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Farm Loan Waiver

This article is based on “Loan waivers are a double-edged sword” which was published in The Hindu Business line on 09/06/2020. It...

11 Jun 2020 News Editorials
International Religious Freedom Report 2019

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11 Jun 2020 News Analysis
World Accreditation Day 2020: QCI

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Athirapally Hydel Electric Project

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Rise in the Population of Asiatic Lions

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Genetically Modified Seeds

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Vamsadhara River Water Dispute

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Microplastics in Deep Oceans

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In Pursuance of Self Reliance

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36th Anniversary of Operation Blue Star

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Aditya: India's First Solar Ferry

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Environmental Performance Index

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			'title' => 'Farm Loan Waiver',
			'catname' => 'News Editorials',
			'desc' => '<div class="border">
<p>This article is based on <a href="https://www.thehindubusinessline.com/opinion/loan-waivers-are-a-double-edged-sword/article31789331.ece" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>&ldquo;Loan waivers are a double-edged sword&rdquo;</strong></a> which was published in The Hindu Business line on 09/06/2020. It examines the policy of farm loan waivers and its impacts on farmers as well as the banking sector.</p>
</div>
<p>Recently, a case was filed in the Supreme Court seeking a directive to the Central government and the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) to waive interest on loans <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/banks-seek-another-moratorium" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>during the period of moratorium</strong></a>. Further, there have been demands from the farming community for farm loan waivers in many states.</p>
<p>Loan waivers, originally intended for a one-time settlement. However, the past two decades have seen such schemes announced with increasing regularity, signalling the chronic distress of the agricultural sector in India.</p>
<p>Though these demands seem more legitimate in the wake of the loss of livelihood due to <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/covid-19-and-lockdown" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>lockdown amid Covid-19</strong></a>, yet such loan waivers may prove detrimental to the banking system and credit culture.</p>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>History of Farm Loan Waiver</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The first recorded instance of granting loans to peasants in medieval India dates back to the regime of Muhammad-bin-Tughluq (1325-51) so as to ameliorate the distress suffered by villagers.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>However, faced with rebellion and famine, these loans were written off by Firoz Shah Tughluq, the subsequent ruler.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>There have only been two nationwide loan waiver programmes in India after Independence: in 1990 and 2008.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The first nationwide farm-loan waiver in independent India was implemented in 1990 by the VP Singh-led government. It cost the exchequer Rs 10,000 crore.</li>
<li>In 2008, the Agricultural Debt Waiver and Debt Relief Scheme, implemented by the UPA government, involved an outgo of Rs 71,680 crore.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>Since then, there has been a wave of such schemes by different State governments.</li>
</ul>
</div>
<h3>Rationale for Loan Waiver</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>More than 85% of small and marginal farmers in India possess less than 1-2 hectares of holdings and lack basic inputs for farming.</li>
<li>In this context, the credit is a critical resource to farming households for carrying out crop production and meeting consumption &amp; daily-life expenses.</li>
<li>However, in India, the crop yield and production are highly dependent on monsoon. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Farmers invest heavily in crops by taking loans. If the crop fails due to lack of rains or insufficient market demand, farmers will get trapped in debt. Due to this, there has been an increase in farmer suicides.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>Thereby, waiving farm loans address this humanitarian crisis.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Issues Related to Loan Waivers</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Reputational Consequences:</strong> Loan waiver schemes will disrupt credit discipline as farm loan waivers may act as a temporary solution and can prove to be a <strong>moral hazard</strong> in future.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>This is because those farmers who can afford to pay their loans might not pay it expecting a waiver.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Free Rider Problem:</strong> Some farmers may take loans even if there is no need, in the hope of the next loan waiver scheme. This will impact the farmers who are genuinely in need of loans.</li>
<li><strong>Decline in Formal Access to Credit:</strong> After the implementation of debt waiver schemes and subsequent losses to the banking industry, banks will be reluctant to lend further to the farm sector.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>This leads to a rise in farmer&rsquo;s dependence on informal sector lenders.</li>
<li>In other words, waivers lead to the shrinkage of a farmer&rsquo;s future access to formal sector credit and thereby compel them to depend on varying informal sources (like local moneylenders, Sahookaar) for credit.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Impact on Banking Sector:</strong> A report by the Indian Council for Research on International Economic Relations stated that the 2008 farm-loan waiver led to three-fold increase in non-performing assets of commercial banks between 2009&ndash;2010 and 2012&ndash;2013.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>This further affects credit-deposit ratio and risk-weighted capital adequacy ratio, return on assets and economic value of equity of banks.</li>
<li>This downgrades the ratings of banks in particular and destabilizes the functioning of the credit market in general.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Against the Interests of Depositors:</strong> Banks receive money from the depositors and lend money to borrowers under different contracts and agreements. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Thus, the loss to the bank, due to loan waivers, is directly or indirectly against the interests of the depositors.</li>
<li>Moreover, banks being custodians of depositors&rsquo; money, need to be guided primarily by the protection of depositors&rsquo; interests.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Conclusion</h3>
<p>In the present situation, farm loan waivers act only as a temporary solution to the problems of farmers and it will not make them free from issues like decreasing farm income, debt trap or crop failures.</p>
<p>In this context, there is a need for creative engagement through which the surplus workers in the farming sector can be taken away to more productive sectors and farming can be made more profitable and sustainable for all the people.</p>
<p><a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1591874464_image1.jpg" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1591874464_image1.jpg" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="650" caption="false" /></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: #fcf6f2;">
<p><span style="color: #333399;"><em><strong>Drishti Mains Question</strong></em></span></p>
<p>&ldquo;Farm loan waivers are the case of good politics but bad economics.&rdquo; In light of this statement critically analyse the policy of farm loan waiver.</p>
</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<p style="text-align: center;"><iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/x1AL1P-5upY" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe></p>
<p>This editorial is based on <a href="https://www.hindustantimes.com/analysis/a-three-fold-test-for-new-legislations/story-SasESZdEN6zdM3Cw2lRKMK.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>&ldquo;A three-fold test for new legislations&rdquo;</strong></a> which was published in The Hindustan Times on June 9<sup>th</sup>, 2020. Now watch this on our Youtube channel.</p>',
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		],
		(int) 1 => [
			'title' => 'International Religious Freedom Report 2019',
			'catname' => 'News Analysis',
			'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>Recently, the <strong>US State Department</strong> has released its annual <strong>International Religious Freedom (IRF) Report 2019,</strong> which is a survey of the state of<strong> religious freedom</strong> across the world.</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>It published a report i.e. <strong>the country report for India</strong> to highlight the issue of religious freedom in the country.</li>
<li>Earlier, <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/uscirf-annual-report-2020#:~:text=U.S.%20Commission%20on%20International%20Religious%20Freedom%20(USCIRF),body%20to%20the%20US%20Congress." target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>the US Commission on International Religious Freedom</strong></a> (<a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/uscirf-annual-report-2020#:~:text=U.S.%20Commission%20on%20International%20Religious%20Freedom%20(USCIRF),body%20to%20the%20US%20Congress." target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>USCIRF report</strong></a>) downgraded India&rsquo;s religious freedom to the lowest grade &mdash; in the &lsquo;Country of Particular Concern (CPC)&rsquo; category.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The IRF report listed countries for <strong>positive developments in religious freedom</strong> and <strong>negative examples.</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Nicaragua, Nigeria and China</strong> were cited as negative examples.</li>
<li>It stated that in China, state-sponsored repression against all religions continues to intensify because of the Chinese Communist Party.</li>
<li><strong>India is not cited in either list.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>The Country Report for India:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>It highlighted the developments that took place in 2019 i.e. <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/article-370-and-35-a-revoked" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>the status of Jammu and Kashmir</strong></a>, <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/citizenship-amendment-bill-2019" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>the Citizenship (Amendment) Act (CAA)</strong></a> <strong>and the <a href="/to-the-points/Paper2/to-the-point-paper-2-national-register-of-citizens-nrc" target="_blank" rel="noopener">National Register of Citizens (NRC).</a></strong></li>
<li>It discussed in detail about <strong><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/mob-lynching-1" target="_blank" rel="noopener">mob lynchings</a>,</strong> <strong>anti-conversion laws, cow vigilantism</strong> and related issues.</li>
<li>Taking note of the alleged attacks and discrimination <strong>against religious and ethnic minorities in India, the report emphasised the need to ensure full protection to minorities in the country as guaranteed under the Constitution.</strong></li>
<li>It also outlines the U.S. engagement with India on these issues.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>India's Stand:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The Indian government <strong>has rejected the report by asserting</strong> that there is no locus standi<strong> for a foreign government to comment on the state of its citizens' constitutionally protected rights.</strong></li>
<li>It also emphasised that the report <strong>did not talk about the religious freedom given to various communities</strong> in India.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Freedom of Religion in India</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Freedom of religion in India is a <strong>fundamental right</strong> guaranteed by <strong>Article 25-28 of the Constitution of India.</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/regulating-right-to-freedom-of-religion" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Article 25</strong></a> (Freedom of conscience and free profession, practice and propagation of religion)</li>
<li><strong>Article 26</strong> (Freedom to manage religious affairs)</li>
<li><strong>Article 27</strong> (Freedom as to payment of taxes for promotion of any particular religion).</li>
<li><strong>Article 28</strong> (Freedom as to attendance at religious instruction or religious worship in certain educational institutions)</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>Further Article 29 and 30 of the Constitution deal with the protection of interest of minorities.</li>
</ul>
</div>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Religious Freedom in the US:</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The US government has signed an executive order which included a move to formally prioritise religious freedom in the U.S. foreign policy.</li>
<li>The order also directed the <strong>United States Agency for International Development (USAID)</strong> to allocate $50 million in its yearly budget towards programmes that sought to promote religious freedom.</li>
<li>Recently, the US faced domestic protests in response to the death of George Floyd, an unarmed black man at the hands of a white police officer.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/us-religious-freedom-report-takes-note-of-caa-nrc-jk-status/article31798724.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/international-religious-freedom-report-2019'
		],
		(int) 2 => [
			'title' => 'World Accreditation Day 2020: QCI',
			'catname' => 'News Analysis',
			'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>Recently, the <strong>World Accreditation Day (WAD)</strong> was celebrated on<strong> 9<sup>th</sup> June</strong> by the <strong>Quality Council of India (QCI)</strong> to highlight as well as to promote the <strong>role of accreditation in trade &amp; economy.</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The<strong> theme</strong> for WAD 2020 was<strong> &ldquo;Accreditation: Improving Food Safety&rdquo;.</strong></li>
</ul>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Accreditation</strong> is a <strong>formal, independent verification</strong> that a program or institution meets established quality standards in terms of <strong>testing, inspection, or certification.</strong></li>
<li><strong>Importance of Accreditation:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>It is an important tool to<strong> improve the quality</strong> of product and services in the field of health, education, food as well as other areas.</li>
<li>It also promotes the<strong> adoption of quality standards</strong> relating to Quality Management Systems, Food Safety Management Systems and Product Certification.</li>
<li>Overall, it helps in realizing the objective of<strong> improving quality competitiveness</strong> of Indian products and services.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>The International Accreditation Forum:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>It is the <strong>world association of Conformity Assessment Accreditation bodies and other bodies</strong> interested in conformity assessment in the fields of management systems, products, services, personnel and other similar programs of conformity assessment.</li>
<li><strong>Conformity Assessment Bodies:</strong> These are bodies that can certify product, process or services, management systems or persons. E.g.<strong> International Organization for Standardization (ISO).</strong></li>
<li><strong>India is also a member.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Quality Assessment in the Food Sector:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The <a href="/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-national-institutions/food-safety-and-standards-authority-of-india-fssai" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI)</strong></a> has recognized the role of credible, competent accreditation inputs in overall services.</li>
<li>There is an urgent need for <strong>development of conformity assessment infrastructure </strong>and <strong>consumer empowerment</strong> in the country.</li>
<li>There is a <strong>need to institutionalize the virtual assessment</strong> and the <strong>accreditation of state food testing laboratories.</strong></li>
<li>There is a need to encourage accredited laboratories to undertake <strong>Proficiency Testing (PT)</strong> and increase the number of <strong>accredited Reference Materials Producers (RMPs).</strong></li>
<li>An <strong>Integrated System for information exchange</strong> is also necessary for the food sector.</li>
<li><strong>Suggested Measures:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li><strong>Six Point Programme for Future:</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Scaling up conformity assessment systems in different parts of the country.</li>
<li>Encourage PPP model of FSSAI to work forward for<strong> &ldquo;Saajha Nivesh, Saajha Vikas, Saajha Vishwas.</strong></li>
<li>Working in direction of Certified in India and accepted globally.</li>
<li>Informal Market formalization.</li>
<li><strong>Rashtriya Gunavatta Abhiyan:</strong> It will help in <strong>crowdsourcing to check quality issues</strong> in the local market and to <strong>develop a robust Market Surveillance.</strong></li>
<li><strong>Rapid Alert System</strong> with all Regulators on <strong>one single e-platform.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Quality Council of India</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The <strong>Quality Council of India (QCI) set up in 1997</strong> is an <strong>autonomous body</strong> attached to the Department of Industrial Policy &amp; Promotion,<strong> Ministry of Commerce and Industry.</strong></li>
<li><strong>The Chairman of QCI</strong> is appointed by the <strong>Prime Minister</strong> on recommendation of the industry to the government.</li>
<li>Its <strong>mandate is to establish and operate the National Accreditation Structure (NAS)</strong> for conformity assessment bodies and providing accreditation in the field of health, education and quality promotion .</li>
<li><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/international-equivalence-for-personnel-certification#:~:text=India's%20national%20accreditation%20body%2C%20the,Singapore%20on%2020th%20June%2C%202019." target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>National Accreditation Board for Certification Bodies (NABCB)</strong></a> and <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/star-rating-program" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>National Accreditation Board for Testing and Calibration Laboratories (NABL)</strong></a> are the two <strong>accreditation boards</strong> of the<strong> QCI.</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>These two bodies</strong> work closely to support the Government and regulators to ensure that the data provided by <strong>accredited conformity assessment bodies</strong> is <strong>robust, reliable, trustworthy in terms of decision making, compliance testing and standards setting.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>Indian industry is represented in QCI by three premier industry associations namely <strong>ASSOCHAM; CII; and FICCI.</strong></li>
</ul>
</div>
<p><a href="https://pib.gov.in/PressReleaseIframePage.aspx?PRID=1630604#:~:text=QCI%20Celebrates%20the%20World%20Accreditation,for%20improving%20food%20safety%20highlighted&amp;text=The%20World%20Accreditation%20Day%20(WAD,of%20accreditation%20in%20trade%20%26%20economy." 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/world-accreditation-day-2020-qci'
		],
		(int) 3 => [
			'title' => 'Athirapally Hydel Electric Project',
			'catname' => 'News Analysis',
			'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>Recently, the<strong> Kerala government</strong> has approved the proposed<strong> Athirapally Hydro Electric Project</strong> (AHEP) on the <strong>Chalakudy river</strong> in <strong>Thrissur</strong> district of the state.</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>There are <strong>already five dams for power and one for irrigation</strong> and it will be the seventh along the 145 km course of the Chalakudy river.</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Chalakudy River</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>It <strong>originates in the Anamalai region of Tamil Nadu</strong> and is joined by its major tributaries Parambikulam, Kuriyarkutti, Sholayar, Karapara and Anakayam in Kerala.</li>
<li>The river <strong>flows through Palakkad, Thrissur and Ernakulam</strong> districts of Kerala.</li>
<li>It is the<strong> 4<sup>th</sup> longest river in Kerala</strong> and one of very few rivers of Kerala, which is having <strong>relics of riparian vegetation</strong> in substantial level.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>A <strong>riparian zone</strong> is the interface between land and a river or stream. Plant habitats and communities along the river margins and banks are called<strong> riparian vegetation,</strong> characterized by hydrophilic plants.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>It is the <strong>richest river in fish</strong> diversity perhaps in India as it contains 85 species of freshwater fishes out of the 152 species known from Kerala only.</li>
<li>The famous waterfalls,<strong> Athirappilly Falls and Vazhachal Falls,</strong> are situated on this river.</li>
<li>It <strong>merges with the Periyar River near Puthenvelikkara</strong> in Ernakulam district.</li>
</ul>
</div>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The total installed capacity of AHEP is <strong>163 MW</strong> and the project is supposed to make use of the tail end water coming out of the existing<strong> Poringalkuthu Hydro Electric Project</strong> that is constructed across the Chalakudy river.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>AHEP envisages diverting water from the Poringalkuthu project as well as from its <strong>own catchment of 26 sq km.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>Kerala state government has given a <strong>no-objection certificate</strong> (NOC) to the<strong> Kerala State Electricity Board</strong> (KSEB) for a period of <strong>seven years</strong> and has permitted it to proceed with the project&rsquo;s implementation.</li>
<li>KSEB officials are confident that they can manage approval from the<strong> Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change</strong> as it was<strong> approved in 2012 by an Expert Appraisal Committee</strong> (EAC) for river valley and hydro-electric projects.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>EACs are constituted for giving environmental clearance under the <a href="/to-the-points/paper3/environmental-impact-assessment-1" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Environmental Impact Assessment</strong></a> (EIA).</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Opposition:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The government&rsquo;s move to revive the already controversial power project has gained <strong>opposition from various political leaders and environmentalists.</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>KSEB <strong>first mooted the project in 1996</strong> but it had been <strong>suspended</strong> due to strong opposition by the local community backed by environmentalists and politicians with green concerns.</li>
<li>A report by the <strong>Kerala State Biodiversity Board</strong> pointed out in <strong>1997</strong> that the power project would <strong>adversely affect the ecology</strong> of the fragile river ecosystem at Athirappilly.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>It is feared that it will cause people to <strong>organise a protest on the lines of Silent Valley</strong> in the coming days.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li><strong>Silent Valley</strong> was an <strong>ecological movement</strong> with huge mass participation that forced the Kerala government to <strong>abandon dam construction across the Kunthri River in Palakkad</strong> district during the <strong>late 1970s and early 1980s.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Environmental Threats:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Athirappally is home to some<strong> rarest species of birds, animals and plant species</strong> which will be impacted.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Apart from being home to<a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/pakke-tiger-reserve" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong> hornbills</strong></a>, tigers and leopards, the forests also host the Nilgiri langur, the<a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/someshwara-wildlife-sanctuary#:~:text=Lion%2Dtailed%20Macaque,of%20primary%20tropical%20evergreen%20rainforest." target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong> lion-tailed macaque</strong> </a>and the rare Cochin forest cane turtle.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Fish varieties</strong> in the Chalakudy river would be impacted.</li>
<li>Around 168 hectares of <strong>biodiversity-rich forests in the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/ecologically-sensitive-areas-in-western-ghats" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Western Ghats</a></strong> would be submerged.</li>
<li><strong>Kadar tribal settlements</strong> in the forests will be dismantled and displaced. The move seems to be violative of the forest rights granted to the Kadars under the <a href="/to-the-points/Paper2/forest-rights-act-2006" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Forest Rights Act, 2006</strong></a>.</li>
<li>It would sever the only link between the <strong>Peechi Vazhani Wildlife Sanctuary, Thrissur and the Idamalayar basin of the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/mullaperiyar-dam" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Periyar river</a>.</strong></li>
<li>The vital <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/koundinya-wildlife-sanctuary" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>elephant corridor</strong></a><strong> between the Parambikulam Sanctuary</strong> (also a <strong><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/important-facts-for-prelims-19th-november-2018#:~:text=Parambikulam%20Tiger%20Reserve&amp;text=Buddha%20Peacock%20or%20Buddha%20Mayoori,of%20the%20Southern%20Western%20Ghats." target="_blank" rel="noopener">tiger reserve</a>) and the Pooyamkutty forests</strong> would also be affected.</li>
<li>On the<strong> tourism front,</strong> the project would <strong>wipe out the majestic Athirappally and Vazhachal waterfalls,</strong> which draw 0.6 million domestic and foreign tourists every year.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="https://www.downtoearth.org.in/news/environment/kerala-government-gives-go-ahead-to-athirappally-hydel-power-project-71683#:~:text=The%20government%20gave%20the%20go,expired%2C%20according%20to%20official%20sources.&amp;text=The%20government's%20decision%20elicited%20a%20storm%20of%20protests%20from%20various%20quarters." target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Source: DTE</strong></a></p>',
			'postdate' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenTime) {},
			'url' => 'https://www.drishtiias.com/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/athirapally-hydel-electric-project'
		],
		(int) 4 => [
			'title' => 'Rise in the Population of Asiatic Lions',
			'catname' => 'News Analysis',
			'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>Recently, the Gujarat Forest Department has announced an <strong>increase in the population of <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/icmr-recommends-vaccine-for-lions" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Asiatic lions in the Gir forest region.</a></strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Total<strong> 674 lions</strong> were recorded compared to the <strong>523 in the Lion Census of 2015.</strong></li>
<li>The count was estimated from a <strong>population observation exercise</strong> called <strong>Poonam Avlokan</strong> in place of the<strong> 15<sup>th</sup> Lion Census.</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The 15<sup>th</sup> lion census was due to be conducted on 5<sup>th</sup> and 6<sup>th</sup> June, but was postponed indefinitely due to the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/covid-19-and-lockdown" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Covid-19 outbreak.</strong></a></li>
<li>Poonam Avlokan is a<strong> monthly in-house exercise</strong> carried out <strong>every full moon</strong>. It was a mechanism developed by the Forest Department in 2014 as part of preparations for the 2015 Lion Census.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Numerical Analysis:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The lion population has<strong> grown</strong> by<strong> almost 29%</strong> from the last count in 2015. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>The lion population in the state of Gujarat has <strong>doubled since 2001.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>Moreover, the distribution of the lions has <strong>expanded from 22,000 sq. km </strong>in<strong> 2015 to 30,000 sq. km in 2020.</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Thus, the <strong>geographical distribution area</strong> for Gir forests&rsquo;s lions has been <strong>increased by 36%.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Significance of 2020 Count:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The 2015 Census had counted 523 lions,<strong> up from 411 in 2010.</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>But 12 lions were killed in a <strong>flash flood in Amreli</strong> just a month after the 2015 Census.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>The deaths of lions in 2015 was followed by deaths of more than two dozen lions in an <strong>outbreak of <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/icmr-recommends-vaccine-for-lions" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Canine Distemper Virus (CDV)</a> and babesiosis in 2018.</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Babesia is a tiny parasite that infects red blood cells and is usually transmitted by a tick bite. Infection with Babesia is called babesiosis.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>Additionally, the <strong>babesiosis outbreak was also reported in Gir in 2020,</strong> and around two dozen lions were reported to be killed.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Reasons for Increase:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Over the last several years, the lion population in Gujarat has been <strong>steadily rising.</strong></li>
<li>This increase has been powered by <strong>community participation, emphasis on technology, wildlife healthcare, proper habitat management and steps to minimise human-lion conflict.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Regular Lion Census</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>History:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The <strong>first Lion Census</strong> was conducted by the<strong> Nawab of Junagadh</strong> in <strong>1936.</strong></li>
<li><strong>Since 1965, the Forest Department</strong> has been regularly conducting the Lion Census every five years.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Procedure:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Time Period:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>The regular Lion Census is conducted <strong>once every five years.</strong> The<strong> last Census</strong> was conducted in <strong>2015.</strong></li>
<li>The Lion Census usually runs <strong>for more than two days,</strong> including a preliminary census and a final census.</li>
