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AWaRe

The World Health Organization (WHO) in its global campaign against antibiotics has launched a new online tool called AWaRe. The campaign aims to...

20 Jun 2019 News Analysis
Acute Encephalitis Syndrome: Causes and Lapses

This editorial is based on the article "A failing state” which appeared in Indian Express on 19th June, 2019. The article talks about cause...

19 Jun 2019 News Editorials
Seven Million Jobs Created in Formal Sector

The Indian Staffing Federation (ISF) has reported the formalisation of over seven million jobs between 2015-2018 due to reforms and initiatives taken...

19 Jun 2019 News Analysis
RBI Panel's Recommendations on MSME

A Reserve Bank of India (RBI) expert committee on micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) has recommended doubling the cap on collateral-free...

19 Jun 2019 News Analysis
ICANN and NASSCOM Collaboration

Global internet body Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers(ICANN) and Indian IT industry body NASSCOM to develop identifier technology...

19 Jun 2019 News Analysis
Coringa Mangroves

The Andhra Pradesh Government has constituted a seven-member committee for fulfilment of norms required for proposing the Godavari Mangroves (Mada...

19 Jun 2019 News Analysis
Libra Cryptocurrency

Facebook has unveiled its own cryptocurrency named “Libra”. Based on the Libra Blockchain, it’s backed by the Libra Reserve. It...

19 Jun 2019 News Analysis
Cooperative and Competitive Federalism in India

Context Federalism is derived from the Latin world foedus, which means agreement. In fact federation is an agreement between two types of...

19 Jun 2019 Paper 2
Concerns over Genetically Modified Brinjal

This article is based on the editorial “Serious concerns over Bt brinjal” which appeared in The Hindu on 18th June 2019. It talks about...

18 Jun 2019 News Editorials
Autonomous District Councils

Why in News In January 2019, Cabinet approved amendment to Article 280 and Sixth Schedule of the Constitution to increase autonomy, financial...

18 Jun 2019 National Institutions
World Day to Combat Desertification and Drought

The World Day to Combat Desertification and Drought is observed every year on 17th June. India for the first time will host the 14th session of the...

18 Jun 2019 News Analysis
UN Report on Myanmar Rohingya Crisis

The UN secretary-general has accepted an independent report on how the UN System operated in Myanmar, leading up to the mass exodus of the Rohingyas...

18 Jun 2019 News Analysis
NATO Ally Status to India

Two top American lawmakers have moved a key legislation in the Senate which seeks to advance the US-India strategic relationship. The legislation...

18 Jun 2019 News Analysis
'Fewer but Newer' Nuclear Arms: SIPRI

The Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI) has reported that the world is witnessing less nuclear arms but with modernising and...

18 Jun 2019 News Analysis
Piped Water Connection by 2024

The Prime Minister has recently said that the government will provide piped water to every household in the next five years i.e. by 2024. This is...

18 Jun 2019 News Analysis
Artificial Intelligence and Deepfakes- Misuse and Way Forward

This article is based on the editorial, The dangers posed by AI-driven ‘deepfakes’,that appeared in live Mint on 13th June 2019. It...

17 Jun 2019 News Editorials
Selenium-Graphene based Catalyst in Fuel Cell

A multi-institutional team of scientists from India has developed a selenium-graphene–based catalyst which is more efficient in terms of cost...

17 Jun 2019 News Analysis
Payment and Settlement Systems in India: Vision 2019–2021

The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has released its statement on ‘Payment and Settlement Systems in India: Vision 2019–2021’, which...

17 Jun 2019 News Analysis
GST Council and National Anti-profiteering Authority

The GST Council in its recent meeting has discussed the proposal of extending the tenure of the National Anti-profiteering Authority (NAA) to one...

17 Jun 2019 News Analysis
“Operation Sunrise 2”

“Operation Sunrise 2” is a coordinated operation by armies of India and Myanmar. It is a three-week-long operation carried out in their...

