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Covid-19 and Lockdown

This article is based on “A long road: On India’s 21-day coronavirus lockdown”, “Home & nation”, “Devising...

28 Mar 2020 News Editorials
Tribal Lockdown Rituals

Why in News Tribes in Arunachal Pradesh have revived indigenous lockdown rituals to contain the spread of COVID-19. The State of Arunachal...

28 Mar 2020 News Analysis
RBI’s COVID-19 Economic Relief Package

Why in News After the Government’s announcement of Pradhan Mantri Gareeb Kalyan Yojana, the Reserve Bank of India’s Monetary Policy...

28 Mar 2020 News Analysis
Electronic Platform to Fight COVID-19

Why in News Recently, India has decided to set up an electronic platform to help member countries of the South Asian Association for Regional...

28 Mar 2020 News Analysis
Operation Namaste: Indian Army

Why in News The Indian Army has code-named its anti-COVID-19 campaign as Operation Namaste to help the government in its fight against the...

28 Mar 2020 News Analysis
COVID-19 and ‘Force Majeure’

Why in News In view of the COVID-19 pandemic, Indian Railways has decided that the period from 22.03.2020 to 14.04.2020 shall be treated under...

28 Mar 2020 News Analysis
Challenges In Climate Change Negotiations

This article is based on “Vaunting Rhetoric versus Grim Realities” which was published in Economic and Political Weekly on 04/01/2020....

27 Mar 2020 News Editorials
DRDO Develops Ventilators

Why in News Recently, the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) has developed a ventilator and plans to produce 5,000 of them per...

27 Mar 2020 News Analysis
Virtual G20 Leaders’ Summit

Why in News Recently, an extraordinary Virtual G20 Leaders’ Summit has been convened to discuss the challenges posed by the outbreak of the...

27 Mar 2020 News Analysis
Antibody Kits for COVID-19

Why in News Recently, the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) has invited manufacturers to supply 5 lakh antibody kits for diagnosis of...

27 Mar 2020 News Analysis
Laser Surface Micro-Texturing

Why in News The International Advanced Centre for Powder Metallurgy & New Materials (ARCI) has developed ultrafast laser surface texturing...

27 Mar 2020 News Analysis
Digital Initiatives to Fight Coronavirus

Why in News Recently, the Government has developed a platform which will host webinars by All India Institutes of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) doctors...

27 Mar 2020 News Analysis
COVID-19 Economic Relief Package

Why in News The Union Finance Minister has announced Rs 1.70 lakh crore relief package under the newly framed Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Yojana for...

27 Mar 2020 News Analysis
Eklavya Model Residential and Day Boarding Schools

Why in News In view of prevailing sensitive health conditions affecting community health due to Covid-19, the Ministry of Tribal Affairs has asked...

27 Mar 2020 News Analysis
Year End Review 2019: Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change

Important Schemes and Policies Climate Change Performance Index (CCPI) 2019 India scored 62.93 and ranked 11th in the Climate Change Performance...

26 Mar 2020 Paper 2
Engaging Rural Youth

This article is based on “Engaging Rural Youth Gainfully” which was published in Economic and Political Weekly on 14/03/2020. It talks...

26 Mar 2020 News Editorials
MACS 4028 Wheat Variety

Recently, scientists from Agharkar Research Institute (ARI), Pune, have developed a biofortified durum wheat variety MACS 4028. ARI Pune is an...

26 Mar 2020 News Analysis
Kuril Islands

Why in News Recently, a 7.5 magnitude earthquake struck in the northern Pacific and a tsunami warning was issued for the closest shores on...

26 Mar 2020 News Analysis
Legacy Waste

Why in News Recently, the National Green Tribunal (NGT) has directed a committee to assess the amount of damage caused to the environment due to the...

26 Mar 2020 News Analysis
COVID-19 Loans by Indian Bank

Why in News Recently, Indian Bank which is a public sector lender, has announced special emergency loans for various categories of customers such as...

