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Bhuvan Panchayat 3.0

Why in News Recently an upgraded geo-imaging web portal, Bhuvan Panchayat 3.0 was launched during the National Workshop on “Space-based...

31 Jan 2020 News Analysis
E-flows in River Ganga

Why in News According to the Central Water Commission (CWC), 4 of the 11 hydro power projects on the upper reaches of the river Ganga’s...

31 Jan 2020 News Analysis
Groundwater Crisis

This article is based on “Not a drop to waste” which was published in The Indian Express on 30/12/2019. It talks about fast depleting...

30 Jan 2020 News Editorials
Poverty

Introduction Poverty is a state or condition in which a person or community lacks the financial resources and essentials for a minimum standard of...

30 Jan 2020 Paper 2
Public Health Emergency of International Concern

Why in News The World Health Organization (WHO) has recently announced that the Wuhan coronavirus does not yet constitute a Public Health Emergency...

30 Jan 2020 News Analysis
SC’s Judgement on Anticipatory Bail

Why in News The Supreme Court has recently held that the protection of anticipatory or pre-arrest bail cannot be limited to any time frame or...

30 Jan 2020 News Analysis
Yellow Rust

Why in News In sub-mountainous parts of Punjab and Haryana, yellow rust disease has been detected in the wheat crop which has raised concerns among...

30 Jan 2020 News Analysis
Nagoba Jatara

Why in News A month-long Nagoba Jatra festival has come to an end in Telangana. Nagoba Jatara is a tribal festival held in Keslapur village,...

30 Jan 2020 News Analysis
Operation Vanilla

Why in News Recently, the Indian Navy has launched the 'Operation Vanilla' to assist the population of Madagascar affected by Cyclone...

30 Jan 2020 News Analysis
Citizen-centric Services of NCRB

Why in News Recently, the National Crime Record Bureau (NCRB) has launched various police-related citizen-centric services on the Crime and Criminal...

30 Jan 2020 News Analysis
Poverty

For...

30 Jan 2020 Paper 2
Increasing Domestic Oil Production

This article is based on “Oil Exploration: Harvesting more oil from fields” which was published in The Economic Times on 29/01/2020. It...

29 Jan 2020 News Editorials
Guidelines to Monitor Sand Mining

Why in News For the first time, the Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate Change (MoEFCC) has released guidelines to monitor and check...

29 Jan 2020 News Analysis
Gatka Martial Art

Key Points Gatka is a traditional martial art form associated with the Sikh gurus. It imbibes sword and sticks fighting skills and...

29 Jan 2020 News Analysis
Addition to Ramsar Sites

Why in News India has added 10 more wetlands to the sites protected by the Ramsar Convention. These are: Maharashtra: Nandur (state’s...

29 Jan 2020 News Analysis
Introduction of African Cheetah in India

Why in News Recently, the Supreme Court has lifted its seven-year-long stay on a proposal to introduce African Cheetahs from Namibia into the...

29 Jan 2020 News Analysis
E- Retailers to Collect Plastic Waste

Why in news The Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) has told the National Green Tribunal (NGT) that e-commerce giants Amazon and Flipkart need to...

29 Jan 2020 News Analysis
Curbing Criminalisation of Politics

This article is based on “Crime and politics: on political candidates with criminal records” which was published in The Hindu on...

28 Jan 2020 News Editorials
The Big Picture: Electoral Politics- Need for Reform

Recently at a conference on ‘Money Power in Politics’, the Vice President M. Venkaiah Naidu highlighted Indian experience with...

28 Jan 2020 Lok Sabha & Rajya Sabha Discussions
Novel Strain of Coronavirus

Why in News Recently, the Lancet published a study titled “Clinical features of patients infected with 2019 novel coronavirus in Wuhan,...

