To achieve the targets of Bharat Nirman, 1,46,185 kms. of road length is proposed to be constructed by 2009. This will benefit 66,802 unconnected eligible habitations in the country. To ensure full farm to market connectivity, it is also proposed to upgrade 1,94,132 kms. of the existing Associated Through Routes. A sum of approximately Rs. 48,000 crore is proposed to be invested to achieve this.

To upgrade rural infrastructure, the Government of India has conceived a time-bound business plan under Bharat Nirman. It is a flagship programme for the country. A commitment of over Rs. 1,74,000 crores has been made to Bharat Nirman with the objective of unleashing the growth potential of our villages. As part of the programme, Government of India intends that by end of financial year 2008 – 2009, every village of over 1000 population, or over 500 in hilly and tribal areas, has an all-weather road.

To achieve the targets of Bharat Nirman, 1,46,185 kms. of road length is proposed to be constructed by 2009. This will benefit 66,802 unconnected eligible habitations in the country. To ensure full farm to market connectivity, it is also proposed to upgrade 1,94,132 kms. of the existing Associated Through Routes. A sum of approximately Rs. 48,000 crore is proposed to be invested to achieve this.

Ministry of Power launched Rajiv Gandhi Grameen Vidyutikaran Yojana (RGGVY) as one of its flagship programme in March 2005 with the objective of electrifying over one lakh un-electrified villages and to provide free electricity connections to 2.34 Crore rural BPL households. This programme has been brought under the ambit of Bharat Nirman.

Ministry of Power launched Rajiv Gandhi Grameen Vidyutikaran Yojana (RGGVY) as one of its flagship programme in March 2005 with the objective of electrifying over one lakh un-electrified villages and to provide free electricity connections to 2.34 Crore rural BPL households. This programme has been brought under the ambit of Bharat Nirman.

Under RGGVY, electricity distribution infrastructure is envisaged to establish Rural Electricity Distribution Backbone (REDB) with at least a 33/11KV sub-station in a block, Village Electrification Infrastructure (VEI) with at least a Distribution Transformer in a village or hamlet, and standalone grids with generation where grid supply is not feasible.

Subsidy towards capital expenditure to the tune of 90% is being provided, through Rural Electrification Corporation Limited (REC), which is a nodal agency for implementation of the scheme. Electrification of un-electrified Below Poverty Line (BPL) households is being financed with 100% capital subsidy @ Rs.2200/- per connection in all rural habitations.

Rural Electrification Corporation is the nodal agency for implementation of the scheme. The services of Central Public Sector Undertakings (CPSU) are available to the States for assisting them in the execution of Rural Electrification projects. The Management of Rural Distribution is mandated through franchisees.

So far, Ministry of Power has sanctioned 578 projects for 546 districts to electrify 1,10,416 villages and to provide free electricity connections to 2.30 Crore BPL rural households. As on 31st December, 2011, works in 1,00,917 villages have been completed and 179.41 lakh free electricity connections have been released to BPL households. The revised Bharat Nirman target for RGGVY is to electrify 1 lakh villages and to provide free electricity connections to 175 lakh BPL households by March 2012.

Under Bharat Nirman it is planned to restore and utilize irrigation potential of 10 lakh hectare through implementation of extension, renovation and modernization of schemes alongwith command area development and water management practices.

Under the Irrigation Component of Bharat Nirman, the target of creation of additional irrigation potential of 1 crore hectare in 4 years (2005-06 to 2008-09) is planned to be met largely through expeditious completion of identified ongoing major and medium irrigation projects. Irrigation potential of 42 lakh hectare is planned to be created by expeditiously completing such ongoing major and medium projects.

There is a definite gap between irrigation potential created and the potential utilized. Under Bharat Nirman it is planned to restore and utilize irrigation potential of 10 lakh hectare through implementation of extension, renovation and modernization of schemes alongwith command area development and water management practices.

There are considerable areas in the country with unutilized ground water resources. Irrigation potential of 28 lakh hectare is planned to be created through ground water development.

The remaining target for creation of irrigation potential of 10 lakh hectare is planned to be created by way of minor irrigation schemes using surface flow.

10 lakh hectare of irrigation potential is also planned by way of repair, renovation and restoration of water bodies and extension, renovation and modernization of minor irrigation schemes.

The 2001 Census places the rural housing shortage figure in India at 148 lakhs . The Bharat Nirman Programme has recognised and accorded due priority to the need to end shelterlessness and it is envisaged to construct 60 lakh houses over the next four years across the country, starting from 2005-06.

Housing constitutes a very basic requirement for human survival. It assumes great significance for the rural poor in that it lays the foundation for a life of dignity for them by dispelling the gloom of shelterlessness and conferring a distinct, secure identity. Addressing housing shortage is thus an important strategy of poverty alleviation in India. The 2001 Census places the rural housing shortage figure in India at 148 lakhs . The Bharat Nirman Programme has recognised and accorded due priority to the need to end shelterlessness and it is envisaged to construct 60 lakh houses over the next four years across the country, starting from 2005-06.

The rural housing programme is implemented by the Ministry of Rural Development through the Indira Awaas Yojana scheme, which is a centrally sponsored scheme where the cost is shared between the Centre and the States on a 75:25 basis. The criteria adopted for allocation of financial resources between the States/UTs gives greater emphasis to the states with higher incidence of shelterlessness. 75% weightage is given to housing shortage and 25% weightage to the poverty ratios prescribed by the Planning Commission for State-level allocations. For district-level allocations, 75 % weightage is given again to housing shortage and 25 % to SC/ST component of the population. Grant assistance is provided to the extent of Rs. 25,000 per house for normal areas and Rs. 27,500 for hilly areas. Funds are released to the DRDAs in two installments.

The implementation guidelines of the scheme specifically target the rural below poverty line (BPL) households. The selection of beneficiaries is done by the respective Gram Sabha from the BPL list and no higher approval is required. The guidelines also clearly specify that the house allotment should be in the name of the female member of the family as a first priority. While seeking to empower the rural women, the scheme also provides a quota for physically & mentally challenged persons, ex-servicemen, widows and freed bonded labourers. An important requirement in the implementation is that at least 60% of the beneficiaries should belong to the SC/ST communities. The objective of alleviating the lot of the underprivileged members of society is built into the scheme guidelines. The IAY scheme also lays emphasis on individual sanitation and health by incorporating the cost of a sanitary latrine and smokeless chulha into the grant.

Various state governments have responded to the housing programme by placing it at the top end of their development priorities, thereby imparting great vigour to the implementation process. While the implementation lies with the DRDAs, the houses are constructed by the individual beneficiaries themselves, with absolute freedom of choice over the design. The scheme is closely monitored by an extensive network at the district, state and national level to ensure right selection and effectiveness in the implementation mechanism

Bharat Nirman, a programme to build rural infrastructure, was launched by the Government of India in 2005. Phase I of the programme was implemented in the period 2005-06 to 2008-09. Phase II is being implemented from 2009-10 to 2011-12.

