World Presidents and Prime Ministers 2017

A
Afghanistan : Capital - Kabul; President - Mohammad Ashraf Ghani
Albania : Capital - Tirana; President - Bujar Nishani; Prime Minister - Edi Rama
Algeria : Capital - Algiers; President - Abdelaziz Bouteflika; Prime Minister - Abdelmadjid Tebboune
Angola : Capital - Luanda; President - Jose Eduardo Dos Santos
Antigua and Barbuda : Capital - St. John's; Governor General-Sir Rodney Williams, Prime Minister - Gaston Browne
Argentina : Capital - Buenos Aires; President - Mauricio Macri
Armenia : Capital - Yerevan; President - Serzh Sargsyan; Prime Minister - Karen Karapetyan
Aruba : Capital - Oranjestad; Governor-Alfonso Boekhoudt; Prime Minister - Mike Eman
Australia : Capital - Canberra; Governor General-Sir Peter Cosgrove; Prime Minister - Malcolm Turnbull
Austria : Capital - Vienna; President - Alexander Van der Bellen; Chancellor-Christian Kern
Azerbaijan : Capital - Baku; President - Ilham Aliyev; Prime Minister - Artur Rasizade

B
Bahamas, The : Capital - Nassau; Governor General-Marguerite Pindling; Prime Minister - Hubert Minnis

Bahrain : Capital - Manama; King-Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa; Prime Minister - Khalifa Bin Salman Al Khalifa
Bangladesh : Capital - Dhaka; President - Abdul Hamid; Prime Minister - Sheikh Hasina
Barbados : Capital - Bridgetown; Governor General-Elliot Belgrave; Prime Minister - Freundel Stuart
Belarus : Capital - Minsk; President - Aleksandr Lukashenko; Prime Minister - Andrei Kobyakov
Belgium : Capital - City of Brussels; King-Philippe; Prime Minister - Charles Michel
Belize : Capital - Belmopan; Governor General-Sir Colville Young; Prime Minister - Dean Oliver Barrow
Benin : Capital - Porto-Novo; President - Patrice Talon; Prime Minister - Lionel Zinsou
Bhutan - NDE : Capital - Thimphu; King-Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck; Prime Minister-Tshering Tobgay
Bolivia : Capital - Sucre; President - Juan Evo Morales Ayma
Botswana : Capital - Gaborone; President - Seretse Khama Ian Khama
Brazil : Capital - Brasília; President - Michel Temer
Brunei : Capital - Bandar Seri Begawan; Sultan-Sir Hassanal Bolkiah; Crown Prince - Al-Muhtadee Billah  
Bulgaria : Capital - Sofia; President - Rumen Radev; Prime Minister - Boyko Borisov
Burkina Faso : Capital - Ouagadougou; President - (Acting) Roch Marc Christian Kaboré; Prime Minister - Paul Kaba Thieba 
Burundi : Capital - Bujumbura; President - Pierre Nkurunziza

