Only statement 1 is correct. Information Technology Act, 2000 • It was passed and adopted by the Parliament in 2000. It is the primary law in India for matters related to cybercrime and e-commerce. • Section 69 (A) of the IT Act, 2000 allows the Centre to issue blocking orders to social media intermediaries “in the interest of sovereignty and integrity of India, defence of India, security of the state, friendly relations with foreign states or public order or for preventing incitement to the commission of any cognisable offence relating to above”.

• It defines an intermediary as a person/entity that receives, stores and transmits information or provides service for the transmission of information.

• They cannot be held liable for the third-party content published on their platform as long as they comply with the legal order to take down content from courts or other authorities.

• Some entities see this as a strike on free speech and are fighting against it.

• All including foreign Internet intermediaries/platforms also have the right to court and judicial review. Hence statement 2 is not correct.

Statements 2 and 3 are correct, 1 and 4 are not correct.

Agnipath Scheme

• It allows patriotic and motivated youth to serve in the Armed Forces for a period of four years. Hence statement 1 is not correct.

• Under this scheme, the youth joining the army will be called Agniveer. Youth will be able to be recruited into the army for a short duration. Hence statement 2 is correct.

• Under the new scheme, around 45,000 to 50,000 soldiers will be recruited annually, and most will leave the service in just four years.

• However, after four years, only 25% of the batch will be recruited back into their respective services, for a period of 15 years.

• It is only for personnel below officer ranks (those who do not join the forces as commissioned officers). Hence statement 3 is correct.

• It is expected to bring down the average age profile of the Indian Armed Forces by about 4 to 5 years.

• Aspirants between the ages of 17.5 years and 23 years will be eligible for the scheme. Hence statement 4 is NOT correct.

• They will also get a Rs 48 lakh life insurance cover for the four years. In case of death, the payout will be over Rs 1 crore, including pay for the unserved tenure.

Only statements 1 and 2 are correct, 3 and 4 are not correct.

Jal Jeevan Mission

• Launched in 2019, it envisages supply of 55 litres of water per person per day to every rural household through Functional Household Tap Connections (FHTC) by 2024. Hence statement 1 is correct.

• It comes under Jal Shakti Ministry.

• The mission ensures functionality of existing water supply systems and water connections, water quality monitoring and testing as well as sustainable agriculture.

• The Mission is based on a community approach to water and includes extensive Information, Education and Communication as a key component of the mission. Hence statement 2 is correct.

• Paani Samitis plan, implement, manage, operate and maintain village water supply systems. These consist of 10-15 members, with at least 50% women members and other members from Self-Help Groups, Accredited Social and Health Workers, Anganwadi teachers, etc. Hence statement 3 is not correct.

• The fund sharing pattern between the Centre and states is 90:10 for Himalayan and North- Eastern States, 50:50 for other states, and 100% for Union Territories. Hence statement 4 is not correct.

Both the statements are correct.

The Bill amends the Electricity Act, 2003. The Act regulates the electricity sector in India. It sets up the Central and State Electricity Regulatory Commissions (CERC and SERCs) to regulate interstate and intrastate matters, respectively.

Key provisions of the Bill

• Multiple discoms in the same area ➔ More than one power distributor can operate in an area and they will be allowed to use the power distribution infrastructure of other suppliers. This is aimed at boosting competition and giving more choice to the consumers.

• Tariffs ➔ The Bill makes provision for “mandatory” fixing of minimum as well as maximum tariff ceilings by the “appropriate commission” to avoid predatory pricing by power distribution companies and to protect consumers.

• Timely Tariff Revisions ➔ The Bill has several provisions to ensure graded and timely tariff revisions that will help provide state power utilities with enough cash to be able to make timely payments to power producers.

Only statement 1 is correct.

DigiLocker

• It is a flagship initiative of Ministry of Electronics & IT (MeitY) under Digital India programme. Aim: ‘Digital Empowerment’ of citizen by providing access to authentic digital documents to citizen’s digital document wallet.

• It enables sharing of e-documents across government agencies to verify the authenticity of the documents online.

• It is a platform to issue and verify government documents and certificates digitally. Hence statement 1 is correct.

• It provides access to authentic virtual documents.

• It is a digital document wallet where one can store documents like driving license, PAN card, Voter ID, policy documents, etc.

• Umang app (NOT the DigiLocker) aims to fast-track mobile governance in India, where citizens will be able to find government facilities nearest to their location. Hence statement 2 and 3 are not correct.

Statements 2 and 3 are correct, 1 is not correct.

Project Nipun • The basic motive of the project is to train over 1 lakh construction workers, through fresh skilling and upskilling programmes. Hence statement 1 is NOT correct.

