Context:
Parliamentary Standing Committee flags poor quality roads under Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana (PMGSY).
Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana (PMGDY):
- Launched in 2000 as a Centrally Sponsored Scheme.
- Implemented by – Ministry of Rural Development
- Aim – To assist the States in providing all-weather road connectivity to all eligible unconnected habitations in rural areas.
- Purpose – To connect areas with a population of up to 500 persons in plain areas, 250 and above in Special Category States, Desert areas, Tribal (Schedule V) areas, and selected tribal and backward districts.
An Unconnected Habitation is one with a population of designated size located at a distance of at least 500 metres or more (1.5 km of path distance in case of Hills) from an All-weather road or a connected Habitation.
- Present Status – Around 96.24 % and 97.01 % of the sanctioned project have been completed under PMGSY-I (2000) and PMGSY-II (2013), respectively.
- Construction of Rural Roads – In accordance with the provision of the Indian Roads Congress (Apex body of Highway Engineers)
Source: The Print
Previous Year Question
Which one of the following is a purpose of ‘UDAY’, a scheme of the Government?
[UPSC Civil Services Exam – 2016 Prelims]
(a) Providing technical and financial assistance to start-up entre-preneurs in the field of renewable sources of energy
(b) Providing electricity to every household iv the country by 2018
(c) Replacing the coal-based power plants with natural gas, nuclear, solar, wind and tidal power plants over a period of time.
(d) Providing for financial turnaround and revival of power distribution companies
Answer: (d)