17 Jun 2019 News Analysis

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			'title' => 'AWaRe',
			'catname' => 'News Analysis',
			'desc' => '<p><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/global-leaders-adopt-delhi-declaration-on-digital-health" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>The World Health Organization</strong></a> (WHO) in its global campaign against <a href="/loksabha-rajyasabha-discussions/in-depth-drug-resistance" target="_blank" rel="noopener">antibiotics</a> has launched a new online tool called AWaRe.</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The campaign aims to achieve a 60% increase in the use of antibiotics under the Access group &mdash; cheap, &lsquo;narrow-spectrum&rsquo; drugs (that target a specific microorganism rather than several) and also <strong>lower the risk of resistance.</strong></li>
</ul>
<h3>AWaRe</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The AWaRe tool was developed by the <strong>WHO Essential Medicines List</strong> to contain <strong>rising resistance</strong> and make antibiotic use <strong>safer</strong> and more effective by providing guidelines (over the effective use of antibiotics) to the <strong>policy-makers</strong> and <strong>health workers</strong>.</li>
<li>It classifies antibiotics into three groups:<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Access</strong>&mdash; antibiotics used to treat the most common and serious infections.</li>
<li><strong>Watch&mdash;</strong> antibiotics available at all times in the healthcare system.</li>
<li><strong>Reserve&mdash;</strong> antibiotics to be used sparingly or preserved and used only as a last resort.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Significance</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>By classifying antibiotics into three distinct groups, and advising on when to use them, AWaRe makes it easier for <strong>policy-makers, prescribers and health workers</strong> to select the right antibiotic at the right time, and to protect endangered antibiotics.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Antimicrobial Resistance</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>With the emergence of infections that are untreatable by all classes of antibiotics, <a href="/to-the-points/paper3/to-the-point-paper-3-antimicrobial-resistance-amr" target="_blank" rel="noopener">antimicrobial resistance</a> is turning into an <strong>invisible pandemic</strong> and is estimated to kill <strong>50 million</strong> worldwide and <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/the-problem-of-drug-resistance-in-india" target="_blank" rel="noopener">10 million in India (by <strong>2050</strong>)</a>.</li>
<li>According to a report by the International Coordination Group on Antimicrobial Resistance, Antimicrobial resistance is a <strong>global health</strong> and <strong>development threat</strong> that continues to escalate globally and threatens to undo a century of medical progress.</li>
<li>It is estimated that more than 50% of antibiotics in many countries are used inappropriately, such as for <strong>treatment of viruses</strong> (when they only treat bacterial infections) or <strong>use of the wrong</strong> (broader spectrum) antibiotic, thus contributing to the spread of antimicrobial resistance.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Concern</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>One of the most pressing concerns is the spread of resistant <strong>gram-negative bacteria,</strong> including <strong>Acinetobacter, Escherichia coli and Klebsiella pneumoniae.</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>As these bacteria, which are commonly seen in hospitalized patients, cause infections like <strong>pneumonia, bloodstream infections, wound</strong> or surgical site infections and <strong>meningitis.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>Although over 100 countries have put in place national plans to tackle antimicrobial resistance, only about <strong>one-fifth</strong> of those plans are funded and implemented.</li>
<li>Antibiotic resistance (when antibiotics stop working effectively) increases health expenditure and makes <strong>accessibility and affordability</strong> of medicines an expensive affair.</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Gram-Negative Bacteria</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Bacteria are classified into two groups&mdash;Gram-positive or Gram-negative&mdash;depending on whether they retain a specific stain color.</li>
<li>Gram-positive bacteria retain a purple-colored stain, while Gram-negative bacteria appear pinkish or red.</li>
<li>Several species of gram negative bacteria including Escherichia coli, are common causes of foodborne disease and Vibrio cholerae&mdash;the bacteria responsible for cholera&mdash;is a waterborne pathogen.</li>
<li>Gram-negative bacteria can also cause respiratory infections, such as certain types of pneumonia, and sexually transmitted diseases, including gonorrhea.</li>
</ul>
</div>',
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		],
		(int) 1 => [
			'title' => 'Acute Encephalitis Syndrome: Causes and Lapses',
			'catname' => 'News Editorials',
			'desc' => '<div class="border">
<p><strong>This editorial is based on the article <a href="https://indianexpress.com/article/opinion/editorials/bihar-encephalitis-ase-deaths-muzaffarpur-5787254/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">"A failing state&rdquo;</a> which appeared in Indian Express on 19th June, 2019. The article talks about cause and lapses in dealing with Acute Encephalitis Syndrome and suggests a way forward.</strong></p>
</div>
<p>More than 100 children in Bihar&rsquo;s Muzaffarpur district have died of <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/acute-encephalitis-syndrome" target="_blank" rel="noopener">acute encephalitis syndrome (AES)</a>, with the state&rsquo;s medical authorities initially blaming the deaths on the heat wave, hypoglycemia (sudden drop in blood sugar levels) and <strong>lack of awareness.</strong> Now, belatedly, they have acknowledged the two most critical causes for the deaths &mdash; <strong>malnutrition</strong> and the <strong>inadequacy of primary health centres</strong> (PHCs).</p>
<p>The AES cases in Muzaffarpur, Bihar and adjoining <strong>litchi producing districts</strong> have been observed <strong>every year</strong> in summers(mostly from April to June), particularly in children who are <strong>undernourished</strong> with a history of visiting litchi orchards.</p>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>What makes region so vulnerable to AES?</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>It has been found that regions with high heat, humidity, unhygienic conditions and malnutrition, contribute to the rise in AES. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>AES has struck Muzaffarpur with regularity in the summers since 1995.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>Incidence is higher in litchi fields around which malnourished children live.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Malnutrition is high Bihar, and malnourished children are prone to infection.</li>
<li>National Family Health Survey-4 data show that in 2015-16, 48% children aged less than five in Bihar were stunted &mdash; the highest in India.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</div>
<p><strong>Causes:</strong> Litchi is being most commonly blamed for the Acute Encephalitis Syndrome (AES) outbreak in Bihar. However, experts are of the view that fruit is only a triggering factor for malnourished children as the toxin methylenecyclopropyl glycine (MCPG) can lead to <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/hypoglycaemia-and-acute-encephalitis-syndrome" target="_blank" rel="noopener">hypoglycaemia</a> (fall in sugar levels) in undernourished children that in turn results into unconsciousness, coma and even death.</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Malnutrition cause hypoglycaemia:</strong> Malnourished children have depleted glycogen store in the liver. So if there is no glycogen reserve, the glycogen breaks into glucose and when the shortage further increases, even fats start burning and this process produces by products like ketones and amino acids which are neurotoxic and are responsible for inflammation of the brain tissue.</li>
<li><strong>Heat waves:</strong> when temperature and humidity were recorded over consecutive days at more 38 degrees Celsius and 50% respectively, the epidemic had been at its worse. In other parts of northern India there is fluctuation in temperature and humidity, and the nights are cooler, but in Muzaffarpur humidity increases at night making it worse than the day, especially for children.</li>
<li>The main <strong>causative agents</strong> of acute encephalitis are the <strong>viruses</strong> like herpes viruses, enteroviruses, West Nile, Japanese encephalitis, Eastern equine viruses, tick-borne viruses etc.</li>
<li>Encephalitis is also caused due to <strong>bacteria, fungi or parasites, chemicals, toxins and non-infectious agents.</strong></li>
</ul>
<p>The death of children in Muzaffarpur due to AES, a preventable disease, shows the inaction of the state machinery, which has failed to take appropriate steps to prevent the seasonal outbreak of disease.</p>
<h3>Lapses</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Primary health centres:</strong> the first point of healthcare for most AES patients are <strong>ill-equipped</strong> to deal with the disease. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Most of them do not have, <strong>virology lab</strong> or adequate number of <strong>paediatric beds</strong> and <strong>glycometers</strong> to monitor blood sugar levels.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Standard operating procedure :</strong> to treat AES, have clearly not been implemented in Bihar, which mandates grassroots health workers, including auxiliary nurse-midwives, accredited social health activists, and anganwadi workers, to do daily <strong>household-level surveys</strong> to check children for JE/AES symptoms during the outbreak season from June to September.</li>
<li><strong>Lack of preparedness:</strong> of the state government in terms <strong>special nutrition programme</strong> for AES-prone areas (as undernourished children are more prone to the disease).</li>
<li><strong>Inadequate Machinery:</strong> Unavailability of <strong>doctors, beds, intensive care units, medical professionals</strong> to deal with an epidemic level situation which has resulted in more than 126 reported death of children in the state of Bihar particularly in Muzaffarpur and its adjoining areas.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Way Forward</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Surveillance and Monitoring:</strong> of AES vulnerable region ( for identifying AES prone cases) is necessary for <strong>early diagnosis and treatment</strong> of disease. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>AES can be contained if the child is administered dextrose within 4 hours of the onset of symptoms</li>
<li><strong>10% Dextrose infusion</strong> within the golden hours can speed up the pace of recovery.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Awareness campaigns and symptom management:</strong> as a <strong>pre-emptive</strong> measures must be put in place for dealing with the AES cases.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>State Government should learn from the <strong><em>dastak</em></strong> initiative (for treating Japanese Encephalitis) taken by Uttar Pradesh, that has brought together health, rural development and primary education officials to promote clean drinking water, sanitation, vaccination and early referral to hospitals for treatment through symptom management.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Infrastructural and Institutional set up:</strong> Primary Health Care centres must be equipped with all necessary equipments and amenities that are crucial for diagnosing and treating AES patients.</li>
<li><strong>Medical Research and Studies:</strong> conducted in AES prone regions that are crucial for establishing link between causes and symptoms of the disease must be taken into account for formulating <strong>treatment strategy.</strong></li>
<li><strong>Special Nutrition programmes:</strong> and <strong>mid day meals</strong> must be implemented in the AES prone regions as it has been identified that toxins in litchi is just a triggering factor in the already malnutritioned children.</li>
</ul>
<table border="1" style="border-collapse: collapse;">
<tbody>
<tr>
<td style="width: 1108.89px; background-color: #f7faa0; border-color: #ff0000;">
<p><em><strong>Drishti input</strong></em></p>
<p>Examine the failures at various levels that has led to the deaths of more than 100 children due to Acute Encephalitis Syndrome in Bihar.</p>
</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<p></p>',
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		],
		(int) 2 => [
			'title' => 'Seven Million Jobs Created in Formal Sector',
			'catname' => 'News Analysis',
			'desc' => '<p>The Indian Staffing Federation (ISF) has reported the formalisation of over seven million jobs between 2015-2018 <strong>due to reforms and initiatives taken by Indian government.</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>The report titled, &lsquo;Impact of key reforms on job formalisation and flexi-staffing&rsquo;</strong> mentioned that 1.2 million workers have been added to the flexi-workforce since 2015 and a further 1.53 million are to be added over the next three years.</li>
<li>The government&rsquo;s current agenda of job creation can be achieved by boosting the aggregate effective demand in the economy through formalisation, industrialisation, urbanisation, financialisation and skilling.</li>
<li>India will have a 6.1 million flexi-workforce by 2021. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Sectors such as logistics, banking, financial services and insurance <strong>(BFSI), IT/ ITeS, retail and government</strong> would be the <strong>top five sectors, employing over 55 per cent of the total flexi-workforce by 2021.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>The flexi staff space grew</strong> at a Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) of <strong>16.3 per cent in 2018</strong> and is expected to further accelerate to<strong> 22.7 per cent from 2018-2021.</strong></li>
<li>The report establishes <strong>flexi-staffing as a key job creation engine.</strong></li>
<li>The acceleration in momentum towards formal employment witnessed in the past three years clearly means the reforms such as the payment of wages act and EPF are having a positive impact.</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Flexi-staffing</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Flexible Staffing</strong> is an arrangement in an organization where the employees can be from <strong>temporary agencies, leased employees or contract workers.</strong></li>
<li>It is more commonly known as temporary staffing and predominantly focuses on the white collar industry.</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>Indian Staffing Federation (ISF)</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The ISF is the apex body representing the Staffing industry/Private Employment Services that is <strong>authorised to discuss with government agencies and other trade bodies on behalf of the staffing industry/ private employment services.</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>The Staffing / private employment services</strong> is an enabler <strong>to provide social security</strong> and long term <strong>medical</strong>, and <strong>retirement benefits to temp/flexi-staff.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>The purpose of ISF is to enhance long-term growth and ensure its continued ability to make positive contributions to the economy as well as the society<strong> through the services of the Staffing Industry.</strong></li>
<li><strong>Staffing Industry covers a meager 2% penetration of the possible employable size in India.</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Of the 400m employable in India, about 10% are employed in the organised sector, and while about 250m are self-employed.</li>
<li>This leaves <strong>almost 110m</strong> who are <strong>employed by the temp/ flexi-staffing and the unorganised sector.</strong> ISF is working towards growing this market.</li>
<li>To bring effect, <strong>the laws and regulations haven't taken Staffing industry/</strong> Private Employment Services <strong>into cognizance.</strong></li>
<li>ISF expects to interact with law making authorities to recognize Staffing industry / Private Employment Services and create adequate and appropriate laws to manage it.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</div>',
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			'url' => 'https://www.drishtiias.com/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/seven-million-jobs-created-in-formal-sector'
		],
		(int) 3 => [
			'title' => 'RBI Panel's Recommendations on MSME',
			'catname' => 'News Analysis',
			'desc' => '<p>A Reserve Bank of India (RBI) expert committee on micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) has recommended doubling <strong>the cap on collateral-free loans to Rs 20 lakh</strong> from the current Rs 10 lakh.</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>This will be extended to borrowers falling under the Mudra scheme, self-help groups, and MSMEs.</li>