C
Cape Verde : Capital - Praia; President - Jorge Carlos De Almeida Fonseca; Prime Minister - Ulisses Correia e Silva
Cambodia : Capital - Phnom Penh; King-Norodom Sihamoni; Prime Minister - Hun Sen
Cameroon : Capital - Yaoundé; President - Paul Biya; Prime Minister - Philemon Yang
Canada : Ottawa; Governor General-David Johnston; Prime Minister - Justin Trudeau
Central African Republic : Capital - Bangui; President -Faustin-Archange Touadéra; Prime Minister - Simplice Sarandji
Chad : Capital - N'djamena; President - Idriss Deby Itno; Prime Minister - Albert Pahimi Padacke
Chile : Capital - Santiago; President - Michelle Bachelet
China : Capital - Beijing; President - Xi Jinping; Prime Minister - Li Keqiang
Colombia : Capital - Bogotá; President - Juan Manuel Santos
Comoros : Capital - Moroni; President: Azali Assoumani
Congo, Democratic Republic of The : Capital - Kinshasa; President - Joseph Kabila; Prime Minister - Bruno Tshibala
Congo, Republic of The : Capital - Brazzaville; President  - Denis Sassou Nguess; Prime Minister - Clement Mouamba
Cook Islands : Capital - Avarua; Prime Minister - Henry Puna
Costa Rica : Capital - San José; President - Luis Guillermo Solís
Cote D'ivoire : Capital - Yamoussoukro; President - Alassane Dramane Ouattara; Prime minister: Amadou Gon Coulibaly
Croatia : Capital - Zagreb; President - Kolinda Grabar-Kitarovic; Prime Minister - Andrej Plenkovic
Cuba - NDE : Capital - Havana; President - Raul Castro; Prime minister: Raul Castro
Cyprus : Capital - Nicosia; President - Nicos Anastasiades
Czech Republic : Capital - Prague; President - Milos Zeman; Prime Minister - Bohuslav Sobotka
D
Denmark : Capital - Copenhagen; Queen-Margrethe II; Prime Minister - Lars Løkke Rasmussen
Djibouti : Capital - Djibouti; President - Ismail Omar Guelleh; Prime Minister - Abdoulkader Kamil Mohamed
Dominica : Capital - Roseau; President - Charles Savarin; Prime Minister - Roosevelt Skerrit
Dominican Republic : Capital - Santo Domingo; President - Danilo Medina Sanchez
E
Ecuador : Capital - Quito; President - Lenín Moreno
Egypt : Capital - Cairo - President - Abdel-Fattah el-Sissi; Prime Minister - Sherif Ismail
El Salvador : Capital - San Salvador; President - Salvador Sánchez Cerén
Equatorial Guinea : Capital - Malabo; President - Brig. General Teodoro Obiang Nguema Mbasogo; Prime minister: Francisco Pascual Obama Asue
Eritrea : Capital - Asmara; President - Isaias Afwerki
Estonia : Capital - Tallinn; President - Kersti Kaljulaid; Prime Minister - Jüri Ratas
Ethiopia : Capital - Addis Ababa; President - Mulatu Teshome; Prime Minister - Hailemariam Desalegn
F
Fiji : Capital - Suva; President - George Konrote; Prime Minister - Frank Bainimarama
Finland : Capital - Helsinki; President - Sauli Niinisto; Prime Minister - Juha Sipila
France : Capital - Paris; President - Emmanuel Macron; Prime Minister - Edouard Philippe
G
Gabon : Capital - Libreville; President - Ali Ben Bongo Ondimba; Prime Minister - Emmanuel Issoze-Ngondet
Gambia, The : Capital - Banjul; President - Adama Barrow
Georgia : Capital - Tbilisi; President - Giorgi Margvelashvili; Prime Minister - Giorgi Kvirikashvili
Germany : Capital - Berlin; President -Frank-Walter Steinmeier; Chancellor-Angela Merkel
Ghana : Capital - Accra; President - Nana Akufo-Addo
Greece : Capital - Athens; President - Prokopis Pavlopoulos; Prime Minister - Alexis Tsipras
Grenada : Capital - St. George's; Governor General-Cecile La Grenade; Prime Minister - Keith Mitchell
Guatemala : Capital - Guatemala City; President - Jimmy Morales
Guinea : Capital - Conakry; President - Alpha Conde; Prime Minister - Mamady Youla
Guinea-Bissau : Capital - Bissau; President - José Mário Vaz; Prime Minister - Umaro Sissoco Embalo
Guyana : Capital - Georgetown; President - David A. Granger; Prime Minister - Moses Nagamootoo
H
Haiti : Capital - Port-Au-Prince; President - Jovenel Moïse; Prime Minister - Jack Guy Lafontant
Honduras : Capital - Tegucigalpa; President - Juan Orlando Hernandez Alvarado
Hungary : Capital - Budapest; President - Janos Ader; Prime Minister - Viktor Orban
I
Iceland : Capital - Reykjavik; President - Guðni Th. Jóhannesson; Prime Minister - Bjarni Benediktsson
India : Capital - New Delhi; President - Ram Nath Kovind; Prime Minister - Narendra Modi
Indonesia : Capital - Jakarta; President - Joko Widodo
Iran - NDE : Capital - Tehran; President - Hassan Rouhani
Iraq : Capital - Baghdad; President - Fuad Masum; Prime Minister - Haider al-Abadi
Ireland : Capital - Dublin; President - Michael Daniel Higgins; Prime Minister - Leo Varadkar
Israel : Capital - Jerusalem; President - Reuven Rivlin; Prime Minister - Binyamin "Bibi" Netanyahu
Italy : Capital - Rome; President - Sergio Mattarella; Prime Minister - Paolo Gentiloni
J
Jamaica : Capital - Kingston; Governor General - Sir Patrick Allen; Prime Minister - Andrew Holness
Japan : Capital - Tokyo; Emperor-Akihito; Prime Minister - Shinzo Abe
Jordan : Capital - Amman; King-Abdallah II; Prime Minister - Hani Al-Mulki
K
Kazakhstan : Capital - Astana; President - Nursultan Nazarbayev; Prime Minister - Bakhytzhan Sagintayev
Kenya : Capital - Nairobi; President - Uhuru Kenyatta
Kiribati : Capital - Tarawa; President - Taneti Mamau
Korea North, NDE : Capital - Pyongyang;  Supreme leader: Kim Jong-un
Korea, South : Capital - Seoul; President - Moon Jae-in; Prime Minister - Lee Nak-yeon
Kosovo : Capital - Pristina; President - Hashim Thaçi; Prime Minister - Isa Mustafa
Kuwait : Capital - Kuwait City; Amir-Sabah al-Ahmad al-Jabir al-Sabah; Prime Minister - Jaber Mubarak al-Sabah
Kyrgyzstan : Capital - Bishkek; President - Almazbek Atambaev; Prime Minister - Sooronbay Jeenbekov
L
Laos : Capital - Vientiane; President - Bounnhang Vorachith; Prime Minister - Thongloun Sisoulith
Latvia : Capital - Riga; President - Raimonds Vējonis; Prime Minister - Maris Kucinskis
Lebanon : Capital - Beirut; President -Michel Aoun ; Prime Minister - Saad Hariri
Lesotho : Capital - Maseru; King-Letsie III; Prime Minister - Tom Thabane
Liberia : Capital - Monrovia; President - Ellen Johnson Sirleaf
Libya : Capital - Tripoli; President - Aguila Salah Issa; Prime Minister - Fayez al-Sarraj
Liechtenstein : Capital - Vaduz; Prince - Hans Adam II; Prime Minister - Adrian Hasler
Lithuania : Capital - Vilnius; President - Dalia Grybauskaite; Prime Minister - Saulius Skvernelis
Luxembourg : Capital - Luxembourg; Monarch - Henri; Prime Minister - Xavier Bettel
M
Macedonia : Capital - Skopje; President - Gjorge Ivanov; Prime Minister - Zoran Zaev
Madagascar : Capital - Antananarivo; President - Hery Martial Rajaonarimampianina Rakotoari; Prime Minister - Olivier Solonandrasana
Malawi : Capital - Lilongwe; President - Peter Mutharika
Malaysia : Capital - Kuala Lumpur; King-Muhammad V; Prime Minister - Najib Razak
Maldives : Capital - Malé; President - Abdulla Yameen Abdul Gayoom
Mali : Capital - Bamako; President - Ibrahim Boubacar Keita; Prime Minister - Abdoulaye Idrissa
Malta : Capital - Valletta; President - Marie Louise Coleiro Preca; Prime Minister - Joseph Muscat
Marshall Islands : Capital - Majuro; President - Hilda Heine
Mauritania : Capital - Nouakchott; President - Mohamed Ould Abdel Aziz; Prime Minister - Yahya Ould Hademine