<li>However, the Poonam Avlokan is carried out for <strong>24 hours assessing the number of lions</strong> and their locations in their respective jurisdictions.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Participation:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>The Forest Department<strong> invites NGOs, experts and wildlife enthusiasts</strong> to join the Census for transparency and augmenting manpower.</li>
<li>Whereas the Poonam Avlokan exercise is conducted <strong>only by forest staff.</strong></li>
<li>Thus, the Lion Census experiences<strong> larger participation</strong> of the people compared to the Poonam Avalokan exercise.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Methodology Used:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>The Lion Census is done using the<strong> block counting method &mdash;</strong> in which census enumerators remain stationed at water points in a given block and estimate abundance of lions in that block, based on direct sighting of lions who need to drink water at least once in 24 hours during the summer.</li>
<li>Under Poonam Avlokan exercise, the teams keep moving in their respective territories and make their estimates based on <strong>inputs provided by lion trackers and on chance sightings.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Gir National Park</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The Gir National Park and Wildlife Sanctuary is located in the<strong> Junagadh district of Gujarat.</strong></li>
<li>The Gir Forests is the <strong>only natural habitat of Asiatic lions.</strong> It was declared as a sanctuary in 1965 and a national park in 1975.</li>
<li>Gir is often linked with <strong>"Maldharis"</strong> who have survived through the ages by having a symbiotic relationship with the lions.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Maldharis are religious <strong>pastoral communities</strong> living in Gir. Their settlements are called <strong>"nesses".</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>Protection for Asiatic Lions</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Protection Status:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>IUCN Red List:</strong> Endangered</li>
<li><strong>CITES:</strong> Appendix I</li>
<li><strong>Wildlife (Protection) Act 1972:</strong> Schedule I</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Conservation Efforts:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/asiatic-lion-conservation-project" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>&ldquo;Asiatic Lion Conservation Project&rdquo;</strong></a> has been launched by the Union Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate Change (MoEFCC).</li>
<li>The project has been approved for<strong> three financial years from 2018 to 2021.</strong></li>
<li>The project envisages scientific management with the involvement of communities in coordination with multi-sectoral agencies for disease control and veterinary care for overall conservation of Asiatic lions.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</div>
<h3>Way Forward</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Earlier, the lions from the gir forest had faced the <strong>threat of extinction</strong> but <strong>timely intervention</strong> has shown <strong>extraordinary recovery.</strong></li>
<li>Lions have recorded a healthy growth in population due to<strong> effective conservation and management efforts</strong> by the state government with support from the Centre.</li>
<li>Further, <strong>more focussed protection programmes and health care programmes</strong> need to be implemented to control diseases like CDV, babesiosis which continue to take lives of lions from the Gir forest.</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="https://pib.gov.in/PressReleseDetailm.aspx?PRID=1630733" 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/rise-in-the-population-of-asiatic-lions'
		],
		(int) 5 => [
			'title' => 'Genetically Modified Seeds',
			'catname' => 'News Analysis',
			'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>Recently, Shetkari Sanghatana, a Maharashtra based farmers&rsquo; union body has announced agitation for use of unapproved genetically modified seeds of cotton, maize, rice, mustard, soybean and brinjal.</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Shetkari Sanghatana is a big supporter of GM seeds. Its main aim is to provide farmers, freedom of access to markets and technology.</li>
<li>Last year its members had broken the law by planting Herbicide Tolerant Bt cotton seeds. This year too it's members are planning to repeat the same.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Genetically Modified Seeds:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Conventional plant breeding involves<strong> crossing species of the same genus</strong> to provide the offspring with the desired traits of both parents. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Genus is a class of items such as a group of animals or plants with similar traits, qualities or features.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/supermarkets-flooded-with-foreign-gm-foods-despite-ban" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Genetic modification</strong></a> aims to transcend the genus barrier by <strong>introducing an alien gene</strong> in the seeds to get the desired effects. The alien gene could be from a plant, an animal or even a soil bacterium.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/bt-cotton-in-india-problems-and-solutions" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Bt cotton</strong> </a>is the <strong>only Genetically Modified (GM) crop</strong> that is allowed in India. It has <strong>alien genes from the soil bacterium Bacillus thuringiensis</strong> <strong>(Bt)</strong> that allows the crop to develop a protein toxic to the common <strong>pest <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/maharashtra-to-take-emergency-measures-to-tackle-pink-bollworm-pbw" target="_blank" rel="noopener">pink bollworm</a>.</strong></li>
<li><strong>Herbicide Tolerant Bt (Ht Bt) cotton,</strong> on the other hand is derived with the insertion of an additional gene, from another soil bacterium, which allows the plant to resist the common <strong>herbicide glyphosate.</strong></li>
<li>In <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/illegal-cultivation-of-bt-brinjal" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Bt brinjal</strong></a>, a gene allows the plant to resist attacks of fruit and shoot borers.</li>
<li>In <a href="/infographics/info-paper3/gm-mustard" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>DMH-11 mustard</strong></a>, genetic modification allows cross-pollination in a crop that self-pollinates in nature.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Legal Position of GM crops in India</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>In India, the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/geac-seeks-information-from-bangladesh-on-bt-brinjal" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Genetic Engineering Appraisal Committee (GEAC)</strong></a> is the apex body that allows for commercial release of GM crops. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>In 2002, the GEAC had allowed the commercial release of Bt cotton. More than 95% of the country&rsquo;s cotton area has since then come under Bt cotton.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>Use of the unapproved GM variant can attract <strong>a jail term of 5 years and fine of Rs. 1 lakh</strong> under the Environment Protection Act, 1986.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Farmers Demand for GM Seeds:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>GM seeds reduce the production cost and increase productivity.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Ht Bt cotton reduces the high cost of weeding.</li>
<li>Bt brinjal reduces the use of pesticides.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Issues involved:</strong> Genetic modification brings about changes that can be harmful to humans in the long run. The long-lasting effect of GM crops is yet to be studied. Some of the issues involved are:<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Threat to Biodiversity:</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Cross-pollination in GM crops paves the way for<strong> herbicide-resistant superweeds</strong> that can further threaten the sustenance of other crops and pests because of their uncontrolled growth. In short, biodiversity gets threatened.</li>
<li>GM crops because of their pest resistance characteristics could <strong>eliminate important species of pests</strong> that are responsible for sustaining domestic varieties and can pose serious threats to biodiversity. They Can <strong>affect the food chain</strong> also.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Nutrition issues:</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Bt brinjal poses risks to human health as its<strong> resistance to antibiotics</strong> can turn medicines ineffective and may result in the formation of new toxins and allergens.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Implications for consumers and farmers:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>It is claimed that patent laws give developers of the GM crops a dangerous degree of<strong> control/dominance over the food supply</strong> that results in the over domination of world food production by a few companies.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Way Forward</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Environmental impact assessment</strong> should be carried out by independent environmentalists, as farmers do not and cannot assess the long-term impact of GM crops on ecology and health.</li>
<li>Ensure that an <strong>unapproved variety of GM seeds is not available in markets.</strong></li>
<li>In order to curb the illegal cultivation of GM seeds, the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/geac-seeks-information-from-bangladesh-on-bt-brinjal" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Genetic Engineering Appraisal Committee</strong></a> (GEAC) should:<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Collaborate with state governments and launch a nation-wide investigation drive.</li>
<li>Take action on threats of deliberate GM crop cultivation.</li>
<li>Investigate and prosecute those involved in the illegal supply of GM Seeds.</li>
<li>Encourage organic farming.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>The government should go for commercialization of GM seeds only after the core and deep research on the long term prospects and benefits of commercialization of GM seeds in India.</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="https://indianexpress.com/article/explained/gm-seeds-the-debate-and-a-sowing-agitation-6452999/" 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/genetically-modified-seeds'
		],
		(int) 6 => [
			'title' => 'New Cold War',
			'catname' => 'News Editorials',
			'desc' => '<div class="border">
<p>This article is based on <a href="https://www.thehindu.com/opinion/op-ed/multilateralism-in-the-new-cold-war/article31734107.ece" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>&ldquo;Multilateralism in the new cold war&rdquo;</strong></a> which was published in The Hindu on 03/06/2020. It talks about the new cold war taking shape between the US and China.</p>
</div>
<p>China is soon to become the largest economy in the world. It&rsquo;s growth is based on technology, innovation and trade, which sought to balance U.S. military superiority, and has fueled the strategic rivalry between the two countries.</p>
<p>The rising tensions between the US and China have prompted many experts to warn of a new Cold War akin to the <a href="/to-the-points/paper1/cold-war" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Cold War between the US and USSR</strong></a>.</p>
<p>In 2017, the US National Security Strategy called China as &ldquo;a revisionist power&rdquo; seeking &ldquo;to erode American security and prosperity&rdquo; and &ldquo;shape a world antithetical to U.S. values and interests&rdquo;. Also, China has been proactive in undermining the US hegemony on multiple fronts.</p>
<p>COVID-19 pandemic has further aggravated the deterioration of ties between the two countries. Thus, this new Cold War between China and the United States is a major geopolitical risk of the 21<sup>st</sup> century.</p>
<h3>Events Signaling a New Cold War</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>China has come out with alternative governance mechanisms to the U.S.-dominated International Monetary Fund, World Bank and World Trade Organization with its all-encompassing <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/belt-and-road-initiative-perspectives-from-india" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Belt and Road Initiative</strong> </a>and institutions like <a href="/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-international-institution/asian-infrastructure-investment-bank" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Asia infrastructure investment bank</strong></a>, contingency reserve agreement (CRA) of <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/5th-annual-meeting-of-ndb" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>New Development Bank</strong></a>.</li>
<li>For several decades, China&rsquo;s breakneck development under the relatively enlightened authoritarianism of Deng Xiaoping and his successors was seen positively in the United States. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>However, under Xi Jinping, China has evolved from a soft to a hard authoritarianism. There is now a president-for-life with a budding personality cult.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>In order to contain rising China&rsquo;s assertiveness, the US under its &lsquo;pivot to Asia policy&rsquo; has launched a <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/quad-3#:~:text=Quadrilateral%20Security%20Dialogue%20(Quad)%20is,prosperous%E2%80%9D%20Indo%2DPacific%20region.&amp;text=However%2C%20the%20idea%20couldn't,apparently%20due%20to%20Chinese%20pressure." target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>quad initiative</strong></a>, <a href="/loksabha-rajyasabha-discussions/the-big-picture-indo-pacific-strategic-importance" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Indo pacific narrative</strong></a>.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Most recently, the US proposed to expand G7 to G-11 without including China in it.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>China&rsquo;s incremental &ldquo;salami slicing&rdquo; tactics in the South China Sea, first by land reclamation and then constructing artificial islands for extending extra-territorial claim, has seen sharp criticism from the US and its allies.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>It is similar to the way dominance over the Caribbean enabled the United States to strategically control the Atlantic Ocean and thus, affect the balance of forces in the two world wars and a cold war.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>From Trade war to tensions over 5G telecommunications to currency wars, US-China confrontation is on multiple economic fronts.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Further, the donor-recipient relationship between US and developing countries has weakened with China&rsquo;s pledge of $2-billion amid COVID-19 pandemic, thereby starting a new phase of donation diplomacy.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>Moreover, China perceives US support for Taiwan as an interference in its internal matters.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Differences Over Previous Cold War</h3>
<p>There are several key differences between the previous Cold War between the US &amp; Soviet Union and the Cold War between the US and China.</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>No Ideological conflict:</strong> Cold War between the US and Soviet Union was a battle between two opposing ideologies viz. capitalism vs communism, whereas there is no such ideological conflict between US and China.</li>
<li><strong>No proxy conflicts:</strong> Previous Cold War was full of proxy conflicts between the US and Soviet Union like in Cuban missile crisis 1962, Soviet afghan war 1979-89, etc.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>However, till now there are no proxy wars between the U.S. and China.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Multi-polar world:</strong> Today, the world is also not bipolar anymore. There are countries like Russia, India and Japan, which act as swing states,as they have a choice whether or not to align with the US or China.</li>
<li><strong>Economic interdependence:</strong> Unlike the US and Soviet Union, the economies of US and China are closely integrated through investments and markets in a hyper globalized world.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Role of India</h3>
<p>India is a rising global power and citing its importance both the US and China sought to attract India in its camp. Foreign policy experts in the US argue India Is a Natural US Ally in the New Cold War. On the other hand Chinese&rsquo;s Ambassador in India has suggested writing &ldquo;together a new chapter&rdquo; with &ldquo;a shared future for mankind&rdquo;. In this context:</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>India can promote new multilateralism under the aegis of <strong>Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam-</strong> which relies on restructuring both the economic order and societal behaviour for equitable sustainable development.</li>
<li>India must take up intensified diplomacy with global powers so that Asian Century can be defined in terms of peaceful co-existence and global interest.</li>
<li>Apart from it, India Should acknowledge that national security now relies on technological superiority in artificial intelligence (AI), cyber and space, and not expensive capital equipment.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Thus, India should become self sufficient in the domain of critical technologies.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Conclusion</h3>
<p>As India joins the UN Security Council (non-permanent seat) and chairs the BRICS Summit and hosts the G-20 in 2022, the development will bring opportunity for India to assume leadership role and propose a new globalisation model based on humanity, fairness and equality has wide support in a more equal world rather than a world divided by Cold War.</p>
<p><a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1591791678_pasted%20image 0 (1).png" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1591791678_pasted image 0 (1).png" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="700" caption="false" /></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: #edf3fc;">
<p><span style="color: #000080;"><em><strong>Drishti Mains Question</strong></em></span></p>
<p>&ldquo;The rising tensions between the US and China is akin to the Cold War tensions between the US and USSR&rdquo;. Discuss the causes of the new cold war and role of India in the turbulent times.</p>
</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<p style="text-align: center;"><iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/MpTTDRHtaIA" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe></p>
<p>This editorial is based on <a href="https://indianexpress.com/article/opinion/editorials/eca-amendment-apmc-mandis-farm-sector-6449257/" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>&ldquo;Unlocking The Fram&rdquo;</strong></a> which was published in The Indian Express on June 9<sup>th</sup>, 2020. Now watch this on our Youtube Channel.</p>',
			'postdate' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenTime) {},
			'url' => 'https://www.drishtiias.com/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/new-cold-war'
		],
		(int) 7 => [
			'title' => 'Water Dispute Between Telangana and Andhra Pradesh',
			'catname' => 'News Analysis',
			'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>Recently, the Union government has decided <strong>to take the stock</strong> <strong>of water utilisation</strong> from the <strong>Krishna and Godavari rivers</strong> following the filing of complaints against each other by Telangana and Andhra Pradesh governments.</p>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Water Dispute:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Telangana and Andhra Pradesh share stretches of the Krishna and the Godavari and own their tributaries.</li>
<li>Both states <strong>have proposed several new projects without getting clearance</strong> from the <strong>river boards, the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/e-flows-in-river-ganga" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Central Water Commission</a> and the Apex Council,</strong> as mandated by the Andhra Pradesh Reorganisation Act, 2014.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>The Andhra Pradesh Reorganisation Act, 2014 <strong>mandates for constitution of an Apex Council by Central Government</strong> for the supervision of the functioning of the Godavari River Management Board and Krishna River Management Board.</li>
<li>The Apex Council <strong>comprises the Union Water Resources Minister and the Chief Ministers of</strong> Telangana and Andhra Pradesh.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>The Andhra Pradesh government&rsquo;s proposal to increase the utilisation of the Krishna water from a section of the river above the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/srisailam-dam" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Srisailam Reservoir</strong></a> led to the Telangana government filing a complaint against Andhra Pradesh. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>The Srisailam reservoir is constructed across the <strong>Krishna River in Andhra Pradesh.</strong> It is located in the <strong>Nallamala hills.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>The Andhra Pradesh government retaliated with its own complaints saying that <strong>Palamuru-Rangareddy, Dindi Lift Irrigation Schemes on the Krishna river</strong> and <strong><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/kaleshwaram-lift-irrigation-project" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Kaleshwaram</a>, Tupakulagudem schemes and a few barrages proposed across the Godavari</strong> are all new projects.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Krishna Water Dispute Tribunal:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Two tribunals</strong> have been constituted to resolve the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/refer-krishna-dispute-to-tribunal" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>disputes of the Krishna water</strong></a>.</li>
<li><strong>Andhra Pradesh has countered the second Krishna Water Dispute Tribunal (KWDT) order</strong> issued by Justice Brijesh Kumar in 2010. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>The Brijesh Kumar Tribunal has allocated 81 thousand million cubic feet (tmcft) of surplus water to Maharashtra, 177 tmcft to Karnataka and only 196 tmcft to Andhra Pradesh.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>After the creation of Telangana as a separate state in 2014, <strong>Andhra Pradesh is asking to include Telangana as a separate party at the KWDT</strong> and that the allocation of Krishna waters be reworked among four states, instead of three.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>It has challenged the order of the Brijesh Kumar Tribunal in the Supreme Court.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Godavari Water Dispute Tribunal:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The <strong>Godavari Water Dispute Tribunal headed by Justice Bachawat</strong> was constituted by the Government in April, 1969.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>The <strong>tribunal was tasked to look after the dispute over Godavari river</strong> between Andhra Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Odisha, and Karnataka over the sharing of the Godavari river water.</li>
<li>The Bachawat Tribunal gave its final award in 1980.</li>
<li>Accordingly, each State was free to utilise the flow in Godavari and its tributaries up to a certain level.</li>
<li>Thus, Andhra Pradesh decided to divert 80 tmcft of Godavari water from Polavaram to Krishna river, upstream of Vijayawada, so that it could be shared with Karnataka and Maharashtra.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>Once Telangana came into existence in 2014,<strong> the Godavari water and, more specifically, the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/godavari-valley-area-and-covid-19" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Polavaram project</a> became the bone of contention</strong> between Telangana and Andhra Pradesh. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>While the project will take care of the irrigation needs of the Godavari districts of Andhra Pradesh, Telangana fears it would submerge many villages in its Khammam district.</li>
<li>Odisha too has expressed its reservations over the Polavaram dam's design.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Union Government&rsquo;s Move:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>It has asked the Krishna and Godavari River Management Boards <strong>to procure the details of the irrigation projects on these rivers,</strong> including from Maharashtra and Karnataka and submit them to the Centre in a month.</li>
<li>The <strong>main objective</strong> of the exercise appears to be to assess whether surplus water will be available for the new projects in Telangana and Andhra Pradesh, in the light of the disputes.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Inter-State Water Disputes</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Article 262 of the Constitution</strong> provides for the adjudication of<a href="/loksabha-rajyasabha-discussions/the-big-picture-single-tribunal-for-river-water-disputes" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong> inter-state water disputes.</strong> </a><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Under this, <strong>Parliament may by law provide for the adjudication of any dispute or complaint</strong> with respect to the use, distribution and control of waters of any inter-state river and river valley.</li>
<li>Parliament may also provide that <strong>neither the Supreme Court nor any other court is to exercise jurisdiction</strong> in respect of any such dispute or complaint.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>The Parliament has enacted the two laws, the <strong>River Boards Act (1956)</strong> and the <strong>Inter-State Water Disputes Act (1956).</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The River Boards Act provides for the establishment of river boards by the<strong> Central government</strong> for the regulation and development of inter-state river and river valleys. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>A River Board is established on the request of state governments concerned to advise them.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>The Inter-State Water Disputes Act empowers the <strong>Central government to set up an ad hoc tribunal for the adjudication of a dispute between two or more states</strong> in relation to the waters of an inter-state river or river valley.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>The <strong>decision of the tribunal is final and binding on the parties</strong> to the dispute.</li>
<li>Neither the Supreme Court nor any other court is to have jurisdiction in respect of any water dispute which may be referred to such a tribunal under this Act.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Godavari River</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Source:</strong> Godavari river rises from Trimbakeshwar near Nasik in Maharashtra and flows for a length of about 1465 km before outfalling into the Bay of Bengal.</li>
<li><strong>Drainage Basin:</strong> The Godavari basin extends over states of Maharashtra, Telangana, Andhra Pradesh, Chhattisgarh and Odisha in addition to smaller parts in Madhya Pradesh, Karnataka and Union territory of Puducherry.</li>
<li><strong>Tributaries:</strong> Pravara, Purna, Manjra, Penganga, Wardha, Wainganga, Pranhita (combined flow of Wainganga, Penganga, Wardha), Indravati, Maner and the Sabri</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>Krishna River</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Source:</strong> It originates near Mahabaleshwar (Satara) in Maharashtra. It is the second biggest river in peninsular India after the Godavari River.</li>
<li><strong>Drainage:</strong> It runs from four states Maharashtra (303 km), North Karnataka (480 km) and the rest of its 1300 km journey in Telangana and Andhra Pradesh before it empties into the Bay of Bengal.</li>
<li><strong>Tributaries:</strong> Tungabhadra, Mallaprabha, Koyna, Bhima, Ghataprabha, Yerla, Warna, Dindi, Musi and Dudhganga.</li>
</ul>
</div>
<p><a href="https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/centre-to-take-stock-of-krishna-and-godavari-water-utilisation/article31790230.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/water-dispute-between-telangana-and-andhra-pradesh'
		],
		(int) 8 => [
			'title' => 'The Big Picture: Hong Kong National Security Law',
			'catname' => 'Lok Sabha & Rajya Sabha Discussions',
			'desc' => '<p style="text-align: center;"><iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/mO-yu5pNrhw" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe></p>
<p>Chinese authorities have planned to bypass the Hong Kong&rsquo;s legislature to enact a <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/new-security-law-in-hong-kong" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>national security law</strong></a> that is believed by pro-democracy activists to crack down the dissent in the city.</p>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>What is the National Security Law</strong></p>
<p>Under the national security law, a legal framework will be set up to prevent and punish subversion, terrorism, separatism/ seccesion and any foreign interference. The law makes any of these acts a crime.</p>
</div>
<h3>A Brief History</h3>
<p>Hong Kong was handed back to China from British control in 1997, but under a unique agreement which was based on a mini-constitution called the Basic Law and thus, a so-called "one country, two systems" principle came in the light.</p>
<p>Under the same agreement, Hong Kong had to enact its own national security law - this was set out in Article 23 of the Basic Law. However, it could not be enacted due to the protests against the law in 2003.</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>In the same year, Hong Kong tried to remove some of the provisions of article 23 in which nearly half a million people took part in the protest but was jettisoned.</li>
<li>Since early 2019, there has been a move to introduce an extradition bill which also faced huge protests in which 3-4 million people (out of around 7 million population of Hong Kong) participated; the extradition bill was cancelled.</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Extradition</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>It is the formal process of one state surrendering an individual to another state for prosecution or punishment for crimes committed in the requesting country's jurisdiction.</li>
<li>This is generally enabled through a bilateral or multilateral treaty.</li>
<li>The legal basis for extradition with countries with whom India does not have an Extradition treaty is provided by Section 3 (4) of the Indian Extradition Act, 1962.</li>
</ul>
</div>
<h3>Issues With The Law</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The law is an attack on the human rights of the people of Hong Kong as it curtails their freedom of speech and freedom of assembly.</li>
<li>The law could see people punished for criticising Beijing as well as the Chinese Communist Party - as it happens in mainland China.</li>
<li>It violates the <strong>basic law of Hong Kong</strong> which proposes the <strong>one country, two systems</strong> procedure.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The article 22 of the basic law of Hong Kong is violated which suggests that no central government. agencies can interfere in the functioning of the Special Administrative Region (Hong Kong).</li>
<li>Article 12 which suggests that there will be a high degree of autonomy is also violated.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>The US and Hong Kong share a good business relationship due to no interference of China in the state matters which will possibly be not as good if the latter becomes a part of mainland China.</li>
</ul>
