national & social issues

Ghanshyam Thori Issues of National & Social Importance

Ghanshyam Thori Issues of National & Social Importance1

National & Social Issues Issues of National Importance

Women & Child Welfare & Gender Issues What were the main recommendations of the Platform fro Action (PFA) adopted at the Beijing

Women Conference, 1995? (30 Marks) Discuss the steps to get rid of child labour in India. (30 Marks) Integrated Child Development Service (ICDS) What are the social & economic consequences of abolishing Child Labour in India (30 Marks). Discuss the steps taken by the government to check child labour & promote child welfare (30 marks). Explain the social constraints in bringing about gender equality in Indian Society. (10 Marks). Female Foeticide (2 Marks). Equal rights for women in Parental property. (2 Marks). Rehabilitation of Street Children in India (2 Marks). The issues of Gender Equality in India (10 Marks).

Education: Bring out the issues involved in implementing compulsory primary education in India. (10 Marks) Discuss the impact of globalization of higher education in India. (30 Marks) Discuss the implications of the recent Supreme Court verdict on reservations in private & minority

educational institutions. Is greater spending on education linked to higher discuss? Discuss (10 Marks).

Population & Public Health: Use of Information technology in health management in India. Review the population policy of the Govt. of India giving the distinguishing features.

Rehabilitation/Social Issues to be Addressed: What are the problems related to the rehabilitation of the mentally challenged persons in India. (10

Marks) RCI (Rehabilitation council of India) (2 Marks). Rehabilitation of Street Children in India (2 Marks). Identify type of Disabilities. (10 Marks). Write briefly about the programs for Welfare of the Disabled. (10 Marks).

Welfare Schemes for the Development What is PURA (Providing Urban Amenities to Rural Areas)? Discuss its major objectives (30 Marks). Housing for all by 2010 is the goal set by the National Habitat Policy. How far is it achievable? (10

Marks). What is TRIFED? What are its objectives? (10 Marks). Swarn Jayanti Gram Swaraj Yojana (10 Marks)

International Social Programs/UN Programs



Explain UNDP report on Human Development in India (10 Marks). What are the UNDP indicators with reference to planning process? (10 Marks).

Politics: What is value-based politics? (10 Marrks) Suggest measures for the eradication of wide spread corruption in Public Life in India. (30 Marks). What are the preconditions for growth of Civil Society? Is Indian Democracy conducive to it? (10

Marks). What is the composition of the electoral college for the election of President of the Indian Republic?

How is the value of votes counted? (10 Marks). Law Commission of India (10 Marks). Public Interest Litigation. Who can file it & under what circumstances can it be rejected by the court

of law?

Human Rights Discuss the provisions of the Human Rights Protection Act (1993) relating to following (30 Marks)

a) Definition of Human Rightsb) Composition of National Human Rights Commissionc) Functions of the Commissiond) What suggestions have been made for amending the Act for making the role of NHRC more

effective Discuss the propositions laid down by the Supreme Court of India in the context of torture in prisons

& human dignity. (30 Marks). What are the Human Rights issues involved in relation to the arrest of M. Karunanidhi in Tamilnadu in

July 2001? (10 Marks)

Economy: Explain the implications of the implementation of Intellectual Property Clauses in our patent law

regime after joining WTO (30 Marks). What is WTO? What are Indias objections to its overall functioning? Explain full convertibility of Indian Rupee. (10 Marks). What do we understand by Doha Round of talks (10 Marks). Business Process Outsourcing. (2 Marks) E-Commerce (2 Marks). Footloose Industries What is Enterprise Resource Planning (10 Marks).

National/International Culture: Differentiate between Natural & Cultural Heritage (10 Marks) Lalit Kala Academy (10 Marks)



Yakshagana The Statue of Liberty Natural & Cultural Heritage (10 Marks Repeat Question) Statue of Liberty (2 Marks Repeat).

