Infrastructure

The Kaleshwaram Lift Irrigation Project is a multi-purpose irrigation project on the Godavari River in Kaleshwaram, Bhupalpally, Telangana.
Its farthest upstream influence is at the confluence of the Pranhita and Godavari rivers. The Pranahita River is itself a confluence of various smaller tributaries including the Wardha, Painganga, and Wainganga rivers.
# The National Green Tribunal (NGT) has held that environmental clearance (EC) to Kaleshwaram Lift Irrigation Project (KLIP) was granted ex post facto, after completion of substantial work, by the Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate Change (MoEF&CC) “in violation of law”.

Statement 1 is correct. The recently inaugurated 9.02 Km long Atal tunnel connects Manali to Lahaul-Spiti valley throughout the year. Earlier the valley was cut off for about 6 months each year owing to heavy snowfall.
Statement 2 is incorrect. It is horse shoe shaped, single tube double lane highway tunnel (not railway). The Tunnel is built with ultra-modern specifications in the Pir Panjal range of Himalayas at an altitude of 3000 Mtrs (10,000 Feet) from the Mean Sea Level (MSL).

The Union Government has recently given approval for the construction of 66 Megawatt Dhaulasidh hydroelectric projects in Hamirpur district, Himachal Pradesh.
It is a run of river scheme on river Beas with a concrete gravity dam. The dam would create a reservoir of about 20 Kilometer. The project is being implemented by the Satluj Jal Vidyut Nigam Limited (SJVNL).

Statement 1 is correct. Char Dham National Highway (NH) connectivity programme comprises projects of improvement/development of 889 km length of NHs leading to Yamunotri Dham, Gangotri Dham, Kedarnath Dham, Badrinath Dham. Projects under Char Dham lie within the State of Uttarakhand only.
Statement 2 is incorrect. The works under Char Dham Pariyojna are being implemented on Engineering Procurement and Construction (EPC) mode of contract. These projects are being implemented by 3 executing agencies of Ministry of Road Transport and Highways, viz, Uttarakhand State PWD, Border Road Organization (BRO) and National Highway & Infrastructure Development Corporation Limited (NHIDCL).

All of the above gas/oil fields are correctly matched.
Farzad B Gas Field is located in Persian Gulf under the control of Iran. India has plans to invest in the exploration of this oilfield.
Baghjan Oil field is in Tinsukia district of Assam. Recently a massive fire engulfed the damaged Baghjan oil well in Assam.
Ghawar Oil Field is located in Eastern Province, Saudi Arabia, owned and operated by state-owned Saudi Aramco. It is one of the largest conventional oil field in the world, and accounts for roughly a third of the cumulative oil production of Saudi Arabia.

Statement 1 is correct. Bharatmala Pariyojana is an umbrella program for the highways sector that focuses on optimizing efficiency of freight and passenger movement across the country by bridging critical infrastructure gaps through effective interventions like development of Economic Corridors, Inter Corridors and Feeder Routes, National Corridor Efficiency Improvement, Border and International connectivity roads, Coastal and Port connectivity roads and Green-field expressways.
# A multi-modal logistic park is being developed in Assam under the Bharatmala Pariyojna.
Statement 2 is incorrect. The Sagarmala programme aims to promote port-led development in the country through harnessing India’s 7,500 km long coastline, 14500 km of potentially navigable waterways and strategic location on key international maritime trade routes.

Statement 1 is correct. RCS-UDAN, “Ude Desh ka Aam Nagrik” is a Government of India’s flagship program which aims to provide affordable, economically viable and profitable air travel on regional routes. This Regional Connectivity Scheme offers unique opportunity to a common man to fly at an affordable price.
The Airports Authority of India (AAI) has been designated as the Implementing Agency under this Scheme.
Statement 2 is incorrect. Under this Scheme, support is provided to Selected Airline Operator(s) in the form of Viability Gap Funding and other concessions / support offered by the Central Government, State Governments and airport operators but the VGF support is not provided for cargo operations.
# UDAN has played a major role in adding new airports and routes to the aviation landscape of the country. 50 unserved and underserved airports (including 5 heliports) with 285 routes have been added under UDAN across the length and breadth of India. AAI has an ambitious plan to develop at least 100 airports/waterdromes/heliports by 2024 under the Scheme.

