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NHAI Achieves Highest Ever Construction of National Highways

Why in News Recently, the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) completed construction of 3,979 km of national highways in the financial Year...

07 Apr 2020 News Analysis
MP’s Salaries Cut and MPLADS Suspended

Why in News Recently, the Union Cabinet has approved an ordinance to amend the Salaries, Allowances and Pension of Members of Parliament Act,...

07 Apr 2020 News Analysis
Restrictions on Court Hearings Lawful

Why in News Recently, the Supreme Court held that all restrictions imposed on people from entering, attending or taking part in court hearings are...

07 Apr 2020 News Analysis
Measures for Smooth Disbursal of Funds Under PMGKY

Why in News Recently, the Ministry of Finance has tweaked Prevention of Money Laundering (PML) norms with the aim to make all inoperative bank...

07 Apr 2020 News Analysis
Animals and Covid-19

Why in News Owing to a recent news report on a Tiger being infected with Covid-19 in New York (Bronx Zoo), the Ministry of Environment, Forest and...

07 Apr 2020 News Analysis
Fall in IHS Markit India Services Business Activity Index

Why in News The IHS Markit India Services Business Activity Index (i.e Service Purchasing Managers’ Index (PMI)) was at 49.3 in March, down...

07 Apr 2020 News Analysis
Mahavir Jayanti

Mahavir Jayanti is one of the most auspicious festivals in the Jain community. This day marks the birth of Vardhamana Mahavira, who was the 24th...

07 Apr 2020 News Analysis
Higher Education In India

This article is based on “The Idea of a University in India” which was published in Economic and Political Weekly on 04/04/2020. It...

06 Apr 2020 News Editorials
Indian Migrants and Challenges

Why in News Recently, the Covid-19 lockdown has led to an exodus of migrant workers from cities to rural areas and threw the spotlight on the vast...

06 Apr 2020 News Analysis
Year End Review 2019: Ministry of Tribal Affairs

Important Schemes and Policies Pradhan Manti Van Dhan Yojana (PMVDY) It is a market-linked tribal entrepreneurship development program for...

06 Apr 2020 Paper 2
Online Classes due to Covid-19

Why in News The lockdown due to the Covid-19 pandemic has led to closing of educational institutes like schools, colleges and coaching...

06 Apr 2020 News Analysis
Grounding of Aircraft Affects Weather Forecasting

Why in News Beginning mid-March, India began restricting incoming international flights into the country and by March 24 had imposed a total...

06 Apr 2020 News Analysis
Free Testing and Treatment for Covid-19

Why in News Recently, the Central government has decided to provide free testing and treatment of coronavirus under the Ayushman Bharat Scheme or...

06 Apr 2020 News Analysis
Agriculture Reforms

This article is based on “Reforming Indian Agriculture” which was published in Economic and Political Weekly on 14/03/2020. It talks...

04 Apr 2020 News Editorials
Year End Review 2019: Ministry of Culture

Important Events Commemoration of the 150th Birth Anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi The President of India, presided over the second meeting of the...

04 Apr 2020 Paper 1
EIA Not Needed for Bulk Drug Makers

Why in News Recently, the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change has exempted manufacturers of bulk drugs and intermediates from...

04 Apr 2020 News Analysis
New Features Added to e-NAM

Why in News Recently, the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare has launched three new features of the National Agriculture Market...

04 Apr 2020 News Analysis
Rise in Violence Against Women

Why in News The National Commission for Women (NCW) has recorded a more than twofold rise in gender-based violence. It has been argued that the...

04 Apr 2020 News Analysis
Impact of Economic Slowdown Due to Covid-19

Why in News Amid the ongoing economic slowdown due to Covid-19 pandemic, the government witnessed a fall in tax collections. foreign investors...

04 Apr 2020 News Analysis
Amendments to the J&K Order

Why in News The Ministry of Home Affairs has amended the Jammu and Kashmir Reorganisation (Adaptation of State Laws) Order-2020. The Order was...

