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Payment Revolution in India

This article is based on “The billion standard”, which was published in The Indian Express on 07/02/2020. It talks about the status of...

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			'title' => 'Payment Revolution in India',
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<p>This article is based on <a href="https://indianexpress.com/article/opinion/columns/the-billion-standard-digital-payments-bank-accounts-6254962/" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>&ldquo;The billion standard&rdquo;</strong></a>, which was published in The Indian Express on 07/02/2020. It talks about the status of digital payments in India.</p>
</div>
<p>Recently, digital payments in India touched a new high by reaching a billion monthly digital payment transactions on the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/upi-20-launched-by-npci" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Universal Payment Interface</strong></a> (UPI). Payment on UPI platform rose from 0.1 million in October 2016 to 1.3 billion in January 2020.</p>
<p>Significance of this <strong>payment revolution in India</strong> lies in the fact that Google has written a letter to the US Federal Reserve, asking them to learn from <a href="/printpdf/digital-transactions-in-india" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Indian digital payments.</strong></a></p>
<h3>Payment Revolution in India</h3>
<p>India was long a financially excluded nation &mdash; only 17% of Indians had a bank account in 2011. According to the World Bank, it would have taken 50 more years for 80% of Indians to get a bank account at the pre-2011 speed.</p>
<h3>Reasons for this Payment Revolution</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>India&rsquo;s payment revolution comes from:<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Political Will:</strong> A clear vision for shifting the system from low volume, high value and high cost to high volume, low value and low cost. This can be seen through <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/important-facts-for-prelims-6th-september-2018" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Jan Dhana Yojana</strong></a> <strong>and Aadhaar embedding.</strong></li>
<li><strong>A Proactive Central Bank:</strong> Reserve Bank of India (RBI) created a non-profit market participant entity and levelling the playing field between non-banks and banks.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>A paper by the<strong> Bank for International Settlements (&lsquo;The Design of Digital Financial Infrastructure: Lessons From India&rsquo;)</strong> suggests that India demonstrates how &ldquo;a central bank can be proactive and equal partners with private sector counterparts when it comes to fostering technological innovation in finance&rdquo;.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Use of Technology:</strong> Aimed at balancing trade-off like ease-of-use vs fraud prevention. <strong>This can be seen through UPI.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Elements of Revolution:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Launch of Aadhaar.</strong> Aadhaar put simply is one of the biggest depositories of biometric data in the world.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>In 2010, the Indian government decided it would take full digital fingerprints and an iris scan from each citizen to create a digital identity.</li>
<li>About 1.2 billion Indians now have a digital identity.</li>
<li>Aadhaar has provided a solid foundation for banking the unbanked (financial inclusion).</li>
<li>Aadhaar acted as an<strong> &ldquo;identity rail&rdquo;</strong> i.e. giving banks and Fintech companies a secure means to identify would-be customers -- and the government and businesses an easy way to pay them.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Role of National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI)</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI), an umbrella organisation for operating retail payments and settlement systems in India, is an initiative of Reserve Bank of India (RBI) and Indian Banks&rsquo; Association (IBA) under the provisions of the Payment and Settlement Systems Act, 2007, <strong>for creating a robust Payment &amp; Settlement Infrastructure in India.</strong></li>
<li>It has been incorporated as a<strong> &ldquo;Not for Profit&rdquo; Company</strong> under the provisions of Section 25 of Companies Act 1956 (now Section 8 of Companies Act 2013).</li>
<li>NPCI together with the RBI and Indian Banks Association (IBA) has established a platform called UPI.</li>
<li>UPI, in turn, acted as a<strong> &ldquo;payments rail&rdquo;,</strong> it gives those players access to infrastructure that enables the transfer of funds.</li>
<li>UPI provides a payment experience that is mobile-based, low-cost, 24/7, instant, convenient, interoperable, fintech friendly, inside banking, and safe.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>What is UPI?</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>India has taken a major step towards achieving a cashless economy with the advent of the Unified Payment Interface (UPI).</li>
<li>UPI is a single platform that merges various banking services and features under one umbrella.</li>
<li>It also caters to the &ldquo;Peer to Peer&rdquo; collect request which can be scheduled and paid as per requirement and convenience.</li>
<li>UPI turns smartphones into a virtual debit card. It allows real-time bank-to-bank payments to be made using a mobile number or virtual payment address (UPI ID).</li>
<li>UPI has made the money transfer process a lot easier. as there is no need to remember the receiver&rsquo;s account number, account type, IFSC, and bank name.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Instead, money transfer can be made only by knowing Aadhaar number, mobile phone number registered with the bank account, or UPI ID.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>A UPI ID is a unique identification for a bank account that can be used to send and receive funds.</li>
</ul>
</div>
<p><a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1581080304_image1.png" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1581080304_image1.png" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" caption="false" width="664" height="342" /></a></p>
<h3>How is UPI different to regular payments?</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Regular payments are based on <strong>overlay systems</strong> (with payments going through correspondent banking networks).<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>More banking layers mean less efficiency, higher cost and higher barriers to entry.</li>
<li>Also, by going through a publicly-regulated payments system settled in fiat money, overlay systems offer more security.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>UPI is both cheap and enables instant payments <strong>as it is interoperable.</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Interoperability means allowing individuals to manage money residing in several accounts from a single bank or payment service app on their phone.</li>
<li>This increases competition between banks by enabling people to switch funds cheaply.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Lessons that can be Learnt from UPI</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Interoperability of UPI</strong> can be replicated in education, healthcare, and government services. This is likely to be a harbinger of large scale multi-domain collaborative innovation.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>This collaborative approach can create ecosystems that overcome the execution deficit of government, the trust deficit of private companies, and the scale deficit of nonprofits.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>UPI's success and its endorsement by Google, certify that India doesn&rsquo;t need to be Western or Chinese to be modern.</li>
<li>Complementary government interventions are also important for the success of the initiative of such magnitude.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Way Forward</h3>
<p><strong>In Order to Boost Digital Payments in India:</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The central government must deadline digitising all its payments.</li>
<li>The RBI must implement the 100-plus action items arising from its <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/payment-and-settlement-systems-in-india-vision-2019-2021-document" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>own Vision 2021 document</strong></a> and the Nandan Nilekani Committee for Deepening Digital Payments.</li>
<li>RBI must also make UPI and RuPay fit for use in our $70 billion inward remittances that currently come through exploitative financial institutions.</li>
<li>The RBI must replicate the design of UPI (sustainable private and public competition) in <strong>bank credit as credit-to-GDP ratio (ratio of the magnitude of loans given by financial institutions in an economy to the GDP of the country)</strong> in India is low i.e. 50% against 300% in China.</li>
<li>However, this needs to be complemented by raising India's human capital and technology game in regulation and supervision, issuing more private bank licences, facilitating management changes in old private banks and human capital revolution at PSU banks.</li>
<li>Also, digitisation of the economy needs to be backed up by a <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/personal-data-protection-bill-2019" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>strong data protection law.</strong></a></li>
</ul>
<table border="1" style="border-collapse: collapse; width: 100%;">
<tbody>
<tr>
<td style="width: 100%; border-style: dotted; border-color: #ff0000; background-color: #f2f1ce;">
<p><span style="color: #000080;"><em><strong>Drishti Mains Question</strong></em></span></p>
<p>Explain how digital transactions on the Universal Payment Interface (UPI) has brought payment revolution in India.</p>
</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>',
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		(int) 1 => [
			'title' => 'The Big Picture: Pornography - Impact on Children & Society',
			'catname' => 'Lok Sabha & Rajya Sabha Discussions',
			'desc' => '<p style="text-align: center;"><iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/oyTERBLOvbc" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe></p>
<p>The Ad-hoc Committee of the Rajya Sabha was instituted recently by the Chairman of the House to examine and report on the <strong>issue of child pornography</strong> and the prevalence of its horrific consequences. The Committee was chaired by Jai Ram Ramesh and has made 40 recommendations to prevent sexual abuse of children and contain access to &amp; transmission of child pornography content on social media.</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The Committee has also recommended important amendments to the Protection of Children From Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act, 2012 and the Information Technology Act, 2000 besides initiating changes at technological, institutional, social, educational and state-level initiatives.</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/protection-of-children-from-sexual-offences-amendment-bill-2019-and-related-concerns" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (Amendment) Bill, 2019</strong></a></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Definition of Child Pornography:</strong> Any visual depiction of sexually explicit conduct involving a child which includes a photograph, video, digital or computer-generated image indistinguishable from an actual child.</li>
<li><strong>Storage of Pornographic Material:</strong> The Act penalised storage of pornographic material for commercial purposes with a punishment of up to three years, or a fine, or both. However, the bill increases it to 3-5 years. In addition, the Bill adds two other offences for storage of pornographic material involving children:<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Failing to destroy, or delete, or report pornographic material involving a child, and</li>
<li>Transmitting, displaying, distributing such material except for the purpose of reporting it.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</div>
<p><a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1581077949_image3.png" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1581077949_image3.png" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="700" caption="false" /></a></p>
<h3>Laws for Pornography in India</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>There is no law banning watching pornography in personal space.</li>
<li>After the Supreme Court's order, the Department of Telecommunication banned several websites containing child pornographic material.</li>
<li>As per the Information Technology (IT) Act, 2002, it is punishable to show children any pornographic content.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Impact of Pornography on Children and Society</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Psychological impact:</strong> Porn creates a psychological impact on children. It is associated with depression, anger and anxiety. It can lead to mental distress. It also impacts day to day functioning of children, their biological clock, their work, and their social relationship.</li>
<li><strong>Impact on sexuality:</strong> When seen regularly, it gives a sense of sexual gratification and sexual obsession, which leads to a willingness to do the same things in real life.</li>
<li><strong>Sexual addiction:</strong> According to some experts, pornography is like an addiction. It produces a similar effect on the brain as produced by consumption of drug or alcohol on a regular basis.</li>
<li><strong>Behavioural impact:</strong> Adolescent pornography use is associated with stronger beliefs in gender stereotypes, particularly for males. Male adolescents who view pornography frequently are more likely to view women as sex objects.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Pornography may strengthen attitudes supportive of sexual violence and violence against women.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Other Impacts</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Pornography can influence a young person's expectations about sex. There is some evidence that exposure to pornography can increase the likelihood of an earlier first-time sexual experience.</li>
<li>Pornography is also associated with unsafe sexual health practices such as not using condoms and unsafe anal and vaginal sex.</li>
<li>Both male and female consumers of pornography had increased levels of self-objectification and body surveillance.</li>
<li>The content of pornography may reinforce double standards of active male sexuality and passive female receptacle.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Challenges</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The effect of pornography is different in children belonging to the lower class compared to children belonging to the high class. A single approach won't be able to handle the issue effectively.</li>
<li>Lack of sex education courses and workshops in the school curriculum.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>In India, sex is seen as negative (something which should be hidden). There is no healthy family dialogue regarding sex. It leads the child to learn this from outside which led to an addiction to pornography.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>It's very difficult for agencies to detect the activities of child pornography and monitor them effectively.</li>
<li>Availability of obscene content on regular websites and OTT (over the top) services like Amazon Prime, Netflix, Hotstar, etc, make it difficult to differentiate between the non-vulgar content and vulgar content.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Efforts Undertaken</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Agencies across the world are sharing information to combat child pornography. New technologies and methods are being adopted.</li>
<li>Coordination between police and ordinary people to identify the hotspots of child pornography.</li>
<li>The Uttarakhand High Court asked the Centre to strictly implement the ban on pornographic websites, after the reports that a girl was gang-raped in a Dehradun school by her fellow students after they watched porn clips.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Way Forward</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>A distinction needs to be made between child porn and pornography among children. While child porn and porn showing sexual violence should be banned immediately, other pornography needs regulation.</li>
<li>Most of the time, the first exposure of porn to a child is accidental for eg. in the form of advertisement while browsing for other things on the internet. The government should try to find technological solutions to stop accidental exposure.</li>
<li>Awareness and sex education is a must and should be made compulsory in schools. Parents and teachers must be skilled to deal with children in the modern era and technology. It is important for parents and teachers to be able to initiate open conversations about their child's online experiences.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Parents and caregivers are encouraged to educate themselves about the internet and social media, in order to be aware of the current online dangers and opportunities facing their children.</li>
<li>Other than giving punishment, reformation should be done too. Support for children and young people who have been exposed to online pornography is extremely important.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Recommendations by the Rajya Sabha Committee</strong></p>
<p><strong>Legislative Measures</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Changes in the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/cabinet-approved-changes-to-pocso-act" target="_blank" rel="noopener">POCSO Act, 2012</a>:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Advocating sexual activities with a person under the age of 18 years through any written material, visual representation or audio recording or any characterization -should be made an offence under the Act.</li>
<li>Prescribing a Code of Conduct for online platforms for maintaining child safety online, ensuring age-appropriate content and curbing the use of children for pornographic purposes.</li>
<li>School management should be held responsible for the safety of children within schools, transportation services and any other programs with which the school is associated.</li>
<li>To report offences dealing with <strong>electronic material,</strong> the <strong>National Cyber Crime Reporting Portal</strong> shall be designated as the national portal.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Changes in the IT Act, 2000:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>A new <strong>Section 67B</strong> should be added to the Act to deal with punitive measures for those providing pornographic access to children and also those who access, produce or transmit <strong>Child Sexual Abuse Material (CSAM).</strong></li>
<li>Section 69A of the Act should provide for powers to the Union Government shall be empowered through its designated authority to block and/or prohibit all websites/intermediaries that carry CSAM.</li>
<li>Section 69C must be inserted in the Act to authorise law enforcement authorities to use cyber-generated and existing pornography for the purpose of investigations.</li>
<li>Making intermediaries responsible for all measures to proactively identify and remove CSAM as well as report it to Indian authorities under the National Cybercrime Portal.</li>
<li>Gateway Internet Service Providers (ISP's) must bear a significant liability to detect and block CSAM websites.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Technology Measures</strong></li>
<li>Law enforcement agencies should be allowed to break end-to-end encryption so as to trace distributors of child pornography.</li>
<li>Applications that help in monitoring children's access to pornographic content shall be made mandatory on all devices sold in India.</li>
<li>Coordination with<strong> blockchain analysis companies</strong> must be enhanced in order to trace identities of users engaging in cryptocurrency transactions to purchase child pornography online.</li>
<li>All social media platforms should be mandated with minimum essential technologies to detect Child Sexual Abuse Materials. Also, social media shall have a mechanism for age verification and restricting access to objectionable/obscene material.</li>
<li>On-streaming platforms like Netflix and social media platforms like Twitter, Facebook, etc. should have a separate adult section where under-aged children could be disallowed the access.</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>Institutional Reforms</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The Committee recommended an upgraded and technologically empowered National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR) to be designated as the <strong>nodal agency</strong> to deal with the issue of child pornography.</li>
<li>The National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) shall mandatorily record and report annually cases of child pornography of all kinds.</li>
<li>A<strong> national Tipline Number</strong> should be created where child sexual abuse, as well as the distribution of child pornographic material, can be reported.</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>Social and Educational Reforms</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Campaigns should be launched for<strong> greater awareness among parents</strong> to recognize early signs of child abuse, online risks and improving online safety for their child.</li>
<li>Schools shall undertake <strong>training programmes</strong> for parents at least twice a year, making them aware of hazards for children of free access to smartphones, internet at an early age.</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>State-level Implementation</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The Committee recommended that each State and Union Territory shall have empowered State Commission for the Protection for Child Rights mirroring capabilities and capacities of the NCPCR.</li>
<li>E-safety Commissioners be appointed at the state level to ensure implementation of social media and website guidelines.</li>
</ul>
</div>',
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		(int) 2 => [
			'title' => 'Cancer-Causing Mutated Genes Mapped',
			'catname' => 'News Analysis',
			'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>The Pan-Cancer Project involving 1,300 scientists has completed a <strong>decade-long project</strong> to map the many <strong>gene mutations that drive cancer&rsquo;s development.</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>This might be helpful in a treatment tailored for specific <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/genome-india-initiative" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>cancers.</strong></a></li>
</ul>
<h3>Key Findings</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Scientists read the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/genome-sequencing-in-india" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>cancer genomes</strong></a> (DNA sequences) in 2,600 samples of <strong>38 types of cancer</strong> and<strong> compared</strong> them with the genomes of healthy tissue in the same patients.</li>
<li>The project found people's cancers contain, on average, between four and five fundamental mutations that drive a cancer's growth.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The researchers divided cancer mutations into<strong> &ldquo;drivers&rdquo;</strong> and <strong>&ldquo;passengers&rdquo;.</strong></li>
<li>Driver genes are genes whose mutations are linked to the development of a disease, in this case, cancer.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>However, 5% of cancers appeared to have no driver mutations at all, showing there is still more work to do.</li>
<li>The genome of each patient&rsquo;s cancer is unique, but there are a finite set of recurring patterns, so with large enough studies, all patterns can be identified<strong> to optimise diagnosis and treatment.</strong></li>
<li>The mapping project also <strong>developed a new method for &ldquo;carbon dating&rdquo; the origins of cancer tumours.</strong> They were able to identify early mutations in cells that occurred years or decades before cancer appears &mdash; possibly opening a window for detection well ahead of any symptoms.</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Pan-Cancer Project</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Pan-Cancer Project is also called <strong>Pan-Cancer Analysis of Whole Genomes (PCAWG).</strong></li>
<li>It is an international collaboration of the<strong> International Cancer Genome Consortium </strong>and <strong>The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA)</strong> to identify and define similarities and differences between cancer types.</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>International Cancer Genome Consortium</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The International Cancer Genome Consortium (ICGC) was<strong> launched in 2007.</strong></li>
<li>It is a <strong>voluntary scientific organization</strong> that provides a forum for collaboration among the world's leading cancer and genomic researchers.</li>
<li>The ICGC solved numerous data governance, ethical and logistical challenges to make global genomic data sharing for cancer possible, providing the international community with comprehensive genomic data for many cancer types.</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>The Cancer Genome Atlas</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) is a landmark <strong>cancer genomics program</strong> of the US, which has molecularly characterized over 20,000 primary cancer and matched normal samples spanning 33 cancer types.</li>
</ul>
</div>
<p><a href="https://www.ft.com/content/2ca26d52-481a-11ea-aee2-9ddbdc86190d" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Source: FI</strong></a></p>',
			'postdate' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenTime) {},
			'url' => 'https://www.drishtiias.com/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/cancer-causing-mutated-genes-mapped'
		],
		(int) 3 => [
			'title' => 'Genome India Project Approved',
			'catname' => 'News Analysis',
			'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>The <strong>Department of Biotechnology</strong> under the <strong>Ministry of Science and Technology</strong> has cleared the<strong> Genome India Project.</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>It is a <strong>gene-mapping project</strong> involving 20 leading institutions including the<strong> Indian Institute of Science (IISc)</strong> in Bengaluru and a few <strong>Indian Institute of Technology (IITs).</strong></li>
<li>The project is said to be among the most significant of its kind in the world because of its scale and the diversity it would bring to genetic studies.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The first stage of the project will look at samples of 10,000 persons from all over the country to form a grid that will enable the development of a <strong>reference genome.</strong></li>
<li>The <strong>Centre for Brain Research,</strong> which is an <strong>autonomous institute in the IISc, Bengaluru,</strong> will serve as the<strong> nodal point</strong> of the project.</li>
<li><strong>Significance:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The diverse genetic pool of India will be mapped and it will help in making personalised medicine. Today, the goal of personalized medicine is to utilize information about a person's genes, including his or her nucleotide sequence, to make drugs better and safer.</li>
<li>It will be a hard task considering the population diversity and the disease burden of complex disorders like diabetes, mental health, etc but once the genetic basis is ready it will be possible and easy to take action before the onset of a disease.</li>
<li>Mapping of India&rsquo;s genetic landscape is critical for next-generation medicine, agriculture and for biodiversity management.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>The Government of India got inspiration from the <strong>Human Genome Project.</strong></li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Human Genome Project</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>It was an <strong>international research effort</strong> to determine the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/genome-sequencing-in-india" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>sequence of the human genome</strong></a> and identify the genes that it contains.</li>
