Search

Search list matched with tags “class”

Statehood Day of Goa

Why in News On the Statehood Day of Goa (30th May), the Prime Minister greeted the people of the state and praised the traditions and culture of the...

01 Jun 2020 News Analysis
China’s Opposition to THAAD

Why in News Recently, China has issued a statement reiterating its long-standing objections to the presence of the USA’s THAAD missile defence...

01 Jun 2020 News Analysis
Proposed Expansion of G7

Why in News Recently, the USA has suggested the postponement of the 46th G7 (Group of 7) Summit which was scheduled to be held in June (2020) at...

01 Jun 2020 News Analysis
Dimensions of Food Security

This editorial is based on “It’s about food, nutrition and livelihood security”, which was published in The Hindu on 05/05/2020....

30 May 2020 News Editorials
Dredging in Kakinada

Why in News Recently, the Andhra Pradesh Government has directed the GMR Energy Limited to stop environmental hazardous activities like dredging in...

30 May 2020 News Analysis
Hindi as Official Court Language in Haryana

Why in News Recently, the Haryana government’s decision to enforce use of Hindi in all courts and tribunals across the state has been...

30 May 2020 News Analysis
GDP Decreases to 11-year Low

Why in News According to the provisional data released by the National Statistical Office (NSO), economic growth slowed to an 11-year low of 4.2%...

30 May 2020 News Analysis
Year End Review 2019: Ministry of New and Renewable Energy

Important Schemes and Policies Nationally Determined Contributions as per the Paris Accord As a part of Nationally Determined Contributions as...

30 May 2020 Paper 2
Associate Members to Delimitation Commission

Why in News Recently, the Lok Sabha Speaker has nominated 15 MPs from Jammu and Kashmir, Assam, Manipur, Nagaland and Arunachal Pradesh to assist...

30 May 2020 News Analysis
Legacy of Jawahar Lal Nehru

This article is based on “Being Nehruvian in these difficult times” which was published in The Hindu Business line on 27/05/2020. It...

29 May 2020 News Editorials
Rise in Foreign Direct Investment

Why in News According to data released by the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT), total Foreign Direct Investment (FDI)...

29 May 2020 News Analysis
NHRC’s Notice to Government on Migrant Deaths

Why in News The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has issued notices to the Union Home Ministry, the Railway Board and the Bihar and Gujarat...

29 May 2020 News Analysis
Banana Covid: A Novel Fungal Strain

Why in News Recently, a novel fungus strain Fusarium wilt TR4 has started infecting the Banana plantations in India. It has been described as the...

29 May 2020 News Analysis
ADB Loan to Upgrade Maharashtra Roads

Why in News Recently, the Asian Development Bank (ADB) and the Government of India have signed a $177 million loan to upgrade state highways and...

29 May 2020 News Analysis
USA Bill to Put Sanction on China

Recently, the United States House of Representatives approved a legislation calling for sanctions on Chinese officials responsible for oppression of...

29 May 2020 News Analysis
Drop in Institutional Deliveries

Why in News Recently, the data from the states of Chhattisgarh and Jharkhand has reported a drop in the institutional deliveries. Key...

29 May 2020 News Analysis
22nd Meeting of FSDC

Why in News Recently, the 22nd meeting of the Financial Stability and Development Council (FSDC) chaired by the Finance Minister was held through a...

29 May 2020 News Analysis
Veer Savarkar Jayanti

Why In News On 28th May, India paid tribute to the freedom fighter, Vinayak Damodar Savarkar (Veer Savarkar) on his birth anniversary. He was an...

29 May 2020 News Analysis
State Election Commission’s Autonomy

This article is based on Securing Election Commission’s autonomy published in The Indian Express on 26/05/2020. It talks about the challenges...

28 May 2020 News Editorials
MSMEs Loans to Get ‘Risk-Free’ Tag

Why in News The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) is likely to allow banks to assign zero risk weight for loans that will be extended to the Micro, Medium...

28 May 2020 News Analysis

Warning (2): count(): Parameter must be an array or an object that implements Countable [ROOT/plugins/Drishti/src/Template/Element/rightsection.ctp, line 100]

