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Privilege Motion

Recently, a member of the Indian parliament has moved a privilege motion against a TV channel. The breach of privilege motion is moved against a...

05 Jul 2019 News Analysis
Hydrogen-Enriched Compressed Natural Gas (HCNG)

Delhi will be the first city in the country to roll out hydrogen-enriched compressed natural gas (HCNG) buses for public transport from November...

05 Jul 2019 News Analysis
Highlights of Economic Survey 2018-19

The Union Minister for Finance and Corporate Affairs tabled the Economic Survey 2018-19 in the Parliament. This is the first survey by the new...

05 Jul 2019 News Analysis
US Drags India to WTO

The United States has dragged India to the World Trade Organisation, requesting dispute consultations on the 'retaliatory duties' imposed by India on...

05 Jul 2019 News Analysis
Shrinking Sea Ice Extent

As per the study of National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), after decades of gradual increases, Antarctic sea ice is now decreasing,...

05 Jul 2019 News Analysis
Miyawaki Method

Telangana government has introduced the Japanese “Miyawaki” method of afforestation to grow urban forests and expand the green cover as...

05 Jul 2019 News Analysis
LIBRA

Why in News? Facebook has announced the launch of a cryptocurrency called Libra by 2020. While this signals facebook’s plans to expand into...

05 Jul 2019 Paper 3
Agriculture Produce to Agriculture Marketing

This article is based on the news "Creating the right 'market connect' for boosting farm incomes". It talks about the needs to shift the focus of...

04 Jul 2019 News Editorials
Longest Electrified Railway Tunnel

The South Central Railway (SCR) had commissioned the longest electrified tunnel of 6.6 km between Cherlopalli and Rapuru stations in the state of...

04 Jul 2019 News Analysis
Disability and RTE: UNESCO Report

The The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) and the Tata Institute of Social Sciences have released a report...

04 Jul 2019 News Analysis
Working Group on Core Investment Companies

The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has constituted a working group to review the regulatory guidelines and supervisory framework applicable for Core...

04 Jul 2019 News Analysis
Total Solar Eclipse 2019

A Total Solar Eclipse was witnessed in the region of the South Pacific and parts of South America (Mainly Chile and Argentina) This was the only...

04 Jul 2019 News Analysis
Ascent Abort Test-2

NASA has carried out a successful test of a Launch-Abort System (LAS) for the Orion capsule designed to take U.S. astronauts to the Moon. The test...

04 Jul 2019 News Analysis
Trade Infrastructure for Export Scheme

The Department of Commerce, under the Union Ministry of Commerce and Industry, has approved financial assistance for three trade promotion centres...

04 Jul 2019 News Analysis
In Depth – India’s Health Index

In 2017, NITI Aayog, in collaboration with the World Bank and the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, developed the first comprehensive State...

04 Jul 2019 Lok Sabha & Rajya Sabha Discussions
Russia: An all-weather defence partner

This article is based on the editorial “Russia: An all-weather defence partner” that appeared in the Hindu Business Line on 3 July 2019....

03 Jul 2019 News Editorials
Anti Locust Fight

The officials from India and Pakistan are closely working together to prevent the movement of locusts and save crops in bordering districts. Both...

03 Jul 2019 News Analysis
Suicides in India

According to National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB)’s ‘Accidental Deaths and Suicides in India’ report for 2015, there were 1,336,623...

03 Jul 2019 News Analysis
Heat Stress and Labour Productivity: ILO Report

The International Labour Organisation (ILO) in its report ‘Working on a Warmer Planet: The Impact of Heat Stress on Labour Productivity and...

03 Jul 2019 News Analysis
National Centre for Polar and Ocean Research (NCPOR)

The six himalayan glaciers, monitored by the National Centre for Polar and Ocean Research (NCPOR), have been retreating in the range of 13 to 33...

