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General Studies 3: Technology, Economic Development, Biodiversity, Environment, Security and Disaster
Management.
1. ECONOMY AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT .............................................................................................................................3

1.1 INDIAN ECONOMY AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT ...................................................................................................................... 3
1.2 GROWTH AND DEVELOPMENT ................................................................................................................................................................. 4
1.3 INFLATION ......................................................................................................................................................................................................... 5
1.4 EMPLOYMENT/UNEMPLOYMET/SKILL DEVELOPMENT ............................................................................................................. 5
1.5 INCLUSIVE GROWTH...................................................................................................................................................................................... 6
1.6 MOBILISATION OF RESOURCES ................................................................................................................................................................ 7
1.7 BANKING AND INSURANCE SECTOR IN INDIA ................................................................................................................................... 8
1.8 GOVERNMENT BUDGETING AND PUBLIC FINANCE ........................................................................................................................ 9
1.9 TAXATION ......................................................................................................................................................................................................... 10
1.10 ASSET MONETIZATION ............................................................................................................................................................................ 11
1.11 INDIAN AGRICULTURE ............................................................................................................................................................................. 11
1.12 FEMINIZATION OF AGRICULTURE ...................................................................................................................................................... 13
1.13 E-TECHNOLOGY IN THE AID OF FARMERS ...................................................................................................................................... 13
1.14 ECONOMICS OF ANIMAL REARING ..................................................................................................................................................... 14
1.15 WATER USE AND IRRIGATION .............................................................................................................................................................. 15
1.16 FARM SUBSIDIES ......................................................................................................................................................................................... 16
1.17 MSP AND PROCUREMENT....................................................................................................................................................................... 16
1.18 PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION SYSTEM .......................................................................................................................................................... 17
1.19 LAND REFORMS IN INDIA........................................................................................................................................................................ 18
1.20 FOOD PROCESSING INDUSTRIES ......................................................................................................................................................... 18
1.21 POVERTY......................................................................................................................................................................................................... 19
1.22 HOUSING ......................................................................................................................................................................................................... 21
1.23 FINANCIAL INCLUSION ............................................................................................................................................................................ 21
1.24 MANUFACTURING AND INDUSTRIES ................................................................................................................................................ 21
1.25 MSME................................................................................................................................................................................................................ 22
1.26 INFRASTRUCTURE ..................................................................................................................................................................................... 23
1.27 TOURISM SECTOR....................................................................................................................................................................................... 24
1.28 LOGISTICS SECTOR..................................................................................................................................................................................... 25
1.29 ENERGY ........................................................................................................................................................................................................... 26
1.30 ROAD ................................................................................................................................................................................................................ 27
1.31 RAILWAYS ...................................................................................................................................................................................................... 28
1.32 AVIATION ....................................................................................................................................................................................................... 29
2. ECOLOGY AND ENVIRONMENT .................................................................................................................................................. 29
2.1 CLIMATE CHANGE ......................................................................................................................................................................................... 29
2.2 INDIAN BIODIVERSITY................................................................................................................................................................................ 30
2.3 ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT ASSESSMENT (EIA) .............................................................................................................................. 32
2.4 ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION AND DEGRADATION ................................................................................................................... 32
2.5 LAND DEGRADATION .................................................................................................................................................................................. 33
2.6 AIR POLLUTION .............................................................................................................................................................................................. 34
2.7 WATER POLLUTION ..................................................................................................................................................................................... 35
2.8 RENEWABLE, ALTERNATIVE ENERGY AND ENERGY EFFICIENCY ......................................................................................... 35
2.9 DAM SAFETY .................................................................................................................................................................................................... 36
2.10 WESTERN GHAT CONSERVATION ....................................................................................................................................................... 36
2.11 FOREST CONBSERVATION ...................................................................................................................................................................... 37
2.12 SOLID WASTE MANAGEMENT .............................................................................................................................................................. 38
3. SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY ....................................................................................................................................................... 39
3.1 SCIENCE AND R&D IN INDIA ..................................................................................................................................................................... 39
3.2 INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY AND PATENT.......................................................................................................................................... 39
3.3 E-VEHICLES ...................................................................................................................................................................................................... 40
3.4 CRYPTOCURRENCY....................................................................................................................................................................................... 40
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3.5 NON-FUNGIBLE TOKEN (NFT)................................................................................................................................................................. 41

3.6 BIOTECHNOLOGY .......................................................................................................................................................................................... 41
3.7 ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE, DATA ANALYTICS AND BLOCKCHAIN TECHNOLOGY ........................................................ 42
3.8 NANO-TECHNOLOGY ................................................................................................................................................................................... 43
3.9 IT AND RELATED SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY ............................................................................................................................... 43
4. INTERNAL SECURITY ..................................................................................................................................................................... 44
4.1 DEVELOPMENT AND SPREAD OF EXTREMISM ................................................................................................................................ 44
4.2 LEFT WING EXTREMISM (LWE) .............................................................................................................................................................. 45
4.3 EXTERNAL STATE AND NON-STATE ACTORS................................................................................................................................... 45
4.4 CYBER SECURITY ........................................................................................................................................................................................... 46
4.5 MONEY-LAUNDERING AND ITS PREVENTION ................................................................................................................................. 47
4.6 SECURITY CHALLENGES AND THEIR MANAGEMENT IN BORDER AREAS:.......................................................................... 48
4.7 POLICE REFORMS AND MODERNIZATION ......................................................................................................................................... 49
5. DISASTER MANAGEMENT ............................................................................................................................................................ 50
5.1 DISASTER AND DISASTER MANAGEMENT......................................................................................................................................... 50

1. ECONOMY AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT

1.1 INDIAN ECONOMY AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
 Meaning/Definition: An economy is an area of the production, distribution and trade, as well as
consumption of goods and services by different agents.
 Data And Facts:
o GDP- $3.05 trillion, nominal; 2021
o GDP rank- 6th, nominal; 2021
o GDP per capita- $2,191 nominal; 2021
o GDP by sector (2020)- Agriculture: 16%; Manufacturing: 14%; Services: 49.9%
o Economic Survey (2021-22):
 The Gross Domestic Product (GDP) projected to grow by 8-8.5% in real terms in 2022-23
 Agriculture is estimated to grow 3.9% in 2021-22 on top of 3.6% and 4.3% respectively in the
previous two years.
 Industrial sector went through a big swing by first contracting by 7% in 2020-21 and then
expanding by 11.8% in this financial year.
 Manufacturing, construction and mining sub-sectors went through the same swing. The share of
industry in GVA is now estimated at 28.2%.
 The overall service sector contracted by 8.4% in 2020-21 and is estimated to grow by 8.2% in 2021-
22. However, there is a wide dispersion of performance by different sub-sectors.
 Indian economy is estimated to grow by 9.2 per cent in real terms in 2021-22, after a contraction
of 7.3 percent in 2020-21.
o In 2022, the IMF projects India's $3.53 trillion economy to overtake Britain's $3.38 trillion.
o IMF’s World Economic Outlook (April 2021): India is the world's sixth-largest economy by nominal
GDP. The third-largest by purchasing power parity (PPP).
o IMF’s World Economic Outlook (April 2022): cut its forecast for India’s GDP growth in FY 2022-23 to
8.2%, making it the fastest-growing major economy in the world, almost twice faster than China’s 4.4 %.
o Agriculture Based Economy: Agriculture and allied sectors provide around 14.2% of Indian GDP while
53% of total Indian population and 64% of the rural workforce is based on the agriculture sector.
o Forex Reserves: RBI data showed that the country's foreign exchange reserves decline of USD 678
million during the week ended 21st January 2022 to reach USD 634.287 billion
o Saving: Saving declined from 32.7 percent in 2011 to 29.3 per cent in 2018. The decline in savings rate
is because the economy is experiencing a declining wage growth (both rural and urban wages).
o Organised Sector: Only about 6% of the total employment is in the organized sector. More than 92% are
engaged in informal sector activities, meaning outside the reach of any social security benefits.
o Unorganized sector: The unorganized sector forms a significant part of the Indian economy. It accounts
for 45% of output and 93% of employment of the working population.
 Key Phrases For Mains: Virtuous Cycle Approach; Neoteric (modern) Innovators; Vocal for Local;
Information asymmetry; Departmentalism; Single Window Clearance Mechanism; One District, One Product;
K-shape recovery; Growth Vs. Development, knowledge economy, Plug and Play Approach.
 Schemes And Initiatives For Topic:
o Startup India: To build a strong eco-system for nurturing innovation and start-ups in the country.
o Make In India: To promote India as an important investment destination and a global hub in
manufacturing, design and innovation.
o Champion Services Sector Scheme (CSSS): Address sectoral and cross cutting issues including
regulatory reforms, service standards, data protection, etc.
o Make in India Scheme: to encourage companies to manufacture in India and incentivize dedicated
investments into manufacturing.
o Pradhan Mantri Mudra Yojana (PMMY)/MUDRA Yojana/Mudra loan: to provide formal access of
financial facilities to Non –Corporate Small Business Sector.
o Atma Nirbhar Bharat Abhiyan: The aim is to make the country and its citizens independent and self-
reliant in all senses. He further outlined five pillars of Aatma Nirbhar Bharat – Economy, Infrastructure,
System, Vibrant Demography and Demand.
 Committees/Commission:
o Khan working group: Development finance institution
o Tarapore committee: Capital account convertibility
o Vaghul Committee: Money market in India
o Rangarajan Committee: Disinvestment
1.2 GROWTH AND DEVELOPMENT

 Meaning/Definition:
o Economic Growth: It is an increased economic capacity to produce goods and services, compared from
one period of time to another which is conventionally measured by increase in a country’s GDP or GNP
or per-capita Net Domestic Product. Per-capita NDP is the most appropriate measure of economic
growth. It is quantitative term.
o Economic Development: defined as a sustained improvement in material well-being of society.
Economic development is a wider concept than economic growth. Apart from growth of national income,
it includes changes – social, cultural, political as well as economic factors which contribute to material
progress. It is qualitative term.
 Data And Facts:
 NITI Aayog: India@75
o Gross Domestic Product: Raise the economy’s size in real terms from USD 2.7 trillion in 2017-18 to
nearly USD 4 trillion by 2022-23.
o Exports of goods and services combined should be increased from USD 478 billion in 2017-18 to USD
800 billion by 2022-23.
o Employment: Increase Female Labour Force Participation to at least 30 percent by 2022-23.
o Industry: Double the current growth rate of the manufacturing sector by 2022.
o Housing for all@2022: Build 2.95 core housing units in rural areas and 1.2 crore housing units in
urban areas.
 Union Budget 2022-23: India’s economic growth rate in the current year (2021-22) is estimated to be
9.2% of GDP, the highest among all large economies.
 IMF’s World Economic Outlook (April 2021): India is the world's sixth-largest economy by nominal
GDP. The third-largest by purchasing power parity (PPP).
 IMF’s World Economic Outlook (April 2022): cut its forecast for India’s GDP growth in FY 2022-23 to
8.2%, making it the fastest-growing major economy in the world, almost twice faster than China’s 4.4 %
 Key Phrases For Mains: Precocious & Cleavage India (ambivalence towards private sector); Crony Socialism
to stigmatized capitalism; Limited Liability-Little Liability; Natural Premium on Honesty; Policy Paralysis;
Late Convergence Stall; Low Equilibrium Trap; Ongoing Accountability Vs. Episodic Accountability; Good
Politics-Bad Economics; Bounties For The Well Off; Scissor effect; capability approach.
 FYP’s associated with Growth and Development: The first seven five-year plans gave importance to self-
reliance which means avoiding imports of those goods which could be produced in India itself.
 Schemes And Initiatives:
o Pradhan Mantri Jan Dhan Yojana: Ensure access to financial products & services at an affordable cost.
Use of technology to lower cost & widen reach.
o National Pension System: To provide retirement income to all citizens.
o Ayushman Bharat: To achieve the vision of Universal Health Coverage (UHC)
o Mission Parivar Vikas: To accelerate access to high-quality family planning choices based on
information, reliable service and supplies within a right-based framework.
o Digital India Programme: To transform India into a digitally empowered society and knowledge
economy.
o Pradhan Mantri Mudra Yojana: MUDRA is a new initiative designed for non-corporate, non-form sector,
micro and small enterprises whose credit needs are below Rs. 10 lakhs.
 Committees/Commission: NITI Aayog's document-
o Three Year Action Agenda.
o Seven-Year Strategy Plan.
o 15 year Vision Plan

1.3 INFLATION
 Meaning/Definition: It is the rise in prices of goods and services within a particular economy wherein, the
purchasing power of consumers decreases, and the value of the cash holdings erode. Inflation measures the
average price change in a basket of commodities and services over time.
 Data/Facts:
o Consumer price index (CPI) inflation in India stood (in March 2022) at 6.95%. It is expected to rise
further in the coming months.
o Wholesale Price Index (WPI) inflation had remained in double digits since April 2021. The GDP
implicit price deflator-based inflation rate for 2021-22 is 9.6%.
o In United States where the consumer price inflation stood at 8.56%, a level not reached for several
decades
 Key Phrases: Inflation targeting; Monetary Policy; Food inflation; Price stability; Economic growth; Phillips
curve; Stabilisation Function; Supply Side Inflation; Repo rate; Cash Reserve Ratio
 Schemes and Initiatives:
o Monetary Policy Committee: Uses of monetary instruments under the control of the central bank to
regulate magnitudes such as interest rates, money supply and availability of credit with a view to
achieving the ultimate objective of economic policy.
o Price Stabilization Fund (PSF): It is being implemented to control price volatility of agricultural
commodities like pulses, onions etc.
1.4 EMPLOYMENT/UNEMPLOYMET/SKILL DEVELOPMENT

o Employment is the relationship between two parties, usually based on a contract where work is paid
for, where one party, which may be a corporation, for-profit, not-for-profit organization, co-operative or
other entity is the employer and the other is the employee.
o Unemployment takes place when people have no jobs when they are willing and seeking for work. The
unemployment rate is a measure of the prevalence of unemployment and it is calculated as a percentage
by dividing the number of unemployed individuals by all individuals currently in the labor force.
 Data And Facts:
o Labour Force Participation Rate: for ages 15 and above in urban areas was 47.3% in the October-
December quarter of 2020, down from 47.8% in the same period a year ago.
o Worker Population Ratio: for ages 15 and above in urban areas was 42.4% in the October-December
quarter of 2020, down from 44.1% in the same period a year ago.
o Periodic Labour Force Survey (PLFS) of 2017-18: rural unemployment has increased by 8% from
2011-12, and overall unemployment is the worst in 45 years.
o Unemployment Rate: 4.8% as overall, 5.1% for Male and 4.2 for Female.
o Skills: UNICEF 2019 reports that at least 47% of Indian youth are not on track to have the education and
skills necessary for employment in 2030.
o Gig workers in India: India leads the global gig economy with a 24% share of the online labour market,
with demand for software developers, creative and marketing professionals.
o Labour Force Participation Survey 2020-21
 Unemployment Rate: It shows that the unemployment rate fell to 4.2% in 2020-21, compared with
4.8% in 2019-20.
 Labour Force Participation Rate (LFPR): The percentage of persons in the labour force (that is,
working or seeking work or available for work) in the population increased from 40.1% in the
previous year to 41.6% during 2020-21.
 Worker Population Ratio (WPR): It increased from 38.2% of the previous year to 39.8%.
 Migration Rate: The migration rate is 28.9%. The migration rate among women was 48% and 47.8%
in rural and urban areas, respectively.
o Economic Survey (2021-22): The LFPR and WPR in urban sector also declined significantly during the
Q1 (36.4% and 43.7% respectively) but showed a swift recovery in the subsequent quarters (47.5% and
43% respectively).
o Hiring Intent Survey 2020: reflects a likely hiring rate of 71:29 for Male to Female candidates.

 Key Phrases For Mains: Demographic Bulge; Demographic dividend (DD) - No DD (Delivery of desired
inputs) - then Demographic Disaster (DD); Job less growth; Labour force; Disguised unemployment; Seasonal
unemployment; Structural unemployment; Cyclical unemployment; Frictional unemployment; Vulnerable
unemployment; Immobility of Labour; Dominance of Agriculture
o National Career Service Project: To provide a variety of employment-related services like career
counselling, vocational guidance, information on skill development courses, apprenticeship, internships.
o Pradhan Mantri Rojgar Protsahan Yojana: Since 2016-17 with the objective of promoting employment
generation.
o Annapurna Scheme: This scheme is for financing women to establish a food Catering Unit for selling
tiffin/food/lunch packs etc. It offers loans up to 50,000
o Stree Shakti: This scheme is for the women who wish to become entrepreneurs or are wanting to expand
their existing business
o Atal Innovation Mission: It seeks to promote Entrepreneurship through Self- Employment and Talent
Utilization.
o Prime Minister Employment Generation Programme: It is a credit-linked subsidy scheme which
promotes self-employment through setting up of micro- enterprises.
o National Skill Development Mission: aims to create convergence across sectors and States in terms of
skill training activities.
o Shram Yogi Maan Dhan Yojana: A pension scheme for unorganised workers.
o Skills Build Reignite: It seeks to provide job seekers and entrepreneurs with access to free online
coursework and mentoring support designed to help them reinvent their careers and businesses.
o Skilled Workers Arrival Database for Employment Support: This is an initiative to conduct a skill
mapping exercise of returning citizens under Vande Bharat Mission.
o Skills Strengthening for Industrial Value Enhancement (STRIVE): scheme will create awareness
through industry clusters, integrating and enhancing delivery quality of ITIs.
o PM-DAKSH’ (Pradhan Mantri Dakshta Aur Kushalta Sampann Hitgrahi) Portal and ‘PM-DAKSH’
Mobile App: to make the skill development schemes accessible to the target groups - Backward Classes,
Scheduled Castes and Safai Karamcharis.
o Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Vikas Yojana (PMKVY) 3.0: to empower India’s youth with employable skills
by making over 300 skill courses available to them.
o Arjun Sengupta Committee: Employment and Unorganised Sector
o Sharda Prasad Committee: To rationalise the Sector Skill Councils to impart vocational education
providing employment to youth.
o Bhagwati Committee: Unemployment and Public Welfare
1.5 INCLUSIVE GROWTH

 Meaning/Definition: “Inclusive Growth refers both to the pace and pattern of growth, which are interlinked
and must be addressed together.” — World Bank
 Data/Facts:
o Human Development Index 2020 (UNDP): India ranked 131 out of 189 countries
o Inclusive Development Index 2018 (WEF): India ranked 62/74th and was least inclusive among G-20
nations
o Multidimensional Poverty Index 2021 (UNDP): India ranked 66/109 countries.
o World Bank: estimates extreme poverty levels to reach 150 million people by 2021 (around 9.5% of
global population). Extreme poverty is defined by the World Bank as living below $1.90 per day.
 SDG Goals: SDG 8 (Decent Work & Economic Growth)
 Key Phrases: Employment Generation; Skill Development; Agriculture and Industrial Development; Good
Governance; Access to Essential Services; Financial Inclusion; Regional Disparity; Economic Disparity; Broad
based population; Uneven growth across sectors; Inclusiveness as Poverty Reduction; Inclusiveness as Group
Equality; Inclusiveness as Regional Balance; Inclusiveness as Reducing Inequality; Trickle Down Approach;
Bottom Up Approach
 FYP’s associated with Inclusive Growth:
o 11th Five Year Plan (2007-12) laid special emphasis on Inclusive Growth for the first time. It was later
carried forward by the 12th Five Year Plan.
o Twelfth Five Year Plan focuses on Growth which is: Faster, Inclusive and Sustainable
 NITI AAYOG'S Strategy For New India @75: Leverage technology; Availability of city services; Make
schools more inclusive; Make higher education more inclusive; Provide quality ambulatory services
o Pradhan Mantri Jan Dhan Yojana: To ensure access of financial products & services at an affordable
cost and use of technology to lower cost & widen reach.
o JAM Trinity: The government intends to use these three modes of identification to implement one of the
biggest reforms in independent India – direct subsidy transfers to the poor.
o Skill Training for Employment Promotion amongst Urban Poor (STEP-UP): focus on providing
assistance for skill formation/ upgradation of the urban poor to enhance their capacity to undertake self-
employment as well as access better salaried employment
o DISHA Project is being implemented in partnership with UNDP for creating employment and
entrepreneurship opportunities for women in India.
1.6 MOBILISATION OF RESOURCES

