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Arctic Council

The Arctic Council is the leading intergovernmental forum promoting cooperation, coordination and interaction among the Arctic States, Arctic...

17 Sep 2019 International Institutions
Solomon Islands and Taiwan

The Solomon Islands’ government has cut official ties with Taiwan and is switching diplomatic allegiance to China. This is line with...

17 Sep 2019 News Analysis
Uranium Mining in Nallamala Forest

Recently Union Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change has granted in-principle approval to the Department of Atomic Energy to survey and...

17 Sep 2019 News Analysis
J&K Public Safety Act

The former Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Farooq Abdullah has been detained under the state’s Public Safety Act (PSA). Public Safety...

17 Sep 2019 News Analysis
SITMEX

The inaugural trilateral exercise, involving the Indian Navy (IN), the Republic of Singapore Navy (RSN), and the Royal Thailand Navy (RTN), recently...

17 Sep 2019 News Analysis
Policy Watch- National Resource Efficiency Policy

Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC) has released Draft National Resource Efficiency Policy (NREP). The policy envisions...

17 Sep 2019 Lok Sabha & Rajya Sabha Discussions
South China Sea

For...

16 Sep 2019 Paper 2
Jan Soochna Portal

This article is based on “A milestone in greater transparency, accountability” which appeared in The Hindu on 14 September 2019. It...

16 Sep 2019 News Editorials
Radiative Cooling & Electricity Generation

Recently, a scientist of Indian-origin has demonstrated a new way to generate electricity at night, without any active heat input. The prototype...

16 Sep 2019 News Analysis
World Ozone Day

Every year, 16th September is observed as the International Day for the Preservation of the Ozone layer. The theme for the year 2019 is ‘32...

16 Sep 2019 News Analysis
Karan Vandana - A New Hybrid Wheat Variety

A new hybrid wheat variety Karan Vandana is soon to be launched across the country. It is also known as DBW-187. It is rich in protein and...

16 Sep 2019 News Analysis
Vulture Culture

India is home to nine species of vultures, but most of them face the danger of extinction. The nine species of vultures & their International...

16 Sep 2019 News Analysis
Steps To Spur Economic Growth

The Finance Minister has announced a number of measures to help reignite the slowing economy. The primary reasons for this slowdown include weak...

16 Sep 2019 News Analysis
South China Sea

Why in news? Recently, at the Indian Ocean Conference (IOC) in Maldives' Male, US Ambassador to South Korea attacked China for illegally building...

16 Sep 2019 Paper 2
The Big Picture- Big Bank Reform

The Finance Ministry recently announced a mega plan to merge 10 public sector banks into 4 large entities. This will bring down the total number of...

14 Sep 2019 Lok Sabha & Rajya Sabha Discussions
Zero-Budget Natural Farming

This article is based on “Is zero budget natural farming working?” that appeared in The Hindu Business Line on 14/09/2019. It talks...

14 Sep 2019 News Editorials
INTERPOL Notices

The INTERPOL has issued a Red Corner Notice (RCN) against fugitive diamond merchant Nirav Modi's brother Nehal in connection with the multi-billion...

14 Sep 2019 News Analysis
UN Convention to Combat Desertification: COP 14

The 14th edition of the Conference of Parties (COP-14) to the UN Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) ended on 13th September 2019. Held...

14 Sep 2019 News Analysis
National Conference on ‘Criminal Activities and Radicalization in Jails’

Recently, a National Conference on ‘Criminal Activities and Radicalization in Jails: Vulnerability of Inmates and Jail Staff and their...

14 Sep 2019 News Analysis
Jan Soochna Portal

The State Government of Rajasthan has recently launched the first-ever public information portal named “Jan Soochna Portal-2019”. The...

