Union Railway Budget 2015-2016

Budget 2015

Budget 2015
                                          Introducing budget in parliament

 

Modi conclusion in budget 2015

Accessible India Campaign or Sugamya Bharat Abhiyan

Accessible India Campaign or Sugamya Bharat Abhiyan

AIC or SBA is a program to serve the differently-able community of the country. The program comes with an index to measure the design of disabled-friendly buildings and human resource policies. The flagship program was launched by the Prime Minister on 3 December 2015, the International Day of Persons with Disabilities. The initiative also in line with the Article 9 of UNCRPD (UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities) to which India is a signatory from 2007. The scheme also comes under Persons with Disabilities Act, 1995 under section 44, 45, 46 for equal Opportunities and protection of rights which provides non-discrimination in Transport to Persons with Disabilities. According to the census 2011, 2.21 per cent or approx. 21M Indians of the population suffers from disability. The target is to make at least fifty government buildings disabled friendly under the campaign in each of the state till end of 2016 and make 25 per cent of the public transport vehicles under government as disabled friendly till mid 2017. A website will also be made where the people can put their views on the accessibility of any building. By July 2016, the international airports in the country and railway stations which come under A1, A and B categories will be made fully disabled-friendly.

Special set-top boxes will be made available to make watching TV more convenient for the visually impaired. In the next 5 years, almost 200 persons will be trained to speak in sign languages on government TV channels. Government websites will also be made more friendly by using text to speech option. The initiative involves retrofitting buildings, framing such standards for new buildings and transport that they are friendly to the differently-abled, auditing private companies on 'accessibility index' standard and making all government websites friendly to the differently-able.

A ''Sugamya Bharat'' mobile app which can provide information on disabled-friendly public facilities in a city, will be launched under the scheme

Jalyukta Shivar Abhiyan

Jalyukta Shivar Abhiyan

Maharashtra government launched a programme named ‘Jalyukta Shivar Abhiyan’ to make Maharashtra a drought-free state by 2019. The project involves deepening and widening of streams, construction of cement and earthen stop dams, work on nullahs and digging of farm ponds. The programme aims to make 5000 villages free of water scarcity every year. Under the programme, micro-irrigation systems would be encouraged for efficient use of water. It aims at increasing the irrigated area. Existing water conservation schemes will be now brought under this scheme. With several parts of Maharashtra still reeling under the drought, the state government launched the scheme to combat increasing number of suicide by the farmers of the state, among other things. 

Higher broadband penetration in the country with having level playing field on the internet

Higher broadband penetration in the country with having level playing field on the internet

While the debate on Net Neutrality has been on at the global level for a long time, in India it was triggered when country’s largest operator Airtel in December 2014 announced plans to start charging customers for VoIP services, such as Skype and Viber. The debate gained national momentum when telecom regulator TRAI, in a first step towards making regulating the issue, came out with consultation paper inviting user comments on the subject. Recently, Airtel announced another initiative Airtel Zero, for which it received a lot of flak as this too is seen as violating Net Neutrality.
A neutral Internet means a level playing field. The service providers also warned that if they were to offer unlimited VoIP (voice over Internet Protocol) the mobile data prices will need to be increased by atleast six times for operators to sustain business.

Penetration rate is the percentage (%) of a country's population that are subscribers. The industry body also stressed on the need to understand the guiding principles of net neutrality, which is about unfettered user right of making an informed choice in deciding access to legal content/services on the Internet.

Net neutrality creates an open and level-playing field to facilitate innovation, adoption and inclusion. For starters, in a country like India, Net Neutrality has vast implications, especially for start-ups many of whom are dependent on the medium for the success of their business.

Noting that Internet, mobile telephony, social media, big data, analytics, cloud and Internet of Things (IoT) have created a perfect confluence for economic development, the former telecom secretary said the startup and innovation ecosystem and the government's Digital India initiative would transform social and economic spheres, including education, healthcare and financial inclusion.

Highlights of the GDP growth details released by CSO

Highlights of the GDP growth details released by CSO

The Indian economy is going to grow by 7.6 per cent during 2015-16, according to the Advance Estimates released by the Central Statistics Office (CSO) yesterday. The CSO has pegged the growth for the December 2015 quarter at 7.3 per cent, while revising the growth estimates for the June 2015 quarter upwards to 7.6 per cent from 7 per cent and for the September 2015 quarter to 7.7 per cent from 7.4 per cent earlier. The growth in cumulative GDP for the period April-December 2015 has been estimated at 7.5 per cent. This means that the economy will have to grow by 7.7 per cent in the last quarter if it has to achieve the CSO’s growth target for 2015-16.

The government has been striving to push growth in Asia’s third-largest economy since it took office in May last year, promising a spending boost and moving to clear up a regulatory logjam that has held up large infrastructure projects. The latest data released by the statistics department on Monday showed India’s gross domestic product (GDP) growth slowed to 7% in the April-June quarter from 7.5% in the January-March quarter as measured at market prices. Another measure—gross value added (GVA) at basic prices—showed that economic growth accelerated to 7.1% in April-June against 6.1% in January-March.