<p>People of Hong Kong in response to the law have come out in thousands of numbers defying both the law and the social distancing norms imposed in the wake of <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/coronavirus-disease-named-covid-19" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Covid-19</strong></a>.</p>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Basic Law</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Basic Law allows Hong Kong to enjoy executive, legislative and independent judicial power, including that of final adjudication, barring matters of defence and foreign affairs.</li>
<li>Under Article 23 of the Basic Law, Hong Kong has to enact a national security law &ldquo;to prohibit any act of treason, secession, sedition, subversion against the Central People&rsquo;s Government, or theft of state secrets, to prohibit foreign political organizations or bodies from conducting political activities in the Region, and to prohibit political organizations or bodies of the Region from establishing ties with foreign political organizations or bodies.&rdquo;</li>
<li>Article 23 aims at preserving national security but it will also allow China&rsquo;s national security organs to formally operate and set up institutions in Hong Kong.</li>
</ul>
</div>
<h3>Global Response</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Political leaders around the world have written missives condemning this law.</li>
<li>A joint statement from the US, United Kingdom, Canada and Australia expressed their &ldquo;deep concern&rdquo; regarding Beijing&rsquo;s proposed law.</li>
<li>Germany believes Hong Kong&rsquo;s autonomy must not be undermined.</li>
<li>Taiwan&rsquo;s president says that the country stands with the people of Hong Kong and pledged support and &ldquo;necessary assistance&rdquo; to those who need help.</li>
<li>Japan&rsquo;s foreign ministry issued a statement saying: &ldquo;Japan is seriously concerned&rdquo; about China&rsquo;s decision toward Hong Kong for there exist strong economic ties between the two.</li>
</ul>
<h3>China&rsquo;s Open Threats</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>President Jinping, in a visit to Nepal openly threatened a war against those willing for separatism in China.</li>
<li>Reluctant to any compromise, the country provides a clear message to Taiwan against providing independence to the state. They have shifted to a unification from a &lsquo;peaceful unification&rsquo;.</li>
<li>In a <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/virtual-g20-leaders-summit" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>G20 virtual summit</strong></a>, China denied to cut off the debts of any least developed countries.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Way Forward</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>International attention should be given to this and people of Hong Kong need to be encouraged for their effort.</li>
<li>It&rsquo;s the high time to respond to China&rsquo;s activities in order to prevent any severe actions in future.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Letting China have its way could lead to dire consequences for Taiwan and probably many other similar states.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>China is immune to any individual country&rsquo;s response and hence, a coordinated response from the bigger power nations is required.</li>
<li>Apart from the external factors, on the Hong Kong people&rsquo;s part:
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>They have to take a stand for the universal suffrage rights.</li>
<li>They are needed to ask for separation of power and autonomy in the administration.</li>
<li>The crisis of the real estate within the region needs to be addressed too.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>',
			'postdate' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenTime) {},
			'url' => 'https://www.drishtiias.com/loksabha-rajyasabha-discussions/the-big-picture-hong-kong-national-security-law'
		],
		(int) 9 => [
			'title' => 'QS World University Rankings 2021',
			'catname' => 'News Analysis',
			'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>Recently, <strong>QS World University Rankings 2021</strong> shows a decline in the rankings of the<strong> Indian Institutes of Technology</strong> (IITs) and the <strong>Indian Institute of Science</strong> (IISc).</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Only the newer <strong>IITs in Guwahati and Hyderabad</strong> have shown some <strong>improvement.</strong></li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>QS World University Rankings</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Quacquarelli Symonds</strong> (QS) is a leading <strong>global career and education network</strong> for ambitious professionals looking to further their personal and professional development.</li>
<li>QS develops and successfully <strong>implements methods of comparative data collection and analysis</strong> used to highlight institutions&rsquo; strengths.</li>
<li>The <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/qs-world-university-rankings" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>&lsquo;QS World University Rankings&rsquo;</strong></a> is an <strong>annual publication of university rankings</strong> which comprises the global overall and subject rankings.</li>
<li><strong>Six parameters and their weightage for the evaluation:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Academic Reputation (40%)</li>
<li>Employer Reputation (10%)</li>
<li>Faculty/Student Ratio (20%)</li>
<li>Citations per faculty (20%)</li>
<li>International Faculty Ratio (5%)</li>
<li>International Student Ratio (5%)</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</div>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Only three educational institutes from India, the<strong> IIT Bombay (172), IISc Bengaluru (185)</strong> and<strong> IIT Delhi (193)</strong> feature in the <strong>top 200 list.</strong></li>
<li>Despite the Centre's flagship <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/institutions-of-eminence-ioe-scheme" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Institutes of Eminence</strong></a> <strong>(IoE) scheme</strong> to boost the Indian presence in these global rankings, the <strong>total number of Indian institutions</strong> in the top 1,000 global list has <strong>fallen from 24 to 21.</strong></li>
<li>In <strong>private universities, BITS Pilani and the Vellore Institute of Technology (VIT) have dropped</strong> out of the top 1,000 list, but <strong>OP Jindal Global University has climbed</strong> to the 650-700 band in the rankings.</li>
<li>Out of the six parameters, Indian institutions get <strong>zero scores on the ratio of international faculty and students</strong> while <strong>scoring well on research impact,</strong> measured through citations per faculty.</li>
<li>India also<strong> scores poorly on faculty-student ratio</strong> because of counting only full-time faculty whereas American universities include PhD students who are teaching or are research assistants.</li>
<li>Indian academics have focused on that<strong> if a parameter comparing the cost of education to students is introduced,</strong> Indian institutions would be among the world&rsquo;s top 50.</li>
<li>Earlier in 2020, <strong>IITs jointly decided to boycott</strong> the<a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/world-university-rankings-2020#:~:text=The%20University%20of%20Oxford%20retained,%2D350%20bracket%20in%202020)." target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong> World University Rankings</strong></a> released by the <strong>Times Higher Education</strong> (THE) questioning its methodology and transparency.</li>
<li>One of the reasons for a drop in Indian universities&rsquo; rank is <strong>lack of sufficient efforts.</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Other universities across the world are making<strong> increasingly-intense efforts to enhance their educational offerings.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>A <strong>committee</strong> of IIT directors has been formed to see<strong> how Indian institutes can improve the perception about them abroad</strong> and also make efforts to enhance the quality of standards within the country.</li>
<li><strong>Suggestions:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The government should launch a campaign for improving educational institutes, similar to <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/national-conference-of-tourism-ministers" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Incredible India</strong></a> which promotes<a href="/to-the-points/paper3/tourism-in-india" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong> tourism in India</strong></a> and engages with the travellers.</li>
<li><strong>Success should be based on five pillars:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Not-for-profit status.</li>
<li>Strong commitment to faculty hiring and research.</li>
<li>Focus on internationalisation.</li>
<li>Devotion to humanities and social sciences.</li>
<li>Drive to build a reputation through students and employers.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Institutions of Eminence Scheme</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>It is a government's scheme to provide the <strong>regulatory architecture for setting up or upgrading</strong> of 20 Institutions (10 from public sector and 10 from the private sector) as world-class teaching and research institutions called &lsquo;Institutions of Eminence&rsquo;.</li>
<li><strong>Objectives:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Excellence and Innovation:</strong> To provide for higher education leading to excellence and innovations in such branches of knowledge as may be deemed fit at post-graduate, graduate and research degree levels.</li>
<li><strong>Specialization:</strong> To engage in areas of specialization to make distinctive contributions to the objectives of the university education system.</li>
<li><strong>Global Rating:</strong> To aim to be rated internationally for its teaching and research as a top hundred Institution in the world over time.</li>
<li><strong>Quality teaching and Research:</strong> To provide for high quality teaching and research and for the advancement of knowledge and its dissemination.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Benefits:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Autonomy:</strong> Institutes with IoE tag will be given <strong>greater autonomy and freedom</strong> to decide fees, course durations and governance structures.</li>
<li><strong>Grant:</strong> The <strong>public institutions</strong> under IoE tag will receive a <strong>government grant of Rs 1,000 crore,</strong> while the <strong>private institutions will not get any funding</strong> under the scheme.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</div>
<h3>Way Forward</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The perception about India and its education standards play a major role which cannot be changed by an individual institution so all of the universities and institutes have to come together to tackle the issue.</li>
<li>To regain lost ground, Indian higher education must find ways of increasing teaching capacity and of attracting more talented students and faculty across the world to study and work in India.</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="https://www.thehindu.com/education/colleges/top-iits-and-iisc-slip-in-global-rankings/article31790423.ece#:~:text=IIT%2DBombay%20still%20maintains%20its,dropped%20a%20rank%20to%20185.&amp;text=IIT%20Hyderabad%20entered%20the%20top%201%2C000%20for%20the%20first%20time." 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/qs-world-university-rankings-2021'
		],
		(int) 10 => [
			'title' => 'Vamsadhara River Water Dispute',
			'catname' => 'News Analysis',
			'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>The <strong>Chief Ministers of Andhra Pradesh and Odisha</strong> will hold talks to clear out all differences with regard to the<strong> sharing of Vamsadhara river waters.</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Andhra Pradesh wants to build the <strong>Neradi bridge</strong> across the river which will be possible only after Odisha&rsquo;s consent.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Andhra Pradesh also wants to complete the<strong> inter-linking of its Nagavali river with the Vamsadhara </strong>and expand the <strong>Madduvalasa Reservoir project</strong> soon.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Madduvalasa Project is a <strong>Medium Irrigation Project</strong> with a reservoir across <strong>Suvarnamukhi</strong> river, a<strong> tributary of Nagavali</strong> river.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Agriculture is the only assured economic activity</strong> for the people living in the backward region and in the<strong> absence of rapid industrialisation,</strong> there is a need to <strong>concentrate on irrigation projects</strong> to make agriculture a viable activity.</li>
<li><strong>Background:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>In<strong> February 2006,</strong> Odisha sent a complaint to the Central Government under <strong>Section 3 of the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/call-of-the-river" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Inter-State River Water Disputes (ISRWD) Act, 1956</a></strong> regarding its water disputes with Andhra Pradesh pertaining to <strong>Inter-State River Vamsadhara.</strong> It demanded for the constitution of an <a href="/to-the-points/Paper2/inter-state-river-water-sharing-disputes" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Inter-State Water Disputes</strong></a> <strong>Tribunal</strong> for adjudication.</li>
<li><strong>Grievances of Orissa:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li><strong>Adverse effect</strong> of undertaking the <strong>construction of a canal</strong> (called a flood flow canal at Katragada, Andhra Pradesh) taking off from the river Vamsadhara.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>The flood flow canal would result in <strong>drying up the existing river bed</strong> and consequent shifting of the river <strong>affecting the groundwater table.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Failure of Andhra Pradesh</strong> to implement the terms of the inter-state agreement relating to use, distribution and control of waters of vamsadhara and its valley.</li>
<li>Odisha also raised the issue of <strong>scientific assessment</strong> of available water in Vamsadhara at Katragada and Gotta Barrage, Andhra Pradesh and the basis for sharing the available water.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1591781554_image2.jpg" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1591781554_image2.jpg" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="750" caption="false" /></a></p>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Vamsadhara River</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>It is an <strong>east-flowing</strong> river which originates in <strong>Kalahandi district of Odisha,</strong> flows in Odisha, along its boundary with Andhra Pradesh and finally<strong> joins the Bay of Bengal at Kalingapatnam, Andhra Pradesh.</strong></li>
<li>It is the <strong>main river of north-eastern Andhra</strong> region and the <strong>Boddepalli Rajagopala Rao Project</strong> was constructed on it to meet the irrigation needs of the region.</li>
</ul>
</div>
<p><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1591780902_image1.jpg" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="750" caption="false" /></p>',
			'postdate' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenTime) {},
			'url' => 'https://www.drishtiias.com/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/vamsadhara-river-water-dispute'
		],
		(int) 11 => [
			'title' => 'Gross Value Added',
			'catname' => 'News Analysis',
			'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>According to the provisional data released by the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/retail-inflation-dropped" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>National Statistical Office (NSO)</strong></a>, the <strong>Gross Value Added</strong> (GVA) estimates for the first three quarters of financial year 2019-20, revealed significant revisions from what the NSO had shared back in February 2020.</p>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>In February, the NSO had pegged year-on-year GVA growth rates in the first three quarters at 5.4%, 4.8% and 4.5%, respectively.</li>
<li>However, the latest estimates saw significant downward revisions in the GVA data pertaining to the first three quarters to 4.8%, 4.3% and 3.5% respectively.</li>
<li>The revisions combined with dull performance in the fourth quarter ultimately<strong> lowered the overall annual GVA growth estimate</strong> for 2019-20 by as much as 1% point to 3.9%, from the 4.9% forecast in February.</li>
<li>The significant revisions in GVA data point to a <strong>deeper weakness in the service sectors.</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The growth estimates for the <strong>largest services sector, Financial, Real Estate and Professional Services,</strong> have been reduced sharply. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Q1, Q2 and Q3 growth has been cut from 6.9%, 7.1% and 7.3%, respectively to 6%, 6% and 3.3%, respectively.</li>
<li>Financial, Real Estate and Professional Services <strong>contributes almost one-fourth of the overall GVA.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>Trade, Hotels, Transport, Communications and services related to Broadcasting also saw a significant reduction in estimates.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Q1, Q2 and Q3 growth has been cut from 5.7%, 5.8% and 5.9%, respectively to 3.5%, 4.1% and 4.3%, respectively.</li>
<li>These services contribute almost 20% to GVA and are the<strong> second largest component of GVA.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>However, the revisions show two other key sectors,<strong> Agriculture and Public Administration in a positive light.</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The Public Administration sector&rsquo;s Q1, Q2 and Q3 growth have been revised from 8.7%, 10.1% and 9.7%, respectively, to 7.7%, 10.9% and 10.9%.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Gross Value Added</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>In 2015, India opted to make major changes to its compilation of national accounts and decided to bring the whole process into conformity with the<strong> United Nations System of National Accounts (SNA) of 2008.</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The SNA is the internationally agreed standard set of recommendations on how to compile measures of economic activity.</li>
<li>It describes a coherent, consistent and integrated set of macroeconomic accounts in the context of a set of internationally agreed concepts, definitions, classifications and accounting rules.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>As per the SNA, <strong>GVA is defined as the value of output minus the value of intermediate consumption</strong> and is a<strong> measure of the contribution to growth made by an individual producer, industry or sector.</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>It provides the <strong>rupee value</strong> for the number of goods and services produced in an economy after <strong>deducting the cost of inputs and raw materials</strong> that have gone into the production of those goods and services.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>It can be described as the <strong>main entry on the income side of the nation&rsquo;s accounting balance sheet,</strong> and from an economics perspective <strong>represents the supply side.</strong></li>
<li>At the macro level, from a <strong>national accounting perspective,</strong> GVA is the sum of a country&rsquo;s GDP and net of subsidies and taxes in the economy.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Gross Value Added = GDP + subsidies on products - taxes on products</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>Earlier, India had been measuring GVA at<strong> &lsquo;factor cost&rsquo;</strong> till the new methodology was adopted in which GVA at<strong> &lsquo;basic prices&rsquo;</strong> became the primary measure of economic output.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>GVA at basic prices will <strong>include production taxes</strong> and <strong>exclude production subsidies.</strong></li>
<li>GVA at factor cost included no taxes and excluded no subsidies.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>The<strong> base year</strong> has also been shifted to <strong>2011-12</strong> from the earlier 2004-05.</li>
<li>The NSO provides<strong> both quarterly and annual estimates of output</strong> of GVA. It provides sectoral classification data on<strong> eight broad categories</strong> that includes<strong> both goods produced and services provided</strong> in the economy. These are: <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Agriculture, Forestry and Fishing.</li>
<li>Mining and Quarrying.</li>
<li>Manufacturing.</li>
<li>Electricity, Gas, Water Supply and other Utility Services.</li>
<li>Construction.</li>
<li>Trade, Hotels, Transport, Communication and Services related to Broadcasting.</li>
<li>Financial, Real Estate and Professional Services.</li>
<li>Public Administration, Defence and other Services.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>Importance of GVA</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>While GVA gives a picture of the state of economic activity from the <strong>producers&rsquo; side or supply side,</strong> the GDP gives the picture from the <strong>consumers&rsquo; side or demand perspective.</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Both measures need not match because of the difference in treatment of net taxes.</li>
<li><strong>GDP</strong> is the sum of private consumption, gross investment in the economy, government investment, government spending and net foreign trade (the difference between exports and imports).</li>
<li><strong>GDP = private consumption + gross investment + government investment + government spending + (exports-imports)</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>GVA is considered a <strong>better gauge of the economy.</strong> GDP fails to gauge the real economic scenario because a sharp increase in the output can be due to higher tax collections which could be on account of better compliance or coverage, rather than the real output situation.</li>
<li>A <strong>sector-wise breakdown provided by the GVA measure helps policymakers</strong> decide which sectors need incentives or stimulus and accordingly formulate sector-specific policies.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>But GDP is a key measure when it comes to making cross-country analysis and comparing the incomes of different economies.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>From a <strong>global data standards and uniformity perspective,</strong> GVA is an integral and necessary parameter in measuring a nation&rsquo;s economic performance.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Any country which seeks to <strong>attract capital and investment from overseas does need to conform to the global best practices</strong> in national income accounting.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>Issues with GVA</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The accuracy of GVA is heavily dependent on the sourcing of data and the accuracy of the various data sources.</li>
<li>GVA is as susceptible to vulnerabilities from the use of inappropriate or flawed methodologies as any other measure.</li>
</ul>
</div>
<p><a href="https://www.thehindu.com/business/Economy/the-hindu-explains-what-is-gross-value-added-and-how-is-it-relevant-when-growth-is-announced-in-gdp-terms/article31768578.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/gross-value-added'
		],
		(int) 12 => [
			'title' => 'Microplastics in Deep Oceans',
			'catname' => 'News Analysis',
			'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>Recently, researchers have observed that <strong>deep sea hotspots of biodiversity</strong> are also<strong> likely to be microplastic hotspots.</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Although microplastics are known to spread on the global seafloor, the processes that control their dispersal and concentration in the deep sea remain largely unknown.</li>
<li>The researchers have studied the <strong>spatial distribution and ultimate settling position of the microplastics</strong> and its<strong> effects on the biodiversity hotspots</strong> in the deep oceans.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>There are above-ground biodiversity hotspots like the tropical rain forests, alpine tundra, etc. Likewise, there are landforms beneath the sea that provide rich marine diversity which include <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/coral-reefs-could-survive-global-warming-says-study#:~:text=Corals%20secrete%20calcium%20carbonate%20to,like%20structures%20called%20coral%20reefs." target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Coral reefs</strong></a>, Sea mounts, etc.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Microplastics</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Microplastics are small plastic pieces of <strong>less than five millimeters</strong> in size.</li>
<li>It includes microbeads (solid plastic particles of less than one millimeter in their largest dimension) that are used in cosmetics and personal care products, industrial scrubbers which are used for aggressive blast cleaning, microfibers used in textiles and virgin resin pellets used in plastic manufacturing processes.</li>
<li>Apart from cosmetics and personal care products, most of the microplastics result from the <strong>breakdown of larger pieces of plastic</strong> that were not recycled and broke up due to exposure to the sun or physical wear.</li>
<li>Microplastics damage aquatic creatures including turtles and birds. It blocks digestive tracts, and alters feeding behavior. Subsequently, it reduces the growth and reproductive output in marine animals.</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>Deep Sea</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The deep sea or deep layer is the <strong>lowest layer in the ocean,</strong> existing below the thermocline and above the seabed, <strong>at a depth of 1000 fathoms or more.</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Fathom is a unit of length <strong>equal to six feet</strong> (1.8 metres).</li>
<li>A thermocline is a thin but distinct layer in a large body of fluid in which temperature changes more rapidly with depth than it does in the layers above or below.</li>
<li>In the ocean, the thermocline <strong>divides the upper mixed layer from the calm deep water below.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</div>
<h3>Key Findings</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Role of Thermohaline Circulations:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>It has been observed that<strong> thermohaline-driven circulations</strong> can <strong>control the distribution of microplastics</strong> by creating <strong>hotspots of accumulation,</strong> analogous to current&rsquo;s role in depositing seafloor sediments. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>The ocean currents are usually driven by the winds in the upper 100 meters of the ocean&rsquo;s surface. However, ocean currents also flow thousands of meters below the surface.</li>
<li>The ocean currents may be <strong>classified based on their depth</strong> as <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li><strong>Surface Currents :</strong> The surface currents constitute about 10 % of all the water in the ocean, these waters are the upper 400 m of the ocean.</li>
<li><strong>Deep Ocean Currents:</strong> These currents make up the other 90 % of the ocean water. These currents are driven by<strong> differences in the water&rsquo;s density,</strong> which is controlled by <strong>temperature (thermo) and salinity (haline).</strong> This process is known as<strong> thermohaline circulation.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>In the Earth's polar regions ocean water gets very cold, forming sea ice. As a consequence the surrounding seawater gets saltier, because when sea ice forms, the salt is left behind.</li>
<li>As the seawater gets saltier, its density increases, and it starts to sink. Surface water is pulled in to replace the sinking water, which in turn eventually becomes cold and salty enough to sink. This initiates the deep-ocean currents driving the global conveyor belt.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Vulnerability of Benthos:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Further, these thermohaline currents <strong>supply oxygen and nutrients</strong> to deep-sea <strong>benthos,</strong> so deepsea biodiversity hotspots are also likely to be microplastic hotspots.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Benthos is the community of organisms that live on, in, or near the seabed, river, lake, or stream bottom, also known as the benthic zone.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Way Forward</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>There is a need to prioritise the <strong>reduction of single-use plastic</strong> such as multi-layer packaging, bread bags, food wrap, and protective packaging which are major and dangerous sources for plastic pollution.</li>
<li>The<strong> economical support</strong> including tax rebates, research and development funds, technology incubation, public-private partnerships and support to projects that recycle single-use items and turn waste into a resource can be enforced.</li>
<li>Also, the <strong>expansion of the use of biodegradable plastics</strong> or even edible plastics made from various materials such as bagasse (the residue after extracting juice from sugarcane), corn starch, and grain flour should be encouraged.</li>
</ul>',
			'postdate' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenTime) {},
			'url' => 'https://www.drishtiias.com/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/microplastics-in-deep-oceans'
		],
		(int) 13 => [
			'title' => 'In Pursuance of Self Reliance',
			'catname' => 'News Editorials',
			'desc' => '<div class="border">
<p>This article is based on <a href="https://www.thehindubusinessline.com/opinion/atmanirbhar-india-must-be-competitive/article31773104.ece" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>&ldquo;Atmanirbhar&rsquo; India must be competitive&rdquo;</strong></a> which was published in The Hindu business line 07/06/2020. It talks about the underlying issues and opportunities that are vital to attain self reliance.</p>
</div>
<p>In an effective response to an unprecedented emergency (<a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/covid-19-and-indian-federalism" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Covid-19 pandemic</strong></a>) that disrupted most channels of national and international trade, Indian Prime Minister, under <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/atma-nirbhar-bharat-abhiyan-challenges" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Atma Nirbhar Abhiyan</strong></a>, gave a clarion call for the country to become self-reliant.</p>
<p>India in the pre-1991 era also strived for achieving self-reliance and import substitution. While it resulted in a diversified economic base for heavy industries such as Steel, coal, petroleum refinery etc, India fell behind the curve on quality, technology and productivity.</p>
<p>Economists attribute these shortcomings to the then industrial and trade policies, particularly industrial licensing, physical barriers to import of goods, high tariffs and imperative economic policies.</p>
<p>Though Indian Prime Minister clarified that the current idea of self-reliance is not about a return to import substitution or autarkic isolationism, rather aimed at a quantum jump to the economic potential of the country by strengthening infrastructure, using modern technologies, enriching human resources, and creating robust supply chains.</p>
<p>In order to achieve this goal policy making needs to address underlying issues and leverage economic opportunities.</p>
