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Time-Bank in Madhya Pradesh

Recently, the Madhya Pradesh government’s Happiness department has planned to set up a TimeBank. TimeBank is a reciprocal service...

09 Sep 2019 News Analysis
Ocean Energy

Why in News? Recently, the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy has declared Ocean Energy as renewable energy. Includes all forms of ocean energy...

09 Sep 2019 Paper 3
National Infrastructure Pipeline

The Central Government has constituted a task force to draw up a National Infrastructure Pipeline for each of the financial years from 2019-20 to...

09 Sep 2019 News Analysis
The Problem of Skilling India

“The article is based on The problem of skilling India that was published in The Indian Express on 7th September. It talks about the issues...

07 Sep 2019 News Editorials
Craniopagus Twins

Recently, India has successfully performed rarest of the rare surgery on Craniopagus Twins. This was the first successful craniopagus conjoined...

07 Sep 2019 News Analysis
Indus Valley Civilization’s Independent Origin

According to a study of DNA (DeoxyriboNucleic Acid) from skeletal remains excavated from the Harappan cemetery at Rakhigarhi (the biggest IVC site...

07 Sep 2019 News Analysis
Controlling Hepatitis B

Recently, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Nepal and Thailand became the first four countries in the World Health Organization’s Southeast Asia region to...

07 Sep 2019 News Analysis
Indoor Air Pollution

According to the Centre for Science & Environment (CSE), the three-year average levels of PM 2.5 atmospheric particulate matter (with a diameter...

07 Sep 2019 News Analysis
Avian Influenza

With effect from 3rd September 2019, India has been declared free from Avian Influenza (H5N1), which has also been notified to the World Organization...

07 Sep 2019 News Analysis
India and South Korea Signs Logistics Pact

India and South Korea have concluded a Military Logistics Agreement during the ongoing visit of Defence Minister to Seoul. The two countries have...

07 Sep 2019 News Analysis
Wetlands Restoration

Recently, the Government has identified 130 wetlands for priority restoration in the next five years and asked states to submit their respective...

07 Sep 2019 News Analysis
The Big Picture - Indo-Pacific : Strategic Importance

The External Affairs Minister, who is on a two day visit to Russia, has said that Indo Pacific is one of the new concepts and approaches thrown up...

07 Sep 2019 Lok Sabha & Rajya Sabha Discussions
India and Russia: Ties in Transition

“The article is based on India and Russia: Ties in transition that was published in ORF on 5th September. It talks about the PM’s visit...

06 Sep 2019 News Editorials
Right to Education

For...

06 Sep 2019 Paper 2
Postal Ballot Cover Extension

The Election Commission Of India has asked the Union Law Ministry to expand the ambit of postal ballots. The move seeks to extend the postal...

06 Sep 2019 News Analysis
India - Russia

The Prime Minister of India was on a two-day visit to Russia to attend the 20th India-Russia annual summit and the 5th meeting of the Eastern...

06 Sep 2019 News Analysis
Measles and Rubella in South-East Asia

The member countries of the World Health Organisation (WHO) Regional Committee for South-East Asia have resolved to eliminate highly infectious...

06 Sep 2019 News Analysis
Kaushalacharya Awards

Recently, the Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship (MSDE) has launched Kaushalacharya Awards at Kaushalacharya Samadar...

06 Sep 2019 News Analysis
Mobile Science Exhibition

Recently, the first-ever Mobile Science Exhibition (Science Explorer) for the Ladakh region was launched by the Ministry of Culture in Leh. Apart...

06 Sep 2019 News Analysis
National Conference on Cybercrime Investigation and Forensics

Recently, the 1st National Conference on Cybercrime Investigation and Forensics was organised by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) in New...

