Search Previous Year Questions

The National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD) has launched a scheme called e-Shakti to digitalize operations of Self Help Groups (SHGs).

E-Shakti:

• Pilot Project on the digitization of SHGs keeping in view the Govt. of India's mission to "transform India into digitally empowered society and knowledge economy", NABARD has launched a project for the digitization of all SHGs in the country.
• To begin with, the SHGs in two districts viz. Ramgarh (Jharkhand) and Dhule (Maharashtra) have been covered.
• The program is being extended to 22 more districts across the country.

Aims and objectives of e-Shakti:

• Integrating SHG members with the national financial inclusion agenda
• Improving the quality of the interface between SHG members and banks for efficient and hassle-free delivery of banking services.
• Facilitate convergence of delivery system with SHGs using Aadhaar linked identity.

Therefore, e-Shakti is the NABARD's pilot project for the digitization of SHGs.

The correct answer is Option 2, i.e Foaling.

• The process of parturition in horse is termed as Foaling.
• In cattle it is known as calving.
• In sheep it is known as lambing.
• In pig it is known as Farrowing.
• Geld is a castrated male in horse.

Parturition - It is defined as an act of giving birth. 

Some terminologies related to horse - 

The correct answer is Viral

Key Points

• Bluetongue is a viral disease caused by the bluetongue virus (BTV) from the Reoviridae family.
• It primarily affects ruminants, including cattle, sheep, goats, and deer.
• Transmission: Bluetongue is transmitted by biting midges of the Culicoides genus.
• Symptoms: Symptoms vary depending on the species of ruminant affected. In cattle, symptoms may include fever, lameness, swelling of the face and tongue, and erosion of the muzzle.
• Mortality: Mortality rates are generally low in cattle, but the disease can cause significant economic losses due to reduced productivity and trade restrictions.
• Control: There is no specific treatment for bluetongue, but vaccination is available for some virus serotypes. Vector control measures, such as insecticide spraying, can also help reduce the transmission risk.

Bluetongue Symptoms in Cattle

The correct answer is SGSY

Key PointsThe Swarnajayanti Gram Swarozgar Yojana

• The Swarnajayanti Gram Swarozgar Yojana (SGSY) is a rural development programme launched by the central government in India in the financial year 1999-2000 for the development of rural areas through convergence of central and state schemes and allocating financial funding on a per village basis.
• The mission aims to assist poor families living below the poverty line in rural areas in taking up self-employment.
• The scheme is funded by the Central Government and covers all aspects of self-employment such as the organization of the poor into Self Help Groups, training, credit, technology, infrastructure, and marketing.
• The concept of Self Help Groups (SHGs) was adopted in SGSY to promote self-employment in rural areas.
• SHGs refer to a group of 10-20 people who come from similar socio-economic backgrounds for various development programmes or to solve common problems. Such groups are recognized by governments and banks and can open bank accounts in the name of the SHG.
• Users can access information about the special projects under SGSY, guidelines for setting up the Haats, credit-related issues, etc. Detailed information is given on the scheme, its objectives, funding, beneficiaries, etc.

Additional InformationIRDP

• The Integrated Rural Development Programme (IRDP) is a rural development programme launched by the central government in India in the financial year 1999-2000 for the development of rural areas through the convergence of central and state schemes and allocating financial funding on a per village basis.
• The mission aims to assist poor families living below the poverty line in rural areas in taking up self-employment.
• The scheme is funded by the Central Government and covers all aspects of self-employment such as the organization of the poor into Self Help Groups, training, credit, technology, infrastructure, and marketing.

IAAP

• The Intensive Agriculture Area Programme (IAAP) was launched in 1964-65 to develop scientific and progressive agriculture intensively in areas that have high production potential.
• The program was designed to cover at least 20% of the cultivated area of the country, with a focus on important crops such as wheat, rice, millets, cotton, sugarcane, potato, and pulses.
• The IAAP paved the way for the Green Revolution in India, which led to a significant increase in food grain production.

PMGSY

• The Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana (PMGSY) is a nationwide plan in India to provide good all-weather road connectivity to unconnected villages.
• The program was launched on December 25, 2000, to provide all-weather access to eligible unconnected habitations with a population of up to 500 (Census 2001) in plain areas and 250 and above in special category states (states of North East, Jammu, and Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand), desert area as identified by Desert Development Program and 88 selected backward districts as identified by the Ministry of Home Affairs/Planning Commission as a strategy for poverty alleviation.

The correct answer is Floriculture

Key Points

Floriculture is the branch of ornamental horticulture concerned with growing and marketing flowers and ornamental plants as well as with flower arrangement.

