UPSC IAS Interview 2017-18

Indo- Nepal Relations 2014

PM's Nepal Visit - Some Highlights

Focus on 4Cs: Cooperation. Connectivity. Culture. Constitution

India will give Nepal a one billion dollar line of credit. This will be in addition to any existing lines of credit. 

Pancheswor Development Authority will be set up and DPR finalized in one year

India and Nepal have agreed to conclude Power Trading Agreement in 45 days. 

India will provide assistance for construction of a motorable bridge over the Mahakali River. 

India will expedite construction of postal roads and feeder roads to the Terai. 

Prime Minister announced a gift of 2500 kg of sandalwood to the Pashupatinath Temple. Work on a Dharamshala to be set up by Pashupatinath Development Authority will commence soon with Indian assistance. 

Renovation and restoration of the Complex will be done using expertise of Archaeological Survey of India. India will provide Rs. 25 crore for the same. 

India will offer assistance for development of Janakpur-Lumbini, including Lumbini as part of Buddhist circuit. 

Scholarships for Nepali students increased from 180 to 250. 



Joint Working Group on Agriculture will meet quickly. India will offer assistance in soil testing. 

Nepal gave an assurance that Nepali soil will not be used for anything inimicable to Indian interests. 

During his meeting with Nepali leaders from across the political spectrum, Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi urged them - dal ke hit me mat socho, desh ke hit mein socho - Think in terms of the nation's benefit, not the party's benefit. 




PM’s announcements during his address to the Constituent Assembly of Nepal


The Prime Minister gave a HIT formula for Nepal, saying India wants to help Nepal build highways (H), information highways (I) and transways - transmission lines (T). 

The Prime Minister announced that India will give Nepal 10,000 crore Nepali rupee concessional line of credit, for its development. 

The Prime Minister announced that he is keen to double power supply to Nepal. 

The Prime Minister said pipelines would be built to help transport oil to Nepal. He said scholarships to students from Nepal would be increased. India would help Nepal emerge as a major exporter of herbal medicines. India would also help develop the tourism potential of Nepal, both as a spiritual, and adventure tourism destination. 

Stating that the sooner Nepal comes close to us, the better, the Prime Minister urged that the bridge on the Mahakali river and the Pancheshwar multi-purpose project should be taken up at the earliest. 

Noting that it is more expensive to make a telephone call between India and Nepal, than it is to make a call between India and USA, the Prime Minister said he is keen to change this fact. 

The India-Nepal border should not be a barrier but a bridge which helps bring prosperity to both sides, the Prime Minister said. 

He offered assistance to Nepal in the fields of organic farming, and soil health. 


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PM Narendra Modi Speech on 15 Aug 2014 Lal kila Delhi

Highlights of Prime Minister’s Address on Independence Day 



1. Dear countrymen, on this auspicious occasion of Independence Day, many good wishes from the Prime Servant of India. I am here amidst you not as a Prime Minister but as the Prime Servant.

2. I bow to all freedom fighters who sacrificed and dedicated their lives for country’s independence.

3. Independence Day is an occasion to take a pledge for the welfare of all those who are down trodden, poor, exploited and oppressed and to do something for them.

4. Every action should be tested on the yardstick of national interest. If we resolve to live a life like that, the festival of Independence may become an inspiration to take India to new heights.

5. This country has been built not by the rulers but by farmers, workers, mothers and sisters, youth, sages and saints, teachers, scientists and social workers.

6. A child hailing from a small town and belonging to a poor family is today having the good fortune of bowing before India’s tricolour from the ramparts of the Red Fort. It is the power of India’s democracy and priceless blessing given by the authors of the Indian constitution. I bow to them.

7. All Prime Ministers of the country have contributed to the progress of the country after independence. Likewise, all Governments of the country as well as state Governments have also contributed.

8. Let us move together, think together, resolve together and unitedly take the country forward.125 crore countrymen have taken the country forward with this credo.

9. We are not among those who function on the strength of majority. We want to move forward on a strong base of consensus.

10. I also greet all Members of Parliament and all political parties from the ramparts of the Red Fort with pride. We ended the Parliament session yesterday with an important experiment of taking the nation forward with strong consensus.
11. When I had an insider’s view after coming to Delhi, it looked as if dozens of parallel Governments were running within the Government, each with its own fiefdom. I witnessed conflict and scattering. I have begun an attempt to make the Government an organic unit.

12. The machine called Government or establishment is to be made sharper and swifter for fulfilling aspirations of the people.

13. Right from a peon to the Cabinet Secretary everybody is capable. Everybody has power and experience. I want to harness their power and use it to speed up national welfare. I will certainly do it.

