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  • Housing for All by 2022

     

    • PM Modi- ‘By the time the Nation completes 75 years of its Independence, every family will have a pucca house with water connection, toilet facilities, 24×7 electricity supply and access’
    • To achieve this objective, Govt has launched a comprehensive mission ‘Housing for All by 2022’
    • The programme is launched by the Ministry of Housing and Urban Poverty Alleviation (MoHUPA)

    Features

    • It will be implemented during 2015-2022
    • Will provide central assistance to implementing agencies through States and UTs for providing houses to all eligible families/beneficiaries by 2022
    • Will be implemented as Centrally Sponsored Scheme (CSS) except for the component of credit linked subsidy which will be implemented as a Central Sector Scheme <what’s the difference b/w centrally sponsored and central sector schemes? Answer in comments>
    • Mission with all its component has become effective from 17 June, 2015 and will be implemented upto 31 March, 2022
    • All 4041 statutory towns as per Census 2011 with focus on 500 Class I cities would be covered in three phases: Answer in comments>
    1. Phase I (April 2015 – March 2017) to cover 100 Cities selected from States/ UTs as per their willingness
    2. Phase II (April 2017 – March 2019) to cover additional 200 Cities
    3. Phase III (April 2019 – March 2022) to cover all other remaining Cities

    Ministry, however, will have flexibility regarding inclusion of additional cities in earlier phases in case there is a resource backed demand from States/ UTs

    • The mission will support construction of houses upto 30 square meter carpet area with basic civic infrastructure
    • The minimum size of houses constructed under the mission under each component should conform to the standards provided in National Building Code (NBC)
    • The houses should be designed and constructed to meet the requirements of structural safety against earthquake, flood, cyclone, landslides etc. conforming to the National Building Code and other relevant Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) codes
    • The houses should be in the name of the female head of the household or in the joint name of the male head of the household and his wife, and only in cases when there is no adult female member in the family, the house can be in the name of male member of the household
    • Implementing Agencies should encourage formation of associations of beneficiaries under the scheme like Resident Welfare Association etc. to take care of maintenance of houses being built under the mission

    Components

    The Mission will be implemented through four verticals giving option to beneficiaries, ULBs and State Governments

     

    Beneficiaries

    • The mission seeks to address the housing requirement of urban poor including slum dwellers

    What is a slum? It is defined as a compact area of at least 300 people or about 60-70 households of poorly built congested tenements in unhygienic environment usually with inadequate infrastructure and lacking in proper sanitary and drinking water facilities

    • Beneficiaries include Economically weaker section (EWS) and low-income groups (LIGs)

    The annual income cap is up to Rs 3 lakh for EWS and Rs 3-6 lakh for LIG. EWS category of beneficiaries is eligible for assistance in all four verticals of the Missions whereas LIG category is eligible under only Credit linked subsidy scheme (CLSS) component of the Mission

    • A beneficiary family will comprise husband, wife, unmarried sons and/ or unmarried daughters
    • The beneficiary family should not own a pucca house either in his/ her name or in the name of any member of his/ her family in any part of India to be eligible to receive central assistance under the mission
    • The total housing shortage envisaged to be addressed through the new mission is 20 million Answer in comments>

     

    Follow this story for updates on housing scheme- India’s urbanisation agenda

     

    Published with inputs from Swapnil

     

  • Important Judgements of the Supreme Court in 2015 | Part 6

     

    #11. Obscene language cannot be allowed against historically respected personalities

    Devidas vs. State of Maharashtra

    Summary:

    The Apex Court in a significant judgment rendered held that in the name of artistic freedom or critical thinking or generating the idea of creativity, a poet or a writer cannot put into the voice or image of a “historically respected personality” like Mahatma Gandhi, such language, which may be obscene.

    Background:

    • A Bench of the Supreme Court comprising of Justices Dipak Misra and Prafulla C Pant was considering the appeal preferred by a bank employee
    • He was alleged for publishing a “vulgar and obscene” poem- ‘Gandhi Mala Bhetala Hota’ (‘I Met Gandhi’) using the name of Mahatma Gandhi in an in-house magazine of the Bank of Maharashtra Employees Union in 1994

    SC observations:

    • The freedom of speech and expression “has to be given a broad canvas, but it has to have inherent limitations which are permissible within the constitutional parameters
    • The Supreme Court refused to express any opinion on whether freedom of speech included the freedom to offend
    • In determining ‘obscenity’ under Section 292 IPC, the test evolved by the Apex Court is the ‘contemporary community standards test’