Energy: What is energy independence? Discuss how India can be transformed into an Energy-Independent

Nation. (10 Marks).Biology - Science & Technology:

What is Stealth Technology? (10 Marks). Discuss the significance of GSLV in space research (10 Marks). Biotechnology boom may pave a golden path for India. (10 Marks). Discuss the utility of Direct to Home in broadcasting system. (10 Marks). Genome (2 Marks). Genetically Modified seeds (2 Marks). Anthrax Radiation & its effects (2 Marks) Genome (2 Marks Repeat) Discuss Human Genome (10 Marks).

Environment Agriculture - Geography What is disaster management? Discuss the steps taken to tackle natural disasters. (30 Marks). What is Eco Tourism? (10 Marks). Write briefly about Desert Development Program? (10 Marks). What is Integrated Wasteland Development Program (10 Marks). How has the dwindling of barbed variety of rice affected the Siliguri Bagdogra with respect to man-

animal conflict? (10 Marks).

National Current Affairs: The Lokpal Bill (10 Marks). Prime Ministers 5 point agenda for Indias development as a knowledge society. (10 Marks). What are the linkages to be developed under the Knowledge Revolution for Rural India Plan (10

Marks). National Knowledge Commission (2 Marks). What is the Prime Ministers Five Point agenda for Indias development as Knowledge Society. (10

marks Repeat) Sethusamudram Project. (10 Marks). Ban on Bar Dancing (2 Marks). Inter-State river water dispute has once again assumed center stage after the Punjabs Assemblys Bill

terminating all previous accord on river waters. Discuss (30 Marks Important for this year Cauvery Final Verdict)

Distinctive feature of the Lokpal bill introduced in the Parliament this year? (10 Marks Repeat).



What were the main strategic concerns of the Indonesian President Megawati Sukarnoputri during herrecent visit to India. (10 Mars).

What are the Human Rights issues involved in relation to the arrest of M. Karunanidhi in Tamilnadu inJuly 2001? (10 Marks)

Persons in News: S. Chandrashekar (2M) Fullela Gopichand (2M) Hiren Mukherjee (2M) Florence Nightingale (10 Marks) Prof B.P Sinha (2M) Baba Amte Maj. Gen S.S. Sharma (2M) Aruna Roy Kondapalli Seetaramaiah (2M) Ali Sardar Jafri Auan San Suu Kyi (2M)

Places in News Pareechu Lake Thalassery, Kerala

National/International Organization/Abbreviations in News: Universal Postal Union (10 Marks). Economic & Social Council (10 Marks). UNIDO (2Marks). RCI (Rehabilitation Council of India) (2 Marks). Central Vigilance Commission (2 Marks). NDDB (2 marks) Sports Authority of India NCERT ICCR CRY



NotesTRIFED(UPSC 2002)(10 Marks)

Tribal Cooperative Marketing Development Federation of India Limited (TRIFED) hasbeen functioning since 1987 as a national-level apex organization functioning under theadministrative control of Ministry of Tribal Affairs, Govt. of India. The main objectiveof TRIFED is marketing development of tribal products. The Federation is expected toact as a service provider to its member societies.

The ultimate objective of TRIFED is socio-economic development of tribal people in thecountry by way of marketing development of the tribal products on which the lives oftribals depends heavily as they spend most of their time and derive major portion of theirincome from collection/ cultivation of Non timber Forest Produce (NTFP). As acooperative, TRIFEDs primary objective is to serve the interest of its members thereforein order to serve their interest in the field of marketing development of tribal products,some of the services which TRIFED offers are1. To facilitate, coordinate and promote the marketing of the tribal products by its

members;2. To undertake/promote on behalf of its members/institutions or the Govt. or Govt.

organisations, inter-State, intra-State and international marketing of tribal products;3. To act as an agency for canalisation of export and import and facilitate, wherever

necessary inter-State trade of tribal products under any Scheme formulated by Govt.of India or any other State agencies.

