Out of my mind: Colonial hangover

In the House of Lords, the benches on which the Peers sat in the old days were separated by a distance which had to be more than two swords’ length. This was to prevent members breaking out into a duel and hurting each other. There have been no duels for a while. Even in the House of Commons, disruption of business is unheard of.

In the new Parliament in India, in both Houses, the normal practice of unruly behaviour — rushing to the well, and confrontations near enough to fisticuffs — has resumed, leading to adjournments. Outside Parliament, retired MPs are refusing to vacate their allotted houses. Recently information came out that the governor of Gujarat spent 500 days away from her job, including 277 hours in air travel. She cannot be the only governor wasting public money.

India is proud of its democracy but it has to be said that its highest quality is the efficiency of the electoral process. Once the members are elected, the quality of performance of the elected legislators leaves a lot to be desired. Those who get to be in the ruling party/coalition behave worse. Their perks and privileges cost a lot.

It is time for the civil society to ask some tough questions. Why is it that India adopts British practices in their bad bits but not the best ones? Is it not time to compute the costs to the taxpayer of the behaviour of the politically privileged legislators and members of the Executive?

In Britain, MPs do not get free housing nor do they have many of the travel and medical perks which MPs and their families in India enjoy. No MPLADS either. What does an MP cost in terms of salary, expenses, market value of the likely rent on Lutyens properties? Is the sum around a thousand times the per capita income of India or more? Has anyone kept an audit of the horrendous costs of such fractious mischief that MPs indulge in?

India has a feudal attitude to its ruling class. The idea of a governor general/viceroy at the apex was to reproduce the British monarchy in the colonies. There were governors in each Presidency to reproduce the monarchical illusion. Independent India slavishly adopted this practice as part of its Constitution. So the entire panoply of feudal relations is still here.

The constitutional position of the President reflects that of the Crown in the UK. It is customary for the monarch to read the speech from the throne at the start of each Parliament. But I have already proposed in the UK that this is an anomalous practice. Why should the Queen read out the speech written by the PM? Why cannot she summon the PM to read his speech? Whatever the British do, why should India copy that practice? Let the Rashtrapati preside over the opening of Parliament, but let the Prime Minister tell the world what his government is going to do.

Unlike the UK, but like the US, India has a vice-president as wellwho presides over the Rajya Sabha. But what is the need for governors at all? Besides swearing  the new government in and opening the Assembly once a year and reading out the speech written by the Chief Minister, what is it that governors do which deserves such lavish treatment? Do we know what the entire set of governors costs the country and whether their conduct justifies the expense? Is it not time that these colonial hangovers were removed?

While we are thinking of reform, why not have a critical look at Parliament and its size? For an electorate of over 800 million voters soon reaching a billion, are 545 MPs enough? Should we not have at least one MP per million voters? The long running saga of women’s reservation can be swiftly brought to an end by adding 300 women’s seats. For the expanded Parliament, let us do away with occupancy of Lutyens bungalows. Let MPs live in rented flats. The sale of Lutyens bungalows will pay for the new building for Parliament. Let there be no well in it for MPs to rush into.

UPPCS PRELIMS- 2014 GENERAL STUDIES PAPER ANALYSIS

                                                              SAMVEG IAS

Dear Aspirants

UPPCS PRE- 2014 held  on 03-08-2014. SAMVEG IAS is  providing analysis of both papers and solution of general studies (paper I)

Analysis of GS Paper I

History	30 Questions(same Old pattern,factual,specialised)
Economics	30 Questions (current affair based and old data)
Geography	25 Questions(basic and Indian physical geo)
Current affairs	25 Questions(moderate and easy)
Science	25 Questions(easy)
Polity	15 Questions(easiest)
Total	150 Questions

Analysis of GS Paper II

English language	26 Questions(5 question from RC and 21 question from grammer, more tough for hindi medium (than upsc))
Basic numercy	24 Questions( easy)
Communication skill	19 Questions (appear biased, seems that some one framing question from some particular book, no question on decision making(in their view sdm is not required to take decision))
Hindi language	16 Questions
Analytical Reasoning	15 Questions
Total	100 Questions

PM encourages self-certification in place of affidavits and attestations to benefit the common man

• All Union Ministries and State Governments asked to make provision for self-certification and abolition of affidavits, not required by law • PM steps in to reform the public service delivery system, bridge governance deficit

