The passage deals mainly with

Directions: Read the passage below and answer the question that follows:

Alleviation of rural poverty has been one of the primary objectives of planned development in India. Ever since the inception of planning, the policies and the programmes have been designed and redesigned with this aim.  The problem of rural poverty was brought into a sharper focus during the Sixth Plan. The Seventh Plan too emphasised growth with social justice. It was realised that a sustainable strategy of poverty alleviation has to be based on inversing the productive employment opportunities in the process of growth itself. However, to the extent the process of growth bypasses some sections of the population, it is necessary to formulate specific poverty alleviation programmes for generation of a certain minimum level of income for the rural poor.

Rural development implies both the economic betterment of people as well as greater social transformation.  Increased participation of people in the rural development process, decentralisation of planning, better enforcement of land reforms and greater access to credit and inputs go a long way in providing the rural people with better prospects of economic development. Improvements in health, education, drinking water, energy supply sanitation and housing couple with attitudinal changes also facilitate their social development.

Rural poverty is inextricably linked with low rural productivity and unemployment, including underemployment.  Hence, it is imperative to improve productivity and increase employment in rural areas. Moreover, more employment needs to be generated at higher levels of productivity in order to generate higher output.  Employment at miserably low levels of productivity and incomes is already a problem of far greater magnitude than unemployment as such.  It was around 5 percent.  As per the currently used methodology in the Planning Commission, poverty for the same year was estimated to be 30 percent.  This demonstrates that even though a large proportion of the rural population was ‘working’ it was difficult for them to eke out a living even at subsistence levels from it. It is true that there has been a considerable decline in the incidence of rural poverty over time.  In terms of absolute numbers of poor, the decline has been much less. While this can be attributed to the demographic factor, the fact remains that after 40 years of planned development about 200 million are still poor in rural India.

Which of the following inferences can be drawn form the passage?

Directions: Read the passage below and answer the question that follows:

Alleviation of rural poverty has been one of the primary objectives of planned development in India. Ever since the inception of planning, the policies and the programmes have been designed and redesigned with this aim.  The problem of rural poverty was brought into a sharper focus during the Sixth Plan. The Seventh Plan too emphasised growth with social justice. It was realised that a sustainable strategy of poverty alleviation has to be based on inversing the productive employment opportunities in the process of growth itself. However, to the extent the process of growth bypasses some sections of the population, it is necessary to formulate specific poverty alleviation programmes for generation of a certain minimum level of income for the rural poor.

Rural development implies both the economic betterment of people as well as greater social transformation.  Increased participation of people in the rural development process, decentralisation of planning, better enforcement of land reforms and greater access to credit and inputs go a long way in providing the rural people with better prospects of economic development. Improvements in health, education, drinking water, energy supply sanitation and housing couple with attitudinal changes also facilitate their social development.

Rural poverty is inextricably linked with low rural productivity and unemployment, including underemployment.  Hence, it is imperative to improve productivity and increase employment in rural areas. Moreover, more employment needs to be generated at higher levels of productivity in order to generate higher output.  Employment at miserably low levels of productivity and incomes is already a problem of far greater magnitude than unemployment as such.  It was around 5 percent.  As per the currently used methodology in the Planning Commission, poverty for the same year was estimated to be 30 percent.  This demonstrates that even though a large proportion of the rural population was ‘working’ it was difficult for them to eke out a living even at subsistence levels from it. It is true that there has been a considerable decline in the incidence of rural poverty over time.  In terms of absolute numbers of poor, the decline has been much less. While this can be attributed to the demographic factor, the fact remains that after 40 years of planned development about 200 million are still poor in rural India.

What is the desired probable impact of the formulation of specific poverty alleviation programmes?

Directions: Read the passage below and answer the question that follows:

Alleviation of rural poverty has been one of the primary objectives of planned development in India. Ever since the inception of planning, the policies and the programmes have been designed and redesigned with this aim.  The problem of rural poverty was brought into a sharper focus during the Sixth Plan. The Seventh Plan too emphasised growth with social justice. It was realised that a sustainable strategy of poverty alleviation has to be based on inversing the productive employment opportunities in the process of growth itself. However, to the extent the process of growth bypasses some sections of the population, it is necessary to formulate specific poverty alleviation programmes for generation of a certain minimum level of income for the rural poor.