28 Jan 2020 News Analysis

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			'title' => 'Bhuvan Panchayat 3.0',
			'catname' => 'News Analysis',
			'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>Recently an <strong>upgraded geo-imaging web portal, Bhuvan Panchayat 3.0</strong> was launched during the National Workshop on <strong>&ldquo;Space-based Information Support for Decentralised Planning-2".</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The launch is part of the advanced <strong>Space-based Information Support for Decentralised Planning (SISDP) project.</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The SISDP was launched in 2011 and its first phase of making databases was completed in 2017.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The portal uses high-resolution data from recent earth observation satellites and offers detailed information to <a href="/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-national-institutions/panchayati-raj-institution-pri" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>panchayats</strong></a> about their key assets.</li>
<li>For the first time, the thematic maps of 1:10,000 scale have been generated based on high-resolution data given by <a href="/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-national-institutions/indian-space-research-organisation-isro" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Indian Space Research Organisation&rsquo;s (ISRO)</strong></a> new earth observation satellites.</li>
<li>It is jointly implemented by the Ministry of Panchayati Raj and Department of Space, ISRO.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Advantages</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Decentralised Planning:</strong> "Bhuvan Panchayats" is facilitating decentralised planning at grassroot level. <strong>E.g.:</strong> It is possible for rural planners to plan and locate a healthcare unit, water harvesting, rural communication network even as they sit in panchayat offices.</li>
<li><strong>Empowering the Panchayats:</strong>The workshop addressed modalities and mechanisms that would be adopted to empower the local bodies in utilizing the space technology in the form of simple-to-use maps, location based services through <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/navic" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Navigation in Indian Constellation (NavIC)</strong></a> and high resolution space images based local tools to enable the panchayats with modern technology for sustainable development.</li>
<li><strong>Technology and Governance:</strong> The Panchayati Raj institutions could effectively use space technology for planning, implementation, monitoring and management of resources, including governance.</li>
<li><strong>Digital India:</strong> It can also prove to be an important component for &ldquo;Digital India&rdquo; platform for reaching digital thematic maps to about 2.56 Lakh Gram panchayats in the country.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Bhuvan Portal</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Bhuvan (Sanskrit for Earth)</strong> is a Geoportal of ISRO , allowing host of services covering visualization, free data download, thematic map display and analysis, timely information on disaster and project specific GIS applications.</li>
<li>The portal was <strong>launched in 2009</strong> and is available in English, Hindi, Tamil and Telugu.</li>
<li>Bhuvan, as a platform, is open and can be used by a diverse user community such as Central and State Governments Departments, Academia and Industry. Few examples are: <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Bhuvan-Bhujal:</strong> Ground Water Prospects Information System</li>
<li><strong>School Bhuvan:</strong> An e-learning portal for the students</li>
<li><strong>ENVIS program</strong> of Ministry of Environment, Forests &amp; Climate Change</li>
<li><strong>Bhuvan Ganga:</strong> Enables people participation in providing vital information for Clean Ganga project</li>
<li><strong>Srishti-Drishti:</strong> An Integrated Watershed Development Program</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>ENVIS Program</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Environmental Information System (ENVIS) program was started in December, 1982 to provide environmental information to decision makers, policy planners, scientists and engineers, research workers, etc. all over the country.</li>
<li>ENVIS has started implementing the <a href="/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-international-institution/world-bank-group" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>World Bank</strong></a> assisted Environment Management Capacity Building Technical Assistance Project (EMCBTAP) since January, 2002 which aims at structuring the ENVIS scheme by extending its reach through involvement of Institutions/Organizations in State Governments, academia sector, corporate sector, NGO sector, etc.</li>
</ul>
</div>',
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		],
		(int) 1 => [
			'title' => 'E-flows in River Ganga',
			'catname' => 'News Analysis',
			'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>According to the <strong>Central Water Commission (CWC), 4 of the 11 hydro power projects</strong> on the upper reaches of the river Ganga&rsquo;s tributaries are <strong>violating Ganga <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/government-notifies-e-flow-for-ganga" target="_blank" rel="noopener">ecological flow (e-flow) norms</a>.</strong></li>
<li>The <strong>non-compliant</strong> ones are: <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Vishnuprayag Hydroelectric project - Alaknanda</li>
<li>Srinagar Hydroelectric project - Alaknanda</li>
<li>Maneri Bhali Phase 2 - Bhagirathi</li>
<li>Pashulok - Ganga Mainstream</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>Violating the e-flow norms <strong>can mean closure of the project or a hefty fine.</strong></li>
</ul>
<h3>Ecological- Flow Norms</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The Central Government under the <strong>Environment (Protection) Act, 1986</strong> has notified the minimum environmental flows for the River Ganga that has to be maintained at various locations on the river.</li>
<li>This is<strong> to ensure that the river has at least the minimum required environmental flow of water even after the river flow gets diverted by projects and structures for purposes like irrigation, hydropower,</strong> domestic and industrial use etc. This is an important step taken towards maintaining the uninterrupted or&nbsp;<em>Aviral Dhara</em>&nbsp;of the river.</li>
<li>Environmental flows are the acceptable flow regimes that are required to maintain a river in the desired environmental state or predetermined state.</li>
<li>The <strong>Central Water Commission is the designated authority</strong> and will be responsible for supervision, monitoring, regulation of flows and reporting of necessary information to the appropriate authority as and when required and also take emergent decisions about the water storage norms in case of any emergency.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Power Companies and E-flow Norms</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The Centre&rsquo;s e-flow notification came into effect in October 2018 and gave companies three years to modify their design plans, if required, to ensure that a minimum amount of water flowed during all seasons. Power producers generally hoard water to create reserves to increase power production.</li>
<li>In September 2019, the government advanced this deadline, from October 2021 to December 2019. This was after the CWC undertook field visits to hydropower sites and reported that most of the power projects could begin implementing the norms right away and didn&rsquo;t need three years.</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Central Water Commission</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>CWC is a premier technical organization of India in the field of water resources and is presently functioning as an attached office of the <strong>Ministry of Jal Shakti.</strong> It was formed in <strong>1974-1975</strong> via a notification.</li>
<li>The Commission is entrusted with the general responsibilities of initiating, coordinating and furthering in consultation of the State Governments concerned, schemes for control, conservation and utilization of water resources throughout the country, for the purpose of flood control, irrigation, navigation, drinking water supply and water power development.</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>The Ganga River System</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The headwaters of the Ganga called the &lsquo;Bhagirathi&rsquo; is fed by the Gangotri Glacier and joined by the Alaknanda at Devaprayag in Uttarakhand.</li>
<li>At Haridwar, Ganga emerges from the mountains to the plains.</li>
<li>The Ganga is joined by many tributaries from the Himalayas, a few of them being major rivers such as the Yamuna, the Ghaghara, the Gandak and the Kosi.</li>
</ul>
</div>
<p><a href="https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/four-hydro-projects-violate-ganga-flow-norms-cwc/article30695064.ece" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Source: TH</strong></a></p>',
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			'url' => 'https://www.drishtiias.com/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/e-flows-in-river-ganga'
		],
		(int) 2 => [
			'title' => 'Groundwater Crisis',
			'catname' => 'News Editorials',
			'desc' => '<div class="border">
<p>This article is based on <a href="https://indianexpress.com/article/opinion/editorials/atal-bhujan-yojana-groundwater-management-6190583/" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>&ldquo;Not a drop to waste&rdquo;</strong></a> which was published in The Indian Express on 30/12/2019. It talks about fast depleting groundwater in India.</p>
</div>
<p>The green revolution has made India a food surplus country from a food deficient country. However, these benefits have come at the cost of increased pressure on groundwater reserves.</p>
<p>This crisis is also reflected in <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/composite-water-management-index-2-0" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>NITI Aayog&rsquo;s &ldquo;Composite Water Management Index&rdquo;</strong> </a>(CWMI), which held that <strong>21 Indian cities,</strong> including Delhi, Chennai and Bengaluru, will run out of groundwater. It also noted that not only there is a quantitative crunch but <strong>70% of India's water resources are contaminated.</strong></p>
<p>In this context, the government constituted an integrated ministry called Jal Shakti Ministry. The Jal Shakti Ministry has recently launched <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/atal-bhujal-yojana" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Atal Bhujal Yojana</strong></a> which aims at improving groundwater management.</p>
<h3>Nature of Groundwater Depletion</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>India is the <strong>world&rsquo;s largest user of groundwater,</strong> where groundwater contributes to more than <strong>60% of the country&rsquo;s irrigation resources.</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>In India nearly <strong>2/3<sup>rd</sup> net sown area is rain-fed.</strong> Therefore, in order to provide farmers with adequate irrigation facilities, the government provides<strong> power to the agriculture sector at highly subsidised rates.</strong> This accounts for the <strong>over-extraction of groundwater.</strong></li>
<li>Also,<strong> investment in canal networks has been long-neglected.</strong> It has led to over-exploitation and fast-depleting water tables.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>This<strong> over-extraction of groundwater is non-renewable</strong> since recharge rates are less than extraction rates and replenishing this resource can take thousands of years.</li>
<li>Moreover, as <strong>climate change alters the monsoon,</strong> the large stresses on India&rsquo;s groundwater resources may increase.</li>
<li>The decision to focus on the groundwater crisis is significant because its over-exploitation is contributing to &mdash; as stated by NITI Aayog <strong>&mdash;&ldquo;the worst water crisis&rdquo;</strong> in India&rsquo;s history.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Atal Bhujal Yojana</h3>
<p>It is a <strong>World Bank-funded, central sector scheme</strong> aimed at improving groundwater management and restoring the health of the country&rsquo;s aquifers.</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>It seeks to strengthen the<strong> &ldquo;institutional framework of administering groundwater resources and aims to bring about behavioural changes at the community level for sustainable groundwater resource management&rdquo;.</strong></li>
<li>The scheme will be <strong>implemented in seven states &mdash;</strong> Gujarat, Haryana, Karnataka, Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh which are over-exploited and water-stressed areas of the country.</li>
<li>The Atal Bhujal Yojana seeks to <strong>revive village-level Water User Associations</strong> (WUAs). The scheme will strengthen the financial state of the WUAs, including allowing these bodies to retain a significant portion of irrigation fees.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>WUAs are created by Groundwater Management and Regulation Scheme 2013.</li>
<li>According to the CWMI, less than 50% of states involve the WUAs in critical groundwater management decisions like those pertaining to irrigation resources.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Way Forward</h3>
<p>By emphasising on local-level institutions like the WUAs, the Atal Bhujal Yojana has signalled the inclination towards persuasive solutions. However, a lot more than, than mere persuasion is required. For example:</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Ways must be found to <strong>balance</strong> the demands of farmers with the imperatives of reviving the country&rsquo;s aquifers.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>One solution tried out in parts of Punjab, to gradually <strong>reduce subsidies and offer cash compensation to farmers for every unit of electricity they save.</strong> This can be emulated in other states as well.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>The CWMI report talks of other solutions like persuading farmers to adopt more efficient technologies such as <strong>drip irrigation.</strong></li>
<li>The government should <strong>promote alternatives to water-intensive crops.</strong> For example, Maize requires only one-third of water than paddy.</li>
<li>States can draw inspiration from <strong>community water management</strong> which is followed in Andhra Pradesh which has already shown how aquifer management and sharing of borewells can ensure equitable distribution of water.</li>
<li>Finally, there is a need to set up <strong>National Water Commission,</strong> with multidisciplinary expertise including in hydrology (surface water), hydrogeology (groundwater), meteorology (atmosphere), river ecology, agronomy, environmental economics and participatory resource management.</li>
</ul>
<table border="1" style="border-collapse: collapse; width: 100%;">
<tbody>
<tr>
<td style="width: 100%; border-style: dotted; border-color: #ff0000; background-color: #e8ffdb;"><span style="color: #000080;"><em><strong>Drishti Mains Question</strong></em></span><br /><br />
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">How to tackle the groundwater crisis in India especially keeping in view the demands of the farmer?&nbsp;&nbsp;</span></p>
</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>',
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		],
		(int) 3 => [
			'title' => 'Poverty',
			'catname' => 'Paper 2',
			'desc' => '<h3>Introduction</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Poverty is a state or condition in which a person or community lacks the financial resources and essentials for a minimum standard of living. Poverty means that the income level from employment is so low that basic human needs can't be met.</li>
<li><strong>According to World Bank,</strong> Poverty is pronounced deprivation in well-being, and comprises many dimensions. It includes low incomes and the inability to acquire the basic goods and services necessary for survival with dignity. Poverty also encompasses low levels of health and education, poor access to clean water and sanitation, inadequate physical security, lack of voice, and insufficient capacity and opportunity to better one's life.</li>
<li>In India, 21.9% of the population lives below the national poverty line in 2011.</li>
<li>In 2018, almost 8% of the world&rsquo;s workers and their families lived on less than US$1.90 per person per day (international poverty line).</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>Types of Poverty:</strong> There are two main classifications of poverty:</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Absolute Poverty:</strong> A condition where household income is below a necessary level to maintain basic living standards (food, shelter, housing). This condition makes it possible to compare between different countries and also over time.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>It was first introduced in 1990, the &ldquo;dollar a day&rdquo; poverty line measured absolute poverty by the standards of the world's poorest countries. In October 2015, the World Bank reset it to $1.90 a day.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Relative Poverty:</strong> It is defined from the social perspective that is living standard compared to the economic standards of population living in surroundings. Hence it is a measure of income inequality.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Usually, relative poverty is measured as the percentage of the population with income less than some fixed proportion of median income.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3><a href="/to-the-points/paper3/poverty-estimation-in-india" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Poverty Estimation in India</a></h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Poverty estimation in India is carried out by NITI Aayog&rsquo;s task force through the calculation of poverty line based on the data captured by the National Sample Survey Office under the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (MOSPI).</li>
<li>Poverty line estimation in India is <strong>based on the consumption expenditure</strong> and not on the income levels.</li>
<li>Poverty is measured based on consumer expenditure surveys of the National Sample Survey Organisation. A poor household is defined as one with an expenditure level below a specific poverty line.</li>
<li>The incidence of poverty is measured by the poverty ratio, which is the ratio of the number of poor to the total population expressed as a percentage. It is also known as <strong>head-count ratio.</strong></li>
<li><strong>Alagh Committee (1979)</strong> determined a poverty line based on a minimum daily requirement of 2400 and 2100 calories for an adult in Rural and Urban area respectively.</li>
<li>Subsequently different committees;<strong> Lakdawala Committee (1993), Tendulkar Committee (2009), Rangarajan committee (2012)</strong> did the poverty estimation.</li>
<li>As per the Rangarajan committee report (2014), <strong>the poverty line is estimated as Monthly Per Capita Expenditure of Rs. 1407 in urban areas and Rs. 972 in rural areas.</strong></li>
</ul>
<h3>Causes of Poverty in India</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Population Explosion:</strong> India&rsquo;s population has steadily increased through the years. During the past 45 years, it has risen at a rate of 2.2% per year, which means, on average, about 17 million people are added to the country&rsquo;s population each year. This also increases the demand for consumption goods tremendously.</li>
<li><strong>Low Agricultural Productivity:</strong> A major reason for poverty in the low productivity in the agriculture sector. The reason for low productivity is manifold. Chiefly, it is because of fragmented and subdivided land holdings, lack of capital, illiteracy about new technologies in farming, the use of traditional methods of cultivation, wastage during storage, etc.</li>
<li><strong>Inefficient Resource utilisation:</strong> There is underemployment and disguised unemployment in the country, particularly in the farming sector. This has resulted in low agricultural output and also led to a dip in the standard of living.</li>
<li><strong>Low Rate of Economic Development:</strong> Economic development has been low in India especially in the first 40 years of independence before the LPG reforms in 1991.</li>
<li><strong>Price Rise:</strong> Price rise has been steady in the country and this has added to the burden the poor carry. Although a few people have benefited from this, the lower income groups have suffered because of it, and are not even able to satisfy their basic minimum wants.</li>
<li><strong>Unemployment:</strong> Unemployment is another factor causing poverty in India. The ever-increasing population has led to a higher number of job-seekers. However, there is not enough expansion in opportunities to match this demand for jobs.</li>
<li><strong>Lack of Capital and Entrepreneurship:</strong> The shortage of capital and entrepreneurship results in low level of investment and job creation in the economy.</li>
<li><strong>Social Factors:</strong> Apart from economic factors, there are also social factors hindering the eradication of poverty in India. Some of the hindrances in this regard are the laws of inheritance, caste system, certain traditions, etc.</li>
<li><strong>Colonial Exploitation:</strong> The British colonisation and rule over India for about two centuries de-industrialised india by ruining its traditional handicrafts and textile industries. Colonial Policies transformed india to a mere raw-material producer for european industries.</li>
<li><strong>Climatic Factors:</strong> Most of india&rsquo;s poor belong to the states of Bihar, UP, MP, Chhattisgarh, odisha, Jharkhand, etc. Natural calamities such as frequent floods, disasters, earthquake and cyclone cause heavy damage to agriculture in these states.</li>
<li><strong>Poverty Trap:</strong></li>
</ul>
<p><a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1580383923_image1.jpg" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1580383923_image1.jpg" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="500" caption="false" /></strong></a></p>
<h3>Poverty Alleviation Programs in India</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Integrated Rural Development Programme (IRDP):</strong> It was introduced in 1978-79 and universalized from 2<sup>nd</sup> October, 1980, aimed at providing assistance to the rural poor in the form of subsidy and bank credit for productive employment opportunities through successive plan periods.</li>
<li><strong>Jawahar Rozgar Yojana/Jawahar Gram Samridhi Yojana:</strong> The JRY was meant to generate meaningful employment opportunities for the unemployed and underemployed in rural areas through the creation of economic infrastructure and community and social assets.</li>
<li><strong>Rural Housing &ndash; Indira Awaas Yojana:</strong> The Indira Awaas Yojana (LAY) programme aims at providing free housing to Below Poverty Line (BPL) families in rural areas and main targets would be the households of SC/STs.</li>
<li><strong>Food for Work Programme:</strong> It aims at enhancing food security through wage employment. Food grains are supplied to states free of cost, however, the supply of food grains from the Food Corporation of India (FCI) godowns has been slow.</li>
<li><strong>National Old Age Pension Scheme (NOAPS):</strong> This pension is given by the central government. The job of implementation of this scheme in states and union territories is given to panchayats and municipalities. The states contribution may vary depending on the state. The amount of old age pension is ₹200 per month for applicants aged 60&ndash;79. For applicants aged above 80 years, the amount has been revised to ₹500 a month according to the 2011&ndash;2012 Budget. It is a successful venture.</li>
<li><strong>Annapurna Scheme:</strong> This scheme was started by the government in 1999&ndash;2000 to provide food to senior citizens who cannot take care of themselves and are not under the National Old Age Pension Scheme (NOAPS), and who have no one to take care of them in their village. This scheme would provide 10 kg of free food grains a month for the eligible senior citizens. They mostly target groups of &lsquo;poorest of the poor&rsquo; and &lsquo;indigent senior citizens&rsquo;.</li>
<li><strong>Sampoorna Gramin Rozgar Yojana (SGRY):</strong> The main objective of the scheme continues to be the generation of wage employment, creation of durable economic infrastructure in rural areas and provision of food and nutrition security for the poor.</li>
<li><strong>Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA) 2005:</strong> The Act provides 100 days assured employment every year to every rural household. One-third of the proposed jobs would be reserved for women. The central government will also establish National Employment Guarantee Funds. Similarly, state governments will establish State Employment Guarantee Funds for implementation of the scheme. Under the programme, if an applicant is not provided employment within 15 days s/he will be entitled to a daily unemployment allowance.</li>
<li><strong>National Rural Livelihood Mission: Aajeevika (2011):</strong> It evolves out the need to diversify the needs of the rural poor and provide them jobs with regular income on a monthly basis. Self Help groups are formed at the village level to help the needy.</li>
<li><strong>National Urban Livelihood Mission:</strong> The NULM focuses on organizing urban poor in Self Help Groups, creating opportunities for skill development leading to market-based employment and helping them to set up self-employment ventures by ensuring easy access to credit.</li>
<li><strong>Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Vikas Yojana:</strong> It will focus on fresh entrant to the labour market, especially labour market and class X and XII dropouts.</li>
<li><strong>Pradhan Mantri Jan Dhan Yojana:</strong> It aimed at direct benefit transfer of subsidy, pension, insurance etc. and attained the target of opening 1.5 crore bank accounts. The scheme particularly targets the unbanked poor.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Conclusion</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The <strong>Global Multidimensional Poverty Index-2018</strong> released by the UN noted that 271 million people moved out of poverty between 2005-06 and 2015-16 in India. The poverty rate in the country has nearly halved, falling from 55% to 28% over the ten-year period. Still a big part of the population in india is living Below the Poverty Line.</li>
<li>Rapid economic growth and the use of technology for social sector programs have helped make a significant dent in extreme poverty in the country.</li>
<li>Despite rapid growth and development, an unacceptably high proportion of our population continues to suffer from severe and multidimensional deprivation. Thus, a more comprehensive and inclusive approach is required to eradicate poverty in India.</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="/mind-map/gs-paper2/poverty-mind-map" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><em>For Mind Map</em></a></p>',
			'postdate' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenTime) {},
			'url' => 'https://www.drishtiias.com/to-the-points/Paper2/poverty-9'
		],
		(int) 4 => [
			'title' => 'Public Health Emergency of International Concern',
			'catname' => 'News Analysis',
			'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>The <a href="/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-international-institution/world-health-organization-who" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>World Health Organization (WHO)</strong></a> has recently announced that the<a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/coronaviruses" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong> Wuhan coronavirus</strong></a> <strong>does not yet constitute a Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC).</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>A PHEIC is defined in the <strong>International Health Regulations (IHR, 2005)</strong> as, &ldquo;an extraordinary event which is determined to constitute a public health risk to other States through the international spread of disease and to potentially require a coordinated international response&rdquo;. This definition implies a situation that is:<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Serious, sudden, unusual or unexpected;</li>
<li>Carries implications for public health beyond the affected State&rsquo;s national border; and</li>
<li>May require immediate international action.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>The declaration of PHEIC would lead to boosting public health measures, funding and resources to prevent and reduce global spread. It could include recommendations on trade and travel, although the WHO generally tries to avoid disruptive trade restrictions.</li>
<li>The <strong>Emergency Committee,</strong> made up of international experts, provide technical advice to the WHO Director-General in the context of a PHEIC.</li>
<li>The WHO has declared five global emergencies in the past decade, including the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/ebola-global-health-emergency" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Ebola epidemic.</strong></a></li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>The International Health Regulations (2005)</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>IHR (2005), represents a <strong>binding international legal agreement</strong> involving 196 countries across the globe, including all the Member States of the WHO.</li>
<li>Their aim is to help the international community prevent and respond to acute public health risks that have the potential to cross borders and threaten people worldwide.</li>
</ul>
</div>',
			'postdate' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenTime) {},
			'url' => 'https://www.drishtiias.com/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/public-health-emergency-of-international-concern'
		],
		(int) 5 => [
			'title' => 'SC’s Judgement on Anticipatory Bail',
			'catname' => 'News Analysis',
			'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>The Supreme Court has recently held that the<strong> protection of anticipatory or pre-arrest bail cannot be limited to any time frame</strong> or &ldquo;fixed period&rdquo;.</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The questions referred to the Constitution Bench were twofold: <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Whether the protection granted to a person under <strong>Section 438 of the</strong> <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/re-imagining-cognizable-offences" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Code of Criminal Procedure</strong> </a>should be limited to a fixed period till the accused surrenders in court, and</li>
<li>Whether the life of anticipatory bail should end when the accused is summoned by the court.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Anticipatory Bail<a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1580378492_image4.jpg" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1580378492_image4.jpg" style="float: right;" width="400" caption="false" /></a></h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Section 438 (anticipatory bail) of the Code of Criminal Procedure</strong> deals with direction for grant of bail to a person apprehending arrest.</li>
<li>It states that when any person has reason to believe that he may be arrested on an accusation of having committed a <strong>non- bailable offence,</strong> he may apply to the High Court or the Court of Session for a direction under this section; and that Court may, if it thinks fit, direct that in the event of such arrest, he shall be released on bail.</li>
<li>The<strong> high frequency of arbitrary and heavy-handed arrests to harass and humiliate citizens,</strong> and often at the interest of powerful individuals led to the enactment of Section 438.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Highlights of the Judgement</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Section 438 and its Importance</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Anticipatory bail helps thwart influential powers from implicating their rivals in false cases.</li>