03 Jul 2019 News Analysis

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			'title' => 'Privilege Motion',
			'catname' => 'News Analysis',
			'desc' => '<p>Recently, a member of the Indian parliament has <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/breach-of-privilege" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>moved a privilege motion</strong></a> against a TV channel.</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The breach of privilege motion is moved against a private Hindi news channel and its Editor for <strong>reporting that members' first speech in the Lok Sabha was plagiarised.</strong>
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Plagiarism is a practice of taking someone else's work or ideas and passing them off as one's own.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>Parliamentary privileges are <strong>certain rights</strong> and <strong>immunities</strong> enjoyed by members of Parliament, individually and collectively, so that they can<strong> effectively discharge their functions.</strong></li>
<li>The<strong> Constitution (Article 105)</strong> mentions two privileges,i.e<strong>. freedom of speech in Parliament</strong> and<strong> right of publication of its proceedings.</strong></li>
<li><strong>Rule No 222 in Chapter 20 of the Lok Sabha Rule Book</strong> and correspondingly <strong>Rule 187 in Chapter 16 of the Rajya Sabha rulebook</strong> governs<strong> privilege.</strong></li>
<li>The<strong> Speaker of Loksabha</strong> and <strong>Rajya Sabha Chairperson</strong> is the <strong>first level of scrutiny</strong> of a privilege motion.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The <strong>Speaker/Chairperson can decide on the privilege motion himself or herself</strong> or <strong>refer it to the privileges committee</strong> of Parliament.</li>
<li>If the Speaker/Chairperson gives consent under respective rules, the member concerned is given an opportunity to make a short statement.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Privilege Committee</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Lok Sabha:</strong> The <strong>Speaker nominates</strong> a committee of privileges <strong>consisting of 15 members</strong> as per respective party strengths.</li>
<li><strong>Rajya Sabha:</strong> The <strong>deputy chairperson</strong> heads the committee of privileges, that <strong>consists of 10 members.</strong></li>
</ul>
</div>',
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		(int) 1 => [
			'title' => 'Hydrogen-Enriched Compressed Natural Gas (HCNG)',
			'catname' => 'News Analysis',
			'desc' => '<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Delhi will be the first city in the country to roll out hydrogen-enriched compressed natural gas (HCNG) buses for public transport from November 2020.</li>
<li>It will start as a pilot project with 50 CNG buses retrofitted with HCNG.</li>
<li>Since Air pollution is fast becoming a serious global problem with increasing population and its subsequent demands. This has resulted in increased usage of hydrogen as a fuel for internal combustion engines.</li>
<li>Also, the Delhi government along with Indian Oil Corporation Limited (IOCL) and Indraprastha Gas Limited (IGL) began work to set up India&rsquo;s first semi-commercial HCNG station.</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>What is HCNG</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The blending of hydrogen with CNG provides a blended gas termed as HCNG.</li>
<li>HCNG stands for hydrogen-enriched compressed natural gas and it combines the advantages of both hydrogen and methane.</li>
<li>HCNG allows customers early hydrogen deployment with nearly commercial technology. It is being treated as the first step towards future hydrogen economy.</li>
<li>Hydrogen has been regarded as a future secondary fuel for power system due to carbon-free operation.</li>
<li>The rapid increase in the emission of greenhouse gases and very strict environmental legislation are major motivating factors for the usage of hydrogen in fuel cells and internal combustion engines.</li>
<li>Hydrogen is an excellent additive to improve the combustion of hydrocarbon fuel due to its low ignition energy, high reactivity, diffusivity and burning velocity.</li>
<li>Since hydrogen infrastructure and refuelling stations are not meeting the demand, the widespread introduction of hydrogen vehicles is not possible in the near future. One of the solutions for this hurdle is to blend hydrogen with methane</li>
<li>However, Hydrogen-Enriched Compressed Natural Gas (HCNG) is still under research as though it increases fuel efficiency and reduce carbon emission but it has also led to increased NOx emissions.</li>
</ul>
</div>',
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		],
		(int) 2 => [
			'title' => 'Highlights of Economic Survey 2018-19',
			'catname' => 'News Analysis',
			'desc' => '<p>The <strong>Union Minister for Finance and Corporate Affairs</strong> tabled the Economic Survey 2018-19 in the Parliament.</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>This is the <strong>first survey</strong> by the n<strong>ew chief economic advisor Krishnamurthy V Subramanian.</strong></li>
<li>The <strong>theme</strong> of Economic Survey, 2018-19 is <strong>"Shifting Gears towards a $5 trillion Indian economy by 2024-25&rdquo;.</strong></li>
<li><strong>Other focus areas:</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>"Blue Sky" thinking - New Ideas for Policymaking; </li>
<li>Behavioral <em>'nudges'</em> for Optimal Outcomes; </li>
<li>Policies to unshackle MSMEs;</li>
<li>Data as a public good "of the <em>people,</em> for the <em>people</em> and by the <em>people";</em> </li>
<li>Legal Reforms;</li>
<li>Policy Consistency; </li>
<li>Efficient Labour Markets;</li>
<li>Use of Technology</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Economic Survey</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The Economic Survey is prepared by the <strong>Economic Division</strong> of the <strong>Department of Economic Affairs</strong> in the Finance Ministry under the overall guidance of the <strong>Chief Economic Adviser.</strong></li>
<li>The survey was <strong>de-linked</strong> from the <strong>Budget in the year 1964</strong> and is circulated in advance to provide the context of the Budget.</li>
<li>India&rsquo;s<strong> first</strong> Economic Survey was <strong>presented in the year 1950-51.</strong></li>
</ul>
</div>
<h3>GDP Growth</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>A sustained real GDP growth rate of 8% is needed for India to become a $5 trillion economy by 2024-25.</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The survey suggests that this can be achieved by a <strong>&ldquo;Virtuous Cycle&rdquo;</strong> of savings, investment, and exports. The <strong>private&nbsp;investment</strong> being the key driver.</li>
<li>This cycle will be catalyzed and supported by a <strong>favorable demographic phase.</strong></li>
<li>This virtuous cycle should be<strong> sustained</strong> and in <strong>equilibrium.</strong> A <strong>departure from traditional Anglo-Saxon thinking</strong> by viewing the economy as being either in a virtuous or a vicious cycle, and thus never in equilibrium.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Behavioural Economics for Social Change</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The survey has drawn on <strong>Nobel Laureate Richard Thaler&rsquo;s Behavioural Economics Theory</strong> to lay out an &ldquo;ambitious agenda" for behavior change that will bring in social change, which in turn, will help India transit to a $5 trillion economy by 2024-25.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Decisions by real people deviate from impractical robots theorized in classical economics. Behavioral economics provides insights to &lsquo;nudge&rsquo; people towards desirable behavior.</li>
<li>It pitches for behavioral change by applying the principles of behavioral economics to several issues including gender equality, a healthy and beautiful India, savings, tax compliance, and credit quality.</li>
<li>This includes a transition from <strong>&lsquo;Beti Bachao Beti Padhao&rsquo; to &lsquo;BADLAV&rsquo; (Beti Aapki Dhan Lakshmi Aur Vijay Lakshmi)</strong>, from <strong>&lsquo;Swachh Bharat&rsquo; to &lsquo;Sundar Bharat&rsquo;,</strong> from <strong>&lsquo;Give it up&rdquo;</strong> for the LPG subsidy to <strong>&lsquo;Think about the Subsidy&rsquo;</strong> and from<strong> &lsquo;Tax</strong> <strong>evasion&rsquo; to &lsquo;Tax compliance&rsquo;.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Nudge Theory</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>According to Nudge theory, people, rather than being forced, can be<strong> encouraged and influenced</strong> to pursue or desist from certain actions through nudges.</li>
<li>It <strong>does not talk about penalizing people</strong> if they do not behave in a particular manner, rather it <strong>encourages</strong> them to make desirable decisions.</li>
<li>It believes that <strong>Humans are not-so-rational</strong> and often <strong>need encouragement</strong> or intervention &mdash; a nudge &mdash; to get going and do what&rsquo;s best for the country or society at large.</li>
<li>American economist <strong>Richard Thaler has won the 2017 Nobel Prize in economics</strong> for his contributions to behavioural economics.</li>
</ul>
</div>
<h3>Policies for MSME Growth</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The survey highlights the importance of intervention in the case of <strong>&ldquo;Dwarfs&rdquo;.</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Dwarfs are the firms with <strong>less than 100 workers despite being more than 10 years old.</strong></li>
<li>They account for <strong>more than 50%</strong> of all organized firms in manufacturing by number.</li>
<li>Contribution of dwarfs to <strong>employment is only 14%</strong> and to the <strong>productivity is a mere 8%.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Large firms (more than 100 employees)</strong> account for 75% employment and close to 90% of productivity despite accounting for about 15% by number.</li>
<li>The interventions are:<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>A <strong>sunset clause of less than 10 years</strong>, with necessary grand-fathering, for all size-based incentives.</li>
<li>Deregulating labor law restrictions to create significantly more jobs.</li>
<li>Re-calibrating <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/rbi-norms-for-co-origination-of-loans" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Priority Sector Lending (PSL)</strong></a> guidelines for direct credit flow to young firms in high employment elastic sectors.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Sunset Clause &amp; Size Based Incentives</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Sunset clause is a provision of a law that it will <strong>automatically be terminated</strong> after a fixed period unless it is extended by law.</li>
<li>The Economic Survey <strong>slammed the practice of perpetual support</strong> to small and medium-sized enterprises on the grounds that they are mega job creators. Such a <strong>continuous hand-holding merely encourages</strong> these entities to keep a check on their scale of operations, i.e. <strong>they deliberately stay small.</strong></li>
<li>The governments should shift their focus to <strong>nurturing &ldquo;infant&rdquo; firms only.</strong></li>
<li>Policymakers must ensure that <strong>support to small units is withdrawn</strong> after a specified time, forcing them to expand their operations and not live off government relief forever.</li>
<li>The survey also cites <strong>&ldquo;size-based incentives&rdquo;</strong> irrespective of the firm&rsquo;s age.</li>
</ul>
</div>
<h3>Minimum Wage System &amp; Inclusive Growth</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Survey <strong>proposes a well-designed minimum wage system</strong> as a potent tool for protecting workers and alleviating poverty.</li>
<li>The survey <strong>supports rationalization of minimum wages</strong> as proposed under the Code on Wages Bill. Minimum wages to all employments/workers.</li>
<li><strong>Current Scenario:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Present minimum wage system in India has 1,915 minimum wages for various scheduled job categories across states.</li>
<li>1 in every 3 wage worker in India is not protected by the minimum wage law.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>&lsquo;National Floor Minimum Wage&rsquo;</strong> should be notified by the Central Government, varying across five geographical regions.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Minimum wages by states should be <strong>fixed at levels not lower than the &lsquo;floor wage&rsquo;.</strong></li>
<li>Minimum wages can be <strong>notified based either on the skills</strong> or on<strong> geographical region</strong> or on<strong> both grounds.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>&lsquo;National level dashboard&rsquo;</strong> under the Ministry of Labour &amp; Employment for regular notifications on minimum wages, proposed by the survey.</li>
<li><strong>Toll-free number</strong> to register grievance on non-payment of the statutory minimum wages.</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Minimum Wage</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>According to the<a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/100th-anniversary-of-ilo" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong> International Labour Organization (ILO)</strong></a>, minimum wages have been defined as the <strong>minimum amount</strong> of remuneration that an employer is required to pay wage earners for the work performed during a given period, <strong>which cannot be reduced by collective agreement or an individual contract.</strong></li>
</ul>
</div>
<h3>India's Demography</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>A sharp slowdown in population growth is expected in the next 2 decades. National <a href="/loksabha-rajyasabha-discussions/the-big-picture-population-boon-or-bane-rajya-sabha-lok-sabha-debate" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Total Fertility Rate</strong></a> is expected to be below the replacement rate by 2021.</li>
<li>Significant <strong>decline is to be witnessed in elementary school-going children (5-14 age group)</strong> over the next two decades.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>States need to consolidate/merge schools</strong> to make them viable rather than build new ones.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>Policy makers need to<strong> prepare for aging</strong> by investing in health care and by <strong>increasing the retirement age</strong> in a phased manner.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Reforms in the Lower Judiciary</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The section on ways to ramp up capacity in the lower judiciary is titled<strong> &lsquo;Ending Matsyanyaya&rsquo; (the law of the fish/jungle).</strong></li>
<li>Delays in contract enforcement and disposal resolution are now the single biggest hurdle to the ease of doing business and higher GDP growth in India.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>However, the survey highlights the profound impact that the Government&rsquo;s efforts of introducing the <a href="/loksabha-rajyasabha-discussions/in-depth-insolvency-and-bankruptcy-code-act" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code</strong></a> and the adoption of the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/gst-council-and-national-anti-profiteering-authority" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Goods and Services Tax</strong></a>, have had on improving <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/world-banks-ease-of-doing-business-report-2019" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Ease of Doing Business</strong> </a>in India.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Data &ldquo;Of the People, By the People, For the People&rdquo;</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>As data is generated by the people, data can be created as a public good within the<strong> legal framework of data privacy.</strong></li>
<li>The government must intervene in c<strong>reating data as a public good, especially of the poor and in social sectors.</strong></li>
<li>Merging the distinct datasets held by the Government already would generate multiple benefits.</li>
</ul>',
			'postdate' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenTime) {},
			'url' => 'https://www.drishtiias.com/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/highlights-of-economic-survey-2018-19'
		],
		(int) 3 => [
			'title' => 'US Drags India to WTO',
			'catname' => 'News Analysis',
			'desc' => '<p>The United States has dragged India to the World Trade Organisation, requesting dispute consultations on the 'retaliatory duties' imposed by India on 28 US goods in June, 2019.</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>India has imposed the duties as a tit-for-tat move against the US decision to impose unilateral additional tariffs on steel and aluminium imported from India.</li>
<li>The US claims that the additional duties are inconsistent with the provisions of the&nbsp;<a href="/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-international-institution/world-trade-organisation-wto" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>WTO's General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade</strong></a>.<a href="/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-international-institution/world-trade-organisation-wto" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong></strong></a></li>
<li>India's argument in support of its duties is that retaliation is permitted under the WTO's Agreement on Safeguards.</li>
<li>To this, the US maintains that its tariffs are not a safeguard measure but were taken under Section 232 of the US Trade Expansion Act of 1962 on grounds of national security.</li>
<li>If the dispute consultations between the two countries fail to resolve the matter then the US can ask the WTO to set up a panel to decide on the matter.</li>
<li>This mini-tariff war between the US and India sparked from USA's decision to withdraw <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/us-withdraws-gsp-for-india-1" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>GSP</strong></a> status from India and other economic issues.<a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/613image3.jpg" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/613image3.jpg" style="float: right;" width="272" height="128" caption="false" /></a></li>
<li>Also, it is not the first time the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/india-us-trade" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>USA and India had there trade issues</strong></a> settled at WTO. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Recently India has won a major trade dispute against the US at the World Trade Organization (WTO) regarding <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/india-and-usa-at-wto" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>domestic content requirements and subsidies.</strong></a></li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>',
			'postdate' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenTime) {},
			'url' => 'https://www.drishtiias.com/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/us-drags-india-to-wto'
		],
		(int) 4 => [
			'title' => 'Shrinking Sea Ice Extent',
			'catname' => 'News Analysis',
			'desc' => '<p>As per the study of <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/mars-colonisation-through-sperm-bank" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA)</strong></a>, after decades of gradual increases, Antarctic sea ice is now decreasing, faster than that in the Arctic.</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>The sea ice extent</strong> is a measure of the surface area of the ocean covered by ice.</li>
<li>The Arctic and Antarctic both are experiencing shrinking of the sea ice extent which proves the effect of global warming on Frigid Zones.</li>
<li>The satellite observations of Antarctic sea ice coverage since the late 1970s show that after a gradual increase in the Antarctic sea ice over decades until 2014, the trend suddenly reversed completely in the 2014- 2017 period. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>During 2014-2017, the rate of sea ice loss in the Antarctic far exceeded those recorded for the Arctic.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>Climate scientists have been warning of an increase in the frequency of extreme weather events, increased variability and instability of climatic patterns because of global warming. The findings of the study indicate that the Earth has the potential for significant and rapid change.</li>
<li>The sea surface temperatures in the open waters of the Arctic have been unusually high, up to 5 degrees Celsius above average in the Chukchi Sea, a marginal area of the Arctic Ocean.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The sea surface temperature is a measure of the energy due to the motion of molecules at the top layer of the sea.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/832image2.jpg" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/832image2.jpg" width="629" height="422" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" caption="false" /></a></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/state-of-the-global-climate-wmo" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>The World Meteorological Organization (WMO)</strong></a> has stated that 2015 to 2019 were the warmest five years on record.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Possible Causes</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Antarctica is largely protected from atmospheric warming by the westerly winds which surround the continent and Antarctic sea ice does not respond directly to global warming averaged over the whole planet. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Apart from the climate change, the ozone hole and short-term cycles like El Nino also affect the westerly winds.</li>
<li>The sea ice also responds to the level of ocean mixing, which is affected by meltwater from the Antarctic Ice Sheet.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Impact of Decreasing Sea Ice</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Increased Global Warming:</strong> The bright surface of sea ice reflects 50% to 70% of sunlight back into space. But when sea ice melts, it turns into dark ocean surface, which absorbs 90% of the sunlight. The more light is absorbed, the warmer global systems become.</li>
<li><strong>Effect on ecosystem:</strong> Sea ice also affects the polar ecosystem, including penguins and whales and seals, petrels and albatrosses, krill, and a whole range of additional animals and marine plant life.</li>
<li>Warming of the poles can lead to greater persistence in seasonal patterns and an increased frequency of extreme events resulting in increased variability and instability in climate.</li>
<li>The sea ice situation, a clear demonstration of greenhouse gas warming, is a warning of likely future disasters.</li>
</ul>',
			'postdate' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenTime) {},
			'url' => 'https://www.drishtiias.com/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/shrinking-sea-ice-extent'
		],
		(int) 5 => [
			'title' => 'Miyawaki Method',
			'catname' => 'News Analysis',
			'desc' => '<p>Telangana government has introduced the <strong>Japanese &ldquo;Miyawaki&rdquo;</strong> method of <strong>afforestation</strong> to grow urban forests and expand the green cover as well as to meet the stipulated plantation target under the Telanganaku Haritha Haaram (TKHH).</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Miyawaki is a technique pioneered by Japanese botanist Akira Miyawaki, that helps build <strong>dense,</strong> <strong>native forests</strong> in a <strong>short time.</strong></li>
</ul>
<p><a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/657Image4.jpg" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/657Image4.jpg" width="632" height="448" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" caption="false" /></a></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>It has revolutionised the concept of <strong>urban afforestation</strong> by turning backyards into mini-forests.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>This method includes planting trees <strong>(only native species)</strong> as close as possible in the same area which not only <strong>saves space,</strong> but the planted saplings also support each other in growth and block sunlight reaching the ground, thereby preventing the <strong>growth of weed.</strong></li>
<li><strong>The saplings</strong> become <strong>maintenance-free</strong> (self sustainable) after the first three years.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>The approach is supposed to ensure that<strong> plant growth</strong> is 10 times faster and the resulting plantation is <strong>30 times denser</strong> than usual.</li>
<li>Miyawaki method helps to create a forest in just 20 to 30 years, while through conventional methods it takes anywhere between 200 to 300 years.</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Miyawaki Process</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The native trees of the region are identified and divided into four layers &mdash; shrub, sub-tree, tree, and canopy.</li>
<li>The quality of soil is analysed and biomass which would help enhance the perforation capacity, water retention capacity, and nutrients in it, is mixed with it.</li>
<li>A mound is built with the soil and <strong>the seeds are planted</strong> at a very high density &mdash; three to five sapling per square meter.</li>
<li>The ground is covered with a thick <strong>layer of mulch.</strong></li>
</ul>
</div>
<h3>Concerns</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Such forests lack some qualities of natural forests, such as <strong>medicinal</strong> <strong>properties</strong> and the ability to <strong>bring rain.</strong></li>
<li>Such fast-growing plantations are actually <strong>wood lots</strong> (a parcel of a woodland or forest capable of small-scale production of forest products (such as <strong>wood</strong> fuel, sap for maple syrup, sawlogs, and pulpwood) as well as recreational uses like bird watching, bushwalking, and wildflower appreciation) and cannot be termed as forests.</li>
<li>Several environmentalists have questioned the efficacy of the method that accelerates the growth of trees and claims to match a forest&rsquo;s complex ecosystem (as it is not a good idea to force plants to <strong>photosynthesize fast</strong>).</li>
</ul>',
			'postdate' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenTime) {},
			'url' => 'https://www.drishtiias.com/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/miyawaki-method'
		],
		(int) 6 => [
			'title' => 'LIBRA',
			'catname' => 'Paper 3',
			'desc' => '<h3>Why in News?</h3>
<p>Facebook has announced the launch of a <strong>cryptocurrency</strong> called <strong>Libra</strong> by <strong>2020.</strong> While this signals facebook&rsquo;s plans to expand into the <strong>global digital currency market,</strong> it has also raised <strong>privacy concerns</strong>.</p>
<h3>LIBRA</h3>
<h3><a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1578481429_image43.png" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1578481429_image43.png" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" caption="false" width="759" height="422" /></a></h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Digi Currency:</strong> Facebook&rsquo;s <strong>cryptocurrency <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/libra-cryptocurrency" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Libra</a></strong> will allow <strong>smartphone</strong> users to buy services digitally from their phone.</li>
<li><strong>Digital Wallet:</strong> Libra will be stored in a <strong>digital wallet</strong> called <strong>Calibra.</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Calibra is a standalone app on a user's smartphone or housed within Facebook-owned services such as WhatsApp and Messenger.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>How can users buy Libra?</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Users will need to sign up for an account using a government-issued ID to use Calibra wallet.</li>
<li>Users will then be able to convert their money into Libra and add it to their digital wallet.</li>
<li>Once in place, the currency can be used to pay for everyday transactions.</li>
</ul>
</div>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Libra Association:</strong> The cryptocurrency will be run by the Libra Association, a <strong>Geneva-</strong>based entity that has founding partners, including Facebook, Mastercard, Visa, Uber, and the Vodafone group.</li>
<li><strong>Libra Reserve:</strong> Libra will be backed by a reserve of assets in the form of <strong>securities</strong> (bank deposits and short-term government securities) and <strong>fiat currencies</strong> (like dollar, pound) to give it an intrinsic value and ensure stability. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Anyone with Libra will have an assurance that they can convert their <strong>digital currency</strong> into <strong>local fiat currency</strong> based on an exchange rate.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Libra Blockchain:</strong> Every Libra payment is permanently written into the Libra blockchain which is a <strong>cryptographically authenticated database</strong> and acts as a public online ledger designed to handle 1,000 transactions per second.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Libra blockchain would be much<strong> faster</strong> than Bitcoin&rsquo;s 7 transactions per second or Ethereum&rsquo;s 15.</li>
<li>The blockchain is operated and constantly verified by founding members of the Libra Association.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>Libra is planned as a <strong>&ldquo;global currency&rdquo;</strong> for use anywhere in the world without transaction fees.</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Cryptocurrency</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/cryptocurrencies-will-boost-illegal-transactions-rbi" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Cryptocurrency</strong></a> is a <strong>virtual or digital</strong> currency for which <strong>encryption techniques</strong> (the process of encoding a message or information in such a way that only authorized parties can access it) are used to control its creation as a monetary unit and to verify the transfer of funds involved.</li>
<li><strong>Decentralized:</strong> unlike, fiat currencies (like INR, USD, EUR, etc) cryptocurrencies are not regulated or controlled by any bank, government or centralized financial authorities instead they are created and stored electronically through <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/important-facts-for-prelims-15th-april-2019" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>blockchain technology</strong></a>.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Cryptocurrencies are transferred from <strong>&ldquo;peer to peer"</strong> without the intervention of financial institutions, with transactions moderated by miners who record them in a blockchain.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>It has <strong>no physical existence</strong> and cannot be redeemed in another commodity like gold.</li>
<li><strong>Bitcoin, Litecoin, Ripple, Ethereum, PPcoin, Dogecoin, Coinye, Namecoin,</strong> etc. are some of the examples of cryptocurrencies.</li>
</ul>
</div>
<h3>Facebook Libra vs. Other Cryptocurrencies</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Regulatory Compliance:</strong> Unlike other cryptocurrencies which are outside the regulation and control of the government or any other financial intermediaries, Libra is intended to set up regulatory compliance and work with regulators to find the best ways to curb <strong>its illegitimate use</strong> for <strong>money-laundering,</strong> or <strong>tax avoidance,</strong> or any other potential purposes that involve <strong>personal privacy.</strong></li>
<li><strong>Centralized Payment System:</strong> Other cryptocurrencies (entirely decentralized) are based on peer to peer transaction system or permission less blockchain but Libra will start as a <strong>permissioned blockchain</strong> (at least for the first five years).<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Which implies that verifications for each transaction can only be done by insiders who set up the network (like Facebook, Mastercard, Visa, PayPay, Stripe, eBay, Lyft, Spotify and Uber).</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Permissioned or Permissionless Blockchains</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Blockchains are described as either permissioned or permissionless in relation to the ability to participate as a validator node.</li>
<li><strong>Permissioned or private blockchains</strong> act as closed ecosystems, where users are not freely able to join the network, see the recorded history, or issue transactions of their own.</li>
<li><strong>Permissionless or Public Blockchains</strong> networks power up most of the market&rsquo;s digital currencies. They allow every user to create a personal address and begin interacting with the network, by submitting transactions, and hence adding entries to the ledger.</li>
</ul>
</div>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Stablecoin:</strong> Unlike the majority of cryptocurrencies which involve very high risk in investment (because of the high price volatility) and can not be converted into fiat currencies, Libra is designed to be a <strong>stable digital cryptocurrency</strong> (backed by a reserve of real assets) supported by a competitive network of exchanges buying and selling Libra and can be converted into fiat currencies.</li>