Code Context


<?php if(count($updates)>0){?>
  <div class="updates">

$viewFile = '/var/www/drishtiias.com/public_html/plugins/Drishti/src/Template/Element/rightsection.ctp'
$dataForView = [
	'progress' => [],
	'bookmarks' => [],
	'notes' => [],
	'mynote' => [],
	'topdata' => [
		(int) 0 => object(Cake\ORM\Entity) {}
	],
	'searchdata' => [],
	'searchlist' => [
		(int) 0 => [
			'title' => 'Statehood Day of Goa',
			'catname' => 'News Analysis',
			'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>On the Statehood Day of Goa (30<sup>th</sup> May), the Prime Minister greeted the people of the state and praised the traditions and culture of the state highlighting its contributions to the national progress.</p>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Goa is located on the southwestern coast of India within the region known as the Konkan, and geographically separated from the Deccan highlands by the Western Ghats.</li>
<li><strong>Capital:</strong> Panji</li>
<li><strong>Official Language:</strong> Konkani</li>
<li><strong>Borders:</strong> It is surrounded by Maharashtra to the north and Karnataka to the east and south, with the Arabian Sea forming its western coast.</li>
<li><strong>History:</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>As India gained independence on 15<sup>th</sup> August, 1947, it requested the Portugese to cede their territories. However, Portuguese refused.</li>
<li>In 1961, Indian Government launched Operation Vijay and annexed Daman and Diu, islands and Goa with the Indian mainland.</li>
<li>On 30<sup>th</sup> May, 1987, the territory was split and Goa was formed. Daman and Diu remained Union Territory.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Geography:<a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1591003744_image2.png" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1591003744_image2.png" caption="false" width="347" height="497" style="float: right;" /></a></strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The highest point of Goa is Sonsogor.</li>
<li>Goa's seven major rivers are the Zuari, Mandovi, Terekhol, Chapora, Galgibag, Kumbarjua canal, Talpona and the Sal.</li>
<li>Most of Goa's soil cover is made up of laterites.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Wildlife Sanctuaries and National Parks:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Dr. Salim Ali Bird Sanctuary</li>
<li><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/mhadei-wildlife-sanctuary" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Mhadei Wildlife Sanctuary</strong></a></li>
<li><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/black-panther-in-netravali-sanctuary" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Netravali Wildlife Sanctuary</strong> </a></li>
<li>Cotigao Wildlife Sanctuary</li>
<li>Bhagwan Mahaveer Sanctuary</li>
<li>Mollem National Park</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="https://pib.gov.in/newsite/mainpage.aspx" 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/statehood-day-of-goa'
		],
		(int) 1 => [
			'title' => 'China’s Opposition to THAAD',
			'catname' => 'News Analysis',
			'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>Recently, China has issued a statement reiterating its long-standing objections to the presence of the <strong>USA&rsquo;s THAAD missile defence system in South Korea.</strong> This comes after the reports of an overnight operation to bring in new, replacement interceptor missiles to the USA base in South Korea.</p>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>THAAD:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>It is an acronym for <strong>Terminal High Altitude Area Defense,</strong> a <strong>transportable, ground-based anti-ballistic missile</strong> defence system.</li>
<li>First proposed in <strong>1987</strong> and then finally deployed in<strong> 2008,</strong> the THAAD cannot be used as a form of attack against an enemy.</li>
<li>It is designed to <strong>intercept and destroy</strong> short and medium-range ballistic missiles in their final flight phase.</li>
<li>THAAD is coupled with <strong>space-based and ground-based surveillance stations,</strong> which transfer data about the incoming missile and inform the THAAD interceptor missile of the threat type classification.</li>
<li>This system has been designed and manufactured by the <strong>USA company Lockheed Martin.</strong></li>
<li>It has been previously deployed in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Guam, Israel, Romania as well.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1591003398_image3.png" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1591003398_image3.png" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="700" caption="false" /></a></p>
<p><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1591003407_image1.png" width="700" caption="false" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" /></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Background:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>THAAD was deployed in South Korea as a <strong>countermeasure against potential attacks by North Korea,</strong> particularly after the country had engaged in testing ballistic missiles.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>In <strong>2017,</strong> when North Korea test-fired a few missiles in the direction of USA bases in Japan, the USA moved the missile systems to its army base in <strong>Osan, South Korea.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>Ever since China has objected these moves causing deterioration of their relationship.</li>
<li>For South Korea, North Korea poses a nuclear threat and the THAAD missile defence system is a necessity to counter that.</li>
<li>The USA and South Korea have consistently maintained that these missiles are only to counter potential threats by North Korea.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>China&rsquo;s Concerns:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>China is less concerned about the missiles itself and more about the <strong>system&rsquo;s inbuilt advanced radar systems</strong> that can track China&rsquo;s actions.</li>
<li>The <strong>USA&rsquo;s presence and influence in East Asia,</strong> through its military bases in Japan and South Korea, <strong>hamper the geopolitics and complex conflicts</strong> of the region.</li>
<li>It also <strong>interferes with Beijing&rsquo;s</strong> long-term military, diplomatic and economic <strong>interests</strong> in the region.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1591003471_Image7.jpg" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1591003471_Image7.jpg" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="700" caption="false" /></a></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Repercussions on South Korea:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Economic</strong>: Operations of South Korean businesses, including large conglomerates like LG, Lotte and Samsung, were hampered. These included shutting down of institutions and enterprises that had little to do with the defence and military, like golf courses and shopping malls.</li>
<li><strong>Tourism:</strong> Tourism from China to South Korea fell drastically. The tourism industry contributes significantly to South Korea&rsquo;s economy.</li>
<li><strong>Entertainment:</strong> South Korea&rsquo;s entertainment industry witnessed concerts, shows and other commercial ventures in China being forced to cancel.</li>
<li><strong>Cosmetics and Personal Care:</strong> The sales of South Korean cosmetics and beauty products were being impacted. They are extremely popular in China but due to calls on social media to boycott South Korean products, their sales went down.</li>
<li><strong>Demographic:</strong> Protests sparked off in South Korea against the deployment which has caused major worries regarding peace and security in the region.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Way Forward</h3>
<p>China can be a reassuring regional partner if it acknowledges that the cause of tension on Korean Peninsula is North Korea&rsquo;s pursuit of offensive weapons, not the deployment of defensive systems on South Korea&rsquo;s land.</p>
<p><a href="https://indianexpress.com/article/explained/thaad-missile-defence-system-south-korea-us-china-6434536/" 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/china-s-opposition-to-thaad'
		],
		(int) 2 => [
			'title' => 'Proposed Expansion of G7',
			'catname' => 'News Analysis',
			'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>Recently, the USA has suggested the<strong> postponement of the<a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/g-7-summit" target="_blank" rel="noopener"> 46<sup>th</sup> G7 (Group of 7) Summit</a></strong> which was scheduled to be held in June (2020) at Camp David (USA).</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Additionally, the USA President has also proposed the <strong>expansion of the G7 to be called &lsquo;G10 or G11&rsquo;.</strong></li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>G7</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Description:<a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1591000060_image3.png" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1591000060_image3.png" style="float: right;" width="400" caption="false" /></a></strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The G7 or &lsquo;Group of Seven&rsquo; consists of<strong> Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the United Kingdom, and the United States.</strong></li>
<li>It is an<strong> intergovernmental organisation</strong> that was formed in <strong>1975</strong> as an informal forum to discuss pressing world issues. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Initially it focussed on economic issues but later it focussed on the several challenges such as the oil crashes of the 1970s, terrorism, arms control, and drug trafficking,etc.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>The group does <strong>not</strong> have a <strong>formal constitution or a fixed headquarters.</strong> The decisions taken by leaders during <strong>annual summits are non-binding.</strong></li>
<li>The G7 nations meet at annual summits that are <strong>presided over by leaders</strong> of member countries on a <strong>rotational basis.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Host Country of the Summit:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The host country <strong>not only holds the G7 presidency</strong> but also <strong>sets the agenda for the year.</strong></li>
<li>It also gets a chance to <strong>invite dignitaries from outside the G7</strong> to attend the Summit.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Presence of Sherpas:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The groundwork for the Summit, including matters to be discussed and follow-up meetings, is done by the <strong>sherpas.</strong></li>
<li>The sherpas are generally personal representatives or members of diplomatic staff such as ambassadors.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</div>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Expansion of G7:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The proposed expansion has suggested<strong> inclusion of India, Australia, South Korea and Russia</strong> in the grouping of the largest advanced economies.</li>
<li>The existing <a href="/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-international-institution/g-7" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>G7 group</strong></a> has been called an<strong> outdated group of countries</strong> as it does not include emerging economies of the world and thus it is believed that the group <strong>does not follow</strong> the current world order.</li>
<li>It is <strong>unclear</strong> that the proposed expansion will be <strong>permanent or temporary.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Re-inclusion of Russia:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The proposal to re-admit Russia is expected to receive <strong>strong reactions from other <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/g7-summit" target="_blank" rel="noopener">G7</a> member countries.</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Russia is seen as an ally of China.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>The G7 was known as the <strong>&lsquo;G8&rsquo; for several years</strong> after the original seven were <strong>joined by Russia in 1997.</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>The Group returned to being called G7 after Russia was expelled as a member in 2014 following the latter&rsquo;s annexation of the Crimea region of Ukraine.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>India at the G7 Summit:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>India had attended the<strong> G7 summit of 2019 at Biarritz in France</strong> as a<strong> special guest of French President.</strong></li>
<li>India has attended the <strong>G8 five times</strong> as special guests by various hosts of the G8 Summit in the past.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Attempt to Unite Allies Against China:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>China is not a member of G7</strong> despite being the world's biggest population and second-biggest economy. But, China has relatively low levels of wealth per head of population. Thus it is not considered as an advanced economy like other G7 members.</li>
<li>The expansion of G7 has been believed to be a plan to <strong>unite all traditional allies to deal</strong> with<strong> assertive diplomacy of China.</strong></li>
<li>The proposal comes amid ongoing issues between the US and China which includes <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/new-security-law-in-hong-kong" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Hong Kong&rsquo;s autonomy to Taiwan</strong></a>,<a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/coronavirus-disease-named-covid-19" target="_blank" rel="noopener"> <strong>the origins of Covid-19</strong></a>, <strong><a href="/to-the-points/Paper2/south-china-sea" target="_blank" rel="noopener">South China Sea tensions</a></strong> and <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/trade-war-india-us-and-china" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>trade issues</strong></a>.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>G7 Vs G20</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Members:</strong> The <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/g20-meeting-in-saudi-arabia" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>G20</strong></a> is a <strong>larger group</strong> of countries, which also<strong> includes G7 members.</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Apart from the G7 countries, the G20 comprises Argentina, Australia, Brazil, China, India, Indonesia, Mexico, Russia, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, South Korea, and Turkey.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Share in Global Economy:</strong> The G20 countries make up around <strong>80% of the world&rsquo;s economy.</strong> G7&rsquo;s share in global GDP has <strong>fallen</strong> to <strong>around 40%.</strong></li>
<li><strong>Range of Issues:</strong> As opposed to the G7, the G20 discusses a broad range of issues including those concerning the global economy and financial markets.</li>
</ul>
</div>
<h3>Way Forward</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The rise of India, China, and Brazil over the past few decades has reduced the G7&rsquo;s relevance. Thus, inclusion of emerging economies like India, South Korea,etc. may extend the support to establish equal levels for each country at global level.</li>
<li>The proposed expansion may also help G7 to be a more representative institution than current G7 and subsequently to establish an equal platform at global level.</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="https://indianexpress.com/article/explained/explained-whats-the-g7-group-trump-says-wants-to-include-india-6436248/" 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/proposed-expansion-of-g7'
		],
		(int) 3 => [
			'title' => 'Dimensions of Food Security',
			'catname' => 'News Editorials',
			'desc' => '<div class="border">
<p>This editorial is based on <a href="https://www.thehindu.com/opinion/lead/its-about-food-nutrition-and-livelihood-security/article31484674.ece?utm_campaign=article_share&amp;utm_medium=referral&amp;utm_source=whatsapp.com" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>&ldquo;It&rsquo;s about food, nutrition and livelihood security&rdquo;</strong></a>, which was published in The Hindu on 05/05/2020. It talks about the importance of different dimensions of food security to tackle the COVID-19 pandemic</p>
</div>
<p>The current national lockdown imposed by the government to tackle the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/coronavirus-disease-named-covid-19" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Covid-19 pandemic</strong></a> has highlighted the many problems pertaining to <strong>food, nutrition and livelihood security,</strong> confronted by a large number of people, particularly in rural areas and migrant labourers (who are reverse migrating from the cities).</p>
<p><strong>Food security</strong> in a broader context exists with universal <strong>physical, social and economic access</strong> to sufficient, safe and nutritious food to meet their dietary needs and food preferences for an active and healthy life.</p>
<p>Though various measures have been announced by the Government under the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/covid-19-economic-relief-package" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Yojana</strong></a>, it is important to recognise the <strong>different dimensions of food security</strong> in a holistic manner in order to address this problem in its totality.</p>
<p><a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1590841095_image1.png" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1590841095_image1.png" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" caption="false" width="683" height="523" /></a></p>
<h3>Various Dimensions of Food Security</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Availability of food:</strong> Self-sufficiency in the production of food is a crucial aspect of sustainable availability of food.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>With the great accomplishment of Indian farmers and policymakers, due to the <strong>Green Revolution,</strong> today India has become self-sufficient in food production.</li>
<li>This has converted a <strong>ship to mouth situation</strong> (where India had to rely on the United States for food supply under Public Law 480 (PL-480)) to a <strong>&ldquo;<a href="/to-the-points/paper3/food-security-1" target="_blank" rel="noopener">right to food</a>&rdquo; commitment.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Access to food:</strong> It largely depends on the purchasing power of the consumer. However, through the<a href="/to-the-points/paper3/food-security-1" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong> National Food Security Act (NFSA)</strong></a> and the PDS, the government assures the food requirement of the poor section of society.</li>
<li><strong>Absorption of food in the body or its utilisation:</strong> It depends on sanitation, drinking water and other socio-economic aspects of a household, determined by knowledge and habits. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The utilisation of these services is dependent on the capacities of the Panchayati Raj Institutions (PRI&rsquo;s) and their coordination with other local bodies.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Stability:</strong> Apart from above-mentioned dimensions of food security, the temporal dimension of food and nutrition security, is also very important. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>It ensures the year-round supply of food, income and economic resources to household-level.</li>
<li>Furthermore, it is important to minimize external risks such as natural disaster and climate change, price volatility, conflicts or epidemics.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Issues Involved</h3>
<p>The Covid-19 pandemic crisis has threatened every dimension of food security, therefore, it is very crucial to understand the linkages between agriculture, nutrition and health.</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Agricultural distress:</strong> Farmers are confronted with various challenges like: <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Labour shortages</li>
<li>Expensive agricultural inputs like seeds and fertilizers</li>
<li>Inefficient marketing arrangements</li>
<li>Non-remunerative pricing and inadequate public procurement</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Job security:</strong> Food security and access to nutritious, good quality food are also contingent on job security. Today, a lot of people employed both on farms and in the non-farm sector are without jobs.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>If job security is threatened, then so is food and nutrition security.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Hidden hunger:</strong> In light of the closure of schools and Anganwadi centres, and the consequent disruptions in the provision of midday meals or other nutritional inputs may increase the cases of hidden hunger.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>It is important to pay attention to the <strong>life cycle approach</strong> advocated in the NFSA, particularly the first thousand days in a child&rsquo;s life when the cognitive abilities of the child are shaped. Otherwise, there may be negative effects on <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/an-innovative-method-for-boosting-nutrition" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>nutritional security</strong></a> in the medium to longer term.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Basic amenities:</strong> The lack of adequate clean water, in particular, has come to the fore in both rural areas and urban slums in the context of COVID-19, where one of the key measures for stopping transmission relates to frequent hand-washing.</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Life Cycle Approach</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>National Food Security Act 2013 (NFSA)</strong> is a unique step taken by the Indian government to fight against hunger and protect the rights of the people for food. In the life cycle approach, the care of the person taken by the government considering the nutritional requirements throughout the life cycle.</li>
</ul>
<p><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1590841124_image2.png" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" /></p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><strong>Life cycle approach of NFSA</strong></p>
<p><strong>Hidden Hunger</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Hidden hunger is a lack of vitamins and minerals. Hidden hunger occurs when the quality of food people eat does not meet the nutrient requirements, so the food is deficient in micronutrients such as the vitamins and minerals that are needed for their growth and development.</li>
</ul>
</div>
<h3>Steps To Be Taken</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Expansion of food basket:</strong> The PDS should be strengthened and the food basket can be enlarged to include millets, pulses and oil. This may certainly help in addressing the issue of hidden hunger</li>
<li><strong>Job creation:</strong> Attention needs to be given to the horticulture sector on a priority basis. Women farmers are at the forefront of horticulture and special attention needs to be given to both their technological and economic empowerment during this crisis. One way of doing this is by promoting food processing industries. For Example: <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>The Amul model</strong> provides a good example from the dairy sector of improved incomes to milk producers through value addition</li>
<li>The<strong> Rice Biopark in Myanmar,</strong> wherein the straw, bran, and the entire biomass are utilised.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Livelihood security:</strong> A livelihood security for small and marginal farmers and landless households, and women within them, can be ensured by strengthening the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/youngest-workers-rise-in-menrega" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA)</strong></a>. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Due to the loss of jobs and incomes during the COVID-19 crisis, it is imperative to <strong>expand the definition of work in MGNREGA</strong> to cover skilled work related to farmers and their farming activities.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Conclusion</h3>
<p>Right to food is not only a statutory right but also a human right. However, due to the disruption caused by Covid-19, there is a need to incorporate a broader definition of food security. This will help in addressing the hunger of millions and achieving sustainable development goals.</p>
<table border="1" style="border-collapse: collapse; width: 100%;">
<tbody>
<tr>
<td style="width: 100%; border-style: dotted; border-color: #ff0000; background-color: #fffce6;">
<p><span style="color: #003366;"><em><strong>Drishti Mains Question</strong></em></span></p>
<p>Discuss the various dimensions of food security, highlighting its linkages with agriculture, nutrition and health? (250 words)</p>
</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<p style="text-align: center;"><iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/TEBgvrRJzUE" 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/editorials/the-end-of-autonomy-for-hong-kong/story-DcVNSktnCfyOqozjjTKBAN.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>&ldquo;The end of autonomy for Hong Kong&rdquo;</strong> </a>which was published in The Hindustan Times on May 29<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/dimensions-of-food-security'
		],
		(int) 4 => [
			'title' => 'Dredging in Kakinada',
			'catname' => 'News Analysis',
			'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>Recently, the Andhra Pradesh Government has directed the GMR Energy Limited to stop environmental hazardous activities like dredging in the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/kakinada-port" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Kakinada</strong></a> coast.</p>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>These activities are leading to destruction of the prime habitat of birds i.e. <strong>Great knots (Calidris tenuirostris),</strong> and<strong> Indian skimmers (Rynchops albicollis).</strong></li>
<li>It is also impacting the <strong>soil topography and salinity</strong> on the site being levelled with the dredged material.</li>
<li>Due to such activities, India has lost its major part of <a href="/to-the-points/paper3/wetlands-1" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>wetlands</strong> </a>and mudflats severely affecting the migratory species, <strong>E.g.</strong> the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/coringa-mangroves" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Coringa Wildlife Sanctuary.</strong></a></li>
<li><strong>Dredging</strong> is the <strong>removal of sediments and debris from the bottom of lakes,</strong> rivers, harbors, and other water bodies. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>It is also carried out to reduce the exposure of fish, wildlife, and people to contaminants and to prevent the spread of contaminants to other areas of the water body.</li>
<li>Dredging of streams also lowers the surrounding water table and dries up adjacent wetlands.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Mudflat:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Mudflats refer to land near a water body that is regularly flooded by tides and is usually barren (without any vegetation).</li>
<li>It is also known as<strong> tidal flats</strong> and formed upon the deposition of mud by tides or rivers.</li>
<li><strong>Mudflats and mangroves</strong> together constitute an important ecosystem.</li>
<li>Mudflats serve to protect coastal lands from the eroding forces of nature and also provide an important habitat for shore birds.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Great Knots <em>(Calidris tenuirostris)<a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1590838793_Image2.jpg" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1590838793_Image2.jpg" style="float: right;" width="300" caption="false" /></a></em></strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>These are the migratory birds and have breeding habitat in tundra in northeast Siberia.</li>
<li>It is listed as <strong>Endangered</strong> in the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/iucn-red-list" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List</strong></a> of Threatened Species.</li>
<li>They nest on the ground and generally have large flocks when migrating.</li>
<li>This species has short dark legs and a medium-length thin dark bill.</li>
<li>The great knot can be identified by its larger size, longer bill, deeper chest, and the more streaked upperparts.</li>
<li>In India, It is found along the coastal regions of Gujarat and Andhra Pradesh.</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>Indian Skimmers <em>(Rynchops albicollis)<a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1590838814_image1.jpg" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1590838814_image1.jpg" style="float: right;" width="300" caption="false" /></a></em></strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>It is also called Indian scissors-bill.</li>
<li>It is listed as <strong>Vulnerable</strong> in the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List of Threatened Species.</li>
<li>They are mainly found in Central India along the rivers or estuaries.</li>
<li>The bird has a black cap and orange bill that contrasts with the white body.</li>
<li>It is rapidly declining as a result of widespread degradation and disturbance of lowland rivers and lakes.</li>
</ul>
</div>
<h3>Way Forward</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>There is an immediate need to document the destruction of the Kumbabhisekham mudflat due to the dredging, and sought the intervention of the State and the Ministry of Environment and Forests and Climate Change in the matter.</li>
<li>It is a <strong>Development vs Conservation issue.</strong> Hence, a proper analysis based on scientific study followed by consensus among various stakeholders by addressing respective concerns is required urgently.</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/andhra-pradesh/gmr-told-to-stop-dredging-in-kakinada/article31705118.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/dredging-in-kakinada'
		],
		(int) 5 => [
			'title' => 'Hindi as Official Court Language in Haryana',
			'catname' => 'News Analysis',
			'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>Recently, the Haryana government&rsquo;s decision <strong>to enforce use of Hindi</strong> in all <strong>courts and tribunals</strong> across the state has been challenged in the <a href="/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-national-institutions/supreme-court-of-india" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Supreme Court</strong></a>.</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>A petition has been filed to challenge the <strong>new Section 3A</strong> incorporated into the Haryana Official Language (Amendment) Act, 2020.</li>
<li>Petitioners argue that the amendment was made with the assumption that everyone practising law in Haryana not only knows Hindi but is also fluent in it.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>The Haryana Official Language (Amendment) Act, 2020:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The amendment has been made to the<strong> Haryana Official Languages Act, 1969,</strong> by introducing<strong> a new section 3A,</strong> designating <strong>Hindi as the sole official language</strong> to be used for conducting work in all <strong>Civil Courts</strong> and <strong>Criminal Courts</strong> in Haryana subordinate to the High Court of Punjab and Haryana, all <strong>revenue Courts</strong> and <strong>rent tribunals</strong> or any other court or tribunal constituted by the State Government.</li>
<li>The amendment also states that the state government shall provide the requisite infrastructure, translators and training of staff within six months of the commencement of the amended Act.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Arguments against the Amendment:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Unconstitutional and Arbitrary:</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Imposition of Hindi as the sole official language to be used in lower courts across the State would create an unreasonable classification between Hindi and non-Hindi speaking advocates.</li>
<li>The amendment is a violation of the <strong>fundamental right</strong> to equality (Article 14) freedom to practice a profession of choice,(Article 19), dignity and livelihood and personal liberty (Article 21) as guaranteed under the Constitution.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Use of English in the Courts:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>English is widely used by advocates in the subordinate judiciary and the lower courts.</li>
<li>Imposing Hindi will create problems for practising lawyers since the level of fluency and expertise needed to argue and represent a matter in Hindi is much more than a simple understanding of the language.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>The State as an Industrial Hub:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>There are a significant number of lawyers who would not be able to argue their cases to the fullest in Hindi as most cases are related to industry sectors.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Government's Stand:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The government pointed out that Haryana was separated from the erstwhile state of Punjab in 1966 on linguistic basis as Hindi is the predominantly spoken language in the area. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>In 1969, Hindi was declared the official language of Haryana.</li>
<li>Also, Punjab had then introduced Punjabi in all civil courts and criminal courts.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>Different regional languages are rapidly replacing English as a medium of instructions and of official work in the states. It is but natural that the predominant languages should secure their rightful place. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Hindi being the predominantly spoken language in the state of Haryana, use of the same for the purposes of working in courts and tribunals subordinate to the High Court of Punjab and Haryana has thus become a matter of practical necessity.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>The State has argued that many times the witnesses don&rsquo;t know what has been recorded in his or her statement in the court if the same is recorded in English. Hence, Hindi is practically necessary.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>In a democracy, every citizen should get<strong> justice</strong> quickly in his <strong>own language</strong> and should not remain speechless during the proceedings.</li>
<li>Earlier, many MLAs of Haryana, Advocate General and hundreds of advocates, had supported Hindi language use in the courts so that the <strong>citizens of Haryana</strong> can <strong>understand the entire justice process in their own language</strong> and can easily put their views before the Courts.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Hindi as an Official Language</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Hindi language is the single largest spoken language (43.63% of people in India).</li>
<li>The Constituent Assembly of India<strong> adopted Hindi</strong> written in Devnagari Script along with English as the official language of the country on <strong>14<sup>th</sup> September, 1949,</strong> under the <strong>Article 343 (1).</strong></li>
</ul>
<p><strong>Background</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Imposition of Hindi was contested in many non-Hindi states, especially in the southern state of Tamil Nadu. Violent protests broke out in southern India leading the then Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru, to <strong>introduce the &lsquo;Official Languages Act&rsquo; in 1963,</strong> which assured the <strong>continuation of English along with Hindi</strong> as the official language of the Union of India.</li>
<li>Anti-Hindi protests of 1965 marked an important turn in India&rsquo;s official language policy.</li>
<li>The <strong>&lsquo;Official Languages Act&rsquo;</strong> was amended in 1967 guaranteeing the <strong>"virtual indefinite policy of bilingualism"</strong> for all official purposes of the Union.</li>
<li>Given the linguistic diversity of India, <strong>there is no national language</strong> as all the states are free to decide their own official languages.</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>Constitutional Provisions</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Part <strong>XVII</strong> of the Indian Constitution deals with the official languages in <strong>Articles 343 to 351.</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Article 343 (1)</strong> states that the Official Language of the Union government shall be Hindi in Devanagari script.</li>
<li><strong>Article 351</strong> gives power to the Union Government to issue a directive for the development of the Hindi language.</li>
<li>According to <strong>Article 348,</strong> language to be used in the Supreme Court and in high courts and for bills, acts etc will be in the English language until Parliament by law provides otherwise.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>The Hindi language is one of the 22 languages of the <strong>Eighth Schedule</strong> of the Constitution of India.</li>
</ul>
</div>
<h3>Way Forward</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>There is a need for wide consultation and formation of committees, regarding the use of languages in the states especially in relation to the judiciary. So that the justice system does not get delayed due to the medium and use of languages.</li>
<li>The provision of use of Hindi can be supplemented with the use of English as well. The provision of optional use of Hindi in proceedings has already been made in the High Courts of <strong>Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh and Bihar.</strong></li>
</ul>
<p><a href="https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/law-making-hindi-official-language-in-haryana-courts-challenged-in-sc/article31693400.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/hindi-as-official-court-language-in-haryana'
		],
		(int) 6 => [
			'title' => 'GDP Decreases to 11-year Low',
			'catname' => 'News Analysis',
			'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>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>, economic growth slowed to an 11-year low of 4.2% in 2019-20.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Growth in Fiscal Year 2019-20:</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The provisional growth estimate for the year 2019-20 is at 4.2%. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>The budget estimate for <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/base-year-for-gdp-calculations" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Gross Domestic Product (GDP)</strong></a> growth in 2019-2020 was stated at 8.5%, the NSO&rsquo;s previous estimates had pushed the projection down to 5%.</li>
<li>The Indian economy grew at 6.1% in 2018-19.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>Growth rate in terms of <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/base-year-for-gdp-calculations" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Gross Value Added (GVA)</strong></a>, slowed to 3.9% in 2019-20 from 6% growth in the previous year. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>GVA is GDP minus net product taxes and reflects supply-side growth.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>The <strong>nominal GDP growth rate,</strong> which accounts for inflation, is estimated to have grown at 7.2% in 2019-20, sharply lower than 11% in the previous year.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Growth in Final Quarter of 2019-20:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>In the final quarter of the year, that is, January 2020 - March 2020, the growth rate of GDP fell to 3.1%.</li>
<li>This is the lowest growth rate in the last 44 quarters.</li>
<li>Agriculture and mining sectors grew in the fourth quarter at rates of 5.9% and 5.2% respectively.</li>
<li>Public administration, defence and other services grew at 10.1%.</li>
<li>The manufacturing sector contracted to a negative growth of 1.4%.</li>
<li>The <strong>three components of demand</strong> have also fallen i.e. <strong>consumption</strong> demand has slowed, while<strong> investments</strong> and<strong> exports</strong> are both in negative territory.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Analysis of the growth data:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Nominal GDP growth:</strong> There are two reasons why the sharp deceleration in the nominal GDP matters.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>First, the nominal GDP growth rate is the <strong>base of all fiscal calculations</strong> (revenue and spending) in the country. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>A sharp divergence in nominal GDP growth rate basically upsets all other calculations in the economy.</li>
<li>For instance, a sharp fall means the government does not get the revenues it had hoped for and, as such, it can&rsquo;t spend as much as it wanted to.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>Second, this substantial deceleration reflects poorly on the government&rsquo;s<strong> fiscal marksmanship.</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>In other words, it shows that the government was <strong>not able to assess the magnitude of economic growth deceleration</strong> that was underway.</li>
<li>Poor fiscal marksmanship, in turn, leads to inaccurate policy making because a government could end up making policies for an economy that doesn&rsquo;t actually exist on the ground.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>This sharp deceleration also shows the continued weakening of India&rsquo;s growth momentum even before it was hit by the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/covid-19-now-pandemic-who" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Covid-19</strong></a> lockdown in the last week of March.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Negative Growth of Manufacturing:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>It has been argued in the past, that for India to grow and create jobs for the millions that enter its workforce each year,<strong> manufacturing growth has to rise.</strong></li>
<li>But 2019 paints a dismal picture in this regard. Manufacturing contracted for three of the four quarters.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1590837708_image3.png" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1590837708_image3.png" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="500" caption="false" /></strong></a></p>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Key Terms</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Gross Domestic Product (GDP):</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>It is a <strong>measure of economic activity in a country.</strong> It is the total value of a country&rsquo;s annual output of goods and services. It gives the economic output from the consumers&rsquo; side.</li>
<li><strong>GDP = Private consumption + Gross investment + Government investment + Government spending + (exports-imports)</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Gross Value Added (GVA):</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>It is the <strong>sum of a country&rsquo;s GDP and net of subsidies and taxes in the economy.</strong> It provides the rupee value for the amount of goods and services produced in an economy after deducting the cost of inputs and raw materials that have gone into the production of those goods and services.</li>
<li><strong>Gross Value Added = GDP + subsidies on products - taxes on products</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Nominal GDP:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>It is GDP <strong>evaluated at current market prices.</strong> It includes all of the changes in market prices that have occurred during the current year due to <strong>inflation or deflation.</strong></li>
<li>It is <strong>different from the Real GDP</strong> which is calculated in a way such that <strong>goods and services are evaluated at some constant set of prices.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>The National Statistical Office</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>NSO is the <strong>central statistical agency of the Government</strong> mandated under the <strong>Statistical Services Act,</strong> 1980 under the <strong>Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation.</strong></li>
<li>It is responsible for the development of arrangements for <strong>providing statistical information services</strong> to meet the needs of the Government and other users for information on which to base policy, planning, monitoring and management decisions.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The services include collecting, compiling and disseminating official statistical information.</li>
<li>All business operations in NSO are done in compliance with <strong>international standards, procedures and best practices.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</div>
<h3>Conclusion</h3>
<p>Economists have highlighted that GDP is headed for a contraction in 2020-21 due to the impact of Covid-19. Therefore, government expenditure will be the growth engine in the year 2020-21. Weak commodity prices and import demand will also provide some support to growth.</p>
<p><a href="https://www.thehindu.com/business/Economy/gdp-growth-dips-to-31-in-january-march-42-in-2019-20/article31703885.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/gdp-decreases-to-11-year-low'
		],
		(int) 7 => [
			'title' => 'Year End Review 2019: Ministry of New and Renewable Energy',
			'catname' => 'Paper 2',
			'desc' => '<h3>Important Schemes and Policies</h3>
<p><strong>Nationally Determined Contributions as per the Paris Accord</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>As a part of Nationally Determined Contributions as per the Paris Accord on Climate Change, India has made a pledge that by 2030, 40% of our installed power generation capacity shall be from non-fossil fuel sources and also by 2030, reduce emission intensity of GDP by 33-35 % from 2005 level.</li>
<li>Economic growth, increasing prosperity, a growing rate of urbanisation and rising per capita energy consumption has increased the energy demand of the country.</li>
<li>In 2015, India decided that 175 GW of renewable energy capacity will be installed by the year 2022. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>This includes 100 GW from solar, 60 GW from wind, 10 GW from biomass and 5 GW from small hydro power.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>The substantial higher capacity target will ensure greater energy security, improved energy access and enhanced employment opportunities.</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/new-website-of-ministry-of-new-and-renewable-energy" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Kisan Urja Suraksha evam Utthaan Mahabhiyan (PM-KUSUM)</strong></a></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The scheme covers grid-connected Renewable Energy power plants (0.5 &ndash; 2 MW)/ Solar water pumps/ grid connected agriculture pumps.</li>
<li>Components of the scheme-<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Installation of 10,000 MW of Decentralized Ground Mounted Grid Connected Renewable Energy Power Plants by farmers of 500 kW to 2 MW capacity within 5 km distance from sub-station primarily on barren/uncultivable land.</li>
<li>Installation of standalone off-grid solar water pumps to fulfil irrigation needs of farmers not connected to grid.</li>
<li>Solarization of existing grid-connected agriculture pumps to make farmers independent of grid supply and also sell surplus solar power generated to Discom and get extra income.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>Scheme for Development of Ultra Mega Renewable Energy Power Parks</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>It is a scheme to develop Ultra Mega Renewable Energy Power Parks (UMREPPs) under the existing Solar Park Scheme.</li>
<li>The objective of the UMREPP is to provide land upfront to the project developer and facilitate transmission infrastructure for developing Renewable Energy (RE) based Power Parks with solar/wind/hybrid and also with storage systems.</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/phase-ii-of-grid-connected-rooftop-solar-programme" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Grid-Connected Rooftop Solar (RTS) Programme</strong></a></p>
<p>The union cabinet has approved Phase-II of Grid Connected Rooftop Solar Programme for achieving a cumulative capacity of <strong>40,000 MW from Rooftop Solar Projects by the year 2022.</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>In grid-connected rooftop or small Solar Photovoltaic (SPV) system, the DC power generated from the SPV panel is converted to AC power using the power conditioning unit and is fed to the grid.</li>
<li>The major objective of the programme includes: <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>To promote the grid-connected SPV rooftop and small SPV power generating plants among the residential, community, institutional, industrial and commercial establishments.</li>
<li>To mitigate the dependence on fossil fuel based electricity generation and encourage environment-friendly Solar electricity generation.</li>
<li>To create an enabling environment for investment in the solar energy sector by the private sector, state government and the individuals.</li>
<li>To create an enabling environment for the supply of solar power from rooftop and small plants to the grid.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="/loksabha-rajyasabha-discussions/policy-watch-indias-wind-energy-potential#:~:text=A%20Solar%2DWind%20Hybrid%20policy,resources%2C%20transmission%20infrastructure%20and%20land." target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>National Wind-Solar Hybrid Policy</strong></a></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The main objective of the National Wind-Solar Hybrid Policy, 2018 is to provide a framework for promotion of large grid connected wind-solar PV hybrid system for optimal and efficient utilization of wind and solar resources, transmission infrastructure and land.</li>
<li>The wind - solar PV hybrid systems will help in reducing the variability in renewable power generation and achieving better grid stability.</li>
<li>The policy also aims to encourage new technologies, methods and way-outs involving combined operation of wind and solar PV plants.</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>National Offshore Wind Energy Policy</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The National Offshore wind energy policy was notified in October 2015 with an objective to develop the offshore wind energy in the Indian <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/unclos-maritime-zones#:~:text=Exclusive%20Economic%20Zone%20(EEZ)%3A,200%20nm%20from%20its%20baselines." target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ)</strong></a> along the Indian coastline of 7600 km.</li>
<li>Eight zones are identified each in Gujarat and Tamil Nadu having cumulative offshore wind energy potential of 70 GW.</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Exclusive Economic Zone</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Each coastal State may claim an EEZ beyond and adjacent to its territorial sea that extends seaward up to 200 nm from its baselines.</li>
<li>Within its EEZ, a coastal state has:<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Sovereign rights for the purpose of exploring, exploiting, conserving and managing natural resources, whether living or nonliving, of the seabed and subsoil.</li>
<li>Rights to carry out activities like the production of energy from the water, currents and wind.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>Unlike the territorial sea and the contiguous zone, the EEZ only allows for the above-mentioned resource rights. It does not give a coastal state the right to prohibit or limit freedom of navigation or overflight, subject to very limited exceptions.</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>Maritime Zones</strong></p>
<p><a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1590839734_1577089572_image2.jpg" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1590839734_1577089572_image2.jpg" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" caption="false" width="670" height="378" /></a></p>
</div>
<p><strong>Atal Jyoti Yojana (AJAY)</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Phase II of Atal Jyoti Yojana (AJAY) was launched.</li>
<li>Phase I of AJAY scheme was launched in September 2016 for the installation of solar street lighting (SSL) systems in states with less than 50% households covered with grid power (as per Census 2011).</li>
<li><strong>The AJAY scheme provides solar street lighting (SSL) systems for public use.</strong> These public uses include:<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Lighting roads and intersections in remote, rural and semi-urban areas that do not have adequate lighting and lighting at bus stops, public conveniences and market places.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>International Engagement</h3>
<p><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/second-assembly-of-isa#:~:text=The%20second%20assembly%20of%20the,financial%20and%20programme%20related%20issues." target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Second Assembly of the International Solar Alliance (ISA)</strong></a></p>
<p>The Ministry hosted the second assembly of International Solar Alliance (ISA) on 30th and 31<sup>st</sup> October 2019, New Delhi.</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The Assembly is the supreme decision making body of the ISA, and gives directions on various administrative, financial and programme related issues.</li>
<li>India (represented by the Minister for New and Renewable Energy and Power) is the President and France is the Co-President of the ISA Assembly.</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>International Solar Alliance</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The ISA, is an Indian initiative that was launched by the Prime Minister of India and the President of France on 30<sup>th</sup> November 2015 in Paris, France on the side-lines of the <a href="/loksabha-rajyasabha-discussions/the-big-picture-climate-change-act-now" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Conference of the Parties (COP-21)</strong></a>, with 121 solar resource rich countries lying fully or partially between the tropic of Cancer and tropic of Capricorn as prospective members.</li>
<li>The overarching objective of the ISA is to collectively address key common challenges to the scaling up of solar energy in ISA member countries.</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="/to-the-points/paper3/solar-energy" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Read TTP on Solar Energy</strong></a></p>
</div>',
			'postdate' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenTime) {},
			'url' => 'https://www.drishtiias.com/to-the-points/Paper2/year-end-review-2019-ministry-of-new-and-renewable-energy'
		],
		(int) 8 => [
			'title' => 'Associate Members to Delimitation Commission',
			'catname' => 'News Analysis',
			'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>Recently, the Lok Sabha Speaker has nominated 15 MPs <strong>from Jammu and Kashmir, Assam, Manipur, Nagaland and Arunachal Pradesh</strong> to assist the <a href="/to-the-points/Paper2/delimitation-1" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Delimitation Commission</strong> </a>in <strong>redrawing the Lok Sabha and the Assembly constituencies</strong> of the northeastern States and the Union Territory of Ladakh.</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The appointments are made <strong>after the Delimitation Commission&rsquo;s request</strong> to the <strong>presiding officers of Lok Sabha and the Assemblies</strong> to nominate associate members.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Description:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The government has constituted a Delimitation Commission to <strong>redraw Lok Sabha and assembly constituencies of the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/delimitation-of-jammu-and-kashmir" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Union Territory Jammu and Kashmir</a></strong> and the northeastern states of Assam, Arunachal Pradesh, Manipur and Nagaland.</li>
<li>It is headed by the<strong> former Supreme Court judge</strong> Ranjana Prakash Desai.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Delimitation in Jammu and Kashmir:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The Commission intends to delimit the constituencies of Jammu and Kashmir (J&amp;K) in <strong>accordance with the provisions of the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/article-370-and-35-a-revoked" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Jammu and Kashmir Reorganisation Act (2019)</a>.</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>According to Jammu and Kashmir Reorganisation Act, 2019, the number of seats in the Legislative Assembly are to increase with due reservations for SC and STs. It also includes few seats reserved for Pakistan occupied Jammu and Kashmir.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>The J&amp;K experienced the <strong>last delimitation exercise </strong>in <strong>1995.</strong>
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>It has often been argued that the delimitation exercise was held back deliberately to ensure greater representation of Kashmir in the legislative assembly and Parliament rather than Jammu area.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Delimitation in Northeastern States:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The delimitation in Assam, Arunachal Pradesh, Manipur and Nagaland will be carried out in accordance with the provisions of the<strong> Delimitation Act, 2002.</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>The delimitation exercise in<strong> Assam</strong> will be <strong>resumed after 12 years</strong> which was <strong>put on hold in 2008</strong> after situation in the state was reported not to be conducive because of <strong>serious threat to the peace and public order.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Delimitation Commission</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Establishment:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The Delimitation Commission is<strong> appointed</strong> by the<strong> President of India</strong> and works in <strong>collaboration with the Election Commission of India.</strong></li>
<li>Delimitation literally means the act or process of fixing limits or boundaries of territorial constituencies in a country to represent changes in population.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Constitutional Basis:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Article 82</strong> provides the Parliament enacts a Delimitation Act after every Census.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>The <strong>Census Act (1948)</strong> provides for the permanent scheme of conducting population Census. It is carried out in a <strong>ten years interval.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Article 170</strong> provides division of State into territorial constituencies as per Delimitation Act after every Census.</li>
<li>Once the Act enacted by the Parliament is in force, the Union government sets up a Delimitation Commission.</li>
<li>The <strong>first delimitation exercise</strong> was carried out by the President (with the help of the Election Commission) in 1950-51.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>The <strong>Delimitation Commission Act</strong> was enacted in <strong>1952.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Composition:</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>It is usually composed of the retired Supreme Court judge, Chief Election Commissioner and Respective State Election Commissioners.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Objectives:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>To provide <strong>equal representation</strong> to equal segments of a population.</li>
<li><strong>Fair division of geographical areas</strong> so that one political party doesn&rsquo;t have an advantage over others in an election.</li>
<li>To follow the principle of <strong>&ldquo;One Vote One Value&rdquo;.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Functions:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>It determines the <strong>number and boundaries of constituencies</strong> to make the population of all constituencies nearly equal.</li>
<li>It also identifies the <strong>seats reserved for Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes,</strong> wherever their population is relatively large.</li>
<li>In case of difference of opinion among members of the Commission, the <strong>opinion of the majority</strong> prevails.</li>
<li>The Delimitation Commission in India is a <strong>high power body</strong> whose orders have the force of law and <strong>cannot be called in question before any court.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Current Status:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The<strong> 42<sup>nd</sup> Amendment Act of 1976 froze</strong> the allocation of seats in the Lok Sabha to the states and the division of each State into territorial constituencies till the year 2000 at the 1971 level.</li>
<li>Further, the <strong>84<sup>th</sup> Amendment Act of 2001</strong> extended this ban on readjustment for another<strong> 25 years (i.e., upto year 2026),</strong> without affecting the total number of seats based on the 1971 census.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>The 84<sup>th</sup> Amendment Act of 2001 also empowered the government to undertake readjustment and rationalisation of territorial constituencies in the states on the basis of the <strong>population figures of 1991 census.</strong></li>
<li>Later,<strong> the 87<sup>th</sup> Amendment Act of 2003</strong> provided for the delimitation of constituencies on the<strong> basis of the 2001 census</strong> and not 1991 census.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</div>
<h3>Way Forward</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The appointment of associated members from the respective States will help the delimitation commission<strong> to resolve grievances of these States</strong> as stated above.</li>
<li>The involvement of associate members from Lok Sabha and Assemblies will also help to <strong>maintain transparency and integrity of the delimitation commission</strong> which strives for equal representation to equal segments of the population in the country.</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/lok-sabha-speaker-nominates-15-mps-to-the-delimitation-commission/article31698154.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/associate-members-to-delimitation-commission'
		],
		(int) 9 => [
			'title' => 'Legacy of Jawahar Lal Nehru',
			'catname' => 'News Editorials',
			'desc' => '<div class="border">
<p>This article is based on <a href="https://www.thehindubusinessline.com/opinion/being-nehruvian-in-these-difficult-times/article31680474.ece" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>&ldquo;Being Nehruvian in these difficult times&rdquo;</strong></a> which was published in The Hindu Business line on 27/05/2020. It talks about the contribution of the first Prime Minister of India Pandit Jawahar Lal Nehru in building Modern India.</p>
</div>
<p>India, since independence, has undergone profound transformations in its <strong>politics-</strong>from the dominant Congress system to Coalition era, its <strong>economics-&nbsp;</strong>from a controlled &ldquo;democratic socialism&rdquo; to a thriving free-enterprise system, its<strong> trade</strong>-from protectionism to liberalization, and its <strong>social relations</strong>- from a rigidly hierarchical caste system to a more egalitarian policy affirming opportunities and outcomes for the &ldquo;lowest&rdquo; castes.</p>
<p>However, in recent years, a prominent change can be observed in the <strong>interpretation of History-</strong> wherein the present times the narrative around the contribution of past leaders is presented differently. One such example is of India&rsquo;s first Prime Minister- Jawahar Lal Nehru.</p>
