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Winter Grade Fuel in Ladakh

The winter-grade diesel was launched to address the problem of loss of fuel during extreme winter conditions. Motorists in high-altitude areas of...

23 Nov 2019 News Analysis
Organic Food Regulatory System in India

Why in News The Union Minister for Commerce and Industry informed about the existent organic food regulatory system in the country during the winter...

23 Nov 2019 News Analysis
Bougainville

Why in News On November 23, the people of Bougainville (a small South Pacific island), will vote for a referendum to gain independence from Papua...

23 Nov 2019 News Analysis
Subsidies in Higher Education

This article is based on “Should we do away with subsidies for higher education?” which was published in The Hindu on 22/11/2019. It...

22 Nov 2019 News Editorials
The Big Picture - Drinking Water: Quality & Challenges

According to the Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution, Mumbai residents need not buy reverse osmosis (RO) water purifiers as...

22 Nov 2019 Lok Sabha & Rajya Sabha Discussions
Avian Botulism at Sambhar Lake

Why in News The Indian Veterinary Research Institute (IVRI), Uttar Pradesh has confirmed avian botulism as the reason for mass mortality of birds,...

22 Nov 2019 News Analysis
Steps to Curb Abuse of Synthetic Drugs

Why in News To deal with the problem of abuse of synthetic drugs and New Psychotropic Substances (NPS), the government is considering generic...

22 Nov 2019 News Analysis
RERA Act, 2016

For...

22 Nov 2019 Paper 2
Spyware Pegasus

This article is based on “In WhatsApp breach, follow the money trail” which was published in The Hindu on 02/11/2019. It talks about...

21 Nov 2019 News Editorials
World Conference on Access to Medical Products

Why in News The 2019 World Conference on Access to Medical Products: Achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) 2030 was convened from...

21 Nov 2019 News Analysis
Monitoring Aerosol Optical Depth

The imager payload onboard ISRO’s weather satellites INSAT-3D & 3DR, is being used to monitor Aerosol Optical Depth (AOD). AOD is an...

21 Nov 2019 News Analysis
World Children’s Day

World Children’s Day is celebrated on 20th November each year to promote international togetherness and awareness among children worldwide, and...

21 Nov 2019 News Analysis
Resetting Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code

This article is based on “Reset the Code” that was published in The Indian Express on 20/11/2019. It talks about the Supreme Court...

20 Nov 2019 News Editorials
Srisailam Dam

Why in News Several floods in the region have created a need for repair and maintenance of the Srisailam dam. The Srisailam dam is constructed...

20 Nov 2019 News Analysis
West Bank Settlements

Why in News The United States has declared that it does not consider Israeli settlements on the West Bank a violation of international law. The...

20 Nov 2019 News Analysis
National Skills Study

Why in News According to a study conducted by the National Skill Development Corporation (NSDC), 7 crore additional individuals in the working-age...

20 Nov 2019 News Analysis
Maha Bodhi Temple Complex

Bhutan’s Foreign Minister recently visited Maha Bodhi Temple in Bodh Gaya, Bihar. The Maha Bodhi Temple Complex is one of the four holy...

20 Nov 2019 News Analysis
Road Accidents in India - 2018

Why in News The Ministry of Road Transport and Highways has released the annual report on Road Accidents in India. The report shows 53 crashes...

20 Nov 2019 News Analysis
Solar Eclipse

Why in News Cheruvathur in Kasaragod district, Kerala is one of the three places in the world where the solar eclipse will be most clearly seen on...

20 Nov 2019 News Analysis
New Sri Lanka Leadership

This article is based on “Towards a Colombo Reset” which was published in Indian Express on 19/11/2019. It talks about the implications...