    The counter view:

    • The poem does not use obscene words and it does not come within the ambit and sweep of Section 292 IPC
    • The poet has expressed himself as he has a right to express his own thoughts in words
    • The poem actually expresses the prevalent situation in certain arenas and the agony and anguish expressed by the poet through Gandhi and thus, the poem is surrealistic presentation

    Section 292, IPC:

    • An object is deemed to be obscene if- It is lascivious or appeals to the pruri­ent interest or if its effect tends to deprave and corrupt person
    • Objects covered- A book, pamphlet, paper, writing, drawing, painting, representation, figure or any other object

    You may like to read the critical analysis of the judgement here.

    #12. Appointment of Archakas to be made in accordance with Agamas

     

    Adi Saiva Sivachariyargal Nala Sanga vs. Government of Tamil Nadu

    The Constitutional legitimacy, naturally, must supersede all religious beliefs or practices: Supreme Court

    Summary:

    The Supreme Court of India, in, has held that appointments of Archakas in temples will have to be made in accordance with the Agamas, subject to their due identification as well as their conformity with the Constitutional mandates and principles. Apex Court bench comprising of Justices Ranjan Gogoi and N.V. Ramana made this observation while disposing of a batch of Writ petitions filed against Tamil Nadu Government order regarding appointment of Archakas in temple.

    SC observations:

    • The exclusion of some and inclusion of a particular segment or denomination for appointment as Archakas would not violate Article 14 so long such inclusion/ exclusion is not based on the criteria of caste, birth or any other constitutionally unacceptable parameter
    • If the appointment as Archakas is not on the basis of caste or class, the sanctity of Article 17 or any other provision of Part III of the Constitution or even the Protection of Civil Rights Act, 1955 will not be violated
    • If any prescription with regard to appointment of Archakas is made by the Agamas, Section 28 of the Tamil Nadu Act mandates the Trustee to conduct the temple affairs in accordance with such custom or usage
    • The requirement of Constitutional conformity is inbuilt and if a custom is outside the protective umbrella of Articles 25 and 26, the law would certainly take its own course
    • The constitutional legitimacy, naturally, must supersede all religious beliefs or practices
    Published with inputs from Swapnil

  • Collections on Schemes & programs of Government of India

    We are consolidating all the factiods, opportunities, criticisms and updates on the schemes by government of India in the last year or so under this collection –

    https://www.civilsdaily.com/collection/government-schemes-programs/

    If there is any scheme which has bugged your mind or you would want us to take first, go ahead and put in your comments.

  • Pradhan Mantri Mudra Yojana: Funding the unfunded

     

     

    Pradhan Mantri Mudra Yojana (PMMY) is a flagship scheme of Government of India to enable a small enterprise come into the formal financial system and get affordable credit to run his/ her business.

    • Who? Any Indian Citizen who has a business plan for a non-farm sector income generating activity
    • Credit need? Less than Rs 10 lakh
    • Possible Creditors? Banks, MFI, or NBFC

    Types of Loans provided

    Under the aegis of Pradhan Mantri MUDRA Yojana, MUDRA has already created the following products / schemes.

    • Shishu : covering loans upto 50,000/-
    • Kishor : covering loans above 50,000/- and upto 5 lakh
    • Tarun : covering loans above 5 lakh and upto 10 lakh

    Note that there is no subsidy for the loan given under PMMY. However, if the loan proposal is linked some Government scheme, wherein the Government is providing capital subsidy, it will be eligible under PMMY also.

     

    What is MUDRA Bank and what is its role in the MUDRA Yojna?

    • MUDRA Bank = Micro Units Development and Refinance Agency Bank
    • The Rs 20,000 crore MUDRA Bank aims to provide refinancing to small and medium enterprises, particularly those from SC & ST
    • The idea is to refinance micro-finance institutions through Pradhan Mantri Mudra Yojana
    • This bank would be responsible for regulating and refinancing all MFIs which are in the business of lending to MSME

    Are there any concerns regarding the structure or establishment of MUDRA bank?

    • The bank will be financially challenged since inception, if it is funded through non-budgetary support
    • The funds for the bank would be sourced from shortfall in the achievements of the priority sector lending (PSL) targets
    • Currently, the shortfall in the PSL targets of the domestic scheduled commercial banks are deposited in Rural Infrastructure Development Fund (RIDF) and for foreign banks in Small Enterprises Development Fund
    • The fact of the matter is that banks have been surpassing the targets in all years, since 2002, except for the last three years
    • The shortfall lies only in agricultural loans, but it would be unfair to divert the target for agriculture from RIDF to micro units

    What are some of the positive points which go in favour of such a scheme?