<p>The five principal pillars of Nehru&rsquo;s legacy to India &mdash; <strong>Nation-building, Democratic institution-building, Secularism, Democratic Socialist economics, and a Novel foreign policy (Non-alignment, Panchsheel)</strong> still form the cardinal values of India.</p>
<p>However, some sections criticise Nehru&rsquo;s policies for being responsible for India&rsquo;s strategic failures as well as domestic problems like the Kashmir dispute. In this context, it is essential to understand the contribution of Nehru in the right context and its relevance for India today.</p>
<h3>Contribution of Nehru</h3>
<p><strong>Institutionalisation of Democracy</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Nehru was committed to the establishment of a strong Indian nation where the concept of equal rights of citizens would override all societal divisions.</li>
<li>Nehru&rsquo;s ideals envisioned in<strong> &lsquo;Objective Resolution&rsquo;,</strong> steered the Constituent Assembly to draw up a working constitution.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>It gave a tremendous leg up to the country&rsquo;s historically discriminated sections like Dalits and religious minorities.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>It was he who established the robust tradition of parliamentary supremacy over the military that prevented India from<strong> becoming another junta-ruled Third World autocracy.</strong></li>
<li>The nature of the <strong>Nehruvian way of politics (debate and deliberation)</strong> led to development of respect for parliamentary procedures, abiding faith in the constitutional system.</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>Ideal of Secularism</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Nehru believed that India belonged to all who had contributed to its history and civilisation, and that the majority community had a special obligation to protect the rights, and promote the well-being, of the minorities.</li>
<li>This helped in building the narrative of <strong>&lsquo;Unity in Diversity&rsquo;.</strong></li>
</ul>
<p><strong>Welfare State</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Through the planned economy approach, Nehru envisaged that in a land of extreme poverty and inequality, the objective of government policy must be the welfare of the poorest, most deprived and most marginalised of the people.</li>
<li>This notion drives the policy of successive governments that poverty and inequality in India cannot be tackled only by the market. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>It can be reflected in <strong>creation of a framework of rights,</strong> including the<a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/mgnrega-and-migrant-crisis" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong> right to work</strong></a>, <a href="/to-the-points/paper3/food-security-1" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>the right to food</strong></a>, the <a href="/to-the-points/Paper2/right-to-education" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>right to education</strong></a> and the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/sc-order-on-land-acquisition" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>right to fair compensation for land</strong></a>, all of which have empowered the poorest of people in India.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>Establishing Institutions of Excellence</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>It was Nehru who built the <strong>scientific base</strong> for India&rsquo;s space and engineering triumphs today. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>With the establishment of what is now the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO), India has achieved the status of Space power today.</li>
<li>With the Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs) established in his tenure, Indians have a worldwide reputation for engineering excellence.</li>
<li>Also, he laid the foundations of a dual-track nuclear programme due to which India achieved nuclear-capable status.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>Also, the economic policies of investing in heavy industries and protecting the nascent manufacturing sector, helped India to substitute imports to a certain extent.</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>Foreign Policy</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>For Nehru, <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/revival-of-non-alignment-movement" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Non-alignment (NAM)</strong></a> was the response to the bipolar divisions of the <a href="/to-the-points/paper1/cold-war" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Cold War era</strong></a>.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>After two centuries of British rule, Nehru was determined to protect the country&rsquo;s strategic autonomy without compromising independence by aligning itself to either superpower in the Cold War.</li>
<li>This policy of NAM, made India one of the most distinguished <strong>leaders of Third World solidarity,</strong> reached out to the rest of the colonised world, and forged a joint front against colonialism and a reinvented imperialism.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>Nehru was also a <strong>skilled exponent of soft power,</strong> much before the term was even coined.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>He developed a role for India in the world based entirely on its civilisational history and its moral standing, as the voice of the oppressed and the marginalised against the hegemony of the day.</li>
<li>This gave India global reputation and prestige across the world for years, and strengthened our self-respect as we stood, proud and independent, on the global stage.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Conclusion</h3>
<p>The <strong>fears of growing intolerance, communalism and inequality</strong> which may disrupt social harmony; debates in Indian<strong> intelligentsia</strong> about the <strong>erosion of democratic values, freedom of speech and autonomy of public institutions;</strong> the emergence of a <strong>new era of the Cold War</strong> between the US and China, marks the relevance of Nehruvian ideology even today.</p>
<p><a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1590753073_image.jpg" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1590753073_image.jpg" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="600" 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: #ebedfa;">
<p><span style="color: #000080;"><em><strong>Drishti Mains Question</strong></em></span></p>
<p>Discuss the contribution of Pandit Jawahar Lal Nehru and its relevance for India, in present times.</p>
</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<p style="text-align: center;"><iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/4Ks0nf8YLFw" 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.thehindu.com/opinion/editorial/the-swarm-the-hindu-editorial-on-locust-attack/article31689895.ece" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>&ldquo;The Swarm&rdquo;</strong></a> which was published in The Hindu on May 28<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/legacy-of-jawahar-lal-nehru'
		],
		(int) 10 => [
			'title' => 'Rise in Foreign Direct Investment',
			'catname' => 'News Analysis',
			'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>According to data released by the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/dipp-renamed-as-dpiit" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT)</strong></a>, total <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/revised-fdi-norms" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Foreign Direct Investment (FDI)</strong></a> in India increased by<strong> 18% to $73.46 billion</strong> in the 2019-20 financial year.</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>DPIIT is under the <strong>Ministry of Commerce and Industry.</strong></li>
</ul>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Total FDI has<strong> doubled from the year 2013-14</strong> when it was only $36 billion.</li>
<li>The total investment by <strong>Foreign Institutional Investors</strong> was $247 million.</li>
<li>The <strong>sectors that attracted the most foreign inflows</strong> during 2019-20 included services, computer software and hardware, telecommunications, trading and automobiles.</li>
<li><strong>Singapore emerged as the largest equity FDI source,</strong> contributing to inflows of $14.67.</li>
<li>The inflows have been attributed to the government&rsquo;s <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/five-years-of-make-in-india" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Make in India</strong> </a>programme.</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Foreign Direct Investment</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>FDI is an investment made by a firm or individual in one country into business interests located in another country.</li>
<li>Generally, FDI takes place when an investor establishes foreign business operations or acquires foreign business assets, including establishing ownership or controlling interest in a foreign company.</li>
<li>It is <strong>different from Foreign Portfolio Investment</strong> where the foreign entity merely buys equity shares of a company. FPI does not provide the investor with control over the business.</li>
<li><strong>Routes through which India gets FDI:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Automatic Route:</strong> In this, the foreign entity does not require the prior approval of the government or the RBI.</li>
<li><strong>Government route:</strong> In this, the foreign entity has to take the approval of the government.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>The <strong>Foreign Investment Facilitation Portal (FIFP)</strong> facilitates the single window clearance of applications which are through approval route.</li>
<li>This portal is administered by the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT).</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</div>
<p><a href="https://indianexpress.com/article/business/total-fdi-jumps-18-to-73-46-billion-in-fy20-6432101/" 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/rise-in-foreign-direct-investment'
		],
		(int) 11 => [
			'title' => 'NHRC’s Notice to Government on Migrant Deaths',
			'catname' => 'News Analysis',
			'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>The <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/nhrc-on-public-s-rights" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>National Human Rights Commission (NHRC)</strong></a> has issued notices to the Union Home Ministry, the Railway Board and the Bihar and Gujarat governments in connection with the <strong>reported deaths of some migrant workers on Shramik Special trains</strong> and the lack of food and water for the passengers on these trains.</p>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The government had <strong>started Shramik Special trains from 1<sup>st</sup> May, 2020</strong> to ferry migrant workers back to their home States after they were stranded in different parts of the country due the<a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/covid-19-and-indian-federalism" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong> Covid-19</strong></a> induced lockdown.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Most of these poor migrants were daily wage workers who lost their work and livelihood as businesses and establishments shut down. In the absence of money and jobs, and bereft of any food, savings, or shelter in large cities, they started moving back to their villages.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>The <strong>NHRC took suo motu (on its own) cognisance</strong> of media reports about the trains not only starting late, but also taking many more days to reach their destinations. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Many migrant labourers lost their lives during their journey due to the longer duration and the absence of arrangements for drinking water and food.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>The Commission observed that the contents of the media reports, if true, amount to <strong>gross violation of human rights.</strong> The State has failed to protect the lives of the poor labourers on board the trains.</li>
<li>The NHRC has issued notices to the Chief Secretaries of Bihar and Gujarat governments, the chairman of the Railway Board and the Union Home Secretary, <strong>seeking their reports within four weeks.</strong></li>
<li>Also, recently, the <strong>Supreme Court</strong> directed that the State from where workers started their journey and the State where they were headed should pool their travel expenses between them. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>During the train journey, railways would be in charge of providing migrant workers drinking water and meals. In case of bus journeys, the State where they started from had to take care of their food and water.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>National Human Rights Commission</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Statutory Body:</strong> NHRC was established on 12<sup>th</sup> October, 1993. The statute under which it is established is the Protection of Human Rights Act (PHRA), 1993 as amended by the Protection of Human Rights (Amendment) Act, 2006.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The PHRA Act also provides for the creation of a State Human Rights Commission at the state level.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>In Line with Paris Principles:</strong> Paris Principles were adopted for the promotion and protection of human rights in October 1991, and were endorsed by the General Assembly of the United Nations in 1993.</li>
<li><strong>Watchdog of Human Rights in the country:</strong> The NHRC is an embodiment of India&rsquo;s concern for the promotion and protection of human rights. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Section 2(1)(d) of the PHRA defines Human Rights as the rights relating to life, liberty, equality and dignity of the individual guaranteed by the Constitution or embodied in the International Covenants and enforceable by courts in India.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Composition:</strong> The commission is a multi-member body consisting of a chairman and five members. The chairperson should be a retired chief justice of India or a judge of the Supreme Court.</li>
<li><strong>Appointment:</strong> The chairman and members are appointed by the President on the recommendations of a six-member committee consisting of the Prime Minister as its head, the Speaker of the Lok Sabha, the Deputy Chairman of the Rajya Sabha, leaders of the Opposition in both the Houses of Parliament and the Union Home Minister.</li>
<li><strong>Tenure:</strong> The chairman and members hold office for a term of three years or until they attain the age of 70 years, whichever is earlier. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The President can remove the chairman or any member from the office under some circumstances.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</div>
<h3>Way Forward</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The Centre does not seem to have<strong> a nationwide action plan</strong> to tally the exact number of labourers stranded in various parts of the country. The government should work with the grass roots administrative mechanism, including the district and panchayats, to create lists accurately identifying the stranded workers.</li>
<li>Preparing a <strong>comprehensive database of the migrant</strong> workers&rsquo; source and destination, demography, employment patterns and skill sets.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>It will help in skill development, providing social security benefits, planning for mass transit of migrant labour and preparing for any contingency plan in emergency situations.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>Migrant workers related issues have complex Centre-State and inter-State dimensions. There is a need to empowerthe<a href="/summary-of-important-reports/capacity-building-for-conflict-resolution-2nd-arc" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong> Inter-State Council</strong></a>, set up under Article 263 of the Constitution to effectively and comprehensively deal with larger issues related to migrant workers.</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/nhrc-issues-notice-to-govt-on-migrant-deaths/article31697865.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/nhrc-s-notice-to-government-on-migrant-deaths'
		],
		(int) 12 => [
			'title' => 'Banana Covid: A Novel Fungal Strain',
			'catname' => 'News Analysis',
			'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>Recently, a novel fungus strain <strong><em>Fusarium wilt TR4</em></strong> has started infecting the Banana plantations in India.</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>It has been described as the equivalent of <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/covid-19-and-india-1" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Covid-19</strong></a> in Bananas. Similar to Covid-19, there is no treatment yet for the new fungal disease.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>The Epicentre:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>In the midst of the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/novel-coronavirus-2019-ncov" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>coronavirus disease outbreak</strong></a>, <em>Fusarium wilt TR4</em>, has devastated plantations across the globe.</li>
<li><strong>Ecuador,</strong> the largest exporter of Banana is currently the epicentre.</li>
<li>Banana is the world&rsquo;s most globally exported fruit and the disease is breaching borders through international trade.</li>
<li>The spreading disease has impacted the $26 billion global banana trade.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>The strain, Tropical Race 4 (TR4):</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>It was first identified in Taiwan, and has moved from Asia to the Middle East and Africa, reaching as far as Latin America.</li>
<li>It cripples plantations by first attacking the leaves, which turn yellow from their trailing edges before wilting away.</li>
<li>According to the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/deforestation-rate-declined" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations</strong></a>, TR4 is one of the <strong>&ldquo;the most destructive of all plant diseases&rdquo;.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Impact in India:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The fungal strain is now spreading and threatening output in India, the world&rsquo;s largest producer of bananas.</li>
<li><strong>Katihar and Purnea in Bihar</strong> and <strong>Maharajganj in Uttar Pradesh</strong> are the hotspots in India.</li>
<li>TR4 has infected the most commonly sold variety, <strong>Grand Nain (musa acuminata).</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li><strong>Grand Nain:</strong> It accounts for 55% of the banana area in the country and accounts for 62% of commerce, including exports.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>Inability to contain TR4 could impact the farm incomes and push up banana prices.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Measures to curb the spread:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Plant Quarantine:</strong> Scientists recommend biosecurity measures including &ldquo;plant quarantine&rdquo; to slow its spread.</li>
<li><strong>Growing Alternative Varieties:</strong> In hotspot Katihar, scientists have set up an experimental farm in which they are growing several cultivars. Cultivars are different varieties of the Banana species and have shown potential resistance to TR4</li>
<li><strong>Biopriming:</strong> The <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/icar-to-set-up-farmers-innovation-fund" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Indian Council of Agricultural Research</strong></a> is advocating a set of measures, known as <strong>Biopriming.</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>It is a treatment of seed with beneficial organisms, as an alternative to treatment with pesticides, prior to sowing.</li>
<li>Seed treatment integrates biological (vaccination of seed with beneficial organism to protect seed) and physiological aspects (seed hydration) of disease control.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Chain of Infection:</strong> It suggests farmers to abandon the crops whose plantations have been affected and grow rice for a year or two before returning to banana. It would help in breaking the chain of infection.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Banana</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Being a tropical crop banana grows well under the following conditions:<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Temperature:</strong> 15&ordm;C &ndash; 35&ordm;C</li>
<li><strong>Rainfall:</strong> an average rainfall of 650-750 mm</li>
<li><strong>Regional variation:</strong> Humid tropics to dry mild subtropics</li>
<li><strong>Soil:</strong> Deep, rich loamy soil is most preferred for banana cultivation</li>
<li><strong>Nutrients:</strong> It has several nutrients like calories, protein, carbohydrate, potassium and trace quantities of vitamin C and B6.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>Fusarium Wilt of Banana</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>It is popularly known as <strong>Panama disease.</strong></li>
<li>It is a lethal fungal disease caused by the soil-borne fungus <em><strong>Fusarium oxysporum.</strong></em></li>
<li>It is the first disease of bananas to have spread globally in the first half of the 20<sup>th</sup> century.</li>
<li>Fusarium has entirely <strong>wiped out Gros Michel,</strong> the dominant export variety of bananas in the 1950s.</li>
<li>It was in response to this, a new resistant variety,<strong> Grand Nain,</strong> came up, which has now fallen to TR4 infection.</li>
</ul>
</div>
<h3>Way Forward</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>There is a need to identify or develop new resistant varieties. A concerted effort is also required from industry, research institutions, government and international organisations to prevent spread of the disease.</li>
<li>Banana plantation is a potential source for ensuring food security. Hence, it is vital for the countries to collaborate and mitigate solutions to prevent the loss of plantation due to fungal infection.</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/now-banana-covid-hits-plantations/story-2ZViGgde0fer1eGi6BnF1N.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Source: HT</strong></a></p>',
			'postdate' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenTime) {},
			'url' => 'https://www.drishtiias.com/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/banana-covid-a-novel-fungal-strain'
		],
		(int) 13 => [
			'title' => 'ADB Loan to Upgrade Maharashtra Roads',
			'catname' => 'News Analysis',
			'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>Recently, the <strong>Asian Development Bank (ADB)</strong> and the<strong> Government of India</strong> have signed a $177 million loan to upgrade state highways and major district roads in the state of Maharashtra.</p>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Coverage:</strong> The project will upgrade 2 major district roads and 11 state highways, with a combined length of 450 km.</li>
<li><strong>Road safety audit framework:</strong> The project will strengthen road safety measures by developing a <strong>road safety audit framework</strong> that will protect vulnerable groups such as the elderly, women, and children, following the best<a href="/loksabha-rajyasabha-discussions/the-big-picture-road-safety-global-goals-2030" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong> international practices.</strong> </a></li>
<li><strong>Update the road maintenance system:</strong> The project will <strong>update the road maintenance system</strong> by encouraging 5-year performance-based maintenance obligations to contractors to sustain asset quality and service levels.</li>
<li><strong>Training PWD staff:</strong> The project will focus on training the<strong> Maharashtra Public Works Department</strong> project staff <strong>to build their capacity in climate change adaptation</strong> and<strong> disaster resilient features in road design, road maintenance planning and road safety.</strong></li>
<li><strong>Improve connectivity:</strong> It will improve connectivity to national highways, interstate roads, seaports, airports, rail hubs, district headquarters, industrial areas, enterprise clusters and agricultural areas.</li>
<li><strong>Benefits:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Better connectivity will increase access to markets, employment opportunities and services.</li>
<li>Improved mobility will expand development and livelihood opportunities outside of the state&rsquo;s major urban centers to second-tier cities and towns thus reducing income disparities.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Asian Development Bank</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>ADB is a <strong>regional development bank</strong> established on<strong> 19<sup>th</sup> December 1966.</strong></li>
<li>ADB now has <strong>68 members, 49 from within Asia.</strong></li>
<li>As of 31 December 2019, ADB&rsquo;s five largest shareholders are Japan and the United States (each with 15.6% of total shares), the People&rsquo;s Republic of China (6.4%), India (6.3%), and Australia (5.8%).</li>
<li>It aims to promote social and economic development in <strong>Asia and the Pacific.</strong></li>
<li>ADB is committed to achieving a prosperous, inclusive, resilient, and sustainable Asia and the Pacific, while sustaining its efforts to eradicate extreme poverty.</li>
<li>ADB is <strong>headquartered in Manila, Philippines.</strong></li>
</ul>
</div>
<p><a href="https://pib.gov.in/PressReleseDetailm.aspx?PRID=1627386" 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/adb-loan-to-upgrade-maharashtra-roads'
		],
		(int) 14 => [
			'title' => 'USA Bill to Put Sanction on China',
			'catname' => 'News Analysis',
			'desc' => '<p>Recently, the United States House of Representatives approved a legislation<strong> calling for sanctions on Chinese officials responsible for oppression of Uighur Muslims.</strong></p>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The bill calls for sanctions against those responsible for repression of Uighurs and other Muslim groups in China&rsquo;s Xinjiang province.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>According to the <a href="/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-international-institution/united-nations-1" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>United Nations</strong> </a>estimates, more than <strong>one million Uighurs Muslims and members of other largely Muslim minority groups</strong> have been <strong>detained in camps</strong> in <strong>Xinjiang</strong> in a crackdown.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>The bill also calls on USA companies or individuals operating in the Xinjiang region to take steps to ensure their products do not include parts using forced labor of Uighurs.</li>
<li>By passing the bill, the United States Congress has taken a firm step to counter China&rsquo;s human rights abuses against the Uighurs. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>It has sent a clear message that the Chinese government cannot act with impunity.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>However,<strong> China denies the mistreatment in the camps</strong> and says the camps provide vocational training. China also <strong>refuses to allow independent inspections.</strong></li>
<li>The bill has now been sent to the White House for President Donald Trump to veto or sign into law.</li>
<li>This approval of legislation should be observed in the context of recent developments in the US-China relationship which have become increasingly tense. Few noteworthy developments are:<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Covid-19 Blame:</strong> The <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/push-for-probe-into-covid-19-origin" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>USA President has blamed China</strong></a> again and again for worsening the Covid-19 pandemic.</li>
<li><strong>Trade War:</strong> Growing <a href="/to-the-points/paper3/trade-war-6" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>trade war</strong></a> between USA and China.</li>
<li><strong>Issue of Panchen Lama: <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/release-of-11th-panchen-lama" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Over the release of Tibetan Buddhism&rsquo;s 11<sup>th</sup> Panchen Lama</a>,</strong> who was taken into captivity at the age of six.</li>
<li><strong>Hong Kong&rsquo;s Autonomy:</strong> China has approved a proposal for <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/new-security-law-in-hong-kong" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>bringing new national security legislation</strong></a> in Hong Kong, despite apprehensions raised by the USA.</li>
<li><strong>South China Sea:</strong> China&rsquo;s growing assertiveness <strong>over the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/china-in-south-china-sea" target="_blank" rel="noopener">South China Sea</a>.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Uighurs Muslims</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The Uighurs are a predominantly <strong>Muslim minority Turkic ethnic group,</strong> whose <strong>origins can be traced to Central and East Asia.</strong></li>
<li>The Uighurs are considered to be one of the 55 officially recognized ethnic minority communities in China.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>However, <strong>China recognises the community only as a regional minority</strong> and rejects that they are an indigenous group.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>Currently, the largest population of the Uighur ethnic community lives in<strong> Xinjiang region of China.</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>A significant population of Uighurs also lives in the neighbouring Central Asian countries such as Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan and Kazakhstan.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</div>
<h3>Way Forward</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>With the USA signing out of major global deals and taking a backstage in global scenario, China certainly has taken advantage of this and has become more assertive in recent past. It&rsquo;s up to the global community now to fix responsibility and accountability of major powers according to international laws and humanitarian values.</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="https://in.reuters.com/article/usa-china-xinjiang/u-s-bill-to-pressure-china-over-uighur-rights-goes-to-trump-for-decision-idINKBN2340QR" 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/usa-bill-to-put-sanction-on-china'
		],
		(int) 15 => [
			'title' => 'Drop in Institutional Deliveries',
			'catname' => 'News Analysis',
			'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>Recently, the data from the states of <strong>Chhattisgarh and Jharkhand</strong> has reported a <strong>drop in the institutional deliveries.</strong></p>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Current Scenario in Two States:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Chattisgarh:</strong> It has recorded a<strong> drop by 15.39 % in April</strong> compared to the numbers recorded in March.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>In February 2020, before the lockdown was imposed, the State had recorded 37,984 institutional deliveries . But following the lockdown, the number of institutional deliveries fell to 32,529.</li>
<li>The State has recorded an increase in the percentage of institutional deliveries from 44.9 to 70.2 between NFHS 3 (2005-06) and NFHS 4 (2015-16).</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Jharkhand:</strong> The state had listed 52,000 women for scheduled deliveries in May, out of these only 5.9 % of these were conducted in medical institutions by May 21.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>The State has recorded an increase in the percentage of institutional deliveries from 40.1 % to 61.9 % between NFHS 3 (2005-06) and NFHS 4 (2015-16).</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Reasons for Drop in Institutional Deliveries:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The <strong>public transport</strong> has been majorly affected due to <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/21-days-lockdown" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>nationwide lockdown</strong></a> <strong>imposed</strong> to contain the spread of the <strong><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/covid-19-now-pandemic-who" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Covid-19 pandemic.</a>&nbsp;</strong>Thus reaching hospitals from villages became difficult.</li>
<li>The declared Covid-19 hospitals have created a <strong>fear of infection</strong> and thus people are <strong>avoiding physical contacts</strong> with the hospitals.</li>
<li>Many deliveries are<strong> being carried out at small private nursing homes</strong> to avoid movement and related Covid-19 spread.</li>
<li>The entire health machinery is battling Covid-19, so <strong>non-Covid health services experience a lack of medical staff.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Institutional Deliveries in India</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Description:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Institutional delivery means <strong>giving birth to a child in a medical institution</strong> under the overall<strong> supervision of trained and competent health personnel.</strong></li>
<li>It also signifies an availability of amenities to handle the situation and save the life of the mother and child.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>National Scenario:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Over the past two decades, India has made <strong>progress in increasing the number of institutional deliveries.</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>According to the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/anaemia-in-women" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>National Family Health Survey (NFHS-4)</strong></a>, institutional deliveries have<strong> increased from 39% in 2005-06 to 79% in 2015-16.</strong></li>
<li>Further, the institutional births in public institutions have<strong> increased from 18% to 52%</strong> in the same time period.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Step Taken to Increase Institutional Deliveries:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Janani Suraksha Yojana :</strong> <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/national-health-mission-and-janani-suraksha-yojana" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Janani Suraksha Yojana (JSY)</strong></a> is a <strong>100% <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/proposal-to-hike-monthly-pensions" target="_blank" rel="noopener">centrally sponsored scheme</a></strong> which is being implemented with the objective of<strong> reducing maternal and infant mortality</strong> by promoting institutional delivery among pregnant women.</li>
<li><strong>Pradhan Mantri Surakshit Matritva Abhiyan (PMSMA):</strong> It has been launched to focus on conducting special AnteNatal Check-ups (ANC) check up on 9th of every month with the help of Medical officers to detect and<strong> treat cases of anaemia.</strong></li>
<li><strong>Pradhan Mantri Matru Vandana Yojana (PMMVY) :</strong> It is a<strong> maternity benefit programme</strong> being implemented in all districts of the country with effect from 1st January, 2017.</li>
<li><strong>LaQshya Programme : <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/laqshya-labour-room-quality-improvement-initiative" target="_blank" rel="noopener">LaQshya (Labour room Quality Improvement Initiative)</a></strong> intended to improve the quality of care in the labour room and maternity operation theatres in public health facilities.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</div>
<h3>Way Forward</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The entire health machinery is battling Covid-19 but non-Covid health services <strong>should not compromise</strong> which are the<strong> base of the health infrastructure</strong> of the country.</li>
<li>The government should ensure adequate<strong> availability of medical staff, emergency medical services</strong> such as ambulance, vaccinations, maternity care,etc. to the <strong>urban as well as rural areas.</strong></li>
<li>The <strong>balance of the Covid and non-Covid medical services</strong> is need of the hour and the government needs to ensure the implementation of the same in the future.</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="https://indianexpress.com/article/india/coronavirus-lockdown-institutional-deliveries-dip-in-chhattisgarh-jharkhand-6432219/" 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/drop-in-institutional-deliveries'
		],
		(int) 16 => [
			'title' => '22nd Meeting of FSDC',
			'catname' => 'News Analysis',
			'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>Recently, the <strong>22<sup>nd</sup> meeting</strong> of the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/financial-stability-report" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Financial Stability and Development Council (FSDC)</strong></a> chaired by the <strong>Finance Minister</strong> was held through a video conference.</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The meeting reviewed issues relating to market volatility, domestic resource mobilisation and capital flows in the country in the wake of <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/covid-19-now-pandemic-who" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Covid-19 pandemic</strong></a> and the<a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/21-days-lockdown" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong> nation-wide lockdown</strong></a> imposed to contain it.</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Financial Stability and Development Council</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Establishment:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The Financial Stability and Development Council (FSDC) is a<strong> non-statutory apex</strong> council under the<strong> Ministry of Finance</strong> constituted by the <strong>Executive Order</strong> in <strong>2010.</strong></li>
<li>The <strong>Raghuram Rajan committee (2008)</strong> on financial sector reforms first proposed the creation of FSDC.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Composition:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>It is <strong>chaired by the Finance Minister</strong> and its members include the heads of all Financial Sector Regulators (RBI, SEBI, PFRDA &amp; IRDA), Finance Secretary, Secretary of Department of Economic Affairs (DEA), Secretary of Department of Financial Services (DFS), and Chief Economic Adviser.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>In 2018, the government reconstituted FSDC to include the Minister of State responsible for the Department of Economic Affairs (DEA), Secretary of Department of Electronics and Information Technology, Chairperson of the <a href="/to-the-points/paper3/insolvency-and-bankruptcy-code-3" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Insolvency and Bankruptcy Board of India (IBBI)</strong></a> and the Revenue Secretary.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>FSDC <strong>sub-committee</strong> is<strong> headed</strong> by the <strong>Governor of RBI.</strong></li>
<li>The Council<strong> can invite experts</strong> to its meeting if required.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Functions:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The objective of FSDC is<strong> to strengthen and institutionalize</strong> the mechanism for maintaining<strong> financial stability,</strong> enhancing<strong> inter-regulatory coordination</strong> and promoting financial sector development.</li>
<li>It also intends to monitor macro-prudential supervision of the economy. It will assess the functioning of the large financial conglomerates.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</div>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Covid-19 as a Threat to Global Economy:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The Council has noted that the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/impact-of-covid-19-on-global-economy" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Covid-19 pandemic poses a serious threat to the stability of the global financial system</strong></a>, as the ultimate impact of the crisis and the <strong>timing of recovery remains uncertain.</strong></li>
<li>The pandemic has thrown the global economy into its <strong>worst recession since the Great Depression in the 1930s,</strong> and India is no exception.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Projected Domestic Economic Growth:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Domestic economic growth is expected to <strong>contract for the first time in forty years in FY21 (April 2020 to March 2021).</strong></li>
<li>Crisil, Goldman Sachs and Fitch Ratings have projected the Indian economy to contract 5% during the current financial year.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Announced Measures and its Impact:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The Council quoted the various<strong> short term</strong> <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/atmanirbhar-bharat-and-economic-stimulus" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>fiscal measures taken by the government</strong></a> and <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/rbi-s-covid-19-economic-relief-package" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>monetary measures taken by the Reserve Bank of India (RBI)</strong></a> to address the liquidity and capital requirements of the financial institutions to manage the economic scenario due to global pandemic.</li>
<li>It also reviewed the <strong>liquidity and solvency position</strong> of the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/A%20nuanced%20understanding%20of%20the%20NBFC%20sector" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Non-Banking Financial Companies (NBFCs)</strong></a>, <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/liquidity-boost-to-nbfcs" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>housing finance companies</strong></a> and <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/guidelines-for-licencing-of-small-finance-banks" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>micro-finance institutions</strong></a>.</li>
<li>Moratoriums on loan payments due to pandemic induced lockdowns have put a pressure on inflows of these companies while banks have turned resistant to lend them in the wake of possible defaults. NBFCs have also sought moratorium on their dues to banks.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Role of Government and Regulators:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>It highlighted the need for the <strong>government and regulators to remain vigilant</strong> on financial conditions that could expose systemic vulnerabilities in the<strong> medium and long-term.</strong></li>
<li>The Council stressed that the government and regulators would continue to provide <strong>liquidity and capital support</strong> to domestic financial institutions.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>It is expected to provide comfort to the markets, which are disturbed by the extreme volatility due to pandemic.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Way Forward</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The financial system resilience, fiscal support, regulatory flexibility and liquidity provision announced till date have ensured that the financial system is supportive of economic recovery but <strong>more protracted slowdown may present new risks to the financial system.</strong></li>
<li>There is a possibility that the current crisis<strong> may transform from a &ldquo;liquidity phase" into a &ldquo;solvency phase".</strong> Thus, governments need to consider a range of policy tools, including efficient bankruptcy and restructuring systems, government guarantees for private investments, programmes for sector-specific government equity injections, and establishing asset management companies.</li>
<li>Thus, FSDC is expected to take further appropriate measures to bolster the liquidity and capital base of domestic financial institutions which would stabilize financial sectors for long term.</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="https://indianexpress.com/article/business/fm-nirmala-sitharaman-takes-stock-of-economy-in-1st-fsdc-meet-after-covid-outbreak-6432097/" 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/22nd-meeting-of-fsdc'
		],
		(int) 17 => [
			'title' => 'Veer Savarkar Jayanti',
			'catname' => 'News Analysis',
			'desc' => '<h3>Why In News</h3>
<p>On <strong>28<sup>th</sup> May,</strong> India paid tribute to the freedom fighter, <strong>Vinayak Damodar Savarkar (Veer Savarkar)</strong> on his<strong> birth anniversary.<a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1590737153_image1.png" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1590737153_image1.png" style="float: right;" width="200" caption="false" /></a></strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>He was an Indian independence activist, politician, lawyer and writer.</li>
<li>He is also known as <strong>Swatantryaveer Savarkar.</strong></li>
</ul>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Birth:</strong> VD Savarkar was born on <strong>28<sup>th</sup> May,&nbsp;</strong>1883 in Bhagur, a village near Nashik in Maharashtra.</li>
<li><strong>Related Organisations and Work:</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Founded a secret society called <strong>Abhinav Bharat Society.</strong></li>
<li>Went to the United Kingdom and was involved with organizations such as <strong>India House</strong> and the <strong>Free India Society.</strong></li>
<li>Involved in the formation of <strong>Hindu Mahasabha.</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>He was the <strong>president of Hindu Mahasabha from 1937 to 1943.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>Savarkar wrote a book titled <strong>&lsquo;The History of the War of Indian Independence&rsquo;</strong> in which he wrote about the guerilla warfare tricks used in <a href="/mains-practice-question/question-179" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>1857 Sepoy Mutiny</strong></a>.</li>
<li>He also wrote the book<strong> &lsquo;Hindutva: who is hindu?&rsquo;.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Trial and Sentences:</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Arrested in 1909 on charges of plotting an armed revolt against the <a href="/mains-practice-question/question-193" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Morley-Minto reform (Indian Councils Act 1909)</strong></a>.</li>
<li>Arrested in 1910 for his<strong> connections with the revolutionary group India House.</strong></li>
<li>One of the charges on Savarkar was abetment to murder of Nashik Collector Jackson and the second was waging a conspiracy under Indian penal code 121-A against the King emperor.</li>
<li>Following the two trials, Savarkar was convicted and sentenced to<strong> 50-years imprisonment also known as Kala Pani</strong> and transported in 1911 to the <strong>Cellular Jail</strong> in the <strong>Andaman and Nicobar Islands.</strong></li>
<li>He was<strong> not considered by the British government as a political prisoner.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Death:</strong> He died on 26<sup>th</sup> February 1966 due to fasting on his own wish of death.</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Abhinav Bharat Society (Young India Society)</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>It was a secret society founded by Vinayak Damodar Savarkar and his brother Ganesh Damodar Savarkar in 1904.</li>
<li>Initially founded at Nasik as Mitra Mela, the society was associated with several revolutionaries and political activists with branches in various parts of India and London.</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>India House</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>It was founded by <strong>Shyamji Kishan Verma</strong> in 1905 in London.</li>
<li>It was opened to promote nationalist views among Indian students in London.</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>Free India Society</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>It was a political organization of Indian students in England, committed to obtaining the independence of India from British rule.</li>
<li>Initially an intellectual group, it became a revolutionary outfit under its founding leader, <strong>Madam Bhikaji Cama.</strong></li>
</ul>
<p><strong>Hindu Mahasabha</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>It was a political party formed in <strong>1933.</strong></li>
<li>It was founded by Veer Damodar Savarkar, Lala Lajpat Rai, Madan Mohan Malviya.</li>
<li>The organisation was formed to protect the rights of the Hindu community, after the formation of the All India Muslim League in 1906 and the British India government's creation of separate Muslim electorate under the Morley-Minto reforms of 1909.</li>
</ul>
</div>
<p><a href="https://pib.gov.in/PressReleaseIframePage.aspx?PRID=1627350" 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/veer-savarkar-jayanti'
		],
		(int) 18 => [
			'title' => 'State Election Commission’s Autonomy',
			'catname' => 'News Editorials',
			'desc' => '<div class="border">
<p>This article is based on <a href="https://indianexpress.com/article/opinion/web-edits/securing-election-commissions-autonomy-6428281/" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Securing Election Commission&rsquo;s autonomy</strong></a> published in The Indian Express on 26/05/2020. It talks about the challenges with the functioning of the election commission institution in India.</p>
</div>
<p>Free and fair elections form the bedrock of a democratic country. In India, the constitution envisages an <a href="/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-national-institutions/election-commission-of-india" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Election Commission of India</strong></a> (ECI) and State Election Commissions (SEC) for every state to safeguard the free and fair election and grants them with certain constitutional safeguards to secure their independent functioning.</p>
<p>However, the recent <strong>removal of Andhra Pradesh State Election Commissioner via an ordinance route</strong> is an example encroaching upon the independence of the Constitutional body especially in the light of political accusations and vested interests.</p>
<p>This development not only threatens institutional autonomy but also falls foul of the constitutional provisions. Though the Election Commission of India is facing issues of autonomy due to political interference, the situation at the level of state election commission is more grim.</p>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Note:</strong></p>
<p>The ordinance promulgated by Andhra Pradesh Governor reduced the term of State Election Commissioner in the state from five years to three years and altered the qualifications (only those who served as a High Court judge can now occupy the post, earlier it was an officer of the rank of Principal Secretary &amp; above) required to be the SEC.</p>
</div>
<h3>Significance of Election Commission Institution</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>It is the <strong>guardian</strong> of free and reasonable elections in India.</li>
<li>It enforces the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/democracy-model-code-conduct-india-polity-governance-election-commission-gktoday-insights-on" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Model Code of Conduct (MCC)</strong></a> before every election to be followed by the different candidates and parties so that the decorum of the electoral process is maintained well.</li>
<li>It creates awareness about the electoral process and electoral governance amongst stakeholders namely, voters, political parties, election functionaries, candidates and people at large; and to enhance and strengthen confidence and trust in the electoral system of this country.</li>
<li>The Election Commission prescribes the limits of campaign expenditure by the candidates and parties and monitors the spending too.</li>
<li>The body also mandates that the political parties submit their audited financial reports regularly.</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>State Election Commissions (SECs)</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The State Election Commission has been entrusted with the function of conducting free, fair and impartial elections to the local bodies in the state.</li>
<li><strong>Article 243K(1):</strong> It states that the superintendence, direction and control of the preparation of electoral rolls for, and the conduct of, all elections to the Panchayats (Municipalities under Article 243ZA) shall be vested in a State Election Commission consisting of a State Election Commissioner to be appointed by the Governor.</li>
<li><strong>Article 243K(2):</strong> It states that the tenure and appointment will be directed as per the law made by the state legislature. However, State Election Commissioner shall not be removed from his/her office except in like manner and on the like grounds as a Judge of a High Court.</li>
</ul>
</div>
<h3>Challenges With Functioning of Election Commission Institution</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Lack of Autonomy:</strong> Although the state election commission on many occasions tried to exercise its duties enshrined in the constitution of India, they struggled to assert their independence. For example:
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>In Maharashtra, SEC had asserted that he should have the power to hold elections to the offices of mayor, deputy mayor, sarpanch and deputy sarpanch.</li>
<li>On the contrary, he was arrested and sent to jail for two days in March 2008 after the Legislative Assembly found him guilty of breach of privilege in an alleged conflict over his jurisdiction and powers.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Lack of Safeguard for SEC:</strong> Though the State Election Commissioner shall not be removed from his/her office except in like manner and on the like grounds as a Judge of a High Court (Art 243K(2)), yet it has been diluted on many instances.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>In the <strong>Aparmita Prasad Singh vs. State of U.P.</strong> (2007) the Allahabad High Court held that if the Governor has power to fix or prescribe tenure by rule, he also enjoys the power to amend the rule, either for extending the term of the tenure or reducing the same.</li>
<li>Once the prescribed tenure comes to end, the incumbent SEC must cease to hold office and this shall not amount to removal from office.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Non Uniform Service Conditions for SECs:</strong> Article 243K(2) states that the tenure and appointment will be directed as per the law made by the state legislature and thus each SEC is governed by a separate state Act.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>This gives power to states to amend rules unilaterally and even sometimes take ordinance routes to bypass legislative scrutiny like the recent example of Andhra Pradesh SEC.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Steps To Be Taken</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Supreme Court Directive</strong>
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The state governments need to follow the guidelines given by the Supreme Court in <strong>Kishan Singh Tomar vs Municipal Corporation</strong> of Ahmedabad case:</li>
<li>The provisions of Article 243K of the Constitution, which provides for setting up of SECs, are almost identical to those of Article 324 related to the ECI.</li>
<li>Also, the state governments should abide by orders of the SECs during the conduct of the panchayat and municipal elections, just like they follow the instructions of the EC during Assembly and Parliament polls.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Second Administrative Reforms Commission Recommendation</strong>
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Constitution of the State Election Commission:</strong> The State Election Commissioner should be appointed by the Governor on the recommendation of a collegium, comprising the Chief Minister, the Speaker of the State Legislative Assembly and the Leader of Opposition in the Legislative Assembly.</li>
<li>An institutional mechanism should be created to bring the Election Commission of India and the SECs on a common platform for coordination, learning from each other&rsquo;s experiences and sharing of resources.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Law Commission 255<sup>th</sup> Report on Electoral Reforms</strong>
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>It recommended, to add a new sub-clause to Article 324 of the Constitution to provide for a separate independent and permanent Secretariat for the ECI along the lines of the Lok Sabha/Rajya Sabha Secretariats under Article 98 of the Constitution.</li>
<li>Similar provisions can also be made for the State Election Commissions to ensure autonomy, and free and fair local body election.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Conclusion</h3>
<p>Election commissions are one of the bulwarks of the democratic system in India and thus securing their institutional integrity is a task that falls on all three branches &mdash;executive, judiciary and legislature. The unwarranted interference by one organ of the state in the functioning of others should be discouraged to achieve a robust electoral system.</p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1590665948_image1.png" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1590665948_image1.png" 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: #fffbe0;">
<p><span style="color: #000080;"><em><strong>Drishti Mains Question</strong></em></span></p>
<p>&ldquo;Free and fair elections form the bedrock of a democratic country.&rdquo; In the light of the statement critically analyse the role of the election authorities in India.</p>
</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<p style="text-align: center;"><iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/Jqp8b1xSLn0" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe></p>
<p>This editorial is based on <strong><a href="https://indianexpress.com/article/opinion/editorials/unlocking-justice-6428688/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">&ldquo;Unlocking Justice&rdquo;</a></strong> which was published in The Indian Express on May 27<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/state-election-commission-s-autonomy'
		],
		(int) 19 => [
			'title' => 'MSMEs Loans to Get ‘Risk-Free’ Tag',
			'catname' => 'News Analysis',
			'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>The <a href="/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-national-institutions/important-institutions-national-institution-reserve-bank-of-india" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Reserve Bank of India (RBI)</strong></a> is likely to <strong>allow banks to assign zero risk weight for loans</strong> that will be extended to the <a href="/to-the-points/paper3/micro-small-and-medium-enterprises-msme" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Micro, Medium and Small Enterprises (MSMEs)</strong></a> under the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/atmanirbhar-bharat-and-economic-stimulus" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Rs.20 lakh crore economic package</strong></a> announced by the Union government.</p>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>As a part of the package, a Rs.3 lakh crore loan for the MSME sector was announced.</li>
<li>However, such loans <strong>would attract a risk weight of a minimum 20%</strong> since these loans <strong>did not come with direct government guarantee.</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The claims will not be settled unconditionally. The government will ask questions and see the loan appraisal process once a claim is made when the borrower defaults.</li>
<li>And, if the claim is not settled, banks have to make provision in line with the age of default.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>This facility is similar to the loans that are guaranteed by the <strong>Credit Guarantee Fund Trust for Micro and Small Enterprises (CGTMSE).</strong></li>
<li>The government has made available a corpus of Rs. 41,600 crore for the Rs. 3 lakh crore scheme. The<strong> government is factoring in less than 15%<a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/solving-the-npa-crisis-in-india" target="_blank" rel="noopener"> non-performing assets</a>, as of now.</strong></li>
<li>After banks highlighted the issue of risk weight associated with the loan with the government, the government has asked the RBI to waive the requirement of assigning a risk weight to the loans.</li>
<li><strong>Benefit:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Zero risk would mean that banks will not have to set aside additional capital for these loans.</li>
<li>The move will encourage lenders to extend credit, as banks have turned risk averse and have been reluctant to lend.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Rs. 3 lakh crore scheme</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Under the scheme,<strong> 100% guarantee coverage</strong> will be provided by the <strong>National Credit Guarantee Trustee Company Limited (NCGTC)</strong> to eligible MSMEs, in the form of a <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/economic-stimulus-i" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Guaranteed Emergency Credit Line (GECL) facility</strong></a>.</li>
<li>Though primarily meant for the MSME sector, other small borrowers including the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/A%20nuanced%20understanding%20of%20the%20NBFC%20sector" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Non-banking Financial Companies (NBFCs)</strong></a> can also avail themselves of the scheme.</li>
<li>The <strong>tenure of loan under this scheme is four years</strong> with a moratorium period of one year on the principal amount.</li>
<li>The scheme would be applicable to all loans sanctioned under GECL till 31st October, 2020 or till an amount of Rs.3 lakh crore is sanctioned, whichever is earlier.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Credit offered by CGTMSE</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Credit Guarantee Fund Trust for Micro and Small Enterprises (CGTMSE)</strong> was set up by the <strong>Government of India</strong> and <strong>Small Industries Development Bank of India (SIDBI).</strong></li>
<li>CGTMSE has introduced a new <strong>"Hybrid Security"</strong> product allowing guarantee cover for the portion of the credit facility not covered by collateral security.</li>
<li>In the partial collateral security model, the Member Lending Institutions (MLIs) will be allowed to obtain collateral security for a part of the credit facility, whereas the remaining part of the credit facility, up to a maximum of Rs. 200 lakh, can be covered under Credit <strong>Guarantee Scheme</strong> of CGTMSE.</li>
<li>The main objective is that the <strong>lender should give importance to project viability and secure the credit facility</strong> purely on the primary security of the assets financed.</li>
<li>The other objective is that the <strong>lender availing guarantee facility should endeavor to give composite credit to the borrowers</strong> so that the borrowers obtain both term loan and working capital facilities from a single agency.</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>National Credit Guarantee Trustee Company Limited</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>National Credit Guarantee Trustee Company Limited (NCGTC) is a <strong>Union Government Company.</strong> It is classified as a company<strong> limited by shares.</strong></li>
<li>It was set up by the Government of India to, inter alia, <strong>act as a common trustee company to manage and operate various credit guarantee trust funds.</strong></li>
</ul>
</div>
<p><a href="https://www.thehindu.com/business/loans-to-msmes-may-get-risk-free-tag/article31689534.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/msmes-loans-to-get-risk-free-tag'
		]
	],
	'updates' => object(Cake\ORM\Query) {