19 Nov 2019 News Editorials

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			'title' => 'Winter Grade Fuel in Ladakh',
			'catname' => 'News Analysis',
			'desc' => '<p>The <strong>winter-grade diesel</strong> was launched to address<strong> the problem of loss of fuel during extreme winter conditions.</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Motorists in high-altitude areas of Ladakh face the problem of <strong>freezing of diesel</strong> in their vehicles when <strong>winter temperatures drop to as low as minus 30-degree celsius.</strong></li>
<li>The <strong>special winter-grade diesel</strong> is developed by the <strong>Indian Oil Corporation Limited (IOCL).</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>It has a <strong>pour point of minus 33-degree celsius</strong> and<strong> does not lose its fluidity</strong> even in the region&rsquo;s extreme winter weather unlike normal grade diesel, which is difficult to use in sub-zero temperatures.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>The pour point of a liquid is the temperature <strong>below which the liquid loses its flow characteristics.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>It also meets <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/bureau-of-indian-standards-bis-act-2016" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS)</strong></a> specification of <a href="/loksabha-rajyasabha-discussions/in-depth-bs-vi-emission-norms" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>BS-VI</strong></a> <strong>grade.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>The special winter-grade diesel will help <strong>to reduce</strong> the hardships faced by the local people for transportation and mobility during the harsh winter months.</li>
<li>It will further <strong>facilitate the local economy</strong> as well as <strong>tourism</strong> in the region.</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>BS-VI</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Bharat stage norms</strong> are <strong>emission control standards</strong> put in place by the government to keep a <strong>check on air pollution</strong> based on the <strong>European regulations (Euro norms).</strong></li>
<li>These standards set limits the release of air pollutants from equipment using internal combustion engines, including vehicles.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The higher the stage, the more stringent norms.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>BS VI&rsquo;s key improvement in fuel quality over BS IV include,</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Lower Sulphur Content:</strong> It has lowered <strong>sulphur content of 10 parts per million (ppm).</strong> Sulphur in fuel contributes to fine particulate matter emissions.</li>
<li><strong>Harmful Hydrocarbon:</strong> It seeks to <strong>reduce the level of certain harmful hydrocarbons</strong> in the emissions that are produced due to incomplete combustion of fuel.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</div>
<p><a href="https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/amit-shah-launches-special-winter-grade-diesel-for-ladakh/article29998652.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/winter-grade-fuel-in-ladakh'
		],
		(int) 1 => [
			'title' => 'Organic Food Regulatory System in India',
			'catname' => 'News Analysis',
			'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>The Union Minister for Commerce and Industry informed about the <strong>existent organic food regulatory system in the country</strong> during the winter parliamentary session (2019).</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><a href="/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-national-institutions/food-safety-and-standards-authority-of-india-fssai" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI)</strong></a> is the <strong>food regulator</strong> in the country and is also responsible for <strong>regulating organic food in the domestic market and imports.</strong></li>
<li>FSSAI had notified the existing certification system through <strong>Food Safety and Standards (Organic Foods) Regulations in 2017.</strong></li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Organic Food</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Organic farm produce</strong> means the produce obtained from <strong>organic agriculture,</strong> while <strong>organic food</strong> means food products that have been produced in accordance with <strong>specified standards for organic production.</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>According to FSSAI,<strong>&rsquo;organic agriculture&rsquo;</strong> is a system of farm design and management to create an ecosystem of agriculture production without the use of synthetic external inputs such as chemical fertilisers, pesticides and synthetic hormones or genetically modified organisms.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</div>
<h3>Existing Certification Systems</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>National Programme for Organic Production (NPOP)</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>NPOP grants <strong>organic farming certification</strong> through a process of <strong>third party certification.</strong></li>
<li>It involves the<strong> accreditation programme</strong> for Certification Bodies, standards for organic production, promotion of organic farming etc.</li>
<li>It is implemented by <a href="/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-national-institutions/apeda-trifed" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA)</strong></a>, <strong>Ministry of Commerce and Industry.</strong></li>
<li>The <strong>NPOP standards</strong> for production and accreditation system have been<strong> recognized</strong> by the <strong>European Commission, Switzerland</strong> and <strong>USA</strong> as equivalent to their respective accreditation systems.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Participatory Guarantee System for India (PGS)</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>PGS is another process of <strong>certifying organic products.</strong></li>
<li>The certification is in the form of a <strong>documented logo or a statement.</strong></li>
<li>It is implemented by the <strong>Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers&rsquo; Welfare.</strong></li>
<li>The organic <strong>farmers have full control over the certification process.</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>PGS certification is <strong>only for farmers or communities</strong> that can organise and perform as a <strong>group. Individual farmers</strong> or groups of farmers smaller than five members are <strong>not covered</strong> under PGS.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>PGS is applicable on <strong>on-farm activities</strong> comprising of crop production, processing and livestock rearing, etc.</li>
<li><strong>Off-farm processing activities</strong> such as storage, transport and value addition activities by persons/agencies other than PGS farmers away from the group are<strong> not covered under PGS.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>Organic foods are also required to comply with the requirements of <strong>labelling of FSSAI</strong> in addition to that of NPOP or PGS-India.</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="https://pib.gov.in/PressReleseDetail.aspx?PRID=1593103" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Source:PIB</strong></a></p>',
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			'url' => 'https://www.drishtiias.com/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/organic-food-regulatory-system-in-india'
		],
		(int) 2 => [
			'title' => 'Bougainville',
			'catname' => 'News Analysis',
			'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>On November 23, the people of <strong>Bougainville</strong> (a small South Pacific island), will vote for a referendum to gain independence from Papua New Guinea. If the referendum is passed, Bougainville would become the <strong>world&rsquo;s newest and possibly the smallest independent country.</strong></p>
<h3>Background</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Bougainville is currently a province of <strong>Papua New Guinea-</strong> one of the most populous Pacific island states. It forms the part of the <strong>Solomon Islands archipelago.</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Bougainville has a population of around 300,000 people comprising of <strong>21 distinct language groups.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1574491941_image1.png" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1574491941_image1.png" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="632" height="243" caption="false" /></strong></a></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>In the late 1970s, a <strong>decentralized system</strong> of provincial government was introduced in Bougainville. The current autonomy arrangements were implemented following the constitutional enactment of the <strong>Bougainville Peace Agreement.</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The <strong>Bougainville Peace Agreement,</strong> signed in 2001, brought <strong>autonomy and an end to the violent conflict</strong> between the people of Bougainville and the government of Papua New Guinea.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Issues Leading to Referendum</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The subsequent dissatisfaction among Bougainvilleans over implementation of the agreed arrangements for Bougainville autonomy (2001), particularly in regard to the constitutionally guaranteed financial grants was the major bone of contention. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The Autonomy Bougainville Government (ABG) was legally entitled to the financial grants but the Papua New Guinea National Government did not provide the same in accordance with the ABG&rsquo;s calculations.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>Also, the historic <strong>plunder of the resource-rich island</strong> and the <strong>unequal distribution of wealth</strong> that followed was the major issue. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Bougainville has <strong>large deposits of copper.</strong></li>
<li>The<strong> Panguna mine</strong> (also known as the <strong>Bougainville Copper Mine</strong>) holds some of the world&rsquo;s largest reserves of copper. It is the <strong>world&rsquo;s largest open-cut copper mine.</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>The export of copper extracted from the Panguna mine contributed significantly to Papua New Guinea&rsquo;s economy.</li>
<li>The mine also <strong>created job opportunities</strong> for people from Papua New Guinea and Australia, leading to conflicts with Bougainvilleans who reported cases of discrimination and racism at the hands of foreigner mine workers.</li>
<li>Mining activities over the years also caused <strong>environmental degradation</strong> of Bougainville&rsquo;s lands and water.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Way Forward</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The referendum is not binding and would still have to be passed by the Government and the Parliament of Papua New Guinea, in consultation with the Autonomous Bougainville Government before a final decision is made.</li>
<li>If Bougainville becomes independent, the immediate steps would involve putting in place the law and order, economic opportunities, and access to education.</li>
<li>If the referendum is passed it will have implications on countries like Australia, New Zealand, and China in general, and other provinces of Papua New Guinea in specific. The stability of the region of which Bougainville is part is clearly important to Australia and other nations.</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="https://indianexpress.com/article/explained/bougainville-explained-how-the-worlds-newest-country-might-bloom-out-of-protests-against-a-copper-mine-6132284/" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Source: IE</strong></a></p>',
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			'url' => 'https://www.drishtiias.com/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/bougainville'
		],
		(int) 3 => [
			'title' => 'Subsidies in Higher Education',
			'catname' => 'News Editorials',
			'desc' => '<div class="border">
<p>This article is based on <a href="https://www.thehindu.com/opinion/op-ed/should-we-do-away-with-subsidies-for-higher-education/article30041719.ece" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>&ldquo;Should we do away with subsidies for higher education?&rdquo;</strong></a> which was published in The Hindu on 22/11/2019. It talks about the impact and challenges of subsidies in higher education in India.</p>
</div>
<p>Recently, the proposed fees hike of residential hostels in Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) has sparked a widespread protest and controversy over subsidies in higher education.</p>
<p>Almost more than a <strong>fifth</strong> of the population is below official poverty limits and<strong> 93%</strong> of the workforce is engaged in the unorganised sector, subsidized education provides access to quality education to the poor. Subsidies in education generate a host of positive externalities such as health improvement, reduction in poverty, crime and population growth. It directly or indirectly influences almost all facets of social life, and therefore should be viewed as a non-negotiable public good and by far the most potent social investment.</p>
<h3>Advantages of Subsidies in Higher Education</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Inclusiveness and Equity:</strong> Subsidies in higher education have enabled the marginalised and socio-economically backward sections of the society to get access to quality higher education which has largely been the domain of socially dominant groups in the society. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Inclusiveness and equity are very important characteristics of a good public institution. And, over the years, this has actually increased in public institutions and that is entirely because of subsidy.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Economic:</strong> Subsidized education plays a significant role in <strong>building an economy</strong> as in the case of India. Students engaged with research and specialized education go on to become better contributors to the economy. Higher education boosts innovation, creative thinking and innovations.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>For Example: </strong>Software segment which comprises a huge share in India&rsquo;s GDP is a shining example of positive externalities from subsidies in higher education.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Demographic Dividends:</strong> India is one of the youngest nations in the world comprising a huge chunk of population in favourable demographic phase. However, this young population's educational and skill status is not aligned with the requirements of the market. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Therefore, subsidies in the higher education sector have a greater role to play in reaping the benefits of demographic dividends.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Social Mobility:</strong> Earlier, higher education used to be the exclusive preserve of elites, and other socially and economically backward classes were deprived of higher education. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>But due to the efforts made by the government (in the form of subsidies and other benefits) to make it within the reach of every social group, a large number of poor and the marginalised have to begin to express their aspirations for social mobility through access to higher public education institutions.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Human Capital:</strong> The country has developed a wide network of institutions like CSIR, IITs and Central Universities which provide <strong>quality subsidized education</strong> to the masses. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>These institutions have become the nucleus of providing<strong> trained workforce</strong> in propelling research and development and economic growth in the country.</li>
<li>Students of all sections of society from these institutions went on to occupy the higher positions in government in forms of engineers, doctors, bureaucrats etc.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Liberalisation and Higher Education in India</strong></p>
<p>In the post-liberalisation era, public expenditure in higher education went through a period of stagnation in real terms, and the per-student public expenditure actually declined dramatically. All this happened while private higher education saw a phase of impressive expansion. So, while the overall intake of students in higher education increased considerably in the post-liberalisation era, a large proportion of this expansion was accounted for by expanding the private sector. Growth in national income did not result in an increase in public expenditure on education as a whole. It kind of stagnated. Within the education sector as a whole, there was a shift in the focus of funding in the 1990s from higher education to primary education.</p>
</div>
<h3>Problem with Subsidies in Higher Education in India</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Free Riders:</strong> Subsidies are intended to serve the vulnerable section of society. However, it is often seen that these benefits of subsidies are exploited by the middle and elite sections of society.</li>
<li><strong>Subsidies do not guarantee quality education:</strong> Access without assured quality is no access. Also, there has been a lot of clamour that subsidies hamper meritocracy.</li>
<li><strong>Unevenness in the distribution of subsidies:</strong> There is considerable unevenness in the distribution of public finances. Student subsidies for premier institutions like the IITs and engineering colleges are incomparably higher than those for universities and colleges, particularly for liberal arts institutions.</li>
<li><strong>Privatisation:</strong> Private institutions are generally not likely to be amenable to measures promoting access and equity. Therefore, a large number of private education institutions remain inaccessible to economy weaker sections.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Way Forward</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Better Targeting:</strong> According to a study conducted by <strong>Gokhale Institute,</strong> benefits can be skewed in the absence of regulation. Therefore, eliminating free riders is the biggest challenge in the dissemination of subsidies. Technological improvement like Aadhar, direct benefit transfer can be used to eliminate inclusion and exclusion errors.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The<strong> third-party verifications of the beneficiary</strong> will help in eliminating the free riders.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Differential Fee Structure:</strong> Rationalisation of fee structure according to the demand of programmes based on marketability, affordability and input cost and according to different income groups could pave the way for optimal utilization of subsidies. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Providing free or subsidized higher education to students from lower-income groups could pave the way for a more equitable and just society.</li>
<li>Some large public universities should now approach the 20% mark as recommended by the Punnayya Committee and National Knowledge Commission.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Regulatory Mechanism:</strong> A proper <strong>regulatory mechanism</strong> should be placed in order to make private institutions in line with the government's goal of making higher education accessible and affordable to vulnerable sections.</li>
<li><strong>Per-student public funds</strong> have to increase drastically in order to maintain the principle of equity and inclusiveness.</li>
</ul>
<p>Education is one of those genuinely long-term businesses. A public effort is needed to frame a different management style, better autonomy, and accountability. Subsidies can help in improving access to higher education and bridge socio-economic divides across communities in the country. However, these can be rationalised in order to reap optimum benefits.</p>
<table border="1" style="border-collapse: collapse; width: 100%;">
<tbody>
<tr>
<td style="width: 100%; border-style: dotted; border-color: #ff002f; background-color: #f5f2cb;"><span style="color: #000080;"><em><strong>Drishti Inputs</strong></em></span><br /><br />Explain the significance of subsidies in providing quality education to vulnerables.</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>',
			'postdate' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenTime) {},
			'url' => 'https://www.drishtiias.com/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/subsidies-in-higher-education'
		],
		(int) 4 => [
			'title' => 'The Big Picture - Drinking Water: Quality & Challenges',
			'catname' => 'Lok Sabha & Rajya Sabha Discussions',
			'desc' => '<p style="text-align: center;"><iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/-bHVnAfZuA0" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe></p>
<p>According to the Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution, Mumbai residents need not buy reverse osmosis (RO) water purifiers as samples of tap water collected from the Mumbai are compliant with the Indian standards for drinking water.</p>
<p>However, other metro cities of Delhi, Kolkata and Chennai failed in almost 10 out of 11 quality parameters tested by the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS). Similar is the condition in the majority of other state capitals.</p>
<h3>Nature of Water Crisis</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>According to <strong><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/solution-to-indias-water-crisis" target="_blank" rel="noopener">NITI Aayog's Composite Water Management Index 2018,&nbsp;</a></strong>21 major cities (Delhi, Bengaluru, Chennai, Hyderabad and others) are racing to reach zero groundwater levels by 2020, affecting access for 100 million people.<a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/solution-to-indias-water-crisis" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong></strong></a></li>
<li>India ranks 120 among 122 countries on the Water Quality Index released by WaterAid.</li>
<li>The national capital region of India is facing a double whammy, not only it harbours poor standards of air <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/health-emergency-in-new-delhi" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>(air emergency)</strong> </a>but poor water quality also.</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Drishti Input:</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>According to the data released by the World Resources Institute, India is ranked 13<sup>th</sup> among the 17 most water-stressed countries of the world.</li>
<li>According to the Ministry of Urban Development, 80% of India's surface water is polluted.</li>
<li>This signifies India is going through Water emergency.</li>
</ul>
</div>
<h3>Causes of Poor Drinking Water Quality</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>In the name of water purification, most of the times water is <strong>chlorinated.</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Chlorination only kills bacteria &amp; other microorganisms but dissolved salts, alkalinity, toxic metals in water can't be eliminated by chlorination.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>The pipes which carry the water, <strong>are old and leaking.</strong> This leakages in pipes lead to contamination of water.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Moreover, the water supply line &amp; sewerage line running side by side.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>In metropolitan cities, <strong>the demand for water is higher than the supply.</strong> Therefore, this deficit in the water supply is compensated by the mixing of surface water &amp; groundwater.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>However, groundwater is severely contaminated by carcinogenic pollutants like Arsenic.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>Water is a<strong> state subject.</strong> This lead to the problem of coordination between Union, State and Local government.</li>
<li><strong>Rapid urbanization</strong> has led the unequal distribution of water, contamination/ depletion of local water bodies due to pollution.</li>
<li>Sometimes the places from where water samples are collected, may not reflect the true state of water quality.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Effects of Poor Drinking Water</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Harmful health impacts:</strong> Nearly 70% of the diseases in India are waterborne. Therefore, poor water quality is a great health hazard.</li>
<li><strong>Economic cost:</strong> Poor drinking water will lead to a reduction in tourist inflow.</li>
<li><strong>Domino effect:</strong> Result of poor drinking water is the prime reason for the sale of plastic bottled drinking water. However, this bottled water gives rise to plastic pollution.</li>
<li><strong>Wasting resources:</strong> RO is expensive and for 1 litre of RO or bottled water, many litres of water wasted.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Also, the RO water is deprived of essential minerals and salts.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Social effect:</strong> With the given condition of the water crisis, it is less likely to fulfil the target of providing everyone with safe drinking water (Sustainable Development Goal number 6).</li>
</ul>
<h3>Way Forward</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Data based support system:</strong> Water quality should be tested frequently and the findings should be made public.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>This will increase involvement, sensitization &amp; awareness of citizens, service providers and the government.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Mandatory compliance:</strong> Compliance to Bureau of Indian Standards for water quality should be made mandatory for local bodies.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>This can make municipalities and other local bodies accountable.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Pricing for water:</strong> Water can be priced for well-off sections of society so that proper maintenance cost should be recovered.</li>