<li><strong>Complete Tracking Of All Minting &amp; Burning:</strong> Libras will not be mined like other cryptocurrencies but will be minted (created) and burned (destroyed) only by the members of Libra Association.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Coins are only minted when authorized resellers have purchased those coins from the association with fiat assets to fully back the new coins.</li>
<li>Coins are only burned when the authorized resellers sell Libra coin to the association in exchange for the underlying assets.</li>
<li>Which implies that entry and exit of normal currencies in and out of the Libra wallets is entirely trackable.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Non-profit association:</strong> Unlike other cryptocurrencies that are driven by a <strong>profit motive</strong>, Libra Association is not a non-profit association.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Interest</strong> on the reserve assets will be used to:<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Cover the costs of the system</li>
<li>Ensure low transaction fees</li>
<li>Pay dividends to investors who provided capital to jumpstart the ecosystem</li>
<li>Support further growth and adoption</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Significance</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Financial Inclusion:</strong> Libra could address the issue of financial exclusion, inflation or volatility (attached with currency) by providing a universal, stable currency that is easily transferable between persons or businesses without setting up an entire financial or payment infrastructure.</li>
<li><strong>Cross-Border Transaction:</strong> Libra can be transferred across multiple cell phone networks and can help in cross-border transaction, with minimum regulatory intervention and cost payment.</li>
<li><strong>Remitting Money:</strong> Without central banks&rsquo; intervention, Libra can deliver much lower transaction costs and convenience to migrants and their families, letting them hoard and carry less cash.</li>
<li><strong>Zero Cost:</strong> According to the World Bank, high cost attached to financial transactions is one of the biggest reasons for financial exclusion in developing countries. Libra would have a near-zero cost attached to it.</li>
<li><strong>Wider Reach:</strong> Facebook&rsquo;s (with its over 2 billion users) wider acceptability can be used to tap the unbanked areas.</li>
<li><strong>Secure and Safe:</strong> Libra, is based on a new programming language called &lsquo;Move&rsquo;, which is claimed by facebook as more secure and private.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Facebook has stated that, if someone loses their Libra coins from Calibra wallet, they will get a refund.</li>
<li>Facebook has said that account details will not be shared with facebook or third parties for advertising purposes, except for cases of data sharing.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Concerns</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Privacy and Security:</strong> Regulators, lawmakers and government officials around the world are critical about Libra, as Cambridge Analytica scandal has exposed Facebook&rsquo;s lapses of data privacy and security.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>There are concerns that Libra can disrupt the entire global payment system.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Note</strong></p>
<p>Cambridge Analytica (political consulting firm) had harvested the personal data of millions of people's facebook profiles without their consent and used it for political advertising purposes.</p>
</div>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Unchecked power and influence</strong> of facebook (because of its large user base) could result in a<strong> shift of power</strong> away from the developing countries&rsquo; central banks toward multinational corporations and the central banks of the largest economies.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Libra would hand over much of the control of monetary policy from central banks to private companies, like Visa, Uber, and Vodafone.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Shadow Bank:</strong> Libra, being a form of <strong>electronic money</strong> linked to many national currencies, has raised concerns that it might someday be recognized as a<strong> sovereign currency,</strong> with Facebook acting as a &ldquo;shadow bank&rdquo; that could compete with the central banks of countries around the world.</li>
<li><strong>Anonymous Digital Cash:</strong> Facebook has the blockchain and encryption technology to create traceable credit card or anonymous digital cash like system, or a private digital currency, which has not been created yet.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Anonymity would heighten the risks of abuse such as money laundering.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Control Over Financial Data:</strong> Governments have raised issues related to the dangers of combining <strong>financial data with behavioral data.</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Because of the <strong>openness of the blockchain</strong> for value-addition more and more developers build products on the Libra blockchain, and more people use it, more data is generated with the expansion of the network. This reinforces the ownership and control of the Libra Association (at least its major stakeholders) over the payments system and data.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Libra in India</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>To run a payment system in India, or any system that enables payment between a payer and a beneficiary, authorization from the RBI is required under the <strong>Payment and Settlement Systems Act, 2007.</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Government of India&rsquo;s tough regulatory stance on virtual currencies, will act as an impediment in authorisation of cryptocurrency based payment system.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Draft Banning of Cryptocurrency and Regulation of Official Digital Currency Bill 2019</strong> has proposed a ten-year jail term for holding cryptocurrencies in India.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The law proposes to punish mining, holding, generating, selling, transferring, disposing of, issuing or dealing with cryptocurrencies.</li>
<li>With the enactment of such laws mere holding of Libra or any other virtual currency would be an offense.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>The Ministry of Corporate Affairs&rsquo;s <strong>Investor Education and Protection Fund (IEPF) Authority favours</strong> a ban on cryptocurrencies by considering it equivalent to a Ponzi scheme (Ponzi scheme is a form of fraud that lures investors and pays profits to earlier investors with funds from more recent investors).<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Any such ban would hugely restrict the reach of Libra.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</div>
<h3>Way Forward</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Risk Assessment:</strong> Government, financial regulators and central bank authorities should scrutinize all aspects of Libra because Facebook has a long history of launching products and services, like political ads and live-streaming video, without fully considering their potential to damage democracy, privacy, security and the global society at large.</li>
<li><strong>Protecting the Global Financial System:</strong> Development of new digital financial services, methods of electronic payment and currencies should not be allowed to undermine long-standing financial safety systems in terms of financial regulations (monetary and fiscal policy), even in the name of smoother, cheaper transactions.</li>
<li><strong>Financial Rules and Regulations:</strong> In order to protect consumers&rsquo; interest, regulators must come out with a new set of financial rules and regulations to shield the existing financial system from any harm if the Libra becomes more popular than national currencies.</li>
</ul>',
			'postdate' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenTime) {},
			'url' => 'https://www.drishtiias.com/to-the-points/paper3/libra-3'
		],
		(int) 7 => [
			'title' => 'Agriculture Produce to Agriculture Marketing',
			'catname' => 'News Editorials',
			'desc' => '<div class="border">
<p>This article is based on the news <a href="https://indianexpress.com/article/india/creating-the-right-market-connect-for-boosting-farm-incomes-5813691/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">"Creating the right 'market connect' for boosting farm incomes"</a>. It talks about the needs to shift the focus of agricultural policy making from increasing agricultural production to reforming agricultural markets</p>
</div>
<p>At the dawn of Independence, Indian policymakers faced with the daunting task of poverty alleviation. In this scenario, land reforms and state-led industrialization were sought to be the prime moving force for the economy. But both the initiatives failed and India didn't have enough food to feed its population and had to go for the USA's food assistance program under PL 480.</p>
<p>Post this experience, India went for Green Revolution in the 1960s and 70's to attain self sufficiency in food production. Since then, successive governments have emphasised raising agriculture production to make India self-reliant in feeding its growing population. However, agricultural marketing hasn&rsquo;t received the corresponding attention, despite having a direct relationship to increased crop production.</p>
<h3>What are the issues in agricultural marketing?</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Indian farmers today can their sell their produce at:</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Farmgate or local market (haat) to village aggregators;</li>
<li>APMC (agricultural produce market committee) wholesale mandi to private traders</li>
<li>To government at the minimum support price (MSP)</li>
<li><strong>But all three selling options are marred by several issues.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>MSP</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Announced for 23 crops but given for only 3 crops.</li>
<li>MSP is given only on produce meeting &ldquo;fair average quality&rdquo; norms</li>
<li>Government procurement facilities are not available throughout the country.</li>
<li>Also, next phase to growth in agricultural income will come from high yield commodities like dairy products, vegetables, fruits etc. but the government still providing MSP in cereals</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>APMC</strong>&nbsp;<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>APMCs technically have multiple buyers, but the system of open auctions for determining prices through transparent bidding is, in practice, non-existent.</li>
<li>In most APMCs, buyers have to route all purchases through licenced aadhatiyas(middlemen).<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>These middlemen charge a commission for their &ldquo;services&rdquo; &mdash; many times, both from the buyer and seller.</li>
<li>The aadhatiya is also often a moneylender, supplying seeds, fertilisers and pesticides to farmers on credit. They, then, are forced to sell through him and settle their dues in perpetuity.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>Also, mandi fees ranges from 0.5% to 5% on the value of the sale, while varying across states and commodities</li>
<li>Further mandi fees on inter-state trade amount to double taxation, besides violating the idea of a single national market.</li>
<li><strong>Distress sale</strong> due to lack of storage infrastructure<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>At mandis the lowest prices are during the 3-4 post-harvest months and highest in the immediate pre-harvest period.</li>
<li>Farmers undertake maximum sales just after harvest, as they need to purchase inputs for the next sowing season.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>To rectify this APMC issue:<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>The Union Agriculture Ministry has formulated the Model Agricultural Produce and Livestock Marketing (APLM) Act</li>
<li>The Act seeks to expand farmers&rsquo; marketing choices &mdash; by allowing private markets (as against only APMCs), permitting direct bulk purchases from the farm gate, declaring warehouses or cold storages as deemed markets, and demolishing the existing concept of a <strong>&ldquo;market area&rdquo;</strong></li>
<li>But APLM act is witnessing opposition, primarily due to the delineation of &ldquo;market area&rdquo;, which has a bearing on the earnings of APMCs.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Price volatility</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The root cause of price volatility is the uncontrolled cycles of excesses and shortages.</li>
<li>Price projections in a particular commodity are often made based on previous years&rsquo; trends that may not hold true, leading to excess or low plantings.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>What is Market Area as per APMC?</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Currently, an APMC&rsquo;s purview extends to the entire tehsil and villages in that sub-district, with any trade undertaken in this so-called market area being liable for payment of mandi fee.</li>
<li>The Model APLM Act recognises only the market yard, i.e the area within the boundary walls where actual trade in the mandi takes place</li>
</ul>
</div>
<h3>What are the reforms required?</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Uniform mandi fees:</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>It is proposed that a uniform mandi fee of 0.25% or 0.50% be levied nationwide for foodgrains, oilseeds and fruits &amp; vegetables.</li>
<li>The consequent losses to APMCs may be compensated by the Centre and state governments, as in the case of the Goods and Services Tax.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Eliminate Aadhatiya-based trading:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>All trade in APMCs should be through open auctioning, involving multiple bidders for each lot. Such trades should be directly between buyers and sellers, with no middlemen charging commission.</li>
<li>The aadhatiya can participate only as a trader.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Enable sample-based sales:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The farmer today brings his whole produce to the APMC and the buyers do the physical inspection before bidding.</li>
<li>This results in double transportation &mdash; from the farm gate to APMC and from the APMC to the ultimate destination.</li>
<li>If grading and sorting facilities exist closer to the farm gate, the farmer needs to take only a sample of his produce, along with the relevant quality certification documents, to the mandi. It would save both time and cost.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Storage and banking facilities near APMCs:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Distress sales can be avoided if facilities for bagging and storage, along with loans against warehouse receipts, are available to meet immediate cash requirements. These should exist in the vicinity of APMCs.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Promote FPOs in marketing:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Farmer producer organisations/companies should be encouraged to take up direct marketing of their members&rsquo; produce to large buyers and processors.</li>
<li>It will result in more competition and better prices at APMCs.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Relax/abolish Essential Commodities Act(ECA):</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>ECA places restrictions on the movement of produce, stockholding, pricing and adoption of new technologies</li>
<li>The dismantling of such controls under ECA and other regulations would expand trade and lead to better realisations for cultivators.</li>
<li>The narrative of &ldquo;ease of doing business&rdquo; is necessary as much for agriculture as other businesses.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>e-NAM:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The government has created an electronic national agriculture market (eNAM) to connect all regulated wholesale produce markets through a pan-India trading portal.</li>
<li>Its effectiveness is, however, dependent on the participation of traders from these mandis.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Risk management:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Crop Insurance schemes offer protection to farmers against weather risks.</li>
<li>The premium in the Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana is largely borne by the Government.</li>
<li>While still a work in progress, it is a more comprehensive and farmer-friendly scheme than any other one previously rolled out.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Increase the number of markets:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>According to Ashok Dalwai Committee, India needs at least 30,000 farms produce markets, as against the approximately 6,500 now.</li>
<li>There is a need for a &ldquo;mini-market&rdquo; concept to bridge this wide gap.</li>
<li>Government&rsquo;s announcement of GRAMs(Gramin rural agricultural market) is a step in the right direction</li>
<li>Also with ubiquitous electronic communication and reliable rural roads, GRAMs can become viable hubs for economic activity and employment generation.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>AgTech startups should be roped in for price discovery mechanism, so that price volatility can be controlled.</li>
<li><strong>Producer consolidation:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Consolidation of small and fragmented farms into more viable holdings will improve producers&rsquo; access to finance and quality inputs, besides enabling better price realisations.</li>
<li>This will also incentivize much-needed investments in land development/ improvement and farm mechanisation.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<p>Addressing the challenges of the agricultural market is complex, yet doable, as the doubling of farmers income cannot come without developing a thriving market of agriculture. Hence, it is high time that focus must shift from agricultural production to agricultural marketing.</p>
<table border="1" style="border-collapse: collapse; background-color: #beebfa; border-color: #02779e; border-style: dotted;">
<tbody>
<tr>
<td style="width: 1256px;"><em><strong>Drishti Input:</strong></em><br /><br />Doubling of farmers income cannot be realised without a thriving agriculture market. In this context, apart from focusing on increasing agriculture production, the government must focus on agricultural marketing reforms. Comment.</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>',
			'postdate' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenTime) {},
			'url' => 'https://www.drishtiias.com/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/agriculture-produce-to-agriculture-marketing'
		],
		(int) 8 => [
			'title' => 'Longest Electrified Railway Tunnel',
			'catname' => 'News Analysis',
			'desc' => '<p>The South Central Railway (SCR) had commissioned the longest electrified tunnel of 6.6 km between Cherlopalli and Rapuru stations in the state of Andhra Pradesh.</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The tunnel is part of the recently completed Obulavaripalli-Venkatachalam new railway line.</li>
<li>The new line also facilitates direct and viable connectivity between South Coast and West Coast.</li>
<li>It also opens up the viable rail connectivity between Krishnapatnam Port and its hinterland for freight train services.</li>
</ul>
<p style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/681image7.jpg" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/681image7.jpg" width="483" height="322" caption="false" /></a></p>',
			'postdate' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenTime) {},
			'url' => 'https://www.drishtiias.com/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/longest-electrified-railway-tunnel'
		],
		(int) 9 => [
			'title' => 'Disability and RTE: UNESCO Report',
			'catname' => 'News Analysis',
			'desc' => '<p>The <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/architectural-heritage-of-orchha" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization</strong></a> (UNESCO) and the <strong>Tata Institute of Social Sciences</strong> have released a report titled <strong>'State of the Education Report for India 2019: Children with Disabilities.</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The report states that in India, 75% of five-year-olds with disabilities and a quarter (more than one in four ) of children with disabilities ( in the age group of 5 to 19 years) do not attend any educational institution.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The report is in synchronization with the <a href="/loksabha-rajyasabha-discussions/in-depth-indias-sustainable-development-goals" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Sustainable Development Goal</strong></a>-4 which aims to ensure <strong>"inclusive and equitable quality education&rdquo;</strong> and promote lifelong learning opportunities for all.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Key Findings</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>There are more than <strong>78 lakh</strong> children with disabilities in India between <strong>5-19 years.</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Only<strong> 61%</strong> of them were attending an educational institution.</li>
<li>About <strong>12%</strong> had <strong>dropped out,</strong> while <strong>27%</strong> had <strong>never been</strong> to school at all.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>There are <strong>fewer girls</strong> with <strong>disabilities</strong> in schools than boys but when it comes to school enrollment , more girls with disabilities get left behind than boys.</li>
<li>According to UNESCO, India is home to <strong>8 million children with disabilities,</strong> and 45% of them fail to attain literacy. Globally 15% of people are disabled.</li>
<li>There are also differences among various types of disabilities like:<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>20%</strong> of children with <strong>visual</strong> and <strong>hearing impairments</strong> had never been in school.</li>
<li>The percentage of children attending schools is the lowest among those with <strong>multiple disabilities</strong>, mental illnesses, and mental retardation. (<strong>more than 50%</strong> do not attend schoo).</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>A large number of children with disabilities do not go to regular schools but are enrolled at the <strong>National Institute of Open Schooling</strong> (NIOS).<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>enrolment figures at NIOS shows a decline for most categories of disabilities between 2009 and 2015.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>National Institute of Open Schooling</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>NIOS is "Open School" to cater to the needs of a heterogeneous group of learners up to pre-degree level.</li>
<li>It was started as a project by the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE).</li>
<li><strong>The National Policy on Education</strong> suggested strengthening of Open School System for extending open learning facilities at secondary level all over the country as an independent system with its own curriculum and examination leading to certification.</li>
</ul>
</div>
<h3>Challenges</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/aser-report-2018" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Right to Education Act</strong> </a>mandates <strong>enrolment</strong>, but not the provision of <strong>resources</strong> needed for the actual education of a child with disabilities.</li>
<li>In many parts of rural India, if a parent opts for <strong>home-based education,</strong> the child may not be getting an education at all.</li>
<li>Laws relating to right to education and disabilities have certain ambiguities in terms of:<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Where children with disabilities should study.</li>
<li>Who should teach them.</li>
<li>Gaps in terms of appropriate <strong>norms and standards</strong> applicable to all educational institutions.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>lack of accessible physical<strong> infrastructure, assistive technologies,</strong> information and communication <strong>technology,</strong> and <strong>devices</strong> aggravates the situation of school dropout among disabled children.</li>
<li>Inadequate <strong>allocations, delays</strong> in releasing funds and <strong>under-utilization</strong> of allocation are key challenges in <strong>financing education</strong> for children with disabilities.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Recommendations</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Amendments to the Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education Act (RTE), so that it can be aligned with the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/status-on-implementation-of-the-rights-of-persons-with-disabilities-act-2016" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act, 2016</strong></a>.</li>
<li>Need for <strong>structural, funding and attitudinal</strong> changes to ensure that no child is left out of the right to education.</li>
<li>There should be concentrated <strong>campaigns</strong> and large scale <strong>awareness drives</strong> which can improve the attitude towards children with disabilities in the classroom and beyond.</li>
<li>Transformation of <strong>teaching practices</strong> is the need of the hour to aid the inclusion of diverse learners.</li>
<li>Establish a coordinating mechanism under the Ministry of Human Resource Development for effective <strong>convergence of all education programs</strong> of children with disabilities,</li>
</ul>',
			'postdate' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenTime) {},
			'url' => 'https://www.drishtiias.com/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/disability-and-rte-unesco-report'
		],
		(int) 10 => [
			'title' => 'Working Group on Core Investment Companies',
			'catname' => 'News Analysis',
			'desc' => '<p>The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has constituted a working group to review the regulatory guidelines and supervisory framework applicable for Core Investment Companies (CIC).</p>
<h3>Background</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>In August 2010, the Reserve Bank had introduced a separate framework for the regulation of systemically important Core Investment Companies (CICs).</li>
<li>This was done because of the differences in the business model of a holding company relative to other non-banking financial companies.</li>
<li>Over the years, corporate group structures have become more complex involving multiple layering and leveraging, which has led to greater inter-connectedness with the financial system through their access to public funds.</li>
<li>Further, in light of recent developments, there is a need to strengthen the corporate governance framework of CICs.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Terms of Reference</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The Terms of Reference of the Working Group are:<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>To examine the current regulatory framework for CICs in terms of adequacy, efficacy and effectiveness of every component thereof and suggest changes therein.</li>
<li>To assess the appropriateness of and suggest changes to the current approach of the <a href="/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-national-institutions/important-institutions-national-institution-reserve-bank-of-india" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Reserve Bank of India</a> towards registration of CICs including the practice of multiple CICs being allowed within a group.</li>
<li>To suggest measures to strengthen <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/mechanism-to-prevent-insider-trading-t-k-viswanathan-committee-kotak-panel-recommendations-sebi-gs-ias-upsc" target="_blank" rel="noopener">corporate governance</a> and disclosure requirements for CICs.</li>
<li>To assess the adequacy of supervisory returns submitted by CICs and suggest changes therein.</li>
<li>To suggest appropriate measures to enhance RBI&rsquo;s off-site surveillance and on-site supervision over CICs.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>The working group, headed by Tapan Ray, shall submit its report by October 31, 2019.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Core Investment Company</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Core Investment Companies (CICs) are a specialized <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/shadow-banking-and-the-crisis-in-the-indian-economy" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Non-Banking Financial Companies (NBFCs)</a>.</li>
<li>They have asset size of Rs 100 crore and above.</li>
<li>Their main business is acquisition of shares and securities with certain conditions.</li>
<li>It holds not less than 90% of its net assets in the form of investment in equity shares, preference shares, bonds, debentures, debt or loans in group companies.</li>
<li>Its investments in the equity shares (including instruments compulsorily convertible into equity shares within a period not exceeding 10 years from the date of issue) in group companies constitutes not less than 60% of its net assets as mentioned in clause (iii) above.</li>
<li>It does not trade in its investments in shares, bonds, debentures, debt or loans in <strong>group companies</strong> except through block sale for the purpose of dilution or disinvestment.</li>
<li>It does not carry on any other financial activity referred to in RBI Act, 1934 except investment in bank deposits, money market instruments, government securities, loans to and investments in debt issuances of group companies or guarantees issued on behalf of <strong>group companies.</strong></li>
<li>It accepts public funds.</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Group Companies</strong></p>
<p>Group companies are an arrangement involving two or more entities related to each other through any of the following relationships, viz.,Subsidiary, Joint venture, Associate, Promoter-promotee for listed companies, a related party, Common brand name, and investment in equity shares of 20% and above.</p>
</div>',
			'postdate' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenTime) {},
			'url' => 'https://www.drishtiias.com/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/working-group-on-core-investment-companies'
		],
		(int) 11 => [
			'title' => 'Total Solar Eclipse 2019',
			'catname' => 'News Analysis',
			'desc' => '<p>A Total Solar Eclipse was witnessed in the region of the South Pacific and parts of South America (Mainly Chile and Argentina)</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>This was the only Total Solar Eclipse of 2019.</li>
<li>The astonishing thing about this Total eclipse was that it was viewed from the world&rsquo;s clearest skies (Atacama desert).</li>
<li>The Total Solar Eclipse was not visible in India,</li>
</ul>
<h3>Solar and Lunar Eclipse</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Eclipses are divided into two major types: Solar and Lunar. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Solar eclipses</strong> occur when the Sun, Moon and earth all fall in the same line so that the Moon passes between Earth and the Sun, leaving a moving region of shadow on Earth&rsquo;s surface.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/928image4.jpg" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/928image4.jpg" width="487" height="211" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" caption="false" /></a></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Lunar eclipses</strong> occur when the Sun, Moon and earth all fall in the same line and Earth passes between the Sun and the Moon, casting a shadow on the Moon.</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/629image2.jpg" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/629image2.jpg" width="543" height="325" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" caption="false" /></a></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Eclipses may be classified into 4 types i.e. Annular, Total, Partial and Hybrid</li>
<li>The type of eclipse we experience depends on the type of shadow that is involved.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Both the Moon and Earth cast 3 shadows: umbra, penumbra, and an antumbra.<a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/882image5.jpg" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/882image5.jpg" width="316" height="172" style="float: right;" caption="false" /></a><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>The umbra is a shadow's dark core: It means If you are standing within the umbra, you will not be able to see any part of the light source as the object blocks all direct light rays.</li>
<li>The penumbra is a half-shadow that occurs when a light source is only partly covered by an object</li>
<li>Antumbra &ndash; the lighter part of the shadow that begins where the umbra ends.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>In Total or annular solar eclipse:</strong> The Moon completely covers the Sun completely but whether an eclipse is total or annular depends on the distance between these three objects(Sun, Moon and Earth)<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Earth travels in an elliptical orbit around the Sun, and the Moon travels in an elliptical orbit around Earth, so the distance between these celestial bodies changes.</li>