Rural development implies both the economic betterment of people as well as greater social transformation.  Increased participation of people in the rural development process, decentralisation of planning, better enforcement of land reforms and greater access to credit and inputs go a long way in providing the rural people with better prospects of economic development. Improvements in health, education, drinking water, energy supply sanitation and housing couple with attitudinal changes also facilitate their social development.

Rural poverty is inextricably linked with low rural productivity and unemployment, including underemployment.  Hence, it is imperative to improve productivity and increase employment in rural areas. Moreover, more employment needs to be generated at higher levels of productivity in order to generate higher output.  Employment at miserably low levels of productivity and incomes is already a problem of far greater magnitude than unemployment as such.  It was around 5 percent.  As per the currently used methodology in the Planning Commission, poverty for the same year was estimated to be 30 percent.  This demonstrates that even though a large proportion of the rural population was ‘working’ it was difficult for them to eke out a living even at subsistence levels from it. It is true that there has been a considerable decline in the incidence of rural poverty over time.  In terms of absolute numbers of poor, the decline has been much less. While this can be attributed to the demographic factor, the fact remains that after 40 years of planned development about 200 million are still poor in rural India.

Which of the following is NOT mentioned in the passage as an important factor for rural development?

Directions: Read the passage below and answer the question that follows:

Alleviation of rural poverty has been one of the primary objectives of planned development in India. Ever since the inception of planning, the policies and the programmes have been designed and redesigned with this aim.  The problem of rural poverty was brought into a sharper focus during the Sixth Plan. The Seventh Plan too emphasised growth with social justice. It was realised that a sustainable strategy of poverty alleviation has to be based on inversing the productive employment opportunities in the process of growth itself. However, to the extent the process of growth bypasses some sections of the population, it is necessary to formulate specific poverty alleviation programmes for generation of a certain minimum level of income for the rural poor.

Rural development implies both the economic betterment of people as well as greater social transformation.  Increased participation of people in the rural development process, decentralisation of planning, better enforcement of land reforms and greater access to credit and inputs go a long way in providing the rural people with better prospects of economic development. Improvements in health, education, drinking water, energy supply sanitation and housing couple with attitudinal changes also facilitate their social development.

Rural poverty is inextricably linked with low rural productivity and unemployment, including underemployment.  Hence, it is imperative to improve productivity and increase employment in rural areas. Moreover, more employment needs to be generated at higher levels of productivity in order to generate higher output.  Employment at miserably low levels of productivity and incomes is already a problem of far greater magnitude than unemployment as such.  It was around 5 percent.  As per the currently used methodology in the Planning Commission, poverty for the same year was estimated to be 30 percent.  This demonstrates that even though a large proportion of the rural population was ‘working’ it was difficult for them to eke out a living even at subsistence levels from it. It is true that there has been a considerable decline in the incidence of rural poverty over time.  In terms of absolute numbers of poor, the decline has been much less. While this can be attributed to the demographic factor, the fact remains that after 40 years of planned development about 200 million are still poor in rural India.

Which of the following necessitates formulation of specific poverty alleviation programmes?

Directions: Read the passage below and answer the question that follows:

Alleviation of rural poverty has been one of the primary objectives of planned development in India. Ever since the inception of planning, the policies and the programmes have been designed and redesigned with this aim.  The problem of rural poverty was brought into a sharper focus during the Sixth Plan. The Seventh Plan too emphasised growth with social justice. It was realised that a sustainable strategy of poverty alleviation has to be based on inversing the productive employment opportunities in the process of growth itself. However, to the extent the process of growth bypasses some sections of the population, it is necessary to formulate specific poverty alleviation programmes for generation of a certain minimum level of income for the rural poor.

Rural development implies both the economic betterment of people as well as greater social transformation.  Increased participation of people in the rural development process, decentralisation of planning, better enforcement of land reforms and greater access to credit and inputs go a long way in providing the rural people with better prospects of economic development. Improvements in health, education, drinking water, energy supply sanitation and housing couple with attitudinal changes also facilitate their social development.

Rural poverty is inextricably linked with low rural productivity and unemployment, including underemployment.  Hence, it is imperative to improve productivity and increase employment in rural areas. Moreover, more employment needs to be generated at higher levels of productivity in order to generate higher output.  Employment at miserably low levels of productivity and incomes is already a problem of far greater magnitude than unemployment as such.  It was around 5 percent.  As per the currently used methodology in the Planning Commission, poverty for the same year was estimated to be 30 percent.  This demonstrates that even though a large proportion of the rural population was ‘working’ it was difficult for them to eke out a living even at subsistence levels from it. It is true that there has been a considerable decline in the incidence of rural poverty over time.  In terms of absolute numbers of poor, the decline has been much less. While this can be attributed to the demographic factor, the fact remains that after 40 years of planned development about 200 million are still poor in rural India.