<li>It protects people from the<strong> humiliation of detention in jail for days.</strong></li>
<li>Anticipatory bail is all the more needed now because there is a drive of political rivalry and &ldquo;this tendency is showing signs of steady increase&rdquo;.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Duration of Bail</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The <strong>life of an anticipatory bail</strong> order does not normally end at the time and stage when the accused is summoned by the court, or when charges are framed, but <strong>can continue till the end of the trial.</strong></li>
<li>A <strong>denial of bail amounts to deprivation of personal liberty (a fundamental right under Article 21 of the Constitution),</strong> thus, the Court should lean against the imposition of unnecessary restrictions on the scope of Section 438.</li>
<li><strong>Parliament has not thought it appropriate to curtail the power or discretion of the courts,</strong> in granting pre-arrest or anticipatory bail, especially regarding the duration, or till chargesheet is filed, or in serious crimes. Therefore, it would not be in the larger interests of society if the court, by judicial interpretation, limits the exercise of that power.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Grant of Anticipatory Bail</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The court held that <strong>a plea for anticipatory bail can be filed even before the registration of FIR</strong> as long as there is reasonable basis for apprehension of arrest and clarity of facts.</li>
<li>An application for anticipatory bail should be based on <strong>concrete facts and not vague or general allegations.</strong> The application should also contain bare essential facts relating to the offence and why the applicant reasonably apprehends arrest.</li>
<li>The <strong>grant of protection should not be &ldquo;blanket&rdquo;</strong> but confined to specific offence or incident for which relief from arrest is sought. It is open for the police to move court for arrest of the accused if there is any violation of bail conditions.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Conditions on Anticipatory Bail</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>It is <strong>open for a court to impose appropriate conditions for grant of anticipatory bail</strong> if the specific facts or the features of the offence involved demands it.</li>
<li><strong>Restrictions/conditions can be imposed only on a case-to-case basis.</strong> Courts have to consider the nature of the offence, the role of the person, the likelihood of his influencing the course of investigation or tampering of evidence, including intimidating witnesses and fleeing justice.</li>
<li>It is essential for the court to evaluate the threat or apprehension, its gravity or seriousness and the appropriateness of any condition that may have to be imposed. Special or other restrictive conditions may be imposed if the case or cases warrant, but should not be imposed in a routine manner in all cases.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/time-limit-on-advance-bail-violates-personal-liberty-supreme-court/article30687440.ece" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Source: TH</strong></a></p>',
			'postdate' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenTime) {},
			'url' => 'https://www.drishtiias.com/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/sc-s-judgement-on-anticipatory-bail'
		],
		(int) 6 => [
			'title' => 'Yellow Rust',
			'catname' => 'News Analysis',
			'desc' => '<h3>Why in News<a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1580376252_image3.jpg" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1580376252_image3.jpg" style="float: right;" width="200" caption="false" /></a></h3>
<p>In sub-mountainous parts of Punjab and Haryana, yellow rust disease has been detected in the wheat crop which has raised concerns among farmers about a drop in the crop's yield.</p>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Yellow rust or stripe rust</strong> is a<strong> fungal disease</strong> which attacks the leaves of <strong>wheat crop</strong> by forming <strong>yellow stripes</strong> and <strong>affects their photosynthesis</strong> that causes <strong>shrivelling of grain size.</strong></li>
<li>It is a disease of <strong>cool weather in the northern hills</strong> and <strong>north-western plains zone.</strong></li>
<li>The<strong> recent rains</strong> in the region coupled with a slight <strong>increase in the temperature</strong> and <strong>humid conditions</strong> are <strong>favourable</strong> for yellow rust.</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Wheat</strong></p>
<p><a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1580376225_image1.jpg" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1580376225_image1.jpg" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="600" caption="false" /></strong></a></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Temperature:</strong> Between 10-15&deg;C (Sowing time) and 21-26&deg;C (Ripening &amp; Harvesting) with bright sunlight.</li>
<li><strong>Rainfall:</strong> Around 75-100 cm.</li>
<li><strong>Soil Type:</strong> Well-drained fertile loamy and clayey loamy (Ganga-Satluj plains and black soil region of the Deccan)</li>
<li><strong>Top Wheat Producing States:</strong> Uttar Pradesh &gt; Punjab &gt; Madhya Pradesh &gt; Haryana &gt; Rajasthan.</li>
<li>It is a <strong>rabi (winter) crop,</strong> is sown between late October till December while the harvesting of the crop starts from April onwards.</li>
<li>India is the <strong>second-largest producer after</strong> China.</li>
<li>This is the <strong>second most important cereal crop</strong> and the main food crop, in the north and north-western India.</li>
<li>The <strong>success of Green Revolution</strong> contributed to the growth of Rabi crops especially wheat.</li>
<li><strong>Government initiatives to support wheat cultivation:</strong> Macro Management Mode of Agriculture, <a href="/to-the-points/paper3/food-security-1" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>National Food Security Mission and Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana.</strong></a></li>
</ul>
</div>
<p><a href="https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/other-states/yellow-rust-in-wheat-crop-causes-alarm-in-punjab-and-haryana/article30686820.ece" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Source: TH</strong></a></p>',
			'postdate' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenTime) {},
			'url' => 'https://www.drishtiias.com/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/yellow-rust'
		],
		(int) 7 => [
			'title' => 'Nagoba Jatara',
			'catname' => 'News Analysis',
			'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>A month-long Nagoba Jatra festival has come to an end in Telangana.</p>
<p><a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1580375641_image5.jpg" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1580375641_image5.jpg" width="500" caption="false" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" /></a></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Nagoba Jatara is a tribal festival held in Keslapur village, Indervelli Mandal Adilabad district, Telangana, thus the festival is also known as Keslapur Jatara.</li>
<li>It is a huge religious and cultural event of the Boigutta branch of Mesram clan of the aboriginal Raj Gond and Pradhan tribes.</li>
<li>During the festival, the maha puja of serpent god Nagoba is held.</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Gond Tribe</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Gonds are one of the largest tribal groups in the world.</li>
<li>They mostly live in Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh, Gujarat, Jharkhand, Karnataka, Telangana, Uttar Pradesh, West Bengal and Odisha.</li>
<li>Gonds are subdivided into four tribes:<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Raj Gonds</li>
<li>Madia Gonds</li>
<li>Dhurve Gonds</li>
<li>Khatulwar Gonds</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>It has been notified as a <a href="/to-the-points/Paper2/reservation-in-india" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Scheduled Tribe.</strong></a></li>
</ul>
<p><strong>Pradhan tribe</strong></p>
<p>Pradhans are considered to be the junior branch of Gond tribe and are traditional bards to Gonds and recite mythologies, folk tales and songs of their gods and goddesses at various festivals, ceremonies and fairs for which service they are paid in cash or kind.</p>
</div>
<p><a href="https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/telangana/month-long-nagoba-jatara-concludes-in-telangana/article30689808.ece" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Source: TH</strong></a></p>',
			'postdate' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenTime) {},
			'url' => 'https://www.drishtiias.com/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/nagoba-jatara'
		],
		(int) 8 => [
			'title' => 'Operation Vanilla',
			'catname' => 'News Analysis',
			'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>Recently, the Indian Navy has launched the 'Operation Vanilla' to assist the population of Madagascar affected by <strong>Cyclone Diane.</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Indian Navy also diverted a large amphibious ship viz. <em><strong>INS Airavat</strong></em> carrying clothing, medicines, and other relief material to provide assistance and support in the relief operations.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Cyclone Diane<a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1580371742_image2.png" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1580371742_image2.png" width="300" caption="false" style="float: right;" /></a></h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>It is a<a href="/loksabha-rajyasabha-discussions/in-depth-western-disturbance" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong> tropical cyclone.</strong></a></li>
<li><strong>Origin:</strong> North-west off the coast of <strong>Mauritius in the South-western Indian Ocean.</strong></li>
<li>Madagascar has been hit by it and there has been heavy flooding and landslips causing loss of lives and displacement, affecting more than 92,000 people. India has been the <strong>first country to respond to floods in Madagascar.</strong></li>
</ul>
<h3>Significance</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>India assistance to Madagascar is in consonance with Prime Minister's vision of '<a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/important-facts-for-prelims-20th-march-2019" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Security and Growth for all in the Region (SAGAR)</strong></a>'.</li>
<li>India is working with France to develop strategic and economic partnership involving <strong>Madagascar, Reunion Islands-Comoros</strong> so as to balance the growing influence of China in that part of the Indian Ocean Region.</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/indian-navy-launches-operation-vanilla-to-help-flood-hit-madagascar/article30677388.ece" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Source: TH</strong></a></p>',
			'postdate' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenTime) {},
			'url' => 'https://www.drishtiias.com/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/operation-vanilla'
		],
		(int) 9 => [
			'title' => 'Citizen-centric Services of NCRB',
			'catname' => 'News Analysis',
			'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>Recently, the <strong>National Crime Record Bureau (NCRB)</strong> has launched various police-related citizen-centric services on the <strong>Crime and Criminal Tracking Network and Systems (CCTNS)</strong> platform.</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>These are being launched in order <strong>to promote &lsquo;Ease of Living&rsquo;</strong> among citizens.</li>
<li>Such services are being provided through the state-citizen portals so far but these are being <strong>launched centrally for the first time.</strong></li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>National Crime Record Bureau</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>NCRB was set-up in <strong>1986</strong> under the <strong>Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA)</strong> to function as a repository of information on crime and criminals so as to assist the investigators in linking crime to the perpetrators.</li>
<li>It is headquartered in <strong>New Delhi.</strong></li>
<li>It was set up based on the <strong>recommendations of the National Police Commission (1977-1981)</strong> and the<strong> MHA&rsquo;s Taskforce (1985).</strong></li>
<li>It was constituted by <strong>merging</strong> the Directorate of Coordination and Police Computer (DCPC), Inter-State Criminals Data Branch of CBI, Central Finger Print Bureau of CBI and Statistical Branch of BPR&amp;D.</li>
<li>NCRB brings out the <strong>annual comprehensive statistics of crime</strong> across the country through <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/annual-crimes-in-india-report-2018-ncrb" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>&lsquo;Crime in India&rsquo;</strong></a> <strong>report.</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Being published since 1953,</strong> the report serves as a crucial tool in understanding the law and order situation across the country.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>It <strong>developed CCTNS in 2009</strong> which interconnects approximately 15000 police stations and 6000 higher offices across the country.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>CCTNS digitises data related to FIR registration, investigation and charge sheets in all police stations leading to the development of a <strong>national database of crimes and criminals.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</div>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Missing Person Search</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Citizens can search for their missing kin in this <strong>user-friendly portal,</strong> against the national database of the recovered unidentified found person/dead bodies.</li>
<li>This will benefit the relatives of missing persons because all details including photos are available in CCTNS and will be accessible to citizens through this portal.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Generate Vehicle NOC</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>It allows citizens to <strong>ascertain the status of a vehicle before its second-hand purchase</strong> to know if it is suspicious or clean from police records.</li>
<li>One can generate and download the relevant No Objection Certificate (NOC) after searching against the National database on vehicle&rsquo;s details. NOC is required by the Regional Transport Office before the transfer of ownership.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>CCTNS Hackathon and Cyber Challenge 2020</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>NCRB and Cyber Peace Foundation</strong> (global civil society organisation and think tank of cybersecurity and policy experts) have designed it together.</li>
<li>The Hackathon aims to enhance skills and deepen understanding of the police personnel at ground level to adopt smart strategies for effectively addressing the evolving threats and to promote coordination with industry and academia.</li>
<li>The Challenge invites the participation of law enforcement personnel across all ranks and file, as well as cybersecurity experts (civilians) across India.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>NCRB and National Centre for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC), USA</strong> has signed a <strong>Memorandum of Understanding</strong> (MoU) to receive information on child pornography or such related material originating from India.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>NCMEC is<strong> a non-profit organization established by the United States Congress.</strong></li>
<li>It has a <strong>centralized reporting system</strong> by which internet service providers across the world or intermediaries like Facebook, Youtube, etc. can report about persons who circulate images of child pornography.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Cyber Tipline monitoring facility</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>It is a <strong>centralised system for reporting online exploitation of children.</strong></li>
<li>The public and electronic service providers can make reports of suspected online enticement of children for sexual acts, molestation, pornography, sex tourism, sex trafficking, unsolicited obscene materials sent to a child, misleading domain names and misleading words or digital images on the internet.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="https://pib.gov.in/PressReleseDetail.aspx?PRID=1601029" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Source: PIB</strong></a></p>',
			'postdate' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenTime) {},
			'url' => 'https://www.drishtiias.com/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/citizen-centric-services-of-ncrb'
		],
		(int) 10 => [
			'title' => 'Poverty',
			'catname' => 'Paper 2',
			'desc' => '<p style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1582781901_Poverty%20(Mind Map)_Artboard 1.png" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1582781901_Poverty (Mind Map)_Artboard 1.png" width="460" height="1700" /></a></p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><a href="/to-the-points/Paper2/poverty-9" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><em>For TTP</em></a></p>',
			'postdate' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenTime) {},
			'url' => 'https://www.drishtiias.com/mind-map/gs-paper2/poverty-mind-map'
		],
		(int) 11 => [
			'title' => 'Increasing Domestic Oil Production',
			'catname' => 'News Editorials',
			'desc' => '<div class="border">
<p><strong>This article is based on</strong> <a href="https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/blogs/et-commentary/oil-exploration-harvesting-more-oil-from-fields/" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>&ldquo;Oil Exploration: Harvesting more oil from fields&rdquo;</strong></a> which was published in The Economic Times on 29/01/2020. It talks about reasons for the decline in <strong>domestic oil production.</strong></p>
</div>
<p>With rising domestic fuel consumption, India's crude imports have continued to rise. India imported 226.5 million tonnes of crude in 2018-19 (a 38% increase over 2009-10). However, in the same period, annual domestic production of crude slipped from 37.7 million tonnes to 34.2 million tonnes, catering to 13% of the total consumption in 2018-19.</p>
<h3>Why did the domestic oil production decline?</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Global Oil Prices Crash (decline in investment):</strong> Since the 2014 oil price crash, global majors to national oil companies have cut upstream spending (exploring new oil fields), slashed breakeven costs in existing projects, and divested ventures with low or slow returns.</li>
<li><strong>Climate Change:</strong> Mounting pressure due to climate change is prompting oil and gas players to diversify into clean energy.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>This, together with the US shale sector attracting a large share of investments, will mean a decline in capital flows into conventional exploration and production.</li>
<li>That poses a major challenge for India, especially when competing with bigger or more promising petroleum provinces elsewhere.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Bureaucratic Apathy:</strong> Hydrocarbon licensing policies since 2016 have progressively reduced redundant layers of approvals and introduced improved fiscal terms.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>However, bureaucratic processes and onerous taxation continue to burden older <strong>production-sharing contracts</strong> (PSCs) that account for most of the country&rsquo;s oil and gas output.</li>
<li>Securing all the approvals for a field development plan in a PSC can, on average, take up to 20 months, resulting in costly delays in commercialising discovered fields.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Policy Issues:</strong> Fiscal incentives for the use of enhanced recovery methods in oil and gas fields was a good start but does not go far enough.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The government provided a 50% cess waiver on the use of enhanced recovery methods, but it would yield around 5% return on revenue. This according to producers&rsquo; estimates is unviable for most projects.</li>
<li>The benefit of lower cess will be partly eroded in the blocks predating the New Exploration Licensing Policy (NELP) under which producers split profit oil with the government.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>Several of India&rsquo;s older oil-producing fields are in natural decline.</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Issues in NELP</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Production-Sharing Contracts were introduced by</strong> New Exploration Licensing Policy 1997.</li>
<li>This contract is made between the government and a contractor (oil/gas exploration company).</li>
<li>Once the contractor has recovered the cost of exploration, then he&rsquo;ll have to share part of his profit with the Government (as per the terms and conditions in production sharing contract.)</li>
<li><strong>Issues with production-sharing contracts</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>In the difficult terrain, it takes many years to complete survey, research, exploration. But production sharing contracts allow only 8 years to finish this.</li>
<li>It is difficult for the Government to check the accuracy of the contractor&rsquo;s account and get the correct share.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>In India,</strong> <a href="/to-the-points/paper3/hydrocarbon-exploration-and-licensing-policy" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Hydrocarbon blocks are allocated mainly under three different categories</strong></a>:</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Nomination basis:</strong> areas given prior to auction rounds;</li>
<li><strong>Pre-NELP and NELP:</strong> where areas were given through auctions based on production sharing contracts.</li>
<li><strong>HELP</strong> regime: a uniform licensing regime based on the revenue sharing model and Open Acreage Licensing Policy (OALP).</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1580295526_image1.png" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1580295526_image1.png" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" caption="false" width="602" height="418" /></a></p>
<p><strong>What is Enhanced Oil Recovery?</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Enhanced Oil Recovery</strong> (EOR) is the process of increasing the amount of oil that can be recovered from an oil reservoir, usually by injecting a substance into an existing oil well to increase pressure and reduce the viscosity of the oil.</li>
<li>With a conventional oil well, the natural pressure in the reservoir pushes the oil to the surface or a pump is used to create the pressure. This usually results in a recovery of about 25% of a well&rsquo;s oil reserves. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Enhanced oil recovery increases oil recovery by up to 15%.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>There are several different methods of Enhanced Oil Recovery including:<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Thermal recovery:</strong> which involves the introduction of heat such as the injection of steam to lower the viscosity, or thin, the heavy viscous oil, and improve its ability to flow through the reservoir.</li>
<li><strong>Gas injection:</strong> which uses gases such as nitrogen, or carbon dioxide (CO2) that expand in a reservoir to push additional oil to a production wellbore, or other gases that dissolve in the oil to lower its viscosity and improves its flow rate.</li>
<li><strong>Chemical injection:</strong> which can involve the use of long-chained molecules called polymers to increase the effectiveness of waterfloods, or the use of detergent-like surfactants to help lower the surface tension that often prevents oil droplets from moving through a reservoir.</li>
<li><strong>CO2 injection -</strong> which uses CO2 to act as a solvent, a pressurizing agent, and reduces the oil&rsquo;s viscosity.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</div>
<h3>Way Forward</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Technological solution:</strong> A variety of new technologies can prolong the life of ageing oil fields but the acquisition, testing and application of these technologies is capital-intensive. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Thereby, fiscal framework must ensure adequate returns for producers to deploy Enhanced Oil Recovery mechanism.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Simplification of regulations:</strong> Steps to be taken for oil blocks allocated in Pre-NELP phase:<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The current approval processes must be simplified with stipulated timelines for each sign-off, thereby avoiding cost escalations due to delays.</li>
<li>Self-certification of accounts that are already subject to government audits should be allowed.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Note:</strong></p>
<p>Pre-NELP blocks currently pay 60-65% of income to the government cumulative of royalty, cess, profit petroleum and income tax.</p>
</div>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Exploring Unconventional Hydrocarbons (UHC)</strong> such as Shale Oil and gas, tight oil/ gas and gas hydrates have become commercially viable due to technological advancement. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Therefore, the potential of unconventional hydrocarbons for commercial exploitation must be opened now.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<table border="1" style="border-collapse: collapse; width: 100%;">
<tbody>
<tr>
<td style="width: 100%; border-style: dotted; border-color: #fc0000; background-color: #fffecf;">
<p><em><span style="color: #000080;"><strong>Drishti Mains Question</strong></span></em></p>
<p>Discuss the reasons for declining domestic oil production in India.</p>
</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>',
			'postdate' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenTime) {},
			'url' => 'https://www.drishtiias.com/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/increasing-domestic-oil-production'
		],
		(int) 12 => [
			'title' => 'Guidelines to Monitor Sand Mining',
			'catname' => 'News Analysis',
			'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>For the first time, the Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate Change (MoEFCC) has released guidelines to <strong>monitor and check illegal sand <a href="/to-the-points/paper1/mining-sector-in-india" target="_blank" rel="noopener">mining</a></strong> in the country.</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>At present, the <strong>Sustainable Sand Management Guidelines (SSMG), 2016</strong> focus on the <strong>management of sand mining,</strong> but there was a <strong>need</strong> to have guidelines for <strong>effective enforcement of regulatory provisions</strong> and their <strong>monitoring.</strong></li>
<li>The 2020 guidelines are to be enforced simultaneously with the <strong>SSMG,</strong> 2016, in case of <strong>conflict,</strong> the <strong>new set will hold legal precedence.</strong></li>
</ul>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Background</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/investment-in-coal-mining" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Act, 1957</strong></a> has empowered <strong>state governments</strong> to make rules to prevent<strong> illegal mining,</strong> transportation and <strong>storage of minerals.</strong></li>
<li>However, there was a large number of illegal mining cases in the country and in some cases, many of the officers lost their lives while executing their duties to curb illegal mining.</li>
<li>Illegal and uncontrolled illegal mining also leads to loss of revenue to the State and degradation of the environment.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Constitutional/ Legal Framework of Mining Sector in India</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The entry at serial No. 23 of List II <strong>(State List)</strong> to the Constitution of India mandates the <strong>state government to own the minerals located within their boundaries.</strong></li>
<li>The entry at serial No. 54 of List I <strong>(Central List)</strong> mandates the <strong>central government to own the minerals within the exclusive economic zone of India (EEZ).</strong> In pursuance to this Mines &amp; Minerals (Development and Regulation) (MMDR) Act of 1957 was framed.</li>
<li>Also, <strong>the Central Government notifies</strong> certain minerals as <strong>'minor' minerals</strong> from time to time for which the absolute powers for deciding on procedures of seeking applications for and granting mineral concessions, fixing rates of royalty, dead rent, and power to revise orders rest <strong>only with the State Government.</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Example of minor minerals include building stones, gravel, ordinary clay, <strong>ordinary sand.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>For minerals specified in the <strong>First Schedule</strong> to the Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Act, 1957 <strong>approval of the Central Government is necessary.</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li><strong>Schedule I</strong> contains minerals such as <strong>coal and lignite,</strong> minerals of the <strong>&ldquo;rare earths&rdquo;</strong> group containing <strong>Uranium and Thorium.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</div>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Enforcement and Monitoring Guidelines for Sand Mining 2020</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Source to Destination Monitoring:</strong> The new set of guidelines focuses on the effective monitoring of sand mining from the identification of sand mineral sources to its dispatch and end-use by consumers and the general public and look at a uniform protocol for the whole country.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Constantly <strong>monitor mining</strong> with drones and <strong>night surveillance</strong> of mining activity through night-vision drones.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Audits:</strong> States to carry out<strong> river audits,</strong> put detailed survey reports of all mining areas in the public domain.</li>
<li><strong>Transparency:</strong> Online <strong>sales and purchase</strong> of sand and other <strong>riverbed materials (RBM)</strong> for <strong>transparency</strong> in the process.</li>
<li><strong>Enforcement:</strong> It gives directions to states to set up <strong>dedicated task forces at district levels.</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>In cases where rivers become district boundaries or state boundaries, the districts or states sharing the boundary shall constitute the combined task force for monitoring of mined materials, mining activity and participate in the preparation of <strong>District Survey Reports (DSR)</strong> by providing appropriate inputs.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Sustainability:&nbsp;</strong>Conduct <strong>replenishment study</strong> for river bed sand in order to nullify the adverse impacts arising due to excessive sand extraction. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>No riverbed mining will be allowed during the monsoon.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Procedure for Comprehensive DSRs</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>While the <strong>Sustainable Sand Mining Guidelines, 2016,</strong> require the preparation of District Survey Reports (DSR), which is an important initial step <strong>before grant of mining lease,</strong> the government has found that the DSRs carried out by state and district administrations are often <strong>not comprehensive enough,</strong> allowing space for illegal mining.</li>
<li>The<strong> new</strong> guidelines, therefore, <strong>list a detailed procedure of how the DSRs are to be made,</strong> including the development of an inventory, for the first time, of river bed material and other sand sources in the district.</li>
</ul>
</div>