Mauritius : Capital - Port Louis; President - Ameenah Gurib; Prime Minister - Pravind Jugnauth
Mexico : Capital - Mexico City; President - Enrique Pena Nieto
Federated States of Micronesia : Capital - Palikir; President - Peter M. Christian 
Moldova : Capital - Chișinău; President - Igor Dodon; Prime Minister - Pavel Filip
Mongolia : Capital - Ulan Bator; President - Tsakhia Elbegdorj; Prime Minister - Jargaltulgyn Erdenebat
Montenegro : Capital - Podgorica; President - Filip Vujanovic; Prime Minister - Dusko Markovic
Morocco : Capital - Rabat; King-Mohammed VI; Prime Minister - Saadeddine Othmani
Mozambique : Capital - Maputo; President - Filipe Nyusi; Prime Minister - Carlos Agostinho do Rosário
Myanmar : Capital - Naypyidaw; President - Htin Kyaw
N
Namibia : Capital - Windhoek; President - Hage Geingob; Prime Minister - Saara Kuugongelwa-Amadhila
Nauru : Capital - Yaren ; President - Pushpa Kamal Dahal
Nepal : Capital - Kathmandu; President - Bidhya Devi Bhandari; Prime Minister: Sher Bahadur Deuba
Netherlands : Capital - Amsterdam; King-Willem-Alexander; Prime Minister - Mark Rutte
New Zealand : Capital - Wellington; Governor General- Dame Patsy Reddy; Prime Minister - Bill English
Nicaragua : Capital - Managua; President - Daniel Ortega Saavedra 
Niger : Capital - Niamey; President - Mahamadou Issoufou; Prime Minister - Brigi Rafini
Nigeria : Capital - Abuja; President - Muhammadu Buhari
Norway : Capital - Oslo; King-Harald V; Prime Minister - Erna Solberg
O-P
Oman : Capital - Muscat; Sultan-Qaboos bin Said Al Said; Deputy Prime Minister - Qaboos bin Said al Said
Pakistan : Capital - Islamabad; President - Mamnoon Hussain; Prime Minister - Shahid Khaqan Abbasi
Palau : Capital - Ngerulmud; President - Tommy Remengesau
Panama : Capital - Panama City; President - Juan Carlos Varela
Papua New Guinea : Capital - Port Moresby; Governor General - Bob Dadae; Prime Minister - Peter Paire O'neill
Paraguay : Capital - Asunción; President - Horacio Cartes Jara
Peru : Capital - Lima; President - Pedro Pablo Kuczynski; Prime Minister - Fernando Zavala Lombardi
Philippines : Capital - Manila; President - Rodrigo Duterte
Poland : Capital - Warsaw; President - Andrzej Duda; Prime Minister - Beata Szydło
Portugal : Capital - Lisbon; President - Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa; Prime Minister - António Costa
Q-R
Qatar : Capital - Doha; Emir - Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani; Prime Minister - Abdallah Bin Nasir Bin Khalifa Al Thani
Romania : Capital - Bucharest; President - Klaus Iohannis; Prime Minister - Mihai Tudose
Russia : Capital - Moscow; President - Vladimir Vladimirovich Putin; Prime Minister - Dmitriy Anatolyevich Medvedev
Rwanda : Capital - Kigali; President - Paul Kagame; Prime Minister - Anastase Murekezi
S
Saint Kitts and Nevis : Capital - Basseterre; Governor General - Samuel Weymouth Tapley Seaton; Prime Minister - Timothy Harris
Saint Lucia : Capital - Castries; Governor General- Dame Pearlette Louisy; Prime Minister - Allen Chastanet
Saint Vincent and the Grenadines : Capital - Kingstown; Governor General - Sir Frederick Nathaniel Ballantyne; Prime Minister - Ralph Everard Gonsalves
Samoa : Capital - Apia; Prime Minister - Tuilaepa Aiono Sailele Malielegaoi
Sao Tome and Principe : Capital - São Tomé; President - Evaristo Carvalho; Prime Minister - Patrice Trovoada
Saudi Arabia : Capital - Riyadh; King-Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud
Senegal : Capital - Dakar; President - Macky Sall; Prime Minister - Mohammed Dionne
Serbia : Capital - Belgrade; President - Aleksandar Vucic; Prime Minister - Ana Brnabic
Seychelles : Capital - Victoria; President - Danny Faure
Sierra Leone : Capital - Freetown; President - Ernest Bai Koroma
Singapore : Capital - Singapore; President - Tony Tan Keng Yam; Prime Minister - Lee Hsien Loong
Slovakia : Capital - Bratislava; President - Andrej Kiska; Prime Minister - Robert Fico
Slovenia : Capital - Ljubljana; President - Borut Pahor; Prime Minister - Miro Cerar
Solomon Islands : Capital - Honiara; Governor General - Frank Ofagioro Kabui; Prime Minister - Manasseh Sogavare
Somalia : Capital - Mogadishu; President - Mohamed Abdullahi Mohamed; Prime Minister - Hassan Ali Khayre
South Africa : Capital - Pretoria, Cape Town, Bloemfontein; President - Jacob Zuma
South Sudan : Capital - Juba; President - Salva Kiir Mayardit
Spain : Capital - Madrid; Monarch - Felipe VI, Prime Minister - Mariano Rajoy
Sri Lanka : Capital - Sri Jayawardenepura Kotte; President - Maithripala Sirisena; Prime Minister - Ranil Wickremesinghe
Sudan : Capital - Khartoum; President - Omar al-Bashir, Prime Minister - Bakri Hassan Saleh
Suriname : Capital - Paramaribo; President - Dési Bouterse
Swaziland : Capital - Lobamba, Mbabane; King-Mswati III; Prime Minister - Barnabus Sibusiso Dlamini
Sweden : Capital - Stockholm; King - Carl XVI Gustaf; Prime Minister - Stefan Löfven
Syria : Capital - Damascus; President - Bashar Al-Asad; Prime Minister - Imad Khamis
T
Taiwan - NDE : Capital - Taipei; President - Tsai Ing-wen
Tajikistan : Capital - Dushanbe; President - Emomali Rahmon; Prime Minister - Kohir Rasulzoda
Tanzania : Capital - Dodoma; President - John Magufuli; Prime Minister - Kassim Majaliwa
Thailand : Capital - Bangkok; Monarch - Maha Vajiralongkorn; Prime Minister - Prayut Chan-o-cha
Timor-East : Capital - Dili; President - Francisco Guterres; Prime Minister - Rui Maria de Araújo
Togo : Capital - Lomé; President - Faure Gnassingbe; Prime Minister - Komi Sélom Klassou
Tonga : Capital - NukuʻAlofa; King-Tupou VI; Prime Minister - Akilisi Pohiva
Trinidad and Tobago : Capital - Port of Spain; President - Anthony Thomas Aquinas Carmona; Prime Minister - Keith Rowley
Tunisia : Capital - Tunis; President - Beji Caid Essebsi; Prime Minister - Youssef Chahed
Turkey : Capital - Ankara; President - Recep Tayyip Erdoğan; Prime Minister - Binali Yıldırım
Turkmenistan : Capital - Ashgabat; President - Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedow
Tuvalu : Capital - Funafuti; Governor General - Iakoba Italeli; Prime Minister - Enele Sopoaga
U
Uganda : Capital - Kampala; President -Yoweri Kaguta Museveni; Prime Minister - Ruhakana Rugunda
Ukraine : Capital - Kiev; President - Petro Poroshenko; Prime Minister - Volodymyr Groysman
United Arab Emirates : Capital - Abu Dhabi; President - Khalifa Bin Zayid Al Nuhayyan; Prime Minister - Muhammad Bin Rashid Al Maktum
United States of America : Capital - Washington, D.C., President - Donald Trump
United Kingdom : Capital - London; Queen-Elizabeth II; Prime Minister - Theresa May
Uruguay : Capital - Montevideo; President - Tabaré Vázquez
Uzbekistan : Capital - Tashkent; President - Shavkat Mirziyoyev; Prime Minister - Abdulla Oripov
V
Vanuatu : Capital - Port Vila; President - Baldwin Lonsdale; Prime Minister - Charlot Salwai
Venezuela : Capital - Caracas; President - Nicolas Maduro Moros
Vietnam : Capital - Hanoi; President - Tran Dai Quang; Prime Minister - Nguyen Xuan Phuc
Yemen : Capital - Sana'a; President - Fd. Mar. Abd Rabuh Mansur Hadi; Prime Minister - Ahmed Obeid bin Daghr 
Z
Zambia : Capital - Lusaka; President - Edgar Lungu
Zimbabwe : Capital - Harare; President - Robert Gabriel Mugabe