Private final consumption expenditure (PFCE), according to the CSO, will drive the growth of the economy in the last quarter. PFCE has grown by 6.1 per cent till December 2015. The CSO expects the fiscal year 2015-16 to end with a 7.6 per cent growth in PFCE. This means that it has assumed an 11.7 per cent growth in PFCE for the last quarter.

http://www.jagranjosh.com/current-affairs/cso-released-estimates-of-gdp-for-apriljune-quarter-of-201516-1441099934-1

Affordable Medicines and Reliable Implants for Treatment

Affordable Medicines and Reliable Implants for Treatment

With  the aim to reduce the expenditure incurred by patients on treatment of cancer and heart diseases, GOI launched the Affordable Medicines and Reliable Implants for Treatment (AMRIT) outlet at AIIMs in 2015. The retail outlet will sell drugs for the two ailments at highly discounted rates at the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) to begin with. AMRIT will be launched in all Central Govt hospitals soon. AMRIT pharmacy reflects commitment to reduce the cost of treatment for the patients. Lakhs of patients will benefit from this initiative. The AMRIT pharmacy would be selling 202 cancer and 186 cardio-vascular drugs, and 148 types of cardiac implants at very affordable prices. Patients can buy medicines and implants at 50 to 60 percent cheaper prices than the open market from AMRIT outlet.The project has been floated in a tie-up with government-owned HLL Lifecare Ltd (HLL) which is deputed to establish and run the AMRIT chain of pharmacies across the country.

India's global trade strategy today in the light of changing agenda of the WTO

India's global trade strategy today in the light of changing agenda of the World Trade Organisation

             India has been gradually moving away from a closed and protectionist economy and has been orienting itself towards the market, both in terms of disinvestment (privatization) and opening up markets to foreign players (liberalization). India did not succumb to international pressures (from IMF or the World Bank) to liberalize overnight and went in for unilateral liberalization.

The Foreign Trade Policy has a two pronged objective: to double India’s share of global merchandise trade by 2009, over the 2004 level, and to use trade to generate employment.  Several free trade zones are established that facilitate 100 percent Foreign Direct Investment. This seems to have been achieved by having a very pro-export trade policy driven by incentives to exporters, which is quite the contrast to what was the policy up until liberalization. While exports are a key goal, the Foreign Trade Policy also acknowledges the importance of facilitating imports required to stimulate the economy and calls for a simplification of import procedures and reduction of import barriers. It also calls for coherence and consistency between trade and other economic policies. Specific sectoral strategies have been put in place for agriculture and other sectors with potential for generation of exports and employment in semi urban and rural areas. Although India has been a firm supporter of multilateral liberalization, it has also sought out Regional Trade Agreements (RTA) in recent years.

India has consistently taken the stand that the launch of any new round of talks depends on a full convergence of views amongst the entire WTO membership on the scope and framework for such negotiations. Our more urgent task is to resolve the concerns of developing countries on implementation of the Uruguay Round agreements. We are against calls for new commitments from the developing world for achieving symmetry and equity in the existing agreements. It is in favour of non-trade’ issues are permanently kept off the negotiating table.

It has also been possible to maintain without hindrance the domestic policy instruments for promotion of agriculture or for targeted supply of food grains. Domestic policy measures like the operation of minimum support price, public distribution system as well as provision of input subsidies to agriculture have not in any way been constrained by the WTO agreement.

Indian industry has had to face greater competition in the wake of globalisation. But it has successfully completed, as can be inferred from the fact that there has been no particular surge in imports.

Steps to reclaim land fertility in the agricultural lands in the country

Steps to reclaim land fertility in the agricultural lands in the country.

The problems and prospects of agricultural development in the country, some suitable and practicable policy suggestions for agricultural planning are being made for viable and accelerated development of agricultural and allied activities in India.

• The first and the foremost priority should be given to expansion of more and more agricultural lands through effective, appropriate and adequate reclamation measures. Immediate ‘measures should be undertaken to develop kutcha roads up to the fertile slopes and forest. This task should be specifically entrusted to Authorized Departments, and/or Non-Governmental Organizations, with instructions to finish the reclamation works within stipulated time period.
• The government and policy implementing authorities should take into consideration the core competence of the society. The culture of work systems like community works, exchange services, group works or self help works should be encouraged in implementation of agricultural development works through appropriate incentives.
• The waste lands in the area are physically handicapped with the problems like soil erosion, soil degradation etc. The problem of soil erosion is more acute on slopes of hills and soil degradation is confined in the water-logged areas. Green manuring, compost manuring and artificial manuring etc. should be adopted to recoup and maintain the fertility of the soils.
• The practice of shifting cultivation in the high hills should be initiated to settled practice of agriculture in particular. Proper knowledge regarding consumption-demand pattern, and cost-benefit pattern, in general should be imparted. This will ensure better utilization of land and increase the income and yield of the farmers.
• The existing network of irrigational facilities should be expanded to match the present and future demands of the locality through constructing new irrigational channels, boring of new tube-wells, collection of rain water in tanks and through embanking barren valleys, wherever possible.
• The government agencies should provide adequate facilities of loans and subsidies like easy and soft loans for purchasing seeds and fertilizers and development of agriculture lands and provide the farmers to have their own facilities for irrigation through developing channels.
• Cropping belts should be identified in the study area in accordance with the physical qualities of the land, types of the soils and availability of water. Crops requiring good lands should be grown in good soil-water belts, crops with average requirements in medium grade soil-water belt and the crops with lesser requirements in low grade soil-water belt. A suitable crop combination and crop rotation should be practiced in the area where ever posse.
• Similarly, the cropping pattern in Kharif, Rabi, and Zaid seasons should also be adjusted accordingly keeping in view the quality of soils, availability of irrigation, pattern of consumption and demand.
• The practice of multiple and cash cropping should be encouraged by providing adequate irrigational facilities, inputs, storage and marketing facilities to ensure better utilization of land and human resources.
• This will help improve the income and living standard of the farmers and at the same time, it will enrich and strengthen the agricultural sector to meet its own demands as well as the demands of the other parts of the state, slowly making it self sufficient in food grains and providing food security. Similarly, the practice of cash cropping should also be encouraged to meet the diversified demand and consumption needs of the regional population and also to increase the income and living standard of the tanners and labourers.
• The use of improved farm Inputs like HYV seeds, chemical fertilizers, insecticides, sophisticated implements etc. is very low per unit area in the region resulting in a low production and productivity and ultimately, to general poverty among masses. It is, therefore, high time that the inputs per unit area is encouraged and promoted by giving demonstration and educating and training the farmers.
• The agricultural and horticultural pricing should be streamlined and the exploitation of the farmers by middleman, traders and merchants should be stopped by providing adequate marketing facilities for the sale and purchase of the agricultural,  horticultural products at the nearest service centre’s, so that the farmers may get returns from their fields.
• The wages of the agricultural labourers should be adequately raised, so that they are encouraged to work efficiently and honestly. This will certainly increase the labour and land productivity and will, for that matter, Improve the income and living standard of the farmers as well as of the labourers.
• The farmers of the area are mostly uneducated and untrained. They are doubtful about the new farming methods, practices and inputs and do not want to deviate from the traditions. Therefore, it is urgently needed that sufficient facilities for training and educating the farmers into the use of new methods and inputs should be provided to their nearest service centre. Care should be taken to ensure that the training brings concrete changes in their behaviour and attitudes. This will generate more confidence in the entire agricultural system.
• State Government’s encouragement and initiation is a basic requirement for over all agricultural development.