<p><a href="https://indianexpress.com/article/india/govt-releases-guidelines-to-monitor-check-illegal-sand-mining-6240249/" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Source: IE</strong></a></p>',
			'postdate' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenTime) {},
			'url' => 'https://www.drishtiias.com/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/guidelines-to-monitor-sand-mining'
		],
		(int) 13 => [
			'title' => 'Gatka Martial Art',
			'catname' => 'News Analysis',
			'desc' => '<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Gatka is a <strong>traditional martial art</strong> form associated with the <strong>Sikh gurus.</strong></li>
<li>It imbibes sword and sticks fighting skills and self-control.</li>
<li>Gatka is believed to have originated when the 6<sup>th</sup> Sikh <strong>Guru Hargobind</strong> adopted &lsquo;Kirpan&rsquo; for <strong>self-defence</strong> during the Mughal era.</li>
<li>A style of stick fighting between two or more practitioners, <strong>Gatka is a toned-down version of the deadlier Shastar Vidya.</strong> The sharp swords of Shastar Vidya have been replaced by <strong>wooden sticks (soti)</strong> and <strong>shields (farri)</strong> in Gatka.</li>
<li>It is considered as a <strong>battle technique.<a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1580290630_image3.jpg" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1580290630_image3.jpg" style="float: right;" width="310" caption="false" /></a></strong></li>
<li>10<sup>th</sup><a href="/to-the-points/paper4/sikhism" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong> Guru Gobind Singh</strong></a> made it <strong>compulsory for everyone</strong> to use the weapons for self-defence.</li>
<li>It was earlier confined to gurudwaras, nagar kirtans and akharas, but now it finds presence in the<strong> sports category</strong> after the formation of the Gatka Federation of India (GFI) in 2008.</li>
<li>Today, it is used to showcase <strong>self-defence</strong> and fighting skills and is open to people of all faiths and communities.</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="https://www.thehindu.com/sci-tech/health/on-the-sikh-communitys-martial-art-form-gatka/article30672849.ece" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Source: TH</strong></a></p>',
			'postdate' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenTime) {},
			'url' => 'https://www.drishtiias.com/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/gatka-martial-art'
		],
		(int) 14 => [
			'title' => 'Addition to Ramsar Sites',
			'catname' => 'News Analysis',
			'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>India has added 10 more wetlands to the sites protected by the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/world-wetlands-day" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Ramsar Convention.</strong></a></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>These are:<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Maharashtra: Nandur (state&rsquo;s first).</strong></li>
<li><strong>Punjab: Keshopur-Miani, Beas Conservation Reserve</strong> and<strong> Nangal.</strong></li>
<li><strong>Uttar Pradesh: Nawabganj, Parvati Agra, Saman, Samaspur, Sandi </strong>and<strong> Sarsai Nawar.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>The <strong>other 27 Ramsar sites</strong> are in Rajasthan, Kerala, Odisha, Madhya Pradesh, Himachal Pradesh, Assam, West Bengal, Jammu and Kashmir, Andhra Pradesh, Manipur, Gujarat, Tamil Nadu and Tripura.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>This addition will help in achieving India&rsquo;s ambition mission <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/piped-water-connection-by-2024" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>&lsquo;Nal se Jal&rsquo;</strong></a> which <strong>aims to provide piped water connection to every household by 2024.</strong></li>
<li>Wetlands provide a wide range of important resources and ecosystem services such as food, water, fibre, groundwater recharge, water purification, flood moderation, erosion control and climate regulation.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Ramsar Convention</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>It was <strong>signed in 1971</strong> in the <strong>Iranian city of Ramsar</strong> and is <strong>one of the oldest inter-governmental accord</strong> for preserving the ecological character of wetlands.</li>
<li>It is also known as the <strong>Convention on Wetlands.</strong></li>
<li>Its<strong> aim</strong> is to develop and maintain an international network of wetlands which are important for the conservation of global biological diversity and for sustaining human life through the maintenance of their ecosystem components, processes and benefits.</li>
<li>Wetlands declared as Ramsar sites are protected <strong>under strict guidelines</strong> of the convention.</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Montreux Record</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Montreux Record under the Ramsar Convention is a<strong> register of wetland sites on the List of Wetlands of International Importance</strong> where changes in ecological character have occurred, are occurring, or are likely to occur as a result of technological developments, pollution or other human interference.</li>
<li>It is maintained as part of the Ramsar List.</li>
<li>Currently, <strong>two wetlands of India are in Montreux record: Keoladeo National Park (Rajasthan) </strong>and<strong> Loktak Lake (Manipur).</strong></li>
<li><strong>Chilika lake (Odisha)</strong> was placed in the record but was<strong> later removed</strong> from it.</li>
</ul>
</div>
<p><a href="https://pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=1600857" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Source: PIB</strong></a></p>',
			'postdate' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenTime) {},
			'url' => 'https://www.drishtiias.com/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/addition-to-ramsar-sites'
		],
		(int) 15 => [
			'title' => 'Introduction of African Cheetah in India',
			'catname' => 'News Analysis',
			'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Recently, the Supreme Court has lifted its seven-year-long stay on a proposal to introduce <strong>African Cheetahs from Namibia into the Indian habitat.</strong></li>
<li>Court has now allowed to initiate the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/important-facts-for-prelims-27-august-2018" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>re-introduction of foreign Cheetahs</strong></a> into the <strong>Palpur Kuno sanctuary in Madhya Pradesh</strong> on an experimental basis. In 1952, the Asiatic Cheetah was <strong>officially declared extinct</strong> from India.</li>
</ul>
<table border="1" style="border-collapse: collapse; width: 100%;">
<tbody>
<tr style="height: 19px;">
<td style="height: 19px; vertical-align: top; text-align: center; background-color: #3c3b57; width: 100px;"><span style="color: #ffffff;"><strong>Sr. No.</strong></span></td>
<td style="height: 19px; text-align: left; vertical-align: top; background-color: #3c3b57; width: 100px;"><span style="color: #ffffff;"><strong>Parameter</strong></span></td>
<td style="height: 19px; text-align: left; vertical-align: top; background-color: #3c3b57; width: 100px;"><span style="color: #ffffff;"><strong>African Cheetah</strong></span></td>
<td style="height: 19px; text-align: left; vertical-align: top; background-color: #3c3b57; width: 100px;"><span style="color: #ffffff;"><strong>Asiatic Cheetah</strong></span></td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 19px;">
<td style="height: 19px; vertical-align: top; text-align: center; background-color: #e0e0e0; width: 100px;">1.</td>
<td style="height: 19px; text-align: left; vertical-align: top; background-color: #e0e0e0; width: 100px;"><strong><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/iucn-red-list" target="_blank" rel="noopener">IUCN</a> status</strong></td>
<td style="height: 19px; text-align: left; vertical-align: top; background-color: #e0e0e0; width: 100px;">Vulnerable</td>
<td style="height: 19px; text-align: left; vertical-align: top; background-color: #e0e0e0; width: 100px;">Critically Endangered.</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 19px;">
<td style="height: 19px; vertical-align: top; text-align: center; background-color: #e0e0e0; width: 100px;">2.</td>
<td style="height: 19px; text-align: left; vertical-align: top; background-color: #e0e0e0; width: 100px;"><strong><a href="/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-international-institution/cites" target="_blank" rel="noopener">CITES</a> status</strong></td>
<td style="height: 19px; text-align: left; vertical-align: top; background-color: #e0e0e0; width: 100px;"><strong>Appendix-I</strong> of the List. This List comprises of migratory species that have been assessed as being in <strong>danger of extinction</strong> throughout all or a significant portion of their range.</td>
<td style="height: 19px; text-align: left; vertical-align: top; background-color: #e0e0e0; width: 100px;"><strong>Appendix-I</strong> of the List.</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 19px;">
<td style="height: 19px; vertical-align: top; text-align: center; background-color: #e0e0e0; width: 100px;">3.</td>
<td style="height: 19px; text-align: left; vertical-align: top; background-color: #e0e0e0; width: 100px;"><strong>Habitat</strong></td>
<td style="height: 19px; text-align: left; vertical-align: top; background-color: #e0e0e0; width: 100px;">Around 6,500-7,000 African cheetahs present in the wild.</td>
<td style="height: 19px; text-align: left; vertical-align: top; background-color: #e0e0e0; width: 100px;">40-50 found only in <strong>Iran.</strong></td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 19px;">
<td style="height: 19px; vertical-align: top; text-align: center; background-color: #e0e0e0; width: 100px;">4.</td>
<td style="height: 19px; text-align: left; vertical-align: top; background-color: #e0e0e0; width: 100px;"><strong>Physical Characteristics</strong></td>
<td style="height: 19px; text-align: left; vertical-align: top; background-color: #e0e0e0; width: 100px;"><strong>Bigger</strong> in size as compared to Asiatic Cheetah.</td>
<td style="height: 19px; text-align: left; vertical-align: top; background-color: #e0e0e0; width: 100px;"><strong>Smaller and paler</strong> than the African cheetah. Has more fur, a smaller head and a longer neck. Usually have red eyes and they have a more <strong>cat-like</strong> appearance.</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="vertical-align: top; text-align: center; background-color: #e0e0e0; width: 100px;">5.</td>
<td style="text-align: left; vertical-align: top; background-color: #e0e0e0; width: 100px;"><strong>Image</strong></td>
<td style="text-align: left; vertical-align: top; background-color: #e0e0e0; width: 100px;"><a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1580285882_image2.jpg" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1580285882_image2.jpg" width="250" caption="false" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" /></a></td>
<td style="text-align: left; vertical-align: top; background-color: #e0e0e0; width: 100px;"><a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1580285927_image1.jpg" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1580285927_image1.jpg" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="250" caption="false" /></a></td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Note:</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>According to the <strong>United Nations,</strong> Cheetahs are listed as &ldquo;Vulnerable&rdquo; by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List of Threatened Species, but a recent study revealed the decline in its significant population. Hence, scientists are demanding for cheetahs to be uplisted to &ldquo;Endangered&rdquo; category.</li>
<li>In North Africa and Asia, they are considered to be &ldquo;Critically Endangered.&rdquo;</li>
</ul>
</div>
<p><a href="https://indianexpress.com/article/explained/explained-why-india-wants-to-bring-the-african-cheetah-to-india-6240005/" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Source: IE</strong></a></p>',
			'postdate' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenTime) {},
			'url' => 'https://www.drishtiias.com/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/introduction-of-african-cheetah-in-india'
		],
		(int) 16 => [
			'title' => 'E- Retailers to Collect Plastic Waste',
			'catname' => 'News Analysis',
			'desc' => '<h3>Why in news</h3>
<p>The <strong>Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB)</strong> has told the <a href="/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-national-institutions/national-green-tribunal-ngt" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>National Green Tribunal (NGT)</strong></a> that e-commerce giants Amazon and Flipkart need to fulfil their <strong>extended producer responsibility</strong> under the <strong>Plastic Waste Management Rules, 2016.</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>According to the <strong>Plastic Waste Management Rules, 2016</strong> &ldquo;Primary responsibility for collection of used multi-layered plastic sachet or pouches or packaging<strong> is of producers, importers and brand owners who introduce the products in the market&rdquo;.</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>They need to establish a system for collecting back the plastic waste generated due to the packaging of their products.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR)</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>EPR is a policy approach under which producers are given a significant responsibility &ndash;<strong> financial and/or physical &ndash;</strong> for the treatment or disposal of post-consumer products.</li>
<li>Assigning such responsibility could in principle provide incentives to prevent wastes at the source, promote product design for the environment and support the achievement of public recycling and materials management goals.</li>
</ul>
</div>
<h3>Plastic Waste Management Rules</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>These rules were framed in 2016 which extended the <strong>responsibility to collect waste generated from the products</strong> to their <strong>producers</strong> (i.e persons engaged in the manufacture, or import of carrying bags, multi-layered packaging and sheets or like and the persons using these for packaging or wrapping their products) and <strong>brand owners.</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>They have to approach local bodies for the formulation of plan/system for the plastic waste management within the prescribed time frame.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>The rules have been extended to villages as well. Earlier, it was limited to municipal districts.</li>
<li>Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) has been mandated to formulate the guidelines for <strong>thermoset plastic</strong> (plastic difficult to recycle). <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Earlier, there was no specific provision for such type of plastic.</li>
<li>Manufacturing and use of non-recyclable multi-layered plastic are to be phased in two years, i.e. by 2018.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>The 2016 rules were amended in 2018, laying emphasis on the phasing out of <strong>Multilayered Plastic (MLP),</strong> which are<strong> "non-recyclable, or non-energy recoverable, or with no alternate use."</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The amended Rules also prescribe a <strong>central registration system</strong> for the registration of the producer/importer/brand owner.</li>
<li>The amendment provided that registration should be automated and take into account ease of doing business for producers, recyclers and manufacturers.</li>
<li>While a <strong>national registry</strong> has been prescribed for producers with a presence in more than two states, a <strong>state-level registration</strong> has been prescribed for smaller producers/brand owners operating within one or two states.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Central Pollution Control Board</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) of India is a <strong>statutory organisation</strong> under the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change.</li>
<li>It was established in 1974 under the <strong>Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1974.</strong></li>
<li>The CPCB is also entrusted with the powers and functions under the <strong>Air (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1981.</strong></li>
</ul>
</div>
<h3>Way Forward</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Plastic packaging constitutes more than 40%</strong> of the total plastic waste generated in India and it is important that a direction is issued to the e-retailers that they should stop using plastic packaging materials and shift to environment-friendly packaging materials and shift to environment-friendly packaging option.</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="https://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/Delhi/e-commerce-giants-need-to-set-up-system-for-collecting-plastic-waste-cpcb-to-ngt/article30678996.ece" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Source: TH</strong></a></p>',
			'postdate' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenTime) {},
			'url' => 'https://www.drishtiias.com/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/e-retailers-to-collect-plastic-waste'
		],
		(int) 17 => [
			'title' => 'Curbing Criminalisation of Politics',
			'catname' => 'News Editorials',
			'desc' => '<div class="border">
<p>This article is based on <a href="https://www.thehindu.com/opinion/editorial/crime-and-politics/article30668919.ece" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>&ldquo;Crime and politics: on political candidates with criminal records&rdquo;</strong></a> which was published in The Hindu on 28/01/2020. It talks about reasons for failure to curb criminalisation of politics in spite of a series of landmark judgments by the Supreme Court on addressing this issue.</p>
</div>
<p>Recently, the <a href="/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-national-institutions/supreme-court-of-india" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Supreme Court</strong></a> agreed to examine a proposition made by the <a href="/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-national-institutions/election-commission-of-india" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Election Commission of India (ECI)</strong></a> to ask political parties to not give the ticket to those with criminal antecedents. Over the years, the Supreme Court has passed many judgements that sought to curb <strong><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/decriminalising-the-politics" target="_blank" rel="noopener">criminalisation of politics</a></strong>, but the extent of the problem has not been eliminated.</p>
<p>The recent report by the <strong>Association for Democratic Reforms has highlighted the urgency of the issue.</strong> The report stated that:</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>46% of Members of Parliament have criminal records</strong> (including minor offences like &ldquo;unlawful assembly&rdquo; and &ldquo;defamation&rdquo;).</li>
<li>Current <strong>Lok Sabha MPs have the highest (29%) proportion</strong> of those with serious declared criminal cases compared to its recent predecessors.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Landmark Judgments</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The Supreme Court in <strong>Public Interest Foundation vs Union Of India, 2018</strong> had directed political parties to publish online the pending criminal cases of their candidates.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The Supreme Court concluded that rapid criminalisation of politics cannot be arrested by merely disqualifying tainted legislators <strong>but should begin by &ldquo;cleansing&rdquo; the political parties.</strong></li>
<li>It suggested that <strong>Parliament frame a law that makes it obligatory for political parties to remove leaders charged with &ldquo;heinous and grievous&rdquo;</strong> crimes like rape, murder and kidnapping and refuse ticket to offenders in both Parliamentary and Assembly polls.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>In 2017, it asked the Centre to frame a scheme to <strong>appoint special courts</strong> to exclusively try cases against politicians, and for political parties to publicise pending criminal cases faced by their candidates in 2018.</li>
<li>In 2013, the Supreme Court in the case<strong> Lily Thomas vs. Union of India</strong> ruled that a sitting MP and MLA convicted of a jail term of two years or more would lose their seat in the legislature immediately.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Further, Section 8(4) of the Representation of the People Act 1951, which allowed elected representatives three months to appeal their conviction, was declared unconstitutional.</li>
<li>The Supreme Court held that, if a lower court has convicted an individual, he cannot contest an election unless a higher court has overturned his conviction. Simply filing an appeal against the judgment of the lower court is not enough.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>The Supreme Court in <strong>People's Union for Civil Liberties vs. Union of India, 2013</strong> ruled that voters should have the option of <strong>&ldquo;None of the above (NOTA)&rdquo;</strong> on the Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) to ensure the option for those who don&rsquo;t find any candidate suitable.</li>
<li>The Supreme Court directed the Election Commission to bring the issue of election-related <strong>&lsquo;freebies&rsquo;</strong> under the ambit of the Code of Conduct.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Why the criminalisation of politics is still prevalent?</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Lack of political will:</strong> Representation of the People Act, 1951, deals with disqualification of candidates against whom charges have been framed in court for serious offences. Therefore, in order to curb criminalisation of politics, Parliament needs to bring an amendment in the Act.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>However, there has been an unsaid understanding among the political parties which deters Parliament to make strong law curbing criminalisation of politics.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Legal Aspect of Disqualification</strong></p>
<p>Indian constitution does not specify as to what disqualifies a person from contesting elections for the Parliament, Legislative assembly or any other legislature. The Representation of Peoples Act which mentions the criteria for disqualifying a person for contesting an election of the legislature.</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Section 8 of the act,</strong> i.e. disqualification on conviction for certain offences, according to which individual punished with a jail term of more than two years cannot stand in an election for six years after the jail term has ended.</li>
<li>The law does not bar individuals who have criminal cases pending against them from contesting elections therefore the disqualification of candidates with criminal cases depends on their conviction in these cases.</li>
<li>With cases dragging in courts for years, a disqualification based on conviction becomes ineffective due to low conviction rate.</li>
</ul>
</div>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Use of muscle and money power:</strong> Candidates with serious records seem to do well despite their public image, largely due to their ability to finance their own elections and bring substantive resources to their respective parties.</li>
<li><strong>Narrow self-interests:</strong> Some voters tend to view such candidates through a narrow prism: of being able to represent their community interests by hook or by crook.</li>
<li><strong>Lack of Choices:</strong> Sometimes voters are left with no options, as all competing candidates have criminal records.</li>
<li>Relatively weak and half-hearted governance and delivery of public goods, which has allowed voters to elect candidates despite their dubious credentials.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Consequences of Criminalisation of Politics</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The major problem is that the law-breakers become law-makers, this affects the efficacy of the democratic process in delivering good governance.</li>
<li>It also leads to increased circulation of black money during and after elections, diluting probity in public life.</li>
<li>It introduces a culture of violence in society and sets a bad precedent for the youth to follow.</li>
<li>These unhealthy tendencies in the democratic system reflect a poor image of the nature of India&rsquo;s state institutions and the quality of its elected representatives.</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>Former President Dr Rajendra Prasad</strong> held that <em>&ldquo;If the people who are elected are capable and men of character and integrity, then they would be able to make the best even of a defective constitution. If they are lacking in these, the Constitution cannot help the country&rdquo;.</em></p>
<p>While judicial pronouncements on making it difficult for criminal candidates to contest are necessary, only enhanced awareness and increased democratic participation could create the right conditions for the decriminalisation of politics.</p>
<table border="1" style="border-collapse: collapse; width: 100%;">
<tbody>
<tr>
<td style="width: 100%; border-style: dotted; border-color: #9000ff; background-color: #dee1ff;"><span style="color: #000080;"><em><strong>Drishti Mains Question</strong></em></span><br /><br />Discuss the reasons for the prevalence of criminalisation of politics in India.</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>',
			'postdate' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenTime) {},
			'url' => 'https://www.drishtiias.com/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/curbing-criminalisation-of-politics'
		],
		(int) 18 => [
			'title' => 'The Big Picture: Electoral Politics- Need for Reform',
			'catname' => 'Lok Sabha & Rajya Sabha Discussions',
			'desc' => '<p style="text-align: center;"><iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/BdLb_HMiEGU" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe></p>
<p>Recently at a conference on <strong>&lsquo;Money Power in Politics&rsquo;,</strong> the Vice President M. Venkaiah Naidu highlighted Indian experience with democracy as a remarkable success story. However, he pointed out <strong>two distortions</strong> that require urgent attention:</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Use of <strong>enormous money power</strong> in politics and elections,</li>
<li>Increasing <strong>attempts to entice the voters</strong> with short-term benefits (in the form of populist schemes for electoral advantage) at the cost of governance, besides adversely impacting the long-term interests of the poor and the middle class.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Indian Democracy</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>India is a vibrant democracy with people electing their representatives at several levels beginning from local bodies &amp; panchayats to the Parliament.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>India has <a href="/to-the-points/Paper2/parliamentary-reforms-in-india" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Parliamentary system of governance</strong></a> which is based on Britain&rsquo;s Westminster model of <strong>constitutional democracy.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>Elections in India (world&rsquo;s second-most populous country) seek overwhelming popular participation, where electoral candidates try to woo the voters by promising long-term reforms, such as better governance, greater socioeconomic equity, poverty alleviation, etc.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>However, corrupt politicians with criminal records, caste- and religion-based politics, and allegations of vote-buying, have defeated the very purpose of such democratic process.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Present Issues</h3>
<p>India&rsquo;s political culture has been vitiated by unprecedented waves of <strong>populism, jingoism, sectarianism and confrontational politics.</strong></p>
<p><strong>Money Power &amp; Freebies</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Expenditure:</strong> There are three drivers of expenditure in elections viz. <em><strong>legitimate electioneering cost, party running cost, and TV air time cost.</strong></em>
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>However, the accounted legitimate expenditure is a mere percentage of actual spending by the candidate and their corresponding political parties. According to the report of the <strong>National Commission to Review the Working of the Constitution</strong> (NCRWC), high cost of elections creates a high degree of compulsion for corruption in the public arena.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Vote-buying:</strong> The rise of illegitimate expenditure on<strong> vote-buying</strong> has become a matter of great concern as it is making only the rich to be more qualified to become an MP (Member of Parliament) or an MLA (Member of the Legislative Assembly) over a well-qualified public-spirited person.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>As can be seen, out of 533 candidates elected to the <strong>17<sup>th</sup> Lok Sabha</strong> (2019-present), 475 Parliamentarians (accounting for <strong>88%</strong>) are <strong>&lsquo;crorepatis&rsquo;.</strong> This reflects the paradoxical situation of poor India with rich Parliamentarians raising concerns about the growing role of money power in politics.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Freebies: Freebie</strong> is something <strong>provided or given free of charge,</strong> ranging from rice at cheapest rates to laptops &amp; bicycles. These promises may be targeted at particular groups of electorate like BPL families, weaker sections of the society, women, handicapped etc. Although, people have many-a-times rejected it, but still, political parties continue to compete with each other by offering such entitlements.</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>Paid News</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Paid news is any news or analysis appearing in any media (Print and Electronic) for a price in cash or kind. An issue like<a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/treat-one-sided-laudatory-news-reports-as-paid-news-ec-to-sc" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong> Paid News</strong></a> disrupts the level playing field and circumvents the election expenditure limits. This creates a hurdle for the <a href="/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-national-institutions/election-commission-of-india" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Election Commission of India (ECI)</strong></a> to conduct the smooth run-off elections in a <strong>free, fair and transparent manner.</strong></li>
</ul>
<p><strong>Issuance of Secret Bonds</strong></p>
<p><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/electoral-bonds" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Electoral bonds</strong></a> are the bearer bonds that were launched in 2017 in order to cleanse the system of political funding in the country.</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>However, its anonymous feature in which neither the donor nor the political party is obligated to reveal whom the donation comes from <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/how-electoral-bonds-distort-india-s-democracy" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>defeats the fundamental principle of transparency</strong></a> in political finance (as the voters are unaware of the source of funds that are spent by the political parties in the election process).</li>