<li><strong>Annular solar eclipse:<a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/195image8.jpg" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/195image8.jpg" width="144" height="210" style="float: right;" caption="false" /></a></strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>When the Sun is nearest to Earth and the Moon is at or near its greatest distance, the Moon appears smaller than the Sun in the sky. When an eclipse of the Sun happens in this situation, the Moon will not appear large enough to cover the disk of the Sun completely, and a rim or ring of light will remain visible in the sky.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Total solar eclipse:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Total solar eclipses occur when the New Moon comes between the Sun and Earth and casts the darkest part of its shadow, the umbra, on Earth. A full solar eclipse, known as totality, is almost as dark as night.</li>
<li>During a total eclipse of the Sun, the Moon covers the entire disk of the Sun. In partial and annular solar eclipses, the Moon blocks only part of the Sun.</li>
<li>When Moon completely covers the disk of the Sun, only the Sun's corona is visible.</li>
<li>It is called Total eclipse because at the maximum point of the eclipse( midpoint of time of totality), the sky goes dark and temperatures can fall.<a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/708image3.jpg" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/708image3.jpg" width="256" height="144" style="float: right;" caption="false" /></a></li>
<li>The reason why solar eclipses are so rare is that the Moon's umbra rarely hits the Earth's surface. Even during a total solar eclipse, the umbra only covers a small area on earth(path of totality)</li>
<li>That's why viewing a solar eclipse often depends upon where the viewer observes the event. A partial eclipse may be seen by viewers who stand outside of the region of shadow created by the umbra&mdash;the path of totality&mdash;but who remain within the large region of shadow covered by the penumbra, a region of lesser shadow where some light still penetrates.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Hybrid Eclipse :</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>A hybrid eclipse is a rare type of solar eclipse that changes its appearance as the Moon's shadow moves across the Earth's surface.</li>
<li>A hybrid eclipse is a type of solar eclipse that looks like an annular solar eclipse or a total solar eclipse, depending on the observer's location along the central eclipse path.</li>
<li>During a hybrid solar eclipse, the Earth's curvature brings some sections of the eclipse path into the Moon's umbra, the darkest part of its shadow that creates total solar eclipses, while other areas remain outside the umbra's reach, causing an annular eclipse.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>Both solar and lunar eclipses may also occur as <strong>Partial Eclipses.</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>A partial eclipse of the Sun also results when the Moon&rsquo;s penumbra falls on Earth but its umbra does not.</li>
<li>A partial eclipse of the Moon occurs when the Moon passes through only part of Earth&rsquo;s umbra or only its penumbra.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>The Moon does experience total eclipses. If the eclipse is a total lunar eclipse, the Moon will pass through the umbra (area of total shadow) created by Earth over the course of about two hours.</li>
<li><strong>There are no Annular lunar eclipse because the Earth is much bigger than the Moon, and its shadow will never be small enough to leave a ring.</strong></li>
<li><strong>Since Moon is much smaller than Earth, there is no path of totality in a lunar eclipse. The eclipse will be visible to any observer on the night side of Earth when the eclipse occurs.</strong></li>
<li><strong>During lunar eclipse, Moon does not typically go completely dark; it often takes on a red color, because the redder parts of sunlight that penetrate Earth&rsquo;s atmosphere are refracted into the umbra, and this light reaches the Moon.</strong></li>
</ul>',
			'postdate' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenTime) {},
			'url' => 'https://www.drishtiias.com/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/total-solar-eclipse-2019'
		],
		(int) 12 => [
			'title' => 'Ascent Abort Test-2',
			'catname' => 'News Analysis',
			'desc' => '<p>NASA has carried out a successful test of a <strong>Launch-Abort System (LAS)</strong> for the <strong>Orion capsule</strong> designed to take U.S. astronauts to the Moon.</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The test of the Orion&rsquo;s LAS is also called the <strong>Ascent Abort Test-2 (AA-2).<a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/880image1.jpg" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/880image1.jpg" style="float: right;" caption="false" width="249" height="640" /></a></strong></li>
<li>The <strong>aim</strong> was to test in almost real-life conditions the evacuation of astronauts from the capsule in the event of an explosion or rocket booster failure.</li>
<li>The test is a milestone in NASA's <strong>preparation for Artemis missions</strong> to the Moon that will ultimately lead to astronaut missions to Mars.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The <strong>Artemis program</strong> will send the <strong>first woman and the next man to the Moon by the year 2024</strong> and develop a sustainable human presence on the Moon by the year 2028.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Orion Capsule</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The safest spacecraft ever built, Orion, will <strong>execute the Artemis program.</strong></li>
<li>An integral part of ensuring safe spaceflight is Orion&rsquo;s Launch Abort System, or LAS. This<strong> state-of-the-art crew escape system</strong> is attached to the top of the spacecraft and can propel the crew module away from the rocket within milliseconds should a life-threatening event arise during launch.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Demonstration by the test</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>In the test, an unmanned Orion capsule was launched by a mini-rocket.</li>
<li>Fifty-five seconds after the launch, at an altitude of 9,500 m, a rocket-powered tower on top of the crew module ignited its engines to quickly <strong>pull the Orion away from a hypothetical rocket experiencing problems.</strong></li>
<li>In just 15 seconds, the capsule gained two miles of altitude. Then the tower reoriented the capsule to prepare it for descent and disengagement from the tower, finally <strong>the crew module fell into the Atlantic Ocean.</strong></li>
<li>In real-life conditions, parachutes would also open to ease the manned capsule's fall toward the Atlantic Ocean.</li>
</ul>',
			'postdate' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenTime) {},
			'url' => 'https://www.drishtiias.com/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/ascent-abort-test-2'
		],
		(int) 13 => [
			'title' => 'Trade Infrastructure for Export Scheme',
			'catname' => 'News Analysis',
			'desc' => '<p>The Department of Commerce, under the Union Ministry of Commerce and Industry, has approved financial assistance for three trade promotion centres under the TIES.</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The following are the approved projects with their implementing agencies:<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Establishment of <strong>Main Exhibition Building (Phase-II)</strong> at Trade cum Permanent Exhibition Centre at Imphal, Manipur <strong>by Manipur Industrial Development Corporation (MANIDCO).</strong></li>
<li>Expansion of <strong>Chennai Trade Centre</strong> by Tamil Nadu Trade Promotion Organisation</li>
<li>Establishment of <strong>Trade Promotion Centre at Minto Hall,</strong> Bhopal <strong>by M.P. State Tourism Development Corporation</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Trade Infrastructure for Export Scheme (TIES)</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Union Ministry of Commerce and Industry launched the Trade Infrastructure for Export Scheme (TIES) in March, 2017.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>After delinking of the Assistance to States for Development of Export Infrastructure and Allied Activities (ASIDE) Scheme in 2015, the State Governments had been consistently requesting the support of the Centre in creation of export infrastructure.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/222image6.jpg" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/222image6.jpg" width="585" height="431" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" caption="false" /></a></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The scheme would provide assistance for setting up and up-gradation of infrastructure projects with overwhelming export linkages like the Border Haats, Land customs stations, quality testing and certification labs, cold chains, trade promotion centres, dry ports, export warehousing and packaging, SEZs and ports/airports cargo terminuses.</li>
<li>The Central and State Agencies, including Export Promotion Councils, Commodities Boards, SEZ Authorities and Apex Trade Bodies recognised under the EXIM policy of Government of India; are eligible for financial support under this scheme.</li>
<li>The proposals of the implementing agencies for funding will be considered by an inter ministerial Empowered Committee.</li>
<li>An Empowered Committee has to periodically review the progress of the approved projects in the Scheme and will take necessary steps to ensure achievement of the objectives of the Scheme.</li>
<li>The Central Government funding will be in the form of grant-in-aid, normally not more than the equity being put in by the implementing agency or 50% of the total equity in the project. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>In case of projects located in North Eastern States and Himalayan States including J&amp;K, this grant can be up to 80% of the total equity.</li>
<li>The grant in aid shall, normally, be subject to a ceiling of Rs 20 Cr for each infrastructure project.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>In June, 2018, the Commerce Ministry approved 16 projects for export infrastructure under TIES
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The implementing agencies of these projects included Karnataka Fisheries Development Corporation Ltd; Visvesvaraya Trade Promotion Centre, Bengaluru; Cochin SEZ; Airport Authority of India, Coffee Board, Exports Inspection Council and Andhra Pradesh Med Tech Zone (AMTZ).</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</div>',
			'postdate' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenTime) {},
			'url' => 'https://www.drishtiias.com/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/trade-infrastructure-for-export-scheme'
		],
		(int) 14 => [
			'title' => 'In Depth – India’s Health Index',
			'catname' => 'Lok Sabha & Rajya Sabha Discussions',
			'desc' => '<p style="text-align: center;"><iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/wVSW400nxpQ" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe></p>
<p>In <strong>2017,</strong> <a href="/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-national-institutions/niti-aayog-national-institution-for-transforming-india" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>NITI Aayog</strong></a>, in collaboration with the <a href="/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-international-institution/world-bank-group" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>World Bank</strong></a> and the <strong>Ministry of Health and Family Welfare,</strong> developed the first comprehensive State <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/niti-aayog-s-health-index" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Health Index</strong></a> in India. The first edition of <strong>&ldquo;Healthy States, Progressive India - Report on the Ranks of States and Union Territories&rdquo;,</strong> was released in<strong> February, 2018.</strong> It was the first attempt to establish an annual systematic tool to measure the heterogeneity of the nation&rsquo;s performance in the health sector. The index was launched with the hope <strong>to promote a cooperative and competitive spirit among the states and UTs.</strong></p>
<p><strong>The second edition,</strong> released on <strong>June 25, 2019,</strong> focuses on measuring the overall performance and incremental <strong>improvement over a two year period (2016-17 and 2017-18)</strong> in all states and union territories. The <strong>base year taken is 2015-16.</strong> For the second time in a row, Kerala has emerged as the top ranking state in overall health performance, while Uttar Pradesh was the worst-performing state.</p>
<h3>NITI Aayog Health Index 2018</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The indicators, methodology and categorisation of states and union territories in the health index 2018 were broadly <strong>consistent with the year 2017</strong> edition with a total of <strong>23 indicators</strong> grouped into the domains of <strong>health outcomes, governance and information and key inputs and processes.</strong></li>
<li>There were many indicators like birthweight of the child at the time of birth, sex ratio, accredition of healthcare facilities, infectious diseases like tuberculosis being controlled as per the government norms etc.</li>
<li>The states were <strong>ranked in two ways:</strong> on the <strong>overall</strong> or historical <strong>performance</strong> and on the <strong>incremental performance.</strong></li>
</ul>
<p><strong>How is it different?</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The Health Index is an attempt by NITI Aayog to bring the <strong>focus on outcomes such as lower mortality and fertility rates.</strong> Generally, the practice is to look at the quantum of budget and the amount that has been spent and also some kinds of infrastructure like clinics, Primary Healthcare Centres (PHCs), district hospitals etc.</li>
<li>It is also a tool for assessing <strong>India&rsquo;s readiness on achieving the <a href="/loksabha-rajyasabha-discussions/in-depth-indias-sustainable-development-goals" target="_blank" rel="noopener">SDG goals</a></strong></li>
<li>It also sets up incentives for the states that if they perform well on the health system measurements, more funds will be allocated to them. The Index has been linked to incentives under the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/national-health-mission-and-janani-suraksha-yojana" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>National Health Mission.</strong></a></li>
</ul>
<h3>2018 Rankings</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>States and union territories, on the basis of population, have been ranked in three categories: Larger states, Smaller states and Union territories, to ensure comparison among similar entities.</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>Larger States</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Among the larger states, <strong>Kerala, Andhra Pradesh and Maharashtra</strong> are ranked on<strong> top</strong> in <strong>overall performance.</strong></li>
<li>Gujarat, Punjab and Himachal Pradesh are fourth, fifth and sixth respectively.</li>
<li>Uttar Pradesh, Bihar and Odisha were among the worst performing states.</li>
<li>In terms of annual <strong>incremental performance, Haryana, Rajasthan and Jharkhand</strong> are the <strong>top</strong> three states.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>These states also show the <strong>maximum gains in improvement of health outcomes from base to reference year</strong> in indicators such as neonatal mortality rate (NMR), under-five mortality rate (U5MR), the proportion of low birth weight among newborns, proportion of community health centres and public health centres with quality accreditation certificates, full immunization coverage, institutional deliveries, and proportion of specialist positions vacant at district hospitals.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>Smaller States</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Among the smaller states, <strong>Mizoram ranked first</strong> followed by Manipur on overall performance. <strong>Tripura</strong> followed by Manipur were the top two states in terms of annual <strong>incremental performance.</strong>
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Manipur registered maximum incremental progress on indicators such as full immunization coverage, institutional deliveries and total case notification rate of tuberculosis.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>Sikkim and Arunchal Pradesh had the biggest decrease in overall health index scores among the smaller states.</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>Union Territories</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Among the UTs, <strong>Chandigarh</strong> followed by <strong>Dadra and Nagar Haveli</strong> occupied the<strong> top two</strong> positions in terms of overall performance as well as annual incremental performance.</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>Other Findings</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The report highlighted a <strong>decline</strong> in the overall health index score of the <strong>five empowered action group (EAG)</strong> states of <strong>Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Madhya Pradesh, and Odisha</strong> because of deterioration in various parameters.</li>
<li>The report points out that there was a general <strong>positive correlation between the heath index scores and the economic development levels</strong> of states and union territories as measured by per capita net state domestic product.</li>
<li>The report also notes that overall there is a room for improvement in all states even among the best.</li>
<li>Many states have also made good progress towards achieving the Sustainable Development Goals included in the index.</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>HAQ Index</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>When it comes to world rankings, <strong>India was ranked 145<sup>th</sup></strong> among 195 countries on Healthcare Access and Quality (HAQ) index in 2016.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The index is based on 32 causes of death considered preventable with effective medical care.</li>
<li>It assigns a 0-100 score to each of the 195 countries and territories assessed.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>The comprehensive index released by Global Burden of Disease, funded by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation says that despite such low rankings, India has seen <strong>improvement in HAQ since the year 1990.</strong> India&rsquo;s HAQ score 41.2 has improved from 24.7 score in the year 1990.</li>
<li>Despite the16.5-point improvement in 26 years, India&rsquo;s score is well <strong>below the global average of 54.4.</strong></li>
<li><strong>India lags way behind its <a href="/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-international-institution/brics-1" target="_blank" rel="noopener">BRICS</a> peers</strong> Brazil, Russia, China and South Africa on the HAQ index.</li>
<li>India, however, matches China in the <strong>disparity in healthcare access and quality between states.</strong>
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Within India, the <strong>best performers Kerala and Goa</strong> scored more than 60 points on the HAQ index in the year 2016.</li>
<li>Other top performers in order of rank are Delhi (56.2), Himachal Pradesh (51.7) and the union territories other than Delhi (56.2).</li>
<li>The <strong>worst performers were</strong> Chhattisgarh and Jharkhand, Bihar (37), Odisha (36.3), Uttar Pradesh (34.9) and Assam (34).</li>
<li>This gap between the highest and lowest scores increased from a 23.4 point difference in the year 1990 to a 30.8 difference in the year 2016.</li>
<li>The study said that these <strong>regional differences in India could be due to</strong> multiple reasons such as large variations in physical access to health facilities, the state of health infrastructure, the level and scale-up of medical technologies, and the provision of effective services across the spectrum of care.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>According to the index, India ranks worse than Bangladesh, Sri Lanka and Bhutan among its neighbours but better than Pakistan, Afghanistan and Nepal.</li>
<li>India&rsquo;s rank is also worse than that of many poorer countries in Sub-Saharan Africa such as Sudan (136), Equatorial Guinea (129), Botswana (122) and Namibia (137).</li>
<li>The study found that, generally, <strong>countries that spend more on health per capita</strong> and had better health systems <strong>scored higher on the HAQ</strong> index. According to a report by the Journal IndiaSpend, <strong>India spends just 1.4% of its GDP on health.</strong> The <a href="/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-international-institution/united-nations-1" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>World Health Organization (WHO)</strong></a> recommends that countries should spend 4-5% of their GDP on health to achieve <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/universal-health-coverage" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>universal healthcare.</strong></a></li>
</ul>
</div>
<h3>India&rsquo;s Healthcare System</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The healthcare delivery system is categorised into two major components: <strong>public and private.</strong></li>
<li><strong>The public healthcare system</strong> is made up of <strong>secondary and tertiary care institutions</strong> in key cities and provides basic healthcare facilities in the form of <strong>Primary Healthcare Centres</strong> in rural areas.</li>
<li><strong>The private sector</strong> provides the majority of <strong>secondary, tertiary, quaternary care institutions</strong> with a major concentration in metros, Tier-1 and Tier-2 cities.</li>
<li>India&rsquo;s healthcare industry is one of the fastest growing sectors and is expected to reach 280 billion by the year 2020.</li>
<li>India is also one of the leading destinations for high end diagnostics services with tremendous capital investment for advanced diagnostic facilities.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Indian Healthcare Initiatives</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>India is on course to attain sustainable development goal targets for maternal and child health, much ahead of the agreed date of 2030.</li>
<li>In 2014, the central government launched the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/anaemia-in-women" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Pradhan Mantri Surakshit Matritva Abhiyan</strong></a> as part of which doctors pledged a day of service per month to the campaign and 16 million ante-natal care check-ups were performed.</li>
<li>In August 2018, the Government approved <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/ayushmanbharat" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Ayushman Bharat</strong></a>-<strong>National Health Protection Mission</strong> contributed by both the center and the state government at a ratio of 60:40 for all States, 90:10 for hilly North Eastern States and 60:40 for Union Territories with legislature. It provides <strong>healthcare facilities to over 10 crore urban and rural poor families.</strong></li>
<li>On September 23, 2018, the government launched the <strong><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/ayushmanbharat" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana</a> (PMJAY),</strong> a cashless health insurance cover of up to Rs. 5 lakh per family per year covering 500 million poor citizens.</li>
<li>The mission <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/intensified-mission-indradhanush-best-practice-in-the-world-bmj" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Indradhanush</strong></a> covers immunization. Under this, the government reached 32.8 million children and 8.4 million pregnant women in the last three years. The number of vaccines has been increased from 7 to 12.</li>
<li>To address <strong>malnutrition</strong> among children, the government launched <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/poshan-abhiyaan" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>POSHAN Abhiyan</strong></a> and is also implementing <strong>Rashtriya Bal Swasthya Karyakram</strong> that has provided 800 million health check-ups and free referral treatment to 20 million children in the last 4 years.</li>
<li>The <strong>Pradhan Mantri Matru Vandana Yojana</strong> is expected to benefit 50 million pregnant women and lactating mothers. The scheme enables direct benefit transfer to their bank accounts to compensate for wage loss, enable better nutrition and adequate rest before and after delivery.</li>
</ul>',
			'postdate' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenTime) {},
			'url' => 'https://www.drishtiias.com/loksabha-rajyasabha-discussions/in-depth-indias-health-index'
		],
		(int) 15 => [
			'title' => 'Russia: An all-weather defence partner',
			'catname' => 'News Editorials',
			'desc' => '<div class="border">
<p>This article is based on the editorial<a href="https://www.thehindubusinessline.com/opinion/russia-an-all-weather-defence-partner/article28263881.ece" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong> &ldquo;Russia: An all-weather defence partner&rdquo;</strong> </a>that appeared in the Hindu Business Line on 3 July 2019. It highlights the importance of Russia in India&rsquo;s strategic interest.</p>
</div>
<p>In March 2019, India signed an Intergovernmental Agreement (IGA) with Russia to lease another of its <strong>Akula-Class attack nuclear submarines (SSN).</strong> The agreement has invited a serious reaction from the USA over India's defence relationship with Russia. Russia is in the middle of economic sanctions imposed of USA under <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/indias-balancing-with-sco" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>CAATSA</strong></a>, USA has also been critical about India-Russia <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/indias-balancing-with-sco" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>S-400 Triumf deal</strong></a>.</p>
<p>During the Cold War, Indo and US were referred to as estranged democracies or as described by David Malone: The blind man and the elephant trying to understand each other. But this strategic realignment by India should not be at the expense of neglect of Russia, as Russia is an all-weather defence partner of India.</p>
<h3>What is the importance of Russia for India?</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>After the end of the cold war, it became imperative for India to look westwards and by the start of the 21st century, the USA and India turned into strategic partners.</li>
<li>But it can be said that the idea and inspiration for India did come from technological strides made by the US, however, its implementation was done with the help of Russia.</li>
<li>In early 1966, India&rsquo;s Atomic Energy establishment started a feasibility programme on naval nuclear propulsion. India approached the US for its quest to develop marine propulsion.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>But the US disapproved India's plea due to its broader policy of nuclear non-proliferation and arms control, and the need to maintain a strategic balance in South Asia.</li>
<li>Also, the sanctions imposed on India after the 1974 nuclear test further deserted India of high-end technology exposure from the western countries</li>
<li>In this scenario, Russia agreed to help India&rsquo;s indigenous nuclear submarine programme. It also acquiesced to leasing India its first nuclear submarine.</li>
<li>India had leased an Akula-class SSBN from Moscow in 2012. Rechristened as Chakra in the Indian fleet, it will continue to serve the Indian Navy until the commissioning of the new Akula submarine, most likely by 2025.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>The US only provides non-lethal defence technology(which can't be used in event of war against Pakistan) like C-130 Super Hercules, C-13 Globemaster, P-8i Poseidon etc, while Russia provides high-end technology like Brahmos supersonic missile, 5<sup>th</sup> generation fighter aircraft Pak Fa, S-400 anti-missile system.</li>
<li>While India has diversified its defence procurement from Russia to Israel, France, US etc but still India is dependent on Russia for spare parts as India's current defence infrastructure is heavily Russian dominated.</li>
<li>Though Russia is not a superpower like it used to be in Soviet-era but in current times Russia has resurged, with its engagement in Afghanistan, Syria it has outsmarted the west. In this scenario, Russia remains a formidable player in international relations.</li>
<li>Also, Russia's support for India is critical for UNSC reforms and support on Kashmir.</li>
<li>Further sanctions on Russia have led to tactical convergence between Russia and China. If India gives in to American pressure vis-a-vis Russia, it will further push the convergence between Russia and China which may be not in India's favour.</li>
<li>Also, an independent Russia is essential to keep Asia&rsquo;s geopolitics in balance, especially given the rise of China.</li>
<li>Russia's role is very critical for the success of the International North-south Corridor and India's access to Central Asia.</li>
<li>Russia has signalled that if India can exercise its sovereignty in the diversification of defence partners then Russia also has other options(engagement with Pakistan), which may not be in India's interest.</li>
<li>India can benefit from hi-tech cooperation with Russia in the fields of artificial intelligence, robotics, biotechnology, outer space and nanotechnology and energy sector and other areas of critical technology</li>
</ul>
<h3>Way forward</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>India must promote a mutually beneficial trilateral cooperation between Russia, China and India that could contribute towards the reduction of mistrust and suspicion between India and China.</li>
<li>India today is in a unique position where it has favourable relation with all great powers, India must leverage this position to help in building a peaceful world order.</li>
<li>India can also build upon and benefit from increase of trade between India and Russia.</li>
</ul>
<p>Russia&rsquo;s closeness with China and Pakistan is tactical, mainly induced due to western sanctions, whereas Russia-India partnership is strategic. Russia always saw India as balancer that's why Russia facilitated India's inclusion into SCO and formation of RIC doctrine.</p>
<p>But if India didn't take proactive measures vis a vis Russia, and if Russia and China convergence continues to grow. In this context Russia can't act as a balancer for India against China. So India must very carefully conduct its foreign policy which is based on a long term policy, as Russia and India friendship is a win-win situation for both.<br /><br /></p>
<table border="1" style="border-collapse: collapse; width: 100%;">
<tbody>
<tr style="border-color: #fca4a4;">
<td style="width: 561.111px; background-color: #f7f6c8;"><span style="color: #ff0000;"><em><strong>Drishti Input</strong></em></span><br />Contemporary geopolitics presses the need for strategic convergence between India and the US, but it should not come at the expense of neglect of Russia by India. Comment.</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>',
			'postdate' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenTime) {},
			'url' => 'https://www.drishtiias.com/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/russia-an-all-weather-defence-partner'
		],
		(int) 16 => [
			'title' => 'Anti Locust Fight',
			'catname' => 'News Analysis',
			'desc' => '<p>The <strong>officials from India and Pakistan</strong> are closely working together to <strong>prevent the movement of locusts</strong> and save crops in bordering districts.</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Both the countries are also consistently sharing inputs, including satellite data, via Food and Agricultural Organization (FAO) to counter and restrict the movement of locusts.</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Food and Agricultural Organization</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>In 1945, Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) was created In Quebec City, Canada, by the first session of the newly created United Nations.</li>
<li>FAO is a specialized agency of the United Nations that leads international efforts to defeat hunger.</li>
<li>FAO is also a source of knowledge and information, and helps developing countries in transition modernize and improve agriculture, forestry and fisheries practices, ensuring good nutrition and food security for all.</li>
</ul>
</div>
<h3>Locust</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>A locust is a large,<strong> mainly tropical grasshopper</strong> with strong powers of flight. They <strong>differ from ordinary grasshoppers</strong> in their ability to change behaviour (gregarize) and form swarms that can migrate over large distances.</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/201image6.jpg" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/201image6.jpg" width="538" height="469" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" caption="false" /></a></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Locusts are generally seen during the<strong> months of June and July</strong> as the insects are active from summer to the rainy season.</li>