The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, has sought minimum use of affidavits and shift to self-certification, so as to benefit the common man. In a citizen-friendly initiative, all Ministries and Departments of the Union Government, and all State Governments, have been asked to make provision for self-certification of documents in place of affidavits. The requirement of attestation by Gazetted Officer is also sought to be replaced by self-certification by the citizen. Under the self-certification method, the original documents are required to be produced at the final stage. The Prime Minister, during his meeting with all Union Secretaries on June 4th, 2014, had spoken of reforming the public service delivery system, and bridging the governance deficit. This measure is a start in that direction. It is expected to benefit the people immensely, as all affidavits not required by law shall eventually be done away with. In communications addressed to all Secretaries of the Union Government as well as the Chief Secretaries of States/Administrators of Union Territories, the Department of Administrative Reforms and Public Grievances has noted that “obtaining either an attested copy or affidavit not only costs money to the poor citizen but also involves wastage of time of the citizens as well as of the Government officials.” The Department has called for a review of the existing requirement of affidavits and attestation by Gazetted Officers, and replacement by self-certification.

Utilisation of Accumulated Pension Wealth on exit from the National Pension System for Corporates

As per the rules regarding exit of government employees from the National Pension System (NPS) before the age of normal superannuation, at least 80% of the accumulated pension wealth of the subscriber needs to be utilised for purchase of annuity providing for monthly pension to the subscriber and the balance is to be paid as a lump-sum payment to the subscriber. A subscriber at the time of exit from NPS can lodge his claim through his/her nodal office at NPS Claims Processing Cell (NPSCPC) at Central Recordkeeping Agency (CRA).             The Pension Fund Regulatory and Development Authority (PFRDA) settle the claims of the subscribers who have lodged their claims along with complete set of documents with NPS Claims Processing Cell through the CRA             The details of the NPS account settled in Government Sector are: Sector No. of PRANs Total amount disbursed (Rs.) Central Government 431 27,890,438.19 State Government  46   3,748,157.53 All contributions received from Government and employees are accounted for and invested once they are uploaded in the CRA System by the concerned Government department. Pension Fund Regulatory and Development Authority (PFRDA) is taking proactive steps to encourage corporate employer to join the National Pension System (NPS) for providing pension benefits to their employees.             PFRDA, inter alia, supports its intermediaries in their promotional efforts. PFRDA officials visit corporate, including with intermediaries, for creating awareness and interface with corporate to provide NPS related information/clarifications. PFRDA officials also participate in conferences/seminars/panel discussions organised by intermediaries or by industry associations like CII, FICCI, ASSOCHAM, PHD Chamber of Commerce etc.

BRICS Development Bank to be set up to Support Infrastructure and Sustainable Development Projects among others

Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa (BRICS) have decided to set up BRICS Development Bank. The decision was taken by BRICS countries in the Summit held in Fortaleza, Brazil on July, 15, 2014. The BRICS nations have signed the agreement to establish the New Development Bank. The designated signatories of the Federative Republic of Brazil, the Russian Federation, the Republic of India, the People’s Republic of China and the Republic of South Africa signed the Inter-Governmental Agreement on July 15, 2014 at Fortaleza Brazil, to establish the New Development Bank. The major objectives behind setting-up this Bank are as under: • to utilize resources at its disposal to support infrastructure and sustainable development projects, public or private, in the BRICS and other emerging market economies and developing countries, through the provision of loans, guarantees, equity participation and other financial instruments; • to cooperate as the Bank may deem appropriate, within its mandate, with international organisations, as well as national entities whether public or private, in particular with international financial institutions and national development banks; • to provide technical assistance for the preparation and implementation of infrastructure and sustainable development projects to be supported by the Bank. The Bank will be an additional source of long term finance for infrastructure projects in India. In addition, such a Bank will also be instrumental for increasing economic cooperation among BRICS countries, which will ensure more productive use of resources among BRICS countries including India. The Bank will be established after each signatory country has deposited with the Government of the Federative Republic of Brazil an instrument setting forth that it has accepted, ratified or approved this Agreement in accordance with its own laws.