04 Apr 2020 News Analysis

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			'title' => 'NHAI Achieves Highest Ever Construction of National Highways',
			'catname' => 'News Analysis',
			'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>Recently, the <strong>National Highways Authority of India (NHAI)</strong> completed construction of 3,979 km of national highways in the financial Year 2019-20.</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>This is the highest ever highway construction</strong> achieved in a financial year by NHAI.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The <strong>Ministry of Road Transport and Highways</strong> has envisaged an ambitious highway development programme <strong>Bharatmala Pariyojana</strong> which includes development of about 65,000 km national highways.</li>
<li>Under Phase-I of <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/bharatmala-project" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Bharatmala Pariyojana</strong></a>, implementation of 34,800 km of national highways in 5 years (from 2017 to 2022) has been approved.</li>
<li>NHAI has mandated development of about 27,500 km of national highways under Bharatmala Pariyojna Phase-I.</li>
<li><strong>Bharatmala Pariyojana</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>It is an <strong>umbrella program for the highways sector</strong> that <strong>focuses on optimizing efficiency of freight and passenger movement</strong> across the country by bridging critical infrastructure gaps through <strong>effective interventions.</strong></li>
<li>The effective interventions include <strong>development of Economic Corridors, Inter Corridors and Feeder Routes, National Corridor Efficiency Improvement, Border and International connectivity roads, Coastal and Port connectivity roads and Green-field expressways.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>National Highways Authority of India (NHAI)</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>NHAI was set up under <strong>NHAI Act, 1988.</strong></li>
<li><strong>Objective:</strong> It has been entrusted with the <strong>National Highways Development Project,</strong> along with other minor projects<strong> for development, maintenance and management.</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>National Highways Development Project (NHDP)</strong> is a <strong>project</strong> to upgrade, rehabilitate and widen major <strong>highways</strong> in India to a higher standard. The project was started in 1998.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Vision:</strong> To meet the nation&rsquo;s need for the provision and <strong>maintenance of National Highways network to global standards</strong> and to<strong> meet user&rsquo;s expectations</strong> in the most time bound and cost effective manner and <strong>promote economic well</strong> being and quality of life of the people.</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>National Highways (NH)</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>NH are the <strong>arterial roads</strong> of the country for inter-state movement of passengers and goods.</li>
<li>They traverse the length and width of the country <strong>connecting the National and State capitals, major ports and rail junctions and link up with border roads and foreign highways.</strong></li>
<li>The NHs including Expressways constitute only about 1.7% of the length of all roads, they carry about <strong>40% of the road traffic.</strong></li>
</ul>
</div>
<p><a href="https://pib.gov.in/newsite/PrintRelease.aspx?relid=201058" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Source: PIB</strong></a></p>',
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		],
		(int) 1 => [
			'title' => 'MP’s Salaries Cut and MPLADS Suspended',
			'catname' => 'News Analysis',
			'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>Recently, the Union Cabinet has approved an <strong>ordinance to amend</strong> the <strong>Salaries, Allowances and Pension of Members of Parliament Act, 1954.</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>It will <strong>cut the salaries</strong> of Members of Parliament <strong>(MPs)</strong> by <strong>30%,</strong> effective from 1<sup>st</sup> April 2020.</li>
<li>Apart from this, it has been decided to <strong>suspend the Members of Parliament Local Area Development Scheme (MPLADS) funds </strong>for<strong> two financial years</strong> (2020-21 to 2021-22).</li>
<li>The saved amount will go to the <strong>Consolidated Fund of India</strong> to fight the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/coronavirus-disease-named-covid-19" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Covid-19 pandemic.</strong></a></li>
</ul>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>30% Salary Cut</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>It is applicable to <strong>all MPs,</strong> including the <strong>Prime Minister</strong> and the <strong>Council of Ministers,</strong> for the financial year 2020-2021.</li>
<li>The <strong>President</strong> and <strong>Vice-President</strong> of India along with all the <strong>State Governors,</strong> have also decided on their own to take a 30% salary cut.</li>
<li>However, the amendment will <strong>only cut MPs&rsquo; salaries, not allowances or the pensions</strong> of ex-MPs.</li>
<li>According to the pay hike in 2018, each MP draws a monthly salary of ₹1 lakh, ₹70,000 as constituency allowance and ₹60,000 for running office besides other perks.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Suspension of MPLADS</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The amount saved from the scheme would be <strong>around ₹8,000 crore</strong> and will be redirected to the Consolidation Fund.</li>
<li>Many MPs had <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/norms-relaxed-under-mplad-scheme" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>already pledged to use their MPLADS funds</strong></a> for efforts to combat the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/novel-strain-of-coronavirus" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>coronavirus</strong></a> pandemic.</li>
<li>74 Rajya Sabha members had contributed a total of ₹100 crore, and 265 Lok Sabha members had given a total of ₹265 crore.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>Currently, the <strong>Lok Sabha</strong> has <strong>542 members</strong> while the <strong>Rajya Sabha</strong> has a strength of <strong>245 members, including 12 nominated.</strong></li>
<li>The <strong>comprehensive decision</strong> was taken to convey the message of <strong>social responsibility</strong> of the MPs.</li>
<li><strong>Other Previous Measures</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The <strong>employees of the central government</strong> have already given <strong>one day&rsquo;s salary</strong> on their own. However, it is <strong>not clear</strong> if they will face a <strong>pay cut</strong> or not.</li>
<li>State government of<strong> Telangana</strong> had already announced <strong>salary cuts at all levels</strong> on 30<sup>th</sup> March.</li>
<li>Government has announced <strong>various other measures</strong> including the<a href="/current-affairs-news-analysis-editorials/news-analysis/27-03-2020" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong> Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Yojana.</strong></a></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>The salary cut has been <strong>supported</strong> throughout the country. However, the suspension of MPLADS has been <strong>criticised</strong> on the grounds that it is a <strong>disservice to the constituents</strong> and will undermine the role and functions of the MPs. It is the <strong>centralisation of funds</strong> which goes <strong>against federalism.</strong></li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Members of Parliament Local Area Development Scheme</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>It was announced in <strong>December 1993</strong> under the control of the <strong>Ministry of Rural Development.</strong> Later, in <strong>October 1994,</strong> it was transferred to the <strong>Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation.</strong></li>
<li><strong>Objectives:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>To enable MPs to recommend works of developmental nature with emphasis on the creation of durable community assets based on the locally felt needs to be taken up in their Constituencies.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Lok Sabha Members can recommend works within their constituencies and elected Members of Rajya Sabha can recommend works within the State they are elected from.</li>
<li>Nominated Members of both the Rajya Sabha and Lok Sabha can recommend works anywhere in the country.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>To create durable assets of national priorities viz. drinking water, primary education, public health, sanitation and roads, etc.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>It is a <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/proposal-to-hike-monthly-pensions" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Central Sector Scheme.</strong></a> The <strong>annual MPLADS fund</strong> entitlement <strong>per MP constituency is ₹5 crore.</strong></li>
</ul>
<p><strong>Government Accounts</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Consolidated Fund</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>It was constituted under <strong>Article 266 (1)</strong> of the Constitution of India.</li>
<li>It is made up of:<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>All <strong>revenues</strong> received by the Government by way of <strong>taxes</strong> (Income Tax, Central Excise, Customs and other receipts) and all <strong>non-tax revenues.</strong></li>
<li>All <strong>loans</strong> raised by the Government by issue of Public notifications, treasury bills (internal debt) and from foreign governments and international institutions (external debt).</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>All government expenditures are incurred</strong> from this fund and no amount can be withdrawn from the Fund without <strong>authorization from the Parliament.</strong></li>
<li><strong>Each state</strong> can have its own Consolidated Fund of the state with similar provisions.</li>
<li>The<a href="/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-national-institutions/comptroller-and-auditor-general-of-india-cag" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong> Comptroller and Auditor General of India</strong></a> audits the fund and reports to the relevant legislatures on the management.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Contingency Fund</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>It was constituted under the <strong>Article 267 (1)</strong> of the Indian Constitution.</li>
<li>Its <strong>corpus is ₹500 crores.</strong></li>
<li>It is <strong>used for meeting unforeseen expenditure.</strong></li>
<li><strong>Each state</strong> can have its own Contingency Fund of the state with similar provisions.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Public Account</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>It was constituted under <strong>Article 266 (2)</strong> of the Indian Constitution.</li>
<li>The<strong> transactions</strong> under this account relate to debt <strong>other than those included in the Consolidated Fund of India.</strong></li>
<li>The receipts under Public Account do not constitute normal receipts of Government hence Parliamentary authorization for payments is not required.</li>
<li><strong>Every state can have their own similar accounts.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</div>
<p><a href="https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/cabinet-passes-ordinance-to-reduce-salaries-of-president-pm-ministers-mps-by-30-for-a-year/article31269645.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/mp-s-salaries-cut-and-mplads-suspended'
		],
		(int) 2 => [
			'title' => 'Restrictions on Court Hearings Lawful',
			'catname' => 'News Analysis',
			'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>Recently, the Supreme Court held that all <strong>restrictions imposed on people</strong> from entering, attending or taking part in court hearings <strong>are lawful in the wake of the<a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/coronaviruses" target="_blank" rel="noopener"> Covid-19</a> pandemic.</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The court said these <strong>restrictions were in tune with the social distancing norms</strong> and best public health practices advocated to contain the Covid-19.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Duty vs Discretion:</strong> The apex court invoked its extraordinary Constitutional powers under <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/accused-can-be-ordered-to-give-voice-samples" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Article 142</strong> </a>to step away from the <strong>convention of open court hearings.</strong> It further clarified that use of this extraordinary power was <strong>not a matter of discretion but of duty.</strong></li>
<li><strong>Convention vs Public Health:</strong> Although the open court system ensures transparency in administration of justice, scaling down of conventional operations was done to avoid congregation of a large number of people. The court made it clear <strong>that public health takes precedence over conventions.</strong></li>
<li><strong>Cooperation and Participation:</strong> The court said every individual and institution is expected to cooperate in the implementation of measures designed to reduce the transmission of the virus. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>It also argued courts at all levels respond to the call of social distancing and ensure that court premises do not contribute to the spread of virus.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Covid-19 and Rule of Law:</strong> Access to justice is fundamental to preserve the<strong> rule of law</strong> in the democracy envisaged by the Constitution of India. In the absence of access to justice, people are unable to have their voice heard, exercise their rights, challenge discrimination or hold decision-makers accountable.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The challenges occasioned by the outbreak of Covid-19 have to be addressed<strong> while preserving the constitutional commitment</strong> to ensuring the delivery of and access to justice to those who seek it.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>ICT and Delivery of Justice</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Guidelines:</strong> The Supreme Court also issued the following<strong> guidelines to streamline the use of Information and Communications Technology (ICT)</strong> in effective delivery of Justice: <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>High Courts:</strong> The High Courts to decide the modalities for the use of videoconferencing technologies in their respective States.</li>
<li><strong>District Courts:</strong> District courts in each State would adopt the mode of videoconferencing prescribed by the respective High Courts.</li>
<li><strong>Helplines:</strong> Helplines to be set up to receive and rectify technical complaints.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>The <strong>courts should make available video conferencing facilities</strong> for litigants who do not have it or appoint an amicus curiae (friend of the court).</li>
<li><strong>Mutual Consent of Parties:</strong> The court said in no case shall evidence be recorded without the mutual consent of both the parties by videoconferencing.</li>
<li><strong>Social Distancing:</strong> If it is necessary to record evidence in a courtroom, the presiding officer shall ensure the social distancing to be followed.</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Article 142</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>It provides <strong>discretionary power to the Supreme Court</strong> as it states that the Supreme Court in the exercise of its jurisdiction may pass such decree or make such order as is <strong>necessary for doing complete justice</strong> in any cause or matter pending before it.</li>
<li><strong>Constructive Application:</strong> In the early years of the evolution of Article 142, the general public and the lawyers both lauded the Supreme Court for its efforts to bring complete justice to various deprived sections of society or to protect the environment.</li>
<li>In the <strong>Union Carbide case,</strong> relating to the victims of the Bhopal gas tragedy, the <strong>Supreme Court placed itself above the laws made by the Parliament</strong> or the legislatures of the States by saying that, to do complete justice, it <strong>could even override the laws made by Parliament.</strong>
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>However, in the <em><strong>Supreme Court Bar Association v. Union of India,</strong> </em>the Supreme Court stated that <strong>Article 142 could not be used to supplant</strong> the existing law, but only to <strong>supplement the law.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Cases of Judicial Overreach:</strong> In recent years, there have been several judgments of the Supreme Court wherein it has been <strong>foraying into areas which had long been forbidden to the judiciary by reason of the doctrine of &lsquo;separation of powers&rsquo;,</strong> which is part of the basic structure of the Constitution. One such example is:<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>The ban on the sale of alcohol along national and state highways:</strong> While the notification by the central government prohibited liquor stores along National Highways only, the Supreme Court put in place a ban on a distance of 500 metres by invoking Article 142.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</div>
<p><a href="https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/coronavirus-restrictions-on-court-hearings-lawful-says-supreme-court/article31274285.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/restrictions-on-court-hearings-lawful'
		],
		(int) 3 => [
			'title' => 'Measures for Smooth Disbursal of Funds Under PMGKY',
			'catname' => 'News Analysis',
			'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>Recently, the Ministry of Finance has tweaked <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/changes-in-the-prevention-of-money-laundering-act" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Prevention of Money Laundering (PML)</strong></a> norms with the aim to make all inoperative bank accounts functional.</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>This is to ensure that cash transfers by the government under the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/coronavirus-disease-named-covid-19" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>COVID-19</strong></a> relief package (Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Yojana (PMGKY) scheme) reach beneficiaries.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>As a part of the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/covid-19-economic-relief-package" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Yojana (PMGKY) scheme</strong></a>, the government has decided to<strong> transfer ₹500 per month for three months to the poor and vulnerable sections of the society</strong> whose livelihood has been impacted due to the nationwide <strong>lockdown.</strong></li>
<li>The PML norms have been tweaked to ensure that beneficiaries are able to withdraw the money transferred to them by the government <strong>without any problems or requirement of additional documentation.</strong></li>
<li>The Rules have been amended in respect of
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/important-facts-for-prelims-6th-september-2018" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Pradhan Mantri Jan Dhan Yojana accounts.</strong></a></li>
<li>Basic savings account and small accounts.</li>
<li>Those accounts which have become inoperative due to various reasons including <strong>Non-completion of Know Your Customer (KYC)</strong> requirements or updation.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Accounts that may have become dysfunctional</strong> due to non-operation in the account for the last two years have also been <strong>made functional.</strong></li>
<li>The Finance Ministry had also requested the <strong>Ministry of Home Affairs for adequate security personnel at bank branches</strong> and with the business correspondents
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>This is to maintain law and order, and social distancing, in view of the higher customer footfall expected for cash withdrawals after the transfers are made.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Money laundering</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>It is the <strong>concealing or disguising the identity of illegally obtained proceeds</strong> so that they appear to have originated from legitimate sources.</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>Round Tripping of Funds</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Round tripping refers to money that leaves the country through various channels and makes its way back into the country often as foreign investment.</li>
<li>This mostly involves black money and is allegedly often used for stock price manipulation.</li>
</ul>
</div>
<h3>Prevention of Money-Laundering Act</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Prevention of Money-Laundering Act (PMLA), 2002</strong> deals with money laundering and has three main objectives :
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>To prevent and control money laundering.</li>
<li>To provide for confiscation and seizure of property obtained from laundered money.</li>
<li>To deal with any other issue connected with money-laundering in India.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>Under the PMLA Act,<strong> the Enforcement Directorate</strong> is empowered to conduct a Money Laundering investigation.</li>
<li><strong>PMLA (Amendment) Act, 2012</strong>
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Adds the concept of <strong>&lsquo;reporting entity&rsquo;</strong> which includes a banking company, financial institution, intermediary etc.</li>
<li>It prescribes <strong>obligation of banking companies, financial institutions and intermediaries for</strong>
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li><strong>Verification and maintenance of records of the identity of all its clients</strong> and also of all transactions.</li>
<li>Furnishing information of such transactions in prescribed form to the<strong> Financial Intelligence Unit-India (FIU-IND).</strong>
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>It empowers the Director of FIU-IND to impose fine on banking company, financial institution or intermediary if they or any of its officers fails to comply with the provisions of the Act as indicated above.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>PMLA, 2002 levied a fine up to Rs 5 lakh, but the amendment act has removed this upper limit.</li>
<li>It has provided for <strong>provisional attachment and confiscation of property</strong> of any person involved in such activities.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Financial Intelligence Unit-India</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>FIU-IND is a <strong>central, national agency</strong> responsible for receiving, processing, analyzing and disseminating information relating to suspect financial transactions to enforcement agencies and foreign FIUs.</li>
<li>It was set <strong>up in 2004.</strong></li>
<li>It is an <strong>independent body</strong> reporting directly to the Economic Intelligence Council (EIC) headed by the<strong> Finance Minister.</strong></li>
</ul>
</div>
<p><a href="https://www.thehindu.com/business/centre-tweaks-rules-to-make-inactive-accounts-functional/article31259624.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/measures-for-smooth-disbursal-of-funds-under-pmgky'
		],
		(int) 4 => [
			'title' => 'Animals and Covid-19',
			'catname' => 'News Analysis',
			'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>Owing to a recent news report on a Tiger being infected with <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/coronavirus-disease-named-covid-19" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Covid-19</strong></a> in New York (Bronx Zoo), the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change has issued an advisory regarding the containing and management of Covid-19 in National Parks/Sanctuaries/Tiger Reserves.</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Also, a tiger in <strong>Pench Tiger Reserve (Madhya Pradesh)</strong> has died due to respiratory illness. The National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) is investigating whether the tiger should be tested for the novel coronavirus disease.</li>
<li>However, swabs from the throat and nose to test for<strong> rhinotracheitis, a viral infection that afflicts cats and causes respiratory illness</strong> were collected.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Spread of Infection from humans to animals</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The Bronx Zoo case suggests that a zoo employee spread the virus to the tiger.</li>
<li>The virus came from an animal source and mutated; humans have since been infecting humans. Thus, it is <strong>theoretically possible for the virus to mutate again</strong> to survive in certain species after being transmitted by humans.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Advisory by the MInistry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>It has asked all <strong>Chief Wildlife Wardens (CWLWs)</strong> of all States/UTs to take immediate preventive measures to stop the transmission and spread of the virus from humans to animals and vice versa, in National Parks/Sanctuaries and Tiger Reserves.</li>
<li>The CWLW is the <strong>statutory authority under the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972</strong> who heads the Wildlife Wing of a State Forest Department and exercises complete administrative control over Protected Areas (PAs) within a state.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Guidelines issued by the NTCA and CZA</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Both the Central Zoo Authority (CZA) and the NTCA have issued guidelines that require zoos to be on the &ldquo;highest alert&rdquo; and monitor animals on closed-circuit cameras 24/7 for &ldquo;abnormal behaviour and symptoms.&rdquo;</li>
<li>The CZA has also directed zookeepers to approach sick animals wearing personal protective equipment and isolate and quarantine them.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Central Zoo Authority</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The CZA is a <strong>statutory body</strong> whose main objective is to enforce minimum standards and norms for upkeep and health care of animals in Indian zoos. It was established in <strong>1992.</strong></li>
<li>Zoos are regulated as per the provisions of <strong>Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972</strong> and are guided by the <strong>National Zoo Policy, 1998.</strong></li>
</ul>
<p><strong>National Tiger Conservation Authority</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>NTCA is a <strong>statutory body</strong> under the Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate Change.</li>
<li>It was <strong>established in December, 2005</strong> following the recommendations of the Tiger Task Force.</li>
<li>It was constituted under enabling provisions of the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972, and amended in 2006, for strengthening tiger conservation, as per powers and functions assigned to it .</li>
</ul>
</div>
<h3>Pench Tiger Reserve</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Pench Tiger Reserve, <strong>Seoni (Madhya Pradesh)</strong> is one of the major Protected Areas of <strong>Satpura-Maikal ranges</strong> of the Central Highlands. It was <strong>included in the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/status-of-conservation-of-tigers" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Project Tiger</a> in 1992-93.</strong></li>
<li>It is among the sites notified as <strong>Important Bird Areas</strong> of India. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The IBA is a programme of Birdlife International which aims to identify, monitor and protect a global network of IBAs for conservation of the world&rsquo;s birds and associated diversity.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>It has a <strong>contiguous forest cover with Kanha Tiger Reserve and Pench Tiger Reserve (Maharashtra).</strong></li>
<li>The area of the Pench Tiger Reserve and the surrounding area is the real story area of <strong>Rudyard Kipling's famous "The Jungle Book".</strong></li>
<li>The <strong>forests</strong> found in Pench Tiger Reserve are divided <strong>into three parts:</strong> southern tropical wet dry forest, southern tropical dry deciduous teak forest and southern tropical dry deciduous mixed forest.</li>
<li>The <strong>major Carnivores</strong> are Tiger, leopard, wild cat, wild dog, hyena, jackal, fox, wolf, weasel, among the vegetarian species, Gaur, Nilgai, Sambar, Chital, Chasinga, Chinkara, Wild Pig etc. are prominent.</li>
<li>There are a<strong> lot of migratory birds</strong> seen in the cold season. Among the migratory birds, Ruddy shelduck, Pintail, Whistling Teal and Vegtel etc are prominent.</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1586255032_Image%203.jpg" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1586255032_Image 3.jpg" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="600" caption="false" /></a></p>
<p><a href="https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/pench-tiger-death-raises-covid-19-fears/article31275062.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/animals-and-covid-19'
		],
		(int) 5 => [
			'title' => 'Fall in IHS Markit India Services Business Activity Index',
			'catname' => 'News Analysis',
			'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>The <strong>IHS Markit India Services Business Activity Index (i.e Service Purchasing Managers&rsquo; Index (PMI))</strong> was at 49.3 in March, down from February&rsquo;s 85-month high of 57.5.</p>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The Index is <strong>compiled by IHS Markit</strong> for more than 40 economies worldwide. IHS Markit is a global leader in information, analytics and solutions for the major industries and markets that drive economies worldwide.</li>
<li>The fall implies contraction in India&rsquo;s <a href="/to-the-points/paper3/sectors-of-indian-economy" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>services sector activity</strong></a> during March basically due to <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/coronaviruses" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>COVID-19.</strong></a><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The COVID-19 pandemic has reduced demand, particularly in overseas markets. Nationwide store closures and prohibition to leave the house weighed heavily on the services economy.</li>
<li>In PMI parlance, a print above 50 means expansion, while a score below that denotes contraction.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>The <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/purchasing-manager-s-index" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Composite PMI Output Index</strong></a> that maps both the manufacturing and services sector also fell to 50.6 in March, down 7 points from February&rsquo;s 57.6.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>This signals a <strong>sharp slowdown in private sector output growth</strong> and brought an abrupt end to the recent strong upward-moving expansion trend.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Purchasing Managers' Index</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>PMI is an index of the prevailing direction of <strong>economic trends in the manufacturing and service sectors.</strong></li>
<li>It consists of a diffusion index that summarizes whether<strong> market conditions,</strong> as viewed by purchasing managers, are expanding, staying the same, or contracting.</li>
<li>The purpose of the PMI is to provide information about <strong>current and future business conditions to company decision makers, analysts, and investors.</strong></li>
<li>It is <strong>different from the Index of Industrial Production (IIP),</strong> which also gauges the level of activity in the economy.</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Index of Industrial Production</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The Index of Industrial Production (IIP) is an index which details out the growth of various sectors in an economy such as mineral mining, electricity, manufacturing, etc.</li>
<li>It is compiled and published monthly by the <strong>Central Statistical Organisation (CSO), Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation.</strong></li>
<li>The <strong>Base Year of the Index of Eight Core Industries</strong> has been revised from the year 2004-05 to 2011-12 from April, 2017.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The eight core industries comprise 40.27% of the weight of items included in the Index of Industrial Production (IIP).</li>
<li>The eight Core Industries in decreasing order of their weightage: Refinery Products&gt; Electricity&gt; Steel&gt; Coal&gt; Crude Oil&gt; Natural Gas&gt; Cement&gt; Fertilizers.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>Difference between PMI and IIP</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>IIP covers the <strong>broader industrial sector compared to PMI.</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Index of Industrial Production (IIP) measures <strong>growth in the industrial sector.</strong></li>
<li>IIP shows the <strong>change in production volume</strong> in major industrial sub sectors like manufacturing, mining and electricity.</li>
<li>Similarly, the IIP also gives <strong>use based (capital goods, consumer goods etc) trends in industrial production.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>PMI is more dynamic compared to a standard industrial production index.</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The PMI senses dynamic trends because of the variable it uses for the construction of the index compared to <strong>volume based production indicators like the IIP.</strong></li>
<li>For example, new orders under PMI show growth oriented positive trends and not just volume of past production that can be traced in an ordinary Index of Industrial Production.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</div>
<p><a href="https://www.thehindu.com/business/Economy/covid-19-pandemic-pulls-indias-service-sector-activity-into-contraction-mode/article31267554.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/fall-in-ihs-markit-india-services-business-activity-index'
		],
		(int) 6 => [
			'title' => 'Mahavir Jayanti',
			'catname' => 'News Analysis',
			'desc' => '<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Mahavir Jayanti is one of the most auspicious festivals in the <a href="/to-the-points/paper1/jainism-2" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Jain community.</strong></a></li>
<li>This day marks the <strong>birth of Vardhamana Mahavira,</strong> who was the <strong>24<sup>th</sup> and the last Tirthankara</strong> who succeeded the <strong>23<sup>rd</sup> Tirthankara, Parshvanatha.</strong></li>
<li>According to Jain texts, Lord Mahavira was born on the 13<sup>th</sup> day of the bright half of the moon in the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/traditional-new-year-festivals" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>month of Chaitra.</strong></a><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>As per the Gregorian calendar, Mahavir Jayanti is usually celebrated during the month of March or April. In 2020, Mahavir Jayanti was celebrated on 6<sup>th</sup> of April.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>A procession is called with the idol of Lord Mahavira called the <strong>Rath Yatra.</strong></li>
<li>Reciting stavans or Jain prayers, statues of the lord are given a ceremonial bath called <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/mahamastakabhisheka-celebrations" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>abhisheka.</strong></a></li>
</ul>
<h3>Lord Mahavira</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Mahavir was born to <strong>King Siddhartha of Kundagrama and Queen Trishala, a Lichchhavi princess</strong> in the year 540 BC in the <strong>Vajji kingdom,</strong> identical with modern day Vaishali in Bihar.</li>
<li>Mahavira belonged to the <strong>Ikshvaku dynasty.</strong></li>
<li>There are several historians who believe that he was born in a place called <strong>Ahalya bhumi</strong> and the land has not been plowed for hundreds of years by the family that owns it.</li>
<li>Lord Mahavir was named Vardhamana, which means<strong> &ldquo;one who grows&rdquo;.</strong></li>
<li>He abandoned worldly life at the age of 30 and attained <strong>&lsquo;kaivalya&rsquo; or omniscience at the age of 42.</strong></li>
<li>Mahavira taught ahimsa (non-violence), Satya (truth), asteya (non-stealing), brahmacharya (chastity) and aparigraha (non-attachment) to his disciples and his teachings were called <strong>Jain Agamas.</strong></li>
<li>Ordinary people were able to understand the teachings of Mahavira and his followers because they <strong>used Prakrit.</strong></li>
<li>It is believed that the Mahavira passed away and attained moksha (liberation from the cycle of birth and death) at the age of 72 in 468 BC at a place called Pavapuri near modern Rajgir in Bihar.</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Jainism</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The word Jaina comes from the term <strong>Jina, meaning conqueror.</strong></li>
<li>Tirthankara is a <strong>Sanskrit word meaning 'Ford maker',</strong> i.e., one who is able to ford the river, to cross beyond the perpetual flow of earthly life.</li>
<li>Jainism attaches utmost importance to ahimsa or non-violence.</li>
<li>It preaches <strong>5 mahavratas (the 5 great vows):</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Ahimsa (Non-violence)</li>
<li>Satya (Truth)</li>
<li>Asteya or Acharya (Non-stealing)</li>
<li>Aparigraha (Non-attachment/Non-possession)</li>
<li>Brahmacharya (Celibacy/Chastity)</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>Among these 5 teachings, the <strong>Brahmacharya (Celibacy/Chastity) was added by Mahavira.</strong></li>
<li>The<strong> three jewels or Triratna of Jainism include</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Samyak Darshana (right faith).</li>
<li>Samyak Gyana (right knowledge).</li>
<li>Samyak Charitra (right conduct).</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>Jainism is a religion of <strong>self-help.</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>There are no gods or spiritual beings that will help human beings.</li>
<li>It does not condemn the varna system.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>In later times, it got divided into <strong>two sects: </strong>
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Shvetambaras (white-clad)</strong> under <strong>Sthalabahu.</strong></li>
<li><strong>Digambaras (sky-clad)</strong> under the leadership of <strong>Bhadrabahu.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>The important idea in Jainism is that the <strong>entire world is animated:</strong> even stones, rocks, and water <strong>have life.</strong></li>
<li><strong>Non-injury to living beings,</strong> especially to humans, animals, plants, and insects, is central to Jaina philosophy.</li>
<li>According to Jain teachings, <strong>the cycle of birth and rebirth is shaped through karma.</strong></li>
<li><strong>Asceticism and penance</strong> are required to free oneself from the cycle of karma and achieve the liberation of the soul.</li>
<li>The practice of <strong>Santhara</strong> is also a part of Jainism.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>It is the ritual of fasting unto death. Swetambara Jains call it Santhara whereas Digambars call it <strong>Sallekhana.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</div>',
			'postdate' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenTime) {},
			'url' => 'https://www.drishtiias.com/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/mahavir-jayanti-1'
		],
		(int) 7 => [
			'title' => 'Higher Education In India',
			'catname' => 'News Editorials',
			'desc' => '<div class="border">
<p>This article is based on <a href="https://www.epw.in/journal/2020/14/commentary/idea-university-india.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>&ldquo;The Idea of a University in India&rdquo;</strong></a> which was published in Economic and Political Weekly on 04/04/2020. It talks about challenges faced by higher education in India.</p>
</div>
<p>In India, universities were established as early as in <strong>1857</strong> (Calcutta, Bombay and Madras Universities were all established in the same year). These universities didn't emerge to keep pace with the growth of knowledge, but to fulfill the interests handpicked by the colonial rulers.</p>
<p>Universities in independent India were based on the <strong>idea of state welfarism.</strong> It sought to grant equal opportunities to its citizens in accessing national resources, made university education not only accessible, but also converted it into a mass product.</p>
<p>Thus, the <strong>massification of higher education</strong> went on with the increase in the number of universities along with enrolments. It got further aggravated after Liberalisation, Privatisation and Globalisation (LPG reforms) in 1990-91.</p>
<p>However, massification of higher education has to deal with <strong>multiple challenges of accessibility, equity and quality.</strong></p>
<h3>Higher Education In India</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Higher education follows a trajectory in which it will transform from being the privilege of <strong>a few (elite phenomenon), to a resource of the majority, more as a right (mass phenomena), and finally a collective obligation (a universal phenomenon).</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Elite level implies a national enrolment ratio of (up to) 15%, the mass level ranges between 15% and 50%, and surpassing 50% enrolment is indicative of the universalisation of higher education.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>Higher education in India by these standards stands out to be in a stage of initial massification with <strong>26.3% Gross Enrolment Ratio (GER) in 2018-19.</strong></li>
<li>This massification of higher education happens through:<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Changing policy perspectives (that guarantee rapid expansion of higher education institutions and enrolments).</li>
<li>Growing impact of democratic forces in politics (democratisation of higher education).</li>
<li>Strong voices from the civil society (endorsing accessibility and spread of higher education).</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Note:</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>As per the 2018 All India Survey of Higher Education data, there are 903 universities, 37.98% of them are privately managed.</li>
<li>The GER for the male population is 26.3%, and for female population it is 25.4% (Department of Higher Education</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1586174208_image1.png" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1586174208_image1.png" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="700" caption="false" /></a></p>
</div>
<h3>Challenges faced by Higher Education In India</h3>
<p><strong>Enterprise Model</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>According to the <strong>National Knowledge Commission (NKC) Report (2009),</strong> the higher education institutions have been primarily visualised as an application-oriented enterprise.</li>