<li><strong>Locusts have a high capacity to multiply, form groups, migrate over</strong> relatively large distances (they can fly up to 150 km per day) and, if good rains fall and ecological conditions become favourable, rapidly reproduce and increase some 20-fold in three months.</li>
<li><strong>Threat to Vegetation: </strong>Locust adults can eat their own weight every day, i.e. about two grams of fresh vegetation per day. A very <strong>small swarm eats as much in one day as about 35,000 people,</strong> posing a devastating threat to crops and food security.</li>
<li><strong>If infestations are not detected and controlled, devastating plagues can develop</strong> that often take several years and hundreds of millions of dollars to bring under control with severe consequences on food security and livelihoods.</li>
<li><strong>Locust Control measures</strong> include destroying egg masses laid by invading swarms, digging trenches to trap nymphs, using hopperdozers (wheeled screens that cause locusts to fall into troughs containing water and kerosene), using insecticidal baits, and applying insecticides to both swarms and breeding grounds from aircraft.</li>
<li><strong>FAO</strong> provides information on the general locust situation to the global community and gives <strong>timely warnings</strong> and <strong>forecasts</strong> to those countries in danger of invasion.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The FAO raised alarm over the locust outbreak in northeast Africa and Saudi Arabia in February, 2019.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Locusts in India</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Four species</strong> viz. Desert locust (Schistocerca gregaria), Migratory locust (Locusta migratoria), Bombay Locust ( Nomadacris succincta) and Tree locust (Anacridium sp.) are found in India.</li>
<li>The existing series of locust swarms that have entered India via Pakistan had originated in Iran. Movement of locusts is facilitated by summer dusty winds, which flow from the Arabian Sea, taking along these creatures from Sindh in Pakistan to western Rajasthan.</li>
<li>These creatures have wreaked havoc in Pakistan but have not caused any damage on the Indian side.</li>
<li><strong>Locust Warning Organisation (LWO), Jodhpur</strong> is currently handling 13-16 swarms of locusts in Jaisalmer and Barmer districts of Rajasthan. It is currently using a <strong>pesticide 'malathion'.</strong>
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The last major locust outbreak that was reported in Rajasthan was in the year 1993.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Locust Warning Organization ( LWO)</h3>
<p><a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/239image1.jpg" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/239image1.jpg" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="492" height="328" caption="false" /></a></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Locust Warning Organisation (LWO), Directorate of Plant Protection Quarantine and Storage, <strong>Ministry of Agriculture &amp; Farmers Welfare,</strong>&nbsp;is responsible for monitoring, survey and control of Desert Locust in Scheduled Desert Areas mainly in the States of Rajasthan and Gujarat.</li>
<li>Incursion of exotic locust swarms into India is prevented through organization of suitable control operation. LWO keeps itself abreast with the prevailing locust situation at National and International level through monthly Desert Locust Bulletins of FAO.</li>
<li>Its <strong>objectives</strong> include:
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>To monitor, forewarn and control locust in Scheduled Desert Area (SDA) being International obligation and commitment.</li>
<li>To conduct research on locust and grasshoppers.</li>
<li>Liaison and coordination with National and International Organizations.</li>
<li>Human resource development through training and demonstration for staff of Locust Warning Organization (LWO), State officials, BSF personnel and Farmers.</li>
<li>To maintain control potential to combat locust emergency by organizing locust control campaign.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>',
			'postdate' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenTime) {},
			'url' => 'https://www.drishtiias.com/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/anti-locust-fight'
		],
		(int) 17 => [
			'title' => 'Suicides in India',
			'catname' => 'News Analysis',
			'desc' => '<p>According to <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/ncrb-to-track-complaints-on-sexual-violence" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB)</strong></a>&rsquo;s &lsquo;Accidental Deaths and Suicides in India&rsquo; report for 2015, there were 1,336,623 suicides across the country that year.</p>
<p><a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/320image3.jpg" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/320image3.jpg" width="476" height="319" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" caption="false" /></a></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Among all states, Maharashtra (16,970) had the highest number of suicides in 2015. <a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/668image2.jpg" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/668image2.jpg" width="200" height="240" style="float: right;" caption="false" /></a><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>It is followed by Tamil Nadu (15,777).</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>In exception, Uttar Pradesh, the most populous state, had the 11th highest suicide count (3,902).</li>
<li>Bihar, one of the country&rsquo;s most populous states, was another exception, with its count of 516 suicides lower than that of many smaller states.</li>
<li>As per report, one-third of the suicides in the country in 2015 were committed by young adults under age 30, and another one-third by people in the age group 30-45.</li>
</ul>',
			'postdate' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenTime) {},
			'url' => 'https://www.drishtiias.com/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/suicides-in-india'
		],
		(int) 18 => [
			'title' => 'Heat Stress and Labour Productivity: ILO Report',
			'catname' => 'News Analysis',
			'desc' => '<p><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/100th-anniversary-of-ilo" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>The International Labour Organisation</strong></a> (ILO) in its report <strong>&lsquo;Working on a Warmer Planet: The Impact of Heat Stress on Labour Productivity and Decent Work&rsquo;</strong> revealed that rising <strong>heat stress</strong> due to <strong>climate change</strong> could lead to the loss of <strong>80 million</strong> jobs by <strong>2030</strong>.</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The report makes its projections based on a global temperature rise of <strong>1.5&deg;Celsius</strong> by the end of the century.</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Heat Stress</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>It refers to <strong>heat in excess</strong> of what the body can tolerate without suffering physiological impairment.</li>
<li>It generally occurs at temperatures <strong>above 35&deg;C</strong>, in high <strong>humidity</strong>.</li>
<li>Excess heat during work is an <strong>occupational health risk</strong> as it restricts workers<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Physical functions</strong> and capabilities,</li>
<li>Work <strong>capacity</strong> and thus, <strong>productivity.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>Extreme heat can cause heat-related illnesses, such as <strong>heat stroke</strong> and <strong>exhaustion,</strong> increase <strong>mortality</strong>, and exacerbate existing health conditions.</li>
<li>According to <strong>the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/strategy-against-the-threat-of-influenza" target="_blank" rel="noopener">World Health Organisation</a></strong> heat stress linked to climate change is likely to cause 38,000 extra <strong>deaths</strong> a year worldwide <strong>between 2030 and 2050.</strong></li>
</ul>
</div>
<h3>Key Findings</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Economic Loss: 2% of total working hours</strong> worldwide is projected to be lost (costing the global economy <strong>$2.4 trillion</strong>) every year, either because it is too hot to work or because workers have to work at a slower pace.<a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/468image5.jpg" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/468image5.jpg" width="518" height="309" style="float: right;" caption="false" /></a></li>
<li><strong>Affected Sectors:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Agricultural workers,</strong> especially women, who make up the bulk of the 940 million laborers in the sector will be most affected.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Agricultural sector is projected to account for<strong> 60%</strong> of global working hours lost due to heat stress by the year 2030.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Construction sector</strong> will also be severely impacted with an estimated <strong>19%</strong> of global working hours lost by 2030.</li>
<li>Other sectors like <strong>environmental goods and services,</strong> refuse collection, emergency, repair work, <strong>transport, tourism, sports</strong> and some form of <strong>industrial work</strong> will be worst affected by rising heat.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Affected Regions:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The regions losing the most working hours are expected to be <strong>southern Asia and western Africa,</strong> where approximately <strong>5%</strong> of working hours are expected to be lost in 2030.</li>
<li>According to ILO, India lost 4.3% of working hours in 1995 because of heat stress, and it is projected to lose <strong>5.8%</strong> of its <strong>working hours</strong> in <strong>2030,</strong> which corresponds to <strong>34 million jobs.</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Most of the impact in India will be felt in the <strong>agricultural sector</strong> and more <strong>working hours</strong> are expected to be lost in the <strong>construction sector</strong>, where heat stress affects both male and female workers.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Social Consequence:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>It could lead to more <strong>inequality</strong> between low and high income countries and <strong>worsening working conditions</strong> for the most vulnerable.</li>
<li>Heat stress will affect <strong>millions of women</strong> who make up the majority of workers in subsistence agriculture, as well as men who dominate the construction industry.</li>
<li>The social consequences of heat stress may include <strong>increasing migration,</strong> as workers leave rural areas to look for better prospects.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Way Forward</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Design, finance and implement <strong>national policies</strong> to address heat stress risks and protect workers.</li>
<li>Adequate<strong> infrastructure</strong> and improved <strong>early warning systems</strong> for heat events, and improved implementation of<strong> international labour standards</strong> such as in the area of occupational safety and health to help design policies to tackle heat-related hazards.</li>
<li>Employers and workers are best placed to <strong>assess risks and take appropriate action</strong> at the <strong>workplace</strong> so that workers can cope with high temperatures and continue to do their jobs.</li>
<li><strong>Employers</strong> can provide <strong>drinking water,</strong> and <strong>training</strong> on recognizing and managing heat stress.</li>
<li><strong>Social dialogue</strong> can play a crucial role in reaching consensus on indoor and outdoor working methods, adapting working hours, dress codes and equipment, use of new<strong> technologies,</strong> shade and rest breaks.</li>
</ul>',
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		(int) 19 => [
			'title' => 'National Centre for Polar and Ocean Research (NCPOR)',
			'catname' => 'News Analysis',
			'desc' => '<p>The <strong>six <a href="/loksabha-rajyasabha-discussions/in-depth-melting-himalayas" target="_blank" rel="noopener">himalayan glaciers</a>,</strong> monitored by the National Centre for Polar and Ocean Research (NCPOR), have been <strong>retreating</strong> in the range of <strong>13 to 33 millimetres per year.</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Six glaciers i.e. Sutri Dhaka, Batal, Bara Shigri, Samudra Tapu, Gepang Gath and Kunzum, are monitored for mass, energy and hydrological balance.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Debris of thickness above two centimetres have reduced the melting rates up to 70 %, whereas the debris cover of below two centimetres thickness has accelerated melting up to 10 % of the total melting.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>The NCPOR has undertaken studies in the Western Himalaya in Chandra basin in Lahaul-Spiti (Himachal Pradesh) since 2013.</li>
<li>The NCPOR has also established a high altitude research station named 'Himansh' in <strong>Himalaya</strong> at 4,000 metres altitude at Sutri Dhaka.</li>
</ul>
<h3>National Centre for Polar and Ocean Research (NCPOR)</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>It was established as an autonomous Research and Development Institution of the Ministry of Earth Sciences on the 25<sup>th</sup> May 1998.</li>
<li>Earlier known as <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/india-to-expand-polar-research-to-arctic" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>National Centre for Antarctic and Ocean Research (NCAOR)</strong></a>, NCPOR is India&rsquo;s <strong>premier R&amp;D institution</strong> responsible for the country&rsquo;s research activities in the Polar and Southern Ocean realms.</li>
<li>It is the <strong>nodal agency</strong> for planning, promotion, coordination and execution of the entire gamut of polar and southern ocean scientific research in the country as well as for the associated logistics activities.</li>
<li>Its responsibilities include:<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Management and upkeep of the <strong>Indian Antarctic Research Bases</strong> &ldquo;Maitri&rdquo; and &ldquo;Bharati&rdquo;, and the <strong>Indian Arctic base</strong> &ldquo;Himadri&rdquo;.</li>
<li>Management of the Ministry&rsquo;s research vessel <strong>ORV Sagar Kanya</strong> as well as the other research vessels chartered by the Ministry.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>The Ocean Research Vehicle (ORV) Sagar Kanya is a versatile ocean observing platform equipped with technologically advanced scientific equipment and related facilities.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>Playing a facilitatory role in the scientific research activities being undertaken by several national institutions and organizations in Antarctica, the Arctic and in the Indian Ocean sector of the Southern Ocean.</li>
<li>Playing a lead role in the geoscientific surveys of the country&rsquo;s <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/un-begins-talks-to-regulate-the-high-seas" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Exclusive Economic Zone</strong></a> (EEZ) and its extended continental shelf beyond 200m, deep-sea drilling in the Arabian Sea basin through the International Ocean Discovery Program (IODP), exploration for ocean non-living resources such as <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/iit-madras-team-produces-gas-hydrates" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>gas hydrates</strong></a> and multi-metal sulphides in mid-ocean ridges.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>It is <strong>located</strong> in the state of <strong>Goa.</strong></li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>International Ocean Discovery Program (IODP)</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>It is an <strong>international marine research collaboration</strong> that explores Earth's history and dynamics using ocean-going research platforms to recover data recorded in seafloor sediments and rocks and to monitor subseafloor environments.</li>
<li>It is in <strong>Phase II</strong> (tenured <strong>2013-2023</strong>) of what was formerly known as the <strong>Integrated Ocean Drilling Program &ndash; Phase I.</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Phase I</strong> which was envisioned in the year 2003, ceased in October 2013, after which its 26 participating nations have continued collaboration through the International Ocean Discovery Program: Exploring the Earth under the sea. India joined the Phase I in the year 2009 as an Associate Member.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>India&rsquo;s continued participation in Phase II as a member of the International Ocean Discovery Program is a result of an agreement signed in September 2014.</li>
<li>NCPOR is the nodal agency for all the IODP related activities in India.</li>
</ul>
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		'title' => 'Privilege Motion',
		'catname' => 'News Analysis',
		'desc' => '<p>Recently, a member of the Indian parliament has <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/breach-of-privilege" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>moved a privilege motion</strong></a> against a TV channel.</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The breach of privilege motion is moved against a private Hindi news channel and its Editor for <strong>reporting that members' first speech in the Lok Sabha was plagiarised.</strong>
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Plagiarism is a practice of taking someone else's work or ideas and passing them off as one's own.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>Parliamentary privileges are <strong>certain rights</strong> and <strong>immunities</strong> enjoyed by members of Parliament, individually and collectively, so that they can<strong> effectively discharge their functions.</strong></li>
<li>The<strong> Constitution (Article 105)</strong> mentions two privileges,i.e<strong>. freedom of speech in Parliament</strong> and<strong> right of publication of its proceedings.</strong></li>
<li><strong>Rule No 222 in Chapter 20 of the Lok Sabha Rule Book</strong> and correspondingly <strong>Rule 187 in Chapter 16 of the Rajya Sabha rulebook</strong> governs<strong> privilege.</strong></li>
<li>The<strong> Speaker of Loksabha</strong> and <strong>Rajya Sabha Chairperson</strong> is the <strong>first level of scrutiny</strong> of a privilege motion.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The <strong>Speaker/Chairperson can decide on the privilege motion himself or herself</strong> or <strong>refer it to the privileges committee</strong> of Parliament.</li>
<li>If the Speaker/Chairperson gives consent under respective rules, the member concerned is given an opportunity to make a short statement.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Privilege Committee</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Lok Sabha:</strong> The <strong>Speaker nominates</strong> a committee of privileges <strong>consisting of 15 members</strong> as per respective party strengths.</li>
<li><strong>Rajya Sabha:</strong> The <strong>deputy chairperson</strong> heads the committee of privileges, that <strong>consists of 10 members.</strong></li>
</ul>
</div>',
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		'title' => 'Hydrogen-Enriched Compressed Natural Gas (HCNG)',
		'catname' => 'News Analysis',
		'desc' => '<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Delhi will be the first city in the country to roll out hydrogen-enriched compressed natural gas (HCNG) buses for public transport from November 2020.</li>
<li>It will start as a pilot project with 50 CNG buses retrofitted with HCNG.</li>
<li>Since Air pollution is fast becoming a serious global problem with increasing population and its subsequent demands. This has resulted in increased usage of hydrogen as a fuel for internal combustion engines.</li>
<li>Also, the Delhi government along with Indian Oil Corporation Limited (IOCL) and Indraprastha Gas Limited (IGL) began work to set up India&rsquo;s first semi-commercial HCNG station.</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>What is HCNG</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The blending of hydrogen with CNG provides a blended gas termed as HCNG.</li>
<li>HCNG stands for hydrogen-enriched compressed natural gas and it combines the advantages of both hydrogen and methane.</li>
<li>HCNG allows customers early hydrogen deployment with nearly commercial technology. It is being treated as the first step towards future hydrogen economy.</li>
<li>Hydrogen has been regarded as a future secondary fuel for power system due to carbon-free operation.</li>
<li>The rapid increase in the emission of greenhouse gases and very strict environmental legislation are major motivating factors for the usage of hydrogen in fuel cells and internal combustion engines.</li>
<li>Hydrogen is an excellent additive to improve the combustion of hydrocarbon fuel due to its low ignition energy, high reactivity, diffusivity and burning velocity.</li>
<li>Since hydrogen infrastructure and refuelling stations are not meeting the demand, the widespread introduction of hydrogen vehicles is not possible in the near future. One of the solutions for this hurdle is to blend hydrogen with methane</li>
<li>However, Hydrogen-Enriched Compressed Natural Gas (HCNG) is still under research as though it increases fuel efficiency and reduce carbon emission but it has also led to increased NOx emissions.</li>
</ul>
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	(int) 2 => [
		'title' => 'Highlights of Economic Survey 2018-19',
		'catname' => 'News Analysis',
		'desc' => '<p>The <strong>Union Minister for Finance and Corporate Affairs</strong> tabled the Economic Survey 2018-19 in the Parliament.</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>This is the <strong>first survey</strong> by the n<strong>ew chief economic advisor Krishnamurthy V Subramanian.</strong></li>
<li>The <strong>theme</strong> of Economic Survey, 2018-19 is <strong>"Shifting Gears towards a $5 trillion Indian economy by 2024-25&rdquo;.</strong></li>
<li><strong>Other focus areas:</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>"Blue Sky" thinking - New Ideas for Policymaking; </li>
<li>Behavioral <em>'nudges'</em> for Optimal Outcomes; </li>
<li>Policies to unshackle MSMEs;</li>
<li>Data as a public good "of the <em>people,</em> for the <em>people</em> and by the <em>people";</em> </li>
<li>Legal Reforms;</li>
<li>Policy Consistency; </li>
<li>Efficient Labour Markets;</li>
<li>Use of Technology</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Economic Survey</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The Economic Survey is prepared by the <strong>Economic Division</strong> of the <strong>Department of Economic Affairs</strong> in the Finance Ministry under the overall guidance of the <strong>Chief Economic Adviser.</strong></li>
<li>The survey was <strong>de-linked</strong> from the <strong>Budget in the year 1964</strong> and is circulated in advance to provide the context of the Budget.</li>
<li>India&rsquo;s<strong> first</strong> Economic Survey was <strong>presented in the year 1950-51.</strong></li>
</ul>
</div>
<h3>GDP Growth</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>A sustained real GDP growth rate of 8% is needed for India to become a $5 trillion economy by 2024-25.</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The survey suggests that this can be achieved by a <strong>&ldquo;Virtuous Cycle&rdquo;</strong> of savings, investment, and exports. The <strong>private&nbsp;investment</strong> being the key driver.</li>
<li>This cycle will be catalyzed and supported by a <strong>favorable demographic phase.</strong></li>
<li>This virtuous cycle should be<strong> sustained</strong> and in <strong>equilibrium.</strong> A <strong>departure from traditional Anglo-Saxon thinking</strong> by viewing the economy as being either in a virtuous or a vicious cycle, and thus never in equilibrium.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Behavioural Economics for Social Change</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The survey has drawn on <strong>Nobel Laureate Richard Thaler&rsquo;s Behavioural Economics Theory</strong> to lay out an &ldquo;ambitious agenda" for behavior change that will bring in social change, which in turn, will help India transit to a $5 trillion economy by 2024-25.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Decisions by real people deviate from impractical robots theorized in classical economics. Behavioral economics provides insights to &lsquo;nudge&rsquo; people towards desirable behavior.</li>
<li>It pitches for behavioral change by applying the principles of behavioral economics to several issues including gender equality, a healthy and beautiful India, savings, tax compliance, and credit quality.</li>
<li>This includes a transition from <strong>&lsquo;Beti Bachao Beti Padhao&rsquo; to &lsquo;BADLAV&rsquo; (Beti Aapki Dhan Lakshmi Aur Vijay Lakshmi)</strong>, from <strong>&lsquo;Swachh Bharat&rsquo; to &lsquo;Sundar Bharat&rsquo;,</strong> from <strong>&lsquo;Give it up&rdquo;</strong> for the LPG subsidy to <strong>&lsquo;Think about the Subsidy&rsquo;</strong> and from<strong> &lsquo;Tax</strong> <strong>evasion&rsquo; to &lsquo;Tax compliance&rsquo;.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Nudge Theory</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>According to Nudge theory, people, rather than being forced, can be<strong> encouraged and influenced</strong> to pursue or desist from certain actions through nudges.</li>
<li>It <strong>does not talk about penalizing people</strong> if they do not behave in a particular manner, rather it <strong>encourages</strong> them to make desirable decisions.</li>
<li>It believes that <strong>Humans are not-so-rational</strong> and often <strong>need encouragement</strong> or intervention &mdash; a nudge &mdash; to get going and do what&rsquo;s best for the country or society at large.</li>
<li>American economist <strong>Richard Thaler has won the 2017 Nobel Prize in economics</strong> for his contributions to behavioural economics.</li>
</ul>
</div>
<h3>Policies for MSME Growth</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The survey highlights the importance of intervention in the case of <strong>&ldquo;Dwarfs&rdquo;.</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Dwarfs are the firms with <strong>less than 100 workers despite being more than 10 years old.</strong></li>
<li>They account for <strong>more than 50%</strong> of all organized firms in manufacturing by number.</li>
<li>Contribution of dwarfs to <strong>employment is only 14%</strong> and to the <strong>productivity is a mere 8%.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Large firms (more than 100 employees)</strong> account for 75% employment and close to 90% of productivity despite accounting for about 15% by number.</li>
<li>The interventions are:<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>A <strong>sunset clause of less than 10 years</strong>, with necessary grand-fathering, for all size-based incentives.</li>
<li>Deregulating labor law restrictions to create significantly more jobs.</li>
<li>Re-calibrating <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/rbi-norms-for-co-origination-of-loans" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Priority Sector Lending (PSL)</strong></a> guidelines for direct credit flow to young firms in high employment elastic sectors.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Sunset Clause &amp; Size Based Incentives</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Sunset clause is a provision of a law that it will <strong>automatically be terminated</strong> after a fixed period unless it is extended by law.</li>
<li>The Economic Survey <strong>slammed the practice of perpetual support</strong> to small and medium-sized enterprises on the grounds that they are mega job creators. Such a <strong>continuous hand-holding merely encourages</strong> these entities to keep a check on their scale of operations, i.e. <strong>they deliberately stay small.</strong></li>
<li>The governments should shift their focus to <strong>nurturing &ldquo;infant&rdquo; firms only.</strong></li>
<li>Policymakers must ensure that <strong>support to small units is withdrawn</strong> after a specified time, forcing them to expand their operations and not live off government relief forever.</li>
<li>The survey also cites <strong>&ldquo;size-based incentives&rdquo;</strong> irrespective of the firm&rsquo;s age.</li>
</ul>
</div>
<h3>Minimum Wage System &amp; Inclusive Growth</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Survey <strong>proposes a well-designed minimum wage system</strong> as a potent tool for protecting workers and alleviating poverty.</li>
<li>The survey <strong>supports rationalization of minimum wages</strong> as proposed under the Code on Wages Bill. Minimum wages to all employments/workers.</li>
<li><strong>Current Scenario:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Present minimum wage system in India has 1,915 minimum wages for various scheduled job categories across states.</li>
<li>1 in every 3 wage worker in India is not protected by the minimum wage law.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>&lsquo;National Floor Minimum Wage&rsquo;</strong> should be notified by the Central Government, varying across five geographical regions.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Minimum wages by states should be <strong>fixed at levels not lower than the &lsquo;floor wage&rsquo;.</strong></li>
<li>Minimum wages can be <strong>notified based either on the skills</strong> or on<strong> geographical region</strong> or on<strong> both grounds.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>&lsquo;National level dashboard&rsquo;</strong> under the Ministry of Labour &amp; Employment for regular notifications on minimum wages, proposed by the survey.</li>
<li><strong>Toll-free number</strong> to register grievance on non-payment of the statutory minimum wages.</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Minimum Wage</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>According to the<a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/100th-anniversary-of-ilo" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong> International Labour Organization (ILO)</strong></a>, minimum wages have been defined as the <strong>minimum amount</strong> of remuneration that an employer is required to pay wage earners for the work performed during a given period, <strong>which cannot be reduced by collective agreement or an individual contract.</strong></li>
</ul>
</div>
<h3>India's Demography</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>A sharp slowdown in population growth is expected in the next 2 decades. National <a href="/loksabha-rajyasabha-discussions/the-big-picture-population-boon-or-bane-rajya-sabha-lok-sabha-debate" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Total Fertility Rate</strong></a> is expected to be below the replacement rate by 2021.</li>
<li>Significant <strong>decline is to be witnessed in elementary school-going children (5-14 age group)</strong> over the next two decades.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>States need to consolidate/merge schools</strong> to make them viable rather than build new ones.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>Policy makers need to<strong> prepare for aging</strong> by investing in health care and by <strong>increasing the retirement age</strong> in a phased manner.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Reforms in the Lower Judiciary</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The section on ways to ramp up capacity in the lower judiciary is titled<strong> &lsquo;Ending Matsyanyaya&rsquo; (the law of the fish/jungle).</strong></li>
<li>Delays in contract enforcement and disposal resolution are now the single biggest hurdle to the ease of doing business and higher GDP growth in India.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>However, the survey highlights the profound impact that the Government&rsquo;s efforts of introducing the <a href="/loksabha-rajyasabha-discussions/in-depth-insolvency-and-bankruptcy-code-act" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code</strong></a> and the adoption of the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/gst-council-and-national-anti-profiteering-authority" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Goods and Services Tax</strong></a>, have had on improving <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/world-banks-ease-of-doing-business-report-2019" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Ease of Doing Business</strong> </a>in India.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Data &ldquo;Of the People, By the People, For the People&rdquo;</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>As data is generated by the people, data can be created as a public good within the<strong> legal framework of data privacy.</strong></li>
<li>The government must intervene in c<strong>reating data as a public good, especially of the poor and in social sectors.</strong></li>
<li>Merging the distinct datasets held by the Government already would generate multiple benefits.</li>
</ul>',
		'postdate' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenTime) {},
		'url' => 'https://www.drishtiias.com/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/highlights-of-economic-survey-2018-19'
	],
	(int) 3 => [
		'title' => 'US Drags India to WTO',
		'catname' => 'News Analysis',
		'desc' => '<p>The United States has dragged India to the World Trade Organisation, requesting dispute consultations on the 'retaliatory duties' imposed by India on 28 US goods in June, 2019.</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>India has imposed the duties as a tit-for-tat move against the US decision to impose unilateral additional tariffs on steel and aluminium imported from India.</li>