 Meaning/Definition: Resource Mobilization is the identification, organization and utilization of the
available material resources within the country (including financial resources) to further its objectives of
development missions and plans.
 Data And Facts (2021):
o Strategic Disinvestment: NITI Aayog asked to short list non-core PSUs for strategic sale. The
government has estimated disinvestment receipts at Rs 1,75,000 crore.
o Debt-to-GDP ratio (by N K Singh): recommended a debt-to-GDP ratio of 38.7% for the central
government, 20% for the state governments together and a fiscal deficit of 2.5% of GDP, both by FY 2022-
23.
o Direct Tax: There has been a growth of more than 80% in the number of returns filed in the last four
financial years and direct tax-GDP ratio rose to 5.98% in FY 2017-18, the highest it has been in the last
10 years.
o Indirect Tax: The share of indirect taxes has increased by up to 50 per cent of the gross tax revenue in
FY2019 from 43 per cent in FY2011. The combined share of customs and excise duties and value-added
tax reached an all- time high of 10.5 per cent of GDP.
o Current Fall in GST revenue: India’s Gross GST revenue fell to ₹1.02 lakh crore in May 2021, from a
record ₹1.41 lakh crore in April 2021, but the number was likely to be revised upwards.
o Saving: Saving declined from 32.7 percent in 2011 to 29.3 per cent in 2018. The decline in savings rate
is because the economy is experiencing a declining wage growth (both rural and urban wages).
 Key Phrases: Mobilisation of resources; Public finance; Strategic disinvestment, Public-Private-Partnership
(PPP), Private sector participation; Foreign direct investment; Gross budgetary allocation.
o Indian Resource Panel (InRP) : GOI has established the Indian Resource Panel (InRP) — an advisory
body under the MoEFCC to assess resource-related issues facing India and advise the government on a
comprehensive strategy.
o International Resource Panel (IRP) in 2007 : At a global level, UNEP established it as a central
institution to provide independent scientific assessments on sustainable use of natural resources and
their environmental impacts and policy approaches to promote decoupling economic growth from
environmental degradation.
o Paris climate change: Utilisation of resources can help meet India’s Nationally Determined
Contributions (NDC) commitments under the 2015 Paris Climate Change Agreement.
o Infrastructure development: National Housing and Habitat Policy, 2007 and the Pradhan Mantri Awas
Yojana (PMAY), 2015 emphasize on developing appropriate ecological design standards for building
components, materials and construction methods.
o Manufacturing Stage : flagship programmes like “Make in India” that provide special assistance to
energy efficient, water efficient and pollution control technologies through Technology Acquisition and
Development Fund (TADF).
o Reduce, Reuse and Recycle: There are policies existing to tackle all types of waste ranging from
hazardous waste to Municipal Solid Waste (MSW), Construction and Demolition (C&D) waste, plastic
waste and e-waste.
1.7 BANKING AND INSURANCE SECTOR IN INDIA

 Meaning/ Definition:
o Bank: A bank is a financial institution that accepts deposits from the public and creates a demand deposit
while simultaneously making loans. Lending activities can be directly performed by the bank or indirectly
through capital markets.
o Insurance: It is a means of protection from financial loss. It is a form of risk management, primarily used
to hedge against the risk of a contingent or uncertain loss.
 Data And Facts:
o Economic Survey 2019-20: Being the fifth largest economy, India should have at least six banks in the
top 100 global list-
o Banking Insurance Penetration India: 3.76%; World Average: 6%
o Bank Accounts (Banking Penetration): 80% (Global Findex Report 2018)
o Stressed Assets: 85% under Public Sector Banks
o Money Lenders Account: for 30% of total banking activities
o Economic Survey 2021-22: Banking
 Credit Growth for Scheduled Commercial Banks (SCBs) at 9.2% (6.6% last year).
 Gross Non-Performing Advances (GNPA) ratio (i.e. GNPAs as a percentage of Gross Advances) of
SCBs declined from 11.2% at the end of 2017-18 to 6.9% in September, 2021.
 Net Non-Performing Advances (NNPA) ratio declined from 6% to 2.2% in the same period.
 Restructured Standard Advances (RSA) ratio of SCBs increased to 1.5% from 0.4%.
 Stressed Advances ratio of SCBs increased from 7.9% at end-September 2020 to 8.5% at end
September 2021 due to various COVID-19 related dispensations/moratoriums.
o Economic Survey 2021-22: Insurance
 Insurance penetration in India increased to 4.2% in 2020 (3.2% in life insurance and 1% in non-life
 insurance) from 2.71% in 2001.
 Insurance Density in India increased to $78 in 2020 ($59 in Life insurance and $19 in Non-Life
 insurance) from $11.5 in 2001.
o Insurance penetration: India’s insurance penetration was pegged at 3.76% in FY20, with life insurance
penetration at 2.82% and non-life insurance penetration at 0.94%.
o Cyber-insurance: According to the committee report, the number of internet users in India is currently
estimated at 700 million. India was ranked as the second-largest online market worldwide in 2019,
coming second only to China.
 Key Phrases For Mains: Account Aggregators (AA); Fiscal Room to banks; Monetary Policy Transmission;
Revitalizing asset monetization; Debt to GDP ratio; Structured Early Intervention Mechanism; Differential
Licensing System; Secured Creditors; Fiscal Repression of Commercial Banks; Crowding Out Effect; Rollover
risk; Correlated asset risk; Fintech Firms; Digital Presence: Advanced Banking Services; Leveraging
Technology To Minimise Operating Costs; Integrated Payment Gateways.
o Pradhan Mantri Mudra Yojana: Increasing access of finance to the unbanked but also bringing down
the cost of finance from the last Mile Financiers To The Micro/Small Enterprises.
o Pradhan Mantri Jan Dhan Yojana: Ensure access of financial products & services at an affordable cost.
o Kisan Credit Card: To provide adequate and timely credit support from the banking system under a
single window for cultivation and other needs.
o PM Fasal Bima Yojana: Ensuring credit worthiness of the farmers, crop diversification and enhancing
growth and competitiveness of the agriculture sector besides protecting the farmers from production
risks.
o Unified Package Insurance Scheme: It aims to provide insurance based financial protection to citizens
associated in the agriculture sector and will provide yield-based crop insurance to the farmers based on
his ownership rights of the land and sown crop.

o Pradhan Mantri Vaya Vandana Yojana: To provide social security during old age and protect elderly
persons against a future fall in their interest income due to uncertain market conditions.
o Pradhan Mantri Suraksha Bima Yojana: It is a one year cover Personal Accident Insurance Scheme,
renewable from year to year, offering protection against death or disability due to accident.
o Pradhan Mantri Jeevan Jyoti Bima Yojana: A one-year life insurance scheme renewable from year to
year Offering coverage for death due to any reason.
o Udyami Mitra’ Portal: It was launched by SIDBI to provide easy access to credit and hand-holding
services for micro small medium enterprises (MSME).
o P K Mohanty Committee: To review present ownership guidelines and corporate structure for Indian
Private Sector Banks.
o Narasimham Committee: Banking Reforms
o A Ghosh committee: Malpractices in banks
o Rangarajan Committee: Computerization Of Banking Industry and Public Sector Disinvestment
o Subhash Chandra Committee 2019: On Fintech Related Issues
1.8 GOVERNMENT BUDGETING AND PUBLIC FINANCE

 Meaning/Definition: Budget or as constitution calls Annual Financial Statement (Art. 112 ) is a financial
plan for a defined period, often one year. It includes estimated revenues. It states planned spending of
resource quantities, costs and expenses, assets, liabilities and cash flows. Governments use it to express
strategic plans of activities or events in measurable terms.
 Constitutional Provisions Related To Budget:
o Art. 112: Budget or Annual Financial Statement containing estimated revenues and expenditures for the
next financial year.
o Art. 114: Appropriation Bill to obtain Parliament's permission to spend money from Consolidated Fund
of India. Such expenditure is of two types: The expenditures made upon and expenditure made from
the Consolidated Fund of India.
o Art. 264: Finance Bill to obtain Parliament's permission to collect taxes. Parliament can reduce or abolish
a tax proposed by the Govt. but Parliament cannot increase tax beyond what the Government has
proposed in the Finance bill.
 Data And Facts (2021):
o Total revenue: ₹19.76 trillion (US$260 billion) Increase (23.4%)
o Total expenditures: ₹34.83 trillion (US$460 billion) Increase (1%)
o Deficit: 6.8% of GDP
o Debt-to-GDP ratio (by N K Singh): recommended a debt-to-GDP ratio of 38.7% for the central
government, 20% for the state governments together and a fiscal deficit of 2.5% of GDP, both by FY 2022-
23.
o Cess Collection: According to a report for 2018-19, the Centre collected over ₹2.74-lakh crore through
35 types of cesses during FY19.
o Disinvestment Target: For FY20-21, the government had set a target of raising ₹2.1 lakh crore from
privatization and sale of minority stakes in state-owned companies.
o Union Budget 2022-23:
 Growth Rate: India’s economic growth in the current year (2021-22) is estimated to be 9.2% of GDP,
the highest among all large economies.
 India’s gross domestic product (GDP) in dollar terms has already crossed $3 trillion.
 The revised Fiscal Deficit in the current year is estimated at 6.9% of GDP (Gross Domestic Product)
as against 6.8% projected in the Budget Estimates.
 The Fiscal Deficit in 2022-23 is estimated at 6.4% of GDP, which is consistent with the broad path
of fiscal consolidation announced last year to reach a fiscal deficit level below 4.5% by 2025-26.
 Amrit Kaal: India has entered into Amrit Kaal, the 25-year-long leadup to India@100.
 Productivity Linked Incentive: 60 lakh new jobs to be created under the productivity linked
incentive scheme in 14 sectors.
 Education: ‘One class-One TV channel’ programme of PM eVIDYA to be expanded to 200 TV channels.
 Healthcare: The health sector has been allocated Rs 86,200.65 crore in the Union Budget.
 Tax Proposals: 30 per cent tax on income from transfer of virtual digital assets has been proposed.
 Agriculture and food processing: Budget allocation for the ministry of agriculture and farmers’
welfare is Rs 1,32,513 crore for 2022-23 fiscal.
 Infrastructure development: PM GatiShakti National Master Plan will encompass the seven engines
for economic transformation, seamless multimodal connectivity and logistics efficiency.
 Expenditure:
> The total expenditure in 2022-23 is estimated at Rs 39.45 lakh crore, while the total receipts other
than borrowings are estimated at Rs 22.84 lakh crore.
> The outlay for capital expenditure is once again being stepped up sharply by 35.4 per cent from
Rs 5.54 lakh crore in the current year to Rs 7.50 lakh crore in 2022-23.
 MSMEs:
> A Raising and Accelerating MSME Performance (RAMP) programme will be rolled out with a Rs
6,000 crore outlay spread over 5 years for MSMEs.
> The Emergency Credit Line Guarantee Scheme (ECLGS) that provided much needed additional
credit to over 1.3 crore MSMEs will be extended till March 2023 with its guarantee cover
expanded by Rs 50,000 crore to Rs 5 lakh crore.
 Key Phrases: Gender-based budgeting; Fiscal Responsibility and Budget Management; Status Paper On
Government Debt; Deficit Financing; balance budget; deficit oriented budget; populist measures;
performance budgeting, zero based budgeting; sunset budgeting; Growth oriented investment;
Disinvestment: “government has no business being in business”.
o Atma Nirbhar Bharat package (1.0): Estimated at Rs. 23 lakh crore – more than 10% of GDP.
o Structural reforms: One Nation One Ration Card; Agriculture and Labour Reforms; Redefinition of
MSMEs; Commercialization of the Mineral Sector; Privatization of Public Sector Undertakings.
o Development Financial Institution (DFI): A sum of Rs 20,000 crores is being provided to capitalise DFI
institution. A lending target of 5 lakh crores in the next 3 years has been set for this institution.
o National Infrastructure Pipeline (NIP): This was launched with 6,835 projects, which has now
expanded to 7,400 projects.
o National Hydrogen Mission: A comprehensive National Hydrogen Mission is also being launched for
generating hydrogen from green power sources.
o Amrit Kaal: India has entered into Amrit Kaal, the 25-year-long leadup to India@100. Amrit Kaal
Priorities are PM GatiShakti; Inclusive Development; Productivity Enhancement & Investment, Sunrise
Opportunities, Energy Transition, and Climate Action; Financing of Investments
o Acworth Committee (1920-21) recommended a separate Railway Budget.
o NK Singh Committee: FRBM Review
o Planned Non Planned Expenditure: Rangarajan (2012), Vimal Jalan (2015)
o Vimal Jalan (2015) Committee: Expenditure Management
o Shankaracharya Committee: Calendar for Budget
1.9 TAXATION
 Meaning/ Definition: A tax is a compulsory financial charge or some other type of levy imposed on a
taxpayer (an individual or legal entity) by a governmental organization in order to fund government
spending and various public expenditures.
 Data And Facts:
o Fiscal Deficit (2019-20): stood at 4.6 % of GDP.
o Gross Tax Revenue (GTR): Budget 2020-21 estimated GTR to be 24.23 lakh crore (10.8% of GDP).
o Non-Tax Revenue: Budget 2020-21 aimed to raise 3.85 lakh crore of NTR, 1.7% of the GDP.
o Debt receipts: Total liabilities of the Central Government at end March 2020 stood at 97.05 lakh crore.
o Tax base: Only 6.08 cr individuals pay taxes (~4.9%) much below the desired level of 23% and only
15.5% of net national income is reported.
 Personal Income: No change in personal income tax slabs

 Proposed imposing a tax of 30 per cent on virtual assets, effectively legitimising trading of private
cryptocurrencies and non-fungible tokens.
 Alternate Minimum Tax paid by cooperatives brought down from 18.5 per cent to 15 per cent.
 Tax deduction limit increased from 10 per cent to 14 per cent on employer’s contribution to the
NPS account of State Government employees.
 Surcharge on AOPs (consortium formed to execute a contract) capped at 15 per cent.
 Key Phrases For Mains: Fiscal Space; Fiscal Discipline; Buoyancy of Revenues (BoR); gross fiscal deficit
(GFD); Interest payment to revenue receipts (IP-RR); Monetized Deficit; Actual Individual Consumption;
Gross Fixed Capital Formation; Long Term Financing Landscape; Equalization levy; Higher taxes in the future.
o Scheme For Remission Of Duties And Taxes On Exported Products (RODTEP): To boost exports
Scheme for enhancing Exports to International Markets.
o Gold Monetization Scheme: To mobilise gold held by households and institutions of the country and
facilitate its use for productive purposes.
o Income Tax Relief For Developers & Home Buyers: In a bid to provide incentive to the middle class to
buy homes, the differential between circle rate and agreement value in real estate income tax has been
increased from 10% to 20%.
o Platform For Infra Debt Financing: Government will make ₹ 6,000 Crore equity investment in the debt
platform of National Investment and Infrastructure Fund (NIIF).
o Raja Chelliah Committee: Tax reforms in India
o Y B Reddy Committee: Assessing Of Income Tax Rebates
o Kelkar Committee (2015): Assessing PPP in India and Tax Structure Reforms
o Rekhi committee: Examined the taxation system on indirect taxes.
1.10 ASSET MONETIZATION

 Meaning/Definition: Asset Monetization involves creation of new sources of revenue by unlocking the value
of hitherto unutilized or underutilized public assets. Internationally, it is recognized that public assets are a
significant resource for all economies.
 Data And Facts:
o The Union government has announced to monetise about Rs 6 trillion worth of assets held by it, and
public sector units (PSUs).
o Letting the private sector bid for operating such assets for 25 years.
o Previous assets monetization:
 NHAI has monetised hundreds of kilometres of roads through TOT concessions and has raised an
impressive Rs 15,000 crore.
 Railways: As part of the railway station redevelopment program Habibganj and Gandhinagar railway
stations are being redeveloped into airport-like world class stations by the Indian Railways Station
Development Corporation (IRSDC).
 Shipping: The Ministry of Shipping is in the process of recycling 11 assets, including 10 berths and
the International Cruise Terminal at Goa Port.
 Key Phrases For Mains: Sustained Economic Growth; Infrastructure Investment; Re-Imagined Approach;
Unlocks Value From Public Investment; Managing Infrastructure; Robust PPP Ecosystem; Innovative
Structured Vehicles.
o National Monetisation Pipeline (NMP): A roadmap for asset monetisation of various brownfield
infrastructure assets across sectors.
o Vijay Kelkar Committee (2012): Asset Monetisation policy
1.11 INDIAN AGRICULTURE

 Meaning/Definition (ES 2019): Agriculture and allied sectors are critical in terms of employment and
livelihoods for the small and marginal farmers, who dominate the agriculture ecosystem in India. To attain

the SDGs of ending poverty and bringing in inclusive growth, activities related to agriculture need to be
closely integrated with the SDG targets.
 Data And Facts About Topic:
o UN-SDG 1: End poverty in all forms
o UN-SDG 2: Eliminate global hunger, protect indigenous seed and crop varieties, doubling agriculture
productivity and small farmer incomes by 2030.
o Agriculture is a state subject. Entry 14 of the state list mentions the item relating to agriculture:
“agriculture, including agricultural education and research, protection against pests and prevention of
plant disease”.
o Economic Survey (2020-2021): agriculture constitutes 19.9% of the GDP, up from 17.8% in 2019-20.
Agriculture provides a livelihood for nearly 50% of the working population.
o Agricultural Yield: Increased 4 times since independence but the yield of rice and wheat below the
world average Agricultural Employment share in total.
o Agricultural Employment: 41.49% of the total workforce in India work in agriculture and 80% of all
are women workers (Agri census 2015-16).
o Economic Survey 2021-22:
 The Agriculture sector experienced buoyant growth in the past two years, accounting for a sizable
18.8% (2021-22) in Gross Value Added (GVA) of the country registering a growth of 3.6% in 2020-
21 and 3.9% in 2021-22.
 Net receipts from crop production have increased by 22.6% in the latest Situation Assessment Survey
(SAS) compared to the SAS Report of 2014.
 The Livestock sector has grown at a CAGR of 8.15% over the last five years ending 2019-20.
 Government has further extended the coverage of the food security network through schemes like
PM Gareeb Kalyan Yojana (PMGKY).
 Budget allocation for the ministry of agriculture and farmers’ welfare: Rs 1,32,513 crore for 2022-23
fiscal.
 ‘Kisan Drones’ to be promoted for crop assessment, digitisation of land records and spraying of
insecticides.
 A fund with blended capital raised under the co-investment model through Nabard will be set up to
finance startups and rural enterprises working in agri-space.
 Zero-budget natural farming: The agriculture universities in the country will be encouraged to
include these areas in their syllabus.
o Farmer’s suicide (NCRB data): over 12,000 suicides have been reported in the agricultural sector every
year since 2019. Farmer suicides account for approximately 10% of all suicides in India.
o Agriculture export: India’s share in global agriculture export is about 2.2% and it ranks at 9th position
in the world. Export of agricultural items contributes about 13% of agriculture GDP. Indian agricultural
exports grew at 9% compared to China (8%), Brazil (5.4%), and the US (5.1%) between 2007 and 2016.
o Covid-19 and agriculture: The start of the coronavirus pandemic has coincided with the peak
harvesting season. As the markets are locked down, there is a threat to the crop in over 100 lakh hectares
in the country. 70% of rural households still depend primarily on agriculture for their livelihood.
 Key Phrases For Mains: Feminisation of agriculture; Crop Diversification and Sustainable Farming; De
minimis level; Due Restraint/ Peace Claus; Shift from subsistence to sustainability; Excessive reliance on
Monsoons; Overcrowded agriculture sector; Unscientific farming practices; fragmented land holding; Zero
budget natural farming; Agrarian economic structure; Low Farm Revenues; High inputs Cost; Moral Hazard
of Farm Loan Waiver; Cobweb Cycle; Rural-urban migration; Food security
o Soil Health Cards: Scheme launched to reduce fertilizers usage and expenses
o Credit facility for farming and agriculture: raised to Rs.10 lakh crore.
o Fertilizer sector reform (Urea): 100% of Neem Coating of indigenous and imported urea achieved.
Diversion of highly subsidized urea towards non-agricultural purposes reduced to negligible.
o Stabilization of prices of Pulses: For the first time, a buffer stock of up to 20 lakh MT of pulses is being
created to manage the price volatility of pulses

o Agro-Meteorological Services for Farmers: About 21 million farmers are currently receiving AAS in
vernacular languages through SMS and other modes.
o Paramparagat Krishi Vikas Yojana: Promoting organic farming and establishing an Organic value chain
for the North Eastern States.
o National Gokul Mission: aiming at improving the genetic stock and breeds of indigenous cattle
population and at Milk Production and Dairy development.
o SAMPADA scheme: to provide effective and seamless backward and forward integration for the
processed food industry, better prices to farmers, huge rural employment opportunities, reduced
wastage, and increased export competitiveness in processed food.
o PM Fasal Bima Yojana: Providing financial support to farmers suffering crop loss/damage arising out
of unforeseen events.
o National Agricultural Market (E-NAM): To promote genuine price discovery Increases farmers’ options
for sale and access to markets.
o Green Revolution–Krishonnati Yojana: To develop the agriculture and allied sector in a holistic and
scientific manner.
 Committees/Commission on agriculture:
o Khusro committee: Agricultural credit system
o RV Gupta committee: Small savings agricultural credit
o Shanta Kumar committee: MSP and Procurement
o Shankar Guru (Model APMC) committee: Agriculture Marketing
o Ashok Dalwai Committee: Doubling Farmer Income
1.12 FEMINIZATION OF AGRICULTURE

