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The Big Picture: Electoral Politics- Need for Reform

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			'title' => 'The Big Picture: Electoral Politics- Need for Reform',
			'catname' => 'Lok Sabha & Rajya Sabha Discussions',
			'desc' => '<p style="text-align: center;"><iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/BdLb_HMiEGU" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe></p>
<p>Recently at a conference on <strong>&lsquo;Money Power in Politics&rsquo;,</strong> the Vice President M. Venkaiah Naidu highlighted Indian experience with democracy as a remarkable success story. However, he pointed out <strong>two distortions</strong> that require urgent attention:</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Use of <strong>enormous money power</strong> in politics and elections,</li>
<li>Increasing <strong>attempts to entice the voters</strong> with short-term benefits (in the form of populist schemes for electoral advantage) at the cost of governance, besides adversely impacting the long-term interests of the poor and the middle class.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Indian Democracy</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>India is a vibrant democracy with people electing their representatives at several levels beginning from local bodies &amp; panchayats to the Parliament.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>India has <a href="/to-the-points/Paper2/parliamentary-reforms-in-india" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Parliamentary system of governance</strong></a> which is based on Britain&rsquo;s Westminster model of <strong>constitutional democracy.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>Elections in India (world&rsquo;s second-most populous country) seek overwhelming popular participation, where electoral candidates try to woo the voters by promising long-term reforms, such as better governance, greater socioeconomic equity, poverty alleviation, etc.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>However, corrupt politicians with criminal records, caste- and religion-based politics, and allegations of vote-buying, have defeated the very purpose of such democratic process.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Present Issues</h3>
<p>India&rsquo;s political culture has been vitiated by unprecedented waves of <strong>populism, jingoism, sectarianism and confrontational politics.</strong></p>
<p><strong>Money Power &amp; Freebies</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Expenditure:</strong> There are three drivers of expenditure in elections viz. <em><strong>legitimate electioneering cost, party running cost, and TV air time cost.</strong></em>
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>However, the accounted legitimate expenditure is a mere percentage of actual spending by the candidate and their corresponding political parties. According to the report of the <strong>National Commission to Review the Working of the Constitution</strong> (NCRWC), high cost of elections creates a high degree of compulsion for corruption in the public arena.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Vote-buying:</strong> The rise of illegitimate expenditure on<strong> vote-buying</strong> has become a matter of great concern as it is making only the rich to be more qualified to become an MP (Member of Parliament) or an MLA (Member of the Legislative Assembly) over a well-qualified public-spirited person.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>As can be seen, out of 533 candidates elected to the <strong>17<sup>th</sup> Lok Sabha</strong> (2019-present), 475 Parliamentarians (accounting for <strong>88%</strong>) are <strong>&lsquo;crorepatis&rsquo;.</strong> This reflects the paradoxical situation of poor India with rich Parliamentarians raising concerns about the growing role of money power in politics.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Freebies: Freebie</strong> is something <strong>provided or given free of charge,</strong> ranging from rice at cheapest rates to laptops &amp; bicycles. These promises may be targeted at particular groups of electorate like BPL families, weaker sections of the society, women, handicapped etc. Although, people have many-a-times rejected it, but still, political parties continue to compete with each other by offering such entitlements.</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>Paid News</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Paid news is any news or analysis appearing in any media (Print and Electronic) for a price in cash or kind. An issue like<a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/treat-one-sided-laudatory-news-reports-as-paid-news-ec-to-sc" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong> Paid News</strong></a> disrupts the level playing field and circumvents the election expenditure limits. This creates a hurdle for the <a href="/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-national-institutions/election-commission-of-india" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Election Commission of India (ECI)</strong></a> to conduct the smooth run-off elections in a <strong>free, fair and transparent manner.</strong></li>
</ul>
<p><strong>Issuance of Secret Bonds</strong></p>
<p><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/electoral-bonds" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Electoral bonds</strong></a> are the bearer bonds that were launched in 2017 in order to cleanse the system of political funding in the country.</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>However, its anonymous feature in which neither the donor nor the political party is obligated to reveal whom the donation comes from <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/how-electoral-bonds-distort-india-s-democracy" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>defeats the fundamental principle of transparency</strong></a> in political finance (as the voters are unaware of the source of funds that are spent by the political parties in the election process).</li>
<li>Also, as the issuing entity is the <strong>State Bank of India,</strong> i.e. a State-run entity, there is a <strong>fear of retribution</strong> amongst the donors as the government at any point of time can look for the names of the anonymous donors.</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/parliament-should-enact-law-to-clean-politics-sc" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Criminalisation of Politics</strong></a></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>It refers to a situation in which the <strong>anti-social elements</strong> enter the electoral process by contesting elections, getting elected to the legislature, and consequently occupying public offices. This happens due to <strong>existing strong nexus</strong> between the criminals and some politicians abusing the loopholes in the present system.</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>Flaws in the Criminal Justice System</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>In India, an accused is presumed to be innocent unless pronounced guilty by the Courts. The<strong> rate of conviction for politicians is abysmally low,</strong> with just <strong>6% in criminal cases.</strong> This implies that a large number of accused politicians with criminal background actually go unpunished from a Court of law, and are not disqualified from contesting elections further.</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>Caste-based Politics</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Caste politics in the last three decades have been marked by the <strong>desire for power on the caste-lines rather than a substantial agenda for social reform of the downtrodden.</strong> However, election campaigns along communal or caste lines are banned under the election rules.</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Drishti Input:&nbsp;</strong><strong>Measures Undertaken</strong></p>
<p><strong>Legislative Measures</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Limit on spending of candidate:</strong> At present, under Rule 90 of the <strong>Conduct of Election Rules, 1961,</strong> a candidate contesting <strong>Lok Sabha</strong> polls can spend up to<strong> ₹70 lakh</strong> and in an <strong>assembly election</strong> up to <strong>₹28 lakh,</strong> depending on the state in which s/he is contesting polls.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Recently, a <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/introduction-of-private-member-s-bill" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Private Member&rsquo;s bill</strong></a> was introduced in the Parliament which intended to <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/poll-spend-limit" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>do away with the cap on election spending by candidates</strong></a>. The move was taken on the ground that the ceiling on election expenses ends up being counterproductive by encouraging <strong>candidates to under-report their expenditure.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>In <strong>2003,</strong> a law was passed by the Parliament after the Tehelka scam. According to it, donations to political parties will receive <strong>100% income tax exemptions</strong> for donors.</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>Measures by ECI</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/political-parties-registration-tracking-management-system-pprtms" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Political Parties Registration Tracking Management System (PPRTMS):</strong> </a>To allow an applicant<strong> to track the progress</strong> of his/her application.</li>
<li><strong>Systematic Voters' Education and Electoral Participation Programme (SVEEP):</strong> ECI organizes <strong>voter awareness campaigns</strong> in order to educate the voters.</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>Measures by Judiciary</strong></p>
<p><strong>Supreme Court</strong> in following cases recommended various reforms:</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>In <em><strong>Union of India versus Association of Democratic Reforms 2002 case:</strong></em> Contesting candidates need to<strong> disclose</strong> all their assets and liabilities, criminal convictions, etc. at the <strong>time of filing their nomination paper.</strong></li>
<li>In <em><strong>Ramesh Dalal versus Union of India 2005 case:</strong> </em>A legislator is <strong>disqualified</strong> from contesting elections if, <strong>on the day of filing</strong> the nomination papers, he/she stands convicted in a Court of law.</li>
<li>In<em><strong> Lily Thomas versus Union of India 2013 case:</strong> </em>The nature of disqualification for being a member of the House as provided under <strong>Article 101(3) &amp; 190(3)</strong> is<strong> automatic</strong> and takes place with <strong>immediate effect.</strong></li>
<li>In <strong>People&rsquo;s Union of Civil Liberties versus Union of India 2013 case:</strong> Voters enjoy <strong>&ldquo;Right to Negative Vote&rdquo;</strong> in the election process and directed the ECI to include the<strong> choice of &ldquo;NOTA&rdquo;</strong> in the ballot paper.</li>
</ul>
</div>
<h3>Needed Reforms</h3>
<p><strong>Legislative Reforms</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><a href="/loksabha-rajyasabha-discussions/the-big-picture-regulating-anonymous-donations" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>State Funding of Elections:</strong> </a>System in which the <strong>State bears the election expenditure of political parties</strong> that are contesting elections. This can bring transparency in the funding process as public finance can limit the influence of interested donors&rsquo; money and thereby help curb corruption.</li>
<li><a href="/loksabha-rajyasabha-discussions/the-big-picture-one-nation-one-election" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Simultaneous Polls:</strong> </a>The time has come to implement simultaneous polls because of its underlying advantages including <strong>reducing the costs of holding elections</strong> by the ECI <strong>and spending</strong> by political parties.</li>
<li><strong>Central Legislation:</strong> In the <em><strong>Public Interest Foundation &amp; Ors. vs. Union of India 2018</strong> </em>case, <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/has-the-sc-missed-a-chance-to-keep-criminals-out-of-polls" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>SC put the onus on the Parliament</strong></a> to frame a law to prevent criminalization of politics and take concerted efforts to cleanse the political system of the country.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The time has come to frame suitable legislation on the lines of <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/rbi-flags-states-%20fiscal-stress" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>FRBMA, 2003</strong></a> (Fiscal Responsibility and Budget Management Act- that puts a <strong>cap on fiscal deficit</strong>).</li>
<li>If a cap is introduced on populist announcements (based on the proportion of budgetary resources they have) by the parties within the ambit of law, then perhaps all political parties will have a level playing field and the unsustainable populist measures could be kept under check.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>Law Commission in its <a href="/loksabha-rajyasabha-discussions/the-big-picture-election-commission-collegium-system-appointments" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>255<sup>th</sup> Report on Electoral Reforms</strong> </a>inter-alia recommended strengthening of the office of the ECI in order to provide more independence and tooth to the institution.</li>
<li>The<strong> 'First Past the Post System'</strong>, in which a person with the highest votes (even with one extra vote) is declared winner, needs to be changed. Rather, a <strong>minimum percentage of total votes polled</strong> can be fixed for declaring a candidate as the winner. This could restrict the criminals from getting elected as not everybody in a constituency votes on party lines.</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>At Party Level</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Limit on Party Expenditure:</strong> There must be a limit on the expenditure of the party. A <strong>time frame</strong> must be set for accounting the expenditure of parties and must be made public before the actual date of elections so that the voters and the concerned authorities could be priorly informed.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Consequently, <strong>audit</strong> of political parties accounts must be conducted in order to make them accountable.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>Political parties need to <strong>rise morally and self-discipline themselves</strong> restricting their use of money power. Also, the<strong> flow of black money</strong> into the election process needs to be taken care off.</li>
<li>Political parties need to be brought <a href="/loksabha-rajyasabha-discussions/the-big-picture-political-parties-under-rti" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>under the ambit of Right to Information Act (RTI) Act</strong></a>, 2005.</li>
<li>All parties should be given <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/challenges-before-election-commission-of-india" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>equal media space or air time</strong></a> so as to provide a level playing field.</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>At Voter&rsquo;s Level:</strong> Voters need to be <strong>educated</strong> regarding the significance of their vote. They should be made <strong>aware &amp; well-informed</strong> about the candidate they seek to vote, thereby rejecting those who try to entice them with freebies.</p>
<h3>Way Forward</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>There is a need <strong>of fixing governance system</strong> and effective regulation of political financing along with bold reforms to break the vicious cycle of corruption and erosion of quality of democratic polity. It is crucial to plug the loopholes in the current laws to make the entire governance machinery more accountable and transparent.</li>
<li><strong>Linking Vote with Tangible Consequences:</strong> Long-term empowerment of local body/ localised power must be done so that people could see the changes happening immediately at their level and could actualise &amp; understand the value of vote. This would inhibit getting freebies tendency amongst people.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Also, <strong>local bureaucracy must be made accountable &amp; held responsible</strong> so that their burden is not borne by the political parties.</li>
<li>As per the statistics, the <strong>annual burden</strong> on party workers to indirectly maintain an assembly constituency amounts to ₹3-4 Crores. This gives birth to strong nexus between party workers and the bureaucracy, who in lieu of giving money take petty contracts, police cases interventions, etc., leading to abuse of administrative process.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>A voter forfeits the right to question the government when he/she compromises on moral values and accepts gift or cash for his/her vote. Therefore, citizens must vote in elections based on character, conduct, calibre and capability of the candidates and not based on cash, caste, community and criminal prowess. This could be the <strong>ultimate solution to check money power</strong> in politics.</li>
</ul>
<p>The constitutional functionaries, who have taken the pledge to uphold the constitutional principles, are charged with the responsibility to ensure that the existing political framework does not get tainted with the evil of corruption.</p>',
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		(int) 1 => [
			'title' => 'Novel Strain of Coronavirus',
			'catname' => 'News Analysis',
			'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>Recently, <strong>the Lancet</strong> published a study titled <strong>&ldquo;Clinical features of patients infected with 2019 novel coronavirus in Wuhan, China&rdquo;.</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The study highlighted the <strong>high mortality due to the 2019 novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV infection)</strong> which caused clusters of severe respiratory illness similar to severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) coronavirus.</li>
<li>It also pointed out that there are major gaps in the knowledge of the origin, epidemiology, duration of human transmission and clinical spectrum of the disease.</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>The Lancet</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>It is a weekly peer-reviewed general British medical journal.</li>
<li>It is among the world's oldest, most prestigious, and best known general medical journals.</li>
</ul>
</div>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Findings of the Study</strong>
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Most of the infected patients were men.</li>
<li>Less than half had underlying diseases (diabetes, hypertension and cardiovascular ailments).</li>
<li>66% of patients had been exposed to Huanan seafood market.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>Researchers collected and analysed data by real-time <strong>Reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR).</strong>
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>RT-PCR is a laboratory technique combining reverse transcription of RNA into DNA and next-generation sequencing.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Coronavirus</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/coronaviruses" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Coronaviruses</strong></a> are a specific family of viruses, with some of them causing <strong>less-severe damage,</strong> such as the common cold and others causing <strong>respiratory and intestinal diseases.</strong></li>
<li>A coronavirus has many <strong>&ldquo;regularly arranged&rdquo; protrusions on its surface,</strong> because of which the entire virus particle looks like an emperor&rsquo;s crown, hence the name <strong>&ldquo;coronavirus&rdquo;.</strong></li>
<li><strong>It is an RNA virus</strong> with<strong> ribonucleic acid (RNA)</strong> as its genetic material instead of <strong>deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA).</strong> That means the virus blends with its host&rsquo;s DNA and can mutate rapidly.<a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1580200265_image2.jpg" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1580200265_image2.jpg" style="float: right;" width="340" caption="false" /></a>
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Due to this property of rapid mutation, coronaviruses can be quite different from one another.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>These can affect <strong>humans</strong> as well as <strong>mammals including pigs, cattle, cats, dogs, martens, camels, hedgehogs and some birds.</strong></li>
<li>There are <strong>four common disease-causing coronaviruses,</strong>&nbsp;while the two other are the<strong> Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) coronavirus</strong> and the<strong> Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS) coronavirus,</strong> both of which can cause <strong>severe respiratory diseases.</strong></li>
<li>In the newly identified coronavirus, a direct link with the disease has not been established yet. It was speculated that it was related to the SARS epidemic of 2002.</li>
<li><a href="/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-international-institution/world-health-organization-who" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>World Health Organisation</strong> </a><strong>(WHO)</strong> has said that further investigations and research are required to determine the source, modes of transmission and extent of infection caused by the new virus.</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Difference Between DNA and RNA Viruses</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>A virus is a biological agent that can self-replicate inside a host cell. The infected cells by viruses may produce thousands of new copies of the original virus at an extraordinary rate.</li>
<li>The genetic material of a virus can be either DNA or RNA. The viruses that contain DNA as their genetic material are called the <strong>DNA viruses. RNA viruses,</strong> on the other hand, contain RNA as their genetic material.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>DNA viruses are mostly<strong> double-stranded</strong> while RNA viruses are <strong>single-stranded.</strong></li>
<li><strong>RNA mutation rate is higher</strong> than the DNA mutation rate.</li>
<li><strong>DNA replication takes place in the nucleus</strong> while <strong>RNA replication takes place in the cytoplasm.</strong></li>
<li>DNA viruses are stable while RNA viruses are unstable.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</div>',
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		],
		(int) 2 => [
			'title' => 'India - Brazil',
			'catname' => 'News Analysis',
			'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro attended India&rsquo;s 71<sup>st</sup> <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/republic-day-tableaux" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Republic Day parade</strong></a> as the chief guest for the event.</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>India-Brazil Business Forum held during his visit and 15 Memorandums of Understanding (MoU ) were signed between the two countries.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Key Points<a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1580199486_image1.png" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1580199486_image1.png" style="float: right;" width="340" caption="false" /></a></h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>MoUs Signed:</strong> The MoUs related to investments, trade facilitation, social security, agriculture, defence and double taxation were signed.</li>
<li><strong>India &ndash; Brazil Business Leader&rsquo;s Forum:</strong> The demand for reconstitution of the Forum was raised to make it more relevant and contemporary to businesses in both countries</li>
<li><strong>Trade Target:</strong> India-Brazil has set target of USD 15 billion trade by 2022.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>It needs to be noted that <strong>Brazil</strong> is one of the <strong>most important trading partners</strong> of India in the <strong>entire LAC (Latin America and the Caribbean) region.</strong></li>
<li>However, bilateral trade between the two countries stands at a dismal $8 billion.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Tourism:</strong> Both the countries announced for <strong>visa-free travel</strong> which is expected to deepen ties, especially in the business and tourism sector.</li>
<li><strong>Cultural Cooperation:</strong> India&rsquo;s services in the wellness sector like Yoga and Ayurveda is expected to grow as Brazil has a strong community of Yoga and Ayurveda practitioners.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Brazil has an association of Ayurveda (ABRA) and the third International Congress on Ayurveda was held from 12 to 15 March 2018 in Rio de Janeiro (a city in Brazil).</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Case at the World Trade Organization</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The Brazilian government has challenged the <strong>minimum price (Fair and Remunerative Price -FRP) for sugarcane set by the Indian government</strong> at the World Trade Organisation (WTO).</li>
<li>Indian farmers&rsquo; groups have requested the Brazilian President to withdraw its complaint against India.</li>
<li>Brazil has responded that it is <strong>open to finding a &ldquo;non-litigious solution&rdquo;</strong> to the dispute. Also, added that the present issue would not affect bilateral collaborations on biofuels derived from sugarcane.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Note</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>India and Brazil share a very close and multifaceted relationship at <strong>bilateral level as well as in plurilateral fora</strong> such as <a href="/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-international-institution/brics-1" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>BRICS</strong></a>, <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/important-facts-for-prelims-03rd-october-2018" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>IBSA</strong></a>, <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/quad-and-g-4-meet" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>G4</strong></a>, <a href="/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-international-institution/important-institution-upsc-ias-g20-significance-global-groupings-member-challenges-buenos-aires-gs-mains-paper-ii-2-international-relations" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>G20</strong></a>, BASIC, International Solar Alliance, Biofuture Platform and in the larger multilateral bodies such as the UN, WTO, UNESCO and WIPO.</li>
<li>The <strong>strategic partnership</strong> was established between Brazil and India in 2006.</li>
</ul>
</div>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Fair and Remunerative Prices for Sugarcane</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Minimum Support Price (MSP) for the different agricultural crops viz., food grains, oilseeds, fibre crops, sugarcane and tobacco are announced by the Government of India before their sowing seasons.</li>
<li>In the case of sugarcane, the announced price is termed as a statutory minimum price, rephrased as Fair Remunerative Price (FRP).</li>
<li>There is statutory binding on sugar factories to pay the minimum announced price and all those transactions or purchase at prices lower than this are considered illegal.</li>
</ul>
</div>
<p><a href="https://pib.gov.in/PressReleseDetail.aspx?PRID=1600678" 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/india-brazil-1'
		],
		(int) 3 => [
			'title' => 'Colour-Coded Warnings by the IMD',
			'catname' => 'News Analysis',
			'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>Recently, the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/statement-on-climate-of-india-during-2019-imd" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Indian Meteorological Department (IMD)</strong></a> has issued a <strong>yellow weather warning</strong> for <strong>heavy rain and snowfall</strong> in Himachal Pradesh.</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Yellow weather warning indicates <strong>severely bad</strong> weather spanning across several days.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Colour- Coded Weather Warning</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>It is issued by the<strong> IMD</strong> whose objective is to alert people ahead of severe or hazardous weather which has the potential to cause damage, widespread disruption or danger to life.</li>
<li>Warnings are updated daily.</li>
<li>The IMD uses 4 colour codes are: <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li><strong>Green (All is well):</strong> No advisory is issued.</li>
<li><strong>Yellow (Be Aware):</strong> Yellow indicates <strong>severely bad</strong> weather spanning across several days. It also suggests that the weather could change for the worse, causing disruption in day-to-day activities.</li>
<li><strong>Orange/Amber (Be prepared):</strong> The orange alert is issued as a warning of <strong>extremely bad weather</strong> with the potential of disruption in commute with road and rail closures, and interruption of power supply.</li>
<li><strong>Red (Take Action):</strong> When the extremely bad weather conditions are certainly going to <strong>disrupt</strong> travel and power and have significant risk to life, the red alert is issued.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>These alerts are<strong> universal</strong> in nature and are also issued during <strong>floods,</strong> depending on the amount of water rising above land/in a river as a result of torrential rainfall. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>For instance, when the water in a river is &lsquo;above normal&rsquo; level, or between the &lsquo;warning&rsquo; and &lsquo;danger&rsquo; levels, a yellow alert is issued.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>India Meteorological Department</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>IMD was established in 1875.</li>
<li>It is an agency of the <strong>Ministry of Earth Sciences</strong> of the Government of India.</li>
<li>It is the principal agency responsible for meteorological observations, weather forecasting and seismology</li>
</ul>
</div>
<p><a href="https://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-national/tp-otherstates/hp-shivers-under-numbing-cold/article30661994.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/colour-coded-warnings-by-the-imd'
		],
		(int) 4 => [
			'title' => 'Andhra Pradesh to Scrap Legislative Council',
			'catname' => 'News Analysis',
			'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>The Andhra Pradesh (AP) assembly has passed a resolution to abolish the state&rsquo;s <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/legislative-council-1" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Legislative Council.</strong></a></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The Andhra Pradesh government has to send the resolution to the <strong>Governor</strong> for his approval and then to the Parliament for <strong>ratification.</strong></li>
<li>The move comes after the Legislative Council referred the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/three-capitals-for-andhra-pradesh" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Capital Decentralisation Bill</strong></a> to a Select Committee for review.</li>
<li>Andhra Pradesh&rsquo;s Legislative Council, set up in 1958, was abolished in 1985, then <strong>reconstituted</strong> in <strong>2007.</strong></li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Note: Select committees</strong> are formed for a specific purpose, for instance, to deliberate on a particular bill. Once the Bill is disposed of, that select committee ceases to exist.</p>
</div>
