CSB IAS ACADEMY

CSB IAS ACADEMY

PIB
FEBRUARY-15

1. Eklavya model Residential school : In the context of establishing quality residential schools for
the promotion of education, Eklavya Model Residential Schools (EMRSs) for ST students are set up in
States / UTs with provisioning of funds through “Grants under Article 275(1) of the Constitution”. The
establishing of EMRSs are based on demand of the concerned States/UTs with availability of land as an
essential attribute.

As per the budget 2018-19, every block with more than 50% ST population and at least 20,000
tribal persons, will have an Eklavya Model Residential School by the year 2022.

 The objective of EMRS is to provide quality middle and high level education to Scheduled Tribe
(ST) students in remote areas, not only to enable them to avail of reservation in high and
professional educational courses and as jobs in government and public and private sectors but
also to have access to the best opportunities in education at par with the non ST population.
 The scheme is being implemented by the Ministry of Tribal Affairs, Government of India.

2. PM has laid the Foundation stone of Sulwade Jamphal Kanoli Lift Irrigation Scheme. This scheme
envisages lifting 9.24 TMC of flood water from river Tapi in 124 days of monsoon season. It is proposed
to irrigate 33367 hectares area of about 100 villages of Dhule district.

Note: Tapi river is one of the major rivers in India. The total length of the Tapi river is approximately
around 724 km. It flows in the central part of India. The river originates from the Betul district of
Madhya Pradesh in the Satpura range at an elevation of 752 meter above the sea level. The states
through which the Tapi river flows include Maharashtra, Gujrat and Madhya Pradesh. Apart from the
Narmada river and Mahi River, Tapi also flows in the westward direction and merges into the Arabian
Sea.
 Vaki, the Gomai, the Arunavati and the Aner etc.., are some of the tributaries.

3. Foundation stone of Dhule City Water Supply Scheme under AMRUT will be laid by PM. It will
ensurewater availability to boost industrial and commercial growth.

NOTE :
AMRUT –Atal Mission for Rejuvenation and Urban Transformation (AMRUT) is to

I. ensure that every household has access to a tap with assured supply of water and a
sewerage connection;
II. increase the amenity value of cities by developing greenery and well maintained open
spaces (e.g. parks); and
III. reduce pollution by switching to public transport or constructing facilities for non-
motorized transport (e.g. walking and cycling).

All these outcomes are valued by citizens, particularly women, and indicators and standards
have been prescribed by the Ministry of Urban Development (MoUD) in the form of Service Level
Benchmarks (SLBs)

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 Providing basic services (e.g. water supply, sewerage, urban transport) to households and build
amenities in cities which will improve the quality of life for all, especially the poor and the
disadvantaged is a national priority

4. Shri Sushil Chandra has assumed charge as the new Election Commissioner
(EC) of India on 15th of February 2019 and joins the Commission with Chief
Election Commissioner Shri Sunil Arora and Election Commissioner Shri Ashok
Lavasa.

NOTE: The Election Commission of India is an autonomous constitutional authority Under Article 324
of Indian Constitution responsible for administering Union and State election processes in India. The
body administers elections to the Lok Sabha, Rajya Sabha, State Legislative Assemblies in India, and the
offices of the President and Vice President in the country.

 The Election Commission of India is an independent Constitutional Authority since 25th

January, 1950. The Constitution provides for Chief Election Commissioner and one or more
Election Commissioners to be appointed. The Commission consisted of Chief Election
Commissioner till 1989, when for the first time two Election Commissioners were appointed.
Currently, the Commission has a Chief Election Commissioner and two Commissioners. Chief
Election Commissioner and the Election Commissioners enjoy the status of a Judge of the
Supreme Court of India. The Chief Election Commissioner can be removed from office only by
Parliamentary impeachment.
 The country has been divided into 543 Parliamentary Constituencies, each of which returns one
MP to the Lok Sabha, the lower house of the Parliament. The Federal Democratic Republic of
India has thirty six constituent units. All the twenty nine States and two of the seven Union
Territories have their own assemblies - Vidhan Sabhas. The thirty one Assemblies have 4120
Constituencies.