Bharat Nirman, a programme to build rural infrastructure, was launched by the Government
of India in 2005. Phase I of the programme was implemented in the period 2005-06 to 2008-09.
Phase II is being implemented from 2009-10 to 2011-12. Rural drinking water is one of the six
components of Bharat Nirman. During the Bharat Nirman Phase – I period, 55,067 un-covered and
about 3.31 lakh slipped-back habitations were to be covered with provisions of drinking water
facilities and 2.17 lakh quality-affected habitations were to be addressed for water quality problem.
While prioritizing the addressal of the water quality problem, arsenic and fluoride affected
habitations have been accorded priority followed by iron, salinity, nitrate and other contaminants.
To ensure that habitations once provided with drinking water supply infrastructure do not slip back
and face drinking water problem, sustainability of drinking water sources and systems has been
accorded high priority. To achieve drinking water security at village/ habitation level, conjunctive
use of water i.e. judicious use of rainwater, surface water and ground water is promoted.
To enable the rural community to shoulder responsibility in management, operation and
maintenance of water supply systems at village level, decentralized, demand-driven,
community-managed approach has been adopted. To further strengthen community participation in
the drinking water sector the National Rural Drinking Water Quality Monitoring & Surveillance
programme was launched in February, 2006 under which 5 persons in each Gram Panchayat are to
be trained to carry out regular surveillance of drinking water sources for which 100% financial
assistance including water testing kits, are provided.
Physical Progress:
i) Uncovered habitations: Against 55,067 un-covered habitations to be covered during the
Bharat Nirman period, 54,440 habitations have been covered during Phase-I. During 2009-10, 251
habitations out of 586 targetted habitations were covered . In 2010-11, all the 376 targetted
habitations have been covered. This coverage includes 25 uninhabited/ unpopulated habitations in
Rajasthan and 2 disputed habitations in Uttarakhand. The coverage of 10 habitations in
Lakshadweep is being verified. It is being counted as covered. Thus, no uncovered habitation is left
to be covered. The strategy adopted under the National Rural Drinking Water Programme to ensure
that the rural population gets atleast 40 lpcd (and additional 30 lpcd for cattle in DDP areas) of
potable water from sources lying within the village or nearby.
ii) Quality-affected habitations: More than 85% of the sources in rural drinking water supply
schemes are ground-water based. Under the NRDWP, chemical contaminants which are sought to be
tackled are excess arsenic, fluoride, iron, salinity and nitrate. Except for nitrate, all others occur
naturally. Nitrate occurs in drinking water due to leaching of chemical fertilizers and sewerage. The
strategy of the Department is to prioritize addressing the problems of arsenic and fluoride in
drinking water through alternative surface water sources. The treatment technologies that are
available for removal of excess arsenic and fluoride are still not foolproof in respect of reject
management and operation & maintenance issues. Though a target of 2.17 lakh quality affected
habitations was identified at the beginning of Bharat Nirman, the States submitted an action plan for
covering only 1,95,813 such habitations. As on 1.04.2006, there were 7,067 habitations reported to
be afflicted with arsenic and 29,070 habitations with fluoride contamination. Priority has been given
to address the problems in these habitations. It must be admitted however, that due to expansion of
testing, more areas are getting identified as having problems of quality.
At the beginning of Bharat Nirman period there were 1,04,437 rural habitations affected with
excess iron in drinking water sources. The focus of the Department is to tackle excess iron problem
through aeration based technology or low-cost terra-cotta based filtration technique. States such as
Karnataka and Orissa have already taken up the challenge of tackling this contamination through
low-cost terracotta based filtration technology.
In respect of salinity, 12,425 habitations were having a problem at the beginning of Bharat
Nirman period. Although there are a number of technologies like distillation, ion-exchange,
reversible osmosis , electro-dialysis etc., these being expensive solutions the focus of the Department
is to tackle this problem through dilution of groundwater through artificial recharge of groundwater.
The strategy of the Department to tackle excess nitrate is by improving sanitary conditions.
At the beginning of Bharat Nirman period, 19,387 habitations were afflicted with excess nitrate.
As reported by the States, 3,10,698 quality affected habitations were addressed by sanctioned
projects and of these 50,168 habitations have been fully covered with completed projects to provide
safe water supply during Phase-I. As on 1.4.2009 at the beginning of Bharat Nirman phase-II states
reported that 1,79,999 quality affected habitations were remaining to be covered. Of these during
2009-10, 32,129 and during 2010-11 , 27,107 habitations have been reported as covered.During
2011-12, 10,627 habitations have been reported as covered so far against the 8000 outcome budget
target upto the third quarter. Thus, in all during Bharat Nirman phase-I and II, 1,20,031 quality
affected habitations have been fully covered with completed schemes.

SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY: विशेष आर्थिक जोन

SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY: विशेष आर्थिक जोन: वर्ष 2005 में भारत सरकार के वाणिज्य मंत्रालय ने अंतरराष्ट्रीय स्तर पर प्रतिस्पर्धात्मक वातावरण उपलब्ध कराने तथा निर्यात के लिए बाधा मुक्त वा...

National Knowledge Network

The Government's decision to set up National Knowledge Network was announced in the Budget Speech, 2008-09. An initial amount of Rs. 100 crore for FY 2008-09 was allocated to the Department for establishing the National Knowledge Network. A High Level Committee (HLC) was set up under the Chairmanship of Principal Scientific Adviser to the Government of India to coordinate and monitor the establishment of the National Knowledge Network.
On 25th March 2010 the Government approved the establishment of the National Knowledge Network (NKN) at an outlay of Rs.5990 crore, to be implemented by National Informatics Centre (NIC) over a period of 10 years.

The objective of the National Knowledge Network is to bring together all the stakeholders in Science, Technology, Higher Education, Research & Development and Governance.

Network will consist of an ultra-high speed Core (multiples of 10Gbps and upwards), and over 1500 nodes. It is scalable to higher speed and more nodes also. The Core shall be complemented with a distribution layer at appropriate speeds. The participating institutions can directly or through distribution layer connect to the National Knowledge Network at speeds of 100 Mbps /1 Gbps.
The application areas envisaged under the National Knowledge Network cover
Agriculture
Education
Health
e-governance
Grid Computing (High Performance Computing)

Food production at the end of the 11th Plan will exceed 250 million tonnes, an all time record. Our pulse production, at 18 million tonnes, is well about the previous barrier of 15 million tonnes.

Flagship programme Bharat Nirman has focussed on increasing investment in rural roads, rural electrification, irrigation, rural housing and rural communications. Over the past seven years we have engineered a shift in the terms of trade in favour of agriculture by raising significantly support and procurement prices. We financed a massive debt write off for indebted farmers of our country. We launched the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Programme which is both a safety net for the poor and also a powerful instrument for undertaking works that will enhance land productivity. We launched the Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana and the Rainfed Areas Development Programme.

These policies have begun to pay off. We have reached new plateaus in foodgrain production. Food production at the end of the 11th Plan will exceed 250 million tonnes, an all time record. Our pulse production, at 18 million tonnes, is well about the previous barrier of 15 million tonnes. We are producing today more milk, more fruits, more vegetables, more sugarcane, more oilseeds and more cotton than ever before. Last year production of vegetables went up by 9.57% and nearly 2 million tonnes of cold storage capacity was created.


It now looks as if agricultural growth is likely to be about 3.5% per annum during the 11th Five Year Plan which is much better than in the 10th Five Year Plan. This is a commendable achievement but we must improve upon it in the Twelfth Plan to reach 4 percent growth or even higher. This will call for very determined effort on the part of both the central government and the state governments ranging over many areas including investment in irrigation, investment in watershed management, provision of credit, provision of marketing support etc. One of the key elements in that effort must be the contribution of agricultural research and I would like to use this opportunity to focus on this area.

A gap between the yield per hectare that is observed in the field and the yields that can be achieved under ideal farming conditions. That difference is quite substantial at present and it represents the failure of the system to exploit the yield potential which our scientists have given us. In the short run it is the job of the administration to close this gap and our agricultural strategy must give high priority to this effort. This is not the job of research scientists but it does involve close collaboration between our scientific and technical manpower and the administration on the ground. We must do better in this area than we have done thus far.


The Krishi Vigyan Kendras which now cover virtually the entirelength and breadth of the country and Agricultural Technology Management Agencies (ATMA) have to play a major role in this process of revitalization and transformation of extension network.

The National Agricultural Research System needs to be further strengthened to meet the challenges of the years ahead. One requirement of this is the adequacy of financial resources. Our Government is committed to raising R&D spending as a whole to at least 2% of the GDP by the end of the XII Plan from the current level of about 1%. Given the importance that agriculture has in achieving our national goals, we have to ensure that a significant proportion of increased R&D spending is directed to agriculture and related activities.

the public sector needs to take the lead we also need much greater private sector investment and involvement in agriculture, particularly in R&D. Indeed, it is unlikely that the goal of 2% of GDP in research can be achieved unless a significant part of this is financed by the private sector. Further, greater integration of the agricultural, industrial and Science and Technology sectors of our economy alone can yield large productivity gains based on new innovations and technologies.
Special attention needs to be paid to the role of women in the farm sector. Women have historically been the source of much traditional knowledge. Thus special efforts have to be made to make the entire R&D chain more gender sensitive and give priority to technological options that reduce the drudgery of women working on the farm.

