Q. 1. The descendants of a common male ancestor are called:
(a) Agnates
(b) Cognates
(c) Lineal kin
(d) Collateral kin
Ans. (a)
Q. 2. According to Iravati Karve, which one of the following linguistic regions comes under the central kinship zone?
(a) Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Gujarat, Mahrashtra and Orissa
(b) Madhya Pradesh, Orissa, Andhra Pradesh, Mahrashtra and Gujarat
(c) Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Orissa, Gujarat but not Mahrashtra
(d) Rajasthan, Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, Andhra Pradesh but not Orissa
Ans. (d)
Q. 3. The Rules of Residence where a couple upon being married, go to live with the brother of the groom’s mother, are known as:
(a) Patrilocal
(b) Matrilocal
(c) Avunculocal
(d) Neolocal
Ans. (c)
Q. 4. Which one of the following pairs is not correctly matched?
(a) “Dewar- Bhabhi” relationship : Joking relationship
(b) Marriage with mother’s brother : Experimental marriage
(c) Cross-cousin marriage : Preferential form of marriage
(d) Marriage with father’s brother : Incest taboo
Ans. (b)
Q. 5. .Marriage by purchase is called:
(a) Arsha marriage
(b) Asur marriage
(c) Rakshas marriage
(d) Pishach marriage
Ans. (b)
Q. 6. Which one of the following is an example of Sanskritization?
(a) Monogamy among the present Nayars
(b) Brahma form of marriage among the Namboodiris
(c) Saptapadi among the kshatriyas
(d) Saptapadi among the peasant castes of Karnataka
Ans. (d)
Q. 7. A system under which a woman is permitted to marry a person of the lower caste but vice versa is not allowed is known as:
(a) Hypergamy
(b) Hypogamy
(c) Promiscuity
(d) Polygamy
Ans. (b)
Q. 8. The extended family is the opposite of nuclear family. It does not exist in:
(a) USA
(b) India
(c) Japan.
(d) China
Ans. (a)
Q. 9. Which one of the following statements is not correct?
(a) Racial inter-mixture leads to degeneration
(b) The concept of pure race is a myth
(c) Inter-mixture of races is universal
(d) No race is superior or inferior to any other race
Ans. (a)
Q. 10. When inherent superiority of a people over another is legitimized in terms of biological attributes, it is called:
(a) Racism
(b) Ethnicity
(c) Society
(d) Cultural pride
Ans. (a)
Q. 11. Consider the following theories:
1. Evolutionist
2. Diffusionist
3. Functionalist
4. Phenomenologist
Which of these theories adopt a holistic view of culture?
(a) 1 and 2
(b) 2 and 4
(c) 1 and 3
(d) 3 and 4
Ans. (c)
Q. 12. Which one of the following is an example of role-set?
(a) A teacher’s relationship. with his / pupils, colleagues, the principal and parents
(b) A teacher as husband, father, sportsman and social activist
(c) A teacher becoming later a head of the department, a principal and a registrar
(d) A student becoming a husband, a father and a grandfather over a period of time
Ans. (a)
Q. 13. Pronatalism refers to the:
(a) view that a person should not have as many children as possible
(b) view that only the child can provide sustenance and salvation to the family
(c) strong positive value a society places on having children
(d) view that vitality of the family depends upon the strong physique of the child
Ans. (c)
Q. 14. The view that without using the values of one’s own cultured to judge all others is known as
(a) individualism
(b) ethnocentrism
(c) culture of objectivity
(d) cultural relativism
Ans. (d)
Q. 15. Match List -I with List -II and select the correct answer by using the codes given below the lists:
List- I List -II
A. Pan-Egyptian Cultural Approach 1. L. H. Morgan
B. Cultural Historical Approach 2. Elliot Smith
C. Structural Approach 3. F. Graebner
D. Evolutionary Approach 4. C. Levi Strauss
Codes:
A B C D
(a) 3 2 1 4
(b) 2 3 4 1
(c) 2 3 1 4
(d) 3 2 4 1
Ans. (c)
Q. 16. According to T. Parsons, there are three modes of motivational orientation. Which one of the following is not included in these modes?