<li>The current limit of Rs 10 lakh on collateral-free loans was prescribed by RBI in June 2010.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>A collateral free loan</strong> means that borrowers do not have to offer any asset or pledge collateral to borrow against.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>The committee has also suggested various long-term solutions for the economic and financial sustainability of MSMEs.</li>
<li>The report has also <strong>recommended the mainstreaming the restructuring of stressed loans</strong>, considering the central bank had given a one-year window to banks to do so in January 2019.</li>
<li>The proposal is part of a report prepared <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/rbi-sets-up-msme-panel" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>by the eight-member RBI committee</strong></a> tasked with reviewing the current framework for the MSME sector.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The panel was <strong>headed</strong> by former Securities and Exchange Board of India chairman <strong>U K Sinha.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>The MSME definition</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The Micro Small &amp; Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) are defined under the Micro, Small &amp; Medium Enterprises Development <strong>(MSMED) Act, 2006</strong> on the basis of capital investment made in plant and machinery, excluding investments in land and building.</li>
<li>Manufacturing units having investment: <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>below Rs 25 lakh are termed as Micro,</li>
<li>those between Rs 25 lakh and Rs 5 crore as Small</li>
<li>and from Rs 5 crore to Rs 10 crore as Medium.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>Service units, corresponding investment thresholds are: <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>up to Rs 10 lakh are termed as Micro,</li>
<li>between Rs 10 lakh to Rs 2 crore as Small</li>
<li>and between Rs 2 crore to Rs 5 crore as Medium</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>However, the government is contemplating to change the definition of MSMEs.</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The proposed change under a new draft is that <strong>annual turnover, rather than investment size</strong>, should be the criterion for such units.</li>
<li>Under the draft, there would be <strong>no difference between a manufacturing and service unit.</strong></li>
<li>Micro can be up to Rs 5 crore of turnover, small up to Rs 75 crore, and medium up to Rs 250 crore of turnover should be considered.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>Pradhan Mantri MUDRA Yojana (PMMY)</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The PMMY is a scheme launched in 2015 for providing loans up to 10 lakh to the non-corporate, non-farm small/micro enterprises.</li>
<li>These loans are classified as MUDRA loans under PMMY.</li>
<li>These loans are given by Commercial Banks, RRBs, Small Finance Banks, Cooperative Banks, MFIs and NBFCs.</li>
<li>Under the aegis of PMMY, MUDRA has created three products namely 'Shishu', 'Kishore' and 'Tarun' to signify the stage funding needs of the beneficiary/entrepreneur and also provide a reference point for the next phase of graduation/growth. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Shishu:</strong> covering loans up to Rs.50,000</li>
<li><strong>Kishore:</strong> covering loans above Rs.50,000 and up to Rs.5,00,000</li>
<li><strong>Tarun:</strong> covering loans above Rs.5,00,000 and up to Rs.10,00,000</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>As of Feb 1, 2019, over 157 million loans amounting to Rs 7.59 trillion have been extended under PMMY since its inception.</li>
</ul>
</div>',
			'postdate' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenTime) {},
			'url' => 'https://www.drishtiias.com/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/rbi-panel-s-recommendations-on-msme'
		],
		(int) 4 => [
			'title' => 'ICANN and NASSCOM Collaboration',
			'catname' => 'News Analysis',
			'desc' => '<p>Global internet body <strong>Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers(ICANN) and Indian IT industry body NASSCOM</strong> to develop identifier technology that can be used for managing devices and infrastructure using the internet.</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Both the bodies will first focus on updating the Internet of Things (IoT) devices using domain name system (DNS) even in the situation when the manufacturer or supplier has closed down the business.</li>
<li>This collaboration provides a structure to jointly identify research projects, particularly in new technologies related to the internet's system of unique identifiers.</li>
<li>The first research project focuses on testing the use of the DNS to update IoT firmware and studying how the proposed technology could scale outside a lab environment.</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Internet of Thing (IoT)</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The Internet of Things is made up of devices from simple sensors to smartphones and wearables connected together.</li>
<li>IoT allows devices on closed <strong>private internet connections</strong> to communicate with others and the Internet of Things brings those networks together. It gives the opportunity for devices to communicate not only within close silos but across different networking types and creates a much more connected world.</li>
</ul>
</div>
<h3>Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN)</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>ICANN is a non-profit body that administers domain names and Internet protocol addresses (IPs) globally. It was formed in 1988 by the US Department of Commerce. It has become independent of US control since October 1st, 2016.</li>
<li>It also ensures that computers across the internet can find one another through defined unique pathways and identifiers.</li>
<li>It is responsible for coordinating the maintenance and methodologies of several databases, with unique identifiers, related to the namespaces of the Internet &ndash; and thereby, ensuring the network&rsquo;s stable and secure operation.</li>
<li>ICANN is governed by an internationally diverse Board of Directors overseeing the policy development process. ICANN&rsquo;s President directs an international staff, working from three continents, who ensure that ICANN meets its operational commitment to the Internet community.</li>
</ul>
<h3>National Association of Software and Services Companies (NASSCOM)</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>NASSCOM, a not-for-profit industry association, is the apex body for the IT industry in India.</li>
<li>Established in 1988, NASSCOM&rsquo;s relentless pursuit has been to constantly support the IT and BPO industry.</li>
<li>Members of NASSCOM are Indian Co software development, software services, IT-enabled/BPO services. NASSCOM role has primarily been to make sure that service quality and enforcement of Intellectual Property Rights have been properly implemented in the Indian software and BPO industry.</li>
</ul>',
			'postdate' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenTime) {},
			'url' => 'https://www.drishtiias.com/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/icann-and-nasscom-collaboration'
		],
		(int) 5 => [
			'title' => 'Coringa Mangroves',
			'catname' => 'News Analysis',
			'desc' => '<p>The Andhra Pradesh Government has constituted a seven-member committee for fulfilment of norms required <strong>for proposing the Godavari Mangroves</strong> (Mada forests), <strong>at Coringa, as a <a href="/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-international-institution/united-nations-1" target="_blank" rel="noopener">World Heritage Site.</a></strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Godavari Mangroves at the Coringa Wildlife Sanctuary (CWLS) are touted to be the <strong>second largest mangroves</strong> in India. The <strong>largest</strong> mangrove forest in the world is <strong>Sundarbans</strong>, West Bengal.</li>
<li>The <strong>mangrove forests in Andhra Pradesh</strong> are located in the <strong>estuaries of the Godavari and the Krishna rivers.</strong> The Godavari mangroves are located in Godavari estuary of East Godavari district.</li>
<li>Located in Andhra Pradesh, <strong>the CWLS</strong> is home to numerous <strong>endangered species</strong> including the <strong>fishing cat</strong>, otter, jackal, sea turtles, sea gull, pelican, stork, heron, snipes, flamingos among others.</li>
<li>Along with the mangrove forest, <strong>the Hope Island</strong>, a naturally formed sandy stretch amidst the sea that turned into a synonym for biodiversity, too comes under the purview of the sanctuary.</li>
<li>The sanctuary also has a site where <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/olive-ridley-turtles-hatching" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Olive Ridley Sea Turtles</strong></a> nest from January to March every year.</li>
<li>Once the Coringa sanctuary gets the heritage site tag, UNESCO will help develop tourism and protect the wildlife in the mangroves.</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Mangroves</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Mangroves are the plant communities occurring in <strong>inter-tidal zones</strong> along the coasts of <strong>tropical and subtropical countries</strong>.</li>
<li>Mangrove forests perform <strong>multiple ecological functions</strong> such as production of woody trees; provision of habitat, food, and spawning grounds for fin-fish and shellfish; provision of habitat for birds and other valuable fauna; protection of coastlines and accretion of sediment to form new land.</li>
<li>According to the India State of Forest Report, 2017, <strong>India has nearly 3.3% of the world&rsquo;s mangrove vegetation.</strong></li>
</ul>
</div>
<p><a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/678image1.jpg" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/678image1.jpg" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" caption="false" width="396" height="477" /></a></p>',
			'postdate' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenTime) {},
			'url' => 'https://www.drishtiias.com/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/coringa-mangroves'
		],
		(int) 6 => [
			'title' => 'Libra Cryptocurrency',
			'catname' => 'News Analysis',
			'desc' => '<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Facebook has unveiled its own <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/cryptocurrencies-will-boost-illegal-transactions-rbi" target="_blank" rel="noopener">cryptocurrency</a> named <strong>&ldquo;Libra&rdquo;</strong>. Based on the Libra <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/important-facts-for-prelims-24-august-2018" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Blockchain</a>, it&rsquo;s backed by the <strong>Libra Reserve.<a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/281image2.jpg" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/281image2.jpg" style="float: right;" caption="false" width="198" height="254" /></a></strong></li>
<li>It has also officially announced a <strong>digital wallet service named Calibra.</strong> The company managing this wallet is going to be a subsidiary and will be operating independently from Facebook. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Calibra is going to be available as a standalone app on the App Store and Play Store. Apart from that, users can also use Libra within Facebook&rsquo;s own messaging apps including WhatsApp and Messenger, making it much more accessible.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>The name is inspired by the origins of money in Ancient Rome, where the Libra was a unit of weight used to mint coins.</li>
<li>Libra also evokes the French libre (&ldquo;free&rdquo;) and reflects the corresponding astrological symbol&mdash;the scales of justice, relevant in theory because the crypto is meant to make financial inclusion standard around the globe.</li>
<li>The new crypto&rsquo;s symbol, a wave, &ldquo;represents the energy that flows between us, the borderless nature of water, and the movement between people, places, and money.</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Cryptocurrency</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>A cryptocurrency is a digital or virtual currency that uses cryptography for security.</li>
<li>Cryptocurrencies use decentralized technology to let users make secure payments and store money without the need to use their name or go through a bank.</li>
<li>They run on a distributed public ledger called blockchain, which is a record of all transactions updated and held by currency holders.</li>
<li>The most common cryptocurrencies are Bitcoin, Ethereum, Ripple, and Litecoin.</li>
</ul>
</div>',
			'postdate' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenTime) {},
			'url' => 'https://www.drishtiias.com/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/libra-cryptocurrency'
		],
		(int) 7 => [
			'title' => 'Cooperative and Competitive Federalism in India',
			'catname' => 'Paper 2',
			'desc' => '<h3>Context</h3>
<p>Federalism is derived from the Latin world foedus, which means agreement. In fact federation is an agreement between two types of governments sharing power and controlling their respective spheres. Thus a federation is a system of national and local governments, combined under a common sovereignty with both national as well as federating units having autonomous spheres assigned to them by the constitution.</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>India opted for quasi-federal structure after independence. The term &ldquo;federal&rdquo; has not been mentioned in the constitution but the working of Indian democracy is essentially federal in structure. However, it is the practical working style of federalism, which brought the concept of cooperative federalism and competitive federalism in India.</li>
<li>The present government is stressing on the need to leverage the potential of cooperative and competitive federalism for achieving all round inclusive development in India. In this context there is a need to examine the concepts of cooperative and competitive federalism.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Cooperative vs Competitive Federalism</h3>
<p>Based on the relationship between the central and state government&ndash;the concept of federalism is divided into- Co-operative federalism and Competitive federalism.</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>In Cooperative federalism</strong> the Centre and states share a horizontal relationship, where they &ldquo;cooperate&rdquo; in the larger public interest.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>It is an important tool to enable states&rsquo; participation in the formulation and implementation of national policies.</li>
<li>Union and the states are constitutionally obliged to cooperate with each other on the matters specified in Schedule VII of the constitution.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>In Competitive federalism</strong> the relationship between the Central and state governments is vertical and between state governments is horizontal.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>This idea of Competitive federalism gained significance in India post 1990s economic reforms.</li>
<li>In a free-market economy, the endowments of states, available resource base and their comparative advantages all foster a spirit of competition. Increasing globalisation, however, increased the existing inequalities and imbalances between states.</li>
<li>In Competitive federalism States need to compete among themselves and also with the Centre for benefits.</li>
<li>States compete with each other to attract funds and investment, which facilitates efficiency in administration and enhances developmental activities.</li>
<li>The investors prefer more developed states for investing their money. Union government devolves funds to the states on the basis of usage of previously allocated funds.</li>
<li>Healthy competition strives to improve physical and social infrastructure within the state.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>Competitive federalism is not part of the basic structure of Indian constitution. It is the decision of executives.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Constitutional Position</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Article 1 of the Constitution</strong> states, &ldquo;India, that is Bharat, shall be a Union of States&rdquo;. While the Constitution doesn&rsquo;t mention the term &ldquo;federal&rdquo;, it does provide for a governance structure primarily federal in nature.</li>
<li>It provides for <strong>separate governments at the Union and in the states.</strong> Further, it specifies and demarcates the powers, functions and jurisdictions of the two governments. Lastly, it details the legislative, administrative and financial relations between the Union and the states.</li>
<li>The distribution of legislative powers has been divided into three lists: the Union List, the State List and the Concurrent List. The Union List, comprising the &ldquo;vital interests of the State&rdquo;, is the longest.'</li>
<li>On the Union List, Parliament has exclusive powers to legislate. While the state has exclusive powers to legislate on the State List, in certain situations, Parliament can also do so.</li>
<li>As per the Concurrent List, the issue is more complex.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>In case of a conflict between a state and a Central legislation, the parliamentary legislation shall prevail.</li>
