IAS Interview 2012: Important Topics for Indian Economy

In this era of globalisation when every individual is an integral part of world economy the need of awareness of economic issues grows several times. At a time when you can’t isolate yourself from economic developments world over, it is required for every individual to know the economy thoroughly.
Economy, that covers a considerable proportion of the current affairs syllabus, alone can make a great difference in one’s performance in the civil services interview. Economy, both Indian and international are equally- important as both are interlinked and affect each other a great deal. As an IAS aspirant one is expected to know the economic issues well as it defines one’s sensibility towards the developments that takes place on economic front.

A candidate who has a fair knowledge of economic issues certainly holds an edge over others who are ignorant of economic developments around. Economic terms like inflation, GDP, CRR, SLR are not only economic terms but an important part of your preparation of civil services exams. We are here suggesting you some significant topics that you must read as a part of your preparation for IAS interview.

Budget Estimate for Union Budget 2012-13

Tax Proposals under Union Budget 2012-13

Sector-wise Allocation underUnion Budget 2012-13

Budgetary allocation for Infrastructure Sector in Union Budget 2012-13

Provisions for Social Inclusion under Union Budget 2012-13

Provisions for Health and Education Sector in Union Budget 2012-13

Agriculture and allied sector allocation under Union Budget 2012-13

Highlights of Union Budget 2012-13

Provisions for Rural Development in Union Budget 2012-13

Analysis of Economic Survey 2011-12

Highlights of Economic Survey 2011-12

Union Railway Budget 2012-13

Budget Estimates 2012-13

Union Finance Minister Pranab Mukharjee presented the union budget 2012-13 in the parliament on 16 March 2012. The minister in his budget speech, projected the economic growth for 2012-13 to be 7.6%.

While the total tax receipts for fiscal year 2012-13 is estimated to be 1077612 crore rupees, the total budgetary expenditure is projected to be 1490925 crore rupees. Budgetary allocations for various sectors including education, health, agriculture, defence also received a reasonable hike.

     The highlights of Budget Estimates 2012-13 are presented below:

•    Gross Tax Receipts estimated at 1077612 crore rupees.
•    Net Tax to Centre estimated at 771071 crore rupees.
•    Non-tax Revenue Receipts estimated at 164614 crore rupees.
•    Non-debt Capital Receipts estimated at 41650 crore rupees.
•    Temporary arrangement to use disinvestment proceeds for capital expenditure in social sector schemes extended for one more year.
•    Total expenditure for 2012-13 budgeted at 1490925 crore rupees.
•    Plan expenditure for 2012-13 at 521025 crore rupees is 18 per cent higher than Budget Estimate of 2011-12. 99 per cent of the total plan outlay met in the Eleventh Plan.
•    Non-plan expenditure estimated at 969900 crore rupees.
•    365216 crore rupees estimated to be transferred to States.
•    Fiscal deficit at 5.1 per cent of GDP in Budget Estimate 2012-13.
•    Net market borrowing required to finance the deficit to be 4.79 lakh crore rupees in 2012-13.
•    Central Government debt at 45.5 per cent of GDP in 2012-13 as compared to Thirteenth Finance Commission target of 50.5 per cent.
•    Effective Revenue Deficit to be 1.8 per cent of GDP in 2012-13.

Union Budget 2012-13: Sector Based Allocation

Union Finance Minister Pranab Mukharjee presented the annual budget for the fiscal year 2012-13 in the parliament on 16 March 2012.
The Union Minister of Finance came up with an increased budgetary allocation for various sectors including agriculture, rural development, defence etc. While, the Plan Outlay for Department of Agriculture and Co-operation increased by 18 percent, the target for agricultural credit raised by 100000 crore rupees to 575000 crore rupees. Budgetary allocation for rural drinking water and sanitation received a hike of over 27 per cent. Flagship programmes like Right to Education-Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan received an increase of 21.7 per cent in the budgetary allocation.

Some of the major allocations made for different sectors of economy are as follows:
Agriculture and Allied Activities
• Budgetary allocation for agriculture and allied activities 2012-13 increased by 18%
• 9217 crore rupees allocated for Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana.
• 1000 crore rupees for Bringing Green Revolution to Eastern India (BGREI) project
• 300 crore rupees to Vidarbha Intensified Irrigation Development Programme under RKVY.
• 200 crore rupees allocated for incentivising research with rewards
• 14242 crore rupees allocated for Accelerated Irrigation Benefit Programme (AIBP)
• 500 crore rupees provided to broaden scope of production of fish to coastal aquaculture
Rural Development
• 14,000 crore rupees allocated for rural drinking water and sanitation
• 24000 crore rupees allocated for Pradhan Mantri Grameen Sadak Yojna
• 12040 crore rupees provided for Backward Regions Grant Fund scheme
• 20,000 crore rupees allocated for Rural Infrastructure Development Fund
• 5000 crore  rupees earmarked for creating warehousing facilities

Education
• Sarva Siksha Abhiyan-Right to Education- 25555 crore rupees
• 3124 crore rupees provided for Rashtriya Madhyamik Shiksha Abhiyan (RMSA)

Health
• 20822 crore rupees National Rural Health Mission

Employment and skill development
• 3915 crore rupees provided for National Rural Livelihood Mission
• 1276 crore rupees allocated for Prime Minister’s Employment Generation Programme
• 1000 crore rupees allocated for National Skill Development Fund

Defence and Security
• 193407 crore rupees aallocated for Defence services including 79579crore rupees for capital expenditure
• 1185 crore rupees to be allocated for construction of nearly 4000 residential quarters for Central Armed Police Forces
• 3280 crore rupees proposed to be allocated for construction of office building of CentralArmed Police Forces

Infrastructure and Industrial Development

• 25360 crore rupees allocated for Road Transport and Highways Ministry
• 3884 crore rupees loan waiver for handloom weavers and their cooperative societies
• 500 crore rupees pilot scheme announced for promotion and application of Geo-textile in the North Eastern Region
• 70 crore rupees allocated to set up a powerloom mega cluster in Ichalkaranji in Maharashtra
• 5000 crore rupees India Opportunities Venture Fund to be set up with SIDBI
• 15888 crore rupees to be provided for capitalisation of public sector banks and financial institutions
Other major allocations
• 37113 crore rupees allocated for Scheduled Castes Sub Plan
• 21710 crore rupees earmarked for Tribal Sub Plan

Union Budget 2012-13: Budgetary Allocation for Infrastructure Development

Union Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee in the Union budget 2012-13 proposed allocation of Rs. 50 lakh crore towards infrastructure investment during the Twelfth Plan period. About half of this is likely to come from the private sector. As part of the General Budget, the Finance Minister doubled the tax free bonds for financing infrastructure projects to Rs. 60000 crore. During 2012-13, the tax free bonds include Rs. 10,000 crore each for NHAI, IRFC, IIFCL and power sector, and Rs. 5000 croreeach for HUDCO, National Housing Bank, SIDBI, and ports.

The Finance Minister also announced the inclusion of more sectors in the list of sectors eligible for Viability Gap Funding (VGF) under the scheme for support to Public Private Partnership (PPP) in infrastructure. These sectors are irrigation (including dams, channels and embankments), terminal markets, common infrastructure in agriculture markets, soil testing laboratories and capital investment in fertilizer.

It was announced during the presentation of the budget that India Infrastructure Finance Company Limited (IIFCL) set up a structure for credit enhancement and take-out finance with an objective to provide ease of access of credit to infrastructure projects. It was also informed that an Infrastructure Debt Fund with an initial size of Rs. 8000 crore was launched in early March 2012 to tap the overseas markets for long term pension and insurance funds.

It was also stated that the Government has approved guidelines under which defence Public Sector Undertakings adopting the PPP mode, can establish joint venture.

Budgetary provisions for Infrastructure Development

•    The Union Budget 2012-13 stated that investment in infrastructure is to go up to Rs 50 lakh crore with half of the total investment expected from private sector.
•    More sectors proposed to be added as eligible sectors for Viability Gap Funding under the scheme- Support to PPP in infrastructure.
•    Tax free bonds of Rs 60000 crore to be allowed for financing infrastructure projects in 2012-13
•    The Union Budget announced harmonised master list of infrastructure sector approved by the Government.
•     National Manufacturing Policy announced with the objective of raising the share of manufacturing in GDP to 25 per cent and creating of 10 crore jobs.
•    Coal India Limited was advised to sign fuel supply agreements with power plants, having long-term PPAs with DISCOMs and getting commissioned on or before 31 March 2015
•    External Commercial Borrowings (ECB) to be allowed to part finance Rupee debt of existing power projects.

Transport: Roads and Civil Aviation

The Union Budget 2012-13 proposed an increase of allocation of the Road Transport and Highways Ministry by 14 per cent to Rs 25360 crore. ECB proposed to be allowed for capital expenditure on the maintenance and operations of toll systems for roads and highways, if they are part of original project. The budget permitted direct import of Aviation Turbine Fuel for Indian carriers.
The budget also stated that the ECB is to be permitted for working capital requirement of airline industry for one year subject to a total ceiling of US $ 1 billion. Proposal to allow foreign airlines to participate upto 49 per cent in the equity of an air transport undertaking under active consideration of the government was also made.

Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises

•    Rs 5000 crore India Opportunities Venture Fund proposed to be set up with SIDBI.
•    The launch of two SME exchanges in Mumbai to enable greater access to finance by Small and Medium Enterprises (SME) was announced in the budget
•    The Union budget approved policy requiring Ministries and CPSEs to make a minimum of 20 per cent of their annual purchases from MSEs
•    Of the total 20%, 4 per cent is to be earmarked for procurement from MSEs owned by SC/ST entrepreneurs.

Textiles

Financial package of Rs 3884 crore for waiver of loans of handloom weavers and their cooperative societies was announced in the Union Budget 2012-13.

Budgetary allocation for textiles includes:

•    The budget also proposed setting up of two more mega handloom clusters, one to cover Prakasam and Guntur districts in Andhra Pradesh and another for Godda and neighbouring districts in Jharkhand
•    Three Weaver’s Service Centres one each in Mizoram, Nagaland and Jharkhand was proposed to be set up to provide technical support to poor handloom weavers
•    Rs 500 crore pilot scheme was announced for promotion and application of Geo-textiles in the North Eastern Region.
•    Powerloom mega cluster to be set up in Ichalkaranji in Maharashtra with a budget allocation of Rs 70 crore.

Union Budget 2012-13: Social Inclusion

 The Union Finance Minister Pranab Mukharjee, who presented the annual union budget 2012-13in the parliament on 16 March 2012, proposed some major allocations aiming at social inclusion.