Statement 1 is incorrect. The project originally [2011] envisaged the rehabilitation and improvement of 223 dam projects in four states namely, Kerala, Madhya Pradesh, Odisha, and Tamil Nadu. Later Karnataka, Uttarakhand (UJVNL) and Damodar Valley Corporation (DVC) joined the DRIP.
DRIP Phase II & Phase III envisages comprehensive rehabilitation of 736 existing dams located across the country.
Statement 2 is correct. The Dam Rehabilitation and Improvement Project (DRIP) started with financial assistance from World Bank in 2011.
Recently, the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs chaired by the Prime Minister has approved the DRIP Phase II & Phase III with the financial assistance of the World Bank (WB), and Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB) to improve the safety and operational performance of selected dams across the whole country, along with institutional strengthening with system wide management approach.
DRIP Phase II & Phase III envisages the following objectives:
— To improve the safety and performance of selected existing dams and associated appurtenances in a sustainable manner.
— To strengthen the dam safety institutional setup in participating states as well as at central level, and
— To explore the alternative incidental means at few of selected dams to generate the incidental revenue for sustainable operation and maintenance of dams

Statement 1 is incorrect. Indian Railways has launched “Meri Saheli” initiative for focused action on security of women across all zones with an objective to provide safety and security to lady passengers travelling by trains for their entire journey from starting station to destination station.
Statement 2 is correct. An initiative of RPF, the Strategy entails interaction with lady passengers especially those travelling alone by a team of young lady RPF personnel at the originating station.
RPF teams at the destination collect the feedback from the identified lady passengers. The feedback is then analysed and corrective action, if any, is taken. If some distress call comes from a train covered under “Meri Saheli” initiative, the disposal of the call is monitored at the level of senior officers.

Ministry of Shipping has issued the draft of Coastal Shipping Bill, 2020 for suggestions from the stakeholders and general public
As the shipping sector grows and evolves in the country, a need was felt to have a separate legislation on coastal shipping, which considers it an integral part of the transport chain and recognizes the policy priorities of the sector to meet the demands of the Indian shipping industry. While drafting this Bill, the global best practices have also been considered.
–The definition of coastal shipping and coastal waters has been expanded.
–It is proposed to do away with the requirement of trading licence for Indian flag vessels for coastal trade.
–The Bill seeks to create a competitive environment and reduce transportation costs, while encouraging Indian vessels to increase their share in coastal shipping.
–The Bill also proposes integration of coastal maritime transport with inland waterways.
–There is a provision for a National Coastal and Inland Shipping Strategic Plan.

Major Port Authorities Bill, 2020seeks to provide for regulation, operation and planning of major ports in India and provide greater autonomy to these ports. It seeks to replace the Major Port Trusts Act, 1963.
Statement 1 is correct. The Bill will apply to the major ports of Chennai, Cochin, Jawaharlal Nehru Port, Kandla, Kolkata, Mumbai, New Mangalore, Mormugao, Paradip, V.O. Chidambaranar, and Vishakhapatnam.
Statement 2 is correct. The Bill provides for the creation of a Board of Major Port Authority for each major port. These Boards will replace the existing Port Trusts of 1963 Act.
The Board will comprise of a Chairperson and a deputy Chairperson, both appointed by the central government on the recommendation of a selection committee; one member each from (i) the respective state governments, (ii) the Railways Ministry, (iii) the Defence Ministry, and (iv) the Customs Department The Board will also include two to four independent members, and two members representing the interests of the employees of the Major Port Authority.