Branches of Forestry

Forestry has five different branches:

1. Silviculture: It refers to certain aspects of theory and practices of raising forests crops, methods of raising tree crops, their growth and after care up to the time of final harvesting.
2. Mensuration: It deals with the measurement of forest produce ex. Dimension from volume, age and increment of individual trees and forest crop.
3. Silviculture system: Process by which the crops constituting a forest are tended, removal and replaced by new crops
4. Management: Practical application of sequence technique and economics to forest estate for the production of certain desired results
5. Utilization: Branch of forestry which deals with harvesting, marketing conservation and applying the forest produce to a variety of uses eg. Timber, fuel, charcoal, pulp wood, ply wood.

The correct answer is 225.00 lakhs.

Key Points

• Under the MLA Local Area Development Program Scheme, each MLA is allocated 225.00 lakhs annually for development work in their respective constituencies.
• This allocation aims to ensure that MLAs can undertake small-scale development projects that directly benefit the local population.
• The funds are utilized for creating durable assets such as roads, school buildings, drinking water facilities, and health care infrastructure.
• The scheme is designed to provide a direct mechanism for MLAs to address the developmental needs of their constituencies in a more targeted and effective manner.

Additional Information

• MLA Local Area Development Program Scheme:
• It is a scheme implemented at the state level in India to empower MLAs to recommend developmental work in their constituencies.
• The scheme is analogous to the Members of Parliament Local Area Development Scheme (MPLADS) but operates at the state level for state legislators.
• MLAs can recommend works based on the locally felt needs, with a focus on creating lasting community assets.
• Projects recommended under this scheme must adhere to the guidelines set by the respective state governments.
• Fund Utilization:
• The funds are strictly monitored to ensure they are used for the intended purposes and not misused.
• MLAs need to submit utilization certificates and progress reports to the concerned authorities periodically.
• Accountability and Transparency:
• To ensure transparency, many states have provisions for auditing the projects funded through this scheme.
• Public access to the details of projects and funds utilization is often provided through state government portals.
• Impact on Local Development:
• The scheme has significantly contributed to the development of rural and urban areas by addressing specific local issues.
• It has empowered local representatives to directly impact the quality of life in their constituencies.

Concept:

• Wool is obtained from the fleece of animals.
• This wool is in form of thin fibres which are then woven to make clothes.
• Fabrics are made up of yarns and yarns are further made up of fibres.
• Clothes are made out of fabrics.

Explanation:

Spinning:

• The process of making yarn from fibres is called spinning.
• In this process, fibres from a mass of cotton wool are drawn out and twisted.
• This brings the fibres together to form a yarn.
• A simple device used for spinning is charkha.

Shearing:

• Wool is obtained from the hair of sheep or yak.
• Shearing is the process by which hairs are removed from the bodies of wool yielding animals.
• This hair is then processed to make wool.​

Weaving:

• The process of arranging two sets of yarns together to make a fabric is called weaving.
• The weaving of fabric is done on looms.
• The looms are either hand-operated or power-operated.

Ginning:

• Fibres of the cotton ball are separated from the seeds by combing.
• This process is called ginning of cotton.
• Ginning was traditionally done by hand.
• These days, machines are also used for ginning.

∴  The process by which hair is collected from sheep's body to collect wool is called shearing.

The correct answer is Sahiwal 

Key Points

 Sahiwal is the milch breed. 

Native: Montgomery (Pakistan) 

Milk Yield: 1100-3100 (liters/lactation)

Highest and sweetest milk-producing cow breed in India.

Additional Information 

Draught purpose Breeds:

Breed name: Malvi 

Native: Malwa (MP) 

Breed name: Amritmahal  

Native: Mysore (Karnataka)

Breed name: Nagori 

Native: Nagaur and Jodhpur  (Rajasthan)

Breed name: Kangayam

Native: Tamil Nadu

The correct answer is Haemorrhagic septicaemia.

Key Points

• Viral haemorrhagic septicaemia (VHS) is a disease caused by a virus.
• This viral disease affects a wide range of fish species, particularly in temperate freshwater and marine environments.
• VHS is characterized by hemorrhaging in the internal organs, muscles, and skin.
• The disease can lead to significant mortality in fish populations, especially in aquaculture settings.

Important Points

• VHS is a notifiable disease, meaning outbreaks must be reported to appropriate authorities.
• Control measures include quarantine, disinfection, and destruction of infected stocks to prevent spread.

Additional Information

• Abdominal dropsy: Usually caused by bacterial infections, leading to swollen abdomen in fish.
• Furunculosis: A bacterial disease that causes boils or ulcers on the fish.
• Gill rot: Typically caused by fungal or bacterial infections affecting the gills.
• Ectoparasite infection: Caused by external parasites such as lice and flukes on fish.

The correct answer is option 3.

Key Points

• The Panchdhara Scheme includes sub-schemes such as Gramya, Kalpavriksha, and Affection, but Prosperity is not a part of this scheme. Hence, option 3 is correct.