<h3>Legislative Council</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Basis For Formation</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>India has a <strong>bicameral system of legislature.</strong> Just as the Parliament has two Houses, the states can also have a Legislative Council (LC) in addition to the Legislative Assembly through Article 169 of the Constitution.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Abolition and Creation - Article 169</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The Parliament can abolish a Legislative Council (where it already exists) or create it (where it does not exist) by a simple majority, if the legislative assembly of the concerned state, by a special majority, passes a resolution to that effect.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Note</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Simple Majority</strong> implies a majority of the members of each House present and voting.</li>
<li><strong>Special Majority</strong> implies:<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>A majority of the total membership of the assembly and</li>
<li>A majority of not less than two-thirds of the members of the assembly present and voting.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</div>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>States having Legislative Councils</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Besides Andhra Pradesh, the other states having Legislative Councils are Telangana, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Maharashtra and Karnataka.</li>
<li>Legislative assemblies of Rajasthan, Assam and Odisha have passed resolutions for the formation of the Council.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Arguments in Favour of the Formation of the Council</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>A Legislative Council can help check hasty actions by the directly elected House.</li>
<li>The Legislative Council also enables non-elected individuals to contribute to the legislative process.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Arguments Against</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The Legislative Council can delay legislation.</li>
<li>It can also be used to park leaders who have not been able to win an election.</li>
<li>It strains state finances.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Way Forward</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The Parliamentary Committee that examined the Rajasthan Bill for the formation of the Legislative Council advocated for the evolution of a <strong>national policy for creation/abolition of Legislative Councils.</strong></li>
<li>It argued that<strong> the status of Legislative Councils cannot be of temporary in nature</strong> depending on the mood of the Government of the day nor can be abolished once created, only at the whims and fancy of a newly elected Government in the State.</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/andhra-pradesh/ap-government-to-scrap-legislative-council/article30638090.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/andhra-pradesh-to-scrap-legislative-council'
		],
		(int) 5 => [
			'title' => 'Evolution of Indian Judiciary',
			'catname' => 'News Editorials',
			'desc' => '<div class="border">
<p>This article is based on <a href="https://www.thehindu.com/opinion/lead/the-four-phases-of-constitutional-interpretation/article30653706.ece" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>&ldquo;The four phases of constitutional interpretation&rdquo;</strong></a> which was published in The Hindu on 27/01/2020. It talks about the evolution of the Indian Judiciary.</p>
</div>
<p>The Constitution of India came into force 70 years ago, on January 26, 1950. Its enactment was an ambitious political experiment as it sought to implement universal adult franchise, <a href="/gs-special/gs-special-polity/Challenges-to-the-federal-structure-of-the-indian-union" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>federalism</strong></a> in a region consisting of over 550 princely states, and social revolution in a society that was divided on the lines of caste, religion, etc.</p>
<p>However, it was equally a unique achievement in terms of constitutional design which has been under the guardianship of Indian Judiciary. Evolution of Judiciary and how it interpreted the Constitution can be understood in the following phases:</p>
<h3>Phase One: Textualist Approach</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>In its early years, the Supreme Court adopted a textualist approach. It focused on the<strong> literal meaning of the words</strong> as mentioned in the Constitution.</li>
<li>For example, in <strong>A.K. Gopalan v. State of Madras (1950) case,</strong> the Supreme Court interpreted the Fundamental Rights under Part III.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>In this case, the leaders of the Communist Party of India claimed that preventive detention legislation was inconsistent with Articles 19 (the right to freedom), 21 (the right to life) and 22 (the protection against arbitrary arrest and detention).</li>
<li>The Supreme Court upheld the validity of preventive detention and decided that each of those articles covered entirely different subject matter, and were to be read as separate codes rather than being read together.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>At that time, the most controversial questions pertaining to Indian Constitution had been whether there are any limitations on Parliament&rsquo;s power to amend the Constitution, especially Fundamental Rights.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>However, the Court in its early years read the Constitution literally, concluding that there were no such limitations.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Phase Two: The Structuralist Approach</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The Supreme Court began exploring other methods of interpretation. Appeals to the text of the Constitution were gradually overtaken by appeals to the Constitution&rsquo;s overall structure and coherence.</li>
<li>In the leading case of <a href="/gs-special/gs-special-polity/important-sources-of-the-indian-constitution" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Kesavananda Bharati v. State of Kerala (1973),</strong></a> the Supreme Court concluded that Parliament&rsquo;s power to amend the Constitution did not extend to altering its <strong>Basic Structure.</strong></li>
<li>The Supreme Court in <strong>Maneka Gandhi v. Union of India (1978) case</strong> reversed its earlier stand that it took in A K Gopalan case.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>In this case, the Court conceived of the Fundamental Rights as a cohesive bill of rights rather than a miscellaneous grouping of constitutional guarantees.</li>
<li>The <strong>Right to Life</strong> was incrementally interpreted to include a wide range of rights such as clean air, speedy trial, and free legal aid. This paved the way for the Supreme Court to play an unprecedented role in the<strong> governance of the nation.</strong></li>
<li>In order to implement this, the Supreme Court of India, pioneered the <a href="/to-the-points/Paper2/public-interest-litigation" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Public Interest Litigation (PIL)</strong></a> thereby throwing upon the portals of Courts to the common man.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>PIL has today acquired unprecedented legitimacy and binding power and is acknowledged as a powerful weapon to combat governmental lawlessness and social oppression.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Phase Three: Challenge of Heterogeneity</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The Supreme Court&rsquo;s interpretive philosophy turned far more <strong>result-oriented</strong> but it lacked thorough reasoning of the issues. Reasons for this: <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The Supreme Court which at its inception began with <strong>eight judges</strong> grew to a sanctioned strength of <strong>34 judges.</strong></li>
<li>However, with the increasing burden of cases, it began to sit in panels of two or three judges, effectively transforming it into a <strong>&ldquo;polyvocal&rdquo; group.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>Further, <strong>Judicial Activism</strong> helped Indian Judiciary to become one of the most powerful judiciaries in the world.However, the <strong>Indian Judiciary has been alleged of Judicial Overreach</strong> (interfering in the domain of executive and legislature), nepotism and protecting itself of any reform under the guise of independence of the Judiciary.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>This can be reflected in cases like rendering the <a href="/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-national-institutions/supreme-court-of-india" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>National Judicial Appointment Commission</strong></a> (99<sup>th</sup> Constitutional Amendment) as ultra vires or <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/all-is-still-not-well-in-court" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Master of the Roster controversy.</strong></a></li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Phase Four: Social Revolution and Transformation</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Recently, the Supreme Court has passed many judgments recognising the individual's rights and thereby ushering an era of social transformation. For example:<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><a href="/current-affairs-news-analysis-editorials/news-editorials/16-11-2019/print" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Lifting the ban on entry of women (aged 10-50) inside Sabarimala Temple:</strong></a> The Supreme Court held that "Devotion cannot be subjected to gender discrimination" and removed a ban that prevented women between 10 and 50 years of age from entering Kerala's Sabarimala temple.</li>
<li><a href="/to-the-points/Paper2/to-the-point-paper-2-section-377-judgement" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Decriminalisation of Homosexuality:</strong></a> Supreme Court in 2018 decriminalized homosexuality stated under <strong>Section 377 of the Indian Penal Code.</strong></li>
<li><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/adultery-is-not-a-crime-supreme-court" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Adultery Not A Crime:</strong> </a>The Supreme Court unanimously struck down a 150-year-old law that considered adultery to be an offence committed against a married woman by another man. Defined under <strong>Section 497 of the IPC,</strong> adultery law came under sharp criticism for treating women as possessions rather than human beings.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>The <strong>Supreme Court declared Section 497 as unconstitutional.</strong> Adultery is no longer a crime but if it leads to someone committing suicide, the act will be treated as a crime - abetment to suicide.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<p>Apart from these, Indian Judiciary has also taken reforms that sought to instil transparency in Indian judicial system like <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/live-streaming-the-supreme-courts-proceedings" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>live streaming of Supreme Court</strong></a> and <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/chief-justice-of-india-under-the-ambit-of-the-rti-act" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>bringing of CJI under RTI.</strong></a> However, Indian Judiciary should strive to strike a balance between transparency &amp; accountability and maintaining the independence of the Judiciary.</p>
<table border="1" style="border-collapse: collapse; width: 100%;">
<tbody>
<tr>
<td style="width: 100%; border-style: dotted; border-color: #fc0000; background-color: #f0ffd1;"><span style="color: #333399;"><em><strong>Drishti Mains Question</strong></em></span><br /><br />The strength to Indian Constitution can be attributed to evolution in Indian Judiciary with changing times. Comment.</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>',
			'postdate' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenTime) {},
			'url' => 'https://www.drishtiias.com/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/evolution-of-indian-judiciary'
		],
		(int) 6 => [
			'title' => 'e-commerce in India',
			'catname' => 'Paper 3',
			'desc' => '<p><a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1582721605_E-commerce%20in India (Mind Map)_Artboard 1.png" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1582721605_E-commerce in India (Mind Map)_Artboard 1.png" width="397" height="1063" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" /></a></p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><a href="/to-the-points/paper3/e-commerce-in-india" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><em>For TTP</em></a></p>',
			'postdate' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenTime) {},
			'url' => 'https://www.drishtiias.com/mind-map/gs-paper3/e-commerce-in-india-mind-map'
		],
		(int) 7 => [
			'title' => 'Incidence of NCDs in MP',
			'catname' => 'News Analysis',
			'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>Recently, a screening drive was carried out by the<a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/national-health-mission-and-janani-suraksha-yojana" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong> National Health Mission</strong> </a><strong>(NHM)</strong> under the <strong>Centre&rsquo;s Non-Communicable Disease Control Programmes</strong> in <strong>Madhya Pradesh.</strong></p>
<h3>Key Points<a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1580124778_image2.png" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1580124778_image2.png" style="float: right;" width="400" caption="false" /></a></h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/non-communicable-diseases-in-india" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Non-communicable diseases</strong></a> like hypertension, diabetes and cancer are posing a <strong>bigger challenge in the non-tribal rural areas</strong> of Madhya Pradesh owing to a rapidly <strong>growing rate of incidence and the lack of awareness.</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Urban areas have more awareness which translates into patients undergoing treatment despite a high incidence and the burden is moderate.</li>
<li>However, the burden is increasing in rural areas due to low awareness.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>It needs to be noted that <strong>despite the low awareness levels,</strong> there was a <strong>low incidence in the 89 tribal blocks</strong> in the State, which <strong>has the largest tribal population</strong> in the country.</li>
<li>Of the <strong>country&rsquo;s 100 districts with the highest prevalence of hypertension, 15</strong> were in Madhya Pradesh.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The <strong>India Hypertension Control Initiative,</strong> supported by the <a href="/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-international-institution/world-health-organization-who" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>World Health Organisation</strong></a> <strong>(WHO)</strong>, is catering to patients above 18 suffering from the diseases in various districts of the state.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Non-Communicable Disease Control Programmes</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>It is a <strong>group of various national programmes</strong> which focus on different non-communicable diseases separately. For example- National Mental Health Programme, National Oral Health Programme, National Tobacco Control Programme, etc.</li>
<li>The programmes <strong>focus on identifying non-communicable diseases at the Primary Health Centre (PHC) level</strong> itself and ensuring treatment up to the district-level and follow-ups with patients to continue medication.</li>
<li><strong>Also, Accredited Social Health Activist (ASHA)</strong> workers go door-to-door to draft family profiles and screen them for the non-communicable diseases instead of patients visiting a health centre.</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>India Hypertension Control Initiative</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>It is a collaborative project of <strong>Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR), Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MoHFW),</strong> State Governments, <strong>WHO</strong> and<strong> &lsquo;Resolve to Save Lives&rsquo;- initiative of Vital Strategies.</strong></li>
<li>It was <strong>launched in November 2017</strong> in 25 selected districts in Punjab, Madhya Pradesh, Kerala, Telangana, and Maharashtra. It was expanded to cover <strong>100 districts</strong> across all states in <strong>2019.</strong></li>
<li>The primary goal of this project is to <strong>reduce morbidity and mortality due to cardiovascular diseases (CVDs),</strong> the leading cause of death in India, by improving the control of high blood pressure, which is a leading risk factor for CVDs among adults in India.</li>
<li><strong>It aims to:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Create patient-centred services</strong> to improve patient support.</li>
<li><strong>Reduce reliance on bigger hospitals</strong> and an increase in the utilization of &lsquo;Health and wellness centres&rsquo; and primary health centres.</li>
<li><strong>Provide for regular monitoring of health facilities</strong> and prompt feedback to program managers to bridge gaps if any in a timely manner.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</div>
<p><a href="https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/non-communicable-diseases-rising-in-non-tribal-rural-regions-of-madhya-pradesh/article30659643.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/incidence-of-ncds-in-mp'
		],
		(int) 8 => [
			'title' => 'e-Commerce in India',
			'catname' => 'Paper 3',
			'desc' => '<h3>Introduction</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Electronic commerce or e-commerce is a business model that lets firms and individuals buy and sell things over the Internet.</li>
<li>Propelled by rising smartphone penetration, the launch of 4G networks and increasing consumer wealth,<strong> the Indian e-commerce market is expected to grow to US$ 200 billion by 2026 from US$ 38.5 billion in 2017.</strong></li>
<li>India&rsquo;s e-commerce revenue is expected to jump from US$ 39 billion in 2017 to US$ 120 billion in 2020, growing at an annual rate of 51%, the highest in the world.</li>
<li>The Indian e-commerce industry has been on an upward growth trajectory and is expected to surpass the US to become the second-largest e-commerce market in the world by 2034.</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1580123510_image1.jpg" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1580123510_image1.jpg" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="650" caption="false" /></a></p>
<h3>Advantages of e-Commerce</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The process of e-commerce enables sellers to come closer to customers that lead to<strong> increased productivity and perfect competition.</strong> The customer can also choose between different sellers and buy the most relevant products as per requirements, preferences, and budget. Moreover, customers now have access to virtual stores 24/7.</li>
<li>e-Commerce also leads to significant <strong>transaction cost reduction for consumers.</strong></li>
<li>e-commerce has emerged as one of the fast-growing trade channels available for the <strong>cross-border trade of goods and services.</strong></li>
<li>It provides a <strong>wider reach and reception across the global market,</strong> with minimum investments. It enables sellers to sell to a global audience and also customers to make a global choice. Geographical boundaries and challenges are eradicated/drastically reduced.</li>
<li>Through direct interaction with final customers, this e-commerce process <strong>cuts the</strong> <strong>product distribution chain</strong> to a significant extent.<strong> A direct and transparent</strong> channel between the producer or service provider and the final customer is made. This way products and services that are created to cater to the individual preferences of the target audience.</li>
<li>Customers can easily locate products since e-commerce can be one store set up for all the customers&rsquo; business needs</li>
<li><strong>Ease of doing business:</strong> It makes starting, managing business easy and simple.</li>
<li>The growth in the e-commerce sector can boost employment, increase revenues from export, increase tax collection by ex-chequers, and provide better products and services to customers in the long-term.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The e-commerce industry has been directly impacting the micro, small &amp; medium enterprises (MSME) in India by providing means of financing, technology and training and has a favourable cascading effect on other industries as well.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Disadvantages of e-Commerce</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>There is lesser accountability on part of e-commerce companies and the product quality may or may not meet the expectations of the customers.</li>
<li>It depends strongly on network connectivity and information technology. Mechanical failures can cause unpredictable effects on total processes.</li>
<li>Definite legislations both domestically and internationally to regulate e-commerce transactions are still to be framed leading to lack of regulation of the sector.</li>
<li>At times, there is a loss of privacy, culture or economic identity of the customer.</li>
<li>There is a chance of <strong>fraudulent financial transactions and loss of sensitive financial information.</strong></li>
<li>The Internet is borderless with minimum regulation, and therefore protecting intellectual property rights (IPR) on the Internet is a growing concern. There are currently several significant IPR issues including misuse of trademark rights.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Government Initiatives Regarding e-Commerce in India</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>In February 2019, a <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/draft-e-commerce-policy" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>draft National e-Commerce policy</strong> </a>has been prepared and placed in the public domain, which addresses six broad issues of the e-commerce ecosystem viz. e-commerce marketplaces; regulatory issues; infrastructure development; data; stimulating domestic digital economy and export promotion through e-commerce.</li>
<li>The Department of Commerce initiated an exercise and established a <strong>Think Tank on &lsquo;Framework for National Policy on e-Commerce&rsquo;</strong> and <strong>a Task Force under it</strong> to deliberate on the challenges confronting India in the arena of the digital economy and electronic commerce (e-commerce).</li>
<li>The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has decided to allow "interoperability" among Prepaid Payment Instruments (PPIs) such as digital wallets, prepaid cash coupons and prepaid telephone top-up cards. RBI has also instructed banks and companies to make all know-your-customer (KYC)-compliant prepaid payment instruments (PPIs), like mobile wallets, interoperable amongst themselves via Unified Payments Interface (UPI).</li>
<li><strong>FDI guidelines for e-commerce by DIPP:</strong> In order to increase the participation of foreign players in the e-commerce field, the Government has increased the limit of foreign direct investment (FDI) in the e-commerce marketplace model for up to 100% (in B2B models).</li>
<li>Government e-Marketplace (GeM) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Union Bank of India to facilitate a cashless, paperless and transparent payment system for an array of services in October 2019.</li>
<li>The heavy investment of Government of India in rolling out the fibre network for 5G will help boost e-commerce in India</li>
<li>In the Union Budget of 2018-19, the government has allocated Rs 8,000 crore (US$ 1.24 billion) to <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/gramnet-to-connect-all-villages-through-wi-fi" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>BharatNet</strong></a> Project, to provide broadband services to 150,000-gram panchayats.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Way Ahead</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>e-Commerce has become an important part of many multilateral negotiations such as Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP), WTO, BRICS etc.</li>
<li>e-Commerce still faces various issues like international trade, domestic trade, competition policy, consumer protection, information technology etc. As a growing sector with huge interest from both domestic and international players, it becomes pertinent to regulate it keeping in mind the interest of both entrepreneurs and consumers. A conducive environment and a level playing field should be encouraged.</li>
<li>Policymakers should also be mindful of shaping a vibrant domestic industry. A comprehensive policy is of utmost importance to reflect India&rsquo;s position in both domestic and international or multilateral forums.</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="/mind-map/gs-paper3/e-commerce-in-india-mind-map" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><em>For Mind Map</em></a></p>',
			'postdate' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenTime) {},
			'url' => 'https://www.drishtiias.com/to-the-points/paper3/e-commerce-in-india'
		],
		(int) 9 => [
			'title' => 'India’s Neutrino Observatory Opposed by Gram Sabhas',
			'catname' => 'News Analysis',
			'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>Gram Sabhas in different parts of Tamil Nadu have passed resolutions against the India-based Neutrino Observatory (INO) and hydrocarbon exploration which, they feared, would be detrimental to their respective regions.</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>INO is being constructed in the <strong>Bodi West Hills</strong> (Theni district) of Tamil Nadu.</li>
<li>The site is near the Kerala-Tamil Nadu border and is close to the <strong>Mathikettan Shola National Park.</strong></li>
<li><strong>Vaigai river</strong> passes through the Theni district.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Concerns</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The region was recovering from the<a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/cyclone-gaja" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong> Gaja cyclone</strong></a> and the rural economy was in a very bad state.</li>
<li>The project may have <strong>harmful effects on the fertility of the land</strong> in the region and <strong>adversely affect the agricultural community,</strong> farm labourers and others dependent on the profession.</li>
<li>Further, it can result in the migration of farm labourers.</li>
<li>Villagers also alleged that they were<strong> not involved in the decision-making process.</strong></li>
<li>Massive scale of construction underground and controlled blasts, the vibrations from the explosions can badly affect the ecologically fragile <strong>Western Ghats.</strong></li>
<li>Other concerns voiced range from <strong>radiation, structural damage to the mountain</strong> to the <strong>emission of hazardous chemicals.</strong></li>
</ul>
<h3>Environmental clearance</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Environmental clearance was given</strong> after going through the geotechnical investigation report on studies carried out for INO set aside the concerns related to radioactivity or leaching of water, besides having the impact of blasting on inhabitation in the vicinity.</li>
<li>According to&nbsp; the <strong>geotechnical investigation report</strong>&nbsp;the operation of INO will have <strong>no release of radioactive or toxic substances.</strong></li>
<li>Earlier in 2019, the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/india-based-neutrino-observatory" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>National Green Tribunal (NGT)</strong></a> has upheld the environmental clearance granted in March 2018 to the project.</li>
<li>However, the project could not be implemented until the approval of the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/impact-of-roads-on-wildlife" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>National Board of Wildlife</strong></a> is also received.</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Gram Sabha</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The term Gram Sabha is defined in the Constitution under <strong>Article 243(b).</strong></li>
<li>It is the <strong>primary and permanent body</strong> of the Panchayati Raj system.</li>
<li>The power to <strong>annul a decision</strong> of the Gram Sabha rests with the <strong>Gram Sabha only.</strong></li>
<li><strong>Composition:</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Persons, those who are <strong>above 18</strong> years, living in the village whose names are included in the <strong>electoral rolls</strong> for the Panchayat at the village level.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Powers and functions</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The constitution empowered the <strong>State Legislatures to define the powers and functions</strong> of the Gram Sabhas through laws passed by them.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</div>
<h3>India-based Neutrino Observatory (INO)</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The<a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/india-based-neutrino-observatory" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong> INO</strong> </a>is aimed at building a world-class underground laboratory with a rock cover to conduct basic research on the neutrino.</li>
<li>The INO will study atmospheric neutrinos only. Solar neutrinos have much lower energy than the detector can detect.</li>
<li>The Tata Institute of Fundamental Research is the nodal institution. The observatory is to be built jointly with the Department of Atomic Energy and the Department of Science and Technology.</li>
<li>It is not a weapons laboratory and will have no strategic or defence applications.</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/tamil-nadu/tamil-nadu-villagers-use-gram-sabhas-to-oppose-hydrocarbon-india-based-neutrino-observatory-projects/article30661331.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/india-s-neutrino-observatory-opposed-by-gram-sabhas'
		],
		(int) 10 => [
			'title' => 'Nagardhan Excavations and Vakataka Dynasty',
			'catname' => 'News Analysis',
			'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>Recently, archaeological excavations were carried out at <strong>Nagardhan village</strong> in Ramtek Taluk near <strong>Nagpur, Maharashtra.</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The area surrounding the Nagardhan Fort in the village has the archaeological remains.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The Nagardhan Fort was constructed during the <strong>Gond Raja period</strong> and later renovated and re-used by the <strong>Bhosales of Nagpur</strong> during the late 18<sup>th</sup> and 19<sup>th</sup> centuries.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>The excavations have provided evidence on the life, religious affiliations and trade practices of the <strong>Vakataka dynasty.</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Nagardhan is understood to have served as a capital of the Vakataka kingdom.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Vakataka Dynasty</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>It originated in the <strong>central Deccan in the mid-3<sup>rd</sup> century CE</strong> and its empire is believed to have extended from <strong>Malwa and Gujarat in the north</strong> to the <strong>Tungabhadra in the south</strong> and from the <strong>Arabian Sea in the west</strong> to the<strong> Bay of Bengal in the east.</strong></li>
<li>The Vakataka rulers followed the Shaiva sect of Hinduism.</li>
<li><strong>Animal rearing</strong> was one of the main occupations of the people. <strong>Remains of domestic animals</strong> like <strong>cattle, goat, sheep, pig, cat, horse and fowl</strong> were traced in an earlier study.</li>
<li>The Vakataka rulers forged several <strong>matrimonial alliances</strong> with other dynasties of their times. One of the key alliances was with <strong>Prabhavatigupta of the Gupta dynasty (Vaishnavites),</strong> which was then<strong> ruling north India.</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Prabhavatigupta was the chief queen of the <strong>Vakataka king Rudrasena II</strong> and took over as queen after the sudden death of her husband. She ruled for about 10 years until her <strong>son Pravarasena II</strong> succeeded.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Queen Prabhavatigupta and Vaishnavism</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The researchers believe that the practice of worshipping Narasimha in Maharashtra emerged from Ramtek, and that Queen Prabhavatigupta had a pivotal role in propagation of Vaishnava practices in the Vidarbha region of Maharashtra.</li>