<li>It was a 13-year-long, publicly funded project <strong>that ended in 2003.</strong></li>
<li>The HGP has revealed that there are probably about <strong>20,500 human genes.</strong> This information can be thought of as the basic set of inheritable "instructions" for the development and function of a human being.</li>
</ul>
</div>
<p><a href="https://indianexpress.com/article/india/mega-project-to-map-indias-genetic-diversity-gets-govt-green-signal-6255135/" 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/genome-india-project-approved'
		],
		(int) 4 => [
			'title' => 'Centre Persists with ‘toothless’ Pharma Codes',
			'catname' => 'News Analysis',
			'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>The <strong>Department of Pharmaceuticals (DoP),</strong> under the <strong>Ministry of Chemicals and Fertilizers</strong>, has requested the pharmaceutical companies to abide by the <strong>voluntary Uniform Code of Pharmaceutical Marketing Practices (UCPMP).</strong></p>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The <strong>Indian Medical Association (IMA), Alliance of Doctors for Ethical Healthcare (ADEH),</strong> doctors, civil society and patients groups have asked the centre to make the UCPMP mandatory because it holds no value unless it becomes compulsory.</li>
<li>DoP has also requested to ensure that the pharma companies adhere to the provisions of UCPMP and <strong>do not promote pharma products unethically</strong> during the conferences conducted by doctors.</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Uniform Code of Pharmaceutical Marketing Practices</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>This is a set of guidelines published by the Central Government in December 2014 to the pharmaceutical industry for the promotion and marketing of drugs and medical devices. However, these guidelines are voluntary and do not have the force of law, at present.</li>
<li>According to<strong> Clause 7.2 of the UCPMP,</strong> &ldquo;companies or their associations/representatives shall not extend any hospitality like hotel accommodation to healthcare practitioners and their family members under any pretext&rdquo;.</li>
</ul>
</div>
<h3>Background</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Till now, there have been <strong>several instances of breach of the UCPMP by pharma</strong> companies.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>In order to promote their products, pharma companies allegedly arrange accommodation in five-star hotels, local sight-seeing, etc. in conferences conducted by doctors.</li>
<li>This is considered unethical marketing and promotion by the experts and they have demanded implementation of a mandatory mechanism for company disclosures of payments towards doctors and professional bodies, including via third parties.</li>
<li>The disclosures, which should be made at intervals and put in the public domain, should include the amount spent, individual or entity to which payment was made, and the reason for payment, including any services rendered.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>DoP needs to take steps towards instituting statutory regulation of unethical marketing and promotion and make compliance under the UCPMP compulsory.</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Indian Medical Association</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>It is the only<strong> representative, national voluntary organisation</strong> of Doctors of Modern Scientific System of Medicine, which looks after the interest of doctors as well as the well being of the community at large.</li>
<li>Indian Medical Association is the founding member of the <strong>World Medical Association (WMA).</strong></li>
<li>IMA hosted the<strong> 3<sup>rd</sup> World Conference on Medical Education</strong> in New Delhi in 1966.</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>Alliance of Doctors for Ethical Healthcare</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>It is a pan-Indian network of doctors who want to raise voice from within the medical fraternity about malpractices, systemic issues and policies related to healthcare.</li>
<li>It aims to build critical social demand to bring in Universal Healthcare in India.</li>
</ul>
</div>
<p><a href="https://www.thehindu.com/sci-tech/health/centre-persists-with-toothless-pharma-codes/article30755290.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/centre-persists-with-toothless-pharma-codes'
		],
		(int) 5 => [
			'title' => 'National Means Cum-Merit Scholarship Scheme',
			'catname' => 'News Analysis',
			'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>The Union Minister for Human Resource Development updated the progress of<strong> National Means Cum-Merit Scholarship Scheme (NMMSS)</strong> in the written reply tabled in the Rajya Sabha during Budget Session 2020.</p>
<h3>Key Points About NMMSS</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Aim:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The objective of the National Means Cum-Merit Scholarship Scheme (NMMSS) is to award scholarships to meritorious students of economically weaker sections to reduce drop-outs in class VIII. It also intends to encourage students to continue the study at a secondary stage.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Type:</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>It is the <strong>Centrally Sponsored Scheme (CSS)</strong> which was launched in <strong>2008.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Details about Scholarship:</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Scholarship of Rs. 6000/- per annum (Rs.500/- per month) per student is awarded to selected students every year for study in classes from IX to XII in State Government, Government aided and local body schools. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>The selection of students award of the scholarships is made through an examination conducted by the State Governments.</li>
<li>Scholarships are disbursed by the State Bank of India directly into the bank accounts of students on a quarterly basis</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Eligibility Criteria:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Students whose parental income from all sources is not more than Rs. 1,50,000/- per annum are eligible to avail the scholarships.</li>
<li>The students studying in Kendriya Vidyalaya, Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalayas, Residential Schools run by the State Government Institutions and private schools are <strong>not eligible</strong> for the scholarship under this scheme.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Performance of the Scheme:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>An evaluation study conducted by the National Institute of Educational Planning and Administration (NIEPA) in 2017 states that about 70.1% beneficiary students would have been unable to continue their studies without this scholarship.</li>
<li>Additionally, students selected under NMMSS register better performance in Class IX, X, XI and XII in order to continue getting the scholarship for the next four consecutive years.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>National Institute of Educational Planning and Administration</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The National Institute of Educational Planning and Administration (NIEPA) was established by the Ministry of Human Resource Development, Government of India.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The National Institute has its origin dating back to <strong>1962 when the UNESCO established the Asian Regional Centre for Educational Planners and Administrators</strong> which later became the Asian Institute of Educational Planning and Administration in 1965.</li>
<li>After 4 years of its existence, it was taken over by the Government of India.</li>
<li>Subsequently, with the increased roles and functions it was renamed as the<strong> National Institute of Educational Planning and Administration (NIEPA) in 1979.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>The Government of India has empowered it to award its own degrees by way of conferring it the status of Deemed to be University in August, 2006.</li>
</ul>
</div>
<p><a href="https://pib.gov.in/PressReleseDetail.aspx?PRID=1602240" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Source: PIB</strong></a></p>',
			'postdate' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenTime) {},
			'url' => 'https://www.drishtiias.com/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/national-means-cum-merit-scholarship-scheme'
		],
		(int) 6 => [
			'title' => 'Lucknow Declaration',
			'catname' => 'News Analysis',
			'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p><strong>India and 50 African countries</strong> adopted the <strong>&lsquo;Lucknow Declaration&rsquo; </strong>at<strong> first India &ndash; Africa Defence Minister&rsquo;s Conclave.</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The Conclave was held <strong>on the sidelines of the ongoing <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/defexpo-2020" target="_blank" rel="noopener">DefExpo 2020</a></strong> (5<sup>th</sup> to 9<sup>th</sup> February, 2020) in <strong>Lucknow (Uttar Pradesh).</strong></li>
</ul>
<h3>Highlights of the Declaration</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Peace and Security</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>All the signatories committed to continue their collaboration in the fields of peace and security including conflict prevention, resolution, management and peacebuilding.</li>
<li>It also aims to enhance the role of women in peacekeeping.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Maritime Security</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>To exchange expertise and trainers, strengthening regional and continental early warning capacities and mechanisms.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Terrorism</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Terrorism is a major threat in the region and thus aims to take resolute action in rooting out terrorism in all its forms and manifestations, eliminating financing channels and halting cross-border movement of terrorists.</li>
<li>It also urges the international community to envisage the adoption of the <a href="/loksabha-rajyasabha-discussions/the-big-picture-international-convention-on-terrorism" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Comprehensive Convention on International Terrorism</strong></a> in the <a href="/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-international-institution/united-nations-1" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>United Nations General Assembly (UNGA).</strong></a></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Importance of Indo-Pacific:</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>To encourage enhanced cooperation between India and Africa on the evolving<a href="/loksabha-rajyasabha-discussions/new-indo-pacific-strategy" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong> concept of Indo-Pacific.</strong></a></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>India&rsquo;s SAGAR:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>It also welcomes the African Unions&rsquo; vision for peace and security in Africa that coincides with India&rsquo;s vision of <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/important-facts-for-prelims-20th-march-2019" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>SAGAR (Security and Growth for all in the Region).</strong></a><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>SAGAR is an articulation of <strong>India&rsquo;s vision for the Indian Ocean.</strong></li>
<li>SAGAR has elements such as enhancement of capacities to safeguard land and maritime territories &amp; interests; deepening economic and security cooperation in the littoral; action to deal with natural disasters and maritime threats like piracy, terrorism.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Compliance at UNSC:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>To strengthenth the UN Counter-Terrorism mechanisms and to ensure strict compliance with the the<strong> UN Security Council</strong> sanctions regime on terrorism.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Origin and Status of Comprehensive Convention on International Terrorism (CCIT)</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>India has pushed for an intergovernmental convention to <strong>enhance prosecution and extradition of terrorists since 1996.</strong></li>
<li>Although consensus eludes towards the adoption of the terrorism convention, discussions have yielded three separate protocols that aim to tackle terrorism:<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>International Convention for the Suppression of <strong>Terrorist Bombings</strong>, adopted on 15 December 1997;</li>
<li>International Convention for the Suppression of the<strong> Financing of Terrorism</strong>, adopted on 9 December 1999;</li>
<li>International Convention for the Suppression of <strong>Acts of Nuclear Terrorism</strong>, adopted on 13 April 2005.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</div>
<p><a href="https://indianexpress.com/article/cities/lucknow/india-and-african-nations-sign-lucknow-declaration-for-enhanced-collaboration/" 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/lucknow-declaration'
		],
		(int) 7 => [
			'title' => 'Repo Rate Unchanged',
			'catname' => 'News Analysis',
			'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>The <strong>Monetary Policy Committee (MPC)</strong> of the<a href="/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-national-institutions/important-institutions-national-institution-reserve-bank-of-india" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong> Reserve Bank of India (RBI)</strong></a> has decided to keep the repo rate unchanged at 5.15% in its sixth and last bi-monthly policy review meeting for the financial year 2019-20.</p>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>This is the second policy review meeting where the rates have been kept unchanged.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The <strong>rates also remained unchanged</strong> in the last meeting which was held in <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/repo-rate-unchanged" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>December 2019.</strong></a></li>
<li>The RBI <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/rbi-monetary-policy-1" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>last reduced the rates</strong> </a>by <strong>135 basis points (bps)</strong> between February and October 2019.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>The RBI has decided to keep the<strong> interest rates unchanged</strong> in the wake of a rise in <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/return-of-inflation" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>inflation.</strong></a><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The outlook for the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/contraction-in-index-of-industrial-production" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>consumer price index</strong></a>-<strong>based inflation</strong> has been<strong> kept at</strong> 5.0-5.4% for the first half of 2020-21.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>However, the RBI has said that there is a <strong>scope for further easing.</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The downside risks to global growth have intensified and have increased in the wake of the outbreak of <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/novel-strain-of-coronavirus" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>coronavirus.</strong></a></li>
<li>Thus, the policy space available for future action needs to be used appropriately and should be suitably timed to optimise its impact on growth.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>The <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/gdp-growth" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>GDP growth</strong></a> for the financial year 2020-21 is projected at 6%.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The growth projection for the current financial year remains unchanged at 5%.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Monetary Policy Committee</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>It is a <strong>statutory and institutionalized framework</strong> under the <strong>Reserve Bank of India Act, 1934,</strong> for maintaining price stability, while keeping in mind the objective of growth.</li>
<li>The <strong>Governor of RBI is ex-officio Chairman</strong> of the committee.</li>
<li>The MPC <strong>determines the policy interest rate (repo rate)</strong> required to achieve the<strong> inflation target</strong> (4%).</li>
<li>An RBI-appointed committee led by the then deputy governor Urjit Patel in 2014 recommended the establishment of the Monetary Policy Committee.</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>Repo Rate</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>It is the <strong>rate at which the central bank</strong> of a country <strong>lends money to commercial banks in the event of any shortfall of funds</strong> (Reserve Bank of India, in case of India).</li>
<li>It is used by monetary authorities <strong>to control inflation.</strong></li>
<li>In the event of inflation, central banks increase the repo rate as this acts as a disincentive for banks to borrow from the central bank. This ultimately reduces the money supply in the economy and thus helps in arresting inflation.</li>
<li>The central bank takes the contrary position in the event of a fall in inflationary pressures.</li>
<li>Ideally, a low repo rate should <strong>translate into low-cost loans for the general masses.</strong> When the RBI slashes its repo rate, it expects the banks to lower their interest rates charged on loans.</li>
</ul>
</div>
<h3>Other Measures by RBI to Ease Lending Rates</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>It opened a window to extend ₹1 lakh crore to the commercial banks at the<strong> repo rate,</strong> 5.15%.</li>
<li>Banks have been exempted from maintaining the <strong>Cash Reserve Ratio (CRR),</strong> which is 4% of the net demand and time liabilities now, for home, auto and MSME loans that are extended from January 31 to July 31, 2020.</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Cash Reserve Ratio</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Banks are required to hold a <strong>certain proportion of their deposits in the form of cash.</strong> This <strong>minimum ratio</strong> (that is the part of the total deposits to be held as cash) is stipulated by the RBI and is known as the CRR.</li>
<li>It means that banks do not have access to that much amount for any economic activity or commercial activity.</li>
<li>Banks can&rsquo;t lend the money to corporates or individual borrowers, banks can&rsquo;t use that money for investment purposes. CRR remains in the current account and banks don&rsquo;t earn anything on that.</li>
</ul>
</div>
<p><a href="https://www.thehindu.com/business/Economy/rbi-opts-for-long-term-repos-crr-exemption-to-lower-rates/article30755075.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/repo-rate-unchanged-1'
		],
		(int) 8 => [
			'title' => 'Mudumalai Tiger Reserve',
			'catname' => 'News Analysis',
			'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>Recently, rejuvenation camp for captive elephants was inaugurated inside the Mudumalai Tiger Reserve (MTR).</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Mudumalai Tiger Reserve is located in the Nilgiris District of Tamil Nadu state at the <strong>tri-junction</strong> of three states, viz, <strong>Karnataka, Kerala and Tamil Nadu.</strong></li>
<li>It is a <strong>part of Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve (1<sup>st</sup> Biosphere Reserve in India)</strong> along with <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/important-facts-for-prelims-8th-january-2019-" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Wayanad Wildlife Sanctuary (Kerala)</strong> </a>in the West,<a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/joint-effort-to-conserve-wildlife-at-bandipur" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong> Bandipur National Park (Karnataka)</strong> </a>in the North, Mukurthi National Park and Silent Valley in the South.</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1581063147_image1.jpg" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1581063147_image1.jpg" width="650" caption="false" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" /></a></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The name Mudumalai means &rdquo; the ancient hill range&rdquo;. Indeed, it is as old as 65 million years when <strong>Western Ghats were formed.</strong></li>
</ul>
<h3>Important Flora and Fauna</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Flora:</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The Reserve has tall grasses, commonly referred to as <strong>&lsquo;Elephant Grass'.</strong></li>
<li><strong>Bamboo</strong> of the giant variety, valuable timber species like <strong>Teak, Rosewood,</strong> etc.</li>
<li>There are several species of<strong> endemic flora.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Fauna:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Flagship Species: <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/tiger-census-report" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Tiger</strong></a><strong> and <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/world-elephant-day" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Asian Elephant.</a></strong></li>
<li><strong>Other species:</strong> Indian Gaur, Spotted Deer, Common Langur, <strong>Malabar Giant Squirrel, Wild Dog,</strong> Jungle Cat among others.</li>
<li><strong>Birds:</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Reserve has got a wide variety of <strong>more than 260 species of birds. </strong></li>
<li><strong>8% of bird species</strong> found in India are recorded in Mudumalai.</li>
<li>This includes<strong> rare birds</strong> like Malabar grey hornbill, Malabar pied hornbill, Malabar laughing thrush among others.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Other Tiger Reserves in Tamil Nadu</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/species-rich-forests-offer-stable-carbon-capture" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Anamalai Tiger Reserve (ATR)</strong></a></li>
<li><strong>Kalakad Mundanthurai Tiger Reserve (KMTR)</strong></li>
<li><strong>Sathyamangalam Tiger Reserve (STR)</strong></li>
</ul>
<h3>Kalakad Mundanthurai Tiger Reserve</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Kalakad Mundanthurai Tiger Reserve (KMTR) lies in Tirunelveli and Kanyakumari District of<strong> Tamil Nadu.</strong></li>
<li>Vegetation types gradually change from<strong> dry thorn forest to dry deciduous.</strong></li>
<li>Mundanthurai Tiger Sanctuary was declared as <strong>Nation&rsquo;s first Tiger Sanctuary</strong> during 1962, much before Tiger conservation was a national focus.</li>
<li>Kalakad Wildlife Sanctuary was established in 1976 primarily for the conservation of <strong>Lion Tailed Macaque.</strong></li>
<li><strong>River Thamirabarani</strong> and 13 other rivers originate from KMTR. Hence, KMTR is called popularly as <strong>River Sanctuary.</strong></li>
</ul>
<h3>Sathyamangalam Tiger Reserve</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Sathyamangalam Tiger Reserve<strong> (STR)</strong> is located at the confluence region of <strong>Western and Eastern Ghats.</strong></li>
<li>This area holds a significant population of tiger, and it is also <strong>contiguous to other Tiger conservation landscapes like BRT, Bandipur, Mudumalai and Nagarahole.</strong></li>
<li>The region is also a part of Nilgiri-Eastern Ghats Elephant Reserve.</li>
<li>It has got a high diversity of flora and fauna owing to its location. Apart from Tigers, the region is noted for Elephants, Gaur,<strong> Black Buck, Four Horned Antelope, White Backed Vulture,</strong> and a variety of other creatures.</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="https://indianexpress.com/article/india/tamil-nadu-forest-minister-under-fire-for-making-tribal-children-remove-his-slippers-6254070/" 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/mudumalai-tiger-reserve'
		],
		(int) 9 => [
			'title' => 'Longest Spaceflight by a Woman: Christina Koch',
			'catname' => 'News Analysis',
			'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>The <a href="/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-international-institution/national-aeronautics-and-space-administration-nasa" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA)</strong> </a>astronaut<strong> Christina Koch</strong> landed on the Earth on 6<sup>th</sup> february, 2020 after a <strong>record stay of 328 days on the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/cst-100-starliner" target="_blank" rel="noopener">International Space Station.</a></strong></p>
<p><strong></strong><strong></strong><a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1581069595_christina_koch_drishtiias.jpg" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1581069595_christina_koch_drishtiias.jpg" width="395" height="222" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" caption="false" /></strong></a></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Single Spaceflight</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The previous <strong>longest single spaceflight</strong> by any <strong>woman</strong> was 289 days by <strong>Peggy Whitson,</strong> also an American, who set that record in 2017.</li>
<li><strong>Valery Polyakov of Russia</strong> holds the <strong>combine (i.e. for both men and women)</strong> record for the longest single spaceflight in history (438 days).</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Cumulative Record</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Gennady Padalka at 879 days is the world record holder in terms of cumulative time in space</strong> across one or more spaceflights.</li>
<li><strong>Whitson at 665 days</strong> holds the world record for <strong>women.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Significance</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>One particular research project Koch participated in is the <strong>&lsquo;vertebral strength investigation&rsquo;</strong>, which better defines the extent of spaceflight-induced bone and muscle degradation of the spine, and the associated risk for broken vertebrae.</li>
<li>This is expected to provide insight into the development of <strong>future countermeasures, such as preventative medicine or exercise.</strong></li>
<li>These results also could provide recommendations for limiting the amount of <strong>force astronauts are subjected to during launch.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Challenges of Human Spaceflight</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Gravity Field:</strong> Transitioning from one gravity field to another is tricky. It affects <strong>hand-eye and head-eye coordination.</strong> NASA has learned that without gravity working on the human body, <strong>bones lose minerals.</strong> Even after one returns from a space mission, one could be at greater <strong>risk of osteoporosis-related fractures.</strong></li>
<li><strong>Isolation:</strong> No matter how well trained one is, behavioural issues are likely to crop up. Due to isolation, an astronaut may encounter <strong>depression, fatigue, sleep disorder and psychiatric disorders.</strong> This may lead to performance decrements, adverse health outcomes, and compromised mission objectives.</li>
<li><strong>Radiation</strong>: In space stations, astronauts receive <strong>over ten times the radiation than what people are subjected to on Earth.</strong> Radiation exposure may increase the risk of <strong>cancer.</strong> It can damage the <strong>central nervous system.</strong> Radiation can also cause <strong>nausea, vomiting, anorexia, and fatigue.</strong></li>
<li><strong>Hostile Environment:</strong> Rockets are extreme machines. These needs to have habitability factors including temperature, pressure, lighting, noise, and quantity of space. It&rsquo;s essential that astronauts get the <strong>requisite food, sleep and exercise needed to stay healthy and happy.</strong></li>
<li><strong>Distance from Earth:</strong> An astronaut over a spaceflight may face a <strong>communication delay</strong> with its team on the Earth. Also, there is a possibility of <strong>equipment failures or a medical emergency.</strong></li>
</ul>
<p><a href="https://indianexpress.com/article/explained/longest-spaceflight-by-a-woman-and-why-her-work-matters-6254976/" 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/longest-spaceflight-by-a-woman-christina-koch'