26 Mar 2020 News Analysis

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			'title' => 'Covid-19 and Lockdown',
			'catname' => 'News Editorials',
			'desc' => '<div class="border">
<p>This article is based on <strong>&ldquo;<a href="https://www.thehindu.com/opinion/editorial/a-long-road-the-hindu-editorial-on-indias-21-day-coronavirus-lockdown/article31167312.ece" target="_blank" rel="noopener">A long road: On India&rsquo;s 21-day coronavirus lockdown</a>&rdquo;</strong>, <strong>&ldquo;<a href="https://indianexpress.com/article/opinion/editorials/india-lockdown-coronavirus-impact-pm-narendra-modi-6330131/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Home &amp; nation</a>&rdquo;</strong>, <strong>&ldquo;<a href="https://www.thehindu.com/opinion/lead/devising-a-people-centric-response-to-covid-19/article31176168.ece" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Devising a people-centric response to COVID-19</a>&rdquo;</strong>, <strong>&ldquo;<a href="https://indianexpress.com/article/opinion/columns/agriculture-farmers-harvest-market-closure-6335047/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Just halfway there</a>&rdquo;</strong>, <strong>&ldquo;<a href="https://indianexpress.com/article/opinion/editorials/rbi-financial-measures-covid-19-shaktikanta-das-6335050/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Whatever it takes</a>&rdquo;</strong> &lsquo;<a href="https://indianexpress.com/article/opinion/columns/cronavirus-covid-19-lockdown-helping-hand-6333448/" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>A helping hand to states</strong></a>&rsquo;. &ldquo;<a href="https://indianexpress.com/article/opinion/columns/india-lockdown-coronavirus-threat-covid-19-spread-6335042/" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>After the lockdown</strong></a>&rdquo;. It talks about the concerns of and measures taken during the Lockdown scenario pertaining to Covid-19.</p>
</div>
<p>The Government of India has imposed an unprecedented <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/21-days-lockdown" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>21-day national lockdown</strong></a>, as part of a series of steps to reduce the transmission of the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/coronavirus-disease-named-covid-19" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Covid-19</strong></a>. The virus has now assumed the status of a pandemic, impacting almost every country across the globe.</p>
<p>Though the lockdown has been welcomed by the medical community as a necessary measure, the enforcement has left millions of people unprepared for this severe disruption, particularly farmers and workforce engaged in the informal sector. Apart from this, there are complex issues involved in confining over a billion people to their homes.</p>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Rationale of 21 Days Lockdown</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The incubation period of Covid-19 is believed to be 14 days. Thus, three weeks lockdown will allow for symptomatic cases of COVID-19 disease to emerge. Also, this should give the government sufficient time to plan a treatment response.</li>
<li>Further, the lockdown allows governments, not just to break the infection chain, but to isolate the infected from the general population and treat those who require it with varying degrees of hospitalisation.</li>
</ul>
</div>
<h3>Problems Associated with the Lockdown</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Disruption of <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/formalization-of-the-economy-is-a-form-of-coercion" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Informal Economy</a>: Lockdown due to</strong> Covid-19 will be the third shock that the informal economy faces, after demonetisation and <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/gst-compensation" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>GST</strong></a>. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The lockdown will hit the millions of daily wage earners, the self-employed and small businesses, and the rural landless poor. These vulnerable segments of the workforce face the immediate problem of a lack of income as well as hunger.</li>
<li>Moreover, the average annual days of employment provided per household under the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/sub-group-of-chief-ministers-on-coordination-between-mgnrega-and-agriculture" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>MGNREGA</strong></a> is 100. But, due to the lockdown, work under the scheme has come to a standstill everywhere.</li>
<li>This lockdown can negatively affect the growth rate of the Indian economy which is already showing a downward trend.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Lack of Essential Supplies:</strong> The lack of planning on the lockdown resulted in another bout of crowding, with people rushing out to buy essential supplies and medicines.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The people will be forced into a situation where breaking the lockdown, might seem the safer alternative to deprivation and suffering in isolation.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Farmers&rsquo; Woes:</strong> As the lockdown has curtailed the supply chain and led to the closure of markets, this has created anxiety amongst farmers as cereals, fruit and vegetables are ready for harvest across the county</li>
</ul>
<h3>Steps Taken by the Government</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The government has announced a <strong>₹1,70,000-crore relief package (around 0.8% of GDP) &mdash; Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Yojana (PMGKY),</strong> as a first step towards alleviating the distress caused to vulnerable sections of the population by the 21-day lockdown. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Apart from this, there are several <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/covid-19-economic-relief-package" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>other relief measures taken by the government.</strong></a></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Reserve Bank of India (RBI)</strong> announced a <strong>slew of measures to supplement government efforts</strong> to address the economic upheaval caused by the coronavirus.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The <strong>benchmark repo rate has been cut by 75 basis points to 4.4%,</strong> from 5.15% earlier, this will lower the cost of borrowing.</li>
<li>The <strong>cash reserve ratio has been reduced by 100 basis points to 3%</strong>, this will ensure ample liquidity in the market. The liquidity availed through this route will have to be deployed in corporate bonds, commercial papers, and debentures.</li>
<li>RBI has also <strong>provided a moratorium on instalments for three months</strong> on all term loans of retail and corporate borrowers.</li>
<li>The three-month moratorium on instalments of all term loans is another welcome step as it will provide relief to all retail and corporate borrowers who are finding it difficult to service their loans.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>The Centre has also advised state governments to <strong>transfer funds to construction workers</strong> from the cess fund collected by the labour welfare boards.</li>
<li>The Finance Ministry has also announced that the <strong>threshold for taking companies through the insolvency and bankruptcy proceedings has been increased</strong> from Rs 1 lakh to Rs 1 crore.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>This will prevent creditors from taking small and medium-sized companies, who may be facing temporary cash flow management issues due to the lockdown, and hence are unable to meet their obligations, through the <a href="/loksabha-rajyasabha-discussions/in-depth-insolvency-and-bankruptcy-code-act" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code process.</strong></a></li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Way Forward</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Our governance model provides for decision-making at the Union level. But <strong>the burden of policy execution falls upon states,</strong> as the Healthcare, sanitation, agriculture and public utilities are administered by state governments.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Thus, <strong>fiscal federalism, decentralised governance and flexibility to the States</strong> to meet their particular needs and requirements should be a part of the fight against the virus, including coping with the lockdown and the economic recovery to follow.</li>
<li>The Union government must offer support to state governments to ensure that farmers receive a fair price and can move their products, especially perishables, to markets.</li>
<li>There is a need for the realisation that the much-neglected <strong>panchayat and local officials are key nodes</strong> in keeping track of possible cases and the creation of quarantining infrastructure.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>The success of the lockdown strategy is premised on an unprecedentedly vigorous building up of <strong>health infrastructure to fight the pandemic.</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The commitment by the Centre government to infuse an extra Rs 15,000 crore in this public healthcare is a step in the right direction.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>In order to ensure effective implementation of the lockdown, the essentials must be delivered virtually at the doorstep.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>The Public Distribution System (PDS) and essential commodities delivery by e-commerce companies can be leveraged</strong> in this regard.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>The <strong>expansion of the scope and size of cash transfers</strong> and more targeted interventions for stressed sectors, especially the unorganised/informal parts of the economy, should be considered.</li>
</ul>
<p>India needs almost a warlike mobilisation, to make sure we have enough <strong>testing, tracking, frontline workers, logistics and equipment</strong> in place to make sure that the duration of a lockdown is minimised or a repeat is not necessary. The creation of this kind of infrastructure will pay huge dividends even in non-pandemic times.</p>
<table border="1" style="border-collapse: collapse; width: 100%;">
<tbody>
<tr>
<td style="width: 100%; border-style: dotted; border-color: #ff0000; background-color: #ddeef0;">
<p><span style="color: #000080;"><em><strong>Drishti Mains Question</strong></em></span></p>
<p>Discuss the roles and responsibilities of various stakeholders in India, during the lockdown scenario emanating from Covid-19.</p>
</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>',
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		],
		(int) 1 => [
			'title' => 'Tribal Lockdown Rituals',
			'catname' => 'News Analysis',
			'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>Tribes in Arunachal Pradesh have revived indigenous lockdown rituals to contain the spread of <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/coronavirus-disease-named-covid-19" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>COVID-19.</strong></a></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The State of Arunachal Pradesh is geographically closest to<strong> China&rsquo;s Hubei province</strong> where the COVID-19 outbreak began.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Rituals by Different Tribes</h3>
<p><strong>Galos Tribe</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/galo-community" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Galos</strong></a>, which are one of the 26 major tribes of Arunachal Pradesh that dominate West Siang district practised the <strong>Arr-Rinam ritual.</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The Galo community has been recognized as a <strong>Scheduled Tribe</strong> in the Amendment to the Constitution (ST), Order, 1950, Part-XVIII.</li>
<li><strong>Mopin</strong> is the main festival in Galos which is celebrated for the prosperity of the villages. The Galos perform <strong>Popir dance.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Arr-Rinam</strong> is the Galo equivalent of <strong>lockdown</strong> imposed by consensus for 48 hours whenever an epidemic strikes.</li>
<li>The Arr-Rinam follows the <strong>Ali-Ternam</strong> (the word Ali means epidemic and Ternam means forestall) ritual<strong> to ward off an epidemic.</strong></li>
<li>These rituals were last performed almost four decades ago when a water-borne disease had affected many members of the community.</li>
<li>However, these rituals have been performed periodically for <strong>livestock, primarily the semi-wild animal mithun, that are prone to contagious diseases.</strong></li>
<li>This is for the <strong>first time in 30-40 years</strong> that the rituals were performed for the <strong>safety of humans.</strong></li>
<li>The <strong>Bos or deputy priests</strong> performed the Ali-Ternam under the guidance of a <strong>Nyibo (shaman).</strong></li>
<li>The ritual <strong>ended with the community leaders sealing five major entry points of the district.</strong></li>
</ul>
<p><strong>Adi Tribe</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The Adi community also performed a similar ritual called the <strong>motor or pator system</strong> in the Adi (tribe) dialect.</li>
<li>This is a customary <strong>self-restriction,</strong> where the locals lock down several villages by <strong>erecting barricades</strong> to prevent the entry of outsiders. No person is allowed to enter or leave the villages.</li>
<li>They believe that this ritual lets shamans with legendary powers to locate wild herbs to combat an epidemic.</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Note:</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The Adi tribe of Arunachal Pradesh is believed to have come from southern China in the 16<sup>th</sup> century.</li>
<li>They are the <strong>Tibeto-Burman language</strong> speaking population..</li>
<li>They reside in the far north inhabiting<strong> East Siang and Lower Dibang Valley districts</strong> of Arunachal Pradesh.</li>
<li>The Adis are experts at <strong>making cane and bamboo items.</strong></li>
<li><strong>Solung</strong> (harvesting festival where animal sacrifices and rituals are performed) and <strong>Aran</strong> ( a hunting festival where all the male members of the family go for hunting) are two major festivals of the Adi tribes.</li>
</ul>
</div>
<p><strong>Nyishi Tribe</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>In districts such as Papum Pare and East Kameng, the dominant Nyishi community observed <strong>Arrue</strong> involving <strong>self-quarantine.</strong></li>
<li>Nyishi Tribes also called<strong> Bangni</strong> are the tribal people of eastern Bhutan and Arunachal Pradesh (formerly North East Frontier Agency).</li>
<li>Nyishi is a <strong>Scheduled Tribe.</strong> It is the <strong>single largest tribe of Arunachal Pradesh.</strong></li>
<li>They speak the <strong>Tibeto-Burman language of the Sino-Tibetan family.</strong></li>
<li>The Nyishi support themselves with <strong>slash-and-burn agriculture and with hunting and fishing.</strong></li>
<li>They live together in a longhouse without partitions but with a separate fireplace for each conjugal family.</li>
<li>Aside from a patrilineal household there is<strong> no formal social organization or village government.</strong></li>
<li>Their religion involves <strong>belief in spirits associated with nature.</strong></li>
</ul>
<p><a href="https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/other-states/arunachals-tribes-revive-indigenous-lockdown-rituals/article31186665.ece" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Source: TH</strong></a></p>',
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		],
		(int) 2 => [
			'title' => 'RBI’s COVID-19 Economic Relief Package',
			'catname' => 'News Analysis',
			'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>After the Government&rsquo;s announcement of <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/covid-19-economic-relief-package" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Pradhan Mantri Gareeb Kalyan Yojana</strong></a>, the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/repo-rate-unchanged-1" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Reserve Bank of India&rsquo;s Monetary Policy Committee (MPC)</strong></a> has come out with its own measures to help deal with economic fall out of <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/coronavirus-disease-named-covid-19" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>COVID-19 pandemic.</strong> </a></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>This was the first time that the MPC met outside its bi-monthly meeting calendar.</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Economic Impact of the Pandemic</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>According to the <a href="/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-international-institution/international-monetary-fund-imf" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>International Monetary Fund (IMF)</strong></a> chief Kristalina Georgieva, the <strong>world has entered a recession</strong> that will be worse than the one in 2009, following the global financial crisis.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Recession implies significant decline in general economic activity.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Moody's Investor Service (a rating agency) has reduced its GDP growth forecast for India to 2.5% in 2020</strong> - a sharp drop from an earlier projection of 5.3%, due to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and the resultant lockdown.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>At the low growth rate of 2.5% in 2020, India may see a sharp fall in incomes, further weighing on domestic demand and the pace of recovery in 2021.</li>
<li>The ongoing 21-day lockdown in India has brought business activity in most sectors of the economy to a halt and resulted in thousands of job losses.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>The ratings agency expects the country's economy to recover in <strong>2021,</strong> estimating a <strong>growth rate of 5.8%,</strong> but warned that uncertainty regarding the virus&rsquo;s spread and containment makes it difficult to fully assess the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/the-economic-impact-of-coronavirus" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>economic toll</strong></a> of the crisis. <strong>India grew at 5% in 2019.</strong></li>
<li>The <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/virtual-g20-leaders-summit" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>G20 countries</strong></a> are likely to see an overall contraction of GDP by 0.5%. G20 GDP growth rate, which was 2.6% in 2019, is likely to recover to 3.2% in 2021.</li>
<li>The U.S. economy would contract by 2% in 2020, while the Euro area would see a 2.2% contraction. China's economic growth rate is expected to slow to 3.3%, although it is expected to recover to 6% in 2021.</li>
</ul>
</div>
<h3>RBI&rsquo;s Measures</h3>
<p><a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1585386342_image1.jpg" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1585386342_image1.jpg" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" caption="false" width="615" height="518" /></a></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Cut in Repo Rate</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The repo rate has been cut by 75 basis points (bps) from 5.15% to 4.40%.</li>
<li>Repo Rate is the rate at which a country&rsquo;s central bank (RBI) lends money to commercial banks. Ideally, a low repo rate should translate into low-cost loans for general masses.</li>
<li>The rates have been cut to <strong>encourage banks to lend more</strong> and to revive growth.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Cut in Reverse Repo Rate</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The ratio has been cut by 90 bps to 4%.</li>
<li>Reverse repo rate is the rate at which the central bank of a country (RBI) borrows money from commercial banks within the country.</li>
<li>The higher reduction in the reverse repo rate was aimed at <strong>prompting banks to lend more rather than keeping their excess liquidity with the RBI.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Macroeconomic Indicators</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The MPC refrained from giving growth and inflation projections, given the uncertainty in the situation.</li>
<li>Growth outlook will depend on the <strong>intensity, speed, and duration</strong> of the pandemic. This clearly highlights downside risks to growth from a prolonged lockdown.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Moratorium on Repayments of Loans</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>RBI has also allowed banks to <strong>defer payment of Equated Monthly Installments (EMIs)</strong> on home, car, personal loans as well as <strong>credit card dues for three months till May 31.</strong></li>
<li>The RBI also allowed lending institutions, banks to <strong>defer interest on working capital repayments by 3 months &mdash;</strong> a move aimed at addressing the distress among firms as production is down.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>A working capital loan is a loan that is taken to finance a company&rsquo;s everyday operations.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>A <strong>moratorium</strong> is not a loan waiver and does not offer any discount on interest payout. But it provides stressed customers <strong>extra time to repay</strong> without their accounts being labelled <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/lessons-from-npa-crisis" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>non-performing assets (NPA)</strong> </a>or their credit score being affected - a major worry for small and medium businesses.</li>
<li><strong>Impact on Banks:</strong> For banks and lending institutions, this will affect their cash flows as they may not be getting repayments for three months. But the RBI has <strong>reduced their cash reserve ratio (CRR) requirements, providing them additional liquidity.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Liquidity Infusion of Rs. 3.74 lakh crore - 3.4% of GDP</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Through measures that pertain to <strong>Targeted Long-Term Repo Operations (TLTRO)</strong> of up to ₹1 trillion, a 100-bps cut in Cash Reserve Ratio (CRR) and easier borrowing requirements under the Marginal Standing Facility (MSF) window.</li>
<li>TLTRO will provide financing to credit institutions.</li>
<li><strong>CRR</strong> is the amount of money banks need to set aside with RBI as a buffer and do not earn any interest on it. CRR has been <strong>cut to 3% from 4%.</strong></li>
<li>Under the <strong>Marginal Standing Facility (MSF)</strong> window, banks can borrow funds from the RBI by pledging government securities within the limits of Statutory Liquidity Ratio (SLR). The RBI has increased accommodation under the marginal standing facility from 2%of SLR to 3%.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Way Forward</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>There will be more to do as the crisis evolves; governments and regulators are reacting to events, as opposed to being proactive, simply because this is a kind of crisis that they have not dealt with before.</li>
<li>The priority is to undertake strong and purposeful action in order to minimise the adverse macroeconomic impact of the pandemic.</li>
</ul>',
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		],
		(int) 3 => [
			'title' => 'Electronic Platform to Fight COVID-19',
			'catname' => 'News Analysis',
			'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Recently, <strong>India has decided to set up an electronic platform</strong> to help member countries of the <a href="/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-international-institution/south-asian-association-for-regional-cooperation-saarc" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC)</strong></a> fight the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/covid-19-now-pandemic-who" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>COVID-19</strong></a> pandemic.</li>
<li>The decision has been conveyed during <strong>a virtual conference of health professionals of eight countries in the region.</strong></li>
</ul>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The virtual conferencing of the health workers of the SAARC Nation was part of <strong>the two proposals made by Indian Prime Minister during the recently held virtual meeting of SAARC.</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The <strong>other proposal was to set up <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/video-conference-of-saarc-leaders-on-covid-19" target="_blank" rel="noopener">SAARC COVID-19 Emergency Fund.</a></strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>The e-Platform will enable the SAARC nations to <strong>share and exchange information, knowledge, expertise and best practices</strong> for jointly combating the Coronavirus epidemic.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Objectives</strong> of the e-Platform<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Training of emergency personnel</li>
<li>Disease surveillance</li>
<li>Joint research</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>Currently the platform is in the construction stage.</li>
<li>Meanwhile India suggested to set up a Whatsapp or email group to help facilitate exchange of information among the SAARC countries till the platform became fully operational</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>During the conference all the <strong>countries highlighted their specific vulnerabilities,</strong> capacities, <strong>the best practices, gaps in resources and logistics,</strong> private sector participation as well as levels of preparedness.</li>
<li><strong>Community engagement and participation</strong> was identified as an important element in any anti-Covid19 strategy.</li>
<li><strong>Fight Corona IDEAthon</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Recently, a <strong>2-day online IDEAthon</strong> has been organized to search for accessible and affordable technological solutions that can contain the rapid spread of infection, ease the mounting pressure and ensure a quick return to normalcy.</li>
<li>The initiative was<strong> jointly organised by MHRD Innovation Cell, AICTE, MeitY Startup Hub, InnovatioCuris and other institutions of global and national prominence.</strong></li>
<li><strong>The focus area of the IDEAthon was</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>designing reusable/washable masks</li>
<li>system to disinfect currency notes/coins</li>
<li>a non-invasive diagnostic kit</li>
<li>Storage Kits to collect test samples from homes</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Technology Diplomacy by India in SAARC Region</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>India launched the <a href="/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-national-institutions/indian-space-research-organisation-isro" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>GSAT-9, also dubbed the South Asia Satellite</strong></a>, aiming to provide space-enabled services to other South Asian countries.</li>
<li>India has offered member countries of the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) to join its advanced navigational satellite programme&mdash;GPS-Aided Geo Augmented Navigation (GAGAN).</li>
<li>Indian Regional Navigation Satellite System (IRNSS) has potential to be useful for the SAARC countries which are dependent on foreign systems.</li>
</ul>
</div>
<p><a href="https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/india-to-set-up-electronic-platform-for-saarc-to-fight-covid-19/article31178915.ece" target="_blank" rel="noopener">SOURCE : TH</a></p>',
			'postdate' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenTime) {},
			'url' => 'https://www.drishtiias.com/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/electronic-platform-to-fight-covid-19'
		],
		(int) 4 => [
			'title' => 'Operation Namaste: Indian Army',
			'catname' => 'News Analysis',
			'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>The <strong>Indian Army</strong> has code-named its <strong>anti-<a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/coronavirus-disease-named-covid-19" target="_blank" rel="noopener">COVID-19</a></strong> <strong>campaign</strong> as <strong>Operation Namaste</strong> to help the government in its fight against the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/covid-19-now-pandemic-who" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>pandemic</strong></a>.</p>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Soldiers are advised to follow the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/21-days-lockdown" target="_blank" rel="noopener">lockdown</a>,</strong> wherever they do not have any operational role, and stay fit. They are assured that their families will be well taken care of.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Leave extension</strong> of those on leave as well as<strong> curtailment of leave</strong> to bare minimum have been imposed.</li>
<li><strong>Segregation facilities</strong> have been set up to observe troops already back from leave from various states.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>So far <strong>six quarantine facilities</strong> at Manesar, Jaisalmer, Jodhpur, Chennai, Hindan and Mumbai have been established where 1,463 people evacuated from coronavirus-affected countries have been accommodated.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The forces are setting up more such facilities at Kolkata, Visakhapatnam, Kochi, Dundigal, Bengaluru, Kanpur, Jaisalmer, Jorhat and Gorakhpur which can be ready within 72 hours, if needed.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>28 Armed Forces hospitals have been earmarked as COVID hospitals.</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>These hospitals will include armed forces patients as well as civilian patients transferred from state health authorities.</li>
<li>Five hospitals from the Army, Navy and the Air Force are conducting coronavirus tests using the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/antibody-kits-for-covid-19" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>RT-PCR methodology</strong></a> and more hospitals will be equipped soon with the resources.</li>
<li>62 Cantonment Boards have been instructed to identify beds in hospitals and health centres and guesthouses for any eventuality.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Contributions by Other Forces</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Recently, <a href="/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-national-institutions/defence-research-and-development-organisation-drdo" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Defence Research and Development Organisation</strong></a> <strong>(DRDO) also came forward</strong> to help by <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/drdo-develops-ventilators" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>developing ventilators</strong></a> and providing other medical equipment.</li>
<li><strong>Indian Navy</strong> also contributed by delivering 60,000 face masks ordered by <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/centre-persists-with-toothless-pharma-codes" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Indian Medical Association</strong></a>, <strong>Goa</strong> which were stuck in Delhi due to the lockdown.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Ilyushin 38 SD</strong> departed <strong>INS Hansa</strong> for Palam Airport, New Delhi and returned on the same day with the masks.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Ilyushin 38 Sea Dragon</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Ilyushin 38 Sea Dragon (IL 38 SD) <strong>Long Range Maritime Reconnaissance</strong> (LRMR) aircrafts are currently in service with the <strong>Russian Navy and the Indian Navy.</strong></li>
<li>These are<strong> maritime patrol</strong> and <strong>anti-submarine warfare</strong> (ASW) aircrafts designed by the Russia-based Ilyushin Aviation Complex.</li>
<li>In India, these are <strong>based at Goa</strong> and can be deployed in surveillance, search and rescue, maritime reconnaissance and anti-submarine warfare operations.</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>INS Hansa</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>INS Hansa is an <strong>Indian naval air station</strong> located near <strong>Dabolim in Goa.</strong></li>
<li>It was commissioned in <strong>September 1961.</strong></li>
<li>It serves as the <strong>Indian Navy's one of the largest air bases</strong> and has grown to become a full-fledged airfield that handles both domestic as well as international flights round the clock.</li>
</ul>
</div>
<p><a href="https://indianexpress.com/article/coronavirus/28-armed-forces-hospitals-to-treat-covid-19-patients-11-hospitals-for-test-facility-6335232/" 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/operation-namaste-indian-army'
		],
		(int) 5 => [
			'title' => 'COVID-19 and ‘Force Majeure’',
			'catname' => 'News Analysis',
			'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>In view of the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/covid-19-and-india-1" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>COVID-19 pandemic</strong></a>, Indian Railways has decided that the period from 22.03.2020 to 14.04.2020 shall be treated under<strong> &ldquo;Force Majeure&rdquo;.</strong></li>
</ul>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>A <strong>Force Majeure (FM)</strong> means extraordinary events or circumstances beyond human control such as an event described as an Act of God (like a natural calamity).</li>
<li>During this period no <strong>demurrage, wharfage, stacking, stabling, detention and ground usage charge shall be leviable.</strong></li>
<li>Zonal Railways have been advised to coordinate with State Government authorities <strong>to ensure logistics support</strong> in order <strong>to keep up the essential goods transportation.</strong></li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Force Majeure</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Force majeure refers to a <strong>clause that is included in contracts</strong> to remove liability for natural and unavoidable catastrophes that interrupt the expected course of events and restrict participants from fulfilling obligations.</li>
<li>Force majeure clauses <strong>excuse companies (or other parties to a contract) from meeting certain obligations</strong> when events beyond their control interfere with their ability to hold up their end of the bargain.</li>
<li>If invoked, the clauses can relieve companies from commitments, temporarily or permanently, without being in breach of their agreement.</li>
</ul>
</div>
<p><a href="https://pib.gov.in/PressReleseDetail.aspx?PRID=1608603" 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/covid-19-and-force-majeure'
		],
		(int) 6 => [
			'title' => 'Challenges In Climate Change Negotiations',
