Monday, December 4, 2023

Air Quality Index

A Commission has been constituted under the Commission for Air Quality Management in NCR and Adjoining Areas Act, 2021 up in accordance with the notification dated 23rd April, 2021 towards better coordination, research, identification and resolution of problems surrounding the air quality index in NCR and adjoining areas and for matters connected therewith or incidental thereto.

The commission for Air Quality Management in NCR & Adjoining Areas (CAQM), since its inception in 2021, undertakes action for the prevention and control of Air pollution in Delhi-NCR & Adjoining Areas which impacts the air quality of the NCT Delhi. The Commission adopting an air-shed like approach has issued a comprehensive policy to curb Air pollution NCR in July 2022 by constituting an expert group. The policy has sector-wise action plan for prevention and control of air pollution in the region by various sectors contributing to air pollution. The Commission has also issued statutory directions and advisories for control of air pollution in NCR from time to time. Since inception the Commission has so far issued 78 directions and 11 advisories, besides executive orders to various agencies concerned in the NCR including State Governments of Punjab, GNCTD, and various bodies of the Central and State Governments in the region. Due to these concerted efforts general improvements in the AQI level has been witnessed in the region.

Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) was formulated for Delhi-NCR to tackle the issue of sudden rise in air pollution levels which was notified by MoEF&CC in January 2017 on recommendation of Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) for implementation. A comprehensive review of actions listed under GRAP was carried out by CPCB in 2020 based on actions taken and improvement observed in air quality in recent years. Based on the inputs given by CPCB, the revised GRAP was published by CAQM and further directions were issued for its implementation.

Steps taken for control of air pollution are as following:

1. The CAQM has deputed 40 teams of CPCB officers since December 2021, for conducting incognito inspections of air polluting industries, C&D sites, DG sets in Delhi-NCR to check implementation status of pollution control measures and compliance of other provisions of the Air (P&CP) Act, 1981. A total of 16037units/entities/ projects have been inspected as on November 24, 2023. Based on these inspections, CAQM has issued Closure Directions in 899 cases and out of these resumption orders have been issued in 708 cases while 132 cases are still under closure and cases of 59 balance units have been transferred to State Pollution Control Boards (SPCBs) / Delhi Pollution Control Committee (DPCC) for final decision.

2. CPCB has come out with System and Procedure for Emission Compliance Testing of Retro-fit Emission Control Devices (RECD) for Diesel Power Generating Set Engines up to Gross Mechanical Power 800 kW. RECDs have been developed for DG sets of 209-799 kW capacity and installation of RECDs is in progress in Delhi-NCR. In order to control DG set emissions, CPCB is also funding retrofitment/ upgradation of DG sets in Govt. hospitals in Delhi-NCR and guidelines have been issued in this regard. Under the said guidelines, 100 % funding support is provided for RECD and dual fuel kit installation while 40% funding support is provided for procurement of new gas based Generator sets.

3. CPCB has issued guidelines/ mechanism for use of anti-smog guns in Construction and Demolition projects. Also, CPCB has published guidelines for dust mitigation measures in handling construction materials and C&D waste.

4. CPCB has framed guidelines for promoting setting up of paddy straw based pelletization and torrefaction plants wherein one-time financial assistance is provided to individual entities/entrepreneurs/ companies for setting up of such plants.A corpus of Rs. 50 crores has been earmarked for utilisation through the guidelines. A total of 10 plants (1 in principle) have been sanctioned so far: 8 in Punjab, 1 in Haryana and 1 in UP.

5. CPCB has also issued an addendum under which one-time financial assistance is provided to Municipal Corporations, Municipal Councils and ZillaParishads of the states of Punjab, Haryana, NCT of Delhi and NCR districts of Uttar Pradesh and Rajasthan, for establishing paddy straw based briquetting plants for use of briquettes for cremation purpose only.

6. Installation of VRS system at 3256 petrol pumps in Delhi-NCR in compliance with orders of Hon’ble Supreme Court and Hon’ble NGT.

