Special Edition for Prelims 2017

Year End
Review of

Ministries & Departments

New Initiatives
New Schemes
New Policies

For Civil Services Examination

 INDEX

 YEAR END REVIEW OF THE SOCIAL SECTOR

1. Ministry of Women and Child Development

2. Ministry of Minority Affairs

3. Ministry of Human Resource Development

4. Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment

 YEAR END REVIEW OF HEALTH SECTOR

1. Ministry of Health and Family Welfare

2. Ministry of AYUSH

 YEAR END REVIEW IN CULTURE AND TOURISM

1. Ministry of Culture

2. Ministry of Tourism

 YEAR END REVIEW IN FINANCIAL SEGMENT

1. Department of Expenditure, Ministry of Finance

2. Department of Financial Services, Ministry of Finance

3. Department of Industrial Policy & Promotion, Ministry of Commerce & Industry

 YEAR END REVIEW OF TRANSPORT SECTOR

1. Ministry of Shipping

2. Ministry of Road Transport & Highways

3. Ministry of Petroleum & Natural Gas

4. Ministry of Power

 YEAR END REVIEW IN FOOD SECTOR

1. Ministry of Agriculture

2. Ministry of Food Processing Industries

3. Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food & Public Distribution

4. Ministry of Chemicals and Fertilizers

 YEAR END REVIEW IN SCIENCE SECTOR

1. Ministry of Science & Technology

2. Department of Atomic Energy

3. Ministry of Defence

www.iasscore.in
 YEAR END REVIEW OF THE
SOCIAL SECTOR

This covers the Year End Review of the following Ministries

1. Ministry of Women and Child Development
2. Ministry of Minority Affairs
3. Ministry of Human Resource Development
4. Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment

E
Ministry of Women and Child Development

OR
• As a nodal Ministry for the advancement of women and children, the Ministry formulates plans,
policies and programmes; enacts/ amends legislation, guides and coordinates the efforts of both
governmental and non-governmental organisations working in the field of Women and Child
Development. Besides, playing its nodal role, the Ministry implements certain innovative programmes
for women and children.
SC
• Some of the key initiatives are:
1. Expansion of One Stop Centre Scheme:
• The Ministry has launched the Scheme for setting up One Stop Centres to facilitate access to an
integrated range of services including medical, legal, and psychological support to women affected
by violence to be funded through Nirbhaya Fund.
GS

2. Expansion of Beti Bachao Beti Padhao (BBBP) scheme:

• The scheme aims to address the issue of Child Sex Ratio (CSR) through a National level strategy
focusing on mass campaign for improving CSR and promote education in 100 gender critical
districts through multi-sectoral action.
• Objective:
a) Prevent Gender biased sex selective elements
b) Ensure survival and protection of girl child.
c) Ensure education of the girl child.
• Components:
a) Mass communication/ campaign on Beti-Bachav-Beti-Padhao
b) Multi sectoral interventions in 100 gender critical districts covering all States/ UTs low on CSR.
• State level initiatives include:
a) Digital Guddi Gudda Display Boards in offices and public places in Maharashtra,
b) Social assistance scheme titled Ladli Beti for new born girl child born by Jammu and Kashmir.

www.iasscore.in
1
3. Operationalisation of Gender Champions Scheme:
• The initiative of Gender Champions is being implemented through educational institutions for sensitizing
young students and for creating awareness on laws, legislations, legal rights and life skills education.
• The Gender Champion Guidelines developed by WCD Ministry are being operationalized in
collaboration with the Ministry of Human Resource Development.
4. Mahila Police Volunteer Scheme:
• MPVs will act as a link between police and community and facilitate women in distress.
• The MPVs shall report the incidence of violence against women, domestic violence and dowry harassment.
• They shall be given an Identity Card to authorize their identity and engagement with public. The
contribution of the MPVs will be rewarded annually.
• Haryana has become the first state to operationalise the Mahila Police Volunteer scheme.
5. Progress on 33% Reservation for women in police force:
• The WCD Ministry has been working along with the Ministry of Home Affairs to improve overall

E
police responsiveness to gender sensitive cases and to bring visibility to more women and strengthen
gender sensitivity in police force.
OR
• Reservation has been extended in 13 States/Union Territories of Bihar, Gujarat, Odisha, Nagaland,
Rajasthan, Jharkhand, Madhya Pradesh, Telangana, Chandigarh, Daman & Diu, Lakshadweep &
Dadra Nagar Haveli, NCT of Delhi. The Process has been initiated in 9 more States/UTs (Assam,
Chhattisgarh, Jammu & Kashmir, Mizoram, Punjab, Kerala, Haryana, Uttarakhand and West Bengal).
6. Panic Button on Mobile Phones:
SC

• The Ministry of Women and Child Development had taken up the issue of installation of physical
panic button on mobile phones.
• Under these rules, all new feature phones will have the facility of panic button configured to the
numeric key 5 or 9 and all smart phones will have the panic button configured to three times short
pressing of the On-off button from the new year onwards. Further, all new mobile phones will be
GS

required to have the facility of identifying the location through satellite based GPS.
7. Village facilitation & Convergence Service:
• Village Facilitation & Convergence Service (VCFS) aims to link women in need with the schemes/
programs being implemented by Central/State Government impacting the lives of women such as
BBBP, Sabla, One Stop Centre, Jan Dhan Yojana, Swach Bharat, etc.
• The services under VCFS are provided by Village Coordinators at the Gram Panchayat level. VCFS
Scheme has been approved for 161 BBBP districts and 200 high burden districts across the country.
• This will help to educate women about government schemes and their benefits as well and enhance
community participation in implementation of schemes and programmes meant for women.
8. Launch of Mahila e-Haat:
• The Ministry of Women & Child Development launched Mahila e-Haat a unique direct online
digital marketing platform for women entrepreneurs/SHGs/NGOs in March 2016.
• It aims at financial inclusion and economic empowerment of women. Mahila e-Haat facilitates
direct contact between the vendor and buyer.
• The unique features of Mahila E-haat not available on other e-commerce portals are: (a) Sharing of
contact details of vendors (b) E-learning services (c) Pitara (Hamari Baat) conversations (d) Services.

www.iasscore.in
2
9. POSCO e-box:
• It is a simple and easy to use facility for children or any adult to register complaints of child sexual
abuse or harassment. It is a direct online reporting mechanism where each complaint is handled
with sensitivity and anonymity to provide optimum protection to these children.
• POCSO e-Box has been awarded the Skoch Silver and Skoch Order-of Merit award.
10. Extension of Maternity Leave:
• The Ministry of Labour & Employment has carried out suitable amendments in the Act, which are
as follows:
a) Enhancement of maternity leave under Maternity Benefit Act, 1961, from existing 12 weeks to 26
weeks.
b) Extension of maternity benefit to adopting mothers and commissioning mothers.
c) Establishment of crèche facility within the office/factory premises.
11. Khoya-paya portal:

E
• The Ministry of Women and Child Development, with the assistance of Department of Electronics
and Information Technology (DeitY), has launched a web portal Khoya-Paya this year for reporting

•
and searching missing children.
OR
The web portal 'Khoya-Paya' will have information of missing and sighted children.
12. National Nutrition Mission:
SC
• A new Mission to tackle the problem of malnutrition is being launched by March 2016 so that
supplementary nutrition can be provided in a targeted manner with real-time IT based monitoring
at ground level.
• It will put in place a comprehensive set of measures and activities that will address pivotal and
complex issues of malnutrition and focus on outcome monitoring, training and capacity building.
13. Comprehensive Regulation on Micro nutrient Fortification:
GS

• Food Fortification has significant role in reducing Micronutrient deficiency related disorders.WCD
Ministry led the initiative with the Ministry of Consumer Affairs & Public Distribution and Ministry
of Health & Family Welfare in formulating Comprehensive Regulation on Micronutrient Fortification
involving all Stake holders.
• The 'Group of Secretaries on Education & Health regarding food fortification' has recommended
the following:
(a) Double Fortification of Salt with Iodine & Iron.
(b) Fortification of Refined Oil and Milk with Vitamin-A & D.
(c) Fortification of Rice with Iron & Folic Acid.
15. National Children's Fund:
• National Institute of Public Cooperation and Child Development (NIPCCD), an autonomous body
under Ministry of Women and Child Development (MWCD) has revised its guidelines to provide
scholarship to a child who is orphan or destitute and is residing in a Child Care Institution (CCI)
and has done well in his/her school by securing at least 70% marks.

Ministry of Minority Affairs

• The Ministry of Minority Affairs was established in 2006.

www.iasscore.in
3
• It is the apex body for the central government's regulatory and developmental programmes for the
minority religious communities in India, which include Muslims, Sikhs, Christians, Buddhists,
Zoroastrians (Parsis) and Jains notified as minority communities as notified by Government of
India in Gazette under Section 2 (c) of the National Commission for Minorities Act, 1992.
• The Ministry is also involved with the linguistic minorities and of the office of the Commissioner
for Linguistic Minorities, representation of the Anglo-Indian community, protection and preservation
of non-Muslim shrines in Pakistan and Muslim shrines in India in terms of the Pant-Mirza Agreement
of 1955, in consultation with the Ministry of External Affairs.
• Achievements and Initiatives of the Ministry of minority affairs in the previous year are as follows:
1. Nai Manzil scheme:
• Objective: To address educational and livelihood needs of minority communities lagging behind in
terms of educational attainments.
• The 'Nai Manzil' scheme was launched, for the first time in Jammu and Kashmir.
2. Everlasting Flame International Programme:

E
• The Ministry of Minority Affairs organised the two months long cultural spectacle Everlasting
Flame International Programme celebrating Multicultural Ethos of the Parsi-Zoroastrian Community.
OR
3. Hunar Haat" (Skill Haat):
• "Hunar Haat" (Skill Haat) is an exhibition of handicrafts, embroidery etc. made by the artisans from
the Minority Communities at the India International Trade Fair.
4. Haj Pilgrimaje:
SC

• The work related to management of Haj pilgrimage, including administration of the Haj Committee
Act, 2002 and rules made thereunder has been transferred from Ministry of External Affairs to
Ministry of Minority Affairs. With the transfer of Haj related works from MEA, M/o Minority
Affairs will be the nodal Ministry for all matters related to Haj pilgrimage.
5. Progress Panchayats:
GS

• The Minister of State(IC) Minority Affairs launched and held "Progress Panchayats", an information
campaign at ground level.
• "Progress Panchayat" will prove to be an effective mission for informing people about welfare
measures as there is no dearth of schemes and funds for development of Muslim and other
Minority communities.
6. Naya savera - Free coaching and allied scheme:
• The objective of the scheme is to enhance skills and knowledge of students and candidates from
minority communities to get employment in government sector/Public sector undertakings, jobs in
private sector, and admission in reputed institutions in technical and professional courses at under
graduate and post-graduate levels.
7. NAI UDAAN
• The objective of the scheme is to provide financial support to the minority candidates clearing
prelims conducted by Union Public Service Commission (UPSC), Staff Selection Commission
(SSC) and State Public Service Commission (SPSC) to adequately equip them to compete for
appointment to civil services in the union and state governments and to increase the representation
of the minority in the civil services by giving direct financial support to candidates clearing preliminary
examination of Group A and B (Gazetted and Non-Gazetted posts of UPSC), SPSC, SSC, etc.

www.iasscore.in
4
8. Padho Pardesh
• The objective of the scheme is to award interest subsidy to meritorious students belonging to
economically weaker sections of notified minority communities so as to provide them better
opportunities for higher education board and enhance their employability.

Ministry of Human Resource Development

• The Ministry of Human Resource Development is responsible for the development of human
resources in India.
• The Ministry is divided into two departments:
a) The Department of School Education and Literacy, which deals with primary, secondary and higher
secondary education, adult education and literacy, and
b) The Department of Higher Education, which deals with university education, technical education,
scholarship etc.
• Initiatives and Achievements of Ministry of Human Resource Development are:

E
1. Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan (SSA)
•

OR
Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan is implemented as a Centrally Sponsored Scheme in partnership with State
Governments for universalizing elementary education across the country. Its overall goals include
universal access and retention, bridging of gender and social category gaps in education and
enhancement of learning levels of children.
• SSA provides for a variety of interventions, including inter alia, opening of new schools, construction
SC
of schools and additional classrooms, toilets and drinking water, provisioning for teachers, periodic
teacher training and academic resource support, textbooks and support for learning achievement.
These provisions are made in accordance with norms and standards and free entitlements as mandated
by the Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education (RTE) Act, 2009.
2. Shagun Portal - an Initiative to monitor the implementation of SSA:
GS

• ShaGun a web portal (from the words Shaala and Gunvatta) is being developed by Ministry of
HRD. It has two components i.e. one is a Repository of best practices, photographs, videos, studies,
newspaper articles etc. on elementary education, State /UT wise. These provide a platform for all
stakeholders to learn from success stories of each other and a positive competitive spirit among all
the States and UTs.
• The online monitoring of the SSA implemented by States and UTs and will be accessed by
Government Officers at all levels using their specific passwords.
3. Padhe Bharat Badhe Bharat:
• Launched to improve learning outcomes, the program focuses on language development to create
interest in reading and writing in comprehension & teaching mathematics in a way that develops
liking and understanding during the early years of schooling, particularly in class I and II.
• The focus of the programme is on the development of System Level Component and School -
Classroom Level Components.
4. The Rashtriya Avishkar Abhiyan (RAA):
• It is also under the SSA, was launched by Late Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam.
• This aims to motivate and engage children of the age group 6-18 years, in Science, Mathematics
and Technology by observation, experimentation, inference drawing and model building, through
both inside and outside classroom activities.

www.iasscore.in
5
• Schools have been adopted for mentoring by Institutions of Higher Education like IIT's, IISER's and
NIT's.
• In some States students have been taken for exposure visits to factories, research hubs; science and
mathematics clubs are being formed at the school levels, students are participating in competitions
and exhibitions to showcase their innovations in Maths, Science and Technology.
5. Vidyanjali:
• This is sub-programme under SSA launched to enhance community and private sector involvement
in Government run elementary schools across the country under the overall aegis of the SSA.
• The aim of the programme is to strengthen implementation of co-scholastic activities in government
schools through services of volunteers. So far 3306 Volunteers registered for the programme creating
10443 activities to be conducted in schools, 841 Volunteers have gone to schools and conducted activities.
Partnership between Schools" Programme: The Department has framed guidelines for "Partnership
between Schools" Programme, which aims to link schools located in rural areas with private, aided, or
government schools in urban or semi urban areas. All States and UTs have been requested to take necessary
action in this direction and design the modalities of the programme within the broad guidelines issued by
the Department. The objectives of the initiative include (i) bring all students to one common platform, (ii)

E
to share experiences and learn from each other, (iii) provide opportunities to the teaching fraternity to adopt
better and more effective practices and (iv) to instill a spirit of sharing, caring and togetherness.
OR
School Location Mapping: A website has been enabled which shows the location of all the schools on
a map of India. The schools can be searched by name, location, UDISE code etc. The school report card
has been integrated with the coordinates of the schools.
6. Teacher Education:
SC

a) Prashikshak Teacher Education Portal: The objective of Prashikshak is to help District Institute
for Education and Training (DIETs) make informed decisions about their institutes, compare the
performance of their institute against other DIETs in the state/country as well as help aspiring
teachers make informed decisions about which institute to join.
b) Enhanced use of E-Governance in Teacher Education by National Council for Teacher Education
(NCTE) for better regulation of the sector.
GS

c) Accreditation for Teacher Education Institutions (TEIs): by National Council for Teacher Education
for better management and improved quality of teacher education.
d) Mapping of Teacher Education Institutions (TEIs) for providing comprehensive status of 18,000+
recognised TEIs spread across the country in the public domain, a Geographical Information System
(GIS) has been introduced online for mapping the TEIs.
7. Mid Day Meal
• Mid Day Meal is a centrally sponsored programme designed with a view to enhancing enrollment,
retention and attendance and simultaneously improving nutritional levels among children.
• Mothers are encouraged to take turns to oversee the feeding of the children, thus ensuring quality
and regularity of the meal. For this, they need to devote only a couple of hours once or twice in
a month. This simple intervention of 'mothers watch', gives them a voice and a role and greater
ownership of the programme. For example: MITANIN in Chattisgarh.
8. Rashtriya Madhyamik Shiksha Abhiyan (RMSA)
• It is a Centrally Sponsored Scheme that envisages inter-alia provision of a secondary school within
a reasonable distance of any habitation and to improve quality of education imparted at secondary
level by making all secondary schools conform to prescribed norms, removing gender, socio-economic
and disability barriers etc.