The major provisions for social inclusion under budget 2012-13 are as follows: 

•    8447 crore rupees allocated under NSAP in 2012-13.
•    In the ongoing Indira Gandhi National Widow Pension Scheme and Indira Gandhi National Disability Pension Scheme for BPL beneficiaries, pension amount to beraised from 200 rupees to 300 rupees per month.
•    Lump sum grant on the death of primary breadwinner of a BPL family, in the age group 18-64 years, doubled to 20000 rupees.
•    To enhance access under SWAVALAMBAN scheme, LIC appointed as an Aggregator and all Public Sector Banks appointed as Points of Presence (PoP) and Aggregators.
•    Special grant provided to various universities and academic instiutions.
•    Allocation of 15850 crore rupees made for Integrated Child Development Service (ICDS) scheme
•    A multi-sectoral programme to address maternal and child malnutrition in selected 200 high burden districts is being rolled out during 2012-13
•    11937 crore rupees allocated for National Programme of Mid Day Meals in schools
•    750 crore rupees proposed for Rajiv Gandhi Scheme for Empowerment of Adolescent Girls, SABLA
•    37113 crore rupees earmarked for Scheduled Castes Sub Plan 2012-13
•    21710 crore rupees allocated for Tribal Sub Plan
•    Multisectoral Nutrition Augmentation Programme announced to combat malnutrition
•    Increase in the allocation for NRLM by over 34 percent to 3915 crores rupees in 2012-13
•    200 crores rupees to Women SHG Development Fund to enlarge the corpus to 300 crores rupees
•    Proposal to setup a Bharat Livelihoods Foundation of India through Aajeevika

Union Budget 2012-13: Provisions for Education & Health Sector

Union Finance Minister in his Union Budget 2012-13 speech tabled on 16 March 2012 announced several provisions for both the education and health sector.

Education

In the Union Budget 2012-13 tabled in the parliament on 16 March 2012, the Finance Minister proposed an increase in allocation by 21.7 per cent for Right to Education – SarvaShikshaAbhiyan to Rs.25555 crore. Increase in allocation by 29 per cent for RashtriyaMadhyamikShikshaAbhiyan to Rs. 3124 crore was also proposed.  He proposed to set up a Credit Guarantee Fund to ensure better flow of funds to students.

Budgetary Provisions for the Education Sector

•    For 2012-13, Rs 25555 crore was provided for RTE-SSA representing an increase of 21.7 per cent over 2011-12.
•    Rs 6,000 schools proposed to be set up at block level as model schools in Twelfth Plan
•    Rs 3124 crore provided for Rashtriya Madhyamik Shiksha Abhiyan (RMSA) representing an increase of 29 per cent over BE 2011-12.
•    The Union budget proposed to ensure better flow of credit to students, a Credit Guarantee Fund

Health

Union finance minister in the Union budget 2012-13 proposed to increase the allocation for NRHM to Rs.20822 crore in 2012-13. He also announced the launch of National Urban Health Mission and declared that no new case of polio was reported in last one year.

Budgetary Provisions for the Health Sector

•    The Union Budget 2012-13 proposed modernization of existing vaccine units and setting up of new integrated vaccine unit in Chennai.
•    Enlargement of Scope & remuneration of Accredited Social Health Activist – ‘ASHA’ proposed.
•    Proposal to increase allocation for NRHM from Rs 18115 crore in 2011-12 to Rs 20822 crore in 2012-13
•    National Urban Health Mission proposed to be launched.
•    Pradhan Mantri Swasthya Suraksha Yojana to be expanded to cover upgradation of 7 more Government medical colleges
•    The Union Finance Minister announced Multisectoral Nutrition Augmentation Programme to combat malnutrition

Union Budget 2012-13: Provisions for Agriculture & Allied Sector

The Union budget 2012-13 presented by Union Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee on 16 March 2012 proposed an increase by 18 per cent to Rs. 20208 crore in the total Plan Outlay for the Department of Agriculture and Cooperation in 2012-13. The outlay for Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana (RKVY) was increased to Rs 9217 crore in 2012-13.

The Finance Minister proposed to raise the target for agricultural credit to Rs.575000 crore, which represents an increase of Rs. 100000 crore over the target for 2011-12 thereby highlighting the over arching importance of timely access to affordable credit for farmers.

A short term RRB Credit Refinance Fund was proposed to be set up to enhance the capacity of Regional Rural Banks to disburse short term crop loans to the small and marginal farmers. Also Kisan Credit Card Scheme is to be modified to make it a smart card which can be used at ATMs.

With an objective to have a better out reach of the food processing sector, a new centrally sponsored scheme titled National Mission on Food Processing is to be started in cooperation with the States in 2012-13.

Budgetary provision for the Agriculture & allied Sectors

•    An increase by 18% to Rs. 20208 crore in the total Plan Outlay for the Department of Agriculture and Cooperation in 2012-13
•    Outlay for Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana (RKVY) increased to `9,217 crore in 2012-13
•    Initiative of Bringing Green Revolution to Eastern India (BGREI) had resulted in increased production and productivity of paddy. The budget for the 2012-13 fiscal increased the allocation for the scheme to Rs 1000 crore in 2012-13 from Rs 400 crore in 2011-12.
•    Proposal to allocate Rs 300 crore to Vidarbha Intensified Irrigation Development Programme under RKVY was made
•    All remaining activities related agri sector development was proposed to be merged into following missions in Twelfth Plan:

a.    National Food Security Mission
b.    National Mission on Sustainable Agriculture including Micro Irrigation
c.    National Mission on Oilseeds and Oil Palm
d.    National Mission on Agricultural Extension and Technology
e.    National Horticultural Mission
f.    National Mission for Protein Supplement

•    Rs 2242 crore project launched with World Bank assistance to improve productivity in the dairy sector.
•    Rs 500 crore proposed to beprovided to broaden scope of production of fish to coastal aquaculture.
•    A new centrally sponsored scheme titled National Mission on Food Processing to be started in 2012-13 in co-operation with State Governments.

Target for agricultural credit was raised by Rs 100000 crore to Rs 575000 crore in 2012-13. It was proposed that interest subvention scheme for providing short term crop loans to farmers at 7 per cent interest per annum would be continued in 2012-13. Additional subvention of 3 per cent is to be made available for prompt paying farmers.

A sum of Rs 200 crore was proposed to be set aside for incentivising research with rewards.


Allocations for Irrigation

•    The Union Budget 2012-13 proposed structural changes in Accelerated Irrigation Benefit Programme (AIBP) to maximise flow of benefit from investments in irrigation projects.
•    Allocation for AIBP in 2012-13 stepped up by 13 per cent to Rs 14242 crore.
•    Irrigation and Water Resource Finance Company was proposed to be operationalised to mobilise large resources to fund irrigation projects.
•    A flood management project approved by Ganga Flood Control Commission at a cost of `439 crore for Kandi sub-division of Murshidabad District.

To further promote agriculture and agro-processing sectors, the Government proposed to reduce basic customs duty from 7.5 per cent to 2.5 per cent on sugarcane planter, root or tuber crop harvesting machine and rotary tiller and weeder and parts for the manufacture of these. Pranab Mukherjee while presenting the budget announced reduction of basic customs duty from 7.5 per cent to 5 per cent on specified coffee plantation and processing machinery. The basic customs duty was also reduced on some water soluble fertilizers and liquid fertilizers, other than urea, from 7.5 per cent to 5 per cent and from 5 per cent to 2.5 per cent.

The budget sought to provide substantial relief to the fertilizer sector.  It was announced that imports of equipment for initial setting-up or substantial expansion of fertilizer projects were to be fully exempted from basic customs duty of 5 per cent for a period of three years up to 31 March 2015. Government adopted measures to finalise pricing and investment policies for urea to reduce India’s import dependence in urea.

Union Budget 2012-13: Budgetary Allocation for Rural Development

Rural Development and Panchayati Raj was identified as major thrust areas for the Government to ensure sustainable and more inclusive growth. Both Rural development and Panchayati Raj were emphasized upon to large extent in the Union 2012-13 presented by the Union Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee on 16 March 2012.
The Union Budget 2012-13 announced a major initiative to strengthen Panchayats across the country through Rajiv Gandhi Panchayat SAShaktikaran Abhiyan (RGPSA).

Swarnajayanti Gram SwarojgarYojana (SGSY) was restructured into National Rural Livelihood Mission (NRLM) to provide self employment opportunities. Pranab Mukherjee proposed to increase the allocation of NRLM by over 34 percent to Rs. 3915 crores in 2012-13.

Budgetary Provisions for Rural Development & Panchayati Raj

•    Budgetary allocation for rural drinking water and sanitation increased from Rs 11000 crore to Rs 14000 crore marking an increase of over 27 per cent.
•    The Union Budget 2012-13 proposed increase in allocation for by 20 per cent to Rs.24000 crore to improve connectivity
•    Major initiative was proposed to strengthen Panchayats through Rajiv Gandhi Panchayat Sashaktikaran Abhiyan.
•    The budget stated the continuance of Backward Regions Grant Fund scheme in twelfth plan with enhanced allocation of Rs 12040 crore in 2012-13, thereby representing an increase of 22 per cent over the budgetary expenditure of 2011-12
•    The Union Budget also proposed allocation under Rural Infrastructure Development Fund (RIDF) to be enhanced to Rs 20000 crore.
•    For creating warehousing facilities in rural areas, the Finance Minister proposed to earmark an amount of Rs. 5000 crores from the enhanced allocation of Rs. 20000 crores under Rural Infrastructure Development Fund (RIDF).

Union Railway Budget 2012-13: Analysis

The Union Railway Budget 2012-13 was presented in the Lok Sabha on 14 March 2012 by Union Railway Minister Dinesh Trivedi. While preparing the budget he drew heavily from the recommendations of Kakodkar committee on railway safety and Pitroda committee on modernization of infrastructure. Based on the recommendations of the two committees, Trivedi zeroed on five focus areas: Track; Bridges; Signaling & Telecommunication; Rolling Stock; Stations & freight Terminals. The emphasis on the focus areas would eventually lead to strengthening of the basic infrastructure of Indian Railways resulting in safety, decongestion, capacity augmentation and modernization of system, creating more efficient, faster and safer railways.

Summarising the Budget

Dinesh Trivedi took oath as Minister of Railways on 12 July 2011 immediately after the unfortunate rail accident at Fatehpur Malwa near Kanpur on 10 July, 2011. The Union Railway Budget 2012-13 was thus designed with special emphasis on Railway Safety. He seized the opportunity to announce that commitment made in 2001 to reduce accidents per million train km from 0.55 to 0.17 has been achieved.

Considering the overall parameters set out in Vision 2020 document, the budget stated that a huge sum of Rs 14 lakh crore is required in the next ten years. The total union budget outlay for 2012-13 stood at Rs 60100 crore.

Informing that 40% of the consequential train accidents, involving 60% to 70% of the total casualties occur at unmanned level crossings, he decided to set up a Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV) named Rail-Road Grade Separation Corporation of India with an objective to fast track elimination of level crossings in the next five years.

The decision to set up a committee to examine the current standards of safety on Indian Railways and to suggest suitable benchmarks and safety protocols were also announced.

By way of initiating a long term approach to safety and in line with recommendations of the Committee, I propose to set up an independent Railway Safety Authority as a statutory regulatory body. The functions of the Authority are to be chalked out in line with international practices.

In tune with the recommendations of the Expert Group for Modernisation of Indian Railways which suggested following of a ‘Mission Mode' approach, the budget announced the formation of Missions headed by Mission Directors in each of the identified areas for a three year term. Also, a High Level Committee is to be set up to facilitate coordination amongst the Missions, fast-track implementation, and address bottlenecks.

Union Railway Budget adopted a Multi-pronged Approach

The Union Railway Budget proposed a multi-pronged approach with an objective to build a new, safe and modern, passenger and freight transportation system which would contribute at least 2 to 2.5% to the GDP of the nation as against less than 1% at present. Multi-pronged approach focused on: Safety; Consoliation; Decongestion & Capacity Augmentation; Modernization; To bring down the Operating Ratio from 95% to 84.9% in 2012-13 and to 74% in the terminal year of 12th Plan

Areas of Focus

The Union Railway Budget 2012-13 announced a number of new passenger services keeping in view the needs and aspirations of the people. 75 new Express trains, 21 Passenger trains, 8 new MEMU services and 9 DEMU services were proposed. Also it was proposed to extend the run of 40 trains and increase the frequency of 23 trains.

