachates from navigation canals constructed along the coast, leachates from salt pans etc. In general, the following situations are encountered in coastal areas i.Saline water overlying fresh water aquifer ii.Fresh water overlying saline water iii. Alternating sequence of fresh water and saline water aquifers InIndia, salinity problems have been observed in a number of places in most of the coastalstatesof the country. Problem of salinity ingress has been conspicuously noticed in Minjur area of Tamil Nadu and Mangrol – Chorwad- Porbander belt along the Saurashtra coast. Fluoride 85 % of rural population of the country uses ground water for drinking and domestic purposes.High concentration of fluoride in ground water beyond the permissible limit of 1.5mg/l poses the health problem. NearlyThe occurrences of fluoride beyond permissible limit (> 1.5 mg /litre) has been observedbased on the chemical analysis of water samples collected from the groundwater observation wells . The name of the districts having spot values of >1.5 mg/l are give in following table. Arsenic The occurrence of Arsenic in ground water was first reported in 1980 inWest BengalinIndia. InWest Bengal, 79 blocks in 8 districts have Arsenic beyond the permissible limit of 0.05 mg/L.The most affected districts are on the eastern side of Bhagirathi river in the districts of Malda, Murshidabad, Nadia, North 24 Parganas and South 24 Parganas and western side of the districts ofHowrah, Hugli and Bardhman. The occurrence of Arsenic in ground water is mainly in the intermediate aquifers upto the depth of 100m. The deeper aquifers are free from Arsenic contamination. Apart fromWest Bengal, Arsenic contamination in ground water has been found in the states ofBihar,Chhatisgarh and Uttar Pradesh &Assam.Arsenic in ground water has been reported in 15 districtsIn Bihar, 9districts in U.P and one district each in Chhatisgarh & Assam states. The occurrence of Arsenic in the states ofBihar,West Bengaland Uttar Pradesh is in Alluvium formation but in the state of Chhatisgarh, it is in the volcanic rocks exclusively confined to N-S trending Dongargarh-Kotri ancient rift zone. It has also been reported in Dhemaji district of Assam. In West Bengal & Bihar states, Arsenic contaminationaffected blocks are based on the findings of Task Force/ State Government.In case ofUttar Pradesh,Assam& Chhattisgarh States Arsenic contamination is identified as point source based on findings of Central Ground Water Board and State Ground Water Departments. Iron High concentration of Iron (>1.0 mg/l) in ground water has been observed in more than 1.1 lakh habitations in the country. Ground water contaminated by iron has been reported fromthe states ofAndhra Pradesh,Assam,Bihar, Chhattisgarh,Goa,Gujarat, Haryana, J& K, Jharkhand Karnataka Kerala. Madhya Pradesh Maharashtra, Manipur, Meghalaya Orissa, Punjab, Rajasthan, Tamil Nadu, Tripura, Uttar Pradesh, West Bengal &UT of Andaman & Nicobar. Nitrate Nitrate is a very common constituent in the ground water, especially in shallow aquifers. The source is mainly from anthropogenicactivities. High concentration of Nitrate in water beyond the permissible limit of 45mg/l causes health problems.High Nitrate concentration in ground water inIndiahas been found in almost all hydrogeological formations.