06 Sep 2019 News Analysis

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			'title' => 'Time-Bank in Madhya Pradesh',
			'catname' => 'News Analysis',
			'desc' => '<p>Recently, the <strong>Madhya Pradesh government&rsquo;s Happiness department</strong> has planned to set up a <strong>TimeBank.&nbsp;</strong>TimeBank is&nbsp;a <strong>reciprocal service exchange</strong> which uses units of time as a currency.</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>TimeBank would lend <strong>currency in exchange for an hour.</strong></li>
<li>This earned hour could be used to <strong>learn a new skill,</strong> without the need to pay any paper money.</li>
</ul>
<h3>The Underlying Idea</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The core value behind this idea is that we all are assets that are driven by reciprocity. Giving focused attention to each &amp; every voice will help <strong>promote the equality and dignity of labour.</strong></li>
<li>It is a new way to link <strong>untapped social capacity to unmet social needs.</strong></li>
<li>Whenever a bank member needs a service or wants to acquire a skill, for e.g, gardening or playing the guitar, the member could exchange a credit worth an hour with another member knowing that particular skill.</li>
<li>In the beginning, the <strong>50,000</strong> volunteers registered with the department through local networks will form <strong>community-level banks</strong> and list skills they could impart or services they could offer. This will help in building the trust factor as known individuals will interact with one another.</li>
<li>Later, an experienced volunteer will induct new members and keep a record of all the transactions.</li>
<li>It can be considered as a <strong>modern barter system.</strong></li>
</ul>
<h3>History</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The idea of Timebank was conceived in 1827. But the concept gained popularity with the setting up of the <strong>first Time Bank in Japan in 1973.</strong></li>
<li>Later, the CEO of TimeBanks U.S.A popularized the idea of <strong>Time Dollars.</strong></li>
<li>Today, there are more than <strong>500</strong> such communities across <strong>32</strong> countries.</li>
<li>It can also be noted that earlier in October 2018 a panel of <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/protection-of-human-rights-amendment-bill-2019" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>National Human Rights Commission (NHRC)</strong></a> on disability and elderly persons had <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/proposal-to-hike-monthly-pensions" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>recommended the &ldquo;time bank&rdquo; scheme</strong></a> to take care of senior citizens who are living alone without any support from their family.</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Madhya Pradesh is the <strong>first state</strong> in the country that created the <strong>Happiness Department</strong> in 2016.</li>
<li>The state government also prepared a <strong>happiness calendar</strong> for helping its citizens to remain happy and dedicated to the right causes.</li>
</ul>
</div>
<p><a href="https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/other-states/mps-happiness-dept-to-open-time-bank/article29369985.ece" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Source- TH</strong></a></p>',
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		],
		(int) 1 => [
			'title' => 'Ocean Energy',
			'catname' => 'Paper 3',
			'desc' => '<h3>Why in News?</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Recently, the <strong>Ministry of New and Renewable Energy</strong> has declared <strong>Ocean Energy</strong> as <strong>renewable</strong> energy.</li>
<li>Includes all forms of ocean energy such as <strong>tidal, wave, current, ocean thermal etc</strong> and makes them eligible for meeting the <strong>non-solar Renewable Purchase Obligations (RPO).</strong></li>
</ul>
<h3>What is Ocean Energy?</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Oceans&rsquo; water movement</strong> creates a <strong>vast store of kinetic energy</strong> (energy in motion) in the various forms of renewable energy viz wave energy, tidal energy, ocean current energy, salinity gradient energy and ocean thermal gradient energy which can be <strong>harnessed to generate electricity.</strong></li>
</ul>
<h3>Types of Ocean Energy</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Tidal Energy-</strong> Like conventional hydroelectric dams, power plants are built on river estuaries and hold back huge amounts of tidal water twice a day which generates electricity when released. India is expected to have 9,000 MW of tidal energy potential.</li>
<li><strong>Wave Energy-</strong> This is generated by the movement of a device either floating on the surface of the ocean or moored to the ocean floor.</li>
<li><strong>Current Energy-</strong> It is very similar to the wind above the oceans. Underwater turbines, large propellers tethered to the seabed, are moved with the marine currents to generate electricity. According to the <strong>Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC),</strong> given the scale of open ocean currents, there is a promise of significant project scale growth when technologies harness lower-velocity currents.</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC)</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>It was created in <strong>1988</strong> by the <strong>World Meteorological Organization (WMO)</strong> and <strong>the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP).</strong></li>
<li>Currently has <strong>195</strong> members.</li>
<li>Headquartered in <strong>Geneva, Switzerland.</strong></li>
<li>It has the objective to provide governments at all levels with <strong>scientific information</strong> that they can use to <strong>develop climate policies.</strong></li>
<li>It provides regular assessments of the scientific basis of climate change, its impact and future risks, and options for adaptation and mitigation.</li>
<li>It gives the report on <strong>Renewable Energy Sources and Climate Change Mitigation</strong> among other various reports.</li>
</ul>
</div>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Ocean Thermal Energy-</strong> Oceans are huge heat reservoirs as they cover almost 70% of Earth&rsquo;s surface. The temperature difference between warm surface waters and the cold deeper layers can be used to generate steam and then power.</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Ocean Thermal Energy Conversion (OTEC)</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The technology which uses ocean temperature differences from the surface to depths lower than 1,000 meters, to extract energy.</li>
<li>Research focuses on <strong>two types of OTEC technologies-</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>In <strong>Closed cycle method,</strong> a working fluid (ammonia) is pumped through a heat exchanger for evaporation and the steam runs a turbine. The vapour is turned back to fluid (condensation) by the cold water found at the depths of the ocean where it returns to the heat exchanger.</li>
<li>In <strong>Open cycle method,</strong> the warm surface water is pressurized in a vacuum chamber and converted to steam which runs the turbine. The steam is then condensed using cold ocean water from lower depths.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>It has high (94%) capacity factor which makes it the best power source and although it has a high initial cost, low maintenance and regular power supply makes it an attractive alternative.</li>
<li>OTEC is supplied by an infinite supply of solar energy and the stored energy in it after sundown makes it a 24 hour power supplier.</li>
<li>There are no emissions from the OTEC power plants so air quality will not be degraded.</li>
</ul>
</div>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Osmotic Energy-</strong> This technique produces energy from the movement of water across a membrane between a saltwater reservoir and fresh water reservoir. It is also called <strong>Salinity Gradient Energy.</strong></li>
</ul>
<h3>Salient Features</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Predictable and Reliable:</strong> Unlike wind, ocean energy sources are more predictable. The endless flows create a reliable supply source for future availability.</li>
<li><strong>Global presence:</strong> Tidal streams and ocean currents are available almost everywhere across the globe.</li>
<li><strong>Energy-rich:</strong> Moving water is more than 800 times denser than moving air, which multiplies the kinetic energy by the same factor and opens up the scope of huge amounts of energy.</li>
<li><strong>Unlimited usage area:</strong> Land is a scarce resource for many regions so on-shore solutions have to compete and can extend to a limit but ocean energies are provided by the vast and deep oceans ending the competition.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Objectives</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>To <strong>accelerate and enhance support</strong> for the resource assessment and deployment of ocean energy in the country.</li>
<li>To harness the ocean energies for power generation and to overcome the barrier of energy deficiency.</li>
<li>This sector has been <strong>opened to the public and private sectors</strong> so that more projects can be carried out in India.</li>
<li><strong>Industry led research and development proposals are invited</strong> from stakeholders, for solving problems in Indian conditions.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Limitations</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Deployment is currently limited</strong> in our country and already deployed technologies are under utilised.</li>
<li>Either there is <strong>not much research done</strong> on the technologies or most are currently at the initial stage of R&amp;D, demonstration and commercialization.</li>
<li><strong>Uncertainty of the marine environment</strong> and <strong>commercial scale risks</strong> like- corrosion of materials due to the salinity of seawater, offshore maintenance difficulties, the environmental impact on landscapes and the marine ecosystem and competition from other marine activities such as fishing.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Potential</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Total identified potential of <strong>Tidal Energy</strong> is about <strong>12455 MW,</strong> with potential locations identified at <strong>Khambat &amp; Kutch regions,</strong> and large backwaters, where barrage technology could be used.</li>
<li>The total theoretical potential of <strong>wave energy</strong> is estimated to be about <strong>40,000 MW.</strong> This energy is however less intensive than what is available in more northern and southern latitudes.</li>
<li><strong>OTEC</strong> has a theoretical potential of <strong>180,000 MW</strong> in India subject to suitable technological evolution.</li>
<li>Ocean energy has the potential to grow fully,<strong> fuelling economic growth, reducing carbon footprint</strong> and <strong>creating jobs</strong> not only along the coasts but also inland along its supply chains.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Suggestions</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>India has a <strong>long coastline</strong> with the estuaries and gulfs which can be fully used to harness this energy.</li>
<li>Tidal streams and ocean currents are huge and almost endless resources which can be used with relatively small environmental interactions for large scale electricity generation.</li>
<li>Basic R&amp;D is being looked after by <strong>National Institute of Ocean Technology, Chennai under the Ministry of Earth Sciences</strong> but more inputs by other prominent institutions will help us understand and develop the technologies faster.</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>National Institute of Ocean Technology (NIOT)</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Established in <strong>November 1993</strong> as an <strong>autonomous society</strong> under the <strong>Ministry of Earth Sciences,</strong> Government of India.</li>
<li>It aims to develop reliable indigenous technologies to solve various engineering problems associated with harvesting of non-living and living resources in the <strong>Indian Exclusive Economic Zone.</strong></li>
</ul>
</div>
<h3>Conclusion</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Ocean energy technology can help India stimulate innovation, create economic growth and new jobs as well as to reduce its carbon footprint.</li>
<li>It will also <strong>help India to support its neighbouring countries who have energy deficits,</strong> for their better economic growth and can guide them on their way to being self sufficient in energy sector.</li>
</ul>
<p style="text-align: center;"><a href="/mind-map/gs-paper3/ocean-energy-mind-map" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><em>For Mind Map</em></a></p>',
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			'url' => 'https://www.drishtiias.com/to-the-points/paper3/ocean-energy'
		],
		(int) 2 => [
			'title' => 'National Infrastructure Pipeline',
			'catname' => 'News Analysis',
			'desc' => '<p>The Central Government has constituted <strong>a task force</strong> to draw up a <strong>National Infrastructure Pipeline</strong> for each of the financial years from <strong>2019-20 to 2024-25.</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The Task Force is <strong>chaired by the Secretary, Department of Economic Affairs,</strong> Ministry of Finance.</li>
</ul>
<h3>National Infrastructure Pipeline</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>This in line with the Prime Minister&rsquo;s Independence day speech that Rs.100 lakh crore ($1.4 trillion) would be invested in infrastructure over the next five years.</li>
<li>National Infrastructure Pipeline will ensure that infrastructure <strong>projects are adequately prepared and launched.</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Infrastructure projects will include both <strong>social and economic</strong> infrastructure projects.</li>
<li>It would include <strong>greenfield and brownfield projects</strong> costing <strong>above Rs 100 crore</strong> each.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>Each Ministry/ Department would be responsible for the monitoring of projects so as to ensure their timely and within-cost implementation.</li>
<li>It will help in stepping-up annual infrastructure investment <strong>to achieve the Gross Domestic Product <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/highlights-of-economic-survey-2018-19" target="_blank" rel="noopener">(GDP) of $5 trillion by 2024-25.</a></strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>In the past decade (2008-17), India invested about $1.1 trillion on infrastructure.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Terms of Reference of the Task Force</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>To <strong>identify technically feasible and economically viable infrastructure projects</strong> that can be initiated in the Financial Year (FY) 2019-20.</li>
<li>To list the projects that can be included in the pipeline for each of the remaining 5 years between FY 2021-25.</li>
<li>To estimate annual infrastructure investment/capital costs.</li>
<li>To guide the Ministries in identifying appropriate sources of financing.</li>
<li>To suggest <strong>measures to monitor the projects</strong> so that cost and time overrun is minimized.</li>
<li>To enable robust <strong>marketing of the pipeline of projects</strong> requiring private investment through the <strong>India Investment Grid (IIG), National Investment &amp; Infrastructure Fund (NIIF),</strong> etc.</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>India Investment Grid</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>India Investment Grid (IIG)</strong> is an initiative of the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/dipp-renamed-as-dpiit" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Department for Promotion of Industry &amp; Internal Trade (DPIIT)</strong></a> Ministry of Commerce and <strong>Invest India,</strong> the National Investment Promotion and Facilitation Agency.</li>
<li>It showcases a menu of investment options across India on <strong>a single online interactive platform.</strong> It connects potential investors to project promoters across India.</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>National Investment &amp; Infrastructure Fund</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>National Investment &amp; Infrastructure Fund (NIIF)</strong> is an Indian-government backed entity established to provide <strong>long-term capital to the country&rsquo;s infrastructure sector.</strong></li>
<li>The Indian government has a 49% stake in NIIF with the rest held by foreign and domestic investors.</li>
<li>With the Centre&rsquo;s significant stake, NIIF is considered India&rsquo;s <strong>quasi-sovereign wealth fund.</strong></li>
<li>Across its three funds- Master Fund, Fund of Funds, and Strategic Fund - it manages over $3 billion of capital.</li>
<li>Its registered office is in <strong>New Delhi.</strong></li>
</ul>
</div>
<p><a href="https://pib.nic.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=1584408" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Source: PIB</strong></a></p>',
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		],
		(int) 3 => [
			'title' => 'The Problem of Skilling India',
			'catname' => 'News Editorials',
			'desc' => '<div class="border">
<p>&ldquo;The article is based on <a href="https://indianexpress.com/article/opinion/columns/the-problem-of-skilling-india-unemployment-joblessness-modi-government-5973808/" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>The problem of skilling India</strong></a> that was published in The Indian Express on 7<sup>th</sup> September. It talks about the issues and challenges associated with Skill Development in India.&rdquo;</p>
</div>
<h3>Context</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>According to the Centre for Monitoring Indian Economy (CMIE), the <strong><a href="/to-the-points/paper3/unemployment-in-india" target="_blank" rel="noopener">unemployment</a> rate</strong> reached 34% among the 20-24 year-olds in the first quarter of 2019 &mdash; it was 37.9% among the urban lot.</li>
<li>At least eight million new job seekers enter the job market every year. In 2017, only 5.5 million jobs had been created, and the situation is worsening: Unemployment rate is the highest in 45 years today.</li>
<li>According to the last 2018 <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/periodic-labour-force-survey-plfs" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Periodic Labour Force Survey (PLFS)</strong></a>, the unemployment rate among the urban 15-29-years-old was 23.7%.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Skill Training and Unemployment</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>This pervasive joblessness is mainly due to the poor training of the youth as only 7% of the people surveyed in the framework of the PLFS declared any formal or informal training.</li>
<li>The current data suggest that <strong>only 2.3% of the workforce in India has undergone formal skill training</strong> as compared to 68% in the UK, 75% in Germany, 52% in the USA, 80% in Japan and 96% in South Korea.</li>
<li>On the other hand, according to a recent survey, 48% of Indian employers reported difficulties filling job vacancies due to <strong>skill shortage.</strong></li>
<li>The CMIE reports show that the more educated Indians are, the more likely they are to remain unemployed too. <strong>The last PLFS for 2018 revealed that 33% of the formally trained 15-29-year-olds were jobless.</strong></li>
</ul>
<h3>Initiatives Taken</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>&ldquo;Skill India&rdquo; programme,</strong> that aims to train a minimum of 300 million skilled people by the year 2022.</li>
<li><strong>Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Vikas Yojana <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/pradhan-mantri-kaushal-vikas-yojana-pmkvy" target="_blank" rel="noopener">(PMKVY)</a>,</strong> a dimension of skill India, under which the training fees were paid by the government. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Its main tool was the &ldquo;short-term training&rdquo;, which could last between 150 and 300 hours, and which included some placement assistance by Training Partners upon successful completion of their assessment by the candidates.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>In 2014, <strong>Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship</strong> was created to harmonise training processes, assessments, certification and outcomes and, crucially, to develop Industrial Training Institutions (ITIs) &mdash; the building blocks of this endeavour.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Shortcomings in the Desired Outcome</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The target of Skill India was to reach out to 300 million young people by 2022, but only 25 million had been trained under this scheme by the end of 2018.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>This is <strong>partly due to mismanagement</strong> and partly due to <strong>not spending available funds</strong> because of lack of candidates.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>Even those who have been trained under Skill India and PMKVY are unable to find jobs.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The number of those who have benefited from the Skill India scheme has increased, from 3,50,000 in 2016-17 to 1.6 million in 2017-18, but the percentage of those who could find a job upon completion of their training has dropped from more than 50% to 30%.</li>
<li>Under PMKVY, only 15% of those trained got a job.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Challenges in Skill Development</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Insufficient training capacity:</strong> The training was not sufficient to ensure a job for those who got the training &ndash; and this is why the employability rate remains very low.</li>
<li><strong>Lack of entrepreneurship skills:</strong> While the government expected that some of the PMKVY-trainees would create their own enterprise, only 24% of the trainees started their business. And out of them, only 10,000 applied for MUDRA loans.</li>
<li><strong>Low industry interface:</strong> Most of the training institutes have low industry interface as a result of which the performance of the skill development sector is poor in terms of placement records and salaries offered.</li>
<li><strong>Low student mobilization:</strong> The enrolment in skill institutes like ITIs, and polytechnics, remains low as compared to their enrolment capacity. This is due to low <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/70-youth-unaware-of-govts-skill-development-programmes-wef" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>awareness level among youths</strong></a> about the skill development programmes.</li>
<li><strong>Employers&rsquo; unwillingness:</strong> India&rsquo;s joblessness issue is not only a skills problem, it is representative of the lack of appetite of industrialists and SMEs for recruiting.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Due to limited access to credit because of Banks&rsquo; NPAs, investment rate has declined and thus a negative impact on job creation.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Way Forward</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Enhanced Expenditure on Education and Training:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>In the long run, Skill India will also not be enough if government expenditures in education remain low and if, therefore, the ground isn&rsquo;t prepared for proper training.</li>
<li>Government allocation for school education has declined from 2.81% of the budget in 2013-14 to 2.05% in 2018-19 which is further alarming situation.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Evaluation of Training Institutes:</strong> NSDC should also develop some techniques to evaluate the performance of training institutes and encourage them to perform better.</li>
<li><strong>Skills survey:</strong> Surveys can be conducted to find the exact skill requirements from the employers. Analysis of such surveys would help in designing course structures of the training programs and thus standardized course curriculum or training delivery systems can be developed.</li>
<li>India needs to <strong>learn from technical and vocational training/education models in China, Germany, Japan, Brazil, and Singapore,</strong> who had similar challenges in the past, along with learning from its own experiences to adopt a comprehensive model that can bridge the skill gaps and ensure employability of youths.</li>
</ul>
<table border="1" style="border-collapse: collapse; width: 100%;">
<tbody>
<tr>
<td style="width: 100%; border-style: dotted; border-color: #ff0000; background-color: #ebfaf8;"><span style="color: #000080;"><em><strong>Drishti Input</strong></em></span><br /><br />&ldquo;Discuss the issues and challenges associated with skill development in India and also suggest measures to enhance the skills and hence employability of Indian youths&rdquo;.</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>',
			'postdate' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenTime) {},
			'url' => 'https://www.drishtiias.com/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/the-problem-of-skilling-india'
		],
		(int) 4 => [
			'title' => 'Craniopagus Twins',
			'catname' => 'News Analysis',
			'desc' => '<p>Recently, India has successfully performed rarest <strong>of the rare surgery on Craniopagus Twins.</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>This was the <strong>first successful craniopagus conjoined twin separation surgery</strong> from India wherein <strong>both the children had survived.</strong></li>
<li><strong>Worldwide only 10-15 children have survived after surgical separation</strong> of this condition in the last 50 years.</li>
<li>All modern adjuncts of technology for surgical planning, 3D print model technology for brain and skull model development, venous bypass, staged surgeries and continuous post-operative care is needed for craniopagus surgery.</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Craniopagus Twins</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Craniopagus twins are conjoined twins that are <strong>fused at the skull.</strong></li>
<li>It represents the<strong> rarest of congenital abnormalities.</strong></li>
<li>Conjoined twins are <strong>genetically identical and always share the same sex.</strong></li>
</ul>
</div>
<p><a href="https://www.thehindu.com/sci-tech/health/craniopagus-twins-head-home/article29355180.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/craniopagus-twins'
		],
		(int) 5 => [
			'title' => 'Indus Valley Civilization’s Independent Origin ',
			'catname' => 'News Analysis',