		],
		(int) 10 => [
			'title' => 'Disqualification Powers of Speakers',
			'catname' => 'News Editorials',
			'desc' => '<div class="border">
<p>This article is based on <a href="https://www.thehindu.com/opinion/lead/course-correction-for-the-speakers-office/article30745309.ece" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>&ldquo;Course correction for the Speaker&rsquo;s office&rdquo;</strong> </a>which was published in The Hindu on 06/02/2020. It highlights the issues associated with the role of Speaker while adjudicating cases of disqualification of members of the House under the Tenth Schedule.</p>
</div>
<p>Recently, the Supreme Court in<em><strong> Keisham Meghachandra Singh vs. the Hon&rsquo;ble Speaker Manipur Legislative Assembly &amp; Ors. (2020)</strong></em> case made a significant suggestion regarding disqualification powers of the Speaker. The Court was adjudicating upon the matter relating to the disqualification of Members of the Legislative Assembly (MLAs) in the Manipur Legislative Assembly under the Tenth Schedule.</p>
<h3>Court&rsquo;s Recommendations</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The Court recommended the Parliament to amend the Constitution regarding the <strong>role of Speaker as a quasi-judicial authority</strong> while dealing with disqualification petitions under the anti-defection law (when such a Speaker continues to belong to a particular political party either <em>de jure</em> or <em>de facto</em>).</li>
<li>The Court suggested that an <strong>independent tribunal</strong> can be appointed which will substitute the Speaker of the Lok Sabha and Legislative Assemblies to deal with matters of disqualifications under <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/politics-of-defection" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Tenth Schedule.</strong></a><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Currently, <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/disqualification-powers-of-speakers" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>disqualification of members of a House/Assembly</strong></a> is referred to the Speaker of the House/Assembly.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>The Tribunal will be headed by a retired Supreme Court judge or a retired Chief Justice of a High Court. The Court also suggested that some other outside<strong> independent mechanism</strong> can adjudicate on such matters. This will ensure that such disputes are decided both <strong>swiftly and impartially.</strong></li>
</ul>
<h3>Role of Speaker</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The <strong>sole representative and guardian of powers and privileges</strong> of the members, the House as a whole and its Committees.</li>
<li><strong>Principal spokesperson</strong> of the House and represents the<strong> collective voice</strong> of the House.</li>
<li><strong>Quasi-Judicial Body:</strong> His/her decision in all Parliamentary matters (including disqualification matters under Tenth Schedule) is <strong>final, binding</strong> and <strong>ordinarily cannot</strong> be challenged in the Court of law. Thereby, Speaker acts as the <strong>ultimate arbitrator.</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>For example,</strong> on this question<strong> whether a bill is a money bill or not,</strong> his/her decision is final.</li>
<li><strong>However, on the questions of disqualification of the members,</strong> the Supreme Court in <strong><em>Kihoto Hollohan vs Zachillhu and Others,</em> 1992</strong> case ruled that the decision of the Speaker in this regard is subject to judicial review.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Maintains order and decorum</strong> in the House for conducting its business and regulating its proceedings. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Allocates duration for debates, can discipline members of the House, and even override decisions taken by the Committees of the House.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Final interpreter</strong> of the provisions of the Constitution of India, Rules of Procedure and Conduct of Business of Lok Sabha, and Parliamentary precedents within the House.</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Constitutional Provisions Related to Speaker</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Article 93/178: Appointment</strong> of the Speaker and Deputy Speaker of the Lok Sabha/ Legislative Assembly.</li>
<li><strong>Article 94/179: Vacation/resignation/removal</strong> from the offices of Speaker and Deputy Speaker of the Lok Sabha/ Legislative Assembly.</li>
<li><strong>Article 95/180:</strong> Power of the Deputy Speaker or other person(s) <strong>to perform the duties of</strong> the office of or to act as the Speaker of the Lok Sabha/ Legislative Assembly.</li>
<li><strong>Article 96/181:</strong> The Speaker or the Deputy Speaker <strong>not to preside</strong> while a resolution for his removal from office is under consideration.</li>
<li><strong>Article 97/186: Salaries and allowances</strong> of the Speaker and Deputy Speaker.</li>
</ul>
</div>
<h3>Issue of Impartiality</h3>
<p>As the office of the Speaker is vested with great prestige, position, and authority,<strong> independence and impartiality of the Speaker</strong> becomes its sine qua non (an essential condition). However, the office of Speaker has been criticised time and again for being an agent of partisan politics.</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The Supreme Court in <em><strong>Jagjit Singh versus State of Haryana</strong></em> <strong>(2006)</strong> highlighted the similar allegations about the confidence on the <a href="/loksabha-rajyasabha-discussions/in-depth-speaker-roles-and-responsibility" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>role of Speaker</strong></a> in the matters of <strong>impartiality.</strong></li>
<li>In <em><strong>Kihoto Hollohan case (1992),</strong></em> one of the judges observed that the suspicion of bias on the Speaker&rsquo;s role could not be ruled out as his/her<strong> election and tenure</strong> depends on the majority will of the House (or specifically of the ruling party).</li>
<li>Also in the recent case of <strong>Manipur Legislative Assembly (2020),</strong> the Supreme Court<strong> questioned,</strong> &ldquo;why a Speaker- who is a member of a particular political party and an insider in the House, should be the sole and final arbiter in the cases of disqualification of a political defector.&rdquo;</li>
<li>Hence, there are <strong>structural issues</strong> regarding the manner of appointment of the Speaker and her tenure in office which need urgent redressal.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Possible Solution</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Adopting Global Practices:</strong> In <strong>Britain,</strong> the Speaker is strictly a non-party person. There is a convention that the Speaker has to resign from his party and remain politically neutral. Also, once elected remains in office until retirement, even though the majority may change.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Currently, this Convention is not fully established in India where the Speaker does not resign from the membership of the party on his/her election to the office.</li>
<li>Hence, this mechanism can be adopted whereby Speakers need to renounce all political affiliations, membership and activity once they have been elected to the office.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Time-frame for Adjudication:</strong> Currently, there is <strong>no time frame</strong> to adjudicate cases of disqualifications of members of the House. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>However, to contain this liberty of Speaker, the Court in the recent judgment held that, &ldquo;unless there are any exceptional circumstances, disqualification petitions under the Tenth Schedule should be decided by Speakers <strong>within three months.&rdquo;</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Conclusion</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Impartiality, fairness and autonomy</strong> in decision-making are the hallmarks of a robust institution. It is the <strong>freedom from interference and pressures</strong> which provide the necessary atmosphere where one can work with an absolute commitment to the cause of neutrality (as a Constitutional value).</li>
<li>At a time when India&rsquo;s rank has fallen in the latest <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/democracy-index-eiu" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Democracy Index</strong></a> (2019), it is expected out of Parliament to take steps to <strong>revamp and strengthen</strong> the institution of the Speaker.</li>
</ul>
<p>In this regard, <strong>Jawaharlal Nehru</strong> described: &ldquo;As the House represents the nation (in a particular way), the Speaker being its sole representative becomes a symbol of the nation&rsquo;s freedom and liberty. Therefore, this free and honoured position shall always be occupied by persons of outstanding ability and impartiality.&rdquo;</p>
<table border="1" style="border-collapse: collapse; width: 100%;">
<tbody>
<tr>
<td style="width: 100%; border-style: dotted; border-color: #ff0000; background-color: #e4e5f5;"><span style="color: #000080;"><em><strong>Drishti Mains Question</strong></em></span><br /><br />Speakers are not apolitical entities and are embedded in party politics. Critically examine.</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>',
			'postdate' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenTime) {},
			'url' => 'https://www.drishtiias.com/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/disqualification-powers-of-speakers-1'
		],
		(int) 11 => [
			'title' => 'The Representation of the People Act : Part II',
			'catname' => 'Paper 2',
			'desc' => '<div class="border">
<p>This is Part II of the TTP in continuation of <a href="/to-the-points/Paper2/representation-of-people-s-act-part-i" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Part I</strong> </a>of TTP on The Representation of the People Acts.</p>
</div>
<h3>The Representation of the People Act (RPA),1951</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Key Provisions</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>It regulates the <strong>actual conduct of elections</strong> and by-elections.</li>
<li>It provides administrative <strong>machinery</strong> for conducting elections.</li>
<li>It deals with the <strong>registration of political parties.</strong></li>
<li>It specifies the <strong>qualifications and disqualifications for membership</strong> of the Houses.</li>
<li>It provides provisions to <strong>curb corrupt practices</strong> and <strong>other offences.</strong></li>
<li>It lays down the procedure for settling <strong>doubts and disputes arising out of elections.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Qualification for Contesting Elections in India</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The Parliament has laid down the following<strong> qualifications</strong> (for contesting election) in the RPA,1951:<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>A person must be an<strong> elector in the constituency.</strong></li>
<li>The person must be a member of a<strong> Scheduled Caste or Scheduled Tribe </strong>in<strong> any state/UTs</strong> if he/she wants to contest a <strong>seat reserved</strong> for them.</li>
<li><strong>The minimum age</strong> for becoming an MLA/MPs (Lok Sabha) is <strong>25 years.</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>At the panchayat and municipality levels, the minimum age limit for contesting elections is<strong> 21 years.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Right to Vote</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Apart from <strong>Article 326</strong> of the Constitution ( that guarantees the right to vote to every citizen above the age of 18 years, unless disqualified by any law), <strong>Section 62</strong> of the RPA,1951 also ensures that every person <strong>who is in the electoral roll of that constituency is entitled to vote.</strong></li>
<li>One person can vote at <strong>one constituency only</strong> and<strong> only for one time</strong> in a particular election.</li>
<li>If a person is confined in a <strong>prison</strong>, whether under a <strong>sentence of imprisonment</strong> or transportation, then he is <strong>not</strong> eligible for voting, however, in the case of<strong> preventive custody,</strong> he can vote.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>In 2014, the ECI had said that the person under <strong>preventive custody</strong> had the right to vote, but<strong> not under-trials</strong> and <strong>convicts.</strong></li>
<li>However, the Act allows those serving sentences <strong>less than 2 years</strong> to <strong>contest elections</strong> from prison.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>NOTA Option:</strong> None of the Above was introduced in the ballot papers/ Electronic Voting Machine (EVMs) in General Election to the State Assemblies in<strong> 2013.</strong></li>
<li><strong>VVPAT: Voter Verifiable Paper Audit Trail</strong> is an independent system attached with the EVMs that allows voters to verify that their votes are cast as intended. It was introduced in <strong>2013,</strong> after the SC allowed the ECI for the &lsquo;requirement of free and fair elections&rsquo; in its verdict in the <strong>People&rsquo;s Union for Civil Liberties vs. Union of India</strong> case (2013).</li>
<li><strong>Provisions Related to Political Parties:</strong> Every association or body in order to become a political party must be <strong>registered with the ECI</strong> whose decision regarding registration will be<strong> final.</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Registered political parties, in course of time, can get recognition as<strong> 'State Party&rsquo; </strong>or<strong> National Party&rsquo;.</strong></li>
<li><strong>Change in name and address</strong> of a <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/first-national-party-from-north-east" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>registered political party</strong></a> must be communicated to the ECI.</li>
<li>The ECI <strong>can not derecognise</strong> a party.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Voluntary Contributions</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Voluntary contributions by any person or company within India ( other than a government company) can be accepted by the registered political party.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>A company can donate any amount of money to any political party.</li>
<li>There is no obligation of the company to report such donations in its profit and loss account.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>It is <strong>mandatory</strong> for the political parties to submit to the ECI a list of donations they received above <strong>Rs. 2,000.</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Political parties cannot receive more than Rs 2000 as <strong>cash donations.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Now,</strong> political parties are eligible to accept contributions from <strong>foreign companies</strong> defined under the <strong>Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Act, 2010.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Declaration of Assets and Liabilities</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Individuals contesting elections have to file an <strong>affidavit,</strong> declaring their criminal records, assets &amp; liabilities and educational qualification.</li>
<li><strong>After getting elected,</strong> MPs are required to file a declaration of assets and liabilities with the Speaker of Lok Sabha and the Chairman of Rajya Sabha.</li>
<li>These declarations have to be made by MPs<strong> within 90 days</strong> of taking their seats in Parliament.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Right to Information</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Candidates need to furnish information <strong>whether</strong> he/she is accused of any offence<strong> punishable with imprisonment of 2 years or more</strong> in a pending case or has been convicted of an offence.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Voting Through Postal Ballot</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Any class of person can be notified by the ECI in consultation with the concerned government which can give their votes by postal ballot.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Section 126 of the RPA, 1951</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>48 hours before the polling ends or concludes,</strong> displaying of any election matter by <strong>television or similar apparatus</strong> in a constituency is prohibited.</li>
<li>Section 126 is <strong>not</strong> applicable to the <strong>print media,</strong> news portals and <strong>social media</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Section <strong>126A prohibits the</strong> conduct of<strong> exit poll</strong> and <strong>dissemination of its results</strong> during the period mentioned.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Ceiling on Expenditure</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>A candidate contesting polls in large states can spend up to Rs 70 lakh in the Lok Sabha election and Rs 28 lakh in an Assembly election.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Counting of Votes</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>At every election where a poll is taken, the votes are counted by, or under the supervision of the <strong>Returning Officer (RO)</strong>, and contesting candidate, his election agent and his counting agents.</li>
<li><strong>Destruction,</strong> loss, damage or <strong>tampering</strong> of ballot papers at the time of counting <strong>must be reported by the RO to the ECI.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Corrupt Practices</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>All</strong> government or non-government <strong>officials</strong> are included within the <strong>scope</strong> of corrupt practices.</li>
<li><strong>Bribery:</strong> Any gift/offer/promise or gratification to any person as a motive or reward.</li>
<li><strong>Undue Influence:</strong> Any direct or indirect interference/attempt to interfere on the part of the candidate with the free exercise of any electoral right.</li>
<li>The<strong> publication by a candidate</strong> any statement of fact which is <strong>false</strong> in relation to the <strong>personal character/conduct</strong> of any candidate</li>
<li><strong>The hiring or procuring</strong> of any vehicle by a candidate of any elector <strong>to or from any polling station.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Promoting Enmity</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Any person who promotes or attempts to promote on grounds of <strong>religion, race, caste, community or language, feelings of enmity or hatred</strong> between different classes of citizens of India can be punished with imprisonment for a term which may extend to 3 years.</li>
<li><strong>Prohibition of public meetings</strong> during a period of<strong> 48 hours</strong> ending with the hour fixed for the conclusion of the poll.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Disqualification of MPs and MLAs</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The RPA, 1951 lays down certain rules for disqualification of MPs and MLAs.</li>
<li><strong>Section 8 (3)</strong> of the Act states that if an MP or MLA is convicted for any other crime and is sent to <strong>jail</strong> for <strong>2 years or more,</strong> he/ she will be disqualified for <strong>6 years</strong> from the time of release. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Even if a person is on <strong>bail</strong> after the conviction and his appeal is pending for disposal, he is disqualified from contesting an election.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Section 8(4)</strong> allowed convicted MPs, MLAs and MLCs to continue in their posts, provided they appealed against their conviction/sentence in higher courts within <strong>3 months</strong> of the date of judgment by the trial court.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>The <strong>Supreme Court</strong> in July 2013<strong> struck down</strong> section 8(4) of the RPA, 1951 and declared it<strong> ultra vires</strong> and held that the <strong>disqualification takes place from the date of conviction.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Significance of the Acts</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Direct Democracy:</strong> The provision of direct election for every constituency makes the process of <strong>election more democratic</strong> and <strong>participatory</strong> by encouraging and empowering people to play an active role in choosing appropriate candidates.</li>
<li><strong>Equal Representation:</strong> The RPA,1950 provides for delimitation which brings <strong>equality in the process of election</strong> by ensuring roughly an equal number of electors in each constituency.</li>
<li><strong>Federalism:</strong> The acts strengthened the federal polity of the country by giving <strong>due representation to each state</strong> in the Parliament.</li>
<li><strong>Decriminalizing Indian Politics:</strong> The RPA,1951 plays the significant role in breaking the politicians, police &amp; criminal nexus (which is one of the greatest threats to the rule of law in India), by prohibiting the entry of persons with a criminal background into the electoral process, thus <strong>decriminalizing Indian politics.</strong></li>
<li><strong>Accountability and Transparency:</strong> The RPA,1951 provides for the <strong>expenditure monitoring mechanism</strong> which ensures the accountability and transparency of the candidate in the use of public funds or misuse of power for personal benefits.</li>
<li><strong>Clean Election</strong>: The RPA,1951 prohibits corrupt practices like booth capturing, bribery or promoting enmity etc., and ensures the conduct of <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/free-and-fair-election" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>free &amp; fair elections</strong></a> which in turn encourage <strong>political liberalization</strong> and democratization.</li>
<li><strong>Legible Political Funding:</strong> The RPA ,1951 provides that only those political parties which are registered under section 29A of the RPA, 1951 are eligible to receive <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/an-invitation-to-corruption" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>electoral bonds</strong></a>, thus providing a mechanism to track the source of <a href="/loksabha-rajyasabha-discussions/in-depth-political-funding" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>political funding</strong></a> and ensuring transparency in electoral funding.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Challenges</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>False Disclosures:</strong> Even after the provision of the declaration of assets and liabilities in the RPA act, candidates do not disclose all the assets and provide wrong and incomplete information regarding their assets, liabilities, and income and educational qualifications.</li>
<li><strong>The Bureaucratization of Politics:</strong> In spite of the inclusion of several provisions aimed at making the <strong>ECI</strong> as an independent body,it is still <strong>dependent on the Union for financial matters</strong> that paves the way for political parties to manage to get the officers in their favour through money and muscle power.</li>
<li><strong>Dual Responsibility of the ECI:</strong> The ECI does<strong> not</strong> have <strong>independent staff</strong> of its own so whenever elections take place, it has to depend upon staff of Central and State Governments hence the <strong>dual responsibility of the administrative staff, to the government for ordinary administration</strong> and to <strong>the ECI</strong> for electoral administration is not conducive to the impartial and efficient functioning of the Commission.</li>
<li><strong>Misuse of Government Machinery:</strong> The RPAs <strong>lack clear provisions and guidelines</strong> on the matters related to the misuse of official machinery that gives an <strong>unfair advantage to the ruling party</strong> at the time of elections and leads to the misuse of public funds for furthering the prospects of candidates of a particular party.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The misuse of official machinery takes different forms, such as the issue of advertisements at the cost of government and public exchequer highlighting their achievements, disbursements out of the discretionary funds at the disposal of the ministers, use of government vehicles for canvassing etc.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Way Forward</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Restriction on Opinion Polls:</strong> By an amendment made to the RPA 1951, conducting and publishing results of exit polls have been prohibited.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>There should be a <strong>similar prohibition</strong> or restriction <strong>on opinion polls</strong> also as several manipulated opinion polls could impact the voting pattern.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>False Declaration as Offense:</strong> The RPA ,1951 should be amended <strong>to include all the items</strong> related to the election disclosure in the <strong>affidavit</strong> and making false declarations in connection with the election to be an offence.</li>
<li><strong>Independent ECI:</strong> In order to curb the practice of bureaucratization of politics and to secure complete independence of the Election Commission, its <strong>expenditure should be charged on the Consolidated Fund of India.</strong></li>
<li><strong>De-listing of Valid Electorates:</strong> Parliament must pass a law dealing with the serious problem of delisting of valid electors from electoral rolls because <strong>illiterate electorate</strong> residing in far villages <strong>cannot watch over the publication</strong> of electorate lists.</li>
<li><strong>State Funding of Elections:</strong> To <strong>minimise the role of money</strong> in elections, provisions should be made for state funding of elections.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>A few government reports have highlighted the prospects of state funding of elections like<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li><strong>Indrajit Gupta Committee</strong> on State Funding of Elections (1998)</li>
<li><strong>Law Commission Report</strong> on Reform of the Electoral Laws (1999)</li>
<li><strong>National Commission</strong> to Review the Working of the Constitution (2001)</li>
<li><strong>2<sup>nd</sup> Administrative Reforms Commission</strong> (2008)</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<p>The <strong>powers</strong> of the <strong>ECI</strong> are <strong>enormous</strong> and <strong>all-encompassing</strong> which even exceed the powers of the executive in all election-related issues during the course of the election period. Thereby giving it effective tools in dispensing free and fair elections, the only thing that lacks is will and integrity on the part of responsible officials. The <strong>ECI</strong> should become<strong> more prudent</strong> and <strong>proactive</strong> to ensure the fairness and transparency of the general election and wipe away any doubt regarding its integrity as an esteemed institution.</p>',
			'postdate' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenTime) {},
			'url' => 'https://www.drishtiias.com/to-the-points/Paper2/the-representation-of-the-people-act-part-ii'
		],
		(int) 12 => [
			'title' => 'Consecration at the Brihadisvara Temple',
			'catname' => 'News Analysis',
			'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>Recently, the consecration (Kumbhabhishekam) ceremony was held at the Brihadisvara Temple after 23 years in Thanjavur, Tamil Nadu.</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The ceremony was held after the Madras High Court settled an old argument over the ritual.</li>
<li>The ceremony got embroiled in the struggle for supremacy between the Sanskrit and Tamil traditions.</li>
<li>The court <strong>allowed</strong> the consecration to be performed in<strong> both Tamil</strong> and <strong>Sanskrit.</strong></li>