<li>Also, as the issuing entity is the <strong>State Bank of India,</strong> i.e. a State-run entity, there is a <strong>fear of retribution</strong> amongst the donors as the government at any point of time can look for the names of the anonymous donors.</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/parliament-should-enact-law-to-clean-politics-sc" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Criminalisation of Politics</strong></a></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>It refers to a situation in which the <strong>anti-social elements</strong> enter the electoral process by contesting elections, getting elected to the legislature, and consequently occupying public offices. This happens due to <strong>existing strong nexus</strong> between the criminals and some politicians abusing the loopholes in the present system.</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>Flaws in the Criminal Justice System</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>In India, an accused is presumed to be innocent unless pronounced guilty by the Courts. The<strong> rate of conviction for politicians is abysmally low,</strong> with just <strong>6% in criminal cases.</strong> This implies that a large number of accused politicians with criminal background actually go unpunished from a Court of law, and are not disqualified from contesting elections further.</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>Caste-based Politics</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Caste politics in the last three decades have been marked by the <strong>desire for power on the caste-lines rather than a substantial agenda for social reform of the downtrodden.</strong> However, election campaigns along communal or caste lines are banned under the election rules.</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Drishti Input:&nbsp;</strong><strong>Measures Undertaken</strong></p>
<p><strong>Legislative Measures</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Limit on spending of candidate:</strong> At present, under Rule 90 of the <strong>Conduct of Election Rules, 1961,</strong> a candidate contesting <strong>Lok Sabha</strong> polls can spend up to<strong> ₹70 lakh</strong> and in an <strong>assembly election</strong> up to <strong>₹28 lakh,</strong> depending on the state in which s/he is contesting polls.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Recently, a <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/introduction-of-private-member-s-bill" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Private Member&rsquo;s bill</strong></a> was introduced in the Parliament which intended to <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/poll-spend-limit" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>do away with the cap on election spending by candidates</strong></a>. The move was taken on the ground that the ceiling on election expenses ends up being counterproductive by encouraging <strong>candidates to under-report their expenditure.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>In <strong>2003,</strong> a law was passed by the Parliament after the Tehelka scam. According to it, donations to political parties will receive <strong>100% income tax exemptions</strong> for donors.</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>Measures by ECI</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/political-parties-registration-tracking-management-system-pprtms" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Political Parties Registration Tracking Management System (PPRTMS):</strong> </a>To allow an applicant<strong> to track the progress</strong> of his/her application.</li>
<li><strong>Systematic Voters' Education and Electoral Participation Programme (SVEEP):</strong> ECI organizes <strong>voter awareness campaigns</strong> in order to educate the voters.</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>Measures by Judiciary</strong></p>
<p><strong>Supreme Court</strong> in following cases recommended various reforms:</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>In <em><strong>Union of India versus Association of Democratic Reforms 2002 case:</strong></em> Contesting candidates need to<strong> disclose</strong> all their assets and liabilities, criminal convictions, etc. at the <strong>time of filing their nomination paper.</strong></li>
<li>In <em><strong>Ramesh Dalal versus Union of India 2005 case:</strong> </em>A legislator is <strong>disqualified</strong> from contesting elections if, <strong>on the day of filing</strong> the nomination papers, he/she stands convicted in a Court of law.</li>
<li>In<em><strong> Lily Thomas versus Union of India 2013 case:</strong> </em>The nature of disqualification for being a member of the House as provided under <strong>Article 101(3) &amp; 190(3)</strong> is<strong> automatic</strong> and takes place with <strong>immediate effect.</strong></li>
<li>In <strong>People&rsquo;s Union of Civil Liberties versus Union of India 2013 case:</strong> Voters enjoy <strong>&ldquo;Right to Negative Vote&rdquo;</strong> in the election process and directed the ECI to include the<strong> choice of &ldquo;NOTA&rdquo;</strong> in the ballot paper.</li>
</ul>
</div>
<h3>Needed Reforms</h3>
<p><strong>Legislative Reforms</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><a href="/loksabha-rajyasabha-discussions/the-big-picture-regulating-anonymous-donations" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>State Funding of Elections:</strong> </a>System in which the <strong>State bears the election expenditure of political parties</strong> that are contesting elections. This can bring transparency in the funding process as public finance can limit the influence of interested donors&rsquo; money and thereby help curb corruption.</li>
<li><a href="/loksabha-rajyasabha-discussions/the-big-picture-one-nation-one-election" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Simultaneous Polls:</strong> </a>The time has come to implement simultaneous polls because of its underlying advantages including <strong>reducing the costs of holding elections</strong> by the ECI <strong>and spending</strong> by political parties.</li>
<li><strong>Central Legislation:</strong> In the <em><strong>Public Interest Foundation &amp; Ors. vs. Union of India 2018</strong> </em>case, <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/has-the-sc-missed-a-chance-to-keep-criminals-out-of-polls" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>SC put the onus on the Parliament</strong></a> to frame a law to prevent criminalization of politics and take concerted efforts to cleanse the political system of the country.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The time has come to frame suitable legislation on the lines of <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/rbi-flags-states-%20fiscal-stress" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>FRBMA, 2003</strong></a> (Fiscal Responsibility and Budget Management Act- that puts a <strong>cap on fiscal deficit</strong>).</li>
<li>If a cap is introduced on populist announcements (based on the proportion of budgetary resources they have) by the parties within the ambit of law, then perhaps all political parties will have a level playing field and the unsustainable populist measures could be kept under check.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>Law Commission in its <a href="/loksabha-rajyasabha-discussions/the-big-picture-election-commission-collegium-system-appointments" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>255<sup>th</sup> Report on Electoral Reforms</strong> </a>inter-alia recommended strengthening of the office of the ECI in order to provide more independence and tooth to the institution.</li>
<li>The<strong> 'First Past the Post System'</strong>, in which a person with the highest votes (even with one extra vote) is declared winner, needs to be changed. Rather, a <strong>minimum percentage of total votes polled</strong> can be fixed for declaring a candidate as the winner. This could restrict the criminals from getting elected as not everybody in a constituency votes on party lines.</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>At Party Level</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Limit on Party Expenditure:</strong> There must be a limit on the expenditure of the party. A <strong>time frame</strong> must be set for accounting the expenditure of parties and must be made public before the actual date of elections so that the voters and the concerned authorities could be priorly informed.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Consequently, <strong>audit</strong> of political parties accounts must be conducted in order to make them accountable.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>Political parties need to <strong>rise morally and self-discipline themselves</strong> restricting their use of money power. Also, the<strong> flow of black money</strong> into the election process needs to be taken care off.</li>
<li>Political parties need to be brought <a href="/loksabha-rajyasabha-discussions/the-big-picture-political-parties-under-rti" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>under the ambit of Right to Information Act (RTI) Act</strong></a>, 2005.</li>
<li>All parties should be given <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/challenges-before-election-commission-of-india" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>equal media space or air time</strong></a> so as to provide a level playing field.</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>At Voter&rsquo;s Level:</strong> Voters need to be <strong>educated</strong> regarding the significance of their vote. They should be made <strong>aware &amp; well-informed</strong> about the candidate they seek to vote, thereby rejecting those who try to entice them with freebies.</p>
<h3>Way Forward</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>There is a need <strong>of fixing governance system</strong> and effective regulation of political financing along with bold reforms to break the vicious cycle of corruption and erosion of quality of democratic polity. It is crucial to plug the loopholes in the current laws to make the entire governance machinery more accountable and transparent.</li>
<li><strong>Linking Vote with Tangible Consequences:</strong> Long-term empowerment of local body/ localised power must be done so that people could see the changes happening immediately at their level and could actualise &amp; understand the value of vote. This would inhibit getting freebies tendency amongst people.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Also, <strong>local bureaucracy must be made accountable &amp; held responsible</strong> so that their burden is not borne by the political parties.</li>
<li>As per the statistics, the <strong>annual burden</strong> on party workers to indirectly maintain an assembly constituency amounts to ₹3-4 Crores. This gives birth to strong nexus between party workers and the bureaucracy, who in lieu of giving money take petty contracts, police cases interventions, etc., leading to abuse of administrative process.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>A voter forfeits the right to question the government when he/she compromises on moral values and accepts gift or cash for his/her vote. Therefore, citizens must vote in elections based on character, conduct, calibre and capability of the candidates and not based on cash, caste, community and criminal prowess. This could be the <strong>ultimate solution to check money power</strong> in politics.</li>
</ul>
<p>The constitutional functionaries, who have taken the pledge to uphold the constitutional principles, are charged with the responsibility to ensure that the existing political framework does not get tainted with the evil of corruption.</p>',
			'postdate' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenTime) {},
			'url' => 'https://www.drishtiias.com/loksabha-rajyasabha-discussions/the-big-picture-electoral-politics-need-for-reform'
		],
		(int) 19 => [
			'title' => 'Novel Strain of Coronavirus',
			'catname' => 'News Analysis',
			'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>Recently, <strong>the Lancet</strong> published a study titled <strong>&ldquo;Clinical features of patients infected with 2019 novel coronavirus in Wuhan, China&rdquo;.</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The study highlighted the <strong>high mortality due to the 2019 novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV infection)</strong> which caused clusters of severe respiratory illness similar to severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) coronavirus.</li>
<li>It also pointed out that there are major gaps in the knowledge of the origin, epidemiology, duration of human transmission and clinical spectrum of the disease.</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>The Lancet</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>It is a weekly peer-reviewed general British medical journal.</li>
<li>It is among the world's oldest, most prestigious, and best known general medical journals.</li>
</ul>
</div>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Findings of the Study</strong>
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Most of the infected patients were men.</li>
<li>Less than half had underlying diseases (diabetes, hypertension and cardiovascular ailments).</li>
<li>66% of patients had been exposed to Huanan seafood market.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>Researchers collected and analysed data by real-time <strong>Reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR).</strong>
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>RT-PCR is a laboratory technique combining reverse transcription of RNA into DNA and next-generation sequencing.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Coronavirus</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/coronaviruses" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Coronaviruses</strong></a> are a specific family of viruses, with some of them causing <strong>less-severe damage,</strong> such as the common cold and others causing <strong>respiratory and intestinal diseases.</strong></li>
<li>A coronavirus has many <strong>&ldquo;regularly arranged&rdquo; protrusions on its surface,</strong> because of which the entire virus particle looks like an emperor&rsquo;s crown, hence the name <strong>&ldquo;coronavirus&rdquo;.</strong></li>
<li><strong>It is an RNA virus</strong> with<strong> ribonucleic acid (RNA)</strong> as its genetic material instead of <strong>deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA).</strong> That means the virus blends with its host&rsquo;s DNA and can mutate rapidly.<a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1580200265_image2.jpg" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1580200265_image2.jpg" style="float: right;" width="340" caption="false" /></a>
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Due to this property of rapid mutation, coronaviruses can be quite different from one another.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>These can affect <strong>humans</strong> as well as <strong>mammals including pigs, cattle, cats, dogs, martens, camels, hedgehogs and some birds.</strong></li>
<li>There are <strong>four common disease-causing coronaviruses,</strong>&nbsp;while the two other are the<strong> Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) coronavirus</strong> and the<strong> Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS) coronavirus,</strong> both of which can cause <strong>severe respiratory diseases.</strong></li>
<li>In the newly identified coronavirus, a direct link with the disease has not been established yet. It was speculated that it was related to the SARS epidemic of 2002.</li>
<li><a href="/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-international-institution/world-health-organization-who" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>World Health Organisation</strong> </a><strong>(WHO)</strong> has said that further investigations and research are required to determine the source, modes of transmission and extent of infection caused by the new virus.</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Difference Between DNA and RNA Viruses</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>A virus is a biological agent that can self-replicate inside a host cell. The infected cells by viruses may produce thousands of new copies of the original virus at an extraordinary rate.</li>
<li>The genetic material of a virus can be either DNA or RNA. The viruses that contain DNA as their genetic material are called the <strong>DNA viruses. RNA viruses,</strong> on the other hand, contain RNA as their genetic material.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>DNA viruses are mostly<strong> double-stranded</strong> while RNA viruses are <strong>single-stranded.</strong></li>
<li><strong>RNA mutation rate is higher</strong> than the DNA mutation rate.</li>
<li><strong>DNA replication takes place in the nucleus</strong> while <strong>RNA replication takes place in the cytoplasm.</strong></li>
<li>DNA viruses are stable while RNA viruses are unstable.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
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		'title' => 'Bhuvan Panchayat 3.0',
		'catname' => 'News Analysis',
		'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>Recently an <strong>upgraded geo-imaging web portal, Bhuvan Panchayat 3.0</strong> was launched during the National Workshop on <strong>&ldquo;Space-based Information Support for Decentralised Planning-2".</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The launch is part of the advanced <strong>Space-based Information Support for Decentralised Planning (SISDP) project.</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The SISDP was launched in 2011 and its first phase of making databases was completed in 2017.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The portal uses high-resolution data from recent earth observation satellites and offers detailed information to <a href="/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-national-institutions/panchayati-raj-institution-pri" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>panchayats</strong></a> about their key assets.</li>
<li>For the first time, the thematic maps of 1:10,000 scale have been generated based on high-resolution data given by <a href="/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-national-institutions/indian-space-research-organisation-isro" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Indian Space Research Organisation&rsquo;s (ISRO)</strong></a> new earth observation satellites.</li>
<li>It is jointly implemented by the Ministry of Panchayati Raj and Department of Space, ISRO.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Advantages</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Decentralised Planning:</strong> "Bhuvan Panchayats" is facilitating decentralised planning at grassroot level. <strong>E.g.:</strong> It is possible for rural planners to plan and locate a healthcare unit, water harvesting, rural communication network even as they sit in panchayat offices.</li>
<li><strong>Empowering the Panchayats:</strong>The workshop addressed modalities and mechanisms that would be adopted to empower the local bodies in utilizing the space technology in the form of simple-to-use maps, location based services through <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/navic" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Navigation in Indian Constellation (NavIC)</strong></a> and high resolution space images based local tools to enable the panchayats with modern technology for sustainable development.</li>
<li><strong>Technology and Governance:</strong> The Panchayati Raj institutions could effectively use space technology for planning, implementation, monitoring and management of resources, including governance.</li>
<li><strong>Digital India:</strong> It can also prove to be an important component for &ldquo;Digital India&rdquo; platform for reaching digital thematic maps to about 2.56 Lakh Gram panchayats in the country.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Bhuvan Portal</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Bhuvan (Sanskrit for Earth)</strong> is a Geoportal of ISRO , allowing host of services covering visualization, free data download, thematic map display and analysis, timely information on disaster and project specific GIS applications.</li>
<li>The portal was <strong>launched in 2009</strong> and is available in English, Hindi, Tamil and Telugu.</li>
<li>Bhuvan, as a platform, is open and can be used by a diverse user community such as Central and State Governments Departments, Academia and Industry. Few examples are: <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Bhuvan-Bhujal:</strong> Ground Water Prospects Information System</li>
<li><strong>School Bhuvan:</strong> An e-learning portal for the students</li>
<li><strong>ENVIS program</strong> of Ministry of Environment, Forests &amp; Climate Change</li>
<li><strong>Bhuvan Ganga:</strong> Enables people participation in providing vital information for Clean Ganga project</li>
<li><strong>Srishti-Drishti:</strong> An Integrated Watershed Development Program</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>ENVIS Program</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Environmental Information System (ENVIS) program was started in December, 1982 to provide environmental information to decision makers, policy planners, scientists and engineers, research workers, etc. all over the country.</li>
<li>ENVIS has started implementing the <a href="/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-international-institution/world-bank-group" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>World Bank</strong></a> assisted Environment Management Capacity Building Technical Assistance Project (EMCBTAP) since January, 2002 which aims at structuring the ENVIS scheme by extending its reach through involvement of Institutions/Organizations in State Governments, academia sector, corporate sector, NGO sector, etc.</li>
</ul>
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	(int) 1 => [
		'title' => 'E-flows in River Ganga',
		'catname' => 'News Analysis',
		'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>According to the <strong>Central Water Commission (CWC), 4 of the 11 hydro power projects</strong> on the upper reaches of the river Ganga&rsquo;s tributaries are <strong>violating Ganga <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/government-notifies-e-flow-for-ganga" target="_blank" rel="noopener">ecological flow (e-flow) norms</a>.</strong></li>
<li>The <strong>non-compliant</strong> ones are: <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Vishnuprayag Hydroelectric project - Alaknanda</li>
<li>Srinagar Hydroelectric project - Alaknanda</li>
<li>Maneri Bhali Phase 2 - Bhagirathi</li>
<li>Pashulok - Ganga Mainstream</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>Violating the e-flow norms <strong>can mean closure of the project or a hefty fine.</strong></li>
</ul>
<h3>Ecological- Flow Norms</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The Central Government under the <strong>Environment (Protection) Act, 1986</strong> has notified the minimum environmental flows for the River Ganga that has to be maintained at various locations on the river.</li>
<li>This is<strong> to ensure that the river has at least the minimum required environmental flow of water even after the river flow gets diverted by projects and structures for purposes like irrigation, hydropower,</strong> domestic and industrial use etc. This is an important step taken towards maintaining the uninterrupted or&nbsp;<em>Aviral Dhara</em>&nbsp;of the river.</li>
<li>Environmental flows are the acceptable flow regimes that are required to maintain a river in the desired environmental state or predetermined state.</li>
<li>The <strong>Central Water Commission is the designated authority</strong> and will be responsible for supervision, monitoring, regulation of flows and reporting of necessary information to the appropriate authority as and when required and also take emergent decisions about the water storage norms in case of any emergency.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Power Companies and E-flow Norms</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The Centre&rsquo;s e-flow notification came into effect in October 2018 and gave companies three years to modify their design plans, if required, to ensure that a minimum amount of water flowed during all seasons. Power producers generally hoard water to create reserves to increase power production.</li>
<li>In September 2019, the government advanced this deadline, from October 2021 to December 2019. This was after the CWC undertook field visits to hydropower sites and reported that most of the power projects could begin implementing the norms right away and didn&rsquo;t need three years.</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Central Water Commission</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>CWC is a premier technical organization of India in the field of water resources and is presently functioning as an attached office of the <strong>Ministry of Jal Shakti.</strong> It was formed in <strong>1974-1975</strong> via a notification.</li>
<li>The Commission is entrusted with the general responsibilities of initiating, coordinating and furthering in consultation of the State Governments concerned, schemes for control, conservation and utilization of water resources throughout the country, for the purpose of flood control, irrigation, navigation, drinking water supply and water power development.</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>The Ganga River System</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The headwaters of the Ganga called the &lsquo;Bhagirathi&rsquo; is fed by the Gangotri Glacier and joined by the Alaknanda at Devaprayag in Uttarakhand.</li>
<li>At Haridwar, Ganga emerges from the mountains to the plains.</li>
<li>The Ganga is joined by many tributaries from the Himalayas, a few of them being major rivers such as the Yamuna, the Ghaghara, the Gandak and the Kosi.</li>
</ul>
</div>
<p><a href="https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/four-hydro-projects-violate-ganga-flow-norms-cwc/article30695064.ece" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Source: TH</strong></a></p>',
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	(int) 2 => [
		'title' => 'Groundwater Crisis',
		'catname' => 'News Editorials',
		'desc' => '<div class="border">
<p>This article is based on <a href="https://indianexpress.com/article/opinion/editorials/atal-bhujan-yojana-groundwater-management-6190583/" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>&ldquo;Not a drop to waste&rdquo;</strong></a> which was published in The Indian Express on 30/12/2019. It talks about fast depleting groundwater in India.</p>
</div>
<p>The green revolution has made India a food surplus country from a food deficient country. However, these benefits have come at the cost of increased pressure on groundwater reserves.</p>
<p>This crisis is also reflected in <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/composite-water-management-index-2-0" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>NITI Aayog&rsquo;s &ldquo;Composite Water Management Index&rdquo;</strong> </a>(CWMI), which held that <strong>21 Indian cities,</strong> including Delhi, Chennai and Bengaluru, will run out of groundwater. It also noted that not only there is a quantitative crunch but <strong>70% of India's water resources are contaminated.</strong></p>
<p>In this context, the government constituted an integrated ministry called Jal Shakti Ministry. The Jal Shakti Ministry has recently launched <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/atal-bhujal-yojana" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Atal Bhujal Yojana</strong></a> which aims at improving groundwater management.</p>
<h3>Nature of Groundwater Depletion</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>India is the <strong>world&rsquo;s largest user of groundwater,</strong> where groundwater contributes to more than <strong>60% of the country&rsquo;s irrigation resources.</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>In India nearly <strong>2/3<sup>rd</sup> net sown area is rain-fed.</strong> Therefore, in order to provide farmers with adequate irrigation facilities, the government provides<strong> power to the agriculture sector at highly subsidised rates.</strong> This accounts for the <strong>over-extraction of groundwater.</strong></li>
<li>Also,<strong> investment in canal networks has been long-neglected.</strong> It has led to over-exploitation and fast-depleting water tables.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>This<strong> over-extraction of groundwater is non-renewable</strong> since recharge rates are less than extraction rates and replenishing this resource can take thousands of years.</li>
<li>Moreover, as <strong>climate change alters the monsoon,</strong> the large stresses on India&rsquo;s groundwater resources may increase.</li>
<li>The decision to focus on the groundwater crisis is significant because its over-exploitation is contributing to &mdash; as stated by NITI Aayog <strong>&mdash;&ldquo;the worst water crisis&rdquo;</strong> in India&rsquo;s history.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Atal Bhujal Yojana</h3>
<p>It is a <strong>World Bank-funded, central sector scheme</strong> aimed at improving groundwater management and restoring the health of the country&rsquo;s aquifers.</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>It seeks to strengthen the<strong> &ldquo;institutional framework of administering groundwater resources and aims to bring about behavioural changes at the community level for sustainable groundwater resource management&rdquo;.</strong></li>
<li>The scheme will be <strong>implemented in seven states &mdash;</strong> Gujarat, Haryana, Karnataka, Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh which are over-exploited and water-stressed areas of the country.</li>
<li>The Atal Bhujal Yojana seeks to <strong>revive village-level Water User Associations</strong> (WUAs). The scheme will strengthen the financial state of the WUAs, including allowing these bodies to retain a significant portion of irrigation fees.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>WUAs are created by Groundwater Management and Regulation Scheme 2013.</li>
<li>According to the CWMI, less than 50% of states involve the WUAs in critical groundwater management decisions like those pertaining to irrigation resources.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Way Forward</h3>
<p>By emphasising on local-level institutions like the WUAs, the Atal Bhujal Yojana has signalled the inclination towards persuasive solutions. However, a lot more than, than mere persuasion is required. For example:</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Ways must be found to <strong>balance</strong> the demands of farmers with the imperatives of reviving the country&rsquo;s aquifers.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>One solution tried out in parts of Punjab, to gradually <strong>reduce subsidies and offer cash compensation to farmers for every unit of electricity they save.</strong> This can be emulated in other states as well.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>The CWMI report talks of other solutions like persuading farmers to adopt more efficient technologies such as <strong>drip irrigation.</strong></li>
<li>The government should <strong>promote alternatives to water-intensive crops.</strong> For example, Maize requires only one-third of water than paddy.</li>
<li>States can draw inspiration from <strong>community water management</strong> which is followed in Andhra Pradesh which has already shown how aquifer management and sharing of borewells can ensure equitable distribution of water.</li>
<li>Finally, there is a need to set up <strong>National Water Commission,</strong> with multidisciplinary expertise including in hydrology (surface water), hydrogeology (groundwater), meteorology (atmosphere), river ecology, agronomy, environmental economics and participatory resource management.</li>
</ul>
<table border="1" style="border-collapse: collapse; width: 100%;">
<tbody>
<tr>
<td style="width: 100%; border-style: dotted; border-color: #ff0000; background-color: #e8ffdb;"><span style="color: #000080;"><em><strong>Drishti Mains Question</strong></em></span><br /><br />
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">How to tackle the groundwater crisis in India especially keeping in view the demands of the farmer?&nbsp;&nbsp;</span></p>
</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
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	(int) 3 => [
		'title' => 'Poverty',
		'catname' => 'Paper 2',
		'desc' => '<h3>Introduction</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Poverty is a state or condition in which a person or community lacks the financial resources and essentials for a minimum standard of living. Poverty means that the income level from employment is so low that basic human needs can't be met.</li>