<li>This, coupled with the fact that residuary powers of legislation are vested in the Union, gives a <strong>&ldquo;unitary&rdquo; tilt to federalism in India.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>A disconcerting trend has been observed since 1950. <strong>While the Union and Concurrent Lists have expanded, the State List seems to have shrunk.</strong> This has led many to question the structure of Indian federalism and to propose its remodelling.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Steps toward Competitive Federalism</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The acceptance of the 14th Finance Commission&rsquo;s recommendations, apart from significantly enhanced devolution ( devolution of 42% of the divisible pool to states during 20015-16 to 2019-20, against 32% suggested by the previous commission), enables states to design and implement programmes better suited to their needs.</li>
<li>Competitive federalism is not yet embraced by all the states. But a handful of states are clearly taking steps to strengthen their business environments, including initiating difficult reforms on land acquisition and labour flexibility.</li>
<li>Federalism is no longer the fault line of Centre-State relations but the definition of a new partnership of team India.</li>
<li>The Central government has promised decentralisation of power and minimum interference in the State affairs. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>With the roll out of the GST, this federal structure is further cemented.</li>
<li>Government has abolished Planning Commission and replaced it with NITI Aayog. One of the mandates of the NITI Aayog is to develop competitive federalism. Under it;</li>
<li>State governments would not look towards centre for policy guidelines and fiscal resources.</li>
<li>Share of states in central tax revenue has been increased from 32% to 42% after the recommendation of the finance commission.</li>
<li>States have freedom to plan their expenditure based on their own priorities.</li>
<li>States would work with centre on a shared vision of national objectives.</li>
<li>Restructuring of centrally sponsored schemes.</li>
<li>Financial sector bailout programme under UDAY scheme.</li>
<li>Swachh Bharat Ranking system.</li>
<li>Most of the state now organizes investors meet to showcase facilities in their state to attract business and investment. This has lead to improvement in business environment in various states.</li>
<li><strong>State wise Ease of Doing Business ranking</strong> to build a huge sense of competition.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Role of NITI Aayog in Promoting Co-Operative, Competitive Federalism</strong></p>
<p>In 2017, the Niti Aayog called out for competitive &ldquo;cooperative federalism&rdquo; stressing that this formula would redefine the relationship between the Centre and the States.</p>
<p>Former vice chairman of Niti Aayog Arvind Panagariya put the onus on the States to reimagine brand India.</p>
<p>Chief secretaries of States in one of the meetings even showcased the best practices being incorporated in their respective States, a move aimed at promoting cross fertilisation of ideas.</p>
<p>There appears to be a silver lining in the functioning of the Aayog in enabling states competing with each other to promote governance initiatives in the spirit of &ldquo;co-operative, competitive federalism&rdquo;.</p>
<p>An important objective of NITI Aayog is to establish a dynamic institutional mechanisms where &lsquo;eminent individuals outside the government system&rsquo; could contribute to policy making.</p>
<p>The priorities for the Aayog are evident with the suggestions for rationalisation of 66 central schemes on skill development and making Clean India a continuous program leading to the formation of three CM sub-committees.</p>
<p>In a subtle manner, NITI Aayog not only puts the onus on Chief Ministers to hasten implementation of projects for the betterment of the state, but also make the state an attractive investment destination &ndash; a kind of competitive federalism.</p>
<p>Given the greater scope for states to work together and learn from each other, it is obvious that for federalism to work well, these states must also fulfil their role in promoting the shared national objectives.</p>
<p>It is true that India cannot advance without all its states advancing in tandem but it may so happen that by not granting the statutory status for the NITI Aayog, government has made it vulnerable to future ambush under a different political dispensation.</p>
</div>
<h3></h3>
<h3>Hindrances for Competitive federalism</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Several issues such as <strong>trust deficit and shrinkage of divisible pools</strong> plague Centre-State relations. Together, they make total cooperation difficult</li>
<li>Trust deficit between Centre and States is widening. Most state governments believe the thrust on federalism is limited to lofty ideas and big talks. Many States have shown their displeasure with the way the Centre has been dealing with the States.</li>
<li>On one hand the Centre has increased the States&rsquo; share of the divisible pool but in reality States are getting a lesser share. The allocation towards various social welfare schemes has also come down, affecting the States&rsquo; health in turn.</li>
<li>The present <strong>inter-state competition</strong> in attracting investment is too early to determine whether it will really encourage competitive patterns of investment on a continuous basis.</li>
<li>The <strong>socio-economic parameters and development of each State in India is different</strong> and while a few have made substantial progress in terms of employment, literacy and creating a conducive environment for doing business and investments, there are a few which are lagging.</li>
<li>There are varied <strong>economic patterns</strong> in different states. There are deficit states or the backward regions or the states under debt. Those states should not be treated on par with the well-off states.</li>
<li>The states like West Bengal, Bihar, Orissa, and Assam have protested against the uniform approach in funding because of their special situations in which the central government has to provide special funds to these states. Without special funding these states cannot imagine their participation in competitive federalism.</li>
<li>Though the states are provided with financial independence, it is a fallacy to assume that all the states would perform uniformly in the process of development because while some states have favourable factors like skilled labour, capital and infrastructure, innovative service industries other states lagging behind.</li>
<li>The opposition of few well-off states with respect to <strong>revenue loss in implementation of GST system</strong> points that there is a lack of will in participating in the process of competitive federalism.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Suggestions</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Efforts at cooperative and competitive federalism have commenced but need to be strengthened.</li>
<li>NITI Aayog concentrates on the broader policy framework instead of micro resource-allocated functions. So there is a need to take some further steps.</li>
<li><strong>Reactivation of the Centre-State Council:</strong> Under <strong>Article 263</strong>, this council is expected to inquire and advice on disputes, discuss subjects common to all states and make recommendations for better policy coordination.</li>
<li>The NITI Aayog can&rsquo;t replace the council&rsquo;s functions as it is the only recognised constitutional entity for harmonising the actions of the Centre and states. Its effective utilisation would lend legitimacy to cooperative federalism.</li>
<li>On contentious issues like land, labour and natural resources, the state should promote best practices.</li>
<li>This will enable greater investment and economic activity in states with a favourable regulatory framework. Enactment by states must secure expeditious Central approval.</li>
<li>The World Bank&rsquo;s Ease of Doing Business index reflected competition between states has generated interest, this must be a continuing exercise.</li>
<li>But states not doing well on the index complain of infirmities of process and procedure. These needs to be made more acceptable and transparent.</li>
<li>On issues like international treaties, WTO obligations, or the environment an institutional mechanism must be evolved where important decisions are appropriately discussed with states.</li>
<li>As India becomes globally more interdependent, these potential contentious issues must be resolved.</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>India needs a mix of Competitive and Cooperative federalism</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>There needs to be a mix of competitive and cooperative federalism for India to move ahead.</li>
<li>The future for India is cooperative and competitive federalism. Competitive federalism provides the dynamism that needs to be unleashed.</li>
<li>We need cooperative federalism to balance competitive federalism.</li>
<li>Constitution needed to catch up with economics to &ldquo;favour integration over granting sovereignty" to promote Indian internal integration.</li>
<li>GST which seeks to introduce the concept of one nation-one tax, in order to economically unify the country for the first time, is described this as &ldquo;pooled sovereignty", which would bring a big change in the working of federalism in the country.</li>
</ul>
</div>
<h3>Way Forward</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Cooperative and competitive federalism are not mutually exclusive. They have the same basic principle underlying i.e. development of the nation as a whole.</li>
<li>Cooperative and competitive federalism may be two sides of the same coin as the competition alone cannot give the best results, it is competition with cooperation that will drive the real change.</li>
<li>Centre&rsquo;s support would be required by some states to participate in competitive federalism. Strong states make strong nation and to realise this vision, it requires a &ldquo;Team India&rdquo; approach to work for India&rsquo;s development.</li>
<li>The passage of GST Bill does usher in a new era in cooperative fiscal federalism and a growing political consensus for economic reforms.</li>
<li>Further, the government&rsquo;s structural reforms particularly for land and labour, are now widely seen as necessary for realising the potential of the economy.</li>
<li>While all policy-makers and economists believe that &ldquo;true&rdquo; cooperative federalism is the way forward, they underline the need for the Centre to include states more aggressively in the decision-making process.</li>
<li>Most state finance ministers also feel that the Centre&rsquo;s fund allocation to States must be done more judiciously.</li>
</ul>',
			'postdate' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenTime) {},
			'url' => 'https://www.drishtiias.com/to-the-points/Paper2/cooperative-and-competitive-federalism-in-india'
		],
		(int) 8 => [
			'title' => 'Concerns over Genetically Modified Brinjal',
			'catname' => 'News Editorials',
			'desc' => '<div class="border">
<p><strong>This article is based on the editorial <a href="https://www.thehindu.com/opinion/op-ed/serious-concerns-over-bt-brinjal/article28022577.ece" target="_blank" rel="noopener">&ldquo;Serious concerns over Bt brinjal&rdquo;</a> which appeared in The Hindu on 18th June 2019. It talks about concerns over Genetically Modified Brinjal and suggests a way forward in this context. </strong></p>
</div>
<p><strong>Genetic modification</strong> of crops has been a controversial issue since the first commercial production of a <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/supermarkets-flooded-with-foreign-gm-foods-despite-ban" target="_blank" rel="noopener">genetically modified crop</a>. India has banned the cultivation of Bt brinjal in 2010, but GM crops still find its way into the fields through the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/illegal-cultivation-of-bt-brinjal" target="_blank" rel="noopener">illegal supply of seeds</a> specifically in the region of <strong>Haryana, Maharashtra, and Andhra Pradesh</strong> where farmers are indulged in <strong>unapproved sowing and cultivation</strong> of Bt brinjal owing to its advantages of being pest resistant, lower cost, and higher yield.</p>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>GM Crops in India</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Bt cotton is India's <strong>first genetically modified crop,</strong> to be approved for commercialization.</li>
<li>India has the world&rsquo;s <strong>5th largest</strong> GM crop acreage after the USA, Brazil, Argentina, and Canada</li>
<li>Presently <strong>majority</strong> of India&rsquo;s cotton cultivation area is under Bt cotton crops.</li>
<li><strong>Bt brinjal</strong> was developed by <strong>Mahyco</strong> (Maharashtra Hybrid Seeds Company) in collaboration with the Dharwad University of Agricultural Sciences and the Tamil Nadu Agricultural University.</li>
</ul>
</div>
<p>Benefits of increased <strong>shelf life</strong> and<strong> high yield</strong> attached with the cultivation of Bt Brinjal cannot outweigh the multiple concerns arising out of the unapproved and half prepared release of Bt brinjal like :</p>
<h3>Major Concerns</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Environmental impact:</strong> Sowing of Bt brinjal or GM foods can give rise to serious environmental concerns like:<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Cross-pollination</strong> in GM crops paves the way for <strong>herbicide-resistant super weeds</strong> that can further threaten the sustenance of other crops and pests because of its uncontrolled growth.</li>
<li>Pest-resistant Bt crops can lead to the <strong>extinction</strong> of a few <strong>species</strong> that in turn can affect the <strong>food chain</strong> also.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Implications for consumers and farmers: National Institute of Agricultural Economics and Policy Research&rsquo;s</strong> anticipation that Bt brinjal&rsquo;s high yield and increased shelf life will benefit consumers and farmers owing to cut in retail price of brinjals ignores the scenario that companies might charge premium prices for Bt brinjal seeds, in which case farmers may not benefit at all.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Critics claim that patent laws give developers of the GM crops a dangerous degree of control/ <strong>dominance</strong> over the food supply that results in the over domination of world food production by a few companies.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Biosafety Issues:</strong> Crops like rice, <strong>brinjal</strong>, and mustard, among others, have their <strong>origin in India</strong> and introducing genetically modified versions of these crops could be a major threat to the vast number of domestic and wild varieties of these crops (GM crops because of their pest resistance characteristics could eliminate important species of pests that are responsible for sustaining domestic varieties and can pose serious threats to biodiversity).<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Biodiversity</strong> is critical for nutrition and sustainability, and the government&rsquo;s task force on biotechnology (2004) had recommended that no GM crop be allowed in biodiversity-rich areas.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Nutrition issues:</strong> Bt brinjal poses risks to human health as their resistance to <strong>antibiotics</strong> can turn medicines ineffective and may result in the formation of <strong>new toxins and allergens.</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Toxins produced by GM crops can not only affect <strong>non target organisms</strong> but also pose the danger of unintentionally introducing allergens and other <strong>anti-nutrition</strong> factors in foods.</li>
<li>Indian agricultural scientist <strong>M.S. Swaminathan</strong> (who had described <strong>Bt cotton as a &lsquo;failure&rsquo;</strong>) had asked for <strong>independent&nbsp;</strong>(instead of relying exclusively on Mahyco for data) <strong>long-term (chronic) toxicity studies,</strong> of Bt brinjal before going for commercialization and cultivation of Bt brinjal.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Inefficient Regulatory system:</strong> Seeing the lapses in the regulatory system and irregularities in the assessment of Bt brinjal (in terms of <strong>labeling</strong> and unapproved and illegal sowing of GM crops) Parliamentary Standing Committee on Agriculture and the Committee on Science &amp; Technology, Environment and Forests recommended:<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>A thorough probe</strong> by a team of eminent independent scientists and environmentalists for commercialization of GM crops.</li>
<li>Endorsed <strong>labeling GM</strong> foods to protect a consumer&rsquo;s right to know.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Labeling GM crops</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Most GM foods in the study did <strong>not disclose GM on their</strong> labels and 15% made false claims saying they were GM-free.</li>
<li>Retailing being largely an <strong>unorganized sector</strong>, enforcing truthful labeling is not pragmatic.</li>
<li>Two of the eight infant food samples, imported from the US and the Netherlands, were GM positive, but the labels did not disclose this.</li>
<li>Under Section 22 of the <strong>Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006,</strong> GM foods are not allowed to be manufactured, imported or sold in India unless approved under the Act.</li>
</ul>
</div>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>No scientific consensus:</strong> Lack of scientific consensus on the safety and efficacy of GM crops.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Pests have developed <strong>resistance to Bt cotton</strong>, forcing farmers to spray lethal pesticides. This led to over 50 deaths by pesticide-poisoning in Vidarbha in 2017.</li>
