CENTRAL GOVERNMENT PROGRAMMES IN FINANCIAL PART AND ECONOMIC

CENTRAL GOVERNMENT PROGRAMMES IN FINANCIAL PART AND ECONOMIC
Pradhan Mantri Jan Dhan YojanaLaunch Date: 28.7.2014
Objective: A national mission to bring comprehensive financial inclusion of all the households to ensure access of all households to financial services.
Achievements:

• 60% bank accounts opened in rural areas (As on 26.4.2017)
• 44 crore Jan Dhan accounts opened (As on 26.4.2017)
• Total balance in Jan Dhan accounts = Rs. 64,567crores (As on 26.4.2017)
• Over 22 Crore Rupay Cards issued: (As on 26.4.2017)
• Share of zero-balance Jan Dhan accounts dropped to 24% in December 2016 from 73% in December 2014.
• Over 1.25 lakh bank-mitras appointed by banks
• 5 lakh Gram-Dak-Sewaks will function as banking correspondents

Pradhan Mantri Sukanya Samriddhi YojanaLaunch Date: 22.1.2015
Objective: A small deposit savings scheme to promote the welfare of girl child and ensure them a secure future. 
Achievements: Over one crore accounts have been opened and an amount of over Rs. 11766 crore has been deposited as on 31.01.2017 

Pradhan Mantri Mudra Yojana Launch Date: 8.4.2015
Objective: To provide financial support for growth (development and refinancing) of micro enterprises sector.
Achievements:

• Easy, loans without guarantee under three categories – Shishu, Kishore and Tarun by the banks.
• Loans more than Rs. 1.80 lakh crore disbursed to over 4 crore borrowers in 2016-17 FY as per data available till 13.04.2017
• More than 70% of the loans has been availed of by women entrepreneurs
• Budget allocation for 2017-18 doubled to Rs.2.44 lakh crores against Rs. 1.22 lakh crores in 2016-17
• Mobile App to be launched soon.

Pradhan Mantri Suraksha Bima YojanaLaunch Date: 9.5.2015
Objective: To provide a very affordable insurance scheme for the poor and underprivileged people in the age group of 18 to 70 years with a bank account at a premium of Rs.12 per annum; with risk coverage of Rs.2 lakhs for accidental death and full disability and Rs.1 lakh for partial disability. 
Achievements:

• Around 10 crore people (as 12th April,2017) enrolled under Pradhan Mantri Suraksha Bima Yojana (PMSBY)
• Accident insurance worth Rs. 2 lakh at just Rs. 12 per annum

Pradhan Mantri Jeevan Jyoti Bima YojanaLaunch Date: 9.5.2015
Objective: To create a social security system for the poor and underprivileged in the age group of 18-50 years by providing a renewable life insurance cover of Rs.2 lakhs with just a premium of Rs.330
Achievements:

• 3.10 Crore persons (as on 12th April , 2017) enrolled under PMJJBY.
• Life insurance worth Rs. 2 lakhs at just Rs. 330 per annum

Atal Pension YojanaLaunch Date: 9.5.2015
Objective: To provide financial security in old age through guaranteed minimum monthly pension for those working in informal sector or daily wagers in the age group of 18 to 40 years
Achievements:

• Government contribution- 50 percent of beneficiaries’ premium (up to Rs. 1000) for 5 years in new accounts opened before December 31, 2015.
• As on 21st March, 2017, a total of 46.80 lakh subscribers have been enrolled under APY with a total pension wealth ofRs. 1713.214 crores.

Stand- Up IndiaLaunch Date: 5.4.2016
Objective: To support entrepreneurship among women and SC & ST communities by facilitating bank loans between 10 lakh and 1 Crore to them. To benefit at least 2.5 lakh entrepreneurs.
Achievements:

• Loans of more than 15,000 entrepreneurs approved out of which more than 80% are women.
• 500 crore has been allotted in 2016-17
• As on 29.03.2017, Rs. 5237.29 crore sanctioned of which Rs. 2704.19 crore disbursed in 25435 accounts (20305 – women, 1086-ST and 4044 – SC).
• Capital subsidy under new scheme ATUFS (Amended Technology Upgradation Fund Scheme) in Textile Sector will create over 30 lakh jobs, especially for women.

Budget: 2016-17- Rs 500 Cr

Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan YojanaLaunch Date: 17.12.2016
Objective: To provide an opportunity to pay taxes with heavy penalty to come clean so that the Government gets additional revenue which will be deposited as Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Deposit for undertaking activities for the welfare of the poor and the remaining part of the declared income legitimately comes into the formal economy.
Achievements: Higher revenues to Government from Income Declaration Scheme 2016 (Unearthed Rs.65, 250 crore) andPradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Yojana to raise resources to spend on the poor.

*ECONOMIC INDICATORS

• Inflation brought under control. CPI-based inflation declined to 3.65% in February 2017 from7.72% in May 2014.
• Inflation rate averaged 7.79 percent from 2012 until 2016, reaching an all-time high of 11.16 percent in November 2013 and a record low of 3.69 percent in July 2015
• Economic Survey: CPI based Inflation likely to be below 5% .
• Food inflation down to 2.46%; it was 8.88% in May 2014
• Economy has moved on a high growth path.
• India’s Current Account Deficit declined from 1.8% in 2014-15 to 1.3% in Q3 2016. .
• High GDP growth rate : 7%+
• Highest FDI ever : $63 billion
• Fiscal Deficit in control: 3.2%
• Current Account Deficit down from 4% in 2014 to almost zero
• Low inflation : Around 4% from high of 11% in 2014
• Rupee exchange rate in control

Indian GDP Growth Rate

Year	Growth rate (%)
2012-13	5.48
2013-14	6.54
2014-15	7.18
2015-16	7.93
2016-17	7.11

Indian GDP Projection by International Agencies (2016-17 vs. 2017-18)

• IMF : 6.6 % (FY’16), 2% (2017-18), 7.7% (2018-19) (As per WEO April 2017)
• OECD : 7 % (FY’16) &7.3% (FY’17)
• World Bank: 7% (FY’16) & 7.6% (FY’17)
• UN ESCAP Report : 7.3% (FY’16) & 7.5%(FY’17)
• ADB : 7% (FY’16) & 7.8%(FY’17)
• Moody’s : 7.1 % (FY’16 & FY’17)
• Fitch : 7.1 % (FY'16) & 7.7 %(2017 -18)
• CSO: 7.1%

GST - A COMPLETE OVERVIEW

GST - A COMPLETE OVERVIEW
Goods and Services Tax (GST), India's biggest tax reform, was launched at midnight at Parliament's historic Central Hall, by President Pranab Mukherjee and Prime Minister Narendra Modi to change the indirect tax regime from 1st July. The introduction of Goods and Services Tax (GST) is a very significant step in the field of indirect tax reforms in India. By amalgamating a large number of Central and State taxes into a single tax, it would mitigate cascading or double taxation in a major way and pave the way for a common national market.From the consumer point of view, the biggest advantage would be in terms of a reduction in the overall tax burden on goods, which is currently estimated to be around 25%-30%. Introduction of GST would also make Indian products competitive in the domestic and international markets.

