Search

Search list matched with tags “class”

Antonio Guterres: 2nd Term UN Secretary General

Why in News The United Nations General Assembly appointed Antonio Guterres as the ninth UN Secretary General (UNSG) for a second term beginning 1st...

19 Jun 2021 News Analysis
Herbicide Tolerant (HT) Bt Cotton

Why in News The illegal cultivation of Herbicide Tolerant (HT) Bt cotton has seen a huge jump as the sale of illegal seed packets has more than...

19 Jun 2021 News Analysis
Censorship of Films in India

Why in News The Ministry of Information and Broadcasting has recently sought public comments on its draft Cinematograph (Amendment) Bill, 2021,...

19 Jun 2021 News Analysis
Petition to Poll Results

Why in News Recently, the West Bengal Chief Minister has filed an election petition in the Calcutta High Court challenging the Assembly election...

19 Jun 2021 News Analysis
Rising Sea Levels

Why in News Recently, a study has projected that sea levels will rise around Lakshadweep Islands due to the impact of global warming. It will...

19 Jun 2021 News Analysis
IN-EUNAVFOR Joint Naval Exercise

Why in News The maiden Indian Navy - European Union Naval Force (IN-EUNAVFOR) Exercise is being conducted in Gulf Of Aden. Key...

19 Jun 2021 News Analysis
Disability Early Intervention Centres

Why in News Recently, the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment has launched 14 cross-disability early intervention centres across the country...

19 Jun 2021 News Analysis
Role of Social Media in Democracy

This article is based on “Why democracy needs social media'' which was published in The Indian express on 17/06/2021. It talks about the role...

18 Jun 2021 News Editorials
Helpline for Cyber Fraud

Why in News The Ministry of Home Affairs has operationalised the national Helpline 155260 and Reporting Platform for preventing financial loss due...

18 Jun 2021 News Analysis
China’s Shenzhou-12 Manned Mission

Why in News Recently, a Chinese spaceship “Shenzhou-12” carrying a three-person crew docked with China’s new space station module...

18 Jun 2021 News Analysis
Namami Gange Programme

Why in News Recently, an agreement was signed for Development of 35 MLD (Mega Liters per day) Sewage Treatment Plant in Maheshtala (City situated on...

18 Jun 2021 News Analysis
Improving Employability of the Youth

Why in News Recently, the Ministry of Labour and Employment and UNICEF have signed a Statement of Intent to improve employment outcomes for the...

18 Jun 2021 News Analysis
Inland Vessel Bill 2021

Why in News Recently, the Union Cabinet approved the Inland Vessels Bill, 2021, which will replace the Inland Vessels Act, 1917 after passing in...

18 Jun 2021 News Analysis
AI: Promises & Perils

This article is based on “The promise and perils of Artificial Intelligence partnerships” which was published in The Hindustan Times on...

17 Jun 2021 News Editorials
8th ADMM-Plus Meeting

Why in News Recently, the defence minister addressed the 8th ASEAN Defence Ministers Meeting (ADMM) Plus. The ADMM-Plus is a platform for ASEAN...

17 Jun 2021 News Analysis
Deep Ocean Mission

Why in News Recently, the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs has approved the proposal of the Ministry of Earth Sciences (MoES) on the Deep Ocean...

17 Jun 2021 News Analysis
Corporatization of Ordnance Factory Board

Why in News Recently, the Union Cabinet approved a plan to corporatise the Ordnance Factory Board (OFB). Key Points New Structure: 41...

17 Jun 2021 News Analysis
New Norms on Hallmarking of Gold

Why in News Recently, the Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food & Public Distribution made it mandatory for the hallmarking of gold jewellery,...

17 Jun 2021 News Analysis
Loan to Sri Lanka for Solar Energy

Why in News Recently, India has signed an agreement extending a USD 100 million Line of Credit (LOC) to Sri Lanka for projects in the Solar Energy...

17 Jun 2021 News Analysis
ADB Loan for Chennai - Kanyakumari Industrial Corridor

Why in News Recently, the Asian Development Bank (ADB) and the Government of India signed a USD 484 million loan for the Tamil Nadu Industrial...

17 Jun 2021 News Analysis

Warning (2): count(): Parameter must be an array or an object that implements Countable [ROOT/plugins/Drishti/src/Template/Element/rightsection.ctp, line 100]