4. To develop market intelligence related to supply, demand, price trends,supply/market chain, value addition and processing facilities, product qualityspecifications, product applications, market trends, buyers for the tribal products anddisseminate the information to the members as well as planners, researchers andassociate organisations and business circles etc.;

5. To assist in capability & capacity building of the members relating to the marketingdevelopment of the tribal products;



6. To provide consultancy and advisory services to the members relating to theactivities in furtherance of their objectives;

7. To act as advisors, consultants and project managers to Govt. projects relating tomarketing development of Tribal products in the form of capacity building,infrastructure development, special programs;

8. To expand and extend the markets for Tribal Products through marketingdevelopment and promotion programs;

9. To assist in the development of new products through product development, productinnovation, product designs, new product applications and special R & D drives fortribal products;

10. To collaborate, network, associate with similar and allied international bodies in FairTrade, Tribal product marketing development, Tribal Research, Tribal FundingAgencies to further the interests of Tribal Product marketing;

11. To collaborate, network, associate with similar and allied internationalbodies/agencies, societies (NGOs, Co-operatives, Foundations, and Trusts,organisations (Private and Government), institutions to further the development ofTribal Products marketing

DesertDevelopmentProgram (DDP)

The objectives of this program started in 1977-78 were to control desertification, restorethe ecological balance of desert and semidesert areas and create conditions for raising thelevel of production, income and employment of the population of these areas. Theseobjectives were sought to be achieved by means of1. afforestation with emphasis on shelter belt plantation, grassland development and2. sand dune stabilization3. conservation and optimal utilization of groundwater4. construction of water harvesting structure5. development of agriculture, horticulture and animal husbandry and dairy.

CauveryDisputeTribunal TheFinal Verdict

Important for this year.

GenderBudgeting

Gender Budgeting is a dissection of the Government budget to establish its gender-differential impacts and to translate gender commitments into budgetary commitments.Thus Gender Budgeting looks at the Government budget from a gender perspective toassess how it addresses the needs of women in the areas like health, education,employment, etc. Gender Budgeting does not seek to create a separate budget but seeksaffirmative action to address specific needs of women. Gender Responsive Budgetinginitiatives provide a way of assessing the impact of Government revenue and expenditureon women.

GenderEquality in

Article 14 Equal Rights and Opportunities in Political Economic and social shpereArticle 15 Prohibits discrimination on grounds of sex



Constitution Article 15(3) Enables affirmative discrimination in favour of womenArticle 39 Equal means of livelihood and equal pay for equal workArticle 42 Just and Humane conditions of work and maternity reliefArticle 51(A)(e) Fundamental Duty to renounce practices, derogatory to dignity ofwomen

Various Schemes of the GovernmentRural SchemeLaunched till Date

. Accelerated Rural Water Supply Programme (ARWSP) Bharat Nirman Programme Desert Development Programme (DDP) District Rural Development Agencies (DRDA) Drought Prone Areas Programme (DPAP) Employment Assurance Scheme (EAS) Food for Work Programme Ganga Kalyan Yojana Indira Awaas Yojana Integrated Rural Development Programme (IRDP) Integrated Wastelands Development Programme (IWDP) Jawahar Gram Samridhi Yojana Jawahar Rozgar Yojana Million Wells Scheme Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana (PMGSY) Pradhan Mantri Gramodaya Yojana (PMGY) Rural Infrastructure Development Fund (RIDF) Sampoorna Grameen Rozgar Yojana (SGRY) Scheme for Land Development Self Help Groups (SHGs) Strengthening of Revenue Administration and Updating of Land Records(SRA and ULR) Supply of Improved Toolkits to Rural Artisans (SITRA) Swajaldhara Rural Drinking Water Scheme Swarnjayanti Gram Swarozgar Yojana (SGSY) Training of Rural Youth for Self-Employment (TRYSEM)

Urban Schemes Accelerated Urban Water Programme Mega City Scheme Others Swarna Jayanti Shahari Rozgar Yojana

Women Schemes Awareness Generation Projects for Rural and Poor Women Condensed Course of Education for Adult Women CSWB Scheme Development of Women and Children in Rural Areas (DWCRA) Distance Education for Womens Development and Empowerment Education Work for Prevention of Atrocities on Women Family Benefits Scheme