7. Trial study of various new technologies for control of air pollution have been got conducted by CPCB out of which encouraging results were observed in case of Dust Suppressant for control of emissions at construction sites and road dust. Advisory have been issued for use of dust suppressant by road owning and construction agencies in Delhi-NCR.

Mera Bill Mera Adhikaar scheme


The government launched the 'mera bill mera adhikaar' scheme to promote invoice usage and offer incentives to consumers.

KeyPoints:
👉 The scheme is currently implemented in Haryana, Assam, Gujarat, and the union territories of Dadra and Nagar Haveli, Daman and Diu and Puducherry.
👉 Consumers have a chance to win cash prizes ranging from ₹10,000 to ₹1 crore by participating in the scheme.
👉 The minimum value for invoices to be considered for the draw has been kept at ₹200.
👉 All invoices issued by GST registered sellers will be eligible for the scheme and maximum 25 invoices will be considered from an individual in a month.

Friday, November 10, 2023

Wednesday, November 8, 2023

Schemes for Welfare of Women

The Government is implementing several schemes/programmes for welfare, rehabilitation; empowerment, education and providing employment to destitute women which inter-alia include the following:

SwadharGreh Scheme

  • The Scheme caters to primary needs of women in difficult circumstances – women and girls rendered homeless due to family discord, crime, violence, mental stress, social ostracism or are being forced into prostitution and are in moral danger.
  • The scheme through the provisions of shelter, food, clothing, counselling, training, clinical and legal aid aims to rehabilitate such women in difficult circumstance economically and emotionally.
  • Under SwadharGreh Scheme vocational and skill upgradation training is provided for economic rehabilitation of women.

Home for Widows

  • A Home for widows has been set up in Vrindavan, Uttar Pradesh with a capacity of 1,000 inmates to provide widows a safe and secure place of stay, health services, nutritious food, legal and counselling services.

One Stop Centres (OSCs)

  • Popularly known as Sakhi Centres, aim to facilitate women affected by violence (including domestic violence) with a range of integrated services under one roof such as Police facilitation, medical aid, legal aid and legal counselling, psycho-social counselling, temporary shelter, etc.

Women Helpline (WHL) Scheme

  • It provides 24 hours emergency and non-emergency response to women affected by violence, both in public and private spaces by linking them with appropriate authority such as Police, One Stop Centre, Hospital, Legal Services, etc.
  • WHL also supports women in distress with rescue van and counselling services in addition to providing information about women welfare schemes and programs across the country.
  • Women can dial 181 short code to avail services from Women Helpline.

Hub for Empowerment of Women (HEW)

  • For increasing awareness about schemes of the Ministry and other measures undertaken by the Government for welfare and development of women, National, State and District Level Hubs for Empowerment of Women (HEW) have been approved under the new Mission Shakti, with the aim to facilitate inter-sectoral convergence of schemes and programs meant for women at different levels with the mandate to create an environment in which women realize their full potential.
  • The support under the HEW component is available for guiding, linking and hand holding women to various institutional and schematic set-up for their empowerment and development including equal access to healthcare, quality education, career and vocational counselling/training, financial inclusion, entrepreneurship, backward and forward linkages, health and safety for workers, social security and digital literacy at various levels across the country.

Indira Gandhi National Widow Pension Scheme

  • Under this scheme, widow pension is provided to the widows belonging to Below Poverty Line (BPL) households.
  • This is a sub-scheme under National Social Assistance Programme (NSAP) of Ministry of Rural Development. Under the scheme, central assistance @ Rs. 300/- per month is provided to widows in the age group of 40-79 years and the pension amount is enhanced to Rs 500/- per month on attaining 80 years.

