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Covid-19 and Children: UNICEF

Why in News Recently, the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) has released the report “Averting a lost Covid generation”,...

21 Nov 2020 News Analysis
Status of Radicalisation in India

Why in News The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) has, for the first time, approved a research study on ‘status of radicalisation’ in the...

21 Nov 2020 News Analysis
APEC Virtual Meet

Why in News Recently, a virtual meeting of the 21-member Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) forum was held. The meeting was hosted by...

21 Nov 2020 News Analysis
India-Thailand Coordinated Patrol

Why in News Recently, the 30th edition of India-Thailand Coordinated Patrol (CORPAT) has been concluded in the Andaman Sea close to the Strait of...

21 Nov 2020 News Analysis
Electric Vehicle Development In India

This article is based on “UK’s EV push: India should take note and tie up with British partners” which was published in The Times...

20 Nov 2020 News Editorials
Bengaluru Tech Summit

Why in News Recently, the Prime Minister has inaugurated the Bengaluru Tech Summit via video conference which was also attended by the Prime...

20 Nov 2020 News Analysis
Willow Warbler

Why in News Recently, Willow Warbler has been sighted for the first time in India at Vellayani-Punchakkari paddy fields, Kerala. These paddy...

20 Nov 2020 News Analysis
Supercomputer Param Siddhi

Why in News India’s Artificial Intelligence (AI) supercomputer Param Siddhi ranked 63rd among top 500 most powerful non-distributed computer...

20 Nov 2020 News Analysis
India-Luxembourg Virtual Summit

Why in News Recently, the Prime Ministers of India and the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg have held the first-ever India-Luxembourg Virtual...

20 Nov 2020 News Analysis
NDB Loan to India

Why in News Recently, a 500-million dollar loan agreement was signed between the Union government, the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs,...

20 Nov 2020 News Analysis
Paternity Leave

This article is based on “Papa don’t leave” which was published in The Indian Express on 19/11/2020. It talks about the idea of...

19 Nov 2020 News Editorials
Guillain Barre Syndrome

Why in News Some patients infected with Covid-19 have been found suffering from Guillain Barre Syndrome (GBS). Key Points Guillain Barre...

19 Nov 2020 News Analysis
Deemed Forests in Karnataka

Why in News Recently, Karnataka has announced that it would declassify 6.64 lakh hectares (nearly 67%) of the 9.94 lakh hectares of deemed forests...

19 Nov 2020 News Analysis
FFC Recommendations for Health Sector

Why in News The Fifteenth Finance Commission (FFC) has made recommendations about the need for reprioritising public spending to fix the creaky...

19 Nov 2020 News Analysis
Chapare Virus

Why in News Researchers from the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) have recently discovered a rare Ebola-like illness that is...

19 Nov 2020 News Analysis
The Big Picture: 75 Years of UN

Why in News? On October 24, 2020 the United Nations marked its diamond jubilee. Far from a joyous celebration, it was an occasion sombrely...

19 Nov 2020 Lok Sabha & Rajya Sabha Discussions
Online Education Woes

Why in News A recent study by the Azim Premji University on the efficacy and accessibility of e-learning has highlighted various challenges involved...

19 Nov 2020 News Analysis
Rural Non-Farm Sector

This article is based on “Spot the seeds of growth” which was published in The Indian Express on 18/11/2020. It talks about the...

18 Nov 2020 News Editorials
India’s First Green Energy Convergence Project: Goa

Why in News India’s first convergence project to generate green energy for rural and agriculture consumption is set to come up in...

18 Nov 2020 News Analysis
Anakkayam Small Hydro Electric Project

Why in News Recently, various green collectives and environmental organisations have come together to protest against the Anakkayam Small Hydro...