(a) Cognitive orientation
(b) Cathartic orientation
(c) Appreciative orientation
(d) Evaluative orientation
Ans. (c)
Q. 17. Clark Wissler demonstrated that in each restricted area of a culture, a central of dispersal could be identified. People living on the borders of two culture areas share the features of both. Such areas are called:
(a) areas of cultural parallels
(b) areas of cultural similarities
(c) areas of cultural amalgamation
(d) marginal areas
Ans. (c)
Q. 18. The fact that diffusion is possible shows that:
(a) evolution is a mistaken doctrine
(b) societies have fixed genetic constitutions
(c) evolution cannot be precisely unilinear
(d) progress is inevitable
Ans. (c)
Q. 19. Which one of the following covers the situation where a TV commentator would?
(a) Diffusion
(b) Cultural lag
(c) Communication gap
(d) Technological lag
Ans. (b)
Q. 20. Ethnocentrism refers to:
(a) appreciating cultural traits of other groups
(b) the tendency of a cultural group to uphold and sustain traditional culture
(c) the attitude that one’s own culture or group is superior to another
(d) the attempt to modernize traditional cultural values
Ans. (c)
Q. 21. According to T. Parsons, behaviour becomes action when four conditions are present. Which among the following conditions is not one of them?
(a) Orientation to attainment of ends
(b) Occurrence in particular situations
(c) Being regulated by norms and values of the individual actor
(d) Involvement of an emotional investment of energy
Ans. (d)
Q. 22. Which one of the following is social relationship?
(a) Two armies facing each other
(b) Thirty candidates seated in an examination hail
(c) People running for shelter during a sudden downpour
(d) Cinema viewers and actors on the screen
Ans. (a)
Q. 23. A man, who has accumulated a lot of black money, constructs a hospital for cancer patients and poses himself as a savior to the downtrodden. This is an example of:
(a) role insulation
(b) counterfeit role
(c) false role
(d) role-set
Ans. (b)
Q. 24. Diachronic orientation in cultural analysis is not present in the theories of:
(a) historical particularism
(b) evolutionism
(c) diffusionism
(d) structuralism
Ans. (d)
Q. 25. Coercion refers to:
(a) use of physical force to gain one’s interest
(b) large-scale violence leading to disruption of social life
(c) prevalence of warring groups in society
(d) social interaction in which one person or group
forces its will on another
Ans. (d)
Q. 26. Who among the following is not a contributor to the studies on acculturation?
(a) Linton
(b) Redfield
(c) Herskovits
(d) Ogburn
Ans. (d)
Q. 27. The main difference between class and status is that:
(a) the former refers to economic group and the latter to hereditary ranking of family
(b) the former is associated with ownership of means of production and the latter with styles of life
(c) the former refers to personal power and the latter is associated with privileges that one enjoys
(d) the former -refers to acquisition of political power and the latter to gain of social power
Ans. (b)
Q. 28. Who among the following drew a distinction between social structure and structural form?
(a) Redcliffe Brown
(b) S. F. Nadel
(c) Edmund Leach
(d) Evans-Pritchard
Ans. (a)
Q. 29. Routinization of charisma refers to:
(a) the process by which the personal qualities of a charismatic leader are incorporated in the. characteristics of an organization
(b) the wide acceptance of the leadership quality of the charismatic leader by his followers
(c) the high normative standard of the actions of charismatic leader
(d) the ultimate goal which the charismatic leader has attained
Ans. (a)
Q. 30. Which one of the following is common to classes, estates and castes?
(a) Hierarchically arranged income groups
(b) Hierarchically arranged strata
(c) Hierarchically arranged hereditary groups
(d) Horizontal strata’s typical of certain societies
Ans. (b)
Q. 31. Structural differentiation refers to
(a) progressive specialization and autonomous functioning of social units
(b) changes in the structural forms of social units
(c) the process of evaluation and ranking of social institutions
(d) the proliferation of social units
Ans. (a)
Q. 32. Who among the following held the view that we cannot talk of social structure in the singular?
(a) Levi-Strauss
(b) Mayer Fortes
(c) S. F. Nadel
(d) Talcott Parsons
Ans. (c)
Q. 33. Sumner referred to his model of society as a:
(a) development model
(b) conflict model
(c) consensus model
(d) progressive model
Ans. (a)
Q. 34. Consider the following characteristics:
1. A network of social relationships
2. Totality of population
3. Provision for membership by birth
4. Comprehensive culture
The major characteristics of society would include:
(a) l, 2 and 3
(b) 2, 3 and 4
(c) 1, 2 and 4
(d) 1, 3 and 4
Ans. (d)
Q. 35. Merton speaks of three characteristics of a group membership. According to Merton, which one of the following is not a characteristic of social group?
