- Indian Heritage
- Culture
- Modern Indian history
- The Freedom Struggle
- Post-independence
- Indian Society
A. population and associated issues
B. poverty and developmental issues
C.urbanization
7. Geographical features
8.Indian Constitution
9. Polity
263rd Session of Rajya Sabha
the close of the 263rd Session of Rajya Sabha. It is the last Session before we go for the general elections – a true Festival of Democracy in the Mother of Democracy.
As highlighted by the Hon’ble President in her address, Bharat is making phenomenal progress in all walks of life. We are in Amrit Kaal of our Republic. As Members of the Upper House, we have to ensure exemplary standards of conduct. We need to be a source of inspiration as Bharat steadfastly surges towards a Viksit Rashtra and a global leader. We are in an era of immense possibilities. Let us vigorously contribute for continual, incremental rise of Bharat. I have no doubt that this sentiment is shared by every Member of this House and the people at large.
In this short but important session, the House sat for 9 days, dealing with 116 issues of public importance alongside answering 90 starred and 960 unstarred questions. Overall productivity during the Session stood at an impressive figure of 137 per cent.
It is noteworthy that during this session Hon’ble Members spoke in 15 regional languages with simultaneous interpretation in Hindi and English.
In addition to the discussion on the Motion of Thanks to President’s Address and interim Union Budget, this House also passed 7 Bills including Public Examinations (Prevention of Unfair Means) Bill, Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Amendment Bill, Jammu and Kashmir Local Bodies Laws (Amendment) Bill and Constitution Amendment Bills related to inclusion of Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes. I would also like to mention that 22 Private Members’ Bills have been introduced in this Session.
10. Governance
A. institutions
B. regulatory
C. Government policies
D. role of NGOs
E. measures
11. Social Justice
A. Welfare schemes
Pradhan MantriAnusuchitJaatiAbhyudayYojana (PM-AJAY):
PM-AJAY is a merged Centrally Sponsored Scheme of 03 erstwhile Centrally Sponsored Schemes, namely, Pradhan Mantri Adarsh Gram Yojana(PMAGY), Special Central Assistance to Scheduled Castes Sub Plan(SCA to SCSP) and Babu Jagjivan Ram Chhatrawas Yojana(BJRCY) being implemented since 2021-22 with an aim to reduce poverty of the SC communities by generation of additional employment opportunities through Skill development, income generating schemes and other initiatives; and to improve socio-economic developmental indicators by ensuring adequate infrastructure and requisite services in the SC dominated villages. Broadly, the Scheme has the following three components:
Adarsh Gram Component{erstwhile scheme of Pradhan Mantri Adarsh Gram Yojana(PMAGY)}
This component is being implemented in a phased manner since 2009-10 for integrated development of Scheduled Castes majority villages. • The principal objectives of this component are to develop SC majority villages primarily through convergent implementation of the relevant Central as well as State/UT Governments Schemes with a provision of Rs.20.00 lakh per village as Central Assistance.
B Health
Lymphatic Filariasis (elephantiasis) is a priority disease which is targeted to be eliminated by 2027.
India has recently taken several measures to accelerate progress towards the goal of eliminating Lymphatic Filariasis. Hon’ble Minister of Health and Family Welfare, Government of India, Dr. Mansukh Mandaviya launched an advanced five-pronged strategy for the elimination of Lymphatic Filariasis by 2027 on 13 January 2023 and one of the important strategies of which is ‘Mission Mode India MDA Campaign’ National Deworming Day (NDD) celebrated twice a year on 10 February and 10 August.
The 11 endemic states, including Assam, Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, Jharkhand, Odisha, Chhattisgarh, Karnataka, Kerala, Madhya Pradesh, West Bengal, and Gujarat will be participating in the campaign.
Currently, there are 345 lymphatic filariasis endemic districts in 20 states and union territories of the country. 75% of Mass Drug Administration (MDA) districts are from 5 states Bihar, Jharkhand, UP, Odisha and Telangana. Despite more than 15-20 rounds of MDA, only 138 districts have closed MDA.
C. Education
D. Human Resources
Central Board of Trustees (CBT), EPFO
The 235th meeting of Central Board of Trustees (CBT), EPFO was held today on 10 Feb 2024, Delhi under the Chairmanship of Shri Bhupender Yadav, Union Minister for Labour & Employment and Environment, Forest & Climate Change, Vice-Chairmanship of Shri RameswarTeli, Union Minister of State for Labour & Employment, Petroleum & Natural Gas and Co-Chairmanship of Ms Arti Ahuja, Secretary Labour & Employment and the Member Secretary Smt. Neelam Shami Rao, Central P F Commissioner.
The Board discussed and took the decisions, inter-alia of the following: –
- The Board has recommended a distribution of historic income amount of Rs. 1,07,000 crores to EPF members’ accounts on a total principal amount of about Rs. 13 lakh crores, which was Rs. 91,151.66 crores and Rs. 11.02 lakh crores in the financial year 2022-23, respectively. The total income recommended for distribution is the highest on record.
- The Board approved the Revised estimates for the year 2023-24 and budget estimates for the year 2024-25 for EPFO and schemes administered by EPFO.
- The Board approved new Service Regulation of EPFO staff & officers, repealing Employees’ Provident Fund Staff (Classification, Control & Appeal) Rules, 1971 and Employees’ Provident Fund (Officers and Employees’ Conditions of Services) Regulations, 2008.
- The Board unanimously authorized the Chairman, CBT to re-constitute the Executive Committee and other Sub-Committees of Central Board of Trustees (CBT), Employees’ Provident Fund
E. poverty and hunger
12. International relations
A. India and its neighbourhood
B. groupings and agreements
C.Indian diaspora
13. Economic Development
A. Government Budgeting
B. industrial
E.issues
14. Technology
15. Environment
16. Security
17. Disaster Management