INDIAN POLITY PRACTICE QUESTIONS FOR ALL COMPETITIVE EXAMS

1. Consider the following tasks:
1. Superintendence, direction and conduct of free and fair elections
2. Preparation of electoral rolls for all elections to the Parliament, State Legislatures and the Office of the President and the Vice-President.
3. Giving recognition to political parties and allotting election symbols to political parties and individuals contesting the election
4. Proclamation of final verdict in the case of election disputes.
Which of the above are the functions of the Election Commission of India?
a) 1, 2 and 3
b) 2, 3 and 4
c) 1 and 3
d) 1, 2 and 4

2. The "Instrument of Instructions" contained in the Government of India Act 1935 have been incorporated in the Constitution of India in the year 1950 as:
a) Fundamental Rights
b) Directive Principles of State Policy
c) Extent of executive power of State
d) Conduct of business of the Government of India

3. In India, if a religious sect/community is given the status of a national minority, what special advantages it is entitled to?
1. It can establish and administer exclusive educational institutions.
2. The President of India automatically nominates a representative of the community to LokSabha.
3. It can derive benefits from the Prime Minister's 15-Point Programme.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
a) 1 only
b) 2 and 3 only
c) 1 and 3 only
d) 1, 2 and 3

4. India is home to lakhs of persons with disabilities. What are the benefits available to them under the law?
1. Free schooling till the age of 18 years in government-run schools.
2. Preferential allotment of land for setting up business.
3. Ramps in public buildings.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
a) Only 1
b) 2 and 3
c) 1 and 3
d) 1, 2 and 3

5. Consider the following statements: In India, a Metropolitan Planning Committee:
1. Is constituted under the provisions of the Constitution of India.
2. Prepares the draft development plans for metropolitan area.
3. Has the sole responsibility for implementing Government sponsored schemes in the metropolitan area.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
a) 1 and 2
b) 2 only
c) 1 and 3
d) 1, 2 and 3

6. In the areas covered under the Panchayat (Extension to the Scheduled Areas) Act, 1996, what is the role/power of Gram Sabha?
1. Gram Sabha has the power to prevent alienation of land in the Scheduled Areas.
2. GramSabha has the ownership of minor forest produce.
3. Recommendation of Gram Sabha is required for granting prospecting licence or mining lease for any mineral in the Scheduled Areas.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
a) Only 1
b) 1 and 2 only
c) 2 and 3
d) 1, 2 and 3

7. Which of the following is/are the principal feature(s) of the Government of India Act, 1919?
1. Introduction of diarchy in the executive government of the provinces.
2. Introduction of separate communal electorates for Muslims.
3. Devolution of legislative authority by the centre to the provinces.
Select the correct answer using the codes given below:
a) Only 1
b) 2 and 3
c) 1 and 3
d) 1, 2 and 3

8. Which of the following provisions of the Constitution of India have a bearing on Education?
1. Directive Principles of State Policy.
2. Rural and Urban Local Bodies.
3. Fifth Schedule.
4. Sixth Schedule.
5. Seventh Schedule.
Select the correct answer using the codes given below:
a) 1 and 2
b) 3, 4 and 5
c) 1, 2 and 5
d) 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5

9. With reference to the Delimitation Commission, consider the following statements:
1. The orders of the Delimitation Commission cannot be challenged in a Court of Law.
2. When the orders of the Delimitation Commission are laid before the Lok Sabha or State Legislative Assembly, they cannot effect any modifications in the orders.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
a) Only 1
b) Only 2
c) Both 1 and 2
d) Neither 1 nor 2

10. consider the following statements:
1. The constitution of India does not define backward classes.
2. Providing for quotas to socially, economically and educationally backward classes is mentioned in the DPSP outside of Part IV of the constitution.
Which of these is/are true?
a) Only 1
b) Only 2
c) Both
d) None

11. Money bill is defined under:
a) Article 109
b) Article 111
c) Article 199
d) None of the above

12. Choose the correct statement regarding the constituent assembly?
1. The Constituent Assembly was a sovereign body.
2. The Constituent Assembly was a legislative body apart from constitution making body.
Pick the correct code:
a) Only 1
b) Only 2
c) Both
d) None

13. Consider the following Indian Religious Communities:
1. Sikhs
2. Buddhists
3. Jains
4. Parsis
Which among the above have been conferred the 'minority' status by the Government of India?
a) 1 and 4
b) 1, 2 and 4
c) 2, 3 and 4
d) 1, 2, 3 and 4

14. Freedom of trade, commerce and intercourse are either implicit or explicit under:
1. Article 19
2. Article 301
a) 1, 2
b) Only 1
c) Only 2
d) None

15. Who can make a law giving, or authorising the giving of, any preference or making, or authorising the making of, any discrimination if it is declared by such law that it is necessary to do
so for the purpose of dealing with a situation arising from scarcity of goods in any part of the territory of India
a) Parliament
b) State legislature
c) Both
d) none

16. Who can impose restrictions on goods imported from other States or the Union territories any tax to which similar goods manufactured or produced in that State are subject, so, however, as not to
discriminate between goods so imported and goods so manufactured or produced; and impose such reasonable restrictions on the freedom of trade, commerce or intercourse with or within that
State as may be required in the public interest:
a) Parliament
b) State legislature
c) Both
d) Neither

17. Who can constitute a interstate trade commission?
a) President
b) Parliament
c) Supreme court
d) Parliament on the request of two or more states

18. Which of the following are considered as the constitutional amendment under article 368?
1. Reorganisation of states
2. Linguistic provisions
3. Salaries of the MPs
a) 1, 2, 3
b) 1, 2
c) Only 3
d) None

19. Which of the following provisions in the amendment to the constitution shall also require to
be ratified by the Legislature of not less than one half of the States by resolution to that effect
passed by those Legislatures before the Bill making provision for such amendment is presented to the President for assent
1. Article 54 and 55
2. Article 73
3. Article 162
4. Article 241
a) 1, 2, 3, 4
b) 1, 2, 3
c) 2, 3
d) 1, 4

20. In the amendment of which of the following the participation of the states shall also be required?
1. Reorganising the states
2. Seventh schedule
3. Representation of the states in parliament
a) 1, 2, 3
b) 2, 3
c) Only 3
d) None

ANSWERS:
1-a, 2-b, 3-c, 4-d, 5-a, 6-d, 7-c, 8-c, 9-c, 10-a,
11-c, 12-c, 13-d, 14-a, 15-a, 16-b, 17-b, 18-a, 19-a, 20-b

LED Street Lighting Project

Government of India, through the Energy Efficiency Services Limited (EESL) under the Ministry of Power, would be retrofitting 10 lakh conventional street lights with LED lights in Gram Panchayats of 7 districts in Andhra Pradesh.
★ This is the first project for rural LED street lighting in the country under the Government of India's Street Lighting National Project (SLNP).
★ These installations have led to an annual savings of over 7.8 crore kWh, translating into an annual reduction of over 65,000 tonnes of CO2.