		'(help)' => 'This is a Query object, to get the results execute or iterate it.',
		'sql' => 'SELECT articles.article_id AS `articles__article_id`, articles.category_id AS `articles__category_id`, articles.title AS `articles__title`, articles.description AS `articles__description`, articles.shortdescription AS `articles__shortdescription`, articles.featuredimage AS `articles__featuredimage`, articles.tag_id AS `articles__tag_id`, articles.secondary_tag AS `articles__secondary_tag`, articles.type AS `articles__type`, articles.publishon AS `articles__publishon`, articles.posturl AS `articles__posturl`, articles.metatitle AS `articles__metatitle`, articles.metadescription AS `articles__metadescription`, articles.metakeyword AS `articles__metakeyword`, articles.status AS `articles__status`, articles.sort_order AS `articles__sort_order`, articles.addedby AS `articles__addedby`, articles.updatedby AS `articles__updatedby`, articles.added AS `articles__added`, articles.modified AS `articles__modified`, articles.whatsnewid AS `articles__whatsnewid`, articles.display_printpdf AS `articles__display_printpdf`, articles.display_comments AS `articles__display_comments`, articles.pdf_name AS `articles__pdf_name`, articles.display_archive AS `articles__display_archive`, articles.star_rating AS `articles__star_rating` FROM articles articles WHERE status = :c0 ORDER BY publishon desc LIMIT 10',
		'params' => [
			[maximum depth reached]
		],
		'defaultTypes' => [
			[maximum depth reached]
		],
		'decorators' => (int) 0,
		'executed' => false,
		'hydrate' => true,
		'buffered' => true,
		'formatters' => (int) 0,
		'mapReducers' => (int) 0,
		'contain' => [[maximum depth reached]],
		'matching' => [[maximum depth reached]],
		'extraOptions' => [[maximum depth reached]],
		'repository' => object(App\Model\Table\ArticlesTable) {}
	