The fares were raised in the budget. The fares were raised 2 paise per km for suburban and ordinary second class. Fares for mail express second class was raised by only 3 paise per km; for sleeper class by only 5 paise per km; for AC Chair Car, AC 3 tier & First Class by only 10 paise per km; AC 2 Tier by only 15 paise per km; and AC I by only 30 paise per km. Corresponding rationalisation in minimum distance and fare chargeable in various classes was also proposed.

It was also decided to incorporate a rounding off mechanism in the fare structure to address the problem passengers face at the ticket windows because of non-availability of loose change.

Investment proposed by Railways

The 12th Plan investment proposed by Railways at Rs 7.35 lakh crore up from the investment during XI Plan of Rs 1.92 lakh crore. The required resources for the plan are proposed to be met by:-

i. Gross Budgetary Support of `2.5 lakh crore;
ii. Government support for national projects of `30,000 crore;
iii. Ploughing back of dividend of `20,000 crore
iv. Internal Resources of `1,99,805 crore
v. Extra Budgetary Resources of `2,18,775 crore
vi. Railway Safety Fund of `16,842 crore.

The budget put forth a demand for additional funding assistance of about Rs 5 lakh crore under the Pradhan Mantri Rail Vikas Yojana from the government

The Wide-angle View

The Union Railway Budget proposed a progressive shift to flash butt technology for welding of rails, progressive use of 60 kg rails instead of 52 kg, provision of thick web switches at points & crossings, mechanised maintenance with the latest track machines and increased frequency of ultrasonic testing of tracks.

Plan to modernize nearly 19000 km track through renewals, upgradation of track, replacement and strengthening of 11,250 bridges to run heavier freight trains of 25 tonne axle load and to achieve passenger train speeds of 160 kmph and over was proposed in the budget. The estimated expenditure of Rs 63212 crore was proposed for the same.

Signalling system on Indian Railways will be modernized with the provisioning of advanced technological features. Panel/Route Relay Interlocking covering 700 more stations by 2014 was proposed as a part of the modernization of the signaling system. Provisioning of Train Protection & Warning System (TPWS), which ensures automatic application of brakes whenever a driver over-shoots a signal at danger, thereby eliminating chances of collision of trains was also proposed.

The total cost of various signalling and telecom works was estimated to be Rs 39,110 crore in the next 5 years. The railway budget proposed to provide Rs 200211 crore in 2012-13, which is more than double the allocation of the current year and the highest ever.

Upgradation of coaches including EMU coaches, locomotives and wagons was noted to be one of the key areas of modernization during the next 5 years for improving safety and convenience & comfort of passengers. The highest ever allocation of Rs 18,193 crore was proposed for the 12th five year plan for the purpose of upgradation.

In the areas of Stations and Freight Terminals, Trivedi proposed to set up a separate organisation namely Indian Railway Station Development Corporation, which will redevelop the stations and maintain them on the pattern of airports.

Creation of Logistics Corporation for development and management of existing railway goods sheds and multimodal logistics parks

Proposal to undertake surveys and feasibility studies for developing coaching terminals at Nemam and Kottayam in Kerala, Mau in Uttar Pradesh and Dankuni in West Bengal during 2012-13, besides undertaking a pre-feasibility study for development of Roypuram station in Tamil Nadu was stated in the Union Railway budget 2012-13.

The Union Railway budget 2012-13 proposed to allocate about Rs 4410 crore to capacity augmentation works.

To recognize the efforts of the dedicated railway workforce the budget suggested benefits in the form of improvements at work places, better housing facilities, improved service at hospitals and other facilities. Accordingly, allocation of Rs 717 crore in the current year has been almost doubled to Rs 1388 crore in 2012-13.

The Union railway proposed to electrify 6500 route kilometers during the 12th Plan period. This would include electrification of Udhampur-Srinagar-Baramulla line and hence provide pollution free traction to the pristine Kashmir Valley. An allocation of Rs 828 crore has been provided in 2012-13. Propulsion System for use in high power electric locomotive was proposed to be introduced.

Union railway Minister proposed to raise the allocation under passenger amenities from Rs 762 crore in 2011-12 to Rs 1102 crore in 2012-13. A slew of passenger and other user friendly measures were proposed during 2012-13. To facilitate easy movement of passengers, installation of 321 escalators at important stations of which 50 will be commissioned during 2012-13 were proposed. He also proposed integration of the RPF Helpline with the All India Passenger Helpline to facilitate much faster response to the security needs of passengers.

Initiative to start manufacturing especially designed coaches having earmarked compartments and toilets adapted to the needs of wheel chair borne/differently-abled person was a prime focus of the Union Railway Budget. The Union budget proposed to set up a factory at Shyamnagar in West Bengal on PPP basis for manufacture of next generation technology and also proposed to utilize and augment the electric loco Ancillaries Unit of CLW being set up at Dankuni for fabrication of locomotive shells. Several measures were initiated/ proposed to promote clean environment.

On the occasion of the 175th Birth Anniversary of Rishi Bankim Chandra Chattopadhyay, propose setting up of a Coaching Terminal to be named after him at Naihati. Also it was decided that a special train would run across the country to disseminate his legacy to the young generation. Institution of a Rail Khel Ratna Award was also proposed to honour 10 sports-persons every year, based on their current performance. The awardees would be provided world class training to hone their skills further.

Economic Survey 2011-12: Analysis

The Economic Survey was tabled by the Union Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee on 15 March 2012. Indian economy was estimated to grow by 6.9% in 2011-12 mainly due to weakening industrial growth. The Survey stated that despite dip in the economic growth India remains among the fastest growing economies of the world. Country’s sovereign credit rating was stated to have risen by a substantial 2.98 percent in 2007-12.

The Survey highlighted the slowing down of the global economy as a prime reason for the dip in Indian economic growth. The global economy became adverse in September 2011, owing to the turmoil in the euro-zone countries. The slowdown was reflected in sharp ratings downgrades of sovereign debt in most major advanced countries. While a large part of the reason for the slowing of the Indian economy was attributed to global factors, domestic factors also played role.
Analysis

The slowdown in Indian economy was attributed largely to weakening industrial growth. The industrial sector has performed poorly, retreating to a 27% share of the GDP.

The services sector however continued to be a star performer as its share in GDP climbed from 58% in 2010-11 to 59% in 2011-12 with a growth rate of 9.4%. Agriculture and allied sectors were estimated to achieve a growth rate of 2.5% in 2011-12. Agriculture & allied sectors were are estimated to achieve a growth rate of 2.5% in 2011-12 with foodgrains production likely to cross 250.42 million tones as a result of increase in the production of rice in a number of states.

Overall growth during April-December 2011 reached 3.6% compared to 8.3% in the corresponding period of the previous year.

The fiscal 2011-12 was marked by a sharp depreciation of the Indian rupee. In the current fiscal 2011-12, on month-to-month basis the rupee depreciated by 12.4 per cent from 44.97 per US dollar in March 2011 to 51.34 per US dollar in January 2012. Rupee reached a peak of 43.94 on 27 July 27 2011 and lowest at 54.23 per US dollar on 15 December 2011 indicating a depreciation of 19 per cent. The RBI was required to sell dollars twice in the fiscal to help raise the value of the rupee.

Also in 2011-12 India’s external debt stock increased by US $ 20.2 billion (6.6 per cent) to US $ 326.6 billion at end-September 2011 vis-à-vis US $ 306.4 billion at end-March 2011, primarily due to higher commercial borrowings and short-term debt.

Inflation as measured by the wholesale price index (WPI) remained high during greater part of 2011-12 fiscal, though by year end a noticeable slowdown in price rise was registered. Food inflation, in particular came down significantly. RBI adopted stringent monetary policies to control inflation as well as curb inflationary pressures. The high rate of interest established by the central bank lowered growth rate of investment in the economy as the sharp increase in interest rates resulted in higher costs of borrowings and other rising costs affecting profitability.

Economic Survey 2011-12 stated that India’s foreign trade performance will remain a key driver of growth in the coming fiscal 2012-13. During the first half of 2011-12, India’s export growth was 40.5%, but it failed to remain high for the entire fiscal. Imports grew rapidly, by 30.4% during 2011-12 (April-December). India’s Balance of Payments widened to $ 32.8 billion in the first half of 2011-12, compared to $29.6 billion during the corresponding period of the earlier fiscal 2010-11.
The foreign exchange reserves increased from US $ 279 billion at end March 2010 to US $ 305 billion at end March 2011. Reserves were found to vary from an all-time peak of US$ 322.2 billion at end August 2011 and a low of US $ 292.8 billion at end-January 2012.

Wholesale Price Index (WPI) which remained persistently high throughout 2011 due to increasing global commodity prices and high crude prices began to moderate and it is expected to touch 6.5 to 7 percent by March 2012. Economic Survey 2011-12 observed that in 2011-12 the gap between WPI and CPI inflation narrowed due to sharp fall in food inflation. CPI-IW inflation, after remaining in single digit from August 2010 to August 2011, briefly touched double digits at 10.1 percent in September 2011. It however came down to 6.5 percent in December 2011.

The banking sector- public and private showed impressive increase in priority sector lending. The Economic Survey 2011-12 underlined the fact that flow of agricultural credit was highly impressive. The Indian banking system disbursed credit of Rs 446779 crore to the agricultural sector as against a target of Rs 375000 crore in-2010-11.

The Labour Bureau conducted twelve quarterly quick employment surveys to assess the impact of the economic slowdown on the employment sector. The surveys indicated an upward trend in employment since July 2009 was maintained. Overall employment in September 2011 over September 2010 increased by 9.11 lakh, with the highest increase recorded in IT/BPO (7.96 lakh) sector.

The coverage under the MGNREGA consistently increased from 4.51 crore households during 2008-09 to 5.49 crore households during 2010-11 with averaged employment of 47 persondays per household. Average wage increased from Rs 65 in 2006-07 to Rs. 100 in 2010-11. The Survey stated that to strengthen transparency and accountability in the implementation of the MGNREGA, the Government initiated a service delivery project for Information and Communication Technology (ICT) and biometrics related works of the MGNREGA on PPP basis.

The performance of broad sectors and sub sectors in key infrastructure areas in 2011-12 was both good and bad. Whereas there was improvement in growth in power, petroleum refinery, cement, railway freight traffic, passenger handled at domestic terminals and upgradation of NHAI, coal, natural gas, fertilizers, handling of export cargo at airports and number of cell phone connections show negative growth. Steel sector witnessed moderation in growth.

Forecasts

The real GDP growth is expected to pick up to 7.6% in 2012-13 and 8.6% in 2013-14 as per the survey. Pranab Mukherjee predicted 7.6% GDP growth in 2012-13. As per the survey, given that fiscal consolidation is back on track, savings and capital formation should is likely to start rising. Also the RBI policy rates are expected to be reduced in the back of easing of inflationary pressures. The lowered interest rates will encourage investment activity and have a positive impact on growth. These projections were all made on the basis of assumptions regarding factors like normal monsoons, reasonably stable international prices, particularly oil prices, and global growth. The progressive deregulation of interest rates on savings accounts is expected to raise financial savings and thus improve transmission of monetary policy.