Goods and Service Tax (GST) is a destination based tax on consumption of goods and services. It is proposed to be levied at all stages right from manufacture up to final consumption with credit of taxes paid at previous stages available as setoff. In a nutshell, only value addition will be taxed and burden of tax is to be borne by the final consumer.

Constitution (101st Amendment) Act, 2016The Constitution (122nd Amendment) Bill was introduced in the 16th Lok Sabha on 19 December, 2014. The Bill was passed by the Lok Sabha in May, 2015.

The Bill with certain amendments was finally passed in the Rajya Sabha and thereafter by Lok Sabha in August, 2016.

Further the bill had been ratified by required number of States and received assent of the President on 8th September, 2016 and has since been enacted as Constitution (101stAmendment) Act, 2016 w.e.f. 16th September, 2016.

The levy of the tax can commence only after the GST Law has been enacted by all the legislatures. Four Laws namely CGST Act, UTGST Act, IGST Act and GST (Compensation to States) Act have been passed by the Parliament and since been notified on 12th April, 2017. The States have passed SGST Act. 

Changes to the ConstitutionArticle 246A of the Constitution, which was introduced by the Constitution (101st Amendment) Act, 2016 confers concurrent powers to both parliament and state legislatures to make laws with respect to GST.

Under Article 269A of the Constitution, the GST on supplies in the course of inter-State trade or commerce shall be levied and collected by the Government of India and such tax shall be apportioned between the Union and the States in the manner as may be provided by Parliament by law on the recommendations of the Goods and Services Tax Council.

Goods and Services Tax Council (GSTC): The GSTC has been notified with effect from 12th September, 2016. GSTC is being assisted by a Secretariat. 

A Goods and Services Tax Council (GSTC) shall be comprised by the Union Finance Minister, the Minister of State (Revenue) and the State Finance Ministers to recommend on the GST rate, exemption and thresholds, taxes to be subsumed and other features. 

One half of the total number of members of GSTC would form quorum in meetings of GSTC.

Decision in GSTC would be taken by a majority of not less than three-fourth of weighted votes cast. Centre and minimum of 20 States would be required for majority because Centre would have one-third weightage of the total votes cast and all the States taken together would have two-third of weightage of the total votes cast.

The following major decisions have been taken by the GSTC: 

• The threshold exemption limit would be Rs. 20 lakh.
• For special category States enumerated in article 279A of the Constitution, threshold exemption limit has been fixed at Rs. 10 lakh.
• Composition threshold shall be Rs. 50 lakh. Composition scheme shall not be available to inter-State suppliers, service providers (except restaurant service) and specified category of manufacturers.
• Existing tax incentive schemes of Central or State governments may be continued by respective government by way of reimbursement through budgetary route. The schemes, in the present form, would not continue in GST.
• There would be four tax rates namely 5%, 12%, 18% and 28%.

Existing taxes are proposed to be subsumed under GST:The GST would replace the following taxes: 

Taxes currently levied and collected by the Centre: a. Central Excise duty 
b. Duties of Excise (Medicinal and Toilet Preparations) 
c. Additional Duties of Excise (Goods of Special Importance)
d. Additional Duties of Excise (Textiles and Textile Products) 
e. Additional Duties of Customs (commonly known as CVD) 
f. Special Additional Duty of Customs (SAD) 
g. Service Tax 
h. Central Surcharges and Cesses so far as they relate to supply of goods and services

State taxes that would be subsumed under the GST are: a. State VAT 
b. Central Sales Tax 
c. Luxury Tax 
d. Entry Tax (all forms) 
e. Entertainment and Amusement Tax (except when levied by the local bodies) 
f. Taxes on advertisements 
g. Purchase Tax 
h. Taxes on lotteries, betting and gambling 
i. State Surcharges and Cesses so far as they relate to supply of goods and services

Commodities kept outside the purview of GST:Alcohol for human consumption, Petroleum Products viz. petroleum crude, motor spirit (petrol), high speed diesel, natural gas and aviation turbine fuel and Electricity.

Types of GST to be implemented:The GST to be levied by the Centre on intra-State supply of goods and / or services would be called the Central GST (CGST) and that to be levied by the States would be called the State GST (SGST). Similarly Integrated GST (IGST) will be levied and administered by Centre on every inter-state supply of goods and services.

Centre will levy and administer CGST & IGST while respective states will levy and administer SGST.

GST Rates:The tax rates for different goods and services have been finalized. Besides, some goods and services would be under the list of exempt items. 

The exempted services has been finalized which is same as the services exempted under existing service tax law, except services supplied by Goods and Services Tax Network which is the addition to the list of exempted services under service tax. 

Rate for precious metals is an exception to ‘four-tax slab-rule’ and the same has been fixed at 3%. 

A cess over the peak rate of 28% on certain specified luxury and demerit goods, like tobacco and tobacco products, pan masala, aerated waters, motor vehicles, would be imposed for a period of five years to compensate States for any revenue loss on account of implementation of GST. 

81% of items to fall below/in 18% GST slab.

GST @ 0 %

• Unpacked Foodgrains
• Fresh Vegetables
• Unbranded Atta
• Unbranded Maida
• Unbranded Besan
• Milk
• Eggs
• Curd
• Lassi
• Unpacked Paneer
• Unbranded Natural Honey
• Jaggery
• Salt
• Kajal
• Phool Bhari Jhadoo
• Children's Drawing and Colouring Books
• Education Services
• Health Services

GST @ 5% 

• Sugar
• Tea
• Roasted Coffee Beans
• Edible Oils
• Skimmed Milk
• Powder Milk
• Food for Babies
• Packed Paneer
• Cashew Nuts
• PDS Kerosene
• Domestic LPG
• Footwear (upto 500)
• Apparels (upto 1,000)
• Agarbatti
• Coir Mats

GST @ 12% 

• Butter
• Ghee
• Almonds
• Fruit Juice
• Packed Coconut Water
• Preparations of Vegetables, Fruits, Nuts or other parts of Plants including Pickles
• Mobiles