18 Nov 2020 News Analysis

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		(int) 0 => [
			'title' => 'Covid-19 and Children: UNICEF',
			'catname' => 'News Analysis',
			'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>Recently, the <a href="/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-international-institution/unicef-1" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>United Nations Children&rsquo;s Fund</strong> </a>(UNICEF) has released the report <strong>&ldquo;Averting a lost Covid generation&rdquo;,</strong> which highlights significant and growing consequences of <strong>Covid-19</strong> on children.</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The report came ahead of the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/world-children-s-day#:~:text=World%20Children's%20Day%20is%20celebrated,of%20the%20Child%20in%201959." target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>World Children&rsquo;s Day</strong></a> (20<sup>th</sup> November).</li>
</ul>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>About the Report:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>It is the <strong>first UNICEF report to comprehensively outline</strong> the dire and growing <strong>consequences for children as the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/covid-19-now-pandemic-who" target="_blank" rel="noopener">pandemic</a> goes on.</strong></li>
<li>It shows that while symptoms among infected children remain mild, <strong>infections are rising</strong> and the longer-term<strong> impact on the education, nutrition and well-being of an entire generation</strong> of children and young people can be life-altering.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Data Analysis:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Children and adolescents account for <strong>1 in 9 reported Covid-19 infections.</strong></li>
<li>As of the <strong>beginning of November 2020,</strong> children and adolescents accounted for <strong>11% of the 25.7 million infections</strong> reported across 87 countries.</li>
<li>It estimated that <strong>a third of the countries</strong> analysed, <strong>witnessed a drop of at least 10% in coverage of health services</strong> and there was a<strong> 40% decline in the coverage of nutrition services</strong> for women and children across 135 countries.</li>
<li>As of <strong>October 2020, 265 million children were still missing out on school meals</strong> globally.</li>
<li><strong>65 countries</strong> reported a <strong>decrease in-home visits by social workers</strong> in September 2020, compared to 2019.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Concerns:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>These numbers <strong>bust the myth that children are barely affected</strong> by the disease, which has been prevalent throughout the pandemic.</li>
<li><strong>Disruptions to key services </strong>and <strong>soaring poverty rates</strong> pose the biggest threat to children and the longer the crisis persists, the deeper its impact on children&rsquo;s education, health, nutrition and well-being.</li>
<li><strong>Vulnerabilities of women and children have increased,</strong> as <strong>health services continue to be disrupted and schools shut, denying children free <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/mid-day-meal" target="_blank" rel="noopener">mid-day meals</a></strong> offered at schools for underprivileged children.</li>
<li>While children could <strong>transmit the virus to each other and to older age groups,</strong> there was strong evidence that, with <strong>basic safety measures in place,</strong> the net benefits of keeping schools open outweighed the costs of closing them.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li><strong>Schools are not the main driver of <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/icmr-to-test-for-community-transmission-of-covid-19" target="_blank" rel="noopener">community transmission</a></strong>, and children are more likely to get the virus outside of school settings.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>India Specific Highlights:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Infections in Under 20:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>As per data from the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/icmr-recommends-use-of-hydroxy-chloroquine" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Indian Council of Medical Research</strong></a> (ICMR) on the dashboard of the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/national-centre-for-disease-control-ncdc" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>National Centre for Disease Control</strong></a>, 11.89% of Covid-19 cases in India are in under 20.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Education:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li><strong>1.5 million school closures have impacted 247 million</strong> children enrolled in elementary and secondary education and <strong>28 million</strong> children who were attending pre-school education <strong>in <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/anganwadi-services" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Anganwadi</a> Centres.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Nutrition:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>An estimated <strong>20 million children under 5</strong> years of age are suffering from <strong>wasting</strong> (low weight for height), over<strong> 40 million</strong> children are <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/malnutrition-and-covid-19" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>chronically malnourished</strong> </a>and more than half of the Indian <strong>women aged 15-49</strong> years are <strong><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/anaemia-in-women#:~:text=Iron%20deficiency%20is%20the%20most,%2C%20weakness%2C%20dizziness%20and%20drowsiness." target="_blank" rel="noopener">anaemic.</a></strong></li>
<li>The pandemic has <strong>further exposed the fragility</strong> of children, less by the virus itself but much more by the indirect and long-term fallout.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Newborn Mortality:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Covid-19 poses a grave threat to the gains made by India in the <a href="/loksabha-rajyasabha-discussions/the-big-picture-tackling-infant-mortality" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Neonatal Mortality Rate</strong></a> (NMR) and <strong>Infant Mortality Rate</strong> (IMR) which saw improvements in recent years.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li><strong>NMR</strong> is defined as the &lsquo;number of deaths during the first 28 completed days of life per 1,000 live births in a given year or period&rsquo;.</li>
<li><strong>IMR</strong> is defined as the &lsquo;number of deaths of children under the age of 1 year per 1000 live births for a given year.&rsquo;</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Sanitation:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>The <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/woes-of-migrants-amid-covid-19" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>socio-economic stress and migration</strong> </a>resulting due to the Covid-19 put <strong>access to <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/world-toilet-day" target="_blank" rel="noopener">toilets</a> and the practice of using them at risk.</strong></li>
<li>The schools which offered <strong>improved access to and quality of water, sanitation and hygiene facilities are closed</strong> and the facilities are not accessed.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Recommendations:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Ensure all children<strong> learn,</strong> including by closing the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/national-statistical-organisation-survey-on-digital-education-divide" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>digital divide.</strong></a></li>
<li>Guarantee access to <strong>nutrition</strong> and <strong>health services</strong> and make<strong> vaccines</strong> affordable and available to every child.</li>
<li>Support and protect the <strong>mental health</strong> of children and young people and bring an end to abuse, gender-based violence and neglect in childhood.</li>
<li>Increase access to<strong> safe drinking water, sanitation and hygiene</strong> and address <strong>environmental degradation</strong> and <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/special-report-on-climate-change-ipcc" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>climate change.</strong></a></li>
<li>Reverse the rise in <strong>child poverty</strong> and ensure an inclusive recovery for all.</li>
<li>Redouble efforts to protect and support children and their families living through <strong>conflict, disaster and displacement.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>World Children&rsquo;s Day</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>It is celebrated on <strong>20<sup>th</sup> November each year to promote international togetherness and awareness</strong> among children worldwide, and <strong>improve children's welfare.</strong></li>
<li>The date of 20<sup>th</sup> November is an important date because, on this date, the <a href="/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-international-institution/united-nations-1" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>United Nations General Assembly</strong></a> adopted the<strong> Declaration of the Rights of the Child in 1959 </strong>and the <strong>Convention on the Rights of the Child in 1989.</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Convention on the Rights of the Child <strong>recognises every human being under 18 years old as a child</strong> and is the<strong> world&rsquo;s most widely ratified human rights treaty.</strong></li>
<li><strong>India ratified it in 1992.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</div>
<p><a href="https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/1-in-9-children-infected-by-covid-19-unicef/article33141124.ece" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Source: TH</strong></a></p>',
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		],
		(int) 1 => [
			'title' => 'Status of Radicalisation in India',
			'catname' => 'News Analysis',
			'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>The<strong> Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA)</strong> has, for the first time, approved a research study on <strong>&lsquo;status of radicalisation&rsquo;</strong> in the country.</p>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Study will be conducted by <strong>G.S. Bajpai,</strong> Director of the Centre for Criminology and Victimology, National Law University, Delhi.</li>
<li>The study will attempt to legally define <strong>&lsquo;radicalisation&rsquo;</strong> and suggest amendments to the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/demand-for-repeal-of-uapa" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, 1967.</strong></a><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Radicalisation is yet to be defined legally, this <strong>leads to misuse by the police. </strong></li>
<li><strong>Aggressive policing measures could be counter-productive</strong> as the youth who were radicalised were &ldquo;misguided&rdquo; and not the culprits.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>A huge local population engulfed by systematic radicalisation can create a major security challenge for the state.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The United Nations&rsquo; 26<sup>th</sup> report of the Analytical Support and Sanctions Monitoring Team concerning the IS (Islamic State), al-Qaeda and associated individuals and entities had pointed out &ldquo;significant numbers&rdquo; of the IS and al-Qaeda members in Kerala and Karnataka.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Instances of Radicalisation in India:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Cases have revealed instances of<strong> internet-facilitated indoctrination</strong> and active radicalisation in multiple states.</li>
<li>Instances of <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/left-wing-extremism-in-india" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Left Wing Extremism</strong></a> (LWE) have grown despite the continued government intervention. Encounters, ambushes and arrests still occur with regular frequency in the red corridor districts.</li>
<li>Increased incidents of <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/mob-lynching-1" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>mob lynching, cow vigilantism</strong> </a>and the string of assassinations of rationalists such as Narendra Dabholkar, Govind Pansare and Gauri Lankesh point towards rising extremism in the right wing cadres.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Maharashtra Model:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The Maharashtra Government has rolled out a <strong>Deradicalisation Programme</strong> for the minority community to counter both <strong>home-grown extremism</strong> and the global Islamic State (IS) threat. The plan has been chalked out by the State Home Department that includes a <strong>50-point socio-economic strategy.</strong></li>
<li>Deradicalisation is a process in which people reject the ideology they once embraced. This is a step further than disengagement, characterised by a change in behaviour (leaving the radical group, stopping violence) without giving up.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Radicalisation</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Meaning:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The word &ldquo;radical&rdquo; refers to change in the fundamental nature of something, thus Radicalism is a set of beliefs or actions of people who advocate thorough or complete political or social reform.</li>
<li>Radicalisation refers to the process of an individual&rsquo;s transformation from a moderate, law-abiding citizen into an active, anti-state, violent extremist.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Types of Radicalisation:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Right-Wing Extremism:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>It is characterized by the violent defence of a racial, ethnic or pseudo-national identity, and is also associated with radical hostility towards state authorities, minorities, immigrants and/or left-wing political groups.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Politico-Religious Extremism:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>It results from political interpretation of religion and the defence, by violent means, of a religious identity perceived to be under attack (via international conflicts, foreign policy, social debates, etc.). Any religion may spawn this type of violent radicalization.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Left-Wing Extremism:</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>It focuses primarily on anti-capitalist demands and calls for the transformation of political systems considered responsible for producing social inequalities, and that may ultimately employ violent means to further its cause.</li>
<li>It includes anarchist, maoist, Trotskyist and marxist&ndash;leninist groups that use violence to advocate for their cause.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Factors behind Radicalisation:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Individual socio-psychological factors,</strong> which include grievances and emotions such as alienation and exclusion, anger and frustration and a strong sense of injustice.</li>
<li><strong>Socio-economic factors,</strong> which include social exclusion, marginalisation and discrimination (real or perceived), limited education or employment etc.</li>
<li><strong>Political factors,</strong> which include weak and non-participatory political systems lacking good governance and regard for civil society.</li>
<li><strong>Social media,</strong> which provide connectivity, virtual participation and an echo-chamber for like-minded extremist views, accelerates the process of radicalisation.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</div>
<h3>Way Forward</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>At the primary level, the government needs to reinvest in educational institutions. The aim should be to decrease prejudice, stereotyping and discrimination and to increase knowledge about democracy. Collective sports and citizen programmes based on exchanges have been found helpful.</li>
<li>The success of Kerala and Maharashtra programmes of deradicalisation indicates how community-based programmes may work in vulnerable states. The disaffected youth with no real job prospects and limited futures are vulnerable. The war on terror is to be countered more in the human mind, and requires different skills and tactics.</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/in-a-first-mha-approves-study-on-status-of-radicalisation/article33143472.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/status-of-radicalisation-in-india'
		],
		(int) 2 => [
			'title' => 'APEC Virtual Meet',
			'catname' => 'News Analysis',
			'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>Recently, a virtual meeting of the<strong> 21-member Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC)</strong> forum was held.</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The meeting was <strong>hosted by Malaysia. New Zealand</strong> will also <strong>host next year's APEC meetings</strong> virtually due to the pandemic.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>With <strong>growth in the Asia-Pacific region expected to decline by 2.7%</strong> this year, from a 3.6% growth in 2019, APEC's focus was on accelerating economic recovery and developing an affordable vaccine.</li>
<li><strong>Focus Areas:</strong> Trade and investment, Digital Economy and Technology, Structural Reform, Economic and Technical Cooperation and Thematic and institutional matters.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>APEC leaders adopted the <strong>Putrajaya Vision 2040,</strong> a new 20-year growth vision to <strong>replace the Bogor Goals</strong> named after the Indonesian town where leaders agreed in 1994 to free and open trade and investment.</li>
<li>Recognised the <strong>importance of a free, open, fair, non-discriminatory, transparent and predictable trade and investment environment</strong> to drive economic recovery at such a challenging time (Covid-19).</li>
<li>Discussed the <strong>Free Trade Area of the Asia-Pacific (FTAAP) agenda</strong> and the <strong>APEC Internet and Digital Economy Roadmap (AIDER).</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>China has become the main driving force</strong> behind the grouping after the <strong>United States began withdrawing from multilateral bodies</strong> during Trump's presidency.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>But Trump made the surprise decision to take part in this year's event, after <strong>not participating at APEC since 2017.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>China&rsquo;s Stand:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>It vowed to keep its &ldquo;super-sized&rdquo; economy open for business and warned against protectionism as the world battles the Covid-19 pandemic. It needs to be noted that Trump&rsquo;s <strong>"America First"</strong> policy has alienated trading partners.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>After the signing of the world&rsquo;s largest trade pact <a href="/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-international-institution/regional-comprehensive-economic-partnership-1" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>&lsquo;Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP)&rsquo;</strong></a>, China is trying to set the agenda for global commerce.</li>
<li>Although China is promoting openness in trade, its own actions go against it, for example:<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Australian exports of beef, wine and barley to China, their biggest market, have been restricted.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Established:</strong> 1989</li>
<li><strong>Members: 21</strong></li>
<li><strong>India is not a Member.</strong></li>
<li><strong>Member Nations:</strong> Australia, Brunei, Canada, Chile, China, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Japan, South Korea, Malaysia, Mexico, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, Peru, Philippines, Russia, Singapore, Chinese Taipei, Thailand, Vietnam and the United States.</li>
<li>Its 21 member economies are home to around <strong>2.8 billion</strong> people and represented approximately <strong>59% of world GDP</strong> and<strong> 49% of world trade</strong> in 2015.</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>India and APEC</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>India had requested membership in <strong>APEC,</strong> and received initial support from the United States, Japan, Australia and Papua New Guinea. Officials have decided<strong> not to allow India to join as India does not border the Pacific Ocean, which all current members do.</strong></li>
<li>India was invited to be an<strong> observer for the first time in November 2011.</strong></li>
<li><strong>Reasons for India to join APEC:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>India will be more integrated with the global economy since APEC economies constitute an important trading bloc in the world.</li>
<li>It will help India bargain and negotiate a better deal with the countries of the Asia-Pacific region.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Expected Benefits to APEC:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>In India, APEC will find an<strong> alternate market</strong> for labour, consumers and investments, and an additional counterweight to help check unilateral economic ambitions in the region.</li>
<li>It will also help APEC embrace<strong> some notion of &lsquo;Indo-Pacific&rsquo;</strong> and give it a renewed purpose in a renewed 21<sup>st</sup> century.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</div>
<p><a href="https://www.thehindu.com/news/international/in-apec-speech-xi-touts-chinas-economy-as-base-of-free-trade/article33134975.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/apec-virtual-meet'
		],
		(int) 3 => [
			'title' => 'India-Thailand Coordinated Patrol',
			'catname' => 'News Analysis',
			'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>Recently, the 30<sup>th</sup> edition of <strong>India-Thailand Coordinated Patrol</strong> (CORPAT) has been concluded in the <strong>Andaman Sea</strong> close to the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/china-in-south-china-sea#:~:text=The%20Strait%20of%20Malacca%20connects,control%20such%20a%20strategic%20location." target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Strait of Malacca.</strong></a></p>
<p><a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1605944834_image2.png" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1605944834_image2.png" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="500" caption="false" /></strong></a></p>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Naval Exercise:</strong> <strong>India</strong> and <strong>Thailand</strong> have been carrying out <strong>CORPAT</strong> along their International Maritime Boundary Line <strong>twice a year since 2005.</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Indian Naval Ship (INS) <em>Karmuk</em></strong> (an indigenously built Missile Corvette) and <strong>Thailand Frigate HTMS <em>Kraburi</em>,</strong> along with<strong> Dornier Maritime Patrol Aircraft</strong> from both the navies participated in the 30th edition.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Aims:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>To keep <strong>part of the Indian Ocean safe and secure</strong> for commercial shipping and international trade.</li>
<li>To<strong> ensure effective implementation</strong> of the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/unclos-maritime-zones" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>United Nations Conventions on Laws of the Sea</strong></a> (UNCLOS).<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>UNCLOS specify regulations regarding protection and conservation of natural resources, conservation of marine environment, prevention and suppression of illegal, unregulated fishing activity, drug trafficking, piracy, exchange of information in prevention of smuggling, illegal immigration and conduct of search and rescue operations at sea.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>In line with India&rsquo;s SAGAR Vision:</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>As part of Indian Government&rsquo;s vision of <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/sagar-vision" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Security And Growth for All in the Region</strong></a> (SAGAR), the Indian Navy has been involved in assisting countries in the <strong>Indian Ocean Region</strong> with<strong> Exclusive Economic Zone</strong> (EEZ) <strong>Surveillance, Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief</strong> (HADR), and other capacity building and capability-enhancement activities, on their request.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Other Military Exercises between India and Thailand:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/exercise-maitree" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Exercise MAITREE</strong></a> (Army).</li>
<li><strong>Exercise SIAM BHARAT</strong> (Air Force).</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="https://pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=1674318" 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-thailand-coordinated-patrol'
		],
		(int) 4 => [
			'title' => 'Electric Vehicle Development In India',
			'catname' => 'News Editorials',
			'desc' => '<div class="border">
<p>This article is based on<a href="https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/blogs/toi-editorials/uks-ev-push-india-should-take-note-and-tie-up-with-british-partners/" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong> &ldquo;UK&rsquo;s EV push: India should take note and tie up with British partners&rdquo;</strong> </a>which was published in The Times of India on 20/11/2020. It talks about the impact of electric vehicle development in India.</p>
</div>
<p>Recently, the United Kingdom (UK) has decided to ban the sale of new petrol and diesel cars by 2030. Also, as part of its green agenda, the UK strives to establish the enabling infrastructure for <a href="/to-the-points/paper3/electric-vehicles-evs" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>electric vehicles (EVs).</strong></a></p>
<p>Such a big move that could have a ripple effect on the green movement around the world. In India, the government is also keen on replacing fossil fuel-driven vehicles with EVs. In 2017 began by setting an ambitious target of 100% electric cars by 2030.</p>
<p>However, due to resistance from the automotive industry and fears of job losses forced the government to lower the target. Thus, without government supporting investment in EV infrastructure upfront and passing the buck to the automotive industry and consumers, it would be difficult to bring transformation in the mobility sector.</p>
<h3>India&rsquo;s Necessity For EVs</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Controlling Pollution:</strong> According to the International Council for Clean Transportation (ICCT), an estimated 74,000 premature deaths were attributable to air pollution from transportation tailpipe emissions in India in 2015.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Also, many top polluted cities in the world are from India. For example, New Delhi.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Mitigating Climate Change:</strong> In December 2019, in the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/global-climate-risk-index-2020" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Climate Risk Index 2020</strong></a> released by the environment think tank, Germanwatch, India&rsquo;s rank has worsened from the 14<sup>th</sup> spot in 2017 to 5<sup>th</sup> in 2018 in the global vulnerability ladder.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>This makes it all the more reason for India to make electric cars and vehicles a priority in the fight against the reliance on fossil fuels.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Sustainable Energy Options:</strong> Shifting towards EVs will help India to reduce oil dependency while solving the challenge of energy scarcity and moving towards renewable and clean sources of energy.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Associated Challenges</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Lack of Battery Cell Manufacturing:</strong> There is a complete absence of primary battery cell manufacturing in India which poses the risk of increasing trade deficit.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>At the moment, most manufacturers rely on batteries imported from Japan, China, Korea and Europe.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Building Charging Infrastructure:</strong> Another big challenge is the development of charging infrastructure which will need to be combined with existing refuelling stations and at alternative locations closer to homes.</li>
<li><strong>Limited Grid Capacity:</strong> According to a Niti Aayog report, India&rsquo;s EVs market needs a minimum of 10 GW of cells by 2022, which would need to be expanded to about 50 GW by 2025.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>However, currently, India is able to add only 20 GW every year to its grid for all of our other increasing energy needs. Thus, the fulfilment of the requirement of 10GW additional capacity only for EVs would be a huge task.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Local Issues:</strong> Bringing transportation decisions closer to the people is understandable and necessary. Transport challenges such as congestion, affordability, infrastructure and transit systems availability are localized issues, impede the standardization of EVs.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Also, it will be a challenge to create a competitive advantage in electric vehicle manufacturing, or even a market for them, given that India does not have the infrastructure or deep pockets like China (world's current leader in electric mobility).</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Current Policy of Indian Government</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>FAME Scheme:</strong> The Indian government has created momentum through its <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/fame-ii-1#:~:text=Background,development%20and%20Manufacturing%20eco%2Dsystem." target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Faster Adoption and Manufacturing of (Hybrid &amp;) Electric Vehicles</strong></a> schemes that encourage, and in some segments mandates the adoption of electric vehicles (EV), with a goal of reaching 30% EV penetration by 2030.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>If these aims are realised by 2030, they will generate an estimated saving of up to 474 Millions of tonnes of oil equivalent (Mtoe) and 846 million tonnes of net CO2 emissions over their lifetime.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Fiscal Incentives:</strong> Various fiscal demand incentives have been put in place to spur the production and consumption of EVs and charging infrastructure - such as income tax rebates, exemption from customs duties, etc.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Way Forward</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Increasing R&amp;D in EVs:</strong> The Indian market needs encouragement for indigenous technologies that are suited for India from both strategic and economic standpoint.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Since investment in local research and development is necessary to bring prices down, it makes sense to leverage local universities and existing industrial hubs.</li>
<li>India should work with countries like the UK and synergise EV development.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Sensitising Public:</strong> Breaking away the old norms and establishing a new consumer behaviour is always a challenge. Thus, a lot of sensitisation and education is needed, in order to bust several myths and promote EVs within the Indian market.</li>
<li><strong>Viable Electricity Pricing:</strong> Given current electricity prices, home charging may also be an issue if the generation is from thermal power plants run on coal.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Thus, a shift in the electricity generation landscape as a whole is what is required to facilitate the growth of electric cars.</li>
<li>In this context, India is on track to become one of the largest solar and energy storage markets by 2025.</li>
<li>A combination of solar-powered grid solutions that are organised with a general improvement in grid resilience will ensure adequate charging infrastructure for EV&rsquo;s being a green option.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Creating the Closed-Loop Mobility Ecosystem:</strong> Subsidizing manufacturing for an electric supplychain will certainly improve the EV development in India.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Along with charging infrastructure, the establishment of a robust supply chain will also be needed.</li>
<li>Further, recycling stations for batteries will need to recover the metals from batteries used in electrification to create the closed-loop required for the shift to electric cars to be an environmentally-sound decision.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Conclusion</h3>
<p>Operationalizing mass transition to electric mobility for a country of 1.3 billion people is not an easy feat. Thus, a strong common vision, an objective framework for comparing state policies and a platform for public-private collaboration are needed.</p>
<p><a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1605875490_image0.jpg" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1605875490_image0.jpg" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="700" caption="false" /></a></p>
<table border="1" style="border-collapse: collapse; width: 100%;">
<tbody>
<tr>
<td style="width: 100%; border-style: dotted; border-color: #ff0000; background-color: #f7fcff;">
<p><span style="color: #800000;"><em><strong>Drishti Mains Question</strong></em></span></p>
<p>Operationalizing mass transition to electric mobility for a country of 1.3 billion people is not an easy feat. Comment.</p>
</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<p style="text-align: center;"><iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/y6IeCqKJpww" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe></p>
<p>This editorial is based on <a href="https://www.financialexpress.com/opinion/justice-cant-be-selective-cji-bobde-is-both-right-and-wrong-on-article-32/2131491/" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>&ldquo;Justice can&rsquo;t be selective&rdquo;</strong></a> which was published in The Financial Express on November 19<sup>th</sup>, 2020. Now watch this on our Youtube channel.</p>',
			'postdate' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenTime) {},
			'url' => 'https://www.drishtiias.com/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/electric-vehicle-development-in-india'
		],
		(int) 5 => [
			'title' => 'Bengaluru Tech Summit',
			'catname' => 'News Analysis',
			'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>Recently, the Prime Minister has inaugurated the<strong> Bengaluru Tech Summit</strong> via video conference which was also<strong> attended by the Prime Minister of Australia.</strong></p>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>It is India's flagship event which will deliberate on the key challenges emerging in the <strong>post-pandemic world</strong> with focus on the <strong>impact of prominent technologies.</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>It will also provide a platform for discussion to encourage disruptive technologies.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li><strong>Disruptive technology</strong> is an innovation that <strong>significantly alters the way that consumers, industries, or businesses operate.</strong> It sweeps away the systems or habits it replaces because it has<strong> attributes that are recognizably superior.</strong></li>
<li><strong>Examples: <a href="/to-the-points/paper3/e-commerce-in-india" target="_blank" rel="noopener">e-commerce</a></strong>, online news sites, ride-sharing apps, and <a href="/loksabha-rajyasabha-discussions/in-depth-visual-positioning-system#:~:text=region%20under%20navigation.-,Global%20Positioning%20System,to%20civilian%20and%20military%20users." target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Global Positioning System</strong> </a>(GPS).</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Theme for 2020:</strong> Next is Now.</li>
<li><strong>Focus:</strong> Innovations in the domains of <strong>Information Technology and Electronics and Biotechnology.</strong></li>
<li><strong>Organisers:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The Government of Karnataka along with Karnataka Innovation and Technology Society (KITS).</li>
<li>Karnataka government&rsquo;s Vision Group on Information Technology Software.</li>
<li><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/rental-waivers-to-stpi-units" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Software Technology Parks of India</strong></a> (STPI).</li>
<li>MM Activ Sci-Tech Communications.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Concerns Highlighted:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>With the increasing use of technology in governance and other areas, <strong><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/personal-data-protection-bill-2019" target="_blank" rel="noopener">data protection</a> and <a href="/to-the-points/paper3/cyber-security" target="_blank" rel="noopener">cybersecurity</a></strong> become significant.</li>
<li>There is a <strong>need to devise robust cybersecurity solutions</strong> which can <strong>protect digital products against cyber attacks and viruses.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Role of Technology:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>It was highlighted that<strong> India&rsquo;s governance model</strong> is based on<strong> &lsquo;technology first&rsquo;.</strong></li>
<li><strong><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/pm-kisan" target="_blank" rel="noopener">PM-KISAN</a> Mobile App:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>It <strong>enables direct transfers to farmers</strong> and also <strong>digitises the complete database</strong> of farmers.</li>
<li>The farmers can view the status of their application, update or carry out corrections of their Aadhaar cards and also check the history of credits to their bank accounts.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><a href="/current-affairs-news-analysis-editorials/news-analysis/27-03-2020" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Yojana:</strong></a><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Under it, the government <strong>deployed fintech and digital technology to monitor</strong> swift and efficient transfer to the beneficiary through <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/factors-preventing-financial-inclusion" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Direct benefit transfer.</strong></a></li>