<li><strong>Better management:</strong> Long-distance pipelines of water should be discouraged and water treatment should be made more localized.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Also, efforts should be made to find out the sites of continuation in the supply line.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Technological solution:</strong> Up-gradation of the water treatment plant to remove toxic inorganic pollutants and dissolved solids.</li>
<li><strong>Rainwater harvesting:</strong> The reason why Mumbai's water is relatively safer because it is sourced from rainwater (the purest source of water).<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Therefore, rainwater harvesting should be encouraged to the maximum extent possible.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Next step for Jal Jeevan mission:</strong> The government's effort to provide<strong> piped water to all rural households by 2024</strong> under the Jal Jeevan mission, is a step in the right direction. However, providing quality piped water will be a big challenge.</li>
</ul>',
			'postdate' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenTime) {},
			'url' => 'https://www.drishtiias.com/loksabha-rajyasabha-discussions/the-big-picture-drinking-water-quality-challenges'
		],
		(int) 5 => [
			'title' => 'Avian Botulism at Sambhar Lake',
			'catname' => 'News Analysis',
			'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>The Indian Veterinary Research Institute (IVRI), Uttar Pradesh has confirmed <strong>avian botulism</strong> as the reason for<strong> mass mortality of birds,</strong> at <strong>Sambhar Lake</strong> in <strong>Rajasthan.</strong></p>
<h3>Avian Botulism</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The avian botulism is a <strong>neuro-muscular illness</strong> caused by <strong>Botulinum (natural toxin)</strong> that is produced by a <strong>bacteria &mdash; Clostridium botulinum.</strong></li>
<li>The bacteria is <strong>commonly found</strong> in the <strong>soil, rivers, and seawater.</strong> It affects <strong>both humans and animals.</strong></li>
<li>The bacteria also need <strong>anaerobic (absence of oxygen)</strong> conditions and <strong>do not grow</strong> in <strong>acidic conditions.</strong></li>
<li>It affects the <strong>nervous system</strong> of birds, leading to <strong>paralysis in their legs and wings.</strong></li>
<li>The outbreaks of avian botulism tend to occur when <strong>average temperatures are above 21 degrees celsius, and during droughts.</strong></li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Sambhar Lake<a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1574410837_drishtiias_Sambharlake.JPG" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1574410837_drishtiias_Sambharlake.JPG" style="float: right;" width="227" height="225" caption="false" /></a></strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li style="text-align: left;">The Sambhar Salt Lake is India's<strong> largest inland saltwater body</strong> located near Jaipur in Rajasthan.</li>
<li>The lake is <strong>surrounded</strong> on <strong>all sides by the Aravali hills.&nbsp;</strong></li>
<li>It is the source of most of <strong>Rajasthan's salt production.</strong></li>
<li>Sambhar has been designated as a <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/world-wetlands-day" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Ramsar site</strong></a> <strong>(recognized wetland of international importance)</strong> because the wetland is a key wintering area for tens of thousands of flamingos and other birds that migrate from northern Asia.</li>
</ul>
</div>
<h3>Mass Mortality at Sambhar Lake</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The <strong>possible causes</strong> for avian botulism at Sambhar lake are:<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Reduced water levels:</strong> This might have <strong>increased</strong> salinity levels leading to the <strong>death of living organisms.</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>The decaying plant or animal materials are capable of <strong>hosting the bacteria for a longer period of time.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>A bird-to-bird cycle:</strong> Since only insectivorous and omnivorous birds were affected and not herbivores, the birds feeding on dead birds could have been a possible cause of such mortality.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>The <strong>possibility of external factors</strong> like water pollution and eutrophication are <strong>ruled out</strong> as <strong>no farming</strong> is being carried out in the <strong>vicinity of sambhar lake.</strong></li>
</ul>
<h3>Way Forward</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Sambhar Lake is <strong>not the first instance</strong> where deaths due to botulism have been recorded. 7,000 water birds died in Lake Michigan in 2007 and 2008. In Hawaii, the toxin killed around 183 Laysan Ducks in 2008.</li>
<li>The botulism outbreaks are <strong>likely to become more frequent as climate change</strong> alters wetland conditions to favour bacteria and pathogens.</li>
<li>Thus, the <strong>establishment of rescue and medical centres</strong> along with the mitigation of <strong>climate change</strong> need to be considered by the government as a <strong>precautionary measure</strong> for the future.</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/other-states/avian-botulism-reason-for-bird-deaths/article30043219.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/avian-botulism-at-sambhar-lake'
		],
		(int) 6 => [
			'title' => 'Steps to Curb Abuse of Synthetic Drugs',
			'catname' => 'News Analysis',
			'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>To deal with the problem of <strong>abuse of synthetic drugs and New Psychotropic Substances (NPS),</strong> the government is considering generic scheduling of drugs to replace the practice of substance-by-substance scheduling.</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Apart from this, the Narco Coordination Centre (NCORD) discussed the issue of large scale heroin trafficking from neighbouring countries, the diversion and abuse of pharmaceutical preparations, and poppy (Opium) cultivation in the country.</li>
</ul>
<h3>New Psychoactive Substances</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>NPS are defined as &ldquo;substances of abuse, either in a pure form or a preparation, that are not controlled by the United Nations drug conventions but which may pose a public health threat&rdquo;.</li>
<li>NPS are also known as &ldquo;legal highs&rdquo;, &ldquo;bath salts&rdquo; and &ldquo;research chemicals&rdquo;. For clarity, the <a href="/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-international-institution/united-nations-1" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC)</strong></a> uses the term &ldquo;New Psychoactive Substances&rdquo;.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The term &ldquo;new&rdquo; does not necessarily refer to new inventions. Several NPS were first synthesized 40 years ago but the term &ldquo;new&rdquo; is used since they have recently become available in the market.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>NPS have similar effects as substances under international control such as cannabis, cocaine, heroin, Lysergic Acid Diethylamide (LSD), ecstasy (methamphetamine or MDMA).</li>
<li>Since NPS are not controlled under the International Drug Control Conventions, their legal status can differ widely from country to country. <strong>Eg.:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Several countries where a large number of different NPS has rapidly emerged have adopted controls on entire substance groups of NPS using <strong>generic approach,</strong> or have<strong> introduced analogue (similar) legislation</strong> that invokes the principal of <strong>chemical similarity</strong> (i.e. drugs having similar narcotic/hallucinogenic effect with slight variations in chemical/structural composition) to an already controlled substance, so as to control substances that are not explicitly mentioned in the legislation.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Generic Scheduling of Drugs</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Generic scheduling of drugs<strong> provides flexibility to the government</strong> to regulate <strong>other substances (analogue) or a defined group of substances (generic)</strong> which are not explicitly mentioned in the legislation, but which share some similarities with the controlled substances in terms of structure, effects, or both without appealing to a legislative reform.</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) was established in 1997.</li>
<li>It acts as the Office for Drug Control and Crime Prevention by combining the United Nations International Drug Control Program (UNDCP) and the Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice Division of the United Nations Office at <strong>Vienna.</strong></li>
<li>It was named the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime in 2002.</li>
<li>UNODC publishes <strong>World Drug Report.</strong></li>
</ul>
</div>
<h3>India and the Issue of Drug Trafficking</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>National Security:</strong> India is vulnerable to narcotic drug trafficking as it is located between two largest Opium producing regions of the world, i.e., Golden Crescent in the west and Golden Triangle in the east. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Golden Crescent region of South Asia&mdash;</strong>comprising of <strong>Afghanistan, Iran, and Pakistan&mdash;</strong>is a principal global site for opium production and distribution.</li>
<li><strong>Golden Triangle</strong> represents the region coinciding with the rural mountains of <strong>Myanmar, Laos, and Thailand.</strong> It is Southeast Asia&rsquo;s main opium-producing region and one of the oldest narcotics supply routes to Europe and North America.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Social Issue:</strong> Drug abuse and misuse is a major threat to the society. It largely affects the youths who once involved in it, find it difficult to overcome. Drug abuse not only impact drug abusers&rsquo; lives but equally affect their families and the community at large.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment</strong> is responsible for spreading awareness regarding drug demand reduction and rehabilitation of drug addicts.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Constitutional Ethos: Article 47 of the Indian Constitution</strong> directs the State to endeavour to bring about prohibition of the consumption except for medicinal purposes of intoxicating drugs injurious to health.</li>
<li><strong>Legislative Provisions:</strong> The broad legislative policy is contained in the three Central Acts, viz., Drugs and Cosmetics Act, 1940, The Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act, 1985, and The Prevention of Illicit Traffic in Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act, 1988. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The Narcotics Control Bureau is the apex coordinating agency under the Ministry of Home Affairs constituted through the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act, 1985.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Global Conventions:</strong> India is a signatory to the Single Convention on Narcotic Drugs 1961, the Convention on Psychotropic Substances, 1971 and the United Nations Convention against Illicit Traffic in Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances, 1988.</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="https://indianexpress.com/article/india/govt-considers-generic-scheduling-of-drugs-to-curb-abuse-of-synthetic-drugs-6129494/" 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/steps-to-curb-abuse-of-synthetic-drugs'
		],
		(int) 7 => [
			'title' => 'RERA Act, 2016',
			'catname' => 'Paper 2',
			'desc' => '<p><a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1574403653_RERA%20Act, 2016 (Mind Map).png" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1574403653_RERA Act, 2016 (Mind Map).png" width="406" height="1445" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" /></a></p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><em><a href="/to-the-points/Paper2/rera-act-2016" target="_blank" rel="noopener">For TTP</a></em></p>',
			'postdate' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenTime) {},
			'url' => 'https://www.drishtiias.com/mind-map/gs-paper2/rera-act-2016-mind-map'
		],
		(int) 8 => [
			'title' => 'Spyware Pegasus',
			'catname' => 'News Editorials',
			'desc' => '<div class="border">
<p>This article is based on <a href="https://www.thehindu.com/opinion/op-ed/in-whatsapp-breach-follow-the-money-trail/article29857259.ece" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>&ldquo;In WhatsApp breach, follow the money trail&rdquo;</strong></a> which was published in The Hindu on 02/11/2019. It talks about the Spyware Pegasus.</p>
</div>
<p>The recent digital security breach by a spyware called <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/pegasus-1" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Pegasus</strong></a> compromised phones of multiple activists, journalists and lawyers in India. The spyware was able to track multiple user applications like messages, emails, audio calls, browser history, contacts including end-to-end encrypted data. The whole incident brought forward the issue of digital security and the ways to achieve it with minimum loopholes.</p>
<h3>Key Highlights</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The phones of affected people were reportedly <strong>compromised by using a vulnerability in WhatsApp</strong> which allowed the <strong>Pegasus spyware software</strong> to be <strong>installed,</strong> by initiating a WhatsApp voice call with the target.</li>
<li>This specific vulnerability in WhatsApp has <strong>now been mended.</strong></li>
<li>The <strong>Indian government has sought an explanation from WhatsApp</strong> after it was revealed that Indian citizens were spied upon using Pegasus.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Pegasus</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>It is a spyware developed by the<strong> Israeli cyber arms firm NSO Group Technologies.</strong></li>
<li>It mainly uses<strong> exploit links,</strong> clicking on which installs Pegasus on the target&rsquo;s phone.</li>
<li><strong>Citizen Lab</strong> which has investigated several cases of Pegasus infections showed through its research that<strong> social engineering is a very common strategy</strong> to deliver the most sophisticated spyware.</li>
<li>Pegasus does so by <strong>exploiting vulnerabilities in the phone&rsquo;s operating systems (OS).</strong></li>
<li><strong>Lookout,</strong> which is a cybersecurity company, had <strong>partnered with Citizen Lab</strong> to <strong>investigate Pegasus</strong> and found that it had exploited three zero-day vulnerabilities in iOS to successfully attain all the user access of the phone.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>A <strong>zero-day vulnerability</strong> is a flaw in a software or hardware that is previously unknown to the party responsible.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>In WhatsApp case, a <strong>specially crafted call</strong> was used to trigger a buffer overflow, which in turn was <strong>used to take control of the device.</strong></li>
<li>Pegasus is <strong>state-of-the-art spyware </strong>and <strong>NSO charges an exorbitant sum for its product and services.</strong></li>
</ul>
<h3>Challenges</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Multiple ways and various technologies</strong> like social engineering, exploiting user apps and then using the vulnerabilities make this issue hard to solve.</li>
<li>The Google Play Store and the Apple App store have thousands of apps with <strong>undiscovered vulnerabilities</strong> that could potentially be exploited by firms such as NSO to target individual users.</li>
<li>By mainly targeting WhatsApp only the <strong>focus is shifted from other potential means</strong> through which it can be used further and leave a far bigger impact.</li>
<li><strong>Lack of awareness and specialists in digital security</strong> makes this a vulnerable sector.</li>
<li><strong>Terrorists and other anti-social elements</strong> have started using more of cyberspace which provides them with more getaways.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Solutions</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Users</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>It is important to keep the <strong>phone updated for ensuring the security</strong> of the devices, both the applications and the firmware.</li>
<li>It is necessary to be <strong>self-aware about digital security</strong> because compromise in that could lead to a situation of total surveillance.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Government</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>It needs to <strong>investigate into the matter</strong> so that such future incidents can be prevented.</li>
<li>It should make <strong>stricter rules and restrictions for the applications</strong> made available in the country and monitor the most commonly used applications without breaching the privacy of the individuals.</li>
<li><a href="/to-the-points/paper3/cyber-security" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Laws</strong> </a>on digital privacy and security need to be implemented more strictly.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Digital literacy</strong> should be increased to spread <strong>awareness about cyber threats.</strong></li>
<li><strong>Computing environment</strong> and<strong> Internet of Things</strong>&nbsp;(It is a network of physical devices, vehicles, home appliances and other items embedded with electronics, software, sensors, actuators and connectivity which enables these things to connect, collect and exchange data) with current tools, patches, updates need to be secured.</li>
<li><a href="/loksabha-rajyasabha-discussions/in-depth-artificial-intelligence" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Artificial Intelligence (AI)</strong></a> should be used for predicting and accurately identifying digital attacks and breaches.</li>
</ul>
<p>The need of the hour for the Indian government is to develop core skills in data integrity and data security fields, while also setting stringent cybersecurity standards to protect individuals and institutions of national importance, to make sure that the unity of the nation and the integrity of the individuals stay safe and secure.</p>
<table border="1" style="border-collapse: collapse; width: 100%;">
<tbody>
<tr>
<td style="width: 100%; border-style: dotted; border-color: #ff0000; background-color: #fffcd4;">
<p><span style="color: #0000ff;"><em><strong>Drishti Mains Question</strong></em></span></p>
<p>In light of the recent issue regarding Spyware Pegasus, examine the privacy and security concerns for India. Also, suggest a suitable way forward.</p>
</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>',
			'postdate' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenTime) {},
			'url' => 'https://www.drishtiias.com/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/spyware-pegasus'
		],
		(int) 9 => [
			'title' => 'World Conference on Access to Medical Products',
			'catname' => 'News Analysis',
			'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>The 2019 World Conference on Access to Medical Products: Achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) 2030 was convened from 19<sup>th</sup>-21<sup>st</sup> November in New Delhi.</p>
<h3>Background</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>It was <strong>jointly organized</strong> by the <strong>Ministry of Health &amp; Family Welfare</strong> and the <a href="/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-international-institution/world-health-organization-who" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>World Health Organization</strong></a> in <strong>collaboration with</strong> the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR), Biotechnology Industry Research Assistance Council (BIRAC), and Translational Health Science and Technology Institute (THSTI).</li>
<li>The 2019 Conference was the third such gathering after the 2017 and 2018 World Conference on Access to Medical Products organized in November 2017 and October 2018 by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Government of India.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>It sought to take forward the international and national agenda on <strong>access to medical products.</strong></li>
<li>The <strong>objectives</strong> of the conference were:<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>UHC and Innovation:</strong> Explore new approaches in the innovation landscape in medical products for achieving Universal Health Coverage (UHC) and the SDG 2030 goals.</li>
<li><strong>Regulation of medical products and access:</strong> Identify regulatory mechanisms for improved access to quality and safe medical products.</li>
<li><strong>Legal landscape and trade-related aspects:</strong> Discuss the role of intellectual property and current trade agreements to promote access to medical products.</li>
<li>To track the progress of recommendations from the 2018 World Conference on Access to Medical Products for achieving UHC in the context of SDGs.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Note:</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><a href="/loksabha-rajyasabha-discussions/in-depth-indias-sustainable-development-goals" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Sustainable Development Goal-3</strong></a> (SDG 3)- <strong>Good Health and Well-being</strong> aims at ensuring healthy lives and promote well-being for all at all ages.</li>
<li>Health finds mention in many of the 17 SDGs, as each has a direct or indirect bearing on health.</li>
</ul>
</div>
<p><a href="https://pib.gov.in/PressReleseDetailm.aspx?PRID=1592148" 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/world-conference-on-access-to-medical-products'
		],
		(int) 10 => [
			'title' => 'Monitoring Aerosol Optical Depth',
			'catname' => 'News Analysis',
			'desc' => '<p>The imager payload onboard ISRO&rsquo;s weather satellites <strong>INSAT-3D &amp; 3DR,</strong> is being used to monitor Aerosol Optical Depth (AOD).</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>AOD is an indicator of particles and smoke from biomass</strong> burning affecting visibility and increase of PM2.5 and PM10 concentration in the atmosphere.</li>
<li>It has been found that <strong>AOD, PM2.5 and PM10 concentrations are higher over Indo-Gangetic Plain</strong> covering parts of Delhi, Uttar Pradesh and Bihar during October and November.</li>
<li>High concentration of these pollutants originate from parts of Punjab and Haryana during stubble burning.</li>
<li>Fire occurrences have increased by 4% over Punjab and Haryana region during October- November between 2003 and 2017.</li>
<li>ISRO has been using satellite data since 2015 to monitor<strong> stubble burning and to generate</strong> the maps of stubble burned area in Kharif season.</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Note:</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Aerosol Optical Depth</strong> is a measure of the extinction of the solar beam by dust and haze.</li>
<li>Particles in the atmosphere (dust, smoke, pollution) can block sunlight by absorbing or by scattering light. AOD tells us how much direct sunlight is prevented from reaching the ground by these aerosol particles.</li>
</ul>
</div>
<h3>INSAT-3D &amp; 3DR satellites</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>India gets weather updates every 15 minutes through INSAT-3D &amp; 3DR weather satellites.</li>
<li>INSAT 3DR was launched in 2016 as a follow up on INSAT-3D which was launched in 2013.</li>
</ul>',
			'postdate' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenTime) {},
			'url' => 'https://www.drishtiias.com/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/monitoring-aerosol-optical-depth'
		],
		(int) 11 => [
			'title' => 'World Children’s Day',
			'catname' => 'News Analysis',
			'desc' => '<p>World Children&rsquo;s Day is celebrated on <strong>20<sup>th</sup> November</strong> each year to promote international togetherness and awareness among children worldwide, and improve children's welfare.</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>20<sup>th</sup> November is an important date as:<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The <a href="/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-international-institution/united-nations-1" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>United Nations (UN) General Assembly</strong></a> adopted the <strong>Declaration of the Rights of the Child in 1959.</strong></li>
<li>The UN General Assembly adopted the <strong>Convention on the Rights of the Child </strong>in <strong>1989.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>To commemorate the 30<sup>th</sup> anniversary of the Convention on the Rights of the Child, the <a href="/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-international-institution/unicef-1" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>United Nation Children&rsquo;s Fund (UNICEF)</strong></a> undertook the <strong>'Go Blue' campaign</strong> wherein landmark buildings around the world lit up blue on 20<sup>th</sup> November 2019 to show support for child rights. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Indian Parliament</strong> was also part of the same.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Convention on the Rights of the Child</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>It is a treaty adopted by the United Nations General Assembly in <strong>1989.</strong></li>
<li>Under the Convention, every human being <strong>under 18</strong> years old is <strong>recognized as a child.</strong></li>
<li>It sets out the civil, political, economic, social and cultural rights of every child, regardless of their race, religion or abilities.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>It includes rights such as Right to Education, Right to Rest and Leisure, Right to Protection from Mental or Physical Abuse including Rape and Sexual Exploitation.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>It is the<strong> world&rsquo;s most widely ratified human rights treaty.</strong></li>
</ul>
</div>
<h3>Initiatives Taken by India</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>India</strong> celebrates <strong>Children&rsquo;s Day</strong> on <strong>14<sup>th</sup> November</strong> every year.</li>