www.iasscore.in
6
• Some of the significant initiatives, under RMSA for improving quality of education are as below:
a) Shaala Siddhi:
• It aims to enable schools to evaluate their performance in a more focused and strategic manner and
facilitate them to make professional judgments for improvement.
b) Shaala Darpan:
• The objective of this project is to provide services based on School Management Systems to
Students, Parents and Communities.
• Under School Information Services, the following list of services will be enabled i.e., School Profile
Management, Student Profile Management, Employee Information, Student Attendance, Leave
Management, Report Cards, Curriculum Tracking Custom, SMS Alerts for Parents / Administrators
on student & teacher attendance.
c) e- PATHSHALA:
• It is a single point repository of e-resources containing, NCERT textbooks and various other

E
learning resources. It is a joint initiative of Ministry of Human Resource Development (MHRD),
Govt. of India and National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT) developed

d)
OR
for showcasing and disseminating all educational e-resources including textbooks, audio, video,
periodicals, and a variety of other print and non-print materials.
Rashtriya Avishkar Abhiyan
• Rashtriya Avishkar Abhiyan was launched to focus on Science and Mathematics.
SC
• Under this, training of 1.04 lakh Science and Mathematics teacher, Math and Science Kit, excursion
trip to science centers and Museum for students, special teaching on science and mathematics,
science exhibition at district level, teaching of Vedic mathematics etc has been included under
Rashtriya Madhyamik Shiksha Abhiyan (RMSA).
e) Seema Darshan
GS

• It is an initiative to provide an opportunity for the children to experience the border environment
and to foster patriotism among the students.
• It was organised by Ministry of HRD in collaboration with Ministry of Defence and Ministry of
Home Affairs.
9. Swachh Vidyalaya initiative:
• The Swachh Vidyalaya initiative was a collaborative effort of all the Central Government which
provided funding through Centrally sponsored schemes of Sarv Shiksha Abhiyan, Rashtriya
Madhyamik Shiksha Abhiyan, Swachh Bharat Kosh, and the States and Union Territories in
partnership with 64 Public Sector Undertakings (PSUs) and 11 Private Corporat
• In order to emphasize upon clean and green environment in Kendriya Vidyalayas, 'Swachhtam
Vidyalaya' and 'Harit Vidyalaya' Awards have been instituted by Kendriya Vidyalaya Sangathan
from the session 2016-17 at regional level with running trophies and cash awards.
10. Global Initiative of Academic Networks (GIAN)
• GIAN is aimed at tapping the talent pool of scientists and entrepreneurs, internationally to encourage
their engagement with the institutes of Higher Education in India so as to augment the country's
existing academic resources, accelerate the pace of quality reform, and elevate India's scientific and
technological capacity to global excellence.

www.iasscore.in
7
11. Impacting Research Innovation and Technology (IMPRINT)
• IMPRINT INDIA is a Pan-IIT and IISc joint initiative to develop a roadmap for research to solve
major engineering and technology challenges in ten technology domains relevant to India.
12. National Academic Depository:
• The NAD would help in validating the authenticity of these awards and ensuring their safe storage
and easy retrieval. Maintaining academic awards in a digital depository would provide benefit to
educational institutions, students and employers by enabling online access and retrieval; eliminate
fraudulent practices such as forging of certificates and mark-sheets and facilitate validation.
• NAD shall maintain the authenticity, integrity and confidentiality of its database.
• It will also train and facilitate academic institutions/boards/ eligibility assessment bodies to efficiently
lodge academic awards in the database.
13. SWAYAM:
• SWAYAM is an indigenous IT Platform for hosting the Massive Open Online Courses (MOOCs)
with a capacity to revolutionize the education system by providing best quality education covering

E
all the subjects and courses being taught in the high schools, colleges and universities in the Country
using the IT system to the students even in the remotest corner of the Country.
OR
14. BHUVAN-RUSA portal:
• The National Remote Sensing Centre (NRSC) of Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) has
developed a mobile application for uploading geo-tagged photographs and associated details captured
by the educational institutions, on Bhuvan-RUSA portal as a part of implementation of Rashtriya
Uchchatar Shiksha Abhiyan (RUSA) funded works. This application for geo-tagging of institutions
SC

under RUSA is a location based service.

15. Vittiya Saksharta Abhiyan:
• The purpose of the `Vittiya Saksharta Abhiyan' is to actively engage the youth/ students of Higher
Education Institutions to encourage and motivate all payers and payees to use a digitally enabled
cashless economic system for transfer of funds.
GS

Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment

• The Ministry of Social Justice is responsible for welfare, social justice, and empowerment of
disadvantaged and marginalised sections of society, including scheduled castes (SC), Other Backward
Classes (OBC), the disabled, the elderly, and the victims of drug abuse.
• Salient initiatives are:
1. Rights of Persons with Disabilities (RPWD) Bill -2016:
• The Bill provides for penalties for offences committed against persons with disabilities and also
violation of the provisions of the new law.
• Special Courts will be designated in each district to handle cases concerning violation of rights of
PwDs.
• Reservation in vacancies in government establishments has been increased from 3% to 4% for
certain persons or class of persons with benchmark disability.
• Office of Chief Commissioner of Persons with Disabilities has been strengthened who will now be
assisted by 2 Commissioners and an Advisory Committee comprising of not more than 11 members
drawn from experts in various disabilities.

www.iasscore.in
8
• Every child with benchmark disability between the age group of 6 and 18 years shall have the right
to free education.
2. Sugamya Pustakalaya:
• It is an online platform that makes accessible content available to print-disabled people.
• The library houses publications across diverse subjects and languages and multiple accessible formats.
• It has been created by Department of Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities (Divyangjan),
Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment in collaboration with member organizations of Daisy
Forum of India and powered by TCS Access.
3. 'Vayoshreshtha Samman':
• Vayoshreshtha Samman is a Scheme of National Awards instituted by the Ministry of Social
Justice & Empowerment initially in 2005 and was upgraded to the status of National Awards in
2013, for institutions involved in rendering distinguished service for the cause of elderly persons
especially indigent senior citizens and to eminent citizens in recognition of their service/achievements.

E
Ministries of Social Justice & Empowerment, Health and Rural Development are running such
useful schemes for the welfare of elderly persons.
4.

•
Act:
OR
New Rules notified to revamp Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities)

The amendments made stronger provisions for the protection of Scheduled Castes and Scheduled
Tribes from atrocities against them. Rules have now been framed to give effect to the amended
provisions.
SC
• These rules will speed up the process of dispensation of justice to victims of atrocities, are strongly
sensitive in cases of offences against women, and liberalize and expedite access to relief for the
members of Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes who have been victims of atrocities.
5. 'Inclusiveness and Accessibility Index':
• Government launches 'Inclusiveness and Accessibility Index' to mark the next chapter of its flagship
GS

Campaign, the 'Sugamya Bharat Abhiyan'.

• The Index, prepared in collaboration with The Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and
Industry (FICCI) was launched.
• The 'Inclusiveness and Accessibility Index' helps the industries and corporate to participate in the
Accessible India Campaign (AIC) by voluntarily evaluating their readiness for making the workplace
accessible for Persons with Disabilities.

www.iasscore.in
9
 YEAR END REVIEW OF
HEALTH SECTOR

This covers the Year End Review of the following Ministries

1. Ministry of Health and Family Welfare
2. Ministry of AYUSH

Ministry of Health and Family Welfare

The Ministry of Health and Family welfare is an Indian government ministry, holding a cabinet rank
as a member of council of ministers. It is responsible for health related policies and issues in the country,
including family planning. The Ministry regularly publishes the Indian Pharmacopoeia since 1955 through

E
Indian Pharmacopoeia Commission (IPC) an autonomous body under the ministry for setting standards
for drugs, pharmaceuticals and healthcare devices and technologies in India.
OR
The ministry is composed of three departments namely Health & Family Welfare, Health Research,
AIDS Control.
For the holistic development of citizens of the country in terms of health and family welfare, Ministry
has taken following initiatives in the past one year :
SC

1. The Pradhan Mantri Surakshit Matritva Abhiyan (PMSMA):

• The scheme aimed at reducing maternal and infant mortality rates through safe pregnancies and safe
deliveries.
• The national programme will provide special free antenatal care to pregnant women in order to
detect and prevent high risk pregnancies.
GS

• The programme will provide fixed day assured, on the 9th of every month.
• Pregnant women can avail of a special antenatal check-up in their second or third trimesters at
Government health facilities with support from private sector doctors to supplement the efforts of
the Government sector.
• One of the aim is to identify and follow-up on high risk pregnancies in order to reduce MMR and
IMR.
2. MAA-Mother's Absolute Affection:
• A nationwide programme launched in an attempt to bring undiluted focus on promotion of
breastfeeding and provision of counselling services for supporting breastfeeding through health
systems.
• The chief components of the MAA Programme are Community awareness generation, Strengthening
inter personal communication through ASHA, Skilled support for breastfeeding at delivery points
in public health facilities, and monitoring and award/recognition.
3. Intensified Diarrhoea Control Fortnight (IDCF):
• The Intensified Diarrhoea Control Fortnight (IDCF) was observed from 11th to 23rd July across
the country.

www.iasscore.in
10
• The importance of this activity is that ORS will be available in the household when needed at the
time of diarrhoea.
• Intensified community awareness campaigns on hygiene and promotion of ORS and Zinc therapy
were conducted at the state, district and village levels.
4. National Deworming Day (NDD):
• The National Deworming Day is a flagship initiative of the Ministry of Health & Family Welfare.
• It target children aged 1-19 year throughout the country at risk of parasitic worm infection, through
the platform of schools and Anganwadi centres.
5. Pradhan Mantri National Dialysis Programme:
• Under this scheme, support is being provided to all States for provision of free dialysis services for
poor.
• As per the guidelines, the private partner is envisaged to provide medical human resource, dialysis
machines along other Schemes of Department of Health & Family Welfare with Reverse Osmosis

E
(RO) water plant infrastructure, dialyzer and consumables, while the space, power, and water supply
within District Hospitals would be provided by the State Government.
6.
•
Pradhan Mantri Swasthya Suraksha Yojana (PMSSY):

OR
The scheme envisages creation of tertiary healthcare capacity in medical education, research and
clinical care, in the underserved areas of the country.
• It aims at correcting regional imbalances in the availability of affordable/reliable tertiary healthcare
SC
services and also augmenting facilities for quality medical education in the country.
7. Schemes for disease control:
a) Bedaquiline was launched as part of the Revised National Tuberculosis Control Program (RNTCP).
The drug is a new anti-TB drug for treatment of Multi-drug-resistant tuberculosis (caused by
bacteria).
GS

This new class of drug is a diarylquinoline that specifically targets Mycobacterial ATP synthase, an
enzyme essential for supply of energy to Mycobacterium tuberculosis and most other mycobacteria.
b) The National Framework for Malaria Elimination (NFME) has been launched by the Union Health
Minister, which outlines India's strategy for elimination of the disease by 2030 and will contribute
to improved health and quality of life and alleviation of poverty. The NFME document clearly
defines goals, objectives, strategies, targets and timelines and will serve as a roadmap for advocating
and planning malaria elimination in the country in a phased manner.
The objectives of the NFME:
• Eliminate malaria from all low (Category 1) and moderate (Category 2) endemic states/UTs (26)
by 2022;
• Reduce incidence of malaria to less than 1 case per 1000 population in all States/UTs and the
districts and malaria elimination in 31 states/UTs by 2024;
• Interrupt indigenous transmission of malaria in all States/ UTs (Category 3) by 2027;
• Prevent re-establishment of local transmission of malaria in areas where it has been eliminated and
to maintain malaria-free status of the country by 2030. The milestones and targets are set for 2016,
2020, 2022, 2024, 2027 and 2030 by when the entire country has sustained zero indigenous cases
and deaths due to malaria for 3 years and initiated the processes for certification of malaria
elimination status to the country.

www.iasscore.in
11
• The main goals of the National Framework for Malaria Elimination in India are to:
1. Eliminate malaria (zero indigenous cases) throughout the entire country by 2030; and
2. Maintain malaria free status in areas where malaria transmission has been interrupted and prevent
re-introduction of malaria.
c) National Vector Borne Disease Control Programme (NVBDCP) is the programme for prevention &
control of these vector borne diseases as an integral part of the National Rural Health Mission
(NRHM) of India.
• The NVBDCP envisages a self-sustained and well informed, healthy India free from vector borne
diseases with equitable access to quality health care services nearest to their residences.
• The Programme activities are directed in a way to meet with the Millennium Development Goal
of halting and reversing the incidence of malaria and other vector borne diseases by the year 2015
towards reduction of poverty.
• The programme aims to make the investments sustainable by developing robust systems and
supporting the local capacity.

E
• It is planned to ensure that the right diagnostics and treatment are available to all people - especially
the poor and disadvantaged living in tribal and rural areas.
OR
8. Family Planning
• Expanding basket of choices: Three new methods have been introduced in the National Family
Planning program:
a) Injectable Contraceptive DMPA (Antara) - a 3-monthly injection
SC

b) Centchroman pill (Chhaya) - a non-hormonal once a week pill

c) Progesterone-only pills (POP) - for lactating mothers
• Improved Contraceptive Packaging: The packaging for Condoms, Oral contraceptive pills (OCP)
and Emergency Contraceptive Pills (ECP) has now been redesigned and improved so as to increase
the demand for these commodities.
GS

• New Family Planning Media Campaign: A 360 degree holistic Family Planning campaign with a
new logo has been launched with Shri Amitabh Bachchan as the brand ambassador.
9. Longitudinal Ageing Study in India (LASI)
• LASI is the largest study on older population in the country. The International Institute for Population
Sciences (IIPS), Mumbai in collaboration with Harvard School of Public Health (HSPH) and
University of Southern California (USC), USA is undertaking the "The Longitudinal Ageing Study
in India" under the aegis of the Ministry of Union Health and Family Welfare. LASI is jointly
funded by the Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, the United States' National Institute
on Ageing, and the United Nations Population Fund-India.
• LASI will help in expanding the scope of health and social security policy and programmes for
older population.
10. New steps
• Rota virus vaccine: In order to prevent the morbidity and mortality in children due to rotavirus,
Rotavirus vaccine was introduced in Universal Immunization Programme.
• Adult JE vaccine: Japanese Encephalitis vaccination was expanded in adult population of districts
with high disease burden of adult JE.

www.iasscore.in
12
• Awareness campaigns also have been conducted across the country for the people to participate and
avail their benefits related to the health sector such as
a) Swasth Bharat Mobile application - "Swasth Bharat Mobile Application" to empower the citizens
to find reliable and relevant health information. The application provides detailed information
regarding healthy lifestyle, disease conditions (A-Z), symptoms, treatment options, first aid and
public health alerts
b) ANM Online application (ANMOL)- ANMOL is a tablet-based application that allows ANMs to
enter and updated data for beneficiaries of their jurisdiction. This will ensure more prompt entry
and updation of data as well as improve the data quality since the data will be entered "at source"
by providers of health services themselves.
c) E-RaktKosh initiative- It is an integrated Blood Bank Management Information System that has
been conceptualized and developed after multiple consultations with all stakeholders. This web-
based mechanism interconnects all the Blood Banks of the State into a single network.
d) India Fights Dengue- This App empowers the community members how to contribute towards

E
prevention of Dengue.
e) Kilkari, delivers free, weekly, time-appropriate 72 audio messages about pregnancy, child birth and

f)
OR
child care directly to families' mobile phones from the second trimester of pregnancy until the child
is one year old. Kilkari has been launched in Jharkhand, Odisha, Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand and
High Priority Districts (HPDs) of Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan in the first phase.
Mobile Academy is a free audio training course designed to expand and refresh the knowledge base
of Accredited Social Health Activists (ASHAs) and improve their communication skills. Mobile
SC
Academy offers ASHAs a training opportunity via their mobile phones which is both cost-effective
and efficient. It reduces the need to travel - sometimes great distances - and provides them the
flexibility they need to learn at their own pace and at times they find convenient.
g) M-Cessation aims at reaching out to those willing to quit tobacco use and support them towards
successful quitting through text messages sent via mobile phones. When offered along with traditional
services, M-Cessation has been found to be cost-effective in comparison to traditional options for
GS

cessation support.
h) National Health Portal (NHP) was launched to provide healthcare related information to the
citizens of India and to serve as a single point of access for consolidated health information.
i) Online Registration System (ORS): Online Registration System (ORS) is a framework to link
various hospitals across the country for Aadhaar based online registration and appointment system,
where counter based OPD registration and appointment system through Hospital Management
Information System (HMIS) has been digitalized.
j) National e-Health Authority (NeHA) will be an integrated health information system. It will help
avoid problems arising out of uncoordinated induction of IT systems in hospitals and public health
systems. It will also enforce the laws and regulations relating to the privacy and security of patients'
health information and records. There would be a provision of Electronic Health Records (EHR)
of patients.