 Meaning/Definition: The term ‘Feminization of agriculture’ refers to increasing participation of women in
agricultural activities.
 Data/Facts:
o 10th Agriculture Census (2015-16): the percentage of female operational holdings in the country has
increased from about 13% percent during 2010-11 to around 14% during 2015-16.
o Employment: Agriculture sector employs 80% of all economically active women; they comprise 33% of
the agricultural labour force and 48% of self-employed farmers.
o NSSO Reports: about 18% of the farm families in India are headed by women.
o Economic Survey 2017-18: a rise in migration of men from rural to urban areas has resulted in the
feminization of agriculture.
 Key Phrases: Male outmigration from rural, primary agricultural areas; Blurring of the traditional gender
segregation of roles in agriculture; Women’s participation; Women in the agricultural labor force; Agrarian
Distress and Shift of men to Casual work; Upward mobility of women; Feminization of poverty
o Mahila Kisan Sashaktikaran Pariyojana (MKSP): Implemented by the Ministry of Rural Development,
it is a programme exclusively for women farmers. It aims to empower women by enhancing their
participation in agriculture and creating sustainable livelihood opportunities for them.
o ICAR-Central Institute For Women In Agriculture: First of its kind institution in India devoted to
gender-related research in agriculture.
1.13 E-TECHNOLOGY IN THE AID OF FARMERS

 Meaning/Definition: E-agriculture is a term to study the use of Information and Communication Technology
(ICT) in agricultural development. It is a way of providing the power of ICT in the agricultural domain. The
e-Technology can be utilized through three basic pillars, i.e. Agri-extension & Information + Services +
Research = Digitally empowered farmer
 Data And Facts: According to a recent report, it has been revealed that mobile internet access can increase
a small farmer’s revenue by 50%.
o National e-Governance Plan in Agriculture (NeGP-A): aims to achieve rapid development of
agriculture in India through ICT enabled multiple delivery channels such as Internet, Touch Screen
Kiosks, Krishi Vigyan Kendras, Kisan Call Centres (KCC), Agri-Clinics, Common Service Centers (CSCs),
Mobile Phones (Broadcast, IVRS, interactive messaging using Unstructured Supplementary Service Data
and Voice Recognition
o Information Technology Vision 2020: Information relating to the agriculture sector would be available
to the ultimate users–the farmers for optimizing their productivity and income
o Kisan SMS Portal: for dissemination of relevant information, giving topical and seasonal advisories, and
providing services through SMSs in local languages. It is an integrated Farmers’ Portal developed
completely in-house by the Department of Agriculture and Cooperation
o Kisan Sabha App: intends to implement the most efficient and convenient logistics assistance to the
farmers.
o Crop Insurance Mobile App: can be used to calculate the Insurance Premium for notified crops based
on area, coverage amount, and loan amount in case of loanee farmer
o National Agriculture Market (e-NAM): to connect existing APMCs and other market yards to create a
unified national market for agricultural commodities
o Seednet: for information on Quality Seeds by Union Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare
o AGMARKNET: has increased the efficiency in marketing activities by establishing a nation-wide
information network, which provides information on prices, arrivals, availability, trends, analysis, laws.
o Kisan Call Centres (KCC): aimed at answering farmers’ queries on a telephone call in farmers' dialect.
o Kisan Suvidha and Pusa Krishi Mobile App: The application provides information related to market
prices, seeds, pesticides, fertilizers, weather and agricultural machinery, etc. It disseminates information
about the latest technologies developed by the Indian Agricultural Research Institute.
o Kisan Drones: announced in the Union Budget 2022-23 to be promoted for crop assessment, digitisation
of land records and spraying of insecticides. /①
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1.14 ECONOMICS OF ANIMAL REARING

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 Meaning/Definition: As per the Ministry of Fisheries and Animal husbandry, Animal rearing is considered
an allied activity with agricultural activities in rural India. Animal rearing is an integral component of Indian
agriculture, supporting the livelihood of more than 50% of the rural population.
 Data And Facts:
o Animal rearing: an integral component of Indian agriculture, supporting the livelihood of more than
= 50% of the rural population.
o Global leader: India is World’s highest livestock owner at about 535.78 million.
✓o Supplementing income: Livestock contributed 16% to the income of small farm households as against
-
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4c① o an average of 14% for all rural households. ✓

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- Employment: It also provides employment to about 8.8 % of the population in India. India has vast
%⑤ a livestock resources.
- - -
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r o Contribution: Livestock sector contributes 4.11% of GDP and 25.6% of total Agriculture GDP.
o Funding issue: The livestock sector received only about 12% of the total public expenditure on
- agriculture and allied sectors, which is disproportionately lesser than its contribution to agricultural GDP.
o Fisheries sector: Around 28 million people are employed in the fisheries sector in India. Fish constituted
C -
about. 10% of total exports from India and almost 20% of agriculture exports in 2017-18. Contribution to
GDP around 1% of GDP in 2017-18. About 5% contribution to agriculture GDP.
- -
 Key Phrases For Mains: Alternative source of livelihood; livelihood insurance; Agrarian risk mitigation.
-

o National Animal Disease Control Programme (NADCP): The program aims to control livestock
=
Health diseases, foot and mouth disease and brucellosis in livestock by 2025 and eradicate these by 2030.
o E-Pashu Haat Portal: aims to connect breeders and farmers regarding availability of bovine germplasm.
Infogap_ The portal has been launched under the scheme "National Mission on Bovine Productivity."
WasteIIdtho Gobar-Dhan (Galvanizing Organic Bio-Agro Resource Dhan) will manage and convert cattle dung and
solid waste in farms to compost, biogas, and bio-CNG.
o Dairy Entrepreneurship Development Scheme under NABARD for generating self-employment
sLploynut opportunities in the dairy sector, covering activities such as enhancement of milk production.
o Establishment of Dairy Processing and Infrastructural Development Fund to enable the milk
raging processing capacity in the country.

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o Rashtriya Gokul Mission: launched for development and conservation of indigenous breeds. undertake
adipose a breed improvement programme for indigenous cattle breeds so as to improve the genetic makeup and
increase the stock which enhance milk production and productivity.
o National Livestock Mission: The Mission is designed to cover all the activities required to ensure
capacity quantitative and qualitative improvement in livestock production systems and capacity building of all
building stakeholders.
o National Artificial Insemination Programme: this programme was launched to suggest methods of
bringing impregnation in female breed which will prevent the spread of diseases.
o National Cattle and Buffalo Breeding Project: projects aimed to upgrade indigenous breeds.
o Animal Husbandry Infrastructure Development Fund (AHIDF) is proposed with 15,000 crores to
leverage private investment and ensure availability of capital to the farmers and also to provide direct or
indirect livelihood creation.
 Important committee:
o Meena Kumari Committee: for comprehensive review of deep-sea fishing policy.
o Ashok Dalwai Committee: to charting out policy for doubling farmer’s income by 2022.
1.15 WATER USE AND IRRIGATION

 Meaning/Definition: Irrigation is the artificial supply of water to crops for agricultural production. There
can be several artificial ways for providing water such as canals, wells, tube-wells, tanks, etc. which transport
water from different sources such as rivers, ponds, or underground water to targeted fields.
 Data And Facts:
o Micro-irrigation (Economic Survey 2019-20): Farmers have been able to save irrigation water from
20 to 48 percent; energy saving from 10 to 17 percent; saving of labor cost from 30 to 40 percent; saving
of fertilizers from 11 to 19 percent and increase in crop production from 20 to 38 percent.
o “Water” is the State subject: as per Seventh Schedule of the constitution.
o Water use: About 80 percent of the current water use is drawn by agriculture. Irrigated area accounts
for nearly 8 percent of the 140 million hectares (MHA) of agricultural land in India. The remaining 51.2
percent is rainfed.
o Irrigation efficiency: The overall irrigation efficiency of the major and medium irrigation projects is
estimated to be around 38 percent. The efficiency of surface irrigation system can be improved from
about 35-40 per cent to around 50-60 per cent and that of groundwater from about 65-70 per cent to 72-
75 per cent.
 Key Phrases For Mains: Requirement of high-yielding seeds; Increase cropping Intensity; Irrigation Water
Productivity; Precision farming; water use efficiency; fertigation; from crop productivity to water
productivity; Falkenmark Indicator or Water Stress Index; Optimum Water Management.
o Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchai Yojana (PMKSY): High priority to water conservation and its
management.
o Micro Irrigation Fund (MIF): A dedicated fund to bring more land area under micro-irrigation as part
of its objective to boost agriculture production and farmers income.
o Neeranchal National Watershed Project: To further strengthen and provide technical assistance to the
Watershed Component of PMKSY.
o Jal Shakti Ministry: created to provide access to safe drinking water by reorganizing the earlier
ministries
o National Mission on Micro Irrigation: The Centrally sponsored National Mission on Micro Irrigation
(NMMI) was launched in June 2010 in addition to the earlier Micro Irrigation Scheme launched in January
2006.
o Rainfed Area Development Programme (RADP): an initiative which aims to increase agricultural
productivity of rainfed areas in a sustainable manner by adopting appropriate farming system-based
approaches.
o Neeranchal National Watershed Project: To further strengthen and provide technical assistance to the
Watershed Component of PMKSY.

o National Commission on Farmers (chaired by Prof. M. S. Swaminathan): Policy recommendations

under land reforms, irrigation, credit and insurance, food security.
o Vaidyanathan Committee Recommendations: It suggested the norms for fixing water rates, cost
escalation on the Operation and Maintenance (O&M) component of economic water rates, conversion of
volumetric supply of water rates from crop-wise and area- wise water rates for different agro-climatic
zones.
1.16 FARM SUBSIDIES

 Meaning/Definition: An agricultural subsidy is a government incentive paid to agribusinesses, agricultural
organizations and farms to supplement their income, manage the supply of agricultural commodities, and
influence the cost and supply of such commodities.
 Data And Facts:
o Rs.2.77-lakh crore on various subsidies for the farm sector in 2019-20.
o Agricultural subsidies and food subsidies constituted above 10% of the total subsidies in the country
o Similar support from State Governments totalling Rs.1,14,000 crores.
o Subsides compare to GDP:
 Food: 0.8% GDP (1.4 lakh cr) (highest)
 Fertiliser: 0.5% GDP (0.7 lakh cr) (2nd highest)
 Top 10 Centrally Sponsored Schemes: ~1.4% GDP
o DBT: According to the Finance Ministry the inefficiencies of the PDS ensure that the Government is forced
to spend Rs.3.65 for transferring of Rs. 1 to the poor.
 Key Phrases For Mains: Supplementary income support; Lack of Financial Inclusion; Promoting
technological and infrastructural advancements; Distorted cropping pattern; populist measures; freebies;
moral hazards; sunset clause; from food security to nutritional security.
o Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi (PM-KISAN): Provide income support to all landholding eligible
farmers’ families in the country.
o Direct Cash Transfer/Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT): Aims to transfer subsidies directly to the people
through their bank accounts, to reduce leakages, delays, etc.
o Pradhan Mantri Kisan Maan Dhan Yojana (PM-KMY): To provide social security to Small and Marginal
Farmers in their old age when they have no means of livelihood and minimal or no savings to take care
of their expenses.
o Price Stabilization Fund (PSF): Promotion of direct purchase from farmers /farmers’ associations at
farm gate/Mandi.
o LK Jha committee: Foodgrains Prices and Management
o Shanta Kumar Committee- Reforms in Food Corporation of India
o Kelkar committee: recommended the phased elimination of subsidies and converting them to capital
investments.
1.17 MSP AND PROCUREMENT

 Meaning/Definition: MSP is the assured price at which food grains are procured from farmers by the central
and state governments and their agencies, for the central pool of foodgrains. The central pool is used for
providing food grains under the Public Distribution System (PDS) and other welfare schemes, and also kept
as reserve in the form of buffer stock.
 Data And Facts:
o Coverage: Currently, MSP is declared for 23 agricultural commodities (India Year Book 2021)
o Reserve Bank of India survey (2018) ("Supply chain dynamics and food inflation in India"): more
than 50% farmers identified "MSPs for crops" as the most helpful scheme
o Shanta Kumar report: on agriculture estimates that just around 6% of the country’s farmers benefit
from the MSP system.
o CACP Findings: More than 95% paddy from Punjab and 70% from Haryana is procured by the central
government while it is less than 3.6% and 1.7% in UP and Bihar.

o Low awareness and accessibility: 81% of the cultivators were aware of MSP fixed by the Government
for different crops and out of them only 10% knew about MSP before the sowing season (NITI Aayog -
MSP Report)
o Economic Survey 2021-22: Minimum Support Price (MSP) policy is being used to promote crop
diversification.
 Key Phrases For Mains: Procurement Regime; Incentivize Production; Market Intervention Scheme; Price
Deficiency Payment; Limited Reach Of Procurement; Timely Market Interventions; Diversification In
Procurement Interventions.
o PM-AASHA: An umbrella scheme to ensure remunerative prices to the farmers for their produce.
o Price Support Scheme (PSS): For physical procurement of pulses, oilseeds and Copra.
o Price Deficiency Payment Scheme (PDPS): Direct payment of the difference between the MSP and the
selling/model price.
o Direct Income Support: PM Kisan is a step in the right direction but the remuneration is meagre.
o Shanta Kumar committee: Government spending on transportation, storage and delivery of foodgrains.
o Ashok Dalwai Committee: Doubling farmers' income by 2022.
o Ramesh Chandra committee: It was constituted to examine the methodological issues in fixing MSP.
1.18 PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION SYSTEM

 Meaning/Definition: The PDS evolved as a system of management of Food scarcity through the distribution
of foodgrains at affordable prices. PDS is supplemental in nature and is not intended to make available the
entire requirement of any of the commodities distributed under it to a household or a section of the society.
 Data And Facts:
o SDG Goal 2: End hunger, achieve food security and improved nutrition and promote sustainable
agriculture.
o According to a 2011 report, leakages in PDS were estimated to be 46.7%.
o Global Nutrition Report 2021:
 Anaemic Indian Women: Over half of Indian women in the age group 15-49 years are anaemic.
There has been a rise in anaemic Indian women since 2016 from 52.6% to 53% in 2020.
 Childhood Wasting: Over 17% of Indian children under 5 years of age are affected. India is also
among 23 countries that have made no progress or are worsening on reducing ‘childhood wasting’.
 Child Stunting: Over 34% of children under 5 years of age are still affected. India is among 53
countries ‘on course’ to meet the target for stunting.
 Childhood Overweight: The country is among 105 countries that are ‘on course’ to meet the target
for ‘childhood overweight’.
 Key Phrases For Mains: Revamped Public Distribution System (RPDS); Targeted Public Distribution System
(TPDS); The National Food Security Act (NFSA), 2013; PUCL vs. Union of India case, 2010; Adaptation with
climate change; Technology-based reforms of TPDS implemented by states; Nutritional security; poverty as
cognitive tax; malnutrition; hidden hunger- silent killer; open ended procurement; problem of Dual Wastage.
o One Nation One Ration Card (ON-OR): National/inter-State and intra-state portability to all ration card
holders under NFSA.
o Antyodaya Anna Yojana: To target the poorest of the poor population and provide them relief from
hunger.
o Targeted Public Distribution System (TPDS): To identify the poor households and give them a fixed
entitlement of food grains, rice and/ or wheat, at specially subsidized prices.
o National Food Security Mission: It aims to increase production of rice, wheat, pulses, coarse cereals and
commercial crops, through area expansion and productivity enhancement. It works toward restoring soil
fertility and productivity at the individual farm level and enhancing farm level economy.
o Legal entitlement to food: The government passed the food security Act in 2013. It entitles 67% of the
Indian population to 5 Kg/month food grains per beneficiary at highly subsidized rates. State
Governments have to identify the households in such a manner that 75% rural + 50% urban population
is covered. States can use data from socio- economic and caste census (SECC).
o POSHAN Abhiyaan : Launched by the Ministry of Women and Child Development in 2018, it targets to
reduce stunting, undernutrition, anaemia (among young children, women and adolescent girls).
o Pradhan Mantri Matru Vandana Yojana : A centrally sponsored scheme executed by the Ministry of
Women and Child Development, is a maternity benefit programme being implemented in all districts of
the country with effect from 1st January, 2017.
o Food Fortification : Food Fortification or Food Enrichment is the addition of key vitamins and minerals
such as iron, iodine, zinc, Vitamin A & D to staple foods such as rice, milk and salt to improve their
nutritional content.
o LK Jha committee: Food-grains Prices and Management
o Shanta Kumar Committee: Food security related issue
1.19 LAND REFORMS IN INDIA

 Meaning/Definition: Land reforms refer to institutional measures directed towards altering the existing
pattern of ownership and management of land. Land reforms are necessary to ensure that the vagaries of
time do not endanger the productivity of agricultural land.
 Data And Facts:
o Massive Litigation: Almost 66% court cases in the country are related to land disputes costing a
whopping Rs.58,000 crore in litigation, both civil and criminal.
o Accelerate GDP: Land Records digitization can help accelerate India’s GDP by as much as 1.3%. Latest
news is coming from Kerala, which is on verge of completion of land records digitization.
o NITI Aayog: Some have estimated that nearly two-thirds of all pending cases in Indian courts are related
to property disputes. NITI Aayog said that such property cases take an average of 20 years to settle.
o NCAER’s Land Records and Services Index (NLRSI) 2020-21: released recently said nearly all states
and union territories — 29 out of 32 — showed a gradual improvement in their efforts to digitize land
records compared to the previous year.
o Vacancy in rental housing: As per Census 2011, more than 1 crore houses were lying vacant in urban
areas.
o Union Budget 2022: Land Records Management - The adoption or linkage with National Generic
Document Registration System (NGDRS) with the ‘One-Nation One-Registration Software’ will be
promoted as an option for a uniform process for registration and ‘anywhere registration’ of deeds &
documents
 Key Phrases For Mains: Abolition of Intermediaries; Consolidation of holdings; Encouragement of
cooperative; Settlement and Regulation of tenancy; Restructuring of agrarian relations to achieve an
egalitarian structure – abolition of Zamindari system; Elimination of exploitation in land relations – tenancy
reforms; Actualization of the goal of “land to the tiller”; Land ceiling; land record modernisation.
o Digitisation of land records: Making land records available to all, to contain/check property frauds,
became one of the objectives of the government of India in the late 1980s.
o SWAMITVA scheme: To map residential land ownership in the rural sector using modern technology
like the use of drones. The scheme aims to revolutionise property record maintenance in India.
o Right to Fair Compensation and Transparency in Land Acquisition, Rehabilitation and
Resettlement Act, 2013: To bring Right to Fair Compensation and Transparency in Land Acquisition,
Rehabilitation and Resettlement.
o Model Tenancy Act 2021: Act it will facilitate unlocking of vacant houses for rental housing purposes.
o J. C. Kumarappa committee: Agrarian Land reform
1.20 FOOD PROCESSING INDUSTRIES