(a) Frequency of interaction
(b) Interacting persons defining themselves as members
(c) Persons in interaction being defined by others as belonging to the group
(d) Intended all social activities
Ans. (d)
Q. 36. Which one of the following constitutes a primary group?
(a) All inmates of a prison
(b) Sugarcane plantation workers
(c) Members of Alcoholics of metropolis
(d) Mother and her three children
Ans. (d)
Q. 37. A group which does not allow a person to join similar other groups at one and the same time are called:
(a) disjunctive group
(b) overlapping group
(c) exclusive group
(d) congregate group
Ans. (a)
Q. 38. Who held the view that the primary groups are the breeding grounds of our mores and the nurse of our loyalties?
(a) Cooley
(c) Maclver
(b) Tonnies
(d) Sumner
Ans. (c)
Q. 39. Consider the following elements:
1. Identified goals
2. Ascribed roles
3. Membership for life
4. Voluntary membership
5. Authority structure
6. A set of rules
Which of these are elements of a complex organization?
(a) 1, 2, 3 and 4
(b) 3, 4, 5 and 6
(c) 1, 3, 5 and 6
(d) 1, 4, 5 and 6
Ans. (d)
Q. 40. Consider the following functions.
1. Aiding a member’s entry into the group
2. Easing the member’s adjustment after. he has become a part of the group
3. Strengthening the member’s position within the membership group
4. Reducing the member to being a ‘marginal man’
According to Merton, which of these are twin functions served by anticipatory socialization?
(a) 1 and 4
(b) 3 and 4
(c) 1 and 2
(d) 2 and 3
Ans. (c)
Q. 41. The negative reference group has been studied by:
(a) Harry Johnson
(b) Ralph Linton
(c) Theodore Caplow
(d) William Scott
Ans. (b)
Q. 42. Status inconsistency refers to:
(a) differential ranking on the dimensions of social stratifications
(b) discrepancy and conflict in the status and role of an individual
(c) gaps between expectation and performance
(d) incompatibility among the different statuses of an individual
Ans. (c)
Q. 43. Who among the following defined social institutions as the social structure and machinery through which human society organizes, directs and executes multifarious activities required to satisfy human needs?
(a) B. A. Ross
(b) K. Davis
(c) C. H. Cooley
(d) H. E. Barnes
Ans. (d)
Q. 44. Match List -I with List -II and select the correct answer by using the codes given below the lists:
List- I List -II
A. Family and Kinship Among Pundits of Kashmir 1. Robin Fox
B. Kinship and Marriage 2. G.S. Ghuriya
C. Elementary Structures of Kinship 3. Radhakamal Mukherjee
D. Family and Kin in Indo-European Culture 4. T.N. Madan
5. Levi-Strauss
Codes:
A B CD
(a) 3 1 5 2
(b) 4 1 5 2
(c) 4 2 3 5
(d) 2 1 4 3
Ans. (b)
Q. 45. Which one of the following sets of tribes belongs to Southern kinship zone according to Irawati Karve?
(a) Korku, Gond and Bhil
(b) Bhil, Kadar and Koya
(c) Koya, Gond and Oraon
(d) Kadar, Coorgi and Khasi
Ans. (b)
Q. 46. Which one of the following pairs is correctly matched?
(a) Kinship usage : Agnates
(b) Classificatory kinship term : Class relationship
(c) Descriptive kinship term : Specific relationship
(d) Avunculate : Paternal uncle
Ans. (c)
Q. 47.
On the basis of the given kinship diagram, those who are not parallel cousins, would include
(a) L, M, Q and S
(b) N, P, T and U
(c) Q, R, K and M
(d) K, L, M and 0
Ans. (d)
Q. 48. Male primogeniture form of succession and inheritance was practised amongthe:
(a) Marathas
(b) Nayars
(c) Brahmins of Karnataka
(d) Namboodiris Brahmins
Ans. (d)
Q. 49. Irawati Karve speaks of four-clan rule, practiced in North India in mate selection restrictions. Which one of the following is not included in the four-clan rule? A man must not marry a woman from his:
(a) Father’s Gotra
(b) Mother’s Gotra
(c) Father’s mother’s Gotra
(d) Mother’s father’s Gotra
Ans. (d)
Q. 50. Genetic characteristics are evident among:
(a) affinal kins
(b) consanguineal kins
(c) unilateral kins
(d) bilateral kins
Ans. (b)
Monday, March 7, 2011
Tuesday, March 1, 2011
Some Important Govt. Programme And Policies and Committees
(1) Prerna:- The ‘janasankhya sthirata kosh (national population
stabilization fund) has to promote & under take activities aimed at achieving population stabilization at a level consistent with the needs of sustainable economic growth. Social development and environment protection by 2045
• Prerna is a responsible for parenthood strategy. It is monetary incentive strategy aimed at pushing up the age of marriage of girls and delay the birth of the first child.