National Social Assistance Programme (NSAP)

  • The National Social Assistance Programme (NSAP) is a fully funded Centrally Sponsored Scheme targeting the destitute to be identified by the States and UTs with the objective of providing a basic level of financial support.
  • Under NSAP, central assistance of Rs. 200 – 300/- is provided in pension to senior citizens (60 years and above), widows (40-79 years) and to disabled persons.

Ayushman Bharat Programme

  • In alignment with the goals under National Health Policy (NHP) 2017, the Government announced the ambitious and holistic Ayushman Bharat Programme with its twin pillars of Health and Wellness Centres and the Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (PMJAY) in September 2018.
  • Under Jan Aarogya Yojana, coverage is provided to poor and vulnerable families. This is likely to help improve women’s access to health care services.

Stand Up India

  • Government of India launched the Stand Up India scheme on 5th April 2016 to promote entrepreneurship amongst women, SC and ST categories, i.e., those sections of the population understood to be facing significant hurdles due to lack of advice/ mentorship as well as inadequate and delayed credit.
  • The Scheme facilitates bank loans between Rs. 10 lakh to Rs. 1 crore to at least one scheduled Caste/ Scheduled Tribe borrower and at least one woman borrower per bank branch of Scheduled Commercial Banks for setting up Greenfield enterprises in trading, manufacturing and services sector.

Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Kendras

  • Government has set up the PradhanMantri Kaushal Kendras under the Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Vikas Yojana across the country.
  • Emphasis has been laid on creating additional infrastructure both for training and apprenticeship for women, flexible training delivery mechanisms such as mobile training units, flexible afternoon batches along with local need-based training to accommodate women and ensuring safe and gender sensitive training environment of women trainers, equity in remuneration and complaint redressal mechanism.

MGNREGA

  • The Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act, 2005 (MGNREGA) seeks to ensure employment in rural households, mandating that at least one third of the jobs generated should be given to women.
  • The MGNREGA Guidelines have also made special provisions to encourage the participation of women, including giving preference to women (especially single women) and older persons for work on worksites nearer to their residences, child care facilities at the worksite in case more than five children under 6 years of age are present, adequate representation of women in the MGNREGS staff, ensuring that widows, deserted women and destitute women are provided 100 days of work, awareness and outreach activities to ensure that all wage seekers (including women) are able to handle bank procedures, treating pregnant and lactating mothers as a special category and provision of suitable work for them, etc.

Pradhan Mantri Shram Yogi Maan-dhan

  • Pradhan Mantri Shram Yogi Maan-dhan (PM-SYM) has been launched to ensure old age protection for Unorganised Workers who are not covered by any other pension scheme.
  • The unorganised workers including women, are ones engaged as home-based workers, street vendors, mid-day meal workers, head loaders, brick kiln workers, cobblers, rag pickers, domestic workers, washer men, rickshaw pullers, landless labourers, agricultural workers, construction workers, beedi workers, handloom workers, leather workers, audio-visual workers and similar other occupation whose monthly income is Rs 15,000/ per month or less and belong to the entry age group of 18-40 years.

Pradhan Mantri Mudra Yojana

  • Pradhan Mantri Mudra Yojana (PMMVY) has been initiated by Government, inter alia, for facilitation self-employment. Under PMMVY, collateral free loans upto Rs. 10 lakh are extended to micro/small business enterprises and to individuals to enable them to setup or expand their business activitiesMajority of the beneficiaries under this yojna are women.

Prime Minister Awaas Yojana

  • PMAY-Grameen scheme aims to provide ‘Housing for All’ through provision of pucca house with basic amenities to all houseless households and households living in kutcha and dilapidated house in rural areas by 2022. This will also benefit the neglected, abandoned and destitute widows.
  • Pradhan Mantri Awaas Yojana (Urban) is a Scheme with a vision for facilitating Housing for All by 2022 started from 17.06.2015. Under this scheme, central assistance is provided to States/UTs in addressing the housing requirement of Economically Weaker Sections (EWS) including slum dwellers in the urban areas. However, under Credit linked Subsidy Scheme (CLSS) component of the Mission, LIG, MIG I & MIG II segments are also covered.