It is estimated that we would need an addition of nearly 50 million tonnes of food grains in the next 10 years to meet domestic demand. Increased production of foodgrains is certainly an important plank of food security and our efforts to rid the country of the scourge of malnutrition.

But proper nutrition also requires a balanced diet. We would need to produce more fruits & vegetables and protein rich products such as milk, eggs, fish and meat. The demand for these products is expected to grow substantially with rising incomes and changing dietary habits and preferences. Therefore we have to pursue a multi-pronged strategy which seeks to boost productivity and production through product-specific interventions.

Public expenditure on health has increased from less than 1% of our GDP in 2006-07 to an estimated 1.4% of GDP by the end of the Eleventh Five year Plan. But we will need to work harder and do more if we have to reach our goal of increasing public expenditure on health to at least 2.5% of the GDP.

The National Council on India’s Nutrition Challenges is spearheading our efforts to address the challenge of malnutrition. The Total Sanitation Campaign aims to eradicate the practice of open defecation by 2017. We are moving towards the creation of Public Health Cadres to work for the prevention and the control of disease. It will be our effort to ensure that every village has access to safe drinking water. The Right to Education Act is in place and we have made considerable progress in universalisation of elementary education. However, going forward we have to give proper attention to issues such as bridging social and gender gaps in school enrolment, adult literacy particularly of women and the need to improve learning outcomes.

Reduction of infant and maternal mortality rates and population stabilization are among the core health goals of our national programme, National Rural Health Mission. Some states in the Union have already reached the United Nations’ Millennium Development Goals. This agenda however remains a challenge in many of the other states. We need to, in a mission mode, focus on these states and deploy more human, financial and managerial resources to improve their health status. This was what was done in the last three years under the polio campaign.

As the country enters a demographic and epidemiological transition, we need to focus more attention on non communicable diseases and a wider range of infectious diseases. The task of prevention of trauma through prompt and effective emergency care has also acquired great urgency. About 10% of our mortality is now due to trauma which is claiming many young lives.

The Rashtriya Swasthya Bima Yojana provides insurance cover today to over 2.67 crore poor families. However, two thirds of private healthcare expenditure is on out-patient and diagnostic care and for purchase of medicines. Insurance schemes generally tend to focus on in-patient cares. We therefore need to work towards hassle free and cashless outpatient care in our public hospitals.
Public expenditure on health has increased from less than 1% of our GDP in 2006-07 to an estimated 1.4% of GDP by the end of the Eleventh Five year Plan. But we will need to work harder and do more if we have to reach our goal of increasing public expenditure on health to at least 2.5% of the GDP. Education and health will be the key priorities of the Twelfth Five Year Plan.

Beyond investments, we, therefore need greater capacities for decentralized health care planning and management. This will require greater focus on human resource development as well as on technological innovation and information systems that can support such decentralization. These are the challenges for the future. Building capacities in our 600 odd districts and states of the union is one important area where the sustained support and partnership of all stakeholders will be vital in terms of health outcome.

केंद्रीय निर्गम मूल्य

लक्षित सार्वजनिक वितरण प्रणाली के अधीन वितरण करने के लिए एक-समान केंद्रीय निर्गम मूल्यों पर केंद्रीय पूल से राज्य सरकारों/संघ राज्य क्षेत्र प्रशासनों को गेहूं और चावल जारी किया जाता है। 1.6.1997 से लागू की गई लक्षित सार्वजनिक वितरण प्रणाली के अधीन गेहूं और चावल के केंद्रीय निर्गम मूल्य गरीबी रेखा से नीचे और गरीबी रेखा से ऊपर के परिवारों के लिए अलग-अलग निर्धारित किए जाते हैं। गेहूं और चावल के केंद्रीय निर्गम मूल्यों में राजसहायता दी जाती है और जुलाई, 2000 से गरीबी रेखा से नीचे के परिवारों के लिए इनमें कोई परिवर्तन नहीं किया गया है।

The Ministry of Rural Development launched Annapurna scheme in 2000-01. Indigent senior citizens of 65 years of age or above who are eligible for old age pension under the National Old Age Pension Scheme (NOAPS) but are not getting the pension, are covered. 10 kgs. of foodgrains per person per month are supplied free of cost under the scheme.

The Ministry of Rural Development launched Annapurna scheme in 2000-01. Indigent senior citizens of 65 years of age or above who are eligible for old age pension under the National Old Age Pension Scheme (NOAPS) but are not getting the pension, are covered. 10 kgs. of foodgrains per person per month are supplied free of cost under the scheme.
From 2002-03, it has been transferred to State Plan along with the National Social Assistance Programme comprising the National Old Age Pension Scheme and the National Family Benefit Scheme. The implementation of the Scheme at the State level rests with the respective States / UTs.

The Mid-Day Meal Scheme was launched by the Ministry of Human Resource Development (Department of Education) with effect from 15th August, 1995 for the benefit of students in primary schools under Employment Assurance Scheme (EAS)/earlier Revamped Public Distribution System (RPDS) blocks (2368). The Scheme presently covers students of Class I-VIII in the Government Primary Schools / Upper Primary Schools/ Schools aided by Govt. and the Schools run by local bodies.
The Department of Food & Public Distribution makes allocation of annual requirement of foodgrains under the Scheme to Department of School Education & Literacy, Ministry of Human Resource Development. Further State/UT-wise allocation of foodgrains are made by that Department. Food Corporation of India (FCI) releases foodgrains to States/UTs at BPL rates as per allocation made by Deptt. of School Education & Literacy.

Wheat Based Nutrition Programme (WBNP) is implemented by the Ministry of Women & Child Development. The foodgrains allotted under this Scheme are utilized by the States/UTs under the Integrated Child Development Scheme (ICDS) for providing nutritious/ energy food to children below 6 years of age and expectant /lactating women from disadvantaged sections.


The Ministry of Women and Child Development administers the scheme at the central level and State/UT Governments implement the scheme. The SABLA Scheme has been launched on 19.11.2010 by merging two schemes namely Nutrition Programme and Adolescent Girls (NPAG) and Kishori Shakti Yojana (KSY) in to a single scheme and proposed to be implemented in 200 selected districts across the country. The Scheme aims at empowering adolescent girls of 11-18 years by improvement of their nutritional and health status and upgrading various skills like home skills, life skills and vocational skills. It also aims at equipping the girls on family welfare, health hygiene etc. and information and guidance on existing public services along with aiming to mainstream out of school girls into formal or non-formal education. The requirement of food grains under the scheme for nutrition is @ 100 grams of grains per beneficiary per day for 300 days in a year. During the year 2011-12 provisional allocation of 2.73 lakh tons of food grains comprising 1.57 lakh tons of rice and 1.16 lakh tons of wheat have been made under the scheme.

yojana in hindi

Content Management System

INDIA'S FOREIGN TRADE...

The country’s foreign trade scenario at the end of the final year of the Eleventh Five-Year Plan (2007-12) appears to be well on course, though the wholesome high export growth the country compassed in the first half of the fiscal 20011-12 may not be repeated for the full year. This is because since October, 2011 the pace of double-digit heady export growth has perceptibly slowed down, due to multiple reasons, the most important of which remain the halting recovery in the case of the United States and no growth in the crisis-laden Euro zone since both of them still account for substantial chunk of the country’s exports. Before a detailed analysis of the country’s foreign trade picture is made, it would be appropriate to trace the performance of the export sector particularly in the aftermath of the global financial meltdown in 2008. In fact when every country in the world was hit by one way or percentanother of this world crisis, Indian authorities converted the challenge of the crisis into an opportunity to wean itself away from traditional markets and traditional products to experiment with the boldest policy initiative that it put in place in the five-year Foreign Trade Policy (FTP) for 2009-14.