<li>India <strong>ratified the Convention on the Rights of the Child</strong> in 1992.</li>
<li>The <strong>under-5 mortality rate has fallen</strong> significantly from the 1990 level of 117 per 1000 live births to <strong>39 in 2016.</strong></li>
<li>The number of <strong>children having access to drinking water</strong> has increased from 62% in 1992 to 92% in 2019.</li>
<li>The <strong>National Policy for Children, 2013</strong> was adopted to affirm the Government&rsquo;s commitment to a rights based approach in addressing the continuing and emerging challenges in the situation of children.</li>
<li><a href="/to-the-points/Paper2/right-to-education" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>The Right to Education Act 2009</strong></a>, has increased primary school attendance rates for girls from 61% to near universal in the same period.</li>
<li><strong>Prohibition of Child Marriage Act 2006</strong> saw prevalence of child marriage declining from 47% girls married before age 18 in 2005-2006, to 27% in 2015-2016.</li>
<li>With novel programmes and approaches like <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/important-facts-for-prelims-25th-january-2019" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Beti Bachao-Beti Padhao,</strong></a> child friendly schools, child budgets and <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/challenges-in-national-nutrition-mission" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>POSHAN Abhiyan,</strong></a> the States and the Union government are ensuring that children have adequate protection and opportunities for growth and development.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Way Forward</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The Government needs to <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/malnutrition-in-india-1" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>focus on the nutrition of children</strong></a> as presently 21% of children under age five years are wasted and 36% of children under age five years are underweight.</li>
<li>The Government also needs to ensure <strong>inclusive education</strong> by placing special focus on securing education to the more vulnerable differently abled children.</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="https://pib.gov.in/PressReleseDetail.aspx?PRID=1592515" 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/world-children-s-day'
		],
		(int) 12 => [
			'title' => 'Resetting Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code ',
			'catname' => 'News Editorials',
			'desc' => '<div class="border">
<p>This article is based on <a href="https://indianexpress.com/article/opinion/columns/essar-steel-case-insolvency-and-bankruptcy-code-rbi-6127721/" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>&ldquo;Reset the Code&rdquo;</strong></a> that was published in The Indian Express on 20/11/2019. It talks about the Supreme Court judgement on Essar Steel&rsquo;s bankruptcy and reasons why companies are turning away from Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code.</p>
</div>
<p>Recently, the Supreme Court of India gave a <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/essar-insolvency-case" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>judgement on Essar Steel&rsquo;s bankruptcy.</strong></a> The judgement has brought the rigour and momentum back into the <a href="/loksabha-rajyasabha-discussions/in-depth-insolvency-and-bankruptcy-code-act" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code (IBC)</strong></a> as an effective tool to deal with stressed assets in the economy.</p>
<p>The verdict has clarified on important aspects of insolvency resolution that had been interpreted in different ways by the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/important-fact-for-prelims-4th-march-2019-" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>National Company Law Tribunal</strong></a> and <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/national-company-law-appellate-tribunal-nclat" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>National Company Law Appellate Tribunal (NCLAT).</strong></a></p>
<p>However, there is growing scepticism against IBC, that is making companies resolve the bigger cases outside the IBC process.</p>
<h3>What is the judgement?</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>SC has upheld the <strong>primacy of financial creditors over operational creditors</strong> in the repayments waterfall (in the event of liquidation of assets under IBC).<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Financial creditors provide capital to an enterprise and their <strong>interests are secured</strong> in the form of collaterals on the firm&rsquo;s assets.</li>
<li>Operational creditors are the main suppliers of goods and services <strong>(unsecured creditors).</strong></li>
<li>SC held that operational creditors cannot claim equality or precedence over financial creditors.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>SC held that <strong>Committee of Creditors (CoC) is supreme</strong> when it comes to deciding on commercial issues, including the repayment waterfall, in an insolvency resolution.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The NCLAT sought to acquire the role of the Committee of Creditors (CoC) in an insolvency resolution.</li>
<li>Since CoC represents the lenders to the companies, therefore its interest will be of prime importance in resolution of a bad loan.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>These two clarifications should alone help in <strong>quickening a number of other cases,</strong> that are stuck in the insolvency courts across the country.</li>
</ul>
<p>In spite of these clarifications, many creditors companies seek to bypass the IBC process. <strong>Several factors have prompted this shift.</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Delay in IBC:</strong> Time-bound resolution process was one of the most appealing aspects of IBC. However, <strong>delays</strong> create little incentive for stakeholders to opt for this process.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Out of nearly 1,500 cases that are currently going through the resolution process, 36% have crossed 270 days, while another 22% have crossed 180 days.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Low Recovery rate:</strong> Barring a few cases, the recovery rates in IBC have not have been on expected lines.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The recovery rates under SARFAESI averaged around 33 %. In comparison, the recovery rate under IBC currently stands at 41 %.</li>
<li>However, the higher recovery rates are driven partly by the resolution of steel companies during a period that coincided with high global steel prices. Excluding steel, companies would significantly lower the recovery rates.</li>
<li>Also, recovery rates tend to be pro-cyclical (during high economic growth phases, businesses tend to be inclined to bid more for assets as expectations for higher returns).<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Due to slowing Indian economy, not only recovery rates were low in the cases resolved, but more than half of the cases closed so far have ended up in liquidation as there have been no buyers.</li>
<li>Thus, there is little incentive to resolve bad loans through IBC.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Administrative hurdle:</strong> Instances such as the enforcement directorate attaching property also make recovery process under IBC unprofitable.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Way Forward</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The provisioning norms for bad loans should be made more stringent to ensure banks have strong incentives to take companies through this process.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Provisioning</strong> is done to cover risk: Banks set aside money from profits to compensate a probable loss caused on <strong>lending </strong>a<strong> loan.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>There is a need for <strong>clarity on the role of promoters.</strong> As long as they are not willful defaulters and don&rsquo;t attract any other related disqualification, should be allowed to bid for their companies.</li>
<li>The<strong> strategy (Project Sashakt) proposed by Sunil Mehta Committee</strong> to resolve the bad loans must be implemented in letter and spirit.</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p>Project Sashakt was launched on the recommendations of <strong>Sunil Mehta Committee.</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Under the scheme, bad loans of up to ₹ 50 crores are required to be resolved within 90 days by the bank.</li>
<li>For loans of ₹ 50-500 crore, banks will have to enter into an intercreditor agreement, authorizing the lead bank to implement a resolution plan within 180 days, which includes appointing turnaround specialists.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>If the lead bank does not complete the process in time, the asset would be referred to the NCLT.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>For loans above ₹ 500 crores, the committee has recommended setting up an independent asset management company (AMC), supported by institutional funding or an alternative investment fund (AIF)</li>
</ul>
</div>
<p>Addressing these issues would go a long way in ensuring that IBC is the preferred option for dealing with bad loans rather than being the last resort.</p>
<table border="1" style="border-collapse: collapse; width: 100%;">
<tbody>
<tr>
<td style="width: 100%; border-style: dotted; border-color: #bc8cff; background-color: #f7f0d0;"><span style="color: #000080;"><em><strong>Drishti Mains Question</strong></em></span><br /><br />In spite of clarifications on Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code by the Supreme Court of India, many creditor companies seek to bypass the IBC process. Comment.</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<p></p>',
			'postdate' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenTime) {},
			'url' => 'https://www.drishtiias.com/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/resetting-insolvency-and-bankruptcy-code'
		],
		(int) 13 => [
			'title' => 'Srisailam Dam',
			'catname' => 'News Analysis',
			'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Several floods in the region have created a need for repair and maintenance of the Srisailam dam.</li>
<li>The Srisailam dam is constructed across the <strong>Krishna River</strong> in <strong>Andhra Pradesh.</strong></li>
<li>It is located in the<strong> Nallamala hills.</strong></li>
</ul>
<p><a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1574242066_image5.jpg" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1574242066_image5.jpg" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" caption="false" width="436" height="271" /></strong></a></p>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Krishna River</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The Krishna River is the <strong>second biggest river</strong> in peninsular India after the Godavari River.</li>
<li>It <strong>originates near Mahabaleshwar (Satara)</strong> in <strong>Maharashtra.</strong></li>
<li>It<strong> runs</strong> from<strong> four states</strong> Maharashtra (303 km), North Karnataka (480 km) and the rest of its 1300 km journey in Telangana and Andhra Pradesh before it empties into the Bay of Bengal.</li>
<li><strong>Tributaries:</strong> Tungabhadra, Mallaprabha, Koyna, Bhima, Ghataprabha, Yerla, Warna, Dindi, Musi and Dudhganga.</li>
<li>Pattiseema Lift Irrigation project is the<strong> first river-linking project</strong> in India, connecting Godavari with Krishna through the Polavaram right canal. It will divert surplus Godavari water to Krishna river.</li>
</ul>
</div>
<p><a href="https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/andhra-pradesh/srisailam-dam-in-need-of-urgent-maintenance/article30020482.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/srisailam-dam'
		],
		(int) 14 => [
			'title' => 'West Bank Settlements',
			'catname' => 'News Analysis',
			'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>The United States has declared that it does not consider Israeli settlements on the West Bank a violation of international law.</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The U.S.A.'s stand is different from that of most countries on the issue.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Even the USA considered the West Bank settlements as <strong>illegitimate since 1978.</strong> However in 2016, the US did not veto a resolution that called for an end to Israeli settlements.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>The current stand of the USA <strong>reverses four decades of U.S. policy.</strong></li>
</ul>
<h3>West Bank Settlements</h3>
<p><a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1574241522_image6.jpg" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1574241522_image6.jpg" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="488" height="614" caption="false" /></a></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>West Bank (about one and a half times the size of Goa) is a <strong>landlocked territory</strong> in West Asia. It also contains a <strong>significant section of the western dead sea.</strong></li>
<li>It was captured by Jordan after the <a href="/to-the-points/Paper2/israel-palestine" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Arab-Israeli War (1948)</strong></a> but Israel snatched it back during the <strong>Six-Day War of 1967</strong> and <strong>has occupied it ever since.</strong></li>
<li>At present,<strong> there are around 130 formal Israeli settlements</strong> along with <strong>26 lakh Palestinians</strong> at West Bank.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Global Stand over West Bank Settlements</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Majority of the countries&rsquo;</strong> consider West Bank settlements<strong> illegal</strong> and an <strong>occupied territory.</strong></li>
<li>The <a href="/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-international-institution/united-nations-1" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>United Nations General Assembly</strong></a>, the <a href="/search/un-security-council-reforms" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>UN Security Council</strong></a>, and the <a href="/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-international-institution/international-court-of-justice-icj" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>International Court of Justice</strong></a> have declared that the West Bank settlements are violative of the <strong>Fourth Geneva Convention.</strong></li>
<li>Under the Fourth Geneva Convention (1949), an occupying power <strong>&ldquo;shall not deport or transfer parts of its own civilian population into the territory it occupies&rdquo;.</strong></li>
</ul>
<h3>Way Forward</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Under the Oslo Accords of the 1990s, both Israel and the Palestinians agreed that the status of settlements would be decided by negotiations. But the negotiations process has been all but dead for several years now. Thus the world at large needs to come together for a peaceful solution for Israel-Palestine conflict.</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="https://indianexpress.com/article/explained/west-bank-what-change-in-us-policy-means-6127732/" 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/west-bank-settlements'
		],
		(int) 15 => [
			'title' => 'National Skills Study',
			'catname' => 'News Analysis',
			'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>According to a study conducted by the <strong>National Skill Development Corporation</strong> (NSDC), 7 crore additional individuals in the working-age (15-59 years) are expected to enter the labour force by 2023. Of this 84.3% will be in the age group 15-30 years.</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The NSDC has projected trends in the country&rsquo;s labour market potential during 2019-23 based on:<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Periodic Labour Force Survey</strong> (PLFS) for 2017-18,</li>
<li><strong>Crude Death Rates</strong> (CDR) at gender and region (rural/urban) level, and</li>
<li><strong>Employment-Unemployment Survey</strong> (EUS), 2011-12 (68th round).</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Key Findings</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Gender:</strong> According to the study, <strong>one out of five</strong> persons (15-30 years age) entering the labour force is expected to be a <strong>female</strong> by 2023. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Female labour force participation rate for 15 years and above is estimated at 23.3%.</li>
<li>According to <strong>World Bank data,</strong> India&rsquo;s female labour force participation rate ranks much lower than other Asian economies in 2019, including Vietnam (73 %), China (61 %), Singapore (60 %), Bangladesh (36 %). It is closer to the estimates in countries such as Lebanon (24 %), Pakistan (24 %), Libya (26 %), Tunisia (24 %) and Sudan (24 %).</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Education:</strong> According to NSDC, many female candidates in the age group of 15-19 years may not be actively present in the labour force. They would instead opt for <strong>higher education.</strong></li>
<li><strong>Age:</strong> Of the total <strong>youth entrants</strong> (aged 15-30 years) during these four years (2019-23), half are expected to come from the 15-20 years age group.</li>
<li><strong>State-wise:</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Only <em><strong>six states- Uttar Pradesh, Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, Bihar, Tamil Nadu, and Karnataka</strong> </em>are expected to account for <strong>50%</strong> of the new youth entrants (15-30 years) during 2019-23.</li>
<li>Among female youth (15-30 years), the highest numbers of new entrants are expected in the years 2021 and 2023 each, while among male youth, the highest number of new entrants are expected in 2023.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>National Skill Development Corporation (NSDC)</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>It is a <strong>public-private-partnership</strong> working under the aegis of the <strong>Ministry of Skill Development &amp; Entrepreneurship.</strong></li>
<li>NSDC aims to promote skill development by catalyzing the creation of large, quality and for-profit vocational institutions. It acts as a catalyst in skill development by providing funding to enterprises, companies, and organizations that provide skill training.</li>
<li>NSDC is the <strong>implementation agency</strong> for skills training in the country.</li>
</ul>
</div>
<p><a href="https://indianexpress.com/article/india/skills-study-over-next-5-years-just-1-in-5-entrants-to-labour-force-a-woman-6127848/" 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/national-skills-study'
		],
		(int) 16 => [
			'title' => 'Maha Bodhi Temple Complex',
			'catname' => 'News Analysis',
			'desc' => '<p>Bhutan&rsquo;s Foreign Minister recently visited Maha Bodhi Temple in Bodh Gaya, Bihar.<a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1574238671_image3.jpg" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1574238671_image3.jpg" width="259" height="259" style="float: right;" caption="false" /></a></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The Maha Bodhi Temple Complex is <strong>one of the four holy sites</strong> related to the life of the <a href="/to-the-points/paper1/buddhism-in-india" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Lord Buddha</strong></a>, and particularly to the attainment of Enlightenment (Bodhi).<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The other three are: Lumbini (Birth) in Nepal, Sarnath (Dharma-Chakra-Pravartana - 1<sup>st</sup> Sermon) and Kushinagar (Mahaparinirvana- death) in Uttar Pradesh.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>The original structure was built by the Mauryan emperor Ashoka. However, it was reconstructed entirely in brick in late Gupta period. The present temple dates from the 5th or 6th centuries.</li>
<li>The site of the Mahabodhi Temple provides exceptional records of the events associated with the life of Buddha and subsequent worship.</li>
<li>A descendant of the<strong> Bodhi tree</strong> under which the Buddha is said to have sat until he attained enlightenment stands adjacent to the temple. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Ashoka&rsquo;s stone slab purporting to mark the exact position where the Buddha sat is traditionally called the <strong>Buddha&rsquo;s vajrasana</strong> (literally &ldquo;diamond throne&rdquo; or &ldquo;thunder seat&rdquo;).</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>It was recognized as a <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/kailash-mansarovar-in-tentative-list-of-world-heritage-sites" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>UNESCO World Heritage site</strong></a> in 2002.</li>
</ul>',
			'postdate' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenTime) {},
			'url' => 'https://www.drishtiias.com/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/maha-bodhi-temple-complex'
		],
		(int) 17 => [
			'title' => 'Road Accidents in India - 2018',
			'catname' => 'News Analysis',
			'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>The Ministry of Road Transport and Highways has released the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/ministrys-report-on-road-accidents-in-india" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>annual report</strong></a> on <strong>Road Accidents in India.</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The report shows <strong>53 crashes and the loss of 17 lives every hour.</strong></li>
<li>The road traffic injuries were the eighth leading cause of death in India in 2018.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<p><a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1574238426_image1.jpg" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1574238426_image1.jpg" width="559" height="429" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" caption="false" /></a></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Global Analysis:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>According to <strong>World Road Statistics ( 2018), India</strong> reports the <strong>highest</strong> number of road accident deaths<strong> followed by the US and China.</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>World Road Statistics is released by the <strong>World Road Federation.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>As per the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/global-status-report-on-road-safety-who" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>WHO Global Report on Road Safety 2018</strong></a>, India accounts for almost <strong>11%</strong> of the accident-related deaths in the world.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>National Analysis:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>The road accidents numerics:</strong>
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>It kills almost<strong> 1.5 lakh</strong> people <strong>annually in India.</strong></li>
<li>The accidents, as well as accident-related deaths in the <strong>period 2010-2018, dropped drastically</strong> compared with the previous decades, <strong>despite the very high rate of growth of automobiles.</strong></li>
<li>The <strong>road accident severity</strong> (the number of persons killed per 100 accidents) has <strong>increased by 0.6%</strong> in 2018 compared to 2017.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Major Cause:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li><strong>Over-speeding</strong> is a major cause, accounting for <strong>64.4%</strong> of the persons killed. As the <strong>maximum number of road accidents</strong> occurred on <strong>straight roads.</strong></li>
<li><strong>Two-wheelers</strong> accounted for the <strong>highest share (35.2%)</strong> in total accidents in 2018.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Age:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>The <strong>young adults (18-45 years)</strong> accounted for nearly <strong>69.6%</strong> of road accident victims.</li>
<li><strong>Minors</strong> involved in road crash deaths were at <strong>6.6% of the total deaths.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Gender:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>The share of <strong>males</strong> in the number of total accident deaths was <strong>86%</strong> while the share of<strong> females</strong> was around <strong>14%</strong> in 2018</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>State-wise Analysis:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>As in 2017, the State of<strong> Tamil Nadu</strong> recorded the<strong> highest number of road accidents</strong> in 2018.</li>
<li>Similarly, as in 2017, the <strong>number of persons killed in a road accident</strong> was the<strong> highest in Uttar Pradesh</strong> in 2018.</li>
<li><strong>Delhi</strong> has been ranked <strong>first</strong> in the <strong>total number of road fatalities</strong> compared to other <strong>Indian cities.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Significance of Road Safety</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Road transport is the<strong> dominant mode of transport in India,</strong> in terms of traffic share and in terms of contribution to the national economy.</li>
<li>A <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/road-accidents-in-india-1" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>negative externality of expansion in the road network,</strong></a> motorization, and urbanization in the country is the increase in road accidents and road crash fatalities.</li>
<li>Road traffic injuries are one of the leading causes of death, disabilities and hospitalization in the country imposing huge socio-economic costs.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Steps taken at Global Level</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Brasilia Declaration on Road Safety (2015):</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The declaration was signed at the<strong> second Global High-Level Conference on Road Safety held in Brazil.</strong> The first conference was held in Russia (2009).</li>
<li>Through the Brasilia Declaration countries plan to achieve the <a href="/loksabha-rajyasabha-discussions/in-depth-indias-sustainable-development-goals" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Sustainable Development Goal 3.6</strong></a> i.e.to half the number of global deaths and injuries from road traffic accidents by 2030.</li>
