Gist of Yojana December 2023: Year End Special

Yojana Magazine is an important source of material for the UPSC exam. The monthly magazine provides details of major government schemes and programmes in various domains. Moreover, coming from the government, it is an authentic source of information for the UPSC Exam. Here, we provide the Gist of Yojana, exclusively for the IAS Exam.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

1. India’s Moonshot
2. Redefining Mobility: Transforming Landscape of Transport Sector
3. India’s Industry Sector
4. Agricultural and Rural Development - Key Initiatives & Achievements

1. India’s Moonshot

In the mid-1960s, the space programme of India was developed for scientific research and applications. The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) is one of the top five space agencies in the world with full capabilities in Earth observation, communication, navigation, and planetary exploration.

ISRO can launch payloads ranging from 500 to 8000 kg to low, medium, or high Earth orbit using its four operational launch vehicles.

1. PSLV (Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle): Also known as “ISRO’s workhorse”, it provides a cost-efficient and reliable solution to commercial users for launching ‘2t class’ payloads.
   1. It is versatile, with the capability to launch multiple satellites in one flight into versatile geostationary orbits, can start and stop its upper-stage liquid engine, and can host research in its PS4 orbital platform.
2. LVM3 (Launch Vehicle Mark-III) formerly known as, Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle (GSLV) Mark-III, is a reliable choice for the commercial market to lift LEO and GEO payloads with 4t and 6t capacity, respectively.
   1. It has completed complex missions such as Chandrayaan and the OneWeb commercial launches.
3. SSLV (Small Satellite Launch Vehicle) is the newly inducted launch vehicle of ISRO to satisfy small satellite launch requirements.
4. Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle (GSLV): GSLV’s primary payloads are INSAT class of communication satellites that operate from Geostationary orbits and hence are placed in Geosynchronous Transfer Orbits by GSLV. GSLV Mk II is the launch vehicle developed by India, to launch communication satellites in geo-transfer orbit using cryogenic third stage.

• Space Situational Awareness (SSA): It is the deep understanding and knowledge of the space environment including the location and behaviour of space objects such as satellites, debris, and other celestial objects, and their evolution.
  • ISRO is presently going into the area of SSA and the required infrastructure to complete such operations is in the planning stage.
• Earth observation (EO) data from various ISRO satellites (maintained for continuous coverage) has been extensively used in and has benefitted schemes such as MGNREGA, PMGSY, PMKSY, AMRUT, PMFBY, SVAMITVA, etc.
  • In the early 1980s, the NNRMS laid the foundation for the usage of EO data in GIS applications at the national level, covering potentially all departments and ministries. In the wake of this, the IRS programme was created by ISRO comprising various first-generation satellites.
• ISRO has also made progress in various specialised EO applications such as Cartosat, RISAT, etc.
• NavIC (Navigation with Indian Constellation) is the operational name for the Indian Regional Navigation Satellite System (IRNSS).
  • Accurate real-time positioning and timing services over India, and in a region that extends approximately 1500 km around the Indian mainland, are provided by the NavIC.
  • The services offered by NavIC aid in traffic management, vehicle tracking, terrestrial navigation for users, disaster management, and more.
  • There are three segments in IRNSS: space, ground, and user. The space segment consists of a base-layer constellation of seven satellites in the GEO and GSO planes. NVS-01 satellite is the recent addition to the constellation (the first of the 2-G navigation satellite series).
  • 
• Astrosat: First space observatory of India. It was launched in 2015 in a PSLV-C30 (XL) rocket.
• Mars Orbiter Mission: It was launched in November 2013 and was placed in orbit around Mars in September 2014 after 300 days of travelling. It lost contact with Earth in April 2022 because of a protracted eclipse. Read more on the Mars mission.
• Chandrayaan-1: India’s first spacecraft to the moon. It was launched in 2008 and orbited the Moon at a distance of 100 km from the surface. It launched a Moon Impact Probe known as ChACE. In addition, the Man in the Moon Probe was the first artificial object to reach the Moon’s South Pole.
• Chandrayaan-2: It was launched in 2019 and consisted of an Orbiter, Lander, and Rover. Multiple first-of-their-kind instruments, including an L-band SAR operating for the first time on the Moon, a large area X-ray spectrometer, etc. are aboard the orbiter.
• Chandrayaan-3: It aimed to prove India’s soft-landing and roving capabilities on the Moon. It was launched on 14th July 2023 and made a soft landing near the South Pole of the Moon on 23rd August 2023.
  • ChaSTE: Revealed thermal behaviour of the lunar surface up to 10 cm depth.
  • LIBS detected sulphur on the lunar surface.
  • The vibrations caused by the movement of the rover were recorded by ILSA.
  • RAMBHA-LP measured the plasma near the surface.
  • Read more on Chandrayaan-3 in the link.
• Aditya-L1: India’s first mission focussing solely on the Sun. It will halo orbit around Lagrange point 1 (L1) of the Sun-Earth system to ensure that its Sun observations remain unaffected due to occultation or eclipse.
• ISRO plans to have Bharat Space Station in future and for that, it is moving towards Gaganyaan and man-on-the-Moon missions.