Padhe Bharat Badhe Bharat

Padhe Bharat Badhe Bharat

PBBB, a nationwide sub-programme of Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan has been launched in August, 2014 to ensure quality at the fundamental years of schooling i.e. "classes i& II. Through this programme it will be ensured that all children are able to read with comprehension as well as basic numercy skills. The two tracks of PBBB are: Early reading and writing with comprehension (ERWC) and Early Mathematics (EM). As a follow up to the foundational programme, a programme called the National Reading Initiative was launched in 2015-16 to develop and promote the habit of reading among students in elementary schools, thereby extending the programme up to class8.

PAHAL

PAHAL

The world's largest cash subsidy under the Direct benefit Transfer Scheme was re-launched by the union Government all over the country with effect from january 1, 2015. The scheme was launched for the consumers of Liquid Petroleum Gas (LPG). The modified scheme is referred to as Pratyaksh Hanstantarit Labh or PAHAL, DBTL (Direct Benefit Transfer of LPG).

The PAHAL, DBTL, ambitious scheme was earlier launched on june 1, 2013 by the previous Government with the objective with the objective of giving cash subsidy on cooking gas. The present government has comprehensively examined the PAHAL< scheme and re-launched. Under the previous scheme, it was mandatory to have the Aadhar number for all consumers who want to receive the LPG subsidy. It was changed by PAHAL.

Housing for All (Urban) Mission/Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana

Housing for All (Urban) Mission/Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (PMAY)

It was launched in June, 2015 for addressing the housing requirements of urban poor including slum dwellers in the country with a goal of construction of 2 crore houses by 2022. The Mission will be implemented as a Centrally Sponsored Scheme (CSS) except for the component of credit linked subsidy which will be implemented as a Central Sector Scheme (CSS). The guidelines of the Mission provide for an average grant of ` 1 lakh per house for rehabilitation of eligible slum dwellers with participation of private developers using land as a resource, credit linked interest subsidy at 6.5 per cent for weaker sections of the society and central assistance of 1.5 lakh per house in Economically Weaker Sections segment for beneficiary led individual house construction or enhancement. The Mission will support construction of houses up to 30 square meters carpet area with basic civic infrastructure.

Kaya Kalp Scheme

Kaya Kalp Scheme

In keeping with the Clean India (Swatch Bharat Campaign), the Government evolved a Scheme under health initiative named 'Clean Hospital Campaign Scheme Kaya Kalp Scheme' This scheme aims: to promote high degree of cleanliness, hygiene and Infection control practices in public health care facilities; to incentivize and recognise the public healthcare facilities showing exemplary performance in adhering to standard protocols of cleanliness and infection control; to inculcate a culture of on-going assessment and external review of performance related to hygiene, cleanliness and sanitation in central hospitals/institutions; to create and share sustainable practices related to improved cleanliness in central hospitals/institutions linked to positive health outcomes etc. Initially, 10 Central Government Hospitals/Institutes have been identified for the first year i.e. 2015-16 and subsequently, other Central Institutions/Hospitals/ NEW AIIMS will be included in the scheme in a phased manner.

NIDHI

NIDHI (National Initiative for Developing and Harnessing Innovations)

It will be instituted through Innovation and Entrepreneurship Development Centres (IEDCs) to support and award INR 10 lakhs to 20 student innovations. It is a part of the StartUp Policy announced in January 2016.