Countries are looking for opportunities to expand their export markets through free trade agreements. This has gathered momentum over the last two decades. The urgency for improving the economic fortunes of domestic stakeholders, whether producers, consumers or intermediaries, is stronger in the developing world, as their trade liberalisation policies are becoming more and linked with economic growth and poverty reduction strategies – two most important items of their development discourse. As of November 2011, the number of Free Trade Agreements (FTAs) notified under the World Trade Organisation has reached 505. An FTA facilitates enforcement of legally binding commitments made by its member nations, either to sequentially reduce or completely eliminate various types of trade barriers facing each other, but keep those facing non-member nations intact. Thus, FTA members gain an advantage in accessing each other’s markets compared to non-members. The degree of coverage of barriers and traded sectors varies depending on the type of FTA formed. Most basic form is known as preferential trade agreements.


India is the world's largest producer across a range of commodities due to its favourable agro-climatic conditions and rich natural resource base. India is the world’s biggest producer of coconuts, mangoes, bananas, milk and dairy products, cashew nuts, pulses, ginger, turmeric and black pepper. It is also the second largest producer of rice, wheat, sugar, cotton, fruits and vegetables. Being a critical sector of the economy, agriculture does provide direct employment to about 60 percent of working population in the country and also forms the basis of vital industries including the textile, jute, and sugar industries. Agriculture and allied sector contribute about 17 percent to GDP and about 25 percent of India's cumulative exports belong to agricultural products category.Realising the importance of high value food products exports from the country, the government back in 1985 had set up a specialized body - Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA) through an act of parliament which functions under the commerce ministry. In the initial years, the focus was to support the exporters in areas of marketing and packaging and training and identify key thrust areas for exports. Some of the key areas identified were meat, fruits and vegetables, basmati rice, guargum etc.
Indian Handi -craf t sector, one of the largest employment generating sectors in rural and semi-rural India, is passing through a very critical phase for the past four years. Instead of registering any noticeable growth, country’s export has come down from Rs 17,288 crore in 2006-07 to the expected export of Rs 10,533 crores for the year 2010-11. Interestingly, in 2006-07, the sector was projected to cross Rs 30,000 crore by 2010, but today it is lagging behind more than 66 percent from its projected target. Though one of the main reasons for the decline was global meltdown in 2008, experts from the Handicraft sector had not imagined that the situation would turn so worse and would take so long to return to its normal stage. The sector, which generates employment to about 70 lakh poor artisans from rural India, is apparently losing its sheen in the craftsInternational market. It is still struggling to come out of the 2008 global meltdown that has virtually reduced its export revenue to half. In 2006-07 when country’s handicraft export was at its peak (Rs 17,288 crore), government had projected the handicraft sector would touch Rs 30,000 crore in next four years. Today forget the projections, the sector has not been able to meet its 2006-07 export records.

Liberalization of economy has opened new outlook for the development of FDI in the Indian perspective. The introduction of foreign capital by the investors has been successful in bridging over the gap between requirement of retailers and retail sector. The merit is that customers of almost all branded categories appear satisfied with the quality of services made available to them. A paramount priority to the changing expectations of customers and an equivalent tailoring of financing inputs in tune with the changing business environment have awfully been helpful in increasing the market share of the investors. A transcendental priority to creativity while developing the financial resources has considerably helped them in sensitizing the impulse of prospects. The present study highlights the role of FDI in the retail sector in India.Perceptions and policies with regard to the role of foreign capital in the process of industrial and overall growth have changed in India since the beginning of economic planning.

IAS STUDY CIRCLE (TEST EXAMINATION OF INTERNATIONAL CURRENT AFFAIRS)

1]. Consider the following statements :

1).India and ADB in February 2012 Signed the loan agreement to support electricity transmission and distribution capacity in Assam.
2). The objective of the Assam Power Sector Enhancement Investment Programme is to meet increasing demand for electricity in the state, where the large rural population depends mainly on the agriculture and manufacturing sectors for income.
3).The loan has a 20-year term and it includes a five-year grace period with an annual interest rate decided in accordance with ADB`s LIBOR-based lending facility.
which of the statements is/are correct?
a). 1 only b). 2 and 3 only
c). all c). 1 and 2 only

2]. Consider the following statements :

1).Vinod Rai, Comptroller and Auditor General of India is the new chairman of the 45-nation strong Asian Organization of the Institutions of the Accountants General.
2). ASOSAI is the largest regional organisation of the government auditors. India took over the post of chairman from Pakistan.
3). The objective of ASOSAI is to promote understanding and cooperation among member institutions through exchange of ideas and experiences in the sector of public audit.
which of the statements is/are correct?
a). 1 only b). 2 and 3 only
c). all c). 1 and 2 only


3]. Consider the following statements :

1).The Emperor of All Maladies: A Biography of Cancer is written by Siddhartha Mukherjee.
2).The Pulitzer Prize for General Non-Fiction has been awarded since 1962 for a distinguished book of non-fiction by an American author that is eligible for consideration in another category
which of the statements is/are correct?
a). 1 only b). 2 only

c). Both 1 or 2 c). Neither 1 or 2

4]. A report recently stated that bluefin tuna was fished illegally during Libya conflict. Consider the following statements:
i) Bluefin Tuna are dark blue-black on the back, and white on the lower sides and belly.
ii) The scientific name of bluefin tuna is Thunnus thynnus.
Choose the right option:
(1) Both i and ii are correct.

(2) Neither i nor ii is correct.

(3) Only i is correct.

(4) Only ii is correct.
5]. Which Indian city is to host the World Economic Forum's (WEF's) India Economic Summit for the first time in 26 years of the summit's history from 12-14 November 2011?
(1) New Delhi

(2) Mumbai

(3) Ahmedabad

(4) Kolkata

6]. Consider the following statements :

1). Pulitzer Prize is a U.S. award for achievements in newspaper and online journalism, literature and musical composition. It was established by American (Hungarian-born) publisher Joseph Pulitzer in the year 1917.
2).Mariano Rajoy is the Prime Minister of Italy.
3).Michael Daniel Higgins is the ninth and current President of Ireland.
which of the statements is/are correct?
a). 1 only b). 2 and 3 only
c). all d). 1 and 3 only

7]. Consider the following statements :

1).The maiden SALVEX was conducted in 2005 and the SALVEX series of exercises have been conducted annually thereafter alternately in India and Russia Pacific locations.
2). An additional 42 Sukhoi frontline fighters will be provided to India by Russia under an agreement inked between the two sides during Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's visit in Moscow.
3).The Taurus air-to-ground missiles are manufactured by the Germany-based Taurus Systems GmbH, which is a joint venture between MBDA and and Swedish defence major Saab.
which of the statements is/are correct?
a). 1 only b). 2 and 3 only
c). all d). 1 and 2 only

8]. Consider the following statements :

1).MBDA is a missile manufacturing firm based in Italy, Britain, France and Germany.
2). Remotely operated vehicle (ROV) Daksh,is designed and developed by Research and Development Establishment (Engineers) [R&DE (E)], Pune.
3). Russian company Dassault Aviation's Rafale has won the $10.4 billion deal to supply 126 Medium Multi-Role Combat Aircraft (MMRCA) to the Indian Air Force.
which of the statements is/are correct?
a). 1 only b). 2 and 3 only
c). all d). 1 and 2 only

9]. Consider the following statements :

1).Fobos-Grunt was launched in November 2011 from the Baikonur Cosmodrome.
2). An interagency commission investigating the failure of the Phobos-Grunt mission ended its work by the end of January 2012.
3).Fobos-grunt was a joint space craft of China and Russia.
which of the statements is/are correct?
a). 1 only b). 2 and 3 only
c). all d). 1 and 2 only

10]. Consider the following statements :