Family Counseling Centre Kishori Shakti Yojana (KSY) Maternity Benefits Scheme NORAD Scheme Others Rashtriya Mahila Kosh Scheme for Working Women Hostels Science and Technology for Women Support to Training and Employment Programme for Women (STEP) Swa Shakti Project Swayamsidha Scheme Vocational Rehabilitation of Women with Disabilities Vocational Training Programme

Child Schemes Anganwadi Scheme Assistance to NGOs Balika Samriddhi Yojana Development of Women and Children in Rural Areas (DWCRA) Integrated Child Development Scheme (ICDS) Juvenile Justice Mid Day Meals Scheme National Creche Fund Non-Formal Education Centers Exclusively for Girls Reproductive and Child Health Programme (RCH) Shishu Greh Scheme

Social Schemes Annapurna Scheme Assistance to NGOs CAPART Sponsored Freedom Fighters Pension Scheme Growth Center Scheme Liberation and Rehabilitation Scheme Maternity Benefit Scheme Members of Parliament Local Area Development Scheme National Family Benefit Scheme National Old Age Pension Scheme Prohibition and Drug Abuse Prevention Scheme Short Stay Homes Social Defence Scheme Socio-Economic Programme

Various Terms/SchemesDepartment ofRural Development

Under this department there are three autonomous bodies viz., Council ofAdvancement of Peoples Action and Rural Technology (CAPART), NationalInstitute of Rural Development (NIRD) and National Rural Road DevelopmentAgency (NRRDA).



CAPART Council of Advancement of Peoples Action and Rural Technology (CAPART)has been set up to encourage participation of voluntary agencies in ruraldevelopment and also to provide financial assistance to them in their ruraldevelopment projects. CAPART directly deals with voluntary agencies and theirprojects.

NIRD National Institute of Rural Development. NIRD is engaged in planning andcoordination of national level training. For state and district level training,assistance is given to State Institutes of Rural Development (SIRD) andExtention Training Centres (ETC) respectively.

NRRDA National Rural Road Development Agency (NRRDA) recently registered undersociety registration Act, 1860, extends support to the Pradhan Mantri GramSadak Yojana (PMGSY) to advice on technical specification, project appraisal,appointment of part time quality control monitors, management of Monitoringsystem and submits periodic reports to ministry.

DRDA District Rural Development AgencyNISD National Institute of Social Defence (NISD), is an autonomous body under the

Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment, Government of India.ICCR Indian Council for Cultural Reltations. Estd in 1950 by Maulana Abul Kalam

Azad, the first Education Minister of independent India. It has regional offices inIndia & abroad to promote Indian art & culture.

Schemes Launched by the GovernmentScheme Year ObjectivesICDS (IntegratedChildDevelopmentScheme)

1975 The program of the Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS)was launched in 1975 seeking to provide an integrated package ofservices in a convergent manner for the holistic development of thechild. The package involves the following services:

Supplementary Nutrition; Immunization; Health Check-up; Referral Services; Non-formal Pre-school Education; and Nutrition & Health Education.



Indira AwasYojana (IAY)

1985, 1996 Launched during 1985 but became independent scheme only in 1996.The target group for houses under Indira Awaas Yojana is peoplebelow poverty line living in rural areas belonging to ScheduledCastes/ Scheduled Tribes, freed bonded labourers and non- SC/STCategories. A maximum of 40% of the total IAY allocation during afinancial year can be utilized for construction of dwelling units fornon-SC/ST BPL categories. The scheme is funded on a cost sharingbasis of 75:25 between the centre & the states.

Pradhan MantriRozgar Yojana(PMRY)

1993 Prime Minister Rozgar Yojana for providing self-Employment toEducated Unemployed Youth was announced by the Prime Ministerin 1993 to provide self-employed opportunities to one millioneducated unemployed youth in the country. Under this scheme,matriculates & above in the age group 18-35 yrs are provided bankloans upto Rs. 1.25 lakhs if they have a viable & feasible project &their family income does not exceed Rs. 40,000 per annum.