<li>It also <strong>ensured credit to the beneficiary's account without the need for the beneficiary to physically go to the branch</strong> which helped people a lot during <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/covid-19-and-lockdown" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>lockdowns.</strong></a></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/ayushmanbharat" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Ayushman Bharat</a>:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Making good use of technology and innovation can further reduce the overall cost of healthcare. AI-powered mobile applications can provide high-quality, low-cost, patient-centric, smart wellness solutions.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/aarogya-setu-app-a-technological-solutionism" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Aarogya Setu App</strong></a>:<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>India's first contact tracing app, Arogya Setu app is based on the idea of <strong>&lsquo;technological solutionism&rsquo;</strong> (technology providing an impartial solution to complex social problems).</li>
<li>It enables bluetooth based contact tracing and maps likely hotspots of Covid-19 and disseminates the relevant information.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>Apart from all these, <strong>technology plays an important<a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/role-of-technology-in-governance#:~:text=Use%20of%20Technology%20in%20Governance&amp;text=It%20is%20here%20that%20technology,and%20deliberation%20on%20important%20issues." target="_blank" rel="noopener"> role in governance</a></strong> as well.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>India and Australia on Technological Development:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Both countries highlighted the <strong>unlimited possibilities of working together</strong> in space research, critical minerals, <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/5g-is-india-prepared" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>5G</strong></a>, <a href="/loksabha-rajyasabha-discussions/in-depth-artificial-intelligence" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Artificial Intelligence</strong></a>, <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/quantum-technology" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>quantum computing</strong></a>, etc.</li>
<li>In<strong> June 2020,</strong> the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/india-australia-virtual-summit" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>India-Australia Virtual Summit</strong></a> was held where both countries signed the landmark <strong>Australia-India Technology Framework on cyber and cyber-enabled technology.</strong></li>
<li>In <strong>December 2020,<a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/india-australia-circular-economy-hackathon" target="_blank" rel="noopener"> India-Australia Circular Economy Hackathon</a></strong> (I-ACE) will be organised which will focus on identification and development of innovative technology solutions by students, startups and MSMEs of both nations.</li>
<li>They are also <strong>planning to launch Australia-India cyber and critical technologies partnership grant programme</strong> and are also working together for an <strong>open, free, safe and secure Internet.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Government Initiatives to Promote Technology</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><a href="/loksabha-rajyasabha-discussions/in-depth-digital-india" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Digital India Mission</strong></a>: Launched in<strong> 2015,</strong> it aimed to <strong>prepare India for a knowledge future for being transformative</strong> that is to realise IT (Indian Talent) + IT (Information Technology) = IT (India Tomorrow) and for making technology central to enabling change.</li>
<li><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/upi-20-launched-by-npci" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Unified Payments Interface (UPI)</strong></a>: It is a payment system that allows money transfer between any two bank accounts by using a smartphone.</li>
<li><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/national-digital-health-mission" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>National Digital Health Mission</strong></a>: It is a complete <strong>digital health ecosystem.</strong> It is a platform launched with four key features viz.<strong> health ID, personal health records, Digi Doctor </strong>and <strong>health facility registry.</strong></li>
<li><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/svamitva-scheme" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Swamitva Scheme</strong></a>: <strong>Survey of Villages and Mapping with Improvised Technology in Village Areas</strong> (Swamitva) was launched to provide an<strong> integrated property validation solution for rural India.</strong></li>
</ul>
</div>
<p><a href="https://pib.gov.in/PressReleaseIframePage.aspx?PRID=1673955" 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/bengaluru-tech-summit'
		],
		(int) 6 => [
			'title' => 'Willow Warbler',
			'catname' => 'News Analysis',
			'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>Recently, <strong>Willow Warbler</strong> has been <strong>sighted for the first time in India</strong> at <strong>Vellayani-Punchakkari paddy fields,</strong> Kerala.</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>These paddy fields are a <strong>birding hotspot on the outskirts of Thiruvananthapuram</strong> and are known to <strong>harbour more than 213 species of birds</strong> that include both resident and migratory ones.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Key Points<a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1605865121_image2.jpg" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1605865121_image2.jpg" style="float: right;" width="250" caption="false" /></a></h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Scientific Name:</strong><em> Phylloscopus trochilus.</em></li>
<li><strong>Habitat:</strong> They breeds throughout <strong>northern and temperate Europe and the Palearctic.</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Palearctic ecozone is one the Earth&rsquo;s 8 ecozones and covers Asia north of the Himalayas, with parts of western Asia and most of East Asia and Africa north of the Sahara.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Migration:</strong> They <strong>migrate to sub-Saharan Africa during early winter.</strong></li>
<li><strong>Features:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>It is <strong>one of the longest migrating small birds.</strong></li>
<li>The bird weighs around 10 grams and its<strong> long wing feathers</strong> help it fly long distances.</li>
<li>Warblers are generally <strong>difficult to identify owing to the small size and change in plumage twice a year.</strong> They are also the <strong>most difficult groups of birds to identify</strong> in the field for their<strong> striking resemblance to each other.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Threats:</strong> The species is affected by <strong><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/unccd-drought-tool-box" target="_blank" rel="noopener">drought</a></strong> <strong>conditions in its wintering quarters</strong> and <strong>habitat alterations</strong> due to human population expansion.</li>
<li><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/iucn-red-list" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>IUCN Red List</strong></a>: Least Concern.</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/kerala/willow-warbler-sighted-for-the-first-time-in-country/article33136122.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/willow-warbler'
		],
		(int) 7 => [
			'title' => 'Supercomputer Param Siddhi',
			'catname' => 'News Analysis',
			'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>India&rsquo;s <a href="/loksabha-rajyasabha-discussions/in-depth-artificial-intelligence" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Artificial Intelligence</strong> </a>(AI) supercomputer <strong>Param Siddhi</strong> ranked<strong> 63<sup>rd</sup> among top 500</strong> most powerful <strong>non-distributed computer systems</strong> in the world.</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Distributed computing</strong> is a field of computer science that studies distributed systems. A distributed system is a system whose <strong>components are located on different networked computers,</strong> which <strong>communicate and coordinate</strong> their actions by passing messages to one another. The components interact with one another in order to achieve a common goal.</li>
<li>In a<strong> non-distributed</strong> (or co-located) system, <strong>all the parts of the system</strong> are in the <strong>same physical location.</strong> In a distributed system, parts of the system exist in separate locations.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Param Siddhi</strong> is a High Performance Computing-Artificial Intelligence (HPC-AI) supercomputer developed by <strong>Department of Science and Technology (DST), Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY)</strong> under <a href="/to-the-points/paper3/national-supercomputer-mission" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>National Supercomputing Mission (NSM)</strong> </a>at <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/jatan-virtual-museum-software" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Centre for Development of Advanced Computing.</strong> </a></li>
<li>The supercomputer has <strong>Rpeak</strong> of <strong>5.267 Petaflops and 4.6 Petaflops Rmax.</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>In high-performance computing, <strong>Rmax and Rpeak</strong> are scores used to rank supercomputers based on their performance using the <strong>LINPACK Benchmark.</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>The <strong>LINPACK Benchmarks</strong> are a measure of a system's floating point computing power.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>A system's Rmax score describes its <strong>maximal achieved performance,</strong> the Rpeak score describes its<strong> theoretical peak performance.</strong> Values for both scores are usually represented in teraFLOPS or petaFLOPS.</li>
<li>A <strong>petaflop</strong> is the ability of a computer to do <strong>one quadrillion floating point operations per second (FLOPS).</strong> Additionally, a petaflop can be measured as one thousand teraflops.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>National Supercomputing Mission</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The Mission envisages empowering our national academic and Research and Development (R&amp;D) institutions spread over the country by installing a <strong>vast supercomputing grid</strong> comprising more than <strong>70 high-performance computing facilities.</strong></li>
<li>Launched in 2015, this seven-year mission was allocated Rs 4,500-crore.</li>
<li>These supercomputers will also be networked on the National Supercomputing grid over the <strong>National Knowledge Network</strong> (NKN). <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The NKN is another programme of the government which connects academic institutions and R&amp;D labs over a<strong> high speed network.</strong></li>
<li>Academic and R&amp;D institutions as well as key user departments/ministries would participate by using these facilities and develop applications of national relevance.</li>
<li>The Mission also includes development of highly professional <strong>High Performance Computing</strong> (HPC) aware human resource for meeting challenges of development of these applications.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>The Mission is implemented and steered jointly by the <strong>Department of Science and Technology (DST)</strong> and <strong>Department of Electronics and Information Technology (DeitY).</strong></li>
<li>The (C-DAC) has recently launched the <strong>second phase</strong> of this project wherein more institutions will be supported by supercomputing facilities.</li>
<li><strong>Objective of NSM</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>To make India one of the world leaders in Supercomputing and to enhance India&rsquo;s capability in solving grand challenge problems of national and global relevance</li>
<li>To empower our scientists and researchers with state-of-the-art supercomputing facilities and enable them to carry out cutting-edge research in their respective domains</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</div>
<p><a href="https://pib.gov.in/PressReleseDetailm.aspx?PRID=1673715" 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/supercomputer-param-siddhi'
		],
		(int) 8 => [
			'title' => 'India-Luxembourg Virtual Summit',
			'catname' => 'News Analysis',
			'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>Recently, the <strong>Prime Ministers of India</strong> and the <strong>Grand Duchy of Luxembourg</strong> have held the <strong>first-ever India-Luxembourg Virtual Summit.</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Both countries have cordial and friendly relations for over more than seven decades since the <strong>establishment of diplomatic relations in 1948.</strong></li>
</ul>
<p><a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1605863409_image1.gif" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1605863409_image1.gif" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="400" caption="false" /></strong></a></p>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Focus Areas:</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Strengthening <strong>India-Luxembourg relationship in the post-<a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/coronavirus-disease-named-covid-19" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Covid-19</a> world,</strong> especially in the areas of financial technology, green financing, space applications, digital innovations and start-ups.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Promote Multilateralism:</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Strengthen cooperation on realising<strong> effective multilateralism and combating global challenges</strong> like the Covid-19 <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/covid-19-now-pandemic-who" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>pandemic</strong></a>, terrorism and climate change.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>New Initiatives:</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>India welcomed <strong>Luxembourg&rsquo;s announcement to join the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/third-assembly-of-isa" target="_blank" rel="noopener">International Solar Alliance</a></strong> (ISA), and also invited it to join the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/coalition-for-disaster-resilient-infrastructure" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Coalition for Disaster Resilient Infrastructure</strong> </a>(CDRI).</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Agreements Signed at the Summit:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between <strong>India International Exchange (India INX)</strong> and <strong>Luxembourg Stock Exchange.</strong></li>
<li>MoU between State Bank of India (SBI) and Luxembourg Stock Exchange.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Both these provide for cooperation in financial services, industry maintenance of orderly markets in securities, ESG (environmental, social and governance) and green finance in the local market.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>MoU between <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/invest-india-business-immunity-platform" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Invest India</strong> </a>and <strong>Luxinnovation.</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>It provides for support and development of mutual business cooperation, including promotion and facilitation of inbound FDI, coming from or proposed by Indian and Luxembourgish investors.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>India-Luxembourg Relations</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Economic Relationship:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Both countries have a <strong>long-standing cooperation in the steel</strong> sector and the leaders called upon businesses, including SMEs and startups, to <strong>explore further opportunities</strong> for expanding the economic relationship.</li>
<li>Both nations look forward to the<strong> 17<sup>th</sup> Joint Economic Commission</strong> (JEC) between <strong>India and the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/india-and-belgium-luxembourg-economic-union" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Belgium-Luxembourg Economic Union</a></strong> to review the economic and trade relations.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Finance:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The<strong> proposed agreement</strong> between the regulatory authorities <strong>Commission de Surveillance du Secteur Financier</strong> (CSSF) and 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</strong> </a>(SEBI) would deepen bilateral cooperation in the financial sector.</li>
<li>Luxembourg, as a <strong>leading international financial centre in Europe,</strong> can <strong>act as an important bridge</strong> to help connect India&rsquo;s financial services industry with international markets and reach European and global investors.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Space and Digital Cooperation:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Both countries have an <strong>ongoing space cooperation,</strong> including in the domain of <strong>satellite broadcasting and communications.</strong></li>
<li><strong>Luxembourg based space companies</strong> have <strong>started utilising the services of India</strong> for launching their satellites into space.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>In November 2020, <a href="/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-national-institutions/indian-space-research-organisation-isro" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Indian Space Research Organisation</strong> </a>(ISRO)<strong> launched the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/earth-observation-satellite-eos-01-isro" target="_blank" rel="noopener">PSLV-C49 mission</a></strong>, which included 4 satellites from Luxembourg.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>A <strong>cooperation instrument in the area of exploration and <a href="/current-affairs-news-analysis-editorials/news-editorials/29-03-2019#:~:text=Global%20Rules%20and%20demands%20related%20to%20Space&amp;text=There%20are%20international%20treaties%20governing,be%20exploited%20for%20peaceful%20purposes.&amp;text=India%20is%20a%20party%20to%20the%20Outer%20Space%20Treaty." target="_blank" rel="noopener">use of outer space</a> for peaceful purposes</strong> is currently under discussion between the two Governments.</li>
<li>In the wake of the<strong> pandemic,</strong> both India and Luxembourg are <strong>promoting digitalisation</strong> through the<a href="/loksabha-rajyasabha-discussions/in-depth-digital-india" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong> "Digital India&rdquo;</strong></a> programme and the <strong>"Digital Luxembourg&rdquo;</strong> initiative respectively and agree to explore convergences between the two initiatives.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Higher Education and Research:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Indian National Brain Research Centre</strong> and the <strong>Luxembourg Institute of Health</strong> and the<strong> Luxembourg Centre for Systems Biomedicine</strong> have an ongoing collaboration in the field of <strong>neurodegenerative diseases.</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Neurodegenerative diseases are a heterogeneous group of <strong>disorders that are characterised by the progressive degeneration of the structure and function of the central nervous system or peripheral nervous system.</strong></li>
<li>Examples: <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/preventive-methods-for-alzheimers" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Alzheimer's disease</strong> </a>and <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/z-scan-method-for-parkinson-s-disease#:~:text=Parkinson's%20disease%20is%20a%20chronic,the%20brain%20to%20the%20body." target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Parkinson's disease.</strong></a></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>IITs</strong> in Bombay, Kanpur and Madras and the <strong>National Law School of India</strong> have <strong>links</strong> with the <strong>University of Luxembourg</strong> which will be <strong>further expanded</strong> for higher education and research in both countries.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Culture and People-to-people Ties:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>In 2019,<strong> Luxembourg</strong> issued a<strong> commemorative stamp to mark the 150<sup>th</sup> Birth Anniversary of <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/mahatma-gandhi-jayanti#:~:text=2nd%20October%202020%20was,of%20the%20Nation%20%2D%20Mahatma%20Gandhi." target="_blank" rel="noopener">Mahatma Gandhi</a>.</strong></li>
<li>Both countries intend to <strong>conclude a Migration and Mobility agreement</strong> to further strengthen mobility as well as an <strong>agreement on an exemption of visas</strong> for holders of diplomatic and official/service passports.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>EU-India Relations:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>In <strong>July 2020,</strong> a <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/india-eu-virtual-summit#:~:text=Recently%2C%20India%20and%20the%20European,that%20define%20their%20bilateral%20ties." target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>virtual summit between India and the European Union</strong></a> (EU) was held, where India expressed support for further intensification of the India-EU relationship, through strengthening cooperation in areas of common interest in the <a href="/loksabha-rajyasabha-discussions/the-big-picture-indo-pacific-strategic-importance" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Indo-Pacific region</strong></a>, and through comprehensive, sustainable and rules-based connectivity.</li>
<li><strong>Luxembourg,</strong> as <strong>one of the founding members of the EU,</strong> has<strong> played a constructive role</strong> in supporting stronger India-EU ties, which becomes even more important for the <strong>post-Covid-19 economic recovery.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Multilateral Cooperation:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Luxembourg <strong>welcomed <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/elections-for-non-permanent-members-of-the-unsc#:~:text=Key%20Points,129%20votes)%20to%20be%20confirmed.&amp;text=This%20would%20be%20India's%20eighth,will%20begin%20from%20January%202021." target="_blank" rel="noopener">India&rsquo;s election to a non-permanent seat</a></strong> in the <strong>UN Security Council</strong> for the term 2021-2022 and reiterated its <strong>support for the reforms in the UN Security Council,</strong> including its expansion in both categories of permanent and non-permanent membership. It <strong>supports <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/india-permanent-seat-in-unsc" target="_blank" rel="noopener">India&rsquo;s candidature for the permanent membership</a></strong> of the UN Security Council.</li>
<li>Luxembourg supported India&rsquo;s entry into the <a href="/to-the-points/Paper2/multilateral-export-control-regimes" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Missile Technology Control Regime</strong></a> (MTCR) and India&rsquo;s participation in the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/india-s-nsg-bid" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Nuclear Suppliers Group</strong> </a>(NSG).</li>
<li>India supports <strong>Luxembourg&rsquo;s candidatures to the <a href="/daily-news-editorials/the-relevance-of-unhrc" target="_blank" rel="noopener">UN Human Rights Council</a></strong> for the term 2022-2024.</li>
<li>Both <strong>condemn <a href="/loksabha-rajyasabha-discussions/the-big-picture-international-convention-on-terrorism" target="_blank" rel="noopener">terrorism</a> in all its forms and manifestations</strong> and agree on the need for continued cooperation to support international efforts at the UN and at forums like the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/financial-action-task-force-1" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Financial Action Task Force</strong> </a>(FATF) to prevent and combat terrorism.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Way Forward</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The <strong>first stand-alone Summit between India and Luxembourg</strong> in the past two decades marks a new phase in the bilateral relations where both countries reaffirmed their commitment towards widening and deepening the spectrum of the bilateral relations and enhancing consultation and coordination in regional and multilateral fora on matters of mutual and global interest.</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=1674160" 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-luxembourg-virtual-summit'
		],
		(int) 9 => [
			'title' => 'NDB Loan to India',
			'catname' => 'News Analysis',
			'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>Recently, a <strong>500-million dollar</strong> loan agreement was signed between the <strong>Union government, the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs, National Capital Region (NCR) Transport Corporation Limited</strong> and the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/5th-annual-meeting-of-ndb" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>New Development Bank (NDB)</strong></a> for the <strong>Delhi-Ghaziabad-Meerut Regional Rapid Transit System (RRTS).</strong></p>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Delhi-Ghaziabad-Meerut Regional Rapid Transit System.</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>It is an<strong> 82.15 km long,</strong> under-construction, semi-high speed rail corridor connecting <strong>Delhi-Ghaziabad-Meerut.</strong></li>
<li>It is one of the three rapid-rail corridors planned under Phase-I of Regional Rapid Transport System (RRTS) project of <strong>National Capital Region Transport Corporation (NCRTC).</strong></li>
<li><strong>Benefits:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>The Project will provide a <strong>fast, reliable, safe and comfortable</strong> public transport system in the NCR.</li>
<li>The project will serve as a <strong>demonstration</strong> for developing high-capacity rapid urban transit corridors in other urban areas of India.</li>
<li>High-speed connectivity will result in <strong>balanced economic development</strong> across the region, leading to economic benefits to all strata of society and many nodes of development rather than all economic activity happening at one place.</li>
<li>It will help in reducing<strong> traffic congestion and total emissions</strong> from the transport sector in NCR.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Other Contributors:</strong> The total project cost is estimated at<strong> 3,749 million dollars,</strong> which will be financed by the <strong>NDB, <a href="/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-international-institution/asian-infrastructure-investment-bank" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB)</a>, <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/-1-5-billion-adb-loan-to-india" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Asian Development Bank (ADB)</a>, Japan Fund for Poverty Reduction,</strong> government and other sources.</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>New Development Bank</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>It is a <strong>multilateral development bank</strong> jointly founded by the <a href="/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-international-institution/brics-1" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>BRICS</strong></a> countries (Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa) at the 6<sup>th</sup> BRICS Summit in Fortaleza, Brazil in 2014.</li>
<li>It was formed to <strong>support infrastructure and sustainable development</strong> efforts in BRICS and other underserved, emerging economies for faster development through innovation and cutting-edge technology.</li>
<li>It is headquartered at<strong> Shanghai, China.</strong></li>
<li>In 2018, the NDB received observer status in the <a href="/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-international-institution/united-nations-1" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>United Nations</strong></a> General Assembly, establishing a firm basis for active and fruitful cooperation with the United Nations.</li>
</ul>
</div>
<p><a href="https://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/Delhi/centre-inks-500-million-loan-deal-with-ndb-for-rrts-project/article33136353.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/ndb-loan-to-india'
		],
		(int) 10 => [
			'title' => 'Paternity Leave',
			'catname' => 'News Editorials',
			'desc' => '<div class="border">
<p>This article is based on <a href="https://indianexpress.com/article/opinion/editorials/virat-kohli-paternity-leave-7056480/" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>&ldquo;Papa don&rsquo;t leave&rdquo;</strong></a> which was published in The Indian Express on 19/11/2020. It talks about the idea of paternity leave and the advantages associated with it.</p>
</div>
<p>Recently, the Captain of the Indian cricket team has asked for and was granted, paternity leave in the middle of a competitive Test series against Australia. <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/maternity-leave-government-for-incentive-scheme" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Paternity leave</strong></a> is about giving fathers the right to take paid time off work following the birth (or adoption) of a child.</p>
<p>This is an important development in the context of gender discrimination at the workplace, but it will also have broader implications on the patriarchal mindset of Indian society.</p>
<h3>Need For Paternity Leave</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Patriarchal Society:</strong> The culture of toxic masculinity that prevails in Indian society results in hesitancy and some amount of ridicule in doing what Indian men think is &lsquo;women&rsquo;s work&rsquo;.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Indian society continues to see men as the &lsquo;breadwinner&rsquo; and women as the &lsquo;homemaker&rsquo;.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Gender Gap in Labour Laws:</strong> There is no proper legislation for paternity benefits. The only provision that exists in India gives 15 days leave for the father, as opposed to a maximum of 26 weeks or 182 days for the mother.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The number of days given to the mother can be partly justified by the physical healing the body needs after childbirth.</li>
<li>However, the vast gap that exists between these two policies exposes the possible mindset that went into making them.</li>
<li>The father need not stay at home as much as the mother must, as the mother is expected to carry the child-rearing responsibilities.</li>
<li>In this manner, legal policies are reinforcing societal biases.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Note:</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/maternity-benefits-and-workplace-equality-in-india" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Maternity Benefit (Amendment) Act, 2017</strong></a> allows for pregnant women to take leave for a total of 26 weeks out of which up to 8 weeks can be claimed before delivery.</li>
<li>The woman is also supposed to get paid a benefit at the rate of her daily wage for three months before she goes on maternity leave.</li>
</ul>
</div>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Dual Burden on Women:</strong> Making maternity leaves as the only parental leave option in a company doesn&rsquo;t really bridge the gap between the domestic and the public; instead, it restricts the two even more strongly.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The indirect implications are that women are supposed to not only juggle both work and home life but also return to home life for fulfilling the &lsquo;nurturing&rsquo; role.</li>
<li>The time-use survey report released last month by the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/restructuring-of-indian-statistical-system" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>National Sample Survey Office (NSSO)</strong></a> shows that Indian women spend nearly four hours more on unpaid work than men, with grim consequences for women&rsquo;s participation in the workforce.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Changing Trends</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Suo-Moto Action:</strong> Several private companies, too, offer paternity leave, without the prodding of legislation. For example, last year, Zomato rolled out 26 weeks of paid paternity leave for employees who become new fathers.</li>
<li><strong>International Scenario:</strong> In Britain, Sweden and Norway, parents are granted about a year of paid parental leave to tend to their newborns during that particularly crucial and difficult period.</li>
<li><strong>Impact of Covid-19 Pandemic:</strong> By integrating the home and the workplace (Work from Home scenario), the Covid-19 pandemic has underlined the extent to which the invisible labour is done by women at home.</li>
<li><strong>Indian Scenario:</strong> Four years ago, the Ministry of women and child development had pitched for the idea of legislating for paternity leave in the organised sector.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Advantages of Paternity Leave</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Debunking Patriarchy:</strong> Paternity leave &ndash; and especially longer leaves of several weeks or months &ndash; can promote parent-child bonding, improve outcomes for children, and even increase gender equity at home and at the workplace.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Further, when fathers are more engaged in raising children, they may become more aware of the challenges associated with it. This, in turn, may lead to a relationship which is compassionate and understanding.</li>
<li>This could be one of the first steps towards achieving a more egalitarian view in society and debunk patriarchy.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Check Declining Women Labour Force Participation:</strong> Due to the societal sexism, women are often missing out on these critical years of work once being pressured into staying home with their children.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The years that women generally have children, between the ages of 25 and 35, are when people tend to begin making serious progress in their careers.</li>
<li>Therefore, if paternity leaves are normalised, and men actively start taking up the responsibility of child care, would check the declining women labour force participation rate.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Conclusion</h3>
<p>The battle against this deep-grained sexist skew in work and labour is a long haul. But the idea of official paternity leave &mdash; if endorsed by governments and private companies &mdash; takes a minimum first step in acknowledging that parenting and childcare is the shared responsibility of men and women.</p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1605788522_image%200.png" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1605788522_image 0.png" caption="false" width="600" height="366" /></a></p>
<table border="1" style="border-collapse: collapse; width: 100%;">
<tbody>
<tr>
<td style="width: 100%; border-style: dotted; border-color: #ff0000; background-color: #fffdf7;">
<p><span style="color: #333399;"><em><strong>Drishti Mains Question</strong></em></span></p>
<p>Paternity leave is an idea whose time has come, for both Indian men and women. Discuss.</p>
</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<p style="text-align: center;"><iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/hqXPIGumW80" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe></p>
<p>This editorial is based on <a href="https://www.thehindu.com/opinion/editorial/fragile-ceasefire/article33119969.ece" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>&ldquo;Fragile ceasefire: on Armenia&ndash;Azerbaijan clashes&rdquo;</strong></a> which was published in The Hindu on November 18<sup>th</sup>, 2020. Now watch this on our Youtube channel.</p>',
			'postdate' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenTime) {},
			'url' => 'https://www.drishtiias.com/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/paternity-leave'
		],
		(int) 11 => [
			'title' => 'Guillain Barre Syndrome',
			'catname' => 'News Analysis',
			'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>Some patients infected with <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/covid-19-now-pandemic-who" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Covid-19</strong></a> have been found suffering from <strong>Guillain Barre Syndrome (GBS).</strong></p>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Guillain Barre Syndrome:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>It is a very <strong>rare autoimmune disorder</strong> in which the patient's immune system <strong>attacks nerves.</strong></li>
<li>The<strong> exact cause</strong> of Guillain-Barre syndrome is<strong> unknown,</strong> but as per the<a href="/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-international-institution/world-health-organization-who" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong> World Health Organisation (WHO)</strong></a>, GBS is often preceded by an infection. This could be a <strong>bacterial or viral infection.</strong> It may also be triggered by<strong> vaccine administration </strong>or<strong> surgery.</strong></li>
<li>In the past, patients of <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/coronaviruses" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Middle East respiratory syndrome (MERS)</strong></a>, <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/genetically-modified-aedes-aegypti" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Zika virus</strong></a>, <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/new-subtype-of-hiv-discovered" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV)</strong></a>, Herpes virus and Campylobacter jejuni have shown symptoms of GBS.</li>
<li><strong>Link with Covid-19:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>The immune system, in an attempt to kill the coronavirus, accidentally starts attacking its own <strong>peripheral nervous system.</strong></li>