<li>A GM-based strategy of pest control is <strong>unsustainable</strong>, all the more so since farmers, already pressed for land, ignore the government&rsquo;s recommendation to plant refuge crops.</li>
<li>The government&rsquo;s task forces and expert committees on GM crops are of the view that Bt brinjal runs counter to the framework for <strong>agricultural development and farmers&rsquo; welfare.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Way Forward</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Environmental Impact Assessment:</strong> must be carried out by independent environmentalist, as farmers do not and cannot assess the long-term impact of GM crops on ecology and health.</li>
<li>The government must detail the steps it has taken since the ban of Bt brinjal (2010) to address the scientific gap for commercialization of Bt brinjal.</li>
<li>The government should bring a clear report on benefits accrued by Bt brinjal to the farming community and demonstrate how Bt brinjal fits in with <strong>sustainable farming and biodiversity conservation.</strong></li>
<li>Ensure efficient infrastructural and institutional set up in order to ensure labeling of GM crops and bring more efficacy into the regulatory system of GM crops.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Mandatory labeling of products from GM crops.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Unchecked import</strong> of GM products should be stopped.</li>
<li>In order to curb the <strong>illegal cultivation</strong> of Bt brinjal, the <strong><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/geac-seeks-information-from-bangladesh-on-bt-brinjal" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Genetic Engineering Appraisal Committee</a> (GEAC)</strong> must:<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Collaborate with state governments and launch a nation-wide investigation drive.</li>
<li>Take action on threats of deliberate Bt brinjal and Bt cotton cultivation.</li>
<li>Investigate and prosecute those involved in the illegal supply of Bt brinjal seeds.</li>
<li>Organic farming should be encouraged.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<p>The government should go for commercialization of Bt brinjal only after the core and deep research on the long term prospects and benefits of commercialization of Bt crops in India. In that context, India can learn from Bangladesh&rsquo;s example where farmers have been growing the Bt Brinjal since 2013.</p>
<table border="1" style="border-collapse: collapse;">
<tbody>
<tr style="height: 76px;">
<td style="width: 961px; background-color: #f5d3d3; height: 76px;">
<p><em><strong>Drishti Input:</strong></em></p>
<p>Discuss the concerns and challenges associated with the GM crops in context of its varied advantages over traditional crops.</p>
</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<p></p>',
			'postdate' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenTime) {},
			'url' => 'https://www.drishtiias.com/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/concerns-over-genetically-modified-brinjal'
		],
		(int) 9 => [
			'title' => 'Autonomous District Councils',
			'catname' => 'National Institutions',
			'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>In January 2019, Cabinet approved <strong>amendment to Article 280</strong> and Sixth Schedule of the Constitution to increase autonomy, financial resources and powers of the autonomous district councils in Assam, Meghalaya, Mizoram and Tripura.</li>
<li>The <strong>three Autonomous District Councils (ADC) of Meghalaya</strong> have urged the <strong>National Commission for Scheduled Tribe</strong> to direct the State government not to interfere into their affairs.</li>
<li>The three ADCs have also apprised the 15th Finance Commission that the revenue collected is barely sufficient to carry out their day- to-day administrative activities and primary duties as envisaged in the sixth schedule leaving virtually no funds for development work.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Background</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>India&rsquo;s population consists of 100 million tribal people who have constitutionally been addressed via two distinct avenues i.e <strong>Fifth and Sixth Schedule.</strong></li>
<li>Fifth and Sixth Schedules were discussed and passed by Constituent Assembly between September 5-7, 1949.</li>
<li>The <strong>Fifth Schedule applies to the overwhelming majority of India&rsquo;s tribes in nine States</strong>, while the <strong>Sixth Schedule</strong> covers areas that are settled in the <strong>northeastern States bordering China and Myanmar.</strong></li>
<li>The Sixth Schedule gives tribal communities considerable autonomy; the States of Assam, Tripura, Meghalaya, and Mizoram are autonomous regions under the Sixth Schedule.</li>
<li>The <strong>District Council</strong> and the <strong>Regional Council</strong> under the Sixth Schedule have real power to make laws, possibility on the various legislative subjects, receiving grants-in-aid from the Consolidated Fund of India to meet the costs of schemes for development, health care, education, roads and regulatory powers to state control.</li>
<li>The mandate towards devolution, deconcentration and divestment determines the protection of their customs, better economic development and most importantly ethnic security.</li>
<li>However, the Sixth Schedule has its own shortcomings; breakdown of law and order, elections not being contested, rather than empowerment there is exclusion that fails to provide much-needed protection to tribes in the absence of political will, and live by the mercy of government funds.</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Sixth Schedule</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The Sixth Schedule of the Constitution deals with the administration of the tribal areas in the four northeastern states of Assam, Meghalaya, Tripura and Mizoram as per <strong>Article 244.</strong></li>
<li>The Governor is empowered to increase or decrease the areas or change the names of the autonomous districts. While executive powers of the Union extend in Scheduled areas with respect to their administration in Vth schedule, the <strong>VI<sup>th</sup> schedule areas remain within executive authority of the state.</strong></li>
<li>The acts of Parliament or the state legislature do not apply to autonomous districts and autonomous regions or apply with specified modifications and exceptions.</li>
<li>The Councils have also been endowed with <strong>wide civil and criminal judicial powers,</strong> for example establishing village courts etc. However, the jurisdiction of these councils is subject to the <strong>jurisdiction of the concerned High Court.</strong></li>
<li>The sixth schedule to the Constitution includes <strong>10 autonomous district</strong> councils in <strong>4 states</strong>. These are:<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Assam: Bodoland Territorial Council, Karbi Anglong Autonomous Council and Dima Hasao Autonomous District Council.</li>
<li>Meghalaya:Garo Hills Autonomous District Council, Jaintia Hills Autonomous District Council and Khasi Hills Autonomous District Council.</li>
<li>Tripura: Tripura Tribal Areas Autonomous District Council.</li>
<li>Mizoram: Chakma Autonomous District Council, Lai Autonomous District Council, Mara Autonomous District Council.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</div>
<h3>Major Issues</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Granting special provisions to certain minority tribal groups have led to further demands by other groups for such provisions under the 6th schedule. This has created disparity among the people and resulted in the rise of conflict between various groups.</li>
<li>In terms of financial autonomy, the members across the ADCs in North Eastern states share the same view that the ADCs are at the mercy of the state governments. There exists a huge gap between the approved budget and the funds received from the State Government which has had a direct impact on the development of these tribal communities.</li>
<li>They are also dependent upon state governments for decisions regarding undertaking of developmental activities in their region.</li>
<li>Due to the extensive corruption, development in these regions is seen to be a non-existing phenomena.</li>
<li>Lack of coordination between the States governments and Department of Planning and Development, Hill Areas Department and the Autonomous councils has resulted in the lackadaisical implementation of the development work.</li>
<li>Absence of any efficient Committee for the purpose of monitoring, evaluation and keeping a record of the funds received and utilized has led to extensive corruption and under development of these regions under the Autonomous Councils.</li>
<li>Members of the Chakma, Lai and Mara Councils of Mizoram are of the view that funds coming from the Central Government is not sufficient enough, and believes that funds should be granted to different councils on the basis of backwardness of the councils and not on the basis of population.</li>
<li>The State government justifies this position by stating that the ADCs have been holding on to their traditional roles of protecting the tribal identity in the region which abstains the State from various developmental activities.</li>
<li>At the same time the ADCs have small amount of funds which they receive as taxes and land revenues, however they have to depend on the Central government for more funds.</li>
<li>In terms of representation of members in the Autonomous Council, Bodoland Territorial Councilis the only council which has 46 members, which is the highest representation and also the only council which has members from the Non-tribal community represented in the Council.</li>
<li>Time to time different ADCs have demanded an increase in the number of members in the ADCs.</li>
<li>Unlike the Panchayati Raj System where the 73rd amendment allows reservation of one third of all the Panchayat seats for women at different levels, both Fifth and Sixth Schedules have no mention of women representation and gender equality.</li>
<li>The relationship to land is the basis of tribal or indigenous identity and that the culture and identity of indigenous people cannot be preserved without maintaining control over land and natural resources, as these factors to a large extent determines the lifestyle and culture of the indigenous people.</li>
<li>Generally tribal or indigenous cultural practices community land ownership, while some other tribes practice individual with clan ownership,however modern land relations and formal law recognizes only individual ownership of land.</li>
<li>It was under colonial rule that the process of turning land into commodity began for their own interest, in the name of development. Post independence, large tracts of lands were given away to the immigrants and other settlers.</li>
<li>The autonomy and power of the District Councils lie in the hands of a small group of elites who govern the functioning of the Autonomous DistrictCouncils.</li>
<li>There is clear lack of interest and pursuit on the part of the District Council members in taking initiative and planning and monitoring developmental activities at the micro level.</li>
<li>The absence of involvement of local stakeholders in the process of development and in the decision making process has deprived the common masses from their democratic rights.</li>
<li>The Sixth Schedule also vests enormous powers to the Governor. Members of the various ADCs, in this context are of the opinion that the Governors are mere puppets in the hands of the Ministers.</li>
<li>A major gap in the functioning of the ADCs is the lack of interaction at the village and field level.There is an absence of efficient village councils or regional councils.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Suggestions</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The government and other agencies need to win the confidence of non scheduled area population and bring a sense of security and belongingness to them.</li>
<li>There has to be a proper coordination or adjustment between traditional practices and usages with changes that have occurred within the tribal society today.</li>
<li>The issue on representation needs to be seriously reconsidered, which still has limited participation of women in the decision making process, and also excludes the non-tribals of the State.</li>
<li>Adequate accountability and transparency of funds generated should be entrusted to authorities such as the Comptroller-General and Auditor-General of Accounts to prevent misuse.</li>
<li>Documentation and codification of traditional laws is an essential step through which actual aim of the Sixth Schedule that is protection of tribal cultural identity can be fulfilled.</li>
<li>Measures should be taken in order to ensure that the Autonomous Councils have well defined legislations which clearly identify the powers of the village level bodies,release of funds by the government, transparency in the allocation and utilization of funds.</li>
<li>Stringent laws regarding frequent reviewing of financial position of the ADCs like the Panchayati Raj System will enhance the status of the ADCs.</li>
<li>There is a need for inclusive development and capacity building of ADCs by introducing ideas from the PRI setup.</li>
<li>Strengthening and empowering the local self-governance, which would also include Village and Tribal Councils.</li>
<li>Empowerment of civil society bodies would contribute immensely in the monitoring of the developmental activities and progress rate across diverse sectors undertaken by the councils.</li>
<li>Traditional forms of governance must be promoted with self governance.</li>
<li>To make ADCs platform of governance broader and capable of dealing with a changing world at both the national and international levels, there is a need for inclusion of democratic elements like gender justice into these institutions.</li>
<li>To get a positive outcome the members of the ADCs should be trained, as capacity building of the ADCs members is vital for healthy governance and helps one to be more alert about the responsibilities assigned and the overall functioning.</li>
<li>The functioning of the ADCs should be amended to make them accountable through the insertion of a clause that makes mandatory the creation of village councils/ bodies with a degree of representation to the traditional institutions of chiefs.</li>
<li>Creation of effective watch dog with the powers of Lokayukta in monitoring and keeping a track of the activities undertaken by the ADCs should be given priority as this will help in maintaining transparency in matters of finance and other developmental plans and activities.</li>
<li>Regular and assured financial assistance from governments an efficient monitoring system are two major factors which will determine the success of such provisions,along with awareness and active participation of the other stakeholders.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Way forward</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The ADCs in the past decades have been successful to a certain extent in preserving the tribal identity and attained statehood for some of the tribes who had been struggling for a separate state in the North Eastern part of India.</li>
<li>However, in the present context where the states have been witnessing various changes in terms of development, upgradation of administrative setups, welfare programmes and policies and also changes in the demographic structure it is time that the provisions under the Sixth Schedule needs to be enhanced in order to cope up with the changing mechanisms and demands of the local communities.</li>
<li>Under the prevailing setup, not only the existing powers and functions of the traditional bodies are extremely limited, but also their access to resource allocation is severely poor.</li>
<li>The tribes in other parts of India are faced with problems of development as well as identity. Hence it is worth exploring extension of such systems in other parts of tribal India.</li>
</ul>',
			'postdate' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenTime) {},
			'url' => 'https://www.drishtiias.com/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-national-institutions/autonomous-district-councils'
		],
		(int) 10 => [
			'title' => 'World Day to Combat Desertification and Drought',
			'catname' => 'News Analysis',
			'desc' => '<p>The World Day to Combat Desertification and Drought is observed every year on <strong>17<sup>th</sup> June</strong>. India for the first time will host the 14th session of the Conference of Parties (COP-14) of the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) in September, 2019.<a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/959image1.jpg" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/959image1.jpg" width="307" height="319" style="float: right;" caption="false" /></a></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The World Day to Combat Desertification and Drought is observed every year to promote public awareness of international efforts to combat desertification.</li>
<li>The day is a unique moment to remind everyone that land degradation neutrality is achievable through problem-solving, strong community involvement and cooperation at all levels.</li>
<li><strong>The Theme</strong> of 2019 is &ldquo;Let&rsquo;s Grow the Future Together&rdquo;</li>
</ul>
<h3>United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD)</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>It was established in 1994, the <strong>sole legally binding international agreement</strong> linking environment and development to sustainable land management. The Convention addresses specifically the arid, semi-arid and dry sub-humid areas, known as the drylands, where some of the most vulnerable ecosystems and peoples can be found.</li>