1).The CTBT has been signed by 182 countries and ratified by 156.
2).Indoneshia is the newest country who ratified the CTBT.
3).The Treaty was negotiated in Geneva by the Conference on Disarmament, was adopted by the General Assembly in 1996, and opened for signature in September 1996.
which of the statements is/are correct?
a). 1 only b). 2 and 3 only
c). all d). 1 and 2 only

11]. Consider the following statements :
1).The first humans to reach the Geographic South Pole were Norwegian Roald Amundsen and his party on December 14, 1911.
2).Antarctica is the sixth-largest continent in area after Asia, Africa, North America,South America and Europe.
3).From March 2 to 3, 2012, a major tornado outbreak occurred over a large section of the Southern United States into the Ohio Valley region.
which of the statements is/are correct?
a). 1 only b). 2 and 3 only
c). all d). 1 and 3 only

12]. Consider the following statements :
1).33 sovereign countries are in community of Latin American and Caribean States.
2).Headquarter of community of Latin American and Caribean States is in Washington.
3).Sebastián Piñera Echenique is the head of CELAC.
which of the statements is/are correct?
a). 1 only b). 2 and 3 only
c). all d). 1 and 2 only

13]. Consider the following statements :

1).English musician Davy Jones, a member of The Monkees, dies at the age of 66.
2).Tokyo Sky Tree is the second tallest structure in the world after Burj Khalifa.
which of the statements is/are correct?
a). 1 only b). 2 only

c). Both 1 or 2 c). Neither 1 or 2

14]. Consider the following statements :

1).what is RQ170?
2).What is VILAYAT-90?

15]. Consider the following statements :

1).A tornado is a violent, dangerous, rotating column of air that is in contact with both the surface of the earth and a cumulonimbus cloud or, in rare cases, the base of a cumulus cloud.
2).The rural development ministry and the Planning Commission have formulated a new policy under Bharat Rural Livelihoods Foundation (BRLF)for Naxal-affected areas.
which of the statements is/are correct?
a). 1 only b). 2 only

c). Both 1 or 2 c). Neither 1 or 2

IAS STUDY CIRCLE (National Current Affairs)

1]सर्वोच्च न्यायालय द्वारा नदी जोड़ो परियोजना के क्रियान्वयन के लिए एक उच्चाधिकार प्राप्त समिति का गठन...

भारत की महत्वपूर्ण नदियों को जोड़ने संबंधी परियोजना के क्रियन्वयन के लिए सर्वोच्च न्यायालय ने एक उच्चाधिकार प्राप्त समिति का गठन किया. सर्वोच्च न्यायालय ने केंद्र और राज्य सरकारों को निर्देश दिया कि नदी जोड़ो परियोजना को समयबद्ध तरीके के साथ लागू किया जाए.

सर्वोच्च न्यायालय के प्रधान न्यायाधीश न्यायमूर्ति एसएच कपाडिया, न्यायमूर्ति ए.के. पटनायक व न्यायमूर्ति स्वतंत्र कुमार की पीठ ने 27 फरवरी 2011 को नदियों को जोड़ने संबंधी परियोजना के निर्णय में स्पष्ट किया कि न्यायालय के लिए संभव नहीं है कि वह परियोजना की संभावनाओं व अन्य तकनीकी पहुलुओं पर निर्णय कर पाए. सर्वोच्च न्यायालय की पीठ के अनुसार यह काम विशेषज्ञों का है, साथ ही यह परियोजना राष्ट्र हित में है, क्योंकि इससे सूखा प्रभावित लोगों को पानी मिलेगा.

इस समिति में जल संसाधन मंत्री, जल संसाधन सचिव, वन एवं पर्यावरण मंत्रालय के सचिव के अलावा चार विशेषज्ञ होंगे. चार विशेषज्ञों में जल संसाधन मंत्रालय, वित्त मंत्रालय, वन एवं पर्यावरण मंत्रालय तथा योजना आयोग से एक-एक विशेषज्ञ नामित किए जाने हैं. समिति में राज्य सरकार की जल एवं सिंचाई विभाग का भी एक प्रतिनिधि होगा और 2 सामाजिक कार्यकर्ता तथा एक सर्वोच्च न्यायालय के वकील रंजीत कुमार सदस्य होंगे.

सर्वोच्च न्यायालय की पीठ के निर्णय के अनुसार गठित समिति नदी जोड़ो परियोजना के क्रियान्वयन की संभावनाओं पर विचार करेगी और उसे लागू करेगी. इस समिति को कम से कम दो माह में एक बैठक जरूर करनी पड़ेगी. किसी सदस्य के अनुपस्थित रहने पर बैठक निरस्त नहीं की जा सकेगी. समिति को साल में दो बार कैबिनेट को रिपोर्ट सौंपनी पड़ेगी. और कैबिनेट उस रिपोर्ट पर जल्दी से जल्दी (अधिकतम 30 दिनों में) निर्णय लेगी.
अक्टूबर 2002 में भारत के तत्कालीन प्रधानमंत्री अटलबिहारी वाजपेयी की सरकार ने सूखे व बाढ़ की समस्या से छुटकारे के लिए भारत की महत्वपूर्ण नदियों को जोड़ने संबंधी परियोजना को लागू करने का प्रस्ताव लाई थी.

2]पीएमईएसी द्वारा वित्त वर्ष 2012-13 में जीडीपी की वृद्धि दर 7.5 से 8 प्रतिशत रहने का अनुमान...

प्रधानमंत्री की आर्थिक सलाहकार परिषद ने वित्त वर्ष 2012-13 में भारत के सकल घरेलू उत्पाद यानी जीडीपी की वृद्धि दर का अनुमान 7.5 से 8 प्रतिशत का लगाया है. प्रधानमंत्री की आर्थिक सलाहकार परिषद (PMEAC: Prime Minister's Economic Advisory Council, पीएमईएसी) ने अर्थव्यवस्था की समीक्षा करते हुए 22 फरवरी 2012 को केंद्र सरकार को राजकोषीय स्थिति मजबूत बनाने के लिए पेट्रोलियम सब्सिडी पर अंकुश लगाने की सलाह दी.
अर्थव्यवस्था की समीक्षा में प्रधानमंत्री की आर्थिक सलाहकार परिषद ने वित्त वर्ष 2011-12 में कृषि क्षेत्र के विकास दर का अनुमान तीन प्रतिशत लगाया. जबकि केंद्रीय सांख्यिकी संगठन के पूर्वानुमानों में कृषि विकास दर 2.5 प्रतिशत रखी गई थी. परिषद के अध्यक्ष डॉ सी रंगराजन के अनुसार वित्त वर्ष 2012-13 में महंगाई की दर भी नीचे बनी रह सकती है. परिषद द्वारा जारी वर्ष 2011-12 की आर्थिक समीक्षा में वित्त वर्ष 2011-12 में राजकोषीय घाटा 4.6 प्रतिशत के बजट अनुमान से अधिक रहने का अनुमान लगाया गया.
प्रधानमंत्री की आर्थिक सलाहकार परिषद ने वित्त वर्ष 2012-13 में महंगाई की दर पांच से छह प्रतिशत के दायरे में रहने का अनुमान लगाया. हालांकि परिषद ने केंद्र सरकार को खाद्य पदार्थों के दाम पर सख्त निगरानी रखे जाने की सलाह दी. सुझाव में परिषद ने बताया कि कृषि उत्पादन बढ़ाने के साथ खाद्यान्नों, फल, सब्जियों और दुग्ध उत्पादों की आसान आपूर्ति के लिए मजबूत आधारभूत ढांचा खड़ा करने पर ध्यान दिया जाना चाहिए. कोयला उत्पादन घटने, लौह अयस्क उत्पादन पर प्रतिबंध व प्राकृतिक गैस उत्पादन में कमी और कच्चे तेल का उत्पादन घटने से खान एवं उत्खनन क्षेत्र में वर्ष 2011-12 के दौरान गिरावट का रुख रहने का अनुमान जारी किया गया.
डॉ सी रंगराजन की अध्यक्षता वाली प्रधानमंत्री की आर्थिक सलाहकार परिषद ने सब्सिडी के क्षेत्र में सुधारों पर सुझाव देते हुए बताया कि डीजल मूल्य को चरणबद्ध ढंग से नियंत्रणमुक्त करने और एलपीजी व केरोसीन के मामले में भी विभिन्न रिपोर्टों में दिए गए सुझाव पर बातचीत आगे बढ़नी चाहिए. साथ ही उर्वरक और पेट्रोलियम सब्सिडी के क्षेत्र में सुधारों पर आगे बढ़ना चाहिए.
प्रधानमंत्री की आर्थिक सलाहकार परिषद (PMEAC: Prime Minister's Economic Advisory Council, पीएमईएसी) ने वित्त वर्ष 2011-12 में 6.9 प्रतिशत जीडीपी विकास दर के अनुमान में वृद्धि करते हुए विकास दर 7.1 प्रतिशत रहने का अनुमान जताया. परिषद ने जुलाई, 2011 में 8.2 प्रतिशत विकास दर का अनुमान लगाया था.
3]भारत में प्रथम बार राष्ट्रीय स्तर पर उपभोक्ता मूल्य सूचकांक जारी, जनवरी में महंगाई दर 7.65 प्रतिशत...