<li>The<strong> peripheral nervous system</strong> is a network of nerves that lead from the brain and spinal cord (i.e. central nervous system) to different parts of the body. Attacking them can <strong>affect limb functions.</strong></li>
<li>An interval of <strong>5-10 days</strong> is noticed between<strong> onset of GBS symptoms and Covid-19 infection,</strong> but some doctors say it can also take weeks after Covid-19 infection for a person to develop GBS.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Symptoms:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Weakness or tingling sensations, which usually start in the legs, and can spread to the arms and face.</li>
<li>Difficulty with facial movements, including speaking, chewing or swallowing.</li>
<li>Double vision, rapid heart rate, low or high blood pressure.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Complication:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>There could be <strong>respiratory failure</strong> as the worst outcome, or weakness and effect on walking and limb movement.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Treatment:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG).</li>
<li><strong>Plasma therapy.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Campylobacter jejuni</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Campylobacteriosis is an infection by the <strong>Campylobacter bacteria.</strong> It is more commonly known as C. jejuni. It is among the most common bacterial infections of humans, often a foodborne illness. It produces bloody diarrhea or dysentery syndrome, mostly including cramps, fever and pain.</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>Herpes Virus</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Herpes results from infection with the herpes simplex virus (HSV). It causes<strong> sores or blisters</strong> to form in or around the<strong> mouth or genitals,</strong> as well as other symptoms such as fever and fatigue.</li>
</ul>
</div>
<p><a href="https://indianexpress.com/article/explained/explained-what-is-the-guillain-barre-syndrome-some-covid-19-patients-develop-7056256/" 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/guillain-barre-syndrome'
		],
		(int) 12 => [
			'title' => 'Deemed Forests in Karnataka',
			'catname' => 'News Analysis',
			'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>Recently, <strong>Karnataka</strong> has announced that it would <strong>declassify 6.64 lakh hectares</strong> (nearly 67%) of the 9.94 lakh hectares of <strong>deemed forests</strong> in the state and hand it over to Revenue authorities.</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The issue of deemed forests is a contentious one in Karnataka, with legislators across party lines often <strong>alleging that large amounts of agriculture and non-forest land are &ldquo;unscientifically&rdquo; classified</strong> as such.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Definition of Deemed Forests:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Deemed forests, <strong>comprising about 1% of India&rsquo;s forest land,</strong> are a controversial subject as they <strong>refer to land tracts that appear to be a &ldquo;forest&rdquo;, but have not been notified so by the government or in historical records.</strong></li>
<li>The concept of deemed forests <strong>has not even been clearly defined in any law</strong> including the <a href="/to-the-points/Paper2/indian-forest-act-1927" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Forest Conservation Act 1980.</strong></a></li>
<li>In the<strong><em> T N Godavarman Thirumalpad case 1996,</em></strong> the <a href="/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-national-institutions/supreme-court-of-india" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Supreme Court</strong></a> (SC) accepted a <strong>wide definition of forests</strong> under the Act and held that the word &lsquo;forest&rsquo; must be<strong> understood according to its dictionary meaning.</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>This description <strong>covers all statutorily recognised forests,</strong> whether designated as reserved, protected or otherwise for the purpose of <strong>Section 2 (1) of the Act</strong> and also includes any <strong>areas recorded as forest in the government record irrespective of the ownership.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>The <strong>provisions for the conservation of forest and the matters connected therewith applies clearly to all forests</strong> irrespective of the ownership or classification.</li>
<li>The <strong>freedom to define which tracts of forest</strong> qualify as forest has been the <strong>prerogative of States since 1996.</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>However, this<strong> only applies to forest land</strong> that has not already been historically classified as &ldquo;forest&rdquo; in revenue records, or categorised so by the government as &ldquo;protected&rdquo; or &ldquo;reserve forest&rdquo;.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Deemed Forests in Karnataka:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Areas Included:</strong> An expert committee constituted by the state government<strong> identified &lsquo;deemed forests&rsquo; as:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Land having the characteristic of forests irrespective of the ownership.</li>
<li>Thickly wooded areas of the Revenue Department, not handed over to the Forest Department.</li>
<li>Thickly wooded areas recommended to be handed over to the Forest Department.</li>
<li>Thickly wooded land distributed to grantees but not cultivated.</li>
<li>Thickly wooded plantations of the Forest Department.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Land Coverage:</strong> The <strong>expert committee reports in 1997 and 2002</strong> identified 43.18 lakh hectares of forest land for conservation in Karnataka, which included 33.23 lakh hectares notified forest area as per forest records and 9.94 lakh hectares &lsquo;deemed forests&rsquo;.</li>
<li><strong>Issue of Contention:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>In <strong>2014,</strong> the government<strong> relooked at the categorisation of forests</strong> and found that some of the &lsquo;statutory forests&rsquo; had been <strong>wrongly classified</strong> as &lsquo;deemed forest&rsquo;.</li>
<li>It also held that a <strong>well-defined scientific, verifiable criterion was not used</strong> while applying the dictionary definition which <strong>resulted in a subjective classification</strong> of areas as deemed forests.</li>
<li>The subjective classification, in turn, resulted in <strong>conflicts between the Forest Department and other departments</strong> like Revenue, Irrigation, Public Works and Energy.</li>
<li>The random classification caused <strong>hardship to farmers</strong> in some areas and there is also a <strong>commercial demand for mining in some regions</strong> designated as deemed forests.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Revised Coverage:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Later, newly formed committees identified 5.18 lakh hectares of deemed forest land that could be released from the total area.</li>
<li>After a<strong> recent study of the actual extent of deemed forest areas,</strong> the amount of deemed forest land to be released has been <strong>revised to 6.64 lakh hectares.</strong></li>
<li>In <strong>2019,</strong> the <strong>state had filed an interim application</strong> in the SC for the exclusion of the revised area but the <strong>Court did not pass an order</strong> on the application.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Forest and Tree Resources in Karnataka</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Total Forest cover:</strong> 20.11%, according to the <a href="/summary-of-important-reports/india-state-of-forest-report-2019" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>India State of Forest Report 2019</strong></a>, the<strong> 16<sup>th</sup> biennial assessment of India&rsquo;s forests</strong> by <strong>Forest Survey of India</strong> (FSI).<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>FSI is an organisation <strong>under the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change</strong> (MoEFCC).</li>
<li>It undertakes <strong>National Forest Inventory</strong> to assess the growing stock in forests and Tree Outside Forest (TOF), bamboo resource, carbon stock and to assess the dependence of the people living in Forest Fringe Villages for fuelwood, fodder, small timber and bamboo.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Physiographically,</strong> the state can be divided into two distinct regions:<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Hilly region</strong> <em>(Malnad)</em>: comprising the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/ecologically-sensitive-areas-in-western-ghats" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Western Ghats.</strong></a></li>
<li><strong>Plain region</strong> <em>(Maidan)</em>: comprising the inland plateau.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>The<strong> evergreen forests</strong> of the Western Ghats cover about 60% of the forest area of the State and are recognised as<strong> one of the four <a href="/current-affairs-news-analysis-editorials/news-analysis/26-11-2018" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Biodiversity Hotspots of India.</a></strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Other three biodiversity hotspots are the <strong>Himalayas, Areas under Indo-Burma and Sundalands.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Protected Area Network of the State:</strong> 5 National Parks (Anshi,<a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/waterholes-revival-in-bandipur-tiger-reserve" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong> Bandipur</strong></a>, Bannerghatta, Kudremukh, Nagarahole) 30 Wildlife Sanctuaries, 15 Conservation Reserves.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Karnataka supports about 10% of the total <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/tiger-census-2018-guinness-book-of-world-records" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>tiger</strong> </a>population and 25% of the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/world-elephant-day-1" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>elephant</strong> </a>population of the country.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</div>
<p><a href="https://indianexpress.com/article/explained/what-are-deemed-forests-and-why-karnataka-wants-to-declassify-some-7056577/" 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/deemed-forests-in-karnataka'
		],
		(int) 13 => [
			'title' => 'FFC Recommendations for Health Sector',
			'catname' => 'News Analysis',
			'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>The <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/j-k-and-15th-finance-commission#:~:text=The%2015th%20Finance%20Commission,April%202020%20to%20March%202025." target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Fifteenth Finance Commission (FFC)</strong></a> has made <strong>recommendations</strong> about the need for<strong> reprioritising public spending to fix the creaky health infrastructure</strong> exposed by the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/covid-19-now-pandemic-who" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>coronavirus pandemic.</strong></a></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>FFC has <strong>submitted its report to the President</strong> advising how to share tax revenues with states for the Financial Year (FY) 2022-26 period.</li>
<li>The FFC report also makes <strong>recommendations about performance incentives to states</strong> in several reform areas.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Recommendations:</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>FFC has mooted a <strong>greater role for public-private partnerships (PPPs)</strong> to ramp up the health infrastructure and scale up <strong>public spending on health</strong> from <strong>0.95% of GDP to 2.5% by 2024.</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>While <strong>public outlays should focus on primary health care</strong> at the panchayat and municipality level, <strong>private players</strong> should be relied on for <strong>specialty healthcare.</strong></li>
<li>The<strong> total spending of around 0.95% of GDP</strong> is<strong> not adequate</strong> in relation to the commitments under the <strong>National Health Policy of 2017.</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>The 2017 Policy proposes raising public health expenditure to 2.5% of the GDP in a time-bound manner.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>There is a need for a <strong>more holistic approach to encouraging PPP</strong> in the health sector. There should be a<strong> constant working relationship</strong> and the government <strong>should not resort to the private sector in the case of an emergency only.</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>The <strong>trust deficit</strong> that exists between industry and government needs to be bridged.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>District hospitals</strong> can become<strong> great grounds</strong> for training paramedics, creating health and employment multipliers.</li>
<li>FFC Chairman emphasised on the need to create <strong>a cadre for medical officers</strong> as mentioned in the <strong>All India Services Act 1951.</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li><strong>All-India health service</strong> is needed to address issues within the health sector.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>There is a need for <strong>substantial improvements in the working conditions for doctors</strong> in government hospitals, many of whom are hired on a contract basis by States.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Issues in the Health Sector:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>India&rsquo;s general <strong>government expenditure</strong> on healthcare as a percent of GDP was <strong>just 1.0% in 2017,</strong> according to the <a href="/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-international-institution/world-health-organization-who" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>World Health Organisation (WHO)</strong></a> data, placing it at number <strong>165 out of 186 countries</strong> in terms of government expenditure on healthcare.</li>
<li><strong>Skewed availability of healthcare</strong> across India as poorer States have the worst facilities.</li>
<li>In terms of<strong> access and quality</strong> of health services, <strong>India was ranked 145 out of 195 countries</strong> in a Lancet study published in 2018, below countries like China (48), Sri Lanka (71) Bhutan (134) and Bangladesh (132).</li>
<li><strong>Availability of trained epidemiologists</strong> is an issue due to low salary and job insecurity in the health system.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>There should be one epidemiologist per 0.2 million population. An epidemiologist is a technical person to guide and monitor the process of contact-tracing, marking containment zones and isolating suspected cases.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>India&rsquo;s expenditure on R&amp;D</strong> as a percent of GDP has continued to remain stagnant at 0.7% of GDP for three decades, with the public sector accounting for 51.8% of national R&amp;D expenditure. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>This compares to around 2.8% of GDP for the USA, 2.1% of GDP for China, 4.4% of GDP for Korea and around 3% for Germany where the dominant sector by spending on R&amp;D is the private sector.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1605773412_image1.png" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1605773412_image1.png" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" caption="false" width="500" height="401" /></a></p>
<h3>Recent Initiatives</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Recently, the government has <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/financial-support-to-public-private-partnerships-in-infrastructure#:~:text=Viability%20Gap%20Funding%20(VGF)%20means,fall%20short%20of%20financial%20viability.&amp;text=The%20Viability%20Gap%20Funding%20(VGF)%20provided%20for%20economic%20infrastructure%20will,be%20extended%20to%20social%20infrastructure." target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>expanded the provision</strong></a> <strong>of financial support by means of viability gap funding for Public Private Partnerships (PPPs)</strong> in infrastructure projects to social sectors such as health, education, water and waste treatment.</li>
<li>Several <strong>public-private partnerships</strong> and collaborations are already underway. The <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/drdo-develops-ventilators" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO)</strong></a> which has developed ventilators, collaborated with industry to scale up production of ventilators.</li>
<li>There have been <strong>several examples</strong> of how public research laboratories, public institutions like the IITs, and private players including startups have risen to the challenge of working on Covid-19 testing kits, masks, alcohol-based sanitizers, personal protective equipment (PPEs) and ventilators, to overcome challenges of global supply chain disruptions and to cater to domestic needs.</li>
<li>The government has made several interventions in the health sector including <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/national-medical-commission-3" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>National Medical Commission</strong></a>, <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/national-digital-health-mission" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>National Digital Health Mission</strong></a>, <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/ayushmanbharat" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Ayushman Bharat</strong></a>, etc.</li>
<li>A total of <strong>17 Global Health Security Agenda (GHSA) projects</strong> have been started in India, with different government and private organisations.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>GHSA, set in 2014,<strong> builds on the WHO International Health Regulations (IHR)</strong> that provide guidance for countries to assess and manage serious health threats that have the potential to spread beyond borders.</li>
<li><strong>Capacity-building of the healthcare workers</strong> for surveillance and outbreak investigation is a vital step under workforce development of GHSA&rsquo;s action package.</li>
<li>One of the institutes responsible for workforce development under GHSA is the <strong>National Institute of Health and Family Welfare (NIHFW),</strong> that has implemented the <strong>&ldquo;Public Health Systems Capacity Building in India&rdquo;</strong> project.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/finance-panel-for-public-private-partnerships-to-ramp-up-health-infrastructure/article33126099.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/ffc-recommendations-for-health-sector'
		],
		(int) 14 => [
			'title' => 'Chapare Virus',
			'catname' => 'News Analysis',
			'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>Researchers from the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) have recently discovered a rare <strong>Ebola-like illness</strong> that is believed to have first originated in <strong>rural Bolivia</strong> in 2004.</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The virus is named Chapare after the province in which it was first observed.</li>
<li><strong>Chapare,</strong> is a rural province in the northern region of <strong>central Bolivia.</strong></li>
</ul>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>About:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Chapare Virus belongs to the same <strong>Arenavirus family</strong> that is responsible for illnesses such as the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/ebola-death-in-democratic-republic-of-congo" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Ebola virus disease (EVD)</strong></a>. It causes Chapare Hemorrhagic Fever (CHHF).</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Vector:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Chapare virus are generally<strong> carried by rats</strong> and can be transmitted through <strong>direct contact with the infected rodent, its urine and droppings, or through contact with an infected person.</strong></li>
<li>A disease vector is any agent which<strong> carries and transmits</strong> an infectious pathogen into another living organism.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Symptoms of Chapare Hemorrhagic Fever (CHHF):</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Hemorrhagic fever much like Ebola.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Viral hemorrhagic fevers are a severe and life-threatening kind of illness that can <strong>affect multiple organs and damage the walls of blood vessels.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>Abdominal pain,</li>
<li>Vomiting,</li>
<li>Bleeding gums,</li>
<li>Skin rash,</li>
<li>Pain behind the eyes.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Transmission:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Virus can spread from<strong> person to person.</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Chapare spreads only through <strong>direct contact</strong> with bodily fluids.</li>
<li><strong>Sexually transmission:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Researchers also found fragments of <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/novel-strain-of-coronavirus" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Ribonucleic acid (RNA)</strong></a> associated with Chapare, in the semen of one survivor <strong>168 days</strong> after he was infected.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Diagnosis:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Chapare virus is <strong>much more difficult</strong> to catch than the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/coronaviruses" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>coronavirus</strong></a> as it is <strong>not transmissible</strong> via the <strong>respiratory route.</strong> Instead, Chapare spreads only through direct contact with <strong>bodily fluids.</strong></li>
<li>New sequencing tools will help develop an <strong>RT-PCR test</strong> &mdash; much like the one used to diagnose <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/covid-19-now-pandemic-who" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Covid-19</strong></a> to help detect Chapare.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Treatment:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Since there are <strong>no specific drugs</strong> to treat the disease, patients generally receive <strong>supportive care</strong> such as intravenous fluids.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li><strong>Intravenous therapy</strong> is a medical technique that delivers a liquid directly into a person's vein. The intravenous route of administration is commonly used for rehydration solutions or to provide nutrition in those who cannot consume food or water by mouth.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>Maintenance of<strong> hydration.</strong></li>
<li>Management of shock through fluid resuscitation.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Fluid resuscitation is the medical practice of <strong>replenishing bodily fluid</strong> lost through sweating, bleeding, fluid shifts or other pathologic processes.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>Pain Relief Medicines</li>
<li>Transfusions as the supportive therapy that can be administered on patients.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>People at Risk:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The disease is also known to be most commonly transmitted in more<strong> tropical regions,</strong> particularly in certain parts of South America where the small-eared pygmy rice rat is commonly found.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Mortality Rate:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>As there are very few cases on record, the mortality and risk factors associated with the illness are <strong>relatively unknown.</strong></li>
<li>In the first known outbreak, the only confirmed case was fatal. In the second outbreak in 2019, three out of five documented cases were fatal <strong>(case-fatality rate of 60%).</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Recent Outbreak:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The recent biggest outbreak of the &lsquo;Chapare virus&rsquo; was reported in 2019, when three healthcare workers contracted the illness from two patients in the Bolivian capital of La Paz.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Ebola Virus Disease</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) or Ebola Hemorrhagic Fever (EHF),</strong> is a viral hemorrhagic fever of humans and other primates caused by ebolaviruses</li>
<li><strong>Transmission:</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Fruit bats</strong> of the Pteropodidae family are natural <strong>Ebola virus hosts.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Animal to human transmission:</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Ebola is introduced into the human population through <strong>close contact</strong> with the blood, secretions, organs or other <strong>bodily fluids of infected animals</strong> such as fruit bats, chimpanzees, etc.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Human-to-human transmission:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Ebola spreads via <strong>direct contact</strong> (through broken skin or mucous membranes) with:</li>
<li>Blood or body fluids of a person who is sick with or has died from Ebola.</li>
<li>Objects that have been contaminated with body fluids (like blood, feces, vomit) from a person sick with Ebola or the body of a person who died from Ebola.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Vaccines:</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>An experimental Ebola vaccine, called<strong> rVSV-ZEBOV</strong> proved highly protective against EVD.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</div>
<p><a href="https://indianexpress.com/article/explained/explained-all-about-the-rare-ebola-like-chapare-virus-that-can-spread-from-human-to-human-7055914/" 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/chapare-virus'
		],
		(int) 15 => [
			'title' => 'The Big Picture: 75 Years of UN',
			'catname' => 'Lok Sabha & Rajya Sabha Discussions',
			'desc' => '<p style="text-align: center;"><iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/v8xa4uh2Au0" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe></p>
<h3>Why in News?</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>On October 24, 2020 the United Nations marked its diamond jubilee.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Far from a joyous celebration, it was an occasion sombrely reflecting the stagnance of the UN at 75.</li>
<li>How it can regain its lost lustre is a matter of discussion.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Despite that the UN has gone through several improvements, the tussle between 'principle' and 'power' still remains the same.</li>
<li>The UN is for global governance and not a global government.</li>
<li>Though the organisation was designed to maintain a peaceful and just world, it still privileges the most powerful states.</li>
<li>The UN has seen successes as well as failures almost equally.</li>
<li>The United Nations must be sustained as there is no parallel organisation to it.</li>
</ul>
<h3>The United Nations</h3>
<p>Founded in 1945, the <a href="/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-international-institution/united-nations-1" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>United Nations</strong> </a>is an international organisation aimed at:</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Maintaining international peace and security</li>
<li>Protecting human rights</li>
<li>Delivering humanitarian aid</li>
<li>Promoting sustainable development</li>
<li>Upholding international law.</li>
</ul>
<p>The UN headquarters is located in New York, USA.</p>
<p><strong>UN's Success Areas</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Increment in the UN membership:</strong> Post- 1960's decolonisation, the membership of the UN expanded from about 50 members to double.</li>
<li><strong>Decolonisation:</strong> It was the UN which played the lead role in the 1960 decolonisation and helped around 80 colonies in gaining their freedom.</li>
<li><strong>Involvement with civil society:</strong> The UN is no more an organisation of nations only, more and more UN bodies have begun engaging with the people within the nations, experts, intellectuals and media with time.</li>
<li><strong>Better sustenance:</strong> The UN has successfully sustained itself till now, as compared to the <strong>League of Nations,</strong> which is an achievement.</li>
<li><strong>Peacekeeping:</strong> The UN has successfully prevented World War - III.</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>1960's Decolonisation</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>In 1960, the General Assembly adopted the Declaration on the Granting of Independence to Colonial Countries and Peoples (General Assembly resolution 1514 (XV)), known also as the <strong>Declaration on Decolonization.</strong></li>
<li>When the United Nations was established in 1945, 750 million people- almost a third of the world's population then lived in Territories that were non-self-governing, dependent on colonial Powers.</li>
<li>About 80 former colonies had gained their independence.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>At present, there are 17 only Non- Self- Governing Territories remaining and fewer than 2 million people live in such Territories.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>The League of Nations</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The League of Nations was an international diplomatic group developed after World War I as a way to solve disputes between countries before they erupted into open warfare.</li>
<li>It was established on 10 January, 1920 with its headquarter in <strong>Geneva, Switzerland.</strong></li>
<li>A precursor to the United Nations, the League achieved some victories but had a mixed record of success, sometimes putting self-interest before becoming involved with conflict resolution, while also contending with governments that did not recognize its authority.</li>
<li>The League effectively ceased operations during World War II (1946).</li>
</ul>
</div>
<p><strong>UN's Major Setbacks</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Arm races and Cold war:</strong> Although, the WW-III has been successfully prevented till date, violence, arm races, nuclear races and cold wars still occur among nations.</li>
<li><strong>Power suppressing principles:</strong> The world body still continues to see a tussle between &lsquo;principle&rsquo; and &lsquo;power&rsquo;.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>While the hopes of a peaceful and just world are represented by the UN, the most powerful states are privileged by granting them commanding heights over international politics via the undemocratic instruments of veto power and permanent seats in the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/un-security-council-1#:~:text=Its%20primary%20responsibility%20is%20to,China%20and%20the%20United%20Kingdom" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>UN Security Council</strong> </a>(UNSC).</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Not a multipolar organisation:</strong> The UN has been unable to present itself as a multipolar and multilateral organisation.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>At the time of formation, the UN had 5 permanent members with a total of 51 members, presently, it has 193 members but permanent members in the UN General Assembly are still 5.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Laggard in holistic growth:</strong> The organisation had not been able to cope up with the increasing globalisation.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The UN has been a laggard in overall development; no institutional arrangement is there to deal in particular with Pandemics or new technologies such as <a href="/loksabha-rajyasabha-discussions/in-depth-artificial-intelligence" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Artificial Intelligence.</strong></a></li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>The Significant Role of India</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>India and the UN:</strong> India is one of the founding members of the UN.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Since its independence and even before that,India has been an active participant in all initiatives undertaken by the UN like Millennium Development Goals, <a href="/to-the-points/paper3/sustainable-development-3" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Sustainable development goals</strong></a> and various UN summits, including on climate change.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Maintaining peace:</strong> As far as the peacekeeping ambit of the UN is concerned, India has performed quite well in maintaining peaceful and friendly relations with most of the nations.</li>
<li><strong>India and UNSC:</strong> India has been recently elected as a <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/elections-for-non-permanent-members-of-the-unsc" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>non permanent member of the UNSC</strong></a> and will be joining the latter from 1 January, 2021.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The non permanent membership of India can be taken as an opportunity to convince the like-minded nations for fighting international terrorism.</li>
<li>Moreover, India should also focus upon sitting upon the apex body in future; becoming a permanent member of the UN.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Raising concern over need of reforms:</strong> India has realised the urgent need of reforms in the UN specially at the UNSC and has raised concerns over the issue.</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>What can India do?</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Perseverance:</strong> India must persevere and be determined about its position rather than bringing it out only on occasions.</li>
<li><strong>Alliance:</strong> It should make other allied nations that have ties with India realise its value and the power they can all gather together once India gets a permanent seat at the Security council.</li>
<li><strong>Balance its international and internal responsibilities:</strong> India must also see the added pressure it might receive if it becomes a member on the Security council and not have to compromise with its own internal issues.</li>
<li><strong>Principles over power:</strong> India&rsquo;s tilt towards principles is what is appreciated and shall be continued to maintain its goodwill.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Way Forward</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Reforming the UN charter:</strong> The UN charter talks only about the rights but not duties and responsibilities. The duties and responsibilities at individual, community, global and national level need to be emphasised too.</li>
<li><strong>Reforms in the UNSC:</strong> The UNSC should be expanded in terms of its core members, only five permanent members with a total of 193 members does not provide justice to the others.</li>
<li><strong>A more multilateral organisation:</strong> The UN should engage strongly with multilateralism and harness the capabilities of all those who matter, not just the P5.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>What is needed is a multipolar and multilateral approach rather than autocracy of the P5 countries.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Choosing principles over power:</strong> If the principles are written by the most powerful states, then it cannot create any difference; the unequal and iniquitous structure will remain the same.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The salience of power is what is needed to be reduced.</li>
<li>This is where India can take up the lead and may start a dialogue with the like minded countries first about the same.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Judging the elements of power:</strong> It is needed to be looked upon what elements of power need to be appreciated- the crude, military power or the soft, economic power.</li>
<li><strong>Principles for the powerful too:</strong> The other members need to make sure that the powerful members are made to work within the framework of principles so the balance between the power and principle is maintained.</li>
<li><strong>Specialised agencies:</strong> The need for specialised agencies dealing with specific affairs such as Artificial Intelligence, Information Technology, Pandemics etc shall be looked and acted upon.</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>P5 Countries:</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The P5 refers to the UN Security Council's five permanent members; namely China, France, Russia, the United Kingdom, and the United States plus Germany (making it P5 +1).</li>
<li>The P5+1 is often referred to as the E3+3 by European countries.</li>
</ul>
</div>
<h3>Conclusion</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The UN has survived and thrived and has certainly seen incremental changes over the last 75 years but the time has come for the UN to change and change for the better.</li>
<li>UNSC is in desperate need to undergo reforms, the sooner the better, the later the more redundant.</li>
<li>In a nutshell, as far as the whole UN is concerned complete reform is needed with principles not to be written by the most powerful anymore.</li>
</ul>',
			'postdate' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenTime) {},
			'url' => 'https://www.drishtiias.com/loksabha-rajyasabha-discussions/the-big-picture-75-years-of-un'
		],
		(int) 16 => [
			'title' => 'Online Education Woes',
			'catname' => 'News Analysis',
			'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>A recent study by the <strong>Azim Premji University</strong> on the <strong>efficacy and accessibility</strong> of e-learning has highlighted various challenges involved in online education in the country.</p>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Student Specific Finding:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Reason for student&rsquo;s lack of accessibility to online classes:<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Non-availability or<strong> inadequate number of smartphones</strong> for dedicated use or sharing.</li>
<li>Difficulty in<strong> using apps</strong> for online learning.</li>
<li>Children with disabilities found it more difficult to participate in online sessions.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Parents Specific Findings:</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>90%</strong> of parents of government school students surveyed were <strong>willing to send their children back to school,</strong> if the health of their children was taken care of.</li>