Mid Day MealScheme

1995 Launched by Ministry of Human Resource Development underwhich nutritional content of 450 calories & 12 grams protein isserved to children studying at primary level in government. TheScheme covers students of Class I-V in the Government PrimarySchools / Primary Schools aided by Govt. and the Primary Schoolsrun by local bodies.The programme was extended with effect from 1st October 2007 toinclude children in the upper primary stage of Education (Class VI-VIII). For upper primary stage the nutritional value is fixed at 700calories & 20 grams of protein.

Targetted PDS 1997 To ensure minimum availability of minimum quantity of food grainsto the families living below poverty line. The allocation wasincreased to 35 Kg per family from 2002.

SwarnajayantiShahari RozgarYojana (SJSRY)

1997 It subsumed the following schemes under it1. Nehru Rojgar Yojana2. UBSP - Urban Basic Services for the Poor3. SEPUP - Self Employment Programme for Urban Poor4. PMIUPEP PMs Integrated Urban Poverty Eradication Program



Cost sharing basis is 75:25.

Kisan CreditCard Scheme

1998 To provide adequate & timely support from the banking system tothe farmers for their cultivation needs including purchase of allinputs in a flexible & cost effective manner.

SwarnajayantiGram SwarozgarYojana (SGSY)

1999 It has subsumed the following six programs1. IRDP Integrated Rural Development Program2. TRYSEM Training of Rural Youth for Self Employment3. Ganga Kalyan Yojana4. DWCRA Development of Women & Children in Rural Areas5. Million Wells Scheme6. SITRA Supply of Improved tool-kits to rural artisans.The scheme is being implemented on a cost sharing basis of 75:25between centre & state. It aims at promoting micro enterprises & tobring swarozgaris above the poverty line by organizing them intoSelf Help Groups (SHGs).

SampoornaGrameen RozgarYojana (SGRY)

2001 The following schemes have been integrated into it: Jawahar Gram Samridhi Yojana (JGSY) Employment Assurance Scheme (EAS)The objective of this is to provide wage employment & food security.Cost sharing basis is 75:25. Subsumed under NREGS (NationalRural Employment Guarantee Scheme).

Pradhan MantriGram SadakYojana (PMGSY)

2000 Its objective is to provide road connectivity through good all weatherroads to unconnected habitations with a population of 500 persons ormore in the rural areas. The source of funding for PMGSY is thediesel cess, 50 % of which is earmarked for PMGSY.

AnnapurnaYojana

2000 It is a 100 % Centrally sponsored scheme. It aims at providing foodsecurity to meet the requirement of those senior citizens who thougheligible for pension under the National Old Age Pension Scheme arenot getting the same. Under this 10 Kg of foodgrains per person permonth would be supplied free of cost.

Sarva ShikshaAbhiyan

2000-01 Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan is an effort to universalise elementaryeducation by community-ownership of the school system. It is beingimplemented in partnership with the states to address the needs ofchildren in age group of 6-14 years. Its objectives are:



1. All children in school, Education Guarantee Centre, AlternateSchool, ' Back-to-School' camp by 2003;

2. All children complete five years of primary schooling by 20073. All children complete eight years of elementary schooling by

20104. Focus on elementary education of satisfactory quality with

emphasis on education for life5. Bridge all gender and social category gaps at primary stage by

2007 and at elementary education level by 20106. Universal retention by 2010

Antyodaya AnnaYojana

2001 This scheme would target the poorest of the poorest families out ofthe BPL families covered under the Targeted PDS & provide themwith 35 kg of foodgrains per eligible family at a highly subsidizedrate of Rs. 2 per Kg for wheat & Rs. 3 per Kg for rice.

ValmikiAmbedkar AwasYojana(VAMBAY)

2001 Scheme seeks to ameliorate the conditions of urban slum dwellersliving below poverty line.

Grain BankScheme

2002 Launched with the objective of extending food security to remoteregions of the country which cannot be covered under the formalPDS i.e. basically tribal areas. It is handled by Ministry of TribalAffairs. Allocation of food grains was made for the first time during2002-03 under the scheme.

