UPSC Prelims 2016 Analysis

Explanation

Pradhan Mantri MUDRA Yojana (PMMY) is aimed at providing affordable credit to micro and small enterprises (MSEs) in the non-farm sector.

Here's a breakdown of its key objectives

• Financial Inclusion MUDRA helps bring unbanked or underserved entrepreneurs into the formal financial system, enabling them to access loans from banks and other financial institutions.
• Loan Products The scheme offers a range of loan products categorized under three categories based on loan amount Shishu (up to Rs. 50,000), Kishore (above Rs. 50,000 up to Rs. 5 lakh), and Tarun (above Rs. 5 lakh up to Rs. 10 lakh).
• Focus on Non-Farm Sector MUDRA loans cater to income-generating micro enterprises engaged in manufacturing, trading, or service activities. - Activities allied to agriculture, like poultry, dairy, and beekeeping, are also included.

Explanation

All three indicators (1, 2, and 3) are used by IFPRI (International Food Policy Research Institute) to compute the Global Hunger Index Report.

The Global Hunger Index (GHI) is a tool designed to comprehensively measure and track hunger at global, regional, and national levels. It's a peer-reviewed annual report, now jointly published by Concern Worldwide and Welthungerhilfe.

Purpose To assess hunger severity and track progress towards ending hunger.

Each country's GHI score is calculated based on a formula that combines four indicators that together capture the multidimensional nature of hunger

• Undernourishment The share of the population whose caloric intake is insufficient;
• Child Stunting The share of children under the age of five who have low height for their age, reflecting chronic undernutrition;
• Child Wasting The share of children under the age of five who have low weight for their height, reflecting acute undernutrition; and
• Child Mortality The share of children who die before their fifth birthday, reflecting in part the fatal mix of inadequate nutrition and unhealthy environments.

Explanation

District Mineral Foundations (DMFs) were established in India under the Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Amendment Act, 2015.

The primary purpose of DMFs is to work for the welfare and benefit of areas and individuals affected by mining-related operations. This includes protecting the interests of the persons affected by mining operations.

However, DMFs do not have the authority to issue licenses for mineral exploration, as this is the responsibility of the State Governments.

Also, promoting mineral explorative activities in mineral-rich districts is not a stated objective of DMFs.

Their focus is more on the welfare of the affected persons and areas.

Therefore, the correct answer is (b) 2 only.

Explanation

The statement 1 is correct. The Initiative for Nutritional Security through Intensive Millets Promotion aims to demonstrate improved production and post-harvest technologies in an integrated manner with a cluster approach.

Statement 2 is also correct. Millets are mainly grown in regions of low annual rainfall and poor arid soil. It is inadequate, small, marginal and tribal farmers, who cannot afford costly irrigation practices, depend on the cultivation of millets. Hence these farmers benefit from the scheme and have a larger stake in this scheme.

Statement 3 is not correct. There is no such provision to encourage commercial crop farmers to shift to millet cultivation.

Explanation

Rashtriya Garima Abhiyaan is a national campaign to eradicate the practice of manual scavenging and rehabilitate manual scavengers in India.

It was launched in 2001 by the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment with the aim of

• Eliminating manual scavenging This involves identifying and prohibiting the practice of manual cleaning of human excreta from sewers, septic tanks, and other unsanitary places.
• Rehabilitating manual scavengers This includes providing alternative livelihoods, social security, and educational opportunities to those who have been engaged in manual scavenging.

Explanation

The Stand-up India scheme aims at promoting entrepreneurship among women and scheduled castes and tribes. The scheme is anchored by the Department of Financial Services (DFS), Ministry of Finance, Government of India.

• Scheme provides for refinance window through Small Industries Development Bank of India (SIDBI) with an initial amount of Rs, 10,000 Crore.
• Stand-Up India Scheme facilitates bank loans between Rs 10 lakh and Rs 1 Crore to at least one Scheduled Caste (SC) or Scheduled Tribe (ST) borrower and at least one woman borrower per bank branch for setting up a greenfield enterprise.
• This enterprise may be in manufacturing, services or the trading sector.
• In the case of non-individual enterprises, at least 51% of the shareholding and controlling stake should be held by either an SC/ST or woman entrepreneur.

Therefore, both statements 1 and 2 are correct.

Explanation

Under SWAYAM or Study Webs of Active Learning for Young Aspiring Minds programme of the Ministry of Human Resource Development, Government of India, professors and faculties from centrally funded institutions like IITs, IIMs, central universities will offer online courses to citizens of India.

SWAYAM is an instrument for self-actualisation providing opportunities for life-long learning. Here, learners can choose from hundreds of courses, virtually every course that is taught at the university/college/school level and these shall be offered by the best of the teachers in India and elsewhere.

Explanation

Out of the options listed, the correct statements regarding Atal Pension Yojana are

Correct Atal Pension Yojana is a minimum guaranteed pension scheme primarily targeted at unorganized sector workers in India. It encourages saving for retirement through regular contributions during their working years.

Incorrect There is no restriction on the number of family members who can join the Atal Pension Yojana scheme. As long as they meet the eligibility criteria (age 18-40 and savings bank account), multiple members within a family can enroll.

Correct Atal Pension Yojana provides a pension benefit for the spouse after the subscriber's death. The spouse becomes the nominee and receives a pension, though the specific amount might differ depending on the chosen pension plan by the subscriber.

Therefore, the correct answer is 1 and 3

Explanation

The Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana (PMFBY) is a government-sponsored crop insurance scheme.

Under this scheme, farmers have to pay a uniform premium of 2% for all Kharif crops, 1.5% for all Rabi crops, and 5% for commercial/horticultural crops. Therefore, the first statement is incorrect as the premium rate is not uniform for all crops in all seasons.

The second statement is correct. The scheme does cover post-harvest losses arising out of cyclones and unseasonal rains.

Therefore, the correct answer is (b) 2 only.

Explanation

Mission Indradhanush launched by the Government of India pertains to immunization.

Specifically, it's a special immunization program that aims to

• Increase full immunization coverage Mission Indradhanush targets children under two years old and pregnant women to ensure they receive all the recommended vaccines for protection against vaccine-preventable diseases.
• Focus on low-coverage areas
• Improve routine immunization

By focusing on these aspects, Mission Indradhanush aims to improve overall child health and reduce the burden of vaccine-preventable diseases in India.