<li>Some of the temples identified as Keval Narasihma, Rudra Narasimha and the one dedicated to Varaha could be traced to Ramtek, and showcase strong affinity to the incarnations of Lord Vishnu. None of these religious structures was, however, present here until the Queen took the throne.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</div>
<h3>Findings and their Significance</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>It is the<strong> first time clay sealings</strong> have been excavated from Nagardhan.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The <strong>oval-shaped</strong> sealing belongs to the period when <strong>Prabhavatigupta</strong> was the queen of the Vakataka dynasty.</li>
<li>It bears her name in the <strong>Brahmi script,</strong> along with the <strong>depiction of a conch.</strong> The presence of the conch is a sign of the <strong>Vaishnava affiliation</strong> that the Guptas held.</li>
<li>The sealings were introduced and issued under Prabhavatigupta&rsquo;s rule which shows her importance and stature as a woman.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>The Vakataka rulers followed the Shaiva sect of Hinduism while the Guptas followed Vaishnava sect. Queen&rsquo;s powerful personality allowed her to follow the sect of her choice.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>The sealing was traced on top of a <strong>mega wall</strong> which could have been part of a royal structure at the capital city.</li>
<li>The <strong>copperplate issued by Queen Prabhavatigupta</strong> starts with a <strong>genealogy of the Guptas,</strong> mentioning the Queen&rsquo;s grandfather <strong>Samudragupta</strong> and her father <strong>Chandragupta II.</strong></li>
<li>Vakatakas<strong> traded with Iran and beyond, through the Mediterranean Sea</strong> and the sealings are believed to be used as <strong>official royal permission</strong> issued from the capital.</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="https://indianexpress.com/article/explained/nagardhan-excavation-site-nagpur-excavation-vakataka-dynasty-1500-year-old-relics-6236915/" 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/nagardhan-excavations-and-vakataka-dynasty'
		],
		(int) 11 => [
			'title' => 'Fund Crunch in MGNREGA',
			'catname' => 'News Analysis',
			'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>According to the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA) scheme&rsquo;s financial statement as on 26<sup>th</sup> January, 2020, the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/mgnrega-trends" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>centre is on the verge of running out of funds for the scheme.</strong></a></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>More than 96% of the allocated money has already been spent or is needed to pay pending dues, with less than ₹2,500 crores left to sustain the scheme for the next two months.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Key Points<a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1580113556_image1.jpg" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1580113556_image1.jpg" style="float: right;" width="350" caption="false" /></a></h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Budget Allocation:</strong> The budget allocation for 2019 for MGNREGA scheme was ₹60,000 crores which is<strong> lower than</strong> the amount spent in 2018.</li>
<li><strong>Current Status:</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Many <strong>state governments have not paid the wages to workers as the Centre has not released funds.</strong> It is contrary to the spirit of the Act and violates the principle of rights-based implementation of the MGNREGA scheme.</li>
<li>The <strong>Central Employment Guarantee Council</strong> has not met in two years despite it being mandatory to hold a meeting every six months.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Central Employment Guarantee Council is a forum constituted under Section 10(3) (d) of the MGNREGA Act, 2005.</li>
<li>It is responsible for a central monitoring and evaluation system for the scheme, besides advising the government on its implementation.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>State-wise Scenario:</strong> Rajasthan has the highest negative net balance of ₹620 crores, followed by ₹323 crores in Uttar Pradesh.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Some States still have funds remaining only because they are actively suppressing demand and turning workers away. State governments do not want to be liable to pay interest for delayed wages, so they suppress demand.</li>
<li>The actual situation may be worse as States do not always enter pending payments into the information system.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Urgency for Funds:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>January, February and March are months with little agricultural activity when rural workers need employment.</li>
<li>There is a high demand for work in 2019 as the rural economy is in distress and informal employment has also collapsed. A number of economists have recommended that putting money into the hands of rural consumers via MGNREGA is a key to kickstarting the economy.</li>
<li>The scheme is running out of money and will enter in 2020-21 with pending liabilities.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act, 2005</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The Act aims at enhancing the livelihood security of people in rural areas by guaranteeing hundred days of wage employment in a financial year to a rural household whose adult members (at least 18 years of age) volunteer to do unskilled work.</li>
<li>The central government bears the full cost of unskilled labour, and 75% of the cost of material (the rest is borne by the states).</li>
<li>It is a demand-driven, social security and labour law that aims to enforce the<strong> &lsquo;right to work&rsquo;.</strong></li>
<li>Ministry of Rural Development (MRD), Government of India in association with state governments, monitors the implementation of the scheme.</li>
</ul>
</div>
<p><a href="https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/fund-crunch-hits-mgnrega-scheme/article30660683.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/fund-crunch-in-mgnrega'
		],
		(int) 12 => [
			'title' => 'Padma Awards 2020',
			'catname' => 'News Analysis',
			'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>The Padma Awards are <strong>announced annually on the eve of Republic Day (26<sup>th</sup> January).</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Instituted in the year <strong>1954,</strong> it is <strong>one of the highest civilian honours of India.</strong></li>
<li>The Award seeks to recognize achievements in all fields of activities or disciplines where<strong> an element of public service is involved.</strong></li>
<li>The Awards are given in three categories:
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Padma Vibhushan</strong> (for exceptional and distinguished service),</li>
<li><strong>Padma Bhushan</strong> (distinguished service of higher-order) and</li>
<li><strong>Padma Shri</strong> (distinguished service).</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>The Awards are <strong>given in various disciplines/ fields of activities,</strong> viz.- art, social work, public affairs, science and engineering, trade and industry, medicine, literature and education, sports, civil service, etc.</li>
<li>The Awards are conferred on the recommendations made by the Padma Awards Committee, which is constituted by the Prime Minister every year.</li>
<li>The awards are <strong>presented by the President of India</strong> usually in the month of March/April every year.</li>
<li>The<strong> award does not amount to a title</strong> and cannot be used as a suffix or prefix to the awardees&rsquo; name.</li>
<li>The<strong> total number of awards</strong> to be given in a year (excluding posthumous awards and to NRI/foreigners/OCIs) should <strong>not be more than 120.</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>In<strong> 2020,</strong> the President has approved conferment of <strong>141 Padma Awards</strong> including 4 duo cases (in a duo case, the Award is counted as one).</li>
<li>The list comprises of 7 Padma Vibhushan, 16 Padma Bhushan and 118 Padma Shri Awards.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Note: Bharat Ratna is the highest civilian award of the country.</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>It is awarded in recognition of exceptional service/performance of the highest order in any field of human endeavour.</li>
<li>It is treated on a different footing from Padma Award. The recommendations for Bharat Ratna are made by the Prime Minister to the President of India.</li>
<li>The number of Bharat Ratna Awards is restricted to a <strong>maximum of three</strong> in a particular year.</li>
</ul>
</div>
<p><a href="https://pib.gov.in/newsite/PrintRelease.aspx?relid=197647" 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/padma-awards-2020'
		],
		(int) 13 => [
			'title' => 'India-Brazil Relations',
			'catname' => 'News Editorials',
			'desc' => '<div class="border">
<p>This article is based on <a href="https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/blogs/toi-edit-page/the-final-frontier-bolsonaros-republic-day-visit-should-spur-strategic-bilateral-ties-and-open-doors-to-latin-america/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">&ldquo;The final frontier: Bolsonaro&rsquo;s Republic Day visit should spur strategic bilateral ties and open doors to Latin America&rdquo;</a> which was published in The Times of India on 25/01/2020. It talks about India-Brazil relations.</p>
</div>
<p>India and Brazil established diplomatic relations between India and Brazil in 1948. The long bilateral strategic partnership is based on a common global vision, shared democratic values, and a commitment to foster economic growth with social inclusion for the welfare of the people of both countries.</p>
<p>In this context, <a href="/current-affairs-news-analysis-editorials/news-analysis/06-01-2020" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro&rsquo;s presence as chief guest for the Republic Day parade in 2020</a> is a booster dose to India&rsquo;s relations with a prominent power and an opening to deepen India&rsquo;s footprints in Latin America.</p>
<h3>Historical Link</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The connection between India and Brazil is <strong>five-century old</strong>.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The history dates back to the time when <strong>Portugal&rsquo;s Pedro Alvares</strong> was on his way to India and was blown off course, only to discover Brazil in 1500.</li>
<li>He made Brazil a stop-over to finally reach Goa. <strong>This led to the Portuguese association between India and Brazil and the exchange of varied agricultural crops and cattle in the colonial times.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>During the cold war, India and Brazil calibrated against the world order dictated by superpowers (US and USSR). For example in 1967, both the countries condemned the idea of creating <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/npt-must-for-india-s-entry-into-nsg-china" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT)</a>.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Political Cooperation</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The strategic partnership established in 2006 between Brazil and India has deepened, with both countries cooperating closely within <a href="/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-international-institution/brics-1" target="_blank" rel="noopener">BRICS</a>, <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/important-facts-for-prelims-03rd-october-2018" target="_blank" rel="noopener">IBSA,</a> <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/quad-and-g-4-meet" target="_blank" rel="noopener">G4</a>, <a href="/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-international-institution/important-institution-upsc-ias-g20-significance-global-groupings-member-challenges-buenos-aires-gs-mains-paper-ii-2-international-relations" target="_blank" rel="noopener">G20</a>, and the wider multilateral context of the United Nations.</li>
<li>Brazil and India (along with Germany and Japan) jointly pursued aspirations of permanent seats in the UN Security Council and worked towards a multipolar world where large developing countries can frame global rules and democratise international institutions.</li>
<li>Both countries played a pivotal role as leaders of the <a href="/loksabha-rajyasabha-discussions/the-big-picture-india-africa-partnership" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Global South or South-South cooperation</a>.</li>
<li>The Brazilian foreign policy of <strong>reciprocal multilateralism</strong> is in concurrence with India's policy of <strong>strategic autonomy</strong>.</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Note:</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Reciprocal multilateralism:</strong> The rules of multilateral order should benefit all nations, and not being merely dictated by the superpowers for their benefit.</li>
<li><strong>Strategic autonomy:</strong> It denotes the ability of a state to pursue its national interests and adopt its preferred foreign policy without being constrained in any manner by other states.</li>
</ul>
</div>
<h3>Economic Cooperation</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Brazil has become one of the most important trading partners of India in the entire LAC (Latin America and the Caribbean) region.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>However, bilateral trade between the two countries stands at a dismal $8 billion.</li>
<li>In 2018 Indian investments in Brazil were around U.S.$ 6 billion and Brazilian investments in India are estimated at $ 1 billion.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Note:</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The main items of export from India to Brazil are diesel, organic chemicals and pharmaceutical products, man-made filaments, nuclear reactors, boilers, machinery and mechanical appliances, textile products (synthetic filaments/fibres, cotton, apparels, accessories etc.).</li>
<li>Main items of Brazilian exports to India were Petroleum products, mainly crude oil, cane sugar, copper ore, soya oil and gold.</li>
</ul>
</div>
<h3>Defence Cooperation</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Brazil and India signed a bilateral <strong>&lsquo;Defence Cooperation Agreement&rsquo;</strong> in 2003 that calls for cooperation in defence-related matters, especially in the field of Research and Development, acquisition and logistic support between the two countries.</li>
<li>Under the framework of the agreement, a &lsquo;Joint Defence Committee (JDC)&rsquo; has been set-up that meets at regular intervals.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Cultural Cooperation</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>In Brazil, there is enormous interest in India&rsquo;s culture, religion, performing arts and philosophy.</li>
<li>Brazil has a strong community of Yoga and Ayurveda practitioners. The <strong>Brazilian Association of Ayurveda (ABRA)</strong> is a non-profit association with offices in 9 states of Brazil and has members all over Brazil.</li>
<li><strong>Mahatma Gandhi</strong> is highly regarded in Brazil and the government and NGOs are trying to inculcate the philosophy of non-violence among students, youth and police.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Challenges</h3>
<p>Relationship between India and Brazil has majorly remained stable. However, some minor issues have emerged lately.</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Brazil has filed a complaint at the World Trade Organisation against New Delhi&rsquo;s <strong>subsidies to sugarcane farmers</strong>.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Brazil is the largest producer and exporter of sugar and claims Indian subsidies are inconsistent with global trade rules.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>Brazil already counts China as its number one trade partner. India is facing difficulty to <strong>compete with deep pockets of China</strong>.</li>
<li>Though BRICS as a group has tremendous potential to grow, it has also received criticism <strong>for not having a common vision</strong>.</li>
<li>India and Brazil have <strong>developed divergence on climate change cooperation</strong> as India is committed to combating global warming while Brazil has rejected scientific studies on climate change.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Way Forward</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>There is plenty of room for cooperation between India and Brazil. For example, upgrading of <strong>Strategic Partnership Action Plan, along with the Bilateral Investment treaty, a Mutual Legal Assistance Agreement (MLAT) on crime, agreements on double taxation avoidance, bio-energy or ethanol production, cybersecurity, health, mining, oil and gas exploration and investment, and animal husbandry</strong>.</li>
<li>Operationalisation of <strong>Social Security Agreement (SSA)</strong> signed between Brazil and India in March 2017, will allow investments in each other&rsquo;s pension funds, to help business processes and encourage the flow of investment.</li>
<li>Brazil is considered to have the oldest, most advanced and efficient ethanol programs in the world. At a time when India imports crude oil for around 4 million barrels per day, the alternate use of energy is the need of the hour.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>India can collaborate with Brazil and <strong>ethanol&rsquo;s substitution of fossil fuels</strong> to meet its energy needs.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>The issues of health, universal education, infrastructure needs to be addressed. With the cooperation of IBSA and BRICS as major platforms, India and Brazil can come up with plans to deal with these issues.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Conclusion</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>India and Brazil are the emerging nations that hold similar principles on democracy, human rights, global governance and liberal strategies.</li>
<li>They are partners on the basis of trade relations and have a lot to learn from each other. With their uniting stance on various multilateral and plurilateral forums, the two countries are considered to be important for the creation of new world order.</li>
</ul>
<table border="1" style="border-collapse: collapse; background-color: #d4f8ff; border-color: #016f85; border-style: dotted; width: 887px;" width="548" height="42">
<tbody>
<tr>
<td style="width: 886px;"><em><strong>Drishti Mains Question</strong></em><br />India and Brazil share a multisectoral relationship. Discuss</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<p></p>',
			'postdate' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenTime) {},
			'url' => 'https://www.drishtiias.com/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/india-brazil-relations'
		],
		(int) 14 => [
			'title' => 'Archaea Microorganism',
			'catname' => 'News Analysis',
			'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>Recently, scientists at the <strong>National Centre for Microbial Resource under National Centre for Cell Science (NCMR-NCCS) in Pune</strong> have reported a<strong> new archaeon</strong>, which they <strong>discovered in <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/avian-botulism-at-sambhar-lake" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Sambhar Salt Lake</a> in Rajasthan</strong>.</p>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>National Centre for Microbial Resource</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>It <strong>started as Microbial Culture Collection (MCC) in 2009</strong> with a mandate to preserve and catalogue the diversity of bacteria collected from different ecological niches from all over India and to make them available for biotechnological exploitation by researchers.</li>
<li>In April 2017 MCC was transformed as a <strong>Centre of Excellence for National Centre for Microbial Resource (NCMR)</strong>. It plays a crucial role as custodian of microbial diversity of India.</li>
<li>It is a part of the <strong>National Centre for Cell Science</strong>.</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>National Centre for Cell Science</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>It is a <strong>national level</strong> biotechnology, tissue engineering and tissue banking research centre located at <strong>Savitribai Phule Pune University, Maharashtra</strong>.</li>
<li>It is <strong>one of the premier research centres in India</strong>, which works on cell-culture, cell-repository, immunology, chromatin-remodelling.</li>
</ul>
</div>
<h3>Key Points<a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1579947174_image1.png" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1579947174_image1.png" style="float: right; margin: 5px;" width="247" height="209" caption="false" /></a></h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Archaea (singular archaeon) are a <strong>primitive group of microorganisms</strong> that thrive in extreme habitats such as hot springs, cold deserts and hypersaline lakes.</li>
<li>These slow-growing organisms are <strong>also present in the human gut</strong> and have a potential relationship with human health.</li>
<li>They are known for <strong>producing antimicrobial molecules and for antioxidant activity</strong> with applications in eco-friendly waste-water treatment.</li>
<li>Scientists all over the world are working on the taxonomy of archaea but the studies on archaea are outnumbered and very little is known about how archaea behave in the human body.</li>
<li>Based on <strong>mandatory genome analysis</strong>, researchers found that the organism has potential gene clusters that help <strong>maintain the metabolism</strong> of the archaea to survive in extremely harsh conditions.</li>
<li>This particular organism also <strong>harbours specific pathways for DNA replication, recombination and repair</strong>.</li>
<li>The new archaeon has been named <strong>Natrialba swarupiae</strong>, after Dr Renu Swarup, Secretary of the Department of Biotechnology, for her initiative in supporting microbial diversity studies in the country.</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="https://indianexpress.com/article/explained/this-word-means-archaea-6234091/" 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/archaea-microorganism'
		],
		(int) 15 => [
			'title' => 'US to Limit Visas to Curb Birth Tourism',
			'catname' => 'News Analysis',
			'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>The <strong>United States of America</strong> is planning to bar pregnant women from attaining visas for <strong>&ldquo;birth tourism&rdquo;</strong>.</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The measures are to be adopted to curb the number of foreigners who use the visa to secure <strong>automatic permanent citizenship</strong> for their children <strong>by giving birth on American soil</strong>.</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Birth tourism</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>It is technically defined as a pregnant woman's decision to travel to another country for the specific reason of giving birth in that country and hoping to gain citizenship.</li>
</ul>
</div>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>B1/B2 visitor visas</strong> would no longer be issued to &ldquo;aliens" seeking to enter the United States for birth tourism.</li>
<li>Pregnant women will need to <strong>provide a specific reason</strong> for travel, like <strong>medical necessity</strong>, beyond giving birth to travel to the US.</li>
<li>The crackdown on &ldquo;birth tourism&rdquo; is <strong>for public safety and national security</strong> as well as to maintain the integrity of the US immigration system because the birth tourism industry <strong>threatens to overburden valuable hospital and national resources</strong>.</li>
<li><strong>Currently, US law does not bar foreign women from travelling to the US to give birth.</strong> However, women need to prove that they have the financial means to pay for a medical procedure if that is the reason for the trip.</li>
<li>The US considers this <strong>&ldquo;a glaring immigration loophole&rdquo;</strong>.</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>B1/B2 Tourist Visa</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>It is a temporary, non-immigrant visa, allowing the holder to travel to the US for business and tourism purposes.</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>Requirements for becoming a U.S. citizen</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>At birth:</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Have been born in the US or certain territories or outlying possessions of the US and subject to the jurisdiction of the US; OR</li>
<li>Had a parent or parents who were citizens at the time of birth (if the person was born abroad) and meet other requirements.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>After birth:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Apply for &ldquo;derived&rdquo; or &ldquo;acquired&rdquo; citizenship through parents.</li>
<li>Apply for naturalization.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>Acquisition and Determination of Indian Citizenship</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>There are five ways in which Indian citizenship can be acquired: <strong>birth, descent, registration, naturalisation and incorporation of territory</strong>. The provisions are listed under the <a href="/to-the-points/Paper2/citizenship-of-india" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Citizenship Act, 1955</strong></a>.</li>
</ul>
</div>',
			'postdate' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenTime) {},
			'url' => 'https://www.drishtiias.com/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/us-to-limit-visas-to-curb-birth-tourism'
		],
		(int) 16 => [
			'title' => '10th National Voters' Day',
			'catname' => 'News Analysis',
			'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>10<sup>th</sup> National Voters' Day (NVD) is organized by Election Commission of India on 25th January 2020 to mark 70 years of <a href="/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-national-institutions/election-commission-of-india" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Election Commission of India (ECI)</a>.</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>NVD has been celebrated on January 25 every year since 2011.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Theme:</strong> The theme for NVD 2020 is <strong>&lsquo;Electoral Literacy for Stronger Democracy&rsquo;</strong>. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The theme sets the tone for year-long activities which focus on voter education and renewal of citizens&rsquo; faith in the electoral process.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Aim:</strong> NVD is celebrated to encourage, facilitate and maximize the voter enrolment, especially for the new voters. The day is utilized to spread awareness among voters for promoting informed participation in the electoral process.</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Election Commission of India</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The Election Commission of India (ECI) is an autonomous constitutional authority responsible for administering Union and State election processes in India.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>ECI was established on 25th January 1950.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>The body administers elections to the Lok Sabha, Rajya Sabha, State Legislative Assemblies, and the offices of the President and Vice President in the country.</li>
<li><strong>Structure of the Commission</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Originally the commission had only one election commissioner but after the Election Commissioner Amendment Act 1989, it has been made a multi-member body.</li>
<li>The commission presently consists of one Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) and two Election Commissioners (ECs).</li>
<li>The secretariat of the commission is located in New Delhi.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</div>
<p><a href="https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/national-voters-day/article30650568.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/10th-national-voters-day'
		],
		(int) 17 => [
			'title' => 'India’s Cotton Story',
			'catname' => 'News Editorials',
			'desc' => '<div class="border">
<p>This article is based on <a href="https://www.thehindu.com/opinion/lead/the-flawed-spin-to-indias-cotton-story/article30627778.ece" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>&ldquo;The flawed spin to India&rsquo;s cotton story&rdquo;</strong></a> which was published in The Hindu on 23/01/2020. It highlights the problems faced by the Indian farmers due to the use of hybrid seed model for cotton production.</p>
</div>
<p>The<strong> pest-resistant Genetically Modified (GM) Bt cotton hybrids</strong> have captured the Indian market (covering over <strong>95%</strong> of the area under cotton) since their <strong>introduction in 2002.</strong> Their role in increasing India&rsquo;s cotton production has been instrumental, however, at the same time, it is argued that Bt cotton hybrids have negatively impacted the livelihoods of the farmers (especially the resource-poor farmers) and has contributed to the <a href="/to-the-points/paper3/agricultural-distress-in-india" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>agrarian distress.</strong></a></p>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Note:</strong></p>
<p><strong>Cotton-</strong> fibre, oil and protein yielding crop of global significance.</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Temperature:</strong> Between 21-30&deg;C</li>
<li><strong>Rainfall:</strong> Around 50-100cm.</li>
<li><strong>Soil Type:</strong> Well-drained black cotton soil of Deccan Plateau.</li>
<li><strong>Top Cotton Producing States:</strong> Gujarat &gt; Maharashtra &gt; Telangana &gt; Andhra Pradesh &gt; Rajasthan.</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>Hybrid Cotton:</strong> Cotton made by crossing <strong>two parent strains</strong> that have different genetic characters. Hybrids are often spontaneously and randomly created in nature when open-pollinated plants naturally cross-pollinate with other related varieties.</p>
<p><strong>Varieties Cotton:</strong> Cotton produced by <strong>process of self-fertilization/autogamy</strong> (fusion of two gametes that come from one individual).</p>
<p><strong>Bt Cotton:</strong> It is a<strong> genetically modified organism</strong> or genetically modified pest-resistant variety of cotton.</p>
</div>
<h3>Hybrid Cotton: Experience &amp; Performance so far</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>India is expected to be the<strong> world&rsquo;s largest <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/world-cotton-day" target="_blank" rel="noopener">cotton</a> producer</strong> in terms of the produced output surpassing China (in 2019). <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>India&rsquo;s cotton production in 2019 is projected at <strong>354 lakh bales</strong> (the highest ever) because of which it has been argued for extending <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/geac-seeks-information-from-bangladesh-on-bt-brinjal" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>GM technology</strong></a> to other areas so as to increase food crop yield.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>India is the<strong> only country</strong> that <strong>grows cotton in the form of hybrids.</strong> Also, India was the <strong>first to develop hybrid cotton</strong> back in 1970. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>However, India&rsquo;s <strong>productivity (yield per unit area)</strong> is <strong>much lower</strong> (around <strong>one-third</strong>) than other major cotton-producing countries. This implies that in order to be the largest producer, a much<strong> larger area is used for cotton production</strong> in India.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Hybrid Cotton Versus Varieties Cotton</h3>
