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Exercise Samudra Shakti

Why in News Recently, India and Indonesia have carried out the bilateral maritime exercise “Samudra Shakti” in the Bay of Bengal. The...

08 Nov 2019 News Analysis
New Subtype of HIV Discovered

Why in News Recently, the researchers have discovered a new subtype of the Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) called HIV-1 Group M, subtype L. It is...

08 Nov 2019 News Analysis
Cyclone Bulbul

Why in News The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued an orange alert in Indian states of West Bengal and Odisha over Cyclone Bulbul in...

08 Nov 2019 News Analysis
India Justice Report, 2019

Why in News Recently, the India Justice Report (2019) prepared by the Tata Trusts in collaboration with the Centre for Social Justice, Common Cause,...

08 Nov 2019 News Analysis
BIMSTEC Ports Conclave

Why in News The first-ever BIMSTEC Conclave of Ports is being held at Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh on 7th and 8th November 2019. Key...

08 Nov 2019 News Analysis
Kalapani Territory

Why in News In the recently released political map of India, after the bifurcation of the state of Jammu and Kashmir (J&K) into the Union...

08 Nov 2019 News Analysis
Vaccine Hesitancy

This article is based on “An unwanted booster dose for vaccine hesitancy” that was published in The Hindu on 07/11/2019. It talks about...

07 Nov 2019 News Editorials
India and Brazil Signed Amended DTAC

Why in News Recently, the Union Cabinet has approved the signing of the Protocol amending the Convention between India and Brazil for the Double...

07 Nov 2019 News Analysis
Core Investment Companies

Why in News A working group formed by the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has recommended measures to strengthen Core Investment Companies (CIC). The...

07 Nov 2019 News Analysis
NEERI-IndAIR

Why in News The Council of Scientific Industrial Research-National Environmental Engineering Research Institute (CSIR-NEERI) recently launched the...

07 Nov 2019 News Analysis
Relaxation of Fumigation Norms on Import of Onions

Why in News The Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare has allowed the relaxation of fumigation norms for the import of onions for a limited...

07 Nov 2019 News Analysis
A Special Fund For Housing Projects

Why in News The Union Cabinet has approved the creation of an Alternative Investment Fund (AIF) of ₹25,000 crore to revive stalled affordable and...

07 Nov 2019 News Analysis
Wasteland Atlas-2019

Why in News? Recently, the Ministry of Rural Development has released the fifth edition of Wastelands Atlas (2019). It has been prepared by the...

07 Nov 2019 News Analysis
Rising NPAs due to Unrated Loans

Why in News According to data from the Reserve Bank of India (RBI), Non-Performing Assets (NPAs) for unrated loans has increased to 24 % (2018)...

07 Nov 2019 News Analysis
India Exits RCEP

This article is based on “Lost opportunity” (IE), “A victory for the dairy sector”(TH), “Signing the RCEP agreement...

06 Nov 2019 News Editorials
Semi - Dirac Metals

Why in News Researchers from the Indian Institute of Technology - Bombay have discovered special properties in a class of materials called...

06 Nov 2019 News Analysis
Acute Respiratory Infections

Why in News Recently, the data released by the National Health Profile (NHP)-2019 showed a higher number of people affected by Acute Respiratory...

06 Nov 2019 News Analysis
New Species of Tree Frog

A new species of tree frog, discovered in West Bengal, has been named Brown Blotched Bengal Tree Frog (Polypedates bengalensis) due to a series of...

06 Nov 2019 News Analysis
Pakistan Suspends Exchange of Postal Mails

In a unilateral decision, Pakistan has stopped the exchange of postal mails with India without any prior notice. Under Universal Postal Union...

06 Nov 2019 News Analysis
The Big Picture — Telecom Sector: Challenges & Way Forward

Recently, the Supreme Court allowed the Centre's plea to recover Adjusted Gross Revenue (AGR) of about Rs 92,000 crores from the telecom service...

