Prime Minister’s Employment Generation Programme

More than 20 Lakh persons have been provided employment under the Prime Minister’s Employment Generation Programme (PMEGP) which is being implemented by the Ministry of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises.

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Benefits of increased usage of CNG/PNG

CNG is one of the cleanest and most environment friendly fuel as compared to other fuels used by automotive vehicles. The level of vehicular emissions is significantly lower in case of CNG when compared to liquid fuels like Diesel and Petrol.

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PIB News Analysis - 15 January 2013

Lakhipur-Bhanga stretch
The Union Cabinet approved the introduction of a Bill in the Parliament for declaring Lakhipur-Bhanga stretch (121 kms.) of the Barak River as a National Waterway. The Government of India has so far declared five waterways as National Waterways. These are:- 
1.  Allahabad-Haldia stretch of the Ganga-Bhagirathi-Hooghly river system (1620 km); 
2.  Dhubri-Sadiya stretch of Brahmaputra River (891 km); 
3. Kottapuram-Kollam stretch of West Coast Canal along with Udyogmandal and Champakara Canals (205 km); 
4. Kakinada-Puducherry stretch of the canal along with designated stretches of Godavari and Krishna Rivers (1078 km);
5. Designated stretches of East Coast Canal, Brahmani River and Mahanadi Delta (588 km). 
6. The Lakhipur-Bhanga stretch of the Barak River would be the sixth National Waterway.

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PIB News Analysis - 09 January 2013

National Electric Mobility Mission Plan
The principal end objectives of the National Mission for Electric Mobility (NMEM) are National energy security, mitigation of the adverse impact of vehicles on the environment and growth of domestic manufacturing capabilities. It sets the vision, lays the targets and provides the joint Government – industry vision for realizing the huge potential that exists for full range of efficient and environmentally friendly electric vehicle (including hybrids) technologies by 2020.

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PIB News Analysis - 02 January 2013

FDI vs Portfolio Investment
Foreign direct investment is a direct investment into production or business in a country by an individual/company of another country, either by buying a company in the target country or by expanding operations of an existing business in that country. But Portfolio investment is a passive investment in the securities of another country such as stocks and bonds.

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PIB News Analysis - 01 January 2013


Current Account Deficit widening due to large gold import
CAD was financed without drawing on reserves. This was mainly due to adequate inflow of FDI (US$ 12.8 billion) and FII (US$ 6.2 billion). In addition, external commercial borrowing amounted to US$ 1.7 billion. The net result is that we have not drawn on the foreign exchange reserves and, in fact, there is a marginal accretion of US$ 0.4 billion to the foreign exchange reserves. While the CAD is indeed worrying, it is within our capacity to finance the CAD, thanks to FDI, FII and ECB.

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PIB News Analysis - Ecologically Sensitive Areas of Western Ghats

The great mountain chain of Western Ghats is the source of all the major rivers of India’s southern peninsula. Its ecological health depend on  the livelihoods of millions of people, not only in the six Western Ghats states of Gujarat, Maharashtra, Goa, Karnataka, Tamilnadu and Kerala, but of Andhra Pradesh as well. Besides, it is one of the world’s treasure troves of plant and animal life, with a great wealth of unique plant and animal species. The mountains also harbour a number of wild relatives of cultivated plants, including pepper, cardamom, mango, jackfruit and plantain.

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PIB News Analysis - Visa on Arrival Scheme

In order to promote tourism, Tourist Visa on Arrival (TVOA) scheme was introduced for the nationals of five countries, namely, Japan, Singapore, Finland, Luxembourg and New Zealand with effect from Jan 2010 for one year. The scheme has been found to be useful by the foreign nationals. The Government of India has extended the Tourist Visa on Arrival (TVOA) scheme for the nationals of above mentioned five countries. Further, TVOA scheme has been introduced for the nationals of Cambodia, Laos, Vietnam, Philippines, Myanmar and Indonesia with effect from Jan 2011.