Schemes for Welfare of Textile Workers

Government has been implementing various policy initiatives and schemes for the welfare of textile workers in the country, such as Integrated Skill Development Scheme (ISDS), Schemes for Development of Silk and Sericulture sectors, National Handloom Development Programme (NHDP), Comprehensive Handloom Cluster Development Scheme(CHCDS), Yarn supply Scheme and National Handicrafts Development Programme (NHDP). Government is also implementing PowerTex India, a comprehensive scheme for Powerloom Sector Development. 

Further, Government is implementing social welfare schemes for weavers/ workers, such as Matatma Gandhi Bunkar Bima Yojana for Handloom weavers, the Group Insurance Scheme for Powerloom workers, the Aam Admi Bima Yojana for handicrafts artisans and scholarship for children of jute workers. Government of India had introduced the Textile Workers Rehabilitation Fund Scheme (TWRFS) to provide relief to workers rendered jobless due to permanent closure of Non-SSI Textile Mills in private sector. The TWRFS has now been merged with Rajiv Gandhi Shramik Kalyan Yojana (RGSKY) which provides an unemployment allowance for the employees covered under ESI Scheme, who are rendered unemployed involuntarily due to retrenchment/closure of factory, etc. The Government had also approved a special package for textile sector with an outlay of Rs. 6000 crore to boost employment generation and exports, particularly in Garmenting and Made-ups. 

Infant Mortality Rate (IMR)

As per latest data, IMR has reduced by 58% in India during the period of 1990-2015 which is more than to Global decline of 49% during the same period. The full immunization coverage also improved from 43.5% in 2005 to 62.0% in 2015 and mortality due to Tuberculosis has reduced from 76 per 1,00,000 in 1990 to 32 per 1,00,000 in 2015.

The steps being taken by the government to further combat infant mortality and increase vaccine coverage under the National Health Mission are as under:

(1) Promotion of Institutional deliveries through cash incentive under Janani Suraksha Yojana (JSY) and Janani Shishu Suraksha Karyakaram (JSSK) which entitles all pregnant women delivering in public health institutions to absolutely free ante-natal check-ups, delivery including Caesarean section, post-natal care and treatment of sick infants till one year of age.

(2) Strengthening of delivery points for providing comprehensive and quality Reproductive, Maternal, Newborn, Child and Adolescent Health (RMNCH+A) Services, ensuring essential newborn care at all delivery points, establishment of Special Newborn Care Units (SNCU),

Newborn Stabilization Units (NBSU) and Kangaroo Mother Care (KMC) units for care of sick and small babies. Home Based Newborn Care (HBNC) is being provided by ASHAs to improve child rearing practices. India Newborn Action Plan (INAP) was launched in 2014 to make concerted efforts towards attainment of the goals of “Single Digit Neonatal Mortality Rate” and “Single Digit Stillbirth Rate”, by 2030.

(3) Early initiation and exclusive breastfeeding for first six months and appropriate Infant and Young Child Feeding (IYCF) practices are promoted in convergence with Ministry of Women and Child Development. Village Health and Nutrition Days (VHNDs) are observed for provision of maternal and child health services and creating awareness on maternal and child care including health and nutrition education. Ministry of Health and Family Welfare launched MAA-Mothers’ Absolute Affection programme in August 2016 for improving breastfeeding practices (Initial Breastfeeding within one hour, Exclusive Breastfeeding up to six months and complementary Breastfeeding up to two years) through mass media and capacity building of health care providers in health facilities as well as in communities.

(4) Universal Immunization Programme (UIP) is being supported to provide vaccination to children against many life threatening diseases such as Tuberculosis, Diphtheria, Pertussis, Polio, Tetanus, Hepatitis B and Measles. Pentavalent vaccine has been introduced all across the country and “Mission Indradhanush” has been launched to fully immunize children who are either unvaccinated or partially vaccinated; those that have not been covered during the rounds of routine immunization for various reasons.Measles Rubella Campaign is being undertaken in select States for children from 9 months to 15 years of age with the aim of eliminating Measles by 2020.

(5) Name based tracking of mothers and children till two years of age (Mother and Child Tracking System) is done to ensure complete antenatal, intranatal, postnatal care and complete immunization as per schedule.

(6) Rashtriya Bal Swasthya Karyakram (RBSK) for health screening, early detection of birth defects, diseases, deficiencies, development delays including disability and early intervention services has been Operationalized to provide comprehensive care to all the children in the age group of 0-18 years in the community.

(7) Some other important interventions are Iron and folic acid (IFA) supplementation for the prevention of anaemia among the vulnerable age groups, home visits by ASHAs to promote exclusive breast feeding and promote use of ORS and Zinc for management of diarrhoea in children.

(8) Capacity building of health care providers: Various trainings are being conducted under National Health Mission (NHM) to build and upgrade the skills of health care providers in basic and comprehensive obstetric care of mother during pregnancy, delivery and essential newborn care.

(9) Low performing districts have been identified as High Priority Districts (HPDs) which entitles them to receive high per capita funding, relaxed norms, enhanced monitoring and focused supportive supervisions and encouragement to adopt innovative approaches to address their peculiar health challenges.

List of Vice Presidents of India

No.	Name	Elected	Tenure
1.	Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan	1952-1957	13 May, 1952 – 12 May, 1962
2.	Zakir Husain	1962	13 May, 1962 – 12 May, 1967
3.	Varahagiri Venkata Giri	1967	13 May, 1967 – 3 May, 1969
4.	Gopal Swarup Pathak	1969	31 August, 1969 – 30 August, 1974
5.	Basappa Danappa Jatti	1974	31 August, 1974 – 30 August, 1979
6.	Mohammad Hidayatullah	1979	31 August, 1979 – 30 August, 1984
7.	Ramaswamy Venkataraman	1984	31 August, 1984 – 24 July, 1987
8.	Shankar Dayal Sharma	1987	3 September, 1987 – 24 July, 1992
9.	Kocheril Raman Narayanan	1992	21 August, 1992 – 24 July, 1997
10.	Krishan Kant	1997	21 August, 1997 – 27 July, 2002
11.	Bhairon Singh Shekhawat	2002	19 August, 2002 – 21 July, 2007
12.	Mohammad Hamid Ansari	2007 – 2017	11 August, 2007 – 10 August, 2017
13.	Venkaiah Naidu	2017	11 August, 2007 – Incumbent