<li>These are directed towards translating scientific knowledge into innovation-oriented application, and thereby making the entire process a commercially exploitable property. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>India&rsquo;s higher educational institutions are not even to inculcate scientific and innovation-led outlook amongst the students.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>Pedagogy and assessment are focused on input and rote learning and there are neglected skills, including critical thinking, analytical reasoning, problem-solving and collaborative working.</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>Passive and Catching-up Mode</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Scholars have identified two different modes of massification at the global level, namely <strong>an active mode, and a passive and catching-up mode.</strong></li>
<li>The<strong> &ldquo;active mode&rdquo;</strong> is exemplified by developed countries, where the massification of higher education took place more as a natural outcome of economic development.</li>
<li>The<strong> &ldquo;passive and catching-up&rdquo;</strong> mode can be experienced in developing countries where the massification of higher education is often pushed as a leap forward by the government, while the level of economic development might not have increased adequately.</li>
<li>Education systems based on passive and catching-up mode may suffer from issues like <strong>lack of adequate skills &amp; jobs and underemployment.</strong></li>
<li><strong>India is among many countries where the &ldquo;passive and catching-up&rdquo; mode of massification is largely in operation.</strong></li>
</ul>
<p><strong>Problem of Scarcity</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Consequently, countries characterised by the &ldquo;passive and catching-up&rdquo; mode of massification have to<strong> rely more on private rather than government-aided institutions for obvious economic reasons.</strong></li>
<li>The heavy dependence on privately-managed institutes as a means of massification has often resulted in debatable consequences, to the extent of perpetuating inequality in accessing higher education.</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>Two-boxed System</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>In India there are separate research institutes and universities.</strong></li>
<li>The separation in higher education between teaching institutions and research institutions post-independence has caused much harm, as most universities and colleges in the country today conduct very little research.</li>
<li>According to draft National Education Policy 2019, <strong>the proportion of GDP devoted to research and innovation in India has dropped over the past decade, from 0.84% of GDP in 2008 to 0.69% in 2014 --</strong> which is substantially lower than the percentages for Israel (4.3%), South Korea (4.2%) and the U.S. (2.8 %).</li>
<li>Also, there are very few opportunities for interdisciplinary learning.</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>Other Issues</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>One of the greatest challenges faced by higher education in India is the <strong>chronic</strong> <strong>shortage of teaching faculty.</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Nearly 30 to 40% of faculty positions are vacant.</li>
<li>Further, most faculty lack quality in teaching, research and training.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>None of the universities and institutions from India are in the list of top hundred universities in the world.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>This resulted in graduates with low employability, a common feature of higher education in India.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>An ineffective quality assurance system and lack of autonomy and accountability by institutions to the state and central government, students and other stakeholders.</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1586174052_image2.png" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1586174052_image2.png" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" caption="false" width="538" height="528" /></a></p>
<h3>Way Forward</h3>
<p>The role of higher education in shaping the students&rsquo; future depends on a transparent, progressive, socially responsible and ethical educational system. In this context, the<a href="/loksabha-rajyasabha-discussions/draft-national-education-policy-2019" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong> draft National Education Policy 2019</strong> </a>calls for fundamentally restructuring the country's higher education system.</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The policy seeks to boost India's research capacity, doubling the gross enrollment rate from 25 to 50% by 2035, and substantially <strong>increasing expenditures on public education,</strong> which currently account for 10% of all government spending.</li>
<li>It also revives a long-stalled idea of <strong>inviting top-ranked foreign universities</strong> to operate in India and suggests legislation will be introduced to this effect.</li>
<li>The policy calls for all <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/issues-in-higher-education-institutions-in-india" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>higher education institutions</strong> </a>to &ldquo;evolve&rdquo; into one of <strong>three types of multidisciplinary institutions: Research universities, teaching universities and colleges.</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>It also calls for building research capacities at all institutions and the establishment of a National Research Foundation.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>The draft policy includes a wide range of other proposals:<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Adopting a more liberal arts-oriented form of undergraduate education.</li>
<li>Moving away from rote learning in curriculum and pedagogy.</li>
<li>Improving faculty autonomy and developing a robust and merit-based tenure track, promotion and salary structure.</li>
<li>Increasing institutional autonomy, with institutions to be governed by independent boards.<br />Revamping the regulatory system to only have one regulator for all of higher education.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<p>Though, the draft education policy seems very promising, the real challenge would be the proper implementation of this.</p>
<table border="1" style="border-collapse: collapse; width: 100%;">
<tbody>
<tr>
<td style="width: 100%; border-style: dotted; border-color: #f70000; background-color: #e3e6ff;">
<p><span style="color: #000080;"><em><strong>Drishti Mains Question</strong></em></span></p>
<p>Discuss the challenges and solutions pertaining to the higher education sector In India.</p>
</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>',
			'postdate' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenTime) {},
			'url' => 'https://www.drishtiias.com/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/higher-education-in-india-3'
		],
		(int) 8 => [
			'title' => 'Indian Migrants and Challenges',
			'catname' => 'News Analysis',
			'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>Recently, the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/coronaviruses" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Covid-19</strong></a> lockdown has led to an exodus of migrant workers from cities to rural areas and threw the spotlight on the vast number of Indians who live outside their home states.</p>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Internal Migrants (Movement of People Within a Country)</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Internal migrants in India are a vast and heterogeneous population. They are of three traits (in general): <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>they predominantly<strong> migrate from villages to cities;</strong></li>
<li>they are <strong>low-income populations </strong>who <strong>work in the informal sector;</strong></li>
<li>they have <strong>not permanently relocated their families to the city.</strong> Instead, they circulate between villages and cities several times a year.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</div>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Reasons for Migration</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Lakhs of migrant workers were rendered jobless as urban areas were shut due to lockdown.</li>
<li>Night shelters run by local authorities began overflowing, and supplies started dwindling.</li>
<li>These migrants were left with no choice but to head towards their hometowns.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>Governments are of the view that the<strong> migration crisis</strong> is purely as a consequence of the challenges of Covid-19. However, some experts argue that there are some structural inadequacies in public understanding of <strong>circular rural-urban migrants.</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Circular migration is the temporary and usually repetitive movement of a migrant worker between home and host areas, typically for the purpose of employment.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Structural Inadequacies</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The first is an<strong> inability to recognise the size</strong> and <strong>importance</strong> of these communities.</li>
<li>The second is <strong>inability to correctly count such migrants</strong> because of the<strong> informal conditions</strong> in which they live and work, and <strong>their shuttling between their villages and cities.</strong></li>
<li>These inabilities have real costs,<strong> rendering governments ill-prepared to anticipate the responses of migrant communities at crucial moments.</strong></li>
<li>It is being said that the <strong>policymakers were unprepared</strong> for the speed and desperation with which these migrants attempted to return home following the lockdown order.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>The Supreme Court has stated that the migrants be treated in a humane manner, including by providing them with enough food, water, beds and supplies as well as psychosocial counselling in shelters that are run by volunteers and not security forces.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Way Forward</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Recognition of circular migrants</strong> as part of India&rsquo;s urban population.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>It might compel authorities to at least consider how proposed policies might impact these communities.</li>
<li>At present, such ex-ante awareness would have allowed the government to decide whether to target scarce resources towards enabling safe return or keep migrants in destination cities.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Relaxing the restrictions</strong> that prevent migrants from accessing vital benefits such as food rations in their destination cities. Reconfiguring the domicile-centric public distribution system can help migrants.</li>
<li><strong>Prioritising dedicated transport options for migrants</strong> to prevent overcrowding, especially along high-intensity migration corridors.</li>
<li>Special Measures should also take into account the <strong>particular situation of migrant women,</strong> who are among those most economically vulnerable and impacted by the situation.</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="https://www.hindustantimes.com/analysis/despite-covid-19-why-did-migrant-workers-go-back/story-NPhLzTd4joLSovjMDxCtaM.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Source: HT</strong></a></p>',
			'postdate' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenTime) {},
			'url' => 'https://www.drishtiias.com/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/indian-migrants-and-challenges'
		],
		(int) 9 => [
			'title' => 'Year End Review 2019: Ministry of Tribal Affairs',
			'catname' => 'Paper 2',
			'desc' => '<h3>Important Schemes and Policies</h3>
<p><strong>Pradhan Manti Van Dhan Yojana (PMVDY)</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>It is a market-linked tribal entrepreneurship development program for forming clusters of tribal SHGs and strengthening them into Tribal Producer Companies.</li>
<li>Launched in 2018, the scheme is being implemented by<a href="/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-national-institutions/apeda-trifed" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong> TRIFED.</strong></a></li>
<li>PMVDY is an initiative targeting livelihood generation for tribals by harnessing the wealth of forest i.e. Van Dhan.</li>
<li>The programme aims to tap into traditional knowledge &amp; skill sets of tribals by adding technology &amp; IT to upgrade it at each stage and to convert the tribal wisdom into a viable economic activity.</li>
<li>The Van Dhan initiative shall promote and leverage the collective strength of tribals to achieve a viable scale to take on the predatory market forces in the areas where these are still prevalent.</li>
<li>Proposition is to set-up tribal community owned Minor Forest Produce (MFP)-centric multi-purpose Van Dhan Vikas Kendras (the Kendra) in predominantly tribal districts.</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/eklavya-model-residential-schools" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Eklavya Model Residential Schools (EMRSs)</strong></a></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>55 EMRSs have been made functional in 2019 with an enrolment of 4833 new students.</li>
<li><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/eklavya-model-residential-and-day-boarding-schools" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Eklavya Model Residential Schools (EMRS)</strong> </a>started in the year 1997-98 to impart quality education to ST children in remote areas.</li>
<li>As per the budget 2018-19, every block with more than 50% Schedule Tribe (ST) population and at least 20,000 tribal persons, will have an Eklavya Model Residential School by the year 2022.</li>
<li>These are being set up by grants provided under Article 275(1) of the Constitution.</li>
<li>There will be an autonomous society under the ministry of tribal affairs &mdash; similar to Navodaya Vidyalaya Samiti &mdash; to run the EMRSs.</li>
<li><strong>Objective:</strong> To provide quality middle and high-level education to Scheduled Tribe (ST) students in remote areas, not only to enable them to avail of reservation in high and professional educational courses and as jobs in government and public and private sectors but also to have access to the best opportunities in education at par with the non ST population.</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>Minor Forest Produce</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The number of Minor Forest Produce (MFPs) notified has been revised from 23 to 49 under &lsquo;Mechanism for Marketing of MFP through Minimum Support Price (MSP) and Development of Value Chain for MFP&rsquo; scheme. MFPs contribute up to 80% of tribal communities&rsquo; cash income.</li>
<li>Launched in 2013, the central sector scheme aims to ensure fair monetary returns to MFP gatherers for their efforts in the collection, primary processing, storage, packaging, transportation etc.</li>
<li>The scheme envisages fixation and declaration of Minimum Support Price for the selected MFP based on the suggestions /inputs received from TRIFED.</li>
<li>MFPs include all non-timber forest produce of plant origin and will include bamboo, canes, fodder, leaves, gums, waxes, dyes, resins and many forms of food including nuts, wild fruits, Honey, Lac, Tusser etc.</li>
<li>The Minor Forest Produces provide both subsistence and cash income for people who live in or near forests. They form a major portion of their food, fruits, medicines and other consumption items and also provide cash income through sale.</li>
<li>Scheduled Tribes and Other Traditional Forest Dwellers (Recognition of Forest Rights) Act, 2006, defined MFPs for the first time in 2007.</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>e-Governance Initiatives for ST Welfare Schemes</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Ministry is funding about 250 NGOs for 350 projects mainly on Health and Education in the deficient service area, LWS areas, Border areas.</li>
<li>In order to bring transparency and efficiency in the release of funds to NGOs, the process of inviting applications, verification and release of funds is through a dedicated NGO portal.</li>
<li>Each NGO can now track the status of its application. In order to ensure NGOs utilize funds for the given purpose only, funds are monitored through EAT Module.</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Note:</strong></p>
<p><strong>EAT (Expenditure Advance Transfer) Module-</strong> Expenditure is done for running office requirement. Advance is given to Vendors, Staff and Beneficiaries for supply or service. Transfer is always done to the lower level agency. EAT Module is also called Expenditure Filing Module.</p>
</div>
<p><strong>Focus on Health, Water and Livelihood</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Ice stupas are being established in 50 villages in Ladakh which will solve the problem of drinking water and water required for agriculture.</li>
<li>Projects have been given to some of the private companies on sheep rearing, packaging of apricot and peas.</li>
<li>Ministry has prepared a Health Action Plan to mitigate the gaps in health infrastructure and other health services in the tribal dominated areas.</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>Tribal Healers and Knowledge</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Tribals have vast traditional knowledge of treating diseases with locally available medicinal plants.</li>
<li>Tribal Research Institute (TRI) Uttarakhand has been made nodal TRI for coordination of research works being conducted for tribal medicine by various Centres of Excellence and TRIS so as to create a centralized knowledge hub on the subject.</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>Tribal Forest Rights</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change has completely withdrawn the draft amendment to Indian Forest Act (IFA), 1927.</li>
<li>The amendments had drawn a lot of criticism from tribal organisations as it gave forest officers the power to shoot people and notify any area as &lsquo;production forests&rsquo; among other issues.</li>
</ul>',
			'postdate' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenTime) {},
			'url' => 'https://www.drishtiias.com/to-the-points/Paper2/year-end-review-2019-ministry-of-tribal-affairs'
		],
		(int) 10 => [
			'title' => 'Online Classes due to Covid-19',
			'catname' => 'News Analysis',
			'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>The <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/21-days-lockdown" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>lockdown</strong></a> due to the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/coronavirus-disease-named-covid-19" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Covid-19</strong></a> <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/covid-19-now-pandemic-who" target="_blank" rel="noopener">pandemic</a> has led to closing of educational institutes like schools, colleges and coaching institutions.</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The educational institutes are thus switching to <strong>e-learning.</strong></li>
</ul>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Different e-learning Techniques Being Used</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>YouTube, Zoom app</strong> and<strong> Google Classroom</strong> are being used by some institutions.</li>
<li>The <strong>Kendriya Vidyalaya Sangathan</strong> has deployed its <strong>SWAYAM Prabha portal</strong> which has lectures on <strong>DTH (<a href="/loksabha-rajyasabha-discussions/the-big-picture-dth-v-s-ott" target="_blank" rel="noopener">direct-to-home</a>)</strong> and online, to help students.</li>
<li>Few states are <strong>trying to tap Doordarshan</strong> to remove access barriers.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>e-learning</strong> poses a <strong>challenge</strong> to teachers, students and their parents over <strong>technology and access</strong> that is why the <strong>effectiveness</strong> of the instructors (teachers) can <strong>not be analysed</strong> and also not every student is joining the virtual classes.</li>
<li><strong>Challenges</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>All of the students do not have laptops or tablet computers. Parents also use the computer for their work from home so children do not get a chance to use it.</li>
<li>Teachers are apprehensive about students using smartphones because of distracting apps.</li>
<li>Teachers too might have technical constraints and if teachers are equipped but the same might not be the case for the institutions.</li>
<li>The lockdown makes it worse for those who have technical problems in their devices.</li>
<li>Parents are finding it difficult to adjust to the online system. The added household work due to the absence of domestic help adds to their problem.</li>
<li>Most of the subjects like beauty culture, fashion design and tailoring, office management, travel and tourism, web design etc need practical learning so it is difficult to teach them from a distance.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Suggestions</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Online classes offered as live teaching can be sustained only with a mix of activities, worksheets and interactive sessions.</li>
<li>Teachers should have a structured plan which does not suffocate or burden them and also keep the students involved.</li>
<li>All institutions will have to chalk out an infrastructure plan which can be used in such a crisis.</li>
<li>Teachers need to be considerate about how children feel or what they are going through these days so an understanding should be developed.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>SWAYAM Prabha</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>It is an initiative of the <strong>Ministry of Human Resources Development</strong> to provide <strong>32 High Quality Educational Channels</strong> through DTH across the length and breadth of the country on 24X7 basis.</li>
<li>It has <strong>curriculum-based course content</strong> covering diverse disciplines.</li>
<li>This is primarily <strong>aimed</strong> at making<strong> quality learning resources</strong> accessible to remote areas where internet availability is still a challenge.</li>
<li>The DTH channels are using the<strong> GSAT-15 satellite</strong> for programme telecasts.</li>
</ul>
</div>
<p><a href="https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/in-the-time-of-the-pandemic-classes-go-online-and-on-air/article31264767.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/online-classes-due-to-covid-19'
		],
		(int) 11 => [
			'title' => 'Grounding of Aircraft Affects Weather Forecasting',
			'catname' => 'News Analysis',
			'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>Beginning mid-March, India began restricting incoming international flights into the country and by March 24 had imposed a total shutdown on domestic air travel as well to contain the spread of <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/coronaviruses" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Covid-19</strong></a>.</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The grounding of India&rsquo;s civilian aircraft has strangled a key source of weather data that the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/statement-on-climate-of-india-during-2019-imd" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>India Meteorological Department (IMD)</strong></a> uses for its forecasts.</li>
<li>Officials from the IMD, however,have clarified that India&rsquo;s annual monsoon forecast system is on track, with the first forecast scheduled to be issued in mid-April.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>A major factor for gauging the performance of the monsoon is the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/el-nino-forecast-for-2019" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>El Nino</strong></a>, a warming of the ocean waters in the equatorial Pacific Ocean. This data is measured by observational data buoys located in the sea and relayed via satellite. This <strong>data is not impacted so far.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Aviation and Weather Data:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Aircraft <strong>relay data about temperature and wind speed</strong> in the upper atmosphere to meteorological agencies the world over and this is used in the dynamical models.</li>
<li>Input from aircraft is important for the dynamical models as it determines the <strong>initial conditions</strong> for these models.</li>
<li>Aviation-generated data is also helpful to warn of <strong>developing thunderstorms or swings in temperatures</strong> that often begin at the heights aircraft traverse.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Dynamical model:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Dynamic models are generally models that contain or depend upon an <strong>element of time, especially allowing for interactions between variables over time.</strong></li>
<li>These stimulate the state of the atmosphere and oceans at a particular time and then extrapolate into the future using standard laws of physics.</li>
<li>These models are run on<strong> supercomputers</strong> and are relied on to give weather forecasts three days, or even two weeks ahead.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>IMD will move to traditional weather forecasting system:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>This year, the IMD will likely rely on its traditional statistical forecast system, the one developed on the basis of historical data.</li>
<li>However, even this will be difficult due to shortage of manpower in the Department owing to Covid-19.</li>
<li><span style="font-weight: 400;">The IMD issues its first forecast for the June-September monsoon in April and updates it in June.</span></li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>India and Weather Forecasting Model</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Traditional Model:</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Until 2010,</strong> the IMD used <strong>only statistical models</strong> to forecast the monsoon.</li>
<li>These <strong>involved identifying climate parameters</strong> linked to the performance of the monsoon. For example, the sea surface temperature gradient between North Atlantic and North Pacific, the volume of warm water in the equatorial Pacific, the Eurasian snow cover.</li>
<li>Their values in February and March are correlated to values of actual rainfall over a hundred years and then, using statistical techniques, extrapolated to forecast a particular year&rsquo;s monsoon.</li>
<li>This has, however, proved wrong and the <strong>IMD missed its mark on forecasting</strong> major droughts and rain-deficits particularly 2002, 2004 and 2006.</li>
<li>The IMD responded by finding new parameters but keeping the technique the same.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Dynamic Model:</strong> IMD started testing a dynamical system around 2015.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>This <strong>simulates the weather at a chosen set of locations on a given day &mdash;</strong> the land and ocean temperature, moisture, wind speeds at various heights, etc &mdash; and <strong>powerful computers</strong> calculate how these weather variables will change over days, weeks, months.</li>
<li>It's able to do this by solving physics equations that show how each of these weather variables is related to each other.</li>
<li>The IMD and several private weather agencies are increasingly relying on more sophisticated and high-resolution computer models to give localised forecasts, or warn farmers of changes in weather 10-15 days ahead. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Rather than long-range forecasts that only give a broad tenuous picture of the likely performance of the monsoon, the shorter forecasts are far more reliable and help farmers make decisions about sowing.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>These models are also useful for<strong> anticipating heat-wave or a cold-wave</strong> and therefore useful to urban planners and government.</li>
<li>Though meteorological agencies around the world are shifting to such techniques, they still aren&rsquo;t considered entirely reliable for forecasting the monsoon.</li>
<li>Further,<strong> India&rsquo;s dynamical model is still not as adept</strong> as meteorologists want them to be, for <strong>warning of a drought or extreme changes in <a href="/to-the-points/paper1/monsoon-2" target="_blank" rel="noopener">monsoon</a> rainfall.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>India Meteorological Department</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>IMD was <strong>established in 1875.</strong></li>
<li>It is an agency of the <strong>Ministry of Earth Sciences of the Government of India.</strong></li>
<li>It is the principal agency responsible for <strong>meteorological observations, weather forecasting and seismology.</strong></li>
</ul>
</div>
<p><a href="https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/coronavirus-lockdown-grounding-of-planes-partially-hits-imds-weather-data-supply/article31257641.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/grounding-of-aircraft-affects-weather-forecasting'
		],
		(int) 12 => [
			'title' => 'Free Testing and Treatment for Covid-19',
			'catname' => 'News Analysis',
			'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>Recently, the Central government has decided to <strong>provide free testing and treatment</strong> of coronavirus under the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/ayushmanbharat" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Ayushman Bharat Scheme or the Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana</strong></a> (PMJAY).</p>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Objective:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>To<strong> increase the supply</strong> of testing and treatment facilities.</li>
<li>To increase access by <strong>roping in the private sector</strong> through AB-PMJAY as per the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/antibody-kits-for-covid-19" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Indian Council for Medical Research</strong></a> (ICMR) guidelines.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>It will help more than 50 crore Ayushman beneficiaries to <strong>avail free testing</strong> and <strong>timely and standard treatment</strong> in designated private hospitals across India.</li>
<li>It will significantly <strong>expand government&rsquo;s capacities</strong> and <strong>mitigate the adverse impact</strong> of this <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/covid-19-now-pandemic-who" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>pandemic</strong></a> on the poor.</li>
<li>States have already enlisted private sector hospitals to convert them into <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/coronavirus-disease-named-covid-19" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Covid-19</strong></a> <strong>only hospitals.</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Hospitals can use their own authorised testing facilities or tie up with an authorised testing facility for the scheme.</li>
<li>These tests would be carried out as per the protocol set by ICMR and by <strong>private labs approved/registered</strong> by the ICMR.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>Information on <strong>symptoms, testing and treatment</strong> for the disease can be accessed from the website of the <strong>Ministry of Health and Family Welfare</strong> and by calling the <strong>national Covid-19 helpline 1075.</strong></li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Ayushman Bharat</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>It is a <strong>government-sponsored health insurance scheme</strong> which provides <strong>free coverage of up to ₹5 lakh per family per year</strong> at any government or even empanelled private hospitals all over India for secondary and tertiary medical care facilities.</li>
<li>Modicare is available for 74 crore beneficiary families and about 50 crore Indian citizens. Under the process, 80 percent of beneficiaries, based on the <strong>Socio-Economic Caste Census</strong> (SECC) data in the rural and the urban areas, have been identified.</li>
<li>There is <strong>no restriction on the basis of family size, age or gender.</strong></li>
<li>Ayushman Bharat is unlike other medical insurance schemes where there is a waiting period for pre-existing diseases. <strong>All kinds of diseases are covered</strong> from day one of the Ayushman Bharat policy. The benefit cover includes both <strong>pre and post hospitalization expenses.</strong></li>
<li>The expenditure incurred in premium payment will be shared between Central and State Governments in a specified ratio. The <strong>funding</strong> for the scheme is shared &ndash; <strong>60:40 for all states and UTs</strong> with their own legislature, <strong>90:10 in Northeast states and Jammu and Kashmir, Himachal and Uttarakhand</strong> and <strong>100% Central funding for UTs without legislature.</strong></li>
<li>It draws <strong>additional resources</strong> from the <strong>Health and Education Cess</strong> and also depends on funding from States to boost the Central allocation. The<strong> premiums</strong> are in the range of <strong>₹1,000-₹1,200 per annum.</strong></li>
<li>It <strong>pays</strong> for the hospitalisation costs of its beneficiaries <strong>through strategic purchasing from public and private hospitals.</strong></li>
</ul>
</div>
<p><a href="https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/coronavirus-testing-treatment-now-available-for-free-under-ayushman-bharat-scheme/article31261580.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/free-testing-and-treatment-for-covid-19'
		],
		(int) 13 => [
			'title' => 'Agriculture Reforms',
			'catname' => 'News Editorials',
			'desc' => '<div class="border">
<p>This article is based on <a href="https://www.epw.in/journal/2020/11/special-articles/reforming-indian-agriculture.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>&ldquo;Reforming Indian Agriculture&rdquo;</strong></a> which was published in Economic and Political Weekly on 14/03/2020. It talks about challenges and solutions pertaining to India&rsquo;s Agriculture sector.</p>
</div>
<p>India&rsquo;s agriculture policies have had <strong>multiple mandates,</strong> including a <strong>production imperative</strong> (national food security),<strong> a consumer imperative</strong> (keeping food prices low for a large low-income population), and<strong> a farmer welfare imperative</strong> (raising farmer&rsquo;s income).</p>
<p>Tensions between these mandates have resulted in costly, contradictory policies whose costs have been increasingly borne by farmers, the government purse, and the natural environment.</p>
<p>Realising the <strong>significance of Agriculture</strong> in India&rsquo;s socio-economic order, the government has set an <a href="/to-the-points/paper3/doubling-farmers-income-a-promise-to-be-fulfilled-by-2022" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>agenda of doubling farmer incomes</strong></a> by raising productivity and cutting down costs, and going for diversification towards high value agriculture.</p>
<p>However, Indian Agriculture is in the need for many fundamental reforms.</p>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Significance of Agriculture in India</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Highest Employment Provider: More Indians depend directly or indirectly on agriculture</strong> for employment than on any other sector.</li>
<li><strong>Addresses Malnutrition and provides food security:</strong> Agriculture holds a key to <strong>reducing India&rsquo;s malnutrition problem,</strong> directly affecting public health and worker productivity.</li>
<li><strong>Augmenting Economic Growth:</strong> Agriculture has the potential <strong>to</strong> <strong>spur India&rsquo;s overall gross domestic product (GDP)</strong> growth.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Agricultural growth of 4%, would add at least a percentage point to GDP, increase exports and improve India&rsquo;s trade deficit.</li>
<li><strong>Economic transformation</strong> in developing nations is propelled by increases in agricultural incomes underpinning industrial growth. For example, China's economic growth.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>India&rsquo;s vital land and water resources, which farmers used for agricultural production, assumes more significance especially in the face of mounting scarcity, environmental degradation, and climate change.</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>Actions Taken by Government to Increase Farmer Income</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Subsidizing Input Costs:</strong> Providing water,power and fertilizer subsidies to decrease production costs.</li>
<li><strong>Green Revolution:</strong> Increasing yields through better farming practices and timely availability of quality inputs, especially high yielding seeds, chemical fertilisers and water.</li>
<li><strong>Stabilizing Output Prices:</strong> Through minimum support prices (MSP) and public procurement.</li>
<li><strong>Augmenting Non-Crop related Agriculture Income: <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/annadata-to-urjadata" target="_blank" rel="noopener">KUSUM scheme.</a></strong></li>
<li><strong>Providing Direct Income Transfers to Farmers: <a href="/current-affairs-news-analysis-editorials/news-editorials/08-02-2019" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi (PM-KISAN).</a></strong></li>
</ul>
</div>
<h3>Associated Challenges In India&rsquo;s Agriculture</h3>
<p><strong>Issue Related to Subsidies</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Agricultural subsidies</strong> were introduced to incentivise farmers to take up the green revolution. Subsidies also intended to reduce the cost of production for farmers and to check food price inflation and protect consumers.</li>
<li>However, today it has become apparent that subsidies are<strong> inflicting significant damage on different aspects of the economy.</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Subsidised Urea</strong> has led to massive overuse of nitrogenous fertilisers, leading to damaged soils and pollution of local water bodies.</li>
<li>Similarly, <strong>power subsidies</strong> have not only led to an alarming overuse of groundwater,, but also it has severely damaged the health of power distribution companies.</li>
<li><strong>Credit subsidies like loan waivers</strong> have weakened the Indian banking system (due to increased NPAs), having negative spillover effects on the economy.</li>
<li><strong>Output price supports in the form of minimum support price (MSP)</strong> basically apply to only a handful of crops, especially wheat and rice that are procured by the government in a handful of states.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>Consumer Oriented Policies</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Whenever there is a price rise in any agricultural commodity, the <strong>government imposes restrictions on exports to protect Indian consumers.</strong> It creates hindrances for farmers taking advantage of high prices in foreign markets.</li>
<li>This, coupled with the <strong>Essential Commodities Act (ECA),</strong> has meant lower private investment in export infrastructure such as warehouses and cold storage systems.</li>
<li>This lack of storage infrastructure compels farmers to go for Distress sale.</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>Flawed Agricultural Marketing Policies</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Due to restrictions imposed by <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/agriculture-produce-to-agriculture-marketing" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Agricultural Produce Market Committee Acts</strong></a> passed by various states, <strong>Indian farmers today can only sell their produce at</strong> Farmgate or local market (haat) to village aggregators, APMC mandis and to government at the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/msp-agrarian-crisis-and-reform" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>minimum support price (MSP).</strong></a></li>
<li>The introduction of the electronic national agriculture market (e-NAM)&mdash;an online trading platform for agricultural commodities in India&mdash;is a step in the right direction. However, its effects have been underwhelming due to three major bottlenecks:<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Time cost of transactions</li>
<li>Quality assessment challenges</li>
<li>Transportation logistics</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>Marginal Land Holdings</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Raising farm productivity is critical for long-term increase in farmer incomes in India, as land fragmentation means that many Indian farmers are farming plots of such small sizes that even doubling their incomes would leave them with meagre earnings.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>In India, <strong>nearly 85% of agricultural land holdings are small and marginal</strong> (less than 2 hectare).</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>Slow Agricultural Growth Rate</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/income-inequality-among-farmers" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Ashok Dalwai Committee Report</strong></a> on doubling farmers&rsquo; income, estimated that the doubling farmers' income will require an agricultural growth rate of 10-11% per annum, until 2022&ndash;23.</li>
<li>However, agricultural growth rate and farmers' income growth rate has been stagnating and well below the required rate of growth.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Steps to Increase Farmers' Income</h3>
<p><strong>Addressing Subsidies Problem</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>This can be done by:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Freeing up input prices to market levels,</strong> or charging an optimum cost pricing for fertilisers, power, agri-credit, and canal waters fees.</li>
<li>Channelizing the resulting savings for expenditures on investments in agricultural R&amp;D, irrigation, marketing infrastructure, building value chains by involving <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/farmer-producer-bodies-need-help" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Farmer Producer Organisations (FPOs)</strong></a> and linking farms to organised retail, food processing, and export markets.</li>
<li>Direct income transfers to farmers&rsquo; should be promoted by leveraging the trinity of <strong>Jan Dhan&ndash;Aadhaar&ndash;Mobile (JAM) to reduce the leakages and pilferage.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>Allowing Land Leasing</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The central government, in association with the state governments, should free up <strong>land lease markets,</strong> which can help provide farmers with a steady income, while maintaining asset security.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>In remote dry areas, leasing land to solar or wind power companies could provide farmers with relatively higher and steadier incomes.</li>
<li><a href="/current-affairs-news-analysis-editorials/news-editorials/19-08-2019" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>The Model Land Lease Act, 2016</strong></a> offers an appropriate template for the states and UTs to draft their own piece of legislations, in consonance with the local requirements and adopt an enabling Act.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>Increasing Avenues for Non-Farm Income</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Subsidised electricity should be rationalised, as today <strong>solar water pumps</strong> are operationally and financially sustainable.</li>
<li>This will reduce government burden of electricity subsidies, while at the same time allowing <strong>surplus power from the solar powered pumps to be sold back to the grid.</strong></li>