 Meaning/Definition: Food Processing is the process of value addition to produce products through methods
such as preservation, addition of food additives, drying etc. with a view to preserve food substances in an
effective manner, enhance their shelf life and quality.
 Data And Facts:

o Worth: The estimated worth of Indian Food Processing Industry is 121bn dollars. The food processing
sector has been growing at an average rate of over 8 per cent over the past 5 years.
o Second largest producer: India is the world's 2nd largest producer of fruits & vegetables after China
but hardly 2% of the produce is processed.
o Low Processing: In spite of a large production base, the level of processing is low (less than 10%).
Approximately 2% of fruits and vegetables, 8% marine, 35% milk, 6% poultry are processed.
o Unorganized sector: More than 75% of the industry is in unorganized sector.
o Food wastage: In India, around 25-35% food is wasted due to inadequate handling, storage and logistical
issues. Only 6% of perishable food is processed at the moment.
o Sugar industry: India is the second largest sugar producing country of the World after Brazil. It is the
second largest agro-based industry in India after the Cotton Industry. It gives livelihood for approx. 50
million farmers and their families.
 Key Phrases For Mains: Doubling of farmers’ income by 2022; Improve the quality and taste of food; Curbing
malnutrition; Upstream and Downstream improvement; Limited ability to control quality and safety; Hand-
Holding Approach; Sunrise Industry; Integrated Value Chain; RTE (Ready to Eat)and RTC (Ready to Cook);
India's aspiration for food processing; Accessibility to raw materials; Modern extraction techniques; Good
linkages with farmers; Skilled workforce and human resources.
o PM Formalization Of Micro Food Processing Enterprises Scheme: Providing financial, technical and
business support for upgradation of existing micro food processing enterprises.
o Pradhan Mantri Kisan Sampada Yojana: To supplement agriculture, modernize processing and
decrease agri-waste.
o Scheme of Cold Chain, Value Addition & Preservation Infrastructure: It aims to provide integrated
cold chain and preservation infrastructure facilities, without any break, from the farm gate to the
consumer in order to reduce post-harvest losses of horticulture and non-horticulture agri-produce.
o Operation Greens: Enhancing value realisation of TOP farmers by targeted interventions to strengthen
TOP production clusters and their Farmer Producers Organizations (FPOs), and linking/ connecting them
with the market.
o Nivesh Bandhu: It is an investor facilitation portal which provides information on Central and State
Governments’ investor friendly policies, agro-producing clusters and potential areas of investment in the
food processing sector.
o Production Linked Incentive Scheme For Food Processing Industry (PLISFPI): Support Food
manufacturing entities with stipulated minimum Sales and willing to make minimum stipulated
investment for expansion of processing capacity and branding abroad to incentivise emergence of strong
Indian brands.
o T Haque Committee: To review the existing agricultural tenancy laws of states (It proposed legalising
agricultural land leasing for food processing).
o Meena kumari committee: formed for comprehensive review of deep-sea fishing Policy.
1.21 POVERTY
 Meaning/ Definition: Poverty is the state of not having enough material possessions or income for a
person's basic needs. Poverty can have diverse social, economic, and political causes and effects. As per the
revised measures (2017), the World Bank defines extreme poverty as someone living on less than US$1.90
per day.
 Data And Facts:
o SDG 1: calls for the end of poverty in all forms.
o Official estimates: The Indian government has not given any number for poverty since 2011 — it was
21% as per the Tendulkar poverty line.
o Distribution: In India, 21.9% of the population lived below the national poverty line in 2011. Urban
Poverty- 13.7% and Rural poverty- 25.7%.
o Multidimensional Poverty Index (2019): reported that India lifted 271 million citizens out of poverty
between 2006 and 2016.
o Global contribution: In 2020, India contributed 57.3% of the growth of the global poor.
o Global Multidimensional Poverty Index (2021): India’s rank is 66 out of 109 countries.
o National Multidimensional Poverty Index: NITI Aayog –
 Bihar has the highest proportion of people of the state’s population followed by Jharkhand and Uttar
Pradesh who are multidimensionally poor.
 Kerala registered the lowest population poverty levels, followed by Puducherry, Lakshadweep, Goa
and Sikkim.
o World Inequality Report (2021):
 Rich and poor: the richest 10% of the global population earns 52% of the global income while
poorest half of the population earns only 8.5%. the richest 10% of global population own 76% of all
the wealth.
 Unequal India: the top 10% and top 1% hold 57% and 22% of the total national income respectively.
The share of bottom 50% has gone down to 13%.
o SECC 2011: around six crore households suffer from multidimensional poverty. In India, 21.9% of the
population lives below the national poverty line in 2011 (As per Tendulkar Report) Child Stunting &
Wasting 37.9% of children under 5 years are stunted.
o World Bank: estimates extreme poverty levels to reach 150 million people by 2021 (around 9.5% of
global population). Extreme poverty is defined by the World Bank as living below $1.90 per day.
o International Poverty Line (IPL): As per the revised measures (2017), the World Bank defines extreme
poverty as someone living on less than US$1.90 per day.
o Societal Poverty Line (SPL): In 2018, the World Bank introduced a SPL, to capture the relative aspect
of poverty. The SPL is a hybrid line, combining the US$1.90-a-day absolute poverty line with a relative
component that increases as median consumption or income in an economy rises.
o Asian Development Bank (ADB): has its own poverty line which is currently at $ 1.51 per person per
day.
o Official estimates: The Indian government has not given any number for poverty since 2011 — it was
21% as per the Tendulkar poverty line.
o Distribution: In India, 21.9% of the population lived below the national poverty line in 2011. Urban
Poverty- 13.7% and Rural poverty- 25.7%.
o Poverty and Women in India: In India, girls belonging to families in the top 20% get nine years of
education on average, while girls from families in the bottom 20% get none at all.
o NFHS–4: prevalence of anaemia among women aged 15 to 49 years is 53% and among adolescent girls
aged 15-19 years is 54%.
o NFHS-5: More than half of the children and women are anaemic in 13 of the 22 States/UTs.
 Key Phrases For Mains: Absolute Poverty; Relative Poverty; Multidimensional Poverty; Sankalp se Siddhi;
Inequality and shared prosperity; monetary measure of well-being; Poor public works and
infrastructure; capability approach; poverty as cognitive tax.
o Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana: It envisages the distribution of 50 million LPG connections to women
below the poverty line.
o Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Yojana: The scheme provides an opportunity to declare unaccounted
wealth and black money in a confidential manner and avoid prosecution after paying a fine of 50% on the
undisclosed income.
o Solar Charkha Mission: It aims at Employment generation for nearly one lakh people through solar
charkha clusters in rural areas.
o National Nutrition Mission (NNM), Poshan Abhiyan: To reduce the level of under-nutrition and also
enhance the nutritional status of children in the country.
o Pradhan Mantri Shram Yogi Maan Dhan: It is a central government scheme that is introduced for old
age protection and social security of Unorganised Workers (UW).
o Prime Minister Street Vendor’s Atma Nirbhar Nidhi – PM SVanidhi: It aims to provide micro-credit
facilities to street vendors affected due to COVID-19 pandemic.
o S Tendulkar committee: Redefining poverty line and its calculation formula.
o VM Dandekar and N Rath: Systematic assessment of poverty

o Alagh Committee: Construction of a poverty line for rural and urban areas on the basis of nutritional
requirements and related consumption expenditure.
o Lakdawala Committee: Expert Group on Estimation of Proportion and Number of Poor
o Tendulkar Committee: A shift away from calorie consumption-based poverty estimation
o C Rangarajan Committee: Provide an alternate method to identify poverty levels
1.22 HOUSING
 Meaning/Definition: Housing, or more generally living spaces, refers to the construction and assigned usage
of houses or buildings collectively, for the purpose of sheltering people — the planning or provision delivered
by an authority, with related meanings.
 Data And Facts: Slums
o Prevalence in India: They are found in 65% of towns in India (Registrar General of India 2011)
o Census 2011: 5.41% population as slum dwellers
o 17% of the world's slum dwellers reside in India
o Shortage: of 18.78 million housing units In India
 Key Phrases For Mains: The bare necessities; Housing for all@2022; Housing finance company; Affordable
Rental Housing Complexes; Repayment Behavior; Affordable Rental Housing Complexes.
o Housing for All by 2022 Mission: National Mission for Urban Housing.
o The Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana Programme: Mission mode programme for realisation of Housing
for All by 2022.
o Model Tenacy Act 2021: Act it will facilitate unlocking of vacant houses for rental housing purposes.
1.23 FINANCIAL INCLUSION

 Meaning/Definition: Financial inclusion is defined as the availability and equality of opportunities to access
financial services. It refers to a process by which individuals and businesses can access appropriate,
affordable, and timely financial products and services.
 Data And Facts:
o NABARD All India Financial Inclusion Survey (NAFIS 2016-17): Only 61% of farmers have accessed
institutional loans.
o Digital Lending: India’s digital lending market has seen a significant rise over the years. The digital
lending value increased from USD 33 billion in FY15 to USD 150 billion in FY20 and is expected to hit the
USD 350-billion mark by FY23.
o PMJDY: Rural Accounts- 63.6% and Women PMJDY accounts- 55.2%. 17.9 crore accounts were opened
in the first year itself. Total balance stood at Rs 1.31 Lakh Crore (August 2020).
o Direct Benefit transfer: Over 8 crore account holders receive DBT under various government schemes.
o As per census 2011, only 58.7% of households are availing banking services in the country.
 Key Phrases For Mains: Financial Integration Strategy; Special Financial Products; Financial Inclusion
Through Microfinance; Maintain Financial Sustainability; Secure Financial Services And Products.
o Pradhan Mantri Jan Dhan Yojana (PMJDY): A financial inclusion program of the Government of India
open to Indian citizens, that aims to expand affordable access to financial services such as bank accounts,
remittances, credit, insurance and pensions.
o Pradhan Mantri Mudra Yojana (PMMY): A flagship scheme of the Government of India to extend
affordable credit to micro and small enterprises.
o Dr. C. Rangarajan committee: On Financial Inclusion
1.24 MANUFACTURING AND IN DUSTRIES

 Meaning/Definition: Manufacturing sector is considered the backbone of development in general and
economic development in particular. Manufacturing industries not only help in modernising
agriculture, which forms the backbone of our economy, they also reduce the heavy dependence of people on
agricultural income by providing them jobs in secondary and tertiary sectors.

 Data And Facts:

o Secondary sector: India is the fifth largest manufacturer in the world with a Gross Value Added (GVA)
of INR 21,531.47 billion in 2017-18 (2nd estimate for 2017-18 at 2011-12 prices). As per the latest
estimates on GVA, the industrial sector is expected to record an overall contribution in GVA of 25.8
percent in 2020-21 (FY21).
o National Manufacturing Policy (NMP): main objective of this policy is to enhance the share of
manufacturing sector in GDP to 25% from 16% of the present and creating 100 million jobs by 2022.
China’s manufacturing sector is contributing around 34% in its economy.
o Steel Industries: India was the world’s second-largest steel producer with production standing at 111.2
million tonnes (MT) in 2019.
o Indian Chemical Industry: India depends on China for 67% of chemical intermediates and API that it
needs to manufacture drugs and export. The share of Indian bulk drugs and intermediates in the total
pharmaceutical export mix reduced to 20% in 2018 from 42% in 2008.
o Electronics Industry: The Indian electronics sector is already witnessing tremendous growth, as the
demand is poised to cross $400 billion. In fact, domestic production has grown from $29 billion in 2014-
15 to nearly $70 billion in 2019-20 (Compounded Annual Growth Rate of 25 %)
o Textile industry: The textile industry covers around 4.5 crore workers including 35.22 lakh handloom
workers all over the country. Indian Textile industry contributes to 7 percent of industrial output in terms
of value, 2 percent of India's GDP and to 15 percent of the country's export earnings. India is the second
largest producer and exporter of cotton in the world at $6.3 billion which is marginally close to China.
o Economic Survey 2021-22: Index of Industrial Production (IIP) grew at 17.4 percent (YoY) during April-
November 2021 as compared to (-)15.3 percent in April-November 2020.
o Make in India Scheme: to encourage companies to manufacture in India and incentivize dedicated
investments into manufacturing
o Zero Defect and Zero Effect (ZED) Scheme for MSMEs: Develop an Ecosystem for Zero Defect
Manufacturing in MSMEs.
o Interest subvention scheme for MSMEs: It aims at encouraging both manufacturing and service
enterprises to increase productivity and provides incentives to MSMEs for onboarding on GST platform.
o Solar PV Manufacturing Scheme :To create end-to-end solar PV manufacturing capacity in India
o Modified Special Incentive Package Scheme: Aims to provide a special incentive package to boost
domestic electronic product manufacturing sector and move towards Union Government‘s goal of N ̳ et
Zero imports‟ in electronics by 2020.
o National Biopharma Mission: This brings together industry and academia to promote
entrepreneurship and indigenous manufacturing in the bio- pharmaceutical sector.
o Integrated Steel Hub: The objective of this hub would be to enable swift capacity addition and improve
overall competitiveness of steel producers in terms of both cost and quality.
o International Cooperation Scheme: It aims at exploring new technologies for improving manufacturing
capacity
o Make II Scheme: Make Scheme fosters indigenous capabilities through design & development of
required defence equipment/product/upgrades by both public and private sector industry in a faster
time frame.
o SmartE: The E-rickshaws have been manufactured in India and are fitted with GPS and tracking system.
o National Electric Mobility Mission Plan (NEMMP) 2020: It provides the vision and the roadmap for
the faster adoption of electric vehicles and their manufacturing in the country
o FAME India Scheme: It is to support hybrid/electric vehicles market development and Manufacturing
eco-system.
o National Mission on Transformative Mobility and Battery Storage : Aim is to promote “clean,
connected, shared and sustainable” mobility initiative in the
o Lithium ion cell production initiative : Part of government’s plan to achieve 100% EVs by 2030
1.25 MSME

 Meaning/ Definition: MSME stands for Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises. In accordance with the Micro,
Small, and Medium Enterprises Development (MSMED) Act in 2006, the enterprises are classified into two
divisions. Manufacturing enterprises – engaged in the manufacturing or production of goods in any industry.
 Data And Facts:
o Share in India’s GDP 30% (Invest India Report)
o Share in Exports 48% of all Exports (Invest India Report) provides employment to about 11 crore people.
o Insolvency Delays: 7.9 years
o Lack of credit access: Only 4% can access credit
o Unorganized: 94% of firms in the unorganized sector
 Key Phrases For Mains: Developing Bond Market; Creation of Independent Regulator; Changing
employment patterns; Credit access to SMEs; Fiscal Room to banks; Silent engine of growth; MSME
Darwinism; labour intensive sector.
o Emergency Credit Line Guarantee Scheme (ECLGS): Aims to provide 100% guaranteed coverage to
the banks, NBFCs and other lenders in order to enable them to extend emergency credit to
businesses/MSMEs hit by the Covid-19 pandemic and struggling to meet their working capital
requirements.
o Interest Subvention Scheme For MSME: To provide incentives to MSMEs for onboarding on GST in
order to encourage the growth in the economy thereby enabling the reduction in the cost of credit to the
MSMEs.
o Credit Linked Capital Subsidy Scheme: To facilitate technology to MSEs through institutional finance
for induction of well-established and proven technologies in the specific sub-sector/products approved
under the scheme.
o Zero Defect And Zero Effect (ZED) Scheme: To develop and implement a ‘ZED’ culture in India based
on the principles of: Zero Defect (focus on customer) i.e. Zero non-conformance/non-compliance and
Zero waste.
o Udyog Aadhaar Memorandum: It is an online portal which facilitates the registration of entrepreneurs
in the MSME sectors.
o K V Kamath Panel: To examine the MSME sector
o U K Sinha committee: On Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises
o S.P. Gupta Committee: To provides a roadmap for the development and promotion of the Micro, Small
and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs)
1.26 INFRASTRUCTURE
 Meaning/Definition: Infrastructure are the basic physical facilities (roads, buildings, power supplies) and
organisational structures (schools, hospitals, banks) needed for operation of society. Infrastructure is
considered as the lifeline of an economy.
 Data And Facts:
o Gross budgetary support on capital expenditure of Rs 5.54 lakh crore in 2021-22.
o Share in passenger Transport: Road 86%; Rail 14%
o Roadways: India has the 2nd largest Road network
o Foreign Trade through Shipping: 95% by Volume; 70% by Value
o Civil Aviation: 3rd Largest Aviation Market; 8th Biggest passenger traffic.
o Economic Survey 2021-22: Introduction of Production Linked Incentive (PLI) scheme, major boost
provided to infrastructure-both physical as well as digital, along with measures to reduce transaction
costs and improve ease of doing business, would support the pace of recovery
 PM Gati Shakti National Master Plan will encompass the seven engines for economic
transformation, seamless multimodal connectivity and logistics efficiency.
 The seven engines include roads, railways, airports, ports, mass transport, waterways, and logistics
infrastructure. All seven engines will pull forward the economy in unison.
 400 new Vande Bharat trains will be introduced and the Railways will also develop new products
for small farmers and MSMEs.
 Integration of postal and railways network facilitating parcel movement was announced.
 Master plan has been formulated for highways, targets to complete 25,000 km national highways
in 2022-23.
 Key Phrases For Mains: Quantity without Quality Syndrome; PURA; Long Term Financing Landscape;
Digital Finance Infrastructure; Hub and Spoke Model; Infrastructure Asset recycling; Landlord model; Service
Port model; Supply Chain Fragility; Rationalized Coal Linkages; Infrastructure status.
o Jal Marg Vikas Project: For the capacity augmentation of navigation on the National Waterways.
o National Infrastructure Pipeline (NIP): expanded to 7,400 projects. Around 217 projects worth Rs.
100 lakh crore completed.
o Deendayal Upadhyaya Gram Jyoti Yojana: A scheme designed to provide continuous power supply to
rural India.
o Integrated Power Development Scheme (IPDS): Aim of this scheme is to strengthen the sub-
transmission and distribution network in urban areas.
o Bharatmala Pariyojana: Umbrella program for the highways sector that focuses on optimizing
efficiency of freight and passenger movement across the country by bridging critical infrastructure gaps.
o Faster Adoption And Manufacturing Of (Hybrid &) Electric Vehicles-Ii (FAME): Establishment of
charging infrastructure: About 2700 charging stations will be established in metros, million plus cities,
smart cities and cities of hilly states across the country.
o Border Area Development Programme (BADP): To saturate the border areas with the entire essential
infrastructure through convergence of Central/State/ BADP/Local schemes and participatory approach.
o Smart Cities Mission: It aims to promote cities that provide core infrastructure and give a decent quality
of life to its citizens, a clean and sustainable environment and application of ‘Smart’ Solutions.
o Restructuring of the Railway Board and Merger of Different Railway Officer Cadres: In 2019-20,
the government approved the restructuring of the Indian Railways, including a reduction in the Board
strength as well as the merger of the different cadres into a central service called the Indian Railway
Management Service (IRMS).
o Draft National Rail Plan: In December 2020 in an endeavour to address the inadequacies of capacity
constraints and improve its modal share in the total freight ecosystem of the country, Indian Railways
has come up with a Draft National Rail Plan.
o Dedicated Freight Corridors: It is a high speed and high capacity railway corridor that is exclusively
meant for the transportation of freight, or in other words, goods and commodities.
o Bimal Jalan Committee: On the working of capital market infrastructure institutions (MIIs)
o Kirit Parikh Committee: Oil Pricing Policy
o Baba Kalyani Committee: SEZ Related Policy (Infrastructure status to SEZ)
o Subhash Chandra Committee: On Fintech Related Infrastructure
o Shailesh Nayak Committee: On Coastal Zone Regulation (Infrastructure activity in CRZ)
o Kelkar committee: Set up to study and evaluate the extant Public-Private Partnership (PPP) model in
India.
o KS Radhakrishnan Panel recommendations on road safety: advocating Zero tolerance policy towards
drunk driving, accidents caused by speeding and more robust methods of issuing driving licenses should
be implemented.
o S. Sunder Committee on road safety (2007): recommended scientific study of road infrastructure
which includes effective road engineering solutions at the design stage, rectification of accident hot spots.
o Sam Pitroda Committee: on Railway Modernization
o Anil Kakodkar Committee: on railway safety
o Bibek Debroy Committee: on Railway Modernisation
1.27 TOURISM SECTOR

 Meaning/Definition: Tourism is a major engine of economic growth in most parts of the world. Several
countries have transformed their economies using the tourism potential the fullest. Tourism has great
capacity to create large scale employment of diverse kind - from the most specialised to the unskilled and all
of us know that generation of massive productive employment opportunities is what India needs the most.
 Data And Facts:

o Tourism Sector: Tourism generated $240bn or 9.2% of India’s GDP in 2018 and supported 42.6mn Jobs
(8.1% employment of India).
 Key Phrases For Mains: Atithi devo bhava; incredible india; padharo mharo desh
o Incredible India 2.0 Campaign to double the traffic from both foreign and domestic tourists.
o Swadesh Darshan to position tourism as a major engine of economic growth and job creation.
o PRASAD Scheme to provide complete religious tourism experience.
o Apni Dharohar Apni Pehchan project (Adopt a Heritage): to develop basic
o tourism infrastructure in and around heritage monuments.
o Paryatan Parv: to encourage Indians to visit various tourist destinations in the country
o Arth Ganga: A sustainable development model along the banks of Ganga for ‘hybrid’ tourism potential
for purposes of religious as well as adventure tourism.
o Swachh Iconic Places (SIP): to improve the cleanliness conditions at some important places having
heritage, religious and/or cultural significance.
o Deendayal Hastkala Sankul: to provide world-class marketing facilities to the weavers and artisans
from Varanasi and boost tourism potential of Varanasi.
o Champion Services Sector Scheme: of Department of Commerce to give focused attention on the 12
‘champion service’ sector (Tourism included)
o HRIDAY Scheme: by Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs to preserve and revitalize the rich cultural
heritage of the country.
1.28 LOGISTICS SECTOR

 Meaning/Definition: The presence of a robust logistics-related infrastructure and an effective logistics
management system facilitates seamless movement of goods from the point of origin to that of
consumption, and aids an economy’s movement to prosperity. The Indian logistics sector is a sunshine
industry and is going through a phase of transformation on account of various reform initiatives and policy
changes
o Employment: The Indian logistics industry provides employment to more than 22 million people.
o CAGR: It has grown at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 7.8 percent during the last five years.
o Logistics Performance Index: In the World Bank's 2016 LPI, India jumped to 35th rank in 2016 from
54th rank in 2014 in terms of overall logistics performance.
o High logistics cost: Current level of logistics cost is about 14 percent of the GDP, much more than
developed economies.
o Economic Survey 2017-18: The Indian logistics sector provides livelihood to more than 22 million
people. It is estimated that a 10 per cent decrease in indirect logistics cost can increase 5-8 percent
of exports.
o Economic Survey 2021-22: Multimodal Logistics Parks - Contracts for implementation of Multimodal
Logistics Parks at four locations through PPP mode will be awarded in 2022-23.
o Recently the MoCI also launched a new Logistics Ease Across Different States (LEADS) Index to rank
states for the support they provide to improve logistics infrastructure within their respective
jurisdictions.
o Ministry of Commerce and Industry (MoCI) is developing an integrated logistics portal which
would serve as a transactional e-marketplace by connecting buyers, logistics service providers and the
relevant government agencies such as customs, port community systems, port terminals, shipping lines,
railways, etc.
o A new Logistics Division in the Department of Commerce has been established to coordinate
integrated development of the sector by way of policy changes, improvement in existing procedures,
identification of bottlenecks and gaps, and introduction of technology-based interventions.
o The GST regime is certain to expedite faster conversion of informal logistics setups to formal ones and
speed up freight movement at interstate borders due to dismantling of check posts.

