Saturday 30 November 2013

Free Essays for Competitive exams-Declining Trend in AIDS/HIV Continues even as NACO Launches Phase IV with World Bank AID


Declining Trend in AIDS/HIV Continues even as NACO Launches Phase IV with World Bank AID 

The HIV/AIDS epidemic constitutes one of the most formidable challenges to development and social progress. The epidemic impacts poverty and inequality and increases the burden on the most vulnerable sections in society, i.e. the elderly, the women, children and the poor. Countries that do not respond in time have to bear huge costs as a result of declining productivity, loss of skilled and experienced labour and increased expenditures on treatment and associated costs as the demand for public services increases. Impact will be on virtually every sector of the national economies. The 2013 theme for World AIDS Day is “Shared Responsibility: Strengthening Results for an AIDS-Free Generation.

 World Scenario

Even as the war against this dreaded infection continues, new infections among adults and children were estimated at 2.3 million in 2012, a 33% reduction since 2001. New HIV infections among children have come down by 52% since 2001. AIDS-related deaths have also dropped by 30% since the peak in 2005 as access to antiretroviral treatment expands. Significant results have also been achieved towards meeting the needs of tuberculosis (TB) patients living with HIV, as TB-related deaths among people living with HIV have declined by 36% since 2004.

By the end of 2012, some 9.7 million people in low- and middle-income countries were accessing antiretroviral therapy, an increase of nearly 20% in just one year. In 2011, UN Member States agreed to a 2015 target of reaching 15 million people with HIV treatment. However, as countries scaled up their treatment coverage and as new evidence emerged showing the HIV prevention benefits of antiretroviral therapy, the World Health Organization set new HIV treatment guidelines, expanding the total number of people estimated to be in need of treatment by more than 10 million.

Despite a flattening in donor funding for HIV, which has remained around the same as 2008 levels, domestic spending on HIV has increased, accounting for 53% of global HIV resources in 2012. The total global resources available for HIV in 2012 was estimated at US$ 18.9 billion, US$ 3-5 billion short of the US$ 22-24 billion estimated to be needed annually by 2015.


 Situation in India

The National AIDS Control Programme continues to make progress toward the Millennium Development Goal of halting and reversing the HIV epidemic. The adult HIV prevalence at national level has continued its steady decline from estimated level of 0.41% in 2001 through 0.35% in 2006 to 0.27% in 2011. National adult (15-49 years) HIV prevalence which was estimated at 0.33% in 2007, has declined to 0.27% in 2011. Declining trends in adult HIV prevalence are sustained in all the high prevalence states namely, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Maharashtra, Manipur, Nagaland and Tamil Nadu and other states such as Mizoram and Goa. However, the low prevalence states of Assam, Arunachal Pradesh, Chandigarh, Chhattisgarh, Delhi, Jharkhand, Meghalaya, Odisha, Punjab, Tripura and Uttarakhand have shown rising trends in adult HIV prevalence.

India has demonstrated an overall reduction of 57% in estimated annual new HIV infections (among adult population) during the last decade from 2.74 lakh in 2000 to 1.16 lakh in 2011. This is important evidence on the impact of the various interventions under National AIDS Control Programme and scaled-up prevention strategies. Major contribution to this reduction comes from the high prevalence states where a reduction of 76% has been noted during the same period. The total number of people living with HIV/AIDS in India is estimated at 21 lakh in 2011. Children (under15 yrs.) account for 7% (1.45 lakh) of all infections, while 86% is in the age – group of 15-49 years. Of all HIV infections, 39% (8.16 lakh) are among women. The estimated number of people living with HIV in India maintains a steady declining trend from 23.2 lakh in 2006 to 21 lakh in 2011.

The programme data indicates that antiretroviral treatment  services for adults increased by 30% between  2009- 10 and 2010-11.Wider access to antiretroviral treatment has led to 29% reduction in estimated annual AIDS-related deaths during NACP-III period (2007-2011). Greater declines in estimated annual deaths are noted in states where significant scale up of antiretroviral treatment services has been achieved. In high prevalence states, estimated AIDS-related deaths have decreased by around 42% during 2007 to 2011. As on July 2013, around 6.76 lakh people living with HIV are receiving free antiretroviral treatment across the country.

The coverage of targeted interventions with services for high risk groups has significant improvement. Presently, 84% of female sex workers (FSW), 87% of men-who-have-sex-with-men (MSM) and 84% of injecting drug users (IDU) have access to prevention interventions. An impact evaluation (2011) shows that the progress in the decline of HIV among FSW is attributable to the national programme focus on targeted interventions; with an estimated 3 million HIV infections projected to be averted by the national program by 2015 through targeted prevention interventions alone.