			'catname' => 'News Editorials',
			'desc' => '<div class="border">
<p>This article is based on <a href="https://www.epw.in/journal/2020/1/commentary/vaunting-rhetoric-versus-grim-realities.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>&ldquo;Vaunting Rhetoric versus Grim Realities&rdquo;</strong></a> which was published in Economic and Political Weekly on 04/01/2020. It talks about the challenges in climate change negotiations.</p>
</div>
<p>The <strong><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/25th-conference-of-parties-madrid-talks" target="_blank" rel="noopener">25<sup>th</sup> Conference of Parties</a></strong> (COP25) of the <a href="/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-international-institution/unfccc" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC)</strong></a>, which was concluded at Madrid in December 2019. Instead of being hailed as a milestone, almost universally, it has been held to be a failure.</p>
<p>The reason for the failure of these negotiations can be attributed to a <strong>lack of consensus between developed and developing countries</strong> on various issues.</p>
<p>Moreover, the irony lies in the fact that it was developed countries who coined the term like climate emergency and it is the only who opposes any legally binding climate actions.</p>
<h3>Tussle Between Developed and Developing Countries.</h3>
<p><strong>Inequality:</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The UNFCCC in its explicit articulation of<strong> the principles of equity and common but differentiated responsibilities (CBDR)</strong> as the basis for climate action, calls on the developed countries to take the lead in mitigating climate change.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>However, developed countries are of the view that with economic growth witnessed by developing nations, the principle of CBDR has somehow become outdated.</li>
<li>The developing countries argue that, though economic growth has taken place, global inequality remains quite high. Thus, acknowledging the continuing validity of the differentiation of developed and developing countries is, therefore, essential to making sense of the global politics of climate change.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Note:</strong>
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>According to the <strong>Global Wealth Report 2019</strong> ( released by the Credit Suisse Research Institute) shows that 57% of global wealth is concentrated in Europe and North America alone.</li>
<li>The per adult distribution of wealth is even more skewed, with North America having 5.9 times the global average.</li>
<li>Europe has 2.2 times the world average, while all other nations in the world are below this global average.</li>
<li>India&rsquo;s wealth per adult is only one-fifth of the global average figure.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</div>
<p><strong>Unfulfilled Commitments:</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Developed countries agreed in the Paris Agreement to fulfil their pre-2020 commitments (part of the second phase of the Kyoto Protocol from 2013 to 2020) before the start of the implementation of the Paris Agreement in 2020.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>However, the issue of what has been done so far, especially by developed countries, is one of the foremost challenges faced in climate change negotiations.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>The <strong>compilation and synthesis (C&amp;S) report on the Biennial Reports of the developed countries and their National Greenhouse Gas Inventories</strong> showed that, by 2017, they had reduced their annual emissions only by some 13% below the 1990 levels against 25% to 40% reduction by 2020 (that is required of these countries, according to the Fourth Assessment Report (AR4) of the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/special-report-on-climate-change-ipcc" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change)</strong></a>.</li>
<li>In the matter of finance for climate action, the <strong>Copenhagen pledge</strong> by the developed countries of mobilising $100 billion annually by 2020 is nowhere near being kept.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The total financial support that has been mobilised by 2016, amounted to $37.5 million only.</li>
<li>Further, almost 80% of this &ldquo;assistance&rdquo; to developing countries is mitigation-linked with only 15% for adaptation, while the major part of what has been disbursed is in the form of loans rather than grants.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>Sidelining the UNFCCC</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>There has been a continuing attempt by the developed countries to set aside the Convention in practice and push all considerations into the framework of the Paris Agreement.</li>
<li>Most developing countries, however, have increasingly become aware of this and have insisted on keeping the overarching role and significance of the Convention very much in place.</li>
<li>This is particularly important since the only way to maintain pressure on the US is through the Convention and the processes under it, as it is set to withdraw from the Paris Agreement by 2020.</li>
<li>Also, developing countries want clarity on the extent to which developed countries will be able to absorb their pre-2020 commitments into their nationally determined contributions (NDCs) under the Paris Agreement,</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>Article 6 of the Paris Deal</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Article 6 of the Paris Agreement, which refers to carbon trading, has been not finalised yet.</li>
<li>Developed countries insist on the adoption of this article, as it places no bar on countries upscaling their efforts at a drastic reduction in emissions through independent domestic action.</li>
<li>China and India, have taken a wide range of initiatives in mitigation, without the assistance of carbon trading. However, other developing countries fear that the article may allow the developed countries to restrict advanced technology to developing countries.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Conclusion</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Till now there is no planet other than earth, where human civilization can thrive. Therefore, the challenge of climate change should only be met through global collective action based on equity, driven by a clear commitment to multilateralism by all nations.</li>
<li>In this context, the developing countries need to persist with the strategy of prioritising sustainable development while using multilateral fora for maintaining pressure on the developed countries to take the lead in climate action.</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: #f8fae6;">
<p><span style="color: #000080;"><em><strong>Drishti Mains Question</strong></em></span></p>
<p>Discuss the challenges faced in the climate change negotiations and also suggest some measures to promote collective global action.</p>
</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>',
			'postdate' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenTime) {},
			'url' => 'https://www.drishtiias.com/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/challenges-in-climate-change-negotiations'
		],
		(int) 7 => [
			'title' => 'DRDO Develops Ventilators',
			'catname' => 'News Analysis',
			'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>Recently, the <a href="/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-national-institutions/defence-research-and-development-organisation-drdo" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Defence Research and Development Organisation</strong></a> (DRDO) has developed a ventilator and plans to produce 5,000 of them per month to treat <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/coronavirus-disease-named-covid-19" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>COVID-19</strong></a> patients.</p>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>DRDO had developed a ventilator along with the <strong>Society for Biomedical Technology</strong> (SBMT) and now the technology has been transferred to an industry in Mysuru.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The industry is producing the secondary version of a ventilator initially developed by DRDO.</li>
<li>Currently, it has a capacity to manufacture 5,000 ventilators per month and this could be scaled up to 10,000 per month.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Other contributions by DRDO:</strong>
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>DRDO laboratories have <strong>manufactured 20,000 litres of sanitiser</strong> and supplied to various organisations like Delhi police.</li>
<li>It has <strong>developed N-99 and 3-layered masks</strong> and <strong>supplied</strong> 10,000 masks to Delhi police personnel.</li>
<li>It is <strong>tying up with some private companies</strong> to make <strong>personal protection equipment</strong> such as body suits and also ventilators.</li>
<li>It is working on <strong>providing ready-to-eat meals</strong> for the government and health workers through the Defence Food Research Laboratory, Mysore which already supplies them to the armed forces.</li>
<li>The<strong> Ordnance Factory Board</strong> (OFB) has also increased the production of sanitisers, masks and bodysuits.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Defence Research and Development Organisation</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>It works under the<strong> administrative control</strong> of the<strong> Ministry of Defence.</strong></li>
<li>It&rsquo;s <strong>objective</strong> is to establish a world class science and technology base for India and provide Indian Defence Services decisive edge by equipping them with internationally competitive systems and solutions.</li>
<li>It was <strong>established in 1958</strong> after <strong>combining</strong> Technical Development Establishment (TDEs) of the Indian Army and the Directorate of Technical Development &amp; Production (DTDP) with the Defence Science Organisation (DSO).</li>
<li><strong>Mission:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Design, develop and lead to production state-of-the-art sensors, weapon systems, platforms and allied equipment for Indian Defence Services.</li>
<li>Provide technological solutions to the services to optimise combat effectiveness and to promote well-being of the troops.</li>
<li>Develop infrastructure and committed quality manpower and build strong indigenous technology base.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>Society for Biomedical Technology</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>It is an <strong>inter-ministerial initiative of the Government of India</strong> established to <strong>promote healthcare</strong> by providing indigenous solutions in the field of medical equipment and devices.</li>
<li>It was established under the<strong> Department of Defence Research and Development</strong> (DRDO) in collaboration with the Ministry of Science and Technology, Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment and Ministry of Health &amp; Family Welfare.</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>Ordnance Factory Board</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The OFB which includes 41 Ordnance Factories is headquartered at <strong>Kolkata.</strong></li>
<li>Indian Ordnance Factories is the <strong>oldest and largest industrial setup</strong> which functions under the <strong>Department of Defence Production of the Ministry of Defence.</strong></li>
<li>The ordnance factories form an <strong>integrated base for indigenous production of defence hardware and equipment</strong>, with the <strong>primary objective of self reliance</strong> in equipping the armed forces with state of the art battlefield equipment.</li>
</ul>
</div>
<p><a href="https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/drdo-develops-ventilators-to-produce-5000-per-month-with-industry/article31176225.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/drdo-develops-ventilators'
		],
		(int) 8 => [
			'title' => 'Virtual G20 Leaders’ Summit',
			'catname' => 'News Analysis',
			'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>Recently, an <strong>extraordinary Virtual <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> Leaders&rsquo; Summit</strong> has been convened to discuss the challenges posed by the outbreak of the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/coronavirus-disease-named-covid-19" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>COVID-19</strong></a> <strong><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/covid-19-now-pandemic-who" target="_blank" rel="noopener">pandemic</a></strong> and to forge a global coordinated response.</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The <strong>video-conference of leaders</strong> of the world&rsquo;s top twenty economies was <strong>hosted by Saudi Arabia&rsquo;s King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud.</strong></li>
</ul>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Major Takeaways:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The G20 countries have voluntarily committed to inject <strong>more than $5 trillion</strong> into the global economy and contribute to 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> (WHO) led<strong> COVID-19 solidarity response fund.</strong></li>
<li>A <strong>joint statement</strong> has been issued which calls for a transparent, robust, coordinated, large-scale and science-based global response in the spirit of solidarity to come over the interconnectedness and vulnerabilities of the countries highlighted by the pandemic.</li>
<li>The member countries have <strong>agreed to share</strong> timely and transparent information, exchange epidemiological and clinical data, share materials necessary for research and development and strengthen health systems globally by supporting the full implementation of the WHO International Health Regulations.</li>
<li>The leaders agreed to have more interactions before the <strong>Riyadh Summit</strong> which will take place in <strong>November 2020.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Criticisms:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>WHO was criticised</strong> for failing to alert the world quickly enough of the potential threat from the pandemic, even after it had been informed of its spread in Wuhan by China in December 2019.</li>
<li>The <strong>US has criticised China</strong> for not having been transparent and sharing information about the virus.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Difference of opinion on lockdown:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>There have been differences among G-20 countries on lockdowns in order to control the pandemic spread through social distancing.</li>
<li>The<strong> US wants to lift the lockdown</strong> as it is impacting the economy.</li>
<li>The <strong>President of Brazil</strong> has called state-imposed lockdowns a <strong>crime.</strong></li>
<li><strong>India</strong> has imposed a <strong>stringent <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/21-days-lockdown" target="_blank" rel="noopener">21-day lockdown</a></strong> across the country.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Suggestions:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>In the effort to control the pandemic, most countries have acted individually but the <strong>need for a more coordinated effort</strong> was stressed upon by the members.</li>
<li>India emphasised on the <strong>need to redefine conversations on globalisation </strong>to<strong> include social and humanitarian issues</strong> like terrorism, climate change and pandemics along with financial and economic discussions.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>G20</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>It is an<strong> informal group of 19 countries</strong> and the<strong><a href="/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-international-institution/european-union" target="_blank" rel="noopener"> European Union</a> (EU),</strong> with representatives of the <a href="/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-international-institution/international-monetary-fund-imf" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>International Monetary Fund</strong> </a>and the <a href="/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-international-institution/world-bank-group" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>World Bank.</strong></a></li>
<li>The membership comprises a mix of the world&rsquo;s largest advanced and emerging economies, representing about two-thirds of the world&rsquo;s population, 85% of global gross domestic product, 80% of global investment and over 75% of global trade.</li>
<li>The<strong> work of G20 is divided into two tracks:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The<strong> Finance track</strong> comprises all meetings with G20 finance ministers and central bank governors and their deputies. Meeting several times throughout the year they focus on monetary and fiscal issues, financial regulations, etc.</li>
<li>The <strong>Sherpa track</strong> focuses on broader issues such as political engagement, anti-corruption, development, energy, etc.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>G20 Members</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The members of the G20 are Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Canada, China, France, Germany, India, Indonesia, Italy, Japan, Republic of Korea, Mexico, Russia, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, Turkey, the United Kingdom, the United States and the European Union.</li>
<li><strong>Spain</strong> as a<strong> permanent, non-member invitee,</strong> also attends leader summits.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Structure and Functioning of G20</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The G20 <strong>Presidency rotates annually</strong> according to a system that ensures a regional balance over time.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>For the selection of presidency, the 19 countries are divided into 5 groups, each having no more than 4 countries. The presidency rotates between each group.</li>
<li>Every year the G20 selects a country from another group to be president.</li>
<li><strong>India is in Group 2</strong> which also has<strong> Russia, South Africa and Turkey.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>The G20 <strong>does not have a permanent secretariat or Headquarters..</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Issues Addressed by G20:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The G20 focuses on a broad agenda of issues of global importance, although, issues pertaining to the global economy dominate the agenda, additional items have become more important in recent years, like:<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Financial markets</li>
<li>Fight against corruption</li>
<li>Advancement of women in job market</li>
<li>2030 Agenda for Sustainable development</li>
<li>Climate Change</li>
<li>Global Health</li>
<li>Anti-terrorism</li>
<li>Inclusive entrepreneurship</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</div>
<p><a href="https://www.thehindu.com/news/international/coronavirus-g20-leaders-pledge-5-trillion-united-response-to-crisis/article31176075.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/virtual-g20-leaders-summit'
		],
		(int) 9 => [
			'title' => 'Antibody Kits for COVID-19',
			'catname' => 'News Analysis',
			'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>Recently, the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) has invited manufacturers to supply<strong> 5 lakh antibody kits</strong> for diagnosis of COVID-19 infection.</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The antibody test will help in screening suspected patients.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>The Antibody Test</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The antibody test for <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/covid-19-and-india-1" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>COVID-19</strong></a> will act as a <strong>screening process</strong> that will give quick results in a few hours.</li>
<li>The antibody test detects the body&rsquo;s response to the virus. It gives an indication that a person has been exposed to the virus.</li>
<li>If the test is positive, the swab is collected and an Ribonucleic Acid (RNA) test is done using the Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) kit. Therefore, this is a <strong>two-stage process.</strong></li>
<li>However, the antibody test <strong>does not not definitely indicate that a person is infected with COVID-19 infection.</strong> It is <strong>only for screening.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>Currently, India is <strong>only conducting the conventional RT-PCR test (Reverse Transcription Polymerase Chain Reaction). </strong></li>
<li><strong>Antibody Kits vs RT-PCR Test</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>RT-PCR test detects the<strong> virus genetic material, which is the RNA.</strong></li>
<li>The antibody test detects the body&rsquo;s response to the virus.</li>
<li>RT-PCR provides direct evidence whereas antibody kits provide the indirect evidence.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Need for Antibody Kits</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Shortage of the PCR kits</strong> and thus the test is complicated, expensive and time-consuming. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>The antibody test will be where a large number of people are being quarantined and where everybody cannot undergo an RNA test.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Results of Testing in South Korea</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>The antibody test was done in South Korea, one of the few countries which has been able to flatten the pandemic curve.</li>
<li>In South Korea, people with a history of travel and contact are screened using the antibody kit.</li>
<li>Then, a large number of suspected patients were being quarantined in the country through contact tracing of just a single patient.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Ribonucleic Acid</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>RNA is an important <strong>biological macromolecule</strong> that is present in all biological cells.</li>
<li>It is principally involved in the <strong>synthesis of proteins, carrying the messenger instructions</strong> from Deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA), which itself contains the genetic instructions required for the development and maintenance of life.</li>
<li>In some <strong>viruses, RNA, rather than DNA, carries genetic information.</strong></li>
</ul>
<p><strong>Contract Tracing</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Contact tracing is the process of identifying, assessing, and managing people who have been exposed to a disease to prevent transmission.</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>Indian Council of Medical Research</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) is the <strong>apex body in India for the formulation, coordination and promotion of biomedical research.</strong></li>
<li>Its mandate is to <strong>conduct, coordinate and implement medical research</strong> for the benefit of the Society; translating medical innovations into products/processes and introducing them into the public health system.</li>
<li>It is funded by the Government of India through the <strong>Department of Health Research, Ministry of Health &amp; Family Welfare.</strong></li>
</ul>
</div>
<p><a href="https://indianexpress.com/article/coronavirus/taking-testing-cue-from-south-korea-icmr-seeks-5-lakh-antibody-kits-6333657/" 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/antibody-kits-for-covid-19'
		],
		(int) 10 => [
			'title' => 'Laser Surface Micro-Texturing',
			'catname' => 'News Analysis',
			'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>The International Advanced Centre for Powder Metallurgy &amp; New Materials (ARCI) has developed ultrafast laser surface texturing technology, which can improve the fuel efficiency of internal combustion engines.</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The technology helps to <strong>control friction and wear.</strong></li>
</ul>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Laser surface micro-texturing offers precise control of the size, shape and density of micro-surface texture features.</li>
<li>In this technology, a pulsating laser beam <strong>creates micro-dimples or grooves</strong> on the surface of materials in a very controlled manner.</li>
<li>Such textures can <strong>trap wear debris</strong> when operating under dry sliding conditions and sometimes provide effects like <strong>enhancing oil supply (lubricant reservoir)</strong> which can lower friction coefficients and may enable reduced wear rate.</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>International Advanced Research Centre for Powder Metallurgy and New Materials (ARCI)</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>It was established in the year 1997.</li>
<li>It is an autonomous research and development centre of the Department of Science and Technology (DST).</li>
<li>Its main campus is located at Hyderabad with operations in Chennai and Gurgaon.</li>
<li>ARCI's mandate is-<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Development of high-performance materials and processes for niche markets</li>
<li>Demonstration of technologies at prototype/pilot scale</li>
<li>Transfer of technology to Indian industry</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>Surface engineering, ceramics, powder metallurgy and laser processing of materials constitute the four major thrust areas at ARCI.</li>
</ul>
</div>
<p><a href="https://pib.gov.in/PressReleaseIframePage.aspx?PRID=1608066" 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/laser-surface-micro-texturing'
		],
		(int) 11 => [
			'title' => 'Digital Initiatives to Fight Coronavirus',
			'catname' => 'News Analysis',
			'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>Recently, the Government has developed a platform which will host webinars by<strong> All India Institutes of Medical Sciences (AIIMS)</strong> doctors for healthcare workers across the country.</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>It has also developed an app that will trace the paths of <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/covid-19-and-india-1" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>COVID-19</strong> </a>positive patients, serving as a warning to possible contacts.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Chat Boxes on Facebook and WhatsApp</strong> have been set up by the <strong>Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY)</strong> for providing information about COVID-19.</li>
<li><strong>A portal to map the requirements of hospitals,</strong> and cross-referencing them with those who have offered to help with equipment is also being set up by the government.</li>
<li><strong>A webinar platform</strong> has been developed in tandem with the <strong>Ministry of Health and Family Welfare.</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The webinars are for the<strong> frontline health workers</strong> (nurses, paramedics, ASHA- Accredited Social Health Activist workers, anganwadi workers), who are more prone to COVID-19.</li>
<li>The webinars would be streamed on Facebook, YouTube and WhatsApp.</li>
<li>The state governments would also be involved so as to make the content available in <strong>regional languages.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>The government has also worked on a <strong>contact path tracing app,</strong> tentatively called <strong>&lsquo;Corona Kavach&rsquo;.</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The app would store location data and would enter the credentials of the person if he/she tests positive. This information would be sent to the cloud.</li>
<li>A signal would come to the app which would convert it from green to red.</li>
<li>The server would then find out people who were in close proximity with the infected person in the last 14 days.</li>
<li>Their apps would turn yellow and they would get an alert that they should quarantine themselves.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>All India Institutes of Medical Sciences</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The AIIMS was<strong> created in 1956,</strong> as an<strong> autonomous institution</strong> of national importance through an Act of Parliament.</li>
<li><strong>Objectives</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>To develop a <strong>pattern of teaching in undergraduate and postgraduate medical education in all its branches</strong> so as to demonstrate high standard of medical education to all medical colleges and other allied institutions in India.</li>
<li>To bring together in one place educational facilities of the highest order for the <strong>training of the personnel</strong> in all important branches of the health activity.</li>
<li>To attain <strong>self sufficiency</strong> in postgraduate in medical education.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>Recently, the central government has decided to set up 22 new establishments of AIIMS. These AIIMS would be set up under the <strong>Pradhan Mantri Swasthya Suraksha Yojana.</strong></li>
</ul>
<p><strong>Pradhan Mantri Swasthya Suraksha Yojana</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>PMSSY is a <strong>Central Sector Scheme.</strong></li>
<li>The primary objective of PMSSY is to correct the <strong>regional imbalances in availability of affordable/reliable tertiary level healthcare</strong> in the country in general, and, to augment facilities for quality medical education in under-served or backward States, in particular.</li>
<li>In addition to <strong>setting up of AIIMS,</strong> PMSSY also envisages<strong> up-gradation of several existing Government Medical Colleges/Institutions</strong> in different states in the country</li>
</ul>
</div>
<p><a href="https://indianexpress.com/article/india/digital-push-webinars-by-aiims-doctors-app-to-trace-possible-contacts-of-covid-19-patients-6333589/" 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/digital-initiatives-to-fight-coronavirus'
		],
		(int) 12 => [
			'title' => 'COVID-19 Economic Relief Package',
			'catname' => 'News Analysis',
			'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>The Union Finance Minister has announced Rs<strong> 1.70 lakh crore relief package</strong> under the <strong>newly framed Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Yojana</strong> for the poor to help them fight the battle against <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/coronavirus-disease-named-covid-19" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>CoronaVirus (COVID-19).</strong></a></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>As part of the <strong>lockdown</strong> to stem the spread of the deadly virus, the government has stopped public transport, airlines and construction work, bringing to a halt most economic activities and <strong>leaving millions of workers in the informal economy without a livelihood.</strong></li>
<li>The central government&rsquo;s package <strong>comes a week after Kerala first announced a Rs 20,000-crore support</strong> for its people. Many states including Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Punjab, Telangana and Rajasthan followed suit.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Key Components</h3>
<p><a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1585297218_image1.jpg" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1585297218_image1.jpg" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" caption="false" width="615" height="517" /></a></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Insurance Scheme for Health Workers</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The Centre would provide<strong> Rs. 50 lakh medical insurance cover</strong> for the next <strong>three months</strong> for about 22 lakh health workers in government hospitals fighting the spread of the virus at personal risk.</li>
<li>The health workers include <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/national-institute-of-health-family-welfare" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>ASHA (Accredited Social Health Activist) workers</strong></a>, medical sanitary workers in government hospitals, paramedics, nurses and doctors.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Food Security for the Next Three Months (PM Gareeb Kalyan Ann Yojana)</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Each person who is covered under the <a href="/to-the-points/paper3/public-distribution-system-1" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>National Food Security Act</strong> </a>would get an additional five kg wheat or rice for free, in addition to the 5 kg of subsidised foodgrain already provided through the Public Distribution System (PDS).</li>
<li>One kg of pulse a household would also be provided for free, according to regional preferences. This is expected to benefit about 80 crore people.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Cash Transfers and Other Benefits over Next Three Months</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>About 3 crore poor pensioners above 60 years, widows and disabled people would be given ₹1000 in two instalments.</li>
<li>The 20 crore women holding <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/important-facts-for-prelims-6th-september-2018" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Jan Dhan Yojana</strong></a> accounts would get ₹500 a month.</li>
<li>The 8.3 crore poor households, which received cooking gas connections under the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/important-facts-for-prelims-18th-december-2018" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Ujjwala scheme</strong></a>, would get free gas cylinders.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>For Workers</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Wages are being hiked under the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/fund-crunch-in-mgnrega" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act</strong></a> scheme, from <strong>₹182 to ₹202 a day.</strong></li>
<li>The Centre is directing the States to use the ₹31,000 crore held by <strong><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/cess-fund-for-welfare-of-construction-workers" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Building and Other Construction Workers Welfare Boards</a></strong> to provide support to the 3.5 crore registered workers.</li>