Code Context


<?php if(count($updates)>0){?>
  <div class="updates">

$viewFile = '/var/www/drishtiias.com/public_html/plugins/Drishti/src/Template/Element/rightsection.ctp'
$dataForView = [
	'progress' => [],
	'bookmarks' => [],
	'notes' => [],
	'mynote' => [],
	'topdata' => [
		(int) 0 => object(Cake\ORM\Entity) {}
	],
	'searchdata' => [],
	'searchlist' => [
		(int) 0 => [
			'title' => 'Antonio Guterres: 2nd Term UN Secretary General',
			'catname' => 'News Analysis',
			'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>The <strong><a href="/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-international-institution/united-nations-1" target="_blank" rel="noopener">United Nations</a> General Assembly</strong> appointed<strong> Antonio Guterres as the ninth UN Secretary General (UNSG) for a second term</strong> beginning 1<sup>st</sup> January, 2022 and ending on 31<sup>st</sup> 2026.</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>India</strong> had expressed its <strong>support for the re-election of Guterres as UN Chief.</strong></li>
</ul>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>About Antonio Guterres:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Guterres took <strong>oath of office on 1<sup>st</sup> January, 2017</strong> and his first term <strong>ends on 31<sup>st</sup> December 2021.</strong></li>
<li>Guterres <strong>served as the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees</strong> for a decade from <strong>June 2005 to December 2015.</strong></li>
<li>He was the <strong>former Prime minister of Portugal.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Appointment:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Under the UN Charter, the Secretary-General is <strong>appointed by the General Assembly upon the recommendation of the<a href="/loksabha-rajyasabha-discussions/the-big-picture-un-security-council-reforms" target="_blank" rel="noopener"> Security Council. </a></strong></li>
<li><strong>Each Secretary-General has the option of a second term</strong> if they can garner enough support from Member states.</li>
<li>Guterres was elected <strong>after a reformed selection process</strong> that<strong> included a public informal dialogue session</strong> in the General Assembly, involving civil society representatives, aimed at ensuring transparency and inclusivity.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>UN Charter:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The <strong>Charter of the United Nations</strong> is the<strong> founding document</strong> of the United Nations. It was signed <strong>on 26<sup>th</sup> June 1945,</strong> in San Francisco, at the conclusion of the United Nations Conference on International Organization, and came into force on 24<sup>th</sup> October 1945.</li>
<li>The UN can take action on a wide variety of issues due to its<strong> unique international character</strong> and the powers vested in its Charter, which is considered an international treaty.</li>
<li>As such, the UN Charter is<strong> an instrument of international law,</strong> and<strong> UN Member States are bound by it.</strong> The UN Charter codifies the major principles of international relations, from sovereign equality of States to the prohibition of the use of force in international relations.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>About UNGA:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The General Assembly occupies a central position as the<strong> chief deliberative, policymaking and representative organ</strong> of the United Nations.</li>
<li>Composed of all <strong>193 Members</strong> of the United Nations, it<strong> provides a unique forum for multilateral discussion</strong> of the full spectrum of international issues covered by the Charter.</li>
<li>It also plays a significant <strong>role in the process of standard-setting and the codification of international law.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>UN Security Council:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Established by the <strong>UN charter in 1945,</strong> the Security Council has the primary responsibility of<strong> maintaining international peace and security.</strong></li>
<li>The Security Council has <strong>15 members.</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li><strong>There are five permanent members:</strong> the United States, the Russian Federation, France, China and the United Kingdom.</li>
<li>The <strong>non-permanent members</strong> of the Security Council are elected for a term of<strong> two years.</strong> Recently, <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/india-at-unsc-previous-contribution-current-challenges#:~:text=India%2C%20for%20the%20eighth%20time,two%20years%20i.e%202021%2D22." target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>India has been elected.</strong></a></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>Each member of the <strong>Security Council has one vote.</strong> Decisions of the Security Council on matters are made by an affirmative vote of nine members including the <strong>concurring votes of the permanent members.</strong> A "No" vote from one of the five permanent members blocks the passage of the resolution.</li>
<li>Any member of the United Nations which is not a member of the Security Council may participate, without vote, in the discussion of any question brought before the Security Council whenever the latter considers that the interests of that member are specially affected.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Challenges Pertaining to UN:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>UNGA has <strong>no control over veto power</strong> exercised by UNSC and it cannot take any decisive action against permanent members of UNSC.</li>
<li>The 15-member Security Council is by far the most powerful arm of the United Nations. However, the veto power is used by <strong>five permanent countries</strong> to serve the strategic interest of<strong> themselves and their allies.</strong></li>
<li>The<strong> UN charter is vague</strong> in defining the duties of the secretary general, the United Nations&rsquo; top official.</li>
<li>Recently, the <a href="/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-international-institution/world-health-organization-who" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>World Health Organization (WHO)</strong> </a>has been criticised by the US on account of mishandling of the Covid-19 pandemic and subsequently suspended its financial contribution to WHO.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Also, WHO has been under pressure from the US government to adopt an approach that favours interests of US pharma companies.</li>
<li>WHO is <strong>a specialised agency of the UN.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>United Nations</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Establishment:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The <strong>United Nations (UN)</strong> is an international organization founded <strong>in 1945. </strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Members:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>It is currently <strong>made up of 193 Member States.</strong></li>
<li><strong>India is a charter member of the United Nations</strong> and participates in all of its specialised agencies and organizations.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Activities:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Its activities include maintaining international peace and security, protecting human rights, delivering humanitarian aid, promoting sustainable development and upholding international law.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Main Organs:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>The General Assembly,</strong></li>
<li><strong>The Security Council,</strong></li>
<li><strong>The<a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/un-ecosoc-meet" target="_blank" rel="noopener"> Economic and Social Council</a>,</strong></li>
<li><strong>The Trusteeship Council,</strong></li>
<li><strong>The<a href="/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-international-institution/international-court-of-justice-icj" target="_blank" rel="noopener"> International Court of Justice</a>,</strong></li>
<li><strong>The UN Secretariat.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Funds and Programmes:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong><a href="/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-international-institution/unicef-1" target="_blank" rel="noopener">United Nations International Children's Emergency Fund</a> (UNICEF)</strong></li>
<li><strong><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/human-development-index-undp" target="_blank" rel="noopener">United Nations Development Programme</a> (UNDP)</strong></li>
<li><strong><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/making-peace-with-nature-unep-report" target="_blank" rel="noopener">United Nations Environment Programme</a> (UN Environment)</strong></li>
<li><strong><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/un-habitat-assembly" target="_blank" rel="noopener">United Nations Human Settlements Programme</a> (UN-Habitat)</strong></li>
<li><strong><a href="/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-international-institution/world-food-programme-wfp" target="_blank" rel="noopener">World Food Programme</a> (WFP)</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</div>
<h3>Way Forward</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The UN must act as a catalyst and a platform for more inclusive, networked and effective forms of <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/joint-statement-on-multilateralism-brics" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>multilateralism.</strong></a></li>
<li>The power to transform the current situation into a better world and future for all depends on everyone everywhere and can only be done successfully if the efforts towards a common agenda for the benefit of humanity and the planet is resolved.</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="https://indianexpress.com/article/world/antonio-guterres-re-elected-as-un-secretary-general-for-2nd-five-year-term-7365237/" 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/antonio-guterres-2nd-term-un-secretary-general'
		],
		(int) 1 => [
			'title' => 'Herbicide Tolerant (HT) Bt Cotton',
			'catname' => 'News Analysis',
			'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>The illegal cultivation of <strong>Herbicide Tolerant (HT) <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/impacts-of-bt-cotton" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Bt cotton</a></strong> has seen a huge jump as the sale of illegal seed packets has more than doubled from 30 lakh in 2020 to 75 lakh in 2021.</p>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Bt Cotton:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Bt cotton is the<strong> only transgenic crop</strong> that has been<strong> approved by the Centre for commercial cultivation</strong> in India.</li>
<li>It has been <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/genetically-modified-seeds" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>genetically modified (GM)</strong></a> to produce an insecticide to combat the <strong>cotton bollworm,</strong> a common pest.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Herbicide Tolerant Bt (HTBt) Cotton:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The HTBt cotton variant adds another layer of modification, making the plant <strong>resistant to the herbicide glyphosate,</strong> but has not been approved by regulators.</li>
<li><strong>Fears</strong> include glyphosate having a carcinogenic effect, as well as the unchecked spread of herbicide resistance to nearby plants through pollination,<strong> creating a variety of superweeds.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Need for Using HTBt Cotton:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Saves Cost:</strong> There is a shortage of the labour needed to do at least <strong>two rounds of weeding for Bt cotton.</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li><strong>With HTBt, simply one round of glyphosate spraying is needed</strong> with no weeding. It saves Rs. 7,000 to Rs. 8,000 per acre for farmers.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Support of Scientists:</strong> Scientists are also in favour of this crop, and even the <a href="/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-international-institution/world-health-organization-who" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>World Health Organization (WHO)</strong> </a>has said it does not cause cancer. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>But the government has still withheld approval for HTBt.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Issues Emanating from Illegal Sale of HTBt Cotton:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>As it is not approved by the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/geac-seeks-information-from-bangladesh-on-bt-brinjal" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Genetic Engineering Appraisal Committee (GEAC)</strong></a>, illegal sale takes place in Indian markets.</li>
<li><strong>Farmers are at risk</strong> with such illegal cotton seed sale as there is <strong>no accountability of the quality of seed, it pollutes the environment,</strong> the <strong>industry is losing legitimate seed sale and the government also loses revenue</strong> in terms of tax collection.</li>
<li>It will not only <strong>decimate small cotton seed companies</strong> but also <strong>threatens the entire legal cotton seed market</strong> in India.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Genetic Engineering Appraisal Committee</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The Genetic Engineering Appraisal Committee (GEAC) functions under the <strong>Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEF&amp;CC).</strong></li>
<li>It is responsible for the appraisal of activities involving large-scale use of hazardous microorganisms and recombinants in research and industrial production from the environmental angle.</li>
<li>The committee is also responsible for the appraisal of proposals relating to the release of genetically engineered (GE) organisms and products into the environment including experimental field trials.</li>
<li>GEAC is chaired by the Special Secretary/Additional Secretary of MoEF&amp;CC and co-chaired by a representative from the Department of Biotechnology (DBT).</li>
</ul>
</div>
<h3>Way Forward</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Regulators only limit their checking/regulation to licensed dealers and seed companies while illegal activity of HT seed sales is <strong>carried mostly by unorganised </strong>and<strong> fly-by-night operators.</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Thus, focus must be shifted to catching them and taking exemplary and strong punitive action.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Collective action</strong> of both centre and state government is required. The Centre has made the policy to ban this variant. But it is the State governments that must also work in tandem with the central government.</li>
<li><strong>Environmental impact assessment</strong> should be carried out by independent environmentalists, as farmers do not and cannot assess the long-term impact of GM crops on ecology and health.</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/sale-of-illegal-htbt-cotton-seeds-doubles/article34852355.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/herbicide-tolerant-ht-bt-cotton'
		],
		(int) 2 => [
			'title' => 'Censorship of Films in India',
			'catname' => 'News Analysis',
			'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>The <strong>Ministry of Information and Broadcasting</strong> has recently sought public comments on its <strong>draft Cinematograph (Amendment) Bill, 2021,</strong> which proposes to bring back its <strong>&ldquo;revisionary powers&rdquo;</strong> over the<a href="/admin/articles/edit/Why%20in News The Ministry of Information and Broadcasting has recently sought public comments on its draft Cinematograph (Amendment) Bill, 2021, which proposes to bring back its &ldquo;revisionary powers&rdquo; over the Central Board of Film Certification.  The new Bill will also &ldquo;make the process of sanctioning of films for exhibition more effective, in tune with the changed times and curb the menace of piracy&rdquo;. Key Points Background: The Supreme Court of India (SC) in November 2000, had upheld a Karnataka High Court order which struck down the Centre&rsquo;s &ldquo;revisional powers in respect of films that are already certified by the Board&rdquo;. However, the SC had opined that the Legislature may, in certain cases, overrule or nullify the judicial or executive decision by enacting an appropriate legislation&rdquo;. Provision of Draft Cinematograph (Amendment) Bill, 2021: Granting Revisionary Powers: The government on account of violation of Section 5B(1) of the Cinematograph Act, 1952 can order for &ldquo;re-examination&rdquo; by the certification board of an already certified film, following receipt of complaints. Section 5B(1) deals with the principles for guidance in certifying films. It is derived from Article 19(2) of the Constitution and is non-negotiable. Under Section 6 of the existing Cinematograph Act, 1952, the Centre is already empowered to call for the record of proceedings in relation to certification of a film and pass any order thereon.  The Central Government, if the situation warranted, has the power to reverse the decision of the Board. Sub-division of Existing UA Category: The provisions relating to certification of films under &ldquo;unrestricted public exhibition (U/A)&rdquo; category are proposed to be amended so as to sub-divide the existing UA category into age-based categories like U/A 7+, U/A 13+ and U/A 16+. Film Piracy: In most cases, illegal duplication in cinema halls is the originating point of piracy. At present, there are no enabling provisions to check film piracy in the Cinematograph Act, 1952. The draft Bill proposes to insert Section 6AA which prohibits unauthorised recording.  Punishment for Piracy: Section 6AA of the draft legislation makes piracy a punishable offence.  The punishment of imprisonment for a term upto three years and with a fine which shall not be less than Rs 3 lakh but which may extend to 5% of the audited gross production cost or with both. The recommendations of the Justice Mukul Mudgal Committee of 2013 and the Shyam Benegal Committee of 2016 had also been considered while drafting the legislation. Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC): It is a statutory body under the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, regulating the public exhibition of films under the provisions of the Cinematograph Act 1952. The Board consists of non-official members and a Chairman (all of whom are appointed by Central Government) and functions with headquarters at Mumbai. Films can be publicly exhibited in India (on cinema halls, T.V. channels) only after they have been certified by the Central Board of Film Certification. At present, films are certified under 4 categories: U, U/A, A&amp; S. Unrestricted Public Exhibition (U) Unrestricted Public Exhibition - but with a word of caution that Parental discretion required for children below 12 years (U/A) Restricted to adults (A) Restricted to any special class of persons (S) Provisions for Censorship: Article 19(2) of the Constitution authorises the government to impose, by law, reasonable restrictions upon the freedom of speech and expression in the interests of the sovereignty and integrity of India, the security of the State, friendly relations with foreign States, public order, decency or morality or in relation to contempt of court, defamation or incitement to an offence. The Cinematograph Act,1952 also provides for similar provisions as stated under Article 19(2). Source: IE" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong> Central Board of Film Certification.</strong></a></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The new Bill will also &ldquo;make the process of sanctioning of films for exhibition more effective, in tune with the changed times and curb the menace of piracy&rdquo;.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Background:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The <a href="/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-national-institutions/supreme-court-of-india" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Supreme Court of India</strong></a> (SC) in November 2000, had upheld a<strong> Karnataka High Court</strong> order which struck down the Centre&rsquo;s <strong>&ldquo;revisional powers in respect of films that are already certified by the Board&rdquo;.</strong></li>
<li>However, the SC had <strong>opined that the Legislature may, in certain cases, overrule or nullify the judicial or executive decision</strong> by enacting an appropriate legislation&rdquo;.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Provision of Draft Cinematograph (Amendment) Bill, 2021:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Granting Revisionary Powers:</strong> The government on account of violation of <strong>Section 5B(1) of the Cinematograph Act, 1952</strong> can order for &ldquo;re-examination&rdquo; by the certification board of an already certified film, following receipt of complaints.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li><strong>Section 5B(1)</strong> deals with the<strong> principles for guidance in certifying films.</strong> It is <strong>derived from Article 19(2) of the Constitution</strong> and is non-negotiable.</li>
<li>Under<strong> Section 6 of the existing Cinematograph Act, 1952,</strong> the Centre is already empowered to call for the record of proceedings in relation to certification of a film and pass any order thereon. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>The Central Government, if the situation warranted, <strong>has the power to reverse the decision of the Board.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Sub-division of Existing UA Category:</strong> The provisions relating to certification of films under &ldquo;unrestricted public exhibition (U/A)&rdquo; category are proposed to be amended so as to sub-divide the existing UA category <strong>into age-based categories like U/A 7+, U/A 13+ and U/A 16+.</strong></li>
<li><strong>Film Piracy:</strong> In most cases, illegal duplication in cinema halls is the originating point of piracy. At present, there are no enabling provisions to check film piracy in the Cinematograph Act, 1952. The draft Bill proposes to <strong>insert Section 6AA</strong> which prohibits unauthorised recording. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li><strong>Punishment for Piracy: Section 6AA</strong> of the draft legislation makes piracy a punishable offence. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>The punishment of<strong> imprisonment for a term upto three years</strong> and with a fine which shall not be less than Rs 3 lakh but which may extend to 5% of the audited gross production cost or with both.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>The recommendations of the<strong> Justice Mukul Mudgal Committee of 2013</strong> and the <strong>Shyam Benegal Committee of 2016</strong> had also been considered while drafting the legislation.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC):</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>It is a <strong>statutory body</strong> under the<strong> Ministry of Information and Broadcasting,</strong> regulating the public exhibition of films under the provisions of the<strong> Cinematograph Act 1952.</strong></li>
<li>The Board consists of<strong> non-official members </strong>and a<strong> Chairman</strong> (all of whom are appointed by Central Government) and functions with <strong>headquarters at Mumbai.</strong></li>
<li>Films can be publicly exhibited in India (on cinema halls, T.V. channels) only after they have been certified by the Central Board of Film Certification.</li>
<li><strong>At present, films are certified under 4 categories: U, U/A, A&amp; S.</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Unrestricted Public Exhibition (U)</li>
<li>Unrestricted Public Exhibition - but with a word of caution that Parental discretion required for children below 12 years (U/A)</li>
<li>Restricted to adults (A)</li>
<li>Restricted to any special class of persons (S)</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Provisions for Censorship:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li><strong>Article 19(2) of the Constitution</strong> authorises the government to impose, by law, reasonable restrictions upon the freedom of speech and expression in the interests of the sovereignty and integrity of India, the security of the State, friendly relations with foreign States, public order, decency or morality or in relation to contempt of court, defamation or incitement to an offence.</li>
<li>The<strong> Cinematograph Act, 1952</strong> also provides for similar provisions as stated under Article 19(2).</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="https://indianexpress.com/article/india/censor-board-film-certification-cinematograph-bill-cbfc-7365589/" 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/censorship-of-films-in-india'
		],
		(int) 3 => [
			'title' => 'Petition to Poll Results',
			'catname' => 'News Analysis',
			'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>Recently, the West Bengal Chief Minister has filed <strong>an election petition</strong> in the Calcutta High Court challenging the <strong>Assembly election result</strong> of Nandigram constituency.</p>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Election Petition:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The <strong><a href="/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-national-institutions/election-commission-of-india" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Election Commission</a>&rsquo;s role ends with the declaration of results</strong>, after that, an <strong>election petition is the only legal remedy</strong> available to a voter or a candidate who believes there has been malpractice in an election.</li>
<li>Such a person <strong>can challenge the result through an election petition submitted to the High Court</strong> of the state in which the constituency is located.</li>
<li>Such a petition <strong>has to be filed within 45 days from the date of the poll results;</strong> nothing is entertained by courts after that.</li>
<li>Although the <a href="/to-the-points/Paper2/the-representation-of-the-people-act-part-ii" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Representative of the People Act (RP Act) of 1951</strong></a> suggests that the High Court should try to conclude the trial within six months, it usually drags on for much longer, even years.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Grounds on which Election Petition be Filed (Section 100 of the RP Act):</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>On the day of the election, the <strong>winning candidate was not qualified</strong> to contest.</li>
<li>The winning candidate, his poll agent or any other person with the consent of the <strong>winning candidate has indulged in a corrupt practice.</strong></li>
<li>Improper acceptance of the nomination of the winning candidate or <strong>improper rejection</strong> of a nomination.</li>
<li><strong>Malpractice in the counting process</strong>, which includes improper reception, refusal or rejection of any vote, or the reception of any vote which is void.</li>
<li><strong>Non-compliance with the provisions of the Constitution or the RP Act</strong> or any rules or orders made under the RP Act.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>If Verdict is in favour of the Petitioner (Section 84 of the RP Act):</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The petitioner may ask that the <strong>results of all or the winning candidates may be declared void.</strong></li>
<li>In addition to that, the <strong>petitioner may also ask the court to declare her</strong> (in case the petition is filed by a candidate) or any other candidate as the winner or duly elected.</li>
<li>So the verdict on an election petition, if found in favour of the petitioner, <strong>may result in a fresh election or the court announcing a new winner.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>History of Election Results Declared Void:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The most famous being the <strong>Allahabad High Court verdict of 1975</strong> which set aside <strong>Indira Gandhi&rsquo;s election</strong> from Rae Bareli constituency, four years earlier, on grounds of corrupt practice.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Provisions under RP Act 1951</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>It <strong>regulates the actual conduct</strong> of elections and by-elections.</li>
<li>It provides <strong>administrative machinery</strong> for conducting elections.</li>
<li>It deals with the <strong><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/registered-unrecognised-political-parties-increased-adr" target="_blank" rel="noopener">registration of political parties</a>.</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Section 123 of the RP Act</strong> has a detailed list of what amounts to corrupt practice, including <strong>bribery, use of force or coercion, appeal to vote or refrain from voting</strong> on grounds of religion, race, community, and language.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>It<strong> specifies the qualifications and disqualifications</strong> for membership of the Houses.</li>
<li>It provides <strong>provisions to curb corrupt practices</strong> and other offences.</li>
<li>It lays down the <strong>procedure for settling doubts and disputes</strong> arising out of elections.</li>
</ul>
</div>
<p><a href="https://indianexpress.com/article/explained/assembly-election-result-challenged-calcutta-hc-nandigram-constituency-7365499/" 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/petition-to-poll-results'
		],
		(int) 4 => [
			'title' => 'Rising Sea Levels ',
			'catname' => 'News Analysis',
			'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>Recently, a study has projected that sea levels will rise around <strong><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/draft-lakshadweep-development-authority-regulation-2021" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Lakshadweep</a> Islands</strong> due to the impact of <strong>global warming</strong>.</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>It will affect<strong> airport and residential areas</strong> that are quite close to the present coastline.</li>
<li><strong>India&rsquo;s smallest Union Territory, Lakshadweep</strong> is an archipelago consisting of 36 islands with an area of 32 sq km.</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1624093381_pasted%20image 3.jpg" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1624093381_pasted image 3.jpg" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="450" caption="false" /></a></p>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Sea Level Rise (SLR):</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>SLR is an <strong>increase in the level</strong> of the <strong>world&rsquo;s oceans</strong> due to the effects of climate change, especially <strong>global warming</strong>, induced by <strong>three primary factors:</strong> Thermal Expansion, Melting Glaciers and Loss of Greenland and Antarctica&rsquo;s ice sheets.</li>
<li>Sea level is primarily measured using tide stations and satellite laser altimeters.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>SLR is Linked to Three Primary Factors:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Thermal Expansion:</strong> When water heats up, it expands. About half of the sea-level rise over the past 25 years is attributable to warmer oceans simply occupying more space.</li>
<li><strong>Melting Glaciers: Higher temperatures</strong> caused by global warming have led to <strong>greater-than-average summer melting</strong> <strong>of large ice formations</strong> like mountain glaciers as well as <strong>diminished snowfall</strong> due to later winters and earlier springs. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>That creates <strong>an imbalance between runoff and ocean evaporation</strong>, causing sea levels to rise.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Loss of Greenland and Antarctic Ice Sheets:</strong> As with mountain glaciers, increased heat is causing the massive ice sheets that cover <strong>Greenland and <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/covid-in-antarctica" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Antarctica</a></strong> to melt more quickly, and also move more quickly into the sea.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Rate of SLR:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Global:</strong> Global sea level has been rising over the past century, and the rate has accelerated in recent decades. The average global sea level has <strong>risen 8.9 inches between 1880 and 2015.</strong> That&rsquo;s much faster than in the previous 2,700 years.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Also, <strong>Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC)</strong> released <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/special-report-on-climate-change-ipcc" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>&lsquo;The Special Report on the Ocean and Cryosphere in a Changing Climate&rsquo;</strong></a> in 2019 which underlined the dire changes taking place in oceans, glaciers, and ice-deposits on land and sea.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Regional:</strong> SLR is <strong>not uniform</strong> across the world. Regional SLR may be higher or lower than Global SLR due to subsidence, upstream flood control, erosion, regional ocean currents, variations in land height, and compressive weight of Ice Age glaciers.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Consequences of SLR:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Coastal Flooding:</strong> Globally, eight of the <strong>world's 10 largest cities</strong> are near a coast, which is threatened by coastal flooding.</li>
<li><strong>Destruction of Coastal Biodiversity:</strong> SLR can cause <strong>destructive erosion</strong>, wetland flooding, aquifer and agricultural soil contamination with salt, and lost habitat for biodiversity.</li>
<li><strong>Dangerous Storm Surges:</strong> Higher sea levels are coinciding with more dangerous <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/hurricane-hanna" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>hurricanes</strong> </a>and typhoons leading to loss of life and property.</li>
<li><strong>Lateral and Inland Migration:</strong> Flooding in low-lying coastal areas is forcing people to migrate to the higher ground causing displacement and dispossession and in turn a <strong><a href="/loksabha-rajyasabha-discussions/migration-4" target="_blank" rel="noopener">refugee crisis worldwide</a>.</strong></li>
<li><strong>Impact on Infrastructure:</strong> The prospect of higher coastal water levels threatens basic services such as internet access.</li>
<li><strong>Threat to Inland Life:</strong> Rising seas can contaminate soil and groundwater with salt threatening life farther away from coasts.</li>
<li><strong>Tourism and Military Preparedness:</strong> Tourism to coastal areas and military preparedness will also be negatively affected by an increase in SLR.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Steps taken to Tackle SLR:</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Relocation:</strong> Many coastal cities have planned to adopt relocation as a mitigation strategy. For example, Kiribati Island has planned to shift to Fiji, while the <strong><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/indonesia-s-new-capital" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Capital of Indonesia is being relocated from Jakarta to Borneo</a>.</strong></li>
<li><strong>Building Sea Wall:</strong> Indonesia&rsquo;s government launched a coastal development project called a Giant Sea Wall or "Giant Garuda" in 2014 meant to protect the city from floods.</li>
<li><strong>Building Enclosures:</strong> Researchers have proposed <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/northern-european-enclosure-dam" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Northern European Enclosure Dam</strong></a> (NEED), enclosing all of the North Sea to protect 15 Northern European countries from rising seas. The <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/persian-gulf-region" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Persian Gulf</strong></a>, the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/battle-of-gallipoli" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Mediterranean Sea</strong></a>, the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/travel-bubble" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Baltic Sea</strong></a>, the Irish Sea, and the Red Sea were also identified as areas that could benefit from similar mega enclosures.</li>
<li><strong>Architecture to Steer Flow of Water:</strong> Dutch City Rotterdam built barriers, drainage, and innovative architectural features such as a "water square" with temporary ponds.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Vulnerability of India:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>India's <strong>7,516-kilometre-long coastline</strong> includes 5,422 kilometres of coastline on the mainland and 2,094 kilometres on the islands belonging to nine states and four Union Territories.</li>
<li>The coastline <strong>accounts for 90% of the country's trade and it spans 3,331 coastal villages and 1,382 islands.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>India&rsquo;s Efforts:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong><a href="/to-the-points/paper3/coastal-regulation-zone-1" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Coastal Regulation Zone</a>:</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>The<strong> coastal areas of seas, bays, creeks, rivers, and backwaters</strong> which get <strong>influenced by tides up to 500 m from the high tide line (HTL) and the land between the low tide line (LTL) and the high tide line</strong> were declared as <strong>Coastal Regulation Zone (CRZ)</strong> in 1991.</li>
<li>The latest regulation <strong>also takes into account rising sea-levels due to global warming.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong><a href="/to-the-points/Paper2/national-action-plan-on-climate-change" target="_blank" rel="noopener">National Action Plan on Climate Change</a>:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>It was <strong>launched in 2008</strong> by the Prime Minister's Council on Climate Change.</li>
<li>It aims at creating awareness among the representatives of the public, different agencies of the government, scientists, industry and the communities on the threat posed by climate change and the steps to counter it.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Way Forward</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The <strong><a href="/loksabha-rajyasabha-discussions/the-big-picture-climate-change-act-now" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Paris Agreement</a></strong> provides a clear vision on limiting global warming and thus, SLR.</li>
<li>Some of the other steps in this direction would include:<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Switching from <strong>fossil fuels</strong> to clean alternatives like <strong>solar and wind energy.</strong></li>
<li>Instituting carbon taxes on industries and subsidies for reducing the carbon footprint.</li>
<li><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/carbon-sequestration" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Carbon sequestration</strong></a> by geo-engineering and natural methods like restoring peatland and wetland areas to capture existing greenhouse gases.</li>
<li><strong>Afforestation</strong> and reducing deforestation.</li>
<li>Subsidizing research on <strong>climate change.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="https://pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=1728293" 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/rising-sea-levels'
		],
		(int) 5 => [
			'title' => 'IN-EUNAVFOR Joint Naval Exercise',
			'catname' => 'News Analysis',
			'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>The <strong>maiden Indian Navy - European Union Naval Force (IN-EUNAVFOR) Exercise</strong> is being conducted in<strong> Gulf Of Aden.</strong></p>
<p><a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1624090807_pasted%20image 0 (2).png" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1624090807_pasted image 0 (2).png" width="450" caption="false" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" /></a></p>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Participants</strong>
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Along with <strong>Indian Navy</strong>, other naval forces are from <strong>Italy, Spain and France.</strong></li>
<li>The naval exercise <strong>included</strong> advanced air defence and anti-submarine exercises, tactical manoeuvres, Search &amp; Rescue, and other maritime security operations.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Aim:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>To enhance and hone their <strong>war-fighting skills</strong> and their ability as an<strong> integrated force to promote peace, security and stability</strong> in the maritime domain.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Significance:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>EUNAVFOR and the Indian Navy converge on multiple issues including <strong>counter piracy operations</strong> and <strong>protection of vessels deployed</strong> under the charter of <a href="/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-international-institution/world-food-programme-wfp" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>World Food Programme (UN WFP)</strong></a>.</li>
<li>The two navies also have regular interaction through <strong>SHADE (Shared Awareness and Deconfliction)</strong> meetings held annually at Bahrain.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li><strong>SHADE</strong> is an <strong>international operational counter piracy platform</strong>, convened in <strong>Bahrain.</strong></li>
<li>It aimed to encourage partners for sharing information, assessing the evolution of trends, best practices and to de-conflict operations amongst counter-piracy actors in the Gulf of Aden, the <strong>Gulf of Oman and the Western Indian Ocean.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>It also underscores the shared values in ensuring <strong>freedom of seas and commitment to an open, inclusive and a rules-based international order.</strong></li>
<li>Concurrently, a virtual <strong>&ldquo;Information sharing Exercise&rdquo;</strong> is also being conducted between the<a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/information-fusion-centre-of-indian-navy" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong> Indian Navy Information Fusion Centre &ndash; Indian Ocean Region</strong></a> and <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/indian-naval-los-at-madagascar-and-abu-dhabi" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Maritime Security Centre-Horn of Africa</strong></a>, an integral part of EUNAVFOR.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<table border="1" style="border-collapse: collapse; width: 100%;">
<tbody>
<tr style="height: 19px;">
<td style="width: 50%; height: 19px; background-color: #000000; text-align: center; border-style: solid; border-color: #000000;" colspan="2"><span style="color: #ffffff;"><strong>Major Indian Maritime Exercises</strong></span></td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 19px;">
<td style="width: 50%; height: 19px; background-color: #b0acac; border-style: solid; border-color: #000000;"><strong>Name of the Exercise</strong></td>
<td style="width: 50%; height: 19px; background-color: #b0acac; border-style: solid; border-color: #000000;"><strong>Name of the Country</strong></td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 19px;">
<td style="width: 50%; height: 19px; border-style: solid; border-color: #000000;"><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/slinex-20-india-sri-lanka-naval-maritime-exercise" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>SLINEX</strong></a></td>
<td style="width: 50%; height: 19px; border-style: solid; border-color: #000000;">Sri Lanka</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 19px;">
<td style="width: 50%; height: 19px; border-style: solid; border-color: #000000;"><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/exercise-bongosagar" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Bongosagar and IN-BN CORPAT</strong></a></td>
<td style="width: 50%; height: 19px; border-style: solid; border-color: #000000;">Bangladesh</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 19px;">
<td style="width: 50%; height: 19px; border-style: solid; border-color: #000000;"><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/jimex-20-maritime-exercise" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>JIMEX</strong></a></td>
<td style="width: 50%; height: 19px; border-style: solid; border-color: #000000;">Japan</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 19px;">
<td style="width: 50%; height: 19px; border-style: solid; border-color: #000000;">Naseem-Al-Bahr</td>
<td style="width: 50%; height: 19px; border-style: solid; border-color: #000000;">Oman</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 19px;">
<td style="width: 50%; height: 19px; border-style: solid; border-color: #000000;"><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/exercise-indra-2019" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Indra</strong></a></td>
<td style="width: 50%; height: 19px; border-style: solid; border-color: #000000;">Russia</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 19px;">
<td style="width: 50%; height: 19px; border-style: solid; border-color: #000000;"><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/bilateral-maritime-exercise-za-ir-al-bahr" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Za&rsquo;ir-Al-Bahr</strong></a></td>
<td style="width: 50%; height: 19px; border-style: solid; border-color: #000000;">Qatar</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 19px;">
<td style="width: 50%; height: 19px; border-style: solid; border-color: #000000;"><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/exercise-samudra-shakti" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Samudra Shakti</strong></a></td>
<td style="width: 50%; height: 19px; border-style: solid; border-color: #000000;">Indonesia</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 19px;">
<td style="width: 50%; height: 19px; border-style: solid; border-color: #000000;"><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/india-thailand-coordinated-patrol" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Indo-Thai CORPAT</strong></a></td>
<td style="width: 50%; height: 19px; border-style: solid; border-color: #000000;">Thailand</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 19px;">
<td style="width: 50%; height: 19px; border-style: solid; border-color: #000000;">IMCOR</td>
<td style="width: 50%; height: 19px; border-style: solid; border-color: #000000;">Malaysia</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 19px;">
<td style="width: 50%; height: 19px; border-style: solid; border-color: #000000;"><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/important-facts-for-prelims-20th-may-2019" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>SIMBEX</strong></a></td>
<td style="width: 50%; height: 19px; border-style: solid; border-color: #000000;">Singapore</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 19px;">
<td style="width: 50%; height: 19px; border-style: solid; border-color: #000000;">AUSINDEX</td>
<td style="width: 50%; height: 19px; border-style: solid; border-color: #000000;">Australia</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 19px;">
<td style="width: 50%; height: 19px; border-style: solid; border-color: #000000;"><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/australia-to-join-malabar-exercise" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Malabar Exercise</strong></a></td>
<td style="width: 50%; height: 19px; border-style: solid; border-color: #000000;">Japan, and the USA</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<p><a href="https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=1728276" 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/in-eunavfor-joint-naval-exercise'
		],
		(int) 6 => [
			'title' => 'Disability Early Intervention Centres',
			'catname' => 'News Analysis',
			'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>Recently, the <strong>Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment</strong> has launched <strong>14 cross-disability early intervention centres</strong> across the country to provide support to<strong> infants and young children</strong> at risk of or <strong>with disabilities.</strong></p>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Disabilities</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Disabilities is an <strong>umbrella term</strong>, covering impairments, activity limitations, and participation restrictions.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>An <strong>impairment</strong> is a problem in body function or structure;</li>
<li>An <strong>activity limitation</strong> is a difficulty encountered by an individual in executing a task or action;</li>
<li>A <strong>participation restriction</strong> is a problem experienced by an individual in involvement in life situations.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>The <a href="/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-international-institution/united-nations-1" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>United Nations</strong></a> <strong>Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities</strong> adopts a broad categorization of persons with disabilities and reaffirms that all persons with all types of disabilities must enjoy all human rights and fundamental freedoms.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>India has ratified the Convention</strong> and has enacted <strong>'The Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act, 2016'.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</div>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>About:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The <strong>services provided at the centres will include</strong> screening of children and referral to appropriate <strong>rehabilitative care; speech therapy, occupational therapy and physiotherapy; parental counselling</strong> and training and peer counselling.</li>
<li>These centers will also <strong>focus on school readiness.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Need:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Scenario from 2011 Census:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>There are <strong>more than 20 lakh</strong> children with disabilities in the age group of <strong>0-6 years</strong>, who belong to the categories of visually impaired, hearing impaired, locomotor disability etc.</li>
<li>This means that <strong>around 7% of children</strong> in this age group suffer from some form of disability.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Expected Rise in Number:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>The number of such children is expected to increase as the <strong>Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act 2016</strong>, increases the number of disabilities to 21 from 7.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>0-6 Years is a Critical Phase:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Early Childhood (0-6 years) is the <strong>most critical phase of brain</strong> development. Early intervention can provide specialised support and services for infants and young children at-risk or with disability or developmental delay and their families to help their development, well-being and participation in family and community life.</li>
<li>This can<strong> lead to lesser economic burden</strong> by creating a better future and independent/less dependent lives.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Other Initiatives for Disabled:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/status-on-implementation-of-the-rights-of-persons-with-disabilities-act-2016" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Right of Persons with Disabilities Act 2016</strong></a>: Besides increasing the number of disabilities, it increases the quantum of reservation for people suffering from disabilities from 3% to 4% in government jobs and from 3% to 5% in higher education institutes.</li>
<li><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/accessible-india-campaign" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Accessible India Campaign</strong></a>: Creation of Accessible Environment for Persons with Disabilities (PwDs).</li>
<li><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/unique-disability-identification-portal" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Unique Disability Identification (UDID) Portal</strong></a>: The project is being implemented with a view of creating a <strong>National Database for PwDs</strong>, and to issue a <strong>Unique Disability Identity Card</strong> to each PwD.</li>
<li><strong>DeenDayal Disabled Rehabilitation Scheme: Financial assistance is provided to NGOs</strong> for providing various services to PwDs, like special schools, vocational training centres, community based rehabilitation, pre-school and early intervention etc.</li>
<li><strong>Assistance to Disabled Persons for Purchase / fitting of Aids and Appliances (ADIP):</strong> Aims at <strong>helping the disabled persons</strong> by bringing suitable, durable, scientifically-manufactured, modern, standard aids and appliances within their reach.</li>
<li><strong>National Fellowship for Students with Disabilities:</strong> To increase opportunities for students with disabilities to pursue higher education, 200 Fellowships per year are granted.</li>
<li><strong>Schemes of the National Trust</strong> for the Welfare of Persons with Autism, Cerebral Palsy, Mental Retardation and Multiple Disabilities.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Way Forward</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Identification of at-risk cases, <strong>especially in rural areas</strong>, is an important aspect and it is also important to provide necessary assistance and counselling to their parents in time.</li>
<li>Research shows that the <strong>first 1000 days of a child's life are crucial</strong> to ensure healthy development, so it is very important to identify the risk cases at an early age so that the severity of the disability can be reduced through appropriate measures.</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/centre-opens-14-disability-early-intervention-centres/article34841209.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/disability-early-intervention-centres'
		],
		(int) 7 => [
			'title' => 'Role of Social Media in Democracy',
			'catname' => 'News Editorials',
			'desc' => '<div class="border">
<p>This article is based on <a href="https://indianexpress.com/article/opinion/columns/why-democracy-needs-social-media-7363544/" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>&ldquo;Why democracy needs social media''</strong></a> which was published in The Indian express on 17/06/2021. It talks about the role of social media in democracy.</p>
</div>
<p>The Covid-19 pandemic has shown how <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/social-media-and-democracy" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>social media</strong></a> can help average citizens and complement the efforts of the modern governments in dealing with the crisis.</p>
<p>Around the world, social media is making it easier for people to have a voice in government &mdash; to discuss issues, organize around causes, and hold leaders accountable.</p>
<p>However, due to its unregulated nature and its role in the spread of fake news, social media leads to spread of propaganda, targets minorities, destabilizes the elected governments, which all in turn compromises the spirit of democracy.</p>
<p>Thus, there is a need to regulate social media, in a way that strikes a balance between freedom of speech, interest of minorities, law &amp; order and promote participation of citizens in governance.</p>
<h3>Positive Impact of Social Media on Democracy</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Digital Democracy:</strong> Democratic values can evolve when people have freedom of expression. In this way, social media enables the concept of digital democracy through these platforms of freedom.</li>
<li><strong>Setting Accountability:</strong> Social media acts as an instrument that can question the seemingly invincible governments, make them accountable and bring sustained change driven by people beyond one vote in years.</li>
<li><strong>Giving Voice:</strong> Social media has enormous power to keep people informed. This can be seen, when social media played a critical role in the Arab Spring in places like Tunisia, it was heralded as a technology for liberation.</li>
<li><strong>Civic Engagement:</strong> Social media&rsquo;s implications for civic engagement are profound, as many people tend to discuss &amp; debate news over these platforms.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>It has long been observed that when people discuss the news, they&rsquo;re more likely to be involved in their community, whether by volunteering or reaching out to elected officials.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Negative Impact of Social Media on Democracy</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Political Polarization:</strong> One of the most common criticisms of social media is that it creates echo chambers where people only see viewpoints they agree with &mdash; further driving us apart.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>As unprecedented numbers of people channel their political energy through this medium, it&rsquo;s being used in unforeseen ways with societal repercussions that were never anticipated.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Propaganda Setting:</strong> According to Google Transparency Report, political parties mostly in the last two years have spent around $800 million (Rs 5,900 crore) on election ads. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Micro-targeting can enable dishonest campaigns to spread toxic discourse without much consequence.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Foreign Interference:</strong> Around the US 2016 election, Russian entities set up and promoted fake Pages on Facebook to influence public sentiment &mdash; essentially using social media as an information weapon.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>In this way, social media enables nation-states to use these platforms to wage a cyberwar intended to divide society.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Fake News:</strong> Social media gives people more voice and can sometimes be used, by anyone, to spread hoaxes and misinformation.</li>
<li><strong>Unequal Participation:</strong> Social media also distorts policymakers&rsquo; perception of public opinion. This is because it is believed that social media platforms tend to represent every walk of life, but not everyone is using their voice equally.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Conclusion</h3>
<p>If there&rsquo;s one fundamental truth about social media&rsquo;s impact on democracy it&rsquo;s that it amplifies human intent &mdash; both good and bad. At its best, it allows us to express ourselves and take action. At its worst, it allows people to spread misinformation and corrode democracy.</p>
<table border="1" style="border-collapse: collapse; width: 100%;">
<tbody>
<tr>
<td style="width: 100%; border-style: dotted; border-color: #ff0000; background-color: #fffffc;">
<p><span style="color: #333399;"><em><strong>Drishti Mains Question</strong></em></span></p>
<p>If there&rsquo;s one fundamental truth about social media&rsquo;s impact on democracy it&rsquo;s that it amplifies human intent &mdash; both good and bad. Comment.</p>
</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<p></p>',
			'postdate' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenTime) {},
			'url' => 'https://www.drishtiias.com/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/role-of-social-media-in-democracy'
		],
		(int) 8 => [
			'title' => 'Helpline for Cyber Fraud',
			'catname' => 'News Analysis',
			'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>The <strong>Ministry of Home Affairs</strong> has operationalised the<strong> national Helpline 155260</strong> and <strong>Reporting Platform for preventing</strong> financial loss due to <strong>cyber fraud.</strong> The helpline was <strong>soft-launched on 1<sup>st</sup> April.</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The National Helpline and Reporting Platform <strong>provides a mechanism for persons cheated in cyber frauds</strong> to report such cases to prevent loss of their hard earned money.</li>
<li>Also, a <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/national-cyber-security-strategy-2020" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>National Cyber Security Strategy 2020</strong> </a>is being formulated by the Office of National Cyber Security Coordinator at the National Security Council Secretariat.</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Cyber Security</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><a href="/to-the-points/paper3/cyber-security#:~:text=Strategies%20under%20National%20Cyber%20Policy,through%20national%20systems%20and%20processes." target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Cyber Security</strong></a> is <strong>protecting cyber space</strong> including critical information infrastructure from attack, damage, misuse and economic espionage.</li>
<li><strong>Critical Information Infrastructure:</strong> According to<strong> Section 70(1) of the Information Technology Act,</strong> CII is defined as a &ldquo;computer resource, the incapacitation or destruction of which, shall have <strong>debilitating impact on national security, economy, public health or safety&rdquo;.</strong></li>
<li><strong>Cyber Fraud:</strong> It is the crime committed via a computer <strong>with the intent to corrupt another individual&rsquo;s personal and financial information</strong> stored online. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>It is the most common type of fraud and individuals and organisations need to be vigilant and protect their information from fraudsters.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</div>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>About:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The helpline has been made<strong> operational by the Indian Cyber Crime Coordination Centre (I4C),</strong> in coordination with the <a href="/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-national-institutions/important-institutions-national-institution-reserve-bank-of-india" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Reserve Bank of India</strong></a>, all major banks, <a href="/to-the-points/paper3/payment-banks" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>payment banks</strong></a>, wallets and online merchants.</li>
<li>The <strong>Citizen Financial Cyber Fraud Reporting and Management System</strong> has been developed by I4C to integrate Law Enforcement Agencies and Banks and Financial Intermediaries.</li>
<li>The facility <strong>empowers both the banks and the police,</strong> by leveraging new-age technologies <strong>for sharing online fraud related information</strong> and taking action in almost real time.</li>
<li>Since its soft launch, in a short span of two months, the helpline has assisted in saving <strong>more than Rs 1.85 crore.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Indian Cyber Crime Coordination Centre:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The scheme to<strong> set up I4C</strong> was approved<strong> in October 2018,</strong> to deal with all types of cybercrimes in a comprehensive and coordinated manner.</li>
<li>It has <strong>seven components:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>National Cyber Crime Threat Analytics Unit</li>
<li><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/new-facility-to-tackle-cyber-crimes" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>National Cyber Crime Reporting Portal</strong></a></li>
<li>National Cyber Crime Training Centre</li>
<li>Cyber Crime Ecosystem Management Unit</li>
<li>National Cyber Crime Research and Innovation Centre</li>
<li>National Cyber Crime Forensic Laboratory Ecosystem</li>
<li>Platform for Joint Cyber Crime Investigation Team.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>15 States and Union Territories have given their consent to set up Regional Cyber Crime Coordination Centres.</li>
<li>This state-of-the-art Centre is<strong> located in New Delhi.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Other Initiatives to Tackle Cybercrime:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/cyber-crime-data-deprivation-and-data-localisation" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Draft Personal Data Protection Bill</strong></a>, 2018 (based on the recommendation of <strong>Justice BN Srikrishna Committee</strong>) to secure citizens data.</li>
<li><strong>Cyber Swachhta Kendra:</strong> The "Cyber Swachhta Kendra" (Botnet Cleaning and Malware Analysis Centre) is a part of the Government of India's <a href="/loksabha-rajyasabha-discussions/in-depth-digital-india" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Digital India initiative</strong></a> under the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY).</li>
<li><strong><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/35-percent-of-cyber-attacks-on-indian-sites-from-china" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Indian Computer Emergency Response Team (CERT</a>-IN)</strong>: It is an organisation of the MeitY, with the objective of securing Indian cyberspace. It is the nodal agency which deals with cybersecurity threats like hacking and phishing.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Related International Convention (Budapest Convention):</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The <strong>Council of Europe&rsquo;s (CoE) Cybercrime Convention,</strong> also known as the Budapest Convention is the sole legally binding international multilateral treaty on cybercrime. It coordinates<strong> cybercrime investigations between</strong> nation-states and criminalizes certain cybercrime conduct.</li>
<li>It was opened for <strong>signature in 2001</strong> and came into<strong> force in 2004.</strong></li>
<li>The Budapest Convention is supplemented by a <strong>Protocol on Xenophobia and Racism</strong> committed through computer systems.</li>
<li>India is <strong>not a party</strong> to it. India recently <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/convention-on-global-cybercrime" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>voted in favour of a Russian-led UN resolution</strong></a> to set up a separate convention. The resolution seeks to set up new cyber norms considered as a counter alternative to the US backed Budapest Accord.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/amit-shah-launches-helpline-for-cyber-fraud/article34843393.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/helpline-for-cyber-fraud'
		],
		(int) 9 => [
			'title' => 'China’s Shenzhou-12 Manned Mission',
			'catname' => 'News Analysis',
			'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>Recently, a Chinese spaceship <strong>&ldquo;Shenzhou-12&rdquo;</strong> carrying a <strong>three-person crew</strong> docked with China&rsquo;s new <strong>space station</strong> module <strong>Tianhe-1.</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>This has come after the launch of the <strong>Tianzhou-2 cargo spacecraft,</strong> which carried vital supplies for the space station.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>About Mission:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The <strong>Shenzhou-12 craft</strong> connected with the<a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/china-s-permanent-space-station" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong> Tianhe space station module</strong></a> about six hours after takeoff from the <strong>Jiuquan launch center in Gobi Desert.</strong></li>
<li>The<strong> three-man crew</strong> will spend<strong> three months on the Tianhe module,</strong> which is orbiting at some <strong>340km to 380km</strong> above the earth.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>China is the<strong> third country after</strong> the former <strong>Soviet Union</strong> and the <strong>United States</strong> to carry out a<strong> manned mission</strong> on its own.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>This is the <strong>first of two manned space missions</strong> planned for this year, part of an intense schedule of launches aimed at completing the <strong>Chinese space station in 2022.</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>At least <strong>five more missions</strong> are planned for the year, with the <strong>Shenzhou-13</strong> manned mission, also carrying three astronauts, set for later this year.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>The three astronauts are the first to take up residency in the main living module and <strong>will carry out</strong> experiments, test equipment, conduct maintenance and prepare the station for receiving two laboratory modules next year.</li>
<li>It was <strong>China&rsquo;s seventh crewed mission to space</strong> but marked<strong> a number of firsts for the country &ndash;</strong> the first manned one during the construction of China&rsquo;s space station, the first in nearly five years after the country&rsquo;s <strong>last manned mission in 2016</strong> and China&rsquo;s<strong> longest crewed space mission</strong> to date.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Purpose of the Mission:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>It will help test technologies related to<strong> long-term astronaut-stays</strong> and health care, the recycling and life support system, the supply of space materials, extravehicular activities and operations, and in-orbit maintenance.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>China&rsquo;s Space Station:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>China is <strong>not a participant in the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/important-fact-for-prelims-27-february-2019" target="_blank" rel="noopener">International Space Station (ISS)</a>,</strong> largely as a result of US objections to the Chinese program's secrecy and close military ties. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>The ISS is a joint project between <strong>five participating space agencies: NASA</strong> (United States), <strong>Roscosmos</strong> (Russia), <strong>JAXA</strong> (Japan), <strong>ESA</strong> (Europe), and b (Canada).</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>However, <strong>China has been stepping up cooperation with Russia and a host of other countries,</strong> and <strong>its station may continue operating beyond the ISS, </strong>which is <strong>reaching the end of its functional life.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Other Recent Space Missions of China:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>China's Mars Probe:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>In May 2021 <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/tianwen-1-china-s-mars-mission-1" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>China&rsquo;s Tianwen spacecraft</strong></a> landed on Mars carrying a <strong>rover, the Zhurong.</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>It will conduct scientific investigations into the planet&rsquo;s soil, geological structure, environment, atmosphere and water.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>China&rsquo;s Moon Probe:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>In November 2020, <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/chang-e-5-mission-china" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Chang&rsquo;e-5 mission</strong></a> landed on the moon&rsquo;s less explored far side and brought back the first lunar samples by any country&rsquo;s space program since the 1970s.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>China and Russia</strong> have also unveiled an ambitious plan for a joint <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/international-lunar-research-station-russia-and-china" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>International Lunar Research Station</strong> </a>running through 2036. That could compete and possibly conflict with the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/lunar-evacuation-system" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Multinational Artemis Accords (MAA).</strong></a><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>MAA is a blueprint for space cooperation that supports NASA&rsquo;s plans to return humans to the moon by 2024 and to launch an historic human mission to Mars.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1624012224_image%200.jpg" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1624012224_image 0.jpg" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="350" caption="false" /></a></p>