Survey Suggestions

Sustainable development and climate change were recognized by the survey as central areas of global concern. The Survey suggested need to examine the linkages and trade-offs between policy rate changes and inflation in the Indian context, for better calibration of monetary policy.

The Economic Survey 2011-12 stated that it was essential to make lower carbon sustainable growth a central element of our Twelfth Five Year Plan commencing in April 2012.

In Conclusion

The Economic Survey in conclusion mentioned that India is more closely integrated with the world economy as its share of trade to GDP of goods and services tripled between 1990-2010. The extent of financial integration, measured by flows of capital as a share of GDP also increased leading to an expansion of India’s role in the world economy.

 

 

Additional 96 Non-Executive posts in Group II

APPSC has announced an additional 96 posts under Non executive category 

Executive Posts: 119 

Non-Executive Posts: 502 (previous - 406 posts)

Online submission is scheduled between 27/04/2012 to 27/05/2012 and Written 

Examination will be held on 15/07/2012.


Executive Posts: 119posts

1. Asst. Commercial Tax Officer in A.P. Commercial Taxes Sub-Service: 41posts
   Qualification: A Bachelor’s Degree from any recognized University in India established or incorporated by or under Central Act, Provincial Act, a State Act or an Institution recognized by the U.G.C. or an equivalent qualification 
2. Assistant Labour Officer in A.P. Labour & Employment Sub-Service: 42posts
   Qualification: A Bachelor’s Degree from any recognized University in India established or incorporated by or under Central Act, Provincial Act, a State Act or an Institution recognized by the U.G.C. or an equivalent qualification 
3. Executive Officer Grade-I in A.P. Endowments Sub-Service: 31posts
   Qualification: A Bachelor’s Degree from any recognized University in India established or incorporated by or under Central Act, Provincial Act, a State Act or an Institution recognized by the U.G.C. or an equivalent qualification 
4. Assistant Development Officer in A.P. Handlooms and Textiles Sub- Service: 05posts
   Qualification: A Bachelor’s Degree from any recognized University in India established or incorporated by or under Central Act, Provincial Act, a State Act or an Institution recognized by the U.G.C. or an equivalent qualification. (OR) Must posses a Diploma in Textile Technology or a Diploma in Handloom Technology issued by the A.P. State Board of Technical Education or an equivalent qualification.

For more details Click here

Scheme for Training of Agriculture Students to Establish Agri-Clinics and Agri-Business Centres

Government has launched a scheme ‘Establishment of Agriclinic and Agri-business Centres’. The Scheme aims to:

(i)           Provide gainful self-employment opportunities to unemployed agricultural graduates, agricultural diploma holders, intermediate in agriculture and biological science graduates with PG in agri-related courses;

(ii)         Support agricultural development; and

(iii)       Supplement efforts of pubic extension by necessarily providing extension services to the farmers as per local needs of farmers.

            Since inception of the scheme, 27,894 candidates have been trained and 9,949 of them have established agri-ventures up to February, 2012.

Salient features of the scheme:

(i)        The National Institute of Agricultural Extension Management (MANAGE) is the Implementing Agency for training component of the Scheme. Two months’ free residential training is imparted to the selected eligible candidates on Agri-Entrepreneurship Development followed by one-year handholding support after completion of training, .through Nodal Training Institutes.

(ii)      The Scheme has a provision of credit support (start up loan) upto ` 20 lakhs for individual projects and  ` 100 lakhs for a group project. 

(iii)    There is a provision of credit linked back-ended composite subsidy on the bank loan availed by trained candidates under the Scheme. The subsidy is 44% in respect of women, SC/ST & all categories of candidates from North-Eastern and Hill States;  and 36% in respect of all other categories

(iv)    National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD) is the Implementing Agency for disbursement of subsidy and monitoring the credit support to agri-clinics and agribusiness centres through the banks.    

Size of the Indian Economy

The share of different countries in world GDP based on purchasing power parity (PPP) in 2010 is as under:

Country	Advanced Economies	United States of America	United Kingdom	Germany	Japan	India
Share	52.1%	19.5%	2.9%	4.0%	5.8%	5.5%

Source: World Economic Outlook, database IMF.

         As per news release dated 26^th December, 2011 of Centre for Economics and Business Research Ltd. London, United Kingdom, India will move from being the 9^th largest economy in 2010 to become the 5^th largest economy by 2020.

         The Approach Paper to the Twelfth Five Year Plan (2012-17) proposes a faster, more inclusive and sustainable growth with a target of 9 per cent increase in GDP.  The key requirements for achieving the goal are better performance in agriculture (at least 4 per cent growth), faster creation of jobs in manufacturing, development of appropriate infrastructural facilities, strong efforts at health, education and skill development, improving the implementation of flagship programmes and focus on backward region and vulnerable groups.  In this connection, certain specific measures taken by government inter alia, include enhancing higher level of investment for agriculture sector including irrigation projects, promoting Micro Small & Medium Enterprises (MSME) sector by way of higher allocation of funds, enhancing investment in the infrastructure sector focusing on Public Private Partnership and a number of legislative measures to develop the financial sector etc.  

JUNIOR LECTURERS PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION SOLVED PAPER (EXAM HELD ON: 03-12-2011)

RAS/RTS (Pre.) Examination, 2007

Geography

(Exam Held on 23-12-2007)

1. ‘Kayals’ are found in—
(A) Andhra Pradesh
(B) Kerala
(C) Rajasthan
(D) Tamil Nadu
Ans : (B)