<li>It argued that there is nothing either in the <strong>Agamas (canonical texts)</strong> or in any other religious script to prohibit the chanting of Tamil mantras in the temples.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Brihadisvara Temple</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Brihadeshwara Temple, also known as Raja Rajeswara Temple, is dedicated to Shiva and is located in Thanjavur (Tamil Nadu).<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Thanjavur lies in the delta of the Cauvery River.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>It is one of the best examples of the <a href="/to-the-points/paper1/temple-architecture" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Dravidian style</strong></a> of temple architecture built by Chola emperor <strong>Raja Raja Chola I</strong> ( 985-1014 AD) between 1003 AD and 1010 AD. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The Dravidian style of temple architecture flourished roughly from the<strong> 8<sup>th</sup> century to about the 13-14 century AD.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>The temple consists of a <strong>pyramidal spire</strong> and is adorned with sculptures and paintings inside as well as outside.</li>
<li>The temple entered the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/kailash-mansarovar-in-tentative-list-of-world-heritage-sites" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>UNESCO World Heritage Site</strong></a> list in <strong>1987</strong> and is also a part of <strong>"Great Living Chola Temples"</strong> along with the <strong>Brihadisvara Temple</strong> at <strong>Gangaikondacholapuram</strong> and the <strong>Airavatesvara Temple at Darasuram.</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Brihadisvara Temple (Gangaikondacholapuram, Tamil Nadu).</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>It was built for Shiva by <strong>Rajendra I</strong> (1014-1044 CE).</li>
<li>The temple has sculptures of exceptional quality.</li>
<li>The<strong> bronze sculptures</strong> of <strong>Bhogasakti</strong> and <strong>Subrahmanya</strong> are masterpieces of Chola metal icons.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Airavatesvara Temple (Darasuram)</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>It was built by the <strong>Chola king Rajaraja II</strong> (1144-1173 CE):</li>
<li>It is much smaller in size as compared to the Brihadisvara temple at Thanjavur and Gangaikondacholapuram.</li>
<li>The temple consists of a sanctum <strong>without</strong> a <strong>circumambulatory path</strong> and axial mandapas.</li>
<li>The front mandapa is<strong> unique</strong> as it was conceptualized as a chariot with wheels.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Special Features:</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The temple, which is one of the tallest temples in India, still remains an engineering mystery as it is <strong>completely made of granite</strong> and archaeologists still don&rsquo;t know how the builders got such huge pieces of granite for construction at this height.</li>
<li>The apex structure on<strong> top of the temple</strong> is believed to be carved out of a <strong>single stone carving.</strong></li>
<li>It is so designed that the <strong>Vimana does not cast a shadow at noon during any part of the year.</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li><strong>Vimana:</strong> Vimana is the structure over the garbhagriha or inner sanctum in the Hindu temples of South India and Odisha.</li>
<li>It is like a stepped pyramid that rises up geometrically rather than the curving <strong>Shikhara</strong> of North India.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1580985799_Image1.jpg" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1580985799_Image1.jpg" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="550" caption="false" /></a></p>
<p><a href="https://indianexpress.com/article/explained/how-the-old-aryan-dravidian-tussle-played-out-in-an-iconic-tn-temple-6253168/" 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/consecration-at-the-brihadisvara-temple'
		],
		(int) 13 => [
			'title' => 'INS Karanj',
			'catname' => 'News Analysis',
			'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p><strong>The third Scorpene submarine, Karanj,</strong> will be delivered to the Indian Navy by December 2020.</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>INS Karanj is a part of <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/important-facts-for-prelims-10th-september-2018" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Project-75</strong></a> and was launched in <strong>January 2018.</strong> It is currently in advanced stages of sea trials.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Project-75<a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1580985307_image2.jpg" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1580985307_image2.jpg" style="float: right;" width="400" caption="false" /></a></h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>It is a programme by the <strong>Indian Navy</strong> that entails building<strong> six Scorpene-Class attack submarines.</strong></li>
<li>The programme has been undertaken with transfer of technology from French company Naval Group (formerly known as DCNS) at the Mazagon Dock Limited (MDL).</li>
<li>The submarines in the <strong>P75 Scorpene-Class</strong> are powered by the <strong>conventional diesel-electric propulsion system.</strong></li>
<li>The <strong>first Scorpene submarine, Kalvari,</strong> was commissioned in <strong>2017</strong> and it would go for a normal refit after six years in 2023, during which time the <strong>Air-Independent Propulsion (AIP) would be installed.</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>AIP technology</strong> is being developed by the <a href="/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-national-institutions/defence-research-and-development-organisation-drdo" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO)</strong></a> to provide submarines<strong> long-range and extended endurance capabilities undersea.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Second Scorpene <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/important-facts-for-prelims-18th-march-2019" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Khanderi</a></strong> was inducted in September 2019.</li>
<li>The remaining submarines <strong>(Vela, Vagir, and Vagsheer)</strong> in the series are in advanced stages of manufacturing and trials.</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Air-Independent Propulsion</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Conventional submarines use a diesel-electric engine, and must surface for oxygen required for fuel combustion. If fitted with an <strong>Air Independent Propulsion (AIP) system,</strong> the submarine needs to take in oxygen less frequently.</li>
<li>While many naval powers, including India, have acquired <a href="/loksabha-rajyasabha-discussions/akula-class-attack-submarine" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>nuclear-powered submarines</strong></a> for deep-sea operations, conventional diesel-electric variants are considered useful for coastal defence. The latter are optimised for stealth, and their weapons and sensors provide for effective operations close to the shore.</li>
<li>Diesel-electric submarines require them to come to the surface frequently to charge their batteries, their underwater endurance time is less. &lsquo;Air-independent&rsquo; propulsion technology helps to make the diesel generator less dependent on surface air.</li>
</ul>
</div>
<p><a href="https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/navy-to-get-third-scorpene-submarine-in-december/article30744577.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/ins-karanj'
		],
		(int) 14 => [
			'title' => 'International Intellectual Property Index: US Chamber of Commerce',
			'catname' => 'News Analysis',
			'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>India has slipped to <strong>40<sup>th</sup> position</strong> on the <strong>International Intellectual Property (IP) Index, 2020</strong> from the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/international-intellectual-property-ip-index-us-chamber-of-commerce" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>36<sup>th</sup> position in 2019</strong></a>.</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>It is <strong>released</strong> by the <strong>US Chamber of Commerce&rsquo;s Global Innovation Policy Center.</strong></li>
</ul>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>The US, the UK, France, Germany and Sweden are the top five</strong> economies on the IP Index in 2020.</li>
<li>India&rsquo;s rank has slipped despite the government's focused effort to support investments in innovation and creativity through increasingly robust IP protection and enforcement, since the release of the <a href="/to-the-points/paper3/intellectual-property-rights" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>National Intellectual Property Rights (IPR) Policy, 2016.</strong></a><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>It encompasses and brings to a single platform all IPRs, taking into account all inter-linkages and thus aims to create and exploit synergies between all forms of intellectual property (IP), concerned statutes and agencies.</li>
<li>Its implementation has improved the speed of processing for patent and trademark applications and increased awareness of IP rights among Indian innovators and creators.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>US Chamber of Commerce</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>It is the <strong>world&rsquo;s largest business federation</strong> representing the interests of more than 3 million businesses of all sizes, sectors, and regions, as well as state and local chambers and industry associations.</li>
<li>The <strong>2020 U.S. Chamber International IP Index</strong> titled <strong>&lsquo;Art of the Possible&rsquo;</strong> creates a template for economies that aspire to become the 21st century, knowledge-based economies through more effective IP protection.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>In its <strong>eighth edition,</strong> the Index maps the IP ecosystem in <strong>53 global economies,</strong> representing over 90% of global GDP.</li>
<li>The Index evaluates the IP framework in each economy across <strong>50 unique indicators</strong> which industry believes represent economies with the most effective IP systems. The indicators create a snapshot of an economy overall IP ecosystem and span nine <strong>categories of protection:</strong> patents, copyrights, trademarks, design rights, trade secrets, commercialization of IP assets, enforcement, systemic efficiency, and membership and ratification of international treaties.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</div>
<p><a href="https://www.financialexpress.com/economy/india-slips-to-40th-position-on-international-intellectual-property-index/1857611/" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Source: FE</strong></a></p>',
			'postdate' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenTime) {},
			'url' => 'https://www.drishtiias.com/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/international-intellectual-property-index-us-chamber-of-commerce'
		],
		(int) 15 => [
			'title' => 'Major Port at Vadhavan',
			'catname' => 'News Analysis',
			'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>The Union Cabinet has given its 'in-principle' approval for <strong>setting up a major port at Vadhavan</strong> near Dahanu in <strong>Maharashtra.</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>With the development of Vadhavan port, <strong>India will break into the countries with top 10 container ports in the world.</strong> A container port is a port which specializes in handling goods transported in containers.</li>
<li>The port will be developed on <strong>&lsquo;land lord model&rsquo;.</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>In the landlord port model, the publicly governed port authority acts as a regulatory body and as landlord while private companies carry out port operations&mdash;mainly cargo-handling activities.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>ASpecial Purpose Vehicle (SPV) will be formed with <strong>Jawaharlal Nehru Port Trust (JNPT)</strong> as the lead partner to implement the project. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The position of Jawaharlal Nehru Port, the<strong> biggest container port in India,</strong> is 28<sup>th</sup> in the world in terms of traffic handling capacity.</li>
<li>With the completion of the 4<sup>th</sup> terminal at JN Port, its capacity will increase to 10 million TEUs (Twenty-Foot Equivalent Units) making it the 17<sup>th</sup> largest container port in the world.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>The SPV will develop the port infrastructure including reclamation, construction of breakwater, besides establishing connectivity to the hinterland. All the business activities would be undertaken under <strong>Public-Private Partnership (PPP) mode</strong> by private developers.</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Note:</strong> The Union Government is responsible for development of Major Ports whereas minor ports are under the jurisdiction of respective State Governments.</p>
</div>
<p><a href="https://pib.gov.in/PressReleseDetail.aspx?PRID=1601988" 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/major-port-at-vadhavan'
		],
		(int) 16 => [
			'title' => 'Command Posts for Women in Army',
			'catname' => 'News Analysis',
			'desc' => '<h3>Why in news</h3>
<p>The Supreme Court (SC) has asked the Central Government to accommodate women at command post in <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/woman-in-combat-roles" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>non-combat services</strong></a> like National Cadet Corps and Sainik Schools.</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>However, the Government highlighted the difficulties in giving &lsquo;Command Appointments&rsquo; for women.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Government on Granting Command Posts</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Physiological limitations :</strong> The Central Government has asserted that the <strong>&ldquo;physiological limitations&rdquo;</strong> of women officers and <strong>changed battlefield scenario</strong> as the primary reasons for not granting the <strong>command posts</strong> for women in the Army.</li>
<li><strong>Societal norms:</strong> The troops are not yet mentally schooled to accept women officers in command of units, the composition of rank and file being male predominantly drawn from the rural background with prevailing societal norms.</li>
<li><strong>Physical standards:</strong> Officers have to lead from the front. They should be in prime physical condition to undertake combat tasks. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Inherent physiological differences between men and women preclude equal physical performance resulting in lower physical standards.</li>
<li>Physical capacity of women officers in the Indian Army remains a challenge for command of units.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Other challenges:</strong> Apart from <strong>lower physical standards</strong> of women officers compared to men, other challenges include <strong>prolonged absence</strong> due to pregnancy, children&rsquo;s education, husband&rsquo;s career prospects, etc.</li>
<li><strong>Permanent commission:</strong> In 2019, the policy was released to grant permanent commission to women officers on SSC, but this was to apply only <strong>prospectively.</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The Women officers contended that the application of permanent commission prospectively is arbitrary and discriminatory. It should be applied retrospectively.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Permanent Commission for Women</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The Ministry of Defence has taken steps to ensure implementation of the grant of Permanent Commission to Women officers in the Armed Forces.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Indian Air Force:</strong> All Branches, including Fighter Pilots, are now open for female officers.</li>
<li><strong>Indian Navy:</strong> All non-sea going Branches/Cadre/Specialisation have been opened for induction of women officers through the Short Service Commission (SSC).</li>
<li><strong>Indian Army:</strong> Women officers are granted Permanent Commission in the Indian Army in all the ten branches where women are inducted for Short Service Commission. These are streams of Signals, Engineers, Army Aviation, Army Air Defence, Judge Advocate General (JAG), etc.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Types of Entry in Armed Forces for Women</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The induction of women into the officer cadre, and their training was undertaken by the <strong>Officers Training Academy in 1992.</strong></li>
<li><strong>Short Service Commission:</strong> This provision provides an option of Joining the Army and serving as a Commissioned Officer for 10/14 years. At the end 10 yrs, an officer has following options: <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Either opt for a Permanent Commission or</li>
<li>Opt out or have the option of a 4 years extension. They can resign at any time during this period of 4 yrs extension.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Permanent Commission:</strong> It means a career in the Army till the retirement age. For Permanent Commission, the entry is through National Defence Academy, Pune or Indian Military Academy, Dehradun, Officers Training Academy, Gaya.</li>
</ul>
</div>
<p><a href="https://indianexpress.com/article/india/sc-on-command-role-for-women-in-army-will-mindset-needed-6253369/" 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/command-posts-for-women-in-army'
		],
		(int) 17 => [
			'title' => 'Reducing SO2 emissions',
			'catname' => 'News Analysis',
			'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>The <strong>Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB)</strong> has sent show cause notices to 14 thermal power plants for <strong>not complying with the 31<sup>st</sup> December, 2019 deadline to limit sulphur dioxide emissions.</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The CPCB has the<strong> power to impose steep fines or shut a unit</strong> under the provisions of<strong> the Environment Protection Act, 1986.</strong></li>
</ul>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>To limit <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/state-of-global-air-report-2019" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Particulate Matter (PM)</strong></a>, <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/india-largest-emitter-of-sulphur-dioxide" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>sulphur dioxide</strong></a> and nitrous oxide emission from thermal plants, <strong>India has put in place a phased-approach</strong> that directs coal-fired units to put in place measures to limit pollution by December 2022.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>As per Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) estimates, these norms can help reduce PM emissions by about 35%, NOx emission by about 70%, and SO2 emissions by more than 85% by 2026-27 against a business-as-usual scenario with no pollution control technologies.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>However plants in a 300 km radius of Delhi were to comply by 31st December, 2019 because of the poor air quality in the city as well as the surrounding Gangetic plain.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Few units have set in place the process for acquiring flue-gas desulphurisation technology.</li>
<li><strong>Flue Gas Desulfurization (FGD)</strong> is a set of technologies used to remove sulphur dioxide (SO2) from exhaust flue gases of fossil-fuel power plants. Flue gas is a mixture of gases produced by the burning of fuel or other materials in power stations and industrial plants and extracted via ducts.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Central Pollution Control Board</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) of India is a <strong>statutory organisation under the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change.</strong></li>
<li>It was established in 1974 under the Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1974.</li>
<li>The CPCB is also entrusted with the powers and functions under the Air (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1981.</li>
</ul>
</div>
<p><a href="https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/cpcb-pulls-up-14-coal-plants/article30745054.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/reducing-so2-emissions'
		],
		(int) 18 => [
			'title' => 'Soil Health Card Scheme',
			'catname' => 'News Analysis',
			'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>According to the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/national-productivity-council" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>National Productivity Council</strong> </a><strong>(NPC),</strong> <a href="/to-the-points/paper3/to-the-point-paper-3-soil-health-card-scheme" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>the Soil Health Card</strong></a> scheme has led to a <strong>decline of 8-10% in the use of chemical fertilizers</strong> and also<strong> raised productivity by 5-6%.</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Issuance of the Soil Health Cards has enabled the farmers to understand the soil health parameters and improve the productivity by judicious application of soil nutrients.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Under the <strong>Phase-I (2015-17)</strong> of the scheme, <strong>10.74 crore cards</strong> were distributed, while under the <strong>Phase-II (2017-19), 11.69 crore cards</strong> have been distributed.</li>
<li>A pilot project, <strong>&lsquo;Development of Model Villages&rsquo;</strong> is also being implemented by the <strong>Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers&rsquo; Welfare in the financial year 2019-20.</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>It is to be noted that, this project is different from the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/saansad-adarsh-gram-yojana-sagy" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Saansad Adarsh Gram Yojana (SAGY)</strong></a> which was launched in <strong>October 2014</strong> with the goal of <strong>developing the socio-economic and physical infrastructure of villages.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Development of Model Villages</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Under this project, a Model Village is selected for aggregation of soil samples and analysis of each agricultural holding.</li>
<li>The programme promotes farm holding based soil sample collection and testing with farmers&rsquo; participation.</li>
</ul>
</div>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The <strong>Soil Health Card Scheme along with other projects</strong> <a href="/to-the-points/Paper2/national-action-plan-on-climate-change" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>(National Mission for Sustainable Agriculture)</strong></a> for soil health management has created jobs for the agrarian youth.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Under these, village youth and farmers<strong> up to 40 years of age</strong> are eligible to set up <strong>Soil Health Laboratories</strong> and undertake testing.</li>
<li><strong>75% of laboratory</strong> costs are proposed to be<strong> funded by the Central and State Governments.</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>The same provision applies to <a href="/to-the-points/Paper2/self-help-groups-shgs" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Self Help Groups</strong></a>, <strong>Farmers&rsquo; Cooperative Societies, Farmers Groups and Agricultural Producing Organisations.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Soil Health Card Scheme</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The <strong>Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers&rsquo; Welfare</strong> introduced the scheme on <strong>December 5, 2015.</strong></li>
<li>Soil Health Card (SHC) is a <strong>printed report</strong> which <strong>contains nutrient status of soil with respect to 12 nutrients:</strong> pH, Electrical Conductivity (EC), Organic Carbon (OC), Nitrogen (N), Phosphorus (P), Potassium (K), Sulphur (S), Zinc (Zn), Boron (B), Iron (Fe), Manganese (Mn) and Copper (Cu) of farm holdings.</li>
<li>SHC is provided to all farmers in the country at<strong> an interval of 3 years</strong> to enable the farmers to apply recommended doses of nutrients based on soil test values to realize improved and sustainable soil health and fertility, low costs and higher profits. Farmers can track their soil samples and also obtain their<strong> Soil Health Card report.</strong></li>
<li>It is a field-specific <strong>detailed report</strong> of soil fertility status and other important soil parameters that affect crop productivity.</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>National Productivity Council</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>It is a national-level organization to promote productivity culture in India.</li>
<li>Established by the <strong>Ministry of Commerce and Industry,</strong> Government of India in<strong> 1958,</strong> it is an <strong>autonomous, multipartite, non-profit organization.</strong></li>
</ul>
</div>
<p><a href="https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleseDetail.aspx?PRID=1601990" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Source: PIB</strong></a></p>',
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		(int) 19 => [
			'title' => 'India International Seafood Show',
			'catname' => 'News Analysis',
			'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>The <strong>22<sup>nd</sup> edition</strong> of India International Seafood Show (IISS), 2020 will be organized jointly by the Marine Products Export Development Authority (MPEDA) and the Seafood Exporters Association of India (SEAI) <strong>in Kochi, Kerala from 7<sup>th</sup>-9<sup>th</sup> February 2020.</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Theme</strong> for 2020 is: &ldquo;Blue Revolution- Beyond Production to Value Addition&rdquo;.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Event Held: Biennially</strong> (occurring every two years). It is <strong>one of the oldest and largest</strong> seafood events in the world. <strong>The 21<sup>st</sup></strong> edition of IISS was held in <strong>Goa</strong> in January 2018.</li>
<li><strong>Purpose:</strong> It provides an umbrella platform for various involved stakeholders of this sector such as producers, processing machinery manufacturers, linkage sectors, technical experts, etc. to interact, build up trade relations and contribute towards the progress of <strong>seafood exports</strong> from the country.</li>
<li><strong>Significance:</strong> It gives scope for <strong>tapping new avenues and introducing various technologies and products</strong> to the global market. In this way, the show paves way for enhancing <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/revised-fdi-norms" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Foreign Direct Investment</strong></a> in India thereby contributing to the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/five-years-of-make-in-india" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>&lsquo;Make in India</strong> </a>programme&rsquo;.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>During <strong>2018-19,</strong> India has exported worth<strong> $6.70 billion</strong> of marine products. With <strong>sustainable fishing methods, value addition and increased aquaculture production through diversification,</strong> it is expected to achieve an export turnover of <strong>$15 billion</strong> in the <strong>next five years.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Marine Products Export Development Authority</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Constituted:</strong> In <strong>1972</strong> through the Marine Products Export Development Authority (MPEDA) Act 1972, under the <strong>Ministry of Commerce and Industry.</strong></li>
<li>It is the <strong>nodal agency</strong> for the holistic development of the seafood industry in India.</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>Seafood Exporters Association of India</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Established</strong> in: <strong>1973</strong> as an organisation registered under the <strong>Registrar of Companies Act, 1956.</strong></li>
<li><strong>Aim:</strong> To <strong>protect and promote</strong> the interests of the seafood industry and develop the international trade of seafood from India.</li>
</ul>
</div>
<p><a href="https://pib.gov.in/newsite/PrintRelease.aspx?relid=199000" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Source: PIB</strong></a></p>',
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	(int) 0 => [