NPEGEL 2003 The NPEGEL scheme was launched in July, 2003 with a focusedintervention aimed at enhancing girls' education. NPEGEL providesfor development of a "model school" in every cluster with moreintense community mobilization and supervision of girls' enrolmentin schools.

National Food forWork Program

2004 100 % centrally sponsored scheme. Currently being implemented inthe 150 most backward districts of the country. The scheme wouldprovide 100 days of employment at min

Kasturba GandhiBalika Vidyalaya(KGBV)

2004 The Government of India has approved a new scheme calledKasturba Gandhi Balika Vidyalaya (KGBV) for setting up upto 750residential schools with boarding facilities at elementary level forgirls belonging predominantly to the SC, ST, OBC and minorities indifficult areas. The scheme will be coordinated with the existingschemes of Department of Elementary Education & Literacy viz.Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan (SSA), National Programme for Education ofGirls at Elementary Level (NPEGEL) and Mahila Samakhya (MS).The cost sharing arrangement is 75:25 between centre & state.The scheme ran as a separate scheme for two years but was mergedwith Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan w.e.f April 1, 2007.



Rajiv GandhiGrameenVidyutikaranYojna (RGGVY)

2005 Objective of providing electricity to all rural households over aperiod of 4 years.

NHRM 2005 National Rural Health Mission was launched in 2005 to provideaccessible, affordable, & quality health services to the pooresthouseholds in the remotest rural regions.

JN NationalUrban RenewalMission

2005-06 Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission which is for aseven year period from 2005-06 has two main components: Basic Services to the Urban Poor (BSUP) Programme Integrated Housing & Slum Development Programme (IHSDP)

Bharat Nirman 2005-06 A time-bound (4 year) plan for rural infrastructure by theGovernment of India in partnership with State Governments andPanchayat Raj Institutions from 2005-2009. Its main features are:1. Bring additional one crore hectare of land under assured

irrigation2. Connect all villages that have a population of 1000 (or 500 in

hilly/tribal area) with an all-weather road.3. Construct 60 lakh additional houses for the poor4. Provide drinking water to atl habitations5. Reach electricity to all villages and offer electricity connection to

2.3 crore households6. Give telephone connectivity to all villages

National RuralEmploymentGuaranteeScheme (NREGS)

2006 NREGS was launched in 2006 in 200 most backward districts in thefirst phase. The scheme was expanded to cover all districts fromApril 1, 2008.1. The NREGA provides a legal guarantee for 100 days of

employment in every financial year to adult members of any ruralhousehold willing to do unskilled manual work at the statutoryminimum wage.

2. The act guarantees that if work is not provided within a 15 daytime frame (including the eligibility verification and issuing ofthe job cards) then the applicant is eligible for unemploymentallowance.

3. Work to be done is decided by the Gram Panchayat. Emphasis isgiven to unskilled manual labor focusing on building roads andother public village infrastructural facilities, water conservation,afforestation, land development & drought proofing.



4. All adults in a house hold are eligible to work.5. If the work site is not within 5 kilometers from the applicants

residence then the applicant is eligible for an additional 10% ofthe wage.

Aam Admi BimaYojana

2007 Under this scheme launched in October 2007, insurance to the headof the family of rural landless households of the country will beprovided against natural death as well as accidental death &partial/permanent disability. Cover of Rs. 75,000 on death due to accident & permanent

disability due to accident. Rs. 37,500 in case of partial permanent disability due to accident

& Rs. 30,000 in case of death of a member prior to terminal date.The premium to be charged under the scheme is Rs. 200 per annumper member, 50 % of which is to be contributed by centralgovernment & remaining 50 % by Central government.

National Old AgePension Scheme

2007 Will benefit the one who is 65 years or above & belonging to ahousehold living below the poverty line. The scheme would provideRs. 200 per month of financial assistance from the centralgovernment. So Far 11 states have responded positively towardsmatching the Central Aid given under this head. This scheme hasbeen launched as a public response to the deprivation, & insecuritiesfaced by the aged & is being implemented by the Ministry of RuralDevelopment.