14 Sep 2019 News Analysis

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			'title' => 'Arctic Council',
			'catname' => 'International Institutions',
			'desc' => '<p>The <strong>Arctic Council</strong> is the leading <strong>intergovernmental forum</strong> promoting <strong>cooperation, coordination</strong> and <strong>interaction</strong> among the <strong>Arctic States, Arctic indigenous communities</strong> and <strong>other Arctic inhabitants</strong> on common Arctic issues, in particular on issues of <strong>sustainable development and environmental protection</strong> in the Arctic.</p>
<p>The Arctic Council works as a consensus-based body to deal with issues such as the change in biodiversity, melting sea ice, plastic pollution and black carbon.</p>
<p><a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1568719428_image1.jpg" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1568719428_image1.jpg" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" caption="false" width="469" height="524" /></a></p>
<h3>History of Arctic Council</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The formation of <strong>Arctic Council</strong> can be traced in the establishment of the <strong>Arctic Environmental Protection Strategy (AEPS)</strong> in 1991 as a framework for <strong>intergovernmental cooperation on environmental protection</strong> initiatives among the Arctic States including <strong>Canada, Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway, Sweden, Russia, and the United States.</strong></li>
<li>The AEPS tried to consult and engage <strong>Arctic indigenous people</strong> in recognition of their right over their ancestral homelands.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Three <strong>Indigenous Peoples Organizations (IPOs)</strong> representing <strong>Inuit (Inuit Circumpolar Council, ICC), Saami (Saami Council, SC),</strong> and <strong>Russian indigenous peoples (Russian Association of Indigenous Peoples of the North, RAIPON),</strong> respectively, were welcomed as observers in the AEPS.</li>
<li>As a consequence of a growing recognition of the special relationship of indigenous peoples to the Arctic region, the Arctic countries assigned the <strong>special status </strong>of<strong> Permanent Participants (PPs)</strong> to the three IPOs, thereby giving them a <strong>privileged status</strong> compared to the other AEPS Observers.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Formation of the Arctic Council</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The <strong>Arctic Council</strong> is a <strong>high-level intergovernmental body</strong> set up in 1996 by the <strong>Ottawa declaration</strong> to promote <strong>cooperation, coordination and interaction</strong> among the<strong> Arctic States</strong> together with the <strong>indigenous communities</strong> and other <strong>Arctic inhabitants.</strong></li>
<li>The Council has the <strong>eight circumpolar countries</strong> as member states and is mandated to protect the Arctic environment and promote the economies and social and cultural well-being of the indigenous people whose organizations are permanent participants in the council.</li>
<li><strong>Arctic Council Secretariat:</strong> The standing <strong>Arctic Council Secretariat</strong> formally became operational in 2013 in <strong>Troms&oslash;, Norway.</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>It was established to provide administrative capacity, institutional memory, enhanced communication and outreach and general support to the activities of the Arctic Council.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>The Council has <strong>members, ad hoc observer countries</strong> and <strong>"permanent participants"</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Members of the Arctic Council:</strong> Ottawa Declaration declares <strong>Canada, the Kingdom of Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway, the Russian Federation, Sweden</strong> and <strong>the United States of America</strong> as a member of the Arctic Council.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Denmarks represents <strong>Greenland and the Faroe Islands.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Permanent participants:</strong> In 1998, the number of Permanent Participants doubled to make up the present six, as,the <strong>Aleut International Association (AIA),</strong> and then, in 2000, the <strong>Arctic Athabaskan Council (AAC)</strong> and the <strong>Gwich'in Council International (GGI)</strong> were appointed <strong>Permanent Participants.</strong></li>
<li><strong>Observer status:</strong> It is open to <strong>non-Arctic states,</strong> along with <strong>inter-governmental, inter-parliamentary, global, regional</strong> and <strong>non-governmental organizations</strong> that the<strong> Council determines</strong> can contribute to its work. It is approved by the Council at the Ministerial Meetings that occur once every two years<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Arctic Council Observers primarily contribute through their engagement in the Council at the level of <strong>Working Groups.</strong></li>
<li>Observers have<strong> no voting rights</strong> in the Council.</li>
<li>As of May 2019,<strong> thirteen non-Arctic states</strong> have Observer status.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Germany, 1998</li>
<li>Netherlands, 1998</li>
<li>Poland, 1998</li>
<li>United Kingdom, 1998</li>
<li>France, 2000</li>
<li>Spain, 2006</li>
<li>China, 2013</li>
<li>India, 2013</li>
<li>Italy, 2013</li>
<li>Japan, 2013</li>
<li>South Korea, 2013</li>
<li>Singapore, 2013</li>
<li>Switzerland, 2017</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Criterion for Admitting Observers</h3>
<p>In the determination by the Council of the general suitability of an applicant for observer status the Council will, inter alia, take into account the extent to which observers:</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Accept and support the <strong>objectives of the Arctic Council</strong> defined in the Ottawa declaration.</li>
<li>Recognize Arctic State&rsquo;s <strong>sovereignty, sovereign rights and jurisdiction</strong> in the Arctic.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>India has therefore officially recognised the territorial jurisdiction and sovereign rights of the Arctic states.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>Recognize that an <strong>extensive legal framework</strong> applies to the Arctic Ocean including, notably, <strong>the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS),</strong> and that this framework provides a solid foundation for responsible management of this ocean.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>India has also accepted the UNCLOS as the governing instrument for the Arctic implying that jurisdiction over both the continental shelf and maritime passage, and the resources of the ocean will primarily lay with the eight Arctic States.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Respect the values, interests, culture and traditions</strong> of Arctic indigenous peoples and other Arctic inhabitants.</li>
<li>Have demonstrated a <strong>political willingness</strong> as well as <strong>financial ability</strong> to contribute to the work of the Permanent Participants and other Arctic indigenous peoples.</li>
<li>Have demonstrated their <strong>Arctic interests and expertise relevant</strong> to the work of the Arctic Council.</li>
<li>Have demonstrated a concrete interest and <strong>ability to support the work of the Arctic Council,</strong> including through partnerships with member states and Permanent Participants bringing Arctic concerns to global decision making bodies.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Mechanism of Council</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The work of the Council is primarily carried out in <strong>six Working Groups.</strong></li>
<li><strong>Arctic Contaminants Action Program (ACAP):</strong> it acts as a strengthening and supporting mechanism to encourage national actions to reduce emissions and other releases of pollutants.</li>
<li><strong>Arctic Monitoring and Assessment Programme (AMAP):</strong> it monitors the Arctic environment, ecosystems and human populations, and provides scientific advice to support governments as they tackle pollution and adverse effects of climate change.</li>
<li><strong>Conservation of Arctic Flora and Fauna Working Group (CAFF):</strong> it addresses the conservation of Arctic biodiversity, working to ensure the sustainability of the Arctic&rsquo;s living resources.</li>
<li><strong>Emergency Prevention, Preparedness and Response Working Group (EPPR):</strong> it works to protect the Arctic environment from the threat or impact of an accidental release of pollutants or radionuclides.</li>
<li><strong>Protection of the Arctic Marine Environment (PAME) Working Group:</strong> it is the focal point of the Arctic Council&rsquo;s activities related to the protection and sustainable use of the Arctic marine environment.</li>
<li><strong>Sustainable Development Working Group (SDWG):</strong> it works to advance sustainable development in the Arctic and to improve the conditions of Arctic communities as a whole.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Working of Council</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Arctic Council assessments and recommendations are the result of analysis and efforts undertaken by the Working Groups. Decisions of the Arctic Council are taken by <strong>consensus among the eight Arctic Council States,</strong> with <strong>full consultation and involvement</strong> of the <strong>Permanent Participants.</strong></li>
<li>The <strong>Chairmanship of the Arctic Council</strong> rotates every<strong> two years among the Arctic States.</strong> The <strong>first country to chair the Arctic Council</strong> was Canada <strong>(1996-1998).</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The next country to assume the Chairmanship will be <strong>Iceland (2019-2021).</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Accomplishment of Council</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The Arctic Council regularly produces comprehensive, cutting-edge environmental, ecological and social assessments through its Working Groups.</li>
<li>The Council has also provided a forum for the negotiation of <strong>three important legally binding agreements</strong> among the eight Arctic States.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The first, the <strong>Agreement on Cooperation on Aeronautical and Maritime Search and Rescue in the Arctic,</strong> was signed in <strong>Nuuk, Greenland,</strong> at the 2011 Ministerial Meeting.</li>
<li>The second, the Agreement on Cooperation on Marine Oil Pollution Preparedness and Response in the Arctic, was signed in <strong>Kiruna, Sweden,</strong> at the 2013 Ministerial meeting.</li>
<li>Third, the <strong>Agreement on Enhancing International Arctic Scientific Cooperation,</strong> was signed in <strong>Fairbanks, Alaska</strong> at the 2017 Ministerial meeting.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>India and the Arctic</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>India launched its first <strong>scientific expedition</strong> to the <strong>Arctic Ocean in 2007</strong> and opened a research base named<strong> "Himadri&rdquo;</strong> at the <strong>International Arctic Research Base at Ny-Alesund, Svalbard, Norway in July 2008</strong> for carrying out studies in disciplines like <strong>Glaciology, Atmospheric sciences &amp; Biological sciences.</strong></li>
<li>The <strong>major objectives of the Indian Research in Arctic Region</strong> are as follows:<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>To study the <strong>hypothesized tele-connections</strong> between the Arctic climate and the Indian monsoon by analyzing the sediment and ice core records from the Arctic glaciers and the Arctic Ocean.</li>
<li>To <strong>characterize sea ice in the Arctic using satellite data</strong> to estimate the effect of global warming in the northern polar region.</li>
<li>To conduct research on the <strong>dynamics and mass budget of Arctic glaciers</strong> focusing on the effect of glaciers on sea-level change.</li>
<li>To carry out a <strong>comprehensive assessment of the flora and fauna</strong> of the Arctic and their response to anthropogenic activities. In addition, it is proposed to undertake a comparative study of the life forms from both the Polar Regions</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>India has been closely following the developments in the Arctic region in the light of the new opportunities and challenges emerging for the international community due to <strong>global warming</strong> induced melting of Arctic&rsquo;s ice cap. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>India&rsquo;s interests in the Arctic region are <strong>scientific, environmental, commercial as well as strategic.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>In July 2018, Ministry of Earth Sciences</strong> renamed the<strong> &ldquo;National Centre for Antarctic and Ocean Research&rdquo;</strong> to the <strong>&ldquo;National Centre for Polar and Ocean Research.&rdquo;</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>It is a <strong>nodal organisation</strong> coordinating the research activities at the stations at the poles.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>India has also entered into MOU with <strong>Norwegian Polar Research Institute</strong> of Norway, for cooperation in science, and also with <strong>Kings Bay</strong> (A Norwegian Government owned company) at <strong>Ny-Alesund</strong> for the logistic and infrastructure facilities for undertaking Arctic research and maintaining Indian Research base <strong>&lsquo;Himadri&rsquo;</strong> at Arctic region.</li>
<li>In 2019, India has been <strong>re-elected as an Observer</strong> to the Council.</li>
<li>India does not have an official Arctic policy and its Arctic research objectives have been centred on ecological and environmental aspects, with a focus on climate change, till now.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Commercial and Strategic Interests</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The Arctic region is very rich in minerals, and oil and gas. With some parts of the Arctic melting due to global warming, the region also opens up the <strong>possibility of new shipping routes</strong> that can reduce existing distances. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Countries already have ongoing activities in the Arctic hope to have a stake in the commercial exploitation of natural resources present in the region.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>The Arctic Council <strong>does not prohibit the commercial exploitation</strong> of resources in the Arctic. It only seeks to ensure that it is done in a <strong>sustainable manner</strong> without harming the interests of local populations and in conformity with the local environment.</li>
<li>Therefore, to stay relevant in the Arctic region, India should take advantage of the observer status it has earned in the Arctic Council and consider investing more in the Arctic.</li>
</ul>',
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		],
		(int) 1 => [
			'title' => 'Solomon Islands and Taiwan',
			'catname' => 'News Analysis',
			'desc' => '<p>The Solomon Islands&rsquo; government has cut official ties with Taiwan and is switching diplomatic allegiance to China.</p>
<p><strong><a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1568709665_image7.jpg" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1568709665_image7.jpg" width="374" height="227" caption="false" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" /></a></strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>This is line with <strong>&lsquo;One China&rsquo; principle.</strong>
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>China considers Taiwan to be part of its territory and wants to bring the island back into its fold.&nbsp;</li>
<li>Taiwan split from mainland China during a civil war in 1949 and set up a rival government.<a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1568709868_Images8.jpg" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1568709868_Images8.jpg" width="263" height="287" style="float: right;" caption="false" /></a></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>Now only <strong>16 countries worldwide continue to recognise Taiwan as an independent state. India is not among the sixteen countries.</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>With a population of 660,000, the Solomon Islands were easily Taiwan&rsquo;s largest remaining ally in the Pacific. Its economy relies on agriculture, fishing and forestry, and the country has a wealth of undeveloped mineral resources.</li>
<li>The Solomon Islands are located directly between Australia and the U.S. and was the site of fierce battles during World War II.</li>
<li>Its capital is Honiara.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="https://www.thehindu.com/news/international/taiwan-loses-biggest-pacific-ally-as-solomons-embraces-china/article29438023.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/solomon-islands-and-taiwan'
		],
		(int) 2 => [
			'title' => 'Uranium Mining in Nallamala Forest',
			'catname' => 'News Analysis',
			'desc' => '<p>Recently <strong>Union Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change</strong> has <strong>granted</strong> in-principle approval to the <strong>Department of Atomic Energy to survey and explore for uranium</strong> in 83 sq km of the <strong>Nallamala Forest Reserve.</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The <strong>Telangana State Legislative Assembly</strong> unanimously passed a resolution requesting the Central government <strong>not to permit</strong> uranium mining operations in <strong>Amrabad Tiger Reserve part of</strong> Nallamala forests and other areas of Telangana.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Background</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>About 63 organizations, including political parties, several environment activists have come together to form the <strong>&lsquo;Struggle Committee against Uranium Mining&rsquo;</strong></li>
<li>This committee aims to strengthen and take forward the campaign <strong>&lsquo;Save Nallamalla Forest&rsquo;</strong> to stop mining in the tiger reserve.</li>
<li>Uranium Mining in these areas also threatens the survival and livelihoods of <strong>Chenchu tribals,</strong> who live in the Amrabad forests.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Legal Framework For Uranium Mining</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>In pursuance to <strong>entry at serial No. 54 of List I,</strong> the Parliament has passed <strong>&lsquo;The Mines &amp; Minerals (Development and Regulation) Act, 1957&rsquo;.</strong> However, with respect to minor minerals, the rulemaking powers have been delegated to the States through this act.</li>
<li>Since <strong>Uranium</strong> is a <strong>major mineral,</strong> it is managed by the <strong>Union Government</strong> under provisions of <strong>Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Act, 1957.</strong></li>
<li>The policy and legislation relating to <strong>Major minerals</strong> are managed by the Ministry of Mines But Uranium being an <strong>atomic mineral</strong> is managed by the<strong> Department of Atomic Energy (DAE).</strong></li>
<li>Many of these mineral deposits are found in rich forest reserves and thus approval of Union Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change becomes necessary.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Uranium Mining In India</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>In India, Uranium deposits occur in the <strong>Dharwar rocks.</strong></li>
<li>It occurs along the Singbhum Copper belt <strong>(Jharkhand);</strong> Udaipur, Alwar and Jhunjhunu districts of <strong>Rajasthan,</strong> Durg district of <strong>Chhattisgarh,</strong> Bhandara district of <strong>Maharashtra</strong> and Kullu district of <strong>Himachal Pradesh.</strong></li>
<li>Significant quantity of reserves were recently discovered in parts of <strong>Andhra Pradesh and Telangana between Seshachalam forest and Sresailam (Southern edge of Andhra to Southern edge of Telangana).</strong></li>
<li>Uranium is used as a fuel for <strong>nuclear power reactors for electricity generation,</strong> in the manufacture of <strong>radioisotopes</strong> for <strong>medical applications</strong> and in <strong>nuclear science</strong> research.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Impacts of Uranium Mining</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Drilling of<strong> 4,000 deep holes</strong> will end up destroying the Amrabad Tiger Reserve which is home to a vast variety of wildlife.</li>
<li>The exploration will expose and <strong>pollute</strong> surface water, groundwater and leech minerals, and dangerous chemicals into the <strong>Nagarjunasagar Dam.</strong></li>
<li>Construction of roads will <strong>fragment and degrade the dry forests,</strong> which may never recover after such a massive exercise.</li>
<li>Rare, endangered and unique species of flora and fauna and overall biodiversity will be destroyed.</li>
<li><strong>Radiations</strong> from these mines will cause harm to the lives of people who live around them, which has been observed in Jharkhand&rsquo;s Jaduguda.</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Nallamala Forest Reserve</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Nallamala Forest Reserve is located in <strong>Nallamala Ranges</strong> of the <strong>Eastern Ghats.</strong></li>
<li>A part of the forest reserve belongs to the <strong>Nagarjunsagar-Srisailam Tiger Reserve which is the largest Tiger Reserve in India.</strong></li>
<li><strong>Amrabad Tiger Reserve</strong> also lies in the Nallamala hills.</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>Chenchu Tribe</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The Chenchus are Scheduled Tribe in the Indian states of Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Karnataka, and Odisha. But many Chenchus live in the dense Nallamala forest of Andhra Pradesh.</li>
<li>They are an aboriginal tribe whose traditional way of life has been based on hunting and gathering.</li>
<li>The Chenchus speak the Chenchu language, a member of the <strong>Dravidian language family.</strong></li>
<li>Chenchu's relationship with non-tribal people has been largely symbiotic.</li>
</ul>
</div>
<p><a href="https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/telangana/no-uranium-mining-in-amrabad-tiger-reserve-forest-telangana-cm/article29423784.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/uranium-mining-in-nallamala-forest'
		],
		(int) 3 => [
			'title' => 'J&K Public Safety Act',
			'catname' => 'News Analysis',
			'desc' => '<p>The former Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Farooq Abdullah has been detained under the state&rsquo;s Public Safety Act (PSA).</p>
<h3>Public Safety Act</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Preventive Detention Law:</strong> Under Jammu &amp; Kashmir Public Safety Act, 1978, a person is taken into custody to prevent him or her from acting in any manner that is prejudicial to the security of the state or the maintenance of public order.</li>
<li><strong>Period of Detention:</strong> Up to 2 years.</li>
<li><strong>Enforcement:</strong> Detention order is passed either by Divisional Commissioner or the District Magistrate.</li>
<li><strong>Challenging the Detention:</strong> The only way the administrative preventive detention order can be challenged is through a <a href="/gs-special/gs-special-polity/important-sources-of-the-indian-constitution" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>habeas corpus</strong></a> petition filed by <strong>relatives of the detained person.</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The High Court and the Supreme Court have jurisdiction to hear such petitions and pass a final order seeking quashing of the PSA.</li>
<li>However, if the order is quashed, there is no bar on the government passing another detention order under the PSA and detaining the person again.</li>
<li>There can be <strong>no prosecution or any legal proceeding against the official who has passed the order.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Habeas Corpus</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>It is a Latin term which literally means <strong>&lsquo;to have the body of&rsquo;.</strong></li>
<li>This writ is a bulwark of <strong>individual liberty</strong> against arbitrary detention.</li>
<li>The writ of habeas corpus can be issued against <strong>both public authorities as well as private individuals.</strong></li>
<li>The writ, on the other hand, is <strong>not issued</strong> where the:<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>detention is<strong> lawful,</strong></li>
<li>the proceeding is for <strong>contempt of a legislature or a court,</strong></li>
<li>detention is by a <strong>competent court,</strong> and</li>
<li>detention is <strong>outside the jurisdiction</strong> of the court.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</div>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>The similarity to the National Security Act (NSA)</strong> that is used by other state governments for preventive detention.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The NSA <strong>empowers the Centre or a State government to detain a person to prevent him from acting in any manner prejudicial to national security.</strong></li>
<li>The government can also detain a person to prevent him from disrupting public order or for maintenance of supplies and services essential to the community.</li>
<li>The maximum period for which one may be detained is <strong>12 months.</strong> But the term can be extended if the government finds fresh evidence.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Preventive Detention and Constitutional Provisions</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Preventive detention involves the <strong>detainment (confinement) of a person in order to keep them from committing future crimes</strong> and/or from escaping future prosecution.</li>
<li>It is<strong> different from &lsquo;being arrested&rsquo;.</strong> 'Arrest' is done when a person is charged with a crime but the same is not the case for preventive detention. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Punitive detention</strong> is punishment for illegal acts done.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Article 22(1)</strong> of the Constitution states that no person who is arrested shall be denied the right to consult, and to be defended by, a legal practitioner of his choice.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>However, under Preventive Detention Laws like the PSA, the detained person does not have the right to move a bail application before a criminal court, and cannot engage any lawyer to represent him or her before the detaining authority.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>When a person is arrested he/she has to be produced before a magistrate within the next 24 hours. However, in the case of 'preventive detention', a person can be detained for three months. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Article 22(2)</strong> states that every person arrested and detained shall be produced before the nearest magistrate within a period of 24 hours (excluding the time necessary for the journey from the place of arrest to the court) and no such person shall be detained beyond this period without the authority of a magistrate.</li>
<li><strong>Article 22(3)(b)</strong> allows for preventive detention and restriction on personal liberty for reasons of state security and public order.</li>
<li><strong>Article 22(4)</strong> states that no law providing for preventive detention shall authorise the detention of a person for a <strong>longer period than three months unless:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>an <strong>Advisory Board</strong> reports sufficient cause for extended detention.</li>
<li>Such a person is detained in accordance with the <strong>provisions of any law made by the Parliament.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Note:</strong> The <strong>44<sup>th</sup> Amendment Act of 1978</strong> has reduced the period of detention without obtaining the opinion of an advisory board from three to two months. However, this provision has not yet been brought into force, hence, the original period of three months still continues.</p>
</div>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Controversies</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>No democratic country in the world has made <strong>preventive detention as an integral part</strong> of the Constitution as has been done in India.</li>
<li>The governments sometimes use such laws in an extra-judicial power. Also, there remains a fear of arbitrary detentions.</li>
<li>However, the Supreme Court has held that in order to prevent misuse of this potentially dangerous power, the law of preventive detention has to be <strong>strictly construed and meticulous compliance</strong> with the procedural safeguards, is mandatory and vital.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="https://indianexpress.com/article/explained/farooq-abdullah-psa-jammu-and-kashmir-explained-6001031/" 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/j-and-k-public-safety-act'
		],
		(int) 4 => [
			'title' => 'SITMEX',
			'catname' => 'News Analysis',
			'desc' => '<p>The<strong> inaugural trilateral</strong> exercise, involving the <strong>Indian Navy (IN),</strong> the <strong>Republic of Singapore Navy (RSN),</strong> and the <strong>Royal Thailand Navy (RTN),</strong> recently commenced at Port Blair, Andaman and Nicobar.</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>SITMEX-2019 is <strong>five days long</strong> exercise.<a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1568706362_image1.jpg" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1568706362_image1.jpg" width="296" height="209" style="float: right;" caption="false" /></a></li>
<li>The exercise includes two phases:<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The <strong>harbour phase</strong> wherein professional exchanges, sports fixtures, and cross-deck familiarization visits would be organized.</li>
<li>During the <strong>sea phase</strong>, a host of surface and air operations involving gunnery, force protection measures, and communication drills, would be conducted for experience gaining and learning each other's best practices.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>From the Indian side, Indian Naval <strong>Ships</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Ranvir-</strong> a guided-missile destroyer,</li>
<li><strong>Kora-</strong> a missile corvette, and</li>
<li><strong>Sukanya-</strong> an offshore patrol vessel, along with</li>
<li><strong>P8I-</strong> long-range maritime reconnaissance <strong>aircraft,</strong> will participate in this exercise.<a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1568706397_image2.jpg" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1568706397_image2.jpg" width="293" height="207" style="float: right;" caption="false" /></a></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>It is aimed at strengthening the maritime inter-relationship (in terms of <strong>interoperability</strong>) amongst Singapore, Thailand, and India, and significantly contributes to enhancing the overall maritime security in the region.&nbsp;</li>
<li>Besides reinforcing the co-operation, the <strong>maiden</strong> IN-RSN-RTN Trilateral exercise would provide an opportunity to participating navies to come together in a spirit of collaboration to nurture stronger ties.</li>
<li>The Indian Army and Royal Thailand Army (RTA) joint <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/exercise-maitree" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Military Exercise MAITREE-2019</strong></a> is being held in Meghalaya from Sept 16-29, 2019.</li>
<li><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/important-facts-for-prelims-20th-may-2019" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>SIMBEX</strong></a> is the annual Maritime Bilateral Exercise between India and Singapore.</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="https://pib.gov.in/PressReleseDetailm.aspx?PRID=1585206" 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/sitmex'
		],
		(int) 5 => [
			'title' => 'Policy Watch- National Resource Efficiency Policy',
			'catname' => 'Lok Sabha & Rajya Sabha Discussions',
			'desc' => '<p style="text-align: center;"><iframe width="727" height="409" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/iemxHx1lZgI" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe></p>
<p><strong>Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC)</strong> has released<strong> Draft National Resource Efficiency Policy (NREP).</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The policy <strong>envisions</strong> a future with environmentally sustainable and equitable economic growth, resource security, healthy environment and restored ecosystems with rich ecology and biodiversity.</li>
<li>The draft talks about <strong>action plans</strong> with <strong>timeframe of 3 financial years starting from 2019.</strong></li>
<li>The policy is <strong>guided by the principles</strong> of-<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>reduction in primary resource consumption to sustainable levels</li>
<li>creation of higher value with less material through resource efficient and circular approaches</li>
<li>waste minimisation</li>
<li>creation of employment opportunities and business models beneficials to the cause of environmental protection and restoration</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Seven sectors identified for the First NREP Action Plans-<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Automotive Sector</li>
<li>Plastic Packaging Sector</li>
<li>Building and Construction Sector</li>
<li>Electrical and Electronic Equipment Sector</li>
<li>Solar Photo Voltaic Sector</li>
<li>Steel Sector</li>
<li>Aluminium Sector</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>Priority areas because they contribute almost 25% to Indian GDP.</li>
</ul>
</div>
<h3>Highlights of the Policy</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>The Energy and Resources Institute (TERI)</strong> put in efforts on the issue of improving resource utilisation because even though there were different policies under different ministries, a common <strong>connecting link</strong> was missing.</li>
<li>One of the <strong>objectives</strong> is to see how the existing policies are currently working for promotion of resources, and how <strong>life cycle thinking can be promoted</strong> across the different stakeholders so that they do not feel isolated.</li>
<li>Resources which are being <strong>extracted, produced, fabricated, designed</strong> and ultimately being <strong>consumed</strong> are a kind of one unit/entity which is travelling through the <strong>various stages of the life cycle.</strong> This is a very critical thought in the formation of this policy.</li>
<li>TERI compiled a <strong>sectoral assessment</strong> of various sectors with potential opportunities and shared it with <strong>MoEFCC</strong> which prepared the draft for the policy.</li>
</ul>
<h3>How the policy ensures mainstreaming of resource efficiency in India?</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Two major sectors of <strong>Solar Photovoltaic</strong> and <strong>Plastic Packaging</strong> has been taken up on a very large scale by the Prime Minister of India (ban on one time use plastic from 2nd October).</li>
<li>Only one ministry will not be able to meet the desired results so a <strong>wholesome process and a holistic approach</strong> by all ministries is required to get the desired results.</li>
<li>In the concept of <a href="/summary-of-important-reports/strategy-on-resource-efficiency" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Resource Efficiency</strong></a>, <strong>end product of one industry</strong> would be used as an <strong>initial product of another industry</strong> so there has to be an <strong>industrial symbiosis.</strong></li>
<li>All the ministries would have to be on board to <strong>check the complete and total outlook of the end product</strong> and <strong>less of virgin material</strong> (materials sourced directly from nature in their raw form, such as wood or metal ores) will be used and <strong>more focus will be on the secondary resource material</strong> which can help India to achieve the <strong>five trillion dollar economy by 2024.</strong></li>
</ul>
<h3>How to ensure reduction in primary consumption?</h3>
<p>India&rsquo;s primary consumption has <strong>increased 6 times</strong> from <strong>1.18 billion tonnes in 1970</strong> to <strong>approximately 17 billion tonnes in 2015.</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Efficient use of existing resources:</strong> The size and goals of indian economy make it difficult to reduce the primary consumption but the <strong>efficiency can be increased of the existing resources</strong> which are being consumed and recycled wherever possible.</li>