Which of the following statements is/are TRUE in the context of the passage?(i) There has been a significant increase in the number of rural poor. (ii) Before the Sixth Plan, the policies regarding alleviation of rural poverty were almost non-existent. (iii) Social change coupled with financial uplift is implied in rural development.

Directions: Read the passage below and answer the question that follows:

Alleviation of rural poverty has been one of the primary objectives of planned development in India. Ever since the inception of planning, the policies and the programmes have been designed and redesigned with this aim.  The problem of rural poverty was brought into a sharper focus during the Sixth Plan. The Seventh Plan too emphasised growth with social justice. It was realised that a sustainable strategy of poverty alleviation has to be based on inversing the productive employment opportunities in the process of growth itself. However, to the extent the process of growth bypasses some sections of the population, it is necessary to formulate specific poverty alleviation programmes for generation of a certain minimum level of income for the rural poor.

Rural development implies both the economic betterment of people as well as greater social transformation.  Increased participation of people in the rural development process, decentralisation of planning, better enforcement of land reforms and greater access to credit and inputs go a long way in providing the rural people with better prospects of economic development. Improvements in health, education, drinking water, energy supply sanitation and housing couple with attitudinal changes also facilitate their social development.

Rural poverty is inextricably linked with low rural productivity and unemployment, including underemployment.  Hence, it is imperative to improve productivity and increase employment in rural areas. Moreover, more employment needs to be generated at higher levels of productivity in order to generate higher output.  Employment at miserably low levels of productivity and incomes is already a problem of far greater magnitude than unemployment as such.  It was around 5 percent.  As per the currently used methodology in the Planning Commission, poverty for the same year was estimated to be 30 percent.  This demonstrates that even though a large proportion of the rural population was ‘working’ it was difficult for them to eke out a living even at subsistence levels from it. It is true that there has been a considerable decline in the incidence of rural poverty over time.  In terms of absolute numbers of poor, the decline has been much less. While this can be attributed to the demographic factor, the fact remains that after 40 years of planned development about 200 million are still poor in rural India.

Which one or more of the following statements show(s) a striking paradox?(i) In 1987-88, the rate of unemployment was only 3 per cent and inclusive of underemployment it was 5%. (ii) Unemployment together with underemployment was 5% whereas the poverty was 30%. (iii) More employment needs to be generated at higher levels of productivity in order to generate higher output.

Directions: Read the passage below and answer the question that follows:

Alleviation of rural poverty has been one of the primary objectives of planned development in India. Ever since the inception of planning, the policies and the programmes have been designed and redesigned with this aim.  The problem of rural poverty was brought into a sharper focus during the Sixth Plan. The Seventh Plan too emphasised growth with social justice. It was realised that a sustainable strategy of poverty alleviation has to be based on inversing the productive employment opportunities in the process of growth itself. However, to the extent the process of growth bypasses some sections of the population, it is necessary to formulate specific poverty alleviation programmes for generation of a certain minimum level of income for the rural poor.

Rural development implies both the economic betterment of people as well as greater social transformation.  Increased participation of people in the rural development process, decentralisation of planning, better enforcement of land reforms and greater access to credit and inputs go a long way in providing the rural people with better prospects of economic development. Improvements in health, education, drinking water, energy supply sanitation and housing couple with attitudinal changes also facilitate their social development.

Rural poverty is inextricably linked with low rural productivity and unemployment, including underemployment.  Hence, it is imperative to improve productivity and increase employment in rural areas. Moreover, more employment needs to be generated at higher levels of productivity in order to generate higher output.  Employment at miserably low levels of productivity and incomes is already a problem of far greater magnitude than unemployment as such.  It was around 5 percent.  As per the currently used methodology in the Planning Commission, poverty for the same year was estimated to be 30 percent.  This demonstrates that even though a large proportion of the rural population was ‘working’ it was difficult for them to eke out a living even at subsistence levels from it. It is true that there has been a considerable decline in the incidence of rural poverty over time.  In terms of absolute numbers of poor, the decline has been much less. While this can be attributed to the demographic factor, the fact remains that after 40 years of planned development about 200 million are still poor in rural India.