THE PARLIAMENT
Rajya Sabha Not more than 250 members (243 at present); 12 members are nominated by the
President under Article 80 of the Constitution
Lok Sabha 543 members plus 2 members of the Anglo-Indian community, nominated by the
President under Article 331 of the Constitution

POLITICAL PARTIES
Political Parties Total Participated in
2014 polls
National Parties 6 6
State Recognised Parties 47 39
Registered Unrecognised Parties 1593 419
Total No. of Political Parties 1646 464
Total No. of Candidates 8251

National parties include BJP, BSP,CPI , CPI(M), INC , NCP.

IT INITIATIVES FOR BETTER ELECTIONS:

ERMS:The ERMS (Electoral Roll Management System) will cover the entire process of Electoral Roll
preparation for the state from Electoral Roll Revision data management to final Electoral Roll
publishing.
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MATDATA (VOTER):Matdata App was used for Voters’ facilitation. Any citizen can search details of
enrollment in Electoral Roll through EPIC Number or through Name by downloading the app on his
mobile. He/She can also locate his/her Polling Station on Google Map.

 Matdaan App was used for Poll Day Monitoring like Poll events, reaching of Polling Parties
reached, PS Image, Votes Cast, Voters’ Images etc.
 SAMADHAN ( Redressal) : This application provided the people / political party to lodge their
complaints on the common platform for all complaints received from all sources.
 SUVIDHA (CONVENIENCE):As part of election campaign, the political parties and candidates are
required to obtain permissions for meetings, rallies, vehicles, loudspeakers, temporary party
office, helipad and helicopter landing etc.
 USE OF WEBCASTING AT POLLING STATIONS etc..,

5. Niryat Bandhu scheme : “Niryat Bandhu @ Your Desktop” an online certificate programme in
export import business under the Niryat Bandhu Scheme of the Directorate General of Foreign Trade
(DGFT), Department of Commerce.

 The objective of the Niryat Bandhu Scheme is to reach out to the new and potential exporters
and mentor them through orientation programmes, counselling sessions, individual facilitation,
etc., for being able to get into international trade and boost exports from India.

6. The Swachhta Pakhwada and pledge aims at

fulfilling Mahatma Gandhi’s dream of an India which is
not only free but also clean and developed.

The Pakhwada is being organized to create awareness

amongst officials as well as the general public on the
importance of the need for sustained maintenance of
cleanliness and hygiene. It is in support of the larger
effort of the Government of India and the States to
bring about behavioural change in the public towards
eradication of unhygienic practices related to personal
and environmental hygiene.

7. The President of India will present the Tagore Award for Cultural Harmony to Shri Rajkumar
Singhajit Singh; Chhayanaut (a cultural organization of Bangladesh); and Shri Ram Sutar Vanji for the
years 2014, 2015 & 2016 respectively on 18.02.2019 at Pravasi Bhartiya Kendra, New Delhi.

 Tagore Award for Cultural Harmony was instituted by the Government of India from
2012 recognizing the contributions made by Gurudev Rabindranath Tagore to humanity at large
with his works and ideas, as part of the Commemoration of his 150th Birth Anniversary in 2012,
for promoting values of Cultural Harmony.
 It is awarded annually and carries an amount of Rs. One Crore (convertible to foreign currency),
a citation in a Scroll, a Plaque as well as an exquisite traditional handicraft / handloom item.
The Award may be divided between two persons / institutions who are considered by the Jury
to be equally deserving of recognition in a given year.

8. Shimla’s water Crisis: The Government of India, Government of Himachal Pradesh (GoHP) and
the World Bank signed here today a $40 Million Loan Agreement to help bring clean and reliable
drinking water to the citizens of the Greater Shimla area, who have been facing severe water shortages
and water-borne epidemics over the last few years.

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 The Bank-supported Project, the first in a series of three development policy loans (DPL), will
support the GoHP’s program of policy and institutional reform needed to bring continuous,
pressurized (24x7) water supply, efficient sewage collection and treatment for all households in
the Greater Shimla Area.
 The World Bank DPL will support SJPNL( Shimla Jal Prabandhan Nigam ltd.) in its policy and
institutional reform program as it launches three critical operations to improve WSS services in
the state capital: (i) Bringing bulk water to Shimla from a new source on the Sutlej River; (ii)
24x7 Water Supply and Sewage Management for Shimla City and; (iii) Sewage services for peri-
urban areas. It will also support capacity building for the Shimla Municipal Corporation to take
on its new role of oversight.
 The State has also decided to strengthen the financial sustainability of WSS operations in Shimla
where only 12 percent of the costs needed to operate and maintain the WSS system are
recovered from customers, requiring the Government to provide an average annual subsidy of
over US$12 million.