<li>The States can also use the money available under <a href="/to-the-points/paper1/mining-sector-in-india" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>District Mineral Funds</strong></a> for medical screening, testing and treatment.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>For Land-owning Farmers</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The first instalment of ₹2000 due to them under the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/one-year-of-pm-kisan" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>PM-KISAN</strong> </a>income support scheme will be paid promptly in April, the first month of the financial year.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>For Companies &amp; SHGs</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>For small companies with <strong>100 employees or less,</strong> of whom 90% earn less than ₹15,000 a month, the <strong>Centre will bear the cost of both employer and employee contribution (a total of 24%) to the Employees Provident Fund (EPF)</strong> for the next three months. This will benefit 80 lakh employees, and incentivise 4 lakh establishments.</li>
<li>Collateral free loans provided for women <a href="/to-the-points/Paper2/self-help-groups-shgs" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>self-help groups</strong> </a>under the <strong>National Rural Livelihood Mission</strong> are being doubled to ₹20 lakh, potentially benefiting seven crore households.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Immediate Impact of the Announcement on the Market</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Sentiments in the <strong>market improved</strong> leading to gains in <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/impact-of-covid-19-outbreak" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>BSE Sensex and NSE Nifty</strong></a>. Earlier, Sensex and Nifty have crashed badly during the pandemic.</li>
<li>The <strong>rupee appreciated 57 paise</strong> to 75.37 against the US Dollar in intraday trade.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Rupee has weakened against the US Dollar during the pandemic.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>The other news that is positive for India&rsquo;s fiscal health is the fall in crude oil prices.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Analysis of the Package</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Positive Points</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>It covers various sections of the vulnerable,</strong> ranging from farmers to healthcare workers.</li>
<li>It is appreciable on the part of the government that it has <strong>made the use of existing schemes</strong> like PM Kisan in the package. The efforts appear to keep the<strong> funding within the budget</strong> as much as possible and <strong>retain control over the deficit.</strong></li>
<li>Application of PM Gareeb Kalyan Yojana will <strong>help in the disposal of excess stocks with the Food Corporation of India (FCI).</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>The Food Corporation of India (FCI) and the National Agricultural Cooperative Marketing Federation of India are now holding some 77.6 mt of cereals (3.5 times more than required) and 2.2 mt of pulses respectively.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>The offer to pay both employer and employee contributions to the Provident Fund for very small business enterprises will offer <strong>relief to those businesses that have been forced to shut down operations.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Negative Points</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The<strong> effectiveness of PM Gareeb Kalyan will be more in states with well-functioning PDS.</strong> That is, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Chhattisgarh and Odisha &mdash; but not Uttar Pradesh or Bihar.</li>
<li>When daily wage earners are supposed to remain at their homes (lockdown), <strong>the only way to compensate them under MNREGA is through unemployment allowance.</strong></li>
<li><strong>Farmers</strong> are facing both lower crop prices due to a coronavirus-induced market collapse, and higher harvesting costs on account of labour shortages from the lockdown, <strong>no new benefit</strong> has been announced for them in the package.</li>
<li>Another challenge for <strong>the government will be to locate and deliver support to the migrant workers,</strong> many of whom are trekking hundreds of kilometres to their homes or lining up at shelters for a meal.</li>
<li><strong>Corporate sector and middle class people not being beneficiaries.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Way Forward</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Globally, many countries had announced stimulus packages involving 10-12% fiscal expansions. In comparison, this package is only <strong>about 0.75% of India&rsquo;s GDP,</strong> which is marginal.</li>
<li>The <strong>Government should now turn its focus towards businesses</strong> that are running out of cash and may soon default on even salaries and statutory commitments if relief is not given.</li>
<li><strong>Part II of the economic relief package</strong> should not be delayed beyond the next couple of days.</li>
</ul>',
			'postdate' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenTime) {},
			'url' => 'https://www.drishtiias.com/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/covid-19-economic-relief-package'
		],
		(int) 13 => [
			'title' => 'Eklavya Model Residential and Day Boarding Schools ',
			'catname' => 'News Analysis',
			'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>In view of prevailing sensitive health conditions affecting community health due to <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/21-days-lockdown" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Covid-19</strong></a>, the Ministry of Tribal Affairs has asked State Governments for rescheduling of holidays in<strong> Eklavya Model Residential Schools (EMRS)</strong> and<strong> Eklavya Model Day Boarding Schools (EMDBS).</strong></p>
<h3>Eklavya Model Residential Schools</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Eklavya Model Residential Schools (EMRS)</strong> started in the year 1997-98 to impart quality education to ST children in remote areas.</li>
<li>The schools focus not only on academic education but on the all-round development of the students.</li>
<li>The objective of EMRS is<strong> to provide quality middle and high level education</strong> to Scheduled Tribe (ST) students in remote areas, not only to enable them to avail of reservation in high and professional educational courses and as jobs in government and public and private sectors but also to have access to the best opportunities in education at par with the non ST population.</li>
<li>Each school has a capacity of <strong>480 students, catering to students from Class VI to XII.</strong></li>
<li>These are being set up by grants provided <strong>under Article 275(1) of the Constitution.</strong></li>
<li>Eklavya Model Residential Schools (EMRSs) are funded by the Ministry of Tribal Affairs.</li>
<li>In order to give further impetus to EMRS, it has been decided that by the <strong>year 2022, every block</strong> with <strong>more than 50% ST population</strong> and <strong>at least 20,000 tribal persons,</strong> will have an EMRS.</li>
<li>Eklavya schools are on par with Navodaya Vidyalaya and have special facilities for preserving local art and culture besides providing training in sports and skill development.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Eklavya Model Day Boarding Schools (EMDBS)</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Wherever <strong>density of ST population is higher</strong> in identified Sub-Districts (90% or more), it is proposed to set up Eklavya Model Day Boarding School (EMDBS) on an experimental basis for providing additional scope for ST Students seeking to avail school education without residential facility.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Background</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>STs, constitute 8.6% of the country&rsquo;s total population and 11.3% of the total rural population.</li>
<li>Despite the increase in literacy rates among STs from 8.53% in 1961 to 58.96% in 2011, and the fact that the Right to Education Act, 2009 makes it mandatory that all children between the ages of 6 and 14 be provided free and compulsory education, significant disparities exist in enrolment rates, drop-outs, across states, districts and blocks.</li>
<li>In the case of tribals, <strong>dropout rates are still very high &ndash;</strong> 35.6% in Classes I to V; 55% in Classes I to VIII; and 70.9% in Classes I to X in 2010-11, according to the Statistics Of School Education 2010-2011.</li>
<li>According to a 2014 UNICEF-sponsored South Asia regional study, <strong>economic and socio-cultural factors</strong> are reasons behind the education deprivation for certain groups in India, especially SCs, STs and Muslims.</li>
<li>The India Human Development Survey shows the incidence of poverty is highest among the STs (49.6%), followed by the SCs (32.3%), and then the Muslims (30.6%).</li>
</ul>',
			'postdate' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenTime) {},
			'url' => 'https://www.drishtiias.com/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/eklavya-model-residential-and-day-boarding-schools'
		],
		(int) 14 => [
			'title' => 'Year End Review 2019: Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change',
			'catname' => 'Paper 2',
			'desc' => '<h3>Important Schemes and Policies</h3>
<p><strong>Climate Change Performance Index (CCPI) 2019</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>India scored 62.93 and ranked 11<sup>th</sup> in the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/important-facts-for-prelims-3rd-january-2019" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Climate Change Performance Index (CCPI).</strong></a></li>
<li><strong>Published by:</strong> German watch, CAN International and the New Climate Institute.</li>
<li>The index evaluates and compares the climate protection performance of 56 countries and the EU.</li>
<li>In 2019 index, no country performed well enough to reach the ranking very good, meaning that no country has yet made it to one of the top three places in the rankings.</li>
<li>However, Sweden leads the ranking, followed by Morocco and Lithuania.</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1585225702_image3.png" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1585225702_image3.png" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="800" caption="false" /></a></p>
<p><strong>National Clean Air Programme (NCAP)</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/govt-launches-mission-to-fight-air-pollution" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>It was launched in January 2019.</strong></a></li>
<li>The Central government launched a five-year action plan with a tentative target of 20-30% reduction in concentrations of PM10 and PM2.5 by 2024, with 2017 as the base year.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Unlike earlier initiatives which focussed largely on the national capital region, this is a comprehensive pan-India air pollution abatement scheme for 102 cities which were identified by Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) on the basis of their ambient air quality data between 2011 and 2015.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>Fourth session of the United Nations Environment Assembly (UNEA)</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>It was held in Nairobi, Kenya.</li>
<li><strong>Theme of UNEA-4:</strong> &lsquo;Innovative Solutions for Environmental Challenges and Sustainable Consumption and Production&rsquo;.</li>
<li>Two resolutions adopted related to <strong>Single-use Plastics</strong> and <strong>Sustainable Nitrogen management.</strong></li>
<li>UNEP also released 6<sup>th</sup> edition of the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/global-environment-outlook" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Global Environment Outlook Report (GEO).</strong></a><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>It outlines the current state of the environment illustrates possible future environmental trends and analyses the effectiveness of policies.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>India Cooling Action Plan (ICAP)</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/india-cooling-action-plan" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Launched in March 2019.</strong> </a></li>
<li>Reducing cooling demand by 20-25% and refrigeration demand by 25-30% by the year 2037 are the goals of this plan.</li>
<li><a href="/loksabha-rajyasabha-discussions/india-cooling-action-plan-icap" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Cooling requirement</strong></a> is cross-sectoral and an essential part for economic growth and is required across different sectors of the economy such as residential and commercial buildings, cold-chain, refrigeration, transport and industries.</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>Bharat Standard IV to Bharat Standard VI</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The country has leapfrogged from Bharat Standard (BS) IV to <a href="/loksabha-rajyasabha-discussions/in-depth-bs-vi-emission-normshttps://www.drishtiias.com/loksabha-rajyasabha-discussions/in-depth-bs-vi-emission-norms" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Bharat Standard VI</strong></a> for vehicle emission norms and from 1st April 2020, vehicles will be BS-VI compliant.</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Conservation Programmes</strong></p>
<p><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/asiatic-lion-conservation-project" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Asiatic Lion Conservation Project</strong></a></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Was launched in February 2019. The Asiatic Lion endemic to Gir landscape of Gujarat, is one of the 21 critically endangered species identified by the Ministry for taking up recovery programmes.</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>National Protocol on Snow Leopard Population Assessment</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>With efforts towards protecting and conserving Snow Leopards, the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/first-snow-leopard-survey" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>First National Protocol on Snow Leopard Population Assessment</strong></a> in India was launched on the occasion of International Snow Leopard Day on 23rd October.</li>
</ul>
</div>
<p><strong>All India Tiger Estimation - 2018</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Results of the fourth cycle of <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/tiger-census-report" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>All India Tiger Estimation</strong></a> - 2018 were released on International Tiger Day (July 29), 2019.</li>
<li>According to this census, the count of tigers in India has risen to 2967 from 2,226 in 2014.</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>India State of Forest Report (ISFR)</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>The biennial report <a href="/summary-of-important-reports/india-state-of-forest-report-2019" target="_blank" rel="noopener">India State of Forest Report (ISFR), 2019 was released.</a></strong></li>
<li>The total forest and tree cover of the country is 80.73 million hectare which is 24.56% of the geographical area of the country. As compared to the assessment of 2017, there is an increase of 5,188 sq. km in the total forest and tree cover.</li>
<li>The top five States (UT) in terms of increase in forest cover: Karnataka&gt;Andhra Pradesh&gt;Kerala&gt;Jammu &amp; Kashmir&gt;Himachal Pradesh.</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>CAMPA Funds</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/compensatory-afforestation-fund" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Compensatory Afforestation Fund Management and Planning Authority, (CAMPA Funds) were handed over to various states.</strong> </a></li>
<li>The fund will be utilised for the Compensatory Afforestation, Catchment Area Treatment, Wildlife Management, Assisted Natural Regeneration, Forest Fire Prevention and Control Operations, Soil and Moisture Conservation Works in the forest, Improvement of Wildlife Habitat, Management of Biological Diversity and Biological Resources, Research in Forestry and Monitoring of CAMPA works etc.</li>
<li><strong>Compensatory afforestation</strong> means that every time forest land is diverted for non-forest purposes such as mining or industry, the user agency pays for planting forests over an equal area of non-forest land, or when such land is not available, twice the area of degraded forest land.</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Note:</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/world-environment-day-1" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>World Environment Day</strong> </a>is observed on the 5th of June every year for encouraging worldwide awareness and action to protect our environment.</li>
<li>Since it began in 1974, the event has grown to become a global platform for public outreach that is widely celebrated in over 100 countries.</li>
</ul>
</div>
<h3>Important Legislations</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/hazardous-and-other-wastes-management-transboundary-movement-rules-2016" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Hazardous and Other Wastes (Management &amp; Transboundary Movement)</strong></a> Rules, 2016 were amended.</li>
<li>The amendment has been done keeping into consideration the &ldquo;Ease of Doing Business&rdquo; and boosting &ldquo;Make in India&rdquo; initiative by simplifying the procedures under the Rules, while at the same time upholding the principles of sustainable development and ensuring minimal impact on the environment.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Important Conventions</h3>
<p><strong>UN Convention to Combat Desertification</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>India hosted the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/un-convention-to-combat-desertification-cop-14" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>14<sup>th</sup> Conference of Parties (COP14) to the UN Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD)</strong></a> from 2-13 September 2019 at Greater Noida.</li>
<li>This was the first time that India hosted an edition of the UNCCD COP.</li>
<li>The theme of the Conference was<strong> &lsquo;Restore land, Sustain future&rsquo;.</strong></li>
<li>India would raise its ambition of the total area that would be restored from its land degradation status, from twenty-one million hectares to twenty-six million hectares between now and 2030.</li>
<li>India has proposed to set up a <strong>global technical support institute</strong> for the member countries of the UNCCD for their capacity building and support regarding the Land Degradation Neutrality Target Setting Program.</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/climate-action-summit" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Climate Action Summit</strong></a></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>It was held in New York in September 2019.</li>
<li>It was hosted by the UN Secretary.</li>
<li>It had the key focus on raising ambition and accelerate action to implement the <a href="/to-the-points/paper3/cop24" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Paris Agreement.</strong></a></li>
<li>India will increase renewable energy capacity to beyond 175 GW (capacity as committed under the Paris Climate Agreement) by 2022, and will further take it to 450 GW.</li>
<li>The <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/international-coalition-for-disaster-resilient-infrastructure" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Global Coalition for Disaster Resilient Infrastructure</strong></a>, an international partnership that will support countries- developed and developing- to build climate and disaster-resilient infrastructure was also launched.</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>Conference of the Parties (COP 25) to the UNFCCC</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/cop-25-ends-without-concrete-outcome" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>25<sup>th</sup> United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC)</strong></a> was held under the Presidency of Chile in Madrid, Spain in December 2019.</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>Key Issues</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The summit passed the declaration calling on countries to improve their current pledges to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.</li>
<li>It also endorsed to help poor countries that are suffering the effects of climate change, although any new funds were not allocated for the purpose.</li>
<li>It called on the &ldquo;urgent need&rdquo; to cut planet-heating greenhouse gases in line with the goals of the <a href="/to-the-points/paper3/cop24" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>2015 Paris climate change accord.</strong></a></li>
<li>The Summit couldn&rsquo;t reach a final agreement on<a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/carbon-market" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong> Carbon markets</strong></a> and on the definition and composition of <a href="/to-the-points/paper3/climate-finance-1" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Climate finances.</strong></a></li>
<li>At COP25, India also called upon more countries to join the International Solar Alliance (ISA) to reduce dependence on fossil fuels to meet the growing energy requirement, even as it acknowledged the phenomenal progress made by the Alliance and the growing solar energy capabilities the world over.</li>
</ul>',
			'postdate' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenTime) {},
			'url' => 'https://www.drishtiias.com/to-the-points/Paper2/year-end-review-2019-ministry-of-environment-forest-and-climate-change'
		],
		(int) 15 => [
			'title' => 'Engaging Rural Youth',
			'catname' => 'News Editorials',
			'desc' => '<div class="border">
<p><strong>This article is based on <a href="https://www.epw.in/journal/2020/11/commentary/engaging-rural-youth-gainfully.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">&ldquo;Engaging Rural Youth Gainfully&rdquo;</a></strong> which was published in Economic and Political Weekly on 14/03/2020. It talks about the steps to be taken to reap the benefits of <a href="/to-the-points/paper1/india-s-demographic-dividend" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>demographic dividend</strong></a> emanating from rural youth In India.</p>
</div>
<p>According to the report "Youth in India 2017" (released by the Central Statistics Office), India is one of the youngest countries in the world. Moreover, the proportion of rural youth population forms the majority share in India's youth population.</p>
<p>Although agriculture and allied activities constitute the bulk of the rural economy, its dominance has been dwindling over the years. Engaging rural youth in productive agricultural activities will help India to reap the benefits of the demographic dividend.</p>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Note:</strong></p>
<p>In the conventional sense, the youth population is understood as those persons belonging to the age group of adolescence to middle age.</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The United Nations (UN) referred to them as those in the age group of 15 to 24 years.</li>
<li>The National Youth Policy (NYP) 2014 defined youth as those in the age group of 15&ndash;29 years.</li>
<li>However, the report Youth in India 2017, defined the age group of 15&ndash;34 years as the youth.</li>
</ul>
</div>
<h3>Developing Opportunities for Rural Youth</h3>
<p>In order to leverage this demographic dividend, there is a need to have a systematic approach to creating a suitable environment to develop opportunities for gainful employment of the rural youth. The approach includes three important steps:</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Development of Modern Technologies:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Although agriculture is not seen as a remunerative occupation, through advances in innovation, capacity-building, partnership and participatory approaches, better market linkages and, most importantly, by developing a synergy with other sectors of the economy, many employment and entrepreneurial opportunities can be created.</li>
<li>Besides, there exists a huge opportunity in rural areas for the growth of off-farm sector activities (For example, the dairy sector).</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Skilling of Rural Youth:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>According to NSSO data, the percentage of rural youth, who did not receive vocational training of any sort stood at 93.7% in 2017&ndash;18.</li>
<li>This skill shortage not only reduces the employability of youth but is also detrimental to technology adoption.</li>
<li>Furthermore, a lot of the rural youth lack &ldquo;soft skills,&rdquo; such as the ability to experiment with new ideas, spot business opportunities, sales and marketing skills, and so on, which could make them more productive and employable.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Creating an Ecosystem for Entrepreneurship:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The skills acquired by the youth need to be linked to their engagement in some livelihood option. This would require a responsive entrepreneurial ecosystem that identifies their talent and absorbs them in economic activity.</li>
<li>Today, the entrepreneurial ecosystem in rural areas of India is better than before. India is the third country having the largest number of start-ups. There are about 450 agri-start-ups.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Steps to be taken</h3>
<p><strong>Promoting Technologies: That have a huge potential for job creation.</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Emerging fields like agri-tech, agri-based e-commerce, information technology (IT)-linked agri-extension, seed technology, biotechnology, farm monitoring, Agri/rural fin-tech.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Horticultural, dairy production and food processing (related to these sectors) offer much more opportunities for employment generation in rural areas.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>The idea of <strong>harvesting solar energy as the third crop</strong> on the farmer&rsquo;s field is also gaining ground. This can help in increasing employability and profits for them.</li>
<li>Efforts are also needed in finding innovation/technology-based solutions to some of the basic problems relating to agriculture, namely:<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Development of smart agricultural machinery.</li>
<li>Developing apparatus to encourage precision agriculture.</li>
<li>Finding solutions to the overuse of water.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>There is a need to facilitate the<strong> integration of agricultural research, industrial research and biotechnological research</strong> so that many new products can be developed from the by-products/agri-wastes.</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>Bridging the Skill Deficit:</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The quality of training at <strong>industrial training institutes</strong> (ITIs)/polytechnics needs to be strengthened by redesigning the curriculum and upgrading them through appropriate budgetary allocations under the <strong>National Skill Development Fund.</strong></li>
<li>It is equally important to strengthen the institute&ndash;industry interface.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>In a way, the <strong>Apprentices Act of 1961</strong> helps to improve the nexus between the institute and industry as it facilitates apprenticeship training to students in different trades.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>Additionally, rural youth should be trained to acquire different soft skills.</li>
<li>Skill development initiatives need to be compatible with programmes and policies directed towards making a <a href="/loksabha-rajyasabha-discussions/in-depth-digital-india" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Digital India.</strong></a></li>
<li>The thrust on the skill development of rural youth should be capability-based, and the focus should go beyond agricultural occupations and traditional courses, such as in the areas like data analysis, paramedical fields, and so on.</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>Establishing Rural Enterprises:</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>An important aspect of enterprise creation is funding support, which is critical to ensure the success of any enterprise, especially for a start-up.</li>
<li>While many avenues (MUDRA loans) have been created in the recent past to make credit available to these firms, there is a need to diversify by making seed funding available to angel investors. In this context, provision can be made to encourage deployment of the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/national-corporate-social-responsibility-awards" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>corporate social responsibi&shy;lity</strong> </a>(CSR) funds as seed funds for these ventures.</li>
<li>The possibility to make the <strong>Krishi Vigyan Kendras</strong> (KVKs) or Common Services Centers(CSC) a hub of all the technology solutions developed by different missions, should be explored.</li>
<li><strong>Agriculture graduates</strong> from the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) system or state agricultural universities may be engaged in agri-related rural entrepreneurship.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Conclusion</h3>
<p>India has a high proportion of youth in its population, especially that of rural youth. Harnessing their potential to contribute to the country&rsquo;s growth would require the convergence of rural-centric policies like Deen Dayal Upadhyaya Grameen Kaushalya Yojana, National Rural Livelihood Mission, National Rural Employment Guarantee Act, etc.</p>
<table border="1" style="border-collapse: collapse; width: 100%;">
<tbody>
<tr>
<td style="width: 100%; border-style: dotted; border-color: #ff0000; background-color: #deedfc;">
<p><span style="color: #000080;"><em><strong>Drishti Mains Question</strong></em></span></p>
<p>Harnessing demographic dividend contributes to the country&rsquo;s growth would require rural-centric policies. Discuss.</p>
</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>',
			'postdate' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenTime) {},
			'url' => 'https://www.drishtiias.com/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/engaging-rural-youth'
		],
		(int) 16 => [
			'title' => 'MACS 4028 Wheat Variety',
			'catname' => 'News Analysis',
			'desc' => '<p>Recently, scientists from Agharkar Research Institute (ARI), Pune, have developed a <strong>biofortified durum wheat variety MACS 4028.</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>ARI Pune is an autonomous institute under the <strong>Department of Science &amp; Technology, Government of India.</strong></li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Note</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Biofortification</strong> is a process to increase the bioavailability and the concentration of nutrients in crops through both conventional plant breeding and <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/illegal-cultivation-of-bt-brinjal" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>genetic engineering.</strong></a></li>
<li><strong>Durum</strong> is a kind of hard wheat grown in arid regions that is typically ground into semolina and used to make pasta.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Durum wheat, or Triticum turgidum,</strong> is the <strong>second most cultivated species of wheat after bread wheat,</strong> which is also called common wheat or<strong> Triticum aestivum.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</div>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Biofortified durum MACS 4028 wheat variety shows <strong>high protein content of about 14.7%, better nutritional quality having zinc</strong> 40.3 ppm, and <strong>iron</strong> content of 40.3 ppm and 46.1 ppm respectively, <strong>good milling quality</strong> and overall acceptability.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>ppm stands for parts per million.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>MACS 4028, is a <strong>semi-dwarf variety,</strong> which matures in 102 days and has shown the superior and <strong>stable yielding ability</strong> of 19.3 quintals per hectare.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>It is <strong>resistant</strong> to<strong> stem rust, leaf rust, foliar aphids, root aphids, and brown wheat mite.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>The MACS 4028 variety is also included by the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/krishi-vigyan-kendra-kvk-conference-2020" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Krishi Vigyan Kendra (KVK)</strong></a> programme for United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) to alleviate malnutrition in a sustainable way and can boost the Vision 2022 <strong>&ldquo;<a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/malnutrition-in-india" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Kuposhan Mukt Bharat</a>&rdquo;,</strong> the National Nutrition Strategy. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The<a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/icar-to-set-up-farmers-innovation-fund" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong> Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR)</strong></a> has also tagged this variety under the <strong>Biofortified category</strong> during the year 2019.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>MACS 4028 has been notified by the Central Sub-Committee on Crop Standards, Notification and Release of Varieties for Agricultural Crops (CVRC) for <strong>timely sown, rainfed condition of Peninsular Zone, comprising Maharashtra and Karnataka.</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>In the peninsular zone of India (Maharashtra and Karnataka states), wheat cultivation is majorly done under rainfed and limited irrigation conditions. Under such conditions, the crop experiences moisture stress.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>Efforts for the development of high yielding, early maturing varieties with good quality and disease resistance for rainfed conditions are carried out at <strong>Agharkar Research Institute, Pune</strong> under <strong>All India coordinated Wheat and Barley improvement programme,</strong> coordinated through <strong>Indian Institute of Wheat and Barley Research, Karnal</strong> governed by the ICAR. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The MACS 4028 is an outcome of such intervention for the farmers.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>All India Coordinated Research Project on Wheat and Barley (AICRP)</strong> mandates <strong>multidisciplinary and multilocational testing of varietal, newly developed improved genotypes, crop management and crop protection technologies</strong> across the diverse ecosystems for increasing and stabilizing the wheat production.</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Wheat</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>This is the second most important cereal crop in India after rice.</li>
<li>It is the main food crop, in northand north-western part of the country.</li>