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##Question:Comment on the Ground water Quality Scenario in India.Highlight the major problems and also make a note of the various contaminants in Ground water.##Answer: Monitoring of ground water quality is an effort to obtain information on chemical quality through representative sampling in different hydrogeological units. The chemical quality is being monitored by Central Ground Water Board once in a year through a network of about 15000 observation wells located all over the country, in regular monitoring programme. Apart from these observation wells the quality is also monitored through various studies like ground water management studies, ground water exploration etc. The ground water monitoring activity is aimed at generating background data of different chemicals constituents in Ground water on a regional scale. Indian Sub- Continent is endowed withdiverse geological formations from oldest Achaeans to Recent alluviums and characterized by varying climatic conditions in different parts of the country. The natural chemical content of ground water is influenced by depth of the soils and sub-surface geological formations through which ground water remains in contact.In general, greater part of the country,ground water is of good quality and suitable for drinking, agricultural or industrial purposes. Ground water in shallow aquifers is generally suitable for use for different purposes and is mainly of Calcium Bicarbonate and Mixed type. However, other types of water are also available including Sodium-Chloride water. The quality in deeper aquifers also varies from place to place and is generally found suitable for common uses. There is salinity problem inthe coastal tractsand high incidence of fluoride, Arsenic, Iron &heavy metals etc in isolated pockets have also been reported. The main ground water quality problems inIndiaare as follows. Salinity:- Salinity in ground water can be of broadly categorised into two types, i.e Inland Salinity and Coastal salinity -Inland Salinity Inland salinity in ground water is prevalent mainly in the arid and semi arid regions ofRajasthan, Haryana,PunjabandGujarat, Uttar Pradesh,Delhi, Andhra Pradesh Maharashtra, Karnataka and Tamil Nadu. There are several places in Rajasthan and southern Haryana where EC values of ground water is greater than 10000mS /cm at 25 o Cmaking water non-potable. In some areas of Rajasthan andGujarat, ground water salinity is so high that the well water is directly used for salt manufacturing by solar evaporation. Inland salinity is also caused due to practice of surface water irrigation without consideration of ground water status. The gradual rise of ground water levels withtime has resulted in water logging and heavy evaporation in semi arid regions lead tosalinity problem in command areas. -Coastal Salinity The Indian subcontinent has a dynamic coast line of about 7500 km length. It stretches from Rann of Kutch in Gujarat to Konkan and Malabar coast to Kanyakumari in the south to northwards along the Coromandal coast to Sunderbans in West Bengal .The western coast is charactrised by wide continental shelf and is marked by backwaters and mud flats while the eastern coast has a narrow continental shelf and is characterized by deltaic and estuarine land forms. Ground water in coastal areas occurs under unconfined to confined conditions in a wide range of unconsolidated and consolidated formations. Normally, saline water bodies owe their origin to entrapped sea water (connate water), sea water ingress, leachates from navigation canals constructed along the coast, leachates from salt pans etc. In general, the following situations are encountered in coastal areas i.Saline water overlying fresh water aquifer ii.Fresh water overlying saline water iii. Alternating sequence of fresh water and saline water aquifers InIndia, salinity problems have been observed in a number of places in most of the coastalstatesof the country. Problem of salinity ingress has been conspicuously noticed in Minjur area of Tamil Nadu and Mangrol – Chorwad- Porbander belt along the Saurashtra coast. Fluoride 85 % of rural population of the country uses ground water for drinking and domestic purposes.High concentration of fluoride in ground water beyond the permissible limit of 1.5mg/l poses the health problem. NearlyThe occurrences of fluoride beyond permissible limit (> 1.5 mg /litre) has been observedbased on the chemical analysis of water samples collected from the groundwater observation wells . The name of the districts having spot values of >1.5 mg/l are give in following table. Arsenic The occurrence of Arsenic in ground water was first reported in 1980 inWest BengalinIndia. InWest Bengal, 79 blocks in 8 districts have Arsenic beyond the permissible limit of 0.05 mg/L.The most affected districts are on the eastern side of Bhagirathi river in the districts of Malda, Murshidabad, Nadia, North 24 Parganas and