Ministry of AYUSH
• The Ministry of AYUSH was formed in 2014 by elevation of the Department of AYUSH (which
was under ministry of health and family welfare).
• The Department of Ayurveda, Yoga and Naturopathy, Unani, Siddha and Homoeopathy, abbreviated
as AYUSH, is a governmental body in India purposed with developing, education and research in

www.iasscore.in
13
 ayurveda (Indian traditional medicine), yoga, naturopathy, unani, siddha, and homoeopathy, Sowa-
rigpa (Traditional Tibetan medicine), and other Indigenous Medicine systems.
• The Ministry of AYUSH made a number of important strides in the year 2016 to strengthen and
popularise the alternative systems of medicine. It organised a series of programmes in the direction
of providing affordable, reliable and easily accessible medical facilities to the masses.
• Schemes were introduced to boost research and MOUs were signed to enhance cooperation with
other countries in the field of Homeopathy, Ayurveda and other traditional systems of medicine.
• The Ministry continued to make special efforts to promote these Systems.
1. Celebration of International Day of Yoga:
• Government of India continues to take global leadership in the observation of the International
Day of Yoga on 21st June every year, and uses the occasion to propagate this holistic approach to
health and well-being across the national boundaries.
• A National Yoga Olympiad was also jointly organized by National Council of Educational Research
and Training (NCERT) under the Ministry of Human Resource Development and Ministry of
AYUSH.
2. Celebration of 1st National Ayurveda Day:

E
OR
• The Ministry of AYUSH celebrated the First National Ayurveda Day on 28th October, 2016 by
organizing the daylong Seminar on Ayurveda & Diabetes.
• A Seminar on theme "Ayurveda for Prevention and Control of Diabetes" was organized during the
celebration of National Ayurveda Day.
SC

3. National AYUSH Mission

• The Government of India has approved and notified National AYUSH Mission (NAM), which
envisages better access to AYUSH Services; strengthening of AYUSH educational institutions,
facilitate the enforcement of quality control of Ayurveda, Siddha and Unani & Homoeopathy
(ASU &H) drugs and sustainable availability of ASU & H raw-materials in the States/UTs.
GS

4. National Institutions:
• North Eastern Institute of Ayurveda & Homoeopathy- Shillong has been established with the
objective of the institute is to provide better medicinal/clinical facilities to the people of North
East Region and Sikkim.
• The All India Institute of Ayurveda established at New Delhi has been conceived as an Apex
Institute of Ayurveda for imparting education in the field of Ayurveda at M.D. and Ph.D level.
• North Eastern Institute of Folk Medicine (NEIFM), Pasighat-Arunachal Pradesh: It is the Centre
of Excellence and Apex Research Centre for all aspect of Folk Medicine knowledge. The objective
of the institute is to provide better medical/clinical facilities in Region.

www.iasscore.in
14
 YEAR END REVIEW IN CULTURE AND
TOURISM

This covers the Year End Review of the following Ministries

1. Ministry of Culture
2. Ministry of Tourism

Ministry of Culture
• Ministry of Culture's mandate revolves around the functions like preservation and conservation of
Ancient Cultural Heritage and promotion of Art and Culture both tangible and intangible in the

E
country.
• In addition, the Ministry also harbours the responsibility of Gandhian heritage and commemoration

• OR
of important historical events and centenaries of great personalities.
The Ministry through its organizations is engaged in recognizing excellence in the field of art and
culture by way of awards given by institutions like Sahitya Akademi and Sangeet Natak Akademi.
• The Ministry of Culture has a mission to preserve, promote and disseminate all forms of art and
SC
culture.
Activities, taken in the past on year are:
1. National Virtual Library of India:
• Under the aegis of the National Mission on Libraries, the National Virtual Library of India (NVLI)
has been envisaged as the platform which would bring together all information generated in India
GS

and about India and make such information accessible to the citizens through user friendly search
interfaces.
• National Virtual Library of India(NVLI) will provide a platform for users from all sectors to seek
information through well researched services implemented through user-friendly interfaces.
National Mission on Libraries
The National Mission on Libraries India, an initiative of the Ministry of Culture under the Government
of India, works to modernise and digitally link nearly 9,000 libraries across India to provide readers access
to books and information.
2. Smart Smarac Mobile App for National Monuments Authority (NMA) permissions:
National Monuments Authority (NMA)'s Web Portal called "NOC Online Application and Processing
System (NOAPS)"was launched. This is for those who intends to carry out construction on the properties
which fall within the limit of protected monument sites. The Portal has used the technology and
expertise of Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO).
3. Satellite Mapping of ASI Monuments:
Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) entered into a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with
National Remote Sensing Centre, Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) for preparation of satellite
based maps indicating prohibited and regulated areas clearly for the information of public and also to
facilitate procedure for grant of permissions for construction related activity within prohibited and
regulated areas of centrally protected monuments.

www.iasscore.in
15
4. Project Mausam:
• This project aims to explore the multi-faceted Indian Ocean 'world' - collating archaeological and
historical research in order to document the diversity of cultural, commercial and religious interactions
in the Indian Ocean - extending from East Africa, the Arabian Peninsula, the Indian Subcontinent
and Sri Lanka to the Southeast Asian archipelago.
• It also aims to promote research on themes related to the study of Maritime Routes through
international scientific seminars and meetings and by adopting a multidisciplinary approach.
• It is an initiative of the Ministry of Culture to be implemented by the Archaeological Survey of
India (ASI) as the nodal agency with research support of the Indira Gandhi National Centre for the
Arts (IGNCA) and National Museum as associate bodies.
5. Swachh Bharat - Swachh Smarak:
• All ASI Protected Historical Monuments and Archaeological Sites have been declared 'Polythene
Free Zones'. Work has been allocated to PSUs like water and power consultancy services limited
(WAPCOS) and Telecommunications Consultants India Limited (TCIL).
• "Rani ki Vav (Gujarat)" a World Heritage Site has been declared as the cleanest iconic place in the

E
country.
6. International Buddha Poornima Diwas:
OR
• 'International Buddha Poornima Diwas 2016' was celebrated in New Delhi on 21st May 2016 to
commemorate the Thrice Blessed Day of Buddha's Birth, Sambodhiprapti (enlightenment of Buddha)
and Mahaparinirvana (Death) falling on the auspicious full moon day of the month of Vaishakh.
To mark this most auspicious occasion, various Buddhist bodies and organizations of India have
come together under the aegis of the Ministry of Culture to commemorate and celebrate the day
SC

in a grand manner in New Delhi.

7. Digitisation of Records:
• Digitization of records and open access to archival resources has been taken up in a big way.
National Archives of India has launched its online search portal "Abhilekh - Patal" on its 125th
Foundation Day.
GS

8. Gandhi Heritage:
Gandhi Heritage Sites Mission has taken up several projects. These include up gradation and modernization
of Gandhi Ashram Trust at Noakhali (Bangladesh); upgradation of the Gandhi Smarak Sangrahalaya,
Barrackpore, Kolkata; curating exhibition of permanent nature at Pietermaritzburg Railway Station,
South Africa and creation of data base relating to Gandhi Heritage Sites, etc.
9. World's Heritage:
"The Excavated Remains at Nalanda" has got inscribed as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO.
Khangchendzonga National Park (KNP) in Sikkim and The Capitol Complex in Chandigarh were also
announced as World Heritage Sites during the 40th session of the WHC held at Istanbul in Turkey.
Yoga, India's one of the ancient practices has now been inscribed as an element in the UNESCO's list
of Intangible Cultural Heritage of humanity during the 11th session of the Intergovernmental Committee
for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage held in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. During this
session, India's proposal for inscribing Yoga as an Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity was
unanimously supported by all the 24 members of the Intergovernmental Committee.

Ministry of Tourism
• The Ministry of Tourism, is responsible for the formulation of national policies and programmes
for the tourism sector and for co-ordination of activities of various Central Government Agencies,

www.iasscore.in
16
 State Governments/UTs and the Private Sector for the development and promotion of tourism in
the country.
• This Ministry is headed by the Union Minister of State for Tourism (Independent Charge). The
Ministry of Tourism has under its charge a Public Sector Undertaking, the India Tourism Development
Corporation (ITDC) and the Indian Institute of Tourism and Travel Management (IITTM) and the
National Institute of Water Sports (NIWS), and the National Council for Hotel Management and
Catering Technology (NCHMCT) and the Institutes of Hotel Management and the Indian Culinary
Institute at Tirupati.
• The initiatives taken in last one year are:
1. Schemes for cleanliness of tourist places
The maintenance of cleanliness at tourist spots is primarily the responsibility of the State
Government/UT Administration/concerned agency responsible for maintenance of tourist spots.
However, Ministry of Tourism has taken following initiatives under Swachh Bharat Abhiyan:
a) Swachh Bharat - Swachh Smarak:

E
• Taking a cue from Swachh Bharat, this is an initiative to see a cleaner India for protecting and
preserving the sanctity of monuments of national heritage.
•
OR
To aid this, Ministry of Tourism launched a special e-poster with Prime Minister's message requesting
the tourists and the people of the nation to wholeheartedly engage themselves in the cleanliness of
their surroundings and help create a Swachh Bharat, Swachh Smarak.
b) Swachh Bharat - Swachh Pakwan (Hunar Zaika):
SC
• The street food vendors constitute a significant percentage of the hospitality service providers and
have a pan India presence.
• This program is aimed at upgrading the skills and hygiene standards of Street Food Vendors, so that
they become a distinctive aspect of the Indian tourism.
• The Ministry of Tourism has partnered with the National Association of Street Vendors of India
GS

(NASVI) for the specific purpose of orientation, skill testing and certification of the vendors.
c) 'Swachh Bharat - Swachh Paryatan':
• Ministry of Tourism has requested all States/UTs to assess the requirement of toilet facilities at
all popular tourist sites, provide a list of existing non-functional toilets already constructed, frame
specific project proposals for toilets to be considered for release of grant under CFA, identify an
agency for construction and maintenance and follow the standardized model on the lines of Build
and Operate pattern for construction of wayside amenities.
d) Swatchh Smarak Swatchh Bharat' app:
• The application will allow visitors and tourists to click photographs of litter and garbage, if any, in
the vicinity of nearly 25 monuments covered by the Adarsh Smarak scheme and then post them
on the app.
• The Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) has collaborated in the clean monument initiative and
will attend to the complaints.
2. National Tourism Policy, 2015
• Draft of the National Tourism Policy, 2015 has been prepared after rounds of consultations held
with Stakeholders, State Governments and Union Territory Administrations and Experts and veterans
in the field of Tourism.

www.iasscore.in
17
• The main highlights of the draft new Policy is:-
1. Focus of the Policy on employment generation and community participation in tourism development.
2. Stress on development of tourism in a sustainable and responsible manner.
3. An all-encompassing policy involving linkages with various Ministries, Departments, States/Union
Territories and Stakeholders.
4. Setting up of "National Tourism Advisory Board" and "National Tourism Authority" proposed.
5. Setting up of a dedicated university for tourism & hospitality education.
6. Emphasis on technology enabled development in tourism.
3. SWADESH DARSHAN for integrated development of theme based circuits:
• Swadesh Darshan Scheme was launched for integrated development of tourist destinations/circuits.
Thirteen Circuits have been identified for development under the scheme. The Circuits are: - North-
East India Circuit, Buddhist Circuit, Himalayan Circuit, Coastal Circuit, Krishna Circuit, Desert
Circuit, Tribal Circuit, Eco Circuit, Wildlife Circuit, Rural Circuit, Spiritual Circuit, Ramayana
Circuit and Heritage Circuit.

E
4. NATIONAL MISSION ON PILGRIMAGE REJUVENATION AND SPIRITUAL
AUGMENTATION DRIVE (PRASAD):
OR
• The scheme aims at integrated development of pilgrimage destinations to provide complete religious
and spiritual tourism experience.
• The objectives are:
a) Integrated development of pilgrimage destinations in a planned, prioritized and sustainable manner
SC

to provide complete religious tourism experience.

b) Harness pilgrimage tourism for its direct and multiplier effects on employment generation and
economic development.
c) Follow community-based development and pro-poor tourism concept in development of the
pilgrimage destinations.
d) Leveraging public capital and expertise.
GS

e) Enhancing the tourist attractiveness in a sustainable manner by developing world-class infrastructure

in the religious destination.
f) Creating awareness among the local communities about the importance of tourism for them in
terms of increase in sources of income, improved living standards and overall development of the
area.
g) Promote local arts, culture, handicrafts, cuisine, etc., to generate livelihood in the identified places.
5. 5TH International Buddhist Conclave - 2016:
• Ministry of Tourism, in collaboration with the State Government of Uttar Pradesh and Bihar
organized the 05th International Buddhist Conclave - 2016 in Delhi, Varanasi, Sarnath and Bodhgaya.
The overall theme for the 05th International Buddhist Conclave was 'India, the Land of Buddha'.
6. Celebration of Bharat Parv:
• Ministry of Tourism organized a week-long "Bharat Parv" festival at Rajpath Lawns, India Gate,
New Delhi as part of the Independence Day-2016. The event was held with free entry for general
public. The event showcased diverse culture, cuisines and handicrafts of the nation. The Cultural
Performances included choreographed Folk/Tribal Dances and Music arranged by the Ministry of
Culture through its Zonal Cultural Centres as well as performances by cultural troupes from the
different States of the country.

www.iasscore.in
18
 YEAR END REVIEW IN FINANCIAL SEGMENT

This covers the Year End Review of the following Ministries and Departments
1. Department of Expenditure, Ministry of Finance
2. Department of Financial Services, Ministry of Finance
3. Department of Industrial Policy & Promotion, Ministry of Commerce & Industry

Department of Expenditure, Ministry of Finance

E
• The Department of Expenditure is the nodal Department for overseeing the public financial
management system in the Central Government and matters connected with State finances.
•
a)
b)
OR
The principal activities of the Department include:
Pre-sanction appraisal of major schemes/projects (both Plan and non-Plan expenditure),
Handling the bulk of the Central budgetary resources transferred to States,
SC
c) Implementation of the recommendations of the Finance and Central Pay Commissions,
d) Overseeing the expenditure management in the Central Ministries/Departments through the interface
with the Financial Advisors and the administration of the Financial Rules / Regulations / Orders
through monitoring of Audit comments/observations,
e) Preparation of Central Government Accounts, managing the financial aspects of personnel
management in the Central Government,
GS

f) Assisting Central Ministries/Departments in controlling the costs and prices of public services,
g) Assisting organizational re-engineering through review of staffing patterns and O&M studies and
h) Reviewing systems and procedures to optimize outputs and outcomes of public expenditure.
• The Department is also coordinating matters concerning the Ministry of Finance including Parliament-
related work of the Ministry.
• The Department has under its administrative control the National Institute of Financial Management
(NIFM), Faridabad.
• The business allocated to the Department of Expenditure is carried out through its Establishment
Division, Plan Finance- I and II Divisions, Finance Commission Division, Staff Inspection Unit,
Cost Accounts Branch, Controller General of Accounts and the Central Pension Accounting office.
Following are the major reform measures, policy initiatives and achievements:
A. Public Financial Management System (PFMS):
• What? It is a web-based online software application, developed and implemented by the o/o CGA
with technical support of NIC. It provides various stakeholders with a real time, reliable and
meaningful Management Information System and an effective Decision Support System (DSS), as
part of the Digital India initiative of GoI.