<li><strong>Promoting value-added uses of biomass</strong> like Bamboo for construction and other applications, rice husk and bagasse-based mini-power plants, and ethanol from sugar cane and corn can all help augment farmer incomes in sustainable ways while developing more dynamic local rural economies.</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>Improving Agricultural Export Scenario</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>India needs to<strong> address the composition of its agriculture export basket.</strong> Currently agricultural exports constitute 10% of the country&rsquo;s exports, but the majority of its exports are low value, raw or semi-processed, and marketed in bulk.</li>
<li>The share of India&rsquo;s high value and value-added agriculture produce is less than 15%.</li>
<li>Robust agriculture exports will increase the demand for India&rsquo;s farm output (and hence, incomes of farmers).</li>
<li>In this context, the government has launched <a href="/to-the-points/paper3/agriculture-export-policy-2018-1" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Agriculture Export Policy 2018</strong></a>. It is aimed at doubling the agricultural exports and integrating Indian farmers and agricultural products with the global value chains.</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>Investing in Agriculture Infrastructure</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The most sustainable way to augment farmers&rsquo; real incomes over the long term is <strong>through investments in productivity-enhancing areas, ranging from agricultural research and development (R&amp;D), to irrigation to the development of rural and marketing infrastructure.</strong></li>
<li><strong>Local level investments</strong> that seek to build village level storage facilities, better surface irrigation management, and investments in drip irrigation, tile drainage, trap crops, etc, that can give results in a relatively short period of time.</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>Agricultural Marketing Reforms</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Farmers&rsquo; income can improve substantially if they are able to capture a greater share in the supply chain from farm gate to consumer.</li>
<li>For this to happen, farmers must have the freedom to sell what they want, where they want, and when they want without any restrictions on sale, stocking, movement, and export of farm produce.</li>
<li>These will require legal and institutional changes, major investments in market infrastructure and storage (including cold-chain storage), and incentives for the creation and operation of infrastructure by FPOs.</li>
<li>In this context, the state needs to adopt <a href="/current-affairs-news-analysis-editorials/news-editorials/22-11-2018" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Model Agriculture Produce and Livestock Marketing Act, 2017</strong></a>.</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>Need For Cooperative Federalism</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Agriculture is a state subject</strong> and many of the important levers&mdash;water, power, irrigation, extension, etc&mdash;are controlled by the states. However, the central government continues to play a larger role.</li>
<li>Thus, reforms can only succeed if the central and state governments work closely together in a spirit of &ldquo;cooperative federalism.&rdquo;</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1586004518_Editorial%20Image (4-4-2020)-1.jpg" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1586004518_Editorial Image (4-4-2020)-1.jpg" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" /></a></p>
<table border="1" style="border-collapse: collapse; width: 100%;">
<tbody>
<tr>
<td style="width: 100%; border-style: dotted; border-color: #ff0000; background-color: #dceef7;">
<p><span style="color: #000080;"><em><strong>Drishti Mains Question</strong></em></span></p>
<p>Indian Agriculture is in a dire need of fundamental reforms for better fiscal and environmental sustainability. Discuss.</p>
</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>',
			'postdate' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenTime) {},
			'url' => 'https://www.drishtiias.com/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/agriculture-reforms'
		],
		(int) 14 => [
			'title' => 'Year End Review 2019: Ministry of Culture',
			'catname' => 'Paper 1',
			'desc' => '<h3>Important Events</h3>
<p><strong>Commemoration of the 150<sup>th</sup> Birth Anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The President of India, presided over the second meeting of the National Committee for Commemoration of the 150<sup>th</sup> Birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi.</li>
<li>The <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/portugal-s-gandhi-citizenship-education-prize" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>National Committee was constituted for commemorating the 150<sup>th</sup> birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi</strong></a> at the national and international level.</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>Sanskriti Kumbh</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>A 29 days cultural extravaganza was organised at Kumbh Mela Area, Prayagraj in January 2019 to showcase the rich Cultural Heritage of India in all its rich and varied dimensions viz. Performing Arts- Folk, Tribal and Classical art forms, Handicrafts, Cuisines, Exhibitions etc. all in one place.</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>Bharat Rang Mahotsav</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The 20<sup>th</sup> edition of Bharat Rang Mahotsav (BRM), the international theatre festival of India, was organized by National School of Drama.</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>Jaipur- India&rsquo;s 38<sup>th</sup> UNESCO World Heritage Site</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/world-heritage-site-certificate-to-jaipur" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>India&rsquo;s nomination of the Jaipur City</strong></a>, Rajasthan got inscribed on 6<sup>th</sup> July, 2019 on the World Heritage List of UNESCO during the 43<sup>rd</sup> Session of the World Heritage Committee held at Baku, Azerbaijan.</li>
<li>With Successful inscription of Jaipur City, India has 38 world heritage sites that include 30 Cultural properties, 7 Natural properties and 1 mixed site.</li>
</ul>
<table border="1" style="height: 916px; width: 100%; border-collapse: collapse; background-color: #bfa302;">
<tbody>
<tr style="height: 19px;">
<td style="width: 100%; height: 19px; text-align: center;" colspan="4"><span style="font-size: 18px; color: #ffffff;"><strong>UNESCO's World Heritage Sites of India</strong></span></td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 19px;">
<td style="width: 75%; height: 29px; text-align: center; background-color: #a2f2e8;" colspan="3"><strong>Tangible Heritage</strong></td>
<td style="width: 25%; height: 29px; background-color: #a2f2e8; text-align: center;"><strong>Intangible Cultural Heritage</strong></td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 19px;">
<td style="width: 30.8075%; height: 19px; text-align: center; background-color: #faafbf;"><em>Cultural</em></td>
<td style="width: 23.8862%; height: 19px; text-align: center; background-color: #faafbf;"><em>Natural</em></td>
<td style="width: 20.3063%; height: 19px; text-align: center; background-color: #faafbf;"><em>Mixed</em></td>
<td style="width: 25%; height: 19px; text-align: center; background-color: #faafbf;"><em>Indian Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity</em><em><br /></em></td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 10px;">
<td style="width: 30.8075%; height: 10px; vertical-align: top; background-color: #f2e7a7;">
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Taj Mahal, Agra</li>
<li>Khajuraho, Madhya Pradesh</li>
<li>Hampi, Karnataka</li>
<li>Ajanta Caves, Maharashtra</li>
<li>Ellora Caves, Maharashtra</li>
<li>Bodh Gaya, Bihar</li>
<li>Sun Temple, Konark, Odisha</li>
<li>Red Fort Complex, Delhi</li>
<li>Sanchi, Madhya Pradesh</li>
<li>Chola Temples, Tamil Nadu</li>
<li>Group of Monuments at Mahabalipuram, Tamil Nadu</li>
<li>Humayun&rsquo;s Tomb, New Delhi</li>
<li>Jantar Mantar, Jaipur, Rajasthan</li>
<li>Agra Fort, Uttar Pradesh</li>
<li>Fatehpur Sikri, Uttar Pradesh</li>
<li>Rani Ki Vav, Patan, Gujarat</li>
<li>Group of Monuments at Pattadakal, Karnataka</li>
<li>Elephanta Caves, Maharashtra</li>
<li>Nalanda Mahavihara (Nalanda University), Bihar</li>
<li>Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus (formerly Victoria Terminus), Maharashtra</li>
<li>Mountain Railways of India</li>
<li>Qutub Minar and its Monuments, New Delhi</li>
<li>Champaner-Pavagadh Archaeological Park, Gujarat</li>
<li>Hill Forts of Rajasthan</li>
<li>Churches and Convents of Goa</li>
<li>Rock Shelters of Bhimbetka, Madhya Pradesh</li>
<li>Capitol Complex, Chandigarh</li>
<li>The Historic City of Ahmedabad</li>
<li>The Victorian and Art Deco Ensemble of Mumbai</li>
</ul>
</td>
<td style="width: 23.8862%; height: 10px; vertical-align: top; background-color: #f2e7a7;">
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Great Himalayan National Park, Himachal Pradesh</li>
<li>Kaziranga Wild Life Sanctuary, Assam</li>
<li>Keoladeo National Park, Bharatpur, Rajasthan</li>
<li>Manas Wild Life Sanctuary, Assam</li>
<li>Nanda Devi and Valley of Flowers National Parks, Uttarakhand</li>
<li>Western Ghats</li>
<li>Sundarbans National Park, West Bengal</li>
</ul>
</td>
<td style="width: 20.3063%; height: 10px; vertical-align: top; background-color: #f2e7a7;">
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><span style="font-weight: 400;">Khangchendzonga National Park, Sikkim</span></li>
</ul>
</td>
<td style="width: 25%; height: 10px; vertical-align: top; background-color: #f2e7a7;">
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The tradition of Vedic chanting</li>
<li>Ramlila, the traditional performance of the Ramayana</li>
<li>Kutiyattam, Sanskrit theatre</li>
<li>Ramman, religious festival and ritual theatre of the Garhwal Himalayas, India</li>
<li>Mudiyettu, ritual theatre and dance drama of Kerala</li>
<li>Kalbelia folk songs and dances of Rajasthan</li>
<li>Chhau dance</li>
<li>Buddhist chanting of Ladakh: recitation of sacred Buddhist texts in the trans-Himalayan Ladakh region, Jammu and Kashmir, India</li>
<li>Sankirtana, ritual singing, drumming and dancing of Manipur</li>
<li>Traditional brass and copper craft of utensil making among the Thatheras of Jandiala Guru, Punjab, India</li>
<li>Yoga</li>
<li>Navroz</li>
<li>Kumbh Mela</li>
</ul>
</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<p><strong>Commemoration event of &lsquo;76<sup>th</sup> Year of Formation of Azad Hind Government&rsquo;</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/76th-anniversary-of-azad-hind-government" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>76<sup>th</sup> anniversary of the formation of the Azad Hind Government</strong></a> was celebrated on 21<sup>st</sup> October, 2019, at the Red Fort, Delhi.</li>
<li>On 21<sup>st</sup> October 1943, <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/subhash-chandra-bose" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Subhash Chandra Bose</strong></a> announced the formation of the Provisional Government of Azad Hind (Free India) in Singapore, with himself as the Head of State, Prime Minister and Minister of War.</li>
<li>The Provisional Government not only enabled Bose to negotiate with the Japanese on an equal footing but also facilitated the mobilisation of Indians in East Asia to join and support the Indian National Army (INA).</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/unesco-s-network-of-creative-cities" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Mumbai and Hyderabad: UNESCO&rsquo;s Creative Cities Network (UCCN)</strong></a></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><a href="/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-international-institution/united-nations-1" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO)</strong> </a>has included Mumbai and Hyderabad in its network of 'Creative Cities' among the 66 cities selected on the occasion of World Cities Day 2019 (31<sup>st</sup> October).</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>Jallianwala Bagh National Memorial (Amendment) Bill, 2019 Passed by Parliament</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>It seeks to make apolitical the trust that runs Jallianwala Bagh National Memorial by removing the clause pertaining to the President of INC as a permanent member of the trust.</li>
<li>The Bill also amends to include the Leader of Opposition recognised as such in the House of the People (LokSabha) or where there is no such Leader of Opposition, then the Leader of the single largest Opposition Party in that House as a member of the trust.</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>Records Relating to Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose and Azad Hind Fauj De-classified</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>All records relating to <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/subhash-chandra-bose" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose and Azad Hind Fauj</strong></a> de-classified and were placed in the National Archives of India.</li>
<li><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/netaji-subhash-chandra-bose-jayanti" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose</strong></a> (23 January 1897 &ndash; 18 August 1945) is one of the most celebrated freedom fighters of India.</li>
<li>In 1942, he earned the title &lsquo;Netaji&rsquo;, in Germany by the Indian soldiers of the Azad Hind Fauj.</li>
<li>He is also credited to be the first man to call Mahatma Gandhi &ldquo;Father of the Nation&rdquo;, in his address from Singapore.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Important Sites</h3>
<p><strong>Markandeshwar Temple, Maharashtra<a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1585999804_885image3.jpg" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1585999804_885image3.jpg" style="float: right;" width="350" caption="false" /></a></strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Archaeological Survey of India initiated the restoration work of <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/markandeshwar-temple" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Markandeshwar temple</strong></a> in Maharashtra.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Known as the &ldquo;Khajuraho of Vidarbha&rdquo;, the temple of Markandadeo is situated on the bank of River Wainganga in district Gadchiroli of Maharashtra.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>Phupgaon, Maharashtra</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The recent excavation carried out by Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) at Maharashtra&rsquo;s Phupgaon has revealed evidence of an Iron Age settlement in the Vidarbha region.</li>
<li>The site is situated in the vast meander of the river Purna, a major tributary of Tapi, which used to be a perennial river, but at present is completely dried-up due to the dam construction in the upper stream.</li>
<li>Chronologically, the site could be placed between 7<sup>th</sup> C BCE and 4th C BCE.</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/gottiprolu-an-early-trade-centre-of-andhra-pradesh" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Gottiprolu, Andhra Pradesh</strong></a></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Excavations indicate it as a Trade Centre of Early Historic Period.</li>
<li>The site lies on the right bank of a distributary of river Swarnamukhi.</li>
<li>The proximity of the site (at southern coastal location) to the seacoast suggests that the site could have served as a strategic settlement involved in maritime trade.</li>
<li>Among many other antiquities unearthed are one life-size Vishnu sculpture and a wide variety of pottery of the early centuries of current era.</li>
</ul>',
			'postdate' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenTime) {},
			'url' => 'https://www.drishtiias.com/to-the-points/paper1/year-end-review-2019-ministry-of-culture'
		],
		(int) 15 => [
			'title' => 'EIA Not Needed for Bulk Drug Makers',
			'catname' => 'News Analysis',
			'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>Recently, the <strong>Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change</strong> has exempted manufacturers of bulk drugs and intermediates from <a href="/to-the-points/paper3/environmental-impact-assessment-1" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Environment Impact Assessment</strong></a> (EIA) till 30<sup>th</sup> September as an interim measure.</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>It was done to <strong>expedite clearances</strong> to such manufacturers and intermediaries which are making medicines related to <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/coronavirus-disease-named-covid-19" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Covid-19</strong></a>.</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Environment Impact Assessment</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>It is a process of <strong>evaluating the likely environmental impacts</strong> of a proposed project or development, taking into account inter-related socio-economic, cultural and human-health impacts, both beneficial and adverse.</li>
<li><strong>The <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/not-all-animals-migrate-by-choice-campaign" target="_blank" rel="noopener">United Nations Environment Programme</a> (UNEP)</strong> defines EIA as a tool used to identify the environmental, social and economic impacts of a project prior to decision-making.</li>
<li>It <strong>aims</strong> to predict environmental impacts at an early stage in project planning and design, find ways and means to reduce adverse impacts, shape projects to suit the local environment and present the predictions and options to decision-makers.</li>
<li>Environment Impact Assessment in India is <strong>statutorily backed</strong> by the <strong>Environment Protection Act, 1986</strong> which contains various provisions on its methodology and process.</li>
</ul>
</div>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>All proposals for projects or activities in respect of <strong>Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients</strong> (API, also called <strong>Bulk Drugs</strong>), received up to the 30<sup>th</sup> September 2020, shall be appraised as <strong>Category B2 projects,</strong> provided that any subsequent amendment or expansion or change in product mix, after the 30<sup>th</sup> September 2020, shall be considered as per the provisions in force at that time.</li>
<li>Rules notified under the<strong> Environment Protection Act, 1986</strong> classify projects into <strong>three categories:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Category A Projects-</strong> These are appraised by the Union Ministry.</li>
<li><strong>Category B Projects-</strong> These are appraised by the states.</li>
<li><strong>Category B2 Projects-</strong> These are projects which are exempted from EIA and public hearings.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>The drug production and availability to reduce the impact of the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/novel-strain-of-coronavirus" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Novel CoronaVirus</strong></a> are to be ensured as part of a<strong> comprehensive and robust system to handle</strong> the outbreak.</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>These are <strong>significant ingredients</strong> in the manufacture of drugs.</li>
<li>The <strong>Hubei province of China</strong> is the hub of the API manufacturing industry.</li>
<li>India is <strong>heavily import-dependent for APIs from China.</strong></li>
<li>Recently, the Union Cabinet has approved <strong>two schemes,</strong> namely the scheme on <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/schemes-approved-to-promote-drug-manufacturing" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Promotion of Bulk Drug Parks and Production Linked Incentive (PLI)</strong></a> Scheme to promote domestic manufacturing of critical Key Starting Materials/Drug Intermediates and Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients in the country.</li>
</ul>
</div>
<p><a href="https://www.financialexpress.com/industry/green-impact-assessment-not-needed-for-bulk-drug-makers-govt/1918577/" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Source: FE</strong></a></p>',
			'postdate' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenTime) {},
			'url' => 'https://www.drishtiias.com/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/eia-not-needed-for-bulk-drug-makers'
		],
		(int) 16 => [
			'title' => 'New Features Added to e-NAM',
			'catname' => 'News Analysis',
			'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>Recently, the <strong>Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers&rsquo; Welfare</strong> has launched three new features of the <strong><a href="/infographics/info-paper3/infographics-paper-3-national-agriculture-market-nam" target="_blank" rel="noopener">National Agriculture Market</a> (e-NAM)</strong> Platform.</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The new features will strengthen agriculture marketing by <strong>reducing farmers&rsquo; need to physically go to wholesale mandis</strong> for selling their harvested produce.</li>
<li>It is an important move at a time when there is a critical need to <strong>decongest mandis</strong> to effectively fight against <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/coronavirus-disease-named-covid-19" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Covid-19</strong></a>.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Integration of Negotiable Warehouse Receipt System (e-NWRs) Module with e-NAM</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Under it, <strong>a warehouse trading module with payment feature</strong> is launched.</li>
<li>It will enable small and marginal farmers to directly trade their stored produce from selected <strong>Warehousing Development and Regulatory Authority (WDRA) registered warehouses</strong> which are declared deemed market by the State.</li>
<li>Farmers will be able to place their produce in WDRA accredited warehouses.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Telangana (14 warehouses) and Andhra Pradesh (23 warehouses) have already declared designated warehouses as deemed markets.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Benefits:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Depositor can save the logistics expenses and will have better income.</li>
<li>Farmers can sell the produce across the Nation at better price without the hassle of going to mandi.</li>
<li>Farmers with their produce in WDRA accredited warehouses can avail the benefit of pledge loan, if required.</li>
<li>Price stabilization by matching supply and demand through time and place utility.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>FPO trading Module</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>It will enable <strong><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/farmer-producer-bodies-need-help" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Farmer Producers&rsquo; Organisations</a> (FPOs)</strong> to upload the picture of their produce and quality parameters from their premise/collection centres for bidding.</li>
<li>Distant bidders can visualise the produce before bidding by seeing the pictures and quality.</li>
<li>After successful bidding, FPOs can deliver the produce from their premises or by bringing it to mandi.</li>
<li><strong>Benefits:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>This will decongest mandis and also reduce the hassle.</li>
<li>This will help FPOs by reducing logistics costs and enhance their bargaining power.</li>
<li>Facilitates FPOs to avail online payment facility with ease of doing business.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Launch of Logistic Module</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>A provision has been made for <strong>linking large logistic aggregator</strong> platforms providing choices to users.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Presently, e-NAM provides a database of <strong>individual transporters</strong> to the traders.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>Traders will be able to use the link to navigate to the logistics provider&rsquo;s website and select appropriate services.</li>
<li>With these additions, more than 3,75,000 number of trucks from large logistic providers would be added for logistic purpose.</li>
<li><strong>Benefits:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>This will help in seamless transportation of agri-produce.</li>
<li>This will promote inter-state trade by providing online transport facilities for distant buyers.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>e-NAM</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>It was launched on 14<sup>th</sup> April 2016 as a <strong>pan-India electronic trade portal</strong> linking <strong>Agricultural Produce Market Committees (APMCs)</strong> across the States.</li>
<li>It provides for contactless remote bidding and mobile-based anytime payment for which traders do not need to either visit mandis or banks for the same.</li>
<li>Already 585 mandis in 16 States and 2 Union Territories have been integrated on e-NAM portal and will be soon expanded to cover additional 415 mandis, which will take the total number of e-NAM mandis to 1,000.</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>Negotiable Warehouse Receipt System</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>It was launched in <strong>2011</strong> but the <strong>Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food &amp; Public Distribution.</strong></li>
<li>Farmers can <strong>seek loans from banks against the warehouse receipts</strong> issued to them against their storage.</li>
<li>These <strong>receipts issued by the warehouses registered with the WDRA</strong> would become a fully negotiable instrument backed by a Central legislation.</li>
<li>The <strong>Electronic Negotiable Warehouse Receipt (e-NWR) System</strong> was launched in<strong> 2017.</strong></li>
</ul>
<p><strong>Warehousing Development and Regulatory Authority</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>It was constituted on 26<sup>th</sup> October 2010 under the <strong>Warehousing (Development and Regulation) Act, 2007.</strong></li>
<li>It is a <strong>statutory authority</strong> under the Department of Food and Public Distribution, Government of India.</li>
<li>It is headquartered in <strong>New Delhi.</strong></li>
<li>The Act provides for the establishment of the WDRA to exercise the powers conferred on it and to perform the functions assigned to it under the Act, Rules and Regulations for the development and regulation of warehouses, negotiability of warehouse receipts and promote orderly growth of the warehousing business in the country.</li>
</ul>
</div>
<p><a href="https://pib.gov.in/newsite/PrintRelease.aspx?relid=200941" 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/new-features-added-to-e-nam'
		],
		(int) 17 => [
			'title' => 'Rise in Violence Against Women',
			'catname' => 'News Analysis',
			'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>The <strong>National Commission for Women</strong> (NCW) has recorded a <strong>more than twofold rise</strong> in <strong>gender-based violence.</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>It has been argued that the national <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/21-days-lockdown" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>lockdown</strong> </a>has left many people jobless, uncertain over salaries, in forced isolation and in stressed households which have resulted in a <strong>steep rise in violence against women.</strong></li>
</ul>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Data Analysis:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Total complaints-</strong> Rose from 116 in the first week of March to 257 in the final week of March.</li>
<li><strong>Rape or attempt to rape-</strong> Rose sharply from 2 to 13.</li>
<li><strong>Domestic violence-</strong> Increased from 30 to 69 over the same comparative period.</li>
<li><strong>Police apathy towards women-</strong> Almost threefold increase as the police are busy enforcing the lockdown to curb the spread of <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/coronavirus-disease-named-covid-19" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Covid-19.</strong></a></li>
<li><strong>Right to live with dignity (Article 21)-</strong> Rose to 77 from 35. Such cases could pertain to discrimination on the basis of gender, class or caste or all three of them combined.</li>
<li>These cases might be a <strong>fragment of the actual number</strong> as many women will not be able to reach out due to various reasons.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Possible Reasons:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Privacy:</strong> Women are not be able to reach out because of restrictions on movement as well as a lack of privacy within homes. Women need privacy and certainty that they will not be discovered by their family but that becomes impossible in the presence of the entire house.</li>
<li><strong>Frustration among Males:</strong> There is a lot of <strong>anxiety in people&rsquo;s minds</strong> about their jobs, salaries and livelihood. <strong>Women become easy targets for men</strong> for venting out their anger in<strong> patriarchal societies.</strong></li>
<li><strong>Lockdown:</strong> It has <strong>restricted the movement</strong> and closed women&rsquo;s avenues to escape violence such as by relocating to their natal homes or contacting the local police.</li>
<li>There is evidence that in situations of crisis or calamity there is an increase in violence against women.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Suggestions:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The police do not seem the first port of call for victims of domestic violence and, therefore, <strong>alternative arrangements</strong> should be put in place.</li>
<li>The government should<strong> ensure resources to help</strong> women in <strong>distress,</strong> and put <strong>health services</strong> to women and abortion in the list of essential services.</li>
<li><strong>Inspiration</strong> can be taken from <strong>France</strong> which announced that it would pay for 20,000 hotel bookings and contribute &euro;1 million to organisations that fight domestic abuse as well as set up assistance points at supermarkets and pharmacies.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>National Commission for Women</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>It was set up as a <strong>statutory body</strong> in January 1992 under the National Commission for Women Act, 1990.</li>
<li>Its<strong> mission</strong> is to strive towards enabling women to achieve equality and equal participation in all spheres of life by securing her due rights and entitlements through suitable policy formulation, legislative measures, etc.</li>
<li>Its <strong>functions</strong> are to:<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Review the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/international-day-for-the-elimination-of-violence-against-women" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>constitutional and legal safeguards for women.</strong></a></li>
<li>Recommend remedial legislative measures.</li>
<li>Facilitate redressal of grievances.</li>
<li>Advise the Government on all policy matters affecting women.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</div>
<p><a href="https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/covid-19-lockdown-spike-in-domestic-violence-says-ncw/article31238659.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/rise-in-violence-against-women'
		],
		(int) 18 => [
			'title' => 'Impact of Economic Slowdown Due to Covid-19',
			'catname' => 'News Analysis',
			'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>Amid the ongoing economic slowdown due to Covid-19 pandemic,</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>the government witnessed a fall in tax collections.</li>
<li>foreign investors sold over ₹1 lakh-crore securities in a month (March), for the first time in history.</li>
<li>the<a href="/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-national-institutions/important-institutions-national-institution-reserve-bank-of-india" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong> Reserve Bank of India (RBI)</strong></a> has decided to shorten trading hours for foreign exchange and money markets products.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Fall in Tax Collections</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Direct Tax Collections</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Direct tax is a tax paid directly by an individual or organization to the imposing entity. For example, income tax is a direct tax.</li>
<li>The government&rsquo;s net direct tax collections have <strong>missed the downward revised target</strong> for 2019-20 by Rs 1.42 lakh crore. The overall collection stood at Rs 10.27 lakh crore.</li>
<li>This is a <strong>decline of over 8%</strong> from previous year&rsquo;s receipts.</li>
<li>The contraction in direct tax collections in a financial year has been witnessed after a <strong>gap of 20 years.</strong> The Centre&rsquo;s direct tax receipts had last seen a year-on-year decline in 1998-99, when collections recorded a contraction of 3.5% in that financial year.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Indirect Tax Collections</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Indirect tax</strong> is a tax collected by one entity in the supply chain and paid to the government, but it is passed on to the consumer as part of the purchase price of a good or service. GST is an indirect tax.</li>
<li>The government has missed its <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/fall-in-goods-and-services-tax-gst-collections" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Goods and Services Tax (GST) collections target.</strong> </a></li>
<li>The <strong>reasons</strong> that led to the fall in GST collections in March below the Rs 1 lakh crore mark are:<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>A drop of 7.8% in returns filing over last month.</li>
<li>4% fall over last year in domestic revenue.</li>
<li>A sharp 23% fall in revenue from imports.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Consequences</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The government is likely to miss its revised <a href="/to-the-points/paper3/government-budgeting" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>fiscal deficit</strong></a> target of 3.8% for 2019-20.</li>
<li>The government&rsquo;s fiscal deficit during April-February increased to 135.2% of the revised estimate for the fiscal year 2019-20.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Foreign Portfolio Investors (FPIs) Sell Securities</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>For the first time in the history of the Indian capital markets, <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/investments-through-p-notes" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Foreign Portfolio Investors</strong></a> (FPIs) have sold securities worth over ₹1 lakh crore in a single month (March 2020).</li>
<li>As per data from <strong>the National Securities Depository Limited (NSDL),</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The cumulative net outflow from the debt and equity segments was pegged at ₹1.18 lakh crore in March</li>
<li>This is more than double the previous high of ₹44,000 crore witnessed in June.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Reason:</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>According to market participants, the ongoing <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/covid-19-and-india-1" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>COVID-19</strong></a> pandemic that has affected stocks worldwide is the primary reason for such record outflows as foreign investors move away from<strong> riskier assets and emerging markets. </strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Impact of the sales on Sensex:</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/impact-of-covid-19-outbreak" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Sensex</strong></a> registered its worst monthly fall in over 11 years.</li>
<li>In March, the Sensex lost a little over 23% which was the highest since October 2008 when it fell 23.89%.</li>
<li>Currently, the Sensex after falling.</li>
<li>However, buying by <strong>Domestic Institutional Investors (DIIs)</strong> has been acting as a strong counter force to the selling by foreign investors.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>National Securities Depository Limited</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The enactment of <strong>Depositories Act in August 1996</strong> paved the way for establishment of NSDL in August 1996.</li>
<li>It handles most of the securities held and settled in dematerialized form in the Indian capital market.</li>
<li>NSDL works to support the investors and brokers in the capital market of the country.</li>
<li>It aims at ensuring the safety and soundness of Indian marketplaces by developing settlement solutions that increase efficiency, minimize risk and reduce costs.</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>Domestic institutional investors</strong></p>
<p>DIIs are those institutional investors which undertake investment in securities and other financial assets of the country they are based in.</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>DIIs include:<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Banks</li>
<li>Insurance companies</li>
<li>Mutual funds</li>
<li>Domestic financial institutions.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</div>
<h3>Shortening of Trading Hours</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The <a href="/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-national-institutions/important-institutions-national-institution-reserve-bank-of-india" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Reserve Bank of India (RBI)</strong></a> has decided to shorten trading hours for foreign exchange and money markets products in the light of challenges posed by lockdown imposed to curb the spread of coronavirus (Covid-19).</li>
<li>The shortened hours, from 10 am to 2 pm (earlier 9 am to 5 pm), will be in place from April 7-17.</li>
<li>The new hours will be applicable to <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Call/term money.</li>
<li>Market <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/rbi-s-covid-19-economic-relief-package" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>repo in g-secs</strong></a>.</li>
<li>Tri-party repo in g-secs.</li>
<li>Commercial Paper</li>
<li>Certificates of Deposit</li>
<li>Repo in corporate bonds.</li>
<li>Foreign currency and rupee trades.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Note:</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li style="box-sizing: border-box;"><strong>Call Money</strong> refers to the borrowing or lending of funds for 1 day.</li>
<li style="box-sizing: border-box;"><strong>Term money</strong> refers to borrowing and lending of funds for a period of more than 14 days.</li>
<li style="box-sizing: border-box;"><strong>Commercial Paper (CP)</strong> is a short-term debt instrument issued by companies to raise funds generally for a time period up to one year.</li>
<li style="box-sizing: border-box;">A <strong>Certificate of Deposit (CD)</strong> is a product offered by banks and credit unions that provides an interest rate premium in exchange for the customer agreeing to leave a lump-sum deposit untouched for a predetermined period of time.</li>
</ul>
</div>
<p><a href="https://indianexpress.com/article/business/economy/india-economic-slowdown-coronavirus-impact-direct-tax-6346413/" 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/impact-of-economic-slowdown-due-to-covid-19'
		],
		(int) 19 => [
			'title' => 'Amendments to the J&K Order',
			'catname' => 'News Analysis',
			'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>The <strong>Ministry of Home Affairs</strong> has amended the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/centre-defines-j-k-domicile-rules" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Jammu and Kashmir Reorganisation (Adaptation of State Laws) Order-2020.</strong></a></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The Order was issued by the Ministry on 31<sup>st</sup> March, 2020.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Key Amendments</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Protection to domiciles to &ldquo;any post&rdquo;</strong> in the government <strong>including senior level positions in Group A and Group B category.</strong> This reserves all jobs in the Union Territory for only its domiciles.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Earlier the protection to domiciles was<strong> provided only in Group D</strong> and entry level non-gazetted government posts. This opened all other government posts to anyone from the rest of the country.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>The amended order also<strong> removed the clause</strong> that any person fulfilling the criteria of domicile eligibility will &ldquo;deemed to be&rdquo; a domicile. The <strong>power to issue domicile certificates has been given to &ldquo;tahsildar&rdquo;.</strong></li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Criteria for Domiciles in J&amp;K</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Someone who has <strong>resided for a period of 15 years</strong> in the UT of J&amp;K, or</li>
<li>Someone who has<strong> studied for a period of seven years and appeared in Class 10<sup>th</sup>/12<sup>th</sup> examination</strong> in an educational institution located in the UT of J&amp;K, or</li>
<li>Someone who is <strong>registered as a migrant</strong> by the Relief and Rehabilitation Commissioner (Migrants).</li>
<li><strong>Children</strong> of Central government officials, All India Services, PSUs, autonomous body of Centre, Public Sector Banks, officials of statutory bodies, Central Universities, recognised research institutes of <strong>Centre who shall have served in J&amp;K.</strong></li>
<li><strong>Children of such residents of J&amp;K who reside outside J&amp;K</strong> in connection with their employment or business or other professional or vocational reasons but <strong>their parents fulfil any of the conditions provided.</strong></li>
</ul>
</div>
<p><a href="https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/other-states/mha-modifies-jk-domicile-order-offers-protection-to-domiciles-in-all-government-posts/article31253516.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/amendments-to-the-j-k-order'
		]
	],
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	(int) 0 => [
		'title' => 'NHAI Achieves Highest Ever Construction of National Highways',
		'catname' => 'News Analysis',
		'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>Recently, the <strong>National Highways Authority of India (NHAI)</strong> completed construction of 3,979 km of national highways in the financial Year 2019-20.</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>This is the highest ever highway construction</strong> achieved in a financial year by NHAI.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The <strong>Ministry of Road Transport and Highways</strong> has envisaged an ambitious highway development programme <strong>Bharatmala Pariyojana</strong> which includes development of about 65,000 km national highways.</li>
<li>Under Phase-I of <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/bharatmala-project" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Bharatmala Pariyojana</strong></a>, implementation of 34,800 km of national highways in 5 years (from 2017 to 2022) has been approved.</li>
<li>NHAI has mandated development of about 27,500 km of national highways under Bharatmala Pariyojna Phase-I.</li>