<table border="1" style="border-collapse: collapse;">
<tbody>
<tr style="height: 19px;">
<td style="height: 19px; vertical-align: top; background-color: #5d00ff; width: 5.56881%; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #ffffff;"><strong>Sr. No.</strong></span></td>
<td style="height: 19px; vertical-align: top; background-color: #5d00ff; width: 13.2856%; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #ffffff;"><strong>Parameter</strong></span></td>
<td style="height: 19px; vertical-align: top; background-color: #5d00ff; width: 38.8226%; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #ffffff;"><strong>Hybrid Cotton</strong></span></td>
<td style="height: 19px; vertical-align: top; background-color: #5d00ff; width: 42.2434%; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #ffffff;"><strong>Varieties Cotton</strong></span></td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 67px;">
<td style="height: 67px; vertical-align: top; background-color: #cfd2ff; width: 5.56881%; text-align: center;">1.</td>
<td style="height: 67px; text-align: left; vertical-align: top; background-color: #cfd2ff; width: 13.2856%;">
<p>Formation Technology</p>
</td>
<td style="height: 67px; text-align: left; vertical-align: top; background-color: #cfd2ff; width: 38.8226%;">
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Made by crossing<strong> two parent</strong> strains having different genetic characters.</li>
</ul>
</td>
<td style="height: 67px; text-align: left; vertical-align: top; background-color: #cfd2ff; width: 42.2434%;">
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Seeds for this type of cotton are produced by <strong>self-fertilization.</strong></li>
</ul>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 83px;">
<td style="height: 83px; vertical-align: top; background-color: #cfd2ff; width: 5.56881%; text-align: center;">2.</td>
<td style="height: 83px; text-align: left; vertical-align: top; background-color: #cfd2ff; width: 13.2856%;">Sowing Area</td>
<td style="height: 83px; text-align: left; vertical-align: top; background-color: #cfd2ff; width: 38.8226%;">
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Hybrids in India are planted at ten-fold <strong>lower plantation density</strong> (0.5 kg seeds/acre).</li>
</ul>
</td>
<td style="height: 83px; text-align: left; vertical-align: top; background-color: #cfd2ff; width: 42.2434%;">
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>High-Density Planting (HDP):</strong> These plants are planted at high density (5 kg seeds/acre).</li>
</ul>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 131px;">
<td style="height: 131px; vertical-align: top; background-color: #cfd2ff; width: 5.56881%; text-align: center;">3.</td>
<td style="height: 131px; text-align: left; vertical-align: top; background-color: #cfd2ff; width: 13.2856%;">Reusability</td>
<td style="height: 131px; text-align: left; vertical-align: top; background-color: #cfd2ff; width: 38.8226%;">
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Hybrid seeds have to be <strong>remade for each planting season</strong> by crossing the parents. Hence, farmers must <strong>purchase seeds for each planting.</strong></li>
</ul>
</td>
<td style="height: 131px; text-align: left; vertical-align: top; background-color: #cfd2ff; width: 42.2434%;">
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Varieties can be <strong>propagated over successive generations</strong> by collecting seeds from one <strong>planting and using them for the next planting</strong> season.</li>
</ul>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 99px;">
<td style="height: 99px; vertical-align: top; background-color: #cfd2ff; width: 5.56881%; text-align: center;">4.</td>
<td style="height: 99px; text-align: left; vertical-align: top; background-color: #cfd2ff; width: 13.2856%;">
<p>Productivity</p>
</td>
<td style="height: 99px; text-align: left; vertical-align: top; background-color: #cfd2ff; width: 38.8226%;">
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>These plants have <strong>more biomass</strong> than both parents and hence have the capacity <strong>for greater yields.&nbsp;</strong>But their plantation in per acre area is less (due to its size) as compared to the Varieties Cotton.</li>
<li>The lower <strong>boll production</strong> by compact varieties (5-10 bolls per plant) as compared to hybrids (20-100 bolls/plant) is compensated by their ten-fold greater planting density.</li>
</ul>
</td>
<td style="height: 99px; text-align: left; vertical-align: top; background-color: #cfd2ff; width: 42.2434%;">
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Using <strong>HDP technique,</strong> compact varieties have been found to outperform hybrids at the field level.</li>
<li>Their productivity is <strong>more than twice</strong> the productivity of hybrid cotton.</li>
</ul>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 19px;">
<td style="height: 19px; vertical-align: top; background-color: #cfd2ff; width: 5.56881%; text-align: center;">5.</td>
<td style="height: 19px; text-align: left; vertical-align: top; background-color: #cfd2ff; width: 13.2856%;">
<p>Production Duration</p>
</td>
<td style="height: 19px; text-align: left; vertical-align: top; background-color: #cfd2ff; width: 38.8226%;">
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Bushy and<strong> long duration</strong> (i.e. take more time to grow).</li>
</ul>
</td>
<td style="height: 19px; text-align: left; vertical-align: top; background-color: #cfd2ff; width: 42.2434%;">
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Compact</strong> and <strong>short duration.</strong></li>
</ul>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 19px;">
<td style="height: 19px; vertical-align: top; background-color: #cfd2ff; width: 5.56881%; text-align: center;">6.</td>
<td style="height: 19px; text-align: left; vertical-align: top; background-color: #cfd2ff; width: 13.2856%;">Manufacturing Unit &amp; Price Control</td>
<td style="height: 19px; text-align: left; vertical-align: top; background-color: #cfd2ff; width: 38.8226%;">
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Hybrids give pricing control to the <strong>seed company</strong> thereby ensuring a continuous market. These seeds are <strong>produced entirely</strong> by the <strong>private sector.</strong></li>
</ul>
</td>
<td style="height: 19px; text-align: left; vertical-align: top; background-color: #cfd2ff; width: 42.2434%;">
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>There lies <strong>no concept of pricing control</strong> by any seed company.</li>
</ul>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 19px;">
<td style="height: 19px; vertical-align: top; background-color: #cfd2ff; width: 5.56881%; text-align: center;">7.</td>
<td style="height: 19px; text-align: left; vertical-align: top; background-color: #cfd2ff; width: 13.2856%;">Irrigation/Water requirement</td>
<td style="height: 19px; text-align: left; vertical-align: top; background-color: #cfd2ff; width: 38.8226%;">
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>They require <strong>more water.</strong> As <a href="/to-the-points/paper3/cropping-patterns-and-major-crops-of-india-part-two" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>cotton</strong></a> is a dryland crop, around 65% of the area under cotton in India is <strong>rain-fed.</strong></li>
</ul>
</td>
<td style="height: 19px; text-align: left; vertical-align: top; background-color: #cfd2ff; width: 42.2434%;">
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Less water</strong> requirement.</li>
</ul>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 51px;">
<td style="height: 51px; vertical-align: top; background-color: #cfd2ff; width: 5.56881%; text-align: center;">8.</td>
<td style="height: 51px; text-align: left; vertical-align: top; background-color: #cfd2ff; width: 13.2856%;">Fertilizer requirement</td>
<td style="height: 51px; text-align: left; vertical-align: top; background-color: #cfd2ff; width: 38.8226%;">
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>They require <strong>more fertilizers.</strong></li>
</ul>
</td>
<td style="height: 51px; text-align: left; vertical-align: top; background-color: #cfd2ff; width: 42.2434%;">
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>They require <strong>half the fertilizer as compared to hybrids.</strong></li>
</ul>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 300px;">
<td style="height: 130px; vertical-align: top; background-color: #cfd2ff; width: 5.56881%; text-align: center;">9.</td>
<td style="height: 130px; text-align: left; vertical-align: top; background-color: #cfd2ff; width: 13.2856%;">Risks Involved</td>
<td style="height: 130px; text-align: left; vertical-align: top; background-color: #cfd2ff; width: 38.8226%;">Farmers with&nbsp;<strong>insufficient access to groundwater&nbsp;</strong>in the growing areas are entirely dependent on the rain. Also, its&nbsp;<strong>longer duration</strong> makes it <strong>more prone to pest attacks</strong> and thus involves <strong>high risks.</strong></td>
<td style="height: 130px; text-align: left; vertical-align: top; background-color: #cfd2ff; width: 42.2434%;">
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Their <strong>shorter duration</strong> reduces dependence on irrigation (particularly late in the growing season when soil moisture drops following the <strong>monsoon&rsquo;s withdrawal,</strong> as this is the period when bolls develop and water requirement is the highest).</li>
<li>Also, it faces less vulnerability to damage from insect pests due to a shorter field duration. Hence,<strong> low risks are there.</strong></li>
</ul>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 19px;">
<td style="height: 10px; vertical-align: top; background-color: #cfd2ff; width: 5.56881%; text-align: center;">10.</td>
<td style="height: 10px; text-align: left; vertical-align: top; background-color: #cfd2ff; width: 13.2856%;">
<p>Economic Cost</p>
</td>
<td style="height: 10px; text-align: left; vertical-align: top; background-color: #cfd2ff; width: 38.8226%;">
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Expensive,</strong> requiring manual crossing. In India, low cost of manual labour makes it economically sustainable.</li>
<li>Also, <strong>increased yield from a hybrid</strong> is supposed to justify the high cost of hybrid seeds in India.</li>
</ul>
</td>
<td style="height: 10px; text-align: left; vertical-align: top; background-color: #cfd2ff; width: 42.2434%;">
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Low-cost</strong> solution.</li>
</ul>
</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<h3>India&rsquo;s Policy for Hybrid Cotton</h3>
<p>There have been two phases of policy:</p>
<p><strong>Phase-1: Pre-GM cotton:</strong> This phase of the policy ranges from <strong>1980-2002</strong> when India persisted with hybrids while other countries shifted to HDP (High-density Planting).</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The Cotton research centres &amp; Public sector institutions ignored such a significant innovation (in the form of HDP) in cotton breeding in India.</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>Phase-2: Post-GM:</strong> This phase began post-2002 when Bt cotton was being considered for <strong>introduction</strong> into India. In this phase, the deliberation of hybrids versus compact varieties could have been undertaken which could have led to the introduction of the HDP technology in India.</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>However, the <strong>scope of evaluation</strong> by the GM regulatory process in India was<strong> narrow</strong> and did not take the <strong>agro-economic conditions</strong> prevalent in India into account.</li>
<li>Therefore, the hybrid seed model for cotton in India persisted for many years even after benefits of compact varieties became clear from global experience.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>For example, there was a steep increase in<strong> productivity for Brazil,</strong> from 400 to 1,000 kg/hectare <strong>lint</strong> (yield of cotton fibre after <strong>ginning,</strong> i.e, after separating cotton fibres from their seeds) between 1994 and 2000- the period which coincides with large-scale shift of the world to a <strong>non-GM compact variety.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Impact of Policy</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Market Capture:</strong> Commercial Bt hybrids have<strong> overshadowed the market,</strong> accompanied by the <strong>rollback of public sector cottonseed production.</strong> Hence, the Indian cotton farmers are left with little choice but to use Bt hybrid seed produced by <strong>private seed</strong> companies.</li>
<li><strong>Farmers Distress:</strong> Due to the combination of high input and high risk, agricultural distress is <strong>extremely high</strong> among hybrid cotton cultivating farmers. Compact varieties would have significantly reduced this distress as well as increased yield.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Way Forward</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Impact Assessment:</strong> Before extending GM technology to increase food crop yield it is mandatory to <strong>assess its impact</strong> on livelihood, agrarian distress, etc. Hence, the outcome of deploying a technology must be evaluated in a particular context. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>If the technology does not <strong>prioritize the needs</strong> of the principal stakeholders (farmers), it can have significant negative fallouts, especially in India which has a high proportion of marginal and subsistence farmers.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Integrated Policy-framing:</strong> There is a <strong>need for better consultation</strong> in policy, be it agriculture as a whole or crop-wise. For e.g., the policy-framers in India could have deliberated upon the <strong>inclusion of socio-economic considerations</strong> being a signatory to international treaties on GMO regulation (the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/sixth-national-report-to-the-convention-of-biological-diversity" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Convention on Biological Diversity</strong></a>, and the Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety). These treaties specifically provide for such considerations in GMO risk assessment.</li>
<li>It is important to recognise that the adoption of any new technology (such as Bt Cotton) is a <strong>choice and not an imperative.</strong> Lessons could be learnt from <strong>Brazil and Turkey</strong> which achieved high productivity without using GM cotton but by using alternative pest-management approaches.</li>
</ul>
<table border="1" style="border-collapse: collapse; width: 100%;">
<tbody>
<tr>
<td style="width: 100%; border-style: dotted; border-color: #ff0000; background-color: #fffbdb;">
<p><span style="color: #0000ff;"><em><strong>Drishti Mains Question</strong></em></span></p>
<p>How can compact varieties of seed model help sustain cotton production in India.</p>
</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<p></p>',
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		],
		(int) 18 => [
			'title' => 'Freedom of Speech and Expression on Social Media',
			'catname' => 'News Analysis',
			'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>The <strong>High Court of Tripura</strong> has held that posting on social media was virtually the same as a <strong>fundamental right</strong> applicable to all citizens, including government employees.</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>It also asserted that government servants are entitled to hold and express their political beliefs, subject to the restrictions laid under <strong>the Tripura Civil Services (Conduct) Rules, 1988.</strong></li>
</ul>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>In another significant judgement, the High Court of Tripura ordered the police to refrain from prosecuting the activist who was arrested over a social media post where he criticised online campaign in support of the <a href="/to-the-points/Paper2/citizenship-amendment-act-2019" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA), 2019</strong></a> and warned people against it.</li>
<li>The HC held that these orders are in line with the very essence of the Indian Constitution.</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Other Recent Judgements</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The <a href="/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-national-institutions/supreme-court-of-india" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Supreme Court of India</strong></a> also gave judgement on the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/internet-as-a-medium-of-freedom-of-expression" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>internet shutdown and curbing of other civil liberties in the Jammu and Kashmir.</strong></a> It upheld the Right to access the Internet and released guidelines on imposition of <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/section-144-of-crpc" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>section 144 of CrPC.</strong></a></li>
<li>Recently, the<strong> Kerala High Court,</strong> in<strong> Faheema Shirin v. the State of Kerala</strong> case, declared the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/right-to-internet-access-and-digital-literacy" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Right to Internet Access</strong></a> as a fundamental right, forming a part of the right to privacy and the right to education under <strong>Article 21</strong> of the Constitution.</li>
</ul>
</div>
<p><a href="https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/social-media-posting-is-a-fundamental-right-rules-tripura-high-court/article30551332.ece" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Source: TH</strong></a></p>',
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		],
		(int) 19 => [
			'title' => 'The Big Picture - Police Commissioner System',
			'catname' => 'Lok Sabha & Rajya Sabha Discussions',
			'desc' => '<p style="text-align: center;"><iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/QdKM3sizKEM" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe></p>
<p>Recently, the Uttar Pradesh government has approved the implementation of the Police Commissionerate system in the two cities, Lucknow and Noida. Since the past 50 years, there was a demand to enforce the police commissionerate system. In 1978, an initiative to introduce the commissionerate system in Kanpur (UP) never materialised. The <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/lucknow-and-noida-to-get-police-commissioner-system" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>commissionerate system</strong></a> will give police a free hand to act swiftly and take decisions regarding maintaining law and order in the complex urban milieu. Now, powers of a District Magistrate (DM) under 15 Acts lie with the police.</p>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Drishti Input</strong></p>
<p><strong>Historical Background</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Policing is based on the <strong>Police Act of 1861.</strong></li>
<li>Under the colonial system, the <strong>dual system</strong> of police administration was introduced.</li>
<li>The overall in-charge of a district or region was the District Collector and the Superintendent of Police (SP) reported to him.</li>
<li>The<strong> primary objective</strong> of the British was <strong>revenue collection</strong> in rural India. They needed a force that could support this objective and unleash tyranny and oppression when needed to suit the objective. The worst of officers from the British police were sent to India. So there was a need to put them under the District Collector. That system continued post-Independence.</li>
<li>The British also brought the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/lucknow-and-noida-to-get-police-commissioner-system" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Police Commissionerate System</strong></a> first in <strong>Kolkata</strong> and followed it in <strong>Mumbai</strong> and <strong>Chennai presidencies.</strong> The system was introduced even <strong>before</strong> the Police Act of 1861.</li>
<li>The commissionerate system is considered a step towards <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/dgp-appointment" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>police reforms.</strong></a></li>
</ul>
<p><strong>Directions of the Supreme Court in Prakash Singh vs Union of India</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>In 1996, a petition was filed before the Supreme Court that raised various instances of abuse of power by the police and alleged that police personnel perform their duties in a <strong>politically partisan manner.</strong></li>
<li>The Supreme Court issued its judgement in <strong>2006,</strong> ordering the centre and states to <strong>set up authorities</strong> to lay down guidelines for police functioning, evaluate police performance, decide postings and transfers, and receive complaints of police misconduct.</li>
<li>The court also required that <strong>minimum tenure</strong> of service be guaranteed to key police officers to protect them from arbitrary transfers and postings.</li>
</ul>
</div>
<h3>Police Commissionerate System</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Delhi turned into a commissionerate during 1977-1979.</li>
<li><strong>National Police Commission&rsquo;s 6<sup>th</sup> report</strong> released in 1983 recommended the commissionerate system in cities with a population of<strong> 5 lakh and above</strong> as well as in places having special conditions.</li>
<li>In 2005, <strong>Draft Model Police Act,</strong> framed by a committee, set up by the Home Ministry also made a similar recommendation saying <strong>metro cities and major urban areas</strong> with a population of <strong>10 lakh or more</strong> should have commissionerate system</li>
<li>As of January 2018, the system has been implemented in 61 cities across 15 states in the country. (BPRD data, 2018)
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>However, after UP, <strong>63 cities</strong> now have this system.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>Expert Bodies that have Examined Police Reforms</strong></p>
<p><a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1579862901_image2.png" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1579862901_image2.png" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" caption="false" width="624" height="88" /></strong></a></p>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Constitutional/Legal Provisions<img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1579862937_image1.png" style="float: right;" /></strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Under the <strong>7<sup>th</sup> Schedule</strong> of the Constitution, Police is under the <strong>State list.</strong></li>
<li>Political executive (i.e., ministers) has the power of superintendence and control over the police forces to ensure their accountability.</li>
<li>The <strong>centre</strong> is also allowed to maintain its own police forces to assist the states with ensuring law and order. Therefore, it maintains seven central police forces and some other police organisations for specialised tasks such as intelligence gathering, investigation, research and record-keeping, and training.</li>
<li>The centre is responsible for policing in the Union Territories. It also extends intelligence and financial support to the state police forces.</li>
<li>State police forces generally have <strong>two</strong> arms: <strong>civil</strong> and <strong>armed police.</strong></li>
<li>The <strong>civil police</strong> are responsible for day-to-day law and order and crime control.</li>
<li><strong>Armed police</strong> are kept in <strong>reserve</strong> until additional support is required in situations like riots.</li>
<li>Civil police forces<strong> broadly</strong> adhere to the hierarchical structure shown in the figure:</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>Dual System</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The state government exercises control and superintendence over the state police forces.</li>
<li>At the district level, the District Magistrate also give directions to the Superintendent of Police and supervise police administration.</li>
<li>The powers such as issuing orders for preventive arrests or imposition of <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/section-144-of-crpc" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Section 144 CrPC</strong></a> are vested in the DM.</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>Commissionerate System</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>In some metropolitan cities and urban areas, however, the dual system has been replaced by the commissionerate system to allow for<strong> quicker decision-making in response to complex law and order situations, rising population</strong> and <strong>rapid urbanisation.</strong></li>
<li>The police have a greater say in resolving land disputes. However, removal of encroachments and other land-related problems would need the presence of a magistrate to aid the police.</li>
</ul>
</div>
<h3>Differences Between the Dual System of Control and the Commissionerate System</h3>
<table border="1" style="border-collapse: collapse; width: 100%;">
<tbody>
<tr style="height: 19px;">
<td style="width: 50%; vertical-align: top; text-align: center; height: 19px; background-color: #6145ff;"><span style="color: #ffffff;"><strong>Dual system</strong></span></td>
<td style="width: 50%; vertical-align: top; text-align: center; height: 19px; background-color: #6145ff;"><span style="color: #ffffff;"><strong>Commissionerate system</strong></span></td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 67px;">
<td style="width: 50%; text-align: left; vertical-align: top; height: 67px; background-color: #e1e8fa;">Dual command structure over the district police means that control and direction over the police vests with the SP (head of district police) and the District Magistrate (executive).</td>
<td style="width: 50%; text-align: left; vertical-align: top; height: 67px; background-color: #e1e8fa;">Unified command structure with the Commissioner of Police (rank of the Deputy Inspector General or above) as the sole head of the force within the city. Allows for quicker responses to law and order situations.</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 51px;">
<td style="width: 50%; text-align: left; vertical-align: top; height: 51px; background-color: #e1e8fa;">
<p>Separation of powers of the DM (e.g., issues arrest warrants and licenses) and the police (e.g., investigate crimes and make arrests).</p>
</td>
<td style="width: 50%; text-align: left; vertical-align: top; height: 51px; background-color: #e1e8fa;">
<p>Powers of policing and <strong>magistracy</strong> concentrated in Commissioner. <strong>Directly accountable</strong> to the state government and state police chief.</p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 35px;">
<td style="width: 50%; text-align: left; vertical-align: top; height: 35px; background-color: #e1e8fa;">
<p>Less concentration of power in the police, and accountability to DM at the district level.</p>
</td>
<td style="width: 50%; text-align: left; vertical-align: top; height: 35px; background-color: #e1e8fa;"><strong>Lesser accountability</strong> to the local administration.</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 51px;">
<td style="width: 50%; text-align: left; vertical-align: top; height: 51px; background-color: #e1e8fa;">
<p>SP is assisted by Additional/Assistant/ Deputy SPs, Inspectors and constabulary.</p>
</td>
<td style="width: 50%; text-align: left; vertical-align: top; height: 51px; background-color: #e1e8fa;">
<p>Commissioner is assisted by Special/Joint/ Additional/ Deputy Commissioners, etc. Inspector downwards rank structure is the same.</p>
</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<h3>Need for Commissionerate System</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Commissionerate system is considered the most authoritative system of policing, not only in other progressive countries but also in states in the country.</li>
<li>The system brings <strong>greater power and responsibility</strong> on the Police system and the possibility of passing the buck on Magistrates is eliminated.</li>
<li>It is considered essential in cities with a large population.</li>
<li>Now, suggestions are being made that it should be implemented at least in the cities with a population of 20 lakh.</li>
<li><strong>Big cities</strong> generally throw law and order problems and other problems viz., student agitations, caste-communal problems, labour agitations, agitations related to laws passed by the governments.</li>
<li>This requires very specialised handling and requires coordination at every stage. There can be a difference of opinion between officials. Hence, these multifarious, complicated issues need unity of command.</li>
<li>In the present case of UP, Noida shares borders with the National Capital which already has a commissionerate system, after the implementation of the commissionerate system in UP, there would be better coordination in policing.</li>
<li>Moreover, in Mumbai, the system has been proved successful in handling complex issues of Mumbai which also had faced the problem of the underworld.</li>
<li>Even in the commissionerate system, unfettered power is not given to the police. Police are answerable to ministers and courts.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Concerns</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>When the system is introduced, initially, there can be adjustment and understanding issues. Certain<strong> legacy issues</strong> and other issues like <strong>delegation of authority</strong> and better integration will have to be addressed.</li>
<li>In some states like UP, the police already have <strong>immense power.</strong> Questions are raised quite often on the functioning of the cops. People are generally <strong>scared of the police</strong> and the cops have also <strong>failed to win public confidence.</strong></li>
<li>People largely<strong> trust the civil administrative officials</strong> and feel more <strong>comfortable</strong> in interacting with them because they <strong>create balance in society.</strong></li>
<li>Further, there are several <strong>occasions when protests are of a civil nature</strong> and can be dealt with by the District Magistrate. Police action in such matters can complicate the situation.</li>
<li>This system works better in states <strong>where the literacy ratio is higher</strong> and people have wide knowledge about law and their fundamental rights.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Way Forward</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The Commissionerate system brings <strong>great power</strong> to the Commissioner of Police hence it calls upon a <strong>degree of restraint in using power,</strong> which in the present scenario has not been necessarily demonstrated.</li>
<li>Therefore, the <strong>selection of Commissioner becomes crucial.</strong> An officer who has a wider knowledge of handling crime, investigation in the complex urban-centric milieu and has the capacity to both restrain and increase power will do well.</li>
<li>We can say that the system gives more powers to the police force and the officers but also added responsibility to ensure that those powers are handled in a responsible manner. As it rightly said, <strong>&ldquo;With great power comes great responsibility.&rdquo;</strong></li>
<li>An efficient commissionerate system would result in <strong>better detection of crime,</strong> the<strong> better quality of investigation, increased conviction rate,</strong> protection of the rights of people, and <strong>decline of the crime rate.</strong></li>
<li>India&rsquo;s existing <strong>police system</strong> suffers a <strong>series of deficiencies</strong> from problems relating to a police organization, environment, infrastructure, and understaffing, to obsolete weaponry and intelligence gathering techniques to a shortage of manpower to corruption, the police force in the country is not in good shape.</li>
<li>Therefore, there is an urgent need for<strong> holistic police reforms.</strong> Since, Police, Law and Order are subjects of state list, the government can start by urging all states to implement the recommendations given by the supreme court in <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/dgp-appointment" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Prakash Singh case.</strong></a></li>
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	(int) 0 => [