<li><strong>UNCCD 2018-2030 Strategic Framewor</strong>k: It is the most comprehensive global commitment to achieve Land Degradation Neutrality (LDN) in order to restore the productivity of vast expanses of degraded land, improve the livelihoods of more than 1.3 billion people, and reduce the impacts of drought on vulnerable populations to build.</li>
<li>The Convention&rsquo;s 197 parties work together to improve the living conditions for people in drylands, to maintain and restore land and soil productivity, and to mitigate the effects of drought.</li>
<li>The UNCCD is particularly committed to a bottom-up approach, encouraging the participation of local people in combating desertification and land degradation. The UNCCD secretariat facilitates cooperation between developed and developing countries, particularly around knowledge and technology transfer for sustainable land management.</li>
<li>As the dynamics of land, climate and biodiversity are intimately connected, to meet these complex challenges with an integrated approach and the best possible use of natural resources. The UNCCD collaborates closely with the other <strong>two Rio Conventions</strong>:<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>The Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD).</strong></li>
<li><strong>The United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC).</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>The Conference of the Parties (COP)</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The COP was established by the Convention as the supreme decision-making body. It comprises ratifying governments and regional economic integration organizations, such as the European Union.</li>
<li><strong>Functions of COP:</strong> One of the main functions of the COP is to review reports submitted by the Parties detailing how they are carrying out their commitments.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The COP makes recommendations on the basis of these reports.</li>
<li>It also has the power to make amendments to the Convention or to adopt new annexes, such as additional regional implementation annexes.</li>
<li>The COP can guide the Convention as global circumstances and national needs change.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>UNCCD Estimate of Desertification</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Land &amp; Drought:</strong> By 2025, 1.8 billion people will experience absolute water scarcity, and 2/3 of the world will be living under water-stressed conditions. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>A complex and slowly encroaching natural hazard with significant and pervasive socio-economic and environmental impacts to cause more deaths and displace more people than any other natural disaster.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Land &amp; Human Security:</strong> By 2045 some 135 million people may be displaced as a result of desertification.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Achieving land degradation neutrality -by rehabilitating already degraded land, scaling up sustainable land management and accelerating restoration initiatives- is a pathway to greater resilience and security for all.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Land &amp; Climate:</strong> Restoring the soils of degraded ecosystems has the potential to store up to 3 billion tons of carbon annually.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The land use sector represents almost 25% of total global emissions. Its rehabilitation and sustainable management are critical to combating climate change.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>UNCCD and Sustainable Development</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Goal 15 of Sustainable Development Goals(SDG), 2030</strong> declares that &ldquo;we are determined to protect the planet from degradation, including through sustainable consumption and production, sustainably managing its natural resources and taking urgent action on climate change, so that it can support the needs of the present and future generations&rdquo;.</li>
</ul>
<h3>India and UNCCD</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The Union Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC) in partnership with the <strong>International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN)</strong> also launched a flagship project on enhancing capacity on <strong>forest Landscape Restoration (FLR) and Bonn Challenge</strong> in India, through a pilot phase of 3.5 years implemented in the States of Haryana, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Nagaland and Karnataka.</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Desertification</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>It is the degradation of land in arid, semi-arid and dry sub-humid areas. It is caused primarily by human activities and climatic variations. Desertification does not refer to the expansion of existing deserts.</li>
<li>It occurs because dryland ecosystems, which cover over one-third of the world&lsquo;s land area, are extremely vulnerable to overexploitation and inappropriate land use.</li>
<li>Poverty, political instability, deforestation, overgrazing and bad irrigation practices can all undermine the productivity of the land</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>Bonn challenge</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The Bonn Challenge is a global effort to bring 150 million hectares of the world&rsquo;s deforested and degraded land into restoration by 2020, and 350 million hectares by 2030.</li>
<li>At the UNFCCC Conference of the Parties (COP) 2015 in Paris, India also joined the <strong>voluntary Bonn Challenge</strong> pledge to bring into restoration 13 million hectares of degraded and deforested land by the year 2020, an additional 8 million hectares by 2030.</li>
<li>India&rsquo;s pledge is one of the largest in Asia.</li>
</ul>
</div>',
			'postdate' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenTime) {},
			'url' => 'https://www.drishtiias.com/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/world-day-to-combat-desertification-and-drought'
		],
		(int) 11 => [
			'title' => 'UN Report on Myanmar Rohingya Crisis',
			'catname' => 'News Analysis',
			'desc' => '<p>The UN secretary-general has accepted an independent report on how the UN System operated in Myanmar, leading up to the mass exodus of the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/wrong-on-the-rohingya" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Rohingyas</a> following serious human rights abuses.</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The report concluded that there were <strong>&ldquo;systemic and structural failures&rdquo;</strong> that prevented a unified strategy from being implemented.</li>
<li>It covers the period 2010-2018, encompassing the UN&rsquo;s response to the systematic and brutal abuse of hundreds-of-thousands of mainly &ndash;&nbsp;<strong>Muslim Rohingya in Rakhine state,</strong> by the national army and security forces, which began in August 2017.</li>
<li>It was described by the UN human rights chief at the time as a textbook example of ethnic cleansing.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Findings of Report</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Fragmented strategy:</strong> The report has expressed displeasure over the functioning of the UN agency in handling the violence against the Rohingya. It observes that serious errors were committed and opportunities were lost in the UN system following a <strong>fragmented strategy</strong> rather than a common plan of action.</li>
<li><strong>Improper reporting:</strong> There appear to have been instances of <strong>deliberately de-dramatizing events</strong> in reports prepared by the Resident Coordinator, as well as instances of various UN entities, including the Office <strong>for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA),</strong> of not sharing their analysis with other entities of the UN System.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The report also emphasises the impact of competing strategies between some UN agencies and individuals while dealing with the Rohingya crisis.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Polarisation:</strong> It appears that the increasing polarisation among officials and staff was fuelled, at least in part, by the emotional reactions to the horrific events taking place on the ground.</li>
<li>The foundations of <strong>systemic and structural shortcomings</strong> in the UN&rsquo;s presence in Myanmar.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Insufficient inter-governmental support.</li>
<li>The absence of a clear and unifying strategy.</li>
<li>The weakness of a clear nodal point for coordination.</li>
<li>Dysfunctional actions at the level of the Country Team.</li>
<li>Shortcomings of systematic and unified analysis from the field</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Conclusion and Recommendations</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Shared responsibility:</strong> It was the shared responsibility on the part of all parties to protect the Rohingya&rsquo;;s. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The agencies involved have not been able to accompany the Government&rsquo;s political process with constructive actions.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>The report says that the UN Security Council should bear some responsibility, &ldquo;for not providing enough support to the Secretariat when such backing was required and continues to be essential.</li>
<li><strong>The key lesson</strong> was to foster an environment encouraging different entities of the UN System to work together to reinforce a <strong>&ldquo;broader, system-wide strategy&rdquo;</strong>.</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Rohingya people</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The <strong>Rohingya people</strong> are stateless, Indo-Aryan ethnic group who reside in Rakhine State, Myanmar.</li>
<li>There were an estimated 1 million Rohingya living in Myanmar before the 2016&ndash;17 crisis. An estimated 625,000 refugees from Rakhine, Myanmar, had crossed the border into Bangladesh since August 2017. The majority are Muslim while a minority are Hindu.</li>
<li>Described by the United Nations as one of the most persecuted minorities in the world. The Rohingya population is denied citizenship under the 1982 Myanmar nationality law. They have denied the Rohingya the possibility of acquiring a nationality. Although Rohingya history in the region can be traced back to the 8th century, Myanmar law does not recognize the ethnic minority as one of the eight national indigenous races.</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA)</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>OCHA is the part of the United Nations Secretariat responsible for bringing together humanitarian actors to ensure a coherent response to emergencies. OCHA also ensures there is a framework within which each actor can contribute to the overall response effort.</li>
<li>It works to overcome obstacles that impede humanitarian assistance from reaching people affected by crises, and it provides leadership in mobilizing assistance and resources on behalf of the humanitarian system. OCHA is not an operational agency directly engaged in the delivery of humanitarian programmes, and its added value is as an honest broker, facilitator, thought leader and global advocate, providing support to the humanitarian system.</li>
</ul>
</div>',
			'postdate' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenTime) {},
			'url' => 'https://www.drishtiias.com/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/un-report-on-myanmar-rohingya-crisis'
		],
		(int) 12 => [
			'title' => 'NATO Ally Status to India',
			'catname' => 'News Analysis',
			'desc' => '<p>Two top American lawmakers have moved a key legislation in the Senate which seeks to advance the US-India strategic relationship.</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The legislation will amend the Arms Control Export Act to bring India at par with the US&rsquo; NATO allies&ndash; Israel, Australia, New Zealand and South Korea for purposes of selling military items under the ITAR (International Traffic in Arms Regulations) list.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Background</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>There are two technology control lists in the US system &ndash; one is under the Export Administration Regulations, which places controls on the sale of dual-use items that have both civil and military uses and the second is the ITAR list.</li>
<li>The civil nuclear deal paved the way for India to access items on the first set of lists, i.e. those under the Export Administration Regulations.</li>
<li>The Arms Control Export (AEC) Act governs the ITAR list. The amendment, therefore, will make it possible for the US to fulfil India&rsquo;s operational requirements in quick time, thus improving its reliability on supplies.</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>North Atlantic Treaty Organization</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) is a military alliance established by the North Atlantic Treaty (also called the Washington Treaty) of April 4, 1949, by the United States, Canada, and several Western European nations to provide collective security against the Soviet Union.</li>
<li>A key provision of the treaty, the so-called Article 5, states that if one member of the alliance is attacked in Europe or North America, it is to be considered an attack on all members. That effectively put Western Europe under the "nuclear umbrella" of the US.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>NATO has only once invoked Article 5, on September 12, 2001 following the 9/11 attacks on the World Trade Center in the US.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>As of 2019, there are 29 member states, with Montenegro becoming the latest member to join the alliance in 2017. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>France withdrew from the integrated military command of NATO in 1966 but remained a member of the organization. However, it resumed its position in NATO&rsquo;s military command in 2009.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>Recent Issues</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>A big source of the internal strain is American President Donald Trump's recurrent demand that countries devote an amount equal to at least two percent of GDP to defence spending In 2018.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>However, only seven of NATO's 29 member states hit the two-percent target.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>Strained relationship over selling of defence equipments.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The US has halted delivery of equipment related to its F-35 fighter jets to Turkey over its plans to buy <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/india-going-ahead-with-purchase-of-S-400-air-defence-systems" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Russia&rsquo;s S-400 missile defence system</a>.</li>
<li>U.S. wants Turkey to buy the Patriot defence system of the USA, instead of Russia&rsquo;s S-400s.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>Recently, the Republic of Macedonia changed its name to the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/macedonias-new-name" target="_blank" rel="noopener">&ldquo;Republic of North Macedonia&rdquo;</a> to enter the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) and the <a href="/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-international-institution/european-union" target="_blank" rel="noopener">European Union (EU)</a> as its accession to both organizations was vetoed by Greece.</li>
</ul>
</div>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The move comes after India and the US signed the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/india-us-2-plus-2-talks" target="_blank" rel="noopener">COMCASA (Communications, Compatibility and Security Agreement) in 2018</a>.</li>
<li>The two countries are also in advance discussion to sign another foundational agreement of the BECA <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/india-us-mini-2-plus-2-talks" target="_blank" rel="noopener">(Basic Exchange Cooperation Agreement).</a></li>
<li>It also comes ahead of President Donald Trump&rsquo;s scheduled meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi on the sidelines of the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/g20-and-marine-plastic-waste" target="_blank" rel="noopener">G20 Summit in Osaka, Japan.</a></li>
</ul>
<h3>Importance</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The amendment is moved as part of the National Defense Authorization Act 2020 of the USA, giving a big boost to India-US defence trade.</li>
<li>This would remove current legislative barriers to export of major high-tech defence equipment to India which is normally shared with only a few countries.</li>
<li>Although, it is an important signal of US political support for enhancing defense ties but is unlikely to have tangible impact on trade flows in the near term.</li>
<li>The amendment needs to be passed by both the Senate and the House of Representatives before it can be signed by the US President into law.</li>
</ul>',
			'postdate' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenTime) {},
			'url' => 'https://www.drishtiias.com/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/nato-ally-status-to-india'