1.29 ENERGY
 Meaning/Definition: Energy is a critical aspect of the development process of a nation. Beside industrial
uses it is also used on a large scale in agriculture and related areas like production and transportation of
fertilisers, pesticides and farm equipment. To sustain economic growth one of the important components is
energy.
 Data/Facts:
o International Energy Agency: Before the global pandemic, India’s energy demand was likely to increase
by almost 50% between 2019 and 2030, but growth over this period is now closer to 35% in the Stated
Policies Scenario (STEPS), and 25% in the Delayed Recovery Scenario.
o Renewable energy capacity: As per NITI Aayog, India’s Renewable Energy Capacity is 4th largest in the
world.
o Largest clean energy programme: India is running the world’s largest clean energy programme to
achieve 175 GW of renewable capacity, including 100 GW of solar power by 2022.
o Solar power: India ranked at 5th position in the world in solar power deployment.
o Wind power: India has the fourth-largest installed wind power capacity in the world.
o Methanol Economy: As per NITI Aayog, it will also create close to 5 million jobs through methanol
production/application and distribution services.
o Energy Statistics India 2021: The geographic distribution of the estimated potential of renewable
power shows that Rajasthan has the highest share of about 15%, Gujarat with 11%, Maharashtra and
Jammu & Kashmir 10%.
o World Energy Transitions Outlook 2022: The country’s installed Renewable Energy (RE) capacity
stands at 150.54 GW (solar: 48.55 GW, wind: 40.03 GW, Small hydro Power: 4.83, Bio-power: 10.62, Large
Hydro: 46.51 GW) as on 30th Nov. 2021 while its nuclear energy based installed electricity capacity
stands at 6.78 GW.
o Energy Transition Index (2021) by WEF: India ranked 87 out of 110 countries.
o The Per Capita Electricity Consumption which was a mere 16.3 units in 1947, has increased to 1208
units in 2019-20.
o India’s 90% of primary energy supply is fulfilled by fossil fuel. Currently, over 80% of its electricity
comes from burning coal, oil and biomass.
o India has 80 gigawatts of renewable energy, which is nearly 20% of its total installed capacity.
o In the power sector, the all-India installed power capacity is about 334 GW, including 62 GW of
renewable energy.
o NITI Aayog Data:
1. Imported 85% of crude oil requirements (2021)
2. Middle East accounts for 60% of the oil import (2021)
3. Imported 45% of Natural Gas requirements
 SDG Goals: SDG 7 (Affordable & Clean Energy) & SDG 12 (Responsible Consumption & Production)
 Key Phrases: Conventional Sources and Non-Conventional Sources of energy; Energy Transitions;
Renewable energy; Affordable, reliable, sustainable and modern energy; Balancing Environment with
Extraction and Energy Consumption; Oil and Gas Supply Chain; Fossil fuel dependency; Hybrid Renewable
Energy; Renewable purchase obligations; Smart Electricity Grid and Smart Meter Network; Methanol and
Ethanol Economy; Energy Security
o BEE- Star Rating Programme: Standards & Labelling programme to ensure informed decision by
consumer for appliances by the Bureau of Energy Efficiency (BEE).
o Energy Conservation Building Codes (ECBC): In order for a building to be considered ECBC compliant,
it would need to demonstrate minimum energy savings of 25%. With the adoption of ECBC 2017 for new
commercial building construction throughout the country, it is estimated to achieve a 50% reduction in
energy use by 2030.
o Ujwal DISCOM Assurance Yojana: A scheme for the Financial Turnaround of Power Distribution
Companies (DISCOMs).
o Deendayal Upadhyaya Gram Jyoti Yojana: A scheme designed to provide continuous power supply to
rural India.

o Integrated Power Development Scheme (IPDS): Aim of this scheme is to strengthen the sub-
transmission and distribution network in urban areas.
o UJALA Scheme: The Unnat Jyoti by Affordable LEDs for All (UJALA) scheme was launched to provide LED
bulbs to domestic consumers.
o One Nation, One Grid: Objective is to increase the efficiency of the transmission and distribution
process.
o KUSUM Scheme: Installation of solar-pumps and providing extra income opportunities to farmers by
selling the surplus electricity to DISCOM.
o Saubhagya Scheme: It is an initiative that aims to provide electricity to the households that are not
electrified yet.
1.30 ROAD
 Meaning/Definition: Road network provides the arterial network to facilitate trade, transport, social
integration and economic development. It is used for the smooth conveyance of both people and goods. The
road sector in India accounts for the largest share in the movement of both passengers and freight.
 Data/Facts:
o India with a total road network of 6.4 million km comprises national & state highways and urban &
rural roads.
o National highways account for 2% of the total road network and carry over 40% of total traffic.
o $275 Billion to be invested on roads under NIP between 2019 to 2025.
o NHAI performs the highest ever construction of 37 km per day of National Highways in 2020-21.
o NHAI and India makes world record for making the longest stretch of road of 75-kilometre was made
in one go between Amravati and Akola in Maharashtra
o Economic Survey 2021-22: Extent of road construction per day increased substantially in 2020-21 to
36.5 Kms per day from 28 Kms per day in 2019-20 – a rise of 30.4 percent.
1. Formulation of Master Plan for expressways.
2. National Highways network will be expanded 2500 km in 2022-23
3. 20,000 crore will be mobilized through innovative ways of financing to complement the public
resources.
4. PM Gati Shakti National Master Plan will encompass the seven engines (roads, railways, airports,
ports, mass transport, waterways, and logistics infrastructure) for economic transformation,
seamless multimodal connectivity and logistics efficiency.
 SDG Goals: SDG 11.2 (Affordable and sustainable transport system)
 Key Phrases: Arterial network; Smooth connectivity and movement; Social and Economic Connectivity;
Boost the manufacturing sector and exports; Transporting perishable goods; Improving Urban Public
Transport; Key linkage for fast deployment of troops; Road Accidents; ‘Hit and run’ cases; Road Safety;
Skewed road traffic engineering; Road Maintenance; Land Acquisition; Expansion of Road Connectivity
o The “Bharat Mala” Project: envisaged across 13 states on a 5300 km stretch – starting from Gujarat &
passing through Rajasthan, Punjab, J&K, Uttarakhand, UP, Bihar, Sikkim, Assam, Arunachal Pradesh &
ending across the Indo-Myanmar border of Manipur & Mizoram.
o National Electronic Toll Collection (NETC) Program: Provides for collection of user fee through
FASTags based on RFID technology.
o Integrated Road Accident Database: A State Support Programme aimed at incentivising the States to
improve their road safety performance is proposed to be launched to reduce the overall fatalities by road
accidents by 25% by 2024.
o The Motor Vehicles (Amendment) Act, 2019: The amendment will bring reforms in the area of Road
Safety, bring citizen facilitation, transparency, and reduce corruption with the help of information
technology and removing intermediaries also it will protect Good Samaritan and reform the insurance
and compensation regime.
o Green National Highways Corridor Projects (GNHCP): To reduce the impact of air pollution, upgrade
the existing road to two-lanes and to demonstrate safe and green National Highway corridors in selected

States and enhance the institutional capacity of the MoRTH in mainstreaming safety and green
technologies.
o Signatory to Brasilia Convention: As a signatory the government intends to reduce traffic fatalities by
50% by 2020.
o VAHAN and SARATHI Apps: VAHAN (an ICT-based solution for vehicle registration) and SARATHI (for
licencing) apps have been launched to curb malpractices in issuing licences and vehicle registration.
o Setu Bharatam Programme: to make all national highways free of railway crossings by 2019.
 Committees/Commissions:
o KS Radhakrishnan Panel recommendations on road safety: advocating Zero tolerance policy towards
drunk driving, accidents caused by speeding and more robust methods of issuing driving licenses should
be implemented.
o S. Sunder Committee on road safety (2007): recommended scientific study of road infrastructure which
includes effective road engineering solutions at the design stage, rectification of accident hot spots etc.
 Case Study:
o Tamil Nadu model on removing black spot: The Tamil Nadu model of identifying and removing Black
spots has significantly reduced the number of road accidents in the state. Tamil Nadu recorded the
highest number of accidents in 2017. But now they have reduced the total number of accidents by 25%.
1.31 RAILWAYS
 Meaning/Definition: Indian Railways have been the prime movers to the nation and have the distinction of
being the second largest railway system in the world under single management. Historically it has played a
pivotal role in the socio-economic development of the country.
 Data/Facts:
o Railway network: Indian Railways is among the world’s largest rail networks. Indian Railways route
length network is spread over 1,23,236 km. India’s railway network is the 4th largest railway network in
the world and 2nd largest in Asia, under single management.
o Economic Survey 2020-21: During FY20, IR carried 1.2 billion tonnes of freight and 8.1 billion
passengers, making it the world’s largest passenger carrier and fourth-largest freight carrier.
o Economic Survey 2021-22: Capital expenditure for the Indian railways has increased to Rs. 155,181
crores in 2020-21 from an average annual of Rs. 45,980 crores during 2009-14 and it has been budgeted
to further increase to Rs. 215,058 crores in 2021-22 – a five times increase in comparison to the 2014
level.
1. One Station One Product to help local business & supply chains.
2. 2000km of railway network to be brought under Kavach, the indigenous world class technology and
capacity augmentation in 2023.
3. 400 new generation Vande Bharat Trains to be manufactured during the next three years.
4. 100 PM Gati Shakti Cargo terminals for multimodal logistics to be developed during the next three
years.
5. Integration of Postal and Railways networks to provide seamless solutions for movement of parcels.
 SDG Goals: SDG 11.2 (Affordable and sustainable transport system)
 Key Phrases: Prime movers to the nation; Cheapest mode of transport; Facilitating development and growth;
National integration; Vital link; Congested networks; General inefficiencies; Better utilization of existing
infrastructure; Enhance safety of trains; Privatisation in Railway; Rationalisation of Railway fare;
Modernising the railway
o Dedicated Freight Corridors: It is a high speed and high capacity railway corridor that is exclusively
meant for the transportation of freight, or in other words, goods and commodities.
o Diamond Quadrilateral: Project of the Indian railways to establish a high-speed rail network in India
that will connect the four metro cities in India, i.e. Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata and Chennai.
o New Online Vendor Registration System: launched by the Research Designs & Standards Organisation
(RDSO), the research arm of Indian Railways, to have digital and transparent systems and procedures.
o Kisan Rail: Union Budget 2020-21 made an announcement to run the Kisan Rail services to provide
better market opportunity by transporting perishables and agri-product, including milk, meat, and fish.
o New India New Railway: GoI has allowed the private players to operate in the Railways sector through
the PPP mode under the "New India New Railway" initiative.
o Indian Railway Management Service (IRMS): A unified central service by the unification of the existing
eight Group A services of the Railways in consultation with Department of Personnel and Training and
UPSC to facilitate recruitment and enable Railways to recruit engineers/non-engineers as per need.
o Introduction of Policy for Private Passenger Trains Operations: In July 2020, Indian Railways
initiated the process to allow private firms to operate passenger trains on its network through 151 new
trains.
o Adarsh Station Scheme: It aims to upgrade the suburban stations of India to Adarsh stations.
 Committee/Commissions:
o Sam Pitroda Committee on Railway Modernization
o Anil Kakodkar Committee on railway safety
o Bibek Debroy Committee on Railway Modernisation
1.32 AVIATION
 Meaning/Definition: Airways play a vital role as modern means of transportation. It is very important for
the growth of trade and commerce. India is presently among the top 10 civil aviation markets in the world.
 Data/Facts:
o According to reports, India is poised to become one of the top 5 civil aviation markets by 2020.
o The civil aviation sector contributed USD8.9 billion to India’s GDP in 2014 and supported 1.31 million
direct, indirect and induced aviation jobs.
o India’s passenger traffic stood at 341.05 million in FY20.
o Drone industry may grow to over INR 900 crore in FY 2023-24.
1. Big thrust on monetizing assets.
2. Next lot of Airports to be monetized for operations and management concession.
3. AAI Airports in Tier II and III cities.
 Key Phrases: High Speed; Strategic Importance; Easy transport of costly and light goods; Free from physical
barriers; Useful in natural calamities; Boost Tourism; High cost to passengers and air cargo; Taxes on
Aviation Turbine Fuel; Predatory Pricing; Transhipment Hub
Schemes and Initiatives:
o UDAN Scheme (Ude Desh Ka Aam Naagrik)/ Regional Connectivity Scheme (RCS): 10-year scheme
will promote balanced regional growth and make flying affordable for the population. It will help enhance
connectivity to the country’s unserved and underserved airport in Tier 2 and Tier 3 cities with the big
cities and also with each other.
o GPS-Aided Geo Augmented Navigation (GAGAN): GPS-Aided Geo Augmented Navigation (GAGAN) is
India’s first Satellite-based Augmentation System. It provides additional accuracy for safety in civil
aviation and has expansion capability for seamless navigation services across geographies.
o No Objection Certificate Application System (NOCAS): NOCAS streamlines the online process of timely
NOC for height clearances of buildings around airports.
o eGCA: The function & process of the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) is being moved to an
online platform to provide faster delivery of services & regulation oversight. The e-GCA was initiated on
14th May 2019.
o DigiSky: launched to meet the requirement laid down by the CAR for flying Civil Drones.
o e-sahaj: 100% of security clearances pertaining to the Ministry have been made online on e-sahaj online
portal launched by the Ministry of Civil Aviation.
o Digi Yatra Platform: It is a biometric based digital processing system that avoids multiple checks of
passengers at the airport by issuing a unique Digi Yatra ID through which a passenger can enter and fulfill
other checking requirements at the airport.
2. ECOLOGY AND ENVIRONMENT

2.1 CLIMATE CHANGE

 Meaning/ Definition: Climate change refers to long-term shifts in temperatures and weather patterns.
These shifts may be natural, but since the 1800s, human activities have been the main driver of climate
change, primarily due to the burning of fossil fuels (like coal, oil, and gas), which produces heat-trapping
gases.
 Data And Facts:
o State of India’s Environment (SOE) 2019 - GHG emissions: There has been a 22 per cent increase in
India’s GHG emissions between 2010 and 2014.
o Sea Ice Melt season has extended 3 days per decade
o Human activities account for 75% of heat uptake
o 700% increase in sea level rise due to melting ice sheets
o Global Mean Sea-Level has increased by 16 cm between 1902 and 2015, and that the rate of increase had
doubled of late.
o Global Climate Risk Index 2021: India has improved its rankings from last year. It is ranked 7th in the
2021 Index as compared to 5th in 2020 Index.
o India’s Intended Nationally Determined Contribution(by 2030):
 175 GW from Renewable energy
 Reduce its emissions intensity per unit by 33 to 35 % below the 2005 baseline by 2030
 Create an additional carbon sink of 2.5 to 3 billion tonnes of carbon dioxide
 India’s overall score on the NITI Aayog SDG India Index and Dashboard improved to 66 in 2020-21
from 60 in 2019-20 and 57 in 2018-19.
 Number of Front Runners (scoring 65-99) increased to 22 States and UTs in 2020-21 from 10 in 2019-
20.
 In North East India, 64 districts were Front Runners and 39 districts were Performers in the NITI
Aayog North-Eastern Region District SDG Index 2021-22.
 SDG Goals: SDG 13 (Climate Action)
 Key Phrases For Mains: Crop Diversification and Sustainable Farming; Institutional Sclerosis; Extinction
Rebellion; Climate diplomacy; Climate Refugees; Climate change mitigation.
o Climate Resilience Building Among Farmers Through Crop Residue Management: To lower Green
House Gases Emissions in project areas by Creating awareness among farmers through crop residue
management and Promoting alternate uses of crop residue.
o Secure (Securing Livelihoods, Conservation, Sustainable Use And Restoration Of High Range
Himalayan Ecosystem) Himalaya Project: To ensure conservation of locally and globally significant
biodiversity, land and forest resources in high Himalayan ecosystem spread over four states of Himachal
Pradesh, Jammu & Kashmir (now UTs), Uttarakhand and Sikkim.
o Green Skill Development Programme: Skilling the youth of India, especially dropouts and in increasing
the availability of skilled workforce.
o National Action Plan On Climate Change (NAPCC): To achieve a sustainable development path that
simultaneously advances economic and environmental.
o Indian National Committee on Climate Change (INCCC): To coordinate the research activities in the
field of climate change and its effects on water resources.
o High-level inter-ministerial Apex Committee: For Implementation of Paris Agreement (AIPA).
2.2 INDIAN BIODIVERSITY

 Meaning/Definition: Biodiversity is the biological variety and variability of life on Earth. Biodiversity is a
measure of variation at the genetic, species, and ecosystem level.
 Data And Facts:
o Indo-Himalayan realm: India lies within the Indo-Malayan realm and is the home to about 7.6% of
mammals, 14.7% of amphibians, 6% of birds, 6.2% of reptilian, and 6.0% of flowering plant species.

o Biodiversity hotspot: India is one of the most biodiverse regions of the world and contains four of the
world’s 36 biodiversity hotspots – the Western Ghats, the Eastern Himalayas, and the Indo-Burma
hotspot and Sundaland biodiversity hotspot.
o Megadiverse country: It is one of the seventeen megadiverse countries. The country has seven Natural
World Heritage sites, eleven Biosphere.
o Conservation efforts: As of 2020-21, there are 981 protected areas including 104 National Parks, 566
Wildlife Sanctuaries, 97 Conservation Reserves and 214 Community Reserves.
o Human-Animal conflict: In the Monsoon session (2019), the Union Environment Ministry informed the
Lok Sabha that 2398 people in India were killed by elephants while tigers claimed 224 lives in the last
five years.
o Animal corridors: About 36.4% of the elephant corridors in north-western India, 32% in central India,
35.7% in northern West Bengal and 13% of the elephant corridors in north-eastern India have a railway
line passing through them
o India State of Forest Report (ISFR) 2021:
 India’s forest and tree cover has risen by 2,261 square kilometers in the last two years with Andhra
Pradesh growing the maximum forest cover of 647 square kilometers.
 The total tree-and-forest cover in the country includes an increase of 1,540 square kilometres of
forest cover and 721 sq km of tree cover compared to the 2019 report.
 India’s total forest and tree cover is now spread across 80.9 million hectares, which is 24.62 per cent
of the geographical area of the country.
 The top five states in terms of increase in forest cover are: Andhra Pradesh (647 sq km),
Telangana (632 sq km), Odisha (537 sq km), Karnataka (155 sq km) and Jharkhand (110 sq km).
 India has the tenth largest forest area in the world.
 In 2020, India ranked third globally in increasing its forest area during 2010 to 2020.
 In 2020, the forests covered 24% of India’s total geographical, accounting for 2% of the world’s total
forest area.
 Key Phrases For Mains: climatic and topographic conditions; Geological stability; habitat fragmentation,
degradation and loss; over-exploitation of resources; shrinking genetic diversity; invasive alien species;
declining forest resource base; climate change and desertification; impact of development projects; impact
of pollution.
o Man and Biosphere Programme: It was first started by UNESCO in 1971, to study the effects of human
interference and pollution on the biotic and abiotic components of ecosystems.
o The Wildlife Trust of India (WTI): It is an Indian nature conservation organisation. Formed as a
response to the rapidly deteriorating condition of wildlife in India.
o National Tiger Conservation Authority: It was established in December 2005, following a
recommendation of the Tiger Task Force, for reorganised management of Project Tiger and the many
Tiger Reserves in India.
o Biodiversity Heritage Sites(BHS): These are well defined areas that have unique, ecologically fragile
ecosystems - terrestrial, coastal and inland waters and, marine having rich biodiversity comprising any
one or more of the components.
o Wild Life (Protection) Act: Section 38 (Z) of the Wild Life (Protection) Act, 1972.
o Awareness generation: Don’t Buy Trouble is one of TRAFFIC India’s first consumer awareness
campaigns that advises tourists to be careful of what they buy as souvenirs during their travels.
o Capacity building programmes: Bridging the gap in effective wildlife law enforcement in India through
capacity building programmes.
o Shailesh Nayak Committee 2015: On Coastal Regulation Zone
o Kasturirangan Committee 2015: on Western Ghats
o Madhav Gadgil in 2010: Eco sensitive zones- The Ministry of Environment & Forests had constituted
the Western Ghats Ecology Expert Panel (WGEEP) under the Chairmanship of Prof Madhav Gadgil in
2010.