		'title' => 'The Big Picture: Electoral Politics- Need for Reform',
		'catname' => 'Lok Sabha & Rajya Sabha Discussions',
		'desc' => '<p style="text-align: center;"><iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/BdLb_HMiEGU" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe></p>
<p>Recently at a conference on <strong>&lsquo;Money Power in Politics&rsquo;,</strong> the Vice President M. Venkaiah Naidu highlighted Indian experience with democracy as a remarkable success story. However, he pointed out <strong>two distortions</strong> that require urgent attention:</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Use of <strong>enormous money power</strong> in politics and elections,</li>
<li>Increasing <strong>attempts to entice the voters</strong> with short-term benefits (in the form of populist schemes for electoral advantage) at the cost of governance, besides adversely impacting the long-term interests of the poor and the middle class.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Indian Democracy</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>India is a vibrant democracy with people electing their representatives at several levels beginning from local bodies &amp; panchayats to the Parliament.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>India has <a href="/to-the-points/Paper2/parliamentary-reforms-in-india" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Parliamentary system of governance</strong></a> which is based on Britain&rsquo;s Westminster model of <strong>constitutional democracy.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>Elections in India (world&rsquo;s second-most populous country) seek overwhelming popular participation, where electoral candidates try to woo the voters by promising long-term reforms, such as better governance, greater socioeconomic equity, poverty alleviation, etc.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>However, corrupt politicians with criminal records, caste- and religion-based politics, and allegations of vote-buying, have defeated the very purpose of such democratic process.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Present Issues</h3>
<p>India&rsquo;s political culture has been vitiated by unprecedented waves of <strong>populism, jingoism, sectarianism and confrontational politics.</strong></p>
<p><strong>Money Power &amp; Freebies</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Expenditure:</strong> There are three drivers of expenditure in elections viz. <em><strong>legitimate electioneering cost, party running cost, and TV air time cost.</strong></em>
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>However, the accounted legitimate expenditure is a mere percentage of actual spending by the candidate and their corresponding political parties. According to the report of the <strong>National Commission to Review the Working of the Constitution</strong> (NCRWC), high cost of elections creates a high degree of compulsion for corruption in the public arena.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Vote-buying:</strong> The rise of illegitimate expenditure on<strong> vote-buying</strong> has become a matter of great concern as it is making only the rich to be more qualified to become an MP (Member of Parliament) or an MLA (Member of the Legislative Assembly) over a well-qualified public-spirited person.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>As can be seen, out of 533 candidates elected to the <strong>17<sup>th</sup> Lok Sabha</strong> (2019-present), 475 Parliamentarians (accounting for <strong>88%</strong>) are <strong>&lsquo;crorepatis&rsquo;.</strong> This reflects the paradoxical situation of poor India with rich Parliamentarians raising concerns about the growing role of money power in politics.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Freebies: Freebie</strong> is something <strong>provided or given free of charge,</strong> ranging from rice at cheapest rates to laptops &amp; bicycles. These promises may be targeted at particular groups of electorate like BPL families, weaker sections of the society, women, handicapped etc. Although, people have many-a-times rejected it, but still, political parties continue to compete with each other by offering such entitlements.</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>Paid News</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Paid news is any news or analysis appearing in any media (Print and Electronic) for a price in cash or kind. An issue like<a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/treat-one-sided-laudatory-news-reports-as-paid-news-ec-to-sc" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong> Paid News</strong></a> disrupts the level playing field and circumvents the election expenditure limits. This creates a hurdle for the <a href="/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-national-institutions/election-commission-of-india" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Election Commission of India (ECI)</strong></a> to conduct the smooth run-off elections in a <strong>free, fair and transparent manner.</strong></li>
</ul>
<p><strong>Issuance of Secret Bonds</strong></p>
<p><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/electoral-bonds" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Electoral bonds</strong></a> are the bearer bonds that were launched in 2017 in order to cleanse the system of political funding in the country.</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>However, its anonymous feature in which neither the donor nor the political party is obligated to reveal whom the donation comes from <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/how-electoral-bonds-distort-india-s-democracy" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>defeats the fundamental principle of transparency</strong></a> in political finance (as the voters are unaware of the source of funds that are spent by the political parties in the election process).</li>
<li>Also, as the issuing entity is the <strong>State Bank of India,</strong> i.e. a State-run entity, there is a <strong>fear of retribution</strong> amongst the donors as the government at any point of time can look for the names of the anonymous donors.</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/parliament-should-enact-law-to-clean-politics-sc" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Criminalisation of Politics</strong></a></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>It refers to a situation in which the <strong>anti-social elements</strong> enter the electoral process by contesting elections, getting elected to the legislature, and consequently occupying public offices. This happens due to <strong>existing strong nexus</strong> between the criminals and some politicians abusing the loopholes in the present system.</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>Flaws in the Criminal Justice System</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>In India, an accused is presumed to be innocent unless pronounced guilty by the Courts. The<strong> rate of conviction for politicians is abysmally low,</strong> with just <strong>6% in criminal cases.</strong> This implies that a large number of accused politicians with criminal background actually go unpunished from a Court of law, and are not disqualified from contesting elections further.</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>Caste-based Politics</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Caste politics in the last three decades have been marked by the <strong>desire for power on the caste-lines rather than a substantial agenda for social reform of the downtrodden.</strong> However, election campaigns along communal or caste lines are banned under the election rules.</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Drishti Input:&nbsp;</strong><strong>Measures Undertaken</strong></p>
<p><strong>Legislative Measures</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Limit on spending of candidate:</strong> At present, under Rule 90 of the <strong>Conduct of Election Rules, 1961,</strong> a candidate contesting <strong>Lok Sabha</strong> polls can spend up to<strong> ₹70 lakh</strong> and in an <strong>assembly election</strong> up to <strong>₹28 lakh,</strong> depending on the state in which s/he is contesting polls.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Recently, a <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/introduction-of-private-member-s-bill" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Private Member&rsquo;s bill</strong></a> was introduced in the Parliament which intended to <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/poll-spend-limit" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>do away with the cap on election spending by candidates</strong></a>. The move was taken on the ground that the ceiling on election expenses ends up being counterproductive by encouraging <strong>candidates to under-report their expenditure.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>In <strong>2003,</strong> a law was passed by the Parliament after the Tehelka scam. According to it, donations to political parties will receive <strong>100% income tax exemptions</strong> for donors.</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>Measures by ECI</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/political-parties-registration-tracking-management-system-pprtms" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Political Parties Registration Tracking Management System (PPRTMS):</strong> </a>To allow an applicant<strong> to track the progress</strong> of his/her application.</li>
<li><strong>Systematic Voters' Education and Electoral Participation Programme (SVEEP):</strong> ECI organizes <strong>voter awareness campaigns</strong> in order to educate the voters.</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>Measures by Judiciary</strong></p>
<p><strong>Supreme Court</strong> in following cases recommended various reforms:</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>In <em><strong>Union of India versus Association of Democratic Reforms 2002 case:</strong></em> Contesting candidates need to<strong> disclose</strong> all their assets and liabilities, criminal convictions, etc. at the <strong>time of filing their nomination paper.</strong></li>
<li>In <em><strong>Ramesh Dalal versus Union of India 2005 case:</strong> </em>A legislator is <strong>disqualified</strong> from contesting elections if, <strong>on the day of filing</strong> the nomination papers, he/she stands convicted in a Court of law.</li>
<li>In<em><strong> Lily Thomas versus Union of India 2013 case:</strong> </em>The nature of disqualification for being a member of the House as provided under <strong>Article 101(3) &amp; 190(3)</strong> is<strong> automatic</strong> and takes place with <strong>immediate effect.</strong></li>
<li>In <strong>People&rsquo;s Union of Civil Liberties versus Union of India 2013 case:</strong> Voters enjoy <strong>&ldquo;Right to Negative Vote&rdquo;</strong> in the election process and directed the ECI to include the<strong> choice of &ldquo;NOTA&rdquo;</strong> in the ballot paper.</li>
</ul>
</div>
<h3>Needed Reforms</h3>
<p><strong>Legislative Reforms</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><a href="/loksabha-rajyasabha-discussions/the-big-picture-regulating-anonymous-donations" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>State Funding of Elections:</strong> </a>System in which the <strong>State bears the election expenditure of political parties</strong> that are contesting elections. This can bring transparency in the funding process as public finance can limit the influence of interested donors&rsquo; money and thereby help curb corruption.</li>
<li><a href="/loksabha-rajyasabha-discussions/the-big-picture-one-nation-one-election" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Simultaneous Polls:</strong> </a>The time has come to implement simultaneous polls because of its underlying advantages including <strong>reducing the costs of holding elections</strong> by the ECI <strong>and spending</strong> by political parties.</li>
<li><strong>Central Legislation:</strong> In the <em><strong>Public Interest Foundation &amp; Ors. vs. Union of India 2018</strong> </em>case, <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/has-the-sc-missed-a-chance-to-keep-criminals-out-of-polls" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>SC put the onus on the Parliament</strong></a> to frame a law to prevent criminalization of politics and take concerted efforts to cleanse the political system of the country.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The time has come to frame suitable legislation on the lines of <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/rbi-flags-states-%20fiscal-stress" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>FRBMA, 2003</strong></a> (Fiscal Responsibility and Budget Management Act- that puts a <strong>cap on fiscal deficit</strong>).</li>
<li>If a cap is introduced on populist announcements (based on the proportion of budgetary resources they have) by the parties within the ambit of law, then perhaps all political parties will have a level playing field and the unsustainable populist measures could be kept under check.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>Law Commission in its <a href="/loksabha-rajyasabha-discussions/the-big-picture-election-commission-collegium-system-appointments" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>255<sup>th</sup> Report on Electoral Reforms</strong> </a>inter-alia recommended strengthening of the office of the ECI in order to provide more independence and tooth to the institution.</li>
<li>The<strong> 'First Past the Post System'</strong>, in which a person with the highest votes (even with one extra vote) is declared winner, needs to be changed. Rather, a <strong>minimum percentage of total votes polled</strong> can be fixed for declaring a candidate as the winner. This could restrict the criminals from getting elected as not everybody in a constituency votes on party lines.</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>At Party Level</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Limit on Party Expenditure:</strong> There must be a limit on the expenditure of the party. A <strong>time frame</strong> must be set for accounting the expenditure of parties and must be made public before the actual date of elections so that the voters and the concerned authorities could be priorly informed.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Consequently, <strong>audit</strong> of political parties accounts must be conducted in order to make them accountable.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>Political parties need to <strong>rise morally and self-discipline themselves</strong> restricting their use of money power. Also, the<strong> flow of black money</strong> into the election process needs to be taken care off.</li>
<li>Political parties need to be brought <a href="/loksabha-rajyasabha-discussions/the-big-picture-political-parties-under-rti" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>under the ambit of Right to Information Act (RTI) Act</strong></a>, 2005.</li>
<li>All parties should be given <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/challenges-before-election-commission-of-india" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>equal media space or air time</strong></a> so as to provide a level playing field.</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>At Voter&rsquo;s Level:</strong> Voters need to be <strong>educated</strong> regarding the significance of their vote. They should be made <strong>aware &amp; well-informed</strong> about the candidate they seek to vote, thereby rejecting those who try to entice them with freebies.</p>
<h3>Way Forward</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>There is a need <strong>of fixing governance system</strong> and effective regulation of political financing along with bold reforms to break the vicious cycle of corruption and erosion of quality of democratic polity. It is crucial to plug the loopholes in the current laws to make the entire governance machinery more accountable and transparent.</li>
<li><strong>Linking Vote with Tangible Consequences:</strong> Long-term empowerment of local body/ localised power must be done so that people could see the changes happening immediately at their level and could actualise &amp; understand the value of vote. This would inhibit getting freebies tendency amongst people.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Also, <strong>local bureaucracy must be made accountable &amp; held responsible</strong> so that their burden is not borne by the political parties.</li>
<li>As per the statistics, the <strong>annual burden</strong> on party workers to indirectly maintain an assembly constituency amounts to ₹3-4 Crores. This gives birth to strong nexus between party workers and the bureaucracy, who in lieu of giving money take petty contracts, police cases interventions, etc., leading to abuse of administrative process.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>A voter forfeits the right to question the government when he/she compromises on moral values and accepts gift or cash for his/her vote. Therefore, citizens must vote in elections based on character, conduct, calibre and capability of the candidates and not based on cash, caste, community and criminal prowess. This could be the <strong>ultimate solution to check money power</strong> in politics.</li>
</ul>
<p>The constitutional functionaries, who have taken the pledge to uphold the constitutional principles, are charged with the responsibility to ensure that the existing political framework does not get tainted with the evil of corruption.</p>',
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	],
	(int) 1 => [
		'title' => 'Novel Strain of Coronavirus',
		'catname' => 'News Analysis',
		'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>Recently, <strong>the Lancet</strong> published a study titled <strong>&ldquo;Clinical features of patients infected with 2019 novel coronavirus in Wuhan, China&rdquo;.</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The study highlighted the <strong>high mortality due to the 2019 novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV infection)</strong> which caused clusters of severe respiratory illness similar to severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) coronavirus.</li>
<li>It also pointed out that there are major gaps in the knowledge of the origin, epidemiology, duration of human transmission and clinical spectrum of the disease.</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>The Lancet</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>It is a weekly peer-reviewed general British medical journal.</li>
<li>It is among the world's oldest, most prestigious, and best known general medical journals.</li>
</ul>
</div>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Findings of the Study</strong>
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Most of the infected patients were men.</li>
<li>Less than half had underlying diseases (diabetes, hypertension and cardiovascular ailments).</li>
<li>66% of patients had been exposed to Huanan seafood market.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>Researchers collected and analysed data by real-time <strong>Reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR).</strong>
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>RT-PCR is a laboratory technique combining reverse transcription of RNA into DNA and next-generation sequencing.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Coronavirus</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/coronaviruses" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Coronaviruses</strong></a> are a specific family of viruses, with some of them causing <strong>less-severe damage,</strong> such as the common cold and others causing <strong>respiratory and intestinal diseases.</strong></li>
<li>A coronavirus has many <strong>&ldquo;regularly arranged&rdquo; protrusions on its surface,</strong> because of which the entire virus particle looks like an emperor&rsquo;s crown, hence the name <strong>&ldquo;coronavirus&rdquo;.</strong></li>
<li><strong>It is an RNA virus</strong> with<strong> ribonucleic acid (RNA)</strong> as its genetic material instead of <strong>deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA).</strong> That means the virus blends with its host&rsquo;s DNA and can mutate rapidly.<a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1580200265_image2.jpg" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1580200265_image2.jpg" style="float: right;" width="340" caption="false" /></a>
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Due to this property of rapid mutation, coronaviruses can be quite different from one another.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>These can affect <strong>humans</strong> as well as <strong>mammals including pigs, cattle, cats, dogs, martens, camels, hedgehogs and some birds.</strong></li>
<li>There are <strong>four common disease-causing coronaviruses,</strong>&nbsp;while the two other are the<strong> Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) coronavirus</strong> and the<strong> Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS) coronavirus,</strong> both of which can cause <strong>severe respiratory diseases.</strong></li>
<li>In the newly identified coronavirus, a direct link with the disease has not been established yet. It was speculated that it was related to the SARS epidemic of 2002.</li>
<li><a href="/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-international-institution/world-health-organization-who" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>World Health Organisation</strong> </a><strong>(WHO)</strong> has said that further investigations and research are required to determine the source, modes of transmission and extent of infection caused by the new virus.</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Difference Between DNA and RNA Viruses</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>A virus is a biological agent that can self-replicate inside a host cell. The infected cells by viruses may produce thousands of new copies of the original virus at an extraordinary rate.</li>
<li>The genetic material of a virus can be either DNA or RNA. The viruses that contain DNA as their genetic material are called the <strong>DNA viruses. RNA viruses,</strong> on the other hand, contain RNA as their genetic material.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>DNA viruses are mostly<strong> double-stranded</strong> while RNA viruses are <strong>single-stranded.</strong></li>
<li><strong>RNA mutation rate is higher</strong> than the DNA mutation rate.</li>
<li><strong>DNA replication takes place in the nucleus</strong> while <strong>RNA replication takes place in the cytoplasm.</strong></li>
<li>DNA viruses are stable while RNA viruses are unstable.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</div>',
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		'url' => 'https://www.drishtiias.com/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/novel-strain-of-coronavirus'
	],
	(int) 2 => [
		'title' => 'India - Brazil',
		'catname' => 'News Analysis',
		'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro attended India&rsquo;s 71<sup>st</sup> <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/republic-day-tableaux" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Republic Day parade</strong></a> as the chief guest for the event.</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>India-Brazil Business Forum held during his visit and 15 Memorandums of Understanding (MoU ) were signed between the two countries.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Key Points<a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1580199486_image1.png" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1580199486_image1.png" style="float: right;" width="340" caption="false" /></a></h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>MoUs Signed:</strong> The MoUs related to investments, trade facilitation, social security, agriculture, defence and double taxation were signed.</li>
<li><strong>India &ndash; Brazil Business Leader&rsquo;s Forum:</strong> The demand for reconstitution of the Forum was raised to make it more relevant and contemporary to businesses in both countries</li>
<li><strong>Trade Target:</strong> India-Brazil has set target of USD 15 billion trade by 2022.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>It needs to be noted that <strong>Brazil</strong> is one of the <strong>most important trading partners</strong> of India in the <strong>entire LAC (Latin America and the Caribbean) region.</strong></li>
<li>However, bilateral trade between the two countries stands at a dismal $8 billion.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Tourism:</strong> Both the countries announced for <strong>visa-free travel</strong> which is expected to deepen ties, especially in the business and tourism sector.</li>
<li><strong>Cultural Cooperation:</strong> India&rsquo;s services in the wellness sector like Yoga and Ayurveda is expected to grow as Brazil has a strong community of Yoga and Ayurveda practitioners.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Brazil has an association of Ayurveda (ABRA) and the third International Congress on Ayurveda was held from 12 to 15 March 2018 in Rio de Janeiro (a city in Brazil).</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Case at the World Trade Organization</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The Brazilian government has challenged the <strong>minimum price (Fair and Remunerative Price -FRP) for sugarcane set by the Indian government</strong> at the World Trade Organisation (WTO).</li>
<li>Indian farmers&rsquo; groups have requested the Brazilian President to withdraw its complaint against India.</li>
<li>Brazil has responded that it is <strong>open to finding a &ldquo;non-litigious solution&rdquo;</strong> to the dispute. Also, added that the present issue would not affect bilateral collaborations on biofuels derived from sugarcane.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Note</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>India and Brazil share a very close and multifaceted relationship at <strong>bilateral level as well as in plurilateral fora</strong> such as <a href="/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-international-institution/brics-1" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>BRICS</strong></a>, <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/important-facts-for-prelims-03rd-october-2018" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>IBSA</strong></a>, <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/quad-and-g-4-meet" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>G4</strong></a>, <a href="/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-international-institution/important-institution-upsc-ias-g20-significance-global-groupings-member-challenges-buenos-aires-gs-mains-paper-ii-2-international-relations" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>G20</strong></a>, BASIC, International Solar Alliance, Biofuture Platform and in the larger multilateral bodies such as the UN, WTO, UNESCO and WIPO.</li>
<li>The <strong>strategic partnership</strong> was established between Brazil and India in 2006.</li>
</ul>
</div>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Fair and Remunerative Prices for Sugarcane</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Minimum Support Price (MSP) for the different agricultural crops viz., food grains, oilseeds, fibre crops, sugarcane and tobacco are announced by the Government of India before their sowing seasons.</li>
<li>In the case of sugarcane, the announced price is termed as a statutory minimum price, rephrased as Fair Remunerative Price (FRP).</li>
<li>There is statutory binding on sugar factories to pay the minimum announced price and all those transactions or purchase at prices lower than this are considered illegal.</li>
</ul>
</div>
<p><a href="https://pib.gov.in/PressReleseDetail.aspx?PRID=1600678" 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/india-brazil-1'
	],
	(int) 3 => [
		'title' => 'Colour-Coded Warnings by the IMD',
		'catname' => 'News Analysis',
		'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>Recently, the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/statement-on-climate-of-india-during-2019-imd" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Indian Meteorological Department (IMD)</strong></a> has issued a <strong>yellow weather warning</strong> for <strong>heavy rain and snowfall</strong> in Himachal Pradesh.</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Yellow weather warning indicates <strong>severely bad</strong> weather spanning across several days.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Colour- Coded Weather Warning</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>It is issued by the<strong> IMD</strong> whose objective is to alert people ahead of severe or hazardous weather which has the potential to cause damage, widespread disruption or danger to life.</li>
<li>Warnings are updated daily.</li>
<li>The IMD uses 4 colour codes are: <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li><strong>Green (All is well):</strong> No advisory is issued.</li>
<li><strong>Yellow (Be Aware):</strong> Yellow indicates <strong>severely bad</strong> weather spanning across several days. It also suggests that the weather could change for the worse, causing disruption in day-to-day activities.</li>
<li><strong>Orange/Amber (Be prepared):</strong> The orange alert is issued as a warning of <strong>extremely bad weather</strong> with the potential of disruption in commute with road and rail closures, and interruption of power supply.</li>
<li><strong>Red (Take Action):</strong> When the extremely bad weather conditions are certainly going to <strong>disrupt</strong> travel and power and have significant risk to life, the red alert is issued.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>These alerts are<strong> universal</strong> in nature and are also issued during <strong>floods,</strong> depending on the amount of water rising above land/in a river as a result of torrential rainfall. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>For instance, when the water in a river is &lsquo;above normal&rsquo; level, or between the &lsquo;warning&rsquo; and &lsquo;danger&rsquo; levels, a yellow alert is issued.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>India Meteorological Department</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>IMD was established in 1875.</li>
<li>It is an agency of the <strong>Ministry of Earth Sciences</strong> of the Government of India.</li>
<li>It is the principal agency responsible for meteorological observations, weather forecasting and seismology</li>
</ul>
</div>
<p><a href="https://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-national/tp-otherstates/hp-shivers-under-numbing-cold/article30661994.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/colour-coded-warnings-by-the-imd'
	],
	(int) 4 => [
		'title' => 'Andhra Pradesh to Scrap Legislative Council',
		'catname' => 'News Analysis',
		'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>The Andhra Pradesh (AP) assembly has passed a resolution to abolish the state&rsquo;s <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/legislative-council-1" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Legislative Council.</strong></a></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The Andhra Pradesh government has to send the resolution to the <strong>Governor</strong> for his approval and then to the Parliament for <strong>ratification.</strong></li>
<li>The move comes after the Legislative Council referred the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/three-capitals-for-andhra-pradesh" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Capital Decentralisation Bill</strong></a> to a Select Committee for review.</li>
<li>Andhra Pradesh&rsquo;s Legislative Council, set up in 1958, was abolished in 1985, then <strong>reconstituted</strong> in <strong>2007.</strong></li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Note: Select committees</strong> are formed for a specific purpose, for instance, to deliberate on a particular bill. Once the Bill is disposed of, that select committee ceases to exist.</p>
</div>