05 Nov 2019 Lok Sabha & Rajya Sabha Discussions

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		(int) 0 => [
			'title' => 'Exercise Samudra Shakti',
			'catname' => 'News Analysis',
			'desc' => '<h3 style="text-align: left;">Why in News<a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1573204720_Indonesia-map.png" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1573204720_Indonesia-map.png" width="322" height="228" style="float: right;" caption="false" /></a></h3>
<p style="text-align: left;"><strong>Recently, India and Indonesia</strong> have carried out the bilateral maritime exercise <strong>&ldquo;Samudra Shakti&rdquo;</strong> in the Bay of Bengal.</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li style="text-align: left;">The joint exercises focussed on surface warfare exercises, air defence exercises, weapon firing drills, helicopter operations, and boarding operations.</li>
<li style="text-align: left;"><strong>Garuda Shakti</strong> is the <strong><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/exercise-maitree" target="_blank" rel="noopener">joint military exercise</a></strong> between India and Indonesia.</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="https://pib.gov.in/PressReleaseIframePage.aspx?PRID=1590856" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Source: PIB</strong></a></p>',
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			'url' => 'https://www.drishtiias.com/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/exercise-samudra-shakti'
		],
		(int) 1 => [
			'title' => 'New Subtype of HIV Discovered',
			'catname' => 'News Analysis',
			'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>Recently, the researchers have discovered a <strong>new subtype of the Human Immunodeficiency Virus</strong> (HIV) called <strong>HIV-1 Group M, subtype L.</strong> It is the<strong> first time a subtype of HIV</strong> has been found in almost two decades.</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>There are<strong> two types of HIV:</strong> HIV-1 and HIV-2. HIV-1 is considered the predominant type, representing the vast majority of infections worldwide, while HIV-2 is far less common and primarily concentrated in the west and central African regions.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Researchers used a tailored method of the next-generation <strong>genome sequencing</strong> technology to identify the new subtype. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/genome-sequencing-in-india" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Genome sequencing</strong></a> is the process of determining the complete DNA sequence of an organism's genome. It figures out the <strong>order of DNA nucleotides, or bases, in a genome,</strong> i.e, the order of Adenine, Cytosine, Guanines, and Thymine that make up an organism's DNA.</li>
<li>The technology is helping scientists to stay one step ahead of mutating viruses and avoid a new pandemic.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Group M viruses</strong> are responsible for the <strong>global pandemic-</strong> which can be traced back to the Democratic Republic of Congo in Sub-Saharan Africa.</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Human Immunodeficiency Virus- Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>HIV is a type of <strong>retrovirus.</strong> The combination of drugs used to treat it is called <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/hiv-aids-outreach" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Antiretroviral Therapy (ART).</strong></a></li>
<li>HIV attacks <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/global-fund-for-aids-tb-and-malaria" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>CD4-a type of White Blood Cell (T-cells)</strong></a> in the body&rsquo;s immune system.</li>
<li>It is transmitted from person to person <strong>through bodily fluids,</strong> including <strong>blood, semen, vaginal secretions, anal fluids, and breast milk.</strong></li>
<li><a href="/loksabha-rajyasabha-discussions/hiv-new-hope" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Statistics in India:</strong></a> The total number of people living with HIV was estimated at 21.40 lakh in 2017. India witnessed over 87,000 new cases in 2017 and saw a decline of 85% compared to 1995.</li>
<li><strong>World AIDS Day</strong> is observed on <strong>1<sup>st</sup> December.</strong></li>
</ul>
</div>
<p><a href="https://indianexpress.com/article/lifestyle/health/first-time-in-two-decades-new-hiv-subtype-found-by-genetic-sequencing-6108825/" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Source: IE</strong></a></p>',
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		],
		(int) 2 => [
			'title' => 'Cyclone Bulbul',
			'catname' => 'News Analysis',
			'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>The <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/india-warming-trends" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>India Meteorological Department (IMD)</strong></a> has issued an <strong>orange alert</strong> in Indian states of <strong>West Bengal and Odisha</strong> over <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/cyclone-idai" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Cyclone</strong></a> <strong>Bulbul in the Bay of Bengal.</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The <strong>depression</strong> over the <strong>east-central and southeast Bay of Bengal and North Andaman Sea</strong> has turned into a <strong>severe cyclonic storm.</strong></li>
<li>The landfall of the cyclone is expected between <strong>Sagar Islands (West Bengal)</strong> and <strong>Khepupara (Bangladesh).</strong></li>
<li>The cyclone <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/cyclone-daye" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>has been named</strong></a> by <strong>Pakistan.</strong></li>
</ul>
<p><a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1573201839_image2.jpg" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1573201839_image2.jpg" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" caption="false" width="524" height="136" /></strong></a></p>
<p><a href="https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/other-states/cyclone-bulbul-may-trigger-heavy-rain-odisha-government-gears-up/article29911486.ece" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Source: TH</strong></a></p>',
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			'url' => 'https://www.drishtiias.com/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/cyclone-bulbul'
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		(int) 3 => [
			'title' => 'India Justice Report, 2019',
			'catname' => 'News Analysis',
			'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>Recently, the <strong>India Justice Report (2019)</strong> prepared by the <strong>Tata Trusts in collaboration with the Centre for Social Justice, Common Cause, and the Commonwealth Human Rights Initiative</strong> has been released.</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>This is the <strong>first-ever ranking of Indian states </strong>on<strong> justice delivery.</strong></li>
<li>The report has divided states on the basis of the population into two parts:<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The large-medium states (Population 1 crore and above)</li>
<li>The small states and Union Territories (Population less than 1 crore)</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<p><a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1573200958_Image3.jpg" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1573200958_Image3.jpg" width="664" height="321" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" caption="false" /></a></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Maharashtra</strong> has <strong>topped</strong> the list among <strong>large-medium States</strong> followed by Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Punjab, and Haryana.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>In this category, <strong>Jharkhand, Bihar and Uttar Pradesh</strong> are at the <strong>bottom.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Goa</strong> leads the list of <strong>smaller states</strong> followed by Sikkim and Himachal Pradesh.</li>
<li>The report has been prepared based on <strong>publicly available data of different government entities</strong> on the <strong>four</strong> pillars of<strong> justice delivery &mdash; police, judiciary, prisons, and legal aid.</strong>
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Each pillar is analyzed through the prism of <strong>budgets, human resources, personnel workload, diversity, infrastructure, and five-year trends.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Issues with Indian Justice System</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Vacancies</strong>
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>On average, the <strong>police</strong> have a vacancy of<strong> 23% (2017),</strong> and the <strong>judiciary</strong> between <strong>20%-40%</strong> across the high courts and lower judiciary.<strong> Gujarat</strong> is the only state to <strong>reduce</strong> vacancies across all <strong>four pillars.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Representation</strong>
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>No State/ UT</strong> is able to meet all its <strong>diversity quotas</strong> (ST, SC, and OBC). <strong>Karnataka comes closest to achieve diversity quotas</strong> (missed its SC reservation target by 4%).</li>
<li><strong>Women</strong> are <strong>poorly represented across the Justice system.</strong> They account for 7% of the Police, 10 % of Prison staff and about 26.5 % of all judges in the High Court and subordinate courts.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Budgets</strong>
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The Justice system is affected by<strong> low budget allocations.</strong></li>
<li>The <strong>per capita expenditure</strong> on <strong>legal aid</strong> is just <strong>75 paise.</strong></li>
<li><strong>Punjab</strong> is the <strong>only large state</strong> whose police, prison and judiciary expenditures have <strong>increased</strong> at a pace higher than the increase in overall state expenditure.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Judicial Pendency</strong>
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Nationally, at the subordinate court level, <strong>on average</strong> a<strong> case remains pending</strong> for<strong> five years or more.</strong></li>
<li>Only <strong>six states</strong> i.e. Gujarat, Daman and Diu, Dadra and Nagar Haveli, Tripura, Odisha, Lakshadweep, Tamil Nadu, and Manipur <strong>managed to clear as many court cases as were filed.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Prisons</strong>
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Prisons are over-occupied at 114%, where 68% are undertrials awaiting investigation, inquiry or trial.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Way Forward</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Judiciary and the government needs to put collaborative effort to plug the gaps in the management of the police, prisons, forensics and the filling up of vacancies.</li>
<li>The efficient Indian Justice System will ensure the implementation of Article 14 (Equality before law), Article 22(1)(Protection against arrest and detention in certain cases) , Article 39(A) (Free legal aid for poor) and Article 21 (Right to protection of life and personal liberty) of the Indian Constitution.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>It will also ensure <a href="/loksabha-rajyasabha-discussions/in-depth-indias-sustainable-development-goals" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>SDG</strong></a> <strong>16</strong> which recognizes the need to &lsquo;provide access to justice for all and to build effective, accountable and inclusive institutions at all levels.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Constitutional Provision</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Article 39A</strong> of the Constitution of India provides that State shall secure that the operation of the legal system promotes justice on a basis of equal opportunity, and shall, in particular, provide free legal aid, by suitable legislation or schemes or in any other way, to ensure that opportunities for securing justice are not denied to any citizen by reason of economic or other disability.</li>
<li><strong>Articles 14 and Article 22(1)</strong> also make it obligatory for the State to ensure equality before the law and a legal system that promotes justice on a basis of equal opportunity to all.</li>
</ul>
</div>
<p><a href="https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/other-states/maharashtra-tops-in-justice-delivery/article29912494.ece" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Source: TH</strong></a></p>',
			'postdate' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenTime) {},
			'url' => 'https://www.drishtiias.com/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/india-justice-report-2019'
		],
		(int) 4 => [
			'title' => 'BIMSTEC Ports Conclave',
			'catname' => 'News Analysis',
			'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>The<strong> first-ever BIMSTEC Conclave of Ports</strong> is being held at Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh on 7<sup>th</sup> and 8<sup>th</sup> November 2019.</p>
<h3>Key Highlights</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The conclave aims at providing a platform to:<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Enhance connectivity</strong> through port-led initiatives,</li>
<li><strong>Strengthen maritime interaction</strong> and ties between the countries,</li>
<li>Explore the possibility of <strong>increasing economic cooperation</strong> by furthering <strong><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/draft-export-policy-unveiled" target="_blank" rel="noopener">EXIM trade</a> and coastal shipping,</strong></li>
<li>Discuss various <strong>investment opportunities and best practices</strong> adopted for enhanced productivity and safety at ports.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>Three Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) have also been signed between <strong>Ranong Port</strong> (Port Authority of Thailand) and the <strong>Port Trusts of Chennai, Vishakhapatnam, and Kolkata</strong> during the Conclave.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>These MoUs form a significant part of <a href="/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-international-institution/east-asia-summit" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>India&rsquo;s Act East Policy.</strong> </a></li>
<li>It will also enhance <strong>economic partnership</strong> by cutting down the sea travel time between India and Thailand from 10- 15 days to 7 days.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Bay of Bengal Initiatives for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li style="text-align: left;"><a href="/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-international-institution/drishti-specials-important-international-bimstec" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>BIMSTEC</strong></a> is a<strong> sub-regional organization</strong> that came into being in <strong>1997</strong> through the <strong>Bangkok Declaration.<a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1573200640_image2.png" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1573200640_image2.png" width="212" height="248" style="float: right;" caption="false" /></a></strong></li>
<li style="text-align: left;"><strong>BIMSTEC</strong> is a 7-member grouping that links five countries from South Asia namely, <strong>Bangladesh, India, Sri Lanka, Bhutan, and Nepal,</strong> and two from South East Asia- <strong>Myanmar, and Thailand.</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><a href="/to-the-points/Paper2/india-bimstec" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>India attaches great importance to BIMSTEC.</strong></a> The Prime Minister of India invited <strong>BIMSTEC</strong> members for his second swearing-in ceremony on 30<sup>th</sup> May 2019.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li style="text-align: left;"><strong>Four</strong> BIMSTEC Summits have been held so far- Nepal (in 2018), Myanmar(2014), India (2008) Thailand (2004).</li>
</ul>
</div>
<p><strong><a href="https://pib.gov.in/newsite/PrintRelease.aspx?relid=194347" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Source: PIB</a></strong></p>',
			'postdate' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenTime) {},
			'url' => 'https://www.drishtiias.com/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/bimstec-ports-conclave'
		],
		(int) 5 => [
			'title' => 'Kalapani Territory',
			'catname' => 'News Analysis',
			'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>In the recently released political map of India, after the bifurcation of the state of Jammu and Kashmir (J&amp;K) into the Union Territories of J&amp;K and Ladakh, the <strong>Kalapani territory</strong> became the bone of contention between India and Nepal.</p>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>In the latest political map of India, India reiterated its claims on the region that Nepal considers its own territory in Darchula district. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>According to India, the historic Kalapani region forms part of the state of <strong>Uttarakhand.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Background:</strong> Kalapani is a valley that is administered by India as a part of the Pithoragarh district of Uttarakhand. It is situated on the Kailash Mansarovar route.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The <strong>Kali River</strong> in the Kalapani region demarcates the border between India and Nepal.</li>
<li>The <strong>Treaty of Sugauli</strong> signed by the <strong>Kingdom of Nepal and British India</strong> (after <strong>Anglo-Nepalese War</strong>) in <strong>1816</strong> located the Kali River as Nepal's western boundary with India. The discrepancy in locating the source of the river led to boundary disputes between India and Nepal, with each country producing maps supporting their own claims.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1573196880_image1.png" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1573196880_image1.png" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" caption="false" width="640" height="404" /></a></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>In the recent map issued by the Indian government, the Pakistan-occupied Kashmir forms the part of the newly-created Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir, while Gilgit-Baltistan is located in the Union Territory of Ladakh.</li>
<li><strong>Susta area</strong> is one of the disputed territories between <strong>India (Uttar Pradesh) and Nepal</strong>.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Susta is located on the bank of the <strong>Gandak river</strong> (called Narayani river in Nepal).</li>
<li>The <strong>change of course by the Gandak river</strong> is the main reason for disputes in the Susta area.</li>
<li>The area is <strong>very fertile for agriculture</strong> because of the <strong>alluvial soil</strong> brought by the river.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Kali River</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>It is also known as <strong>Sharda river or Kali Ganga</strong> in Uttarakhand.</li>
<li>It joins <strong>Ghagra river in Uttar Pradesh,</strong> which is a<strong> tributary</strong> of <strong>Ganga.</strong></li>
<li><strong>River Projects: Tanakpur</strong> hydro-electric project, <strong>Chameliya</strong> hydro-electric project, <strong>Sharda Barrage.</strong></li>
</ul>
</div>
<p><a href="https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/our-map-is-accurate-india-on-kalapani-dispute-with-nepal/article29909793.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/kalapani-territory'
		],
		(int) 6 => [
			'title' => 'Vaccine Hesitancy',
			'catname' => 'News Editorials',
			'desc' => '<div class="border">
<p>This article is based on <a href="https://www.thehindu.com/opinion/lead/an-unwanted-booster-dose-for-vaccine-hesitancy/article29902812.ece" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>&ldquo;An unwanted booster dose for vaccine hesitancy&rdquo;</strong></a> that was published in The Hindu on 07/11/2019. It talks about the issue of Vaccine Hesitancy.</p>
</div>
<p>Recently, <a href="/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-international-institution/world-health-organization-who" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>the World Health Organization (WHO)</strong></a> in a report held that Vaccine hesitancy is among the<strong> top 10 threats to global health in 2019.</strong></p>
<p>WHO defines Vaccine hesitancy as a <strong>delay in acceptance or refusal of vaccines despite the availability of vaccination services.</strong> Vaccine hesitancy has been reported in more than 90% of countries in the world.</p>
<h3>Instances of Vaccine Hesitancy</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Globally nearly 4,24,000 children have confirmed measles in 2019, as against a figure of 1,73,000 in the whole of 2018.</li>
<li>In India, poor communities of Uttar Pradesh was reported to have taken <strong>five times low uptake of oral polio vaccine</strong> in the early 2000s.</li>
</ul>
<h3 style="text-align: left;">Reasons for Vaccine Hesitancy</h3>
<p>The main issue with Vaccine hesitancy is <strong>misinformation.</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Religious propaganda</strong> that the vaccine may contain microbes, chemicals and animal-derived products which is forbidden by religious laws.</li>
<li><strong>Social media</strong> is used in <strong>stirring fear</strong> in people by falsely blaming vaccines for unrelated diseases is the bedrock of the Vaccine hesitancy all across the globe.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>For example, recently some sections in India are refraining from the polio vaccine. This is due to the misconception that the polio vaccine caused illness, infertility and was ineffective.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Vaccine-derived diseases: Oral Polio Vaccines (OPV)</strong> contains weakened but live poliovirus. This virus from the vaccine is excreted by immunized children which can move from one person to another.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>This allows the virus to stick around and mutate to a more virulent form, raising the threat of <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/government-initiates-probe-into-type-2-polio-virus-contamination" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>vaccine-derived poliovirus (VDPV).</strong></a></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Inconvenience in accessing vaccines</strong> is also the leading cause of Vaccine hesitancy.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Benefits of Vaccine</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>According to WHO, vaccination <strong>prevents between two-three million deaths each year,</strong> a figure that will rise by <strong>another 1.5 million if vaccine coverage improves.</strong></li>