		],
		(int) 13 => [
			'title' => ''Fewer but Newer' Nuclear Arms: SIPRI',
			'catname' => 'News Analysis',
			'desc' => '<p><strong>The Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI)</strong> has reported that the world is witnessing less nuclear arms but with modernising and increasing size.</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>At the start of 2019,</strong> the United States, Russia, Britain, France, China, India, Pakistan, Israel and North Korea had a total of some <strong>13,865 nuclear weapons</strong> with a <strong>decrease of 600</strong> from previous year.</li>
<li>The drop in recent years can mainly be attributed to the <strong>US and Russia,</strong> whose combined arsenals still make up more than <strong>90 percent of the world's nuclear weapons</strong>.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>It is partly a result of the <strong>New START treaty&nbsp;</strong>&ndash; that was signed between the United States and the Russian Federation in 2010 which puts a cap on the number of deployed warheads as well as getting rid of obsolete warheads from the Cold War era.</li>
<li>There is a concern on the future of treaty as it will expire in 2021 and there is no serious discussion on its extension.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>The Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT)</strong> has also played a vital role in controlling proliferation of nuclear arms.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Because of the NPT, the number of nuclear arms has been drastically reduced since a peak <strong>in the mid-1980s when there were some 70,000 nuclear warheads</strong> in the world.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>This decrease in number of nuclear arms is observed with <strong>modernisation of nuclear arms coupled with increasing size of arms</strong> especially by China, India, and Pakistan.</li>
<li>The report has shown worry over the <strong>build-up of nuclear arms</strong> on both sides of the border <strong>between India and Pakistan,</strong> and the danger of a conventional conflict escalating to a nuclear one.</li>
<li>Global disarmament efforts also suffered a blow when the United States announced in February, 2019 that it would withdraw from the <strong>Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces (INF) treaty,</strong> prompting Russia to say it would also suspend its participation.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces (INF) treaty</strong> was signed by the United States and the Soviet Union in 1987 to eliminate and permanently forgo all of their nuclear and conventional ground-launched ballistic and cruise missiles with ranges of <strong>500 to 5,500 kilometers</strong>.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>The Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI)</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The SIPRI is an independent international institute dedicated to research into conflict, armaments, arms control and disarmament.</li>
<li>Established in 1966 at Stockholm, SIPRI provides data, analysis and recommendations, based on open sources, to policymakers, researchers, media and the interested public.</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>The Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT)</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The NPT is a landmark international treaty whose objective is:
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>to prevent the spread of nuclear weapons and weapons technology,</li>
<li>to promote cooperation in the peaceful uses of nuclear energy,</li>
<li>and to further the goal of achieving nuclear disarmament.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>The Treaty represents the only binding commitment in a multilateral treaty to the goal of disarmament by the nuclear-weapon States.</li>
<li>Opened for signature in 1968, the Treaty entered into force in 1970.</li>
<li>A total of 191 States have joined the Treaty, including the five nuclear-weapon States.</li>
</ul>
</div>',
			'postdate' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenTime) {},
			'url' => 'https://www.drishtiias.com/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/fewer-but-newer-nuclear-arms-sipri'
		],
		(int) 14 => [
			'title' => 'Piped Water Connection by 2024',
			'catname' => 'News Analysis',
			'desc' => '<p>The Prime Minister has recently said that the <strong>government will provide piped water to every household</strong> in the next five years i.e. <strong>by 2024.</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>This is the <strong>12<sup>th</sup> time</strong> that India has set a deadline to take water at the household-level.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Challenges</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>It would be an <strong>enormous exercise:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Some 8.43 million households, currently without drinking water facilities, have to be connected to piped water in the next five years.</li>
<li>Some 4,620 households would have to be added to the network every day for the next five years, at the rate of 40 litres per day.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/815image2.jpg" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/815image2.jpg" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="790" height="381" caption="false" /></a></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>India remains haunted by what is known as the <strong>&ldquo;slippage&rdquo; problem</strong>. It means <strong>villages/habitations covered</strong> with safe drinking water facilities <strong>slip back to 'not-covered'</strong> status <strong>due to</strong> various reasons that include <strong>drying up of the source</strong> or collapse of the facilities due to non-maintenances.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Currently, India is facing a <a href="/loksabha-rajyasabha-discussions/india-s-water-crisis-every-drop-counts" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>water stressed situation</strong></a>, two major reasons being, drying reservoirs and <a href="/to-the-points/paper3/groundwater-crisis-in-india" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>dipping groundwater levels</strong></a>.</li>
<li>It is to be seen from where the piped water supply scheme would draw water as currently the country is going through a <a href="/loksabha-rajyasabha-discussions/water-leaving-no-one-behind" target="_blank" rel="noopener">water crisis situation</a>.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>The quality of water sources</strong> &mdash; both surface and ground sources &mdash; is hardly suited to drinking. According to NITI Aayog, nearly 70 per cent of all of the country&rsquo;s fresh water sources are contaminated.</li>
<li><strong>Water, being a state subject,</strong> the scope of the centre's intervention is therefore limited.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Way Forward</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>There is an urgent need to <strong>create awareness among the people</strong> for the conservation of water.</li>
<li><strong>The Jal Shakti Ministry needs to work with states</strong> to ensure piped water to every household in the country.</li>
<li>The <strong>sources as well as the quality of water</strong> in the country needs to be maintained on an urgent basis.</li>
</ul>',
			'postdate' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenTime) {},
			'url' => 'https://www.drishtiias.com/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/piped-water-connection-by-2024'
		],
		(int) 15 => [
			'title' => 'Artificial Intelligence and Deepfakes- Misuse and Way Forward',
			'catname' => 'News Editorials',
			'desc' => '<div class="border">
<p>This article is based on the editorial, <a href="https://www.livemint.com/opinion/online-views/opinion-the-dangers-posed-by-ai-driven-deepfakes-1560444219701.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">The dangers posed by AI-driven &lsquo;deepfakes&rsquo;</a>,that appeared in live Mint on 13th June 2019. It talks about Artificial Intelligence and its misuse and suggests a way forward.</p>
</div>
<p>We are stepping into the age of AI where machines and computers might control our very existence. The world of cyber crime has already entered a new era where computers will take much of the decisions on both the sides. Use of AI to <strong>manipulate appearances and voices of people into real-looking footage highlights</strong> the need to question the rise of <strong>Artificial Intelligence and its misuse.</strong></p>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Artificial intelligence,</strong> or AI, involves using computers to perform tasks normally requiring human intelligence, such as taking decisions or recognizing text, speech or visual images.</p>
</div>
<h3><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/negative-impacts-of-artificial-intelligence" target="_blank" rel="noopener">How can AI become a danger?</a></h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Deepfakes:</strong> AI-powered algorithms that manipulate appearances and voices of people into real-looking footage.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>As deepfakes are created through AI, they don't require the considerable skill that it would take to create a realistic video otherwise, which implies that just about anyone could create a deepfake to promote their chosen agenda.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Cyber crime:</strong> AI can be exploited to mount automated hacking attacks, commit financial frauds, cut through a nation&rsquo;s security framework, can even facilitate terrorism and radicalisation.</li>
<li><strong>Invasion of privacy and social grading:</strong> governments can use the data to govern through AI, people&rsquo;s social media habits, introduce policies to police people with the help of Face IDs, like it&rsquo;s done in countries such as China.</li>
<li><strong>Existential risk</strong> from artificial intelligence is the hypothesis that substantial progress in artificial intelligence could someday result in human extinction or some other unrecoverable global catastrophe because of its "super intelligent" powers that could become difficult to control in future.</li>
<li><strong>Social manipulation:</strong> Cambridge Analytica and others associated with the firm who used the data from 50 million Facebook users to try to sway the outcome of the 2016 U.S. presidential election and the U.K.'s Brexit referendum, illustrate AI's power for social manipulation.</li>
</ul>
<p>Several researchers have revealed that the malicious use of AI poses imminent threats to <strong>digital, physical and political security by allowing for large-scale, finely targeted, highly efficient attacks.</strong></p>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Social Grading through AI:</strong> A process through which authorities can use AI to analyze people's behavioral patterns and model hypothetical situations. It can be used for surveillance over the internet.</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>AI can be applied for dating, recruiting, advertising, prevention of terrorism and suicides, fraud detection and other tasks.</li>
<li>Social Credit Score system assigns a certain grade to every citizen. It is based on economic, social and online activity. This score can influence access to transport, credits, employment, permission to leave the country and other public services. <strong><br /></strong></li>
</ul>
</div>
<h3>Significance of Artificial Intelligence</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>From software to smart devices, <strong>Artificial Intelligence is present in our day to day</strong>, in the form of smartphones, cameras, Internet of Things (IoT) devices, voice assistant to biometrics.</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Key Terms</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Internet of Things</strong>
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>It is a network of physical devices, vehicles, home appliances, and other items embedded with electronics, software, sensors, actuators, and connectivity which enables these things to connect, collect and exchange data.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Virtual Reality (VR)</strong> is the use of computer technology to create a <strong>simulated environment.</strong>
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Unlike traditional user interfaces, VR places the user inside an experience i.e Instead of viewing a screen in front of them, users are immersed and able to interact with 3D worlds.</li>
<li>VR Enables simulation of as many senses as possible, such as vision, hearing, touch, even smell.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Augmented Reality</strong> is the use of sensors and algorithms by computer to determine the position and orientation of a camera.</li>
</ul>
</div>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>AI in conjunction with</strong> Internet of Things (sensors and wearables), robotics, virtual reality (VR) and augmented reality (AR) is playing a very important role.</li>
<li><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/a-prescription-for-the-future" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>AI in Healthcare</strong></a>
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Diagnosis:</strong> AI systems helps radiologists in improving their ability to diagnose and track <strong>prostate cancer</strong> and Google researchers used a deep learning neural network (a machine learning technique, which itself is considered a subset of AI) that trained on retinal images to identify <strong>cardiovascular risk factors.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Machine learning</strong> is an application of artificial intelligence (AI) that provides systems the ability to <strong>automatically learn and improve from experience</strong> without being explicitly programmed.</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The process of learning begins with observations or data, such as examples, direct experience, or instruction, in order to look for patterns in data and make better decisions in the future based on the examples that we provide.</li>
<li>The primary aim is to allow the computers to learn automatically, without human intervention or assistance and adjust actions accordingly.</li>
</ul>
</div>
<p>Nowadays, artificial intelligence is used for many good causes including to help us make better <strong>medical diagnoses,</strong> find new ways to <strong>cure cancer</strong> and make our <strong>cars safer</strong>. Unfortunately, as our AI capabilities expand we will also see it being used for <strong>dangerous or malicious purposes.</strong> Since AI technology is advancing so rapidly, it is vital for us to develop best ways for positive adaptation to AI while <strong>minimizing its destructive potential.</strong></p>
<h3>Way Forward</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Policy-makers and technical researchers</strong> need to work together now to understand and prepare for its possible misuse.</li>
<li>Government should incentivise <strong>core and advance research in AI.</strong> Offering incentives for <strong>manufacturers, creating regional innovation clusters for manufacturing automation and robotics</strong> in partnership with universities and start-ups.</li>
<li><strong>Machine intelligence</strong> is a critical element of <strong>national security strategy</strong>, hence governments should evaluate models of defense research in collaboration with the private sector and universities that are dealing with AI.</li>
</ul>
<table border="1" style="border-collapse: collapse;">
<tbody>
<tr>
<td style="width: 961px; background-color: #f2e7b6;">
<p><em><strong>Drishti input:</strong></em></p>
<p>In the era of fourth industrial revolution, one cannot isolate oneself from the impact of Artificial Intelligence. However, the benefits can be maximized and losses can be minimized by putting necessary infrastructure and policy in place. Comment.</p>
</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>',
			'postdate' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenTime) {},
			'url' => 'https://www.drishtiias.com/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/artificial-intelligence-and-deepfakes-misuse-and-way-forward'
		],
		(int) 16 => [
			'title' => 'Selenium-Graphene based Catalyst in Fuel Cell',
			'catname' => 'News Analysis',
			'desc' => '<p>A multi-institutional team of scientists from India has developed a <strong>selenium-graphene&ndash;based catalyst</strong> which is more <strong>efficient in terms of cost and performance</strong>. It also remains stable for longer than the usual platinum-based catalysts.</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Modern energy technology, for example, fuel cells which are used commercially in hydrogen fuel&ndash;based cars, require good catalysts that are efficient as well as cost-effective.</li>
<li>Normally, fuel cells use expensive elements like <strong>platinum</strong>. These expensive metal-based technologies perform excellently for initial few cycles, but then get degraded in performance due to many reasons:<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Graphene modified with selenium atoms in very low amounts can perform like platinum in a demonstrated reaction.</li>
<li>The oxygen reduction reaction is a key step in the functioning of the fuel cell. Graphene by itself is a &ldquo;poor&rdquo; catalyst of this reaction. It involves the reduction of oxygen in two steps, each of which consumes two electrons. This is not very useful either for fuel cells or metal-air batteries.</li>
<li>Neither selenium nor graphene are useful by themselves, the combination of both works efficiently.</li>