<li><strong>According to World Bank,</strong> Poverty is pronounced deprivation in well-being, and comprises many dimensions. It includes low incomes and the inability to acquire the basic goods and services necessary for survival with dignity. Poverty also encompasses low levels of health and education, poor access to clean water and sanitation, inadequate physical security, lack of voice, and insufficient capacity and opportunity to better one's life.</li>
<li>In India, 21.9% of the population lives below the national poverty line in 2011.</li>
<li>In 2018, almost 8% of the world&rsquo;s workers and their families lived on less than US$1.90 per person per day (international poverty line).</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>Types of Poverty:</strong> There are two main classifications of poverty:</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Absolute Poverty:</strong> A condition where household income is below a necessary level to maintain basic living standards (food, shelter, housing). This condition makes it possible to compare between different countries and also over time.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>It was first introduced in 1990, the &ldquo;dollar a day&rdquo; poverty line measured absolute poverty by the standards of the world's poorest countries. In October 2015, the World Bank reset it to $1.90 a day.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Relative Poverty:</strong> It is defined from the social perspective that is living standard compared to the economic standards of population living in surroundings. Hence it is a measure of income inequality.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Usually, relative poverty is measured as the percentage of the population with income less than some fixed proportion of median income.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3><a href="/to-the-points/paper3/poverty-estimation-in-india" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Poverty Estimation in India</a></h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Poverty estimation in India is carried out by NITI Aayog&rsquo;s task force through the calculation of poverty line based on the data captured by the National Sample Survey Office under the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (MOSPI).</li>
<li>Poverty line estimation in India is <strong>based on the consumption expenditure</strong> and not on the income levels.</li>
<li>Poverty is measured based on consumer expenditure surveys of the National Sample Survey Organisation. A poor household is defined as one with an expenditure level below a specific poverty line.</li>
<li>The incidence of poverty is measured by the poverty ratio, which is the ratio of the number of poor to the total population expressed as a percentage. It is also known as <strong>head-count ratio.</strong></li>
<li><strong>Alagh Committee (1979)</strong> determined a poverty line based on a minimum daily requirement of 2400 and 2100 calories for an adult in Rural and Urban area respectively.</li>
<li>Subsequently different committees;<strong> Lakdawala Committee (1993), Tendulkar Committee (2009), Rangarajan committee (2012)</strong> did the poverty estimation.</li>
<li>As per the Rangarajan committee report (2014), <strong>the poverty line is estimated as Monthly Per Capita Expenditure of Rs. 1407 in urban areas and Rs. 972 in rural areas.</strong></li>
</ul>
<h3>Causes of Poverty in India</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Population Explosion:</strong> India&rsquo;s population has steadily increased through the years. During the past 45 years, it has risen at a rate of 2.2% per year, which means, on average, about 17 million people are added to the country&rsquo;s population each year. This also increases the demand for consumption goods tremendously.</li>
<li><strong>Low Agricultural Productivity:</strong> A major reason for poverty in the low productivity in the agriculture sector. The reason for low productivity is manifold. Chiefly, it is because of fragmented and subdivided land holdings, lack of capital, illiteracy about new technologies in farming, the use of traditional methods of cultivation, wastage during storage, etc.</li>
<li><strong>Inefficient Resource utilisation:</strong> There is underemployment and disguised unemployment in the country, particularly in the farming sector. This has resulted in low agricultural output and also led to a dip in the standard of living.</li>
<li><strong>Low Rate of Economic Development:</strong> Economic development has been low in India especially in the first 40 years of independence before the LPG reforms in 1991.</li>
<li><strong>Price Rise:</strong> Price rise has been steady in the country and this has added to the burden the poor carry. Although a few people have benefited from this, the lower income groups have suffered because of it, and are not even able to satisfy their basic minimum wants.</li>
<li><strong>Unemployment:</strong> Unemployment is another factor causing poverty in India. The ever-increasing population has led to a higher number of job-seekers. However, there is not enough expansion in opportunities to match this demand for jobs.</li>
<li><strong>Lack of Capital and Entrepreneurship:</strong> The shortage of capital and entrepreneurship results in low level of investment and job creation in the economy.</li>
<li><strong>Social Factors:</strong> Apart from economic factors, there are also social factors hindering the eradication of poverty in India. Some of the hindrances in this regard are the laws of inheritance, caste system, certain traditions, etc.</li>
<li><strong>Colonial Exploitation:</strong> The British colonisation and rule over India for about two centuries de-industrialised india by ruining its traditional handicrafts and textile industries. Colonial Policies transformed india to a mere raw-material producer for european industries.</li>
<li><strong>Climatic Factors:</strong> Most of india&rsquo;s poor belong to the states of Bihar, UP, MP, Chhattisgarh, odisha, Jharkhand, etc. Natural calamities such as frequent floods, disasters, earthquake and cyclone cause heavy damage to agriculture in these states.</li>
<li><strong>Poverty Trap:</strong></li>
</ul>
<p><a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1580383923_image1.jpg" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1580383923_image1.jpg" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="500" caption="false" /></strong></a></p>
<h3>Poverty Alleviation Programs in India</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Integrated Rural Development Programme (IRDP):</strong> It was introduced in 1978-79 and universalized from 2<sup>nd</sup> October, 1980, aimed at providing assistance to the rural poor in the form of subsidy and bank credit for productive employment opportunities through successive plan periods.</li>
<li><strong>Jawahar Rozgar Yojana/Jawahar Gram Samridhi Yojana:</strong> The JRY was meant to generate meaningful employment opportunities for the unemployed and underemployed in rural areas through the creation of economic infrastructure and community and social assets.</li>
<li><strong>Rural Housing &ndash; Indira Awaas Yojana:</strong> The Indira Awaas Yojana (LAY) programme aims at providing free housing to Below Poverty Line (BPL) families in rural areas and main targets would be the households of SC/STs.</li>
<li><strong>Food for Work Programme:</strong> It aims at enhancing food security through wage employment. Food grains are supplied to states free of cost, however, the supply of food grains from the Food Corporation of India (FCI) godowns has been slow.</li>
<li><strong>National Old Age Pension Scheme (NOAPS):</strong> This pension is given by the central government. The job of implementation of this scheme in states and union territories is given to panchayats and municipalities. The states contribution may vary depending on the state. The amount of old age pension is ₹200 per month for applicants aged 60&ndash;79. For applicants aged above 80 years, the amount has been revised to ₹500 a month according to the 2011&ndash;2012 Budget. It is a successful venture.</li>
<li><strong>Annapurna Scheme:</strong> This scheme was started by the government in 1999&ndash;2000 to provide food to senior citizens who cannot take care of themselves and are not under the National Old Age Pension Scheme (NOAPS), and who have no one to take care of them in their village. This scheme would provide 10 kg of free food grains a month for the eligible senior citizens. They mostly target groups of &lsquo;poorest of the poor&rsquo; and &lsquo;indigent senior citizens&rsquo;.</li>
<li><strong>Sampoorna Gramin Rozgar Yojana (SGRY):</strong> The main objective of the scheme continues to be the generation of wage employment, creation of durable economic infrastructure in rural areas and provision of food and nutrition security for the poor.</li>
<li><strong>Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA) 2005:</strong> The Act provides 100 days assured employment every year to every rural household. One-third of the proposed jobs would be reserved for women. The central government will also establish National Employment Guarantee Funds. Similarly, state governments will establish State Employment Guarantee Funds for implementation of the scheme. Under the programme, if an applicant is not provided employment within 15 days s/he will be entitled to a daily unemployment allowance.</li>
<li><strong>National Rural Livelihood Mission: Aajeevika (2011):</strong> It evolves out the need to diversify the needs of the rural poor and provide them jobs with regular income on a monthly basis. Self Help groups are formed at the village level to help the needy.</li>
<li><strong>National Urban Livelihood Mission:</strong> The NULM focuses on organizing urban poor in Self Help Groups, creating opportunities for skill development leading to market-based employment and helping them to set up self-employment ventures by ensuring easy access to credit.</li>
<li><strong>Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Vikas Yojana:</strong> It will focus on fresh entrant to the labour market, especially labour market and class X and XII dropouts.</li>
<li><strong>Pradhan Mantri Jan Dhan Yojana:</strong> It aimed at direct benefit transfer of subsidy, pension, insurance etc. and attained the target of opening 1.5 crore bank accounts. The scheme particularly targets the unbanked poor.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Conclusion</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The <strong>Global Multidimensional Poverty Index-2018</strong> released by the UN noted that 271 million people moved out of poverty between 2005-06 and 2015-16 in India. The poverty rate in the country has nearly halved, falling from 55% to 28% over the ten-year period. Still a big part of the population in india is living Below the Poverty Line.</li>
<li>Rapid economic growth and the use of technology for social sector programs have helped make a significant dent in extreme poverty in the country.</li>
<li>Despite rapid growth and development, an unacceptably high proportion of our population continues to suffer from severe and multidimensional deprivation. Thus, a more comprehensive and inclusive approach is required to eradicate poverty in India.</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="/mind-map/gs-paper2/poverty-mind-map" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><em>For Mind Map</em></a></p>',
		'postdate' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenTime) {},
		'url' => 'https://www.drishtiias.com/to-the-points/Paper2/poverty-9'
	],
	(int) 4 => [
		'title' => 'Public Health Emergency of International Concern',
		'catname' => 'News Analysis',
		'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>The <a href="/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-international-institution/world-health-organization-who" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>World Health Organization (WHO)</strong></a> has recently announced that the<a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/coronaviruses" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong> Wuhan coronavirus</strong></a> <strong>does not yet constitute a Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC).</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>A PHEIC is defined in the <strong>International Health Regulations (IHR, 2005)</strong> as, &ldquo;an extraordinary event which is determined to constitute a public health risk to other States through the international spread of disease and to potentially require a coordinated international response&rdquo;. This definition implies a situation that is:<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Serious, sudden, unusual or unexpected;</li>
<li>Carries implications for public health beyond the affected State&rsquo;s national border; and</li>
<li>May require immediate international action.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>The declaration of PHEIC would lead to boosting public health measures, funding and resources to prevent and reduce global spread. It could include recommendations on trade and travel, although the WHO generally tries to avoid disruptive trade restrictions.</li>
<li>The <strong>Emergency Committee,</strong> made up of international experts, provide technical advice to the WHO Director-General in the context of a PHEIC.</li>
<li>The WHO has declared five global emergencies in the past decade, including the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/ebola-global-health-emergency" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Ebola epidemic.</strong></a></li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>The International Health Regulations (2005)</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>IHR (2005), represents a <strong>binding international legal agreement</strong> involving 196 countries across the globe, including all the Member States of the WHO.</li>
<li>Their aim is to help the international community prevent and respond to acute public health risks that have the potential to cross borders and threaten people worldwide.</li>
</ul>
</div>',
		'postdate' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenTime) {},
		'url' => 'https://www.drishtiias.com/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/public-health-emergency-of-international-concern'
	],
	(int) 5 => [
		'title' => 'SC’s Judgement on Anticipatory Bail',
		'catname' => 'News Analysis',
		'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>The Supreme Court has recently held that the<strong> protection of anticipatory or pre-arrest bail cannot be limited to any time frame</strong> or &ldquo;fixed period&rdquo;.</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The questions referred to the Constitution Bench were twofold: <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Whether the protection granted to a person under <strong>Section 438 of the</strong> <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/re-imagining-cognizable-offences" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Code of Criminal Procedure</strong> </a>should be limited to a fixed period till the accused surrenders in court, and</li>
<li>Whether the life of anticipatory bail should end when the accused is summoned by the court.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Anticipatory Bail<a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1580378492_image4.jpg" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1580378492_image4.jpg" style="float: right;" width="400" caption="false" /></a></h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Section 438 (anticipatory bail) of the Code of Criminal Procedure</strong> deals with direction for grant of bail to a person apprehending arrest.</li>
<li>It states that when any person has reason to believe that he may be arrested on an accusation of having committed a <strong>non- bailable offence,</strong> he may apply to the High Court or the Court of Session for a direction under this section; and that Court may, if it thinks fit, direct that in the event of such arrest, he shall be released on bail.</li>
<li>The<strong> high frequency of arbitrary and heavy-handed arrests to harass and humiliate citizens,</strong> and often at the interest of powerful individuals led to the enactment of Section 438.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Highlights of the Judgement</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Section 438 and its Importance</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Anticipatory bail helps thwart influential powers from implicating their rivals in false cases.</li>
<li>It protects people from the<strong> humiliation of detention in jail for days.</strong></li>
<li>Anticipatory bail is all the more needed now because there is a drive of political rivalry and &ldquo;this tendency is showing signs of steady increase&rdquo;.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Duration of Bail</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The <strong>life of an anticipatory bail</strong> order does not normally end at the time and stage when the accused is summoned by the court, or when charges are framed, but <strong>can continue till the end of the trial.</strong></li>
<li>A <strong>denial of bail amounts to deprivation of personal liberty (a fundamental right under Article 21 of the Constitution),</strong> thus, the Court should lean against the imposition of unnecessary restrictions on the scope of Section 438.</li>
<li><strong>Parliament has not thought it appropriate to curtail the power or discretion of the courts,</strong> in granting pre-arrest or anticipatory bail, especially regarding the duration, or till chargesheet is filed, or in serious crimes. Therefore, it would not be in the larger interests of society if the court, by judicial interpretation, limits the exercise of that power.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Grant of Anticipatory Bail</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The court held that <strong>a plea for anticipatory bail can be filed even before the registration of FIR</strong> as long as there is reasonable basis for apprehension of arrest and clarity of facts.</li>
<li>An application for anticipatory bail should be based on <strong>concrete facts and not vague or general allegations.</strong> The application should also contain bare essential facts relating to the offence and why the applicant reasonably apprehends arrest.</li>
<li>The <strong>grant of protection should not be &ldquo;blanket&rdquo;</strong> but confined to specific offence or incident for which relief from arrest is sought. It is open for the police to move court for arrest of the accused if there is any violation of bail conditions.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Conditions on Anticipatory Bail</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>It is <strong>open for a court to impose appropriate conditions for grant of anticipatory bail</strong> if the specific facts or the features of the offence involved demands it.</li>
<li><strong>Restrictions/conditions can be imposed only on a case-to-case basis.</strong> Courts have to consider the nature of the offence, the role of the person, the likelihood of his influencing the course of investigation or tampering of evidence, including intimidating witnesses and fleeing justice.</li>
<li>It is essential for the court to evaluate the threat or apprehension, its gravity or seriousness and the appropriateness of any condition that may have to be imposed. Special or other restrictive conditions may be imposed if the case or cases warrant, but should not be imposed in a routine manner in all cases.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/time-limit-on-advance-bail-violates-personal-liberty-supreme-court/article30687440.ece" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Source: TH</strong></a></p>',
		'postdate' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenTime) {},
		'url' => 'https://www.drishtiias.com/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/sc-s-judgement-on-anticipatory-bail'
	],
	(int) 6 => [
		'title' => 'Yellow Rust',
		'catname' => 'News Analysis',
		'desc' => '<h3>Why in News<a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1580376252_image3.jpg" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1580376252_image3.jpg" style="float: right;" width="200" caption="false" /></a></h3>
<p>In sub-mountainous parts of Punjab and Haryana, yellow rust disease has been detected in the wheat crop which has raised concerns among farmers about a drop in the crop's yield.</p>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Yellow rust or stripe rust</strong> is a<strong> fungal disease</strong> which attacks the leaves of <strong>wheat crop</strong> by forming <strong>yellow stripes</strong> and <strong>affects their photosynthesis</strong> that causes <strong>shrivelling of grain size.</strong></li>
<li>It is a disease of <strong>cool weather in the northern hills</strong> and <strong>north-western plains zone.</strong></li>
<li>The<strong> recent rains</strong> in the region coupled with a slight <strong>increase in the temperature</strong> and <strong>humid conditions</strong> are <strong>favourable</strong> for yellow rust.</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Wheat</strong></p>
<p><a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1580376225_image1.jpg" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1580376225_image1.jpg" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="600" caption="false" /></strong></a></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Temperature:</strong> Between 10-15&deg;C (Sowing time) and 21-26&deg;C (Ripening &amp; Harvesting) with bright sunlight.</li>
<li><strong>Rainfall:</strong> Around 75-100 cm.</li>
<li><strong>Soil Type:</strong> Well-drained fertile loamy and clayey loamy (Ganga-Satluj plains and black soil region of the Deccan)</li>
<li><strong>Top Wheat Producing States:</strong> Uttar Pradesh &gt; Punjab &gt; Madhya Pradesh &gt; Haryana &gt; Rajasthan.</li>
<li>It is a <strong>rabi (winter) crop,</strong> is sown between late October till December while the harvesting of the crop starts from April onwards.</li>
<li>India is the <strong>second-largest producer after</strong> China.</li>
<li>This is the <strong>second most important cereal crop</strong> and the main food crop, in the north and north-western India.</li>
<li>The <strong>success of Green Revolution</strong> contributed to the growth of Rabi crops especially wheat.</li>
<li><strong>Government initiatives to support wheat cultivation:</strong> Macro Management Mode of Agriculture, <a href="/to-the-points/paper3/food-security-1" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>National Food Security Mission and Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana.</strong></a></li>
</ul>
</div>
<p><a href="https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/other-states/yellow-rust-in-wheat-crop-causes-alarm-in-punjab-and-haryana/article30686820.ece" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Source: TH</strong></a></p>',
		'postdate' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenTime) {},
		'url' => 'https://www.drishtiias.com/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/yellow-rust'
	],
	(int) 7 => [
		'title' => 'Nagoba Jatara',
		'catname' => 'News Analysis',
		'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>A month-long Nagoba Jatra festival has come to an end in Telangana.</p>
<p><a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1580375641_image5.jpg" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1580375641_image5.jpg" width="500" caption="false" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" /></a></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Nagoba Jatara is a tribal festival held in Keslapur village, Indervelli Mandal Adilabad district, Telangana, thus the festival is also known as Keslapur Jatara.</li>
<li>It is a huge religious and cultural event of the Boigutta branch of Mesram clan of the aboriginal Raj Gond and Pradhan tribes.</li>
<li>During the festival, the maha puja of serpent god Nagoba is held.</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Gond Tribe</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Gonds are one of the largest tribal groups in the world.</li>
<li>They mostly live in Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh, Gujarat, Jharkhand, Karnataka, Telangana, Uttar Pradesh, West Bengal and Odisha.</li>
<li>Gonds are subdivided into four tribes:<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Raj Gonds</li>
<li>Madia Gonds</li>
<li>Dhurve Gonds</li>
<li>Khatulwar Gonds</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>It has been notified as a <a href="/to-the-points/Paper2/reservation-in-india" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Scheduled Tribe.</strong></a></li>
</ul>
<p><strong>Pradhan tribe</strong></p>
<p>Pradhans are considered to be the junior branch of Gond tribe and are traditional bards to Gonds and recite mythologies, folk tales and songs of their gods and goddesses at various festivals, ceremonies and fairs for which service they are paid in cash or kind.</p>
</div>
<p><a href="https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/telangana/month-long-nagoba-jatara-concludes-in-telangana/article30689808.ece" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Source: TH</strong></a></p>',
		'postdate' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenTime) {},
		'url' => 'https://www.drishtiias.com/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/nagoba-jatara'
	],
	(int) 8 => [
		'title' => 'Operation Vanilla',
		'catname' => 'News Analysis',
		'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>Recently, the Indian Navy has launched the 'Operation Vanilla' to assist the population of Madagascar affected by <strong>Cyclone Diane.</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Indian Navy also diverted a large amphibious ship viz. <em><strong>INS Airavat</strong></em> carrying clothing, medicines, and other relief material to provide assistance and support in the relief operations.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Cyclone Diane<a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1580371742_image2.png" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1580371742_image2.png" width="300" caption="false" style="float: right;" /></a></h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>It is a<a href="/loksabha-rajyasabha-discussions/in-depth-western-disturbance" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong> tropical cyclone.</strong></a></li>
<li><strong>Origin:</strong> North-west off the coast of <strong>Mauritius in the South-western Indian Ocean.</strong></li>
<li>Madagascar has been hit by it and there has been heavy flooding and landslips causing loss of lives and displacement, affecting more than 92,000 people. India has been the <strong>first country to respond to floods in Madagascar.</strong></li>
</ul>
<h3>Significance</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>India assistance to Madagascar is in consonance with Prime Minister's vision of '<a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/important-facts-for-prelims-20th-march-2019" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Security and Growth for all in the Region (SAGAR)</strong></a>'.</li>
<li>India is working with France to develop strategic and economic partnership involving <strong>Madagascar, Reunion Islands-Comoros</strong> so as to balance the growing influence of China in that part of the Indian Ocean Region.</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/indian-navy-launches-operation-vanilla-to-help-flood-hit-madagascar/article30677388.ece" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Source: TH</strong></a></p>',
		'postdate' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenTime) {},
		'url' => 'https://www.drishtiias.com/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/operation-vanilla'
	],
	(int) 9 => [
		'title' => 'Citizen-centric Services of NCRB',
		'catname' => 'News Analysis',
		'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>Recently, the <strong>National Crime Record Bureau (NCRB)</strong> has launched various police-related citizen-centric services on the <strong>Crime and Criminal Tracking Network and Systems (CCTNS)</strong> platform.</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>These are being launched in order <strong>to promote &lsquo;Ease of Living&rsquo;</strong> among citizens.</li>
<li>Such services are being provided through the state-citizen portals so far but these are being <strong>launched centrally for the first time.</strong></li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>National Crime Record Bureau</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>NCRB was set-up in <strong>1986</strong> under the <strong>Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA)</strong> to function as a repository of information on crime and criminals so as to assist the investigators in linking crime to the perpetrators.</li>
<li>It is headquartered in <strong>New Delhi.</strong></li>
<li>It was set up based on the <strong>recommendations of the National Police Commission (1977-1981)</strong> and the<strong> MHA&rsquo;s Taskforce (1985).</strong></li>
<li>It was constituted by <strong>merging</strong> the Directorate of Coordination and Police Computer (DCPC), Inter-State Criminals Data Branch of CBI, Central Finger Print Bureau of CBI and Statistical Branch of BPR&amp;D.</li>
<li>NCRB brings out the <strong>annual comprehensive statistics of crime</strong> across the country through <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/annual-crimes-in-india-report-2018-ncrb" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>&lsquo;Crime in India&rsquo;</strong></a> <strong>report.</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Being published since 1953,</strong> the report serves as a crucial tool in understanding the law and order situation across the country.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>It <strong>developed CCTNS in 2009</strong> which interconnects approximately 15000 police stations and 6000 higher offices across the country.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>CCTNS digitises data related to FIR registration, investigation and charge sheets in all police stations leading to the development of a <strong>national database of crimes and criminals.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</div>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Missing Person Search</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Citizens can search for their missing kin in this <strong>user-friendly portal,</strong> against the national database of the recovered unidentified found person/dead bodies.</li>
<li>This will benefit the relatives of missing persons because all details including photos are available in CCTNS and will be accessible to citizens through this portal.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Generate Vehicle NOC</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>It allows citizens to <strong>ascertain the status of a vehicle before its second-hand purchase</strong> to know if it is suspicious or clean from police records.</li>
<li>One can generate and download the relevant No Objection Certificate (NOC) after searching against the National database on vehicle&rsquo;s details. NOC is required by the Regional Transport Office before the transfer of ownership.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>CCTNS Hackathon and Cyber Challenge 2020</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>NCRB and Cyber Peace Foundation</strong> (global civil society organisation and think tank of cybersecurity and policy experts) have designed it together.</li>
<li>The Hackathon aims to enhance skills and deepen understanding of the police personnel at ground level to adopt smart strategies for effectively addressing the evolving threats and to promote coordination with industry and academia.</li>
<li>The Challenge invites the participation of law enforcement personnel across all ranks and file, as well as cybersecurity experts (civilians) across India.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>NCRB and National Centre for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC), USA</strong> has signed a <strong>Memorandum of Understanding</strong> (MoU) to receive information on child pornography or such related material originating from India.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>NCMEC is<strong> a non-profit organization established by the United States Congress.</strong></li>
<li>It has a <strong>centralized reporting system</strong> by which internet service providers across the world or intermediaries like Facebook, Youtube, etc. can report about persons who circulate images of child pornography.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Cyber Tipline monitoring facility</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>It is a <strong>centralised system for reporting online exploitation of children.</strong></li>
