Economy & Agriculture — Set 10

Correct Answer: B. Weekly rural market held every 8 days for agricultural produce trading

Athwa Bazar (8-day market) is a traditional weekly rural market held every 8 days in many villages and small towns of Haryana for trading agricultural produce, livestock, and daily necessities. These periodic markets predate the formal APMC mandi system. While APMCs have taken over most formal grain trading, Athwa Bazars continue to serve as important local economic hubs. Similar periodic market systems exist across northern India under different names.

Correct Answer: B. Providing 24-hour power supply to rural areas

Mhara Gaon Jagmag Gaon (Our Village Bright Village) is Haryana's scheme to provide 24-hour quality power supply to rural areas. Historically, villages received only 6-8 hours of electricity, limiting agricultural productivity and quality of life. Under this scheme, selected gram panchayats commit to timely bill payment in exchange for uninterrupted power supply. The scheme has been expanded to cover more villages and has improved rural electrification quality significantly.

Correct Answer: A. Bahadurgarh

Bahadurgarh in Jhajjar district is known for ceramic, tile, and building material manufacturing industries. The city's proximity to Delhi and good road connectivity has made it an important industrial hub in the NCR. Several ceramic, sanitary ware, and construction material companies are located here. Bahadurgarh is also known for its chemical and pharmaceutical industries, making it one of Haryana's diverse industrial towns.

Correct Answer: B. DHBVN and UHBVN

DHBVN (Dakshin Haryana Bijli Vitran Nigam) distributes electricity in southern Haryana and UHBVN (Uttar Haryana Bijli Vitran Nigam) distributes in northern Haryana. HPGCL (Haryana Power Generation Corporation) generates power through thermal and other power plants. Haryana also purchases power from NTPC and other central generators. The state has a significant power deficit and depends on central grid power and PPAs (Power Purchase Agreements).

Correct Answer: C. Ecological restoration and halting illegal mining/encroachment

The Aravalli Biodiversity Park in Gurugram is being developed for ecological restoration of the degraded Aravalli forest area and to halt illegal mining and encroachment. The Aravallis act as a green lung for Delhi-NCR and provide groundwater recharge. Multiple Supreme Court orders have directed Haryana and Rajasthan to protect Aravalli forests from mining and construction activities. The biodiversity park aims to restore native flora and fauna while providing urban green space.

Correct Answer: B. Pradhan Mantri Mudra Yojana and Deen Dayal Upadhyaya Antyodaya Yojana

PM Mudra Yojana (PMMY) provides collateral-free loans up to Rs 10 lakh to micro and small enterprises and self-employed youth. Deen Dayal Upadhyaya Antyodaya Yojana-NULM provides skill training and self-employment support to urban poor. Haryana also has its own Swarozgar Yojana for self-employment. The Haryana Scheduled Castes Financial and Development Corporation provides loans to SC entrepreneurs. These schemes collectively support entrepreneurship in Haryana.

Correct Answer: B. Rapid urbanization has overwhelmed waste management infrastructure in cities like Gurugram and Faridabad

Rapid urbanization, especially in Gurugram, Faridabad, and Sonipat, has overwhelmed waste management infrastructure in Haryana. Gurugram and Faridabad produce thousands of tonnes of municipal solid waste daily that often ends up in large landfills causing pollution. Haryana has launched Solid Waste Management rules aligned with the 2016 SWM Rules under the Environment Protection Act. The Smart Cities Mission is being used to upgrade waste management in Gurugram and Faridabad.

Correct Answer: C. Panipat

Panipat is the hub of garment and textile manufacturing in Haryana, particularly for recycled fiber blankets, shawls, carpets, and woolen products. The city processes recycled textiles imported from across the world ('Shoddy' industry). Panipat's textile industry is known internationally for its 'cotton shoddy' products made from recycled fiber. The city is also home to the IOC Panipat Refinery, making it dual-economy industrial city.

Correct Answer: B. Disproportionately high due to industrial activity

Haryana's GST collection is disproportionately high relative to its size due to the large industrial and commercial activity concentrated in Gurugram, Faridabad, and Manesar. Haryana is among the top 5-6 states in India for GST revenue collection. The automobile sector (Maruti Suzuki, Hero MotoCorp, Honda) and IT/services sector (Gurugram) are major GST contributors. This high tax revenue has helped Haryana fund its social welfare schemes and infrastructure development.

Correct Answer: B. Policy to ensure at least one government job per family from economically weak sections

Haryana's 'Ek Parivar Ek Naukri' (One Family One Job) policy aims to provide at least one government job to families of economically backward sections where no family member has a government job. The scheme prioritizes families in BPL category or below income threshold. This policy is part of Haryana's social protection programs. Similar policies have been adopted by Sikkim and other states for different communities.