Housing & Urban Schemes — Set 16

Correct Answer: C. 3 crore

The correct answer is 3 crore. During its operational period from 1985 to 2016, Indira Awas Yojana facilitated construction of approximately 3 crore houses for rural poor. Despite this scale, IAY faced criticism for poor quality construction, lack of transparency in beneficiary selection, and inadequate unit costs that were not revised regularly. These deficiencies led to the comprehensive restructuring as PMAY-G in 2016.

Correct Answer: B. RERA 2016 - Section 9

The correct answer is RERA 2016 - Section 9. Section 9 of the Real Estate (Regulation and Development) Act, 2016 deals with the mandatory registration of real estate agents. No real estate agent can facilitate any transaction in a RERA-registered project without first registering themselves with the state RERA authority. They must pay a registration fee and submit required documents. Registration is granted for a specific period and must be renewed.

Correct Answer: A. Beneficiaries get MGNREGS wages for house construction

The correct answer is Beneficiaries get MGNREGS wages for house construction. PMAY-G beneficiaries are entitled to receive 90 person-days of unskilled labour under MGNREGS for construction of their house. This helps beneficiaries by providing additional income as wages during construction. This convergence is over and above the Rs 1.20 lakh/Rs 1.30 lakh unit assistance. It recognizes that self-construction requires significant labor investment by the beneficiary.

Correct Answer: B. Redevelopment of heritage areas while improving infrastructure

The correct answer is Redevelopment of heritage areas while improving infrastructure. Several Smart Cities like Ahmedabad, Jaipur, and Lucknow have chosen their historic 'Walled City' areas as the focus of their area-based development. This involves improving infrastructure, public spaces, and services in the heritage area while preserving its historical character. The approach also promotes heritage tourism while improving quality of life for residents in the old city.

Correct Answer: B. Rs 1,200 per year

The correct answer is Rs 1,200 per year. PM SVAnidhi provides a monthly cashback of up to Rs 100 for making digital transactions, amounting to Rs 1,200 per year. Vendors who use digital payment modes like UPI, bank transfers, digital wallets, etc., qualify for this cashback incentive. This dual incentive structure - interest subsidy and cashback - promotes financial inclusion and digital payment adoption among street vendors.

Correct Answer: B. It provides data for prioritizing housing needs of both rural and urban poor

The correct answer is It provides data for prioritizing housing needs of both rural and urban poor. SECC 2011 collected comprehensive socio-economic data including housing conditions, income levels, and social indicators of all rural and urban households. While PMAY-G directly uses SECC data for beneficiary selection, the data also informs the overall housing shortage assessment and prioritization for urban schemes. It serves as a critical baseline for targeted welfare programs.

Correct Answer: B. External Commercial Borrowings, bonds, and market instruments

The correct answer is External Commercial Borrowings, bonds, and market instruments. National Urban Housing Fund raises resources through diverse mechanisms including External Commercial Borrowings (ECBs), market borrowings, multilateral and bilateral assistance, and issuance of bonds. This market-based fundraising approach allows NUHF to mobilize large amounts of capital at competitive rates. The funds are then deployed as low-interest loans to states and ULBs for PMAY-U projects.

Correct Answer: B. Affordable Rental Housing Complexes (ARHC)

The correct answer is Affordable Rental Housing Complexes (ARHC). ARHC specifically targets circular/seasonal migrants, urban poor, students, working women, and other categories who need temporary housing near their workplace. The scheme provides furnished or semi-furnished rooms with basic amenities at affordable rent. This is particularly important for seasonal workers from rural areas who migrate to cities for work.

Correct Answer: B. Scheme benefits were discontinued

The correct answer is Scheme benefits were discontinued. The Credit Linked Subsidy Scheme (CLSS) for Middle Income Group (MIG-I and MIG-II) was discontinued after March 31, 2021. Applications submitted before this date and registered under the scheme continued to receive subsidy benefits. Only EWS and LIG categories continue to get CLSS benefits. This change rationalized the scheme to focus on the most economically vulnerable sections.

Correct Answer: C. Over Rs 2,05,018 crore

The correct answer is Over Rs 2,05,018 crore. While the central government provides Rs 48,000 crore (Rs 500 crore per city for 96 cities) and state governments provide matching grants, the total investment under Smart Cities Mission is projected at over Rs 2,05,018 crore. This includes private sector investments, convergence funds from other schemes like AMRUT, SBM, and PPP partnerships. This massive investment reflects the comprehensive nature of smart city development.