14. Our great leaders won freedom, do we not have a duty towards the India of their dreams, and don’t we have a national character. A time has come to think seriously over these issues.

15. Should 125 crore countrymen not have a mantra to ensure that their every step is in national interest.

16. Everything is not for self. Some things are also for the nation. One should rise above the self-interest and think about the national interest.

17. Parents ask a number of questions when a daughter goes out, but do they ever have the courage to ask their son about his friends or where is he going or why. After all a rapist is also someone’s son.
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18. Nepal provides an example of youth laying down arms and taking to education. It can inspire the youth who have taken to violence, all over the world.

19. Even after independence we sometime face poison of casteism or communalism. How long will it continue and who is going to benefit from it?

20. I appeal to youth of the country that the poison of casteism, communalism or sectarianism is a hindrance to country’s progress. Think and try a ten years moratorium to get a society free of all these tensions.

21. In Commonwealth games our 64 sports persons won medals. These include 29 women. Let us be proud of these daughters.

22. There are two tracks in the country to move forward, good governance and development. We can progress only on these tracks.

23. Crores of families have mobile phones but not a bank account. We have to change this situation.

24. Those in Government service are not doing a job but a service, this feeling is to be renewed.

25. Just imagine, if 125 crore countrymen take a step forward the country will move 125 crore steps forward.

26. Who so ever will open an account under Pradhan Mantri Jan Dhan Yojana will be provided with a debit card and insurance worthRs.One lakh.

27. We want to link poor people of the country with a bank account facility through Pradhan Mantri Jan Dhan Yojana.

28. Our country is the youngest nation of the world. Skill development is our mission for development of the country.

29. I want to develop such youth who are job creators.

30. If we wish to provide maximum employment to youth we will have to promote manufacturing sector.

31. We have skill, talent and discipline and a will to perform. We want to give a collective opportunity to the world. ….Come, make in India, we have the strength, come to our country, I invite you.

32. A farmer serves the country by filling the granaries in the same way as a soldier defends the motherland. It is also a national service.

33. Youth should resolve that may be at a small level, they will make at least one article that the country imports, so that it may never need be imported in future.

34. Youth belonging to the IT profession have paved the way for establishing India’s new identity in the world.

35. Digital India is our dream for the nation. When I say ‘digital India’ it is not meant for the rich but for those who are poor.

36. If we move with the dream of electronic digital India and manufacturing of electronic goods and become self-reliant, it will be a major gain for the country.

37. There was a time when it was said that Railway unites the country. I say, today IT has the power to unite the country and its people.

38. We want to promote tourism. Tourism provides employment to the poorest of the poor. Even the small vendor, auto driver, chaatseller and tea stall owner earns from it. While talking of tea seller, I feel a degree of affinity.

39. Biggest obstruction to development of national character is the filth seen all around us. The first job in the government I did after coming here, was that of cleaning. People were surprised. Is it the job of a Prime Minister. But for me, it is a very big job.

40. If 125 crore countrymen decide not to ever spread filth, then no power in the world can make our village or town dirty.

41. Let us decide that in 2019 when we observe Mahatma Gandhi’s 150th anniversary, we will not let our village, city, country, school, colony,   temple, hospital and all other areas remain dirty. It is not Government’s job, it is to be done by public participation.

42. Presently, our mothers and sisters are forced to defecate in open. Do we like this and is not our responsibility to arrange for toilets at least?

43. I have to launch a Swachch Bharat campaign from 2nd October and we want to carry this forward within four years.

44. One task which I would like to begin today, is toilet in all schools of India and a separate toilet for girls. Only then the girls will not drop out of schools. I urge all Members of Parliament to use their MPLAD fund for construction of toilets in the schools for one year.

45. When we stand here on next 15th August, we should be confident that there is no school left in the country without separate toilets for boys and girls.

46. I today announce a scheme named after the Parliamentarians- ’Saansad Adarsh Gram Yojana’.Every MP has to develop one village in his or her constituency into a model village under this scheme.

47. A Parliamentarian should develop two more villages before going for election after 2016 in the year 2019. After that every MP has to develop at least five villages during a five year tenure.

48. A complete blue print of Saansad Adarsh Gram Yojana will be presented to all MPs and all State Governments by 11th October,Jayprakash Narayan’s Jayanti.

49. We will have to think about giving a new shape to the Planning Commission in order to utilise our federal structure as a heritage of development and better team work between the Centre and states.

50. Strengthen State Governments, federal structure, with new outlook, new body and soul and with new direction, we will create a new institution. Very soon this new institute will start working in place of Planning Commission.

51. India’s divine strength and spiritual heritage will play a major role in world’s welfare. These thoughts were expressed by ShriAurobindo.