<li><strong>United Nations</strong> has also declared <strong>2010-2020 as the decade of action for Road Safety.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>UN Global Road Safety Week:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>It is celebrated <strong>every two years,</strong> the fifth edition of the UN Global Road Safety Week (6-12 May 2019) highlighted the need for strong leadership for road safety.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>The International Road Assessment Programme (iRAP) :</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>It is a registered charity dedicated to saving lives through safer roads.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Steps taken Indian Government</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>India has signed the</strong> <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/global-status-report-on-road-safety-who" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Brasilia declaration</strong></a> and committed to reduce the number of deaths and injuries from road traffic accidents.</li>
<li><strong>Motor Vehicles Amendment Act, 2019</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>It hikes the penalties for traffic violations, defective vehicles, juvenile driving, etc.</li>
<li>It provides for a <strong>Motor Vehicle Accident Fund,</strong> which would provide compulsory insurance cover to all road users in India for certain types of accidents.</li>
<li>It also provides for a <strong>National Road Safety Board,</strong> to be created by the Central Government through a notification.</li>
<li>The act also provides for the <strong>protection of good samaritans.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Justice K.S. Radhakrishnan Committee</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Supreme Court had set up the three-member KS Radhakrishnan panel on <a href="/to-the-points/paper3/road-safety-1" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>road safety</strong></a> in 2014. The SC had termed the roads in India as &ldquo;giant killers&rdquo;</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/53-road-crashes-17-deaths-per-hour-in-2018-annual-government-report/article30019969.ece" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Source: TH</strong></a></p>',
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		(int) 18 => [
			'title' => 'Solar Eclipse',
			'catname' => 'News Analysis',
			'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>Cheruvathur in Kasaragod district, Kerala is one of the three places in the world where the solar eclipse will be most clearly seen on December 26, 2019.</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>It will be an <strong>annular solar eclipse</strong> in which the <strong>&lsquo;ring of fire&rsquo;</strong>- a characteristic of this kind of solar eclipse could be clearly observed.</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1574237575_image2.jpg" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1574237575_image2.jpg" width="533" height="280" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" caption="false" /></a></p>
<h3>Solar Eclipse</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>A <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/total-solar-eclipse-2019" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>solar eclipse</strong></a> is a phenomenon that happens when the moon comes in the way of the sun&rsquo;s light. The moon's shadow casts itself on Earth, blocking out the sun's light (as seen from Earth).</li>
<li>The moon's shadow has<strong> two parts:</strong> a central region<strong> (umbra)</strong> and an outer region <strong>(penumbra).</strong> Depending upon which part of the shadow passes over the Earth, one of three types of solar eclipses could be observed:<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Total Solar Eclipse-</strong> The entire central portion of the sun is blocked out by the moon.</li>
<li><strong>Partial Solar Eclipse-</strong> Only part of the sun's surface is blocked out.</li>
<li style="text-align: left;"><strong>Annular Solar Eclipse-</strong> The sun is covered in such a way that only a small ring-like sliver of light is seen from the sun's disc. This ring is known as the<strong> ring of fire.</strong>&nbsp;<a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1574237721_image3.png" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1574237721_image3.png" width="155" height="227" caption="false" style="float: right;" /></a><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>An annular eclipse happens when the moon <strong>is farthest from Earth.</strong> As the moon is farther away from Earth, it seems smaller and is<strong> unable to block the entire view of the sun,</strong> because of which the ring-like structure could be observed.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The <strong>total eclipse</strong> happens about every year and a half somewhere on Earth, while the <strong>partial eclipse</strong> happens at least twice a year somewhere on Earth.</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/kerala/cheruvathur-to-get-first-glimpse-of-solar-eclipse-in-india/article30020048.ece" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Source: TH</strong></a></p>',
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		(int) 19 => [
			'title' => 'New Sri Lanka Leadership',
			'catname' => 'News Editorials',
			'desc' => '<div class="border">
<p>This article is based on <a href="https://indianexpress.com/article/opinion/columns/gotabaya-rajapaksa-sri-lanka-elections-colombo-6126280/" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>&ldquo;Towards a Colombo Reset&rdquo;</strong></a> which was published in Indian Express on 19/11/2019. It talks about the implications of new Sri Lankan leadership, on India.</p>
</div>
<p>Recently, <strong>Gotabaya Rajapaksa</strong> is elected as new President of Sri Lanka. This election was based on security issues that emerged after a suicide bombing attack (claimed by Islamic State) on Easter Sunday this year.</p>
<p>Rajapaksa's win signals the return to power for the controversial family, that is known for its pro-China tilt and also infamously remembered for its brutal acts against Tamil minorities in pursuit of ending the <strong>Sri Lankan civil war</strong> in 2009.</p>
<h3>Rajapaksa Factor</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Recent elections in Sri Lanka mark the return of the Rajapaksa brothers to power.</li>
<li>Sri Lanka witnessed an authoritarian family rule <strong>under former president Mahinda Rajapaksa between 2005 and 2015.</strong></li>
<li>Gotabaya Rajapaksa (brother of Mahinda Rajapaksa), a former defence secretary and intelligence officer, accused of committing human rights violations, hailed by many for ending the civil war.</li>
<li>Also, India's relations with Sri Lanka went through a troubled patch during the Mahinda Rajapaksa presidency due to his proximity with China.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Implications for India</h3>
<p><strong>On the issue of Pro-China tilt</strong></p>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Geopolitical significance of Sri Lanka</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Sri Lanka&rsquo;s location in the Indian Ocean region as an island State has been of strategic geopolitical relevance to several major powers.</li>
<li>Sri Lanka&rsquo;s location can serve both commercial purposes and be used as a military base.</li>
<li>Citing these geopolitical advantages China made massive investments during the Mahinda Rajapaksa tenure.</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>String of Pearls</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>China is building state of the art gigantic modern ports all along the Indian Ocean and to the south of it, in Gwadar (Pakistan), Chittagong (Bangladesh, Kyauk Phru (Myanmar) and <strong>Hambantota (Sri Lanka).</strong></li>
<li>The string of pearls is a strategic threat to India, as it aims to encircle India to establish Chinese dominance in the Indian Ocean.</li>
</ul>
</div>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>With the new Sri Lankan President, the narrative about Sri Lanka's renewed tilt towards China has become an issue of concern for India.</li>
<li>Sri Lanka sits at the heart of the Indian Ocean and holds one of the pearls of that String of Pearls (Hambantota).<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>China&rsquo;s interest in maritime silk route and continuous energy flow to the country has resulted in a &ldquo;String of Pearls&rdquo; across the Indian Ocean Region (IOR).</li>
<li>China&rsquo;s <strong>debt-trap diplomacy</strong> has led it towards grabbing a 99-year lease on the Hambantota port.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>However, labelling governments in <strong>Sri Lanka as &ldquo;pro-China&rdquo; or &ldquo;pro-India&rdquo; is irrelevant.</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>China&rsquo;s economic and strategic salience in the subcontinent is not tied to the regime leadership.</li>
<li>Previous Sri Lankan President Maithripala Sirisena (considered as pro-India) came to power criticising the Chinese projects in Sri Lanka, but within two years into power, it extended full backing to the Chinese projects.</li>
<li>To add insult to injury, the so called &ldquo;pro-India&rdquo; government stalled key projects (housing projects in Sri Lanka) to India.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>On the issue of Tamils minorities</h3>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>History of Civil War</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Sri Lanka has been mired in ethnic conflict since the country, formerly known as Ceylon, became independent from British rule in 1948.</li>
<li>In the years following independence, the Sinhalese (Buddhist-majority community), who resented British favouritism toward Tamils (a minority community) during the colonial period, disenfranchised Tamil migrant plantation workers and made Sinhala the official language.</li>
<li>In 1972, the Sinhalese changed the country&rsquo;s name from Ceylon to Sri Lanka and made Buddhism nation&rsquo;s primary religion.</li>
<li>In reaction to this, the LTTE (Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam) was formed (in 1976) under the leadership of Velupillai Prabhakaran, and it began to campaign for a Tamil homeland in northern and eastern Sri Lanka, where most of the island&rsquo;s Tamils reside.</li>
<li>By 1983, this ethnic clash between Sinhalese and Tamilians became a civil war which ended in 2009.</li>
</ul>
</div>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Tamil issue is no longer a bilateral issue between India and Sri Lanka. The Western countries have expressed deep concerns about the war crimes in the military campaign against the LTTE.</li>
<li>India's concern is that any additional international pressure on Sri Lanka will automatically increase China&rsquo;s leverage in Sri Lanka.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Way Forward</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>In the era of globalisation, India can&rsquo;t expect its neighbouring countries to shut down economic and commercial engagement with China.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>However, India and Sri Lanka need a clear <strong>understanding of mutual red lines</strong> relating to national security and a political comfort level.</li>
<li>This should help prevent the recurrence of the controversy over Chinese submarines in Colombo port that generated so much bad blood between the two nations in 2014.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>India is having a stable government at the centre which is not bound by the compulsions of coalition politics. This stability in the Indian government should find synergy with new Sri Lankan president policy which includes<strong> &ldquo;neutrality&rdquo; and &ldquo;non-alignment&rdquo; between major powers.</strong></li>
<li>India needs to invest some political capital in resolving problems such as the long-standing dispute over fisheries and Katchatheevu island dispute.</li>
<li>India in partnership with like-minded countries like Japan should offer sustainable terms for developing infrastructure, defence and counter-terror capabilities in Sri Lanka.</li>
</ul>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Katchatheevu is an uninhabited islet in the Palk Strait.</li>
<li>Ownership of the island was controversial up until 1974 as during British rule the island was administered by both countries.</li>
<li>India recognized Sri Lanka&rsquo;s equal ownership. However, the legality of the transfer was challenged in the Indian Supreme Court since the recognizing was not ratified by the Indian parliament.</li>
<li>Due to this some sections of Indian society(mainly from Tamil Nadu) claims India&rsquo;s sovereignty over it.</li>
</ul>
</div>
<p>Asian powers particularly India and China must ensure that Asia should not enter the age of great power rivalries, as Asia in the rivalry will hold us back and Asia in cooperation will shape the century.</p>
<table border="1" style="border-collapse: collapse; width: 100%;">
<tbody>
<tr>
<td style="width: 100%; border-style: dotted; border-color: #ff0808; background-color: #fdffd9;"><span style="color: #0000ff;"><em><strong>Drishti Mains Question</strong></em></span><br /><br />Examine India Sri Lanka relations in perspective of changing geopolitics of South Asian region.</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
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	(int) 0 => [
		'title' => 'Winter Grade Fuel in Ladakh',
		'catname' => 'News Analysis',
		'desc' => '<p>The <strong>winter-grade diesel</strong> was launched to address<strong> the problem of loss of fuel during extreme winter conditions.</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Motorists in high-altitude areas of Ladakh face the problem of <strong>freezing of diesel</strong> in their vehicles when <strong>winter temperatures drop to as low as minus 30-degree celsius.</strong></li>
<li>The <strong>special winter-grade diesel</strong> is developed by the <strong>Indian Oil Corporation Limited (IOCL).</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>It has a <strong>pour point of minus 33-degree celsius</strong> and<strong> does not lose its fluidity</strong> even in the region&rsquo;s extreme winter weather unlike normal grade diesel, which is difficult to use in sub-zero temperatures.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>The pour point of a liquid is the temperature <strong>below which the liquid loses its flow characteristics.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>It also meets <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/bureau-of-indian-standards-bis-act-2016" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS)</strong></a> specification of <a href="/loksabha-rajyasabha-discussions/in-depth-bs-vi-emission-norms" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>BS-VI</strong></a> <strong>grade.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>The special winter-grade diesel will help <strong>to reduce</strong> the hardships faced by the local people for transportation and mobility during the harsh winter months.</li>
<li>It will further <strong>facilitate the local economy</strong> as well as <strong>tourism</strong> in the region.</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>BS-VI</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Bharat stage norms</strong> are <strong>emission control standards</strong> put in place by the government to keep a <strong>check on air pollution</strong> based on the <strong>European regulations (Euro norms).</strong></li>
<li>These standards set limits the release of air pollutants from equipment using internal combustion engines, including vehicles.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The higher the stage, the more stringent norms.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>BS VI&rsquo;s key improvement in fuel quality over BS IV include,</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Lower Sulphur Content:</strong> It has lowered <strong>sulphur content of 10 parts per million (ppm).</strong> Sulphur in fuel contributes to fine particulate matter emissions.</li>
<li><strong>Harmful Hydrocarbon:</strong> It seeks to <strong>reduce the level of certain harmful hydrocarbons</strong> in the emissions that are produced due to incomplete combustion of fuel.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</div>
<p><a href="https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/amit-shah-launches-special-winter-grade-diesel-for-ladakh/article29998652.ece" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Source: TH</strong></a></p>',
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	(int) 1 => [
		'title' => 'Organic Food Regulatory System in India',
		'catname' => 'News Analysis',
		'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>The Union Minister for Commerce and Industry informed about the <strong>existent organic food regulatory system in the country</strong> during the winter parliamentary session (2019).</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><a href="/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-national-institutions/food-safety-and-standards-authority-of-india-fssai" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI)</strong></a> is the <strong>food regulator</strong> in the country and is also responsible for <strong>regulating organic food in the domestic market and imports.</strong></li>
<li>FSSAI had notified the existing certification system through <strong>Food Safety and Standards (Organic Foods) Regulations in 2017.</strong></li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Organic Food</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Organic farm produce</strong> means the produce obtained from <strong>organic agriculture,</strong> while <strong>organic food</strong> means food products that have been produced in accordance with <strong>specified standards for organic production.</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>According to FSSAI,<strong>&rsquo;organic agriculture&rsquo;</strong> is a system of farm design and management to create an ecosystem of agriculture production without the use of synthetic external inputs such as chemical fertilisers, pesticides and synthetic hormones or genetically modified organisms.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</div>
<h3>Existing Certification Systems</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>National Programme for Organic Production (NPOP)</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>NPOP grants <strong>organic farming certification</strong> through a process of <strong>third party certification.</strong></li>
<li>It involves the<strong> accreditation programme</strong> for Certification Bodies, standards for organic production, promotion of organic farming etc.</li>
<li>It is implemented by <a href="/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-national-institutions/apeda-trifed" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA)</strong></a>, <strong>Ministry of Commerce and Industry.</strong></li>
<li>The <strong>NPOP standards</strong> for production and accreditation system have been<strong> recognized</strong> by the <strong>European Commission, Switzerland</strong> and <strong>USA</strong> as equivalent to their respective accreditation systems.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Participatory Guarantee System for India (PGS)</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>PGS is another process of <strong>certifying organic products.</strong></li>
<li>The certification is in the form of a <strong>documented logo or a statement.</strong></li>
<li>It is implemented by the <strong>Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers&rsquo; Welfare.</strong></li>
<li>The organic <strong>farmers have full control over the certification process.</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>PGS certification is <strong>only for farmers or communities</strong> that can organise and perform as a <strong>group. Individual farmers</strong> or groups of farmers smaller than five members are <strong>not covered</strong> under PGS.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>PGS is applicable on <strong>on-farm activities</strong> comprising of crop production, processing and livestock rearing, etc.</li>
<li><strong>Off-farm processing activities</strong> such as storage, transport and value addition activities by persons/agencies other than PGS farmers away from the group are<strong> not covered under PGS.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>Organic foods are also required to comply with the requirements of <strong>labelling of FSSAI</strong> in addition to that of NPOP or PGS-India.</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="https://pib.gov.in/PressReleseDetail.aspx?PRID=1593103" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Source:PIB</strong></a></p>',
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	(int) 2 => [
		'title' => 'Bougainville',
		'catname' => 'News Analysis',
		'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>On November 23, the people of <strong>Bougainville</strong> (a small South Pacific island), will vote for a referendum to gain independence from Papua New Guinea. If the referendum is passed, Bougainville would become the <strong>world&rsquo;s newest and possibly the smallest independent country.</strong></p>
<h3>Background</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Bougainville is currently a province of <strong>Papua New Guinea-</strong> one of the most populous Pacific island states. It forms the part of the <strong>Solomon Islands archipelago.</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Bougainville has a population of around 300,000 people comprising of <strong>21 distinct language groups.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1574491941_image1.png" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1574491941_image1.png" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="632" height="243" caption="false" /></strong></a></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>In the late 1970s, a <strong>decentralized system</strong> of provincial government was introduced in Bougainville. The current autonomy arrangements were implemented following the constitutional enactment of the <strong>Bougainville Peace Agreement.</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The <strong>Bougainville Peace Agreement,</strong> signed in 2001, brought <strong>autonomy and an end to the violent conflict</strong> between the people of Bougainville and the government of Papua New Guinea.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Issues Leading to Referendum</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The subsequent dissatisfaction among Bougainvilleans over implementation of the agreed arrangements for Bougainville autonomy (2001), particularly in regard to the constitutionally guaranteed financial grants was the major bone of contention. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The Autonomy Bougainville Government (ABG) was legally entitled to the financial grants but the Papua New Guinea National Government did not provide the same in accordance with the ABG&rsquo;s calculations.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>Also, the historic <strong>plunder of the resource-rich island</strong> and the <strong>unequal distribution of wealth</strong> that followed was the major issue. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Bougainville has <strong>large deposits of copper.</strong></li>
<li>The<strong> Panguna mine</strong> (also known as the <strong>Bougainville Copper Mine</strong>) holds some of the world&rsquo;s largest reserves of copper. It is the <strong>world&rsquo;s largest open-cut copper mine.</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>The export of copper extracted from the Panguna mine contributed significantly to Papua New Guinea&rsquo;s economy.</li>
<li>The mine also <strong>created job opportunities</strong> for people from Papua New Guinea and Australia, leading to conflicts with Bougainvilleans who reported cases of discrimination and racism at the hands of foreigner mine workers.</li>
<li>Mining activities over the years also caused <strong>environmental degradation</strong> of Bougainville&rsquo;s lands and water.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Way Forward</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The referendum is not binding and would still have to be passed by the Government and the Parliament of Papua New Guinea, in consultation with the Autonomous Bougainville Government before a final decision is made.</li>
<li>If Bougainville becomes independent, the immediate steps would involve putting in place the law and order, economic opportunities, and access to education.</li>
<li>If the referendum is passed it will have implications on countries like Australia, New Zealand, and China in general, and other provinces of Papua New Guinea in specific. The stability of the region of which Bougainville is part is clearly important to Australia and other nations.</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="https://indianexpress.com/article/explained/bougainville-explained-how-the-worlds-newest-country-might-bloom-out-of-protests-against-a-copper-mine-6132284/" 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/bougainville'
	],
	(int) 3 => [
		'title' => 'Subsidies in Higher Education',
		'catname' => 'News Editorials',
		'desc' => '<div class="border">
<p>This article is based on <a href="https://www.thehindu.com/opinion/op-ed/should-we-do-away-with-subsidies-for-higher-education/article30041719.ece" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>&ldquo;Should we do away with subsidies for higher education?&rdquo;</strong></a> which was published in The Hindu on 22/11/2019. It talks about the impact and challenges of subsidies in higher education in India.</p>
</div>
<p>Recently, the proposed fees hike of residential hostels in Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) has sparked a widespread protest and controversy over subsidies in higher education.</p>
<p>Almost more than a <strong>fifth</strong> of the population is below official poverty limits and<strong> 93%</strong> of the workforce is engaged in the unorganised sector, subsidized education provides access to quality education to the poor. Subsidies in education generate a host of positive externalities such as health improvement, reduction in poverty, crime and population growth. It directly or indirectly influences almost all facets of social life, and therefore should be viewed as a non-negotiable public good and by far the most potent social investment.</p>