List of All the Presidents of India

No.	Name	Elected	Tenure
1.	Rajendra Prasad	1952-1957	26 January, 1950 – 12 May, 1962
2.	Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan	1962	13 May, 1962 – 13 May, 1967
3.	Zakir Husain	1967	13 May, 1967 – 3 May, 1969
4.	Varahagiri Venkata Giri (Acting)	–	3 May, 1969 – 20 July, 1969
5.	Mohammad Hidayatullah*	–	20 July, 1969 – 24 August, 1969
6.	Varahagiri Venkata Giri	1969	24 August 1969 – 24 August, 1974
7.	Fakhruddin Ali Ahmed	1974	24 August, 1974 – 11 February, 1977
8.	Basappa Danappa Jatti (Acting)	–	11 February, 1977 – 25 July, 1977
9.	Neelam Sanjiva Reddy	1977	25 July, 1977 – 25 July, 1982
10.	Giani Zail Singh	1982	25 July, 1982 – 25 July, 1987
11.	Ramaswamy Venkataraman	1987	25 July, 1987 – 25 July, 1992
12.	Shankar Dayal Sharma	1992	25 July, 1992 – 25 July, 1997
13.	Kocheril Raman Narayanan	1997	25 July, 1997 – 25 July, 2002
14.	A. P. J. Abdul Kalam	2002	25 July, 2002 – 25 July, 2007
15.	Pratibha Patil	2007	25 July, 2007 – 25 July, 2012
16.	Pranab Mukherjee	2012	25 July, 2012 – 25 July, 2017
17.	Ram Nath Kovind	2017	25 July, 2017 – Incumbent

INDIAN POLITY PRACTICE QUESTIONS

1. The system of government in India established by the constitution:
1. Parliamentary
2. Federal
3. Quasi federal
a) 1, 2, 3
b) 1, 2
c) 1 Only
d) None

2. Which one of the following is/are feature/s NOT common to both the Indian Federation and the American Federation?
1. A single citizenship
2. Three lists in the Constitution
3. Dual judiciary
4. A federal supreme court to interpret the Constitution
a) 1 & 2
b) 1, 2 & 3
c) All
d) 1 & 3

3. Which of the following statements regarding the Constituent Assembly are true?
1. It was not based on adult franchise
2. It resulted from direct elections
3. It was a multi-party body
4. It worked through several committees
a) 1 and 2
b) 2 and 3
c) 1 and 4
d) 1, 2, 3 and 4

4. Which of the following electoral systems is/are have been adopted for various elections in India?
1. System of direct election on the basis of adult suffrage
2. System of proportional representation by means of the single transferable vote
3. List system of proportional representation
4. Cumulative system of indirect elections
Select the correct answer from the codes given below:
a) 1 and 2
b) 1 and 3
c) 1, 2 and 3
d) 1, 2, 3 and 4

5. Which of the following determines that the Indian Constitution is federal?
1. A written and rigid Constitution
2. An independent Judiciary
3. Vesting of residuary powers with the Centre
4. Distribution of powers between the Centre and the States
a) 1 & 4
b) 1, 3 & 4
c) Only 4
d) None

6. Which one of the following is not explicitly stated in the Constitution of India but followed as a convention?
a) The Finance Minister is to be a Member of the Lower House
b) The Prime Minister has to resign if he loses majority in the Lower House
c) All the parts of India are to be represented in the Council of Ministers
d) In the event of both the President and the Vice-President demitting office simultaneously before the end of their tenure the Speaker of the Lower House of the Parliament will officiate as the President

7. Which of the following is/are extra- constitutional and extra-legal device(s) for securing cooperation and coordination between the States in India?
1. The National Development Council
2. The Governor's Conference
3. Zonal Councils
4. The Inter-State Council
a) 1 and 2
b) 1, 3 and 4
c) 1, 3 and 4
d) 1,2, 3 and 4

8. Which of the following are matters on which a constitutional amendment is possible only with
the ratification of the legislatures of not less than one-half of the States?
1. Election of the President
2. Representation of States in Parliament
3. Any of the Lists in the 7th Schedule
4. Abolition of the Legislative Council of a State
a) 1, 2 and 3
b) 1, 2 and 4
c) 1, 3 and 4
d) 1,2, 3 and 4

9. Assertion (A): The word 'minority' is not defined in the Constitution of India.
Reason (R): The Minorities Commission is not a constitutional body.
In the context of the above two statements, which one of the following is correct?
a) Both A and R are true and R is the correct explanation of A
b) Both Aand R are true, but R is not a correct explanation of A
c) A is true, but R is false
d) A is false, but R is true

10. Assertion(A): The reservation of thirty-three percent of seats for women in Parliament and State
legislatures does not require Constitutional amendment.
Reason(R): Political parties contesting elections can allocate thirty-three percent of seats they
contest to women candidates without any Constitutional amendment.
In the context of the above two statements, which one of the following is correct?
a) Both A and R are true and R is the correct explanation of A
b) Both Aand R are true, but R is not a correct explanation of A
c) A is true, but R is false
d) A is false, but R is true

11. The Indian parliamentary system is different from the British parliamentary system in that
India has which of the following:
1. Both a real and a nominal executive
2. A system of collective responsibility
3. Bicameral legislature
4. The system of judicial review
a) 1, 2 & 3
b) 2 & 4
c) Only 2
d) Only 4

12. Consider the following statements regarding the National Human Rights Commission of India( NHRC):
1. Its Chairman must be a retired Chief Justice of India
2. It has formations in each state as State Human Rights Commission
3. Its powers are only recommendatory in nature
4. It is mandatory to appoint a woman as a member of the Commission
a) 1, 2, 3 and 4
b) 2 and 4
c) 2 and 3
d) 1 and 3

13. The members of the Constituent Assembly which drafted the Constitution of India were:
a) Nominated by the British Parliament
b) Nominated by the Governor General
c) Elected by the Legislative Assemblies of various provinces
d) Elected by the Indian National Congress and Muslim League

14. Consider the following statements with reference to India:
1. The Chief Election Commissioner and other Election Commissioners enjoy equal powers but receive unequal salaries
2. The Chief Election Commissioner is entitled to the same salary as is provided to a judge of the Supreme Court
3. The Chief Election Commissioner shall not be removed from his office except in like manner and on like grounds as a judge of the Supreme Court
4. The term of office of the Election Commissioner is five years from the date he assumes his office or till the day he attains the age of 62 years, whichever is earlier:
Which of these statements are correct?
a) 1 and 2
b) 2 and 3
c) 1 and 4
d) 2 and 4