PRASAD and HRIDAY

PRASAD and HRIDAY

Twelve cities namely Amaravati (Andhra Pradesh), Gaya(Bihar), Dwaraka(Gujarat), Amritsar(Punjab), Ajmer(Rajasthan), Kanchipuram(Tamil Nadu), Vellankani(Tamil Nadu), Puri(Odisha), Varanasi(Uttar Prasesh), Mathura(Uttar Pradesh), Kedarnath (Uttarakhand) and Kamakhya (Assam) have been identified for development under Pilgrimage Rejuvenation and Spirituality Augmentation Drive (PRASAD) by the Ministry of Tourism.

The Heritage City Development and Augmentation Yojana (HRIDAY) scheme aimed at preserving and revitalizing the soul and unique character of the heritage cities in India, has been approved by the Ministry of Urban Development for the Twelve cities under the scheme in the first phase, namely; Amaravati(Andhra Pradesh); Gaya (Bihar); Dwarka (Gujarat), Badami(Karnataka); Puri (Odisha), Amritsar (Punjab); Ajmer(Rajasthan); Kanchipuram (Tamil Nadu); Vellankani(Tamil Nadu); Warangal (Telangana); Varanasi (Uttar Pradesh); and Mathura (Uttar Pradesh).

The criterion for selection of these cities is their rich heritage and cultural history. To implement the PRASAD scheme a Mission Directorate has been set up in the Ministry of Tourism.

Aajeevika

Aajeevika

National Urban Livelihoods Mission (NULM): NULM, introduced in 2013 aims at organizing urban poor in self-help groups (SHGs), imparting skill training to urban poor for self and wage employment and helping them to setup self-employment ventures by providing credit on subsidized rate of interest. In addition, shelters for urban homeless and infrastructure for street vendors can also be taken up under this Mission. It has seven components viz. social mobilization & institution development, capacity building& training, employment through skill training & placement, self-employment programme, support to urban street vendors, shelter for urban homeless and innovative & special projects. The total number of Self Help Groups (SHGs) formed under the NULM is 67,303.(Strictly speaking, it is not a Modi Programme as it has been on ongoing one).

Soil Health Card Scheme

Soil Health Card Scheme

A scheme launched by the Government of India in February 2015. Under the scheme, the government plans to issue soil cards to farmers which will carry crop-wise recommendations of nutrients and fertilisers required for the individual farms to help farmers to improve productivity through judicious use of inputs. All soil samples are to be tested in various soil testing labs across the country. Thereafter the experts will analyse the strength and weaknesses (micro-nutrients deficiency) of the soil and suggest measures to deal with it. The result and suggestion will be displayed in the cards. The government plans to issue the cards to 14 crore farmers in a span of three years beginning 2015-16. Data as on 13 January shows that only 257,000 soil samples have been tested so far. Paucity of funds and human resources are key factors affecting the successful implementation of the scheme.

Swachh Vidyalaya

Swachh Vidyalaya 

The Government had launched Swachh Vidyalaya Initiative under the rubric of
Swachh Bharat Mission with an objective to provide separate toilets for girls and boys in all government schools within the timeline of 15th August, 2015. The target was achieved and the States/UTs reported that 4,17,796 toilet blocks were constructed or made functional in 2,61,400 schools within the given timeline. This included schools in the most difficult to reach areas in the country or areas facing Left Wing Extremism (LWE). The initiative was made successful in partnership with all State Governments, 64 Central Public Sector Undertakings, and 11 Private Corporates.

Paramparagat Krishi Vikas Yojana

Paramparagat Krishi Vikas Yojana (PKVY)

Government is implementing a Cluster based programme to encourage the farmer for promoting organic farming called Paramparagat Krishi Vikas Yojana (PKVY):

• Groups of farmers would be motivated to take up organic farming under Paramparagat Krishi Vikas Yojana (PKVY). Fifty or more farmers will form a cluster having 50 acre land to take up the organic farming under the scheme.

• In this way during three years 10,000 clusters will be formed covering 5.0 lakh acre area under organic farming. There will be no liability on the farmers for expenditure on certification.

• Every farmer will be provided Rs. 20,000 per acre in three years for seed to harvesting of crops and to transport produce to the market.

• Organic farming will be promoted by using traditional resources and the organic products will be linked with the market.

• It will increase domestic production and certification of organic produce by involving farmers

• In order to implement the Paramparagat Krishi Vikas Yojana in Paramparagat Krishi Vikas Yojana in the year 2015-16, an amount of Rs.300 crore has been allocated.

Janani Suraksha Yojana

Janani Suraksha Yojana 

(JSY) has been in force since 2005. It aims to decrease the neo-natal and maternal deaths happening in the country by promoting institutional delivery of babies. This is a safe motherhood intervention under the National Rural Health Mission (NRHM). It is a 100% centrally sponsored scheme it integrates cash assistance with delivery and post-delivery care. The JSY has identified ASHA, an accredited social health activist as a link between the Government and the poor pregnant women to encourage institutional deliveries among the poor women.results from the first phase of the National Family Health Survey (NFHS-4), 2015-16 showed improvements in MMR and IMR owing partly due to JSY.
*GOI Programme

Pro-Active Governance And Timely Implementation

Pro-Active Governance And Timely Implementation

PRAGATI , launched in 2015 ,is a unique integrating and interactive platform. The platform is aimed at addressing common man’s grievances, and simultaneously monitoring and reviewing important programmes and projects of the Government of India as well as projects flagged by State Governments.