RashtriyaSwasthya BimaYojana

2007 The Rasthriya Swasthya Bima Yojana was formally launched onOctober 1, 2007. This scheme will provide health cover of Rs.30,000 for every worker in the unorganized sector falling under BPLcategory & his/her family. The scheme also has a provision of smartcard to be issued to the beneficiaries to enable cashless transacationfor health care. Central Government would bear 75 % of the costwhile the State government will contribute remaining 25 % as well asany additional premium. The cost of the smart card will also be borneby the central government.

Ujjawala Scheme 2007 Ujjawala Scheme for prevention of trafficking & Rescue,Rehabilitation & Reintigration of victims of trafficking &commercial sexual exploitation was launched in December, 2007. Ithas five components namely prevention, rescue, rehabilitation,reintigration & repatriation.Objective of the Scheme:To prevent trafficking of women and children for commercial sexual



exploitation through social mobilization and involvement of localcommunities, awareness generation programmes, generate publicdiscourse through workshops/seminars and such events and any otherinnovative activity.To facilitate rescue of victims from the place of their exploitationand place them in safe custody.To provide rehabilitation services both immediate and long-term tothe victims by providing basic amenities/needs such as shelter, food,clothing, medical treatment including counselling, legal aid andguidance and vocational training.To facilitate reintegration of the victims into the family and societyat largeTo facilitate repatriation of cross-border victims to their country oforigin.



Miscellaneous TermsMaitri Maitri is India's second permanent research station in Antarctica. It was built and

finished in 1989, after the first station Dakshina Gangotri was buried in ice andabandoned in 1990-91. Maitri is situated on the rocky mountainous region calledSchirmacher Oasis.

Larsemann Hills Establishment of the third Indian Antarctic Research Base in the Larsemann HillsPugwashConferences

Series of international meetings of scientists to discuss problems of nuclear weaponsand world security. The first of the conferences met in July 1957 in the village ofPugwash, Nova Scotia. In 1995 the Nobel Prize for Peace was awarded jointly to thePugwash organization and to Joseph RotblatPugwash founding member, secretary-general (195773), and president (198897).

Bara Hoti Small area in northern U.P. which is disputed between India & China. Incidents ofChinese frontier guards violating the line of actual control almost doubled by 2004 atTrig Heights, Pan Gong Tso lake, Bara Hoti and at Asaphila areas in all the threesectors of the border.

Four GreatObservatories

The Hubble Space Telescope (HST) primarily observes visible light and near-ultraviolet. A 1997 servicing mission added capability in the near-infrared range. Itwas launched in 1990 aboard the Space Shuttle Discovery

The Compton Gamma Ray Observatory (CGRO) primarily observed gammarays, though it extended into hard x-rays as well. It was launched in 1991 aboardthe Space Shuttle Atlantis during STS-37. It was deorbited in 2000 after failure of agyroscope.

The Chandra X-ray Observatory (CXO), named after Indian physicistSubrahmanyam Chandrashekar was initially named the Advanced X-rayAstronomical Facility (AXAF). It primarily observes soft x-rays. It was launched in1999 aboard the Space Shuttle Columbia during STS-93.

The Spitzer Space Telescope (SST) was called the Space Infrared TelescopeFacility (SIRTF) before launch. It observes the infrared spectrum, and waslaunched in 2003 aboard a Delta II rocket.

CEDAW Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women.Adopted in 1979 by the UN General Assembly, CEDAW is often described as aninternational bill of rights for women. Consisting of a preamble and 30 articles, it



defines what constitutes discrimination against women and sets up an agenda fornational action to end such discrimination.

PMs Five PointAgenda forDeveloping Indiaas KnowledgeSociety

Launched by then PM Atal Bihari Vajpayee in the yar 2000. The five point agendapoints to the following:1. Education for developing a learning society2. Global networking3. Vibrant Government-Industry-Academia interaction in policy making and

implementation4. Leveraging of existing competencies in IT, Telecom, Bio-technology, Drug Design,

Financial Services, and Enterprise wide Management5. Economic and Business strategic alliances built on capabilities and opportunities

national & social issues

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