<h3>Legislative Council</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Basis For Formation</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>India has a <strong>bicameral system of legislature.</strong> Just as the Parliament has two Houses, the states can also have a Legislative Council (LC) in addition to the Legislative Assembly through Article 169 of the Constitution.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Abolition and Creation - Article 169</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The Parliament can abolish a Legislative Council (where it already exists) or create it (where it does not exist) by a simple majority, if the legislative assembly of the concerned state, by a special majority, passes a resolution to that effect.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Note</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Simple Majority</strong> implies a majority of the members of each House present and voting.</li>
<li><strong>Special Majority</strong> implies:<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>A majority of the total membership of the assembly and</li>
<li>A majority of not less than two-thirds of the members of the assembly present and voting.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</div>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>States having Legislative Councils</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Besides Andhra Pradesh, the other states having Legislative Councils are Telangana, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Maharashtra and Karnataka.</li>
<li>Legislative assemblies of Rajasthan, Assam and Odisha have passed resolutions for the formation of the Council.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Arguments in Favour of the Formation of the Council</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>A Legislative Council can help check hasty actions by the directly elected House.</li>
<li>The Legislative Council also enables non-elected individuals to contribute to the legislative process.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Arguments Against</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The Legislative Council can delay legislation.</li>
<li>It can also be used to park leaders who have not been able to win an election.</li>
<li>It strains state finances.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Way Forward</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The Parliamentary Committee that examined the Rajasthan Bill for the formation of the Legislative Council advocated for the evolution of a <strong>national policy for creation/abolition of Legislative Councils.</strong></li>
<li>It argued that<strong> the status of Legislative Councils cannot be of temporary in nature</strong> depending on the mood of the Government of the day nor can be abolished once created, only at the whims and fancy of a newly elected Government in the State.</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/andhra-pradesh/ap-government-to-scrap-legislative-council/article30638090.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/andhra-pradesh-to-scrap-legislative-council'
	],
	(int) 5 => [
		'title' => 'Evolution of Indian Judiciary',
		'catname' => 'News Editorials',
		'desc' => '<div class="border">
<p>This article is based on <a href="https://www.thehindu.com/opinion/lead/the-four-phases-of-constitutional-interpretation/article30653706.ece" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>&ldquo;The four phases of constitutional interpretation&rdquo;</strong></a> which was published in The Hindu on 27/01/2020. It talks about the evolution of the Indian Judiciary.</p>
</div>
<p>The Constitution of India came into force 70 years ago, on January 26, 1950. Its enactment was an ambitious political experiment as it sought to implement universal adult franchise, <a href="/gs-special/gs-special-polity/Challenges-to-the-federal-structure-of-the-indian-union" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>federalism</strong></a> in a region consisting of over 550 princely states, and social revolution in a society that was divided on the lines of caste, religion, etc.</p>
<p>However, it was equally a unique achievement in terms of constitutional design which has been under the guardianship of Indian Judiciary. Evolution of Judiciary and how it interpreted the Constitution can be understood in the following phases:</p>
<h3>Phase One: Textualist Approach</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>In its early years, the Supreme Court adopted a textualist approach. It focused on the<strong> literal meaning of the words</strong> as mentioned in the Constitution.</li>
<li>For example, in <strong>A.K. Gopalan v. State of Madras (1950) case,</strong> the Supreme Court interpreted the Fundamental Rights under Part III.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>In this case, the leaders of the Communist Party of India claimed that preventive detention legislation was inconsistent with Articles 19 (the right to freedom), 21 (the right to life) and 22 (the protection against arbitrary arrest and detention).</li>
<li>The Supreme Court upheld the validity of preventive detention and decided that each of those articles covered entirely different subject matter, and were to be read as separate codes rather than being read together.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>At that time, the most controversial questions pertaining to Indian Constitution had been whether there are any limitations on Parliament&rsquo;s power to amend the Constitution, especially Fundamental Rights.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>However, the Court in its early years read the Constitution literally, concluding that there were no such limitations.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Phase Two: The Structuralist Approach</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The Supreme Court began exploring other methods of interpretation. Appeals to the text of the Constitution were gradually overtaken by appeals to the Constitution&rsquo;s overall structure and coherence.</li>
<li>In the leading case of <a href="/gs-special/gs-special-polity/important-sources-of-the-indian-constitution" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Kesavananda Bharati v. State of Kerala (1973),</strong></a> the Supreme Court concluded that Parliament&rsquo;s power to amend the Constitution did not extend to altering its <strong>Basic Structure.</strong></li>
<li>The Supreme Court in <strong>Maneka Gandhi v. Union of India (1978) case</strong> reversed its earlier stand that it took in A K Gopalan case.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>In this case, the Court conceived of the Fundamental Rights as a cohesive bill of rights rather than a miscellaneous grouping of constitutional guarantees.</li>
<li>The <strong>Right to Life</strong> was incrementally interpreted to include a wide range of rights such as clean air, speedy trial, and free legal aid. This paved the way for the Supreme Court to play an unprecedented role in the<strong> governance of the nation.</strong></li>
<li>In order to implement this, the Supreme Court of India, pioneered the <a href="/to-the-points/Paper2/public-interest-litigation" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Public Interest Litigation (PIL)</strong></a> thereby throwing upon the portals of Courts to the common man.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>PIL has today acquired unprecedented legitimacy and binding power and is acknowledged as a powerful weapon to combat governmental lawlessness and social oppression.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Phase Three: Challenge of Heterogeneity</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The Supreme Court&rsquo;s interpretive philosophy turned far more <strong>result-oriented</strong> but it lacked thorough reasoning of the issues. Reasons for this: <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The Supreme Court which at its inception began with <strong>eight judges</strong> grew to a sanctioned strength of <strong>34 judges.</strong></li>
<li>However, with the increasing burden of cases, it began to sit in panels of two or three judges, effectively transforming it into a <strong>&ldquo;polyvocal&rdquo; group.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>Further, <strong>Judicial Activism</strong> helped Indian Judiciary to become one of the most powerful judiciaries in the world.However, the <strong>Indian Judiciary has been alleged of Judicial Overreach</strong> (interfering in the domain of executive and legislature), nepotism and protecting itself of any reform under the guise of independence of the Judiciary.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>This can be reflected in cases like rendering the <a href="/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-national-institutions/supreme-court-of-india" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>National Judicial Appointment Commission</strong></a> (99<sup>th</sup> Constitutional Amendment) as ultra vires or <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/all-is-still-not-well-in-court" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Master of the Roster controversy.</strong></a></li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Phase Four: Social Revolution and Transformation</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Recently, the Supreme Court has passed many judgments recognising the individual's rights and thereby ushering an era of social transformation. For example:<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><a href="/current-affairs-news-analysis-editorials/news-editorials/16-11-2019/print" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Lifting the ban on entry of women (aged 10-50) inside Sabarimala Temple:</strong></a> The Supreme Court held that "Devotion cannot be subjected to gender discrimination" and removed a ban that prevented women between 10 and 50 years of age from entering Kerala's Sabarimala temple.</li>
<li><a href="/to-the-points/Paper2/to-the-point-paper-2-section-377-judgement" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Decriminalisation of Homosexuality:</strong></a> Supreme Court in 2018 decriminalized homosexuality stated under <strong>Section 377 of the Indian Penal Code.</strong></li>
<li><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/adultery-is-not-a-crime-supreme-court" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Adultery Not A Crime:</strong> </a>The Supreme Court unanimously struck down a 150-year-old law that considered adultery to be an offence committed against a married woman by another man. Defined under <strong>Section 497 of the IPC,</strong> adultery law came under sharp criticism for treating women as possessions rather than human beings.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>The <strong>Supreme Court declared Section 497 as unconstitutional.</strong> Adultery is no longer a crime but if it leads to someone committing suicide, the act will be treated as a crime - abetment to suicide.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<p>Apart from these, Indian Judiciary has also taken reforms that sought to instil transparency in Indian judicial system like <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/live-streaming-the-supreme-courts-proceedings" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>live streaming of Supreme Court</strong></a> and <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/chief-justice-of-india-under-the-ambit-of-the-rti-act" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>bringing of CJI under RTI.</strong></a> However, Indian Judiciary should strive to strike a balance between transparency &amp; accountability and maintaining the independence of the Judiciary.</p>
<table border="1" style="border-collapse: collapse; width: 100%;">
<tbody>
<tr>
<td style="width: 100%; border-style: dotted; border-color: #fc0000; background-color: #f0ffd1;"><span style="color: #333399;"><em><strong>Drishti Mains Question</strong></em></span><br /><br />The strength to Indian Constitution can be attributed to evolution in Indian Judiciary with changing times. Comment.</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>',
		'postdate' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenTime) {},
		'url' => 'https://www.drishtiias.com/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/evolution-of-indian-judiciary'
	],
	(int) 6 => [
		'title' => 'e-commerce in India',
		'catname' => 'Paper 3',
		'desc' => '<p><a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1582721605_E-commerce%20in India (Mind Map)_Artboard 1.png" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1582721605_E-commerce in India (Mind Map)_Artboard 1.png" width="397" height="1063" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" /></a></p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><a href="/to-the-points/paper3/e-commerce-in-india" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><em>For TTP</em></a></p>',
		'postdate' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenTime) {},
		'url' => 'https://www.drishtiias.com/mind-map/gs-paper3/e-commerce-in-india-mind-map'
	],
	(int) 7 => [
		'title' => 'Incidence of NCDs in MP',
		'catname' => 'News Analysis',
		'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>Recently, a screening drive was carried out by the<a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/national-health-mission-and-janani-suraksha-yojana" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong> National Health Mission</strong> </a><strong>(NHM)</strong> under the <strong>Centre&rsquo;s Non-Communicable Disease Control Programmes</strong> in <strong>Madhya Pradesh.</strong></p>
<h3>Key Points<a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1580124778_image2.png" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1580124778_image2.png" style="float: right;" width="400" caption="false" /></a></h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/non-communicable-diseases-in-india" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Non-communicable diseases</strong></a> like hypertension, diabetes and cancer are posing a <strong>bigger challenge in the non-tribal rural areas</strong> of Madhya Pradesh owing to a rapidly <strong>growing rate of incidence and the lack of awareness.</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Urban areas have more awareness which translates into patients undergoing treatment despite a high incidence and the burden is moderate.</li>
<li>However, the burden is increasing in rural areas due to low awareness.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>It needs to be noted that <strong>despite the low awareness levels,</strong> there was a <strong>low incidence in the 89 tribal blocks</strong> in the State, which <strong>has the largest tribal population</strong> in the country.</li>
<li>Of the <strong>country&rsquo;s 100 districts with the highest prevalence of hypertension, 15</strong> were in Madhya Pradesh.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The <strong>India Hypertension Control Initiative,</strong> supported by the <a href="/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-international-institution/world-health-organization-who" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>World Health Organisation</strong></a> <strong>(WHO)</strong>, is catering to patients above 18 suffering from the diseases in various districts of the state.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Non-Communicable Disease Control Programmes</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>It is a <strong>group of various national programmes</strong> which focus on different non-communicable diseases separately. For example- National Mental Health Programme, National Oral Health Programme, National Tobacco Control Programme, etc.</li>
<li>The programmes <strong>focus on identifying non-communicable diseases at the Primary Health Centre (PHC) level</strong> itself and ensuring treatment up to the district-level and follow-ups with patients to continue medication.</li>
<li><strong>Also, Accredited Social Health Activist (ASHA)</strong> workers go door-to-door to draft family profiles and screen them for the non-communicable diseases instead of patients visiting a health centre.</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>India Hypertension Control Initiative</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>It is a collaborative project of <strong>Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR), Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MoHFW),</strong> State Governments, <strong>WHO</strong> and<strong> &lsquo;Resolve to Save Lives&rsquo;- initiative of Vital Strategies.</strong></li>
<li>It was <strong>launched in November 2017</strong> in 25 selected districts in Punjab, Madhya Pradesh, Kerala, Telangana, and Maharashtra. It was expanded to cover <strong>100 districts</strong> across all states in <strong>2019.</strong></li>
<li>The primary goal of this project is to <strong>reduce morbidity and mortality due to cardiovascular diseases (CVDs),</strong> the leading cause of death in India, by improving the control of high blood pressure, which is a leading risk factor for CVDs among adults in India.</li>
<li><strong>It aims to:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Create patient-centred services</strong> to improve patient support.</li>
<li><strong>Reduce reliance on bigger hospitals</strong> and an increase in the utilization of &lsquo;Health and wellness centres&rsquo; and primary health centres.</li>
<li><strong>Provide for regular monitoring of health facilities</strong> and prompt feedback to program managers to bridge gaps if any in a timely manner.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</div>
<p><a href="https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/non-communicable-diseases-rising-in-non-tribal-rural-regions-of-madhya-pradesh/article30659643.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/incidence-of-ncds-in-mp'
	],
	(int) 8 => [
		'title' => 'e-Commerce in India',
		'catname' => 'Paper 3',
		'desc' => '<h3>Introduction</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Electronic commerce or e-commerce is a business model that lets firms and individuals buy and sell things over the Internet.</li>
<li>Propelled by rising smartphone penetration, the launch of 4G networks and increasing consumer wealth,<strong> the Indian e-commerce market is expected to grow to US$ 200 billion by 2026 from US$ 38.5 billion in 2017.</strong></li>
<li>India&rsquo;s e-commerce revenue is expected to jump from US$ 39 billion in 2017 to US$ 120 billion in 2020, growing at an annual rate of 51%, the highest in the world.</li>
<li>The Indian e-commerce industry has been on an upward growth trajectory and is expected to surpass the US to become the second-largest e-commerce market in the world by 2034.</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1580123510_image1.jpg" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1580123510_image1.jpg" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="650" caption="false" /></a></p>
<h3>Advantages of e-Commerce</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The process of e-commerce enables sellers to come closer to customers that lead to<strong> increased productivity and perfect competition.</strong> The customer can also choose between different sellers and buy the most relevant products as per requirements, preferences, and budget. Moreover, customers now have access to virtual stores 24/7.</li>
<li>e-Commerce also leads to significant <strong>transaction cost reduction for consumers.</strong></li>
<li>e-commerce has emerged as one of the fast-growing trade channels available for the <strong>cross-border trade of goods and services.</strong></li>
<li>It provides a <strong>wider reach and reception across the global market,</strong> with minimum investments. It enables sellers to sell to a global audience and also customers to make a global choice. Geographical boundaries and challenges are eradicated/drastically reduced.</li>
<li>Through direct interaction with final customers, this e-commerce process <strong>cuts the</strong> <strong>product distribution chain</strong> to a significant extent.<strong> A direct and transparent</strong> channel between the producer or service provider and the final customer is made. This way products and services that are created to cater to the individual preferences of the target audience.</li>
<li>Customers can easily locate products since e-commerce can be one store set up for all the customers&rsquo; business needs</li>
<li><strong>Ease of doing business:</strong> It makes starting, managing business easy and simple.</li>
<li>The growth in the e-commerce sector can boost employment, increase revenues from export, increase tax collection by ex-chequers, and provide better products and services to customers in the long-term.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The e-commerce industry has been directly impacting the micro, small &amp; medium enterprises (MSME) in India by providing means of financing, technology and training and has a favourable cascading effect on other industries as well.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Disadvantages of e-Commerce</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>There is lesser accountability on part of e-commerce companies and the product quality may or may not meet the expectations of the customers.</li>
<li>It depends strongly on network connectivity and information technology. Mechanical failures can cause unpredictable effects on total processes.</li>
<li>Definite legislations both domestically and internationally to regulate e-commerce transactions are still to be framed leading to lack of regulation of the sector.</li>
<li>At times, there is a loss of privacy, culture or economic identity of the customer.</li>
<li>There is a chance of <strong>fraudulent financial transactions and loss of sensitive financial information.</strong></li>
<li>The Internet is borderless with minimum regulation, and therefore protecting intellectual property rights (IPR) on the Internet is a growing concern. There are currently several significant IPR issues including misuse of trademark rights.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Government Initiatives Regarding e-Commerce in India</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>In February 2019, a <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/draft-e-commerce-policy" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>draft National e-Commerce policy</strong> </a>has been prepared and placed in the public domain, which addresses six broad issues of the e-commerce ecosystem viz. e-commerce marketplaces; regulatory issues; infrastructure development; data; stimulating domestic digital economy and export promotion through e-commerce.</li>
<li>The Department of Commerce initiated an exercise and established a <strong>Think Tank on &lsquo;Framework for National Policy on e-Commerce&rsquo;</strong> and <strong>a Task Force under it</strong> to deliberate on the challenges confronting India in the arena of the digital economy and electronic commerce (e-commerce).</li>
<li>The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has decided to allow "interoperability" among Prepaid Payment Instruments (PPIs) such as digital wallets, prepaid cash coupons and prepaid telephone top-up cards. RBI has also instructed banks and companies to make all know-your-customer (KYC)-compliant prepaid payment instruments (PPIs), like mobile wallets, interoperable amongst themselves via Unified Payments Interface (UPI).</li>
<li><strong>FDI guidelines for e-commerce by DIPP:</strong> In order to increase the participation of foreign players in the e-commerce field, the Government has increased the limit of foreign direct investment (FDI) in the e-commerce marketplace model for up to 100% (in B2B models).</li>
<li>Government e-Marketplace (GeM) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Union Bank of India to facilitate a cashless, paperless and transparent payment system for an array of services in October 2019.</li>
<li>The heavy investment of Government of India in rolling out the fibre network for 5G will help boost e-commerce in India</li>
<li>In the Union Budget of 2018-19, the government has allocated Rs 8,000 crore (US$ 1.24 billion) to <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/gramnet-to-connect-all-villages-through-wi-fi" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>BharatNet</strong></a> Project, to provide broadband services to 150,000-gram panchayats.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Way Ahead</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>e-Commerce has become an important part of many multilateral negotiations such as Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP), WTO, BRICS etc.</li>
<li>e-Commerce still faces various issues like international trade, domestic trade, competition policy, consumer protection, information technology etc. As a growing sector with huge interest from both domestic and international players, it becomes pertinent to regulate it keeping in mind the interest of both entrepreneurs and consumers. A conducive environment and a level playing field should be encouraged.</li>
<li>Policymakers should also be mindful of shaping a vibrant domestic industry. A comprehensive policy is of utmost importance to reflect India&rsquo;s position in both domestic and international or multilateral forums.</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="/mind-map/gs-paper3/e-commerce-in-india-mind-map" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><em>For Mind Map</em></a></p>',
		'postdate' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenTime) {},
		'url' => 'https://www.drishtiias.com/to-the-points/paper3/e-commerce-in-india'
	],
	(int) 9 => [
		'title' => 'India’s Neutrino Observatory Opposed by Gram Sabhas',
		'catname' => 'News Analysis',
		'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>Gram Sabhas in different parts of Tamil Nadu have passed resolutions against the India-based Neutrino Observatory (INO) and hydrocarbon exploration which, they feared, would be detrimental to their respective regions.</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>INO is being constructed in the <strong>Bodi West Hills</strong> (Theni district) of Tamil Nadu.</li>
<li>The site is near the Kerala-Tamil Nadu border and is close to the <strong>Mathikettan Shola National Park.</strong></li>
<li><strong>Vaigai river</strong> passes through the Theni district.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Concerns</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The region was recovering from the<a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/cyclone-gaja" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong> Gaja cyclone</strong></a> and the rural economy was in a very bad state.</li>
<li>The project may have <strong>harmful effects on the fertility of the land</strong> in the region and <strong>adversely affect the agricultural community,</strong> farm labourers and others dependent on the profession.</li>
<li>Further, it can result in the migration of farm labourers.</li>
<li>Villagers also alleged that they were<strong> not involved in the decision-making process.</strong></li>
<li>Massive scale of construction underground and controlled blasts, the vibrations from the explosions can badly affect the ecologically fragile <strong>Western Ghats.</strong></li>
<li>Other concerns voiced range from <strong>radiation, structural damage to the mountain</strong> to the <strong>emission of hazardous chemicals.</strong></li>
</ul>
<h3>Environmental clearance</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Environmental clearance was given</strong> after going through the geotechnical investigation report on studies carried out for INO set aside the concerns related to radioactivity or leaching of water, besides having the impact of blasting on inhabitation in the vicinity.</li>
<li>According to&nbsp; the <strong>geotechnical investigation report</strong>&nbsp;the operation of INO will have <strong>no release of radioactive or toxic substances.</strong></li>
<li>Earlier in 2019, the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/india-based-neutrino-observatory" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>National Green Tribunal (NGT)</strong></a> has upheld the environmental clearance granted in March 2018 to the project.</li>
<li>However, the project could not be implemented until the approval of the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/impact-of-roads-on-wildlife" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>National Board of Wildlife</strong></a> is also received.</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Gram Sabha</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The term Gram Sabha is defined in the Constitution under <strong>Article 243(b).</strong></li>
<li>It is the <strong>primary and permanent body</strong> of the Panchayati Raj system.</li>
<li>The power to <strong>annul a decision</strong> of the Gram Sabha rests with the <strong>Gram Sabha only.</strong></li>
<li><strong>Composition:</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Persons, those who are <strong>above 18</strong> years, living in the village whose names are included in the <strong>electoral rolls</strong> for the Panchayat at the village level.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Powers and functions</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The constitution empowered the <strong>State Legislatures to define the powers and functions</strong> of the Gram Sabhas through laws passed by them.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</div>
<h3>India-based Neutrino Observatory (INO)</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The<a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/india-based-neutrino-observatory" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong> INO</strong> </a>is aimed at building a world-class underground laboratory with a rock cover to conduct basic research on the neutrino.</li>
<li>The INO will study atmospheric neutrinos only. Solar neutrinos have much lower energy than the detector can detect.</li>
<li>The Tata Institute of Fundamental Research is the nodal institution. The observatory is to be built jointly with the Department of Atomic Energy and the Department of Science and Technology.</li>
<li>It is not a weapons laboratory and will have no strategic or defence applications.</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/tamil-nadu/tamil-nadu-villagers-use-gram-sabhas-to-oppose-hydrocarbon-india-based-neutrino-observatory-projects/article30661331.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/india-s-neutrino-observatory-opposed-by-gram-sabhas'
	],
	(int) 10 => [
		'title' => 'Nagardhan Excavations and Vakataka Dynasty',
		'catname' => 'News Analysis',
		'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>Recently, archaeological excavations were carried out at <strong>Nagardhan village</strong> in Ramtek Taluk near <strong>Nagpur, Maharashtra.</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The area surrounding the Nagardhan Fort in the village has the archaeological remains.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The Nagardhan Fort was constructed during the <strong>Gond Raja period</strong> and later renovated and re-used by the <strong>Bhosales of Nagpur</strong> during the late 18<sup>th</sup> and 19<sup>th</sup> centuries.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>The excavations have provided evidence on the life, religious affiliations and trade practices of the <strong>Vakataka dynasty.</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Nagardhan is understood to have served as a capital of the Vakataka kingdom.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Vakataka Dynasty</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>It originated in the <strong>central Deccan in the mid-3<sup>rd</sup> century CE</strong> and its empire is believed to have extended from <strong>Malwa and Gujarat in the north</strong> to the <strong>Tungabhadra in the south</strong> and from the <strong>Arabian Sea in the west</strong> to the<strong> Bay of Bengal in the east.</strong></li>
<li>The Vakataka rulers followed the Shaiva sect of Hinduism.</li>
<li><strong>Animal rearing</strong> was one of the main occupations of the people. <strong>Remains of domestic animals</strong> like <strong>cattle, goat, sheep, pig, cat, horse and fowl</strong> were traced in an earlier study.</li>
<li>The Vakataka rulers forged several <strong>matrimonial alliances</strong> with other dynasties of their times. One of the key alliances was with <strong>Prabhavatigupta of the Gupta dynasty (Vaishnavites),</strong> which was then<strong> ruling north India.</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Prabhavatigupta was the chief queen of the <strong>Vakataka king Rudrasena II</strong> and took over as queen after the sudden death of her husband. She ruled for about 10 years until her <strong>son Pravarasena II</strong> succeeded.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Queen Prabhavatigupta and Vaishnavism</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The researchers believe that the practice of worshipping Narasimha in Maharashtra emerged from Ramtek, and that Queen Prabhavatigupta had a pivotal role in propagation of Vaishnava practices in the Vidarbha region of Maharashtra.</li>