52. As Swami Vivekananda said that once again Mother India has awaken, my mother India will take her place as teacher of the world and every Indian will be a tool of global welfare.

53. Why shouldn’t all SAARC countries fight against poverty and defeat it.

54. I went to Bhutan and Nepal. Dignitaries from SAARC countries came to swearing in ceremony. This is a very good beginning. Definitely there will be good results.  

55. I assure you, if you will work for twelve hour I will work for thirteen because I am not a Prime Minister but a Prime Servant. I have come with this government as a servant not as a ruler.

56. I felicitate country’s security forces, para military forces for protecting Mother India and for their determination and sacrifice.

Planning Commission of India


Planning Commission, Government of India
The Planning Commission was set up in March, 1950 by a Resolution of the Government of India which defined the scope of its work in the following terms :

" The Constitution of India has guaranteed certain Fundamental Rights to the citizens of India and enunciated certain Directive Principles of State Policy, in particular, that the State shall strive to promote the welfare of the people by securing and protecting as effectively as it may a social order in which justice, social, economic and political, shall inform all the institutions of the national life, and shall direct its policy towards securing, among other things,—
  1. that the citizens, men and women equally, have the right to an adequate means of livelihood ;
  2. that the ownership and control of the material resources of the community are so distributed as best to subserve the common good ; and
  3. that the operation of the economic system does not result in the concentration of wealth and means of production to the common detriment.
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Having regard to these rights and in furtherance of these principles as well as of the declared objective of the Government to promote a rapid rise in the standard of living of the people by efficient exploitation of the resources of the country, increasing production, and offering opportunities to all for employment in the service of the community.
The Planning Commission will—
  1. make an assessment of the material, capital and human resources of the country, including technical personnel, and investigate the possibilities of augmenting such of these resources as are found to be deficient in relationto the nation's requirements ;
  2. formulate a Plan for the most effective and balanced utilisation of the country's resources ;
  3. on a determination of priorities, define the stages in which the Plan should be carried out and propose the allocation of resources for the due completion of each stage ;
  4. indicate the factors which are tending to retard economic development, and determine the conditions which, in view of the current social and political situation, should be established for the successful execution of the Plan ;
  5. determine the nature of the machinery which will be necessary for securing the successful implementation of each stage of the Plan in all its aspects ;
  6. appraise from time to time the progress achieved in the execution of each stage of the Plan and recommend the adjustments of policy and measures that such appraisal may show to be necessary ; and
  7. make such interim or ancillary recommendations as appear to it to be appropriate either for facilitating the discharge of the duties assigned to it ; or, on a consideration of the prevailing economic conditions, current policies, measures and development programmes ; or on an examination of such specific problems as may be referred to it for advice by Central or State Governments."                                                 

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History

The Planning Commission was set up by a Resolution of the Government of India in March 1950 in pursuance of declared objectives of the Government to promote a rapid rise in the standard of living of the people by efficient exploitation of the resources of the country, increasing production and offering opportunities to all for employment in the service of the community. The Planning Commission was charged with the responsibility of making assessment of all resources of the country, augmenting deficient resources, formulating plans for the most effective and balanced utilisation of resources and determining priorities. Jawaharlal Nehru was the first Chairman of the Planning Commission.
The first Five-year Plan was launched in 1951 and two subsequent five-year plans were formulated till 1965, when there was a break because of the Indo-Pakistan Conflict. Two successive years of drought, devaluation of the currency, a general rise in prices and erosion of resources disrupted the planning process and after three Annual Plans between 1966 and 1969, the fourth Five-year plan was started in 1969.
The Eighth Plan could not take off in 1990 due to the fast changing political situation at the Centre and the years 1990-91 and 1991-92 were treated as Annual Plans. The Eighth Plan was finally launched in 1992 after the initiation of structural adjustment policies.
For the first eight Plans the emphasis was on a growing public sector with massive investments in basic and heavy industries, but since the launch of the Ninth Plan in 1997, the emphasis on the public sector has become less pronounced and the current thinking on planning in the country, in general, is that it should increasingly be of an indicative nature.


Functions

The 1950 resolution setting up the Planning Commission outlined its functions as to:
  1. Make an assessment of the material, capital and human resources of the country, including technical personnel, and investigate the possibilities of augmenting such of these resources as are found to be deficient in relation to the nation’s requirement;
  2. Formulate a Plan for the most effective and balanced utilisation of country's resources;
  3. On a determination of priorities, define the stages in which the Plan should be carried out and propose the allocation of resources for the due completion of each stage;
  4. Indicate the factors which are tending to retard economic development, and determine the conditions which, in view of the current social and political situation, should be established for the successful execution of the Plan;
  5. Determine the nature of the machinery which will be necessary for securing the successful implementation of each stage of the Plan in all its aspects;
  6. Appraise from time to time the progress achieved in the execution of each stage of the Plan and recommend the adjustments of policy and measures that such appraisal may show to be necessary; and
  7. Make such interim or ancillary recommendations as appear to it to be appropriate either for facilitating the discharge of the duties assigned to it, or on a consideration of prevailing economic conditions, current policies, measures and development programmes or on an examination of such specific problems as may be referred to it for advice by Central or State Governments.