    • Informal sector accounts for 90% of our non-agricultural workforce, 50% of the GDP & 40% of the non-farm GDP
    • Analysts point that the Indian GDP can be raised by almost 15% if the informal sector data is incorporated in the GDP series
    • The MUDRA bank aims to boost loans and cut borrowing costs for the cash-starved domestic small businesses

    But has a direct intervention from government (to facilitate loans) worked in past?

    What are some of the prominent concerns in this area?

    • There is always a case for direct government intervention to solve any one of our many chronic problems, to justify the need for MUDRA bank
    • The govt. is trying to ensure equity through determined government action that previously drove the govt. to nationalise banks and bring priority sector lending
    • However, such ‘directed credit’ has not worked successfully in the past
    • The govt. control over banks had led to large-scale corruption and repeated recapitalisation through taxpayers’ money
    • MUDRA bank has been over-burdened with many conflicting objectives and too-many roles, viz. a lender, consultant, regulator, think tank and an agent of social change

  • Everything that you need to know about Mission Indradhanush

     

    Mission Indradhanush was launched by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Government of India on December 25, 2014.

    Objective

    1. Aims to cover all those children by 2020 who are either unvaccinated, or are partially vaccinated against 7 vaccine preventable diseases
    2. The diseases are – diphtheria, whooping cough, tetanus, polio, tuberculosis, measles and hepatitis B

    How is the government going about the implementation?

    1. Implementation will be done in phases in a “catch up” mode – the aim is to cover all the children who have been left out or missed out for immunization
    2. Technically supported by WHO, UNICEF, Rotary International and other donor partners
    3. Phase 1 targets 201 districts | Phase 2 targets 352 districts
    4. The first round of the first phase started from 7 April 2015-World Health Day
    5. What’s interesting about the Phase 1 districts? These 201 high focus districts in the country have nearly 50% of all unvaccinated or partially vaccinated children!
    6. Out of the 201 districts, 82 districts are in just four states of UP, Bihar, Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan

    What are the 4 pillars of strategy for Mission Indradhanush?

    #1. Meticulous planning of campaigns/sessions at all levels

    • Within the districts, the Mission will focus on the 400,000 high risk settlements identified by the polio eradication programme
    • 400,000 high risk settlements include urban slums, construction sites, brick kilns, nomadic sites and hard-to-reach areas
    • Such a planning needs a timely revision of micro plans in all blocks and urban areas in each district to ensure availability of sufficient vaccinators & vaccines

    #2. Effective communication and social mobilization efforts

    • Generate awareness and demand for immunization services through need-based communication strategies and social mobilization activities
    • Use of mass media, mid media, interpersonal communication (IPC), school and youth networks and corporates

    #3. Intensive training of the health officials and frontline workers

    • Capacity building has been the core of any social sector scheme and this just reinforces the point #1

    #4. Establish accountability framework through task forces

    • Strengthening the district task forces for immunization in all districts
    • Ensuring the use of concurrent session monitoring data to plug the gaps in implementation on a real time basis
    • Collaboration with other Ministries, ongoing programmes and international partners to promote a coordinated and synergistic approach

    For current updates, follow our story on – Mission Indradhanush – 100% health immunization coverage by 2020

  • Big picture on Aadhar card (RSTV debate)

    Nice article CD on the Aadhar card –
    https://www.civilsdaily.com/aadhaar-bill-2016-hopes-and-concerns/

    This Big picture video is also great to watch –

  • What are your personal recommendations for IAS Prelims? Books and hacks

    Hello,

    A good while ago, we had released a set of standard text books which every aspirant checks through once he starts preparing for IAS prelims. The original list is this –
    https://www.civilsdaily.com/recommended-books-for-ias-prelims-2016/

    BUT, over time students tend to explore books and notes on their own or via some references and this becomes a great hack for newbies to consolidate their preparation. We invite each and every user of Civilsdaily to profile their most recommended reading material/ books for us.

    Keep it simple and crisp. Just talk about 3 things –
    1. Book name & subject
    2. Pros (mention your hacks and how it is a refreshing read from the others)
    3. Cons (difficulty level, things which it misses out on etc etc.)

    Why this exercise is important?

    If you know about the Tamil Nadu state books which are considered a boon for history @Pre & Mains, it was discovered by one such student and then promoted to all!