www.iasscore.in
19
• Objective: The primary objective of PFMS is to facilitate a sound Public Financial Management
System for Government of India (GoI) by establishing an efficient fund flow system as well as a
Payment cum Accounting network.
• Significance: The biggest strength of PFMS is its integration with the banking network in the country.
As a result, PFMS has the unique capability to push online payments to almost any beneficiary/
vendor having account in any bank across the country. At present, PFMS interface is completed with
the Core Banking System (CBS) of all Public Sector Banks (26), Regional Rural Banks (54), major
private sector banks (14), Reserve Bank of India, India post and Cooperative Banks (55).
B. New Initiatives/ Achievements under Internal Audit
• The Controller General of Accounts (CGA) has developed a risk based control framework in the
form of Generic Internal Audit Manual to guide the internal audit engagements. The manual not
only explain the complexities associated with the internal audit functions but also facilitates the
entire process by providing audit process, templates and guidelines.
About Controller General of Accounts
Controller General of Accounts (CGA), in the Department of Expenditure, Ministry of Finance, is the

E
Principal Accounting Adviser to Government of India and is responsible for establishing and maintaining
a technically sound Management Accounting System.
OR
The Office of CGA prepares monthly and annual analysis of expenditure, revenues, borrowings and various
fiscal indicators for the Union Government.
• The line Ministries are being encouraged to plan the audit assignments by adopting the Risk Based
Auditing approach. Risk Based Audit in selected Ministries is being conducted on pilot basis.
IIA defines risk based internal auditing (RBIA) as a methodology that links internal auditing to an
SC

organisation's overall risk management framework. RBIA allows internal audit to provide assurance to the
board that risk management processes are managing risks effectively, in relation to the risk appetite.
RBIA seeks at every stage to reinforce the responsibilities of management and the board for managing risk.
If the risk management framework is not very strong or does not exist, the organisation is not ready for RBIA.
More importantly, it means that the organisation's system of internal control is poor. Internal auditors in such
GS

an organisation should promote good risk management practice to improve the system of internal control.
• The organization is also focusing on the use of Computer Assisted Audit Tools for more transparency
and accountability such as e-RAS.
Electronic Risk Assessment Software (e-RAS), a diagnostic tool for internal audit has been developed in
collaboration with NIC. This diagnostic tool [e RAS] is not only helpful to the audit in planning, sampling
and conducting the audit efficiently but it is also helpful to the management / stakeholders to have a review
of the functioning of their entities [PAOs only] in their offices instead of visiting these offices located at
different places in different state.
• A Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) has been signed between Office of Controller General of
Accounts and Institute of Internal Auditors (IIA)-India. The MOU is made at New Delhi on the 14th
day of September, 2016. The MoU is an expression of convergence between the Office of CGA and
IIA-India to establish cooperative processes within their areas of competence on the following:
a) Sharing information and best practices, including those related to activities of internal auditors of
government institutions and organization and their interaction;
b) Exchanging analytical materials in the field of improving the system of internal auditing, and other
pertinent information of mutual interest; for this purpose. The parties will establish the structure,
format and procedures for data and information sharing;

www.iasscore.in
20
c) Exchanging initiatives with regard to the advancement of internal auditing in state institutions and
organizations;
d) Co-operating in the field of professional education and training with the aim to have qualified
internal auditors in civil ministries of Government of India;
e) Developing proposals on making improvements to internal audit activities in Government institutions
and organizations, including the process of encouraging internal auditors to attain recognized
professional qualifications;
f) Exchanging experience in the field of audit methodology, including application of the international
standards for the professional practices of Internal Auditing;
g) Co-operating within their areas of competence in other areas of mutual interest; and
h) Encouraging cross-country experiences through international exchanges.
C. Other Achievements of DOE:
Some major policy initiatives/achievements/highlights of the year relating to this Department are as under:

E
• Bhavishya Portal: - This Department along with the attached/subordinate offices have started the
processing of pension cases though the Bhavishya Portal. Pensioners' Portal serves as a one stop

•
OR
information source for the pensioners of Government of India (especially central civil pensioners)
across the country.
Implementation of e-Office: This Department has started the implementation of e-Office, a Mission
Mode Project in a phased manner and is being implemented in the attached/subordinate offices as
well. This MMP aims at significantly improving the operational efficiency of the Government by
SC
transitioning to a "Less Paper Office".
D. Fiscal Status of States:
• As recommended by Fourteenth Finance Commission (FFC) for its award period (2015-20), net
borrowing ceilings of the States for the year 2016-17 at Rs. 4,29,353 crore have been fixed anchoring
the Fiscal Deficit target of 3% of respective States' Gross State Domestic Product (GSDP).
GS

• The Central Government has simplified the consent mechanism for Open Market Borrowings
(OMBs) under Article 293(3) of the Constitution for all States. The simplified procedure will
ensure that consent under Article 293(3) is issued only on three occasions during the year, one in
the month April for first nine months after fixation of borrowings ceilings, second in the month of
December for the first two months of the fourth quarter and last in the month of March after the
assessment of actual borrowings by the States. Till now, the States were required to obtain quarterly
consent from the Central Government for raising OMBs within their Net Borrowing Ceiling (NBC).
About Jeevan Pramaan
• Jeevan Pramaan is a biometric enabled digital service for pensioners. Pensioners of Central Government,
State Government or any other Government organization can take benefit of this facility.
• Digital Life Certificate for Pensioners Scheme of the Government of India known as Jeevan Pramaan
seeks to address this very problem by digitizing the whole process of securing the life certificate. It aims
to streamline the process of getting this certificate and making it hassle free and much easier for the
pensioners. With this initiative the pensioners requirement to physically present himself/herself in front
of the disbursing agency or the certification authority will become a thing of the past benefiting the
pensioners in a huge way and cutting down on unnecessary logistical hurdles.

Department of Financial Services, Ministry of Finance

• The mandate of the Department of Financial Services covers the functioning of Banks, Financial
Institutions, Insurance Companies and the National Pension System.

www.iasscore.in
21
• The Department is headed by the Secretary, (Financial Services) who is assisted by an Additional
Secretary, four Joint Secretaries and two Economic Advisers.
The major achievements of the Department during the Current Fiscal are as follows:
A. Pradhan Mantri Jan Dhan Yojana (PMJDY)
• Why? To increase the banking penetration and promoting financial inclusion.
• Objectives of PMJDY
a) Universal access to banking facilities for all households across the country through a bank branch
or a fixed point Business Correspondent (BC) within a reasonable distance.
b) To cover all households with atleast one Basic Bank Account with RuPay Debit card having inbuilt
accident insurance cover of Rs.1 lakh.
c) An overdraft facility upto Rs.5000/- after satisfactory operation in the account for 6 months.
d) A Life Cover of Rs.30,000/- to those beneficiaries who open their accounts for the first time from
15.08.2014 to 31.01.2015.

E
e) Financial literacy programme which aims to take financial literacy upto village level.
f) The Mission also envisages expansion of Direct Benefit Transfer under various Government Schemes
OR
through bank accounts of the beneficiaries.
g) Providing micro -insurance to the people.
h) Unorganised sector Pension schemes through the Business Correspondents.
B. Jan Dhan to Jan Suraksha
SC

• For creating a universal social security system for all Indians, government has launched three Social
Security Schemes in the Insurance and Pension sectors; namely the Pradhan Mantri Suraksha Bima
Yojna, the Pradhan Mantri Jeevan Jyoti Bima Yojana and the Atal Pension Yojana on Pan India basis.
• Salient features of the two schemes related to Insurance are given below:
GS

1. Pradhan Mantri Jeevan Jyoti Bima Yojana (PMJJBY)

• The PMJJBY is available to people in the age group of 18 to 50 years having a bank account who give
their consent to join / enable auto-debit. Aadhar would be the primary KYC for the bank account.
• Risk coverage under this scheme is for Rs. 2 Lakh in case of death of the insured, due to any reason.
• The premium is Rs. 330 per annum which is to be auto-debited in one installment from the
subscriber's bank account as per the option given by him.
• The scheme is being offered by Life Insurance Corporation and all other life insurers who are willing to
offer the product on similar terms with necessary approvals and tie up with banks for this purpose.
2. Pradhan Mantri Suraksha BimaYojana (PMSBY)
• The Scheme is available to people in the age group 18 to 70 years with a bank account.
• Aadhar would be the primary KYC for the bank account.
• The risk coverage under the scheme is Rs. 2 lakh for accidental death and full disability and Rs.
1 lakh for partial disability.
• The premium of Rs. 12 per annum is to be deducted from the account holder's bank account
through 'auto-debit' facility in one installment.

www.iasscore.in
22
• The scheme is being offered by Public Sector General Insurance Companies or any other General
Insurance Company who are willing to offer the product on similar terms with necessary approvals
and tie up with banks for this purpose.
3. Atal Pension Yojana (APY)
• APY is open to all bank account holders in the age group of 18 to 40 years and the contributions
differ, based on pension amount chosen.
• Subscribers would receive the guaranteed minimum monthly pension of Rs. 1000 or Rs. 2000 or
Rs. 3000 or Rs. 4000 or Rs. 5000 at the age of 60 years.
• Under APY, the monthly pension would be available to the subscriber, and after him to his spouse
and after their death, the pension corpus, as accumulated at age 60 of the subscriber, would be
returned to the nominee of the subscriber.
• The minimum pension would be guaranteed by the Government, i.e., if the accumulated corpus based
on contributions earns a lower than estimated return on investment and is inadequate to provide the
minimum guaranteed pension, the Central Government would fund such inadequacy. Alternatively, if
the returns on investment are higher, the subscribers would get enhanced pensionary benefits.

E
• The Central Government would also co-contribute 50% of the total contribution or Rs. 1000 per
annum, whichever is lower, for a period of 5 years for those eligible subscribers joining the scheme

OR
between the period 1st June, 2015 and 31st March, 2016 and who are not members of any
statutory social security scheme and who are not income-tax payers.
Some recent revisions in APY
In the event of premature death of the subscriber, Government has decided to give an option to the spouse
SC
of the subscriber to continue contributing to APY account of the subscriber, for the remaining vesting period,
till the original subscriber would have attained the age of 60. The earlier provision was to over lump sum
amount to spouse on the premature death (death before 60 years of age) of the subscriber. The spouse of
the subscriber shall be entitled to receive the same pension amount as that of the subscriber until the death
of the spouse. After the death of both the subscriber and the spouse, the nominee of the subscriber shall
be entitled to receive the pension wealth, as accumulated till age 60 of the subscriber.
GS

C. Pradhan Mantri Mudra Yojana (PMMY)

• The government has launched Pradhan Mantri Mudra Yojana (PMMY) to provide formal access
of financial facilities to Non-Corporate Small Business Sector (NCSBS).
a) Objective: To promote & ensure bank finance to unfunded segments of the economy.
b) Target Clients: Non-Corporate Small Business Segment (NCSB) comprising of proprietorship /
partnership firms running as small manufacturing units, service sector units, shopkeepers, fruits /
vegetable vendors, truck operators, food-service units, repair shops, machine operators, small industries,
artisans, food processors and others, in rural and urban areas.
c) Eligibility: Any citizen, who is otherwise eligible to take loan and has a business plan for a small
business enterprise, can avail MUDRA loan upto Rs.10 lakh. The borrower needs to approach the
nearest bank branch and submit the loan application, in the prescribed format along with the
required supporting documents for availing of the loan.
d) Schemes under PMMY
Scheme Amount of Loan
Shishu Up to Rs. 50000/-
Kishore Above Rs. 50000/- and up to Rs. 5 Lakh
Tarun Above Rs. 5 lakh and up to Rs.10 lakh

www.iasscore.in
23
• 'Activities allied to Agriculture', e.g. pisciculture , beekeeping, poultry, livestock, rearing, grading,
sorting, aggregation agro industries, diary, fishery, agriclinics and agribusiness centers, food & agro-
processing, etc (excluding crop loans, land improvement such as canals, irrigation, wells ) and
services supporting these, which promote livelihood or are income generating, have been included
under PMMY from April, 2016 onwards.
D. Stand-Up India Scheme
• The scheme envisages extending bank loans between Rs. 10 lakh to Rs. 1 crore for Greenfield
Enterprises set-up by SC, ST and Women entrepreneurs and extending effective handholding support
to them.
• Each bank branch is to extend loans to at least one SC/ST and one woman entrepreneur. Enterprises
covered under the scheme may be in manufacturing, services or the trading sector.
• The Scheme shall be implemented through 1.25 lakh bank branches of all Scheduled Commercial Banks.
• The loan shall be a composite loan to meet the requirement of fixed assets and working capital with
rate of interest being the lowest applicable rate of the bank for that category as per rating.
E. Education Loan Scheme

E
• The Education Loan Scheme (ELS) formulated by Indian Banks' Association aims to provide
financial support from the banking system to deserving/ meritorious students for pursuing higher
OR
education in India and abroad.
• The main emphasis is that every meritorious student though poor is provided with an opportunity
to pursue education, with the financial support from the banking system, on affordable terms and
conditions, and, that no deserving student is denied an opportunity to pursue higher education for
want of financial support.
SC

Vidya Lakshmi Portal

Vidya Lakshmi Portal (VLP) was launched on August 15, 2015. The portal has been developed and is being
maintained by NSDL e-Governance Infrastructure Limited. Students can view, apply and track the education
loan applications made to banks anytime, anywhere by accessing the portal.
Twenty seven PSBs, 6 Private Sector Banks and two co-operative Bank have integrated their system with
GS

the Vidya Lakshmi Portal for submitting on-line loan applications and for providing loan processing status
to students. This initiative aims to bring on board all Banks providing Educational Loans. The portal covers
64 educational loan schemes of different banks.
F. New Initiatives:
• The banks have provided the mobile banking services like Immediate Payment Service (IMPS) and
products like Unstructured Supplementary Service Data (USSD) and Unified Payment Interface
(UPI) etc. for facilitating transfer of funds for the customers and thereby facilitating moving towards
cashless system.
• Bharat Bill Payment System has also been introduced to facilitate interoperable bill payments in
the country thus enabling greater adoption of electronic payments.
• In order to provide banking facilities in all unbanked rural areas, banks have deployed Bank Mitras.
• The Government has advised banks to deploy micro ATMs in rural areas in all Sub Service Areas
(SSAs) across the country.
• With a view to improve the Governance of Public Sector Banks (PSBs), the Government had
decided to set-up an autonomous Banks Board Bureau (BBB). The Bureau will recommend for
selection of heads of Public Sector Banks and Financial Institutions and help Banks in developing
strategies and capital raising plans. Now, the Government has announced the constitution of Banks

www.iasscore.in
24
 Board Bureau which will have three ex-officio members and three expert members in addition to
Chairman. Except ex-officio members, all the Members and Chairman will be part time. The BBB,
which has started functioning from April 01, 2016.
• To implement the reforms in Banking, Government has decided to separate the post of Chairman
& Managing Director in Chairman (Non-executive) and Managing Director & CEO. Accordingly,
the Government with the approval of Cabinet Committee of Appointments (ACC) has recently
appointed five Non-Executive Chairmen in the Public Sector Banks, namely, Bank of Baroda, Bank
of India, Canara Bank, Indian Bank and Vijaya Ban
G. The "Banning of Unregulated Deposit Schemes and Protection of Depositors' Interests Bill,
2016" (Version 2.0)
• Government proposes to bring in a comprehensive Central legislation to deal with the menace of
illicit deposit taking schemes. The Government had earlier constituted an Inter-Ministerial Group
(IMG) for identifying gaps in the existing regulatory framework for deposit-taking activities and to
suggest administrative/ legislative measures, including formulation of a new law, to cover all relevant
aspects of 'deposit-taking'.

E
• The revised draft of 'Banning of Unregulated Deposit Schemes and Protection of Depositors'
Interests Bill, 2016 seeks to provide for a comprehensive code to ban unregulated deposit schemes
and protect the interests of depositors. The bill stipulates that any deposit taker who promotes and

OR
accept deposits in an unregulated deposit scheme may be punishable with imprisonment for minimum
term of two years which may be extended to 10 years and with a fine which may extend to twice
the amount of aggregate funds collected from subscribers, members or participants in such schemes
or arrangements.
SC
• The bill also provides for the central government to authorise creation of an online database of
information on deposit taking activity in India.

