ESSAY: Pradhan Mantri Jan Dhan Yojana (PMJDY)

Pradhan Mantri Jan Dhan Yojana or commonly known as Jan Dhan Yojana is a campaign run by government of India to make every citizen, having age of more than 10 years, eligible to apply for bank account. This scheme was launched by Prime Minister of India, Narendra Modi on 28 August 2014. He announced about the scheme at Independence Day speech. Narendra Modi gave the slogan,"Mera Khata, Bhagya Vidhata", which means that my account brings me good fortune.

The motive of this scheme is to make every citizen available with banking facilities. It also looks for making government policies in the reach of consumers. It looks to reduce black money. It aims to reduce corruption in government offices, banks. It enhances the banking system of country.
This scheme is run by Department of Financial Services, Ministry of Finance. On the inauguration day of scheme, 15 million bank accounts were opened. By 2014, 2.99 million accounts in State Bank of India, 1.621 million accounts in Canara Bank, 1.598 million accounts in Central Bank of India, 1.422 million accounts in Bank of Baroda were created.

By June, 2018 around 318 million bank accounts were opened and 792 billion INR were deposited under the scheme. On 20 January 2015, the scheme entered in Guinness Book of World Record for opening most bank accounts in a week.
The balance in Jan Dhan bank accounts rose by more than 270 billion INR in between 9 November 2016 and 23 November 2016. Uttar Pradesh and West Bengal have got 29% of total deposit under the scheme.

The scheme was also criticized by opposition as fake accounts can be made. This scheme was also considered as scheme to please voters, which is putting unnecessary work load on Public-Sector banks.
The scheme will make common citizens aware about government's schemes and it will enhance their transaction with respect to security, speed. Money provided by government to poor people can be directly transferred to Jan Dhan bank accounts which do not need several stages to pass as earlier. People can avail this money without delay. Getting bank accounts will reduce the Hard cash with consumers. 

People are having many advantages out of this scheme. This scheme is also in the reach of every citizen. What government needs to focus now? Government needs to make these accounts, personal information of consumers secure. Government also need to focus over bogus loan takers. It will increase trust and faith among common people.

ESSAY: Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana

Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana was launched by Prime Minister of India, Narendra Modi on 1 May 2016 to make availability of LPG cylinders to 50 million household women belonging to Below Poverty Line(BPL). The budget allocated for the scheme was 80 billion INR. After 1 year of launch, around 22 million connections were distributed against target distribution of 15 million in first year. In Oct 2017, almost 30 million connections were distributed, 44% of which were belonging from Scheduled caste and Scheduled Tribes. In December 2018, the number of connections crossed 58 millions. In 2018 Union Budget of India, it was decided to grow number of connections to 80 million households. 21,000 awareness camps were run by oil marketing companies.

The scheme led to increase in LPG consumption by 56% in 2019 as compare to 2014. State wise Uttar Pradesh was able to give 14.6 connections to BPL families followed by West Bengal, Bihar, Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan.
Indian household women used to work on 'chulhas' to make food. Fuels like animal's excreta, domestic waste, grass, wood is used to light fire in 'chulha'. These fuels result in generation of smoke, which can enter into body and cause harmful effect. LPG cylinders prevent women from such harmful effect. Now with LPG cylinders, people are not required to carry fuel from distant places. It also prevent deforestation. LPG cylinders are cleaner and greener, which do not cause pollution in environment.

On 8 July 2020, Cabinet approved the decision of government to provide 3 free cylinders to 7 crore 40 lakh poor women till September.
It is one of the key schemes to enhance conditions of living of poor families and women. It increases conditions for environment. It is helpful in providing cleaner and greener fuels to women belonging to BPL.

ESSAY: Digital India

Digital India program was launched by Prime Minister of India, Narendra Modi on 1 July 2015. The vision of Digital India program is inclusive of electronic services, products, manufacturing and jobs. The objectives of this program are availability of digital infrastructure to everybody, providing government services on digital platform and empowering citizens digitally. The initiative of this program includes connecting rural areas with high speed internet connectivity.