केंद्र सरकार ने भारत में प्रथम बार राष्ट्रीय स्तर पर खुदरा कीमत आधारित महंगाई के आंकड़े 21 फरवरी 2012 को जारी किए. खुदरा कीमत आधारित महंगाई (उपभोक्ता मूल्य सूचकांक, Consumer price inflation, सीपीआइ) के अनुसार जनवरी 2012 में महंगाई दर 7.65 प्रतिशत रही, जबकि थोक मूल्य सूचकांक आधारित महंगाई की दर 6.55 प्रतिशत थी. खुदरा कीमत आधारित महंगाई सांख्यिकी व कार्यक्रम क्रियान्वयन मंत्रालय द्वारा जारी किया गया.
सांख्यिकी व कार्यक्रम क्रियान्वयन मंत्रालय द्वारा भारत के लगभग 600 जिलों के 310 शहरी केंद्रों और 1181 गांवों से विभिन्न उत्पादों की खुदरा कीमतों को जुटाया गया. शहरों के 1114 बाजारों से कीमतें जुटाई गई. इसके आधार पर खुदरा कीमत आधारित महंगाई (उपभोक्ता मूल्य सूचकांक, Consumer price inflation, सीपीआइ) तैयार किया गया.
उपभोक्ता मूल्य सूचकांक के आंकड़ों के अनुसार भारत के गांव में अनाज व दूध शहर से महंगे हैं. साथ ही ग्रामीण जनता मोटे अनाजों के लिए शहरों की तुलना में चार गुना ज्यादा कीमत अदा करती हैं. जनवरी 2012 में ग्रामीण इलाकों में अनाजों की खुदरा कीमतों में 3.44 प्रतिशत की वृद्धि हुई, जबकि शहरों में यह वृद्धि महज 0.79 प्रतिशत की रही. इसी तरह ग्रामीण क्षेत्र में दाल, अंडा, दूध, चीनी, ईंधन वगैरह में महंगाई शहरों के मुकाबले ज्यादा रही. तेल, कपड़े, जूते, सब्जियों में शहरों में ज्यादा महंगाई रही.
खुदरा कीमत आधारित महंगाई (उपभोक्ता मूल्य सूचकांक, Consumer price inflation, सीपीआइ) की दर जनवरी, 2012 में 7.65 प्रतिशत रही. शहरों में सीपीआइ आधारित महंगाई की दर 8.25 और ग्रामीण इलाकों में 7.38 फीसदी रही. जनवरी 2012 में राज्य स्तर पर मेघालय सबसे महंगा राज्य रहा. दूसरे स्थान पर कर्नाटक और तीसरे स्थान पर केरल रहा.
उपभोक्ता मूल्य सूचकांक (Consumer price inflation) बनाम थोक मूल्य सूचकांक (wholesale price inflation): विश्व के अधिकतर देशों में खुदरा मूल्य सूचकांक (उपभोक्ता मूल्य सूचकांक) को ही आधार माना जाता है. भारत में लागू मौजूदा थोक मूल्य सूचकांक में खाद्य उत्पादों का हिस्सा महज 14.3 प्रतिशत है. जबकि, उपभोक्ता मूल्य सूचकांक में इनकी हिस्सेदारी 45 फीसदी से ज्यादा है. साथ ही थोक मूल्य सूचकांक में स्वास्थ्य, शिक्षा जैसे कई सेवा क्षेत्र शामिल नहीं हैं, जबकि इन पर आम जनता काफी खर्च करती है. उपभोक्ता मूल्य सूचकांक में सेवाओं को भी महत्वपूर्ण स्थान दिया गया है.

4]भेल द्वारा मध्य प्रदेश के बीना में भारत का प्रथम अल्ट्रा हाई वोल्टेज ट्रांसफॉर्मर कार्यशील

बिजली और भारी उपकरण बनाने वाली सार्वजनिक क्षेत्र की कंपनी भारत हेवी इलेक्ट्रिकल लिमिटेड (भेल) ने मध्य प्रदेश के बीना में भारत के प्रथम 1200 किलोवॉट के अल्ट्रा हाई वोल्टेज ट्रांसफॉर्मर को चालू किया. भारत हेवी इलेक्ट्रिकल लिमिटेड (BHEL: Bharat Heavy Electricals Limited, भेल) के अनुसार 1200 किलोवॉट के अल्ट्रा हाई वोल्टेज ट्रांसफॉर्मर को 6 फरवरी 2012 को कार्यशील किया गया.
भारत हेवी इलेक्ट्रिकल लिमिटेड (भेल) द्वारा अल्ट्रा हाई वोल्टेज ट्रांसफॉर्मर (UHVAC: Ultra High Voltage Alternating Current) का विकास, विनिर्माण और परीक्षण स्वयं किया गया है. भेल के अनुसार इस प्रणाली के विकास से बिजली उत्पादन केंद्र से दूर स्थित लोड केंद्रों तक बिजली भेजने की दक्षता में सुधार संभव है. ज्ञातव्य हो कि भेल ने इस ट्रांसफॉर्मर के विकास के लिए पावरग्रिड कॉरपोरेशन के साथ सहमति पत्र (एमओयू) पर हस्ताक्षर किए थे.

5]44वां भारतीय श्रम सम्मेलन

44वां भारतीय श्रम सम्मेलन भारत की राजधानी नई दिल्ली में 15 फरवरी 2012 को संपन्न हो गया. इस सम्मेलन का उद्घाटन प्रधानमंत्री डॉ मनमोहन सिंह ने किया. सम्मेलन में न्यूनतम वेतन, सामाजिक सुरक्षा, रोजगार के लिए योग्यता और रोजगार सहित अनेक सामयिक और महत्वपूर्ण मुद्दों पर चर्चा की गई. सम्मेलन के उद्घाटन में प्रधानमंत्री ने कहा है कि मजबूत औद्योगिक संबंधों के बिना तेज गति से समावेशी वृद्धि और आधुनिक औद्योगिक अर्थव्यवस्था के लक्ष्य हासिल नहीं किए जा सकते.
उन्होंने कहा कि नौ प्रतिशत आर्थिक वृद्धि का लक्ष्य हासिल करने के लिए श्रमिकों, मालिकों और सरकार, सबको मिलकर प्रयास करना होगा. उन्होंने श्रमिकों, विशेषकर असंगठित क्षेत्र के श्रमिकों के कल्याण और खुशहाली के प्रति सरकार की प्रतिबद्धता दोहराई. डॉ सिंह ने कहा कि राष्ट्रीय स्वास्थ्य बीमा योजना के अंतर्गत अब असंगठित क्षेत्र में गरीबी की रेखा से नीचे के ढ़ाई करोड़ से अधिक परिवार शामिल हो गए हैं. इस योजना के तहत निर्माण श्रमिकों, रेहड़ी वालों, महात्मा गांधी राष्ट्रीय ग्रामीण रोजगार गारंटी योजना से लाभ उठाने वालों, बीड़ी मजदूरों और घरों में काम करने वालों को भी लाभ दिया जा रहा है.
प्रधानमंत्री ने कहा कि मनरेगा ने गांवों से काम की तलाश में लोगों का पलायन रोका है और ग्रामीण मजदूरों की मजदूरी में भी सुधार किया है. उन्होंने नियामक ढांचे की बारीकी से पड़ताल करने पर जोर दिया ताकि यह देखा जा सके कि ये ढांचा श्रमिक कल्याण में उल्लेखनीय योगदान करने के बजाय कहीं रोजगार और उद्योग की वृद्धि में बाधक तो नहीं हो रहा.
भारत सरकार ने कौशल विकास मिशन शुरू किया है जिसका उद्देश्य सरकारी और निजी भागीदारी के जरिए प्रशिक्षित श्रमिकों की संख्या बहुत अधिक बढ़ाना है.