<li><strong>70%</strong> of the parents surveyed were of the opinion that online classes <strong>were not effective</strong> and <strong>did not help</strong> in their child&rsquo;s learnings.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Teacher&rsquo;s Specific Findings:</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Teachers' main problem found during the online classes was the <strong>one-way communication,</strong> which made it <strong>difficult for them to assess</strong> whether students were able to understand what was being taught.</li>
<li>More than<strong> 80% of teachers</strong> surveyed said they were <strong>unable to maintain emotional connect</strong> with students during online classes, while <strong>90%</strong> of teachers felt that <strong>no meaningful assessment</strong> of children&rsquo;s learning was possible.</li>
<li>50% of the teachers reported that <strong>children were unable to complete assignments shared during the online classes,</strong> which had led to serious gaps in learning.</li>
<li>The survey also revealed that around 75% of the teachers spent, <strong>on an average, less than an hour a day on online classes</strong> for any grade.</li>
<li>Teachers also reported that they were <strong>ill-prepared for online learning platforms.</strong></li>
<li>More than half the teachers surveyed shared that their<strong> knowledge and user-experience</strong> on online platforms and modes of teaching were inadequate.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="https://www.thehindu.com/education/schools/study-highlights-online-education-woes/article33119515.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/online-education-woes'
		],
		(int) 17 => [
			'title' => 'Rural Non-Farm Sector',
			'catname' => 'News Editorials',
			'desc' => '<div class="border">
<p>This article is based on<a href="https://indianexpress.com/article/opinion/columns/agriculture-gdp-growth-economy-7055240/" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong> &ldquo;Spot the seeds of growth&rdquo;</strong></a> which was published in The Indian Express on 18/11/2020. It talks about the importance &amp; challenges of the rural non-farm sector in India.</p>
</div>
<p>Due to the economic downturn caused by Covid-19 pandemic, India&rsquo;s GDP contracted by 23.9 %. in the first quarter. However, a silver lining in this degrowth scenario can be noted as agriculture grew by 3.4%.</p>
<p>Despite green shoots, agriculture in India is ailing for a long time. It has been grappling with issues like fast depleting groundwater, soil degradation, fragmented markets, barely functioning agricultural extension services and speeding up of climate change.</p>
<p>It is due to these factors agriculture cannot overturn contraction in other sectors, but along with the non-farm rural sector, it could jump-start the economy. Apart from this, Non-Farm rural activities (livestock, fisheries and food processing, etc.) are advantageous in lifting the poor above the poverty line.</p>
<p>Therefore, it becomes imperative to identify the issues of the non-farm rural sector in India to focus on building strong growth links between the non-farm rural economy and agriculture.</p>
<h3>Importance of Rural Non-Farm Sector</h3>
<p>The non-farm sector, particularly in rural areas is being accorded wide recognition in recent years for the following reasons:</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Check on Unregulated Migration:</strong> A planned strategy of rural non-farm development may prevent many rural people from migrating to urban industrial and commercial centres.</li>
<li><strong>Bridging Rural-Urban Divide:</strong> When the economic base of the rural economy extends beyond agriculture, rural-urban economic gaps are bound to get narrower along with salutary effects in many other aspects associated with the life and aspirations of the people.</li>
<li><strong>Employment Generation:</strong> Non-farm rural industries are generally less capital-intensive and more labour absorbing. Thus, they can play a critical role in employment growth in rural areas.</li>
<li><strong>Reducing Inequalities:</strong> Rural income distribution is much less unequal in areas where a wide network of non-farm avenues of employment exists.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>As the lower strata of rural societies participate much more intensely in non-farm activities, it helps in increasing social mobility.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Associated Challenges</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Weak Institutional Structure:</strong> There are many institutions (KVIC, SIDBI, etc.) which were established for the development of the rural non-farm sector.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>However, these institutions are marred by issues like administrative inefficiency, lack of financial autonomy, overlapping jurisdiction, etc.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Quality of Manpower:</strong> High levels of illiteracy in rural India have hampered the growth of the rural non-farm sector.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>In the rural areas, lack of education leads to labour being stagnant in agriculture or moving to casual work occupations in the non-farm sector, and not to salaried employment with higher wages and benefits.</li>
<li>Together with a lack of technical skills, there is little incentive for rural firms to invest in technology, leading to low levels of labour productivity in the rural manufacturing sector compared to urban manufacturing.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Forward and Backward Linkages:</strong> The gaps in the integration of the production linkages brought about by low accessibility of market, support service weaknesses and intervention of middlemen have constrained the development of non-farm enterprises in India.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Apart from this, the most significant bottleneck in generating higher levels of rural non-farm activity in India is the quantity, quality and reliability of infrastructure.</li>
<li>Although corrective steps are now being taken, increased infrastructure remains the most important priority for the future.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Way Forward</h3>
<p>Efforts are needed to identify appropriate and effective institutional vehicles for the development of non-farm sector policy and interventions for creating employment opportunities. In this context, the following policy interventions can be taken by the government.</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>China&rsquo;s TVEs Model:</strong> China&rsquo;s labour-intensive township and village enterprises (TVEs), are often described as the &ldquo;engine of growth&rdquo; behind China&rsquo;s remarkable growth.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The TVEs are hybrid institutions, generally unusual alliances between entrepreneurs and local government officials (acting in the capacity of "owners" of TVE enterprises).</li>
<li>In this regard, the role of government is crucial, especially in the provision of necessary infrastructure and other support services.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Supply Chain Integration:</strong> It is also vital to improve the marketing links between the village entrepreneurs and the larger business firms located in the towns/cities.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Such strategic alliances or partnerships can contribute to the sustainability of small villages and tiny enterprises in rural areas.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Addressing Structural Issues:</strong> Other important considerations that need to be focused on may include human resource development, financial/credit facilities, research and development and women&rsquo;s participation with a view to making the activities self-sustaining in the changing competitive environment.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Conclusion</h3>
<p>The non-farm rural sector is increasingly playing an important role in the development of rural areas of India. Specifically, as agriculture&rsquo;s contribution to the economy is declining, the non-farm sector will need to become more and more a major provider of employment and income to many people in rural areas.</p>
<p>However, it should be noted that the non-farm rural sector is not a substitute for employment in agriculture but rather as a supplementary measure. Agricultural development is still important and should be pursued as a necessary precondition for inclusive development.</p>
<p><a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1605698357_image%200.jpg" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1605698357_image 0.jpg" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" caption="false" width="635" height="603" /></a></p>
<table border="1" style="border-collapse: collapse; width: 100%;">
<tbody>
<tr>
<td style="width: 100%; border-style: dotted; border-color: #ff0000; background-color: #f8fff5;">
<p><span style="color: #333399;"><em><strong>Drishti Mains Question</strong></em></span></p>
<p>The non-farm rural sector can increasingly play an important role in the development of rural areas of India. Discuss.</p>
</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<p style="text-align: center;"><iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/KPEcutiiT-4" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe></p>
<p>This editorial is based on<a href="https://www.thehindu.com/opinion/editorial/threat-or-treat/article33110441.ece" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong> &ldquo;Threat or treat: on RCEP trade deal&rdquo;</strong> </a>which was published in The Hindu on November 17<sup>th</sup>, 2020. Now watch this on our Youtube channel.</p>',
			'postdate' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenTime) {},
			'url' => 'https://www.drishtiias.com/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/rural-non-farm-sector'
		],
		(int) 18 => [
			'title' => 'India’s First Green Energy Convergence Project: Goa',
			'catname' => 'News Analysis',
			'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>India&rsquo;s <strong>first convergence project</strong> to generate green energy for rural and agriculture consumption is set to come up in <strong>Goa.</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Energy Efficiency Services Ltd (EESL),</strong> a joint venture of PSUs under the Ministry of Power, and Goa government signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) for the same.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Key Notes</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Convergence Project of EESL:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Focus:</strong> It focuses on energy solutions that lie at the <strong>confluence </strong>of <strong>renewable energy, electric mobility</strong> and<strong> climate change.</strong></li>
<li><strong>Objective:</strong> It seeks to connect seemingly independent sectors like <strong>Solar Energy, Energy Storage and LED lights</strong> to provide solutions, which can enable in <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/energy-needs-in-the-context-of-climate-crisis" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>decarbonisation</strong></a> and <strong>affordable energy</strong> access.</li>
<li><strong>Mechanism:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li><strong>EESL</strong> is offering <strong>convergent interventions,</strong> which solve multiple gap areas in the energy ecosystem.</li>
<li>Solutions such as <strong>solarised agriculture feeders, LED street lights</strong> in local villages and <strong>battery energy storage systems.</strong></li>
<li>Leveraging the <strong>carbon financing mechanism</strong> to rapidly strengthen rural infrastructure in a clean and sustainable manner, and to create a<strong> resilient and sustainable rural community</strong> in India.</li>
<li>EESL&rsquo;s climate financing interventions currently include <strong>Gram<a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/5-years-of-ujala-and-slnp" target="_blank" rel="noopener"> UJALA</a>, Decentralised Solar and Gram Panchayat <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/5-years-of-ujala-and-slnp" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Street Lights programmes</a>.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Benefits of the Project:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Promote Renewable Energy:</strong> It will <strong>accelerate</strong> the usage of <strong>renewable energy sources,</strong> especially for agricultural and rural power consumption in the State.</li>
<li><strong>Energy Efficient:</strong> Contribute to<strong> reduction of peak energy demand</strong> through deployment of energy efficient pumping and lighting thus contributing to overall sustainability.</li>
<li><strong>Improve Health of DISCOMs:</strong> Accrue savings of <strong>Rs 2,574 crores</strong> to the State over the period of 25 years, while improving the health of <strong>DISCOMs</strong> and providing cleaner power.</li>
<li><strong>Check Technical Losses:</strong> Provide clean day time electricity to farmers as well as energy efficient pump sets which would <strong>reduce the power consumption</strong> as well as <strong>T&amp;D</strong> (Transmission and Distribution Losses) losses associated with transmitting power to agriculture and rural feeder networks.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Energy Efficiency Services Ltd</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>It is a joint venture of <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/national-thermal-power-corporation-limited" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>National Thermal Power Corporation Limited (NTPC)</strong></a> Limited, Power Finance Corporation, Rural Electrification Corporation and POWERGRID, It was set up under the <strong>Ministry of Power</strong> to facilitate implementation of energy efficiency projects.</li>
<li><strong>EESL</strong> is a<strong> Super Energy Service Company (ESCO)</strong> that seeks to unlock the energy efficiency market in India, estimated at Rs. 74,000 crore that can potentially result in energy savings of up to <strong>20%</strong> of current consumption, by way of innovative business and implementation models.</li>
<li>It also acts as the resource centre for capacity building of State <strong>DISCOMs,</strong> financial institutions, etc.</li>
</ul>
</div>
<h3>Way Forward</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>In a solar power rich country like India, effective harnessing of this abundant resource can yield handsome returns for all stakeholders and therefore initiatives like <strong>Convergence</strong> can help India to produce more energy at less cost.</li>
<li><strong>Project Convergence</strong> is also well aligned and is in consonance with the<a href="/to-the-points/Paper2/year-end-review-2019-ministry-of-new-and-renewable-energy" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong> International Solar Alliance, an</strong> </a>initiative of the Indian government.</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="https://pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=1673497" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Source:PIB</strong></a></p>',
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		(int) 19 => [
			'title' => 'Anakkayam Small Hydro Electric Project',
			'catname' => 'News Analysis',
			'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>Recently, various green collectives and environmental organisations have come together to protest against the <strong>Anakkayam Small Hydro Electric Project</strong> in Kerala.</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The site of the project is not far from the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/athirapally-hydel-electric-project" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Athirapally Hydel Electric Project.</strong></a></li>
</ul>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>About the Project:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>It will come up in the buffer zone of the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/early-migration-of-butterflies" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Parambikulam Tiger Reserve</strong></a> (PTR) and will also<strong> create a 5.617-km-long tunnel</strong> within the forest.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Concerns:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Environmental Consequences:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Around <strong>20 hectares of forest land will have to be cleared</strong> out and <strong>around 1900 large trees</strong> and a larger number of small trees<strong> will be cut.</strong></li>
<li>The area is<strong> ecologically fragile,</strong> as seen in the massive<strong> landslide followed by minor landslides at the project site in 2018,</strong> and the consequences will extend to<strong> loss of precious flora and fauna species.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Absence of Consent:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>It was <strong>granted approval without obtaining permission</strong> from the local <strong>Kadar tribe</strong> which holds the <strong>right of Community Forest Resources</strong> (CFR) as per the <a href="/to-the-points/Paper2/forest-rights-act-2006" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Forest Rights Act, 2006.</strong></a></li>
<li>The site of the hydel project comes within the 400 sq kms of forest land that were given as CFR to the Kadar tribe which has the responsibility to protect and conserve the habitat.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Athirapally Hydel Electric Project</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>In <strong>June 2020,</strong> the Kerala government approved the Athirapally Hydro Electric Project (AHEP) on the <strong>Chalakudy river in Thrissur district of Kerala.</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Chalakudy River <strong>originates in the Anamalai region of Tamil Nadu</strong> and is joined by its <strong>major tributaries</strong> Parambikulam, Kuriyarkutti, Sholayar, Karapara and Anakayam in Kerala. It <strong>flows through Palakkad, Thrissur and Ernakulam</strong> districts of Kerala.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>It has also been<strong> facing opposition and protests</strong> due to its <strong>adverse effects on the fragile river ecosystem</strong> at Athirappilly and the other <strong>related environmental threats.</strong></li>
</ul>
<p><strong>Parambikulam Tiger Reserve</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>It is a well protected ecological portion in the <strong>Nelliampathy-Anamalai landscape</strong> of the <strong>Southern Western Ghats</strong> in India.</li>
<li>It is located in the<strong> Palakkad District of Kerala.</strong></li>
<li>It was<strong> declared as Tiger Reserve during 2008-09.</strong></li>
<li>The reserve is credited with the<strong> first scientifically managed teak plantation in the world</strong> which was later merged with the forest land.</li>
<li>It has the <strong>world's largest and oldest teak tree</strong> named <em>"Kannimara",</em> which is believed to be <strong>350 years old.</strong></li>
</ul>
<p><a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1605695306_image1.png" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1605695306_image1.png" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="400" caption="false" /></strong></a></p>
</div>
<p><a href="https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/kerala/green-collectives-to-protest-against-anakkayam-hydel-project/article33120677.ece" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Source: TH</strong></a></p>',
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		'title' => 'Covid-19 and Children: UNICEF',
		'catname' => 'News Analysis',
		'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>Recently, the <a href="/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-international-institution/unicef-1" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>United Nations Children&rsquo;s Fund</strong> </a>(UNICEF) has released the report <strong>&ldquo;Averting a lost Covid generation&rdquo;,</strong> which highlights significant and growing consequences of <strong>Covid-19</strong> on children.</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The report came ahead of the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/world-children-s-day#:~:text=World%20Children's%20Day%20is%20celebrated,of%20the%20Child%20in%201959." target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>World Children&rsquo;s Day</strong></a> (20<sup>th</sup> November).</li>
</ul>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>About the Report:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>It is the <strong>first UNICEF report to comprehensively outline</strong> the dire and growing <strong>consequences for children as the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/covid-19-now-pandemic-who" target="_blank" rel="noopener">pandemic</a> goes on.</strong></li>
<li>It shows that while symptoms among infected children remain mild, <strong>infections are rising</strong> and the longer-term<strong> impact on the education, nutrition and well-being of an entire generation</strong> of children and young people can be life-altering.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Data Analysis:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Children and adolescents account for <strong>1 in 9 reported Covid-19 infections.</strong></li>
<li>As of the <strong>beginning of November 2020,</strong> children and adolescents accounted for <strong>11% of the 25.7 million infections</strong> reported across 87 countries.</li>
<li>It estimated that <strong>a third of the countries</strong> analysed, <strong>witnessed a drop of at least 10% in coverage of health services</strong> and there was a<strong> 40% decline in the coverage of nutrition services</strong> for women and children across 135 countries.</li>
<li>As of <strong>October 2020, 265 million children were still missing out on school meals</strong> globally.</li>
<li><strong>65 countries</strong> reported a <strong>decrease in-home visits by social workers</strong> in September 2020, compared to 2019.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Concerns:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>These numbers <strong>bust the myth that children are barely affected</strong> by the disease, which has been prevalent throughout the pandemic.</li>
<li><strong>Disruptions to key services </strong>and <strong>soaring poverty rates</strong> pose the biggest threat to children and the longer the crisis persists, the deeper its impact on children&rsquo;s education, health, nutrition and well-being.</li>
<li><strong>Vulnerabilities of women and children have increased,</strong> as <strong>health services continue to be disrupted and schools shut, denying children free <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/mid-day-meal" target="_blank" rel="noopener">mid-day meals</a></strong> offered at schools for underprivileged children.</li>
<li>While children could <strong>transmit the virus to each other and to older age groups,</strong> there was strong evidence that, with <strong>basic safety measures in place,</strong> the net benefits of keeping schools open outweighed the costs of closing them.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li><strong>Schools are not the main driver of <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/icmr-to-test-for-community-transmission-of-covid-19" target="_blank" rel="noopener">community transmission</a></strong>, and children are more likely to get the virus outside of school settings.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>India Specific Highlights:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Infections in Under 20:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>As per data from the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/icmr-recommends-use-of-hydroxy-chloroquine" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Indian Council of Medical Research</strong></a> (ICMR) on the dashboard of the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/national-centre-for-disease-control-ncdc" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>National Centre for Disease Control</strong></a>, 11.89% of Covid-19 cases in India are in under 20.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Education:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li><strong>1.5 million school closures have impacted 247 million</strong> children enrolled in elementary and secondary education and <strong>28 million</strong> children who were attending pre-school education <strong>in <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/anganwadi-services" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Anganwadi</a> Centres.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Nutrition:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>An estimated <strong>20 million children under 5</strong> years of age are suffering from <strong>wasting</strong> (low weight for height), over<strong> 40 million</strong> children are <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/malnutrition-and-covid-19" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>chronically malnourished</strong> </a>and more than half of the Indian <strong>women aged 15-49</strong> years are <strong><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/anaemia-in-women#:~:text=Iron%20deficiency%20is%20the%20most,%2C%20weakness%2C%20dizziness%20and%20drowsiness." target="_blank" rel="noopener">anaemic.</a></strong></li>
<li>The pandemic has <strong>further exposed the fragility</strong> of children, less by the virus itself but much more by the indirect and long-term fallout.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Newborn Mortality:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Covid-19 poses a grave threat to the gains made by India in the <a href="/loksabha-rajyasabha-discussions/the-big-picture-tackling-infant-mortality" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Neonatal Mortality Rate</strong></a> (NMR) and <strong>Infant Mortality Rate</strong> (IMR) which saw improvements in recent years.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li><strong>NMR</strong> is defined as the &lsquo;number of deaths during the first 28 completed days of life per 1,000 live births in a given year or period&rsquo;.</li>
<li><strong>IMR</strong> is defined as the &lsquo;number of deaths of children under the age of 1 year per 1000 live births for a given year.&rsquo;</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Sanitation:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>The <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/woes-of-migrants-amid-covid-19" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>socio-economic stress and migration</strong> </a>resulting due to the Covid-19 put <strong>access to <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/world-toilet-day" target="_blank" rel="noopener">toilets</a> and the practice of using them at risk.</strong></li>
<li>The schools which offered <strong>improved access to and quality of water, sanitation and hygiene facilities are closed</strong> and the facilities are not accessed.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Recommendations:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Ensure all children<strong> learn,</strong> including by closing the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/national-statistical-organisation-survey-on-digital-education-divide" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>digital divide.</strong></a></li>
<li>Guarantee access to <strong>nutrition</strong> and <strong>health services</strong> and make<strong> vaccines</strong> affordable and available to every child.</li>
<li>Support and protect the <strong>mental health</strong> of children and young people and bring an end to abuse, gender-based violence and neglect in childhood.</li>
<li>Increase access to<strong> safe drinking water, sanitation and hygiene</strong> and address <strong>environmental degradation</strong> and <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/special-report-on-climate-change-ipcc" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>climate change.</strong></a></li>
<li>Reverse the rise in <strong>child poverty</strong> and ensure an inclusive recovery for all.</li>
<li>Redouble efforts to protect and support children and their families living through <strong>conflict, disaster and displacement.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>World Children&rsquo;s Day</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>It is celebrated on <strong>20<sup>th</sup> November each year to promote international togetherness and awareness</strong> among children worldwide, and <strong>improve children's welfare.</strong></li>
<li>The date of 20<sup>th</sup> November is an important date because, on this date, the <a href="/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-international-institution/united-nations-1" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>United Nations General Assembly</strong></a> adopted the<strong> Declaration of the Rights of the Child in 1959 </strong>and the <strong>Convention on the Rights of the Child in 1989.</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Convention on the Rights of the Child <strong>recognises every human being under 18 years old as a child</strong> and is the<strong> world&rsquo;s most widely ratified human rights treaty.</strong></li>
<li><strong>India ratified it in 1992.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</div>
<p><a href="https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/1-in-9-children-infected-by-covid-19-unicef/article33141124.ece" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Source: TH</strong></a></p>',
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	(int) 1 => [
		'title' => 'Status of Radicalisation in India',
		'catname' => 'News Analysis',
		'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>The<strong> Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA)</strong> has, for the first time, approved a research study on <strong>&lsquo;status of radicalisation&rsquo;</strong> in the country.</p>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Study will be conducted by <strong>G.S. Bajpai,</strong> Director of the Centre for Criminology and Victimology, National Law University, Delhi.</li>
<li>The study will attempt to legally define <strong>&lsquo;radicalisation&rsquo;</strong> and suggest amendments to the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/demand-for-repeal-of-uapa" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, 1967.</strong></a><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Radicalisation is yet to be defined legally, this <strong>leads to misuse by the police. </strong></li>
<li><strong>Aggressive policing measures could be counter-productive</strong> as the youth who were radicalised were &ldquo;misguided&rdquo; and not the culprits.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>A huge local population engulfed by systematic radicalisation can create a major security challenge for the state.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The United Nations&rsquo; 26<sup>th</sup> report of the Analytical Support and Sanctions Monitoring Team concerning the IS (Islamic State), al-Qaeda and associated individuals and entities had pointed out &ldquo;significant numbers&rdquo; of the IS and al-Qaeda members in Kerala and Karnataka.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Instances of Radicalisation in India:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Cases have revealed instances of<strong> internet-facilitated indoctrination</strong> and active radicalisation in multiple states.</li>
<li>Instances of <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/left-wing-extremism-in-india" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Left Wing Extremism</strong></a> (LWE) have grown despite the continued government intervention. Encounters, ambushes and arrests still occur with regular frequency in the red corridor districts.</li>
<li>Increased incidents of <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/mob-lynching-1" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>mob lynching, cow vigilantism</strong> </a>and the string of assassinations of rationalists such as Narendra Dabholkar, Govind Pansare and Gauri Lankesh point towards rising extremism in the right wing cadres.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Maharashtra Model:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The Maharashtra Government has rolled out a <strong>Deradicalisation Programme</strong> for the minority community to counter both <strong>home-grown extremism</strong> and the global Islamic State (IS) threat. The plan has been chalked out by the State Home Department that includes a <strong>50-point socio-economic strategy.</strong></li>
<li>Deradicalisation is a process in which people reject the ideology they once embraced. This is a step further than disengagement, characterised by a change in behaviour (leaving the radical group, stopping violence) without giving up.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Radicalisation</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Meaning:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The word &ldquo;radical&rdquo; refers to change in the fundamental nature of something, thus Radicalism is a set of beliefs or actions of people who advocate thorough or complete political or social reform.</li>
<li>Radicalisation refers to the process of an individual&rsquo;s transformation from a moderate, law-abiding citizen into an active, anti-state, violent extremist.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Types of Radicalisation:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Right-Wing Extremism:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>It is characterized by the violent defence of a racial, ethnic or pseudo-national identity, and is also associated with radical hostility towards state authorities, minorities, immigrants and/or left-wing political groups.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Politico-Religious Extremism:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>It results from political interpretation of religion and the defence, by violent means, of a religious identity perceived to be under attack (via international conflicts, foreign policy, social debates, etc.). Any religion may spawn this type of violent radicalization.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Left-Wing Extremism:</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>It focuses primarily on anti-capitalist demands and calls for the transformation of political systems considered responsible for producing social inequalities, and that may ultimately employ violent means to further its cause.</li>
<li>It includes anarchist, maoist, Trotskyist and marxist&ndash;leninist groups that use violence to advocate for their cause.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Factors behind Radicalisation:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Individual socio-psychological factors,</strong> which include grievances and emotions such as alienation and exclusion, anger and frustration and a strong sense of injustice.</li>
<li><strong>Socio-economic factors,</strong> which include social exclusion, marginalisation and discrimination (real or perceived), limited education or employment etc.</li>
<li><strong>Political factors,</strong> which include weak and non-participatory political systems lacking good governance and regard for civil society.</li>
<li><strong>Social media,</strong> which provide connectivity, virtual participation and an echo-chamber for like-minded extremist views, accelerates the process of radicalisation.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</div>
<h3>Way Forward</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>At the primary level, the government needs to reinvest in educational institutions. The aim should be to decrease prejudice, stereotyping and discrimination and to increase knowledge about democracy. Collective sports and citizen programmes based on exchanges have been found helpful.</li>
<li>The success of Kerala and Maharashtra programmes of deradicalisation indicates how community-based programmes may work in vulnerable states. The disaffected youth with no real job prospects and limited futures are vulnerable. The war on terror is to be countered more in the human mind, and requires different skills and tactics.</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/in-a-first-mha-approves-study-on-status-of-radicalisation/article33143472.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/status-of-radicalisation-in-india'
	],
	(int) 2 => [
		'title' => 'APEC Virtual Meet',
		'catname' => 'News Analysis',
		'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>Recently, a virtual meeting of the<strong> 21-member Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC)</strong> forum was held.</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The meeting was <strong>hosted by Malaysia. New Zealand</strong> will also <strong>host next year's APEC meetings</strong> virtually due to the pandemic.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>With <strong>growth in the Asia-Pacific region expected to decline by 2.7%</strong> this year, from a 3.6% growth in 2019, APEC's focus was on accelerating economic recovery and developing an affordable vaccine.</li>
<li><strong>Focus Areas:</strong> Trade and investment, Digital Economy and Technology, Structural Reform, Economic and Technical Cooperation and Thematic and institutional matters.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>APEC leaders adopted the <strong>Putrajaya Vision 2040,</strong> a new 20-year growth vision to <strong>replace the Bogor Goals</strong> named after the Indonesian town where leaders agreed in 1994 to free and open trade and investment.</li>
<li>Recognised the <strong>importance of a free, open, fair, non-discriminatory, transparent and predictable trade and investment environment</strong> to drive economic recovery at such a challenging time (Covid-19).</li>
<li>Discussed the <strong>Free Trade Area of the Asia-Pacific (FTAAP) agenda</strong> and the <strong>APEC Internet and Digital Economy Roadmap (AIDER).</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>China has become the main driving force</strong> behind the grouping after the <strong>United States began withdrawing from multilateral bodies</strong> during Trump's presidency.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>But Trump made the surprise decision to take part in this year's event, after <strong>not participating at APEC since 2017.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>China&rsquo;s Stand:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>It vowed to keep its &ldquo;super-sized&rdquo; economy open for business and warned against protectionism as the world battles the Covid-19 pandemic. It needs to be noted that Trump&rsquo;s <strong>"America First"</strong> policy has alienated trading partners.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>After the signing of the world&rsquo;s largest trade pact <a href="/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-international-institution/regional-comprehensive-economic-partnership-1" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>&lsquo;Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP)&rsquo;</strong></a>, China is trying to set the agenda for global commerce.</li>