			'desc' => '<p>According to a study of <strong>DNA</strong> (DeoxyriboNucleic Acid) from skeletal remains excavated from the Harappan cemetery at <strong>Rakhigarhi</strong> (the biggest IVC site located in Haryana) , the researchers found that the people in the <a href="/to-the-points/paper1/indus-valley-civilization" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Indus Valley Civilization</strong></a> (IVC) have an <strong>independent origin.</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The study <strong>negates</strong> the theory of the Harappans having Steppe pastoral or ancient <strong>Iranian farmer ancestry.</strong> As per the study, the DNA does not contain any genome from either the Steppe region or the ancient Iranian farmers.</li>
<li>The finding also refuses the hypothesis about mass migration that happened during Harappan times from outside South Asia.</li>
<li>According to the study, the <strong>genetic continuity</strong> from hunter-gatherer to modern times is clearly visible in the DNA results. The same hunter-gatherer communities developed into agricultural communities and formed the Harappan civilization.</li>
<li>The researchers, therefore, concluded that farming in South Asia was not due to the movement of people from the farming cultures of the west to the Indian subcontinent, &amp; people during IVS developed their own <strong>farming culture.</strong></li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Indus Valley Civilization</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>It is popularly known as <strong>Harappan Civilization.</strong></li>
<li>It flourished around 2,500 BC, in the western part of South Asia, in contemporary Pakistan and Western India.</li>
<li>The Indus Valley was home to the largest of the four ancient urban civilizations of Egypt, Mesopotamia, India, and China.</li>
<li>In the 1920s, the Archaeological Department of India carried out excavations in the Indus valley wherein the ruins of the two old cities, viz. Mohenjodaro and Harappa were unearthed.</li>
</ul>
</div>
<p><a href="https://www.thehindu.com/sci-tech/science/indus-valley-settlers-had-a-distinct-genetic-lineage/article29355941.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/indus-valley-civilization-s-independent-origin'
		],
		(int) 6 => [
			'title' => 'Controlling Hepatitis B',
			'catname' => 'News Analysis',
			'desc' => '<p>Recently, <strong>Bangladesh, Bhutan, Nepal and Thailand</strong> became the <strong>first four countries in the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/who-regional-committee-for-south-east-asia" target="_blank" rel="noopener">World Health Organization&rsquo;s Southeast Asia region</a></strong> to have successfully controlled <strong>Hepatitis B.</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>When the disease prevalence is<strong> reduced to less than 1% among children less than five years of age</strong> the Hepatitis B virus is said to be <strong>controlled.</strong></li>
<li><strong>Hepatitis B</strong> infection at a young age turns chronic, causing over 1,00,000 premature deaths annually from liver cirrhosis or liver cancer.</li>
<li>Despite the introduction of hepatitis B vaccine in the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/intensified-mission-indradhanush-best-practice-in-the-world-bmj" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Universal Immunisation Programme</strong></a> <strong>in 2002</strong> and <strong>scaling-up nationwide in 2011</strong>, about <strong>one million people</strong> in India become chronically infected with the virus <strong>every year.</strong></li>
<li>High prevalence among children aged less than five years <strong>has not dropped below 1%</strong> due to <strong>suboptimal coverage of birth dose in all infants within 24 hours of birth.</strong></li>
<li>Hepatitis B birth dose, given in the <strong>first 24 hours,</strong> helps to <strong>prevent vertical transmission from mother to child.</strong></li>
<li>Nearly,<strong>70-90% newborns infected</strong> and <strong>20-30% carriers</strong> are the result of Vertical Transmission of Hepatitis B , in India.</li>
<li>Although the Health Ministry has approved the birth dose in 2008, its coverage remained low &mdash; 45% in 2015 and 60% in 2016 &mdash; according to a <strong>2019 Health Ministry report.</strong></li>
<li>Reasons for the low coverage are :<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The <strong>fear of wastage of vaccine</strong> when a 10-dose vial is used.</li>
<li>Unawareness of health-care workers about WHO recommendation that allows <strong>Hepatitis B Open-Vial Policy</strong> which states that vaccine can be kept for a maximum duration of 28 days for use in other children if the vaccine meets certain conditions.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Hepatitis B</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>It is a <strong>viral infection</strong> that attacks the <strong>liver</strong> and can cause both <strong>acute and chronic disease.</strong></li>
<li>The virus is most commonly transmitted from <strong>mother to child during birth</strong> and delivery, as well as through <strong>contact with blood or other body fluids.</strong></li>
<li>It is the primary cause of<strong> liver cancer.</strong></li>
<li>Hepatitis B can be prevented by vaccines that are safe, available and effective.</li>
<li>Every year, <strong>World Hepatitis Day</strong> is celebrated on the <strong>28<sup>th</sup> of July.</strong></li>
<li>It is among the four diseases apart from HIV-AIDS, TB, Malaria for which, the <a href="/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-international-institution/world-health-organization-who" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>World Health Organization (WHO)</strong></a> officially endorses disease-specific global awareness days.</li>
</ul>
</div>
<p><a href="https://www.thehindu.com/opinion/editorial/a-weak-chase-on-controlling-hepatitis-b/article29345193.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/controlling-hepatitis-b'
		],
		(int) 7 => [
			'title' => 'Indoor Air Pollution',
			'catname' => 'News Analysis',
			'desc' => '<p>According to the Centre for Science &amp; Environment (CSE), the three-year average levels of <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/state-of-global-air-report-2019" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>PM 2.5</strong></a> atmospheric particulate matter (with a diameter less than 2.5 microns) during 2016-18 were <strong>25% lower</strong> than the 2011-14 baseline (three-year average).</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Though the number of days with severe PM 2.5 levels have come down since 2015, Delhi still needs to cut pollution levels by 65% to meet global air quality standards.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Indoor Pollution</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The environmental <strong><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/air-pollution-and-life-expectancy" target="_blank" rel="noopener">air pollution</a></strong> and indoor air pollution are inseparably linked, as people spend around 90% of their time staying indoors.</li>
<li>According to the <em><strong>State Of Global Air Report 2019,</strong></em> an estimated 846 million people in India were exposed to household air pollution in 2017. That forms around <strong>60%</strong> of the country&rsquo;s population.</li>
<li>Gases and particles in the air can be divided into <strong>two categories: primary and secondary sources.</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Primary gases</strong> and components are <em><strong>emitted directly from sources</strong></em> that include the building itself, consumer products (e.g. personal care products, cleaning or cooking products, equipment and office products, off-gassing from items brought into the home), microbial and human metabolic emissions, and also the entry of outdoor air into the house through openings, ventilation systems or leaks.</li>
<li><strong>Secondary gases</strong> are produced through <em><strong>chemical reactions</strong></em> in the air. For e.g, cooking releases a large amount of VOCs (Volatile Organic Compounds), CO<sub>2</sub> (Carbon Dioxide), NOx (Nitrogen Oxide) and other particles. VOCs and NOx react in the presence of sunlight to form <strong>ozone.</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>The ground-level ozone not only has long-term effects on human health but is also a critical pollutant in smog.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Harmful Effects of Indoor Pollution</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Exposure to ground-level ozone increases a person&rsquo;s likelihood of dying from respiratory disease, specifically <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/higher-mortality-from-cardio-vascular-diseases" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>cardiovascular diseases.</strong></a></li>
<li>In 2017, exposure to PM 2.5 was the <strong>third leading risk</strong> factor for <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/new-injection-for-type-2-diabetes" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>type 2 diabetes</strong></a>-related deaths and disability.</li>
<li>Nitrogen oxide (NOx) can cause <strong>inflammation</strong> of the airways. Long-term exposure can diminish lung function and increase susceptibility to allergens.</li>
<li>Particulate matter from burning cigarettes, mosquito coils in a closed indoor environment can lead to increased cases of cardiovascular and respiratory diseases, following prolonged exposure.</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1567848976_image2.jpg" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1567848976_image2.jpg" width="406" height="582" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" caption="false" /></a></p>
<h3>Related Findings</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Cooking, cleaning, and other routine household activities generate significant levels of volatile and particulate chemicals</li>
<li>The purpose of the experiment <strong>HOMEChem (House Observations of Microbial and Environmental Chemistry)</strong> conducted by The University of Texas was to identify the sources of chemical oxidants in the indoor environment, and how they were affected by human activities and changes in light conditions.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>There are two main associated issues that were identified are:<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>First, the issue of solid fuel use in homes- a problem associated with <strong>rural</strong> households, and</li>
<li>Second, the issue of exposure related to cooking, smoking, use of incense and/or mosquito coils, consumer products, infiltration of outdoor air, etc. This has more relevance in <strong>urban</strong> households, offices and public spaces.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Way Forward</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Simple measures such as, <strong>cooking with appropriate ventilation</strong> (especially when frying food), <strong>avoiding</strong> the use of incense sticks and candles, room fresheners, etc., (whenever possible), and <strong>restricting</strong> the infiltration of outdoor air, especially on days when pollution levels are high can help to <strong>keep a check</strong> on indoor air pollution in urban households.</li>
<li>It is important to note that buildings in India often have natural ventilation and tend to be leaky. Special care is needed to <strong>fully seal</strong> the building.</li>
<li>There is a big gap in the lack of a standard to measure indoor air pollution that needs to be resolved. In India, indoor air is as bad as outdoor air.</li>
<li>Household air pollution needs to remain a<strong> focus for policy action,</strong> especially in Asia and Africa, where the use of solid fuel for residential cooking and heating is still very high.</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="https://www.livemint.com/mint-lounge/features/indoor-air-pollution-the-invisible-adversary-1567759328936.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Source: Mint</strong></a></p>',
			'postdate' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenTime) {},
			'url' => 'https://www.drishtiias.com/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/indoor-air-pollution'
		],
		(int) 8 => [
			'title' => 'Avian Influenza',
			'catname' => 'News Analysis',
			'desc' => '<p>With effect from 3<sup>rd</sup> September 2019, India has been <strong>declared free from Avian Influenza (H5N1),</strong> which has also been notified to the <strong>World Organization for Animal Health (OIE).</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The declaration is a result of measures taken to control the recent outbreak of the disease at several places in Jharkhand, Bihar and Odisha and hence there is <strong>no presence of the Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) Virus.</strong></li>
<li>The status will last only till another outbreak is reported. India was <strong>last declared free of the disease in 2017.</strong></li>
<li>This declaration is important not just from the poultry industry standpoint, but also because humans can contact the disease from animals. Though the pathogen is not capable of sustained human-to-human transmission.</li>
</ul>
<h3>About Avian Influenza</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Avian influenza (AI) is a highly <strong>contagious viral disease</strong> affecting several species of <strong>food-producing birds</strong> (chickens, turkeys, quails, guinea fowl, etc.), as well as pet birds and wild birds. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Occasionally mammals, including humans, may contract avian influenza.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>Influenza A viruses are classified into subtypes based on two surface proteins, <strong>Hemagglutinin (HA)</strong> and <strong>Neuraminidase (NA).</strong> For example, a virus that has an HA 7 protein and NA 9 protein is designated as subtype H7N9.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Avian influenza virus subtypes include A(H5N1), A(H7N9), and A(H9N2).</li>
<li>HPAI A(H5N1) virus occurs mainly in birds and is highly contagious among them.</li>
<li><strong>HPAI Asian <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/gene-editing-to-halt-human-flu-pandemic" target="_blank" rel="noopener">H5N1</a> is especially deadly for poultry.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>Avian Influenza outbreaks can lead to devastating consequences for the country, particularly the poultry industry.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Farmers might experience a high level of mortality in their flocks, with rates often around 50%.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Prevention: Strict biosecurity</strong> measures and good <strong>hygiene</strong> are essential in protecting against disease outbreaks.</li>
<li><strong>Eradication:</strong> If the infection is detected in animals, a policy of <strong>culling infected and contact animals</strong> is normally used in an effort to rapidly contain, control and eradicate the disease.</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>World Organization for Animal Health</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The OIE is an <strong>intergovernmental organisation</strong> responsible for improving animal health worldwide.</li>
<li>It is recognised as a reference organisation by the World Trade Organization (WTO).</li>
<li>In 2018, it had a total of 182 Member Countries.</li>
<li>It is headquartered in <strong>Paris, France.</strong></li>
</ul>
</div>
<p><a href="https://indianexpress.com/article/india/india-declared-free-of-avian-influenza-h5n1-virus-5974116/" 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/avian-influenza'
		],
		(int) 9 => [
			'title' => 'India and South Korea Signs Logistics Pact',
			'catname' => 'News Analysis',
			'desc' => '<p><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/prime-ministers-visit-to-south-korea" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>India and South</strong></a> <strong>Korea</strong> have concluded a <strong>Military Logistics Agreement</strong> during the ongoing visit of Defence Minister to Seoul.</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The two countries have also formulated a forward-looking <strong>road map to take bilateral defence industry cooperation to the next level.<a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1588304730_India%20and South Korea Signs Logistics Pact (Map).png" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1588304730_India and South Korea Signs Logistics Pact (Map).png" style="float: right;" width="405" height="286" /></a></strong></li>
<li>The roadmap has also listed other areas of cooperation like Land Systems, Aero Systems, Naval Systems, R&amp;D cooperation and collaboration in Testing, Certification and Quality Assurance.</li>
<li>The <strong>two Memoranda of Understanding (MOUs)</strong> were signed during the meeting which covers:<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Defence Educational Exchanges, </strong></li>
<li><strong>To extend Logistical Support to each other&rsquo;s Navies.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>The above agreements would help:<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Assured logistic support when India operates in the Indo-Pacific in the ports of South Korea.</li>
<li>To extend the reach, presence and sustainability of Indian Navy ships when deployed at great distances.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>The recent meeting has also been considered as an opportunity to combine <strong>India&rsquo;s &lsquo;Act East Policy&rsquo;</strong> with the Republic of Korea&rsquo;s <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/korean-president-on-a-state-visit-to-india" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>&lsquo;New Southern Policy&rsquo;.</strong></a></li>
</ul>
<p><a href="https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/india-south-korea-seal-logistics-pact/article29354781.ece" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Source:TH</strong></a></p>',
			'postdate' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenTime) {},
			'url' => 'https://www.drishtiias.com/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/india-and-south-korea-signs-logistics-pact'
		],
		(int) 10 => [
			'title' => 'Wetlands Restoration',
			'catname' => 'News Analysis',
			'desc' => '<p>Recently, the Government has <strong>identified 130 wetlands for priority restoration</strong> in the next five years and asked states to submit their respective integrated management plan.</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Each of these wetlands will be restored under a comprehensive scheme of the <strong>National Plan for Conservation of Aquatic Ecosystems (NPCA)</strong> for conservation and restoration of wetlands and lakes.</li>
<li>This decision came on the sidelines of the ongoing <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/world-day-to-combat-desertification-and-drought" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>UN conference on combating desertification (COP14)</strong></a> at Greater Noida.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Apart from this, the government also proposed the concept of <strong>'Wetland Health Card'</strong> to be introduced to monitor the entire ecosystem based on multiple parameters.</li>
<li>In order to increase community engagement, the government declared to form<strong> 'Wetland Mitras'</strong> (the group of self-motivated individuals) for taking care of the identified wetlands across the country.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Importance of Wetlands</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The wetlands are actually land areas covered by water, either temporarily or permanently. Marsh, fen and peatland come under this category.</li>
<li>They play a key <strong>role in the hydrological cycle and flood control,</strong> water supply and providing food, fibre and raw materials.</li>
<li>They not only act as a source of water but also as ecosystems that <strong>prevent land degradation and desertification.</strong></li>
<li>Besides, such land areas also <strong>support lakhs of migratory birds</strong> from colder regions of the world in summers.</li>
<li>Mangroves protect coastlines and filter pollutants, that's why wetland are referred to as <strong>kidneys of the ecosystem.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Wetlands in India</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>In 2011, ISRO come out with a national wetlands atlas on the basis of satellite images, mapping over <strong>two lakh wetlands covering around 4.63% of the total geographic area of India.</strong></li>
<li>India's prominent wetlands include Chilika lake areas (Odisha), Wular lake (J&amp;K), Renuka (Himachal Pradesh), Sambhar Lake (Rajasthan), Deepor Beel (Assam) etc.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>All these falls in the list of 26 wetlands of India under <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/world-wetlands-day" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Ramsar Convention.</strong></a></li>
<li>Globally, there are 2,220 wetlands in the Ramsar list.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>National Plan for Conservation of Aquatic Ecosystems (NPCA)</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>NPCA is a single conservation programme for both wetlands and lakes.</li>
<li>It is a <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/proposal-to-hike-monthly-pensions" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>centrally sponsored scheme,&nbsp;</strong></a>currently being implemented by the Union Ministry of Environment and Forests (MoEF).<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>It was formulated in 2015 by merging of the National Lake Conservation Plan and the National Wetlands Conservation Programme.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>NPCA seeks to promote better synergy and avoid overlap of administrative functions.</li>
</ul>
</div>
<p><a href="https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/130-wetlands-to-be-restored-on-priority/articleshow/71017950.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/wetlands-restoration'
		],
		(int) 11 => [
			'title' => 'The Big Picture - Indo-Pacific : Strategic Importance',
			'catname' => 'Lok Sabha & Rajya Sabha Discussions',
			'desc' => '<p style="text-align: center;"><iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/rfmNyiXuJPs" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe></p>
<p>The External Affairs Minister, who is on a two day visit to Russia, has said that Indo Pacific is one of the new concepts and approaches thrown up by the changing world. With various countries and international forums using the term Indo Pacific in their official statements, it is gaining currency in recent times.</p>
<p>India, France and Australia have held <strong>track 1.5 dialogue</strong> to identify security challenges and sustainability issues in the Indo Pacific region. Safeguarding freedom of navigation and keeping Indo Pacific stable was a crucial item on the agenda during Prime minister Narendra Modi and French President Emmanuel Macron' s recently concluded annual summit in Paris.</p>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Note:</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The <strong>track 1.5 dialogue</strong> refers to top-level political decision-makers, yet in <strong>informal,</strong> non-official settings.</li>
<li>These track 1.5 mediation/dialogue processes often serve to sort out and prepare for track 1 talks.</li>
<li>The first level (track 1) includes negotiation between the leadership of two countries (e.g. political and/or military).</li>
</ul>
</div>
<h3>The Term &lsquo;Indo-Pacific&rsquo;</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>It is a recent concept. It was about a decade ago that the world started talking about the Indo-Pacific but its rise has been quite significant.</li>
<li>One of the reasons behind the popularity of this term is an understanding that the <strong>Indian Ocean and the Pacific are a linked strategic theater.</strong></li>
<li>Also, the centre of gravity has shifted to Asia. The reason being maritime routes, the Indian Ocean and the Pacific provide the sea lanes. <strong>Majority of the world&rsquo;s trade passes through these oceans.</strong>
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>There was a time before the cold war when the centre of gravity of the universe was across the Atlantic i.e. trade was actually transiting from the Atlantic but now it has shifted.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>The <strong>earlier term used to be Asia-Pacific,</strong> from which India was excluded.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>This term was prevalent during the cold war time.</li>
<li>The shift to the term &lsquo;Indo-Pacific&rsquo; shows the<strong> salience of India in the new construct.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>Terrorism and the fear of assertion by a particular country in the region are major threats to the Indo-Pacific region.</li>
<li>The Indo-Pacific region includes world&rsquo;s four big economies: USA, China, Japan and India.</li>
<li>The term &lsquo;Indo-Pacific&rsquo; is interpreted differently by different stakeholders.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>India</strong> considers the region as an <strong>inclusive, open, integrated and balanced space.</strong> India continuously emphasises on strategic inter-connections, common challenges and opportunities between the Indian Ocean and the Pacific.</li>
<li><strong>The U.S. considers it to be a</strong> free and open Indo-Pacific, highlighting the importance of <strong>rules or norms of conduct in the region,</strong> thus trying to contain the role of China in the region.</li>
<li><strong>The ASEAN countries look at</strong> Indo-Pacific <strong>as a consociational model,</strong> thus bringing in China not only for the sake of giving it some stakeholdership but looking for ways to cooperate with it in the region.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Note:</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Consociationalism is a stable democratic system in deeply divided societies that is based on power sharing between elites from different social groups.</li>
</ul>
</div>
<h3>India&rsquo;s Perspective of Indo-Pacific</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>A lot of India&rsquo;s special partners, the US, Australia, Japan and Indonesia actually look at Indo-Pacific as Asia Pacific plus India. They try to embed India into the strategic dynamic of Asia Pacific.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>They <strong>want India&rsquo;s presence in the <a href="/loksabha-rajyasabha-discussions/new-indo-pacific-strategy" target="_blank" rel="noopener">South China Sea</a>,</strong> East China Sea, basically <strong>to counter China.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>India however, seeks to cooperate for an architecture for peace and security in the region. The common prosperity and security require the countries to evolve, through dialogue, a<strong> common rules-based order</strong> for the region.</li>
<li>For India, Indo-Pacific stands for a <strong>free, open, inclusive region.</strong> It includes all nations in the geography and also others who have a stake in it. In its geographical dimension, India considers the area from the shores of Africa to the shores of America.</li>
<li>India supports rule-based, open, balanced and <strong>stable trade environment</strong> in the Indo-Pacific Region, which lifts up all nations on the tide of trade and investment. This is the same as what the country expects from the <strong><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/deadlock-in-rcep-trade-negotiations" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP).</a></strong></li>