	},
	'page' => (int) 131,
	'search' => 'class',
	'totalPages' => (float) 334,
	'title' => 'Search'
]
$progress = []
$bookmarks = []
$notes = []
$mynote = []
$topdata = [
	(int) 0 => object(Cake\ORM\Entity) {

		'url' => 'https://www.drishtiias.com/careers',
		'title' => 'We are hiring Full Time Content Developers, to know more, please click here.',
		'type' => (int) 1,
		'date' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenDate) {},
		'[new]' => false,
		'[accessible]' => [
			[maximum depth reached]
		],
		'[dirty]' => [[maximum depth reached]],
		'[original]' => [[maximum depth reached]],
		'[virtual]' => [[maximum depth reached]],
		'[errors]' => [[maximum depth reached]],
		'[invalid]' => [[maximum depth reached]],
		'[repository]' => 'news'
	
	}
]
$searchdata = []
$searchlist = [
	(int) 0 => [
		'title' => 'Statehood Day of Goa',
		'catname' => 'News Analysis',
		'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>On the Statehood Day of Goa (30<sup>th</sup> May), the Prime Minister greeted the people of the state and praised the traditions and culture of the state highlighting its contributions to the national progress.</p>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Goa is located on the southwestern coast of India within the region known as the Konkan, and geographically separated from the Deccan highlands by the Western Ghats.</li>
<li><strong>Capital:</strong> Panji</li>
<li><strong>Official Language:</strong> Konkani</li>
<li><strong>Borders:</strong> It is surrounded by Maharashtra to the north and Karnataka to the east and south, with the Arabian Sea forming its western coast.</li>
<li><strong>History:</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>As India gained independence on 15<sup>th</sup> August, 1947, it requested the Portugese to cede their territories. However, Portuguese refused.</li>
<li>In 1961, Indian Government launched Operation Vijay and annexed Daman and Diu, islands and Goa with the Indian mainland.</li>
<li>On 30<sup>th</sup> May, 1987, the territory was split and Goa was formed. Daman and Diu remained Union Territory.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Geography:<a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1591003744_image2.png" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1591003744_image2.png" caption="false" width="347" height="497" style="float: right;" /></a></strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The highest point of Goa is Sonsogor.</li>
<li>Goa's seven major rivers are the Zuari, Mandovi, Terekhol, Chapora, Galgibag, Kumbarjua canal, Talpona and the Sal.</li>
<li>Most of Goa's soil cover is made up of laterites.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Wildlife Sanctuaries and National Parks:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Dr. Salim Ali Bird Sanctuary</li>
<li><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/mhadei-wildlife-sanctuary" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Mhadei Wildlife Sanctuary</strong></a></li>
<li><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/black-panther-in-netravali-sanctuary" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Netravali Wildlife Sanctuary</strong> </a></li>
<li>Cotigao Wildlife Sanctuary</li>
<li>Bhagwan Mahaveer Sanctuary</li>
<li>Mollem National Park</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="https://pib.gov.in/newsite/mainpage.aspx" 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/statehood-day-of-goa'
	],
	(int) 1 => [
		'title' => 'China’s Opposition to THAAD',
		'catname' => 'News Analysis',
		'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>Recently, China has issued a statement reiterating its long-standing objections to the presence of the <strong>USA&rsquo;s THAAD missile defence system in South Korea.</strong> This comes after the reports of an overnight operation to bring in new, replacement interceptor missiles to the USA base in South Korea.</p>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>THAAD:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>It is an acronym for <strong>Terminal High Altitude Area Defense,</strong> a <strong>transportable, ground-based anti-ballistic missile</strong> defence system.</li>
<li>First proposed in <strong>1987</strong> and then finally deployed in<strong> 2008,</strong> the THAAD cannot be used as a form of attack against an enemy.</li>
<li>It is designed to <strong>intercept and destroy</strong> short and medium-range ballistic missiles in their final flight phase.</li>
<li>THAAD is coupled with <strong>space-based and ground-based surveillance stations,</strong> which transfer data about the incoming missile and inform the THAAD interceptor missile of the threat type classification.</li>
<li>This system has been designed and manufactured by the <strong>USA company Lockheed Martin.</strong></li>
<li>It has been previously deployed in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Guam, Israel, Romania as well.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1591003398_image3.png" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1591003398_image3.png" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="700" caption="false" /></a></p>
<p><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1591003407_image1.png" width="700" caption="false" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" /></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Background:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>THAAD was deployed in South Korea as a <strong>countermeasure against potential attacks by North Korea,</strong> particularly after the country had engaged in testing ballistic missiles.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>In <strong>2017,</strong> when North Korea test-fired a few missiles in the direction of USA bases in Japan, the USA moved the missile systems to its army base in <strong>Osan, South Korea.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>Ever since China has objected these moves causing deterioration of their relationship.</li>
<li>For South Korea, North Korea poses a nuclear threat and the THAAD missile defence system is a necessity to counter that.</li>
<li>The USA and South Korea have consistently maintained that these missiles are only to counter potential threats by North Korea.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>China&rsquo;s Concerns:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>China is less concerned about the missiles itself and more about the <strong>system&rsquo;s inbuilt advanced radar systems</strong> that can track China&rsquo;s actions.</li>
<li>The <strong>USA&rsquo;s presence and influence in East Asia,</strong> through its military bases in Japan and South Korea, <strong>hamper the geopolitics and complex conflicts</strong> of the region.</li>
<li>It also <strong>interferes with Beijing&rsquo;s</strong> long-term military, diplomatic and economic <strong>interests</strong> in the region.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1591003471_Image7.jpg" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1591003471_Image7.jpg" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="700" caption="false" /></a></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Repercussions on South Korea:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Economic</strong>: Operations of South Korean businesses, including large conglomerates like LG, Lotte and Samsung, were hampered. These included shutting down of institutions and enterprises that had little to do with the defence and military, like golf courses and shopping malls.</li>
<li><strong>Tourism:</strong> Tourism from China to South Korea fell drastically. The tourism industry contributes significantly to South Korea&rsquo;s economy.</li>
<li><strong>Entertainment:</strong> South Korea&rsquo;s entertainment industry witnessed concerts, shows and other commercial ventures in China being forced to cancel.</li>
<li><strong>Cosmetics and Personal Care:</strong> The sales of South Korean cosmetics and beauty products were being impacted. They are extremely popular in China but due to calls on social media to boycott South Korean products, their sales went down.</li>
<li><strong>Demographic:</strong> Protests sparked off in South Korea against the deployment which has caused major worries regarding peace and security in the region.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Way Forward</h3>
<p>China can be a reassuring regional partner if it acknowledges that the cause of tension on Korean Peninsula is North Korea&rsquo;s pursuit of offensive weapons, not the deployment of defensive systems on South Korea&rsquo;s land.</p>
<p><a href="https://indianexpress.com/article/explained/thaad-missile-defence-system-south-korea-us-china-6434536/" 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/china-s-opposition-to-thaad'
	],
	(int) 2 => [
		'title' => 'Proposed Expansion of G7',
		'catname' => 'News Analysis',
		'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>Recently, the USA has suggested the<strong> postponement of the<a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/g-7-summit" target="_blank" rel="noopener"> 46<sup>th</sup> G7 (Group of 7) Summit</a></strong> which was scheduled to be held in June (2020) at Camp David (USA).</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Additionally, the USA President has also proposed the <strong>expansion of the G7 to be called &lsquo;G10 or G11&rsquo;.</strong></li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>G7</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Description:<a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1591000060_image3.png" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1591000060_image3.png" style="float: right;" width="400" caption="false" /></a></strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The G7 or &lsquo;Group of Seven&rsquo; consists of<strong> Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the United Kingdom, and the United States.</strong></li>
<li>It is an<strong> intergovernmental organisation</strong> that was formed in <strong>1975</strong> as an informal forum to discuss pressing world issues. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Initially it focussed on economic issues but later it focussed on the several challenges such as the oil crashes of the 1970s, terrorism, arms control, and drug trafficking,etc.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>The group does <strong>not</strong> have a <strong>formal constitution or a fixed headquarters.</strong> The decisions taken by leaders during <strong>annual summits are non-binding.</strong></li>
<li>The G7 nations meet at annual summits that are <strong>presided over by leaders</strong> of member countries on a <strong>rotational basis.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Host Country of the Summit:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The host country <strong>not only holds the G7 presidency</strong> but also <strong>sets the agenda for the year.</strong></li>
<li>It also gets a chance to <strong>invite dignitaries from outside the G7</strong> to attend the Summit.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Presence of Sherpas:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The groundwork for the Summit, including matters to be discussed and follow-up meetings, is done by the <strong>sherpas.</strong></li>
<li>The sherpas are generally personal representatives or members of diplomatic staff such as ambassadors.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</div>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Expansion of G7:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The proposed expansion has suggested<strong> inclusion of India, Australia, South Korea and Russia</strong> in the grouping of the largest advanced economies.</li>
<li>The existing <a href="/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-international-institution/g-7" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>G7 group</strong></a> has been called an<strong> outdated group of countries</strong> as it does not include emerging economies of the world and thus it is believed that the group <strong>does not follow</strong> the current world order.</li>
<li>It is <strong>unclear</strong> that the proposed expansion will be <strong>permanent or temporary.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Re-inclusion of Russia:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The proposal to re-admit Russia is expected to receive <strong>strong reactions from other <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/g7-summit" target="_blank" rel="noopener">G7</a> member countries.</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Russia is seen as an ally of China.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>The G7 was known as the <strong>&lsquo;G8&rsquo; for several years</strong> after the original seven were <strong>joined by Russia in 1997.</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>The Group returned to being called G7 after Russia was expelled as a member in 2014 following the latter&rsquo;s annexation of the Crimea region of Ukraine.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>India at the G7 Summit:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>India had attended the<strong> G7 summit of 2019 at Biarritz in France</strong> as a<strong> special guest of French President.</strong></li>
<li>India has attended the <strong>G8 five times</strong> as special guests by various hosts of the G8 Summit in the past.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Attempt to Unite Allies Against China:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>China is not a member of G7</strong> despite being the world's biggest population and second-biggest economy. But, China has relatively low levels of wealth per head of population. Thus it is not considered as an advanced economy like other G7 members.</li>
<li>The expansion of G7 has been believed to be a plan to <strong>unite all traditional allies to deal</strong> with<strong> assertive diplomacy of China.</strong></li>
<li>The proposal comes amid ongoing issues between the US and China which includes <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/new-security-law-in-hong-kong" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Hong Kong&rsquo;s autonomy to Taiwan</strong></a>,<a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/coronavirus-disease-named-covid-19" target="_blank" rel="noopener"> <strong>the origins of Covid-19</strong></a>, <strong><a href="/to-the-points/Paper2/south-china-sea" target="_blank" rel="noopener">South China Sea tensions</a></strong> and <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/trade-war-india-us-and-china" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>trade issues</strong></a>.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>G7 Vs G20</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Members:</strong> The <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/g20-meeting-in-saudi-arabia" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>G20</strong></a> is a <strong>larger group</strong> of countries, which also<strong> includes G7 members.</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Apart from the G7 countries, the G20 comprises Argentina, Australia, Brazil, China, India, Indonesia, Mexico, Russia, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, South Korea, and Turkey.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Share in Global Economy:</strong> The G20 countries make up around <strong>80% of the world&rsquo;s economy.</strong> G7&rsquo;s share in global GDP has <strong>fallen</strong> to <strong>around 40%.</strong></li>
<li><strong>Range of Issues:</strong> As opposed to the G7, the G20 discusses a broad range of issues including those concerning the global economy and financial markets.</li>
</ul>
</div>
<h3>Way Forward</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The rise of India, China, and Brazil over the past few decades has reduced the G7&rsquo;s relevance. Thus, inclusion of emerging economies like India, South Korea,etc. may extend the support to establish equal levels for each country at global level.</li>
<li>The proposed expansion may also help G7 to be a more representative institution than current G7 and subsequently to establish an equal platform at global level.</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="https://indianexpress.com/article/explained/explained-whats-the-g7-group-trump-says-wants-to-include-india-6436248/" 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/proposed-expansion-of-g7'
	],
	(int) 3 => [
		'title' => 'Dimensions of Food Security',
		'catname' => 'News Editorials',
		'desc' => '<div class="border">
<p>This editorial is based on <a href="https://www.thehindu.com/opinion/lead/its-about-food-nutrition-and-livelihood-security/article31484674.ece?utm_campaign=article_share&amp;utm_medium=referral&amp;utm_source=whatsapp.com" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>&ldquo;It&rsquo;s about food, nutrition and livelihood security&rdquo;</strong></a>, which was published in The Hindu on 05/05/2020. It talks about the importance of different dimensions of food security to tackle the COVID-19 pandemic</p>
</div>
<p>The current national lockdown imposed by the government to tackle the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/coronavirus-disease-named-covid-19" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Covid-19 pandemic</strong></a> has highlighted the many problems pertaining to <strong>food, nutrition and livelihood security,</strong> confronted by a large number of people, particularly in rural areas and migrant labourers (who are reverse migrating from the cities).</p>
<p><strong>Food security</strong> in a broader context exists with universal <strong>physical, social and economic access</strong> to sufficient, safe and nutritious food to meet their dietary needs and food preferences for an active and healthy life.</p>
<p>Though various measures have been announced by the Government under the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/covid-19-economic-relief-package" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Yojana</strong></a>, it is important to recognise the <strong>different dimensions of food security</strong> in a holistic manner in order to address this problem in its totality.</p>
<p><a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1590841095_image1.png" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1590841095_image1.png" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" caption="false" width="683" height="523" /></a></p>
<h3>Various Dimensions of Food Security</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Availability of food:</strong> Self-sufficiency in the production of food is a crucial aspect of sustainable availability of food.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>With the great accomplishment of Indian farmers and policymakers, due to the <strong>Green Revolution,</strong> today India has become self-sufficient in food production.</li>
<li>This has converted a <strong>ship to mouth situation</strong> (where India had to rely on the United States for food supply under Public Law 480 (PL-480)) to a <strong>&ldquo;<a href="/to-the-points/paper3/food-security-1" target="_blank" rel="noopener">right to food</a>&rdquo; commitment.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Access to food:</strong> It largely depends on the purchasing power of the consumer. However, through the<a href="/to-the-points/paper3/food-security-1" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong> National Food Security Act (NFSA)</strong></a> and the PDS, the government assures the food requirement of the poor section of society.</li>
<li><strong>Absorption of food in the body or its utilisation:</strong> It depends on sanitation, drinking water and other socio-economic aspects of a household, determined by knowledge and habits. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The utilisation of these services is dependent on the capacities of the Panchayati Raj Institutions (PRI&rsquo;s) and their coordination with other local bodies.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Stability:</strong> Apart from above-mentioned dimensions of food security, the temporal dimension of food and nutrition security, is also very important. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>It ensures the year-round supply of food, income and economic resources to household-level.</li>
<li>Furthermore, it is important to minimize external risks such as natural disaster and climate change, price volatility, conflicts or epidemics.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Issues Involved</h3>
<p>The Covid-19 pandemic crisis has threatened every dimension of food security, therefore, it is very crucial to understand the linkages between agriculture, nutrition and health.</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Agricultural distress:</strong> Farmers are confronted with various challenges like: <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Labour shortages</li>
<li>Expensive agricultural inputs like seeds and fertilizers</li>
<li>Inefficient marketing arrangements</li>
<li>Non-remunerative pricing and inadequate public procurement</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Job security:</strong> Food security and access to nutritious, good quality food are also contingent on job security. Today, a lot of people employed both on farms and in the non-farm sector are without jobs.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>If job security is threatened, then so is food and nutrition security.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Hidden hunger:</strong> In light of the closure of schools and Anganwadi centres, and the consequent disruptions in the provision of midday meals or other nutritional inputs may increase the cases of hidden hunger.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>It is important to pay attention to the <strong>life cycle approach</strong> advocated in the NFSA, particularly the first thousand days in a child&rsquo;s life when the cognitive abilities of the child are shaped. Otherwise, there may be negative effects on <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/an-innovative-method-for-boosting-nutrition" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>nutritional security</strong></a> in the medium to longer term.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Basic amenities:</strong> The lack of adequate clean water, in particular, has come to the fore in both rural areas and urban slums in the context of COVID-19, where one of the key measures for stopping transmission relates to frequent hand-washing.</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Life Cycle Approach</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>National Food Security Act 2013 (NFSA)</strong> is a unique step taken by the Indian government to fight against hunger and protect the rights of the people for food. In the life cycle approach, the care of the person taken by the government considering the nutritional requirements throughout the life cycle.</li>
</ul>
<p><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1590841124_image2.png" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" /></p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><strong>Life cycle approach of NFSA</strong></p>
<p><strong>Hidden Hunger</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Hidden hunger is a lack of vitamins and minerals. Hidden hunger occurs when the quality of food people eat does not meet the nutrient requirements, so the food is deficient in micronutrients such as the vitamins and minerals that are needed for their growth and development.</li>
</ul>
</div>
<h3>Steps To Be Taken</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Expansion of food basket:</strong> The PDS should be strengthened and the food basket can be enlarged to include millets, pulses and oil. This may certainly help in addressing the issue of hidden hunger</li>
<li><strong>Job creation:</strong> Attention needs to be given to the horticulture sector on a priority basis. Women farmers are at the forefront of horticulture and special attention needs to be given to both their technological and economic empowerment during this crisis. One way of doing this is by promoting food processing industries. For Example: <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>The Amul model</strong> provides a good example from the dairy sector of improved incomes to milk producers through value addition</li>
<li>The<strong> Rice Biopark in Myanmar,</strong> wherein the straw, bran, and the entire biomass are utilised.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Livelihood security:</strong> A livelihood security for small and marginal farmers and landless households, and women within them, can be ensured by strengthening the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/youngest-workers-rise-in-menrega" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA)</strong></a>. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Due to the loss of jobs and incomes during the COVID-19 crisis, it is imperative to <strong>expand the definition of work in MGNREGA</strong> to cover skilled work related to farmers and their farming activities.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Conclusion</h3>
<p>Right to food is not only a statutory right but also a human right. However, due to the disruption caused by Covid-19, there is a need to incorporate a broader definition of food security. This will help in addressing the hunger of millions and achieving sustainable development goals.</p>
<table border="1" style="border-collapse: collapse; width: 100%;">
<tbody>
<tr>
<td style="width: 100%; border-style: dotted; border-color: #ff0000; background-color: #fffce6;">
<p><span style="color: #003366;"><em><strong>Drishti Mains Question</strong></em></span></p>
<p>Discuss the various dimensions of food security, highlighting its linkages with agriculture, nutrition and health? (250 words)</p>
</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<p style="text-align: center;"><iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/TEBgvrRJzUE" 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/editorials/the-end-of-autonomy-for-hong-kong/story-DcVNSktnCfyOqozjjTKBAN.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>&ldquo;The end of autonomy for Hong Kong&rdquo;</strong> </a>which was published in The Hindustan Times on May 29<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/dimensions-of-food-security'
	],
	(int) 4 => [
		'title' => 'Dredging in Kakinada',
		'catname' => 'News Analysis',
		'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>Recently, the Andhra Pradesh Government has directed the GMR Energy Limited to stop environmental hazardous activities like dredging in the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/kakinada-port" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Kakinada</strong></a> coast.</p>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>These activities are leading to destruction of the prime habitat of birds i.e. <strong>Great knots (Calidris tenuirostris),</strong> and<strong> Indian skimmers (Rynchops albicollis).</strong></li>
<li>It is also impacting the <strong>soil topography and salinity</strong> on the site being levelled with the dredged material.</li>
<li>Due to such activities, India has lost its major part of <a href="/to-the-points/paper3/wetlands-1" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>wetlands</strong> </a>and mudflats severely affecting the migratory species, <strong>E.g.</strong> the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/coringa-mangroves" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Coringa Wildlife Sanctuary.</strong></a></li>
<li><strong>Dredging</strong> is the <strong>removal of sediments and debris from the bottom of lakes,</strong> rivers, harbors, and other water bodies. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>It is also carried out to reduce the exposure of fish, wildlife, and people to contaminants and to prevent the spread of contaminants to other areas of the water body.</li>
<li>Dredging of streams also lowers the surrounding water table and dries up adjacent wetlands.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Mudflat:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Mudflats refer to land near a water body that is regularly flooded by tides and is usually barren (without any vegetation).</li>
<li>It is also known as<strong> tidal flats</strong> and formed upon the deposition of mud by tides or rivers.</li>
<li><strong>Mudflats and mangroves</strong> together constitute an important ecosystem.</li>
<li>Mudflats serve to protect coastal lands from the eroding forces of nature and also provide an important habitat for shore birds.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Great Knots <em>(Calidris tenuirostris)<a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1590838793_Image2.jpg" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1590838793_Image2.jpg" style="float: right;" width="300" caption="false" /></a></em></strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>These are the migratory birds and have breeding habitat in tundra in northeast Siberia.</li>
<li>It is listed as <strong>Endangered</strong> in the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/iucn-red-list" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List</strong></a> of Threatened Species.</li>
<li>They nest on the ground and generally have large flocks when migrating.</li>
<li>This species has short dark legs and a medium-length thin dark bill.</li>
<li>The great knot can be identified by its larger size, longer bill, deeper chest, and the more streaked upperparts.</li>
<li>In India, It is found along the coastal regions of Gujarat and Andhra Pradesh.</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>Indian Skimmers <em>(Rynchops albicollis)<a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1590838814_image1.jpg" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1590838814_image1.jpg" style="float: right;" width="300" caption="false" /></a></em></strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>It is also called Indian scissors-bill.</li>
<li>It is listed as <strong>Vulnerable</strong> in the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List of Threatened Species.</li>
<li>They are mainly found in Central India along the rivers or estuaries.</li>
<li>The bird has a black cap and orange bill that contrasts with the white body.</li>
<li>It is rapidly declining as a result of widespread degradation and disturbance of lowland rivers and lakes.</li>
</ul>
</div>
<h3>Way Forward</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>There is an immediate need to document the destruction of the Kumbabhisekham mudflat due to the dredging, and sought the intervention of the State and the Ministry of Environment and Forests and Climate Change in the matter.</li>
<li>It is a <strong>Development vs Conservation issue.</strong> Hence, a proper analysis based on scientific study followed by consensus among various stakeholders by addressing respective concerns is required urgently.</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/andhra-pradesh/gmr-told-to-stop-dredging-in-kakinada/article31705118.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/dredging-in-kakinada'
	],
	(int) 5 => [
		'title' => 'Hindi as Official Court Language in Haryana',
		'catname' => 'News Analysis',
		'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>Recently, the Haryana government&rsquo;s decision <strong>to enforce use of Hindi</strong> in all <strong>courts and tribunals</strong> across the state has been challenged in the <a href="/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-national-institutions/supreme-court-of-india" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Supreme Court</strong></a>.</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>A petition has been filed to challenge the <strong>new Section 3A</strong> incorporated into the Haryana Official Language (Amendment) Act, 2020.</li>
<li>Petitioners argue that the amendment was made with the assumption that everyone practising law in Haryana not only knows Hindi but is also fluent in it.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>The Haryana Official Language (Amendment) Act, 2020:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The amendment has been made to the<strong> Haryana Official Languages Act, 1969,</strong> by introducing<strong> a new section 3A,</strong> designating <strong>Hindi as the sole official language</strong> to be used for conducting work in all <strong>Civil Courts</strong> and <strong>Criminal Courts</strong> in Haryana subordinate to the High Court of Punjab and Haryana, all <strong>revenue Courts</strong> and <strong>rent tribunals</strong> or any other court or tribunal constituted by the State Government.</li>
<li>The amendment also states that the state government shall provide the requisite infrastructure, translators and training of staff within six months of the commencement of the amended Act.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Arguments against the Amendment:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Unconstitutional and Arbitrary:</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Imposition of Hindi as the sole official language to be used in lower courts across the State would create an unreasonable classification between Hindi and non-Hindi speaking advocates.</li>
<li>The amendment is a violation of the <strong>fundamental right</strong> to equality (Article 14) freedom to practice a profession of choice,(Article 19), dignity and livelihood and personal liberty (Article 21) as guaranteed under the Constitution.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Use of English in the Courts:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>English is widely used by advocates in the subordinate judiciary and the lower courts.</li>
<li>Imposing Hindi will create problems for practising lawyers since the level of fluency and expertise needed to argue and represent a matter in Hindi is much more than a simple understanding of the language.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>The State as an Industrial Hub:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>There are a significant number of lawyers who would not be able to argue their cases to the fullest in Hindi as most cases are related to industry sectors.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Government's Stand:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The government pointed out that Haryana was separated from the erstwhile state of Punjab in 1966 on linguistic basis as Hindi is the predominantly spoken language in the area. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>In 1969, Hindi was declared the official language of Haryana.</li>
<li>Also, Punjab had then introduced Punjabi in all civil courts and criminal courts.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>Different regional languages are rapidly replacing English as a medium of instructions and of official work in the states. It is but natural that the predominant languages should secure their rightful place. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Hindi being the predominantly spoken language in the state of Haryana, use of the same for the purposes of working in courts and tribunals subordinate to the High Court of Punjab and Haryana has thus become a matter of practical necessity.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>The State has argued that many times the witnesses don&rsquo;t know what has been recorded in his or her statement in the court if the same is recorded in English. Hence, Hindi is practically necessary.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>In a democracy, every citizen should get<strong> justice</strong> quickly in his <strong>own language</strong> and should not remain speechless during the proceedings.</li>
<li>Earlier, many MLAs of Haryana, Advocate General and hundreds of advocates, had supported Hindi language use in the courts so that the <strong>citizens of Haryana</strong> can <strong>understand the entire justice process in their own language</strong> and can easily put their views before the Courts.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Hindi as an Official Language</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Hindi language is the single largest spoken language (43.63% of people in India).</li>
<li>The Constituent Assembly of India<strong> adopted Hindi</strong> written in Devnagari Script along with English as the official language of the country on <strong>14<sup>th</sup> September, 1949,</strong> under the <strong>Article 343 (1).</strong></li>
</ul>
<p><strong>Background</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Imposition of Hindi was contested in many non-Hindi states, especially in the southern state of Tamil Nadu. Violent protests broke out in southern India leading the then Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru, to <strong>introduce the &lsquo;Official Languages Act&rsquo; in 1963,</strong> which assured the <strong>continuation of English along with Hindi</strong> as the official language of the Union of India.</li>
<li>Anti-Hindi protests of 1965 marked an important turn in India&rsquo;s official language policy.</li>
<li>The <strong>&lsquo;Official Languages Act&rsquo;</strong> was amended in 1967 guaranteeing the <strong>"virtual indefinite policy of bilingualism"</strong> for all official purposes of the Union.</li>
<li>Given the linguistic diversity of India, <strong>there is no national language</strong> as all the states are free to decide their own official languages.</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>Constitutional Provisions</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Part <strong>XVII</strong> of the Indian Constitution deals with the official languages in <strong>Articles 343 to 351.</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Article 343 (1)</strong> states that the Official Language of the Union government shall be Hindi in Devanagari script.</li>
<li><strong>Article 351</strong> gives power to the Union Government to issue a directive for the development of the Hindi language.</li>
<li>According to <strong>Article 348,</strong> language to be used in the Supreme Court and in high courts and for bills, acts etc will be in the English language until Parliament by law provides otherwise.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>The Hindi language is one of the 22 languages of the <strong>Eighth Schedule</strong> of the Constitution of India.</li>
</ul>
</div>
<h3>Way Forward</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>There is a need for wide consultation and formation of committees, regarding the use of languages in the states especially in relation to the judiciary. So that the justice system does not get delayed due to the medium and use of languages.</li>
<li>The provision of use of Hindi can be supplemented with the use of English as well. The provision of optional use of Hindi in proceedings has already been made in the High Courts of <strong>Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh and Bihar.</strong></li>
</ul>
<p><a href="https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/law-making-hindi-official-language-in-haryana-courts-challenged-in-sc/article31693400.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/hindi-as-official-court-language-in-haryana'
	],
	(int) 6 => [
		'title' => 'GDP Decreases to 11-year Low',
		'catname' => 'News Analysis',
		'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>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>, economic growth slowed to an 11-year low of 4.2% in 2019-20.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Growth in Fiscal Year 2019-20:</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The provisional growth estimate for the year 2019-20 is at 4.2%. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>The budget estimate for <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/base-year-for-gdp-calculations" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Gross Domestic Product (GDP)</strong></a> growth in 2019-2020 was stated at 8.5%, the NSO&rsquo;s previous estimates had pushed the projection down to 5%.</li>
<li>The Indian economy grew at 6.1% in 2018-19.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>Growth rate in terms of <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/base-year-for-gdp-calculations" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Gross Value Added (GVA)</strong></a>, slowed to 3.9% in 2019-20 from 6% growth in the previous year. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>GVA is GDP minus net product taxes and reflects supply-side growth.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>The <strong>nominal GDP growth rate,</strong> which accounts for inflation, is estimated to have grown at 7.2% in 2019-20, sharply lower than 11% in the previous year.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Growth in Final Quarter of 2019-20:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>In the final quarter of the year, that is, January 2020 - March 2020, the growth rate of GDP fell to 3.1%.</li>
<li>This is the lowest growth rate in the last 44 quarters.</li>
<li>Agriculture and mining sectors grew in the fourth quarter at rates of 5.9% and 5.2% respectively.</li>
<li>Public administration, defence and other services grew at 10.1%.</li>
<li>The manufacturing sector contracted to a negative growth of 1.4%.</li>
<li>The <strong>three components of demand</strong> have also fallen i.e. <strong>consumption</strong> demand has slowed, while<strong> investments</strong> and<strong> exports</strong> are both in negative territory.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Analysis of the growth data:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Nominal GDP growth:</strong> There are two reasons why the sharp deceleration in the nominal GDP matters.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>First, the nominal GDP growth rate is the <strong>base of all fiscal calculations</strong> (revenue and spending) in the country. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>A sharp divergence in nominal GDP growth rate basically upsets all other calculations in the economy.</li>
<li>For instance, a sharp fall means the government does not get the revenues it had hoped for and, as such, it can&rsquo;t spend as much as it wanted to.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>Second, this substantial deceleration reflects poorly on the government&rsquo;s<strong> fiscal marksmanship.</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>In other words, it shows that the government was <strong>not able to assess the magnitude of economic growth deceleration</strong> that was underway.</li>
<li>Poor fiscal marksmanship, in turn, leads to inaccurate policy making because a government could end up making policies for an economy that doesn&rsquo;t actually exist on the ground.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>This sharp deceleration also shows the continued weakening of India&rsquo;s growth momentum even before it was hit by the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/covid-19-now-pandemic-who" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Covid-19</strong></a> lockdown in the last week of March.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Negative Growth of Manufacturing:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>It has been argued in the past, that for India to grow and create jobs for the millions that enter its workforce each year,<strong> manufacturing growth has to rise.</strong></li>