2. Redefining Mobility: Transforming Landscape of Transport Sector

India’s Transportation System

Roads

• The Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRT&H): It is the apex body, formed in 2009.
• India has the second largest road network in the world of about 62.16 lakh km.

Bharatmala Pariyojana

• It envisages the development of around 26,000 km of economic corridors, which will supplement the Golden Quadrilateral (GQ) and North-South and East-West (NS-EW) Corridors in carrying the majority of freight traffic on roads.
• It envisages the development of Ring Roads/bypasses and elevated corridors to decongest the traffic in cities, enhance the efficiency of logistics, etc.

Read more on Bharatmala Pariyojana in the link.

Green National Highways Corridor Project

• It was launched in 2016 under the Green Highways Policy (unveiled in 2015) to develop eco-friendly and green national highways.
• Various national highways passing through Rajasthan, Himachal Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, and Andhra Pradesh (around 781 km) are included under it.
• It is being run with the aid of the World Bank.

National Highways Authority of India

• It was established under the NHAI Act, 1988 and has been entrusted with the National Highways Development Project (NHDP).
• 1,32,499 km is the total length of NH (including expressways) in India while highways/expressways constitute around 1.7% of the length of all roads in India. But, 40% of the road traffic is carried by them.

Read more: National Highways Authority of India

National Highways Development Project

• It started in 1998 to upgrade, rehabilitate, and widen India’s major highways to a higher standard.
• It has been subsumed under the ongoing Bharatmala project.

PM GatiShakti Plan

• It is a digital programme to bring 16 ministries together for integrated planning and coordinated infrastructure connectivity project implementation.
• It provides multi-modal connectivity to ensure last-mile infrastructure connectivity and a reduction in people’s travel time.

Learn more about PM GatiShakti here.

Parvatmala Pariyojana

• National Ropeways Development Programme aims to develop ropeways as an alternative mode of transportation in hilly areas as well as congested areas such as Varanasi.
• It envisages enhancing passenger accessibility and promoting tourism.

National Registry of Vehicles and License Records

• Successful automation of RTO operations has been achieved through the Mission Mode Project.
• Mission Mode Project comprises two flagship applications – Vahan and Sarathi. Vahan consolidates vehicle registration, taxation, permit, fitness, and associated services across the country. Sarathi is associated with driving licence, learner licence, driving schools, and related activities.

e-Tolling

• In order to ensure traffic’s seamless movement through toll plazas and increase transparency in toll collection using FASTag, the National Electronic Toll Collection (NETC) Programme, a flagship initiative of MoRT&H, has been launched.
• The National Payment Corporation of India (NPCI) is the Central Clearing House.

Railways

• The first train from Mumbai to Thane that ran for 34 km started in 1853.
• The network of Indian railways currently includes 7,308 stations spread over 68,043 km route length having a fleet of 13,215 locomotives, 74,744 passenger service vehicles, 10,103 other coaching vehicles and 3,18,896 wagons.
• It is divided into 17 Zones which are basic operating units having their own respective headquarters.

Vande Bharat Express

• It was formerly known as Train 18, and is a semi-high-speed, electric multiple-unit train operated by Indian Railways.
• Renamed in 2019, the first train was flagged off between New Delhi – Kanpur – Prayagraj – Varanasi route.

Shipping

• The Ministry of Shipping was formed in 2009 and renamed the Ministry of Ports, Shopping, and Waterways (MoPS&W) in 2020.
• The capacity of major ports in terms of their berths and cargo handling equipment presently stands at 1617.39 MMT.

Maritime Development

• Around 95% of India’s trade by volume and 68% by value is moved through maritime transport.
• 

Sagarmala Programme

• The Sagarmala Programme aims to generate port-led development in the country.

Inland Water Transport

• India has 14,500 km of navigable inland waterway network but it handles less than 2% of India’s total cargo transport.
• The Inland Waterways Authority of India (IWAI) was set up in 1986 for the regulation and development of inland transport.
• 111 inland waterways have been declared by the government across 24 states under the National Waterways Act of 2016.
• Jal Marg Vikas Project is being implemented by IWAI for NW-I capacity augmentation.