GST@1 8% 

• Hair Oil
• Toothpaste
• Soap
• Pasta
• Corn Flakes
• Soups
• Ice-cream
• Toiletries
• Computers
• H Printers

TELANGANA BUDGET 2017: HIGHLIGHTS

TELANGANA BUDGET 2017: HIGHLIGHTS
Telangana's finance minister Etala Rajender presented the fourth budget of the State. Here are the highlights of the budget speech:

• Total budget size is Rs 149646 crore.
• The revised estimate of 2016-17 budget expenditure was 86.02% or Rs 112191.07 crore.
• Estimated committed expenditure is of Rs 61607.20 crore.
• Revenue surplus is of Rs 4571.30 core and fiscal deficit of Rs 26096.31 crore.
• Mission Bhagiratha, the piped drinking water programme gets Rs 3000 crore.
• Information technology department gets Rs 252.89 crore in the budget.
• Expenditure in schemes pegged at Rs 88038.80 crore.
• Irrigation continues to be priority area for the state. To get Rs 25000 crore this year too.
• Revenue expenditure pegged at Rs 50954.61 crore.
• Rs 4000 crore set aside towards payment of fourth and final instalment to banks towards the Rs 17000 crore farm loan waiver scheme.
• Agriculture and allied sectors to get Rs 46946.98 crore.
• 19.61 per cent growth rate achieved.
• Rs 300 crore allocated for Warangal Municipal Corporation. Warangal is the second biggest city in Telangana after Hyderabad.
• Urban infrastructure development to rely on 'extra budgetary resources'.
• Finance minister says rural economy is the focus.
• Backward classes welfare to benefit fishermen and shepherd communities.
• Rs 1000 crore allocated for Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation.
• SC, ST welfare funds unspent to be carried forward to this year's budget. Funds for SC, ST welfare based on population ratio.

AGRICULTURE & FARMER WELFARE PROGRAMMES 2016 - 2017

AGRICULTURE & FARMER WELFARE PROGRAMMES 2016 - 2017

1. PRADHAN MANTRI FASAL BIMA YOJANA: 
   Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana (PMFBY) will provide a comprehensive insurance cover against failure of the crop thus helping in stabilising the income of the farmers and encourage them for adoption of innovative practices. 
   
   The Scheme covers all Food & Oilseeds crops and Annual Commercial/Horticultural Crops for which past yield data is available and for which requisite number of Crop Cutting Experiments (CCEs) will be conducted being a part of the General Crop Estimation Survey (GCES).
   
   The Maximum Premium payable by the farmers will be 2% for all Kharif Food & Oilseeds crops, 1.5% for Rabi Food & Oilseeds crops and 5% for Annual Commercial/Horticultural Crops.
   
   About 309 lakh farmers of 23 states had been covered under Fasal Beema during previous Kharif Season 2015 in which 294 lakh farmers were lonee and 15 lakh farmers were non-lonee. During Kharif 2016, however, 366.64 lakh farmers have been covered out of which 264.04 lakh farmers are lonee and 102.60 lakh farmers are non-lonee. Pradhan Mantri Fasal Beema Yojana has been implemented by 21 states during Kharif 2016.
   
2. SOIL HEALTH CARD SCHEME:Soil Health Card Scheme is a scheme launched by the Government of India in February 2015. Under the scheme, the government plans to issue soil cards to farmers which will carry crop-wise recommendations of nutrients and fertilisers required for the individual farms to help farmers to improve productivity through judicious use of inputs. All soil samples are to be tested in various soil testing labs across the country. Thereafter the experts will analyse the strength and weaknesses (micro-nutrients deficiency) of the soil and suggest measures to deal with it.
   
   During 2016-17, 0.20 crore samples are to be collected from which 1.10 crore soil heath cards will be prepared. During 2014-17, 460 Soil Testing Laboratories have been sanctioned while during 2013-14 only 15 Soil Testing Laboratories were sanctioned. In addition to 460 Soil Testing Labs, 4000 mini labs have also been sanctioned to the States.
   
3. PARAMPARAGAT KRISHI VIKAS YOJANA:The scheme was started in 2014 to promote organic farming with an allocation of Rs. 597 crore for three years and a target to set up 10,000 clusters. Till December, 2016, State Governments have made 9186 clusters while in 2015-16 it was 8000 clusters.
   
4. NATIONAL AGRICULTURE MARKET (NAM):Under this scheme, 250 mandis of 10 states have been integerated with e-NAM Portal. In principal approval has been to integrate 399 mandis with e NAM for which an amount of Rs. 93 crore has been released. As on 27.12.2016, 35,04,371.13 tonnes of agriculture produce worth Rs. 7,131.21 crore has been transacted on e-NAM platform. As on 27.12.2016, 9,49,112 Farmers, 59,742 Traders and 31,317 Commission Agents have been registered on the e-NAM platform.
   
5. DEVELOPMENT OF BEE KEEPING: Honey production has increased to 2,63,930 MT during 2016. An amount of Rs. 12.00 crores has been approved for National Bee Board (NBB) for the year 2016-17.
   
6. COCONUT DEVELOPMENT:From the beginning of this financial year 2016-17, India has started exporting Coconut Oil to Malaysia, Indonesia and Sri Lanka from where coconut oil was being imported from these countries in previous years. India became first in coconut production and productivity in the world. Coconut area, production and productivity reached 1.97 million ha, 20.439 billion nuts and 10345 nuts per ha respectively.
   
7. NEEM COATED UREA:In one year, Modi Government has made available 100% neem coated area in the country. Due to this diversion of unauthorized use of urea by Chemical Factories has been stopped. Now farmers are getting urea in adequate quantity. Besides this, the cost of production is being reduced by 10-15% with the use of neem coated urea. Productivity will also increase with the use of Neem Coated Urea.
   
8. AGROFORESTRY:For the first time, Sub-Mission on Agroforestry has been initiated which will accelerate the programme “Medh Par Ped”. In addition, trees would also be grown as strip and intermittent plantation on farm land along with crops/ cropping system and as block plantation in cultivable waste land. Implementation of the scheme only in the states having liberalized transit regulations for transport of timber and will be extended to other states as and when such relaxations are notified by them. So far, the scheme is being implemented in 8 states.
   