<li>But 2019 paints a dismal picture in this regard. Manufacturing contracted for three of the four quarters.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1590837708_image3.png" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1590837708_image3.png" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="500" caption="false" /></strong></a></p>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Key Terms</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Gross Domestic Product (GDP):</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>It is a <strong>measure of economic activity in a country.</strong> It is the total value of a country&rsquo;s annual output of goods and services. It gives the economic output from the consumers&rsquo; side.</li>
<li><strong>GDP = Private consumption + Gross investment + Government investment + Government spending + (exports-imports)</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Gross Value Added (GVA):</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>It is the <strong>sum of a country&rsquo;s GDP and net of subsidies and taxes in the economy.</strong> It provides the rupee value for the amount of goods and services produced in an economy after deducting the cost of inputs and raw materials that have gone into the production of those goods and services.</li>
<li><strong>Gross Value Added = GDP + subsidies on products - taxes on products</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Nominal GDP:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>It is GDP <strong>evaluated at current market prices.</strong> It includes all of the changes in market prices that have occurred during the current year due to <strong>inflation or deflation.</strong></li>
<li>It is <strong>different from the Real GDP</strong> which is calculated in a way such that <strong>goods and services are evaluated at some constant set of prices.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>The National Statistical Office</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>NSO is the <strong>central statistical agency of the Government</strong> mandated under the <strong>Statistical Services Act,</strong> 1980 under the <strong>Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation.</strong></li>
<li>It is responsible for the development of arrangements for <strong>providing statistical information services</strong> to meet the needs of the Government and other users for information on which to base policy, planning, monitoring and management decisions.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The services include collecting, compiling and disseminating official statistical information.</li>
<li>All business operations in NSO are done in compliance with <strong>international standards, procedures and best practices.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</div>
<h3>Conclusion</h3>
<p>Economists have highlighted that GDP is headed for a contraction in 2020-21 due to the impact of Covid-19. Therefore, government expenditure will be the growth engine in the year 2020-21. Weak commodity prices and import demand will also provide some support to growth.</p>
<p><a href="https://www.thehindu.com/business/Economy/gdp-growth-dips-to-31-in-january-march-42-in-2019-20/article31703885.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/gdp-decreases-to-11-year-low'
	],
	(int) 7 => [
		'title' => 'Year End Review 2019: Ministry of New and Renewable Energy',
		'catname' => 'Paper 2',
		'desc' => '<h3>Important Schemes and Policies</h3>
<p><strong>Nationally Determined Contributions as per the Paris Accord</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>As a part of Nationally Determined Contributions as per the Paris Accord on Climate Change, India has made a pledge that by 2030, 40% of our installed power generation capacity shall be from non-fossil fuel sources and also by 2030, reduce emission intensity of GDP by 33-35 % from 2005 level.</li>
<li>Economic growth, increasing prosperity, a growing rate of urbanisation and rising per capita energy consumption has increased the energy demand of the country.</li>
<li>In 2015, India decided that 175 GW of renewable energy capacity will be installed by the year 2022. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>This includes 100 GW from solar, 60 GW from wind, 10 GW from biomass and 5 GW from small hydro power.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>The substantial higher capacity target will ensure greater energy security, improved energy access and enhanced employment opportunities.</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/new-website-of-ministry-of-new-and-renewable-energy" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Kisan Urja Suraksha evam Utthaan Mahabhiyan (PM-KUSUM)</strong></a></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The scheme covers grid-connected Renewable Energy power plants (0.5 &ndash; 2 MW)/ Solar water pumps/ grid connected agriculture pumps.</li>
<li>Components of the scheme-<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Installation of 10,000 MW of Decentralized Ground Mounted Grid Connected Renewable Energy Power Plants by farmers of 500 kW to 2 MW capacity within 5 km distance from sub-station primarily on barren/uncultivable land.</li>
<li>Installation of standalone off-grid solar water pumps to fulfil irrigation needs of farmers not connected to grid.</li>
<li>Solarization of existing grid-connected agriculture pumps to make farmers independent of grid supply and also sell surplus solar power generated to Discom and get extra income.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>Scheme for Development of Ultra Mega Renewable Energy Power Parks</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>It is a scheme to develop Ultra Mega Renewable Energy Power Parks (UMREPPs) under the existing Solar Park Scheme.</li>
<li>The objective of the UMREPP is to provide land upfront to the project developer and facilitate transmission infrastructure for developing Renewable Energy (RE) based Power Parks with solar/wind/hybrid and also with storage systems.</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/phase-ii-of-grid-connected-rooftop-solar-programme" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Grid-Connected Rooftop Solar (RTS) Programme</strong></a></p>
<p>The union cabinet has approved Phase-II of Grid Connected Rooftop Solar Programme for achieving a cumulative capacity of <strong>40,000 MW from Rooftop Solar Projects by the year 2022.</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>In grid-connected rooftop or small Solar Photovoltaic (SPV) system, the DC power generated from the SPV panel is converted to AC power using the power conditioning unit and is fed to the grid.</li>
<li>The major objective of the programme includes: <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>To promote the grid-connected SPV rooftop and small SPV power generating plants among the residential, community, institutional, industrial and commercial establishments.</li>
<li>To mitigate the dependence on fossil fuel based electricity generation and encourage environment-friendly Solar electricity generation.</li>
<li>To create an enabling environment for investment in the solar energy sector by the private sector, state government and the individuals.</li>
<li>To create an enabling environment for the supply of solar power from rooftop and small plants to the grid.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="/loksabha-rajyasabha-discussions/policy-watch-indias-wind-energy-potential#:~:text=A%20Solar%2DWind%20Hybrid%20policy,resources%2C%20transmission%20infrastructure%20and%20land." target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>National Wind-Solar Hybrid Policy</strong></a></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The main objective of the National Wind-Solar Hybrid Policy, 2018 is to provide a framework for promotion of large grid connected wind-solar PV hybrid system for optimal and efficient utilization of wind and solar resources, transmission infrastructure and land.</li>
<li>The wind - solar PV hybrid systems will help in reducing the variability in renewable power generation and achieving better grid stability.</li>
<li>The policy also aims to encourage new technologies, methods and way-outs involving combined operation of wind and solar PV plants.</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>National Offshore Wind Energy Policy</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The National Offshore wind energy policy was notified in October 2015 with an objective to develop the offshore wind energy in the Indian <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/unclos-maritime-zones#:~:text=Exclusive%20Economic%20Zone%20(EEZ)%3A,200%20nm%20from%20its%20baselines." target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ)</strong></a> along the Indian coastline of 7600 km.</li>
<li>Eight zones are identified each in Gujarat and Tamil Nadu having cumulative offshore wind energy potential of 70 GW.</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Exclusive Economic Zone</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Each coastal State may claim an EEZ beyond and adjacent to its territorial sea that extends seaward up to 200 nm from its baselines.</li>
<li>Within its EEZ, a coastal state has:<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Sovereign rights for the purpose of exploring, exploiting, conserving and managing natural resources, whether living or nonliving, of the seabed and subsoil.</li>
<li>Rights to carry out activities like the production of energy from the water, currents and wind.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>Unlike the territorial sea and the contiguous zone, the EEZ only allows for the above-mentioned resource rights. It does not give a coastal state the right to prohibit or limit freedom of navigation or overflight, subject to very limited exceptions.</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>Maritime Zones</strong></p>
<p><a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1590839734_1577089572_image2.jpg" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1590839734_1577089572_image2.jpg" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" caption="false" width="670" height="378" /></a></p>
</div>
<p><strong>Atal Jyoti Yojana (AJAY)</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Phase II of Atal Jyoti Yojana (AJAY) was launched.</li>
<li>Phase I of AJAY scheme was launched in September 2016 for the installation of solar street lighting (SSL) systems in states with less than 50% households covered with grid power (as per Census 2011).</li>
<li><strong>The AJAY scheme provides solar street lighting (SSL) systems for public use.</strong> These public uses include:<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Lighting roads and intersections in remote, rural and semi-urban areas that do not have adequate lighting and lighting at bus stops, public conveniences and market places.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>International Engagement</h3>
<p><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/second-assembly-of-isa#:~:text=The%20second%20assembly%20of%20the,financial%20and%20programme%20related%20issues." target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Second Assembly of the International Solar Alliance (ISA)</strong></a></p>
<p>The Ministry hosted the second assembly of International Solar Alliance (ISA) on 30th and 31<sup>st</sup> October 2019, New Delhi.</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The Assembly is the supreme decision making body of the ISA, and gives directions on various administrative, financial and programme related issues.</li>
<li>India (represented by the Minister for New and Renewable Energy and Power) is the President and France is the Co-President of the ISA Assembly.</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>International Solar Alliance</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The ISA, is an Indian initiative that was launched by the Prime Minister of India and the President of France on 30<sup>th</sup> November 2015 in Paris, France on the side-lines of the <a href="/loksabha-rajyasabha-discussions/the-big-picture-climate-change-act-now" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Conference of the Parties (COP-21)</strong></a>, with 121 solar resource rich countries lying fully or partially between the tropic of Cancer and tropic of Capricorn as prospective members.</li>
<li>The overarching objective of the ISA is to collectively address key common challenges to the scaling up of solar energy in ISA member countries.</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="/to-the-points/paper3/solar-energy" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Read TTP on Solar Energy</strong></a></p>
</div>',
		'postdate' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenTime) {},
		'url' => 'https://www.drishtiias.com/to-the-points/Paper2/year-end-review-2019-ministry-of-new-and-renewable-energy'
	],
	(int) 8 => [
		'title' => 'Associate Members to Delimitation Commission',
		'catname' => 'News Analysis',
		'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>Recently, the Lok Sabha Speaker has nominated 15 MPs <strong>from Jammu and Kashmir, Assam, Manipur, Nagaland and Arunachal Pradesh</strong> to assist the <a href="/to-the-points/Paper2/delimitation-1" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Delimitation Commission</strong> </a>in <strong>redrawing the Lok Sabha and the Assembly constituencies</strong> of the northeastern States and the Union Territory of Ladakh.</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The appointments are made <strong>after the Delimitation Commission&rsquo;s request</strong> to the <strong>presiding officers of Lok Sabha and the Assemblies</strong> to nominate associate members.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Description:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The government has constituted a Delimitation Commission to <strong>redraw Lok Sabha and assembly constituencies of the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/delimitation-of-jammu-and-kashmir" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Union Territory Jammu and Kashmir</a></strong> and the northeastern states of Assam, Arunachal Pradesh, Manipur and Nagaland.</li>
<li>It is headed by the<strong> former Supreme Court judge</strong> Ranjana Prakash Desai.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Delimitation in Jammu and Kashmir:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The Commission intends to delimit the constituencies of Jammu and Kashmir (J&amp;K) in <strong>accordance with the provisions of the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/article-370-and-35-a-revoked" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Jammu and Kashmir Reorganisation Act (2019)</a>.</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>According to Jammu and Kashmir Reorganisation Act, 2019, the number of seats in the Legislative Assembly are to increase with due reservations for SC and STs. It also includes few seats reserved for Pakistan occupied Jammu and Kashmir.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>The J&amp;K experienced the <strong>last delimitation exercise </strong>in <strong>1995.</strong>
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>It has often been argued that the delimitation exercise was held back deliberately to ensure greater representation of Kashmir in the legislative assembly and Parliament rather than Jammu area.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Delimitation in Northeastern States:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The delimitation in Assam, Arunachal Pradesh, Manipur and Nagaland will be carried out in accordance with the provisions of the<strong> Delimitation Act, 2002.</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>The delimitation exercise in<strong> Assam</strong> will be <strong>resumed after 12 years</strong> which was <strong>put on hold in 2008</strong> after situation in the state was reported not to be conducive because of <strong>serious threat to the peace and public order.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Delimitation Commission</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Establishment:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The Delimitation Commission is<strong> appointed</strong> by the<strong> President of India</strong> and works in <strong>collaboration with the Election Commission of India.</strong></li>
<li>Delimitation literally means the act or process of fixing limits or boundaries of territorial constituencies in a country to represent changes in population.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Constitutional Basis:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Article 82</strong> provides the Parliament enacts a Delimitation Act after every Census.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>The <strong>Census Act (1948)</strong> provides for the permanent scheme of conducting population Census. It is carried out in a <strong>ten years interval.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Article 170</strong> provides division of State into territorial constituencies as per Delimitation Act after every Census.</li>
<li>Once the Act enacted by the Parliament is in force, the Union government sets up a Delimitation Commission.</li>
<li>The <strong>first delimitation exercise</strong> was carried out by the President (with the help of the Election Commission) in 1950-51.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>The <strong>Delimitation Commission Act</strong> was enacted in <strong>1952.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Composition:</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>It is usually composed of the retired Supreme Court judge, Chief Election Commissioner and Respective State Election Commissioners.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Objectives:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>To provide <strong>equal representation</strong> to equal segments of a population.</li>
<li><strong>Fair division of geographical areas</strong> so that one political party doesn&rsquo;t have an advantage over others in an election.</li>
<li>To follow the principle of <strong>&ldquo;One Vote One Value&rdquo;.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Functions:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>It determines the <strong>number and boundaries of constituencies</strong> to make the population of all constituencies nearly equal.</li>
<li>It also identifies the <strong>seats reserved for Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes,</strong> wherever their population is relatively large.</li>
<li>In case of difference of opinion among members of the Commission, the <strong>opinion of the majority</strong> prevails.</li>
<li>The Delimitation Commission in India is a <strong>high power body</strong> whose orders have the force of law and <strong>cannot be called in question before any court.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Current Status:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The<strong> 42<sup>nd</sup> Amendment Act of 1976 froze</strong> the allocation of seats in the Lok Sabha to the states and the division of each State into territorial constituencies till the year 2000 at the 1971 level.</li>
<li>Further, the <strong>84<sup>th</sup> Amendment Act of 2001</strong> extended this ban on readjustment for another<strong> 25 years (i.e., upto year 2026),</strong> without affecting the total number of seats based on the 1971 census.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>The 84<sup>th</sup> Amendment Act of 2001 also empowered the government to undertake readjustment and rationalisation of territorial constituencies in the states on the basis of the <strong>population figures of 1991 census.</strong></li>
<li>Later,<strong> the 87<sup>th</sup> Amendment Act of 2003</strong> provided for the delimitation of constituencies on the<strong> basis of the 2001 census</strong> and not 1991 census.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</div>
<h3>Way Forward</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The appointment of associated members from the respective States will help the delimitation commission<strong> to resolve grievances of these States</strong> as stated above.</li>
<li>The involvement of associate members from Lok Sabha and Assemblies will also help to <strong>maintain transparency and integrity of the delimitation commission</strong> which strives for equal representation to equal segments of the population in the country.</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/lok-sabha-speaker-nominates-15-mps-to-the-delimitation-commission/article31698154.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/associate-members-to-delimitation-commission'
	],
	(int) 9 => [
		'title' => 'Legacy of Jawahar Lal Nehru',
		'catname' => 'News Editorials',
		'desc' => '<div class="border">
<p>This article is based on <a href="https://www.thehindubusinessline.com/opinion/being-nehruvian-in-these-difficult-times/article31680474.ece" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>&ldquo;Being Nehruvian in these difficult times&rdquo;</strong></a> which was published in The Hindu Business line on 27/05/2020. It talks about the contribution of the first Prime Minister of India Pandit Jawahar Lal Nehru in building Modern India.</p>
</div>
<p>India, since independence, has undergone profound transformations in its <strong>politics-</strong>from the dominant Congress system to Coalition era, its <strong>economics-&nbsp;</strong>from a controlled &ldquo;democratic socialism&rdquo; to a thriving free-enterprise system, its<strong> trade</strong>-from protectionism to liberalization, and its <strong>social relations</strong>- from a rigidly hierarchical caste system to a more egalitarian policy affirming opportunities and outcomes for the &ldquo;lowest&rdquo; castes.</p>
<p>However, in recent years, a prominent change can be observed in the <strong>interpretation of History-</strong> wherein the present times the narrative around the contribution of past leaders is presented differently. One such example is of India&rsquo;s first Prime Minister- Jawahar Lal Nehru.</p>
<p>The five principal pillars of Nehru&rsquo;s legacy to India &mdash; <strong>Nation-building, Democratic institution-building, Secularism, Democratic Socialist economics, and a Novel foreign policy (Non-alignment, Panchsheel)</strong> still form the cardinal values of India.</p>
<p>However, some sections criticise Nehru&rsquo;s policies for being responsible for India&rsquo;s strategic failures as well as domestic problems like the Kashmir dispute. In this context, it is essential to understand the contribution of Nehru in the right context and its relevance for India today.</p>
<h3>Contribution of Nehru</h3>
<p><strong>Institutionalisation of Democracy</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Nehru was committed to the establishment of a strong Indian nation where the concept of equal rights of citizens would override all societal divisions.</li>
<li>Nehru&rsquo;s ideals envisioned in<strong> &lsquo;Objective Resolution&rsquo;,</strong> steered the Constituent Assembly to draw up a working constitution.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>It gave a tremendous leg up to the country&rsquo;s historically discriminated sections like Dalits and religious minorities.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>It was he who established the robust tradition of parliamentary supremacy over the military that prevented India from<strong> becoming another junta-ruled Third World autocracy.</strong></li>
<li>The nature of the <strong>Nehruvian way of politics (debate and deliberation)</strong> led to development of respect for parliamentary procedures, abiding faith in the constitutional system.</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>Ideal of Secularism</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Nehru believed that India belonged to all who had contributed to its history and civilisation, and that the majority community had a special obligation to protect the rights, and promote the well-being, of the minorities.</li>
<li>This helped in building the narrative of <strong>&lsquo;Unity in Diversity&rsquo;.</strong></li>
</ul>
<p><strong>Welfare State</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Through the planned economy approach, Nehru envisaged that in a land of extreme poverty and inequality, the objective of government policy must be the welfare of the poorest, most deprived and most marginalised of the people.</li>
<li>This notion drives the policy of successive governments that poverty and inequality in India cannot be tackled only by the market. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>It can be reflected in <strong>creation of a framework of rights,</strong> including the<a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/mgnrega-and-migrant-crisis" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong> right to work</strong></a>, <a href="/to-the-points/paper3/food-security-1" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>the right to food</strong></a>, the <a href="/to-the-points/Paper2/right-to-education" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>right to education</strong></a> and the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/sc-order-on-land-acquisition" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>right to fair compensation for land</strong></a>, all of which have empowered the poorest of people in India.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>Establishing Institutions of Excellence</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>It was Nehru who built the <strong>scientific base</strong> for India&rsquo;s space and engineering triumphs today. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>With the establishment of what is now the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO), India has achieved the status of Space power today.</li>
<li>With the Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs) established in his tenure, Indians have a worldwide reputation for engineering excellence.</li>
<li>Also, he laid the foundations of a dual-track nuclear programme due to which India achieved nuclear-capable status.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>Also, the economic policies of investing in heavy industries and protecting the nascent manufacturing sector, helped India to substitute imports to a certain extent.</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>Foreign Policy</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>For Nehru, <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/revival-of-non-alignment-movement" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Non-alignment (NAM)</strong></a> was the response to the bipolar divisions of the <a href="/to-the-points/paper1/cold-war" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Cold War era</strong></a>.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>After two centuries of British rule, Nehru was determined to protect the country&rsquo;s strategic autonomy without compromising independence by aligning itself to either superpower in the Cold War.</li>
<li>This policy of NAM, made India one of the most distinguished <strong>leaders of Third World solidarity,</strong> reached out to the rest of the colonised world, and forged a joint front against colonialism and a reinvented imperialism.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>Nehru was also a <strong>skilled exponent of soft power,</strong> much before the term was even coined.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>He developed a role for India in the world based entirely on its civilisational history and its moral standing, as the voice of the oppressed and the marginalised against the hegemony of the day.</li>
<li>This gave India global reputation and prestige across the world for years, and strengthened our self-respect as we stood, proud and independent, on the global stage.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Conclusion</h3>
<p>The <strong>fears of growing intolerance, communalism and inequality</strong> which may disrupt social harmony; debates in Indian<strong> intelligentsia</strong> about the <strong>erosion of democratic values, freedom of speech and autonomy of public institutions;</strong> the emergence of a <strong>new era of the Cold War</strong> between the US and China, marks the relevance of Nehruvian ideology even today.</p>
<p><a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1590753073_image.jpg" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1590753073_image.jpg" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="600" 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: #ebedfa;">
<p><span style="color: #000080;"><em><strong>Drishti Mains Question</strong></em></span></p>
<p>Discuss the contribution of Pandit Jawahar Lal Nehru and its relevance for India, in present times.</p>
</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<p style="text-align: center;"><iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/4Ks0nf8YLFw" 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.thehindu.com/opinion/editorial/the-swarm-the-hindu-editorial-on-locust-attack/article31689895.ece" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>&ldquo;The Swarm&rdquo;</strong></a> which was published in The Hindu on May 28<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/legacy-of-jawahar-lal-nehru'
	],
	(int) 10 => [
		'title' => 'Rise in Foreign Direct Investment',
		'catname' => 'News Analysis',
		'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>According to data released by the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/dipp-renamed-as-dpiit" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT)</strong></a>, total <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/revised-fdi-norms" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Foreign Direct Investment (FDI)</strong></a> in India increased by<strong> 18% to $73.46 billion</strong> in the 2019-20 financial year.</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>DPIIT is under the <strong>Ministry of Commerce and Industry.</strong></li>
</ul>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Total FDI has<strong> doubled from the year 2013-14</strong> when it was only $36 billion.</li>
<li>The total investment by <strong>Foreign Institutional Investors</strong> was $247 million.</li>
<li>The <strong>sectors that attracted the most foreign inflows</strong> during 2019-20 included services, computer software and hardware, telecommunications, trading and automobiles.</li>
<li><strong>Singapore emerged as the largest equity FDI source,</strong> contributing to inflows of $14.67.</li>
<li>The inflows have been attributed to the government&rsquo;s <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/five-years-of-make-in-india" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Make in India</strong> </a>programme.</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Foreign Direct Investment</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>FDI is an investment made by a firm or individual in one country into business interests located in another country.</li>
<li>Generally, FDI takes place when an investor establishes foreign business operations or acquires foreign business assets, including establishing ownership or controlling interest in a foreign company.</li>
<li>It is <strong>different from Foreign Portfolio Investment</strong> where the foreign entity merely buys equity shares of a company. FPI does not provide the investor with control over the business.</li>
<li><strong>Routes through which India gets FDI:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Automatic Route:</strong> In this, the foreign entity does not require the prior approval of the government or the RBI.</li>
<li><strong>Government route:</strong> In this, the foreign entity has to take the approval of the government.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>The <strong>Foreign Investment Facilitation Portal (FIFP)</strong> facilitates the single window clearance of applications which are through approval route.</li>
<li>This portal is administered by the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT).</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</div>
<p><a href="https://indianexpress.com/article/business/total-fdi-jumps-18-to-73-46-billion-in-fy20-6432101/" 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/rise-in-foreign-direct-investment'
	],
	(int) 11 => [
		'title' => 'NHRC’s Notice to Government on Migrant Deaths',
		'catname' => 'News Analysis',
		'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>The <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/nhrc-on-public-s-rights" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>National Human Rights Commission (NHRC)</strong></a> has issued notices to the Union Home Ministry, the Railway Board and the Bihar and Gujarat governments in connection with the <strong>reported deaths of some migrant workers on Shramik Special trains</strong> and the lack of food and water for the passengers on these trains.</p>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The government had <strong>started Shramik Special trains from 1<sup>st</sup> May, 2020</strong> to ferry migrant workers back to their home States after they were stranded in different parts of the country due the<a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/covid-19-and-indian-federalism" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong> Covid-19</strong></a> induced lockdown.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Most of these poor migrants were daily wage workers who lost their work and livelihood as businesses and establishments shut down. In the absence of money and jobs, and bereft of any food, savings, or shelter in large cities, they started moving back to their villages.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>The <strong>NHRC took suo motu (on its own) cognisance</strong> of media reports about the trains not only starting late, but also taking many more days to reach their destinations. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Many migrant labourers lost their lives during their journey due to the longer duration and the absence of arrangements for drinking water and food.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>The Commission observed that the contents of the media reports, if true, amount to <strong>gross violation of human rights.</strong> The State has failed to protect the lives of the poor labourers on board the trains.</li>
<li>The NHRC has issued notices to the Chief Secretaries of Bihar and Gujarat governments, the chairman of the Railway Board and the Union Home Secretary, <strong>seeking their reports within four weeks.</strong></li>
<li>Also, recently, the <strong>Supreme Court</strong> directed that the State from where workers started their journey and the State where they were headed should pool their travel expenses between them. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>During the train journey, railways would be in charge of providing migrant workers drinking water and meals. In case of bus journeys, the State where they started from had to take care of their food and water.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>National Human Rights Commission</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Statutory Body:</strong> NHRC was established on 12<sup>th</sup> October, 1993. The statute under which it is established is the Protection of Human Rights Act (PHRA), 1993 as amended by the Protection of Human Rights (Amendment) Act, 2006.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The PHRA Act also provides for the creation of a State Human Rights Commission at the state level.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>In Line with Paris Principles:</strong> Paris Principles were adopted for the promotion and protection of human rights in October 1991, and were endorsed by the General Assembly of the United Nations in 1993.</li>
<li><strong>Watchdog of Human Rights in the country:</strong> The NHRC is an embodiment of India&rsquo;s concern for the promotion and protection of human rights. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Section 2(1)(d) of the PHRA defines Human Rights as the rights relating to life, liberty, equality and dignity of the individual guaranteed by the Constitution or embodied in the International Covenants and enforceable by courts in India.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Composition:</strong> The commission is a multi-member body consisting of a chairman and five members. The chairperson should be a retired chief justice of India or a judge of the Supreme Court.</li>
<li><strong>Appointment:</strong> The chairman and members are appointed by the President on the recommendations of a six-member committee consisting of the Prime Minister as its head, the Speaker of the Lok Sabha, the Deputy Chairman of the Rajya Sabha, leaders of the Opposition in both the Houses of Parliament and the Union Home Minister.</li>
<li><strong>Tenure:</strong> The chairman and members hold office for a term of three years or until they attain the age of 70 years, whichever is earlier. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The President can remove the chairman or any member from the office under some circumstances.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</div>
<h3>Way Forward</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The Centre does not seem to have<strong> a nationwide action plan</strong> to tally the exact number of labourers stranded in various parts of the country. The government should work with the grass roots administrative mechanism, including the district and panchayats, to create lists accurately identifying the stranded workers.</li>
<li>Preparing a <strong>comprehensive database of the migrant</strong> workers&rsquo; source and destination, demography, employment patterns and skill sets.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>It will help in skill development, providing social security benefits, planning for mass transit of migrant labour and preparing for any contingency plan in emergency situations.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>Migrant workers related issues have complex Centre-State and inter-State dimensions. There is a need to empowerthe<a href="/summary-of-important-reports/capacity-building-for-conflict-resolution-2nd-arc" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong> Inter-State Council</strong></a>, set up under Article 263 of the Constitution to effectively and comprehensively deal with larger issues related to migrant workers.</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/nhrc-issues-notice-to-govt-on-migrant-deaths/article31697865.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/nhrc-s-notice-to-government-on-migrant-deaths'
	],
	(int) 12 => [
		'title' => 'Banana Covid: A Novel Fungal Strain',
		'catname' => 'News Analysis',
		'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>Recently, a novel fungus strain <strong><em>Fusarium wilt TR4</em></strong> has started infecting the Banana plantations in India.</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>It has been described as the equivalent of <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/covid-19-and-india-1" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Covid-19</strong></a> in Bananas. Similar to Covid-19, there is no treatment yet for the new fungal disease.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>The Epicentre:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>In the midst of the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/novel-coronavirus-2019-ncov" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>coronavirus disease outbreak</strong></a>, <em>Fusarium wilt TR4</em>, has devastated plantations across the globe.</li>
<li><strong>Ecuador,</strong> the largest exporter of Banana is currently the epicentre.</li>
<li>Banana is the world&rsquo;s most globally exported fruit and the disease is breaching borders through international trade.</li>
<li>The spreading disease has impacted the $26 billion global banana trade.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>The strain, Tropical Race 4 (TR4):</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>It was first identified in Taiwan, and has moved from Asia to the Middle East and Africa, reaching as far as Latin America.</li>
<li>It cripples plantations by first attacking the leaves, which turn yellow from their trailing edges before wilting away.</li>
<li>According to the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/deforestation-rate-declined" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations</strong></a>, TR4 is one of the <strong>&ldquo;the most destructive of all plant diseases&rdquo;.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Impact in India:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The fungal strain is now spreading and threatening output in India, the world&rsquo;s largest producer of bananas.</li>
<li><strong>Katihar and Purnea in Bihar</strong> and <strong>Maharajganj in Uttar Pradesh</strong> are the hotspots in India.</li>
<li>TR4 has infected the most commonly sold variety, <strong>Grand Nain (musa acuminata).</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li><strong>Grand Nain:</strong> It accounts for 55% of the banana area in the country and accounts for 62% of commerce, including exports.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>Inability to contain TR4 could impact the farm incomes and push up banana prices.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Measures to curb the spread:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Plant Quarantine:</strong> Scientists recommend biosecurity measures including &ldquo;plant quarantine&rdquo; to slow its spread.</li>
<li><strong>Growing Alternative Varieties:</strong> In hotspot Katihar, scientists have set up an experimental farm in which they are growing several cultivars. Cultivars are different varieties of the Banana species and have shown potential resistance to TR4</li>
<li><strong>Biopriming:</strong> The <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/icar-to-set-up-farmers-innovation-fund" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Indian Council of Agricultural Research</strong></a> is advocating a set of measures, known as <strong>Biopriming.</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>It is a treatment of seed with beneficial organisms, as an alternative to treatment with pesticides, prior to sowing.</li>
<li>Seed treatment integrates biological (vaccination of seed with beneficial organism to protect seed) and physiological aspects (seed hydration) of disease control.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Chain of Infection:</strong> It suggests farmers to abandon the crops whose plantations have been affected and grow rice for a year or two before returning to banana. It would help in breaking the chain of infection.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Banana</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Being a tropical crop banana grows well under the following conditions:<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Temperature:</strong> 15&ordm;C &ndash; 35&ordm;C</li>
<li><strong>Rainfall:</strong> an average rainfall of 650-750 mm</li>
<li><strong>Regional variation:</strong> Humid tropics to dry mild subtropics</li>
<li><strong>Soil:</strong> Deep, rich loamy soil is most preferred for banana cultivation</li>
<li><strong>Nutrients:</strong> It has several nutrients like calories, protein, carbohydrate, potassium and trace quantities of vitamin C and B6.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>Fusarium Wilt of Banana</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>It is popularly known as <strong>Panama disease.</strong></li>