<li>Wheat is a <strong>rabi crop</strong> that requires a cool growing season and a bright sunshine at the time of ripening.</li>
<li>It requires 50 to 75 cm of annual rainfall evenly-distributed over the growing season.</li>
<li>There are <strong>two important wheat-growing zones</strong> in the country &ndash; <strong>the Ganga-Satluj plains in the north-west and black soil region of the Deccan.</strong></li>
<li>The Major wheat-producing states are <strong>Punjab, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh </strong>etc.</li>
</ul>
</div>
<p><a href="https://pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=1608064" 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/macs-4028-wheat-variety'
		],
		(int) 17 => [
			'title' => 'Kuril Islands',
			'catname' => 'News Analysis',
			'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>Recently, a 7.5 magnitude <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/seismometers-defunct-in-earthquake-prone-zones" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>earthquake</strong></a> struck in the northern Pacific and a <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/indonesia-tsunami" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>tsunami warning</strong></a> was issued for the <strong>closest shores on Russia&rsquo;s far eastern Kuril Islands.</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The earthquakes of this strength in the region have caused tsunamis in the past far from the epicenter of the earthquake.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The <strong>epicenter is the point on the Earth's surface directly above a hypocenter</strong> or focus.(The hypocenter is where an earthquake or an underground explosion originates.)</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Geographic Location of Kuril Islands</h3>
<p><a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1585212354_image2.png" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1585212354_image2.png" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="700" caption="false" /></a></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Kuril Islands are stretched from the<strong> Japanese island of Hokkaido to the southern tip of Russia's Kamchatka Peninsula</strong> separating Okhotsk Sea from the North Pacific ocean.</li>
<li>It consists of <strong>56 islands and minor rocks.</strong></li>
<li>The chain is part of the belt of geologic instability circling the Pacific and contains at least 100 volcanoes, of which 35 are still active, and many hot springs.</li>
<li>Earthquakes and tidal waves are common phenomena over these islands.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Importance of South Kuril Islands</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Natural resources:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The islands are surrounded by<strong> rich fishing grounds</strong> and are thought to have <strong>offshore reserves of oil and gas.</strong></li>
<li>Rare <strong>rhenium deposits</strong> have been found on the Kudriavy volcano on Iturup.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li><strong>Nickel-based superalloys of rhenium</strong> are used in the combustion chambers, turbine blades, and exhaust nozzles of jet engines.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Tourism</strong> is also a potential source of income, as the islands have several volcanoes and a variety of birdlife.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Strategic Importance:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Russia has deployed <strong>missile systems</strong> in the region.</li>
<li>Russia also plans a <strong>submarine project</strong> and intends to prevent any American military use of the islands.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Cultural Importance:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The Japanese people, especially conservatives in Hokkaido, are emotionally attached to the islands.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Historical Background of Kuril Islands Dispute</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Sovereignty Issue of South Kuril Islands:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The Kuril Islands dispute between <strong>Japan and Russia</strong> is over the <strong>sovereignty of South Kuril Islands.</strong></li>
<li>The South Kuril Islands comprises <strong>Etorofu island, Kunashiri island, Shikotan island and the Habomai island.</strong> These islands are<strong> claimed by Japan</strong> but <strong>occupied by Russia</strong> as successor state of the Soviet Union.</li>
<li>These islands are known as<strong> Southern Kurils by Russia</strong> whereas <strong>Japan</strong> calls them <strong>Northern Territories.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Original Inhabitants-Ainu People:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The Kurils were <strong>originally inhabited by the Ainu people,</strong> and they were later settled by the Russians and Japanese, following several waves of exploration in the <strong>17<sup>th</sup> and 18<sup>th</sup> centuries.</strong></li>
<li>The Ainu or the Aynu, also<strong> known as the Ezo</strong> in the historical Japanese texts, are an indigenous people of Japan and Russia.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Treaty of Shimoda (1855):</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>In <strong>1855,</strong> Japan and Russia concluded the <strong>Treaty of Shimoda,</strong> which gave control of the four southernmost islands to Japan and the remainder of the chain to Russia.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Treaty of Saint Petersburg (1875):</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>In the<strong> Treaty of Saint Petersburg,</strong> signed between two countries in <strong>1875,</strong> Russia ceded possession of the Kurils to Japan in exchange for uncontested control of Sakhalin Island.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Yalta Agreement (1945):</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>In <strong>1945,</strong> as part of the <strong>Yalta agreements (formalized in the 1951 Treaty of Peace with Japan),</strong> the islands were ceded to the Soviet Union, and the Japanese population was repatriated and replaced by Soviets.</li>
<li>The <strong>San Francisco Peace Treaty</strong> signed between the Allies and Japan in 1951, states that Japan must give up &ldquo;all right, title and claim to the Kuril Islands&rdquo;, <strong>but it also does not recognize the Soviet Union&rsquo;s sovereignty over them.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Japan-Soviet Joint Declaration (1956):</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The dispute over the islands has <strong>prevented the conclusion of a peace treaty to end World War II.</strong></li>
<li>In 1956, diplomatic ties were restored between Japan and Russia by <strong>Japan-Soviet Joint Declaration.</strong></li>
<li>During that time, Russia offered to give away the two islands closest to Japan. But the offer was rejected by Japan as the two islands constituted <strong>only 7% of the land</strong> in question.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Developments After 1991:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Despite a series of agreements, the dispute continues and <strong>Japan still claims historical rights to the southernmost islands</strong> and has tried repeatedly to persuade the Soviet Union and, from 1991, Russia to return those islands to Japanese sovereignty.</li>
<li>In <strong>2018,</strong> the Russian President and the Japanese Prime Minister (PM) met on the sidelines of the <a href="/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-international-institution/east-asia-summit" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>East Asia Summit</strong> </a>and decided to end the territorial dispute by Japanese PM agreeing to negotiate based on the 1956 declaration.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>This implicitly showed that Japan has given up the two islands to maintain peace with Russia.</li>
<li>However, Russia indicated that the joint declaration signed by Japan and the Soviet Union in 1956 <strong>neither mentions a basis for returning Habomai and Shikotan nor clarifies which country has sovereignty over the islands.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>Further, in <strong>2019,</strong> Japanese PM made it clear that the country is<strong> not in the favour of withdrawing control over the Islands.</strong> Japan also believes that the islands are the inherent part of the nation&rsquo;s territory. Therefore, Japan mentioned that it aims to sign the peace treaty after the territorial issue is resolved.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="https://www.thehindu.com/news/international/tsunami-warnings-after-magnitude-78-quake-strikes-near-russias-kuril-islands/article31159658.ece" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Source:TH</strong></a></p>',
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		(int) 18 => [
			'title' => 'Legacy Waste',
			'catname' => 'News Analysis',
			'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>Recently, the <a href="/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-national-institutions/national-green-tribunal-ngt" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>National Green Tribunal (NGT)</strong></a> has directed a committee to assess the amount of damage caused to the environment due to the dump sites (legacy waste) in Delhi.</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The committee comprises representatives from the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/cpcb-notifies-contaminated-sites" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Central Pollution Control Board</strong></a>, <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/neeri-indair" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>National Environmental Engineering Research Institute (NEERI)</strong></a> and IIT Delhi.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Legacy wastes are the wastes that have been collected and kept for years at some barren land or a place dedicated for Landfill (an area to dump solid waste).</li>
<li>This waste can be roughly grouped into <strong>four categories:</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Contained and/or stored waste(contained or stored waste are wastes in tanks, canisters, and stainless steel bins).</li>
<li>Buried waste.</li>
<li>Contaminated soil and groundwater</li>
<li>Contaminated building materials and structures.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Biomining method</strong> has been proposed by the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) for the effective disposal of legacy wastes.</li>
<li><strong>Environmental Impact of Legacy Waste</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Legacy wastes not only<strong> occupy large space,</strong> but also become a <strong>breeding ground</strong> for pathogens, flies, malodours and generation of leachate, which may lead to <strong>water contamination.</strong></li>
<li>They also contribute to generation of<strong> greenhouse gases</strong> and <strong>pose risk of uncontrollable fire.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Biomining</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Biomining is the process of <strong>using microorganisms (microbes)</strong> to extract metals of economic interest from rock ores or mine waste.</li>
<li>Biomining techniques may also be used to <strong>clean up sites</strong> that have been polluted with metals.</li>
<li>It is usually used for old dumped waste that remains in a <strong>partly or fully decomposed state with no segregation in existence between wet and dry waste.</strong></li>
<li>In the cost effective method of biomining, treatment is done by dividing the garbage heap at the site into suitable blocks to let the air percolate in the heap.</li>
<li>As a result, the leachate which is the water in the heap with suspended solid particles is drained off and microbes are sprayed in the heap to initiate biological decompositions.</li>
<li>The waste is turned over several times in order to devoid the waste to leachate as much as possible.</li>
<li>This biological decomposition of the waste <strong>decreases the volume of the waste by 40%.</strong></li>
</ul>
</div>
<p><a href="https://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-national/tp-newdelhi/ngt-asks-committee-to-study-damage-done-to-environment-by-dump-sites/article31158892.ece" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Source: TH</strong></a></p>',
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		],
		(int) 19 => [
			'title' => 'COVID-19 Loans by Indian Bank',
			'catname' => 'News Analysis',
			'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>Recently, <strong>Indian Bank</strong> which is a <strong>public sector lender,</strong> has announced special emergency loans for various categories of customers such as individuals, corporates, <a href="/to-the-points/paper3/micro-small-and-medium-enterprises-msme" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Medium, Small and Micro Enterprises</strong></a> (MSMEs) and <a href="/to-the-points/Paper2/self-help-groups-shgs" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>self-help groups</strong></a> (SHGs), retail borrowers and pensioners in the wake of the <strong><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/covid-19-now-pandemic-who" target="_blank" rel="noopener">pandemic</a> <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/coronavirus-disease-named-covid-19" target="_blank" rel="noopener">COVID-19.</a></strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>It is expected that these credit lines will meet the immediate liquidity requirements of businesses and other sections of the society.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Ind-Covid Emergency Credit Line:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>It will provide <strong>additional funding of up to 10% of the working capital limits</strong> (fund-based and non fund-based) with a maximum limit of ₹100 crore.</li>
<li><strong>Large corporates and medium enterprises</strong> that are in the standard category would be eligible for this loan.</li>
<li>The <strong>loans</strong> would only carry a fixed interest rate of one-year MCLR <strong>(marginal cost of funds based lending rate).</strong> All other charges are waived.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Ind-MSE Covid Emergency Loan:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>It will provide an <strong>additional funding of 10% of fund-based working capital limits</strong> subject to a maximum of ₹50 lakh to all MSMEs.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>SHG-Covid-Sahaya Loan:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Under this, each member can avail a<strong> soft loan of ₹5,000 and ₹1 lakh per SHG.</strong></li>
<li>The loan is<strong> for 36 months</strong> with a six months moratorium.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Ind-Covid Emergency Salary Loan:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>It will be given <strong>to salaried employees</strong> up to an<strong> amount equivalent to 20 times the latest monthly gross salary</strong> subject to a maximum of ₹2 lakh.</li>
<li>This is to meet urgent medical and other expenditure.</li>
<li>The loan will be given at a<strong> concessional rate of interest</strong> and all charges are waived.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Ind-Covid Emergency Pension Loan:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>It is <strong>provided up to 15 times of monthly pension</strong> subject to a maximum of ₹2 lakh, with a <strong>60 month repayment tenor.</strong></li>
<li>Interest is charged at concessional rates interest and all other charges are waived.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Indian Bank</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>It is an Indian <strong>state-owned public sector lender.</strong></li>
<li>It was established on <strong>15<sup>th</sup> August 1907</strong> as part of the <a href="/mains-practice-question/question-82" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Swadeshi movement.</strong></a></li>
<li>It is <strong>headquartered in Chennai.</strong></li>
</ul>
<p><strong>Marginal Cost of Funds based Lending Rate</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>It is the minimum interest rate, below which a bank is not permitted to lend, though RBI can give authorization for the same in exceptional cases. It depends on factors such as fixed deposit rates, source of funds and savings rate.</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>Swadeshi Movement</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>It started in <strong>1905</strong> was <strong>one of the most successful movements</strong> of the Pre-Gandhian era.</li>
<li><strong>Causes:</strong> Punjab land alienation Act of 1900, Passing of Indian university commission Act 1904, Partition of Bengal in 1905, economic exploitation, etc.</li>
<li><strong>Methods and instruments:</strong> It initially adopted <strong>passive resistance</strong> but the movement gained momentum and a more <strong>active form of resistance.</strong></li>
<li><strong>Impact:</strong> It led to significant decline in the foreign imports during 1905-1908, building of self-reliance and gave the strength to masses to disobey the British. However, it set <strong>undertones for communal disharmony and extreme nationalism.</strong></li>
</ul>
</div>
<p><a href="https://www.thehindu.com/business/indian-bank-to-give-covid-19-loans/article31166931.ece" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Source: TH</strong></a></p>',
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	(int) 0 => [
		'title' => 'Covid-19 and Lockdown',
		'catname' => 'News Editorials',
		'desc' => '<div class="border">
<p>This article is based on <strong>&ldquo;<a href="https://www.thehindu.com/opinion/editorial/a-long-road-the-hindu-editorial-on-indias-21-day-coronavirus-lockdown/article31167312.ece" target="_blank" rel="noopener">A long road: On India&rsquo;s 21-day coronavirus lockdown</a>&rdquo;</strong>, <strong>&ldquo;<a href="https://indianexpress.com/article/opinion/editorials/india-lockdown-coronavirus-impact-pm-narendra-modi-6330131/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Home &amp; nation</a>&rdquo;</strong>, <strong>&ldquo;<a href="https://www.thehindu.com/opinion/lead/devising-a-people-centric-response-to-covid-19/article31176168.ece" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Devising a people-centric response to COVID-19</a>&rdquo;</strong>, <strong>&ldquo;<a href="https://indianexpress.com/article/opinion/columns/agriculture-farmers-harvest-market-closure-6335047/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Just halfway there</a>&rdquo;</strong>, <strong>&ldquo;<a href="https://indianexpress.com/article/opinion/editorials/rbi-financial-measures-covid-19-shaktikanta-das-6335050/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Whatever it takes</a>&rdquo;</strong> &lsquo;<a href="https://indianexpress.com/article/opinion/columns/cronavirus-covid-19-lockdown-helping-hand-6333448/" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>A helping hand to states</strong></a>&rsquo;. &ldquo;<a href="https://indianexpress.com/article/opinion/columns/india-lockdown-coronavirus-threat-covid-19-spread-6335042/" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>After the lockdown</strong></a>&rdquo;. It talks about the concerns of and measures taken during the Lockdown scenario pertaining to Covid-19.</p>
</div>
<p>The Government of India has imposed an unprecedented <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/21-days-lockdown" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>21-day national lockdown</strong></a>, as part of a series of steps to reduce the transmission of the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/coronavirus-disease-named-covid-19" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Covid-19</strong></a>. The virus has now assumed the status of a pandemic, impacting almost every country across the globe.</p>
<p>Though the lockdown has been welcomed by the medical community as a necessary measure, the enforcement has left millions of people unprepared for this severe disruption, particularly farmers and workforce engaged in the informal sector. Apart from this, there are complex issues involved in confining over a billion people to their homes.</p>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Rationale of 21 Days Lockdown</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The incubation period of Covid-19 is believed to be 14 days. Thus, three weeks lockdown will allow for symptomatic cases of COVID-19 disease to emerge. Also, this should give the government sufficient time to plan a treatment response.</li>
<li>Further, the lockdown allows governments, not just to break the infection chain, but to isolate the infected from the general population and treat those who require it with varying degrees of hospitalisation.</li>
</ul>
</div>
<h3>Problems Associated with the Lockdown</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Disruption of <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/formalization-of-the-economy-is-a-form-of-coercion" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Informal Economy</a>: Lockdown due to</strong> Covid-19 will be the third shock that the informal economy faces, after demonetisation and <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/gst-compensation" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>GST</strong></a>. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The lockdown will hit the millions of daily wage earners, the self-employed and small businesses, and the rural landless poor. These vulnerable segments of the workforce face the immediate problem of a lack of income as well as hunger.</li>
<li>Moreover, the average annual days of employment provided per household under the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/sub-group-of-chief-ministers-on-coordination-between-mgnrega-and-agriculture" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>MGNREGA</strong></a> is 100. But, due to the lockdown, work under the scheme has come to a standstill everywhere.</li>
<li>This lockdown can negatively affect the growth rate of the Indian economy which is already showing a downward trend.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Lack of Essential Supplies:</strong> The lack of planning on the lockdown resulted in another bout of crowding, with people rushing out to buy essential supplies and medicines.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The people will be forced into a situation where breaking the lockdown, might seem the safer alternative to deprivation and suffering in isolation.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Farmers&rsquo; Woes:</strong> As the lockdown has curtailed the supply chain and led to the closure of markets, this has created anxiety amongst farmers as cereals, fruit and vegetables are ready for harvest across the county</li>
</ul>
<h3>Steps Taken by the Government</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The government has announced a <strong>₹1,70,000-crore relief package (around 0.8% of GDP) &mdash; Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Yojana (PMGKY),</strong> as a first step towards alleviating the distress caused to vulnerable sections of the population by the 21-day lockdown. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Apart from this, there are several <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/covid-19-economic-relief-package" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>other relief measures taken by the government.</strong></a></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Reserve Bank of India (RBI)</strong> announced a <strong>slew of measures to supplement government efforts</strong> to address the economic upheaval caused by the coronavirus.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The <strong>benchmark repo rate has been cut by 75 basis points to 4.4%,</strong> from 5.15% earlier, this will lower the cost of borrowing.</li>
<li>The <strong>cash reserve ratio has been reduced by 100 basis points to 3%</strong>, this will ensure ample liquidity in the market. The liquidity availed through this route will have to be deployed in corporate bonds, commercial papers, and debentures.</li>
<li>RBI has also <strong>provided a moratorium on instalments for three months</strong> on all term loans of retail and corporate borrowers.</li>
<li>The three-month moratorium on instalments of all term loans is another welcome step as it will provide relief to all retail and corporate borrowers who are finding it difficult to service their loans.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>The Centre has also advised state governments to <strong>transfer funds to construction workers</strong> from the cess fund collected by the labour welfare boards.</li>
<li>The Finance Ministry has also announced that the <strong>threshold for taking companies through the insolvency and bankruptcy proceedings has been increased</strong> from Rs 1 lakh to Rs 1 crore.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>This will prevent creditors from taking small and medium-sized companies, who may be facing temporary cash flow management issues due to the lockdown, and hence are unable to meet their obligations, through the <a href="/loksabha-rajyasabha-discussions/in-depth-insolvency-and-bankruptcy-code-act" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code process.</strong></a></li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Way Forward</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Our governance model provides for decision-making at the Union level. But <strong>the burden of policy execution falls upon states,</strong> as the Healthcare, sanitation, agriculture and public utilities are administered by state governments.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Thus, <strong>fiscal federalism, decentralised governance and flexibility to the States</strong> to meet their particular needs and requirements should be a part of the fight against the virus, including coping with the lockdown and the economic recovery to follow.</li>
<li>The Union government must offer support to state governments to ensure that farmers receive a fair price and can move their products, especially perishables, to markets.</li>
<li>There is a need for the realisation that the much-neglected <strong>panchayat and local officials are key nodes</strong> in keeping track of possible cases and the creation of quarantining infrastructure.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>The success of the lockdown strategy is premised on an unprecedentedly vigorous building up of <strong>health infrastructure to fight the pandemic.</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The commitment by the Centre government to infuse an extra Rs 15,000 crore in this public healthcare is a step in the right direction.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>In order to ensure effective implementation of the lockdown, the essentials must be delivered virtually at the doorstep.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>The Public Distribution System (PDS) and essential commodities delivery by e-commerce companies can be leveraged</strong> in this regard.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>The <strong>expansion of the scope and size of cash transfers</strong> and more targeted interventions for stressed sectors, especially the unorganised/informal parts of the economy, should be considered.</li>
</ul>
<p>India needs almost a warlike mobilisation, to make sure we have enough <strong>testing, tracking, frontline workers, logistics and equipment</strong> in place to make sure that the duration of a lockdown is minimised or a repeat is not necessary. The creation of this kind of infrastructure will pay huge dividends even in non-pandemic times.</p>
<table border="1" style="border-collapse: collapse; width: 100%;">
<tbody>
<tr>
<td style="width: 100%; border-style: dotted; border-color: #ff0000; background-color: #ddeef0;">
<p><span style="color: #000080;"><em><strong>Drishti Mains Question</strong></em></span></p>
<p>Discuss the roles and responsibilities of various stakeholders in India, during the lockdown scenario emanating from Covid-19.</p>
</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>',
		'postdate' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenTime) {},
		'url' => 'https://www.drishtiias.com/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/covid-19-and-lockdown'
	],
	(int) 1 => [
		'title' => 'Tribal Lockdown Rituals',
		'catname' => 'News Analysis',
		'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>Tribes in Arunachal Pradesh have revived indigenous lockdown rituals to contain the spread of <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/coronavirus-disease-named-covid-19" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>COVID-19.</strong></a></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The State of Arunachal Pradesh is geographically closest to<strong> China&rsquo;s Hubei province</strong> where the COVID-19 outbreak began.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Rituals by Different Tribes</h3>
<p><strong>Galos Tribe</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/galo-community" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Galos</strong></a>, which are one of the 26 major tribes of Arunachal Pradesh that dominate West Siang district practised the <strong>Arr-Rinam ritual.</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The Galo community has been recognized as a <strong>Scheduled Tribe</strong> in the Amendment to the Constitution (ST), Order, 1950, Part-XVIII.</li>
<li><strong>Mopin</strong> is the main festival in Galos which is celebrated for the prosperity of the villages. The Galos perform <strong>Popir dance.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Arr-Rinam</strong> is the Galo equivalent of <strong>lockdown</strong> imposed by consensus for 48 hours whenever an epidemic strikes.</li>
<li>The Arr-Rinam follows the <strong>Ali-Ternam</strong> (the word Ali means epidemic and Ternam means forestall) ritual<strong> to ward off an epidemic.</strong></li>
<li>These rituals were last performed almost four decades ago when a water-borne disease had affected many members of the community.</li>
<li>However, these rituals have been performed periodically for <strong>livestock, primarily the semi-wild animal mithun, that are prone to contagious diseases.</strong></li>
<li>This is for the <strong>first time in 30-40 years</strong> that the rituals were performed for the <strong>safety of humans.</strong></li>
<li>The <strong>Bos or deputy priests</strong> performed the Ali-Ternam under the guidance of a <strong>Nyibo (shaman).</strong></li>
<li>The ritual <strong>ended with the community leaders sealing five major entry points of the district.</strong></li>
</ul>
<p><strong>Adi Tribe</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The Adi community also performed a similar ritual called the <strong>motor or pator system</strong> in the Adi (tribe) dialect.</li>
<li>This is a customary <strong>self-restriction,</strong> where the locals lock down several villages by <strong>erecting barricades</strong> to prevent the entry of outsiders. No person is allowed to enter or leave the villages.</li>
<li>They believe that this ritual lets shamans with legendary powers to locate wild herbs to combat an epidemic.</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Note:</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The Adi tribe of Arunachal Pradesh is believed to have come from southern China in the 16<sup>th</sup> century.</li>
<li>They are the <strong>Tibeto-Burman language</strong> speaking population..</li>
<li>They reside in the far north inhabiting<strong> East Siang and Lower Dibang Valley districts</strong> of Arunachal Pradesh.</li>
<li>The Adis are experts at <strong>making cane and bamboo items.</strong></li>
<li><strong>Solung</strong> (harvesting festival where animal sacrifices and rituals are performed) and <strong>Aran</strong> ( a hunting festival where all the male members of the family go for hunting) are two major festivals of the Adi tribes.</li>
</ul>
</div>
<p><strong>Nyishi Tribe</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>In districts such as Papum Pare and East Kameng, the dominant Nyishi community observed <strong>Arrue</strong> involving <strong>self-quarantine.</strong></li>
<li>Nyishi Tribes also called<strong> Bangni</strong> are the tribal people of eastern Bhutan and Arunachal Pradesh (formerly North East Frontier Agency).</li>
<li>Nyishi is a <strong>Scheduled Tribe.</strong> It is the <strong>single largest tribe of Arunachal Pradesh.</strong></li>
<li>They speak the <strong>Tibeto-Burman language of the Sino-Tibetan family.</strong></li>
<li>The Nyishi support themselves with <strong>slash-and-burn agriculture and with hunting and fishing.</strong></li>
<li>They live together in a longhouse without partitions but with a separate fireplace for each conjugal family.</li>
<li>Aside from a patrilineal household there is<strong> no formal social organization or village government.</strong></li>
<li>Their religion involves <strong>belief in spirits associated with nature.</strong></li>
</ul>
<p><a href="https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/other-states/arunachals-tribes-revive-indigenous-lockdown-rituals/article31186665.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/tribal-lockdown-rituals'
	],
	(int) 2 => [
		'title' => 'RBI’s COVID-19 Economic Relief Package',
		'catname' => 'News Analysis',
		'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>After the Government&rsquo;s announcement of <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/covid-19-economic-relief-package" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Pradhan Mantri Gareeb Kalyan Yojana</strong></a>, the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/repo-rate-unchanged-1" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Reserve Bank of India&rsquo;s Monetary Policy Committee (MPC)</strong></a> has come out with its own measures to help deal with economic fall out of <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/coronavirus-disease-named-covid-19" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>COVID-19 pandemic.</strong> </a></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>This was the first time that the MPC met outside its bi-monthly meeting calendar.</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Economic Impact of the Pandemic</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>According to the <a href="/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-international-institution/international-monetary-fund-imf" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>International Monetary Fund (IMF)</strong></a> chief Kristalina Georgieva, the <strong>world has entered a recession</strong> that will be worse than the one in 2009, following the global financial crisis.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Recession implies significant decline in general economic activity.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Moody's Investor Service (a rating agency) has reduced its GDP growth forecast for India to 2.5% in 2020</strong> - a sharp drop from an earlier projection of 5.3%, due to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and the resultant lockdown.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>At the low growth rate of 2.5% in 2020, India may see a sharp fall in incomes, further weighing on domestic demand and the pace of recovery in 2021.</li>