<li><strong>Fixation of the supply chain:</strong> This policy envisages to <strong>address and fix the whole supply chain.</strong></li>
<li><strong>Prioritisation of the issues:</strong> The disconnect between our polity and society needs to be broken down and issues with utmost priority need to occupy <strong>centre stage and centre debate.</strong></li>
<li><strong>Taxation and Incentivisation:</strong> The policy envisages some amount of <strong>taxation</strong> and some amount of <strong>incentives</strong> on nudging behaviour either<strong> on recycling</strong> or <strong>on secondary material reuse.</strong></li>
</ul>
<h3>How do we get all the stakeholders on board?</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>By <strong>bringing in representatives from all the ministries involved,</strong> who are working for the different sectors or on various stages of value chain.</li>
<li>By <strong>adopting a collaborative approach</strong> to understand the challenges and to bring in the <strong>principles of 6Rs (Rethink/Reinvent, Refuse, Reduce, Reuse/Repair, Recycle and Replace/Rebuy)</strong> to work in line with the larger objective of sustainable consumption and production.</li>
<li>By <strong>spreading awareness</strong> at the top level, mainly at ministerial level about the<strong> growth of need for resources</strong> and the crucial question of where to get them from.</li>
<li>By <strong>encouraging representatives</strong> from stakeholder communities to <strong>contribute and understand the limitations</strong> and work together to overcome those limitations.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Targets of the Plan</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>To solve the <strong>need of a single coordinating force</strong> which can make an action plan to be followed by different ministries, without entering into the territory of the ministries and not becoming a threat to them.</li>
<li>This can be <strong>used as a prototype</strong> for the sectors which would be taken up after these initial seven sectors after 3 years.</li>
<li>To save our resources and finance by <strong>shunning the linear economy</strong> and <strong>adopting circular economy,</strong> major achievements can be done.</li>
<li>More focus on <strong>abiotic resources</strong> for the time being and <strong>biotic</strong> resources to be talked about in the later phases of the plan.</li>
</ul>
<h3>How to monitor the plan?</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The <strong>action plan</strong> follows up after acceptance and adoption of the policy, <strong>setting up a board and a regulatory authority.</strong></li>
<li>Regulatory Authority will set up rules and regulations which will govern the identified sectors, and the board will create a consensus to implement those rules and regulations.</li>
<li>This environmental policy is a <strong>consensual process</strong> so it <strong>needs to be linked to the ease of living</strong> and once that is done, different ministries can be pulled together.</li>
<li><strong>Convincing ministries</strong> to give <strong>incentives for secondary reuse of material</strong> so that it will improve the lives of people, living conditions finally impacting ease of business and the ease of living targets.</li>
<li><strong>Letting go of some commercial interest which will be covered by incentives</strong> with the help of political and bureaucratic leadership to mediate and ease the convincing among multiple stakeholders.</li>
</ul>
<h3>How do our businesses remain environmentally sustainable and how to create such models?</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>By looking at ways to give the product a second life, looking for ways to make <strong>secondary products more competitive</strong> in terms of its value market and finding markets of such products for consumers.</li>
<li>By <strong>creating a scale</strong> and bringing it to a level to ensure that <strong>business is sustainable in terms of economies of scale.</strong></li>
<li>Coming up with unique models to see how this scale effect can be generated and eventually able to <strong>deliver recycled products</strong> in a <strong>more economically effective</strong> and <strong>competitive manner,</strong> and also <strong>in line with the standards of virgin materials.</strong></li>
<li>While assigning role to economic instruments, the real test is how to make the <strong>incentives win-win opportunities for all</strong> the players in the market.</li>
<li>Focus should be to <strong>create the market and opportunities for both</strong> the markets- <strong>virgin product</strong> manufacturing and <strong>recycled product</strong> manufacturing.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Challenges</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Such <strong>omnibus policy</strong> has so many stakeholders and often they get into <strong>inter or intra ministerial and interdepartmental conflicts</strong> or even <strong>centre-state</strong> conflicts as well.</li>
<li>Even the <strong>abiotic</strong> resources have <strong>not</strong> been <strong>realized</strong> to their <strong>full potential,</strong> leave alone the biotic resources even though both have mentions in the policy.</li>
<li>Different stages of a product's lifecycle are managed by different parts of the government, divided at central and state levels so it might be <strong>difficult to coordinate.</strong></li>
</ul>
<h3>Suggestions</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>It needs to be <strong>translated into multiple languages</strong> so that consumers can understand the policy very well.</li>
<li>It needs to be <strong>communicated at state and city level</strong> so that people know it and demand it to work.</li>
<li><strong>Focus on every sector equally</strong> if the plan has to be successful.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Green procurement</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>There has to be a <strong>change in the behaviour of the consumer</strong> which will be done by <strong>incentivisation</strong> of green procurement.</li>
<li>There should be an<strong> incentive on the part of the consumer</strong> and there should be <strong>assurance</strong> through <strong>audits, monitoring, verification</strong> that the product being used is a first-grade product and the money of the consumer is not wasted.</li>
<li><strong>Creating awareness</strong> about behavioural change is important if the policy needs to be successful.</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Green Procurement-</strong> It means purchasing products and services that <strong>cause minimal adverse environmental impacts.</strong> It incorporates human health and environmental concerns into the search for high-quality products and services at competitive prices.</p>
</div>
<p>Provides an overarching collaborative framework for resource efficiency across all sectors in the country.</p>',
			'postdate' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenTime) {},
			'url' => 'https://www.drishtiias.com/loksabha-rajyasabha-discussions/policy-watch-national-resource-efficiency-policy'
		],
		(int) 6 => [
			'title' => 'South China Sea',
			'catname' => 'Paper 2',
			'desc' => '<p><a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1568638029_South%20China Sea (Mind Map).png" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1568638029_South China Sea (Mind Map).png" width="447" height="1652" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" /></a></p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><a href="/to-the-points/Paper2/south-china-sea" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><em>For TTP</em></a></p>',
			'postdate' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenTime) {},
			'url' => 'https://www.drishtiias.com/mind-map/gs-paper2/south-china-sea-mind-map'
		],
		(int) 7 => [
			'title' => 'Jan Soochna Portal',
			'catname' => 'News Editorials',
			'desc' => '<div class="border">
<p>This article is based on <a href="https://www.thehindu.com/opinion/op-ed/a-milestone-in-greater-transparency-accountability/article29411242.ece" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>&ldquo;A milestone in greater transparency, accountability&rdquo;</strong></a> which appeared in The Hindu on 14 September 2019. It talks about Jan Soochna Portal that has brought a sea change to the narrative of good governance.</p>
</div>
<p>Recently, the government of Rajasthan had launched <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/jan-soochna-portal" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Jan Soochna Portal (JSP)</strong></a>, which is in <strong>concurrence with the spirit of</strong> <a href="/to-the-points/paper4/right-to-information-1" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Right to Information Act (RTI)</strong></a>. This virtually makes JSP a <strong>Janta Information System.</strong></p>
<p>JSP envisages public disclosure of data, which is the furtherance of civil society reforms initiated by the RTI, making it in synergy with good governance.</p>
<p>Thus, JSP is <strong>worthy of emulation by other States</strong> so as to implement the <strong>narrative of minimum government and maximum governance.</strong></p>
<h3>Jan Soochna Portal</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The portal aims to provide information to the public about government authorities and departments empowering them with access to useful information.</li>
<li>JSP integrates data regarding the employment guarantee programme, sanitation, the public distribution system among others, by not only explaining the schemes but also providing real-time information on beneficiaries, authorities in charge, progress, etc</li>
<li><strong>Information kiosks</strong> in village panchayats and <strong>self-service e-Mitra centres</strong> in the towns will be established to enable the people to access the information.</li>
<li><strong>Grievance redressal officers</strong> will be appointed so that citizens can keep a check upon the accountability aspect of the State government.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Need for JSP like Initiative</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Although, there has been a rapid release of public information on various government-run websites, this information has often been parcelled, dispersed and difficult to parse <em>(comprehend).</em>
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>It means the focus has been more on showcasing data and records rather than releasing structured information. This makes it difficult for the citizenry to get desired information.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>National Judicial Data Grid which provides information regarding the pending cases, was launched on a similar framework. It has led judiciary to concentrate on the disposal of old pending cases with considerable success.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Benefits of JSP</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Centralization of information:</strong> As a one-shot portal for public information on government programmes, the JSP can advance the objective of transparency.</li>
<li><strong>Inclusiveness:</strong> The access points of information that are open and free, is a step towards good governance.</li>
<li><strong>Democratization of information:</strong> Since the information is available on the Internet, every citizen, right down to the municipal ward and panchayat, has access to the information.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>JSP has made people, including the marginalised sections, <strong>a part of the governance process.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Better delivery of public services:</strong> JSP will help in <strong>better targeting, expediting industrial and environmental clearances.</strong></li>
</ul>
<h3>JSP vs RTI</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The RTI Act had dealt with the citizen&rsquo;s right to know about public information and required public authorities to expeditiously provide information <strong>on request from the citizenry.</strong>
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>However, through JSP, <strong>there is no need for anyone to take recourse to the RTI Act and await a response.</strong> As all information can be accessed immediately, free of cost.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>While RTI filings have increased exponentially and RTI-activism has become part and parcel of civil society, but there have been <strong>dilutions in the Act</strong> pertaining to the appointments of information commissioners, therefore impinging on their autonomy.</li>
<li>Also, the <strong>response rate to RTI requests has also slowed down</strong> over the period.</li>
<li>Apart from these issues, it is important to note that <strong>Section 4(2) of the Act,</strong> which specifically enjoins upon public authorities to publish information proactively, <strong>has not been implemented holistically so far.</strong></li>
<li>Therefore, the public disclosure of information through JSP have <strong>brought a sea change</strong> in accountability and has led to the possibility of a well-informed citizenry on the workings of the government.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Challenges for JSP</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Challenges related to the existing <strong>digital divide in India</strong> need to be addressed.</li>
<li><strong>Digital illiteracy:</strong> While digital connectivity and literacy have increased over time, these have <strong>not adequately translated into digital knowledge of public affairs.</strong></li>
<li>Given the size of<strong> India's bureaucratic architecture,</strong> maintenance of JSP is itself is a big challenge.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The challenge would be to ensure that the information flow remains unhampered over time.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Way Forward</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>To reap the full potential of the platform like JSP, it is important to <strong>educate the citizenry about the use of data</strong> on the portal.</li>
<li>Also, the union government should provide a single portal through which disclosures of all public authorities could be accessed, to facilitate easy availability of information.</li>
<li>Apart from it, a lot more needs to be done to usher in accountability in governance, including <strong>protection of whistleblowers, decentralization of power and fusion of authority with accountability at all levels.</strong></li>
</ul>
<p>Transparency must be accompanied by accountability, and that is where the JSP has great value and significance since it places the power of making the State government accountable to everyone who accesses the information made available on the portal. <strong>This makes JSP a milestone in increasing transparency and accountability in governance.</strong></p>
<table border="1" style="border-collapse: collapse; width: 100%;">
<tbody>
<tr>
<td style="width: 100%; border-style: dotted; border-color: #ff0000; background-color: #fff7e6;">
<p><span style="color: #000080;"><em><strong>Drishti Mains Question</strong></em></span><br /><br />The Jan Soochna Portal launched by the government of Rajasthan is a remarkable achievement in furtherance of the right to information. Comment.</p>
</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<p><strong>Source:</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><a href="https://www.thehindu.com/opinion/editorial/effort-worth-emulation/article29425185.ece" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>https://www.thehindu.com/opinion/editorial/effort-worth-emulation/article29425185.ece</strong></a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/other-states/rajasthan-launches-information-portal/article29411172.ece" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/other-states/rajasthan-launches-information-portal/article29411172.ece</strong></a></li>
</ul>',
			'postdate' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenTime) {},
			'url' => 'https://www.drishtiias.com/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/jan-soochna-portal-1'
		],
		(int) 8 => [
			'title' => 'Radiative Cooling & Electricity Generation',
			'catname' => 'News Analysis',
			'desc' => '<p>Recently, a scientist of Indian-origin has demonstrated a new way to <strong>generate electricity at night,</strong> without any active heat input.</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The prototype device employs <strong>radiative cooling,</strong> in which a sky-facing surface passes its heat to the <strong>atmosphere as thermal radiation, losing some heat</strong> to space and reaching a cooler temperature than the surrounding air.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>This phenomenon explains how frost forms on the grass during above-freezing nights, and the same principle can be used to generate electricity, <strong>harnessing temperature differences to produce renewable electricity at night,</strong> when lighting demand peaks.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>According to the <strong>laws of thermodynamics,</strong> everything on Earth emits heat. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>At night, when one side of Earth turns away from the sun, its buildings &amp; streets cool off.</li>
<li>If no clouds are present to trap warmth, objects on the Earth can lose so much heat that they reach a lower temperature than the air surrounding them.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>It can be noted that humans have taken advantage of this effect for millenniums. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Six thousand years ago, people in Iran and Afghanistan constructed enormous <strong>beehive-shaped structures</strong> called <strong>Yakhchal,</strong> which used this <strong>passive cooling</strong> effect to <strong>create and store ice in the desert.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Working Principle</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>This device releases the heat unevenly in a manner that the top side cooling is more than the bottom side cooling. It then <strong>converts the difference in heat into electricity.</strong></li>
<li>At its heart is the gadget called a <strong>thermoelectric generator,</strong> which uses the difference in temperature between opposite sides of the device to generate a current.</li>
<li>When the device was connected to a voltage converter, it was able to power a white LED.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Potential Application</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>This could be a broadly enabling approach to power generation suitable for remote locations, and anywhere where power generation at night is needed.</li>
<li>While solar cells are an efficient source of renewable energy during the day, there is currently no similar renewable approach to generating power at night.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Way Forward</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Although the amount of electricity it generates per unit area remains relatively small, limiting its widespread applications for now, but the researchers predict it can be made twenty times more powerful with improved engineering -- such as by suppressing heat gain in the radiative cooling component to increase heat-exchange efficiency.</li>
<li>If this device could produce any amount of electricity at night, it would be valuable as after the sun sets, solar cells don&rsquo;t work and winds often die down. This innovation is vital in complementing other renewable sources of energy.</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1568628496_Image14.jpg" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1568628496_Image14.jpg" width="318" height="534" caption="false" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" /></a></p>
<p><a href="https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/small-biz/startups/features/transformative-new-device-harvests-energy-in-darkness/articleshow/71107147.cms" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Source: Economic Times</strong></a></p>',
			'postdate' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenTime) {},
			'url' => 'https://www.drishtiias.com/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/radiative-cooling-and-electricity-generation'
		],
		(int) 9 => [
			'title' => 'World Ozone Day',
			'catname' => 'News Analysis',
			'desc' => '<p>Every year, <strong>16<sup>th</sup> September</strong> is observed as the <strong>International Day</strong> for the<strong> Preservation of the Ozone layer.</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The<strong> theme</strong> for the year 2019 is<strong> &lsquo;32 Years and Healing&rsquo;.</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>It celebrates over three decades of remarkable international cooperation to protect the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/ozone-pollution" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>ozone layer</strong></a> and the climate under the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/ozone-layer-is-recovering-un" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Montreal Protocol.</strong></a></li>
<li>It reminds that the world must keep up the momentum to ensure healthy people and a healthy planet.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>In 1994, the United Nations General Assembly proclaimed 16<sup>th</sup> September the International Day for the Preservation of the Ozone Layer, <strong>commemorating</strong> the date of the signing, in 1987, of the <strong>Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer.</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The Montreal Protocol has led to <strong>the phase-out of 99% of ozone-depleting</strong> chemicals in refrigerators, air-conditioners and many other products.</li>
<li>The latest Scientific Assessment of Ozone Depletion completed in 2018, shows that <strong>parts of the ozone layer has recovered at a rate of 1-3% per decade since 2000.</strong></li>
<li>Ozone layer protection efforts have also <strong>contributed to the fight against climate change</strong> by averting an estimated 135 billion tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent emissions, from 1990 to 2010.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Ozone</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Ozone (composed of three atoms of oxygen)</strong> occurs both in the Earth's upper atmosphere<strong> (stratosphere)</strong> and at ground level <strong>(troposphere)</strong>. It can be good or bad, depending on where it is found.</li>
<li><strong>Good Ozone:</strong> Ozone occurs naturally in the <strong>Earth's upper atmosphere (Stratosphere)</strong> where it forms a protective layer that <strong>shields us from the sun's harmful ultraviolet rays.</strong></li>
<li><strong>Bad Ozone:</strong> In the <strong>Earth's lower atmosphere (troposphere)</strong> near ground level, ozone is formed when pollutants emitted by cars, power plants, industrial boilers, refineries, chemical plants, and other sources react chemically in the presence of sunlight.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Surface level ozone is a <strong>harmful air pollutant.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</div>
<p><a href="https://www.hindustantimes.com/world-news/world-ozone-day-2019-significance-history-and-importance/story-VPAQ3QtOJhpsU0LCk0d05K.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Source: HT</strong></a></p>',
			'postdate' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenTime) {},
			'url' => 'https://www.drishtiias.com/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/world-ozone-day'
		],
		(int) 10 => [
			'title' => 'Karan Vandana - A New Hybrid Wheat Variety',
			'catname' => 'News Analysis',
			'desc' => '<p>A new hybrid wheat variety <strong>Karan Vandana</strong> is soon to be launched across the country.</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>It is also known as <strong>DBW-187.</strong></li>
<li>It is <strong>rich in protein and iron.</strong></li>
<li>It has <strong>high heat tolerance</strong> across the country.</li>
<li>It is resistant to <strong>yellow rust</strong> and <strong>wheat blast</strong> which causes widespread losses.</li>
<li>It will <strong>reduce unit costs for farmers</strong> as well as <strong>return higher yield than normal varieties.</strong></li>
<li>It can be cultivated <strong>only in areas under full irrigation support.</strong></li>
<li>It has been developed by the <strong>Indian Institute of Wheat and Barley Research (IIWBR)</strong> under the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR).</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Yellow Rust<a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1568623029_image13.jpg" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1568623029_image13.jpg" style="float: right;" width="111" height="167" caption="false" /></a></strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Yellow rust is a <strong>fungal</strong> disease that manifests as powdery<strong> yellow stripes on leaves.</strong></li>
<li>These yellow stripes<strong> hinder photosynthesis</strong> and <strong>stunt the growth</strong> of the plant.</li>
<li>Higher temperature combined with rains during wheat growing season aid the growth and spread of the disease.</li>
<li>All the wheat-growing states like Punjab, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, the Tarai region of Uttarakhand, Uttar Pradesh and the low lying areas of Jammu and Kashmir are susceptible to the disease.</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>Wheat Blast<a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1568623049_image12.jpg" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1568623049_image12.jpg" width="202" height="134" style="float: right;" caption="false" /></a></strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Wheat Blast is a <strong>fungal</strong> disease.</li>
<li>It prevents <strong>maturation of the actual grain which</strong> affects reproduction by causing the host to produce fewer seeds.</li>
<li>It can <strong>infect</strong> huge areas of cultivation resulting in <strong>more than 75% yield loss.</strong></li>
</ul>
</div>
<p><a href="https://www.thehindubusinessline.com/portfolio/commodity-analysis/indias-mountain-of-grain-is-set-to-implode/article29424188.ece" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Source: BL</strong></a></p>',
			'postdate' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenTime) {},
			'url' => 'https://www.drishtiias.com/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/karan-vandana-a-new-hybrid-wheat-variety'
		],
		(int) 11 => [
			'title' => 'Vulture Culture',
			'catname' => 'News Analysis',
			'desc' => '<p>India is home to nine species of vultures, but most of them face the danger of extinction.</p>
<p>The nine species of vultures &amp; their International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) status are:</p>
<p><a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1568628031_Image15.jpg" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1568628031_Image15.jpg" width="559" height="1083" caption="false" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" /></a></p>
<h3>Conservation Efforts</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>To <strong>study the cause of deaths</strong> of vultures in India, a Vulture Care Centre (VCC) was set up at <strong>Pinjore, Haryana</strong> in 2001.</li>
<li>Later <strong>in 2004,</strong> the VCC was upgraded to being the <strong>first</strong> Vulture Conservation and Breeding Centres (VCBC) in India.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>At present, there are <strong>nine</strong> Vulture Conservation and Breeding Centres (VCBC) in India, of which three are directly administered by the Bombay Natural History Society (BNHS).</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>The <strong>main objective</strong> of the VCBCs was to look after the vultures and <strong>breed them</strong> in captivity and also release them into the wild.</li>
<li>India&rsquo;s conservation efforts are focussed on the three species of vultures which are <strong>Critically Endangered</strong> according to the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/iucn-red-list" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN)</strong></a> namely,
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><em>White-backed Vulture,</em></li>
<li><em>Slender-billed Vulture, and</em></li>
<li><em>Long-billed Vulture.</em></li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Reasons for Death of Vultures</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The major reason behind the vulture population getting nearly wiped out was the <strong>drug Diclofenac.</strong> It was found in the carcass of cattle on which the vultures feed.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The drug was commonly administered to cattle <strong>to treat inflammation.</strong></li>
<li>Its veterinary use was <strong>banned in 2008</strong> by the Government of India.</li>
<li><strong>Bioaccumulation</strong> (the gradual accumulation of substances, such as pesticides, or other chemicals in an organism) of Diclofenac caused <strong>kidney failure</strong> in Vultures, leading to death.</li>
<li>Diclofenac is dangerously fatal for Vultures. Even 1% of it in carcass would kill the Vulture in a short time after it feeds such carcass.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>The <strong>poisoned carcasses</strong> were dumped to kill some local stray animals. But when vultures fed on them, it became one of the vital reasons leading to their death.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>It is imperative to manage our carcass dumps and make sure that poisoned carcasses are not dumped for the vultures to feed on.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>The forest department <strong>cremates the animal carcasses instead of burying</strong> them, to keep the poachers away. But this practice is denying food to vultures leading to their death out of <strong>starvation.</strong></li>
</ul>
<h3>Way Forward</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The forest department needs to give emphasis on <strong>creating awareness</strong> and on <strong>creating safe zones for vultures</strong> in places where there is an existing vulture population.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>So far <strong>nine states</strong> have undertaken programmes to create safe habitats for vultures.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>Vultures are <strong>slow-breeding birds,</strong> there is a need for immediate intervention to save them from extinction.</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="https://www.thehindu.com/sci-tech/energy-and-environment/vulture-culture-how-the-bird-was-saved-from-extinction/article29425421.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/vulture-culture'
		],
		(int) 12 => [
			'title' => 'Steps To Spur Economic Growth',
			'catname' => 'News Analysis',
			'desc' => '<p>The Finance Minister has announced a <strong>number of measures to help reignite the slowing economy.</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The primary reasons for this slowdown include <strong>weak consumption</strong> (e.g. reduction in auto sales, housing sales etc.) and a <strong>deteriorating global environment</strong> (US-China trade war, Brexit etc.).</li>
</ul>
<h3>Measures To Boost Export Sector</h3>
<p><a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1568620933_image10.jpg" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1568620933_image10.jpg" width="760" height="414" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" caption="false" /></a></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Use of Information and Communications Technology (ICT):</strong> Number of measures have been announced to leverage technology to promote exports.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Fully electronic refund module</strong> for a quick and automated refund of <strong>Input Tax Credits (ITC)</strong> will be implemented by end September 2019.
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>ITC means deducting the tax paid on inputs from the tax payable on the final output.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>An <strong>Online &ldquo;Origin Management System&rdquo;</strong> for exporters to enable them to obtain <strong>Certificates of Origin &ndash; CoO</strong> will be launched.
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li><strong>Certificate of Origin</strong> is an instrument which establishes evidence o&shy;n the origin of goods imported into any country. These certificates are essential for exporters to prove where their goods come from and therefore stake their claim to whatever benefits goods of Indian origin may be eligible for in the country of exports.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Technology will be further leveraged</strong> to further <strong>reduce "Time to export"</strong> - through seamless process digitization of all export clearances (port/airport/customs, etc) and elimination of offline/manual services.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Remission of Duties or Taxes on Export Product (RoDTEP):</strong> It will replace the <strong>Merchandise Exports from India Scheme (MEIS),</strong> which is not compliant with world trade rules.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The new scheme will be implemented from 1<sup>st</sup> January 2020 and will more than adequately incentivize exporters than existing schemes put together.</li>
<li>The <strong>Merchandise Exports from India Scheme (MEIS)</strong> was introduced in the Foreign Trade Policy (FTP) 2015-20 w.e.f. 1st April 2015 with the objective to offset infrastructural inefficiencies and associated costs involved in exporting goods/products which are produced /manufactured in India including products produced/manufactured by MSME Sector.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Export Financing:</strong> To increase bank credit to exporters, the Export Credit Guarantee Corporation (ECGC) will expand the scope of its Export Credit Insurance Scheme (ECIS) to provide a <strong>higher insurance cover to banks</strong> that are lending working capital for exports.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Credit flow to exporters has come down by 35%.</li>
<li>At present banks are covered for 60% of what they lend to exporters for working capital. With the new move, it is expected to be increased to 90%.</li>
<li>It would also enable a reduction in the overall cost of export credit including interest rates, especially to MSMEs.
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li><strong>Effective monitoring of export financing</strong> will be done by the Department of Commerce.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>Export finance refers to financial assistance extended by banks and other financial institutions to businesses for the shipping of products outside a country or region.
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li><strong><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/rbi-raises-cap-on-home-loan-under-psl" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Priority Sector Lending (PSL)</a> norms for export credit have been examined</strong> and enabling guidelines are under consideration of RBI.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>This will release an additional Rs. 36,000 - 68,000 crores as export credit under the priority sector.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Effective Use of FTAs: <a href="/summary-of-important-reports/a-note-on-free-trade-agreements-and-their-costs" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Free Trade Agreement (FTA)</a></strong> <strong>Utilisation Mission,</strong> headed by a Senior officer in the Department of Commerce, will be set up, to work exclusively with export houses to utilise concessional tariffs in each FTA.</li>
<li><strong>Mega Shopping Festivals:</strong> To boost exports, <strong>Dubai- like annual mega shopping festivals</strong> in India will be organized in 4 places across March 2020. These will focus on four themes: Gems &amp; Jewellery, Handicrafts/Yoga/Tourism, Textiles and Leather.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Measures To Boost Housing Sector</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Increasing Bank Credit for Homebuyers:</strong>
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/rbi-eases-external-commercial-borrowing-framework" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>External Commercial Borrowing (ECB)</strong></a> guidelines will be relaxed to facilitate financing for home buyers who are eligible under the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/pradhan-mantri-awas-yojana-grameen-behind-target" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana.</strong></a></li>