<li>Vaccination <strong>protects children from serious illness</strong> and complications of vaccine-preventable diseases which can include amputation of an arm or leg, paralysis of limbs, hearing loss, convulsions, brain damage, and death.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>A study in 2017 that looked at flu seasons between 2010 and 2014 found that vaccination reduced flu-associated deaths by 65% among healthy children.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>The vaccine can also <strong>prevent hospitalization</strong> (thereby it can check out of pocket expenditure), reduce the severity of illness and prevent severe, life-threatening complications in children.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Way Forward</h3>
<p><strong>Practical tips for addressing Vaccine hesitancy in primary care include</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Vaccination as the default approach:</strong> Some countries have implemented specific sanctions for Vaccine hesitant families.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>France has made vaccination with 11 vaccines mandatory for children&mdash;unvaccinated children cannot be enrolled at nurseries or schools.</li>
<li>In Australia, parents of children who are not vaccinated are denied the universal Family Allowance welfare payments.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Building trust:</strong> Vaccine manufacturer can provide honest information about side effects and reassurance on a robust vaccine safety system.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>They can also provide vaccination-related FAQ's, answering questions on benefits, safety, and immunologic aspects of vaccines and links to a number of online resources for physicians and parents.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Digital Algorithms:</strong> Google, Facebook and other such platforms can be requested to make sure that users only get to see the credible, science-based information about the vaccines.</li>
<li>The <strong>influential person or celebrities</strong> should come forward to dispel the myths leading to Vaccine hesitancy.</li>
</ul>
<p>Vaccine hesitancy is threatening the historical achievements made in reducing the burden of infectious diseases, which have plagued humanity for centuries. A collaborative effort between paediatricians, family doctors, parents, public health officials, governments, the technology sector, and civil society will allow myths and misinformation around vaccination to be dispelled.</p>
<table border="1" style="border-collapse: collapse; width: 100%;">
<tbody>
<tr>
<td style="width: 497px; border-style: dotted; border-color: #ff0000; background-color: #f4ffd9;"><span style="color: #0000ff;"><em><strong>Drishti Mains Question</strong></em></span><br /><br />Explains the term Vaccine hesitancy. Also, analyse the reasons for Vaccine hesitancy in India.</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<p></p>',
			'postdate' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenTime) {},
			'url' => 'https://www.drishtiias.com/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/vaccine-hesitancy'
		],
		(int) 7 => [
			'title' => 'India and Brazil Signed Amended DTAC',
			'catname' => 'News Analysis',
			'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>Recently, the Union Cabinet has approved the signing of the Protocol amending the Convention between India and Brazil for the <strong>Double Taxation Avoidance Convention (DTAC).</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The amendments aim to implement the recommendations contained in the<strong> G20 OECD Base Erosion and Profit Shifting Project (BEPS).</strong></li>
<li>It will also help to streamline the existing DTAC with international standards which will help to provide <strong>tax certainty to investors and businesses</strong> of both countries.</li>
<li>The amending protocol will<strong> augment the flow of investment</strong> through the <strong>lowering of tax rates and fees for technical services.</strong></li>
</ul>
<h3>Double Tax Avoidance Agreements (DTAAs)</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>A <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/india-china-signed-amended-dtaa" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>DTAA</strong></a> is a <strong>tax treaty</strong> signed between <strong>two or more countries.</strong></li>
<li>Its key objective is that <strong>tax-payers in these countries can avoid being taxed twice for the same income.</strong></li>
<li>It applies in cases where a taxpayer resides in one country and earns income in another.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The relief is provided by exempting income earned abroad from tax in the resident country or providing credit to the extent taxes have already been paid abroad.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>It can either be comprehensive to cover all sources of income or be limited to certain areas such as taxing of income from shipping, air transport, inheritance, etc.</li>
<li>DTAAs are intended to make a country an attractive investment destination by providing relief on dual taxation.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Base Erosion and Profit Shifting (BEPS)</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>BEPS is a term used to describe tax planning strategies that exploit mismatches and gaps that exist between the tax rules of different jurisdictions.</li>
<li>It minimizes the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/gst-council-and-corporate-tax" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>corporation tax</strong></a> that is payable overall, by either making tax profits &lsquo;disappear&rsquo; or shift profits to low tax jurisdictions where it is little or no genuine activity.</li>
<li>BEPS takes advantage of different tax rules operating in different jurisdictions.</li>
<li>BEPS is of major significance for developing countries due to their heavy reliance on corporate income tax, particularly from multinational enterprises (MNEs).</li>
<li>The BEPS initiative is an <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/oecds-forecast-for-global-economy-in-2060" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>OECD</strong></a> initiative, approved by the <a href="/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-international-institution/important-institution-upsc-ias-g20-significance-global-groupings-member-challenges-buenos-aires-gs-mains-paper-ii-2-international-relations" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>G20</strong></a>, to identify ways of providing more standardized tax rules globally.</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>OECD/G20 Base Erosion and Profit Shifting (BEPS)Project</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>In 2013, OECD and G20 countries adopted a <strong>15-point Action Plan</strong> to address <strong>BEPS.</strong></li>
<li>The OECD/G20 BEPS Project aims to create a single set of consensus-based international tax rules to address BEPS, and hence to protect tax bases.</li>
<li>In 2016, the OECD and G20 established an <strong>Inclusive Framework on BEPS.</strong> Over 100 countries and jurisdictions have joined the Inclusive Framework.</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>Difference Between Convention, Agreement, and Protocol</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Agreement:</strong> It is a negotiated and usually<strong> legally enforceable</strong> understanding between two or more legally competent parties.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>A binding contract can (and often does) result from an agreement.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Convention:</strong> It is a <strong>formal agreement</strong> between States. These are normally open for participation of a large number of States.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The generic term &lsquo;convention&rsquo; is thus synonymous with the generic term &lsquo;treaty&rsquo;.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Protocol:</strong> A protocol is an agreement that <strong>negotiators</strong> formulate and sign <strong>as the basis for a final convention or treaty.</strong></li>
</ul>
</div>
<p><a href="https://pib.gov.in/PressReleseDetail.aspx?PRID=1590688" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Source:PIB</strong></a></p>',
			'postdate' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenTime) {},
			'url' => 'https://www.drishtiias.com/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/india-and-brazil-signed-amended-dtac'
		],
		(int) 8 => [
			'title' => 'Core Investment Companies',
			'catname' => 'News Analysis',
			'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>A working group formed by the <a href="/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-national-institutions/important-institutions-national-institution-reserve-bank-of-india" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Reserve Bank of India (RBI)</strong></a> has recommended measures to strengthen Core Investment Companies (CIC). The group is headed by the former Corporate Affairs Secretary -<strong> Tapan Ray.</strong></p>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Core Investment Companies</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Core Investment Companies (CICs) are a <strong>specialized</strong> <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/shadow-banking-and-the-crisis-in-the-indian-economy" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Non-Banking Financial Companies (NBFCs).</strong></a></li>
<li>A Core Investment Company registered with the RBI has an <strong>asset size of above Rs 100 crore.</strong></li>
<li>Their <strong>main business</strong> is <strong>acquisition of shares and securities</strong> with certain conditions.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>For e.g. these <strong>should not hold less than 90% of its net assets</strong> in the form of investment in equity shares, preference shares, bonds, debentures, debt or loans in <strong>group companies.</strong></li>
<li><strong>Group companies</strong> are an arrangement involving two or more entities related to each other through any of the following relationships, viz.,subsidiary, joint venture, associate, promoter-promotee for listed companies, a related party, common brand name, and investment in equity shares of 20% and above.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</div>
<h3>Key Recommendations</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Registration:</strong> The current threshold of Rs 100 crore asset size and access to public funds for registration as CIC should be retained.</li>
<li><strong>Related to Group Companies:</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Every group having a CIC should have a <strong>Group Risk Management Committee.</strong></li>
<li>The <strong>number of layers</strong> of CICs in a group should be restricted to two. As such, any CIC within a group shall not make investments through more than a total of two layers of CICs, including itself.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>The word &ldquo;layer&rdquo;, means subsidiary or subsidiaries of the holding company.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>For Better Governance:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>CICs need to induct independent directors, conduct internal audits and prepare consolidated financial statements.</li>
<li>There is a need for ring fencing boards of CICs by excluding employees/executive directors of group firms from its board.</li>
<li>CICs should constitute board-level committees &mdash; Audit Committee, Nomination and Remuneration Committee and Group Risk Management Committee.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>For Step - down CICs:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>A Step-down CIC means the subsidiary company of a company which is a subsidiary of another company.</li>
<li>Step-down CICs may not be permitted to invest in any other CIC, while allowing them to invest freely in other group companies.</li>
<li>Capital contribution by a CIC in a step-down CIC, over and above 10% of its owned funds, should be deducted from its adjusted net worth, as applicable to other NBFCs.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="https://indianexpress.com/article/business/core-investment-firms-rbi-panel-calls-for-tighter-governance-norms-6107011/" 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/core-investment-companies-1'
		],
		(int) 9 => [
			'title' => 'NEERI-IndAIR',
			'catname' => 'News Analysis',
			'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>The <a href="/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-national-institutions/council-of-scientific-and-industrial-research" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Council of Scientific Industrial Research</strong></a>-<strong>National Environmental Engineering Research Institute (CSIR-NEERI)</strong> recently launched the country&rsquo;s <strong>first interactive online repository</strong> named as <strong>IndAIR (Indian Air quality Studies Interactive Repository).</strong></p>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The<strong> aim</strong> of the project is <strong>to make air quality research available to everyone.</strong> It presents these studies in an easily <strong>accessible web format</strong> for the media, researchers, and academics.</li>
<li>It is the first comprehensive effort to enlist existing Indian research and analysis on air pollution, its causes and effects.</li>
<li>IndAIR has archived scanned documents from pre-Internet times (1950-1999), research articles, reports and case studies, and over 2,000 statutes to provide the history of air pollution research and legislation in the country. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>It includes all major legislations in the country dating back to 1905.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>NEERI received support from institutions such as the National Institute of Science Communication and Information Resources (NISCAIR), BARC and National Archives of India (NAI). Institutions such as TERI, MoEFCC, and CPCB also partnered with NEERI for the project.</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1573116092_image1.png" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1573116092_image1.png" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" caption="false" width="633" height="234" /></a></p>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Council of Scientific &amp; Industrial Research- National Environmental and Engineering Research Institute</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>CSIR-NEERI</strong> is a research institute created and funded by the Government of India. It functions under the <strong>Ministry of Science &amp; Technology.</strong></li>
<li>It was established in Nagpur in 1958 with focus on water supply, sewage disposal,communicable diseases and to some extent on industrial pollution and occupational diseases found common in post-independent India.</li>
<li>CSIR has 38 national laboratories working in various areas of science and technology. CSIR-NEERI is one of those laboratories.</li>
</ul>
</div>
<p><a href="https://indianexpress.com/article/india/online-repository-set-up-to-compile-research-on-air-quality-in-country-6107297/" 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/neeri-indair'
		],
		(int) 10 => [
			'title' => 'Relaxation of Fumigation Norms on Import of Onions',
			'catname' => 'News Analysis',
			'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>The Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare has allowed the relaxation of fumigation norms for the <strong>import of onions</strong> for a limited time period.</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The liberalized fumigation norms will facilitate private import of onions from <strong>Afghanistan, Egypt, Turkey, and Iran.</strong> It will help to <strong>boost the availability and check price rise of onions.</strong></li>
<li>The norms will also provide relaxation from the endorsement on the <strong>Phytosanitary Certificate (PSC) as per the Plant Quarantine Order, 2003</strong> for onion imports.</li>
<li>The imported onions which arrive at Indian ports without fumigation and endorsement to that effect on the PSC would be <strong>fumigated in India</strong> by the <strong>importer through an accredited treatment provider.</strong></li>
<li>On a regular basis, imported onions are allowed in the country <strong>only after the commodity is fumigated and certified by the exporting nation.</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Importers are subjected to <strong>four times additional inspection fees</strong> on account of non-compliance.</li>
<li>However, current consignments of onions under liberalized norms <strong>will not be penalised for non-compliance.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Fumigation</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/phosphine-as-fumigant" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Fumigation</strong></a> is a <strong>pest control method that involves filling the airspace</strong> within a structure with <strong>toxic gas. Eg. Methyl Bromide, Phosphine, etc.</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Methyl bromide is <strong>forbidden</strong> in developed nations, and its use was restricted by the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/greenhouse-gas-levels-reach-record-highs-un-report" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Montreal Protocol</strong> </a>due to its<strong> role in ozone depletion.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>It is mainly used to control pests in storage buildings (structural fumigation), soil, and grains.</li>
<li>It is also used during processing <strong>of goods to be imported or exported to prevent transfer of exotic organisms.</strong></li>
<li>It is seen as the <strong>most effective way to kill all pests, insects, and nematodes.</strong></li>
</ul>
<h3>Phytosanitary Certificate</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Phytosanitary certificates are issued to indicate that consignments of plants, plant products meet specified phytosanitary import requirements under <strong>International Plant Protection Convention (IPPC), 1951.</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Phytosanitary measures</strong> are aimed at the protection of human, animal and plant health from diseases, pests, and contaminants.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>Usually, PSCs are generated by the <strong>exporting country.</strong></li>
<li>It can <strong>only be issued by an authorized officer from a government department</strong> that is authorized by a <strong>National Plant Protection Agency (NPPO).</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>NPPO is in force to protect the threat of spreading pests, contamination or diseases into the country of import.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Plant Quarantine Order, 2003</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>It ensures the <strong>import of pest and fungus free agricultural commodities in</strong> the country which <strong>is or may be destructive to crops.</strong></li>
<li>Plant quarantine is a <strong>technique that ensures disease- and pest-free plants.</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>During the process, a <strong>plant is isolated</strong> while tests are performed to detect the presence of a problem</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</div>
<p><a href="https://pib.gov.in/PressReleseDetail.aspx?PRID=1590631" 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/relaxation-of-fumigation-norms-on-import-of-onions'
		],
		(int) 11 => [
			'title' => 'A Special Fund For Housing Projects',
			'catname' => 'News Analysis',
			'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>The Union Cabinet has approved the creation of an <strong>Alternative Investment Fund (AIF) of ₹25,000 crore</strong> to <strong>revive stalled</strong> affordable and middle-income <strong>housing projects</strong> across the country.</p>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Fund Size</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The fund size will <strong>initially be ₹25,000 crore</strong> with the government providing ₹10,000 crore and the State Bank of India (SBI) and the Life Insurance Corporation (LIC) providing the balance.</li>
<li>However, the fund is <strong>not capped at ₹25,000 crore</strong> and will likely grow as a lot of sovereign funds have shown interest.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Fund Management</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The fund will be set up as <strong>Category-II Alternative Investment Fund registered</strong> with the <a href="/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-national-institutions/securities-and-exchange-board-of-india-sebi" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI).</strong></a></li>
<li>It will be managed by SBICAP Ventures Limited (SVL). It is a wholly owned subsidiary of SBI Capital Markets Ltd.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Eligible Projects</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>All <strong>affordable and middle-income housing projects</strong> that are <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Net worth positive</li>
<li>Registered with the Real Estate Regulatory Authority (RERA) and</li>
<li>That have not been deemed liquidation-worthy.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>Stuck projects classified as <a href="/loksabha-rajyasabha-discussions/the-big-picture-big-bank-reform" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Non Performing Assets</strong></a> and those undergoing resolution under 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> will also be eligible for funding &mdash; a change from the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/steps-to-spur-economic-growth" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>announcement made in September 2019.</strong></a></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Funding Procedure</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The fund will provide money in escrow accounts that can be used only for completion of the identified projects.</li>
<li>The receivables from the project will be used to repay the fund.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Expected Benefits</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>There are more than<strong> 1,600 housing projects which are stalled.</strong> The fund is expected to <strong>revive</strong> the same. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>This will help in alleviating stress for homebuyers, real estate players as well as banks that have backed these projects.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Impact on Other Sectors</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Revival of the real estate sector will also lead to demand of cement, iron &amp; steel industries, thus also generating employment.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>The fund will also <strong>generate commercial return for its investors.</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The AIF is expected to pool investments from government-related and private investors, including public financial institutions, sovereign wealth funds, public and private banks, etc.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Alternative Investment Fund</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Meaning:</strong> AIF means any fund established in India which is a <strong>privately pooled investment vehicle</strong> which collects funds from sophisticated investors, whether Indian or foreign, for investing it in accordance with a defined investment policy for the benefit of its investors. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>An alternative investment is a financial asset that does not fall into one of the conventional equity/income/cash categories.</li>