<p><a href="https://www.thehindu.com/news/international/chinese-astronauts-dock-with-space-station/article34841851.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/china-s-shenzhou-12-manned-mission'
		],
		(int) 10 => [
			'title' => 'Namami Gange Programme',
			'catname' => 'News Analysis',
			'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>Recently, an agreement was signed for Development of 35 MLD (Mega Liters per day) <strong>Sewage Treatment Plant</strong> in Maheshtala (City situated on the east bank of <strong>River Ganga</strong>), West Bengal under <strong>Namami Gange Programme.</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The project was signed under <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/revisit-ppps-to-revive-investments#:~:text=The%20Hybrid%20Annuity%20Model%20(HAM,through%20annual%20payments%20(annuity)." target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Hybrid Annuity PPP mode.</strong></a></li>
</ul>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Namami Gange Programme:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Namami Gange Programme is an<strong> Integrated Conservation Mission,</strong> approved as a <strong>&lsquo;Flagship Programme&rsquo;</strong> by the Union Government in June 2014 to accomplish the <strong>twin objectives of effective abatement of pollution and conservation and rejuvenation of National River Ganga.</strong></li>
<li>It is being operated under the Department of Water Resources, River Development and Ganga Rejuvenation, <a href="/to-the-points/Paper2/year-end-review-2019-ministry-of-jal-shakti" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Ministry of Jal Shakti.</strong></a></li>
<li>The program is being implemented by the <strong><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/national-mission-for-clean-ganga" target="_blank" rel="noopener">National Mission for Clean Ganga</a> (NMCG),</strong> and its state counterpart organizations i.e State Program Management Groups (SPMGs).</li>
<li>NMCG is the implementation wing of <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/first-meeting-of-national-ganga-council" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>National Ganga Council</strong></a> (set in 2016; which replaced the National Ganga River Basin Authority - NGRBA).</li>
<li>It has a Rs. 20,000-crore, <strong>centrally-funded, non-lapsable corpus</strong> and consists of nearly 288 projects.</li>
<li>The <strong>main pillars</strong> of the programme are:<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Sewage Treatment Infrastructure</li>
<li>River-Front Development</li>
<li>River-Surface Cleaning</li>
<li>Biodiversity</li>
<li>Afforestation</li>
<li>Public Awareness</li>
<li>Industrial Effluent Monitoring</li>
<li>Ganga Gram</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>The Ganga River System:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The headwaters of the Ganga called the &lsquo;Bhagirathi&rsquo; are fed by the Gangotri Glacier and joined by the Alaknanda at Devprayag in Uttarakhand.</li>
<li>At Haridwar, Ganga emerges from the mountains to the plains.</li>
<li>The Ganga is joined by many tributaries from the Himalayas, a few of them being major rivers such as the Yamuna, the Ghaghara, the Gandak and the Kosi.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<p style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1624010293_image2.png" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1624010293_image2.png" width="600" caption="false" /></a></p>
<p><a href="https://pib.gov.in/PressReleaseIframePage.aspx?PRID=1727998" 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/namami-gange-programme'
		],
		(int) 11 => [
			'title' => 'Improving Employability of the Youth',
			'catname' => 'News Analysis',
			'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>Recently, the <strong>Ministry of Labour and Employment</strong> and <strong>UNICEF</strong> have signed a <strong>Statement of Intent</strong> to improve employment outcomes for the youth in India.</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>According to <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/census-2021" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Census 2011</strong></a>, every fifth person in India is a youth (15-24 years).</li>
<li><a href="/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-international-institution/unicef-1" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>UNICEF</strong></a> is a s<strong>pecial program of the <a href="/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-international-institution/united-nations-1" target="_blank" rel="noopener">United Nations</a> (UN)</strong> devoted to aiding national efforts to improve the health, nutrition, education, and general welfare of children. <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/world-s-children-report-2019" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>&lsquo;The State of the World's Children'</strong></a> is UNICEF's flagship report.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Purpose of this Collaboration:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>It intends to provide a <strong>platform for cooperation between the Ministry and UNICEF</strong> to leverage the existing mainstreamed initiatives of both parties in select states.</li>
<li>This will <strong>co-create and implement solutions</strong> at scale to tackle the <strong>employment and skilling challenges</strong> for adolescents and youth in India, with focus on <strong>vulnerable populations.</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li><strong>Vulnerable Populations include</strong> young people with special needs, youth leaving care institutions, migrant youth, victims of <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/child-labour-in-india" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>child labour</strong></a>, violence, <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/child-marriage-and-pandemic" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>child marriage</strong></a> and trafficking and like other matter.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Areas of Collaboration:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Connecting young people with employment opportunities.</strong></li>
<li><strong>Upskilling of young people on 21<sup>st</sup> century skills</strong> including life skills, financial skills, digital skills, vocations skills etc.</li>
<li><strong>Strengthening National Career Service (NCS).</strong></li>
<li>Support in <strong>Job forecasting</strong> by exploring the gaps.</li>
<li>Supporting <strong>direct dialogue and the establishment of a feedback mechanism</strong> between youth and policy stakeholders.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/national-career-service-project" target="_blank" rel="noopener">National Career Service (NCS)</a>:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>About:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>It was <strong>launched in 2015</strong>, within the umbrella of the <strong><a href="/to-the-points/Paper2/e-governance-1" target="_blank" rel="noopener">e-governance plan</a>.</strong></li>
<li>It is a<strong> one-stop solution</strong> that provides a wide array of employment and career related services to the citizens of India.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Nodal Ministry:</strong> Ministry of Labour &amp; Employment.</li>
<li><strong>Three Pillars:</strong> The NCS project reaches out to the people of this country through its three essential pillars i.e.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>A well designed ICT based portal which is <strong>NCS portal,</strong></li>
<li>Country wide set up of <strong>Model Career Centers</strong> and</li>
<li>Interlinkage with all the states through <strong>employment exchanges.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>UNICEF&rsquo;s Initiative (YuWaah):</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The <strong>India chapter of Generation Unlimited (GenU) &ndash; YuWaah</strong> &ndash; was <strong>born in 2018.</strong></li>
<li>GenU is a <strong>global multi-stakeholder platform</strong> that aims to prepare young people to transition to productive work and active citizenship.</li>
<li>In India, <strong>by 2030</strong>, YuWaah aims to ensure, the following:<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Build <strong>pathways for 100 million young people</strong> to aspirational economic opportunities.</li>
<li>Facilitate <strong>200 million young people to gain relevant skills</strong> for productive lives and the future of work.</li>
<li><strong>Partner with 300 million young people as changemakers</strong> and create spaces for developing their leadership.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Other Initiatives Taken to Improve Employability of the Youth</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>National Youth Policy-2014</strong> provides a holistic Vision for the youth of India which is &ldquo;to empower the youth of the country to achieve their full potential, and through them enable India to find its rightful place in the community of nations&rdquo;.</li>
<li><strong><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/prime-minister-s-employment-generation-program" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Prime Minister&rsquo;s Employment Generation Programme (PMEGP)</a>:</strong> It was <strong>introduced in 2008</strong> for generation of employment opportunities through establishment of micro enterprises in rural as well as urban areas. It is administered by the <strong>Ministry of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises.</strong></li>
<li><strong><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/pradhan-mantri-mudra-yojana" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Pradhan Mantri Mudra Yojana (PMMY)</a>:</strong> It was launched in 2015 for providing <strong>loans up to Rs. 10 lakh</strong> to the non-corporate, non-farm small/micro-enterprises. It has a focu<strong>s on self-employment.</strong></li>
<li><strong><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/important-facts-for-prelims-18th-january-2019" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Pradhan Mantri Rojgar ProtsahanYojana (PMRPY)</a>:</strong> It has been launched by the <strong>Ministry of Labour and Employment for incentivising employers for promoting employment generation.</strong> The Government is paying the entire employer&rsquo;s contribution towards EPF and EPS for all eligible new employees for all sectors for 3 years.</li>
<li>Increased public expenditure on schemes like <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/mgnrega-and-migrant-crisis" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MGNREGA)</strong></a>, <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/deen-dayal-upadhyaya-grameen-kaushalya-yojana" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Pt. Deen Dayal Upadhyaya Grameen Kaushalya Yojana (DDU-GKY)</strong> </a>scheme run by Ministry of Rural Development and <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/skoch-governance-gold-award-for-day-nulm" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Deendayal Antyodaya Yojana- National Urban Livelihoods Mission (DAY-NULM)</strong></a> run by Ministry of Housing &amp; Urban Affairs.</li>
<li><strong>Other Flagship Programmes which have the Potential to Generate Employment:</strong> <strong><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/assessment-of-make-in-india" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Make in India</a>, <a href="/loksabha-rajyasabha-discussions/in-depth-digital-india" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Digital India</a>, <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/Swachh%20Bharat%20Mission#:~:text=The%20Swachh%20Bharat%20Mission%20(Grameen,launched%20on%20October%202%2C%202014.&amp;text=Together%2C%20they%20aim%20to%20achieve,on%20his%20150th%20Birth%20Anniver" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Swachh Bharat Mission</a>, <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/smart-cities-command-centres#:~:text=Smart%20City%20Mission,create%20smart%20outcomes%20for%20citizens." target="_blank" rel="noopener">Smart City Mission</a>, <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/amrut-mission" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Atal Mission for Rejuvenation and Urban Transformation</a>, <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/pradhan-mantri-awaas-yojana-gramin#:~:text=Launch%3A%20To%20achieve%20the%20objective,Involved%3A%20Ministry%20of%20Rural%20development." target="_blank" rel="noopener">Housing for All</a>, <a href="/to-the-points/paper3/industrial-corridors-2" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Industrial corridors</a></strong>, etc.</li>
</ul>
</div>
<p><a href="https://pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=1727860" 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/improving-employability-of-the-youth'
		],
		(int) 12 => [
			'title' => 'Inland Vessel Bill 2021',
			'catname' => 'News Analysis',
			'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>Recently, the Union Cabinet approved the <strong>Inland Vessels Bill, 2021</strong>, which will replace the <strong>Inland Vessels Act, 1917</strong> after passing in Parliament.</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The Bill will <strong>regulate safety, security and registration of inland vessels.</strong></li>
</ul>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Features of the Bill:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>A key feature of the Bill is a <strong>unified law for the entire country</strong>, instead of separate rules framed by the States. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>The <strong>certificate of registration</strong> granted under the proposed law will be deemed to be valid in all States and Union Territories, and there will be no need to seek separate permissions from the States.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>The Bill provides for a <strong>central database</strong> for recording the details of vessel, vessel registration, crew on an electronic portal.</li>
<li>All <strong>non-mechanically propelled vessels will also</strong> have to be enrolled at the district, taluk or panchayat or village level.</li>
<li>It enlarges the definition of <strong>&lsquo;inland waters&rsquo;</strong>, by including <strong>tidal water limit</strong> and <strong>national waterways</strong> declared by the Central Government.</li>
<li>It also deals <strong>with pollution control measures</strong> of Inland Vessels. This Bill directs the Central Government <strong>to designate a list of chemicals, substances</strong>, etc. <strong>as pollutants.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Inland Waterways:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>About:</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>India has <strong>about 14,500 km of navigable waterways</strong> which comprise of rivers, canals, backwaters, creeks, etc.</li>
<li>As per the <strong>National Waterways Act 2016, 111 waterways</strong> have been declared as <strong>National Waterways (NWs).</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li><strong>NW-1: Ganga-Bhagirathi-Hooghly River System (Prayagraj-Haldia)</strong> with length 1620 km is the <strong>longest National Waterway</strong> in India.</li>
<li>The <strong>Inland Waterways Authority of India (IWAI)</strong> is implementing the <strong><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/jal-marg-vikas-project" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Jal Marg Vikas Project</a> (JMVP)</strong> for capacity augmentation of navigation on the Haldia-Varanasi stretch of Ganga (part of NW-1) with the technical and financial assistance of the <a href="/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-international-institution/world-bank-group" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>World Bank</strong></a>.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Utilization:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>About <strong>55 million tonnes of cargo</strong> is being moved <strong>annually by IWT (Inland Water Transport)</strong>, a fuel-efficient and environment-friendly mode.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>However, <strong>freight transportation by waterways is highly underutilized</strong> in the country as compared to developed countries.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>Its operations are <strong>currently restricted to a few stretches</strong> in the <strong>Ganga-Bhagirathi-Hooghly rivers, the Brahmaputra, the Barak river</strong> (northeastern India), the <strong>rivers in Goa, the backwaters in Kerala, inland waters in Mumbai</strong> and the<strong> deltaic regions of the Godavari - Krishna rivers.</strong></li>
<li>Besides these<strong> organized operations by mechanized vessels, country boats</strong> of various capacities also operate in various rivers and canals and<strong> substantial quantum of cargo and passengers are transported in this unorganized sector</strong> as well.</li>
<li>In India, IWT has the <strong>potential to supplement the overburdened railways and congested roadways.</strong> In addition to cargo movement, the IWT sector also provides a convenient function in related activities such as <strong>carriage of vehicles {on Roll-on-Roll-off (Ro-Ro) mode of cross ferry} and tourism.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Steps Taken:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>The waterways will also<strong> be linked to the</strong> <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/dedicated-freight-corridor-1" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>eastern and western Dedicated Freight Corridors (DFCs)</strong></a>, <strong>as well as the</strong> <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/sagarmala-seaplane-services" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Sagarmala Project</strong></a>, which aims to promote port-led direct and indirect development.</li>
<li>Further, the provisions of the <strong><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/sonamura-daudkandi-inland-waterway-route" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Indo-Bangladesh (Sonamura-Daudkandi)</a> and <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/presidents-visit-to-myanmar" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Indo-Myanmar protocol (Kaladan)</a></strong> permitting transhipment of goods through Bangladesh and Myanmar waters &ndash; which, in many cases, are a continuum of India&rsquo;s inland waterways &ndash; enabling quicker shipments and deeper market penetration in India&rsquo;s North East.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1624014464_image1.png" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1624014464_image1.png" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" caption="false" width="599" height="563" /></a></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Inland Waterways Authority of India:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>It came into existence <strong>on 27<sup>th</sup> October 1986</strong> for development and regulation of inland waterways for shipping and navigation.</li>
<li>It primarily undertakes projects for development and maintenance of <strong>IWT</strong> (Inland Water Transport) <strong>infrastructure</strong> on national waterways through grants received from the <strong>Ministry of Shipping.</strong></li>
<li>It is <strong>headquartered at Noida</strong> (Uttar Pradesh).</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/cabinet-nod-for-inland-vessels-bill/article34832506.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/inland-vessel-bill-2021'
		],
		(int) 13 => [
			'title' => 'AI: Promises & Perils',
			'catname' => 'News Editorials',
			'desc' => '<div class="border">
<p>This article is based on<a href="https://www.hindustantimes.com/opinion/the-promise-and-perils-of-ai-partnerships-101623837070390.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong> &ldquo;The promise and perils of Artificial Intelligence partnerships&rdquo;</strong></a> which was published in The Hindustan Times on 16/06/2021. It talks about the promises and perils associated with Artificial intelligence.</p>
</div>
<p>Historically, Technology competition has been a main aspect of geopolitics. In this day and age, it can be increasingly reflected in geopolitical battles between the US and China. One such technological competition can be easily witnessed in the field of <strong><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/ethical-challenges-posed-by-ai" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Artificial intelligence (AI)</a>.</strong></p>
<p>Artificial intelligence is that activity devoted to making machines intelligent or to make them think like humans. AI has emerged as one technology of particular importance because of its role as an accelerator, its versatility, and its wide applicability.</p>
<p>However, AI can also be used for a host of undesirable purposes &mdash; generating misinformation, criminal activity, and encroaching upon personal privacy or inducing technological unemployment.</p>
<p>Therefore, as the global community seeks to leverage the promises of AI, they should also confront similar challenges when it comes to the development and deployment of AI and develop a human-centric approach to AI.</p>
<h3>Promises of AI</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Some Primary advantages of AI are as follows:</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>AI drives down the time taken to perform a task. It enables multi-tasking and eases the workload for existing resources.</li>
<li>AI enables the execution of hitherto complex tasks without significant cost outlays.</li>
<li>AI operates 24x7 without interruption or breaks and has no downtime</li>
<li>AI augments the capabilities of differently abled individuals</li>
<li>AI has mass market potential, it can be deployed across industries.</li>
<li>AI facilitates decision-making by making the process faster and smarter.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>360-degree Effect:</strong> Based on these advantages, AI can be used in many positive ways &mdash; to foster innovation, increase efficiency, improve development, and enhance consumer experience.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>For India, AI deployment will be tied closely to inclusive growth and its development trajectory, with potentially positive implications for agriculture, health, and education, among other sectors.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>Driven by recent breakthroughs in machine learning &amp; Big data, AI is a good bellwether for the possibilities and challenges of international cooperation on emerging technologies.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Perils Associated With AI</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Promoting Prejudices and Inequalities:</strong> It shouldn&rsquo;t be forgotten that AI systems are created by humans, who can be biased and judgemental. Thus, AI can promote prejudices and inequalities, if initial training of the AI algorithms are biased.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>For example, it can lead to AI facial recognition and surveillance technology to discriminate against people of color and minorities.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Comprising Privacy:</strong> AI systems learn by analyzing huge volumes of data and they keep adapting through continuous modelling of interaction data and user-feedback. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Thus, with the increasing use of AI, the right to privacy can be under threat due to unauthorized access to one&rsquo;s activity data.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Disproportionate Power and Control:</strong> Technology giants are investing heavily in regard to artificial intelligence, both at the scientific/engineering and also at the commercial and product development level.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>These big players have an unmatched advantage when compared to any ambitious competitor out there which is a symptom of data-oligarchic society.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Technological Unemployment:</strong> AI companies are building intelligent machines that perform tasks typically carried out by low-income workers. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>For example self-service kiosks to replace cashiers, fruit-picking robots to replace field workers, etc.</li>
<li>Moreover, the day is not far when many desk jobs will also be edged out by AI, such as accountants, financial traders, and middle managers.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Way Forward</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>International Cooperation:</strong> Given that various governments have only recently established AI policies, and in some cases are still formulating them, international cooperation is still very much a work in progress. in the setting of standards at the multilateral level.</li>
<li><strong>Building Resilient Supply Chains:</strong> Beyond talent, additional challenges like, securing the necessary infrastructure; ensuring resilient supply chains, alignment on standards, governance, ensuring critical minerals and other raw materials required for the development of the necessary physical infrastructure, needs to be addressed.</li>
<li><strong>Right Steps Taken:</strong> AI technological revolution brings great opportunities for prosperity and growth &mdash; but it has to be ensured that the technology will be applied and used in the right direction.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>In this regard, some steps are already being taken in different parts of the world, like Explainable AI (XAI) and the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/right-to-be-forgotten-2" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>European Union&rsquo;s GDPR &mdash; General Data Protection Regulation).</strong></a></li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Conclusion</h3>
<p>The critical decisions made in the near future could have transformative effects for international cooperation on AI, which, in turn, could decisively shape the contours of what some have described as the <a href="/loksabha-rajyasabha-discussions/in-depth-industrial-revolution-4-0" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Fourth Industrial Revolution.</strong></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: #f5fff8;">
<p><span style="color: #000080;"><em><strong>Drishti Mains Question</strong></em></span></p>
<p>As the global community seeks to leverage the promises of Artificial Intelligence, they should also confront similar challenges when it comes to the development and deployment of it. Discuss.</p>
</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>',
			'postdate' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenTime) {},
			'url' => 'https://www.drishtiias.com/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/ai-promises-perils'
		],
		(int) 14 => [
			'title' => '8th ADMM-Plus Meeting',
			'catname' => 'News Analysis',
			'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>Recently, the defence minister addressed the<strong> 8<sup>th</sup> <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/asean-defence-ministers-meeting-plus" target="_blank" rel="noopener">ASEAN Defence Ministers Meeting (ADMM) Plus.</a></strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The ADMM-Plus is a platform for <strong>ASEAN and its eight Dialogue Partners.</strong></li>
</ul>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Security &amp; Dispute Resolution:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>India called for an <strong>open and inclusive order in <a href="/loksabha-rajyasabha-discussions/the-big-picture-indo-pacific-strategic-importance" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Indo-Pacific</a></strong> based upon respect for sovereignty and territorial integrity of nations.</li>
<li>Supports <strong>freedom of navigation, overflight, and unimpeded commerce in the international waterways</strong> including the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/south-china-sea-dispute" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>South China Sea</strong></a>, India hopes that the <strong>Code of Conduct negotiations</strong> (for South China Sea) will lead to outcomes that are in keeping with international law, including the the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/unclos-maritime-zones" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS).</strong></a><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Recently, ASEAN and China agreed to <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/china-asean-meeting" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>expedite the resumption of negotiations on the code</strong></a>, which were halted by the pandemic.</li>
<li>China and ASEAN <strong>started negotiations in 2013</strong> on a supposedly binding code of conduct.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>Stressed on<strong> peaceful resolutions of disputes</strong> through dialogue and adherence to international rules and laws.</li>
<li>Need <strong>new systems</strong> to address the emerging challenges to <strong>international peace and security.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Act East Policy:</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The key elements of the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/india-s-act-east-policy-1" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Act East Policy</strong> </a>aims to<strong> promote economic cooperation, cultural ties and develop strategic relationships</strong> with countries in the Indo-Pacific region through continuous engagement at bilateral, regional and multilateral levels.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Terrorism:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Called for <strong>collective cooperation to fully disrupt terror organisations</strong> and their networks.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Identify the perpetrators and hold them accountable and ensure that <strong>strong measures are taken against those who support and finance terrorism</strong> and provide sanctuary to terrorists.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>As a member of the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/financial-action-task-force-1" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Financial Action Task Force (FATF)</strong> </a>India remains committed to combat financing of terrorism. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li><strong>FATF</strong> is the global money laundering and terrorist financing watchdog.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Cybersecurity:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Called for a<strong> multi-stakeholder approach, guided by democratic values,</strong> with a governance structure that is open and inclusive and a secure, open and stable internet with due respect to sovereignty of countries, that would drive the future of cyberspace.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Covid-19:</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Globally available patent free <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/covid-19-vaccination" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>vaccines</strong></a>, unhindered supply chains and greater global medical capacities are some of the lines of effort that India has suggested for a combined effort.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>South Africa and India have called for the <a href="/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-international-institution/world-trade-organisation-wto" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>World Trade Organization (WTO)</strong></a> to suspend intellectual property (IP) rights related to<a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/comprehensive-action-plan-for-covid-19" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong> Covid-19</strong> </a>to ensure equitable sharing of vaccines and new technology to control the pandemic.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief (<a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/tiger-triumph#:~:text=The%20first%2Dever%20India%2DUS,Kakinada%20coasts%20in%20Andhra%20Pradesh." target="_blank" rel="noopener">HADR</a>) Operations:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>India remains one of the first to respond in times of distress in the immediate as well as extended neighbourhood.</li>
<li>As a founding member of the <strong>Heads of Asian Coast Guard Agencies Meeting (HACGAM),</strong> India seeks to enhance capacity building through collaboration in the areas of Maritime Search &amp; Rescue.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>HACGAM is an <strong>apex level forum facilitating the congregation of all the major Coast Guard Agencies of the Asian region,</strong> it was<strong> established in 2004. </strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>ASEAN Centrality:</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>India <strong>shares a deep connection with ASEAN</strong> and has continued its active engagement in many areas <strong>contributing to regional peace and stability, particularly through ASEAN led mechanisms,</strong> such as:<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li><strong><a href="/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-international-institution/east-asia-summit" target="_blank" rel="noopener">East Asia Summit</a>.</strong></li>
<li><strong><a href="/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-international-institution/asean" target="_blank" rel="noopener">ASEAN Regional Forum</a>.</strong></li>
<li>ADMM-Plus.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>The India-ASEAN strategic partnership has been strengthened by virtue of flourishing cultural and civilisational links and enhanced people-to-people cooperation.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>ADMM-Plus</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>About:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The<strong> 2<sup>nd</sup> ASEAN Defence Ministers&rsquo; Meeting (ADMM) in 2007</strong> at Singapore adopted a resolution to establish the ADMM-Plus.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>The <strong>first ADMM-Plus was convened at Hanoi, Vietnam in 2010.</strong></li>
<li><strong>Brunei</strong> is the Chair of the ADMM Plus forum for the year 2021.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>It is an<strong> annual meeting of Defence Ministers</strong> of 10 ASEAN countries and eight dialogue partner countries.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>The <a href="/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-international-institution/asean" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN)</strong></a> is a regional organization which was established to promote political and social stability amid rising tensions among the Asia-Pacific&rsquo;s post-colonial states.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Membership:</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The ADMM-Plus countries include<strong> ten ASEAN Member States</strong> and <strong>eight Plus countries,</strong> namely <strong>Australia, China, India, Japan, New Zealand, Republic of Korea, Russian Federation, and the United States.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Aim:</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>It aims to promote mutual trust and confidence between defence establishments through greater dialogue and transparency.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Areas of cooperation:</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Maritime security, counter-terrorism, humanitarian assistance and disaster relief, peacekeeping operations and military medicine.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1623933143_image4.jpg" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1623933143_image4.jpg" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" caption="false" width="576" height="450" /></a></p>
</div>
<p><a href="https://pib.gov.in/PressReleaseIframePage.aspx?PRID=1727467" 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/8th-admm-plus-meeting'
		],
		(int) 15 => [
			'title' => 'Deep Ocean Mission',
			'catname' => 'News Analysis',
			'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>Recently, the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/cabinet-committees-formed" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs</strong></a> has approved the proposal of the Ministry of Earth Sciences (MoES) on the<strong> Deep Ocean Mission (DOM).</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The<a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/govt-plans-isro-like-ocean-mission" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong> blueprint of the DOM</strong></a> to explore the deep recesses of the ocean was unveiled in 2018. Earlier, MoES had also rolled out the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/draft-blue-economy-policy" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>draft Blue Economy Policy.</strong></a></li>
</ul>
<p><a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1623930284_image5.png" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1623930284_image5.png" 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>About:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The cost of the Mission has been estimated at Rs. 4,077 crore <strong>over a five-year period</strong> and will be<strong> implemented in phases. MoES</strong> will be the <strong>nodal ministry</strong> implementing this multi-institutional ambitious mission.</li>
<li>It will be a <strong>mission mode project to support the <a href="/to-the-points/paper3/blue-economy" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Blue Economy</a> Initiatives</strong> of the Government of India.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li><strong>Blue Economy</strong> is the<strong> sustainable use of ocean resources</strong> for economic growth, improved livelihoods and jobs, and ocean ecosystem health.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>The<strong> technology and expertise</strong> needed in such missions is now available with only five countries - US, Russia, France, Japan and China.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li><strong>India will now be the sixth country to have it.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Major Components:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Development of Technologies for Deep Sea Mining, and Manned Submersible:</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>A <strong>manned submersible will be developed to carry three people</strong> to a depth of 6,000 metres in the ocean with a <strong>suite of scientific sensors and tools.</strong></li>
<li>An <strong>Integrated Mining System</strong> will be also developed for mining<strong> polymetallic nodules</strong> at those depths in the central Indian Ocean. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li><strong>Polymetallic nodules</strong> are rocks scattered on the seabed containing iron, manganese, nickel and cobalt.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>The exploration studies of minerals <strong>will pave the way for commercial exploitation in the near future,</strong> as and when commercial exploitation code is evolved by the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/un-begins-talks-to-regulate-the-high-seas" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>International Seabed Authority</strong></a>, an <a href="/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-international-institution/united-nations-1" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>United Nations (UN)</strong></a> organisation.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Development of Ocean Climate Change Advisory Services:</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>It entails developing a suite of observations and models <strong>to understand and provide future projections of important climate variables</strong> on seasonal to decadal time scales.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Technological Innovations for Exploration and Conservation of Deep-sea Biodiversity:</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li><strong>Bio-prospecting of deep sea flora and fauna</strong> including microbes and studies on sustainable utilization of deep sea bio-resources will be the main focus.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Deep Ocean Survey and Exploration:</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>It will explore and identify <strong>potential sites of multi-metal Hydrothermal Sulphides mineralization</strong> along the Indian Ocean mid-oceanic ridges.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Energy and Freshwater from the Ocean:</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Studies and detailed engineering design for offshore <a href="/to-the-points/paper3/ocean-energy#:~:text=Ocean%20Thermal%20Energy%20Conversion%20(OTEC,1%2C000%20meters%2C%20to%20extract%20energy.&amp;text=In%20Closed%20cycle%20method%2C%20a,the%20steam%20runs%20a%20turbine." target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Ocean Thermal Energy Conversion (OTEC)</strong> </a>powered <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/desalination-plants-1" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>desalination plants</strong></a> are envisaged in this proof of concept proposal. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>OTEC is a technology which <strong>uses ocean temperature differences</strong> from the surface to depths lower than 1,000 meters, <strong>to extract energy.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Advanced Marine Station for Ocean Biology:</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>It is aimed at the development of human capacity and enterprise in ocean biology and engineering.</li>
<li>It will translate research into <strong>industrial application and product development</strong> through on-site business incubator facilities.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Significance:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Oceans,</strong> which cover<strong> 70% of the globe,</strong> remain a key part of our life. About <strong>95% of the Deep Ocean remains unexplored. </strong></li>
<li><strong>Three sides of India are surrounded by the oceans</strong> and around<strong> 30% of the country's population living in coastal areas,</strong> the ocean is a major economic factor supporting fisheries and aquaculture, tourism, livelihoods and blue trade. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>India has a unique maritime position. Its <strong>7517 km long coastline is home to nine coastal states and 1382 islands.</strong></li>
<li>The Government of India's <strong>Vision of New India by 2030</strong> announced in February 2019 highlighted the Blue Economy as one of the ten core dimensions of growth.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>Oceans are also a<strong> storehouse of food, energy, minerals, medicines, modulator of weather and climate and underpin life on Earth.</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Considering the importance of the oceans on sustainability, the UN has declared the decade, <strong>2021-2030 as the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/international-day-for-biological-diversity" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development. </a></strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Other Blue Economy Initiatives:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/india-norway-task-force-on-blue-economy" target="_blank" rel="noopener">India-Norway Task Force on Blue Economy for Sustainable Development</a> :</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>It was inaugurated jointly by both the countries in 2020 to develop and follow up joint initiatives between the two countries.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Sagarmala Project:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>The <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/sagarmala-seaplane-services" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Sagarmala project</strong></a> is the strategic initiative for port-led development through the extensive use of IT enabled services for modernization of ports.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>O-SMART:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>India has an umbrella scheme by the name of <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/cabinet-approves-o-smart-scheme" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>O-SMART</strong></a> which aims at regulated use of oceans, marine resources for sustainable development.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/integrated-coastal-zone-management-plan" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Integrated Coastal Zone Management</strong></a>:<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>It focuses on conservation of coastal and marine resources, and improving livelihood opportunities for coastal communities etc.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>National Fisheries Policy :</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>India has a National Fisheries policy for promoting 'Blue Growth Initiative' which focuses on sustainable utilization of fisheries wealth from marine and other aquatic resources.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="https://pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=1727525" 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/deep-ocean-mission'
		],
		(int) 16 => [
			'title' => 'Corporatization of Ordnance Factory Board',
			'catname' => 'News Analysis',
			'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>Recently, the Union Cabinet approved a plan to <strong>corporatise the Ordnance Factory Board (OFB).</strong></p>
<p><a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1623929181_image3.png" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1623929181_image3.png" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="750" caption="false" /></strong></a></p>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>New Structure:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>41 factories</strong> across the country <strong>will be dissolved into seven new Defence Public Sector Undertakings (DPSU).</strong> The newly created entities <strong>will be 100% owned by the government.</strong></li>
<li>These entities <strong>will be responsible for different verticals</strong> of the products such as the <strong>Ammunition and Explosives</strong> group will be engaged in production of ammunition while <strong>a Vehicles group will engage</strong> in production of defence mobility and combat vehicles.</li>
<li>All <strong>OFB employees</strong> in the production units will be<strong> transferred to the new corporate entities on a deemed deputation initially for a period of two years</strong> without altering their service conditions as central government employees.</li>
<li><strong>Pension liabilities of the retirees and existing employees</strong> will continue to be <strong>borne by the government.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>OFB:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>It is <strong>an umbrella body</strong> for the ordnance factories and related institutions, and is currently <strong>a subordinate office</strong> of the Ministry of Defence (MoD).<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>The first Indian ordnance factory was set up in the<strong> year 1712</strong> by the Dutch Company as a <strong>GunPowder Factory, West Bengal.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>It is <strong>a conglomerate</strong> of 41 factories, 9 training Institutes, 3 regional marketing centres and 5 regional controllers of safety.</li>
<li><strong>Headquarters:</strong> Kolkata</li>
<li><strong>Significance:</strong> A major chunk of the weapon, ammunition and supplies for not just armed forces but also paramilitary and police forces comes from the OFB-run factories.</li>
<li><strong>Production includes:</strong> Civilian and military-grade arms and ammunition, explosives, propellants and chemicals for missile systems, military vehicles, armoured vehicles, optical devices, parachutes, support equipment, troop clothing and general store items.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Reasons for Corporatization:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>A performance evaluation by the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/comptroller-and-auditor-general-1" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG)</strong></a> in its report for <strong>2019 on the OFB</strong> highlights a few of the lacunae, which ails this organisation.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li><strong>Overheads</strong> (expenses not directly attributed to creating a product or service) constitute <strong>a staggering 33% of the overall allotted</strong> budget for the year.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>The major contributors being supervision costs and indirect labour costs.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Delayed Production:</strong> The Ordnance factories achieved production targets for only <strong>49% of the items.</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>More than half the inventory (52%) was store-in-hand, procured for manufacture but not used within the year by the factories.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>The <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/atma-nirbhar-bharat-abhiyan-challenges" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Atmanirbhar Bharat initiative</strong></a>, also calls for the Corporatisation of OFB for: <strong>&lsquo;improving autonomy, accountability and efficiency in ordnance suppliers&rsquo;.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Importance of new structure:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The restructure would also help in overcoming various shortcomings in the existing system of the OFB by eliminating inefficient supply chains and provide these companies incentive to become competitive and explore new opportunities in the market.</li>
<li>It will <strong>allow these companies autonomy</strong> as well as help improve accountability and efficiency.</li>
<li>The restructuring is aimed at transforming the ordnance factories into productive and profitable assets, deepen their specialisation in product range, enhance competitiveness and improve quality and cost-efficiency.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Apprehensions:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>One of the<strong> main apprehensions of the employees</strong> is that corporatisation (ownership and management lies with the government) would <strong>eventually lead to privatisation</strong> (transfer of ownership and management rights to the private player).</li>
<li>The <strong>new corporate entities</strong> would <strong>not be able to survive the unique market</strong> environment of defence products that has very unstable demand and supply dynamics.</li>
<li>Restructuring <strong>will result in greater autonomy and lesser government</strong> control over the corporation but there is a fear of job loss.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Way Forward</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The corporatisation of OFB is likely to transform ordnance factories into a modernised, state of the art facility with flexible and better decision making in its functioning.</li>
<li>There is a need to have a reflective road-map for the plan. This can help to ease the apprehensions regarding the corporatization.</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/ofb-corporatisation-gets-cabinet-approval/article34833105.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/corporatization-of-ordnance-factory-board-1'
		],
		(int) 17 => [
			'title' => 'New Norms on Hallmarking of Gold',
			'catname' => 'News Analysis',
			'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>Recently, the <strong>Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food &amp; Public Distribution made it mandatory for the hallmarking of gold jewellery,</strong> which will be<strong> implemented in a phased manner.</strong></p>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>About Hallmarking:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/bureau-of-indian-standards-bis-act-2016" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Bureau of Indian Standard (BIS)</strong></a>, which operates the gold and silver hallmarking scheme in India, defines hallmarking as the<strong> &ldquo;accurate determination and official recording of the proportionate content of precious metal in precious metal articles.&rdquo;</strong></li>
<li>So, it is a <strong>&ldquo;guarantee of purity or fineness&rdquo;</strong> of precious metal articles, which<strong> started in 2000.</strong></li>
<li>In India, at present <strong>two precious metals namely gold and silver</strong> have been brought <strong>under the purview of Hallmarking.</strong></li>
<li>The <strong>BIS certified jewellers</strong> can get their<strong> jewellery hallmarked from any of the BIS recognized Assaying and Hallmarking Centres (A&amp;HC).</strong></li>
<li>Earlier, it was<strong> optional for the jewellers</strong> and thus <strong>only 40% of gold jewellery</strong> was getting hallmarked.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Implementation in a Phased Manner:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>In the first phase, gold hallmarking <strong>will be available only in 256 districts and jewellers having annual turnover above Rs. 40 lakh</strong> will come under its purview.</li>
<li>A<strong> certain category of jewellery and items will also be exempted</strong> from the mandatory requirement of hallmarking.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Jewellery for international exhibitions, jewellery for government-approved B2B (Business-to-Business) domestic exhibitions will be exempted from mandatory Hallmarking.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Need of Gold Hallmarking:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>India is the biggest consumer of gold.</strong> However, the level of hallmarked jewellery is very low in the country.</li>
<li>The mandatory hallmarking will <strong>protect the public against lower caratage</strong> (the fraction of pure gold) and ensure <strong>consumers do not get cheated</strong> while buying gold ornaments.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>It will help to get the <strong>purity as marked on the ornaments.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>It will <strong>bring in transparency</strong> and assure the consumers of quality.</li>
<li>It will<strong> weed out anomalies and corruption in the system of manufacturing of jewellery.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Bureau of Indian Standards</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>BIS is the<strong> National Standard Body</strong> of India for the harmonious development of the activities of<strong> standardization, marking and quality certification of goods.</strong></li>
<li><strong>Standards Formulation:</strong> BIS formulates Indian Standards in line with the national priorities for various sectors that have been grouped under 14 Departments like Chemicals, Food and Agriculture, Civil, Electro-technical, Electronics &amp; Information Technology, etc.</li>
<li><strong>BIS' International Activities:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>BIS is<strong> a founder member of ISO (International Organization for Standardization)</strong> and is actively involved in the development of International Standards.</li>
<li>India is<strong> represented in IEC (International Electro-technical Commission)</strong> through BIS. IEC is the world&rsquo;s leading organization for the preparation and publication of International Standards for all electrical, electronic and related technologies.</li>
<li>BIS is the <strong>National Enquiry Point for WTO -TBT (<a href="/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-international-institution/world-trade-organisation-wto" target="_blank" rel="noopener">World Trade Organisation</a> &ndash; Technical Barriers to Trade).</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Other Initiatives:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/bis-sdo-recognition-scheme" target="_blank" rel="noopener">BIS SDO Recognition Scheme</a>:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>To attain the <strong>One Nation One Standard</strong> vision of the Government of India, BIS launched a scheme which provides for Recognition of SDO (Standard Developing Organization).</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Product Certification Scheme:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>BIS operates a Product Certification scheme for ensuring compliance to Indian Standards. Presence of <strong>BIS standard mark (popularly known as ISI mark)</strong> on a product indicates conformity to the relevant Indian Standard.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</div>
<p><a href="https://indianexpress.com/article/explained/what-is-gold-hallmarking-list-of-districts-where-it-is-mandatory-7361818/" 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/new-norms-on-hallmarking-of-gold'
		],
		(int) 18 => [
			'title' => 'Loan to Sri Lanka for Solar Energy',
			'catname' => 'News Analysis',
			'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>Recently, India has signed an agreement <strong>extending a USD 100 million Line of Credit (LOC) to <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/india-sri-lanka-6#:~:text=India%27s%20Support%20against%20Terrorism%3A%20During,developmental%20assistance%20to%20Sri%20Lanka." target="_blank" rel="noopener">Sri Lanka</a></strong> for projects in the Solar Energy Sector. The LOC is for a period of 20 years, with an interest of 1.75%.</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The agreement was signed between the <strong>Government of Sri Lanka</strong> and the <strong>Export-Import (EXIM) Bank of India.</strong></li>
<li>EXIM Bank is a <strong>specialized financial institution,</strong> wholly owned by the Government of India.</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1623923707_image2.png" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1623923707_image2.png" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="350" caption="false" /></a></p>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Line of Credit</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>It is a <strong>credit facility</strong> extended by a bank or any other financial institution to a government, business or an individual customer, that enables the customer to draw the maximum loan amount.</li>
<li>The borrower can<strong> access funds</strong> from the line of credit at <strong>any time</strong> as long as they do not exceed the <strong>maximum amount</strong> (or credit limit) set in the agreement and meet any other requirements such as making timely minimum payments.</li>
</ul>
</div>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Significance of the LOC:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>It will help <strong>finance various projects</strong> in the solar energy sector in Sri Lanka, such as <strong>rooftop solar photo-voltaic systems</strong> for households and government buildings.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Some of these projects were announced during the <strong>Founding Conference of the International Solar Alliance (ISA)</strong> held in March 2018 in Delhi.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>India&rsquo;s Initiatives for Global Cooperation Solar Energy:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/world-solar-technology-summit-isa" target="_blank" rel="noopener">International Solar Alliance</a> (ISA):</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>The ISA was <strong>launched by the Prime Minister of India and the President of France in 2015</strong> on the side-lines of the United Nations Climate Change <a href="/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-international-institution/unfccc" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Conference of the Parties (COP-21)</strong></a>, with 121 <strong>solar resource rich countries</strong> lying fully or partially between the <strong>tropic of Cancer and tropic of Capricorn</strong> as prospective members.</li>
<li><strong>89 countries</strong> have signed the ISA framework agreement.</li>
<li>ISA&rsquo; vision is to enable <strong>One World, One Sun, One Grid (OSOWOG).</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/one-sun-one-world-one-grid-1" target="_blank" rel="noopener">One Sun, One World, One Grid</a> (OSOWOG):</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>It focuses on a framework for facilitating global cooperation, building a global ecosystem of interconnected renewable energy resources (mainly solar energy) that can be seamlessly shared.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Schemes for Promoting Solar Energy in India:</strong> Recently, India achieved<strong> 5<sup>th</sup> global position in solar power deployment</strong> by surpassing Italy.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><a href="/mind-map/gs-paper2/national-action-plan-on-climate-change-mind-map" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>National Solar Mission</strong> </a>(a part of National Action Plan on Climate Change): The aim is to establish India as a global leader in solar energy by creating the policy conditions for its deployment across the country.</li>
<li><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/rooftop-solar-scheme" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Rooftop Solar Scheme:</strong></a> To generate solar power by installing solar panels on the roof of the houses, the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy is implementing <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/phase-ii-of-grid-connected-rooftop-solar-programme" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Grid-connected Rooftop Solar Scheme (Phase II)</strong></a>.</li>
<li><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/expansion-of-production-linked-incentive-scheme#:~:text=This%20scheme%20will%20give%20cash,chemistry%20and%20solar%20PV%20manufacturing." target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Production-linked Incentive (PLI) scheme</strong></a> to promote manufacturing of high efficiency solar PV modules in India.</li>
<li><strong>Scheme for Development of Ultra Mega Renewable Energy Power Parks:</strong> It is a scheme to develop Ultra Mega Renewable Energy Power Parks (UMREPPs) under the existing Solar Park Scheme.</li>
<li><strong><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/pm-kusum#:~:text=PM%2DKUSUM%20consists%20of%20three,standalone%20solar%2Dpowered%20agriculture%20pumps." target="_blank" rel="noopener">Kisan Urja Suraksha evam Utthaan Mahabhiyan</a> (PM-KUSUM):</strong> The scheme covers grid-connected Renewable Energy power plants (0.5 &ndash; 2 MW)/Solar water pumps/grid connected agriculture pumps.</li>
<li><strong>National Wind-Solar Hybrid Policy, 2018:</strong> its main objective is to provide a framework for promotion of large grid connected wind-solar PV hybrid systems for optimal and efficient utilization of wind and solar resources, transmission infrastructure and land.</li>
<li><strong>Atal Jyoti Yojana (AJAY):</strong> It was launched in September 2016 for the installation <strong>of solar street lighting (SSL) systems</strong> in states with less than 50% households covered with grid power (as per Census 2011).</li>
<li><strong>Suryamitra Skill Development Programme:</strong> To provide skill training to rural youth in handling solar installations.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="https://www.thehindu.com/news/international/india-extends-100-mn-loan-to-sri-lanka/article34834128.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/loan-to-sri-lanka-for-solar-energy'
		],
		(int) 19 => [
			'title' => 'ADB Loan for Chennai - Kanyakumari Industrial Corridor',
			'catname' => 'News Analysis',
			'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>Recently, the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/adb-loan-to-upgrade-maharashtra-roads" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Asian Development Bank (ADB)</strong></a> and the Government of India signed a <strong>USD 484 million loan</strong> for the <strong>Tamil Nadu Industrial Connectivity Project.</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The loan is to<strong> improve transport connectivity and facilitate industrial development in the</strong> <strong>Chennai - Kanyakumari Industrial Corridor (CKIC)</strong> in the state of <strong>Tamil Nadu.</strong></li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Asian Development Bank</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>It is a <strong>regional development bank established on 19<sup>th</sup> December 1966.</strong> It is <strong>headquartered in Manila, Philippines.</strong></li>
<li>It now has <strong>68 members, 49 from within Asia. India i</strong>s a member.</li>
<li>It&rsquo;s <strong>five largest shareholders are Japan</strong> and the <strong>United States</strong> (each with 15.6% of total shares), the People&rsquo;s Republic of <strong>China</strong> (6.4%), <strong>India</strong> (6.3%), and <strong>Australia</strong> (5.8%).</li>
<li>It <strong>aims to promote social and economic development in Asia and the Pacific.</strong></li>
</ul>
</div>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>About:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The loan is <strong>in line with Strategy 2030, ADB&rsquo;s long-term corporate strategy</strong>, the project <strong>emphasises sustainability, climate change resilience, and road safety elements.</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Under <strong>Strategy 2030</strong>, ADB will expand its vision to achieve a prosperous, inclusive, resilient, and sustainable Asia and the Pacific, while sustaining its efforts to eradicate extreme poverty.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>CKIC is part of India&rsquo;s <a href="/to-the-points/paper3/industrial-corridors-2" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>East Coast Economic Corridor (ECEC)</strong></a>.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Industrial Corridors Scheme:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>An <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/industrial-corridors" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>industrial corridor</strong></a> is an economic ecosystem built around a transportation corridor connecting two major economic centres, where the transportation corridor serves as the nerve centre of the economic activity across the corridor.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>In addition to the transportation corridor, a well-designed industrial corridor <strong>contains</strong> clusters of industrial production serving regional and global demand, and urban centers proliferating equitable development.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>In <strong>2019</strong>, the government approved the<strong> development of the five industrial corridor projects</strong>, being<strong> implemented through National Industrial Corridor Development and Implementation Trust (NICDIT).</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>NICDIT is an apex body under the administrative control of the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/dipp-renamed-as-dpiit" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT)</strong></a>, Ministry of Commerce and Industry.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Five Industrial Corridor Projects:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li><strong><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/delhi-mumbai-industrial-corridor" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Delhi Mumbai Industrial Corridor (DMIC)</a>.</strong></li>
<li>Amritsar Kolkata Industrial Corridor (AKIC).</li>
<li>Chennai Bangalore Industrial Corridor (CBIC).</li>
<li>East Coast Economic Corridor (ECEC) with Vizag Chennai Industrial Corridor (VCIC).</li>
<li>Bangalore Mumbai Industrial Corridor (BMIC).</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1623921612_pasted%20image 0 (5).png" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1623921612_pasted image 0 (5).png" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="350" caption="false" /></a></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>East Coast Economic Corridor:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>It stretches from <strong>West Bengal to Tamil Nadu</strong> and connects India to the production networks of South, Southeast, and East Asia. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>ADB is the lead partner of the Government of India in developing ECEC.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>It covers West Bengal, Odisha, Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu. <strong>Vizag to Chennai segment of this Corridor has been taken as phase-1.</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li><strong>Vizag-Chennai Industrial Corridor (VCIC) is the first coastal economic corridor</strong> in the country.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>It is aligned with the Golden Quadrilateral.</strong> It also plays a critical role in the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/india-s-act-east-policy-1" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>&ldquo;Act East Policy&rdquo;</strong></a> of India.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>The Golden Quadrilateral is the <strong>longest road project in India</strong> and the fifth-longest highway in the world. It connects Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata and Chennai.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Significance of Industrial Corridors:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Avenues for Exports:</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>The Industrial Corridors are likely to <strong>lower the cost of logistics thereby increasing the efficiency of industrial production structure.</strong></li>
<li>Such an efficiency lowers the cost of production which <strong>makes the Indian made products more competitive in international markets.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Job Opportunities:</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>It will <strong>attract investments for the development of Industries which is likely to create more jobs in the market.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Environmental Significance:</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>The establishment of Industrial Units in a scattered manner along the industrial corridor across the length of the state will <strong>prevent concentration of industries in one particular location</strong> which exploited the environment beyond its carrying capacity and caused environmental degradation.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Socio-Economic Significance:</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>The cascading effect of industrial corridors in socio-economic terms are many such as the <strong>setting up of industrial townships, educational institutions, hospitals.</strong> These will further raise the standards of human development.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="https://pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=1727501" 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/adb-loan-for-chennai-kanyakumari-industrial-corridor'
		]
	],
	'updates' => object(Cake\ORM\Query) {