<li>Some of the temples identified as Keval Narasihma, Rudra Narasimha and the one dedicated to Varaha could be traced to Ramtek, and showcase strong affinity to the incarnations of Lord Vishnu. None of these religious structures was, however, present here until the Queen took the throne.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</div>
<h3>Findings and their Significance</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>It is the<strong> first time clay sealings</strong> have been excavated from Nagardhan.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The <strong>oval-shaped</strong> sealing belongs to the period when <strong>Prabhavatigupta</strong> was the queen of the Vakataka dynasty.</li>
<li>It bears her name in the <strong>Brahmi script,</strong> along with the <strong>depiction of a conch.</strong> The presence of the conch is a sign of the <strong>Vaishnava affiliation</strong> that the Guptas held.</li>
<li>The sealings were introduced and issued under Prabhavatigupta&rsquo;s rule which shows her importance and stature as a woman.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>The Vakataka rulers followed the Shaiva sect of Hinduism while the Guptas followed Vaishnava sect. Queen&rsquo;s powerful personality allowed her to follow the sect of her choice.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>The sealing was traced on top of a <strong>mega wall</strong> which could have been part of a royal structure at the capital city.</li>
<li>The <strong>copperplate issued by Queen Prabhavatigupta</strong> starts with a <strong>genealogy of the Guptas,</strong> mentioning the Queen&rsquo;s grandfather <strong>Samudragupta</strong> and her father <strong>Chandragupta II.</strong></li>
<li>Vakatakas<strong> traded with Iran and beyond, through the Mediterranean Sea</strong> and the sealings are believed to be used as <strong>official royal permission</strong> issued from the capital.</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="https://indianexpress.com/article/explained/nagardhan-excavation-site-nagpur-excavation-vakataka-dynasty-1500-year-old-relics-6236915/" 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/nagardhan-excavations-and-vakataka-dynasty'
	],
	(int) 11 => [
		'title' => 'Fund Crunch in MGNREGA',
		'catname' => 'News Analysis',
		'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>According to the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA) scheme&rsquo;s financial statement as on 26<sup>th</sup> January, 2020, the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/mgnrega-trends" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>centre is on the verge of running out of funds for the scheme.</strong></a></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>More than 96% of the allocated money has already been spent or is needed to pay pending dues, with less than ₹2,500 crores left to sustain the scheme for the next two months.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Key Points<a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1580113556_image1.jpg" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1580113556_image1.jpg" style="float: right;" width="350" caption="false" /></a></h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Budget Allocation:</strong> The budget allocation for 2019 for MGNREGA scheme was ₹60,000 crores which is<strong> lower than</strong> the amount spent in 2018.</li>
<li><strong>Current Status:</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Many <strong>state governments have not paid the wages to workers as the Centre has not released funds.</strong> It is contrary to the spirit of the Act and violates the principle of rights-based implementation of the MGNREGA scheme.</li>
<li>The <strong>Central Employment Guarantee Council</strong> has not met in two years despite it being mandatory to hold a meeting every six months.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Central Employment Guarantee Council is a forum constituted under Section 10(3) (d) of the MGNREGA Act, 2005.</li>
<li>It is responsible for a central monitoring and evaluation system for the scheme, besides advising the government on its implementation.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>State-wise Scenario:</strong> Rajasthan has the highest negative net balance of ₹620 crores, followed by ₹323 crores in Uttar Pradesh.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Some States still have funds remaining only because they are actively suppressing demand and turning workers away. State governments do not want to be liable to pay interest for delayed wages, so they suppress demand.</li>
<li>The actual situation may be worse as States do not always enter pending payments into the information system.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Urgency for Funds:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>January, February and March are months with little agricultural activity when rural workers need employment.</li>
<li>There is a high demand for work in 2019 as the rural economy is in distress and informal employment has also collapsed. A number of economists have recommended that putting money into the hands of rural consumers via MGNREGA is a key to kickstarting the economy.</li>
<li>The scheme is running out of money and will enter in 2020-21 with pending liabilities.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act, 2005</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The Act aims at enhancing the livelihood security of people in rural areas by guaranteeing hundred days of wage employment in a financial year to a rural household whose adult members (at least 18 years of age) volunteer to do unskilled work.</li>
<li>The central government bears the full cost of unskilled labour, and 75% of the cost of material (the rest is borne by the states).</li>
<li>It is a demand-driven, social security and labour law that aims to enforce the<strong> &lsquo;right to work&rsquo;.</strong></li>
<li>Ministry of Rural Development (MRD), Government of India in association with state governments, monitors the implementation of the scheme.</li>
</ul>
</div>
<p><a href="https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/fund-crunch-hits-mgnrega-scheme/article30660683.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/fund-crunch-in-mgnrega'
	],
	(int) 12 => [
		'title' => 'Padma Awards 2020',
		'catname' => 'News Analysis',
		'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>The Padma Awards are <strong>announced annually on the eve of Republic Day (26<sup>th</sup> January).</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Instituted in the year <strong>1954,</strong> it is <strong>one of the highest civilian honours of India.</strong></li>
<li>The Award seeks to recognize achievements in all fields of activities or disciplines where<strong> an element of public service is involved.</strong></li>
<li>The Awards are given in three categories:
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Padma Vibhushan</strong> (for exceptional and distinguished service),</li>
<li><strong>Padma Bhushan</strong> (distinguished service of higher-order) and</li>
<li><strong>Padma Shri</strong> (distinguished service).</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>The Awards are <strong>given in various disciplines/ fields of activities,</strong> viz.- art, social work, public affairs, science and engineering, trade and industry, medicine, literature and education, sports, civil service, etc.</li>
<li>The Awards are conferred on the recommendations made by the Padma Awards Committee, which is constituted by the Prime Minister every year.</li>
<li>The awards are <strong>presented by the President of India</strong> usually in the month of March/April every year.</li>
<li>The<strong> award does not amount to a title</strong> and cannot be used as a suffix or prefix to the awardees&rsquo; name.</li>
<li>The<strong> total number of awards</strong> to be given in a year (excluding posthumous awards and to NRI/foreigners/OCIs) should <strong>not be more than 120.</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>In<strong> 2020,</strong> the President has approved conferment of <strong>141 Padma Awards</strong> including 4 duo cases (in a duo case, the Award is counted as one).</li>
<li>The list comprises of 7 Padma Vibhushan, 16 Padma Bhushan and 118 Padma Shri Awards.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Note: Bharat Ratna is the highest civilian award of the country.</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>It is awarded in recognition of exceptional service/performance of the highest order in any field of human endeavour.</li>
<li>It is treated on a different footing from Padma Award. The recommendations for Bharat Ratna are made by the Prime Minister to the President of India.</li>
<li>The number of Bharat Ratna Awards is restricted to a <strong>maximum of three</strong> in a particular year.</li>
</ul>
</div>
<p><a href="https://pib.gov.in/newsite/PrintRelease.aspx?relid=197647" 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/padma-awards-2020'
	],
	(int) 13 => [
		'title' => 'India-Brazil Relations',
		'catname' => 'News Editorials',
		'desc' => '<div class="border">
<p>This article is based on <a href="https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/blogs/toi-edit-page/the-final-frontier-bolsonaros-republic-day-visit-should-spur-strategic-bilateral-ties-and-open-doors-to-latin-america/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">&ldquo;The final frontier: Bolsonaro&rsquo;s Republic Day visit should spur strategic bilateral ties and open doors to Latin America&rdquo;</a> which was published in The Times of India on 25/01/2020. It talks about India-Brazil relations.</p>
</div>
<p>India and Brazil established diplomatic relations between India and Brazil in 1948. The long bilateral strategic partnership is based on a common global vision, shared democratic values, and a commitment to foster economic growth with social inclusion for the welfare of the people of both countries.</p>
<p>In this context, <a href="/current-affairs-news-analysis-editorials/news-analysis/06-01-2020" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro&rsquo;s presence as chief guest for the Republic Day parade in 2020</a> is a booster dose to India&rsquo;s relations with a prominent power and an opening to deepen India&rsquo;s footprints in Latin America.</p>
<h3>Historical Link</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The connection between India and Brazil is <strong>five-century old</strong>.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The history dates back to the time when <strong>Portugal&rsquo;s Pedro Alvares</strong> was on his way to India and was blown off course, only to discover Brazil in 1500.</li>
<li>He made Brazil a stop-over to finally reach Goa. <strong>This led to the Portuguese association between India and Brazil and the exchange of varied agricultural crops and cattle in the colonial times.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>During the cold war, India and Brazil calibrated against the world order dictated by superpowers (US and USSR). For example in 1967, both the countries condemned the idea of creating <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/npt-must-for-india-s-entry-into-nsg-china" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT)</a>.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Political Cooperation</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The strategic partnership established in 2006 between Brazil and India has deepened, with both countries cooperating closely within <a href="/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-international-institution/brics-1" target="_blank" rel="noopener">BRICS</a>, <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/important-facts-for-prelims-03rd-october-2018" target="_blank" rel="noopener">IBSA,</a> <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/quad-and-g-4-meet" target="_blank" rel="noopener">G4</a>, <a href="/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-international-institution/important-institution-upsc-ias-g20-significance-global-groupings-member-challenges-buenos-aires-gs-mains-paper-ii-2-international-relations" target="_blank" rel="noopener">G20</a>, and the wider multilateral context of the United Nations.</li>
<li>Brazil and India (along with Germany and Japan) jointly pursued aspirations of permanent seats in the UN Security Council and worked towards a multipolar world where large developing countries can frame global rules and democratise international institutions.</li>
<li>Both countries played a pivotal role as leaders of the <a href="/loksabha-rajyasabha-discussions/the-big-picture-india-africa-partnership" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Global South or South-South cooperation</a>.</li>
<li>The Brazilian foreign policy of <strong>reciprocal multilateralism</strong> is in concurrence with India's policy of <strong>strategic autonomy</strong>.</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Note:</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Reciprocal multilateralism:</strong> The rules of multilateral order should benefit all nations, and not being merely dictated by the superpowers for their benefit.</li>
<li><strong>Strategic autonomy:</strong> It denotes the ability of a state to pursue its national interests and adopt its preferred foreign policy without being constrained in any manner by other states.</li>
</ul>
</div>
<h3>Economic Cooperation</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Brazil has become one of the most important trading partners of India in the entire LAC (Latin America and the Caribbean) region.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>However, bilateral trade between the two countries stands at a dismal $8 billion.</li>
<li>In 2018 Indian investments in Brazil were around U.S.$ 6 billion and Brazilian investments in India are estimated at $ 1 billion.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Note:</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The main items of export from India to Brazil are diesel, organic chemicals and pharmaceutical products, man-made filaments, nuclear reactors, boilers, machinery and mechanical appliances, textile products (synthetic filaments/fibres, cotton, apparels, accessories etc.).</li>
<li>Main items of Brazilian exports to India were Petroleum products, mainly crude oil, cane sugar, copper ore, soya oil and gold.</li>
</ul>
</div>
<h3>Defence Cooperation</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Brazil and India signed a bilateral <strong>&lsquo;Defence Cooperation Agreement&rsquo;</strong> in 2003 that calls for cooperation in defence-related matters, especially in the field of Research and Development, acquisition and logistic support between the two countries.</li>
<li>Under the framework of the agreement, a &lsquo;Joint Defence Committee (JDC)&rsquo; has been set-up that meets at regular intervals.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Cultural Cooperation</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>In Brazil, there is enormous interest in India&rsquo;s culture, religion, performing arts and philosophy.</li>
<li>Brazil has a strong community of Yoga and Ayurveda practitioners. The <strong>Brazilian Association of Ayurveda (ABRA)</strong> is a non-profit association with offices in 9 states of Brazil and has members all over Brazil.</li>
<li><strong>Mahatma Gandhi</strong> is highly regarded in Brazil and the government and NGOs are trying to inculcate the philosophy of non-violence among students, youth and police.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Challenges</h3>
<p>Relationship between India and Brazil has majorly remained stable. However, some minor issues have emerged lately.</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Brazil has filed a complaint at the World Trade Organisation against New Delhi&rsquo;s <strong>subsidies to sugarcane farmers</strong>.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Brazil is the largest producer and exporter of sugar and claims Indian subsidies are inconsistent with global trade rules.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>Brazil already counts China as its number one trade partner. India is facing difficulty to <strong>compete with deep pockets of China</strong>.</li>
<li>Though BRICS as a group has tremendous potential to grow, it has also received criticism <strong>for not having a common vision</strong>.</li>
<li>India and Brazil have <strong>developed divergence on climate change cooperation</strong> as India is committed to combating global warming while Brazil has rejected scientific studies on climate change.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Way Forward</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>There is plenty of room for cooperation between India and Brazil. For example, upgrading of <strong>Strategic Partnership Action Plan, along with the Bilateral Investment treaty, a Mutual Legal Assistance Agreement (MLAT) on crime, agreements on double taxation avoidance, bio-energy or ethanol production, cybersecurity, health, mining, oil and gas exploration and investment, and animal husbandry</strong>.</li>
<li>Operationalisation of <strong>Social Security Agreement (SSA)</strong> signed between Brazil and India in March 2017, will allow investments in each other&rsquo;s pension funds, to help business processes and encourage the flow of investment.</li>
<li>Brazil is considered to have the oldest, most advanced and efficient ethanol programs in the world. At a time when India imports crude oil for around 4 million barrels per day, the alternate use of energy is the need of the hour.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>India can collaborate with Brazil and <strong>ethanol&rsquo;s substitution of fossil fuels</strong> to meet its energy needs.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>The issues of health, universal education, infrastructure needs to be addressed. With the cooperation of IBSA and BRICS as major platforms, India and Brazil can come up with plans to deal with these issues.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Conclusion</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>India and Brazil are the emerging nations that hold similar principles on democracy, human rights, global governance and liberal strategies.</li>
<li>They are partners on the basis of trade relations and have a lot to learn from each other. With their uniting stance on various multilateral and plurilateral forums, the two countries are considered to be important for the creation of new world order.</li>
</ul>
<table border="1" style="border-collapse: collapse; background-color: #d4f8ff; border-color: #016f85; border-style: dotted; width: 887px;" width="548" height="42">
<tbody>
<tr>
<td style="width: 886px;"><em><strong>Drishti Mains Question</strong></em><br />India and Brazil share a multisectoral relationship. Discuss</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<p></p>',
		'postdate' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenTime) {},
		'url' => 'https://www.drishtiias.com/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/india-brazil-relations'
	],
	(int) 14 => [
		'title' => 'Archaea Microorganism',
		'catname' => 'News Analysis',
		'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>Recently, scientists at the <strong>National Centre for Microbial Resource under National Centre for Cell Science (NCMR-NCCS) in Pune</strong> have reported a<strong> new archaeon</strong>, which they <strong>discovered in <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/avian-botulism-at-sambhar-lake" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Sambhar Salt Lake</a> in Rajasthan</strong>.</p>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>National Centre for Microbial Resource</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>It <strong>started as Microbial Culture Collection (MCC) in 2009</strong> with a mandate to preserve and catalogue the diversity of bacteria collected from different ecological niches from all over India and to make them available for biotechnological exploitation by researchers.</li>
<li>In April 2017 MCC was transformed as a <strong>Centre of Excellence for National Centre for Microbial Resource (NCMR)</strong>. It plays a crucial role as custodian of microbial diversity of India.</li>
<li>It is a part of the <strong>National Centre for Cell Science</strong>.</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>National Centre for Cell Science</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>It is a <strong>national level</strong> biotechnology, tissue engineering and tissue banking research centre located at <strong>Savitribai Phule Pune University, Maharashtra</strong>.</li>
<li>It is <strong>one of the premier research centres in India</strong>, which works on cell-culture, cell-repository, immunology, chromatin-remodelling.</li>
</ul>
</div>
<h3>Key Points<a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1579947174_image1.png" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1579947174_image1.png" style="float: right; margin: 5px;" width="247" height="209" caption="false" /></a></h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Archaea (singular archaeon) are a <strong>primitive group of microorganisms</strong> that thrive in extreme habitats such as hot springs, cold deserts and hypersaline lakes.</li>
<li>These slow-growing organisms are <strong>also present in the human gut</strong> and have a potential relationship with human health.</li>
<li>They are known for <strong>producing antimicrobial molecules and for antioxidant activity</strong> with applications in eco-friendly waste-water treatment.</li>
<li>Scientists all over the world are working on the taxonomy of archaea but the studies on archaea are outnumbered and very little is known about how archaea behave in the human body.</li>
<li>Based on <strong>mandatory genome analysis</strong>, researchers found that the organism has potential gene clusters that help <strong>maintain the metabolism</strong> of the archaea to survive in extremely harsh conditions.</li>
<li>This particular organism also <strong>harbours specific pathways for DNA replication, recombination and repair</strong>.</li>
<li>The new archaeon has been named <strong>Natrialba swarupiae</strong>, after Dr Renu Swarup, Secretary of the Department of Biotechnology, for her initiative in supporting microbial diversity studies in the country.</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="https://indianexpress.com/article/explained/this-word-means-archaea-6234091/" 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/archaea-microorganism'
	],
	(int) 15 => [
		'title' => 'US to Limit Visas to Curb Birth Tourism',
		'catname' => 'News Analysis',
		'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>The <strong>United States of America</strong> is planning to bar pregnant women from attaining visas for <strong>&ldquo;birth tourism&rdquo;</strong>.</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The measures are to be adopted to curb the number of foreigners who use the visa to secure <strong>automatic permanent citizenship</strong> for their children <strong>by giving birth on American soil</strong>.</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Birth tourism</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>It is technically defined as a pregnant woman's decision to travel to another country for the specific reason of giving birth in that country and hoping to gain citizenship.</li>
</ul>
</div>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>B1/B2 visitor visas</strong> would no longer be issued to &ldquo;aliens" seeking to enter the United States for birth tourism.</li>
<li>Pregnant women will need to <strong>provide a specific reason</strong> for travel, like <strong>medical necessity</strong>, beyond giving birth to travel to the US.</li>
<li>The crackdown on &ldquo;birth tourism&rdquo; is <strong>for public safety and national security</strong> as well as to maintain the integrity of the US immigration system because the birth tourism industry <strong>threatens to overburden valuable hospital and national resources</strong>.</li>
<li><strong>Currently, US law does not bar foreign women from travelling to the US to give birth.</strong> However, women need to prove that they have the financial means to pay for a medical procedure if that is the reason for the trip.</li>
<li>The US considers this <strong>&ldquo;a glaring immigration loophole&rdquo;</strong>.</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>B1/B2 Tourist Visa</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>It is a temporary, non-immigrant visa, allowing the holder to travel to the US for business and tourism purposes.</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>Requirements for becoming a U.S. citizen</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>At birth:</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Have been born in the US or certain territories or outlying possessions of the US and subject to the jurisdiction of the US; OR</li>
<li>Had a parent or parents who were citizens at the time of birth (if the person was born abroad) and meet other requirements.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>After birth:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Apply for &ldquo;derived&rdquo; or &ldquo;acquired&rdquo; citizenship through parents.</li>
<li>Apply for naturalization.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>Acquisition and Determination of Indian Citizenship</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>There are five ways in which Indian citizenship can be acquired: <strong>birth, descent, registration, naturalisation and incorporation of territory</strong>. The provisions are listed under the <a href="/to-the-points/Paper2/citizenship-of-india" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Citizenship Act, 1955</strong></a>.</li>
</ul>
</div>',
		'postdate' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenTime) {},
		'url' => 'https://www.drishtiias.com/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/us-to-limit-visas-to-curb-birth-tourism'
	],
	(int) 16 => [
		'title' => '10th National Voters' Day',
		'catname' => 'News Analysis',
		'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>10<sup>th</sup> National Voters' Day (NVD) is organized by Election Commission of India on 25th January 2020 to mark 70 years of <a href="/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-national-institutions/election-commission-of-india" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Election Commission of India (ECI)</a>.</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>NVD has been celebrated on January 25 every year since 2011.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Theme:</strong> The theme for NVD 2020 is <strong>&lsquo;Electoral Literacy for Stronger Democracy&rsquo;</strong>. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The theme sets the tone for year-long activities which focus on voter education and renewal of citizens&rsquo; faith in the electoral process.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Aim:</strong> NVD is celebrated to encourage, facilitate and maximize the voter enrolment, especially for the new voters. The day is utilized to spread awareness among voters for promoting informed participation in the electoral process.</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Election Commission of India</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The Election Commission of India (ECI) is an autonomous constitutional authority responsible for administering Union and State election processes in India.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>ECI was established on 25th January 1950.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>The body administers elections to the Lok Sabha, Rajya Sabha, State Legislative Assemblies, and the offices of the President and Vice President in the country.</li>
<li><strong>Structure of the Commission</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Originally the commission had only one election commissioner but after the Election Commissioner Amendment Act 1989, it has been made a multi-member body.</li>
<li>The commission presently consists of one Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) and two Election Commissioners (ECs).</li>
<li>The secretariat of the commission is located in New Delhi.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</div>
<p><a href="https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/national-voters-day/article30650568.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/10th-national-voters-day'
	],
	(int) 17 => [
		'title' => 'India’s Cotton Story',
		'catname' => 'News Editorials',
		'desc' => '<div class="border">
<p>This article is based on <a href="https://www.thehindu.com/opinion/lead/the-flawed-spin-to-indias-cotton-story/article30627778.ece" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>&ldquo;The flawed spin to India&rsquo;s cotton story&rdquo;</strong></a> which was published in The Hindu on 23/01/2020. It highlights the problems faced by the Indian farmers due to the use of hybrid seed model for cotton production.</p>
</div>
<p>The<strong> pest-resistant Genetically Modified (GM) Bt cotton hybrids</strong> have captured the Indian market (covering over <strong>95%</strong> of the area under cotton) since their <strong>introduction in 2002.</strong> Their role in increasing India&rsquo;s cotton production has been instrumental, however, at the same time, it is argued that Bt cotton hybrids have negatively impacted the livelihoods of the farmers (especially the resource-poor farmers) and has contributed to the <a href="/to-the-points/paper3/agricultural-distress-in-india" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>agrarian distress.</strong></a></p>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Note:</strong></p>
<p><strong>Cotton-</strong> fibre, oil and protein yielding crop of global significance.</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Temperature:</strong> Between 21-30&deg;C</li>
<li><strong>Rainfall:</strong> Around 50-100cm.</li>
<li><strong>Soil Type:</strong> Well-drained black cotton soil of Deccan Plateau.</li>
<li><strong>Top Cotton Producing States:</strong> Gujarat &gt; Maharashtra &gt; Telangana &gt; Andhra Pradesh &gt; Rajasthan.</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>Hybrid Cotton:</strong> Cotton made by crossing <strong>two parent strains</strong> that have different genetic characters. Hybrids are often spontaneously and randomly created in nature when open-pollinated plants naturally cross-pollinate with other related varieties.</p>
<p><strong>Varieties Cotton:</strong> Cotton produced by <strong>process of self-fertilization/autogamy</strong> (fusion of two gametes that come from one individual).</p>
<p><strong>Bt Cotton:</strong> It is a<strong> genetically modified organism</strong> or genetically modified pest-resistant variety of cotton.</p>
</div>
<h3>Hybrid Cotton: Experience &amp; Performance so far</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>India is expected to be the<strong> world&rsquo;s largest <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/world-cotton-day" target="_blank" rel="noopener">cotton</a> producer</strong> in terms of the produced output surpassing China (in 2019). <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>India&rsquo;s cotton production in 2019 is projected at <strong>354 lakh bales</strong> (the highest ever) because of which it has been argued for extending <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/geac-seeks-information-from-bangladesh-on-bt-brinjal" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>GM technology</strong></a> to other areas so as to increase food crop yield.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>India is the<strong> only country</strong> that <strong>grows cotton in the form of hybrids.</strong> Also, India was the <strong>first to develop hybrid cotton</strong> back in 1970. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>However, India&rsquo;s <strong>productivity (yield per unit area)</strong> is <strong>much lower</strong> (around <strong>one-third</strong>) than other major cotton-producing countries. This implies that in order to be the largest producer, a much<strong> larger area is used for cotton production</strong> in India.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Hybrid Cotton Versus Varieties Cotton</h3>
<table border="1" style="border-collapse: collapse;">