<li>Private equity or venture capital, hedge funds, real property, commodities, and tangible assets are all examples of alternative investments.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>It is <strong>regulated by the SEBI.</strong></li>
<li><strong>Categories</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Category I AIFs:</strong> These generally invest in start-ups or early stage ventures which the government or regulators consider as socially or economically desirable. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>e.g. venture capital funds, infrastructure funds.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Category II AIFs:</strong> These are AIFs which do not fall in Category I and III and which do not undertake leverage or borrowing other than to meet day-to-day operational requirements and as permitted in the SEBI (Alternative Investment Funds) Regulations, 2012. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>e.g. real estate funds, private equity funds.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Categories III AIFs:</strong> AIFs which employ diverse or complex trading strategies and may employ leverage including through investment in listed or unlisted derivatives. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>e.g. hedge funds, private investment in Public Equity Funds.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</div>
<p><a href="https://www.thehindu.com/business/Industry/centre-clears-25000-crore-fund-to-help-housing-sector/article29902843.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/a-special-fund-for-housing-projects'
		],
		(int) 12 => [
			'title' => 'Wasteland Atlas-2019',
			'catname' => 'News Analysis',
			'desc' => '<h3>Why in News?</h3>
<p>Recently, the Ministry of Rural Development has released the fifth edition of Wastelands Atlas (2019).</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>It has been prepared by the Department of Land Resources (Ministry of Rural Development) in collaboration with the National Remote Sensing Centre (NRSC), Department of Space.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Significance of Wasteland Atlas</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Unprecedented pressure on the land beyond its carrying capacity is resulting in the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/land-degradation" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>degradation of lands</strong></a> in the country.</li>
<li>Therefore, robust geospatial information on wastelands will be helpful in rolling back the wastelands for productive use through various land development programmes.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>A <strong>reduction in the wasteland area</strong> was observed in the categories of land with dense scrub, marshy land, sandy areas, and degraded pastures.</li>
<li>The wastelands have undergone a <strong>positive change</strong> in the states of Rajasthan, Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, Andhra Pradesh, Mizoram, Madhya Pradesh, Jammu &amp; Kashmir, and West Bengal.</li>
<li>The<strong> majority of wastelands</strong> have been changed into categories of <strong>croplands, plantation and industrial areas.</strong></li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Wastelands</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Wastelands are a<strong> barren and uncultivated land</strong> lying unproductive or which is not being utilized to its potential.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>It includes degraded forests, overgrazed pastures, drought-struck pas&shy;tures, eroded valleys, hilly slopes, waterlogged marshy lands, barren land, etc.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</div>
<p><a href="https://pib.gov.in/PressReleseDetail.aspx?PRID=1590395" 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/wasteland-atlas-2019'
		],
		(int) 13 => [
			'title' => 'Rising NPAs due to Unrated Loans',
			'catname' => 'News Analysis',
			'desc' => '<p>Why in News</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>According to data from the Reserve Bank of India (RBI), <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/solving-the-npa-crisis-in-india" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Non-Performing Assets (NPAs)</strong></a> for <strong>unrated loans has increased to 24 % (2018) from about 6 % (2015).</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Unrated Loans are loans that are <strong>not rated by credit rating agencies.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>High levels of NPAs in unrated loans</strong> indicate <strong>more economical risk</strong> for the banks as unrated loans are not secured through ratings.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Key Points<a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1573110281_image1.jpg" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1573110281_image1.jpg" style="float: right;" width="340" height="472" caption="false" /></a></h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Unrated borrowers</strong> account for about <strong>60% of the total number and 40% of the total exposure of large borrowers.</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The central bank requires banks to report individual exposure of <strong>more than Rs 5 crore</strong> with the <strong>Central Repository of Information on Large Credits (CRILC),</strong> to capture<strong> data on large borrowers.</strong></li>
<li>The borrowers having an aggregate fund-based <strong>working capital of Rs 150 crore and above</strong> are termed as<strong> large borrowers.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>How Unrated Loans and Related NPAs can be Reduced?</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>By regularising credit ratings for loan exposure, RBI has<strong> raised</strong> <strong>risk-weighted Assets</strong> on unrated loans.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Higher risk-weighted assets</strong> on unrated loans <strong>reduce the capacity of banks to lend such loans, thereby</strong> encouraging them to get such loans rated.</li>
<li><strong>The risk-weighted assets</strong> are used to determine the <strong>minimum amount of capital</strong> that must be held by banks <strong>to reduce the risk of insolvency.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>Banks also need to consider rated exposures as some of the private sector banks<strong> experienced significant stress</strong> in their exposures to <strong>the credit rating of BB category (and below it) rated loan accounts.</strong></li>
<li>However, the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/financial-stability-report-rbi" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>RBI&rsquo;s Financial Stability Report</strong></a> projected the <strong>gross NPA ratio of all banks to come down from 9.3% in March 2019 to 9.0 %by March 2020.</strong>
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The recoveries pick up pace due to the resolution of some cases under the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code and banks write off their bad loans.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Central Repository of Information on Large Credits (CRILC)</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>It has been constituted by RBI in 2014 to collect, store, and publish data on all borrower&rsquo;s credit exposures</li>
<li>Banks will have to provide credit information to CRILC about their borrowers with an aggregate fund-based and non-fund based exposure of and over Rs.5 Crores (Rs.50 million).</li>
<li>It also helps financial institutions and banks to assess their non-performing assets (NPAs) and also share this information with other institutions.</li>
</ul>
</div>
<p><a href="https://indianexpress.com/article/business/banking-and-finance/rising-npas-banks-exposure-to-unrated-loans-increased-threefold-in-three-years-6101555/" 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/rising-npas-due-to-unrated-loans'
		],
		(int) 14 => [
			'title' => 'India Exits RCEP',
			'catname' => 'News Editorials',
			'desc' => '<div class="border">
<p>This article is based on<a href="https://indianexpress.com/article/opinion/editorials/india-rcep-back-out-china-modi-asean-6105017/" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong> &ldquo;Lost opportunity&rdquo;</strong></a> (IE), <a href="https://www.thehindu.com/opinion/op-ed/a-victory-for-the-dairy-sector/article29891203.ece" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>&ldquo;A victory for the dairy sector&rdquo;</strong></a>(TH), <a href="https://indianexpress.com/article/opinion/columns/rcep-india-back-out-china-trade-modi-asean-6104987/" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>&ldquo;Signing the RCEP agreement would have given more substance to India&rsquo;s Act East policy&rdquo;</strong></a> (IE), <a href="https://www.thehindu.com/opinion/editorial/safe-for-now/article29891821.ece" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>&ldquo;Safe, for now: On India opting out of RCEP&rdquo;</strong></a> (TH). It talks about reasons and implications of India&rsquo;s exit from RCEP.</p>
</div>
<p>Recently, India decided to opt-out of the 16-nation <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/3rd-rcep-summit" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP)</strong></a> trade deal. India held that it will not become part of RCEP until <strong>&ldquo;significant outstanding issues&rdquo;</strong> are resolved.</p>
<p>The RCEP negotiations were kick-started during the 21st ASEAN Summit in Cambodia in November 2012 and all participating countries sought to finalise and sign a deal by 2020.</p>
<h3>What is RCEP?</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) is a trade deal that was being negotiated between 16 countries.</li>
<li>They include the 10 Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) members (Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, and Vietnam) and the six countries with which the bloc has free trade agreements (FTAs) &mdash; India, Australia, China, Korea, Japan, and New Zealand.</li>
<li>The RCEP is billed to be the<strong> &ldquo;largest&rdquo; regional trading agreement.</strong> The countries involved account for almost <strong>half of the world&rsquo;s population,</strong> contribute over a <strong>quarter of world exports,</strong> and makeup around <strong>30% of the global Gross Domestic Product.</strong></li>
</ul>
<h3>Reasons for India's Withdrawal</h3>
<p><strong>Unfavourable Balance of Trade</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Though trade has increased post-FTA with South Korea, ASEAN countries and Japan, imports have risen faster than exports from India.</li>
<li>According to a paper published by NITI Aayog, India has a bilateral trade deficit with most of the member countries of RCEP.</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>Dumping of Chinese Goods</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>India has already signed FTAs with all the countries of RCEP except China.</li>
<li>This is the major concern for India, as after signing RCEP cheaper products from China would have flooded the Indian market.</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>Non-acceptance of Auto-trigger Mechanism</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>In order to deal with the imminent rise in imports, India had been seeking an auto-trigger mechanism.</li>
<li><strong>Auto-trigger Mechanism</strong> would have allowed India to raise tariffs on products in instances where imports cross a certain threshold.</li>
<li>However, other countries in the RCEP were against this proposal.</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>Protection of Domestic Industry</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>India had also reportedly expressed apprehensions on lowering and eliminating tariffs on several products like dairy, steel etc.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>For instance, the dairy industry was expected to face stiff competition from Australia and New Zealand.</li>
<li>Currently, India&rsquo;s average bound tariff for dairy products is on average 35%.</li>
<li>The RCEP binds countries to reduce that current level of tariffs to zero within the next 15 years.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>Lack of Consensus on Rules of Origin</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>India was concerned about a &ldquo;possible circumvention&rdquo; of rules of origin.</li>
<li><strong>Rules of origin</strong> are the criteria used to determine the national source of a product.</li>
<li>Current provisions in the deal reportedly do not prevent countries from routing, through other countries, products on which India would maintain higher tariffs.</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>Implications of India's Exit of RCEP</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Exiting RCEP, India can still keep a check on China&rsquo;s dumping of goods in India. However, from needles to the turbine, Chinese goods are all over the Indian market.</li>
<li>Refraining from RCEP will provide protection to the Indian domestic industry from cheap imports.</li>
<li>RCEP is a China-backed trade deal, signing it without India will further strengthen China&rsquo;s economic power. It will affect India&rsquo;s neighbourhood as China already tries to influence the region through its deep pockets.</li>
<li>India envisages becoming a manufacturing hub. However, staying out of the RCEP reduces opportunities for trading with these countries, which together account for roughly a third of global trade.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Manufacturing today requires greater integration with global supply chains.</li>
<li>Signing the agreement would have signalled an embrace of freer trade, which could have aided in the shift of companies out of China to India.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>India's exit of RCEP may also affect <strong>India's Act East policy.</strong></li>
<li>India should have used this as an opportunity to push through contentious but necessary reforms that would boost competitiveness.</li>
</ul>
<h3><strong>Conclusion</strong></h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>India needs to work on reforms and frame policies to prepare the economy for facing global competition. This can be done by:<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Easing land acquisition</li>
<li>Reforming Labor laws</li>
<li>Bridging Infrastructure deficit</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<table border="1" style="border-collapse: collapse; width: 100%;">
<tbody>
<tr style="height: 67px;">
<td style="width: 100%; height: 67px; border-style: dotted; border-color: #ff0000; background-color: #ffffd6;"><span style="color: #0000ff;"><em><strong>Drishti Mains Question</strong></em></span><br /><br />Analyse the factors and implications of India&rsquo;s exit from the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP).</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>',
			'postdate' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenTime) {},
			'url' => 'https://www.drishtiias.com/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/india-exits-rcep'
		],
		(int) 15 => [
			'title' => 'Semi - Dirac Metals',
			'catname' => 'News Analysis',
			'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>Researchers from the Indian Institute of Technology - Bombay have discovered special properties in a class of materials called &ldquo;semi-dirac metals&rdquo;.</p>
<h3>How Semi - Dirac Metals differ from other metals?</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>In general, metals are<strong> good conductors</strong> of electricity.</li>
<li>A key aspect that decides the quality of conduction is the way <strong>energy depends on the momentum of electrons.<br /></strong></li>
<li><strong>Dirac metals</strong> differ from normal metals in that the <strong>energy depends linearly on the momentum of electrons.</strong> This difference is also responsible for their unique properties.</li>
<li><strong>Semi-Dirac metals behave like Dirac metals in one direction and like normal metals in the perpendicular directions</strong> (since their microscopic structure is different along the two directions).</li>
<li><strong>Examples</strong> of semi-dirac metals are systems such as TiO<sub>2</sub>/V<sub>2</sub>O<sub>3</sub> nanostructures (Oxides of Titanium and Vanadium).</li>
</ul>
<h3>Properties Discovered</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The direction-dependence of microscopic properties gives Semi - Dirac material <strong>special optical properties.</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Semi-Dirac materials have very high optical conductivity of electromagnetic waves (light waves). These waves are of a specific frequency and a specific polarisation.</li>
<li><strong>Optical conductivity</strong> is a measure of the opacity offered by the material to the passage of light through it.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Semi - Dirac materials would be transparent to light of a given frequency and polarisation when it is incident along a particular direction.</li>
<li>These materials would be opaque to the same light when it falls on it from a different direction.</li>
<li>There are many known applications for transparent conducting films &ndash; the common example being touch screens used in mobiles.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>The material possesses interesting <strong>thermoelectric properties.</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Thermoelectricity is a<strong> clean energy technology</strong> that uses waste heat to produce electricity typically in low power applications.</li>
<li>This technology is used in efficient cars, where it is used to keep the lights on and to warm seats.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="https://www.thehindu.com/sci-tech/science/new-class-of-quantum-materials-for-clean-energy-technology/article29807363.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/semi-dirac-metals'
		],
		(int) 16 => [
			'title' => 'Acute Respiratory Infections',
			'catname' => 'News Analysis',
			'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>Recently, the data released by <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/national-health-profile-2019" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>the National Health Profile (NHP)-2019</strong> </a>showed a <strong>higher number of people affected by Acute Respiratory Infections (ARI)</strong> in the country.</p>
<h3>Key Points<a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1573029455_image2.jpg" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1573029455_image2.jpg" width="296" height="194" style="float: right;" caption="false" /></a></h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), ARI is a serious ailment that <strong>prevents normal breathing</strong> function.</li>
<li>ARI accounted for<strong> 69.47% of morbidity</strong> in <strong>2018.</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>It was the <strong>highest in the communicable disease category</strong> leading to <strong>27.21% mortality.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>Andhra Pradesh, Gujarat, Karnataka, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Uttar Pradesh and West Bengal reported a large number of patients and fatalities as per NHP-2019.</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>What Happens When You Breathe Polluted Air?</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>When you breathe in polluted air, particles and pollutants penetrate and inflame the linings of your bronchial tubes and lungs.</li>
<li>This leads to respiratory illness such as chronic bronchitis, emphysema, heart disease, asthma, wheezing, coughing and difficulty in breathing.</li>
</ul>
</div>
<h3>Impact on Health</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Children:</strong> Indians face the double burden of heavy <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/health-emergency-in-new-delhi" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>air pollution</strong></a> in addition to the high rate of ARI which hits children the hardest.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The mortality rate among children due to<strong> ARI is 2.6 million annually across the world.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Pregnant Women:</strong> Prenatal exposure to pollutants increases the risk of <strong>pre-term delivery</strong> and<strong> low birth weight</strong> that can lead to <strong>developmental disabilities.</strong></li>
<li><strong>Senior Citizens:</strong> The progressive declining of body functioning due to old age makes air pollution more fatal for them. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>They face frequent breathing problems which may lead to respiratory illness such as chronic bronchitis, emphysema, heart disease, asthma, wheezing, coughing, etc.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<p>The existing disease burden with increasing air pollution is deteriorating the human capital of the country and therefore needs to be checked regularly.</p>
<p><a href="https://www.thehindu.com/sci-tech/health/indian-lungs-under-extreme-stress/article29891563.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/acute-respiratory-infections'
		],
		(int) 17 => [
			'title' => 'New Species of Tree Frog',
			'catname' => 'News Analysis',
			'desc' => '<p>A new species of tree frog, discovered in West Bengal, has been named <strong>Brown Blotched Bengal Tree Frog</strong> <em>(Polypedates bengalensis)</em> due to a series of six to nine dark brown blotches present on its body.<a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1573026816_image1.jpg" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1573026816_image1.jpg" width="200" height="125" style="float: right;" caption="false" /></strong></a></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>It is a <strong>mid-sized tree frog</strong> and is the <strong>26<sup>th</sup> species</strong> under the <strong>genus</strong> <em><strong>Polypedates.</strong></em><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><em>Polypedates</em> is a genus of tree frog found throughout South and Southeast Asia.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="https://www.thehindu.com/sci-tech/science/visibly-elusive-bengal-tree-frog-gets-recorded-as-new-species/article29877245.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/new-species-of-tree-frog'
		],
		(int) 18 => [
			'title' => 'Pakistan Suspends Exchange of Postal Mails',
			'catname' => 'News Analysis',
			'desc' => '<p>In a unilateral decision, Pakistan has stopped the exchange of postal mails with India without any prior notice.</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Under<strong> Universal Postal Union (UPU) rules,</strong> when a country decides to suspend postal exchange with a country, it must notify the operator of the other country and, if possible, the duration for which services are being stopped. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The <strong>UPU&rsquo;s International Bureau</strong> too has to be notified.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>Apart from UPU rules, three other agreements cover postal exchange between India and Pakistan: <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Exchange of Value Payable Article, 1948</li>
<li>Exchange of Postal Article, 1974</li>
<li>International Speed Post Agreement, 1987</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Universal Postal Union (UPU)</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Universal Postal Union is the <strong>specialized agency</strong> of the United Nations.</li>