• This project is running under the flagship programme of the Deendayal Antyodaya Yojana-National Urban Livelihoods Mission (DAY-NULM). Hence statement 2 is correct.

• The transformational impact of the National Urban Livelihoods Mission (NULM) has reduced the vulnerability of urban poor households by providing upskilling and employment opportunities to urban dwellers, especially the youth.

• Implementing Agency: National Skill Development Corporation (NSDC).

1. NSDC is the nodal agency and workers under the Ministry of Skill Development & Entrepreneurship (MSDE). 2. NSDC will be responsible for the overall execution of training, monitoring and candidate tracking.

• The project implementation is divided into three parts:

1. Training through Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) at construction sites

2. Training through Fresh Skilling by Plumbing and Infrastructure Sector Skill Council (SSC).

3. International Placement through industries/ builders/ contractors Hence statement 3 is correct.

Only statement 1 is correct, 2 and 3 are not correct.

PM Kisan Samman Nidhi

• It is a central sector scheme with 100 per cent funding from the Government of India. The scheme was launched in December 2018. Hence statement 1 is correct.

• Implemented by the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare.

• Under the scheme, income support of ₹6,000 per year is provided to small and marginal farmers. Hence statement 2 is not correct.

• The state governments and Union Territory administration identify the farmers who are eligible for the scheme and share the list with the Centre. Hence statement 3 is not correct.

• The Scheme initially provided income support to all Small and Marginal Farmers’ families across the country, holding cultivable land upto 2 hectares.

• Its ambit was later expanded w.e.f. 01.06.2019 to cover all farmer families in the country irrespective of the size of their land holdings.

• Affluent farmers have been excluded from the scheme such as Income Tax payers in last assessment year, professionals like Doctors, Engineers, Lawyers, Chartered Accountants etc. and pensioners drawing at least Rs.10,000/- per month (excluding MTS/Class IV/Group D employees).

Statements 1 and 2 are correct, 3 is not correct.

Districts as Export Hubs Scheme

• It is a Centrally Sponsored Scheme of Ministry of Commerce and Industry.

• The Scheme will be part of the new Foreign Trade Policy (FTP). • It aims to help producers across 200 districts scale up manufacturing and find foreign buyers for their goods.

• Implementing Body ➔ Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT).

• Under the scheme, District Export Promotion Committees (DEPCs) have been constituted in most of the districts and products and services with export potential have been identified in each district.

Gold Monetisation Scheme

• The scheme was launched in November 2015 along with sovereign gold bonds and India gold coins. Hence statement 2 is correct.

• It facilitates the depositors of gold to earn interest on their metal accounts. Once the gold is deposited in metal account, it starts earning interest on the same. Hence statement 1 is not correct.

• Under the scheme, a depositor gets 2.25% interest annually for a short-term deposit of one year to three years. Medium- and long-term deposits get 2.5% interest rate. Hence statement 3 is correct.

• To mobilize the gold held by households and institutions in the country to put this gold into productive use and in the long run to reduce the current account deficit by reducing the country’s reliance on imports of gold to meet the domestic demand.

• Along with GMS, a Sovereign Gold Bond Scheme (an alternative to purchasing metal gold) and development of Indian Gold Coin, were also announced.

• Under the Sovereign Gold Bond Scheme, the Reserve Bank of India will issue the bonds on behalf of the Government of India. Hence statement 1 is not correct.

• The bonds will be sold at post offices and banks and issued in denomination of gram.

Only statement 2 is correct, 1 and 3 are not correct.

Beej Gram Yojana: Seed Village Program

• Seed Village Program (Beej Gram Yojana) is being implemented by the government since 2014-15 to upgrade the quality of farmers’ saved seeds. Hence statement 3 is not correct.

• Key Objective: To upgrade the quality of farmer-saved seed, which is about 80-85% of the total seed used for crop production. They are-

1. Increasing the seed production,

2. Increasing the seed replacement rate,

3. Self-sufficiency and self-reliance of the village in terms of quality seed production

4. To meet the local demand and timely supply of quality seeds. Hence statement 1 is not correct.

• Under Seed Village Program, financial assistance for distribution of foundation/certified seeds at 50% of seed cost for cereal crops and 60% for pulses, oilseeds, fodder and green manure crops is available for up to one acre per farmer.

• The Seed Village Program will be monitored by the Seeds Division of the Department of Agriculture and Cooperation.

• In order to encourage farmers to develop storage capacity of appropriate quality, assistance will be given to farmers for making/procuring of Pusa Bin/Mud bin/Bin made from paper pulp for storing of seed produced by the farmers on their farms.