    So open up and be generous 🙂

  • Indian Polity | Powers of the President and the Governor

    In a federal  <constitutional division of power b/w centre and states> parliamentary democracy <real power vests in council of ministers which is accountable to Lower House i.e Lok Sabha> which is India, President and Governor are only ceremonial heads of state, real power lies with elected govt headed by PM and CM. President and governors have to act in accordance with the aid and advice of the council of ministers.

    So, are they mere rubber stamps? Do they have any discretionary powers? What’s the nature of that discretionary power?

    Art 74 and art 163 basically states that council of minister will aid and advice president and governor. In its various judgments supreme court interpreted that they have to act only upon and in accordance with the aid and advice of CoM, save in a few well known exceptional circumstances.

    The infamous 42nd amendment clarified this position and added that president shall act in accordance with aid and advice which was diluted by 44th amendment so that president can return back advice for reconsideration after which advice shall be binding. No changes were made wrt governor.

    So, it’s clear by constitution (for president) as well as supreme court judgment (governor) that only in exceptional circumstances can they act as per their own discretion.

    Rule of thumb is, a situation where the CoM is not in a position to tender unbiased or impartial advice to the president / governor can they use their own discretion.

    Situation in which discretion can be used?

    1. When no party has clear majority– Obviously caretaker govt would tend to advice president or governor to call it’s candidate for govt formation,, they have to as per their discretion
    2. When lower house has lost confidence in the govt– Obviously govt would not ask for dissolution, discretion has to be used

    But the real power comes from the fact that there is no time limit specified within the constitution within which president/ governor have to give assent to the bill. They may simply decide to sit on the bill and do nothing (pocket veto).

    In the case of governor there is more scope for discretion-

    1. For bills– governor can reserve bills for consideration of president. Obviously no govt will ask it’s bill to be reserved, discretion has to be applied.
    2. Recommendation of president’s rule-Again no govt would advise imposition of presidential rule.

    This reconsideration of bills become sore point b/w governor and govt <against the federal spirit; president i.e union CoM taking decisions on state bills; governor is not even elected>

    Let’s compare president and governor

    Issue President Governor
    Head Head of the country, head of govt is PM Head of a state, head of govt is CM
    Executive power All executive action in his name Same
    Oath Preserve, protect and defend the constitution Same
    Appointment Indirect election Nominated by president; representative of union in states
    Removal Impeachment President can remove him any time/ pleasure principle
    Grounds of removal Violation of constitution No grounds mentioned
    Advice of council of minster Binding (42nd amendment), can return the advice once (44th amendment) binding save for exceptional circumstances (various supreme court judgements)
    Ordinary bill Can be sent for reconsideration once to parliament, bound to give assent after that same
    Money bill Can’t send for reconsideration (after all president himself recommends the bill) same
    Constitution amendment bill Has to give his assent (24th amendment) No role
    if governor reserves the bill for president (article 200) Can assent/ withhold assent or send the bill for reconsideration (except money bill which can’t be resent) (article 201) No further role of governor
    If house sends the bill back in the same form Not bound to give assent <governor is bound to give assent after repassage> No role
    Clemency power Can pardon death sentence and court martial sentences Can’t pardon death sentence, no role in military matters

    State Bills reserved for President’s consideration under the Constitution may be classified as follows:—

    I. Bills which must be reserved for President’s consideration

    1. bills derogating the powers of the High Court (art 200)
    2. imposition of taxes on water or electricity in certain cases (Article 288)
    3. during a Financial Emergency (art 360)

    II. Bills which may be reserved for President’s consideration and assent for specific purposes

    a). To secure immunity from operation of Articles 14 and 19. These are Bills for

    1. acquisition of estates, etc.  (Article 31A(I (b))
    2. giving effect to Directive Principles of State Policy (Article 31C).

    (b) A Bill relating to a subject enumerated in the Concurrent List, to ensure operation of its provisions despite their repugnancy to a Union law or an existing law, by securing President’s assent in terms of Article 254(2). <for instance Rajsthan govt took presidential consent for it’s labour law which violated union legislation>

    (c) Legislation imposing restrictions on trade and commerce requiring Presidential sanction under the

    III. Bills which may not specifically fall under any of the above categories yet may be reserved by the Governor for President’s consideration under Article 200. 

    They are reserved if the bill is deemed to be against broader national interest

    But what if even 2nd advice of CoM which enjoys the confidence of house is unconstitutional and thus comes in conflict with the oath of president i.e to preserve, protect and defend the constitution?