		'(help)' => 'This is a Query object, to get the results execute or iterate it.',
		'sql' => 'SELECT articles.article_id AS `articles__article_id`, articles.category_id AS `articles__category_id`, articles.title AS `articles__title`, articles.description AS `articles__description`, articles.shortdescription AS `articles__shortdescription`, articles.featuredimage AS `articles__featuredimage`, articles.tag_id AS `articles__tag_id`, articles.secondary_tag AS `articles__secondary_tag`, articles.type AS `articles__type`, articles.publishon AS `articles__publishon`, articles.posturl AS `articles__posturl`, articles.metatitle AS `articles__metatitle`, articles.metadescription AS `articles__metadescription`, articles.metakeyword AS `articles__metakeyword`, articles.status AS `articles__status`, articles.sort_order AS `articles__sort_order`, articles.addedby AS `articles__addedby`, articles.updatedby AS `articles__updatedby`, articles.added AS `articles__added`, articles.modified AS `articles__modified`, articles.whatsnewid AS `articles__whatsnewid`, articles.display_printpdf AS `articles__display_printpdf`, articles.display_comments AS `articles__display_comments`, articles.pdf_name AS `articles__pdf_name`, articles.display_archive AS `articles__display_archive`, articles.star_rating AS `articles__star_rating`, articles.display_in_states AS `articles__display_in_states` FROM articles articles WHERE status = :c0 ORDER BY publishon desc LIMIT 10',
		'params' => [
			[maximum depth reached]
		],
		'defaultTypes' => [
			[maximum depth reached]
		],
		'decorators' => (int) 0,
		'executed' => false,
		'hydrate' => true,
		'buffered' => true,
		'formatters' => (int) 0,
		'mapReducers' => (int) 0,
		'contain' => [[maximum depth reached]],
		'matching' => [[maximum depth reached]],
		'extraOptions' => [[maximum depth reached]],
		'repository' => object(App\Model\Table\ArticlesTable) {}
	
	},
	'page' => (int) 17,
	'search' => 'class',
	'totalPages' => (float) 336,
	'title' => 'Search'
]
$progress = []
$bookmarks = []
$notes = []
$mynote = []
$topdata = [
	(int) 0 => object(Cake\ORM\Entity) {

