Economic Presence of the Government Chapter Notes | Civics Class 8 ICSE PDF Download

Introduction

• The Indian government is dedicated to the development of all sections of society.
• Besides maintaining law and order and defending the country, it focuses on welfare activities.
• It aims to improve the economic and social conditions of citizens.
• The Planning Commission, set up in March 1950, worked to raise living standards.
• Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru was the first Chairman of the Planning Commission.
• The Planning Commission assessed resources and made plans for their effective use.

The Government and Its Economic Duties

• In the 2014-2015 budget, the government introduced measures to support farmers, promote clean energy, and ensure women’s safety.
• It set up a National Adaptation Fund to help farmers cope with changing weather due to global warming.
• Farming contributes about one-sixth of India’s GDP but depends heavily on unpredictable monsoon rains.
• The government planned to build solar power plants in Rajasthan, Gujarat, Tamil Nadu, and Ladakh.
• It also announced a scheme for solar-powered agricultural water pumping stations.

Infrastructural Activities

• The government is responsible for building and maintaining infrastructure like roads, water systems, transportation, and telecommunications.
  • Infrastructure includes essential systems like airports, utilities, education, healthcare, research, and training facilities.

Transportation

• Transportation is essential for economic growth and human welfare.
• It is a growing industry worldwide.

Aviation

• The aviation sector supports economic growth, social development, and tourism.
• The 11th Five-Year Plan (2007-2012) led to significant growth in aviation.
• Four international airport projects were completed through public-private partnerships.
• Airports like Indira Gandhi International Airport and Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose Airport were upgraded.
• India is the 9th largest aviation market, handling 121 million domestic and 41 million international passengers.

Roads

• Roads are crucial for trade, transport, social integration, and economic development.
• India’s road network is about 4.69 million km, the 3rd largest globally.
• National highways make up 2% of the road network but handle 40% of traffic.
• The Government of India manages national highways through the National Highways Development Project (NHDP).
• National highways span 66,590 km, acting as the country’s main road network.
• Road types include national highways, expressways, state highways, major district roads, other district roads, and village roads.
• The Mumbai-Pune expressway is one of India’s oldest expressways.

Ports in India

• India has a coastline over 7,517 km with more than 200 ports.
• Ports handle cargo ships traveling between East Asia, America, Europe, and Africa.
• There are 13 major ports and about 200 non-major ports.
• All ports except Ennore are managed by the government.
• Private sector involvement in ports has increased.

Indian Railways

• Indian Railways, started by the British in 1853, began with a 33.8 km journey from Mumbai to Thane.
• It is one of the largest and busiest rail networks, covering 63,000 km with 7,000 stations.
• It carries about 12 million passengers daily.
• The Mumbai suburban railway is the world’s densest railway route.
• The government is responsible for railway development and maintenance.
• Private agencies are allowed to provide container services.
• The Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation (IRCTC) offers online ticket booking.
• IRCTC’s new app provides 24/7 access for better ticket booking experience.

Power Sector in India

• India has the world’s 5th largest electricity generation capacity.
• Power comes from coal, lignite, natural gas, oil, water, nuclear energy, wind, sun, and agricultural/domestic waste.
• Electricity demand is growing rapidly and expected to rise further.
• The government works with private companies to increase power production.
• A target was set to generate 10,000 MW of solar power by 2017.
• Renewable energy, especially wind energy, is a major power source in India.

Indian Telecom Industry

• India is the world’s second-largest telecommunication market.
• In 2013, there were about 900 million telephone connections.
• Growth is driven by demand for smartphones and high-speed 3G/4G networks.
• Both private and public companies meet the growing telecom demand.

Activities in the Social Sector

• The government launches welfare schemes for health, education, water, and housing.
• Various ministries work to improve these areas for different sections of society.

Education

Education is vital for India’s growth and socioeconomic development. An educated population not only drives economic growth, but also has a positive impact on health and nutrition. Realizing the economic benefits of education, in 1993, the Supreme Court recognized the Right to Education as a fundamental right.