Statement 1 is incorrect. SAROD-Ports (Society for Affordable Redressal of Disputes – Ports) is established under Societies Registration Act, 1860.
Statement 2 is correct. SAROD-Ports objectives:
-Affordable and timely resolution of disputes in fair manner
-Enrichment of Dispute Resolution Mechanism with the panel of technical experts as arbitrators.
SAROD-Ports consists members from Indian Ports Association (IPA) and Indian Private Ports and Terminals Association (IPTTA).
SAROD-Ports will advise and assist in settlement of disputes through arbitrations in the maritime sector, including ports and shipping sector in Major Port Trusts, Non-major Ports, including private ports, jetties, terminals and harbours. It will also cover disputes between granting authority and Licensee/Concessionaire /Contractor and also disputes between Licensee/Concessionaire and their contractors arising out of and during the course of execution of various contracts.

The Thai Canal or Kra Isthmus Canal is a project that would connect the Gulf of Thailand with the Andaman Sea across the Kra Isthmus in southern Thailand.
The canal would provide an alternative to transit through the Straits of Malacca and shorten transit for shipments of oil to Japan and China.

Statement 1 is correct. “Transport Bubbles” or “Air Travel Arrangements” are temporary arrangements between two countries aimed at restarting commercial passenger services when regular international flights are suspended as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.
They are reciprocal in nature, meaning airlines from both countries enjoy similar benefits.
Statement 2 is incorrect. India has entered into Air Bubble agreements with 10 countries viz. USA, Canada, France, Germany, UK, Maldives, UAE, Qatar, Afghanistan and Bahrain, till 13.09.2020.

Statement 1 is correct. The National Infrastructure Pipeline is an effort to augment India’s infrastructure through an identified investment of INR 111 Lakh crores between FY 2020-25. It is a first-of-its-kind, whole-of-government exercise to provide world-class infrastructure across the country, and improve the quality of life for all citizens.

Statement 2 is incorrect. It aims to improve project preparation, attract investments (both domestic and foreign) into infrastructure, and will be crucial for target of becoming a $5 trillion economy by FY 2025.

The NIP project database is hosted on India Investment Grid (IIG) and the online dashboard as a one-stop solution for all stakeholders looking for information on infrastructure projects in India has been recently unveiled by the Finance Minister.

Statement 1 is correct. Green Highways (Plantation, Transplantation, Beautification & Maintenance) Policy, 2015 of the Ministry Road Transport & Highways and Shipping promotes greening and development eco-friendly National Highway corridors across the country with participation of farmers, private sector and government institutions including Forest Department.

Statement 2 is correct. The National Highways Authority of India (NHAI), a public sector undertaking under the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways, has developed a mobile App called ‘Harit Path’ to monitor location, growth, species details, maintenance activities, targets and achievements of each of its field units for each and every plant under all plantation projects.

In order to track the growth and health of the plants, photographs along with data of the plants captured using Harit Path shall be uploaded every 3 months on NHAI’s AI powered Big Data Analytics platform – Data Lake.

Adjusted Gross Revenue (AGR).

• The telecom sector was liberalized under the National Telecom Policy, 1994 after which licenses were issued to companies in return for a fixed license fee.
• To provide relief from the steep fixed license fee, the government in 1999 gave an option to the licensees to migrate to the revenue sharing fee model.
• Under this, mobile telephone operators were required to share a percentage of their AGR with the government as annual license fee (LF) and spectrum usage charges (SUC).
• License agreements between the Department of Telecommunications (DoT) and the telecom companies define the gross revenues of the latter.
• AGR is then computed after allowing for certain deductions spelt out in these license agreements.
• The LF and SUC were set at 8 per cent and between 3-5 per cent of AGR respectively, based on the agreement.

The Kerala Rail Development Corporation (KRDCL) is confident that the ₹66,405-crore Thiruvananthapuram-Kasaragod semi-high-speed rail corridor project (named Silver Line) for which year 2024 has been set as the deadline, will be economically feasible and attain operational break-even within 10 years of being commissioned.