		'url' => 'https://www.drishtiias.com/careers',
		'title' => 'We are hiring Full Time Content Developers, to know more, please click here.',
		'type' => (int) 1,
		'date' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenDate) {},
		'[new]' => false,
		'[accessible]' => [
			[maximum depth reached]
		],
		'[dirty]' => [[maximum depth reached]],
		'[original]' => [[maximum depth reached]],
		'[virtual]' => [[maximum depth reached]],
		'[errors]' => [[maximum depth reached]],
		'[invalid]' => [[maximum depth reached]],
		'[repository]' => 'news'
	
	}
]
$searchdata = []
$searchlist = [
	(int) 0 => [
		'title' => 'Antonio Guterres: 2nd Term UN Secretary General',
		'catname' => 'News Analysis',
		'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>The <strong><a href="/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-international-institution/united-nations-1" target="_blank" rel="noopener">United Nations</a> General Assembly</strong> appointed<strong> Antonio Guterres as the ninth UN Secretary General (UNSG) for a second term</strong> beginning 1<sup>st</sup> January, 2022 and ending on 31<sup>st</sup> 2026.</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>India</strong> had expressed its <strong>support for the re-election of Guterres as UN Chief.</strong></li>
</ul>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>About Antonio Guterres:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Guterres took <strong>oath of office on 1<sup>st</sup> January, 2017</strong> and his first term <strong>ends on 31<sup>st</sup> December 2021.</strong></li>
<li>Guterres <strong>served as the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees</strong> for a decade from <strong>June 2005 to December 2015.</strong></li>
<li>He was the <strong>former Prime minister of Portugal.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Appointment:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Under the UN Charter, the Secretary-General is <strong>appointed by the General Assembly upon the recommendation of the<a href="/loksabha-rajyasabha-discussions/the-big-picture-un-security-council-reforms" target="_blank" rel="noopener"> Security Council. </a></strong></li>
<li><strong>Each Secretary-General has the option of a second term</strong> if they can garner enough support from Member states.</li>
<li>Guterres was elected <strong>after a reformed selection process</strong> that<strong> included a public informal dialogue session</strong> in the General Assembly, involving civil society representatives, aimed at ensuring transparency and inclusivity.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>UN Charter:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The <strong>Charter of the United Nations</strong> is the<strong> founding document</strong> of the United Nations. It was signed <strong>on 26<sup>th</sup> June 1945,</strong> in San Francisco, at the conclusion of the United Nations Conference on International Organization, and came into force on 24<sup>th</sup> October 1945.</li>
<li>The UN can take action on a wide variety of issues due to its<strong> unique international character</strong> and the powers vested in its Charter, which is considered an international treaty.</li>
<li>As such, the UN Charter is<strong> an instrument of international law,</strong> and<strong> UN Member States are bound by it.</strong> The UN Charter codifies the major principles of international relations, from sovereign equality of States to the prohibition of the use of force in international relations.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>About UNGA:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The General Assembly occupies a central position as the<strong> chief deliberative, policymaking and representative organ</strong> of the United Nations.</li>
<li>Composed of all <strong>193 Members</strong> of the United Nations, it<strong> provides a unique forum for multilateral discussion</strong> of the full spectrum of international issues covered by the Charter.</li>
<li>It also plays a significant <strong>role in the process of standard-setting and the codification of international law.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>UN Security Council:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Established by the <strong>UN charter in 1945,</strong> the Security Council has the primary responsibility of<strong> maintaining international peace and security.</strong></li>
<li>The Security Council has <strong>15 members.</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li><strong>There are five permanent members:</strong> the United States, the Russian Federation, France, China and the United Kingdom.</li>
<li>The <strong>non-permanent members</strong> of the Security Council are elected for a term of<strong> two years.</strong> Recently, <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/india-at-unsc-previous-contribution-current-challenges#:~:text=India%2C%20for%20the%20eighth%20time,two%20years%20i.e%202021%2D22." target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>India has been elected.</strong></a></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>Each member of the <strong>Security Council has one vote.</strong> Decisions of the Security Council on matters are made by an affirmative vote of nine members including the <strong>concurring votes of the permanent members.</strong> A "No" vote from one of the five permanent members blocks the passage of the resolution.</li>
<li>Any member of the United Nations which is not a member of the Security Council may participate, without vote, in the discussion of any question brought before the Security Council whenever the latter considers that the interests of that member are specially affected.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Challenges Pertaining to UN:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>UNGA has <strong>no control over veto power</strong> exercised by UNSC and it cannot take any decisive action against permanent members of UNSC.</li>
<li>The 15-member Security Council is by far the most powerful arm of the United Nations. However, the veto power is used by <strong>five permanent countries</strong> to serve the strategic interest of<strong> themselves and their allies.</strong></li>
<li>The<strong> UN charter is vague</strong> in defining the duties of the secretary general, the United Nations&rsquo; top official.</li>
<li>Recently, the <a href="/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-international-institution/world-health-organization-who" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>World Health Organization (WHO)</strong> </a>has been criticised by the US on account of mishandling of the Covid-19 pandemic and subsequently suspended its financial contribution to WHO.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Also, WHO has been under pressure from the US government to adopt an approach that favours interests of US pharma companies.</li>
<li>WHO is <strong>a specialised agency of the UN.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>United Nations</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Establishment:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The <strong>United Nations (UN)</strong> is an international organization founded <strong>in 1945. </strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Members:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>It is currently <strong>made up of 193 Member States.</strong></li>
<li><strong>India is a charter member of the United Nations</strong> and participates in all of its specialised agencies and organizations.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Activities:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Its activities include maintaining international peace and security, protecting human rights, delivering humanitarian aid, promoting sustainable development and upholding international law.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Main Organs:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>The General Assembly,</strong></li>
<li><strong>The Security Council,</strong></li>
<li><strong>The<a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/un-ecosoc-meet" target="_blank" rel="noopener"> Economic and Social Council</a>,</strong></li>
<li><strong>The Trusteeship Council,</strong></li>
<li><strong>The<a href="/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-international-institution/international-court-of-justice-icj" target="_blank" rel="noopener"> International Court of Justice</a>,</strong></li>
<li><strong>The UN Secretariat.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Funds and Programmes:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong><a href="/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-international-institution/unicef-1" target="_blank" rel="noopener">United Nations International Children's Emergency Fund</a> (UNICEF)</strong></li>
<li><strong><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/human-development-index-undp" target="_blank" rel="noopener">United Nations Development Programme</a> (UNDP)</strong></li>
<li><strong><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/making-peace-with-nature-unep-report" target="_blank" rel="noopener">United Nations Environment Programme</a> (UN Environment)</strong></li>
<li><strong><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/un-habitat-assembly" target="_blank" rel="noopener">United Nations Human Settlements Programme</a> (UN-Habitat)</strong></li>
<li><strong><a href="/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-international-institution/world-food-programme-wfp" target="_blank" rel="noopener">World Food Programme</a> (WFP)</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</div>
<h3>Way Forward</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The UN must act as a catalyst and a platform for more inclusive, networked and effective forms of <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/joint-statement-on-multilateralism-brics" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>multilateralism.</strong></a></li>
<li>The power to transform the current situation into a better world and future for all depends on everyone everywhere and can only be done successfully if the efforts towards a common agenda for the benefit of humanity and the planet is resolved.</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="https://indianexpress.com/article/world/antonio-guterres-re-elected-as-un-secretary-general-for-2nd-five-year-term-7365237/" 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/antonio-guterres-2nd-term-un-secretary-general'
	],
	(int) 1 => [
		'title' => 'Herbicide Tolerant (HT) Bt Cotton',
		'catname' => 'News Analysis',
		'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>The illegal cultivation of <strong>Herbicide Tolerant (HT) <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/impacts-of-bt-cotton" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Bt cotton</a></strong> has seen a huge jump as the sale of illegal seed packets has more than doubled from 30 lakh in 2020 to 75 lakh in 2021.</p>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Bt Cotton:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Bt cotton is the<strong> only transgenic crop</strong> that has been<strong> approved by the Centre for commercial cultivation</strong> in India.</li>
<li>It has been <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/genetically-modified-seeds" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>genetically modified (GM)</strong></a> to produce an insecticide to combat the <strong>cotton bollworm,</strong> a common pest.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Herbicide Tolerant Bt (HTBt) Cotton:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The HTBt cotton variant adds another layer of modification, making the plant <strong>resistant to the herbicide glyphosate,</strong> but has not been approved by regulators.</li>
<li><strong>Fears</strong> include glyphosate having a carcinogenic effect, as well as the unchecked spread of herbicide resistance to nearby plants through pollination,<strong> creating a variety of superweeds.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Need for Using HTBt Cotton:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Saves Cost:</strong> There is a shortage of the labour needed to do at least <strong>two rounds of weeding for Bt cotton.</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li><strong>With HTBt, simply one round of glyphosate spraying is needed</strong> with no weeding. It saves Rs. 7,000 to Rs. 8,000 per acre for farmers.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Support of Scientists:</strong> Scientists are also in favour of this crop, and even the <a href="/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-international-institution/world-health-organization-who" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>World Health Organization (WHO)</strong> </a>has said it does not cause cancer. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>But the government has still withheld approval for HTBt.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Issues Emanating from Illegal Sale of HTBt Cotton:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>As it is not approved by the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/geac-seeks-information-from-bangladesh-on-bt-brinjal" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Genetic Engineering Appraisal Committee (GEAC)</strong></a>, illegal sale takes place in Indian markets.</li>
<li><strong>Farmers are at risk</strong> with such illegal cotton seed sale as there is <strong>no accountability of the quality of seed, it pollutes the environment,</strong> the <strong>industry is losing legitimate seed sale and the government also loses revenue</strong> in terms of tax collection.</li>
<li>It will not only <strong>decimate small cotton seed companies</strong> but also <strong>threatens the entire legal cotton seed market</strong> in India.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Genetic Engineering Appraisal Committee</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The Genetic Engineering Appraisal Committee (GEAC) functions under the <strong>Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEF&amp;CC).</strong></li>
<li>It is responsible for the appraisal of activities involving large-scale use of hazardous microorganisms and recombinants in research and industrial production from the environmental angle.</li>
<li>The committee is also responsible for the appraisal of proposals relating to the release of genetically engineered (GE) organisms and products into the environment including experimental field trials.</li>
<li>GEAC is chaired by the Special Secretary/Additional Secretary of MoEF&amp;CC and co-chaired by a representative from the Department of Biotechnology (DBT).</li>
</ul>
</div>
<h3>Way Forward</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Regulators only limit their checking/regulation to licensed dealers and seed companies while illegal activity of HT seed sales is <strong>carried mostly by unorganised </strong>and<strong> fly-by-night operators.</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Thus, focus must be shifted to catching them and taking exemplary and strong punitive action.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Collective action</strong> of both centre and state government is required. The Centre has made the policy to ban this variant. But it is the State governments that must also work in tandem with the central government.</li>
<li><strong>Environmental impact assessment</strong> should be carried out by independent environmentalists, as farmers do not and cannot assess the long-term impact of GM crops on ecology and health.</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/sale-of-illegal-htbt-cotton-seeds-doubles/article34852355.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/herbicide-tolerant-ht-bt-cotton'
	],
	(int) 2 => [
		'title' => 'Censorship of Films in India',
		'catname' => 'News Analysis',
		'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>The <strong>Ministry of Information and Broadcasting</strong> has recently sought public comments on its <strong>draft Cinematograph (Amendment) Bill, 2021,</strong> which proposes to bring back its <strong>&ldquo;revisionary powers&rdquo;</strong> over the<a href="/admin/articles/edit/Why%20in News The Ministry of Information and Broadcasting has recently sought public comments on its draft Cinematograph (Amendment) Bill, 2021, which proposes to bring back its &ldquo;revisionary powers&rdquo; over the Central Board of Film Certification.  The new Bill will also &ldquo;make the process of sanctioning of films for exhibition more effective, in tune with the changed times and curb the menace of piracy&rdquo;. Key Points Background: The Supreme Court of India (SC) in November 2000, had upheld a Karnataka High Court order which struck down the Centre&rsquo;s &ldquo;revisional powers in respect of films that are already certified by the Board&rdquo;. However, the SC had opined that the Legislature may, in certain cases, overrule or nullify the judicial or executive decision by enacting an appropriate legislation&rdquo;. Provision of Draft Cinematograph (Amendment) Bill, 2021: Granting Revisionary Powers: The government on account of violation of Section 5B(1) of the Cinematograph Act, 1952 can order for &ldquo;re-examination&rdquo; by the certification board of an already certified film, following receipt of complaints. Section 5B(1) deals with the principles for guidance in certifying films. It is derived from Article 19(2) of the Constitution and is non-negotiable. Under Section 6 of the existing Cinematograph Act, 1952, the Centre is already empowered to call for the record of proceedings in relation to certification of a film and pass any order thereon.  The Central Government, if the situation warranted, has the power to reverse the decision of the Board. Sub-division of Existing UA Category: The provisions relating to certification of films under &ldquo;unrestricted public exhibition (U/A)&rdquo; category are proposed to be amended so as to sub-divide the existing UA category into age-based categories like U/A 7+, U/A 13+ and U/A 16+. Film Piracy: In most cases, illegal duplication in cinema halls is the originating point of piracy. At present, there are no enabling provisions to check film piracy in the Cinematograph Act, 1952. The draft Bill proposes to insert Section 6AA which prohibits unauthorised recording.  Punishment for Piracy: Section 6AA of the draft legislation makes piracy a punishable offence.  The punishment of imprisonment for a term upto three years and with a fine which shall not be less than Rs 3 lakh but which may extend to 5% of the audited gross production cost or with both. The recommendations of the Justice Mukul Mudgal Committee of 2013 and the Shyam Benegal Committee of 2016 had also been considered while drafting the legislation. Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC): It is a statutory body under the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, regulating the public exhibition of films under the provisions of the Cinematograph Act 1952. The Board consists of non-official members and a Chairman (all of whom are appointed by Central Government) and functions with headquarters at Mumbai. Films can be publicly exhibited in India (on cinema halls, T.V. channels) only after they have been certified by the Central Board of Film Certification. At present, films are certified under 4 categories: U, U/A, A&amp; S. Unrestricted Public Exhibition (U) Unrestricted Public Exhibition - but with a word of caution that Parental discretion required for children below 12 years (U/A) Restricted to adults (A) Restricted to any special class of persons (S) Provisions for Censorship: Article 19(2) of the Constitution authorises the government to impose, by law, reasonable restrictions upon the freedom of speech and expression in the interests of the sovereignty and integrity of India, the security of the State, friendly relations with foreign States, public order, decency or morality or in relation to contempt of court, defamation or incitement to an offence. The Cinematograph Act,1952 also provides for similar provisions as stated under Article 19(2). Source: IE" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong> Central Board of Film Certification.</strong></a></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The new Bill will also &ldquo;make the process of sanctioning of films for exhibition more effective, in tune with the changed times and curb the menace of piracy&rdquo;.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Background:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The <a href="/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-national-institutions/supreme-court-of-india" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Supreme Court of India</strong></a> (SC) in November 2000, had upheld a<strong> Karnataka High Court</strong> order which struck down the Centre&rsquo;s <strong>&ldquo;revisional powers in respect of films that are already certified by the Board&rdquo;.</strong></li>
<li>However, the SC had <strong>opined that the Legislature may, in certain cases, overrule or nullify the judicial or executive decision</strong> by enacting an appropriate legislation&rdquo;.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Provision of Draft Cinematograph (Amendment) Bill, 2021:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Granting Revisionary Powers:</strong> The government on account of violation of <strong>Section 5B(1) of the Cinematograph Act, 1952</strong> can order for &ldquo;re-examination&rdquo; by the certification board of an already certified film, following receipt of complaints.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li><strong>Section 5B(1)</strong> deals with the<strong> principles for guidance in certifying films.</strong> It is <strong>derived from Article 19(2) of the Constitution</strong> and is non-negotiable.</li>
<li>Under<strong> Section 6 of the existing Cinematograph Act, 1952,</strong> the Centre is already empowered to call for the record of proceedings in relation to certification of a film and pass any order thereon. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>The Central Government, if the situation warranted, <strong>has the power to reverse the decision of the Board.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Sub-division of Existing UA Category:</strong> The provisions relating to certification of films under &ldquo;unrestricted public exhibition (U/A)&rdquo; category are proposed to be amended so as to sub-divide the existing UA category <strong>into age-based categories like U/A 7+, U/A 13+ and U/A 16+.</strong></li>
<li><strong>Film Piracy:</strong> In most cases, illegal duplication in cinema halls is the originating point of piracy. At present, there are no enabling provisions to check film piracy in the Cinematograph Act, 1952. The draft Bill proposes to <strong>insert Section 6AA</strong> which prohibits unauthorised recording. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li><strong>Punishment for Piracy: Section 6AA</strong> of the draft legislation makes piracy a punishable offence. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>The punishment of<strong> imprisonment for a term upto three years</strong> and with a fine which shall not be less than Rs 3 lakh but which may extend to 5% of the audited gross production cost or with both.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>The recommendations of the<strong> Justice Mukul Mudgal Committee of 2013</strong> and the <strong>Shyam Benegal Committee of 2016</strong> had also been considered while drafting the legislation.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC):</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>It is a <strong>statutory body</strong> under the<strong> Ministry of Information and Broadcasting,</strong> regulating the public exhibition of films under the provisions of the<strong> Cinematograph Act 1952.</strong></li>
<li>The Board consists of<strong> non-official members </strong>and a<strong> Chairman</strong> (all of whom are appointed by Central Government) and functions with <strong>headquarters at Mumbai.</strong></li>
<li>Films can be publicly exhibited in India (on cinema halls, T.V. channels) only after they have been certified by the Central Board of Film Certification.</li>
<li><strong>At present, films are certified under 4 categories: U, U/A, A&amp; S.</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Unrestricted Public Exhibition (U)</li>
<li>Unrestricted Public Exhibition - but with a word of caution that Parental discretion required for children below 12 years (U/A)</li>
<li>Restricted to adults (A)</li>
<li>Restricted to any special class of persons (S)</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Provisions for Censorship:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li><strong>Article 19(2) of the Constitution</strong> authorises the government to impose, by law, reasonable restrictions upon the freedom of speech and expression in the interests of the sovereignty and integrity of India, the security of the State, friendly relations with foreign States, public order, decency or morality or in relation to contempt of court, defamation or incitement to an offence.</li>
<li>The<strong> Cinematograph Act, 1952</strong> also provides for similar provisions as stated under Article 19(2).</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="https://indianexpress.com/article/india/censor-board-film-certification-cinematograph-bill-cbfc-7365589/" 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/censorship-of-films-in-india'
	],
	(int) 3 => [
		'title' => 'Petition to Poll Results',
		'catname' => 'News Analysis',
		'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>Recently, the West Bengal Chief Minister has filed <strong>an election petition</strong> in the Calcutta High Court challenging the <strong>Assembly election result</strong> of Nandigram constituency.</p>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Election Petition:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The <strong><a href="/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-national-institutions/election-commission-of-india" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Election Commission</a>&rsquo;s role ends with the declaration of results</strong>, after that, an <strong>election petition is the only legal remedy</strong> available to a voter or a candidate who believes there has been malpractice in an election.</li>
<li>Such a person <strong>can challenge the result through an election petition submitted to the High Court</strong> of the state in which the constituency is located.</li>
<li>Such a petition <strong>has to be filed within 45 days from the date of the poll results;</strong> nothing is entertained by courts after that.</li>
<li>Although the <a href="/to-the-points/Paper2/the-representation-of-the-people-act-part-ii" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Representative of the People Act (RP Act) of 1951</strong></a> suggests that the High Court should try to conclude the trial within six months, it usually drags on for much longer, even years.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Grounds on which Election Petition be Filed (Section 100 of the RP Act):</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>On the day of the election, the <strong>winning candidate was not qualified</strong> to contest.</li>
<li>The winning candidate, his poll agent or any other person with the consent of the <strong>winning candidate has indulged in a corrupt practice.</strong></li>
<li>Improper acceptance of the nomination of the winning candidate or <strong>improper rejection</strong> of a nomination.</li>
<li><strong>Malpractice in the counting process</strong>, which includes improper reception, refusal or rejection of any vote, or the reception of any vote which is void.</li>
<li><strong>Non-compliance with the provisions of the Constitution or the RP Act</strong> or any rules or orders made under the RP Act.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>If Verdict is in favour of the Petitioner (Section 84 of the RP Act):</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The petitioner may ask that the <strong>results of all or the winning candidates may be declared void.</strong></li>
<li>In addition to that, the <strong>petitioner may also ask the court to declare her</strong> (in case the petition is filed by a candidate) or any other candidate as the winner or duly elected.</li>
<li>So the verdict on an election petition, if found in favour of the petitioner, <strong>may result in a fresh election or the court announcing a new winner.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>History of Election Results Declared Void:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The most famous being the <strong>Allahabad High Court verdict of 1975</strong> which set aside <strong>Indira Gandhi&rsquo;s election</strong> from Rae Bareli constituency, four years earlier, on grounds of corrupt practice.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Provisions under RP Act 1951</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>It <strong>regulates the actual conduct</strong> of elections and by-elections.</li>
<li>It provides <strong>administrative machinery</strong> for conducting elections.</li>
<li>It deals with the <strong><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/registered-unrecognised-political-parties-increased-adr" target="_blank" rel="noopener">registration of political parties</a>.</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Section 123 of the RP Act</strong> has a detailed list of what amounts to corrupt practice, including <strong>bribery, use of force or coercion, appeal to vote or refrain from voting</strong> on grounds of religion, race, community, and language.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>It<strong> specifies the qualifications and disqualifications</strong> for membership of the Houses.</li>
<li>It provides <strong>provisions to curb corrupt practices</strong> and other offences.</li>
<li>It lays down the <strong>procedure for settling doubts and disputes</strong> arising out of elections.</li>
</ul>
</div>
<p><a href="https://indianexpress.com/article/explained/assembly-election-result-challenged-calcutta-hc-nandigram-constituency-7365499/" 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/petition-to-poll-results'
	],
	(int) 4 => [
		'title' => 'Rising Sea Levels ',
		'catname' => 'News Analysis',
		'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>Recently, a study has projected that sea levels will rise around <strong><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/draft-lakshadweep-development-authority-regulation-2021" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Lakshadweep</a> Islands</strong> due to the impact of <strong>global warming</strong>.</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>It will affect<strong> airport and residential areas</strong> that are quite close to the present coastline.</li>
<li><strong>India&rsquo;s smallest Union Territory, Lakshadweep</strong> is an archipelago consisting of 36 islands with an area of 32 sq km.</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1624093381_pasted%20image 3.jpg" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1624093381_pasted image 3.jpg" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="450" caption="false" /></a></p>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Sea Level Rise (SLR):</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>SLR is an <strong>increase in the level</strong> of the <strong>world&rsquo;s oceans</strong> due to the effects of climate change, especially <strong>global warming</strong>, induced by <strong>three primary factors:</strong> Thermal Expansion, Melting Glaciers and Loss of Greenland and Antarctica&rsquo;s ice sheets.</li>
<li>Sea level is primarily measured using tide stations and satellite laser altimeters.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>SLR is Linked to Three Primary Factors:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Thermal Expansion:</strong> When water heats up, it expands. About half of the sea-level rise over the past 25 years is attributable to warmer oceans simply occupying more space.</li>
<li><strong>Melting Glaciers: Higher temperatures</strong> caused by global warming have led to <strong>greater-than-average summer melting</strong> <strong>of large ice formations</strong> like mountain glaciers as well as <strong>diminished snowfall</strong> due to later winters and earlier springs. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>That creates <strong>an imbalance between runoff and ocean evaporation</strong>, causing sea levels to rise.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Loss of Greenland and Antarctic Ice Sheets:</strong> As with mountain glaciers, increased heat is causing the massive ice sheets that cover <strong>Greenland and <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/covid-in-antarctica" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Antarctica</a></strong> to melt more quickly, and also move more quickly into the sea.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Rate of SLR:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Global:</strong> Global sea level has been rising over the past century, and the rate has accelerated in recent decades. The average global sea level has <strong>risen 8.9 inches between 1880 and 2015.</strong> That&rsquo;s much faster than in the previous 2,700 years.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Also, <strong>Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC)</strong> released <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/special-report-on-climate-change-ipcc" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>&lsquo;The Special Report on the Ocean and Cryosphere in a Changing Climate&rsquo;</strong></a> in 2019 which underlined the dire changes taking place in oceans, glaciers, and ice-deposits on land and sea.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Regional:</strong> SLR is <strong>not uniform</strong> across the world. Regional SLR may be higher or lower than Global SLR due to subsidence, upstream flood control, erosion, regional ocean currents, variations in land height, and compressive weight of Ice Age glaciers.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Consequences of SLR:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Coastal Flooding:</strong> Globally, eight of the <strong>world's 10 largest cities</strong> are near a coast, which is threatened by coastal flooding.</li>
<li><strong>Destruction of Coastal Biodiversity:</strong> SLR can cause <strong>destructive erosion</strong>, wetland flooding, aquifer and agricultural soil contamination with salt, and lost habitat for biodiversity.</li>
<li><strong>Dangerous Storm Surges:</strong> Higher sea levels are coinciding with more dangerous <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/hurricane-hanna" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>hurricanes</strong> </a>and typhoons leading to loss of life and property.</li>
<li><strong>Lateral and Inland Migration:</strong> Flooding in low-lying coastal areas is forcing people to migrate to the higher ground causing displacement and dispossession and in turn a <strong><a href="/loksabha-rajyasabha-discussions/migration-4" target="_blank" rel="noopener">refugee crisis worldwide</a>.</strong></li>
<li><strong>Impact on Infrastructure:</strong> The prospect of higher coastal water levels threatens basic services such as internet access.</li>
<li><strong>Threat to Inland Life:</strong> Rising seas can contaminate soil and groundwater with salt threatening life farther away from coasts.</li>
<li><strong>Tourism and Military Preparedness:</strong> Tourism to coastal areas and military preparedness will also be negatively affected by an increase in SLR.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Steps taken to Tackle SLR:</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Relocation:</strong> Many coastal cities have planned to adopt relocation as a mitigation strategy. For example, Kiribati Island has planned to shift to Fiji, while the <strong><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/indonesia-s-new-capital" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Capital of Indonesia is being relocated from Jakarta to Borneo</a>.</strong></li>
<li><strong>Building Sea Wall:</strong> Indonesia&rsquo;s government launched a coastal development project called a Giant Sea Wall or "Giant Garuda" in 2014 meant to protect the city from floods.</li>
<li><strong>Building Enclosures:</strong> Researchers have proposed <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/northern-european-enclosure-dam" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Northern European Enclosure Dam</strong></a> (NEED), enclosing all of the North Sea to protect 15 Northern European countries from rising seas. The <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/persian-gulf-region" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Persian Gulf</strong></a>, the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/battle-of-gallipoli" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Mediterranean Sea</strong></a>, the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/travel-bubble" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Baltic Sea</strong></a>, the Irish Sea, and the Red Sea were also identified as areas that could benefit from similar mega enclosures.</li>
<li><strong>Architecture to Steer Flow of Water:</strong> Dutch City Rotterdam built barriers, drainage, and innovative architectural features such as a "water square" with temporary ponds.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Vulnerability of India:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>India's <strong>7,516-kilometre-long coastline</strong> includes 5,422 kilometres of coastline on the mainland and 2,094 kilometres on the islands belonging to nine states and four Union Territories.</li>
<li>The coastline <strong>accounts for 90% of the country's trade and it spans 3,331 coastal villages and 1,382 islands.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>India&rsquo;s Efforts:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong><a href="/to-the-points/paper3/coastal-regulation-zone-1" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Coastal Regulation Zone</a>:</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>The<strong> coastal areas of seas, bays, creeks, rivers, and backwaters</strong> which get <strong>influenced by tides up to 500 m from the high tide line (HTL) and the land between the low tide line (LTL) and the high tide line</strong> were declared as <strong>Coastal Regulation Zone (CRZ)</strong> in 1991.</li>
<li>The latest regulation <strong>also takes into account rising sea-levels due to global warming.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong><a href="/to-the-points/Paper2/national-action-plan-on-climate-change" target="_blank" rel="noopener">National Action Plan on Climate Change</a>:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>It was <strong>launched in 2008</strong> by the Prime Minister's Council on Climate Change.</li>
<li>It aims at creating awareness among the representatives of the public, different agencies of the government, scientists, industry and the communities on the threat posed by climate change and the steps to counter it.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Way Forward</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The <strong><a href="/loksabha-rajyasabha-discussions/the-big-picture-climate-change-act-now" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Paris Agreement</a></strong> provides a clear vision on limiting global warming and thus, SLR.</li>
<li>Some of the other steps in this direction would include:<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Switching from <strong>fossil fuels</strong> to clean alternatives like <strong>solar and wind energy.</strong></li>
<li>Instituting carbon taxes on industries and subsidies for reducing the carbon footprint.</li>
<li><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/carbon-sequestration" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Carbon sequestration</strong></a> by geo-engineering and natural methods like restoring peatland and wetland areas to capture existing greenhouse gases.</li>
<li><strong>Afforestation</strong> and reducing deforestation.</li>
<li>Subsidizing research on <strong>climate change.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="https://pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=1728293" 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/rising-sea-levels'
	],
	(int) 5 => [
		'title' => 'IN-EUNAVFOR Joint Naval Exercise',
		'catname' => 'News Analysis',
		'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>The <strong>maiden Indian Navy - European Union Naval Force (IN-EUNAVFOR) Exercise</strong> is being conducted in<strong> Gulf Of Aden.</strong></p>
<p><a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1624090807_pasted%20image 0 (2).png" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1624090807_pasted image 0 (2).png" width="450" caption="false" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" /></a></p>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Participants</strong>
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Along with <strong>Indian Navy</strong>, other naval forces are from <strong>Italy, Spain and France.</strong></li>
<li>The naval exercise <strong>included</strong> advanced air defence and anti-submarine exercises, tactical manoeuvres, Search &amp; Rescue, and other maritime security operations.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Aim:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>To enhance and hone their <strong>war-fighting skills</strong> and their ability as an<strong> integrated force to promote peace, security and stability</strong> in the maritime domain.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Significance:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>EUNAVFOR and the Indian Navy converge on multiple issues including <strong>counter piracy operations</strong> and <strong>protection of vessels deployed</strong> under the charter of <a href="/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-international-institution/world-food-programme-wfp" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>World Food Programme (UN WFP)</strong></a>.</li>
<li>The two navies also have regular interaction through <strong>SHADE (Shared Awareness and Deconfliction)</strong> meetings held annually at Bahrain.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li><strong>SHADE</strong> is an <strong>international operational counter piracy platform</strong>, convened in <strong>Bahrain.</strong></li>
<li>It aimed to encourage partners for sharing information, assessing the evolution of trends, best practices and to de-conflict operations amongst counter-piracy actors in the Gulf of Aden, the <strong>Gulf of Oman and the Western Indian Ocean.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>It also underscores the shared values in ensuring <strong>freedom of seas and commitment to an open, inclusive and a rules-based international order.</strong></li>
<li>Concurrently, a virtual <strong>&ldquo;Information sharing Exercise&rdquo;</strong> is also being conducted between the<a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/information-fusion-centre-of-indian-navy" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong> Indian Navy Information Fusion Centre &ndash; Indian Ocean Region</strong></a> and <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/indian-naval-los-at-madagascar-and-abu-dhabi" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Maritime Security Centre-Horn of Africa</strong></a>, an integral part of EUNAVFOR.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<table border="1" style="border-collapse: collapse; width: 100%;">
<tbody>
<tr style="height: 19px;">
<td style="width: 50%; height: 19px; background-color: #000000; text-align: center; border-style: solid; border-color: #000000;" colspan="2"><span style="color: #ffffff;"><strong>Major Indian Maritime Exercises</strong></span></td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 19px;">
<td style="width: 50%; height: 19px; background-color: #b0acac; border-style: solid; border-color: #000000;"><strong>Name of the Exercise</strong></td>
<td style="width: 50%; height: 19px; background-color: #b0acac; border-style: solid; border-color: #000000;"><strong>Name of the Country</strong></td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 19px;">
<td style="width: 50%; height: 19px; border-style: solid; border-color: #000000;"><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/slinex-20-india-sri-lanka-naval-maritime-exercise" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>SLINEX</strong></a></td>
<td style="width: 50%; height: 19px; border-style: solid; border-color: #000000;">Sri Lanka</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 19px;">
<td style="width: 50%; height: 19px; border-style: solid; border-color: #000000;"><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/exercise-bongosagar" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Bongosagar and IN-BN CORPAT</strong></a></td>
<td style="width: 50%; height: 19px; border-style: solid; border-color: #000000;">Bangladesh</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 19px;">
<td style="width: 50%; height: 19px; border-style: solid; border-color: #000000;"><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/jimex-20-maritime-exercise" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>JIMEX</strong></a></td>
<td style="width: 50%; height: 19px; border-style: solid; border-color: #000000;">Japan</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 19px;">
<td style="width: 50%; height: 19px; border-style: solid; border-color: #000000;">Naseem-Al-Bahr</td>
<td style="width: 50%; height: 19px; border-style: solid; border-color: #000000;">Oman</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 19px;">
<td style="width: 50%; height: 19px; border-style: solid; border-color: #000000;"><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/exercise-indra-2019" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Indra</strong></a></td>
<td style="width: 50%; height: 19px; border-style: solid; border-color: #000000;">Russia</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 19px;">
<td style="width: 50%; height: 19px; border-style: solid; border-color: #000000;"><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/bilateral-maritime-exercise-za-ir-al-bahr" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Za&rsquo;ir-Al-Bahr</strong></a></td>
<td style="width: 50%; height: 19px; border-style: solid; border-color: #000000;">Qatar</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 19px;">
<td style="width: 50%; height: 19px; border-style: solid; border-color: #000000;"><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/exercise-samudra-shakti" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Samudra Shakti</strong></a></td>
<td style="width: 50%; height: 19px; border-style: solid; border-color: #000000;">Indonesia</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 19px;">
<td style="width: 50%; height: 19px; border-style: solid; border-color: #000000;"><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/india-thailand-coordinated-patrol" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Indo-Thai CORPAT</strong></a></td>
<td style="width: 50%; height: 19px; border-style: solid; border-color: #000000;">Thailand</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 19px;">
<td style="width: 50%; height: 19px; border-style: solid; border-color: #000000;">IMCOR</td>
<td style="width: 50%; height: 19px; border-style: solid; border-color: #000000;">Malaysia</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 19px;">
<td style="width: 50%; height: 19px; border-style: solid; border-color: #000000;"><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/important-facts-for-prelims-20th-may-2019" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>SIMBEX</strong></a></td>
<td style="width: 50%; height: 19px; border-style: solid; border-color: #000000;">Singapore</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 19px;">
<td style="width: 50%; height: 19px; border-style: solid; border-color: #000000;">AUSINDEX</td>
<td style="width: 50%; height: 19px; border-style: solid; border-color: #000000;">Australia</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 19px;">
<td style="width: 50%; height: 19px; border-style: solid; border-color: #000000;"><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/australia-to-join-malabar-exercise" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Malabar Exercise</strong></a></td>
<td style="width: 50%; height: 19px; border-style: solid; border-color: #000000;">Japan, and the USA</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<p><a href="https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=1728276" 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/in-eunavfor-joint-naval-exercise'
	],
	(int) 6 => [
		'title' => 'Disability Early Intervention Centres',
		'catname' => 'News Analysis',
		'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>Recently, the <strong>Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment</strong> has launched <strong>14 cross-disability early intervention centres</strong> across the country to provide support to<strong> infants and young children</strong> at risk of or <strong>with disabilities.</strong></p>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Disabilities</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Disabilities is an <strong>umbrella term</strong>, covering impairments, activity limitations, and participation restrictions.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>An <strong>impairment</strong> is a problem in body function or structure;</li>
<li>An <strong>activity limitation</strong> is a difficulty encountered by an individual in executing a task or action;</li>
<li>A <strong>participation restriction</strong> is a problem experienced by an individual in involvement in life situations.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>The <a href="/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-international-institution/united-nations-1" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>United Nations</strong></a> <strong>Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities</strong> adopts a broad categorization of persons with disabilities and reaffirms that all persons with all types of disabilities must enjoy all human rights and fundamental freedoms.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>India has ratified the Convention</strong> and has enacted <strong>'The Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act, 2016'.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</div>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>About:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The <strong>services provided at the centres will include</strong> screening of children and referral to appropriate <strong>rehabilitative care; speech therapy, occupational therapy and physiotherapy; parental counselling</strong> and training and peer counselling.</li>
<li>These centers will also <strong>focus on school readiness.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Need:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Scenario from 2011 Census:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>There are <strong>more than 20 lakh</strong> children with disabilities in the age group of <strong>0-6 years</strong>, who belong to the categories of visually impaired, hearing impaired, locomotor disability etc.</li>
<li>This means that <strong>around 7% of children</strong> in this age group suffer from some form of disability.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Expected Rise in Number:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>The number of such children is expected to increase as the <strong>Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act 2016</strong>, increases the number of disabilities to 21 from 7.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>0-6 Years is a Critical Phase:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Early Childhood (0-6 years) is the <strong>most critical phase of brain</strong> development. Early intervention can provide specialised support and services for infants and young children at-risk or with disability or developmental delay and their families to help their development, well-being and participation in family and community life.</li>
<li>This can<strong> lead to lesser economic burden</strong> by creating a better future and independent/less dependent lives.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Other Initiatives for Disabled:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/status-on-implementation-of-the-rights-of-persons-with-disabilities-act-2016" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Right of Persons with Disabilities Act 2016</strong></a>: Besides increasing the number of disabilities, it increases the quantum of reservation for people suffering from disabilities from 3% to 4% in government jobs and from 3% to 5% in higher education institutes.</li>
<li><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/accessible-india-campaign" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Accessible India Campaign</strong></a>: Creation of Accessible Environment for Persons with Disabilities (PwDs).</li>
<li><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/unique-disability-identification-portal" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Unique Disability Identification (UDID) Portal</strong></a>: The project is being implemented with a view of creating a <strong>National Database for PwDs</strong>, and to issue a <strong>Unique Disability Identity Card</strong> to each PwD.</li>
<li><strong>DeenDayal Disabled Rehabilitation Scheme: Financial assistance is provided to NGOs</strong> for providing various services to PwDs, like special schools, vocational training centres, community based rehabilitation, pre-school and early intervention etc.</li>
<li><strong>Assistance to Disabled Persons for Purchase / fitting of Aids and Appliances (ADIP):</strong> Aims at <strong>helping the disabled persons</strong> by bringing suitable, durable, scientifically-manufactured, modern, standard aids and appliances within their reach.</li>
<li><strong>National Fellowship for Students with Disabilities:</strong> To increase opportunities for students with disabilities to pursue higher education, 200 Fellowships per year are granted.</li>
<li><strong>Schemes of the National Trust</strong> for the Welfare of Persons with Autism, Cerebral Palsy, Mental Retardation and Multiple Disabilities.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Way Forward</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Identification of at-risk cases, <strong>especially in rural areas</strong>, is an important aspect and it is also important to provide necessary assistance and counselling to their parents in time.</li>
<li>Research shows that the <strong>first 1000 days of a child's life are crucial</strong> to ensure healthy development, so it is very important to identify the risk cases at an early age so that the severity of the disability can be reduced through appropriate measures.</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/centre-opens-14-disability-early-intervention-centres/article34841209.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/disability-early-intervention-centres'
	],
	(int) 7 => [
		'title' => 'Role of Social Media in Democracy',
		'catname' => 'News Editorials',
		'desc' => '<div class="border">
<p>This article is based on <a href="https://indianexpress.com/article/opinion/columns/why-democracy-needs-social-media-7363544/" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>&ldquo;Why democracy needs social media''</strong></a> which was published in The Indian express on 17/06/2021. It talks about the role of social media in democracy.</p>
</div>
<p>The Covid-19 pandemic has shown how <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/social-media-and-democracy" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>social media</strong></a> can help average citizens and complement the efforts of the modern governments in dealing with the crisis.</p>
<p>Around the world, social media is making it easier for people to have a voice in government &mdash; to discuss issues, organize around causes, and hold leaders accountable.</p>
<p>However, due to its unregulated nature and its role in the spread of fake news, social media leads to spread of propaganda, targets minorities, destabilizes the elected governments, which all in turn compromises the spirit of democracy.</p>
<p>Thus, there is a need to regulate social media, in a way that strikes a balance between freedom of speech, interest of minorities, law &amp; order and promote participation of citizens in governance.</p>
<h3>Positive Impact of Social Media on Democracy</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Digital Democracy:</strong> Democratic values can evolve when people have freedom of expression. In this way, social media enables the concept of digital democracy through these platforms of freedom.</li>
<li><strong>Setting Accountability:</strong> Social media acts as an instrument that can question the seemingly invincible governments, make them accountable and bring sustained change driven by people beyond one vote in years.</li>
<li><strong>Giving Voice:</strong> Social media has enormous power to keep people informed. This can be seen, when social media played a critical role in the Arab Spring in places like Tunisia, it was heralded as a technology for liberation.</li>
<li><strong>Civic Engagement:</strong> Social media&rsquo;s implications for civic engagement are profound, as many people tend to discuss &amp; debate news over these platforms.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>It has long been observed that when people discuss the news, they&rsquo;re more likely to be involved in their community, whether by volunteering or reaching out to elected officials.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Negative Impact of Social Media on Democracy</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Political Polarization:</strong> One of the most common criticisms of social media is that it creates echo chambers where people only see viewpoints they agree with &mdash; further driving us apart.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>As unprecedented numbers of people channel their political energy through this medium, it&rsquo;s being used in unforeseen ways with societal repercussions that were never anticipated.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Propaganda Setting:</strong> According to Google Transparency Report, political parties mostly in the last two years have spent around $800 million (Rs 5,900 crore) on election ads. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Micro-targeting can enable dishonest campaigns to spread toxic discourse without much consequence.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Foreign Interference:</strong> Around the US 2016 election, Russian entities set up and promoted fake Pages on Facebook to influence public sentiment &mdash; essentially using social media as an information weapon.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>In this way, social media enables nation-states to use these platforms to wage a cyberwar intended to divide society.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Fake News:</strong> Social media gives people more voice and can sometimes be used, by anyone, to spread hoaxes and misinformation.</li>
<li><strong>Unequal Participation:</strong> Social media also distorts policymakers&rsquo; perception of public opinion. This is because it is believed that social media platforms tend to represent every walk of life, but not everyone is using their voice equally.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Conclusion</h3>
<p>If there&rsquo;s one fundamental truth about social media&rsquo;s impact on democracy it&rsquo;s that it amplifies human intent &mdash; both good and bad. At its best, it allows us to express ourselves and take action. At its worst, it allows people to spread misinformation and corrode democracy.</p>
<table border="1" style="border-collapse: collapse; width: 100%;">
<tbody>
<tr>
<td style="width: 100%; border-style: dotted; border-color: #ff0000; background-color: #fffffc;">
<p><span style="color: #333399;"><em><strong>Drishti Mains Question</strong></em></span></p>
<p>If there&rsquo;s one fundamental truth about social media&rsquo;s impact on democracy it&rsquo;s that it amplifies human intent &mdash; both good and bad. Comment.</p>
</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<p></p>',
		'postdate' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenTime) {},
		'url' => 'https://www.drishtiias.com/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/role-of-social-media-in-democracy'
	],
	(int) 8 => [
		'title' => 'Helpline for Cyber Fraud',
		'catname' => 'News Analysis',
		'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>The <strong>Ministry of Home Affairs</strong> has operationalised the<strong> national Helpline 155260</strong> and <strong>Reporting Platform for preventing</strong> financial loss due to <strong>cyber fraud.</strong> The helpline was <strong>soft-launched on 1<sup>st</sup> April.</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The National Helpline and Reporting Platform <strong>provides a mechanism for persons cheated in cyber frauds</strong> to report such cases to prevent loss of their hard earned money.</li>
<li>Also, a <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/national-cyber-security-strategy-2020" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>National Cyber Security Strategy 2020</strong> </a>is being formulated by the Office of National Cyber Security Coordinator at the National Security Council Secretariat.</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Cyber Security</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><a href="/to-the-points/paper3/cyber-security#:~:text=Strategies%20under%20National%20Cyber%20Policy,through%20national%20systems%20and%20processes." target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Cyber Security</strong></a> is <strong>protecting cyber space</strong> including critical information infrastructure from attack, damage, misuse and economic espionage.</li>
<li><strong>Critical Information Infrastructure:</strong> According to<strong> Section 70(1) of the Information Technology Act,</strong> CII is defined as a &ldquo;computer resource, the incapacitation or destruction of which, shall have <strong>debilitating impact on national security, economy, public health or safety&rdquo;.</strong></li>
<li><strong>Cyber Fraud:</strong> It is the crime committed via a computer <strong>with the intent to corrupt another individual&rsquo;s personal and financial information</strong> stored online. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>It is the most common type of fraud and individuals and organisations need to be vigilant and protect their information from fraudsters.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</div>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>About:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The helpline has been made<strong> operational by the Indian Cyber Crime Coordination Centre (I4C),</strong> in coordination with the <a href="/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-national-institutions/important-institutions-national-institution-reserve-bank-of-india" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Reserve Bank of India</strong></a>, all major banks, <a href="/to-the-points/paper3/payment-banks" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>payment banks</strong></a>, wallets and online merchants.</li>
<li>The <strong>Citizen Financial Cyber Fraud Reporting and Management System</strong> has been developed by I4C to integrate Law Enforcement Agencies and Banks and Financial Intermediaries.</li>
<li>The facility <strong>empowers both the banks and the police,</strong> by leveraging new-age technologies <strong>for sharing online fraud related information</strong> and taking action in almost real time.</li>
<li>Since its soft launch, in a short span of two months, the helpline has assisted in saving <strong>more than Rs 1.85 crore.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Indian Cyber Crime Coordination Centre:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The scheme to<strong> set up I4C</strong> was approved<strong> in October 2018,</strong> to deal with all types of cybercrimes in a comprehensive and coordinated manner.</li>
<li>It has <strong>seven components:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>National Cyber Crime Threat Analytics Unit</li>
<li><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/new-facility-to-tackle-cyber-crimes" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>National Cyber Crime Reporting Portal</strong></a></li>
<li>National Cyber Crime Training Centre</li>
<li>Cyber Crime Ecosystem Management Unit</li>
<li>National Cyber Crime Research and Innovation Centre</li>
<li>National Cyber Crime Forensic Laboratory Ecosystem</li>
<li>Platform for Joint Cyber Crime Investigation Team.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>15 States and Union Territories have given their consent to set up Regional Cyber Crime Coordination Centres.</li>
<li>This state-of-the-art Centre is<strong> located in New Delhi.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Other Initiatives to Tackle Cybercrime:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/cyber-crime-data-deprivation-and-data-localisation" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Draft Personal Data Protection Bill</strong></a>, 2018 (based on the recommendation of <strong>Justice BN Srikrishna Committee</strong>) to secure citizens data.</li>
<li><strong>Cyber Swachhta Kendra:</strong> The "Cyber Swachhta Kendra" (Botnet Cleaning and Malware Analysis Centre) is a part of the Government of India's <a href="/loksabha-rajyasabha-discussions/in-depth-digital-india" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Digital India initiative</strong></a> under the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY).</li>
<li><strong><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/35-percent-of-cyber-attacks-on-indian-sites-from-china" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Indian Computer Emergency Response Team (CERT</a>-IN)</strong>: It is an organisation of the MeitY, with the objective of securing Indian cyberspace. It is the nodal agency which deals with cybersecurity threats like hacking and phishing.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Related International Convention (Budapest Convention):</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The <strong>Council of Europe&rsquo;s (CoE) Cybercrime Convention,</strong> also known as the Budapest Convention is the sole legally binding international multilateral treaty on cybercrime. It coordinates<strong> cybercrime investigations between</strong> nation-states and criminalizes certain cybercrime conduct.</li>
<li>It was opened for <strong>signature in 2001</strong> and came into<strong> force in 2004.</strong></li>
<li>The Budapest Convention is supplemented by a <strong>Protocol on Xenophobia and Racism</strong> committed through computer systems.</li>
<li>India is <strong>not a party</strong> to it. India recently <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/convention-on-global-cybercrime" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>voted in favour of a Russian-led UN resolution</strong></a> to set up a separate convention. The resolution seeks to set up new cyber norms considered as a counter alternative to the US backed Budapest Accord.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/amit-shah-launches-helpline-for-cyber-fraud/article34843393.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/helpline-for-cyber-fraud'
	],
	(int) 9 => [
		'title' => 'China’s Shenzhou-12 Manned Mission',
		'catname' => 'News Analysis',
		'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>Recently, a Chinese spaceship <strong>&ldquo;Shenzhou-12&rdquo;</strong> carrying a <strong>three-person crew</strong> docked with China&rsquo;s new <strong>space station</strong> module <strong>Tianhe-1.</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>This has come after the launch of the <strong>Tianzhou-2 cargo spacecraft,</strong> which carried vital supplies for the space station.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>About Mission:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The <strong>Shenzhou-12 craft</strong> connected with the<a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/china-s-permanent-space-station" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong> Tianhe space station module</strong></a> about six hours after takeoff from the <strong>Jiuquan launch center in Gobi Desert.</strong></li>
<li>The<strong> three-man crew</strong> will spend<strong> three months on the Tianhe module,</strong> which is orbiting at some <strong>340km to 380km</strong> above the earth.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>China is the<strong> third country after</strong> the former <strong>Soviet Union</strong> and the <strong>United States</strong> to carry out a<strong> manned mission</strong> on its own.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>This is the <strong>first of two manned space missions</strong> planned for this year, part of an intense schedule of launches aimed at completing the <strong>Chinese space station in 2022.</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>At least <strong>five more missions</strong> are planned for the year, with the <strong>Shenzhou-13</strong> manned mission, also carrying three astronauts, set for later this year.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>The three astronauts are the first to take up residency in the main living module and <strong>will carry out</strong> experiments, test equipment, conduct maintenance and prepare the station for receiving two laboratory modules next year.</li>
<li>It was <strong>China&rsquo;s seventh crewed mission to space</strong> but marked<strong> a number of firsts for the country &ndash;</strong> the first manned one during the construction of China&rsquo;s space station, the first in nearly five years after the country&rsquo;s <strong>last manned mission in 2016</strong> and China&rsquo;s<strong> longest crewed space mission</strong> to date.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Purpose of the Mission:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>It will help test technologies related to<strong> long-term astronaut-stays</strong> and health care, the recycling and life support system, the supply of space materials, extravehicular activities and operations, and in-orbit maintenance.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>China&rsquo;s Space Station:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>China is <strong>not a participant in the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/important-fact-for-prelims-27-february-2019" target="_blank" rel="noopener">International Space Station (ISS)</a>,</strong> largely as a result of US objections to the Chinese program's secrecy and close military ties. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>The ISS is a joint project between <strong>five participating space agencies: NASA</strong> (United States), <strong>Roscosmos</strong> (Russia), <strong>JAXA</strong> (Japan), <strong>ESA</strong> (Europe), and b (Canada).</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>However, <strong>China has been stepping up cooperation with Russia and a host of other countries,</strong> and <strong>its station may continue operating beyond the ISS, </strong>which is <strong>reaching the end of its functional life.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Other Recent Space Missions of China:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>China's Mars Probe:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>In May 2021 <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/tianwen-1-china-s-mars-mission-1" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>China&rsquo;s Tianwen spacecraft</strong></a> landed on Mars carrying a <strong>rover, the Zhurong.</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>It will conduct scientific investigations into the planet&rsquo;s soil, geological structure, environment, atmosphere and water.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>China&rsquo;s Moon Probe:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>In November 2020, <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/chang-e-5-mission-china" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Chang&rsquo;e-5 mission</strong></a> landed on the moon&rsquo;s less explored far side and brought back the first lunar samples by any country&rsquo;s space program since the 1970s.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>China and Russia</strong> have also unveiled an ambitious plan for a joint <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/international-lunar-research-station-russia-and-china" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>International Lunar Research Station</strong> </a>running through 2036. That could compete and possibly conflict with the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/lunar-evacuation-system" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Multinational Artemis Accords (MAA).</strong></a><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>MAA is a blueprint for space cooperation that supports NASA&rsquo;s plans to return humans to the moon by 2024 and to launch an historic human mission to Mars.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1624012224_image%200.jpg" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1624012224_image 0.jpg" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="350" caption="false" /></a></p>