South 24 Parganas and western side of the districts ofHowrah, Hugli and Bardhman. The occurrence of Arsenic in ground water is mainly in the intermediate aquifers upto the depth of 100m. The deeper aquifers are free from Arsenic contamination. Apart fromWest Bengal, Arsenic contamination in ground water has been found in the states ofBihar,Chhatisgarh and Uttar Pradesh &Assam.Arsenic in ground water has been reported in 15 districtsIn Bihar, 9districts in U.P and one district each in Chhatisgarh & Assam states. The occurrence of Arsenic in the states ofBihar,West Bengaland Uttar Pradesh is in Alluvium formation but in the state of Chhatisgarh, it is in the volcanic rocks exclusively confined to N-S trending Dongargarh-Kotri ancient rift zone. It has also been reported in Dhemaji district of Assam. In West Bengal & Bihar states, Arsenic contaminationaffected blocks are based on the findings of Task Force/ State Government.In case ofUttar Pradesh,Assam& Chhattisgarh States Arsenic contamination is identified as point source based on findings of Central Ground Water Board and State Ground Water Departments. Iron High concentration of Iron (>1.0 mg/l) in ground water has been observed in more than 1.1 lakh habitations in the country. Ground water contaminated by iron has been reported fromthe states ofAndhra Pradesh,Assam,Bihar, Chhattisgarh,Goa,Gujarat, Haryana, J& K, Jharkhand Karnataka Kerala. Madhya Pradesh Maharashtra, Manipur, Meghalaya Orissa, Punjab, Rajasthan, Tamil Nadu, Tripura, Uttar Pradesh, West Bengal &UT of Andaman & Nicobar. Nitrate Nitrate is a very common constituent in the ground water, especially in shallow aquifers. The source is mainly from anthropogenicactivities. High concentration of Nitrate in water beyond the permissible limit of 45mg/l causes health problems.High Nitrate concentration in ground water inIndiahas been found in almost all hydrogeological formations.
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The wastage of Agri-commodities due to non-availability of Storage Godowns is a huge problem both for the farmers as well as the Government.Give a brief description of the incentives provided through various schemes for setting up of cold and dry warehouses in the country.
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Department of Agriculture and Cooperation is provides incentives through following schemes for setting up of cold and dry warehouses in the country: 1. National Horticulture Mission (NHM) Under NHM scheme financial assistance is provided for taking up various activities related to horticulture such as development including setting up of cold storages for which credit linked back ended subsidy @ 40% (for general areas) and 55% (for hilly and tribal areas) of capital cost of the project up to 5000 MT capacity with maximum of Rs.6000/MT to all states except North Eastern and Himalayan States. 2. Horticulture Mission for North Eastern & Himalayan States (HMNEH) Under HMNEH scheme financial assistance is provided for taking up various activities including setting up of cold storages for which credit linked back ended subsidy 55% of capital cost of the project up to 5000 MT capacity with maximum of Rs.6000/MT to North Eastern and Himalayan States. 3. National Horticulture Board (NHB) National Horticulture Board (NHB) provides back-ended capital investment subsidy to the eligible organizations for creation /modernization/expansion of cold storage/Controlled Atmosphere Storage @ 40% of the project cost in general areas and 55% in case of hilly and scheduled areas up to 5000 MT capacity with maximum of Rs.6000/MT. The scheme is demand driven and is being implemented across the country. 4. Rural Godown Scheme Under Rural Godown Scheme, subsidy is available for construction of Rural Godowns @ 25% for all categories of farmers, Agriculture graduates, cooperatives. All other categories of individuals companies and corporations are being given subsidy @ 15% of the project cost. The subsidy is 33.33% in case of North Eastern (NE) States/hilly areas, SC/ST entrepreneurs & their cooperatives and women farmers. The scheme has been recently revised for making it more attractive by enhancing the maximum capacity to 30,000 MT with maximum ceiling on subsidy of Rs.3.00 crore for other than NE States and by enhancing the maximum capacity to 25,000 MT with maximum ceiling on subsidy of Rs.3.333 crores in respect of North Eastern/Hilly States. 5. Scheme for Development and strengthening of Agricultural Marketing Infrastructure, Grading and Standardization Under Scheme for Development and strengthening of Agricultural Marketing Infrastructure, Grading and Standardization, subsidy @ 25% of the capital cost of the project with a ceiling of Rs. 50.00 lakh per project is available. In respect of North-Eastern States and Hilly and Tribal areas and entrepreneurs belonging to SC/ST and their cooperatives subsidy of 33.33% is provided with a ceiling of Rs.60.00 lakh per project.