		'title' => 'Payment Revolution in India',
		'catname' => 'News Editorials',
		'desc' => '<div class="border">
<p>This article is based on <a href="https://indianexpress.com/article/opinion/columns/the-billion-standard-digital-payments-bank-accounts-6254962/" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>&ldquo;The billion standard&rdquo;</strong></a>, which was published in The Indian Express on 07/02/2020. It talks about the status of digital payments in India.</p>
</div>
<p>Recently, digital payments in India touched a new high by reaching a billion monthly digital payment transactions on the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/upi-20-launched-by-npci" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Universal Payment Interface</strong></a> (UPI). Payment on UPI platform rose from 0.1 million in October 2016 to 1.3 billion in January 2020.</p>
<p>Significance of this <strong>payment revolution in India</strong> lies in the fact that Google has written a letter to the US Federal Reserve, asking them to learn from <a href="/printpdf/digital-transactions-in-india" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Indian digital payments.</strong></a></p>
<h3>Payment Revolution in India</h3>
<p>India was long a financially excluded nation &mdash; only 17% of Indians had a bank account in 2011. According to the World Bank, it would have taken 50 more years for 80% of Indians to get a bank account at the pre-2011 speed.</p>
<h3>Reasons for this Payment Revolution</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>India&rsquo;s payment revolution comes from:<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Political Will:</strong> A clear vision for shifting the system from low volume, high value and high cost to high volume, low value and low cost. This can be seen through <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/important-facts-for-prelims-6th-september-2018" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Jan Dhana Yojana</strong></a> <strong>and Aadhaar embedding.</strong></li>
<li><strong>A Proactive Central Bank:</strong> Reserve Bank of India (RBI) created a non-profit market participant entity and levelling the playing field between non-banks and banks.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>A paper by the<strong> Bank for International Settlements (&lsquo;The Design of Digital Financial Infrastructure: Lessons From India&rsquo;)</strong> suggests that India demonstrates how &ldquo;a central bank can be proactive and equal partners with private sector counterparts when it comes to fostering technological innovation in finance&rdquo;.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Use of Technology:</strong> Aimed at balancing trade-off like ease-of-use vs fraud prevention. <strong>This can be seen through UPI.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Elements of Revolution:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Launch of Aadhaar.</strong> Aadhaar put simply is one of the biggest depositories of biometric data in the world.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>In 2010, the Indian government decided it would take full digital fingerprints and an iris scan from each citizen to create a digital identity.</li>
<li>About 1.2 billion Indians now have a digital identity.</li>
<li>Aadhaar has provided a solid foundation for banking the unbanked (financial inclusion).</li>
<li>Aadhaar acted as an<strong> &ldquo;identity rail&rdquo;</strong> i.e. giving banks and Fintech companies a secure means to identify would-be customers -- and the government and businesses an easy way to pay them.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Role of National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI)</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI), an umbrella organisation for operating retail payments and settlement systems in India, is an initiative of Reserve Bank of India (RBI) and Indian Banks&rsquo; Association (IBA) under the provisions of the Payment and Settlement Systems Act, 2007, <strong>for creating a robust Payment &amp; Settlement Infrastructure in India.</strong></li>
<li>It has been incorporated as a<strong> &ldquo;Not for Profit&rdquo; Company</strong> under the provisions of Section 25 of Companies Act 1956 (now Section 8 of Companies Act 2013).</li>
<li>NPCI together with the RBI and Indian Banks Association (IBA) has established a platform called UPI.</li>
<li>UPI, in turn, acted as a<strong> &ldquo;payments rail&rdquo;,</strong> it gives those players access to infrastructure that enables the transfer of funds.</li>
<li>UPI provides a payment experience that is mobile-based, low-cost, 24/7, instant, convenient, interoperable, fintech friendly, inside banking, and safe.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>What is UPI?</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>India has taken a major step towards achieving a cashless economy with the advent of the Unified Payment Interface (UPI).</li>
<li>UPI is a single platform that merges various banking services and features under one umbrella.</li>
<li>It also caters to the &ldquo;Peer to Peer&rdquo; collect request which can be scheduled and paid as per requirement and convenience.</li>
<li>UPI turns smartphones into a virtual debit card. It allows real-time bank-to-bank payments to be made using a mobile number or virtual payment address (UPI ID).</li>
<li>UPI has made the money transfer process a lot easier. as there is no need to remember the receiver&rsquo;s account number, account type, IFSC, and bank name.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Instead, money transfer can be made only by knowing Aadhaar number, mobile phone number registered with the bank account, or UPI ID.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>A UPI ID is a unique identification for a bank account that can be used to send and receive funds.</li>
</ul>
</div>
<p><a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1581080304_image1.png" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1581080304_image1.png" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" caption="false" width="664" height="342" /></a></p>
<h3>How is UPI different to regular payments?</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Regular payments are based on <strong>overlay systems</strong> (with payments going through correspondent banking networks).<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>More banking layers mean less efficiency, higher cost and higher barriers to entry.</li>
<li>Also, by going through a publicly-regulated payments system settled in fiat money, overlay systems offer more security.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>UPI is both cheap and enables instant payments <strong>as it is interoperable.</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Interoperability means allowing individuals to manage money residing in several accounts from a single bank or payment service app on their phone.</li>
<li>This increases competition between banks by enabling people to switch funds cheaply.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Lessons that can be Learnt from UPI</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Interoperability of UPI</strong> can be replicated in education, healthcare, and government services. This is likely to be a harbinger of large scale multi-domain collaborative innovation.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>This collaborative approach can create ecosystems that overcome the execution deficit of government, the trust deficit of private companies, and the scale deficit of nonprofits.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>UPI's success and its endorsement by Google, certify that India doesn&rsquo;t need to be Western or Chinese to be modern.</li>
<li>Complementary government interventions are also important for the success of the initiative of such magnitude.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Way Forward</h3>
<p><strong>In Order to Boost Digital Payments in India:</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The central government must deadline digitising all its payments.</li>
<li>The RBI must implement the 100-plus action items arising from its <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/payment-and-settlement-systems-in-india-vision-2019-2021-document" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>own Vision 2021 document</strong></a> and the Nandan Nilekani Committee for Deepening Digital Payments.</li>
<li>RBI must also make UPI and RuPay fit for use in our $70 billion inward remittances that currently come through exploitative financial institutions.</li>
<li>The RBI must replicate the design of UPI (sustainable private and public competition) in <strong>bank credit as credit-to-GDP ratio (ratio of the magnitude of loans given by financial institutions in an economy to the GDP of the country)</strong> in India is low i.e. 50% against 300% in China.</li>
<li>However, this needs to be complemented by raising India's human capital and technology game in regulation and supervision, issuing more private bank licences, facilitating management changes in old private banks and human capital revolution at PSU banks.</li>
<li>Also, digitisation of the economy needs to be backed up by a <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/personal-data-protection-bill-2019" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>strong data protection law.</strong></a></li>
</ul>
<table border="1" style="border-collapse: collapse; width: 100%;">
<tbody>
<tr>
<td style="width: 100%; border-style: dotted; border-color: #ff0000; background-color: #f2f1ce;">
<p><span style="color: #000080;"><em><strong>Drishti Mains Question</strong></em></span></p>
<p>Explain how digital transactions on the Universal Payment Interface (UPI) has brought payment revolution in India.</p>
</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>',
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	],
	(int) 1 => [
		'title' => 'The Big Picture: Pornography - Impact on Children & Society',
		'catname' => 'Lok Sabha & Rajya Sabha Discussions',
		'desc' => '<p style="text-align: center;"><iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/oyTERBLOvbc" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe></p>
<p>The Ad-hoc Committee of the Rajya Sabha was instituted recently by the Chairman of the House to examine and report on the <strong>issue of child pornography</strong> and the prevalence of its horrific consequences. The Committee was chaired by Jai Ram Ramesh and has made 40 recommendations to prevent sexual abuse of children and contain access to &amp; transmission of child pornography content on social media.</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The Committee has also recommended important amendments to the Protection of Children From Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act, 2012 and the Information Technology Act, 2000 besides initiating changes at technological, institutional, social, educational and state-level initiatives.</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/protection-of-children-from-sexual-offences-amendment-bill-2019-and-related-concerns" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (Amendment) Bill, 2019</strong></a></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Definition of Child Pornography:</strong> Any visual depiction of sexually explicit conduct involving a child which includes a photograph, video, digital or computer-generated image indistinguishable from an actual child.</li>
<li><strong>Storage of Pornographic Material:</strong> The Act penalised storage of pornographic material for commercial purposes with a punishment of up to three years, or a fine, or both. However, the bill increases it to 3-5 years. In addition, the Bill adds two other offences for storage of pornographic material involving children:<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Failing to destroy, or delete, or report pornographic material involving a child, and</li>
<li>Transmitting, displaying, distributing such material except for the purpose of reporting it.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</div>
<p><a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1581077949_image3.png" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1581077949_image3.png" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="700" caption="false" /></a></p>
<h3>Laws for Pornography in India</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>There is no law banning watching pornography in personal space.</li>
<li>After the Supreme Court's order, the Department of Telecommunication banned several websites containing child pornographic material.</li>
<li>As per the Information Technology (IT) Act, 2002, it is punishable to show children any pornographic content.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Impact of Pornography on Children and Society</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Psychological impact:</strong> Porn creates a psychological impact on children. It is associated with depression, anger and anxiety. It can lead to mental distress. It also impacts day to day functioning of children, their biological clock, their work, and their social relationship.</li>
<li><strong>Impact on sexuality:</strong> When seen regularly, it gives a sense of sexual gratification and sexual obsession, which leads to a willingness to do the same things in real life.</li>
<li><strong>Sexual addiction:</strong> According to some experts, pornography is like an addiction. It produces a similar effect on the brain as produced by consumption of drug or alcohol on a regular basis.</li>
<li><strong>Behavioural impact:</strong> Adolescent pornography use is associated with stronger beliefs in gender stereotypes, particularly for males. Male adolescents who view pornography frequently are more likely to view women as sex objects.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Pornography may strengthen attitudes supportive of sexual violence and violence against women.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Other Impacts</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Pornography can influence a young person's expectations about sex. There is some evidence that exposure to pornography can increase the likelihood of an earlier first-time sexual experience.</li>
<li>Pornography is also associated with unsafe sexual health practices such as not using condoms and unsafe anal and vaginal sex.</li>
<li>Both male and female consumers of pornography had increased levels of self-objectification and body surveillance.</li>
<li>The content of pornography may reinforce double standards of active male sexuality and passive female receptacle.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Challenges</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The effect of pornography is different in children belonging to the lower class compared to children belonging to the high class. A single approach won't be able to handle the issue effectively.</li>
<li>Lack of sex education courses and workshops in the school curriculum.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>In India, sex is seen as negative (something which should be hidden). There is no healthy family dialogue regarding sex. It leads the child to learn this from outside which led to an addiction to pornography.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>It's very difficult for agencies to detect the activities of child pornography and monitor them effectively.</li>
<li>Availability of obscene content on regular websites and OTT (over the top) services like Amazon Prime, Netflix, Hotstar, etc, make it difficult to differentiate between the non-vulgar content and vulgar content.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Efforts Undertaken</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Agencies across the world are sharing information to combat child pornography. New technologies and methods are being adopted.</li>
<li>Coordination between police and ordinary people to identify the hotspots of child pornography.</li>
<li>The Uttarakhand High Court asked the Centre to strictly implement the ban on pornographic websites, after the reports that a girl was gang-raped in a Dehradun school by her fellow students after they watched porn clips.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Way Forward</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>A distinction needs to be made between child porn and pornography among children. While child porn and porn showing sexual violence should be banned immediately, other pornography needs regulation.</li>
<li>Most of the time, the first exposure of porn to a child is accidental for eg. in the form of advertisement while browsing for other things on the internet. The government should try to find technological solutions to stop accidental exposure.</li>
<li>Awareness and sex education is a must and should be made compulsory in schools. Parents and teachers must be skilled to deal with children in the modern era and technology. It is important for parents and teachers to be able to initiate open conversations about their child's online experiences.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Parents and caregivers are encouraged to educate themselves about the internet and social media, in order to be aware of the current online dangers and opportunities facing their children.</li>
<li>Other than giving punishment, reformation should be done too. Support for children and young people who have been exposed to online pornography is extremely important.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Recommendations by the Rajya Sabha Committee</strong></p>
<p><strong>Legislative Measures</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Changes in the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/cabinet-approved-changes-to-pocso-act" target="_blank" rel="noopener">POCSO Act, 2012</a>:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Advocating sexual activities with a person under the age of 18 years through any written material, visual representation or audio recording or any characterization -should be made an offence under the Act.</li>
<li>Prescribing a Code of Conduct for online platforms for maintaining child safety online, ensuring age-appropriate content and curbing the use of children for pornographic purposes.</li>
<li>School management should be held responsible for the safety of children within schools, transportation services and any other programs with which the school is associated.</li>
<li>To report offences dealing with <strong>electronic material,</strong> the <strong>National Cyber Crime Reporting Portal</strong> shall be designated as the national portal.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Changes in the IT Act, 2000:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>A new <strong>Section 67B</strong> should be added to the Act to deal with punitive measures for those providing pornographic access to children and also those who access, produce or transmit <strong>Child Sexual Abuse Material (CSAM).</strong></li>
<li>Section 69A of the Act should provide for powers to the Union Government shall be empowered through its designated authority to block and/or prohibit all websites/intermediaries that carry CSAM.</li>
<li>Section 69C must be inserted in the Act to authorise law enforcement authorities to use cyber-generated and existing pornography for the purpose of investigations.</li>
<li>Making intermediaries responsible for all measures to proactively identify and remove CSAM as well as report it to Indian authorities under the National Cybercrime Portal.</li>
<li>Gateway Internet Service Providers (ISP's) must bear a significant liability to detect and block CSAM websites.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Technology Measures</strong></li>
<li>Law enforcement agencies should be allowed to break end-to-end encryption so as to trace distributors of child pornography.</li>
<li>Applications that help in monitoring children's access to pornographic content shall be made mandatory on all devices sold in India.</li>
<li>Coordination with<strong> blockchain analysis companies</strong> must be enhanced in order to trace identities of users engaging in cryptocurrency transactions to purchase child pornography online.</li>
<li>All social media platforms should be mandated with minimum essential technologies to detect Child Sexual Abuse Materials. Also, social media shall have a mechanism for age verification and restricting access to objectionable/obscene material.</li>
<li>On-streaming platforms like Netflix and social media platforms like Twitter, Facebook, etc. should have a separate adult section where under-aged children could be disallowed the access.</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>Institutional Reforms</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The Committee recommended an upgraded and technologically empowered National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR) to be designated as the <strong>nodal agency</strong> to deal with the issue of child pornography.</li>
<li>The National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) shall mandatorily record and report annually cases of child pornography of all kinds.</li>
<li>A<strong> national Tipline Number</strong> should be created where child sexual abuse, as well as the distribution of child pornographic material, can be reported.</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>Social and Educational Reforms</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Campaigns should be launched for<strong> greater awareness among parents</strong> to recognize early signs of child abuse, online risks and improving online safety for their child.</li>
<li>Schools shall undertake <strong>training programmes</strong> for parents at least twice a year, making them aware of hazards for children of free access to smartphones, internet at an early age.</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>State-level Implementation</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The Committee recommended that each State and Union Territory shall have empowered State Commission for the Protection for Child Rights mirroring capabilities and capacities of the NCPCR.</li>
<li>E-safety Commissioners be appointed at the state level to ensure implementation of social media and website guidelines.</li>
</ul>
</div>',
		'postdate' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenTime) {},
		'url' => 'https://www.drishtiias.com/loksabha-rajyasabha-discussions/the-big-picture-pornography-impact-on-children-society'
	],
	(int) 2 => [
		'title' => 'Cancer-Causing Mutated Genes Mapped',
		'catname' => 'News Analysis',
		'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>The Pan-Cancer Project involving 1,300 scientists has completed a <strong>decade-long project</strong> to map the many <strong>gene mutations that drive cancer&rsquo;s development.</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>This might be helpful in a treatment tailored for specific <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/genome-india-initiative" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>cancers.</strong></a></li>
</ul>
<h3>Key Findings</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Scientists read the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/genome-sequencing-in-india" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>cancer genomes</strong></a> (DNA sequences) in 2,600 samples of <strong>38 types of cancer</strong> and<strong> compared</strong> them with the genomes of healthy tissue in the same patients.</li>
<li>The project found people's cancers contain, on average, between four and five fundamental mutations that drive a cancer's growth.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The researchers divided cancer mutations into<strong> &ldquo;drivers&rdquo;</strong> and <strong>&ldquo;passengers&rdquo;.</strong></li>
<li>Driver genes are genes whose mutations are linked to the development of a disease, in this case, cancer.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>However, 5% of cancers appeared to have no driver mutations at all, showing there is still more work to do.</li>
<li>The genome of each patient&rsquo;s cancer is unique, but there are a finite set of recurring patterns, so with large enough studies, all patterns can be identified<strong> to optimise diagnosis and treatment.</strong></li>
<li>The mapping project also <strong>developed a new method for &ldquo;carbon dating&rdquo; the origins of cancer tumours.</strong> They were able to identify early mutations in cells that occurred years or decades before cancer appears &mdash; possibly opening a window for detection well ahead of any symptoms.</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Pan-Cancer Project</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Pan-Cancer Project is also called <strong>Pan-Cancer Analysis of Whole Genomes (PCAWG).</strong></li>
<li>It is an international collaboration of the<strong> International Cancer Genome Consortium </strong>and <strong>The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA)</strong> to identify and define similarities and differences between cancer types.</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>International Cancer Genome Consortium</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The International Cancer Genome Consortium (ICGC) was<strong> launched in 2007.</strong></li>
<li>It is a <strong>voluntary scientific organization</strong> that provides a forum for collaboration among the world's leading cancer and genomic researchers.</li>
<li>The ICGC solved numerous data governance, ethical and logistical challenges to make global genomic data sharing for cancer possible, providing the international community with comprehensive genomic data for many cancer types.</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>The Cancer Genome Atlas</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) is a landmark <strong>cancer genomics program</strong> of the US, which has molecularly characterized over 20,000 primary cancer and matched normal samples spanning 33 cancer types.</li>
</ul>
</div>
<p><a href="https://www.ft.com/content/2ca26d52-481a-11ea-aee2-9ddbdc86190d" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Source: FI</strong></a></p>',
		'postdate' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenTime) {},
		'url' => 'https://www.drishtiias.com/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/cancer-causing-mutated-genes-mapped'
	],
	(int) 3 => [
		'title' => 'Genome India Project Approved',
		'catname' => 'News Analysis',
		'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>The <strong>Department of Biotechnology</strong> under the <strong>Ministry of Science and Technology</strong> has cleared the<strong> Genome India Project.</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>It is a <strong>gene-mapping project</strong> involving 20 leading institutions including the<strong> Indian Institute of Science (IISc)</strong> in Bengaluru and a few <strong>Indian Institute of Technology (IITs).</strong></li>
<li>The project is said to be among the most significant of its kind in the world because of its scale and the diversity it would bring to genetic studies.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The first stage of the project will look at samples of 10,000 persons from all over the country to form a grid that will enable the development of a <strong>reference genome.</strong></li>
<li>The <strong>Centre for Brain Research,</strong> which is an <strong>autonomous institute in the IISc, Bengaluru,</strong> will serve as the<strong> nodal point</strong> of the project.</li>
<li><strong>Significance:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The diverse genetic pool of India will be mapped and it will help in making personalised medicine. Today, the goal of personalized medicine is to utilize information about a person's genes, including his or her nucleotide sequence, to make drugs better and safer.</li>
<li>It will be a hard task considering the population diversity and the disease burden of complex disorders like diabetes, mental health, etc but once the genetic basis is ready it will be possible and easy to take action before the onset of a disease.</li>
<li>Mapping of India&rsquo;s genetic landscape is critical for next-generation medicine, agriculture and for biodiversity management.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>The Government of India got inspiration from the <strong>Human Genome Project.</strong></li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Human Genome Project</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>It was an <strong>international research effort</strong> to determine the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/genome-sequencing-in-india" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>sequence of the human genome</strong></a> and identify the genes that it contains.</li>