<p><a href="https://www.thehindu.com/news/international/chinese-astronauts-dock-with-space-station/article34841851.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/china-s-shenzhou-12-manned-mission'
	],
	(int) 10 => [
		'title' => 'Namami Gange Programme',
		'catname' => 'News Analysis',
		'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>Recently, an agreement was signed for Development of 35 MLD (Mega Liters per day) <strong>Sewage Treatment Plant</strong> in Maheshtala (City situated on the east bank of <strong>River Ganga</strong>), West Bengal under <strong>Namami Gange Programme.</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The project was signed under <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/revisit-ppps-to-revive-investments#:~:text=The%20Hybrid%20Annuity%20Model%20(HAM,through%20annual%20payments%20(annuity)." target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Hybrid Annuity PPP mode.</strong></a></li>
</ul>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Namami Gange Programme:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Namami Gange Programme is an<strong> Integrated Conservation Mission,</strong> approved as a <strong>&lsquo;Flagship Programme&rsquo;</strong> by the Union Government in June 2014 to accomplish the <strong>twin objectives of effective abatement of pollution and conservation and rejuvenation of National River Ganga.</strong></li>
<li>It is being operated under the Department of Water Resources, River Development and Ganga Rejuvenation, <a href="/to-the-points/Paper2/year-end-review-2019-ministry-of-jal-shakti" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Ministry of Jal Shakti.</strong></a></li>
<li>The program is being implemented by the <strong><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/national-mission-for-clean-ganga" target="_blank" rel="noopener">National Mission for Clean Ganga</a> (NMCG),</strong> and its state counterpart organizations i.e State Program Management Groups (SPMGs).</li>
<li>NMCG is the implementation wing of <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/first-meeting-of-national-ganga-council" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>National Ganga Council</strong></a> (set in 2016; which replaced the National Ganga River Basin Authority - NGRBA).</li>
<li>It has a Rs. 20,000-crore, <strong>centrally-funded, non-lapsable corpus</strong> and consists of nearly 288 projects.</li>
<li>The <strong>main pillars</strong> of the programme are:<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Sewage Treatment Infrastructure</li>
<li>River-Front Development</li>
<li>River-Surface Cleaning</li>
<li>Biodiversity</li>
<li>Afforestation</li>
<li>Public Awareness</li>
<li>Industrial Effluent Monitoring</li>
<li>Ganga Gram</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>The Ganga River System:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The headwaters of the Ganga called the &lsquo;Bhagirathi&rsquo; are fed by the Gangotri Glacier and joined by the Alaknanda at Devprayag in Uttarakhand.</li>
<li>At Haridwar, Ganga emerges from the mountains to the plains.</li>
<li>The Ganga is joined by many tributaries from the Himalayas, a few of them being major rivers such as the Yamuna, the Ghaghara, the Gandak and the Kosi.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<p style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1624010293_image2.png" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1624010293_image2.png" width="600" caption="false" /></a></p>
<p><a href="https://pib.gov.in/PressReleaseIframePage.aspx?PRID=1727998" 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/namami-gange-programme'
	],
	(int) 11 => [
		'title' => 'Improving Employability of the Youth',
		'catname' => 'News Analysis',
		'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>Recently, the <strong>Ministry of Labour and Employment</strong> and <strong>UNICEF</strong> have signed a <strong>Statement of Intent</strong> to improve employment outcomes for the youth in India.</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>According to <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/census-2021" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Census 2011</strong></a>, every fifth person in India is a youth (15-24 years).</li>
<li><a href="/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-international-institution/unicef-1" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>UNICEF</strong></a> is a s<strong>pecial program of the <a href="/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-international-institution/united-nations-1" target="_blank" rel="noopener">United Nations</a> (UN)</strong> devoted to aiding national efforts to improve the health, nutrition, education, and general welfare of children. <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/world-s-children-report-2019" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>&lsquo;The State of the World's Children'</strong></a> is UNICEF's flagship report.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Purpose of this Collaboration:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>It intends to provide a <strong>platform for cooperation between the Ministry and UNICEF</strong> to leverage the existing mainstreamed initiatives of both parties in select states.</li>
<li>This will <strong>co-create and implement solutions</strong> at scale to tackle the <strong>employment and skilling challenges</strong> for adolescents and youth in India, with focus on <strong>vulnerable populations.</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li><strong>Vulnerable Populations include</strong> young people with special needs, youth leaving care institutions, migrant youth, victims of <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/child-labour-in-india" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>child labour</strong></a>, violence, <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/child-marriage-and-pandemic" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>child marriage</strong></a> and trafficking and like other matter.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Areas of Collaboration:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Connecting young people with employment opportunities.</strong></li>
<li><strong>Upskilling of young people on 21<sup>st</sup> century skills</strong> including life skills, financial skills, digital skills, vocations skills etc.</li>
<li><strong>Strengthening National Career Service (NCS).</strong></li>
<li>Support in <strong>Job forecasting</strong> by exploring the gaps.</li>
<li>Supporting <strong>direct dialogue and the establishment of a feedback mechanism</strong> between youth and policy stakeholders.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/national-career-service-project" target="_blank" rel="noopener">National Career Service (NCS)</a>:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>About:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>It was <strong>launched in 2015</strong>, within the umbrella of the <strong><a href="/to-the-points/Paper2/e-governance-1" target="_blank" rel="noopener">e-governance plan</a>.</strong></li>
<li>It is a<strong> one-stop solution</strong> that provides a wide array of employment and career related services to the citizens of India.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Nodal Ministry:</strong> Ministry of Labour &amp; Employment.</li>
<li><strong>Three Pillars:</strong> The NCS project reaches out to the people of this country through its three essential pillars i.e.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>A well designed ICT based portal which is <strong>NCS portal,</strong></li>
<li>Country wide set up of <strong>Model Career Centers</strong> and</li>
<li>Interlinkage with all the states through <strong>employment exchanges.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>UNICEF&rsquo;s Initiative (YuWaah):</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The <strong>India chapter of Generation Unlimited (GenU) &ndash; YuWaah</strong> &ndash; was <strong>born in 2018.</strong></li>
<li>GenU is a <strong>global multi-stakeholder platform</strong> that aims to prepare young people to transition to productive work and active citizenship.</li>
<li>In India, <strong>by 2030</strong>, YuWaah aims to ensure, the following:<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Build <strong>pathways for 100 million young people</strong> to aspirational economic opportunities.</li>
<li>Facilitate <strong>200 million young people to gain relevant skills</strong> for productive lives and the future of work.</li>
<li><strong>Partner with 300 million young people as changemakers</strong> and create spaces for developing their leadership.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Other Initiatives Taken to Improve Employability of the Youth</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>National Youth Policy-2014</strong> provides a holistic Vision for the youth of India which is &ldquo;to empower the youth of the country to achieve their full potential, and through them enable India to find its rightful place in the community of nations&rdquo;.</li>
<li><strong><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/prime-minister-s-employment-generation-program" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Prime Minister&rsquo;s Employment Generation Programme (PMEGP)</a>:</strong> It was <strong>introduced in 2008</strong> for generation of employment opportunities through establishment of micro enterprises in rural as well as urban areas. It is administered by the <strong>Ministry of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises.</strong></li>
<li><strong><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/pradhan-mantri-mudra-yojana" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Pradhan Mantri Mudra Yojana (PMMY)</a>:</strong> It was launched in 2015 for providing <strong>loans up to Rs. 10 lakh</strong> to the non-corporate, non-farm small/micro-enterprises. It has a focu<strong>s on self-employment.</strong></li>
<li><strong><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/important-facts-for-prelims-18th-january-2019" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Pradhan Mantri Rojgar ProtsahanYojana (PMRPY)</a>:</strong> It has been launched by the <strong>Ministry of Labour and Employment for incentivising employers for promoting employment generation.</strong> The Government is paying the entire employer&rsquo;s contribution towards EPF and EPS for all eligible new employees for all sectors for 3 years.</li>
<li>Increased public expenditure on schemes like <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/mgnrega-and-migrant-crisis" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MGNREGA)</strong></a>, <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/deen-dayal-upadhyaya-grameen-kaushalya-yojana" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Pt. Deen Dayal Upadhyaya Grameen Kaushalya Yojana (DDU-GKY)</strong> </a>scheme run by Ministry of Rural Development and <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/skoch-governance-gold-award-for-day-nulm" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Deendayal Antyodaya Yojana- National Urban Livelihoods Mission (DAY-NULM)</strong></a> run by Ministry of Housing &amp; Urban Affairs.</li>
<li><strong>Other Flagship Programmes which have the Potential to Generate Employment:</strong> <strong><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/assessment-of-make-in-india" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Make in India</a>, <a href="/loksabha-rajyasabha-discussions/in-depth-digital-india" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Digital India</a>, <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/Swachh%20Bharat%20Mission#:~:text=The%20Swachh%20Bharat%20Mission%20(Grameen,launched%20on%20October%202%2C%202014.&amp;text=Together%2C%20they%20aim%20to%20achieve,on%20his%20150th%20Birth%20Anniver" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Swachh Bharat Mission</a>, <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/smart-cities-command-centres#:~:text=Smart%20City%20Mission,create%20smart%20outcomes%20for%20citizens." target="_blank" rel="noopener">Smart City Mission</a>, <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/amrut-mission" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Atal Mission for Rejuvenation and Urban Transformation</a>, <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/pradhan-mantri-awaas-yojana-gramin#:~:text=Launch%3A%20To%20achieve%20the%20objective,Involved%3A%20Ministry%20of%20Rural%20development." target="_blank" rel="noopener">Housing for All</a>, <a href="/to-the-points/paper3/industrial-corridors-2" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Industrial corridors</a></strong>, etc.</li>
</ul>
</div>
<p><a href="https://pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=1727860" 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/improving-employability-of-the-youth'
	],
	(int) 12 => [
		'title' => 'Inland Vessel Bill 2021',
		'catname' => 'News Analysis',
		'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>Recently, the Union Cabinet approved the <strong>Inland Vessels Bill, 2021</strong>, which will replace the <strong>Inland Vessels Act, 1917</strong> after passing in Parliament.</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The Bill will <strong>regulate safety, security and registration of inland vessels.</strong></li>
</ul>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Features of the Bill:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>A key feature of the Bill is a <strong>unified law for the entire country</strong>, instead of separate rules framed by the States. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>The <strong>certificate of registration</strong> granted under the proposed law will be deemed to be valid in all States and Union Territories, and there will be no need to seek separate permissions from the States.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>The Bill provides for a <strong>central database</strong> for recording the details of vessel, vessel registration, crew on an electronic portal.</li>
<li>All <strong>non-mechanically propelled vessels will also</strong> have to be enrolled at the district, taluk or panchayat or village level.</li>
<li>It enlarges the definition of <strong>&lsquo;inland waters&rsquo;</strong>, by including <strong>tidal water limit</strong> and <strong>national waterways</strong> declared by the Central Government.</li>
<li>It also deals <strong>with pollution control measures</strong> of Inland Vessels. This Bill directs the Central Government <strong>to designate a list of chemicals, substances</strong>, etc. <strong>as pollutants.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Inland Waterways:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>About:</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>India has <strong>about 14,500 km of navigable waterways</strong> which comprise of rivers, canals, backwaters, creeks, etc.</li>
<li>As per the <strong>National Waterways Act 2016, 111 waterways</strong> have been declared as <strong>National Waterways (NWs).</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li><strong>NW-1: Ganga-Bhagirathi-Hooghly River System (Prayagraj-Haldia)</strong> with length 1620 km is the <strong>longest National Waterway</strong> in India.</li>
<li>The <strong>Inland Waterways Authority of India (IWAI)</strong> is implementing the <strong><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/jal-marg-vikas-project" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Jal Marg Vikas Project</a> (JMVP)</strong> for capacity augmentation of navigation on the Haldia-Varanasi stretch of Ganga (part of NW-1) with the technical and financial assistance of the <a href="/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-international-institution/world-bank-group" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>World Bank</strong></a>.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Utilization:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>About <strong>55 million tonnes of cargo</strong> is being moved <strong>annually by IWT (Inland Water Transport)</strong>, a fuel-efficient and environment-friendly mode.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>However, <strong>freight transportation by waterways is highly underutilized</strong> in the country as compared to developed countries.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>Its operations are <strong>currently restricted to a few stretches</strong> in the <strong>Ganga-Bhagirathi-Hooghly rivers, the Brahmaputra, the Barak river</strong> (northeastern India), the <strong>rivers in Goa, the backwaters in Kerala, inland waters in Mumbai</strong> and the<strong> deltaic regions of the Godavari - Krishna rivers.</strong></li>
<li>Besides these<strong> organized operations by mechanized vessels, country boats</strong> of various capacities also operate in various rivers and canals and<strong> substantial quantum of cargo and passengers are transported in this unorganized sector</strong> as well.</li>
<li>In India, IWT has the <strong>potential to supplement the overburdened railways and congested roadways.</strong> In addition to cargo movement, the IWT sector also provides a convenient function in related activities such as <strong>carriage of vehicles {on Roll-on-Roll-off (Ro-Ro) mode of cross ferry} and tourism.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Steps Taken:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>The waterways will also<strong> be linked to the</strong> <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/dedicated-freight-corridor-1" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>eastern and western Dedicated Freight Corridors (DFCs)</strong></a>, <strong>as well as the</strong> <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/sagarmala-seaplane-services" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Sagarmala Project</strong></a>, which aims to promote port-led direct and indirect development.</li>
<li>Further, the provisions of the <strong><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/sonamura-daudkandi-inland-waterway-route" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Indo-Bangladesh (Sonamura-Daudkandi)</a> and <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/presidents-visit-to-myanmar" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Indo-Myanmar protocol (Kaladan)</a></strong> permitting transhipment of goods through Bangladesh and Myanmar waters &ndash; which, in many cases, are a continuum of India&rsquo;s inland waterways &ndash; enabling quicker shipments and deeper market penetration in India&rsquo;s North East.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1624014464_image1.png" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1624014464_image1.png" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" caption="false" width="599" height="563" /></a></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Inland Waterways Authority of India:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>It came into existence <strong>on 27<sup>th</sup> October 1986</strong> for development and regulation of inland waterways for shipping and navigation.</li>
<li>It primarily undertakes projects for development and maintenance of <strong>IWT</strong> (Inland Water Transport) <strong>infrastructure</strong> on national waterways through grants received from the <strong>Ministry of Shipping.</strong></li>
<li>It is <strong>headquartered at Noida</strong> (Uttar Pradesh).</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/cabinet-nod-for-inland-vessels-bill/article34832506.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/inland-vessel-bill-2021'
	],
	(int) 13 => [
		'title' => 'AI: Promises & Perils',
		'catname' => 'News Editorials',
		'desc' => '<div class="border">
<p>This article is based on<a href="https://www.hindustantimes.com/opinion/the-promise-and-perils-of-ai-partnerships-101623837070390.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong> &ldquo;The promise and perils of Artificial Intelligence partnerships&rdquo;</strong></a> which was published in The Hindustan Times on 16/06/2021. It talks about the promises and perils associated with Artificial intelligence.</p>
</div>
<p>Historically, Technology competition has been a main aspect of geopolitics. In this day and age, it can be increasingly reflected in geopolitical battles between the US and China. One such technological competition can be easily witnessed in the field of <strong><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/ethical-challenges-posed-by-ai" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Artificial intelligence (AI)</a>.</strong></p>
<p>Artificial intelligence is that activity devoted to making machines intelligent or to make them think like humans. AI has emerged as one technology of particular importance because of its role as an accelerator, its versatility, and its wide applicability.</p>
<p>However, AI can also be used for a host of undesirable purposes &mdash; generating misinformation, criminal activity, and encroaching upon personal privacy or inducing technological unemployment.</p>
<p>Therefore, as the global community seeks to leverage the promises of AI, they should also confront similar challenges when it comes to the development and deployment of AI and develop a human-centric approach to AI.</p>
<h3>Promises of AI</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Some Primary advantages of AI are as follows:</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>AI drives down the time taken to perform a task. It enables multi-tasking and eases the workload for existing resources.</li>
<li>AI enables the execution of hitherto complex tasks without significant cost outlays.</li>
<li>AI operates 24x7 without interruption or breaks and has no downtime</li>
<li>AI augments the capabilities of differently abled individuals</li>
<li>AI has mass market potential, it can be deployed across industries.</li>
<li>AI facilitates decision-making by making the process faster and smarter.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>360-degree Effect:</strong> Based on these advantages, AI can be used in many positive ways &mdash; to foster innovation, increase efficiency, improve development, and enhance consumer experience.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>For India, AI deployment will be tied closely to inclusive growth and its development trajectory, with potentially positive implications for agriculture, health, and education, among other sectors.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>Driven by recent breakthroughs in machine learning &amp; Big data, AI is a good bellwether for the possibilities and challenges of international cooperation on emerging technologies.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Perils Associated With AI</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Promoting Prejudices and Inequalities:</strong> It shouldn&rsquo;t be forgotten that AI systems are created by humans, who can be biased and judgemental. Thus, AI can promote prejudices and inequalities, if initial training of the AI algorithms are biased.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>For example, it can lead to AI facial recognition and surveillance technology to discriminate against people of color and minorities.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Comprising Privacy:</strong> AI systems learn by analyzing huge volumes of data and they keep adapting through continuous modelling of interaction data and user-feedback. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Thus, with the increasing use of AI, the right to privacy can be under threat due to unauthorized access to one&rsquo;s activity data.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Disproportionate Power and Control:</strong> Technology giants are investing heavily in regard to artificial intelligence, both at the scientific/engineering and also at the commercial and product development level.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>These big players have an unmatched advantage when compared to any ambitious competitor out there which is a symptom of data-oligarchic society.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Technological Unemployment:</strong> AI companies are building intelligent machines that perform tasks typically carried out by low-income workers. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>For example self-service kiosks to replace cashiers, fruit-picking robots to replace field workers, etc.</li>
<li>Moreover, the day is not far when many desk jobs will also be edged out by AI, such as accountants, financial traders, and middle managers.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Way Forward</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>International Cooperation:</strong> Given that various governments have only recently established AI policies, and in some cases are still formulating them, international cooperation is still very much a work in progress. in the setting of standards at the multilateral level.</li>
<li><strong>Building Resilient Supply Chains:</strong> Beyond talent, additional challenges like, securing the necessary infrastructure; ensuring resilient supply chains, alignment on standards, governance, ensuring critical minerals and other raw materials required for the development of the necessary physical infrastructure, needs to be addressed.</li>
<li><strong>Right Steps Taken:</strong> AI technological revolution brings great opportunities for prosperity and growth &mdash; but it has to be ensured that the technology will be applied and used in the right direction.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>In this regard, some steps are already being taken in different parts of the world, like Explainable AI (XAI) and the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/right-to-be-forgotten-2" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>European Union&rsquo;s GDPR &mdash; General Data Protection Regulation).</strong></a></li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Conclusion</h3>
<p>The critical decisions made in the near future could have transformative effects for international cooperation on AI, which, in turn, could decisively shape the contours of what some have described as the <a href="/loksabha-rajyasabha-discussions/in-depth-industrial-revolution-4-0" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Fourth Industrial Revolution.</strong></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: #f5fff8;">
<p><span style="color: #000080;"><em><strong>Drishti Mains Question</strong></em></span></p>
<p>As the global community seeks to leverage the promises of Artificial Intelligence, they should also confront similar challenges when it comes to the development and deployment of it. Discuss.</p>
</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>',
		'postdate' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenTime) {},
		'url' => 'https://www.drishtiias.com/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/ai-promises-perils'
	],
	(int) 14 => [
		'title' => '8th ADMM-Plus Meeting',
		'catname' => 'News Analysis',
		'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>Recently, the defence minister addressed the<strong> 8<sup>th</sup> <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/asean-defence-ministers-meeting-plus" target="_blank" rel="noopener">ASEAN Defence Ministers Meeting (ADMM) Plus.</a></strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The ADMM-Plus is a platform for <strong>ASEAN and its eight Dialogue Partners.</strong></li>
</ul>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Security &amp; Dispute Resolution:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>India called for an <strong>open and inclusive order in <a href="/loksabha-rajyasabha-discussions/the-big-picture-indo-pacific-strategic-importance" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Indo-Pacific</a></strong> based upon respect for sovereignty and territorial integrity of nations.</li>
<li>Supports <strong>freedom of navigation, overflight, and unimpeded commerce in the international waterways</strong> including the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/south-china-sea-dispute" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>South China Sea</strong></a>, India hopes that the <strong>Code of Conduct negotiations</strong> (for South China Sea) will lead to outcomes that are in keeping with international law, including the the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/unclos-maritime-zones" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS).</strong></a><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Recently, ASEAN and China agreed to <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/china-asean-meeting" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>expedite the resumption of negotiations on the code</strong></a>, which were halted by the pandemic.</li>
<li>China and ASEAN <strong>started negotiations in 2013</strong> on a supposedly binding code of conduct.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>Stressed on<strong> peaceful resolutions of disputes</strong> through dialogue and adherence to international rules and laws.</li>
<li>Need <strong>new systems</strong> to address the emerging challenges to <strong>international peace and security.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Act East Policy:</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The key elements of the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/india-s-act-east-policy-1" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Act East Policy</strong> </a>aims to<strong> promote economic cooperation, cultural ties and develop strategic relationships</strong> with countries in the Indo-Pacific region through continuous engagement at bilateral, regional and multilateral levels.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Terrorism:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Called for <strong>collective cooperation to fully disrupt terror organisations</strong> and their networks.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Identify the perpetrators and hold them accountable and ensure that <strong>strong measures are taken against those who support and finance terrorism</strong> and provide sanctuary to terrorists.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>As a member of the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/financial-action-task-force-1" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Financial Action Task Force (FATF)</strong> </a>India remains committed to combat financing of terrorism. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li><strong>FATF</strong> is the global money laundering and terrorist financing watchdog.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Cybersecurity:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Called for a<strong> multi-stakeholder approach, guided by democratic values,</strong> with a governance structure that is open and inclusive and a secure, open and stable internet with due respect to sovereignty of countries, that would drive the future of cyberspace.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Covid-19:</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Globally available patent free <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/covid-19-vaccination" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>vaccines</strong></a>, unhindered supply chains and greater global medical capacities are some of the lines of effort that India has suggested for a combined effort.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>South Africa and India have called for the <a href="/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-international-institution/world-trade-organisation-wto" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>World Trade Organization (WTO)</strong></a> to suspend intellectual property (IP) rights related to<a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/comprehensive-action-plan-for-covid-19" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong> Covid-19</strong> </a>to ensure equitable sharing of vaccines and new technology to control the pandemic.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief (<a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/tiger-triumph#:~:text=The%20first%2Dever%20India%2DUS,Kakinada%20coasts%20in%20Andhra%20Pradesh." target="_blank" rel="noopener">HADR</a>) Operations:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>India remains one of the first to respond in times of distress in the immediate as well as extended neighbourhood.</li>
<li>As a founding member of the <strong>Heads of Asian Coast Guard Agencies Meeting (HACGAM),</strong> India seeks to enhance capacity building through collaboration in the areas of Maritime Search &amp; Rescue.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>HACGAM is an <strong>apex level forum facilitating the congregation of all the major Coast Guard Agencies of the Asian region,</strong> it was<strong> established in 2004. </strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>ASEAN Centrality:</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>India <strong>shares a deep connection with ASEAN</strong> and has continued its active engagement in many areas <strong>contributing to regional peace and stability, particularly through ASEAN led mechanisms,</strong> such as:<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li><strong><a href="/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-international-institution/east-asia-summit" target="_blank" rel="noopener">East Asia Summit</a>.</strong></li>
<li><strong><a href="/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-international-institution/asean" target="_blank" rel="noopener">ASEAN Regional Forum</a>.</strong></li>
<li>ADMM-Plus.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>The India-ASEAN strategic partnership has been strengthened by virtue of flourishing cultural and civilisational links and enhanced people-to-people cooperation.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>ADMM-Plus</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>About:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The<strong> 2<sup>nd</sup> ASEAN Defence Ministers&rsquo; Meeting (ADMM) in 2007</strong> at Singapore adopted a resolution to establish the ADMM-Plus.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>The <strong>first ADMM-Plus was convened at Hanoi, Vietnam in 2010.</strong></li>
<li><strong>Brunei</strong> is the Chair of the ADMM Plus forum for the year 2021.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>It is an<strong> annual meeting of Defence Ministers</strong> of 10 ASEAN countries and eight dialogue partner countries.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>The <a href="/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-international-institution/asean" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN)</strong></a> is a regional organization which was established to promote political and social stability amid rising tensions among the Asia-Pacific&rsquo;s post-colonial states.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Membership:</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The ADMM-Plus countries include<strong> ten ASEAN Member States</strong> and <strong>eight Plus countries,</strong> namely <strong>Australia, China, India, Japan, New Zealand, Republic of Korea, Russian Federation, and the United States.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Aim:</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>It aims to promote mutual trust and confidence between defence establishments through greater dialogue and transparency.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Areas of cooperation:</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Maritime security, counter-terrorism, humanitarian assistance and disaster relief, peacekeeping operations and military medicine.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1623933143_image4.jpg" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1623933143_image4.jpg" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" caption="false" width="576" height="450" /></a></p>
</div>
<p><a href="https://pib.gov.in/PressReleaseIframePage.aspx?PRID=1727467" 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/8th-admm-plus-meeting'
	],
	(int) 15 => [
		'title' => 'Deep Ocean Mission',
		'catname' => 'News Analysis',
		'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>Recently, the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/cabinet-committees-formed" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs</strong></a> has approved the proposal of the Ministry of Earth Sciences (MoES) on the<strong> Deep Ocean Mission (DOM).</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The<a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/govt-plans-isro-like-ocean-mission" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong> blueprint of the DOM</strong></a> to explore the deep recesses of the ocean was unveiled in 2018. Earlier, MoES had also rolled out the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/draft-blue-economy-policy" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>draft Blue Economy Policy.</strong></a></li>
</ul>
<p><a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1623930284_image5.png" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1623930284_image5.png" 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>About:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The cost of the Mission has been estimated at Rs. 4,077 crore <strong>over a five-year period</strong> and will be<strong> implemented in phases. MoES</strong> will be the <strong>nodal ministry</strong> implementing this multi-institutional ambitious mission.</li>
<li>It will be a <strong>mission mode project to support the <a href="/to-the-points/paper3/blue-economy" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Blue Economy</a> Initiatives</strong> of the Government of India.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li><strong>Blue Economy</strong> is the<strong> sustainable use of ocean resources</strong> for economic growth, improved livelihoods and jobs, and ocean ecosystem health.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>The<strong> technology and expertise</strong> needed in such missions is now available with only five countries - US, Russia, France, Japan and China.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li><strong>India will now be the sixth country to have it.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Major Components:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Development of Technologies for Deep Sea Mining, and Manned Submersible:</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>A <strong>manned submersible will be developed to carry three people</strong> to a depth of 6,000 metres in the ocean with a <strong>suite of scientific sensors and tools.</strong></li>
<li>An <strong>Integrated Mining System</strong> will be also developed for mining<strong> polymetallic nodules</strong> at those depths in the central Indian Ocean. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li><strong>Polymetallic nodules</strong> are rocks scattered on the seabed containing iron, manganese, nickel and cobalt.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>The exploration studies of minerals <strong>will pave the way for commercial exploitation in the near future,</strong> as and when commercial exploitation code is evolved by the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/un-begins-talks-to-regulate-the-high-seas" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>International Seabed Authority</strong></a>, an <a href="/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-international-institution/united-nations-1" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>United Nations (UN)</strong></a> organisation.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Development of Ocean Climate Change Advisory Services:</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>It entails developing a suite of observations and models <strong>to understand and provide future projections of important climate variables</strong> on seasonal to decadal time scales.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Technological Innovations for Exploration and Conservation of Deep-sea Biodiversity:</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li><strong>Bio-prospecting of deep sea flora and fauna</strong> including microbes and studies on sustainable utilization of deep sea bio-resources will be the main focus.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Deep Ocean Survey and Exploration:</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>It will explore and identify <strong>potential sites of multi-metal Hydrothermal Sulphides mineralization</strong> along the Indian Ocean mid-oceanic ridges.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Energy and Freshwater from the Ocean:</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Studies and detailed engineering design for offshore <a href="/to-the-points/paper3/ocean-energy#:~:text=Ocean%20Thermal%20Energy%20Conversion%20(OTEC,1%2C000%20meters%2C%20to%20extract%20energy.&amp;text=In%20Closed%20cycle%20method%2C%20a,the%20steam%20runs%20a%20turbine." target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Ocean Thermal Energy Conversion (OTEC)</strong> </a>powered <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/desalination-plants-1" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>desalination plants</strong></a> are envisaged in this proof of concept proposal. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>OTEC is a technology which <strong>uses ocean temperature differences</strong> from the surface to depths lower than 1,000 meters, <strong>to extract energy.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Advanced Marine Station for Ocean Biology:</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>It is aimed at the development of human capacity and enterprise in ocean biology and engineering.</li>
<li>It will translate research into <strong>industrial application and product development</strong> through on-site business incubator facilities.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Significance:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Oceans,</strong> which cover<strong> 70% of the globe,</strong> remain a key part of our life. About <strong>95% of the Deep Ocean remains unexplored. </strong></li>
<li><strong>Three sides of India are surrounded by the oceans</strong> and around<strong> 30% of the country's population living in coastal areas,</strong> the ocean is a major economic factor supporting fisheries and aquaculture, tourism, livelihoods and blue trade. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>India has a unique maritime position. Its <strong>7517 km long coastline is home to nine coastal states and 1382 islands.</strong></li>
<li>The Government of India's <strong>Vision of New India by 2030</strong> announced in February 2019 highlighted the Blue Economy as one of the ten core dimensions of growth.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>Oceans are also a<strong> storehouse of food, energy, minerals, medicines, modulator of weather and climate and underpin life on Earth.</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Considering the importance of the oceans on sustainability, the UN has declared the decade, <strong>2021-2030 as the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/international-day-for-biological-diversity" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development. </a></strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Other Blue Economy Initiatives:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/india-norway-task-force-on-blue-economy" target="_blank" rel="noopener">India-Norway Task Force on Blue Economy for Sustainable Development</a> :</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>It was inaugurated jointly by both the countries in 2020 to develop and follow up joint initiatives between the two countries.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Sagarmala Project:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>The <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/sagarmala-seaplane-services" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Sagarmala project</strong></a> is the strategic initiative for port-led development through the extensive use of IT enabled services for modernization of ports.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>O-SMART:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>India has an umbrella scheme by the name of <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/cabinet-approves-o-smart-scheme" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>O-SMART</strong></a> which aims at regulated use of oceans, marine resources for sustainable development.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/integrated-coastal-zone-management-plan" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Integrated Coastal Zone Management</strong></a>:<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>It focuses on conservation of coastal and marine resources, and improving livelihood opportunities for coastal communities etc.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>National Fisheries Policy :</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>India has a National Fisheries policy for promoting 'Blue Growth Initiative' which focuses on sustainable utilization of fisheries wealth from marine and other aquatic resources.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="https://pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=1727525" 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/deep-ocean-mission'
	],
	(int) 16 => [
		'title' => 'Corporatization of Ordnance Factory Board',
		'catname' => 'News Analysis',
		'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>Recently, the Union Cabinet approved a plan to <strong>corporatise the Ordnance Factory Board (OFB).</strong></p>
<p><a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1623929181_image3.png" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1623929181_image3.png" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="750" caption="false" /></strong></a></p>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>New Structure:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>41 factories</strong> across the country <strong>will be dissolved into seven new Defence Public Sector Undertakings (DPSU).</strong> The newly created entities <strong>will be 100% owned by the government.</strong></li>
<li>These entities <strong>will be responsible for different verticals</strong> of the products such as the <strong>Ammunition and Explosives</strong> group will be engaged in production of ammunition while <strong>a Vehicles group will engage</strong> in production of defence mobility and combat vehicles.</li>
<li>All <strong>OFB employees</strong> in the production units will be<strong> transferred to the new corporate entities on a deemed deputation initially for a period of two years</strong> without altering their service conditions as central government employees.</li>
<li><strong>Pension liabilities of the retirees and existing employees</strong> will continue to be <strong>borne by the government.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>OFB:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>It is <strong>an umbrella body</strong> for the ordnance factories and related institutions, and is currently <strong>a subordinate office</strong> of the Ministry of Defence (MoD).<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>The first Indian ordnance factory was set up in the<strong> year 1712</strong> by the Dutch Company as a <strong>GunPowder Factory, West Bengal.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>It is <strong>a conglomerate</strong> of 41 factories, 9 training Institutes, 3 regional marketing centres and 5 regional controllers of safety.</li>
<li><strong>Headquarters:</strong> Kolkata</li>
<li><strong>Significance:</strong> A major chunk of the weapon, ammunition and supplies for not just armed forces but also paramilitary and police forces comes from the OFB-run factories.</li>
<li><strong>Production includes:</strong> Civilian and military-grade arms and ammunition, explosives, propellants and chemicals for missile systems, military vehicles, armoured vehicles, optical devices, parachutes, support equipment, troop clothing and general store items.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Reasons for Corporatization:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>A performance evaluation by the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/comptroller-and-auditor-general-1" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG)</strong></a> in its report for <strong>2019 on the OFB</strong> highlights a few of the lacunae, which ails this organisation.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li><strong>Overheads</strong> (expenses not directly attributed to creating a product or service) constitute <strong>a staggering 33% of the overall allotted</strong> budget for the year.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>The major contributors being supervision costs and indirect labour costs.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Delayed Production:</strong> The Ordnance factories achieved production targets for only <strong>49% of the items.</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>More than half the inventory (52%) was store-in-hand, procured for manufacture but not used within the year by the factories.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>The <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/atma-nirbhar-bharat-abhiyan-challenges" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Atmanirbhar Bharat initiative</strong></a>, also calls for the Corporatisation of OFB for: <strong>&lsquo;improving autonomy, accountability and efficiency in ordnance suppliers&rsquo;.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Importance of new structure:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The restructure would also help in overcoming various shortcomings in the existing system of the OFB by eliminating inefficient supply chains and provide these companies incentive to become competitive and explore new opportunities in the market.</li>
<li>It will <strong>allow these companies autonomy</strong> as well as help improve accountability and efficiency.</li>
<li>The restructuring is aimed at transforming the ordnance factories into productive and profitable assets, deepen their specialisation in product range, enhance competitiveness and improve quality and cost-efficiency.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Apprehensions:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>One of the<strong> main apprehensions of the employees</strong> is that corporatisation (ownership and management lies with the government) would <strong>eventually lead to privatisation</strong> (transfer of ownership and management rights to the private player).</li>
<li>The <strong>new corporate entities</strong> would <strong>not be able to survive the unique market</strong> environment of defence products that has very unstable demand and supply dynamics.</li>
<li>Restructuring <strong>will result in greater autonomy and lesser government</strong> control over the corporation but there is a fear of job loss.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Way Forward</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The corporatisation of OFB is likely to transform ordnance factories into a modernised, state of the art facility with flexible and better decision making in its functioning.</li>
<li>There is a need to have a reflective road-map for the plan. This can help to ease the apprehensions regarding the corporatization.</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/ofb-corporatisation-gets-cabinet-approval/article34833105.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/corporatization-of-ordnance-factory-board-1'
	],
	(int) 17 => [
		'title' => 'New Norms on Hallmarking of Gold',
		'catname' => 'News Analysis',
		'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>Recently, the <strong>Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food &amp; Public Distribution made it mandatory for the hallmarking of gold jewellery,</strong> which will be<strong> implemented in a phased manner.</strong></p>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>About Hallmarking:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/bureau-of-indian-standards-bis-act-2016" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Bureau of Indian Standard (BIS)</strong></a>, which operates the gold and silver hallmarking scheme in India, defines hallmarking as the<strong> &ldquo;accurate determination and official recording of the proportionate content of precious metal in precious metal articles.&rdquo;</strong></li>
<li>So, it is a <strong>&ldquo;guarantee of purity or fineness&rdquo;</strong> of precious metal articles, which<strong> started in 2000.</strong></li>
<li>In India, at present <strong>two precious metals namely gold and silver</strong> have been brought <strong>under the purview of Hallmarking.</strong></li>
<li>The <strong>BIS certified jewellers</strong> can get their<strong> jewellery hallmarked from any of the BIS recognized Assaying and Hallmarking Centres (A&amp;HC).</strong></li>
<li>Earlier, it was<strong> optional for the jewellers</strong> and thus <strong>only 40% of gold jewellery</strong> was getting hallmarked.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Implementation in a Phased Manner:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>In the first phase, gold hallmarking <strong>will be available only in 256 districts and jewellers having annual turnover above Rs. 40 lakh</strong> will come under its purview.</li>
<li>A<strong> certain category of jewellery and items will also be exempted</strong> from the mandatory requirement of hallmarking.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Jewellery for international exhibitions, jewellery for government-approved B2B (Business-to-Business) domestic exhibitions will be exempted from mandatory Hallmarking.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Need of Gold Hallmarking:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>India is the biggest consumer of gold.</strong> However, the level of hallmarked jewellery is very low in the country.</li>
<li>The mandatory hallmarking will <strong>protect the public against lower caratage</strong> (the fraction of pure gold) and ensure <strong>consumers do not get cheated</strong> while buying gold ornaments.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>It will help to get the <strong>purity as marked on the ornaments.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>It will <strong>bring in transparency</strong> and assure the consumers of quality.</li>
<li>It will<strong> weed out anomalies and corruption in the system of manufacturing of jewellery.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Bureau of Indian Standards</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>BIS is the<strong> National Standard Body</strong> of India for the harmonious development of the activities of<strong> standardization, marking and quality certification of goods.</strong></li>
<li><strong>Standards Formulation:</strong> BIS formulates Indian Standards in line with the national priorities for various sectors that have been grouped under 14 Departments like Chemicals, Food and Agriculture, Civil, Electro-technical, Electronics &amp; Information Technology, etc.</li>
<li><strong>BIS' International Activities:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>BIS is<strong> a founder member of ISO (International Organization for Standardization)</strong> and is actively involved in the development of International Standards.</li>
<li>India is<strong> represented in IEC (International Electro-technical Commission)</strong> through BIS. IEC is the world&rsquo;s leading organization for the preparation and publication of International Standards for all electrical, electronic and related technologies.</li>
<li>BIS is the <strong>National Enquiry Point for WTO -TBT (<a href="/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-international-institution/world-trade-organisation-wto" target="_blank" rel="noopener">World Trade Organisation</a> &ndash; Technical Barriers to Trade).</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Other Initiatives:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/bis-sdo-recognition-scheme" target="_blank" rel="noopener">BIS SDO Recognition Scheme</a>:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>To attain the <strong>One Nation One Standard</strong> vision of the Government of India, BIS launched a scheme which provides for Recognition of SDO (Standard Developing Organization).</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Product Certification Scheme:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>BIS operates a Product Certification scheme for ensuring compliance to Indian Standards. Presence of <strong>BIS standard mark (popularly known as ISI mark)</strong> on a product indicates conformity to the relevant Indian Standard.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</div>
<p><a href="https://indianexpress.com/article/explained/what-is-gold-hallmarking-list-of-districts-where-it-is-mandatory-7361818/" 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/new-norms-on-hallmarking-of-gold'
	],
	(int) 18 => [
		'title' => 'Loan to Sri Lanka for Solar Energy',
		'catname' => 'News Analysis',
		'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>Recently, India has signed an agreement <strong>extending a USD 100 million Line of Credit (LOC) to <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/india-sri-lanka-6#:~:text=India%27s%20Support%20against%20Terrorism%3A%20During,developmental%20assistance%20to%20Sri%20Lanka." target="_blank" rel="noopener">Sri Lanka</a></strong> for projects in the Solar Energy Sector. The LOC is for a period of 20 years, with an interest of 1.75%.</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The agreement was signed between the <strong>Government of Sri Lanka</strong> and the <strong>Export-Import (EXIM) Bank of India.</strong></li>
<li>EXIM Bank is a <strong>specialized financial institution,</strong> wholly owned by the Government of India.</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1623923707_image2.png" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1623923707_image2.png" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="350" caption="false" /></a></p>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Line of Credit</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>It is a <strong>credit facility</strong> extended by a bank or any other financial institution to a government, business or an individual customer, that enables the customer to draw the maximum loan amount.</li>
<li>The borrower can<strong> access funds</strong> from the line of credit at <strong>any time</strong> as long as they do not exceed the <strong>maximum amount</strong> (or credit limit) set in the agreement and meet any other requirements such as making timely minimum payments.</li>
</ul>
</div>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Significance of the LOC:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>It will help <strong>finance various projects</strong> in the solar energy sector in Sri Lanka, such as <strong>rooftop solar photo-voltaic systems</strong> for households and government buildings.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Some of these projects were announced during the <strong>Founding Conference of the International Solar Alliance (ISA)</strong> held in March 2018 in Delhi.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>India&rsquo;s Initiatives for Global Cooperation Solar Energy:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/world-solar-technology-summit-isa" target="_blank" rel="noopener">International Solar Alliance</a> (ISA):</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>The ISA was <strong>launched by the Prime Minister of India and the President of France in 2015</strong> on the side-lines of the United Nations Climate Change <a href="/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-international-institution/unfccc" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Conference of the Parties (COP-21)</strong></a>, with 121 <strong>solar resource rich countries</strong> lying fully or partially between the <strong>tropic of Cancer and tropic of Capricorn</strong> as prospective members.</li>
<li><strong>89 countries</strong> have signed the ISA framework agreement.</li>
<li>ISA&rsquo; vision is to enable <strong>One World, One Sun, One Grid (OSOWOG).</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/one-sun-one-world-one-grid-1" target="_blank" rel="noopener">One Sun, One World, One Grid</a> (OSOWOG):</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>It focuses on a framework for facilitating global cooperation, building a global ecosystem of interconnected renewable energy resources (mainly solar energy) that can be seamlessly shared.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Schemes for Promoting Solar Energy in India:</strong> Recently, India achieved<strong> 5<sup>th</sup> global position in solar power deployment</strong> by surpassing Italy.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><a href="/mind-map/gs-paper2/national-action-plan-on-climate-change-mind-map" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>National Solar Mission</strong> </a>(a part of National Action Plan on Climate Change): The aim is to establish India as a global leader in solar energy by creating the policy conditions for its deployment across the country.</li>
<li><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/rooftop-solar-scheme" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Rooftop Solar Scheme:</strong></a> To generate solar power by installing solar panels on the roof of the houses, the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy is implementing <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/phase-ii-of-grid-connected-rooftop-solar-programme" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Grid-connected Rooftop Solar Scheme (Phase II)</strong></a>.</li>
<li><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/expansion-of-production-linked-incentive-scheme#:~:text=This%20scheme%20will%20give%20cash,chemistry%20and%20solar%20PV%20manufacturing." target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Production-linked Incentive (PLI) scheme</strong></a> to promote manufacturing of high efficiency solar PV modules in India.</li>
<li><strong>Scheme for Development of Ultra Mega Renewable Energy Power Parks:</strong> It is a scheme to develop Ultra Mega Renewable Energy Power Parks (UMREPPs) under the existing Solar Park Scheme.</li>
<li><strong><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/pm-kusum#:~:text=PM%2DKUSUM%20consists%20of%20three,standalone%20solar%2Dpowered%20agriculture%20pumps." target="_blank" rel="noopener">Kisan Urja Suraksha evam Utthaan Mahabhiyan</a> (PM-KUSUM):</strong> The scheme covers grid-connected Renewable Energy power plants (0.5 &ndash; 2 MW)/Solar water pumps/grid connected agriculture pumps.</li>
<li><strong>National Wind-Solar Hybrid Policy, 2018:</strong> its main objective is to provide a framework for promotion of large grid connected wind-solar PV hybrid systems for optimal and efficient utilization of wind and solar resources, transmission infrastructure and land.</li>
<li><strong>Atal Jyoti Yojana (AJAY):</strong> It was launched in September 2016 for the installation <strong>of solar street lighting (SSL) systems</strong> in states with less than 50% households covered with grid power (as per Census 2011).</li>
<li><strong>Suryamitra Skill Development Programme:</strong> To provide skill training to rural youth in handling solar installations.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="https://www.thehindu.com/news/international/india-extends-100-mn-loan-to-sri-lanka/article34834128.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/loan-to-sri-lanka-for-solar-energy'
	],
	(int) 19 => [
		'title' => 'ADB Loan for Chennai - Kanyakumari Industrial Corridor',
		'catname' => 'News Analysis',
		'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>Recently, the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/adb-loan-to-upgrade-maharashtra-roads" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Asian Development Bank (ADB)</strong></a> and the Government of India signed a <strong>USD 484 million loan</strong> for the <strong>Tamil Nadu Industrial Connectivity Project.</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The loan is to<strong> improve transport connectivity and facilitate industrial development in the</strong> <strong>Chennai - Kanyakumari Industrial Corridor (CKIC)</strong> in the state of <strong>Tamil Nadu.</strong></li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Asian Development Bank</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>It is a <strong>regional development bank established on 19<sup>th</sup> December 1966.</strong> It is <strong>headquartered in Manila, Philippines.</strong></li>
<li>It now has <strong>68 members, 49 from within Asia. India i</strong>s a member.</li>
<li>It&rsquo;s <strong>five largest shareholders are Japan</strong> and the <strong>United States</strong> (each with 15.6% of total shares), the People&rsquo;s Republic of <strong>China</strong> (6.4%), <strong>India</strong> (6.3%), and <strong>Australia</strong> (5.8%).</li>
<li>It <strong>aims to promote social and economic development in Asia and the Pacific.</strong></li>
</ul>
</div>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>About:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The loan is <strong>in line with Strategy 2030, ADB&rsquo;s long-term corporate strategy</strong>, the project <strong>emphasises sustainability, climate change resilience, and road safety elements.</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Under <strong>Strategy 2030</strong>, ADB will expand its vision to achieve a prosperous, inclusive, resilient, and sustainable Asia and the Pacific, while sustaining its efforts to eradicate extreme poverty.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>CKIC is part of India&rsquo;s <a href="/to-the-points/paper3/industrial-corridors-2" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>East Coast Economic Corridor (ECEC)</strong></a>.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Industrial Corridors Scheme:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>An <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/industrial-corridors" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>industrial corridor</strong></a> is an economic ecosystem built around a transportation corridor connecting two major economic centres, where the transportation corridor serves as the nerve centre of the economic activity across the corridor.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>In addition to the transportation corridor, a well-designed industrial corridor <strong>contains</strong> clusters of industrial production serving regional and global demand, and urban centers proliferating equitable development.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>In <strong>2019</strong>, the government approved the<strong> development of the five industrial corridor projects</strong>, being<strong> implemented through National Industrial Corridor Development and Implementation Trust (NICDIT).</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>NICDIT is an apex body under the administrative control of the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/dipp-renamed-as-dpiit" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT)</strong></a>, Ministry of Commerce and Industry.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Five Industrial Corridor Projects:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li><strong><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/delhi-mumbai-industrial-corridor" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Delhi Mumbai Industrial Corridor (DMIC)</a>.</strong></li>
<li>Amritsar Kolkata Industrial Corridor (AKIC).</li>
<li>Chennai Bangalore Industrial Corridor (CBIC).</li>
<li>East Coast Economic Corridor (ECEC) with Vizag Chennai Industrial Corridor (VCIC).</li>
<li>Bangalore Mumbai Industrial Corridor (BMIC).</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1623921612_pasted%20image 0 (5).png" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1623921612_pasted image 0 (5).png" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="350" caption="false" /></a></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>East Coast Economic Corridor:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>It stretches from <strong>West Bengal to Tamil Nadu</strong> and connects India to the production networks of South, Southeast, and East Asia. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>ADB is the lead partner of the Government of India in developing ECEC.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>It covers West Bengal, Odisha, Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu. <strong>Vizag to Chennai segment of this Corridor has been taken as phase-1.</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li><strong>Vizag-Chennai Industrial Corridor (VCIC) is the first coastal economic corridor</strong> in the country.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>It is aligned with the Golden Quadrilateral.</strong> It also plays a critical role in the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/india-s-act-east-policy-1" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>&ldquo;Act East Policy&rdquo;</strong></a> of India.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>The Golden Quadrilateral is the <strong>longest road project in India</strong> and the fifth-longest highway in the world. It connects Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata and Chennai.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Significance of Industrial Corridors:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Avenues for Exports:</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>The Industrial Corridors are likely to <strong>lower the cost of logistics thereby increasing the efficiency of industrial production structure.</strong></li>
<li>Such an efficiency lowers the cost of production which <strong>makes the Indian made products more competitive in international markets.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Job Opportunities:</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>It will <strong>attract investments for the development of Industries which is likely to create more jobs in the market.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Environmental Significance:</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>The establishment of Industrial Units in a scattered manner along the industrial corridor across the length of the state will <strong>prevent concentration of industries in one particular location</strong> which exploited the environment beyond its carrying capacity and caused environmental degradation.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Socio-Economic Significance:</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>The cascading effect of industrial corridors in socio-economic terms are many such as the <strong>setting up of industrial townships, educational institutions, hospitals.</strong> These will further raise the standards of human development.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="https://pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=1727501" 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/adb-loan-for-chennai-kanyakumari-industrial-corridor'
	]
]
$updates = object(Cake\ORM\Query) {