In the first PRAGATI interaction in 2015 March, the Prime Minister discussed issues relating to unseasonal rain and relief to farmers, public grievances, project implementation, Swachh Bharat and ‘ease of doing business.’ The PRAGATI platform uniquely bundles three latest technologies: Digital data management, video-conferencing and geo-spatial technology. It also offers a unique combination in the direction of cooperative federalism since it brings on one stage the Secretaries of Government of India and the Chief Secretaries of the States. With this, the Prime Minister is able to discuss the issues with the concerned Central and State officials with full information and latest visuals of the ground level situation. Such an effort has never been made in India. It is also an innovative project in e-governance and good governance.

Rashtriya Avishkar Abhiyan

Rashtriya Avishkar Abhiyan

Strengthening learning of maths and science in upper primary classes is also an area of focus for which Rashtriya Avishkar Abhiyan (RAA) was launched in July 2015. It is an initiative to motivate and encourage children of the age-group 6-18 years, in science, mathematics and technology. The programme framework is on a twin track approach: Systemic improvements in the School System and Initiatives to encourage Science, Mathematics through alternative strategies. The strategies of the programme targets teachers, students, effective classroom transaction, school facilities for science and maths, and community engagement. The key activities include mentoring of schools by Institutions of Higher Education; formation of Maths and Science Clubs; participation of children in Science Congress; formation of teacher circles and participation of teachers in Teachers Science Congress.

National Urban Livelihoods Mission

National Urban Livelihoods Mission

NULM, introduced in September, 2013 aims at organizing urban poor in self-help groups (SHGs), imparting skill training to urban poor for self and wage employment and helping them to setup self-employment ventures by providing credit on subsidized rate of interest. In addition, shelters for urban homeless and infrastructure for street vendors can also be taken up under this Mission. It has seven components viz. social mobilization & institution development, capacity building& training, employment through skill training & placement, self-employment programme, support to urban street vendors, shelter for urban homeless and innovative & special projects.
*Government Programme

Mahatma Gandhi Pravasi Surksha Yojana

Mahatma Gandhi Pravasi Surksha Yojana  

A scheme (MGPSY) launched by Ministry of Overseas Indian Affairs (MOIA) for providing social security in the form (a) pension, (b) savings for return and resettlement and (c) life insurance to unskilled / semi-skilled overseas Indian workers (with below matriculation education).The Scheme commenced on a pilot basis in Kerala in 2012,for overseas workers in 17 countries where social security needs of foreign workers are less /not addressed.

Saansad Adarsh Gram Yojana

Saansad Adarsh Gram Yojana 

In October , 2014, Prime Minister Narendra Modi launched the Saansad Adarsh Gram Yojana. According to this yojana, each MP will take the responsibility of developing three villages by 2019. The idea is to make India’s villages to be fully developed with physical and institutional infrastructure. There are certain guidelines for this scheme, which has been formulated by the Department of Rural Development. The Prime Minister requested all MPs to develop one model village by year 2016 in their constituency and two more by 2019.

Sagar Mala

Sagar Mala 

The project is a strategic and customer-oriented initiative of the Government of India to modernize India's Ports so that port-led development can be augmented and coastlines can be developed to contribute in India's growth. In 2015 Cabinet gave approval for this project to develop 12 ports of India and also 1208 Islands. The project was launched by Ministry of Shipping (the nodal ministry for this initiative. A National Sagarmala Apex Committee (NSAC), composed of the Minister in-charge of Shipping, with Cabinet Ministers from stakeholder Ministries and Chief Ministers / Ministers in-charge of ports of maritime states as members, will provide policy direction and guidance for the initiative’s implementation, shall approve the overall National Perspective Plan (NPP) and review the progress of implementation of these plans.The project includes modernization of ports and islands, setting up of coastal economic zones, new major ports and fish harbors. It also includes developing integrated transport infrastructure for connecting the coast to the hinterland.Total investment in the project would be to the tune of ₹70000 crore.

Part IV of the Constitution of India to seek to promote education

Part IV of the Constitution of India to seek to promote education

The directive principles of state policy are enumerated in part IV of the constitution from articles 36 to 51. The directive principles constitutes very comprehension economic, social, and political programme for a modern democratic state. They aim at realizing the high ideas of justice, liberty, equality and fraternity as outlined in the preamble to the constitution. They embody the concept of a ‘welfare state’ and not that of a ‘police state’, which existed during the colonial era.

In the article 41 right to work, to education and to public assistance in certain cases the state shall, within the limits of its economic capacity and development, make effective provision for securing the right to work, to education and to public assistance in cases of unemployment, old age, sickness and disablement, and in other cases of undeserved want.

Right to education

The jurisdiction of court to interfere with discretion exercised by expert’s body like medical council of India or Dental council of India is limited even though right to education is concomitant to the fundamental rights.

            At the time when the Commission released its Consultation Paper on the subject, Constitution (93rd Amendment) Bill was under consideration.  But the proposed Amendment covers the Right to Free and Compulsory Education only between the years 6 and 14 years. The Commission is of the view that the Right to Free and Compulsory Education should also be extended to the children up to the age of fourteen years and that the right to education beyond the age of 14 years may depend upon the economic capacity and the stage of development of the State.