<li>The ongoing 21-day lockdown in India has brought business activity in most sectors of the economy to a halt and resulted in thousands of job losses.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>The ratings agency expects the country's economy to recover in <strong>2021,</strong> estimating a <strong>growth rate of 5.8%,</strong> but warned that uncertainty regarding the virus&rsquo;s spread and containment makes it difficult to fully assess the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/the-economic-impact-of-coronavirus" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>economic toll</strong></a> of the crisis. <strong>India grew at 5% in 2019.</strong></li>
<li>The <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/virtual-g20-leaders-summit" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>G20 countries</strong></a> are likely to see an overall contraction of GDP by 0.5%. G20 GDP growth rate, which was 2.6% in 2019, is likely to recover to 3.2% in 2021.</li>
<li>The U.S. economy would contract by 2% in 2020, while the Euro area would see a 2.2% contraction. China's economic growth rate is expected to slow to 3.3%, although it is expected to recover to 6% in 2021.</li>
</ul>
</div>
<h3>RBI&rsquo;s Measures</h3>
<p><a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1585386342_image1.jpg" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1585386342_image1.jpg" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" caption="false" width="615" height="518" /></a></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Cut in Repo Rate</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The repo rate has been cut by 75 basis points (bps) from 5.15% to 4.40%.</li>
<li>Repo Rate is the rate at which a country&rsquo;s central bank (RBI) lends money to commercial banks. Ideally, a low repo rate should translate into low-cost loans for general masses.</li>
<li>The rates have been cut to <strong>encourage banks to lend more</strong> and to revive growth.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Cut in Reverse Repo Rate</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The ratio has been cut by 90 bps to 4%.</li>
<li>Reverse repo rate is the rate at which the central bank of a country (RBI) borrows money from commercial banks within the country.</li>
<li>The higher reduction in the reverse repo rate was aimed at <strong>prompting banks to lend more rather than keeping their excess liquidity with the RBI.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Macroeconomic Indicators</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The MPC refrained from giving growth and inflation projections, given the uncertainty in the situation.</li>
<li>Growth outlook will depend on the <strong>intensity, speed, and duration</strong> of the pandemic. This clearly highlights downside risks to growth from a prolonged lockdown.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Moratorium on Repayments of Loans</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>RBI has also allowed banks to <strong>defer payment of Equated Monthly Installments (EMIs)</strong> on home, car, personal loans as well as <strong>credit card dues for three months till May 31.</strong></li>
<li>The RBI also allowed lending institutions, banks to <strong>defer interest on working capital repayments by 3 months &mdash;</strong> a move aimed at addressing the distress among firms as production is down.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>A working capital loan is a loan that is taken to finance a company&rsquo;s everyday operations.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>A <strong>moratorium</strong> is not a loan waiver and does not offer any discount on interest payout. But it provides stressed customers <strong>extra time to repay</strong> without their accounts being labelled <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/lessons-from-npa-crisis" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>non-performing assets (NPA)</strong> </a>or their credit score being affected - a major worry for small and medium businesses.</li>
<li><strong>Impact on Banks:</strong> For banks and lending institutions, this will affect their cash flows as they may not be getting repayments for three months. But the RBI has <strong>reduced their cash reserve ratio (CRR) requirements, providing them additional liquidity.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Liquidity Infusion of Rs. 3.74 lakh crore - 3.4% of GDP</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Through measures that pertain to <strong>Targeted Long-Term Repo Operations (TLTRO)</strong> of up to ₹1 trillion, a 100-bps cut in Cash Reserve Ratio (CRR) and easier borrowing requirements under the Marginal Standing Facility (MSF) window.</li>
<li>TLTRO will provide financing to credit institutions.</li>
<li><strong>CRR</strong> is the amount of money banks need to set aside with RBI as a buffer and do not earn any interest on it. CRR has been <strong>cut to 3% from 4%.</strong></li>
<li>Under the <strong>Marginal Standing Facility (MSF)</strong> window, banks can borrow funds from the RBI by pledging government securities within the limits of Statutory Liquidity Ratio (SLR). The RBI has increased accommodation under the marginal standing facility from 2%of SLR to 3%.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Way Forward</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>There will be more to do as the crisis evolves; governments and regulators are reacting to events, as opposed to being proactive, simply because this is a kind of crisis that they have not dealt with before.</li>
<li>The priority is to undertake strong and purposeful action in order to minimise the adverse macroeconomic impact of the pandemic.</li>
</ul>',
		'postdate' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenTime) {},
		'url' => 'https://www.drishtiias.com/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/rbi-s-covid-19-economic-relief-package'
	],
	(int) 3 => [
		'title' => 'Electronic Platform to Fight COVID-19',
		'catname' => 'News Analysis',
		'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Recently, <strong>India has decided to set up an electronic platform</strong> to help member countries of the <a href="/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-international-institution/south-asian-association-for-regional-cooperation-saarc" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC)</strong></a> fight the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/covid-19-now-pandemic-who" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>COVID-19</strong></a> pandemic.</li>
<li>The decision has been conveyed during <strong>a virtual conference of health professionals of eight countries in the region.</strong></li>
</ul>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The virtual conferencing of the health workers of the SAARC Nation was part of <strong>the two proposals made by Indian Prime Minister during the recently held virtual meeting of SAARC.</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The <strong>other proposal was to set up <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/video-conference-of-saarc-leaders-on-covid-19" target="_blank" rel="noopener">SAARC COVID-19 Emergency Fund.</a></strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>The e-Platform will enable the SAARC nations to <strong>share and exchange information, knowledge, expertise and best practices</strong> for jointly combating the Coronavirus epidemic.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Objectives</strong> of the e-Platform<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Training of emergency personnel</li>
<li>Disease surveillance</li>
<li>Joint research</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>Currently the platform is in the construction stage.</li>
<li>Meanwhile India suggested to set up a Whatsapp or email group to help facilitate exchange of information among the SAARC countries till the platform became fully operational</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>During the conference all the <strong>countries highlighted their specific vulnerabilities,</strong> capacities, <strong>the best practices, gaps in resources and logistics,</strong> private sector participation as well as levels of preparedness.</li>
<li><strong>Community engagement and participation</strong> was identified as an important element in any anti-Covid19 strategy.</li>
<li><strong>Fight Corona IDEAthon</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Recently, a <strong>2-day online IDEAthon</strong> has been organized to search for accessible and affordable technological solutions that can contain the rapid spread of infection, ease the mounting pressure and ensure a quick return to normalcy.</li>
<li>The initiative was<strong> jointly organised by MHRD Innovation Cell, AICTE, MeitY Startup Hub, InnovatioCuris and other institutions of global and national prominence.</strong></li>
<li><strong>The focus area of the IDEAthon was</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>designing reusable/washable masks</li>
<li>system to disinfect currency notes/coins</li>
<li>a non-invasive diagnostic kit</li>
<li>Storage Kits to collect test samples from homes</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Technology Diplomacy by India in SAARC Region</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>India launched the <a href="/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-national-institutions/indian-space-research-organisation-isro" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>GSAT-9, also dubbed the South Asia Satellite</strong></a>, aiming to provide space-enabled services to other South Asian countries.</li>
<li>India has offered member countries of the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) to join its advanced navigational satellite programme&mdash;GPS-Aided Geo Augmented Navigation (GAGAN).</li>
<li>Indian Regional Navigation Satellite System (IRNSS) has potential to be useful for the SAARC countries which are dependent on foreign systems.</li>
</ul>
</div>
<p><a href="https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/india-to-set-up-electronic-platform-for-saarc-to-fight-covid-19/article31178915.ece" target="_blank" rel="noopener">SOURCE : TH</a></p>',
		'postdate' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenTime) {},
		'url' => 'https://www.drishtiias.com/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/electronic-platform-to-fight-covid-19'
	],
	(int) 4 => [
		'title' => 'Operation Namaste: Indian Army',
		'catname' => 'News Analysis',
		'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>The <strong>Indian Army</strong> has code-named its <strong>anti-<a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/coronavirus-disease-named-covid-19" target="_blank" rel="noopener">COVID-19</a></strong> <strong>campaign</strong> as <strong>Operation Namaste</strong> to help the government in its fight against the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/covid-19-now-pandemic-who" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>pandemic</strong></a>.</p>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Soldiers are advised to follow the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/21-days-lockdown" target="_blank" rel="noopener">lockdown</a>,</strong> wherever they do not have any operational role, and stay fit. They are assured that their families will be well taken care of.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Leave extension</strong> of those on leave as well as<strong> curtailment of leave</strong> to bare minimum have been imposed.</li>
<li><strong>Segregation facilities</strong> have been set up to observe troops already back from leave from various states.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>So far <strong>six quarantine facilities</strong> at Manesar, Jaisalmer, Jodhpur, Chennai, Hindan and Mumbai have been established where 1,463 people evacuated from coronavirus-affected countries have been accommodated.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The forces are setting up more such facilities at Kolkata, Visakhapatnam, Kochi, Dundigal, Bengaluru, Kanpur, Jaisalmer, Jorhat and Gorakhpur which can be ready within 72 hours, if needed.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>28 Armed Forces hospitals have been earmarked as COVID hospitals.</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>These hospitals will include armed forces patients as well as civilian patients transferred from state health authorities.</li>
<li>Five hospitals from the Army, Navy and the Air Force are conducting coronavirus tests using the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/antibody-kits-for-covid-19" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>RT-PCR methodology</strong></a> and more hospitals will be equipped soon with the resources.</li>
<li>62 Cantonment Boards have been instructed to identify beds in hospitals and health centres and guesthouses for any eventuality.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Contributions by Other Forces</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Recently, <a href="/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-national-institutions/defence-research-and-development-organisation-drdo" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Defence Research and Development Organisation</strong></a> <strong>(DRDO) also came forward</strong> to help by <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/drdo-develops-ventilators" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>developing ventilators</strong></a> and providing other medical equipment.</li>
<li><strong>Indian Navy</strong> also contributed by delivering 60,000 face masks ordered by <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/centre-persists-with-toothless-pharma-codes" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Indian Medical Association</strong></a>, <strong>Goa</strong> which were stuck in Delhi due to the lockdown.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Ilyushin 38 SD</strong> departed <strong>INS Hansa</strong> for Palam Airport, New Delhi and returned on the same day with the masks.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Ilyushin 38 Sea Dragon</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Ilyushin 38 Sea Dragon (IL 38 SD) <strong>Long Range Maritime Reconnaissance</strong> (LRMR) aircrafts are currently in service with the <strong>Russian Navy and the Indian Navy.</strong></li>
<li>These are<strong> maritime patrol</strong> and <strong>anti-submarine warfare</strong> (ASW) aircrafts designed by the Russia-based Ilyushin Aviation Complex.</li>
<li>In India, these are <strong>based at Goa</strong> and can be deployed in surveillance, search and rescue, maritime reconnaissance and anti-submarine warfare operations.</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>INS Hansa</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>INS Hansa is an <strong>Indian naval air station</strong> located near <strong>Dabolim in Goa.</strong></li>
<li>It was commissioned in <strong>September 1961.</strong></li>
<li>It serves as the <strong>Indian Navy's one of the largest air bases</strong> and has grown to become a full-fledged airfield that handles both domestic as well as international flights round the clock.</li>
</ul>
</div>
<p><a href="https://indianexpress.com/article/coronavirus/28-armed-forces-hospitals-to-treat-covid-19-patients-11-hospitals-for-test-facility-6335232/" 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/operation-namaste-indian-army'
	],
	(int) 5 => [
		'title' => 'COVID-19 and ‘Force Majeure’',
		'catname' => 'News Analysis',
		'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>In view of the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/covid-19-and-india-1" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>COVID-19 pandemic</strong></a>, Indian Railways has decided that the period from 22.03.2020 to 14.04.2020 shall be treated under<strong> &ldquo;Force Majeure&rdquo;.</strong></li>
</ul>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>A <strong>Force Majeure (FM)</strong> means extraordinary events or circumstances beyond human control such as an event described as an Act of God (like a natural calamity).</li>
<li>During this period no <strong>demurrage, wharfage, stacking, stabling, detention and ground usage charge shall be leviable.</strong></li>
<li>Zonal Railways have been advised to coordinate with State Government authorities <strong>to ensure logistics support</strong> in order <strong>to keep up the essential goods transportation.</strong></li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Force Majeure</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Force majeure refers to a <strong>clause that is included in contracts</strong> to remove liability for natural and unavoidable catastrophes that interrupt the expected course of events and restrict participants from fulfilling obligations.</li>
<li>Force majeure clauses <strong>excuse companies (or other parties to a contract) from meeting certain obligations</strong> when events beyond their control interfere with their ability to hold up their end of the bargain.</li>
<li>If invoked, the clauses can relieve companies from commitments, temporarily or permanently, without being in breach of their agreement.</li>
</ul>
</div>
<p><a href="https://pib.gov.in/PressReleseDetail.aspx?PRID=1608603" 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/covid-19-and-force-majeure'
	],
	(int) 6 => [
		'title' => 'Challenges In Climate Change Negotiations',
		'catname' => 'News Editorials',
		'desc' => '<div class="border">
<p>This article is based on <a href="https://www.epw.in/journal/2020/1/commentary/vaunting-rhetoric-versus-grim-realities.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>&ldquo;Vaunting Rhetoric versus Grim Realities&rdquo;</strong></a> which was published in Economic and Political Weekly on 04/01/2020. It talks about the challenges in climate change negotiations.</p>
</div>
<p>The <strong><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/25th-conference-of-parties-madrid-talks" target="_blank" rel="noopener">25<sup>th</sup> Conference of Parties</a></strong> (COP25) of the <a href="/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-international-institution/unfccc" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC)</strong></a>, which was concluded at Madrid in December 2019. Instead of being hailed as a milestone, almost universally, it has been held to be a failure.</p>
<p>The reason for the failure of these negotiations can be attributed to a <strong>lack of consensus between developed and developing countries</strong> on various issues.</p>
<p>Moreover, the irony lies in the fact that it was developed countries who coined the term like climate emergency and it is the only who opposes any legally binding climate actions.</p>
<h3>Tussle Between Developed and Developing Countries.</h3>
<p><strong>Inequality:</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The UNFCCC in its explicit articulation of<strong> the principles of equity and common but differentiated responsibilities (CBDR)</strong> as the basis for climate action, calls on the developed countries to take the lead in mitigating climate change.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>However, developed countries are of the view that with economic growth witnessed by developing nations, the principle of CBDR has somehow become outdated.</li>
<li>The developing countries argue that, though economic growth has taken place, global inequality remains quite high. Thus, acknowledging the continuing validity of the differentiation of developed and developing countries is, therefore, essential to making sense of the global politics of climate change.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Note:</strong>
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>According to the <strong>Global Wealth Report 2019</strong> ( released by the Credit Suisse Research Institute) shows that 57% of global wealth is concentrated in Europe and North America alone.</li>
<li>The per adult distribution of wealth is even more skewed, with North America having 5.9 times the global average.</li>
<li>Europe has 2.2 times the world average, while all other nations in the world are below this global average.</li>
<li>India&rsquo;s wealth per adult is only one-fifth of the global average figure.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</div>
<p><strong>Unfulfilled Commitments:</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Developed countries agreed in the Paris Agreement to fulfil their pre-2020 commitments (part of the second phase of the Kyoto Protocol from 2013 to 2020) before the start of the implementation of the Paris Agreement in 2020.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>However, the issue of what has been done so far, especially by developed countries, is one of the foremost challenges faced in climate change negotiations.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>The <strong>compilation and synthesis (C&amp;S) report on the Biennial Reports of the developed countries and their National Greenhouse Gas Inventories</strong> showed that, by 2017, they had reduced their annual emissions only by some 13% below the 1990 levels against 25% to 40% reduction by 2020 (that is required of these countries, according to the Fourth Assessment Report (AR4) of the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/special-report-on-climate-change-ipcc" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change)</strong></a>.</li>
<li>In the matter of finance for climate action, the <strong>Copenhagen pledge</strong> by the developed countries of mobilising $100 billion annually by 2020 is nowhere near being kept.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The total financial support that has been mobilised by 2016, amounted to $37.5 million only.</li>
<li>Further, almost 80% of this &ldquo;assistance&rdquo; to developing countries is mitigation-linked with only 15% for adaptation, while the major part of what has been disbursed is in the form of loans rather than grants.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>Sidelining the UNFCCC</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>There has been a continuing attempt by the developed countries to set aside the Convention in practice and push all considerations into the framework of the Paris Agreement.</li>
<li>Most developing countries, however, have increasingly become aware of this and have insisted on keeping the overarching role and significance of the Convention very much in place.</li>
<li>This is particularly important since the only way to maintain pressure on the US is through the Convention and the processes under it, as it is set to withdraw from the Paris Agreement by 2020.</li>
<li>Also, developing countries want clarity on the extent to which developed countries will be able to absorb their pre-2020 commitments into their nationally determined contributions (NDCs) under the Paris Agreement,</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>Article 6 of the Paris Deal</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Article 6 of the Paris Agreement, which refers to carbon trading, has been not finalised yet.</li>
<li>Developed countries insist on the adoption of this article, as it places no bar on countries upscaling their efforts at a drastic reduction in emissions through independent domestic action.</li>
<li>China and India, have taken a wide range of initiatives in mitigation, without the assistance of carbon trading. However, other developing countries fear that the article may allow the developed countries to restrict advanced technology to developing countries.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Conclusion</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Till now there is no planet other than earth, where human civilization can thrive. Therefore, the challenge of climate change should only be met through global collective action based on equity, driven by a clear commitment to multilateralism by all nations.</li>
<li>In this context, the developing countries need to persist with the strategy of prioritising sustainable development while using multilateral fora for maintaining pressure on the developed countries to take the lead in climate action.</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: #f8fae6;">
<p><span style="color: #000080;"><em><strong>Drishti Mains Question</strong></em></span></p>
<p>Discuss the challenges faced in the climate change negotiations and also suggest some measures to promote collective global action.</p>
</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>',
		'postdate' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenTime) {},
		'url' => 'https://www.drishtiias.com/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/challenges-in-climate-change-negotiations'
	],
	(int) 7 => [
		'title' => 'DRDO Develops Ventilators',
		'catname' => 'News Analysis',
		'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>Recently, the <a href="/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-national-institutions/defence-research-and-development-organisation-drdo" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Defence Research and Development Organisation</strong></a> (DRDO) has developed a ventilator and plans to produce 5,000 of them per month to treat <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/coronavirus-disease-named-covid-19" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>COVID-19</strong></a> patients.</p>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>DRDO had developed a ventilator along with the <strong>Society for Biomedical Technology</strong> (SBMT) and now the technology has been transferred to an industry in Mysuru.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The industry is producing the secondary version of a ventilator initially developed by DRDO.</li>
<li>Currently, it has a capacity to manufacture 5,000 ventilators per month and this could be scaled up to 10,000 per month.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Other contributions by DRDO:</strong>
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>DRDO laboratories have <strong>manufactured 20,000 litres of sanitiser</strong> and supplied to various organisations like Delhi police.</li>
<li>It has <strong>developed N-99 and 3-layered masks</strong> and <strong>supplied</strong> 10,000 masks to Delhi police personnel.</li>
<li>It is <strong>tying up with some private companies</strong> to make <strong>personal protection equipment</strong> such as body suits and also ventilators.</li>
<li>It is working on <strong>providing ready-to-eat meals</strong> for the government and health workers through the Defence Food Research Laboratory, Mysore which already supplies them to the armed forces.</li>
<li>The<strong> Ordnance Factory Board</strong> (OFB) has also increased the production of sanitisers, masks and bodysuits.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Defence Research and Development Organisation</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>It works under the<strong> administrative control</strong> of the<strong> Ministry of Defence.</strong></li>
<li>It&rsquo;s <strong>objective</strong> is to establish a world class science and technology base for India and provide Indian Defence Services decisive edge by equipping them with internationally competitive systems and solutions.</li>
<li>It was <strong>established in 1958</strong> after <strong>combining</strong> Technical Development Establishment (TDEs) of the Indian Army and the Directorate of Technical Development &amp; Production (DTDP) with the Defence Science Organisation (DSO).</li>
<li><strong>Mission:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Design, develop and lead to production state-of-the-art sensors, weapon systems, platforms and allied equipment for Indian Defence Services.</li>
<li>Provide technological solutions to the services to optimise combat effectiveness and to promote well-being of the troops.</li>
<li>Develop infrastructure and committed quality manpower and build strong indigenous technology base.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>Society for Biomedical Technology</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>It is an <strong>inter-ministerial initiative of the Government of India</strong> established to <strong>promote healthcare</strong> by providing indigenous solutions in the field of medical equipment and devices.</li>
<li>It was established under the<strong> Department of Defence Research and Development</strong> (DRDO) in collaboration with the Ministry of Science and Technology, Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment and Ministry of Health &amp; Family Welfare.</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>Ordnance Factory Board</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The OFB which includes 41 Ordnance Factories is headquartered at <strong>Kolkata.</strong></li>
<li>Indian Ordnance Factories is the <strong>oldest and largest industrial setup</strong> which functions under the <strong>Department of Defence Production of the Ministry of Defence.</strong></li>
<li>The ordnance factories form an <strong>integrated base for indigenous production of defence hardware and equipment</strong>, with the <strong>primary objective of self reliance</strong> in equipping the armed forces with state of the art battlefield equipment.</li>
</ul>
</div>
<p><a href="https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/drdo-develops-ventilators-to-produce-5000-per-month-with-industry/article31176225.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/drdo-develops-ventilators'
	],
	(int) 8 => [
		'title' => 'Virtual G20 Leaders’ Summit',
		'catname' => 'News Analysis',
		'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>Recently, an <strong>extraordinary Virtual <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> Leaders&rsquo; Summit</strong> has been convened to discuss the challenges posed by the outbreak of the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/coronavirus-disease-named-covid-19" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>COVID-19</strong></a> <strong><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/covid-19-now-pandemic-who" target="_blank" rel="noopener">pandemic</a></strong> and to forge a global coordinated response.</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The <strong>video-conference of leaders</strong> of the world&rsquo;s top twenty economies was <strong>hosted by Saudi Arabia&rsquo;s King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud.</strong></li>
</ul>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Major Takeaways:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The G20 countries have voluntarily committed to inject <strong>more than $5 trillion</strong> into the global economy and contribute to 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> (WHO) led<strong> COVID-19 solidarity response fund.</strong></li>
<li>A <strong>joint statement</strong> has been issued which calls for a transparent, robust, coordinated, large-scale and science-based global response in the spirit of solidarity to come over the interconnectedness and vulnerabilities of the countries highlighted by the pandemic.</li>
<li>The member countries have <strong>agreed to share</strong> timely and transparent information, exchange epidemiological and clinical data, share materials necessary for research and development and strengthen health systems globally by supporting the full implementation of the WHO International Health Regulations.</li>
<li>The leaders agreed to have more interactions before the <strong>Riyadh Summit</strong> which will take place in <strong>November 2020.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Criticisms:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>WHO was criticised</strong> for failing to alert the world quickly enough of the potential threat from the pandemic, even after it had been informed of its spread in Wuhan by China in December 2019.</li>
<li>The <strong>US has criticised China</strong> for not having been transparent and sharing information about the virus.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Difference of opinion on lockdown:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>There have been differences among G-20 countries on lockdowns in order to control the pandemic spread through social distancing.</li>
<li>The<strong> US wants to lift the lockdown</strong> as it is impacting the economy.</li>
<li>The <strong>President of Brazil</strong> has called state-imposed lockdowns a <strong>crime.</strong></li>
<li><strong>India</strong> has imposed a <strong>stringent <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/21-days-lockdown" target="_blank" rel="noopener">21-day lockdown</a></strong> across the country.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Suggestions:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>In the effort to control the pandemic, most countries have acted individually but the <strong>need for a more coordinated effort</strong> was stressed upon by the members.</li>
<li>India emphasised on the <strong>need to redefine conversations on globalisation </strong>to<strong> include social and humanitarian issues</strong> like terrorism, climate change and pandemics along with financial and economic discussions.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>G20</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>It is an<strong> informal group of 19 countries</strong> and the<strong><a href="/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-international-institution/european-union" target="_blank" rel="noopener"> European Union</a> (EU),</strong> with representatives of the <a href="/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-international-institution/international-monetary-fund-imf" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>International Monetary Fund</strong> </a>and the <a href="/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-international-institution/world-bank-group" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>World Bank.</strong></a></li>
<li>The membership comprises a mix of the world&rsquo;s largest advanced and emerging economies, representing about two-thirds of the world&rsquo;s population, 85% of global gross domestic product, 80% of global investment and over 75% of global trade.</li>
<li>The<strong> work of G20 is divided into two tracks:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The<strong> Finance track</strong> comprises all meetings with G20 finance ministers and central bank governors and their deputies. Meeting several times throughout the year they focus on monetary and fiscal issues, financial regulations, etc.</li>
<li>The <strong>Sherpa track</strong> focuses on broader issues such as political engagement, anti-corruption, development, energy, etc.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>G20 Members</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The members of the G20 are Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Canada, China, France, Germany, India, Indonesia, Italy, Japan, Republic of Korea, Mexico, Russia, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, Turkey, the United Kingdom, the United States and the European Union.</li>