Department of Industrial Policy & Promotion

• The Department of Industrial Policy & Promotion was established in 1995. The role and functions
of the Department of Industrial Policy and Promotion primarily include:
GS

a) Department of Industrial Policy & Promotion is responsible for formulation and implementation of
promotional and developmental measures for growth of the industrial sector, keeping in view the
national priorities and socio-economic objectives.
b) Department of Industrial Policy and Promotion monitors the industrial growth and production, in
general, and selected industrial sectors, such as cement, paper and pulp, leather, tyre and rubber,
light electrical industries, consumer goods, consumer durables, light machine tools, light industrial
machinery, light engineering industries etc., in particular.
c) The Department is also responsible for facilitating and increasing the FDI inflow in the country. The
Department is responsible for encouraging acquisition of technological capability in various sectors
of the industry through liberal foreign technology collaboration regime.
d) Department of Industrial Policy and Promotion is also responsible for Intellectual Property Rights
relating to Patents, Designs, Trade Marks, Geographical Indication of Goods, Copyrights and
Semiconductor Integrated Circuits Layout Design and oversees the initiative relating to their promotion
and protection. These include the outlining of policy and its implementation through the Office of
the Controller General of Patents, Designs and Trade Marks. It promotes awareness regarding
protection of the Intellectual Property Rights inherent in industrial property in conjunction with the
World Intellectual Property Organisation (WIPO) and apex industry organisations apart from similar
initiatives involving regional industry associations. It also provides inputs on various issues relating
to the Agreement on Trade Related Aspects of Intellectual Properties (TRIPS) related to World
Trade Organisation (WTO) in these fields.

www.iasscore.in
25
e) Department of Industrial Policy and Promotion is the nodal Department in Government of India
for coordinating and implementing programmes with United Nations Industrial Development
Organization (UNIDO) in India. UNIDO is a specialised agency of United Nations with a mandate
to act as the central coordinating body for industrial activities within the United Nations system.
The major achievements of the Department during the Current Fiscal are as follows:
A. Foreign Direct Investment
• To further supplement domestic capital, technology and skills, for accelerated economic growth,
DIPP announced FDI policy reforms. Such as:
a) The reforms inter-alia include FDI beyond 49% in Defence under approval route and 100% FDI for
e-commerce in Food Products manufactured/ produced in India under approval route.
b) Foreign Investment in financial services activities regulated by financial sector regulators will be
100% under the automatic route
c) In financial services, which are not regulated by any financial sector regulator or where only part
of the financial service activity is regulated or where there is doubt regarding regulatory oversight,
foreign investment upto 100% will be allowed under the government approval route
Data:

E
OR
• The total FDI inflows received during the last financial year (2015-16) at US$ 55.6 billion, an increase
of 23% compared to the previous financial year (US$ 45.1 for 2014-15).
• Manufacturing constitute around 41.5% of the equity inflows while non-manufacturing around 58.5%
(during April 2014 to Sept 2016).
SC

B. Intellectual Property Rights Policy

• Government for the first time adopted a comprehensive National Intellectual Property Rights (IPR)
policy to lay future roadmap for intellectual property.
• This aims to improve Indian intellectual property ecosystem, hopes to create an innovation movement
in the country and aspires towards "Creative India; Innovative India" ^^jpukRed Hkkjr( vfHkuo Hkkjr**
GS

• Objective of this policy is to increase IPR awareness; stimulate generation of IPRs; have strong and
effective IPR laws; modernize and strengthen service-oriented IPR administration; get value for
IPRs through commercialization; strengthen enforcement and adjudicatory mechanisms for combating
IPR infringements; and to strengthen and expand human resources, institutions and capacities for
teaching, training, research and skill building in IPRs.
• Subsequent to the approval of this policy, a Cell for Intellectual Property Rights Promotion and
Management (CIPAM) has been created as a professional body which will be working under the
aegis of DIPP for addressing the 7 identified objectives of the Policy.
C. Industrial Infrastructure
a) National Industrial Corridor Development & Implementation Trust (NICDIT):
• Delhi Mumbai Industrial Corridor Project Implementation Trust Fund (DMIC-PITF Trust) is now
re-designated with an expanded mandate of integrated development of Industrial Corridors.
• This would be an Apex body under administrative control of DIPP for coordinated and unified
development of all industrial corridors in the country.
• It will channelize Govt. of India (GoI) funds as well as institutional funds for development of
corridors. It will coordinate all central efforts for the development of Industrial Corridor projects
and will also monitor their implementation.

www.iasscore.in
26
b) Modified Industrial Infrastructure Upgradation Scheme (MIIUS):
• Under this Scheme, projects have been undertaken to upgrade infrastructure in existing Industrial
Parks/ Estates/ Areas. Greenfield Projects can also be undertaken in backward areas and North Eastern
Region (NER) with a Central Grant upto 50% of the project cost with a ceiling of Rs. 50.00 crore.
D. Investment Promotion under Start-up India:
• Establishment of Funds of Funds:
I. The Union Cabinet has approved the establishment of "Fund of Funds for Startups" (FFS) at Small
Industries Development Bank of India (SIDBI) for contribution to various Alternative Investment
Funds (AIF), registered with Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) which would extend
funding support to Startups.
II. The corpus of FFS is Rs.10,000 crore which shall be built up over the 14th and 15th Finance
Commission cycles subject to progress of the scheme and availability of funds. An amount of
Rs.500 crore has already been provided to the corpus of FFS in 2015-16 and Rs.600 crore earmarked
in the 2016-17. The Fund is expected to generate employment for 18 lakh persons on full deployment.

E
• Atal Tinkering Lab:
I. To foster creativity and scientific temper in students, Atal Innovation Mission (AIM) will establish

OR
500 Atal Tinkering Laboratories in schools. It will provide one time establishment grant-in-aid of
Rs. 10 lakh for establishing Atal Tinkering Laboratories (ATL) in schools (grade VI - XII) across
India.
II. AIM will also provide financial support to academic and non-academic institutions (companies/
SC
technology parks/group of individuals) to establish new incubation centres across India. These will
be called Atal Incubation Centres (AIC). They will be established in subject specific areas such as
manufacturing, transport, energy, health, education, agriculture, water and sanitation, etc.
III. These incubation Centres will provide pre-incubation facilities, common infrastructure and services
such as technology development assistance, networking and mentoring, funding access, training and
development, business support services (entrepreneurship development, marketing, finance and
GS

accounting, research, legal, regulatory, etc.) to innovators and startup entrepreneurs for developing
solutions.

www.iasscore.in
27
 YEAR END REVIEW OF
TRANSPORT SECTOR

This covers the Year End Review of the following Ministries

a) Ministry of Shipping
b) Ministry of Road Transport & Highways
c) Ministry of Petroleum & Natural Gas
d) Ministry of Power

Ministry of Shipping

E
• Maritime Transport is a critical infrastructure for social and economic development of a country.
It represents the pace, structure and pattern of development of water transport in the country.
OR
• The Ministry of Shipping encompasses within it the shipping and port sectors which include
shipbuilding and repair, major ports, national waterways and inland water transport.
• The Ministry has been entrusted with the responsibility to formulate policies and programmes on
these subjects and their implementation.
SC

• The Ministry of Shipping has taken several steps during the year to build its base for realizing the
full potential of India's maritime sector. From weeding out and amending obsolete legislations to
modernizing existing infrastructure to building new ones, the Ministry has unleashed a whole range
of initiatives aimed at the growth and development of the sector.
Data:
GS

• 95 % of the country's trade by volume (68% in terms of value) is moved by sea.

• India has one of the largest merchant shipping fleet and ranked 17th among the developing countries
with average age of the fleet being 18.03 years.
• Despite growth in tonnage, the percentage of cargo carried by Indian flag ships has reduced from 40.7%
in 1987-88 to 7.45% of total EXIM trade in 2014-15.
• The highlights of the work done by the Ministry during the year are as follows:
1. Sagarmala Programme
• Objective: Port modernization & new port development, enhancing port connectivity to hinterland,
port led Industrialization and coastal community development.
• Salient Features:
a) The programme aims to promote port-led development in the country by harnessing India's 7,500-
km long coastline, 14,500-km of potentially navigable waterways and strategic location on key
international maritime trade routes.
b) Three Pillars:
I. Supporting and enabling Port-led Development

www.iasscore.in
28
II. Port Infrastructure Enhancement, including modernization and setting up of new ports
III. Efficient Evacuation to and from hinterland.
IV. National Sagarmala Apex Committee (NSAC) will be created to provide overall policy guidance.
It will be headed by shipping minister.
c) The vision of the Sagarmala Programme is to reduce logistics cost and time for the movement of
Export and Import(EXIM) and domestic cargo and development of port-proximate future industrial
capacities near the coast is a step in this direction.
• Techno Economic Feasibility Report (TEFR) is under preparation for development of underwater
viewing gallery and restaurant at Beyt Dwarka Island.
• Sagarmala Development Company (SDC): The Sagarmala Development Company (SDC) was
incorporated, after receiving Cabinet approval, for providing equity support to residual projects
under Sagarmala.
• An Inter-Ministerial Committee (IMC) has also been constituted to develop a strategy and
implementation roadmap for the coastal shipping of coal and other commodities/product.

E
• Based on availability of land with the Major Ports, Ministry of Shipping is developing a SEZ at
JNPT, Free Trade Warehousing Zone (FTWZ) at Ennore and has also identified Kandla and

• OR
Paradip for development of Smart Port Industrial Cities (SPICs).
Port-led Industrialization: To promote port-led industrialization, 14 Coastal Economic Zones
(CEZs) covering all the Maritime States and Union Territories have been proposed.
A CEZ is conceptualized as a spatial-economic region which could extend along 300-500 km of coastline
SC
and around 200-300 km inland from the coastline. Each CEZ will be aligned to relevant major and non-
major ports in the State and is envisaged to tap synergies with the planned industrial corridors.
• To provide skilling for port & port user community, Ministry is planning to conduct cutting-edge
skill training in ports & maritime sector and is evaluating the proposal for setting up Multi-Skill
Development Centers linked to Major Ports, in collaboration with Ministry of Skill Development
& Entrepreneurship.
GS

2. Major Port Authorities Bill, 2016:

• The new Major Ports Authority Bill, 2016 would help to impart faster and transparent decision
making benefiting the stakeholders and better project execution capability.
• The Bill is aimed at reorienting the governance model in central Ports to landlord port model in line
with the successful global practice.
• This will also help in bringing transparency in operations of Major Ports.
• This will empower the Major Ports to perform with greater efficiency on account of full autonomy
in decision making and by modernizing the Institutional structure of Major Ports.
• Salient features:
a) Port Authority has now been given powers to fix tariff which will act as a reference tariff for
purposes of bidding for PPP projects. PPP operators will be free to fix tariff based on market
conditions. The Board of the Port Authority has been delegated the power to fix the scale of rates
for other port services and assets including land.
b) An independent Review Board has been proposed to be created to look into disputes between ports
and PPP concessionaires, to review stressed PPP projects and suggest measures to review stressed
PPP projects and suggest measures to revive such projects and to look into complaints regarding
services rendered by the ports/private operators operating within the ports would be constituted.

www.iasscore.in
29
c) Empowers the Board to make its own Master Plan in respect of the area within the port limits and
to construct within port limits Pipelines, Telephones, Communication towers, electricity supply or
transmission equipment.
d) Provisions of Corporate Social Responsibility & development of infrastructure by Port Authority
have been introduced.
3. Merchant shipping Bill, 2016:
• The bill will replace Merchant shipping Act, 1958.
• It will promote ease of doing business to meet new challenges facing merchant shipping sector- to
increase tonnage under Indian flag and share of Indian seafarers, safeguard rights and privileges of
seafarers, to develop Indian coastal shipping and trade and to ensure compliance of India's obligations
under International conventions and to replace old rebundant provisions with contemporaneous
provisions.
• Features of the bill:
a) To register all seagoing vessels, whether propelled or not including certain residuary category of
vessels not covered under any statute;
b)

E
To allow substantially-owned vessels and vessels chartered on Bareboat Charter-cum-Demise (BBCD)
OR
contract by Indian entities to be registered as Indian flag vessels;
c) To recognize Indian controlled tonnage as a separate category; and dispense with the requirement
for issuing licences to Indian flag vessels for coastal operation, so as to facilitate augmentation of
Indian tonnage and promotion of coastal shipping;
d) To make provisions for security-related aspects, which will enable identification and ensure coastal
SC

security and;
e) Repeal of Coastal Vessel Act, 1838.
4. The Admiralty (Jurisdiction and Settlement of Maritime Claims) Bill, 2016:
• Admiralty jurisdiction relates to powers of the High Courts in respect of claims associated with
GS

transport by sea and navigable waterways.

• The Bill confers admiralty jurisdiction on High Courts located in coastal states of India and this
jurisdiction extends upto territorial waters.
• This legislative proposal will fulfil a long-standing demand of the maritime legal fraternity.
• The proposed Bill consolidates the existing laws relating to admiralty jurisdiction of courts, admiralty
proceedings on maritime claims, arrest of vessels and related issues and repeals five obsolete British
statues on admiralty jurisdiction in civil matters.
5. Green Energy Projects at Major Ports by 2017:
• The Ministry of Shipping is keen to promote the use of renewable sources of energy and is in the
process of installing solar and wind based power systems at all the Major Ports across the country.
6. Shipbuilding:
• Global recession in the shipbuilding industry has affected the financial position of a number of
yards especially in the private sector.
• Due to market downturn post 2008 and the lack of government policy support, all shipyards other
than the defense shipyards are facing challenging times with very few global shipbuilding orders
coming in.

www.iasscore.in
30
• The Indian shipbuilding industry has continued to concentrate on defense and offshore sector
vessels. The fleet expansion plans of Indian Navy and the vessels for the Indian Coast Guard are
the two prime segments which were targeted by the Indian shipyards.
• Government has taken following initiatives to strengthen shipbuilding industry in 2016:
a) Infrastructure status for shipyards- Government of India has notified inclusion of stand-alone
shipyards undertaking activities such as shipbuilding and ship-repair under the Harmonized List of
Infrastructure sectors. With this inclusion, shipyards will be able to avail flexible structuring of long
term project loans, long term funding from Infrastructure Funds at lower rates of interest and for
a longer tenure equivalent to the economic life of their assets, relaxed ECB norms, issuance of
infrastructure bonds for meeting working capital requirements.
b) Financial assistance and eligibility support for Indian shipyards.
c) Criteria for evaluating and awarding tenders from shipbuilding and ship repair work floated by Govt.
Departments or agencies including Public Sector Undertakings.
d) Simplification of procedure for tax compliance.

E
7. Jal Marg Vikas Project:
• The Jal Marg Vikas Project envisages to achieve Least Available Depth (LAD) of 3.00 meters on

•
OR
the National Waterway-1 to enable movement of vessels of 1500 - 2000 DWT ton capacity on the
1620 km Allahabad- Haldia stretch of the National Waterway-1.
The Project's objective is to provide an environment friendly, fuel efficient and cost-effective
alternative mode of transportation, especially for bulk goods, hazardous goods and over dimensional
cargo.
SC
8. Launch of River Information Services
• River Information Services (RIS) are combination of modern tracking equipment related hardware
and software designed to optimize traffic and transport processes in inland navigation.
• This would facilitate:
a) Enhancement of inland navigation safety in ports and rivers.
GS

b) Better use of the inland waterways

c) Environmental protection
• RIS enables achievement of safe and efficient inland water transport by avoiding the following risks:
Ship- to - Ship collisions; Ship - Bridge collisions and Groundings.