In Dec, 2018, India's population was 130 crore people, out of which 123 crore people are digitally identifiable by Aadhar cards. 121 crore people have mobile phones with themselves., out of which 44.6 crore people were having smartphones and 56 crore people were having facility of internet. E-commerce has seen growth of 51%.

Government had started providing services online through various platforms. These services are available for every person, who is digitally empowered. These facilities are for people working in any sector eg agriculture, bill payments, mining, government schemes, ticket booking, tax, job search, business, health, travel. Under Digital India program, to connect more and more people with internet and increase transparency in government works, government of India launched various platforms like mygov.in, UMANG(Unified Mobile Application for New Age Governance), Digi Locker, Swachh Bharat Mission (SBM) Mobile App, attendance.gov.in, eHospital, eNAM etc.
Pradhan Mantri Gramin Digital Sakshstra Abhiyan (PMGDisha) was launched to make 6 crore rural households literate by March 2020, reaching 40% of rural households by covering one member from every eligible household.

For the first time in country's history, Andhra Pradesh government had conducted online cabinet meeting using e-cabinet app. e-Pragati was initiated by Andhra Pradesh government to provide around 750 services to over 30 million citizens by integrating almost 34 departments. e-Panta was launched to book crops online. Loan charge creation project was run by Andhra Pradesh government to prevent multiple and bogus loans issued to farmers.

CEO's of various MNC's had provided support to government for Digital India program. Facebook, Google, Microsoft had initiated to provide internet access to Indian railways, rural areas etc. Digital India Program has been favored by multiple countries including USA, South Korea, Japan, UK, Canada, Australia, Malaysia, Singapore, Uzbekistan and Vietnam.

Number of Internet users in India has reached to 500 million till April 2017. In Dec, 2018, Panchkula district of Haryana was awarded with best district to perform under Digital India program.
Digital India Program got boost when Reliance Jio introduced free data packs to users. Reliance Jio also launched affordable smart phones and Internet connected feature phones. 

India has been achieving 10 million Internet users every month. India will be big market for MNC's. Digital India has provided normal citizens to look into government's functioning. On the other hand, States like Bihar and Odisha are still lacking in awareness among people. Government need to shift it's focus from states that had already digitally developed to states that require support to give an extra boost to Digital India Program.

NEWS: Kul Bhushan Jadhav refused to file review petition

Pakistan's additional attorney general said that Indian navy officer, Kulbhushan Jadhav was invited on 17 July 2020 to file review petition to reconsider and review his sentence and conviction. He added that Kulbhushan Jadhav was provided to exercise his legal right to file review petetion. Kulbhushan Jadhav insisted on mercy petition he filed on April 17, 2017. Pakistan has now reportedly offered second consular access to Kulbhushan Jadhav. 
Many media houses are stating that Pakistan is hiding some truth or Jadhav had understood that there will no point in filing review petetion, as decision would be same as Islamabad HC. But the point here to understand and doubt is why would a person not choose every option available to him on death penalties.
Kulbhushan Jadhav was arrested from Balochistan and  sentenced to death by Pakistan on charges of espionage and terrorism in 2017. Indian foreign ministry stated in 2017 that he has been kidnapped from Iran and Pakistan cannot give any credible reason for his presence in Pakistan. On 18 May 2017, International Court of Justice stayed the execution. On 17 July 2019, court refused India's plea to release Kulbhushan Jadhav and ordered Pakistan to review entire process of trial and provide him with consular access. Kulbhushan Jadhav was provided consular access from Pakistan only once and subsequent requests from India were blocked.

ESSAY: Make in India

Make in India is a type of Swadeshi Movement, which was launched on 25 September 2014 by Prime Minister of India, Narendra Modi. The main objectives of Make in India program are, to increase the manufacturing sector growth rate to 12-14% for increasing it's share in the economy, to create 100 million jobs by 2022, to increase manufacturing sector contribution to GDP to 25% by 2025. The program aims to develop environment for investments, develop modern and efficient infrastructure and to liberalize market for foreign investment.