<h3>Advantages of Subsidies in Higher Education</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Inclusiveness and Equity:</strong> Subsidies in higher education have enabled the marginalised and socio-economically backward sections of the society to get access to quality higher education which has largely been the domain of socially dominant groups in the society. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Inclusiveness and equity are very important characteristics of a good public institution. And, over the years, this has actually increased in public institutions and that is entirely because of subsidy.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Economic:</strong> Subsidized education plays a significant role in <strong>building an economy</strong> as in the case of India. Students engaged with research and specialized education go on to become better contributors to the economy. Higher education boosts innovation, creative thinking and innovations.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>For Example: </strong>Software segment which comprises a huge share in India&rsquo;s GDP is a shining example of positive externalities from subsidies in higher education.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Demographic Dividends:</strong> India is one of the youngest nations in the world comprising a huge chunk of population in favourable demographic phase. However, this young population's educational and skill status is not aligned with the requirements of the market. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Therefore, subsidies in the higher education sector have a greater role to play in reaping the benefits of demographic dividends.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Social Mobility:</strong> Earlier, higher education used to be the exclusive preserve of elites, and other socially and economically backward classes were deprived of higher education. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>But due to the efforts made by the government (in the form of subsidies and other benefits) to make it within the reach of every social group, a large number of poor and the marginalised have to begin to express their aspirations for social mobility through access to higher public education institutions.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Human Capital:</strong> The country has developed a wide network of institutions like CSIR, IITs and Central Universities which provide <strong>quality subsidized education</strong> to the masses. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>These institutions have become the nucleus of providing<strong> trained workforce</strong> in propelling research and development and economic growth in the country.</li>
<li>Students of all sections of society from these institutions went on to occupy the higher positions in government in forms of engineers, doctors, bureaucrats etc.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Liberalisation and Higher Education in India</strong></p>
<p>In the post-liberalisation era, public expenditure in higher education went through a period of stagnation in real terms, and the per-student public expenditure actually declined dramatically. All this happened while private higher education saw a phase of impressive expansion. So, while the overall intake of students in higher education increased considerably in the post-liberalisation era, a large proportion of this expansion was accounted for by expanding the private sector. Growth in national income did not result in an increase in public expenditure on education as a whole. It kind of stagnated. Within the education sector as a whole, there was a shift in the focus of funding in the 1990s from higher education to primary education.</p>
</div>
<h3>Problem with Subsidies in Higher Education in India</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Free Riders:</strong> Subsidies are intended to serve the vulnerable section of society. However, it is often seen that these benefits of subsidies are exploited by the middle and elite sections of society.</li>
<li><strong>Subsidies do not guarantee quality education:</strong> Access without assured quality is no access. Also, there has been a lot of clamour that subsidies hamper meritocracy.</li>
<li><strong>Unevenness in the distribution of subsidies:</strong> There is considerable unevenness in the distribution of public finances. Student subsidies for premier institutions like the IITs and engineering colleges are incomparably higher than those for universities and colleges, particularly for liberal arts institutions.</li>
<li><strong>Privatisation:</strong> Private institutions are generally not likely to be amenable to measures promoting access and equity. Therefore, a large number of private education institutions remain inaccessible to economy weaker sections.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Way Forward</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Better Targeting:</strong> According to a study conducted by <strong>Gokhale Institute,</strong> benefits can be skewed in the absence of regulation. Therefore, eliminating free riders is the biggest challenge in the dissemination of subsidies. Technological improvement like Aadhar, direct benefit transfer can be used to eliminate inclusion and exclusion errors.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The<strong> third-party verifications of the beneficiary</strong> will help in eliminating the free riders.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Differential Fee Structure:</strong> Rationalisation of fee structure according to the demand of programmes based on marketability, affordability and input cost and according to different income groups could pave the way for optimal utilization of subsidies. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Providing free or subsidized higher education to students from lower-income groups could pave the way for a more equitable and just society.</li>
<li>Some large public universities should now approach the 20% mark as recommended by the Punnayya Committee and National Knowledge Commission.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Regulatory Mechanism:</strong> A proper <strong>regulatory mechanism</strong> should be placed in order to make private institutions in line with the government's goal of making higher education accessible and affordable to vulnerable sections.</li>
<li><strong>Per-student public funds</strong> have to increase drastically in order to maintain the principle of equity and inclusiveness.</li>
</ul>
<p>Education is one of those genuinely long-term businesses. A public effort is needed to frame a different management style, better autonomy, and accountability. Subsidies can help in improving access to higher education and bridge socio-economic divides across communities in the country. However, these can be rationalised in order to reap optimum benefits.</p>
<table border="1" style="border-collapse: collapse; width: 100%;">
<tbody>
<tr>
<td style="width: 100%; border-style: dotted; border-color: #ff002f; background-color: #f5f2cb;"><span style="color: #000080;"><em><strong>Drishti Inputs</strong></em></span><br /><br />Explain the significance of subsidies in providing quality education to vulnerables.</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>',
		'postdate' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenTime) {},
		'url' => 'https://www.drishtiias.com/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/subsidies-in-higher-education'
	],
	(int) 4 => [
		'title' => 'The Big Picture - Drinking Water: Quality & Challenges',
		'catname' => 'Lok Sabha & Rajya Sabha Discussions',
		'desc' => '<p style="text-align: center;"><iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/-bHVnAfZuA0" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe></p>
<p>According to the Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution, Mumbai residents need not buy reverse osmosis (RO) water purifiers as samples of tap water collected from the Mumbai are compliant with the Indian standards for drinking water.</p>
<p>However, other metro cities of Delhi, Kolkata and Chennai failed in almost 10 out of 11 quality parameters tested by the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS). Similar is the condition in the majority of other state capitals.</p>
<h3>Nature of Water Crisis</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>According to <strong><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/solution-to-indias-water-crisis" target="_blank" rel="noopener">NITI Aayog's Composite Water Management Index 2018,&nbsp;</a></strong>21 major cities (Delhi, Bengaluru, Chennai, Hyderabad and others) are racing to reach zero groundwater levels by 2020, affecting access for 100 million people.<a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/solution-to-indias-water-crisis" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong></strong></a></li>
<li>India ranks 120 among 122 countries on the Water Quality Index released by WaterAid.</li>
<li>The national capital region of India is facing a double whammy, not only it harbours poor standards of air <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/health-emergency-in-new-delhi" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>(air emergency)</strong> </a>but poor water quality also.</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Drishti Input:</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>According to the data released by the World Resources Institute, India is ranked 13<sup>th</sup> among the 17 most water-stressed countries of the world.</li>
<li>According to the Ministry of Urban Development, 80% of India's surface water is polluted.</li>
<li>This signifies India is going through Water emergency.</li>
</ul>
</div>
<h3>Causes of Poor Drinking Water Quality</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>In the name of water purification, most of the times water is <strong>chlorinated.</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Chlorination only kills bacteria &amp; other microorganisms but dissolved salts, alkalinity, toxic metals in water can't be eliminated by chlorination.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>The pipes which carry the water, <strong>are old and leaking.</strong> This leakages in pipes lead to contamination of water.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Moreover, the water supply line &amp; sewerage line running side by side.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>In metropolitan cities, <strong>the demand for water is higher than the supply.</strong> Therefore, this deficit in the water supply is compensated by the mixing of surface water &amp; groundwater.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>However, groundwater is severely contaminated by carcinogenic pollutants like Arsenic.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>Water is a<strong> state subject.</strong> This lead to the problem of coordination between Union, State and Local government.</li>
<li><strong>Rapid urbanization</strong> has led the unequal distribution of water, contamination/ depletion of local water bodies due to pollution.</li>
<li>Sometimes the places from where water samples are collected, may not reflect the true state of water quality.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Effects of Poor Drinking Water</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Harmful health impacts:</strong> Nearly 70% of the diseases in India are waterborne. Therefore, poor water quality is a great health hazard.</li>
<li><strong>Economic cost:</strong> Poor drinking water will lead to a reduction in tourist inflow.</li>
<li><strong>Domino effect:</strong> Result of poor drinking water is the prime reason for the sale of plastic bottled drinking water. However, this bottled water gives rise to plastic pollution.</li>
<li><strong>Wasting resources:</strong> RO is expensive and for 1 litre of RO or bottled water, many litres of water wasted.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Also, the RO water is deprived of essential minerals and salts.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Social effect:</strong> With the given condition of the water crisis, it is less likely to fulfil the target of providing everyone with safe drinking water (Sustainable Development Goal number 6).</li>
</ul>
<h3>Way Forward</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Data based support system:</strong> Water quality should be tested frequently and the findings should be made public.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>This will increase involvement, sensitization &amp; awareness of citizens, service providers and the government.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Mandatory compliance:</strong> Compliance to Bureau of Indian Standards for water quality should be made mandatory for local bodies.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>This can make municipalities and other local bodies accountable.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Pricing for water:</strong> Water can be priced for well-off sections of society so that proper maintenance cost should be recovered.</li>
<li><strong>Better management:</strong> Long-distance pipelines of water should be discouraged and water treatment should be made more localized.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Also, efforts should be made to find out the sites of continuation in the supply line.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Technological solution:</strong> Up-gradation of the water treatment plant to remove toxic inorganic pollutants and dissolved solids.</li>
<li><strong>Rainwater harvesting:</strong> The reason why Mumbai's water is relatively safer because it is sourced from rainwater (the purest source of water).<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Therefore, rainwater harvesting should be encouraged to the maximum extent possible.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Next step for Jal Jeevan mission:</strong> The government's effort to provide<strong> piped water to all rural households by 2024</strong> under the Jal Jeevan mission, is a step in the right direction. However, providing quality piped water will be a big challenge.</li>
</ul>',
		'postdate' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenTime) {},
		'url' => 'https://www.drishtiias.com/loksabha-rajyasabha-discussions/the-big-picture-drinking-water-quality-challenges'
	],
	(int) 5 => [
		'title' => 'Avian Botulism at Sambhar Lake',
		'catname' => 'News Analysis',
		'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>The Indian Veterinary Research Institute (IVRI), Uttar Pradesh has confirmed <strong>avian botulism</strong> as the reason for<strong> mass mortality of birds,</strong> at <strong>Sambhar Lake</strong> in <strong>Rajasthan.</strong></p>
<h3>Avian Botulism</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The avian botulism is a <strong>neuro-muscular illness</strong> caused by <strong>Botulinum (natural toxin)</strong> that is produced by a <strong>bacteria &mdash; Clostridium botulinum.</strong></li>
<li>The bacteria is <strong>commonly found</strong> in the <strong>soil, rivers, and seawater.</strong> It affects <strong>both humans and animals.</strong></li>
<li>The bacteria also need <strong>anaerobic (absence of oxygen)</strong> conditions and <strong>do not grow</strong> in <strong>acidic conditions.</strong></li>
<li>It affects the <strong>nervous system</strong> of birds, leading to <strong>paralysis in their legs and wings.</strong></li>
<li>The outbreaks of avian botulism tend to occur when <strong>average temperatures are above 21 degrees celsius, and during droughts.</strong></li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Sambhar Lake<a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1574410837_drishtiias_Sambharlake.JPG" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1574410837_drishtiias_Sambharlake.JPG" style="float: right;" width="227" height="225" caption="false" /></a></strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li style="text-align: left;">The Sambhar Salt Lake is India's<strong> largest inland saltwater body</strong> located near Jaipur in Rajasthan.</li>
<li>The lake is <strong>surrounded</strong> on <strong>all sides by the Aravali hills.&nbsp;</strong></li>
<li>It is the source of most of <strong>Rajasthan's salt production.</strong></li>
<li>Sambhar has been designated as a <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/world-wetlands-day" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Ramsar site</strong></a> <strong>(recognized wetland of international importance)</strong> because the wetland is a key wintering area for tens of thousands of flamingos and other birds that migrate from northern Asia.</li>
</ul>
</div>
<h3>Mass Mortality at Sambhar Lake</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The <strong>possible causes</strong> for avian botulism at Sambhar lake are:<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Reduced water levels:</strong> This might have <strong>increased</strong> salinity levels leading to the <strong>death of living organisms.</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>The decaying plant or animal materials are capable of <strong>hosting the bacteria for a longer period of time.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>A bird-to-bird cycle:</strong> Since only insectivorous and omnivorous birds were affected and not herbivores, the birds feeding on dead birds could have been a possible cause of such mortality.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>The <strong>possibility of external factors</strong> like water pollution and eutrophication are <strong>ruled out</strong> as <strong>no farming</strong> is being carried out in the <strong>vicinity of sambhar lake.</strong></li>
</ul>
<h3>Way Forward</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Sambhar Lake is <strong>not the first instance</strong> where deaths due to botulism have been recorded. 7,000 water birds died in Lake Michigan in 2007 and 2008. In Hawaii, the toxin killed around 183 Laysan Ducks in 2008.</li>
<li>The botulism outbreaks are <strong>likely to become more frequent as climate change</strong> alters wetland conditions to favour bacteria and pathogens.</li>
<li>Thus, the <strong>establishment of rescue and medical centres</strong> along with the mitigation of <strong>climate change</strong> need to be considered by the government as a <strong>precautionary measure</strong> for the future.</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/other-states/avian-botulism-reason-for-bird-deaths/article30043219.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/avian-botulism-at-sambhar-lake'
	],
	(int) 6 => [
		'title' => 'Steps to Curb Abuse of Synthetic Drugs',
		'catname' => 'News Analysis',
		'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>To deal with the problem of <strong>abuse of synthetic drugs and New Psychotropic Substances (NPS),</strong> the government is considering generic scheduling of drugs to replace the practice of substance-by-substance scheduling.</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Apart from this, the Narco Coordination Centre (NCORD) discussed the issue of large scale heroin trafficking from neighbouring countries, the diversion and abuse of pharmaceutical preparations, and poppy (Opium) cultivation in the country.</li>
</ul>
<h3>New Psychoactive Substances</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>NPS are defined as &ldquo;substances of abuse, either in a pure form or a preparation, that are not controlled by the United Nations drug conventions but which may pose a public health threat&rdquo;.</li>
<li>NPS are also known as &ldquo;legal highs&rdquo;, &ldquo;bath salts&rdquo; and &ldquo;research chemicals&rdquo;. For clarity, the <a href="/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-international-institution/united-nations-1" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC)</strong></a> uses the term &ldquo;New Psychoactive Substances&rdquo;.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The term &ldquo;new&rdquo; does not necessarily refer to new inventions. Several NPS were first synthesized 40 years ago but the term &ldquo;new&rdquo; is used since they have recently become available in the market.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>NPS have similar effects as substances under international control such as cannabis, cocaine, heroin, Lysergic Acid Diethylamide (LSD), ecstasy (methamphetamine or MDMA).</li>
<li>Since NPS are not controlled under the International Drug Control Conventions, their legal status can differ widely from country to country. <strong>Eg.:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Several countries where a large number of different NPS has rapidly emerged have adopted controls on entire substance groups of NPS using <strong>generic approach,</strong> or have<strong> introduced analogue (similar) legislation</strong> that invokes the principal of <strong>chemical similarity</strong> (i.e. drugs having similar narcotic/hallucinogenic effect with slight variations in chemical/structural composition) to an already controlled substance, so as to control substances that are not explicitly mentioned in the legislation.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Generic Scheduling of Drugs</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Generic scheduling of drugs<strong> provides flexibility to the government</strong> to regulate <strong>other substances (analogue) or a defined group of substances (generic)</strong> which are not explicitly mentioned in the legislation, but which share some similarities with the controlled substances in terms of structure, effects, or both without appealing to a legislative reform.</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) was established in 1997.</li>
<li>It acts as the Office for Drug Control and Crime Prevention by combining the United Nations International Drug Control Program (UNDCP) and the Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice Division of the United Nations Office at <strong>Vienna.</strong></li>
<li>It was named the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime in 2002.</li>
<li>UNODC publishes <strong>World Drug Report.</strong></li>
</ul>
</div>
<h3>India and the Issue of Drug Trafficking</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>National Security:</strong> India is vulnerable to narcotic drug trafficking as it is located between two largest Opium producing regions of the world, i.e., Golden Crescent in the west and Golden Triangle in the east. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Golden Crescent region of South Asia&mdash;</strong>comprising of <strong>Afghanistan, Iran, and Pakistan&mdash;</strong>is a principal global site for opium production and distribution.</li>
<li><strong>Golden Triangle</strong> represents the region coinciding with the rural mountains of <strong>Myanmar, Laos, and Thailand.</strong> It is Southeast Asia&rsquo;s main opium-producing region and one of the oldest narcotics supply routes to Europe and North America.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Social Issue:</strong> Drug abuse and misuse is a major threat to the society. It largely affects the youths who once involved in it, find it difficult to overcome. Drug abuse not only impact drug abusers&rsquo; lives but equally affect their families and the community at large.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment</strong> is responsible for spreading awareness regarding drug demand reduction and rehabilitation of drug addicts.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Constitutional Ethos: Article 47 of the Indian Constitution</strong> directs the State to endeavour to bring about prohibition of the consumption except for medicinal purposes of intoxicating drugs injurious to health.</li>
<li><strong>Legislative Provisions:</strong> The broad legislative policy is contained in the three Central Acts, viz., Drugs and Cosmetics Act, 1940, The Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act, 1985, and The Prevention of Illicit Traffic in Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act, 1988. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The Narcotics Control Bureau is the apex coordinating agency under the Ministry of Home Affairs constituted through the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act, 1985.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Global Conventions:</strong> India is a signatory to the Single Convention on Narcotic Drugs 1961, the Convention on Psychotropic Substances, 1971 and the United Nations Convention against Illicit Traffic in Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances, 1988.</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="https://indianexpress.com/article/india/govt-considers-generic-scheduling-of-drugs-to-curb-abuse-of-synthetic-drugs-6129494/" 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/steps-to-curb-abuse-of-synthetic-drugs'
	],
	(int) 7 => [
		'title' => 'RERA Act, 2016',
		'catname' => 'Paper 2',
		'desc' => '<p><a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1574403653_RERA%20Act, 2016 (Mind Map).png" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1574403653_RERA Act, 2016 (Mind Map).png" width="406" height="1445" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" /></a></p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><em><a href="/to-the-points/Paper2/rera-act-2016" target="_blank" rel="noopener">For TTP</a></em></p>',
		'postdate' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenTime) {},
		'url' => 'https://www.drishtiias.com/mind-map/gs-paper2/rera-act-2016-mind-map'
	],
	(int) 8 => [
		'title' => 'Spyware Pegasus',
		'catname' => 'News Editorials',
		'desc' => '<div class="border">
<p>This article is based on <a href="https://www.thehindu.com/opinion/op-ed/in-whatsapp-breach-follow-the-money-trail/article29857259.ece" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>&ldquo;In WhatsApp breach, follow the money trail&rdquo;</strong></a> which was published in The Hindu on 02/11/2019. It talks about the Spyware Pegasus.</p>
</div>
<p>The recent digital security breach by a spyware called <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/pegasus-1" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Pegasus</strong></a> compromised phones of multiple activists, journalists and lawyers in India. The spyware was able to track multiple user applications like messages, emails, audio calls, browser history, contacts including end-to-end encrypted data. The whole incident brought forward the issue of digital security and the ways to achieve it with minimum loopholes.</p>