<li>The interest rate on house building advances will be lowered and linked with the 10 Year Government Security yields.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>A Special Window Fund,</strong> to provide last mile funding to non-NPA <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/solving-the-npa-crisis-in-india" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>(Non-Performing Assets)</strong></a> and non- NCLT <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/important-fact-for-prelims-4th-march-2019-" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>(National Company Law Tribunal)</strong></a> projects in the affordable and middle-income category.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The government will contribute up to Rs 10,000 crores alongside other investors including LIC and private banks.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1568628858_image4.jpg" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1568628858_image4.jpg" width="613" height="365" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" caption="false" /></a></p>
<p><a href="http://164.100.117.97/WriteReadData/userfiles/FM%20Announcements%20of%20Measures%20to%20Boost%20Exports%20and%20Housing%20DOC%20corrected.pdf" 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/steps-to-spur-economic-growth'
		],
		(int) 13 => [
			'title' => 'South China Sea',
			'catname' => 'Paper 2',
			'desc' => '<h3>Why in news?</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Recently, at the <strong>Indian Ocean Conference (IOC)</strong> in <strong>Maldives' Male, US Ambassador to South Korea attacked China</strong> for illegally building artificial islands and militarising them in the South China Sea to which China responded by saying that it has <strong>indisputable sovereignty</strong> over the <strong>Nansha Islands (Spratly Islands)</strong> and the adjacent waters of the sea.</li>
<li>Addionationally, <strong>China rejected a UN-backed international tribunal ruling</strong> and said that dispute of South China Sea is not up for negotiation to the visiting Philippine President.</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Indian Ocean Conference- IOC 2019</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Organised by <strong>India Foundation</strong> in association with <strong>Government of Maldives</strong> and <strong>S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies, Singapore in Male, Maldives.</strong></li>
<li>It was the <strong>4<sup>th</sup> edition</strong> of IOC with the theme of <strong>"Securing the Indian Ocean Region: Traditional and Non-Traditional Challenges".</strong></li>
<li>Main topics of discussion were- <strong>Marine Ecology, Terrorism and Navigational Security.</strong></li>
</ul>
</div>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea (ITLOS)</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Came into existence following the entry into force of <strong>the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS),</strong> on <strong>16 November 1994.</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>UNCLOS, also known as <strong>Law of the Sea Convention</strong> or the <strong>Law of the Sea Treaty</strong> is the <strong>international agreement</strong> that resulted out of the <strong>third United Nations Conference on the Law of the Sea.</strong></li>
<li>It defines the rights and responsibilities of nations with respect to their use of the world's oceans, establishing guidelines for businesses, the environment, and the management of marine natural resources.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>Headquartered at <strong>Hamburg, Germany.</strong></li>
<li>Currently <strong>168</strong> members.</li>
<li>An <strong>independent judicial body</strong> that maintains close links with the UN and both have entered various agreements concerning cooperation and relationship.</li>
</ul>
</div>
<h3>South China Sea<a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1568618560_image4.jpg" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1568618560_image4.jpg" width="576" height="772" style="float: right;" caption="false" /></a></h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>South China Sea is an arm of <strong>western Pacific Ocean</strong> in <strong>Southeast Asia.</strong></li>
<li>It is <strong>south of China, east &amp; south of Vietnam, west of the Philippines</strong> and <strong>north of the island of Borneo.</strong></li>
<li><strong>Bordering states &amp; territories</strong> (clockwise from north): <strong>the People&rsquo;s Republic of China, the Republic of China (Taiwan), the Philippines, Malaysia, Brunei, Indonesia, Singapore and Vietnam.</strong></li>
<li>It is connected by <strong>Taiwan Strait with the East China Sea</strong> and by <strong>Luzon Strait with the Philippine Sea.</strong></li>
<li>It contains numerous shoals, reefs, atolls and islands. <strong>The Paracel Islands, the Spratly Islands and the Scarborough Shoal</strong> are the most important.</li>
</ul>
<h3>What makes it so important?</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>This sea holds tremendous <strong>strategic importance</strong> for its location as it is the <strong>connecting link between the Indian Ocean and the Pacific Ocean. (Strait of Malacca)</strong></li>
<li>According to <strong>the United Nations Conference on Trade And Development (UNCTAD) one-third of the global shipping</strong> passes through it, carrying trillions of trade which makes it a significant <strong>geopolitical</strong> water body.</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1568618607_image1.jpg" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1568618607_image1.jpg" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" caption="false" width="591" height="319" /></a></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>According to <strong>the Department of Environment and Natural Resources, Philippines,</strong> this sea has <strong>one-third of the entire world&rsquo;s marine biodiversity</strong> and contains<strong> lucrative fisheries</strong> providing <strong>food security</strong> to the Southeast Asian nations.</li>
<li>South China Sea is believed to have <strong>huge oil and gas reserves</strong> beneath its seabed.</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>United Nations Conference on Trade And Development (UNCTAD)</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Permanent intergovernmental body</strong> established by the <strong>United Nations General Assembly in 1964.</strong></li>
<li>Headquartered in <strong>Geneva, Switzerland.</strong></li>
<li>Part of the UN Secretariat and the United Nations Development Group.</li>
<li>Main UN body dealing with <strong>trade, investment and development issues.</strong></li>
</ul>
</div>
<h3>Timeline</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>1994 &ndash; The Convention on the Law of the Sea</strong> went into effect. The United States called this treaty the <strong>&ldquo;Law of the Sea Convention.&rdquo;</strong></li>
<li><strong>1997</strong> &ndash; Beijing shared the first rendering of its <strong>&ldquo;Nine-dash Line&rdquo;</strong> extending roughly 1,118 miles from Hainan Island to waters off equatorial Borneo under China&rsquo;s historical claim of having it in the past.</li>
<li><strong>2002 &ndash; ASEAN</strong> and <strong>China</strong> signed <strong>the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea.</strong></li>
<li><strong>2009</strong> &ndash; China issued<strong> two diplomatic notes</strong> that appear to claim a majority of the South China Sea.</li>
<li><strong>2013 &ndash; The Philippines challenged China&rsquo;s claims</strong> of historic rights and other actions in an <strong>arbitration case</strong> under<strong> the Law of the Sea Convention.</strong></li>
<li><strong>2016 &ndash; The Arbitration Tribunal ruled in favor of the Philippines</strong> and rejected China&rsquo;s maritime claims that go beyond the entitlements set out in the Convention.</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1568618656_image3.jpg" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1568618656_image3.jpg" width="531" height="531" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" caption="false" /></strong></a></p>
<p><strong>Nine Dash Line</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Stretches hundreds of kilometers south and east of China&rsquo;s southerly Hainan Island, <strong>covering the strategic Paracel and Spratly island chains.</strong></li>
<li>China claims it by <strong>citing 2,000 years of history</strong> when the two island chains were regarded as its integral parts.</li>
</ul>
</div>
<h3>Issues Involved</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>China claims most of the contested sea, reaching almost to the philippines shores and has <strong>built artificial islands with heavy military developments</strong> on them which worries the neighbouring nations and it rejects the UN backed international tribunal ruling as well.</li>
<li>The nine dash line asserted by China <strong>violates the principle of Exclusive Economic Zones (EEZ).</strong></li>
<li>The <strong>stalled negotiations</strong> between China and ASEAN made headway on Code of Conduct as four of the ASEAN nations also made territorial claims on the disputed waters which adds to the problem with already non-negotiable behaviour of China.</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Exclusive Economic Zones (EEZ)</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>It is a formula based on compromise and was <strong>recognized by the UN Conference on the Law of the Sea in 1976.</strong></li>
<li>It covers an area beyond and adjacent to the territorial sea: it can extend to a maximum of <strong>200 nautical miles</strong> from the baselines.</li>
<li>Activities allowed in EEZ are -<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>creation and use of artificial islands, installations and structures.</strong></li>
<li><strong>marine scientific research.</strong></li>
<li><strong>the protection and preservation of the marine environment.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</div>
<h3>Challenges</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>China&rsquo;s behavior of<strong> negligence, denial</strong> and the <strong>sense of superiority</strong> while <strong>overlooking international laws and regulations</strong> like the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea.</li>
<li>Along with China&rsquo;s bullying tactics, <strong>North Korea&rsquo;s provocative behaviour</strong> has <strong>attracted US aircrafts</strong> in the already troubled waters. The growth of military vessels and planes in the area makes it more challenging to handle.</li>
<li><strong>Undefined geographic scope</strong> of the South China Sea; <strong>disagreement over dispute settlement mechanisms; different approaches</strong> to conflict management (self-restraint, mutual trust, and confidence building); and the <strong>undefined legal status of the Code of Conduct (COC)</strong> add to it.</li>
<li>The <strong>different histories of distant, largely uninhabited archipelagos</strong> of the sea make the matter more complicated and multifaceted.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Achievements</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The members of <strong>the <a href="/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-international-institution/asean" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Association of Southeast Asian Nations</a></strong> <strong>(ASEAN) and China engaged in discussions on a potential COC</strong> to manage the South China Sea maritime and territorial disputes for a very long time and finally settled for a <strong>non-binding Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea (DOC) in 2002.</strong> In <strong>2005, the first draft</strong> of guidelines to implement the DOC was drawn up, but <strong>not adopted until 2011.</strong> However, problems still linger so a plan for more robust policies is needed.</li>
<li>After the consultations of 2016, in <strong>2017</strong> ASEAN and China <strong>adopted a bare-bone framework</strong> for the COC.</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea (DOC), 2002</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>ASEAN and China agreed to promote a <strong>peaceful, friendly and harmonious</strong> environment in the South China Sea for the <strong>enhancement of peace, stability, economic growth and prosperity</strong> in the region.</li>
<li>It reaffirms respect for and commitment to the <strong>freedom of navigation and overflight above the South China Sea</strong> as provided for by the universally recognized principles of international law, including the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea.</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1568618710_image2.jpg" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1568618710_image2.jpg" width="538" height="494" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" caption="false" /></a></p>
</div>
<h3>Suggestions</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>New arbitration processes</strong> to bring necessary mediation, facilitation and binding resolution mechanism which can move the <strong>military dispute to border management</strong> and to <strong>joint development</strong> finally.</li>
<li>Adopting the concept of joint development zones, which <strong>resolves the territorial disputes</strong> and allows to <strong>pursuit of joint commercial activities, environmental protection, disaster relief and humanitarian perspective</strong> and <strong>counter-piracy control.</strong></li>
<li>International disputes should be settled by <strong>peaceful means</strong> in line with international laws on the principle of <strong>safeguarding maritime security, navigation and overflight rights and freedoms.</strong></li>
</ul>
<h3>India&rsquo;s Stand on South China Sea Issue</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>In a Joint Strategic Vision for the Asia-Pacific and the Indian Ocean Region, India and the USA talked about ensuring freedom of navigation and resolving disputes according to <strong>UNCLOS referring to the South China Sea</strong> but <strong>after Philippines won the arbitration</strong> award in its favour in 2016, India has <strong>clearly separated</strong> itself from the dispute.</li>
<li>New Delhi has <strong>not conducted</strong> any<strong> defence cooperation, navigational patrols</strong> and <strong>naval exercises</strong> with the claimant states in the South China Sea (only recently it conducted a naval exercise with Vietnam).</li>
<li>After the recent development of affairs with Japan and Russia, it might appear that India wants to raise its strategic presence in the South China Sea but it is not so. Firstly, because India is <strong>not a party to the maritime territorial disputes</strong> in the region and does not want to interfere. Secondly, India <strong>wants to preserve its &ldquo;Wuhan Consensus&rdquo;</strong> with China, in which both nations respect each others&rsquo; spheres of influence in their adjacent water bodies.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Way Forward</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Forming an <strong>overarching authority</strong> like NATO or European Union (EU) with China as a member, in <strong>Asia</strong> to settle grievances and specifically find solutions to Asian problems, might help resolve disputes like this.</li>
<li>The sense of power of China needs to be checked so that it abides by the intergovernmental and international agreements and conventions.</li>
<li><strong>Peaceful bilateral or multilateral talks and negotiations</strong> can be used because aggression or war is not a solution to this or any problem at all.</li>
</ul>
<p style="text-align: center;"><a href="/mind-map/gs-paper2/south-china-sea-mind-map" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><em>For Mind Map</em></a></p>',
			'postdate' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenTime) {},
			'url' => 'https://www.drishtiias.com/to-the-points/Paper2/south-china-sea'
		],
		(int) 14 => [
			'title' => 'The Big Picture- Big Bank Reform',
			'catname' => 'Lok Sabha & Rajya Sabha Discussions',
			'desc' => '<p style="text-align: center;"><iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/IWR5zFLenJ4" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe></p>
<p>The Finance Ministry recently announced a mega plan to merge<strong> 10</strong> public sector banks into<strong> 4</strong> large entities. This will bring down the total number of Public Sector Banks in the country to 12 from 27.</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The new banks formed after the mega-merger are:</li>
</ul>
<table border="1" style="border-collapse: collapse; width: 96.3175%; height: 131px;">
<tbody>
<tr style="height: 19px;">
<td style="width: 6.06299%; height: 19px; text-align: center; background-color: #3679ff;"><span style="color: #ffffff;"><strong>Sr. No.</strong></span></td>
<td style="width: 52.7559%; height: 19px; text-align: center; background-color: #3679ff;"><span style="color: #ffffff;"><strong>Amalgamated Banks</strong></span></td>
<td style="width: 16.063%; height: 19px; text-align: center; background-color: #3679ff;"><span style="color: #ffffff;"><strong>Anchor Banks</strong></span></td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 18px;">
<td style="width: 6.06299%; height: 18px; text-align: center; background-color: #e6eafa;">1.</td>
<td style="width: 52.7559%; height: 18px; background-color: #e6eafa;">Punjab National Bank (PNB), Oriental Bank of Commerce (OBC), and United Bank of India</td>
<td style="width: 16.063%; height: 18px; background-color: #e6eafa;">PNB</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 19px;">
<td style="width: 6.06299%; height: 19px; text-align: center; background-color: #e6eafa;">2.</td>
<td style="width: 52.7559%; height: 19px; background-color: #e6eafa;">Canara Bank and Syndicate Bank</td>
<td style="width: 16.063%; height: 19px; background-color: #e6eafa;">Canara Bank</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 19px;">
<td style="width: 6.06299%; height: 19px; text-align: center; background-color: #e6eafa;">3.</td>
<td style="width: 52.7559%; height: 19px; background-color: #e6eafa;">Union Bank of India, Andhra Bank, and Corporation Bank</td>
<td style="width: 16.063%; height: 19px; background-color: #e6eafa;">Union Bank of India</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 19px;">
<td style="width: 6.06299%; height: 19px; text-align: center; background-color: #e6eafa;">4.</td>
<td style="width: 52.7559%; height: 19px; background-color: #e6eafa;">Indian Bank and Allahabad Bank</td>
<td style="width: 16.063%; height: 19px; background-color: #e6eafa;">Indian Bank</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The consolidation will help in<strong> strengthening</strong> the <strong>national presence and global reach</strong> of these banks.</li>
<li>The merger move was followed by ₹55,000 crore <strong>recapitalization plan</strong> for the merged entities and 6 other banks, enabling them to enhance their lending capacity.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Rationale Behind the Merger Plan</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Mega-merger plan focuses on creating <strong>banks of scale</strong> that would enable India to meet its aspirations of a <strong>$5 trillion</strong> GDP economy.</li>
<li>To keep pace with the growing economy, there is a need for big banks that can lend to big industries &amp; entrepreneurs that require large amounts of credit. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>According to banks&rsquo; <strong>prudential norms,</strong> banks take risks only for those entities that are appropriate as per banks&rsquo; size. Banks generally avoid investing in a single entity or business.</li>
<li>Hence to invest in large projects, banks with huge lending capacity were needed.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>Banks also need <strong>large credit</strong> in order to invest in,<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Better <strong>customer service &amp; connect,</strong></li>
<li><strong>Technology</strong> upgradation,</li>
<li>Fraud detection, etc.</li>
<li>Larger banks can invest in <strong>standardizing these processes</strong> in larger set of customer-facing entities.</li>
<li>This will help in bringing good synergy between the banks &amp; the customers.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Merger Parameters</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The <strong>core principles</strong> that were kept in mind during the merger process are:<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>First, there should be <strong>minimal customer disruption</strong> during and immediately after the merger process.</li>
<li>Secondly, the <strong>credit activity</strong> of the bank must not get disrupted &amp; disturbed.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>Accordingly, the following parameters were taken into consideration while merging:<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Similar <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/amalgamation-of-national-banks" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Core Banking System</strong></a>, i.e, the software on which a particular bank works must be common between the merged banks. For e.g, <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li><strong>Canara &amp; Syndicate Bank</strong> worked on similar software named <strong>iFlex.</strong></li>
<li><strong>Indian Bank &amp; Allahabad Bank</strong> worked upon software named the <strong>BaNCS</strong> software.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>Banks sharing a <strong>glorious tradition &amp; rich history</strong> were looked upon if they could complement each other at the<strong> level of their NPAs,</strong> current capital availability, <strong>distribution of their branches,</strong> etc. Synergies that could have been unlocked between different banks became a crucial parameter while selecting them for the merger.</li>
<li>The other factors like their <strong>geographical</strong> presence, line of <strong>activity,</strong> the extent of savings account or <strong>CASA (Current &amp; Savings Accounts) deposits</strong> were also taken into consideration.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Note</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Non-Performing Assets (NPA)</strong> refer to a classification for loans or advances that are in default or are in arrears on scheduled payments of <strong>principal or interest.</strong></li>
<li>In most cases, debt is classified as non-performing, when the loan payments have not been made for a minimum period of <strong>90 days.</strong></li>
</ul>
</div>
<h3>Need For Merger</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>There was a dire need for <strong>increased competition</strong> between the banks.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Indian Public Sector Banks were not taking any concrete steps to distinguish themselves from another bank in terms of- encouraging in the deposits and offering credits &amp; interesting products to the customers.</li>
<li>Despite the name they carried, there was no difference in the value they offered. Hence, merging them into one big entity was the desired move.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>Strong banks are beneficial in bringing the <strong>synergy and profits</strong> for both- the banks&rsquo; employees &amp; the customers. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>For e.g., After the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/amalgamation-of-three-public-sector-banks" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>amalgamation of Bank of Baroda (BoB), Dena Bank and Vijaya Bank,</strong></a> BOB in the first quarter itself recorded a huge profit after the merger as compared to the huge loss it incurred in the previous year before the merger.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Steps to be Taken for Improvement in Performance Matrix</h3>
<p>For a merger to be successful various reforms have to be taken in a continuous manner like,</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>There is a need for <strong>additional capital</strong> that can keep the banks sustained for a longer duration.</li>
<li><strong>EASE agenda</strong> on the basis of which individual banks are measured and their scorecard is publicly disclosed, can be to be followed.</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>EASE (Enhanced Access and Service Excellence) Reform Index</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>EASE index is prepared by the <strong>Indian Banking Association (IBA)</strong> and the Boston Consulting Group.</li>
<li>It is commissioned by the <strong>Ministry of Finance.</strong></li>
<li>It is a framework that was adopted to strengthen the public sector banks and rank them on parameters such as responsible banking, financial inclusion, credit offtake and digitization.</li>
</ul>
</div>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>There must be a common <strong>unified messaging &amp; performance review system</strong> to maintain uniformity across banks. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Processes that are rolled out in one bank from the top must percolate downwards to every employee in that bank for<strong> effective communication.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Impact of Merger on Indian Economy</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Banks perform an <strong>intermediation role</strong> in the economy. They take the savings of households and make it available for firms as investments. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>For any economic growth to take place, there is need of<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li><strong>Credit</strong> in terms of debt, &amp;</li>
<li><strong>Capital</strong> in terms of equity.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>Larger banks have a better ability to raise resources from the market rather than relying only on State exchequer.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>The increased lending capacity of the banks can <strong>bring best in class services</strong> for the industries as well as the retail individuals.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>For e.g, After the SBI merger, it was able to attract its customer by launching the <strong>SBI Yono cards.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Underlying Challenges</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Despite the <a href="/to-the-points/paper3/merger-of-psbs" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>merger of Vijaya Bank, Bank of Baroda and Dena Bank,</strong></a> their <strong>credit rate</strong> (the rate of interest a bank offers) has not significantly improved. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Their market capitalization was the underlying reason for the increased profits.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>The merged banks have different levels of profitability, &amp; the ability to handle loans. The associated crucial aspect is the <strong>structure of the management.</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Composition of Bank Boards &amp; selection of the CEO on the basis of the seniority level only, will not be very impactful.</li>
<li>Their selection must be done on a <strong>merit basis</strong> transparently. Applications can be invited from the market for that purpose.</li>
<li>Leadership in the merged entity will be vital to deliver the planned outcome.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Way Forward</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>There is a need to <strong>give greater powers</strong> to the banks board in order to drive, review &amp; oversight the decision-making process. And for that, the best talent must be recruited.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Also, there is the requirement of a much stronger risk handling mechanism.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>The need is to now <strong>look at foreign markets,</strong> and set up appropriate <strong>business policies</strong> (in terms of the global location &amp; the product these banks can target) that will help in increasing the efficiency and the competition of these banks with their global counterparts.</li>
<li>Continuous reforms should be undertaken regarding, <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Product innovation,</li>
<li>Investments in technologies,</li>
<li>Better back-end processes,</li>
<li>Reduction in turnaround time</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>',
			'postdate' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenTime) {},
			'url' => 'https://www.drishtiias.com/loksabha-rajyasabha-discussions/the-big-picture-big-bank-reform'
		],
		(int) 15 => [
			'title' => 'Zero-Budget Natural Farming',
			'catname' => 'News Editorials',
			'desc' => '<div class="border">
<p>This article is based on <a href="https://www.thehindubusinessline.com/opinion/is-zero-budget-natural-farming-working/article29410335.ece" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>&ldquo;Is zero budget natural farming working?&rdquo;</strong></a> that appeared in The Hindu Business Line on 14/09/2019. It talks about the benefits and issues related to Zero-Budget Natural Farming.</p>
</div>
<p>Addressing the <strong>United Nations conference on desertification (COP-14)</strong>, Indian PM told the global community that India is <strong>focusing on Zero-Budget Natural Farming (ZBNF).</strong> ZBNF was also highlighted in<strong> budget 2019</strong> in the bid to double farmer's income by 2022.</p>
<p>However, scientists from the <strong>National Academy of Agricultural Sciences</strong> suggested that there is no need for the government to promote ZBNF unless there is proper scientific validation.</p>
<h3>Zero Budget Natural Farming</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Zero budget natural farming is a method of <strong>chemical-free agriculture</strong> drawing from traditional Indian practices.</li>
<li>It was originally promoted by <strong>agriculturist Subhash Palekar,</strong> who developed it in the mid-1990s as an <strong>alternative to the Green Revolution&rsquo;s methods</strong> that are driven by chemical fertilizers and pesticides and intensive irrigation.</li>
<li>It is a unique model that relies on <strong>Agro-ecology.</strong></li>
<li>It aims to bring down the <strong>cost of production to nearly zero</strong> and return to a <strong>pre-green revolution style of farming.</strong></li>
<li>It claims that there is <strong>no need</strong> for expensive inputs such as fertilisers, pesticides and intensive irrigation.</li>
<li>ZBNF is based on 4 pillars:
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Jeevamrutha:</strong> It is a mixture of fresh cow dung and aged cow urine (both from India's indigenous cow breed), jaggery, pulse flour, water and soil; to be applied on farmland.</li>
<li><strong>Bijamrita:</strong> It is a concoction of neem leaves &amp; pulp, tobacco and green chilies prepared for insect and pest management, that can be used to treat seeds.</li>
<li><strong>Acchadana (Mulching)</strong>: It protects topsoil during cultivation and does not destroy it by tilling.</li>
<li><strong>Whapasa</strong>: It is the condition where there are both air molecules and water molecules present in the soil. Thereby helping in reducing irrigation requirement.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Benefits of ZBNF</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>With the rising cost of external inputs (fertilizers and pesticides), which is the leading <strong>cause of indebtedness and suicide among farmers.</strong> According to the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/restructuring-of-indian-statistical-system" target="_blank" rel="noopener">National Sample Survey Office (NSSO)</a> data, <strong>almost 70% of agricultural households</strong> spend more than they earn and more than half of all farmers are in debt.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Since in ZBNF there is the need to spend money or take loans for external inputs, the cost of production could be reduced and <strong>farming made into a &ldquo;zero budget&rdquo; exercise.</strong></li>
<li>This would <strong>break the debt cycle</strong> for many small farmers and help to envisage the doubling of farmer's income by 2022.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>At a time when chemical-intensive farming is resulting in soil and environmental degradation, a zero-cost environmentally-friendly farming method is definitely a timely initiative.</li>
<li>The ZBNF method promotes <strong>soil aeration,</strong> minimal watering, intercropping, bunds and topsoil mulching and discourages intensive irrigation and deep ploughing.</li>
<li>It suits all crops in all agro-climatic zones.</li>
<li>Citing the benefits of ZBNF, in June 2018, <strong>Andhra Pradesh</strong> rolled out an ambitious plan to become <strong>India&rsquo;s first State to practise 100% natural farming by 2024.</strong></li>
</ul>
<h3>Issues Related to ZBNF</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Sikkim (India's first organic state), has seen some <strong>decline in yields</strong> following conversion to organic farming.</li>
<li>Many farmers have <strong>reverted to conventional farming</strong> after seeing their ZBNF returns drop after a few years.</li>
<li>While ZBNF has definitely helped preserve soil fertility, its role in boosting productivity and farmers&rsquo; income <strong>isn&rsquo;t conclusive</strong> yet.</li>
<li>ZBNF advocates the <strong>need of an Indian breed cow,</strong> whose numbers are <strong>declining at a fast pace.</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>According to Livestock Census, the country&rsquo;s total population of indigenous and nondescript cattle has dropped by 8.1%.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Low expenditure by the government:</strong> Last year, the government launched Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana, a flagship Green Revolution scheme with an allocation of Rs 3,745 crore for the financial year 2019-20.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Whereas the Paramparagat Krishi Vikas Yojana, which was meant to promote organic farming and soil health has been allocated Rs 325 crore only.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Way Forward</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>There is a host of structural marketing issues which needs to be addressed first before aiming to achieve the ambitious goal of ZBNF. For example:<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Strengthening of agricultural market infrastructure.</li>
<li>Extending the procurement mechanism to all foodgrain and non-foodgrain crops to all States.</li>
<li>Implementation of price deficiency payment system for selected crops.</li>
<li>Fixing <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/msp-agrarian-crisis-and-reform" target="_blank" rel="noopener">minimum support prices</a> (MSP) in consonance with the cost of cultivation.</li>
<li>Abolishing minimum export price for agricultural commodities.</li>
<li>Enacting legislation on &lsquo;right to sell at MSP&rsquo; needs immediate attention.</li>
<li>MGNREGS must also be linked with farm work in order to reduce the cost of cultivation which has escalated at a faster pace over the past few years.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<p>Unless these issues are resolved, the <a href="/to-the-points/paper3/doubling-farmers-income-a-promise-to-be-fulfilled-by-2022" target="_blank" rel="noopener">doubling of farmers' income</a> will remain a distant reality. In this context, farmers&rsquo; ease of doing business and ease of living should also be taken into consideration.</p>
<table border="1" style="border-collapse: collapse; width: 100%;">
<tbody>
<tr>
<td style="width: 100%; border-style: dotted; border-color: #ff0000; background-color: #faffe8;">
<p><span style="color: #0000ff;"><em><strong>Drishti Mains Question</strong></em></span></p>
<p>Critically analyse the role Zero Budget Natural Farming can play in achieving the goal of doubling farmer&rsquo;s income by 2022.</p>
</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<p><strong>Sources:</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><a href="https://www.thehindu.com/sci-tech/agriculture/what-is-zero-budget-natural-farming/article28733122.ece" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>https://www.thehindu.com/sci-tech/agriculture/what-is-zero-budget-natural-farming/article28733122.ece</strong></a></li>
<li><a href="https://thewire.in/agriculture/budget-2019-zero-budget-natural-farming" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>https://thewire.in/agriculture/budget-2019-zero-budget-natural-farming</strong></a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/govt-should-stop-promoting-zero-budget-natural-farming-pending-proof-scientists/article29386358.ece" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/govt-should-stop-promoting-zero-budget-natural-farming-pending-proof-scientists/article29386358.ece</strong></a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.thehindu.com/opinion/op-ed/the-seeds-of-sustainability/article24213217.ece" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>https://www.thehindu.com/opinion/op-ed/the-seeds-of-sustainability/article24213217.ece</strong></a></li>