Civil Aviation

• It is encompassed under the ambit of the Ministry of Civil Aviation.

Regional Connectivity Scheme

• Its objective is to facilitate/stimulate regional air connectivity by making it affordable for the masses.
• It envisages providing unserved and under-served airports of the country with connectivity through the revival of existing airstrips and airports.

International Connectivity

• India has Air Service Agreements with 116 countries.
• India connects directly with 52 countries and indirectly with 100 countries.

Biometric-Enabled Seamless Travel

• DigiYatra allows hassle-free travel at airports without the need for verification of ticket and ID at multiple touchpoints. It makes use of Facial Recognition Technology.

Krishi Udan 2.0

• Launched in 2012 to facilitate the movement of cargo by air. It aims to ensure seamless, cost-effective, time-bound, air transportation and associated logistics for all agri-produce originating especially from North-East, hilly, and tribal regions of the country.

Sugamya Bharat Abhiyan

• It promotes accessibility and inclusivity in air travel by making sure the requirements of people with special needs such as ‘divyang’ are understood and met.

3. India’s Industry Sector

PM GatiShakti

• It was launched in 2021 to integrate across multiple agencies’ various planning and infrastructure development efforts. It rests on the ‘whole of government approach’. It has two components:
  • National Master Plan: It is a GIS-based technology platform which links everything from roads to aviation, from railways to agriculture, various ministries and departments.
  • Three-tier institutional arrangement: To integrate efforts of various line ministries/departments for synchronised development of multimodal infrastructure and the economic zone.

National Logistics Policy

• The National Logistics Policy was launched in 2022 and complements the PM GatiShakti National Master Plan. It aims to bring efficiency to logistic services and human resources through process streamlining, bringing logistics in higher education mainstream, and suitable technology adoption.

Foreign Direct Investment Policy

• The process of granting approvals to foreign direct investment (FDI) proposals has been simplified since the abolition of the Foreign Investment Promotion Board (FIPB) in June 2017.
• The work related to the processing of FDI applications and government approval thereon, under the existing FDI Policy and FEMA is now handled by the concerned ministries/departments.
• Foreign Investment Facilitation (FIF) Portal: DPIIT administers the management and running of the portal. It facilitates the clearance of those applications that are filed through the approval route.
  • FIF Portal has been integrated with the National Single Window System (NSWS) from August 2022 onwards. The proposals of FDI requiring approval of the government are filed through the NSWS portal. 

Make in India

• It was launched in 2014, one of the unique ‘Vocal for Local’ initiatives, promoting India’s manufacturing domain in the world.

Production Linked Incentive (PLI) Scheme

• In line with India’s vision of becoming ‘Athmanirbhar’, the PLI scheme was announced for 14 key sectors with an outlay of 1.97 lakh crore to enhance manufacturing capabilities and exports of India.

Startup India

• It was launched in 2016 and provides impetus to the entrepreneurial setup across three major pillars:

1. 1. Simplification and handholding
   2. Funding support and incentives
   3. Industry-academia partnership and incubation

• As of May 2023, DPIIT has recognised a total of 99,371 startups across 57 sectors in 674 districts with at least one startup from every State and UT of the country having created 10.49 lakh jobs since 2016.
• Fund of Funds (FFS) with a corpus of Rs. 10,000 crore has been established by the DPIIT to meet startups’ funding needs. FFS does not directly invest in startups, but instead provides capital to SEBI-registered Alternative Investment Funds (AIFs).
• Startup India Seed Fund Scheme (SISFS) has been created by the DPIIT to provide financial assistance to startups for proof of concept, prototype development, product trials, market-entry, and commercialisation.

Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs)

• The primary responsibility of the promotion and development of MSMEs is of the state governments. However, the government of India supports state government efforts through various initiatives.
• Udyam Assist Platform was launched by the Ministry of MSME in January 2023 to formalise informal micro-enterprises under the ambit of MSMEs. 
• India has more than 6 crore MSMEs contributing around 27% to India’s GDP, 44% to India’s exports, and employs more than 11 crore people.
• 

Udyam Registration Portal

• It was launched by the Ministry of MSME in July 2020, to facilitate registration of MSMEs as per the new classification.

Khadi and Village Industries Commission (KVIC)

• It is a statutory organisation under the Ministry of MSME.

Textiles

• In the textile industry, the mill sector of India with 3,400 textile mills having an installed capacity of more than 50 million spindles and 8,42,000 rotors, is the second largest in the world.
• The textile industry contributes to 7% of the industry’s output in value terms of 2% of India’s GDP and to 15% of India’s earnings from exports. It also employs around 4.5 crore people directly.