<li><strong>Bharatmala Pariyojana</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>It is an <strong>umbrella program for the highways sector</strong> that <strong>focuses on optimizing efficiency of freight and passenger movement</strong> across the country by bridging critical infrastructure gaps through <strong>effective interventions.</strong></li>
<li>The effective interventions include <strong>development of Economic Corridors, Inter Corridors and Feeder Routes, National Corridor Efficiency Improvement, Border and International connectivity roads, Coastal and Port connectivity roads and Green-field expressways.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>National Highways Authority of India (NHAI)</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>NHAI was set up under <strong>NHAI Act, 1988.</strong></li>
<li><strong>Objective:</strong> It has been entrusted with the <strong>National Highways Development Project,</strong> along with other minor projects<strong> for development, maintenance and management.</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>National Highways Development Project (NHDP)</strong> is a <strong>project</strong> to upgrade, rehabilitate and widen major <strong>highways</strong> in India to a higher standard. The project was started in 1998.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Vision:</strong> To meet the nation&rsquo;s need for the provision and <strong>maintenance of National Highways network to global standards</strong> and to<strong> meet user&rsquo;s expectations</strong> in the most time bound and cost effective manner and <strong>promote economic well</strong> being and quality of life of the people.</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>National Highways (NH)</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>NH are the <strong>arterial roads</strong> of the country for inter-state movement of passengers and goods.</li>
<li>They traverse the length and width of the country <strong>connecting the National and State capitals, major ports and rail junctions and link up with border roads and foreign highways.</strong></li>
<li>The NHs including Expressways constitute only about 1.7% of the length of all roads, they carry about <strong>40% of the road traffic.</strong></li>
</ul>
</div>
<p><a href="https://pib.gov.in/newsite/PrintRelease.aspx?relid=201058" 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/nhai-achieves-highest-ever-construction-of-national-highways'
	],
	(int) 1 => [
		'title' => 'MP’s Salaries Cut and MPLADS Suspended',
		'catname' => 'News Analysis',
		'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>Recently, the Union Cabinet has approved an <strong>ordinance to amend</strong> the <strong>Salaries, Allowances and Pension of Members of Parliament Act, 1954.</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>It will <strong>cut the salaries</strong> of Members of Parliament <strong>(MPs)</strong> by <strong>30%,</strong> effective from 1<sup>st</sup> April 2020.</li>
<li>Apart from this, it has been decided to <strong>suspend the Members of Parliament Local Area Development Scheme (MPLADS) funds </strong>for<strong> two financial years</strong> (2020-21 to 2021-22).</li>
<li>The saved amount will go to the <strong>Consolidated Fund of India</strong> to fight the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/coronavirus-disease-named-covid-19" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Covid-19 pandemic.</strong></a></li>
</ul>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>30% Salary Cut</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>It is applicable to <strong>all MPs,</strong> including the <strong>Prime Minister</strong> and the <strong>Council of Ministers,</strong> for the financial year 2020-2021.</li>
<li>The <strong>President</strong> and <strong>Vice-President</strong> of India along with all the <strong>State Governors,</strong> have also decided on their own to take a 30% salary cut.</li>
<li>However, the amendment will <strong>only cut MPs&rsquo; salaries, not allowances or the pensions</strong> of ex-MPs.</li>
<li>According to the pay hike in 2018, each MP draws a monthly salary of ₹1 lakh, ₹70,000 as constituency allowance and ₹60,000 for running office besides other perks.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Suspension of MPLADS</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The amount saved from the scheme would be <strong>around ₹8,000 crore</strong> and will be redirected to the Consolidation Fund.</li>
<li>Many MPs had <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/norms-relaxed-under-mplad-scheme" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>already pledged to use their MPLADS funds</strong></a> for efforts to combat the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/novel-strain-of-coronavirus" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>coronavirus</strong></a> pandemic.</li>
<li>74 Rajya Sabha members had contributed a total of ₹100 crore, and 265 Lok Sabha members had given a total of ₹265 crore.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>Currently, the <strong>Lok Sabha</strong> has <strong>542 members</strong> while the <strong>Rajya Sabha</strong> has a strength of <strong>245 members, including 12 nominated.</strong></li>
<li>The <strong>comprehensive decision</strong> was taken to convey the message of <strong>social responsibility</strong> of the MPs.</li>
<li><strong>Other Previous Measures</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The <strong>employees of the central government</strong> have already given <strong>one day&rsquo;s salary</strong> on their own. However, it is <strong>not clear</strong> if they will face a <strong>pay cut</strong> or not.</li>
<li>State government of<strong> Telangana</strong> had already announced <strong>salary cuts at all levels</strong> on 30<sup>th</sup> March.</li>
<li>Government has announced <strong>various other measures</strong> including the<a href="/current-affairs-news-analysis-editorials/news-analysis/27-03-2020" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong> Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Yojana.</strong></a></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>The salary cut has been <strong>supported</strong> throughout the country. However, the suspension of MPLADS has been <strong>criticised</strong> on the grounds that it is a <strong>disservice to the constituents</strong> and will undermine the role and functions of the MPs. It is the <strong>centralisation of funds</strong> which goes <strong>against federalism.</strong></li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Members of Parliament Local Area Development Scheme</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>It was announced in <strong>December 1993</strong> under the control of the <strong>Ministry of Rural Development.</strong> Later, in <strong>October 1994,</strong> it was transferred to the <strong>Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation.</strong></li>
<li><strong>Objectives:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>To enable MPs to recommend works of developmental nature with emphasis on the creation of durable community assets based on the locally felt needs to be taken up in their Constituencies.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Lok Sabha Members can recommend works within their constituencies and elected Members of Rajya Sabha can recommend works within the State they are elected from.</li>
<li>Nominated Members of both the Rajya Sabha and Lok Sabha can recommend works anywhere in the country.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>To create durable assets of national priorities viz. drinking water, primary education, public health, sanitation and roads, etc.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>It is a <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/proposal-to-hike-monthly-pensions" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Central Sector Scheme.</strong></a> The <strong>annual MPLADS fund</strong> entitlement <strong>per MP constituency is ₹5 crore.</strong></li>
</ul>
<p><strong>Government Accounts</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Consolidated Fund</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>It was constituted under <strong>Article 266 (1)</strong> of the Constitution of India.</li>
<li>It is made up of:<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>All <strong>revenues</strong> received by the Government by way of <strong>taxes</strong> (Income Tax, Central Excise, Customs and other receipts) and all <strong>non-tax revenues.</strong></li>
<li>All <strong>loans</strong> raised by the Government by issue of Public notifications, treasury bills (internal debt) and from foreign governments and international institutions (external debt).</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>All government expenditures are incurred</strong> from this fund and no amount can be withdrawn from the Fund without <strong>authorization from the Parliament.</strong></li>
<li><strong>Each state</strong> can have its own Consolidated Fund of the state with similar provisions.</li>
<li>The<a href="/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-national-institutions/comptroller-and-auditor-general-of-india-cag" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong> Comptroller and Auditor General of India</strong></a> audits the fund and reports to the relevant legislatures on the management.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Contingency Fund</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>It was constituted under the <strong>Article 267 (1)</strong> of the Indian Constitution.</li>
<li>Its <strong>corpus is ₹500 crores.</strong></li>
<li>It is <strong>used for meeting unforeseen expenditure.</strong></li>
<li><strong>Each state</strong> can have its own Contingency Fund of the state with similar provisions.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Public Account</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>It was constituted under <strong>Article 266 (2)</strong> of the Indian Constitution.</li>
<li>The<strong> transactions</strong> under this account relate to debt <strong>other than those included in the Consolidated Fund of India.</strong></li>
<li>The receipts under Public Account do not constitute normal receipts of Government hence Parliamentary authorization for payments is not required.</li>
<li><strong>Every state can have their own similar accounts.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</div>
<p><a href="https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/cabinet-passes-ordinance-to-reduce-salaries-of-president-pm-ministers-mps-by-30-for-a-year/article31269645.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/mp-s-salaries-cut-and-mplads-suspended'
	],
	(int) 2 => [
		'title' => 'Restrictions on Court Hearings Lawful',
		'catname' => 'News Analysis',
		'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>Recently, the Supreme Court held that all <strong>restrictions imposed on people</strong> from entering, attending or taking part in court hearings <strong>are lawful in the wake of the<a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/coronaviruses" target="_blank" rel="noopener"> Covid-19</a> pandemic.</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The court said these <strong>restrictions were in tune with the social distancing norms</strong> and best public health practices advocated to contain the Covid-19.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Duty vs Discretion:</strong> The apex court invoked its extraordinary Constitutional powers under <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/accused-can-be-ordered-to-give-voice-samples" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Article 142</strong> </a>to step away from the <strong>convention of open court hearings.</strong> It further clarified that use of this extraordinary power was <strong>not a matter of discretion but of duty.</strong></li>
<li><strong>Convention vs Public Health:</strong> Although the open court system ensures transparency in administration of justice, scaling down of conventional operations was done to avoid congregation of a large number of people. The court made it clear <strong>that public health takes precedence over conventions.</strong></li>
<li><strong>Cooperation and Participation:</strong> The court said every individual and institution is expected to cooperate in the implementation of measures designed to reduce the transmission of the virus. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>It also argued courts at all levels respond to the call of social distancing and ensure that court premises do not contribute to the spread of virus.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Covid-19 and Rule of Law:</strong> Access to justice is fundamental to preserve the<strong> rule of law</strong> in the democracy envisaged by the Constitution of India. In the absence of access to justice, people are unable to have their voice heard, exercise their rights, challenge discrimination or hold decision-makers accountable.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The challenges occasioned by the outbreak of Covid-19 have to be addressed<strong> while preserving the constitutional commitment</strong> to ensuring the delivery of and access to justice to those who seek it.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>ICT and Delivery of Justice</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Guidelines:</strong> The Supreme Court also issued the following<strong> guidelines to streamline the use of Information and Communications Technology (ICT)</strong> in effective delivery of Justice: <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>High Courts:</strong> The High Courts to decide the modalities for the use of videoconferencing technologies in their respective States.</li>
<li><strong>District Courts:</strong> District courts in each State would adopt the mode of videoconferencing prescribed by the respective High Courts.</li>
<li><strong>Helplines:</strong> Helplines to be set up to receive and rectify technical complaints.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>The <strong>courts should make available video conferencing facilities</strong> for litigants who do not have it or appoint an amicus curiae (friend of the court).</li>
<li><strong>Mutual Consent of Parties:</strong> The court said in no case shall evidence be recorded without the mutual consent of both the parties by videoconferencing.</li>
<li><strong>Social Distancing:</strong> If it is necessary to record evidence in a courtroom, the presiding officer shall ensure the social distancing to be followed.</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Article 142</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>It provides <strong>discretionary power to the Supreme Court</strong> as it states that the Supreme Court in the exercise of its jurisdiction may pass such decree or make such order as is <strong>necessary for doing complete justice</strong> in any cause or matter pending before it.</li>
<li><strong>Constructive Application:</strong> In the early years of the evolution of Article 142, the general public and the lawyers both lauded the Supreme Court for its efforts to bring complete justice to various deprived sections of society or to protect the environment.</li>
<li>In the <strong>Union Carbide case,</strong> relating to the victims of the Bhopal gas tragedy, the <strong>Supreme Court placed itself above the laws made by the Parliament</strong> or the legislatures of the States by saying that, to do complete justice, it <strong>could even override the laws made by Parliament.</strong>
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>However, in the <em><strong>Supreme Court Bar Association v. Union of India,</strong> </em>the Supreme Court stated that <strong>Article 142 could not be used to supplant</strong> the existing law, but only to <strong>supplement the law.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Cases of Judicial Overreach:</strong> In recent years, there have been several judgments of the Supreme Court wherein it has been <strong>foraying into areas which had long been forbidden to the judiciary by reason of the doctrine of &lsquo;separation of powers&rsquo;,</strong> which is part of the basic structure of the Constitution. One such example is:<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>The ban on the sale of alcohol along national and state highways:</strong> While the notification by the central government prohibited liquor stores along National Highways only, the Supreme Court put in place a ban on a distance of 500 metres by invoking Article 142.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</div>
<p><a href="https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/coronavirus-restrictions-on-court-hearings-lawful-says-supreme-court/article31274285.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/restrictions-on-court-hearings-lawful'
	],
	(int) 3 => [
		'title' => 'Measures for Smooth Disbursal of Funds Under PMGKY',
		'catname' => 'News Analysis',
		'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>Recently, the Ministry of Finance has tweaked <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/changes-in-the-prevention-of-money-laundering-act" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Prevention of Money Laundering (PML)</strong></a> norms with the aim to make all inoperative bank accounts functional.</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>This is to ensure that cash transfers by the government under the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/coronavirus-disease-named-covid-19" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>COVID-19</strong></a> relief package (Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Yojana (PMGKY) scheme) reach beneficiaries.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>As a part of the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/covid-19-economic-relief-package" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Yojana (PMGKY) scheme</strong></a>, the government has decided to<strong> transfer ₹500 per month for three months to the poor and vulnerable sections of the society</strong> whose livelihood has been impacted due to the nationwide <strong>lockdown.</strong></li>
<li>The PML norms have been tweaked to ensure that beneficiaries are able to withdraw the money transferred to them by the government <strong>without any problems or requirement of additional documentation.</strong></li>
<li>The Rules have been amended in respect of
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/important-facts-for-prelims-6th-september-2018" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Pradhan Mantri Jan Dhan Yojana accounts.</strong></a></li>
<li>Basic savings account and small accounts.</li>
<li>Those accounts which have become inoperative due to various reasons including <strong>Non-completion of Know Your Customer (KYC)</strong> requirements or updation.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Accounts that may have become dysfunctional</strong> due to non-operation in the account for the last two years have also been <strong>made functional.</strong></li>
<li>The Finance Ministry had also requested the <strong>Ministry of Home Affairs for adequate security personnel at bank branches</strong> and with the business correspondents
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>This is to maintain law and order, and social distancing, in view of the higher customer footfall expected for cash withdrawals after the transfers are made.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Money laundering</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>It is the <strong>concealing or disguising the identity of illegally obtained proceeds</strong> so that they appear to have originated from legitimate sources.</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>Round Tripping of Funds</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Round tripping refers to money that leaves the country through various channels and makes its way back into the country often as foreign investment.</li>
<li>This mostly involves black money and is allegedly often used for stock price manipulation.</li>
</ul>
</div>
<h3>Prevention of Money-Laundering Act</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Prevention of Money-Laundering Act (PMLA), 2002</strong> deals with money laundering and has three main objectives :
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>To prevent and control money laundering.</li>
<li>To provide for confiscation and seizure of property obtained from laundered money.</li>
<li>To deal with any other issue connected with money-laundering in India.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>Under the PMLA Act,<strong> the Enforcement Directorate</strong> is empowered to conduct a Money Laundering investigation.</li>
<li><strong>PMLA (Amendment) Act, 2012</strong>
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Adds the concept of <strong>&lsquo;reporting entity&rsquo;</strong> which includes a banking company, financial institution, intermediary etc.</li>
<li>It prescribes <strong>obligation of banking companies, financial institutions and intermediaries for</strong>
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li><strong>Verification and maintenance of records of the identity of all its clients</strong> and also of all transactions.</li>
<li>Furnishing information of such transactions in prescribed form to the<strong> Financial Intelligence Unit-India (FIU-IND).</strong>
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>It empowers the Director of FIU-IND to impose fine on banking company, financial institution or intermediary if they or any of its officers fails to comply with the provisions of the Act as indicated above.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>PMLA, 2002 levied a fine up to Rs 5 lakh, but the amendment act has removed this upper limit.</li>
<li>It has provided for <strong>provisional attachment and confiscation of property</strong> of any person involved in such activities.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Financial Intelligence Unit-India</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>FIU-IND is a <strong>central, national agency</strong> responsible for receiving, processing, analyzing and disseminating information relating to suspect financial transactions to enforcement agencies and foreign FIUs.</li>
<li>It was set <strong>up in 2004.</strong></li>
<li>It is an <strong>independent body</strong> reporting directly to the Economic Intelligence Council (EIC) headed by the<strong> Finance Minister.</strong></li>
</ul>
</div>
<p><a href="https://www.thehindu.com/business/centre-tweaks-rules-to-make-inactive-accounts-functional/article31259624.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/measures-for-smooth-disbursal-of-funds-under-pmgky'
	],
	(int) 4 => [
		'title' => 'Animals and Covid-19',
		'catname' => 'News Analysis',
		'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>Owing to a recent news report on a Tiger being infected with <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/coronavirus-disease-named-covid-19" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Covid-19</strong></a> in New York (Bronx Zoo), the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change has issued an advisory regarding the containing and management of Covid-19 in National Parks/Sanctuaries/Tiger Reserves.</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Also, a tiger in <strong>Pench Tiger Reserve (Madhya Pradesh)</strong> has died due to respiratory illness. The National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) is investigating whether the tiger should be tested for the novel coronavirus disease.</li>
<li>However, swabs from the throat and nose to test for<strong> rhinotracheitis, a viral infection that afflicts cats and causes respiratory illness</strong> were collected.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Spread of Infection from humans to animals</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The Bronx Zoo case suggests that a zoo employee spread the virus to the tiger.</li>
<li>The virus came from an animal source and mutated; humans have since been infecting humans. Thus, it is <strong>theoretically possible for the virus to mutate again</strong> to survive in certain species after being transmitted by humans.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Advisory by the MInistry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>It has asked all <strong>Chief Wildlife Wardens (CWLWs)</strong> of all States/UTs to take immediate preventive measures to stop the transmission and spread of the virus from humans to animals and vice versa, in National Parks/Sanctuaries and Tiger Reserves.</li>
<li>The CWLW is the <strong>statutory authority under the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972</strong> who heads the Wildlife Wing of a State Forest Department and exercises complete administrative control over Protected Areas (PAs) within a state.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Guidelines issued by the NTCA and CZA</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Both the Central Zoo Authority (CZA) and the NTCA have issued guidelines that require zoos to be on the &ldquo;highest alert&rdquo; and monitor animals on closed-circuit cameras 24/7 for &ldquo;abnormal behaviour and symptoms.&rdquo;</li>
<li>The CZA has also directed zookeepers to approach sick animals wearing personal protective equipment and isolate and quarantine them.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Central Zoo Authority</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The CZA is a <strong>statutory body</strong> whose main objective is to enforce minimum standards and norms for upkeep and health care of animals in Indian zoos. It was established in <strong>1992.</strong></li>
<li>Zoos are regulated as per the provisions of <strong>Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972</strong> and are guided by the <strong>National Zoo Policy, 1998.</strong></li>
</ul>
<p><strong>National Tiger Conservation Authority</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>NTCA is a <strong>statutory body</strong> under the Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate Change.</li>
<li>It was <strong>established in December, 2005</strong> following the recommendations of the Tiger Task Force.</li>
<li>It was constituted under enabling provisions of the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972, and amended in 2006, for strengthening tiger conservation, as per powers and functions assigned to it .</li>
</ul>
</div>
<h3>Pench Tiger Reserve</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Pench Tiger Reserve, <strong>Seoni (Madhya Pradesh)</strong> is one of the major Protected Areas of <strong>Satpura-Maikal ranges</strong> of the Central Highlands. It was <strong>included in the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/status-of-conservation-of-tigers" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Project Tiger</a> in 1992-93.</strong></li>
<li>It is among the sites notified as <strong>Important Bird Areas</strong> of India. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The IBA is a programme of Birdlife International which aims to identify, monitor and protect a global network of IBAs for conservation of the world&rsquo;s birds and associated diversity.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>It has a <strong>contiguous forest cover with Kanha Tiger Reserve and Pench Tiger Reserve (Maharashtra).</strong></li>
<li>The area of the Pench Tiger Reserve and the surrounding area is the real story area of <strong>Rudyard Kipling's famous "The Jungle Book".</strong></li>
<li>The <strong>forests</strong> found in Pench Tiger Reserve are divided <strong>into three parts:</strong> southern tropical wet dry forest, southern tropical dry deciduous teak forest and southern tropical dry deciduous mixed forest.</li>
<li>The <strong>major Carnivores</strong> are Tiger, leopard, wild cat, wild dog, hyena, jackal, fox, wolf, weasel, among the vegetarian species, Gaur, Nilgai, Sambar, Chital, Chasinga, Chinkara, Wild Pig etc. are prominent.</li>
<li>There are a<strong> lot of migratory birds</strong> seen in the cold season. Among the migratory birds, Ruddy shelduck, Pintail, Whistling Teal and Vegtel etc are prominent.</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1586255032_Image%203.jpg" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1586255032_Image 3.jpg" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="600" caption="false" /></a></p>
<p><a href="https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/pench-tiger-death-raises-covid-19-fears/article31275062.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/animals-and-covid-19'
	],
	(int) 5 => [
		'title' => 'Fall in IHS Markit India Services Business Activity Index',
		'catname' => 'News Analysis',
		'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>The <strong>IHS Markit India Services Business Activity Index (i.e Service Purchasing Managers&rsquo; Index (PMI))</strong> was at 49.3 in March, down from February&rsquo;s 85-month high of 57.5.</p>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The Index is <strong>compiled by IHS Markit</strong> for more than 40 economies worldwide. IHS Markit is a global leader in information, analytics and solutions for the major industries and markets that drive economies worldwide.</li>
<li>The fall implies contraction in India&rsquo;s <a href="/to-the-points/paper3/sectors-of-indian-economy" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>services sector activity</strong></a> during March basically due to <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/coronaviruses" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>COVID-19.</strong></a><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The COVID-19 pandemic has reduced demand, particularly in overseas markets. Nationwide store closures and prohibition to leave the house weighed heavily on the services economy.</li>
<li>In PMI parlance, a print above 50 means expansion, while a score below that denotes contraction.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>The <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/purchasing-manager-s-index" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Composite PMI Output Index</strong></a> that maps both the manufacturing and services sector also fell to 50.6 in March, down 7 points from February&rsquo;s 57.6.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>This signals a <strong>sharp slowdown in private sector output growth</strong> and brought an abrupt end to the recent strong upward-moving expansion trend.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Purchasing Managers' Index</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>PMI is an index of the prevailing direction of <strong>economic trends in the manufacturing and service sectors.</strong></li>
<li>It consists of a diffusion index that summarizes whether<strong> market conditions,</strong> as viewed by purchasing managers, are expanding, staying the same, or contracting.</li>
<li>The purpose of the PMI is to provide information about <strong>current and future business conditions to company decision makers, analysts, and investors.</strong></li>
<li>It is <strong>different from the Index of Industrial Production (IIP),</strong> which also gauges the level of activity in the economy.</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Index of Industrial Production</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The Index of Industrial Production (IIP) is an index which details out the growth of various sectors in an economy such as mineral mining, electricity, manufacturing, etc.</li>
<li>It is compiled and published monthly by the <strong>Central Statistical Organisation (CSO), Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation.</strong></li>
<li>The <strong>Base Year of the Index of Eight Core Industries</strong> has been revised from the year 2004-05 to 2011-12 from April, 2017.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The eight core industries comprise 40.27% of the weight of items included in the Index of Industrial Production (IIP).</li>
<li>The eight Core Industries in decreasing order of their weightage: Refinery Products&gt; Electricity&gt; Steel&gt; Coal&gt; Crude Oil&gt; Natural Gas&gt; Cement&gt; Fertilizers.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>Difference between PMI and IIP</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>IIP covers the <strong>broader industrial sector compared to PMI.</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Index of Industrial Production (IIP) measures <strong>growth in the industrial sector.</strong></li>
<li>IIP shows the <strong>change in production volume</strong> in major industrial sub sectors like manufacturing, mining and electricity.</li>
<li>Similarly, the IIP also gives <strong>use based (capital goods, consumer goods etc) trends in industrial production.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>PMI is more dynamic compared to a standard industrial production index.</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The PMI senses dynamic trends because of the variable it uses for the construction of the index compared to <strong>volume based production indicators like the IIP.</strong></li>
<li>For example, new orders under PMI show growth oriented positive trends and not just volume of past production that can be traced in an ordinary Index of Industrial Production.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</div>
<p><a href="https://www.thehindu.com/business/Economy/covid-19-pandemic-pulls-indias-service-sector-activity-into-contraction-mode/article31267554.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/fall-in-ihs-markit-india-services-business-activity-index'
	],
	(int) 6 => [
		'title' => 'Mahavir Jayanti',
		'catname' => 'News Analysis',
		'desc' => '<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Mahavir Jayanti is one of the most auspicious festivals in the <a href="/to-the-points/paper1/jainism-2" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Jain community.</strong></a></li>
<li>This day marks the <strong>birth of Vardhamana Mahavira,</strong> who was the <strong>24<sup>th</sup> and the last Tirthankara</strong> who succeeded the <strong>23<sup>rd</sup> Tirthankara, Parshvanatha.</strong></li>
<li>According to Jain texts, Lord Mahavira was born on the 13<sup>th</sup> day of the bright half of the moon in the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/traditional-new-year-festivals" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>month of Chaitra.</strong></a><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>As per the Gregorian calendar, Mahavir Jayanti is usually celebrated during the month of March or April. In 2020, Mahavir Jayanti was celebrated on 6<sup>th</sup> of April.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>A procession is called with the idol of Lord Mahavira called the <strong>Rath Yatra.</strong></li>
<li>Reciting stavans or Jain prayers, statues of the lord are given a ceremonial bath called <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/mahamastakabhisheka-celebrations" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>abhisheka.</strong></a></li>
</ul>
<h3>Lord Mahavira</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Mahavir was born to <strong>King Siddhartha of Kundagrama and Queen Trishala, a Lichchhavi princess</strong> in the year 540 BC in the <strong>Vajji kingdom,</strong> identical with modern day Vaishali in Bihar.</li>
<li>Mahavira belonged to the <strong>Ikshvaku dynasty.</strong></li>
<li>There are several historians who believe that he was born in a place called <strong>Ahalya bhumi</strong> and the land has not been plowed for hundreds of years by the family that owns it.</li>
<li>Lord Mahavir was named Vardhamana, which means<strong> &ldquo;one who grows&rdquo;.</strong></li>
<li>He abandoned worldly life at the age of 30 and attained <strong>&lsquo;kaivalya&rsquo; or omniscience at the age of 42.</strong></li>
<li>Mahavira taught ahimsa (non-violence), Satya (truth), asteya (non-stealing), brahmacharya (chastity) and aparigraha (non-attachment) to his disciples and his teachings were called <strong>Jain Agamas.</strong></li>
<li>Ordinary people were able to understand the teachings of Mahavira and his followers because they <strong>used Prakrit.</strong></li>
<li>It is believed that the Mahavira passed away and attained moksha (liberation from the cycle of birth and death) at the age of 72 in 468 BC at a place called Pavapuri near modern Rajgir in Bihar.</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Jainism</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The word Jaina comes from the term <strong>Jina, meaning conqueror.</strong></li>
<li>Tirthankara is a <strong>Sanskrit word meaning 'Ford maker',</strong> i.e., one who is able to ford the river, to cross beyond the perpetual flow of earthly life.</li>
<li>Jainism attaches utmost importance to ahimsa or non-violence.</li>
<li>It preaches <strong>5 mahavratas (the 5 great vows):</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Ahimsa (Non-violence)</li>
<li>Satya (Truth)</li>
<li>Asteya or Acharya (Non-stealing)</li>
<li>Aparigraha (Non-attachment/Non-possession)</li>
<li>Brahmacharya (Celibacy/Chastity)</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>Among these 5 teachings, the <strong>Brahmacharya (Celibacy/Chastity) was added by Mahavira.</strong></li>
<li>The<strong> three jewels or Triratna of Jainism include</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Samyak Darshana (right faith).</li>
<li>Samyak Gyana (right knowledge).</li>
<li>Samyak Charitra (right conduct).</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>Jainism is a religion of <strong>self-help.</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>There are no gods or spiritual beings that will help human beings.</li>
<li>It does not condemn the varna system.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>In later times, it got divided into <strong>two sects: </strong>
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Shvetambaras (white-clad)</strong> under <strong>Sthalabahu.</strong></li>
<li><strong>Digambaras (sky-clad)</strong> under the leadership of <strong>Bhadrabahu.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>The important idea in Jainism is that the <strong>entire world is animated:</strong> even stones, rocks, and water <strong>have life.</strong></li>
<li><strong>Non-injury to living beings,</strong> especially to humans, animals, plants, and insects, is central to Jaina philosophy.</li>
<li>According to Jain teachings, <strong>the cycle of birth and rebirth is shaped through karma.</strong></li>
<li><strong>Asceticism and penance</strong> are required to free oneself from the cycle of karma and achieve the liberation of the soul.</li>
<li>The practice of <strong>Santhara</strong> is also a part of Jainism.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>It is the ritual of fasting unto death. Swetambara Jains call it Santhara whereas Digambars call it <strong>Sallekhana.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</div>',
		'postdate' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenTime) {},
		'url' => 'https://www.drishtiias.com/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/mahavir-jayanti-1'
	],
	(int) 7 => [
		'title' => 'Higher Education In India',
		'catname' => 'News Editorials',
		'desc' => '<div class="border">
<p>This article is based on <a href="https://www.epw.in/journal/2020/14/commentary/idea-university-india.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>&ldquo;The Idea of a University in India&rdquo;</strong></a> which was published in Economic and Political Weekly on 04/04/2020. It talks about challenges faced by higher education in India.</p>
</div>
<p>In India, universities were established as early as in <strong>1857</strong> (Calcutta, Bombay and Madras Universities were all established in the same year). These universities didn't emerge to keep pace with the growth of knowledge, but to fulfill the interests handpicked by the colonial rulers.</p>
<p>Universities in independent India were based on the <strong>idea of state welfarism.</strong> It sought to grant equal opportunities to its citizens in accessing national resources, made university education not only accessible, but also converted it into a mass product.</p>
<p>Thus, the <strong>massification of higher education</strong> went on with the increase in the number of universities along with enrolments. It got further aggravated after Liberalisation, Privatisation and Globalisation (LPG reforms) in 1990-91.</p>
<p>However, massification of higher education has to deal with <strong>multiple challenges of accessibility, equity and quality.</strong></p>
<h3>Higher Education In India</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Higher education follows a trajectory in which it will transform from being the privilege of <strong>a few (elite phenomenon), to a resource of the majority, more as a right (mass phenomena), and finally a collective obligation (a universal phenomenon).</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Elite level implies a national enrolment ratio of (up to) 15%, the mass level ranges between 15% and 50%, and surpassing 50% enrolment is indicative of the universalisation of higher education.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>Higher education in India by these standards stands out to be in a stage of initial massification with <strong>26.3% Gross Enrolment Ratio (GER) in 2018-19.</strong></li>
<li>This massification of higher education happens through:<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Changing policy perspectives (that guarantee rapid expansion of higher education institutions and enrolments).</li>
<li>Growing impact of democratic forces in politics (democratisation of higher education).</li>
<li>Strong voices from the civil society (endorsing accessibility and spread of higher education).</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Note:</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>As per the 2018 All India Survey of Higher Education data, there are 903 universities, 37.98% of them are privately managed.</li>
<li>The GER for the male population is 26.3%, and for female population it is 25.4% (Department of Higher Education</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1586174208_image1.png" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1586174208_image1.png" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="700" caption="false" /></a></p>
</div>
<h3>Challenges faced by Higher Education In India</h3>
<p><strong>Enterprise Model</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>According to the <strong>National Knowledge Commission (NKC) Report (2009),</strong> the higher education institutions have been primarily visualised as an application-oriented enterprise.</li>
<li>These are directed towards translating scientific knowledge into innovation-oriented application, and thereby making the entire process a commercially exploitable property. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>India&rsquo;s higher educational institutions are not even to inculcate scientific and innovation-led outlook amongst the students.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>Pedagogy and assessment are focused on input and rote learning and there are neglected skills, including critical thinking, analytical reasoning, problem-solving and collaborative working.</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>Passive and Catching-up Mode</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Scholars have identified two different modes of massification at the global level, namely <strong>an active mode, and a passive and catching-up mode.</strong></li>
<li>The<strong> &ldquo;active mode&rdquo;</strong> is exemplified by developed countries, where the massification of higher education took place more as a natural outcome of economic development.</li>
<li>The<strong> &ldquo;passive and catching-up&rdquo;</strong> mode can be experienced in developing countries where the massification of higher education is often pushed as a leap forward by the government, while the level of economic development might not have increased adequately.</li>
<li>Education systems based on passive and catching-up mode may suffer from issues like <strong>lack of adequate skills &amp; jobs and underemployment.</strong></li>