<li>Although China is promoting openness in trade, its own actions go against it, for example:<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Australian exports of beef, wine and barley to China, their biggest market, have been restricted.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Established:</strong> 1989</li>
<li><strong>Members: 21</strong></li>
<li><strong>India is not a Member.</strong></li>
<li><strong>Member Nations:</strong> Australia, Brunei, Canada, Chile, China, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Japan, South Korea, Malaysia, Mexico, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, Peru, Philippines, Russia, Singapore, Chinese Taipei, Thailand, Vietnam and the United States.</li>
<li>Its 21 member economies are home to around <strong>2.8 billion</strong> people and represented approximately <strong>59% of world GDP</strong> and<strong> 49% of world trade</strong> in 2015.</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>India and APEC</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>India had requested membership in <strong>APEC,</strong> and received initial support from the United States, Japan, Australia and Papua New Guinea. Officials have decided<strong> not to allow India to join as India does not border the Pacific Ocean, which all current members do.</strong></li>
<li>India was invited to be an<strong> observer for the first time in November 2011.</strong></li>
<li><strong>Reasons for India to join APEC:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>India will be more integrated with the global economy since APEC economies constitute an important trading bloc in the world.</li>
<li>It will help India bargain and negotiate a better deal with the countries of the Asia-Pacific region.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Expected Benefits to APEC:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>In India, APEC will find an<strong> alternate market</strong> for labour, consumers and investments, and an additional counterweight to help check unilateral economic ambitions in the region.</li>
<li>It will also help APEC embrace<strong> some notion of &lsquo;Indo-Pacific&rsquo;</strong> and give it a renewed purpose in a renewed 21<sup>st</sup> century.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</div>
<p><a href="https://www.thehindu.com/news/international/in-apec-speech-xi-touts-chinas-economy-as-base-of-free-trade/article33134975.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/apec-virtual-meet'
	],
	(int) 3 => [
		'title' => 'India-Thailand Coordinated Patrol',
		'catname' => 'News Analysis',
		'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>Recently, the 30<sup>th</sup> edition of <strong>India-Thailand Coordinated Patrol</strong> (CORPAT) has been concluded in the <strong>Andaman Sea</strong> close to the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/china-in-south-china-sea#:~:text=The%20Strait%20of%20Malacca%20connects,control%20such%20a%20strategic%20location." target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Strait of Malacca.</strong></a></p>
<p><a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1605944834_image2.png" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1605944834_image2.png" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="500" caption="false" /></strong></a></p>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Naval Exercise:</strong> <strong>India</strong> and <strong>Thailand</strong> have been carrying out <strong>CORPAT</strong> along their International Maritime Boundary Line <strong>twice a year since 2005.</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Indian Naval Ship (INS) <em>Karmuk</em></strong> (an indigenously built Missile Corvette) and <strong>Thailand Frigate HTMS <em>Kraburi</em>,</strong> along with<strong> Dornier Maritime Patrol Aircraft</strong> from both the navies participated in the 30th edition.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Aims:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>To keep <strong>part of the Indian Ocean safe and secure</strong> for commercial shipping and international trade.</li>
<li>To<strong> ensure effective implementation</strong> of the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/unclos-maritime-zones" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>United Nations Conventions on Laws of the Sea</strong></a> (UNCLOS).<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>UNCLOS specify regulations regarding protection and conservation of natural resources, conservation of marine environment, prevention and suppression of illegal, unregulated fishing activity, drug trafficking, piracy, exchange of information in prevention of smuggling, illegal immigration and conduct of search and rescue operations at sea.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>In line with India&rsquo;s SAGAR Vision:</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>As part of Indian Government&rsquo;s vision of <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/sagar-vision" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Security And Growth for All in the Region</strong></a> (SAGAR), the Indian Navy has been involved in assisting countries in the <strong>Indian Ocean Region</strong> with<strong> Exclusive Economic Zone</strong> (EEZ) <strong>Surveillance, Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief</strong> (HADR), and other capacity building and capability-enhancement activities, on their request.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Other Military Exercises between India and Thailand:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/exercise-maitree" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Exercise MAITREE</strong></a> (Army).</li>
<li><strong>Exercise SIAM BHARAT</strong> (Air Force).</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="https://pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=1674318" 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-thailand-coordinated-patrol'
	],
	(int) 4 => [
		'title' => 'Electric Vehicle Development In India',
		'catname' => 'News Editorials',
		'desc' => '<div class="border">
<p>This article is based on<a href="https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/blogs/toi-editorials/uks-ev-push-india-should-take-note-and-tie-up-with-british-partners/" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong> &ldquo;UK&rsquo;s EV push: India should take note and tie up with British partners&rdquo;</strong> </a>which was published in The Times of India on 20/11/2020. It talks about the impact of electric vehicle development in India.</p>
</div>
<p>Recently, the United Kingdom (UK) has decided to ban the sale of new petrol and diesel cars by 2030. Also, as part of its green agenda, the UK strives to establish the enabling infrastructure for <a href="/to-the-points/paper3/electric-vehicles-evs" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>electric vehicles (EVs).</strong></a></p>
<p>Such a big move that could have a ripple effect on the green movement around the world. In India, the government is also keen on replacing fossil fuel-driven vehicles with EVs. In 2017 began by setting an ambitious target of 100% electric cars by 2030.</p>
<p>However, due to resistance from the automotive industry and fears of job losses forced the government to lower the target. Thus, without government supporting investment in EV infrastructure upfront and passing the buck to the automotive industry and consumers, it would be difficult to bring transformation in the mobility sector.</p>
<h3>India&rsquo;s Necessity For EVs</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Controlling Pollution:</strong> According to the International Council for Clean Transportation (ICCT), an estimated 74,000 premature deaths were attributable to air pollution from transportation tailpipe emissions in India in 2015.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Also, many top polluted cities in the world are from India. For example, New Delhi.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Mitigating Climate Change:</strong> In December 2019, in the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/global-climate-risk-index-2020" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Climate Risk Index 2020</strong></a> released by the environment think tank, Germanwatch, India&rsquo;s rank has worsened from the 14<sup>th</sup> spot in 2017 to 5<sup>th</sup> in 2018 in the global vulnerability ladder.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>This makes it all the more reason for India to make electric cars and vehicles a priority in the fight against the reliance on fossil fuels.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Sustainable Energy Options:</strong> Shifting towards EVs will help India to reduce oil dependency while solving the challenge of energy scarcity and moving towards renewable and clean sources of energy.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Associated Challenges</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Lack of Battery Cell Manufacturing:</strong> There is a complete absence of primary battery cell manufacturing in India which poses the risk of increasing trade deficit.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>At the moment, most manufacturers rely on batteries imported from Japan, China, Korea and Europe.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Building Charging Infrastructure:</strong> Another big challenge is the development of charging infrastructure which will need to be combined with existing refuelling stations and at alternative locations closer to homes.</li>
<li><strong>Limited Grid Capacity:</strong> According to a Niti Aayog report, India&rsquo;s EVs market needs a minimum of 10 GW of cells by 2022, which would need to be expanded to about 50 GW by 2025.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>However, currently, India is able to add only 20 GW every year to its grid for all of our other increasing energy needs. Thus, the fulfilment of the requirement of 10GW additional capacity only for EVs would be a huge task.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Local Issues:</strong> Bringing transportation decisions closer to the people is understandable and necessary. Transport challenges such as congestion, affordability, infrastructure and transit systems availability are localized issues, impede the standardization of EVs.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Also, it will be a challenge to create a competitive advantage in electric vehicle manufacturing, or even a market for them, given that India does not have the infrastructure or deep pockets like China (world's current leader in electric mobility).</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Current Policy of Indian Government</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>FAME Scheme:</strong> The Indian government has created momentum through its <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/fame-ii-1#:~:text=Background,development%20and%20Manufacturing%20eco%2Dsystem." target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Faster Adoption and Manufacturing of (Hybrid &amp;) Electric Vehicles</strong></a> schemes that encourage, and in some segments mandates the adoption of electric vehicles (EV), with a goal of reaching 30% EV penetration by 2030.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>If these aims are realised by 2030, they will generate an estimated saving of up to 474 Millions of tonnes of oil equivalent (Mtoe) and 846 million tonnes of net CO2 emissions over their lifetime.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Fiscal Incentives:</strong> Various fiscal demand incentives have been put in place to spur the production and consumption of EVs and charging infrastructure - such as income tax rebates, exemption from customs duties, etc.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Way Forward</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Increasing R&amp;D in EVs:</strong> The Indian market needs encouragement for indigenous technologies that are suited for India from both strategic and economic standpoint.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Since investment in local research and development is necessary to bring prices down, it makes sense to leverage local universities and existing industrial hubs.</li>
<li>India should work with countries like the UK and synergise EV development.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Sensitising Public:</strong> Breaking away the old norms and establishing a new consumer behaviour is always a challenge. Thus, a lot of sensitisation and education is needed, in order to bust several myths and promote EVs within the Indian market.</li>
<li><strong>Viable Electricity Pricing:</strong> Given current electricity prices, home charging may also be an issue if the generation is from thermal power plants run on coal.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Thus, a shift in the electricity generation landscape as a whole is what is required to facilitate the growth of electric cars.</li>
<li>In this context, India is on track to become one of the largest solar and energy storage markets by 2025.</li>
<li>A combination of solar-powered grid solutions that are organised with a general improvement in grid resilience will ensure adequate charging infrastructure for EV&rsquo;s being a green option.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Creating the Closed-Loop Mobility Ecosystem:</strong> Subsidizing manufacturing for an electric supplychain will certainly improve the EV development in India.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Along with charging infrastructure, the establishment of a robust supply chain will also be needed.</li>
<li>Further, recycling stations for batteries will need to recover the metals from batteries used in electrification to create the closed-loop required for the shift to electric cars to be an environmentally-sound decision.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Conclusion</h3>
<p>Operationalizing mass transition to electric mobility for a country of 1.3 billion people is not an easy feat. Thus, a strong common vision, an objective framework for comparing state policies and a platform for public-private collaboration are needed.</p>
<p><a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1605875490_image0.jpg" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1605875490_image0.jpg" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="700" caption="false" /></a></p>
<table border="1" style="border-collapse: collapse; width: 100%;">
<tbody>
<tr>
<td style="width: 100%; border-style: dotted; border-color: #ff0000; background-color: #f7fcff;">
<p><span style="color: #800000;"><em><strong>Drishti Mains Question</strong></em></span></p>
<p>Operationalizing mass transition to electric mobility for a country of 1.3 billion people is not an easy feat. Comment.</p>
</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<p style="text-align: center;"><iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/y6IeCqKJpww" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe></p>
<p>This editorial is based on <a href="https://www.financialexpress.com/opinion/justice-cant-be-selective-cji-bobde-is-both-right-and-wrong-on-article-32/2131491/" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>&ldquo;Justice can&rsquo;t be selective&rdquo;</strong></a> which was published in The Financial Express on November 19<sup>th</sup>, 2020. Now watch this on our Youtube channel.</p>',
		'postdate' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenTime) {},
		'url' => 'https://www.drishtiias.com/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/electric-vehicle-development-in-india'
	],
	(int) 5 => [
		'title' => 'Bengaluru Tech Summit',
		'catname' => 'News Analysis',
		'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>Recently, the Prime Minister has inaugurated the<strong> Bengaluru Tech Summit</strong> via video conference which was also<strong> attended by the Prime Minister of Australia.</strong></p>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>It is India's flagship event which will deliberate on the key challenges emerging in the <strong>post-pandemic world</strong> with focus on the <strong>impact of prominent technologies.</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>It will also provide a platform for discussion to encourage disruptive technologies.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li><strong>Disruptive technology</strong> is an innovation that <strong>significantly alters the way that consumers, industries, or businesses operate.</strong> It sweeps away the systems or habits it replaces because it has<strong> attributes that are recognizably superior.</strong></li>
<li><strong>Examples: <a href="/to-the-points/paper3/e-commerce-in-india" target="_blank" rel="noopener">e-commerce</a></strong>, online news sites, ride-sharing apps, and <a href="/loksabha-rajyasabha-discussions/in-depth-visual-positioning-system#:~:text=region%20under%20navigation.-,Global%20Positioning%20System,to%20civilian%20and%20military%20users." target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Global Positioning System</strong> </a>(GPS).</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Theme for 2020:</strong> Next is Now.</li>
<li><strong>Focus:</strong> Innovations in the domains of <strong>Information Technology and Electronics and Biotechnology.</strong></li>
<li><strong>Organisers:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The Government of Karnataka along with Karnataka Innovation and Technology Society (KITS).</li>
<li>Karnataka government&rsquo;s Vision Group on Information Technology Software.</li>
<li><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/rental-waivers-to-stpi-units" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Software Technology Parks of India</strong></a> (STPI).</li>
<li>MM Activ Sci-Tech Communications.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Concerns Highlighted:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>With the increasing use of technology in governance and other areas, <strong><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/personal-data-protection-bill-2019" target="_blank" rel="noopener">data protection</a> and <a href="/to-the-points/paper3/cyber-security" target="_blank" rel="noopener">cybersecurity</a></strong> become significant.</li>
<li>There is a <strong>need to devise robust cybersecurity solutions</strong> which can <strong>protect digital products against cyber attacks and viruses.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Role of Technology:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>It was highlighted that<strong> India&rsquo;s governance model</strong> is based on<strong> &lsquo;technology first&rsquo;.</strong></li>
<li><strong><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/pm-kisan" target="_blank" rel="noopener">PM-KISAN</a> Mobile App:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>It <strong>enables direct transfers to farmers</strong> and also <strong>digitises the complete database</strong> of farmers.</li>
<li>The farmers can view the status of their application, update or carry out corrections of their Aadhaar cards and also check the history of credits to their bank accounts.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><a href="/current-affairs-news-analysis-editorials/news-analysis/27-03-2020" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Yojana:</strong></a><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Under it, the government <strong>deployed fintech and digital technology to monitor</strong> swift and efficient transfer to the beneficiary through <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/factors-preventing-financial-inclusion" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Direct benefit transfer.</strong></a></li>
<li>It also <strong>ensured credit to the beneficiary's account without the need for the beneficiary to physically go to the branch</strong> which helped people a lot during <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/covid-19-and-lockdown" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>lockdowns.</strong></a></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/ayushmanbharat" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Ayushman Bharat</a>:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Making good use of technology and innovation can further reduce the overall cost of healthcare. AI-powered mobile applications can provide high-quality, low-cost, patient-centric, smart wellness solutions.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/aarogya-setu-app-a-technological-solutionism" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Aarogya Setu App</strong></a>:<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>India's first contact tracing app, Arogya Setu app is based on the idea of <strong>&lsquo;technological solutionism&rsquo;</strong> (technology providing an impartial solution to complex social problems).</li>
<li>It enables bluetooth based contact tracing and maps likely hotspots of Covid-19 and disseminates the relevant information.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>Apart from all these, <strong>technology plays an important<a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/role-of-technology-in-governance#:~:text=Use%20of%20Technology%20in%20Governance&amp;text=It%20is%20here%20that%20technology,and%20deliberation%20on%20important%20issues." target="_blank" rel="noopener"> role in governance</a></strong> as well.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>India and Australia on Technological Development:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Both countries highlighted the <strong>unlimited possibilities of working together</strong> in space research, critical minerals, <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/5g-is-india-prepared" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>5G</strong></a>, <a href="/loksabha-rajyasabha-discussions/in-depth-artificial-intelligence" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Artificial Intelligence</strong></a>, <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/quantum-technology" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>quantum computing</strong></a>, etc.</li>
<li>In<strong> June 2020,</strong> the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/india-australia-virtual-summit" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>India-Australia Virtual Summit</strong></a> was held where both countries signed the landmark <strong>Australia-India Technology Framework on cyber and cyber-enabled technology.</strong></li>
<li>In <strong>December 2020,<a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/india-australia-circular-economy-hackathon" target="_blank" rel="noopener"> India-Australia Circular Economy Hackathon</a></strong> (I-ACE) will be organised which will focus on identification and development of innovative technology solutions by students, startups and MSMEs of both nations.</li>
<li>They are also <strong>planning to launch Australia-India cyber and critical technologies partnership grant programme</strong> and are also working together for an <strong>open, free, safe and secure Internet.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Government Initiatives to Promote Technology</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><a href="/loksabha-rajyasabha-discussions/in-depth-digital-india" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Digital India Mission</strong></a>: Launched in<strong> 2015,</strong> it aimed to <strong>prepare India for a knowledge future for being transformative</strong> that is to realise IT (Indian Talent) + IT (Information Technology) = IT (India Tomorrow) and for making technology central to enabling change.</li>
<li><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/upi-20-launched-by-npci" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Unified Payments Interface (UPI)</strong></a>: It is a payment system that allows money transfer between any two bank accounts by using a smartphone.</li>
<li><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/national-digital-health-mission" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>National Digital Health Mission</strong></a>: It is a complete <strong>digital health ecosystem.</strong> It is a platform launched with four key features viz.<strong> health ID, personal health records, Digi Doctor </strong>and <strong>health facility registry.</strong></li>
<li><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/svamitva-scheme" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Swamitva Scheme</strong></a>: <strong>Survey of Villages and Mapping with Improvised Technology in Village Areas</strong> (Swamitva) was launched to provide an<strong> integrated property validation solution for rural India.</strong></li>
</ul>
</div>
<p><a href="https://pib.gov.in/PressReleaseIframePage.aspx?PRID=1673955" 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/bengaluru-tech-summit'
	],
	(int) 6 => [
		'title' => 'Willow Warbler',
		'catname' => 'News Analysis',
		'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>Recently, <strong>Willow Warbler</strong> has been <strong>sighted for the first time in India</strong> at <strong>Vellayani-Punchakkari paddy fields,</strong> Kerala.</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>These paddy fields are a <strong>birding hotspot on the outskirts of Thiruvananthapuram</strong> and are known to <strong>harbour more than 213 species of birds</strong> that include both resident and migratory ones.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Key Points<a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1605865121_image2.jpg" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1605865121_image2.jpg" style="float: right;" width="250" caption="false" /></a></h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Scientific Name:</strong><em> Phylloscopus trochilus.</em></li>
<li><strong>Habitat:</strong> They breeds throughout <strong>northern and temperate Europe and the Palearctic.</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Palearctic ecozone is one the Earth&rsquo;s 8 ecozones and covers Asia north of the Himalayas, with parts of western Asia and most of East Asia and Africa north of the Sahara.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Migration:</strong> They <strong>migrate to sub-Saharan Africa during early winter.</strong></li>
<li><strong>Features:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>It is <strong>one of the longest migrating small birds.</strong></li>
<li>The bird weighs around 10 grams and its<strong> long wing feathers</strong> help it fly long distances.</li>
<li>Warblers are generally <strong>difficult to identify owing to the small size and change in plumage twice a year.</strong> They are also the <strong>most difficult groups of birds to identify</strong> in the field for their<strong> striking resemblance to each other.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Threats:</strong> The species is affected by <strong><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/unccd-drought-tool-box" target="_blank" rel="noopener">drought</a></strong> <strong>conditions in its wintering quarters</strong> and <strong>habitat alterations</strong> due to human population expansion.</li>
<li><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/iucn-red-list" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>IUCN Red List</strong></a>: Least Concern.</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/kerala/willow-warbler-sighted-for-the-first-time-in-country/article33136122.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/willow-warbler'
	],
	(int) 7 => [
		'title' => 'Supercomputer Param Siddhi',
		'catname' => 'News Analysis',
		'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>India&rsquo;s <a href="/loksabha-rajyasabha-discussions/in-depth-artificial-intelligence" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Artificial Intelligence</strong> </a>(AI) supercomputer <strong>Param Siddhi</strong> ranked<strong> 63<sup>rd</sup> among top 500</strong> most powerful <strong>non-distributed computer systems</strong> in the world.</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Distributed computing</strong> is a field of computer science that studies distributed systems. A distributed system is a system whose <strong>components are located on different networked computers,</strong> which <strong>communicate and coordinate</strong> their actions by passing messages to one another. The components interact with one another in order to achieve a common goal.</li>
<li>In a<strong> non-distributed</strong> (or co-located) system, <strong>all the parts of the system</strong> are in the <strong>same physical location.</strong> In a distributed system, parts of the system exist in separate locations.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Param Siddhi</strong> is a High Performance Computing-Artificial Intelligence (HPC-AI) supercomputer developed by <strong>Department of Science and Technology (DST), Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY)</strong> under <a href="/to-the-points/paper3/national-supercomputer-mission" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>National Supercomputing Mission (NSM)</strong> </a>at <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/jatan-virtual-museum-software" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Centre for Development of Advanced Computing.</strong> </a></li>
<li>The supercomputer has <strong>Rpeak</strong> of <strong>5.267 Petaflops and 4.6 Petaflops Rmax.</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>In high-performance computing, <strong>Rmax and Rpeak</strong> are scores used to rank supercomputers based on their performance using the <strong>LINPACK Benchmark.</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>The <strong>LINPACK Benchmarks</strong> are a measure of a system's floating point computing power.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>A system's Rmax score describes its <strong>maximal achieved performance,</strong> the Rpeak score describes its<strong> theoretical peak performance.</strong> Values for both scores are usually represented in teraFLOPS or petaFLOPS.</li>
<li>A <strong>petaflop</strong> is the ability of a computer to do <strong>one quadrillion floating point operations per second (FLOPS).</strong> Additionally, a petaflop can be measured as one thousand teraflops.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>National Supercomputing Mission</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The Mission envisages empowering our national academic and Research and Development (R&amp;D) institutions spread over the country by installing a <strong>vast supercomputing grid</strong> comprising more than <strong>70 high-performance computing facilities.</strong></li>
<li>Launched in 2015, this seven-year mission was allocated Rs 4,500-crore.</li>
<li>These supercomputers will also be networked on the National Supercomputing grid over the <strong>National Knowledge Network</strong> (NKN). <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The NKN is another programme of the government which connects academic institutions and R&amp;D labs over a<strong> high speed network.</strong></li>
<li>Academic and R&amp;D institutions as well as key user departments/ministries would participate by using these facilities and develop applications of national relevance.</li>
<li>The Mission also includes development of highly professional <strong>High Performance Computing</strong> (HPC) aware human resource for meeting challenges of development of these applications.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>The Mission is implemented and steered jointly by the <strong>Department of Science and Technology (DST)</strong> and <strong>Department of Electronics and Information Technology (DeitY).</strong></li>
<li>The (C-DAC) has recently launched the <strong>second phase</strong> of this project wherein more institutions will be supported by supercomputing facilities.</li>
<li><strong>Objective of NSM</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>To make India one of the world leaders in Supercomputing and to enhance India&rsquo;s capability in solving grand challenge problems of national and global relevance</li>
<li>To empower our scientists and researchers with state-of-the-art supercomputing facilities and enable them to carry out cutting-edge research in their respective domains</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</div>
<p><a href="https://pib.gov.in/PressReleseDetailm.aspx?PRID=1673715" 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/supercomputer-param-siddhi'
	],
	(int) 8 => [
		'title' => 'India-Luxembourg Virtual Summit',
		'catname' => 'News Analysis',
		'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>Recently, the <strong>Prime Ministers of India</strong> and the <strong>Grand Duchy of Luxembourg</strong> have held the <strong>first-ever India-Luxembourg Virtual Summit.</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Both countries have cordial and friendly relations for over more than seven decades since the <strong>establishment of diplomatic relations in 1948.</strong></li>
</ul>
<p><a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1605863409_image1.gif" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1605863409_image1.gif" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="400" caption="false" /></strong></a></p>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Focus Areas:</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Strengthening <strong>India-Luxembourg relationship in the post-<a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/coronavirus-disease-named-covid-19" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Covid-19</a> world,</strong> especially in the areas of financial technology, green financing, space applications, digital innovations and start-ups.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Promote Multilateralism:</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Strengthen cooperation on realising<strong> effective multilateralism and combating global challenges</strong> like the Covid-19 <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/covid-19-now-pandemic-who" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>pandemic</strong></a>, terrorism and climate change.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>New Initiatives:</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>India welcomed <strong>Luxembourg&rsquo;s announcement to join the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/third-assembly-of-isa" target="_blank" rel="noopener">International Solar Alliance</a></strong> (ISA), and also invited it to join the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/coalition-for-disaster-resilient-infrastructure" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Coalition for Disaster Resilient Infrastructure</strong> </a>(CDRI).</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Agreements Signed at the Summit:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between <strong>India International Exchange (India INX)</strong> and <strong>Luxembourg Stock Exchange.</strong></li>
<li>MoU between State Bank of India (SBI) and Luxembourg Stock Exchange.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Both these provide for cooperation in financial services, industry maintenance of orderly markets in securities, ESG (environmental, social and governance) and green finance in the local market.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>MoU between <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/invest-india-business-immunity-platform" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Invest India</strong> </a>and <strong>Luxinnovation.</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>It provides for support and development of mutual business cooperation, including promotion and facilitation of inbound FDI, coming from or proposed by Indian and Luxembourgish investors.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>India-Luxembourg Relations</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Economic Relationship:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Both countries have a <strong>long-standing cooperation in the steel</strong> sector and the leaders called upon businesses, including SMEs and startups, to <strong>explore further opportunities</strong> for expanding the economic relationship.</li>
<li>Both nations look forward to the<strong> 17<sup>th</sup> Joint Economic Commission</strong> (JEC) between <strong>India and the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/india-and-belgium-luxembourg-economic-union" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Belgium-Luxembourg Economic Union</a></strong> to review the economic and trade relations.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Finance:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The<strong> proposed agreement</strong> between the regulatory authorities <strong>Commission de Surveillance du Secteur Financier</strong> (CSSF) and 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</strong> </a>(SEBI) would deepen bilateral cooperation in the financial sector.</li>
<li>Luxembourg, as a <strong>leading international financial centre in Europe,</strong> can <strong>act as an important bridge</strong> to help connect India&rsquo;s financial services industry with international markets and reach European and global investors.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Space and Digital Cooperation:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Both countries have an <strong>ongoing space cooperation,</strong> including in the domain of <strong>satellite broadcasting and communications.</strong></li>
<li><strong>Luxembourg based space companies</strong> have <strong>started utilising the services of India</strong> for launching their satellites into space.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>In November 2020, <a href="/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-national-institutions/indian-space-research-organisation-isro" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Indian Space Research Organisation</strong> </a>(ISRO)<strong> launched the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/earth-observation-satellite-eos-01-isro" target="_blank" rel="noopener">PSLV-C49 mission</a></strong>, which included 4 satellites from Luxembourg.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>A <strong>cooperation instrument in the area of exploration and <a href="/current-affairs-news-analysis-editorials/news-editorials/29-03-2019#:~:text=Global%20Rules%20and%20demands%20related%20to%20Space&amp;text=There%20are%20international%20treaties%20governing,be%20exploited%20for%20peaceful%20purposes.&amp;text=India%20is%20a%20party%20to%20the%20Outer%20Space%20Treaty." target="_blank" rel="noopener">use of outer space</a> for peaceful purposes</strong> is currently under discussion between the two Governments.</li>