<h3>Underlying Issues in Becoming Self Reliant</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Market Distortion:</strong> India opened itself to the global market in 1991 through its LPG <a href="/infographics/info-paper3/25-years-of-1991-reforms" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>(liberalisation, privatisation and globalisation) reforms</strong></a>, but remained hesitant in giving the market model full freedom.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>This may be reflected in market distorting subsidies and other restrictive policies, especially in Agriculture.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Weak Manufacturing:</strong> India is far behind from its target of achieving manufacturing sector contribution of 25% of the GDP.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Currently, the Make In India initiative hasn&rsquo;t reached its intended goal and manufacturing is only at about 17% of GDP.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Dependence on China:</strong> India is dependent on China for imports related to electronics, solar equipment, pharmaceutical <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/schemes-approved-to-promote-drug-manufacturing" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>(Active pharmaceutical ingredients)</strong></a> and Capital goods.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Without developing domestic capacity for manufacturing in these areas, breaking away from dependence on China would not be easy.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Federal Issue:</strong> Information asymmetry with respect to Central and State governments can act as a roadblock on ease of doing business.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>This is particularly important in sectors like manufacturing, healthcare and agriculture.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Available Opportunities</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Global Manufacturing Shifting Away from China:</strong> Mostly all the multinational companies are more concerned about concentration risk of businesses in China than ever before. So, the trend towards moving sourcing away from China will continue.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>India can attract these investments and become the next global manufacturing hub.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Ageing Global Population:</strong> Considering demographics, most developed nations lack the workforce to produce all that they need in their own countries.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><a href="/mind-map/gs-paper1/indias-demographic-dividend-mindmap" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>India&rsquo;s demographic dividend</strong> </a>may adequately bridge the requirement for a young human resource for the world.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Huge Domestic Demand:</strong> India is blessed with a vast array of natural resources, a huge demographic advantage, a large farming community, dynamic industrial setup ( sectors like Automobiles and Information technology) and a set of entrepreneurial path-breakers.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>In this context, India has almost all the input as well as output (demand and supply) factors, those are needed for becoming self-reliant and stimulating demand.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Way Forward</h3>
<p>Given the underlying issues and opportunities, it is vital to become competitive in pursuance of self reliance.</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Promoting Local:</strong> Being<strong> vocal for &ldquo;local&rdquo;</strong> is a key complement of Atma-Nirbhar Bharat Abhiyan.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>In this context, people must internalise the concept of valuing local products and artefacts and promoting them. Only after this the dream of transforming &ldquo;Local&rdquo; India into a &ldquo;Glocal&rdquo; India will be possible.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Favourable Policy:</strong> In general, competition enhances innovation and efficiency. However, crony capitalism weakens local competitiveness and often diverts resources away from more efficient and technologically innovative companies.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Thus, policies should enhance domestic competition and eschew crony capitalism.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Support Control of Critical Value Chains:</strong> India cannot become self-reliant until it has control over domestic and global supply chains.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Thus, there is a need to ensure greater control over certain parts of the global value chain to protect strategic interests, especially in healthcare, agriculture and defence.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Strengthen Public Procurement:</strong> Some steps like compulsory e-tendering and the creation of the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/gem-samvaad#:~:text=Government%20e%2DMarketplace%20(GeM),Public%20Sector%20Undertakings%20(%20PSUs)." target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Government Electronic Marketplace</strong> </a>have already created a more level playing field for suppliers.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>These processes should be strengthened further by quickening the cycle time for completion of the &ldquo;quote to cash&rdquo; cycle of public procurement.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Focusing on Comparative Advantage:</strong> India can focus on one area where it can differentiate and attract global and domestic investors and be a leader.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The next big thing for India can be 3D (additive) manufacturing, and robotics &amp; automation.</li>
<li>As these technologies are the confluence of manufacturing and IT, India&rsquo;s leading edge on IT, provides a platform to become a leader in this space globally.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1591700506_image3.png" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1591700506_image3.png" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="550" caption="false" /></a></p>
<table border="1" style="border-collapse: collapse; width: 100%;">
<tbody>
<tr>
<td style="width: 100%; border-style: dotted; border-color: #ff0505; background-color: #edffff;">
<p><span style="color: #333399;"><em><strong>Drishti Mains Question</strong></em></span></p>
<p>Discuss the underlying issues and opportunities for India in the pursuance of self reliance.</p>
</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<p style="text-align: center;"><iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/qjx2s3MrYYM" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe></p>
<p>This editorial is based on <a href="https://indianexpress.com/article/opinion/editorials/delhi-covid-19-hospitals-6447638/" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>&ldquo;Delhi Diktat&rdquo;</strong> </a>which was published in The Indian Express on June 8<sup>th</sup>, 2020. Now watch this on our Youtube channel.</p>',
			'postdate' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenTime) {},
			'url' => 'https://www.drishtiias.com/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/in-pursuance-of-self-reliance'
		],
		(int) 14 => [
			'title' => '36th Anniversary of Operation Blue Star',
			'catname' => 'News Analysis',
			'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>Recently, the <strong>36<sup>th</sup> anniversary</strong> of <strong>Operation Blue Star</strong> was observed by the country.</p>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Operation Blue Star:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>It is a <strong>code name</strong> given to an Indian Military Operation to remove the separatists who were hidden inside the Golden Temple at Amritsar on <strong>5<sup>th</sup> June 1984.</strong></li>
<li>The operation was ordered by the then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi, primarily to take <strong>control of the Harmandir Sahib Complex in Amritsar</strong> (popularly known as the Golden Temple).</li>
<li>The Indian military entered into the premises of the temple to drive out the Sikh <strong>extremist religious leader, Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale </strong>and<strong> his armed followers.</strong></li>
<li>The operation had two components to it, <strong>Operation Metal</strong> which was the invasion on the temple complex and <strong>Operation Shop</strong> which was confined to the countryside of the state.</li>
<li>This Operation helped in<strong> eliminating Khalistani terrorism.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Background:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale</strong> wanted the Indian government to pass the Anandpur Resolution, and thereby agree to the formation of a separate state of Khalistan for Sikhs.</li>
<li>Since 1982, this radical leader of Sikhism had managed to gain enough support for his cause and by mid-1983 had<strong> set up a base inside the Golden Temple complex, </strong>with<strong> ammunition and his followers.</strong></li>
<li>Hence,<strong> Operation Blue Star</strong> was launched between 1<sup>st</sup> June and 6<sup>th</sup> June 1984, with the aim of getting rid of Bhindranwale and his demands.</li>
<li>The operation resulted in the death of Bhindranwale.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>Few months post-Operation Blue Star, Indira Gandhi was assassinated by her Sikh bodyguards, followed by severe anti-Sikh riots in Delhi.</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>National Security Guard</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/national-security-guard-nsg#:~:text=The%20idea%20behind%20raising%20such,terrorist%20activities%20with%20a%20view" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>National Security Guard (NSG)</strong></a> is a counter-terrorism unit that formally came into existence in 1986 by an act of Parliament- &lsquo;National Security Guard Act, 1986&rsquo;.</li>
<li>Its headquarters is located in Manesar, Gurugram.</li>
<li>The <strong>idea behind raising such force</strong> came in the aftermath of <strong>Operation Blue Star, Akshardham Temple attack</strong> and the assassination of former PM Indira Gandhi, for <strong>combating terrorist activities with a view to protect states against internal disturbances.</strong></li>
</ul>
</div>
<p><a href="https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/other-states/will-accept-if-govt-offers-khalistan-akal-takht-chief-priest/article31768078.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/36th-anniversary-of-operation-blue-star'
		],
		(int) 15 => [
			'title' => 'Dropping Water levels in Germany’s Rhine River',
			'catname' => 'News Analysis',
			'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>Recently, a part of the <strong>Rhine River</strong> flowing through<strong> Germany</strong> has been experiencing its <strong>lowest water levels in two decades.</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The lowest water levels have prompted <strong>fears of shipping disruption </strong>on<strong> Europe&rsquo;s most important inland waterway.</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Rhine waters in Germany have dropped <strong>40%</strong> since<strong> April 2020.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Reduced Water Levels:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Germany has <strong>not</strong> received the<strong> spring showers</strong> and subsequently, the <strong>water level dropped to around 1 meter</strong> in the month of June which is the<strong> lowest for the time of year in at least two decades.</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Usually, a mix of glacial run-off and rain feeds the river, but contributions from glaciers have been <strong>disturbed in recent years due to <a href="/printpdf/global-warming-of-1-5-c-ipcc-report" target="_blank" rel="noopener">global warming</a>.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>Germany had experienced <strong>dropped water levels in 2018</strong> which had <strong>disrupted industrial ships,</strong> severing downriver factories from North Sea ports.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Impacts:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The water drop levels in 2018 were <strong>severe enough </strong>to<strong> affect German economic growth.</strong></li>
<li>Further,<strong> groundwater levels</strong> have <strong>reduced</strong> after record-breaking <strong>heat waves recorded in 2019</strong> which have consequently <strong>dried out soil and wilted vegetation</strong> from consecutive years of drought.</li>
<li>Additionally, if the low water levels are sustained,<strong> refineries using the river&rsquo;s water will have reduced output</strong> compared to 2018.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Rhine River</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The Rhine River is the<strong> second-longest river</strong> in Central and <strong>Western Europe after the Danube</strong> and originates in the <strong>Swiss Alps (in Switzerland).</strong></li>
<li>The Rhine river is called by different names depending on the country it flows through. It is called Rhein in Germany; Rhine in France and Rijn in the Netherlands.</li>
<li>The Rhine flows through six countries -<strong>Switzerland, Principality of Liechtenstein, Austria, Germany, France and the Netherlands</strong> before flowing into the <strong>North Sea at Rotterdam.</strong></li>
</ul>
<p><a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1591697018_image1.jpg" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1591697018_image1.jpg" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="600" caption="false" /></strong></a></p>
<p><a href="https://indianexpress.com/article/world/europe-rhine-river-dangerously-low-summer-6448254/" 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/dropping-water-levels-in-germany-s-rhine-river'
		],
		(int) 16 => [
			'title' => 'e-Diplomacy',
			'catname' => 'News Analysis',
			'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>Recently, the <strong>first <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/india-australia-virtual-summit" target="_blank" rel="noopener">India-Australia Virtual Leaders&rsquo; Summit</a></strong> was held where important strategic decisions, ranging from military interoperability to jointly tackling the<a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/covid-19-now-pandemic-who" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong> pandemic</strong></a>, were made.</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The summit was noteworthy for its <strong>novel modus operandi</strong> after the dangers posed by<a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/coronavirus-disease-named-covid-19" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong> Covid-19</strong></a> have compelled the traditional summit diplomacy to adapt to new digital ways.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>e-Diplomacy (electronic diplomacy)</strong> is the use of technology by nations to define and establish diplomatic goals and objectives and to efficiently carry out the functions of diplomats.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>These functions include representation and promotion of the home nation, establishing both bilateral and multilateral relations, consular services and social engagement.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>The pandemic has forced mankind to<strong> maintain physical and social distancing,</strong> leading to a <strong>shift towards work from home mode and using online platforms</strong> for education (<a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/online-classes-due-to-covid-19" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>online classes</strong></a>), business (<a href="/to-the-points/paper3/e-commerce-in-india" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>e-Commerce</strong></a>) and other daily things.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Just as corporations and educational institutions have migrated to online mediums, nation-states are left with no choice but to do the same by conducting virtual or e-summits.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Advantages:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>These are<strong> physically safer</strong> for leaders because there is no need for any physical contact with anyone.</li>
<li>The process is <strong>time-saving</strong> as the leaders can attend the summits and conferences from their offices without having the need to physically reach the venue or other country.</li>
<li>These <strong>economise events</strong> by avoiding costly physical journeys and event management.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Challenges:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>It is <strong>doubtful</strong> that major breakthroughs or deals requiring the direct intervention of leaders can happen <strong>without all the protocols and structured dialogues</strong> in person.</li>
<li>There is a possibility of <strong>e-diplomacy becoming less productive</strong> as online summits will simply <strong>not satisfy the broader political goals and bigger objectives</strong> that heads of state carry with them.</li>
<li>Threats related to <a href="/to-the-points/paper3/cyber-security" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>cybersecurity</strong></a> also come in the picture:<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>E-diplomacy is riskier and could be subject to <strong>hacking</strong> of classified content.</li>
<li>This could reduce the spontaneity and openness of the conversations.</li>
<li>In pre-Covid-19 times, summit venues were debugged to prevent sensitive foreign policy content from being spied upon or leaked.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>Apart from the virtual summit with Australia, India has had a<strong> few multilateral e-diplomacy rounds</strong> since the Covid-19 outbreak.<strong> For example,</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/video-conference-of-saarc-leaders-on-covid-19" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>SAARC Leaders&rsquo; video conference</strong></a>.</li>
<li><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/virtual-g20-leaders-summit" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Extraordinary G20 Leaders&rsquo; Summit.</strong></a></li>
<li><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/virtual-nam-summit#:~:text=The%20virtual%20Non%2DAligned%20Movement,video%20conferencing%20was%20held%20recently.&amp;text=Moreover%2030%20Heads%20of%20State,Health%20Organisation%20(WHO)%20chief." target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Non-Aligned Movement Virtual Summit.</strong></a></li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Way Forward</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The <strong>British scholar Ernest Satow </strong>dubbed <strong>&ldquo;summits a permanent feature of diplomatic topography&rdquo;.</strong> It has been a maxim in diplomacy that face-to-face interactions at the highest level mark the zenith of foreign relations.</li>
<li>In-person summits will restart one-day but the<strong> online interlude has to go on because diplomacy has to go on.</strong></li>
<li>However artificial and unsatisfying the video conferencing medium is, <strong>having some summit is better than no summit at all.</strong> Key partners have to get on with it and hold high-level meetings as part of their strategic signalling.</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="https://www.thehindu.com/opinion/op-ed/the-e-diplomacy-experiment/article31781585.ece" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Source: TH</strong></a></p>',
			'postdate' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenTime) {},
			'url' => 'https://www.drishtiias.com/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/e-diplomacy-3'
		],
		(int) 17 => [
			'title' => 'Aditya: India's First Solar Ferry',
			'catname' => 'News Analysis',
			'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>Recently, India&rsquo;s <strong>first solar-powered ferry, Aditya</strong> has been shortlisted for the <strong>Gustave Trouv&eacute; Award</strong> as the <strong>only entrant</strong> from <strong>Asia.</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Aditya, is among <strong>12 such ferries</strong> that have been <strong>shortlisted</strong> for the award across the world.</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Gustave Trouv&eacute; Awards</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Gussies Electric Boat Awards were <strong>instituted in memory of Gustave Trouv&eacute;,</strong> a <strong>French electrical engineer</strong> and<strong> pioneer in electric cars and boats.</strong></li>
<li>Trouv&eacute; was a prolific inventor with over 75 patents. He had also developed a 5-m-long prototype electric boat in 1881.</li>
</ul>
</div>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Description:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Aditya is <strong>operating between Vaikkom and Thavanakkadavu</strong> in Kerala. It was launched in November 2016 and started its services in 2017.</li>
<li>It is India's<strong> first solar-powered ferry</strong> and the <strong>largest solar-powered boat.</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>It is operated by the <strong>Kerala State Water Transport Department (KSWTD)</strong> and built by Navalt Solar and Electric Boats, Kochi.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>It is powered by a motor that can source energy from solar panels, batteries, and generators.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Solar vessels do not create air and noise pollution.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Significance:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Aditya has a <strong>very low per km energy cost and</strong> it<strong> operates 22 trips a day, covering a total of 66 km,</strong> carrying 75 passengers per trip.</li>
<li>It needs <strong>just Rs. 180 per day in energy cost,</strong> compared to about <strong>Rs. 8,000</strong> for a diesel-run ferry of similar size, which is unusual for a high technology product to have such a low energy cost.</li>
<li>It has a high <strong>financial viability with zero pollution vessels.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/kerala/indias-first-solar-ferry-sails-into-global-contest/article31769302.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/aditya-india-s-first-solar-ferry'
		],
		(int) 18 => [
			'title' => 'Environmental Performance Index',
			'catname' => 'News Analysis',
			'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>India secured <strong>168<sup>th</sup> rank</strong> in the 12<sup>th</sup> edition of the Environment Performance Index (EPI) 2020.</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>India&rsquo;s rank was<strong> 177<sup>th</sup> in 2018.</strong></li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Environmental Performance Index</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>EPI is a<strong> biennial index</strong> prepared by <strong>Yale University and Columbia University</strong> in collaboration with the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/world-economic-forum-annual-meeting-2019" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>World Economic Forum</strong></a>.</li>
<li>It offers a <strong>scorecard that highlights leaders and laggards</strong> in environmental performance and <strong>provides practical guidance</strong> for countries that aspire to move toward a sustainable future.</li>
<li>This index was first published in 2002 designed to supplement the environmental targets set forth in the United Nations Millennium Development Goals.</li>
</ul>
</div>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>EPI 2020:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>EPI Index 2020 measured the environmental performance of <strong>180 countries.</strong></li>
<li>The index considered <strong>32 indicators</strong> of environmental performance and included <strong>10-year trends in environmental performance</strong> at the national and global levels.</li>
<li><strong>Denmark topped the index</strong> with a score of 82.5.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>India&rsquo; Performance:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>India scored 27.6 out of 100 in the 2020 EPI index and its performance<strong> was worse than all South Asian countries,</strong> except Afghanistan.</li>
<li>India scored <strong>below the regional (South-Asia) average score on all five key parameters on environmental health,</strong> including air quality, sanitation and drinking water, heavy metals and waste management. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>These findings resonated with the concerns raised by the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/internal-displacement-caused-by-disasters" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>&lsquo;State of India&rsquo;s Environment 2020</strong></a> <strong>in Figures&rsquo;,</strong> published by the Centre for Science and Environment.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>It has also<strong> scored below the regional average on parameters related to biodiversity and ecosystem services</strong> too.</li>
<li>India was at <strong>second position after Pakistan on &lsquo;climate change&rsquo;</strong> among the <strong>South-Asia countries.</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Pakistan&rsquo;s score (50.6) was the highest under the climate change category.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>A ten-year comparison progress report in the index showed that <strong>India slipped on climate-related parameters.</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>The report indicated that black carbon, carbon dioxide emissions and greenhouse emissions per capita increased in ten years.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Environmental Conservation Programmes in India</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Climate Change: <a href="/mind-map/gs-paper2/national-action-plan-on-climate-change-mind-map" target="_blank" rel="noopener">National Action Plan on Climate Change</a></strong></li>
<li><strong>Desertification: <a href="/to-the-points/paper3/desertification-1" target="_blank" rel="noopener">National Action Programme to Combat Desertification</a></strong></li>
<li><strong>Pollution Control: <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/cpcb-lists-cities-with-no-clean-up-plan" target="_blank" rel="noopener">National Clean Air Program</a></strong></li>
<li><strong>Environmental Impact Assessment: <a href="/to-the-points/paper3/environmental-impact-assessment-1" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Environment Management Plan</a></strong></li>
<li><strong>Forest Protection: <a href="/to-the-points/paper3/desertification-1" target="_blank" rel="noopener">National Afforestation Programme</a></strong></li>
<li><strong>Animal Conservation: <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/koundinya-wildlife-sanctuary" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Project Elephant</a>, <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/status-of-conservation-of-tigers" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Project Tiger</a></strong></li>
</ul>
</div>
<h3>Way Forward</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>India needs to <strong>re-double national sustainability efforts</strong> on all fronts.</li>
<li>It needs to focus on a wide spectrum of <strong><a href="/loksabha-rajyasabha-discussions/in-depth-indias-sustainable-development-goals" target="_blank" rel="noopener">sustainability issues</a>, with a high-priority</strong> to <strong>critical issues such as air and water quality, biodiversity and climate change.</strong></li>
</ul>
<p><a href="https://www.downtoearth.org.in/news/wildlife-biodiversity/india-must-redouble-sustainability-efforts-environment-performance-index-71603#:~:text=India%20secured%20168%20rank%20in,out%20of%20100)%20in%202018." target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Source:DTE</strong></a></p>',
			'postdate' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenTime) {},
			'url' => 'https://www.drishtiias.com/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/environmental-performance-index'
		],
		(int) 19 => [
			'title' => 'microRNA',
			'catname' => 'News Analysis',
			'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>Recently, researchers at the<strong> Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Madras</strong> have identified a specific <strong>microRNA (miRNA)</strong> called <strong>&lsquo;miR-155&rsquo;</strong> that is over-expressed in tongue cancer.</p>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>MicroRNAs:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>These are <strong>short non‐coding Ribonucleic Acids</strong> (RNAs) containing 20&ndash;24 nucleotides that participate in virtually all biological pathways in animals.</li>
<li>They play important roles in many cancers, in <strong>carcinogenesis</strong>, <strong>malignant transformation</strong> and <strong>metastasis.</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li><strong>Carcinogenesis:</strong> It is the formation of cancer (uncontrolled development of cells), whereby normal cells are transformed into cancer cells. It is also called <strong>oncogenesis</strong> or <strong>tumorigenesis.</strong></li>
<li><strong>Malignant transformation:</strong> It is the process by which cells acquire the properties of cancer. This may occur as a primary process in normal tissue, or secondarily as malignant degeneration of a previously existing benign tumour.</li>
<li><strong>Metastasis:</strong> The spread of cancer cells from the place where they first formed to another part of the body. In metastasis, cancer cells break away from the original (primary) tumour, travel through the blood or lymph system and form a new tumour in other organs or tissues of the body.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Oncomirs:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The <strong>miRNAs associated with cancer</strong> are called Oncomirs.</li>
<li>They affect cancer growth through <strong>inhibiting or enhancing the functions</strong> of certain proteins.</li>
<li>Oncomirs affect cancer by<strong> suppressing the performance of tumour-suppressing agents</strong> which can prevent the growth and spread of cancer cells and sometimes prevent tumour growth itself.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Significance of the Research:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The finding could <strong>help develop molecular strategies</strong> to manipulate miR-155 expression to develop therapeutics for tongue cancer.</li>
<li>miRNA manipulation is being <strong>combined with conventional cancer treatment methods</strong> such as <strong>chemotherapy, radiotherapy</strong> and<strong> immunotherapy.</strong></li>
<li>Eliminating miR-155 causes<strong> death of cancer cells, arrests the cell cycle and regresses tumour size</strong> in animal models and <strong>reduces cell viability and colony formation</strong> in benchtop (suitable for convenient use on a laboratory workbench) assays.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>An assay is an investigative (analytic) procedure in laboratory medicine, pharmacology, environmental biology and molecular biology for qualitatively assessing or quantitatively measuring the presence, amount, or functional activity of a target entity (the analyte).</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Ribonucleic Acid</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>RNA is a <strong>polymer of ribonucleotides</strong> and an important biological macromolecule that is present in all biological cells.</li>
<li>It is principally involved in the synthesis of proteins, carrying the messenger instructions from<strong> Deoxyribonucleic acid</strong> (DNA), which itself contains the genetic instructions required for the development and maintenance of life.</li>
<li><strong>RNA differs from DNA in three basic respects:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>RNA employs uracil as a nitrogenous base, in place of the thymine used in DNA.</li>
<li>RNA nucleotides possess a hydroxyl group at the 2<sup>nd</sup> position, while DNA is deoxygenated at that position to a proton.</li>
<li>RNA is more often found single-stranded than DNA, which is typically completely base-paired into a double helix.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1591694910_image2.jpg" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1591694910_image2.jpg" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="550" caption="false" /></a></p>
</div>