    Well, there’s no precedence. Supreme court will have to take the call if in very exceptional circumstances, president can overrule the governor.

    Appendix-

    The presidential election and removal

    Presidential election -indirect election

    Method – proportional representation by means of single transferable vote

    Electoral college – All the elected members of parliament plus elected members of the legislative assembly of States and UT of Puducherry and NCT.

    Value of vote of an MLA = total population of state/total elected members in LA ×1000

    Value of vote of an MP= total value of votes of all MLAs of all states / total elected members of parliament

    Note members of the legislative council, nominated members of Legislative assembly,  Lok Sabha, Rajya Sabha does not participate <simple, how can those whom he nominates participate in his own election>

    Value of all the states plus UT votes = value of all

    Contrast this with the election of Vice President in which all members of parliament (nominated as well as elected) participate but members of state assemble do not.

    Removal of the President– Impeachment, 2/3rd (absolute 2/3rd not present and voting) of both the houses vote for his removal.

    Parliamentary v/s presidential system

    In parliamentary system (India), council of minister is part of legislature<all ministers come from either LS or RS>. PM is head of govt while president is head of state.

    In presidential system, President is the head of state as well as head of govt. He is not part of legislature. He chooses his own cabinet and cabinet ministers can not be part of legislature. Recall John Kerry had to resign from Senate when he was appointed secretary of state.

    It’s time for attempting some previous years IAS questions

    #1. Consider the following statements:

    1. The President shall make rules for the more convenient transaction of the business of the Government of India, and for the allocation among Ministers of the said business.
    2. All executive actions of the Government of India shall be expressed to be taken in the name of the Prime Minister.
    Which of the statements given above is / are correct?

    a. 1 only
    b. 2 only
    c. Both 1 and 2
    d. Neither 1 nor 2

    #2. Which of the following are the discretionary powers given to the Governor of a State?

    1. Sending a report to the President of India for imposing the President’s rule
    2. Appointing the Ministers
    3. Reserving certain bills passed by the State Legislature for consideration of the President of India
    4. Making the rules to conduct the business of the State Government
    Select the correct answer using the code given below.

    a. 1 and 2 only
    b. 1 and 3 only.
    c. 2, 3 and 4 only.
    d. 1, 2, 3 and 4

    #3. In the context of India, which of the following principles is/are implied institutionally in the parliamentary government?

    1. Members of the Cabinet are Members of the Parliament.
    2. Ministers hold the office till they enjoy confidence in the Parliament.
    3. Cabinet is headed by the Head of the State.
    Select the correct answer using the codes given below.

    a. 1 and 2 only
    b. 3 only
    c. 2 and 3 only
    d. 1, 2 and 3

    #5. Which one of the following statements is correct?

    a. In India, the same person cannot be appointed as Governor for two or more States at the same time
    b. The Judges of the High Court of the States in India are appointed by the Governor of the State just as the Judges of the Supreme Court are appointed by the President
    c. No procedure has been laid down in the Constitution of India for the removal of a Governor from his/her post
    d. In the case of a Union Territory having a legislative setup, the Chief Minister is appointed by the Lt. Governor on the basis of majority support

    #5. Consider the following statements:
    1. The Executive Power of the union of India is vested in the Prime Minister.
    2. The Prime Minister is the ex officio Chairman of the Civil Services Board.
    Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
    (a) 1 only
    (b) 2 only
    (c) Both 1 and 2
    (d) Neither 1 nor 2

    #6. There is a Parliamentary System of Government in India because the

    • (a) Lok Sabha is elected directly by the people
    • (b) Parliament can amend the constitution
    • (c) Rajya Sabha cannot be dissolved
    • (d) Council of Ministers is responsible to the Lok Sabha

    Want to read more such article, Follow this collection – Constitution simplified 

  • Dedicated Freight Corridors | The Future of railways

    Freight operations on the Indian Railways are set to witness a paradigm shift with the stage-wise completion of its two dedicated freight corridors, the Western Dedicated Freight Corridor (WDFC) and the Eastern Dedicated Freight Corridor (EDFC), over the next four years, beginning 2017-18.

    Why DFCs?

    #1. Congestion:

    Indian Railways plans to handle higher freight volumes without- increase in infrastructure, increased axle load, reduction of turn-round time, reduced unit cost of transportation, rationalization of tariffs

    Example- Golden Quadrilateral Freight Corridor (GQFC)

    What is GQFC?