 Of the total cost of the 532-km project, around 50% will be loan at less than 1% interest from multilateral lending agencies such as KfW, AIIB (Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank), JICA (Japan International Cooperation Agency), or ADB (Asian Development Bank).

 Repayment is assured since there will be a rate of return of 8.1% on the investment. The balance amount will be raised from equity and (subordinate) debt from from the State and Central governments

Mission Purvodaya in steel sector envisions creating an integrated steel hub in Eastern India.

 With abundance of raw materials, strategic geographical location and strong and developing connectivity, Odisha is well poised to be the heart of this eastern steel hub.

 The Mission is rolled out by Union Petroleum and Natural Gas & Steel Ministry.

 More than 75% of India‘s envisioned incremental steel capacity will come from eastern India, with Odisha alone crossing 100 MTPA.

 In Odisha, Kalinganagar will be developed as the epicenter of Mission Purvodaya

The ministries of Power, Coal and Railways have formed a web portal to track the movement of coal from the coal mines to power plants.

 The portal is named PRAKASH — an abbreviation for Power Rail Koyla Availability through Supply Harmony.

 Speaking at the launch event, Minister for Coal, Mines and Parliamentary Affairs, said: “This portal will help avoid any blame game between ministries on the supply and availability of coal. It will also help coal better plan better coal supplies.”

 “Coal supplies this year were disrupted because of unprecedented rains and strikes. Coal India has been increasing its supplies considerably and we expect to meet all demands of power plants”.

 This portal is designed to help in mapping and monitoring entire the coal supply chain for power plants, through coal stock at the supply end (mines), coal quantities/rakes planned, coal quantity in transit and coal availability at power generating station.

 It aims at bringing better coordination for coal supplies among all stakeholders, namely the Ministry of Power, Ministry of Coal, Coal India, Railways and power utilities.

Terming delays in highway projects as “unacceptable”, Road Transport and Highways Minister, asked officials and developers to strictly adhere to project schedules.

 Minister also launched online web portal ‘GATI’ on the pattern of ‘PRAGATI’, the portal used by the Prime Ministers’ Office for monitoring projects.

 The portal ‘GATI’ can be accessed from NHAI’s website, and contractors and concessionaires can raise any project-related issues on the platform, according to a statement by the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways.

 The issues raised on ‘GATI’ will be daily monitored by a team of NHAI officers and will be constantly reviewed by the senior officers of the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) and the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways.

Statement 1 is incorrect. The project originally [2011] envisaged the

rehabilitation and improvement of 223 dam projects in four states namely, Kerala, Madhya

Pradesh, Odisha, and Tamil Nadu. Later Karnataka, Uttarakhand (UJVNL) and Damodar

Valley Corporation (DVC) joined the DRIP.

DRIP Phase II & Phase III envisages comprehensive rehabilitation of 736 existing dams

located across the country.

Statement 2 is correct. The Dam Rehabilitation and Improvement Project (DRIP) started

with financial assistance from World Bank in 2011.

Recently, the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs chaired by the Prime Minister has

approved the DRIP Phase II & Phase III with the financial assistance of the World Bank

(WB), and Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB) to improve the safety and

operational performance of selected dams across the whole country, along with institutional

strengthening with system wide management approach.

DRIP Phase II & Phase III envisages the following objectives:

— To improve the safety and performance of selected existing dams and associated

appurtenances in a sustainable manner.

— To strengthen the dam safety institutional setup in participating states as well as at

central level, and

— To explore the alternative incidental means at few of selected dams to generate the

incidental revenue for sustainable operation and maintenance of dams

Ministry of Shipping has issued the draft of Coastal Shipping Bill, 2020 for suggestions from the stakeholders and general public As the shipping sector grows and evolves in the country, a need was felt to have a separate legislation on coastal shipping, which considers it an integral part of the transport chain and recognizes the policy priorities of the sector to meet the demands of the Indian shipping industry. While drafting this Bill, the global best practices have also been considered.

–The definition of coastal shipping and coastal waters has been expanded.