9. NATIONAL FOOD SECURITY MISSION (NFSM) / STEPS TAKEN FOR PULSE PRODUCTION:
   • Out of the total allocation of Rs.1700 crores under NFSM for 2016-17, Rs.1,100 crore (central share) was allocated for pulses which amounts to more than 60% of total allocation.
   • For expansion of cultivation of new kinds of seeds, Rs.7.85 lakhs mini-kits are being distributed to farmers free of cost in the year 2016-17, through State Governments.
   • In the year 2016-17, demonstrations of new techniques for pulse production are being carried out in 31,000 hectares by 534 Agriculture Science Centers through ICAR & State Agriculture Universities and Rs.25.29 crores were allocated for this purpose.
   • Seed Hubs are being created through ICAR, State Agriculture Universities and Krishi Vigyan Kendras (KVKs) for ensuring the availability of new kinds of seeds. For this purpose, Rs. 225.31 crore have been approved for establishment of 150 seed centers during 2016-17 to 2017-18, out of which Rs.131.74 crore is proposed for 2016-17. From these seed centers 1.50 lakh quintals of improved seeds will be ensured.
   • The production target for pulses for the year 2016-17 is 20.75 million metric tonnes. The production of kharif pulses in 2016-17 is expected about 8.70 million tonnes (as per 1st Advance Estimates) against target of 7.25 million tonnes.
   
   
10. RASHTRIYA GOKUL MISSION:With a view to conserve and develop indigenous bovine breeds, Rashtriya Gokul Mission, a new initiative under National Programme for Bovine Breeding and Dairy Development has been launched for the first time in the country, with an allocation of Rs 500 crore. Under the Mission, 14 Gokul Grams are being established, 35 Bull Mother Farms modernized with investment of more funds and 3629 Bulls have been inducted for genetic upgradation. Since 2007-08 to 2013-14, a meagre amount of only Rs 45 crore was spent for the development of indigenous breeds. Whereas, the current Government has in only one and a half years, upto December 2015, has approved 35 projects from 27 States and has sanctioned Rs 582.09 crore. This amount has been increased by more than 13 times in the last two years. Two National Kamdhenu Breeding Centre, one in northern region-Madhya Pradesh and other in Southern region- Andhra Pradesh, are being established in the country with an allocation of Rs 50 crores.
    
11. FOUR NEW SCHEMES FOR DAIRY SECTOR:a) PASHUDHAN SANJIVANI :
    • An animal Wellness Programme; encompassing provision of Animal Health cards (‘Nakul Swasthya Patra’) along with UID identification of animals in milk and a National Data Base.
    • Under the scheme 8.5 crore animals in milk will be identified using UID and their data will uploaded in the INAPH data base.
    • This will play crucial role in control of spread of animal diseases. This will also lead to increase in trade of livestock and livestock products.
    
    b) ADVANCED BREEDING TECHNOLOGY: 
    • Assisted Reproductive Technique to improve availability of disease free female bovines through of sex sorted semen technology.
    • Under the scheme 50 embryo transfer technology labs and In Vitro Fertilization labs care will be established.
    • This will lead to exponential increase in milk production and productivity of animals in an exponential manner.
    
    c) NATIONAL BOVINE GENOMIC CENTER FOR INDIGENOUS BREEDS(NBGC-IB):
    • In developed dairy countries genomic selection is used to increase milk production and productivity for attaining faster genetic gain.
    • In order to increase milk production and productivity of indigenous cattle, a National Bovine Genomic Centre will be established in the country.
    • By using genomic selection indigenous breeds can be made viable within few generations.
    • This center will play crucial role in identification of disease free High genetic merit bulls.
    
    d) E-PASHUDHAN HAAT PORTAL:
    • At present there is no authentic market for bovine germplasm in the form of semen, embryos, male & female calves; heifers and adult bovines. Farmers depend on middlemen for sale and purchase of quality germplasm.
    • Breed wise information on availability of bovine germplasm is not available which is essential for promotion of indigenous bovine breeds.
    • For the first time in the country under National Mission on Bovine Productivity E Pashudhan Haat portal has been developed. This portal will play important role in connecting breeders and farmers of indigenous breeds.
    • Through this portal farmers will be aware about breed wise information on indigenous breeds. Farmers/breeders can sale animals of indigenous breeds through this portal. Information on all forms of germplasm has been uploaded on the portal. Immediately farmers can obtain benefits of the portal.
    • This portal will give new dimensions to development and conservation of indigenous breeds as at present information on availability of germplasm of indigenous breeds is not available with the farmers.
    
    
12. FISH PRODUCTION: Fish production has increased from 150 lakh tonnes during 2015 to 209.59 tonnes during 2016. The Annual growth rate of fish production during 2015-16 is 6.21%.
    
13. EGG PRODUCTION: During the year 2015-16, 82,930 million eggs produced while during 2014-15, 78,484 million eggs were produced. Egg production is now increasing by 5.66% annually. In comparison to 2012-14 during 2014-16 egg production growth rate is 10.99 %. Annual egg production rate is 5 %. Per person availability of egg has reached 66. 
    
14. VETERINARY EDUCATION:To ensure that the existing syllabus and standards for graduate veterinary education is aligned with globally accepted standards, wide-ranging amendments have been made in Minimum Standards for Veterinary Education Regulations, 2008. In addition to this, to meet the shortage of trained veterinary manpower, the number of veterinary colleges has increased from 36 to 46. Intake of students in various Veterinary Colleges was enhanced from 60 to upto 100 seats. Total number of seats has been increased to 1,334 from 1,332. The number of veterinary graduates has increased by one and half times. Similarly the seats in veterinary colleges have increased by one and half times. One and a half time increase in post graduate studies in veterinary education has been attained. Seats in veterinary colleges have been increased by one and a half time.
    
15. INCREASE IN RECRUITMENT OF SCIENTISTS:81 % recruitment in 2014-15 and 2015-16 in comparison to only 66% in 2013-14, accelerated recruitment process through open competition and increase in representation of women scientists.
    
16. EMPIRICAL LEARNING UNITS: Compared to 2007-13, the number of empirical learning units in agricultural colleges was 264 which have now been increased to 416 in just two years during 2014-16 which is almost 58 percent increase. Education budget has also been increased by 50% in the last two years (2014-15 & 2015-16).
    
17. STRENGTHENING OF KVKS:Efforts were made to strengthen the KVKs by enhancing the number of staff positions of KVKs from the existing strength of 16 to 22.
    
18. ATTRACTING STUDENTS, YOUTH TOWARDS AGRICULTURE AND IMPROVING THE SCIENTISTS – FARMERS INTERFACE:
    • Attracting and Retaining Youth in Agriculture (ARYA):
      The ARYA project will attract and empower the Youth in Rural Areas to take up various Agri-enterprises in Agriculture,allied and service sector for sustainable income and gainful employment. The project is running in 25 districts of 25 States through KVKs.
    • FARMER FIRST:
      The Farmer FIRST aims at enriching Farmers –Scientist interface, technology assemblage, application and feedback, partnership and institutional building and content mobilization.It will provide a platform to farmers and scientists for creating linkages, capacity building, technology adaptation and application, on-site input management, feedback and institution building. The scientists from 100 ICAR Institutes/ Universities are proposed to work with one lakh farmers directly.
      