15. Consider the following statements: In the electoral college for Presidential Election in India:
1. The value of the vote of an elected Member of Legislative Assembly equals
2. The value of the vote of an elected Member of Parliament equals
3. There were more than 5000 members in the latest election
Which of these statement is/are correct?
a) 1 and 2
b) Only 2
c) 1 and 3
d) Only 3

ANSWERS:

1) b, 2) b, 3) c, 4) a, 5) c, 6) b, 7) a, 8) a, 9) b, 10) d, 11) d, 12) d, 13) c, 14) b, 15) b

Goods and Services Tax (GST)

GST is a unified taxation system which would end multiple taxation across the states and create a level playing field for businesses throughout the country, much like the developed nations. It is a multi-stage destination-based tax which will be collected at every stage, starting from procuring the raw material to selling the final product. The credit of taxes paid at the previous stage(s) will be available for set-off at the next stage of supply. Being destination or a consumption based, the GST will also end multiple taxes levied by Centre and the State Governments like Central Excise, Service Tax, VAT, Central Sales Tax, Octroi, Entry Tax, Luxury Tax and Entertainment Tax etc.  This will lower the overall tax burden on the consumer and will benefit the industry through better cash flows and working capital management. Currently, 17 State and Central levies are being applied on goods as they move from one State to the other.

BENEFITS

Different estimates peg the net advantage to the Gross Domestic Product, up to two percentage points.  The GST regime is also expected to result in better tax compliance, thereby increasing its revenue and narrowing the Budget deficit. All the imported goods will be charged Integrated Goods & Services Tax (IGST) which is equivalent to the Central GST + State GST. This will bring equality with taxation on local products.

Mainly, there will be three types of taxes under the GST regime: Central Goods and Services Tax (CGST), State (or Union Territory) Goods and Services Tax (SGST) and Integrated Goods and Services Tax (IGST). Tax levied by the Centre on intra-State supply of goods or services would be called the CGST and that to be levied by the States and Union Territories(UTs) would be called the SGST respectively. The IGST would be levied and collected by the Centre on inter-State supply of goods and services. Four supplementary legislations approving these taxes, namely the Central GST Bill, the Integrated GST Bill, The GST (Compensation to States) Bill, and the Union Territory GST Bill were passed by the Lok Sabha in May this year, making the realisation of 1^st July, 2017 deadline a reality.

All the matters related to the GST are dealt upon by the GST Council headed by the Union Finance Minister while all the State Finance Ministers are its Members. The GST Council also has a provision to adjudicate disputes arising out of its recommendation or implementation thereof.

TAX RATES

The GST Council has fixed four broad tax slabs under the new GST system - 5 per cent, 12 per cent, 18 per cent and 28 per cent. On top of the highest slab, there is a cess on luxury and demerit goods to compensate the States for revenue loss in the first five years of GST implementation. Most of the goods and services have been listed under the four slabs, but a few like gold and rough diamonds have exclusive tax rates. Also, some items have been exempted from taxation. The essential items have been kept in the lowest tax bracket, whereas luxury goods and tobacco products will invite higher tax.

17-YEAR-LONG WAIT

Many countries in the world switched to a unified taxation system very early. France was the first country to do so in 1954 and many others followed, some by implementing GST and others by using a different form of Value Added Tax (VAT). In India, the discussion on GST started in the year 2000, in the NDA Government led by the former Prime Minister, Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee. Finally, after 17 years of consensus building, 101^st Constitution Amendment Bill was passed by Parliament in 2016. The States had apprehension of reduction in their revenue and their desire to keep some lucrative goods out of the GST baskets like alcohol, petroleum and real estate among others.

IMPACT ON CONSUMERS

From agarbattis (incense sticks) to luxury cars - all these goods will be taxed under different slabs. Movie tickets costing less than Rs 100 have been kept in the 18% GST slab while those over Rs 100 will attract 28% tax under GST. Tobacco products have been kept under a higher tax bracket. Industries such as textiles and, gems and jewellery are subject to a GST rate of 5%

The Government has shown its strong determination and stuck to implementing the GST with effect from 1^st July, 2017. The road ahead would require a lot of resolve by the implementing agencies like the Goods and Services Network, states and the industry.    To sail through initial hiccups and successfully steer the ship of the economy, the Government needs to show the same determination and courage. A bold initiative like GST taken for the welfare of the country must lead to a grand success.

Union Budget 2017-18 Highlights

The 2017 Union Budget, presented by Finance Minister Arun Jaitley on 01st February 2017, was broadly focused on 10 issues farming sector, rural population, youth, poor and health care for the underprivileged, infrastructure, financial sector for stronger institutions, speedy accountability, public services, prudent fiscal management and tax administration for the honest.

Following are the highlights of his speech on various issues:

                                                         Demonetisation

1. Demonetisation is expected to have a transient impact on the economy.

2. It will have a great impact on the economy and lives of people .

3. Demonetisation is a bold and decisive measure that will lead to higher GDP growth.

4. The effects of demonetisation will not spillover to the next fiscal.

Agriculture sector

1. Sowing farmers should feel secure against natural calamities.

2. A sum of Rs. 10 lakh crore is allocated as credit to farmers, with 60 days interest waiver.

3. NABARD fund will be increased to Rs. 40,000 crore. 

4. Government will set up mini labs in Krishi Vigyan Kendras for soil testing.

5. A dedicated micro irrigation fund will be set up for NABARD with Rs 5,000 crore initial corpus.

6. Irrigation corpus increased from Rs 20,000 crore to Rs 40,000 crore.

7. Dairy processing infrastructure fund wlll be initially created with a corpus of Rs. 2000 crore.

8. Issuance of soil cards has gained momentum.

9. A model law on contract farming will be prepared and shared with the States.

Rural population

1. The government targets to bring 1 crore households out of poverty by 2019.

2. During 2017-18, five lakh farm ponds will be be taken up under the MGNREGA.

3. Over Rs 3 lakh crore will be spent for rural India. MGNREGA to double farmers' income.

4. Will take steps to ensure participation of women in MGNREGA up to 55%.

5. Space technology will be used in a big way to ensure MGNREGA works.

6. The government proposes to complete 1 crore houses for those without homes.

7. Will allocate Rs. 19,000 crore for Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana in 2017-18.

8. The country well on way to achieve 100% rural electrification by March 2018.

9. Swachh Bharat mission has made tremendous progress; sanitation coverage has gone up from 42% in Oct 13 to 60% now.

 youth

1. Will introduce a system of measuring annual learning outcomes and come out with an innovation fund for secondary education.

2. Focus will be on 3,479 educationally-backward blocks.

3. Colleges will be identified based on accreditation.

4. Skill India mission was launched to maximise potential. Will set up 100 India International centres across the country.

