Economic and Social Development

Which one of the following statements is correct about the PM-JANMAN scheme ?

[amp_mcq option1=”It is a scheme of the Government of India to impart electoral literacy to voters.” option2=”It is a scheme of the Government of India for deepening of democracy in the functioning of Panchayati Raj institutions.” option3=”It is a scheme of the Government of India for benefitting every member of the tribal community from Government schemes.” option4=”It is a scheme of the Government of India for benefitting migrants workers in the unorganized sector.” correct=”option3″]

The correct option is C. The PM-JANMAN scheme (Pradhan Mantri Janjati Adivasi Nyaya Maha Abhiyan) is a scheme of the Government of India focused on the welfare of tribal communities, specifically targeting Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups (PVTGs).

PM-JANMAN is a comprehensive scheme aimed at providing essential facilities and services like safe housing, clean drinking water, sanitation, improved access to education, health and nutrition, road and telecom connectivity, and sustainable livelihood opportunities to PVTGs. While the option mentions ‘every member of the tribal community’, the scheme primarily focuses on the most vulnerable sections, the PVTGs. However, among the given options, only C relates to tribal welfare, making it the most appropriate answer.

The scheme was launched in November 2023. It encompasses 11 critical interventions across 9 Ministries and is implemented by the Ministry of Tribal Affairs. There are 75 PVTG communities spread across 18 States and the Union Territory of Andaman & Nicobar Islands.

Arrange the BRICS countries in ascending order of their rank in the Human Development Report 2023-24, released by the UNDP :
1. China
2. India
3. Russia
4. Brazil
5. South Africa
Select the answer using the code given below :

[amp_mcq option1=”2, 5, 4, 1, 3″ option2=”2, 4, 5, 3, 1″ option3=”5, 4, 2, 3, 1″ option4=”4, 5, 2, 1, 3″ correct=”option1″]

Based on the UNDP Human Development Report 2023-24 (using data up to 2022), the Human Development Index (HDI) ranks for the BRICS countries are as follows:
India: 134
South Africa: 115
Brazil: 89
China: 75
Russia: 56
Arranging these in ascending order of rank (from highest rank number/lowest HDI to lowest rank number/highest HDI): India (134) < South Africa (115) < Brazil (89) < China (75) < Russia (56). The corresponding indices are 2, 5, 4, 1, 3.

Higher HDI rank number indicates lower human development; lower rank number indicates higher human development.

The HDI is a composite index measuring average achievement in three basic dimensions of human development: a long and healthy life, access to knowledge, and a decent standard of living.

Which of the following statements related to Indian medicine system is not correct ?

[amp_mcq option1=”The Siddha system is a holistic system of medicine.” option2=”Sowa-Rigpa has been in practice in the Himalayan regions of India.” option3=”Unani system of medicine has been dissociated from the Ministry of Ayush.” option4=”Sushruta Samhita is a major source of Ayurveda.” correct=”option3″]

The Unani system of medicine is one of the recognised Indian Systems of Medicine (ISM) and is actively promoted and regulated by the Ministry of AYUSH (Ayurveda, Yoga & Naturopathy, Unani, Siddha, and Homoeopathy). Therefore, the statement that the Unani system has been dissociated from the Ministry of Ayush is incorrect.

The Ministry of AYUSH oversees the development, promotion, and regulation of various traditional and alternative medicine systems in India, including Unani.

Statements A, B, and D are correct. The Siddha system is indeed a holistic system. Sowa-Rigpa is traditionally practised in the Himalayan regions. The Sushruta Samhita is a foundational text of Ayurveda, particularly regarding surgery.

Pandit Deendayal Upadhyay National Welfare Fund was established with the view to help which one of the following groups ?

[amp_mcq option1=”Medical Practitioners” option2=”Farmers” option3=”Sportspersons” option4=”War Widows” correct=”option3″]

The Pandit Deen Dayal Upadhyay National Welfare Fund for Medical Practitioners is a welfare fund established to provide financial assistance to medical practitioners and their families who are in distress due to illness, accident, or death. It is supported by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare and managed through bodies like the Indian Medical Association (IMA).

There are specific welfare funds named after Pandit Deendayal Upadhyay for different professional groups, including medical practitioners.

There is also a Pandit Deen Dayal Upadhyay National Welfare Fund for Cine Workers, managed by the Ministry of Labour and Employment. However, among the given options, Medical Practitioners is the target group of a known fund with this name.

The Rangarajan Committee methodology for determining the poverty line incorporated which of the following ?

• 1. A food component
• 2. A normative level of expenditure for essential non-food items
• 3. A behaviourally determined expenditure for other non-food items

Select the answer using the code given below :

[amp_mcq option1=”1 and 2 only” option2=”2 and 3 only” option3=”1, 2 and 3″ option4=”1 and 3 only” correct=”option3″]

The correct option is C. The question asks what the Rangarajan Committee methodology for determining the poverty line incorporated.

The C. Rangarajan Committee, constituted in 2012 to re-examine poverty estimation methods in India, proposed a new methodology. A key feature of their approach was a more detailed consideration of consumption requirements, separating them into food and non-food components.
1. **A food component:** The committee derived a food expenditure norm based on calorie, protein, and fat requirements, and the actual observed expenditure on food items by households meeting these nutritional norms.
2. **A normative level of expenditure for essential non-food items:** This part of the non-food component included essential items like clothing, house rent, education, and health. The expenditure for this was estimated based on the average expenditure observed among households in certain expenditure fractiles (specifically, the 25-30% fractile) for these items. This was considered a “normative” requirement.
3. **A behaviourally determined expenditure for other non-food items:** This part covered other non-food expenses like conveyance, durable goods, etc. The expenditure for these items was also estimated based on the average expenditure observed among households in the 25-30% fractile whose food expenditure met the required nutritional level. This was seen as reflecting actual “behavioural” consumption patterns beyond the essential non-food needs.

The Rangarajan Committee’s method was distinct from the Tendulkar Committee’s which used a consumption basket derived from expenditure on food that met calorie norms and allowed for a moderate amount of spending on non-food items based on observed patterns. The Rangarajan approach explicitly segmented non-food expenditure into normative and behaviourally determined components, in addition to calculating a food component based on nutritional requirements and actual expenditure. All three statements accurately describe elements included in the Rangarajan Committee’s poverty line methodology.