(2) National Rural Health Mission:-Lunched in April 2005 the mission seeks to provide universal access to equitable, affordable and quality health care which is accountable and at the same time responsible to the needs of the people.
• It also aims to achieve the goals set out under the national policy and the millennium development goals during the mission period.
(3) Rashtriya Swasthya Bima Yojna:-Launched by ministry of labour & employment, govt of India to provide health insurance coverage for BPL families.
• Beneficiaries are entitled to hospitalization coverage up to Rs 30,000 for most of the disease that require hospitalization.
(4) National Food Security Mission:-Sponsored scheme launched in august 2007.
• Objective is to increased production and productivity of wheat, rice and pulses.
(5) 15 Point Programme:-In Oct 2009 govt decided to include 3 more schemes in the Prime minister’s new 15 point programme for the welfare of minorities.
Those are: -
• National rural drinking water programme.
• Urban infrastructure developed scheme for small and medium town.
• Urban infrastructure and governance scheme.
(6) Bharat Nirman Yojna:- It is a time bound business plan for action in rural in infrastructure .Under Bharat nirman , action was proposed in the areas of:-
I. Irrigation.
II. Rural housing.
III. Rural water supply.
IV. Rural electrification.
V. Rural telecommunication connectivity.
(7) National Mission On Education:-It is a mission in which education is provide through information and communication technology. “SAKSHAT” one stop education portal was launched on Oct 30 2006 by the president of India.
• Head of National knowledge commission:-Sam Pitroda.
(8)Right To Education Act 2009:- Article 21-(A), as inserted by the constitution (86th Amendment Act) 2002, provides for free and compulsory education of all children in the age group of 6 to 14 years as a fundamental rights. Consequently the parliament has enacted this in April 2009.
Salient features:-
(a) Free and compulsory education 6 to 14 age group.
(b) Will apply to all India except J&K.
(c) Provide for 25% reservation for economically disadvantaged communities in admission in private school.
(d) A child who completes elementary education (up to class 8) shall be awarded a certificate.
(9) Female Literacy:-It is a scheme to provide education & related facilities to ST Students launched by ministry of trial affairs in dec 11, 2009.
(10) Anil Kalkaska Committee on reforms in IITS:-it will suggest reforms to make these elite institutions a global brand.
(11) Yashpal Committee Report:- It was set up in 2008 for higher education and research.
• It has suggested the scrapping of all higher education regulatory /monitoring bodies and creation of a super regulation.
• It also recommended that the deemed university status be abandoned and that all deserving universities be either converted into full fledged universities or scrapped.
(12) National Rural Livelihood Mission:-Ministry of rural development and panchyati raj proposed to restructure the existing swarnjayanti gram swarojgar yojna into rural livelihood mission to have a focused approach to rural poverty eradication in a time bound manner.
• Objective is to reduce poverty among rural BPL by promoting diversified and gainful self employment and wage employment opportunities which would lead to an appreciable increase in sustainable basis.
(13) NREGA Renamed After Mahatma Gandhi:- On Oct 2, 2009.
(14) Chandra Sheker Panel:- on the recomandation of a committee headed by cabinet secretary K.M Chander shaker. Centre had increased the pension for retired service man.
(15) Rajiv Awas Yojna:-Ministry of housing and urban poverty alleviation had launched the housing project called the Rajiv awas yojna for slum dwellers and the urban poor.
• Aimed at making India slum free in the next five years.
(16) Government Gave 50% Women’s Quota: - For women in urban local bodies from 33 % to 50 % by the 108th const. amendment act.
(17) B.K Chaturvedi panel to resolve the inter ministrial issues to speed up the ambitious national highways development project taken up by the road transport and highway ministry.
(18) Librahan Commission:- It was set up in dec 16 ,1992 by the Narashima Rao govt. to probe the demolition of Babri Mosque. The commission was initially asked to give a report in three months, however it could do so only after over 16 years that saw 39 sitting and 48 extensions, finally on June 30 2009 it gave the report.
(19) S.D. Tendulkar Committee:-It is to estimate poverty in the country. It’s said that about 38% of the country’s population are living below poverty line. This figure is 10% higher than the present poverty estimate of 28.5 % by the planning commission.