Ministry of Road Transport and Highways

• Road transport is a critical infrastructure for economic development of the country. It influences
the pace, structure and pattern of development. In India, roads are used to transport over 60% of
the total goods and 85% of the passenger traffic. Hence, development of this sector is of paramount
importance for the India and accounts for a significant part in the budget.
• The Ministry of Road Transport and Highways is the apex body for formulation and administration
of the rules, regulations and laws relating to road transport, and transport research, in order to
increase the mobility and efficiency of the road transport system in India.
• The major steps taken by the Ministry towards ensuring safety on roads are as follows:
1. National Road Safety Policy:
• The policy outlines various policy measures like promoting awareness, establishing road safety
information data base, encouraging safer road infrastructure, enforcement of safety laws etc. The

www.iasscore.in
31
 Ministry has evolved a multi-pronged strategy to tackle the problem based on the 4 E's viz.
Education, Engineering (both of roads and vehicles) Enforcement and Emergency Care. A National
Road Safety Council had also been constituted as the apex body to take policy decisions in the
matter of road safety.
• As a signatory to Brasilia Declaration, India is committed to reducing the number of road accidents
and fatalities by 50 % by 2020.
The Brasilia Declaration is a call to rethink transport policies in order to favour more sustainable modes of
transport such as walking, cycling and using public transport. It highlights strategies to ensure the safety
of all road users, particularly by improving laws and enforcement; making roads safer through infrastructural
modifications; ensuring that vehicles are equipped with life-saving technologies; and enhancing emergency
trauma care systems. The Brasilia Declaration encourages WHO and partners to facilitate the development
of targets to reduce road traffic crashes and fatalities, and support the definition and use of indicators linked
to the SDG targets related to road safety.
2. Motor Vehicle (Amendment) Bill 2016:
• The Bill addresses road safety issues by providing for stiffer penalties, permitting electronic
enforcement, improving fitness certification and licensing regime, statutory provisions for protection

E
of good Samaritans and recognition of IT enabled enforcement systems.
• The Bill also paves way for reforms in public transport which in turn will help in improving road
OR
safety.
• The Bill contains provisions for treatment of accident victims during golden hour which will help
in saving precious lives.
• Top priority has been accorded to correction of black spots on National Highways and adopting
regulatory measures for improving automobile safety.
SC

• As Short-term measures rumble strips, reflective stickers at junctions, fixing signboard/ cautionary
board, providing signage and speed restrictions are being used. As long-term measures construction
of vehicular under-pass, By-pass, flyover and 4-laning are being taken up.
• The Ministry has stressed upon States / UTs to set up State Road Safety Councils, formulate an
action plan for improving road safety, implement it in a concerted manner, fix a definite, time bound
GS

target for fatality reduction and identify and allocate adequate manpower, financial and other
resources for implementing the strategy to achieve the targets set.
3. Highway Advisory System (HAS):
• It is a free-to-air information distribution system that uses radio to make the travelling experience
on National Highways safer, faster and hassle-free.
• HAS control centre collects data, processes and analyzes it, generates alerts and sends it to be
broadcast by All India Radio.
• HAS was launched as a pilot project on Delhi-Jaipur highway.
4. Indian Bridge Management System (IBMS) - IBMS is being developed to create an inventory of
all bridges in the country and rate their structural condition so that timely repair and rehabilitation
work can be carried out based on the criticality of the structure.
5. Highways construction:
a) Bharatmala: This has been envisaged as an umbrella program that will subsume unfinished parts
of National Highways Development Project and also focus on the new initiatives like development
of Border and International connectivity roads, Coastal & port connectivity roads, National Corridors
Efficiency improvements, Economic corridors development and others.

www.iasscore.in
32
b) SetuBharatam program for building bridges for safe and seamless travel on National Highways.
The aim is to make National Highways free of railway level crossings by 2019 by building Railway
Over Bridges/ Under Passes.
c) National Highways Interconnectivity Improvement Project - This is a project to ensure safe, fast
and all weather movement of traffic on National Highways mostly located in backward regions.
d) Logistic Efficiency Enhancement Programme (LEEP) - aimed at enhancing the freight transportation
in India through improving cost, time, tracking and transferability of consignments through
infrastructure, procedural and Information Technology (IT) interventions. The parks are expected to
serve four key functions: freight aggregation and distribution, multimodal freight movement, storage
and warehousing, and value-added services such as custom clearances.
6. Hybrid Annuity Model (HAM)
• As per the model, 40% the Project Cost is to be provided by the Government as 'Construction
Support' to the private developer during the construction period and the balance 60% as annuity
payments over the operations period along with interest on outstanding amount.

E
• The payable interest rate is linked to market rates (Bank Rate +3.00%).
• There is separate provision for Operation & Management payments by the Government to the

• OR
concessionaire. The private party does not have to bear the traffic and inflation risks.
The Model has been successful in reviving PPPs in the sector which is evident in the interest being
shown by the market for such projects.
7. Green initiatives:
SC
a) Ethanol - Fuelled Bus- Notification was issued for mass emission standards for flexi-fuel ethanol
E85 and ED95. This Notification will enable vehicle manufacturers to manufacture vehicles running
on bio-ethanol E85 and ED95. A bio-ethanol fuel bus is already under trial in Nagpur.
b) Bio- CNG and Bio- Diesel - Notification has been issued for norms for the use of Bio-CNG for
testing and exhaust emission for vehicles running on Bio-CNG. With this notification, the vehicle
manufacturers can manufacture, sell and get vehicles fuelled by Bio-CNG in the country
GS

c) National Green Highways Project: The Policy aims to develop eco-friendly National Highways
with the participation of community, farmers, NGOs and private sector. The policy will help to
improve aesthetics of the project corridors, reduce the impact of air pollution and reduce accidents
by cutting down glare from approaching vehicles. Under the Green Highways Project the government
has made it mandatory to set aside 1 per cent of the total project cost of any NH contract to a
Green Fund corpus that will be used for plantation purposes. The afforestation is expected to help
in sequestering approximately 12 lakh mt carbon annually.
d) 'Kisan Harit Rajmarg Yojana' is a pilot scheme to extend green belt beyond the existing 'Right
of Way' of highways by engaging farmers and providing alternative livelihood option to the nearby
communities.
e) E-rickshaw policy of Government has helped in reducing pollution to a great extent. E- carts and
E-rickshaws have been freed from permit requirements.
8. E- Initiatives:
a) E-tolling - In order to remove traffic bottle neck at toll plazas and ensure seamless movement of
vehicles and hassle-free collection of toll, the Government has implemented a nationwide Electronic
Toll Collection based on passive Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) .
b) Project Monitoring and Information System (PMIS): An online state-of-the-art real time Project
Monitoring and Information System (PMIS) has been developed to digitally monitor 2000+ projects

www.iasscore.in
33
 executed by multiple agencies. The PMIS has detailed dashboards for every project and generates
custom reports required for project reviews.
c) INFRACON is the National Portal for Infrastructure Consultancy Firms and Key Personnel. This
portal acts as a kind of bridge between consultancy firms working in the road engineering and
construction sector and domain experts and key personnel who are deployed both for project
preparation and supervision. The portal hosts the credentials of consultancy firms and key personnel
and has linkages to Aadhar and Digi-locker for data validation and purity.
d) INAM PRO has been developed as a web-based application for infrastructure and Material Providers.
It is a kind of a web based market place that brings together the material providers and the
prospective buyers on a common platform.

Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas

• The Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas (MOP&NG) is responsible for the exploration,
production, refining, distribution, marketing, import, export, and conservation of petroleum, natural
gas, petroleum products, and liquefied natural gas in India.
• A large number of important policies, activities, decisions and initiatives were undertaken by the
Ministry of Petroleum & Natural Gas such as:

E
1. Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana
OR
• Salient Features:
• The tagline for the scheme is Swachh Indhan, Behtar Jeevan.
• Under the scheme, Rs 8000 crore has been earmarked for providing five crore LPG connections to
BPL households.
SC

• The Scheme provides a financial support of Rs 1600 for each LPG connection to the BPL households.
• The identification of eligible BPL families will be made in consultation with the State Governments
and the Union Territories.
• This Scheme would be implemented over three years, namely, the FY 2016-17, 2017-18 and 2018-
19.
GS

• It will also provide employment for rural youth in the supply chain of cooking gas.
• The scheme seeks to empower women and protect their health by shifting them from traditional
cooking based on unclean cooking fuels or on fossil fuels to clean cooking gas.
2. PAHAL (DBT)
• Salient Features:
• Direct Benefit Transfer of LPG, 'Pratyaksha Hastantarit Labh'.
• Direct transfer of LPG subsidy into beneficiaries account for which account must be seeded with
AADHAR.
3. Direct Benefit Transfer in PDS Kerosene Scheme (DBTK):
• Jharkhand has become first State in the country to implement DBTK and others have been requested
to join the Scheme.
• Under the Scheme, the Kerosene is being sold at non-subsidised price and subsidy, as admissible,
is being transferred to consumers directly into his/her bank account.
• The States would be given cash incentive of 75% of subsidy savings during the first two years, 50%
in the third year and 25% in the fourth year.

www.iasscore.in
34
• The initiative of the Government is aimed at rationalizing subsidies based on approach to cut
subsidy leakages, but not subsidies themselves. The scheme will also stop diversion of Kerosene.
4. Indian Strategic Storage Programme for storage of crude oil by Indian Strategic Petroleum
Reserves Limited (ISPRL):
• Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas,through Indian Strategic Petroleum Reserves Limited (ISPRL),
has constructed Strategic Crude Oil Reserves at three locations viz. Visakhapatnam, Mangalore, and
Padur to enhance the energy security of the country.
• The reserves are being created by the Government so that the crude oil will address the oil needs
of the country, in the event of a national calamity, disruption of supplies, unforeseen global event
leading to scarcity of supplies/abnormal spike in prices etc.
• Indian Strategic Petroleum Reserves Limited is a Special Purpose Vehicle, which is a wholly owned
subsidiary of Oil Industry Development Board (OIDB).
• The crude oil storages are in underground rock caverns and are located on the east and west coasts
so that they are readily accessible to the refining sector.

E
5. Hydrocarbon Exploration Licensing Policy (HELP):
• The salient features are:
a)

b)
resources; OR
Single License for exploration and production of conventional as well as non-conventional hydrocarbon

Open Acreage Policy-option to select the exploration blocks without waiting for formal bid round;
c) Revenue Sharing Model - simple, easy to administer - no cost recovery - no micromanagement by
SC
the Government - operational freedom to the operator; and
d) Pricing and Marketing Freedom - a major incentive for investment.
6. Hydrocarbon Vision 2030 for North East India:
• In tune with the Government of India's act east policy, the Ministry of Petroleum and natural Gas
GS

has prepared a hydrocarbon vision 2030 for the north east India.
• The Vision aims at doubling Oil & Gas production by 2030, making clean fuels accessible, fast
tracking projects, generating employment opportunities and promoting cooperation with neighbouring
countries.
• The Vision rests on five pillars: People, Policy, Partnership, Projects and Production.
Other initiatives
APPS
• Grameen Vidyutikaran (GARV) app to help citizens track rural electrification under Deen Dayal Upadhyaya
Gram Jyoti Yojana (DDUGJY)
• VIDYUT PRAVAH app created to provide real time information of electricity price and availability
• Unnat Jyoti by Affordable LEDs for All (UJALA) app to keep track of LED distribution under the
Domestic Efficient Lighting Programme (DELP)
• URJA (Urban Jyoti Abhiyaan) MobileApp - the Consumer Dashboard of the URJA App, launched on
16.06.16, provides for Urban Power Distribution Sector to enhance Consumer Connect, Project Monitoring
of Urban Distribution Sector projects and providing information on the monthly performance on parameters
like Consumer complaints redressal, Release of New service connection, Average number of interruptions
faced by consumer, Number of consumers making e-payments, Energy lost / power theft i.e. AT&C loss.

www.iasscore.in
35
• E-Tarang app is for monitoring the real time Status of Transmission System.
• E-Trans app is a platform for better price discovery in respect of Inter State Transmission projects to be
awarded through tariff based competitive bidding (TBCB) process.
• The Coal Mitra Web Portal has been designed to bring about flexibility in Utilization of Domestic Coal
by transferring the reserves to more cost efficient State/Centre owned or Private sector generating stations,
leading to lower generation costs and ultimately lesser cost of electricity for the consumers.
Energy efficiency scheme:
• Standards & Labelling programme for appliances by the Bureau of Energy Efficiency (BEE)
• Perform Achieve and Trade (PAT) Scheme
• Energy Conservation Building Codes (ECBC)
• Unnati Jyoti by Affordable LEDs for All (UJALA)
• Street Lighting National Programme (SLNP)
• Promotion of Energy Efficient Fans and Agriculture pump sets

E
Amendments in Tariff Policy
• The Union Cabinet approved proposal for amendments in the Tariff Policy. It will provide the motivation
OR
to harness the hydro as well as renewable capacity for energy security of the country.
• Main amendments are as under:
a) Promotion of Renewable Generation Obligation (RGO).
SC

b) Compulsory procurement by Discoms from waste-to-energy plants.

c) Thermal Power Plants within 50kms of sewage treatment facilities to use treated sewage water.
d) Use of Smart meters in a phased manner to enable 'Time of Day' metering.
e) Inter-State and Intra-State transmission lines only through competitive bidding.
f) Expansion of capacity of IPPs (on regulated tariff) from 50% to 100% of existing capacity.
GS

g) Compulsory purchase of power from micro grids at regulated tariff.

www.iasscore.in
36
 YEAR END REVIEW IN FOOD SECTOR

This covers the Year End Review of the following Ministries:

1. Ministry of Agriculture
2. Ministry of Food Processing Industries
3. Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food & Public Distribution
4. Ministry of Chemicals and Fertilizers

E
Ministry of Agriculture
• The Ministry of Agriculture, a branch of the Government of India, is the apex body for formulation

•
OR
and administration of the rules and regulations and laws related to agriculture in India. The 3 broad
areas of scope for the Ministry are agriculture, food processing and co-operation.
Achievements of Ministry of Agriculture has been given below:
1. Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana:
SC
• Under the new scheme, the farmers' premium has been kept at a maximum of 2 per cent for
foodgrains and oilseeds, and up to 5 per cent for horticulture and cotton crops.
• There is no upper limit on Government subsidy. Even if balance premium is 90%, it will be borne
by the Government. Earlier, there was a provision of capping the premium rate which resulted in
low claims being paid to farmers. This capping was done to limit Government outgo on the
premium subsidy. This capping has now been removed and farmers will get claim against full sum
GS

insured without any reduction.

• Crop losses which are covered under the scheme include Yield Losses as well as post-harvest losses,
where coverage will be available up to a maximum period of 14 days from harvesting for those
crops.
• The use of technology will be encouraged to a great extent resulting in operational efficiency. Smart
phones will be used to capture and upload data of crop cutting to reduce the delays in claim
payment to farmers. Remote sensing will be used to reduce the number of crop cutting experiments.
2. Soil Health Card Scheme:
• Soil Health cards are necessary to ensure that only requisite nutrients are applied in the soil in a
balanced manner to enhance productivity of specific crops in a sustainable manner.
• Values on soil parameters such as pH, EC, N, P, K, S, Zn, Fe, Mn, Cu & B.
• Recommendation on appropriate dosage of fertilizer application based on test values and requirement
of crop, use of organic manures and soil amendments to acidic/alkaline/sodic soils.
3. Paramparagat Krishi Vikas Yojana:
• Aim of the project is to maximize the utilization of natural resources through eco-friendly cultivation.
• Organic farming is a method of farming system which primarily aimed at cultivating the land and
raising crops in such a way, as to keep the soil alive and in good health by use of organic wastes

www.iasscore.in
37
 (crop, animal and farm wastes, aquatic wastes) and other biological materials along with beneficial
microbes (bio-fertilizers) to release nutrients to crops for increased sustainable production in an eco
friendly pollution free environment.
4. National Agriculture Market (e-Nam):
• e-NAM trading mechanism has been launched recently to integrate 585 regulated wholesale markets
or agriculture produce market committees (APMCs) under one electronic platform by 2018.
• It will allow farmers to sell their produce anywhere in the country and create a common market
for selling of crops, network existing APMC and other market yards to create a unified national
market and provide a single window service for all APMC related information and services.
5. Neem Coated Urea:
• Indigenous manufactures/producers of urea are allowed to produce Neem Coated Urea (NCU)
upto maximum of their total production of subsidized urea and to restrict the extra MRP to be
charged by the companies selling Neem Coated Urea to the extent of 5% of the existing MRP of
urea i.e. Rs. 5360/- per MT.
• Benefits:

E
a) Improvement in soil health;
b) Reduction in costs with respect to plant protection chemicals;
OR
c) Reduction in pest and disease attack;
d) An increase in yield of paddy, sugarcane, maize, soybean and tur/red gram to an extent of 5.79%,
17.5%, 7.14%, 7.4% and 16.88% respectively;
SC

e) Diversion of highly subsidized urea towards non-agricultural purposes negligible among farmers
after the introduction of the mandatory policy of production and distribution of only Neem coated
urea.
6. Agroforestry:
• For the first time, Sub-Mission on Agroforestry has been initiated which will accelerate the programme
"Medh Par Ped".
GS