19. AGRICULTURE EDUCATION:To make agriculture graduation courses income oriented, Government has approved the 5th Dean’s Committee report recommendations of the committee. Dean’s Committee report will be implemented in this educational session i.e. 2016-17. Through this new curriculum all agriculture based graduation courses will be altered into the professional ones which will be conducive to earn their livelihood in future.
    
20. SPECIAL INITIATIVES:
    • Four new ICAR Awards in two years: ICAR Administrative award, Haldhar Organic Farmer Award, Pandit Deendayal Antyodaya Krishi Puruskar and Pandit Deendayal Rashtriya Krishi Vigyan Protsahan Puruskar.
    • Pandit Deendayal Unnat Krishi Shiksha Yojana has been started in the year 2016 by way of 130 training programmes on organic farming/natural farming and cow based economy in 32 SAUs of the country.
    • Rashtriya Krishi Shiksha Divas is being celebrated on 3rd December in remembrance of country’s first Agriculture Minister Dr. Rajendra Prasad.
    • Jai Kisan-Jai Vigyan Week is being celebrated since the year 2015 across the entire country during 23rd to 29th December, on the occasion of birth anniversaries of Ch. Charan Singh and Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee.

RESERVE BANK OF INDIA

RESERVE BANK OF INDIA
The Reserve Bank of India was set up on April 1, 1935.
Following India's independence on 15 August 1947, the RBI was nationalised on 1 January 1949. 
Main Functions
Monetary Authority: 
Formulates implements and monitors the monetary policy. 
Objective: maintaining price stability and ensuring adequate flow of credit to productive sectors. 

Regulator and supervisor of the financial system: 
Prescribes broad parameters of banking operations within which the country's banking and financial system functions. 
Objective: maintain public confidence in the system, protect depositors' interest and provide cost-effective banking services to the public. 

Manager of Foreign Exchange
Manages the Foreign Exchange Management Act, 1999. 
Objective: to facilitate external trade and payment and promote orderly development and maintenance of foreign exchange market in India. 

Issuer of currency: 
Issues and exchanges or destroys currency and coins not fit for circulation. 
Objective: to give the public adequate quantity of supplies of currency notes and coins and in good quality. 

Developmental role: Performs a wide range of promotional functions to support national objectives. 

Related Functions: 
Banker to the Government: performs merchant banking function for the central and the state governments; also acts as their banker. 
Banker to banks: maintains banking accounts of all scheduled banks. 

Offices
RBI Has 19 regional offices, most of them in state capitals and 9 Sub-offices. 
K. J. Udeshi is the first woman to become the deputy governor of RBI. 
RBI was established on the recommendation of the Hilton Young Commission. 
Manmohan Singh is the only Prime Minister to have also served as the Governor of RBI. 
Osborne Smith is the first governor of RBI. 
The first Indian Governor of RBI was C.D. Deshmukh. He was the third governor of RBI. 
Dr. Raghuram Rajan is the current and 23rd Governor of the Reserve Bank of India.

INDRADHANUSH, 7 - POINT AGENDA FOR BANKING REFORMS

INDRADHANUSH, 7 - POINT AGENDA FOR BANKING REFORMS
The Union Government unleashed second generation banking reforms with a rainbow of measures (Indradhanush), the reform measures including a heavy dose of recapitailsation, setting up of a Bank Board Bureau and streamlining appointment process to spur bank credit and economic growth.These reforms are called big thing in Indian banking since nationalization. 

Indradhanush, to revamp functioning of public sector banks, the main aim of these reforms is to revitalize capital-starved public sector banks. The government announced 7-point agenda which will support these reforms.

The seven points are appointments, bank board of bureau, capitalisation, de-stressing, empowerment, framework of accountability and governance reforms. During the announcement FM said there is no cause for panic or alarm as far as banking sector situation is concerned. 

1. AppointmentSeparate post of CMDs and MD and CEO in PSU. Two bankers from the private sector have been appointed as heads of PSU banks. 

2. Bank Board Bureau: The government will set up Bank Board Bureau. It will be link between govt and bank and through it performance of state run banks will be monitored. Bank Board Bureau will be operational from April 2016.

3. Capitalization: The government will inject a total of Rs 25,000 crore of capital into debt-laden state banks in this fiscal. Rs. 20,000 crore injected in a month. Over the next four years, the government plans to inject Rs 70,000 crore. SBI will get the highest capitalization worth Rs 5,511 cr.

4. De-stressing: A Cell in dept of FS to monitor stressed assets, meanwhile the govt has assured that the situation of stressed assets is not so bad.

5. Empowerment: More flexibility will be given to state-run banks for hiring manpower. Greater autonomy to PSB and govt is also looking to set up bank holding company.

6. Framework of accountabilityNew indicator to measure performance of PSBs has been announced.

7. Governance reformsPerformance link incentives will be announced.

Bank Board Bureau: The government has decided to set up a Bank Board Bureau, BBB through which two dozen public sector banks PSBs would be monitored for key performance indicators. The BBB will start the functioning from 1st April next year and the selection of its member will start in the next six months. The BBB will be a body of 'eminent' professionals and officials, which will replace the Appointments Board for appointment of Whole-time Directors as well as non-Executive Chairman of PSBs 

According to the Union Finance Minister, Arun Jaitley sectors including steel, power, and highways are predominantly responsible for the stress on Public Sector banks. 

He informed that in 2001 the NPAs was 13.11 percent and now in 2015 it has reduced to only 6.03 percent. The government is also insisting the banks to have robust grievance redressal mechanisms for customers and staff.

SCHEMES FOR UPLIFTMENT OF URBAN INFRASTRUCTURE

SCHEMES FOR UPLIFTMENT OF URBAN INFRASTRUCTURE
India's urbanization is going to move forward in the next 5 years.Recently, PM Narendra Modi unveiled India's biggest urban infrastructure mission, which involves three major projects - 100 Smart Cities, Atal Mission for Rejuvenation and Urban Transformation (AMRUT) and Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana. These projects will give a kick start to the India's urban infrastructure. 