<li>In the wake of the<strong> pandemic,</strong> both India and Luxembourg are <strong>promoting digitalisation</strong> through the<a href="/loksabha-rajyasabha-discussions/in-depth-digital-india" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong> "Digital India&rdquo;</strong></a> programme and the <strong>"Digital Luxembourg&rdquo;</strong> initiative respectively and agree to explore convergences between the two initiatives.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Higher Education and Research:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Indian National Brain Research Centre</strong> and the <strong>Luxembourg Institute of Health</strong> and the<strong> Luxembourg Centre for Systems Biomedicine</strong> have an ongoing collaboration in the field of <strong>neurodegenerative diseases.</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Neurodegenerative diseases are a heterogeneous group of <strong>disorders that are characterised by the progressive degeneration of the structure and function of the central nervous system or peripheral nervous system.</strong></li>
<li>Examples: <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/preventive-methods-for-alzheimers" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Alzheimer's disease</strong> </a>and <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/z-scan-method-for-parkinson-s-disease#:~:text=Parkinson's%20disease%20is%20a%20chronic,the%20brain%20to%20the%20body." target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Parkinson's disease.</strong></a></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>IITs</strong> in Bombay, Kanpur and Madras and the <strong>National Law School of India</strong> have <strong>links</strong> with the <strong>University of Luxembourg</strong> which will be <strong>further expanded</strong> for higher education and research in both countries.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Culture and People-to-people Ties:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>In 2019,<strong> Luxembourg</strong> issued a<strong> commemorative stamp to mark the 150<sup>th</sup> Birth Anniversary of <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/mahatma-gandhi-jayanti#:~:text=2nd%20October%202020%20was,of%20the%20Nation%20%2D%20Mahatma%20Gandhi." target="_blank" rel="noopener">Mahatma Gandhi</a>.</strong></li>
<li>Both countries intend to <strong>conclude a Migration and Mobility agreement</strong> to further strengthen mobility as well as an <strong>agreement on an exemption of visas</strong> for holders of diplomatic and official/service passports.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>EU-India Relations:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>In <strong>July 2020,</strong> a <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/india-eu-virtual-summit#:~:text=Recently%2C%20India%20and%20the%20European,that%20define%20their%20bilateral%20ties." target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>virtual summit between India and the European Union</strong></a> (EU) was held, where India expressed support for further intensification of the India-EU relationship, through strengthening cooperation in areas of common interest in the <a href="/loksabha-rajyasabha-discussions/the-big-picture-indo-pacific-strategic-importance" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Indo-Pacific region</strong></a>, and through comprehensive, sustainable and rules-based connectivity.</li>
<li><strong>Luxembourg,</strong> as <strong>one of the founding members of the EU,</strong> has<strong> played a constructive role</strong> in supporting stronger India-EU ties, which becomes even more important for the <strong>post-Covid-19 economic recovery.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Multilateral Cooperation:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Luxembourg <strong>welcomed <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/elections-for-non-permanent-members-of-the-unsc#:~:text=Key%20Points,129%20votes)%20to%20be%20confirmed.&amp;text=This%20would%20be%20India's%20eighth,will%20begin%20from%20January%202021." target="_blank" rel="noopener">India&rsquo;s election to a non-permanent seat</a></strong> in the <strong>UN Security Council</strong> for the term 2021-2022 and reiterated its <strong>support for the reforms in the UN Security Council,</strong> including its expansion in both categories of permanent and non-permanent membership. It <strong>supports <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/india-permanent-seat-in-unsc" target="_blank" rel="noopener">India&rsquo;s candidature for the permanent membership</a></strong> of the UN Security Council.</li>
<li>Luxembourg supported India&rsquo;s entry into the <a href="/to-the-points/Paper2/multilateral-export-control-regimes" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Missile Technology Control Regime</strong></a> (MTCR) and India&rsquo;s participation in the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/india-s-nsg-bid" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Nuclear Suppliers Group</strong> </a>(NSG).</li>
<li>India supports <strong>Luxembourg&rsquo;s candidatures to the <a href="/daily-news-editorials/the-relevance-of-unhrc" target="_blank" rel="noopener">UN Human Rights Council</a></strong> for the term 2022-2024.</li>
<li>Both <strong>condemn <a href="/loksabha-rajyasabha-discussions/the-big-picture-international-convention-on-terrorism" target="_blank" rel="noopener">terrorism</a> in all its forms and manifestations</strong> and agree on the need for continued cooperation to support international efforts at the UN and at forums like the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/financial-action-task-force-1" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Financial Action Task Force</strong> </a>(FATF) to prevent and combat terrorism.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Way Forward</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The <strong>first stand-alone Summit between India and Luxembourg</strong> in the past two decades marks a new phase in the bilateral relations where both countries reaffirmed their commitment towards widening and deepening the spectrum of the bilateral relations and enhancing consultation and coordination in regional and multilateral fora on matters of mutual and global interest.</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=1674160" 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-luxembourg-virtual-summit'
	],
	(int) 9 => [
		'title' => 'NDB Loan to India',
		'catname' => 'News Analysis',
		'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>Recently, a <strong>500-million dollar</strong> loan agreement was signed between the <strong>Union government, the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs, National Capital Region (NCR) Transport Corporation Limited</strong> and the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/5th-annual-meeting-of-ndb" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>New Development Bank (NDB)</strong></a> for the <strong>Delhi-Ghaziabad-Meerut Regional Rapid Transit System (RRTS).</strong></p>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Delhi-Ghaziabad-Meerut Regional Rapid Transit System.</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>It is an<strong> 82.15 km long,</strong> under-construction, semi-high speed rail corridor connecting <strong>Delhi-Ghaziabad-Meerut.</strong></li>
<li>It is one of the three rapid-rail corridors planned under Phase-I of Regional Rapid Transport System (RRTS) project of <strong>National Capital Region Transport Corporation (NCRTC).</strong></li>
<li><strong>Benefits:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>The Project will provide a <strong>fast, reliable, safe and comfortable</strong> public transport system in the NCR.</li>
<li>The project will serve as a <strong>demonstration</strong> for developing high-capacity rapid urban transit corridors in other urban areas of India.</li>
<li>High-speed connectivity will result in <strong>balanced economic development</strong> across the region, leading to economic benefits to all strata of society and many nodes of development rather than all economic activity happening at one place.</li>
<li>It will help in reducing<strong> traffic congestion and total emissions</strong> from the transport sector in NCR.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Other Contributors:</strong> The total project cost is estimated at<strong> 3,749 million dollars,</strong> which will be financed by the <strong>NDB, <a href="/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-international-institution/asian-infrastructure-investment-bank" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB)</a>, <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/-1-5-billion-adb-loan-to-india" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Asian Development Bank (ADB)</a>, Japan Fund for Poverty Reduction,</strong> government and other sources.</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>New Development Bank</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>It is a <strong>multilateral development bank</strong> jointly founded by the <a href="/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-international-institution/brics-1" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>BRICS</strong></a> countries (Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa) at the 6<sup>th</sup> BRICS Summit in Fortaleza, Brazil in 2014.</li>
<li>It was formed to <strong>support infrastructure and sustainable development</strong> efforts in BRICS and other underserved, emerging economies for faster development through innovation and cutting-edge technology.</li>
<li>It is headquartered at<strong> Shanghai, China.</strong></li>
<li>In 2018, the NDB received observer status in the <a href="/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-international-institution/united-nations-1" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>United Nations</strong></a> General Assembly, establishing a firm basis for active and fruitful cooperation with the United Nations.</li>
</ul>
</div>
<p><a href="https://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/Delhi/centre-inks-500-million-loan-deal-with-ndb-for-rrts-project/article33136353.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/ndb-loan-to-india'
	],
	(int) 10 => [
		'title' => 'Paternity Leave',
		'catname' => 'News Editorials',
		'desc' => '<div class="border">
<p>This article is based on <a href="https://indianexpress.com/article/opinion/editorials/virat-kohli-paternity-leave-7056480/" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>&ldquo;Papa don&rsquo;t leave&rdquo;</strong></a> which was published in The Indian Express on 19/11/2020. It talks about the idea of paternity leave and the advantages associated with it.</p>
</div>
<p>Recently, the Captain of the Indian cricket team has asked for and was granted, paternity leave in the middle of a competitive Test series against Australia. <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/maternity-leave-government-for-incentive-scheme" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Paternity leave</strong></a> is about giving fathers the right to take paid time off work following the birth (or adoption) of a child.</p>
<p>This is an important development in the context of gender discrimination at the workplace, but it will also have broader implications on the patriarchal mindset of Indian society.</p>
<h3>Need For Paternity Leave</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Patriarchal Society:</strong> The culture of toxic masculinity that prevails in Indian society results in hesitancy and some amount of ridicule in doing what Indian men think is &lsquo;women&rsquo;s work&rsquo;.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Indian society continues to see men as the &lsquo;breadwinner&rsquo; and women as the &lsquo;homemaker&rsquo;.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Gender Gap in Labour Laws:</strong> There is no proper legislation for paternity benefits. The only provision that exists in India gives 15 days leave for the father, as opposed to a maximum of 26 weeks or 182 days for the mother.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The number of days given to the mother can be partly justified by the physical healing the body needs after childbirth.</li>
<li>However, the vast gap that exists between these two policies exposes the possible mindset that went into making them.</li>
<li>The father need not stay at home as much as the mother must, as the mother is expected to carry the child-rearing responsibilities.</li>
<li>In this manner, legal policies are reinforcing societal biases.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Note:</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/maternity-benefits-and-workplace-equality-in-india" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Maternity Benefit (Amendment) Act, 2017</strong></a> allows for pregnant women to take leave for a total of 26 weeks out of which up to 8 weeks can be claimed before delivery.</li>
<li>The woman is also supposed to get paid a benefit at the rate of her daily wage for three months before she goes on maternity leave.</li>
</ul>
</div>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Dual Burden on Women:</strong> Making maternity leaves as the only parental leave option in a company doesn&rsquo;t really bridge the gap between the domestic and the public; instead, it restricts the two even more strongly.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The indirect implications are that women are supposed to not only juggle both work and home life but also return to home life for fulfilling the &lsquo;nurturing&rsquo; role.</li>
<li>The time-use survey report released last month by the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/restructuring-of-indian-statistical-system" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>National Sample Survey Office (NSSO)</strong></a> shows that Indian women spend nearly four hours more on unpaid work than men, with grim consequences for women&rsquo;s participation in the workforce.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Changing Trends</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Suo-Moto Action:</strong> Several private companies, too, offer paternity leave, without the prodding of legislation. For example, last year, Zomato rolled out 26 weeks of paid paternity leave for employees who become new fathers.</li>
<li><strong>International Scenario:</strong> In Britain, Sweden and Norway, parents are granted about a year of paid parental leave to tend to their newborns during that particularly crucial and difficult period.</li>
<li><strong>Impact of Covid-19 Pandemic:</strong> By integrating the home and the workplace (Work from Home scenario), the Covid-19 pandemic has underlined the extent to which the invisible labour is done by women at home.</li>
<li><strong>Indian Scenario:</strong> Four years ago, the Ministry of women and child development had pitched for the idea of legislating for paternity leave in the organised sector.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Advantages of Paternity Leave</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Debunking Patriarchy:</strong> Paternity leave &ndash; and especially longer leaves of several weeks or months &ndash; can promote parent-child bonding, improve outcomes for children, and even increase gender equity at home and at the workplace.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Further, when fathers are more engaged in raising children, they may become more aware of the challenges associated with it. This, in turn, may lead to a relationship which is compassionate and understanding.</li>
<li>This could be one of the first steps towards achieving a more egalitarian view in society and debunk patriarchy.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Check Declining Women Labour Force Participation:</strong> Due to the societal sexism, women are often missing out on these critical years of work once being pressured into staying home with their children.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The years that women generally have children, between the ages of 25 and 35, are when people tend to begin making serious progress in their careers.</li>
<li>Therefore, if paternity leaves are normalised, and men actively start taking up the responsibility of child care, would check the declining women labour force participation rate.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Conclusion</h3>
<p>The battle against this deep-grained sexist skew in work and labour is a long haul. But the idea of official paternity leave &mdash; if endorsed by governments and private companies &mdash; takes a minimum first step in acknowledging that parenting and childcare is the shared responsibility of men and women.</p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1605788522_image%200.png" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1605788522_image 0.png" caption="false" width="600" height="366" /></a></p>
<table border="1" style="border-collapse: collapse; width: 100%;">
<tbody>
<tr>
<td style="width: 100%; border-style: dotted; border-color: #ff0000; background-color: #fffdf7;">
<p><span style="color: #333399;"><em><strong>Drishti Mains Question</strong></em></span></p>
<p>Paternity leave is an idea whose time has come, for both Indian men and women. Discuss.</p>
</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<p style="text-align: center;"><iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/hqXPIGumW80" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe></p>
<p>This editorial is based on <a href="https://www.thehindu.com/opinion/editorial/fragile-ceasefire/article33119969.ece" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>&ldquo;Fragile ceasefire: on Armenia&ndash;Azerbaijan clashes&rdquo;</strong></a> which was published in The Hindu on November 18<sup>th</sup>, 2020. Now watch this on our Youtube channel.</p>',
		'postdate' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenTime) {},
		'url' => 'https://www.drishtiias.com/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/paternity-leave'
	],
	(int) 11 => [
		'title' => 'Guillain Barre Syndrome',
		'catname' => 'News Analysis',
		'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>Some patients infected with <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/covid-19-now-pandemic-who" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Covid-19</strong></a> have been found suffering from <strong>Guillain Barre Syndrome (GBS).</strong></p>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Guillain Barre Syndrome:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>It is a very <strong>rare autoimmune disorder</strong> in which the patient's immune system <strong>attacks nerves.</strong></li>
<li>The<strong> exact cause</strong> of Guillain-Barre syndrome is<strong> unknown,</strong> but as per the<a href="/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-international-institution/world-health-organization-who" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong> World Health Organisation (WHO)</strong></a>, GBS is often preceded by an infection. This could be a <strong>bacterial or viral infection.</strong> It may also be triggered by<strong> vaccine administration </strong>or<strong> surgery.</strong></li>
<li>In the past, patients of <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/coronaviruses" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Middle East respiratory syndrome (MERS)</strong></a>, <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/genetically-modified-aedes-aegypti" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Zika virus</strong></a>, <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/new-subtype-of-hiv-discovered" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV)</strong></a>, Herpes virus and Campylobacter jejuni have shown symptoms of GBS.</li>
<li><strong>Link with Covid-19:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>The immune system, in an attempt to kill the coronavirus, accidentally starts attacking its own <strong>peripheral nervous system.</strong></li>
<li>The<strong> peripheral nervous system</strong> is a network of nerves that lead from the brain and spinal cord (i.e. central nervous system) to different parts of the body. Attacking them can <strong>affect limb functions.</strong></li>
<li>An interval of <strong>5-10 days</strong> is noticed between<strong> onset of GBS symptoms and Covid-19 infection,</strong> but some doctors say it can also take weeks after Covid-19 infection for a person to develop GBS.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Symptoms:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Weakness or tingling sensations, which usually start in the legs, and can spread to the arms and face.</li>
<li>Difficulty with facial movements, including speaking, chewing or swallowing.</li>
<li>Double vision, rapid heart rate, low or high blood pressure.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Complication:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>There could be <strong>respiratory failure</strong> as the worst outcome, or weakness and effect on walking and limb movement.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Treatment:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG).</li>
<li><strong>Plasma therapy.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Campylobacter jejuni</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Campylobacteriosis is an infection by the <strong>Campylobacter bacteria.</strong> It is more commonly known as C. jejuni. It is among the most common bacterial infections of humans, often a foodborne illness. It produces bloody diarrhea or dysentery syndrome, mostly including cramps, fever and pain.</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>Herpes Virus</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Herpes results from infection with the herpes simplex virus (HSV). It causes<strong> sores or blisters</strong> to form in or around the<strong> mouth or genitals,</strong> as well as other symptoms such as fever and fatigue.</li>
</ul>
</div>
<p><a href="https://indianexpress.com/article/explained/explained-what-is-the-guillain-barre-syndrome-some-covid-19-patients-develop-7056256/" 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/guillain-barre-syndrome'
	],
	(int) 12 => [
		'title' => 'Deemed Forests in Karnataka',
		'catname' => 'News Analysis',
		'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>Recently, <strong>Karnataka</strong> has announced that it would <strong>declassify 6.64 lakh hectares</strong> (nearly 67%) of the 9.94 lakh hectares of <strong>deemed forests</strong> in the state and hand it over to Revenue authorities.</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The issue of deemed forests is a contentious one in Karnataka, with legislators across party lines often <strong>alleging that large amounts of agriculture and non-forest land are &ldquo;unscientifically&rdquo; classified</strong> as such.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Definition of Deemed Forests:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Deemed forests, <strong>comprising about 1% of India&rsquo;s forest land,</strong> are a controversial subject as they <strong>refer to land tracts that appear to be a &ldquo;forest&rdquo;, but have not been notified so by the government or in historical records.</strong></li>
<li>The concept of deemed forests <strong>has not even been clearly defined in any law</strong> including the <a href="/to-the-points/Paper2/indian-forest-act-1927" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Forest Conservation Act 1980.</strong></a></li>
<li>In the<strong><em> T N Godavarman Thirumalpad case 1996,</em></strong> the <a href="/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-national-institutions/supreme-court-of-india" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Supreme Court</strong></a> (SC) accepted a <strong>wide definition of forests</strong> under the Act and held that the word &lsquo;forest&rsquo; must be<strong> understood according to its dictionary meaning.</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>This description <strong>covers all statutorily recognised forests,</strong> whether designated as reserved, protected or otherwise for the purpose of <strong>Section 2 (1) of the Act</strong> and also includes any <strong>areas recorded as forest in the government record irrespective of the ownership.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>The <strong>provisions for the conservation of forest and the matters connected therewith applies clearly to all forests</strong> irrespective of the ownership or classification.</li>
<li>The <strong>freedom to define which tracts of forest</strong> qualify as forest has been the <strong>prerogative of States since 1996.</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>However, this<strong> only applies to forest land</strong> that has not already been historically classified as &ldquo;forest&rdquo; in revenue records, or categorised so by the government as &ldquo;protected&rdquo; or &ldquo;reserve forest&rdquo;.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Deemed Forests in Karnataka:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Areas Included:</strong> An expert committee constituted by the state government<strong> identified &lsquo;deemed forests&rsquo; as:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Land having the characteristic of forests irrespective of the ownership.</li>
<li>Thickly wooded areas of the Revenue Department, not handed over to the Forest Department.</li>
<li>Thickly wooded areas recommended to be handed over to the Forest Department.</li>
<li>Thickly wooded land distributed to grantees but not cultivated.</li>
<li>Thickly wooded plantations of the Forest Department.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Land Coverage:</strong> The <strong>expert committee reports in 1997 and 2002</strong> identified 43.18 lakh hectares of forest land for conservation in Karnataka, which included 33.23 lakh hectares notified forest area as per forest records and 9.94 lakh hectares &lsquo;deemed forests&rsquo;.</li>
<li><strong>Issue of Contention:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>In <strong>2014,</strong> the government<strong> relooked at the categorisation of forests</strong> and found that some of the &lsquo;statutory forests&rsquo; had been <strong>wrongly classified</strong> as &lsquo;deemed forest&rsquo;.</li>
<li>It also held that a <strong>well-defined scientific, verifiable criterion was not used</strong> while applying the dictionary definition which <strong>resulted in a subjective classification</strong> of areas as deemed forests.</li>
<li>The subjective classification, in turn, resulted in <strong>conflicts between the Forest Department and other departments</strong> like Revenue, Irrigation, Public Works and Energy.</li>
<li>The random classification caused <strong>hardship to farmers</strong> in some areas and there is also a <strong>commercial demand for mining in some regions</strong> designated as deemed forests.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Revised Coverage:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Later, newly formed committees identified 5.18 lakh hectares of deemed forest land that could be released from the total area.</li>
<li>After a<strong> recent study of the actual extent of deemed forest areas,</strong> the amount of deemed forest land to be released has been <strong>revised to 6.64 lakh hectares.</strong></li>
<li>In <strong>2019,</strong> the <strong>state had filed an interim application</strong> in the SC for the exclusion of the revised area but the <strong>Court did not pass an order</strong> on the application.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Forest and Tree Resources in Karnataka</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Total Forest cover:</strong> 20.11%, according to the <a href="/summary-of-important-reports/india-state-of-forest-report-2019" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>India State of Forest Report 2019</strong></a>, the<strong> 16<sup>th</sup> biennial assessment of India&rsquo;s forests</strong> by <strong>Forest Survey of India</strong> (FSI).<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>FSI is an organisation <strong>under the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change</strong> (MoEFCC).</li>
<li>It undertakes <strong>National Forest Inventory</strong> to assess the growing stock in forests and Tree Outside Forest (TOF), bamboo resource, carbon stock and to assess the dependence of the people living in Forest Fringe Villages for fuelwood, fodder, small timber and bamboo.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Physiographically,</strong> the state can be divided into two distinct regions:<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Hilly region</strong> <em>(Malnad)</em>: comprising the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/ecologically-sensitive-areas-in-western-ghats" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Western Ghats.</strong></a></li>
<li><strong>Plain region</strong> <em>(Maidan)</em>: comprising the inland plateau.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>The<strong> evergreen forests</strong> of the Western Ghats cover about 60% of the forest area of the State and are recognised as<strong> one of the four <a href="/current-affairs-news-analysis-editorials/news-analysis/26-11-2018" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Biodiversity Hotspots of India.</a></strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Other three biodiversity hotspots are the <strong>Himalayas, Areas under Indo-Burma and Sundalands.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Protected Area Network of the State:</strong> 5 National Parks (Anshi,<a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/waterholes-revival-in-bandipur-tiger-reserve" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong> Bandipur</strong></a>, Bannerghatta, Kudremukh, Nagarahole) 30 Wildlife Sanctuaries, 15 Conservation Reserves.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Karnataka supports about 10% of the total <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/tiger-census-2018-guinness-book-of-world-records" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>tiger</strong> </a>population and 25% of the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/world-elephant-day-1" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>elephant</strong> </a>population of the country.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</div>
<p><a href="https://indianexpress.com/article/explained/what-are-deemed-forests-and-why-karnataka-wants-to-declassify-some-7056577/" 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/deemed-forests-in-karnataka'
	],
	(int) 13 => [
		'title' => 'FFC Recommendations for Health Sector',
		'catname' => 'News Analysis',
		'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>The <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/j-k-and-15th-finance-commission#:~:text=The%2015th%20Finance%20Commission,April%202020%20to%20March%202025." target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Fifteenth Finance Commission (FFC)</strong></a> has made <strong>recommendations</strong> about the need for<strong> reprioritising public spending to fix the creaky health infrastructure</strong> exposed by the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/covid-19-now-pandemic-who" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>coronavirus pandemic.</strong></a></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>FFC has <strong>submitted its report to the President</strong> advising how to share tax revenues with states for the Financial Year (FY) 2022-26 period.</li>
<li>The FFC report also makes <strong>recommendations about performance incentives to states</strong> in several reform areas.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Recommendations:</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>FFC has mooted a <strong>greater role for public-private partnerships (PPPs)</strong> to ramp up the health infrastructure and scale up <strong>public spending on health</strong> from <strong>0.95% of GDP to 2.5% by 2024.</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>While <strong>public outlays should focus on primary health care</strong> at the panchayat and municipality level, <strong>private players</strong> should be relied on for <strong>specialty healthcare.</strong></li>
<li>The<strong> total spending of around 0.95% of GDP</strong> is<strong> not adequate</strong> in relation to the commitments under the <strong>National Health Policy of 2017.</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>The 2017 Policy proposes raising public health expenditure to 2.5% of the GDP in a time-bound manner.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>There is a need for a <strong>more holistic approach to encouraging PPP</strong> in the health sector. There should be a<strong> constant working relationship</strong> and the government <strong>should not resort to the private sector in the case of an emergency only.</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>The <strong>trust deficit</strong> that exists between industry and government needs to be bridged.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>District hospitals</strong> can become<strong> great grounds</strong> for training paramedics, creating health and employment multipliers.</li>
<li>FFC Chairman emphasised on the need to create <strong>a cadre for medical officers</strong> as mentioned in the <strong>All India Services Act 1951.</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li><strong>All-India health service</strong> is needed to address issues within the health sector.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>There is a need for <strong>substantial improvements in the working conditions for doctors</strong> in government hospitals, many of whom are hired on a contract basis by States.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Issues in the Health Sector:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>India&rsquo;s general <strong>government expenditure</strong> on healthcare as a percent of GDP was <strong>just 1.0% in 2017,</strong> according to the <a href="/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-international-institution/world-health-organization-who" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>World Health Organisation (WHO)</strong></a> data, placing it at number <strong>165 out of 186 countries</strong> in terms of government expenditure on healthcare.</li>
<li><strong>Skewed availability of healthcare</strong> across India as poorer States have the worst facilities.</li>
<li>In terms of<strong> access and quality</strong> of health services, <strong>India was ranked 145 out of 195 countries</strong> in a Lancet study published in 2018, below countries like China (48), Sri Lanka (71) Bhutan (134) and Bangladesh (132).</li>
<li><strong>Availability of trained epidemiologists</strong> is an issue due to low salary and job insecurity in the health system.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>There should be one epidemiologist per 0.2 million population. An epidemiologist is a technical person to guide and monitor the process of contact-tracing, marking containment zones and isolating suspected cases.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>India&rsquo;s expenditure on R&amp;D</strong> as a percent of GDP has continued to remain stagnant at 0.7% of GDP for three decades, with the public sector accounting for 51.8% of national R&amp;D expenditure. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>This compares to around 2.8% of GDP for the USA, 2.1% of GDP for China, 4.4% of GDP for Korea and around 3% for Germany where the dominant sector by spending on R&amp;D is the private sector.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1605773412_image1.png" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1605773412_image1.png" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" caption="false" width="500" height="401" /></a></p>
<h3>Recent Initiatives</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Recently, the government has <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/financial-support-to-public-private-partnerships-in-infrastructure#:~:text=Viability%20Gap%20Funding%20(VGF)%20means,fall%20short%20of%20financial%20viability.&amp;text=The%20Viability%20Gap%20Funding%20(VGF)%20provided%20for%20economic%20infrastructure%20will,be%20extended%20to%20social%20infrastructure." target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>expanded the provision</strong></a> <strong>of financial support by means of viability gap funding for Public Private Partnerships (PPPs)</strong> in infrastructure projects to social sectors such as health, education, water and waste treatment.</li>
<li>Several <strong>public-private partnerships</strong> and collaborations are already underway. The <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/drdo-develops-ventilators" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO)</strong></a> which has developed ventilators, collaborated with industry to scale up production of ventilators.</li>
<li>There have been <strong>several examples</strong> of how public research laboratories, public institutions like the IITs, and private players including startups have risen to the challenge of working on Covid-19 testing kits, masks, alcohol-based sanitizers, personal protective equipment (PPEs) and ventilators, to overcome challenges of global supply chain disruptions and to cater to domestic needs.</li>
<li>The government has made several interventions in the health sector including <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/national-medical-commission-3" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>National Medical Commission</strong></a>, <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/national-digital-health-mission" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>National Digital Health Mission</strong></a>, <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/ayushmanbharat" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Ayushman Bharat</strong></a>, etc.</li>
<li>A total of <strong>17 Global Health Security Agenda (GHSA) projects</strong> have been started in India, with different government and private organisations.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>GHSA, set in 2014,<strong> builds on the WHO International Health Regulations (IHR)</strong> that provide guidance for countries to assess and manage serious health threats that have the potential to spread beyond borders.</li>
<li><strong>Capacity-building of the healthcare workers</strong> for surveillance and outbreak investigation is a vital step under workforce development of GHSA&rsquo;s action package.</li>
<li>One of the institutes responsible for workforce development under GHSA is the <strong>National Institute of Health and Family Welfare (NIHFW),</strong> that has implemented the <strong>&ldquo;Public Health Systems Capacity Building in India&rdquo;</strong> project.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/finance-panel-for-public-private-partnerships-to-ramp-up-health-infrastructure/article33126099.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/ffc-recommendations-for-health-sector'
	],
	(int) 14 => [
		'title' => 'Chapare Virus',
		'catname' => 'News Analysis',
		'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>Researchers from the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) have recently discovered a rare <strong>Ebola-like illness</strong> that is believed to have first originated in <strong>rural Bolivia</strong> in 2004.</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The virus is named Chapare after the province in which it was first observed.</li>
<li><strong>Chapare,</strong> is a rural province in the northern region of <strong>central Bolivia.</strong></li>