• Objectives are:
a) To encourage and expand tree plantation in complementary and integrated manner with crops and
livestock to improve productivity, employment opportunities, income generation and livelihoods of
rural households, especially the small farmers.
b) To ensure availability of quality planting material like seeds, seedlings, clones, hybrids, improved
varieties, etc.
c) To popularise various Agroforestry practices/models suitable to different agro ecological regions
and land use conditions.
d) To create database, information and knowledge support in the area of agroforestry.
e) To provide extension and capacity building support to agroforestry sector.
Dairy Sector
1. Rashtriya Gokul Mission:
• With a view to conserve and develop indigenous bovine breeds, Rashtriya Gokul Mission, a new
initiative under National Programme for Bovine Breeding and Dairy Development has been launched
for the first time in the country.

www.iasscore.in
38
2. Pashudhan Sanjivani:
• An Animal Wellness Program encompassing provision of Animal Health cards ('Nakul Swasthya
Patra') along with UID identification of animals in milk and a National Data Base.
• This will play crucial role in control of spread of animal diseases. This will also lead to increase
in trade of livestock and livestock products.
3. Advanced Breeding Technology:
• Assisted Reproductive Technique to improve availability of disease free female bovines through of
sex sorted semen technology.
• Under the scheme 50 embryo transfer technology labs and In Vitro Fertilization labs care will be
established. This will lead to exponential increase in milk production and productivity of animals
in an exponential manner.
4. E-pashudhan Haat Portal:
• For the first time in the country under National Mission on Bovine Productivity E Pashudhan Haat

E
portal has been developed.
• This portal will play important role in connecting breeders and farmers of indigenous breeds.
•

•
OR
Through this portal farmers will be aware about breed wise information on indigenous breeds.
Farmers/breeders can sale animals of indigenous breeds through this portal.
Information on all forms of germplasm has been uploaded on the portal. Immediately farmers can
obtain benefits of the portal.
SC
National Bovine Genomic Center for Indigenous Breeds (NBGC-IB):
• In developed dairy countries genomic selection is used to increase milk production and productivity for
attaining faster genetic gain.
• In order to increase milk production and productivity of indigenous cattle, a National Bovine Genomic
Centre will be established in the country.
GS

• By using genomic selection indigenous breeds can be made viable within few generations.
• This center will play crucial role in identification of disease free High genetic merit bulls.
Special incentives:
1. Four new ICAR Awards in two years: ICAR Administrative award, Haldhar Organic Farmer
Award, Pandit Deendayal Antyodaya Krishi Puruskar and Pandit Deendayal Rashtriya Krishi Vigyan
Protsahan Puruskar have been initiated.
2. Pandit Deendayal Unnat Krishi Shiksha Yojana has been started in the year 2016 by way of 130
training programmes on organic farming/natural farming and cow based economy in the country.
3. Rashtriya Krishi Shiksha Divas is being celebrated in remembrance of country's first Agriculture
Minister Dr. Rajendra Prasad.
4. Attracting and Retaining Youth in Agriculture (ARYA): The ARYA project will attract and
empower the Youth in Rural Areas to take up various Agri-enterprises in Agriculture, allied and
service sector for sustainable income and gainful employment. The project is running through
KVKs.

Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution

• The Ministry is divided into two departments, the Department of Food and Public Distribution and
the Department of Consumer Affairs.

www.iasscore.in
39
• The objectives of the Department of food and public distribution are to ensure the remunerative
rates for the farmers and supply of food grains at reasonable prices to the consumers through the
public distribution system.
About Public Distribution System
• The PDS is a national food security system that distributed subsidised food to India's poor. Major
commodities distributed include wheat, rice, sugar, and kerosene.
• Surpluses of food from increased crop yields are managed by the Food Corporation of India, established
by the Food Corporation Act 1964, implements national policy for farm price support, operations,
procurement, storage, preservation, inter-state movement and distribution operations.
• The Department of Consumer affairs administers the policies for Consumer Cooperatives, Monitoring
Prices, availability of essential commodities, Consumer Movement in the country and Controlling of
statutory bodies like Bureau of Indian Standards(BIS) and Weights and Measures.
Following are the main highlights of the activities of the Department of Food & Public Distribution
during the year 2016:
1. National Food Security Act (NFSA):

E
• Rates of food grains for Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS) and Mid Day Meal (MDM)
schemes were reduced to rates prescribed under NFSA, much lower than under erstwhile Targeted
OR
Public Distribution System.
• Sustained efforts have resulted in significant reforms in TPDS making it more transparent and leak
proof and better targeting of food subsidy. Improvement in main components for this purpose are
as follows:
SC

a) Fair price shops automated.

b) Digitisation of ration cards.
c) Aadhaar seeding of ration cards.
d) Online allocation of food grains.
GS

e) Supply chain computerized.

f) Direct cash transfer in PDS.
2. Supporting the Farmer
• State-wise 5-year Action Plans have been drawn up by Food Corporation of India for Uttar Pradesh
(with focus on Eastern U.P.), Bihar, Jharkhand, West Bengal & Assam. Procurement in Chhattisgarh
and Odisha is already robust. Attempt is to increase procurement of rice from these States and to
reach out to all farmers in various paddy growing districts of these States.
• Government Agencies, FCI in consultation with States has engaged private parties to expand
procurement operations in hitherto poorly covered clusters in Eastern U.P., Jharkhand and West
Bengal.
• FCI has started procurement of pulses from farmers at market price under Price Stabilisation Fund
operation.
3. Improving Food grain Management:
• A High Level Expert Committee under the Chairmanship of Shanta Kumar, was constituted to
make recommendations on re-structuring of FCI. Based on the recommendations, several measures
have been initiated to improve the functioning of FCI and to bring in cost efficiency in its operations.

www.iasscore.in
40
• To bring all operations of FCI Go downs online and to check leakage and automate operations at
the depot level, "Depot Online" system has been launched in 31 Depots on pilot basis.
• FCI has developed a software for Online Procurement Management System (OPMS) which is being
used for procurement in the Kharif Market Season 2016-17.
• Indian Railways is providing wagons to FCI at priority B preference while same preference was not
being provided to states food corporations in DCP states, which have taken up the role of FCI in
Intra State movement of food grains under PDS.
• Adequate supply of food grains ensured during 2016-17 for States/UTs facing natural calamities
such as drought in Andhra Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Gujarat, Jharkhand, Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh,
Rajasthan, Telangana and Uttar Pradesh and flood in Bihar.
4. Centre of Excellence for PDS:
• The Government of India has signed a letter of intent with World Food Programme (WFP) to
prepare a proposal for the establishment of the Centre of Excellence (CENEX).

E
• The CENEX would inter alia work as a inter-ministerial think tank to advice on challenges of food
security before the nation, initiate and execute pilot projects for improvement of food and nutrition
security in India, advise on reforming public sector food security system, besides showcasing the

5.
•
Policy Changes: OR
progress made by India in food security to other developing and middle income countries.

Fortification of Staple Food: To address acute malnutrition in the population, a strategy of Fortification
in Food has been adopted. FSSAI has operationalized the standards for fortification of Wheat Flour,
SC
and Oil. Technology & cost for rice fortification are under review.
• Wheat-Rice Policy: Government of India has formulated a wheat-rice policy with an objective that
the States, which annually procure more wheat or rice than their present annual entitlement/
demand for wheat and rice respectively, will be allocated the preferred food grains as per their
requirement in the normal NFSA allocation i.e. AAY and Priority category. The allocation in the
tide over category will be at the discretion of the Department and subject to availability of food
GS

grains in the Central Pool and impact on food subsidy.

6. Consumer Grievances/Disputes:
• Department of Consumer Affairs has launched an Integrated Grievance Redress Mechanism
(INGRAM) portal for bringing all stakeholders such as consumers, Central and State Government
Agencies, private companies, regulators on to a single platform for implementation in a phased
manner.

Ministry of Food Processing Industries

• The Ministry of Food processing Industries is responsible for formulation and administration of the
rules and regulations and laws relating to food processing in India.
• The Ministry was set up with a view to develop a strong and vibrant food processing industry, to
create increased employment in rural sector and enable farmers to reap the benefits of modern
technology and to create a surplus for exports and stimulating demand for processed food.
• The strategic role and functions of the Ministry mainly are:
a) Policy support developmental & promotional, Technical & advisory, Regulatory.
b) It is concerned with the formulation & implementation of policies and plans for all the industries
under its domain within the overall national priorities and objectives.

www.iasscore.in
41
c) Its main focus areas include development of infrastructure, technological up gradation, development
of backward linkages, enforcement of quality standards and expanding domestic as well as export
markets for processed food products.
• The Ministry of Food Processing Industries is implementing a number of Central Sector Schemes
for promotion and development of food processing sector in the country.
• The major achievements of the Ministry during 2016 are as under:
1. Government has allowed 100% FDI for trading including through e-commerce, in respect of food
products manufactured or produced in India. 100% FDI is already permitted in manufacturing of
food products through automatic route. This will provide impetus to the foreign investment in food
processing sector, benefit farmers immensely and will create vast employment opportunities.
2. Under the Scheme of Integrated Cold Chain and Value Addition Infrastructure 20 projects have
been operationalised in 2016. With their operationalisation, Ministry has created an additional
capacity of 0.63 lakh metric tonnes of cold storage, 15 metric tonnes per hour of individual Quick
Freezing (IQF), 10.65 lakh litres per day of Milk of processing/ storage and 99 reefer vans during
2016.
3. Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has simplified product approval:

E
a) Approved a large number of new Additives harmonized with the International Codex Standards.
b) Notified an amendment to the regulations as a result of which non-standardized food products
OR
called proprietary foods (except novel food and nutra-ceuticals) that use ingredients and additives
approved in the regulations will no longer require product approval. This has provided considerable
relief to the industry.
The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has been established under Food Safety and
Standards Act, 2006 which consolidates various acts & orders that have hitherto handled food related issues
SC

in various Ministries and Departments. FSSAI has been created for laying down science based standards for
articles of food and to regulate their manufacture, storage, distribution, sale and import to ensure availability
of safe and wholesome food for I human consumption.
4. The Ministry is also taking steps to implement a new scheme namely Scheme for Agro-Marine
produce Processing and Development of Agro-clusters (SAMPADA) for overall development of
food processing sector, for providing enabling infrastructure, expanding processing and preservation
GS

capacities, controlled temperature logistics and backward and forward linkages, with an allocation
of Rs.6000 Crore for a period co-terminus with 14th Finance Commission.

Ministry of Chemicals and Fertilizers

• The Department of Chemicals and Petrochemicals was under the Ministry of Industry until
December 1989, when it was brought under the Ministry of Petroleum and Chemicals. On June
5, 1991, the Department of Chemicals and Petrochemicals was transferred to the Ministry of
Chemicals and Fertilisers.
• Department of Fertilizers comes under the ambit of Ministry of Chemicals & Fertilizers which is
headed by a Cabinet Minister who is assisted by one Minister of State.
• The main objective of Department of Fertilizers is to ensure adequate and timely availability of
fertilizers at affordable prices for maximizing agricultural production in the country.
• The main functions of the Department of Fertilizers include planning, promotion and development
of the Fertilizers Industry, Planning and monitoring of production, import and distribution of
fertilizers and management of financial assistance by way of subsidy/concession for indigenous and
imported fertilizers.
• The department also administers 9 Public Sector Undertakings and one Multi-State Co-operative
Society.

www.iasscore.in
42
• Following are the achievements of Department of Fertilizers, Ministry of Chemicals and Fertilizers
during the year:
1. New Urea Policy
• Based on the CCEA decision, the New Urea Policy-2015 (NUP-2015) has been notified by
Department of Fertilizers, with the objectives of maximizing indigenous urea production; promoting
energy efficiency in urea production; and rationalizing subsidy burden on the government.
• Benefits:
a) Maximizing indigenous urea production and promoting energy efficiency in urea units to reduce the
subsidy burden on the Government.
b) Savings in energy shall reduce the carbon-footprint and would thus be more environment friendly.
c) It will enable the domestic urea sector having 30 urea producing units, to become more energy
efficient, would rationalize the subsidy burden and incentivize urea units to maximize their production
at the same time.

E
d) The policy will ensure timely supply of urea to farmers at same Maximum Retail Price (MRP) with
lesser financial burden on the exchequer. It will also reduce import dependency in the urea sector.
2.
•
•
City Compost

OR
The Government of India approved a policy on promotion of City Compost.
For co-marketing of City Compost, the tagging of Cities with fertilizer marketing companies for
the purpose of proper utilisation of city Compost produced in the cities has been completed as per
the list provided by M/o Urban Development.
SC

• A joint Committee of Joint Secretaries of Department of Fertilizers, Ministry of Urban

Development, and Department of Agriculture have been set up for coordination.
• State level steering Committee has been constituted for promotion of City Compost.
3. Formation of Indian Council for Fertilizer and Nutrient Research (ICFNR)
GS

• Indian Council for Fertilizer and Nutrient Research (ICFNR), an Institution exclusively devoted to
promotion of research in fertilizer sector under the Department of Fertilizers, has been set up. The
terms of reference of ICFNR are as under:-
a) To undertake/promote research in the area of fertilizer manufacturing technology, use of raw
material and innovation in fertilizer products through partnership ad collaboration with various
research institutions, fertilizer industry and other stakeholders.
b) To identify and promote eco-friendly micro nutrients and pesticide coated slow release fertilizers
and also to ensure reduction of Carbon Footprint of fertilizer sector and energy efficient operation.
c) To undertake and promote research in bio fertilizer and organic fertilizers and its derivatives so as
protect and increase soil fertility.
d) To undertake and promote research in organic fertilizer and its derivatives with suitable coating or
blending so as to protect and increase the soil fertility.
e) To promote dissemination of information on latest developments in Fertilizer sector and also to
support new ideas and changes for effecting improvements in fertilizer industry.

www.iasscore.in
43
 YEAR END REVIEW IN
SCIENCE SECTOR

This covers the Year End Review of the following Ministries and Departments
1. Ministry of Science & Technology
2. Department of Atomic Energy

Ministry of Science and Technology

• The Ministry of Science and Technology is the Indian government ministry charged with formulation
and administration of the rules and regulations and laws relating to science and technology in India.

E
• Major developments of the activities of Department of Science and Technology(DST), Ministry
of Science & Technology during the Year 2016 are:
OR
1. National Initiative for Developing & Harnessing Innovation (NIDHI):
• It is a programme to address the complete chain of innovation ecosystem right from scouting to
mentoring to scaling up innovations. It has been launched by Department of Science and Technology.
• Objectives:
SC

a) To take forward student innovations in IEDC / NewGen IEDC programme to commercialization

stage.
b) To promote student startups.
c) To accelerate the journey of idea to prototype by providing initial funding assistance.
2. Overseas Doctoral Fellowship:
GS

• This scheme aimed to impart research training of Ph.D. Scholars in Indian institutions for collaborative
research abroad was launched by Science and Engineering Research Board (SERB). Fellowship
would be for a period upto 12 months.
3. Devasthal Optical Telescope:
• It is an Indo-Belgian venture.
• It is established by Aryabhatta Research Institute of Observational Sciences (ARIES), Nainital.
• The telescope is located at Devasthal, Nainital at a height of 2,500 metres.
• It is said that the site was chosen to get a clear view of the sky.
• The ARIES optical telescope's mirror is 3.6 metres (360 centimetres) in diameter.
• The high end technology incorporated in the telescope enables it to be operated with the help of
remote control from anywhere in the world.
• The telescope will be used in the study and exploration of planets, starts, magnetic field and
astronomical debris.
• The scientists will also help in research of the structures of stars and magnetic field structures of
stars.

www.iasscore.in
44
4. Visiting Advanced Joint Research (VAJRA) Faculty Scheme:
• Science and Engineering Research Board (SERB) has initiated a new scheme viz. Visiting Advanced
Joint Research (VAJRA) Faculty Scheme.
• The scheme envisages to associate distinguished international faculty as Adjunct/Visiting Faculty
in Indian institutions for a period of 1-3 month in a year.
5. Surya Jyoti:
• Photovoltaic integrated Micro Solar Dome, is the simple innovative technology developed to meet
the lighting need for people who do not have access to reliable supply of electricity.
• The product has been included for subsidy under Off Grid and decentralized solar application
scheme of Ministry of New and Renewable energy.
• The Ministry of Rural Development has informed to all States and Union Territories to explore the
possibility of adopting this innovative technology of Surya Jyoti for the houses constructed under
Prime Minister Awas Yojana-Gramin.
6. Solar Energy Research Institute for India and the United States (SERIIUS):

E
• SERIIUS is jointly funded by the Government of India (through the Department of Science and
Technology) and the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) over a 5-year period starting October 1,

• OR
2012, with funding of $25 million for 5 years in a 50%/50% split between the two countries.
The Consortium is also supported by cost sharing from its members-more than 30 partners from
India and the US-with at least $25 million in matching funds.
• The lead institutions for SERIIUS are the Indian Institute of Science (IISc) in India and the National
SC
Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) in the USA.
7. Standing Committee for Promoting Women in Science:
• DST constituted 'Standing Committee for Promoting Women in Science' to address a low
representation of women in Science & Technology (S&T) domain.
• To provide opportunities to women scientists and technologists for pursuing research in basic or
GS

applied sciences, projects were recommended for support.