<li>The public and electronic service providers can make reports of suspected online enticement of children for sexual acts, molestation, pornography, sex tourism, sex trafficking, unsolicited obscene materials sent to a child, misleading domain names and misleading words or digital images on the internet.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="https://pib.gov.in/PressReleseDetail.aspx?PRID=1601029" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Source: PIB</strong></a></p>',
		'postdate' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenTime) {},
		'url' => 'https://www.drishtiias.com/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/citizen-centric-services-of-ncrb'
	],
	(int) 10 => [
		'title' => 'Poverty',
		'catname' => 'Paper 2',
		'desc' => '<p style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1582781901_Poverty%20(Mind Map)_Artboard 1.png" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1582781901_Poverty (Mind Map)_Artboard 1.png" width="460" height="1700" /></a></p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><a href="/to-the-points/Paper2/poverty-9" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><em>For TTP</em></a></p>',
		'postdate' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenTime) {},
		'url' => 'https://www.drishtiias.com/mind-map/gs-paper2/poverty-mind-map'
	],
	(int) 11 => [
		'title' => 'Increasing Domestic Oil Production',
		'catname' => 'News Editorials',
		'desc' => '<div class="border">
<p><strong>This article is based on</strong> <a href="https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/blogs/et-commentary/oil-exploration-harvesting-more-oil-from-fields/" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>&ldquo;Oil Exploration: Harvesting more oil from fields&rdquo;</strong></a> which was published in The Economic Times on 29/01/2020. It talks about reasons for the decline in <strong>domestic oil production.</strong></p>
</div>
<p>With rising domestic fuel consumption, India's crude imports have continued to rise. India imported 226.5 million tonnes of crude in 2018-19 (a 38% increase over 2009-10). However, in the same period, annual domestic production of crude slipped from 37.7 million tonnes to 34.2 million tonnes, catering to 13% of the total consumption in 2018-19.</p>
<h3>Why did the domestic oil production decline?</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Global Oil Prices Crash (decline in investment):</strong> Since the 2014 oil price crash, global majors to national oil companies have cut upstream spending (exploring new oil fields), slashed breakeven costs in existing projects, and divested ventures with low or slow returns.</li>
<li><strong>Climate Change:</strong> Mounting pressure due to climate change is prompting oil and gas players to diversify into clean energy.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>This, together with the US shale sector attracting a large share of investments, will mean a decline in capital flows into conventional exploration and production.</li>
<li>That poses a major challenge for India, especially when competing with bigger or more promising petroleum provinces elsewhere.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Bureaucratic Apathy:</strong> Hydrocarbon licensing policies since 2016 have progressively reduced redundant layers of approvals and introduced improved fiscal terms.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>However, bureaucratic processes and onerous taxation continue to burden older <strong>production-sharing contracts</strong> (PSCs) that account for most of the country&rsquo;s oil and gas output.</li>
<li>Securing all the approvals for a field development plan in a PSC can, on average, take up to 20 months, resulting in costly delays in commercialising discovered fields.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Policy Issues:</strong> Fiscal incentives for the use of enhanced recovery methods in oil and gas fields was a good start but does not go far enough.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The government provided a 50% cess waiver on the use of enhanced recovery methods, but it would yield around 5% return on revenue. This according to producers&rsquo; estimates is unviable for most projects.</li>
<li>The benefit of lower cess will be partly eroded in the blocks predating the New Exploration Licensing Policy (NELP) under which producers split profit oil with the government.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>Several of India&rsquo;s older oil-producing fields are in natural decline.</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Issues in NELP</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Production-Sharing Contracts were introduced by</strong> New Exploration Licensing Policy 1997.</li>
<li>This contract is made between the government and a contractor (oil/gas exploration company).</li>
<li>Once the contractor has recovered the cost of exploration, then he&rsquo;ll have to share part of his profit with the Government (as per the terms and conditions in production sharing contract.)</li>
<li><strong>Issues with production-sharing contracts</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>In the difficult terrain, it takes many years to complete survey, research, exploration. But production sharing contracts allow only 8 years to finish this.</li>
<li>It is difficult for the Government to check the accuracy of the contractor&rsquo;s account and get the correct share.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>In India,</strong> <a href="/to-the-points/paper3/hydrocarbon-exploration-and-licensing-policy" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Hydrocarbon blocks are allocated mainly under three different categories</strong></a>:</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Nomination basis:</strong> areas given prior to auction rounds;</li>
<li><strong>Pre-NELP and NELP:</strong> where areas were given through auctions based on production sharing contracts.</li>
<li><strong>HELP</strong> regime: a uniform licensing regime based on the revenue sharing model and Open Acreage Licensing Policy (OALP).</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1580295526_image1.png" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1580295526_image1.png" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" caption="false" width="602" height="418" /></a></p>
<p><strong>What is Enhanced Oil Recovery?</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Enhanced Oil Recovery</strong> (EOR) is the process of increasing the amount of oil that can be recovered from an oil reservoir, usually by injecting a substance into an existing oil well to increase pressure and reduce the viscosity of the oil.</li>
<li>With a conventional oil well, the natural pressure in the reservoir pushes the oil to the surface or a pump is used to create the pressure. This usually results in a recovery of about 25% of a well&rsquo;s oil reserves. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Enhanced oil recovery increases oil recovery by up to 15%.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>There are several different methods of Enhanced Oil Recovery including:<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Thermal recovery:</strong> which involves the introduction of heat such as the injection of steam to lower the viscosity, or thin, the heavy viscous oil, and improve its ability to flow through the reservoir.</li>
<li><strong>Gas injection:</strong> which uses gases such as nitrogen, or carbon dioxide (CO2) that expand in a reservoir to push additional oil to a production wellbore, or other gases that dissolve in the oil to lower its viscosity and improves its flow rate.</li>
<li><strong>Chemical injection:</strong> which can involve the use of long-chained molecules called polymers to increase the effectiveness of waterfloods, or the use of detergent-like surfactants to help lower the surface tension that often prevents oil droplets from moving through a reservoir.</li>
<li><strong>CO2 injection -</strong> which uses CO2 to act as a solvent, a pressurizing agent, and reduces the oil&rsquo;s viscosity.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</div>
<h3>Way Forward</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Technological solution:</strong> A variety of new technologies can prolong the life of ageing oil fields but the acquisition, testing and application of these technologies is capital-intensive. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Thereby, fiscal framework must ensure adequate returns for producers to deploy Enhanced Oil Recovery mechanism.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Simplification of regulations:</strong> Steps to be taken for oil blocks allocated in Pre-NELP phase:<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The current approval processes must be simplified with stipulated timelines for each sign-off, thereby avoiding cost escalations due to delays.</li>
<li>Self-certification of accounts that are already subject to government audits should be allowed.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Note:</strong></p>
<p>Pre-NELP blocks currently pay 60-65% of income to the government cumulative of royalty, cess, profit petroleum and income tax.</p>
</div>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Exploring Unconventional Hydrocarbons (UHC)</strong> such as Shale Oil and gas, tight oil/ gas and gas hydrates have become commercially viable due to technological advancement. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Therefore, the potential of unconventional hydrocarbons for commercial exploitation must be opened now.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<table border="1" style="border-collapse: collapse; width: 100%;">
<tbody>
<tr>
<td style="width: 100%; border-style: dotted; border-color: #fc0000; background-color: #fffecf;">
<p><em><span style="color: #000080;"><strong>Drishti Mains Question</strong></span></em></p>
<p>Discuss the reasons for declining domestic oil production in India.</p>
</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>',
		'postdate' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenTime) {},
		'url' => 'https://www.drishtiias.com/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/increasing-domestic-oil-production'
	],
	(int) 12 => [
		'title' => 'Guidelines to Monitor Sand Mining',
		'catname' => 'News Analysis',
		'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>For the first time, the Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate Change (MoEFCC) has released guidelines to <strong>monitor and check illegal sand <a href="/to-the-points/paper1/mining-sector-in-india" target="_blank" rel="noopener">mining</a></strong> in the country.</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>At present, the <strong>Sustainable Sand Management Guidelines (SSMG), 2016</strong> focus on the <strong>management of sand mining,</strong> but there was a <strong>need</strong> to have guidelines for <strong>effective enforcement of regulatory provisions</strong> and their <strong>monitoring.</strong></li>
<li>The 2020 guidelines are to be enforced simultaneously with the <strong>SSMG,</strong> 2016, in case of <strong>conflict,</strong> the <strong>new set will hold legal precedence.</strong></li>
</ul>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Background</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/investment-in-coal-mining" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Act, 1957</strong></a> has empowered <strong>state governments</strong> to make rules to prevent<strong> illegal mining,</strong> transportation and <strong>storage of minerals.</strong></li>
<li>However, there was a large number of illegal mining cases in the country and in some cases, many of the officers lost their lives while executing their duties to curb illegal mining.</li>
<li>Illegal and uncontrolled illegal mining also leads to loss of revenue to the State and degradation of the environment.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Constitutional/ Legal Framework of Mining Sector in India</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The entry at serial No. 23 of List II <strong>(State List)</strong> to the Constitution of India mandates the <strong>state government to own the minerals located within their boundaries.</strong></li>
<li>The entry at serial No. 54 of List I <strong>(Central List)</strong> mandates the <strong>central government to own the minerals within the exclusive economic zone of India (EEZ).</strong> In pursuance to this Mines &amp; Minerals (Development and Regulation) (MMDR) Act of 1957 was framed.</li>
<li>Also, <strong>the Central Government notifies</strong> certain minerals as <strong>'minor' minerals</strong> from time to time for which the absolute powers for deciding on procedures of seeking applications for and granting mineral concessions, fixing rates of royalty, dead rent, and power to revise orders rest <strong>only with the State Government.</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Example of minor minerals include building stones, gravel, ordinary clay, <strong>ordinary sand.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>For minerals specified in the <strong>First Schedule</strong> to the Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Act, 1957 <strong>approval of the Central Government is necessary.</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li><strong>Schedule I</strong> contains minerals such as <strong>coal and lignite,</strong> minerals of the <strong>&ldquo;rare earths&rdquo;</strong> group containing <strong>Uranium and Thorium.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</div>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Enforcement and Monitoring Guidelines for Sand Mining 2020</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Source to Destination Monitoring:</strong> The new set of guidelines focuses on the effective monitoring of sand mining from the identification of sand mineral sources to its dispatch and end-use by consumers and the general public and look at a uniform protocol for the whole country.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Constantly <strong>monitor mining</strong> with drones and <strong>night surveillance</strong> of mining activity through night-vision drones.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Audits:</strong> States to carry out<strong> river audits,</strong> put detailed survey reports of all mining areas in the public domain.</li>
<li><strong>Transparency:</strong> Online <strong>sales and purchase</strong> of sand and other <strong>riverbed materials (RBM)</strong> for <strong>transparency</strong> in the process.</li>
<li><strong>Enforcement:</strong> It gives directions to states to set up <strong>dedicated task forces at district levels.</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>In cases where rivers become district boundaries or state boundaries, the districts or states sharing the boundary shall constitute the combined task force for monitoring of mined materials, mining activity and participate in the preparation of <strong>District Survey Reports (DSR)</strong> by providing appropriate inputs.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Sustainability:&nbsp;</strong>Conduct <strong>replenishment study</strong> for river bed sand in order to nullify the adverse impacts arising due to excessive sand extraction. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>No riverbed mining will be allowed during the monsoon.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Procedure for Comprehensive DSRs</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>While the <strong>Sustainable Sand Mining Guidelines, 2016,</strong> require the preparation of District Survey Reports (DSR), which is an important initial step <strong>before grant of mining lease,</strong> the government has found that the DSRs carried out by state and district administrations are often <strong>not comprehensive enough,</strong> allowing space for illegal mining.</li>
<li>The<strong> new</strong> guidelines, therefore, <strong>list a detailed procedure of how the DSRs are to be made,</strong> including the development of an inventory, for the first time, of river bed material and other sand sources in the district.</li>
</ul>
</div>
<p><a href="https://indianexpress.com/article/india/govt-releases-guidelines-to-monitor-check-illegal-sand-mining-6240249/" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Source: IE</strong></a></p>',
		'postdate' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenTime) {},
		'url' => 'https://www.drishtiias.com/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/guidelines-to-monitor-sand-mining'
	],
	(int) 13 => [
		'title' => 'Gatka Martial Art',
		'catname' => 'News Analysis',
		'desc' => '<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Gatka is a <strong>traditional martial art</strong> form associated with the <strong>Sikh gurus.</strong></li>
<li>It imbibes sword and sticks fighting skills and self-control.</li>
<li>Gatka is believed to have originated when the 6<sup>th</sup> Sikh <strong>Guru Hargobind</strong> adopted &lsquo;Kirpan&rsquo; for <strong>self-defence</strong> during the Mughal era.</li>
<li>A style of stick fighting between two or more practitioners, <strong>Gatka is a toned-down version of the deadlier Shastar Vidya.</strong> The sharp swords of Shastar Vidya have been replaced by <strong>wooden sticks (soti)</strong> and <strong>shields (farri)</strong> in Gatka.</li>
<li>It is considered as a <strong>battle technique.<a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1580290630_image3.jpg" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1580290630_image3.jpg" style="float: right;" width="310" caption="false" /></a></strong></li>
<li>10<sup>th</sup><a href="/to-the-points/paper4/sikhism" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong> Guru Gobind Singh</strong></a> made it <strong>compulsory for everyone</strong> to use the weapons for self-defence.</li>
<li>It was earlier confined to gurudwaras, nagar kirtans and akharas, but now it finds presence in the<strong> sports category</strong> after the formation of the Gatka Federation of India (GFI) in 2008.</li>
<li>Today, it is used to showcase <strong>self-defence</strong> and fighting skills and is open to people of all faiths and communities.</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="https://www.thehindu.com/sci-tech/health/on-the-sikh-communitys-martial-art-form-gatka/article30672849.ece" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Source: TH</strong></a></p>',
		'postdate' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenTime) {},
		'url' => 'https://www.drishtiias.com/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/gatka-martial-art'
	],
	(int) 14 => [
		'title' => 'Addition to Ramsar Sites',
		'catname' => 'News Analysis',
		'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>India has added 10 more wetlands to the sites protected by the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/world-wetlands-day" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Ramsar Convention.</strong></a></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>These are:<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Maharashtra: Nandur (state&rsquo;s first).</strong></li>
<li><strong>Punjab: Keshopur-Miani, Beas Conservation Reserve</strong> and<strong> Nangal.</strong></li>
<li><strong>Uttar Pradesh: Nawabganj, Parvati Agra, Saman, Samaspur, Sandi </strong>and<strong> Sarsai Nawar.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>The <strong>other 27 Ramsar sites</strong> are in Rajasthan, Kerala, Odisha, Madhya Pradesh, Himachal Pradesh, Assam, West Bengal, Jammu and Kashmir, Andhra Pradesh, Manipur, Gujarat, Tamil Nadu and Tripura.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>This addition will help in achieving India&rsquo;s ambition mission <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/piped-water-connection-by-2024" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>&lsquo;Nal se Jal&rsquo;</strong></a> which <strong>aims to provide piped water connection to every household by 2024.</strong></li>
<li>Wetlands provide a wide range of important resources and ecosystem services such as food, water, fibre, groundwater recharge, water purification, flood moderation, erosion control and climate regulation.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Ramsar Convention</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>It was <strong>signed in 1971</strong> in the <strong>Iranian city of Ramsar</strong> and is <strong>one of the oldest inter-governmental accord</strong> for preserving the ecological character of wetlands.</li>
<li>It is also known as the <strong>Convention on Wetlands.</strong></li>
<li>Its<strong> aim</strong> is to develop and maintain an international network of wetlands which are important for the conservation of global biological diversity and for sustaining human life through the maintenance of their ecosystem components, processes and benefits.</li>
<li>Wetlands declared as Ramsar sites are protected <strong>under strict guidelines</strong> of the convention.</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Montreux Record</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Montreux Record under the Ramsar Convention is a<strong> register of wetland sites on the List of Wetlands of International Importance</strong> where changes in ecological character have occurred, are occurring, or are likely to occur as a result of technological developments, pollution or other human interference.</li>
<li>It is maintained as part of the Ramsar List.</li>
<li>Currently, <strong>two wetlands of India are in Montreux record: Keoladeo National Park (Rajasthan) </strong>and<strong> Loktak Lake (Manipur).</strong></li>
<li><strong>Chilika lake (Odisha)</strong> was placed in the record but was<strong> later removed</strong> from it.</li>
</ul>
</div>
<p><a href="https://pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=1600857" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Source: PIB</strong></a></p>',
		'postdate' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenTime) {},
		'url' => 'https://www.drishtiias.com/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/addition-to-ramsar-sites'
	],
	(int) 15 => [
		'title' => 'Introduction of African Cheetah in India',
		'catname' => 'News Analysis',
		'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Recently, the Supreme Court has lifted its seven-year-long stay on a proposal to introduce <strong>African Cheetahs from Namibia into the Indian habitat.</strong></li>
<li>Court has now allowed to initiate the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/important-facts-for-prelims-27-august-2018" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>re-introduction of foreign Cheetahs</strong></a> into the <strong>Palpur Kuno sanctuary in Madhya Pradesh</strong> on an experimental basis. In 1952, the Asiatic Cheetah was <strong>officially declared extinct</strong> from India.</li>
</ul>
<table border="1" style="border-collapse: collapse; width: 100%;">
<tbody>
<tr style="height: 19px;">
<td style="height: 19px; vertical-align: top; text-align: center; background-color: #3c3b57; width: 100px;"><span style="color: #ffffff;"><strong>Sr. No.</strong></span></td>
<td style="height: 19px; text-align: left; vertical-align: top; background-color: #3c3b57; width: 100px;"><span style="color: #ffffff;"><strong>Parameter</strong></span></td>
<td style="height: 19px; text-align: left; vertical-align: top; background-color: #3c3b57; width: 100px;"><span style="color: #ffffff;"><strong>African Cheetah</strong></span></td>
<td style="height: 19px; text-align: left; vertical-align: top; background-color: #3c3b57; width: 100px;"><span style="color: #ffffff;"><strong>Asiatic Cheetah</strong></span></td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 19px;">
<td style="height: 19px; vertical-align: top; text-align: center; background-color: #e0e0e0; width: 100px;">1.</td>
<td style="height: 19px; text-align: left; vertical-align: top; background-color: #e0e0e0; width: 100px;"><strong><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/iucn-red-list" target="_blank" rel="noopener">IUCN</a> status</strong></td>
<td style="height: 19px; text-align: left; vertical-align: top; background-color: #e0e0e0; width: 100px;">Vulnerable</td>
<td style="height: 19px; text-align: left; vertical-align: top; background-color: #e0e0e0; width: 100px;">Critically Endangered.</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 19px;">
<td style="height: 19px; vertical-align: top; text-align: center; background-color: #e0e0e0; width: 100px;">2.</td>
<td style="height: 19px; text-align: left; vertical-align: top; background-color: #e0e0e0; width: 100px;"><strong><a href="/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-international-institution/cites" target="_blank" rel="noopener">CITES</a> status</strong></td>
<td style="height: 19px; text-align: left; vertical-align: top; background-color: #e0e0e0; width: 100px;"><strong>Appendix-I</strong> of the List. This List comprises of migratory species that have been assessed as being in <strong>danger of extinction</strong> throughout all or a significant portion of their range.</td>
<td style="height: 19px; text-align: left; vertical-align: top; background-color: #e0e0e0; width: 100px;"><strong>Appendix-I</strong> of the List.</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 19px;">
<td style="height: 19px; vertical-align: top; text-align: center; background-color: #e0e0e0; width: 100px;">3.</td>
<td style="height: 19px; text-align: left; vertical-align: top; background-color: #e0e0e0; width: 100px;"><strong>Habitat</strong></td>
<td style="height: 19px; text-align: left; vertical-align: top; background-color: #e0e0e0; width: 100px;">Around 6,500-7,000 African cheetahs present in the wild.</td>
<td style="height: 19px; text-align: left; vertical-align: top; background-color: #e0e0e0; width: 100px;">40-50 found only in <strong>Iran.</strong></td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 19px;">
<td style="height: 19px; vertical-align: top; text-align: center; background-color: #e0e0e0; width: 100px;">4.</td>
<td style="height: 19px; text-align: left; vertical-align: top; background-color: #e0e0e0; width: 100px;"><strong>Physical Characteristics</strong></td>
<td style="height: 19px; text-align: left; vertical-align: top; background-color: #e0e0e0; width: 100px;"><strong>Bigger</strong> in size as compared to Asiatic Cheetah.</td>
<td style="height: 19px; text-align: left; vertical-align: top; background-color: #e0e0e0; width: 100px;"><strong>Smaller and paler</strong> than the African cheetah. Has more fur, a smaller head and a longer neck. Usually have red eyes and they have a more <strong>cat-like</strong> appearance.</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="vertical-align: top; text-align: center; background-color: #e0e0e0; width: 100px;">5.</td>
<td style="text-align: left; vertical-align: top; background-color: #e0e0e0; width: 100px;"><strong>Image</strong></td>
<td style="text-align: left; vertical-align: top; background-color: #e0e0e0; width: 100px;"><a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1580285882_image2.jpg" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1580285882_image2.jpg" width="250" caption="false" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" /></a></td>
<td style="text-align: left; vertical-align: top; background-color: #e0e0e0; width: 100px;"><a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1580285927_image1.jpg" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1580285927_image1.jpg" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="250" caption="false" /></a></td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Note:</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>According to the <strong>United Nations,</strong> Cheetahs are listed as &ldquo;Vulnerable&rdquo; by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List of Threatened Species, but a recent study revealed the decline in its significant population. Hence, scientists are demanding for cheetahs to be uplisted to &ldquo;Endangered&rdquo; category.</li>
<li>In North Africa and Asia, they are considered to be &ldquo;Critically Endangered.&rdquo;</li>
</ul>
</div>
<p><a href="https://indianexpress.com/article/explained/explained-why-india-wants-to-bring-the-african-cheetah-to-india-6240005/" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Source: IE</strong></a></p>',
		'postdate' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenTime) {},
		'url' => 'https://www.drishtiias.com/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/introduction-of-african-cheetah-in-india'
	],
	(int) 16 => [
		'title' => 'E- Retailers to Collect Plastic Waste',
		'catname' => 'News Analysis',
		'desc' => '<h3>Why in news</h3>
<p>The <strong>Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB)</strong> has told the <a href="/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-national-institutions/national-green-tribunal-ngt" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>National Green Tribunal (NGT)</strong></a> that e-commerce giants Amazon and Flipkart need to fulfil their <strong>extended producer responsibility</strong> under the <strong>Plastic Waste Management Rules, 2016.</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>According to the <strong>Plastic Waste Management Rules, 2016</strong> &ldquo;Primary responsibility for collection of used multi-layered plastic sachet or pouches or packaging<strong> is of producers, importers and brand owners who introduce the products in the market&rdquo;.</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>They need to establish a system for collecting back the plastic waste generated due to the packaging of their products.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR)</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>EPR is a policy approach under which producers are given a significant responsibility &ndash;<strong> financial and/or physical &ndash;</strong> for the treatment or disposal of post-consumer products.</li>
<li>Assigning such responsibility could in principle provide incentives to prevent wastes at the source, promote product design for the environment and support the achievement of public recycling and materials management goals.</li>
</ul>
</div>
<h3>Plastic Waste Management Rules</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>These rules were framed in 2016 which extended the <strong>responsibility to collect waste generated from the products</strong> to their <strong>producers</strong> (i.e persons engaged in the manufacture, or import of carrying bags, multi-layered packaging and sheets or like and the persons using these for packaging or wrapping their products) and <strong>brand owners.</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>They have to approach local bodies for the formulation of plan/system for the plastic waste management within the prescribed time frame.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>The rules have been extended to villages as well. Earlier, it was limited to municipal districts.</li>
<li>Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) has been mandated to formulate the guidelines for <strong>thermoset plastic</strong> (plastic difficult to recycle). <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Earlier, there was no specific provision for such type of plastic.</li>
<li>Manufacturing and use of non-recyclable multi-layered plastic are to be phased in two years, i.e. by 2018.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>The 2016 rules were amended in 2018, laying emphasis on the phasing out of <strong>Multilayered Plastic (MLP),</strong> which are<strong> "non-recyclable, or non-energy recoverable, or with no alternate use."</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The amended Rules also prescribe a <strong>central registration system</strong> for the registration of the producer/importer/brand owner.</li>
<li>The amendment provided that registration should be automated and take into account ease of doing business for producers, recyclers and manufacturers.</li>
<li>While a <strong>national registry</strong> has been prescribed for producers with a presence in more than two states, a <strong>state-level registration</strong> has been prescribed for smaller producers/brand owners operating within one or two states.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Central Pollution Control Board</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) of India is a <strong>statutory organisation</strong> under the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change.</li>
<li>It was established in 1974 under the <strong>Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1974.</strong></li>