 World Bank and NACO

India has been a long-term partner and recipient of World Bank funding, starting with the first National AIDS Control Project in 1991 through to the current phase of National AIDS control programme. In the early 1990s, the NACP focused on blood safety, prevention among high risk groups, raising awareness in general population and improving surveillance. In the second phase of NACP (1999-2006), India continued to expand the programme at state level, with greater emphasis on targeted interventions and involvement of NGOs. In the third phase, India has scaled up targeted HIV prevention interventions for most at risk populations and further expanded the surveillance system. The surveillance and analytical work has helped the government know its heterogeneous epidemic, identify Indian states which were most affected by HIV and population groups which were most at risk

The goals of the fourth phase of the NACP are aligned with the Government of India’s Twelfth Five Year Plan (2012-2017) goals of inclusive growth and development for long term sustainability. The national programme goals are to accelerate reversal of the HIV epidemic and integrate the response over the next five-year phase. The programme aims at reaching out to the hard-to-reach population groups at high risk with targeted prevention interventions through innovative approaches; increasing access to comprehensive care, support and treatment; expanding information, education and communication with a focus on behavior change, demand generation and stigma reduction; further strengthening the institutional capacity and process of integration; and, continuing to innovate across programme components – generating knowledge and lessons learned for India and beyond.

The National AIDS Control Support Project (NACSP) will support the Strategic Plan of the fourth phase of NACP 2012–2017, with a focus on outcomes. The project will support the following three components:

Component 1- Scaling Up Targeted Prevention Interventions (total estimated cost -US$440 million): This component will support the scaling up of TIs with the aim of reaching out to the hard to reach population groups who do not yet access the prevention services of the programme, and saturate coverage among the HRGs. In addition, this component will support the bridge population, i.e. migrants and truckers.

Component 2 - Behaviour Change Communication (total estimated cost US$40 million): This component will include: (i) communication programmes  for risk reduction and safe behaviour including advocacy, social mobilization and BCC to integrate PLWHA and HRG into society and to encourage normative changes aimed at reducing stigma and discrimination in society at large, and in health facilities specifically, as well as to increase demand and effective utilization of testing and counselling services; (ii) financing of a research and evaluation agency to assess the cost-effectiveness and program impact of behaviour change Communication activities; and (iii) establish and evaluate a helpline at the national and state level to further increase access to information and services.

Component 3- Institutional Strengthening (total estimated cost US$30 million): This component will support programme steering, coordination and managerial roles in managing the prevention component of the programme, during the transformational phase of NACP IV. The dissemination of best practices and innovations from the project at the national and state levels through annual knowledge dissemination forum, necessary project audits will also be financed.

The implementation structures and institutional arrangements of NACSP will remain the same as under NACP III, with the programme being managed by the Department of AIDS Control, at the central level, the State AIDS Control Societies (SACS) at state level, and the District AIDS Prevention Control Units (DAPCUs) at the district level. The Technical Support Units (TSUs), that were established during NACP III to oversee the quality, mentoring, handholding and supporting the TIs in the states along with SACS, will continue to play a key technical role to ensure the quality of TIs.

Although the overall HIV prevalence rates among high risk groups are declining, they remain high (2010-11): 7.14% among injecting drug users, 4.43% among men-who-have-sex-with-men and 2.67% among female sex workers, and there are significant variations in states which necessitates scaling up of efforts to reach the hard to reach populations in these areas. The national programme will continue to innovate and generate lessons from its performance management system and disseminate the best practices across the world in sync with 2013 theme for World AIDS Day - Shared Responsibility: Strengthening Results for an AIDS-Free Generation.

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1st December is observed as World AIDS Day.


Free essays for Competitive Exams-Wings to Boost Indian Textile Industry


Wings to Boost Indian Textile Industry

The Textile Industry in India occupies a unique place in our country. The Industry with its age-old heritage has redefined as fast emerging market with half a billion middle income population in its basket by 2030. One of the earliest to come into existence in India, it accounts for 14% of the total Industrial production, contributes to nearly 30% of the total exports and is the second largest employment generator after agriculture with the current work population of more than 35 million people . Though was predominantly unorganised industry even a few years back, the scenario started changing after the economic liberalisation of Indian economy in 1991. Realising the growing demand, the Ministry of Textiles has taken special initiative to nurture and encourage the industry with innovative schemes and lucrative incentives. 

The fate of the small handloom weaver, Reena has suddenly changed when a financial assistance from the government has poured into after her long battle for survival. To save the debt-ridden handloom weavers, the government of India has introduced Revival, Reform and Restructuring Package for handloom sector. The scheme has been announced on February 28, 2011, and implemented from December 3, 2012. A financial package of 3000 crore rupees on acknowledging the financial distress faced by handloom sector has been sanctioned to implement the scheme. 