<li>It was a 13-year-long, publicly funded project <strong>that ended in 2003.</strong></li>
<li>The HGP has revealed that there are probably about <strong>20,500 human genes.</strong> This information can be thought of as the basic set of inheritable "instructions" for the development and function of a human being.</li>
</ul>
</div>
<p><a href="https://indianexpress.com/article/india/mega-project-to-map-indias-genetic-diversity-gets-govt-green-signal-6255135/" 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/genome-india-project-approved'
	],
	(int) 4 => [
		'title' => 'Centre Persists with ‘toothless’ Pharma Codes',
		'catname' => 'News Analysis',
		'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>The <strong>Department of Pharmaceuticals (DoP),</strong> under the <strong>Ministry of Chemicals and Fertilizers</strong>, has requested the pharmaceutical companies to abide by the <strong>voluntary Uniform Code of Pharmaceutical Marketing Practices (UCPMP).</strong></p>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The <strong>Indian Medical Association (IMA), Alliance of Doctors for Ethical Healthcare (ADEH),</strong> doctors, civil society and patients groups have asked the centre to make the UCPMP mandatory because it holds no value unless it becomes compulsory.</li>
<li>DoP has also requested to ensure that the pharma companies adhere to the provisions of UCPMP and <strong>do not promote pharma products unethically</strong> during the conferences conducted by doctors.</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Uniform Code of Pharmaceutical Marketing Practices</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>This is a set of guidelines published by the Central Government in December 2014 to the pharmaceutical industry for the promotion and marketing of drugs and medical devices. However, these guidelines are voluntary and do not have the force of law, at present.</li>
<li>According to<strong> Clause 7.2 of the UCPMP,</strong> &ldquo;companies or their associations/representatives shall not extend any hospitality like hotel accommodation to healthcare practitioners and their family members under any pretext&rdquo;.</li>
</ul>
</div>
<h3>Background</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Till now, there have been <strong>several instances of breach of the UCPMP by pharma</strong> companies.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>In order to promote their products, pharma companies allegedly arrange accommodation in five-star hotels, local sight-seeing, etc. in conferences conducted by doctors.</li>
<li>This is considered unethical marketing and promotion by the experts and they have demanded implementation of a mandatory mechanism for company disclosures of payments towards doctors and professional bodies, including via third parties.</li>
<li>The disclosures, which should be made at intervals and put in the public domain, should include the amount spent, individual or entity to which payment was made, and the reason for payment, including any services rendered.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>DoP needs to take steps towards instituting statutory regulation of unethical marketing and promotion and make compliance under the UCPMP compulsory.</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Indian Medical Association</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>It is the only<strong> representative, national voluntary organisation</strong> of Doctors of Modern Scientific System of Medicine, which looks after the interest of doctors as well as the well being of the community at large.</li>
<li>Indian Medical Association is the founding member of the <strong>World Medical Association (WMA).</strong></li>
<li>IMA hosted the<strong> 3<sup>rd</sup> World Conference on Medical Education</strong> in New Delhi in 1966.</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>Alliance of Doctors for Ethical Healthcare</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>It is a pan-Indian network of doctors who want to raise voice from within the medical fraternity about malpractices, systemic issues and policies related to healthcare.</li>
<li>It aims to build critical social demand to bring in Universal Healthcare in India.</li>
</ul>
</div>
<p><a href="https://www.thehindu.com/sci-tech/health/centre-persists-with-toothless-pharma-codes/article30755290.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/centre-persists-with-toothless-pharma-codes'
	],
	(int) 5 => [
		'title' => 'National Means Cum-Merit Scholarship Scheme',
		'catname' => 'News Analysis',
		'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>The Union Minister for Human Resource Development updated the progress of<strong> National Means Cum-Merit Scholarship Scheme (NMMSS)</strong> in the written reply tabled in the Rajya Sabha during Budget Session 2020.</p>
<h3>Key Points About NMMSS</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Aim:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The objective of the National Means Cum-Merit Scholarship Scheme (NMMSS) is to award scholarships to meritorious students of economically weaker sections to reduce drop-outs in class VIII. It also intends to encourage students to continue the study at a secondary stage.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Type:</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>It is the <strong>Centrally Sponsored Scheme (CSS)</strong> which was launched in <strong>2008.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Details about Scholarship:</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Scholarship of Rs. 6000/- per annum (Rs.500/- per month) per student is awarded to selected students every year for study in classes from IX to XII in State Government, Government aided and local body schools. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>The selection of students award of the scholarships is made through an examination conducted by the State Governments.</li>
<li>Scholarships are disbursed by the State Bank of India directly into the bank accounts of students on a quarterly basis</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Eligibility Criteria:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Students whose parental income from all sources is not more than Rs. 1,50,000/- per annum are eligible to avail the scholarships.</li>
<li>The students studying in Kendriya Vidyalaya, Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalayas, Residential Schools run by the State Government Institutions and private schools are <strong>not eligible</strong> for the scholarship under this scheme.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Performance of the Scheme:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>An evaluation study conducted by the National Institute of Educational Planning and Administration (NIEPA) in 2017 states that about 70.1% beneficiary students would have been unable to continue their studies without this scholarship.</li>
<li>Additionally, students selected under NMMSS register better performance in Class IX, X, XI and XII in order to continue getting the scholarship for the next four consecutive years.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>National Institute of Educational Planning and Administration</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The National Institute of Educational Planning and Administration (NIEPA) was established by the Ministry of Human Resource Development, Government of India.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The National Institute has its origin dating back to <strong>1962 when the UNESCO established the Asian Regional Centre for Educational Planners and Administrators</strong> which later became the Asian Institute of Educational Planning and Administration in 1965.</li>
<li>After 4 years of its existence, it was taken over by the Government of India.</li>
<li>Subsequently, with the increased roles and functions it was renamed as the<strong> National Institute of Educational Planning and Administration (NIEPA) in 1979.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>The Government of India has empowered it to award its own degrees by way of conferring it the status of Deemed to be University in August, 2006.</li>
</ul>
</div>
<p><a href="https://pib.gov.in/PressReleseDetail.aspx?PRID=1602240" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Source: PIB</strong></a></p>',
		'postdate' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenTime) {},
		'url' => 'https://www.drishtiias.com/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/national-means-cum-merit-scholarship-scheme'
	],
	(int) 6 => [
		'title' => 'Lucknow Declaration',
		'catname' => 'News Analysis',
		'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p><strong>India and 50 African countries</strong> adopted the <strong>&lsquo;Lucknow Declaration&rsquo; </strong>at<strong> first India &ndash; Africa Defence Minister&rsquo;s Conclave.</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The Conclave was held <strong>on the sidelines of the ongoing <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/defexpo-2020" target="_blank" rel="noopener">DefExpo 2020</a></strong> (5<sup>th</sup> to 9<sup>th</sup> February, 2020) in <strong>Lucknow (Uttar Pradesh).</strong></li>
</ul>
<h3>Highlights of the Declaration</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Peace and Security</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>All the signatories committed to continue their collaboration in the fields of peace and security including conflict prevention, resolution, management and peacebuilding.</li>
<li>It also aims to enhance the role of women in peacekeeping.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Maritime Security</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>To exchange expertise and trainers, strengthening regional and continental early warning capacities and mechanisms.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Terrorism</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Terrorism is a major threat in the region and thus aims to take resolute action in rooting out terrorism in all its forms and manifestations, eliminating financing channels and halting cross-border movement of terrorists.</li>
<li>It also urges the international community to envisage the adoption of the <a href="/loksabha-rajyasabha-discussions/the-big-picture-international-convention-on-terrorism" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Comprehensive Convention on International Terrorism</strong></a> in the <a href="/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-international-institution/united-nations-1" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>United Nations General Assembly (UNGA).</strong></a></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Importance of Indo-Pacific:</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>To encourage enhanced cooperation between India and Africa on the evolving<a href="/loksabha-rajyasabha-discussions/new-indo-pacific-strategy" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong> concept of Indo-Pacific.</strong></a></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>India&rsquo;s SAGAR:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>It also welcomes the African Unions&rsquo; vision for peace and security in Africa that coincides with India&rsquo;s vision of <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/important-facts-for-prelims-20th-march-2019" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>SAGAR (Security and Growth for all in the Region).</strong></a><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>SAGAR is an articulation of <strong>India&rsquo;s vision for the Indian Ocean.</strong></li>
<li>SAGAR has elements such as enhancement of capacities to safeguard land and maritime territories &amp; interests; deepening economic and security cooperation in the littoral; action to deal with natural disasters and maritime threats like piracy, terrorism.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Compliance at UNSC:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>To strengthenth the UN Counter-Terrorism mechanisms and to ensure strict compliance with the the<strong> UN Security Council</strong> sanctions regime on terrorism.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Origin and Status of Comprehensive Convention on International Terrorism (CCIT)</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>India has pushed for an intergovernmental convention to <strong>enhance prosecution and extradition of terrorists since 1996.</strong></li>
<li>Although consensus eludes towards the adoption of the terrorism convention, discussions have yielded three separate protocols that aim to tackle terrorism:<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>International Convention for the Suppression of <strong>Terrorist Bombings</strong>, adopted on 15 December 1997;</li>
<li>International Convention for the Suppression of the<strong> Financing of Terrorism</strong>, adopted on 9 December 1999;</li>
<li>International Convention for the Suppression of <strong>Acts of Nuclear Terrorism</strong>, adopted on 13 April 2005.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</div>
<p><a href="https://indianexpress.com/article/cities/lucknow/india-and-african-nations-sign-lucknow-declaration-for-enhanced-collaboration/" 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/lucknow-declaration'
	],
	(int) 7 => [
		'title' => 'Repo Rate Unchanged',
		'catname' => 'News Analysis',
		'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>The <strong>Monetary Policy Committee (MPC)</strong> of the<a href="/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-national-institutions/important-institutions-national-institution-reserve-bank-of-india" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong> Reserve Bank of India (RBI)</strong></a> has decided to keep the repo rate unchanged at 5.15% in its sixth and last bi-monthly policy review meeting for the financial year 2019-20.</p>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>This is the second policy review meeting where the rates have been kept unchanged.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The <strong>rates also remained unchanged</strong> in the last meeting which was held in <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/repo-rate-unchanged" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>December 2019.</strong></a></li>
<li>The RBI <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/rbi-monetary-policy-1" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>last reduced the rates</strong> </a>by <strong>135 basis points (bps)</strong> between February and October 2019.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>The RBI has decided to keep the<strong> interest rates unchanged</strong> in the wake of a rise in <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/return-of-inflation" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>inflation.</strong></a><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The outlook for the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/contraction-in-index-of-industrial-production" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>consumer price index</strong></a>-<strong>based inflation</strong> has been<strong> kept at</strong> 5.0-5.4% for the first half of 2020-21.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>However, the RBI has said that there is a <strong>scope for further easing.</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The downside risks to global growth have intensified and have increased in the wake of the outbreak of <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/novel-strain-of-coronavirus" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>coronavirus.</strong></a></li>
<li>Thus, the policy space available for future action needs to be used appropriately and should be suitably timed to optimise its impact on growth.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>The <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/gdp-growth" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>GDP growth</strong></a> for the financial year 2020-21 is projected at 6%.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The growth projection for the current financial year remains unchanged at 5%.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Monetary Policy Committee</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>It is a <strong>statutory and institutionalized framework</strong> under the <strong>Reserve Bank of India Act, 1934,</strong> for maintaining price stability, while keeping in mind the objective of growth.</li>
<li>The <strong>Governor of RBI is ex-officio Chairman</strong> of the committee.</li>
<li>The MPC <strong>determines the policy interest rate (repo rate)</strong> required to achieve the<strong> inflation target</strong> (4%).</li>
<li>An RBI-appointed committee led by the then deputy governor Urjit Patel in 2014 recommended the establishment of the Monetary Policy Committee.</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>Repo Rate</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>It is the <strong>rate at which the central bank</strong> of a country <strong>lends money to commercial banks in the event of any shortfall of funds</strong> (Reserve Bank of India, in case of India).</li>
<li>It is used by monetary authorities <strong>to control inflation.</strong></li>
<li>In the event of inflation, central banks increase the repo rate as this acts as a disincentive for banks to borrow from the central bank. This ultimately reduces the money supply in the economy and thus helps in arresting inflation.</li>
<li>The central bank takes the contrary position in the event of a fall in inflationary pressures.</li>
<li>Ideally, a low repo rate should <strong>translate into low-cost loans for the general masses.</strong> When the RBI slashes its repo rate, it expects the banks to lower their interest rates charged on loans.</li>
</ul>
</div>
<h3>Other Measures by RBI to Ease Lending Rates</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>It opened a window to extend ₹1 lakh crore to the commercial banks at the<strong> repo rate,</strong> 5.15%.</li>
<li>Banks have been exempted from maintaining the <strong>Cash Reserve Ratio (CRR),</strong> which is 4% of the net demand and time liabilities now, for home, auto and MSME loans that are extended from January 31 to July 31, 2020.</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Cash Reserve Ratio</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Banks are required to hold a <strong>certain proportion of their deposits in the form of cash.</strong> This <strong>minimum ratio</strong> (that is the part of the total deposits to be held as cash) is stipulated by the RBI and is known as the CRR.</li>
<li>It means that banks do not have access to that much amount for any economic activity or commercial activity.</li>
<li>Banks can&rsquo;t lend the money to corporates or individual borrowers, banks can&rsquo;t use that money for investment purposes. CRR remains in the current account and banks don&rsquo;t earn anything on that.</li>
</ul>
</div>
<p><a href="https://www.thehindu.com/business/Economy/rbi-opts-for-long-term-repos-crr-exemption-to-lower-rates/article30755075.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/repo-rate-unchanged-1'
	],
	(int) 8 => [
		'title' => 'Mudumalai Tiger Reserve',
		'catname' => 'News Analysis',
		'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>Recently, rejuvenation camp for captive elephants was inaugurated inside the Mudumalai Tiger Reserve (MTR).</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Mudumalai Tiger Reserve is located in the Nilgiris District of Tamil Nadu state at the <strong>tri-junction</strong> of three states, viz, <strong>Karnataka, Kerala and Tamil Nadu.</strong></li>
<li>It is a <strong>part of Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve (1<sup>st</sup> Biosphere Reserve in India)</strong> along with <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/important-facts-for-prelims-8th-january-2019-" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Wayanad Wildlife Sanctuary (Kerala)</strong> </a>in the West,<a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/joint-effort-to-conserve-wildlife-at-bandipur" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong> Bandipur National Park (Karnataka)</strong> </a>in the North, Mukurthi National Park and Silent Valley in the South.</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1581063147_image1.jpg" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1581063147_image1.jpg" width="650" caption="false" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" /></a></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The name Mudumalai means &rdquo; the ancient hill range&rdquo;. Indeed, it is as old as 65 million years when <strong>Western Ghats were formed.</strong></li>
</ul>
<h3>Important Flora and Fauna</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Flora:</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The Reserve has tall grasses, commonly referred to as <strong>&lsquo;Elephant Grass'.</strong></li>
<li><strong>Bamboo</strong> of the giant variety, valuable timber species like <strong>Teak, Rosewood,</strong> etc.</li>
<li>There are several species of<strong> endemic flora.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Fauna:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Flagship Species: <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/tiger-census-report" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Tiger</strong></a><strong> and <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/world-elephant-day" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Asian Elephant.</a></strong></li>
<li><strong>Other species:</strong> Indian Gaur, Spotted Deer, Common Langur, <strong>Malabar Giant Squirrel, Wild Dog,</strong> Jungle Cat among others.</li>
<li><strong>Birds:</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Reserve has got a wide variety of <strong>more than 260 species of birds. </strong></li>
<li><strong>8% of bird species</strong> found in India are recorded in Mudumalai.</li>
<li>This includes<strong> rare birds</strong> like Malabar grey hornbill, Malabar pied hornbill, Malabar laughing thrush among others.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Other Tiger Reserves in Tamil Nadu</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/species-rich-forests-offer-stable-carbon-capture" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Anamalai Tiger Reserve (ATR)</strong></a></li>
<li><strong>Kalakad Mundanthurai Tiger Reserve (KMTR)</strong></li>
<li><strong>Sathyamangalam Tiger Reserve (STR)</strong></li>
</ul>
<h3>Kalakad Mundanthurai Tiger Reserve</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Kalakad Mundanthurai Tiger Reserve (KMTR) lies in Tirunelveli and Kanyakumari District of<strong> Tamil Nadu.</strong></li>
<li>Vegetation types gradually change from<strong> dry thorn forest to dry deciduous.</strong></li>
<li>Mundanthurai Tiger Sanctuary was declared as <strong>Nation&rsquo;s first Tiger Sanctuary</strong> during 1962, much before Tiger conservation was a national focus.</li>
<li>Kalakad Wildlife Sanctuary was established in 1976 primarily for the conservation of <strong>Lion Tailed Macaque.</strong></li>
<li><strong>River Thamirabarani</strong> and 13 other rivers originate from KMTR. Hence, KMTR is called popularly as <strong>River Sanctuary.</strong></li>
</ul>
<h3>Sathyamangalam Tiger Reserve</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Sathyamangalam Tiger Reserve<strong> (STR)</strong> is located at the confluence region of <strong>Western and Eastern Ghats.</strong></li>
<li>This area holds a significant population of tiger, and it is also <strong>contiguous to other Tiger conservation landscapes like BRT, Bandipur, Mudumalai and Nagarahole.</strong></li>
<li>The region is also a part of Nilgiri-Eastern Ghats Elephant Reserve.</li>
<li>It has got a high diversity of flora and fauna owing to its location. Apart from Tigers, the region is noted for Elephants, Gaur,<strong> Black Buck, Four Horned Antelope, White Backed Vulture,</strong> and a variety of other creatures.</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="https://indianexpress.com/article/india/tamil-nadu-forest-minister-under-fire-for-making-tribal-children-remove-his-slippers-6254070/" 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/mudumalai-tiger-reserve'
	],
	(int) 9 => [
		'title' => 'Longest Spaceflight by a Woman: Christina Koch',
		'catname' => 'News Analysis',
		'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>The <a href="/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-international-institution/national-aeronautics-and-space-administration-nasa" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA)</strong> </a>astronaut<strong> Christina Koch</strong> landed on the Earth on 6<sup>th</sup> february, 2020 after a <strong>record stay of 328 days on the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/cst-100-starliner" target="_blank" rel="noopener">International Space Station.</a></strong></p>
<p><strong></strong><strong></strong><a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1581069595_christina_koch_drishtiias.jpg" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1581069595_christina_koch_drishtiias.jpg" width="395" height="222" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" caption="false" /></strong></a></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Single Spaceflight</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The previous <strong>longest single spaceflight</strong> by any <strong>woman</strong> was 289 days by <strong>Peggy Whitson,</strong> also an American, who set that record in 2017.</li>
<li><strong>Valery Polyakov of Russia</strong> holds the <strong>combine (i.e. for both men and women)</strong> record for the longest single spaceflight in history (438 days).</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Cumulative Record</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Gennady Padalka at 879 days is the world record holder in terms of cumulative time in space</strong> across one or more spaceflights.</li>
<li><strong>Whitson at 665 days</strong> holds the world record for <strong>women.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Significance</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>One particular research project Koch participated in is the <strong>&lsquo;vertebral strength investigation&rsquo;</strong>, which better defines the extent of spaceflight-induced bone and muscle degradation of the spine, and the associated risk for broken vertebrae.</li>
<li>This is expected to provide insight into the development of <strong>future countermeasures, such as preventative medicine or exercise.</strong></li>
<li>These results also could provide recommendations for limiting the amount of <strong>force astronauts are subjected to during launch.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Challenges of Human Spaceflight</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Gravity Field:</strong> Transitioning from one gravity field to another is tricky. It affects <strong>hand-eye and head-eye coordination.</strong> NASA has learned that without gravity working on the human body, <strong>bones lose minerals.</strong> Even after one returns from a space mission, one could be at greater <strong>risk of osteoporosis-related fractures.</strong></li>
<li><strong>Isolation:</strong> No matter how well trained one is, behavioural issues are likely to crop up. Due to isolation, an astronaut may encounter <strong>depression, fatigue, sleep disorder and psychiatric disorders.</strong> This may lead to performance decrements, adverse health outcomes, and compromised mission objectives.</li>
<li><strong>Radiation</strong>: In space stations, astronauts receive <strong>over ten times the radiation than what people are subjected to on Earth.</strong> Radiation exposure may increase the risk of <strong>cancer.</strong> It can damage the <strong>central nervous system.</strong> Radiation can also cause <strong>nausea, vomiting, anorexia, and fatigue.</strong></li>
<li><strong>Hostile Environment:</strong> Rockets are extreme machines. These needs to have habitability factors including temperature, pressure, lighting, noise, and quantity of space. It&rsquo;s essential that astronauts get the <strong>requisite food, sleep and exercise needed to stay healthy and happy.</strong></li>
<li><strong>Distance from Earth:</strong> An astronaut over a spaceflight may face a <strong>communication delay</strong> with its team on the Earth. Also, there is a possibility of <strong>equipment failures or a medical emergency.</strong></li>
</ul>
<p><a href="https://indianexpress.com/article/explained/longest-spaceflight-by-a-woman-and-why-her-work-matters-6254976/" 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/longest-spaceflight-by-a-woman-christina-koch'
	],
	(int) 10 => [
		'title' => 'Disqualification Powers of Speakers',
		'catname' => 'News Editorials',
