Environment and Ecology Quiz (5 Questions)

Sansad Adarsh Gram Yojana

A Gram Panchayat would be the basic unit for developing an Adarsh Gram.

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.

Lok Sabha MP has to choose a Gram Panchayat from within his/her constituency and Rajya Sabha MP a Gram Panchayat from the rural area of a district of his/her choice in the State from which he/she is elected.

Nominated MPs may choose a Gram Panchayat from the rural area of any district in the country.

In case of urban constituencies, (where there are no Gram Panchayats), the MP will identify a Gram Panchayat from a nearby rural constituency.

Sagarmala Project

Sagarmala project seeks to develop a string of ports around India’s coast.

Nodal Ministry: Union Ministry of Shipping

Aims and Objectives: To promote “port-led development” along India’s 7500 km long coastline by:

• Sustainable development of the population living in the Coastal Economic Zone (CEZ).

• Improve port connectivity through rail corridors, freight-friendly expressways and inland waterways.

• Develop skills of fishermen and other coastal and island communities.

Four pillars of Port-led development:

1️⃣ Port modernisation and setting up of new ports
2️⃣ Port connectivity by 10000 km of new connectivity infrastructure, 7 new dry ports
3️⃣ Port-led industrialisation through appropriate policy and institutional interventions
4️⃣ Coastal community development

To implement this, State Governments would set up State Sagarmala Committees, headed by the Chief Minister or the Minister in charge of ports.

At the centre level, a Sagarmala Development Company (SDC) will be set up to provide equity support to assist various Special Purpose Vehicles (SPVs) set up for various projects.

Major Ports on Western Coast

1) Kandla (Gujarat) - tidal port located in Gulf of Kutch, set up as Free Trade Zone, largest port by volume of cargo handled

2) Mumbai (Maharashtra) - largest natural port and harbour of India, busiest port of India

3) Jawaharlal Nehru Port Trust (Maharashtra) - largest artificial port

4) Mormugao (Goa) - situated on the estuary of Juari River

5) New Mangalore (Karnataka) - Artificial port, deals with iron ore exports

6) Cochin (Kerala) - first transshipment port in India, lies on two islands in the Vembanad Lake: Willingdon Island and Vallarpadam

Major Ports on Eastern Coast

1) Tutocorin (Tamil Nadu) - artificial port located in Gulf of Mannar, all-weather port, trades in fertilizers and petrochemical products

2) Chennai (Tamil Nadu) - artificial port, India's second busiest port

3) Ennore (Tamil Nadu) - India's first corporatised port

4) Vishakhapatnam (Andhra Pradesh) - deepest port of India, deals with the export of iron ore to Japan, with ship-building and fixing facilities

5) Paradip (Odisha) - natural harbour, deals with the export of Iron and Aluminum

6) Haldia (West Bengal) - riverine port, situated on Hugli River, known as Diamond Harbour, formed to relieve pressure on Kolkata port

7) Kolkata (West Bengal) - riverine port, oldest operating port in India, constructed by British East India Company, trades in jute, tea, coal and steel

Vidyanjali - School Volunteer Programme

It is an initiative of the Department of School Education & Literacy, Ministry of Education to enhance community and private sector involvement in Government run elementary schools across the country under the overall aegis of the Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan.

Under the programme, volunteers, including NRIs, retired teachers, government officials, defence personnel, professionals will offer their services for co-scholastic activities for children from class I to VIII.

This programme has been envisaged to bring together people willing to volunteer their services at schools which really need them.

The volunteers will act as mentors, confidantes and communicators with children.

Rashtriya Vayoshri Yojana

Rashtriya Vayoshri Yojana is a Scheme for providing Physical Aids and Assisted-living Devices for Senior citizens belonging to BPL category.

It is a scheme of Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment.

Its implementing Agency is ‘Artificial Limbs Manufacturing Corporation (ALIMCO)’, (a PSU under M/o SJ&E) , which will undertake one year free maintenance of the aids & assisted living devices.

The devices will help the Senior Citizens to overcome their age-related physical impairment and to lead a dignified and productive life.

Namami Gange

Ganga Grams will be developed only on the main stem of Ganga River and not on the tributaries.

The focus of Namami Gange has been on the main stem of the river.

The tributaries that feed the river are overlooked.

Ganga has eight major tributaries - Yamuna, Son, Ramganga, Gomti, Ghaghra, Gandak, Kosi and Damodar.

Further, these eight major tributaries are joined by smaller rivers, whose restoration is equally important.

Therefore, restoring lower order streams and every tributary in the Ganga Basin is important to meet the objectives of Namami Gange.