<li>Unlike China, <strong>India seeks a unified ASEAN,</strong> not a divided one. China tries to play off some ASEAN members against others, thereby in a way executing &lsquo;divide and rule&rsquo; conquest strategy.</li>
<li>India does not comply with <strong>the US version of Indo-Pacific, that seeks to contain Chinese dominance.</strong> India is rather looking for the ways through which it can work together with China.</li>
<li>India is looking for <strong>democratising the region.</strong>
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Earlier, the region used to be almost like an American lake. However, there exists a fear that the region will become Chinese lake now. Scarborough Shoal dispute is an example here.</li>
<li>India <strong>doesn't want hegemony of any player in the region.</strong> India is working in trilaterals such as India-Australia-France, India-Australia-Indonesia to ensure that China does not dominate in the region.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>China: A Threat or a Challenge</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>China has been a threat to the Asia Pacific countries and is posing threat to Indian interests in the Indian Ocean as well.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>China has a hold over Hambantota port (Sri Lanka), which is just a few hundred miles off the shores of India.</li>
<li>China is supplying military equipment to India&rsquo;s neighbours such as submarines to Myanmar, frigate to Sri Lanka, equipment to Bangladesh and Thailand, thus, in a way, colonising the region.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>ASEAN:</strong> Some of the member countries of ASEAN have been under the Chinese influence and thus pose a threat to erode <strong>ASEAN&rsquo;s solidarity</strong> with respect to the concept of Indo-Pacific.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>However, China is ASEAN&rsquo;s largest trading partner and can hardly be sidelined by the entire grouping which further threatens India&rsquo;s relations with the grouping.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Southeast Asia is at the centre of Indo-Pacific and <a href="/burning-issues-of-the-month/association-of-southeast-asian-nations-asean" target="_blank" rel="noopener">ASEAN</a> is important for India, especially for the country&rsquo;s Act East Policy.</strong> Also, ASEAN countries know that to balance China in the region, India&rsquo;s presence is necessary.</li>
<li>Despite several differences, the interests of India-China on some issues such as globalisation, climate change etc. match.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Also, India and China are members of several international groupings such as <a href="/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-international-institution/brics-1" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>BRICS</strong></a>, SCO etc.</li>
<li>China therefore is viewed as more of a challenge to India&rsquo;s stand in the Indo-Pacific than a threat to its significance in the region.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Way Forward</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The countries in the region should have <strong>equal access as a right under international law to the use of common spaces on sea and in the air</strong> that would require freedom of navigation, unimpeded commerce and peaceful settlement of disputes in accordance with international law.</li>
<li><strong>It is important to establish connectivity in the region based on respect for sovereignty and territorial integrity,</strong> consultation, good governance, transparency, viability and sustainability.</li>
<li><strong>Maritime Domain Awareness</strong> (MDA) is necessary for Indo-Pacific security.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>MDA implies effective understanding of any activity associated with the maritime environment that could impact upon the security, safety, economy or environment</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Multipolarity:</strong> Security &amp; peace and law abiding nature of the countries around the region is crucial. This will also allow multipolarity in the region.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The smaller states in the region expect India to step up to the plate and help them widen their options, both economically as well as militarily. India should try to fulfill their aspirations.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Strong naval capabilities, multilateral diplomacy, economic integration</strong> with nations is necessary for India to meet the challenges within the Indo-Pacific region.</li>
<li>India needs to stick to its vision of the India Ocean i.e. <strong>SAGAR - Security and Growth for All in the Region.</strong></li>
</ul>',
			'postdate' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenTime) {},
			'url' => 'https://www.drishtiias.com/loksabha-rajyasabha-discussions/the-big-picture-indo-pacific-strategic-importance'
		],
		(int) 12 => [
			'title' => 'India and Russia: Ties in Transition',
			'catname' => 'News Editorials',
			'desc' => '<div class="border">
<p>&ldquo;The article is based on <a href="https://www.orfonline.org/research/india-and-russia-ties-in-transition-55144/" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>India and Russia: Ties in transition</strong></a> that was published in ORF on 5<sup>th</sup> September. It talks about the PM&rsquo;s visit to Vladiostok and its importance in shaping the India-Russia relationship and the challenges in the ties between the two countries.&rdquo;</p>
</div>
<h3>Context</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Prime Minister Narendra Modi is in Vladivostok, Russia on a two-day visit to participate in the 20<sup>th</sup> India-Russia annual summit and the fifth meeting of the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/eastern-economic-forum" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Eastern Economic Forum (EEF).</strong></a></li>
<li>The EEF is a forum which, since 2015, has been trying to push for the development of business and investment opportunities in the Russian Far East Region and Modi&rsquo;s presence there as chief guest underscores the role this region can play in enhancing cooperation between India and Russia in the region and beyond.</li>
<li>The first Indian prime minister to visit the Russian Far East Region, Modi&rsquo;s visit is intended to give &ldquo;a new direction, new energy and new speed&rdquo; to <a href="/gs-foreign-policy-corner/india-russia-bilateral-relations-longstanding-time-tested-partners" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>relations between the two countries.</strong></a></li>
</ul>
<h3>Importance of Russia&rsquo;s Far East</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Russia&rsquo;s Far East is a huge land mass which is <strong>rich in resources</strong> but is sparsely populated and underdeveloped. Till now, its development has primarily revolved around Chinese dominance and so Russia wants to diversify with the help of other Asian powers to lessen Russia&rsquo;s growing dependence on China.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>It provides an opportunity for the Indian investors to look at Russian Far East and explore investment opportunities there.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>Modi&rsquo;s visit has resulted in a proposal for a <strong>maritime route between Chennai and Vladivostok,</strong> bypassing Europe, which would enable to transfer cargo between Chennai and Vladivostok in 24 days in comparison to over 40 days currently taken to transport goods from India to Far East Russia via Europe.</li>
<li>With the possible shift in the centre of power to Asia in the 21<sup>st</sup> century, Russia&rsquo;s far East has an important role to play. So, India&rsquo;s enhanced presence in the region is strongly desired.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Prospects and Recent Developments in India-Russia Relations</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>India&rsquo;s <strong>economic ties</strong> with Russia have been struggling with bilateral trade hovering around $10 billion mark. <strong>Energy</strong> is one area which has the potential to provide ballast to their ties.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Indian energy companies are keen to invest in Russia&rsquo;s upstream sector.</li>
<li>Russia&rsquo;s Rosneft in 2017 completed a $12.9-billion acquisition of Essar Oil to enter India, the world&rsquo;s fastest-growing energy market.</li>
<li>Russia and India are also becoming more ambitious by pursuing projects in third countries such as the Rooppur nuclear power project of Bangladesh.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Defence ties</strong> remain the cornerstone of India-Russia bilateral engagement.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>New Delhi&rsquo;s decision to go ahead with the purchase of <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/india-going-ahead-with-purchase-of-S-400-air-defence-systems" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>S-400 missile defence system,</strong></a> worth over $5 billion, despite the threat of US sanctions, underscores the importance India continues to attach to its defence engagement with Russia.</li>
<li>India wants Russia to take advantage of the low production cost in India to produce military equipment under joint venture framework at cheaper rates for the third-world nations.</li>
<li>Agreement on Reciprocal Logistics Support (ARLS), aimed at facilitating access to each others&rsquo; military facilities, is supposed to be agreed in the present visit.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Strategic depth in the relationship</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Russia stood by India on the <strong>issue of Jammu and Kashmir</strong> arguing that &ldquo;India&rsquo;s decision is a sovereign decision which is as per its Constitution&rdquo;.</li>
<li>Russia recognises that <strong>India&rsquo;s involvement in Afghanistan</strong> remains necessary if the war-torn nation is to see long term stability.</li>
<li>It supports India in its bid for permanent membership to UNSC and to get entry into the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/india-s-nsg-bid" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>NSG (Nuclear Supplier Group) membership.</strong></a></li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Challenges in India-Russia Relations</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>India&rsquo;s growing proximity to the US:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Increase in defence and strategic partnership between India and USA.</li>
<li>India&rsquo;s joining in the Quad Group with USA, Japan and Australia led to a strategic shift in Russia&rsquo;s foreign policy.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Russia&rsquo;s growing proximity to China and Pakistan:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>China:</strong> Increasing strategic and military relations between Russia-China and Russia&rsquo;s endorsements to China&rsquo;s <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/belt-and-road-initiative-perspectives-from-india" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Belt and Road Initiative</strong></a> (BRI) is a major concern for India.</li>
<li><strong>Pakistan:</strong> Russia in 2014 lifted arms embargo on Pakistan. Russia and Pakistan conducted a military exercise in September 2016. In 2017, a military-technical cooperation agreement was signed which deals with arms supply and weapon development. All these factors raised concerns in India.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Defence partnership:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>India has been recently diversifying its defence relations with US, Israel etc. Russia&rsquo;s share of Indian defense imports fell from 79% between 2008-2012 to 62% between 2013-2017.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Trade:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>India-Russia trade has been one-dimensional i.e. defence based.</li>
<li>Trade between the two nations is around $10 billion which is far below potential in comparison to India&rsquo;s trade with China ($89.7 billion) and the United States ($74.5 billion).</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Way Forward</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>India and Russia need to transform a 20<sup>th</sup> century partnership to make it fit for the 21<sup>st</sup> century. Both nations should build on the &ldquo;historical trust&rdquo; to carve out a modern, broad-based partnership more in sync with contemporary realities.</li>
<li>India and Russia have converging interests across various sectors that can be leveraged to balance the differences.</li>
</ul>
<table border="1" style="border-collapse: collapse; width: 100%;">
<tbody>
<tr style="height: 67px;">
<td style="width: 100%; height: 67px; border-style: dotted; background-color: #f7f2e1; border-color: #4800ff;"><span style="color: #ff0000;"><em><strong>Drishti Input</strong></em></span><br /><br />&ldquo;Examine the recent trends in the bilateral relationship between India and Russia and the challenges involved in the same.&rdquo;</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<p></p>',
			'postdate' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenTime) {},
			'url' => 'https://www.drishtiias.com/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/india-and-russia-ties-in-transition'
		],
		(int) 13 => [
			'title' => 'Right to Education',
			'catname' => 'Paper 2',
			'desc' => '<p><a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1567758385_Right%20to Education (Mind Map).png" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1567758385_Right to Education (Mind Map).png" width="534" height="1625" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" /></a></p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><a href="/to-the-points/Paper2/right-to-education" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><em>For TTP</em></a></p>',
			'postdate' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenTime) {},
			'url' => 'https://www.drishtiias.com/mind-map/gs-paper2/right-to-education-mind-map'
		],
		(int) 14 => [
			'title' => 'Postal Ballot Cover Extension',
			'catname' => 'News Analysis',
			'desc' => '<p>The Election Commission Of India has asked the Union Law Ministry to expand the ambit of <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/electronically-transmitted-postal-ballot-system" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>postal ballots.</strong></a></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The move seeks to extend the postal ballot cover to voters on duty which includes voters in the aviation sector, the shipping sector, trains, fire services, medical services, traffic, long-distance road transport corporation buses, the aged, the physically challenged, and the journalists covering elections.</li>
<li>This will require an amendment to the <strong>Representation of the People&rsquo;s Act, 1951 (RP Act),</strong> and the <strong>Conduct of Election Rules, 1961.</strong></li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Representation of the People Act, 1951</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>This act provides for the <strong>actual conduct of elections in India.</strong> It deals with the following matters :<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Details like Qualification and Disqualification of members of both the Houses of Parliament and the State Legislatures,</li>
<li>Administrative machinery for conducting elections,</li>
<li>Registration of Political parties,</li>
<li>Conduct of Elections,</li>
<li>Election Disputes,</li>
<li>Corrupt practices &amp; Electoral offences, &amp;</li>
<li>By-elections.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</div>
<h3>Postal Ballots System</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Ballot papers are <strong>distributed electronically</strong> to electors and are returned to the election officers via post.</li>
<li>Currently, only the following voters are allowed to cast <strong>their votes through postal ballot:</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Service voters</strong> (armed forces, the armed police force of a state and government servants posted abroad),</li>
<li>Voters on <strong>election duty,</strong> and</li>
<li>Voters under <strong>preventive detention.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>The exception to the above-mentioned category of voters is provided under Section 60 of the RP Act, 1951.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Way Forward</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The recent approval by the government to allow <strong>registered NRI voters to appoint proxies</strong> so as to cast a vote on their behalf is a welcome step.</li>
<li>In order to ensure that the process of issuing of postal ballot happens in a controlled environment, the <a href="/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-national-institutions/election-commission-of-india" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Election Commission</strong></a> has intended to provide the facility in specific centres on specific days, duly supervised by elections officials.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>This will help to eliminate the chances of undue influence and interference in the casting of the vote through postal ballot.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>In the case of the aged and physically-challenged voters, the postal ballot papers can be delivered to them at home and collected back then and there, in a controlled, safe and secure environment.</li>
<li>In a true democracy, it is necessary to explore all avenues that can enable the exercise of the franchise to all eligible voters.</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="https://indianexpress.com/article/india/election-commission-to-law-extend-postal-ballot-cover-to-non-govt-voters-on-duty-during-polls-5966921/" 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/postal-ballot-cover-extension'
		],
		(int) 15 => [
			'title' => 'India - Russia',
			'catname' => 'News Analysis',
			'desc' => '<p>The Prime Minister of India was on a two-day visit to Russia to attend the 20<sup>th</sup> <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/india-russia-summit-2018" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>India-Russia annual summit</strong></a> and the 5<sup>th</sup> meeting of the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/eastern-economic-forum" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Eastern Economic Forum (EEF)</strong></a> in Vladivostok.</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>This is the <strong>first time</strong> that an Indian Prime Minister visited the Russian Far East Region (Vladivostok).</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1567757637_image1.jpg" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1567757637_image1.jpg" width="593" height="395" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" caption="false" /></a></p>
<h3>Key Takeaways</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Special and Privileged Strategic Partnership:</strong> Both the leaders agreed to facilitate, in all possible ways, exploring the impressive potential of their strategic partnership to the fullest, while demonstrating the special and privileged nature of the partnership.</li>
<li><strong>Supported India&rsquo;s decision on J&amp;K:</strong> Russia has backed <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/article-370-and-35-a-revoked" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>India&rsquo;s move on Jammu and Kashmir</strong></a>, saying that the changes in the status are <strong>within the framework of the Indian Constitution.</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Both the countries underlined the primacy of international law and emphasised their commitment to the purposes and the principles stated in the <strong>UN Charter</strong> including the <strong>inadmissibility of interference in the internal affairs of member states.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Development of Russian Far East:</strong> India would extend a <strong>$1 billion line of credit</strong> towards the development of the Russian Far East.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>An area of special interest for India is the <strong>exploration of hydrocarbon</strong> reserves along the coast of Russia&rsquo;s Far East.</li>
<li>Also, engaging closely with East Asia is in line with India&rsquo;s policy goal of <a href="/loksabha-rajyasabha-discussions/the-big-picture-infrastructure-and-north-east" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>&ldquo;Act East&rdquo;.</strong></a></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Maritime Route:</strong> A proposal was made to have a full-fledged maritime route between <strong>Chennai and Vladivostok.</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Vladivostok is at a short distance from Russia&rsquo;s border with China and is also the largest port on Russia&rsquo;s Pacific coast.</li>
<li>India is building nuclear power plants with Russia&rsquo;s collaboration in <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/important-facts-for-prelims-21st-july-2018" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Kudankulam</strong></a> on the sea coast in Tamil Nadu&rsquo;s Tirunelveli district. The opening of a sea route is likely to help in the project.</li>
<li>It will also <strong>increase India&rsquo;s presence in the <a href="/loksabha-rajyasabha-discussions/new-indo-pacific-strategy" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Indo-Pacific</a>,</strong> and especially <strong>the South China Sea,</strong> a deeply contested patch of the ocean.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Collaboration in Space:</strong> Russia, would help <strong>train Indian astronauts</strong> for the manned space mission &mdash; the <a href="/to-the-points/paper3/to-the-point-paper3-mission-gaganyaan" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Gaganyaan project.</strong></a><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Both sides expressed concern over the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/mission-shakti-asat-and-india" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>possibility of an arms race in outer space</strong></a> and advocated peaceful uses of outer space.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Economic Cooperation:</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The two leaders decided to take the<strong> bilateral trade</strong> from the current $11 billion <strong>to $30 billion by 2025.</strong></li>
<li>The work on promoting mutual settlements of payments in national currencies will be continued.</li>
<li>Create new technological and investment partnership, especially in advanced high-tech areas and find new avenues and forms of cooperation.</li>
<li>Agreed to speed up preparations for the signing of the <strong>India-Russia Intergovernmental Agreement on Promotion and Mutual Protection of Investments.</strong></li>
<li>Agreed to intensify work for eliminating trade barriers. This would be facilitated, inter alia, by the <strong>proposed Trading Agreement between the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU) and India.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Military Cooperation:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The talks highlighted that the <strong>sanctions imposed by the US on Russia has no effect on India</strong> strengthening cooperation with the country in strategic sectors such as energy and defence.</li>
<li>Both the countries are successfully implementing their <strong>bilateral programme on military and technical cooperation</strong> up to 2020 and working to update the same to extend to another 10 years.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Cooperation in International Issues:</strong>
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Called for <strong>reform of the <a href="/loksabha-rajyasabha-discussions/the-big-picture-un-security-council-reforms" target="_blank" rel="noopener">UN Security Council.</a></strong> Russia expressed its support for India&rsquo;s candidacy for permanent membership of the UNSC.</li>
<li><strong>Condemned terrorism</strong> in all its forms and manifestations and called on the international community to set up a united front to fight against this evil.</li>
<li>Reiterated their commitment to further strengthen global non-proliferation. Russia expressed its strong<strong> support for India&rsquo;s membership in the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/india-s-nsg-bid" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG).</a></strong></li>
<li>India is ready to play a significant role in the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/important-facts-for-prelims-9th-may-2019" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Arctic Council.</strong></a></li>
<li>Support an inclusive peace and <strong>Afghan-led and Afghan-owned reconciliation in Afghanistan.</strong></li>
<li>Reaffirmed their commitment to building an equal and indivisible security architecture in Asia and the Pacific region.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Exercise TSENTR 2019</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Exercise TSENTR 2019 is <strong>part of the annual</strong> series of large scale exercises that form part of the <strong>Russian Armed Forces' annual training cycle.</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The series rotates through the four main Russian operational strategic commands i.e Vostok (East), Zapad (West), TSENTR (Centre) and Kavkas (South).</li>
<li>The 2019 exercise will be conducted by the <strong>Central Military Commission of Russia.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>The exercise is planned between 9<sup>th</sup> September to 23<sup>rd</sup> September 2019 at Donguz training ranges, Orenburg, Russia.</li>
<li>Apart from host Russia, military contingents from China, <strong>India,</strong> Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Pakistan and Uzbekistan will also take <strong>part in this mega event.</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>These annual exercises have slowly begun taking an international character, with Belarus participating in ZAPAD-2017 and China and Mongolia participating in VOSTOK-2018.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>The exercise aims at evolving drills of the participating armies and practising them in the <strong>fight against the scourge of international terrorism</strong> thereby ensuring military security in the strategic Central Asian region.</li>
</ul>
</div>
<p><a href="https://pib.gov.in/PressReleseDetail.aspx?PRID=1584171" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Source: PIB</strong></a></p>',
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			'url' => 'https://www.drishtiias.com/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/india-russia-4'
		],
		(int) 16 => [
			'title' => 'Measles and Rubella in South-East Asia',
			'catname' => 'News Analysis',