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CSAT 2014 Syllabus | Syllabus of CSAT 2014 | UPSC CSAT Syllabus 2014

The Syllabus for UPSC CSAT (Civil Services Aptitude Test ):

Paper I - (200 marks) Duration: Two hours - 2 Marks each with negative mark of .33%
  • Current events of national and international importance
  • History of India and Indian National Movement
  • Indian and World Geography - Physical, Social, Economic geography of India and the World.
  • Indian Polity and Governance – Constitution, Political System, Panchayati Raj, Public Policy, Rights Issues, etc.
  • Economic and Social Development – Sustainable Development, Poverty, Inclusion, Demographics, Social Sector Initiatives, etc.
  • General issues on Environmental ecology, Bio-diversity and Climate Change - that do not require subject specialization
  • General Science.

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Arunachal Pradesh Facts

Most of Arunachal Pradesh is covered by the Himalayas. However, parts of Lohit, Changlang and Tirap are covered by the Patkai hills. Kangto, Nyegi Kangsang, the main Gorichen peak and the Eastern Gorichen peak are some of the highest peaks in this region of the Himalayas.

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The Government of India Act 1833

This Act was also known as Saint Helena Act 1833. This Act extended the charter by 20 years. It contained the following provisions:

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Charter Act of 1793 and 1813

Charter Act of 1793
Charter Act of 1793 renewed the charter issued to the British East India Company for 20 years, and continued the Company's rule in India. The Act made only fairly minimal changes to either the system of government in India or British oversight of the Company's activities.

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Assam Facts

Assam is a state in the north-eastern region of India. Its capital is Dispur, located within the municipal area of Guwahati city. Located south of the eastern Himalayas, Assam comprises the Brahmaputra and the Barak river valleys along with the Karbi Anglong and the North Cachar Hills. Assam is surrounded by 6 of the other 7 Sister States: Arunachal Pradesh, Nagaland, Manipur, Mizoram, Tripura and Meghalaya. Geographically Assam and these states are connected to the rest of India via a narrow strip of land in West Bengal called the Siliguri Corridor or "Chicken's Neck".

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Pitt Act of 1784

The Regulating Act of 1773 had proven to be a failure within a few years and the British government decided to take a more active role in the affairs of the Company.  In 1781, British Parliament passed an amendment act called the Act of Settlement.

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Regulating Act of 1773

The Regulating Act of 1773 was an Act of the Parliament of Great Britain planned to regulate  the management of the East India Company's rule in India

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Constituent Assembly of India

The idea of a  Constituent Assembly was formulated by M.N. Roy in 1936 Faizpur session of Congress, presided by Nehru. The Constituent Assembly of India was elected to write the Constitution of India, and served as its first Parliament as an independent nation.

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CSAT Study Note 4 - Capital Account of a Country

The Capital Account (also known as financial account) is one of two primary components of the balance of payments, the other being the current account. Whereas the current account reflects a nation's net income, the capital account reflects net change in ownership of national assets.

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CSAT Study Note 3 - Current Account of a Country

The difference between savings and its investment of a country. The current account is defined as the sum of the balance of trade (goods and services exports less imports), net income from abroad and net current transfers. A positive current account balance indicates that the nation is a net lender to the rest of the world, while a negative current account balance indicates that it is a net borrower from the rest of the world.

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CSAT 2014 Study Note 2 - Balance of Payment

Balance of payments (BoP) accounts are an accounting record of all monetary transactions between a country and the rest of the world. These transactions consist of payments for the country's exports and imports of goods, services, financial capital, and financial transfers. The BOP accounts sum up international transactions for a specific period, usually a year. Sources of funds for a nation, such as exports or the receipts of loans and investments, are recorded as positive or surplus items. Uses of funds, such as for imports or to invest in foreign countries, are recorded as negative or deficit items.

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