2.3 ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT ASSESSMENT (EIA)

 Meaning/Definition: It is the study to predict the effect of a proposed activity/project on the environment.
A decision-making tool, EIA compares various alternatives for a project and seeks to identify the one which
represents the best combination of economic and environmental costs and benefits.
o It started in 1976-77 when the Planning Commission asked the Department of Science and Technology
to examine the river-valley projects from an environmental angle.
o Until 1994, environmental clearance from the Central Government was an administrative decision and
lacked legislative support.
o On 27 January 1994, MEFCC, under the Environmental (Protection) Act 1986, promulgated an EIA
notification making Environmental Clearance (EC) mandatory for expansion or modernisation of any
Activity.
 Key Phrases For Mains: Disclose environmental effects; Disclose environmental effects; Triple Bottom Line;
People, Planet, Profit; Small Is Beautiful; Tragedy of commons; Beneficiary Pays Principle.
o EIA legislation, 2006: The notification makes it mandatory for various projects such as mining, thermal
power plants, river valley, infrastructure (road, highway, ports, harbours and airports) and industries
including very small electroplating or foundry units to get environment clearance.
2.4 ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION AND DEGRADATION

o Pollution: The contamination of the physical and biological components of the earth/atmosphere system
to such an extent that normal environmental processes are adversely affected.
o Degradation: The United Nations International Strategy for Disaster Reduction defines environmental
degradation as “The reduction of the capacity of the environment to meet social and ecological objectives
and needs”.
 Data And Facts:
o GHG emissions: 22 per cent increase in India’s GHG emissions between 2010 and 2014.
o Extreme weather events as, In 2018, 11 states recorded major extreme weather events that claimed 1,425
lives.
o In April 2019, India recorded 69,523 forest fires, which was 9.5 times more than that recorded by the
earlier.
o State of land and agriculture: While in farm sector the input costs for major crops are rising, the average
farmland size is shrinking. Even the share of the insured cropped area stands at a dismal 26 per cent.
 Key Phrases For Mains: Public Trust Doctrine; 5Ps (SDGs): People, Planet, Prosperity, Peace, and
Partnerships; Intergenerational Equity; Absolute Liability Principle; Global Stocktaking; Waste to Energy,
Waste to Wealth; Climate Apartheid.
o Climate Resilience Building Among Farmers Through Crop Residue Management: To lower Green
House Gases Emissions in project areas by creating awareness among farmers through crop residue
management.
o India Greenhouse Gas Program: The India GHG Program led by WRI India, Confederation of Indian
Industry (CII) and The Energy and Resources Institute (TERI) is an industry-led voluntary framework
to measure and manage greenhouse gas emissions.
o India Cooling Action Plan (ICAP): To provide sustainable cooling and thermal comfort for all while
securing environmental and socio-economic benefits for the society.
o National Action Plan On Climate Change (NAPCC): To achieve a sustainable development path that
simultaneously advances economic and environmental.
o River and Water Conservation: The Water Resources Information System (WRIS) database developed
by the Central Water Commission (CWC) along with the ISRO includes 15,615 identified rivers/streams
in the country.

o Forest Conservation: The National Afforestation Programme (NAP) is the flagship scheme under the
MoEF&CC. The NAP of the MoEF&CC is a 100% centrally sponsored scheme for afforestation and tree
plantation and eco-restoration of degraded forests and adjoining areas in the country.
o National Green Tribunal: Established in 2010 under the NGT Act 2010. It has been set up for effective
and expeditious disposal of cases relating to environmental protection and conservation of forests and
other natural resources.
o Solar and Renewable Energy: The government has launched the LED project, where the government is
replacing the lighting load of the country with LEDs. It will reduce the carbon dioxide emissions by 80
million tonnes per annum and the economically prudent project will help the consumer save around Rs.
40,000 crore in electricity bills annually.
o Green Skill Development Programme (GSDP) : The GSDP developed by the MoEF&CC under the ENVIS
Scheme is a new initiative to skill youth in the environment, forest and wildlife sectors and enable them
to be employed or be self-employed.
2.5 LAND DEGRADATION

 Meaning/Definition: Land degradation is defined as a negative trend in land condition, caused by direct or
indirect human-induced processes including anthropogenic climate change, expressed as long-term
reduction or loss of at least one of the following: biological productivity, ecological integrity, or value to
humans.
 Data/Facts:
o About 29% or about 96.4 million hectares of land in India are considered degraded.
o State of India’s Environment 2022:
 Agriculture: The target is to double farmers’ income by 2022. While the average monthly income of
an agricultural household has increased to Rs 10,218 from Rs 6,426, this increase is largely due to
increase in wages and income from farming animals.
 Digitisation of land records: Another target is to digitise all land records by 2022. While states like
Madhya Pradesh, West Bengal and Odisha have made good progress, states like Jammu and Kashmir,
Ladakh and Sikkim languish at 5 per cent, 2 per cent and 8.8 per cent digitisation of land records,
respectively.
 Increasing the forest cover: The target is to increase it to 33.3 per cent of the geographical area, as
envisaged in the National Forest Policy, 1988. By 2019, 21.67 per cent of India was under forest cover.
o FAO Data:
 Almost one-quarter of the world’s land area has been degraded over the past 50 years because of soil
erosion, salinization, peatland and wetland drainage, and forest degradation.
 More than one-quarter of agricultural lands are classified as severely degraded.
o India State of Forest Report (ISFR) 2021:
 India’s forest and tree cover has risen by 2,261 square kilometers in the last two years with Andhra
Pradesh growing the maximum forest cover of 647 square kilometers.
 The total tree-and-forest cover in the country includes an increase of 1,540 square kilometres of
forest cover and 721 sq km of tree cover compared to the 2019 report.
 India’s total forest and tree cover is now spread across 80.9 million hectares, which is 24.62 per cent
of the geographical area of the country.
 The top five states in terms of increase in forest cover are Andhra Pradesh (647 sq km), Telangana
(632 sq km), Odisha (537 sq km), Karnataka (155 sq km) and Jharkhand (110 sq km).
 SDG Goals: SDG 15 (Life on land)
 Key Phrases: Land desertification; Forest cover; Vegetation degradation; Wind and water erosion;
Anthropogenic factors; Endanger food resources; Afforestation; Alternative fuels use; Preventing
overgrazing; Sustainable agriculture; Overexploitation of Resources
o Adoption of watershed approach : Planning based on micro-watersheds, use of remote sensing data
and spatial data in planning at the micro-watershed level. E.g. Integrated Watershed Management
Programme.

o Sustainable Land and Ecosystem Management (SLEM) Programme: Which is jointly implemented by
Government of India and Global Environment Facility (GEF), aims to promote sustainable land and
ecosystem management.
o Mission Mode approach: At the UNFCCC’s CoP 2015 in Paris, India adopted a Bonn Challenge pledge to
restore 13 million hectares of degraded land by 2020 and a further eight million hectares by 2030.
o Fodder and Feed Development Scheme: It aims to improve degraded grassland and also the vegetation
cover of problematic soils like saline, acidic and heavy soil. It is being implemented by the Ministry of
Fisheries, Animal Husbandry, and Diaries.
o National Mission on Green India: It is a part of the NAPCC. It was approved in 2014 with the objective
of protecting, restoring and enhancing India’s diminishing forest cover with a deadline of 10 years.
o Desertification and Land Degradation Atlas of India: It was released by ISRO in 2016. Combating
desertification and land degradation is one of the thrust areas covered by it.
 Global Efforts:
o UNCCD: It was established in 1994, the sole legally binding international agreement linking environment
and development to sustainable land management.
o The Bonn Challenge: To bring 150 million hectares of the world’s deforested and degraded land into
restoration by 2020, and 350 million hectares by 2030.
o Great Green Wall: Initiative by Global Environment Facility (GEF), where eleven countries in Sahel-
Saharan Africa have focused efforts to fight against land degradation and revive native plant life to the
landscape.
2.6 AIR POLLUTION

 Meaning/Definition: Air pollution is the presence of substances in the atmosphere that are harmful to the
health of humans and other living beings, or cause damage to the climate or to materials. There are many
different types of air pollutants, such as gases, particulates, and biological molecules.
 Data And Facts:
o According to WHO: toxic air is now the biggest environmental risk of early death, responsible for one in
nine of all fatalities.
o United Nation: 9 out of 10 people on the planet are now breathing polluted air.
o WHO: polluted air has led to a growing global health crisis, causing about 7 million deaths per year, far
more than HIV, tuberculosis and malaria combined.
o Child mortality: In India, air pollution kills one lakh children under the age of five every year and is
responsible for 12.5% of all deaths in the country.
o Cost of Air Pollution: According to the analysis by Greenpeace (NGO), the cost to the economy due to air
pollution (PM 2.5 air pollution) claimed approximately 54,000 lives in Delhi in 2020.
o Vulnerable sections: About 2 million premature deaths per year, wherein 44% are due to pneumonia,
54% from Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD), and 2% from lung cancer.
o Pollution from Coal-Based Thermal Power Stations-IEA: Coal-based thermal power stations
contribute over half Sulphur dioxide (SO2), 30% oxides of nitrogen (NOx), about 20% particulate matter
(PM), etc.
 Key Phrases For Mains: Biological Molecules; Respiratory Infections; Psychiatric Disorders; Outdoor Air
Pollution; Productivity Losses And Degraded Quality Of Life; Mean Acidifying Emissions; Stationary Sources;
Emission Factors; Gas chamber; Public health emergency; Graded response action plan.
o National Clean Air Programme (NCAP): The overall objective of the NCAP is a comprehensive
management plan for prevention, control and abatement of air pollution besides augmenting the air
quality-monitoring network across the country.
o National Air Quality Monitoring Programme: To determine status and trends of ambient air quality;
to ascertain whether the prescribed ambient air quality standards are violated; to Identify Non-
attainment Cities; to obtain the knowledge and understanding necessary for developing preventive and
corrective measures.
o Bharat Stage-VI Norms: India shifted from Bharat Stage-IV to Bharat Stage-VI emission norms.

o Compensatory Afforestation Bill, 2016 : The enactment of the Compensatory Afforestation Act, 2016
is aimed at ending adhocism and helping the central and state governments to utilise funds in a planned
and efficient manner.
2.7 WATER POLLUTION

 Meaning/Definition: Water pollution is the contamination of water bodies, usually as a result of human
activities, in such a manner that negatively affects its legitimate uses. Water pollution reduces the ability of
the body of water to provide the ecosystem services that it would otherwise provide.
 Data And Facts:
o Almost 60% of polluted river stretches exist in eight states: Maharashtra, Assam, Madhya Pradesh,
Kerala, Gujarat, Odisha, West Bengal and Karnataka.
o The National Green Tribunal (NGT) in 2019 directed that 100% treatment of sewage before 31st
March, 2020.
o CPCB report National inventory of sewage treatment plants 2021: About 72,368 million litres per
day (MLD) of sewage was generated against which operational treatment capacity was only 26,869 MLD
in 2021.
 Key Phrases For Mains: Untreated Sewage; Organic Matter; Coliform Levels; Sewage Pollution; Waterborne
Diseases; Economic And Human Cost Of Toxic Water-Bodies; ecological flow/ minimum flow of river
o National Water Policy (2012): It aims to take cognizance of the existing situation, to propose a
framework for creation of a system of laws and institutions and for a plan of action with a unified national
perspective. It suggests frameworks to conserve water resources through optimal, economical,
sustainable and equitable means.
o National Water Mission (2010): It ensures integrated water resource management leading to water
conservation, less wastage, equitable distribution forming better policies.
o National Mission for Clean Ganga (NMCG): It envisages a five-tier structure at national, state and
district level to take measures for prevention, control, and abatement of environmental pollution in river
Ganga. It aims to ensure continuous adequate flow of water so as to rejuvenate the river Ganga.
o Namami Gange Project: It integrates the efforts to clean and protect the Ganga River in a comprehensive
manner.
2.8 RENEWABLE, ALTERNATIVE ENERGY AND ENERGY EFFICIENCY

 Meaning/Definition: Renewable energy is energy that is collected from renewable resources that are
naturally replenished on a human timescale. It includes sources such as sunlight, wind, rain, tides, waves, and
geothermal heat.
 Data And Facts:
o India’s INDC: 175 GW from Renewable energy.
o In India, 96.61% of Renewable energy production is done by the Private sector.
o Renewables Energy targets:
 175GW by 2022
 The revised target is to achieve 450GW by 2030
o Sector-wise installed capacity:
 Wind: 47% (4th Largest) - 37 GW
 Solar: 34% (5th Largest) -32 GW
 Bio: 13% - 9 GW
 Small Hydropower: 6% - 4 GW
o Budget 2020-21: Power System Development Fund (PSDF) has been approved with over Rs.6,000 crore
to create and modernize transmission and distribution systems of strategic importance to relieve
congestion in inter- and intrastate transmission systems.
o Renewable energy capacity: As per NITI Aayog, India’s Renewable Energy Capacity is 4th largest in the
world.
o Largest clean energy programme: India is running the world’s largest clean energy programme to
achieve 175 GW of renewable capacity, including 100 GW of solar power by 2022.
o Solar power: India ranked at 5th position in the world in solar power deployment.
o Wind power: India has the fourth-largest installed wind power capacity in the world.
o NITI Aayog: Methanol Economy will also create close to 5 million jobs through methanol
production/application and distribution services.
 Key Phrases For Mains: Reverse bundling; Renewable Purchase Obligations; Must run Status; Energy
Efficiency; Effective Energy Transition; Gate Closure; Issues of Intermittent; 24*7 Power for All; Smart
metering.
o Pm-Kisan Urja Suraksha Evam Utthaan Mahaabhiyan (PM-KUSUM) Scheme: Scheme to enable
farmers to set up solar power generation capacity on their fallow/ barren lands and to sell it to the grid.
o Grid Connected Rooftop Solar Programme (PHASE-II): To achieve a cumulative capacity of 40 GW by
the year 2022 through Grid Connected SRT System.
o Jawaharlal Nehru National Solar Mission (JNNSM): To reduce the cost of solar power generation in
the country through long-term policy, large scale deployment goals, aggressive R&D and the domestic
production of critical raw materials, components and products.
o Scheme For Development Of Solar Parks And Ultra Mega Power Project: To facilitate the solar
project developers to set up projects in a plug and play model.
o Atal Jyoti Yojana: To provide ‘Solar Street Lighting Systems’ for public use like lighting roads, bus stops
etc and improvement in security & safety through better lighting.
2.9 DAM SAFETY

 Meaning/Definition: A dam is a barrier that stops or restricts the flow of surface water or underground
streams. Reservoirs created by dams not only suppress floods but also provide water for activities such as
irrigation, human consumption, industrial use, aquaculture, and navigability.
 Data And Facts:
o There are 5,745 reservoirs in India
o 293 dams in India are more than 100 years old
o The age of 25% of dams is between 50 to 100 years
o 80% are over 25 years old
o 40 dams have collapsed in India since Independence
 Key Phrases For Mains: Improving Safety And Performance; Technical Assistance; Remedial Works;
Strengthen The Institutional Framework; Climate Resilience; Safeguarding Human Life; upstream and
downstream.
o DHARMA: Dam Health And Rehabilitation Monitoring Application (DHARMA) is a bespoke web-based
software package to support the effective collection and management of Dam Safety data in respect of all
large dams of India.
o SHAISYS: Seismic Hazard Analysis Information System (SHAISYS) is a web based interactive application
tool being developed in CWC under Dam Safety Organisation (DSO) to estimate the seismic hazard at any
point in the Indian region.
o Dam Safety Program: For improving the safety and performance of existing dams across different states
in India.
o National Committee on Dam Safety (NCDS): Suggest ways to bring dam safety activities in line with the
latest state-of-art consistent with the Indian conditions.
2.10 WESTERN GHAT CONSERVATION

 Meaning/Definition: The Western Ghats is an extensive region spanning over six States and home to many
endangered plants and animals. It is a UNESCO World Heritage site and according to UNESCO, the Western
Ghats are older than the Himalayas. They influence Indian monsoon weather patterns by intercepting the
rain laden monsoon winds that sweep in from the southwest during late summer.
 Data/Facts:
o Area coverage: Covering an area of 180,000 km square, or just under 6 per cent of the land area of India.

o Endemic species: 50 per cent of India’s amphibians and 67 per cent of fish species are endemic to this
region, for example, Nilgiri tahr, lion-tailed macaque, etc.
o Bio-diversity: The Western Ghats contain exceptional levels of plant and animal diversity and
endemicity. For example, 52% of tree species found in the Western Ghats are endemic, 65% of
amphibians found here are endemic.
o Protected areas: Nearly 10 per cent of the total area of Western Ghats is currently covered under
protected areas.
 SDG Goals: SDG 15 (Life on Land)
 Constitutional Provisions: Article 48A & Article 51A (g)
 Legislative Provisions: Wildlife (Protection) Act of 1972; Indian Forest Act of 1927; Forest Conservation
Act (1980).
 Key Phrases: Hotspot of biological diversity; Extension of Western ghats; House of Biodiversity; Endemic
species; Hydrological and watershed functions; Role of monsoon; Forest based industries; Forest based
communities; Endemic Species; Fragile ecosystem; Tourist hotspot; Human-wildlife conflict; Encroachment
by human settlements; Deforestation;
o Established various projects for preservation: The government has taken measures to conserve the
fast declining biological diversity with the establishment of a Protected Area network, tiger reserves and
biosphere reserves. Nearly 10 per cent of the total area of Western Ghats is currently covered under
protected areas
o Ecologically Sensitive Areas: The government has also taken initiative to demarcate Ecologically
Sensitive Areas (ESA.) These areas are not just about the regulation of development but are also
intimately linked to the positive promotion of environment-friendly and socially inclusive development.
o 4th draft of Western Ghats: Following an order from the NGT, the environment ministry has come with
the 4th draft of Western Ghats’ ESA or ‘no-go’ zone.
 Committees/Commissions:
o Madhav Gadgil Committee (2011): Also known as the Western Ghats Ecology Expert Panel (WGEEP)
in 2011 recommended that all of the Western Ghats be declared as the Ecological Sensitive Areas (ESA)
with only limited development allowed in graded zones.
o Kasturirangan Committee (2012): The Kasturirangan Commission sought to balance the development
and environment protection in contrast to the system proposed by the Gadgil report
2.11 FOREST CONBSERVATION

 Meaning/Definition: Forest conservation is the practice of planning and maintaining forested areasfor the
benefit and sustainability of future generations. Forest conservation involves the upkeep of the natural
resources within a forest that are beneficial for both humans and the ecosystem.
 Data/Facts: Indian State Of Forest Report 2021
1. Increase of 2,261 sq km in the total forest and tree cover of the country in the last two years.
2. Area-wise Madhya Pradesh has the largest forest cover in the country followed by Arunachal Pradesh,
Chhattisgarh, Odisha and Maharashtra.
3. Top five states in terms of increase in forest cover: Andhra Pradesh (647 sq km) > Telangana (632 sq
km) > Odisha (537 sq km) > Karnataka (155 sq km) > Jharkhand (110 sq km).
4. Top five states in terms of forest cover as percentage of total geographical area: Mizoram (84.53%) >
Arunachal Pradesh (79.33%) > Meghalaya (76.00%) > Manipur (74.34%) > Nagaland (73.90%).
5. North Eastern region: Arunachal Pradesh lost the maximum forest cover (257 sq km), followed by
Manipur.
6. 17 states/UT’s have above 33 percent of the geographical area under forest cover. Out of these states
and UTs, Lakshadweep, Mizoram, Andaman & Nicobar Islands, Arunachal Pradesh and Meghalaya have
more than 75 percent forest cover.
7. Total carbon stock in the country's forest: estimated to be 7,204 million tonnes, an increase of 79.4
million.
8. Total mangrove cover in the country: 4,992 sq km, an increase of 17 sq Km observed.
9. Top three states showing mangrove cover increase: Odisha (8 sq km) > Maharashtra (4 sq km) >
Karnataka (3 sq km).
10. Ahmedabad among the mega cities of India has lost maximum forest cover.
 Key Phrases: Living filters; Unmatched biodiversity; Forest restoration; Habitats for biodiversity and
livelihood for humans; storehouses of carbon; Reduces the ambient temperature; Purifies the air; Reduces
ambient noise; Offers healing environment; Provides rainwater buffer; Land use and rapid exploitation;
Conversion to agriculture; Habitat loss; Sacred grooves; Shifting cultivation; Community Forest Rights.
o The Forest Rights Act (FRA), 2006: To strengthen the conservation regime of the forests by including
the responsibilities and authority of Forest Rights holders for sustainable use, conservation of
biodiversity and maintenance of ecological balance.
o Wild Life (Protection) Act, 1972: The Act, inter alia, provides for the creation of Protected Areas for the
protection of wildlife and also provides for punishment for hunting of specified fauna specified in the
schedules I to IV thereof.
o Wetland (Conservation and Management) Rules 2010: They have been framed for the protection of
wetlands in the States.
o National Plan for Conservation of Aquatic Ecosystem: Provides assistance to the States for the
management of wetlands including Ramsar sites in the country.
o Wildlife Crime Control Bureau: It has been established for control of illegal trade in wildlife, including
endangered species.
o Protected Areas: viz, National Parks, Sanctuaries, Conservation Reserves and Community Reserves all
over the country covering the important habitats have been created as per the provisions of the Wild Life
(Protection) Act, 1972 to provide better protection to wildlife, including threatened species and their
habitat.
2.12 SOLID WASTE MANAGEMENT