Evolving Functions

From a highly centralised planning system, the Indian economy is gradually moving towards indicative planning where Planning Commission concerns itself with the building of a long term strategic vision of the future and decide on priorities of nation. It works out sectoral targets and provides promotional stimulus to the economy to grow in the desired direction.
Planning Commission plays an integrative role in the development of a holistic approach to the policy formulation in critical areas of human and economic development. In the social sector, schemes which require coordination and synthesis like rural health, drinking water, rural energy needs, literacy and environment protection have yet to be subjected to coordinated policy formulation. It has led to multiplicity of agencies. An integrated approach can lead to better results at much lower costs.
The emphasis of the Commission is on maximising the output by using our limited resources optimally. Instead of looking for mere increase in the plan outlays, the effort is to look for increases in the efficiency of utilisation of the allocations being made.
With the emergence of severe constraints on available budgetary resources, the resource allocation system between the States and Ministries of the Central Government is under strain. This requires the Planning Commission to play a mediatory and facilitating role, keeping in view the best interest of all concerned. It has to ensure smooth management of the change and help in creating a culture of high productivity and efficiency in the Government.
The key to efficient utilisation of resources lies in the creation of appropriate self-managed organisations at all levels. In this area, Planning Commission attempts to play a systems change role and provide consultancy within the Government for developing better systems. In order to spread the gains of experience more widely, Planning Commission  also plays an information dissemination role.

Organisation

The Prime Minister is the Chairman of the Planning Commission, which works under the overall guidance of the National Development Council. The Deputy Chairman and the full time Members of the Commission, as a composite body, provide advice and guidance to the subject Divisions for the formulation of Five Year Plans, Annual Plans, State Plans, Monitoring Plan Programmes, Projects and Schemes.

Taskforce

[ For PDF Files : Download Acrobat Reader  ]
  1. Task Force to Review Guidelines on Scheduled Castes Sub-Plan and Tribal Sub-PlanRecommendations to Revise Guidelines for Implementation of Scheduled Castes Sub-Plan and Tribal Sub-Plan by Central Ministries/Departments: PDF File
  2. Report of the Taskforce "To look into the Problems of Hills States and Hill Areas and to suggest ways to ensure that these states and areas do not suffer in any way because of their peculiarities" : PDF File
  3. Task forces on HOUSING AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT, Planning Commission
  4. Special Task Force on Bihar
    • Bihar's Exposure To Innovative Governance Practices [ PDF ]
    • Road Map For Development of Power Sector in Bihar [ PDF ]
    • Road Map For Development of Health Sector in Bihar [ PDF ]
    • Road Map For Rural Industrialisation in Bihar[ PDF ]
    • Bihar's Exposure Towards the Banking Sector [ PDF ]
    • Bihar Road Sector Development - New Dimensions [ PDF ]
    • Bihar's Agriculture Development - Opportunities and Challaeges [ PDF ]
    • Information Technology Led Growth In Bihar - A Road Map [ PDF ]
  5. Task Force on Skill Development [ PDF [4.00MB] || ZIP(MS Word) ]
  6. Task Group on Problems of Hilly Habitations in Areas Covered by the Hill Areas Development Programme (HADP)/Western Ghats Development Programme (WGDP) - Constitution || Report
  7. Task Group on Revamping and Refocusing of National Agricultural Research [ PDF [1.9MB] || ZIP(MS Word) ]
  8. Task Force on Panchayati Raj Institutions (PRIs) [ PDF || ZIP ]
  9. Task Force on Integrated Transport Policy [ PDF || ZIP ]
  10. Task Force on Greening India for Livelihood Security and Sustainable Development [ PDF Format ]
  11. Task Force on India as Knowledge Superpower [ PDF Format ]
  12. Task force on Employment Opportunities
  13. Report of the Task Force on conservation & sustainable use of Medicinal Plants
  14. Task Force on Sugar Industry
  15. Inter-Ministry Taskgroup Reports
  16. Report of the Task Force on Eco-Devlopment Plan for Goa, March 1982 - [ PDF ]

Committees

Twelfth Five Year Plan

Eleventh Five Year Plan

Tenth Five Year Plan

Steering Committees and Advisory / Working Groups
  1. Steering Committees...
  2. Advisory / Working Groups...
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