DAY-NULM

  • Deendayal Antyodaya Yojana-National Urban Livelihood Mission (DAY-NULM) is implemented in statutory towns to reduce poverty and vulnerability of urban poor households, for improvement in their livelihoods on a sustainable basis.
  • The mission provides for broadening of coverage to include families of disadvantaged groups like SCs, STs, Women, Minorities, disabled etc. subject to maximum of 25 percent of the above urban poor population.

Atal Pension Yojana (APY)

  • This scheme is implemented with an objective to create a universal social security system for all Indians, especially the poor, the under privileged and workers in the unorganized sector.
  • The scheme is open to all citizens of India between 18-40 years of age having a saving bank account in a bank or post office.

Integrated Programme for Older Persons

  • The objective of the Scheme is to improve the quality of life of the Senior Citizens, including women, by providing basic amenities like shelter, food, medical care and entertainment opportunities and by encouraging productive and active ageing through providing support for capacity building of State/UT Governments/Non-Governmental Organizations/ Panchayati Raj Institutions/ local bodies and the community at large.

Scheme for Development of Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups (PVTGs)

  • There are certain groups among Scheduled Tribes which have declining or stagnant population, low level of literacy, pre-agricultural level of technology and are economically backward.
  • These groups are among the most vulnerable sections of our society as they are few in numbers, have not attained any significant level of social and economic development and generally inhabit remote localities having poor infrastructure and administrative support.
  • 75 such groups in 18 States and one UT have been identified and categorized as Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups (PVTGs). In 1998-99, a separate 100% Centrally Sponsored for exclusive development of PVTGs was started. Based on the knowledge and experiences gathered in implementation of the scheme, it has been revised with effect from 17.09.2019 to make it more effective.

National Family Benefit Scheme (NFBS)

  • The Ministry of Rural Development Implements National Family Benefit Scheme (NFBS) under which monetary grant of Rs. 20,000 is given as lump sum assistance to the bereaved household in the event of death of the bread-winner.

Annapurna Scheme

  • Under Annapurna Scheme of the Ministry of Rural Development, 10 kg of food grain is given to those eligible aged persons who have remained uncovered under the Indira Ghandhi National Old Age Pension Scheme (IGNOAPS).

Nari Arthik Sashaktikaran Yojana

  • The Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment implements Nari Arthik Sashaktikaran Yojana to support Scheduled Castes, Single Women/Widows to take up income generating activities.

Assistance for Vocational Training of Widows of Ex-Servicemen

  • The Ministry of Defense provides financial assistance for vocational training of widows of ex-servicemen, treatment of serious diseases of non-pensioner ex-servicemen/widows and daughter’s marriage/widows’ remarriage.

Wednesday, October 25, 2023

Thursday, October 19, 2023

Wednesday, October 18, 2023

TSPSC JUNIOR LECTURERS GENERAL STUDIES & GENERAL ABILITIES MASTER QUESTION PAPER (EXAM HELD ON: 03-10-2023)

TSPSC JUNIOR LECTURERS GENERAL STUDIES & GENERAL ABILITIES MASTER QUESTION PAPER (EXAM HELD ON: 29-09-2023)

TSPSC JUNIOR LECTURERS GENERAL STUDIES & GENERAL ABILITIES MASTER QUESTION PAPER (EXAM HELD ON: 27-09-2023)

TSPSC JUNIOR LECTURERS GENERAL STUDIES & GENERAL ABILITIES MASTER QUESTION PAPER (EXAM HELD ON: 26-09-2023)

TSPSC JUNIOR LECTURERS GENERAL STUDIES & GENERAL ABILITIES MASTER QUESTION PAPER (EXAM HELD ON: 25-09-2023)

 

TSPSC JUNIOR LECTURERS GENERAL STUDIES & GENERAL ABILITIES MASTER QUESTION PAPER (EXAM HELD ON: 22-09-2023)