			'desc' => '<p>The member countries of the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/who-regional-committee-for-south-east-asia" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>World Health Organisation (WHO) Regional Committee for South-East</strong></a> Asia have resolved to eliminate highly infectious<strong> diseases Measles and Rubella by 2023.</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The data shows that Bhutan, DPR Korea, Maldives, Sri Lanka and Timor-Leste from the South East Asia region have eliminated Measles.</li>
<li>On the other hand, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Maldives, Nepal, Sri Lanka and Timor-Leste have controlled Rubella.</li>
<li>To achieve the Elimination of Measles and Rubella by 2023, the member-countries resolved to strengthen the immunisation systems for increasing and sustaining the high level of population immunity.</li>
<li>The resolution also calls for ensuring a highly sensitive laboratory supported case-based surveillance system.</li>
<li>Eliminating measles will prevent 500,000 deaths a year in the region while eliminating rubella would avert about 55,000 cases of rubella and promote the health and wellbeing of pregnant women and infants.</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Measles</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>It is a<strong> highly contagious viral disease</strong> and is a <strong>cause of death among young children</strong> globally.</li>
<li>It is particularly dangerous for children from the economically weaker background, as it attacks <strong>malnourished children</strong> and those with reduced immunity.</li>
<li>It can <strong>cause</strong> serious complications, including <strong>blindness, encephalitis, severe diarrhoea, ear infection and pneumonia.</strong></li>
</ul>
<p><strong>Rubella</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>It is also called <strong>German Measles.</strong></li>
<li>Rubella is a contagious, generally <strong>mild viral infection</strong> that occurs most often in <strong>children and young adults.</strong></li>
<li>Rubella infection in pregnant women may cause fetal death or congenital defects known as <strong>Congenital Rubella Syndrome (CRS).</strong></li>
<li>Congenital Rubella Syndrome (CRS) causes <strong>irreversible birth defects.</strong></li>
</ul>
</div>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Apart from the above initiatives, <strong>India has also pledged to contribute $2,00,000</strong> towards the implementation of the <strong>preparedness stream</strong> under the <strong>South-East Asia Health Emergency Response Fund (SEARHEF)</strong>
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Under this initiative, <strong>Special surveillance</strong> is to be mounted for <strong>early detection and control of vector-borne and waterborne diseases</strong> which helped to contain the outbreak of epidemic-prone disease following <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/cyclone-fani" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>cyclone Fani.</strong></a></li>
<li>The Health Ministers of the South-East Asia Region of WHO also signed the <strong>Delhi Declaration on Emergency Preparedness.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>WHO&rsquo;s Regional Committee for South-East Asia</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The Regional Committee for South-East Asia is the <a href="/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-international-institution/world-health-organization-who" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>World Health Organization&rsquo;s</strong></a> <strong>governing body in the South-East Asia Region,</strong> with representatives from all <strong>11 Member States of the Region.</strong></li>
<li>It <strong>meets every year</strong> to review progress in health development in the Region.</li>
<li>It formulates resolutions on health issues for the Member States, as well as considers the regional implications of World Health Assembly resolutions.</li>
<li>The <strong>Member Countries</strong> are:<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Bangladesh</li>
<li>Bhutan</li>
<li>Democratic People&rsquo;s Republic of Korea</li>
<li>India</li>
<li>Indonesia</li>
<li>Maldives</li>
<li>Myanmar</li>
<li>Nepal</li>
<li>Sri Lanka</li>
<li>Thailand</li>
<li>Timor-Leste</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</div>
<p><a href="https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/who-south-east-asia-region-plans-to-banish-measles-rubella-by-2023/article29343912.ece" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Source:TH</strong></a></p>',
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			'url' => 'https://www.drishtiias.com/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/measles-and-rubella-in-south-east-asia'
		],
		(int) 17 => [
			'title' => 'Kaushalacharya Awards',
			'catname' => 'News Analysis',
			'desc' => '<p>Recently, the Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship (MSDE) has launched <strong>Kaushalacharya Awards</strong> at Kaushalacharya Samadar 2019.</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Kaushalacharya Awards are launched in a bid to recognize the contribution <strong>made by skill trainers and to motivate more trainers</strong> to join the Skill India Mission.</li>
<li>According to MSDE, it is estimated that India will need about <strong>2.5 lakh trainers by 2022,</strong> across the skilling ecosystem.</li>
<li>The Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship has introduced several schemes like <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/sankalp-scheme" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Skills Acquisition and Knowledge Awareness for Livelihood Scheme (SANKALP)</strong></a>, <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/pradhan-mantri-kaushal-vikas-yojana-pmkvy" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Vikas Yojana (PMKVY)</strong></a>, <strong>Pradhan Mantri Yuva Yojana (PM-YUVA)</strong> etc. to impart skills in India&rsquo;s youth.</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>PMKVY</strong> is the flagship scheme of the Ministry of Skill Development &amp; Entrepreneurship(MSDE). Its objective is to enable a large number of Indian youth to take up <strong>industry-relevant skill training</strong> that will help them in securing a better livelihood.</li>
<li>Pradhan Mantri Yuva Yojana (PM-YUVA), aims to <strong>educate and equip</strong> potential and <strong>early-stage entrepreneurs</strong> and catalyse a cultural shift to support aspiring entrepreneurs.</li>
<li><strong>SANKALP</strong> Scheme to focus on district-level skilling ecosystem through convergence and coordination.</li>
</ul>
</div>
<p><strong><a href="https://pib.gov.in/PressReleseDetail.aspx?PRID=1584203" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Source: PIB</a></strong></p>',
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		],
		(int) 18 => [
			'title' => 'Mobile Science Exhibition',
			'catname' => 'News Analysis',
			'desc' => '<p>Recently, the first-ever <strong>Mobile Science Exhibition (Science Explorer)</strong> for the Ladakh region was launched by the <strong>Ministry of Culture</strong> in Leh.</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Apart from this, 25 new Mobile Science Exhibition buses for <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/delta-ranking-of-the-aspirational-districts" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Aspirational Districts</strong></a> of India were also launched.</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Aspirational Districts Programme</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>It was launched in January 2018, with an objective to quickly and effectively transform some of the most underdeveloped districts of the country.</li>
<li>117 districts have been identified until now, at least one from each state.</li>
<li>Each district is assigned a <strong>Prabhari (in-charge) officer from the Centre (of the additional secretary or joint secretary rank); a Prabhari officer from the State (of the rank of Secretary to State government)</strong> who will work in cooperation with the <strong>district administration.</strong></li>
</ul>
</div>
<h3>Mobile Science Exhibitions</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Mobile Science Exhibitions (MSE) are basically science exhibitions on buses based on various themes of science and technology.</li>
<li>It is an attempt of the <strong>National Council of Science Museums (NCSM)</strong> to communicate science in <strong>rural and remote areas.</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The MSE or <strong>Museo-bus</strong> travels from school to school in rural areas and organize exhibitions there throughout the year.</li>
<li>Its mission is <strong>&lsquo;If the people cannot visit the museum, let the museum visit the people at their doorsteps&rsquo;,</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>The <strong>topics chosen</strong> for these exhibitions are:<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Measurement</li>
<li>Machines in everyday life</li>
<li>Food &amp; Health</li>
<li>Chemistry &amp; Life with a focus on Water</li>
<li>Energy</li>
<li>Hygiene &amp; Sanitation</li>
<li>Space Science for Human Welfare</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>MSE is the <strong>largest and the longest-running</strong> outreach programme of NCSM.</li>
<li>The<strong> First MSE</strong> was launched by Birla Industrial and Technological Museum (BITM), Kolkata in the year 1965.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Birla Industrial and Technological Museum (BITM), Kolkata is the first science museum of India, opened in 1959.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>National Council of Science Museums (NCSM)</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>In 1978, the National Council of Science Museums (NCSM) was established as a <strong>central coordinating agency</strong> for national science museums.</li>
<li>NCSM, an autonomous Science &amp; Technology institution under the Ministry of Culture jointly with the Department of Science &amp; Technology (DST).</li>
<li>NCSM is the <strong>world&rsquo;s largest network of science centres</strong> and museums that functions under a single administrative umbrella.</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="https://pib.gov.in/PressReleseDetail.aspx?PRID=1584212" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Source: PIB</strong></a></p>',
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		(int) 19 => [
			'title' => 'National Conference on Cybercrime Investigation and Forensics',
			'catname' => 'News Analysis',
			'desc' => '<p>Recently, the 1<sup>st</sup> National Conference on Cybercrime Investigation and Forensics was organised by 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 (CBI)</strong></a> in New Delhi.</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The focus of the conference was to tackle cybercrime on a priority basis for the following reasons: <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>India has a huge population and <strong>second-largest internet users</strong> in the world.</li>
<li>Increasing the circulation of <strong>fake videos</strong> on social media.</li>
<li><strong>Digitization of Indian economy</strong>, with measures like <a href="/loksabha-rajyasabha-discussions/in-depth-digital-india" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Digital India</strong></a>, Government e-marketplace (GeM), <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/aadhar-and-its-voluntary-use" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Aadhar</strong></a>, etc.</li>
<li><a href="/to-the-points/Paper2/to-the-point-article-370" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Post-Article 370</strong></a> abrogation scenario and fight against terrorism.</li>
<li>Cybercrime has become a global phenomenon.</li>
<li>Also strengthening cybersecurity infrastructure will help in intelligence exchange, obtaining digital evidence from abroad, Admissibility of Electronic Evidence, etc.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Centralised Technology Vertical (CTV)</strong> to be set up within CBI.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>It will help law enforcing agencies in getting <strong>real-time information,</strong> in tackling complex financial crimes, like 2G scam, coal block irregularities, Ponzi schemes and capital market scams.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Central Bureau of Investigation</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) was set up in 1963 on the recommendation of the <strong>Santhanam Committee on Prevention of Corruption (1962-1964).</strong></li>
<li>It was set up by a resolution of the Ministry of Home Affairs but later <strong>transferred to the Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions.</strong></li>
<li>The CBI is <strong>not a statutory body.</strong> It derives its powers from the <strong>Delhi Special Police Establishment Act, 1946.</strong></li>
<li>It is the main investigating agency of the Central Government. It also provides assistance to the Central Vigilance Commission and Lokpal.</li>
<li>With the enactment of CVC Act, 2003, the superintendence of Delhi Special Police Establishment vests with the Central Government. However, <strong>investigations of offences</strong> under the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988 the superintendence vests with the <strong>Central Vigilance Commission.</strong></li>
<li>The Director of CBI has been provided security of <strong>two-year tenure</strong> in office by the <strong>CVC Act, 2003.</strong></li>
</ul>
</div>
<p><a href="https://pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=1584209" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Source: PIB</strong></a></p>',
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		'title' => 'Time-Bank in Madhya Pradesh',
		'catname' => 'News Analysis',
		'desc' => '<p>Recently, the <strong>Madhya Pradesh government&rsquo;s Happiness department</strong> has planned to set up a <strong>TimeBank.&nbsp;</strong>TimeBank is&nbsp;a <strong>reciprocal service exchange</strong> which uses units of time as a currency.</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>TimeBank would lend <strong>currency in exchange for an hour.</strong></li>
<li>This earned hour could be used to <strong>learn a new skill,</strong> without the need to pay any paper money.</li>
</ul>
<h3>The Underlying Idea</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The core value behind this idea is that we all are assets that are driven by reciprocity. Giving focused attention to each &amp; every voice will help <strong>promote the equality and dignity of labour.</strong></li>
<li>It is a new way to link <strong>untapped social capacity to unmet social needs.</strong></li>
<li>Whenever a bank member needs a service or wants to acquire a skill, for e.g, gardening or playing the guitar, the member could exchange a credit worth an hour with another member knowing that particular skill.</li>
<li>In the beginning, the <strong>50,000</strong> volunteers registered with the department through local networks will form <strong>community-level banks</strong> and list skills they could impart or services they could offer. This will help in building the trust factor as known individuals will interact with one another.</li>
<li>Later, an experienced volunteer will induct new members and keep a record of all the transactions.</li>
<li>It can be considered as a <strong>modern barter system.</strong></li>
</ul>
<h3>History</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The idea of Timebank was conceived in 1827. But the concept gained popularity with the setting up of the <strong>first Time Bank in Japan in 1973.</strong></li>
<li>Later, the CEO of TimeBanks U.S.A popularized the idea of <strong>Time Dollars.</strong></li>
<li>Today, there are more than <strong>500</strong> such communities across <strong>32</strong> countries.</li>
<li>It can also be noted that earlier in October 2018 a panel of <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/protection-of-human-rights-amendment-bill-2019" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>National Human Rights Commission (NHRC)</strong></a> on disability and elderly persons had <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/proposal-to-hike-monthly-pensions" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>recommended the &ldquo;time bank&rdquo; scheme</strong></a> to take care of senior citizens who are living alone without any support from their family.</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Madhya Pradesh is the <strong>first state</strong> in the country that created the <strong>Happiness Department</strong> in 2016.</li>
<li>The state government also prepared a <strong>happiness calendar</strong> for helping its citizens to remain happy and dedicated to the right causes.</li>
</ul>
</div>
<p><a href="https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/other-states/mps-happiness-dept-to-open-time-bank/article29369985.ece" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Source- TH</strong></a></p>',
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	(int) 1 => [
		'title' => 'Ocean Energy',
		'catname' => 'Paper 3',
		'desc' => '<h3>Why in News?</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Recently, the <strong>Ministry of New and Renewable Energy</strong> has declared <strong>Ocean Energy</strong> as <strong>renewable</strong> energy.</li>
<li>Includes all forms of ocean energy such as <strong>tidal, wave, current, ocean thermal etc</strong> and makes them eligible for meeting the <strong>non-solar Renewable Purchase Obligations (RPO).</strong></li>
</ul>
<h3>What is Ocean Energy?</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Oceans&rsquo; water movement</strong> creates a <strong>vast store of kinetic energy</strong> (energy in motion) in the various forms of renewable energy viz wave energy, tidal energy, ocean current energy, salinity gradient energy and ocean thermal gradient energy which can be <strong>harnessed to generate electricity.</strong></li>
</ul>
<h3>Types of Ocean Energy</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Tidal Energy-</strong> Like conventional hydroelectric dams, power plants are built on river estuaries and hold back huge amounts of tidal water twice a day which generates electricity when released. India is expected to have 9,000 MW of tidal energy potential.</li>
<li><strong>Wave Energy-</strong> This is generated by the movement of a device either floating on the surface of the ocean or moored to the ocean floor.</li>
<li><strong>Current Energy-</strong> It is very similar to the wind above the oceans. Underwater turbines, large propellers tethered to the seabed, are moved with the marine currents to generate electricity. According to the <strong>Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC),</strong> given the scale of open ocean currents, there is a promise of significant project scale growth when technologies harness lower-velocity currents.</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC)</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>It was created in <strong>1988</strong> by the <strong>World Meteorological Organization (WMO)</strong> and <strong>the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP).</strong></li>
<li>Currently has <strong>195</strong> members.</li>
<li>Headquartered in <strong>Geneva, Switzerland.</strong></li>
<li>It has the objective to provide governments at all levels with <strong>scientific information</strong> that they can use to <strong>develop climate policies.</strong></li>
<li>It provides regular assessments of the scientific basis of climate change, its impact and future risks, and options for adaptation and mitigation.</li>
<li>It gives the report on <strong>Renewable Energy Sources and Climate Change Mitigation</strong> among other various reports.</li>
</ul>
</div>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Ocean Thermal Energy-</strong> Oceans are huge heat reservoirs as they cover almost 70% of Earth&rsquo;s surface. The temperature difference between warm surface waters and the cold deeper layers can be used to generate steam and then power.</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Ocean Thermal Energy Conversion (OTEC)</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The technology which uses ocean temperature differences from the surface to depths lower than 1,000 meters, to extract energy.</li>
<li>Research focuses on <strong>two types of OTEC technologies-</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>In <strong>Closed cycle method,</strong> a working fluid (ammonia) is pumped through a heat exchanger for evaporation and the steam runs a turbine. The vapour is turned back to fluid (condensation) by the cold water found at the depths of the ocean where it returns to the heat exchanger.</li>
<li>In <strong>Open cycle method,</strong> the warm surface water is pressurized in a vacuum chamber and converted to steam which runs the turbine. The steam is then condensed using cold ocean water from lower depths.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>It has high (94%) capacity factor which makes it the best power source and although it has a high initial cost, low maintenance and regular power supply makes it an attractive alternative.</li>
<li>OTEC is supplied by an infinite supply of solar energy and the stored energy in it after sundown makes it a 24 hour power supplier.</li>
<li>There are no emissions from the OTEC power plants so air quality will not be degraded.</li>
</ul>
</div>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Osmotic Energy-</strong> This technique produces energy from the movement of water across a membrane between a saltwater reservoir and fresh water reservoir. It is also called <strong>Salinity Gradient Energy.</strong></li>
</ul>
<h3>Salient Features</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Predictable and Reliable:</strong> Unlike wind, ocean energy sources are more predictable. The endless flows create a reliable supply source for future availability.</li>
<li><strong>Global presence:</strong> Tidal streams and ocean currents are available almost everywhere across the globe.</li>
<li><strong>Energy-rich:</strong> Moving water is more than 800 times denser than moving air, which multiplies the kinetic energy by the same factor and opens up the scope of huge amounts of energy.</li>
<li><strong>Unlimited usage area:</strong> Land is a scarce resource for many regions so on-shore solutions have to compete and can extend to a limit but ocean energies are provided by the vast and deep oceans ending the competition.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Objectives</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>To <strong>accelerate and enhance support</strong> for the resource assessment and deployment of ocean energy in the country.</li>
<li>To harness the ocean energies for power generation and to overcome the barrier of energy deficiency.</li>
<li>This sector has been <strong>opened to the public and private sectors</strong> so that more projects can be carried out in India.</li>
<li><strong>Industry led research and development proposals are invited</strong> from stakeholders, for solving problems in Indian conditions.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Limitations</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Deployment is currently limited</strong> in our country and already deployed technologies are under utilised.</li>
<li>Either there is <strong>not much research done</strong> on the technologies or most are currently at the initial stage of R&amp;D, demonstration and commercialization.</li>
<li><strong>Uncertainty of the marine environment</strong> and <strong>commercial scale risks</strong> like- corrosion of materials due to the salinity of seawater, offshore maintenance difficulties, the environmental impact on landscapes and the marine ecosystem and competition from other marine activities such as fishing.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Potential</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Total identified potential of <strong>Tidal Energy</strong> is about <strong>12455 MW,</strong> with potential locations identified at <strong>Khambat &amp; Kutch regions,</strong> and large backwaters, where barrage technology could be used.</li>
<li>The total theoretical potential of <strong>wave energy</strong> is estimated to be about <strong>40,000 MW.</strong> This energy is however less intensive than what is available in more northern and southern latitudes.</li>
<li><strong>OTEC</strong> has a theoretical potential of <strong>180,000 MW</strong> in India subject to suitable technological evolution.</li>
<li>Ocean energy has the potential to grow fully,<strong> fuelling economic growth, reducing carbon footprint</strong> and <strong>creating jobs</strong> not only along the coasts but also inland along its supply chains.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Suggestions</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>India has a <strong>long coastline</strong> with the estuaries and gulfs which can be fully used to harness this energy.</li>
<li>Tidal streams and ocean currents are huge and almost endless resources which can be used with relatively small environmental interactions for large scale electricity generation.</li>
<li>Basic R&amp;D is being looked after by <strong>National Institute of Ocean Technology, Chennai under the Ministry of Earth Sciences</strong> but more inputs by other prominent institutions will help us understand and develop the technologies faster.</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>National Institute of Ocean Technology (NIOT)</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Established in <strong>November 1993</strong> as an <strong>autonomous society</strong> under the <strong>Ministry of Earth Sciences,</strong> Government of India.</li>
<li>It aims to develop reliable indigenous technologies to solve various engineering problems associated with harvesting of non-living and living resources in the <strong>Indian Exclusive Economic Zone.</strong></li>
</ul>
</div>
<h3>Conclusion</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Ocean energy technology can help India stimulate innovation, create economic growth and new jobs as well as to reduce its carbon footprint.</li>
<li>It will also <strong>help India to support its neighbouring countries who have energy deficits,</strong> for their better economic growth and can guide them on their way to being self sufficient in energy sector.</li>
</ul>
<p style="text-align: center;"><a href="/mind-map/gs-paper3/ocean-energy-mind-map" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><em>For Mind Map</em></a></p>',
		'postdate' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenTime) {},
		'url' => 'https://www.drishtiias.com/to-the-points/paper3/ocean-energy'
	],
	(int) 2 => [
		'title' => 'National Infrastructure Pipeline',
		'catname' => 'News Analysis',
		'desc' => '<p>The Central Government has constituted <strong>a task force</strong> to draw up a <strong>National Infrastructure Pipeline</strong> for each of the financial years from <strong>2019-20 to 2024-25.</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The Task Force is <strong>chaired by the Secretary, Department of Economic Affairs,</strong> Ministry of Finance.</li>
</ul>