<li>The US claims that the additional duties are inconsistent with the provisions of the&nbsp;<a href="/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-international-institution/world-trade-organisation-wto" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>WTO's General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade</strong></a>.<a href="/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-international-institution/world-trade-organisation-wto" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong></strong></a></li>
<li>India's argument in support of its duties is that retaliation is permitted under the WTO's Agreement on Safeguards.</li>
<li>To this, the US maintains that its tariffs are not a safeguard measure but were taken under Section 232 of the US Trade Expansion Act of 1962 on grounds of national security.</li>
<li>If the dispute consultations between the two countries fail to resolve the matter then the US can ask the WTO to set up a panel to decide on the matter.</li>
<li>This mini-tariff war between the US and India sparked from USA's decision to withdraw <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/us-withdraws-gsp-for-india-1" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>GSP</strong></a> status from India and other economic issues.<a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/613image3.jpg" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/613image3.jpg" style="float: right;" width="272" height="128" caption="false" /></a></li>
<li>Also, it is not the first time the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/india-us-trade" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>USA and India had there trade issues</strong></a> settled at WTO. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Recently India has won a major trade dispute against the US at the World Trade Organization (WTO) regarding <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/india-and-usa-at-wto" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>domestic content requirements and subsidies.</strong></a></li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>',
		'postdate' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenTime) {},
		'url' => 'https://www.drishtiias.com/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/us-drags-india-to-wto'
	],
	(int) 4 => [
		'title' => 'Shrinking Sea Ice Extent',
		'catname' => 'News Analysis',
		'desc' => '<p>As per the study of <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/mars-colonisation-through-sperm-bank" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA)</strong></a>, after decades of gradual increases, Antarctic sea ice is now decreasing, faster than that in the Arctic.</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>The sea ice extent</strong> is a measure of the surface area of the ocean covered by ice.</li>
<li>The Arctic and Antarctic both are experiencing shrinking of the sea ice extent which proves the effect of global warming on Frigid Zones.</li>
<li>The satellite observations of Antarctic sea ice coverage since the late 1970s show that after a gradual increase in the Antarctic sea ice over decades until 2014, the trend suddenly reversed completely in the 2014- 2017 period. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>During 2014-2017, the rate of sea ice loss in the Antarctic far exceeded those recorded for the Arctic.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>Climate scientists have been warning of an increase in the frequency of extreme weather events, increased variability and instability of climatic patterns because of global warming. The findings of the study indicate that the Earth has the potential for significant and rapid change.</li>
<li>The sea surface temperatures in the open waters of the Arctic have been unusually high, up to 5 degrees Celsius above average in the Chukchi Sea, a marginal area of the Arctic Ocean.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The sea surface temperature is a measure of the energy due to the motion of molecules at the top layer of the sea.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/832image2.jpg" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/832image2.jpg" width="629" height="422" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" caption="false" /></a></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/state-of-the-global-climate-wmo" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>The World Meteorological Organization (WMO)</strong></a> has stated that 2015 to 2019 were the warmest five years on record.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Possible Causes</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Antarctica is largely protected from atmospheric warming by the westerly winds which surround the continent and Antarctic sea ice does not respond directly to global warming averaged over the whole planet. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Apart from the climate change, the ozone hole and short-term cycles like El Nino also affect the westerly winds.</li>
<li>The sea ice also responds to the level of ocean mixing, which is affected by meltwater from the Antarctic Ice Sheet.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Impact of Decreasing Sea Ice</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Increased Global Warming:</strong> The bright surface of sea ice reflects 50% to 70% of sunlight back into space. But when sea ice melts, it turns into dark ocean surface, which absorbs 90% of the sunlight. The more light is absorbed, the warmer global systems become.</li>
<li><strong>Effect on ecosystem:</strong> Sea ice also affects the polar ecosystem, including penguins and whales and seals, petrels and albatrosses, krill, and a whole range of additional animals and marine plant life.</li>
<li>Warming of the poles can lead to greater persistence in seasonal patterns and an increased frequency of extreme events resulting in increased variability and instability in climate.</li>
<li>The sea ice situation, a clear demonstration of greenhouse gas warming, is a warning of likely future disasters.</li>
</ul>',
		'postdate' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenTime) {},
		'url' => 'https://www.drishtiias.com/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/shrinking-sea-ice-extent'
	],
	(int) 5 => [
		'title' => 'Miyawaki Method',
		'catname' => 'News Analysis',
		'desc' => '<p>Telangana government has introduced the <strong>Japanese &ldquo;Miyawaki&rdquo;</strong> method of <strong>afforestation</strong> to grow urban forests and expand the green cover as well as to meet the stipulated plantation target under the Telanganaku Haritha Haaram (TKHH).</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Miyawaki is a technique pioneered by Japanese botanist Akira Miyawaki, that helps build <strong>dense,</strong> <strong>native forests</strong> in a <strong>short time.</strong></li>
</ul>
<p><a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/657Image4.jpg" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/657Image4.jpg" width="632" height="448" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" caption="false" /></a></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>It has revolutionised the concept of <strong>urban afforestation</strong> by turning backyards into mini-forests.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>This method includes planting trees <strong>(only native species)</strong> as close as possible in the same area which not only <strong>saves space,</strong> but the planted saplings also support each other in growth and block sunlight reaching the ground, thereby preventing the <strong>growth of weed.</strong></li>
<li><strong>The saplings</strong> become <strong>maintenance-free</strong> (self sustainable) after the first three years.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>The approach is supposed to ensure that<strong> plant growth</strong> is 10 times faster and the resulting plantation is <strong>30 times denser</strong> than usual.</li>
<li>Miyawaki method helps to create a forest in just 20 to 30 years, while through conventional methods it takes anywhere between 200 to 300 years.</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Miyawaki Process</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The native trees of the region are identified and divided into four layers &mdash; shrub, sub-tree, tree, and canopy.</li>
<li>The quality of soil is analysed and biomass which would help enhance the perforation capacity, water retention capacity, and nutrients in it, is mixed with it.</li>
<li>A mound is built with the soil and <strong>the seeds are planted</strong> at a very high density &mdash; three to five sapling per square meter.</li>
<li>The ground is covered with a thick <strong>layer of mulch.</strong></li>
</ul>
</div>
<h3>Concerns</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Such forests lack some qualities of natural forests, such as <strong>medicinal</strong> <strong>properties</strong> and the ability to <strong>bring rain.</strong></li>
<li>Such fast-growing plantations are actually <strong>wood lots</strong> (a parcel of a woodland or forest capable of small-scale production of forest products (such as <strong>wood</strong> fuel, sap for maple syrup, sawlogs, and pulpwood) as well as recreational uses like bird watching, bushwalking, and wildflower appreciation) and cannot be termed as forests.</li>
<li>Several environmentalists have questioned the efficacy of the method that accelerates the growth of trees and claims to match a forest&rsquo;s complex ecosystem (as it is not a good idea to force plants to <strong>photosynthesize fast</strong>).</li>
</ul>',
		'postdate' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenTime) {},
		'url' => 'https://www.drishtiias.com/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/miyawaki-method'
	],
	(int) 6 => [
		'title' => 'LIBRA',
		'catname' => 'Paper 3',
		'desc' => '<h3>Why in News?</h3>
<p>Facebook has announced the launch of a <strong>cryptocurrency</strong> called <strong>Libra</strong> by <strong>2020.</strong> While this signals facebook&rsquo;s plans to expand into the <strong>global digital currency market,</strong> it has also raised <strong>privacy concerns</strong>.</p>
<h3>LIBRA</h3>
<h3><a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1578481429_image43.png" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1578481429_image43.png" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" caption="false" width="759" height="422" /></a></h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Digi Currency:</strong> Facebook&rsquo;s <strong>cryptocurrency <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/libra-cryptocurrency" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Libra</a></strong> will allow <strong>smartphone</strong> users to buy services digitally from their phone.</li>
<li><strong>Digital Wallet:</strong> Libra will be stored in a <strong>digital wallet</strong> called <strong>Calibra.</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Calibra is a standalone app on a user's smartphone or housed within Facebook-owned services such as WhatsApp and Messenger.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>How can users buy Libra?</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Users will need to sign up for an account using a government-issued ID to use Calibra wallet.</li>
<li>Users will then be able to convert their money into Libra and add it to their digital wallet.</li>
<li>Once in place, the currency can be used to pay for everyday transactions.</li>
</ul>
</div>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Libra Association:</strong> The cryptocurrency will be run by the Libra Association, a <strong>Geneva-</strong>based entity that has founding partners, including Facebook, Mastercard, Visa, Uber, and the Vodafone group.</li>
<li><strong>Libra Reserve:</strong> Libra will be backed by a reserve of assets in the form of <strong>securities</strong> (bank deposits and short-term government securities) and <strong>fiat currencies</strong> (like dollar, pound) to give it an intrinsic value and ensure stability. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Anyone with Libra will have an assurance that they can convert their <strong>digital currency</strong> into <strong>local fiat currency</strong> based on an exchange rate.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Libra Blockchain:</strong> Every Libra payment is permanently written into the Libra blockchain which is a <strong>cryptographically authenticated database</strong> and acts as a public online ledger designed to handle 1,000 transactions per second.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Libra blockchain would be much<strong> faster</strong> than Bitcoin&rsquo;s 7 transactions per second or Ethereum&rsquo;s 15.</li>
<li>The blockchain is operated and constantly verified by founding members of the Libra Association.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>Libra is planned as a <strong>&ldquo;global currency&rdquo;</strong> for use anywhere in the world without transaction fees.</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Cryptocurrency</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/cryptocurrencies-will-boost-illegal-transactions-rbi" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Cryptocurrency</strong></a> is a <strong>virtual or digital</strong> currency for which <strong>encryption techniques</strong> (the process of encoding a message or information in such a way that only authorized parties can access it) are used to control its creation as a monetary unit and to verify the transfer of funds involved.</li>
<li><strong>Decentralized:</strong> unlike, fiat currencies (like INR, USD, EUR, etc) cryptocurrencies are not regulated or controlled by any bank, government or centralized financial authorities instead they are created and stored electronically through <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/important-facts-for-prelims-15th-april-2019" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>blockchain technology</strong></a>.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Cryptocurrencies are transferred from <strong>&ldquo;peer to peer"</strong> without the intervention of financial institutions, with transactions moderated by miners who record them in a blockchain.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>It has <strong>no physical existence</strong> and cannot be redeemed in another commodity like gold.</li>
<li><strong>Bitcoin, Litecoin, Ripple, Ethereum, PPcoin, Dogecoin, Coinye, Namecoin,</strong> etc. are some of the examples of cryptocurrencies.</li>
</ul>
</div>
<h3>Facebook Libra vs. Other Cryptocurrencies</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Regulatory Compliance:</strong> Unlike other cryptocurrencies which are outside the regulation and control of the government or any other financial intermediaries, Libra is intended to set up regulatory compliance and work with regulators to find the best ways to curb <strong>its illegitimate use</strong> for <strong>money-laundering,</strong> or <strong>tax avoidance,</strong> or any other potential purposes that involve <strong>personal privacy.</strong></li>
<li><strong>Centralized Payment System:</strong> Other cryptocurrencies (entirely decentralized) are based on peer to peer transaction system or permission less blockchain but Libra will start as a <strong>permissioned blockchain</strong> (at least for the first five years).<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Which implies that verifications for each transaction can only be done by insiders who set up the network (like Facebook, Mastercard, Visa, PayPay, Stripe, eBay, Lyft, Spotify and Uber).</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Permissioned or Permissionless Blockchains</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Blockchains are described as either permissioned or permissionless in relation to the ability to participate as a validator node.</li>
<li><strong>Permissioned or private blockchains</strong> act as closed ecosystems, where users are not freely able to join the network, see the recorded history, or issue transactions of their own.</li>
<li><strong>Permissionless or Public Blockchains</strong> networks power up most of the market&rsquo;s digital currencies. They allow every user to create a personal address and begin interacting with the network, by submitting transactions, and hence adding entries to the ledger.</li>
</ul>
</div>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Stablecoin:</strong> Unlike the majority of cryptocurrencies which involve very high risk in investment (because of the high price volatility) and can not be converted into fiat currencies, Libra is designed to be a <strong>stable digital cryptocurrency</strong> (backed by a reserve of real assets) supported by a competitive network of exchanges buying and selling Libra and can be converted into fiat currencies.</li>
<li><strong>Complete Tracking Of All Minting &amp; Burning:</strong> Libras will not be mined like other cryptocurrencies but will be minted (created) and burned (destroyed) only by the members of Libra Association.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Coins are only minted when authorized resellers have purchased those coins from the association with fiat assets to fully back the new coins.</li>
<li>Coins are only burned when the authorized resellers sell Libra coin to the association in exchange for the underlying assets.</li>
<li>Which implies that entry and exit of normal currencies in and out of the Libra wallets is entirely trackable.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Non-profit association:</strong> Unlike other cryptocurrencies that are driven by a <strong>profit motive</strong>, Libra Association is not a non-profit association.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Interest</strong> on the reserve assets will be used to:<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Cover the costs of the system</li>
<li>Ensure low transaction fees</li>
<li>Pay dividends to investors who provided capital to jumpstart the ecosystem</li>
<li>Support further growth and adoption</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Significance</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Financial Inclusion:</strong> Libra could address the issue of financial exclusion, inflation or volatility (attached with currency) by providing a universal, stable currency that is easily transferable between persons or businesses without setting up an entire financial or payment infrastructure.</li>
<li><strong>Cross-Border Transaction:</strong> Libra can be transferred across multiple cell phone networks and can help in cross-border transaction, with minimum regulatory intervention and cost payment.</li>
<li><strong>Remitting Money:</strong> Without central banks&rsquo; intervention, Libra can deliver much lower transaction costs and convenience to migrants and their families, letting them hoard and carry less cash.</li>
<li><strong>Zero Cost:</strong> According to the World Bank, high cost attached to financial transactions is one of the biggest reasons for financial exclusion in developing countries. Libra would have a near-zero cost attached to it.</li>
<li><strong>Wider Reach:</strong> Facebook&rsquo;s (with its over 2 billion users) wider acceptability can be used to tap the unbanked areas.</li>
<li><strong>Secure and Safe:</strong> Libra, is based on a new programming language called &lsquo;Move&rsquo;, which is claimed by facebook as more secure and private.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Facebook has stated that, if someone loses their Libra coins from Calibra wallet, they will get a refund.</li>
<li>Facebook has said that account details will not be shared with facebook or third parties for advertising purposes, except for cases of data sharing.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Concerns</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Privacy and Security:</strong> Regulators, lawmakers and government officials around the world are critical about Libra, as Cambridge Analytica scandal has exposed Facebook&rsquo;s lapses of data privacy and security.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>There are concerns that Libra can disrupt the entire global payment system.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Note</strong></p>
<p>Cambridge Analytica (political consulting firm) had harvested the personal data of millions of people's facebook profiles without their consent and used it for political advertising purposes.</p>
</div>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Unchecked power and influence</strong> of facebook (because of its large user base) could result in a<strong> shift of power</strong> away from the developing countries&rsquo; central banks toward multinational corporations and the central banks of the largest economies.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Libra would hand over much of the control of monetary policy from central banks to private companies, like Visa, Uber, and Vodafone.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Shadow Bank:</strong> Libra, being a form of <strong>electronic money</strong> linked to many national currencies, has raised concerns that it might someday be recognized as a<strong> sovereign currency,</strong> with Facebook acting as a &ldquo;shadow bank&rdquo; that could compete with the central banks of countries around the world.</li>
<li><strong>Anonymous Digital Cash:</strong> Facebook has the blockchain and encryption technology to create traceable credit card or anonymous digital cash like system, or a private digital currency, which has not been created yet.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Anonymity would heighten the risks of abuse such as money laundering.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Control Over Financial Data:</strong> Governments have raised issues related to the dangers of combining <strong>financial data with behavioral data.</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Because of the <strong>openness of the blockchain</strong> for value-addition more and more developers build products on the Libra blockchain, and more people use it, more data is generated with the expansion of the network. This reinforces the ownership and control of the Libra Association (at least its major stakeholders) over the payments system and data.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Libra in India</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>To run a payment system in India, or any system that enables payment between a payer and a beneficiary, authorization from the RBI is required under the <strong>Payment and Settlement Systems Act, 2007.</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Government of India&rsquo;s tough regulatory stance on virtual currencies, will act as an impediment in authorisation of cryptocurrency based payment system.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Draft Banning of Cryptocurrency and Regulation of Official Digital Currency Bill 2019</strong> has proposed a ten-year jail term for holding cryptocurrencies in India.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The law proposes to punish mining, holding, generating, selling, transferring, disposing of, issuing or dealing with cryptocurrencies.</li>
<li>With the enactment of such laws mere holding of Libra or any other virtual currency would be an offense.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>The Ministry of Corporate Affairs&rsquo;s <strong>Investor Education and Protection Fund (IEPF) Authority favours</strong> a ban on cryptocurrencies by considering it equivalent to a Ponzi scheme (Ponzi scheme is a form of fraud that lures investors and pays profits to earlier investors with funds from more recent investors).<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Any such ban would hugely restrict the reach of Libra.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</div>
<h3>Way Forward</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Risk Assessment:</strong> Government, financial regulators and central bank authorities should scrutinize all aspects of Libra because Facebook has a long history of launching products and services, like political ads and live-streaming video, without fully considering their potential to damage democracy, privacy, security and the global society at large.</li>
<li><strong>Protecting the Global Financial System:</strong> Development of new digital financial services, methods of electronic payment and currencies should not be allowed to undermine long-standing financial safety systems in terms of financial regulations (monetary and fiscal policy), even in the name of smoother, cheaper transactions.</li>
<li><strong>Financial Rules and Regulations:</strong> In order to protect consumers&rsquo; interest, regulators must come out with a new set of financial rules and regulations to shield the existing financial system from any harm if the Libra becomes more popular than national currencies.</li>
</ul>',
		'postdate' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenTime) {},
		'url' => 'https://www.drishtiias.com/to-the-points/paper3/libra-3'
	],
	(int) 7 => [
		'title' => 'Agriculture Produce to Agriculture Marketing',
		'catname' => 'News Editorials',
		'desc' => '<div class="border">
<p>This article is based on the news <a href="https://indianexpress.com/article/india/creating-the-right-market-connect-for-boosting-farm-incomes-5813691/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">"Creating the right 'market connect' for boosting farm incomes"</a>. It talks about the needs to shift the focus of agricultural policy making from increasing agricultural production to reforming agricultural markets</p>
</div>
<p>At the dawn of Independence, Indian policymakers faced with the daunting task of poverty alleviation. In this scenario, land reforms and state-led industrialization were sought to be the prime moving force for the economy. But both the initiatives failed and India didn't have enough food to feed its population and had to go for the USA's food assistance program under PL 480.</p>
<p>Post this experience, India went for Green Revolution in the 1960s and 70's to attain self sufficiency in food production. Since then, successive governments have emphasised raising agriculture production to make India self-reliant in feeding its growing population. However, agricultural marketing hasn&rsquo;t received the corresponding attention, despite having a direct relationship to increased crop production.</p>
<h3>What are the issues in agricultural marketing?</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Indian farmers today can their sell their produce at:</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Farmgate or local market (haat) to village aggregators;</li>
<li>APMC (agricultural produce market committee) wholesale mandi to private traders</li>
<li>To government at the minimum support price (MSP)</li>
<li><strong>But all three selling options are marred by several issues.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>MSP</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Announced for 23 crops but given for only 3 crops.</li>
<li>MSP is given only on produce meeting &ldquo;fair average quality&rdquo; norms</li>
<li>Government procurement facilities are not available throughout the country.</li>
<li>Also, next phase to growth in agricultural income will come from high yield commodities like dairy products, vegetables, fruits etc. but the government still providing MSP in cereals</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>APMC</strong>&nbsp;<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>APMCs technically have multiple buyers, but the system of open auctions for determining prices through transparent bidding is, in practice, non-existent.</li>
<li>In most APMCs, buyers have to route all purchases through licenced aadhatiyas(middlemen).<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>These middlemen charge a commission for their &ldquo;services&rdquo; &mdash; many times, both from the buyer and seller.</li>
<li>The aadhatiya is also often a moneylender, supplying seeds, fertilisers and pesticides to farmers on credit. They, then, are forced to sell through him and settle their dues in perpetuity.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>Also, mandi fees ranges from 0.5% to 5% on the value of the sale, while varying across states and commodities</li>
<li>Further mandi fees on inter-state trade amount to double taxation, besides violating the idea of a single national market.</li>
<li><strong>Distress sale</strong> due to lack of storage infrastructure<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>At mandis the lowest prices are during the 3-4 post-harvest months and highest in the immediate pre-harvest period.</li>
<li>Farmers undertake maximum sales just after harvest, as they need to purchase inputs for the next sowing season.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>To rectify this APMC issue:<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>The Union Agriculture Ministry has formulated the Model Agricultural Produce and Livestock Marketing (APLM) Act</li>
<li>The Act seeks to expand farmers&rsquo; marketing choices &mdash; by allowing private markets (as against only APMCs), permitting direct bulk purchases from the farm gate, declaring warehouses or cold storages as deemed markets, and demolishing the existing concept of a <strong>&ldquo;market area&rdquo;</strong></li>
<li>But APLM act is witnessing opposition, primarily due to the delineation of &ldquo;market area&rdquo;, which has a bearing on the earnings of APMCs.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Price volatility</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The root cause of price volatility is the uncontrolled cycles of excesses and shortages.</li>
<li>Price projections in a particular commodity are often made based on previous years&rsquo; trends that may not hold true, leading to excess or low plantings.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>What is Market Area as per APMC?</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Currently, an APMC&rsquo;s purview extends to the entire tehsil and villages in that sub-district, with any trade undertaken in this so-called market area being liable for payment of mandi fee.</li>
<li>The Model APLM Act recognises only the market yard, i.e the area within the boundary walls where actual trade in the mandi takes place</li>
</ul>
</div>
<h3>What are the reforms required?</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Uniform mandi fees:</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>It is proposed that a uniform mandi fee of 0.25% or 0.50% be levied nationwide for foodgrains, oilseeds and fruits &amp; vegetables.</li>
<li>The consequent losses to APMCs may be compensated by the Centre and state governments, as in the case of the Goods and Services Tax.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Eliminate Aadhatiya-based trading:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>All trade in APMCs should be through open auctioning, involving multiple bidders for each lot. Such trades should be directly between buyers and sellers, with no middlemen charging commission.</li>
<li>The aadhatiya can participate only as a trader.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Enable sample-based sales:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The farmer today brings his whole produce to the APMC and the buyers do the physical inspection before bidding.</li>
<li>This results in double transportation &mdash; from the farm gate to APMC and from the APMC to the ultimate destination.</li>
<li>If grading and sorting facilities exist closer to the farm gate, the farmer needs to take only a sample of his produce, along with the relevant quality certification documents, to the mandi. It would save both time and cost.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Storage and banking facilities near APMCs:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Distress sales can be avoided if facilities for bagging and storage, along with loans against warehouse receipts, are available to meet immediate cash requirements. These should exist in the vicinity of APMCs.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Promote FPOs in marketing:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Farmer producer organisations/companies should be encouraged to take up direct marketing of their members&rsquo; produce to large buyers and processors.</li>
<li>It will result in more competition and better prices at APMCs.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Relax/abolish Essential Commodities Act(ECA):</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>ECA places restrictions on the movement of produce, stockholding, pricing and adoption of new technologies</li>
<li>The dismantling of such controls under ECA and other regulations would expand trade and lead to better realisations for cultivators.</li>
<li>The narrative of &ldquo;ease of doing business&rdquo; is necessary as much for agriculture as other businesses.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>e-NAM:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The government has created an electronic national agriculture market (eNAM) to connect all regulated wholesale produce markets through a pan-India trading portal.</li>
<li>Its effectiveness is, however, dependent on the participation of traders from these mandis.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Risk management:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Crop Insurance schemes offer protection to farmers against weather risks.</li>
<li>The premium in the Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana is largely borne by the Government.</li>