(20) Moily Panel:- For administrative reform commission it is the 2nd administrative reform commission.
(21) Unique Identification Authority:- Chairman of UID is Nandan Nilekani. He revealed that the first set of 16 digit unique identification number for citizen of the country will roll out by the end of 2010.
• The UIAI is a part of the planning mission of India.
• AADHAR:-UIDAI now new name AADHAR and also a logo.
• AADHAR or foundation through through which the citizen can claim his/her rights and establishment when assumed of equal opportunities as symbolized by the logo which has the halo of the sun in the imprint of a thumbs.
(22) M.S swami Nathan Panel:- It’s recommendation is on coasted management zone.
(23) G.T Nanavati-Akshay Mehta judical commission:- Probing the Godhra train carnage and post Godhra riots.
(24) Justice B.N Srikrishna is the head of the committee on Telangana issue. The committee is requested to submit its report by dec 31, 2010.
(25) Census 2011:-15th national census of India. President being first person to share her details. First census was conducted in 1872.
(26) D.P Wadhawa Committee On PDS:-Established by the Supreme Court to give recommendation on the reform of public distribution system.
(27) Rajiv Gandhi Grammeen LPG Vitarak Yojna:- Union petroleum and natural gas ministry inaugurated this scheme for providing liquefied petroleum gas to the rural house hold at Lachhman ghar in sikar district of Rajasthan .
• Under the scheme it is proposed to increase the number of connection to 16 crores with coverage of 75% of population by 2015.
(28) Punchhi Commission:-Commission on centre state relation. It was constituted in April 2007. It was ask to make recommendation to help address the emerging challenges faced by the nation regarding centre state relation.
Before this in mid 1980’s the SARKARI commission had undertaken a comprehensive review of the center state relation.
(29) National Integration Council:-The Govt. has reconstituted it which will be chaired by prime minister. Set up in the early 60’s by Nehru.
(30) E.R Rammohan Committee on Dantewada Massacre of CRPF personal.
(31) ICDS:-Integrated child development service launched on 2nd Oct 1975.
• It is the world largest programme for early child hood.
• The objective is to improve the nutritional and health status of children in the age group of 0-6 years.
(33) Green India Mission:- Ministry of environment and forests and the defense research and development organization have launched the mission.
• The aim is to bring a million heacter of high altitude, cold desert
ecosystem under cultivation by 2020.
(34) Pradhan Mantra Adarsh Gram Yojna:- It was launched in Rajasthan Sriganga nagar district.
• Aim at integrated development of 1,000 villages where a majority of the population belongs to the schedule caste.
• It is a replica of U.P’s Ambedkar village scheme.
(35) Jawaharlal Nehru National Solar Mission:- Objective -Generation of 20000 mw of solar energy in three phases by 2022.
• Under this govt. aims to add at least 1000 mw solar power by the end of 2013.
• Power Finance Corporation and the rural electrification corporation had agreed to provide financial assistance.
(36) Certified command of state centre force in chattisgrah, orissa,Jharkhand, Bengal was mooted to counter naxal problem. Under this a IG rank officer or a retired major general on board should be headed the certified command. In this:-
• Additional helicopters should be provided.
• 400 new police stations should be opened.
• 34 new battalions should be constituted.
(37) S. Irani committee:- Rajasthan Govt appointed this committee regarding the Issue of providing reservation to Gujjars.
(38) Pradhan committee:-
• Investigate Nov 26 2008 terror attack.
(39) Muzzafar Jan Commission:-
This committee had probed the gang rape of 17 years old Asiya and pregnant neelofar in shopiaon (J&K).
(40) Kasturi Rangan Committee:- Council of scientific and industrial research (CSIR) has set up this committee. To see the capability of the national aerospace laboratory (NAL) to build civil aircraft.
Monday, February 28, 2011
Union Budget 2011-12
The Union Budget 2011-12 aims to sustain economic growth, strengthen infrastructure, moderate the price rise, particularly of agricultural produce and reduce social imbalances through inclusive development. Presenting the budget 2011-12 in the Lok Sabha February 28, the Finance Minister Shri Pranab Mukherjee said that the budget is a transition towards a more transparent and result oriented economic management system in India. He said while developments on India’s external sector have been encouraging, continued high food prices have remained our principal concern. He said that the trend revealed shortcomings in distribution and marketing system. The Finance Minister said that huge differences between wholesale and retail prices are at the expense of remunerative prices for the farmers and competitive prices for consumers.