<li><a href="http://www.fao.org/agroecology/detail/en/c/443712/" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>http://www.fao.org/agroecology/detail/en/c/443712/</strong></a></li>
</ul>',
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		(int) 16 => [
			'title' => 'INTERPOL Notices',
			'catname' => 'News Analysis',
			'desc' => '<p>The<strong> INTERPOL has issued a Red Corner Notice (RCN)</strong> against fugitive diamond merchant Nirav Modi's brother Nehal in connection with the multi-billion dollar Punjab National Bank (PNB) scam.</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>INTERPOL Notices are international requests for cooperation or alerts allowing police in member countries to share critical crime-related information.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The <strong>International Criminal Police Organization (INTERPOL) is an intergovernmental organization</strong> that helps coordinate the police force of 194 member countries.</li>
<li>Each of the member countries hosts an <strong>INTERPOL National Central Bureau (NCB).</strong> This connects their national law enforcement with other countries and with the General Secretariat.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>The <a href="/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-national-institutions/central-bureau-of-investigation-cbi" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Central Bureau of Investigation</strong></a> (CBI) is designated as the National Central Bureau of India.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>The General Secretariat provides a range of expertise and services to the member countries.</li>
<li>It is <strong>headquartered in Lyon, France</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>Notices can also be used by the United Nations, International Criminal Tribunals and the International Criminal Court to seek persons wanted for committing crimes within their jurisdiction, notably genocide, war crimes, and crimes against humanity.</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1568450428_Notices%20poster 2017.jpg" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1568450428_Notices poster 2017.jpg" width="566" height="318" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" caption="false" /></a></p>
<p><a href="https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/business/india-business/interpol-issues-red-corner-notice-against-nirav-modis-brother-nehal/articleshow/71107654.cms" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Source: ToI</strong></a></p>',
			'postdate' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenTime) {},
			'url' => 'https://www.drishtiias.com/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/interpol-notices'
		],
		(int) 17 => [
			'title' => 'UN Convention to Combat Desertification: COP 14',
			'catname' => 'News Analysis',
			'desc' => '<p>The 14<sup>th</sup> edition of the Conference of Parties (COP-14) to the UN Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) ended on 13<sup>th</sup> September 2019.</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Held in Greater Noida, this was the <strong>first time that India hosted</strong> an edition of the UNCCD COP.</li>
<li>The <strong>theme</strong> of the Conference was<strong> &lsquo;Restore land, Sustain future&rsquo;.</strong></li>
<li>India being the global host for COP 14<strong> has taken over the COP Presidency from China for the next two years</strong> till 2021.</li>
<li>India is among the select few countries to have hosted the COP of <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/world-day-to-combat-desertification-and-drought" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>all three Rio conventions</strong></a> on <strong>climate change, biodiversity and land.</strong></li>
</ul>
<h3>Key Takeaways</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Delhi Declaration:</strong> Commitment for a range of issues, including gender and health, ecosystem restoration, taking action on climate change, private sector engagement, <strong>Peace Forest Initiative</strong> and <strong>recovery of five million hectares</strong> of degraded land in India.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The country parties have agreed to make the <strong>Sustainable Development Goal target of achieving land degradation neutrality by 2030,</strong> a national target for action.</li>
<li><strong>Peace Forest Initiative:</strong> It is an initiative of <strong>South Korea</strong> to use ecological restoration as a peace-building process. It aims at addressing the issue of land degradation in <strong>conflict-torn border areas</strong> and would go a long way in alleviating tensions and building trust between communities living there and between enemy countries in particular.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Drought Toolbox:</strong> It is launched as a one-stop-shop for all <strong>actions on drought.</strong> It is a <strong>sort of knowledge bank which contains tools that strengthen the ability of countries to anticipate and prepare for drought effectively</strong> and mitigate their impacts as well as tools that enable communities to anticipate and find the land management tools that help them to build resilience to drought.</li>
<li><strong>International coalition for action on Sand and Dust storms (SDS):</strong> The coalition will develop an <strong>SDS source base map</strong> with the goal of improving monitoring and response to these storms. SDS affects approximately 77% of UNCCD country Parties or approximately 151 countries.</li>
<li><strong>Initiative of Sustainability, Stability and Security (3S):</strong> Launched by <strong>14 African countries to address migration driven by land degradation.</strong> It aims at restoring land and creating green jobs for migrants and vulnerable groups.</li>
<li><strong>Cooperation From Youth:</strong> The global <strong>Youth Caucus on Desertification and Land</strong> convened its first official gathering in conjunction with the UNCCD COP14 to bring together youth advocates from different parts of the world, to build their capacity, share knowledge, build networks and to engage them meaningfully in the UNCCD processes.</li>
</ul>
<h3>High-Level Segment Meeting of the COP14</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The Prime Minister of India inaugurated and addressed the high-level segment meeting of the COP-14.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>India seeks to propose initiatives for greater <strong>South-South cooperation</strong> in addressing issues of climate change, biodiversity and land degradation.</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>
<li>India called upon the leadership of UNCCD to conceive a <strong>global water action agenda which is central to the Land Degradation Neutrality strategy.</strong></li>
<li>India advocated on the need to <strong>eradicate the menace of <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/ban-on-single-use-plastics" target="_blank" rel="noopener">single-use plastic</a>.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1568450173_image1.jpg" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1568450173_image1.jpg" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" caption="false" width="615" height="317" /></strong></a></p>
<p><a href="https://pib.gov.in/PressReleseDetail.aspx?PRID=1585020" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Source: PIB</strong></a></p>',
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		],
		(int) 18 => [
			'title' => 'National Conference on ‘Criminal Activities and Radicalization in Jails’',
			'catname' => 'News Analysis',
			'desc' => '<p>Recently, a National Conference on <strong>&lsquo;Criminal Activities and Radicalization in Jails: Vulnerability of Inmates and Jail Staff and their Protection&rsquo;</strong> was held in New Delhi.</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The <strong>two-day</strong> conference was organized by the <strong><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/50th-foundation-day-of-bureau-of-police-research-and-development" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Bureau of Police Research and Development (BPR&amp;D)</a>.</strong></li>
<li>The conference will <strong>focus</strong> on the following issues:<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>To consider vulnerabilities at individual and gang levels and to suggest safety measures for the same.</li>
<li>To understand various facets of radicalization as well as de-radicalization in prisons.</li>
<li>To analyze and formulate the security and protection standards for prison staff.</li>
<li>To provide an interdisciplinary platform for correctional personnel to exchange and share their experience on prison reforms.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>The conference enforced an aspect of <strong>&ldquo;Correctional Administration&rdquo;</strong> in <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/prison-reforms-and-way-forward" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Prison reforms.</strong></a></li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Correctional Administration</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>A program that prepares individuals to plan and manage institutional facilities and programs for housing and rehabilitating prisoners in the public and/or private sectors.</li>
<li>Correctional Administration includes:<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Programme of the welfare of convicts/undertrials</li>
<li>Rehabilitation after release.</li>
<li>Involvement of Community.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</div>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>It also emphasized to convert <strong>the prison as a centre of reformation.</strong></li>
<li><strong>Challenges</strong> addressed during the conference include:<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Aggravation of sufferings during the process of imprisonment.</li>
<li>Rehabilitating and streamlining convicts back into society,</li>
<li>Overcrowding in prisons,</li>
<li>A large number of under-trials,</li>
<li>Inadequate prison infrastructure,</li>
<li>Criminal activities and radicalization in jails,</li>
<li>Safety of women prisoners and their young children,</li>
<li>Shortage of funds and staff for proper prison administration.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Rights of Prisoners</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Article 21</strong> of Indian Constitution enforces <strong>&ldquo;Right to Life&rdquo;</strong> as a Fundamental Right.</li>
<li>The Imprisonment itself is a punishment for a convicted person thus <strong>prison conditions should not be an additional punishment.</strong></li>
<li>Imprisonment deprives someone of their <strong>liberty and impacts on certain other rights, such as freedom of movement,</strong> but human rights and fundamental freedoms of convicts shall not be restricted.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Prison Administration in India</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Article 39(A)</strong> of Indian Constitution states that State shall ensure <strong>Equal Justice</strong> and<strong> Free Legal Aid for poor.</strong></li>
<li>Prisons being a <strong>State subject,</strong> its modernisation is undertaken by respective State Governments.</li>
<li>In a number of judgements on various aspects of prison administration, <strong>the Supreme Court of India has laid down three broad principles:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>A person in prison does not become a non-person.</li>
<li>A person in prison is entitled to all human rights within the limitations of imprisonment.</li>
<li>There is no justification in aggravating the suffering already inherent in the process of incarceration.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>The Ministry of Home Affairs</strong> is supporting the States/UTs in implementing the <strong>E-Prisons Project</strong> and has issued the <strong>Model Prison Manual.</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>E-Prisons Project.</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>It aims to introduce efficiency in prison management through digitization.</li>
<li>It supplements the <strong>Prisoner Information Management system (PIMS),</strong> which provides a <strong>centralized approach for recording and managing prisoner information.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Model Prison Manual</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>It mentions Legal Aid, provides detailed information about the legal services available to prison inmates and also free legal services available to them.</li>
<li>It is intended to provide assistance to under trial prison inmates.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>The National Legal Services Authority (NALSA)</strong> had also launched a web application to facilitate the <strong>under trial prisoners</strong> for providing them with<strong> free legal services.</strong></li>
</ul>
<p><a href="https://pib.gov.in/PressReleseDetail.aspx?PRID=1584860" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Source: PIB</strong></a></p>',
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		(int) 19 => [
			'title' => 'Jan Soochna Portal',
			'catname' => 'News Analysis',
			'desc' => '<p>The State Government of Rajasthan has recently launched the first-ever <strong>public information portal</strong> named <strong>&ldquo;Jan Soochna Portal-2019&rdquo;.</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The portal aims to <strong>provide information</strong> to the public about government authorities and departments empowering them with access to useful information.</li>
<li>The portal was developed by the government officials in close collaboration with the IT professionals and civil society groups.</li>
<li>It initially gives information of about <strong>13 government departments</strong> on a <strong>single platform.</strong></li>
<li>Information related to the availability of food grains &amp; ration shops, <strong>implementation of schemes</strong> and their beneficiaries, land records and social security pensions, inter alia, will be available on a <strong>real-time basis</strong> on this platform.</li>
<li><strong>Information kiosks</strong> in <em>village panchayats</em> and <strong>self-service e-Mitra centres</strong> in the towns will be established to enable the people to access the information.</li>
<li>The Department of Information Technology will serve as the <strong>nodal department</strong> for the development, operationalization, and maintenance of the JSP.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The norms and standards are laid down through the digital dialogue by the<strong> advisory group</strong>. And, to ensure that the responsibilities are carried out smoothly, the advisory group will be the <strong>monitoring agency.</strong></li>
<li><strong>Grievance redressal</strong> officers will be appointed so that citizens can keep a check upon the accountability aspect of the State government.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>The launch of this portal is in accordance with the true spirit of the <strong>Right to Information (RTI) Act</strong> and ensures compliance with <strong>Section 4(2) of the <a href="/to-the-points/paper4/right-to-information-1" target="_blank" rel="noopener">RTI Act</a></strong> that mandates the public authorities to <strong>proactively disclose information</strong> in the public domain.</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Right to Information (RTI) Act</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>RTI Act was enacted in <strong>2005</strong> with the aim to secure the citizens' access to information which is under the control of public authorities.</li>
<li>The primary purpose behind this enactment was to promote <strong>transparency</strong> and <strong>accountability</strong> in the working of every public authority.</li>
<li><strong>Section 4</strong> of the RTI Act requires <strong>suo-moto disclosure of information</strong> by each public authority.</li>
<li>In 2018, an amendment was proposed to the RTI Act that aimed at giving the Central government the power to fix the tenure and salaries of state and central information commissioners, which are statutorily protected under the RTI Act. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The proposed move may dilute the autonomy and independence of Information Commissioners.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</div>
<h3>Benefits</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Jan Soochna Portal (JSP) is a <strong>remarkable achievement</strong> in advancing the Right to Information (RTI).<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Now, the people would not need to file applications separately under the law to obtain information. They could <strong>freely</strong> access the information publicly</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>JSP is unique for it ensures both- transparency accompanied by accountability.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Challenges</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The <strong>digital divide</strong> is a serious problem in India. To bridge this gap, utmost care must be taken to ensure that access points are open and free for all.</li>
<li>There are huge challenges with regard to the <strong>maintenance</strong> issues and ensuring that there is <strong>no abatement in the availability</strong> of information.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Way Forward</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The need is to host the JSP in <strong>decentralized locations,</strong> right down to the municipal ward and panchayat levels. This will ensure that people have access to welfare schemes, revenue activities such as mining, and other service delivery issues such as health and education.</li>
<li>The portal would eventually turn out to be an effective medium for the digital dialogue with the people as well as a strong instrument for ensuring transparency in governance.</li>
<li>The need of the hour is that other State governments must follow the Rajasthan government&rsquo;s pioneering initiative and make people, including the marginalized sections, a part of the governance process.</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/other-states/rajasthan-launches-information-portal/article29411172.ece" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Source: TH</strong></a></p>',
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	(int) 0 => [
		'title' => 'Arctic Council',
		'catname' => 'International Institutions',
		'desc' => '<p>The <strong>Arctic Council</strong> is the leading <strong>intergovernmental forum</strong> promoting <strong>cooperation, coordination</strong> and <strong>interaction</strong> among the <strong>Arctic States, Arctic indigenous communities</strong> and <strong>other Arctic inhabitants</strong> on common Arctic issues, in particular on issues of <strong>sustainable development and environmental protection</strong> in the Arctic.</p>
<p>The Arctic Council works as a consensus-based body to deal with issues such as the change in biodiversity, melting sea ice, plastic pollution and black carbon.</p>
<p><a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1568719428_image1.jpg" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1568719428_image1.jpg" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" caption="false" width="469" height="524" /></a></p>
<h3>History of Arctic Council</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The formation of <strong>Arctic Council</strong> can be traced in the establishment of the <strong>Arctic Environmental Protection Strategy (AEPS)</strong> in 1991 as a framework for <strong>intergovernmental cooperation on environmental protection</strong> initiatives among the Arctic States including <strong>Canada, Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway, Sweden, Russia, and the United States.</strong></li>
<li>The AEPS tried to consult and engage <strong>Arctic indigenous people</strong> in recognition of their right over their ancestral homelands.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Three <strong>Indigenous Peoples Organizations (IPOs)</strong> representing <strong>Inuit (Inuit Circumpolar Council, ICC), Saami (Saami Council, SC),</strong> and <strong>Russian indigenous peoples (Russian Association of Indigenous Peoples of the North, RAIPON),</strong> respectively, were welcomed as observers in the AEPS.</li>
<li>As a consequence of a growing recognition of the special relationship of indigenous peoples to the Arctic region, the Arctic countries assigned the <strong>special status </strong>of<strong> Permanent Participants (PPs)</strong> to the three IPOs, thereby giving them a <strong>privileged status</strong> compared to the other AEPS Observers.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Formation of the Arctic Council</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The <strong>Arctic Council</strong> is a <strong>high-level intergovernmental body</strong> set up in 1996 by the <strong>Ottawa declaration</strong> to promote <strong>cooperation, coordination and interaction</strong> among the<strong> Arctic States</strong> together with the <strong>indigenous communities</strong> and other <strong>Arctic inhabitants.</strong></li>
<li>The Council has the <strong>eight circumpolar countries</strong> as member states and is mandated to protect the Arctic environment and promote the economies and social and cultural well-being of the indigenous people whose organizations are permanent participants in the council.</li>
<li><strong>Arctic Council Secretariat:</strong> The standing <strong>Arctic Council Secretariat</strong> formally became operational in 2013 in <strong>Troms&oslash;, Norway.</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>It was established to provide administrative capacity, institutional memory, enhanced communication and outreach and general support to the activities of the Arctic Council.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>The Council has <strong>members, ad hoc observer countries</strong> and <strong>"permanent participants"</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Members of the Arctic Council:</strong> Ottawa Declaration declares <strong>Canada, the Kingdom of Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway, the Russian Federation, Sweden</strong> and <strong>the United States of America</strong> as a member of the Arctic Council.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Denmarks represents <strong>Greenland and the Faroe Islands.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Permanent participants:</strong> In 1998, the number of Permanent Participants doubled to make up the present six, as,the <strong>Aleut International Association (AIA),</strong> and then, in 2000, the <strong>Arctic Athabaskan Council (AAC)</strong> and the <strong>Gwich'in Council International (GGI)</strong> were appointed <strong>Permanent Participants.</strong></li>
<li><strong>Observer status:</strong> It is open to <strong>non-Arctic states,</strong> along with <strong>inter-governmental, inter-parliamentary, global, regional</strong> and <strong>non-governmental organizations</strong> that the<strong> Council determines</strong> can contribute to its work. It is approved by the Council at the Ministerial Meetings that occur once every two years<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Arctic Council Observers primarily contribute through their engagement in the Council at the level of <strong>Working Groups.</strong></li>
<li>Observers have<strong> no voting rights</strong> in the Council.</li>
<li>As of May 2019,<strong> thirteen non-Arctic states</strong> have Observer status.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Germany, 1998</li>
<li>Netherlands, 1998</li>
<li>Poland, 1998</li>
<li>United Kingdom, 1998</li>
<li>France, 2000</li>
<li>Spain, 2006</li>
<li>China, 2013</li>
<li>India, 2013</li>
<li>Italy, 2013</li>
<li>Japan, 2013</li>
<li>South Korea, 2013</li>
<li>Singapore, 2013</li>
<li>Switzerland, 2017</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Criterion for Admitting Observers</h3>
<p>In the determination by the Council of the general suitability of an applicant for observer status the Council will, inter alia, take into account the extent to which observers:</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Accept and support the <strong>objectives of the Arctic Council</strong> defined in the Ottawa declaration.</li>
<li>Recognize Arctic State&rsquo;s <strong>sovereignty, sovereign rights and jurisdiction</strong> in the Arctic.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>India has therefore officially recognised the territorial jurisdiction and sovereign rights of the Arctic states.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>Recognize that an <strong>extensive legal framework</strong> applies to the Arctic Ocean including, notably, <strong>the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS),</strong> and that this framework provides a solid foundation for responsible management of this ocean.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>India has also accepted the UNCLOS as the governing instrument for the Arctic implying that jurisdiction over both the continental shelf and maritime passage, and the resources of the ocean will primarily lay with the eight Arctic States.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Respect the values, interests, culture and traditions</strong> of Arctic indigenous peoples and other Arctic inhabitants.</li>
<li>Have demonstrated a <strong>political willingness</strong> as well as <strong>financial ability</strong> to contribute to the work of the Permanent Participants and other Arctic indigenous peoples.</li>
<li>Have demonstrated their <strong>Arctic interests and expertise relevant</strong> to the work of the Arctic Council.</li>
<li>Have demonstrated a concrete interest and <strong>ability to support the work of the Arctic Council,</strong> including through partnerships with member states and Permanent Participants bringing Arctic concerns to global decision making bodies.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Mechanism of Council</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The work of the Council is primarily carried out in <strong>six Working Groups.</strong></li>
<li><strong>Arctic Contaminants Action Program (ACAP):</strong> it acts as a strengthening and supporting mechanism to encourage national actions to reduce emissions and other releases of pollutants.</li>
<li><strong>Arctic Monitoring and Assessment Programme (AMAP):</strong> it monitors the Arctic environment, ecosystems and human populations, and provides scientific advice to support governments as they tackle pollution and adverse effects of climate change.</li>
<li><strong>Conservation of Arctic Flora and Fauna Working Group (CAFF):</strong> it addresses the conservation of Arctic biodiversity, working to ensure the sustainability of the Arctic&rsquo;s living resources.</li>
<li><strong>Emergency Prevention, Preparedness and Response Working Group (EPPR):</strong> it works to protect the Arctic environment from the threat or impact of an accidental release of pollutants or radionuclides.</li>
<li><strong>Protection of the Arctic Marine Environment (PAME) Working Group:</strong> it is the focal point of the Arctic Council&rsquo;s activities related to the protection and sustainable use of the Arctic marine environment.</li>
<li><strong>Sustainable Development Working Group (SDWG):</strong> it works to advance sustainable development in the Arctic and to improve the conditions of Arctic communities as a whole.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Working of Council</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Arctic Council assessments and recommendations are the result of analysis and efforts undertaken by the Working Groups. Decisions of the Arctic Council are taken by <strong>consensus among the eight Arctic Council States,</strong> with <strong>full consultation and involvement</strong> of the <strong>Permanent Participants.</strong></li>
<li>The <strong>Chairmanship of the Arctic Council</strong> rotates every<strong> two years among the Arctic States.</strong> The <strong>first country to chair the Arctic Council</strong> was Canada <strong>(1996-1998).</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The next country to assume the Chairmanship will be <strong>Iceland (2019-2021).</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Accomplishment of Council</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The Arctic Council regularly produces comprehensive, cutting-edge environmental, ecological and social assessments through its Working Groups.</li>
<li>The Council has also provided a forum for the negotiation of <strong>three important legally binding agreements</strong> among the eight Arctic States.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The first, the <strong>Agreement on Cooperation on Aeronautical and Maritime Search and Rescue in the Arctic,</strong> was signed in <strong>Nuuk, Greenland,</strong> at the 2011 Ministerial Meeting.</li>
<li>The second, the Agreement on Cooperation on Marine Oil Pollution Preparedness and Response in the Arctic, was signed in <strong>Kiruna, Sweden,</strong> at the 2013 Ministerial meeting.</li>
<li>Third, the <strong>Agreement on Enhancing International Arctic Scientific Cooperation,</strong> was signed in <strong>Fairbanks, Alaska</strong> at the 2017 Ministerial meeting.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>India and the Arctic</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>India launched its first <strong>scientific expedition</strong> to the <strong>Arctic Ocean in 2007</strong> and opened a research base named<strong> "Himadri&rdquo;</strong> at the <strong>International Arctic Research Base at Ny-Alesund, Svalbard, Norway in July 2008</strong> for carrying out studies in disciplines like <strong>Glaciology, Atmospheric sciences &amp; Biological sciences.</strong></li>
<li>The <strong>major objectives of the Indian Research in Arctic Region</strong> are as follows:<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>To study the <strong>hypothesized tele-connections</strong> between the Arctic climate and the Indian monsoon by analyzing the sediment and ice core records from the Arctic glaciers and the Arctic Ocean.</li>
<li>To <strong>characterize sea ice in the Arctic using satellite data</strong> to estimate the effect of global warming in the northern polar region.</li>
<li>To conduct research on the <strong>dynamics and mass budget of Arctic glaciers</strong> focusing on the effect of glaciers on sea-level change.</li>
<li>To carry out a <strong>comprehensive assessment of the flora and fauna</strong> of the Arctic and their response to anthropogenic activities. In addition, it is proposed to undertake a comparative study of the life forms from both the Polar Regions</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>India has been closely following the developments in the Arctic region in the light of the new opportunities and challenges emerging for the international community due to <strong>global warming</strong> induced melting of Arctic&rsquo;s ice cap. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>India&rsquo;s interests in the Arctic region are <strong>scientific, environmental, commercial as well as strategic.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>In July 2018, Ministry of Earth Sciences</strong> renamed the<strong> &ldquo;National Centre for Antarctic and Ocean Research&rdquo;</strong> to the <strong>&ldquo;National Centre for Polar and Ocean Research.&rdquo;</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>It is a <strong>nodal organisation</strong> coordinating the research activities at the stations at the poles.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>India has also entered into MOU with <strong>Norwegian Polar Research Institute</strong> of Norway, for cooperation in science, and also with <strong>Kings Bay</strong> (A Norwegian Government owned company) at <strong>Ny-Alesund</strong> for the logistic and infrastructure facilities for undertaking Arctic research and maintaining Indian Research base <strong>&lsquo;Himadri&rsquo;</strong> at Arctic region.</li>
<li>In 2019, India has been <strong>re-elected as an Observer</strong> to the Council.</li>
<li>India does not have an official Arctic policy and its Arctic research objectives have been centred on ecological and environmental aspects, with a focus on climate change, till now.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Commercial and Strategic Interests</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The Arctic region is very rich in minerals, and oil and gas. With some parts of the Arctic melting due to global warming, the region also opens up the <strong>possibility of new shipping routes</strong> that can reduce existing distances. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Countries already have ongoing activities in the Arctic hope to have a stake in the commercial exploitation of natural resources present in the region.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>The Arctic Council <strong>does not prohibit the commercial exploitation</strong> of resources in the Arctic. It only seeks to ensure that it is done in a <strong>sustainable manner</strong> without harming the interests of local populations and in conformity with the local environment.</li>
<li>Therefore, to stay relevant in the Arctic region, India should take advantage of the observer status it has earned in the Arctic Council and consider investing more in the Arctic.</li>
</ul>',
		'postdate' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenTime) {},
		'url' => 'https://www.drishtiias.com/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-international-institution/arctic-council'
	],
	(int) 1 => [
		'title' => 'Solomon Islands and Taiwan',
		'catname' => 'News Analysis',
		'desc' => '<p>The Solomon Islands&rsquo; government has cut official ties with Taiwan and is switching diplomatic allegiance to China.</p>
<p><strong><a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1568709665_image7.jpg" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1568709665_image7.jpg" width="374" height="227" caption="false" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" /></a></strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>This is line with <strong>&lsquo;One China&rsquo; principle.</strong>
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>China considers Taiwan to be part of its territory and wants to bring the island back into its fold.&nbsp;</li>
<li>Taiwan split from mainland China during a civil war in 1949 and set up a rival government.<a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1568709868_Images8.jpg" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1568709868_Images8.jpg" width="263" height="287" style="float: right;" caption="false" /></a></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>Now only <strong>16 countries worldwide continue to recognise Taiwan as an independent state. India is not among the sixteen countries.</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>With a population of 660,000, the Solomon Islands were easily Taiwan&rsquo;s largest remaining ally in the Pacific. Its economy relies on agriculture, fishing and forestry, and the country has a wealth of undeveloped mineral resources.</li>
<li>The Solomon Islands are located directly between Australia and the U.S. and was the site of fierce battles during World War II.</li>
<li>Its capital is Honiara.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="https://www.thehindu.com/news/international/taiwan-loses-biggest-pacific-ally-as-solomons-embraces-china/article29438023.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/solomon-islands-and-taiwan'
	],
	(int) 2 => [
		'title' => 'Uranium Mining in Nallamala Forest',
		'catname' => 'News Analysis',
		'desc' => '<p>Recently <strong>Union Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change</strong> has <strong>granted</strong> in-principle approval to the <strong>Department of Atomic Energy to survey and explore for uranium</strong> in 83 sq km of the <strong>Nallamala Forest Reserve.</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The <strong>Telangana State Legislative Assembly</strong> unanimously passed a resolution requesting the Central government <strong>not to permit</strong> uranium mining operations in <strong>Amrabad Tiger Reserve part of</strong> Nallamala forests and other areas of Telangana.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Background</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>About 63 organizations, including political parties, several environment activists have come together to form the <strong>&lsquo;Struggle Committee against Uranium Mining&rsquo;</strong></li>
<li>This committee aims to strengthen and take forward the campaign <strong>&lsquo;Save Nallamalla Forest&rsquo;</strong> to stop mining in the tiger reserve.</li>