<p><a href="https://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/chennai/iit-madras-researchers-show-role-of-microrna-in-growth-and-spread-of-tongue-cancer-cells/article31778302.ece#:~:text=The%20miRNAs%20affect%20cancer%20growth,the%20functions%20of%20certain%20proteins.&amp;text=Many%20of%20the%20Oncomirs%20affect,tumour%20growth%20itself%2C%20he%20said." target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Source: TH</strong></a></p>',
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	(int) 0 => [
		'title' => 'Farm Loan Waiver',
		'catname' => 'News Editorials',
		'desc' => '<div class="border">
<p>This article is based on <a href="https://www.thehindubusinessline.com/opinion/loan-waivers-are-a-double-edged-sword/article31789331.ece" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>&ldquo;Loan waivers are a double-edged sword&rdquo;</strong></a> which was published in The Hindu Business line on 09/06/2020. It examines the policy of farm loan waivers and its impacts on farmers as well as the banking sector.</p>
</div>
<p>Recently, a case was filed in the Supreme Court seeking a directive to the Central government and the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) to waive interest on loans <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/banks-seek-another-moratorium" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>during the period of moratorium</strong></a>. Further, there have been demands from the farming community for farm loan waivers in many states.</p>
<p>Loan waivers, originally intended for a one-time settlement. However, the past two decades have seen such schemes announced with increasing regularity, signalling the chronic distress of the agricultural sector in India.</p>
<p>Though these demands seem more legitimate in the wake of the loss of livelihood due to <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/covid-19-and-lockdown" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>lockdown amid Covid-19</strong></a>, yet such loan waivers may prove detrimental to the banking system and credit culture.</p>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>History of Farm Loan Waiver</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The first recorded instance of granting loans to peasants in medieval India dates back to the regime of Muhammad-bin-Tughluq (1325-51) so as to ameliorate the distress suffered by villagers.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>However, faced with rebellion and famine, these loans were written off by Firoz Shah Tughluq, the subsequent ruler.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>There have only been two nationwide loan waiver programmes in India after Independence: in 1990 and 2008.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The first nationwide farm-loan waiver in independent India was implemented in 1990 by the VP Singh-led government. It cost the exchequer Rs 10,000 crore.</li>
<li>In 2008, the Agricultural Debt Waiver and Debt Relief Scheme, implemented by the UPA government, involved an outgo of Rs 71,680 crore.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>Since then, there has been a wave of such schemes by different State governments.</li>
</ul>
</div>
<h3>Rationale for Loan Waiver</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>More than 85% of small and marginal farmers in India possess less than 1-2 hectares of holdings and lack basic inputs for farming.</li>
<li>In this context, the credit is a critical resource to farming households for carrying out crop production and meeting consumption &amp; daily-life expenses.</li>
<li>However, in India, the crop yield and production are highly dependent on monsoon. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Farmers invest heavily in crops by taking loans. If the crop fails due to lack of rains or insufficient market demand, farmers will get trapped in debt. Due to this, there has been an increase in farmer suicides.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>Thereby, waiving farm loans address this humanitarian crisis.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Issues Related to Loan Waivers</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Reputational Consequences:</strong> Loan waiver schemes will disrupt credit discipline as farm loan waivers may act as a temporary solution and can prove to be a <strong>moral hazard</strong> in future.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>This is because those farmers who can afford to pay their loans might not pay it expecting a waiver.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Free Rider Problem:</strong> Some farmers may take loans even if there is no need, in the hope of the next loan waiver scheme. This will impact the farmers who are genuinely in need of loans.</li>
<li><strong>Decline in Formal Access to Credit:</strong> After the implementation of debt waiver schemes and subsequent losses to the banking industry, banks will be reluctant to lend further to the farm sector.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>This leads to a rise in farmer&rsquo;s dependence on informal sector lenders.</li>
<li>In other words, waivers lead to the shrinkage of a farmer&rsquo;s future access to formal sector credit and thereby compel them to depend on varying informal sources (like local moneylenders, Sahookaar) for credit.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Impact on Banking Sector:</strong> A report by the Indian Council for Research on International Economic Relations stated that the 2008 farm-loan waiver led to three-fold increase in non-performing assets of commercial banks between 2009&ndash;2010 and 2012&ndash;2013.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>This further affects credit-deposit ratio and risk-weighted capital adequacy ratio, return on assets and economic value of equity of banks.</li>
<li>This downgrades the ratings of banks in particular and destabilizes the functioning of the credit market in general.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Against the Interests of Depositors:</strong> Banks receive money from the depositors and lend money to borrowers under different contracts and agreements. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Thus, the loss to the bank, due to loan waivers, is directly or indirectly against the interests of the depositors.</li>
<li>Moreover, banks being custodians of depositors&rsquo; money, need to be guided primarily by the protection of depositors&rsquo; interests.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Conclusion</h3>
<p>In the present situation, farm loan waivers act only as a temporary solution to the problems of farmers and it will not make them free from issues like decreasing farm income, debt trap or crop failures.</p>
<p>In this context, there is a need for creative engagement through which the surplus workers in the farming sector can be taken away to more productive sectors and farming can be made more profitable and sustainable for all the people.</p>
<p><a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1591874464_image1.jpg" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1591874464_image1.jpg" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="650" caption="false" /></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: #fcf6f2;">
<p><span style="color: #333399;"><em><strong>Drishti Mains Question</strong></em></span></p>
<p>&ldquo;Farm loan waivers are the case of good politics but bad economics.&rdquo; In light of this statement critically analyse the policy of farm loan waiver.</p>
</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<p style="text-align: center;"><iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/x1AL1P-5upY" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe></p>
<p>This editorial is based on <a href="https://www.hindustantimes.com/analysis/a-three-fold-test-for-new-legislations/story-SasESZdEN6zdM3Cw2lRKMK.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>&ldquo;A three-fold test for new legislations&rdquo;</strong></a> which was published in The Hindustan Times on June 9<sup>th</sup>, 2020. Now watch this on our Youtube channel.</p>',
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	],
	(int) 1 => [
		'title' => 'International Religious Freedom Report 2019',
		'catname' => 'News Analysis',
		'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>Recently, the <strong>US State Department</strong> has released its annual <strong>International Religious Freedom (IRF) Report 2019,</strong> which is a survey of the state of<strong> religious freedom</strong> across the world.</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>It published a report i.e. <strong>the country report for India</strong> to highlight the issue of religious freedom in the country.</li>
<li>Earlier, <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/uscirf-annual-report-2020#:~:text=U.S.%20Commission%20on%20International%20Religious%20Freedom%20(USCIRF),body%20to%20the%20US%20Congress." target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>the US Commission on International Religious Freedom</strong></a> (<a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/uscirf-annual-report-2020#:~:text=U.S.%20Commission%20on%20International%20Religious%20Freedom%20(USCIRF),body%20to%20the%20US%20Congress." target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>USCIRF report</strong></a>) downgraded India&rsquo;s religious freedom to the lowest grade &mdash; in the &lsquo;Country of Particular Concern (CPC)&rsquo; category.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The IRF report listed countries for <strong>positive developments in religious freedom</strong> and <strong>negative examples.</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Nicaragua, Nigeria and China</strong> were cited as negative examples.</li>
<li>It stated that in China, state-sponsored repression against all religions continues to intensify because of the Chinese Communist Party.</li>
<li><strong>India is not cited in either list.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>The Country Report for India:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>It highlighted the developments that took place in 2019 i.e. <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/article-370-and-35-a-revoked" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>the status of Jammu and Kashmir</strong></a>, <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/citizenship-amendment-bill-2019" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>the Citizenship (Amendment) Act (CAA)</strong></a> <strong>and the <a href="/to-the-points/Paper2/to-the-point-paper-2-national-register-of-citizens-nrc" target="_blank" rel="noopener">National Register of Citizens (NRC).</a></strong></li>
<li>It discussed in detail about <strong><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/mob-lynching-1" target="_blank" rel="noopener">mob lynchings</a>,</strong> <strong>anti-conversion laws, cow vigilantism</strong> and related issues.</li>
<li>Taking note of the alleged attacks and discrimination <strong>against religious and ethnic minorities in India, the report emphasised the need to ensure full protection to minorities in the country as guaranteed under the Constitution.</strong></li>
<li>It also outlines the U.S. engagement with India on these issues.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>India's Stand:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The Indian government <strong>has rejected the report by asserting</strong> that there is no locus standi<strong> for a foreign government to comment on the state of its citizens' constitutionally protected rights.</strong></li>
<li>It also emphasised that the report <strong>did not talk about the religious freedom given to various communities</strong> in India.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Freedom of Religion in India</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Freedom of religion in India is a <strong>fundamental right</strong> guaranteed by <strong>Article 25-28 of the Constitution of India.</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/regulating-right-to-freedom-of-religion" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Article 25</strong></a> (Freedom of conscience and free profession, practice and propagation of religion)</li>
<li><strong>Article 26</strong> (Freedom to manage religious affairs)</li>
<li><strong>Article 27</strong> (Freedom as to payment of taxes for promotion of any particular religion).</li>
<li><strong>Article 28</strong> (Freedom as to attendance at religious instruction or religious worship in certain educational institutions)</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>Further Article 29 and 30 of the Constitution deal with the protection of interest of minorities.</li>
</ul>
</div>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Religious Freedom in the US:</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The US government has signed an executive order which included a move to formally prioritise religious freedom in the U.S. foreign policy.</li>
<li>The order also directed the <strong>United States Agency for International Development (USAID)</strong> to allocate $50 million in its yearly budget towards programmes that sought to promote religious freedom.</li>
<li>Recently, the US faced domestic protests in response to the death of George Floyd, an unarmed black man at the hands of a white police officer.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/us-religious-freedom-report-takes-note-of-caa-nrc-jk-status/article31798724.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/international-religious-freedom-report-2019'
	],
	(int) 2 => [
		'title' => 'World Accreditation Day 2020: QCI',
		'catname' => 'News Analysis',
		'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>Recently, the <strong>World Accreditation Day (WAD)</strong> was celebrated on<strong> 9<sup>th</sup> June</strong> by the <strong>Quality Council of India (QCI)</strong> to highlight as well as to promote the <strong>role of accreditation in trade &amp; economy.</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The<strong> theme</strong> for WAD 2020 was<strong> &ldquo;Accreditation: Improving Food Safety&rdquo;.</strong></li>
</ul>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Accreditation</strong> is a <strong>formal, independent verification</strong> that a program or institution meets established quality standards in terms of <strong>testing, inspection, or certification.</strong></li>
<li><strong>Importance of Accreditation:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>It is an important tool to<strong> improve the quality</strong> of product and services in the field of health, education, food as well as other areas.</li>
<li>It also promotes the<strong> adoption of quality standards</strong> relating to Quality Management Systems, Food Safety Management Systems and Product Certification.</li>
<li>Overall, it helps in realizing the objective of<strong> improving quality competitiveness</strong> of Indian products and services.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>The International Accreditation Forum:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>It is the <strong>world association of Conformity Assessment Accreditation bodies and other bodies</strong> interested in conformity assessment in the fields of management systems, products, services, personnel and other similar programs of conformity assessment.</li>
<li><strong>Conformity Assessment Bodies:</strong> These are bodies that can certify product, process or services, management systems or persons. E.g.<strong> International Organization for Standardization (ISO).</strong></li>
<li><strong>India is also a member.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Quality Assessment in the Food Sector:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The <a href="/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-national-institutions/food-safety-and-standards-authority-of-india-fssai" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI)</strong></a> has recognized the role of credible, competent accreditation inputs in overall services.</li>
<li>There is an urgent need for <strong>development of conformity assessment infrastructure </strong>and <strong>consumer empowerment</strong> in the country.</li>
<li>There is a <strong>need to institutionalize the virtual assessment</strong> and the <strong>accreditation of state food testing laboratories.</strong></li>
<li>There is a need to encourage accredited laboratories to undertake <strong>Proficiency Testing (PT)</strong> and increase the number of <strong>accredited Reference Materials Producers (RMPs).</strong></li>
<li>An <strong>Integrated System for information exchange</strong> is also necessary for the food sector.</li>
<li><strong>Suggested Measures:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li><strong>Six Point Programme for Future:</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Scaling up conformity assessment systems in different parts of the country.</li>
<li>Encourage PPP model of FSSAI to work forward for<strong> &ldquo;Saajha Nivesh, Saajha Vikas, Saajha Vishwas.</strong></li>
<li>Working in direction of Certified in India and accepted globally.</li>
<li>Informal Market formalization.</li>
<li><strong>Rashtriya Gunavatta Abhiyan:</strong> It will help in <strong>crowdsourcing to check quality issues</strong> in the local market and to <strong>develop a robust Market Surveillance.</strong></li>
<li><strong>Rapid Alert System</strong> with all Regulators on <strong>one single e-platform.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Quality Council of India</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The <strong>Quality Council of India (QCI) set up in 1997</strong> is an <strong>autonomous body</strong> attached to the Department of Industrial Policy &amp; Promotion,<strong> Ministry of Commerce and Industry.</strong></li>
<li><strong>The Chairman of QCI</strong> is appointed by the <strong>Prime Minister</strong> on recommendation of the industry to the government.</li>
<li>Its <strong>mandate is to establish and operate the National Accreditation Structure (NAS)</strong> for conformity assessment bodies and providing accreditation in the field of health, education and quality promotion .</li>
<li><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/international-equivalence-for-personnel-certification#:~:text=India's%20national%20accreditation%20body%2C%20the,Singapore%20on%2020th%20June%2C%202019." target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>National Accreditation Board for Certification Bodies (NABCB)</strong></a> and <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/star-rating-program" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>National Accreditation Board for Testing and Calibration Laboratories (NABL)</strong></a> are the two <strong>accreditation boards</strong> of the<strong> QCI.</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>These two bodies</strong> work closely to support the Government and regulators to ensure that the data provided by <strong>accredited conformity assessment bodies</strong> is <strong>robust, reliable, trustworthy in terms of decision making, compliance testing and standards setting.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>Indian industry is represented in QCI by three premier industry associations namely <strong>ASSOCHAM; CII; and FICCI.</strong></li>
</ul>
</div>
<p><a href="https://pib.gov.in/PressReleaseIframePage.aspx?PRID=1630604#:~:text=QCI%20Celebrates%20the%20World%20Accreditation,for%20improving%20food%20safety%20highlighted&amp;text=The%20World%20Accreditation%20Day%20(WAD,of%20accreditation%20in%20trade%20%26%20economy." target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Source: PIB</strong></a></p>',
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		'url' => 'https://www.drishtiias.com/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/world-accreditation-day-2020-qci'
	],
	(int) 3 => [
		'title' => 'Athirapally Hydel Electric Project',
		'catname' => 'News Analysis',
		'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>Recently, the<strong> Kerala government</strong> has approved the proposed<strong> Athirapally Hydro Electric Project</strong> (AHEP) on the <strong>Chalakudy river</strong> in <strong>Thrissur</strong> district of the state.</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>There are <strong>already five dams for power and one for irrigation</strong> and it will be the seventh along the 145 km course of the Chalakudy river.</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Chalakudy River</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>It <strong>originates in the Anamalai region of Tamil Nadu</strong> and is joined by its major tributaries Parambikulam, Kuriyarkutti, Sholayar, Karapara and Anakayam in Kerala.</li>
<li>The river <strong>flows through Palakkad, Thrissur and Ernakulam</strong> districts of Kerala.</li>
<li>It is the<strong> 4<sup>th</sup> longest river in Kerala</strong> and one of very few rivers of Kerala, which is having <strong>relics of riparian vegetation</strong> in substantial level.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>A <strong>riparian zone</strong> is the interface between land and a river or stream. Plant habitats and communities along the river margins and banks are called<strong> riparian vegetation,</strong> characterized by hydrophilic plants.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>It is the <strong>richest river in fish</strong> diversity perhaps in India as it contains 85 species of freshwater fishes out of the 152 species known from Kerala only.</li>
<li>The famous waterfalls,<strong> Athirappilly Falls and Vazhachal Falls,</strong> are situated on this river.</li>
<li>It <strong>merges with the Periyar River near Puthenvelikkara</strong> in Ernakulam district.</li>
</ul>
</div>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The total installed capacity of AHEP is <strong>163 MW</strong> and the project is supposed to make use of the tail end water coming out of the existing<strong> Poringalkuthu Hydro Electric Project</strong> that is constructed across the Chalakudy river.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>AHEP envisages diverting water from the Poringalkuthu project as well as from its <strong>own catchment of 26 sq km.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>Kerala state government has given a <strong>no-objection certificate</strong> (NOC) to the<strong> Kerala State Electricity Board</strong> (KSEB) for a period of <strong>seven years</strong> and has permitted it to proceed with the project&rsquo;s implementation.</li>
<li>KSEB officials are confident that they can manage approval from the<strong> Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change</strong> as it was<strong> approved in 2012 by an Expert Appraisal Committee</strong> (EAC) for river valley and hydro-electric projects.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>EACs are constituted for giving environmental clearance under the <a href="/to-the-points/paper3/environmental-impact-assessment-1" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Environmental Impact Assessment</strong></a> (EIA).</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Opposition:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The government&rsquo;s move to revive the already controversial power project has gained <strong>opposition from various political leaders and environmentalists.</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>KSEB <strong>first mooted the project in 1996</strong> but it had been <strong>suspended</strong> due to strong opposition by the local community backed by environmentalists and politicians with green concerns.</li>
<li>A report by the <strong>Kerala State Biodiversity Board</strong> pointed out in <strong>1997</strong> that the power project would <strong>adversely affect the ecology</strong> of the fragile river ecosystem at Athirappilly.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>It is feared that it will cause people to <strong>organise a protest on the lines of Silent Valley</strong> in the coming days.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li><strong>Silent Valley</strong> was an <strong>ecological movement</strong> with huge mass participation that forced the Kerala government to <strong>abandon dam construction across the Kunthri River in Palakkad</strong> district during the <strong>late 1970s and early 1980s.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Environmental Threats:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Athirappally is home to some<strong> rarest species of birds, animals and plant species</strong> which will be impacted.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Apart from being home to<a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/pakke-tiger-reserve" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong> hornbills</strong></a>, tigers and leopards, the forests also host the Nilgiri langur, the<a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/someshwara-wildlife-sanctuary#:~:text=Lion%2Dtailed%20Macaque,of%20primary%20tropical%20evergreen%20rainforest." target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong> lion-tailed macaque</strong> </a>and the rare Cochin forest cane turtle.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Fish varieties</strong> in the Chalakudy river would be impacted.</li>
<li>Around 168 hectares of <strong>biodiversity-rich forests in the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/ecologically-sensitive-areas-in-western-ghats" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Western Ghats</a></strong> would be submerged.</li>
<li><strong>Kadar tribal settlements</strong> in the forests will be dismantled and displaced. The move seems to be violative of the forest rights granted to the Kadars under the <a href="/to-the-points/Paper2/forest-rights-act-2006" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Forest Rights Act, 2006</strong></a>.</li>
<li>It would sever the only link between the <strong>Peechi Vazhani Wildlife Sanctuary, Thrissur and the Idamalayar basin of the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/mullaperiyar-dam" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Periyar river</a>.</strong></li>
<li>The vital <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/koundinya-wildlife-sanctuary" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>elephant corridor</strong></a><strong> between the Parambikulam Sanctuary</strong> (also a <strong><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/important-facts-for-prelims-19th-november-2018#:~:text=Parambikulam%20Tiger%20Reserve&amp;text=Buddha%20Peacock%20or%20Buddha%20Mayoori,of%20the%20Southern%20Western%20Ghats." target="_blank" rel="noopener">tiger reserve</a>) and the Pooyamkutty forests</strong> would also be affected.</li>
<li>On the<strong> tourism front,</strong> the project would <strong>wipe out the majestic Athirappally and Vazhachal waterfalls,</strong> which draw 0.6 million domestic and foreign tourists every year.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="https://www.downtoearth.org.in/news/environment/kerala-government-gives-go-ahead-to-athirappally-hydel-power-project-71683#:~:text=The%20government%20gave%20the%20go,expired%2C%20according%20to%20official%20sources.&amp;text=The%20government's%20decision%20elicited%20a%20storm%20of%20protests%20from%20various%20quarters." target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Source: DTE</strong></a></p>',
		'postdate' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenTime) {},
		'url' => 'https://www.drishtiias.com/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/athirapally-hydel-electric-project'
	],
	(int) 4 => [
		'title' => 'Rise in the Population of Asiatic Lions',
		'catname' => 'News Analysis',
		'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>Recently, the Gujarat Forest Department has announced an <strong>increase in the population of <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/icmr-recommends-vaccine-for-lions" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Asiatic lions in the Gir forest region.</a></strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Total<strong> 674 lions</strong> were recorded compared to the <strong>523 in the Lion Census of 2015.</strong></li>
<li>The count was estimated from a <strong>population observation exercise</strong> called <strong>Poonam Avlokan</strong> in place of the<strong> 15<sup>th</sup> Lion Census.</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The 15<sup>th</sup> lion census was due to be conducted on 5<sup>th</sup> and 6<sup>th</sup> June, but was postponed indefinitely due to the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/covid-19-and-lockdown" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Covid-19 outbreak.</strong></a></li>
<li>Poonam Avlokan is a<strong> monthly in-house exercise</strong> carried out <strong>every full moon</strong>. It was a mechanism developed by the Forest Department in 2014 as part of preparations for the 2015 Lion Census.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Numerical Analysis:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The lion population has<strong> grown</strong> by<strong> almost 29%</strong> from the last count in 2015. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>The lion population in the state of Gujarat has <strong>doubled since 2001.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>Moreover, the distribution of the lions has <strong>expanded from 22,000 sq. km </strong>in<strong> 2015 to 30,000 sq. km in 2020.</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Thus, the <strong>geographical distribution area</strong> for Gir forests&rsquo;s lions has been <strong>increased by 36%.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Significance of 2020 Count:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The 2015 Census had counted 523 lions,<strong> up from 411 in 2010.</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>But 12 lions were killed in a <strong>flash flood in Amreli</strong> just a month after the 2015 Census.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>The deaths of lions in 2015 was followed by deaths of more than two dozen lions in an <strong>outbreak of <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/icmr-recommends-vaccine-for-lions" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Canine Distemper Virus (CDV)</a> and babesiosis in 2018.</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Babesia is a tiny parasite that infects red blood cells and is usually transmitted by a tick bite. Infection with Babesia is called babesiosis.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>Additionally, the <strong>babesiosis outbreak was also reported in Gir in 2020,</strong> and around two dozen lions were reported to be killed.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Reasons for Increase:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Over the last several years, the lion population in Gujarat has been <strong>steadily rising.</strong></li>
<li>This increase has been powered by <strong>community participation, emphasis on technology, wildlife healthcare, proper habitat management and steps to minimise human-lion conflict.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Regular Lion Census</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>History:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The <strong>first Lion Census</strong> was conducted by the<strong> Nawab of Junagadh</strong> in <strong>1936.</strong></li>
<li><strong>Since 1965, the Forest Department</strong> has been regularly conducting the Lion Census every five years.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Procedure:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Time Period:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>The regular Lion Census is conducted <strong>once every five years.</strong> The<strong> last Census</strong> was conducted in <strong>2015.</strong></li>
<li>The Lion Census usually runs <strong>for more than two days,</strong> including a preliminary census and a final census.</li>
<li>However, the Poonam Avlokan is carried out for <strong>24 hours assessing the number of lions</strong> and their locations in their respective jurisdictions.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Participation:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>The Forest Department<strong> invites NGOs, experts and wildlife enthusiasts</strong> to join the Census for transparency and augmenting manpower.</li>
<li>Whereas the Poonam Avlokan exercise is conducted <strong>only by forest staff.</strong></li>