For sustaining growth tax reform will continue with the Direct Taxes Code (DTC) to be operationalised from April, 2012 while a Constitution Amendment Bill is proposed to be introduced during the current session of Parliament as a step towards roll out of the Goods and Services Tax (GST). He said the introduction of DTC and GST will result in moderation of rates, simplification of laws and better compliance. The Finance Minister re-iterated the Government’s resolve to move towards direct transfer of cash subsidy to people living below poverty line in a phased manner. He said that the Nutrient Based Subsidy (NBS) has improved the availability of fertilizers and the Government is actively considering extension of NBS regime to cover urea.
Finance Minister announced a number of measures to strengthen the agricultural sector particularly in the areas of pulses, vegetables and oil palm . He announced Rs. 300 crore expenditure to promote 60,000 pulses villages in rain fed areas for increasing crop productivity and strengthening market linkages. He also proposed to spend Rs. 300 crore to promote oil palm plantation in 60,000 hectares and Rs. 300 crore for the initiative on vegetable cluster. Rs. 400 crore is proposed to be spent to improve rice based cropping system in the Eastern Region. Capital investment in fertilizer production is proposed to be included as an infrastructure sub-sector since investment in the sector is capital intensive.
The allocation for social sector has been increased by 17% to Rs. 1,60,887 crore which amounts to 36.4% of the total plan allocation. Bharat Nirman, which includes Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana (PMGSY), accelerated irrigation benefit programme, Rajiv Gandhi Grameen Vidyutikaran Yojana, Indira Awas Yojana, National Rural Drinking Water Programme and Rural Telephony have together been allocated Rs. 58,000 crore. Remuneration for Anganwadi workers have been increased to Rs. 3000 per month from Rs. 1500 per month while the Anganwadi helpers will get Rs. 1500 per month. This will be effective from 1st April 2011 benefiting about 22 lakh Anganwadi workers and helpers.
The allocation on education has been increased by 24% to Rs. 52,057 crore. Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan gets Rs. 21,000 crore which is 40% higher than the previous year’s allocation of Rs. 15,000 crore. The Finance Minister also proposed to introduce a scholarship scheme for needy students belonging to the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes studying in classes IX and X. It would benefit about 40 lakh students. Plan allocation for Health has also been increased by 20 per cent to Rs. 26,760 crores. The Rashtriya Swasthaya Bima Yojana will be extended to the unorganized sector workers in hazardous mining and associated industries.
Underlining the need to strengthen Public Sector Banks (PSBs) the Finance Minister proposed to provide Rs. 6000 crore to maintain tier 1 capital to risk weighted asset ratio. He also proposed to infuse Rs. 500 crore into Regional Rural Banks (RRB) . A Women’s Self Help Groups Development Fund with a corpus of Rs. 500 crore is proposed to be created. He also proposed to create a micro finance equity fund of Rs. 100 crore with Small Industrial Development Bank of India (SIDBI) for providing equity to smaller micro finance institutions. Rs. 3000 crore will be provided to NABARD to help handloom weaver cooperative societies to become financially viable.
Interest subvention of 1 per cent on housing loans will now be available for loans upto Rs. 15 lakh where the cost of house does not exceed Rs. 25 lakh. The present limit for the loan amount is Rs. 10 lakh while the cost of the house should not exceed Rs. 20 lakh.
The total plan expenditure has been increased by 18.3 per cent to Rs. 4,41,547 crore and the non-plan expenditure increases by 10.9 per cent to Rs. 8,16,182 crore. The gross tax receipts are estimated to grow by 24.9 per cent to Rs. 9,32,440. Rs. 2,01,733 crore will be transferred to the Sates and UTs as plan and non plan transfers. This also marks a rise of 23 per cent over budget estimates of last year. The fiscal deficit is estimated at Rs. 4,12,817 crore which works out to 4.6 per cent of the GDP.
Turning to the direct taxes, the Finance Minister proposed to increase the exemption limit for general category individual tax payers by Rs. 20,000 to Rs. 1,80,000 per year. This will provide a uniform tax relief of Rs. 2000 to every tax payer of this category. The benefit for senior citizens will now be available at 60 years of age and the exemption limit will go up from Rs. 2,40,000 to Rs. 2,50,000. Those who are 80 years and above have been brought under a new category called very senior citizens and the exemption limit in this category will be Rs. 5 lakhs.