<li><strong>Spain</strong> as a<strong> permanent, non-member invitee,</strong> also attends leader summits.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Structure and Functioning of G20</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The G20 <strong>Presidency rotates annually</strong> according to a system that ensures a regional balance over time.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>For the selection of presidency, the 19 countries are divided into 5 groups, each having no more than 4 countries. The presidency rotates between each group.</li>
<li>Every year the G20 selects a country from another group to be president.</li>
<li><strong>India is in Group 2</strong> which also has<strong> Russia, South Africa and Turkey.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>The G20 <strong>does not have a permanent secretariat or Headquarters..</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Issues Addressed by G20:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The G20 focuses on a broad agenda of issues of global importance, although, issues pertaining to the global economy dominate the agenda, additional items have become more important in recent years, like:<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Financial markets</li>
<li>Fight against corruption</li>
<li>Advancement of women in job market</li>
<li>2030 Agenda for Sustainable development</li>
<li>Climate Change</li>
<li>Global Health</li>
<li>Anti-terrorism</li>
<li>Inclusive entrepreneurship</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</div>
<p><a href="https://www.thehindu.com/news/international/coronavirus-g20-leaders-pledge-5-trillion-united-response-to-crisis/article31176075.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/virtual-g20-leaders-summit'
	],
	(int) 9 => [
		'title' => 'Antibody Kits for COVID-19',
		'catname' => 'News Analysis',
		'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>Recently, the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) has invited manufacturers to supply<strong> 5 lakh antibody kits</strong> for diagnosis of COVID-19 infection.</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The antibody test will help in screening suspected patients.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>The Antibody Test</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The antibody test for <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/covid-19-and-india-1" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>COVID-19</strong></a> will act as a <strong>screening process</strong> that will give quick results in a few hours.</li>
<li>The antibody test detects the body&rsquo;s response to the virus. It gives an indication that a person has been exposed to the virus.</li>
<li>If the test is positive, the swab is collected and an Ribonucleic Acid (RNA) test is done using the Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) kit. Therefore, this is a <strong>two-stage process.</strong></li>
<li>However, the antibody test <strong>does not not definitely indicate that a person is infected with COVID-19 infection.</strong> It is <strong>only for screening.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>Currently, India is <strong>only conducting the conventional RT-PCR test (Reverse Transcription Polymerase Chain Reaction). </strong></li>
<li><strong>Antibody Kits vs RT-PCR Test</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>RT-PCR test detects the<strong> virus genetic material, which is the RNA.</strong></li>
<li>The antibody test detects the body&rsquo;s response to the virus.</li>
<li>RT-PCR provides direct evidence whereas antibody kits provide the indirect evidence.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Need for Antibody Kits</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Shortage of the PCR kits</strong> and thus the test is complicated, expensive and time-consuming. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>The antibody test will be where a large number of people are being quarantined and where everybody cannot undergo an RNA test.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Results of Testing in South Korea</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>The antibody test was done in South Korea, one of the few countries which has been able to flatten the pandemic curve.</li>
<li>In South Korea, people with a history of travel and contact are screened using the antibody kit.</li>
<li>Then, a large number of suspected patients were being quarantined in the country through contact tracing of just a single patient.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Ribonucleic Acid</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>RNA is an important <strong>biological macromolecule</strong> that is present in all biological cells.</li>
<li>It is principally involved in the <strong>synthesis of proteins, carrying the messenger instructions</strong> from Deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA), which itself contains the genetic instructions required for the development and maintenance of life.</li>
<li>In some <strong>viruses, RNA, rather than DNA, carries genetic information.</strong></li>
</ul>
<p><strong>Contract Tracing</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Contact tracing is the process of identifying, assessing, and managing people who have been exposed to a disease to prevent transmission.</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>Indian Council of Medical Research</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) is the <strong>apex body in India for the formulation, coordination and promotion of biomedical research.</strong></li>
<li>Its mandate is to <strong>conduct, coordinate and implement medical research</strong> for the benefit of the Society; translating medical innovations into products/processes and introducing them into the public health system.</li>
<li>It is funded by the Government of India through the <strong>Department of Health Research, Ministry of Health &amp; Family Welfare.</strong></li>
</ul>
</div>
<p><a href="https://indianexpress.com/article/coronavirus/taking-testing-cue-from-south-korea-icmr-seeks-5-lakh-antibody-kits-6333657/" 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/antibody-kits-for-covid-19'
	],
	(int) 10 => [
		'title' => 'Laser Surface Micro-Texturing',
		'catname' => 'News Analysis',
		'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>The International Advanced Centre for Powder Metallurgy &amp; New Materials (ARCI) has developed ultrafast laser surface texturing technology, which can improve the fuel efficiency of internal combustion engines.</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The technology helps to <strong>control friction and wear.</strong></li>
</ul>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Laser surface micro-texturing offers precise control of the size, shape and density of micro-surface texture features.</li>
<li>In this technology, a pulsating laser beam <strong>creates micro-dimples or grooves</strong> on the surface of materials in a very controlled manner.</li>
<li>Such textures can <strong>trap wear debris</strong> when operating under dry sliding conditions and sometimes provide effects like <strong>enhancing oil supply (lubricant reservoir)</strong> which can lower friction coefficients and may enable reduced wear rate.</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>International Advanced Research Centre for Powder Metallurgy and New Materials (ARCI)</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>It was established in the year 1997.</li>
<li>It is an autonomous research and development centre of the Department of Science and Technology (DST).</li>
<li>Its main campus is located at Hyderabad with operations in Chennai and Gurgaon.</li>
<li>ARCI's mandate is-<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Development of high-performance materials and processes for niche markets</li>
<li>Demonstration of technologies at prototype/pilot scale</li>
<li>Transfer of technology to Indian industry</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>Surface engineering, ceramics, powder metallurgy and laser processing of materials constitute the four major thrust areas at ARCI.</li>
</ul>
</div>
<p><a href="https://pib.gov.in/PressReleaseIframePage.aspx?PRID=1608066" 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/laser-surface-micro-texturing'
	],
	(int) 11 => [
		'title' => 'Digital Initiatives to Fight Coronavirus',
		'catname' => 'News Analysis',
		'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>Recently, the Government has developed a platform which will host webinars by<strong> All India Institutes of Medical Sciences (AIIMS)</strong> doctors for healthcare workers across the country.</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>It has also developed an app that will trace the paths of <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/covid-19-and-india-1" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>COVID-19</strong> </a>positive patients, serving as a warning to possible contacts.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Chat Boxes on Facebook and WhatsApp</strong> have been set up by the <strong>Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY)</strong> for providing information about COVID-19.</li>
<li><strong>A portal to map the requirements of hospitals,</strong> and cross-referencing them with those who have offered to help with equipment is also being set up by the government.</li>
<li><strong>A webinar platform</strong> has been developed in tandem with the <strong>Ministry of Health and Family Welfare.</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The webinars are for the<strong> frontline health workers</strong> (nurses, paramedics, ASHA- Accredited Social Health Activist workers, anganwadi workers), who are more prone to COVID-19.</li>
<li>The webinars would be streamed on Facebook, YouTube and WhatsApp.</li>
<li>The state governments would also be involved so as to make the content available in <strong>regional languages.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>The government has also worked on a <strong>contact path tracing app,</strong> tentatively called <strong>&lsquo;Corona Kavach&rsquo;.</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The app would store location data and would enter the credentials of the person if he/she tests positive. This information would be sent to the cloud.</li>
<li>A signal would come to the app which would convert it from green to red.</li>
<li>The server would then find out people who were in close proximity with the infected person in the last 14 days.</li>
<li>Their apps would turn yellow and they would get an alert that they should quarantine themselves.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>All India Institutes of Medical Sciences</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The AIIMS was<strong> created in 1956,</strong> as an<strong> autonomous institution</strong> of national importance through an Act of Parliament.</li>
<li><strong>Objectives</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>To develop a <strong>pattern of teaching in undergraduate and postgraduate medical education in all its branches</strong> so as to demonstrate high standard of medical education to all medical colleges and other allied institutions in India.</li>
<li>To bring together in one place educational facilities of the highest order for the <strong>training of the personnel</strong> in all important branches of the health activity.</li>
<li>To attain <strong>self sufficiency</strong> in postgraduate in medical education.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>Recently, the central government has decided to set up 22 new establishments of AIIMS. These AIIMS would be set up under the <strong>Pradhan Mantri Swasthya Suraksha Yojana.</strong></li>
</ul>
<p><strong>Pradhan Mantri Swasthya Suraksha Yojana</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>PMSSY is a <strong>Central Sector Scheme.</strong></li>
<li>The primary objective of PMSSY is to correct the <strong>regional imbalances in availability of affordable/reliable tertiary level healthcare</strong> in the country in general, and, to augment facilities for quality medical education in under-served or backward States, in particular.</li>
<li>In addition to <strong>setting up of AIIMS,</strong> PMSSY also envisages<strong> up-gradation of several existing Government Medical Colleges/Institutions</strong> in different states in the country</li>
</ul>
</div>
<p><a href="https://indianexpress.com/article/india/digital-push-webinars-by-aiims-doctors-app-to-trace-possible-contacts-of-covid-19-patients-6333589/" 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/digital-initiatives-to-fight-coronavirus'
	],
	(int) 12 => [
		'title' => 'COVID-19 Economic Relief Package',
		'catname' => 'News Analysis',
		'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>The Union Finance Minister has announced Rs<strong> 1.70 lakh crore relief package</strong> under the <strong>newly framed Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Yojana</strong> for the poor to help them fight the battle against <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/coronavirus-disease-named-covid-19" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>CoronaVirus (COVID-19).</strong></a></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>As part of the <strong>lockdown</strong> to stem the spread of the deadly virus, the government has stopped public transport, airlines and construction work, bringing to a halt most economic activities and <strong>leaving millions of workers in the informal economy without a livelihood.</strong></li>
<li>The central government&rsquo;s package <strong>comes a week after Kerala first announced a Rs 20,000-crore support</strong> for its people. Many states including Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Punjab, Telangana and Rajasthan followed suit.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Key Components</h3>
<p><a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1585297218_image1.jpg" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1585297218_image1.jpg" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" caption="false" width="615" height="517" /></a></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Insurance Scheme for Health Workers</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The Centre would provide<strong> Rs. 50 lakh medical insurance cover</strong> for the next <strong>three months</strong> for about 22 lakh health workers in government hospitals fighting the spread of the virus at personal risk.</li>
<li>The health workers include <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/national-institute-of-health-family-welfare" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>ASHA (Accredited Social Health Activist) workers</strong></a>, medical sanitary workers in government hospitals, paramedics, nurses and doctors.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Food Security for the Next Three Months (PM Gareeb Kalyan Ann Yojana)</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Each person who is covered under the <a href="/to-the-points/paper3/public-distribution-system-1" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>National Food Security Act</strong> </a>would get an additional five kg wheat or rice for free, in addition to the 5 kg of subsidised foodgrain already provided through the Public Distribution System (PDS).</li>
<li>One kg of pulse a household would also be provided for free, according to regional preferences. This is expected to benefit about 80 crore people.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Cash Transfers and Other Benefits over Next Three Months</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>About 3 crore poor pensioners above 60 years, widows and disabled people would be given ₹1000 in two instalments.</li>
<li>The 20 crore women holding <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/important-facts-for-prelims-6th-september-2018" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Jan Dhan Yojana</strong></a> accounts would get ₹500 a month.</li>
<li>The 8.3 crore poor households, which received cooking gas connections under the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/important-facts-for-prelims-18th-december-2018" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Ujjwala scheme</strong></a>, would get free gas cylinders.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>For Workers</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Wages are being hiked under the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/fund-crunch-in-mgnrega" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act</strong></a> scheme, from <strong>₹182 to ₹202 a day.</strong></li>
<li>The Centre is directing the States to use the ₹31,000 crore held by <strong><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/cess-fund-for-welfare-of-construction-workers" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Building and Other Construction Workers Welfare Boards</a></strong> to provide support to the 3.5 crore registered workers.</li>
<li>The States can also use the money available under <a href="/to-the-points/paper1/mining-sector-in-india" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>District Mineral Funds</strong></a> for medical screening, testing and treatment.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>For Land-owning Farmers</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The first instalment of ₹2000 due to them under the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/one-year-of-pm-kisan" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>PM-KISAN</strong> </a>income support scheme will be paid promptly in April, the first month of the financial year.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>For Companies &amp; SHGs</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>For small companies with <strong>100 employees or less,</strong> of whom 90% earn less than ₹15,000 a month, the <strong>Centre will bear the cost of both employer and employee contribution (a total of 24%) to the Employees Provident Fund (EPF)</strong> for the next three months. This will benefit 80 lakh employees, and incentivise 4 lakh establishments.</li>
<li>Collateral free loans provided for women <a href="/to-the-points/Paper2/self-help-groups-shgs" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>self-help groups</strong> </a>under the <strong>National Rural Livelihood Mission</strong> are being doubled to ₹20 lakh, potentially benefiting seven crore households.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Immediate Impact of the Announcement on the Market</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Sentiments in the <strong>market improved</strong> leading to gains in <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/impact-of-covid-19-outbreak" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>BSE Sensex and NSE Nifty</strong></a>. Earlier, Sensex and Nifty have crashed badly during the pandemic.</li>
<li>The <strong>rupee appreciated 57 paise</strong> to 75.37 against the US Dollar in intraday trade.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Rupee has weakened against the US Dollar during the pandemic.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>The other news that is positive for India&rsquo;s fiscal health is the fall in crude oil prices.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Analysis of the Package</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Positive Points</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>It covers various sections of the vulnerable,</strong> ranging from farmers to healthcare workers.</li>
<li>It is appreciable on the part of the government that it has <strong>made the use of existing schemes</strong> like PM Kisan in the package. The efforts appear to keep the<strong> funding within the budget</strong> as much as possible and <strong>retain control over the deficit.</strong></li>
<li>Application of PM Gareeb Kalyan Yojana will <strong>help in the disposal of excess stocks with the Food Corporation of India (FCI).</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>The Food Corporation of India (FCI) and the National Agricultural Cooperative Marketing Federation of India are now holding some 77.6 mt of cereals (3.5 times more than required) and 2.2 mt of pulses respectively.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>The offer to pay both employer and employee contributions to the Provident Fund for very small business enterprises will offer <strong>relief to those businesses that have been forced to shut down operations.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Negative Points</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The<strong> effectiveness of PM Gareeb Kalyan will be more in states with well-functioning PDS.</strong> That is, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Chhattisgarh and Odisha &mdash; but not Uttar Pradesh or Bihar.</li>
<li>When daily wage earners are supposed to remain at their homes (lockdown), <strong>the only way to compensate them under MNREGA is through unemployment allowance.</strong></li>
<li><strong>Farmers</strong> are facing both lower crop prices due to a coronavirus-induced market collapse, and higher harvesting costs on account of labour shortages from the lockdown, <strong>no new benefit</strong> has been announced for them in the package.</li>
<li>Another challenge for <strong>the government will be to locate and deliver support to the migrant workers,</strong> many of whom are trekking hundreds of kilometres to their homes or lining up at shelters for a meal.</li>
<li><strong>Corporate sector and middle class people not being beneficiaries.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Way Forward</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Globally, many countries had announced stimulus packages involving 10-12% fiscal expansions. In comparison, this package is only <strong>about 0.75% of India&rsquo;s GDP,</strong> which is marginal.</li>
<li>The <strong>Government should now turn its focus towards businesses</strong> that are running out of cash and may soon default on even salaries and statutory commitments if relief is not given.</li>
<li><strong>Part II of the economic relief package</strong> should not be delayed beyond the next couple of days.</li>
</ul>',
		'postdate' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenTime) {},
		'url' => 'https://www.drishtiias.com/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/covid-19-economic-relief-package'
	],
	(int) 13 => [
		'title' => 'Eklavya Model Residential and Day Boarding Schools ',
		'catname' => 'News Analysis',
		'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>In view of prevailing sensitive health conditions affecting community health due to <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/21-days-lockdown" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Covid-19</strong></a>, the Ministry of Tribal Affairs has asked State Governments for rescheduling of holidays in<strong> Eklavya Model Residential Schools (EMRS)</strong> and<strong> Eklavya Model Day Boarding Schools (EMDBS).</strong></p>
<h3>Eklavya Model Residential Schools</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Eklavya Model Residential Schools (EMRS)</strong> started in the year 1997-98 to impart quality education to ST children in remote areas.</li>
<li>The schools focus not only on academic education but on the all-round development of the students.</li>
<li>The objective of EMRS is<strong> to provide quality middle and high level education</strong> to Scheduled Tribe (ST) students in remote areas, not only to enable them to avail of reservation in high and professional educational courses and as jobs in government and public and private sectors but also to have access to the best opportunities in education at par with the non ST population.</li>
<li>Each school has a capacity of <strong>480 students, catering to students from Class VI to XII.</strong></li>
<li>These are being set up by grants provided <strong>under Article 275(1) of the Constitution.</strong></li>
<li>Eklavya Model Residential Schools (EMRSs) are funded by the Ministry of Tribal Affairs.</li>
<li>In order to give further impetus to EMRS, it has been decided that by the <strong>year 2022, every block</strong> with <strong>more than 50% ST population</strong> and <strong>at least 20,000 tribal persons,</strong> will have an EMRS.</li>
<li>Eklavya schools are on par with Navodaya Vidyalaya and have special facilities for preserving local art and culture besides providing training in sports and skill development.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Eklavya Model Day Boarding Schools (EMDBS)</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Wherever <strong>density of ST population is higher</strong> in identified Sub-Districts (90% or more), it is proposed to set up Eklavya Model Day Boarding School (EMDBS) on an experimental basis for providing additional scope for ST Students seeking to avail school education without residential facility.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Background</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>STs, constitute 8.6% of the country&rsquo;s total population and 11.3% of the total rural population.</li>
<li>Despite the increase in literacy rates among STs from 8.53% in 1961 to 58.96% in 2011, and the fact that the Right to Education Act, 2009 makes it mandatory that all children between the ages of 6 and 14 be provided free and compulsory education, significant disparities exist in enrolment rates, drop-outs, across states, districts and blocks.</li>
<li>In the case of tribals, <strong>dropout rates are still very high &ndash;</strong> 35.6% in Classes I to V; 55% in Classes I to VIII; and 70.9% in Classes I to X in 2010-11, according to the Statistics Of School Education 2010-2011.</li>
<li>According to a 2014 UNICEF-sponsored South Asia regional study, <strong>economic and socio-cultural factors</strong> are reasons behind the education deprivation for certain groups in India, especially SCs, STs and Muslims.</li>
<li>The India Human Development Survey shows the incidence of poverty is highest among the STs (49.6%), followed by the SCs (32.3%), and then the Muslims (30.6%).</li>
</ul>',
		'postdate' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenTime) {},
		'url' => 'https://www.drishtiias.com/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/eklavya-model-residential-and-day-boarding-schools'
	],
	(int) 14 => [
		'title' => 'Year End Review 2019: Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change',
		'catname' => 'Paper 2',
		'desc' => '<h3>Important Schemes and Policies</h3>
<p><strong>Climate Change Performance Index (CCPI) 2019</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>India scored 62.93 and ranked 11<sup>th</sup> in the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/important-facts-for-prelims-3rd-january-2019" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Climate Change Performance Index (CCPI).</strong></a></li>
<li><strong>Published by:</strong> German watch, CAN International and the New Climate Institute.</li>
<li>The index evaluates and compares the climate protection performance of 56 countries and the EU.</li>
<li>In 2019 index, no country performed well enough to reach the ranking very good, meaning that no country has yet made it to one of the top three places in the rankings.</li>
<li>However, Sweden leads the ranking, followed by Morocco and Lithuania.</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1585225702_image3.png" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1585225702_image3.png" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="800" caption="false" /></a></p>
<p><strong>National Clean Air Programme (NCAP)</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/govt-launches-mission-to-fight-air-pollution" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>It was launched in January 2019.</strong></a></li>
<li>The Central government launched a five-year action plan with a tentative target of 20-30% reduction in concentrations of PM10 and PM2.5 by 2024, with 2017 as the base year.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Unlike earlier initiatives which focussed largely on the national capital region, this is a comprehensive pan-India air pollution abatement scheme for 102 cities which were identified by Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) on the basis of their ambient air quality data between 2011 and 2015.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>Fourth session of the United Nations Environment Assembly (UNEA)</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>It was held in Nairobi, Kenya.</li>
<li><strong>Theme of UNEA-4:</strong> &lsquo;Innovative Solutions for Environmental Challenges and Sustainable Consumption and Production&rsquo;.</li>
<li>Two resolutions adopted related to <strong>Single-use Plastics</strong> and <strong>Sustainable Nitrogen management.</strong></li>
<li>UNEP also released 6<sup>th</sup> edition of the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/global-environment-outlook" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Global Environment Outlook Report (GEO).</strong></a><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>It outlines the current state of the environment illustrates possible future environmental trends and analyses the effectiveness of policies.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>India Cooling Action Plan (ICAP)</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/india-cooling-action-plan" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Launched in March 2019.</strong> </a></li>
<li>Reducing cooling demand by 20-25% and refrigeration demand by 25-30% by the year 2037 are the goals of this plan.</li>
<li><a href="/loksabha-rajyasabha-discussions/india-cooling-action-plan-icap" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Cooling requirement</strong></a> is cross-sectoral and an essential part for economic growth and is required across different sectors of the economy such as residential and commercial buildings, cold-chain, refrigeration, transport and industries.</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>Bharat Standard IV to Bharat Standard VI</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The country has leapfrogged from Bharat Standard (BS) IV to <a href="/loksabha-rajyasabha-discussions/in-depth-bs-vi-emission-normshttps://www.drishtiias.com/loksabha-rajyasabha-discussions/in-depth-bs-vi-emission-norms" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Bharat Standard VI</strong></a> for vehicle emission norms and from 1st April 2020, vehicles will be BS-VI compliant.</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Conservation Programmes</strong></p>
<p><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/asiatic-lion-conservation-project" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Asiatic Lion Conservation Project</strong></a></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Was launched in February 2019. The Asiatic Lion endemic to Gir landscape of Gujarat, is one of the 21 critically endangered species identified by the Ministry for taking up recovery programmes.</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>National Protocol on Snow Leopard Population Assessment</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>With efforts towards protecting and conserving Snow Leopards, the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/first-snow-leopard-survey" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>First National Protocol on Snow Leopard Population Assessment</strong></a> in India was launched on the occasion of International Snow Leopard Day on 23rd October.</li>
</ul>
</div>
<p><strong>All India Tiger Estimation - 2018</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Results of the fourth cycle of <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/tiger-census-report" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>All India Tiger Estimation</strong></a> - 2018 were released on International Tiger Day (July 29), 2019.</li>
<li>According to this census, the count of tigers in India has risen to 2967 from 2,226 in 2014.</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>India State of Forest Report (ISFR)</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>The biennial report <a href="/summary-of-important-reports/india-state-of-forest-report-2019" target="_blank" rel="noopener">India State of Forest Report (ISFR), 2019 was released.</a></strong></li>
<li>The total forest and tree cover of the country is 80.73 million hectare which is 24.56% of the geographical area of the country. As compared to the assessment of 2017, there is an increase of 5,188 sq. km in the total forest and tree cover.</li>
<li>The top five States (UT) in terms of increase in forest cover: Karnataka&gt;Andhra Pradesh&gt;Kerala&gt;Jammu &amp; Kashmir&gt;Himachal Pradesh.</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>CAMPA Funds</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/compensatory-afforestation-fund" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Compensatory Afforestation Fund Management and Planning Authority, (CAMPA Funds) were handed over to various states.</strong> </a></li>
<li>The fund will be utilised for the Compensatory Afforestation, Catchment Area Treatment, Wildlife Management, Assisted Natural Regeneration, Forest Fire Prevention and Control Operations, Soil and Moisture Conservation Works in the forest, Improvement of Wildlife Habitat, Management of Biological Diversity and Biological Resources, Research in Forestry and Monitoring of CAMPA works etc.</li>
<li><strong>Compensatory afforestation</strong> means that every time forest land is diverted for non-forest purposes such as mining or industry, the user agency pays for planting forests over an equal area of non-forest land, or when such land is not available, twice the area of degraded forest land.</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Note:</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/world-environment-day-1" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>World Environment Day</strong> </a>is observed on the 5th of June every year for encouraging worldwide awareness and action to protect our environment.</li>
<li>Since it began in 1974, the event has grown to become a global platform for public outreach that is widely celebrated in over 100 countries.</li>
</ul>
</div>
<h3>Important Legislations</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/hazardous-and-other-wastes-management-transboundary-movement-rules-2016" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Hazardous and Other Wastes (Management &amp; Transboundary Movement)</strong></a> Rules, 2016 were amended.</li>
<li>The amendment has been done keeping into consideration the &ldquo;Ease of Doing Business&rdquo; and boosting &ldquo;Make in India&rdquo; initiative by simplifying the procedures under the Rules, while at the same time upholding the principles of sustainable development and ensuring minimal impact on the environment.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Important Conventions</h3>