<li>While still a work in progress, it is a more comprehensive and farmer-friendly scheme than any other one previously rolled out.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Increase the number of markets:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>According to Ashok Dalwai Committee, India needs at least 30,000 farms produce markets, as against the approximately 6,500 now.</li>
<li>There is a need for a &ldquo;mini-market&rdquo; concept to bridge this wide gap.</li>
<li>Government&rsquo;s announcement of GRAMs(Gramin rural agricultural market) is a step in the right direction</li>
<li>Also with ubiquitous electronic communication and reliable rural roads, GRAMs can become viable hubs for economic activity and employment generation.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>AgTech startups should be roped in for price discovery mechanism, so that price volatility can be controlled.</li>
<li><strong>Producer consolidation:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Consolidation of small and fragmented farms into more viable holdings will improve producers&rsquo; access to finance and quality inputs, besides enabling better price realisations.</li>
<li>This will also incentivize much-needed investments in land development/ improvement and farm mechanisation.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<p>Addressing the challenges of the agricultural market is complex, yet doable, as the doubling of farmers income cannot come without developing a thriving market of agriculture. Hence, it is high time that focus must shift from agricultural production to agricultural marketing.</p>
<table border="1" style="border-collapse: collapse; background-color: #beebfa; border-color: #02779e; border-style: dotted;">
<tbody>
<tr>
<td style="width: 1256px;"><em><strong>Drishti Input:</strong></em><br /><br />Doubling of farmers income cannot be realised without a thriving agriculture market. In this context, apart from focusing on increasing agriculture production, the government must focus on agricultural marketing reforms. Comment.</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>',
		'postdate' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenTime) {},
		'url' => 'https://www.drishtiias.com/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/agriculture-produce-to-agriculture-marketing'
	],
	(int) 8 => [
		'title' => 'Longest Electrified Railway Tunnel',
		'catname' => 'News Analysis',
		'desc' => '<p>The South Central Railway (SCR) had commissioned the longest electrified tunnel of 6.6 km between Cherlopalli and Rapuru stations in the state of Andhra Pradesh.</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The tunnel is part of the recently completed Obulavaripalli-Venkatachalam new railway line.</li>
<li>The new line also facilitates direct and viable connectivity between South Coast and West Coast.</li>
<li>It also opens up the viable rail connectivity between Krishnapatnam Port and its hinterland for freight train services.</li>
</ul>
<p style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/681image7.jpg" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/681image7.jpg" width="483" height="322" caption="false" /></a></p>',
		'postdate' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenTime) {},
		'url' => 'https://www.drishtiias.com/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/longest-electrified-railway-tunnel'
	],
	(int) 9 => [
		'title' => 'Disability and RTE: UNESCO Report',
		'catname' => 'News Analysis',
		'desc' => '<p>The <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/architectural-heritage-of-orchha" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization</strong></a> (UNESCO) and the <strong>Tata Institute of Social Sciences</strong> have released a report titled <strong>'State of the Education Report for India 2019: Children with Disabilities.</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The report states that in India, 75% of five-year-olds with disabilities and a quarter (more than one in four ) of children with disabilities ( in the age group of 5 to 19 years) do not attend any educational institution.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The report is in synchronization with the <a href="/loksabha-rajyasabha-discussions/in-depth-indias-sustainable-development-goals" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Sustainable Development Goal</strong></a>-4 which aims to ensure <strong>"inclusive and equitable quality education&rdquo;</strong> and promote lifelong learning opportunities for all.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Key Findings</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>There are more than <strong>78 lakh</strong> children with disabilities in India between <strong>5-19 years.</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Only<strong> 61%</strong> of them were attending an educational institution.</li>
<li>About <strong>12%</strong> had <strong>dropped out,</strong> while <strong>27%</strong> had <strong>never been</strong> to school at all.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>There are <strong>fewer girls</strong> with <strong>disabilities</strong> in schools than boys but when it comes to school enrollment , more girls with disabilities get left behind than boys.</li>
<li>According to UNESCO, India is home to <strong>8 million children with disabilities,</strong> and 45% of them fail to attain literacy. Globally 15% of people are disabled.</li>
<li>There are also differences among various types of disabilities like:<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>20%</strong> of children with <strong>visual</strong> and <strong>hearing impairments</strong> had never been in school.</li>
<li>The percentage of children attending schools is the lowest among those with <strong>multiple disabilities</strong>, mental illnesses, and mental retardation. (<strong>more than 50%</strong> do not attend schoo).</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>A large number of children with disabilities do not go to regular schools but are enrolled at the <strong>National Institute of Open Schooling</strong> (NIOS).<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>enrolment figures at NIOS shows a decline for most categories of disabilities between 2009 and 2015.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>National Institute of Open Schooling</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>NIOS is "Open School" to cater to the needs of a heterogeneous group of learners up to pre-degree level.</li>
<li>It was started as a project by the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE).</li>
<li><strong>The National Policy on Education</strong> suggested strengthening of Open School System for extending open learning facilities at secondary level all over the country as an independent system with its own curriculum and examination leading to certification.</li>
</ul>
</div>
<h3>Challenges</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/aser-report-2018" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Right to Education Act</strong> </a>mandates <strong>enrolment</strong>, but not the provision of <strong>resources</strong> needed for the actual education of a child with disabilities.</li>
<li>In many parts of rural India, if a parent opts for <strong>home-based education,</strong> the child may not be getting an education at all.</li>
<li>Laws relating to right to education and disabilities have certain ambiguities in terms of:<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Where children with disabilities should study.</li>
<li>Who should teach them.</li>
<li>Gaps in terms of appropriate <strong>norms and standards</strong> applicable to all educational institutions.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>lack of accessible physical<strong> infrastructure, assistive technologies,</strong> information and communication <strong>technology,</strong> and <strong>devices</strong> aggravates the situation of school dropout among disabled children.</li>
<li>Inadequate <strong>allocations, delays</strong> in releasing funds and <strong>under-utilization</strong> of allocation are key challenges in <strong>financing education</strong> for children with disabilities.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Recommendations</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Amendments to the Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education Act (RTE), so that it can be aligned with the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/status-on-implementation-of-the-rights-of-persons-with-disabilities-act-2016" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act, 2016</strong></a>.</li>
<li>Need for <strong>structural, funding and attitudinal</strong> changes to ensure that no child is left out of the right to education.</li>
<li>There should be concentrated <strong>campaigns</strong> and large scale <strong>awareness drives</strong> which can improve the attitude towards children with disabilities in the classroom and beyond.</li>
<li>Transformation of <strong>teaching practices</strong> is the need of the hour to aid the inclusion of diverse learners.</li>
<li>Establish a coordinating mechanism under the Ministry of Human Resource Development for effective <strong>convergence of all education programs</strong> of children with disabilities,</li>
</ul>',
		'postdate' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenTime) {},
		'url' => 'https://www.drishtiias.com/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/disability-and-rte-unesco-report'
	],
	(int) 10 => [
		'title' => 'Working Group on Core Investment Companies',
		'catname' => 'News Analysis',
		'desc' => '<p>The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has constituted a working group to review the regulatory guidelines and supervisory framework applicable for Core Investment Companies (CIC).</p>
<h3>Background</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>In August 2010, the Reserve Bank had introduced a separate framework for the regulation of systemically important Core Investment Companies (CICs).</li>
<li>This was done because of the differences in the business model of a holding company relative to other non-banking financial companies.</li>
<li>Over the years, corporate group structures have become more complex involving multiple layering and leveraging, which has led to greater inter-connectedness with the financial system through their access to public funds.</li>
<li>Further, in light of recent developments, there is a need to strengthen the corporate governance framework of CICs.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Terms of Reference</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The Terms of Reference of the Working Group are:<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>To examine the current regulatory framework for CICs in terms of adequacy, efficacy and effectiveness of every component thereof and suggest changes therein.</li>
<li>To assess the appropriateness of and suggest changes to the current approach of the <a href="/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-national-institutions/important-institutions-national-institution-reserve-bank-of-india" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Reserve Bank of India</a> towards registration of CICs including the practice of multiple CICs being allowed within a group.</li>
<li>To suggest measures to strengthen <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/mechanism-to-prevent-insider-trading-t-k-viswanathan-committee-kotak-panel-recommendations-sebi-gs-ias-upsc" target="_blank" rel="noopener">corporate governance</a> and disclosure requirements for CICs.</li>
<li>To assess the adequacy of supervisory returns submitted by CICs and suggest changes therein.</li>
<li>To suggest appropriate measures to enhance RBI&rsquo;s off-site surveillance and on-site supervision over CICs.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>The working group, headed by Tapan Ray, shall submit its report by October 31, 2019.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Core Investment Company</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Core Investment Companies (CICs) are a specialized <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/shadow-banking-and-the-crisis-in-the-indian-economy" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Non-Banking Financial Companies (NBFCs)</a>.</li>
<li>They have asset size of Rs 100 crore and above.</li>
<li>Their main business is acquisition of shares and securities with certain conditions.</li>
<li>It holds not less than 90% of its net assets in the form of investment in equity shares, preference shares, bonds, debentures, debt or loans in group companies.</li>
<li>Its investments in the equity shares (including instruments compulsorily convertible into equity shares within a period not exceeding 10 years from the date of issue) in group companies constitutes not less than 60% of its net assets as mentioned in clause (iii) above.</li>
<li>It does not trade in its investments in shares, bonds, debentures, debt or loans in <strong>group companies</strong> except through block sale for the purpose of dilution or disinvestment.</li>
<li>It does not carry on any other financial activity referred to in RBI Act, 1934 except investment in bank deposits, money market instruments, government securities, loans to and investments in debt issuances of group companies or guarantees issued on behalf of <strong>group companies.</strong></li>
<li>It accepts public funds.</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Group Companies</strong></p>
<p>Group companies are an arrangement involving two or more entities related to each other through any of the following relationships, viz.,Subsidiary, Joint venture, Associate, Promoter-promotee for listed companies, a related party, Common brand name, and investment in equity shares of 20% and above.</p>
</div>',
		'postdate' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenTime) {},
		'url' => 'https://www.drishtiias.com/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/working-group-on-core-investment-companies'
	],
	(int) 11 => [
		'title' => 'Total Solar Eclipse 2019',
		'catname' => 'News Analysis',
		'desc' => '<p>A Total Solar Eclipse was witnessed in the region of the South Pacific and parts of South America (Mainly Chile and Argentina)</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>This was the only Total Solar Eclipse of 2019.</li>
<li>The astonishing thing about this Total eclipse was that it was viewed from the world&rsquo;s clearest skies (Atacama desert).</li>
<li>The Total Solar Eclipse was not visible in India,</li>
</ul>
<h3>Solar and Lunar Eclipse</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Eclipses are divided into two major types: Solar and Lunar. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Solar eclipses</strong> occur when the Sun, Moon and earth all fall in the same line so that the Moon passes between Earth and the Sun, leaving a moving region of shadow on Earth&rsquo;s surface.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/928image4.jpg" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/928image4.jpg" width="487" height="211" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" caption="false" /></a></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Lunar eclipses</strong> occur when the Sun, Moon and earth all fall in the same line and Earth passes between the Sun and the Moon, casting a shadow on the Moon.</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/629image2.jpg" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/629image2.jpg" width="543" height="325" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" caption="false" /></a></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Eclipses may be classified into 4 types i.e. Annular, Total, Partial and Hybrid</li>
<li>The type of eclipse we experience depends on the type of shadow that is involved.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Both the Moon and Earth cast 3 shadows: umbra, penumbra, and an antumbra.<a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/882image5.jpg" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/882image5.jpg" width="316" height="172" style="float: right;" caption="false" /></a><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>The umbra is a shadow's dark core: It means If you are standing within the umbra, you will not be able to see any part of the light source as the object blocks all direct light rays.</li>
<li>The penumbra is a half-shadow that occurs when a light source is only partly covered by an object</li>
<li>Antumbra &ndash; the lighter part of the shadow that begins where the umbra ends.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>In Total or annular solar eclipse:</strong> The Moon completely covers the Sun completely but whether an eclipse is total or annular depends on the distance between these three objects(Sun, Moon and Earth)<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Earth travels in an elliptical orbit around the Sun, and the Moon travels in an elliptical orbit around Earth, so the distance between these celestial bodies changes.</li>
<li><strong>Annular solar eclipse:<a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/195image8.jpg" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/195image8.jpg" width="144" height="210" style="float: right;" caption="false" /></a></strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>When the Sun is nearest to Earth and the Moon is at or near its greatest distance, the Moon appears smaller than the Sun in the sky. When an eclipse of the Sun happens in this situation, the Moon will not appear large enough to cover the disk of the Sun completely, and a rim or ring of light will remain visible in the sky.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Total solar eclipse:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Total solar eclipses occur when the New Moon comes between the Sun and Earth and casts the darkest part of its shadow, the umbra, on Earth. A full solar eclipse, known as totality, is almost as dark as night.</li>
<li>During a total eclipse of the Sun, the Moon covers the entire disk of the Sun. In partial and annular solar eclipses, the Moon blocks only part of the Sun.</li>
<li>When Moon completely covers the disk of the Sun, only the Sun's corona is visible.</li>
<li>It is called Total eclipse because at the maximum point of the eclipse( midpoint of time of totality), the sky goes dark and temperatures can fall.<a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/708image3.jpg" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/708image3.jpg" width="256" height="144" style="float: right;" caption="false" /></a></li>
<li>The reason why solar eclipses are so rare is that the Moon's umbra rarely hits the Earth's surface. Even during a total solar eclipse, the umbra only covers a small area on earth(path of totality)</li>
<li>That's why viewing a solar eclipse often depends upon where the viewer observes the event. A partial eclipse may be seen by viewers who stand outside of the region of shadow created by the umbra&mdash;the path of totality&mdash;but who remain within the large region of shadow covered by the penumbra, a region of lesser shadow where some light still penetrates.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Hybrid Eclipse :</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>A hybrid eclipse is a rare type of solar eclipse that changes its appearance as the Moon's shadow moves across the Earth's surface.</li>
<li>A hybrid eclipse is a type of solar eclipse that looks like an annular solar eclipse or a total solar eclipse, depending on the observer's location along the central eclipse path.</li>
<li>During a hybrid solar eclipse, the Earth's curvature brings some sections of the eclipse path into the Moon's umbra, the darkest part of its shadow that creates total solar eclipses, while other areas remain outside the umbra's reach, causing an annular eclipse.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>Both solar and lunar eclipses may also occur as <strong>Partial Eclipses.</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>A partial eclipse of the Sun also results when the Moon&rsquo;s penumbra falls on Earth but its umbra does not.</li>
<li>A partial eclipse of the Moon occurs when the Moon passes through only part of Earth&rsquo;s umbra or only its penumbra.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>The Moon does experience total eclipses. If the eclipse is a total lunar eclipse, the Moon will pass through the umbra (area of total shadow) created by Earth over the course of about two hours.</li>
<li><strong>There are no Annular lunar eclipse because the Earth is much bigger than the Moon, and its shadow will never be small enough to leave a ring.</strong></li>
<li><strong>Since Moon is much smaller than Earth, there is no path of totality in a lunar eclipse. The eclipse will be visible to any observer on the night side of Earth when the eclipse occurs.</strong></li>
<li><strong>During lunar eclipse, Moon does not typically go completely dark; it often takes on a red color, because the redder parts of sunlight that penetrate Earth&rsquo;s atmosphere are refracted into the umbra, and this light reaches the Moon.</strong></li>
</ul>',
		'postdate' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenTime) {},
		'url' => 'https://www.drishtiias.com/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/total-solar-eclipse-2019'
	],
	(int) 12 => [
		'title' => 'Ascent Abort Test-2',
		'catname' => 'News Analysis',
		'desc' => '<p>NASA has carried out a successful test of a <strong>Launch-Abort System (LAS)</strong> for the <strong>Orion capsule</strong> designed to take U.S. astronauts to the Moon.</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The test of the Orion&rsquo;s LAS is also called the <strong>Ascent Abort Test-2 (AA-2).<a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/880image1.jpg" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/880image1.jpg" style="float: right;" caption="false" width="249" height="640" /></a></strong></li>
<li>The <strong>aim</strong> was to test in almost real-life conditions the evacuation of astronauts from the capsule in the event of an explosion or rocket booster failure.</li>
<li>The test is a milestone in NASA's <strong>preparation for Artemis missions</strong> to the Moon that will ultimately lead to astronaut missions to Mars.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The <strong>Artemis program</strong> will send the <strong>first woman and the next man to the Moon by the year 2024</strong> and develop a sustainable human presence on the Moon by the year 2028.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Orion Capsule</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The safest spacecraft ever built, Orion, will <strong>execute the Artemis program.</strong></li>
<li>An integral part of ensuring safe spaceflight is Orion&rsquo;s Launch Abort System, or LAS. This<strong> state-of-the-art crew escape system</strong> is attached to the top of the spacecraft and can propel the crew module away from the rocket within milliseconds should a life-threatening event arise during launch.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Demonstration by the test</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>In the test, an unmanned Orion capsule was launched by a mini-rocket.</li>
<li>Fifty-five seconds after the launch, at an altitude of 9,500 m, a rocket-powered tower on top of the crew module ignited its engines to quickly <strong>pull the Orion away from a hypothetical rocket experiencing problems.</strong></li>
<li>In just 15 seconds, the capsule gained two miles of altitude. Then the tower reoriented the capsule to prepare it for descent and disengagement from the tower, finally <strong>the crew module fell into the Atlantic Ocean.</strong></li>
<li>In real-life conditions, parachutes would also open to ease the manned capsule's fall toward the Atlantic Ocean.</li>
</ul>',
		'postdate' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenTime) {},
		'url' => 'https://www.drishtiias.com/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/ascent-abort-test-2'
	],
	(int) 13 => [
		'title' => 'Trade Infrastructure for Export Scheme',
		'catname' => 'News Analysis',
		'desc' => '<p>The Department of Commerce, under the Union Ministry of Commerce and Industry, has approved financial assistance for three trade promotion centres under the TIES.</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The following are the approved projects with their implementing agencies:<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Establishment of <strong>Main Exhibition Building (Phase-II)</strong> at Trade cum Permanent Exhibition Centre at Imphal, Manipur <strong>by Manipur Industrial Development Corporation (MANIDCO).</strong></li>
<li>Expansion of <strong>Chennai Trade Centre</strong> by Tamil Nadu Trade Promotion Organisation</li>
<li>Establishment of <strong>Trade Promotion Centre at Minto Hall,</strong> Bhopal <strong>by M.P. State Tourism Development Corporation</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Trade Infrastructure for Export Scheme (TIES)</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Union Ministry of Commerce and Industry launched the Trade Infrastructure for Export Scheme (TIES) in March, 2017.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>After delinking of the Assistance to States for Development of Export Infrastructure and Allied Activities (ASIDE) Scheme in 2015, the State Governments had been consistently requesting the support of the Centre in creation of export infrastructure.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/222image6.jpg" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/222image6.jpg" width="585" height="431" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" caption="false" /></a></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The scheme would provide assistance for setting up and up-gradation of infrastructure projects with overwhelming export linkages like the Border Haats, Land customs stations, quality testing and certification labs, cold chains, trade promotion centres, dry ports, export warehousing and packaging, SEZs and ports/airports cargo terminuses.</li>
<li>The Central and State Agencies, including Export Promotion Councils, Commodities Boards, SEZ Authorities and Apex Trade Bodies recognised under the EXIM policy of Government of India; are eligible for financial support under this scheme.</li>
<li>The proposals of the implementing agencies for funding will be considered by an inter ministerial Empowered Committee.</li>
<li>An Empowered Committee has to periodically review the progress of the approved projects in the Scheme and will take necessary steps to ensure achievement of the objectives of the Scheme.</li>
<li>The Central Government funding will be in the form of grant-in-aid, normally not more than the equity being put in by the implementing agency or 50% of the total equity in the project. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>In case of projects located in North Eastern States and Himalayan States including J&amp;K, this grant can be up to 80% of the total equity.</li>
<li>The grant in aid shall, normally, be subject to a ceiling of Rs 20 Cr for each infrastructure project.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>In June, 2018, the Commerce Ministry approved 16 projects for export infrastructure under TIES
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The implementing agencies of these projects included Karnataka Fisheries Development Corporation Ltd; Visvesvaraya Trade Promotion Centre, Bengaluru; Cochin SEZ; Airport Authority of India, Coffee Board, Exports Inspection Council and Andhra Pradesh Med Tech Zone (AMTZ).</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</div>',
		'postdate' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenTime) {},
		'url' => 'https://www.drishtiias.com/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/trade-infrastructure-for-export-scheme'
	],
	(int) 14 => [
		'title' => 'In Depth – India’s Health Index',
		'catname' => 'Lok Sabha & Rajya Sabha Discussions',
		'desc' => '<p style="text-align: center;"><iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/wVSW400nxpQ" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe></p>
<p>In <strong>2017,</strong> <a href="/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-national-institutions/niti-aayog-national-institution-for-transforming-india" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>NITI Aayog</strong></a>, in collaboration with the <a href="/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-international-institution/world-bank-group" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>World Bank</strong></a> and the <strong>Ministry of Health and Family Welfare,</strong> developed the first comprehensive State <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/niti-aayog-s-health-index" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Health Index</strong></a> in India. The first edition of <strong>&ldquo;Healthy States, Progressive India - Report on the Ranks of States and Union Territories&rdquo;,</strong> was released in<strong> February, 2018.</strong> It was the first attempt to establish an annual systematic tool to measure the heterogeneity of the nation&rsquo;s performance in the health sector. The index was launched with the hope <strong>to promote a cooperative and competitive spirit among the states and UTs.</strong></p>
<p><strong>The second edition,</strong> released on <strong>June 25, 2019,</strong> focuses on measuring the overall performance and incremental <strong>improvement over a two year period (2016-17 and 2017-18)</strong> in all states and union territories. The <strong>base year taken is 2015-16.</strong> For the second time in a row, Kerala has emerged as the top ranking state in overall health performance, while Uttar Pradesh was the worst-performing state.</p>
<h3>NITI Aayog Health Index 2018</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The indicators, methodology and categorisation of states and union territories in the health index 2018 were broadly <strong>consistent with the year 2017</strong> edition with a total of <strong>23 indicators</strong> grouped into the domains of <strong>health outcomes, governance and information and key inputs and processes.</strong></li>
<li>There were many indicators like birthweight of the child at the time of birth, sex ratio, accredition of healthcare facilities, infectious diseases like tuberculosis being controlled as per the government norms etc.</li>
<li>The states were <strong>ranked in two ways:</strong> on the <strong>overall</strong> or historical <strong>performance</strong> and on the <strong>incremental performance.</strong></li>
</ul>
<p><strong>How is it different?</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The Health Index is an attempt by NITI Aayog to bring the <strong>focus on outcomes such as lower mortality and fertility rates.</strong> Generally, the practice is to look at the quantum of budget and the amount that has been spent and also some kinds of infrastructure like clinics, Primary Healthcare Centres (PHCs), district hospitals etc.</li>
<li>It is also a tool for assessing <strong>India&rsquo;s readiness on achieving the <a href="/loksabha-rajyasabha-discussions/in-depth-indias-sustainable-development-goals" target="_blank" rel="noopener">SDG goals</a></strong></li>
<li>It also sets up incentives for the states that if they perform well on the health system measurements, more funds will be allocated to them. The Index has been linked to incentives under the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/national-health-mission-and-janani-suraksha-yojana" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>National Health Mission.</strong></a></li>
</ul>
<h3>2018 Rankings</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>States and union territories, on the basis of population, have been ranked in three categories: Larger states, Smaller states and Union territories, to ensure comparison among similar entities.</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>Larger States</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Among the larger states, <strong>Kerala, Andhra Pradesh and Maharashtra</strong> are ranked on<strong> top</strong> in <strong>overall performance.</strong></li>
<li>Gujarat, Punjab and Himachal Pradesh are fourth, fifth and sixth respectively.</li>
<li>Uttar Pradesh, Bihar and Odisha were among the worst performing states.</li>
<li>In terms of annual <strong>incremental performance, Haryana, Rajasthan and Jharkhand</strong> are the <strong>top</strong> three states.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>These states also show the <strong>maximum gains in improvement of health outcomes from base to reference year</strong> in indicators such as neonatal mortality rate (NMR), under-five mortality rate (U5MR), the proportion of low birth weight among newborns, proportion of community health centres and public health centres with quality accreditation certificates, full immunization coverage, institutional deliveries, and proportion of specialist positions vacant at district hospitals.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>Smaller States</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Among the smaller states, <strong>Mizoram ranked first</strong> followed by Manipur on overall performance. <strong>Tripura</strong> followed by Manipur were the top two states in terms of annual <strong>incremental performance.</strong>