The government has also taken special efforts to upgrade the technology alongwith the welfare of the handloom weavers. In order to facilitate modernisation and technology upgradation of Textiles Miles, government has launched technology Upgradation Fund Scheme for Textiles and Jute Industry. The objective of the scheme is to leverage investment in technology upgradation in the Textiles and Jute Industry. It is a credit linked scheme and provides reimbursement of 5% point on the interest charged by the lending agency of project of a technology upgradation in conformity with the scheme, fro spinning machinery, the scheme will provide 4% for new stand alone/replacement/modernisation of spinning machinery and 5% for spinning units with matching capacity in weaving/knitting/processing garmenting. Under TUFS (01.04.1999 to 28.06.2010) 28302 units with a project cost of Rs 207747 crore have been sanctioned term loan of Rs 85091 crore. In 2013-14, a total amount of 414.93 crore rupes was sanctioned under the scheme. 

The Ministry of Textiles has initiated the Scheme for Integrated Textiles Parks (SITP) from August 2005, to provide infrastructure support to the textile industry. Under the scheme, 40 projects with the total project cost of Rs. 4121.23 crore were sanctioned in 2012-2013 and another 21 projects of textile parks have been sanctioned till 2013. The objective of the Scheme is to establish integrated and hi-tech Textile Park with world-class infrastructure and manufacturing facilities based on Public-Private Partnership. 


Several schemes have also been taken for the welfare of Powerloom workers though Group Insurance Scheme. As per the modified scheme, the total premium each Rs 470/- out of which Rs 290/- is to be borne by the office of the Textiles Commissioner and Rs 100/- is being paid by LIC. Only a premium of Rs 80 is to be paid by the Powerloom weavers for getting the benefits under the said scheme. The scheme is in operation since July 2003. Till the may 2013, altogether 35, 063 workers have been enrolled into the industry with the total share of Rs. 1, 01, 68,270/- 

Government is also very much keen to provide modern powerloom sectors to compete with global market. A group workshed scheme for decentralized Powerloom Sector under the Xth five-year plan has been introduced with the aim to setting up of Powerloom Parks with modern weaving machinery to enhance their capabilities to compete with global market. Under the scheme, minimum four weavers should form a group with 48 modern looms of single width or 24 wider width looms and per person minimum four looms will be allowed to be installed. The maximum subsidy will be 12 lakhs per person under the scheme. The scheme does not envisage more than 500 looms under one project proposal. 

The Ministry of Textiles has emphasised on the overall development of the powerloom sector and to achieve this, the Integrated Scheme for Powerloom Cluster Development is being implemented from 2007 with components like Marketing Development programme for Powerloom Sector, Exposer visit of Powerloom Weavers to other Clusters, Powerloom Cluster Development, Development and Upgradation of skills and Survey of the Powerloom Sector. 

The computer aided design system in the textile sector is playing much important role in the growing market trend. To facilitate creation of improved and new designs in the production of textiles, the Government has sanctioned and operationalised 17 CAD Centres in different clusters to provide dedicated design development and manufacturing support to the sectors. During the 11th plan, Government is allocating Rs.10 lakh per year towards expenditure of one CAD centre each. These CAD centre have been upgraded with latest software and hardware system. 


With the continuous and sustained efforts by the Government, the Indian textile sector will certainly have its share in the growth story buoyed by both strong domestic consumption as well as export demand. 

Friday 29 November 2013

TNPSC Group 2 Exam-English-Previous Year Questions Topic wise analysis-Synonyms-meanings-Verb

TNPSC GROUP II ANALYSIS


VOICE – ACTIVE / PASSIVE:


TNPSC GROUP – II (RE EXAM) - November – 2012

1.       Choose the appropriate active voice for the following:
           At what time was the mail delivered?
A)   At what time did they deliver the mail?
B)   At what time will they deliver the mail?
C)   At what time would they deliver the mail?
D)   At what time have they delivered the mail?







Answer: A






2.       Select the appropriate active voice for the underlined words.
           He must be written to.
A)   must be writing
B)   must written
C)   must have been writing
D)   must write







Answer: D





3.       Find out the active voice from the options given:
A)   It has been tested
B)   It was yet to be tested
C)   It is said that she is arrogant
D)   It is an interesting book






Answer: D







4.       Choose the appropriate passive voice for the following sentence.
           Where did the police catch the thief?
A)   Where did the thief catch the police?
B)   Where will the thief catch the police?
C)   Did the police catch the thief?
D)   Where was the thief caught by the police?