6]केरल के वायनाड जिले के अंबुकुती की पहाड़ियों में प्राचीन ब्राह्मी लिपि का शिलालेख

केरल के वायनाड जिले के अंबुकुती की पहाड़ियों में प्राचीन ब्राह्मी लिपि का शिलालेख मिला. प्राचीन ब्राह्मी लिपि के शिलालेख की खोज कालीकट विश्वविद्यालय में पुरालेख के एक पूर्व प्रोफेसर डॉ. एमआर राघव वारियर ने की. डॉ. एमआर राघव वारियर खोजी गए शिलालेख को श्री वाझुमी के रूप में पढ़ा था. वाझुमी संस्कृत अक्षर का तमिल नाम है.

प्रोफेसर डॉ. एमआर राघव वारियर के अनुसार प्राचीन ब्राह्मी लिपि का शिलालेख एदक्कल शैली जैसा है. शिलालेख में कुछ मानव आकृतियां भी उकेरी हुई हैं. डॉ. एमआर राघव वारियर ने मानव आकृतियों को उत्पत्ति का सूचक बताया. उनके अनुसार कुल मिलाकर पूरा लेख संस्कृत तथा द्रविड़ भाषा एवं लिपि का समन्वय है. एदक्कल का यह शिलालेख परंपरा तथा दक्षिण भारत की ब्राह्मी लिखावट के बारे में जानकारी देता है.
7]भारत मानव विकास रिपोर्ट 2011

योजना आयोग के उपाध्यक्ष मोंटेक सिंह अहलूवालिया और केंद्रीय ग्रामीण विकास मंत्री जयराम रमेश ने 21 अक्टूबर 2011 को भारत मानव विकास रिपोर्ट 2011 जारी किया. भारत मानव विकास रिपोर्ट 2011 (India Human Development Report 2011) के अनुसार वर्ष 2001 में साक्षरता दर 64.8 प्रतिशत के मुकाबले वर्ष 2011 में साक्षरता दर 74 प्रतिशत तक हो गई.
भारत मानव विकास रिपोर्ट 2011 के अनुसार शिक्षा व साक्षरता की दिशा में सुधार के बावजूद विश्व की एक तिहाई अशिक्षित जनसंख्या भारत में है. इनमें भी अनुसूचित जाति, जनजाति और मुसलमानों का प्रतिशत सबसे ज्यादा है. अनुसूचित जाति और जनजाति की आधे से अधिक महिलाएं अब भी निरक्षर हैं.
शिक्षा के मामले में भारत में मुसलमानों की साक्षरता दर सबसे नीचे है. उत्तर प्रदेश, बिहार और पश्चिम बंगाल में सात साल से अधिक आयु वर्ग की देश की कुल मुस्लिम आबादी का 46 प्रतिशत हिस्सा रहता है. जबकि मुस्लिमों समुदाय के कुल निरक्षरों में से 58 फीसदी इन्हीं राज्यों में हैं. लगभग 20 करोड़ आबादी वाले उत्तर प्रदेश में 19.2 प्रतिशत, पश्चिम बंगाल में 14.8 और बिहार में 13.4 प्रतिशत मुस्लिम आबादी है.
अनुसूचित जाति की कुल आबादी का 46 प्रतिशत हिस्सा उत्तर प्रदेश, बिहार, पश्चिम बंगाल और आंध्र प्रदेश में रहता है. राजस्थान, झारखंड, उड़ीसा, छत्तीसगढ़ और मध्य प्रदेश ऐसे राज्य हैं, जहां अनुसूचित जनजाति की कुल आबादी की 48 प्रतिशत रहती है. जबकि इस समुदाय के कुल अशिक्षितों में से 55 प्रतिशत इन्हीं राज्यों में हैं.
भारत मानव विकास रिपोर्ट 2011 (India Human Development Report 2011) के अनुसार भारत में मानव विकास की स्थिति में काफी सुधार हुआ है. वर्ष 2000 के मुकाबले वर्ष 2008 में इसमें 21 फीसदी की बेहतरी दर्ज की गई. मानव विकास सूची में केरल सबसे ऊपर है, जबकि छत्तीसगढ़ सबसे निचले पायदान पर है.
जारी रिपोर्ट के अनुसार वर्ष 2007-08 में मानव विकास दर बढ़कर 0.467 हो गई. जबकि वर्ष 1999-2000 के दौरान यह 0.387 ही थी. यानी 21 फीसदी की बढ़ोतरी हुई है. रिपोर्ट के अनुसार वर्ष 2001-2011 के दौरान सबसे तेज विकास शिक्षा के क्षेत्र में हुआ. यह सुधार 28.5 फीसदी रहा. लोगों की आय में भी इस दौरान 21.5 फीसदी की वृद्धि हुई.
भारत मानव विकास रिपोर्ट 2011 (India Human Development Report 2011) के अनुसार स्वास्थ्य के क्षेत्र में विकास बहुत धीमा हुआ. इस क्षेत्र में विकास दर सिर्फ 13.2 फीसदी ही हुआ. स्वास्थ्य के क्षेत्र में सबसे अच्छी विकास दर गोवा ने हासिल की. यहां यह दर 79 फीसदी रही, लेकिन दूसरे नंबर पर रहने वाले राज्य छत्तीसगढ़ में यह दर सिर्फ 22 फीसदी थी. स्वास्थ्य के पैमाने पर सबसे कम विकास दिल्ली में हुआ. यह सिर्फ चार फीसदी रहा. रिपोर्ट के अनुसार भारत में दस हजार लोगों पर अस्पताल के सिर्फ नौ बिस्तर उपलब्ध हैं. इसी तरह प्रति दस हजार आबादी पर सिर्फ छह डॉक्टर उपलब्ध हैं.
भारत मानव विकास रिपोर्ट 2011 (India Human Development Report 2011) के अनुसार आधारभूत संरचना के क्षेत्र में केरल, दिल्ली और गोवा जैसे राज्यों ने ढांचागत सुविधाओं की मदद से चौमुखी विकास किया है, वहीं बिहार, झारखंड, उत्तर प्रदेश, मध्य प्रदेश और छत्तीसगढ़ जैसे राज्य ढांचागत सुविधाओं की कमी के कारण अभी भी गरीब बने हुए हैं. रिपोर्ट के अनुसार केरल ने राष्ट्रीय औसत से चार गुना अधिक सड़कें बनाई हैं. वर्ष 2004 के आंकड़ों के आधार पर केरल में प्रति 100 वर्ग किलोमीटर क्षेत्रफल पर 369 किमी. सड़कें थीं, जबकि सड़कों का राष्ट्रीय औसत प्रति 100 वर्ग किमी. क्षेत्रफल पर 80 किमी का है. सड़क निर्माण के मामले में सबसे आगे रहने वाला केरल विकास के मामले में अन्य राज्यों से आगे है.
बिहार, छत्तीसगढ़, हिमाचल प्रदेश, राजस्थान, महाराष्ट्र, तमिलनाडु और उत्तर प्रदेश राज्य सरकार द्वारा प्रधानमंत्री ग्राम सड़क योजना के निर्धारित लक्ष्य तक को पूरा नहीं किया गया. बिहार, झारखंड उत्तर प्रदेश और पश्चिम बंगाल जैसे घनी आबादी वाले राज्यों में प्रति दस लाख की आबादी पर 25.9 किमी के राष्ट्रीय औसत से भी कम सड़कें बनी हैं. हालांकि महाराष्ट्र, आंध्र प्रदेश और मध्य प्रदेश जैसे घनी आबादी राज्यों में राष्ट्रीय औसत से अधिक सड़कें बनी हैं.
ज्ञातव्य हो कि एदक्कल की गुफाएं समृद्ध शिला कला एवं लेखों के लिए प्रसिद्ध हैं. हालांकि इससे पूर्व पाए गए शिलालेखों में शासकों और नायकों के नाम पाए गए थे. परन्तु इस शिलालेख में किसी देवता का नाम है. एदक्कल के तमिल ब्राह्मी लेख का सर्वप्रथम खोज व वर्णन 1901 में पूर्ववर्ती मालाबार जिले के तत्कालीन पुलिस अधीक्षक एफएफ फावसेट ने भारत सरकार के प्रकाशन इंडियन एंटीक्वीटी में किया था. एफएफ फावसेट ने गुफाओं के भीतर उत्खनन कार्य किया था. 1984 में केरल के पुरातत्व विभाग ने इस स्थल को अपने अधिकार में लेकर इसे संरक्षित स्मारक घोषित किया था.