2. Which one of the following rivers originates from Amarkantak ?
(A) Mahanadi
(B) Narmada
(C) Son
(D) Godavari
Ans : (B)
3. Which one of the following ports is the leading exporter of iron ore ?
(A) Marmagaon
(B) Paradwip
(C) Vishakhapatnam
(D) Kochi
Ans : (C)
4. Which one of the following types of forests occupies the highest percentage in India ?
(A) Tropical deciduous
(B) Savanna and desert vegetation
(C) Equatorial evergreen
(D) Conifers and pines
Ans : (A)
5. Which one of the following is the highest peak of India ?
(A) Nanda Devi
(B) Kanchanjunga
(C) Makalu
(D) Everest
Ans : (A)
6. Noonmati Oil Refinery of India is located in—
(A) Bihar
(B) Maharashtra
(C) Assam
(D) Kerala
Ans : (C)
7. Isohyets are—
(A) Lines on a map showing equal rainfall
(B) Lines on a map having same mean temperature
(C) Lines on a map having same barometric pressure
(D) Lines on a map showing equal height from mean sea level
Ans : (A)
8. Which one of the following is not a suitable method for showing urban population ?
(A) Circle
(B) Shade
(C) Sphere
(D) Divided circle
Ans : (D)
9. Arrange the following States in respect of coal reserves and select the correct answer from the code given below—
1. Jharkhand
2. Madhya Pradesh
3. Orissa
4. West Bengal
Codes :
(A) 1 4 2 3
(B) 1 3 4 2
(C) 4 3 2 1
(D) 4 3 1 2
Ans : (B)
10. Consider the following statement and select the correct answer from the codes given below—
Assertion (A) : The Bhanger land belongs to the Pleistocene period.
Reason (R) : The Karewas of Kashmir are the Pleistocene deposits.
Codes :
(A) Both (A) and (R) are true and (R) is the correct explanation of (A)
(B) Both (A) and (R) are true but (R) is not the correct explanation of (A)
(C) (A) is true, but (R) is false
(D) (A) is false, but (R) is true
Ans : (B)
11. Consider the following statement and select the correct answer from the codes given below—
Assertion (A) : The concept of differential heating about the origin of Indian Monsoon was given by Helley.
Reason (R) : The concept of differential heating explains the origin of Indian monsoon.
Codes :
(A) Both (A) and (R) are true and (R) is the correct explanation of (A)
(B) Both (A) and (R) are true but (R) is not the correct explanation of (A)
(C) (A) is true, but (R) is false
(D) (A) is false, but (R) is true
Ans : (A)
12. Namdhapa Tiger Reserve is in the State of—
(A) Arunachal Pradesh
(B) Kerala
(C) Tamil Nadu
(D) Bihar
Ans : (A)
13. Pensi La connects—
(A) Srinagar with Leh
(B) Sikkim with Tibet
(C) Himachal Pradesh with Kargil
(D) Himachal Pradesh with Tibet
Ans : (A)
14. Agricultural Location Theory was developed by—
(A) Von Thunen, J.H.
(B) Stamp, D.
(C) Thompson, W.S.
(D) Weber, A.
Ans : (A)
15. The term ‘Conurbation’ was coined by—
(A) Harvey, D.
(B) Patrick Geddes
(C) Dickinson, R. E.
(D) Ullman
Ans : (B)
16. Which one of the following is correctly matched ?
(A) Mega City — P. Geddes
(B) Primate City — C. O. Sauer
(C) C. B. D. — C. C. Colby
(D) Rank Size Rule — G. K. Zipf
Ans : (D)
17. The Theory of Industrial Location was propounded by—
(A) Alfred Weber
(B) C. C. Colby
(C) Rostov, W. W.
(D) Christaller, W.
Ans : (A)
18. Which one of the following States is the leading producer of bauxite ?
(A) Jharkhand
(B) Orissa
(C) Maharashtra
(D) Gujarat
Ans : (B)
19. Which one of the following States is the leading producer of Gypsum ?
(A) Madhya Pradesh
(B) Rajasthan
(C) Orissa
(D) Tamil Nadu
Ans : (B)
20. In which of the following States the highest percentage of Wallastonite is mined ?
(A) Rajasthan
(B) Madhya Pradesh
(C) Uttar Pradesh
(D) Bihar
Ans : (A)
21. The first scientific attempt for the demarcation of agricultural regions of the world was made by—
(A) Stamp, D.
(B) Whittlesey, D.
(C) Hartshorne
(D) Johnston, R. J.
Ans : (B)
22. Which one of the following is correctly matched ?
(A) Kaiga — Tamil Nadu
(B) Kalpakkam —Andhra Pradesh
(C) Rawatbhata —Rajasthan
(D) Kundankulam —Kerala
Ans : (C)
23. Singhbhum Iron Ore Fields lie in the State of—
(A) Orissa
(B) Jharkhand
(C) Karnataka
(D) Madhya Pradesh
Ans : (B)
24. Which one of the following areas has the largest petroleum deposits in India ?
(A) Mumbai-High
(B) Godavari Basin
(C) Gujarat Coast
(D) Brahmaputra Valley
Ans : (A)
25. In which of the following States uranium is not found ?
(A) Meghalaya
(B) Himachal Pradesh
(C) Assam
(D) Uttarakhand (Uttaranchal)
Ans : (D)
26. Which of the following districts in Rajasthan fall under Bwhw climatic region ?
(A) Jaisalmer, Bikaner, Ganganagar
(B) Dungarpur, Banswara, Jhalawar
(C) Dholpur, Karauli, Bharatpur
(D) Jaipur, Ajmer, Bhilwara
Ans : (A)
27. Which one of the following is not suitable for the generation of geo-thermal energy in India ?
(A) East coast of Tamil Nadu
(B) Puga Valley of Ladakh
(C) Manikaran Area (Himachal Pradesh)
(D) West coast of Maharashtra
Ans : (A)
28. Ideal conditions for generation of solar energy is found in—
(A) Tamil Nadu
(B) Rajasthan
(C) Uttarakhand
(D) Madhya Pradesh
Ans : (B)
29. Which one of the following lakes is of potable (sweet) water ?
(A) Sambhar Lake
(B) Dhebar Lake
(C) Phalodi
(D) Didwana
Ans : (B)
30. Which one of the following is not correctly matched ?
(A) Alwar —Sabi, Ruparel
(B) Udaipur —Banas, Berach
(C) Karauli —Jagar, Gambhir
(D) Dungarpur —Banganga, Morel
Ans : (D)
31. Lohagarh Fort is located at—
(A) Jaipur
(B) Alwar
(C) Bharatpur
(D) Dholpur
Ans : (C)
32. Which one of the following districts has the highest percentage of literacy (2001) ?
(A) Jaipur
(B) Kota
(C) Udaipur
(D) Sikar
Ans : (B)
33. Jayal Gravel Ridge is found in the district of—
(A) Barmer District
(B) Nagaur District
(C) Jalore District
(D) Churu District
Ans : (B)
34. Bankapatti area is found in the district of—
(A) Jodhpur
(B) Ajmer
(C) Nagaur
(D) Jhunjhunu
Ans : (C)
35. The source of the Chambal river is—
(A) Kumbhalgarh Plateau
(B) Mt. Abu
(C) Alwar Hills
(D) Janapau Hills
Ans : (D)
36. Which one of the following districts has highest percentage of forest area ?
(A) Karauli
(B) Udaipur
(C) Sirohi
(D) Banswara
Ans : (A)
37. Which one of the following countries supported Greening Aravalli Project in Rajasthan ?
(A) Germany
(B) Norway
(C) Japan
(D) England
Ans : (C)
38. Desert Development Programme in Rajasthan was started in—
(A) 1974-75
(B) 1982-83
(C) 1977-78
(D) 1986-87
Ans : (C)
39. ‘Lathi Series’ belongs to—
(A) Triassic Period
(B) Permian Period
(C) Silurian Period
(D) Ordovician Period
Ans : (A)
40. ‘Khoh Dariba’ region is associated with the mining of—
(A) Lead and Zinc
(B) Copper
(C) Manganese
(D) Silver
Ans : (B)
41. Which one of the following rivers drains into Sambhar Lake ?
(A) Kantli
(B) Bandi
(C) Mendha
(D) Mashi
Ans : (C)
42. Rajasthan is the leading producer in the country in—
(A) Gram
(B) Mustard
(C) Cotton
(D) Wheat
Ans : (B)
43. Which one of the following districts are not included in Drought Prone Area Programme ?
(A) Kota—Baran
(B) Dungarpur—Banswara
(C) Tonk—Sawai Madhopur
(D) Alwar—Bharatpur
Ans : (D)
44. Which one of the districts has the largest deposits of Tungesten ?
(A) Ajmer
(B) Nagaur
(C) Sirohi
(D) Jaipur
Ans : (B)
45. Which one of the following districts is the leading producer of Maize ?
(A) Chittorgarh
(B) Bhilwara
(C) Raj Samand
(D) Udaipur
Ans : (D)
46. Which one of the following trees is known as ‘Kalp Taru’ of Rajasthan’ ?
(A) Sagawan
(B) Mango
(C) Neem
(D) Khejari
Ans : (D)
47. Main Sanctuary of ‘Dangland’ is—
(A) Bhainsrorgarh Sanctuary
(B) Kaladevi Wildlife Sanctuary
(C) Sita Mata Sanctuary
(D) Sajjangarh Wildlife Sanctuary
Ans : (B)
48. Menal Waterfall is located in the district of—
(A) Chittorgarh
(B) Bundi
(C) Bhilwara
(D) Rajsamand
Ans : (C)
49. Which one of the following districts accounts for lowest density of population (2001) ?
(A) Jodhpur
(B) Jaisalmer
(C) Barmer
(D) Jalore
Ans : (B)
50. Dabok Airport is associated with—
(A) Jodhpur
(B) Jaipur
(C) Kota
(D) Udaipur
Ans : (D)
51. Which one of the following States has the highest growth rate of population (1991–2001) ?
(A) Uttar Pradesh
(B) Maharashtra
(C) Rajasthan
(D) Madhya Pradesh
Ans : (C)
52. Which one of the following districts has the highest growth rate of urban population (1991–2001) ?
(A) Jodhpur
(B) Bhilwara
(C) Jaipur
(D) Hanumangarh
Ans : (C)
53. Arrange the following in a chronological order and select the correct answer using the code given below—
1. Gunj
2. Mindal
3. Riss
4. Wurm
Codes :
—(a) (b) (c) (d)
(A) 1 2 3 4
(B) 3 1 2 4
(C) 3 1 4 2
(D) 1 2 4 3
Ans : (A)
54. The dinosaurs first appeared on the earth surface during the—
(A) Permian
(B) Jurassic
(C) Cretaceous
(D) Triassic
Ans : (B)
55. Which one of the following is the most fine grained extrusive rock ?
(A) Granite
(B) Peridotite
(C) Basalt
(D) Conglomerate
Ans : (C)
56. The ‘Aurora Borealis’ occurs in the—
(A) Exosphere
(B) Ionosphere
(C) Ozonosphere
(D) Stratosphere
Ans : (B)
57. Match List-I with List-II and select the correct answer using the code given below—
List-I (Ridge/Plateau)
(a) Amsterdam—St. Paul Plateau
(b) Challenger Rise
(c) Dolphin Rise
(d) Juan De-Fuca
List-II (Ocean)
1. North Pacific Ocean
2. Indian Ocean
3. South Atlantic Ocean
4. North Atlantic Ocean
Codes :
—(a) (b) (c) (d)
(A) 2 4 3 1
(B) 2 3 4 1
(C) 3 2 1 4
(D) 3 2 4 1
Ans : (B)
58. Which one of the following has the largest number of satellites ?
(A) Uranus
(B) Neptune
(C) Jupiter
(D) Saturn
Ans : (C)
59. “The Present is the Key to the Past.” This statement was made by—
(A) Dutton
(B) Strahler
(C) Hutton
(D) Dana
Ans : (C)
60. Consider the following statement and select correct answer from the codes given below—
Assertion (A) : The islands along the mid Atlantic Ridge are highly prone to volcanic activity.
Reason (R) : The sea floor spreading is the main cause of earthquakes in the Atlantic Ocean.
Codes :
(A) Both (A) and (R) are true and (R) is the correct explanation of (A)
(B) Both (A) and (R) are true but (R) is not the correct explanation of (A)
(C) (A) is true, but (R) is false
(D) (A) is false, but (R) is true
Ans : (B)
61. The salinity of the oceans is maximum in the—
(A) Equatorial region
(B) Sub-Tropical region
(C) Sub-Polar region
(D) Tropical region
Ans : (B)
62. Arrange the following lakes in descending order according to area and select the correct answer using the code given below—
1. Huron
2. Michigan
3. Superior
4. Victoria
Codes :
—(a) (b) (c) (d)
(A) 3 4 1 2
(B) 3 4 2 1
(C) 4 3 2 1
(D) 4 3 1 2
Ans : (A)
63. Which one of the following soils has the largest percentage of the land area of the world ?
(A) Alfisols
(B) Entisols
(C) Inceptisols
(D) Aridisols
Ans : (D)
64. The concept of Peneplain was propounded by—
(A) Penck
(B) L. C. King
(C) Davis
(D) Lawson
Ans : (C)
65. Match the List-I with List-II and select the correct answer using the code given below—
List-I (Country)
(a) Austria
(b) Albania
(c) Hungary
(d) Slovenia
List-II (Capital)
1. Budapest
2. Ljubljana
3. Vienna
4. Tirana
Codes :
—(a) (b) (c) (d)
(A) 3 4 1 2
(B) 3 4 2 1
(C) 4 3 1 2
(D) 4 2 3 1
Ans : (A)
66. Which one of the following statements is not correct ?
(A) Tokyo is the largest urban centre
(B) Kyushu is bigger than Shikoku
(C) Japan consists of 4000 islands
(D) The Ainu of Hokkaido belongs to yellow race
Ans : (C)
67. Which one of the following statements is not correct ?
(A) Cook Strait lies between North and South Islands of New Zealand
(B) Bass Strait lies between Australia and New Zealand
(C) Foveaux Strait lies between Stewart Island and North Island of New Zealand
(D) Torres Strait lies between New Guinea and Australia
Ans : (B)
68. The Tropic of Capricorn passes through which one of the following countries ?
(A) Botswana
(B) Swaziland
(C) Zambia
(D) Zimbabwe
Ans : (A)
69. Which one of the following is not correct ?
(A) Rio de Janeiro is known as the magnificent city
(B) Rio de Janeiro has been the capital of Brazil
(C) Sao Paulo is a Mega City
(D) Sao Paulo is a Sea-Port
Ans : (D)
70. Brazilian Plateau is rich in—
(A) Petroleum
(B) Copper
(C) Nickel
(D) Iron ore
Ans : (D)
71. Which one of the following is the largest city of Africa ?
(A) Durban
(B) Lagos
(C) Nairobi
(D) Cairo
Ans : (D)
72. The marshy lands of rivers are known as ‘Sudd’ in which of the following countries ?
(A) Sudan
(B) Ethiopia
(C) Nigeria
(D) Egypt
Ans : (A)
73. Which one of the following is not a ‘land-locked’ country ?
(A) Mali
(B) Niger
(C) Chad
(D) Sudan
Ans : (D)
74. The island of Socotra belongs to—
(A) Yemen
(B) United Arab Emirates (UAE)
(C) Oman
(D) Saudi Arabia
Ans : (A)
75. Mt. Kota Kinabalu is the highest peak in—
(A) Myanmar
(B) Indonesia
(C) Thailand
(D) Malaysia
Ans : (D)
76. Which one of the following countries has the highest density of population ?
(A) Japan
(B) India
(C) China
(D) Indonesia
Ans : (A)
77. Which one of the following is the most busy navigable river ?
(A) Volga
(B) Sein
(C) Rhine
(D) Danube
Ans : (C)
78. Hoover Dam is located on—
(A) Colorado River
(B) Nile River
(C) Rhine River
(D) Niger River
Ans : (A)
79. World’s deepest Ocean Trench is—
(A) Kermadec Trench
(B) Marianas Trench
(C) Indonesian Trench
(D) Kuril Trench
Ans : (B)
80. Match List-I with List-II and select the correct answer using the code given below—
List-I (Climatic type)
(a) Tropical Rain forest
(b) Tropical Savanna climate
(c) Mediterranean climate
(d) Humid Sub-tropical climate
List-II (Region)
1. Just at the fringe of Sahara
2. Western Africa near Equator
3. North-West USA
4. South Africa
Codes :
—(a) (b) (c) (d)
(A) 1 2 4 3
(B) 2 1 4 3
(C) 2 1 3 4
(D) 1 2 3 4
Ans : (B)
81. Match List-I with List-II and select the correct answer using the code given below—
List-I (Ocean Current)
(a) Agulhas Current
(b) El Nino Current
(c) Kuroshio Current
(d) Benguela Current
List-II (Name of Ocean)
1. North Pacific Ocean
2. South Atlantic Ocean
3. South Pacific Ocean
4. Indian Ocean
Codes :
—(a) (b) (c) (d)
(A) 4 3 1 2
(B) 4 3 2 1
(C) 3 4 1 2
(D) 3 4 2 1
Ans : (A)
82. The International Airport of Washington D.C. is known as—
(A) George Bush International Airport
(B) Dulles International Airport
(C) Heathrow International Airport
(D) Gatwick International Airport
Ans : (B)
83. The concept of Continental Drift was propounded by—
(A) Holms
(B) Wegener
(C) Kober
(D) Daly
Ans : (B)
84. The Tetrahedral Theory was propounded by—
(A) Wegener
(B) Joly
(C) Lowthian Green
(D) Jaffreys
Ans : (C)
85. The author of Anthropogeography was—
(A) Ratzel F.
(B) Semple
(C) Ritter C.
(D) Huntington
Ans : (A)
86. The main contribution of Al-Idris was in the field of—
(A) Astronomy
(B) Cartography
(C) Historical Geography
(D) Physical Geography
Ans : (B)
87. The prime meridian of the classical Indian geographers used to be drawn through the city of—
(A) Patliputra
(B) Ujjain
(C) Indra Prastha
(D) Kannauj
Ans : (B)
88. Which one of the following has the highest rank in Human Development ?
(A) Vietnam
(B) Malaysia
(C) Philippines
(D) Indonesia
Ans : (B)
89. The shelter of Badwins tribe is known as—
(A) Khaima
(B) Igloo
(C) Kraal
(D) Reed-Hut
Ans : (D)
90. “Man is a product of earth surface.” This statement was made by—
(A) Semple
(B) Kant
(C) Humboldt
(D) Ritter
Ans : (A)
91. Which one of the following is the longest river in the world ?
(A) Nile
(B) Amazon
(C) Niger
(D) Congo
Ans : (A)
92. Which one of the following is a Mega City in the world ?
(A) Tokyo
(B) Hyderabad
(C) Nairobi
(D) Frankfurt
Ans : (A)
93. The R.F. of 45 N/13 will be—
(A) 1 : 25,000
(B) 1 : 10,000
(C) 1 : 50,000
(D) 1 : 100,000
Ans : (C)
94. The line joining the points of equal height above sea level is known as—
(A) Isobar
(B) Isotherm
(C) Isohyet
(D) Contour
Ans : (D)
95. Which one of the following statements is not correct ?
(A) For Baltic region and France the conical projection with two standard parallel is most appropriate
(B) Trans-Siberian railways can best be shown on conical projection with one standard parallel
(C) International map projection is a modified Bonne’s projection
(D) Bonne’s projection is a modified conical projection
Ans : (C)
96. The concept of base level was given by—
(A) Powell
(B) Davis
(C) King
(D) Penck
Ans : (A)
97. The principle of Interaction was introduced by—
(A) Martone
(B) Richthofen
(C) Brunhes
(D) Vidal de La Blache
Ans : (C)
98. Consider the following statement and select the correct answer from the codes given below—
Assertion (A) : The Mollweid Projection was propounded by a British Cartographer.
Reason (R) : Mollweid Projection is an equal area projection.
Codes :
(A) Both (A) and (R) are true and (R) is the correct explanation of (A)
(B) Both (A) and (R) are true but (R) is not the correct explanation of (A)
(C) (A) is true, but (R) is false
(D) (A) is false, but (R) is true
Ans : (D)
99. Match List-I with List-II and select the correct answer using the code given below—
List-I (Projection)
(a) Bonne’s Projection
(b) Gall’s Projection
(c) Cylindrical Projection
(d) Mercator’s Projection
List-II (Property)
1. Length of equator is 2πR
2. Pole is a straight line
3. All parallels are standard parallels
4. The scale along the parallels and meridians is the same at a point
Codes :
—(a) (b) (c) (d)
(A) 3 2 4 1
(B) 3 1 2 4
(C) 1 3 4 2
(D) 1 3 2 4
Ans : (A)
100. Consider the following statement and select the correct answer from the codes given below—
Assertion (A) : Hydergraph is based on rainfall and temperature data was developed by
Griffith Taylor.
Reason (R) : Hydergraph was developed by Griffith Taylor.
Codes :
(A) Both (A) and (R) are true and (R) is the correct explanation of (A)
(B) Both (A) and (R) are true but (R) is not the correct explanation of (A)
(C) (A) is true, but (R) is false
(D) (A) is false, but (R) is true
Ans : (A)