Answer: D


TNPSC GROUP – II EXAM (ORIGINAL QUESTION PAPER) - Year - 2012

5.         Select the active voice for the underlined word/words.
            The lecture was attended by many people
A)   attended
B)   will attend
C)   can attend
D)   will be attending







Answer: A







6.         Select the active voice for the underlined word/words.
            A public library is being built by the Chairman.
A)   is building
B)   will build
C)   are building
D)   will be built






Answer: A






7.         Fill in the blank:
            Why should I be ……………… by you?
A)   suspecting
B)   suspected
C)   suspect
D)   suspicious







Answer: B


TNPSC GROUP – II - July – 2011

8.       Select the correct voice from and fill in the blank.
           A few reminders …………….. to the officer.
A)   have been sent
B)   will send
C)   in being sent
D)   be sent







Answer: A







9.       Select the correct voice from and fill in the blank:
           You ……………….. if you disobey.
A)   are being punished
B)   will be punished
C)   has been punished
D)   will punish







Answer: B






10.     Select the correct voice from and fill in the blank:
           He remains unperturbed even though he ………….
A)   had defeated
B)   had defeated
C)   has been defeated
D)   were defeated







Answer: C







11.     Select the correct Passive Voice:
           The table can …………… by him.
A)   lifted
B)   be lifted
C)   lifts
D)   lifting







Answer: B







12.     Select the correct voice from and fill in the blank:
           Let the poor ……………..
A)   insult
B)   insulted
C)   in insulted
D)   be not insulted






Answer: D


TNPSC GROUP – II - April – 2010

13.     Select the correct voice:
           Circles are drawn neatly
A)   Active
B)   Personal Passive
C)   Impersonal Passive
D)   None






Answer: C






14.     Select the correct passive sentence:
           Nobody taught English as he taught it
A)   English was not taught by anybody as it was taught by him
B)   English was taught by nobody as it  is taught by him
C)   English has not been taught as it has been taught by him
D)   English was not taught by no one as it had been taught by him







Answer: A







15.     Select the correct voice:
           I see a dark cloud
A)   Personal Passive
B)   Passive
C)   Active
D)   None







Answer: C







16.     Select the correct active sentence:
           Smoking is prohibited
A)   We prohibit smoking
B)   We are prohibited smoking
C)   We have prohibited smoking
D)   We have been prohibiting smoking







Answer: A







17.     Fill in the blank with the correct form of voice:
           We …………. Them of the danger
A)   Must be warned
B)   Should be warned
C)   Have been warned
D)   Must warn






Answer: D


TNPSC GROUP – II - March – 2009

18.     Select the correct impersonal passive sentence:
           Nobody closed the door.
A)   The door is not closed
B)   The door was not closed
C)   The door won’t be closed
D)   The door didn’t closed








Answer: B






TNPSC GROUP – II - November – 2007

19.     Fill in the blank with the correct voice form of the verb:
           Gandhiji …………………. as the father of our nation
A)   had considered
B)   considered
C)   considers
D)   is consider







Answer: D







20.     Fill in the blank with the correct voice form of the verb:
           Last year a rocket …………… from Sriharikota
A)   is launched
B)   will be launched
C)   launched
D)   was launched







Answer: D






21.     Fill in the blank with the correct voice form of the verb:
           She asked him why he …………….. come
A)   heave not had
B)   have been to
C)   had not
D)   was not







Answer: C






22.     Fill in the blank with the correct voice:
           Rama asked his father if he ………….. (invite) his friends
A)   invited
B)   will invite
C)   had invited
D)   could invite







Answer: A






23.     Fill in the blank with the correct voice:
           The audience ……………. at my appearance
A)   were surprised
B)   is surprised
C)   will surprised
D)   surprised






Answer: A






24.     Fill in the blank with the correct voice:
           The captain ……………. the players next week
A)   will be met
B)   will meet
C)   would met
D)   met






Answer: B


TNPSC GROUP V ANALYSIS

TNPSC GROUP – V – 2007

25.     Identify the Passive voice:
A)   He writes a story
B)   My uncle presented my sister a bangle
C)   Let the door be opened
D)   Raja was playing football







Answer: C






26.     Identify the Passive voice:
A)   Let the patients not be disturbed
B)   Rahim is a lawyer
C)   He goes to Mumbai
D)   Rani and Vimala are playing chess







Answer: A







TNPSC GROUP – V - Year – 2003

        Select the correct voice form of the Verb:
27.  The optimism of the jeweller …………….. by the furriers.
A)   shared
B)   shares
C)   will share
D)   was shared







Answer: D







28.  Select the correct voice form of the Verb:
        My uncle …………. me a camera.
A)   presenting
B)   was presenting
C)   is presented
D)   has presented






Answer: D






29.  Select the correct voice form of the Verb:
        The film actor ………. by the youth.
A)   is welcomed
B)   welcomes
C)   welcome
D)   are welcomed







Answer: A






30.  Select the correct Voice form of the Verb:
        The ball …………… by the boy.
A)   chasing
B)   will chase
C)   is being chased
D)   may chase






        Answer: C







31.  Select the correct Voice form of the Verb:
        Gutka …………….. by Tamil Nadu Government
A)   was banned
B)   bans
C)   banned
D)   will ban







Answer: A