Indian government gave commitment to invest 16.40 lakh crore INR (230 billion USD), as a result of which India emerged as top destination for foreign direct investment in 2015, surpassing USA and China. There are norms for 100% foreign investment in 100 sectors except space Industry(74%), defense industry(49%) and media of India(26%). India and Japan also constituted "Japan-India Make in India Special Finance Facility" of worth 12 Billion USD. Individual states are also running their own program under Make in India to attract investors and manufacturers, which increases competition between states.

Some programs run by states are, Vibrant Gujarat, "Make in Odisha", "Tamil Nadu Global Investors Meet", "Happening Haryana", "Magnetic Maharashtra". In FY 2016-17, India received investment of worth 60 Billion USD.
"Make in India Week" multi sectoral industrial event was attended by 2500+ international, 8000+ domestic industries, delegations from 68 countries and business teams from 72 countries. 17 Indian states also organizes expos. Event received 15.2 lakh crore INR investment in Make in India program.

Make in India program covers almost 25 sectors of economy. These sectors include Automobile industry, Aviation industry, Biotechnology, chemical industry, construction industry, defense industry, electronic industry, electrical machinery, Food processing, media and entertainment, oil and gas, mining, pharmaceuticals, port & shipping, railways, renewable energy, roads and highways, space and astronomy, thermal power, textile industry, tourism, healthcare industry.

In the world bank's 2019 'doing business report' India jumped by 23 positions against its rank of 100 in 2017. India is now placed at 63rd rank out of 190 countries. By the end of 2017, India has risen by 42 places in ease of doing business Index, 32 places in World Economic Forum's Global Competitiveness Index, and by 19 ranks in Logistics Performance Index.
Narendra Modi had also given slogan of "zero defect, zero effect", which means using such techniques and materials to produce defect free products simultaneously causing zero environmental hazards.

Make in India program not only increases India's capability to attract global investors but also increases number of employments in country. After trade war and raising tensions between USA and China are day by day over COVID-19, many companies have decided to leave China. It is now opportunity for India to attract these companies in India. Indian government should focus on developing norms in favor of foreign investment, develop efficient infrastructure, developing efficient and faster logistics and availability of raw material and labor at cheaper rates.

Curriculum at institutions must be changed as per requirement of today's industry. Vocational trainings must be provided to youth. Awareness about Make in India must be spread at International level as well as village level.

NEWS: China aims to become world's 'only superpower', says FBI director.

During the remarks of the director of Federal Bureau of Investigation(FBI) Christopher Wray at Hudson Institute on Tuesday stated that China is taking an advantage of open system of America while preserving it's own closed system.
Chris Wray said, Chinese leaders think that they are in 'generational fight' to make China world's only superpower by any means necessary. He also said counter intelligence and economic espionage threat from China are greatest for their nations' information and intellectual property. These are threat to USA's economic security and national security. He also added that Beijing uses many methods to achieve their goals which include information gathering, economic espionage, censorship at universities and "malign foreign influence", referring to big spokesperson of China in USA.

Talking about economic espionage, he stated people of United States are the one who are victims of Chinese thefts, represented by largest wealth transfer in human history. Personal data being stolen by China is common in United States for every adult.

NEWS: World Bank to boost Namami Gange Program!

World Bank and India signed an agreement on Tuesday, in which World Bank will provide loan of worth 400 million USD to support Namami Gange Program. This support seeks to rejuvenate the Ganga. Namami Gange Program aims to reduce pollution in river Ganga and manage the river basin efficiently, that is home to around 50 crore people.
As told by Finance Ministry on Tuesday, World Bank will be providing 381 million USD and proposed a guarantee up to 19 million USD. The loan has maturity period of 18.5 years including five year of grace period.

Junaid Ahmad, World Bank country director in India stated that The first project of Ganga included building of critical sewage facilities at 20 polluted hotspots along the river. Now, this project will focus on tributaries of Ganga. It will help Government to create institutions to manage big and complex Ganga Basin.