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Manipur registered maximum incremental progress on indicators such as full immunization coverage, institutional deliveries and total case notification rate of tuberculosis.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>Sikkim and Arunchal Pradesh had the biggest decrease in overall health index scores among the smaller states.</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>Union Territories</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Among the UTs, <strong>Chandigarh</strong> followed by <strong>Dadra and Nagar Haveli</strong> occupied the<strong> top two</strong> positions in terms of overall performance as well as annual incremental performance.</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>Other Findings</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The report highlighted a <strong>decline</strong> in the overall health index score of the <strong>five empowered action group (EAG)</strong> states of <strong>Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Madhya Pradesh, and Odisha</strong> because of deterioration in various parameters.</li>
<li>The report points out that there was a general <strong>positive correlation between the heath index scores and the economic development levels</strong> of states and union territories as measured by per capita net state domestic product.</li>
<li>The report also notes that overall there is a room for improvement in all states even among the best.</li>
<li>Many states have also made good progress towards achieving the Sustainable Development Goals included in the index.</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>HAQ Index</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>When it comes to world rankings, <strong>India was ranked 145<sup>th</sup></strong> among 195 countries on Healthcare Access and Quality (HAQ) index in 2016.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The index is based on 32 causes of death considered preventable with effective medical care.</li>
<li>It assigns a 0-100 score to each of the 195 countries and territories assessed.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>The comprehensive index released by Global Burden of Disease, funded by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation says that despite such low rankings, India has seen <strong>improvement in HAQ since the year 1990.</strong> India&rsquo;s HAQ score 41.2 has improved from 24.7 score in the year 1990.</li>
<li>Despite the16.5-point improvement in 26 years, India&rsquo;s score is well <strong>below the global average of 54.4.</strong></li>
<li><strong>India lags way behind its <a href="/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-international-institution/brics-1" target="_blank" rel="noopener">BRICS</a> peers</strong> Brazil, Russia, China and South Africa on the HAQ index.</li>
<li>India, however, matches China in the <strong>disparity in healthcare access and quality between states.</strong>
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Within India, the <strong>best performers Kerala and Goa</strong> scored more than 60 points on the HAQ index in the year 2016.</li>
<li>Other top performers in order of rank are Delhi (56.2), Himachal Pradesh (51.7) and the union territories other than Delhi (56.2).</li>
<li>The <strong>worst performers were</strong> Chhattisgarh and Jharkhand, Bihar (37), Odisha (36.3), Uttar Pradesh (34.9) and Assam (34).</li>
<li>This gap between the highest and lowest scores increased from a 23.4 point difference in the year 1990 to a 30.8 difference in the year 2016.</li>
<li>The study said that these <strong>regional differences in India could be due to</strong> multiple reasons such as large variations in physical access to health facilities, the state of health infrastructure, the level and scale-up of medical technologies, and the provision of effective services across the spectrum of care.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>According to the index, India ranks worse than Bangladesh, Sri Lanka and Bhutan among its neighbours but better than Pakistan, Afghanistan and Nepal.</li>
<li>India&rsquo;s rank is also worse than that of many poorer countries in Sub-Saharan Africa such as Sudan (136), Equatorial Guinea (129), Botswana (122) and Namibia (137).</li>
<li>The study found that, generally, <strong>countries that spend more on health per capita</strong> and had better health systems <strong>scored higher on the HAQ</strong> index. According to a report by the Journal IndiaSpend, <strong>India spends just 1.4% of its GDP on health.</strong> The <a href="/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-international-institution/united-nations-1" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>World Health Organization (WHO)</strong></a> recommends that countries should spend 4-5% of their GDP on health to achieve <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/universal-health-coverage" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>universal healthcare.</strong></a></li>
</ul>
</div>
<h3>India&rsquo;s Healthcare System</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The healthcare delivery system is categorised into two major components: <strong>public and private.</strong></li>
<li><strong>The public healthcare system</strong> is made up of <strong>secondary and tertiary care institutions</strong> in key cities and provides basic healthcare facilities in the form of <strong>Primary Healthcare Centres</strong> in rural areas.</li>
<li><strong>The private sector</strong> provides the majority of <strong>secondary, tertiary, quaternary care institutions</strong> with a major concentration in metros, Tier-1 and Tier-2 cities.</li>
<li>India&rsquo;s healthcare industry is one of the fastest growing sectors and is expected to reach 280 billion by the year 2020.</li>
<li>India is also one of the leading destinations for high end diagnostics services with tremendous capital investment for advanced diagnostic facilities.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Indian Healthcare Initiatives</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>India is on course to attain sustainable development goal targets for maternal and child health, much ahead of the agreed date of 2030.</li>
<li>In 2014, the central government launched the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/anaemia-in-women" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Pradhan Mantri Surakshit Matritva Abhiyan</strong></a> as part of which doctors pledged a day of service per month to the campaign and 16 million ante-natal care check-ups were performed.</li>
<li>In August 2018, the Government approved <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/ayushmanbharat" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Ayushman Bharat</strong></a>-<strong>National Health Protection Mission</strong> contributed by both the center and the state government at a ratio of 60:40 for all States, 90:10 for hilly North Eastern States and 60:40 for Union Territories with legislature. It provides <strong>healthcare facilities to over 10 crore urban and rural poor families.</strong></li>
<li>On September 23, 2018, the government launched the <strong><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/ayushmanbharat" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana</a> (PMJAY),</strong> a cashless health insurance cover of up to Rs. 5 lakh per family per year covering 500 million poor citizens.</li>
<li>The mission <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/intensified-mission-indradhanush-best-practice-in-the-world-bmj" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Indradhanush</strong></a> covers immunization. Under this, the government reached 32.8 million children and 8.4 million pregnant women in the last three years. The number of vaccines has been increased from 7 to 12.</li>
<li>To address <strong>malnutrition</strong> among children, the government launched <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/poshan-abhiyaan" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>POSHAN Abhiyan</strong></a> and is also implementing <strong>Rashtriya Bal Swasthya Karyakram</strong> that has provided 800 million health check-ups and free referral treatment to 20 million children in the last 4 years.</li>
<li>The <strong>Pradhan Mantri Matru Vandana Yojana</strong> is expected to benefit 50 million pregnant women and lactating mothers. The scheme enables direct benefit transfer to their bank accounts to compensate for wage loss, enable better nutrition and adequate rest before and after delivery.</li>
</ul>',
		'postdate' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenTime) {},
		'url' => 'https://www.drishtiias.com/loksabha-rajyasabha-discussions/in-depth-indias-health-index'
	],
	(int) 15 => [
		'title' => 'Russia: An all-weather defence partner',
		'catname' => 'News Editorials',
		'desc' => '<div class="border">
<p>This article is based on the editorial<a href="https://www.thehindubusinessline.com/opinion/russia-an-all-weather-defence-partner/article28263881.ece" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong> &ldquo;Russia: An all-weather defence partner&rdquo;</strong> </a>that appeared in the Hindu Business Line on 3 July 2019. It highlights the importance of Russia in India&rsquo;s strategic interest.</p>
</div>
<p>In March 2019, India signed an Intergovernmental Agreement (IGA) with Russia to lease another of its <strong>Akula-Class attack nuclear submarines (SSN).</strong> The agreement has invited a serious reaction from the USA over India's defence relationship with Russia. Russia is in the middle of economic sanctions imposed of USA under <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/indias-balancing-with-sco" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>CAATSA</strong></a>, USA has also been critical about India-Russia <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/indias-balancing-with-sco" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>S-400 Triumf deal</strong></a>.</p>
<p>During the Cold War, Indo and US were referred to as estranged democracies or as described by David Malone: The blind man and the elephant trying to understand each other. But this strategic realignment by India should not be at the expense of neglect of Russia, as Russia is an all-weather defence partner of India.</p>
<h3>What is the importance of Russia for India?</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>After the end of the cold war, it became imperative for India to look westwards and by the start of the 21st century, the USA and India turned into strategic partners.</li>
<li>But it can be said that the idea and inspiration for India did come from technological strides made by the US, however, its implementation was done with the help of Russia.</li>
<li>In early 1966, India&rsquo;s Atomic Energy establishment started a feasibility programme on naval nuclear propulsion. India approached the US for its quest to develop marine propulsion.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>But the US disapproved India's plea due to its broader policy of nuclear non-proliferation and arms control, and the need to maintain a strategic balance in South Asia.</li>
<li>Also, the sanctions imposed on India after the 1974 nuclear test further deserted India of high-end technology exposure from the western countries</li>
<li>In this scenario, Russia agreed to help India&rsquo;s indigenous nuclear submarine programme. It also acquiesced to leasing India its first nuclear submarine.</li>
<li>India had leased an Akula-class SSBN from Moscow in 2012. Rechristened as Chakra in the Indian fleet, it will continue to serve the Indian Navy until the commissioning of the new Akula submarine, most likely by 2025.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>The US only provides non-lethal defence technology(which can't be used in event of war against Pakistan) like C-130 Super Hercules, C-13 Globemaster, P-8i Poseidon etc, while Russia provides high-end technology like Brahmos supersonic missile, 5<sup>th</sup> generation fighter aircraft Pak Fa, S-400 anti-missile system.</li>
<li>While India has diversified its defence procurement from Russia to Israel, France, US etc but still India is dependent on Russia for spare parts as India's current defence infrastructure is heavily Russian dominated.</li>
<li>Though Russia is not a superpower like it used to be in Soviet-era but in current times Russia has resurged, with its engagement in Afghanistan, Syria it has outsmarted the west. In this scenario, Russia remains a formidable player in international relations.</li>
<li>Also, Russia's support for India is critical for UNSC reforms and support on Kashmir.</li>
<li>Further sanctions on Russia have led to tactical convergence between Russia and China. If India gives in to American pressure vis-a-vis Russia, it will further push the convergence between Russia and China which may be not in India's favour.</li>
<li>Also, an independent Russia is essential to keep Asia&rsquo;s geopolitics in balance, especially given the rise of China.</li>
<li>Russia's role is very critical for the success of the International North-south Corridor and India's access to Central Asia.</li>
<li>Russia has signalled that if India can exercise its sovereignty in the diversification of defence partners then Russia also has other options(engagement with Pakistan), which may not be in India's interest.</li>
<li>India can benefit from hi-tech cooperation with Russia in the fields of artificial intelligence, robotics, biotechnology, outer space and nanotechnology and energy sector and other areas of critical technology</li>
</ul>
<h3>Way forward</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>India must promote a mutually beneficial trilateral cooperation between Russia, China and India that could contribute towards the reduction of mistrust and suspicion between India and China.</li>
<li>India today is in a unique position where it has favourable relation with all great powers, India must leverage this position to help in building a peaceful world order.</li>
<li>India can also build upon and benefit from increase of trade between India and Russia.</li>
</ul>
<p>Russia&rsquo;s closeness with China and Pakistan is tactical, mainly induced due to western sanctions, whereas Russia-India partnership is strategic. Russia always saw India as balancer that's why Russia facilitated India's inclusion into SCO and formation of RIC doctrine.</p>
<p>But if India didn't take proactive measures vis a vis Russia, and if Russia and China convergence continues to grow. In this context Russia can't act as a balancer for India against China. So India must very carefully conduct its foreign policy which is based on a long term policy, as Russia and India friendship is a win-win situation for both.<br /><br /></p>
<table border="1" style="border-collapse: collapse; width: 100%;">
<tbody>
<tr style="border-color: #fca4a4;">
<td style="width: 561.111px; background-color: #f7f6c8;"><span style="color: #ff0000;"><em><strong>Drishti Input</strong></em></span><br />Contemporary geopolitics presses the need for strategic convergence between India and the US, but it should not come at the expense of neglect of Russia by India. Comment.</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>',
		'postdate' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenTime) {},
		'url' => 'https://www.drishtiias.com/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/russia-an-all-weather-defence-partner'
	],
	(int) 16 => [
		'title' => 'Anti Locust Fight',
		'catname' => 'News Analysis',
		'desc' => '<p>The <strong>officials from India and Pakistan</strong> are closely working together to <strong>prevent the movement of locusts</strong> and save crops in bordering districts.</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Both the countries are also consistently sharing inputs, including satellite data, via Food and Agricultural Organization (FAO) to counter and restrict the movement of locusts.</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Food and Agricultural Organization</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>In 1945, Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) was created In Quebec City, Canada, by the first session of the newly created United Nations.</li>
<li>FAO is a specialized agency of the United Nations that leads international efforts to defeat hunger.</li>
<li>FAO is also a source of knowledge and information, and helps developing countries in transition modernize and improve agriculture, forestry and fisheries practices, ensuring good nutrition and food security for all.</li>
</ul>
</div>
<h3>Locust</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>A locust is a large,<strong> mainly tropical grasshopper</strong> with strong powers of flight. They <strong>differ from ordinary grasshoppers</strong> in their ability to change behaviour (gregarize) and form swarms that can migrate over large distances.</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/201image6.jpg" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/201image6.jpg" width="538" height="469" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" caption="false" /></a></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Locusts are generally seen during the<strong> months of June and July</strong> as the insects are active from summer to the rainy season.</li>
<li><strong>Locusts have a high capacity to multiply, form groups, migrate over</strong> relatively large distances (they can fly up to 150 km per day) and, if good rains fall and ecological conditions become favourable, rapidly reproduce and increase some 20-fold in three months.</li>
<li><strong>Threat to Vegetation: </strong>Locust adults can eat their own weight every day, i.e. about two grams of fresh vegetation per day. A very <strong>small swarm eats as much in one day as about 35,000 people,</strong> posing a devastating threat to crops and food security.</li>
<li><strong>If infestations are not detected and controlled, devastating plagues can develop</strong> that often take several years and hundreds of millions of dollars to bring under control with severe consequences on food security and livelihoods.</li>
<li><strong>Locust Control measures</strong> include destroying egg masses laid by invading swarms, digging trenches to trap nymphs, using hopperdozers (wheeled screens that cause locusts to fall into troughs containing water and kerosene), using insecticidal baits, and applying insecticides to both swarms and breeding grounds from aircraft.</li>
<li><strong>FAO</strong> provides information on the general locust situation to the global community and gives <strong>timely warnings</strong> and <strong>forecasts</strong> to those countries in danger of invasion.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The FAO raised alarm over the locust outbreak in northeast Africa and Saudi Arabia in February, 2019.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Locusts in India</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Four species</strong> viz. Desert locust (Schistocerca gregaria), Migratory locust (Locusta migratoria), Bombay Locust ( Nomadacris succincta) and Tree locust (Anacridium sp.) are found in India.</li>
<li>The existing series of locust swarms that have entered India via Pakistan had originated in Iran. Movement of locusts is facilitated by summer dusty winds, which flow from the Arabian Sea, taking along these creatures from Sindh in Pakistan to western Rajasthan.</li>
<li>These creatures have wreaked havoc in Pakistan but have not caused any damage on the Indian side.</li>
<li><strong>Locust Warning Organisation (LWO), Jodhpur</strong> is currently handling 13-16 swarms of locusts in Jaisalmer and Barmer districts of Rajasthan. It is currently using a <strong>pesticide 'malathion'.</strong>
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The last major locust outbreak that was reported in Rajasthan was in the year 1993.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Locust Warning Organization ( LWO)</h3>
<p><a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/239image1.jpg" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/239image1.jpg" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="492" height="328" caption="false" /></a></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Locust Warning Organisation (LWO), Directorate of Plant Protection Quarantine and Storage, <strong>Ministry of Agriculture &amp; Farmers Welfare,</strong>&nbsp;is responsible for monitoring, survey and control of Desert Locust in Scheduled Desert Areas mainly in the States of Rajasthan and Gujarat.</li>
<li>Incursion of exotic locust swarms into India is prevented through organization of suitable control operation. LWO keeps itself abreast with the prevailing locust situation at National and International level through monthly Desert Locust Bulletins of FAO.</li>
<li>Its <strong>objectives</strong> include:
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>To monitor, forewarn and control locust in Scheduled Desert Area (SDA) being International obligation and commitment.</li>
<li>To conduct research on locust and grasshoppers.</li>
<li>Liaison and coordination with National and International Organizations.</li>
<li>Human resource development through training and demonstration for staff of Locust Warning Organization (LWO), State officials, BSF personnel and Farmers.</li>
<li>To maintain control potential to combat locust emergency by organizing locust control campaign.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>',
		'postdate' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenTime) {},
		'url' => 'https://www.drishtiias.com/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/anti-locust-fight'
	],
	(int) 17 => [
		'title' => 'Suicides in India',
		'catname' => 'News Analysis',
		'desc' => '<p>According to <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/ncrb-to-track-complaints-on-sexual-violence" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB)</strong></a>&rsquo;s &lsquo;Accidental Deaths and Suicides in India&rsquo; report for 2015, there were 1,336,623 suicides across the country that year.</p>
<p><a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/320image3.jpg" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/320image3.jpg" width="476" height="319" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" caption="false" /></a></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Among all states, Maharashtra (16,970) had the highest number of suicides in 2015. <a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/668image2.jpg" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/668image2.jpg" width="200" height="240" style="float: right;" caption="false" /></a><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>It is followed by Tamil Nadu (15,777).</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>In exception, Uttar Pradesh, the most populous state, had the 11th highest suicide count (3,902).</li>
<li>Bihar, one of the country&rsquo;s most populous states, was another exception, with its count of 516 suicides lower than that of many smaller states.</li>
<li>As per report, one-third of the suicides in the country in 2015 were committed by young adults under age 30, and another one-third by people in the age group 30-45.</li>
</ul>',
		'postdate' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenTime) {},
		'url' => 'https://www.drishtiias.com/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/suicides-in-india'
	],
	(int) 18 => [
		'title' => 'Heat Stress and Labour Productivity: ILO Report',
		'catname' => 'News Analysis',
		'desc' => '<p><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/100th-anniversary-of-ilo" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>The International Labour Organisation</strong></a> (ILO) in its report <strong>&lsquo;Working on a Warmer Planet: The Impact of Heat Stress on Labour Productivity and Decent Work&rsquo;</strong> revealed that rising <strong>heat stress</strong> due to <strong>climate change</strong> could lead to the loss of <strong>80 million</strong> jobs by <strong>2030</strong>.</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The report makes its projections based on a global temperature rise of <strong>1.5&deg;Celsius</strong> by the end of the century.</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Heat Stress</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>It refers to <strong>heat in excess</strong> of what the body can tolerate without suffering physiological impairment.</li>
<li>It generally occurs at temperatures <strong>above 35&deg;C</strong>, in high <strong>humidity</strong>.</li>
<li>Excess heat during work is an <strong>occupational health risk</strong> as it restricts workers<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Physical functions</strong> and capabilities,</li>
<li>Work <strong>capacity</strong> and thus, <strong>productivity.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>Extreme heat can cause heat-related illnesses, such as <strong>heat stroke</strong> and <strong>exhaustion,</strong> increase <strong>mortality</strong>, and exacerbate existing health conditions.</li>
<li>According to <strong>the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/strategy-against-the-threat-of-influenza" target="_blank" rel="noopener">World Health Organisation</a></strong> heat stress linked to climate change is likely to cause 38,000 extra <strong>deaths</strong> a year worldwide <strong>between 2030 and 2050.</strong></li>
</ul>
</div>
<h3>Key Findings</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Economic Loss: 2% of total working hours</strong> worldwide is projected to be lost (costing the global economy <strong>$2.4 trillion</strong>) every year, either because it is too hot to work or because workers have to work at a slower pace.<a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/468image5.jpg" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/468image5.jpg" width="518" height="309" style="float: right;" caption="false" /></a></li>
<li><strong>Affected Sectors:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Agricultural workers,</strong> especially women, who make up the bulk of the 940 million laborers in the sector will be most affected.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Agricultural sector is projected to account for<strong> 60%</strong> of global working hours lost due to heat stress by the year 2030.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Construction sector</strong> will also be severely impacted with an estimated <strong>19%</strong> of global working hours lost by 2030.</li>
<li>Other sectors like <strong>environmental goods and services,</strong> refuse collection, emergency, repair work, <strong>transport, tourism, sports</strong> and some form of <strong>industrial work</strong> will be worst affected by rising heat.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Affected Regions:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The regions losing the most working hours are expected to be <strong>southern Asia and western Africa,</strong> where approximately <strong>5%</strong> of working hours are expected to be lost in 2030.</li>
<li>According to ILO, India lost 4.3% of working hours in 1995 because of heat stress, and it is projected to lose <strong>5.8%</strong> of its <strong>working hours</strong> in <strong>2030,</strong> which corresponds to <strong>34 million jobs.</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Most of the impact in India will be felt in the <strong>agricultural sector</strong> and more <strong>working hours</strong> are expected to be lost in the <strong>construction sector</strong>, where heat stress affects both male and female workers.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Social Consequence:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>It could lead to more <strong>inequality</strong> between low and high income countries and <strong>worsening working conditions</strong> for the most vulnerable.</li>
<li>Heat stress will affect <strong>millions of women</strong> who make up the majority of workers in subsistence agriculture, as well as men who dominate the construction industry.</li>
<li>The social consequences of heat stress may include <strong>increasing migration,</strong> as workers leave rural areas to look for better prospects.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Way Forward</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Design, finance and implement <strong>national policies</strong> to address heat stress risks and protect workers.</li>
<li>Adequate<strong> infrastructure</strong> and improved <strong>early warning systems</strong> for heat events, and improved implementation of<strong> international labour standards</strong> such as in the area of occupational safety and health to help design policies to tackle heat-related hazards.</li>
<li>Employers and workers are best placed to <strong>assess risks and take appropriate action</strong> at the <strong>workplace</strong> so that workers can cope with high temperatures and continue to do their jobs.</li>
<li><strong>Employers</strong> can provide <strong>drinking water,</strong> and <strong>training</strong> on recognizing and managing heat stress.</li>
<li><strong>Social dialogue</strong> can play a crucial role in reaching consensus on indoor and outdoor working methods, adapting working hours, dress codes and equipment, use of new<strong> technologies,</strong> shade and rest breaks.</li>
</ul>',
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	(int) 19 => [
		'title' => 'National Centre for Polar and Ocean Research (NCPOR)',
		'catname' => 'News Analysis',
		'desc' => '<p>The <strong>six <a href="/loksabha-rajyasabha-discussions/in-depth-melting-himalayas" target="_blank" rel="noopener">himalayan glaciers</a>,</strong> monitored by the National Centre for Polar and Ocean Research (NCPOR), have been <strong>retreating</strong> in the range of <strong>13 to 33 millimetres per year.</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Six glaciers i.e. Sutri Dhaka, Batal, Bara Shigri, Samudra Tapu, Gepang Gath and Kunzum, are monitored for mass, energy and hydrological balance.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Debris of thickness above two centimetres have reduced the melting rates up to 70 %, whereas the debris cover of below two centimetres thickness has accelerated melting up to 10 % of the total melting.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>The NCPOR has undertaken studies in the Western Himalaya in Chandra basin in Lahaul-Spiti (Himachal Pradesh) since 2013.</li>
<li>The NCPOR has also established a high altitude research station named 'Himansh' in <strong>Himalaya</strong> at 4,000 metres altitude at Sutri Dhaka.</li>
</ul>
<h3>National Centre for Polar and Ocean Research (NCPOR)</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>It was established as an autonomous Research and Development Institution of the Ministry of Earth Sciences on the 25<sup>th</sup> May 1998.</li>
<li>Earlier known as <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/india-to-expand-polar-research-to-arctic" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>National Centre for Antarctic and Ocean Research (NCAOR)</strong></a>, NCPOR is India&rsquo;s <strong>premier R&amp;D institution</strong> responsible for the country&rsquo;s research activities in the Polar and Southern Ocean realms.</li>
<li>It is the <strong>nodal agency</strong> for planning, promotion, coordination and execution of the entire gamut of polar and southern ocean scientific research in the country as well as for the associated logistics activities.</li>
<li>Its responsibilities include:<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Management and upkeep of the <strong>Indian Antarctic Research Bases</strong> &ldquo;Maitri&rdquo; and &ldquo;Bharati&rdquo;, and the <strong>Indian Arctic base</strong> &ldquo;Himadri&rdquo;.</li>
<li>Management of the Ministry&rsquo;s research vessel <strong>ORV Sagar Kanya</strong> as well as the other research vessels chartered by the Ministry.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>The Ocean Research Vehicle (ORV) Sagar Kanya is a versatile ocean observing platform equipped with technologically advanced scientific equipment and related facilities.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>Playing a facilitatory role in the scientific research activities being undertaken by several national institutions and organizations in Antarctica, the Arctic and in the Indian Ocean sector of the Southern Ocean.</li>
<li>Playing a lead role in the geoscientific surveys of the country&rsquo;s <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/un-begins-talks-to-regulate-the-high-seas" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Exclusive Economic Zone</strong></a> (EEZ) and its extended continental shelf beyond 200m, deep-sea drilling in the Arabian Sea basin through the International Ocean Discovery Program (IODP), exploration for ocean non-living resources such as <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/iit-madras-team-produces-gas-hydrates" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>gas hydrates</strong></a> and multi-metal sulphides in mid-ocean ridges.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>It is <strong>located</strong> in the state of <strong>Goa.</strong></li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>International Ocean Discovery Program (IODP)</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>It is an <strong>international marine research collaboration</strong> that explores Earth's history and dynamics using ocean-going research platforms to recover data recorded in seafloor sediments and rocks and to monitor subseafloor environments.</li>
<li>It is in <strong>Phase II</strong> (tenured <strong>2013-2023</strong>) of what was formerly known as the <strong>Integrated Ocean Drilling Program &ndash; Phase I.</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Phase I</strong> which was envisioned in the year 2003, ceased in October 2013, after which its 26 participating nations have continued collaboration through the International Ocean Discovery Program: Exploring the Earth under the sea. India joined the Phase I in the year 2009 as an Associate Member.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>India&rsquo;s continued participation in Phase II as a member of the International Ocean Discovery Program is a result of an agreement signed in September 2014.</li>
<li>NCPOR is the nodal agency for all the IODP related activities in India.</li>
</ul>
</div>',
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