<li>It is a lethal fungal disease caused by the soil-borne fungus <em><strong>Fusarium oxysporum.</strong></em></li>
<li>It is the first disease of bananas to have spread globally in the first half of the 20<sup>th</sup> century.</li>
<li>Fusarium has entirely <strong>wiped out Gros Michel,</strong> the dominant export variety of bananas in the 1950s.</li>
<li>It was in response to this, a new resistant variety,<strong> Grand Nain,</strong> came up, which has now fallen to TR4 infection.</li>
</ul>
</div>
<h3>Way Forward</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>There is a need to identify or develop new resistant varieties. A concerted effort is also required from industry, research institutions, government and international organisations to prevent spread of the disease.</li>
<li>Banana plantation is a potential source for ensuring food security. Hence, it is vital for the countries to collaborate and mitigate solutions to prevent the loss of plantation due to fungal infection.</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/now-banana-covid-hits-plantations/story-2ZViGgde0fer1eGi6BnF1N.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Source: HT</strong></a></p>',
		'postdate' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenTime) {},
		'url' => 'https://www.drishtiias.com/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/banana-covid-a-novel-fungal-strain'
	],
	(int) 13 => [
		'title' => 'ADB Loan to Upgrade Maharashtra Roads',
		'catname' => 'News Analysis',
		'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>Recently, the <strong>Asian Development Bank (ADB)</strong> and the<strong> Government of India</strong> have signed a $177 million loan to upgrade state highways and major district roads in the state of Maharashtra.</p>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Coverage:</strong> The project will upgrade 2 major district roads and 11 state highways, with a combined length of 450 km.</li>
<li><strong>Road safety audit framework:</strong> The project will strengthen road safety measures by developing a <strong>road safety audit framework</strong> that will protect vulnerable groups such as the elderly, women, and children, following the best<a href="/loksabha-rajyasabha-discussions/the-big-picture-road-safety-global-goals-2030" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong> international practices.</strong> </a></li>
<li><strong>Update the road maintenance system:</strong> The project will <strong>update the road maintenance system</strong> by encouraging 5-year performance-based maintenance obligations to contractors to sustain asset quality and service levels.</li>
<li><strong>Training PWD staff:</strong> The project will focus on training the<strong> Maharashtra Public Works Department</strong> project staff <strong>to build their capacity in climate change adaptation</strong> and<strong> disaster resilient features in road design, road maintenance planning and road safety.</strong></li>
<li><strong>Improve connectivity:</strong> It will improve connectivity to national highways, interstate roads, seaports, airports, rail hubs, district headquarters, industrial areas, enterprise clusters and agricultural areas.</li>
<li><strong>Benefits:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Better connectivity will increase access to markets, employment opportunities and services.</li>
<li>Improved mobility will expand development and livelihood opportunities outside of the state&rsquo;s major urban centers to second-tier cities and towns thus reducing income disparities.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Asian Development Bank</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>ADB is a <strong>regional development bank</strong> established on<strong> 19<sup>th</sup> December 1966.</strong></li>
<li>ADB now has <strong>68 members, 49 from within Asia.</strong></li>
<li>As of 31 December 2019, ADB&rsquo;s five largest shareholders are Japan and the United States (each with 15.6% of total shares), the People&rsquo;s Republic of China (6.4%), India (6.3%), and Australia (5.8%).</li>
<li>It aims to promote social and economic development in <strong>Asia and the Pacific.</strong></li>
<li>ADB is committed to achieving a prosperous, inclusive, resilient, and sustainable Asia and the Pacific, while sustaining its efforts to eradicate extreme poverty.</li>
<li>ADB is <strong>headquartered in Manila, Philippines.</strong></li>
</ul>
</div>
<p><a href="https://pib.gov.in/PressReleseDetailm.aspx?PRID=1627386" 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/adb-loan-to-upgrade-maharashtra-roads'
	],
	(int) 14 => [
		'title' => 'USA Bill to Put Sanction on China',
		'catname' => 'News Analysis',
		'desc' => '<p>Recently, the United States House of Representatives approved a legislation<strong> calling for sanctions on Chinese officials responsible for oppression of Uighur Muslims.</strong></p>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The bill calls for sanctions against those responsible for repression of Uighurs and other Muslim groups in China&rsquo;s Xinjiang province.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>According to the <a href="/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-international-institution/united-nations-1" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>United Nations</strong> </a>estimates, more than <strong>one million Uighurs Muslims and members of other largely Muslim minority groups</strong> have been <strong>detained in camps</strong> in <strong>Xinjiang</strong> in a crackdown.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>The bill also calls on USA companies or individuals operating in the Xinjiang region to take steps to ensure their products do not include parts using forced labor of Uighurs.</li>
<li>By passing the bill, the United States Congress has taken a firm step to counter China&rsquo;s human rights abuses against the Uighurs. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>It has sent a clear message that the Chinese government cannot act with impunity.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>However,<strong> China denies the mistreatment in the camps</strong> and says the camps provide vocational training. China also <strong>refuses to allow independent inspections.</strong></li>
<li>The bill has now been sent to the White House for President Donald Trump to veto or sign into law.</li>
<li>This approval of legislation should be observed in the context of recent developments in the US-China relationship which have become increasingly tense. Few noteworthy developments are:<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Covid-19 Blame:</strong> The <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/push-for-probe-into-covid-19-origin" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>USA President has blamed China</strong></a> again and again for worsening the Covid-19 pandemic.</li>
<li><strong>Trade War:</strong> Growing <a href="/to-the-points/paper3/trade-war-6" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>trade war</strong></a> between USA and China.</li>
<li><strong>Issue of Panchen Lama: <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/release-of-11th-panchen-lama" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Over the release of Tibetan Buddhism&rsquo;s 11<sup>th</sup> Panchen Lama</a>,</strong> who was taken into captivity at the age of six.</li>
<li><strong>Hong Kong&rsquo;s Autonomy:</strong> China has approved a proposal for <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/new-security-law-in-hong-kong" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>bringing new national security legislation</strong></a> in Hong Kong, despite apprehensions raised by the USA.</li>
<li><strong>South China Sea:</strong> China&rsquo;s growing assertiveness <strong>over the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/china-in-south-china-sea" target="_blank" rel="noopener">South China Sea</a>.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Uighurs Muslims</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The Uighurs are a predominantly <strong>Muslim minority Turkic ethnic group,</strong> whose <strong>origins can be traced to Central and East Asia.</strong></li>
<li>The Uighurs are considered to be one of the 55 officially recognized ethnic minority communities in China.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>However, <strong>China recognises the community only as a regional minority</strong> and rejects that they are an indigenous group.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>Currently, the largest population of the Uighur ethnic community lives in<strong> Xinjiang region of China.</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>A significant population of Uighurs also lives in the neighbouring Central Asian countries such as Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan and Kazakhstan.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</div>
<h3>Way Forward</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>With the USA signing out of major global deals and taking a backstage in global scenario, China certainly has taken advantage of this and has become more assertive in recent past. It&rsquo;s up to the global community now to fix responsibility and accountability of major powers according to international laws and humanitarian values.</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="https://in.reuters.com/article/usa-china-xinjiang/u-s-bill-to-pressure-china-over-uighur-rights-goes-to-trump-for-decision-idINKBN2340QR" 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/usa-bill-to-put-sanction-on-china'
	],
	(int) 15 => [
		'title' => 'Drop in Institutional Deliveries',
		'catname' => 'News Analysis',
		'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>Recently, the data from the states of <strong>Chhattisgarh and Jharkhand</strong> has reported a <strong>drop in the institutional deliveries.</strong></p>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Current Scenario in Two States:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Chattisgarh:</strong> It has recorded a<strong> drop by 15.39 % in April</strong> compared to the numbers recorded in March.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>In February 2020, before the lockdown was imposed, the State had recorded 37,984 institutional deliveries . But following the lockdown, the number of institutional deliveries fell to 32,529.</li>
<li>The State has recorded an increase in the percentage of institutional deliveries from 44.9 to 70.2 between NFHS 3 (2005-06) and NFHS 4 (2015-16).</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Jharkhand:</strong> The state had listed 52,000 women for scheduled deliveries in May, out of these only 5.9 % of these were conducted in medical institutions by May 21.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>The State has recorded an increase in the percentage of institutional deliveries from 40.1 % to 61.9 % between NFHS 3 (2005-06) and NFHS 4 (2015-16).</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Reasons for Drop in Institutional Deliveries:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The <strong>public transport</strong> has been majorly affected due to <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/21-days-lockdown" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>nationwide lockdown</strong></a> <strong>imposed</strong> to contain the spread of the <strong><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/covid-19-now-pandemic-who" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Covid-19 pandemic.</a>&nbsp;</strong>Thus reaching hospitals from villages became difficult.</li>
<li>The declared Covid-19 hospitals have created a <strong>fear of infection</strong> and thus people are <strong>avoiding physical contacts</strong> with the hospitals.</li>
<li>Many deliveries are<strong> being carried out at small private nursing homes</strong> to avoid movement and related Covid-19 spread.</li>
<li>The entire health machinery is battling Covid-19, so <strong>non-Covid health services experience a lack of medical staff.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Institutional Deliveries in India</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Description:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Institutional delivery means <strong>giving birth to a child in a medical institution</strong> under the overall<strong> supervision of trained and competent health personnel.</strong></li>
<li>It also signifies an availability of amenities to handle the situation and save the life of the mother and child.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>National Scenario:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Over the past two decades, India has made <strong>progress in increasing the number of institutional deliveries.</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>According to the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/anaemia-in-women" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>National Family Health Survey (NFHS-4)</strong></a>, institutional deliveries have<strong> increased from 39% in 2005-06 to 79% in 2015-16.</strong></li>
<li>Further, the institutional births in public institutions have<strong> increased from 18% to 52%</strong> in the same time period.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Step Taken to Increase Institutional Deliveries:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Janani Suraksha Yojana :</strong> <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/national-health-mission-and-janani-suraksha-yojana" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Janani Suraksha Yojana (JSY)</strong></a> is a <strong>100% <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/proposal-to-hike-monthly-pensions" target="_blank" rel="noopener">centrally sponsored scheme</a></strong> which is being implemented with the objective of<strong> reducing maternal and infant mortality</strong> by promoting institutional delivery among pregnant women.</li>
<li><strong>Pradhan Mantri Surakshit Matritva Abhiyan (PMSMA):</strong> It has been launched to focus on conducting special AnteNatal Check-ups (ANC) check up on 9th of every month with the help of Medical officers to detect and<strong> treat cases of anaemia.</strong></li>
<li><strong>Pradhan Mantri Matru Vandana Yojana (PMMVY) :</strong> It is a<strong> maternity benefit programme</strong> being implemented in all districts of the country with effect from 1st January, 2017.</li>
<li><strong>LaQshya Programme : <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/laqshya-labour-room-quality-improvement-initiative" target="_blank" rel="noopener">LaQshya (Labour room Quality Improvement Initiative)</a></strong> intended to improve the quality of care in the labour room and maternity operation theatres in public health facilities.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</div>
<h3>Way Forward</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The entire health machinery is battling Covid-19 but non-Covid health services <strong>should not compromise</strong> which are the<strong> base of the health infrastructure</strong> of the country.</li>
<li>The government should ensure adequate<strong> availability of medical staff, emergency medical services</strong> such as ambulance, vaccinations, maternity care,etc. to the <strong>urban as well as rural areas.</strong></li>
<li>The <strong>balance of the Covid and non-Covid medical services</strong> is need of the hour and the government needs to ensure the implementation of the same in the future.</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="https://indianexpress.com/article/india/coronavirus-lockdown-institutional-deliveries-dip-in-chhattisgarh-jharkhand-6432219/" 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/drop-in-institutional-deliveries'
	],
	(int) 16 => [
		'title' => '22nd Meeting of FSDC',
		'catname' => 'News Analysis',
		'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>Recently, the <strong>22<sup>nd</sup> meeting</strong> of the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/financial-stability-report" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Financial Stability and Development Council (FSDC)</strong></a> chaired by the <strong>Finance Minister</strong> was held through a video conference.</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The meeting reviewed issues relating to market volatility, domestic resource mobilisation and capital flows in the country in the wake of <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/covid-19-now-pandemic-who" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Covid-19 pandemic</strong></a> and the<a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/21-days-lockdown" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong> nation-wide lockdown</strong></a> imposed to contain it.</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Financial Stability and Development Council</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Establishment:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The Financial Stability and Development Council (FSDC) is a<strong> non-statutory apex</strong> council under the<strong> Ministry of Finance</strong> constituted by the <strong>Executive Order</strong> in <strong>2010.</strong></li>
<li>The <strong>Raghuram Rajan committee (2008)</strong> on financial sector reforms first proposed the creation of FSDC.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Composition:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>It is <strong>chaired by the Finance Minister</strong> and its members include the heads of all Financial Sector Regulators (RBI, SEBI, PFRDA &amp; IRDA), Finance Secretary, Secretary of Department of Economic Affairs (DEA), Secretary of Department of Financial Services (DFS), and Chief Economic Adviser.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>In 2018, the government reconstituted FSDC to include the Minister of State responsible for the Department of Economic Affairs (DEA), Secretary of Department of Electronics and Information Technology, Chairperson of the <a href="/to-the-points/paper3/insolvency-and-bankruptcy-code-3" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Insolvency and Bankruptcy Board of India (IBBI)</strong></a> and the Revenue Secretary.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>FSDC <strong>sub-committee</strong> is<strong> headed</strong> by the <strong>Governor of RBI.</strong></li>
<li>The Council<strong> can invite experts</strong> to its meeting if required.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Functions:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The objective of FSDC is<strong> to strengthen and institutionalize</strong> the mechanism for maintaining<strong> financial stability,</strong> enhancing<strong> inter-regulatory coordination</strong> and promoting financial sector development.</li>
<li>It also intends to monitor macro-prudential supervision of the economy. It will assess the functioning of the large financial conglomerates.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</div>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Covid-19 as a Threat to Global Economy:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The Council has noted that the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/impact-of-covid-19-on-global-economy" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Covid-19 pandemic poses a serious threat to the stability of the global financial system</strong></a>, as the ultimate impact of the crisis and the <strong>timing of recovery remains uncertain.</strong></li>
<li>The pandemic has thrown the global economy into its <strong>worst recession since the Great Depression in the 1930s,</strong> and India is no exception.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Projected Domestic Economic Growth:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Domestic economic growth is expected to <strong>contract for the first time in forty years in FY21 (April 2020 to March 2021).</strong></li>
<li>Crisil, Goldman Sachs and Fitch Ratings have projected the Indian economy to contract 5% during the current financial year.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Announced Measures and its Impact:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The Council quoted the various<strong> short term</strong> <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/atmanirbhar-bharat-and-economic-stimulus" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>fiscal measures taken by the government</strong></a> and <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/rbi-s-covid-19-economic-relief-package" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>monetary measures taken by the Reserve Bank of India (RBI)</strong></a> to address the liquidity and capital requirements of the financial institutions to manage the economic scenario due to global pandemic.</li>
<li>It also reviewed the <strong>liquidity and solvency position</strong> of the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/A%20nuanced%20understanding%20of%20the%20NBFC%20sector" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Non-Banking Financial Companies (NBFCs)</strong></a>, <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/liquidity-boost-to-nbfcs" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>housing finance companies</strong></a> and <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/guidelines-for-licencing-of-small-finance-banks" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>micro-finance institutions</strong></a>.</li>
<li>Moratoriums on loan payments due to pandemic induced lockdowns have put a pressure on inflows of these companies while banks have turned resistant to lend them in the wake of possible defaults. NBFCs have also sought moratorium on their dues to banks.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Role of Government and Regulators:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>It highlighted the need for the <strong>government and regulators to remain vigilant</strong> on financial conditions that could expose systemic vulnerabilities in the<strong> medium and long-term.</strong></li>
<li>The Council stressed that the government and regulators would continue to provide <strong>liquidity and capital support</strong> to domestic financial institutions.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>It is expected to provide comfort to the markets, which are disturbed by the extreme volatility due to pandemic.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Way Forward</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The financial system resilience, fiscal support, regulatory flexibility and liquidity provision announced till date have ensured that the financial system is supportive of economic recovery but <strong>more protracted slowdown may present new risks to the financial system.</strong></li>
<li>There is a possibility that the current crisis<strong> may transform from a &ldquo;liquidity phase" into a &ldquo;solvency phase".</strong> Thus, governments need to consider a range of policy tools, including efficient bankruptcy and restructuring systems, government guarantees for private investments, programmes for sector-specific government equity injections, and establishing asset management companies.</li>
<li>Thus, FSDC is expected to take further appropriate measures to bolster the liquidity and capital base of domestic financial institutions which would stabilize financial sectors for long term.</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="https://indianexpress.com/article/business/fm-nirmala-sitharaman-takes-stock-of-economy-in-1st-fsdc-meet-after-covid-outbreak-6432097/" 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/22nd-meeting-of-fsdc'
	],
	(int) 17 => [
		'title' => 'Veer Savarkar Jayanti',
		'catname' => 'News Analysis',
		'desc' => '<h3>Why In News</h3>
<p>On <strong>28<sup>th</sup> May,</strong> India paid tribute to the freedom fighter, <strong>Vinayak Damodar Savarkar (Veer Savarkar)</strong> on his<strong> birth anniversary.<a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1590737153_image1.png" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1590737153_image1.png" style="float: right;" width="200" caption="false" /></a></strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>He was an Indian independence activist, politician, lawyer and writer.</li>
<li>He is also known as <strong>Swatantryaveer Savarkar.</strong></li>
</ul>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Birth:</strong> VD Savarkar was born on <strong>28<sup>th</sup> May,&nbsp;</strong>1883 in Bhagur, a village near Nashik in Maharashtra.</li>
<li><strong>Related Organisations and Work:</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Founded a secret society called <strong>Abhinav Bharat Society.</strong></li>
<li>Went to the United Kingdom and was involved with organizations such as <strong>India House</strong> and the <strong>Free India Society.</strong></li>
<li>Involved in the formation of <strong>Hindu Mahasabha.</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>He was the <strong>president of Hindu Mahasabha from 1937 to 1943.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>Savarkar wrote a book titled <strong>&lsquo;The History of the War of Indian Independence&rsquo;</strong> in which he wrote about the guerilla warfare tricks used in <a href="/mains-practice-question/question-179" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>1857 Sepoy Mutiny</strong></a>.</li>
<li>He also wrote the book<strong> &lsquo;Hindutva: who is hindu?&rsquo;.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Trial and Sentences:</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Arrested in 1909 on charges of plotting an armed revolt against the <a href="/mains-practice-question/question-193" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Morley-Minto reform (Indian Councils Act 1909)</strong></a>.</li>
<li>Arrested in 1910 for his<strong> connections with the revolutionary group India House.</strong></li>
<li>One of the charges on Savarkar was abetment to murder of Nashik Collector Jackson and the second was waging a conspiracy under Indian penal code 121-A against the King emperor.</li>
<li>Following the two trials, Savarkar was convicted and sentenced to<strong> 50-years imprisonment also known as Kala Pani</strong> and transported in 1911 to the <strong>Cellular Jail</strong> in the <strong>Andaman and Nicobar Islands.</strong></li>
<li>He was<strong> not considered by the British government as a political prisoner.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Death:</strong> He died on 26<sup>th</sup> February 1966 due to fasting on his own wish of death.</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Abhinav Bharat Society (Young India Society)</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>It was a secret society founded by Vinayak Damodar Savarkar and his brother Ganesh Damodar Savarkar in 1904.</li>
<li>Initially founded at Nasik as Mitra Mela, the society was associated with several revolutionaries and political activists with branches in various parts of India and London.</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>India House</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>It was founded by <strong>Shyamji Kishan Verma</strong> in 1905 in London.</li>
<li>It was opened to promote nationalist views among Indian students in London.</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>Free India Society</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>It was a political organization of Indian students in England, committed to obtaining the independence of India from British rule.</li>
<li>Initially an intellectual group, it became a revolutionary outfit under its founding leader, <strong>Madam Bhikaji Cama.</strong></li>
</ul>
<p><strong>Hindu Mahasabha</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>It was a political party formed in <strong>1933.</strong></li>
<li>It was founded by Veer Damodar Savarkar, Lala Lajpat Rai, Madan Mohan Malviya.</li>
<li>The organisation was formed to protect the rights of the Hindu community, after the formation of the All India Muslim League in 1906 and the British India government's creation of separate Muslim electorate under the Morley-Minto reforms of 1909.</li>
</ul>
</div>
<p><a href="https://pib.gov.in/PressReleaseIframePage.aspx?PRID=1627350" 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/veer-savarkar-jayanti'
	],
	(int) 18 => [
		'title' => 'State Election Commission’s Autonomy',
		'catname' => 'News Editorials',
		'desc' => '<div class="border">
<p>This article is based on <a href="https://indianexpress.com/article/opinion/web-edits/securing-election-commissions-autonomy-6428281/" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Securing Election Commission&rsquo;s autonomy</strong></a> published in The Indian Express on 26/05/2020. It talks about the challenges with the functioning of the election commission institution in India.</p>
</div>
<p>Free and fair elections form the bedrock of a democratic country. In India, the constitution envisages an <a href="/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-national-institutions/election-commission-of-india" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Election Commission of India</strong></a> (ECI) and State Election Commissions (SEC) for every state to safeguard the free and fair election and grants them with certain constitutional safeguards to secure their independent functioning.</p>
<p>However, the recent <strong>removal of Andhra Pradesh State Election Commissioner via an ordinance route</strong> is an example encroaching upon the independence of the Constitutional body especially in the light of political accusations and vested interests.</p>
<p>This development not only threatens institutional autonomy but also falls foul of the constitutional provisions. Though the Election Commission of India is facing issues of autonomy due to political interference, the situation at the level of state election commission is more grim.</p>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Note:</strong></p>
<p>The ordinance promulgated by Andhra Pradesh Governor reduced the term of State Election Commissioner in the state from five years to three years and altered the qualifications (only those who served as a High Court judge can now occupy the post, earlier it was an officer of the rank of Principal Secretary &amp; above) required to be the SEC.</p>
</div>
<h3>Significance of Election Commission Institution</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>It is the <strong>guardian</strong> of free and reasonable elections in India.</li>
<li>It enforces the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/democracy-model-code-conduct-india-polity-governance-election-commission-gktoday-insights-on" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Model Code of Conduct (MCC)</strong></a> before every election to be followed by the different candidates and parties so that the decorum of the electoral process is maintained well.</li>
<li>It creates awareness about the electoral process and electoral governance amongst stakeholders namely, voters, political parties, election functionaries, candidates and people at large; and to enhance and strengthen confidence and trust in the electoral system of this country.</li>
<li>The Election Commission prescribes the limits of campaign expenditure by the candidates and parties and monitors the spending too.</li>
<li>The body also mandates that the political parties submit their audited financial reports regularly.</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>State Election Commissions (SECs)</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The State Election Commission has been entrusted with the function of conducting free, fair and impartial elections to the local bodies in the state.</li>
<li><strong>Article 243K(1):</strong> It states that the superintendence, direction and control of the preparation of electoral rolls for, and the conduct of, all elections to the Panchayats (Municipalities under Article 243ZA) shall be vested in a State Election Commission consisting of a State Election Commissioner to be appointed by the Governor.</li>
<li><strong>Article 243K(2):</strong> It states that the tenure and appointment will be directed as per the law made by the state legislature. However, State Election Commissioner shall not be removed from his/her office except in like manner and on the like grounds as a Judge of a High Court.</li>
</ul>
</div>
<h3>Challenges With Functioning of Election Commission Institution</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Lack of Autonomy:</strong> Although the state election commission on many occasions tried to exercise its duties enshrined in the constitution of India, they struggled to assert their independence. For example:
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>In Maharashtra, SEC had asserted that he should have the power to hold elections to the offices of mayor, deputy mayor, sarpanch and deputy sarpanch.</li>
<li>On the contrary, he was arrested and sent to jail for two days in March 2008 after the Legislative Assembly found him guilty of breach of privilege in an alleged conflict over his jurisdiction and powers.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Lack of Safeguard for SEC:</strong> Though the State Election Commissioner shall not be removed from his/her office except in like manner and on the like grounds as a Judge of a High Court (Art 243K(2)), yet it has been diluted on many instances.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>In the <strong>Aparmita Prasad Singh vs. State of U.P.</strong> (2007) the Allahabad High Court held that if the Governor has power to fix or prescribe tenure by rule, he also enjoys the power to amend the rule, either for extending the term of the tenure or reducing the same.</li>
<li>Once the prescribed tenure comes to end, the incumbent SEC must cease to hold office and this shall not amount to removal from office.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Non Uniform Service Conditions for SECs:</strong> Article 243K(2) states that the tenure and appointment will be directed as per the law made by the state legislature and thus each SEC is governed by a separate state Act.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>This gives power to states to amend rules unilaterally and even sometimes take ordinance routes to bypass legislative scrutiny like the recent example of Andhra Pradesh SEC.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Steps To Be Taken</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Supreme Court Directive</strong>
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The state governments need to follow the guidelines given by the Supreme Court in <strong>Kishan Singh Tomar vs Municipal Corporation</strong> of Ahmedabad case:</li>
<li>The provisions of Article 243K of the Constitution, which provides for setting up of SECs, are almost identical to those of Article 324 related to the ECI.</li>
<li>Also, the state governments should abide by orders of the SECs during the conduct of the panchayat and municipal elections, just like they follow the instructions of the EC during Assembly and Parliament polls.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Second Administrative Reforms Commission Recommendation</strong>
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Constitution of the State Election Commission:</strong> The State Election Commissioner should be appointed by the Governor on the recommendation of a collegium, comprising the Chief Minister, the Speaker of the State Legislative Assembly and the Leader of Opposition in the Legislative Assembly.</li>
<li>An institutional mechanism should be created to bring the Election Commission of India and the SECs on a common platform for coordination, learning from each other&rsquo;s experiences and sharing of resources.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Law Commission 255<sup>th</sup> Report on Electoral Reforms</strong>
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>It recommended, to add a new sub-clause to Article 324 of the Constitution to provide for a separate independent and permanent Secretariat for the ECI along the lines of the Lok Sabha/Rajya Sabha Secretariats under Article 98 of the Constitution.</li>
<li>Similar provisions can also be made for the State Election Commissions to ensure autonomy, and free and fair local body election.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Conclusion</h3>
<p>Election commissions are one of the bulwarks of the democratic system in India and thus securing their institutional integrity is a task that falls on all three branches &mdash;executive, judiciary and legislature. The unwarranted interference by one organ of the state in the functioning of others should be discouraged to achieve a robust electoral system.</p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1590665948_image1.png" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1590665948_image1.png" 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: #fffbe0;">
<p><span style="color: #000080;"><em><strong>Drishti Mains Question</strong></em></span></p>
<p>&ldquo;Free and fair elections form the bedrock of a democratic country.&rdquo; In the light of the statement critically analyse the role of the election authorities in India.</p>
</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<p style="text-align: center;"><iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/Jqp8b1xSLn0" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe></p>
<p>This editorial is based on <strong><a href="https://indianexpress.com/article/opinion/editorials/unlocking-justice-6428688/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">&ldquo;Unlocking Justice&rdquo;</a></strong> which was published in The Indian Express on May 27<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/state-election-commission-s-autonomy'
	],
	(int) 19 => [
		'title' => 'MSMEs Loans to Get ‘Risk-Free’ Tag',
		'catname' => 'News Analysis',
		'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>The <a href="/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-national-institutions/important-institutions-national-institution-reserve-bank-of-india" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Reserve Bank of India (RBI)</strong></a> is likely to <strong>allow banks to assign zero risk weight for loans</strong> that will be extended to the <a href="/to-the-points/paper3/micro-small-and-medium-enterprises-msme" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Micro, Medium and Small Enterprises (MSMEs)</strong></a> under the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/atmanirbhar-bharat-and-economic-stimulus" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Rs.20 lakh crore economic package</strong></a> announced by the Union government.</p>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>As a part of the package, a Rs.3 lakh crore loan for the MSME sector was announced.</li>
<li>However, such loans <strong>would attract a risk weight of a minimum 20%</strong> since these loans <strong>did not come with direct government guarantee.</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The claims will not be settled unconditionally. The government will ask questions and see the loan appraisal process once a claim is made when the borrower defaults.</li>
<li>And, if the claim is not settled, banks have to make provision in line with the age of default.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>This facility is similar to the loans that are guaranteed by the <strong>Credit Guarantee Fund Trust for Micro and Small Enterprises (CGTMSE).</strong></li>
<li>The government has made available a corpus of Rs. 41,600 crore for the Rs. 3 lakh crore scheme. The<strong> government is factoring in less than 15%<a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/solving-the-npa-crisis-in-india" target="_blank" rel="noopener"> non-performing assets</a>, as of now.</strong></li>
<li>After banks highlighted the issue of risk weight associated with the loan with the government, the government has asked the RBI to waive the requirement of assigning a risk weight to the loans.</li>
<li><strong>Benefit:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Zero risk would mean that banks will not have to set aside additional capital for these loans.</li>
<li>The move will encourage lenders to extend credit, as banks have turned risk averse and have been reluctant to lend.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Rs. 3 lakh crore scheme</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Under the scheme,<strong> 100% guarantee coverage</strong> will be provided by the <strong>National Credit Guarantee Trustee Company Limited (NCGTC)</strong> to eligible MSMEs, in the form of a <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/economic-stimulus-i" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Guaranteed Emergency Credit Line (GECL) facility</strong></a>.</li>
<li>Though primarily meant for the MSME sector, other small borrowers including the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/A%20nuanced%20understanding%20of%20the%20NBFC%20sector" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Non-banking Financial Companies (NBFCs)</strong></a> can also avail themselves of the scheme.</li>
<li>The <strong>tenure of loan under this scheme is four years</strong> with a moratorium period of one year on the principal amount.</li>
<li>The scheme would be applicable to all loans sanctioned under GECL till 31st October, 2020 or till an amount of Rs.3 lakh crore is sanctioned, whichever is earlier.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Credit offered by CGTMSE</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Credit Guarantee Fund Trust for Micro and Small Enterprises (CGTMSE)</strong> was set up by the <strong>Government of India</strong> and <strong>Small Industries Development Bank of India (SIDBI).</strong></li>
<li>CGTMSE has introduced a new <strong>"Hybrid Security"</strong> product allowing guarantee cover for the portion of the credit facility not covered by collateral security.</li>
<li>In the partial collateral security model, the Member Lending Institutions (MLIs) will be allowed to obtain collateral security for a part of the credit facility, whereas the remaining part of the credit facility, up to a maximum of Rs. 200 lakh, can be covered under Credit <strong>Guarantee Scheme</strong> of CGTMSE.</li>
<li>The main objective is that the <strong>lender should give importance to project viability and secure the credit facility</strong> purely on the primary security of the assets financed.</li>
<li>The other objective is that the <strong>lender availing guarantee facility should endeavor to give composite credit to the borrowers</strong> so that the borrowers obtain both term loan and working capital facilities from a single agency.</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>National Credit Guarantee Trustee Company Limited</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>National Credit Guarantee Trustee Company Limited (NCGTC) is a <strong>Union Government Company.</strong> It is classified as a company<strong> limited by shares.</strong></li>
<li>It was set up by the Government of India to, inter alia, <strong>act as a common trustee company to manage and operate various credit guarantee trust funds.</strong></li>
</ul>
</div>
<p><a href="https://www.thehindu.com/business/loans-to-msmes-may-get-risk-free-tag/article31689534.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/msmes-loans-to-get-risk-free-tag'
	]
]
$updates = object(Cake\ORM\Query) {