ESSAY: Swachh Bharat Abhiyan

Swachh Bharat Abhiyan was a country wide campaign in India from 2014 to 2019. The campaign was officially launched on 2 October 2014 at Rajghat, New Delhi by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The aim of the mission was to eliminate open defecation, improve Solid Waste Management and make people aware about the importance of sanitation. The scheme had an aim to achieve "Open Defecation Free"(ODF) India by 2 October 2019 at the 150th birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi.

The mission was divided into two categories: Rural and Urban. It is India's largest campaign for cleanliness involving 3 millions government employees and students from all over India, participating in 4,043 cities, towns and rural communities. 

In India, problem of Open Defecation and contamination of drinking and bathing water was very big. In 2014, India was having largest number of people participating in Open Defecation, around 530 million peoples. 
 90 million toilets in rural area were planned at projected cost of 1.96 lakh crore INR. It spanned in almost 4041 statutory cities and towns. For improving solid waste management, cities were asked about detailed project report that have financial model and are bankable. Swachh Bharat Abhiyan was expected to cost at 620 billion INR. World bank provided loan of 1.5 billion USD for Swachh Bharat Abhiyan and 25 million USD for technical assistance.

Government appointed CPWD for proper disposal of waste from government offices. Ministry of railways planned to have facility of clean on demand, clean bed rolls from automatic laundries, bio-toilets and dustbins in all non-AC coaches. Swachh Bharat Swachh Vidyalaya Campaign was launched by Ministry of Human Resource Development, Government of India to encourage school teachers and students to participate in cleanliness drives. Swachh Bharat Mobile App was launched to make more and more people aware about Swachh Bharat Abhiyan.
 In 2017, the sanitation level in India rose to 65% from 38.7% on Oct 2, 2014 and it was 90% in August.

The number of volunteers participating were 20000 in urban local bodies and those working in rural areas rose to more than 1 lakh. Number of schools with separate toilets for girls increase from 0.4 million to almost 1 million. Nearly 100 million personal individual toilets were build in rural areas and 6 million toilets in urban areas. 6 million public toilets have been constructed in urban areas.

Consequently, 4234 cities and 6,00,000 villages across countries declared themselves Open Defecation Free(ODF). Around 81.5 thousand wards now uses door to door waste collection procedure and around 65 thousand wards follow waste segregation before disposal of waste.
 Our government has provided us with a platform to do something for our family and country. Sanitation is the basic need for each and everybody.

Improper waste management will not only degrade environment will also degrade beauty of landscape. It will be harmful for stray animals. Swachh Bharat Abhiyan was not a time based campaign but should be continued in future and We, the citizens of India have the sole responsibility and duty to maintain cleanliness around us.

NEWS: USA may also ban Chinese apps including tiktok.

US Secretary of State, Mike Pompeo, while interacting with Fox news said that USA is certainly looking for banning Chinese apps including TikTok. US lawmakers have raised concerns over USA national security because of Chinese law, which says that all companies should cooperate with intelligence work under Chinese Communist Party.

He has also said that if Chinese apps want to attract global audience then they need to distance themselves from China and has emphasized for their independence from China. 
TikTok and other 58 Chinese apps have been banned in India during tension between India and China over border dispute. US is also having disturbance in relationship with China after Coronavirus, China's action in Hong Kong and nearly two-year trade war.

TikTok decided to leave Hong Kong after China passed Hong Kong's National Security Law to establish semi-autonomous city. 

Everything about UNITED NATIONS: Definition, History, members, works, funding.

United Nations is the largest intergovernmental organization that works for international peace and security. United Nations looks for friendly relations between nations to achieve international cooperation. It is the most recognized and powerful international organization.
United Nations has six principal organs, namely United Nations General Assembly, United Nations Security Council, United Nations Secretariat, International Court of Justice, the Economic and Social Council, the Trusteeship Council. United Nations' chief administrator officer is Secretary-General. United Nations and it's agencies have won Nobel Peace Prizes.
HISTORY:

In summer 1919, President Woodrow Wilson presented the Treaty of Versailles and the covenant of league of nations to the US Senate for ratification. On 10 January 1920, after covenant of League of nations was ratified by 42 nations League of Nations was formally created. However, League of Nations was found ineffective in some cases like invasion of Manchuria by Japan and second Italo-Ethiopian war. During 1938, Britain and France tried to negotiate with Hitler but at last Hitler invaded Czechoslovakia. When war broke out League of nations was closed down.