<li>Thus, the Lion Census experiences<strong> larger participation</strong> of the people compared to the Poonam Avalokan exercise.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Methodology Used:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>The Lion Census is done using the<strong> block counting method &mdash;</strong> in which census enumerators remain stationed at water points in a given block and estimate abundance of lions in that block, based on direct sighting of lions who need to drink water at least once in 24 hours during the summer.</li>
<li>Under Poonam Avlokan exercise, the teams keep moving in their respective territories and make their estimates based on <strong>inputs provided by lion trackers and on chance sightings.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Gir National Park</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The Gir National Park and Wildlife Sanctuary is located in the<strong> Junagadh district of Gujarat.</strong></li>
<li>The Gir Forests is the <strong>only natural habitat of Asiatic lions.</strong> It was declared as a sanctuary in 1965 and a national park in 1975.</li>
<li>Gir is often linked with <strong>"Maldharis"</strong> who have survived through the ages by having a symbiotic relationship with the lions.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Maldharis are religious <strong>pastoral communities</strong> living in Gir. Their settlements are called <strong>"nesses".</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>Protection for Asiatic Lions</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Protection Status:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>IUCN Red List:</strong> Endangered</li>
<li><strong>CITES:</strong> Appendix I</li>
<li><strong>Wildlife (Protection) Act 1972:</strong> Schedule I</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Conservation Efforts:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/asiatic-lion-conservation-project" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>&ldquo;Asiatic Lion Conservation Project&rdquo;</strong></a> has been launched by the Union Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate Change (MoEFCC).</li>
<li>The project has been approved for<strong> three financial years from 2018 to 2021.</strong></li>
<li>The project envisages scientific management with the involvement of communities in coordination with multi-sectoral agencies for disease control and veterinary care for overall conservation of Asiatic lions.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</div>
<h3>Way Forward</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Earlier, the lions from the gir forest had faced the <strong>threat of extinction</strong> but <strong>timely intervention</strong> has shown <strong>extraordinary recovery.</strong></li>
<li>Lions have recorded a healthy growth in population due to<strong> effective conservation and management efforts</strong> by the state government with support from the Centre.</li>
<li>Further, <strong>more focussed protection programmes and health care programmes</strong> need to be implemented to control diseases like CDV, babesiosis which continue to take lives of lions from the Gir forest.</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="https://pib.gov.in/PressReleseDetailm.aspx?PRID=1630733" 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/rise-in-the-population-of-asiatic-lions'
	],
	(int) 5 => [
		'title' => 'Genetically Modified Seeds',
		'catname' => 'News Analysis',
		'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>Recently, Shetkari Sanghatana, a Maharashtra based farmers&rsquo; union body has announced agitation for use of unapproved genetically modified seeds of cotton, maize, rice, mustard, soybean and brinjal.</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Shetkari Sanghatana is a big supporter of GM seeds. Its main aim is to provide farmers, freedom of access to markets and technology.</li>
<li>Last year its members had broken the law by planting Herbicide Tolerant Bt cotton seeds. This year too it's members are planning to repeat the same.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Genetically Modified Seeds:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Conventional plant breeding involves<strong> crossing species of the same genus</strong> to provide the offspring with the desired traits of both parents. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Genus is a class of items such as a group of animals or plants with similar traits, qualities or features.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/supermarkets-flooded-with-foreign-gm-foods-despite-ban" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Genetic modification</strong></a> aims to transcend the genus barrier by <strong>introducing an alien gene</strong> in the seeds to get the desired effects. The alien gene could be from a plant, an animal or even a soil bacterium.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/bt-cotton-in-india-problems-and-solutions" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Bt cotton</strong> </a>is the <strong>only Genetically Modified (GM) crop</strong> that is allowed in India. It has <strong>alien genes from the soil bacterium Bacillus thuringiensis</strong> <strong>(Bt)</strong> that allows the crop to develop a protein toxic to the common <strong>pest <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/maharashtra-to-take-emergency-measures-to-tackle-pink-bollworm-pbw" target="_blank" rel="noopener">pink bollworm</a>.</strong></li>
<li><strong>Herbicide Tolerant Bt (Ht Bt) cotton,</strong> on the other hand is derived with the insertion of an additional gene, from another soil bacterium, which allows the plant to resist the common <strong>herbicide glyphosate.</strong></li>
<li>In <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/illegal-cultivation-of-bt-brinjal" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Bt brinjal</strong></a>, a gene allows the plant to resist attacks of fruit and shoot borers.</li>
<li>In <a href="/infographics/info-paper3/gm-mustard" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>DMH-11 mustard</strong></a>, genetic modification allows cross-pollination in a crop that self-pollinates in nature.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Legal Position of GM crops in India</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>In India, the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/geac-seeks-information-from-bangladesh-on-bt-brinjal" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Genetic Engineering Appraisal Committee (GEAC)</strong></a> is the apex body that allows for commercial release of GM crops. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>In 2002, the GEAC had allowed the commercial release of Bt cotton. More than 95% of the country&rsquo;s cotton area has since then come under Bt cotton.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>Use of the unapproved GM variant can attract <strong>a jail term of 5 years and fine of Rs. 1 lakh</strong> under the Environment Protection Act, 1986.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Farmers Demand for GM Seeds:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>GM seeds reduce the production cost and increase productivity.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Ht Bt cotton reduces the high cost of weeding.</li>
<li>Bt brinjal reduces the use of pesticides.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Issues involved:</strong> Genetic modification brings about changes that can be harmful to humans in the long run. The long-lasting effect of GM crops is yet to be studied. Some of the issues involved are:<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Threat to Biodiversity:</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Cross-pollination in GM crops paves the way for<strong> herbicide-resistant superweeds</strong> that can further threaten the sustenance of other crops and pests because of their uncontrolled growth. In short, biodiversity gets threatened.</li>
<li>GM crops because of their pest resistance characteristics could <strong>eliminate important species of pests</strong> that are responsible for sustaining domestic varieties and can pose serious threats to biodiversity. They Can <strong>affect the food chain</strong> also.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Nutrition issues:</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Bt brinjal poses risks to human health as its<strong> resistance to antibiotics</strong> can turn medicines ineffective and may result in the formation of new toxins and allergens.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Implications for consumers and farmers:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>It is claimed that patent laws give developers of the GM crops a dangerous degree of<strong> control/dominance over the food supply</strong> that results in the over domination of world food production by a few companies.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Way Forward</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Environmental impact assessment</strong> should be carried out by independent environmentalists, as farmers do not and cannot assess the long-term impact of GM crops on ecology and health.</li>
<li>Ensure that an <strong>unapproved variety of GM seeds is not available in markets.</strong></li>
<li>In order to curb the illegal cultivation of GM seeds, the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/geac-seeks-information-from-bangladesh-on-bt-brinjal" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Genetic Engineering Appraisal Committee</strong></a> (GEAC) should:<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Collaborate with state governments and launch a nation-wide investigation drive.</li>
<li>Take action on threats of deliberate GM crop cultivation.</li>
<li>Investigate and prosecute those involved in the illegal supply of GM Seeds.</li>
<li>Encourage organic farming.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>The government should go for commercialization of GM seeds only after the core and deep research on the long term prospects and benefits of commercialization of GM seeds in India.</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="https://indianexpress.com/article/explained/gm-seeds-the-debate-and-a-sowing-agitation-6452999/" 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/genetically-modified-seeds'
	],
	(int) 6 => [
		'title' => 'New Cold War',
		'catname' => 'News Editorials',
		'desc' => '<div class="border">
<p>This article is based on <a href="https://www.thehindu.com/opinion/op-ed/multilateralism-in-the-new-cold-war/article31734107.ece" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>&ldquo;Multilateralism in the new cold war&rdquo;</strong></a> which was published in The Hindu on 03/06/2020. It talks about the new cold war taking shape between the US and China.</p>
</div>
<p>China is soon to become the largest economy in the world. It&rsquo;s growth is based on technology, innovation and trade, which sought to balance U.S. military superiority, and has fueled the strategic rivalry between the two countries.</p>
<p>The rising tensions between the US and China have prompted many experts to warn of a new Cold War akin to the <a href="/to-the-points/paper1/cold-war" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Cold War between the US and USSR</strong></a>.</p>
<p>In 2017, the US National Security Strategy called China as &ldquo;a revisionist power&rdquo; seeking &ldquo;to erode American security and prosperity&rdquo; and &ldquo;shape a world antithetical to U.S. values and interests&rdquo;. Also, China has been proactive in undermining the US hegemony on multiple fronts.</p>
<p>COVID-19 pandemic has further aggravated the deterioration of ties between the two countries. Thus, this new Cold War between China and the United States is a major geopolitical risk of the 21<sup>st</sup> century.</p>
<h3>Events Signaling a New Cold War</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>China has come out with alternative governance mechanisms to the U.S.-dominated International Monetary Fund, World Bank and World Trade Organization with its all-encompassing <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/belt-and-road-initiative-perspectives-from-india" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Belt and Road Initiative</strong> </a>and institutions like <a href="/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-international-institution/asian-infrastructure-investment-bank" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Asia infrastructure investment bank</strong></a>, contingency reserve agreement (CRA) of <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/5th-annual-meeting-of-ndb" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>New Development Bank</strong></a>.</li>
<li>For several decades, China&rsquo;s breakneck development under the relatively enlightened authoritarianism of Deng Xiaoping and his successors was seen positively in the United States. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>However, under Xi Jinping, China has evolved from a soft to a hard authoritarianism. There is now a president-for-life with a budding personality cult.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>In order to contain rising China&rsquo;s assertiveness, the US under its &lsquo;pivot to Asia policy&rsquo; has launched a <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/quad-3#:~:text=Quadrilateral%20Security%20Dialogue%20(Quad)%20is,prosperous%E2%80%9D%20Indo%2DPacific%20region.&amp;text=However%2C%20the%20idea%20couldn't,apparently%20due%20to%20Chinese%20pressure." target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>quad initiative</strong></a>, <a href="/loksabha-rajyasabha-discussions/the-big-picture-indo-pacific-strategic-importance" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Indo pacific narrative</strong></a>.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Most recently, the US proposed to expand G7 to G-11 without including China in it.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>China&rsquo;s incremental &ldquo;salami slicing&rdquo; tactics in the South China Sea, first by land reclamation and then constructing artificial islands for extending extra-territorial claim, has seen sharp criticism from the US and its allies.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>It is similar to the way dominance over the Caribbean enabled the United States to strategically control the Atlantic Ocean and thus, affect the balance of forces in the two world wars and a cold war.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>From Trade war to tensions over 5G telecommunications to currency wars, US-China confrontation is on multiple economic fronts.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Further, the donor-recipient relationship between US and developing countries has weakened with China&rsquo;s pledge of $2-billion amid COVID-19 pandemic, thereby starting a new phase of donation diplomacy.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>Moreover, China perceives US support for Taiwan as an interference in its internal matters.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Differences Over Previous Cold War</h3>
<p>There are several key differences between the previous Cold War between the US &amp; Soviet Union and the Cold War between the US and China.</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>No Ideological conflict:</strong> Cold War between the US and Soviet Union was a battle between two opposing ideologies viz. capitalism vs communism, whereas there is no such ideological conflict between US and China.</li>
<li><strong>No proxy conflicts:</strong> Previous Cold War was full of proxy conflicts between the US and Soviet Union like in Cuban missile crisis 1962, Soviet afghan war 1979-89, etc.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>However, till now there are no proxy wars between the U.S. and China.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Multi-polar world:</strong> Today, the world is also not bipolar anymore. There are countries like Russia, India and Japan, which act as swing states,as they have a choice whether or not to align with the US or China.</li>
<li><strong>Economic interdependence:</strong> Unlike the US and Soviet Union, the economies of US and China are closely integrated through investments and markets in a hyper globalized world.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Role of India</h3>
<p>India is a rising global power and citing its importance both the US and China sought to attract India in its camp. Foreign policy experts in the US argue India Is a Natural US Ally in the New Cold War. On the other hand Chinese&rsquo;s Ambassador in India has suggested writing &ldquo;together a new chapter&rdquo; with &ldquo;a shared future for mankind&rdquo;. In this context:</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>India can promote new multilateralism under the aegis of <strong>Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam-</strong> which relies on restructuring both the economic order and societal behaviour for equitable sustainable development.</li>
<li>India must take up intensified diplomacy with global powers so that Asian Century can be defined in terms of peaceful co-existence and global interest.</li>
<li>Apart from it, India Should acknowledge that national security now relies on technological superiority in artificial intelligence (AI), cyber and space, and not expensive capital equipment.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Thus, India should become self sufficient in the domain of critical technologies.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Conclusion</h3>
<p>As India joins the UN Security Council (non-permanent seat) and chairs the BRICS Summit and hosts the G-20 in 2022, the development will bring opportunity for India to assume leadership role and propose a new globalisation model based on humanity, fairness and equality has wide support in a more equal world rather than a world divided by Cold War.</p>
<p><a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1591791678_pasted%20image 0 (1).png" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1591791678_pasted image 0 (1).png" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="700" caption="false" /></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: #edf3fc;">
<p><span style="color: #000080;"><em><strong>Drishti Mains Question</strong></em></span></p>
<p>&ldquo;The rising tensions between the US and China is akin to the Cold War tensions between the US and USSR&rdquo;. Discuss the causes of the new cold war and role of India in the turbulent times.</p>
</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<p style="text-align: center;"><iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/MpTTDRHtaIA" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe></p>
<p>This editorial is based on <a href="https://indianexpress.com/article/opinion/editorials/eca-amendment-apmc-mandis-farm-sector-6449257/" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>&ldquo;Unlocking The Fram&rdquo;</strong></a> which was published in The Indian Express on June 9<sup>th</sup>, 2020. Now watch this on our Youtube Channel.</p>',
		'postdate' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenTime) {},
		'url' => 'https://www.drishtiias.com/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/new-cold-war'
	],
	(int) 7 => [
		'title' => 'Water Dispute Between Telangana and Andhra Pradesh',
		'catname' => 'News Analysis',
		'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>Recently, the Union government has decided <strong>to take the stock</strong> <strong>of water utilisation</strong> from the <strong>Krishna and Godavari rivers</strong> following the filing of complaints against each other by Telangana and Andhra Pradesh governments.</p>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Water Dispute:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Telangana and Andhra Pradesh share stretches of the Krishna and the Godavari and own their tributaries.</li>
<li>Both states <strong>have proposed several new projects without getting clearance</strong> from the <strong>river boards, the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/e-flows-in-river-ganga" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Central Water Commission</a> and the Apex Council,</strong> as mandated by the Andhra Pradesh Reorganisation Act, 2014.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>The Andhra Pradesh Reorganisation Act, 2014 <strong>mandates for constitution of an Apex Council by Central Government</strong> for the supervision of the functioning of the Godavari River Management Board and Krishna River Management Board.</li>
<li>The Apex Council <strong>comprises the Union Water Resources Minister and the Chief Ministers of</strong> Telangana and Andhra Pradesh.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>The Andhra Pradesh government&rsquo;s proposal to increase the utilisation of the Krishna water from a section of the river above the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/srisailam-dam" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Srisailam Reservoir</strong></a> led to the Telangana government filing a complaint against Andhra Pradesh. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>The Srisailam reservoir is constructed across the <strong>Krishna River in Andhra Pradesh.</strong> It is located in the <strong>Nallamala hills.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>The Andhra Pradesh government retaliated with its own complaints saying that <strong>Palamuru-Rangareddy, Dindi Lift Irrigation Schemes on the Krishna river</strong> and <strong><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/kaleshwaram-lift-irrigation-project" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Kaleshwaram</a>, Tupakulagudem schemes and a few barrages proposed across the Godavari</strong> are all new projects.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Krishna Water Dispute Tribunal:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Two tribunals</strong> have been constituted to resolve the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/refer-krishna-dispute-to-tribunal" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>disputes of the Krishna water</strong></a>.</li>
<li><strong>Andhra Pradesh has countered the second Krishna Water Dispute Tribunal (KWDT) order</strong> issued by Justice Brijesh Kumar in 2010. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>The Brijesh Kumar Tribunal has allocated 81 thousand million cubic feet (tmcft) of surplus water to Maharashtra, 177 tmcft to Karnataka and only 196 tmcft to Andhra Pradesh.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>After the creation of Telangana as a separate state in 2014, <strong>Andhra Pradesh is asking to include Telangana as a separate party at the KWDT</strong> and that the allocation of Krishna waters be reworked among four states, instead of three.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>It has challenged the order of the Brijesh Kumar Tribunal in the Supreme Court.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Godavari Water Dispute Tribunal:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The <strong>Godavari Water Dispute Tribunal headed by Justice Bachawat</strong> was constituted by the Government in April, 1969.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>The <strong>tribunal was tasked to look after the dispute over Godavari river</strong> between Andhra Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Odisha, and Karnataka over the sharing of the Godavari river water.</li>
<li>The Bachawat Tribunal gave its final award in 1980.</li>
<li>Accordingly, each State was free to utilise the flow in Godavari and its tributaries up to a certain level.</li>
<li>Thus, Andhra Pradesh decided to divert 80 tmcft of Godavari water from Polavaram to Krishna river, upstream of Vijayawada, so that it could be shared with Karnataka and Maharashtra.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>Once Telangana came into existence in 2014,<strong> the Godavari water and, more specifically, the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/godavari-valley-area-and-covid-19" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Polavaram project</a> became the bone of contention</strong> between Telangana and Andhra Pradesh. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>While the project will take care of the irrigation needs of the Godavari districts of Andhra Pradesh, Telangana fears it would submerge many villages in its Khammam district.</li>
<li>Odisha too has expressed its reservations over the Polavaram dam's design.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Union Government&rsquo;s Move:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>It has asked the Krishna and Godavari River Management Boards <strong>to procure the details of the irrigation projects on these rivers,</strong> including from Maharashtra and Karnataka and submit them to the Centre in a month.</li>
<li>The <strong>main objective</strong> of the exercise appears to be to assess whether surplus water will be available for the new projects in Telangana and Andhra Pradesh, in the light of the disputes.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Inter-State Water Disputes</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Article 262 of the Constitution</strong> provides for the adjudication of<a href="/loksabha-rajyasabha-discussions/the-big-picture-single-tribunal-for-river-water-disputes" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong> inter-state water disputes.</strong> </a><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Under this, <strong>Parliament may by law provide for the adjudication of any dispute or complaint</strong> with respect to the use, distribution and control of waters of any inter-state river and river valley.</li>
<li>Parliament may also provide that <strong>neither the Supreme Court nor any other court is to exercise jurisdiction</strong> in respect of any such dispute or complaint.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>The Parliament has enacted the two laws, the <strong>River Boards Act (1956)</strong> and the <strong>Inter-State Water Disputes Act (1956).</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The River Boards Act provides for the establishment of river boards by the<strong> Central government</strong> for the regulation and development of inter-state river and river valleys. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>A River Board is established on the request of state governments concerned to advise them.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>The Inter-State Water Disputes Act empowers the <strong>Central government to set up an ad hoc tribunal for the adjudication of a dispute between two or more states</strong> in relation to the waters of an inter-state river or river valley.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>The <strong>decision of the tribunal is final and binding on the parties</strong> to the dispute.</li>
<li>Neither the Supreme Court nor any other court is to have jurisdiction in respect of any water dispute which may be referred to such a tribunal under this Act.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Godavari River</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Source:</strong> Godavari river rises from Trimbakeshwar near Nasik in Maharashtra and flows for a length of about 1465 km before outfalling into the Bay of Bengal.</li>
<li><strong>Drainage Basin:</strong> The Godavari basin extends over states of Maharashtra, Telangana, Andhra Pradesh, Chhattisgarh and Odisha in addition to smaller parts in Madhya Pradesh, Karnataka and Union territory of Puducherry.</li>
<li><strong>Tributaries:</strong> Pravara, Purna, Manjra, Penganga, Wardha, Wainganga, Pranhita (combined flow of Wainganga, Penganga, Wardha), Indravati, Maner and the Sabri</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>Krishna River</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Source:</strong> It originates near Mahabaleshwar (Satara) in Maharashtra. It is the second biggest river in peninsular India after the Godavari River.</li>
<li><strong>Drainage:</strong> It runs from four states Maharashtra (303 km), North Karnataka (480 km) and the rest of its 1300 km journey in Telangana and Andhra Pradesh before it empties into the Bay of Bengal.</li>
<li><strong>Tributaries:</strong> Tungabhadra, Mallaprabha, Koyna, Bhima, Ghataprabha, Yerla, Warna, Dindi, Musi and Dudhganga.</li>
</ul>
</div>
<p><a href="https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/centre-to-take-stock-of-krishna-and-godavari-water-utilisation/article31790230.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/water-dispute-between-telangana-and-andhra-pradesh'
	],
	(int) 8 => [
		'title' => 'The Big Picture: Hong Kong National Security Law',
		'catname' => 'Lok Sabha & Rajya Sabha Discussions',
		'desc' => '<p style="text-align: center;"><iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/mO-yu5pNrhw" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe></p>
<p>Chinese authorities have planned to bypass the Hong Kong&rsquo;s legislature to enact a <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/new-security-law-in-hong-kong" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>national security law</strong></a> that is believed by pro-democracy activists to crack down the dissent in the city.</p>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>What is the National Security Law</strong></p>
<p>Under the national security law, a legal framework will be set up to prevent and punish subversion, terrorism, separatism/ seccesion and any foreign interference. The law makes any of these acts a crime.</p>
</div>
<h3>A Brief History</h3>
<p>Hong Kong was handed back to China from British control in 1997, but under a unique agreement which was based on a mini-constitution called the Basic Law and thus, a so-called "one country, two systems" principle came in the light.</p>
<p>Under the same agreement, Hong Kong had to enact its own national security law - this was set out in Article 23 of the Basic Law. However, it could not be enacted due to the protests against the law in 2003.</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>In the same year, Hong Kong tried to remove some of the provisions of article 23 in which nearly half a million people took part in the protest but was jettisoned.</li>
<li>Since early 2019, there has been a move to introduce an extradition bill which also faced huge protests in which 3-4 million people (out of around 7 million population of Hong Kong) participated; the extradition bill was cancelled.</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Extradition</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>It is the formal process of one state surrendering an individual to another state for prosecution or punishment for crimes committed in the requesting country's jurisdiction.</li>
<li>This is generally enabled through a bilateral or multilateral treaty.</li>
<li>The legal basis for extradition with countries with whom India does not have an Extradition treaty is provided by Section 3 (4) of the Indian Extradition Act, 1962.</li>
</ul>
</div>
<h3>Issues With The Law</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The law is an attack on the human rights of the people of Hong Kong as it curtails their freedom of speech and freedom of assembly.</li>
<li>The law could see people punished for criticising Beijing as well as the Chinese Communist Party - as it happens in mainland China.</li>
<li>It violates the <strong>basic law of Hong Kong</strong> which proposes the <strong>one country, two systems</strong> procedure.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The article 22 of the basic law of Hong Kong is violated which suggests that no central government. agencies can interfere in the functioning of the Special Administrative Region (Hong Kong).</li>
<li>Article 12 which suggests that there will be a high degree of autonomy is also violated.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>The US and Hong Kong share a good business relationship due to no interference of China in the state matters which will possibly be not as good if the latter becomes a part of mainland China.</li>
</ul>
<p>People of Hong Kong in response to the law have come out in thousands of numbers defying both the law and the social distancing norms imposed in the wake of <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/coronavirus-disease-named-covid-19" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Covid-19</strong></a>.</p>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Basic Law</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Basic Law allows Hong Kong to enjoy executive, legislative and independent judicial power, including that of final adjudication, barring matters of defence and foreign affairs.</li>
