Indian Economy & Development - 2008

The Golden Handshake Scheme refers to voluntary retirement schemes (VRS) where employees are offered attractive financial incentives and benefits to retire early. It's commonly used during organizational restructuring to reduce workforce numbers without layoffs.

State Bank of India (SBI) was the first Indian bank to open a branch in China, establishing its presence in Shanghai in the 1990s, leveraging its position as India's largest bank with strong government backing and international experience.

In the Human Development Report 2007, India ranked 128th out of 177 countries in the Human Development Index, placing it in the medium human development category with significant challenges in education, health, and income indicators.

The Shankarlal Guru Committee (1979) was specifically constituted to review and recommend improvements in agricultural marketing systems, leading to significant reforms in how agricultural produce is sold and distributed in India.

The National Mineral Policy of March 1993 opened 13 minerals for private sector investment, marking a significant liberalization in India's mining sector and allowing private participation in mineral exploration and exploitation.

Maharashtra has the longest road network in India, spanning over 3 lakh kilometers, including national highways, state highways, and district roads, benefiting from its large geographic area and developed infrastructure.

Singrauli (in Madhya Pradesh) has the thickest coal seams in India, with some layers exceeding 30 meters in thickness, making it a major coal mining region and hub for thermal power generation.

According to amendments in the Banking Regulation Act, nationalized banks can release up to 49% of their total paid-up capital to private investors, maintaining government control while allowing private sector participation.

According to the 2001 census, Uttaranchal (now Uttarakhand) had a sex ratio of 964 females per 1000 males, which was higher than the national average and reflected better gender balance in the hill state.

Reliance Industries Ltd. (RIL) has been India's leading company by market capitalization across most sectors, driven by its dominance in petrochemicals, refining, and later oil & gas exploration, making it the most valuable Indian company by M-cap.

CENVAT (Central Value Added Tax) is associated with the rate of indirect tax, specifically excise duties, and allows manufacturers to claim credit for taxes paid on inputs used in production, avoiding cascading taxation.

Mumbai has the highest population among Indian cities, with over 12 million residents within the city limits and over 20 million in the metropolitan area, making it India's most populous city and a major urban center.

Under the Gramin Sanchar Sewak Yojana, Gramin Dak Sewaks (rural postal workers) receive 20% of the tariff collected as commission for handling telecom and postal services in villages. This commission incentivizes them to promote and maintain these services in remote areas.

The Repo Rate on March 31, 2007 was 7.75%, as set by the Reserve Bank of India. The repo rate is the rate at which RBI lends to commercial banks, and it was at this level during that specific period in 2007.

Gujarat state declared 2005 as the 'Year of Urban Development' to focus on urban infrastructure and development initiatives. This was a state-specific declaration to prioritize urban planning and development activities during that year.

The Central Statistical Organisation (C.S.O.) is responsible for preparing national income estimates in India. It is the official statistical agency under the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation that compiles and publishes national accounts data.

The Panipat oil refinery belongs to the Public Sector, specifically to Indian Oil Corporation Limited (IOCL), which is a government-owned company. It is one of India's major refineries located in Haryana.

A summit on sustainable development and climate change was held in New Delhi on February 7, 2008. This was part of India's engagement with global environmental issues and sustainable development initiatives.

NREP (National Rural Employment Programme) and RLEGP (Rural Landless Employment Guarantee Programme) were merged with Swarna Jayanti Gram Swarojgar Yojana. This consolidation was part of restructuring rural development programs for better efficiency.

Under the DWCRA (Development of Women and Children in Rural Areas) programme, a minimum of 10 women are required to form a 'Working Group'. This ensures adequate participation and collective strength for self-help activities.