The minimum alternate tax rate has been hiked from 18 per cent to 18.5 per cent of book profits. Developers of Special Economic Zones as well as units operating MAT in SEZs have been brought under MAT. Tax benefit for investment in long term infrastructural bonds will continue for one more year. Income from foreign subsidiaries of Indian Company will now attract a lower tax of 15 per cent tax on dividends.
Turning to indirect tax, the finance Minister said that there are 370 items that enjoy the exemption from Central Excise Duty but are chargeable to VAT. He proposed to withdraw the exemption on 130 of these items. The remaining 240 items would be brought into the tax net when GST is introduced. A nominal 1 per cent central excise duty is being imposed on 130 items. The basic customs duty has been reduced from 30 to 5 per cent on raw silk, from 5 to 2.5 per cent on certain textile intermediates and from 7.5 per cent to 5 per cent on certain inputs for manufacture of technical fibre and yarn. Stainless steel scrap has been fully exempted from customs. Export duty on iron ore has been increased to 20 per cent ad valorem both for lumps and fines. The basic customs duty on pet coke and gypsum has been reduced 2.5 per cent to give relief to cement industry.
On the service tax front a few new services have been brought under tax net. Hotel accommodation in excess of Rs. 1000 per day and service provided by air conditioned restaurants with licence to serve liquor have been brought under the tax net. Service tax on air travel has been raised by Rs. 50 in case of domestic air travel and Rs. 250 on international journey by economy class. Services provided by Life Insurance Company in the area of investment and some more legal services have also been brought under tax net.
Finance Minister said the proposals on direct taxes are estimated to result in a revenue loss of Rs. 11,500 crore while those on the service tax will yield Rs. 4000 crore more. The Finance Minister has kept the disinvestment target at Rs. 40,000 crore for the coming year. He, however, reiterated that the Government is committed to retain at least 51 percent ownership and management control of the CPSUs. He said that as an emerging economy India stands at the threshold at the decade which presents immense possibilities. He said we have the voice on the global stage and we must not let the recent trends and tensions hold us back from converting these possibilities into realities.
Union Budget 2011-12 Highlights:
· Critical institutional reforms set pace for double-digit growth · Scaled up flow of resources infuses dynamism in rural economy · GDP estimated to have grown at 8.6% in 2010-11 · Exports grown by 9.6%, imports by 17.6% in April-January 2010-11 over corresponding period last year · Indian economy expected to grow at 9% in 2011-12. · Five-fold strategy to deal with black money. Group of Ministers to suggest ways for tackling corruption · Public Debt Management Agency of India Bill to come up next financial year · Direct Tax Code (DTC) to be effective from April 01, 2012 · Phased move towards direct transfer cash subsidy to BPL people for better delivery of kerosene, LPG and fertilizer mooted · Rs.40,000 crore to be raised through disinvestment in 2011-12 · FDI policy to be liberalized further · SEBI registered mutual funds permitted to accept subscription from foreign investors who meet KYC requirement · FII limit for investment in corporate bonds in infrastructure sector raised · Additional banking license to private sector players proposed · Rs.6000 crore to be provided in 2011-12 for maintaining minimum Tier I Capital to Risk Weighted Asset Ratio (CRAR) of 8% in public sector banks · Rs.500 crore to be provided to regional rural banks to maintain 9% CRAR · India Microfinance Equity Fund of Rs.100 crore to be created by SIDBI · Rs. 500 crore Women SHG Development Fund to be created · Micro Small and Medium Enterprises MSME gets boost as Rs. 5000 crore provided to SIDBI and Rs.3000 crore to NABARD · Existing housing loan limit enhanced to Rs.25 lakh for dwelling units · Provision under Rural housing Fund enhanced to Rs.3000 crore · Allocation under Rashtirya Krishi Vikas yojna (RKVY) increased to Rs.7860 crore · Allocation of Rs.300 crore to promote 60000 pulses villages in rainfed areas · Rs. 300 crore vegetable initiative to achieve competitive prices · Rs.300 crore to promote higher production of nutri-cereals · Rs.300 crore to promote animal based protein · Rs.300 crore Accelerated