<p><strong>UN Convention to Combat Desertification</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>India hosted the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/un-convention-to-combat-desertification-cop-14" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>14<sup>th</sup> Conference of Parties (COP14) to the UN Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD)</strong></a> from 2-13 September 2019 at Greater Noida.</li>
<li>This was the first time that India hosted an edition of the UNCCD COP.</li>
<li>The theme of the Conference was<strong> &lsquo;Restore land, Sustain future&rsquo;.</strong></li>
<li>India would raise its ambition of the total area that would be restored from its land degradation status, from twenty-one million hectares to twenty-six million hectares between now and 2030.</li>
<li>India has proposed to set up a <strong>global technical support institute</strong> for the member countries of the UNCCD for their capacity building and support regarding the Land Degradation Neutrality Target Setting Program.</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/climate-action-summit" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Climate Action Summit</strong></a></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>It was held in New York in September 2019.</li>
<li>It was hosted by the UN Secretary.</li>
<li>It had the key focus on raising ambition and accelerate action to implement the <a href="/to-the-points/paper3/cop24" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Paris Agreement.</strong></a></li>
<li>India will increase renewable energy capacity to beyond 175 GW (capacity as committed under the Paris Climate Agreement) by 2022, and will further take it to 450 GW.</li>
<li>The <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/international-coalition-for-disaster-resilient-infrastructure" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Global Coalition for Disaster Resilient Infrastructure</strong></a>, an international partnership that will support countries- developed and developing- to build climate and disaster-resilient infrastructure was also launched.</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>Conference of the Parties (COP 25) to the UNFCCC</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/cop-25-ends-without-concrete-outcome" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>25<sup>th</sup> United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC)</strong></a> was held under the Presidency of Chile in Madrid, Spain in December 2019.</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>Key Issues</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The summit passed the declaration calling on countries to improve their current pledges to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.</li>
<li>It also endorsed to help poor countries that are suffering the effects of climate change, although any new funds were not allocated for the purpose.</li>
<li>It called on the &ldquo;urgent need&rdquo; to cut planet-heating greenhouse gases in line with the goals of the <a href="/to-the-points/paper3/cop24" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>2015 Paris climate change accord.</strong></a></li>
<li>The Summit couldn&rsquo;t reach a final agreement on<a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/carbon-market" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong> Carbon markets</strong></a> and on the definition and composition of <a href="/to-the-points/paper3/climate-finance-1" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Climate finances.</strong></a></li>
<li>At COP25, India also called upon more countries to join the International Solar Alliance (ISA) to reduce dependence on fossil fuels to meet the growing energy requirement, even as it acknowledged the phenomenal progress made by the Alliance and the growing solar energy capabilities the world over.</li>
</ul>',
		'postdate' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenTime) {},
		'url' => 'https://www.drishtiias.com/to-the-points/Paper2/year-end-review-2019-ministry-of-environment-forest-and-climate-change'
	],
	(int) 15 => [
		'title' => 'Engaging Rural Youth',
		'catname' => 'News Editorials',
		'desc' => '<div class="border">
<p><strong>This article is based on <a href="https://www.epw.in/journal/2020/11/commentary/engaging-rural-youth-gainfully.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">&ldquo;Engaging Rural Youth Gainfully&rdquo;</a></strong> which was published in Economic and Political Weekly on 14/03/2020. It talks about the steps to be taken to reap the benefits of <a href="/to-the-points/paper1/india-s-demographic-dividend" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>demographic dividend</strong></a> emanating from rural youth In India.</p>
</div>
<p>According to the report "Youth in India 2017" (released by the Central Statistics Office), India is one of the youngest countries in the world. Moreover, the proportion of rural youth population forms the majority share in India's youth population.</p>
<p>Although agriculture and allied activities constitute the bulk of the rural economy, its dominance has been dwindling over the years. Engaging rural youth in productive agricultural activities will help India to reap the benefits of the demographic dividend.</p>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Note:</strong></p>
<p>In the conventional sense, the youth population is understood as those persons belonging to the age group of adolescence to middle age.</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The United Nations (UN) referred to them as those in the age group of 15 to 24 years.</li>
<li>The National Youth Policy (NYP) 2014 defined youth as those in the age group of 15&ndash;29 years.</li>
<li>However, the report Youth in India 2017, defined the age group of 15&ndash;34 years as the youth.</li>
</ul>
</div>
<h3>Developing Opportunities for Rural Youth</h3>
<p>In order to leverage this demographic dividend, there is a need to have a systematic approach to creating a suitable environment to develop opportunities for gainful employment of the rural youth. The approach includes three important steps:</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Development of Modern Technologies:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Although agriculture is not seen as a remunerative occupation, through advances in innovation, capacity-building, partnership and participatory approaches, better market linkages and, most importantly, by developing a synergy with other sectors of the economy, many employment and entrepreneurial opportunities can be created.</li>
<li>Besides, there exists a huge opportunity in rural areas for the growth of off-farm sector activities (For example, the dairy sector).</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Skilling of Rural Youth:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>According to NSSO data, the percentage of rural youth, who did not receive vocational training of any sort stood at 93.7% in 2017&ndash;18.</li>
<li>This skill shortage not only reduces the employability of youth but is also detrimental to technology adoption.</li>
<li>Furthermore, a lot of the rural youth lack &ldquo;soft skills,&rdquo; such as the ability to experiment with new ideas, spot business opportunities, sales and marketing skills, and so on, which could make them more productive and employable.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Creating an Ecosystem for Entrepreneurship:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The skills acquired by the youth need to be linked to their engagement in some livelihood option. This would require a responsive entrepreneurial ecosystem that identifies their talent and absorbs them in economic activity.</li>
<li>Today, the entrepreneurial ecosystem in rural areas of India is better than before. India is the third country having the largest number of start-ups. There are about 450 agri-start-ups.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Steps to be taken</h3>
<p><strong>Promoting Technologies: That have a huge potential for job creation.</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Emerging fields like agri-tech, agri-based e-commerce, information technology (IT)-linked agri-extension, seed technology, biotechnology, farm monitoring, Agri/rural fin-tech.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Horticultural, dairy production and food processing (related to these sectors) offer much more opportunities for employment generation in rural areas.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>The idea of <strong>harvesting solar energy as the third crop</strong> on the farmer&rsquo;s field is also gaining ground. This can help in increasing employability and profits for them.</li>
<li>Efforts are also needed in finding innovation/technology-based solutions to some of the basic problems relating to agriculture, namely:<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Development of smart agricultural machinery.</li>
<li>Developing apparatus to encourage precision agriculture.</li>
<li>Finding solutions to the overuse of water.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>There is a need to facilitate the<strong> integration of agricultural research, industrial research and biotechnological research</strong> so that many new products can be developed from the by-products/agri-wastes.</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>Bridging the Skill Deficit:</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The quality of training at <strong>industrial training institutes</strong> (ITIs)/polytechnics needs to be strengthened by redesigning the curriculum and upgrading them through appropriate budgetary allocations under the <strong>National Skill Development Fund.</strong></li>
<li>It is equally important to strengthen the institute&ndash;industry interface.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>In a way, the <strong>Apprentices Act of 1961</strong> helps to improve the nexus between the institute and industry as it facilitates apprenticeship training to students in different trades.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>Additionally, rural youth should be trained to acquire different soft skills.</li>
<li>Skill development initiatives need to be compatible with programmes and policies directed towards making a <a href="/loksabha-rajyasabha-discussions/in-depth-digital-india" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Digital India.</strong></a></li>
<li>The thrust on the skill development of rural youth should be capability-based, and the focus should go beyond agricultural occupations and traditional courses, such as in the areas like data analysis, paramedical fields, and so on.</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>Establishing Rural Enterprises:</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>An important aspect of enterprise creation is funding support, which is critical to ensure the success of any enterprise, especially for a start-up.</li>
<li>While many avenues (MUDRA loans) have been created in the recent past to make credit available to these firms, there is a need to diversify by making seed funding available to angel investors. In this context, provision can be made to encourage deployment of the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/national-corporate-social-responsibility-awards" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>corporate social responsibi&shy;lity</strong> </a>(CSR) funds as seed funds for these ventures.</li>
<li>The possibility to make the <strong>Krishi Vigyan Kendras</strong> (KVKs) or Common Services Centers(CSC) a hub of all the technology solutions developed by different missions, should be explored.</li>
<li><strong>Agriculture graduates</strong> from the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) system or state agricultural universities may be engaged in agri-related rural entrepreneurship.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Conclusion</h3>
<p>India has a high proportion of youth in its population, especially that of rural youth. Harnessing their potential to contribute to the country&rsquo;s growth would require the convergence of rural-centric policies like Deen Dayal Upadhyaya Grameen Kaushalya Yojana, National Rural Livelihood Mission, National Rural Employment Guarantee Act, etc.</p>
<table border="1" style="border-collapse: collapse; width: 100%;">
<tbody>
<tr>
<td style="width: 100%; border-style: dotted; border-color: #ff0000; background-color: #deedfc;">
<p><span style="color: #000080;"><em><strong>Drishti Mains Question</strong></em></span></p>
<p>Harnessing demographic dividend contributes to the country&rsquo;s growth would require rural-centric policies. Discuss.</p>
</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>',
		'postdate' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenTime) {},
		'url' => 'https://www.drishtiias.com/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/engaging-rural-youth'
	],
	(int) 16 => [
		'title' => 'MACS 4028 Wheat Variety',
		'catname' => 'News Analysis',
		'desc' => '<p>Recently, scientists from Agharkar Research Institute (ARI), Pune, have developed a <strong>biofortified durum wheat variety MACS 4028.</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>ARI Pune is an autonomous institute under the <strong>Department of Science &amp; Technology, Government of India.</strong></li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Note</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Biofortification</strong> is a process to increase the bioavailability and the concentration of nutrients in crops through both conventional plant breeding and <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/illegal-cultivation-of-bt-brinjal" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>genetic engineering.</strong></a></li>
<li><strong>Durum</strong> is a kind of hard wheat grown in arid regions that is typically ground into semolina and used to make pasta.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Durum wheat, or Triticum turgidum,</strong> is the <strong>second most cultivated species of wheat after bread wheat,</strong> which is also called common wheat or<strong> Triticum aestivum.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</div>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Biofortified durum MACS 4028 wheat variety shows <strong>high protein content of about 14.7%, better nutritional quality having zinc</strong> 40.3 ppm, and <strong>iron</strong> content of 40.3 ppm and 46.1 ppm respectively, <strong>good milling quality</strong> and overall acceptability.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>ppm stands for parts per million.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>MACS 4028, is a <strong>semi-dwarf variety,</strong> which matures in 102 days and has shown the superior and <strong>stable yielding ability</strong> of 19.3 quintals per hectare.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>It is <strong>resistant</strong> to<strong> stem rust, leaf rust, foliar aphids, root aphids, and brown wheat mite.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>The MACS 4028 variety is also included by the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/krishi-vigyan-kendra-kvk-conference-2020" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Krishi Vigyan Kendra (KVK)</strong></a> programme for United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) to alleviate malnutrition in a sustainable way and can boost the Vision 2022 <strong>&ldquo;<a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/malnutrition-in-india" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Kuposhan Mukt Bharat</a>&rdquo;,</strong> the National Nutrition Strategy. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The<a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/icar-to-set-up-farmers-innovation-fund" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong> Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR)</strong></a> has also tagged this variety under the <strong>Biofortified category</strong> during the year 2019.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>MACS 4028 has been notified by the Central Sub-Committee on Crop Standards, Notification and Release of Varieties for Agricultural Crops (CVRC) for <strong>timely sown, rainfed condition of Peninsular Zone, comprising Maharashtra and Karnataka.</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>In the peninsular zone of India (Maharashtra and Karnataka states), wheat cultivation is majorly done under rainfed and limited irrigation conditions. Under such conditions, the crop experiences moisture stress.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>Efforts for the development of high yielding, early maturing varieties with good quality and disease resistance for rainfed conditions are carried out at <strong>Agharkar Research Institute, Pune</strong> under <strong>All India coordinated Wheat and Barley improvement programme,</strong> coordinated through <strong>Indian Institute of Wheat and Barley Research, Karnal</strong> governed by the ICAR. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The MACS 4028 is an outcome of such intervention for the farmers.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>All India Coordinated Research Project on Wheat and Barley (AICRP)</strong> mandates <strong>multidisciplinary and multilocational testing of varietal, newly developed improved genotypes, crop management and crop protection technologies</strong> across the diverse ecosystems for increasing and stabilizing the wheat production.</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Wheat</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>This is the second most important cereal crop in India after rice.</li>
<li>It is the main food crop, in northand north-western part of the country.</li>
<li>Wheat is a <strong>rabi crop</strong> that requires a cool growing season and a bright sunshine at the time of ripening.</li>
<li>It requires 50 to 75 cm of annual rainfall evenly-distributed over the growing season.</li>
<li>There are <strong>two important wheat-growing zones</strong> in the country &ndash; <strong>the Ganga-Satluj plains in the north-west and black soil region of the Deccan.</strong></li>
<li>The Major wheat-producing states are <strong>Punjab, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh </strong>etc.</li>
</ul>
</div>
<p><a href="https://pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=1608064" 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/macs-4028-wheat-variety'
	],
	(int) 17 => [
		'title' => 'Kuril Islands',
		'catname' => 'News Analysis',
		'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>Recently, a 7.5 magnitude <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/seismometers-defunct-in-earthquake-prone-zones" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>earthquake</strong></a> struck in the northern Pacific and a <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/indonesia-tsunami" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>tsunami warning</strong></a> was issued for the <strong>closest shores on Russia&rsquo;s far eastern Kuril Islands.</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The earthquakes of this strength in the region have caused tsunamis in the past far from the epicenter of the earthquake.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The <strong>epicenter is the point on the Earth's surface directly above a hypocenter</strong> or focus.(The hypocenter is where an earthquake or an underground explosion originates.)</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Geographic Location of Kuril Islands</h3>
<p><a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1585212354_image2.png" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1585212354_image2.png" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="700" caption="false" /></a></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Kuril Islands are stretched from the<strong> Japanese island of Hokkaido to the southern tip of Russia's Kamchatka Peninsula</strong> separating Okhotsk Sea from the North Pacific ocean.</li>
<li>It consists of <strong>56 islands and minor rocks.</strong></li>
<li>The chain is part of the belt of geologic instability circling the Pacific and contains at least 100 volcanoes, of which 35 are still active, and many hot springs.</li>
<li>Earthquakes and tidal waves are common phenomena over these islands.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Importance of South Kuril Islands</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Natural resources:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The islands are surrounded by<strong> rich fishing grounds</strong> and are thought to have <strong>offshore reserves of oil and gas.</strong></li>
<li>Rare <strong>rhenium deposits</strong> have been found on the Kudriavy volcano on Iturup.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li><strong>Nickel-based superalloys of rhenium</strong> are used in the combustion chambers, turbine blades, and exhaust nozzles of jet engines.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Tourism</strong> is also a potential source of income, as the islands have several volcanoes and a variety of birdlife.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Strategic Importance:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Russia has deployed <strong>missile systems</strong> in the region.</li>
<li>Russia also plans a <strong>submarine project</strong> and intends to prevent any American military use of the islands.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Cultural Importance:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The Japanese people, especially conservatives in Hokkaido, are emotionally attached to the islands.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Historical Background of Kuril Islands Dispute</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Sovereignty Issue of South Kuril Islands:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The Kuril Islands dispute between <strong>Japan and Russia</strong> is over the <strong>sovereignty of South Kuril Islands.</strong></li>
<li>The South Kuril Islands comprises <strong>Etorofu island, Kunashiri island, Shikotan island and the Habomai island.</strong> These islands are<strong> claimed by Japan</strong> but <strong>occupied by Russia</strong> as successor state of the Soviet Union.</li>
<li>These islands are known as<strong> Southern Kurils by Russia</strong> whereas <strong>Japan</strong> calls them <strong>Northern Territories.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Original Inhabitants-Ainu People:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The Kurils were <strong>originally inhabited by the Ainu people,</strong> and they were later settled by the Russians and Japanese, following several waves of exploration in the <strong>17<sup>th</sup> and 18<sup>th</sup> centuries.</strong></li>
<li>The Ainu or the Aynu, also<strong> known as the Ezo</strong> in the historical Japanese texts, are an indigenous people of Japan and Russia.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Treaty of Shimoda (1855):</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>In <strong>1855,</strong> Japan and Russia concluded the <strong>Treaty of Shimoda,</strong> which gave control of the four southernmost islands to Japan and the remainder of the chain to Russia.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Treaty of Saint Petersburg (1875):</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>In the<strong> Treaty of Saint Petersburg,</strong> signed between two countries in <strong>1875,</strong> Russia ceded possession of the Kurils to Japan in exchange for uncontested control of Sakhalin Island.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Yalta Agreement (1945):</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>In <strong>1945,</strong> as part of the <strong>Yalta agreements (formalized in the 1951 Treaty of Peace with Japan),</strong> the islands were ceded to the Soviet Union, and the Japanese population was repatriated and replaced by Soviets.</li>
<li>The <strong>San Francisco Peace Treaty</strong> signed between the Allies and Japan in 1951, states that Japan must give up &ldquo;all right, title and claim to the Kuril Islands&rdquo;, <strong>but it also does not recognize the Soviet Union&rsquo;s sovereignty over them.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Japan-Soviet Joint Declaration (1956):</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The dispute over the islands has <strong>prevented the conclusion of a peace treaty to end World War II.</strong></li>
<li>In 1956, diplomatic ties were restored between Japan and Russia by <strong>Japan-Soviet Joint Declaration.</strong></li>
<li>During that time, Russia offered to give away the two islands closest to Japan. But the offer was rejected by Japan as the two islands constituted <strong>only 7% of the land</strong> in question.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Developments After 1991:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Despite a series of agreements, the dispute continues and <strong>Japan still claims historical rights to the southernmost islands</strong> and has tried repeatedly to persuade the Soviet Union and, from 1991, Russia to return those islands to Japanese sovereignty.</li>
<li>In <strong>2018,</strong> the Russian President and the Japanese Prime Minister (PM) met on the sidelines of the <a href="/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-international-institution/east-asia-summit" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>East Asia Summit</strong> </a>and decided to end the territorial dispute by Japanese PM agreeing to negotiate based on the 1956 declaration.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>This implicitly showed that Japan has given up the two islands to maintain peace with Russia.</li>
<li>However, Russia indicated that the joint declaration signed by Japan and the Soviet Union in 1956 <strong>neither mentions a basis for returning Habomai and Shikotan nor clarifies which country has sovereignty over the islands.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>Further, in <strong>2019,</strong> Japanese PM made it clear that the country is<strong> not in the favour of withdrawing control over the Islands.</strong> Japan also believes that the islands are the inherent part of the nation&rsquo;s territory. Therefore, Japan mentioned that it aims to sign the peace treaty after the territorial issue is resolved.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="https://www.thehindu.com/news/international/tsunami-warnings-after-magnitude-78-quake-strikes-near-russias-kuril-islands/article31159658.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/kuril-islands'
	],
	(int) 18 => [
		'title' => 'Legacy Waste',
		'catname' => 'News Analysis',
		'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>Recently, the <a href="/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-national-institutions/national-green-tribunal-ngt" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>National Green Tribunal (NGT)</strong></a> has directed a committee to assess the amount of damage caused to the environment due to the dump sites (legacy waste) in Delhi.</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The committee comprises representatives from the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/cpcb-notifies-contaminated-sites" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Central Pollution Control Board</strong></a>, <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/neeri-indair" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>National Environmental Engineering Research Institute (NEERI)</strong></a> and IIT Delhi.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Legacy wastes are the wastes that have been collected and kept for years at some barren land or a place dedicated for Landfill (an area to dump solid waste).</li>
<li>This waste can be roughly grouped into <strong>four categories:</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Contained and/or stored waste(contained or stored waste are wastes in tanks, canisters, and stainless steel bins).</li>
<li>Buried waste.</li>
<li>Contaminated soil and groundwater</li>
<li>Contaminated building materials and structures.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Biomining method</strong> has been proposed by the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) for the effective disposal of legacy wastes.</li>
<li><strong>Environmental Impact of Legacy Waste</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Legacy wastes not only<strong> occupy large space,</strong> but also become a <strong>breeding ground</strong> for pathogens, flies, malodours and generation of leachate, which may lead to <strong>water contamination.</strong></li>
<li>They also contribute to generation of<strong> greenhouse gases</strong> and <strong>pose risk of uncontrollable fire.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Biomining</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Biomining is the process of <strong>using microorganisms (microbes)</strong> to extract metals of economic interest from rock ores or mine waste.</li>
<li>Biomining techniques may also be used to <strong>clean up sites</strong> that have been polluted with metals.</li>
<li>It is usually used for old dumped waste that remains in a <strong>partly or fully decomposed state with no segregation in existence between wet and dry waste.</strong></li>
<li>In the cost effective method of biomining, treatment is done by dividing the garbage heap at the site into suitable blocks to let the air percolate in the heap.</li>
<li>As a result, the leachate which is the water in the heap with suspended solid particles is drained off and microbes are sprayed in the heap to initiate biological decompositions.</li>
<li>The waste is turned over several times in order to devoid the waste to leachate as much as possible.</li>
<li>This biological decomposition of the waste <strong>decreases the volume of the waste by 40%.</strong></li>
</ul>
</div>
<p><a href="https://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-national/tp-newdelhi/ngt-asks-committee-to-study-damage-done-to-environment-by-dump-sites/article31158892.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/legacy-waste'
	],
	(int) 19 => [
		'title' => 'COVID-19 Loans by Indian Bank',
		'catname' => 'News Analysis',
		'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>Recently, <strong>Indian Bank</strong> which is a <strong>public sector lender,</strong> has announced special emergency loans for various categories of customers such as individuals, corporates, <a href="/to-the-points/paper3/micro-small-and-medium-enterprises-msme" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Medium, Small and Micro Enterprises</strong></a> (MSMEs) and <a href="/to-the-points/Paper2/self-help-groups-shgs" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>self-help groups</strong></a> (SHGs), retail borrowers and pensioners in the wake of the <strong><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/covid-19-now-pandemic-who" target="_blank" rel="noopener">pandemic</a> <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/coronavirus-disease-named-covid-19" target="_blank" rel="noopener">COVID-19.</a></strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>It is expected that these credit lines will meet the immediate liquidity requirements of businesses and other sections of the society.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Ind-Covid Emergency Credit Line:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>It will provide <strong>additional funding of up to 10% of the working capital limits</strong> (fund-based and non fund-based) with a maximum limit of ₹100 crore.</li>
<li><strong>Large corporates and medium enterprises</strong> that are in the standard category would be eligible for this loan.</li>
<li>The <strong>loans</strong> would only carry a fixed interest rate of one-year MCLR <strong>(marginal cost of funds based lending rate).</strong> All other charges are waived.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Ind-MSE Covid Emergency Loan:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>It will provide an <strong>additional funding of 10% of fund-based working capital limits</strong> subject to a maximum of ₹50 lakh to all MSMEs.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>SHG-Covid-Sahaya Loan:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Under this, each member can avail a<strong> soft loan of ₹5,000 and ₹1 lakh per SHG.</strong></li>
<li>The loan is<strong> for 36 months</strong> with a six months moratorium.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Ind-Covid Emergency Salary Loan:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>It will be given <strong>to salaried employees</strong> up to an<strong> amount equivalent to 20 times the latest monthly gross salary</strong> subject to a maximum of ₹2 lakh.</li>
<li>This is to meet urgent medical and other expenditure.</li>
<li>The loan will be given at a<strong> concessional rate of interest</strong> and all charges are waived.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Ind-Covid Emergency Pension Loan:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>It is <strong>provided up to 15 times of monthly pension</strong> subject to a maximum of ₹2 lakh, with a <strong>60 month repayment tenor.</strong></li>
<li>Interest is charged at concessional rates interest and all other charges are waived.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Indian Bank</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>It is an Indian <strong>state-owned public sector lender.</strong></li>
<li>It was established on <strong>15<sup>th</sup> August 1907</strong> as part of the <a href="/mains-practice-question/question-82" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Swadeshi movement.</strong></a></li>
<li>It is <strong>headquartered in Chennai.</strong></li>
</ul>
<p><strong>Marginal Cost of Funds based Lending Rate</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>It is the minimum interest rate, below which a bank is not permitted to lend, though RBI can give authorization for the same in exceptional cases. It depends on factors such as fixed deposit rates, source of funds and savings rate.</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>Swadeshi Movement</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>It started in <strong>1905</strong> was <strong>one of the most successful movements</strong> of the Pre-Gandhian era.</li>
<li><strong>Causes:</strong> Punjab land alienation Act of 1900, Passing of Indian university commission Act 1904, Partition of Bengal in 1905, economic exploitation, etc.</li>
<li><strong>Methods and instruments:</strong> It initially adopted <strong>passive resistance</strong> but the movement gained momentum and a more <strong>active form of resistance.</strong></li>
<li><strong>Impact:</strong> It led to significant decline in the foreign imports during 1905-1908, building of self-reliance and gave the strength to masses to disobey the British. However, it set <strong>undertones for communal disharmony and extreme nationalism.</strong></li>
</ul>
</div>
<p><a href="https://www.thehindu.com/business/indian-bank-to-give-covid-19-loans/article31166931.ece" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Source: TH</strong></a></p>',
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