<li>It was established in <strong>1874</strong> and is the <strong>second oldest</strong> international organization worldwide after <a href="/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-international-institution/united-nations-1" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>International Telecommunication Union (1865).</strong></a></li>
<li>Its headquarter is located in <strong>Bern, Switzerland,</strong> and consists of 192 member countries.</li>
<li>The UPU consists of 4 bodies:<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The Congress</li>
<li>The Council of Administration</li>
<li>The Postal Operations Council</li>
<li>The International Bureau</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>It frames rules for international mail exchange and fixes rates for international postal services.</li>
<li>It performs advisory, mediating and liaison role, and provides technical assistance where needed.</li>
<li>India joined the UPU in 1876.</li>
</ul>
</div>
<p><a href="https://indianexpress.com/article/explained/explained-the-rules-for-global-post-and-how-pak-stopped-mail-to-and-from-india-6090658/" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Source: The Indian Express</strong></a></p>',
			'postdate' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenTime) {},
			'url' => 'https://www.drishtiias.com/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/pakistan-suspends-exchange-of-postal-mails'
		],
		(int) 19 => [
			'title' => 'The Big Picture — Telecom Sector: Challenges & Way Forward',
			'catname' => 'Lok Sabha & Rajya Sabha Discussions',
			'desc' => '<p style="text-align: center;"><iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/fPInXy9xizo" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe></p>
<p>Recently, the Supreme Court allowed the Centre's plea to recover <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/challenges-in-telecom-sector-1" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Adjusted Gross Revenue (AGR)</strong></a> of about Rs 92,000 crores from the telecom service providers.</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>A <strong>three-judge bench</strong>, headed by <strong>Justice Arun Mishra</strong>, upheld the definition of AGR formulated by the <strong>Department of Telecommunications</strong>.</li>
<li>The bench made it clear that there would be no further litigation on the issue and it would fix a time frame for calculation and payment of dues by the telecom companies.</li>
<li>In July, the Centre had told the apex court that leading private telecom firms like <strong>Bharti Airtel, Vodafone and state-owned MTNL and BSNL</strong> have <strong>pending licence fee outstanding of over Rs 92,000 crores till date</strong>.</li>
<li><strong>Cellular Operators Association of India (COAI)</strong> has expressed concerns on the financial setback to the already indebted telecom industry.</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Cellular Operators Association of India</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>It was constituted in <strong>1995</strong> as a <strong>registered, non-governmental society</strong>.</li>
<li>It is dedicated to the <strong>advancement of modern communication</strong> through the establishment of world-class mobile infrastructure, products and services and to <strong>deliver the benefits of innovative and affordable mobile communication services to the people of India</strong>.</li>
<li><strong>Bharti Airtel Ltd., Vodafone India Ltd., Reliance Jio Infocomm Ltd.</strong> are few of the core members.</li>
</ul>
</div>
<h3>Highlights</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The data prices were very high few years back. <strong>Huge cost cutting on data and roaming charges</strong> was done to bring down data prices significantly.</li>
<li>Now tariffs in India are <strong>one of the lowest in the world</strong>, especially data prices. Calls are virtually free.</li>
<li>India&rsquo;s number in <strong>teledensity was small</strong> when the industry was running on the <strong>acquisition mode</strong> but currently <strong>almost 88% of Indian population is on network</strong>.</li>
<li>Globally, <strong>Average Revenue Per User (ARPU)</strong> fluctuates around <strong>8-9 US dollars</strong> whereas in <strong>India</strong> it is around <strong>1.2 US dollars</strong>.</li>
<li>Recently, <strong>Jio has stopped investing in capital expenditure (CapEx)</strong> but India still <strong>needs</strong> investment of at least Rs 7 lakh crores more for better 4G accessibility.</li>
<li>The current situation proves that <strong>private sector is not any better than government sector</strong> in providing services.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Although <strong>Government service providers (BSNL, MTNL)</strong> and <strong>private service providers (JIO, Vodafone-Idea, Bharati)</strong> have equal amounts of assets, loans and equities of the latter are much higher than those of the former.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Capital Expenditures (CapEx)</strong> are funds used by a company to acquire, upgrade, and maintain physical assets such as property, buildings, an industrial plant, technology, or equipment.</p>
</div>
<h3>Challenges</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Unfair Competition:</strong>&nbsp;To attract more consumers the telecom companies have been offering <strong>lower tariffs,</strong>&nbsp;in competition with each other, which <strong>do not</strong> <strong>generate much revenue</strong>. This might lead to <strong>either no competition situation</strong> or <strong>monopoly by a single company</strong>.</li>
<li><strong>Infrastructure:</strong> Telecom sector has to <strong>get <a href="/to-the-points/paper3/fifth-generation-cellular-technology-5g" target="_blank" rel="noopener">5G spectrum</a></strong>, <strong>invest in infrastructure, expansion, technology upgradation</strong> etc so this <strong>additional burden</strong> is a major setback for the industry.</li>
<li><strong>Current System of Tariffs:</strong> Major telecom operators are reporting losses and financial stress. This shows that the <a href="/loksabha-rajyasabha-discussions/the-big-picture-challenges-in-telecom-sector" target="_blank" rel="noopener">current tariff system is not financially viable</a> for telecoms.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Solutions</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Telecom Industry:</strong>
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The telecom industry has to keep the <strong>tariff rates sustainably high</strong> instead of trying to make them the cheapest in the world.</li>
<li><strong>Fair Competition:</strong> It should be ensured that there is <strong>no cartelisation and no undercutting</strong>. <strong>Fair competition</strong> among the companies should be encouraged.</li>
<li><strong>Outcome oriented Investment:</strong> All the money which comes in after the government order should be <strong>invested in the telecom sector only</strong> so that <strong>consumers do not need to pay more</strong> and the <strong>revenues will be stabilized</strong>.</li>
<li><strong>Technology:</strong> India should <strong>invest in technology rather than products</strong>:
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>India is <strong>importing $40 billion worth of telecom products</strong> mainly mobile phones every year which is <strong>not a feasible</strong> option for the future because of very <strong>limited foreign exchange</strong>.</li>
<li><strong>Buying technology will cost more once but will save foreign exchange</strong> over the time.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>Telecom industry has to bring a <strong>shift from service oriented investment policies to manufacturing oriented policies</strong>.</li>
<li>Telecom sector needs to do <strong>value addition</strong> by tying up <strong>with the service providers from education, medicine and entertainment sectors</strong> apart from increasing the tariff charges.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Government:</strong>
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Practical Deadlines:</strong> The deadlines should consider current challenges faced by the telecom industry.</li>
<li>In order <strong>to revive BSNL and MTNL,</strong> government has decided to <strong>merge</strong> them and then <strong>provide funds to the merged entity</strong>. Same approach should be applied to other private service providers also.</li>
<li>The <strong>interest collection by government</strong> should be done over a longer period of time giving ample time to the telecom industry to come over the financial stress.</li>
<li>The government can <strong>do away with the penalty</strong> and the <strong>interest</strong> or it <strong>can reduce</strong> them as well.</li>
<li>Government should put the penalty and interest money into <strong>capital investment for the telecom industry</strong>, to provide <strong>availability to equipments and technologies on an equal access basis</strong>.</li>
<li>Government should <strong>look for more avenues of revenue generation</strong> and should be <strong>equally responsible towards making this whole sector viable</strong>.</li>
<li>Government should <strong>incorporate <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/five-years-of-make-in-india" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Make in India</a> in the telecom industry to boost the manufacturing</strong>.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Consumers:</strong>
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The problem in the telecom sector is an evolving problem which needs evolving solutions depending upon the <strong>availability of the consumers</strong> and <strong>their ability to pay</strong>.</li>
<li>The <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/all-things-internet" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>free data</strong></a> should be cut down to some limit.</li>
<li>The segment of consumers which is <strong>willing to pay</strong> should be charged <strong>for the benefits as per their specific needs</strong>.</li>
<li><strong>Slabs and priorities for different segments of consumers</strong> should be set with <strong>customer centric and need specific plans and personalisation facility</strong>.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>What can be learnt from foreign models?</strong>
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Data has been very <strong>rationally planned</strong> in the <strong>international market</strong> and there are various plans suitable for various and specific needs of the people.</li>
<li>Telecom sector is <strong>tied up with various other commodities like the handset company apart from the operators only</strong>.</li>
<li><strong>Moving Wi-Fi zones or <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/telecom-firms-oppose-trai%E2%80%99s-public-wi-fi-model" target="_blank" rel="noopener">public Wi-Fi zones</a> in India should not be completely free of cost</strong> instead India can learn from the <strong>Emirates, Singapore</strong> which <strong>charges its customers for data after exhausting the limits set by the airlines</strong>.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Way Forward</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Telecom sector has lot of segments in itself which <strong>create avenues, bring technologies, innovations and employment raising India to the global level</strong>.</li>
<li>To make this <strong>industry sustainable</strong> and to <strong>stop the unfair trade practices and blind competitions</strong>, industry itself, consumers and government will have to share the burden together.</li>
<li>The sector has to look for a <strong>holistic approach with convergence to bring the convenience to the customer</strong>.</li>
<li>It is a very <strong>strong component</strong> in our growing economy and <strong>deeply rooted into the system with various allied sectors</strong>. New and better ways should be found out for <strong>asset optimisation </strong>and<strong> revenue generation</strong>.</li>
</ul>',
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	(int) 0 => [
		'title' => 'Exercise Samudra Shakti',
		'catname' => 'News Analysis',
		'desc' => '<h3 style="text-align: left;">Why in News<a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1573204720_Indonesia-map.png" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1573204720_Indonesia-map.png" width="322" height="228" style="float: right;" caption="false" /></a></h3>
<p style="text-align: left;"><strong>Recently, India and Indonesia</strong> have carried out the bilateral maritime exercise <strong>&ldquo;Samudra Shakti&rdquo;</strong> in the Bay of Bengal.</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li style="text-align: left;">The joint exercises focussed on surface warfare exercises, air defence exercises, weapon firing drills, helicopter operations, and boarding operations.</li>
<li style="text-align: left;"><strong>Garuda Shakti</strong> is the <strong><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/exercise-maitree" target="_blank" rel="noopener">joint military exercise</a></strong> between India and Indonesia.</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="https://pib.gov.in/PressReleaseIframePage.aspx?PRID=1590856" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Source: PIB</strong></a></p>',
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	(int) 1 => [
		'title' => 'New Subtype of HIV Discovered',
		'catname' => 'News Analysis',
		'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>Recently, the researchers have discovered a <strong>new subtype of the Human Immunodeficiency Virus</strong> (HIV) called <strong>HIV-1 Group M, subtype L.</strong> It is the<strong> first time a subtype of HIV</strong> has been found in almost two decades.</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>There are<strong> two types of HIV:</strong> HIV-1 and HIV-2. HIV-1 is considered the predominant type, representing the vast majority of infections worldwide, while HIV-2 is far less common and primarily concentrated in the west and central African regions.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Researchers used a tailored method of the next-generation <strong>genome sequencing</strong> technology to identify the new subtype. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/genome-sequencing-in-india" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Genome sequencing</strong></a> is the process of determining the complete DNA sequence of an organism's genome. It figures out the <strong>order of DNA nucleotides, or bases, in a genome,</strong> i.e, the order of Adenine, Cytosine, Guanines, and Thymine that make up an organism's DNA.</li>
<li>The technology is helping scientists to stay one step ahead of mutating viruses and avoid a new pandemic.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Group M viruses</strong> are responsible for the <strong>global pandemic-</strong> which can be traced back to the Democratic Republic of Congo in Sub-Saharan Africa.</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Human Immunodeficiency Virus- Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>HIV is a type of <strong>retrovirus.</strong> The combination of drugs used to treat it is called <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/hiv-aids-outreach" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Antiretroviral Therapy (ART).</strong></a></li>
<li>HIV attacks <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/global-fund-for-aids-tb-and-malaria" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>CD4-a type of White Blood Cell (T-cells)</strong></a> in the body&rsquo;s immune system.</li>
<li>It is transmitted from person to person <strong>through bodily fluids,</strong> including <strong>blood, semen, vaginal secretions, anal fluids, and breast milk.</strong></li>
<li><a href="/loksabha-rajyasabha-discussions/hiv-new-hope" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Statistics in India:</strong></a> The total number of people living with HIV was estimated at 21.40 lakh in 2017. India witnessed over 87,000 new cases in 2017 and saw a decline of 85% compared to 1995.</li>
<li><strong>World AIDS Day</strong> is observed on <strong>1<sup>st</sup> December.</strong></li>
</ul>
</div>
<p><a href="https://indianexpress.com/article/lifestyle/health/first-time-in-two-decades-new-hiv-subtype-found-by-genetic-sequencing-6108825/" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Source: IE</strong></a></p>',
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		'title' => 'Cyclone Bulbul',
		'catname' => 'News Analysis',
		'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>The <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/india-warming-trends" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>India Meteorological Department (IMD)</strong></a> has issued an <strong>orange alert</strong> in Indian states of <strong>West Bengal and Odisha</strong> over <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/cyclone-idai" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Cyclone</strong></a> <strong>Bulbul in the Bay of Bengal.</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The <strong>depression</strong> over the <strong>east-central and southeast Bay of Bengal and North Andaman Sea</strong> has turned into a <strong>severe cyclonic storm.</strong></li>
<li>The landfall of the cyclone is expected between <strong>Sagar Islands (West Bengal)</strong> and <strong>Khepupara (Bangladesh).</strong></li>
<li>The cyclone <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/cyclone-daye" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>has been named</strong></a> by <strong>Pakistan.</strong></li>
</ul>
<p><a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1573201839_image2.jpg" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1573201839_image2.jpg" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" caption="false" width="524" height="136" /></strong></a></p>
<p><a href="https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/other-states/cyclone-bulbul-may-trigger-heavy-rain-odisha-government-gears-up/article29911486.ece" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Source: TH</strong></a></p>',
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	(int) 3 => [
		'title' => 'India Justice Report, 2019',
		'catname' => 'News Analysis',
		'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>Recently, the <strong>India Justice Report (2019)</strong> prepared by the <strong>Tata Trusts in collaboration with the Centre for Social Justice, Common Cause, and the Commonwealth Human Rights Initiative</strong> has been released.</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>This is the <strong>first-ever ranking of Indian states </strong>on<strong> justice delivery.</strong></li>
<li>The report has divided states on the basis of the population into two parts:<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The large-medium states (Population 1 crore and above)</li>
<li>The small states and Union Territories (Population less than 1 crore)</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<p><a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1573200958_Image3.jpg" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1573200958_Image3.jpg" width="664" height="321" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" caption="false" /></a></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Maharashtra</strong> has <strong>topped</strong> the list among <strong>large-medium States</strong> followed by Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Punjab, and Haryana.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>In this category, <strong>Jharkhand, Bihar and Uttar Pradesh</strong> are at the <strong>bottom.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Goa</strong> leads the list of <strong>smaller states</strong> followed by Sikkim and Himachal Pradesh.</li>
<li>The report has been prepared based on <strong>publicly available data of different government entities</strong> on the <strong>four</strong> pillars of<strong> justice delivery &mdash; police, judiciary, prisons, and legal aid.</strong>
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Each pillar is analyzed through the prism of <strong>budgets, human resources, personnel workload, diversity, infrastructure, and five-year trends.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Issues with Indian Justice System</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Vacancies</strong>
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>On average, the <strong>police</strong> have a vacancy of<strong> 23% (2017),</strong> and the <strong>judiciary</strong> between <strong>20%-40%</strong> across the high courts and lower judiciary.<strong> Gujarat</strong> is the only state to <strong>reduce</strong> vacancies across all <strong>four pillars.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Representation</strong>
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>No State/ UT</strong> is able to meet all its <strong>diversity quotas</strong> (ST, SC, and OBC). <strong>Karnataka comes closest to achieve diversity quotas</strong> (missed its SC reservation target by 4%).</li>
<li><strong>Women</strong> are <strong>poorly represented across the Justice system.</strong> They account for 7% of the Police, 10 % of Prison staff and about 26.5 % of all judges in the High Court and subordinate courts.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Budgets</strong>
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The Justice system is affected by<strong> low budget allocations.</strong></li>
<li>The <strong>per capita expenditure</strong> on <strong>legal aid</strong> is just <strong>75 paise.</strong></li>
<li><strong>Punjab</strong> is the <strong>only large state</strong> whose police, prison and judiciary expenditures have <strong>increased</strong> at a pace higher than the increase in overall state expenditure.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Judicial Pendency</strong>
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Nationally, at the subordinate court level, <strong>on average</strong> a<strong> case remains pending</strong> for<strong> five years or more.</strong></li>
<li>Only <strong>six states</strong> i.e. Gujarat, Daman and Diu, Dadra and Nagar Haveli, Tripura, Odisha, Lakshadweep, Tamil Nadu, and Manipur <strong>managed to clear as many court cases as were filed.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Prisons</strong>
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Prisons are over-occupied at 114%, where 68% are undertrials awaiting investigation, inquiry or trial.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Way Forward</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Judiciary and the government needs to put collaborative effort to plug the gaps in the management of the police, prisons, forensics and the filling up of vacancies.</li>
<li>The efficient Indian Justice System will ensure the implementation of Article 14 (Equality before law), Article 22(1)(Protection against arrest and detention in certain cases) , Article 39(A) (Free legal aid for poor) and Article 21 (Right to protection of life and personal liberty) of the Indian Constitution.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>It will also ensure <a href="/loksabha-rajyasabha-discussions/in-depth-indias-sustainable-development-goals" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>SDG</strong></a> <strong>16</strong> which recognizes the need to &lsquo;provide access to justice for all and to build effective, accountable and inclusive institutions at all levels.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Constitutional Provision</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Article 39A</strong> of the Constitution of India provides that State shall secure that the operation of the legal system promotes justice on a basis of equal opportunity, and shall, in particular, provide free legal aid, by suitable legislation or schemes or in any other way, to ensure that opportunities for securing justice are not denied to any citizen by reason of economic or other disability.</li>