<tbody>
<tr style="height: 19px;">
<td style="height: 19px; vertical-align: top; background-color: #5d00ff; width: 5.56881%; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #ffffff;"><strong>Sr. No.</strong></span></td>
<td style="height: 19px; vertical-align: top; background-color: #5d00ff; width: 13.2856%; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #ffffff;"><strong>Parameter</strong></span></td>
<td style="height: 19px; vertical-align: top; background-color: #5d00ff; width: 38.8226%; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #ffffff;"><strong>Hybrid Cotton</strong></span></td>
<td style="height: 19px; vertical-align: top; background-color: #5d00ff; width: 42.2434%; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #ffffff;"><strong>Varieties Cotton</strong></span></td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 67px;">
<td style="height: 67px; vertical-align: top; background-color: #cfd2ff; width: 5.56881%; text-align: center;">1.</td>
<td style="height: 67px; text-align: left; vertical-align: top; background-color: #cfd2ff; width: 13.2856%;">
<p>Formation Technology</p>
</td>
<td style="height: 67px; text-align: left; vertical-align: top; background-color: #cfd2ff; width: 38.8226%;">
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Made by crossing<strong> two parent</strong> strains having different genetic characters.</li>
</ul>
</td>
<td style="height: 67px; text-align: left; vertical-align: top; background-color: #cfd2ff; width: 42.2434%;">
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Seeds for this type of cotton are produced by <strong>self-fertilization.</strong></li>
</ul>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 83px;">
<td style="height: 83px; vertical-align: top; background-color: #cfd2ff; width: 5.56881%; text-align: center;">2.</td>
<td style="height: 83px; text-align: left; vertical-align: top; background-color: #cfd2ff; width: 13.2856%;">Sowing Area</td>
<td style="height: 83px; text-align: left; vertical-align: top; background-color: #cfd2ff; width: 38.8226%;">
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Hybrids in India are planted at ten-fold <strong>lower plantation density</strong> (0.5 kg seeds/acre).</li>
</ul>
</td>
<td style="height: 83px; text-align: left; vertical-align: top; background-color: #cfd2ff; width: 42.2434%;">
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>High-Density Planting (HDP):</strong> These plants are planted at high density (5 kg seeds/acre).</li>
</ul>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 131px;">
<td style="height: 131px; vertical-align: top; background-color: #cfd2ff; width: 5.56881%; text-align: center;">3.</td>
<td style="height: 131px; text-align: left; vertical-align: top; background-color: #cfd2ff; width: 13.2856%;">Reusability</td>
<td style="height: 131px; text-align: left; vertical-align: top; background-color: #cfd2ff; width: 38.8226%;">
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Hybrid seeds have to be <strong>remade for each planting season</strong> by crossing the parents. Hence, farmers must <strong>purchase seeds for each planting.</strong></li>
</ul>
</td>
<td style="height: 131px; text-align: left; vertical-align: top; background-color: #cfd2ff; width: 42.2434%;">
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Varieties can be <strong>propagated over successive generations</strong> by collecting seeds from one <strong>planting and using them for the next planting</strong> season.</li>
</ul>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 99px;">
<td style="height: 99px; vertical-align: top; background-color: #cfd2ff; width: 5.56881%; text-align: center;">4.</td>
<td style="height: 99px; text-align: left; vertical-align: top; background-color: #cfd2ff; width: 13.2856%;">
<p>Productivity</p>
</td>
<td style="height: 99px; text-align: left; vertical-align: top; background-color: #cfd2ff; width: 38.8226%;">
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>These plants have <strong>more biomass</strong> than both parents and hence have the capacity <strong>for greater yields.&nbsp;</strong>But their plantation in per acre area is less (due to its size) as compared to the Varieties Cotton.</li>
<li>The lower <strong>boll production</strong> by compact varieties (5-10 bolls per plant) as compared to hybrids (20-100 bolls/plant) is compensated by their ten-fold greater planting density.</li>
</ul>
</td>
<td style="height: 99px; text-align: left; vertical-align: top; background-color: #cfd2ff; width: 42.2434%;">
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Using <strong>HDP technique,</strong> compact varieties have been found to outperform hybrids at the field level.</li>
<li>Their productivity is <strong>more than twice</strong> the productivity of hybrid cotton.</li>
</ul>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 19px;">
<td style="height: 19px; vertical-align: top; background-color: #cfd2ff; width: 5.56881%; text-align: center;">5.</td>
<td style="height: 19px; text-align: left; vertical-align: top; background-color: #cfd2ff; width: 13.2856%;">
<p>Production Duration</p>
</td>
<td style="height: 19px; text-align: left; vertical-align: top; background-color: #cfd2ff; width: 38.8226%;">
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Bushy and<strong> long duration</strong> (i.e. take more time to grow).</li>
</ul>
</td>
<td style="height: 19px; text-align: left; vertical-align: top; background-color: #cfd2ff; width: 42.2434%;">
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Compact</strong> and <strong>short duration.</strong></li>
</ul>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 19px;">
<td style="height: 19px; vertical-align: top; background-color: #cfd2ff; width: 5.56881%; text-align: center;">6.</td>
<td style="height: 19px; text-align: left; vertical-align: top; background-color: #cfd2ff; width: 13.2856%;">Manufacturing Unit &amp; Price Control</td>
<td style="height: 19px; text-align: left; vertical-align: top; background-color: #cfd2ff; width: 38.8226%;">
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Hybrids give pricing control to the <strong>seed company</strong> thereby ensuring a continuous market. These seeds are <strong>produced entirely</strong> by the <strong>private sector.</strong></li>
</ul>
</td>
<td style="height: 19px; text-align: left; vertical-align: top; background-color: #cfd2ff; width: 42.2434%;">
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>There lies <strong>no concept of pricing control</strong> by any seed company.</li>
</ul>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 19px;">
<td style="height: 19px; vertical-align: top; background-color: #cfd2ff; width: 5.56881%; text-align: center;">7.</td>
<td style="height: 19px; text-align: left; vertical-align: top; background-color: #cfd2ff; width: 13.2856%;">Irrigation/Water requirement</td>
<td style="height: 19px; text-align: left; vertical-align: top; background-color: #cfd2ff; width: 38.8226%;">
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>They require <strong>more water.</strong> As <a href="/to-the-points/paper3/cropping-patterns-and-major-crops-of-india-part-two" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>cotton</strong></a> is a dryland crop, around 65% of the area under cotton in India is <strong>rain-fed.</strong></li>
</ul>
</td>
<td style="height: 19px; text-align: left; vertical-align: top; background-color: #cfd2ff; width: 42.2434%;">
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Less water</strong> requirement.</li>
</ul>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 51px;">
<td style="height: 51px; vertical-align: top; background-color: #cfd2ff; width: 5.56881%; text-align: center;">8.</td>
<td style="height: 51px; text-align: left; vertical-align: top; background-color: #cfd2ff; width: 13.2856%;">Fertilizer requirement</td>
<td style="height: 51px; text-align: left; vertical-align: top; background-color: #cfd2ff; width: 38.8226%;">
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>They require <strong>more fertilizers.</strong></li>
</ul>
</td>
<td style="height: 51px; text-align: left; vertical-align: top; background-color: #cfd2ff; width: 42.2434%;">
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>They require <strong>half the fertilizer as compared to hybrids.</strong></li>
</ul>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 300px;">
<td style="height: 130px; vertical-align: top; background-color: #cfd2ff; width: 5.56881%; text-align: center;">9.</td>
<td style="height: 130px; text-align: left; vertical-align: top; background-color: #cfd2ff; width: 13.2856%;">Risks Involved</td>
<td style="height: 130px; text-align: left; vertical-align: top; background-color: #cfd2ff; width: 38.8226%;">Farmers with&nbsp;<strong>insufficient access to groundwater&nbsp;</strong>in the growing areas are entirely dependent on the rain. Also, its&nbsp;<strong>longer duration</strong> makes it <strong>more prone to pest attacks</strong> and thus involves <strong>high risks.</strong></td>
<td style="height: 130px; text-align: left; vertical-align: top; background-color: #cfd2ff; width: 42.2434%;">
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Their <strong>shorter duration</strong> reduces dependence on irrigation (particularly late in the growing season when soil moisture drops following the <strong>monsoon&rsquo;s withdrawal,</strong> as this is the period when bolls develop and water requirement is the highest).</li>
<li>Also, it faces less vulnerability to damage from insect pests due to a shorter field duration. Hence,<strong> low risks are there.</strong></li>
</ul>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 19px;">
<td style="height: 10px; vertical-align: top; background-color: #cfd2ff; width: 5.56881%; text-align: center;">10.</td>
<td style="height: 10px; text-align: left; vertical-align: top; background-color: #cfd2ff; width: 13.2856%;">
<p>Economic Cost</p>
</td>
<td style="height: 10px; text-align: left; vertical-align: top; background-color: #cfd2ff; width: 38.8226%;">
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Expensive,</strong> requiring manual crossing. In India, low cost of manual labour makes it economically sustainable.</li>
<li>Also, <strong>increased yield from a hybrid</strong> is supposed to justify the high cost of hybrid seeds in India.</li>
</ul>
</td>
<td style="height: 10px; text-align: left; vertical-align: top; background-color: #cfd2ff; width: 42.2434%;">
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Low-cost</strong> solution.</li>
</ul>
</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<h3>India&rsquo;s Policy for Hybrid Cotton</h3>
<p>There have been two phases of policy:</p>
<p><strong>Phase-1: Pre-GM cotton:</strong> This phase of the policy ranges from <strong>1980-2002</strong> when India persisted with hybrids while other countries shifted to HDP (High-density Planting).</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The Cotton research centres &amp; Public sector institutions ignored such a significant innovation (in the form of HDP) in cotton breeding in India.</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>Phase-2: Post-GM:</strong> This phase began post-2002 when Bt cotton was being considered for <strong>introduction</strong> into India. In this phase, the deliberation of hybrids versus compact varieties could have been undertaken which could have led to the introduction of the HDP technology in India.</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>However, the <strong>scope of evaluation</strong> by the GM regulatory process in India was<strong> narrow</strong> and did not take the <strong>agro-economic conditions</strong> prevalent in India into account.</li>
<li>Therefore, the hybrid seed model for cotton in India persisted for many years even after benefits of compact varieties became clear from global experience.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>For example, there was a steep increase in<strong> productivity for Brazil,</strong> from 400 to 1,000 kg/hectare <strong>lint</strong> (yield of cotton fibre after <strong>ginning,</strong> i.e, after separating cotton fibres from their seeds) between 1994 and 2000- the period which coincides with large-scale shift of the world to a <strong>non-GM compact variety.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Impact of Policy</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Market Capture:</strong> Commercial Bt hybrids have<strong> overshadowed the market,</strong> accompanied by the <strong>rollback of public sector cottonseed production.</strong> Hence, the Indian cotton farmers are left with little choice but to use Bt hybrid seed produced by <strong>private seed</strong> companies.</li>
<li><strong>Farmers Distress:</strong> Due to the combination of high input and high risk, agricultural distress is <strong>extremely high</strong> among hybrid cotton cultivating farmers. Compact varieties would have significantly reduced this distress as well as increased yield.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Way Forward</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Impact Assessment:</strong> Before extending GM technology to increase food crop yield it is mandatory to <strong>assess its impact</strong> on livelihood, agrarian distress, etc. Hence, the outcome of deploying a technology must be evaluated in a particular context. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>If the technology does not <strong>prioritize the needs</strong> of the principal stakeholders (farmers), it can have significant negative fallouts, especially in India which has a high proportion of marginal and subsistence farmers.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Integrated Policy-framing:</strong> There is a <strong>need for better consultation</strong> in policy, be it agriculture as a whole or crop-wise. For e.g., the policy-framers in India could have deliberated upon the <strong>inclusion of socio-economic considerations</strong> being a signatory to international treaties on GMO regulation (the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/sixth-national-report-to-the-convention-of-biological-diversity" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Convention on Biological Diversity</strong></a>, and the Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety). These treaties specifically provide for such considerations in GMO risk assessment.</li>
<li>It is important to recognise that the adoption of any new technology (such as Bt Cotton) is a <strong>choice and not an imperative.</strong> Lessons could be learnt from <strong>Brazil and Turkey</strong> which achieved high productivity without using GM cotton but by using alternative pest-management approaches.</li>
</ul>
<table border="1" style="border-collapse: collapse; width: 100%;">
<tbody>
<tr>
<td style="width: 100%; border-style: dotted; border-color: #ff0000; background-color: #fffbdb;">
<p><span style="color: #0000ff;"><em><strong>Drishti Mains Question</strong></em></span></p>
<p>How can compact varieties of seed model help sustain cotton production in India.</p>
</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<p></p>',
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		'url' => 'https://www.drishtiias.com/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/india-s-cotton-story'
	],
	(int) 18 => [
		'title' => 'Freedom of Speech and Expression on Social Media',
		'catname' => 'News Analysis',
		'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>The <strong>High Court of Tripura</strong> has held that posting on social media was virtually the same as a <strong>fundamental right</strong> applicable to all citizens, including government employees.</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>It also asserted that government servants are entitled to hold and express their political beliefs, subject to the restrictions laid under <strong>the Tripura Civil Services (Conduct) Rules, 1988.</strong></li>
</ul>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>In another significant judgement, the High Court of Tripura ordered the police to refrain from prosecuting the activist who was arrested over a social media post where he criticised online campaign in support of the <a href="/to-the-points/Paper2/citizenship-amendment-act-2019" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA), 2019</strong></a> and warned people against it.</li>
<li>The HC held that these orders are in line with the very essence of the Indian Constitution.</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Other Recent Judgements</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The <a href="/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-national-institutions/supreme-court-of-india" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Supreme Court of India</strong></a> also gave judgement on the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/internet-as-a-medium-of-freedom-of-expression" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>internet shutdown and curbing of other civil liberties in the Jammu and Kashmir.</strong></a> It upheld the Right to access the Internet and released guidelines on imposition of <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/section-144-of-crpc" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>section 144 of CrPC.</strong></a></li>
<li>Recently, the<strong> Kerala High Court,</strong> in<strong> Faheema Shirin v. the State of Kerala</strong> case, declared the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/right-to-internet-access-and-digital-literacy" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Right to Internet Access</strong></a> as a fundamental right, forming a part of the right to privacy and the right to education under <strong>Article 21</strong> of the Constitution.</li>
</ul>
</div>
<p><a href="https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/social-media-posting-is-a-fundamental-right-rules-tripura-high-court/article30551332.ece" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Source: TH</strong></a></p>',
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	],
	(int) 19 => [
		'title' => 'The Big Picture - Police Commissioner System',
		'catname' => 'Lok Sabha & Rajya Sabha Discussions',
		'desc' => '<p style="text-align: center;"><iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/QdKM3sizKEM" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe></p>
<p>Recently, the Uttar Pradesh government has approved the implementation of the Police Commissionerate system in the two cities, Lucknow and Noida. Since the past 50 years, there was a demand to enforce the police commissionerate system. In 1978, an initiative to introduce the commissionerate system in Kanpur (UP) never materialised. The <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/lucknow-and-noida-to-get-police-commissioner-system" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>commissionerate system</strong></a> will give police a free hand to act swiftly and take decisions regarding maintaining law and order in the complex urban milieu. Now, powers of a District Magistrate (DM) under 15 Acts lie with the police.</p>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Drishti Input</strong></p>
<p><strong>Historical Background</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Policing is based on the <strong>Police Act of 1861.</strong></li>
<li>Under the colonial system, the <strong>dual system</strong> of police administration was introduced.</li>
<li>The overall in-charge of a district or region was the District Collector and the Superintendent of Police (SP) reported to him.</li>
<li>The<strong> primary objective</strong> of the British was <strong>revenue collection</strong> in rural India. They needed a force that could support this objective and unleash tyranny and oppression when needed to suit the objective. The worst of officers from the British police were sent to India. So there was a need to put them under the District Collector. That system continued post-Independence.</li>
<li>The British also brought the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/lucknow-and-noida-to-get-police-commissioner-system" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Police Commissionerate System</strong></a> first in <strong>Kolkata</strong> and followed it in <strong>Mumbai</strong> and <strong>Chennai presidencies.</strong> The system was introduced even <strong>before</strong> the Police Act of 1861.</li>
<li>The commissionerate system is considered a step towards <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/dgp-appointment" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>police reforms.</strong></a></li>
</ul>
<p><strong>Directions of the Supreme Court in Prakash Singh vs Union of India</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>In 1996, a petition was filed before the Supreme Court that raised various instances of abuse of power by the police and alleged that police personnel perform their duties in a <strong>politically partisan manner.</strong></li>
<li>The Supreme Court issued its judgement in <strong>2006,</strong> ordering the centre and states to <strong>set up authorities</strong> to lay down guidelines for police functioning, evaluate police performance, decide postings and transfers, and receive complaints of police misconduct.</li>
<li>The court also required that <strong>minimum tenure</strong> of service be guaranteed to key police officers to protect them from arbitrary transfers and postings.</li>
</ul>
</div>
<h3>Police Commissionerate System</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Delhi turned into a commissionerate during 1977-1979.</li>
<li><strong>National Police Commission&rsquo;s 6<sup>th</sup> report</strong> released in 1983 recommended the commissionerate system in cities with a population of<strong> 5 lakh and above</strong> as well as in places having special conditions.</li>
<li>In 2005, <strong>Draft Model Police Act,</strong> framed by a committee, set up by the Home Ministry also made a similar recommendation saying <strong>metro cities and major urban areas</strong> with a population of <strong>10 lakh or more</strong> should have commissionerate system</li>
<li>As of January 2018, the system has been implemented in 61 cities across 15 states in the country. (BPRD data, 2018)
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>However, after UP, <strong>63 cities</strong> now have this system.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>Expert Bodies that have Examined Police Reforms</strong></p>
<p><a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1579862901_image2.png" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1579862901_image2.png" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" caption="false" width="624" height="88" /></strong></a></p>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Constitutional/Legal Provisions<img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1579862937_image1.png" style="float: right;" /></strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Under the <strong>7<sup>th</sup> Schedule</strong> of the Constitution, Police is under the <strong>State list.</strong></li>
<li>Political executive (i.e., ministers) has the power of superintendence and control over the police forces to ensure their accountability.</li>
<li>The <strong>centre</strong> is also allowed to maintain its own police forces to assist the states with ensuring law and order. Therefore, it maintains seven central police forces and some other police organisations for specialised tasks such as intelligence gathering, investigation, research and record-keeping, and training.</li>
<li>The centre is responsible for policing in the Union Territories. It also extends intelligence and financial support to the state police forces.</li>
<li>State police forces generally have <strong>two</strong> arms: <strong>civil</strong> and <strong>armed police.</strong></li>
<li>The <strong>civil police</strong> are responsible for day-to-day law and order and crime control.</li>
<li><strong>Armed police</strong> are kept in <strong>reserve</strong> until additional support is required in situations like riots.</li>
<li>Civil police forces<strong> broadly</strong> adhere to the hierarchical structure shown in the figure:</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>Dual System</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The state government exercises control and superintendence over the state police forces.</li>
<li>At the district level, the District Magistrate also give directions to the Superintendent of Police and supervise police administration.</li>
<li>The powers such as issuing orders for preventive arrests or imposition of <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/section-144-of-crpc" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Section 144 CrPC</strong></a> are vested in the DM.</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>Commissionerate System</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>In some metropolitan cities and urban areas, however, the dual system has been replaced by the commissionerate system to allow for<strong> quicker decision-making in response to complex law and order situations, rising population</strong> and <strong>rapid urbanisation.</strong></li>
<li>The police have a greater say in resolving land disputes. However, removal of encroachments and other land-related problems would need the presence of a magistrate to aid the police.</li>
</ul>
</div>
<h3>Differences Between the Dual System of Control and the Commissionerate System</h3>
<table border="1" style="border-collapse: collapse; width: 100%;">
<tbody>
<tr style="height: 19px;">
<td style="width: 50%; vertical-align: top; text-align: center; height: 19px; background-color: #6145ff;"><span style="color: #ffffff;"><strong>Dual system</strong></span></td>
<td style="width: 50%; vertical-align: top; text-align: center; height: 19px; background-color: #6145ff;"><span style="color: #ffffff;"><strong>Commissionerate system</strong></span></td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 67px;">
<td style="width: 50%; text-align: left; vertical-align: top; height: 67px; background-color: #e1e8fa;">Dual command structure over the district police means that control and direction over the police vests with the SP (head of district police) and the District Magistrate (executive).</td>
<td style="width: 50%; text-align: left; vertical-align: top; height: 67px; background-color: #e1e8fa;">Unified command structure with the Commissioner of Police (rank of the Deputy Inspector General or above) as the sole head of the force within the city. Allows for quicker responses to law and order situations.</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 51px;">
<td style="width: 50%; text-align: left; vertical-align: top; height: 51px; background-color: #e1e8fa;">
<p>Separation of powers of the DM (e.g., issues arrest warrants and licenses) and the police (e.g., investigate crimes and make arrests).</p>
</td>
<td style="width: 50%; text-align: left; vertical-align: top; height: 51px; background-color: #e1e8fa;">
<p>Powers of policing and <strong>magistracy</strong> concentrated in Commissioner. <strong>Directly accountable</strong> to the state government and state police chief.</p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 35px;">
<td style="width: 50%; text-align: left; vertical-align: top; height: 35px; background-color: #e1e8fa;">
<p>Less concentration of power in the police, and accountability to DM at the district level.</p>
</td>
<td style="width: 50%; text-align: left; vertical-align: top; height: 35px; background-color: #e1e8fa;"><strong>Lesser accountability</strong> to the local administration.</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 51px;">
<td style="width: 50%; text-align: left; vertical-align: top; height: 51px; background-color: #e1e8fa;">
<p>SP is assisted by Additional/Assistant/ Deputy SPs, Inspectors and constabulary.</p>
</td>
<td style="width: 50%; text-align: left; vertical-align: top; height: 51px; background-color: #e1e8fa;">
<p>Commissioner is assisted by Special/Joint/ Additional/ Deputy Commissioners, etc. Inspector downwards rank structure is the same.</p>
</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<h3>Need for Commissionerate System</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Commissionerate system is considered the most authoritative system of policing, not only in other progressive countries but also in states in the country.</li>
<li>The system brings <strong>greater power and responsibility</strong> on the Police system and the possibility of passing the buck on Magistrates is eliminated.</li>
<li>It is considered essential in cities with a large population.</li>
<li>Now, suggestions are being made that it should be implemented at least in the cities with a population of 20 lakh.</li>
<li><strong>Big cities</strong> generally throw law and order problems and other problems viz., student agitations, caste-communal problems, labour agitations, agitations related to laws passed by the governments.</li>
<li>This requires very specialised handling and requires coordination at every stage. There can be a difference of opinion between officials. Hence, these multifarious, complicated issues need unity of command.</li>
<li>In the present case of UP, Noida shares borders with the National Capital which already has a commissionerate system, after the implementation of the commissionerate system in UP, there would be better coordination in policing.</li>
<li>Moreover, in Mumbai, the system has been proved successful in handling complex issues of Mumbai which also had faced the problem of the underworld.</li>
<li>Even in the commissionerate system, unfettered power is not given to the police. Police are answerable to ministers and courts.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Concerns</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>When the system is introduced, initially, there can be adjustment and understanding issues. Certain<strong> legacy issues</strong> and other issues like <strong>delegation of authority</strong> and better integration will have to be addressed.</li>
<li>In some states like UP, the police already have <strong>immense power.</strong> Questions are raised quite often on the functioning of the cops. People are generally <strong>scared of the police</strong> and the cops have also <strong>failed to win public confidence.</strong></li>
<li>People largely<strong> trust the civil administrative officials</strong> and feel more <strong>comfortable</strong> in interacting with them because they <strong>create balance in society.</strong></li>
<li>Further, there are several <strong>occasions when protests are of a civil nature</strong> and can be dealt with by the District Magistrate. Police action in such matters can complicate the situation.</li>
<li>This system works better in states <strong>where the literacy ratio is higher</strong> and people have wide knowledge about law and their fundamental rights.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Way Forward</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The Commissionerate system brings <strong>great power</strong> to the Commissioner of Police hence it calls upon a <strong>degree of restraint in using power,</strong> which in the present scenario has not been necessarily demonstrated.</li>
<li>Therefore, the <strong>selection of Commissioner becomes crucial.</strong> An officer who has a wider knowledge of handling crime, investigation in the complex urban-centric milieu and has the capacity to both restrain and increase power will do well.</li>
<li>We can say that the system gives more powers to the police force and the officers but also added responsibility to ensure that those powers are handled in a responsible manner. As it rightly said, <strong>&ldquo;With great power comes great responsibility.&rdquo;</strong></li>
<li>An efficient commissionerate system would result in <strong>better detection of crime,</strong> the<strong> better quality of investigation, increased conviction rate,</strong> protection of the rights of people, and <strong>decline of the crime rate.</strong></li>
<li>India&rsquo;s existing <strong>police system</strong> suffers a <strong>series of deficiencies</strong> from problems relating to a police organization, environment, infrastructure, and understaffing, to obsolete weaponry and intelligence gathering techniques to a shortage of manpower to corruption, the police force in the country is not in good shape.</li>
<li>Therefore, there is an urgent need for<strong> holistic police reforms.</strong> Since, Police, Law and Order are subjects of state list, the government can start by urging all states to implement the recommendations given by the supreme court in <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/dgp-appointment" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Prakash Singh case.</strong></a></li>
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