Economic Survery -Vol 1 - Chap 1

1.Indian Economy has done well despite 1. Global slowdown and 2. Sucessive poor rainfall.

2. While World economy is growing at less than 4% India continues to grow at less than 8%

To achieve the 8-10 % growth India push from 3 fronts

a. Making investment friendly climate and providing exit strategy for corporates ie new Bankruptcy law, rehabilitating stalled project, Guidelines for exit

b. Major Investment in People and health. Broadly delivery of essential services. Going as per 14th Finance commission recommendation. Center should focus more on improving policies, strengthening regulatory institutions, and facilitating cooperative and competitive federalism. At the same time States deliver schemes

c. Agriculture. Crop Insurance schemes. Competitive Federalism . States who had elected three times done well in agriculture.

India's Potential Growth

1. Through Past growth 

2. Projecting underlying drivers of growth

3rd method would be more suitable. " Correlation between Institutions and Growth " . India and China are outliers and they could convergence. 

Based on the convergence speed, the growth will be affected.

Railway Budget 2016_Prelims

1. Dr. Bibek Debroy Committee on Mobilization of Resources for Various Projects. Set up in 2014. and Dr, Anil Kakodkar commitee on Railway safety
2. Two challenges mentioned by Railway Minister
     a. Global slowdown and Indian Manufacturing sector slow down
     b. 7th Pay commission
3. Modal Share of Railways declined from 62% in 1980 to 36% in 2012.
4.Estimated revenue for next Year Rs. 1.8 lac Crore
5. Highest INvestments in History Rs. 1.2 lac Crore
6. Pink Book means - Works, Machinary and rolling stock Book
7. LIC agreed to fund Rs. 1.5 lac Crore in 5 years term
8. Changed Metric from Completion to Commission
9. Three dddicated freight Corridors , North - South , Delhi to Chennai. East to west Mumbai to Kharagpur, East coast Kharagpur to Vijayawada.
10. Divyang- Handicapped Passengers
11. National Academy of Railways - Vadodara
12. Antyodaya - Long distance fully unreserved train
13. Deen Dayulu coaches - More unreserved coaches in existing trains
14. Humsafer - Fully AC 3 tier
15. TEJAs - Best in class services
16. UDAY - Double decker trains in Busy routes
17. Vikalp - Accomodation in specific trains to wait listed Passenger
18. Revenue targets are not met.

Budget_Polity

Budget from a Polity Angle

Department of Economic affairs under Finance Ministry prepares Budget.

1. Word budget is mentioned in the constitution of India. Annual Financial statement is the term used for Budget

Budget contains

1. Estimate Revenue receipts
2. Estimate of Capital receipts ( meaning will be seen in economy part of Budget)
3. Ways and means to raise revenue
4. estimates Expenditure for revenue and capital receipts
5. Previous year actual receipts and expenditure.
6. Reasons for deficit or surplus in the previous year than estimates
7. Economic policy of Gov. Tax proposals, schems and initiatives

Types of Funds

1. Consolidated Fund of India
2. Public account of India
3. Contingency fund of India

Consolidated Fund of India

Incoming :

1. Consists of all revenues from Taxes + Loans + Repayment of loans

Outgoing :

1. Charged on CFI - Cannot be amended by Parliament. Only discussed
2. Made from CFI - Appropriations act

Public account of India :

1. Gov acts as a Banker to this account coming from Provident funds and small
2. operated by executive action - no need of parliament approval

Contingency fund  ;

1. lies with Finance secretary on behalf of President
2. opearted by executive action

Parliamentary processes in Budget

1. Presentation of Budget
2. General discussion
3. Scrutiny of Departmental committess
4. Voting on demands for Grants
5. Passing of Appropriation Bill or running Bill or Supply bill
6. Passing of finance Bill

I.Presentation of Budget :

1. Read by Finance minister in Lok Sabha
2. Laid in Rajya Sabha after Lok Sabha. RS has no power to vote on the demands for grants

II General Discussion :

1. Takes place in Both the houses of Parliament
2. No cut motion or no vote. FM can reply at the end

III Scrutiny by Departmental Committees :

1. 24 Departmental committees of Parliament examines the demand for grants
2. Submitted to both the houses for consideration

IV Voting on Demands for Grants

1. In the light of the Departmental Standing committee, Loksabha ( exclusive previlege of Loksabha) takes up voting of demands
2. Demands are presented ministry wise
3. A demand becomes a grant after it has been duly voted
4. Votable part of the Budget can only be voted. Expenditure charged on the consolidated fund of India is not voted
 5.