<h3>National Infrastructure Pipeline</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>This in line with the Prime Minister&rsquo;s Independence day speech that Rs.100 lakh crore ($1.4 trillion) would be invested in infrastructure over the next five years.</li>
<li>National Infrastructure Pipeline will ensure that infrastructure <strong>projects are adequately prepared and launched.</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Infrastructure projects will include both <strong>social and economic</strong> infrastructure projects.</li>
<li>It would include <strong>greenfield and brownfield projects</strong> costing <strong>above Rs 100 crore</strong> each.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>Each Ministry/ Department would be responsible for the monitoring of projects so as to ensure their timely and within-cost implementation.</li>
<li>It will help in stepping-up annual infrastructure investment <strong>to achieve the Gross Domestic Product <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/highlights-of-economic-survey-2018-19" target="_blank" rel="noopener">(GDP) of $5 trillion by 2024-25.</a></strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>In the past decade (2008-17), India invested about $1.1 trillion on infrastructure.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Terms of Reference of the Task Force</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>To <strong>identify technically feasible and economically viable infrastructure projects</strong> that can be initiated in the Financial Year (FY) 2019-20.</li>
<li>To list the projects that can be included in the pipeline for each of the remaining 5 years between FY 2021-25.</li>
<li>To estimate annual infrastructure investment/capital costs.</li>
<li>To guide the Ministries in identifying appropriate sources of financing.</li>
<li>To suggest <strong>measures to monitor the projects</strong> so that cost and time overrun is minimized.</li>
<li>To enable robust <strong>marketing of the pipeline of projects</strong> requiring private investment through the <strong>India Investment Grid (IIG), National Investment &amp; Infrastructure Fund (NIIF),</strong> etc.</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>India Investment Grid</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>India Investment Grid (IIG)</strong> is an initiative of the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/dipp-renamed-as-dpiit" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Department for Promotion of Industry &amp; Internal Trade (DPIIT)</strong></a> Ministry of Commerce and <strong>Invest India,</strong> the National Investment Promotion and Facilitation Agency.</li>
<li>It showcases a menu of investment options across India on <strong>a single online interactive platform.</strong> It connects potential investors to project promoters across India.</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>National Investment &amp; Infrastructure Fund</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>National Investment &amp; Infrastructure Fund (NIIF)</strong> is an Indian-government backed entity established to provide <strong>long-term capital to the country&rsquo;s infrastructure sector.</strong></li>
<li>The Indian government has a 49% stake in NIIF with the rest held by foreign and domestic investors.</li>
<li>With the Centre&rsquo;s significant stake, NIIF is considered India&rsquo;s <strong>quasi-sovereign wealth fund.</strong></li>
<li>Across its three funds- Master Fund, Fund of Funds, and Strategic Fund - it manages over $3 billion of capital.</li>
<li>Its registered office is in <strong>New Delhi.</strong></li>
</ul>
</div>
<p><a href="https://pib.nic.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=1584408" 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/national-infrastructure-pipeline'
	],
	(int) 3 => [
		'title' => 'The Problem of Skilling India',
		'catname' => 'News Editorials',
		'desc' => '<div class="border">
<p>&ldquo;The article is based on <a href="https://indianexpress.com/article/opinion/columns/the-problem-of-skilling-india-unemployment-joblessness-modi-government-5973808/" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>The problem of skilling India</strong></a> that was published in The Indian Express on 7<sup>th</sup> September. It talks about the issues and challenges associated with Skill Development in India.&rdquo;</p>
</div>
<h3>Context</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>According to the Centre for Monitoring Indian Economy (CMIE), the <strong><a href="/to-the-points/paper3/unemployment-in-india" target="_blank" rel="noopener">unemployment</a> rate</strong> reached 34% among the 20-24 year-olds in the first quarter of 2019 &mdash; it was 37.9% among the urban lot.</li>
<li>At least eight million new job seekers enter the job market every year. In 2017, only 5.5 million jobs had been created, and the situation is worsening: Unemployment rate is the highest in 45 years today.</li>
<li>According to the last 2018 <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/periodic-labour-force-survey-plfs" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Periodic Labour Force Survey (PLFS)</strong></a>, the unemployment rate among the urban 15-29-years-old was 23.7%.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Skill Training and Unemployment</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>This pervasive joblessness is mainly due to the poor training of the youth as only 7% of the people surveyed in the framework of the PLFS declared any formal or informal training.</li>
<li>The current data suggest that <strong>only 2.3% of the workforce in India has undergone formal skill training</strong> as compared to 68% in the UK, 75% in Germany, 52% in the USA, 80% in Japan and 96% in South Korea.</li>
<li>On the other hand, according to a recent survey, 48% of Indian employers reported difficulties filling job vacancies due to <strong>skill shortage.</strong></li>
<li>The CMIE reports show that the more educated Indians are, the more likely they are to remain unemployed too. <strong>The last PLFS for 2018 revealed that 33% of the formally trained 15-29-year-olds were jobless.</strong></li>
</ul>
<h3>Initiatives Taken</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>&ldquo;Skill India&rdquo; programme,</strong> that aims to train a minimum of 300 million skilled people by the year 2022.</li>
<li><strong>Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Vikas Yojana <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/pradhan-mantri-kaushal-vikas-yojana-pmkvy" target="_blank" rel="noopener">(PMKVY)</a>,</strong> a dimension of skill India, under which the training fees were paid by the government. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Its main tool was the &ldquo;short-term training&rdquo;, which could last between 150 and 300 hours, and which included some placement assistance by Training Partners upon successful completion of their assessment by the candidates.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>In 2014, <strong>Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship</strong> was created to harmonise training processes, assessments, certification and outcomes and, crucially, to develop Industrial Training Institutions (ITIs) &mdash; the building blocks of this endeavour.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Shortcomings in the Desired Outcome</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The target of Skill India was to reach out to 300 million young people by 2022, but only 25 million had been trained under this scheme by the end of 2018.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>This is <strong>partly due to mismanagement</strong> and partly due to <strong>not spending available funds</strong> because of lack of candidates.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>Even those who have been trained under Skill India and PMKVY are unable to find jobs.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The number of those who have benefited from the Skill India scheme has increased, from 3,50,000 in 2016-17 to 1.6 million in 2017-18, but the percentage of those who could find a job upon completion of their training has dropped from more than 50% to 30%.</li>
<li>Under PMKVY, only 15% of those trained got a job.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Challenges in Skill Development</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Insufficient training capacity:</strong> The training was not sufficient to ensure a job for those who got the training &ndash; and this is why the employability rate remains very low.</li>
<li><strong>Lack of entrepreneurship skills:</strong> While the government expected that some of the PMKVY-trainees would create their own enterprise, only 24% of the trainees started their business. And out of them, only 10,000 applied for MUDRA loans.</li>
<li><strong>Low industry interface:</strong> Most of the training institutes have low industry interface as a result of which the performance of the skill development sector is poor in terms of placement records and salaries offered.</li>
<li><strong>Low student mobilization:</strong> The enrolment in skill institutes like ITIs, and polytechnics, remains low as compared to their enrolment capacity. This is due to low <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/70-youth-unaware-of-govts-skill-development-programmes-wef" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>awareness level among youths</strong></a> about the skill development programmes.</li>
<li><strong>Employers&rsquo; unwillingness:</strong> India&rsquo;s joblessness issue is not only a skills problem, it is representative of the lack of appetite of industrialists and SMEs for recruiting.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Due to limited access to credit because of Banks&rsquo; NPAs, investment rate has declined and thus a negative impact on job creation.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Way Forward</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Enhanced Expenditure on Education and Training:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>In the long run, Skill India will also not be enough if government expenditures in education remain low and if, therefore, the ground isn&rsquo;t prepared for proper training.</li>
<li>Government allocation for school education has declined from 2.81% of the budget in 2013-14 to 2.05% in 2018-19 which is further alarming situation.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Evaluation of Training Institutes:</strong> NSDC should also develop some techniques to evaluate the performance of training institutes and encourage them to perform better.</li>
<li><strong>Skills survey:</strong> Surveys can be conducted to find the exact skill requirements from the employers. Analysis of such surveys would help in designing course structures of the training programs and thus standardized course curriculum or training delivery systems can be developed.</li>
<li>India needs to <strong>learn from technical and vocational training/education models in China, Germany, Japan, Brazil, and Singapore,</strong> who had similar challenges in the past, along with learning from its own experiences to adopt a comprehensive model that can bridge the skill gaps and ensure employability of youths.</li>
</ul>
<table border="1" style="border-collapse: collapse; width: 100%;">
<tbody>
<tr>
<td style="width: 100%; border-style: dotted; border-color: #ff0000; background-color: #ebfaf8;"><span style="color: #000080;"><em><strong>Drishti Input</strong></em></span><br /><br />&ldquo;Discuss the issues and challenges associated with skill development in India and also suggest measures to enhance the skills and hence employability of Indian youths&rdquo;.</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>',
		'postdate' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenTime) {},
		'url' => 'https://www.drishtiias.com/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/the-problem-of-skilling-india'
	],
	(int) 4 => [
		'title' => 'Craniopagus Twins',
		'catname' => 'News Analysis',
		'desc' => '<p>Recently, India has successfully performed rarest <strong>of the rare surgery on Craniopagus Twins.</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>This was the <strong>first successful craniopagus conjoined twin separation surgery</strong> from India wherein <strong>both the children had survived.</strong></li>
<li><strong>Worldwide only 10-15 children have survived after surgical separation</strong> of this condition in the last 50 years.</li>
<li>All modern adjuncts of technology for surgical planning, 3D print model technology for brain and skull model development, venous bypass, staged surgeries and continuous post-operative care is needed for craniopagus surgery.</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Craniopagus Twins</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Craniopagus twins are conjoined twins that are <strong>fused at the skull.</strong></li>
<li>It represents the<strong> rarest of congenital abnormalities.</strong></li>
<li>Conjoined twins are <strong>genetically identical and always share the same sex.</strong></li>
</ul>
</div>
<p><a href="https://www.thehindu.com/sci-tech/health/craniopagus-twins-head-home/article29355180.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/craniopagus-twins'
	],
	(int) 5 => [
		'title' => 'Indus Valley Civilization’s Independent Origin ',
		'catname' => 'News Analysis',
		'desc' => '<p>According to a study of <strong>DNA</strong> (DeoxyriboNucleic Acid) from skeletal remains excavated from the Harappan cemetery at <strong>Rakhigarhi</strong> (the biggest IVC site located in Haryana) , the researchers found that the people in the <a href="/to-the-points/paper1/indus-valley-civilization" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Indus Valley Civilization</strong></a> (IVC) have an <strong>independent origin.</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The study <strong>negates</strong> the theory of the Harappans having Steppe pastoral or ancient <strong>Iranian farmer ancestry.</strong> As per the study, the DNA does not contain any genome from either the Steppe region or the ancient Iranian farmers.</li>
<li>The finding also refuses the hypothesis about mass migration that happened during Harappan times from outside South Asia.</li>
<li>According to the study, the <strong>genetic continuity</strong> from hunter-gatherer to modern times is clearly visible in the DNA results. The same hunter-gatherer communities developed into agricultural communities and formed the Harappan civilization.</li>
<li>The researchers, therefore, concluded that farming in South Asia was not due to the movement of people from the farming cultures of the west to the Indian subcontinent, &amp; people during IVS developed their own <strong>farming culture.</strong></li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Indus Valley Civilization</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>It is popularly known as <strong>Harappan Civilization.</strong></li>
<li>It flourished around 2,500 BC, in the western part of South Asia, in contemporary Pakistan and Western India.</li>
<li>The Indus Valley was home to the largest of the four ancient urban civilizations of Egypt, Mesopotamia, India, and China.</li>
<li>In the 1920s, the Archaeological Department of India carried out excavations in the Indus valley wherein the ruins of the two old cities, viz. Mohenjodaro and Harappa were unearthed.</li>
</ul>
</div>
<p><a href="https://www.thehindu.com/sci-tech/science/indus-valley-settlers-had-a-distinct-genetic-lineage/article29355941.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/indus-valley-civilization-s-independent-origin'
	],
	(int) 6 => [
		'title' => 'Controlling Hepatitis B',
		'catname' => 'News Analysis',
		'desc' => '<p>Recently, <strong>Bangladesh, Bhutan, Nepal and Thailand</strong> became the <strong>first four countries in the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/who-regional-committee-for-south-east-asia" target="_blank" rel="noopener">World Health Organization&rsquo;s Southeast Asia region</a></strong> to have successfully controlled <strong>Hepatitis B.</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>When the disease prevalence is<strong> reduced to less than 1% among children less than five years of age</strong> the Hepatitis B virus is said to be <strong>controlled.</strong></li>
<li><strong>Hepatitis B</strong> infection at a young age turns chronic, causing over 1,00,000 premature deaths annually from liver cirrhosis or liver cancer.</li>
<li>Despite the introduction of hepatitis B vaccine in the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/intensified-mission-indradhanush-best-practice-in-the-world-bmj" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Universal Immunisation Programme</strong></a> <strong>in 2002</strong> and <strong>scaling-up nationwide in 2011</strong>, about <strong>one million people</strong> in India become chronically infected with the virus <strong>every year.</strong></li>
<li>High prevalence among children aged less than five years <strong>has not dropped below 1%</strong> due to <strong>suboptimal coverage of birth dose in all infants within 24 hours of birth.</strong></li>
<li>Hepatitis B birth dose, given in the <strong>first 24 hours,</strong> helps to <strong>prevent vertical transmission from mother to child.</strong></li>
<li>Nearly,<strong>70-90% newborns infected</strong> and <strong>20-30% carriers</strong> are the result of Vertical Transmission of Hepatitis B , in India.</li>
<li>Although the Health Ministry has approved the birth dose in 2008, its coverage remained low &mdash; 45% in 2015 and 60% in 2016 &mdash; according to a <strong>2019 Health Ministry report.</strong></li>
<li>Reasons for the low coverage are :<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The <strong>fear of wastage of vaccine</strong> when a 10-dose vial is used.</li>
<li>Unawareness of health-care workers about WHO recommendation that allows <strong>Hepatitis B Open-Vial Policy</strong> which states that vaccine can be kept for a maximum duration of 28 days for use in other children if the vaccine meets certain conditions.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Hepatitis B</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>It is a <strong>viral infection</strong> that attacks the <strong>liver</strong> and can cause both <strong>acute and chronic disease.</strong></li>
<li>The virus is most commonly transmitted from <strong>mother to child during birth</strong> and delivery, as well as through <strong>contact with blood or other body fluids.</strong></li>
<li>It is the primary cause of<strong> liver cancer.</strong></li>
<li>Hepatitis B can be prevented by vaccines that are safe, available and effective.</li>
<li>Every year, <strong>World Hepatitis Day</strong> is celebrated on the <strong>28<sup>th</sup> of July.</strong></li>
<li>It is among the four diseases apart from HIV-AIDS, TB, Malaria for which, the <a href="/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-international-institution/world-health-organization-who" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>World Health Organization (WHO)</strong></a> officially endorses disease-specific global awareness days.</li>
</ul>
</div>
<p><a href="https://www.thehindu.com/opinion/editorial/a-weak-chase-on-controlling-hepatitis-b/article29345193.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/controlling-hepatitis-b'
	],
	(int) 7 => [
		'title' => 'Indoor Air Pollution',
		'catname' => 'News Analysis',
		'desc' => '<p>According to the Centre for Science &amp; Environment (CSE), the three-year average levels of <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/state-of-global-air-report-2019" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>PM 2.5</strong></a> atmospheric particulate matter (with a diameter less than 2.5 microns) during 2016-18 were <strong>25% lower</strong> than the 2011-14 baseline (three-year average).</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Though the number of days with severe PM 2.5 levels have come down since 2015, Delhi still needs to cut pollution levels by 65% to meet global air quality standards.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Indoor Pollution</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The environmental <strong><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/air-pollution-and-life-expectancy" target="_blank" rel="noopener">air pollution</a></strong> and indoor air pollution are inseparably linked, as people spend around 90% of their time staying indoors.</li>
<li>According to the <em><strong>State Of Global Air Report 2019,</strong></em> an estimated 846 million people in India were exposed to household air pollution in 2017. That forms around <strong>60%</strong> of the country&rsquo;s population.</li>
<li>Gases and particles in the air can be divided into <strong>two categories: primary and secondary sources.</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Primary gases</strong> and components are <em><strong>emitted directly from sources</strong></em> that include the building itself, consumer products (e.g. personal care products, cleaning or cooking products, equipment and office products, off-gassing from items brought into the home), microbial and human metabolic emissions, and also the entry of outdoor air into the house through openings, ventilation systems or leaks.</li>
<li><strong>Secondary gases</strong> are produced through <em><strong>chemical reactions</strong></em> in the air. For e.g, cooking releases a large amount of VOCs (Volatile Organic Compounds), CO<sub>2</sub> (Carbon Dioxide), NOx (Nitrogen Oxide) and other particles. VOCs and NOx react in the presence of sunlight to form <strong>ozone.</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>The ground-level ozone not only has long-term effects on human health but is also a critical pollutant in smog.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Harmful Effects of Indoor Pollution</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Exposure to ground-level ozone increases a person&rsquo;s likelihood of dying from respiratory disease, specifically <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/higher-mortality-from-cardio-vascular-diseases" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>cardiovascular diseases.</strong></a></li>
<li>In 2017, exposure to PM 2.5 was the <strong>third leading risk</strong> factor for <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/new-injection-for-type-2-diabetes" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>type 2 diabetes</strong></a>-related deaths and disability.</li>
<li>Nitrogen oxide (NOx) can cause <strong>inflammation</strong> of the airways. Long-term exposure can diminish lung function and increase susceptibility to allergens.</li>
<li>Particulate matter from burning cigarettes, mosquito coils in a closed indoor environment can lead to increased cases of cardiovascular and respiratory diseases, following prolonged exposure.</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1567848976_image2.jpg" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1567848976_image2.jpg" width="406" height="582" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" caption="false" /></a></p>
<h3>Related Findings</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Cooking, cleaning, and other routine household activities generate significant levels of volatile and particulate chemicals</li>
<li>The purpose of the experiment <strong>HOMEChem (House Observations of Microbial and Environmental Chemistry)</strong> conducted by The University of Texas was to identify the sources of chemical oxidants in the indoor environment, and how they were affected by human activities and changes in light conditions.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>There are two main associated issues that were identified are:<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>First, the issue of solid fuel use in homes- a problem associated with <strong>rural</strong> households, and</li>
<li>Second, the issue of exposure related to cooking, smoking, use of incense and/or mosquito coils, consumer products, infiltration of outdoor air, etc. This has more relevance in <strong>urban</strong> households, offices and public spaces.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Way Forward</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Simple measures such as, <strong>cooking with appropriate ventilation</strong> (especially when frying food), <strong>avoiding</strong> the use of incense sticks and candles, room fresheners, etc., (whenever possible), and <strong>restricting</strong> the infiltration of outdoor air, especially on days when pollution levels are high can help to <strong>keep a check</strong> on indoor air pollution in urban households.</li>
<li>It is important to note that buildings in India often have natural ventilation and tend to be leaky. Special care is needed to <strong>fully seal</strong> the building.</li>
<li>There is a big gap in the lack of a standard to measure indoor air pollution that needs to be resolved. In India, indoor air is as bad as outdoor air.</li>
<li>Household air pollution needs to remain a<strong> focus for policy action,</strong> especially in Asia and Africa, where the use of solid fuel for residential cooking and heating is still very high.</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="https://www.livemint.com/mint-lounge/features/indoor-air-pollution-the-invisible-adversary-1567759328936.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Source: Mint</strong></a></p>',
		'postdate' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenTime) {},
		'url' => 'https://www.drishtiias.com/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/indoor-air-pollution'
	],
	(int) 8 => [
		'title' => 'Avian Influenza',
		'catname' => 'News Analysis',
		'desc' => '<p>With effect from 3<sup>rd</sup> September 2019, India has been <strong>declared free from Avian Influenza (H5N1),</strong> which has also been notified to the <strong>World Organization for Animal Health (OIE).</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The declaration is a result of measures taken to control the recent outbreak of the disease at several places in Jharkhand, Bihar and Odisha and hence there is <strong>no presence of the Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) Virus.</strong></li>
<li>The status will last only till another outbreak is reported. India was <strong>last declared free of the disease in 2017.</strong></li>
<li>This declaration is important not just from the poultry industry standpoint, but also because humans can contact the disease from animals. Though the pathogen is not capable of sustained human-to-human transmission.</li>
</ul>
<h3>About Avian Influenza</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Avian influenza (AI) is a highly <strong>contagious viral disease</strong> affecting several species of <strong>food-producing birds</strong> (chickens, turkeys, quails, guinea fowl, etc.), as well as pet birds and wild birds. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Occasionally mammals, including humans, may contract avian influenza.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>Influenza A viruses are classified into subtypes based on two surface proteins, <strong>Hemagglutinin (HA)</strong> and <strong>Neuraminidase (NA).</strong> For example, a virus that has an HA 7 protein and NA 9 protein is designated as subtype H7N9.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Avian influenza virus subtypes include A(H5N1), A(H7N9), and A(H9N2).</li>