Planning Commission lowers the poverty line

The Planning Commission released the latest poverty estimates for the country showing a decline in the incidence of poverty by 7.3 per cent over the past five years and stating that anyone with a daily consumption expenditure of Rs. 28.35 and Rs. 22.42 in urban and rural areas respectively is above the poverty line.

The new poverty estimates for 2011-12 will only add to the furore triggered by the Commission's affidavit in the Supreme Court in October in which the BPL cap was pegged at an expenditure of Rs. 32 and Rs. 26 by an individual in the urban and rural areas respectively at the going rate of inflation in 2010-11.

Eventually, Union Minister of Rural Development Jairam Ramesh and Planning Commission Montek Singh Ahluwalia jointly set aside the cap suggested by the Tendulkar Committee and set up a new committee to work out a new methodology for identifying the BPL households. As per the Household Consumer Expenditure Survey for 2009-10, 29.9 per cent of the population alone were under the Below Poverty Line (BPL) from 37.2 per cent in 2004-05. 

Rural poverty

Rural poverty has declined by eight percentage points, from 41.8 per cent to 33.8 per cent, and urban poverty by 4.8 per cent, from 25.7 per cent to 20.9 per cent.

At the national level, anyone earning Rs. 672.8 monthly that is earning Rs. 22.42 per day in the rural area and Rs. 859.6 monthly or Rs. 28.35 per day in the urban area is above the poverty line. Population as on March 1, 2010 has been used for estimating the number of persons below the poverty line.

The total number of people below the poverty line in the country is 35.46 crore as against 40.72 crore in 2004-05. In rural areas, the number has come down from 32.58 crore five years ago to 27.82 crore and the urban BPL number stands at 7.64 crore as against 8.14 crore five years ago.

One of the most astonishing revelations is that poverty has actually gone up in the north-eastern States of Assam, Meghalaya, Manipur, Mizoram and Nagaland.

Even big States such as Bihar, Chhattisgarh and Uttar Pradesh registered only a marginal decline in poverty ratio, particularly in the rural areas, whereas States such as Himachal Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Odisha, Sikkim, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka and Uttarakhand saw about 10 per cent decline in poverty over the past years.

States with high incidence of poverty are Bihar at (53.5 per cent), Chhattisgarh (48.7 per cent), Manipur (47.1 per cent), Jharkhand (39.1), Assam (37.9 per cent) and Uttar Pradesh (37.7 per cent).

However, it is in poverty-ridden Odisha that monthly per head expenditure of just Rs. 567.1 and Rs. 736 in rural and urban areas respectively puts one above the poverty line, while in Nagaland, where the incidence of poverty has gone up, the per capita consumption expenditure of Rs. 1016.8 and Rs. 1147.6 in rural and urban areas puts one above the poverty level.

Among social groups in the rural areas, Scheduled Tribes (47.4 per cent) suffer the highest level of poverty, followed by Scheduled Castes (42.3 per cent), Other Backward Castes (31.9 per cent) as against. 33.8 per cent for all classes.

In rural Bihar and Chhattisgarh, nearly two-third of the SCs and the STs are poor where as in States like Manipur, Orissa and Uttar Pradesh it is more than 50 per cent.

In urban areas, 34.1 per cent of SCs, 30.4 of STs and 24.3 per cent OBCs fall under this category against 20.9 per cent for all classes.

India displaces China as world’s largest arms importer

India is the world’s largest recipient of arms while South Korea is second and Pakistan and China are third in the list, reveals data on international arms transfers published by the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI).
The volume of worldwide arms transfers in 2007-11 was 24 percent higher than in 2002-06 and the five largest arms importers in 2007-11 were all Asian states, said a press communique.
India‘s neighbourChinawas the largest recipient of arms exports in 2002-06, but it fell to fourth place in 2007-11. Between 2002-06 and 2007-11, the volume of Chinese arms exports increased by 95 percent and nowChinaranks as the sixth largest supplier of arms in the world.

Rajiv Gandhi National Quality Awards for 2010

The Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution has announced the annual awards and commendation certificates for the seventeenth prestigious Rajiv Gandhi National Quality Awards for the year 2010.

The Best of All Awards has been won by

• Vikram Cement Works (A unit of Ultratech Cement Limited),
• Khor, Madhya Pradesh.

The other category award winners include

• Ashok Leyland Limited, Bhandara,
• Maharashtra (Large Scale Manufacturing Industry);
• Kudale Instruments Private Limited, Pune, Maharashtra (Small Scale Manufacturing Industry);
• Chaitanya Hospital, Chandigarh, Punjab (Small Scale Service Industry).

About The Award:

1. Rajiv Gandhi National Quality Award was instituted by the Bureau of Indian Standards in 1991.
2. With a view to encouraging Indian manufacturing and service organizations to strive for excellence and giving special recognition to those who are considered to be the leaders of quality movement in India.
3. The award has been named after our Late Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi, recognizing the new thrust he had given to the quality movement in India so that India could move into 21st Century with pride.
4. Rajiv Gandhi National Quality Award is an annual feature on the basis of financial year.  The 2008 award will be considered for results achieved by the organization from 1 April 2007 to 31 March 2008.

Benefits to the Applicant Organization:

•  It will enable the organization to assess its own level of commitment to quality.  It will also indicate the extent to which this commitment is being deployed through every level of the organization and in all areas of activities.
•   Further, after the process of self assessment is completed, the organization will be in a position to analyze its strengths and weaknesses.

Civil Services (IAS) Preliminary Examination 2012: Strategy for Paper-I

Paper-I of civil services preliminary examination is of two hours duration and 200 marks. The topics covered under this paper include Current events of national and international importance, History of India and Indian National Movement, Indian and World Geography, Indian Polity and Governance, Economic and Social Development, General Science and General Issues on Environmental ecology, Bio-diversity and Climate Change.

Radical Shift in Pattern

Last two years have seen a drastic change in the nature of questions asked in this paper. The questions nowbeing asked are very conceptual and not factual in nature. Students would do well by keeping last ten years question papers with them while preparing for this paper. A close comparison of the question papers will reveal this difference to the students. The students should always keep this difference in mind while preparing and should not be tempted to memorize too many facts as it used to be the case for prelims preparation earlier. Any disregard for this critical difference will render the preparation futile and counterproductive

General Issues on Environmental ecology, Bio-diversity and Climate Change

This is a new section introduced last year with a potential of claiming an increasing share in the number of questions being asked in the coming years. Students would do well by going through the class XI and XII NCERT biology books which has some of the chapters on Environment. Students should also frequently visit the web sites of various international environmental organizations and conventions like UNFCCC(United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change), CITES(Convention for International Trade in Endangered Species), WWF, Ramsar Convention, Stockholm Convention, Nairobi Convention for ship breaking, Kyoto Protocol, etc  to equip themselves with various terminologies and new treaties being signed and their latest developments. It would also be beneficial to acquaint oneself with the latest technology in making the environment greener and pollution free and with less GHG emissions like CFL (Compact Fluorescent Lamps).

Indian Polity

Apart from covering the traditional polity area from standard text books like D D Basu special attention should be paid to the polity chapters in the India Year Book like Law and Justice, Social Welfare, Labour etc to score well in this section. Students should also not neglect areas like Panchayati Raj reforms, electoral reforms etc. Special attention should be given to important Constitutional Amendments and landmark judgments by Supreme Court. Students should also go through all the Schedules carefully specially the ones that are often in news like Schedule V, VI and IX. Constitutional and Statutory bodies like Election Commission, CAG, Chief Vigilance Commission etc should also be studied.