 

TSPSC JUNIOR LECTURERS GENERAL STUDIES & GENERAL ABILITIES MASTER QUESTION PAPER (EXAM HELD ON: 21-09-2023)

TSPSC JUNIOR LECTURERS GENERAL STUDIES & GENERAL ABILITIES MASTER QUESTION PAPER (EXAM HELD ON: 20-09-2023)

Government Schemes of India




 

Sunday, October 8, 2023

Thursday, October 5, 2023

Dadasaheb Phalke Awards


 

Tuesday, October 3, 2023

Miniature Paintings of India


 

Sunday, October 1, 2023

Population


 

Friday, September 29, 2023

Women's Reservation Bill


 

Thursday, September 28, 2023

Types of Indirect Taxes in India

🖍️ Sales Tax

The tax that levies on the sales of goods. Union Government imposes the sales tax on the Inter-State sale, while the sale tax on Intra-state sale is levied by the State Government.

This tax is divided into three segments as Inter-State Sale, Sale during import/export and Intra-State sale.

🖍️Service Tax

This tax is an indirect tax that taxpayers have to pay service tax on paid services. Paid services are the telephone, tour operator, architect, interior decorator, advertising, health center, banking and financial service, event management, maintenance service, consultancy service.

The Interest on the service tax is 15%.

🖍️Value Added Tax

This type of tax is collected by the state government. For an example, if we purchase a good then we must pay an additional tax as Value Added Tax to the government.

VAT rate is decided based on nature of item and state.

🖍️Custom Duty and Octroi Tax

This tax is levied on those goods that are imported into India from outside.

The Custom Duty tax is paid at the port of entry in the country as the airport. This tax rate also varies over the nature of goods.

While the Octroi tax is charged on the goods entering the municipality.

🖍️Excise Duty

The is also an indirect tax that levies on the goods which, are produced within the country.

This tax is not related to the Custom Duty.

Excise Duty is also known as Central Value Added Tax

Direct Taxes in India

 These types of taxes are directly paid to the government of India by individual/entity


Types of Direct Taxes in India

A. Income Tax

This tax is well known in India. This tax is paid by the taxpayer whose income exceeds the taxable limit. The taxpayers have to pay tax on applicable rates. As per income tax rate for F.Y 2018-19, we do not have to pay income tax if your income is up to INR 2,50,000. But if your earning exceeds 2.5 lakhs then you have to pay 5% tax as income tax up to INR 5 lakhs of Income. Rebate of 2500/- is available for total income up to 3.5 lacs.

B.Capital Gains Tax

Capital gain tax is the tax that has to be borne by the individual/entity at the time of sale of any capital asset for instance property, shares, bonds and valuable material etc . It is levied on the difference between sale price and purchase cost (or indexed cost).

Capital gain can be long term or short term on the basis of holding period of the capital assets. For instance, for immovable property, if holding period is greater than 24 months then it will be treated as long term capital gain.

Tax rate for short term and long term capital gain differs based on their nature.

C. Securities Transaction Tax

Securities transaction tax (STT) was introduced in the 2004 Union Budget and came into effect from 1 October 2004.The basic motive behind introduction of Securities transaction tax (STT) was to curb curb evading of taxes on profits from capital gains earned by transacting in securities. This tax is levied at the time of purchase and sale of securities listed on stock exchanges in India. The rate of STT differs based on the type of security traded and whether the transaction is a purchase or a sale.

D. Fringe Benefit Tax

Tax paid on fringe benefits provided by the company to employees. This is separate to income tax and is calculated on the taxable value of the fringe benefits provided.

E. Corporate Tax

Corporate tax also called corporation tax is levied on the income of corporate bodies of our country. In India, the taxation companies are divided into international and domestic companies.

General Essay


 

Wednesday, September 27, 2023

New Parliament


 

Thursday, September 21, 2023

Sunday, September 17, 2023