Steel

• India’s crude steel capacity has risen to 142 MT at present making India the second largest crude steel producer of the world surpassing Japan and trailing China. The crude steel production capacity has risen steadily to 161.3 MT.

Pharmaceutical

• The Indian pharmaceutical industry is the third largest in the world by volume.
• It had a total annual turnover of around Rs. 3.79 lakh crore in 2022-23.
• It has had a CAGR of 6.4% (as per total pharma export) in the last 9 years.
• Total pharma exports are around 1.94 lakh crore while total imports are around 0.56 lakh crore for 2022-23 (for bulk drugs, drug intermediaries, drug formulations, and biologicals).

4. Agricultural and Rural Development – Key Initiatives & Achievements

Union Budget 2023

• The Government of India has increased the budget allocation for the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers by 5 per cent for the financial year 2023-24 compared to FY 2022-23
• The target for Agriculture credit has been increased to Rs 20 lakh crore, and Rs. 6000 crore has been allocated for the launch of the PM Matsya Sampada Yojana.

Millets

• The United Nations General Assembly has declared the year 2023 as the International Year of Millets, based on a proposal from India.
• Indian Institute of Millets Research in Hyderabad was established to transform millet cultivation from subsistence farming to a globally competitive industry through cost-effective and environmentally friendly production, processing, and value-addition technologies, along with establishing efficient supply chain networks.
• The at-home consumption of millet in India has increased to 14 kilograms per person per month, compared to the previous consumption of not more than 3 kilograms.
• One District, One Product Scheme: Millets have been selected in 129 districts for further expansion and promotion.

Food Production

• India has achieved record-high levels of both food grain and horticulture production in 2022-23, witnessing an increase of 4 per cent and 1 per cent, respectively, compared to the previous year.

Minimum Support Price

• The Minimum Support Price (MSP) is determined by the government at a rate of at least 1.5 times the all-India weighted average cost of production.
• The government is actively promoting crop diversification to enhance food security with a maximum increase in MSP given to oilseeds and pulses. 
• The Commission of Agricultural Costs and Prices (CACP) has recommended that the government review its open purchase policy on rice and wheat.

Grain Storage Plan

• India launched the world’s largest grain storage plan in the cooperative sector to reduce food waste, strengthen food security and boost farmers’ income.

Fertilisers

• PM-PRANAM (PM Programme for Restoration, Awareness Generation, Nourishment, and Amelioration of Mother Earth) aims to protect the earth by promoting sustainable and balanced use of fertilizers, adopting alternate fertilizers, and implementing resource conservation techniques.
• GOBARdhan initiative: The government has approved market development assistance to promote the application of organic fertilizers under the scheme.
• Nano-DAP and Nano-Urea: India has launched nano-Urea and the world’s first Nano-DAP (Di-Ammonium Phosphate), aiming to reduce the quantum of fertilizer imports by improving the efficiency of fertilizer applications.

Information Technology initiatives

• Kisan Rin Portal: It has been established to facilitate access to credit services under the Kisan Credit Card (KCC) and  Modified Intrest Subvention Scheme (MISS).
• WINDS (Weather Information Network Data Systems) has been launched to establish a network of automatic weather stations and rain gauges at the taluk/block and gram panchayat levels. This initiative aims to improve crop management, resource allocation, and risk mitigation.

G20 Agriculture Ministers Meeting:

• The G20 Agriculture Ministers Meeting has approved the Deccan High Principles of Food Security and Nutrition 2023 and the International Millets and Other Ancient Grains Research Initiative (MAHARSHI).

Rural Development

• Sangathan se Samridhhi: Leaving no rural women behind, a national campaign under the initiative Deendayal Antyodaya Yojana-National Rural Livelihoods Mission (DAY-NRLM) was launched to mobilize 1 crore women from vulnerable and marginalized rural households with the help of Self-Help Groups.
• Rashtriya Gram Swaraj Abhiyan: It aims to revamp Panchayati Raj Institutions as vibrant centres of local governance and economic growth. Its nine themes include poverty-free, healthy, child-friendly, water-sufficient, clean and green, self-sufficient infrastructure, socially secured, good governance, and women-friendly villages.
• Jal Jeevan Mission: It achieved the milestone of providing tap connections to 13 crore households.
• PM Ujjwala Yojana: The government has approved the extension of PM Ujjwala Yojana for the release of 75 lakh LPG connections.
• Mission Amrit Sarovar: It aims at the rejuvenation and development of 75 water bodies in each district of the country.
• Swachh Bharat Mission (SBM): 75 per cent of the villages have achieved the milestone of 75 per cent ODF (Open Defecation Free) plus status.