8] रेलवे के आधुनिकीकरण हेतु सैम पित्रोदा की अध्यक्षता में सात सदस्यीय समिति

रेल मंत्रालय ने भारतीय रेलवे के आधुनिकीकरण के लिए सैम पित्रोदा की अध्यक्षता में सात सदस्यीय समिति का गठन 21 सितंबर 2011 को किया. सात सदस्यीय इस समिति का काम भारतीय रेलवे को विकसित करने के साथ-साथ उसे आकर्षक व तेज बनाना है.
भारतीय रेलवे के आधुनिकीकरण के लिए सैम पित्रोदा की अध्यक्षता में सात सदस्यीय समिति में एचडीएफसी बैंक के अध्यक्ष दीपक पारेख, भारतीय स्टेट बैंक के पूर्व अध्यक्ष एमएस वर्मा, फीडबैक इंफ्रास्ट्रक्चर सर्विसेज के अध्यक्ष विनायक चटर्जी, आइआइएम अहमदाबाद के प्रोफेसर जी रघुराम और रेलवे बोर्ड में सलाहकार (इंफ्रास्ट्रक्चर) रंजन जैन हैं. रंजन जैन को समिति का सचिव बनाया गया.
सात सदस्यीय समिति भारतीय रेलवे के लिए निम्न मसलों पर सुझाव देना है:
• रेलवे ट्रैक को सुरक्षित, मजबूत बनाने के साथ ही उसे माल व यात्री ढोने में सक्षम बनाना
• सभी ट्रेनों में आधुनिकतम इलेक्ट्रानिक कैब सिग्नलिंग का इंतजाम करना
• नई तकनीक के सुरक्षित और तेज यात्री डिब्बों और वैगनों का स्वदेश में उत्पादन बढ़ाना
• स्टेशनों और टर्मिनलों के आधुनिकीकरण एवं उन्नयन
• ट्रेन संचालन एवं यात्री व माल सेवाओं में सूचना प्रौद्योगिकी का अधिकतम इस्तेमाल कैसे हो
• परियोजनाओं की मंजूरी में किस तरह से तेजी लाई जाए जिससे वे समय पर पूरी हों
• परियोजनाओं के लिए पूंजी का इंतजाम कैसे और कहां से होगा तथा निजी क्षेत्र की भागीदारी किस तरह तेज की जा सकती है

9] साक्षर भारत यात्रा

राष्ट्रपति प्रतिभा पाटील ने राष्ट्रपति भवन से साक्षर भारत यात्रा की शुरुआत 18 फरवरी 2012 को की. यह यात्रा देश भर में 22 राज्यों, 180 जिलों, एक हजार ब्लॉकों, 16 हजार से अधिक पंचायतों से गुजरेगी.
राष्ट्रीय साक्षरता मिशन, साक्षर भारत कार्यक्रम को बढ़ावा देने के लिए भारत ज्ञान विज्ञान समिति (गैर-सरकारी संगठन) के साथ सहयोग करते हुए फरवरी-मार्च 2012 के दौरान राष्ट्रीय स्तर पर अभियान चला रहा है. साक्षर भारत यात्रा का उद्देश्य...
• साक्षर भारत कार्यक्रम के प्रति समस्त देश का ध्यान आकर्षित करना.
• साक्षरता तथा जीवन में शिक्षा की आवश्यकता तथा महत्व के प्रति जनमत और उत्साह बढ़ाने के लिए राष्ट्रीय स्तर पर अभियान चलाना.
• साक्षरता तथा आजीवन शिक्षा से जुड़े मुद्दों पर लोक मानस का ध्यान पुन: केन्द्रित करना.
• देश में आजीवन शिक्षा कार्यक्रम के आधार के तौर पर प्रमुख ग्रामीण पठन तथा पुस्तकालयों के लिए मांग सृजित करना.
• साक्षर भारत कार्यक्रम के प्रभावशाली अमल के लिए विभिन्न स्तरों पर संसाधन सहायता समूहों का गठन करना.

10]पांच हजार से अधिक आबादी वाले क्षेत्रों में सभी बैंकों को सितंबर 2012 तक शाखाएं खोलने का निर्देश

बैंकिंग सुविधाओं से वंचित पांच हजार से अधिक आबादी वाले क्षेत्रों में निजी सहित सभी बैंकों को केंद्र सरकार द्वारा सितंबर 2012 तक शाखाएं खोलने का निर्देश दिया गया. वित्त मंत्रालय का यह दिशा-निर्देश 7 नवंबर 2011 को जारी किया गया.

भारतीय रिजर्व बैंक ने 18 राज्यों और संघ शासित प्रदेशों में ऐसे 296 जिलों की पहचान की है जिनमें बैंकिंग सुविधाओं की कमी है. इन 296 जिलों में बैंकिंग सुविधाओं से वंचित पांच हजार से अधिक आबादी वाले क्षेत्रों में नई बैंक शाखा खोलने में कर्मचारी की संख्या कम रखने की छूट दी गई है. वित्त मंत्रालय के दिशा-निर्देश के अनुसार एटीएम सुविधा के साथ कम से कम दो कर्मचारी जरूरी हैं.

ज्ञातव्य हो कि वित्तीय समावेशी योजना के तहत मार्च 2012 तक देश के 2000 से अधिक आबादी वाले गांवों को बैंकिंग सेवाओं से जोड़ने का लक्ष्य रखा गया है. केंद्र सरकार द्वारा ऐसे 73000 गांवों की पहचान की गई है. आंकड़ों के अनुसार भारत के छह लाख गांवों में से केवल पांच फीसदी गांवों में ही बैंक शाखाएं हैं.

जून 2011 तक बैंकों ने एक लाख सात हजार गांवों को बैंकिंग सेवाओं से जोड़ दिया था, जबकि मार्च 2010 तक इनकी संख्या 54258 थी. इनमें से 22870 गांवों को पक्की शाखाओं के जरिए जोड़ा गया. जबकि 84274 गांवों के लिए बैंकिंग सहयोगी के जरिए बैंकिंग सेवाएं पहुंचाई गई. 460 गांव ऐसे भी हैं जहां चलते फिरते वाहनों और दूसरे उपायों के जरिए बैंकिंग सेवाएं उपलब्ध कराई जाती हैं.