The Central Government initiated the Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan (SSA) in 2000, which is aimed towards universal enrolment of children in school, bringing out-of-school children to school, etc. The programme aims to open new schools and develop the infrastructure of existing schools through:

• Building additional classrooms
• Constructing toilets
• Providing drinking water
• Hiring additional teachers
• Improving teacher training

The SSA also specially focuses on education of girls and children with special needs. Several other programmes like the Midday Meal Scheme (MDM) and pre-primary education under Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS) schemes were introduced to support child education.

Educational Schemes

• Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS) Scheme: It deals with problems of malnutrition, morbidity, mortality and school drop outs. It works towards improving health of children below 6 years of age and their mothers.
• Kasturba Gandhi Balika VidyalayaScheme (KGBV): This scheme sets up residential schools for girls belonging to SC, ST, OBC, and minority communities and families below the poverty line in Educationally Backward Blocks (EBB). It has been integrated in SSA.
• Midday Meal Scheme(MDM): The National Programme of Nutritional Support to Primary Education or the Midday Meal Scheme provides a cooked midday meal to all children studying in classes I-V free of cost on all working days.

Water Supply and Sanitation

• The right to water is part of the right to life under Article 21 of the Constitution.
• Over 1,600 children under five die yearly in India due to water-related diseases.
• Safe drinking water and sanitation reduce communicable diseases by 70-80%.
• The Rajiv Gandhi National Drinking Water Mission (RGNDWM) ensures sustainable safe drinking water for rural areas.
• Rural sanitation programs like Central Rural Sanitation Programme and Nirmal Bharat Abhiyan improve facilities.
• These programs build toilets, drains, and aim to stop open defecation.
• The 2015-16 budget allocated funds for Delhi’s water supply, canal assessments, river linking, solar pumps, and cleaning the Ganga.
• The Ministry of Drinking Water and Sanitation was formed in 2011 to focus on these issues.

Housing

• The government creates and implements social housing schemes.
• Indira Awas Yojana (IAY) provides houses for rural people below the poverty line.
• IAY houses are built in clusters for easy access to common facilities.
• Bharat Nirman, launched in 2005-2006, builds rural infrastructure like electricity, housing, water, roads, irrigation, and telephone connectivity.
• The National Slum Development Programme (NSDP), started in 1996, upgrades urban slums.
• NSDP provides amenities like water supply, drains, community latrines, and better housing.
• NSDP funds also support preschool, informal education, adult education, maternity, child health, and immunization.

Employment, Health, and Other Social Welfare Schemes

• National Rural Health Mission (NRHM), launched in 2005, provides accessible, affordable, and quality healthcare for the poor. 
• National Social Assistance Programme(NSAP) supports the poor through schemes like: 
  • Indira Gandhi National Old Age Pension Scheme (IGNOAPS) for elderly support. 
  • Indira Gandhi National Widow Pension Scheme (IGNWPS) for widows. 
  • Indira Gandhi National Disability Pension Scheme (IGNDPS) for disabled individuals. 
  • National Family Benefit Scheme (NFBS) for family support. 
  • Annapurna Scheme for food security. 
• Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA) guarantees 100 days of employment per year for rural adults for unskilled work at minimum wage. 
• National Literacy Mission Programme (NLM), started in 1988, aims to make 80 million adults (aged 15-35) literate over eight years. 
• Rashtriya Swasthya Bima Yojana (RSBY) provides health insurance for Below Poverty Line families. 
• Sampoorna Grameen Rozgar Yojana (SGRY) offers wages, employment, food security, and creates community assets in rural areas. 
• Integrated Rural Development Programme (IRDP), launched in 1978, tackles rural poverty by supporting landless laborers, marginal farmers, and rural craftsmen. 

Conclusion

• Government schemes in housing, education, health, water, and sanitation improve social and economic conditions.
• Employment opportunities and infrastructure development support mobility and progress.
• Central and State Governments, along with private agencies, work together to implement these schemes.