100 Smart CitiesEstimated Budget: Rs 48,000 crore
Spent based on: population, area

Distribution: 13 smart cities - Uttar Pradesh
12 smart cities - Tamil Nadu
10 smart cities - Maharashtra
6 smart cities - Karnataka, Gujarat
4 smart cities - West Bengal, Rajasthan
3 smart cities - Bihar, Andhra Pradesh, Punjab
2 smart cities - Odisha, Haryana, Telangana, Chhattisgarh
One smart city - Jammu and Kashmir, Kerala, Jharkhand, Assam, Himachal, Goa, Arunachal and Chandigarh, New Delhi

Benefits: Smart Cities are intended to enhance the quality of urban life by providing a clean and sustainable environment with 24 hour water and power supply. 

Enhancement of sanitation and solid waste management, efficient urban mobility and public transportation, affordable housing for poor and robust IT connectivity. 

AMRUT for 500 CitiesEstimated Budget: Rs 50,000 crore
Spent for: quality of basic infrastructure services

Distribution:Atal Mission for Rejuvenation and Urban Transformation (AMRUT) for 500 Tier 2 and Tier 3 cities. For this, states have been asked to recommend cities which can be included under this scheme.
UP can nominate 64 cities
Tamil Nadu - 33 cities
Maharashtra - 37
Gujarat - 31
Karnataka - 21
Andhra Pradesh - 31
Rajasthan - 30
West Bengal - 28
Bihar - 27
Odisha - 19
Haryana - 19
Kerala - 18
Punjab - 17
Telangana - 15
Chhattisgarh - 10

Benefits: AMRUT will focus on ensuring basic infrastructure services such as water supply, sewerage, storm water drains, transport and development of green spaces and parks with special provision for meeting the needs of children. 

Under this scheme, Central Govt. will provide 30% of the overall cost, if the city has a population of more than 10 lakh; and 50% if under 10 lakh.

Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana: Housing for All by 2022Estimated Budget: Rs 3 lakh crore
Spent for: Economically Weaker Sections (EWS), Scheduled Tribes, Scheduled Castes, Women 
Goal: More than 2 crore homes would be built across all the urban locations in the next 7 years.
Benefits: Central Govt. will provide a grant of Rs 1 lakh to Rs 2.5 lakh for every home.

GOVERNMENT SOCIAL WELFARE PROGRAMMES 2014 - 2015

GOVERNMENT SOCIAL WELFARE PROGRAMMES 2014 - 2015
The Central Government under the leadership of Narendra Modi has launched various social welfare programmes with ambitious targets to address critical issues of the country.Some of the programmes announced by the Finance Minister Arun Jaitley while submitting his maiden budget for the financial year 2014-15 are yet to be launched.

Here we are providing the highlights of such social programmes for the current year, as Government welfare initiatives are areas where the examiner prefers to ask as part of general studies in all kind of competitive exams.

Swatchh Bharat Abhiyan

• Prime Minister Narendra Modi launched the ' Swatchh Bharat Mission' or 'Clean India Campaign' from the Valmiki Basti in New Delhi on 2 October, 2014.
• The basic objective behind Swachh Bharat Mission is to create sanitation facilities for all and eliminate completely the unhealthy practice leading to unhygienic surrounding.
• This campaign aims to accomplish the vision of 'clean India' by 2 October 2019, 150th birthday of Mahatma Gandhi.
• The urban component of the Mission is proposed to be implemented over 5 years starting from October 2, 2014 in all 4041 statutory towns.
• The urban component includes elimination of open defecation, conversion of insanitary toilets to pour flush toilets, eradication of manual scavenging, municipal solid waste management and bringing about a behavioural change in people regarding healthy sanitation practices.
• The total expected cost of the programme is Rs 62,009 crore, out of which the proposed central assistance will be of Rs 14,623 crore.
• The "Nirmal Bharat Abhiyan" (NBA) is restructured into "Swachh Bharat" Mission (rural).

Pradhan Mantri Jan Dhan YojanaIn his first Independence Day speech on 15th August’2014, Prime Minister of India had announced the National Mission on Financial Inclusion titled, ‘Pradhan Mantri Jan Dhan Yojana’(PMJDY).

The Pradhan Mantri Jan-Dhan Yojana is launched on 28 August, 2014, across the nation simultaneously. 

The programme core development philosophy is "Sab Ka Sath Sab Ka Vikas".

Important features of the Jan Dhan Yojna

• Under the scheme, account holders will be provided zero-balance bank account with RuPay debit card, in addition to accidental insurance cover of Rs 1 lakh.
• Those who open accounts by January 26, 2015 over and above the Rs 1 lakh accident, they will be given life insurance cover of Rs 30,000.
• Six months of opening of the bank account, holders can avail Rs 5,000 loan from the bank.

Saansad Adarsh Gram Yojana (SAGY)

• The scheme was launched on 11th October, 2014 on the occasion of birth anniversary of Lok Nayak Jai Prakash Narayan.
• The goal of the programme is to develop three Adarsh Grams by March 2019 of which one would be achieved by 2016. Thereafter, five such would Adarsh Grams (one per year) will be selected and developed by 2024.
• Under the scheme, each MP will take the responsibility of developing physical and institutional infrastructure in three villages by 2019.
• The MP would be free to identify a suitable Gram Panchayat for being developed as Adarsh Gram, other than his/her own village or that of his/her spouse.
• A Gram Panchayat would be the basic unit. It will have a population of 3,000-5,000 in plain areas and 1,000-3,000 in hilly, tribal and difficult areas.

Labour Reforms introduced by the Government:

• The Deen Dayal Upadhyaya Shramev Jayate program was launched to emphasise the dignity of labour, especially that performed by blue-collared workers referring to them as “shram yogi”.
• The Universal Account Number scheme (UAN) or 'Shram Suvidha' for all Provident Fund (PF) contributors will allow portability of PF benefits and online tracking of PF benefits. The UAN is provided for all 4.17 crore PF users.
• To support the graduates from Industrial Training Institutes (ITIs) across the country, who undergo vocational training after completing class X, the government will reimburse 50 percent of the stipend paid to apprentices during first two years of their training. There are 2.82 lakh apprentices undergoing training against 4.9 lakh seats. The program will aim to increase this to 24 lakhs apprentices.
• The Rashtriya Swasthya Bima Yojana (RSBY), which insures families of unorganised sector workers for up to Rs. 30,000 of medical care, is to be transferred from the Ministry of Labour and Employment to the Union Health Ministry.

Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao Yojana

• Government has introduced a new scheme called Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao, which will help in generating awareness and improving the efficiency of delivery of welfare services meant for women with an initial corpus of Rs 100 crore.
• Under the scheme, government would focus on campaigns to sensitize people of this country towards the concerns of the girl child and women.
• The Ministry of Road Transport and Highways will spend Rs. 50 crore on pilot testing a scheme for Safety of Women on Public Road Transport.
• The Ministry of Home Affairs will spend Rs. 150 crore on a scheme to increase the safety of women in large cities.
• The Government under the scheme will set up Crisis Management Centres in all the districts of NCT of Delhi this year in all government and private hospitals. The funding will be provided from the Nirbhaya Fund, the Minister added.

