DAY – 11 ( INSTA REVISION TEST)INSTA REVISION PLAN 2.0, 2020

Solution: B

The National Skill Development Fund was set up in 2009 by the Government of India for raising funds both from Government and Non-Government sectors for skill development in the country.

The Fund is contributed by various Government sources, and other donors/ contributors to enhance, stimulate and develop the skills of Indian youth by various sector specific programs.

A public Trust set up by the Government of India is the custodian of the Fund. The Trust accepts donation, contribution in cash or kind from the Contributors for furtherance of objectives of the Fund. The Fund is operated and managed by the Board of Trustees. The Chief Executive Officer of the Trust is responsible for day-to-day administration and management of the Trust.

The Fund meets its objectives through National Skill Development Corporation (NSDC) which is an industry led ‘Not For Profit Company’ set up for building skill development capacity and forging strong linkages with the market. NSDC acts as a catalyst in skill development by providing funding to enterprises, companies and organizations that provide skill training.

It also develops appropriate models to enhance, support and coordinate private sector initiatives. Till 31st March 2015, NSDF has released Rs. 2333 crore to NSDC towards skill development programmes including National Skill Certification and Monetary Reward Scheme (STAR) and UDAAN Scheme (J&K oriented). NSDC with 160 training partners and 1722 training centres has so far trained around 35 lakh persons across India.

Accounts of the Trust are subject to CAG Audit and are also audited by a Chartered Accountant for every financial year.

Solution: A

The Scheme envisages:

• Promotion of commercial organic production through certified organic farming.
• The produce will be pesticide residue free and will contribute to improve the health of consumer.
• It will raise farmer’s income and create potential market for traders.
• It will motivate the farmers for natural resource mobilization for input production.

Programme implementation

• Groups of farmers would be motivated to take up organic farming under Paramparagat Krishi Vikas Yojana (PKVY).
• Fifty or more farmers will form a cluster having 50 acre land to take up the organic farming under the scheme. In this way during three years 10,000 clusters will be formed covering 5.0 lakh acre area under organic farming.
• There will be no liability on the farmers for expenditure on certification.
• Every farmer will be provided Rs. 20,000 per acre in three years for seed to harvesting of crops and to transport produce to the market.
• Organic farming will be promoted by using traditional resources and the organic products will be linked with the market.
• It will increase domestic production and certification of organic produce by involving farmers

Solution: D

North Eastern Development Finance Corporation Limited (NEDFi) in association with Ministry of Development of North Eastern Region (M-DoNER) has launched the first dedicated venture capital fund for the North Eastern Region Namely “North East Venture Fund”.

The primary objective of North East Venture Fund (NEVF) would be to invest in enterprises focused on and not limited to Food Processing, Healthcare, Tourism, Aggregation of Services and IT&ITES located in the NER and to provide resources for entrepreneurs from the region to expand throughout the country. The investment focus of the NEVF will be early and growth stage investment mostly in enterprises involved in the fields of, Food processing, Healthcare, Tourism, Aggregation of Services and IT & ITES.

NEVF would inter alia invest in areas such as development of new products and services, technological up gradation, expansion or diversification, process improvement and quality improvement with the purpose of creating value for all stakeholders.

Investments will typically be in startups, early stage and growth stage companies with new products and technologies or innovative business models which have the potential to bring superior value proposition to the customers and clients and high growth in earnings and profitability and also in companies undertaking expansions which already have sound financial performance.

https://www.nedfi.com/nedfiventure

Solution: B

The United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) is an UN agency created in December 1949 to support the relief and human development of Palestinian refugees. The UNRWA definition of “refugee” covers Palestinian who fled or were expelled from their homes during the 1948 Palestine War.

UNRWA is the only UN agency dedicated to helping refugees from a specific region or conflict and is separate from UNHCR.

Formed in 1950, UNHCR is the main UN refugee agency, which is responsible for aiding other refugees all over the world. Unlike UNRWA, UNHCR has a specific mandate to aid its refugees to eliminate their refugee status by local integration in current country, resettlement in a third country or repatriation when possible.

https://www.unrwa.org/palestine-refugees

Solution: D

Kisan Credit Card Scheme:

• The Kisan Credit Card (KCC) scheme was announced in the Budget speech of 1998-99 to fulfil the financial requirements of the farmers at various stages of farming through institutional credit.
• The model scheme was prepared by the National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD) on the recommendation of V Gupta committee.
• The KCC scheme is being implemented by the all Co-operative banks, Regional Rural Banks and Public Sector Banks throughout the country.
• Scheme covers risk of KCC holders against death or permanent disability resulting from accidents.

Objectives:

• To provide adequate and timely credit support from the banking system to the farmers at the cheap rate of interest.
• To provide credit at the time of requirement.
• To support post-harvest expenses.
• To provide Working capital for maintenance of farm assets and activities allied to agriculture.
• Investment credit requirement for agriculture and allied activities (land development, pump sets, plantation, drip irrigation etc.)
• Consumption requirements of farmers.