Why?
Capacity of water sources:
 The town that is facing acute water crisis gets it water
supply from five major water sources -- Gumma, Giri,
Ashwini Khad, Churta and Seog
 The overall installed capacity of all these combined is
65 million litres per day (MLD) and the demand is of
around 45 MLD
 Despite the capacity being higher, the city only gets up
to 35 MLD on an average throughout the year
 Most of the water leaks out during pumping and
distribution

The Ashwani Khad water supply scheme was closed in Shimla after an outbreak of jaundice due to
contaminated water in 2015, and a proper system needs to be installed if it is to be used in these times
of water crisis.

Current water drawn:

 As of now, only around 18.5 MLD in Shimla is being
drawn out by Municipal Corporation of the state from
all sources combined
 It is this water that is required to be distributed to
water crisis-hit residents and commercial
establishments within the municipal limits of the town,
the court observed yesterday -- according to agency
reports
 A mineral water wholesale trader, Jasvir Singh told
ANI that the demand for bottled water has increased
by 50 to 60 per cent due to water scarcity in the
capital.

3 main reasons behind Shimla's acute water crisis

1. Shimla's tourist footfall

The increasing number of tourists visiting the foothills is adding to the problem.
 15,000-20,000 tourists visit the Himalayan city every day during the peak tourist season
 The resident population of the city is 2.2 lakh, while tourist arrivals over the weekend reach
25,000-30,000
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2. Climate change in Shimla
Climate plays a big role in this water crisis; climate change and its impacts are profound on the hilly
city's water supply system.
 Rare and scanty rainfall this season was -- on an average -- 80 per cent deficient than the usual
during previous monsoon months
 There was also much lower-than-usual precipitation during the winter months, making them
dry
 The sources of water have gone 50 per cent below the average
 The less retention of water through the natural water eco-system, and more flooding in Shimla
has led to residual water that cannot be harvested

3. Building plan in Shimla

The overall building plan in the city is a matter of concern for the water crisis, as noted by The Tribune.
 More embankments are required to restrict the flow of surface water so that it percolates and
recharges numerous water bodies
 But, the kind of infrastructure that is in place for drains and houses is such that water gushes
fast and is hardly retained
 Catchment areas need to be created around water bodies to promote natural recharging

 World Bank-funded Kol Dam project would provide 65 MLD water which is sufficient to meet
the needs of the town till 2050 by lifting off water from Satluj River, but the project is still under
progress.

9. Moving a step ahead towards ensuring optimum use of

National Waterways, the Inland Waterways Authority of
India (IWAI) launched a new portal LADIS – Least Available
Depth Information System here today.

 LADIS will ensure that real-time data on least available depths is disseminated for ship/barge
and cargo owners so that they can undertake transportation on NWs in a more planned way. An
assured depth of waterway is required for seamless movement of vessels. If real time
information is made available regarding LADs in stretches of various NWs, it will help
transporters by guiding them on the suitability of time of movement.
 Initially LAD information will be available for NW-1, NW-2, Indo-Bagladesh Protocol route and
NW-3, along with the date of survey. The facility will be expanded to other NWs also.

NOTE :
 NW-1 - Ganga-Bhagirathi-Hooghly river system from Allahabad to Haldia was declared as
National Waterway No.1 . The waterway extends from Haldia to Allahabad for a distance of
1620 kms.
 NW-2 -Brahmaputra from Dhubri to Sadiyawas declared as National Waterway no. 2 , From
Dhubri to Sadiya, the waterway extends for a distance of 891Km.
 NW-3 -The West Coast Canal from Kottapuram to Kollam was declared as National Waterway
No.3 , From Kottapuram to Kollam including Champakara and Udyogmandal canals has a
navigable length of 205 kms.
 INDO-BANGLADESH PROTOCOL ROUTE -The two countries had agreed on the extension of
Protocol on Inland Water Transit and Trade (PIWTT), which was signed in 1972.

 The National Waterway one (NW -1) will connect the North East through Indo-Bangla
protocol route. It will reduce the distance from about 1,700 km via Siliguri in north Bengal to
about 500 km via Bangladesh.