<li><strong>India is among many countries where the &ldquo;passive and catching-up&rdquo; mode of massification is largely in operation.</strong></li>
</ul>
<p><strong>Problem of Scarcity</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Consequently, countries characterised by the &ldquo;passive and catching-up&rdquo; mode of massification have to<strong> rely more on private rather than government-aided institutions for obvious economic reasons.</strong></li>
<li>The heavy dependence on privately-managed institutes as a means of massification has often resulted in debatable consequences, to the extent of perpetuating inequality in accessing higher education.</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>Two-boxed System</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>In India there are separate research institutes and universities.</strong></li>
<li>The separation in higher education between teaching institutions and research institutions post-independence has caused much harm, as most universities and colleges in the country today conduct very little research.</li>
<li>According to draft National Education Policy 2019, <strong>the proportion of GDP devoted to research and innovation in India has dropped over the past decade, from 0.84% of GDP in 2008 to 0.69% in 2014 --</strong> which is substantially lower than the percentages for Israel (4.3%), South Korea (4.2%) and the U.S. (2.8 %).</li>
<li>Also, there are very few opportunities for interdisciplinary learning.</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>Other Issues</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>One of the greatest challenges faced by higher education in India is the <strong>chronic</strong> <strong>shortage of teaching faculty.</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Nearly 30 to 40% of faculty positions are vacant.</li>
<li>Further, most faculty lack quality in teaching, research and training.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>None of the universities and institutions from India are in the list of top hundred universities in the world.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>This resulted in graduates with low employability, a common feature of higher education in India.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>An ineffective quality assurance system and lack of autonomy and accountability by institutions to the state and central government, students and other stakeholders.</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1586174052_image2.png" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1586174052_image2.png" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" caption="false" width="538" height="528" /></a></p>
<h3>Way Forward</h3>
<p>The role of higher education in shaping the students&rsquo; future depends on a transparent, progressive, socially responsible and ethical educational system. In this context, the<a href="/loksabha-rajyasabha-discussions/draft-national-education-policy-2019" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong> draft National Education Policy 2019</strong> </a>calls for fundamentally restructuring the country's higher education system.</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The policy seeks to boost India's research capacity, doubling the gross enrollment rate from 25 to 50% by 2035, and substantially <strong>increasing expenditures on public education,</strong> which currently account for 10% of all government spending.</li>
<li>It also revives a long-stalled idea of <strong>inviting top-ranked foreign universities</strong> to operate in India and suggests legislation will be introduced to this effect.</li>
<li>The policy calls for all <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/issues-in-higher-education-institutions-in-india" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>higher education institutions</strong> </a>to &ldquo;evolve&rdquo; into one of <strong>three types of multidisciplinary institutions: Research universities, teaching universities and colleges.</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>It also calls for building research capacities at all institutions and the establishment of a National Research Foundation.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>The draft policy includes a wide range of other proposals:<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Adopting a more liberal arts-oriented form of undergraduate education.</li>
<li>Moving away from rote learning in curriculum and pedagogy.</li>
<li>Improving faculty autonomy and developing a robust and merit-based tenure track, promotion and salary structure.</li>
<li>Increasing institutional autonomy, with institutions to be governed by independent boards.<br />Revamping the regulatory system to only have one regulator for all of higher education.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<p>Though, the draft education policy seems very promising, the real challenge would be the proper implementation of this.</p>
<table border="1" style="border-collapse: collapse; width: 100%;">
<tbody>
<tr>
<td style="width: 100%; border-style: dotted; border-color: #f70000; background-color: #e3e6ff;">
<p><span style="color: #000080;"><em><strong>Drishti Mains Question</strong></em></span></p>
<p>Discuss the challenges and solutions pertaining to the higher education sector In India.</p>
</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>',
		'postdate' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenTime) {},
		'url' => 'https://www.drishtiias.com/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/higher-education-in-india-3'
	],
	(int) 8 => [
		'title' => 'Indian Migrants and Challenges',
		'catname' => 'News Analysis',
		'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>Recently, the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/coronaviruses" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Covid-19</strong></a> lockdown has led to an exodus of migrant workers from cities to rural areas and threw the spotlight on the vast number of Indians who live outside their home states.</p>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Internal Migrants (Movement of People Within a Country)</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Internal migrants in India are a vast and heterogeneous population. They are of three traits (in general): <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>they predominantly<strong> migrate from villages to cities;</strong></li>
<li>they are <strong>low-income populations </strong>who <strong>work in the informal sector;</strong></li>
<li>they have <strong>not permanently relocated their families to the city.</strong> Instead, they circulate between villages and cities several times a year.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</div>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Reasons for Migration</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Lakhs of migrant workers were rendered jobless as urban areas were shut due to lockdown.</li>
<li>Night shelters run by local authorities began overflowing, and supplies started dwindling.</li>
<li>These migrants were left with no choice but to head towards their hometowns.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>Governments are of the view that the<strong> migration crisis</strong> is purely as a consequence of the challenges of Covid-19. However, some experts argue that there are some structural inadequacies in public understanding of <strong>circular rural-urban migrants.</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Circular migration is the temporary and usually repetitive movement of a migrant worker between home and host areas, typically for the purpose of employment.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Structural Inadequacies</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The first is an<strong> inability to recognise the size</strong> and <strong>importance</strong> of these communities.</li>
<li>The second is <strong>inability to correctly count such migrants</strong> because of the<strong> informal conditions</strong> in which they live and work, and <strong>their shuttling between their villages and cities.</strong></li>
<li>These inabilities have real costs,<strong> rendering governments ill-prepared to anticipate the responses of migrant communities at crucial moments.</strong></li>
<li>It is being said that the <strong>policymakers were unprepared</strong> for the speed and desperation with which these migrants attempted to return home following the lockdown order.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>The Supreme Court has stated that the migrants be treated in a humane manner, including by providing them with enough food, water, beds and supplies as well as psychosocial counselling in shelters that are run by volunteers and not security forces.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Way Forward</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Recognition of circular migrants</strong> as part of India&rsquo;s urban population.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>It might compel authorities to at least consider how proposed policies might impact these communities.</li>
<li>At present, such ex-ante awareness would have allowed the government to decide whether to target scarce resources towards enabling safe return or keep migrants in destination cities.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Relaxing the restrictions</strong> that prevent migrants from accessing vital benefits such as food rations in their destination cities. Reconfiguring the domicile-centric public distribution system can help migrants.</li>
<li><strong>Prioritising dedicated transport options for migrants</strong> to prevent overcrowding, especially along high-intensity migration corridors.</li>
<li>Special Measures should also take into account the <strong>particular situation of migrant women,</strong> who are among those most economically vulnerable and impacted by the situation.</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="https://www.hindustantimes.com/analysis/despite-covid-19-why-did-migrant-workers-go-back/story-NPhLzTd4joLSovjMDxCtaM.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Source: HT</strong></a></p>',
		'postdate' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenTime) {},
		'url' => 'https://www.drishtiias.com/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/indian-migrants-and-challenges'
	],
	(int) 9 => [
		'title' => 'Year End Review 2019: Ministry of Tribal Affairs',
		'catname' => 'Paper 2',
		'desc' => '<h3>Important Schemes and Policies</h3>
<p><strong>Pradhan Manti Van Dhan Yojana (PMVDY)</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>It is a market-linked tribal entrepreneurship development program for forming clusters of tribal SHGs and strengthening them into Tribal Producer Companies.</li>
<li>Launched in 2018, the scheme is being implemented by<a href="/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-national-institutions/apeda-trifed" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong> TRIFED.</strong></a></li>
<li>PMVDY is an initiative targeting livelihood generation for tribals by harnessing the wealth of forest i.e. Van Dhan.</li>
<li>The programme aims to tap into traditional knowledge &amp; skill sets of tribals by adding technology &amp; IT to upgrade it at each stage and to convert the tribal wisdom into a viable economic activity.</li>
<li>The Van Dhan initiative shall promote and leverage the collective strength of tribals to achieve a viable scale to take on the predatory market forces in the areas where these are still prevalent.</li>
<li>Proposition is to set-up tribal community owned Minor Forest Produce (MFP)-centric multi-purpose Van Dhan Vikas Kendras (the Kendra) in predominantly tribal districts.</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/eklavya-model-residential-schools" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Eklavya Model Residential Schools (EMRSs)</strong></a></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>55 EMRSs have been made functional in 2019 with an enrolment of 4833 new students.</li>
<li><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/eklavya-model-residential-and-day-boarding-schools" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Eklavya Model Residential Schools (EMRS)</strong> </a>started in the year 1997-98 to impart quality education to ST children in remote areas.</li>
<li>As per the budget 2018-19, every block with more than 50% Schedule Tribe (ST) population and at least 20,000 tribal persons, will have an Eklavya Model Residential School by the year 2022.</li>
<li>These are being set up by grants provided under Article 275(1) of the Constitution.</li>
<li>There will be an autonomous society under the ministry of tribal affairs &mdash; similar to Navodaya Vidyalaya Samiti &mdash; to run the EMRSs.</li>
<li><strong>Objective:</strong> To provide quality middle and high-level education to Scheduled Tribe (ST) students in remote areas, not only to enable them to avail of reservation in high and professional educational courses and as jobs in government and public and private sectors but also to have access to the best opportunities in education at par with the non ST population.</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>Minor Forest Produce</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The number of Minor Forest Produce (MFPs) notified has been revised from 23 to 49 under &lsquo;Mechanism for Marketing of MFP through Minimum Support Price (MSP) and Development of Value Chain for MFP&rsquo; scheme. MFPs contribute up to 80% of tribal communities&rsquo; cash income.</li>
<li>Launched in 2013, the central sector scheme aims to ensure fair monetary returns to MFP gatherers for their efforts in the collection, primary processing, storage, packaging, transportation etc.</li>
<li>The scheme envisages fixation and declaration of Minimum Support Price for the selected MFP based on the suggestions /inputs received from TRIFED.</li>
<li>MFPs include all non-timber forest produce of plant origin and will include bamboo, canes, fodder, leaves, gums, waxes, dyes, resins and many forms of food including nuts, wild fruits, Honey, Lac, Tusser etc.</li>
<li>The Minor Forest Produces provide both subsistence and cash income for people who live in or near forests. They form a major portion of their food, fruits, medicines and other consumption items and also provide cash income through sale.</li>
<li>Scheduled Tribes and Other Traditional Forest Dwellers (Recognition of Forest Rights) Act, 2006, defined MFPs for the first time in 2007.</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>e-Governance Initiatives for ST Welfare Schemes</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Ministry is funding about 250 NGOs for 350 projects mainly on Health and Education in the deficient service area, LWS areas, Border areas.</li>
<li>In order to bring transparency and efficiency in the release of funds to NGOs, the process of inviting applications, verification and release of funds is through a dedicated NGO portal.</li>
<li>Each NGO can now track the status of its application. In order to ensure NGOs utilize funds for the given purpose only, funds are monitored through EAT Module.</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Note:</strong></p>
<p><strong>EAT (Expenditure Advance Transfer) Module-</strong> Expenditure is done for running office requirement. Advance is given to Vendors, Staff and Beneficiaries for supply or service. Transfer is always done to the lower level agency. EAT Module is also called Expenditure Filing Module.</p>
</div>
<p><strong>Focus on Health, Water and Livelihood</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Ice stupas are being established in 50 villages in Ladakh which will solve the problem of drinking water and water required for agriculture.</li>
<li>Projects have been given to some of the private companies on sheep rearing, packaging of apricot and peas.</li>
<li>Ministry has prepared a Health Action Plan to mitigate the gaps in health infrastructure and other health services in the tribal dominated areas.</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>Tribal Healers and Knowledge</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Tribals have vast traditional knowledge of treating diseases with locally available medicinal plants.</li>
<li>Tribal Research Institute (TRI) Uttarakhand has been made nodal TRI for coordination of research works being conducted for tribal medicine by various Centres of Excellence and TRIS so as to create a centralized knowledge hub on the subject.</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>Tribal Forest Rights</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change has completely withdrawn the draft amendment to Indian Forest Act (IFA), 1927.</li>
<li>The amendments had drawn a lot of criticism from tribal organisations as it gave forest officers the power to shoot people and notify any area as &lsquo;production forests&rsquo; among other issues.</li>
</ul>',
		'postdate' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenTime) {},
		'url' => 'https://www.drishtiias.com/to-the-points/Paper2/year-end-review-2019-ministry-of-tribal-affairs'
	],
	(int) 10 => [
		'title' => 'Online Classes due to Covid-19',
		'catname' => 'News Analysis',
		'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>The <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/21-days-lockdown" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>lockdown</strong></a> due to the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/coronavirus-disease-named-covid-19" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Covid-19</strong></a> <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/covid-19-now-pandemic-who" target="_blank" rel="noopener">pandemic</a> has led to closing of educational institutes like schools, colleges and coaching institutions.</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The educational institutes are thus switching to <strong>e-learning.</strong></li>
</ul>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Different e-learning Techniques Being Used</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>YouTube, Zoom app</strong> and<strong> Google Classroom</strong> are being used by some institutions.</li>
<li>The <strong>Kendriya Vidyalaya Sangathan</strong> has deployed its <strong>SWAYAM Prabha portal</strong> which has lectures on <strong>DTH (<a href="/loksabha-rajyasabha-discussions/the-big-picture-dth-v-s-ott" target="_blank" rel="noopener">direct-to-home</a>)</strong> and online, to help students.</li>
<li>Few states are <strong>trying to tap Doordarshan</strong> to remove access barriers.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>e-learning</strong> poses a <strong>challenge</strong> to teachers, students and their parents over <strong>technology and access</strong> that is why the <strong>effectiveness</strong> of the instructors (teachers) can <strong>not be analysed</strong> and also not every student is joining the virtual classes.</li>
<li><strong>Challenges</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>All of the students do not have laptops or tablet computers. Parents also use the computer for their work from home so children do not get a chance to use it.</li>
<li>Teachers are apprehensive about students using smartphones because of distracting apps.</li>
<li>Teachers too might have technical constraints and if teachers are equipped but the same might not be the case for the institutions.</li>
<li>The lockdown makes it worse for those who have technical problems in their devices.</li>
<li>Parents are finding it difficult to adjust to the online system. The added household work due to the absence of domestic help adds to their problem.</li>
<li>Most of the subjects like beauty culture, fashion design and tailoring, office management, travel and tourism, web design etc need practical learning so it is difficult to teach them from a distance.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Suggestions</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Online classes offered as live teaching can be sustained only with a mix of activities, worksheets and interactive sessions.</li>
<li>Teachers should have a structured plan which does not suffocate or burden them and also keep the students involved.</li>
<li>All institutions will have to chalk out an infrastructure plan which can be used in such a crisis.</li>
<li>Teachers need to be considerate about how children feel or what they are going through these days so an understanding should be developed.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>SWAYAM Prabha</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>It is an initiative of the <strong>Ministry of Human Resources Development</strong> to provide <strong>32 High Quality Educational Channels</strong> through DTH across the length and breadth of the country on 24X7 basis.</li>
<li>It has <strong>curriculum-based course content</strong> covering diverse disciplines.</li>
<li>This is primarily <strong>aimed</strong> at making<strong> quality learning resources</strong> accessible to remote areas where internet availability is still a challenge.</li>
<li>The DTH channels are using the<strong> GSAT-15 satellite</strong> for programme telecasts.</li>
</ul>
</div>
<p><a href="https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/in-the-time-of-the-pandemic-classes-go-online-and-on-air/article31264767.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/online-classes-due-to-covid-19'
	],
	(int) 11 => [
		'title' => 'Grounding of Aircraft Affects Weather Forecasting',
		'catname' => 'News Analysis',
		'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>Beginning mid-March, India began restricting incoming international flights into the country and by March 24 had imposed a total shutdown on domestic air travel as well to contain the spread of <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/coronaviruses" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Covid-19</strong></a>.</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The grounding of India&rsquo;s civilian aircraft has strangled a key source of weather data that the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/statement-on-climate-of-india-during-2019-imd" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>India Meteorological Department (IMD)</strong></a> uses for its forecasts.</li>
<li>Officials from the IMD, however,have clarified that India&rsquo;s annual monsoon forecast system is on track, with the first forecast scheduled to be issued in mid-April.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>A major factor for gauging the performance of the monsoon is the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/el-nino-forecast-for-2019" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>El Nino</strong></a>, a warming of the ocean waters in the equatorial Pacific Ocean. This data is measured by observational data buoys located in the sea and relayed via satellite. This <strong>data is not impacted so far.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Aviation and Weather Data:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Aircraft <strong>relay data about temperature and wind speed</strong> in the upper atmosphere to meteorological agencies the world over and this is used in the dynamical models.</li>
<li>Input from aircraft is important for the dynamical models as it determines the <strong>initial conditions</strong> for these models.</li>
<li>Aviation-generated data is also helpful to warn of <strong>developing thunderstorms or swings in temperatures</strong> that often begin at the heights aircraft traverse.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Dynamical model:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Dynamic models are generally models that contain or depend upon an <strong>element of time, especially allowing for interactions between variables over time.</strong></li>
<li>These stimulate the state of the atmosphere and oceans at a particular time and then extrapolate into the future using standard laws of physics.</li>
<li>These models are run on<strong> supercomputers</strong> and are relied on to give weather forecasts three days, or even two weeks ahead.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>IMD will move to traditional weather forecasting system:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>This year, the IMD will likely rely on its traditional statistical forecast system, the one developed on the basis of historical data.</li>
<li>However, even this will be difficult due to shortage of manpower in the Department owing to Covid-19.</li>
<li><span style="font-weight: 400;">The IMD issues its first forecast for the June-September monsoon in April and updates it in June.</span></li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>India and Weather Forecasting Model</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Traditional Model:</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Until 2010,</strong> the IMD used <strong>only statistical models</strong> to forecast the monsoon.</li>
<li>These <strong>involved identifying climate parameters</strong> linked to the performance of the monsoon. For example, the sea surface temperature gradient between North Atlantic and North Pacific, the volume of warm water in the equatorial Pacific, the Eurasian snow cover.</li>
<li>Their values in February and March are correlated to values of actual rainfall over a hundred years and then, using statistical techniques, extrapolated to forecast a particular year&rsquo;s monsoon.</li>
<li>This has, however, proved wrong and the <strong>IMD missed its mark on forecasting</strong> major droughts and rain-deficits particularly 2002, 2004 and 2006.</li>
<li>The IMD responded by finding new parameters but keeping the technique the same.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Dynamic Model:</strong> IMD started testing a dynamical system around 2015.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>This <strong>simulates the weather at a chosen set of locations on a given day &mdash;</strong> the land and ocean temperature, moisture, wind speeds at various heights, etc &mdash; and <strong>powerful computers</strong> calculate how these weather variables will change over days, weeks, months.</li>
<li>It's able to do this by solving physics equations that show how each of these weather variables is related to each other.</li>
<li>The IMD and several private weather agencies are increasingly relying on more sophisticated and high-resolution computer models to give localised forecasts, or warn farmers of changes in weather 10-15 days ahead. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Rather than long-range forecasts that only give a broad tenuous picture of the likely performance of the monsoon, the shorter forecasts are far more reliable and help farmers make decisions about sowing.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>These models are also useful for<strong> anticipating heat-wave or a cold-wave</strong> and therefore useful to urban planners and government.</li>
<li>Though meteorological agencies around the world are shifting to such techniques, they still aren&rsquo;t considered entirely reliable for forecasting the monsoon.</li>
<li>Further,<strong> India&rsquo;s dynamical model is still not as adept</strong> as meteorologists want them to be, for <strong>warning of a drought or extreme changes in <a href="/to-the-points/paper1/monsoon-2" target="_blank" rel="noopener">monsoon</a> rainfall.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>India Meteorological Department</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>IMD was <strong>established in 1875.</strong></li>
<li>It is an agency of the <strong>Ministry of Earth Sciences of the Government of India.</strong></li>
<li>It is the principal agency responsible for <strong>meteorological observations, weather forecasting and seismology.</strong></li>
</ul>
</div>
<p><a href="https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/coronavirus-lockdown-grounding-of-planes-partially-hits-imds-weather-data-supply/article31257641.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/grounding-of-aircraft-affects-weather-forecasting'
	],
	(int) 12 => [
		'title' => 'Free Testing and Treatment for Covid-19',
		'catname' => 'News Analysis',
		'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>Recently, the Central government has decided to <strong>provide free testing and treatment</strong> of coronavirus under the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/ayushmanbharat" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Ayushman Bharat Scheme or the Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana</strong></a> (PMJAY).</p>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Objective:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>To<strong> increase the supply</strong> of testing and treatment facilities.</li>
<li>To increase access by <strong>roping in the private sector</strong> through AB-PMJAY as per the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/antibody-kits-for-covid-19" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Indian Council for Medical Research</strong></a> (ICMR) guidelines.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>It will help more than 50 crore Ayushman beneficiaries to <strong>avail free testing</strong> and <strong>timely and standard treatment</strong> in designated private hospitals across India.</li>
<li>It will significantly <strong>expand government&rsquo;s capacities</strong> and <strong>mitigate the adverse impact</strong> of this <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/covid-19-now-pandemic-who" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>pandemic</strong></a> on the poor.</li>
<li>States have already enlisted private sector hospitals to convert them into <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/coronavirus-disease-named-covid-19" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Covid-19</strong></a> <strong>only hospitals.</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Hospitals can use their own authorised testing facilities or tie up with an authorised testing facility for the scheme.</li>
<li>These tests would be carried out as per the protocol set by ICMR and by <strong>private labs approved/registered</strong> by the ICMR.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>Information on <strong>symptoms, testing and treatment</strong> for the disease can be accessed from the website of the <strong>Ministry of Health and Family Welfare</strong> and by calling the <strong>national Covid-19 helpline 1075.</strong></li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Ayushman Bharat</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>It is a <strong>government-sponsored health insurance scheme</strong> which provides <strong>free coverage of up to ₹5 lakh per family per year</strong> at any government or even empanelled private hospitals all over India for secondary and tertiary medical care facilities.</li>
<li>Modicare is available for 74 crore beneficiary families and about 50 crore Indian citizens. Under the process, 80 percent of beneficiaries, based on the <strong>Socio-Economic Caste Census</strong> (SECC) data in the rural and the urban areas, have been identified.</li>
<li>There is <strong>no restriction on the basis of family size, age or gender.</strong></li>
<li>Ayushman Bharat is unlike other medical insurance schemes where there is a waiting period for pre-existing diseases. <strong>All kinds of diseases are covered</strong> from day one of the Ayushman Bharat policy. The benefit cover includes both <strong>pre and post hospitalization expenses.</strong></li>
<li>The expenditure incurred in premium payment will be shared between Central and State Governments in a specified ratio. The <strong>funding</strong> for the scheme is shared &ndash; <strong>60:40 for all states and UTs</strong> with their own legislature, <strong>90:10 in Northeast states and Jammu and Kashmir, Himachal and Uttarakhand</strong> and <strong>100% Central funding for UTs without legislature.</strong></li>
<li>It draws <strong>additional resources</strong> from the <strong>Health and Education Cess</strong> and also depends on funding from States to boost the Central allocation. The<strong> premiums</strong> are in the range of <strong>₹1,000-₹1,200 per annum.</strong></li>
<li>It <strong>pays</strong> for the hospitalisation costs of its beneficiaries <strong>through strategic purchasing from public and private hospitals.</strong></li>
</ul>
</div>
<p><a href="https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/coronavirus-testing-treatment-now-available-for-free-under-ayushman-bharat-scheme/article31261580.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/free-testing-and-treatment-for-covid-19'
	],
	(int) 13 => [
		'title' => 'Agriculture Reforms',
		'catname' => 'News Editorials',
		'desc' => '<div class="border">
<p>This article is based on <a href="https://www.epw.in/journal/2020/11/special-articles/reforming-indian-agriculture.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>&ldquo;Reforming Indian Agriculture&rdquo;</strong></a> which was published in Economic and Political Weekly on 14/03/2020. It talks about challenges and solutions pertaining to India&rsquo;s Agriculture sector.</p>
</div>
<p>India&rsquo;s agriculture policies have had <strong>multiple mandates,</strong> including a <strong>production imperative</strong> (national food security),<strong> a consumer imperative</strong> (keeping food prices low for a large low-income population), and<strong> a farmer welfare imperative</strong> (raising farmer&rsquo;s income).</p>
<p>Tensions between these mandates have resulted in costly, contradictory policies whose costs have been increasingly borne by farmers, the government purse, and the natural environment.</p>
<p>Realising the <strong>significance of Agriculture</strong> in India&rsquo;s socio-economic order, the government has set an <a href="/to-the-points/paper3/doubling-farmers-income-a-promise-to-be-fulfilled-by-2022" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>agenda of doubling farmer incomes</strong></a> by raising productivity and cutting down costs, and going for diversification towards high value agriculture.</p>
<p>However, Indian Agriculture is in the need for many fundamental reforms.</p>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Significance of Agriculture in India</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Highest Employment Provider: More Indians depend directly or indirectly on agriculture</strong> for employment than on any other sector.</li>
<li><strong>Addresses Malnutrition and provides food security:</strong> Agriculture holds a key to <strong>reducing India&rsquo;s malnutrition problem,</strong> directly affecting public health and worker productivity.</li>
<li><strong>Augmenting Economic Growth:</strong> Agriculture has the potential <strong>to</strong> <strong>spur India&rsquo;s overall gross domestic product (GDP)</strong> growth.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Agricultural growth of 4%, would add at least a percentage point to GDP, increase exports and improve India&rsquo;s trade deficit.</li>
<li><strong>Economic transformation</strong> in developing nations is propelled by increases in agricultural incomes underpinning industrial growth. For example, China's economic growth.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>India&rsquo;s vital land and water resources, which farmers used for agricultural production, assumes more significance especially in the face of mounting scarcity, environmental degradation, and climate change.</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>Actions Taken by Government to Increase Farmer Income</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Subsidizing Input Costs:</strong> Providing water,power and fertilizer subsidies to decrease production costs.</li>
<li><strong>Green Revolution:</strong> Increasing yields through better farming practices and timely availability of quality inputs, especially high yielding seeds, chemical fertilisers and water.</li>
<li><strong>Stabilizing Output Prices:</strong> Through minimum support prices (MSP) and public procurement.</li>
<li><strong>Augmenting Non-Crop related Agriculture Income: <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/annadata-to-urjadata" target="_blank" rel="noopener">KUSUM scheme.</a></strong></li>
<li><strong>Providing Direct Income Transfers to Farmers: <a href="/current-affairs-news-analysis-editorials/news-editorials/08-02-2019" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi (PM-KISAN).</a></strong></li>
</ul>
</div>
<h3>Associated Challenges In India&rsquo;s Agriculture</h3>
<p><strong>Issue Related to Subsidies</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Agricultural subsidies</strong> were introduced to incentivise farmers to take up the green revolution. Subsidies also intended to reduce the cost of production for farmers and to check food price inflation and protect consumers.</li>
<li>However, today it has become apparent that subsidies are<strong> inflicting significant damage on different aspects of the economy.</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Subsidised Urea</strong> has led to massive overuse of nitrogenous fertilisers, leading to damaged soils and pollution of local water bodies.</li>
<li>Similarly, <strong>power subsidies</strong> have not only led to an alarming overuse of groundwater,, but also it has severely damaged the health of power distribution companies.</li>
<li><strong>Credit subsidies like loan waivers</strong> have weakened the Indian banking system (due to increased NPAs), having negative spillover effects on the economy.</li>
<li><strong>Output price supports in the form of minimum support price (MSP)</strong> basically apply to only a handful of crops, especially wheat and rice that are procured by the government in a handful of states.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>Consumer Oriented Policies</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Whenever there is a price rise in any agricultural commodity, the <strong>government imposes restrictions on exports to protect Indian consumers.</strong> It creates hindrances for farmers taking advantage of high prices in foreign markets.</li>
<li>This, coupled with the <strong>Essential Commodities Act (ECA),</strong> has meant lower private investment in export infrastructure such as warehouses and cold storage systems.</li>
<li>This lack of storage infrastructure compels farmers to go for Distress sale.</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>Flawed Agricultural Marketing Policies</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Due to restrictions imposed by <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/agriculture-produce-to-agriculture-marketing" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Agricultural Produce Market Committee Acts</strong></a> passed by various states, <strong>Indian farmers today can only sell their produce at</strong> Farmgate or local market (haat) to village aggregators, APMC mandis and to government at the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/msp-agrarian-crisis-and-reform" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>minimum support price (MSP).</strong></a></li>
<li>The introduction of the electronic national agriculture market (e-NAM)&mdash;an online trading platform for agricultural commodities in India&mdash;is a step in the right direction. However, its effects have been underwhelming due to three major bottlenecks:<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Time cost of transactions</li>
<li>Quality assessment challenges</li>
<li>Transportation logistics</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>Marginal Land Holdings</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Raising farm productivity is critical for long-term increase in farmer incomes in India, as land fragmentation means that many Indian farmers are farming plots of such small sizes that even doubling their incomes would leave them with meagre earnings.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>In India, <strong>nearly 85% of agricultural land holdings are small and marginal</strong> (less than 2 hectare).</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>Slow Agricultural Growth Rate</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/income-inequality-among-farmers" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Ashok Dalwai Committee Report</strong></a> on doubling farmers&rsquo; income, estimated that the doubling farmers' income will require an agricultural growth rate of 10-11% per annum, until 2022&ndash;23.</li>
<li>However, agricultural growth rate and farmers' income growth rate has been stagnating and well below the required rate of growth.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Steps to Increase Farmers' Income</h3>
<p><strong>Addressing Subsidies Problem</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>This can be done by:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Freeing up input prices to market levels,</strong> or charging an optimum cost pricing for fertilisers, power, agri-credit, and canal waters fees.</li>
<li>Channelizing the resulting savings for expenditures on investments in agricultural R&amp;D, irrigation, marketing infrastructure, building value chains by involving <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/farmer-producer-bodies-need-help" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Farmer Producer Organisations (FPOs)</strong></a> and linking farms to organised retail, food processing, and export markets.</li>
<li>Direct income transfers to farmers&rsquo; should be promoted by leveraging the trinity of <strong>Jan Dhan&ndash;Aadhaar&ndash;Mobile (JAM) to reduce the leakages and pilferage.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>Allowing Land Leasing</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The central government, in association with the state governments, should free up <strong>land lease markets,</strong> which can help provide farmers with a steady income, while maintaining asset security.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>In remote dry areas, leasing land to solar or wind power companies could provide farmers with relatively higher and steadier incomes.</li>
<li><a href="/current-affairs-news-analysis-editorials/news-editorials/19-08-2019" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>The Model Land Lease Act, 2016</strong></a> offers an appropriate template for the states and UTs to draft their own piece of legislations, in consonance with the local requirements and adopt an enabling Act.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>Increasing Avenues for Non-Farm Income</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Subsidised electricity should be rationalised, as today <strong>solar water pumps</strong> are operationally and financially sustainable.</li>
<li>This will reduce government burden of electricity subsidies, while at the same time allowing <strong>surplus power from the solar powered pumps to be sold back to the grid.</strong></li>
<li><strong>Promoting value-added uses of biomass</strong> like Bamboo for construction and other applications, rice husk and bagasse-based mini-power plants, and ethanol from sugar cane and corn can all help augment farmer incomes in sustainable ways while developing more dynamic local rural economies.</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>Improving Agricultural Export Scenario</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>India needs to<strong> address the composition of its agriculture export basket.</strong> Currently agricultural exports constitute 10% of the country&rsquo;s exports, but the majority of its exports are low value, raw or semi-processed, and marketed in bulk.</li>
<li>The share of India&rsquo;s high value and value-added agriculture produce is less than 15%.</li>
<li>Robust agriculture exports will increase the demand for India&rsquo;s farm output (and hence, incomes of farmers).</li>
<li>In this context, the government has launched <a href="/to-the-points/paper3/agriculture-export-policy-2018-1" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Agriculture Export Policy 2018</strong></a>. It is aimed at doubling the agricultural exports and integrating Indian farmers and agricultural products with the global value chains.</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>Investing in Agriculture Infrastructure</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The most sustainable way to augment farmers&rsquo; real incomes over the long term is <strong>through investments in productivity-enhancing areas, ranging from agricultural research and development (R&amp;D), to irrigation to the development of rural and marketing infrastructure.</strong></li>