General Science

This section has also seen a shift in the pattern in the last two three years. Less number of questions are asked form the traditional areas of biology, physics and chemistry. The technology part of Science now predominates and more questions are from the equipment and technology that we use in our day to day life like CD (Compact Disc), Bluetooth, WiFi, Washing Machine, LED and LCD Televisions etc. The students from non science background should keep this in mind while preparing for this section and not waste too much time on traditional Physics, Chemistry and Biology portion of General Science. Newspapers, Magazines and internet are specially useful in preparing for this section.

Geography  

A large number of questions approximately 18-22 every year are asked from this section of which majority 80-85% is from Indian Geography and the rest from World Geography, General Geography, and Astronomy. From last couple of years the social and economic geography dominates the Indian Geography part of this section. Students should pay special attention to census data, demographic trends, patterns in various industries, agriculture, etc.

Economic and Social Development

This section includes area like Sustainable Development, Poverty, Inclusion, Demographics, and Social Sector Initiatives etc.  Special emphasis should be given to the conceptual understanding of basic economic terms encountered in the day to day reading of newspapers and magazines. Government programmes, policies and schemes should be covered thoroughly as 5-8 questions are assured from this area in some form or the other. Two very reliable source for this area is India Year Book and Economic Survey. 

Current events of national and international importance

This section is the underlying theme of all the above topics discussed above and questions that do not fall in any of the above categories fall in this one. Aspirants should be up to date with current social, political, economic, developments of national and international importance. Students would also do well by keeping track of the information regarding international organizations and international events specially in the Indian neighborhood or the ones having strategic importance for India.
Overall a successful prelims preparation requires both depth and breadth in coverage of the syllable but the former should always be preferred over the latter in case of crunch of time. A positive frame of mind and ‘can do attitude’ should be followed till the last day of the preparation. Regular discussions with serious students/friends also bear good results provided it is done in a time bound manner.

Strategy for Civil Services(IAS) Preliminary Examination 2012

The civil services preliminary examination for 2012 would be held on 20 May based on the new pattern introduced by UPSC in 2011. The preliminary examination would consist of two papers of two hours duration carrying 200 marks each. Paper-I is General Studies and Paper-II is the Aptitude Test. It would be worthwhile to clarify at the very outset that the number of questions for both the papers have not been mentioned by the UPSC and thus subject to change. Preliminary examination 2011 consisted of 100 questions for Paper-I and 80 questions for Paper-II.

Paper-I

Paper-I being the General Studies consists of familiar areas like Current events of national and international importance, History of India and Indian National Movement, Indian and World Geography, Indian Polity and Governance, Economic and Social Development, General Science and General issues on Environmental ecology, Bio-diversity and Climate Change. The students should pay special attention to the Environment topic as this is a newly added topic and the number of questions from this section will increase in the coming years. Students would do well by going through the class XI and XII NCERT biology books which has some of the chapters on Environment.

Radical Shift in Pattern

Last two years have seen a drastic change in the nature of questions asked in this paper. The questions now being asked are very conceptual and not factual in nature. Students would do well by keeping last ten years question papers with them while preparing for this paper. A close comparison of the question papers will reveal this difference to the students. The students should always keep this difference in mind while preparing and should not be tempted to memorize too many facts as it used to be in the case of prelims preparation earlier. Any disregard for this critical difference will render the preparation futile and counterproductive.

Paper-II

Paper-II is the aptitude paper having topics like Comprehension, Logical reasoning and analytical ability, Interpersonal skills including communication skills, Decision making and problem solving, General mental ability, Basic numeracy, Data interpretation, and English Language Comprehension skills. Here it is important to make a distinction between Comprehension and English Language Comprehension. Comprehension section tests the comprehension knowledge of the student so it will be both in English and Hindi. Questions relating to English Language Comprehension skills of Class X level (last item in the Syllabus of Paper-II) will be tested through passages from English language only without providing Hindi translation thereof in the question paper. This passage is relatively easier than the passage falling under the comprehension section as it merely intends to check the basic English language skill. The students should in no case leave or miss these passages in a hurry to complete any other section as it is easier to score well in these passages. A general and sound advice for Paper-II is regular practice even if it is only two hours every day.

Mathematics
The mathematics section for civil services preliminary examination (which includes Logical reasoning and analytical ability, General mental ability, Basic numeracy, Data interpretation) has a different flavor as compared to bank or management exams. The questions are not too calculative in nature rather more conceptual so once the student identifies the correct concept the question is solved. This was the nature across all mathematics questions last year. Thus students are advised to work more on the conceptual understanding than the speed. The detailed preparation strategy for this section will be discussed in a separate article.

Decision Making

The questions on decision making are compulsory questions as there is no negative marking rather the options have differential marking. For e,g option (a) may fetch 50% of the total score while option (b) 75% and option (c) 25% and option (d) 100%. Thus a student should not leave any of these questions as at worst it will fetch 25% of the total marks assigned to the question. The questions in the decision making section are of the common sense nature so the students should not waste too much time in preparing for this section.

Comprehension 

The distinction between two comprehension sections has already been made in this article. The key to do well in the comprehension section is to strike a balance between speed and accuracy. Neither of them should be sacrificed for the other. While practicing comprehension students should keep in mind that they should select passages from different areas like Science, Philosophy, Economics, Art and Litterateur etc. This will equip them in dealing effectively with any kind of passage that they might encounter in the examination. A suitable source for practicing comprehension is picking up passages from any standard Year Book for civil services or the ones that are available in the coaching material packages. The detailed preparation strategy for this section will be discussed in a separate article.

Case for new models of funding infra projects

With the country facing severe infrastructure constraints and slow pace of implementation of mega projects, the Economic Survey called for putting in place new models of financing the infra sector to meet the funding requirement of $1 trillion in the XII Plan.

“In view of the massive requirement of funds, all efforts need to be made to attract big-ticket long-term investors such as strategic investors, private equity funds, pension funds, and sovereign funds,''' the Survey says.

“There is a need for introducing more innovative schemes to attract large-scale investment into infrastructure.

“Strengthening domestic financial institutions and development of a long-term bonds market may be critical,'' it states.

Stating that 50 per cent of the projected investment will come from the private sector in the next Five Year Plan, the Survey says, financing infrastructure will, therefore, be a big challenge in the coming years and will require some innovative ideas and new models of financing.

Taking a cue from the realisation of investment targets for infrastructure during the current Plan, the survey expresses hope that financing of the ambitious XII Plan investment target will be possible.

According to the Survey, bank credit to projects in the sector had witnessed a healthy growth of 48.4 per cent annually during 2006-11, increasing from Rs.30,286 crore during 2006-07 to Rs.1,46,767 crore during 2010-11. However, credit growth has turned negative in the current financial year and at Rs.70,155 crore, net credit to the infrastructure sector during April-December, 2011, was nearly 61 per cent lower than the same period of last fiscal, it noted. 

Private participation

The Survey also calls for creating a conducive environment for private sector participation with a transparent and credible regulatory mechanism for financing the infrastructure projects to reduce the pressure on public-sector funding.

Emphasising that the performance in core infrastructure sectors is still to a large extent dependent on public sector projects, the Survey says, in the next Five Year Plan, the public sector investment will need to increase to over Rs.22.50 lakh crore, a rise of over 71 per cent than the current Plan.

Union Budget 2012-13: Sector Based Allocation

Union Finance Minister Pranab Mukharjee presented the annual budget for the fiscal year 2012-13 in the parliament on 16 March 2012.
The Union Minister of Finance came up with an increased budgetary allocation for various sectors including agriculture, rural development, defence etc. While, the Plan Outlay for Department of Agriculture and Co-operation increased by 18 percent, the target for agricultural credit raised by 100000 crore rupees to 575000 crore rupees. Budgetary allocation for rural drinking water and sanitation received a hike of over 27 per cent. Flagship programmes like Right to Education-Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan received an increase of 21.7 per cent in the budgetary allocation.

Some of the major allocations made for different sectors of economy are as follows:

Agriculture and Allied Activities

• Budgetary allocation for agriculture and allied activities 2012-13 increased by 18%
• 9217 crore rupees allocated for Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana.
• 1000 crore rupees for Bringing Green Revolution to Eastern India (BGREI) project
• 300 crore rupees to Vidarbha Intensified Irrigation Development Programme under RKVY.
• 200 crore rupees allocated for incentivising research with rewards
• 14242 crore rupees allocated for Accelerated Irrigation Benefit Programme (AIBP)
• 500 crore rupees provided to broaden scope of production of fish to coastal aquaculture

Rural Development

• 14,000 crore rupees allocated for rural drinking water and sanitation
• 24000 crore rupees allocated for Pradhan Mantri Grameen Sadak Yojna
• 12040 crore rupees provided for Backward Regions Grant Fund scheme
• 20,000 crore rupees allocated for Rural Infrastructure Development Fund
• 5000 crore  rupees earmarked for creating warehousing facilities

Education
• Sarva Siksha Abhiyan-Right to Education- 25555 crore rupees
• 3124 crore rupees provided for Rashtriya Madhyamik Shiksha Abhiyan (RMSA)

Health

• 20822 crore rupees National Rural Health Mission

Employment and skill development
• 3915 crore rupees provided for National Rural Livelihood Mission
• 1276 crore rupees allocated for Prime Minister’s Employment Generation Programme
• 1000 crore rupees allocated for National Skill Development Fund

Defence and Security
• 193407 crore rupees aallocated for Defence services including 79579crore rupees for capital expenditure
• 1185 crore rupees to be allocated for construction of nearly 4000 residential quarters for Central Armed Police Forces
• 3280 crore rupees proposed to be allocated for construction of office building of CentralArmed Police Forces

Infrastructure and Industrial Development

• 25360 crore rupees allocated for Road Transport and Highways Ministry
• 3884 crore rupees loan waiver for handloom weavers and their cooperative societies
• 500 crore rupees pilot scheme announced for promotion and application of Geo-textile in the North Eastern Region
• 70 crore rupees allocated to set up a powerloom mega cluster in Ichalkaranji in Maharashtra
• 5000 crore rupees India Opportunities Venture Fund to be set up with SIDBI
• 15888 crore rupees to be provided for capitalisation of public sector banks and financial institutions

Other major allocations

• 37113 crore rupees allocated for Scheduled Castes Sub Plan
• 21710 crore rupees earmarked for Tribal Sub Plan