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 The route will also open up opportunity for Bangladesh trade through Haldia port and lessen
congestion at Chittagong port in Bangladesh.In the protocol route, Rs 3,500 crore dredging
project has been undertaken and the cost will be shared at 80:20 between India and Bangladesh.
 In the protocol route, dredging would be required mainly in some stretches under Sirajganj to
Doikhawa route on Brahmaputra-Jamuna river in Bangladesh and also under Ashuganj to
Karimganj to improve the navigability, Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Authority’s Director
(Marine safety and Traffic management) Md Shafiqul Haque had said earlier.
 India is developing the NW-1 under the Jal Marg Vikas Project with assistance from the World
Bank. The estimated project cost has been revised upward to Rs 5,369 crore from the initial
estimation of Rs 4,200 crore.

10. The e-Tourist Visa which was introduced in September 2014 with 46 countries has now been
made applicable for 166 countries. Recently, government has made series of amendments in e-visa
regime, liberalizing it further and making it more tourist friendly. The Ministry of Tourism has been
working very closely with Ministry of Home Affairs for easing of the Visa Regime in the country over a
period of time.

Comparative Statement showing recent Changes made by the Government in e-visa (e-Tourist
visa and e-Business visa) matters is also enclosed as under:

S. No Particulars of Previous Status Revised Status

Visa Issues
1. Duration of e- For a maximum period of 60 days Duration of stay in India of e-Tourist and
Visa with double entry for e-Tourist e-Business visa is maximum upto 1 year
and e-Business Visa with multiple entry subject to the stay
stipulations and registrations applicable
for normal Tourist and Business Visas.

2. Duration of Maximum upto 60 days e-Tourist visa

Stay per visit 90 Days per visit
1. On e-Tourist Visa continuous stay
during each visit shall not exceed 90
days in case of nationals of all countries
who are eligible for grant of e-visa except
nationals of USA, UK, Canada and Japan.
2. In case of nationals of USA, UK, Canada
and Japan continuous stay during each
visit shall not exceed 180 days.
e-Business visa
1. On e-Business visa continuous stay
during each visit shall not exceed 180
days in case of nationals of all countries
who are eligible for grant of e-visa.
2. No registration (with FRRO/FRO
concerned) will be required if the stay if
for a period of less than 180 days.
3. Number of Double entry allowed to e-Tourist Multiple entry allowed
Entry and e-Business Visa

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4. Number of 3 Times in a calendar year Multiple times

times visa
issued in a year
5. E-visa entry 26 airports 2 more airports (Port Blare and
airports Bhubaneshwar) added raising the total e-
visa entry airports to 28.
6. Kind of e-visa Five sub- categories: Demand for issuing Destination Wedding
categories e-tourist, Visa not accepted - To be granted under
e-Business normal Tourist/e-tourist visa
e-Medical visa
e-Conference
e-Medical Attendant
7. Conversion of Conversion of visa category Foreign nationals who fall sick during
Visa Category needed their stay in India can now avail medical
for Medical treatment without converting their visa
Treatment in into Medical Visa. This would take care of
India sudden medical emergencies.
8. Visa-on-Arrival Earlier, it was available to the Visa-on-Arrival facility extended to the
nationals of Japan nationals of Republic of Korea.

11. The Government has launched Nirmal Ganga Sahbhagita, an initiative to assist the Urban Local
Bodies (ULBs) and Executing Agencies located on the banks of the river Ganga for achieving the
objective of Clean Ganga. The initiative aims at sensitizing the ULBs about the pollution in river Ganga
arising primarily due to dumping of solid waste in the river/nallas and to involve them in a long term
engagement in stoppage of the solid waste flow from nallas/drains to the river. Apart from this, ULBs
can perform certain activities for achieving the shared objective of rejuvenating the river Ganga. The
initiative is an ongoing process and is not in the nature of a project.

 In another important step towards Nirmal Ganga, Prime Minister will lay the foundation stone
for sewerage infrastructure at four towns in Bihar including Karmalichak (Patna), Barh,
Sultanganj and Nauguchia.
 PM will also dedicate to people the Patna River Front that includes 16 ghats, 1 crematorium, 4.9
km promenade, community-cum-cultural centre, audio-visual theatre and eco centre build at a
cost of Rs. 243.27 crore.

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