Mountain Ranges of India_ North East

North East :

Mizo hills + Naga Hills + Patkai Bum combined called Purvanchal.

1. Meghalaya :

Meghalaya can be said as three hills. Garo, Khasi and Jaintia

1. In the west it is Garo Hills
2. The middle Khasi Hills. Cherrapunji - located in Khasi Hills
3. East it is Jaintia Hills.

Nokrek National Park :

1. Nokrek National Park is situated in Garo Hills
2. Nokrek National Park is also UNESCO recognised Biosphere reserve

Balpakram National Park :

1. Also situated in Garo Hills

Mizo Hills ( Lushai Hills)

1. Murlen National Park is equal to Amazon type forest. No sunrays reach Murlen National Park
2. Phawngpui or Blue Mountain National Park. Place for spirits and folk tales

Naga Hills :

1, Ntangki National Park

Manipur :

1.Keibul- lamjao floating national park on lake Loktak

Arunachal pradesh :

1. Nampadha National Park - 3rd Largest. One of most diverse species
2. Mouling National Park

Assam :

1. Kaziranga - One hones Rhinoceres and Tiger reserve
2. Manas - worrld heritage site
3. Nameri -known for fishes
4. Rajiv Gandhi Orang
5. Dibru Saikhowa National Park

River Ganga _ Prelims

Origin :

1. River Originates in India
2. Bhagirathi and Alaknanda are the sources of Ganga
3. Bhagirathi dont have many tributaries and originates from Gangotri Glacier
4.  Alaknanda have 4 tributaries and originates at Badrinath
5. Dauli Ganga joins Alaknanda at Vishnu Prayag
6. Nandakini joins Alaknanda at Nand prayag
7. Pindar joins Alaknanda ar Karna Prayag
8. Mandakini which originates at Kedarnath joins Alaknanda at Rudra Prayag
9. Bhagirathi and Alaknanda joins at Dev Prayag to form Ganga


River Course

Left Bank :

1. Ramganga is the 1st left bank tributary. ( Not mentioned in above map) Originates fromKumaun Ranges ( Dhoodthali Ranges). Corbett National Park is in the banks of Ramganga
2. Gomti runs in UP. Lucknow is in the banks of Gomti
3. Ghagra or Karnal : Highest volume tributary. Main river of Nepal. Sharda ( Kali Ganga) is a tributary of Ghagra
4. Kali Gandaki or Narayani : mainly in Nepal
5.Kosi - Sorrow of Bihar or Saptagoshi. Mainly in Tibet and Nepal

Right bank :

1. Yamuna : Origin ; Yamunotri Glacier. Delhi and Agra lies in the banks of Yamuna.
   a. Chambal : Originates in Vindhya range in Madhya Pradesh. Banas, Shipra, sindh are tributaries of Chambal
    b. Betwa : Origintaes in Vindhya ranga. Bhobal is situated on the banks of Betwa.

Yamuna joins Ganga at Triveni Sangamam in Allahabad where Kumbh mela is held 12 years once

2. Tamsa :Starts from Kaimur range
3. Son : Originates in Amargandak plataeu.

After Farakka in Bihar it enters Bangladesh.

Distributary :Hoogly

1. After Hoogly river the Ganga splits into Hoogly or Bhagirathi and Padma. Kolkata is situated in the banks of River Hoogly.