About 81.35 Crore People to Get Subsidised Foodgrains Under National Food Security Act

Under the National Food Security Act (NFSA) 2013, the coverage under TPDS has been delinked from the poverty estimates and shall extend at the all India level upto 75% of the rural population and upto 50% of the urban population. As per the above coverage and based on 2011 census population, the number of persons eligible for subsidised foodgrains under TPDS is estimated at about 81.35 crore. This information was given by the Minister of State for Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution, Shri Raosaheb Patil Danve in a written reply in Rajya Sabha today. The Minister said that evaluation studies of TPDS have shown that there are instances of improper targeting of the poor households and there are inclusion as well as exclusion errors. For allocation of foodgrains (rice and wheat) to States and Union Territories (UTs) under the existing Targeted Public Distribution System (TPDS), Department of Food and Public Distribution uses the number of Below Poverty Line (BPL) families based on 1993-94 poverty estimates of Planning Commission and the population estimates of Registrar General of India (RGI) as on 1st March 2000 or the number of such families actually identified and ration cards issued to them by State/UT Governments, whichever is less. As per these estimates, the total number of BPL families is 6.52 crore, which includes about 2.42 crore Antyodaya Anna Yojana (AAY) families. As per the Public Distribution System (Control) Order, 2001, State/UT Governments are to review the lists of BPL/AAY families every year for the purpose of deletion of ineligible families and inclusion of eligible families. Food Subsidy Estimated to be Around Rs. 1,31,086 Crore Annual food subsidy implication of implementation of National Food Security Act, 2013 (NFSA) at 2014-15 costs, is estimated to be around Rs. 1,31,086 crore, against which, Rs. 1,10,500 crore has been provided in the current year budget. In addition to this an amount of Rs. 4500 crore has been allotted for Sugar subsidy. This information was given by the Minister of State for Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution, Shri Raosaheb Patil Danve in a written reply in Rajya Sabha today. The Minister said that NFSA is deemed to have come into force on 05.07.2013. Its implementation is contingent upon identification of eligible households by States/UTs for receiving subsidized foodgrains under Targeted Public Distribution System (TPDS). For which a period not exceeding 365 days has been provided in the Act. However, as this exercise is yet to be completed in many States/UTs, they have been requested to complete the identification and take other preparatory measures at the earliest and ensure implementation of the Act within next three months. The issue of payment of food security allowance arises only after implementation of the Act starts in respective States/UTs.

Steps to Make Farming More Profitable

Farm profitability is central to achieve rapid and inclusive agricultural growth and diversification to high value crops such as horticulture and livestock remains the best way not only to improve farm incomes and accelerate growth, but also to reduce stress on natural resources which form farmers production base. Creating an enabling environment for greater public and private participation is an objective of the overall policy for development of agriculture. Mission on Integrated Development of Horticulture (MIDH) has been launched w.e.f.1.4.2014 to promote holistic growth of horticulture sector, including bamboo and coconut through area based regionally differentiated strategies which include research, technology promotion, extension, post harvest management processing and marketing in convergence with comparative advantage of each State/region and its diverse agro-climatic features. Aggregation of farmers into farmers groups like Farmer Interest Groups/Farmer Producer Groups and Farmer Interest Groups/Farmers Producer Groups and Farmer Producer Companies to bring economy of scale and scope is a new feature of MIDH, aimed at empowering the farmers. Assistance under MIDH is provided for promoting primary/minimal processing units for processing of horticultural produce and value addition. For technological dissemination, latest technologies are promoted on crop specific cultivation use of Integrated Pest Management/Integrated Nutrient Management, Protected cultivation, organic farming through farmer participatory demonstration/front-line demonstrations at strategic locations/farmer’s field. To make farming competitive and profitable as well as to step up investment, both public and private, in agro-technology development and creation and modernization of existing agri-business infrastructure, government has proposed to establish two more institutions of excellence in Assam and Jharkhand at par with ICAR Research Centre at PUSA, New Delhi. For this purpose, an initial sum of Rs.100 crore has been provided in the Union Budget 2014-15. In addition, an amount of Rs.100 crore has also been set aside for setting up an ‘agri-tech infrastructure fund’. Further, Government has proposed to establish Agriculture Universities in Andhra Pradesh and Rajasthan and Horticulture Universities in Telangana and Haryana for which an initial sum of Rs.200 crores has been provided in Union Budget 2014-15. Ministry of Food Processing Industry has restructured the ongoing schemes from 12th Five Year Plan and accordingly under the Centrally Sponsored Scheme-National Mission on Food Processing, assistance is provided for implementation of the schemes for technology upgradation/establishment/modernization of food processing industries, cold chain, value addition and preservation infrastructure for non horticultural products, etc. Integrated Scheme on Agriculture Marketing (ISAM) also provides for creation and promotion of integrated value chain upto a stage of primary processing only to provide vertical integration of farmers with primary processors. Under the scheme, a subsidy of 25-33.33% of project cost is provided to promoters from general categories and special categories upto a sum of Rs.4 crore and Rs.5 crore respectively.