<li><strong>Articles 14 and Article 22(1)</strong> also make it obligatory for the State to ensure equality before the law and a legal system that promotes justice on a basis of equal opportunity to all.</li>
</ul>
</div>
<p><a href="https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/other-states/maharashtra-tops-in-justice-delivery/article29912494.ece" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Source: TH</strong></a></p>',
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	(int) 4 => [
		'title' => 'BIMSTEC Ports Conclave',
		'catname' => 'News Analysis',
		'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>The<strong> first-ever BIMSTEC Conclave of Ports</strong> is being held at Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh on 7<sup>th</sup> and 8<sup>th</sup> November 2019.</p>
<h3>Key Highlights</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The conclave aims at providing a platform to:<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Enhance connectivity</strong> through port-led initiatives,</li>
<li><strong>Strengthen maritime interaction</strong> and ties between the countries,</li>
<li>Explore the possibility of <strong>increasing economic cooperation</strong> by furthering <strong><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/draft-export-policy-unveiled" target="_blank" rel="noopener">EXIM trade</a> and coastal shipping,</strong></li>
<li>Discuss various <strong>investment opportunities and best practices</strong> adopted for enhanced productivity and safety at ports.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>Three Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) have also been signed between <strong>Ranong Port</strong> (Port Authority of Thailand) and the <strong>Port Trusts of Chennai, Vishakhapatnam, and Kolkata</strong> during the Conclave.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>These MoUs form a significant part of <a href="/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-international-institution/east-asia-summit" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>India&rsquo;s Act East Policy.</strong> </a></li>
<li>It will also enhance <strong>economic partnership</strong> by cutting down the sea travel time between India and Thailand from 10- 15 days to 7 days.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Bay of Bengal Initiatives for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li style="text-align: left;"><a href="/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-international-institution/drishti-specials-important-international-bimstec" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>BIMSTEC</strong></a> is a<strong> sub-regional organization</strong> that came into being in <strong>1997</strong> through the <strong>Bangkok Declaration.<a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1573200640_image2.png" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1573200640_image2.png" width="212" height="248" style="float: right;" caption="false" /></a></strong></li>
<li style="text-align: left;"><strong>BIMSTEC</strong> is a 7-member grouping that links five countries from South Asia namely, <strong>Bangladesh, India, Sri Lanka, Bhutan, and Nepal,</strong> and two from South East Asia- <strong>Myanmar, and Thailand.</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><a href="/to-the-points/Paper2/india-bimstec" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>India attaches great importance to BIMSTEC.</strong></a> The Prime Minister of India invited <strong>BIMSTEC</strong> members for his second swearing-in ceremony on 30<sup>th</sup> May 2019.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li style="text-align: left;"><strong>Four</strong> BIMSTEC Summits have been held so far- Nepal (in 2018), Myanmar(2014), India (2008) Thailand (2004).</li>
</ul>
</div>
<p><strong><a href="https://pib.gov.in/newsite/PrintRelease.aspx?relid=194347" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Source: PIB</a></strong></p>',
		'postdate' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenTime) {},
		'url' => 'https://www.drishtiias.com/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/bimstec-ports-conclave'
	],
	(int) 5 => [
		'title' => 'Kalapani Territory',
		'catname' => 'News Analysis',
		'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>In the recently released political map of India, after the bifurcation of the state of Jammu and Kashmir (J&amp;K) into the Union Territories of J&amp;K and Ladakh, the <strong>Kalapani territory</strong> became the bone of contention between India and Nepal.</p>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>In the latest political map of India, India reiterated its claims on the region that Nepal considers its own territory in Darchula district. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>According to India, the historic Kalapani region forms part of the state of <strong>Uttarakhand.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Background:</strong> Kalapani is a valley that is administered by India as a part of the Pithoragarh district of Uttarakhand. It is situated on the Kailash Mansarovar route.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The <strong>Kali River</strong> in the Kalapani region demarcates the border between India and Nepal.</li>
<li>The <strong>Treaty of Sugauli</strong> signed by the <strong>Kingdom of Nepal and British India</strong> (after <strong>Anglo-Nepalese War</strong>) in <strong>1816</strong> located the Kali River as Nepal's western boundary with India. The discrepancy in locating the source of the river led to boundary disputes between India and Nepal, with each country producing maps supporting their own claims.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1573196880_image1.png" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1573196880_image1.png" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" caption="false" width="640" height="404" /></a></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>In the recent map issued by the Indian government, the Pakistan-occupied Kashmir forms the part of the newly-created Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir, while Gilgit-Baltistan is located in the Union Territory of Ladakh.</li>
<li><strong>Susta area</strong> is one of the disputed territories between <strong>India (Uttar Pradesh) and Nepal</strong>.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Susta is located on the bank of the <strong>Gandak river</strong> (called Narayani river in Nepal).</li>
<li>The <strong>change of course by the Gandak river</strong> is the main reason for disputes in the Susta area.</li>
<li>The area is <strong>very fertile for agriculture</strong> because of the <strong>alluvial soil</strong> brought by the river.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Kali River</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>It is also known as <strong>Sharda river or Kali Ganga</strong> in Uttarakhand.</li>
<li>It joins <strong>Ghagra river in Uttar Pradesh,</strong> which is a<strong> tributary</strong> of <strong>Ganga.</strong></li>
<li><strong>River Projects: Tanakpur</strong> hydro-electric project, <strong>Chameliya</strong> hydro-electric project, <strong>Sharda Barrage.</strong></li>
</ul>
</div>
<p><a href="https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/our-map-is-accurate-india-on-kalapani-dispute-with-nepal/article29909793.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/kalapani-territory'
	],
	(int) 6 => [
		'title' => 'Vaccine Hesitancy',
		'catname' => 'News Editorials',
		'desc' => '<div class="border">
<p>This article is based on <a href="https://www.thehindu.com/opinion/lead/an-unwanted-booster-dose-for-vaccine-hesitancy/article29902812.ece" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>&ldquo;An unwanted booster dose for vaccine hesitancy&rdquo;</strong></a> that was published in The Hindu on 07/11/2019. It talks about the issue of Vaccine Hesitancy.</p>
</div>
<p>Recently, <a href="/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-international-institution/world-health-organization-who" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>the World Health Organization (WHO)</strong></a> in a report held that Vaccine hesitancy is among the<strong> top 10 threats to global health in 2019.</strong></p>
<p>WHO defines Vaccine hesitancy as a <strong>delay in acceptance or refusal of vaccines despite the availability of vaccination services.</strong> Vaccine hesitancy has been reported in more than 90% of countries in the world.</p>
<h3>Instances of Vaccine Hesitancy</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Globally nearly 4,24,000 children have confirmed measles in 2019, as against a figure of 1,73,000 in the whole of 2018.</li>
<li>In India, poor communities of Uttar Pradesh was reported to have taken <strong>five times low uptake of oral polio vaccine</strong> in the early 2000s.</li>
</ul>
<h3 style="text-align: left;">Reasons for Vaccine Hesitancy</h3>
<p>The main issue with Vaccine hesitancy is <strong>misinformation.</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Religious propaganda</strong> that the vaccine may contain microbes, chemicals and animal-derived products which is forbidden by religious laws.</li>
<li><strong>Social media</strong> is used in <strong>stirring fear</strong> in people by falsely blaming vaccines for unrelated diseases is the bedrock of the Vaccine hesitancy all across the globe.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>For example, recently some sections in India are refraining from the polio vaccine. This is due to the misconception that the polio vaccine caused illness, infertility and was ineffective.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Vaccine-derived diseases: Oral Polio Vaccines (OPV)</strong> contains weakened but live poliovirus. This virus from the vaccine is excreted by immunized children which can move from one person to another.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>This allows the virus to stick around and mutate to a more virulent form, raising the threat of <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/government-initiates-probe-into-type-2-polio-virus-contamination" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>vaccine-derived poliovirus (VDPV).</strong></a></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Inconvenience in accessing vaccines</strong> is also the leading cause of Vaccine hesitancy.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Benefits of Vaccine</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>According to WHO, vaccination <strong>prevents between two-three million deaths each year,</strong> a figure that will rise by <strong>another 1.5 million if vaccine coverage improves.</strong></li>
<li>Vaccination <strong>protects children from serious illness</strong> and complications of vaccine-preventable diseases which can include amputation of an arm or leg, paralysis of limbs, hearing loss, convulsions, brain damage, and death.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>A study in 2017 that looked at flu seasons between 2010 and 2014 found that vaccination reduced flu-associated deaths by 65% among healthy children.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>The vaccine can also <strong>prevent hospitalization</strong> (thereby it can check out of pocket expenditure), reduce the severity of illness and prevent severe, life-threatening complications in children.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Way Forward</h3>
<p><strong>Practical tips for addressing Vaccine hesitancy in primary care include</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Vaccination as the default approach:</strong> Some countries have implemented specific sanctions for Vaccine hesitant families.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>France has made vaccination with 11 vaccines mandatory for children&mdash;unvaccinated children cannot be enrolled at nurseries or schools.</li>
<li>In Australia, parents of children who are not vaccinated are denied the universal Family Allowance welfare payments.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Building trust:</strong> Vaccine manufacturer can provide honest information about side effects and reassurance on a robust vaccine safety system.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>They can also provide vaccination-related FAQ's, answering questions on benefits, safety, and immunologic aspects of vaccines and links to a number of online resources for physicians and parents.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Digital Algorithms:</strong> Google, Facebook and other such platforms can be requested to make sure that users only get to see the credible, science-based information about the vaccines.</li>
<li>The <strong>influential person or celebrities</strong> should come forward to dispel the myths leading to Vaccine hesitancy.</li>
</ul>
<p>Vaccine hesitancy is threatening the historical achievements made in reducing the burden of infectious diseases, which have plagued humanity for centuries. A collaborative effort between paediatricians, family doctors, parents, public health officials, governments, the technology sector, and civil society will allow myths and misinformation around vaccination to be dispelled.</p>
<table border="1" style="border-collapse: collapse; width: 100%;">
<tbody>
<tr>
<td style="width: 497px; border-style: dotted; border-color: #ff0000; background-color: #f4ffd9;"><span style="color: #0000ff;"><em><strong>Drishti Mains Question</strong></em></span><br /><br />Explains the term Vaccine hesitancy. Also, analyse the reasons for Vaccine hesitancy in India.</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<p></p>',
		'postdate' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenTime) {},
		'url' => 'https://www.drishtiias.com/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/vaccine-hesitancy'
	],
	(int) 7 => [
		'title' => 'India and Brazil Signed Amended DTAC',
		'catname' => 'News Analysis',
		'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>Recently, the Union Cabinet has approved the signing of the Protocol amending the Convention between India and Brazil for the <strong>Double Taxation Avoidance Convention (DTAC).</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The amendments aim to implement the recommendations contained in the<strong> G20 OECD Base Erosion and Profit Shifting Project (BEPS).</strong></li>
<li>It will also help to streamline the existing DTAC with international standards which will help to provide <strong>tax certainty to investors and businesses</strong> of both countries.</li>
<li>The amending protocol will<strong> augment the flow of investment</strong> through the <strong>lowering of tax rates and fees for technical services.</strong></li>
</ul>
<h3>Double Tax Avoidance Agreements (DTAAs)</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>A <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/india-china-signed-amended-dtaa" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>DTAA</strong></a> is a <strong>tax treaty</strong> signed between <strong>two or more countries.</strong></li>
<li>Its key objective is that <strong>tax-payers in these countries can avoid being taxed twice for the same income.</strong></li>
<li>It applies in cases where a taxpayer resides in one country and earns income in another.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The relief is provided by exempting income earned abroad from tax in the resident country or providing credit to the extent taxes have already been paid abroad.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>It can either be comprehensive to cover all sources of income or be limited to certain areas such as taxing of income from shipping, air transport, inheritance, etc.</li>
<li>DTAAs are intended to make a country an attractive investment destination by providing relief on dual taxation.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Base Erosion and Profit Shifting (BEPS)</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>BEPS is a term used to describe tax planning strategies that exploit mismatches and gaps that exist between the tax rules of different jurisdictions.</li>
<li>It minimizes the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/gst-council-and-corporate-tax" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>corporation tax</strong></a> that is payable overall, by either making tax profits &lsquo;disappear&rsquo; or shift profits to low tax jurisdictions where it is little or no genuine activity.</li>
<li>BEPS takes advantage of different tax rules operating in different jurisdictions.</li>
<li>BEPS is of major significance for developing countries due to their heavy reliance on corporate income tax, particularly from multinational enterprises (MNEs).</li>
<li>The BEPS initiative is an <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/oecds-forecast-for-global-economy-in-2060" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>OECD</strong></a> initiative, approved by the <a href="/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-international-institution/important-institution-upsc-ias-g20-significance-global-groupings-member-challenges-buenos-aires-gs-mains-paper-ii-2-international-relations" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>G20</strong></a>, to identify ways of providing more standardized tax rules globally.</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>OECD/G20 Base Erosion and Profit Shifting (BEPS)Project</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>In 2013, OECD and G20 countries adopted a <strong>15-point Action Plan</strong> to address <strong>BEPS.</strong></li>
<li>The OECD/G20 BEPS Project aims to create a single set of consensus-based international tax rules to address BEPS, and hence to protect tax bases.</li>
<li>In 2016, the OECD and G20 established an <strong>Inclusive Framework on BEPS.</strong> Over 100 countries and jurisdictions have joined the Inclusive Framework.</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>Difference Between Convention, Agreement, and Protocol</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Agreement:</strong> It is a negotiated and usually<strong> legally enforceable</strong> understanding between two or more legally competent parties.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>A binding contract can (and often does) result from an agreement.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Convention:</strong> It is a <strong>formal agreement</strong> between States. These are normally open for participation of a large number of States.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The generic term &lsquo;convention&rsquo; is thus synonymous with the generic term &lsquo;treaty&rsquo;.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Protocol:</strong> A protocol is an agreement that <strong>negotiators</strong> formulate and sign <strong>as the basis for a final convention or treaty.</strong></li>
</ul>
</div>
<p><a href="https://pib.gov.in/PressReleseDetail.aspx?PRID=1590688" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Source:PIB</strong></a></p>',
		'postdate' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenTime) {},
		'url' => 'https://www.drishtiias.com/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/india-and-brazil-signed-amended-dtac'
	],
	(int) 8 => [
		'title' => 'Core Investment Companies',
		'catname' => 'News Analysis',
		'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>A working group formed by the <a href="/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-national-institutions/important-institutions-national-institution-reserve-bank-of-india" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Reserve Bank of India (RBI)</strong></a> has recommended measures to strengthen Core Investment Companies (CIC). The group is headed by the former Corporate Affairs Secretary -<strong> Tapan Ray.</strong></p>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Core Investment Companies</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Core Investment Companies (CICs) are a <strong>specialized</strong> <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/shadow-banking-and-the-crisis-in-the-indian-economy" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Non-Banking Financial Companies (NBFCs).</strong></a></li>
<li>A Core Investment Company registered with the RBI has an <strong>asset size of above Rs 100 crore.</strong></li>
<li>Their <strong>main business</strong> is <strong>acquisition of shares and securities</strong> with certain conditions.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>For e.g. these <strong>should not hold less than 90% of its net assets</strong> in the form of investment in equity shares, preference shares, bonds, debentures, debt or loans in <strong>group companies.</strong></li>
<li><strong>Group companies</strong> are an arrangement involving two or more entities related to each other through any of the following relationships, viz.,subsidiary, joint venture, associate, promoter-promotee for listed companies, a related party, common brand name, and investment in equity shares of 20% and above.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</div>
<h3>Key Recommendations</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Registration:</strong> The current threshold of Rs 100 crore asset size and access to public funds for registration as CIC should be retained.</li>
<li><strong>Related to Group Companies:</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Every group having a CIC should have a <strong>Group Risk Management Committee.</strong></li>
<li>The <strong>number of layers</strong> of CICs in a group should be restricted to two. As such, any CIC within a group shall not make investments through more than a total of two layers of CICs, including itself.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>The word &ldquo;layer&rdquo;, means subsidiary or subsidiaries of the holding company.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>For Better Governance:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>CICs need to induct independent directors, conduct internal audits and prepare consolidated financial statements.</li>
<li>There is a need for ring fencing boards of CICs by excluding employees/executive directors of group firms from its board.</li>
<li>CICs should constitute board-level committees &mdash; Audit Committee, Nomination and Remuneration Committee and Group Risk Management Committee.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>For Step - down CICs:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>A Step-down CIC means the subsidiary company of a company which is a subsidiary of another company.</li>
<li>Step-down CICs may not be permitted to invest in any other CIC, while allowing them to invest freely in other group companies.</li>
<li>Capital contribution by a CIC in a step-down CIC, over and above 10% of its owned funds, should be deducted from its adjusted net worth, as applicable to other NBFCs.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="https://indianexpress.com/article/business/core-investment-firms-rbi-panel-calls-for-tighter-governance-norms-6107011/" 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/core-investment-companies-1'