–It is proposed to do away with the requirement of trading licence for Indian flag vessels for coastal trade.

–The Bill seeks to create a competitive environment and reduce transportation costs, while encouraging Indian vessels to increase their share in coastal shipping.

–The Bill also proposes integration of coastal maritime transport with inland waterways.

–There is a provision for a National Coastal and Inland Shipping Strategic Plan.

Both statements are correct.

India will require an investment of around $4.5 trillion by 2040 to develop the

infrastructure for sustaining its economic growth. However, the challenges in infrastructure

development that obstruct the smooth execution of projects can be a deterrent.

NITI Aayog and Quality Council of India (QCI) recently launched the ‘National Program

and Project Management Policy Framework’ (NPMPF), with the aim of bringing radical

reforms in the way infrastructure projects are executed in India.

The Indian Infrastructure Body of Knowledge (InBoK), a book on the practice of program

and project management in India was also unveiled.

Further, a task force was also constituted to lay down a national program and project

management policy framework.

Statement 1 is correct. The recently inaugurated 9.02 Km long Atal tunnel

connects Manali to Lahaul-Spiti valley throughout the year. Earlier the valley was cut off

for about 6 months each year owing to heavy snowfall.

Statement 2 is incorrect. It is horse shoe shaped, single tube double lane highway tunnel

(not railway). The Tunnel is built with ultra-modern specifications in the Pir Panjal range of

Himalayas at an altitude of 3000 Mtrs (10,000 Feet) from the Mean Sea Level (MSL).

Statement 1 is correct. Bharatmala Pariyojana is an umbrella program for
the highways sector that focuses on optimizing efficiency of freight and passenger
movement across the country by bridging critical infrastructure gaps through effective
interventions like development of Economic Corridors, Inter Corridors and Feeder Routes,
National Corridor Efficiency Improvement, Border and International connectivity roads,
Coastal and Port connectivity roads and Green-field expressways.
# A multi-modal logistic park is being developed in Assam under the Bharatmala Pariyojna.
Statement 2 is incorrect. The Sagarmala programme aims to promote port-led development
in the country through harnessing India’s 7,500 km long coastline, 14500 km of potentially
navigable waterways and strategic location on key international maritime trade routes.

Statement 1 is incorrect. SAROD-Ports (Society for Affordable Redressal of
Disputes – Ports) is established under Societies Registration Act, 1860.
Statement 2 is correct. SAROD-Ports objectives:
-Affordable and timely resolution of disputes in fair manner
-Enrichment of Dispute Resolution Mechanism with the panel of technical experts as
arbitrators.
SAROD-Ports consists members from Indian Ports Association (IPA) and Indian Private
Ports and Terminals Association (IPTTA).
SAROD-Ports will advise and assist in settlement of disputes through arbitrations in the
maritime sector, including ports and shipping sector in Major Port Trusts, Non-major Ports,
including private ports, jetties, terminals and harbours. It will also cover disputes between
granting authority and Licensee/Concessionaire /Contractor and also disputes between
Licensee/Concessionaire and their contractors arising out of and during the course of
execution of various contracts.

Statement 1 is correct. “Transport Bubbles” or “Air Travel Arrangements”
are temporary arrangements between two countries aimed at restarting commercial
passenger services when regular international flights are suspended as a result of the
COVID-19 pandemic.
They are reciprocal in nature, meaning airlines from both countries enjoy similar benefits.
Statement 2 is incorrect. India has entered into Air Bubble agreements with 10
countries viz. USA, Canada, France, Germany, UK, Maldives, UAE, Qatar, Afghanistan and
Bahrain, till 13.09.2020.