<h3>Key Highlights</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The phones of affected people were reportedly <strong>compromised by using a vulnerability in WhatsApp</strong> which allowed the <strong>Pegasus spyware software</strong> to be <strong>installed,</strong> by initiating a WhatsApp voice call with the target.</li>
<li>This specific vulnerability in WhatsApp has <strong>now been mended.</strong></li>
<li>The <strong>Indian government has sought an explanation from WhatsApp</strong> after it was revealed that Indian citizens were spied upon using Pegasus.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Pegasus</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>It is a spyware developed by the<strong> Israeli cyber arms firm NSO Group Technologies.</strong></li>
<li>It mainly uses<strong> exploit links,</strong> clicking on which installs Pegasus on the target&rsquo;s phone.</li>
<li><strong>Citizen Lab</strong> which has investigated several cases of Pegasus infections showed through its research that<strong> social engineering is a very common strategy</strong> to deliver the most sophisticated spyware.</li>
<li>Pegasus does so by <strong>exploiting vulnerabilities in the phone&rsquo;s operating systems (OS).</strong></li>
<li><strong>Lookout,</strong> which is a cybersecurity company, had <strong>partnered with Citizen Lab</strong> to <strong>investigate Pegasus</strong> and found that it had exploited three zero-day vulnerabilities in iOS to successfully attain all the user access of the phone.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>A <strong>zero-day vulnerability</strong> is a flaw in a software or hardware that is previously unknown to the party responsible.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>In WhatsApp case, a <strong>specially crafted call</strong> was used to trigger a buffer overflow, which in turn was <strong>used to take control of the device.</strong></li>
<li>Pegasus is <strong>state-of-the-art spyware </strong>and <strong>NSO charges an exorbitant sum for its product and services.</strong></li>
</ul>
<h3>Challenges</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Multiple ways and various technologies</strong> like social engineering, exploiting user apps and then using the vulnerabilities make this issue hard to solve.</li>
<li>The Google Play Store and the Apple App store have thousands of apps with <strong>undiscovered vulnerabilities</strong> that could potentially be exploited by firms such as NSO to target individual users.</li>
<li>By mainly targeting WhatsApp only the <strong>focus is shifted from other potential means</strong> through which it can be used further and leave a far bigger impact.</li>
<li><strong>Lack of awareness and specialists in digital security</strong> makes this a vulnerable sector.</li>
<li><strong>Terrorists and other anti-social elements</strong> have started using more of cyberspace which provides them with more getaways.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Solutions</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Users</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>It is important to keep the <strong>phone updated for ensuring the security</strong> of the devices, both the applications and the firmware.</li>
<li>It is necessary to be <strong>self-aware about digital security</strong> because compromise in that could lead to a situation of total surveillance.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Government</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>It needs to <strong>investigate into the matter</strong> so that such future incidents can be prevented.</li>
<li>It should make <strong>stricter rules and restrictions for the applications</strong> made available in the country and monitor the most commonly used applications without breaching the privacy of the individuals.</li>
<li><a href="/to-the-points/paper3/cyber-security" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Laws</strong> </a>on digital privacy and security need to be implemented more strictly.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Digital literacy</strong> should be increased to spread <strong>awareness about cyber threats.</strong></li>
<li><strong>Computing environment</strong> and<strong> Internet of Things</strong>&nbsp;(It is a network of physical devices, vehicles, home appliances and other items embedded with electronics, software, sensors, actuators and connectivity which enables these things to connect, collect and exchange data) with current tools, patches, updates need to be secured.</li>
<li><a href="/loksabha-rajyasabha-discussions/in-depth-artificial-intelligence" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Artificial Intelligence (AI)</strong></a> should be used for predicting and accurately identifying digital attacks and breaches.</li>
</ul>
<p>The need of the hour for the Indian government is to develop core skills in data integrity and data security fields, while also setting stringent cybersecurity standards to protect individuals and institutions of national importance, to make sure that the unity of the nation and the integrity of the individuals stay safe and secure.</p>
<table border="1" style="border-collapse: collapse; width: 100%;">
<tbody>
<tr>
<td style="width: 100%; border-style: dotted; border-color: #ff0000; background-color: #fffcd4;">
<p><span style="color: #0000ff;"><em><strong>Drishti Mains Question</strong></em></span></p>
<p>In light of the recent issue regarding Spyware Pegasus, examine the privacy and security concerns for India. Also, suggest a suitable way forward.</p>
</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>',
		'postdate' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenTime) {},
		'url' => 'https://www.drishtiias.com/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/spyware-pegasus'
	],
	(int) 9 => [
		'title' => 'World Conference on Access to Medical Products',
		'catname' => 'News Analysis',
		'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>The 2019 World Conference on Access to Medical Products: Achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) 2030 was convened from 19<sup>th</sup>-21<sup>st</sup> November in New Delhi.</p>
<h3>Background</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>It was <strong>jointly organized</strong> by the <strong>Ministry of Health &amp; Family Welfare</strong> and the <a href="/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-international-institution/world-health-organization-who" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>World Health Organization</strong></a> in <strong>collaboration with</strong> the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR), Biotechnology Industry Research Assistance Council (BIRAC), and Translational Health Science and Technology Institute (THSTI).</li>
<li>The 2019 Conference was the third such gathering after the 2017 and 2018 World Conference on Access to Medical Products organized in November 2017 and October 2018 by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Government of India.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>It sought to take forward the international and national agenda on <strong>access to medical products.</strong></li>
<li>The <strong>objectives</strong> of the conference were:<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>UHC and Innovation:</strong> Explore new approaches in the innovation landscape in medical products for achieving Universal Health Coverage (UHC) and the SDG 2030 goals.</li>
<li><strong>Regulation of medical products and access:</strong> Identify regulatory mechanisms for improved access to quality and safe medical products.</li>
<li><strong>Legal landscape and trade-related aspects:</strong> Discuss the role of intellectual property and current trade agreements to promote access to medical products.</li>
<li>To track the progress of recommendations from the 2018 World Conference on Access to Medical Products for achieving UHC in the context of SDGs.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Note:</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><a href="/loksabha-rajyasabha-discussions/in-depth-indias-sustainable-development-goals" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Sustainable Development Goal-3</strong></a> (SDG 3)- <strong>Good Health and Well-being</strong> aims at ensuring healthy lives and promote well-being for all at all ages.</li>
<li>Health finds mention in many of the 17 SDGs, as each has a direct or indirect bearing on health.</li>
</ul>
</div>
<p><a href="https://pib.gov.in/PressReleseDetailm.aspx?PRID=1592148" 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/world-conference-on-access-to-medical-products'
	],
	(int) 10 => [
		'title' => 'Monitoring Aerosol Optical Depth',
		'catname' => 'News Analysis',
		'desc' => '<p>The imager payload onboard ISRO&rsquo;s weather satellites <strong>INSAT-3D &amp; 3DR,</strong> is being used to monitor Aerosol Optical Depth (AOD).</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>AOD is an indicator of particles and smoke from biomass</strong> burning affecting visibility and increase of PM2.5 and PM10 concentration in the atmosphere.</li>
<li>It has been found that <strong>AOD, PM2.5 and PM10 concentrations are higher over Indo-Gangetic Plain</strong> covering parts of Delhi, Uttar Pradesh and Bihar during October and November.</li>
<li>High concentration of these pollutants originate from parts of Punjab and Haryana during stubble burning.</li>
<li>Fire occurrences have increased by 4% over Punjab and Haryana region during October- November between 2003 and 2017.</li>
<li>ISRO has been using satellite data since 2015 to monitor<strong> stubble burning and to generate</strong> the maps of stubble burned area in Kharif season.</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Note:</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Aerosol Optical Depth</strong> is a measure of the extinction of the solar beam by dust and haze.</li>
<li>Particles in the atmosphere (dust, smoke, pollution) can block sunlight by absorbing or by scattering light. AOD tells us how much direct sunlight is prevented from reaching the ground by these aerosol particles.</li>
</ul>
</div>
<h3>INSAT-3D &amp; 3DR satellites</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>India gets weather updates every 15 minutes through INSAT-3D &amp; 3DR weather satellites.</li>
<li>INSAT 3DR was launched in 2016 as a follow up on INSAT-3D which was launched in 2013.</li>
</ul>',
		'postdate' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenTime) {},
		'url' => 'https://www.drishtiias.com/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/monitoring-aerosol-optical-depth'
	],
	(int) 11 => [
		'title' => 'World Children’s Day',
		'catname' => 'News Analysis',
		'desc' => '<p>World Children&rsquo;s Day is celebrated on <strong>20<sup>th</sup> November</strong> each year to promote international togetherness and awareness among children worldwide, and improve children's welfare.</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>20<sup>th</sup> November is an important date as:<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The <a href="/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-international-institution/united-nations-1" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>United Nations (UN) General Assembly</strong></a> adopted the <strong>Declaration of the Rights of the Child in 1959.</strong></li>
<li>The UN General Assembly adopted the <strong>Convention on the Rights of the Child </strong>in <strong>1989.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>To commemorate the 30<sup>th</sup> anniversary of the Convention on the Rights of the Child, the <a href="/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-international-institution/unicef-1" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>United Nation Children&rsquo;s Fund (UNICEF)</strong></a> undertook the <strong>'Go Blue' campaign</strong> wherein landmark buildings around the world lit up blue on 20<sup>th</sup> November 2019 to show support for child rights. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Indian Parliament</strong> was also part of the same.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Convention on the Rights of the Child</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>It is a treaty adopted by the United Nations General Assembly in <strong>1989.</strong></li>
<li>Under the Convention, every human being <strong>under 18</strong> years old is <strong>recognized as a child.</strong></li>
<li>It sets out the civil, political, economic, social and cultural rights of every child, regardless of their race, religion or abilities.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>It includes rights such as Right to Education, Right to Rest and Leisure, Right to Protection from Mental or Physical Abuse including Rape and Sexual Exploitation.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>It is the<strong> world&rsquo;s most widely ratified human rights treaty.</strong></li>
</ul>
</div>
<h3>Initiatives Taken by India</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>India</strong> celebrates <strong>Children&rsquo;s Day</strong> on <strong>14<sup>th</sup> November</strong> every year.</li>
<li>India <strong>ratified the Convention on the Rights of the Child</strong> in 1992.</li>
<li>The <strong>under-5 mortality rate has fallen</strong> significantly from the 1990 level of 117 per 1000 live births to <strong>39 in 2016.</strong></li>
<li>The number of <strong>children having access to drinking water</strong> has increased from 62% in 1992 to 92% in 2019.</li>
<li>The <strong>National Policy for Children, 2013</strong> was adopted to affirm the Government&rsquo;s commitment to a rights based approach in addressing the continuing and emerging challenges in the situation of children.</li>
<li><a href="/to-the-points/Paper2/right-to-education" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>The Right to Education Act 2009</strong></a>, has increased primary school attendance rates for girls from 61% to near universal in the same period.</li>
<li><strong>Prohibition of Child Marriage Act 2006</strong> saw prevalence of child marriage declining from 47% girls married before age 18 in 2005-2006, to 27% in 2015-2016.</li>
<li>With novel programmes and approaches like <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/important-facts-for-prelims-25th-january-2019" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Beti Bachao-Beti Padhao,</strong></a> child friendly schools, child budgets and <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/challenges-in-national-nutrition-mission" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>POSHAN Abhiyan,</strong></a> the States and the Union government are ensuring that children have adequate protection and opportunities for growth and development.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Way Forward</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The Government needs to <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/malnutrition-in-india-1" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>focus on the nutrition of children</strong></a> as presently 21% of children under age five years are wasted and 36% of children under age five years are underweight.</li>
<li>The Government also needs to ensure <strong>inclusive education</strong> by placing special focus on securing education to the more vulnerable differently abled children.</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="https://pib.gov.in/PressReleseDetail.aspx?PRID=1592515" 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/world-children-s-day'
	],
	(int) 12 => [
		'title' => 'Resetting Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code ',
		'catname' => 'News Editorials',
		'desc' => '<div class="border">
<p>This article is based on <a href="https://indianexpress.com/article/opinion/columns/essar-steel-case-insolvency-and-bankruptcy-code-rbi-6127721/" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>&ldquo;Reset the Code&rdquo;</strong></a> that was published in The Indian Express on 20/11/2019. It talks about the Supreme Court judgement on Essar Steel&rsquo;s bankruptcy and reasons why companies are turning away from Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code.</p>
</div>
<p>Recently, the Supreme Court of India gave a <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/essar-insolvency-case" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>judgement on Essar Steel&rsquo;s bankruptcy.</strong></a> The judgement has brought the rigour and momentum back into the <a href="/loksabha-rajyasabha-discussions/in-depth-insolvency-and-bankruptcy-code-act" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code (IBC)</strong></a> as an effective tool to deal with stressed assets in the economy.</p>
<p>The verdict has clarified on important aspects of insolvency resolution that had been interpreted in different ways by the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/important-fact-for-prelims-4th-march-2019-" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>National Company Law Tribunal</strong></a> and <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/national-company-law-appellate-tribunal-nclat" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>National Company Law Appellate Tribunal (NCLAT).</strong></a></p>
<p>However, there is growing scepticism against IBC, that is making companies resolve the bigger cases outside the IBC process.</p>
<h3>What is the judgement?</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>SC has upheld the <strong>primacy of financial creditors over operational creditors</strong> in the repayments waterfall (in the event of liquidation of assets under IBC).<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Financial creditors provide capital to an enterprise and their <strong>interests are secured</strong> in the form of collaterals on the firm&rsquo;s assets.</li>
<li>Operational creditors are the main suppliers of goods and services <strong>(unsecured creditors).</strong></li>
<li>SC held that operational creditors cannot claim equality or precedence over financial creditors.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>SC held that <strong>Committee of Creditors (CoC) is supreme</strong> when it comes to deciding on commercial issues, including the repayment waterfall, in an insolvency resolution.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The NCLAT sought to acquire the role of the Committee of Creditors (CoC) in an insolvency resolution.</li>
<li>Since CoC represents the lenders to the companies, therefore its interest will be of prime importance in resolution of a bad loan.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>These two clarifications should alone help in <strong>quickening a number of other cases,</strong> that are stuck in the insolvency courts across the country.</li>
</ul>
<p>In spite of these clarifications, many creditors companies seek to bypass the IBC process. <strong>Several factors have prompted this shift.</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Delay in IBC:</strong> Time-bound resolution process was one of the most appealing aspects of IBC. However, <strong>delays</strong> create little incentive for stakeholders to opt for this process.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Out of nearly 1,500 cases that are currently going through the resolution process, 36% have crossed 270 days, while another 22% have crossed 180 days.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Low Recovery rate:</strong> Barring a few cases, the recovery rates in IBC have not have been on expected lines.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The recovery rates under SARFAESI averaged around 33 %. In comparison, the recovery rate under IBC currently stands at 41 %.</li>
<li>However, the higher recovery rates are driven partly by the resolution of steel companies during a period that coincided with high global steel prices. Excluding steel, companies would significantly lower the recovery rates.</li>
<li>Also, recovery rates tend to be pro-cyclical (during high economic growth phases, businesses tend to be inclined to bid more for assets as expectations for higher returns).<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Due to slowing Indian economy, not only recovery rates were low in the cases resolved, but more than half of the cases closed so far have ended up in liquidation as there have been no buyers.</li>
<li>Thus, there is little incentive to resolve bad loans through IBC.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Administrative hurdle:</strong> Instances such as the enforcement directorate attaching property also make recovery process under IBC unprofitable.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Way Forward</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The provisioning norms for bad loans should be made more stringent to ensure banks have strong incentives to take companies through this process.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Provisioning</strong> is done to cover risk: Banks set aside money from profits to compensate a probable loss caused on <strong>lending </strong>a<strong> loan.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>There is a need for <strong>clarity on the role of promoters.</strong> As long as they are not willful defaulters and don&rsquo;t attract any other related disqualification, should be allowed to bid for their companies.</li>
<li>The<strong> strategy (Project Sashakt) proposed by Sunil Mehta Committee</strong> to resolve the bad loans must be implemented in letter and spirit.</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p>Project Sashakt was launched on the recommendations of <strong>Sunil Mehta Committee.</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Under the scheme, bad loans of up to ₹ 50 crores are required to be resolved within 90 days by the bank.</li>
<li>For loans of ₹ 50-500 crore, banks will have to enter into an intercreditor agreement, authorizing the lead bank to implement a resolution plan within 180 days, which includes appointing turnaround specialists.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>If the lead bank does not complete the process in time, the asset would be referred to the NCLT.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>For loans above ₹ 500 crores, the committee has recommended setting up an independent asset management company (AMC), supported by institutional funding or an alternative investment fund (AIF)</li>
</ul>
</div>
<p>Addressing these issues would go a long way in ensuring that IBC is the preferred option for dealing with bad loans rather than being the last resort.</p>
<table border="1" style="border-collapse: collapse; width: 100%;">
<tbody>
<tr>
<td style="width: 100%; border-style: dotted; border-color: #bc8cff; background-color: #f7f0d0;"><span style="color: #000080;"><em><strong>Drishti Mains Question</strong></em></span><br /><br />In spite of clarifications on Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code by the Supreme Court of India, many creditor companies seek to bypass the IBC process. Comment.</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<p></p>',
		'postdate' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenTime) {},
		'url' => 'https://www.drishtiias.com/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/resetting-insolvency-and-bankruptcy-code'
	],
	(int) 13 => [
		'title' => 'Srisailam Dam',
		'catname' => 'News Analysis',
		'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Several floods in the region have created a need for repair and maintenance of the Srisailam dam.</li>
<li>The Srisailam dam is constructed across the <strong>Krishna River</strong> in <strong>Andhra Pradesh.</strong></li>
<li>It is located in the<strong> Nallamala hills.</strong></li>
</ul>
<p><a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1574242066_image5.jpg" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1574242066_image5.jpg" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" caption="false" width="436" height="271" /></strong></a></p>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Krishna River</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The Krishna River is the <strong>second biggest river</strong> in peninsular India after the Godavari River.</li>
<li>It <strong>originates near Mahabaleshwar (Satara)</strong> in <strong>Maharashtra.</strong></li>
<li>It<strong> runs</strong> from<strong> four states</strong> Maharashtra (303 km), North Karnataka (480 km) and the rest of its 1300 km journey in Telangana and Andhra Pradesh before it empties into the Bay of Bengal.</li>
<li><strong>Tributaries:</strong> Tungabhadra, Mallaprabha, Koyna, Bhima, Ghataprabha, Yerla, Warna, Dindi, Musi and Dudhganga.</li>
<li>Pattiseema Lift Irrigation project is the<strong> first river-linking project</strong> in India, connecting Godavari with Krishna through the Polavaram right canal. It will divert surplus Godavari water to Krishna river.</li>
</ul>
</div>
<p><a href="https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/andhra-pradesh/srisailam-dam-in-need-of-urgent-maintenance/article30020482.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/srisailam-dam'
	],
	(int) 14 => [
		'title' => 'West Bank Settlements',
		'catname' => 'News Analysis',
		'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>The United States has declared that it does not consider Israeli settlements on the West Bank a violation of international law.</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The U.S.A.'s stand is different from that of most countries on the issue.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Even the USA considered the West Bank settlements as <strong>illegitimate since 1978.</strong> However in 2016, the US did not veto a resolution that called for an end to Israeli settlements.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>The current stand of the USA <strong>reverses four decades of U.S. policy.</strong></li>
</ul>
<h3>West Bank Settlements</h3>
<p><a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1574241522_image6.jpg" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1574241522_image6.jpg" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="488" height="614" caption="false" /></a></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>West Bank (about one and a half times the size of Goa) is a <strong>landlocked territory</strong> in West Asia. It also contains a <strong>significant section of the western dead sea.</strong></li>
<li>It was captured by Jordan after the <a href="/to-the-points/Paper2/israel-palestine" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Arab-Israeli War (1948)</strong></a> but Israel snatched it back during the <strong>Six-Day War of 1967</strong> and <strong>has occupied it ever since.</strong></li>