	],
	(int) 9 => [
		'title' => 'NEERI-IndAIR',
		'catname' => 'News Analysis',
		'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>The <a href="/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-national-institutions/council-of-scientific-and-industrial-research" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Council of Scientific Industrial Research</strong></a>-<strong>National Environmental Engineering Research Institute (CSIR-NEERI)</strong> recently launched the country&rsquo;s <strong>first interactive online repository</strong> named as <strong>IndAIR (Indian Air quality Studies Interactive Repository).</strong></p>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The<strong> aim</strong> of the project is <strong>to make air quality research available to everyone.</strong> It presents these studies in an easily <strong>accessible web format</strong> for the media, researchers, and academics.</li>
<li>It is the first comprehensive effort to enlist existing Indian research and analysis on air pollution, its causes and effects.</li>
<li>IndAIR has archived scanned documents from pre-Internet times (1950-1999), research articles, reports and case studies, and over 2,000 statutes to provide the history of air pollution research and legislation in the country. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>It includes all major legislations in the country dating back to 1905.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>NEERI received support from institutions such as the National Institute of Science Communication and Information Resources (NISCAIR), BARC and National Archives of India (NAI). Institutions such as TERI, MoEFCC, and CPCB also partnered with NEERI for the project.</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1573116092_image1.png" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1573116092_image1.png" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" caption="false" width="633" height="234" /></a></p>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Council of Scientific &amp; Industrial Research- National Environmental and Engineering Research Institute</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>CSIR-NEERI</strong> is a research institute created and funded by the Government of India. It functions under the <strong>Ministry of Science &amp; Technology.</strong></li>
<li>It was established in Nagpur in 1958 with focus on water supply, sewage disposal,communicable diseases and to some extent on industrial pollution and occupational diseases found common in post-independent India.</li>
<li>CSIR has 38 national laboratories working in various areas of science and technology. CSIR-NEERI is one of those laboratories.</li>
</ul>
</div>
<p><a href="https://indianexpress.com/article/india/online-repository-set-up-to-compile-research-on-air-quality-in-country-6107297/" 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/neeri-indair'
	],
	(int) 10 => [
		'title' => 'Relaxation of Fumigation Norms on Import of Onions',
		'catname' => 'News Analysis',
		'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>The Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare has allowed the relaxation of fumigation norms for the <strong>import of onions</strong> for a limited time period.</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The liberalized fumigation norms will facilitate private import of onions from <strong>Afghanistan, Egypt, Turkey, and Iran.</strong> It will help to <strong>boost the availability and check price rise of onions.</strong></li>
<li>The norms will also provide relaxation from the endorsement on the <strong>Phytosanitary Certificate (PSC) as per the Plant Quarantine Order, 2003</strong> for onion imports.</li>
<li>The imported onions which arrive at Indian ports without fumigation and endorsement to that effect on the PSC would be <strong>fumigated in India</strong> by the <strong>importer through an accredited treatment provider.</strong></li>
<li>On a regular basis, imported onions are allowed in the country <strong>only after the commodity is fumigated and certified by the exporting nation.</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Importers are subjected to <strong>four times additional inspection fees</strong> on account of non-compliance.</li>
<li>However, current consignments of onions under liberalized norms <strong>will not be penalised for non-compliance.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Fumigation</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/phosphine-as-fumigant" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Fumigation</strong></a> is a <strong>pest control method that involves filling the airspace</strong> within a structure with <strong>toxic gas. Eg. Methyl Bromide, Phosphine, etc.</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Methyl bromide is <strong>forbidden</strong> in developed nations, and its use was restricted by the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/greenhouse-gas-levels-reach-record-highs-un-report" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Montreal Protocol</strong> </a>due to its<strong> role in ozone depletion.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>It is mainly used to control pests in storage buildings (structural fumigation), soil, and grains.</li>
<li>It is also used during processing <strong>of goods to be imported or exported to prevent transfer of exotic organisms.</strong></li>
<li>It is seen as the <strong>most effective way to kill all pests, insects, and nematodes.</strong></li>
</ul>
<h3>Phytosanitary Certificate</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Phytosanitary certificates are issued to indicate that consignments of plants, plant products meet specified phytosanitary import requirements under <strong>International Plant Protection Convention (IPPC), 1951.</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Phytosanitary measures</strong> are aimed at the protection of human, animal and plant health from diseases, pests, and contaminants.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>Usually, PSCs are generated by the <strong>exporting country.</strong></li>
<li>It can <strong>only be issued by an authorized officer from a government department</strong> that is authorized by a <strong>National Plant Protection Agency (NPPO).</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>NPPO is in force to protect the threat of spreading pests, contamination or diseases into the country of import.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Plant Quarantine Order, 2003</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>It ensures the <strong>import of pest and fungus free agricultural commodities in</strong> the country which <strong>is or may be destructive to crops.</strong></li>
<li>Plant quarantine is a <strong>technique that ensures disease- and pest-free plants.</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>During the process, a <strong>plant is isolated</strong> while tests are performed to detect the presence of a problem</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</div>
<p><a href="https://pib.gov.in/PressReleseDetail.aspx?PRID=1590631" 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/relaxation-of-fumigation-norms-on-import-of-onions'
	],
	(int) 11 => [
		'title' => 'A Special Fund For Housing Projects',
		'catname' => 'News Analysis',
		'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>The Union Cabinet has approved the creation of an <strong>Alternative Investment Fund (AIF) of ₹25,000 crore</strong> to <strong>revive stalled</strong> affordable and middle-income <strong>housing projects</strong> across the country.</p>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Fund Size</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The fund size will <strong>initially be ₹25,000 crore</strong> with the government providing ₹10,000 crore and the State Bank of India (SBI) and the Life Insurance Corporation (LIC) providing the balance.</li>
<li>However, the fund is <strong>not capped at ₹25,000 crore</strong> and will likely grow as a lot of sovereign funds have shown interest.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Fund Management</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The fund will be set up as <strong>Category-II Alternative Investment Fund registered</strong> with the <a href="/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-national-institutions/securities-and-exchange-board-of-india-sebi" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI).</strong></a></li>
<li>It will be managed by SBICAP Ventures Limited (SVL). It is a wholly owned subsidiary of SBI Capital Markets Ltd.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Eligible Projects</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>All <strong>affordable and middle-income housing projects</strong> that are <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Net worth positive</li>
<li>Registered with the Real Estate Regulatory Authority (RERA) and</li>
<li>That have not been deemed liquidation-worthy.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>Stuck projects classified as <a href="/loksabha-rajyasabha-discussions/the-big-picture-big-bank-reform" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Non Performing Assets</strong></a> and those undergoing resolution under 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> will also be eligible for funding &mdash; a change from the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/steps-to-spur-economic-growth" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>announcement made in September 2019.</strong></a></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Funding Procedure</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The fund will provide money in escrow accounts that can be used only for completion of the identified projects.</li>
<li>The receivables from the project will be used to repay the fund.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Expected Benefits</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>There are more than<strong> 1,600 housing projects which are stalled.</strong> The fund is expected to <strong>revive</strong> the same. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>This will help in alleviating stress for homebuyers, real estate players as well as banks that have backed these projects.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Impact on Other Sectors</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Revival of the real estate sector will also lead to demand of cement, iron &amp; steel industries, thus also generating employment.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>The fund will also <strong>generate commercial return for its investors.</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The AIF is expected to pool investments from government-related and private investors, including public financial institutions, sovereign wealth funds, public and private banks, etc.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Alternative Investment Fund</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Meaning:</strong> AIF means any fund established in India which is a <strong>privately pooled investment vehicle</strong> which collects funds from sophisticated investors, whether Indian or foreign, for investing it in accordance with a defined investment policy for the benefit of its investors. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>An alternative investment is a financial asset that does not fall into one of the conventional equity/income/cash categories.</li>
<li>Private equity or venture capital, hedge funds, real property, commodities, and tangible assets are all examples of alternative investments.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>It is <strong>regulated by the SEBI.</strong></li>
<li><strong>Categories</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Category I AIFs:</strong> These generally invest in start-ups or early stage ventures which the government or regulators consider as socially or economically desirable. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>e.g. venture capital funds, infrastructure funds.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Category II AIFs:</strong> These are AIFs which do not fall in Category I and III and which do not undertake leverage or borrowing other than to meet day-to-day operational requirements and as permitted in the SEBI (Alternative Investment Funds) Regulations, 2012. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>e.g. real estate funds, private equity funds.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Categories III AIFs:</strong> AIFs which employ diverse or complex trading strategies and may employ leverage including through investment in listed or unlisted derivatives. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>e.g. hedge funds, private investment in Public Equity Funds.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</div>
<p><a href="https://www.thehindu.com/business/Industry/centre-clears-25000-crore-fund-to-help-housing-sector/article29902843.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/a-special-fund-for-housing-projects'
	],
	(int) 12 => [
		'title' => 'Wasteland Atlas-2019',
		'catname' => 'News Analysis',
		'desc' => '<h3>Why in News?</h3>
<p>Recently, the Ministry of Rural Development has released the fifth edition of Wastelands Atlas (2019).</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>It has been prepared by the Department of Land Resources (Ministry of Rural Development) in collaboration with the National Remote Sensing Centre (NRSC), Department of Space.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Significance of Wasteland Atlas</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Unprecedented pressure on the land beyond its carrying capacity is resulting in the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/land-degradation" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>degradation of lands</strong></a> in the country.</li>
<li>Therefore, robust geospatial information on wastelands will be helpful in rolling back the wastelands for productive use through various land development programmes.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>A <strong>reduction in the wasteland area</strong> was observed in the categories of land with dense scrub, marshy land, sandy areas, and degraded pastures.</li>
<li>The wastelands have undergone a <strong>positive change</strong> in the states of Rajasthan, Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, Andhra Pradesh, Mizoram, Madhya Pradesh, Jammu &amp; Kashmir, and West Bengal.</li>
<li>The<strong> majority of wastelands</strong> have been changed into categories of <strong>croplands, plantation and industrial areas.</strong></li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Wastelands</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Wastelands are a<strong> barren and uncultivated land</strong> lying unproductive or which is not being utilized to its potential.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>It includes degraded forests, overgrazed pastures, drought-struck pas&shy;tures, eroded valleys, hilly slopes, waterlogged marshy lands, barren land, etc.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</div>
<p><a href="https://pib.gov.in/PressReleseDetail.aspx?PRID=1590395" 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/wasteland-atlas-2019'
	],
	(int) 13 => [
		'title' => 'Rising NPAs due to Unrated Loans',
		'catname' => 'News Analysis',
		'desc' => '<p>Why in News</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>According to data from the Reserve Bank of India (RBI), <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/solving-the-npa-crisis-in-india" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Non-Performing Assets (NPAs)</strong></a> for <strong>unrated loans has increased to 24 % (2018) from about 6 % (2015).</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Unrated Loans are loans that are <strong>not rated by credit rating agencies.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>High levels of NPAs in unrated loans</strong> indicate <strong>more economical risk</strong> for the banks as unrated loans are not secured through ratings.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Key Points<a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1573110281_image1.jpg" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1573110281_image1.jpg" style="float: right;" width="340" height="472" caption="false" /></a></h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Unrated borrowers</strong> account for about <strong>60% of the total number and 40% of the total exposure of large borrowers.</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The central bank requires banks to report individual exposure of <strong>more than Rs 5 crore</strong> with the <strong>Central Repository of Information on Large Credits (CRILC),</strong> to capture<strong> data on large borrowers.</strong></li>
<li>The borrowers having an aggregate fund-based <strong>working capital of Rs 150 crore and above</strong> are termed as<strong> large borrowers.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>How Unrated Loans and Related NPAs can be Reduced?</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>By regularising credit ratings for loan exposure, RBI has<strong> raised</strong> <strong>risk-weighted Assets</strong> on unrated loans.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Higher risk-weighted assets</strong> on unrated loans <strong>reduce the capacity of banks to lend such loans, thereby</strong> encouraging them to get such loans rated.</li>
<li><strong>The risk-weighted assets</strong> are used to determine the <strong>minimum amount of capital</strong> that must be held by banks <strong>to reduce the risk of insolvency.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>Banks also need to consider rated exposures as some of the private sector banks<strong> experienced significant stress</strong> in their exposures to <strong>the credit rating of BB category (and below it) rated loan accounts.</strong></li>
<li>However, the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/financial-stability-report-rbi" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>RBI&rsquo;s Financial Stability Report</strong></a> projected the <strong>gross NPA ratio of all banks to come down from 9.3% in March 2019 to 9.0 %by March 2020.</strong>
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The recoveries pick up pace due to the resolution of some cases under the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code and banks write off their bad loans.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Central Repository of Information on Large Credits (CRILC)</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>It has been constituted by RBI in 2014 to collect, store, and publish data on all borrower&rsquo;s credit exposures</li>
<li>Banks will have to provide credit information to CRILC about their borrowers with an aggregate fund-based and non-fund based exposure of and over Rs.5 Crores (Rs.50 million).</li>
<li>It also helps financial institutions and banks to assess their non-performing assets (NPAs) and also share this information with other institutions.</li>
</ul>
</div>
<p><a href="https://indianexpress.com/article/business/banking-and-finance/rising-npas-banks-exposure-to-unrated-loans-increased-threefold-in-three-years-6101555/" 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/rising-npas-due-to-unrated-loans'
	],
	(int) 14 => [
		'title' => 'India Exits RCEP',
		'catname' => 'News Editorials',
		'desc' => '<div class="border">
<p>This article is based on<a href="https://indianexpress.com/article/opinion/editorials/india-rcep-back-out-china-modi-asean-6105017/" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong> &ldquo;Lost opportunity&rdquo;</strong></a> (IE), <a href="https://www.thehindu.com/opinion/op-ed/a-victory-for-the-dairy-sector/article29891203.ece" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>&ldquo;A victory for the dairy sector&rdquo;</strong></a>(TH), <a href="https://indianexpress.com/article/opinion/columns/rcep-india-back-out-china-trade-modi-asean-6104987/" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>&ldquo;Signing the RCEP agreement would have given more substance to India&rsquo;s Act East policy&rdquo;</strong></a> (IE), <a href="https://www.thehindu.com/opinion/editorial/safe-for-now/article29891821.ece" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>&ldquo;Safe, for now: On India opting out of RCEP&rdquo;</strong></a> (TH). It talks about reasons and implications of India&rsquo;s exit from RCEP.</p>
</div>
<p>Recently, India decided to opt-out of the 16-nation <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/3rd-rcep-summit" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP)</strong></a> trade deal. India held that it will not become part of RCEP until <strong>&ldquo;significant outstanding issues&rdquo;</strong> are resolved.</p>
<p>The RCEP negotiations were kick-started during the 21st ASEAN Summit in Cambodia in November 2012 and all participating countries sought to finalise and sign a deal by 2020.</p>
<h3>What is RCEP?</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) is a trade deal that was being negotiated between 16 countries.</li>
<li>They include the 10 Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) members (Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, and Vietnam) and the six countries with which the bloc has free trade agreements (FTAs) &mdash; India, Australia, China, Korea, Japan, and New Zealand.</li>
<li>The RCEP is billed to be the<strong> &ldquo;largest&rdquo; regional trading agreement.</strong> The countries involved account for almost <strong>half of the world&rsquo;s population,</strong> contribute over a <strong>quarter of world exports,</strong> and makeup around <strong>30% of the global Gross Domestic Product.</strong></li>
</ul>
<h3>Reasons for India's Withdrawal</h3>
<p><strong>Unfavourable Balance of Trade</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Though trade has increased post-FTA with South Korea, ASEAN countries and Japan, imports have risen faster than exports from India.</li>
<li>According to a paper published by NITI Aayog, India has a bilateral trade deficit with most of the member countries of RCEP.</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>Dumping of Chinese Goods</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>India has already signed FTAs with all the countries of RCEP except China.</li>
<li>This is the major concern for India, as after signing RCEP cheaper products from China would have flooded the Indian market.</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>Non-acceptance of Auto-trigger Mechanism</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>In order to deal with the imminent rise in imports, India had been seeking an auto-trigger mechanism.</li>
<li><strong>Auto-trigger Mechanism</strong> would have allowed India to raise tariffs on products in instances where imports cross a certain threshold.</li>
<li>However, other countries in the RCEP were against this proposal.</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>Protection of Domestic Industry</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>India had also reportedly expressed apprehensions on lowering and eliminating tariffs on several products like dairy, steel etc.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>For instance, the dairy industry was expected to face stiff competition from Australia and New Zealand.</li>
<li>Currently, India&rsquo;s average bound tariff for dairy products is on average 35%.</li>