<li>Uranium Mining in these areas also threatens the survival and livelihoods of <strong>Chenchu tribals,</strong> who live in the Amrabad forests.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Legal Framework For Uranium Mining</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>In pursuance to <strong>entry at serial No. 54 of List I,</strong> the Parliament has passed <strong>&lsquo;The Mines &amp; Minerals (Development and Regulation) Act, 1957&rsquo;.</strong> However, with respect to minor minerals, the rulemaking powers have been delegated to the States through this act.</li>
<li>Since <strong>Uranium</strong> is a <strong>major mineral,</strong> it is managed by the <strong>Union Government</strong> under provisions of <strong>Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Act, 1957.</strong></li>
<li>The policy and legislation relating to <strong>Major minerals</strong> are managed by the Ministry of Mines But Uranium being an <strong>atomic mineral</strong> is managed by the<strong> Department of Atomic Energy (DAE).</strong></li>
<li>Many of these mineral deposits are found in rich forest reserves and thus approval of Union Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change becomes necessary.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Uranium Mining In India</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>In India, Uranium deposits occur in the <strong>Dharwar rocks.</strong></li>
<li>It occurs along the Singbhum Copper belt <strong>(Jharkhand);</strong> Udaipur, Alwar and Jhunjhunu districts of <strong>Rajasthan,</strong> Durg district of <strong>Chhattisgarh,</strong> Bhandara district of <strong>Maharashtra</strong> and Kullu district of <strong>Himachal Pradesh.</strong></li>
<li>Significant quantity of reserves were recently discovered in parts of <strong>Andhra Pradesh and Telangana between Seshachalam forest and Sresailam (Southern edge of Andhra to Southern edge of Telangana).</strong></li>
<li>Uranium is used as a fuel for <strong>nuclear power reactors for electricity generation,</strong> in the manufacture of <strong>radioisotopes</strong> for <strong>medical applications</strong> and in <strong>nuclear science</strong> research.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Impacts of Uranium Mining</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Drilling of<strong> 4,000 deep holes</strong> will end up destroying the Amrabad Tiger Reserve which is home to a vast variety of wildlife.</li>
<li>The exploration will expose and <strong>pollute</strong> surface water, groundwater and leech minerals, and dangerous chemicals into the <strong>Nagarjunasagar Dam.</strong></li>
<li>Construction of roads will <strong>fragment and degrade the dry forests,</strong> which may never recover after such a massive exercise.</li>
<li>Rare, endangered and unique species of flora and fauna and overall biodiversity will be destroyed.</li>
<li><strong>Radiations</strong> from these mines will cause harm to the lives of people who live around them, which has been observed in Jharkhand&rsquo;s Jaduguda.</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Nallamala Forest Reserve</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Nallamala Forest Reserve is located in <strong>Nallamala Ranges</strong> of the <strong>Eastern Ghats.</strong></li>
<li>A part of the forest reserve belongs to the <strong>Nagarjunsagar-Srisailam Tiger Reserve which is the largest Tiger Reserve in India.</strong></li>
<li><strong>Amrabad Tiger Reserve</strong> also lies in the Nallamala hills.</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>Chenchu Tribe</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The Chenchus are Scheduled Tribe in the Indian states of Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Karnataka, and Odisha. But many Chenchus live in the dense Nallamala forest of Andhra Pradesh.</li>
<li>They are an aboriginal tribe whose traditional way of life has been based on hunting and gathering.</li>
<li>The Chenchus speak the Chenchu language, a member of the <strong>Dravidian language family.</strong></li>
<li>Chenchu's relationship with non-tribal people has been largely symbiotic.</li>
</ul>
</div>
<p><a href="https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/telangana/no-uranium-mining-in-amrabad-tiger-reserve-forest-telangana-cm/article29423784.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/uranium-mining-in-nallamala-forest'
	],
	(int) 3 => [
		'title' => 'J&K Public Safety Act',
		'catname' => 'News Analysis',
		'desc' => '<p>The former Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Farooq Abdullah has been detained under the state&rsquo;s Public Safety Act (PSA).</p>
<h3>Public Safety Act</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Preventive Detention Law:</strong> Under Jammu &amp; Kashmir Public Safety Act, 1978, a person is taken into custody to prevent him or her from acting in any manner that is prejudicial to the security of the state or the maintenance of public order.</li>
<li><strong>Period of Detention:</strong> Up to 2 years.</li>
<li><strong>Enforcement:</strong> Detention order is passed either by Divisional Commissioner or the District Magistrate.</li>
<li><strong>Challenging the Detention:</strong> The only way the administrative preventive detention order can be challenged is through a <a href="/gs-special/gs-special-polity/important-sources-of-the-indian-constitution" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>habeas corpus</strong></a> petition filed by <strong>relatives of the detained person.</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The High Court and the Supreme Court have jurisdiction to hear such petitions and pass a final order seeking quashing of the PSA.</li>
<li>However, if the order is quashed, there is no bar on the government passing another detention order under the PSA and detaining the person again.</li>
<li>There can be <strong>no prosecution or any legal proceeding against the official who has passed the order.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Habeas Corpus</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>It is a Latin term which literally means <strong>&lsquo;to have the body of&rsquo;.</strong></li>
<li>This writ is a bulwark of <strong>individual liberty</strong> against arbitrary detention.</li>
<li>The writ of habeas corpus can be issued against <strong>both public authorities as well as private individuals.</strong></li>
<li>The writ, on the other hand, is <strong>not issued</strong> where the:<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>detention is<strong> lawful,</strong></li>
<li>the proceeding is for <strong>contempt of a legislature or a court,</strong></li>
<li>detention is by a <strong>competent court,</strong> and</li>
<li>detention is <strong>outside the jurisdiction</strong> of the court.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</div>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>The similarity to the National Security Act (NSA)</strong> that is used by other state governments for preventive detention.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The NSA <strong>empowers the Centre or a State government to detain a person to prevent him from acting in any manner prejudicial to national security.</strong></li>
<li>The government can also detain a person to prevent him from disrupting public order or for maintenance of supplies and services essential to the community.</li>
<li>The maximum period for which one may be detained is <strong>12 months.</strong> But the term can be extended if the government finds fresh evidence.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Preventive Detention and Constitutional Provisions</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Preventive detention involves the <strong>detainment (confinement) of a person in order to keep them from committing future crimes</strong> and/or from escaping future prosecution.</li>
<li>It is<strong> different from &lsquo;being arrested&rsquo;.</strong> 'Arrest' is done when a person is charged with a crime but the same is not the case for preventive detention. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Punitive detention</strong> is punishment for illegal acts done.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Article 22(1)</strong> of the Constitution states that no person who is arrested shall be denied the right to consult, and to be defended by, a legal practitioner of his choice.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>However, under Preventive Detention Laws like the PSA, the detained person does not have the right to move a bail application before a criminal court, and cannot engage any lawyer to represent him or her before the detaining authority.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>When a person is arrested he/she has to be produced before a magistrate within the next 24 hours. However, in the case of 'preventive detention', a person can be detained for three months. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Article 22(2)</strong> states that every person arrested and detained shall be produced before the nearest magistrate within a period of 24 hours (excluding the time necessary for the journey from the place of arrest to the court) and no such person shall be detained beyond this period without the authority of a magistrate.</li>
<li><strong>Article 22(3)(b)</strong> allows for preventive detention and restriction on personal liberty for reasons of state security and public order.</li>
<li><strong>Article 22(4)</strong> states that no law providing for preventive detention shall authorise the detention of a person for a <strong>longer period than three months unless:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>an <strong>Advisory Board</strong> reports sufficient cause for extended detention.</li>
<li>Such a person is detained in accordance with the <strong>provisions of any law made by the Parliament.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Note:</strong> The <strong>44<sup>th</sup> Amendment Act of 1978</strong> has reduced the period of detention without obtaining the opinion of an advisory board from three to two months. However, this provision has not yet been brought into force, hence, the original period of three months still continues.</p>
</div>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Controversies</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>No democratic country in the world has made <strong>preventive detention as an integral part</strong> of the Constitution as has been done in India.</li>
<li>The governments sometimes use such laws in an extra-judicial power. Also, there remains a fear of arbitrary detentions.</li>
<li>However, the Supreme Court has held that in order to prevent misuse of this potentially dangerous power, the law of preventive detention has to be <strong>strictly construed and meticulous compliance</strong> with the procedural safeguards, is mandatory and vital.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="https://indianexpress.com/article/explained/farooq-abdullah-psa-jammu-and-kashmir-explained-6001031/" 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/j-and-k-public-safety-act'
	],
	(int) 4 => [
		'title' => 'SITMEX',
		'catname' => 'News Analysis',
		'desc' => '<p>The<strong> inaugural trilateral</strong> exercise, involving the <strong>Indian Navy (IN),</strong> the <strong>Republic of Singapore Navy (RSN),</strong> and the <strong>Royal Thailand Navy (RTN),</strong> recently commenced at Port Blair, Andaman and Nicobar.</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>SITMEX-2019 is <strong>five days long</strong> exercise.<a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1568706362_image1.jpg" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1568706362_image1.jpg" width="296" height="209" style="float: right;" caption="false" /></a></li>
<li>The exercise includes two phases:<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The <strong>harbour phase</strong> wherein professional exchanges, sports fixtures, and cross-deck familiarization visits would be organized.</li>
<li>During the <strong>sea phase</strong>, a host of surface and air operations involving gunnery, force protection measures, and communication drills, would be conducted for experience gaining and learning each other's best practices.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>From the Indian side, Indian Naval <strong>Ships</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Ranvir-</strong> a guided-missile destroyer,</li>
<li><strong>Kora-</strong> a missile corvette, and</li>
<li><strong>Sukanya-</strong> an offshore patrol vessel, along with</li>
<li><strong>P8I-</strong> long-range maritime reconnaissance <strong>aircraft,</strong> will participate in this exercise.<a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1568706397_image2.jpg" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1568706397_image2.jpg" width="293" height="207" style="float: right;" caption="false" /></a></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>It is aimed at strengthening the maritime inter-relationship (in terms of <strong>interoperability</strong>) amongst Singapore, Thailand, and India, and significantly contributes to enhancing the overall maritime security in the region.&nbsp;</li>
<li>Besides reinforcing the co-operation, the <strong>maiden</strong> IN-RSN-RTN Trilateral exercise would provide an opportunity to participating navies to come together in a spirit of collaboration to nurture stronger ties.</li>
<li>The Indian Army and Royal Thailand Army (RTA) joint <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/exercise-maitree" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Military Exercise MAITREE-2019</strong></a> is being held in Meghalaya from Sept 16-29, 2019.</li>
<li><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/important-facts-for-prelims-20th-may-2019" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>SIMBEX</strong></a> is the annual Maritime Bilateral Exercise between India and Singapore.</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="https://pib.gov.in/PressReleseDetailm.aspx?PRID=1585206" 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/sitmex'
	],
	(int) 5 => [
		'title' => 'Policy Watch- National Resource Efficiency Policy',
		'catname' => 'Lok Sabha & Rajya Sabha Discussions',
		'desc' => '<p style="text-align: center;"><iframe width="727" height="409" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/iemxHx1lZgI" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe></p>
<p><strong>Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC)</strong> has released<strong> Draft National Resource Efficiency Policy (NREP).</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The policy <strong>envisions</strong> a future with environmentally sustainable and equitable economic growth, resource security, healthy environment and restored ecosystems with rich ecology and biodiversity.</li>
<li>The draft talks about <strong>action plans</strong> with <strong>timeframe of 3 financial years starting from 2019.</strong></li>
<li>The policy is <strong>guided by the principles</strong> of-<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>reduction in primary resource consumption to sustainable levels</li>
<li>creation of higher value with less material through resource efficient and circular approaches</li>
<li>waste minimisation</li>
<li>creation of employment opportunities and business models beneficials to the cause of environmental protection and restoration</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Seven sectors identified for the First NREP Action Plans-<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Automotive Sector</li>
<li>Plastic Packaging Sector</li>
<li>Building and Construction Sector</li>
<li>Electrical and Electronic Equipment Sector</li>
<li>Solar Photo Voltaic Sector</li>
<li>Steel Sector</li>
<li>Aluminium Sector</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>Priority areas because they contribute almost 25% to Indian GDP.</li>
</ul>
</div>
<h3>Highlights of the Policy</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>The Energy and Resources Institute (TERI)</strong> put in efforts on the issue of improving resource utilisation because even though there were different policies under different ministries, a common <strong>connecting link</strong> was missing.</li>
<li>One of the <strong>objectives</strong> is to see how the existing policies are currently working for promotion of resources, and how <strong>life cycle thinking can be promoted</strong> across the different stakeholders so that they do not feel isolated.</li>
<li>Resources which are being <strong>extracted, produced, fabricated, designed</strong> and ultimately being <strong>consumed</strong> are a kind of one unit/entity which is travelling through the <strong>various stages of the life cycle.</strong> This is a very critical thought in the formation of this policy.</li>
<li>TERI compiled a <strong>sectoral assessment</strong> of various sectors with potential opportunities and shared it with <strong>MoEFCC</strong> which prepared the draft for the policy.</li>
</ul>
<h3>How the policy ensures mainstreaming of resource efficiency in India?</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Two major sectors of <strong>Solar Photovoltaic</strong> and <strong>Plastic Packaging</strong> has been taken up on a very large scale by the Prime Minister of India (ban on one time use plastic from 2nd October).</li>
<li>Only one ministry will not be able to meet the desired results so a <strong>wholesome process and a holistic approach</strong> by all ministries is required to get the desired results.</li>
<li>In the concept of <a href="/summary-of-important-reports/strategy-on-resource-efficiency" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Resource Efficiency</strong></a>, <strong>end product of one industry</strong> would be used as an <strong>initial product of another industry</strong> so there has to be an <strong>industrial symbiosis.</strong></li>
<li>All the ministries would have to be on board to <strong>check the complete and total outlook of the end product</strong> and <strong>less of virgin material</strong> (materials sourced directly from nature in their raw form, such as wood or metal ores) will be used and <strong>more focus will be on the secondary resource material</strong> which can help India to achieve the <strong>five trillion dollar economy by 2024.</strong></li>
</ul>
<h3>How to ensure reduction in primary consumption?</h3>
<p>India&rsquo;s primary consumption has <strong>increased 6 times</strong> from <strong>1.18 billion tonnes in 1970</strong> to <strong>approximately 17 billion tonnes in 2015.</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Efficient use of existing resources:</strong> The size and goals of indian economy make it difficult to reduce the primary consumption but the <strong>efficiency can be increased of the existing resources</strong> which are being consumed and recycled wherever possible.</li>
<li><strong>Fixation of the supply chain:</strong> This policy envisages to <strong>address and fix the whole supply chain.</strong></li>
<li><strong>Prioritisation of the issues:</strong> The disconnect between our polity and society needs to be broken down and issues with utmost priority need to occupy <strong>centre stage and centre debate.</strong></li>
<li><strong>Taxation and Incentivisation:</strong> The policy envisages some amount of <strong>taxation</strong> and some amount of <strong>incentives</strong> on nudging behaviour either<strong> on recycling</strong> or <strong>on secondary material reuse.</strong></li>
</ul>
<h3>How do we get all the stakeholders on board?</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>By <strong>bringing in representatives from all the ministries involved,</strong> who are working for the different sectors or on various stages of value chain.</li>
<li>By <strong>adopting a collaborative approach</strong> to understand the challenges and to bring in the <strong>principles of 6Rs (Rethink/Reinvent, Refuse, Reduce, Reuse/Repair, Recycle and Replace/Rebuy)</strong> to work in line with the larger objective of sustainable consumption and production.</li>
<li>By <strong>spreading awareness</strong> at the top level, mainly at ministerial level about the<strong> growth of need for resources</strong> and the crucial question of where to get them from.</li>
<li>By <strong>encouraging representatives</strong> from stakeholder communities to <strong>contribute and understand the limitations</strong> and work together to overcome those limitations.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Targets of the Plan</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>To solve the <strong>need of a single coordinating force</strong> which can make an action plan to be followed by different ministries, without entering into the territory of the ministries and not becoming a threat to them.</li>
<li>This can be <strong>used as a prototype</strong> for the sectors which would be taken up after these initial seven sectors after 3 years.</li>
<li>To save our resources and finance by <strong>shunning the linear economy</strong> and <strong>adopting circular economy,</strong> major achievements can be done.</li>
<li>More focus on <strong>abiotic resources</strong> for the time being and <strong>biotic</strong> resources to be talked about in the later phases of the plan.</li>
</ul>
<h3>How to monitor the plan?</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The <strong>action plan</strong> follows up after acceptance and adoption of the policy, <strong>setting up a board and a regulatory authority.</strong></li>
<li>Regulatory Authority will set up rules and regulations which will govern the identified sectors, and the board will create a consensus to implement those rules and regulations.</li>
<li>This environmental policy is a <strong>consensual process</strong> so it <strong>needs to be linked to the ease of living</strong> and once that is done, different ministries can be pulled together.</li>
<li><strong>Convincing ministries</strong> to give <strong>incentives for secondary reuse of material</strong> so that it will improve the lives of people, living conditions finally impacting ease of business and the ease of living targets.</li>
<li><strong>Letting go of some commercial interest which will be covered by incentives</strong> with the help of political and bureaucratic leadership to mediate and ease the convincing among multiple stakeholders.</li>
</ul>
<h3>How do our businesses remain environmentally sustainable and how to create such models?</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>By looking at ways to give the product a second life, looking for ways to make <strong>secondary products more competitive</strong> in terms of its value market and finding markets of such products for consumers.</li>
<li>By <strong>creating a scale</strong> and bringing it to a level to ensure that <strong>business is sustainable in terms of economies of scale.</strong></li>
<li>Coming up with unique models to see how this scale effect can be generated and eventually able to <strong>deliver recycled products</strong> in a <strong>more economically effective</strong> and <strong>competitive manner,</strong> and also <strong>in line with the standards of virgin materials.</strong></li>
<li>While assigning role to economic instruments, the real test is how to make the <strong>incentives win-win opportunities for all</strong> the players in the market.</li>
<li>Focus should be to <strong>create the market and opportunities for both</strong> the markets- <strong>virgin product</strong> manufacturing and <strong>recycled product</strong> manufacturing.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Challenges</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Such <strong>omnibus policy</strong> has so many stakeholders and often they get into <strong>inter or intra ministerial and interdepartmental conflicts</strong> or even <strong>centre-state</strong> conflicts as well.</li>
<li>Even the <strong>abiotic</strong> resources have <strong>not</strong> been <strong>realized</strong> to their <strong>full potential,</strong> leave alone the biotic resources even though both have mentions in the policy.</li>
<li>Different stages of a product's lifecycle are managed by different parts of the government, divided at central and state levels so it might be <strong>difficult to coordinate.</strong></li>
</ul>
<h3>Suggestions</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>It needs to be <strong>translated into multiple languages</strong> so that consumers can understand the policy very well.</li>
<li>It needs to be <strong>communicated at state and city level</strong> so that people know it and demand it to work.</li>
<li><strong>Focus on every sector equally</strong> if the plan has to be successful.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Green procurement</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>There has to be a <strong>change in the behaviour of the consumer</strong> which will be done by <strong>incentivisation</strong> of green procurement.</li>
<li>There should be an<strong> incentive on the part of the consumer</strong> and there should be <strong>assurance</strong> through <strong>audits, monitoring, verification</strong> that the product being used is a first-grade product and the money of the consumer is not wasted.</li>
<li><strong>Creating awareness</strong> about behavioural change is important if the policy needs to be successful.</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Green Procurement-</strong> It means purchasing products and services that <strong>cause minimal adverse environmental impacts.</strong> It incorporates human health and environmental concerns into the search for high-quality products and services at competitive prices.</p>
</div>
<p>Provides an overarching collaborative framework for resource efficiency across all sectors in the country.</p>',
		'postdate' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenTime) {},
		'url' => 'https://www.drishtiias.com/loksabha-rajyasabha-discussions/policy-watch-national-resource-efficiency-policy'
	],
	(int) 6 => [
		'title' => 'South China Sea',
		'catname' => 'Paper 2',
		'desc' => '<p><a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1568638029_South%20China Sea (Mind Map).png" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1568638029_South China Sea (Mind Map).png" width="447" height="1652" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" /></a></p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><a href="/to-the-points/Paper2/south-china-sea" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><em>For TTP</em></a></p>',
		'postdate' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenTime) {},
		'url' => 'https://www.drishtiias.com/mind-map/gs-paper2/south-china-sea-mind-map'
	],
	(int) 7 => [
		'title' => 'Jan Soochna Portal',
		'catname' => 'News Editorials',
		'desc' => '<div class="border">
<p>This article is based on <a href="https://www.thehindu.com/opinion/op-ed/a-milestone-in-greater-transparency-accountability/article29411242.ece" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>&ldquo;A milestone in greater transparency, accountability&rdquo;</strong></a> which appeared in The Hindu on 14 September 2019. It talks about Jan Soochna Portal that has brought a sea change to the narrative of good governance.</p>
</div>
<p>Recently, the government of Rajasthan had launched <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/jan-soochna-portal" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Jan Soochna Portal (JSP)</strong></a>, which is in <strong>concurrence with the spirit of</strong> <a href="/to-the-points/paper4/right-to-information-1" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Right to Information Act (RTI)</strong></a>. This virtually makes JSP a <strong>Janta Information System.</strong></p>
<p>JSP envisages public disclosure of data, which is the furtherance of civil society reforms initiated by the RTI, making it in synergy with good governance.</p>
<p>Thus, JSP is <strong>worthy of emulation by other States</strong> so as to implement the <strong>narrative of minimum government and maximum governance.</strong></p>
<h3>Jan Soochna Portal</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The portal aims to provide information to the public about government authorities and departments empowering them with access to useful information.</li>
<li>JSP integrates data regarding the employment guarantee programme, sanitation, the public distribution system among others, by not only explaining the schemes but also providing real-time information on beneficiaries, authorities in charge, progress, etc</li>
<li><strong>Information kiosks</strong> in village panchayats and <strong>self-service e-Mitra centres</strong> in the towns will be established to enable the people to access the information.</li>
<li><strong>Grievance redressal officers</strong> will be appointed so that citizens can keep a check upon the accountability aspect of the State government.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Need for JSP like Initiative</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Although, there has been a rapid release of public information on various government-run websites, this information has often been parcelled, dispersed and difficult to parse <em>(comprehend).</em>
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>It means the focus has been more on showcasing data and records rather than releasing structured information. This makes it difficult for the citizenry to get desired information.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>National Judicial Data Grid which provides information regarding the pending cases, was launched on a similar framework. It has led judiciary to concentrate on the disposal of old pending cases with considerable success.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Benefits of JSP</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Centralization of information:</strong> As a one-shot portal for public information on government programmes, the JSP can advance the objective of transparency.</li>
<li><strong>Inclusiveness:</strong> The access points of information that are open and free, is a step towards good governance.</li>
<li><strong>Democratization of information:</strong> Since the information is available on the Internet, every citizen, right down to the municipal ward and panchayat, has access to the information.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>JSP has made people, including the marginalised sections, <strong>a part of the governance process.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Better delivery of public services:</strong> JSP will help in <strong>better targeting, expediting industrial and environmental clearances.</strong></li>
</ul>
<h3>JSP vs RTI</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The RTI Act had dealt with the citizen&rsquo;s right to know about public information and required public authorities to expeditiously provide information <strong>on request from the citizenry.</strong>
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>However, through JSP, <strong>there is no need for anyone to take recourse to the RTI Act and await a response.</strong> As all information can be accessed immediately, free of cost.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>While RTI filings have increased exponentially and RTI-activism has become part and parcel of civil society, but there have been <strong>dilutions in the Act</strong> pertaining to the appointments of information commissioners, therefore impinging on their autonomy.</li>
<li>Also, the <strong>response rate to RTI requests has also slowed down</strong> over the period.</li>
<li>Apart from these issues, it is important to note that <strong>Section 4(2) of the Act,</strong> which specifically enjoins upon public authorities to publish information proactively, <strong>has not been implemented holistically so far.</strong></li>
<li>Therefore, the public disclosure of information through JSP have <strong>brought a sea change</strong> in accountability and has led to the possibility of a well-informed citizenry on the workings of the government.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Challenges for JSP</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Challenges related to the existing <strong>digital divide in India</strong> need to be addressed.</li>
<li><strong>Digital illiteracy:</strong> While digital connectivity and literacy have increased over time, these have <strong>not adequately translated into digital knowledge of public affairs.</strong></li>
<li>Given the size of<strong> India's bureaucratic architecture,</strong> maintenance of JSP is itself is a big challenge.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The challenge would be to ensure that the information flow remains unhampered over time.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Way Forward</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>To reap the full potential of the platform like JSP, it is important to <strong>educate the citizenry about the use of data</strong> on the portal.</li>
<li>Also, the union government should provide a single portal through which disclosures of all public authorities could be accessed, to facilitate easy availability of information.</li>
<li>Apart from it, a lot more needs to be done to usher in accountability in governance, including <strong>protection of whistleblowers, decentralization of power and fusion of authority with accountability at all levels.</strong></li>
</ul>
<p>Transparency must be accompanied by accountability, and that is where the JSP has great value and significance since it places the power of making the State government accountable to everyone who accesses the information made available on the portal. <strong>This makes JSP a milestone in increasing transparency and accountability in governance.</strong></p>
<table border="1" style="border-collapse: collapse; width: 100%;">
<tbody>
<tr>
<td style="width: 100%; border-style: dotted; border-color: #ff0000; background-color: #fff7e6;">
<p><span style="color: #000080;"><em><strong>Drishti Mains Question</strong></em></span><br /><br />The Jan Soochna Portal launched by the government of Rajasthan is a remarkable achievement in furtherance of the right to information. Comment.</p>
</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<p><strong>Source:</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><a href="https://www.thehindu.com/opinion/editorial/effort-worth-emulation/article29425185.ece" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>https://www.thehindu.com/opinion/editorial/effort-worth-emulation/article29425185.ece</strong></a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/other-states/rajasthan-launches-information-portal/article29411172.ece" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/other-states/rajasthan-launches-information-portal/article29411172.ece</strong></a></li>
</ul>',
		'postdate' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenTime) {},
		'url' => 'https://www.drishtiias.com/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/jan-soochna-portal-1'
	],
	(int) 8 => [
		'title' => 'Radiative Cooling & Electricity Generation',
		'catname' => 'News Analysis',
		'desc' => '<p>Recently, a scientist of Indian-origin has demonstrated a new way to <strong>generate electricity at night,</strong> without any active heat input.</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The prototype device employs <strong>radiative cooling,</strong> in which a sky-facing surface passes its heat to the <strong>atmosphere as thermal radiation, losing some heat</strong> to space and reaching a cooler temperature than the surrounding air.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>This phenomenon explains how frost forms on the grass during above-freezing nights, and the same principle can be used to generate electricity, <strong>harnessing temperature differences to produce renewable electricity at night,</strong> when lighting demand peaks.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>According to the <strong>laws of thermodynamics,</strong> everything on Earth emits heat. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>At night, when one side of Earth turns away from the sun, its buildings &amp; streets cool off.</li>
<li>If no clouds are present to trap warmth, objects on the Earth can lose so much heat that they reach a lower temperature than the air surrounding them.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>It can be noted that humans have taken advantage of this effect for millenniums. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Six thousand years ago, people in Iran and Afghanistan constructed enormous <strong>beehive-shaped structures</strong> called <strong>Yakhchal,</strong> which used this <strong>passive cooling</strong> effect to <strong>create and store ice in the desert.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Working Principle</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>This device releases the heat unevenly in a manner that the top side cooling is more than the bottom side cooling. It then <strong>converts the difference in heat into electricity.</strong></li>
<li>At its heart is the gadget called a <strong>thermoelectric generator,</strong> which uses the difference in temperature between opposite sides of the device to generate a current.</li>
<li>When the device was connected to a voltage converter, it was able to power a white LED.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Potential Application</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>This could be a broadly enabling approach to power generation suitable for remote locations, and anywhere where power generation at night is needed.</li>