	'(help)' => 'This is a Query object, to get the results execute or iterate it.',
	'sql' => 'SELECT articles.article_id AS `articles__article_id`, articles.category_id AS `articles__category_id`, articles.title AS `articles__title`, articles.description AS `articles__description`, articles.shortdescription AS `articles__shortdescription`, articles.featuredimage AS `articles__featuredimage`, articles.tag_id AS `articles__tag_id`, articles.secondary_tag AS `articles__secondary_tag`, articles.type AS `articles__type`, articles.publishon AS `articles__publishon`, articles.posturl AS `articles__posturl`, articles.metatitle AS `articles__metatitle`, articles.metadescription AS `articles__metadescription`, articles.metakeyword AS `articles__metakeyword`, articles.status AS `articles__status`, articles.sort_order AS `articles__sort_order`, articles.addedby AS `articles__addedby`, articles.updatedby AS `articles__updatedby`, articles.added AS `articles__added`, articles.modified AS `articles__modified`, articles.whatsnewid AS `articles__whatsnewid`, articles.display_printpdf AS `articles__display_printpdf`, articles.display_comments AS `articles__display_comments`, articles.pdf_name AS `articles__pdf_name`, articles.display_archive AS `articles__display_archive`, articles.star_rating AS `articles__star_rating`, articles.display_in_states AS `articles__display_in_states` FROM articles articles WHERE status = :c0 ORDER BY publishon desc LIMIT 10',
	'params' => [
		':c0' => [
			[maximum depth reached]
		]
	],
	'defaultTypes' => [
		'articles__article_id' => 'integer',
		'articles.article_id' => 'integer',
		'article_id' => 'integer',
		'articles__category_id' => 'integer',
		'articles.category_id' => 'integer',
		'category_id' => 'integer',
		'articles__title' => 'string',
		'articles.title' => 'string',
		'title' => 'string',
		'articles__description' => 'text',
		'articles.description' => 'text',
		'description' => 'text',
		'articles__shortdescription' => 'string',
		'articles.shortdescription' => 'string',
		'shortdescription' => 'string',
		'articles__featuredimage' => 'string',
		'articles.featuredimage' => 'string',
		'featuredimage' => 'string',
		'articles__tag_id' => 'integer',
		'articles.tag_id' => 'integer',
		'tag_id' => 'integer',
		'articles__secondary_tag' => 'text',
		'articles.secondary_tag' => 'text',
		'secondary_tag' => 'text',
		'articles__type' => 'integer',
		'articles.type' => 'integer',
		'type' => 'integer',
		'articles__publishon' => 'datetime',
		'articles.publishon' => 'datetime',
		'publishon' => 'datetime',
		'articles__posturl' => 'string',
		'articles.posturl' => 'string',
		'posturl' => 'string',
		'articles__metatitle' => 'string',
		'articles.metatitle' => 'string',
		'metatitle' => 'string',
		'articles__metadescription' => 'string',
		'articles.metadescription' => 'string',
		'metadescription' => 'string',
		'articles__metakeyword' => 'text',
		'articles.metakeyword' => 'text',
		'metakeyword' => 'text',
		'articles__status' => 'integer',
		'articles.status' => 'integer',
		'status' => 'integer',
		'articles__sort_order' => 'integer',
		'articles.sort_order' => 'integer',
		'sort_order' => 'integer',
		'articles__addedby' => 'integer',
		'articles.addedby' => 'integer',
		'addedby' => 'integer',
		'articles__updatedby' => 'integer',
		'articles.updatedby' => 'integer',
		'updatedby' => 'integer',
		'articles__added' => 'timestamp',
		'articles.added' => 'timestamp',
		'added' => 'timestamp',
		'articles__modified' => 'timestamp',
		'articles.modified' => 'timestamp',
		'modified' => 'timestamp',
		'articles__whatsnewid' => 'integer',
		'articles.whatsnewid' => 'integer',
		'whatsnewid' => 'integer',
		'articles__display_printpdf' => 'integer',
		'articles.display_printpdf' => 'integer',
		'display_printpdf' => 'integer',
		'articles__display_comments' => 'integer',
		'articles.display_comments' => 'integer',
		'display_comments' => 'integer',
		'articles__pdf_name' => 'string',
		'articles.pdf_name' => 'string',
		'pdf_name' => 'string',
		'articles__display_archive' => 'integer',
		'articles.display_archive' => 'integer',
		'display_archive' => 'integer',
		'articles__star_rating' => 'integer',
		'articles.star_rating' => 'integer',
		'star_rating' => 'integer',
		'articles__display_in_states' => 'string',
		'articles.display_in_states' => 'string',
		'display_in_states' => 'string'
	],
	'decorators' => (int) 0,
	'executed' => false,
	'hydrate' => true,
	'buffered' => true,
	'formatters' => (int) 0,
	'mapReducers' => (int) 0,
	'contain' => [],
	'matching' => [],
	'extraOptions' => [],
	'repository' => object(App\Model\Table\ArticlesTable) {}