    • It links 4 metropolitan cities of Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai and Kolkata and its two diagonals- Delhi-Chennai & Howrah-Mumbai
    • It has a total route length of 10,122 km

    The problem with GQFC:

    • It carries more than 55% of revenue earning freight traffic of Indian Railways
    • The existing routes of Howrah-Delhi and Mumbai-Delhi are highly saturated
    • The line capacity utilization is around 115% to 150%

    #2. Single tracks:

    As mentioned in the recent rail budget- We run fast passenger trains, slow trains, goods trains all on the same track. Hence trains like Rajdhani which can achieve speeds upto 130kmph run at average 70kmph. Also goods trains have to wait to let passenger train pass and this causes also supply delays.

    #3. Chronic under-investment in the railways:

    This had led to congestion and over-utilization, along with sub-optimal freight and passenger traffic and fewer financial resources. The 12th Plan points out the urgency of investments as- If consistent growth of 7-10% per annum is to be achieved over the next 20 years, there is a pressing need for unprecedented capacity expansion of the railways for both freight and passenger traffic in a manner that has not taken place since Independence.

    #4. The surging power needs requiring heavy coal movement, booming infrastructure construction and growing international trade

    #5. Carbon emission reduction may help India claim carbon credits

    #6. Railway’s falling share of goods traffic:

    According to 12th Plan- The Indian railways transports only 36% of the total goods traffic in the country, compared to the 48% in the US and 47% in China. Whereas, nearly 57% of the total goods are transported by road in India, as compared to 22% in China and 37% in the US.

    Dedicated Freight Corridor Corporation of India (DFCCIL)

     

    • It is a Special Purpose Vehicle established by the Ministry of Railways in 2006
    • Aim: To undertake planning & development, mobilisation of financial resources and construction, maintenance and operation of the DFCs
    • It has been registered as a company under the Companies Act 1956

    The Corridors

    #1. Sanctioned (and under construction)

    • Western DFC: From Dadri, UP to Jawaharlal Nehru Port, Mumbai- 1,468 km
    • Eastern DFC: From Ludhiana, Punjab to Dankuni, West Bengal- 1,760 km

    #2. Planned (but not yet started)

    • East-West DFC- connecting Kolkata and Mumbai- 2,000 km
    • North-South DFC- connecting Delhi and Chennai- 2,173 km
    • East Coast DFC- connecting Kharagpur with Vijayawada- 1,100 km
    • South-West DFC- connecting Chennai and Goa- 890 km

    #3. Proposed (neither sanctioned nor planned)

    Bangalore-Chennai DFC- This DFC goes through Bangalore-Chennai Industrial Corridor promoted by Japan & India

    Advantages

    • Railways’ freight operations will see a fundamental change by operationalisation of these corridors
    • It will help the railways regain its market share of freight transport
    • Provide an efficient, reliable, safe and cheaper system of goods movement
    • Provide relief to the railways’ heavily congested GQFC along the western and eastern rail routes
    • Facilitate fresh industrial activity and multi-modal value-addition services hubs along the corridors
    • Reduction in unit cost of transportation, smaller organization and management cost, higher efficiency and lower energy consumption
    • WDFC  will mainly  benefit  export-import  container   traffic, besides petroleum,  oils and  lubricants,  imported fertilizers and coal, foodgrains, cement, salt, and iron and steel
    • EDFC will benefit traffic of coal for power plants in the northern region from coalfields in Bihar, Jharkhand and Bengal as also finished steel, foodgrains and cement

    Progress

    Remember, we have to be diplomatic while citing the progress. So here it goes…

    • The major achievements for the two sanctioned projects is the completion of negotiation for EDFC-3 Project and loan amount of US$ 650 million sanctioned by World Bank
    • 86% of the 10548 hectares land required has been acquired and most environmental clearances have been obtained
    • DFCCIL has implemented one of the best rehabilitation and resettlement packages for the people affected by the projects
    • Compensation as per the new land acquisition Act has been started with effect from 1st January, 2015
    • By mid-2016, most contracts for the Rs 81,459 crore projects are planned to be awarded

    Here’s a question for you– Differentiate between Golden Quadrilateral (GQ), Golden Quadrilateral Freight Corridor (GQFC) & Diamond Quarilateral (DQ) projects.

    Suggested readings:

    Published with inputs from Swapnil

  • Polity

    Hello .. do we have any discussions on the women’s bill, reservation in panchaythi raj?

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