In 1939, United States State Department thought for concrete plan of new world organization. On 29 December 1941, text "declaration by United Nations" was drafted by President Franklin D. Roosevelt, Prime Minister Winston Churchill and Roosevelt aide Harry Hopkins. It included four major Allied powers United States, United Kingdom, USSR, China. The documents signed by these countries came to be known as United Nations declaration. On next day 22 more countries signed the agreement and for the first time the term 'United Nations' was officially coined for all 26 nations.

The delegations from allied major powers USA, UK, USSR, China met at Dumbarton Oaks Conference from 21 September 1944 to 7 October 1944. They agreed for the aim, structure and functioning of UN. On 25 April 1945, 50 countries and number of non governmental organization attended UN conference on International Organization, San Francisco and drafted UN charter.

UN came to exist officially on 24 October 1945, with five permanent members of security council including France. 51 nations attended first meeting of General Assembly at Methodist Central Hall, Westminster, London.
WORK DONE:

• During Cold War:
  
  UN's main aim is to maintain peace in the world but cold war between USA and USSR made UN to look into issues distant from cold war. Security Council Resolution on 7 July 1950 which was authorized by US led coalition to repel North Korean invasion of South Korea was approved in absence of USSR with signing of Korean Armistice Agreement on 27 July 1953. On 29 November 1947, resolution in general assembly was passed regarding formation of state of Israel with partition of Palestine.
  
  On 7 November 1956, the first UN peacekeeping force was established to end Suez Crises. On 14 July 1960, UN established United Nation Operation in the Congo (UNOC). With opposition of USA but with support of third world countries, People Republic of China occupying Taiwan was included in UN.
• Post Cold War: 
  
  The UN successfully negotiated for Salvadoran Civil War, launched successful peace keeping mission in Namibia, also conducted election in post-apartheid South Africa and post Khmer Rouge Cambodia peacefully. The UN mission in Somalia is considered as failure because of US withdrawal following with many casualties in Battle of Mogadishu. Many USA and European critics also criticized UN for mismanagement and corruption. Under Secretary General Ban ki-Moon, UN intervened in crises such as War in Darfur in Sudan and the Kivu Conflict in Democratic Republic of Congo, sent observer in chemical weapon involved in Syrian Civil War.
  
  The Millennium Summit held in 2000 was a three day largest meeting of world heads to discuss poverty reduction, gender equality and public health. The sustainable development goals were launched in 2015 to succeed in Millennium development goals.

MEMBERS:

There are total 193 nations joined United Nations. South Sudan joined UN on 14 July 2011. There are two non member observer states, the Holy See and the State of Palestine.

• Group of 77: Group of 77 is a group of 77 developing nations. It is formed to promote economic interest and joint negotiating capacity in the UN. It was founded on 15 June 1964. The first meeting held in Algiers in 1967.

OBJECTIVES:

• Peacekeeping and Security:
  
  UN send peacekeeping missions to the regions where conflicts have seized or paused to enforce terms of peace agreement. Forces are provided by UN's member states also known as 'Blue Helmets'. The peacekeeping force has received Nobel Peace prize in 1988. The largest peacekeeping deployment was in United Nations Organization Stabilization Mission in Democratic Republic of Congo(MONUSCO), which included 20,688 uniformed personnel and the smallest deployment for United Nations Military Observer Group in India and Pakistan(UNMOGIP), which included 42 uniformed personnel. United Nations peacekeepers with the United Nations Truce Supervision Organization(UNTSO) have been stationed in middle east since 1948.
• Human Rights Protection:
  