Eligibility:

• All farmers – individuals/Joint cultivator owners
• Tenant farmers, oral lessees and share croppers etc.
• Self-help groups (SHGs) or Joint liability groups including tenant farmers.

Other Salient features of the Scheme:

• Revolving cash credit facility involving any number of drawals and repayments within the limit.
• Limit to be fixed on the basis of operational land holding, cropping pattern and scale of finance.
• Entire production credit needs for full year plus ancillary activities related to crop production to be considered while fixing limit.
• Card valid for 5 years subject to annual review. As incentive for good performance, credit limits could be enhanced to take care of increase in costs, change in cropping pattern, etc.
• Conversion/reschedulement of loans also permissible in case of damage to crops due to natural calamities.
• Operations may be through issuing branch (and also PACS in the case of Cooperative Banks) through other designated branches at the discretion of bank.
• Crop loans disbursed under KCC Scheme for notified crops are covered under Crop Insurance Scheme, to protect the interest of the farmer against loss of crop yield caused by natural calamities, pest attacks etc.

Solution: B

Non-Banking Financial Company (NBFC)

• Non-Banking Financial Companies are financial institutions engaged in several non-banking businesses like hire purchase, leasing, microfinance, chit fund, gold loan etc.
• These entities are not allowed to offer financial products and services like banks.
• NBFC cannot accept demand deposits;
• According to the RBI, ‘A non-banking institution which is a company and has principal business of receiving deposits under any scheme or arrangement in one lump sum or in installments by way of contributions or in any other manner, is also a non-banking financial company (Residuary non-banking company).’
• NBFCs do not form part of the payment and settlement system and cannot issue cheques drawn on itself;
• NBFCs are defined under section 45 I (c) of the RBI Act, 1934.
• Non-Banking Financial Company (NBFC) is a company registered under the Companies Act, 1956.

Solution: D

Finance Commission:

• The Finance Commission is constituted by the President under article 280 of the Constitution, mainly to give its recommendations on distribution of tax revenues between the Union and the States and amongst the States themselves.
• Two distinctive features of the Commission’s work involve redressing the vertical imbalances between the taxation powers and expenditure responsibilities of the centre and the States respectively and equalization of all public services across the States.
• Finance Commission’s recommendations are advisory in nature and, hence, not binding on the Government.

Functions of the Finance Commission:

It is the duty of the Commission to make recommendations to the President as to:

• the distribution between the Union and the States of the net proceeds of taxes which are to be, or may be, divided between them and the allocation between the States of the respective shares of such proceeds;
• the principles which should govern the grants-in-aid of the revenues of the States out of the Consolidated Fund of India;
• the measures needed to augment the Consolidated Fund of a State to supplement the resources of the Panchayats and Municipalities in the State on the basis of the recommendations made by the Finance Commission of the State;
• Any other matter referred to the Commission by the President in the interests of sound finance.
• The Commission determines its procedure and have such powers in the performance of their functions as Parliament may by law confer on them.

Who appoints the Finance Commission and what are the qualifications for Members?

The Finance Commission is appointed by the President under Article 280 of the Constitution.   As per the provisions contained in the Finance Commission [Miscellaneous Provisions] Act, 1951 and The Finance Commission (Salaries & Allowances) Rules, 1951, the Chairman of the Commission is selected from among persons who have had experience in public affairs, and the four other members are selected from among persons who:

• are, or have been, or are qualified to be appointed as Judges of a High Court; or
• have special knowledge of the finances and accounts of Government; or
• have had wide experience in financial matters and in administration; or
• have special knowledge of economics

Solution: C

National Social Assistance Programme (NSAP):

• The NSAP is a 100% Centrally Sponsored Scheme under the Ministry of Rural Development. It came into effect from 15th August, 1995.
• It represents a significant step towards the fulfillment of the DPSP in Article 41 of the Constitution. In particular, Article 41 of the Constitution of India directs the State to provide public assistance to its citizens in case of unemployment, old age, sickness and disablement and in other cases of undeserved want within the limit of its economic capacity and development.
• This programme is being implemented in rural areas as well as urban areas.
• It aims to provide financial assistance to the elderly, widows and persons with disabilities in the form of social pensions.
• Coverage: It currently covers more than three crore people who are below the poverty line (BPL), including about 80 lakh widows, 10 lakh disabled and 2.2 crore elderly.

Solution: C

Sarkaria Commission:

• Sarkaria Commission was set up in 1983 by the central government of India.
• The Sarkaria Commission’s charter was to examine the central-state relationship on various portfolios and suggest changes within the framework of Constitution of India.
• The final report contained 247 specific recommendations. In spite of the large size of its reports – the Commission recommended, by and large, status quo in the Centre-State relations, especially in the areas, relating to legislative matters, role of Governors and use of Article 35
• It recommended that Governors must not be removed before completion of their five-year tenure, except in rare and compelling circumstances.
• This was meant to provide Governors with a measure of security of tenure so that they could carry out their duties without fear or favour.
• It was further recommended that Governors should be informed of the grounds of their removal.