Housing for All by 2022

• With an aim to provide housing for all by 2022, the government will soon launch an urban housing mission named after Sardar Patel by merging and improving existing housing schemes.
• The focus of the mission is Low Cost Affordable Housing to be anchored in the National Housing Bank with a view to increase the flow of cheaper credit for affordable housing to the urban poor.
• Currently, there are several schemes including Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission, Rajiv Awas Yojana, Indira Awas Yojana, Rajiv Rinn Yojana meant for providing housing facilities to economically weaker sections.
• Thirty million houses would be built by 2022, mostly for the economically-weaker sections and low income groups, through public-private-partnership, interest subsidy and increased flow of resources to housing sector
• An investment of about Rs 22.50 lakh crore would be required for the project.

Soil Health Card Scheme for Every farmer

• Government has launched Soil Health Card Scheme to provide every farmer a Soil Health Card in a Mission mode. The card will carry crop wise recommendations of nutrients/fertilizers required for farms, making it possible for farmers to improve productivity by using appropriate inputs.
• The Soil Health Card is used to assess the current status of soil health and, when used over time, to determine changes in soil health that are affected by land management.
• A sum of Rs. 100 crore is allotted. An additional Rs. 56 crores has been allocated to set up 100 mobile soil testing laboratories across the country.

Deendayal Upadhyaya Gram Jyoti Yojana

• “Deendayal Upadhyaya Gram Jyoti Yojana” for feeder separation will be launched to augment power supply to the rural areas and for strengthening sub-transmission and distribution systems.
• Its long-term aim is to provide 24×7 uninterrupted power supply to all homes.
• The Govt has earmarked Rs.43, 000 crore for the Deendayal Upadhyaya Gram Jyoti Yojana for feeder separation to supply electricity through separate feeders for agricultural and rural domestic consumption, aimed at providing round-the-clock power to village households.
• According to the World Bank, India’s per capita power sector consumption of around 800 kilowatt hours is among the lowest in the world. Around 600 million Indians do not have access to electricity and about 700 million Indians use biomass as their primary energy resource for cooking, according to the Planning Commission.

Van Bandhu Kalyan Yojana

• The Union Ministry of Tribal Affairs on 28 October, 2014 launched Vanbandhu Kalyan Yojana (VKY) for welfare of Tribal people and particularly to lift human development indices of tribal people.
• The scheme was launched on pilot basis in one block each of the States of Andhra Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Himachal Pradesh, Telangana, Orissa, Jharkhand, Chhattisgarh, Rajasthan, Maharashtra and Gujarat.
• Under the scheme, Union Government will provide 10 crore rupees for each block for the development of various facilities for the Tribal people. These blocks have been selected on the recommendations of the concerned States and have very low literacy rate.
• Initially the blocks having at least 33 percent of tribal population in comparison to total population of the block will be targeted under the scheme and later expanding it to the entire community.

National Heritage City Development and Augmentation YojanaThe programme called Heritage City Development and Augmentation Yojana (HRIDAY) is to be launched for conserving and preserving the heritage characters of the cities. 

The beginning programme is launched in the cities such as Mathura, Amritsar, Gaya, Kanchipuram, Vellankani and Ajmer. A sum of Rs. 200 crores is set aside for this purpose. The Project will work through a partnership of Government, academic institutions and local community combining affordable technologies.

Shyama Prasad Mukherji Rurban MissionShyama Prasad Mukherji Rurban Mission will be launched to deliver integrated project based infrastructure in the rural areas. The scheme will also include development of economic activities and skill development. 

The preferred mode of delivery would be through PPPs while using various scheme funds. It is based on the example of Gujarat that has demonstrated successfully the Rurban development model of urbanization of the rural areas, through which people living in the rural areas can get efficient civic infrastructure and associate services.

The Govt has set up an 11-member committee, chaired by the additional secretary in the ministry of rural development, to study in detail the reasons for failure of similar initiatives in the past and recommend ways to ensure that this mission succeeds. 

Neeranchal SchemeTo give an added impetus to watershed development in the country, a new programme called “Neeranchal” with an initial outlay of ` 2,142 crores in the current financial year. Pashmina Promotion Programme (P-3) and a programme for the development of other crafts of Jammu and Kashmir is also to be started. For this a sum of Rs. 50 crores is set aside.

VARIOUS SCHEMES LAUNCHED BY MODI FOR WORKERS

VARIOUS SCHEMES LAUNCHED BY MODI FOR WORKERS
  

• Shram Suvidha Portal: It allots labour identification numbers to nearly 6 lakh firms. It also allows e-filing of compliance reports
• Random Inspection Scheme: Computerised system to select units for inspection and reporting will be uploaded with 72 hours of inspection
• Universal Account Number: 4.17 crore employees to be given portable Provident Fund Accounts
• Apprentice Protsahan Yojana: Government to reimburse 50% of stipend paid to apprentices during first two years of training
• Revamped Rashtriya Swasthya Bhima Yojana: smart cards of unorganised sector workers to be seeded with two more social security schemes