	'(help)' => 'This is a Query object, to get the results execute or iterate it.',
	'sql' => 'SELECT articles.article_id AS `articles__article_id`, articles.category_id AS `articles__category_id`, articles.title AS `articles__title`, articles.description AS `articles__description`, articles.shortdescription AS `articles__shortdescription`, articles.featuredimage AS `articles__featuredimage`, articles.tag_id AS `articles__tag_id`, articles.secondary_tag AS `articles__secondary_tag`, articles.type AS `articles__type`, articles.publishon AS `articles__publishon`, articles.posturl AS `articles__posturl`, articles.metatitle AS `articles__metatitle`, articles.metadescription AS `articles__metadescription`, articles.metakeyword AS `articles__metakeyword`, articles.status AS `articles__status`, articles.sort_order AS `articles__sort_order`, articles.addedby AS `articles__addedby`, articles.updatedby AS `articles__updatedby`, articles.added AS `articles__added`, articles.modified AS `articles__modified`, articles.whatsnewid AS `articles__whatsnewid`, articles.display_printpdf AS `articles__display_printpdf`, articles.display_comments AS `articles__display_comments`, articles.pdf_name AS `articles__pdf_name`, articles.display_archive AS `articles__display_archive`, articles.star_rating AS `articles__star_rating` FROM articles articles WHERE status = :c0 ORDER BY publishon desc LIMIT 10',
	'params' => [
		':c0' => [
			[maximum depth reached]
		]
	],
	'defaultTypes' => [
		'articles__article_id' => 'integer',
		'articles.article_id' => 'integer',
		'article_id' => 'integer',
		'articles__category_id' => 'integer',
		'articles.category_id' => 'integer',
		'category_id' => 'integer',
		'articles__title' => 'string',
		'articles.title' => 'string',
		'title' => 'string',
		'articles__description' => 'text',
		'articles.description' => 'text',
		'description' => 'text',
		'articles__shortdescription' => 'string',
		'articles.shortdescription' => 'string',
		'shortdescription' => 'string',
		'articles__featuredimage' => 'string',
		'articles.featuredimage' => 'string',
		'featuredimage' => 'string',
		'articles__tag_id' => 'integer',
		'articles.tag_id' => 'integer',
		'tag_id' => 'integer',
		'articles__secondary_tag' => 'text',
		'articles.secondary_tag' => 'text',
		'secondary_tag' => 'text',
		'articles__type' => 'integer',
		'articles.type' => 'integer',
		'type' => 'integer',
		'articles__publishon' => 'datetime',
		'articles.publishon' => 'datetime',
		'publishon' => 'datetime',
		'articles__posturl' => 'string',
		'articles.posturl' => 'string',
		'posturl' => 'string',
		'articles__metatitle' => 'string',
		'articles.metatitle' => 'string',
		'metatitle' => 'string',
		'articles__metadescription' => 'string',
		'articles.metadescription' => 'string',
		'metadescription' => 'string',
		'articles__metakeyword' => 'text',
		'articles.metakeyword' => 'text',
		'metakeyword' => 'text',
		'articles__status' => 'integer',
		'articles.status' => 'integer',
		'status' => 'integer',
		'articles__sort_order' => 'integer',
		'articles.sort_order' => 'integer',
		'sort_order' => 'integer',
		'articles__addedby' => 'integer',
		'articles.addedby' => 'integer',
		'addedby' => 'integer',
		'articles__updatedby' => 'integer',
		'articles.updatedby' => 'integer',
		'updatedby' => 'integer',
		'articles__added' => 'timestamp',
		'articles.added' => 'timestamp',
		'added' => 'timestamp',
		'articles__modified' => 'timestamp',
		'articles.modified' => 'timestamp',
		'modified' => 'timestamp',
		'articles__whatsnewid' => 'integer',
		'articles.whatsnewid' => 'integer',
		'whatsnewid' => 'integer',
		'articles__display_printpdf' => 'integer',
		'articles.display_printpdf' => 'integer',
		'display_printpdf' => 'integer',
		'articles__display_comments' => 'integer',
		'articles.display_comments' => 'integer',
		'display_comments' => 'integer',
		'articles__pdf_name' => 'string',
		'articles.pdf_name' => 'string',
		'pdf_name' => 'string',
		'articles__display_archive' => 'integer',
		'articles.display_archive' => 'integer',
		'display_archive' => 'integer',
		'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) 131
$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

Achievers Corner

Prelims

Mains & Interview

Current Affairs

Drishti Specials

Free Downloads

Test Series

Videos

Search

Search list matched with tags “class”