5. Courses on foreign languages will be introduced.

6. Will take steps to create 5000 PG seats per annum.

For the poor and health care

1. Rs. 500 crore allocated for Mahila Shakthi Kendras.

2. Under a nationwide scheme for pregnant women, Rs. 6000 will be transferred to each person.

3. A sum of Rs. 1,84,632  crore allocated for women and children.

4. Affordable housing will be given infrastructure status.

5. Owing to surplus liquidity, banks have started reducing lending rates for housing.

6. Elimination of tuberculosis by 2025 targeted.

7. Health sub centres, numbering 1.5 lakh, willl be transformed into health wellness centres.

8. Two AIIMS will be set up in Jharkhand and Gujarat.

9. Will undertake structural transformation of the regulator framework for medical education.

10. Allocation for Scheduled Castes  is Rs. 52,393  crore

11. Aadhaar-based smartcards will be issued to senior citizens to monitor health.

Infrastructure; Railways

1. A total allocation of Rs. 39,61,354 crore has been made.

2. Total allocation for Railways is Rs. 1,31,000 crore.

3. No service charge on tickets booked through IRCTC.

4. Raksha coach with a corpus of Rs. 1 lakh crore for five years (for passenger safety).

5. Unmanned level crossings will be eliminated by 2020.

6. 3,500 km of railway lines to be commissioned this year up from 2,800 km last year.

7. SMS-based ''clean my coach service'' is put in place.

8. Coach mitra facility will be introduced to register all coach related complaints.

9. By 2019 all trains will have bio-toilets.

10. Five-hundred stations will be made differently-abled friendly.

11. Railways to partner with logistics players for front-end and back-end solutions for select commodities.

12. Railways will offer competitive ticket booking facility

13. Rs. 64,000 crore allocated for highways. 

14. High speed Internet to be allocated to 1,50,000 gram panchayats

15. New Metro rail policy will be announced with new modes of financing

Energy Sector

1. A strategic policy for crude reserves will be set up

2. Rs. 1.26,000 cr for energy production-based investments received

3. Trade infra export scheme will be launched 2017-18.

Financial Sector

1. FDI policy reforms - more than 90% of FDI inflows are now automated.

2. Shares of Railway PSE like IRCTC would be listed on stock exchanges. 

3. Bill on resolution of financial firms to be introduced in this session of parliament.

4. Decided to abolish FIPB in 2017-18.

5. Foreign Investment Promotion Board to be abolished.

6. Revised mechanism to ensure time bound listing of CPSEs

7. Computer emergency response team for financial sector to be formed.

8. Pradhan Mantri Mudra Yojana lending target at Rs 2.44 lakh crore for 2017-18

9. Digital India - Bhim app will unleash mobile phone revolution - two new schemes to promote the app.

10. Govt to introduce two new schemes to promote BHIM App - referral bonus for users and cash back for traders: FM.

11. Negotiable Instruments Act might be amended.

12. DBT to LPG consumers , Chandigarh is kerosene free, 84 govt schemes are on the DBT platform.

13. Head post office as the central office for rendering passport services

14. Easy online booking system for Army, defence personnel

15. For big-time offences - including economic offenders fleeing India, the govt. will introduce a legislative change or new law to confiscate the assets of these people within the country.

Fiscal Situation

1. Total expenditure - Rs. 21, 47,000 crore

2. Abolition on plan, non-plan expenditure, focus on capital expenditure ( Capital expenditure will be 25.4 per cent)

3. Rs. 3,000 crore under Dept of Economic Affairs for implementing Budget announcements.

4. Defence expenditure, excluding pension, at Rs 2,74,114  crore

5. Expenditure in science and technology —  Rs. 37,435 crore

6. Total resources transferred to States and UTs is Rs 4.11 lakh crore

7. Recommended 3% fiscal deficit for three years with deviation of 0.5% of GDP.

8. Revenue deficit - 1.9 %

9. Pegged fiscal deficit of 2017-18 at 3.2% of GDP and remain committed to achieving 3% in the next year.

On funding of political parties

1. Maximum amount of cash donation for political parties will be Rs 2,000 from any one source from Rs 20,000

2. Political parties will be entitled to receive donations by cheque or digital mode from donors.

3. Amendment is being proposed to RBI Act to enable issuance of electoral bonds that government will scheme. Donor can 4. purchase these bonds from banks or post office via cheque or digital transactions. They can be redeemed only by registered political parties.

Tax proposals

1. Proportion of direct tax to indirect tax is not optimal.

2. 1.95 crore individuals showed income between Rs 2.5 lakh to Rs 5 lakh.

3. Out of 76 lakh individual assessees declaring income more than Rs 5 lakh, 56 lakh are salaried.

4. Only 1.72 lakh people showed income of more than Rs 50 lakh a year.

5. Between Nov 8 to Dec 30: Deposits between Rs 2 lakh and Rs 80 lakh was made in 1.09 crore accounts.

6. Net tax revenue of 2013-14 was Rs 11.38 lakh crore.

7. Out of 76 lakh individual assessees declaring income more than Rs 5 lakh, 56 lakh are salaried.

8. 1.95 crore individuals showed income between Rs 2.5 lakh to Rs 5 lakh.

9. Rate of growth of advance tax in Personal I-T is 34.8% in last three quarters of this financial year.

10. Holding period for long term capital gain lowered to 2 years

11. Propose to have carry-forward of MAT for 15 years.

12. Capital gains tax to be exempted for persons holding land from which land was pooled for creation of state capital of Telangana.

13. Corporate tax: In order to make MSME companies more viable, propose to reduce tax for small companies of turnover of up to 16. Rs 50 crore to 25%. About 67 lakh companies fall in this category. 96% of companies to get this benefit.

14. Propose to reduce basic customs duty for LNG to 2.5% from 5%

15. SIT on black money suggested no cash transactions of more than Rs 3 lakh. Govt has accepted this proposal.

16. Income Tax Act to be amended.  No transaction above Rs 3 lakh to be permitted in cash.

17. Limit of cash donation by charitable trust reduced to Rs 2,000 from Rs 10,000.

18. Net revenue loss in direct tax could be Rs. 20,000 crore.

19. India’s tax to GDP ratio is not favourable.

20. Out of 13.14 lakh registered companies, only 5.97 lakh companies have filed returns for 2016-17.

Personal income tax

1. Existing rate of tax for individuals between Rs.  2.5- Rs 5 lakh reduced to 5% from 10%

2. All other categories of tax payers in subsequent brackets will get benefit of Rs 12,500.

3. Simple one page return for people with annual income of Rs. 5 lakh other than business income.

4. People filing I-T returns for the first time will not come under govt. scrutiny5. 

5. 10% surcharge on individual income above Rs. 50 lakh and up to Rs 1 crore to make up for Rs 15,000 crore loss due to  cut in personal I-T rate. 15 surcharge on individual income above Rs. 1 crore to remain.