According to the passage, rural poverty is associated with which of the following one or more factors? (i) Want of effectiveness of productive efforts (ii) Dearth of employment opportunities (iii) Absence of sanitation and housing facilities

Directions: Read the passage below and answer the question that follows:

Alleviation of rural poverty has been one of the primary objectives of planned development in India. Ever since the inception of planning, the policies and the programmes have been designed and redesigned with this aim.  The problem of rural poverty was brought into a sharper focus during the Sixth Plan. The Seventh Plan too emphasised growth with social justice. It was realised that a sustainable strategy of poverty alleviation has to be based on inversing the productive employment opportunities in the process of growth itself. However, to the extent the process of growth bypasses some sections of the population, it is necessary to formulate specific poverty alleviation programmes for generation of a certain minimum level of income for the rural poor.

Rural development implies both the economic betterment of people as well as greater social transformation.  Increased participation of people in the rural development process, decentralisation of planning, better enforcement of land reforms and greater access to credit and inputs go a long way in providing the rural people with better prospects of economic development. Improvements in health, education, drinking water, energy supply sanitation and housing couple with attitudinal changes also facilitate their social development.

Rural poverty is inextricably linked with low rural productivity and unemployment, including underemployment.  Hence, it is imperative to improve productivity and increase employment in rural areas. Moreover, more employment needs to be generated at higher levels of productivity in order to generate higher output.  Employment at miserably low levels of productivity and incomes is already a problem of far greater magnitude than unemployment as such.  It was around 5 percent.  As per the currently used methodology in the Planning Commission, poverty for the same year was estimated to be 30 percent.  This demonstrates that even though a large proportion of the rural population was ‘working’ it was difficult for them to eke out a living even at subsistence levels from it. It is true that there has been a considerable decline in the incidence of rural poverty over time.  In terms of absolute numbers of poor, the decline has been much less. While this can be attributed to the demographic factor, the fact remains that after 40 years of planned development about 200 million are still poor in rural India.

Why do small and medium scale industries look for help from India's machine tool industry?

Directions: Read the passage below and answer the question that follows:

Now another aspect of the complete scenario: imports.
Today the import duty on a complete machine is 30% for all practical purpose, whereas the import duty on raw materials and components ranges from 35.85%. The story does not end here. After paying such high import duties on component, once a machine is made, it suffers excise duty from 5% – 10% (including on the customs duty already paid). At the time of sale, the machine tools suffer further taxation, i.e. central sales tax or State sales taxes which range from 4% – 16%. This much for the tax angle. Another factor, which pushes the cost of manufacture of machine tools, is the very high rate of interest payable to banks ranging up to 22%, as against 4%–7% prevailing in advanced countries.

The production of machine tools in India being not of the same scale as it is in other countries, the price which India\'s machine tool builders have to pay for components is more or less based on pattern of high pricing applicable to the prices of spares.

The machines tool industry in India has an enviable record of very quick technology absorption, assimilation and development. There are a number of success stories about how machine tool builders were of help at the most critical times. It will be a pity, in fact a tragedy, if we allow this industry to die and disappear from the scene.

It is to be noted that India is at least 6500 km away from any dependable source of supply of machine tools. The Government of India has always given a great deal of importance to the development of small scale and medium scale industries. This industry has also performed pretty well. Today, they are in need of help from India\'s machine tool industry to enable them to produce quality components at reduced costs. Is it anybody\'s case that the needs of the fragile sector (which needs tender care) will be met from 6500 km away?

Then, what is it that the industry request from the Government? It wants a level playing field. In fact, all of us must have a deep introspection and recognize the fact that the machine tool industry has a very special place in the country from the point of strategic and vital interest of the nation. Most important, it requests for the Government\'s consideration and understanding. It is therefore high time that the government gives the due attention to this industry which has a good potential.

Which of the following statements is TRUE in the context of the passage?

Directions: Read the passage below and answer the question that follows:

Now another aspect of the complete scenario: imports.
Today the import duty on a complete machine is 30% for all practical purpose, whereas the import duty on raw materials and components ranges from 35.85%. The story does not end here. After paying such high import duties on component, once a machine is made, it suffers excise duty from 5% – 10% (including on the customs duty already paid). At the time of sale, the machine tools suffer further taxation, i.e. central sales tax or State sales taxes which range from 4% – 16%. This much for the tax angle. Another factor, which pushes the cost of manufacture of machine tools, is the very high rate of interest payable to banks ranging up to 22%, as against 4%–7% prevailing in advanced countries.