8. INSPIRE Awards scheme:
• In the context of Start-up India initiative of the Government, INSPIRE Awards scheme has been
revamped to foster culture of innovation among school children of class VI to class X.
• The scheme has been rechristened as INSPIRE Awards-MANAK (Million Minds Augmenting
National Aspiration and Knowledge).
9. DST-MHRD Collaboration in Impacting Research Innovation and Technology (IMPRINT)
Project:
• Department of Science & Technology (DST) have joined hands with Ministry of Human Resource
Development (MHRD) to implement IMPRINT projects.
• IMPRINT projects will address major societal and developmental needs such as healthcare,
information and communication technology, energy, sustainable habitat, nano technology, water
resources and river systems, advanced materials, security and defence, and environment and climate.

Science & Technology in the Service of Society

1. National Biotechnology Development Strategy 2015-20:
• The Strategy aims to establish India as a world-class bio-manufacturing hub. It intends to launch a
major mission, backed with significant investments, for the creation of new biotech products, create

www.iasscore.in
45
 a strong infrastructure for R&D and commercialization, and empower India's human resources
scientifically and technologically.
• The envisaged mission is:
a) Provide impetus to utilising the knowledge and tools to the advantage of Humanity
b) Launch a major well directed mission backed with significant investment for generation of new
Biotech Products
c) Empower scientifically and technologically India's incomparable Human Resource
d) Create a strong Infrastructure for R&D and Commercialisation
e) Establish India as a world class Bio-manufacturing Hub
2. Regional Centre for Biotechnology Bill, 2016:
• The Bill seeks to establish a Regional Centre for Biotechnology, an institution of education, training
and research, under the auspices of United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization
(UNESCO) in the National Capital Region and declare it to be an institution of national importance.

E
• The Regional Centre for Biotechnology will take up research and innovation and impart education
and training in the new areas of Biotechnology at the interface of multiple disciplines of science
OR
creating a hub of technology expertise.
• It has been considered as a powerful enabling technology that can revolutionize agriculture, healthcare,
industrial processing and environmental sustainability.
3. Stem Cell Research:
SC

• Stem cell research was identified as one of the thrust areas for developing collaborative programmes
between both the countries, India and Japan.
• The focus of the collaboration is on developing treatments for sickle cell anaemia, ?- thalassemia
and brain disorders and creating haplobank relevant to our population in collaboration with CiRA,
Kyoto University, Japan.
GS

4. Biotech-Krishi Innovation Science Application Network

• The scheme will be implemented in 15 agro-climatic zones of India in phased manner with the
objective:
a) Linking available science and technology to the farm by first understanding the problem of the local
farmer and provide solutions to those problems.
b) The working together, in close conjunction, of scientists and farmers is the only way to improve
the working conditions of small and marginal farmers.
c) This programme aims to work with small and marginal farmers especially the woman farmer for
better agriculture productivity through scientific intervention and evolving best farming practices in
the Indian context.
5. Mission Innovation::
• India is a Partner country for the 'Mission Innovation' (MI) which is an effort of 23 participating
countries towards accelerating global clean energy innovation. This was launched on 30th November,
2015 during COP-21 in the presence of Hon'ble Prime Minister.
• The Department of Biotechnology is the nodal agency for India.

www.iasscore.in
46
• Seven Innovation Challenges are:
a) Smart Grids: To enable future smart grids that are powered by affordable, reliable, decentralised
renewable electricity systems.
b) Off-Grid Access to Electricity: To develop systems that enable off grid households and communities
to access affordable and reliable renewable electricity.
c) Carbon Capture: To enable near-zero CO2 emissions from power plants and carbon intensive
industries.
d) Sustainable Biofuels: To develop ways to produce, at scale, widely affordable, advanced biofuels for
transportation and industrial applications.
e) Converting Sunlight to create storable solar fuels: To discover affordable ways to convert sunlight
into storable solar fuels.
f) Clean Energy Materials: To accelerate the exploration, discovery, and use of new high-performance,
low-cost clean energy materials.

E
g) Affordable Heating and Cooling of Buildings: To make low-carbon heating and cooling affordable
for everyone.

•
Department of Atomic Energy
OR
The Department of Atomic Energy (DAE) was set-up in 1954 under the direct charge of the Prime
Minister through a Presidential Order.
• The vision of the Department of Atomic Energy (DAE) is to empower India through technology,
SC
creation of more wealth and providing better quality of life to its citizen.
• This is to be achieved by making India energy independent, contributing to provision of sufficient,
safe and nutritious food and better health care to our people through development and deployment
of nuclear and radiation technologies and their applications.
• DAE is engaged in the design, construction and operation of nuclear power/research reactors and
the supporting nuclear fuel cycle technologies covering exploration, mining and processing of nuclear
GS

minerals, production of heavy water, nuclear fuel fabrication, fuel reprocessing and nuclear waste
management.
• The Department is also developing better crop varieties, techniques for control/eradication of
insects thus protecting the crops, radiation based post harvest technologies, radiation based techniques
for diagnosis and therapy of disease particularly cancer, technologies for safe drinking water, better
environment and robust industry.
• Following are the main highlights of the activities of Department of Atomic Energy (DAE) during
the year 2016:
1. Kudankulam Nuclear power project:
• Kudankulam is the highest capacity generating nuclear power plant in India. Beyond power generation,
the project is also seen as a symbol of maintaining cordial relations between India and Russia.
• The reactors are pressurised water reactor of Russian design, model VVER-1000/V-412 referred
also as AES-92. Thermal capacity is 3,000 MW, gross electrical capacity is 1,000 MW with a net
capacity of 917 MW.
• Construction is by NPCIL and Atomstroyexport. When completed the plant will become the
largest nuclear power generation complex in India producing a cumulative 2 GW of electric power.
• Both units are water-cooled, water-moderated power reactors.

www.iasscore.in
47
2. India-Japan Agreement for Cooperation in Nuclear Energy:
• Prime Minister of India Shri Narendra Modi and the Japanese Prime Minister Shri Shinzo Abe,
signed the Agreement for Cooperation in the Peaceful Uses of Nuclear Energy between the two
countries, which reflects a new level of mutual confidence and strategic partnership in the cause of
clean energy, economic development and a peaceful and secure world.
3. India becomes Associate Member of CERN, Geneva:
• India and European Organization for Nuclear Research (CERN) signed an agreement making India
an Associate Member State of CERN.
• Participation in CERN programmes is a success story of scientific collaborations and cooperation
where researchers from large number of national Institutes and Universities from India work together
in forming active collaborations in the pursuit of fundamental knowledge, achieving scientific and
engineering breakthrough as well as training the next generation of scientists.
About CERN
• CERN began in the 1950s as the European Organization for Nuclear Research.
• Its business is fundamental physics -finding out what makes our Universe work, where it came from and

E
where it is going.
• At CERN, some of the world's biggest and most complex machines are used to study nature's tiniest
OR
building blocks, the fundamental particles.
• By colliding these minute particles of matter physicists unravel the basic laws of nature.
• The organization is the world's largest nuclear and particle physics laboratory, where scientists and
engineers are probing the fundamental structure of the Universe using the most sophisticated scientific
SC

instruments and advanced computing systems.

4. Cabinet grants 'in-principle' approval to the LIGO-India mega science proposal:
• The proposal, known as LIGO-India project (Laser Interferometer Gravitational-wave Observatory
in India) is piloted by Department of Atomic Energy and Department of Science and Technology
(DST).
GS

• LIGO-India will bring wide opportunities in cutting edge technology for Indian industries as they
will be engaged in the construction of 8 km-long beam tube at ultra- high vaccuum on a levelled
terrain.It will be 3rd such laboratory in the world and first outside the United States. The existing
laboratories are located in Hanford, Washington and in Livingston, Louisiana.
5. Bhabhatron:
• India supplied indigenous teletherapy machine Bhabhatron, for cancer treatment to Bougando Medical
Centre in Tanzania.
6. DHRUVA:
• Reactor at Trombay, producing medical isotopes, operated at full power throughout the year and
touched its highest ever capacity factor since it's commissioning.

www.iasscore.in
48
 YEAR END REVIEW IN DEFENCE SECTOR

About Ministry of Defence

Brief History: Ministry of Defence was established in the post Independence era in 1947. But its role
was limited to supporting Armed forces. In the later years, it was given complete control over defence
forces. The Ministry of Defence is charged with co-ordinating and supervising all agencies and functions
of the government relating directly to national security and the Indian armed forces.
Structure: The Ministry of Defence consists of four Departments; Department of Defence, Department
of Defence Production, Department of Defence Research & Development, and Department of Ex-

E
Servicemen Welfare. The Defence Secretary functions as head of the Department of Defence and is
additionally responsible for coordinating the activities of the four Departments in the Ministry.

OR
Functions: The Defence Ministry is responsible for "obtaining policy directions of the Government on
all defence and security related matters" and communicating these directions to "Services Headquarters,
Inter-Services Organisations, Production Establishments and Research and Development Organisations".
Scientific Adviser to Defence ministry plays a key role in formulation of R&D policies and promoting
self-reliance in Indian Defence Industries.
SC
Indian Army
1. One Rank One Pension Scheme(OROP):
The 'one rank, one pension' rule means that retired soldiers of the same rank and length of service will
receive the same pension, regardless of when they retire. Ex-servicemen drawing pensions will benefit
from the OROP scheme, especially those who retired before 2006. Because at present, pensioners who
GS

retired before 2006 draw less pension than their counterparts and even their juniors. The scheme will
benefit all three services - air force, navy and army.
2. Changes in Defence procurement procedure:
This scheme has a focus on achieving the 'Make in India' vision by according priority to 'Buy Indian
- IDDM (Indian Designed, Developed and Manufactured) and 'Buy (Indian)' categories. It also focuses
on enhancement and rationalization of indigenous content.
3. Ex-Servicemen Contributory Health Scheme (ECHS):
The government is taking special measures to provide quality and affordable medical care to ex-servicemen
and their dependents. As part of health care reforms, the Ex-Servicemen Contributory Health Scheme
(ECHS) has been completely digitized.
4. The Directorate Of Indian Army Veterans launched:
The Directorate will provide a wide range of veteran care and support services and will act as a single
point of contact for redressal of complaints of veterans, widows and their wards. The inauguration of
the new Directorate coincided with the first ever celebration of Veterans Day.
5. Defence Communication Network:
The Defence Communication Network (DCN), a strategic, highly secure and scalable system, has a pan-
India reach - from Ladakh to the North East to island territories, enabling the army, air force, navy and

www.iasscore.in
49
the Special Forces Command to share situational awareness for a faster decision-making process. It is
built by HCL.
Significance:
• It will help the armed forces and the Special Forces Command to share situational awareness for a faster
decision-making process. Hence, it will help in improving the prompt response time due to the integrated
technology.
• It will ensure network centricity across the three services, Integrated Defence Staff (IDS) and the
Strategic Forces Command (SFC).
• It will help in bolstering the prowess of the defence forces during critical operations and rescue missions.
• It acts as a proof of strength of the Indian industry. Initially it was planned to import the system.
• With the indigenous development, it has reaffirmed the capability of the Indian industries and acts as
a boost to the Make in India Programme.
6. Army Skill Training Centre:
The pilot project of the Army Skill Training Centre (ASTC) was inaugurated With the inauguration of

E
the ASTC, the Indian Army now embarks on a new mission by bringing Army spouses and wards into
the folds of the skilling landscape. Army personnel and their spouses/wards who attend training at
OR
ASTC will receive skill certificate from NSDC and will become eligible for employment/entrepreneurship
under Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Vikas Yojna scheme.

Indian Navy
1. Maiden Sea trials of Kalvari - First Scorpene Class Submarine:
SC

Under the Project 75 Scorpene programme six conventional submarines are being built in India with
foreign collaboration. 'Kalvari', the first of the Scorpene class submarines, being built at the Mazagon
Dock Shipbuilders Ltd Mumbai (MDL).
2. INS Tarmugli:
The Indian Navy commissioned the highly manoeuvrable Fast Attack Craft INS Tarmugli at a ceremony
GS

at Naval Dockyard, Visakhapatnam. Based at Visakhapatnam under the Naval Officer-in-Charge (Andhra
Pradesh), the craft would be deployed for coastal patrol and surveillance operations along the East
Coast.
3. Mormugao - Second ship of Project 15B launched:
A significant milestone in the indigenous warship design and construction programme of India was
achieved with the launch of the Guided Missile Destroyer, Mormugao, the second ship of Project 15B,
at Mazagaon Dock Shipbuilders Limited (MDL), Mumbai.

Indian Air Force

1. Rafale Acquisition deal:
The Rafale deal with France was signed, under which France will provide 36 Rafale fighter jets to India.
The twin-engine, multi-role aircraft will be capable of carrying out various combat missions like Air
Defence, Ground Attack, Reconnaissance, Anti-ship strikes etc.
2. Tejas' Induction:
The Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) 'Tejas' was inducted into No. 45 Squadron of the Indian Air Force
(IAF). It is the first fighter Squadron to be a part of the Southern Air Command of IAF headquartered
at Thiruvananthapuram.

www.iasscore.in
50
 Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO)
1. Agni - V Successfully Test-Fired:
Agni-V, the Long Range Surface-to-Surface Ballistic Missile was successfully flight tested by DRDO
from Dr. Abdul Kalam Island, Odisha. The full range test-flight of the missile further boosted the
indigenous missile capabilities and deterrence level of the country. All the Radars, tracking systems and
Range Stations tracked and monitored the flight performance and all the Mission objectives were
successfully met. This was the 4th test of Agni-V missile and the second one from a Canister on a Road
Mobile Launcher.
2. Medium Altitude Long Endurance UAV 'Rustom-II':
Rustom-II, a multi-mission Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) is being developed to carry out the
intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR) roles for the three Armed Forces with an endurance
of 24 hours. DRDO also successfully carried out the maiden flight of Rustom-II from Aeronautical Test
Range (ATR), Chitradurga.

E
3. Surface-to-Air Missile 'Akash' :
The medium range surface-to-air missile 'Akash' has been developed and inducted into IAF and Indian

OR
Army. During the year, Akash Army version, user exercise was carried out. The total production orders
placed by Services for eight squadrons of IAF and two regiments of Indian Army for Anti-Missile
System. Indigenous development of the system has given impetus to the Defence industrial base in the
country.
4. Anti-Tank Missile 'PROSPINA':
SC
'Nag' is a third generation anti-tank missile (ATM) with 'Fire & Forget' and 'Top Attack' capabilities,
which can be used in day and night. It is deployed on a specially modified Infantry Combat Vehicle
(ICV) BMP-2 vehicle 'NAMICA'. During the year, guided flight tests of 'Nag' were carried out with the
objective of demonstrating range capabilities of IIR Seeker during worst time of the day in summer
environment.
GS

Besides, To strengthen bilateral ties, exercises such as 'Exercise shakti-2016 between India and France',
'Exercise MALABAR-2016 between India-Us-Japan', 'Exercise Iron Fist-2016' were held.

Military Exercises
S.No Military Exercises Nation
1. Exercise Shakti India-France
2. Exercise Surya Kiran India-Nepal
3. Exercise Garuda Shakti India-Indonesia
4. Exercise Force -18' 300 foreign participants and observers from ASEAN Plus countries
participated exercise on 'Humanitarian Mine Action and Peacekeeping
Operations'
5. Exercise Maitree' India-Thailand
6. Exercise Yudh Abhyas' India-USA
7. PrabalDostyk India -Kazakhstan
8. Exercise Indra India-Russia
9. Hand-in-Hand India-China

www.iasscore.in
51