Solution: C

Operation Sudarshan:

Border Security Force (BSF) has launched a massive exercise, code named as Sudarshan, to fortify Anti-Infiltration Grid along Pakistan border in Punjab and Jammu.

Solution: D

Jal Shakti Abhiyan:

• It is a time-bound, mission-mode campaign.
• Launched in 2019, it covered 256 water stressed districts across the country.
• The campaign will run through citizen participation.
• It is also a mass movement to bring all the stakeholders under one ambit of water conservation drive.
• It is a collaborative effort of various Ministries of the Government of India and State Governments, being coordinated by the Department of Drinking Water and Sanitation.

Work to be done under this initiative:

• Rejuvenation of the traditional water bodies.
• Desilting of ponds and lakes.
• Encroachments removal in the water bodies.
• Catchment area treatment.
• Construction and strengthening of inlets/outlets.

Solution: C

Parliamentary privileges are certain rights and immunities enjoyed by members of Parliament individually and collectively, so that they can electively discharge their functions.

The Constitution of India under Article 105 mentions two privileges, i.e. freedom of speech in Parliament and right of publication of its proceedings. The Speaker of Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha is the first level of scrutiny of a privilege motion.

The Speaker/Chairperson can decide on the privilege motion or refer it to the privileges committee of Parliament.

If the Speaker/Chairperson gives consent under respective rules, the member concerned is given an opportunity to make a short statement.

Solution: A

The concept of the whip was inherited from colonial British rule. It is used in parliamentary parlance often for floor management by political parties in the legislature.

A whip is a written order that political party issue to its members for being present for an important vote, or that they vote only in a particular way.

The term is derived from the old British practice of “whipping in” lawmakers to follow the party line.

They are vital in maintaining the links between the internal organisation of the party inside the Parliament.

A whip is also an important office-bearer of the party in the Parliament. In India, all parties can issue a whip to their members. Parties appoint a senior member from among their House contingents to issue whips. This member is called a Chief Whip, and he/she is assisted by additional Whips.

The office of ‘whip’, is mentioned neither in the Constitution of India nor in the Rules of the House nor in a Parliamentary Statute. It is based on the conventions of the parliamentary government.

Solution: D

What is peculiar to the Rajya Sabha polls as far as the electorate is concerned?

Only elected members of the State Legislative Assemblies can vote in a Rajya Sabha election. The legislators send a batch of new members to the Upper House every two years for a six-year term. A third of Members of Parliament in the Rajya Sabha (which is a permanent House and is not subject to dissolution), from each State retire once in two years and polls are held to fill up the vacancies.

A single transferable vote means electors can vote for any number of candidates in order of their preference. A candidate requires a specified number of first preference votes to win. Each first choice vote has a value of 100 in the first round.

The Rajya Sabha polls have a system of open ballot, but it is a limited form of openness. As a measure to check rampant cross-voting, which was taken to mean that the vote had been purchased by corrupt means, the system of each party MLA showing his or her marked ballots to the party’s authorised agent, before they are put into the ballot box, has been introduced.

https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/the-hindu-explains-how-are-elections-to-the-rajya-sabha-held/article31879432.ece

Solution: C

Laboratory for the Conservation of Endangered Species (LaCONES)

• It is located in Hyderabad at the Laboratory for the Conservation of Endangered Species (LaCONES), a research wing of the Centre for Cellular and Molecular Biology (CCMB).
• The state-of-the-art bank is equipped with sophisticated equipment to preserve the genetic resources that could be utilised to virtually resurrect an animal species in case it goes extinct.
• It is India’s only research facility engaged in conservation and preservation of wildlife and its resources.
• The bank that contains genetic resources of about 250 wildlife species.
• The Genetic Resource Bank will store genetic material of Indian species. It will also help in protecting India’s biodiversity and environment.
• It is a part of centre for cellular and molecular biology.

Achievements of Laboratory for the Conservation of Endangered Species (LaCONES):

• It is India’s only research facility engaged in conservation and preservation of wildlife and its resources. It was established in 1998 with the help of Central Zoo Authority of India, CSIR and the government of Andhra Pradesh.
• LaCONES has helped the Mouse Deer Conservation Breeding Centre at Nehru Zoological Park to increase the population of mouse deer in Telangana forests. Amrabad forest, for instance, ran out of mouse deer and through the efforts of LaCONES, the animal is now reintroduced in Amrabad Tiger Reserve.
• Earlier, LaCONES has developed universal DNA based marker for identification of wild animals from parts and remains. It has a DNA banking of more than 250 species of mammals, birds and reptiles.