<li>The CPCB is also entrusted with the powers and functions under the <strong>Air (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1981.</strong></li>
</ul>
</div>
<h3>Way Forward</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Plastic packaging constitutes more than 40%</strong> of the total plastic waste generated in India and it is important that a direction is issued to the e-retailers that they should stop using plastic packaging materials and shift to environment-friendly packaging materials and shift to environment-friendly packaging option.</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="https://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/Delhi/e-commerce-giants-need-to-set-up-system-for-collecting-plastic-waste-cpcb-to-ngt/article30678996.ece" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Source: TH</strong></a></p>',
		'postdate' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenTime) {},
		'url' => 'https://www.drishtiias.com/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/e-retailers-to-collect-plastic-waste'
	],
	(int) 17 => [
		'title' => 'Curbing Criminalisation of Politics',
		'catname' => 'News Editorials',
		'desc' => '<div class="border">
<p>This article is based on <a href="https://www.thehindu.com/opinion/editorial/crime-and-politics/article30668919.ece" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>&ldquo;Crime and politics: on political candidates with criminal records&rdquo;</strong></a> which was published in The Hindu on 28/01/2020. It talks about reasons for failure to curb criminalisation of politics in spite of a series of landmark judgments by the Supreme Court on addressing this issue.</p>
</div>
<p>Recently, the <a href="/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-national-institutions/supreme-court-of-india" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Supreme Court</strong></a> agreed to examine a proposition made by the <a href="/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-national-institutions/election-commission-of-india" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Election Commission of India (ECI)</strong></a> to ask political parties to not give the ticket to those with criminal antecedents. Over the years, the Supreme Court has passed many judgements that sought to curb <strong><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/decriminalising-the-politics" target="_blank" rel="noopener">criminalisation of politics</a></strong>, but the extent of the problem has not been eliminated.</p>
<p>The recent report by the <strong>Association for Democratic Reforms has highlighted the urgency of the issue.</strong> The report stated that:</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>46% of Members of Parliament have criminal records</strong> (including minor offences like &ldquo;unlawful assembly&rdquo; and &ldquo;defamation&rdquo;).</li>
<li>Current <strong>Lok Sabha MPs have the highest (29%) proportion</strong> of those with serious declared criminal cases compared to its recent predecessors.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Landmark Judgments</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The Supreme Court in <strong>Public Interest Foundation vs Union Of India, 2018</strong> had directed political parties to publish online the pending criminal cases of their candidates.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The Supreme Court concluded that rapid criminalisation of politics cannot be arrested by merely disqualifying tainted legislators <strong>but should begin by &ldquo;cleansing&rdquo; the political parties.</strong></li>
<li>It suggested that <strong>Parliament frame a law that makes it obligatory for political parties to remove leaders charged with &ldquo;heinous and grievous&rdquo;</strong> crimes like rape, murder and kidnapping and refuse ticket to offenders in both Parliamentary and Assembly polls.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>In 2017, it asked the Centre to frame a scheme to <strong>appoint special courts</strong> to exclusively try cases against politicians, and for political parties to publicise pending criminal cases faced by their candidates in 2018.</li>
<li>In 2013, the Supreme Court in the case<strong> Lily Thomas vs. Union of India</strong> ruled that a sitting MP and MLA convicted of a jail term of two years or more would lose their seat in the legislature immediately.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Further, Section 8(4) of the Representation of the People Act 1951, which allowed elected representatives three months to appeal their conviction, was declared unconstitutional.</li>
<li>The Supreme Court held that, if a lower court has convicted an individual, he cannot contest an election unless a higher court has overturned his conviction. Simply filing an appeal against the judgment of the lower court is not enough.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>The Supreme Court in <strong>People's Union for Civil Liberties vs. Union of India, 2013</strong> ruled that voters should have the option of <strong>&ldquo;None of the above (NOTA)&rdquo;</strong> on the Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) to ensure the option for those who don&rsquo;t find any candidate suitable.</li>
<li>The Supreme Court directed the Election Commission to bring the issue of election-related <strong>&lsquo;freebies&rsquo;</strong> under the ambit of the Code of Conduct.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Why the criminalisation of politics is still prevalent?</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Lack of political will:</strong> Representation of the People Act, 1951, deals with disqualification of candidates against whom charges have been framed in court for serious offences. Therefore, in order to curb criminalisation of politics, Parliament needs to bring an amendment in the Act.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>However, there has been an unsaid understanding among the political parties which deters Parliament to make strong law curbing criminalisation of politics.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Legal Aspect of Disqualification</strong></p>
<p>Indian constitution does not specify as to what disqualifies a person from contesting elections for the Parliament, Legislative assembly or any other legislature. The Representation of Peoples Act which mentions the criteria for disqualifying a person for contesting an election of the legislature.</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Section 8 of the act,</strong> i.e. disqualification on conviction for certain offences, according to which individual punished with a jail term of more than two years cannot stand in an election for six years after the jail term has ended.</li>
<li>The law does not bar individuals who have criminal cases pending against them from contesting elections therefore the disqualification of candidates with criminal cases depends on their conviction in these cases.</li>
<li>With cases dragging in courts for years, a disqualification based on conviction becomes ineffective due to low conviction rate.</li>
</ul>
</div>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Use of muscle and money power:</strong> Candidates with serious records seem to do well despite their public image, largely due to their ability to finance their own elections and bring substantive resources to their respective parties.</li>
<li><strong>Narrow self-interests:</strong> Some voters tend to view such candidates through a narrow prism: of being able to represent their community interests by hook or by crook.</li>
<li><strong>Lack of Choices:</strong> Sometimes voters are left with no options, as all competing candidates have criminal records.</li>
<li>Relatively weak and half-hearted governance and delivery of public goods, which has allowed voters to elect candidates despite their dubious credentials.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Consequences of Criminalisation of Politics</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The major problem is that the law-breakers become law-makers, this affects the efficacy of the democratic process in delivering good governance.</li>
<li>It also leads to increased circulation of black money during and after elections, diluting probity in public life.</li>
<li>It introduces a culture of violence in society and sets a bad precedent for the youth to follow.</li>
<li>These unhealthy tendencies in the democratic system reflect a poor image of the nature of India&rsquo;s state institutions and the quality of its elected representatives.</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>Former President Dr Rajendra Prasad</strong> held that <em>&ldquo;If the people who are elected are capable and men of character and integrity, then they would be able to make the best even of a defective constitution. If they are lacking in these, the Constitution cannot help the country&rdquo;.</em></p>
<p>While judicial pronouncements on making it difficult for criminal candidates to contest are necessary, only enhanced awareness and increased democratic participation could create the right conditions for the decriminalisation of politics.</p>
<table border="1" style="border-collapse: collapse; width: 100%;">
<tbody>
<tr>
<td style="width: 100%; border-style: dotted; border-color: #9000ff; background-color: #dee1ff;"><span style="color: #000080;"><em><strong>Drishti Mains Question</strong></em></span><br /><br />Discuss the reasons for the prevalence of criminalisation of politics in India.</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>',
		'postdate' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenTime) {},
		'url' => 'https://www.drishtiias.com/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/curbing-criminalisation-of-politics'
	],
	(int) 18 => [
		'title' => 'The Big Picture: Electoral Politics- Need for Reform',
		'catname' => 'Lok Sabha & Rajya Sabha Discussions',
		'desc' => '<p style="text-align: center;"><iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/BdLb_HMiEGU" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe></p>
<p>Recently at a conference on <strong>&lsquo;Money Power in Politics&rsquo;,</strong> the Vice President M. Venkaiah Naidu highlighted Indian experience with democracy as a remarkable success story. However, he pointed out <strong>two distortions</strong> that require urgent attention:</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Use of <strong>enormous money power</strong> in politics and elections,</li>
<li>Increasing <strong>attempts to entice the voters</strong> with short-term benefits (in the form of populist schemes for electoral advantage) at the cost of governance, besides adversely impacting the long-term interests of the poor and the middle class.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Indian Democracy</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>India is a vibrant democracy with people electing their representatives at several levels beginning from local bodies &amp; panchayats to the Parliament.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>India has <a href="/to-the-points/Paper2/parliamentary-reforms-in-india" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Parliamentary system of governance</strong></a> which is based on Britain&rsquo;s Westminster model of <strong>constitutional democracy.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>Elections in India (world&rsquo;s second-most populous country) seek overwhelming popular participation, where electoral candidates try to woo the voters by promising long-term reforms, such as better governance, greater socioeconomic equity, poverty alleviation, etc.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>However, corrupt politicians with criminal records, caste- and religion-based politics, and allegations of vote-buying, have defeated the very purpose of such democratic process.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Present Issues</h3>
<p>India&rsquo;s political culture has been vitiated by unprecedented waves of <strong>populism, jingoism, sectarianism and confrontational politics.</strong></p>
<p><strong>Money Power &amp; Freebies</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Expenditure:</strong> There are three drivers of expenditure in elections viz. <em><strong>legitimate electioneering cost, party running cost, and TV air time cost.</strong></em>
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>However, the accounted legitimate expenditure is a mere percentage of actual spending by the candidate and their corresponding political parties. According to the report of the <strong>National Commission to Review the Working of the Constitution</strong> (NCRWC), high cost of elections creates a high degree of compulsion for corruption in the public arena.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Vote-buying:</strong> The rise of illegitimate expenditure on<strong> vote-buying</strong> has become a matter of great concern as it is making only the rich to be more qualified to become an MP (Member of Parliament) or an MLA (Member of the Legislative Assembly) over a well-qualified public-spirited person.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>As can be seen, out of 533 candidates elected to the <strong>17<sup>th</sup> Lok Sabha</strong> (2019-present), 475 Parliamentarians (accounting for <strong>88%</strong>) are <strong>&lsquo;crorepatis&rsquo;.</strong> This reflects the paradoxical situation of poor India with rich Parliamentarians raising concerns about the growing role of money power in politics.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Freebies: Freebie</strong> is something <strong>provided or given free of charge,</strong> ranging from rice at cheapest rates to laptops &amp; bicycles. These promises may be targeted at particular groups of electorate like BPL families, weaker sections of the society, women, handicapped etc. Although, people have many-a-times rejected it, but still, political parties continue to compete with each other by offering such entitlements.</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>Paid News</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Paid news is any news or analysis appearing in any media (Print and Electronic) for a price in cash or kind. An issue like<a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/treat-one-sided-laudatory-news-reports-as-paid-news-ec-to-sc" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong> Paid News</strong></a> disrupts the level playing field and circumvents the election expenditure limits. This creates a hurdle for the <a href="/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-national-institutions/election-commission-of-india" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Election Commission of India (ECI)</strong></a> to conduct the smooth run-off elections in a <strong>free, fair and transparent manner.</strong></li>
</ul>
<p><strong>Issuance of Secret Bonds</strong></p>
<p><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/electoral-bonds" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Electoral bonds</strong></a> are the bearer bonds that were launched in 2017 in order to cleanse the system of political funding in the country.</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>However, its anonymous feature in which neither the donor nor the political party is obligated to reveal whom the donation comes from <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/how-electoral-bonds-distort-india-s-democracy" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>defeats the fundamental principle of transparency</strong></a> in political finance (as the voters are unaware of the source of funds that are spent by the political parties in the election process).</li>
<li>Also, as the issuing entity is the <strong>State Bank of India,</strong> i.e. a State-run entity, there is a <strong>fear of retribution</strong> amongst the donors as the government at any point of time can look for the names of the anonymous donors.</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/parliament-should-enact-law-to-clean-politics-sc" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Criminalisation of Politics</strong></a></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>It refers to a situation in which the <strong>anti-social elements</strong> enter the electoral process by contesting elections, getting elected to the legislature, and consequently occupying public offices. This happens due to <strong>existing strong nexus</strong> between the criminals and some politicians abusing the loopholes in the present system.</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>Flaws in the Criminal Justice System</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>In India, an accused is presumed to be innocent unless pronounced guilty by the Courts. The<strong> rate of conviction for politicians is abysmally low,</strong> with just <strong>6% in criminal cases.</strong> This implies that a large number of accused politicians with criminal background actually go unpunished from a Court of law, and are not disqualified from contesting elections further.</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>Caste-based Politics</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Caste politics in the last three decades have been marked by the <strong>desire for power on the caste-lines rather than a substantial agenda for social reform of the downtrodden.</strong> However, election campaigns along communal or caste lines are banned under the election rules.</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Drishti Input:&nbsp;</strong><strong>Measures Undertaken</strong></p>
<p><strong>Legislative Measures</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Limit on spending of candidate:</strong> At present, under Rule 90 of the <strong>Conduct of Election Rules, 1961,</strong> a candidate contesting <strong>Lok Sabha</strong> polls can spend up to<strong> ₹70 lakh</strong> and in an <strong>assembly election</strong> up to <strong>₹28 lakh,</strong> depending on the state in which s/he is contesting polls.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Recently, a <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/introduction-of-private-member-s-bill" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Private Member&rsquo;s bill</strong></a> was introduced in the Parliament which intended to <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/poll-spend-limit" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>do away with the cap on election spending by candidates</strong></a>. The move was taken on the ground that the ceiling on election expenses ends up being counterproductive by encouraging <strong>candidates to under-report their expenditure.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>In <strong>2003,</strong> a law was passed by the Parliament after the Tehelka scam. According to it, donations to political parties will receive <strong>100% income tax exemptions</strong> for donors.</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>Measures by ECI</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/political-parties-registration-tracking-management-system-pprtms" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Political Parties Registration Tracking Management System (PPRTMS):</strong> </a>To allow an applicant<strong> to track the progress</strong> of his/her application.</li>
<li><strong>Systematic Voters' Education and Electoral Participation Programme (SVEEP):</strong> ECI organizes <strong>voter awareness campaigns</strong> in order to educate the voters.</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>Measures by Judiciary</strong></p>
<p><strong>Supreme Court</strong> in following cases recommended various reforms:</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>In <em><strong>Union of India versus Association of Democratic Reforms 2002 case:</strong></em> Contesting candidates need to<strong> disclose</strong> all their assets and liabilities, criminal convictions, etc. at the <strong>time of filing their nomination paper.</strong></li>
<li>In <em><strong>Ramesh Dalal versus Union of India 2005 case:</strong> </em>A legislator is <strong>disqualified</strong> from contesting elections if, <strong>on the day of filing</strong> the nomination papers, he/she stands convicted in a Court of law.</li>
<li>In<em><strong> Lily Thomas versus Union of India 2013 case:</strong> </em>The nature of disqualification for being a member of the House as provided under <strong>Article 101(3) &amp; 190(3)</strong> is<strong> automatic</strong> and takes place with <strong>immediate effect.</strong></li>
<li>In <strong>People&rsquo;s Union of Civil Liberties versus Union of India 2013 case:</strong> Voters enjoy <strong>&ldquo;Right to Negative Vote&rdquo;</strong> in the election process and directed the ECI to include the<strong> choice of &ldquo;NOTA&rdquo;</strong> in the ballot paper.</li>
</ul>
</div>
<h3>Needed Reforms</h3>
<p><strong>Legislative Reforms</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><a href="/loksabha-rajyasabha-discussions/the-big-picture-regulating-anonymous-donations" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>State Funding of Elections:</strong> </a>System in which the <strong>State bears the election expenditure of political parties</strong> that are contesting elections. This can bring transparency in the funding process as public finance can limit the influence of interested donors&rsquo; money and thereby help curb corruption.</li>
<li><a href="/loksabha-rajyasabha-discussions/the-big-picture-one-nation-one-election" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Simultaneous Polls:</strong> </a>The time has come to implement simultaneous polls because of its underlying advantages including <strong>reducing the costs of holding elections</strong> by the ECI <strong>and spending</strong> by political parties.</li>
<li><strong>Central Legislation:</strong> In the <em><strong>Public Interest Foundation &amp; Ors. vs. Union of India 2018</strong> </em>case, <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/has-the-sc-missed-a-chance-to-keep-criminals-out-of-polls" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>SC put the onus on the Parliament</strong></a> to frame a law to prevent criminalization of politics and take concerted efforts to cleanse the political system of the country.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The time has come to frame suitable legislation on the lines of <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/rbi-flags-states-%20fiscal-stress" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>FRBMA, 2003</strong></a> (Fiscal Responsibility and Budget Management Act- that puts a <strong>cap on fiscal deficit</strong>).</li>
<li>If a cap is introduced on populist announcements (based on the proportion of budgetary resources they have) by the parties within the ambit of law, then perhaps all political parties will have a level playing field and the unsustainable populist measures could be kept under check.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>Law Commission in its <a href="/loksabha-rajyasabha-discussions/the-big-picture-election-commission-collegium-system-appointments" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>255<sup>th</sup> Report on Electoral Reforms</strong> </a>inter-alia recommended strengthening of the office of the ECI in order to provide more independence and tooth to the institution.</li>
<li>The<strong> 'First Past the Post System'</strong>, in which a person with the highest votes (even with one extra vote) is declared winner, needs to be changed. Rather, a <strong>minimum percentage of total votes polled</strong> can be fixed for declaring a candidate as the winner. This could restrict the criminals from getting elected as not everybody in a constituency votes on party lines.</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>At Party Level</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Limit on Party Expenditure:</strong> There must be a limit on the expenditure of the party. A <strong>time frame</strong> must be set for accounting the expenditure of parties and must be made public before the actual date of elections so that the voters and the concerned authorities could be priorly informed.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Consequently, <strong>audit</strong> of political parties accounts must be conducted in order to make them accountable.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>Political parties need to <strong>rise morally and self-discipline themselves</strong> restricting their use of money power. Also, the<strong> flow of black money</strong> into the election process needs to be taken care off.</li>
<li>Political parties need to be brought <a href="/loksabha-rajyasabha-discussions/the-big-picture-political-parties-under-rti" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>under the ambit of Right to Information Act (RTI) Act</strong></a>, 2005.</li>
<li>All parties should be given <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/challenges-before-election-commission-of-india" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>equal media space or air time</strong></a> so as to provide a level playing field.</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>At Voter&rsquo;s Level:</strong> Voters need to be <strong>educated</strong> regarding the significance of their vote. They should be made <strong>aware &amp; well-informed</strong> about the candidate they seek to vote, thereby rejecting those who try to entice them with freebies.</p>
<h3>Way Forward</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>There is a need <strong>of fixing governance system</strong> and effective regulation of political financing along with bold reforms to break the vicious cycle of corruption and erosion of quality of democratic polity. It is crucial to plug the loopholes in the current laws to make the entire governance machinery more accountable and transparent.</li>
<li><strong>Linking Vote with Tangible Consequences:</strong> Long-term empowerment of local body/ localised power must be done so that people could see the changes happening immediately at their level and could actualise &amp; understand the value of vote. This would inhibit getting freebies tendency amongst people.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Also, <strong>local bureaucracy must be made accountable &amp; held responsible</strong> so that their burden is not borne by the political parties.</li>
<li>As per the statistics, the <strong>annual burden</strong> on party workers to indirectly maintain an assembly constituency amounts to ₹3-4 Crores. This gives birth to strong nexus between party workers and the bureaucracy, who in lieu of giving money take petty contracts, police cases interventions, etc., leading to abuse of administrative process.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>A voter forfeits the right to question the government when he/she compromises on moral values and accepts gift or cash for his/her vote. Therefore, citizens must vote in elections based on character, conduct, calibre and capability of the candidates and not based on cash, caste, community and criminal prowess. This could be the <strong>ultimate solution to check money power</strong> in politics.</li>
</ul>
<p>The constitutional functionaries, who have taken the pledge to uphold the constitutional principles, are charged with the responsibility to ensure that the existing political framework does not get tainted with the evil of corruption.</p>',
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	(int) 19 => [
		'title' => 'Novel Strain of Coronavirus',
		'catname' => 'News Analysis',
		'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>Recently, <strong>the Lancet</strong> published a study titled <strong>&ldquo;Clinical features of patients infected with 2019 novel coronavirus in Wuhan, China&rdquo;.</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The study highlighted the <strong>high mortality due to the 2019 novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV infection)</strong> which caused clusters of severe respiratory illness similar to severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) coronavirus.</li>
<li>It also pointed out that there are major gaps in the knowledge of the origin, epidemiology, duration of human transmission and clinical spectrum of the disease.</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>The Lancet</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>It is a weekly peer-reviewed general British medical journal.</li>
<li>It is among the world's oldest, most prestigious, and best known general medical journals.</li>
</ul>
</div>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Findings of the Study</strong>
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Most of the infected patients were men.</li>
<li>Less than half had underlying diseases (diabetes, hypertension and cardiovascular ailments).</li>
<li>66% of patients had been exposed to Huanan seafood market.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>Researchers collected and analysed data by real-time <strong>Reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR).</strong>
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>RT-PCR is a laboratory technique combining reverse transcription of RNA into DNA and next-generation sequencing.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Coronavirus</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/coronaviruses" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Coronaviruses</strong></a> are a specific family of viruses, with some of them causing <strong>less-severe damage,</strong> such as the common cold and others causing <strong>respiratory and intestinal diseases.</strong></li>
<li>A coronavirus has many <strong>&ldquo;regularly arranged&rdquo; protrusions on its surface,</strong> because of which the entire virus particle looks like an emperor&rsquo;s crown, hence the name <strong>&ldquo;coronavirus&rdquo;.</strong></li>
<li><strong>It is an RNA virus</strong> with<strong> ribonucleic acid (RNA)</strong> as its genetic material instead of <strong>deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA).</strong> That means the virus blends with its host&rsquo;s DNA and can mutate rapidly.<a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1580200265_image2.jpg" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1580200265_image2.jpg" style="float: right;" width="340" caption="false" /></a>
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Due to this property of rapid mutation, coronaviruses can be quite different from one another.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>These can affect <strong>humans</strong> as well as <strong>mammals including pigs, cattle, cats, dogs, martens, camels, hedgehogs and some birds.</strong></li>
<li>There are <strong>four common disease-causing coronaviruses,</strong>&nbsp;while the two other are the<strong> Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) coronavirus</strong> and the<strong> Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS) coronavirus,</strong> both of which can cause <strong>severe respiratory diseases.</strong></li>
<li>In the newly identified coronavirus, a direct link with the disease has not been established yet. It was speculated that it was related to the SARS epidemic of 2002.</li>
<li><a href="/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-international-institution/world-health-organization-who" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>World Health Organisation</strong> </a><strong>(WHO)</strong> has said that further investigations and research are required to determine the source, modes of transmission and extent of infection caused by the new virus.</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Difference Between DNA and RNA Viruses</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>A virus is a biological agent that can self-replicate inside a host cell. The infected cells by viruses may produce thousands of new copies of the original virus at an extraordinary rate.</li>
<li>The genetic material of a virus can be either DNA or RNA. The viruses that contain DNA as their genetic material are called the <strong>DNA viruses. RNA viruses,</strong> on the other hand, contain RNA as their genetic material.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>DNA viruses are mostly<strong> double-stranded</strong> while RNA viruses are <strong>single-stranded.</strong></li>
<li><strong>RNA mutation rate is higher</strong> than the DNA mutation rate.</li>
<li><strong>DNA replication takes place in the nucleus</strong> while <strong>RNA replication takes place in the cytoplasm.</strong></li>
<li>DNA viruses are stable while RNA viruses are unstable.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</div>',
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