<li>HPAI A(H5N1) virus occurs mainly in birds and is highly contagious among them.</li>
<li><strong>HPAI Asian <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/gene-editing-to-halt-human-flu-pandemic" target="_blank" rel="noopener">H5N1</a> is especially deadly for poultry.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>Avian Influenza outbreaks can lead to devastating consequences for the country, particularly the poultry industry.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Farmers might experience a high level of mortality in their flocks, with rates often around 50%.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Prevention: Strict biosecurity</strong> measures and good <strong>hygiene</strong> are essential in protecting against disease outbreaks.</li>
<li><strong>Eradication:</strong> If the infection is detected in animals, a policy of <strong>culling infected and contact animals</strong> is normally used in an effort to rapidly contain, control and eradicate the disease.</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>World Organization for Animal Health</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The OIE is an <strong>intergovernmental organisation</strong> responsible for improving animal health worldwide.</li>
<li>It is recognised as a reference organisation by the World Trade Organization (WTO).</li>
<li>In 2018, it had a total of 182 Member Countries.</li>
<li>It is headquartered in <strong>Paris, France.</strong></li>
</ul>
</div>
<p><a href="https://indianexpress.com/article/india/india-declared-free-of-avian-influenza-h5n1-virus-5974116/" 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/avian-influenza'
	],
	(int) 9 => [
		'title' => 'India and South Korea Signs Logistics Pact',
		'catname' => 'News Analysis',
		'desc' => '<p><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/prime-ministers-visit-to-south-korea" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>India and South</strong></a> <strong>Korea</strong> have concluded a <strong>Military Logistics Agreement</strong> during the ongoing visit of Defence Minister to Seoul.</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The two countries have also formulated a forward-looking <strong>road map to take bilateral defence industry cooperation to the next level.<a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1588304730_India%20and South Korea Signs Logistics Pact (Map).png" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1588304730_India and South Korea Signs Logistics Pact (Map).png" style="float: right;" width="405" height="286" /></a></strong></li>
<li>The roadmap has also listed other areas of cooperation like Land Systems, Aero Systems, Naval Systems, R&amp;D cooperation and collaboration in Testing, Certification and Quality Assurance.</li>
<li>The <strong>two Memoranda of Understanding (MOUs)</strong> were signed during the meeting which covers:<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Defence Educational Exchanges, </strong></li>
<li><strong>To extend Logistical Support to each other&rsquo;s Navies.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>The above agreements would help:<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Assured logistic support when India operates in the Indo-Pacific in the ports of South Korea.</li>
<li>To extend the reach, presence and sustainability of Indian Navy ships when deployed at great distances.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>The recent meeting has also been considered as an opportunity to combine <strong>India&rsquo;s &lsquo;Act East Policy&rsquo;</strong> with the Republic of Korea&rsquo;s <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/korean-president-on-a-state-visit-to-india" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>&lsquo;New Southern Policy&rsquo;.</strong></a></li>
</ul>
<p><a href="https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/india-south-korea-seal-logistics-pact/article29354781.ece" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Source:TH</strong></a></p>',
		'postdate' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenTime) {},
		'url' => 'https://www.drishtiias.com/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/india-and-south-korea-signs-logistics-pact'
	],
	(int) 10 => [
		'title' => 'Wetlands Restoration',
		'catname' => 'News Analysis',
		'desc' => '<p>Recently, the Government has <strong>identified 130 wetlands for priority restoration</strong> in the next five years and asked states to submit their respective integrated management plan.</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Each of these wetlands will be restored under a comprehensive scheme of the <strong>National Plan for Conservation of Aquatic Ecosystems (NPCA)</strong> for conservation and restoration of wetlands and lakes.</li>
<li>This decision came on the sidelines of the ongoing <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/world-day-to-combat-desertification-and-drought" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>UN conference on combating desertification (COP14)</strong></a> at Greater Noida.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Apart from this, the government also proposed the concept of <strong>'Wetland Health Card'</strong> to be introduced to monitor the entire ecosystem based on multiple parameters.</li>
<li>In order to increase community engagement, the government declared to form<strong> 'Wetland Mitras'</strong> (the group of self-motivated individuals) for taking care of the identified wetlands across the country.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Importance of Wetlands</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The wetlands are actually land areas covered by water, either temporarily or permanently. Marsh, fen and peatland come under this category.</li>
<li>They play a key <strong>role in the hydrological cycle and flood control,</strong> water supply and providing food, fibre and raw materials.</li>
<li>They not only act as a source of water but also as ecosystems that <strong>prevent land degradation and desertification.</strong></li>
<li>Besides, such land areas also <strong>support lakhs of migratory birds</strong> from colder regions of the world in summers.</li>
<li>Mangroves protect coastlines and filter pollutants, that's why wetland are referred to as <strong>kidneys of the ecosystem.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Wetlands in India</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>In 2011, ISRO come out with a national wetlands atlas on the basis of satellite images, mapping over <strong>two lakh wetlands covering around 4.63% of the total geographic area of India.</strong></li>
<li>India's prominent wetlands include Chilika lake areas (Odisha), Wular lake (J&amp;K), Renuka (Himachal Pradesh), Sambhar Lake (Rajasthan), Deepor Beel (Assam) etc.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>All these falls in the list of 26 wetlands of India under <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/world-wetlands-day" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Ramsar Convention.</strong></a></li>
<li>Globally, there are 2,220 wetlands in the Ramsar list.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>National Plan for Conservation of Aquatic Ecosystems (NPCA)</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>NPCA is a single conservation programme for both wetlands and lakes.</li>
<li>It is a <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/proposal-to-hike-monthly-pensions" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>centrally sponsored scheme,&nbsp;</strong></a>currently being implemented by the Union Ministry of Environment and Forests (MoEF).<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>It was formulated in 2015 by merging of the National Lake Conservation Plan and the National Wetlands Conservation Programme.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>NPCA seeks to promote better synergy and avoid overlap of administrative functions.</li>
</ul>
</div>
<p><a href="https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/130-wetlands-to-be-restored-on-priority/articleshow/71017950.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/wetlands-restoration'
	],
	(int) 11 => [
		'title' => 'The Big Picture - Indo-Pacific : Strategic Importance',
		'catname' => 'Lok Sabha & Rajya Sabha Discussions',
		'desc' => '<p style="text-align: center;"><iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/rfmNyiXuJPs" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe></p>
<p>The External Affairs Minister, who is on a two day visit to Russia, has said that Indo Pacific is one of the new concepts and approaches thrown up by the changing world. With various countries and international forums using the term Indo Pacific in their official statements, it is gaining currency in recent times.</p>
<p>India, France and Australia have held <strong>track 1.5 dialogue</strong> to identify security challenges and sustainability issues in the Indo Pacific region. Safeguarding freedom of navigation and keeping Indo Pacific stable was a crucial item on the agenda during Prime minister Narendra Modi and French President Emmanuel Macron' s recently concluded annual summit in Paris.</p>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Note:</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The <strong>track 1.5 dialogue</strong> refers to top-level political decision-makers, yet in <strong>informal,</strong> non-official settings.</li>
<li>These track 1.5 mediation/dialogue processes often serve to sort out and prepare for track 1 talks.</li>
<li>The first level (track 1) includes negotiation between the leadership of two countries (e.g. political and/or military).</li>
</ul>
</div>
<h3>The Term &lsquo;Indo-Pacific&rsquo;</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>It is a recent concept. It was about a decade ago that the world started talking about the Indo-Pacific but its rise has been quite significant.</li>
<li>One of the reasons behind the popularity of this term is an understanding that the <strong>Indian Ocean and the Pacific are a linked strategic theater.</strong></li>
<li>Also, the centre of gravity has shifted to Asia. The reason being maritime routes, the Indian Ocean and the Pacific provide the sea lanes. <strong>Majority of the world&rsquo;s trade passes through these oceans.</strong>
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>There was a time before the cold war when the centre of gravity of the universe was across the Atlantic i.e. trade was actually transiting from the Atlantic but now it has shifted.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>The <strong>earlier term used to be Asia-Pacific,</strong> from which India was excluded.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>This term was prevalent during the cold war time.</li>
<li>The shift to the term &lsquo;Indo-Pacific&rsquo; shows the<strong> salience of India in the new construct.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>Terrorism and the fear of assertion by a particular country in the region are major threats to the Indo-Pacific region.</li>
<li>The Indo-Pacific region includes world&rsquo;s four big economies: USA, China, Japan and India.</li>
<li>The term &lsquo;Indo-Pacific&rsquo; is interpreted differently by different stakeholders.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>India</strong> considers the region as an <strong>inclusive, open, integrated and balanced space.</strong> India continuously emphasises on strategic inter-connections, common challenges and opportunities between the Indian Ocean and the Pacific.</li>
<li><strong>The U.S. considers it to be a</strong> free and open Indo-Pacific, highlighting the importance of <strong>rules or norms of conduct in the region,</strong> thus trying to contain the role of China in the region.</li>
<li><strong>The ASEAN countries look at</strong> Indo-Pacific <strong>as a consociational model,</strong> thus bringing in China not only for the sake of giving it some stakeholdership but looking for ways to cooperate with it in the region.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Note:</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Consociationalism is a stable democratic system in deeply divided societies that is based on power sharing between elites from different social groups.</li>
</ul>
</div>
<h3>India&rsquo;s Perspective of Indo-Pacific</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>A lot of India&rsquo;s special partners, the US, Australia, Japan and Indonesia actually look at Indo-Pacific as Asia Pacific plus India. They try to embed India into the strategic dynamic of Asia Pacific.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>They <strong>want India&rsquo;s presence in the <a href="/loksabha-rajyasabha-discussions/new-indo-pacific-strategy" target="_blank" rel="noopener">South China Sea</a>,</strong> East China Sea, basically <strong>to counter China.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>India however, seeks to cooperate for an architecture for peace and security in the region. The common prosperity and security require the countries to evolve, through dialogue, a<strong> common rules-based order</strong> for the region.</li>
<li>For India, Indo-Pacific stands for a <strong>free, open, inclusive region.</strong> It includes all nations in the geography and also others who have a stake in it. In its geographical dimension, India considers the area from the shores of Africa to the shores of America.</li>
<li>India supports rule-based, open, balanced and <strong>stable trade environment</strong> in the Indo-Pacific Region, which lifts up all nations on the tide of trade and investment. This is the same as what the country expects from the <strong><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/deadlock-in-rcep-trade-negotiations" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP).</a></strong></li>
<li>Unlike China, <strong>India seeks a unified ASEAN,</strong> not a divided one. China tries to play off some ASEAN members against others, thereby in a way executing &lsquo;divide and rule&rsquo; conquest strategy.</li>
<li>India does not comply with <strong>the US version of Indo-Pacific, that seeks to contain Chinese dominance.</strong> India is rather looking for the ways through which it can work together with China.</li>
<li>India is looking for <strong>democratising the region.</strong>
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Earlier, the region used to be almost like an American lake. However, there exists a fear that the region will become Chinese lake now. Scarborough Shoal dispute is an example here.</li>
<li>India <strong>doesn't want hegemony of any player in the region.</strong> India is working in trilaterals such as India-Australia-France, India-Australia-Indonesia to ensure that China does not dominate in the region.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>China: A Threat or a Challenge</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>China has been a threat to the Asia Pacific countries and is posing threat to Indian interests in the Indian Ocean as well.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>China has a hold over Hambantota port (Sri Lanka), which is just a few hundred miles off the shores of India.</li>
<li>China is supplying military equipment to India&rsquo;s neighbours such as submarines to Myanmar, frigate to Sri Lanka, equipment to Bangladesh and Thailand, thus, in a way, colonising the region.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>ASEAN:</strong> Some of the member countries of ASEAN have been under the Chinese influence and thus pose a threat to erode <strong>ASEAN&rsquo;s solidarity</strong> with respect to the concept of Indo-Pacific.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>However, China is ASEAN&rsquo;s largest trading partner and can hardly be sidelined by the entire grouping which further threatens India&rsquo;s relations with the grouping.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Southeast Asia is at the centre of Indo-Pacific and <a href="/burning-issues-of-the-month/association-of-southeast-asian-nations-asean" target="_blank" rel="noopener">ASEAN</a> is important for India, especially for the country&rsquo;s Act East Policy.</strong> Also, ASEAN countries know that to balance China in the region, India&rsquo;s presence is necessary.</li>
<li>Despite several differences, the interests of India-China on some issues such as globalisation, climate change etc. match.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Also, India and China are members of several international groupings such as <a href="/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-international-institution/brics-1" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>BRICS</strong></a>, SCO etc.</li>
<li>China therefore is viewed as more of a challenge to India&rsquo;s stand in the Indo-Pacific than a threat to its significance in the region.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Way Forward</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The countries in the region should have <strong>equal access as a right under international law to the use of common spaces on sea and in the air</strong> that would require freedom of navigation, unimpeded commerce and peaceful settlement of disputes in accordance with international law.</li>
<li><strong>It is important to establish connectivity in the region based on respect for sovereignty and territorial integrity,</strong> consultation, good governance, transparency, viability and sustainability.</li>
<li><strong>Maritime Domain Awareness</strong> (MDA) is necessary for Indo-Pacific security.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>MDA implies effective understanding of any activity associated with the maritime environment that could impact upon the security, safety, economy or environment</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Multipolarity:</strong> Security &amp; peace and law abiding nature of the countries around the region is crucial. This will also allow multipolarity in the region.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The smaller states in the region expect India to step up to the plate and help them widen their options, both economically as well as militarily. India should try to fulfill their aspirations.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Strong naval capabilities, multilateral diplomacy, economic integration</strong> with nations is necessary for India to meet the challenges within the Indo-Pacific region.</li>
<li>India needs to stick to its vision of the India Ocean i.e. <strong>SAGAR - Security and Growth for All in the Region.</strong></li>
</ul>',
		'postdate' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenTime) {},
		'url' => 'https://www.drishtiias.com/loksabha-rajyasabha-discussions/the-big-picture-indo-pacific-strategic-importance'
	],
	(int) 12 => [
		'title' => 'India and Russia: Ties in Transition',
		'catname' => 'News Editorials',
		'desc' => '<div class="border">
<p>&ldquo;The article is based on <a href="https://www.orfonline.org/research/india-and-russia-ties-in-transition-55144/" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>India and Russia: Ties in transition</strong></a> that was published in ORF on 5<sup>th</sup> September. It talks about the PM&rsquo;s visit to Vladiostok and its importance in shaping the India-Russia relationship and the challenges in the ties between the two countries.&rdquo;</p>
</div>
<h3>Context</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Prime Minister Narendra Modi is in Vladivostok, Russia on a two-day visit to participate in the 20<sup>th</sup> India-Russia annual summit and the fifth meeting of the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/eastern-economic-forum" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Eastern Economic Forum (EEF).</strong></a></li>
<li>The EEF is a forum which, since 2015, has been trying to push for the development of business and investment opportunities in the Russian Far East Region and Modi&rsquo;s presence there as chief guest underscores the role this region can play in enhancing cooperation between India and Russia in the region and beyond.</li>
<li>The first Indian prime minister to visit the Russian Far East Region, Modi&rsquo;s visit is intended to give &ldquo;a new direction, new energy and new speed&rdquo; to <a href="/gs-foreign-policy-corner/india-russia-bilateral-relations-longstanding-time-tested-partners" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>relations between the two countries.</strong></a></li>
</ul>
<h3>Importance of Russia&rsquo;s Far East</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Russia&rsquo;s Far East is a huge land mass which is <strong>rich in resources</strong> but is sparsely populated and underdeveloped. Till now, its development has primarily revolved around Chinese dominance and so Russia wants to diversify with the help of other Asian powers to lessen Russia&rsquo;s growing dependence on China.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>It provides an opportunity for the Indian investors to look at Russian Far East and explore investment opportunities there.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>Modi&rsquo;s visit has resulted in a proposal for a <strong>maritime route between Chennai and Vladivostok,</strong> bypassing Europe, which would enable to transfer cargo between Chennai and Vladivostok in 24 days in comparison to over 40 days currently taken to transport goods from India to Far East Russia via Europe.</li>
<li>With the possible shift in the centre of power to Asia in the 21<sup>st</sup> century, Russia&rsquo;s far East has an important role to play. So, India&rsquo;s enhanced presence in the region is strongly desired.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Prospects and Recent Developments in India-Russia Relations</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>India&rsquo;s <strong>economic ties</strong> with Russia have been struggling with bilateral trade hovering around $10 billion mark. <strong>Energy</strong> is one area which has the potential to provide ballast to their ties.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Indian energy companies are keen to invest in Russia&rsquo;s upstream sector.</li>
<li>Russia&rsquo;s Rosneft in 2017 completed a $12.9-billion acquisition of Essar Oil to enter India, the world&rsquo;s fastest-growing energy market.</li>
<li>Russia and India are also becoming more ambitious by pursuing projects in third countries such as the Rooppur nuclear power project of Bangladesh.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Defence ties</strong> remain the cornerstone of India-Russia bilateral engagement.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>New Delhi&rsquo;s decision to go ahead with the purchase of <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/india-going-ahead-with-purchase-of-S-400-air-defence-systems" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>S-400 missile defence system,</strong></a> worth over $5 billion, despite the threat of US sanctions, underscores the importance India continues to attach to its defence engagement with Russia.</li>
<li>India wants Russia to take advantage of the low production cost in India to produce military equipment under joint venture framework at cheaper rates for the third-world nations.</li>
<li>Agreement on Reciprocal Logistics Support (ARLS), aimed at facilitating access to each others&rsquo; military facilities, is supposed to be agreed in the present visit.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Strategic depth in the relationship</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Russia stood by India on the <strong>issue of Jammu and Kashmir</strong> arguing that &ldquo;India&rsquo;s decision is a sovereign decision which is as per its Constitution&rdquo;.</li>
<li>Russia recognises that <strong>India&rsquo;s involvement in Afghanistan</strong> remains necessary if the war-torn nation is to see long term stability.</li>
<li>It supports India in its bid for permanent membership to UNSC and to get entry into the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/india-s-nsg-bid" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>NSG (Nuclear Supplier Group) membership.</strong></a></li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Challenges in India-Russia Relations</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>India&rsquo;s growing proximity to the US:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Increase in defence and strategic partnership between India and USA.</li>
<li>India&rsquo;s joining in the Quad Group with USA, Japan and Australia led to a strategic shift in Russia&rsquo;s foreign policy.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Russia&rsquo;s growing proximity to China and Pakistan:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>China:</strong> Increasing strategic and military relations between Russia-China and Russia&rsquo;s endorsements to China&rsquo;s <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/belt-and-road-initiative-perspectives-from-india" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Belt and Road Initiative</strong></a> (BRI) is a major concern for India.</li>
<li><strong>Pakistan:</strong> Russia in 2014 lifted arms embargo on Pakistan. Russia and Pakistan conducted a military exercise in September 2016. In 2017, a military-technical cooperation agreement was signed which deals with arms supply and weapon development. All these factors raised concerns in India.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Defence partnership:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>India has been recently diversifying its defence relations with US, Israel etc. Russia&rsquo;s share of Indian defense imports fell from 79% between 2008-2012 to 62% between 2013-2017.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Trade:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>India-Russia trade has been one-dimensional i.e. defence based.</li>
<li>Trade between the two nations is around $10 billion which is far below potential in comparison to India&rsquo;s trade with China ($89.7 billion) and the United States ($74.5 billion).</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Way Forward</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>India and Russia need to transform a 20<sup>th</sup> century partnership to make it fit for the 21<sup>st</sup> century. Both nations should build on the &ldquo;historical trust&rdquo; to carve out a modern, broad-based partnership more in sync with contemporary realities.</li>
<li>India and Russia have converging interests across various sectors that can be leveraged to balance the differences.</li>
</ul>
<table border="1" style="border-collapse: collapse; width: 100%;">
<tbody>
<tr style="height: 67px;">
<td style="width: 100%; height: 67px; border-style: dotted; background-color: #f7f2e1; border-color: #4800ff;"><span style="color: #ff0000;"><em><strong>Drishti Input</strong></em></span><br /><br />&ldquo;Examine the recent trends in the bilateral relationship between India and Russia and the challenges involved in the same.&rdquo;</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<p></p>',
		'postdate' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenTime) {},
		'url' => 'https://www.drishtiias.com/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/india-and-russia-ties-in-transition'
	],
	(int) 13 => [
		'title' => 'Right to Education',
		'catname' => 'Paper 2',