The production of machine tools in India being not of the same scale as it is in other countries, the price which India\'s machine tool builders have to pay for components is more or less based on pattern of high pricing applicable to the prices of spares.

The machines tool industry in India has an enviable record of very quick technology absorption, assimilation and development. There are a number of success stories about how machine tool builders were of help at the most critical times. It will be a pity, in fact a tragedy, if we allow this industry to die and disappear from the scene.

It is to be noted that India is at least 6500 km away from any dependable source of supply of machine tools. The Government of India has always given a great deal of importance to the development of small scale and medium scale industries. This industry has also performed pretty well. Today, they are in need of help from India\'s machine tool industry to enable them to produce quality components at reduced costs. Is it anybody\'s case that the needs of the fragile sector (which needs tender care) will be met from 6500 km away?

Then, what is it that the industry request from the Government? It wants a level playing field. In fact, all of us must have a deep introspection and recognize the fact that the machine tool industry has a very special place in the country from the point of strategic and vital interest of the nation. Most important, it requests for the Government\'s consideration and understanding. It is therefore high time that the government gives the due attention to this industry which has a good potential.

Which of the following inferences can be drawn from the content of the passage?

Directions: Read the passage below and answer the question that follows:

Now another aspect of the complete scenario: imports.
Today the import duty on a complete machine is 30% for all practical purpose, whereas the import duty on raw materials and components ranges from 35.85%. The story does not end here. After paying such high import duties on component, once a machine is made, it suffers excise duty from 5% – 10% (including on the customs duty already paid). At the time of sale, the machine tools suffer further taxation, i.e. central sales tax or State sales taxes which range from 4% – 16%. This much for the tax angle. Another factor, which pushes the cost of manufacture of machine tools, is the very high rate of interest payable to banks ranging up to 22%, as against 4%–7% prevailing in advanced countries.

The production of machine tools in India being not of the same scale as it is in other countries, the price which India\'s machine tool builders have to pay for components is more or less based on pattern of high pricing applicable to the prices of spares.

The machines tool industry in India has an enviable record of very quick technology absorption, assimilation and development. There are a number of success stories about how machine tool builders were of help at the most critical times. It will be a pity, in fact a tragedy, if we allow this industry to die and disappear from the scene.

It is to be noted that India is at least 6500 km away from any dependable source of supply of machine tools. The Government of India has always given a great deal of importance to the development of small scale and medium scale industries. This industry has also performed pretty well. Today, they are in need of help from India\'s machine tool industry to enable them to produce quality components at reduced costs. Is it anybody\'s case that the needs of the fragile sector (which needs tender care) will be met from 6500 km away?

Then, what is it that the industry request from the Government? It wants a level playing field. In fact, all of us must have a deep introspection and recognize the fact that the machine tool industry has a very special place in the country from the point of strategic and vital interest of the nation. Most important, it requests for the Government\'s consideration and understanding. It is therefore high time that the government gives the due attention to this industry which has a good potential.

Which of the following is the principal focus of the content of the passage?

Directions: Read the passage below and answer the question that follows:

Now another aspect of the complete scenario: imports.
Today the import duty on a complete machine is 30% for all practical purpose, whereas the import duty on raw materials and components ranges from 35.85%. The story does not end here. After paying such high import duties on component, once a machine is made, it suffers excise duty from 5% – 10% (including on the customs duty already paid). At the time of sale, the machine tools suffer further taxation, i.e. central sales tax or State sales taxes which range from 4% – 16%. This much for the tax angle. Another factor, which pushes the cost of manufacture of machine tools, is the very high rate of interest payable to banks ranging up to 22%, as against 4%–7% prevailing in advanced countries.

The production of machine tools in India being not of the same scale as it is in other countries, the price which India\'s machine tool builders have to pay for components is more or less based on pattern of high pricing applicable to the prices of spares.

The machines tool industry in India has an enviable record of very quick technology absorption, assimilation and development. There are a number of success stories about how machine tool builders were of help at the most critical times. It will be a pity, in fact a tragedy, if we allow this industry to die and disappear from the scene.

It is to be noted that India is at least 6500 km away from any dependable source of supply of machine tools. The Government of India has always given a great deal of importance to the development of small scale and medium scale industries. This industry has also performed pretty well. Today, they are in need of help from India\'s machine tool industry to enable them to produce quality components at reduced costs. Is it anybody\'s case that the needs of the fragile sector (which needs tender care) will be met from 6500 km away?