<li><strong>Local level investments</strong> that seek to build village level storage facilities, better surface irrigation management, and investments in drip irrigation, tile drainage, trap crops, etc, that can give results in a relatively short period of time.</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>Agricultural Marketing Reforms</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Farmers&rsquo; income can improve substantially if they are able to capture a greater share in the supply chain from farm gate to consumer.</li>
<li>For this to happen, farmers must have the freedom to sell what they want, where they want, and when they want without any restrictions on sale, stocking, movement, and export of farm produce.</li>
<li>These will require legal and institutional changes, major investments in market infrastructure and storage (including cold-chain storage), and incentives for the creation and operation of infrastructure by FPOs.</li>
<li>In this context, the state needs to adopt <a href="/current-affairs-news-analysis-editorials/news-editorials/22-11-2018" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Model Agriculture Produce and Livestock Marketing Act, 2017</strong></a>.</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>Need For Cooperative Federalism</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Agriculture is a state subject</strong> and many of the important levers&mdash;water, power, irrigation, extension, etc&mdash;are controlled by the states. However, the central government continues to play a larger role.</li>
<li>Thus, reforms can only succeed if the central and state governments work closely together in a spirit of &ldquo;cooperative federalism.&rdquo;</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1586004518_Editorial%20Image (4-4-2020)-1.jpg" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1586004518_Editorial Image (4-4-2020)-1.jpg" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" /></a></p>
<table border="1" style="border-collapse: collapse; width: 100%;">
<tbody>
<tr>
<td style="width: 100%; border-style: dotted; border-color: #ff0000; background-color: #dceef7;">
<p><span style="color: #000080;"><em><strong>Drishti Mains Question</strong></em></span></p>
<p>Indian Agriculture is in a dire need of fundamental reforms for better fiscal and environmental sustainability. Discuss.</p>
</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>',
		'postdate' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenTime) {},
		'url' => 'https://www.drishtiias.com/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/agriculture-reforms'
	],
	(int) 14 => [
		'title' => 'Year End Review 2019: Ministry of Culture',
		'catname' => 'Paper 1',
		'desc' => '<h3>Important Events</h3>
<p><strong>Commemoration of the 150<sup>th</sup> Birth Anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The President of India, presided over the second meeting of the National Committee for Commemoration of the 150<sup>th</sup> Birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi.</li>
<li>The <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/portugal-s-gandhi-citizenship-education-prize" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>National Committee was constituted for commemorating the 150<sup>th</sup> birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi</strong></a> at the national and international level.</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>Sanskriti Kumbh</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>A 29 days cultural extravaganza was organised at Kumbh Mela Area, Prayagraj in January 2019 to showcase the rich Cultural Heritage of India in all its rich and varied dimensions viz. Performing Arts- Folk, Tribal and Classical art forms, Handicrafts, Cuisines, Exhibitions etc. all in one place.</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>Bharat Rang Mahotsav</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The 20<sup>th</sup> edition of Bharat Rang Mahotsav (BRM), the international theatre festival of India, was organized by National School of Drama.</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>Jaipur- India&rsquo;s 38<sup>th</sup> UNESCO World Heritage Site</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/world-heritage-site-certificate-to-jaipur" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>India&rsquo;s nomination of the Jaipur City</strong></a>, Rajasthan got inscribed on 6<sup>th</sup> July, 2019 on the World Heritage List of UNESCO during the 43<sup>rd</sup> Session of the World Heritage Committee held at Baku, Azerbaijan.</li>
<li>With Successful inscription of Jaipur City, India has 38 world heritage sites that include 30 Cultural properties, 7 Natural properties and 1 mixed site.</li>
</ul>
<table border="1" style="height: 916px; width: 100%; border-collapse: collapse; background-color: #bfa302;">
<tbody>
<tr style="height: 19px;">
<td style="width: 100%; height: 19px; text-align: center;" colspan="4"><span style="font-size: 18px; color: #ffffff;"><strong>UNESCO's World Heritage Sites of India</strong></span></td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 19px;">
<td style="width: 75%; height: 29px; text-align: center; background-color: #a2f2e8;" colspan="3"><strong>Tangible Heritage</strong></td>
<td style="width: 25%; height: 29px; background-color: #a2f2e8; text-align: center;"><strong>Intangible Cultural Heritage</strong></td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 19px;">
<td style="width: 30.8075%; height: 19px; text-align: center; background-color: #faafbf;"><em>Cultural</em></td>
<td style="width: 23.8862%; height: 19px; text-align: center; background-color: #faafbf;"><em>Natural</em></td>
<td style="width: 20.3063%; height: 19px; text-align: center; background-color: #faafbf;"><em>Mixed</em></td>
<td style="width: 25%; height: 19px; text-align: center; background-color: #faafbf;"><em>Indian Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity</em><em><br /></em></td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 10px;">
<td style="width: 30.8075%; height: 10px; vertical-align: top; background-color: #f2e7a7;">
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Taj Mahal, Agra</li>
<li>Khajuraho, Madhya Pradesh</li>
<li>Hampi, Karnataka</li>
<li>Ajanta Caves, Maharashtra</li>
<li>Ellora Caves, Maharashtra</li>
<li>Bodh Gaya, Bihar</li>
<li>Sun Temple, Konark, Odisha</li>
<li>Red Fort Complex, Delhi</li>
<li>Sanchi, Madhya Pradesh</li>
<li>Chola Temples, Tamil Nadu</li>
<li>Group of Monuments at Mahabalipuram, Tamil Nadu</li>
<li>Humayun&rsquo;s Tomb, New Delhi</li>
<li>Jantar Mantar, Jaipur, Rajasthan</li>
<li>Agra Fort, Uttar Pradesh</li>
<li>Fatehpur Sikri, Uttar Pradesh</li>
<li>Rani Ki Vav, Patan, Gujarat</li>
<li>Group of Monuments at Pattadakal, Karnataka</li>
<li>Elephanta Caves, Maharashtra</li>
<li>Nalanda Mahavihara (Nalanda University), Bihar</li>
<li>Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus (formerly Victoria Terminus), Maharashtra</li>
<li>Mountain Railways of India</li>
<li>Qutub Minar and its Monuments, New Delhi</li>
<li>Champaner-Pavagadh Archaeological Park, Gujarat</li>
<li>Hill Forts of Rajasthan</li>
<li>Churches and Convents of Goa</li>
<li>Rock Shelters of Bhimbetka, Madhya Pradesh</li>
<li>Capitol Complex, Chandigarh</li>
<li>The Historic City of Ahmedabad</li>
<li>The Victorian and Art Deco Ensemble of Mumbai</li>
</ul>
</td>
<td style="width: 23.8862%; height: 10px; vertical-align: top; background-color: #f2e7a7;">
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Great Himalayan National Park, Himachal Pradesh</li>
<li>Kaziranga Wild Life Sanctuary, Assam</li>
<li>Keoladeo National Park, Bharatpur, Rajasthan</li>
<li>Manas Wild Life Sanctuary, Assam</li>
<li>Nanda Devi and Valley of Flowers National Parks, Uttarakhand</li>
<li>Western Ghats</li>
<li>Sundarbans National Park, West Bengal</li>
</ul>
</td>
<td style="width: 20.3063%; height: 10px; vertical-align: top; background-color: #f2e7a7;">
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><span style="font-weight: 400;">Khangchendzonga National Park, Sikkim</span></li>
</ul>
</td>
<td style="width: 25%; height: 10px; vertical-align: top; background-color: #f2e7a7;">
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The tradition of Vedic chanting</li>
<li>Ramlila, the traditional performance of the Ramayana</li>
<li>Kutiyattam, Sanskrit theatre</li>
<li>Ramman, religious festival and ritual theatre of the Garhwal Himalayas, India</li>
<li>Mudiyettu, ritual theatre and dance drama of Kerala</li>
<li>Kalbelia folk songs and dances of Rajasthan</li>
<li>Chhau dance</li>
<li>Buddhist chanting of Ladakh: recitation of sacred Buddhist texts in the trans-Himalayan Ladakh region, Jammu and Kashmir, India</li>
<li>Sankirtana, ritual singing, drumming and dancing of Manipur</li>
<li>Traditional brass and copper craft of utensil making among the Thatheras of Jandiala Guru, Punjab, India</li>
<li>Yoga</li>
<li>Navroz</li>
<li>Kumbh Mela</li>
</ul>
</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<p><strong>Commemoration event of &lsquo;76<sup>th</sup> Year of Formation of Azad Hind Government&rsquo;</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/76th-anniversary-of-azad-hind-government" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>76<sup>th</sup> anniversary of the formation of the Azad Hind Government</strong></a> was celebrated on 21<sup>st</sup> October, 2019, at the Red Fort, Delhi.</li>
<li>On 21<sup>st</sup> October 1943, <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/subhash-chandra-bose" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Subhash Chandra Bose</strong></a> announced the formation of the Provisional Government of Azad Hind (Free India) in Singapore, with himself as the Head of State, Prime Minister and Minister of War.</li>
<li>The Provisional Government not only enabled Bose to negotiate with the Japanese on an equal footing but also facilitated the mobilisation of Indians in East Asia to join and support the Indian National Army (INA).</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/unesco-s-network-of-creative-cities" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Mumbai and Hyderabad: UNESCO&rsquo;s Creative Cities Network (UCCN)</strong></a></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><a href="/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-international-institution/united-nations-1" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO)</strong> </a>has included Mumbai and Hyderabad in its network of 'Creative Cities' among the 66 cities selected on the occasion of World Cities Day 2019 (31<sup>st</sup> October).</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>Jallianwala Bagh National Memorial (Amendment) Bill, 2019 Passed by Parliament</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>It seeks to make apolitical the trust that runs Jallianwala Bagh National Memorial by removing the clause pertaining to the President of INC as a permanent member of the trust.</li>
<li>The Bill also amends to include the Leader of Opposition recognised as such in the House of the People (LokSabha) or where there is no such Leader of Opposition, then the Leader of the single largest Opposition Party in that House as a member of the trust.</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>Records Relating to Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose and Azad Hind Fauj De-classified</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>All records relating to <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/subhash-chandra-bose" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose and Azad Hind Fauj</strong></a> de-classified and were placed in the National Archives of India.</li>
<li><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/netaji-subhash-chandra-bose-jayanti" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose</strong></a> (23 January 1897 &ndash; 18 August 1945) is one of the most celebrated freedom fighters of India.</li>
<li>In 1942, he earned the title &lsquo;Netaji&rsquo;, in Germany by the Indian soldiers of the Azad Hind Fauj.</li>
<li>He is also credited to be the first man to call Mahatma Gandhi &ldquo;Father of the Nation&rdquo;, in his address from Singapore.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Important Sites</h3>
<p><strong>Markandeshwar Temple, Maharashtra<a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1585999804_885image3.jpg" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1585999804_885image3.jpg" style="float: right;" width="350" caption="false" /></a></strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Archaeological Survey of India initiated the restoration work of <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/markandeshwar-temple" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Markandeshwar temple</strong></a> in Maharashtra.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Known as the &ldquo;Khajuraho of Vidarbha&rdquo;, the temple of Markandadeo is situated on the bank of River Wainganga in district Gadchiroli of Maharashtra.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>Phupgaon, Maharashtra</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The recent excavation carried out by Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) at Maharashtra&rsquo;s Phupgaon has revealed evidence of an Iron Age settlement in the Vidarbha region.</li>
<li>The site is situated in the vast meander of the river Purna, a major tributary of Tapi, which used to be a perennial river, but at present is completely dried-up due to the dam construction in the upper stream.</li>
<li>Chronologically, the site could be placed between 7<sup>th</sup> C BCE and 4th C BCE.</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/gottiprolu-an-early-trade-centre-of-andhra-pradesh" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Gottiprolu, Andhra Pradesh</strong></a></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Excavations indicate it as a Trade Centre of Early Historic Period.</li>
<li>The site lies on the right bank of a distributary of river Swarnamukhi.</li>
<li>The proximity of the site (at southern coastal location) to the seacoast suggests that the site could have served as a strategic settlement involved in maritime trade.</li>
<li>Among many other antiquities unearthed are one life-size Vishnu sculpture and a wide variety of pottery of the early centuries of current era.</li>
</ul>',
		'postdate' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenTime) {},
		'url' => 'https://www.drishtiias.com/to-the-points/paper1/year-end-review-2019-ministry-of-culture'
	],
	(int) 15 => [
		'title' => 'EIA Not Needed for Bulk Drug Makers',
		'catname' => 'News Analysis',
		'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>Recently, the <strong>Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change</strong> has exempted manufacturers of bulk drugs and intermediates from <a href="/to-the-points/paper3/environmental-impact-assessment-1" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Environment Impact Assessment</strong></a> (EIA) till 30<sup>th</sup> September as an interim measure.</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>It was done to <strong>expedite clearances</strong> to such manufacturers and intermediaries which are making medicines related to <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/coronavirus-disease-named-covid-19" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Covid-19</strong></a>.</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Environment Impact Assessment</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>It is a process of <strong>evaluating the likely environmental impacts</strong> of a proposed project or development, taking into account inter-related socio-economic, cultural and human-health impacts, both beneficial and adverse.</li>
<li><strong>The <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/not-all-animals-migrate-by-choice-campaign" target="_blank" rel="noopener">United Nations Environment Programme</a> (UNEP)</strong> defines EIA as a tool used to identify the environmental, social and economic impacts of a project prior to decision-making.</li>
<li>It <strong>aims</strong> to predict environmental impacts at an early stage in project planning and design, find ways and means to reduce adverse impacts, shape projects to suit the local environment and present the predictions and options to decision-makers.</li>
<li>Environment Impact Assessment in India is <strong>statutorily backed</strong> by the <strong>Environment Protection Act, 1986</strong> which contains various provisions on its methodology and process.</li>
</ul>
</div>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>All proposals for projects or activities in respect of <strong>Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients</strong> (API, also called <strong>Bulk Drugs</strong>), received up to the 30<sup>th</sup> September 2020, shall be appraised as <strong>Category B2 projects,</strong> provided that any subsequent amendment or expansion or change in product mix, after the 30<sup>th</sup> September 2020, shall be considered as per the provisions in force at that time.</li>
<li>Rules notified under the<strong> Environment Protection Act, 1986</strong> classify projects into <strong>three categories:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Category A Projects-</strong> These are appraised by the Union Ministry.</li>
<li><strong>Category B Projects-</strong> These are appraised by the states.</li>
<li><strong>Category B2 Projects-</strong> These are projects which are exempted from EIA and public hearings.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>The drug production and availability to reduce the impact of the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/novel-strain-of-coronavirus" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Novel CoronaVirus</strong></a> are to be ensured as part of a<strong> comprehensive and robust system to handle</strong> the outbreak.</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>These are <strong>significant ingredients</strong> in the manufacture of drugs.</li>
<li>The <strong>Hubei province of China</strong> is the hub of the API manufacturing industry.</li>
<li>India is <strong>heavily import-dependent for APIs from China.</strong></li>
<li>Recently, the Union Cabinet has approved <strong>two schemes,</strong> namely the scheme on <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/schemes-approved-to-promote-drug-manufacturing" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Promotion of Bulk Drug Parks and Production Linked Incentive (PLI)</strong></a> Scheme to promote domestic manufacturing of critical Key Starting Materials/Drug Intermediates and Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients in the country.</li>
</ul>
</div>
<p><a href="https://www.financialexpress.com/industry/green-impact-assessment-not-needed-for-bulk-drug-makers-govt/1918577/" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Source: FE</strong></a></p>',
		'postdate' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenTime) {},
		'url' => 'https://www.drishtiias.com/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/eia-not-needed-for-bulk-drug-makers'
	],
	(int) 16 => [
		'title' => 'New Features Added to e-NAM',
		'catname' => 'News Analysis',
		'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>Recently, the <strong>Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers&rsquo; Welfare</strong> has launched three new features of the <strong><a href="/infographics/info-paper3/infographics-paper-3-national-agriculture-market-nam" target="_blank" rel="noopener">National Agriculture Market</a> (e-NAM)</strong> Platform.</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The new features will strengthen agriculture marketing by <strong>reducing farmers&rsquo; need to physically go to wholesale mandis</strong> for selling their harvested produce.</li>
<li>It is an important move at a time when there is a critical need to <strong>decongest mandis</strong> to effectively fight against <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/coronavirus-disease-named-covid-19" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Covid-19</strong></a>.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Integration of Negotiable Warehouse Receipt System (e-NWRs) Module with e-NAM</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Under it, <strong>a warehouse trading module with payment feature</strong> is launched.</li>
<li>It will enable small and marginal farmers to directly trade their stored produce from selected <strong>Warehousing Development and Regulatory Authority (WDRA) registered warehouses</strong> which are declared deemed market by the State.</li>
<li>Farmers will be able to place their produce in WDRA accredited warehouses.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Telangana (14 warehouses) and Andhra Pradesh (23 warehouses) have already declared designated warehouses as deemed markets.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Benefits:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Depositor can save the logistics expenses and will have better income.</li>
<li>Farmers can sell the produce across the Nation at better price without the hassle of going to mandi.</li>
<li>Farmers with their produce in WDRA accredited warehouses can avail the benefit of pledge loan, if required.</li>
<li>Price stabilization by matching supply and demand through time and place utility.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>FPO trading Module</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>It will enable <strong><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/farmer-producer-bodies-need-help" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Farmer Producers&rsquo; Organisations</a> (FPOs)</strong> to upload the picture of their produce and quality parameters from their premise/collection centres for bidding.</li>
<li>Distant bidders can visualise the produce before bidding by seeing the pictures and quality.</li>
<li>After successful bidding, FPOs can deliver the produce from their premises or by bringing it to mandi.</li>
<li><strong>Benefits:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>This will decongest mandis and also reduce the hassle.</li>
<li>This will help FPOs by reducing logistics costs and enhance their bargaining power.</li>
<li>Facilitates FPOs to avail online payment facility with ease of doing business.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Launch of Logistic Module</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>A provision has been made for <strong>linking large logistic aggregator</strong> platforms providing choices to users.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Presently, e-NAM provides a database of <strong>individual transporters</strong> to the traders.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>Traders will be able to use the link to navigate to the logistics provider&rsquo;s website and select appropriate services.</li>
<li>With these additions, more than 3,75,000 number of trucks from large logistic providers would be added for logistic purpose.</li>
<li><strong>Benefits:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>This will help in seamless transportation of agri-produce.</li>
<li>This will promote inter-state trade by providing online transport facilities for distant buyers.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>e-NAM</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>It was launched on 14<sup>th</sup> April 2016 as a <strong>pan-India electronic trade portal</strong> linking <strong>Agricultural Produce Market Committees (APMCs)</strong> across the States.</li>
<li>It provides for contactless remote bidding and mobile-based anytime payment for which traders do not need to either visit mandis or banks for the same.</li>
<li>Already 585 mandis in 16 States and 2 Union Territories have been integrated on e-NAM portal and will be soon expanded to cover additional 415 mandis, which will take the total number of e-NAM mandis to 1,000.</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>Negotiable Warehouse Receipt System</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>It was launched in <strong>2011</strong> but the <strong>Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food &amp; Public Distribution.</strong></li>
<li>Farmers can <strong>seek loans from banks against the warehouse receipts</strong> issued to them against their storage.</li>
<li>These <strong>receipts issued by the warehouses registered with the WDRA</strong> would become a fully negotiable instrument backed by a Central legislation.</li>
<li>The <strong>Electronic Negotiable Warehouse Receipt (e-NWR) System</strong> was launched in<strong> 2017.</strong></li>
</ul>
<p><strong>Warehousing Development and Regulatory Authority</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>It was constituted on 26<sup>th</sup> October 2010 under the <strong>Warehousing (Development and Regulation) Act, 2007.</strong></li>
<li>It is a <strong>statutory authority</strong> under the Department of Food and Public Distribution, Government of India.</li>
<li>It is headquartered in <strong>New Delhi.</strong></li>
<li>The Act provides for the establishment of the WDRA to exercise the powers conferred on it and to perform the functions assigned to it under the Act, Rules and Regulations for the development and regulation of warehouses, negotiability of warehouse receipts and promote orderly growth of the warehousing business in the country.</li>
</ul>
</div>
<p><a href="https://pib.gov.in/newsite/PrintRelease.aspx?relid=200941" 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/new-features-added-to-e-nam'
	],
	(int) 17 => [
		'title' => 'Rise in Violence Against Women',
		'catname' => 'News Analysis',
		'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>The <strong>National Commission for Women</strong> (NCW) has recorded a <strong>more than twofold rise</strong> in <strong>gender-based violence.</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>It has been argued that the national <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/21-days-lockdown" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>lockdown</strong> </a>has left many people jobless, uncertain over salaries, in forced isolation and in stressed households which have resulted in a <strong>steep rise in violence against women.</strong></li>
</ul>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Data Analysis:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Total complaints-</strong> Rose from 116 in the first week of March to 257 in the final week of March.</li>
<li><strong>Rape or attempt to rape-</strong> Rose sharply from 2 to 13.</li>
<li><strong>Domestic violence-</strong> Increased from 30 to 69 over the same comparative period.</li>
<li><strong>Police apathy towards women-</strong> Almost threefold increase as the police are busy enforcing the lockdown to curb the spread of <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/coronavirus-disease-named-covid-19" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Covid-19.</strong></a></li>
<li><strong>Right to live with dignity (Article 21)-</strong> Rose to 77 from 35. Such cases could pertain to discrimination on the basis of gender, class or caste or all three of them combined.</li>
<li>These cases might be a <strong>fragment of the actual number</strong> as many women will not be able to reach out due to various reasons.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Possible Reasons:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Privacy:</strong> Women are not be able to reach out because of restrictions on movement as well as a lack of privacy within homes. Women need privacy and certainty that they will not be discovered by their family but that becomes impossible in the presence of the entire house.</li>
<li><strong>Frustration among Males:</strong> There is a lot of <strong>anxiety in people&rsquo;s minds</strong> about their jobs, salaries and livelihood. <strong>Women become easy targets for men</strong> for venting out their anger in<strong> patriarchal societies.</strong></li>
<li><strong>Lockdown:</strong> It has <strong>restricted the movement</strong> and closed women&rsquo;s avenues to escape violence such as by relocating to their natal homes or contacting the local police.</li>
<li>There is evidence that in situations of crisis or calamity there is an increase in violence against women.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Suggestions:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The police do not seem the first port of call for victims of domestic violence and, therefore, <strong>alternative arrangements</strong> should be put in place.</li>
<li>The government should<strong> ensure resources to help</strong> women in <strong>distress,</strong> and put <strong>health services</strong> to women and abortion in the list of essential services.</li>
<li><strong>Inspiration</strong> can be taken from <strong>France</strong> which announced that it would pay for 20,000 hotel bookings and contribute &euro;1 million to organisations that fight domestic abuse as well as set up assistance points at supermarkets and pharmacies.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>National Commission for Women</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>It was set up as a <strong>statutory body</strong> in January 1992 under the National Commission for Women Act, 1990.</li>
<li>Its<strong> mission</strong> is to strive towards enabling women to achieve equality and equal participation in all spheres of life by securing her due rights and entitlements through suitable policy formulation, legislative measures, etc.</li>
<li>Its <strong>functions</strong> are to:<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Review the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/international-day-for-the-elimination-of-violence-against-women" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>constitutional and legal safeguards for women.</strong></a></li>
<li>Recommend remedial legislative measures.</li>
<li>Facilitate redressal of grievances.</li>
<li>Advise the Government on all policy matters affecting women.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</div>
<p><a href="https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/covid-19-lockdown-spike-in-domestic-violence-says-ncw/article31238659.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/rise-in-violence-against-women'
	],
	(int) 18 => [
		'title' => 'Impact of Economic Slowdown Due to Covid-19',
		'catname' => 'News Analysis',
		'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>Amid the ongoing economic slowdown due to Covid-19 pandemic,</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>the government witnessed a fall in tax collections.</li>
<li>foreign investors sold over ₹1 lakh-crore securities in a month (March), for the first time in history.</li>
<li>the<a href="/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-national-institutions/important-institutions-national-institution-reserve-bank-of-india" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong> Reserve Bank of India (RBI)</strong></a> has decided to shorten trading hours for foreign exchange and money markets products.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Fall in Tax Collections</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Direct Tax Collections</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Direct tax is a tax paid directly by an individual or organization to the imposing entity. For example, income tax is a direct tax.</li>
<li>The government&rsquo;s net direct tax collections have <strong>missed the downward revised target</strong> for 2019-20 by Rs 1.42 lakh crore. The overall collection stood at Rs 10.27 lakh crore.</li>
<li>This is a <strong>decline of over 8%</strong> from previous year&rsquo;s receipts.</li>
<li>The contraction in direct tax collections in a financial year has been witnessed after a <strong>gap of 20 years.</strong> The Centre&rsquo;s direct tax receipts had last seen a year-on-year decline in 1998-99, when collections recorded a contraction of 3.5% in that financial year.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Indirect Tax Collections</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Indirect tax</strong> is a tax collected by one entity in the supply chain and paid to the government, but it is passed on to the consumer as part of the purchase price of a good or service. GST is an indirect tax.</li>
<li>The government has missed its <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/fall-in-goods-and-services-tax-gst-collections" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Goods and Services Tax (GST) collections target.</strong> </a></li>
<li>The <strong>reasons</strong> that led to the fall in GST collections in March below the Rs 1 lakh crore mark are:<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>A drop of 7.8% in returns filing over last month.</li>
<li>4% fall over last year in domestic revenue.</li>
<li>A sharp 23% fall in revenue from imports.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Consequences</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The government is likely to miss its revised <a href="/to-the-points/paper3/government-budgeting" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>fiscal deficit</strong></a> target of 3.8% for 2019-20.</li>
<li>The government&rsquo;s fiscal deficit during April-February increased to 135.2% of the revised estimate for the fiscal year 2019-20.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Foreign Portfolio Investors (FPIs) Sell Securities</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>For the first time in the history of the Indian capital markets, <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/investments-through-p-notes" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Foreign Portfolio Investors</strong></a> (FPIs) have sold securities worth over ₹1 lakh crore in a single month (March 2020).</li>
<li>As per data from <strong>the National Securities Depository Limited (NSDL),</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The cumulative net outflow from the debt and equity segments was pegged at ₹1.18 lakh crore in March</li>
<li>This is more than double the previous high of ₹44,000 crore witnessed in June.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Reason:</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>According to market participants, the ongoing <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/covid-19-and-india-1" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>COVID-19</strong></a> pandemic that has affected stocks worldwide is the primary reason for such record outflows as foreign investors move away from<strong> riskier assets and emerging markets. </strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Impact of the sales on Sensex:</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/impact-of-covid-19-outbreak" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Sensex</strong></a> registered its worst monthly fall in over 11 years.</li>
<li>In March, the Sensex lost a little over 23% which was the highest since October 2008 when it fell 23.89%.</li>
<li>Currently, the Sensex after falling.</li>
<li>However, buying by <strong>Domestic Institutional Investors (DIIs)</strong> has been acting as a strong counter force to the selling by foreign investors.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>National Securities Depository Limited</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The enactment of <strong>Depositories Act in August 1996</strong> paved the way for establishment of NSDL in August 1996.</li>
<li>It handles most of the securities held and settled in dematerialized form in the Indian capital market.</li>
<li>NSDL works to support the investors and brokers in the capital market of the country.</li>
<li>It aims at ensuring the safety and soundness of Indian marketplaces by developing settlement solutions that increase efficiency, minimize risk and reduce costs.</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>Domestic institutional investors</strong></p>
<p>DIIs are those institutional investors which undertake investment in securities and other financial assets of the country they are based in.</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>DIIs include:<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Banks</li>
<li>Insurance companies</li>
<li>Mutual funds</li>
<li>Domestic financial institutions.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</div>
<h3>Shortening of Trading Hours</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The <a href="/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-national-institutions/important-institutions-national-institution-reserve-bank-of-india" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Reserve Bank of India (RBI)</strong></a> has decided to shorten trading hours for foreign exchange and money markets products in the light of challenges posed by lockdown imposed to curb the spread of coronavirus (Covid-19).</li>
<li>The shortened hours, from 10 am to 2 pm (earlier 9 am to 5 pm), will be in place from April 7-17.</li>
<li>The new hours will be applicable to <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Call/term money.</li>
<li>Market <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/rbi-s-covid-19-economic-relief-package" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>repo in g-secs</strong></a>.</li>
<li>Tri-party repo in g-secs.</li>
<li>Commercial Paper</li>
<li>Certificates of Deposit</li>
<li>Repo in corporate bonds.</li>
<li>Foreign currency and rupee trades.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Note:</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li style="box-sizing: border-box;"><strong>Call Money</strong> refers to the borrowing or lending of funds for 1 day.</li>
<li style="box-sizing: border-box;"><strong>Term money</strong> refers to borrowing and lending of funds for a period of more than 14 days.</li>
<li style="box-sizing: border-box;"><strong>Commercial Paper (CP)</strong> is a short-term debt instrument issued by companies to raise funds generally for a time period up to one year.</li>
<li style="box-sizing: border-box;">A <strong>Certificate of Deposit (CD)</strong> is a product offered by banks and credit unions that provides an interest rate premium in exchange for the customer agreeing to leave a lump-sum deposit untouched for a predetermined period of time.</li>
</ul>
</div>
<p><a href="https://indianexpress.com/article/business/economy/india-economic-slowdown-coronavirus-impact-direct-tax-6346413/" 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/impact-of-economic-slowdown-due-to-covid-19'
	],
	(int) 19 => [
		'title' => 'Amendments to the J&K Order',
		'catname' => 'News Analysis',
		'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>The <strong>Ministry of Home Affairs</strong> has amended the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/centre-defines-j-k-domicile-rules" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Jammu and Kashmir Reorganisation (Adaptation of State Laws) Order-2020.</strong></a></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The Order was issued by the Ministry on 31<sup>st</sup> March, 2020.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Key Amendments</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Protection to domiciles to &ldquo;any post&rdquo;</strong> in the government <strong>including senior level positions in Group A and Group B category.</strong> This reserves all jobs in the Union Territory for only its domiciles.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Earlier the protection to domiciles was<strong> provided only in Group D</strong> and entry level non-gazetted government posts. This opened all other government posts to anyone from the rest of the country.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>The amended order also<strong> removed the clause</strong> that any person fulfilling the criteria of domicile eligibility will &ldquo;deemed to be&rdquo; a domicile. The <strong>power to issue domicile certificates has been given to &ldquo;tahsildar&rdquo;.</strong></li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Criteria for Domiciles in J&amp;K</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Someone who has <strong>resided for a period of 15 years</strong> in the UT of J&amp;K, or</li>
<li>Someone who has<strong> studied for a period of seven years and appeared in Class 10<sup>th</sup>/12<sup>th</sup> examination</strong> in an educational institution located in the UT of J&amp;K, or</li>
<li>Someone who is <strong>registered as a migrant</strong> by the Relief and Rehabilitation Commissioner (Migrants).</li>
<li><strong>Children</strong> of Central government officials, All India Services, PSUs, autonomous body of Centre, Public Sector Banks, officials of statutory bodies, Central Universities, recognised research institutes of <strong>Centre who shall have served in J&amp;K.</strong></li>
<li><strong>Children of such residents of J&amp;K who reside outside J&amp;K</strong> in connection with their employment or business or other professional or vocational reasons but <strong>their parents fulfil any of the conditions provided.</strong></li>
</ul>
</div>
<p><a href="https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/other-states/mha-modifies-jk-domicile-order-offers-protection-to-domiciles-in-all-government-posts/article31253516.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/amendments-to-the-j-k-order'
	]
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		'articles__title' => 'string',
		'articles.title' => 'string',
		'title' => 'string',
		'articles__description' => 'text',
		'articles.description' => 'text',
		'description' => 'text',
		'articles__shortdescription' => 'string',
		'articles.shortdescription' => 'string',
		'shortdescription' => 'string',
		'articles__featuredimage' => 'string',
		'articles.featuredimage' => 'string',
		'featuredimage' => 'string',
		'articles__tag_id' => 'integer',
		'articles.tag_id' => 'integer',
		'tag_id' => 'integer',
		'articles__secondary_tag' => 'text',
		'articles.secondary_tag' => 'text',
		'secondary_tag' => 'text',
		'articles__type' => 'integer',
		'articles.type' => 'integer',
		'type' => 'integer',
		'articles__publishon' => 'datetime',
		'articles.publishon' => 'datetime',
		'publishon' => 'datetime',
		'articles__posturl' => 'string',
		'articles.posturl' => 'string',
		'posturl' => 'string',
		'articles__metatitle' => 'string',
		'articles.metatitle' => 'string',
		'metatitle' => 'string',
		'articles__metadescription' => 'string',
		'articles.metadescription' => 'string',
		'metadescription' => 'string',
		'articles__metakeyword' => 'text',
		'articles.metakeyword' => 'text',
		'metakeyword' => 'text',
		'articles__status' => 'integer',
		'articles.status' => 'integer',
		'status' => 'integer',
		'articles__sort_order' => 'integer',
		'articles.sort_order' => 'integer',
		'sort_order' => 'integer',
		'articles__addedby' => 'integer',
		'articles.addedby' => 'integer',
		'addedby' => 'integer',
		'articles__updatedby' => 'integer',
		'articles.updatedby' => 'integer',
		'updatedby' => 'integer',
		'articles__added' => 'timestamp',
		'articles.added' => 'timestamp',
		'added' => 'timestamp',
		'articles__modified' => 'timestamp',
		'articles.modified' => 'timestamp',
		'modified' => 'timestamp',
		'articles__whatsnewid' => 'integer',
		'articles.whatsnewid' => 'integer',
		'whatsnewid' => 'integer',
		'articles__display_printpdf' => 'integer',
		'articles.display_printpdf' => 'integer',
		'display_printpdf' => 'integer',
		'articles__display_comments' => 'integer',
		'articles.display_comments' => 'integer',
		'display_comments' => 'integer',
		'articles__pdf_name' => 'string',
		'articles.pdf_name' => 'string',
		'pdf_name' => 'string',
		'articles__display_archive' => 'integer',
		'articles.display_archive' => 'integer',
		'display_archive' => 'integer'
	],
	'decorators' => (int) 0,
	'executed' => false,
	'hydrate' => true,
	'buffered' => true,
	'formatters' => (int) 0,
	'mapReducers' => (int) 0,
	'contain' => [],
	'matching' => [],
	'extraOptions' => [],
	'repository' => object(App\Model\Table\ArticlesTable) {}