Fodder Development Programme to benefit farmers in 25000 villages · Credit flow to farmers raised from Rs.3,75,000 crore to Rs.4,75,000 crore · Rs.10,000 crore for NABARD’s Short Term Rural Credit Fund for 2011-12 · 15 more mega food parks during 2011-12 · National food security bill to be introduced this year · Capital investment in storage capacity to be eligible for viability gap funding · 23.3% increase in allocation for infrastructure · Tax-free bonds of Rs.30,000 crore proposed by government undertakings · Environmental concerns relating to infrastructure projects to be considered by Group of Ministers · National Mission for Hybrid and Electric Vehicles to be launched · 7 Mega clusters for leather products to be set up · Allocation for social sector increased by 17% amounting to 36.4% of total plan allocation · Bharat Nirman allocation increased by Rs.10,000 crore · Rural broadband connectivity to all 2.5 lakh panchayats in three years. · Bill to amend Indian Stamp Act to introduce. Rs.300 crore scheme for modernization stamp and registration administration · Significant increase in remuneration of Angawadi workers and helpers · Allocation for education increased by24%. Rs.21,000 crore allocated for Sarv Shikshya Abhiyan registering an increase of 40% · 1500 institute of higher learning to be connected by March 2012 with Knowledge Knowledge Network. · National Innovation Council set up. Additional Rs.500 crore for National Skill Development Fund · Plan allocation for health stepped up by20% · Indira Gandhi National Old Age Pension Scheme liberalized further · Rs.200 crore for Green India Mission · Rs.200 crore for cleaning of rivers · Rs.8000 crore provided for development needs of J&K · 10 lakhs Aadhaar(UID) numbers to be generated everyday from 1st October · Fiscal deficit kept at 4.6% of GDP for 2011-12 · Income Tax exemption limit for general category in individual tax payers enhanced from Rs.1,60,000 to Rs.1,80,000 · Qualifying age for senior citizens lowered to 60; senior citizen above 80 year to get Rs.5,00,000 IT exemption · Surcharge on corporate lowered to 5%
83 OSCAR AWARD WINNERS
The King's Speech" won the top Academy Award, for best picture, giving the British royals drama a total of four Oscars.
The acclaimed film about the efforts of the future King George VI to overcome a crippling stammer went into the event with a leading 12 nominations. It won such key awards as best actor for its star, Colin Firth.
The best picture award was accepted by its producers, Iain Canning, Emile Sherman and Gareth Unwin.
The nine other contenders were "Black Swan," "The Fighter," "Inception," "The Kids Are All Right," "127 Hours," "The Social Network," "Toy Story 3," "True Grit" and "Winter's Bone."
British actor Colin Firth won the Academy Award for his lead role as stammering wartime monarch King George VI in "The King's Speech."
WINNERS LIST:
BEST PICTURE: The King's Speech (Iain Canning, Emile Sherman and Gareth Unwin, Producers)
DIRECTING: The King's Speech (Tom Hooper)
ACTOR IN A LEADING ROLE: Colin Firth in The King's Speech
ACTRESS IN A LEADING ROLE: Natalie Portman in Black Swan
ACTOR IN A SUPPORTING ROLE: Christian Bale in The Fighter
ACTRESS IN A SUPPORTING ROLE: Melissa Leo in The Fighter
FOREIGN-LANGUAGE FILM: In a Better World (Denmark) (defeating Montrealer Denis Villeneuve’s Incendies)
ANIMATED FEATURE FILM: Toy Story 3 (Lee Unkrich)
WRITING (ADAPTED SCREENPLAY): The Social Network (Screenplay by Aaron Sorkin)
WRITING (ORIGINAL SCREENPLAY): The King's Speech (Screenplay by David Seidler)
SHORT FILM (ANIMATED): The Lost Thing (Shaun Tan and Andrew Ruhemann)
DOCUMENTARY (SHORT SUBJECT): Strangers No More (Karen Goodman and Kirk Simon)
SHORT FILM (LIVE ACTION): God of Love (Luke Matheny)
ART DIRECTION: Alice in Wonderland
MAKEUP: The Wolfman (Rick Baker and Dave Elsey)
COSTUME DESIGN: Alice in Wonderland (Colleen Atwood)
CINEMATOGRAPHY: Inception (Wally Pfister)
VISUAL EFFECTS: Inception (Paul Franklin, Chris Corbould, Andrew Lockley and Peter Bebb)
FILM EDITING: The Social Network (Angus Wall and Kirk Baxter)
DOCUMENTARY (FEATURE): Inside Job (Charles Ferguson and Audrey Marrs)
MUSIC (ORIGINAL SCORE): The Social Network (Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross)
MUSIC (ORIGINAL SONG): We Belong Together from Toy Story 3 (Music and Lyric by Randy Newman)
SOUND MIXING: Inception (Lora Hirschberg, Gary A. Rizzo and Ed Novick)
SOUND EDITING: Inception (Richard King)
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