}
$page = (int) 17
$search = 'class'
$totalPages = (float) 336
$title = 'Search'
$lastyear = (int) 2018
$year = '2021'
$i = (int) 2017
$selected = ''
$m = (int) 13
$month = 'December'

include - ROOT/plugins/Drishti/src/Template/Element/rightsection.ctp, line 100
Cake\View\View::_evaluate() - CORE/src/View/View.php, line 1196
Cake\View\View::_render() - CORE/src/View/View.php, line 1157
Cake\View\View::_renderElement() - CORE/src/View/View.php, line 1554
Cake\View\View::element() - CORE/src/View/View.php, line 668
include - ROOT/plugins/Drishti/src/Template/Element/articlebox.ctp, line 5
Cake\View\View::_evaluate() - CORE/src/View/View.php, line 1196
Cake\View\View::_render() - CORE/src/View/View.php, line 1157
Cake\View\View::_renderElement() - CORE/src/View/View.php, line 1554
Cake\View\View::element() - CORE/src/View/View.php, line 668
include - ROOT/plugins/Drishti/src/Template/Search/index.ctp, line 85
Cake\View\View::_evaluate() - CORE/src/View/View.php, line 1196
Cake\View\View::_render() - CORE/src/View/View.php, line 1157
Cake\View\View::render() - CORE/src/View/View.php, line 765
Cake\Controller\Controller::render() - CORE/src/Controller/Controller.php, line 623
Cake\Http\ActionDispatcher::_invoke() - CORE/src/Http/ActionDispatcher.php, line 125
Cake\Http\ActionDispatcher::dispatch() - CORE/src/Http/ActionDispatcher.php, line 93

Achievers Corner

Prelims

Mains & Interview

Current Affairs

Drishti Specials

Free Downloads

Test Series

Videos

Search

Search list matched with tags “class”