		'desc' => '<div class="border">
<p>This article is based on <a href="https://www.thehindu.com/opinion/lead/course-correction-for-the-speakers-office/article30745309.ece" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>&ldquo;Course correction for the Speaker&rsquo;s office&rdquo;</strong> </a>which was published in The Hindu on 06/02/2020. It highlights the issues associated with the role of Speaker while adjudicating cases of disqualification of members of the House under the Tenth Schedule.</p>
</div>
<p>Recently, the Supreme Court in<em><strong> Keisham Meghachandra Singh vs. the Hon&rsquo;ble Speaker Manipur Legislative Assembly &amp; Ors. (2020)</strong></em> case made a significant suggestion regarding disqualification powers of the Speaker. The Court was adjudicating upon the matter relating to the disqualification of Members of the Legislative Assembly (MLAs) in the Manipur Legislative Assembly under the Tenth Schedule.</p>
<h3>Court&rsquo;s Recommendations</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The Court recommended the Parliament to amend the Constitution regarding the <strong>role of Speaker as a quasi-judicial authority</strong> while dealing with disqualification petitions under the anti-defection law (when such a Speaker continues to belong to a particular political party either <em>de jure</em> or <em>de facto</em>).</li>
<li>The Court suggested that an <strong>independent tribunal</strong> can be appointed which will substitute the Speaker of the Lok Sabha and Legislative Assemblies to deal with matters of disqualifications under <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/politics-of-defection" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Tenth Schedule.</strong></a><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Currently, <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/disqualification-powers-of-speakers" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>disqualification of members of a House/Assembly</strong></a> is referred to the Speaker of the House/Assembly.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>The Tribunal will be headed by a retired Supreme Court judge or a retired Chief Justice of a High Court. The Court also suggested that some other outside<strong> independent mechanism</strong> can adjudicate on such matters. This will ensure that such disputes are decided both <strong>swiftly and impartially.</strong></li>
</ul>
<h3>Role of Speaker</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The <strong>sole representative and guardian of powers and privileges</strong> of the members, the House as a whole and its Committees.</li>
<li><strong>Principal spokesperson</strong> of the House and represents the<strong> collective voice</strong> of the House.</li>
<li><strong>Quasi-Judicial Body:</strong> His/her decision in all Parliamentary matters (including disqualification matters under Tenth Schedule) is <strong>final, binding</strong> and <strong>ordinarily cannot</strong> be challenged in the Court of law. Thereby, Speaker acts as the <strong>ultimate arbitrator.</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>For example,</strong> on this question<strong> whether a bill is a money bill or not,</strong> his/her decision is final.</li>
<li><strong>However, on the questions of disqualification of the members,</strong> the Supreme Court in <strong><em>Kihoto Hollohan vs Zachillhu and Others,</em> 1992</strong> case ruled that the decision of the Speaker in this regard is subject to judicial review.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Maintains order and decorum</strong> in the House for conducting its business and regulating its proceedings. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Allocates duration for debates, can discipline members of the House, and even override decisions taken by the Committees of the House.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Final interpreter</strong> of the provisions of the Constitution of India, Rules of Procedure and Conduct of Business of Lok Sabha, and Parliamentary precedents within the House.</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Constitutional Provisions Related to Speaker</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Article 93/178: Appointment</strong> of the Speaker and Deputy Speaker of the Lok Sabha/ Legislative Assembly.</li>
<li><strong>Article 94/179: Vacation/resignation/removal</strong> from the offices of Speaker and Deputy Speaker of the Lok Sabha/ Legislative Assembly.</li>
<li><strong>Article 95/180:</strong> Power of the Deputy Speaker or other person(s) <strong>to perform the duties of</strong> the office of or to act as the Speaker of the Lok Sabha/ Legislative Assembly.</li>
<li><strong>Article 96/181:</strong> The Speaker or the Deputy Speaker <strong>not to preside</strong> while a resolution for his removal from office is under consideration.</li>
<li><strong>Article 97/186: Salaries and allowances</strong> of the Speaker and Deputy Speaker.</li>
</ul>
</div>
<h3>Issue of Impartiality</h3>
<p>As the office of the Speaker is vested with great prestige, position, and authority,<strong> independence and impartiality of the Speaker</strong> becomes its sine qua non (an essential condition). However, the office of Speaker has been criticised time and again for being an agent of partisan politics.</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The Supreme Court in <em><strong>Jagjit Singh versus State of Haryana</strong></em> <strong>(2006)</strong> highlighted the similar allegations about the confidence on the <a href="/loksabha-rajyasabha-discussions/in-depth-speaker-roles-and-responsibility" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>role of Speaker</strong></a> in the matters of <strong>impartiality.</strong></li>
<li>In <em><strong>Kihoto Hollohan case (1992),</strong></em> one of the judges observed that the suspicion of bias on the Speaker&rsquo;s role could not be ruled out as his/her<strong> election and tenure</strong> depends on the majority will of the House (or specifically of the ruling party).</li>
<li>Also in the recent case of <strong>Manipur Legislative Assembly (2020),</strong> the Supreme Court<strong> questioned,</strong> &ldquo;why a Speaker- who is a member of a particular political party and an insider in the House, should be the sole and final arbiter in the cases of disqualification of a political defector.&rdquo;</li>
<li>Hence, there are <strong>structural issues</strong> regarding the manner of appointment of the Speaker and her tenure in office which need urgent redressal.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Possible Solution</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Adopting Global Practices:</strong> In <strong>Britain,</strong> the Speaker is strictly a non-party person. There is a convention that the Speaker has to resign from his party and remain politically neutral. Also, once elected remains in office until retirement, even though the majority may change.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Currently, this Convention is not fully established in India where the Speaker does not resign from the membership of the party on his/her election to the office.</li>
<li>Hence, this mechanism can be adopted whereby Speakers need to renounce all political affiliations, membership and activity once they have been elected to the office.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Time-frame for Adjudication:</strong> Currently, there is <strong>no time frame</strong> to adjudicate cases of disqualifications of members of the House. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>However, to contain this liberty of Speaker, the Court in the recent judgment held that, &ldquo;unless there are any exceptional circumstances, disqualification petitions under the Tenth Schedule should be decided by Speakers <strong>within three months.&rdquo;</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Conclusion</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Impartiality, fairness and autonomy</strong> in decision-making are the hallmarks of a robust institution. It is the <strong>freedom from interference and pressures</strong> which provide the necessary atmosphere where one can work with an absolute commitment to the cause of neutrality (as a Constitutional value).</li>
<li>At a time when India&rsquo;s rank has fallen in the latest <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/democracy-index-eiu" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Democracy Index</strong></a> (2019), it is expected out of Parliament to take steps to <strong>revamp and strengthen</strong> the institution of the Speaker.</li>
</ul>
<p>In this regard, <strong>Jawaharlal Nehru</strong> described: &ldquo;As the House represents the nation (in a particular way), the Speaker being its sole representative becomes a symbol of the nation&rsquo;s freedom and liberty. Therefore, this free and honoured position shall always be occupied by persons of outstanding ability and impartiality.&rdquo;</p>
<table border="1" style="border-collapse: collapse; width: 100%;">
<tbody>
<tr>
<td style="width: 100%; border-style: dotted; border-color: #ff0000; background-color: #e4e5f5;"><span style="color: #000080;"><em><strong>Drishti Mains Question</strong></em></span><br /><br />Speakers are not apolitical entities and are embedded in party politics. Critically examine.</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>',
		'postdate' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenTime) {},
		'url' => 'https://www.drishtiias.com/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/disqualification-powers-of-speakers-1'
	],
	(int) 11 => [
		'title' => 'The Representation of the People Act : Part II',
		'catname' => 'Paper 2',
		'desc' => '<div class="border">
<p>This is Part II of the TTP in continuation of <a href="/to-the-points/Paper2/representation-of-people-s-act-part-i" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Part I</strong> </a>of TTP on The Representation of the People Acts.</p>
</div>
<h3>The Representation of the People Act (RPA),1951</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Key Provisions</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>It regulates the <strong>actual conduct of elections</strong> and by-elections.</li>
<li>It provides administrative <strong>machinery</strong> for conducting elections.</li>
<li>It deals with the <strong>registration of political parties.</strong></li>
<li>It specifies the <strong>qualifications and disqualifications for membership</strong> of the Houses.</li>
<li>It provides provisions to <strong>curb corrupt practices</strong> and <strong>other offences.</strong></li>
<li>It lays down the procedure for settling <strong>doubts and disputes arising out of elections.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Qualification for Contesting Elections in India</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The Parliament has laid down the following<strong> qualifications</strong> (for contesting election) in the RPA,1951:<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>A person must be an<strong> elector in the constituency.</strong></li>
<li>The person must be a member of a<strong> Scheduled Caste or Scheduled Tribe </strong>in<strong> any state/UTs</strong> if he/she wants to contest a <strong>seat reserved</strong> for them.</li>
<li><strong>The minimum age</strong> for becoming an MLA/MPs (Lok Sabha) is <strong>25 years.</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>At the panchayat and municipality levels, the minimum age limit for contesting elections is<strong> 21 years.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Right to Vote</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Apart from <strong>Article 326</strong> of the Constitution ( that guarantees the right to vote to every citizen above the age of 18 years, unless disqualified by any law), <strong>Section 62</strong> of the RPA,1951 also ensures that every person <strong>who is in the electoral roll of that constituency is entitled to vote.</strong></li>
<li>One person can vote at <strong>one constituency only</strong> and<strong> only for one time</strong> in a particular election.</li>
<li>If a person is confined in a <strong>prison</strong>, whether under a <strong>sentence of imprisonment</strong> or transportation, then he is <strong>not</strong> eligible for voting, however, in the case of<strong> preventive custody,</strong> he can vote.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>In 2014, the ECI had said that the person under <strong>preventive custody</strong> had the right to vote, but<strong> not under-trials</strong> and <strong>convicts.</strong></li>
<li>However, the Act allows those serving sentences <strong>less than 2 years</strong> to <strong>contest elections</strong> from prison.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>NOTA Option:</strong> None of the Above was introduced in the ballot papers/ Electronic Voting Machine (EVMs) in General Election to the State Assemblies in<strong> 2013.</strong></li>
<li><strong>VVPAT: Voter Verifiable Paper Audit Trail</strong> is an independent system attached with the EVMs that allows voters to verify that their votes are cast as intended. It was introduced in <strong>2013,</strong> after the SC allowed the ECI for the &lsquo;requirement of free and fair elections&rsquo; in its verdict in the <strong>People&rsquo;s Union for Civil Liberties vs. Union of India</strong> case (2013).</li>
<li><strong>Provisions Related to Political Parties:</strong> Every association or body in order to become a political party must be <strong>registered with the ECI</strong> whose decision regarding registration will be<strong> final.</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Registered political parties, in course of time, can get recognition as<strong> 'State Party&rsquo; </strong>or<strong> National Party&rsquo;.</strong></li>
<li><strong>Change in name and address</strong> of a <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/first-national-party-from-north-east" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>registered political party</strong></a> must be communicated to the ECI.</li>
<li>The ECI <strong>can not derecognise</strong> a party.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Voluntary Contributions</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Voluntary contributions by any person or company within India ( other than a government company) can be accepted by the registered political party.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>A company can donate any amount of money to any political party.</li>
<li>There is no obligation of the company to report such donations in its profit and loss account.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>It is <strong>mandatory</strong> for the political parties to submit to the ECI a list of donations they received above <strong>Rs. 2,000.</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Political parties cannot receive more than Rs 2000 as <strong>cash donations.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Now,</strong> political parties are eligible to accept contributions from <strong>foreign companies</strong> defined under the <strong>Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Act, 2010.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Declaration of Assets and Liabilities</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Individuals contesting elections have to file an <strong>affidavit,</strong> declaring their criminal records, assets &amp; liabilities and educational qualification.</li>
<li><strong>After getting elected,</strong> MPs are required to file a declaration of assets and liabilities with the Speaker of Lok Sabha and the Chairman of Rajya Sabha.</li>
<li>These declarations have to be made by MPs<strong> within 90 days</strong> of taking their seats in Parliament.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Right to Information</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Candidates need to furnish information <strong>whether</strong> he/she is accused of any offence<strong> punishable with imprisonment of 2 years or more</strong> in a pending case or has been convicted of an offence.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Voting Through Postal Ballot</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Any class of person can be notified by the ECI in consultation with the concerned government which can give their votes by postal ballot.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Section 126 of the RPA, 1951</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>48 hours before the polling ends or concludes,</strong> displaying of any election matter by <strong>television or similar apparatus</strong> in a constituency is prohibited.</li>
<li>Section 126 is <strong>not</strong> applicable to the <strong>print media,</strong> news portals and <strong>social media</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Section <strong>126A prohibits the</strong> conduct of<strong> exit poll</strong> and <strong>dissemination of its results</strong> during the period mentioned.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Ceiling on Expenditure</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>A candidate contesting polls in large states can spend up to Rs 70 lakh in the Lok Sabha election and Rs 28 lakh in an Assembly election.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Counting of Votes</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>At every election where a poll is taken, the votes are counted by, or under the supervision of the <strong>Returning Officer (RO)</strong>, and contesting candidate, his election agent and his counting agents.</li>
<li><strong>Destruction,</strong> loss, damage or <strong>tampering</strong> of ballot papers at the time of counting <strong>must be reported by the RO to the ECI.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Corrupt Practices</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>All</strong> government or non-government <strong>officials</strong> are included within the <strong>scope</strong> of corrupt practices.</li>
<li><strong>Bribery:</strong> Any gift/offer/promise or gratification to any person as a motive or reward.</li>
<li><strong>Undue Influence:</strong> Any direct or indirect interference/attempt to interfere on the part of the candidate with the free exercise of any electoral right.</li>
<li>The<strong> publication by a candidate</strong> any statement of fact which is <strong>false</strong> in relation to the <strong>personal character/conduct</strong> of any candidate</li>
<li><strong>The hiring or procuring</strong> of any vehicle by a candidate of any elector <strong>to or from any polling station.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Promoting Enmity</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Any person who promotes or attempts to promote on grounds of <strong>religion, race, caste, community or language, feelings of enmity or hatred</strong> between different classes of citizens of India can be punished with imprisonment for a term which may extend to 3 years.</li>
<li><strong>Prohibition of public meetings</strong> during a period of<strong> 48 hours</strong> ending with the hour fixed for the conclusion of the poll.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Disqualification of MPs and MLAs</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The RPA, 1951 lays down certain rules for disqualification of MPs and MLAs.</li>
<li><strong>Section 8 (3)</strong> of the Act states that if an MP or MLA is convicted for any other crime and is sent to <strong>jail</strong> for <strong>2 years or more,</strong> he/ she will be disqualified for <strong>6 years</strong> from the time of release. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Even if a person is on <strong>bail</strong> after the conviction and his appeal is pending for disposal, he is disqualified from contesting an election.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Section 8(4)</strong> allowed convicted MPs, MLAs and MLCs to continue in their posts, provided they appealed against their conviction/sentence in higher courts within <strong>3 months</strong> of the date of judgment by the trial court.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>The <strong>Supreme Court</strong> in July 2013<strong> struck down</strong> section 8(4) of the RPA, 1951 and declared it<strong> ultra vires</strong> and held that the <strong>disqualification takes place from the date of conviction.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Significance of the Acts</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Direct Democracy:</strong> The provision of direct election for every constituency makes the process of <strong>election more democratic</strong> and <strong>participatory</strong> by encouraging and empowering people to play an active role in choosing appropriate candidates.</li>
<li><strong>Equal Representation:</strong> The RPA,1950 provides for delimitation which brings <strong>equality in the process of election</strong> by ensuring roughly an equal number of electors in each constituency.</li>
<li><strong>Federalism:</strong> The acts strengthened the federal polity of the country by giving <strong>due representation to each state</strong> in the Parliament.</li>
<li><strong>Decriminalizing Indian Politics:</strong> The RPA,1951 plays the significant role in breaking the politicians, police &amp; criminal nexus (which is one of the greatest threats to the rule of law in India), by prohibiting the entry of persons with a criminal background into the electoral process, thus <strong>decriminalizing Indian politics.</strong></li>
<li><strong>Accountability and Transparency:</strong> The RPA,1951 provides for the <strong>expenditure monitoring mechanism</strong> which ensures the accountability and transparency of the candidate in the use of public funds or misuse of power for personal benefits.</li>
<li><strong>Clean Election</strong>: The RPA,1951 prohibits corrupt practices like booth capturing, bribery or promoting enmity etc., and ensures the conduct of <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/free-and-fair-election" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>free &amp; fair elections</strong></a> which in turn encourage <strong>political liberalization</strong> and democratization.</li>
<li><strong>Legible Political Funding:</strong> The RPA ,1951 provides that only those political parties which are registered under section 29A of the RPA, 1951 are eligible to receive <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/an-invitation-to-corruption" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>electoral bonds</strong></a>, thus providing a mechanism to track the source of <a href="/loksabha-rajyasabha-discussions/in-depth-political-funding" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>political funding</strong></a> and ensuring transparency in electoral funding.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Challenges</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>False Disclosures:</strong> Even after the provision of the declaration of assets and liabilities in the RPA act, candidates do not disclose all the assets and provide wrong and incomplete information regarding their assets, liabilities, and income and educational qualifications.</li>
<li><strong>The Bureaucratization of Politics:</strong> In spite of the inclusion of several provisions aimed at making the <strong>ECI</strong> as an independent body,it is still <strong>dependent on the Union for financial matters</strong> that paves the way for political parties to manage to get the officers in their favour through money and muscle power.</li>
<li><strong>Dual Responsibility of the ECI:</strong> The ECI does<strong> not</strong> have <strong>independent staff</strong> of its own so whenever elections take place, it has to depend upon staff of Central and State Governments hence the <strong>dual responsibility of the administrative staff, to the government for ordinary administration</strong> and to <strong>the ECI</strong> for electoral administration is not conducive to the impartial and efficient functioning of the Commission.</li>
<li><strong>Misuse of Government Machinery:</strong> The RPAs <strong>lack clear provisions and guidelines</strong> on the matters related to the misuse of official machinery that gives an <strong>unfair advantage to the ruling party</strong> at the time of elections and leads to the misuse of public funds for furthering the prospects of candidates of a particular party.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The misuse of official machinery takes different forms, such as the issue of advertisements at the cost of government and public exchequer highlighting their achievements, disbursements out of the discretionary funds at the disposal of the ministers, use of government vehicles for canvassing etc.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Way Forward</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Restriction on Opinion Polls:</strong> By an amendment made to the RPA 1951, conducting and publishing results of exit polls have been prohibited.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>There should be a <strong>similar prohibition</strong> or restriction <strong>on opinion polls</strong> also as several manipulated opinion polls could impact the voting pattern.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>False Declaration as Offense:</strong> The RPA ,1951 should be amended <strong>to include all the items</strong> related to the election disclosure in the <strong>affidavit</strong> and making false declarations in connection with the election to be an offence.</li>
<li><strong>Independent ECI:</strong> In order to curb the practice of bureaucratization of politics and to secure complete independence of the Election Commission, its <strong>expenditure should be charged on the Consolidated Fund of India.</strong></li>
<li><strong>De-listing of Valid Electorates:</strong> Parliament must pass a law dealing with the serious problem of delisting of valid electors from electoral rolls because <strong>illiterate electorate</strong> residing in far villages <strong>cannot watch over the publication</strong> of electorate lists.</li>
<li><strong>State Funding of Elections:</strong> To <strong>minimise the role of money</strong> in elections, provisions should be made for state funding of elections.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>A few government reports have highlighted the prospects of state funding of elections like<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li><strong>Indrajit Gupta Committee</strong> on State Funding of Elections (1998)</li>
<li><strong>Law Commission Report</strong> on Reform of the Electoral Laws (1999)</li>
<li><strong>National Commission</strong> to Review the Working of the Constitution (2001)</li>
<li><strong>2<sup>nd</sup> Administrative Reforms Commission</strong> (2008)</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<p>The <strong>powers</strong> of the <strong>ECI</strong> are <strong>enormous</strong> and <strong>all-encompassing</strong> which even exceed the powers of the executive in all election-related issues during the course of the election period. Thereby giving it effective tools in dispensing free and fair elections, the only thing that lacks is will and integrity on the part of responsible officials. The <strong>ECI</strong> should become<strong> more prudent</strong> and <strong>proactive</strong> to ensure the fairness and transparency of the general election and wipe away any doubt regarding its integrity as an esteemed institution.</p>',
		'postdate' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenTime) {},
		'url' => 'https://www.drishtiias.com/to-the-points/Paper2/the-representation-of-the-people-act-part-ii'
	],
	(int) 12 => [
		'title' => 'Consecration at the Brihadisvara Temple',
		'catname' => 'News Analysis',
		'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>Recently, the consecration (Kumbhabhishekam) ceremony was held at the Brihadisvara Temple after 23 years in Thanjavur, Tamil Nadu.</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The ceremony was held after the Madras High Court settled an old argument over the ritual.</li>
<li>The ceremony got embroiled in the struggle for supremacy between the Sanskrit and Tamil traditions.</li>
<li>The court <strong>allowed</strong> the consecration to be performed in<strong> both Tamil</strong> and <strong>Sanskrit.</strong></li>