<li>Under Article 23 of the Basic Law, Hong Kong has to enact a national security law &ldquo;to prohibit any act of treason, secession, sedition, subversion against the Central People&rsquo;s Government, or theft of state secrets, to prohibit foreign political organizations or bodies from conducting political activities in the Region, and to prohibit political organizations or bodies of the Region from establishing ties with foreign political organizations or bodies.&rdquo;</li>
<li>Article 23 aims at preserving national security but it will also allow China&rsquo;s national security organs to formally operate and set up institutions in Hong Kong.</li>
</ul>
</div>
<h3>Global Response</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Political leaders around the world have written missives condemning this law.</li>
<li>A joint statement from the US, United Kingdom, Canada and Australia expressed their &ldquo;deep concern&rdquo; regarding Beijing&rsquo;s proposed law.</li>
<li>Germany believes Hong Kong&rsquo;s autonomy must not be undermined.</li>
<li>Taiwan&rsquo;s president says that the country stands with the people of Hong Kong and pledged support and &ldquo;necessary assistance&rdquo; to those who need help.</li>
<li>Japan&rsquo;s foreign ministry issued a statement saying: &ldquo;Japan is seriously concerned&rdquo; about China&rsquo;s decision toward Hong Kong for there exist strong economic ties between the two.</li>
</ul>
<h3>China&rsquo;s Open Threats</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>President Jinping, in a visit to Nepal openly threatened a war against those willing for separatism in China.</li>
<li>Reluctant to any compromise, the country provides a clear message to Taiwan against providing independence to the state. They have shifted to a unification from a &lsquo;peaceful unification&rsquo;.</li>
<li>In a <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/virtual-g20-leaders-summit" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>G20 virtual summit</strong></a>, China denied to cut off the debts of any least developed countries.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Way Forward</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>International attention should be given to this and people of Hong Kong need to be encouraged for their effort.</li>
<li>It&rsquo;s the high time to respond to China&rsquo;s activities in order to prevent any severe actions in future.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Letting China have its way could lead to dire consequences for Taiwan and probably many other similar states.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>China is immune to any individual country&rsquo;s response and hence, a coordinated response from the bigger power nations is required.</li>
<li>Apart from the external factors, on the Hong Kong people&rsquo;s part:
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>They have to take a stand for the universal suffrage rights.</li>
<li>They are needed to ask for separation of power and autonomy in the administration.</li>
<li>The crisis of the real estate within the region needs to be addressed too.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>',
		'postdate' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenTime) {},
		'url' => 'https://www.drishtiias.com/loksabha-rajyasabha-discussions/the-big-picture-hong-kong-national-security-law'
	],
	(int) 9 => [
		'title' => 'QS World University Rankings 2021',
		'catname' => 'News Analysis',
		'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>Recently, <strong>QS World University Rankings 2021</strong> shows a decline in the rankings of the<strong> Indian Institutes of Technology</strong> (IITs) and the <strong>Indian Institute of Science</strong> (IISc).</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Only the newer <strong>IITs in Guwahati and Hyderabad</strong> have shown some <strong>improvement.</strong></li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>QS World University Rankings</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Quacquarelli Symonds</strong> (QS) is a leading <strong>global career and education network</strong> for ambitious professionals looking to further their personal and professional development.</li>
<li>QS develops and successfully <strong>implements methods of comparative data collection and analysis</strong> used to highlight institutions&rsquo; strengths.</li>
<li>The <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/qs-world-university-rankings" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>&lsquo;QS World University Rankings&rsquo;</strong></a> is an <strong>annual publication of university rankings</strong> which comprises the global overall and subject rankings.</li>
<li><strong>Six parameters and their weightage for the evaluation:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Academic Reputation (40%)</li>
<li>Employer Reputation (10%)</li>
<li>Faculty/Student Ratio (20%)</li>
<li>Citations per faculty (20%)</li>
<li>International Faculty Ratio (5%)</li>
<li>International Student Ratio (5%)</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</div>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Only three educational institutes from India, the<strong> IIT Bombay (172), IISc Bengaluru (185)</strong> and<strong> IIT Delhi (193)</strong> feature in the <strong>top 200 list.</strong></li>
<li>Despite the Centre's flagship <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/institutions-of-eminence-ioe-scheme" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Institutes of Eminence</strong></a> <strong>(IoE) scheme</strong> to boost the Indian presence in these global rankings, the <strong>total number of Indian institutions</strong> in the top 1,000 global list has <strong>fallen from 24 to 21.</strong></li>
<li>In <strong>private universities, BITS Pilani and the Vellore Institute of Technology (VIT) have dropped</strong> out of the top 1,000 list, but <strong>OP Jindal Global University has climbed</strong> to the 650-700 band in the rankings.</li>
<li>Out of the six parameters, Indian institutions get <strong>zero scores on the ratio of international faculty and students</strong> while <strong>scoring well on research impact,</strong> measured through citations per faculty.</li>
<li>India also<strong> scores poorly on faculty-student ratio</strong> because of counting only full-time faculty whereas American universities include PhD students who are teaching or are research assistants.</li>
<li>Indian academics have focused on that<strong> if a parameter comparing the cost of education to students is introduced,</strong> Indian institutions would be among the world&rsquo;s top 50.</li>
<li>Earlier in 2020, <strong>IITs jointly decided to boycott</strong> the<a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/world-university-rankings-2020#:~:text=The%20University%20of%20Oxford%20retained,%2D350%20bracket%20in%202020)." target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong> World University Rankings</strong></a> released by the <strong>Times Higher Education</strong> (THE) questioning its methodology and transparency.</li>
<li>One of the reasons for a drop in Indian universities&rsquo; rank is <strong>lack of sufficient efforts.</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Other universities across the world are making<strong> increasingly-intense efforts to enhance their educational offerings.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>A <strong>committee</strong> of IIT directors has been formed to see<strong> how Indian institutes can improve the perception about them abroad</strong> and also make efforts to enhance the quality of standards within the country.</li>
<li><strong>Suggestions:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The government should launch a campaign for improving educational institutes, similar to <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/national-conference-of-tourism-ministers" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Incredible India</strong></a> which promotes<a href="/to-the-points/paper3/tourism-in-india" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong> tourism in India</strong></a> and engages with the travellers.</li>
<li><strong>Success should be based on five pillars:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Not-for-profit status.</li>
<li>Strong commitment to faculty hiring and research.</li>
<li>Focus on internationalisation.</li>
<li>Devotion to humanities and social sciences.</li>
<li>Drive to build a reputation through students and employers.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Institutions of Eminence Scheme</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>It is a government's scheme to provide the <strong>regulatory architecture for setting up or upgrading</strong> of 20 Institutions (10 from public sector and 10 from the private sector) as world-class teaching and research institutions called &lsquo;Institutions of Eminence&rsquo;.</li>
<li><strong>Objectives:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Excellence and Innovation:</strong> To provide for higher education leading to excellence and innovations in such branches of knowledge as may be deemed fit at post-graduate, graduate and research degree levels.</li>
<li><strong>Specialization:</strong> To engage in areas of specialization to make distinctive contributions to the objectives of the university education system.</li>
<li><strong>Global Rating:</strong> To aim to be rated internationally for its teaching and research as a top hundred Institution in the world over time.</li>
<li><strong>Quality teaching and Research:</strong> To provide for high quality teaching and research and for the advancement of knowledge and its dissemination.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Benefits:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Autonomy:</strong> Institutes with IoE tag will be given <strong>greater autonomy and freedom</strong> to decide fees, course durations and governance structures.</li>
<li><strong>Grant:</strong> The <strong>public institutions</strong> under IoE tag will receive a <strong>government grant of Rs 1,000 crore,</strong> while the <strong>private institutions will not get any funding</strong> under the scheme.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</div>
<h3>Way Forward</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The perception about India and its education standards play a major role which cannot be changed by an individual institution so all of the universities and institutes have to come together to tackle the issue.</li>
<li>To regain lost ground, Indian higher education must find ways of increasing teaching capacity and of attracting more talented students and faculty across the world to study and work in India.</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="https://www.thehindu.com/education/colleges/top-iits-and-iisc-slip-in-global-rankings/article31790423.ece#:~:text=IIT%2DBombay%20still%20maintains%20its,dropped%20a%20rank%20to%20185.&amp;text=IIT%20Hyderabad%20entered%20the%20top%201%2C000%20for%20the%20first%20time." 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/qs-world-university-rankings-2021'
	],
	(int) 10 => [
		'title' => 'Vamsadhara River Water Dispute',
		'catname' => 'News Analysis',
		'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>The <strong>Chief Ministers of Andhra Pradesh and Odisha</strong> will hold talks to clear out all differences with regard to the<strong> sharing of Vamsadhara river waters.</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Andhra Pradesh wants to build the <strong>Neradi bridge</strong> across the river which will be possible only after Odisha&rsquo;s consent.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Andhra Pradesh also wants to complete the<strong> inter-linking of its Nagavali river with the Vamsadhara </strong>and expand the <strong>Madduvalasa Reservoir project</strong> soon.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Madduvalasa Project is a <strong>Medium Irrigation Project</strong> with a reservoir across <strong>Suvarnamukhi</strong> river, a<strong> tributary of Nagavali</strong> river.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Agriculture is the only assured economic activity</strong> for the people living in the backward region and in the<strong> absence of rapid industrialisation,</strong> there is a need to <strong>concentrate on irrigation projects</strong> to make agriculture a viable activity.</li>
<li><strong>Background:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>In<strong> February 2006,</strong> Odisha sent a complaint to the Central Government under <strong>Section 3 of the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/call-of-the-river" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Inter-State River Water Disputes (ISRWD) Act, 1956</a></strong> regarding its water disputes with Andhra Pradesh pertaining to <strong>Inter-State River Vamsadhara.</strong> It demanded for the constitution of an <a href="/to-the-points/Paper2/inter-state-river-water-sharing-disputes" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Inter-State Water Disputes</strong></a> <strong>Tribunal</strong> for adjudication.</li>
<li><strong>Grievances of Orissa:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li><strong>Adverse effect</strong> of undertaking the <strong>construction of a canal</strong> (called a flood flow canal at Katragada, Andhra Pradesh) taking off from the river Vamsadhara.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>The flood flow canal would result in <strong>drying up the existing river bed</strong> and consequent shifting of the river <strong>affecting the groundwater table.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Failure of Andhra Pradesh</strong> to implement the terms of the inter-state agreement relating to use, distribution and control of waters of vamsadhara and its valley.</li>
<li>Odisha also raised the issue of <strong>scientific assessment</strong> of available water in Vamsadhara at Katragada and Gotta Barrage, Andhra Pradesh and the basis for sharing the available water.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1591781554_image2.jpg" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1591781554_image2.jpg" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="750" caption="false" /></a></p>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Vamsadhara River</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>It is an <strong>east-flowing</strong> river which originates in <strong>Kalahandi district of Odisha,</strong> flows in Odisha, along its boundary with Andhra Pradesh and finally<strong> joins the Bay of Bengal at Kalingapatnam, Andhra Pradesh.</strong></li>
<li>It is the <strong>main river of north-eastern Andhra</strong> region and the <strong>Boddepalli Rajagopala Rao Project</strong> was constructed on it to meet the irrigation needs of the region.</li>
</ul>
</div>
<p><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1591780902_image1.jpg" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="750" caption="false" /></p>',
		'postdate' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenTime) {},
		'url' => 'https://www.drishtiias.com/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/vamsadhara-river-water-dispute'
	],
	(int) 11 => [
		'title' => 'Gross Value Added',
		'catname' => 'News Analysis',
		'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>According to the provisional data released by the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/retail-inflation-dropped" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>National Statistical Office (NSO)</strong></a>, the <strong>Gross Value Added</strong> (GVA) estimates for the first three quarters of financial year 2019-20, revealed significant revisions from what the NSO had shared back in February 2020.</p>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>In February, the NSO had pegged year-on-year GVA growth rates in the first three quarters at 5.4%, 4.8% and 4.5%, respectively.</li>
<li>However, the latest estimates saw significant downward revisions in the GVA data pertaining to the first three quarters to 4.8%, 4.3% and 3.5% respectively.</li>
<li>The revisions combined with dull performance in the fourth quarter ultimately<strong> lowered the overall annual GVA growth estimate</strong> for 2019-20 by as much as 1% point to 3.9%, from the 4.9% forecast in February.</li>
<li>The significant revisions in GVA data point to a <strong>deeper weakness in the service sectors.</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The growth estimates for the <strong>largest services sector, Financial, Real Estate and Professional Services,</strong> have been reduced sharply. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Q1, Q2 and Q3 growth has been cut from 6.9%, 7.1% and 7.3%, respectively to 6%, 6% and 3.3%, respectively.</li>
<li>Financial, Real Estate and Professional Services <strong>contributes almost one-fourth of the overall GVA.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>Trade, Hotels, Transport, Communications and services related to Broadcasting also saw a significant reduction in estimates.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Q1, Q2 and Q3 growth has been cut from 5.7%, 5.8% and 5.9%, respectively to 3.5%, 4.1% and 4.3%, respectively.</li>
<li>These services contribute almost 20% to GVA and are the<strong> second largest component of GVA.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>However, the revisions show two other key sectors,<strong> Agriculture and Public Administration in a positive light.</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The Public Administration sector&rsquo;s Q1, Q2 and Q3 growth have been revised from 8.7%, 10.1% and 9.7%, respectively, to 7.7%, 10.9% and 10.9%.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Gross Value Added</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>In 2015, India opted to make major changes to its compilation of national accounts and decided to bring the whole process into conformity with the<strong> United Nations System of National Accounts (SNA) of 2008.</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The SNA is the internationally agreed standard set of recommendations on how to compile measures of economic activity.</li>
<li>It describes a coherent, consistent and integrated set of macroeconomic accounts in the context of a set of internationally agreed concepts, definitions, classifications and accounting rules.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>As per the SNA, <strong>GVA is defined as the value of output minus the value of intermediate consumption</strong> and is a<strong> measure of the contribution to growth made by an individual producer, industry or sector.</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>It provides the <strong>rupee value</strong> for the number of goods and services produced in an economy after <strong>deducting the cost of inputs and raw materials</strong> that have gone into the production of those goods and services.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>It can be described as the <strong>main entry on the income side of the nation&rsquo;s accounting balance sheet,</strong> and from an economics perspective <strong>represents the supply side.</strong></li>
<li>At the macro level, from a <strong>national accounting perspective,</strong> GVA is the sum of a country&rsquo;s GDP and net of subsidies and taxes in the economy.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Gross Value Added = GDP + subsidies on products - taxes on products</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>Earlier, India had been measuring GVA at<strong> &lsquo;factor cost&rsquo;</strong> till the new methodology was adopted in which GVA at<strong> &lsquo;basic prices&rsquo;</strong> became the primary measure of economic output.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>GVA at basic prices will <strong>include production taxes</strong> and <strong>exclude production subsidies.</strong></li>
<li>GVA at factor cost included no taxes and excluded no subsidies.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>The<strong> base year</strong> has also been shifted to <strong>2011-12</strong> from the earlier 2004-05.</li>
<li>The NSO provides<strong> both quarterly and annual estimates of output</strong> of GVA. It provides sectoral classification data on<strong> eight broad categories</strong> that includes<strong> both goods produced and services provided</strong> in the economy. These are: <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Agriculture, Forestry and Fishing.</li>
<li>Mining and Quarrying.</li>
<li>Manufacturing.</li>
<li>Electricity, Gas, Water Supply and other Utility Services.</li>
<li>Construction.</li>
<li>Trade, Hotels, Transport, Communication and Services related to Broadcasting.</li>
<li>Financial, Real Estate and Professional Services.</li>
<li>Public Administration, Defence and other Services.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>Importance of GVA</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>While GVA gives a picture of the state of economic activity from the <strong>producers&rsquo; side or supply side,</strong> the GDP gives the picture from the <strong>consumers&rsquo; side or demand perspective.</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Both measures need not match because of the difference in treatment of net taxes.</li>
<li><strong>GDP</strong> is the sum of private consumption, gross investment in the economy, government investment, government spending and net foreign trade (the difference between exports and imports).</li>
<li><strong>GDP = private consumption + gross investment + government investment + government spending + (exports-imports)</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>GVA is considered a <strong>better gauge of the economy.</strong> GDP fails to gauge the real economic scenario because a sharp increase in the output can be due to higher tax collections which could be on account of better compliance or coverage, rather than the real output situation.</li>
<li>A <strong>sector-wise breakdown provided by the GVA measure helps policymakers</strong> decide which sectors need incentives or stimulus and accordingly formulate sector-specific policies.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>But GDP is a key measure when it comes to making cross-country analysis and comparing the incomes of different economies.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>From a <strong>global data standards and uniformity perspective,</strong> GVA is an integral and necessary parameter in measuring a nation&rsquo;s economic performance.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Any country which seeks to <strong>attract capital and investment from overseas does need to conform to the global best practices</strong> in national income accounting.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>Issues with GVA</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The accuracy of GVA is heavily dependent on the sourcing of data and the accuracy of the various data sources.</li>
<li>GVA is as susceptible to vulnerabilities from the use of inappropriate or flawed methodologies as any other measure.</li>
</ul>
</div>
<p><a href="https://www.thehindu.com/business/Economy/the-hindu-explains-what-is-gross-value-added-and-how-is-it-relevant-when-growth-is-announced-in-gdp-terms/article31768578.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/gross-value-added'
	],
	(int) 12 => [
		'title' => 'Microplastics in Deep Oceans',
		'catname' => 'News Analysis',
		'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>Recently, researchers have observed that <strong>deep sea hotspots of biodiversity</strong> are also<strong> likely to be microplastic hotspots.</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Although microplastics are known to spread on the global seafloor, the processes that control their dispersal and concentration in the deep sea remain largely unknown.</li>
<li>The researchers have studied the <strong>spatial distribution and ultimate settling position of the microplastics</strong> and its<strong> effects on the biodiversity hotspots</strong> in the deep oceans.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>There are above-ground biodiversity hotspots like the tropical rain forests, alpine tundra, etc. Likewise, there are landforms beneath the sea that provide rich marine diversity which include <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/coral-reefs-could-survive-global-warming-says-study#:~:text=Corals%20secrete%20calcium%20carbonate%20to,like%20structures%20called%20coral%20reefs." target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Coral reefs</strong></a>, Sea mounts, etc.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Microplastics</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Microplastics are small plastic pieces of <strong>less than five millimeters</strong> in size.</li>
<li>It includes microbeads (solid plastic particles of less than one millimeter in their largest dimension) that are used in cosmetics and personal care products, industrial scrubbers which are used for aggressive blast cleaning, microfibers used in textiles and virgin resin pellets used in plastic manufacturing processes.</li>
<li>Apart from cosmetics and personal care products, most of the microplastics result from the <strong>breakdown of larger pieces of plastic</strong> that were not recycled and broke up due to exposure to the sun or physical wear.</li>
<li>Microplastics damage aquatic creatures including turtles and birds. It blocks digestive tracts, and alters feeding behavior. Subsequently, it reduces the growth and reproductive output in marine animals.</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>Deep Sea</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The deep sea or deep layer is the <strong>lowest layer in the ocean,</strong> existing below the thermocline and above the seabed, <strong>at a depth of 1000 fathoms or more.</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Fathom is a unit of length <strong>equal to six feet</strong> (1.8 metres).</li>
<li>A thermocline is a thin but distinct layer in a large body of fluid in which temperature changes more rapidly with depth than it does in the layers above or below.</li>
<li>In the ocean, the thermocline <strong>divides the upper mixed layer from the calm deep water below.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</div>
<h3>Key Findings</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Role of Thermohaline Circulations:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>It has been observed that<strong> thermohaline-driven circulations</strong> can <strong>control the distribution of microplastics</strong> by creating <strong>hotspots of accumulation,</strong> analogous to current&rsquo;s role in depositing seafloor sediments. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>The ocean currents are usually driven by the winds in the upper 100 meters of the ocean&rsquo;s surface. However, ocean currents also flow thousands of meters below the surface.</li>
<li>The ocean currents may be <strong>classified based on their depth</strong> as <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li><strong>Surface Currents :</strong> The surface currents constitute about 10 % of all the water in the ocean, these waters are the upper 400 m of the ocean.</li>
<li><strong>Deep Ocean Currents:</strong> These currents make up the other 90 % of the ocean water. These currents are driven by<strong> differences in the water&rsquo;s density,</strong> which is controlled by <strong>temperature (thermo) and salinity (haline).</strong> This process is known as<strong> thermohaline circulation.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>In the Earth's polar regions ocean water gets very cold, forming sea ice. As a consequence the surrounding seawater gets saltier, because when sea ice forms, the salt is left behind.</li>
<li>As the seawater gets saltier, its density increases, and it starts to sink. Surface water is pulled in to replace the sinking water, which in turn eventually becomes cold and salty enough to sink. This initiates the deep-ocean currents driving the global conveyor belt.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Vulnerability of Benthos:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Further, these thermohaline currents <strong>supply oxygen and nutrients</strong> to deep-sea <strong>benthos,</strong> so deepsea biodiversity hotspots are also likely to be microplastic hotspots.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Benthos is the community of organisms that live on, in, or near the seabed, river, lake, or stream bottom, also known as the benthic zone.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Way Forward</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>There is a need to prioritise the <strong>reduction of single-use plastic</strong> such as multi-layer packaging, bread bags, food wrap, and protective packaging which are major and dangerous sources for plastic pollution.</li>
<li>The<strong> economical support</strong> including tax rebates, research and development funds, technology incubation, public-private partnerships and support to projects that recycle single-use items and turn waste into a resource can be enforced.</li>
<li>Also, the <strong>expansion of the use of biodegradable plastics</strong> or even edible plastics made from various materials such as bagasse (the residue after extracting juice from sugarcane), corn starch, and grain flour should be encouraged.</li>
</ul>',
		'postdate' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenTime) {},
		'url' => 'https://www.drishtiias.com/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/microplastics-in-deep-oceans'
	],
	(int) 13 => [
		'title' => 'In Pursuance of Self Reliance',
		'catname' => 'News Editorials',
		'desc' => '<div class="border">
<p>This article is based on <a href="https://www.thehindubusinessline.com/opinion/atmanirbhar-india-must-be-competitive/article31773104.ece" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>&ldquo;Atmanirbhar&rsquo; India must be competitive&rdquo;</strong></a> which was published in The Hindu business line 07/06/2020. It talks about the underlying issues and opportunities that are vital to attain self reliance.</p>
</div>
<p>In an effective response to an unprecedented emergency (<a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/covid-19-and-indian-federalism" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Covid-19 pandemic</strong></a>) that disrupted most channels of national and international trade, Indian Prime Minister, under <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/atma-nirbhar-bharat-abhiyan-challenges" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Atma Nirbhar Abhiyan</strong></a>, gave a clarion call for the country to become self-reliant.</p>
<p>India in the pre-1991 era also strived for achieving self-reliance and import substitution. While it resulted in a diversified economic base for heavy industries such as Steel, coal, petroleum refinery etc, India fell behind the curve on quality, technology and productivity.</p>
<p>Economists attribute these shortcomings to the then industrial and trade policies, particularly industrial licensing, physical barriers to import of goods, high tariffs and imperative economic policies.</p>
<p>Though Indian Prime Minister clarified that the current idea of self-reliance is not about a return to import substitution or autarkic isolationism, rather aimed at a quantum jump to the economic potential of the country by strengthening infrastructure, using modern technologies, enriching human resources, and creating robust supply chains.</p>
<p>In order to achieve this goal policy making needs to address underlying issues and leverage economic opportunities.</p>