The Commission feels that the constitutional commitment for free and compulsory education for all children until the age of fourteen should under no circumstances be diluted and the State should fulfill this solemn obligation to the nation.  The responsibility for the universalisation of elementary education should be entrusted to Panchayats and local self government institutions.  It is recommended that the relevant provisions in the Constitution (93rd Amendment) Bill, 2001 making the right to education of children from six years till the completion of fourteen years as a Fundamental Right should be amended and enlarged to read as under:-

           “30-C Every child shall have the right to free education until he completes the age of fourteen years; and in the case of girls and members of the Scheduled Castes and the Scheduled Tribes, until they complete the age of eighteen years.”.

Curative petition, it become relevant in the case of LGBTs in India

Curative petition, it become relevant in the case of LGBTs in India

The concept of Curative petition was evolved by the Supreme Court of India in the matter of Rupa Ashok Hurra vs. Ashok Hurra and Anr. (2002) where the question was whether an aggrieved person is entitled to any relief against the final judgment/order of the Supreme Court, after dismissal of a review petition. The Supreme Court in the said case held that in order to prevent abuse of its process and to cure gross miscarriage of justice, it may reconsider its judgments in exercise of its inherent powers. For this purpose the Court has devised what has been termed as a "curative" petition. In the Curative petition, the petitioner is required to aver specifically that the grounds mentioned there in had been taken in the review petition filed earlier and that it was dismissed by circulation. The Curative petition is then circulated to the three senior most judges and the judges who delivered the impugned judgment, if available. No time limit is given for filing Curative petition.

Requirements:       

To entertain the curative petitions, the court has laid down certain specific conditions. Its laid down in order The requirements which are needed in order to accept the curative petitions are:

• The petitioner will have to establish that there was a genuine violation of principles of natural justice and fear of the bias of the judge and judgment that adversely affected him.
• The petition shall state specifically that the grounds mentioned had been taken in the review petition and that it was dismissed by circulation.
• The curative petition must accompany certification by a senior lawyer relating to the fulfillment of the above requirements.
• The petition is to be sent to the three senior most judges and judges of the bench who passed the judgment affecting the petition, if available.
• If the majority of the judges on the above bench agree that the matter needs hearing, then it would be sent to the same bench.
• The court could impose “exemplary costs” to the petitioner if his plea lacks merit.

The discourse on homosexuality and same-sex physical relations has been a hot topic in the last decade in India. From the controversial, often termed archaic, section 377 of the Indian Penal Code that criminalises 'unnatural offences' being read down by the Delhi High Court in historic judgment in 2009 to honour killings in remote corners of the country - activists are leaving no stone unturned to change both the legal and social obstacles that plague the Indian LGBT community. The LGBTQI groups have mobilised themselves, hundreds of gay men and women came out to their families, friends and to the world — because the personal is political. In light of the awaited verdict on the curative petition, the LGBTQI communities are conducting vigils across the nation, if you want to be a part of them and express your solidarity

The journey for 'emancipation' has been a long one for the LGBTQI community in India. In the 15 years that the case has caught the public's attention, there have been ups and downs. If there is one good thing that has come from this long drawn battle for basic equality and liberty, it is that homophobia is not celebrated in the Indian mainstream anymore. Actors, activists, politicians have come out in favour of striking down the law.

Until he extends the circle of his compassion to all living things, man will not himself find peace

Until he extends the circle of his compassion to all living things, man will not himself find peace.  Albert Schweitzer.

            There are other ways to use compassion in your life. There are those whose greatest happiness comes from giving. Let’s say you love to help people and have decided to go into the medical or healing field, but needs the funds to help pay for your education.

When you are in the asking or desire mode, looking for the financing to come into your life, you can use that compassion within you for a fast “lift off.” Feel the bliss you would feel helping others. Tink about how you would change lives for the better. Don’t think about how ill your patients will be and how you would hate to see them die in your presence.

Go with the positive and the idea that you will have been the one to put them in a situation of wellness, which will be grafting. In this way, you are using your compassionate attitude to help you initially, and that, in turn, will enable you to eventually help others. It’s win-win situation.

The philosophy that we all have the ability to help ourselves, and that pity gets us nowhere fast. Accept help from others and feel the gratitude for their help; likewise, help others from a place of love. The positive energy you create with compassion will astound you!

• Compassion as it relates to the law of attraction does not involve having pity for anyone else.
• Compassion involves helping others to see the positive side of life, which in turn helps them to create their own positive vibes.
• It’s alright to help someone in a financial manner as long as you’re mixing love and compassion in with your monetary gift.
• Having compassion for yourself helps you to help others.

Educating the mind without educating the heart is no education at all. -Aristotle

Educating the mind without educating the heart is no education at all. -Aristotle. 

For education, the sense of heart which we have been considering primarily implies the importance of a holistic approach. We have seen that heart encompasses feeling, knowing, loving, and is our access to one another. It is also the deep well of our full human meaning -- of whoever we may be at last. An educated heart would be educated in the practice of self-knowledge. An educated heart would be educated about affections, and the ways of interaction. It would also have to understand the requirements of participation and the necessity, for that possibility to be realized, of democratic association. It would understand the anatomy of courage and be responsive to its call. The heart of education is the well-being of community. For the educated heart, the need of a functioning community is the concrete impetus for using and evaluating the ways of knowing and creating we have inherited, as well as the challenge to invent new intellectual and aesthetic vehicles of its justice. An educated heart, as the place in ourselves and in others where we must especially allow hearing room, would respect transcendence at the horizon of our own self-meaning

A guide to educational practice generated by sensitivity to the education of the heart might include aims like these:

* To encourage habits of critical self-awareness

* To valorize openness to interiority

* To accept the equal right of all individuals to the autonomy of their emotional lives

* To encourage the development of individual voice; and, as the practical condition of its possibility, develop the capacity for hearing the voice of the other

* To learn what and how the other wants (the real justification of multi-culturalism is equality of access to one's own emotional life; simple empathy for each other is not enough)

* To accept mutuality as the form of the learning environment

* To acknowledge the educability of emotional life and develop its practice

* To acknowledge the limits of conceptualizable vision

* To encourage openness to the unknown, and humility and courage in its presence

* To develop appropriate tolerance for ambiguity to fully integrate expressive creation into the educational mainstream to study the requirements of democratic responsibility

* To promote habits and techniques of collaboration

* To focus assessments of educational quality on citizens' capacities to function within the requirements of democratic responsibility

Top Languages in the world by the number of speakers.

Top Languages in the world by the number of speakers.

Language is a primary parameter of human existence as it helps in effective communication between human beings. The world has more than 6800 languages spoken throughout it, some of which are spoken by a large proportion of world population, while others are spoken by only a minority.

1. MANDARIN

Mandarin, the language of the most populated country of the world, China is the most spoken language, with more than 1030 million speakers. This language is tough to learn as it constitutes of complex tones, which bear a close resemblance to each other and sometimes, it is hard to distinguish one tone from the other.

This list is widely influenced by the populations of the countries of origin of the languages. For instance, India and China are highly populated countries, which is perhaps the reason f a large number of speakers of Hindi and Mandarin.

2. ENGLISH

Next among the most spoken languages in the world is English, which is spoken in almost every country around the world and has nearly 890 million speakers. USA, Australia, New Zealand, UK, Canada, South Africa and Hong Kong are some of the countries where this language is immensely popular.

3. ARABIC

Arabic is another widely spoken language, which has an estimated 560 million speakers around the globe. It is one of the oldest languages in the world and is spoken widely in countries of the Middle East, including Saudi Arabia, Iraq, Egypt, Kuwait, Jordan and Syria. It was also declared as the sixth official UN language in 1974.

4. SPANISH

With nearly 420 million speakers around the world, Spanish becomes the fourth most spoken language in the world. Besides being the language of Spain, it is spoken in nearly all Central American and South American countries. This language also furnished many words to the English language.

5. HINDI

Since India is one of the most densely populated countries in the world, its language Hindi becomes the third most spoken language around the globe, with as many as 380 million speakers. Despite English becoming a popular language in the country, the prominence of its official language is still unsurpassed. The success of the Hindi film industry on a global level is another reason of popularity of this language.

Model for financing road projects under the Public Private Partnership

Model for financing road projects under the Public Private Partnership

Traditionally, financing for development of National Highways in India was from the budgetary resources of the Government of India. In order to augment the available resources, loans have also been raised from multilateral  agencies  like  World  Bank,  Asian Development  Bank  (ADB)  and  Japan  Bank  of International Cooperation (JBIC). NHAI has earlier received loans directly from multilateral agencies (highway project). These loans are expected to be repaid through the toll income from the project.  The interest rate for the project is determined according to ADB's pool based variable lending rate system for US dollar loans. Around 80 per cent of the external assistance is provided to NHAI as a grant by the Central government. The balance is made available as long-term loans to NHAI, with the Centre bearing the foreign exchange risk. Such loans are usually provided for 15-25 years with a moratorium of 5 years.

Presently, the development and maintenance of National Highways is financed by following modes:

•   Government's general budgetary sources
•  Dedicated accruals under the Central Road Fund (by levy of cess on fuel)
• Lending by international institutions:

·         World Bank

·         ADB

·         JBIC

Private financing under PPP frameworks

• Build  Operate  and  Transfer/Design  Build Finance  Operate  and  Transfer   (DBFOT) Investment by private firm and return through levy and retention of user fee
• Build Operate    and Transfer  (Annuity)  - BOT (Annuity  )  -  Investment  by  private  firm  and return  through  semi-annual  payments  from NHAI as per bid.
• Special  Purpose Vehicle  –  SPV  (with  equity participation by  NHAI)
• Market Borrowings

NHAI also has a provision for providing grant up to 40% of  the  project  cost  to make  projects  commercially viable. However, the quantum of grant is decided on a case to case basis and typically constitutes the bid parameter in BOT projects generally not viable based on toll  revenues  alone. The disbursement of such grant is subject to provisions of the project concession agreements  (please  refer  CD  for provisions  in  the Model Concession Agreement).

Public Private Partnerships (PPP) are going to be the main mode of delivery for future phases of NHDP. While there are a number of forms of PPP, the common forms that are popular in India and have been used for development of National Highways are:

• ·         Build, Operate and Transfer (Toll)  Model Private developers/ operators, who  invest  in  toll able highway projects, are entitled to collect and retain toll revenues  for  the  tenure  of  the  project  concession period.
• ·         Build, Operate and Transfer (Annuity) Model The concessionaire bids  for annuity payments  from NHAI  that  would  cover  his  cost  (construction, operations and maintenance) and an expected return on  the  investment.
• ·         Special  Purpose  Vehicle  (SPV)  for  Port Connectivity Projects
• ·         Model Concession Agreement (MCA) has been developed to facilitate speedy award of contracts. This framework has been successfully used for award of BOT concessions.
• ·         Operate, Maintain and Transfer (OMT) Concession. Under the concession private operators would be eligible to collect tolls on these stretches for maintaining highways and providing essential services.
• ·         Special Purpose Vehicles   (SPVs) wherein NHAI contributes up to 30% of the project cost as equity. The SPVs also raise loans for financing the projects. SPVs are authorized to collect user fee  on  the  developed  stretches  to  cover repayment  of  debts  and  for  meeting  the  costs  of operations and maintenance.