<li>While solar cells are an efficient source of renewable energy during the day, there is currently no similar renewable approach to generating power at night.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Way Forward</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Although the amount of electricity it generates per unit area remains relatively small, limiting its widespread applications for now, but the researchers predict it can be made twenty times more powerful with improved engineering -- such as by suppressing heat gain in the radiative cooling component to increase heat-exchange efficiency.</li>
<li>If this device could produce any amount of electricity at night, it would be valuable as after the sun sets, solar cells don&rsquo;t work and winds often die down. This innovation is vital in complementing other renewable sources of energy.</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1568628496_Image14.jpg" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1568628496_Image14.jpg" width="318" height="534" caption="false" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" /></a></p>
<p><a href="https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/small-biz/startups/features/transformative-new-device-harvests-energy-in-darkness/articleshow/71107147.cms" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Source: Economic Times</strong></a></p>',
		'postdate' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenTime) {},
		'url' => 'https://www.drishtiias.com/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/radiative-cooling-and-electricity-generation'
	],
	(int) 9 => [
		'title' => 'World Ozone Day',
		'catname' => 'News Analysis',
		'desc' => '<p>Every year, <strong>16<sup>th</sup> September</strong> is observed as the <strong>International Day</strong> for the<strong> Preservation of the Ozone layer.</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The<strong> theme</strong> for the year 2019 is<strong> &lsquo;32 Years and Healing&rsquo;.</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>It celebrates over three decades of remarkable international cooperation to protect the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/ozone-pollution" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>ozone layer</strong></a> and the climate under the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/ozone-layer-is-recovering-un" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Montreal Protocol.</strong></a></li>
<li>It reminds that the world must keep up the momentum to ensure healthy people and a healthy planet.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>In 1994, the United Nations General Assembly proclaimed 16<sup>th</sup> September the International Day for the Preservation of the Ozone Layer, <strong>commemorating</strong> the date of the signing, in 1987, of the <strong>Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer.</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The Montreal Protocol has led to <strong>the phase-out of 99% of ozone-depleting</strong> chemicals in refrigerators, air-conditioners and many other products.</li>
<li>The latest Scientific Assessment of Ozone Depletion completed in 2018, shows that <strong>parts of the ozone layer has recovered at a rate of 1-3% per decade since 2000.</strong></li>
<li>Ozone layer protection efforts have also <strong>contributed to the fight against climate change</strong> by averting an estimated 135 billion tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent emissions, from 1990 to 2010.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Ozone</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Ozone (composed of three atoms of oxygen)</strong> occurs both in the Earth's upper atmosphere<strong> (stratosphere)</strong> and at ground level <strong>(troposphere)</strong>. It can be good or bad, depending on where it is found.</li>
<li><strong>Good Ozone:</strong> Ozone occurs naturally in the <strong>Earth's upper atmosphere (Stratosphere)</strong> where it forms a protective layer that <strong>shields us from the sun's harmful ultraviolet rays.</strong></li>
<li><strong>Bad Ozone:</strong> In the <strong>Earth's lower atmosphere (troposphere)</strong> near ground level, ozone is formed when pollutants emitted by cars, power plants, industrial boilers, refineries, chemical plants, and other sources react chemically in the presence of sunlight.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Surface level ozone is a <strong>harmful air pollutant.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</div>
<p><a href="https://www.hindustantimes.com/world-news/world-ozone-day-2019-significance-history-and-importance/story-VPAQ3QtOJhpsU0LCk0d05K.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Source: HT</strong></a></p>',
		'postdate' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenTime) {},
		'url' => 'https://www.drishtiias.com/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/world-ozone-day'
	],
	(int) 10 => [
		'title' => 'Karan Vandana - A New Hybrid Wheat Variety',
		'catname' => 'News Analysis',
		'desc' => '<p>A new hybrid wheat variety <strong>Karan Vandana</strong> is soon to be launched across the country.</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>It is also known as <strong>DBW-187.</strong></li>
<li>It is <strong>rich in protein and iron.</strong></li>
<li>It has <strong>high heat tolerance</strong> across the country.</li>
<li>It is resistant to <strong>yellow rust</strong> and <strong>wheat blast</strong> which causes widespread losses.</li>
<li>It will <strong>reduce unit costs for farmers</strong> as well as <strong>return higher yield than normal varieties.</strong></li>
<li>It can be cultivated <strong>only in areas under full irrigation support.</strong></li>
<li>It has been developed by the <strong>Indian Institute of Wheat and Barley Research (IIWBR)</strong> under the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR).</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Yellow Rust<a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1568623029_image13.jpg" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1568623029_image13.jpg" style="float: right;" width="111" height="167" caption="false" /></a></strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Yellow rust is a <strong>fungal</strong> disease that manifests as powdery<strong> yellow stripes on leaves.</strong></li>
<li>These yellow stripes<strong> hinder photosynthesis</strong> and <strong>stunt the growth</strong> of the plant.</li>
<li>Higher temperature combined with rains during wheat growing season aid the growth and spread of the disease.</li>
<li>All the wheat-growing states like Punjab, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, the Tarai region of Uttarakhand, Uttar Pradesh and the low lying areas of Jammu and Kashmir are susceptible to the disease.</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>Wheat Blast<a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1568623049_image12.jpg" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1568623049_image12.jpg" width="202" height="134" style="float: right;" caption="false" /></a></strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Wheat Blast is a <strong>fungal</strong> disease.</li>
<li>It prevents <strong>maturation of the actual grain which</strong> affects reproduction by causing the host to produce fewer seeds.</li>
<li>It can <strong>infect</strong> huge areas of cultivation resulting in <strong>more than 75% yield loss.</strong></li>
</ul>
</div>
<p><a href="https://www.thehindubusinessline.com/portfolio/commodity-analysis/indias-mountain-of-grain-is-set-to-implode/article29424188.ece" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Source: BL</strong></a></p>',
		'postdate' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenTime) {},
		'url' => 'https://www.drishtiias.com/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/karan-vandana-a-new-hybrid-wheat-variety'
	],
	(int) 11 => [
		'title' => 'Vulture Culture',
		'catname' => 'News Analysis',
		'desc' => '<p>India is home to nine species of vultures, but most of them face the danger of extinction.</p>
<p>The nine species of vultures &amp; their International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) status are:</p>
<p><a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1568628031_Image15.jpg" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1568628031_Image15.jpg" width="559" height="1083" caption="false" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" /></a></p>
<h3>Conservation Efforts</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>To <strong>study the cause of deaths</strong> of vultures in India, a Vulture Care Centre (VCC) was set up at <strong>Pinjore, Haryana</strong> in 2001.</li>
<li>Later <strong>in 2004,</strong> the VCC was upgraded to being the <strong>first</strong> Vulture Conservation and Breeding Centres (VCBC) in India.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>At present, there are <strong>nine</strong> Vulture Conservation and Breeding Centres (VCBC) in India, of which three are directly administered by the Bombay Natural History Society (BNHS).</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>The <strong>main objective</strong> of the VCBCs was to look after the vultures and <strong>breed them</strong> in captivity and also release them into the wild.</li>
<li>India&rsquo;s conservation efforts are focussed on the three species of vultures which are <strong>Critically Endangered</strong> according to the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/iucn-red-list" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN)</strong></a> namely,
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><em>White-backed Vulture,</em></li>
<li><em>Slender-billed Vulture, and</em></li>
<li><em>Long-billed Vulture.</em></li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Reasons for Death of Vultures</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The major reason behind the vulture population getting nearly wiped out was the <strong>drug Diclofenac.</strong> It was found in the carcass of cattle on which the vultures feed.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The drug was commonly administered to cattle <strong>to treat inflammation.</strong></li>
<li>Its veterinary use was <strong>banned in 2008</strong> by the Government of India.</li>
<li><strong>Bioaccumulation</strong> (the gradual accumulation of substances, such as pesticides, or other chemicals in an organism) of Diclofenac caused <strong>kidney failure</strong> in Vultures, leading to death.</li>
<li>Diclofenac is dangerously fatal for Vultures. Even 1% of it in carcass would kill the Vulture in a short time after it feeds such carcass.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>The <strong>poisoned carcasses</strong> were dumped to kill some local stray animals. But when vultures fed on them, it became one of the vital reasons leading to their death.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>It is imperative to manage our carcass dumps and make sure that poisoned carcasses are not dumped for the vultures to feed on.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>The forest department <strong>cremates the animal carcasses instead of burying</strong> them, to keep the poachers away. But this practice is denying food to vultures leading to their death out of <strong>starvation.</strong></li>
</ul>
<h3>Way Forward</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The forest department needs to give emphasis on <strong>creating awareness</strong> and on <strong>creating safe zones for vultures</strong> in places where there is an existing vulture population.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>So far <strong>nine states</strong> have undertaken programmes to create safe habitats for vultures.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>Vultures are <strong>slow-breeding birds,</strong> there is a need for immediate intervention to save them from extinction.</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="https://www.thehindu.com/sci-tech/energy-and-environment/vulture-culture-how-the-bird-was-saved-from-extinction/article29425421.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/vulture-culture'
	],
	(int) 12 => [
		'title' => 'Steps To Spur Economic Growth',
		'catname' => 'News Analysis',
		'desc' => '<p>The Finance Minister has announced a <strong>number of measures to help reignite the slowing economy.</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The primary reasons for this slowdown include <strong>weak consumption</strong> (e.g. reduction in auto sales, housing sales etc.) and a <strong>deteriorating global environment</strong> (US-China trade war, Brexit etc.).</li>
</ul>
<h3>Measures To Boost Export Sector</h3>
<p><a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1568620933_image10.jpg" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1568620933_image10.jpg" width="760" height="414" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" caption="false" /></a></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Use of Information and Communications Technology (ICT):</strong> Number of measures have been announced to leverage technology to promote exports.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Fully electronic refund module</strong> for a quick and automated refund of <strong>Input Tax Credits (ITC)</strong> will be implemented by end September 2019.
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>ITC means deducting the tax paid on inputs from the tax payable on the final output.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>An <strong>Online &ldquo;Origin Management System&rdquo;</strong> for exporters to enable them to obtain <strong>Certificates of Origin &ndash; CoO</strong> will be launched.
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li><strong>Certificate of Origin</strong> is an instrument which establishes evidence o&shy;n the origin of goods imported into any country. These certificates are essential for exporters to prove where their goods come from and therefore stake their claim to whatever benefits goods of Indian origin may be eligible for in the country of exports.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Technology will be further leveraged</strong> to further <strong>reduce "Time to export"</strong> - through seamless process digitization of all export clearances (port/airport/customs, etc) and elimination of offline/manual services.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Remission of Duties or Taxes on Export Product (RoDTEP):</strong> It will replace the <strong>Merchandise Exports from India Scheme (MEIS),</strong> which is not compliant with world trade rules.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The new scheme will be implemented from 1<sup>st</sup> January 2020 and will more than adequately incentivize exporters than existing schemes put together.</li>
<li>The <strong>Merchandise Exports from India Scheme (MEIS)</strong> was introduced in the Foreign Trade Policy (FTP) 2015-20 w.e.f. 1st April 2015 with the objective to offset infrastructural inefficiencies and associated costs involved in exporting goods/products which are produced /manufactured in India including products produced/manufactured by MSME Sector.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Export Financing:</strong> To increase bank credit to exporters, the Export Credit Guarantee Corporation (ECGC) will expand the scope of its Export Credit Insurance Scheme (ECIS) to provide a <strong>higher insurance cover to banks</strong> that are lending working capital for exports.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Credit flow to exporters has come down by 35%.</li>
<li>At present banks are covered for 60% of what they lend to exporters for working capital. With the new move, it is expected to be increased to 90%.</li>
<li>It would also enable a reduction in the overall cost of export credit including interest rates, especially to MSMEs.
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li><strong>Effective monitoring of export financing</strong> will be done by the Department of Commerce.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>Export finance refers to financial assistance extended by banks and other financial institutions to businesses for the shipping of products outside a country or region.
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li><strong><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/rbi-raises-cap-on-home-loan-under-psl" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Priority Sector Lending (PSL)</a> norms for export credit have been examined</strong> and enabling guidelines are under consideration of RBI.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>This will release an additional Rs. 36,000 - 68,000 crores as export credit under the priority sector.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Effective Use of FTAs: <a href="/summary-of-important-reports/a-note-on-free-trade-agreements-and-their-costs" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Free Trade Agreement (FTA)</a></strong> <strong>Utilisation Mission,</strong> headed by a Senior officer in the Department of Commerce, will be set up, to work exclusively with export houses to utilise concessional tariffs in each FTA.</li>
<li><strong>Mega Shopping Festivals:</strong> To boost exports, <strong>Dubai- like annual mega shopping festivals</strong> in India will be organized in 4 places across March 2020. These will focus on four themes: Gems &amp; Jewellery, Handicrafts/Yoga/Tourism, Textiles and Leather.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Measures To Boost Housing Sector</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Increasing Bank Credit for Homebuyers:</strong>
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/rbi-eases-external-commercial-borrowing-framework" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>External Commercial Borrowing (ECB)</strong></a> guidelines will be relaxed to facilitate financing for home buyers who are eligible under the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/pradhan-mantri-awas-yojana-grameen-behind-target" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana.</strong></a></li>
<li>The interest rate on house building advances will be lowered and linked with the 10 Year Government Security yields.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>A Special Window Fund,</strong> to provide last mile funding to non-NPA <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/solving-the-npa-crisis-in-india" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>(Non-Performing Assets)</strong></a> and non- NCLT <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/important-fact-for-prelims-4th-march-2019-" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>(National Company Law Tribunal)</strong></a> projects in the affordable and middle-income category.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The government will contribute up to Rs 10,000 crores alongside other investors including LIC and private banks.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1568628858_image4.jpg" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1568628858_image4.jpg" width="613" height="365" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" caption="false" /></a></p>
<p><a href="http://164.100.117.97/WriteReadData/userfiles/FM%20Announcements%20of%20Measures%20to%20Boost%20Exports%20and%20Housing%20DOC%20corrected.pdf" 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/steps-to-spur-economic-growth'
	],
	(int) 13 => [
		'title' => 'South China Sea',
		'catname' => 'Paper 2',
		'desc' => '<h3>Why in news?</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Recently, at the <strong>Indian Ocean Conference (IOC)</strong> in <strong>Maldives' Male, US Ambassador to South Korea attacked China</strong> for illegally building artificial islands and militarising them in the South China Sea to which China responded by saying that it has <strong>indisputable sovereignty</strong> over the <strong>Nansha Islands (Spratly Islands)</strong> and the adjacent waters of the sea.</li>
<li>Addionationally, <strong>China rejected a UN-backed international tribunal ruling</strong> and said that dispute of South China Sea is not up for negotiation to the visiting Philippine President.</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Indian Ocean Conference- IOC 2019</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Organised by <strong>India Foundation</strong> in association with <strong>Government of Maldives</strong> and <strong>S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies, Singapore in Male, Maldives.</strong></li>
<li>It was the <strong>4<sup>th</sup> edition</strong> of IOC with the theme of <strong>"Securing the Indian Ocean Region: Traditional and Non-Traditional Challenges".</strong></li>
<li>Main topics of discussion were- <strong>Marine Ecology, Terrorism and Navigational Security.</strong></li>
</ul>
</div>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea (ITLOS)</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Came into existence following the entry into force of <strong>the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS),</strong> on <strong>16 November 1994.</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>UNCLOS, also known as <strong>Law of the Sea Convention</strong> or the <strong>Law of the Sea Treaty</strong> is the <strong>international agreement</strong> that resulted out of the <strong>third United Nations Conference on the Law of the Sea.</strong></li>
<li>It defines the rights and responsibilities of nations with respect to their use of the world's oceans, establishing guidelines for businesses, the environment, and the management of marine natural resources.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>Headquartered at <strong>Hamburg, Germany.</strong></li>
<li>Currently <strong>168</strong> members.</li>
<li>An <strong>independent judicial body</strong> that maintains close links with the UN and both have entered various agreements concerning cooperation and relationship.</li>
</ul>
</div>
<h3>South China Sea<a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1568618560_image4.jpg" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1568618560_image4.jpg" width="576" height="772" style="float: right;" caption="false" /></a></h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>South China Sea is an arm of <strong>western Pacific Ocean</strong> in <strong>Southeast Asia.</strong></li>
<li>It is <strong>south of China, east &amp; south of Vietnam, west of the Philippines</strong> and <strong>north of the island of Borneo.</strong></li>
<li><strong>Bordering states &amp; territories</strong> (clockwise from north): <strong>the People&rsquo;s Republic of China, the Republic of China (Taiwan), the Philippines, Malaysia, Brunei, Indonesia, Singapore and Vietnam.</strong></li>
<li>It is connected by <strong>Taiwan Strait with the East China Sea</strong> and by <strong>Luzon Strait with the Philippine Sea.</strong></li>
<li>It contains numerous shoals, reefs, atolls and islands. <strong>The Paracel Islands, the Spratly Islands and the Scarborough Shoal</strong> are the most important.</li>
</ul>
<h3>What makes it so important?</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>This sea holds tremendous <strong>strategic importance</strong> for its location as it is the <strong>connecting link between the Indian Ocean and the Pacific Ocean. (Strait of Malacca)</strong></li>
<li>According to <strong>the United Nations Conference on Trade And Development (UNCTAD) one-third of the global shipping</strong> passes through it, carrying trillions of trade which makes it a significant <strong>geopolitical</strong> water body.</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1568618607_image1.jpg" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1568618607_image1.jpg" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" caption="false" width="591" height="319" /></a></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>According to <strong>the Department of Environment and Natural Resources, Philippines,</strong> this sea has <strong>one-third of the entire world&rsquo;s marine biodiversity</strong> and contains<strong> lucrative fisheries</strong> providing <strong>food security</strong> to the Southeast Asian nations.</li>
<li>South China Sea is believed to have <strong>huge oil and gas reserves</strong> beneath its seabed.</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>United Nations Conference on Trade And Development (UNCTAD)</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Permanent intergovernmental body</strong> established by the <strong>United Nations General Assembly in 1964.</strong></li>
<li>Headquartered in <strong>Geneva, Switzerland.</strong></li>
<li>Part of the UN Secretariat and the United Nations Development Group.</li>
<li>Main UN body dealing with <strong>trade, investment and development issues.</strong></li>
</ul>
</div>
<h3>Timeline</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>1994 &ndash; The Convention on the Law of the Sea</strong> went into effect. The United States called this treaty the <strong>&ldquo;Law of the Sea Convention.&rdquo;</strong></li>
<li><strong>1997</strong> &ndash; Beijing shared the first rendering of its <strong>&ldquo;Nine-dash Line&rdquo;</strong> extending roughly 1,118 miles from Hainan Island to waters off equatorial Borneo under China&rsquo;s historical claim of having it in the past.</li>
<li><strong>2002 &ndash; ASEAN</strong> and <strong>China</strong> signed <strong>the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea.</strong></li>
<li><strong>2009</strong> &ndash; China issued<strong> two diplomatic notes</strong> that appear to claim a majority of the South China Sea.</li>
<li><strong>2013 &ndash; The Philippines challenged China&rsquo;s claims</strong> of historic rights and other actions in an <strong>arbitration case</strong> under<strong> the Law of the Sea Convention.</strong></li>
<li><strong>2016 &ndash; The Arbitration Tribunal ruled in favor of the Philippines</strong> and rejected China&rsquo;s maritime claims that go beyond the entitlements set out in the Convention.</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1568618656_image3.jpg" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1568618656_image3.jpg" width="531" height="531" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" caption="false" /></strong></a></p>
<p><strong>Nine Dash Line</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Stretches hundreds of kilometers south and east of China&rsquo;s southerly Hainan Island, <strong>covering the strategic Paracel and Spratly island chains.</strong></li>
<li>China claims it by <strong>citing 2,000 years of history</strong> when the two island chains were regarded as its integral parts.</li>
</ul>
</div>
<h3>Issues Involved</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>China claims most of the contested sea, reaching almost to the philippines shores and has <strong>built artificial islands with heavy military developments</strong> on them which worries the neighbouring nations and it rejects the UN backed international tribunal ruling as well.</li>
<li>The nine dash line asserted by China <strong>violates the principle of Exclusive Economic Zones (EEZ).</strong></li>
<li>The <strong>stalled negotiations</strong> between China and ASEAN made headway on Code of Conduct as four of the ASEAN nations also made territorial claims on the disputed waters which adds to the problem with already non-negotiable behaviour of China.</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Exclusive Economic Zones (EEZ)</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>It is a formula based on compromise and was <strong>recognized by the UN Conference on the Law of the Sea in 1976.</strong></li>
<li>It covers an area beyond and adjacent to the territorial sea: it can extend to a maximum of <strong>200 nautical miles</strong> from the baselines.</li>
<li>Activities allowed in EEZ are -<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>creation and use of artificial islands, installations and structures.</strong></li>
<li><strong>marine scientific research.</strong></li>
<li><strong>the protection and preservation of the marine environment.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</div>
<h3>Challenges</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>China&rsquo;s behavior of<strong> negligence, denial</strong> and the <strong>sense of superiority</strong> while <strong>overlooking international laws and regulations</strong> like the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea.</li>
<li>Along with China&rsquo;s bullying tactics, <strong>North Korea&rsquo;s provocative behaviour</strong> has <strong>attracted US aircrafts</strong> in the already troubled waters. The growth of military vessels and planes in the area makes it more challenging to handle.</li>
<li><strong>Undefined geographic scope</strong> of the South China Sea; <strong>disagreement over dispute settlement mechanisms; different approaches</strong> to conflict management (self-restraint, mutual trust, and confidence building); and the <strong>undefined legal status of the Code of Conduct (COC)</strong> add to it.</li>
<li>The <strong>different histories of distant, largely uninhabited archipelagos</strong> of the sea make the matter more complicated and multifaceted.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Achievements</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The members of <strong>the <a href="/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-international-institution/asean" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Association of Southeast Asian Nations</a></strong> <strong>(ASEAN) and China engaged in discussions on a potential COC</strong> to manage the South China Sea maritime and territorial disputes for a very long time and finally settled for a <strong>non-binding Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea (DOC) in 2002.</strong> In <strong>2005, the first draft</strong> of guidelines to implement the DOC was drawn up, but <strong>not adopted until 2011.</strong> However, problems still linger so a plan for more robust policies is needed.</li>
<li>After the consultations of 2016, in <strong>2017</strong> ASEAN and China <strong>adopted a bare-bone framework</strong> for the COC.</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea (DOC), 2002</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>ASEAN and China agreed to promote a <strong>peaceful, friendly and harmonious</strong> environment in the South China Sea for the <strong>enhancement of peace, stability, economic growth and prosperity</strong> in the region.</li>
<li>It reaffirms respect for and commitment to the <strong>freedom of navigation and overflight above the South China Sea</strong> as provided for by the universally recognized principles of international law, including the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea.</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1568618710_image2.jpg" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1568618710_image2.jpg" width="538" height="494" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" caption="false" /></a></p>
</div>
<h3>Suggestions</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>New arbitration processes</strong> to bring necessary mediation, facilitation and binding resolution mechanism which can move the <strong>military dispute to border management</strong> and to <strong>joint development</strong> finally.</li>
<li>Adopting the concept of joint development zones, which <strong>resolves the territorial disputes</strong> and allows to <strong>pursuit of joint commercial activities, environmental protection, disaster relief and humanitarian perspective</strong> and <strong>counter-piracy control.</strong></li>
<li>International disputes should be settled by <strong>peaceful means</strong> in line with international laws on the principle of <strong>safeguarding maritime security, navigation and overflight rights and freedoms.</strong></li>
</ul>
<h3>India&rsquo;s Stand on South China Sea Issue</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>In a Joint Strategic Vision for the Asia-Pacific and the Indian Ocean Region, India and the USA talked about ensuring freedom of navigation and resolving disputes according to <strong>UNCLOS referring to the South China Sea</strong> but <strong>after Philippines won the arbitration</strong> award in its favour in 2016, India has <strong>clearly separated</strong> itself from the dispute.</li>
<li>New Delhi has <strong>not conducted</strong> any<strong> defence cooperation, navigational patrols</strong> and <strong>naval exercises</strong> with the claimant states in the South China Sea (only recently it conducted a naval exercise with Vietnam).</li>
<li>After the recent development of affairs with Japan and Russia, it might appear that India wants to raise its strategic presence in the South China Sea but it is not so. Firstly, because India is <strong>not a party to the maritime territorial disputes</strong> in the region and does not want to interfere. Secondly, India <strong>wants to preserve its &ldquo;Wuhan Consensus&rdquo;</strong> with China, in which both nations respect each others&rsquo; spheres of influence in their adjacent water bodies.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Way Forward</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Forming an <strong>overarching authority</strong> like NATO or European Union (EU) with China as a member, in <strong>Asia</strong> to settle grievances and specifically find solutions to Asian problems, might help resolve disputes like this.</li>
<li>The sense of power of China needs to be checked so that it abides by the intergovernmental and international agreements and conventions.</li>
<li><strong>Peaceful bilateral or multilateral talks and negotiations</strong> can be used because aggression or war is not a solution to this or any problem at all.</li>
</ul>
<p style="text-align: center;"><a href="/mind-map/gs-paper2/south-china-sea-mind-map" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><em>For Mind Map</em></a></p>',
		'postdate' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenTime) {},
		'url' => 'https://www.drishtiias.com/to-the-points/Paper2/south-china-sea'
	],
	(int) 14 => [
		'title' => 'The Big Picture- Big Bank Reform',
		'catname' => 'Lok Sabha & Rajya Sabha Discussions',
		'desc' => '<p style="text-align: center;"><iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/IWR5zFLenJ4" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe></p>
<p>The Finance Ministry recently announced a mega plan to merge<strong> 10</strong> public sector banks into<strong> 4</strong> large entities. This will bring down the total number of Public Sector Banks in the country to 12 from 27.</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The new banks formed after the mega-merger are:</li>
</ul>
<table border="1" style="border-collapse: collapse; width: 96.3175%; height: 131px;">
<tbody>
<tr style="height: 19px;">
<td style="width: 6.06299%; height: 19px; text-align: center; background-color: #3679ff;"><span style="color: #ffffff;"><strong>Sr. No.</strong></span></td>
<td style="width: 52.7559%; height: 19px; text-align: center; background-color: #3679ff;"><span style="color: #ffffff;"><strong>Amalgamated Banks</strong></span></td>
<td style="width: 16.063%; height: 19px; text-align: center; background-color: #3679ff;"><span style="color: #ffffff;"><strong>Anchor Banks</strong></span></td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 18px;">
<td style="width: 6.06299%; height: 18px; text-align: center; background-color: #e6eafa;">1.</td>
<td style="width: 52.7559%; height: 18px; background-color: #e6eafa;">Punjab National Bank (PNB), Oriental Bank of Commerce (OBC), and United Bank of India</td>
<td style="width: 16.063%; height: 18px; background-color: #e6eafa;">PNB</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 19px;">
<td style="width: 6.06299%; height: 19px; text-align: center; background-color: #e6eafa;">2.</td>
<td style="width: 52.7559%; height: 19px; background-color: #e6eafa;">Canara Bank and Syndicate Bank</td>
<td style="width: 16.063%; height: 19px; background-color: #e6eafa;">Canara Bank</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 19px;">
<td style="width: 6.06299%; height: 19px; text-align: center; background-color: #e6eafa;">3.</td>
<td style="width: 52.7559%; height: 19px; background-color: #e6eafa;">Union Bank of India, Andhra Bank, and Corporation Bank</td>
<td style="width: 16.063%; height: 19px; background-color: #e6eafa;">Union Bank of India</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 19px;">
<td style="width: 6.06299%; height: 19px; text-align: center; background-color: #e6eafa;">4.</td>
<td style="width: 52.7559%; height: 19px; background-color: #e6eafa;">Indian Bank and Allahabad Bank</td>
<td style="width: 16.063%; height: 19px; background-color: #e6eafa;">Indian Bank</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The consolidation will help in<strong> strengthening</strong> the <strong>national presence and global reach</strong> of these banks.</li>