 Meaning/Definition: Solid waste refers to all non-liquid wastes that include Solid as well as semi-solid
wastes, but excluding Human and Animal excreta. Solid waste can create very serious health problems and
an unpleasant living environment if not disposed of in a proper and a safe manner.
 Data/Facts:
o India generates: Over 150,000 tonnes of municipal solid waste (MSW) per day.
o According to MoEF&CC: 62 million tonnes of waste is generated annually in the country by the 377
million people living in urban India, the world’s third-largest garbage generator at present, out of which
5.6 million tonnes is plastic waste, 0.17 million tonnes is biomedical waste, hazardous waste generation
is 7.90 million tonnes per annum and 15 lakh tonnes is e-waste.
o World Bank: According to the World Bank, India’s daily waste generation will reach 377,000 tonnes by
2025.
o Waste collection and treatment: Only 83% of waste is collected and less than 30% is treated.
o Per capita waste generation: in Indian cities ranges from 200 grams to 600 grams per day.
 Key Phrases: Breeding ground for disease transmission; Migration of leachates; Biodegradablke waste;
Surface water contamination; Soil contamination; Bioremediation; Landfills; Vermiculture; Processing/
recovery from waste; Issues with segregation; Disposal of waste.
o Municipal Solid Waste Management (MSWM): It is a critical element towards sustainable metropolitan
o development. It comprises segregation, storage, collection, relocation, carry-age, processing, and disposal
of solid waste to minimize its adverse impact on the environment
o Solid Waste Management Rules, 2016: focus on segregation of waste at source, responsibility on the
manufacturer to dispose of sanitary and packaging wastes, user fees for collection, disposal and
processing from the bulk generator.
o My Home My Neighbourhood Campaign: MoHUA launched this campaign focusing on segregation of
waste at source; Compost making from wet waste; Recycle of dry waste; Eradication of open defecation;
Awareness against throwing waste in open spaces; Adopting a nearby park for collection and waste
segregation.
 Case Study: South Korea is one of the few countries to separate and recycle food waste. It has also launched
landfill recovery projects such as the Nanjido recovery project which have successfully transformed
hazardous waste sites into sustainable ecological attractions.
3. SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY

3.1 SCIENCE AND R&D IN INDIA
 Data And Facts:
o Very low human capital base for research: just 0.45% of the students enrolled in higher education
are enrolled in doctoral programmes.
o Economic Survey 2020-21: India's gross expenditure on R&D is 0.65% of its GDP, significantly lower
than 1.5-3% of GDP spent by the top 10 economies.
o The Indian Research Ecosystem:
1. In India - Only 0.5% of undergraduates go on to do Ph.Ds.
2. In U.S. - 9% of undergraduates go on to do Ph.Ds.
o Atal New India Challenges & Atal Grand Challenges: to promote technology driven innovations and
product creation for social and commercial impact
o IMPRINT 2.0: to develop a road map for research to solve major engineering and technology challenges
in 10 technology domains relevant for the country
o INSPIRE Scheme: to attract young students to study science and pursue research career
o SPOCS (Scheme for Promotion of Culture of Science): to portray the growth of science and technology
and their application in industry and human welfare.
o ATUFS (Amended Technology Upgradation Fund Scheme): to promote export through Make in India
and ‘Zero Effect and Zero Defect’ in manufacturing
o SRTMI (Steel Research and Technology Mission of India): to spearhead R&D of national importance
in iron and steel
o Vigyan Jyoti: to encourage the women to pursue science and to create a level- playing field for the
meritorious girls in high school to pursue STEM.
o Rashtriya Avishkar Abhiyan: to leverage the potential for science, mathematics and technology
learning in non-classroom settings.
o Sophisticated Analytical & Technical Help Institute (SATHI) Initiative: Science and Technology
infrastructure facility equipped with major analytical instrument and advanced manufacturing facility
o Integrate Cyber Physical Systems Program: to encourage the interdisciplinary approach in academia
& to encourage greater synergy between the university scientists and industry.
o SRESTHA: New R&D organisation to serve the future technology needs of Railways.
o STRIDE: To identify young talent, strengthen research culture, build capacity, promote innovation and
support trans-disciplinary research.
o Intensification of Research in High Priority Areas (IRHPA): To supports proposals in high priority
areas where multidisciplinary / multi-institutional expertise is required
o UDAAN: To address the challenge of low enrolment of girls in technical education institutes
3.2 INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY AND PATENT

 Meaning/Definition: Intellectual property rights (IPR) are the rights given to persons over the creations of
their minds: inventions, literary and artistic works, and symbols, names and images used in commerce. They
usually give the creator an exclusive right over the use of his/her creation for a certain period of time.
 Data/Facts:
o International Intellectual Property Index 2021: India’s ranked 40th among 53 countries, while in
2019 India was ranked at 36th position out of 50 countries.
o International Intellectual Property Index 2022: India has improved its overall International
Intellectual Property (IIP) score from 38.4% to 38.6%, and the country is ranked 43rd out of 55 countries.
 Key Phrases: Copyright and rights related to copyright; Industrial property; Trademarks and geographical
indications; Stimulate and ensure fair competition and to protect consumers; Industrial designs and trade
secrets; Encourages innovation; Safeguard the rights of creators; Facilitates the transfer of technology;

Human Capital Development; Commercialization of IPRs; Outreach and promotions; Patent and trademark
Filings; Patent Evergreening Prevention
o National Intellectual Property Rights (IPR) Policy 2016: adopted in May 2016 as a vision document
to guide future development of IPRs in the country.
o Cell for IPR Promotion & Management (CIPAM): It bhas been created as a professional body under the
aegis of DIPP to take forward the implementation of the National IPR Policy 2016.
o Patent (Amendment) Rules, 2020: The new rules have amended the format of a disclosure statement
that patentees & licensees are required to annually submit to the Patent Office.
o The Geographical Indications of Goods (Registration & Protection) Act, 1999: It provides a legal
recognition given primarily to an agricultural, natural or a manufactured product (handicrafts &
industrial goods) originating from a definite geographical territory.
3.3 E-VEHICLES
 Meaning/Definition: The push for Electric Vehicles (EVs) is driven by the global climate agenda established
under the Paris Agreement to reduce carbon emissions in order to limit global warming. The global electric
mobility revolution is today defined by the rapid growth in electric vehicle (EV) uptake.
 Data And Facts:
o The transport sector of India is the third most greenhouse gas (GHG) emitting sector, where the major
contribution comes from the road transport sector.
o Out of the total carbon dioxide emissions in India, 13% come from the transport sector. These
emissions have more than tripled since 1990.
o India is the fifth largest car market in the world and has the potential to become one of the top three in
the near future — with about 40 crore customers in need of mobility solutions by the year 2030.
 Key Phrases For Mains: Green initiatives: green mobility solutions; decarbonising economy, the future
transport; Net zero emission by 2070.
o FAME: to encourage faster adoption of electric and hybrid vehicles by offering incentives and providing
infrastructure.
o FAME PHASE II: gives push for EVs in public transport along with incentives for manufacturing and
providing charging infrastructure.
o Lithium Ion Battery Initiative: Under FAME II, to encourage advance techs, incentives given for vehicles
fitted with LI-ion batteries.
o Electric Vehicle Mission 2030: to have an all-electric fleet of EVs by 2030 National Electric mobility
mission Plan: to achieve national fuel security by promoting electric and hybrid vehicles.(Target to sell
6-7million EVs by 2020)
o National Mission on transformative Mobility and Battery Storage: to recommend and drive
strategies for transformative mobility and Phased manufacturing of EVs, EV component, and batteries.
o Guidelines on Charging infrastructure: to help implement the objectives of FAME II
o Lithium ion cell production initiative : Part of government’s plan to achieve 100% EVs by 2030
3.4 CRYPTOCURRENCY
 Meaning/Definition: A digital currency in which transactions are verified and records maintained by a
decentralized system using cryptography, rather than by a centralized authority.
 Data And Facts:
o In India, despite government threats of a ban, cryptocurrency transaction volumes have been rising
o About 8 million investors now hold 100 billion rupees ($1.4 billion) in crypto investments.
o User registrations and money inflows at local crypto exchanges such as ZebPay, Unocoin etc. have been
soaring especially in the last 2-3 years.
o Blockchain was first introduced in the design and development of cryptocurrency, Bitcoin is allegedly
created by a Japanese entrepreneur named Satoshi Nakamoto.
o Union Budget 2022-23: Proposed imposing a tax of 30 per cent on virtual assets, effectively legitimising
trading of private cryptocurrencies and non-fungible tokens.

 Key Phrases For Mains: Permission And Management Of Cryptocurrency; Coordinated Global Rules; Virtual
Assets; Absence Of Global Coordination On Cryptocurrencies; Ledger technology; blockchain technology;
virtual currency.
o Centre of Excellence in Blockchain Technology: It operates as a coordinated, interoperable blockchain
ecosystem across the country.
o NITI Aayog: It has recognized Blockchains a promising Technology enabling features such as
decentralization, transparency and accountability.
o Subhash Garg Committee: Blanket ban on Cryptocurrency.
3.5 NON-FUNGIBLE TOKEN (NFT)

 Meaning/Definition: An NFT is a unique, irreplaceable token that can be used to prove ownership of digital
assets such as music, artwork, even tweets and memes. Anything that can be converted into a digital form
can be an NFT. Examples - drawings, photos, videos, GIF, music, in-game items, selfies, and even a tweet can
be turned into an NFT, which can then be traded online using cryptocurrency.
 Data/Facts:
o Traded since around 2017, NFTs have surged in 2021. Monthly sales on NFT marketplace OpenSea hit
$95.2 million in February, up from $8 million in January.
o Total NFT trading volumes on the Ethereum blockchain amount to over $400 million, nearly half of
which were in the last 30 days, according to NonFungible.com, which aggregates data from NFT
marketplaces.
o Union Budget 2022-23: Proposed imposing a tax of 30 per cent on virtual assets, effectively legitimising
trading of private cryptocurrencies and non-fungible tokens.
 Key Phrases: Digital objects; Cryptographic token; Not mutually interchangeable; Cryptocurrency wallet;
Metaverse; Web 3.0; Future of Ownership; Help to monetise digital artwork; Hope for the future in the digital
field; Fragile system; NFT art has a dirty secret; Possibility of fraud
3.6 BIOTECHNOLOGY
 Meaning/Definition: Biotechnology is a broad area of biology, involving the use of living systems and
organisms to develop or make products. Depending on the tools and applications, it often overlaps with
related scientific fields.
 Data And Facts:
o In 1986, a separate department of Biotechnology was established in India.
o The Biotechnology sector in India has grown from $1.1 billion in 2003 to a mammoth $64 billion sector
in 2019.
o By 2024, it is expected to be a $100 billion industry.
o Currently, there are over 2,700 biotech start-ups and are expected to touch the 10,000-mark by 2024.
 Key Phrases For Mains: Genetically Modified Crops; Commercial Release; Biosafety Research; Codex
Alimentarius Commission; Grievance Redressal Of All Stakeholders; Engineered Nucleases; Potential Loss To
Diversity; Genome Sequencing; Biotech-Pride.
o Start Up India Seed Fund Scheme: To Provide Financial Assistance to Startups In The Sectors
Of Agriculture, Food-Processing, Biotechnology, Healthcare, Energy, Mobility, Defence, Space, Railways,
Oil And Gas, Textiles, Among Others.
o Industry-Academia Partnership And Incubation: Promoting Startups In The Biotechnology Sector.
o National Biopharma Mission: to enable and nurture an ecosystem for preparing India’s technological
and product development capabilities in biopharmaceuticals to a level that will be globally competitive
o Biotech-Kisan: to work with small and marginal farmers for better agriculture productivity through
scientific intervention and evolving best farming practices
o Cattle Genomic Scheme: to predict breeding values of animal, using DNA level information with
performance record, more accurately and identify genetic worth of animal (elite animal) at an early age

o Indian Biosafety Knowledge Portal: by Department of Biotechnology to receive all new applications
related to research proposals in Recombinant DNA Technology and Hazardous Microorganisms
o Project CARD: Consortium for Affordable & Rapid Diagnostics (CARD) to scale up India’s capacity to
make coronavirus testing kits
o UMMID Initiative: to establish ‘NIDAN’ Kendras to provide counselling, prenatal testing and diagnosis
and to produce skilled clinicians in Human Genetics
o Review Committee on Genetic Manipulation (RCGM): Monitor the safety related aspect in respect of
on-going research projects or activities involving hazardous microorganisms, GE organisms and cells and
products thereof.
o Genetic Engineering Appraisal Committee (GEAC): To appraise activities involving large scale use of
hazardous microorganisms GE organisms or cells in research and industrial production from the
environmental angle.
3.7 ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE, DATA ANALYTICS AND BLOCKCHAIN TECHNOLOGY

o AI is a branch of computer science that deals with creating computers or machines as intelligent as
human beings. It refers to the ability of the machines to perform human intelligence processes like
thinking, perceiving, learning, problem-solving and decision making.
o Blockchain technology is a distributed ledger technology suitable for decentralized and transactional
data shared across a large network of untrusted entities. This technology allows a new type of distributed
software architecture capable of finding concurrence on their shared states without need to establish
online trust with any central entity/participant.
 Data And Facts:
o In 2017, the global AI in agriculture market size was US$ 240 million, and is expected to reach US$
1.1 billion by 2025.
o It is estimated that AI and connected farm services can impact 70 million Indian farmers in a positive
way by adding approx. 9 billion$ to farmers income (distributive).
o Estimates indicate that only 22% of the firms in India use AI in any business process. While AI is a
deep algorithm, most start-ups are focused on digitization and data analytics only.
o Around $150 million have been invested in more than 400 companies over the past five years whereas
the US invested around $9.7 billion in AI in 2018.
o NITI Aayog: AI has the potential to add around $1 trillion to India’s economy and boost India’s annual
growth rate by 1.3% by 2035.
 Key Phrases For Mains: AI for all; AI for health; AI for agriculture; AI for economy; AI for future; responsible
AI; responsible and ethical AI.
o National Strategy on Artificial Intelligence termed #AIForAll: by NITI Aayog to leverage AI for
inclusive growth
o NITI has partnered with IBM to develop AI-enabled yield-prediction and real-time advisory to the
farmer on productivity
o Technology Development Programme (TDP) scheme: aims to promote technology development in
fields such as AI, IoT, nanotechnology, AR/VR, computer vision, fintech and many more
o National Program on AI: Set up by NITI Aayog at IIT Chennai. The research will focus to encourage Big
Data, cybersecurity and Robotics are some of the initiatives that will help promote Industry 4.0
o NITI AAYOG to set up AI Research, Analytics and Knowledge Assimilation Platform (AIRAWAT): to
boost AI Cloud Infrastructure
o National Artificial Intelligence Portal: It will work as a one stop digital platform for sharing of
resources such as articles, startups, investment funds in AI etc
o National Program for the youth – Responsible Artificial Intelligence (AI): to reach out to students
from Government schools pan India and provide them with an opportunity to become part of the skilled
workforce in an inclusive manner
o CBSE subject: Starting this year, the CBSE has AI as an elective subject for its ninth grade classes

o Big Data Initiative: to promote and foster Big Data Science, Technology and Applications in the country
and to develop core generic technologies, tools and algorithms for wider applications in Govt.
o National Data and Analytics Platform: To act as a single source of sectoral data for citizens,
policymakers and researchers.
o National Data Sharing and Accessibility Policy (NDSAP): to facilitate access to Government of India
owned shareable data and information in both human readable and machine readable forms
o "OGD Platform India": platform created for supporting open data initiative of Government of India. The
platform has been set up to provide collated access to resources (datasets/apps) under catalogues,
published by different
o Open Government Data License of India: to ensure that the data sets released are not misused or
misinterpreted (for example, by insisting on proper attribution), and that all users have the same and
permanent right to use the data
o Centre for Data Management and Analytics (CDMA): to synthesise and integrate relevant data for the
auditing process.
3.8 NANO-TECHNOLOGY
 Meaning/Definition: Nanotechnology or nanotech is the technology that involves the manipulation of
matter on atomic, molecular, and supramolecular scales. This includes particles of a scale of 1 to 100
nanometres.
o Nano Mission: An umbrella programme for capacity building which envisages the overall development
of this field of research in the country.
o Nano Science and Technology Initiative (NSTI): Launched in 2001 to focus on various issues relating
to infrastructure development, basic research and application oriented programmes in nanomaterial.
o Nano Science and Technology Mission (NSTM): Launched in 2007 to promote R&D in Nanotechnology
in a comprehensive fashion.
3.9 IT AND RELATED SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY

 Data And Facts:
o India has the second-largest internet user market behind China. (Internet penetration in India is 40%.
(88% for the US and 61% for China)).
o As of 2019, rural India had 10% more active internet users than urban India.
o In India, Facebook alone has over 210 million users. India also has nearly 400 million smartphone users
which offer unprecedented outreach.
o The average cost of data breach in India is Rs 12.8 crore, with per capita cost per lost or stolen record
reaching Rs 5,019 in 2018, as per a study by IBM.
o India has 2nd highest FinTech adoption rate amongst major economies in the world.
o Digital India: to transform India into a digitally empowered society and knowledge economy
o India BPO Promotion Scheme: to creation of employment opportunities for the youth, by promoting
the IT/ IT Enabled Services (ITES) Industry particularly by setting up the BPO/ITES operations.
o 'Build for Digital India' programme: A platform to engineering students to develop market-ready,
technology-based solutions that address key social problems.
o Pandit Deen Dayal Upadhyay Sanchar Kaushal Vikas Pratishtan Scheme: to supplement telecom
skilled manpower creation for the growth of telecom sector
o MeghRaj : In order to accelerate delivery of e-services in the country while optimizing ICT spending of
the Government
o Digital North East: Vision 2022 under Digital India program for north eastern states.
o K-Fon (Kerala Fiber Optic Network) project: to provide high-speed internet connection to around 2
million families in the state
o Bharat Net Project: to provide a minimum bandwidth of 100 Mbps to each of the 2.5 lakh GPs
o National Broadband Mission: to give broadband access to all villages by 2022
o National Policy on Software Products: to create a robust software product ecosystem, which aims to
develop India as a Software Product Nation and the global software product hub.
o Software Technology Park Scheme: to develop and export computer software, including export of
professional services.
o GI Cloud- MeghRaj: Aims at utilizing and harnessing the benefits of Cloud Computing with focus on
accelerating delivery of e-services while optimizing ICT spending of the Government.
o National Supercomputing Mission: to make India one of the world leaders in Supercomputing and to
build capacity of the country to develop the next generation of supercomputer experts
o QUEST (Quantum Enabled Science and Technology): The ostensible plan is to have a quantum
computer built in India within the next decade.
4. INTERNAL SECURITY
4.1 DEVELOPMENT AND SPREAD OF EXTREMISM
 Meaning/ Definition: Extremism means adoption of extreme political, social or religious ideals that reject
or undermine the status quo and undermine contemporary ideas and expressions of freedom.
 Data And Facts:
o SDG 16: commits member states to “promote peaceful and inclusive societies for sustainable
development”. This goal cannot be achieved in an environment of extremism. Extremism needs to be
tackled to create a more secure and sustainably developed India.
o Drop in recent times: LWE related incidents were down by 47 per cent between 2015 and 2020 as
compared to incidents in the preceding six years from 2009 to 2014.
o High alert states: Chhattisgarh and Jharkhand continue to account for 69.10% incidents of Naxal
violence across the country. Districts affected by Naxal violence reduced from 96 in 2010 to 60 in 2018.
o Impact: Over the decades since, the LWE movement is assessed to have impacted 40 percent of India’s
territory and 35 percent of its population.
o Jammu and Kashmir Terrorist incidents: 176% Rise Deaths of Security Personnel: 93% Rise (2014-
2018), 11 Infiltrations every month.
o Rank: 8th most terrorism affected country (Global Terrorism Index)
 Key Phrases For Mains: Politico-Religious Extremism (Fundamentalism); Gullible Targets; Jal-Jangal-
Jameen; Development Deficit; Red Corridor; Guerrilla Warfare; Sluggish Capacity Building; Surrender and
rehabilitation policy; good governance; democratic decentralisation.
o Samagra Shiksha: An Integrated Scheme For School Education: A govt intervention for Quality education
and enhancing learning outcomes of students to Educationally Backward Blocks (EBBs), Left Wing
Extremism (LWE) affected districts.
o Assistance to States for Modernization of Police (ASMP): The scheme was earlier known as
Modernisation of Police Forces (MPF). Further, ‘construction’ and ‘purchase of operational vehicles’ are
permitted in the insurgency affected north-eastern States and Left-Wing Extremism (LWE) affected
districts.
o Road Connectivity Project for Left Wing Extremism Area (RCPLWEA): For Left Wing Extremism
affected Areas as a separate vertical under PMGSY to provide all-weather road connectivity with
necessary culverts and cross drainage structures in 44 districts (35 are worst LWE affected districts and
09 are adjoining districts).
o LWE Mobile Tower Project to improve mobile connectivity in the LWE areas. Approval of Projects
under Universal Service Obligation Fund (USOF) supported scheme to provide mobile services.
o ROSHNI Scheme (Ministry of Rural Development) is a special initiative under Pandit Deen Dayal
Upadhyaya Grameen Kaushalya Yojana which provides placement linked skill development for rural
youth in 24 LWE affected districts in India.
o Skill Development in 34 Districts affected by Left Wing Extremism under implementation from 2011-
12 aims to establish ITIs and Skill Development Centres in LWE affected districts.
o Black Panther combat force: A specialised anti-Naxal combat force for Chhattisgarh on the lines of
Greyhounds unit in Telangana and Andhra Pradesh.
o Aspirational District: The Ministry of Home Affairs has been tasked with the monitoring of Aspirational
districts programme in 35 LWE affected districts.