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##Question:The wastage of Agri-commodities due to non-availability of Storage Godowns is a huge problem both for the farmers as well as the Government.Give a brief description of the incentives provided through various schemes for setting up of cold and dry warehouses in the country.##Answer:Department of Agriculture and Cooperation is provides incentives through following schemes for setting up of cold and dry warehouses in the country: 1. National Horticulture Mission (NHM) Under NHM scheme financial assistance is provided for taking up various activities related to horticulture such as development including setting up of cold storages for which credit linked back ended subsidy @ 40% (for general areas) and 55% (for hilly and tribal areas) of capital cost of the project up to 5000 MT capacity with maximum of Rs.6000/MT to all states except North Eastern and Himalayan States. 2. Horticulture Mission for North Eastern & Himalayan States (HMNEH) Under HMNEH scheme financial assistance is provided for taking up various activities including setting up of cold storages for which credit linked back ended subsidy 55% of capital cost of the project up to 5000 MT capacity with maximum of Rs.6000/MT to North Eastern and Himalayan States. 3. National Horticulture Board (NHB) National Horticulture Board (NHB) provides back-ended capital investment subsidy to the eligible organizations for creation /modernization/expansion of cold storage/Controlled Atmosphere Storage @ 40% of the project cost in general areas and 55% in case of hilly and scheduled areas up to 5000 MT capacity with maximum of Rs.6000/MT. The scheme is demand driven and is being implemented across the country. 4. Rural Godown Scheme Under Rural Godown Scheme, subsidy is available for construction of Rural Godowns @ 25% for all categories of farmers, Agriculture graduates, cooperatives. All other categories of individuals companies and corporations are being given subsidy @ 15% of the project cost. The subsidy is 33.33% in case of North Eastern (NE) States/hilly areas, SC/ST entrepreneurs & their cooperatives and women farmers. The scheme has been recently revised for making it more attractive by enhancing the maximum capacity to 30,000 MT with maximum ceiling on subsidy of Rs.3.00 crore for other than NE States and by enhancing the maximum capacity to 25,000 MT with maximum ceiling on subsidy of Rs.3.333 crores in respect of North Eastern/Hilly States. 5. Scheme for Development and strengthening of Agricultural Marketing Infrastructure, Grading and Standardization Under Scheme for Development and strengthening of Agricultural Marketing Infrastructure, Grading and Standardization, subsidy @ 25% of the capital cost of the project with a ceiling of Rs. 50.00 lakh per project is available. In respect of North-Eastern States and Hilly and Tribal areas and entrepreneurs belonging to SC/ST and their cooperatives subsidy of 33.33% is provided with a ceiling of Rs.60.00 lakh per project.
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Give a brief description of the new norms in the Telecom sector with respect to Radio Frequency Field and Mobile Handsets
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In respect of Base Transmitting Station (BTS), norms for exposure limit for the Radio Frequency Field (Base Station Emissions) has been reduced to 1/10th of existing limits prescribed by International Commission on Non Ionizing Radiation Protection (ICNIRP) with effect from 01.09.2012. Self-certification regarding compliance of radiation norms is submitted by the Telecom Service Providers to respective Telecom Enforcement Resource & Monitoring (TERM) Cells of Department of Telecommunications (D0T). All new BTS sites start radiating only after self-certificate is submitted to relevant TERM Cells. The TERM Cell tests up to 10% of BTS sites randomly at its discretion Additionally, the BTS sites against which there public complaints are also tested by TERM Cell. If a site fails to meet the prescribed radiation, there is a provision of levying a penalty of Rs. 5 lakh per BTS per service provider. In respect of Mobile Handsets the following directions have been issued by DoT regarding Specific Absorption Rate (SAR) values: 1. SAR level for mobile handsets is limited to 1.6 Watt/Kg, average over a mass of 1 gram of human tissue. 2. All the new design of mobile handsets shall comply with the SAR value of 1.6 Watt/Kg averaged over a mass of 1 gram tissue with effect from 1st September, 2012. 3. However, the mobile handsets with existing designs, which are compliant with 2.0 WattKg averaged over a mass of 10 gram tissue, may continue to co-exist upto 31st August 2013. 4. From 1st September 2013, only the mobile handsets with revised SAR value of 1.6 Watt/Kg are permitted to be manufactured or imported in India for domestic market.