Then, what is it that the industry request from the Government? It wants a level playing field. In fact, all of us must have a deep introspection and recognize the fact that the machine tool industry has a very special place in the country from the point of strategic and vital interest of the nation. Most important, it requests for the Government\'s consideration and understanding. It is therefore high time that the government gives the due attention to this industry which has a good potential.

Directins: Which of the following statements are true?

Statement (I) The vital role of India's machine tool industry has not been duly recognized by the Government.Statement (II) Small–scale industry's performance can be further improved with the help from the Indian machine tool industry. Statement (III) The author of the passage has not discussed all the factors which are responsible for high cost of Indian machines.

Directions: Read the passage below and answer the question that follows:

Now another aspect of the complete scenario: imports.
Today the import duty on a complete machine is 30% for all practical purpose, whereas the import duty on raw materials and components ranges from 35.85%. The story does not end here. After paying such high import duties on component, once a machine is made, it suffers excise duty from 5% – 10% (including on the customs duty already paid). At the time of sale, the machine tools suffer further taxation, i.e. central sales tax or State sales taxes which range from 4% – 16%. This much for the tax angle. Another factor, which pushes the cost of manufacture of machine tools, is the very high rate of interest payable to banks ranging up to 22%, as against 4%–7% prevailing in advanced countries.

The production of machine tools in India being not of the same scale as it is in other countries, the price which India\'s machine tool builders have to pay for components is more or less based on pattern of high pricing applicable to the prices of spares.

The machines tool industry in India has an enviable record of very quick technology absorption, assimilation and development. There are a number of success stories about how machine tool builders were of help at the most critical times. It will be a pity, in fact a tragedy, if we allow this industry to die and disappear from the scene.

It is to be noted that India is at least 6500 km away from any dependable source of supply of machine tools. The Government of India has always given a great deal of importance to the development of small scale and medium scale industries. This industry has also performed pretty well. Today, they are in need of help from India\'s machine tool industry to enable them to produce quality components at reduced costs. Is it anybody\'s case that the needs of the fragile sector (which needs tender care) will be met from 6500 km away?

Then, what is it that the industry request from the Government? It wants a level playing field. In fact, all of us must have a deep introspection and recognize the fact that the machine tool industry has a very special place in the country from the point of strategic and vital interest of the nation. Most important, it requests for the Government\'s consideration and understanding. It is therefore high time that the government gives the due attention to this industry which has a good potential.

Which of the following best explains the sentence It wants a level playing field as used in the passage?

Directions: Read the passage below and answer the question that follows:

Now another aspect of the complete scenario: imports.
Today the import duty on a complete machine is 30% for all practical purpose, whereas the import duty on raw materials and components ranges from 35.85%. The story does not end here. After paying such high import duties on component, once a machine is made, it suffers excise duty from 5% – 10% (including on the customs duty already paid). At the time of sale, the machine tools suffer further taxation, i.e. central sales tax or State sales taxes which range from 4% – 16%. This much for the tax angle. Another factor, which pushes the cost of manufacture of machine tools, is the very high rate of interest payable to banks ranging up to 22%, as against 4%–7% prevailing in advanced countries.

The production of machine tools in India being not of the same scale as it is in other countries, the price which India\'s machine tool builders have to pay for components is more or less based on pattern of high pricing applicable to the prices of spares.

The machines tool industry in India has an enviable record of very quick technology absorption, assimilation and development. There are a number of success stories about how machine tool builders were of help at the most critical times. It will be a pity, in fact a tragedy, if we allow this industry to die and disappear from the scene.

It is to be noted that India is at least 6500 km away from any dependable source of supply of machine tools. The Government of India has always given a great deal of importance to the development of small scale and medium scale industries. This industry has also performed pretty well. Today, they are in need of help from India\'s machine tool industry to enable them to produce quality components at reduced costs. Is it anybody\'s case that the needs of the fragile sector (which needs tender care) will be met from 6500 km away?

Then, what is it that the industry request from the Government? It wants a level playing field. In fact, all of us must have a deep introspection and recognize the fact that the machine tool industry has a very special place in the country from the point of strategic and vital interest of the nation. Most important, it requests for the Government\'s consideration and understanding. It is therefore high time that the government gives the due attention to this industry which has a good potential.