		'desc' => '<p><a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1567758385_Right%20to Education (Mind Map).png" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1567758385_Right to Education (Mind Map).png" width="534" height="1625" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" /></a></p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><a href="/to-the-points/Paper2/right-to-education" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><em>For TTP</em></a></p>',
		'postdate' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenTime) {},
		'url' => 'https://www.drishtiias.com/mind-map/gs-paper2/right-to-education-mind-map'
	],
	(int) 14 => [
		'title' => 'Postal Ballot Cover Extension',
		'catname' => 'News Analysis',
		'desc' => '<p>The Election Commission Of India has asked the Union Law Ministry to expand the ambit of <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/electronically-transmitted-postal-ballot-system" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>postal ballots.</strong></a></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The move seeks to extend the postal ballot cover to voters on duty which includes voters in the aviation sector, the shipping sector, trains, fire services, medical services, traffic, long-distance road transport corporation buses, the aged, the physically challenged, and the journalists covering elections.</li>
<li>This will require an amendment to the <strong>Representation of the People&rsquo;s Act, 1951 (RP Act),</strong> and the <strong>Conduct of Election Rules, 1961.</strong></li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Representation of the People Act, 1951</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>This act provides for the <strong>actual conduct of elections in India.</strong> It deals with the following matters :<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Details like Qualification and Disqualification of members of both the Houses of Parliament and the State Legislatures,</li>
<li>Administrative machinery for conducting elections,</li>
<li>Registration of Political parties,</li>
<li>Conduct of Elections,</li>
<li>Election Disputes,</li>
<li>Corrupt practices &amp; Electoral offences, &amp;</li>
<li>By-elections.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</div>
<h3>Postal Ballots System</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Ballot papers are <strong>distributed electronically</strong> to electors and are returned to the election officers via post.</li>
<li>Currently, only the following voters are allowed to cast <strong>their votes through postal ballot:</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Service voters</strong> (armed forces, the armed police force of a state and government servants posted abroad),</li>
<li>Voters on <strong>election duty,</strong> and</li>
<li>Voters under <strong>preventive detention.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>The exception to the above-mentioned category of voters is provided under Section 60 of the RP Act, 1951.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Way Forward</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The recent approval by the government to allow <strong>registered NRI voters to appoint proxies</strong> so as to cast a vote on their behalf is a welcome step.</li>
<li>In order to ensure that the process of issuing of postal ballot happens in a controlled environment, the <a href="/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-national-institutions/election-commission-of-india" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Election Commission</strong></a> has intended to provide the facility in specific centres on specific days, duly supervised by elections officials.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>This will help to eliminate the chances of undue influence and interference in the casting of the vote through postal ballot.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>In the case of the aged and physically-challenged voters, the postal ballot papers can be delivered to them at home and collected back then and there, in a controlled, safe and secure environment.</li>
<li>In a true democracy, it is necessary to explore all avenues that can enable the exercise of the franchise to all eligible voters.</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="https://indianexpress.com/article/india/election-commission-to-law-extend-postal-ballot-cover-to-non-govt-voters-on-duty-during-polls-5966921/" 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/postal-ballot-cover-extension'
	],
	(int) 15 => [
		'title' => 'India - Russia',
		'catname' => 'News Analysis',
		'desc' => '<p>The Prime Minister of India was on a two-day visit to Russia to attend the 20<sup>th</sup> <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/india-russia-summit-2018" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>India-Russia annual summit</strong></a> and the 5<sup>th</sup> meeting of the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/eastern-economic-forum" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Eastern Economic Forum (EEF)</strong></a> in Vladivostok.</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>This is the <strong>first time</strong> that an Indian Prime Minister visited the Russian Far East Region (Vladivostok).</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1567757637_image1.jpg" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1567757637_image1.jpg" width="593" height="395" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" caption="false" /></a></p>
<h3>Key Takeaways</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Special and Privileged Strategic Partnership:</strong> Both the leaders agreed to facilitate, in all possible ways, exploring the impressive potential of their strategic partnership to the fullest, while demonstrating the special and privileged nature of the partnership.</li>
<li><strong>Supported India&rsquo;s decision on J&amp;K:</strong> Russia has backed <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/article-370-and-35-a-revoked" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>India&rsquo;s move on Jammu and Kashmir</strong></a>, saying that the changes in the status are <strong>within the framework of the Indian Constitution.</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Both the countries underlined the primacy of international law and emphasised their commitment to the purposes and the principles stated in the <strong>UN Charter</strong> including the <strong>inadmissibility of interference in the internal affairs of member states.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Development of Russian Far East:</strong> India would extend a <strong>$1 billion line of credit</strong> towards the development of the Russian Far East.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>An area of special interest for India is the <strong>exploration of hydrocarbon</strong> reserves along the coast of Russia&rsquo;s Far East.</li>
<li>Also, engaging closely with East Asia is in line with India&rsquo;s policy goal of <a href="/loksabha-rajyasabha-discussions/the-big-picture-infrastructure-and-north-east" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>&ldquo;Act East&rdquo;.</strong></a></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Maritime Route:</strong> A proposal was made to have a full-fledged maritime route between <strong>Chennai and Vladivostok.</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Vladivostok is at a short distance from Russia&rsquo;s border with China and is also the largest port on Russia&rsquo;s Pacific coast.</li>
<li>India is building nuclear power plants with Russia&rsquo;s collaboration in <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/important-facts-for-prelims-21st-july-2018" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Kudankulam</strong></a> on the sea coast in Tamil Nadu&rsquo;s Tirunelveli district. The opening of a sea route is likely to help in the project.</li>
<li>It will also <strong>increase India&rsquo;s presence in the <a href="/loksabha-rajyasabha-discussions/new-indo-pacific-strategy" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Indo-Pacific</a>,</strong> and especially <strong>the South China Sea,</strong> a deeply contested patch of the ocean.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Collaboration in Space:</strong> Russia, would help <strong>train Indian astronauts</strong> for the manned space mission &mdash; the <a href="/to-the-points/paper3/to-the-point-paper3-mission-gaganyaan" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Gaganyaan project.</strong></a><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Both sides expressed concern over the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/mission-shakti-asat-and-india" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>possibility of an arms race in outer space</strong></a> and advocated peaceful uses of outer space.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Economic Cooperation:</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The two leaders decided to take the<strong> bilateral trade</strong> from the current $11 billion <strong>to $30 billion by 2025.</strong></li>
<li>The work on promoting mutual settlements of payments in national currencies will be continued.</li>
<li>Create new technological and investment partnership, especially in advanced high-tech areas and find new avenues and forms of cooperation.</li>
<li>Agreed to speed up preparations for the signing of the <strong>India-Russia Intergovernmental Agreement on Promotion and Mutual Protection of Investments.</strong></li>
<li>Agreed to intensify work for eliminating trade barriers. This would be facilitated, inter alia, by the <strong>proposed Trading Agreement between the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU) and India.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Military Cooperation:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The talks highlighted that the <strong>sanctions imposed by the US on Russia has no effect on India</strong> strengthening cooperation with the country in strategic sectors such as energy and defence.</li>
<li>Both the countries are successfully implementing their <strong>bilateral programme on military and technical cooperation</strong> up to 2020 and working to update the same to extend to another 10 years.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Cooperation in International Issues:</strong>
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Called for <strong>reform of the <a href="/loksabha-rajyasabha-discussions/the-big-picture-un-security-council-reforms" target="_blank" rel="noopener">UN Security Council.</a></strong> Russia expressed its support for India&rsquo;s candidacy for permanent membership of the UNSC.</li>
<li><strong>Condemned terrorism</strong> in all its forms and manifestations and called on the international community to set up a united front to fight against this evil.</li>
<li>Reiterated their commitment to further strengthen global non-proliferation. Russia expressed its strong<strong> support for India&rsquo;s membership in the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/india-s-nsg-bid" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG).</a></strong></li>
<li>India is ready to play a significant role in the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/important-facts-for-prelims-9th-may-2019" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Arctic Council.</strong></a></li>
<li>Support an inclusive peace and <strong>Afghan-led and Afghan-owned reconciliation in Afghanistan.</strong></li>
<li>Reaffirmed their commitment to building an equal and indivisible security architecture in Asia and the Pacific region.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Exercise TSENTR 2019</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Exercise TSENTR 2019 is <strong>part of the annual</strong> series of large scale exercises that form part of the <strong>Russian Armed Forces' annual training cycle.</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The series rotates through the four main Russian operational strategic commands i.e Vostok (East), Zapad (West), TSENTR (Centre) and Kavkas (South).</li>
<li>The 2019 exercise will be conducted by the <strong>Central Military Commission of Russia.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>The exercise is planned between 9<sup>th</sup> September to 23<sup>rd</sup> September 2019 at Donguz training ranges, Orenburg, Russia.</li>
<li>Apart from host Russia, military contingents from China, <strong>India,</strong> Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Pakistan and Uzbekistan will also take <strong>part in this mega event.</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>These annual exercises have slowly begun taking an international character, with Belarus participating in ZAPAD-2017 and China and Mongolia participating in VOSTOK-2018.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>The exercise aims at evolving drills of the participating armies and practising them in the <strong>fight against the scourge of international terrorism</strong> thereby ensuring military security in the strategic Central Asian region.</li>
</ul>
</div>
<p><a href="https://pib.gov.in/PressReleseDetail.aspx?PRID=1584171" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Source: PIB</strong></a></p>',
		'postdate' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenTime) {},
		'url' => 'https://www.drishtiias.com/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/india-russia-4'
	],
	(int) 16 => [
		'title' => 'Measles and Rubella in South-East Asia',
		'catname' => 'News Analysis',
		'desc' => '<p>The member countries of the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/who-regional-committee-for-south-east-asia" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>World Health Organisation (WHO) Regional Committee for South-East</strong></a> Asia have resolved to eliminate highly infectious<strong> diseases Measles and Rubella by 2023.</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The data shows that Bhutan, DPR Korea, Maldives, Sri Lanka and Timor-Leste from the South East Asia region have eliminated Measles.</li>
<li>On the other hand, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Maldives, Nepal, Sri Lanka and Timor-Leste have controlled Rubella.</li>
<li>To achieve the Elimination of Measles and Rubella by 2023, the member-countries resolved to strengthen the immunisation systems for increasing and sustaining the high level of population immunity.</li>
<li>The resolution also calls for ensuring a highly sensitive laboratory supported case-based surveillance system.</li>
<li>Eliminating measles will prevent 500,000 deaths a year in the region while eliminating rubella would avert about 55,000 cases of rubella and promote the health and wellbeing of pregnant women and infants.</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Measles</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>It is a<strong> highly contagious viral disease</strong> and is a <strong>cause of death among young children</strong> globally.</li>
<li>It is particularly dangerous for children from the economically weaker background, as it attacks <strong>malnourished children</strong> and those with reduced immunity.</li>
<li>It can <strong>cause</strong> serious complications, including <strong>blindness, encephalitis, severe diarrhoea, ear infection and pneumonia.</strong></li>
</ul>
<p><strong>Rubella</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>It is also called <strong>German Measles.</strong></li>
<li>Rubella is a contagious, generally <strong>mild viral infection</strong> that occurs most often in <strong>children and young adults.</strong></li>
<li>Rubella infection in pregnant women may cause fetal death or congenital defects known as <strong>Congenital Rubella Syndrome (CRS).</strong></li>
<li>Congenital Rubella Syndrome (CRS) causes <strong>irreversible birth defects.</strong></li>
</ul>
</div>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Apart from the above initiatives, <strong>India has also pledged to contribute $2,00,000</strong> towards the implementation of the <strong>preparedness stream</strong> under the <strong>South-East Asia Health Emergency Response Fund (SEARHEF)</strong>
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Under this initiative, <strong>Special surveillance</strong> is to be mounted for <strong>early detection and control of vector-borne and waterborne diseases</strong> which helped to contain the outbreak of epidemic-prone disease following <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/cyclone-fani" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>cyclone Fani.</strong></a></li>
<li>The Health Ministers of the South-East Asia Region of WHO also signed the <strong>Delhi Declaration on Emergency Preparedness.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>WHO&rsquo;s Regional Committee for South-East Asia</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The Regional Committee for South-East Asia is the <a href="/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-international-institution/world-health-organization-who" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>World Health Organization&rsquo;s</strong></a> <strong>governing body in the South-East Asia Region,</strong> with representatives from all <strong>11 Member States of the Region.</strong></li>
<li>It <strong>meets every year</strong> to review progress in health development in the Region.</li>
<li>It formulates resolutions on health issues for the Member States, as well as considers the regional implications of World Health Assembly resolutions.</li>
<li>The <strong>Member Countries</strong> are:<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Bangladesh</li>
<li>Bhutan</li>
<li>Democratic People&rsquo;s Republic of Korea</li>
<li>India</li>
<li>Indonesia</li>
<li>Maldives</li>
<li>Myanmar</li>
<li>Nepal</li>
<li>Sri Lanka</li>
<li>Thailand</li>
<li>Timor-Leste</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</div>
<p><a href="https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/who-south-east-asia-region-plans-to-banish-measles-rubella-by-2023/article29343912.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/measles-and-rubella-in-south-east-asia'
	],
	(int) 17 => [
		'title' => 'Kaushalacharya Awards',
		'catname' => 'News Analysis',
		'desc' => '<p>Recently, the Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship (MSDE) has launched <strong>Kaushalacharya Awards</strong> at Kaushalacharya Samadar 2019.</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Kaushalacharya Awards are launched in a bid to recognize the contribution <strong>made by skill trainers and to motivate more trainers</strong> to join the Skill India Mission.</li>
<li>According to MSDE, it is estimated that India will need about <strong>2.5 lakh trainers by 2022,</strong> across the skilling ecosystem.</li>
<li>The Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship has introduced several schemes like <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/sankalp-scheme" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Skills Acquisition and Knowledge Awareness for Livelihood Scheme (SANKALP)</strong></a>, <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/pradhan-mantri-kaushal-vikas-yojana-pmkvy" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Vikas Yojana (PMKVY)</strong></a>, <strong>Pradhan Mantri Yuva Yojana (PM-YUVA)</strong> etc. to impart skills in India&rsquo;s youth.</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>PMKVY</strong> is the flagship scheme of the Ministry of Skill Development &amp; Entrepreneurship(MSDE). Its objective is to enable a large number of Indian youth to take up <strong>industry-relevant skill training</strong> that will help them in securing a better livelihood.</li>
<li>Pradhan Mantri Yuva Yojana (PM-YUVA), aims to <strong>educate and equip</strong> potential and <strong>early-stage entrepreneurs</strong> and catalyse a cultural shift to support aspiring entrepreneurs.</li>
<li><strong>SANKALP</strong> Scheme to focus on district-level skilling ecosystem through convergence and coordination.</li>
</ul>
</div>
<p><strong><a href="https://pib.gov.in/PressReleseDetail.aspx?PRID=1584203" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Source: PIB</a></strong></p>',
		'postdate' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenTime) {},
		'url' => 'https://www.drishtiias.com/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/kaushalacharya-awards'
	],
	(int) 18 => [
		'title' => 'Mobile Science Exhibition',
		'catname' => 'News Analysis',
		'desc' => '<p>Recently, the first-ever <strong>Mobile Science Exhibition (Science Explorer)</strong> for the Ladakh region was launched by the <strong>Ministry of Culture</strong> in Leh.</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Apart from this, 25 new Mobile Science Exhibition buses for <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/delta-ranking-of-the-aspirational-districts" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Aspirational Districts</strong></a> of India were also launched.</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Aspirational Districts Programme</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>It was launched in January 2018, with an objective to quickly and effectively transform some of the most underdeveloped districts of the country.</li>
<li>117 districts have been identified until now, at least one from each state.</li>
<li>Each district is assigned a <strong>Prabhari (in-charge) officer from the Centre (of the additional secretary or joint secretary rank); a Prabhari officer from the State (of the rank of Secretary to State government)</strong> who will work in cooperation with the <strong>district administration.</strong></li>
</ul>
</div>
<h3>Mobile Science Exhibitions</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Mobile Science Exhibitions (MSE) are basically science exhibitions on buses based on various themes of science and technology.</li>
<li>It is an attempt of the <strong>National Council of Science Museums (NCSM)</strong> to communicate science in <strong>rural and remote areas.</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The MSE or <strong>Museo-bus</strong> travels from school to school in rural areas and organize exhibitions there throughout the year.</li>
<li>Its mission is <strong>&lsquo;If the people cannot visit the museum, let the museum visit the people at their doorsteps&rsquo;,</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>The <strong>topics chosen</strong> for these exhibitions are:<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Measurement</li>
<li>Machines in everyday life</li>
<li>Food &amp; Health</li>
<li>Chemistry &amp; Life with a focus on Water</li>
<li>Energy</li>
<li>Hygiene &amp; Sanitation</li>
<li>Space Science for Human Welfare</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>MSE is the <strong>largest and the longest-running</strong> outreach programme of NCSM.</li>
<li>The<strong> First MSE</strong> was launched by Birla Industrial and Technological Museum (BITM), Kolkata in the year 1965.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Birla Industrial and Technological Museum (BITM), Kolkata is the first science museum of India, opened in 1959.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>National Council of Science Museums (NCSM)</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>In 1978, the National Council of Science Museums (NCSM) was established as a <strong>central coordinating agency</strong> for national science museums.</li>
<li>NCSM, an autonomous Science &amp; Technology institution under the Ministry of Culture jointly with the Department of Science &amp; Technology (DST).</li>
<li>NCSM is the <strong>world&rsquo;s largest network of science centres</strong> and museums that functions under a single administrative umbrella.</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="https://pib.gov.in/PressReleseDetail.aspx?PRID=1584212" 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/mobile-science-exhibition'
	],
	(int) 19 => [
		'title' => 'National Conference on Cybercrime Investigation and Forensics',
		'catname' => 'News Analysis',
		'desc' => '<p>Recently, the 1<sup>st</sup> National Conference on Cybercrime Investigation and Forensics was organised by 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 (CBI)</strong></a> in New Delhi.</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The focus of the conference was to tackle cybercrime on a priority basis for the following reasons: <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>India has a huge population and <strong>second-largest internet users</strong> in the world.</li>
<li>Increasing the circulation of <strong>fake videos</strong> on social media.</li>
<li><strong>Digitization of Indian economy</strong>, with measures like <a href="/loksabha-rajyasabha-discussions/in-depth-digital-india" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Digital India</strong></a>, Government e-marketplace (GeM), <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/aadhar-and-its-voluntary-use" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Aadhar</strong></a>, etc.</li>
<li><a href="/to-the-points/Paper2/to-the-point-article-370" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Post-Article 370</strong></a> abrogation scenario and fight against terrorism.</li>
<li>Cybercrime has become a global phenomenon.</li>
<li>Also strengthening cybersecurity infrastructure will help in intelligence exchange, obtaining digital evidence from abroad, Admissibility of Electronic Evidence, etc.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Centralised Technology Vertical (CTV)</strong> to be set up within CBI.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>It will help law enforcing agencies in getting <strong>real-time information,</strong> in tackling complex financial crimes, like 2G scam, coal block irregularities, Ponzi schemes and capital market scams.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Central Bureau of Investigation</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) was set up in 1963 on the recommendation of the <strong>Santhanam Committee on Prevention of Corruption (1962-1964).</strong></li>
<li>It was set up by a resolution of the Ministry of Home Affairs but later <strong>transferred to the Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions.</strong></li>
<li>The CBI is <strong>not a statutory body.</strong> It derives its powers from the <strong>Delhi Special Police Establishment Act, 1946.</strong></li>
<li>It is the main investigating agency of the Central Government. It also provides assistance to the Central Vigilance Commission and Lokpal.</li>
<li>With the enactment of CVC Act, 2003, the superintendence of Delhi Special Police Establishment vests with the Central Government. However, <strong>investigations of offences</strong> under the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988 the superintendence vests with the <strong>Central Vigilance Commission.</strong></li>
<li>The Director of CBI has been provided security of <strong>two-year tenure</strong> in office by the <strong>CVC Act, 2003.</strong></li>
</ul>
</div>
<p><a href="https://pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=1584209" 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/national-conference-on-cybercrime-investigation-and-forensics'
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