In Bangladesh :

1. Padma meets with Jamuna ( Bralmaputra) but retains the name Padma
2. Then Padma joins Meghna. Gets the name Meghna before joining Bay of Bengal

Barak River :

1. Originates in Manipur
2. Travel through Mizoram and South Assam
3. Divides into Surma and Kusiyara
4. Again Surma and Kusiyara joines to form Meghna






Cities in the Banks of Ganga system

1.Ganga :Kanpur, Farukkhabad, Allahabad, Varanasi, Kannauj, in UP, Haridwar in UK, Patna, Bhagalpur, Hajipur
2.Yamuna : Delhi, Agra, Mathura
3. Chambal - Gwalior in MP, Kota in Rajasthan
4. Gomiti : Lucknow

Other Facts about Ganga :

1. 2500 Km - Total length Including Bangladesh

Buddhism for Prelims

About Buddha :

Birth : Siddartha

1. Father : Suddodana - He is King of Sakya.
2. Actual Mother : Maya or Maya Devi
3. Mother's Dream : White elephant with Lotus before Buddha's Birth
4. Mother died within 7 days after Buddha's birth
5. Year : 563 BC
6. Born at : Lumbini near Kapilavastu, Capital of Sakya
7. Mother during Growth : Goutami

Moving away from Palace

1. Reasons : Sight of Old person, Sick person, dead man and a Sage.
2. Buddha's Charioteer : Chenna
3. Buddha's Horse name : Kanthaka
4. Great going Forth - Mahabhiniskramana

As Wanderer:

1. He started as Wanderer
2. He learned Meditation from Alara Kalama
3. Joined five ascetics who were practising rigorous Self -mortification
4. For 6 six years he practiced that and finally gave up

Enlightenment ;

1.Reached Gaya under King Bimbisara
2. Sujata offered him rice boiled in Milk
3. He decided he will not get up until riddle of suffering was solved
4. Mara - Buddhist devil tried to disturb
5. After 49 days he attained Nirvana
6. The old five ascetics were the first to get his Sermon @ Deer Park near Varanasi

Sangha and Death :

1. Disciplined body of Monks called Bhikkus
2. Averted war between Sakyas and Koliyas
3.. Buddhist Order is called Sangha
4. Near City of Vaisali, Buddha prepared for his death
5.  Dont search for new leader. Doctrines would lead them
6. At Pava he ate Pork and in Kusinagara he died

Growth of Buddhism :

Other Important Facts :

1st Council :
1. Upali      - Vinaya Pitaka - Rules of the Order
2. Ananda   - Sutta Pitaka - Collections of Buddha's Sermons
3. Abhidhamma Pitaka was on Psychology and Metaphysics

a.Vihara - Buddhist Temple or Monastry
b. Caitya - Sacred Spots

1. Vehicle of Thunderbolt - Vajrayana
2. Bodhisattva - previous birth of Buddha

Indian Meteorological Department

Indian Meteorological Department which comes under Ministry of Earth Sciences has the primary responsibility of providing weather forecast, meteorolgical and Seismology information and warning for the people of India.

1. Regional Meteorological Centers - 6 Places
2. Meteorological centers - 13 Places
3. Agriculture Meteorological center - Pune
4. Surface Instrument Division - Pune
5. Upper Air Instrument Division - New Delhi
6. Cyclone Warning System - Vishakapatnam
7. Positional Astronomy Center
8. Meteorological Training Institute, Pune

Apart from these 7 type of divisions, IMD is also having Regional Specialized Meteorological center for Tropical cyclones North Indian Ocean. RSMC


1. Regional Meteorological Centers :

These are located in North - Delhi, South - Chennai, West - Mumbai, East - Kolkata, Center - Nagpur, North East - Guwahati.

2. Other Meteorological Centers :

1. Hyderabad, 2. Trivandrum 3. Bangalore. 4. Ahmedabad. 5. Bhopal 6. Ahmedabad 7. Lucknow 8. Gangtok 9. Goa 10. Raipur 11. Shimla 12. Bhubaneshwar 13. Chandigarh

7. Positional Astronomy Center :

Authority to decide on religious festivals and National calender of India. It also releases Panjang in 14 different languages

8. RSMC : Its a intergovernmental agency having panel members from Bangladesh, Maldives, Pakisthan, Sri Lanka, Myanmar, Oman, Thailand.


Sample Questions from IMD

1. Which agency decides the date of Deepavali for 2018 ?

a. Home Ministry
b. World astronomical Center, Newyork
c. Positional Astronomy Center, Kolkata
d. Authorised Horoscope scholars of India

2. Which countries are part of Regional Specialized Meteorological center for Tropical Cyclones

1. Bangladesh
2. Nepal
3. Thailand
4. Pakisthan

a) 1,2   b) 1,3,4 c) 1,2,3 d) 1,2,3,4