Capitals, Governors and Chief Ministers of States

States	Capitals	Governors	Chief Ministers
(1) Andhra Pradesh	Hyderabad	Mr. E.S.L.Narasimhan	Mr. N.Kiran Kumar Reddy
(2) Arunachal Pradesh	Itanagar	Gen. (Retd.) J. J. Singh	Mr. Jarbom Gamlin
(3) Assam	Dispur	Mr. J. B. Patnaik	Mr. Tarun Gogoi
(4) Bihar	Patna	Mr. Devanand Konwar	Mr. Nitish Kumar
(5) Chhattisgarh	Raipur	Mr. Shekhar Dutt	Dr. Raman Singh
(6) Goa	Panaji	Mr. K. Sankaranarayan	Mr. Digambar V. Kamat
(7) Gujarat	Gandhinagar	Dr. Kamla	Mr. Narendra Modi
(8) Haryana	Chandigarh	Mr. Jagannath Pahadia	Mr. Bhupinder S. Hooda
(9) Himachal Pradesh	Shimla	Ms. Urmila Singh	Mr. Prem Kumar Dhumal
(10) Jammu and Kashmir	Srinagar (Summer) Jammu (Winter)	Mr. N. N. Vohra	Mr. Omar Abdullah
(11) Jharkhand	Ranchi	Dr. Syed Ahmed	Mr. Arjun Munda
(12) Karnataka	Bengaluru	Mr. Hans Raj Bhardwaj	Mr. DV Sadananda Gowda
(13) Kerala	Thiruvananthapuram	Mr. M. O. H. Farook	Mr. V. S. Achuthanandan
(14) Madhya Pradesh	Bhopal	Mr. Ram Naresh Yadav	Mr. Shivraj Singh Chauhan
(15) Maharashtra	Mumbai	Mr. K. Sankaranarayan	Mr. Prithviraj Chavan
(16) Manipur	Imphal	Mr. Gurbachan Jagat	Mr.Okram Ibobi Singh
(17) Meghalaya	Shillong	Mr. R. S. Mooshahary	Mr. Mukul A. Sangma
(18) Mizoram	Aizawl	Mr. Vakkom Purushothaman	Mr.Lalthanhawla
(19) Nagaland	Kohima	Mr. Nikhil Kumar	Mr. Neiphiu Rio
(20) Odisha	Bhubaneswar	Mr. M. C. Bhandare	Mr. Naveen Patnaik
(21) Punjab	Chandigarh	Mr. Shivraj V. Patil	Mr. Parkash Singh Badal
(22) Rajasthan	Jaipur	Mr. Shivraj V. Patil (Acting)	Mr. Ashok Gehlot
(23) Sikkim	Gangtok	Mr. Balmiki Prasad Singh	Mr. Pawan Chamling
(24) Tamil Nadu	Chennai	Mr. K Rosaiah	Ms. Jayalalithaa
(25) Tripura	Agartala	Mr. D. Y. Patil	Mr. Manik Sarkar
(26) Uttarakhand	Dehradun	Ms. Margaret Alva	Mr. Vijay Bahuguna
(27) Uttar Pradesh	Lucknow	Mr. B. L. Joshi	Mr. Akhilesh Yadav
(28) West Bengal	Kolkata	Mr. M. K. Narayanan	Ms. Mamata Banerjee

Sachin Tendulkar becomes first to score 100 international centuries

India's Sachin Tendulkar on March 16 became the first batsman in history to score 100 international centuries, adding another milestone in his record-breaking career.

Tendulkar, who turns 39 next month, achieved the feat when he recorded his 49th one-day century in the Asia Cup match against Bangladesh at the Sher-e-Bangla stadium in Dhaka. He has 51 Test hundreds.

The Mumbai batsman, who has compiled more Test and one-day runs than anyone in history, reached the record with a single, marking the moment with a modest glance to the sky while pointing to the Indian flag on his helmet.

Tendulkar is the most capped player in the history of the game with 188 Test and 462 one-day appearances since making his debut against Pakistan in Karachi in November, 1989.

Millions of fans in India and across the cricketing world endured an anxious year-long wait before Tendulkar finally reached the landmark in the four-nation tournament, the symbol of one-day supremacy in the continent.

He scored his 99th ton during a World Cup match against South Africa in Nagpur on March 12 last year, but failed to add to the tally on subsequent tours of England and Australia and a home series against the West Indies.

Former Australian captain Ricky Ponting is the second batsman on the all-time list with 71 international centuries.

Following is the sequence of Sachin Tendulkar’s 100 international hundreds since his debut against Pakistan back in December, 1989.

1) 119 no vs England at Old Trafford on Aug 14, ‘90

2) 148 no India vs Australia at SCG on Jan 6,’92

3) 114 vs Australia at WACA, Perth on Feb 3, ‘92

4) 111 vs SA at Wanderers, Johannesburg on Nov 28, ‘92

5) 165 vs England at Chepauk, Chennai on Feb 12, ‘93

6) 104 no vs Sri Lanka at SSC, Colombo on Jul 31,’93

7) 142 vs SL at KDSB Stadium, Lucknow on Jan 19,’94

8) 110 vs Australia, at RPS, Colombo, on Sep 9, ‘94

9) 115 vs New Zealand at IPCL, Vadodara on Oct 28, ‘94

10) 105 vs West Indies at SMS, Jaipur on Nov 11, ‘94

11) 179 vs West Indies at VCA Ground, Nagpur on Dec 2,’94

12) 112 no vs Sri Lanka at Sharjah on Apr 9, ‘95

13) 127 no vs Kenya at Barabati, Cuttack on Feb 18, ‘96

14) 137 vs Sri Lanka at Kotla, New Delhi on Mar 2, ‘96

15) 100 vs Pakistan at Padang, Singapore, on Apr 5, ‘96

16) 118 vs Pakistan at Sharjah on Apr 15, ‘96

17) 122 vs England at Edgbaston, Birmingham, on Jun 8, ‘96

18) 177 vs England at Nottingham on Jul 5, ‘96

19) 110 vs Sri Lanka at RPS Colombo, on August 28, ‘96

20) 114 vs SA at Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai on Dec 14, ‘96

21) 169 vs SA at Newlands, Cape Town on Jan 4, ‘97

22) 104 vs Zimbabwe at Benoni on Feb 9, ‘97

23) 117 vs NZ at Chinnaswamy, Bangalore, on May 14, ‘97

24) 143 vs Sri Lanka at RPS, Colombo, on Aug 3, ‘97

25) 139 vs Sri Lanka at SSC, Colombo, on Aug 11, ‘97

26) 148 vs SL at Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai on Dec 4, ‘97

27) 155 No vs Australia at Chepauk, Chennai, on Mar 9, ‘98

28) 177 vs Aus at Chinnaswamy, Bangalore on March 26, ‘98

29) 100 vs Australia at Green Park, Kanpur, on Apr 7, ‘98

30) 143 vs Australia at Sharjah on Apr 22, ‘98

31) 134 vs Australia, Sharjah, on April 24, ‘98

32) 100 no vs Kenya, Eden Gardens, May 31, ‘98

33) 128 vs Sri Lanka at RPS, Colombo, on Jul 7, ‘98

34) 127 vs Zimbabwe at Bulawayo on Sep 26, ‘98

35) 141 vs Australia in Bangladesh on Oct 28, ‘98

36) 118 no vs Zimbabwe at Sharjah, on Nov 8, ‘98

37) 124 vs Zimbabwe at Sharjah on Nov 13, ‘98

38) 113 vs New Zealand at Wellington, on Dec 29, ‘98

39) 136 vs Pakistan at Chepauk, Chennai on Jan 31, ‘99

40) 124 no vs Sri Lanka at SSC, Colombo, on Feb 28, ‘99

41) 140 vs Kenya at Bristol, on May 23, ‘99

42) 120 vs Sri Lanka in Colombo, on Aug 29, ‘99

43) 126 no vs New Zealand at PCA, Mohali, on Oct 13, ‘99

44) 217 vs NZ at Motera, Ahmedabad, on Oct 30, ‘99

45) 186 vs New Zealand at Hyderabad on Nov 8, ‘99

46) 116 vs Australia at MCG on Dec 28, ‘99

47) 122 vs South Africa at Vadodara on Mar 17, ‘00

48) 101 vs Sri Lanka, Sharjah, Oct 20,’00

49) 122 vs Zimbabwe at Kotla, New Delhi, on Nov 21, ‘00

50) 201 no vs Zimbabwe at VCA, Nagpur, on Nov 26, ‘00

51) 146 vs Zimbabwe at Jodhpur, on Dec 8, ‘00

52) 126 vs Australia at Chepauk, Chennai on Mar 20, ‘01

53) 139 vs Australia at Indore on Mar 31, ‘01

54) 122 vs West Indies at Harare on Jul 4, ‘01

55) 101 vs SA at Wanderers, Johannesburg on Oct 5, ‘01

56) 146 vs Kenya at Paarl, South Africa, on Oct 24, ‘01

57) 155 vs SA at Goodyear Park, Bloemfontein, Nov 3, ‘01

58) 103 vs England at Motera, Ahmedabad, on Dec 13, ‘01

59) 176 vs Zimbabwe at VCA, Nagpur, on Feb 24, ‘02

60) 117 vs WI at QP Oval, Port of Spain, on Apr 20, ‘02

61) 105 vs England at Chester—Le—Street on Jul 4, ‘02

62) 113 vs Sri Lanka, Bristol, England, on Jul 11, ‘02

63) 193 vs England at Headingley, Leeds, on Aug 23, ‘02

64) 176 vs WI at Eden Gardens, Kolkata on Nov 3, ‘02

65) 152 vs Namibia, Pietermaritzburg, SA, on Feb 23, ‘03

66) 100 vs Australia, Gwalior, on Oct 26,’03

67) 102 vs New Zealand in Hyderabad on Nov 15, ‘03

68) 241 no vs Australia at SCG on Jan 4, ‘04

69) 141 vs Pakistan in Rawalpindi, on Mar 16, ‘04

70) 194 no vs Pakistan at Multan, on Mar 29, ‘04

71) 248 no vs Bangladesh in Dhaka, on Dec 12, ‘04

72) 123 vs Pakistan at Ahmedabad on Apr 12, ‘05

73) 109 vs Sri Lanka at Kotla, New Delhi, on Dec 22, ‘05

74) 100 vs Pakistan at Peshawar, on February 6, ‘06

75) 141 no vs WI at Kuala Lumpur, on Sept 14, ‘06

76) 100 no vs WI at Vadodara, on Jan 31, ‘07

77) 101 vs Bangladesh in Chittagong on May 19, ‘07

78) 122 no vs Bangladesh in Mirpur on May 26, ‘07

79) 154 no vs Australia at SCG, on Jan 4, ‘08

80) 153 vs Australia at Adelaide Oval, on Jan 25, ‘08

81) 117 no vs Australia at SCG on Mar 2, ‘08

82) 109 vs Australia at Nagpur, on Nov 6, ‘08

83) 103 no vs England at Chepauk, Chennai, on Dec 15, ‘08

84) 163 vs New Zealand at Christchurch, on Mar 8, ‘09

85) 160 vs New Zealand at Seddon Park, on March 20, ‘09

86) 138 vs Sri Lanka at RPS, Colombo, on Sep 14, ‘09

87) 175 vs Australia at Hyderabad on Nov 5, ‘09

88) 100 no vs Sri Lanka at Ahmedabad, on Nov 20, ‘09

89) 105 no vs Bangladesh at Chittagong, on Jan 18, ‘10

90) 143 vs Bangladesh at Mirpur, on Jan 25, ‘10

91) 100 vs South Africa at Nagpur, on Feb 9, ‘10

92) 106 vs South Africa at Kolkata, on Feb 15, ‘10

93) 200 no vs South Africa at Gwalior, on Feb 24, ‘10

94) 203 vs Sri Lanka at Colombo, on Jul 28, ‘10

95) 214 vs Australia at Bangalore, on Oct 11, ‘10

96) 111 no vs South Africa at Cape Town, on Dec 19, ‘10

97) 146 vs South Africa at Cape Town, on Jan 4, ‘11

98) 120 vs England at Bangalore, on Feb 27, ‘11

99) 111 vs South Africa at Nagpur, on March 12, ‘11

100) 114 vs Bangaldesh at Mirpur, On March 16, ‘12