ECONOMY SNIPPETS

ECONOMY SNIPPETS

NABARD was established under recommendations of	Shivaraman Committee
The chairman of Fourteenth Finance Commission	Y.V. Reddy
Banks of India were nationalised for the first time in the year	1969
The main aim of devaluation is to	Encourage exports
What is the tertiary sector of economic development	Service Sector?
Which state of India has highest Per capita income	Goa
RBI was nationalised in the year	1935
National Agriculture Insurance Scheme was introduced in	1999
Short term finance is usually for a period of	12 months
Who is the regulator of Insurance sector in India	IRDA
Who is the Census Commissioner for Census 2011?	C. Chandramouli
The main rubber producing state in the country is	Kerala
The largest producer of Coffee in the country is	Karnataka
At present, the number of nationalised banks in the country	19
Project SANKALP is associated with the elimination of	AIDS
The central banking functions in India are performed by the	Reserve Bank of India
Development expenditure of the Central government does not include	Defence expenditure
Gilt-edged market means	Market of Government Securities
Loss of equipment over time due to wear and tear is called as	Depreciation
The association of the rupee with Pound Sterling as the intervention currency was broken in	1992
On July 12, 1982, the ARDC was merged into	NABARD
If the Cash Reserve Ratio is lowered by the RBI, its impact on credit creation will be to	Increase it
In the state of India, the State Financial Corporation have given assistance mainly to develop	Small and medium scale industries
States earn maximum revenue through	Commercial Taxes
The first Indian private company to sign an accord with Government of Myanmar for oil exploration in two offshore blocks in that country is	Essar Oil
The condition of indirect taxes in the country's revenue is approximately	86%
The Board of Industrial and Financial Reconstruction (BIFR) came into existence in	1987
Of the gross tax revenue of the Union Government the indirect taxes account for nearly	65 percent
The banks are required to maintain a certain ratio between their cash in the hand and total assets. This is called as	Statutory Liquid Ratio (SLR)
How many banks were nationalized in 1969?	14
In India, the first bank of limited liability manages by Indians and founded in 1881 was	Oudh Commercial Bank
The apex body for formulating plans and coordinating research work in agriculture and allied fields is	Indian Council of Agricultural Research
Short-term finance is usually for a period ranging up to	One year
Paper currency first started in India in	1861
Foreign Direct Investment ceilings in the telecom sector have been raised from 74 percent to	100%
The largest sponge iron producer in the world is	India
National Rural Development Institute is situated at	Hyderabad
The bank which has the highest number of branches in the world is	SBI
The Mumbai Stock Exchange was set up in	1875
Rangarajan Committee is related to	Public Sector disinvestment
Raja Chellaiah Committee is related to	Tax Reforms
Malhotra Committee is related to	Insurance Sector Reforms
Narasimham Committee is related to	Financial Sector Reforms
The principle means of transport of goods in India is	Railways
India's place in the World Production of Sugar and Sugarcane is	Second
State with Highest Production of Wheat (2011-12) is	Uttar Pradesh
State with Highest Production of Rice (2011-12) is	West Bengal
State with Highest Production of Pulses (2011-12) is	Madhya Pradesh
State with Highest Production of Total Food Grains (2011-12) is	Uttar Pradesh
State with Highest Production of total Oil Seeds (2011-12) is	Madhya Pradesh
The policy of Family Planning was adopted by the government in	1952
Bank Rate means	The official rate of interest charged by the central bank of the country
The term MARKET in economics means	Presence of competition
Commercial banking system in India is	Branch banking
Demand of commodity mainly depends on	Power to purchase
CMD of Bharatiya Mahila Bank is	Usha Ananthasubramanian
Mr. Cyrus Pallonji Mistry took over as the chairman of which industrial group recently?	Tata Group

FAMOUS BOOKS & AUTHORS / WRITERS OF 2016

FAMOUS BOOKS & AUTHORS / WRITERS OF 2016

S.NO	Book Name	Author/Writer Name
1	Fallen Angels	Bob Dylan
2	Akhada: The Authorized Biography of Mahavir Singh Phogat	Saurabh Duggal
3	The Trespasser	Tana French
4	Goras and Desis	Omkar Goswami
5	The People's President: Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam	S M Khan
6	Son of the Thundercloud	Easterine Kire
7	An Era of Darkness: The British Empire in India	Shashi Tharoor
8	The Legend of Lakshmi Prasad	Twinkle Khanna
9	The Ocean of Churn: How the Indian Ocean Shaped Human History	Sanjeev Sanyal
10	The Sleepwalker's Dream	Dhrubajyoti Borah
11	Selection Day	Arvind Adiga
12	Chain of Custody	Anita Nair
13	The Burning Forest: India’s War in Bastar	Nandini Sundar
14	The Great Derangement: Climate Change and the Unthinkable	Amitav Ghosh
15	Rage of the River: The Untold Story of Kedarnath Disaster	Hridayesh Joshi
16	The Secret Diary of Kasturba	Neelima Dalmia Adhar
17	1991: How PV Narasimha Rao Made History	Sanjaya Baru
18	Sleepwalking to Surrender: Dealing With Terrorism in Pakistan	Khaled Ahmed
19	Commonwealth	Ann Patchett
20	The Deed of Words: Two Considerations on Politics of Literature	Pothik Ghosh
21	Being the Other: The Muslim in India	Saeed Naqvi
22	The Battlefields of Imphal: The Second World War and North East India	Hemant Singh
23	Remember Death	Ankush Saikia
24	Death under the Deodars: The Adventures of Miss Ripley Bean’	Ruskin Bond
25	Rajiv Gandhi assassin, hidden truths	Nalini
26	Conflicts of Interest: My Journey through India's Green Movement	Sunita Narain
27	Ashoka in Ancient India	Nayanjot Lahiri
28	Who was Shivaji?	Govind Pansare
29	Endurance: My Year in Space & Our Journey to Mars	Scott Kelly
30	Framed as a Terrorist	Mohammad Aamir Khan
31	Standing Guard: A Year in Opposition	P Chidambaram
32	Life Mantras	Subrata Roy
33	The Making of India: The Untold Story of British Enterprises	Kartar Lalvani
34	Who Moved My Interest Rate	Duvvuri Subbarao (former Governor of RBI)
35	The Unseen Indira Gandhi	Dr KP Mathur
36	Shashi Kapoor: The Householder, the Star	Aseem Chhabra
37	The Games: A Global History of the Olympics	David Goldblatt
38	Things That Can and Cannot Be Said	Arundhati Roy and John Cusack
39	She Walks, She Leads	Gunjan Jain
40	Old History, New Geography	Jairam Ramesh
41	The Turbulent Years	Pranab Mukherjee

UNION BUDGET & ECONOMIC SURVEY 2017

UNION BUDGET & ECONOMIC SURVEY 2017

Union Budget 2017-18	Economic Survey 2016-17
Key Features of Budget 2017	Eight Interesting Facts about India
Budget Speech	Economic Outlook and Policy Challenges
Budget at a Glance	The Economic Vision for Precocious, Cleavaged India
Receipt Budget	Demonetization: To Deify or Demonize?
Expenditure Budget	The Festering Twin Balance Sheet Problem
The Macro Economic Framework Statement	Fiscal Framework: The World is Changing, Should India Change Too?
The Medium Term Fiscal Policy Statement	Fiscal Rules: Lessons from the States
The Fiscal Policy Strategy Statement	Clothes and Shoes: Can India Reclaim Low Skill Manufacturing?
Implementation of Budget Announcements 2016-2017	Review of Economic Developments
	Universal Basic Income: A Conversation With and Within the Mahatma
	Income, Health and Fertility: Convergence Puzzles
	One Economic India: For Goods and in the Eyes of the Constitution
	India on the Move and Churning: New Evidence
	The "Other Indias': Two Analytical Narratives (Redistributive and Natural Resources) on States' Development
	From Competitive Federalism to Competitive Sub-Federalism: Cities as Dynamos