<li>It argued that there is nothing either in the <strong>Agamas (canonical texts)</strong> or in any other religious script to prohibit the chanting of Tamil mantras in the temples.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Brihadisvara Temple</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Brihadeshwara Temple, also known as Raja Rajeswara Temple, is dedicated to Shiva and is located in Thanjavur (Tamil Nadu).<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Thanjavur lies in the delta of the Cauvery River.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>It is one of the best examples of the <a href="/to-the-points/paper1/temple-architecture" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Dravidian style</strong></a> of temple architecture built by Chola emperor <strong>Raja Raja Chola I</strong> ( 985-1014 AD) between 1003 AD and 1010 AD. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The Dravidian style of temple architecture flourished roughly from the<strong> 8<sup>th</sup> century to about the 13-14 century AD.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>The temple consists of a <strong>pyramidal spire</strong> and is adorned with sculptures and paintings inside as well as outside.</li>
<li>The temple entered the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/kailash-mansarovar-in-tentative-list-of-world-heritage-sites" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>UNESCO World Heritage Site</strong></a> list in <strong>1987</strong> and is also a part of <strong>"Great Living Chola Temples"</strong> along with the <strong>Brihadisvara Temple</strong> at <strong>Gangaikondacholapuram</strong> and the <strong>Airavatesvara Temple at Darasuram.</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Brihadisvara Temple (Gangaikondacholapuram, Tamil Nadu).</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>It was built for Shiva by <strong>Rajendra I</strong> (1014-1044 CE).</li>
<li>The temple has sculptures of exceptional quality.</li>
<li>The<strong> bronze sculptures</strong> of <strong>Bhogasakti</strong> and <strong>Subrahmanya</strong> are masterpieces of Chola metal icons.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Airavatesvara Temple (Darasuram)</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>It was built by the <strong>Chola king Rajaraja II</strong> (1144-1173 CE):</li>
<li>It is much smaller in size as compared to the Brihadisvara temple at Thanjavur and Gangaikondacholapuram.</li>
<li>The temple consists of a sanctum <strong>without</strong> a <strong>circumambulatory path</strong> and axial mandapas.</li>
<li>The front mandapa is<strong> unique</strong> as it was conceptualized as a chariot with wheels.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Special Features:</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The temple, which is one of the tallest temples in India, still remains an engineering mystery as it is <strong>completely made of granite</strong> and archaeologists still don&rsquo;t know how the builders got such huge pieces of granite for construction at this height.</li>
<li>The apex structure on<strong> top of the temple</strong> is believed to be carved out of a <strong>single stone carving.</strong></li>
<li>It is so designed that the <strong>Vimana does not cast a shadow at noon during any part of the year.</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li><strong>Vimana:</strong> Vimana is the structure over the garbhagriha or inner sanctum in the Hindu temples of South India and Odisha.</li>
<li>It is like a stepped pyramid that rises up geometrically rather than the curving <strong>Shikhara</strong> of North India.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1580985799_Image1.jpg" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1580985799_Image1.jpg" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="550" caption="false" /></a></p>
<p><a href="https://indianexpress.com/article/explained/how-the-old-aryan-dravidian-tussle-played-out-in-an-iconic-tn-temple-6253168/" 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/consecration-at-the-brihadisvara-temple'
	],
	(int) 13 => [
		'title' => 'INS Karanj',
		'catname' => 'News Analysis',
		'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p><strong>The third Scorpene submarine, Karanj,</strong> will be delivered to the Indian Navy by December 2020.</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>INS Karanj is a part of <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/important-facts-for-prelims-10th-september-2018" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Project-75</strong></a> and was launched in <strong>January 2018.</strong> It is currently in advanced stages of sea trials.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Project-75<a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1580985307_image2.jpg" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1580985307_image2.jpg" style="float: right;" width="400" caption="false" /></a></h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>It is a programme by the <strong>Indian Navy</strong> that entails building<strong> six Scorpene-Class attack submarines.</strong></li>
<li>The programme has been undertaken with transfer of technology from French company Naval Group (formerly known as DCNS) at the Mazagon Dock Limited (MDL).</li>
<li>The submarines in the <strong>P75 Scorpene-Class</strong> are powered by the <strong>conventional diesel-electric propulsion system.</strong></li>
<li>The <strong>first Scorpene submarine, Kalvari,</strong> was commissioned in <strong>2017</strong> and it would go for a normal refit after six years in 2023, during which time the <strong>Air-Independent Propulsion (AIP) would be installed.</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>AIP technology</strong> is being developed by the <a href="/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-national-institutions/defence-research-and-development-organisation-drdo" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO)</strong></a> to provide submarines<strong> long-range and extended endurance capabilities undersea.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Second Scorpene <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/important-facts-for-prelims-18th-march-2019" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Khanderi</a></strong> was inducted in September 2019.</li>
<li>The remaining submarines <strong>(Vela, Vagir, and Vagsheer)</strong> in the series are in advanced stages of manufacturing and trials.</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Air-Independent Propulsion</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Conventional submarines use a diesel-electric engine, and must surface for oxygen required for fuel combustion. If fitted with an <strong>Air Independent Propulsion (AIP) system,</strong> the submarine needs to take in oxygen less frequently.</li>
<li>While many naval powers, including India, have acquired <a href="/loksabha-rajyasabha-discussions/akula-class-attack-submarine" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>nuclear-powered submarines</strong></a> for deep-sea operations, conventional diesel-electric variants are considered useful for coastal defence. The latter are optimised for stealth, and their weapons and sensors provide for effective operations close to the shore.</li>
<li>Diesel-electric submarines require them to come to the surface frequently to charge their batteries, their underwater endurance time is less. &lsquo;Air-independent&rsquo; propulsion technology helps to make the diesel generator less dependent on surface air.</li>
</ul>
</div>
<p><a href="https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/navy-to-get-third-scorpene-submarine-in-december/article30744577.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/ins-karanj'
	],
	(int) 14 => [
		'title' => 'International Intellectual Property Index: US Chamber of Commerce',
		'catname' => 'News Analysis',
		'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>India has slipped to <strong>40<sup>th</sup> position</strong> on the <strong>International Intellectual Property (IP) Index, 2020</strong> from the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/international-intellectual-property-ip-index-us-chamber-of-commerce" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>36<sup>th</sup> position in 2019</strong></a>.</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>It is <strong>released</strong> by the <strong>US Chamber of Commerce&rsquo;s Global Innovation Policy Center.</strong></li>
</ul>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>The US, the UK, France, Germany and Sweden are the top five</strong> economies on the IP Index in 2020.</li>
<li>India&rsquo;s rank has slipped despite the government's focused effort to support investments in innovation and creativity through increasingly robust IP protection and enforcement, since the release of the <a href="/to-the-points/paper3/intellectual-property-rights" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>National Intellectual Property Rights (IPR) Policy, 2016.</strong></a><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>It encompasses and brings to a single platform all IPRs, taking into account all inter-linkages and thus aims to create and exploit synergies between all forms of intellectual property (IP), concerned statutes and agencies.</li>
<li>Its implementation has improved the speed of processing for patent and trademark applications and increased awareness of IP rights among Indian innovators and creators.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>US Chamber of Commerce</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>It is the <strong>world&rsquo;s largest business federation</strong> representing the interests of more than 3 million businesses of all sizes, sectors, and regions, as well as state and local chambers and industry associations.</li>
<li>The <strong>2020 U.S. Chamber International IP Index</strong> titled <strong>&lsquo;Art of the Possible&rsquo;</strong> creates a template for economies that aspire to become the 21st century, knowledge-based economies through more effective IP protection.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>In its <strong>eighth edition,</strong> the Index maps the IP ecosystem in <strong>53 global economies,</strong> representing over 90% of global GDP.</li>
<li>The Index evaluates the IP framework in each economy across <strong>50 unique indicators</strong> which industry believes represent economies with the most effective IP systems. The indicators create a snapshot of an economy overall IP ecosystem and span nine <strong>categories of protection:</strong> patents, copyrights, trademarks, design rights, trade secrets, commercialization of IP assets, enforcement, systemic efficiency, and membership and ratification of international treaties.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</div>
<p><a href="https://www.financialexpress.com/economy/india-slips-to-40th-position-on-international-intellectual-property-index/1857611/" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Source: FE</strong></a></p>',
		'postdate' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenTime) {},
		'url' => 'https://www.drishtiias.com/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/international-intellectual-property-index-us-chamber-of-commerce'
	],
	(int) 15 => [
		'title' => 'Major Port at Vadhavan',
		'catname' => 'News Analysis',
		'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>The Union Cabinet has given its 'in-principle' approval for <strong>setting up a major port at Vadhavan</strong> near Dahanu in <strong>Maharashtra.</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>With the development of Vadhavan port, <strong>India will break into the countries with top 10 container ports in the world.</strong> A container port is a port which specializes in handling goods transported in containers.</li>
<li>The port will be developed on <strong>&lsquo;land lord model&rsquo;.</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>In the landlord port model, the publicly governed port authority acts as a regulatory body and as landlord while private companies carry out port operations&mdash;mainly cargo-handling activities.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>ASpecial Purpose Vehicle (SPV) will be formed with <strong>Jawaharlal Nehru Port Trust (JNPT)</strong> as the lead partner to implement the project. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The position of Jawaharlal Nehru Port, the<strong> biggest container port in India,</strong> is 28<sup>th</sup> in the world in terms of traffic handling capacity.</li>
<li>With the completion of the 4<sup>th</sup> terminal at JN Port, its capacity will increase to 10 million TEUs (Twenty-Foot Equivalent Units) making it the 17<sup>th</sup> largest container port in the world.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>The SPV will develop the port infrastructure including reclamation, construction of breakwater, besides establishing connectivity to the hinterland. All the business activities would be undertaken under <strong>Public-Private Partnership (PPP) mode</strong> by private developers.</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Note:</strong> The Union Government is responsible for development of Major Ports whereas minor ports are under the jurisdiction of respective State Governments.</p>
</div>
<p><a href="https://pib.gov.in/PressReleseDetail.aspx?PRID=1601988" 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/major-port-at-vadhavan'
	],
	(int) 16 => [
		'title' => 'Command Posts for Women in Army',
		'catname' => 'News Analysis',
		'desc' => '<h3>Why in news</h3>
<p>The Supreme Court (SC) has asked the Central Government to accommodate women at command post in <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/woman-in-combat-roles" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>non-combat services</strong></a> like National Cadet Corps and Sainik Schools.</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>However, the Government highlighted the difficulties in giving &lsquo;Command Appointments&rsquo; for women.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Government on Granting Command Posts</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Physiological limitations :</strong> The Central Government has asserted that the <strong>&ldquo;physiological limitations&rdquo;</strong> of women officers and <strong>changed battlefield scenario</strong> as the primary reasons for not granting the <strong>command posts</strong> for women in the Army.</li>
<li><strong>Societal norms:</strong> The troops are not yet mentally schooled to accept women officers in command of units, the composition of rank and file being male predominantly drawn from the rural background with prevailing societal norms.</li>
<li><strong>Physical standards:</strong> Officers have to lead from the front. They should be in prime physical condition to undertake combat tasks. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Inherent physiological differences between men and women preclude equal physical performance resulting in lower physical standards.</li>
<li>Physical capacity of women officers in the Indian Army remains a challenge for command of units.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Other challenges:</strong> Apart from <strong>lower physical standards</strong> of women officers compared to men, other challenges include <strong>prolonged absence</strong> due to pregnancy, children&rsquo;s education, husband&rsquo;s career prospects, etc.</li>
<li><strong>Permanent commission:</strong> In 2019, the policy was released to grant permanent commission to women officers on SSC, but this was to apply only <strong>prospectively.</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The Women officers contended that the application of permanent commission prospectively is arbitrary and discriminatory. It should be applied retrospectively.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Permanent Commission for Women</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The Ministry of Defence has taken steps to ensure implementation of the grant of Permanent Commission to Women officers in the Armed Forces.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Indian Air Force:</strong> All Branches, including Fighter Pilots, are now open for female officers.</li>
<li><strong>Indian Navy:</strong> All non-sea going Branches/Cadre/Specialisation have been opened for induction of women officers through the Short Service Commission (SSC).</li>
<li><strong>Indian Army:</strong> Women officers are granted Permanent Commission in the Indian Army in all the ten branches where women are inducted for Short Service Commission. These are streams of Signals, Engineers, Army Aviation, Army Air Defence, Judge Advocate General (JAG), etc.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Types of Entry in Armed Forces for Women</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The induction of women into the officer cadre, and their training was undertaken by the <strong>Officers Training Academy in 1992.</strong></li>
<li><strong>Short Service Commission:</strong> This provision provides an option of Joining the Army and serving as a Commissioned Officer for 10/14 years. At the end 10 yrs, an officer has following options: <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Either opt for a Permanent Commission or</li>
<li>Opt out or have the option of a 4 years extension. They can resign at any time during this period of 4 yrs extension.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Permanent Commission:</strong> It means a career in the Army till the retirement age. For Permanent Commission, the entry is through National Defence Academy, Pune or Indian Military Academy, Dehradun, Officers Training Academy, Gaya.</li>
</ul>
</div>
<p><a href="https://indianexpress.com/article/india/sc-on-command-role-for-women-in-army-will-mindset-needed-6253369/" 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/command-posts-for-women-in-army'
	],
	(int) 17 => [
		'title' => 'Reducing SO2 emissions',
		'catname' => 'News Analysis',
		'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>The <strong>Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB)</strong> has sent show cause notices to 14 thermal power plants for <strong>not complying with the 31<sup>st</sup> December, 2019 deadline to limit sulphur dioxide emissions.</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The CPCB has the<strong> power to impose steep fines or shut a unit</strong> under the provisions of<strong> the Environment Protection Act, 1986.</strong></li>
</ul>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>To limit <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/state-of-global-air-report-2019" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Particulate Matter (PM)</strong></a>, <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/india-largest-emitter-of-sulphur-dioxide" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>sulphur dioxide</strong></a> and nitrous oxide emission from thermal plants, <strong>India has put in place a phased-approach</strong> that directs coal-fired units to put in place measures to limit pollution by December 2022.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>As per Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) estimates, these norms can help reduce PM emissions by about 35%, NOx emission by about 70%, and SO2 emissions by more than 85% by 2026-27 against a business-as-usual scenario with no pollution control technologies.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>However plants in a 300 km radius of Delhi were to comply by 31st December, 2019 because of the poor air quality in the city as well as the surrounding Gangetic plain.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Few units have set in place the process for acquiring flue-gas desulphurisation technology.</li>
<li><strong>Flue Gas Desulfurization (FGD)</strong> is a set of technologies used to remove sulphur dioxide (SO2) from exhaust flue gases of fossil-fuel power plants. Flue gas is a mixture of gases produced by the burning of fuel or other materials in power stations and industrial plants and extracted via ducts.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Central Pollution Control Board</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) of India is a <strong>statutory organisation under the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change.</strong></li>
<li>It was established in 1974 under the Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1974.</li>
<li>The CPCB is also entrusted with the powers and functions under the Air (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1981.</li>
</ul>
</div>
<p><a href="https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/cpcb-pulls-up-14-coal-plants/article30745054.ece" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Source: TH</strong></a></p>',
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		'url' => 'https://www.drishtiias.com/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/reducing-so2-emissions'
	],
	(int) 18 => [
		'title' => 'Soil Health Card Scheme',
		'catname' => 'News Analysis',
		'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>According to the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/national-productivity-council" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>National Productivity Council</strong> </a><strong>(NPC),</strong> <a href="/to-the-points/paper3/to-the-point-paper-3-soil-health-card-scheme" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>the Soil Health Card</strong></a> scheme has led to a <strong>decline of 8-10% in the use of chemical fertilizers</strong> and also<strong> raised productivity by 5-6%.</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Issuance of the Soil Health Cards has enabled the farmers to understand the soil health parameters and improve the productivity by judicious application of soil nutrients.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Under the <strong>Phase-I (2015-17)</strong> of the scheme, <strong>10.74 crore cards</strong> were distributed, while under the <strong>Phase-II (2017-19), 11.69 crore cards</strong> have been distributed.</li>
<li>A pilot project, <strong>&lsquo;Development of Model Villages&rsquo;</strong> is also being implemented by the <strong>Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers&rsquo; Welfare in the financial year 2019-20.</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>It is to be noted that, this project is different from the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/saansad-adarsh-gram-yojana-sagy" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Saansad Adarsh Gram Yojana (SAGY)</strong></a> which was launched in <strong>October 2014</strong> with the goal of <strong>developing the socio-economic and physical infrastructure of villages.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Development of Model Villages</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Under this project, a Model Village is selected for aggregation of soil samples and analysis of each agricultural holding.</li>
<li>The programme promotes farm holding based soil sample collection and testing with farmers&rsquo; participation.</li>
</ul>
</div>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The <strong>Soil Health Card Scheme along with other projects</strong> <a href="/to-the-points/Paper2/national-action-plan-on-climate-change" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>(National Mission for Sustainable Agriculture)</strong></a> for soil health management has created jobs for the agrarian youth.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Under these, village youth and farmers<strong> up to 40 years of age</strong> are eligible to set up <strong>Soil Health Laboratories</strong> and undertake testing.</li>
<li><strong>75% of laboratory</strong> costs are proposed to be<strong> funded by the Central and State Governments.</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>The same provision applies to <a href="/to-the-points/Paper2/self-help-groups-shgs" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Self Help Groups</strong></a>, <strong>Farmers&rsquo; Cooperative Societies, Farmers Groups and Agricultural Producing Organisations.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Soil Health Card Scheme</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The <strong>Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers&rsquo; Welfare</strong> introduced the scheme on <strong>December 5, 2015.</strong></li>
<li>Soil Health Card (SHC) is a <strong>printed report</strong> which <strong>contains nutrient status of soil with respect to 12 nutrients:</strong> pH, Electrical Conductivity (EC), Organic Carbon (OC), Nitrogen (N), Phosphorus (P), Potassium (K), Sulphur (S), Zinc (Zn), Boron (B), Iron (Fe), Manganese (Mn) and Copper (Cu) of farm holdings.</li>
<li>SHC is provided to all farmers in the country at<strong> an interval of 3 years</strong> to enable the farmers to apply recommended doses of nutrients based on soil test values to realize improved and sustainable soil health and fertility, low costs and higher profits. Farmers can track their soil samples and also obtain their<strong> Soil Health Card report.</strong></li>
<li>It is a field-specific <strong>detailed report</strong> of soil fertility status and other important soil parameters that affect crop productivity.</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>National Productivity Council</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>It is a national-level organization to promote productivity culture in India.</li>
<li>Established by the <strong>Ministry of Commerce and Industry,</strong> Government of India in<strong> 1958,</strong> it is an <strong>autonomous, multipartite, non-profit organization.</strong></li>
</ul>
</div>
<p><a href="https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleseDetail.aspx?PRID=1601990" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Source: PIB</strong></a></p>',
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	],
	(int) 19 => [
		'title' => 'India International Seafood Show',
		'catname' => 'News Analysis',
		'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>The <strong>22<sup>nd</sup> edition</strong> of India International Seafood Show (IISS), 2020 will be organized jointly by the Marine Products Export Development Authority (MPEDA) and the Seafood Exporters Association of India (SEAI) <strong>in Kochi, Kerala from 7<sup>th</sup>-9<sup>th</sup> February 2020.</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Theme</strong> for 2020 is: &ldquo;Blue Revolution- Beyond Production to Value Addition&rdquo;.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Event Held: Biennially</strong> (occurring every two years). It is <strong>one of the oldest and largest</strong> seafood events in the world. <strong>The 21<sup>st</sup></strong> edition of IISS was held in <strong>Goa</strong> in January 2018.</li>
<li><strong>Purpose:</strong> It provides an umbrella platform for various involved stakeholders of this sector such as producers, processing machinery manufacturers, linkage sectors, technical experts, etc. to interact, build up trade relations and contribute towards the progress of <strong>seafood exports</strong> from the country.</li>
<li><strong>Significance:</strong> It gives scope for <strong>tapping new avenues and introducing various technologies and products</strong> to the global market. In this way, the show paves way for enhancing <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/revised-fdi-norms" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Foreign Direct Investment</strong></a> in India thereby contributing to the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/five-years-of-make-in-india" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>&lsquo;Make in India</strong> </a>programme&rsquo;.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>During <strong>2018-19,</strong> India has exported worth<strong> $6.70 billion</strong> of marine products. With <strong>sustainable fishing methods, value addition and increased aquaculture production through diversification,</strong> it is expected to achieve an export turnover of <strong>$15 billion</strong> in the <strong>next five years.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Marine Products Export Development Authority</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Constituted:</strong> In <strong>1972</strong> through the Marine Products Export Development Authority (MPEDA) Act 1972, under the <strong>Ministry of Commerce and Industry.</strong></li>
<li>It is the <strong>nodal agency</strong> for the holistic development of the seafood industry in India.</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>Seafood Exporters Association of India</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Established</strong> in: <strong>1973</strong> as an organisation registered under the <strong>Registrar of Companies Act, 1956.</strong></li>
<li><strong>Aim:</strong> To <strong>protect and promote</strong> the interests of the seafood industry and develop the international trade of seafood from India.</li>
</ul>
</div>
<p><a href="https://pib.gov.in/newsite/PrintRelease.aspx?relid=199000" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Source: PIB</strong></a></p>',
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