<li>The merger move was followed by ₹55,000 crore <strong>recapitalization plan</strong> for the merged entities and 6 other banks, enabling them to enhance their lending capacity.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Rationale Behind the Merger Plan</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Mega-merger plan focuses on creating <strong>banks of scale</strong> that would enable India to meet its aspirations of a <strong>$5 trillion</strong> GDP economy.</li>
<li>To keep pace with the growing economy, there is a need for big banks that can lend to big industries &amp; entrepreneurs that require large amounts of credit. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>According to banks&rsquo; <strong>prudential norms,</strong> banks take risks only for those entities that are appropriate as per banks&rsquo; size. Banks generally avoid investing in a single entity or business.</li>
<li>Hence to invest in large projects, banks with huge lending capacity were needed.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>Banks also need <strong>large credit</strong> in order to invest in,<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Better <strong>customer service &amp; connect,</strong></li>
<li><strong>Technology</strong> upgradation,</li>
<li>Fraud detection, etc.</li>
<li>Larger banks can invest in <strong>standardizing these processes</strong> in larger set of customer-facing entities.</li>
<li>This will help in bringing good synergy between the banks &amp; the customers.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Merger Parameters</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The <strong>core principles</strong> that were kept in mind during the merger process are:<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>First, there should be <strong>minimal customer disruption</strong> during and immediately after the merger process.</li>
<li>Secondly, the <strong>credit activity</strong> of the bank must not get disrupted &amp; disturbed.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>Accordingly, the following parameters were taken into consideration while merging:<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Similar <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/amalgamation-of-national-banks" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Core Banking System</strong></a>, i.e, the software on which a particular bank works must be common between the merged banks. For e.g, <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li><strong>Canara &amp; Syndicate Bank</strong> worked on similar software named <strong>iFlex.</strong></li>
<li><strong>Indian Bank &amp; Allahabad Bank</strong> worked upon software named the <strong>BaNCS</strong> software.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>Banks sharing a <strong>glorious tradition &amp; rich history</strong> were looked upon if they could complement each other at the<strong> level of their NPAs,</strong> current capital availability, <strong>distribution of their branches,</strong> etc. Synergies that could have been unlocked between different banks became a crucial parameter while selecting them for the merger.</li>
<li>The other factors like their <strong>geographical</strong> presence, line of <strong>activity,</strong> the extent of savings account or <strong>CASA (Current &amp; Savings Accounts) deposits</strong> were also taken into consideration.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Note</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Non-Performing Assets (NPA)</strong> refer to a classification for loans or advances that are in default or are in arrears on scheduled payments of <strong>principal or interest.</strong></li>
<li>In most cases, debt is classified as non-performing, when the loan payments have not been made for a minimum period of <strong>90 days.</strong></li>
</ul>
</div>
<h3>Need For Merger</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>There was a dire need for <strong>increased competition</strong> between the banks.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Indian Public Sector Banks were not taking any concrete steps to distinguish themselves from another bank in terms of- encouraging in the deposits and offering credits &amp; interesting products to the customers.</li>
<li>Despite the name they carried, there was no difference in the value they offered. Hence, merging them into one big entity was the desired move.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>Strong banks are beneficial in bringing the <strong>synergy and profits</strong> for both- the banks&rsquo; employees &amp; the customers. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>For e.g., After the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/amalgamation-of-three-public-sector-banks" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>amalgamation of Bank of Baroda (BoB), Dena Bank and Vijaya Bank,</strong></a> BOB in the first quarter itself recorded a huge profit after the merger as compared to the huge loss it incurred in the previous year before the merger.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Steps to be Taken for Improvement in Performance Matrix</h3>
<p>For a merger to be successful various reforms have to be taken in a continuous manner like,</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>There is a need for <strong>additional capital</strong> that can keep the banks sustained for a longer duration.</li>
<li><strong>EASE agenda</strong> on the basis of which individual banks are measured and their scorecard is publicly disclosed, can be to be followed.</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>EASE (Enhanced Access and Service Excellence) Reform Index</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>EASE index is prepared by the <strong>Indian Banking Association (IBA)</strong> and the Boston Consulting Group.</li>
<li>It is commissioned by the <strong>Ministry of Finance.</strong></li>
<li>It is a framework that was adopted to strengthen the public sector banks and rank them on parameters such as responsible banking, financial inclusion, credit offtake and digitization.</li>
</ul>
</div>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>There must be a common <strong>unified messaging &amp; performance review system</strong> to maintain uniformity across banks. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Processes that are rolled out in one bank from the top must percolate downwards to every employee in that bank for<strong> effective communication.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Impact of Merger on Indian Economy</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Banks perform an <strong>intermediation role</strong> in the economy. They take the savings of households and make it available for firms as investments. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>For any economic growth to take place, there is need of<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li><strong>Credit</strong> in terms of debt, &amp;</li>
<li><strong>Capital</strong> in terms of equity.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>Larger banks have a better ability to raise resources from the market rather than relying only on State exchequer.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>The increased lending capacity of the banks can <strong>bring best in class services</strong> for the industries as well as the retail individuals.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>For e.g, After the SBI merger, it was able to attract its customer by launching the <strong>SBI Yono cards.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Underlying Challenges</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Despite the <a href="/to-the-points/paper3/merger-of-psbs" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>merger of Vijaya Bank, Bank of Baroda and Dena Bank,</strong></a> their <strong>credit rate</strong> (the rate of interest a bank offers) has not significantly improved. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Their market capitalization was the underlying reason for the increased profits.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>The merged banks have different levels of profitability, &amp; the ability to handle loans. The associated crucial aspect is the <strong>structure of the management.</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Composition of Bank Boards &amp; selection of the CEO on the basis of the seniority level only, will not be very impactful.</li>
<li>Their selection must be done on a <strong>merit basis</strong> transparently. Applications can be invited from the market for that purpose.</li>
<li>Leadership in the merged entity will be vital to deliver the planned outcome.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Way Forward</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>There is a need to <strong>give greater powers</strong> to the banks board in order to drive, review &amp; oversight the decision-making process. And for that, the best talent must be recruited.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Also, there is the requirement of a much stronger risk handling mechanism.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>The need is to now <strong>look at foreign markets,</strong> and set up appropriate <strong>business policies</strong> (in terms of the global location &amp; the product these banks can target) that will help in increasing the efficiency and the competition of these banks with their global counterparts.</li>
<li>Continuous reforms should be undertaken regarding, <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Product innovation,</li>
<li>Investments in technologies,</li>
<li>Better back-end processes,</li>
<li>Reduction in turnaround time</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>',
		'postdate' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenTime) {},
		'url' => 'https://www.drishtiias.com/loksabha-rajyasabha-discussions/the-big-picture-big-bank-reform'
	],
	(int) 15 => [
		'title' => 'Zero-Budget Natural Farming',
		'catname' => 'News Editorials',
		'desc' => '<div class="border">
<p>This article is based on <a href="https://www.thehindubusinessline.com/opinion/is-zero-budget-natural-farming-working/article29410335.ece" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>&ldquo;Is zero budget natural farming working?&rdquo;</strong></a> that appeared in The Hindu Business Line on 14/09/2019. It talks about the benefits and issues related to Zero-Budget Natural Farming.</p>
</div>
<p>Addressing the <strong>United Nations conference on desertification (COP-14)</strong>, Indian PM told the global community that India is <strong>focusing on Zero-Budget Natural Farming (ZBNF).</strong> ZBNF was also highlighted in<strong> budget 2019</strong> in the bid to double farmer's income by 2022.</p>
<p>However, scientists from the <strong>National Academy of Agricultural Sciences</strong> suggested that there is no need for the government to promote ZBNF unless there is proper scientific validation.</p>
<h3>Zero Budget Natural Farming</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Zero budget natural farming is a method of <strong>chemical-free agriculture</strong> drawing from traditional Indian practices.</li>
<li>It was originally promoted by <strong>agriculturist Subhash Palekar,</strong> who developed it in the mid-1990s as an <strong>alternative to the Green Revolution&rsquo;s methods</strong> that are driven by chemical fertilizers and pesticides and intensive irrigation.</li>
<li>It is a unique model that relies on <strong>Agro-ecology.</strong></li>
<li>It aims to bring down the <strong>cost of production to nearly zero</strong> and return to a <strong>pre-green revolution style of farming.</strong></li>
<li>It claims that there is <strong>no need</strong> for expensive inputs such as fertilisers, pesticides and intensive irrigation.</li>
<li>ZBNF is based on 4 pillars:
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Jeevamrutha:</strong> It is a mixture of fresh cow dung and aged cow urine (both from India's indigenous cow breed), jaggery, pulse flour, water and soil; to be applied on farmland.</li>
<li><strong>Bijamrita:</strong> It is a concoction of neem leaves &amp; pulp, tobacco and green chilies prepared for insect and pest management, that can be used to treat seeds.</li>
<li><strong>Acchadana (Mulching)</strong>: It protects topsoil during cultivation and does not destroy it by tilling.</li>
<li><strong>Whapasa</strong>: It is the condition where there are both air molecules and water molecules present in the soil. Thereby helping in reducing irrigation requirement.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Benefits of ZBNF</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>With the rising cost of external inputs (fertilizers and pesticides), which is the leading <strong>cause of indebtedness and suicide among farmers.</strong> According to the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/restructuring-of-indian-statistical-system" target="_blank" rel="noopener">National Sample Survey Office (NSSO)</a> data, <strong>almost 70% of agricultural households</strong> spend more than they earn and more than half of all farmers are in debt.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Since in ZBNF there is the need to spend money or take loans for external inputs, the cost of production could be reduced and <strong>farming made into a &ldquo;zero budget&rdquo; exercise.</strong></li>
<li>This would <strong>break the debt cycle</strong> for many small farmers and help to envisage the doubling of farmer's income by 2022.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>At a time when chemical-intensive farming is resulting in soil and environmental degradation, a zero-cost environmentally-friendly farming method is definitely a timely initiative.</li>
<li>The ZBNF method promotes <strong>soil aeration,</strong> minimal watering, intercropping, bunds and topsoil mulching and discourages intensive irrigation and deep ploughing.</li>
<li>It suits all crops in all agro-climatic zones.</li>
<li>Citing the benefits of ZBNF, in June 2018, <strong>Andhra Pradesh</strong> rolled out an ambitious plan to become <strong>India&rsquo;s first State to practise 100% natural farming by 2024.</strong></li>
</ul>
<h3>Issues Related to ZBNF</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Sikkim (India's first organic state), has seen some <strong>decline in yields</strong> following conversion to organic farming.</li>
<li>Many farmers have <strong>reverted to conventional farming</strong> after seeing their ZBNF returns drop after a few years.</li>
<li>While ZBNF has definitely helped preserve soil fertility, its role in boosting productivity and farmers&rsquo; income <strong>isn&rsquo;t conclusive</strong> yet.</li>
<li>ZBNF advocates the <strong>need of an Indian breed cow,</strong> whose numbers are <strong>declining at a fast pace.</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>According to Livestock Census, the country&rsquo;s total population of indigenous and nondescript cattle has dropped by 8.1%.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Low expenditure by the government:</strong> Last year, the government launched Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana, a flagship Green Revolution scheme with an allocation of Rs 3,745 crore for the financial year 2019-20.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Whereas the Paramparagat Krishi Vikas Yojana, which was meant to promote organic farming and soil health has been allocated Rs 325 crore only.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Way Forward</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>There is a host of structural marketing issues which needs to be addressed first before aiming to achieve the ambitious goal of ZBNF. For example:<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Strengthening of agricultural market infrastructure.</li>
<li>Extending the procurement mechanism to all foodgrain and non-foodgrain crops to all States.</li>
<li>Implementation of price deficiency payment system for selected crops.</li>
<li>Fixing <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/msp-agrarian-crisis-and-reform" target="_blank" rel="noopener">minimum support prices</a> (MSP) in consonance with the cost of cultivation.</li>
<li>Abolishing minimum export price for agricultural commodities.</li>
<li>Enacting legislation on &lsquo;right to sell at MSP&rsquo; needs immediate attention.</li>
<li>MGNREGS must also be linked with farm work in order to reduce the cost of cultivation which has escalated at a faster pace over the past few years.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<p>Unless these issues are resolved, the <a href="/to-the-points/paper3/doubling-farmers-income-a-promise-to-be-fulfilled-by-2022" target="_blank" rel="noopener">doubling of farmers' income</a> will remain a distant reality. In this context, farmers&rsquo; ease of doing business and ease of living should also be taken into consideration.</p>
<table border="1" style="border-collapse: collapse; width: 100%;">
<tbody>
<tr>
<td style="width: 100%; border-style: dotted; border-color: #ff0000; background-color: #faffe8;">
<p><span style="color: #0000ff;"><em><strong>Drishti Mains Question</strong></em></span></p>
<p>Critically analyse the role Zero Budget Natural Farming can play in achieving the goal of doubling farmer&rsquo;s income by 2022.</p>
</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<p><strong>Sources:</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><a href="https://www.thehindu.com/sci-tech/agriculture/what-is-zero-budget-natural-farming/article28733122.ece" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>https://www.thehindu.com/sci-tech/agriculture/what-is-zero-budget-natural-farming/article28733122.ece</strong></a></li>
<li><a href="https://thewire.in/agriculture/budget-2019-zero-budget-natural-farming" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>https://thewire.in/agriculture/budget-2019-zero-budget-natural-farming</strong></a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/govt-should-stop-promoting-zero-budget-natural-farming-pending-proof-scientists/article29386358.ece" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/govt-should-stop-promoting-zero-budget-natural-farming-pending-proof-scientists/article29386358.ece</strong></a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.thehindu.com/opinion/op-ed/the-seeds-of-sustainability/article24213217.ece" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>https://www.thehindu.com/opinion/op-ed/the-seeds-of-sustainability/article24213217.ece</strong></a></li>
<li><a href="http://www.fao.org/agroecology/detail/en/c/443712/" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>http://www.fao.org/agroecology/detail/en/c/443712/</strong></a></li>
</ul>',
		'postdate' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenTime) {},
		'url' => 'https://www.drishtiias.com/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/zero-budget-natural-farming'
	],
	(int) 16 => [
		'title' => 'INTERPOL Notices',
		'catname' => 'News Analysis',
		'desc' => '<p>The<strong> INTERPOL has issued a Red Corner Notice (RCN)</strong> against fugitive diamond merchant Nirav Modi's brother Nehal in connection with the multi-billion dollar Punjab National Bank (PNB) scam.</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>INTERPOL Notices are international requests for cooperation or alerts allowing police in member countries to share critical crime-related information.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The <strong>International Criminal Police Organization (INTERPOL) is an intergovernmental organization</strong> that helps coordinate the police force of 194 member countries.</li>
<li>Each of the member countries hosts an <strong>INTERPOL National Central Bureau (NCB).</strong> This connects their national law enforcement with other countries and with the General Secretariat.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>The <a href="/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-national-institutions/central-bureau-of-investigation-cbi" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Central Bureau of Investigation</strong></a> (CBI) is designated as the National Central Bureau of India.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>The General Secretariat provides a range of expertise and services to the member countries.</li>
<li>It is <strong>headquartered in Lyon, France</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>Notices can also be used by the United Nations, International Criminal Tribunals and the International Criminal Court to seek persons wanted for committing crimes within their jurisdiction, notably genocide, war crimes, and crimes against humanity.</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1568450428_Notices%20poster 2017.jpg" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1568450428_Notices poster 2017.jpg" width="566" height="318" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" caption="false" /></a></p>
<p><a href="https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/business/india-business/interpol-issues-red-corner-notice-against-nirav-modis-brother-nehal/articleshow/71107654.cms" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Source: ToI</strong></a></p>',
		'postdate' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenTime) {},
		'url' => 'https://www.drishtiias.com/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/interpol-notices'
	],
	(int) 17 => [
		'title' => 'UN Convention to Combat Desertification: COP 14',
		'catname' => 'News Analysis',
		'desc' => '<p>The 14<sup>th</sup> edition of the Conference of Parties (COP-14) to the UN Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) ended on 13<sup>th</sup> September 2019.</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Held in Greater Noida, this was the <strong>first time that India hosted</strong> an edition of the UNCCD COP.</li>
<li>The <strong>theme</strong> of the Conference was<strong> &lsquo;Restore land, Sustain future&rsquo;.</strong></li>
<li>India being the global host for COP 14<strong> has taken over the COP Presidency from China for the next two years</strong> till 2021.</li>
<li>India is among the select few countries to have hosted the COP of <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/world-day-to-combat-desertification-and-drought" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>all three Rio conventions</strong></a> on <strong>climate change, biodiversity and land.</strong></li>
</ul>
<h3>Key Takeaways</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Delhi Declaration:</strong> Commitment for a range of issues, including gender and health, ecosystem restoration, taking action on climate change, private sector engagement, <strong>Peace Forest Initiative</strong> and <strong>recovery of five million hectares</strong> of degraded land in India.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The country parties have agreed to make the <strong>Sustainable Development Goal target of achieving land degradation neutrality by 2030,</strong> a national target for action.</li>
<li><strong>Peace Forest Initiative:</strong> It is an initiative of <strong>South Korea</strong> to use ecological restoration as a peace-building process. It aims at addressing the issue of land degradation in <strong>conflict-torn border areas</strong> and would go a long way in alleviating tensions and building trust between communities living there and between enemy countries in particular.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Drought Toolbox:</strong> It is launched as a one-stop-shop for all <strong>actions on drought.</strong> It is a <strong>sort of knowledge bank which contains tools that strengthen the ability of countries to anticipate and prepare for drought effectively</strong> and mitigate their impacts as well as tools that enable communities to anticipate and find the land management tools that help them to build resilience to drought.</li>
<li><strong>International coalition for action on Sand and Dust storms (SDS):</strong> The coalition will develop an <strong>SDS source base map</strong> with the goal of improving monitoring and response to these storms. SDS affects approximately 77% of UNCCD country Parties or approximately 151 countries.</li>
<li><strong>Initiative of Sustainability, Stability and Security (3S):</strong> Launched by <strong>14 African countries to address migration driven by land degradation.</strong> It aims at restoring land and creating green jobs for migrants and vulnerable groups.</li>
<li><strong>Cooperation From Youth:</strong> The global <strong>Youth Caucus on Desertification and Land</strong> convened its first official gathering in conjunction with the UNCCD COP14 to bring together youth advocates from different parts of the world, to build their capacity, share knowledge, build networks and to engage them meaningfully in the UNCCD processes.</li>
</ul>
<h3>High-Level Segment Meeting of the COP14</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The Prime Minister of India inaugurated and addressed the high-level segment meeting of the COP-14.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>India seeks to propose initiatives for greater <strong>South-South cooperation</strong> in addressing issues of climate change, biodiversity and land degradation.</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>
<li>India called upon the leadership of UNCCD to conceive a <strong>global water action agenda which is central to the Land Degradation Neutrality strategy.</strong></li>
<li>India advocated on the need to <strong>eradicate the menace of <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/ban-on-single-use-plastics" target="_blank" rel="noopener">single-use plastic</a>.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1568450173_image1.jpg" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1568450173_image1.jpg" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" caption="false" width="615" height="317" /></strong></a></p>
<p><a href="https://pib.gov.in/PressReleseDetail.aspx?PRID=1585020" 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/un-convention-to-combat-desertification-cop-14'
	],
	(int) 18 => [
		'title' => 'National Conference on ‘Criminal Activities and Radicalization in Jails’',
		'catname' => 'News Analysis',
		'desc' => '<p>Recently, a National Conference on <strong>&lsquo;Criminal Activities and Radicalization in Jails: Vulnerability of Inmates and Jail Staff and their Protection&rsquo;</strong> was held in New Delhi.</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The <strong>two-day</strong> conference was organized by the <strong><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/50th-foundation-day-of-bureau-of-police-research-and-development" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Bureau of Police Research and Development (BPR&amp;D)</a>.</strong></li>
<li>The conference will <strong>focus</strong> on the following issues:<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>To consider vulnerabilities at individual and gang levels and to suggest safety measures for the same.</li>
<li>To understand various facets of radicalization as well as de-radicalization in prisons.</li>
<li>To analyze and formulate the security and protection standards for prison staff.</li>
<li>To provide an interdisciplinary platform for correctional personnel to exchange and share their experience on prison reforms.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>The conference enforced an aspect of <strong>&ldquo;Correctional Administration&rdquo;</strong> in <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/prison-reforms-and-way-forward" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Prison reforms.</strong></a></li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Correctional Administration</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>A program that prepares individuals to plan and manage institutional facilities and programs for housing and rehabilitating prisoners in the public and/or private sectors.</li>
<li>Correctional Administration includes:<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Programme of the welfare of convicts/undertrials</li>
<li>Rehabilitation after release.</li>
<li>Involvement of Community.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</div>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>It also emphasized to convert <strong>the prison as a centre of reformation.</strong></li>
<li><strong>Challenges</strong> addressed during the conference include:<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Aggravation of sufferings during the process of imprisonment.</li>
<li>Rehabilitating and streamlining convicts back into society,</li>
<li>Overcrowding in prisons,</li>
<li>A large number of under-trials,</li>
<li>Inadequate prison infrastructure,</li>
<li>Criminal activities and radicalization in jails,</li>
<li>Safety of women prisoners and their young children,</li>
<li>Shortage of funds and staff for proper prison administration.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Rights of Prisoners</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Article 21</strong> of Indian Constitution enforces <strong>&ldquo;Right to Life&rdquo;</strong> as a Fundamental Right.</li>
<li>The Imprisonment itself is a punishment for a convicted person thus <strong>prison conditions should not be an additional punishment.</strong></li>
<li>Imprisonment deprives someone of their <strong>liberty and impacts on certain other rights, such as freedom of movement,</strong> but human rights and fundamental freedoms of convicts shall not be restricted.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Prison Administration in India</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Article 39(A)</strong> of Indian Constitution states that State shall ensure <strong>Equal Justice</strong> and<strong> Free Legal Aid for poor.</strong></li>
<li>Prisons being a <strong>State subject,</strong> its modernisation is undertaken by respective State Governments.</li>
<li>In a number of judgements on various aspects of prison administration, <strong>the Supreme Court of India has laid down three broad principles:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>A person in prison does not become a non-person.</li>
<li>A person in prison is entitled to all human rights within the limitations of imprisonment.</li>
<li>There is no justification in aggravating the suffering already inherent in the process of incarceration.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>The Ministry of Home Affairs</strong> is supporting the States/UTs in implementing the <strong>E-Prisons Project</strong> and has issued the <strong>Model Prison Manual.</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>E-Prisons Project.</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>It aims to introduce efficiency in prison management through digitization.</li>
<li>It supplements the <strong>Prisoner Information Management system (PIMS),</strong> which provides a <strong>centralized approach for recording and managing prisoner information.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Model Prison Manual</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>It mentions Legal Aid, provides detailed information about the legal services available to prison inmates and also free legal services available to them.</li>
<li>It is intended to provide assistance to under trial prison inmates.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>The National Legal Services Authority (NALSA)</strong> had also launched a web application to facilitate the <strong>under trial prisoners</strong> for providing them with<strong> free legal services.</strong></li>
</ul>
<p><a href="https://pib.gov.in/PressReleseDetail.aspx?PRID=1584860" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Source: PIB</strong></a></p>',
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		'url' => 'https://www.drishtiias.com/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/national-conference-on-criminal-activities-and-radicalization-in-jails'
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	(int) 19 => [
		'title' => 'Jan Soochna Portal',
		'catname' => 'News Analysis',
		'desc' => '<p>The State Government of Rajasthan has recently launched the first-ever <strong>public information portal</strong> named <strong>&ldquo;Jan Soochna Portal-2019&rdquo;.</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The portal aims to <strong>provide information</strong> to the public about government authorities and departments empowering them with access to useful information.</li>
<li>The portal was developed by the government officials in close collaboration with the IT professionals and civil society groups.</li>
<li>It initially gives information of about <strong>13 government departments</strong> on a <strong>single platform.</strong></li>
<li>Information related to the availability of food grains &amp; ration shops, <strong>implementation of schemes</strong> and their beneficiaries, land records and social security pensions, inter alia, will be available on a <strong>real-time basis</strong> on this platform.</li>
<li><strong>Information kiosks</strong> in <em>village panchayats</em> and <strong>self-service e-Mitra centres</strong> in the towns will be established to enable the people to access the information.</li>
<li>The Department of Information Technology will serve as the <strong>nodal department</strong> for the development, operationalization, and maintenance of the JSP.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The norms and standards are laid down through the digital dialogue by the<strong> advisory group</strong>. And, to ensure that the responsibilities are carried out smoothly, the advisory group will be the <strong>monitoring agency.</strong></li>
<li><strong>Grievance redressal</strong> officers will be appointed so that citizens can keep a check upon the accountability aspect of the State government.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>The launch of this portal is in accordance with the true spirit of the <strong>Right to Information (RTI) Act</strong> and ensures compliance with <strong>Section 4(2) of the <a href="/to-the-points/paper4/right-to-information-1" target="_blank" rel="noopener">RTI Act</a></strong> that mandates the public authorities to <strong>proactively disclose information</strong> in the public domain.</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Right to Information (RTI) Act</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>RTI Act was enacted in <strong>2005</strong> with the aim to secure the citizens' access to information which is under the control of public authorities.</li>
<li>The primary purpose behind this enactment was to promote <strong>transparency</strong> and <strong>accountability</strong> in the working of every public authority.</li>
<li><strong>Section 4</strong> of the RTI Act requires <strong>suo-moto disclosure of information</strong> by each public authority.</li>
<li>In 2018, an amendment was proposed to the RTI Act that aimed at giving the Central government the power to fix the tenure and salaries of state and central information commissioners, which are statutorily protected under the RTI Act. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The proposed move may dilute the autonomy and independence of Information Commissioners.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</div>
<h3>Benefits</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Jan Soochna Portal (JSP) is a <strong>remarkable achievement</strong> in advancing the Right to Information (RTI).<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Now, the people would not need to file applications separately under the law to obtain information. They could <strong>freely</strong> access the information publicly</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>JSP is unique for it ensures both- transparency accompanied by accountability.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Challenges</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The <strong>digital divide</strong> is a serious problem in India. To bridge this gap, utmost care must be taken to ensure that access points are open and free for all.</li>
<li>There are huge challenges with regard to the <strong>maintenance</strong> issues and ensuring that there is <strong>no abatement in the availability</strong> of information.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Way Forward</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The need is to host the JSP in <strong>decentralized locations,</strong> right down to the municipal ward and panchayat levels. This will ensure that people have access to welfare schemes, revenue activities such as mining, and other service delivery issues such as health and education.</li>
<li>The portal would eventually turn out to be an effective medium for the digital dialogue with the people as well as a strong instrument for ensuring transparency in governance.</li>
<li>The need of the hour is that other State governments must follow the Rajasthan government&rsquo;s pioneering initiative and make people, including the marginalized sections, a part of the governance process.</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/other-states/rajasthan-launches-information-portal/article29411172.ece" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Source: TH</strong></a></p>',
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