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##Question:Give a brief description of the new norms in the Telecom sector with respect to Radio Frequency Field and Mobile Handsets##Answer:In respect of Base Transmitting Station (BTS), norms for exposure limit for the Radio Frequency Field (Base Station Emissions) has been reduced to 1/10th of existing limits prescribed by International Commission on Non Ionizing Radiation Protection (ICNIRP) with effect from 01.09.2012. Self-certification regarding compliance of radiation norms is submitted by the Telecom Service Providers to respective Telecom Enforcement Resource & Monitoring (TERM) Cells of Department of Telecommunications (D0T). All new BTS sites start radiating only after self-certificate is submitted to relevant TERM Cells. The TERM Cell tests up to 10% of BTS sites randomly at its discretion Additionally, the BTS sites against which there public complaints are also tested by TERM Cell. If a site fails to meet the prescribed radiation, there is a provision of levying a penalty of Rs. 5 lakh per BTS per service provider. In respect of Mobile Handsets the following directions have been issued by DoT regarding Specific Absorption Rate (SAR) values: 1. SAR level for mobile handsets is limited to 1.6 Watt/Kg, average over a mass of 1 gram of human tissue. 2. All the new design of mobile handsets shall comply with the SAR value of 1.6 Watt/Kg averaged over a mass of 1 gram tissue with effect from 1st September, 2012. 3. However, the mobile handsets with existing designs, which are compliant with 2.0 WattKg averaged over a mass of 10 gram tissue, may continue to co-exist upto 31st August 2013. 4. From 1st September 2013, only the mobile handsets with revised SAR value of 1.6 Watt/Kg are permitted to be manufactured or imported in India for domestic market.
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What are the aims and objectives of the Rural Business Hub Scheme? Also explain its model of implementation and performance
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The Rural Business Hubs (RBH) Scheme aims at synergistically linking the strengths of rural areas/producers with industry and marketing organizations so that rural products reach wider market and benefits of value addition are shared. The objectives of RBH Scheme are to identify rural products which have potential for national/ international markets and standardize their quality; to ensure value addition in rural products and increase production volumes to levels viable for marketing; to promote Rural Non-Farming Enterprises (RNFE) which utilize local skills and/or resources and promote rural employment and to foster mutually beneficial relations between the producers and Industrial houses. It has been decided to taper off the Scheme during the 12th Plan period. RBH projects have been sanctioned for various products including metal work, carpets, embroidery, biofuels, horticultural products etc. The Ministry is not maintaining data base about export of RBH products. The scheme works on a 4P (Public-Private-Panchayat-Partnership) model and is applicable in all the BRGF districts and all the districts in the North-Eastern Region. Setting up of RBHs is primarily done through convergence of resources from various ongoing schemes. Assistance under the RBH Scheme is available for professional support services, training/skill development and for purchase of minor equipment. RBH is a demand driven scheme and, therefore, no targets can be fixed under the Scheme. There is no State-wise allocation of funds. The financial assistance is provided to the Implementing Agencies in two installments keeping in view the viability of their projects and proper utilization of the funds released. Since the inception of the Central Sector Scheme of Rural Business Hubs (RBHs) in 2007-08, the Government has released a total of Rs. 540.45 lakh upto the period 2011-12 for the Scheme. Rs. 86.17 lakhs was released for the period 2010-11.