}
$page = (int) 119
$search = 'class'
$totalPages = (float) 302
$title = 'Search'
$lastyear = (int) 2018
$year = '2021'
$i = (int) 2017
$selected = ''
$m = (int) 13
$month = 'December'

include - ROOT/plugins/Drishti/src/Template/Element/rightsection.ctp, line 100
Cake\View\View::_evaluate() - CORE/src/View/View.php, line 1196
Cake\View\View::_render() - CORE/src/View/View.php, line 1157
Cake\View\View::_renderElement() - CORE/src/View/View.php, line 1554
Cake\View\View::element() - CORE/src/View/View.php, line 668
include - ROOT/plugins/Drishti/src/Template/Element/articlebox.ctp, line 5
Cake\View\View::_evaluate() - CORE/src/View/View.php, line 1196
Cake\View\View::_render() - CORE/src/View/View.php, line 1157
Cake\View\View::_renderElement() - CORE/src/View/View.php, line 1554
Cake\View\View::element() - CORE/src/View/View.php, line 668
include - ROOT/plugins/Drishti/src/Template/Search/index.ctp, line 85
Cake\View\View::_evaluate() - CORE/src/View/View.php, line 1196
Cake\View\View::_render() - CORE/src/View/View.php, line 1157
Cake\View\View::render() - CORE/src/View/View.php, line 765
Cake\Controller\Controller::render() - CORE/src/Controller/Controller.php, line 623
Cake\Http\ActionDispatcher::_invoke() - CORE/src/Http/ActionDispatcher.php, line 125
Cake\Http\ActionDispatcher::dispatch() - CORE/src/Http/ActionDispatcher.php, line 93

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