<h3>Underlying Issues in Becoming Self Reliant</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Market Distortion:</strong> India opened itself to the global market in 1991 through its LPG <a href="/infographics/info-paper3/25-years-of-1991-reforms" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>(liberalisation, privatisation and globalisation) reforms</strong></a>, but remained hesitant in giving the market model full freedom.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>This may be reflected in market distorting subsidies and other restrictive policies, especially in Agriculture.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Weak Manufacturing:</strong> India is far behind from its target of achieving manufacturing sector contribution of 25% of the GDP.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Currently, the Make In India initiative hasn&rsquo;t reached its intended goal and manufacturing is only at about 17% of GDP.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Dependence on China:</strong> India is dependent on China for imports related to electronics, solar equipment, pharmaceutical <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/schemes-approved-to-promote-drug-manufacturing" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>(Active pharmaceutical ingredients)</strong></a> and Capital goods.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Without developing domestic capacity for manufacturing in these areas, breaking away from dependence on China would not be easy.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Federal Issue:</strong> Information asymmetry with respect to Central and State governments can act as a roadblock on ease of doing business.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>This is particularly important in sectors like manufacturing, healthcare and agriculture.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Available Opportunities</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Global Manufacturing Shifting Away from China:</strong> Mostly all the multinational companies are more concerned about concentration risk of businesses in China than ever before. So, the trend towards moving sourcing away from China will continue.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>India can attract these investments and become the next global manufacturing hub.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Ageing Global Population:</strong> Considering demographics, most developed nations lack the workforce to produce all that they need in their own countries.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><a href="/mind-map/gs-paper1/indias-demographic-dividend-mindmap" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>India&rsquo;s demographic dividend</strong> </a>may adequately bridge the requirement for a young human resource for the world.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Huge Domestic Demand:</strong> India is blessed with a vast array of natural resources, a huge demographic advantage, a large farming community, dynamic industrial setup ( sectors like Automobiles and Information technology) and a set of entrepreneurial path-breakers.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>In this context, India has almost all the input as well as output (demand and supply) factors, those are needed for becoming self-reliant and stimulating demand.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Way Forward</h3>
<p>Given the underlying issues and opportunities, it is vital to become competitive in pursuance of self reliance.</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Promoting Local:</strong> Being<strong> vocal for &ldquo;local&rdquo;</strong> is a key complement of Atma-Nirbhar Bharat Abhiyan.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>In this context, people must internalise the concept of valuing local products and artefacts and promoting them. Only after this the dream of transforming &ldquo;Local&rdquo; India into a &ldquo;Glocal&rdquo; India will be possible.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Favourable Policy:</strong> In general, competition enhances innovation and efficiency. However, crony capitalism weakens local competitiveness and often diverts resources away from more efficient and technologically innovative companies.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Thus, policies should enhance domestic competition and eschew crony capitalism.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Support Control of Critical Value Chains:</strong> India cannot become self-reliant until it has control over domestic and global supply chains.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Thus, there is a need to ensure greater control over certain parts of the global value chain to protect strategic interests, especially in healthcare, agriculture and defence.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Strengthen Public Procurement:</strong> Some steps like compulsory e-tendering and the creation of the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/gem-samvaad#:~:text=Government%20e%2DMarketplace%20(GeM),Public%20Sector%20Undertakings%20(%20PSUs)." target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Government Electronic Marketplace</strong> </a>have already created a more level playing field for suppliers.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>These processes should be strengthened further by quickening the cycle time for completion of the &ldquo;quote to cash&rdquo; cycle of public procurement.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Focusing on Comparative Advantage:</strong> India can focus on one area where it can differentiate and attract global and domestic investors and be a leader.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The next big thing for India can be 3D (additive) manufacturing, and robotics &amp; automation.</li>
<li>As these technologies are the confluence of manufacturing and IT, India&rsquo;s leading edge on IT, provides a platform to become a leader in this space globally.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1591700506_image3.png" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1591700506_image3.png" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="550" caption="false" /></a></p>
<table border="1" style="border-collapse: collapse; width: 100%;">
<tbody>
<tr>
<td style="width: 100%; border-style: dotted; border-color: #ff0505; background-color: #edffff;">
<p><span style="color: #333399;"><em><strong>Drishti Mains Question</strong></em></span></p>
<p>Discuss the underlying issues and opportunities for India in the pursuance of self reliance.</p>
</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<p style="text-align: center;"><iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/qjx2s3MrYYM" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe></p>
<p>This editorial is based on <a href="https://indianexpress.com/article/opinion/editorials/delhi-covid-19-hospitals-6447638/" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>&ldquo;Delhi Diktat&rdquo;</strong> </a>which was published in The Indian Express on June 8<sup>th</sup>, 2020. Now watch this on our Youtube channel.</p>',
		'postdate' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenTime) {},
		'url' => 'https://www.drishtiias.com/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/in-pursuance-of-self-reliance'
	],
	(int) 14 => [
		'title' => '36th Anniversary of Operation Blue Star',
		'catname' => 'News Analysis',
		'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>Recently, the <strong>36<sup>th</sup> anniversary</strong> of <strong>Operation Blue Star</strong> was observed by the country.</p>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Operation Blue Star:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>It is a <strong>code name</strong> given to an Indian Military Operation to remove the separatists who were hidden inside the Golden Temple at Amritsar on <strong>5<sup>th</sup> June 1984.</strong></li>
<li>The operation was ordered by the then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi, primarily to take <strong>control of the Harmandir Sahib Complex in Amritsar</strong> (popularly known as the Golden Temple).</li>
<li>The Indian military entered into the premises of the temple to drive out the Sikh <strong>extremist religious leader, Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale </strong>and<strong> his armed followers.</strong></li>
<li>The operation had two components to it, <strong>Operation Metal</strong> which was the invasion on the temple complex and <strong>Operation Shop</strong> which was confined to the countryside of the state.</li>
<li>This Operation helped in<strong> eliminating Khalistani terrorism.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Background:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale</strong> wanted the Indian government to pass the Anandpur Resolution, and thereby agree to the formation of a separate state of Khalistan for Sikhs.</li>
<li>Since 1982, this radical leader of Sikhism had managed to gain enough support for his cause and by mid-1983 had<strong> set up a base inside the Golden Temple complex, </strong>with<strong> ammunition and his followers.</strong></li>
<li>Hence,<strong> Operation Blue Star</strong> was launched between 1<sup>st</sup> June and 6<sup>th</sup> June 1984, with the aim of getting rid of Bhindranwale and his demands.</li>
<li>The operation resulted in the death of Bhindranwale.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>Few months post-Operation Blue Star, Indira Gandhi was assassinated by her Sikh bodyguards, followed by severe anti-Sikh riots in Delhi.</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>National Security Guard</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/national-security-guard-nsg#:~:text=The%20idea%20behind%20raising%20such,terrorist%20activities%20with%20a%20view" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>National Security Guard (NSG)</strong></a> is a counter-terrorism unit that formally came into existence in 1986 by an act of Parliament- &lsquo;National Security Guard Act, 1986&rsquo;.</li>
<li>Its headquarters is located in Manesar, Gurugram.</li>
<li>The <strong>idea behind raising such force</strong> came in the aftermath of <strong>Operation Blue Star, Akshardham Temple attack</strong> and the assassination of former PM Indira Gandhi, for <strong>combating terrorist activities with a view to protect states against internal disturbances.</strong></li>
</ul>
</div>
<p><a href="https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/other-states/will-accept-if-govt-offers-khalistan-akal-takht-chief-priest/article31768078.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/36th-anniversary-of-operation-blue-star'
	],
	(int) 15 => [
		'title' => 'Dropping Water levels in Germany’s Rhine River',
		'catname' => 'News Analysis',
		'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>Recently, a part of the <strong>Rhine River</strong> flowing through<strong> Germany</strong> has been experiencing its <strong>lowest water levels in two decades.</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The lowest water levels have prompted <strong>fears of shipping disruption </strong>on<strong> Europe&rsquo;s most important inland waterway.</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Rhine waters in Germany have dropped <strong>40%</strong> since<strong> April 2020.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Reduced Water Levels:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Germany has <strong>not</strong> received the<strong> spring showers</strong> and subsequently, the <strong>water level dropped to around 1 meter</strong> in the month of June which is the<strong> lowest for the time of year in at least two decades.</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Usually, a mix of glacial run-off and rain feeds the river, but contributions from glaciers have been <strong>disturbed in recent years due to <a href="/printpdf/global-warming-of-1-5-c-ipcc-report" target="_blank" rel="noopener">global warming</a>.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>Germany had experienced <strong>dropped water levels in 2018</strong> which had <strong>disrupted industrial ships,</strong> severing downriver factories from North Sea ports.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Impacts:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The water drop levels in 2018 were <strong>severe enough </strong>to<strong> affect German economic growth.</strong></li>
<li>Further,<strong> groundwater levels</strong> have <strong>reduced</strong> after record-breaking <strong>heat waves recorded in 2019</strong> which have consequently <strong>dried out soil and wilted vegetation</strong> from consecutive years of drought.</li>
<li>Additionally, if the low water levels are sustained,<strong> refineries using the river&rsquo;s water will have reduced output</strong> compared to 2018.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Rhine River</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The Rhine River is the<strong> second-longest river</strong> in Central and <strong>Western Europe after the Danube</strong> and originates in the <strong>Swiss Alps (in Switzerland).</strong></li>
<li>The Rhine river is called by different names depending on the country it flows through. It is called Rhein in Germany; Rhine in France and Rijn in the Netherlands.</li>
<li>The Rhine flows through six countries -<strong>Switzerland, Principality of Liechtenstein, Austria, Germany, France and the Netherlands</strong> before flowing into the <strong>North Sea at Rotterdam.</strong></li>
</ul>
<p><a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1591697018_image1.jpg" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1591697018_image1.jpg" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="600" caption="false" /></strong></a></p>
<p><a href="https://indianexpress.com/article/world/europe-rhine-river-dangerously-low-summer-6448254/" 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/dropping-water-levels-in-germany-s-rhine-river'
	],
	(int) 16 => [
		'title' => 'e-Diplomacy',
		'catname' => 'News Analysis',
		'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>Recently, the <strong>first <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/india-australia-virtual-summit" target="_blank" rel="noopener">India-Australia Virtual Leaders&rsquo; Summit</a></strong> was held where important strategic decisions, ranging from military interoperability to jointly tackling the<a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/covid-19-now-pandemic-who" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong> pandemic</strong></a>, were made.</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The summit was noteworthy for its <strong>novel modus operandi</strong> after the dangers posed by<a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/coronavirus-disease-named-covid-19" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong> Covid-19</strong></a> have compelled the traditional summit diplomacy to adapt to new digital ways.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>e-Diplomacy (electronic diplomacy)</strong> is the use of technology by nations to define and establish diplomatic goals and objectives and to efficiently carry out the functions of diplomats.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>These functions include representation and promotion of the home nation, establishing both bilateral and multilateral relations, consular services and social engagement.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>The pandemic has forced mankind to<strong> maintain physical and social distancing,</strong> leading to a <strong>shift towards work from home mode and using online platforms</strong> for education (<a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/online-classes-due-to-covid-19" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>online classes</strong></a>), business (<a href="/to-the-points/paper3/e-commerce-in-india" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>e-Commerce</strong></a>) and other daily things.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Just as corporations and educational institutions have migrated to online mediums, nation-states are left with no choice but to do the same by conducting virtual or e-summits.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Advantages:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>These are<strong> physically safer</strong> for leaders because there is no need for any physical contact with anyone.</li>
<li>The process is <strong>time-saving</strong> as the leaders can attend the summits and conferences from their offices without having the need to physically reach the venue or other country.</li>
<li>These <strong>economise events</strong> by avoiding costly physical journeys and event management.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Challenges:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>It is <strong>doubtful</strong> that major breakthroughs or deals requiring the direct intervention of leaders can happen <strong>without all the protocols and structured dialogues</strong> in person.</li>
<li>There is a possibility of <strong>e-diplomacy becoming less productive</strong> as online summits will simply <strong>not satisfy the broader political goals and bigger objectives</strong> that heads of state carry with them.</li>
<li>Threats related to <a href="/to-the-points/paper3/cyber-security" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>cybersecurity</strong></a> also come in the picture:<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>E-diplomacy is riskier and could be subject to <strong>hacking</strong> of classified content.</li>
<li>This could reduce the spontaneity and openness of the conversations.</li>
<li>In pre-Covid-19 times, summit venues were debugged to prevent sensitive foreign policy content from being spied upon or leaked.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>Apart from the virtual summit with Australia, India has had a<strong> few multilateral e-diplomacy rounds</strong> since the Covid-19 outbreak.<strong> For example,</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/video-conference-of-saarc-leaders-on-covid-19" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>SAARC Leaders&rsquo; video conference</strong></a>.</li>
<li><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/virtual-g20-leaders-summit" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Extraordinary G20 Leaders&rsquo; Summit.</strong></a></li>
<li><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/virtual-nam-summit#:~:text=The%20virtual%20Non%2DAligned%20Movement,video%20conferencing%20was%20held%20recently.&amp;text=Moreover%2030%20Heads%20of%20State,Health%20Organisation%20(WHO)%20chief." target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Non-Aligned Movement Virtual Summit.</strong></a></li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Way Forward</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The <strong>British scholar Ernest Satow </strong>dubbed <strong>&ldquo;summits a permanent feature of diplomatic topography&rdquo;.</strong> It has been a maxim in diplomacy that face-to-face interactions at the highest level mark the zenith of foreign relations.</li>
<li>In-person summits will restart one-day but the<strong> online interlude has to go on because diplomacy has to go on.</strong></li>
<li>However artificial and unsatisfying the video conferencing medium is, <strong>having some summit is better than no summit at all.</strong> Key partners have to get on with it and hold high-level meetings as part of their strategic signalling.</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="https://www.thehindu.com/opinion/op-ed/the-e-diplomacy-experiment/article31781585.ece" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Source: TH</strong></a></p>',
		'postdate' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenTime) {},
		'url' => 'https://www.drishtiias.com/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/e-diplomacy-3'
	],
	(int) 17 => [
		'title' => 'Aditya: India's First Solar Ferry',
		'catname' => 'News Analysis',
		'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>Recently, India&rsquo;s <strong>first solar-powered ferry, Aditya</strong> has been shortlisted for the <strong>Gustave Trouv&eacute; Award</strong> as the <strong>only entrant</strong> from <strong>Asia.</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Aditya, is among <strong>12 such ferries</strong> that have been <strong>shortlisted</strong> for the award across the world.</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Gustave Trouv&eacute; Awards</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Gussies Electric Boat Awards were <strong>instituted in memory of Gustave Trouv&eacute;,</strong> a <strong>French electrical engineer</strong> and<strong> pioneer in electric cars and boats.</strong></li>
<li>Trouv&eacute; was a prolific inventor with over 75 patents. He had also developed a 5-m-long prototype electric boat in 1881.</li>
</ul>
</div>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Description:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Aditya is <strong>operating between Vaikkom and Thavanakkadavu</strong> in Kerala. It was launched in November 2016 and started its services in 2017.</li>
<li>It is India's<strong> first solar-powered ferry</strong> and the <strong>largest solar-powered boat.</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>It is operated by the <strong>Kerala State Water Transport Department (KSWTD)</strong> and built by Navalt Solar and Electric Boats, Kochi.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>It is powered by a motor that can source energy from solar panels, batteries, and generators.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Solar vessels do not create air and noise pollution.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Significance:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Aditya has a <strong>very low per km energy cost and</strong> it<strong> operates 22 trips a day, covering a total of 66 km,</strong> carrying 75 passengers per trip.</li>
<li>It needs <strong>just Rs. 180 per day in energy cost,</strong> compared to about <strong>Rs. 8,000</strong> for a diesel-run ferry of similar size, which is unusual for a high technology product to have such a low energy cost.</li>
<li>It has a high <strong>financial viability with zero pollution vessels.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/kerala/indias-first-solar-ferry-sails-into-global-contest/article31769302.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/aditya-india-s-first-solar-ferry'
	],
	(int) 18 => [
		'title' => 'Environmental Performance Index',
		'catname' => 'News Analysis',
		'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>India secured <strong>168<sup>th</sup> rank</strong> in the 12<sup>th</sup> edition of the Environment Performance Index (EPI) 2020.</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>India&rsquo;s rank was<strong> 177<sup>th</sup> in 2018.</strong></li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Environmental Performance Index</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>EPI is a<strong> biennial index</strong> prepared by <strong>Yale University and Columbia University</strong> in collaboration with the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/world-economic-forum-annual-meeting-2019" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>World Economic Forum</strong></a>.</li>
<li>It offers a <strong>scorecard that highlights leaders and laggards</strong> in environmental performance and <strong>provides practical guidance</strong> for countries that aspire to move toward a sustainable future.</li>
<li>This index was first published in 2002 designed to supplement the environmental targets set forth in the United Nations Millennium Development Goals.</li>
</ul>
</div>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>EPI 2020:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>EPI Index 2020 measured the environmental performance of <strong>180 countries.</strong></li>
<li>The index considered <strong>32 indicators</strong> of environmental performance and included <strong>10-year trends in environmental performance</strong> at the national and global levels.</li>
<li><strong>Denmark topped the index</strong> with a score of 82.5.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>India&rsquo; Performance:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>India scored 27.6 out of 100 in the 2020 EPI index and its performance<strong> was worse than all South Asian countries,</strong> except Afghanistan.</li>
<li>India scored <strong>below the regional (South-Asia) average score on all five key parameters on environmental health,</strong> including air quality, sanitation and drinking water, heavy metals and waste management. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>These findings resonated with the concerns raised by the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/internal-displacement-caused-by-disasters" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>&lsquo;State of India&rsquo;s Environment 2020</strong></a> <strong>in Figures&rsquo;,</strong> published by the Centre for Science and Environment.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>It has also<strong> scored below the regional average on parameters related to biodiversity and ecosystem services</strong> too.</li>
<li>India was at <strong>second position after Pakistan on &lsquo;climate change&rsquo;</strong> among the <strong>South-Asia countries.</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Pakistan&rsquo;s score (50.6) was the highest under the climate change category.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>A ten-year comparison progress report in the index showed that <strong>India slipped on climate-related parameters.</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>The report indicated that black carbon, carbon dioxide emissions and greenhouse emissions per capita increased in ten years.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Environmental Conservation Programmes in India</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Climate Change: <a href="/mind-map/gs-paper2/national-action-plan-on-climate-change-mind-map" target="_blank" rel="noopener">National Action Plan on Climate Change</a></strong></li>
<li><strong>Desertification: <a href="/to-the-points/paper3/desertification-1" target="_blank" rel="noopener">National Action Programme to Combat Desertification</a></strong></li>
<li><strong>Pollution Control: <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/cpcb-lists-cities-with-no-clean-up-plan" target="_blank" rel="noopener">National Clean Air Program</a></strong></li>
<li><strong>Environmental Impact Assessment: <a href="/to-the-points/paper3/environmental-impact-assessment-1" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Environment Management Plan</a></strong></li>
<li><strong>Forest Protection: <a href="/to-the-points/paper3/desertification-1" target="_blank" rel="noopener">National Afforestation Programme</a></strong></li>
<li><strong>Animal Conservation: <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/koundinya-wildlife-sanctuary" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Project Elephant</a>, <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/status-of-conservation-of-tigers" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Project Tiger</a></strong></li>
</ul>
</div>
<h3>Way Forward</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>India needs to <strong>re-double national sustainability efforts</strong> on all fronts.</li>
<li>It needs to focus on a wide spectrum of <strong><a href="/loksabha-rajyasabha-discussions/in-depth-indias-sustainable-development-goals" target="_blank" rel="noopener">sustainability issues</a>, with a high-priority</strong> to <strong>critical issues such as air and water quality, biodiversity and climate change.</strong></li>
</ul>
<p><a href="https://www.downtoearth.org.in/news/wildlife-biodiversity/india-must-redouble-sustainability-efforts-environment-performance-index-71603#:~:text=India%20secured%20168%20rank%20in,out%20of%20100)%20in%202018." target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Source:DTE</strong></a></p>',
		'postdate' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenTime) {},
		'url' => 'https://www.drishtiias.com/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/environmental-performance-index'
	],
	(int) 19 => [
		'title' => 'microRNA',
		'catname' => 'News Analysis',
		'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>Recently, researchers at the<strong> Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Madras</strong> have identified a specific <strong>microRNA (miRNA)</strong> called <strong>&lsquo;miR-155&rsquo;</strong> that is over-expressed in tongue cancer.</p>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>MicroRNAs:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>These are <strong>short non‐coding Ribonucleic Acids</strong> (RNAs) containing 20&ndash;24 nucleotides that participate in virtually all biological pathways in animals.</li>
<li>They play important roles in many cancers, in <strong>carcinogenesis</strong>, <strong>malignant transformation</strong> and <strong>metastasis.</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li><strong>Carcinogenesis:</strong> It is the formation of cancer (uncontrolled development of cells), whereby normal cells are transformed into cancer cells. It is also called <strong>oncogenesis</strong> or <strong>tumorigenesis.</strong></li>
<li><strong>Malignant transformation:</strong> It is the process by which cells acquire the properties of cancer. This may occur as a primary process in normal tissue, or secondarily as malignant degeneration of a previously existing benign tumour.</li>
<li><strong>Metastasis:</strong> The spread of cancer cells from the place where they first formed to another part of the body. In metastasis, cancer cells break away from the original (primary) tumour, travel through the blood or lymph system and form a new tumour in other organs or tissues of the body.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Oncomirs:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The <strong>miRNAs associated with cancer</strong> are called Oncomirs.</li>
<li>They affect cancer growth through <strong>inhibiting or enhancing the functions</strong> of certain proteins.</li>
<li>Oncomirs affect cancer by<strong> suppressing the performance of tumour-suppressing agents</strong> which can prevent the growth and spread of cancer cells and sometimes prevent tumour growth itself.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Significance of the Research:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The finding could <strong>help develop molecular strategies</strong> to manipulate miR-155 expression to develop therapeutics for tongue cancer.</li>
<li>miRNA manipulation is being <strong>combined with conventional cancer treatment methods</strong> such as <strong>chemotherapy, radiotherapy</strong> and<strong> immunotherapy.</strong></li>
<li>Eliminating miR-155 causes<strong> death of cancer cells, arrests the cell cycle and regresses tumour size</strong> in animal models and <strong>reduces cell viability and colony formation</strong> in benchtop (suitable for convenient use on a laboratory workbench) assays.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>An assay is an investigative (analytic) procedure in laboratory medicine, pharmacology, environmental biology and molecular biology for qualitatively assessing or quantitatively measuring the presence, amount, or functional activity of a target entity (the analyte).</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Ribonucleic Acid</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>RNA is a <strong>polymer of ribonucleotides</strong> and an important biological macromolecule that is present in all biological cells.</li>
<li>It is principally involved in the synthesis of proteins, carrying the messenger instructions from<strong> Deoxyribonucleic acid</strong> (DNA), which itself contains the genetic instructions required for the development and maintenance of life.</li>
<li><strong>RNA differs from DNA in three basic respects:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>RNA employs uracil as a nitrogenous base, in place of the thymine used in DNA.</li>
<li>RNA nucleotides possess a hydroxyl group at the 2<sup>nd</sup> position, while DNA is deoxygenated at that position to a proton.</li>
<li>RNA is more often found single-stranded than DNA, which is typically completely base-paired into a double helix.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1591694910_image2.jpg" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1591694910_image2.jpg" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="550" caption="false" /></a></p>
</div>
<p><a href="https://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/chennai/iit-madras-researchers-show-role-of-microrna-in-growth-and-spread-of-tongue-cancer-cells/article31778302.ece#:~:text=The%20miRNAs%20affect%20cancer%20growth,the%20functions%20of%20certain%20proteins.&amp;text=Many%20of%20the%20Oncomirs%20affect,tumour%20growth%20itself%2C%20he%20said." target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Source: TH</strong></a></p>',
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		'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',
		'articles__star_rating' => 'integer',
		'articles.star_rating' => 'integer',
		'star_rating' => '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) 127
$search = 'class'
$totalPages = (float) 334
$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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