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##Question:What are the aims and objectives of the Rural Business Hub Scheme? Also explain its model of implementation and performance##Answer:The Rural Business Hubs (RBH) Scheme aims at synergistically linking the strengths of rural areas/producers with industry and marketing organizations so that rural products reach wider market and benefits of value addition are shared. The objectives of RBH Scheme are to identify rural products which have potential for national/ international markets and standardize their quality; to ensure value addition in rural products and increase production volumes to levels viable for marketing; to promote Rural Non-Farming Enterprises (RNFE) which utilize local skills and/or resources and promote rural employment and to foster mutually beneficial relations between the producers and Industrial houses. It has been decided to taper off the Scheme during the 12th Plan period. RBH projects have been sanctioned for various products including metal work, carpets, embroidery, biofuels, horticultural products etc. The Ministry is not maintaining data base about export of RBH products. The scheme works on a 4P (Public-Private-Panchayat-Partnership) model and is applicable in all the BRGF districts and all the districts in the North-Eastern Region. Setting up of RBHs is primarily done through convergence of resources from various ongoing schemes. Assistance under the RBH Scheme is available for professional support services, training/skill development and for purchase of minor equipment. RBH is a demand driven scheme and, therefore, no targets can be fixed under the Scheme. There is no State-wise allocation of funds. The financial assistance is provided to the Implementing Agencies in two installments keeping in view the viability of their projects and proper utilization of the funds released. Since the inception of the Central Sector Scheme of Rural Business Hubs (RBHs) in 2007-08, the Government has released a total of Rs. 540.45 lakh upto the period 2011-12 for the Scheme. Rs. 86.17 lakhs was released for the period 2010-11.
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What are Meta Universities? How will they help to broaden the learning horizons of the students
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The Government has proposed setting up a ‘meta university', which will make it possible for, say, an IIT Kanpur student to also enrol in the Ancient History course in Jawaharlal Nehru University or a mathematics student from Indian Institute of Science to pursue a course in comparative literature from Jadavpur University. The main purpose of the Meta University is to share learning resources with different Universities by using the latest technologies available in order to enable the students to benefit from the learning resources available in different institutions. The University Grants Commission (UGC) as the apex regulatory body for universities, has decided to come out with detailed guidelines on Meta Universities. The participating institutions/universities share their learning resources to provide students with a more holistic learning experience. Hence such programmes are joint degree programmes. The university will leverage the national knowledge network programme that already connects major institutes across the country through high-speed fibre-based broadband connectivity. It also promises an unique opportunity to the country for innovation, given the huge unmet demand for high quality education in an environment of limited resources and availability of a dedicated national network, said the report. The Government has also announced a Rs 5,000-crore National Innovation Fund, with initial infusion of Rs 100 crore, to support new ideas that will be useful for the common people.
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##Question:What are Meta Universities? How will they help to broaden the learning horizons of the students##Answer:The Government has proposed setting up a ‘meta university', which will make it possible for, say, an IIT Kanpur student to also enrol in the Ancient History course in Jawaharlal Nehru University or a mathematics student from Indian Institute of Science to pursue a course in comparative literature from Jadavpur University. The main purpose of the Meta University is to share learning resources with different Universities by using the latest technologies available in order to enable the students to benefit from the learning resources available in different institutions. The University Grants Commission (UGC) as the apex regulatory body for universities, has decided to come out with detailed guidelines on Meta Universities. The participating institutions/universities share their learning resources to provide students with a more holistic learning experience. Hence such programmes are joint degree programmes. The university will leverage the national knowledge network programme that already connects major institutes across the country through high-speed fibre-based broadband connectivity. It also promises an unique opportunity to the country for innovation, given the huge unmet demand for high quality education in an environment of limited resources and availability of a dedicated national network, said the report. The Government has also announced a Rs 5,000-crore National Innovation Fund, with initial infusion of Rs 100 crore, to support new ideas that will be useful for the common people.
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