<li>At present,<strong> there are around 130 formal Israeli settlements</strong> along with <strong>26 lakh Palestinians</strong> at West Bank.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Global Stand over West Bank Settlements</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Majority of the countries&rsquo;</strong> consider West Bank settlements<strong> illegal</strong> and an <strong>occupied territory.</strong></li>
<li>The <a href="/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-international-institution/united-nations-1" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>United Nations General Assembly</strong></a>, the <a href="/search/un-security-council-reforms" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>UN Security Council</strong></a>, and the <a href="/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-international-institution/international-court-of-justice-icj" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>International Court of Justice</strong></a> have declared that the West Bank settlements are violative of the <strong>Fourth Geneva Convention.</strong></li>
<li>Under the Fourth Geneva Convention (1949), an occupying power <strong>&ldquo;shall not deport or transfer parts of its own civilian population into the territory it occupies&rdquo;.</strong></li>
</ul>
<h3>Way Forward</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Under the Oslo Accords of the 1990s, both Israel and the Palestinians agreed that the status of settlements would be decided by negotiations. But the negotiations process has been all but dead for several years now. Thus the world at large needs to come together for a peaceful solution for Israel-Palestine conflict.</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="https://indianexpress.com/article/explained/west-bank-what-change-in-us-policy-means-6127732/" 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/west-bank-settlements'
	],
	(int) 15 => [
		'title' => 'National Skills Study',
		'catname' => 'News Analysis',
		'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>According to a study conducted by the <strong>National Skill Development Corporation</strong> (NSDC), 7 crore additional individuals in the working-age (15-59 years) are expected to enter the labour force by 2023. Of this 84.3% will be in the age group 15-30 years.</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The NSDC has projected trends in the country&rsquo;s labour market potential during 2019-23 based on:<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Periodic Labour Force Survey</strong> (PLFS) for 2017-18,</li>
<li><strong>Crude Death Rates</strong> (CDR) at gender and region (rural/urban) level, and</li>
<li><strong>Employment-Unemployment Survey</strong> (EUS), 2011-12 (68th round).</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Key Findings</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Gender:</strong> According to the study, <strong>one out of five</strong> persons (15-30 years age) entering the labour force is expected to be a <strong>female</strong> by 2023. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Female labour force participation rate for 15 years and above is estimated at 23.3%.</li>
<li>According to <strong>World Bank data,</strong> India&rsquo;s female labour force participation rate ranks much lower than other Asian economies in 2019, including Vietnam (73 %), China (61 %), Singapore (60 %), Bangladesh (36 %). It is closer to the estimates in countries such as Lebanon (24 %), Pakistan (24 %), Libya (26 %), Tunisia (24 %) and Sudan (24 %).</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Education:</strong> According to NSDC, many female candidates in the age group of 15-19 years may not be actively present in the labour force. They would instead opt for <strong>higher education.</strong></li>
<li><strong>Age:</strong> Of the total <strong>youth entrants</strong> (aged 15-30 years) during these four years (2019-23), half are expected to come from the 15-20 years age group.</li>
<li><strong>State-wise:</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Only <em><strong>six states- Uttar Pradesh, Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, Bihar, Tamil Nadu, and Karnataka</strong> </em>are expected to account for <strong>50%</strong> of the new youth entrants (15-30 years) during 2019-23.</li>
<li>Among female youth (15-30 years), the highest numbers of new entrants are expected in the years 2021 and 2023 each, while among male youth, the highest number of new entrants are expected in 2023.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>National Skill Development Corporation (NSDC)</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>It is a <strong>public-private-partnership</strong> working under the aegis of the <strong>Ministry of Skill Development &amp; Entrepreneurship.</strong></li>
<li>NSDC aims to promote skill development by catalyzing the creation of large, quality and for-profit vocational institutions. It acts as a catalyst in skill development by providing funding to enterprises, companies, and organizations that provide skill training.</li>
<li>NSDC is the <strong>implementation agency</strong> for skills training in the country.</li>
</ul>
</div>
<p><a href="https://indianexpress.com/article/india/skills-study-over-next-5-years-just-1-in-5-entrants-to-labour-force-a-woman-6127848/" 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/national-skills-study'
	],
	(int) 16 => [
		'title' => 'Maha Bodhi Temple Complex',
		'catname' => 'News Analysis',
		'desc' => '<p>Bhutan&rsquo;s Foreign Minister recently visited Maha Bodhi Temple in Bodh Gaya, Bihar.<a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1574238671_image3.jpg" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1574238671_image3.jpg" width="259" height="259" style="float: right;" caption="false" /></a></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The Maha Bodhi Temple Complex is <strong>one of the four holy sites</strong> related to the life of the <a href="/to-the-points/paper1/buddhism-in-india" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Lord Buddha</strong></a>, and particularly to the attainment of Enlightenment (Bodhi).<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The other three are: Lumbini (Birth) in Nepal, Sarnath (Dharma-Chakra-Pravartana - 1<sup>st</sup> Sermon) and Kushinagar (Mahaparinirvana- death) in Uttar Pradesh.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>The original structure was built by the Mauryan emperor Ashoka. However, it was reconstructed entirely in brick in late Gupta period. The present temple dates from the 5th or 6th centuries.</li>
<li>The site of the Mahabodhi Temple provides exceptional records of the events associated with the life of Buddha and subsequent worship.</li>
<li>A descendant of the<strong> Bodhi tree</strong> under which the Buddha is said to have sat until he attained enlightenment stands adjacent to the temple. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Ashoka&rsquo;s stone slab purporting to mark the exact position where the Buddha sat is traditionally called the <strong>Buddha&rsquo;s vajrasana</strong> (literally &ldquo;diamond throne&rdquo; or &ldquo;thunder seat&rdquo;).</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>It was recognized as a <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/kailash-mansarovar-in-tentative-list-of-world-heritage-sites" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>UNESCO World Heritage site</strong></a> in 2002.</li>
</ul>',
		'postdate' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenTime) {},
		'url' => 'https://www.drishtiias.com/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/maha-bodhi-temple-complex'
	],
	(int) 17 => [
		'title' => 'Road Accidents in India - 2018',
		'catname' => 'News Analysis',
		'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>The Ministry of Road Transport and Highways has released the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/ministrys-report-on-road-accidents-in-india" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>annual report</strong></a> on <strong>Road Accidents in India.</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The report shows <strong>53 crashes and the loss of 17 lives every hour.</strong></li>
<li>The road traffic injuries were the eighth leading cause of death in India in 2018.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<p><a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1574238426_image1.jpg" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1574238426_image1.jpg" width="559" height="429" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" caption="false" /></a></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Global Analysis:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>According to <strong>World Road Statistics ( 2018), India</strong> reports the <strong>highest</strong> number of road accident deaths<strong> followed by the US and China.</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>World Road Statistics is released by the <strong>World Road Federation.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>As per the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/global-status-report-on-road-safety-who" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>WHO Global Report on Road Safety 2018</strong></a>, India accounts for almost <strong>11%</strong> of the accident-related deaths in the world.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>National Analysis:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>The road accidents numerics:</strong>
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>It kills almost<strong> 1.5 lakh</strong> people <strong>annually in India.</strong></li>
<li>The accidents, as well as accident-related deaths in the <strong>period 2010-2018, dropped drastically</strong> compared with the previous decades, <strong>despite the very high rate of growth of automobiles.</strong></li>
<li>The <strong>road accident severity</strong> (the number of persons killed per 100 accidents) has <strong>increased by 0.6%</strong> in 2018 compared to 2017.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Major Cause:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li><strong>Over-speeding</strong> is a major cause, accounting for <strong>64.4%</strong> of the persons killed. As the <strong>maximum number of road accidents</strong> occurred on <strong>straight roads.</strong></li>
<li><strong>Two-wheelers</strong> accounted for the <strong>highest share (35.2%)</strong> in total accidents in 2018.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Age:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>The <strong>young adults (18-45 years)</strong> accounted for nearly <strong>69.6%</strong> of road accident victims.</li>
<li><strong>Minors</strong> involved in road crash deaths were at <strong>6.6% of the total deaths.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Gender:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>The share of <strong>males</strong> in the number of total accident deaths was <strong>86%</strong> while the share of<strong> females</strong> was around <strong>14%</strong> in 2018</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>State-wise Analysis:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>As in 2017, the State of<strong> Tamil Nadu</strong> recorded the<strong> highest number of road accidents</strong> in 2018.</li>
<li>Similarly, as in 2017, the <strong>number of persons killed in a road accident</strong> was the<strong> highest in Uttar Pradesh</strong> in 2018.</li>
<li><strong>Delhi</strong> has been ranked <strong>first</strong> in the <strong>total number of road fatalities</strong> compared to other <strong>Indian cities.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Significance of Road Safety</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Road transport is the<strong> dominant mode of transport in India,</strong> in terms of traffic share and in terms of contribution to the national economy.</li>
<li>A <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/road-accidents-in-india-1" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>negative externality of expansion in the road network,</strong></a> motorization, and urbanization in the country is the increase in road accidents and road crash fatalities.</li>
<li>Road traffic injuries are one of the leading causes of death, disabilities and hospitalization in the country imposing huge socio-economic costs.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Steps taken at Global Level</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Brasilia Declaration on Road Safety (2015):</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The declaration was signed at the<strong> second Global High-Level Conference on Road Safety held in Brazil.</strong> The first conference was held in Russia (2009).</li>
<li>Through the Brasilia Declaration countries plan to achieve the <a href="/loksabha-rajyasabha-discussions/in-depth-indias-sustainable-development-goals" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Sustainable Development Goal 3.6</strong></a> i.e.to half the number of global deaths and injuries from road traffic accidents by 2030.</li>
<li><strong>United Nations</strong> has also declared <strong>2010-2020 as the decade of action for Road Safety.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>UN Global Road Safety Week:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>It is celebrated <strong>every two years,</strong> the fifth edition of the UN Global Road Safety Week (6-12 May 2019) highlighted the need for strong leadership for road safety.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>The International Road Assessment Programme (iRAP) :</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>It is a registered charity dedicated to saving lives through safer roads.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Steps taken Indian Government</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>India has signed the</strong> <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/global-status-report-on-road-safety-who" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Brasilia declaration</strong></a> and committed to reduce the number of deaths and injuries from road traffic accidents.</li>
<li><strong>Motor Vehicles Amendment Act, 2019</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>It hikes the penalties for traffic violations, defective vehicles, juvenile driving, etc.</li>
<li>It provides for a <strong>Motor Vehicle Accident Fund,</strong> which would provide compulsory insurance cover to all road users in India for certain types of accidents.</li>
<li>It also provides for a <strong>National Road Safety Board,</strong> to be created by the Central Government through a notification.</li>
<li>The act also provides for the <strong>protection of good samaritans.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Justice K.S. Radhakrishnan Committee</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Supreme Court had set up the three-member KS Radhakrishnan panel on <a href="/to-the-points/paper3/road-safety-1" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>road safety</strong></a> in 2014. The SC had termed the roads in India as &ldquo;giant killers&rdquo;</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/53-road-crashes-17-deaths-per-hour-in-2018-annual-government-report/article30019969.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/road-accidents-in-india-2018'
	],
	(int) 18 => [
		'title' => 'Solar Eclipse',
		'catname' => 'News Analysis',
		'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>Cheruvathur in Kasaragod district, Kerala is one of the three places in the world where the solar eclipse will be most clearly seen on December 26, 2019.</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>It will be an <strong>annular solar eclipse</strong> in which the <strong>&lsquo;ring of fire&rsquo;</strong>- a characteristic of this kind of solar eclipse could be clearly observed.</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1574237575_image2.jpg" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1574237575_image2.jpg" width="533" height="280" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" caption="false" /></a></p>
<h3>Solar Eclipse</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>A <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/total-solar-eclipse-2019" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>solar eclipse</strong></a> is a phenomenon that happens when the moon comes in the way of the sun&rsquo;s light. The moon's shadow casts itself on Earth, blocking out the sun's light (as seen from Earth).</li>
<li>The moon's shadow has<strong> two parts:</strong> a central region<strong> (umbra)</strong> and an outer region <strong>(penumbra).</strong> Depending upon which part of the shadow passes over the Earth, one of three types of solar eclipses could be observed:<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Total Solar Eclipse-</strong> The entire central portion of the sun is blocked out by the moon.</li>
<li><strong>Partial Solar Eclipse-</strong> Only part of the sun's surface is blocked out.</li>
<li style="text-align: left;"><strong>Annular Solar Eclipse-</strong> The sun is covered in such a way that only a small ring-like sliver of light is seen from the sun's disc. This ring is known as the<strong> ring of fire.</strong>&nbsp;<a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1574237721_image3.png" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1574237721_image3.png" width="155" height="227" caption="false" style="float: right;" /></a><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>An annular eclipse happens when the moon <strong>is farthest from Earth.</strong> As the moon is farther away from Earth, it seems smaller and is<strong> unable to block the entire view of the sun,</strong> because of which the ring-like structure could be observed.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The <strong>total eclipse</strong> happens about every year and a half somewhere on Earth, while the <strong>partial eclipse</strong> happens at least twice a year somewhere on Earth.</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/kerala/cheruvathur-to-get-first-glimpse-of-solar-eclipse-in-india/article30020048.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/solar-eclipse-1'
	],
	(int) 19 => [
		'title' => 'New Sri Lanka Leadership',
		'catname' => 'News Editorials',
		'desc' => '<div class="border">
<p>This article is based on <a href="https://indianexpress.com/article/opinion/columns/gotabaya-rajapaksa-sri-lanka-elections-colombo-6126280/" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>&ldquo;Towards a Colombo Reset&rdquo;</strong></a> which was published in Indian Express on 19/11/2019. It talks about the implications of new Sri Lankan leadership, on India.</p>
</div>
<p>Recently, <strong>Gotabaya Rajapaksa</strong> is elected as new President of Sri Lanka. This election was based on security issues that emerged after a suicide bombing attack (claimed by Islamic State) on Easter Sunday this year.</p>
<p>Rajapaksa's win signals the return to power for the controversial family, that is known for its pro-China tilt and also infamously remembered for its brutal acts against Tamil minorities in pursuit of ending the <strong>Sri Lankan civil war</strong> in 2009.</p>
<h3>Rajapaksa Factor</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Recent elections in Sri Lanka mark the return of the Rajapaksa brothers to power.</li>
<li>Sri Lanka witnessed an authoritarian family rule <strong>under former president Mahinda Rajapaksa between 2005 and 2015.</strong></li>
<li>Gotabaya Rajapaksa (brother of Mahinda Rajapaksa), a former defence secretary and intelligence officer, accused of committing human rights violations, hailed by many for ending the civil war.</li>
<li>Also, India's relations with Sri Lanka went through a troubled patch during the Mahinda Rajapaksa presidency due to his proximity with China.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Implications for India</h3>
<p><strong>On the issue of Pro-China tilt</strong></p>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Geopolitical significance of Sri Lanka</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Sri Lanka&rsquo;s location in the Indian Ocean region as an island State has been of strategic geopolitical relevance to several major powers.</li>
<li>Sri Lanka&rsquo;s location can serve both commercial purposes and be used as a military base.</li>
<li>Citing these geopolitical advantages China made massive investments during the Mahinda Rajapaksa tenure.</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>String of Pearls</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>China is building state of the art gigantic modern ports all along the Indian Ocean and to the south of it, in Gwadar (Pakistan), Chittagong (Bangladesh, Kyauk Phru (Myanmar) and <strong>Hambantota (Sri Lanka).</strong></li>
<li>The string of pearls is a strategic threat to India, as it aims to encircle India to establish Chinese dominance in the Indian Ocean.</li>
</ul>
</div>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>With the new Sri Lankan President, the narrative about Sri Lanka's renewed tilt towards China has become an issue of concern for India.</li>
<li>Sri Lanka sits at the heart of the Indian Ocean and holds one of the pearls of that String of Pearls (Hambantota).<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>China&rsquo;s interest in maritime silk route and continuous energy flow to the country has resulted in a &ldquo;String of Pearls&rdquo; across the Indian Ocean Region (IOR).</li>
<li>China&rsquo;s <strong>debt-trap diplomacy</strong> has led it towards grabbing a 99-year lease on the Hambantota port.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>However, labelling governments in <strong>Sri Lanka as &ldquo;pro-China&rdquo; or &ldquo;pro-India&rdquo; is irrelevant.</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>China&rsquo;s economic and strategic salience in the subcontinent is not tied to the regime leadership.</li>
<li>Previous Sri Lankan President Maithripala Sirisena (considered as pro-India) came to power criticising the Chinese projects in Sri Lanka, but within two years into power, it extended full backing to the Chinese projects.</li>
<li>To add insult to injury, the so called &ldquo;pro-India&rdquo; government stalled key projects (housing projects in Sri Lanka) to India.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>On the issue of Tamils minorities</h3>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>History of Civil War</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Sri Lanka has been mired in ethnic conflict since the country, formerly known as Ceylon, became independent from British rule in 1948.</li>
<li>In the years following independence, the Sinhalese (Buddhist-majority community), who resented British favouritism toward Tamils (a minority community) during the colonial period, disenfranchised Tamil migrant plantation workers and made Sinhala the official language.</li>
<li>In 1972, the Sinhalese changed the country&rsquo;s name from Ceylon to Sri Lanka and made Buddhism nation&rsquo;s primary religion.</li>
<li>In reaction to this, the LTTE (Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam) was formed (in 1976) under the leadership of Velupillai Prabhakaran, and it began to campaign for a Tamil homeland in northern and eastern Sri Lanka, where most of the island&rsquo;s Tamils reside.</li>
<li>By 1983, this ethnic clash between Sinhalese and Tamilians became a civil war which ended in 2009.</li>
</ul>
</div>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Tamil issue is no longer a bilateral issue between India and Sri Lanka. The Western countries have expressed deep concerns about the war crimes in the military campaign against the LTTE.</li>
<li>India's concern is that any additional international pressure on Sri Lanka will automatically increase China&rsquo;s leverage in Sri Lanka.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Way Forward</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>In the era of globalisation, India can&rsquo;t expect its neighbouring countries to shut down economic and commercial engagement with China.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>However, India and Sri Lanka need a clear <strong>understanding of mutual red lines</strong> relating to national security and a political comfort level.</li>
<li>This should help prevent the recurrence of the controversy over Chinese submarines in Colombo port that generated so much bad blood between the two nations in 2014.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>India is having a stable government at the centre which is not bound by the compulsions of coalition politics. This stability in the Indian government should find synergy with new Sri Lankan president policy which includes<strong> &ldquo;neutrality&rdquo; and &ldquo;non-alignment&rdquo; between major powers.</strong></li>
<li>India needs to invest some political capital in resolving problems such as the long-standing dispute over fisheries and Katchatheevu island dispute.</li>
<li>India in partnership with like-minded countries like Japan should offer sustainable terms for developing infrastructure, defence and counter-terror capabilities in Sri Lanka.</li>
</ul>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Katchatheevu is an uninhabited islet in the Palk Strait.</li>
<li>Ownership of the island was controversial up until 1974 as during British rule the island was administered by both countries.</li>
<li>India recognized Sri Lanka&rsquo;s equal ownership. However, the legality of the transfer was challenged in the Indian Supreme Court since the recognizing was not ratified by the Indian parliament.</li>
<li>Due to this some sections of Indian society(mainly from Tamil Nadu) claims India&rsquo;s sovereignty over it.</li>
</ul>
</div>
<p>Asian powers particularly India and China must ensure that Asia should not enter the age of great power rivalries, as Asia in the rivalry will hold us back and Asia in cooperation will shape the century.</p>
<table border="1" style="border-collapse: collapse; width: 100%;">
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<td style="width: 100%; border-style: dotted; border-color: #ff0808; background-color: #fdffd9;"><span style="color: #0000ff;"><em><strong>Drishti Mains Question</strong></em></span><br /><br />Examine India Sri Lanka relations in perspective of changing geopolitics of South Asian region.</td>
</tr>
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