</ul>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>About:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Chapare Virus belongs to the same <strong>Arenavirus family</strong> that is responsible for illnesses such as the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/ebola-death-in-democratic-republic-of-congo" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Ebola virus disease (EVD)</strong></a>. It causes Chapare Hemorrhagic Fever (CHHF).</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Vector:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Chapare virus are generally<strong> carried by rats</strong> and can be transmitted through <strong>direct contact with the infected rodent, its urine and droppings, or through contact with an infected person.</strong></li>
<li>A disease vector is any agent which<strong> carries and transmits</strong> an infectious pathogen into another living organism.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Symptoms of Chapare Hemorrhagic Fever (CHHF):</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Hemorrhagic fever much like Ebola.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Viral hemorrhagic fevers are a severe and life-threatening kind of illness that can <strong>affect multiple organs and damage the walls of blood vessels.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>Abdominal pain,</li>
<li>Vomiting,</li>
<li>Bleeding gums,</li>
<li>Skin rash,</li>
<li>Pain behind the eyes.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Transmission:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Virus can spread from<strong> person to person.</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Chapare spreads only through <strong>direct contact</strong> with bodily fluids.</li>
<li><strong>Sexually transmission:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Researchers also found fragments of <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/novel-strain-of-coronavirus" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Ribonucleic acid (RNA)</strong></a> associated with Chapare, in the semen of one survivor <strong>168 days</strong> after he was infected.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Diagnosis:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Chapare virus is <strong>much more difficult</strong> to catch than the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/coronaviruses" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>coronavirus</strong></a> as it is <strong>not transmissible</strong> via the <strong>respiratory route.</strong> Instead, Chapare spreads only through direct contact with <strong>bodily fluids.</strong></li>
<li>New sequencing tools will help develop an <strong>RT-PCR test</strong> &mdash; much like the one used to diagnose <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/covid-19-now-pandemic-who" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Covid-19</strong></a> to help detect Chapare.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Treatment:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Since there are <strong>no specific drugs</strong> to treat the disease, patients generally receive <strong>supportive care</strong> such as intravenous fluids.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li><strong>Intravenous therapy</strong> is a medical technique that delivers a liquid directly into a person's vein. The intravenous route of administration is commonly used for rehydration solutions or to provide nutrition in those who cannot consume food or water by mouth.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>Maintenance of<strong> hydration.</strong></li>
<li>Management of shock through fluid resuscitation.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Fluid resuscitation is the medical practice of <strong>replenishing bodily fluid</strong> lost through sweating, bleeding, fluid shifts or other pathologic processes.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>Pain Relief Medicines</li>
<li>Transfusions as the supportive therapy that can be administered on patients.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>People at Risk:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The disease is also known to be most commonly transmitted in more<strong> tropical regions,</strong> particularly in certain parts of South America where the small-eared pygmy rice rat is commonly found.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Mortality Rate:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>As there are very few cases on record, the mortality and risk factors associated with the illness are <strong>relatively unknown.</strong></li>
<li>In the first known outbreak, the only confirmed case was fatal. In the second outbreak in 2019, three out of five documented cases were fatal <strong>(case-fatality rate of 60%).</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Recent Outbreak:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The recent biggest outbreak of the &lsquo;Chapare virus&rsquo; was reported in 2019, when three healthcare workers contracted the illness from two patients in the Bolivian capital of La Paz.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Ebola Virus Disease</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) or Ebola Hemorrhagic Fever (EHF),</strong> is a viral hemorrhagic fever of humans and other primates caused by ebolaviruses</li>
<li><strong>Transmission:</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Fruit bats</strong> of the Pteropodidae family are natural <strong>Ebola virus hosts.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Animal to human transmission:</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Ebola is introduced into the human population through <strong>close contact</strong> with the blood, secretions, organs or other <strong>bodily fluids of infected animals</strong> such as fruit bats, chimpanzees, etc.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Human-to-human transmission:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Ebola spreads via <strong>direct contact</strong> (through broken skin or mucous membranes) with:</li>
<li>Blood or body fluids of a person who is sick with or has died from Ebola.</li>
<li>Objects that have been contaminated with body fluids (like blood, feces, vomit) from a person sick with Ebola or the body of a person who died from Ebola.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Vaccines:</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>An experimental Ebola vaccine, called<strong> rVSV-ZEBOV</strong> proved highly protective against EVD.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</div>
<p><a href="https://indianexpress.com/article/explained/explained-all-about-the-rare-ebola-like-chapare-virus-that-can-spread-from-human-to-human-7055914/" 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/chapare-virus'
	],
	(int) 15 => [
		'title' => 'The Big Picture: 75 Years of UN',
		'catname' => 'Lok Sabha & Rajya Sabha Discussions',
		'desc' => '<p style="text-align: center;"><iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/v8xa4uh2Au0" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe></p>
<h3>Why in News?</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>On October 24, 2020 the United Nations marked its diamond jubilee.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Far from a joyous celebration, it was an occasion sombrely reflecting the stagnance of the UN at 75.</li>
<li>How it can regain its lost lustre is a matter of discussion.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Despite that the UN has gone through several improvements, the tussle between 'principle' and 'power' still remains the same.</li>
<li>The UN is for global governance and not a global government.</li>
<li>Though the organisation was designed to maintain a peaceful and just world, it still privileges the most powerful states.</li>
<li>The UN has seen successes as well as failures almost equally.</li>
<li>The United Nations must be sustained as there is no parallel organisation to it.</li>
</ul>
<h3>The United Nations</h3>
<p>Founded in 1945, the <a href="/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-international-institution/united-nations-1" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>United Nations</strong> </a>is an international organisation aimed at:</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Maintaining international peace and security</li>
<li>Protecting human rights</li>
<li>Delivering humanitarian aid</li>
<li>Promoting sustainable development</li>
<li>Upholding international law.</li>
</ul>
<p>The UN headquarters is located in New York, USA.</p>
<p><strong>UN's Success Areas</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Increment in the UN membership:</strong> Post- 1960's decolonisation, the membership of the UN expanded from about 50 members to double.</li>
<li><strong>Decolonisation:</strong> It was the UN which played the lead role in the 1960 decolonisation and helped around 80 colonies in gaining their freedom.</li>
<li><strong>Involvement with civil society:</strong> The UN is no more an organisation of nations only, more and more UN bodies have begun engaging with the people within the nations, experts, intellectuals and media with time.</li>
<li><strong>Better sustenance:</strong> The UN has successfully sustained itself till now, as compared to the <strong>League of Nations,</strong> which is an achievement.</li>
<li><strong>Peacekeeping:</strong> The UN has successfully prevented World War - III.</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>1960's Decolonisation</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>In 1960, the General Assembly adopted the Declaration on the Granting of Independence to Colonial Countries and Peoples (General Assembly resolution 1514 (XV)), known also as the <strong>Declaration on Decolonization.</strong></li>
<li>When the United Nations was established in 1945, 750 million people- almost a third of the world's population then lived in Territories that were non-self-governing, dependent on colonial Powers.</li>
<li>About 80 former colonies had gained their independence.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>At present, there are 17 only Non- Self- Governing Territories remaining and fewer than 2 million people live in such Territories.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>The League of Nations</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The League of Nations was an international diplomatic group developed after World War I as a way to solve disputes between countries before they erupted into open warfare.</li>
<li>It was established on 10 January, 1920 with its headquarter in <strong>Geneva, Switzerland.</strong></li>
<li>A precursor to the United Nations, the League achieved some victories but had a mixed record of success, sometimes putting self-interest before becoming involved with conflict resolution, while also contending with governments that did not recognize its authority.</li>
<li>The League effectively ceased operations during World War II (1946).</li>
</ul>
</div>
<p><strong>UN's Major Setbacks</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Arm races and Cold war:</strong> Although, the WW-III has been successfully prevented till date, violence, arm races, nuclear races and cold wars still occur among nations.</li>
<li><strong>Power suppressing principles:</strong> The world body still continues to see a tussle between &lsquo;principle&rsquo; and &lsquo;power&rsquo;.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>While the hopes of a peaceful and just world are represented by the UN, the most powerful states are privileged by granting them commanding heights over international politics via the undemocratic instruments of veto power and permanent seats in the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/un-security-council-1#:~:text=Its%20primary%20responsibility%20is%20to,China%20and%20the%20United%20Kingdom" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>UN Security Council</strong> </a>(UNSC).</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Not a multipolar organisation:</strong> The UN has been unable to present itself as a multipolar and multilateral organisation.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>At the time of formation, the UN had 5 permanent members with a total of 51 members, presently, it has 193 members but permanent members in the UN General Assembly are still 5.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Laggard in holistic growth:</strong> The organisation had not been able to cope up with the increasing globalisation.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The UN has been a laggard in overall development; no institutional arrangement is there to deal in particular with Pandemics or new technologies such as <a href="/loksabha-rajyasabha-discussions/in-depth-artificial-intelligence" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Artificial Intelligence.</strong></a></li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>The Significant Role of India</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>India and the UN:</strong> India is one of the founding members of the UN.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Since its independence and even before that,India has been an active participant in all initiatives undertaken by the UN like Millennium Development Goals, <a href="/to-the-points/paper3/sustainable-development-3" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Sustainable development goals</strong></a> and various UN summits, including on climate change.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Maintaining peace:</strong> As far as the peacekeeping ambit of the UN is concerned, India has performed quite well in maintaining peaceful and friendly relations with most of the nations.</li>
<li><strong>India and UNSC:</strong> India has been recently elected as a <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/elections-for-non-permanent-members-of-the-unsc" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>non permanent member of the UNSC</strong></a> and will be joining the latter from 1 January, 2021.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The non permanent membership of India can be taken as an opportunity to convince the like-minded nations for fighting international terrorism.</li>
<li>Moreover, India should also focus upon sitting upon the apex body in future; becoming a permanent member of the UN.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Raising concern over need of reforms:</strong> India has realised the urgent need of reforms in the UN specially at the UNSC and has raised concerns over the issue.</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>What can India do?</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Perseverance:</strong> India must persevere and be determined about its position rather than bringing it out only on occasions.</li>
<li><strong>Alliance:</strong> It should make other allied nations that have ties with India realise its value and the power they can all gather together once India gets a permanent seat at the Security council.</li>
<li><strong>Balance its international and internal responsibilities:</strong> India must also see the added pressure it might receive if it becomes a member on the Security council and not have to compromise with its own internal issues.</li>
<li><strong>Principles over power:</strong> India&rsquo;s tilt towards principles is what is appreciated and shall be continued to maintain its goodwill.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Way Forward</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Reforming the UN charter:</strong> The UN charter talks only about the rights but not duties and responsibilities. The duties and responsibilities at individual, community, global and national level need to be emphasised too.</li>
<li><strong>Reforms in the UNSC:</strong> The UNSC should be expanded in terms of its core members, only five permanent members with a total of 193 members does not provide justice to the others.</li>
<li><strong>A more multilateral organisation:</strong> The UN should engage strongly with multilateralism and harness the capabilities of all those who matter, not just the P5.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>What is needed is a multipolar and multilateral approach rather than autocracy of the P5 countries.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Choosing principles over power:</strong> If the principles are written by the most powerful states, then it cannot create any difference; the unequal and iniquitous structure will remain the same.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The salience of power is what is needed to be reduced.</li>
<li>This is where India can take up the lead and may start a dialogue with the like minded countries first about the same.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Judging the elements of power:</strong> It is needed to be looked upon what elements of power need to be appreciated- the crude, military power or the soft, economic power.</li>
<li><strong>Principles for the powerful too:</strong> The other members need to make sure that the powerful members are made to work within the framework of principles so the balance between the power and principle is maintained.</li>
<li><strong>Specialised agencies:</strong> The need for specialised agencies dealing with specific affairs such as Artificial Intelligence, Information Technology, Pandemics etc shall be looked and acted upon.</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>P5 Countries:</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The P5 refers to the UN Security Council's five permanent members; namely China, France, Russia, the United Kingdom, and the United States plus Germany (making it P5 +1).</li>
<li>The P5+1 is often referred to as the E3+3 by European countries.</li>
</ul>
</div>
<h3>Conclusion</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The UN has survived and thrived and has certainly seen incremental changes over the last 75 years but the time has come for the UN to change and change for the better.</li>
<li>UNSC is in desperate need to undergo reforms, the sooner the better, the later the more redundant.</li>
<li>In a nutshell, as far as the whole UN is concerned complete reform is needed with principles not to be written by the most powerful anymore.</li>
</ul>',
		'postdate' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenTime) {},
		'url' => 'https://www.drishtiias.com/loksabha-rajyasabha-discussions/the-big-picture-75-years-of-un'
	],
	(int) 16 => [
		'title' => 'Online Education Woes',
		'catname' => 'News Analysis',
		'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>A recent study by the <strong>Azim Premji University</strong> on the <strong>efficacy and accessibility</strong> of e-learning has highlighted various challenges involved in online education in the country.</p>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Student Specific Finding:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Reason for student&rsquo;s lack of accessibility to online classes:<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Non-availability or<strong> inadequate number of smartphones</strong> for dedicated use or sharing.</li>
<li>Difficulty in<strong> using apps</strong> for online learning.</li>
<li>Children with disabilities found it more difficult to participate in online sessions.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Parents Specific Findings:</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>90%</strong> of parents of government school students surveyed were <strong>willing to send their children back to school,</strong> if the health of their children was taken care of.</li>
<li><strong>70%</strong> of the parents surveyed were of the opinion that online classes <strong>were not effective</strong> and <strong>did not help</strong> in their child&rsquo;s learnings.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Teacher&rsquo;s Specific Findings:</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Teachers' main problem found during the online classes was the <strong>one-way communication,</strong> which made it <strong>difficult for them to assess</strong> whether students were able to understand what was being taught.</li>
<li>More than<strong> 80% of teachers</strong> surveyed said they were <strong>unable to maintain emotional connect</strong> with students during online classes, while <strong>90%</strong> of teachers felt that <strong>no meaningful assessment</strong> of children&rsquo;s learning was possible.</li>
<li>50% of the teachers reported that <strong>children were unable to complete assignments shared during the online classes,</strong> which had led to serious gaps in learning.</li>
<li>The survey also revealed that around 75% of the teachers spent, <strong>on an average, less than an hour a day on online classes</strong> for any grade.</li>
<li>Teachers also reported that they were <strong>ill-prepared for online learning platforms.</strong></li>
<li>More than half the teachers surveyed shared that their<strong> knowledge and user-experience</strong> on online platforms and modes of teaching were inadequate.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="https://www.thehindu.com/education/schools/study-highlights-online-education-woes/article33119515.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/online-education-woes'
	],
	(int) 17 => [
		'title' => 'Rural Non-Farm Sector',
		'catname' => 'News Editorials',
		'desc' => '<div class="border">
<p>This article is based on<a href="https://indianexpress.com/article/opinion/columns/agriculture-gdp-growth-economy-7055240/" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong> &ldquo;Spot the seeds of growth&rdquo;</strong></a> which was published in The Indian Express on 18/11/2020. It talks about the importance &amp; challenges of the rural non-farm sector in India.</p>
</div>
<p>Due to the economic downturn caused by Covid-19 pandemic, India&rsquo;s GDP contracted by 23.9 %. in the first quarter. However, a silver lining in this degrowth scenario can be noted as agriculture grew by 3.4%.</p>
<p>Despite green shoots, agriculture in India is ailing for a long time. It has been grappling with issues like fast depleting groundwater, soil degradation, fragmented markets, barely functioning agricultural extension services and speeding up of climate change.</p>
<p>It is due to these factors agriculture cannot overturn contraction in other sectors, but along with the non-farm rural sector, it could jump-start the economy. Apart from this, Non-Farm rural activities (livestock, fisheries and food processing, etc.) are advantageous in lifting the poor above the poverty line.</p>
<p>Therefore, it becomes imperative to identify the issues of the non-farm rural sector in India to focus on building strong growth links between the non-farm rural economy and agriculture.</p>
<h3>Importance of Rural Non-Farm Sector</h3>
<p>The non-farm sector, particularly in rural areas is being accorded wide recognition in recent years for the following reasons:</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Check on Unregulated Migration:</strong> A planned strategy of rural non-farm development may prevent many rural people from migrating to urban industrial and commercial centres.</li>
<li><strong>Bridging Rural-Urban Divide:</strong> When the economic base of the rural economy extends beyond agriculture, rural-urban economic gaps are bound to get narrower along with salutary effects in many other aspects associated with the life and aspirations of the people.</li>
<li><strong>Employment Generation:</strong> Non-farm rural industries are generally less capital-intensive and more labour absorbing. Thus, they can play a critical role in employment growth in rural areas.</li>
<li><strong>Reducing Inequalities:</strong> Rural income distribution is much less unequal in areas where a wide network of non-farm avenues of employment exists.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>As the lower strata of rural societies participate much more intensely in non-farm activities, it helps in increasing social mobility.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Associated Challenges</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Weak Institutional Structure:</strong> There are many institutions (KVIC, SIDBI, etc.) which were established for the development of the rural non-farm sector.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>However, these institutions are marred by issues like administrative inefficiency, lack of financial autonomy, overlapping jurisdiction, etc.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Quality of Manpower:</strong> High levels of illiteracy in rural India have hampered the growth of the rural non-farm sector.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>In the rural areas, lack of education leads to labour being stagnant in agriculture or moving to casual work occupations in the non-farm sector, and not to salaried employment with higher wages and benefits.</li>
<li>Together with a lack of technical skills, there is little incentive for rural firms to invest in technology, leading to low levels of labour productivity in the rural manufacturing sector compared to urban manufacturing.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Forward and Backward Linkages:</strong> The gaps in the integration of the production linkages brought about by low accessibility of market, support service weaknesses and intervention of middlemen have constrained the development of non-farm enterprises in India.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Apart from this, the most significant bottleneck in generating higher levels of rural non-farm activity in India is the quantity, quality and reliability of infrastructure.</li>
<li>Although corrective steps are now being taken, increased infrastructure remains the most important priority for the future.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Way Forward</h3>
<p>Efforts are needed to identify appropriate and effective institutional vehicles for the development of non-farm sector policy and interventions for creating employment opportunities. In this context, the following policy interventions can be taken by the government.</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>China&rsquo;s TVEs Model:</strong> China&rsquo;s labour-intensive township and village enterprises (TVEs), are often described as the &ldquo;engine of growth&rdquo; behind China&rsquo;s remarkable growth.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The TVEs are hybrid institutions, generally unusual alliances between entrepreneurs and local government officials (acting in the capacity of "owners" of TVE enterprises).</li>
<li>In this regard, the role of government is crucial, especially in the provision of necessary infrastructure and other support services.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Supply Chain Integration:</strong> It is also vital to improve the marketing links between the village entrepreneurs and the larger business firms located in the towns/cities.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Such strategic alliances or partnerships can contribute to the sustainability of small villages and tiny enterprises in rural areas.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Addressing Structural Issues:</strong> Other important considerations that need to be focused on may include human resource development, financial/credit facilities, research and development and women&rsquo;s participation with a view to making the activities self-sustaining in the changing competitive environment.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Conclusion</h3>
<p>The non-farm rural sector is increasingly playing an important role in the development of rural areas of India. Specifically, as agriculture&rsquo;s contribution to the economy is declining, the non-farm sector will need to become more and more a major provider of employment and income to many people in rural areas.</p>
<p>However, it should be noted that the non-farm rural sector is not a substitute for employment in agriculture but rather as a supplementary measure. Agricultural development is still important and should be pursued as a necessary precondition for inclusive development.</p>
<p><a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1605698357_image%200.jpg" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1605698357_image 0.jpg" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" caption="false" width="635" height="603" /></a></p>
<table border="1" style="border-collapse: collapse; width: 100%;">
<tbody>
<tr>
<td style="width: 100%; border-style: dotted; border-color: #ff0000; background-color: #f8fff5;">
<p><span style="color: #333399;"><em><strong>Drishti Mains Question</strong></em></span></p>
<p>The non-farm rural sector can increasingly play an important role in the development of rural areas of India. Discuss.</p>
</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<p style="text-align: center;"><iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/KPEcutiiT-4" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe></p>
<p>This editorial is based on<a href="https://www.thehindu.com/opinion/editorial/threat-or-treat/article33110441.ece" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong> &ldquo;Threat or treat: on RCEP trade deal&rdquo;</strong> </a>which was published in The Hindu on November 17<sup>th</sup>, 2020. Now watch this on our Youtube channel.</p>',
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		'url' => 'https://www.drishtiias.com/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/rural-non-farm-sector'
	],
	(int) 18 => [
		'title' => 'India’s First Green Energy Convergence Project: Goa',
		'catname' => 'News Analysis',
		'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>India&rsquo;s <strong>first convergence project</strong> to generate green energy for rural and agriculture consumption is set to come up in <strong>Goa.</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Energy Efficiency Services Ltd (EESL),</strong> a joint venture of PSUs under the Ministry of Power, and Goa government signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) for the same.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Key Notes</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Convergence Project of EESL:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Focus:</strong> It focuses on energy solutions that lie at the <strong>confluence </strong>of <strong>renewable energy, electric mobility</strong> and<strong> climate change.</strong></li>
<li><strong>Objective:</strong> It seeks to connect seemingly independent sectors like <strong>Solar Energy, Energy Storage and LED lights</strong> to provide solutions, which can enable in <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/energy-needs-in-the-context-of-climate-crisis" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>decarbonisation</strong></a> and <strong>affordable energy</strong> access.</li>
<li><strong>Mechanism:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li><strong>EESL</strong> is offering <strong>convergent interventions,</strong> which solve multiple gap areas in the energy ecosystem.</li>
<li>Solutions such as <strong>solarised agriculture feeders, LED street lights</strong> in local villages and <strong>battery energy storage systems.</strong></li>
<li>Leveraging the <strong>carbon financing mechanism</strong> to rapidly strengthen rural infrastructure in a clean and sustainable manner, and to create a<strong> resilient and sustainable rural community</strong> in India.</li>
<li>EESL&rsquo;s climate financing interventions currently include <strong>Gram<a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/5-years-of-ujala-and-slnp" target="_blank" rel="noopener"> UJALA</a>, Decentralised Solar and Gram Panchayat <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/5-years-of-ujala-and-slnp" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Street Lights programmes</a>.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Benefits of the Project:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Promote Renewable Energy:</strong> It will <strong>accelerate</strong> the usage of <strong>renewable energy sources,</strong> especially for agricultural and rural power consumption in the State.</li>
<li><strong>Energy Efficient:</strong> Contribute to<strong> reduction of peak energy demand</strong> through deployment of energy efficient pumping and lighting thus contributing to overall sustainability.</li>
<li><strong>Improve Health of DISCOMs:</strong> Accrue savings of <strong>Rs 2,574 crores</strong> to the State over the period of 25 years, while improving the health of <strong>DISCOMs</strong> and providing cleaner power.</li>
<li><strong>Check Technical Losses:</strong> Provide clean day time electricity to farmers as well as energy efficient pump sets which would <strong>reduce the power consumption</strong> as well as <strong>T&amp;D</strong> (Transmission and Distribution Losses) losses associated with transmitting power to agriculture and rural feeder networks.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Energy Efficiency Services Ltd</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>It is a joint venture of <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/national-thermal-power-corporation-limited" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>National Thermal Power Corporation Limited (NTPC)</strong></a> Limited, Power Finance Corporation, Rural Electrification Corporation and POWERGRID, It was set up under the <strong>Ministry of Power</strong> to facilitate implementation of energy efficiency projects.</li>
<li><strong>EESL</strong> is a<strong> Super Energy Service Company (ESCO)</strong> that seeks to unlock the energy efficiency market in India, estimated at Rs. 74,000 crore that can potentially result in energy savings of up to <strong>20%</strong> of current consumption, by way of innovative business and implementation models.</li>
<li>It also acts as the resource centre for capacity building of State <strong>DISCOMs,</strong> financial institutions, etc.</li>
</ul>
</div>
<h3>Way Forward</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>In a solar power rich country like India, effective harnessing of this abundant resource can yield handsome returns for all stakeholders and therefore initiatives like <strong>Convergence</strong> can help India to produce more energy at less cost.</li>
<li><strong>Project Convergence</strong> is also well aligned and is in consonance with the<a href="/to-the-points/Paper2/year-end-review-2019-ministry-of-new-and-renewable-energy" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong> International Solar Alliance, an</strong> </a>initiative of the Indian government.</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="https://pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=1673497" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Source:PIB</strong></a></p>',
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	(int) 19 => [
		'title' => 'Anakkayam Small Hydro Electric Project',
		'catname' => 'News Analysis',
		'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>Recently, various green collectives and environmental organisations have come together to protest against the <strong>Anakkayam Small Hydro Electric Project</strong> in Kerala.</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The site of the project is not far from the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/athirapally-hydel-electric-project" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Athirapally Hydel Electric Project.</strong></a></li>
</ul>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>About the Project:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>It will come up in the buffer zone of the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/early-migration-of-butterflies" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Parambikulam Tiger Reserve</strong></a> (PTR) and will also<strong> create a 5.617-km-long tunnel</strong> within the forest.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Concerns:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Environmental Consequences:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Around <strong>20 hectares of forest land will have to be cleared</strong> out and <strong>around 1900 large trees</strong> and a larger number of small trees<strong> will be cut.</strong></li>
<li>The area is<strong> ecologically fragile,</strong> as seen in the massive<strong> landslide followed by minor landslides at the project site in 2018,</strong> and the consequences will extend to<strong> loss of precious flora and fauna species.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Absence of Consent:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>It was <strong>granted approval without obtaining permission</strong> from the local <strong>Kadar tribe</strong> which holds the <strong>right of Community Forest Resources</strong> (CFR) as per the <a href="/to-the-points/Paper2/forest-rights-act-2006" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Forest Rights Act, 2006.</strong></a></li>
<li>The site of the hydel project comes within the 400 sq kms of forest land that were given as CFR to the Kadar tribe which has the responsibility to protect and conserve the habitat.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Athirapally Hydel Electric Project</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>In <strong>June 2020,</strong> the Kerala government approved the Athirapally Hydro Electric Project (AHEP) on the <strong>Chalakudy river in Thrissur district of Kerala.</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Chalakudy River <strong>originates in the Anamalai region of Tamil Nadu</strong> and is joined by its <strong>major tributaries</strong> Parambikulam, Kuriyarkutti, Sholayar, Karapara and Anakayam in Kerala. It <strong>flows through Palakkad, Thrissur and Ernakulam</strong> districts of Kerala.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>It has also been<strong> facing opposition and protests</strong> due to its <strong>adverse effects on the fragile river ecosystem</strong> at Athirappilly and the other <strong>related environmental threats.</strong></li>
</ul>
<p><strong>Parambikulam Tiger Reserve</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>It is a well protected ecological portion in the <strong>Nelliampathy-Anamalai landscape</strong> of the <strong>Southern Western Ghats</strong> in India.</li>
<li>It is located in the<strong> Palakkad District of Kerala.</strong></li>
<li>It was<strong> declared as Tiger Reserve during 2008-09.</strong></li>
<li>The reserve is credited with the<strong> first scientifically managed teak plantation in the world</strong> which was later merged with the forest land.</li>
<li>It has the <strong>world's largest and oldest teak tree</strong> named <em>"Kannimara",</em> which is believed to be <strong>350 years old.</strong></li>
</ul>
<p><a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1605695306_image1.png" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1605695306_image1.png" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="400" caption="false" /></strong></a></p>
</div>
<p><a href="https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/kerala/green-collectives-to-protest-against-anakkayam-hydel-project/article33120677.ece" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Source: TH</strong></a></p>',
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