Major Port Authorities Bill, 2020 seeks to provide for regulation, operation
and planning of major ports in India and provide greater autonomy to these ports. It seeks
to replace the Major Port Trusts Act, 1963.
Statement 1 is correct. The Bill will apply to the major ports of Chennai, Cochin,
Jawaharlal Nehru Port, Kandla, Kolkata, Mumbai, New Mangalore, Mormugao, Paradip,
V.O. Chidambaranar, and Vishakhapatnam.
Statement 2 is correct. The Bill provides for the creation of a Board of Major Port
Authority for each major port. These Boards will replace the existing Port Trusts of 1963
Act.
The Board will comprise of a Chairperson and a deputy Chairperson, both appointed by the
central government on the recommendation of a selection committee; one member each
from (i) the respective state governments, (ii) the Railways Ministry, (iii) the Defence
Ministry, and (iv) the Customs Department The Board will also include two to four
independent members, and two members representing the interests of the employees of the
Major Port Authority.

Both statements are correct.
To reduce vehicular traffic at the toll plazas, the Government of India (GOI) has mandated all toll plazas, pan India, to make toll payments electronic.
FASTag is a simple to use, reloadable tag which enables automatic deduction of toll charges and lets you pass through the toll plaza without stopping for the cash transaction. FASTag is linked to a prepaid account from which the applicable toll amount is deducted. The tag employs Radio-frequency Identification (RFID) technology and is affixed on the vehicle’s windscreen after the tag account is active.
# The government has enforced the use of FASTag mandatorily for all vehicles starting from January 1, 2021.

Union Ministry of Power has promulgated Electricity (Rights of Consumers) Rules, 2020 laying down the rights of power consumers in the country.
Rights and Obligations:
–It is the duty of every distribution licensee to supply electricity on request made by an owner or occupier of any premises in line with the provisions of Act.
–It is the right of consumer to have minimum standards of service for supply of electricity from the distribution licensee.
Release of new connection and modification in existing connection:
–Transparent, simple and time bound processes,
–Applicant has option for online application,
–Maximum time period of 7 days in metro cities and 15 days in other municipal areas and 30 days in rural areas identified to provide new connection and modify an existing connection:
Metering: No connection shall be given without a meter, Provision of Testing of meters, Provisions for replacement of defective or burnt or stolen meters specified.

Both statements are correct.
The Government of India and the World Bank recently signed a $500 million project to build safe and green national highway corridors in the states of Rajasthan, Himachal Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh and Andhra Pradesh.
The Green National Highways Corridors Project will support MoRTH construct 783 km of highways in various geographies by integrating safe and green technology designs such as local and marginal materials, industrial byproducts, and other bioengineering solutions. The project will help reduce GHG emissions in the construction and maintenance of highways.
The $500 million loan from the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (IBRD), has a maturity of 18.5 years including a grace period of five years.

Statement 1 is correct. The Sagarmala programme is the flagship programme of the Ministry of Shipping to promote port-led development in the country through harnessing India’s 7,500 km long coastline, 14500 km of potentially navigable waterways and strategic location on key international maritime trade routes.
Statement 2 is correct. Components of Sagarmala Programme are:
Port Modernization & New Port Development: De-bottlenecking and capacity expansion of existing ports and development of new greenfield ports
Port Connectivity Enhancement: Enhancing the connectivity of the ports to the hinterland, optimizing cost and time of cargo movement through multi-modal logistics solutions including domestic waterways
Port-linked Industrialization: Developing port-proximate industrial clusters and Coastal Economic Zones to reduce logistics cost and time of EXIM and domestic cargo
Coastal Community Development: Promoting sustainable development of coastal communities through skill development & livelihood generation activities, fisheries development, coastal tourism etc.
Coastal Shipping & Inland Waterways Transport: Impetus to move cargo through the sustainable and environment-friendly coastal and inland waterways mode.
# Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways (MoPSW) intends to create Product Specific Warehouses/Silos at various Ports, Multi Modal Logistics Parks located near Port area and alongside the National Waterways.

The Union Cabinet approved a proposal to set up a major port at Vadhavan near Dahanu in Maharashtra with a total cost of ₹65,545 crore, including about ₹14,500 crore of GST.

This is part of the government’s plan to develop infrastructure projects with a cost of ₹100-lakh crore over the next five years.