General procedure  for  selection  of  concessionaires adopted  by  NHAI  is  a  two-stage  bidding  process. Projects are awarded as per the model documents- Request for Qualification (RFQ), Request for Proposal (RFP) and Concession Agreement - provided by the Ministry of  Finance. 

The opportunity for private players in the road sector can be broadly categorised in two segments of Infrastructure Development  Logistics and Services and Opportunities for Private Investors/ Developers

NHAI Risk/Obligations are Land Acquisition  Risk in NHAI  is  responsible  for acquiring the requisite land for the project highway and Approvals of NHAI  will  provide  all  reasonable support and assistance  to  the concessionaire  in procuring  applicable  permits  required  from  any Government Instrumentality.

The International Monetary Fund (IMF) and relevant to India

The International Monetary Fund (IMF) and relevant to India

International Monetary fund, which is briefly called IMF, is one of the twin institutions which were established as a result of discussion among the monetary and financial delegations of the member countries of the United Nations held at Bretton Woods Z(U.S.A) in 1944. Its establishment on 1^st march, 1947, is a great land mark in the history of international economic relations, particularly in the monetary field.

The International Monetary Fund (IMF) is an association of 186 nations, working towards strengthening the international fiscal system, protecting monetary stability, assisting international trade, endorsing greater employment, maintaining fiscal growth, and diminishing poverty rate across the globe.

Main functions of IMF are:

• Regulating rate of exchange changes the internal policies of the member-countries to restore equilibrium are not to be interfered with by the IMF.
• Assistance for meeting balance of payments deficit, There is, however, a limit to the amount which it can thus obtain.
• Rationing out scarce currencies, the IMF has increase the supply of such ‘scarce’ currencies by borrowing or by purchasing them against gold. The member-countries are permitted to impose exchange restrictions in cash of such ‘scarce’ currencies.
• Elimination of exchange restrictions, IMF allowed a period of transition extending over 3 years during which the members could remain such restrictions.
• Policy guidance to administrations and nationalized financial institutions on the basis of the assessment of fiscal trends cross national know-how;
• Providing study data, statistics, predictions and assessments based on the survey of international, local and respective financial systems and markets.
• Providing loans to assist nations to surmount financial difficulties;
• Providing provisional finances to help evade poverty in progressing nations and
• Providing technological support and training to aid nations enhance the administration of their financial systems.

Programs of IMF are Stand-by arrangements, Extended fund facility (EFF), Poverty reduction and Growth Facility (PRGF), Supplement reserve facility (SRF), Contingent credit line (CCL), Special oil facility.

Role of IMF in shaping India’s development:

India joined the IMF on December 27, 1945, as one of the IMF's original members. India accepted the obligations of Article VIII in the IMF Articles of Agreement on current account convertibility on August 20, 1994. India borrowed both financial and other assistance from the IMF quite a number of times under several lending provisions of the fund.

The relationship between India and the IMF dates back to the time when India needed economic reform packages to strengthen its international reputation and fiscal policy. IMF provided major loans to India to structure its finances and maintain average economic growth rate.

India is among one of the developing economies that effectively employed the various Fund programmes to fortify its fiscal structure. Through productive engagement with the IMF, India formulated a consistent approach to expand domestic and global assistance for economic reforms. Whenever India underwent balance of payments crises, it sought the help of IMF and in turn the internationally recognized reserve willingly helped India to overcome the difficulties.

Net neutrality is the debate in India today

Net neutrality is the debate in India today

In net neutrality, differentiation is fine, discrimination is not we can differentiate based on what kind of content it is but if you discriminated based on who the content is for that is not fine.

Amid the ongoing debate over net neutrality, the major issue is that everyone has their own definitions of it. “The big problem is the term net neutrality is very confusing everyone seems to have their own definition. People talks to telecom companies who say we are for net neutrality. But what they implement may not be what others people call net neutrality. There is whole activist movement in India who have their version of Net neutrality.” Facebook may have two definition of net neutrality, one which applies for whatsapping into the issue. The committees has already in previous meeting taken note of the operators and the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India(TRAI).

Unfortunately, the definition of net neutrality is not very crisp and precise. And people conflate issues when they talk about network neutrality. People often say the principle of network neutrality is that all packets should be treated equally. The internet has never been neutral in the sense. Packets are not treated equally and that is fine. A packet is the unit of data that is routed between origin and destination on the internet.

Internet service providers or telecom firms should not provide competitive advantage to certain individual apps or services based on either quality of service or pricing. That is what Net Neutrality is. In Net neutrality, differentiation is fine, discrimination is not. You can differentiate based on what kind of content it is, but if you discrimination based on who the content is for that is not fine. The TRAI had received over 1 million comments on its paper over net neutrality with majority demanding implementation of ideal net neutrality.

Net neutrality calls for equal treatment to all internet traffic without any priority treatment to an entity or company on the basis of payment for content or service providers such as telecom companies, which is seems as discriminatory.