<li>The RCEP binds countries to reduce that current level of tariffs to zero within the next 15 years.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>Lack of Consensus on Rules of Origin</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>India was concerned about a &ldquo;possible circumvention&rdquo; of rules of origin.</li>
<li><strong>Rules of origin</strong> are the criteria used to determine the national source of a product.</li>
<li>Current provisions in the deal reportedly do not prevent countries from routing, through other countries, products on which India would maintain higher tariffs.</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>Implications of India's Exit of RCEP</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Exiting RCEP, India can still keep a check on China&rsquo;s dumping of goods in India. However, from needles to the turbine, Chinese goods are all over the Indian market.</li>
<li>Refraining from RCEP will provide protection to the Indian domestic industry from cheap imports.</li>
<li>RCEP is a China-backed trade deal, signing it without India will further strengthen China&rsquo;s economic power. It will affect India&rsquo;s neighbourhood as China already tries to influence the region through its deep pockets.</li>
<li>India envisages becoming a manufacturing hub. However, staying out of the RCEP reduces opportunities for trading with these countries, which together account for roughly a third of global trade.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Manufacturing today requires greater integration with global supply chains.</li>
<li>Signing the agreement would have signalled an embrace of freer trade, which could have aided in the shift of companies out of China to India.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>India's exit of RCEP may also affect <strong>India's Act East policy.</strong></li>
<li>India should have used this as an opportunity to push through contentious but necessary reforms that would boost competitiveness.</li>
</ul>
<h3><strong>Conclusion</strong></h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>India needs to work on reforms and frame policies to prepare the economy for facing global competition. This can be done by:<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Easing land acquisition</li>
<li>Reforming Labor laws</li>
<li>Bridging Infrastructure deficit</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<table border="1" style="border-collapse: collapse; width: 100%;">
<tbody>
<tr style="height: 67px;">
<td style="width: 100%; height: 67px; border-style: dotted; border-color: #ff0000; background-color: #ffffd6;"><span style="color: #0000ff;"><em><strong>Drishti Mains Question</strong></em></span><br /><br />Analyse the factors and implications of India&rsquo;s exit from the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP).</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>',
		'postdate' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenTime) {},
		'url' => 'https://www.drishtiias.com/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/india-exits-rcep'
	],
	(int) 15 => [
		'title' => 'Semi - Dirac Metals',
		'catname' => 'News Analysis',
		'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>Researchers from the Indian Institute of Technology - Bombay have discovered special properties in a class of materials called &ldquo;semi-dirac metals&rdquo;.</p>
<h3>How Semi - Dirac Metals differ from other metals?</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>In general, metals are<strong> good conductors</strong> of electricity.</li>
<li>A key aspect that decides the quality of conduction is the way <strong>energy depends on the momentum of electrons.<br /></strong></li>
<li><strong>Dirac metals</strong> differ from normal metals in that the <strong>energy depends linearly on the momentum of electrons.</strong> This difference is also responsible for their unique properties.</li>
<li><strong>Semi-Dirac metals behave like Dirac metals in one direction and like normal metals in the perpendicular directions</strong> (since their microscopic structure is different along the two directions).</li>
<li><strong>Examples</strong> of semi-dirac metals are systems such as TiO<sub>2</sub>/V<sub>2</sub>O<sub>3</sub> nanostructures (Oxides of Titanium and Vanadium).</li>
</ul>
<h3>Properties Discovered</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The direction-dependence of microscopic properties gives Semi - Dirac material <strong>special optical properties.</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Semi-Dirac materials have very high optical conductivity of electromagnetic waves (light waves). These waves are of a specific frequency and a specific polarisation.</li>
<li><strong>Optical conductivity</strong> is a measure of the opacity offered by the material to the passage of light through it.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Semi - Dirac materials would be transparent to light of a given frequency and polarisation when it is incident along a particular direction.</li>
<li>These materials would be opaque to the same light when it falls on it from a different direction.</li>
<li>There are many known applications for transparent conducting films &ndash; the common example being touch screens used in mobiles.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>The material possesses interesting <strong>thermoelectric properties.</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Thermoelectricity is a<strong> clean energy technology</strong> that uses waste heat to produce electricity typically in low power applications.</li>
<li>This technology is used in efficient cars, where it is used to keep the lights on and to warm seats.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="https://www.thehindu.com/sci-tech/science/new-class-of-quantum-materials-for-clean-energy-technology/article29807363.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/semi-dirac-metals'
	],
	(int) 16 => [
		'title' => 'Acute Respiratory Infections',
		'catname' => 'News Analysis',
		'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>Recently, the data released by <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/national-health-profile-2019" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>the National Health Profile (NHP)-2019</strong> </a>showed a <strong>higher number of people affected by Acute Respiratory Infections (ARI)</strong> in the country.</p>
<h3>Key Points<a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1573029455_image2.jpg" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1573029455_image2.jpg" width="296" height="194" style="float: right;" caption="false" /></a></h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), ARI is a serious ailment that <strong>prevents normal breathing</strong> function.</li>
<li>ARI accounted for<strong> 69.47% of morbidity</strong> in <strong>2018.</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>It was the <strong>highest in the communicable disease category</strong> leading to <strong>27.21% mortality.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>Andhra Pradesh, Gujarat, Karnataka, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Uttar Pradesh and West Bengal reported a large number of patients and fatalities as per NHP-2019.</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>What Happens When You Breathe Polluted Air?</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>When you breathe in polluted air, particles and pollutants penetrate and inflame the linings of your bronchial tubes and lungs.</li>
<li>This leads to respiratory illness such as chronic bronchitis, emphysema, heart disease, asthma, wheezing, coughing and difficulty in breathing.</li>
</ul>
</div>
<h3>Impact on Health</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Children:</strong> Indians face the double burden of heavy <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/health-emergency-in-new-delhi" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>air pollution</strong></a> in addition to the high rate of ARI which hits children the hardest.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The mortality rate among children due to<strong> ARI is 2.6 million annually across the world.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Pregnant Women:</strong> Prenatal exposure to pollutants increases the risk of <strong>pre-term delivery</strong> and<strong> low birth weight</strong> that can lead to <strong>developmental disabilities.</strong></li>
<li><strong>Senior Citizens:</strong> The progressive declining of body functioning due to old age makes air pollution more fatal for them. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>They face frequent breathing problems which may lead to respiratory illness such as chronic bronchitis, emphysema, heart disease, asthma, wheezing, coughing, etc.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<p>The existing disease burden with increasing air pollution is deteriorating the human capital of the country and therefore needs to be checked regularly.</p>
<p><a href="https://www.thehindu.com/sci-tech/health/indian-lungs-under-extreme-stress/article29891563.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/acute-respiratory-infections'
	],
	(int) 17 => [
		'title' => 'New Species of Tree Frog',
		'catname' => 'News Analysis',
		'desc' => '<p>A new species of tree frog, discovered in West Bengal, has been named <strong>Brown Blotched Bengal Tree Frog</strong> <em>(Polypedates bengalensis)</em> due to a series of six to nine dark brown blotches present on its body.<a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1573026816_image1.jpg" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1573026816_image1.jpg" width="200" height="125" style="float: right;" caption="false" /></strong></a></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>It is a <strong>mid-sized tree frog</strong> and is the <strong>26<sup>th</sup> species</strong> under the <strong>genus</strong> <em><strong>Polypedates.</strong></em><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><em>Polypedates</em> is a genus of tree frog found throughout South and Southeast Asia.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="https://www.thehindu.com/sci-tech/science/visibly-elusive-bengal-tree-frog-gets-recorded-as-new-species/article29877245.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/new-species-of-tree-frog'
	],
	(int) 18 => [
		'title' => 'Pakistan Suspends Exchange of Postal Mails',
		'catname' => 'News Analysis',
		'desc' => '<p>In a unilateral decision, Pakistan has stopped the exchange of postal mails with India without any prior notice.</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Under<strong> Universal Postal Union (UPU) rules,</strong> when a country decides to suspend postal exchange with a country, it must notify the operator of the other country and, if possible, the duration for which services are being stopped. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The <strong>UPU&rsquo;s International Bureau</strong> too has to be notified.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>Apart from UPU rules, three other agreements cover postal exchange between India and Pakistan: <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Exchange of Value Payable Article, 1948</li>
<li>Exchange of Postal Article, 1974</li>
<li>International Speed Post Agreement, 1987</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Universal Postal Union (UPU)</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Universal Postal Union is the <strong>specialized agency</strong> of the United Nations.</li>
<li>It was established in <strong>1874</strong> and is the <strong>second oldest</strong> international organization worldwide after <a href="/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-international-institution/united-nations-1" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>International Telecommunication Union (1865).</strong></a></li>
<li>Its headquarter is located in <strong>Bern, Switzerland,</strong> and consists of 192 member countries.</li>
<li>The UPU consists of 4 bodies:<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The Congress</li>
<li>The Council of Administration</li>
<li>The Postal Operations Council</li>
<li>The International Bureau</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>It frames rules for international mail exchange and fixes rates for international postal services.</li>
<li>It performs advisory, mediating and liaison role, and provides technical assistance where needed.</li>
<li>India joined the UPU in 1876.</li>
</ul>
</div>
<p><a href="https://indianexpress.com/article/explained/explained-the-rules-for-global-post-and-how-pak-stopped-mail-to-and-from-india-6090658/" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Source: The Indian Express</strong></a></p>',
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		'url' => 'https://www.drishtiias.com/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/pakistan-suspends-exchange-of-postal-mails'
	],
	(int) 19 => [
		'title' => 'The Big Picture — Telecom Sector: Challenges & Way Forward',
		'catname' => 'Lok Sabha & Rajya Sabha Discussions',
		'desc' => '<p style="text-align: center;"><iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/fPInXy9xizo" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe></p>
<p>Recently, the Supreme Court allowed the Centre's plea to recover <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/challenges-in-telecom-sector-1" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Adjusted Gross Revenue (AGR)</strong></a> of about Rs 92,000 crores from the telecom service providers.</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>A <strong>three-judge bench</strong>, headed by <strong>Justice Arun Mishra</strong>, upheld the definition of AGR formulated by the <strong>Department of Telecommunications</strong>.</li>
<li>The bench made it clear that there would be no further litigation on the issue and it would fix a time frame for calculation and payment of dues by the telecom companies.</li>
<li>In July, the Centre had told the apex court that leading private telecom firms like <strong>Bharti Airtel, Vodafone and state-owned MTNL and BSNL</strong> have <strong>pending licence fee outstanding of over Rs 92,000 crores till date</strong>.</li>
<li><strong>Cellular Operators Association of India (COAI)</strong> has expressed concerns on the financial setback to the already indebted telecom industry.</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Cellular Operators Association of India</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>It was constituted in <strong>1995</strong> as a <strong>registered, non-governmental society</strong>.</li>
<li>It is dedicated to the <strong>advancement of modern communication</strong> through the establishment of world-class mobile infrastructure, products and services and to <strong>deliver the benefits of innovative and affordable mobile communication services to the people of India</strong>.</li>
<li><strong>Bharti Airtel Ltd., Vodafone India Ltd., Reliance Jio Infocomm Ltd.</strong> are few of the core members.</li>
</ul>
</div>
<h3>Highlights</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The data prices were very high few years back. <strong>Huge cost cutting on data and roaming charges</strong> was done to bring down data prices significantly.</li>
<li>Now tariffs in India are <strong>one of the lowest in the world</strong>, especially data prices. Calls are virtually free.</li>
<li>India&rsquo;s number in <strong>teledensity was small</strong> when the industry was running on the <strong>acquisition mode</strong> but currently <strong>almost 88% of Indian population is on network</strong>.</li>
<li>Globally, <strong>Average Revenue Per User (ARPU)</strong> fluctuates around <strong>8-9 US dollars</strong> whereas in <strong>India</strong> it is around <strong>1.2 US dollars</strong>.</li>
<li>Recently, <strong>Jio has stopped investing in capital expenditure (CapEx)</strong> but India still <strong>needs</strong> investment of at least Rs 7 lakh crores more for better 4G accessibility.</li>
<li>The current situation proves that <strong>private sector is not any better than government sector</strong> in providing services.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Although <strong>Government service providers (BSNL, MTNL)</strong> and <strong>private service providers (JIO, Vodafone-Idea, Bharati)</strong> have equal amounts of assets, loans and equities of the latter are much higher than those of the former.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Capital Expenditures (CapEx)</strong> are funds used by a company to acquire, upgrade, and maintain physical assets such as property, buildings, an industrial plant, technology, or equipment.</p>
</div>
<h3>Challenges</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Unfair Competition:</strong>&nbsp;To attract more consumers the telecom companies have been offering <strong>lower tariffs,</strong>&nbsp;in competition with each other, which <strong>do not</strong> <strong>generate much revenue</strong>. This might lead to <strong>either no competition situation</strong> or <strong>monopoly by a single company</strong>.</li>
<li><strong>Infrastructure:</strong> Telecom sector has to <strong>get <a href="/to-the-points/paper3/fifth-generation-cellular-technology-5g" target="_blank" rel="noopener">5G spectrum</a></strong>, <strong>invest in infrastructure, expansion, technology upgradation</strong> etc so this <strong>additional burden</strong> is a major setback for the industry.</li>
<li><strong>Current System of Tariffs:</strong> Major telecom operators are reporting losses and financial stress. This shows that the <a href="/loksabha-rajyasabha-discussions/the-big-picture-challenges-in-telecom-sector" target="_blank" rel="noopener">current tariff system is not financially viable</a> for telecoms.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Solutions</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Telecom Industry:</strong>
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The telecom industry has to keep the <strong>tariff rates sustainably high</strong> instead of trying to make them the cheapest in the world.</li>
<li><strong>Fair Competition:</strong> It should be ensured that there is <strong>no cartelisation and no undercutting</strong>. <strong>Fair competition</strong> among the companies should be encouraged.</li>
<li><strong>Outcome oriented Investment:</strong> All the money which comes in after the government order should be <strong>invested in the telecom sector only</strong> so that <strong>consumers do not need to pay more</strong> and the <strong>revenues will be stabilized</strong>.</li>
<li><strong>Technology:</strong> India should <strong>invest in technology rather than products</strong>:
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>India is <strong>importing $40 billion worth of telecom products</strong> mainly mobile phones every year which is <strong>not a feasible</strong> option for the future because of very <strong>limited foreign exchange</strong>.</li>
<li><strong>Buying technology will cost more once but will save foreign exchange</strong> over the time.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>Telecom industry has to bring a <strong>shift from service oriented investment policies to manufacturing oriented policies</strong>.</li>
<li>Telecom sector needs to do <strong>value addition</strong> by tying up <strong>with the service providers from education, medicine and entertainment sectors</strong> apart from increasing the tariff charges.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Government:</strong>
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Practical Deadlines:</strong> The deadlines should consider current challenges faced by the telecom industry.</li>
<li>In order <strong>to revive BSNL and MTNL,</strong> government has decided to <strong>merge</strong> them and then <strong>provide funds to the merged entity</strong>. Same approach should be applied to other private service providers also.</li>
<li>The <strong>interest collection by government</strong> should be done over a longer period of time giving ample time to the telecom industry to come over the financial stress.</li>
<li>The government can <strong>do away with the penalty</strong> and the <strong>interest</strong> or it <strong>can reduce</strong> them as well.</li>
<li>Government should put the penalty and interest money into <strong>capital investment for the telecom industry</strong>, to provide <strong>availability to equipments and technologies on an equal access basis</strong>.</li>
<li>Government should <strong>look for more avenues of revenue generation</strong> and should be <strong>equally responsible towards making this whole sector viable</strong>.</li>
<li>Government should <strong>incorporate <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/five-years-of-make-in-india" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Make in India</a> in the telecom industry to boost the manufacturing</strong>.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Consumers:</strong>
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The problem in the telecom sector is an evolving problem which needs evolving solutions depending upon the <strong>availability of the consumers</strong> and <strong>their ability to pay</strong>.</li>
<li>The <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/all-things-internet" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>free data</strong></a> should be cut down to some limit.</li>
<li>The segment of consumers which is <strong>willing to pay</strong> should be charged <strong>for the benefits as per their specific needs</strong>.</li>
<li><strong>Slabs and priorities for different segments of consumers</strong> should be set with <strong>customer centric and need specific plans and personalisation facility</strong>.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>What can be learnt from foreign models?</strong>
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Data has been very <strong>rationally planned</strong> in the <strong>international market</strong> and there are various plans suitable for various and specific needs of the people.</li>
<li>Telecom sector is <strong>tied up with various other commodities like the handset company apart from the operators only</strong>.</li>
<li><strong>Moving Wi-Fi zones or <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/telecom-firms-oppose-trai%E2%80%99s-public-wi-fi-model" target="_blank" rel="noopener">public Wi-Fi zones</a> in India should not be completely free of cost</strong> instead India can learn from the <strong>Emirates, Singapore</strong> which <strong>charges its customers for data after exhausting the limits set by the airlines</strong>.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Way Forward</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Telecom sector has lot of segments in itself which <strong>create avenues, bring technologies, innovations and employment raising India to the global level</strong>.</li>
<li>To make this <strong>industry sustainable</strong> and to <strong>stop the unfair trade practices and blind competitions</strong>, industry itself, consumers and government will have to share the burden together.</li>
<li>The sector has to look for a <strong>holistic approach with convergence to bring the convenience to the customer</strong>.</li>
<li>It is a very <strong>strong component</strong> in our growing economy and <strong>deeply rooted into the system with various allied sectors</strong>. New and better ways should be found out for <strong>asset optimisation </strong>and<strong> revenue generation</strong>.</li>
</ul>',
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