o Accelerate Employment Initiatives Measures: the GOI is executing several schemes under the Pradhan
Mantri Kaushal Vikas Yojana (PMKVY) that are empowering the citizens with the required skill sets to
earn their livelihood.
o Surrender and rehabilitation programmes: State Governments have their own policy, while the
Central Government supplements the efforts of the State Governments through the Security Related
Expenditure (SRE) Scheme for LWE affected States.
o Engage youth through education: Seeing the success of the educational hub and a livelihood centre in
Dante Wada district, the government has now opened up livelihood centres, known as Livelihood
Colleges, in all the districts.
o XAXA Committee 2014: The Committee was mandated to examine the socio-economic, educational and
health status of tribal communities and recommend appropriate interventional measures to improve the
same.
4.2 LEFT WING EXTREMISM (LWE)

 Meaning/Definition: Naxalism is a form of armed insurgency against the State motivated by leftist/maoist
ideologies and thus is also known as Left Wing extremism (LWE) or Maoism.
 Data/Facts:
o Drop in recent times: LWE related incidents were down by 47 per cent between 2015 and 2020 as
compared to incidents in the preceding six years from 2009 to 2014.
o High alert states: Chhattisgarh and Jharkhand continue to account for 69.10% incidents of Naxal
violence across the country. Districts affected by Naxal violence reduced from 96 in 2010 to 60 in 2018.
o Impact: Over the decades since, the LWE movement is assessed to have impacted 40 percent of India’s
territory and 35 percent of its population
o MHA Report: The geographical influence of Maoists has contracted to only 41 districts in the country,
which is a sharp reduction from 96 such districts in 10 States in 2010. LWE incidents have also reduced
from 2,258 in 2009 to 349 incidents till August 2021.
 Key Phrases: Tribal Discontent; Conditions for non-functioning of the government; Wresting control;
Exploitative by nature; Glorifies violence; Bearing of arms is non-negotiable; Political power grows out of the
barrel of a gun; Organization, consolidation; Red Corridor; Gaps in the Socio-Economic System of the Country;
No Follow-Up from Administration; Guerrilla Warfare; Jal-Jangal-Jameen (3Js); Standard Operating
Procedures
o Road Connectivity Project for LWE affected areas (RRP-II): It was approved in 2016 for further
improving
o Road connectivity in 44 districts of 9 LWE affected States.
o LWE Mobile Tower Project to improve mobile connectivity in the LWE areas.
o ROSHNI Scheme: It is a special initiative under Pandit Deen Dayal Upadhyaya Grameen Kaushalya
Yojana which provides placement linked skill development for rural youth in 24 LWE affected districts
in India.
o Skill Development in 34 Districts affected by Left Wing Extremism under implementation from 2011-
12 aims to establish ITIs and Skill Development Centres in LWE affected districts.
o Black Panther combat force: A specialised anti-Naxal combat force for Chhattisgarh on the lines of
Greyhounds unit in Telangana and Andhra Pradesh.
 Case Study:
o South Bastar and Dantewada regions of Chhattisgarh are known for Naxalism and consequent violence.
As a consequence, children drop out of school and the literacy rate is currently 33 per cent. With this in
view, Shri Omprakash Choudhary, District Collector embarked on a mission of mental transformation
4.3 EXTERNAL STATE AND NON-STATE ACTORS

 Meaning/ Definition: External actors refers to a foreign elements that indulges in acts of terrorism, or aiding
insurgency or secession, or simply fomenting political disturbances in another country, to achieve its own
strategic and tactical objectives.

 Difference: The key difference between state actors and non-state actors is, the state actors are the ruling
governments of a state or a country whereas non-state actors are the influential organizations or even
individuals having the potential to influence the actions of state actors, but not allied to a state.
 Data And Facts:
o The Indian Ocean is the third largest water body of the world that has vital sea lanes of communication
crisscrossing it .
o Refugee: 40,000 Rohingya live in India
o Ethnic diversity In North-East comprises over 160 scheduled tribes and 400 other tribal or sub tribal
communities and groups with predominantly a rural economy.
 Key Phrases For Mains: Act East policy; Deadlock over peace-talks; Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act;
External vulnerabilities; Tri-junction stretches; The deep-rooted nexus; Propaganda by enemy country;
proxy war; Unholy nexus.
o Ishan Vikas: Scholarship Scheme for school students from northeast (8 states) to Premier
o institutes for general degree courses, technical and professional courses including medical and para-
medical courses.
o Himalayan Research Fellowships Scheme: The fellowship scheme is executed through various
universities and institutions working in the Indian Himalayan Region (IHR) and preference will be given
to the Institutions from north-eastern states.
o North East Region Textile Promotion Scheme (NERTPS): An umbrella scheme implemented in project
mode to promote the textiles industry in the NER by providing infrastructure, capacity building and
marketing support to the industry
o Operational measures : By deploying naval ships with armed helicopters to patrol the piracy prone
areas. E.g. Indian Naval and Coast Guard ships have also been deployed in piracy prone areas nearer the
Indian coast.
o International measures : In the international arena, by participating in the various multilateral fora that
have been set up to combat piracy.
o Homeland measures : Internally by taking steps to arrest and prosecute pirates and strengthen the fight
against piracy via a piracy bill. e.g. The Anti-Maritime Piracy Bill, 2019.
4.4 CYBER SECURITY

 Meaning/ Definition: Cybersecurity, or information technology security is the protection of computer
systems and networks from information disclosure, theft of or damage to their hardware, software, or
electronic data, as well as from the disruption or misdirection of the services they provide.
o Largest users: Currently, India has approx. 750 million Internet users across the country, which makes
India as 3rd in terms of the highest number of internet users in the world after USA and China. The figure
is projected to grow to over 974 million users by 2025.
o NCRB: The National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) in 2019 registered a 63.5% jump in cybercrime cases
over 2018.
o National Cyber Crime Reporting Portal: setup by the government in 2019, received over 33,000
complaints till Feb 2020, resulting in lodging of 790 FIRs.
o Covid-19: Cyber-crimes have gone up by almost 500% in India during the global pandemic.
o Pegasus: As per claims, at least a 1,000 Indian phone numbers are in a list of potential targets of
surveillance using the Pegasus spyware sold by Israeli company the NSO Group to “vetted governments”
with the approval of the Israeli government.
 Key Phrases For Mains: Connectivity Revolution; Data Disaggregation; Secret treaty; Proactive Diplomacy.
o Cyber Surakshit Bharat Initiative: launched by MeitY, to strengthen the cybersecurity ecosystem in
India in line with the Government's vision for a ‘Digital India’.
o National Information Centre: Computer Emergency Response Team (NIC-CERT)- A dedicated body to
detect, prevent and mitigate the impact of cyber-attacks, by monitoring data across the NIC platform.
o Project Cyber Shikshaa: For skilling women engineering graduates in the niche field of Cyber Security.

o Integrated Cyber Physical Systems Program: To encourage the interdisciplinary approach in academia.
To encourage greater synergy between the university scientists and industry.
o National Cybersecurity Coordination Centre (NCCC): It is India's cyberspace intelligence agency
which will conduct security and electronic surveillance. It aims to screen communications metadata
coming into the country to detect real time cyber threats and work in close coordination with various law
enforcement agencies for intelligence gathering.
o India's Computer Emergency Response Team (CERT-IN): The CERT-In has been established to thwart
cyber-attacks in India. It is mandated under the IT Amendment Act, 2008 to serve as the national agency
in charge of cyber security. CERT-Fin has also been established based as a specialized agency.
o Indian Cyber-Crime Coordination Centre And Cyber Warrior Police Force: These have been
established under newly created Cyber and Information Security (CIS) Division (under Ministry of Home
Affairs) to tackle internet crimes such as cyber threats, child pornography and online stalking.
o National Critical Information Infrastructure Protection Centre (NCIIPC): It is designated as the
National Nodal Agency in respect of Critical Information Infrastructure Protection.
o Digital Army Programme: A dedicated cloud to digitize and automate processes, procedures and
services similar to Meghraj for the Indian Army, launched as a part of Digital India
o Cooperation with other countries: India along with other countries is undertaking mutual sharing of
information and best-practices, both of which are critical in constructing a robust response to
conspicuous cyber incidents. For example, India is working with the UK, USA, China, Malaysia, Singapore,
Japan.
o Audit of government websites and applications: Empanelment of security auditing organisations to
support and audit implementation of Information security best practices.
o Training of Information Security Personnel: Training of 1.14 lakh persons through 52 institutions
under the Information Security Education and Awareness Project (ISEA) a project to raise awareness and
to provide research, education and training in the field of Information Technology.
o Gulshan Rai Committee: On Cyber Security
o Justice B N Srikrishna Committee: The Committee was constituted by the union government in July
2017, to deliberate on a data protection framework. The Committee has also proposed a draft Personal
Data Protection Bill.
4.5 MONEY-LAUNDERING AND ITS PREVENTION

 Meaning/ Definition: It is a way to convert illegally earned money in such a way that it appears as earned
from legitimate sources. Criminals use organised ways like hawala trading, round tripping, shell companies
or trust etc to convert dirty money into clean money.
 Data And Facts:
o Money laundering: Intensity of money laundering can be seen from the fact that according to an IMF the
amount of money laundered globally in one year is 2 - 5% of global GDP, or $800 billion - $2 trillion in
current US dollars.
o Black Money: According to studies by the union government the size of the country's black money has
been estimated as 71-79% of GDP during 2009-11.
o Parliamentary panel: said that it is very difficult to estimate exact estimate of black money of Indians
stored overseas but it could anywhere between range from 7-120% of GDP.
 Key Phrases For Mains: Layering; Reintroduction Into Financial System; Round Tripping; Cash Intensive
Business; Flourishing Organised Crime; Egmont Group Of Financial Intelligence.
o Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act: To provide for the penalty of property derived from,
or used in illegal traffic in narcotic drugs.
o Prevention of Money-Laundering Act (PMLA): To prevent money-laundering and to provide for
confiscation of property derived from money-laundering.
o Criminal Law Amendment Ordinance (1944): Covers proceeds of only certain crimes such corruption,
breach of trust and cheating and not all the crimes under the Indian Penal Code.
o The Smugglers and Foreign Exchange Manipulators Act, 1976: Covers penalty of illegally acquired
properties of smugglers and foreign exchange manipulators.
o High-level inter-ministerial committee money laundering activities: Chaired by the revenue
secretary, To prevent money laundering activities
o International Organization of Securities Commissions (IOSCO): It encourages its members to take
necessary steps to combat Money Laundering in securities and futures markets.
4.6 SECURITY CHALLENGES AND THEIR MANAGEMENT IN BORDER AREAS:

 Meaning/ Definition: The borders that India shares with her neighbours are quite complex and almost all
types of extreme geography from desert to swampy marshes or tropical evergreen forests is present at
different borders.
 Data And Facts:
o Land Border: India has 15,106.7 km of land border shares with 7 countries (Bangladesh, China, Pakistan,
Nepal, Myanmar, Bhutan, Afghanistan). 90% land contiguous with international border (5,800 km)
o Coastal Border: The long coastline of 7,516.6 km including island territories with a diverse range of
topography
o Poor Border infrastructure: only 22 roads out of allotted 73 roads completed (CAG Report)
o Pakistan: India shares a 3323 km long boundary with Pakistan. Sir Creek is a 96 km tidal estuary
o China: India and China share a 3,500 km long boundary.
o Bangladesh: The India-Bangladesh border is India’s longest border measuring 4096.7 km and passes
through five Indian states.
o Nepal: shares a 1751 Km long border across five Indian states Uttarakhand, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, West
Bengal and Sikkim.
o Bhutan: India and Bhutan share a about 669 km long boundary. The boundary is demarcated except
along the tri-junction with China.
o Myanmar: India shares a 1,643 km long border across four states (Arunachal Pradesh, Nagaland,
Manipur and Mizoram) with Myanmar.
o Andaman and Nicobar Islands: constitute just 0.2 per cent of India’s landmass but provide 30% of its
Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ).
 Key Phrases For Mains: Hot Pursuit; Enabling effective communication and coordination; Hostile elements;
Poor intelligence and resource efficiency; India-US bonhomie; Shadow of Doklam Episode; Border Protection
Grid; Joint Operations Centres; Maritime Domain Awareness; Kargil inadequacies.
o Border Area Development Programme: To meet the special developmental needs and well-being of
the people living in remote and inaccessible areas situated near the international border.
o Social and Infrastructure Development Fund (SIDF): SIDF has been created in the Public Account for
the North Eastern Region, especially for Arunachal Pradesh and other border areas facing special
problems that cannot be tackled through normal schemes.
o Jurisdiction Enhancement of BSF: Ministry of Home Affairs has issued a notification to widen the
jurisdiction of Border Security Force (BSF) for seizure, search and arrest up to 50km from the
international border states of Assam, West Bengal and Punjab.
o Electronic Surveillance: National Command Control Communication and Intelligence Network (NC3I)
has been launched to provide near gapless surveillance of the entire coastline and prevent the intrusion
of undetected vessels, the coastal surveillance network project.
o Comprehensive Integrated Border Management Systems (CIBMS): The CIBMS is a robust and
integrated system that is capable of addressing the gaps in the present system of border security by
seamlessly integrating human resources, weapons, and high-tech surveillance equipment.
o Border Area Development Project: To meet the special developmental needs of the people living in
remote and inaccessible areas situated near the international border; To saturate the border areas with
essential infrastructure; To promote a sense of security and well-being among the border population.
o Integrated Check Posts (ICP): Border Out Posts (BOPs) are designated entry and exit points on the
international border of the country through which cross border movement of persons, goods and traffic
takes place. A Statutory Authority called 'Land Ports Authority of India' (LPAI) has been set up to oversee
and regulate the construction, management and maintenance of the ICPs.

o Marine Police Force: Under the Coastal Security Scheme (2005) marine police force was created with
the aim to strengthen infrastructure for patrolling and the surveillance of the coastal areas, particularly
the shallow areas close to the coast.
o The Standing Committee on Home Affairs: On Border Security: Capacity Building and Institutions
(Chairperson: Mr. P. Chidambaram).
o Shekatkar Committee: To suggest measures to enhance combat capability and rebalance defence
expenditure of the armed forces(Border infrastructure).
o Madhukar Gupta Committee: Recommended the use of scientific technology in border management.
For example, use of laser fencing, ground sensors and thermal imaging where physical fencing is not
feasible due to difficult terrain
o Madhbole Committee: Pending border disputes with neighbouring countries should be resolved.
4.7 POLICE REFORMS AND M ODERNIZATION

 Meaning/ Definition: Police reforms have been on the agenda of Governments almost since independence
but even after more than 50 years, the police is seen as selectively efficient, unsympathetic to the
underprivileged. It is further accused of politicization and criminalization. Police is in general a system of
precaution, either for the prevention of crime or of calamities.
 Data And Facts:
o Strength of the force: United Nations recommended standard is 222 police per lakh persons, India’s
sanctioned strength is 192 police per lakh persons.
o Working hours: For the civilians, staff members of police stations have to remain on duty for 11 hours
or more per day.
 Key Phrases For Mains: Techno-savvy and Trained; Smart policing; Citizen friendly policing; from police
state to welfare state; police performance and accountability commission.
o Model Police Act adoption : The Model Police Act has been adopted by Assam, Bihar, Chhattisgarh,
Gujarat, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Karnataka, Kerala, Maharashtra, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Punjab,
Rajasthan, Sikkim, Tripura and Uttarakhand, and they have initiated marginal reforms.
o Modernization of Police Forces Scheme : The scheme focuses on strengthening police infrastructure
by construction of secure police stations, training centres, police housing (residential) and equipping
police stations with required mobility, modern weaponry, communication equipment and forensic set-
up etc.
o Administrative changes : On the administrative side, changes include separation of investigation from
law and order, specialized wings for Social and Cyber Crimes are initiated in several states.
o Technological reforms : Various technological reforms are pushed including modernization of the
control room, fast tracking Crime and Criminal Tracking Network and System (CCTNS) and pushing for
incorporation of new technology into policing.
o Moving towards Commissionerate System wherever appropriate: Less concentration of power in
the police, and accountability to DM at the district level. Powers of policing and magistracy concentrated
in the Commissioner. It gives an integrated command structure which helps in speedy decision. It reduces
the workload of the District Magistrate.
o National Intelligence Grid (NATGRID) : NATGRID, an attached office of Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA),
is the integrated intelligence grid which connects databases of core security agencies. It was proposed
after the 2008 Mumbai terror attacks.
o Reports of The Ribeiro Committee
o Reports of Padmanabhaiah Committee (2000)
o Reports of National Police Commission (NPC)
o Reports of Malimath Committee (2002-03)
o Reports of Police Act Drafting Committee (2005 - 2006)
o Report And Recommendations of Second ARC
o Prakash Singh Case 2006: Prakash Singh Judgment by SC on Police Reforms

5. DISASTER MANAGEMENT
5.1 DISASTER AND DISASTER MANAGEMENT
 Meaning/Definition: The organization and management of resources and responsibilities for dealing with
all humanitarian aspects of emergencies, in particular, preparedness, response and recovery in order to
lessen the impact of disasters.
 Data And Facts:
o 60% of landmass is prone to earthquakes
o 12% to floods and river erosion
o 70% of cultivable area prone to drought
o Cost of Disaster for India: $76 Billion (1999-2017)
 Key Phrases For Mains: Disaster Management and Disaster Risk Management; Risk mitigation: Build Back
Better; Precautionary Principles; Flood management to flood governance.
o National Disaster Management Act: The Disaster Management Act, 2005, was passed by the Indian
government on December 23, 2005.
o National Institute Of Disaster Management: The premier institute for capacity development for
disaster management in India and the region.
o National Disaster Response Fund: It is a central government-managed fund that is used to cover the
costs of emergency response, relief, and rehabilitation in the event of a disaster.
o J C Pant committee: This committee recommended the creation of the NDMA under the Ministry of
Home Affairs (MHA) and therefore in June 2002, in deference to the recommendations of the Pant
committee, the responsibility of handling Disaster Management was transferred to the MHA.

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1. ECONOMY AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT .............................................................................................................................3

3.5 NON-FUNGIBLE TOKEN (NFT)................................................................................................................................................................. 41

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1. ECONOMY AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT

1.2 GROWTH AND DEVELOPMENT

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1.4 EMPLOYMENT/UNEMPLOYMET/SKILL DEVELOPMENT

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1.5 INCLUSIVE GROWTH

1.6 MOBILISATION OF RESOURCES

1.7 BANKING AND INSURANCE SECTOR IN INDIA

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1.8 GOVERNMENT BUDGETING AND PUBLIC FINANCE

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1.10 ASSET MONETIZATION

1.11 INDIAN AGRICULTURE

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1.12 FEMINIZATION OF AGRICULTURE

1.13 E-TECHNOLOGY IN THE AID OF FARMERS

1.14 ECONOMICS OF ANIMAL REARING

4c① o an average of 14% for all rural households. ✓

 Schemes And Initiatives:

raging processing capacity in the country.

1.15 WATER USE AND IRRIGATION

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o National Commission on Farmers (chaired by Prof. M. S. Swaminathan): Policy recommendations

1.16 FARM SUBSIDIES

1.17 MSP AND PROCUREMENT

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1.18 PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION SYSTEM

1.19 LAND REFORMS IN INDIA

1.20 FOOD PROCESSING INDUSTRIES

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1.23 FINANCIAL INCLUSION

1.24 MANUFACTURING AND IN DUSTRIES

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 Data And Facts:

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1.27 TOURISM SECTOR

 Data And Facts:

1.28 LOGISTICS SECTOR

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2. ECOLOGY AND ENVIRONMENT

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2.2 INDIAN BIODIVERSITY

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2.3 ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT ASSESSMENT (EIA)

2.4 ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION AND DEGRADATION

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2.5 LAND DEGRADATION

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2.6 AIR POLLUTION

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