  UN's primary purpose is to promote and encourage human rights and for fundamental freedom for all without distinction as to sex, race. language and religion. In 1948, UN General Assembly adopted a Universal Declaration of Human Rights. In 1979, UN General Assembly adopted Convention on Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women, followed by Convention on Rights of child in 1989. In 2006, UN passed a declaration on the rights of indigenous people and in 2011, it passed a final resolution on identifying rights of LGBT community. UN bodies responsible for women rights are United Nations Commission on the Status of Women, United Nations Development fund for women, United Nations International Research and Training Institute for the Advancement of Women.
• Economic Development:
  
  Another primary purpose of UN is to achieve international cooperation on economic, social, cultural and humanitarian character. In 2000, 192 states agreed to achieve Millennium development goals by 2015. The sustainable development goals were issued in 2015 to achieve millennium development goals. Associating financing network to achieve SDG's is called as Addis Ababa Action Agenda. UN development program was founded in 1945. The Food and Agriculture Organization was founded in 1945. UNICEF was created in 1946. The World Bank and IMF are international, specialized agencies and observer within the UN framework. World Health Organization was established to combat diseases and work for public health. The World Food Program was created in 1961.
• Others:
  
  UN works for decolonization through groups including UN Committee on Decolonization. In 1972, UN Environmental Program(UNEP) was initiated. The UN sponsored Kyoto Protocol was signed in 1997. Earth Day, World Tuberculosis Day and International Year of Desert and Desertification are some events and days initiated by UN.

STRUCTURE: UN has six official languages Chinese, English, Russian, Spanish, Arabic and French.

• GENERAL ASSEMBLY:
  
  General Assembly is the main assembly of UN, consisting of all the members meeting regularly at yearly sessions. Emergency sessions can also be called. The assembly led by President and 21 Vice President. General Assembly decides on all major issues related to peace and security, admission of new member and budgetary matters.
• SECURITY COUNCIL:
  
  United Nations Security Council works for peace keeping and security. While other organs can only recommend what member states may do but Security Council has the ability to make country follow the decision under Charter Article 25. The decision taken by this organ are known as United Nations Security Council resolutions. The security council is made up of 15 states including 5 permanent members, USA, UK, Russia, France, China, and 10 temporary members who are selected for 2 years term. The presidency of UN security council rotates alphabetically every month.
• UN SECRETARIAT:
  
  It is headed by Secretary General and assisted by deputy Secretary General. It provides studies, information and facilities for UN working. The secretary General is appointed by General Assembly after recommendation from UNSC, where permanent members have veto power. The term is for 5 years. The present Secretary General is Antonio Guterres, who replaced Ban Ki-moon in 2017.
• INTERNATIONAL COURT OF JUSTICE:
  
  It is located in the Hague, the Netherlands. This organ works as judiciary for UN. ICJ consist of 15 judges who have to serve for 9 years. All the judges are appointed by the General Assembly. All the judges must be from different nations.
• ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL COUNCIL:
  
  This organ assist the general assembly to promote international economic and social cooperation and development. ECOSOC has 54 members with three year terms who are elected by general assembly. The president is elected for one year term. ECOSOC has annual meeting in July at Geneva or New York. There are various subsidiary bodies in ECOSOC which work toward gathering information, sustainable development, work for indigenous people, forest management.
• SPECIALIZED AGENCIES:
  
  UN charter allows every major organ to establish various established agencies to fulfill it's duties. Like International Atomic Energy Agency, the Food and Agriculture Organization, UNESCO, the World Bank and World Health Organization(WHO).

FUNDING:

UN is funded from voluntary contribution from it's member states. The General Assembly approves an annual budget and asses the capability of each member. The term 'Ceiling' is referred to as maximum contribution any member can make. The largest UN peacekeeping financial operation for the period 2019-2021 are: the United States 27.89%, China 15.21%, Japan 8.56%, Germany 6.09%, the United Kingdom 5.78%, France 5.61%, Italy 3.30%, and the Russian Federation 3.04%. Special UN programs are not involved in the regular budget, but are financed by voluntary contribution from member states.