<li><strong>Poisoning-resistant:</strong> Methanol fuel cells, a common form of fuel cell used, suffer from a <strong>&ldquo;poisoning&rdquo; effect</strong>. It is found that the catalyst that is developed has a high tolerance for poisoning.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Poisoning effect</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>This is a part of the process where the methanol reaches the negative electrode and coats it, the electrode becomes ineffective after some cycles. This is especially problematic when expensive catalysts like platinum are used.</li>
</ul>
</div>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Selenium</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Selenium is a non-metallic chemical element, member of the group XVI of the periodic table. In chemical activity and physical properties, it resembles sulfur and tellurium.</li>
<li>Selenium has <strong>good photovoltaic and photoconductive properties</strong>, and it is used extensively in electronics, such as photocells, light meters and solar cells.</li>
</ul>
<p><strong><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/e-tattoos-to-help-monitor-health" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Graphene</a>:</strong> it is a one-atom-thick layer of carbon atoms arranged in a hexagonal lattice. It is the building-block of Graphite (which is used, among other things, in pencil tips).</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Graphene is the thinnest material known to man at one atom thick, and also incredibly strong - about 200 times stronger than steel.</li>
<li>It is an excellent conductor of heat and electricity and has interesting light absorption abilities.</li>
</ul>
</div>
<h3>Fuel cell</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Fuel cells are <strong>electrochemical devices</strong> that <strong>convert chemical energy from the reactants directly into electricity and heat</strong>. <a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/802image3.jpg" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/802image3.jpg" width="537" height="437" style="float: right;" caption="false" /></a><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The device consists of an electrolyte layer in contact with a porous anode and cathode on either side.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>In a standard fuel cell, gaseous fuels are fed continuously to the anode (negative electrode), while an oxidant (oxygen from the air) is fed continuously to the cathode (positive electrode). Electrochemical reactions take place at the electrodes to produce an electric current.</li>
<li><strong>Advantages of fuel cell systems are:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>High operating efficiency is not a function of system size.</li>
<li>A highly scalable design.</li>
<li>Several types of potential fuel sources are available.</li>
<li>Zero or near-zero greenhouse emissions.</li>
<li>There are no moving parts in the fuel cell stack, which provides reliable, vibration-free operation.</li>
<li>Nearly instantaneous recharge capability when compared to batteries.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Limitations of fuel cell systems are:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Cost-effective, mass-produced pure hydrogen storage and delivery technology.</li>
<li>Fuel Reformation technology may need to be considered if pure fuel is not used.</li>
<li>Fuel cell performance may gradually decrease over time due to catalyst degradation and electrolyte poisoning if pure fuel is not used.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Comparison of the fuel cell with Battery</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The lifetime of a <strong>primary battery</strong> is limited due to the following:<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>The battery stops producing electricity when the chemical reactants stored in a battery runs out.</li>
<li>When a battery is not being used, a very slow electrochemical reaction takes place that limits the lifetime of the battery.</li>
<li>The battery life is dependent on the lifetime of the electrode.</li>
<li><strong>Advantage:</strong> A fuel cell is an energy conversion device where the reactants are supplied. The fuels are stored outside the fuel cell. A fuel cell can supply electrical energy as long as fuel and oxidant are supplied. Also, <strong>no &ldquo;leakage&rdquo; occurs</strong> in a fuel cell, and <strong>no corrosion</strong> of cell components occurs when the system is not in use.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Comparison of the fuel cell with Heat Engine</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>A heat engine also converts chemical energy into electric energy, but through intermediate steps. The chemical energy is first converted into thermal energy through combustion. Thermal energy is then converted into mechanical energy by the heat engine; and Finally, the mechanical energy is converted into electric energy by an electric generator.</li>
<li>The process also involves moving parts, which implies that they wear over time. Regular maintenance of moving components is required for proper operation of the mechanical components.</li>
<li><strong>Advantage:</strong> Since fuel cells do not have any moving parts during operation, they are <strong>more reliable</strong> than heat engines and <strong>have less noise</strong>. This results in lower <strong>maintenance costs</strong>, which make them especially advantageous for space and underwater missions.</li>
<li>The efficiency of fuel cells is not strongly dependent on operating power. It is their <strong>inherently high efficiency</strong> that makes fuel cells an excellent option for a broad range of applications, including automobiles, buses, distributed electricity, and portable systems.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>',
			'postdate' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenTime) {},
			'url' => 'https://www.drishtiias.com/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/selenium-graphene-based-catalyst-in-fuel-cell'
		],
		(int) 17 => [
			'title' => 'Payment and Settlement Systems in India: Vision 2019–2021',
			'catname' => 'News Analysis',
			'desc' => '<p>The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has released its statement on &lsquo;<strong>Payment and Settlement Systems in India: Vision 2019&ndash;2021</strong>&rsquo;, which outlines the measures needed to be undertaken to foster innovation, cybersecurity, financial inclusion, customer protection, and competition.</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The Payment Systems Vision 2021 envisages achieving a <strong>&lsquo;highly digital&rsquo;</strong> and <strong>&lsquo;cash-lite&rsquo;</strong> society through the goalposts of competition, cost-effectiveness, convenience, and confidence.<a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/244image5.jpg" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/244image5.jpg" width="262" height="334" style="float: right;" caption="false" /></a></li>
<li><strong>The need for a self-regulatory organisation:</strong> for the digital payment space, which can serve as a <strong>two-way communication channel</strong> between the players and the regulator. The organisation will also work towards establishing minimum benchmarks, standards, and help discipline rogue behaviour.</li>
<li><strong>Potential gains:</strong> The number of digital transactions is expected to increase more than four times, from 20.69 billion in December 2018 to 87.07 billion in December 2021. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The digital payment transaction turnover vis-&agrave;-vis gross domestic product (at current market prices) is expected to further increase to 10.37 per cent in 2019, 12.29 per cent in 2020, and 14.80 per cent in 2021.</li>
<li>The RBI expects accelerated growth in individual retail electronic payment systems, both in terms of the number of transactions and increased availability.</li>
<li>Payment systems like <strong>Unified Payments Interface&nbsp;</strong>(Immediate Payment Service) are likely to register average annualised growth of over 100 per cent and <strong>National Electronic Funds Transfer</strong> at 40 per cent over the vision period.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Measures to be taken:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The RBI will take measures to increase the <strong>penetration of acceptance infrastructure</strong> in the country.</li>
<li>The infrastructure will be upscaled to at least six times the present levels in the next three years&rsquo; time.</li>
<li>In order to have a coordinated approach towards regulation, the RBI shall <strong>engage with the other sectoral regulators</strong> like Securities and Exchange Board of India, Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority, Telecom Regulatory Authority of India, etc to remove friction in regulation and ease system operator and customer comfort.</li>
<li>It will also consider the implementation of e-mandates/standing instructions for retail payment systems, subject to customer protection and adequate safeguards like authenticating payment instrument registration, mandating transaction limits, segments, etc.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Cash-lite economy</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>It is an economy whereby there is a reduction in the high usage/volume of cash in circulation, thereby encouraging the use of electronic payment channels and reducing the cost of cash production and transportation. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>A Cash-lite society is a Society where most of the purchases of goods or services are made by credit card or electronic funds transfer rather than with cash or cheques, it is an environment where the money is spent without being physically carried from one person to the other.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>Unified Payments Interface (UPI)</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>It is a system that powers multiple bank accounts into a single mobile application (of any participating bank), merging several banking features, seamless fund routing &amp; merchant payments into one hood.</li>
<li>It also caters to the &ldquo;Peer to Peer&rdquo; collect request which can be scheduled and paid as per requirement and convenience.</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>National Electronic Funds Transfer (NEFT)</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>It is an electronic funds transfer system maintained by the Reserve Bank of India (RBI). it was started in November 2005, the setup was established and maintained by the Institute for Development and Research in Banking Technology.</li>
<li>NEFT enables bank customers in India to transfer funds between any two NEFT-enabled bank accounts on a one-to-one basis. It is done via electronic messages. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Unlike Real-time gross settlement, fund transfers through the NEFT system do not occur on a real-time basis. NEFT settles fund transfers in half-hourly batches with 23 settlements occurring between 8:00 AM and 7:00 PM on weekdays and the 1st, 3rd and 5th Saturday of the calendar month.</li>
<li>Transfers initiated outside this time period are settled at the next available window. No settlements are made on the second and fourth Saturday of the month, or on Sundays, or on public holidays.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</div>',
			'postdate' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenTime) {},
			'url' => 'https://www.drishtiias.com/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/payment-and-settlement-systems-in-india-vision-2019-2021-1'
		],
		(int) 18 => [
			'title' => 'GST Council and National Anti-profiteering Authority',
			'catname' => 'News Analysis',
			'desc' => '<p>The <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/important-facts-for-prelims-11th-january-2019" target="_blank" rel="noopener">GST Council</a> in its recent meeting has discussed the proposal of extending the tenure of the <strong>National Anti-profiteering Authority (NAA)</strong> to one more year (till 30 November 2020).</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>National Anti-profiteering Authority (NAA)</strong> came into existence ( just after the rollout of GST) for<strong> two years</strong> to deal with complaints by consumers against companies for not <strong>passing on GST rate cut benefits.</strong></li>
<li>Extension for NAA, (before its two-year sunset clause) is being seen necessary as there are many <strong>pending cases</strong> that need to be resolved before its dissolution.</li>
</ul>
<h3>National Anti-profiteering Authority</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The National Anti-Profiteering Authority (NAA) was constituted under <strong>Section 171 of the Central Goods and Services Tax Act, 2017.</strong></li>
</ul>
<h3>Background<a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/324image4.jpg" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/324image4.jpg" width="473" height="361" style="float: right;" caption="false" /></a></h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The formation of NAA comes in the background of <strong>rate-reduction</strong> of a large number of items by GST Council which has made tremendous price reduction effect but the consumers will be benefited only if the traders are making the quick reduction of prices of respective items.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Functions of National Anti-profiteering Authority</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>The anti-profiteering clause</strong> under the Goods And Services Tax (GST) Act mentions that any reduction in the rate of tax on any goods or services or the benefit of input tax credit must be passed on to the consumer by way of commensurate reduction in the prices of the respective goods or services.</li>
<li>The Authority&rsquo;s main function is to ensure that traders are not realizing an <strong>unfair profit</strong> by charging high price from consumers in the name of GST and to examine and check such profiteering activities and recommend <strong>punitive actions</strong> including the <strong>cancellation of Registration.</strong></li>
</ul>
<h3>Governance</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>NAA comprises of <strong>Chairman, four Technical members</strong>, a <strong>Standing Committee, Screening Committees</strong> in every State and the <strong>Directorate General of Safeguards</strong> in the Central Board of Excise &amp; Customs (CBEC).</li>
<li>The orders of the NAA can be appealed against only in the high court.</li>
</ul>',
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		(int) 19 => [
			'title' => '“Operation Sunrise 2”',
			'catname' => 'News Analysis',
			'desc' => '<p><strong>&ldquo;Operation Sunrise 2&rdquo;</strong> is a coordinated operation by armies of India and Myanmar. It is a three-week-long operation carried out in their respective border areas, targeting several militant groups operating in Manipur, Nagaland and Assam.<a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/283image1.jpg" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/283image1.jpg" width="364" height="260" style="float: right;" caption="false" /></a><a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/713image1.webp" target="_blank" rel="noopener"></a></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The first phase of <strong>&ldquo;Operation Sunrise&rdquo;</strong> was conducted three months ago along the Indo-Myanmar border, during which, the Indian Army targeted members of the Arakan Army, an insurgent group in Myanmar, who were opposed to the <strong><a href="/to-the-points/Paper2/india-myanmar-relations" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Kaladan multi-modal transit transport project</a></strong>. The project is viewed as India&rsquo;s gateway to Southeast Asia.</li>
<li>In &ldquo;Operation Sunrise 2&rdquo;, the armies coordinated with each other to bust camps of militant outfits, including the Kamtapur Liberation Organisation, the National Socialist Council of Nagaland(Khaplang), the United Liberation Front of Assam (I) and the National Democratic Front of Boroland.</li>
<li>Myanmar is one of the strategic neighbours of India and shares a 1,640-km border with a number of north-eastern states, including the militancy-hit Nagaland and Manipur.</li>
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		'title' => 'AWaRe',
		'catname' => 'News Analysis',
		'desc' => '<p><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/global-leaders-adopt-delhi-declaration-on-digital-health" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>The World Health Organization</strong></a> (WHO) in its global campaign against <a href="/loksabha-rajyasabha-discussions/in-depth-drug-resistance" target="_blank" rel="noopener">antibiotics</a> has launched a new online tool called AWaRe.</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The campaign aims to achieve a 60% increase in the use of antibiotics under the Access group &mdash; cheap, &lsquo;narrow-spectrum&rsquo; drugs (that target a specific microorganism rather than several) and also <strong>lower the risk of resistance.</strong></li>
</ul>
<h3>AWaRe</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The AWaRe tool was developed by the <strong>WHO Essential Medicines List</strong> to contain <strong>rising resistance</strong> and make antibiotic use <strong>safer</strong> and more effective by providing guidelines (over the effective use of antibiotics) to the <strong>policy-makers</strong> and <strong>health workers</strong>.</li>
<li>It classifies antibiotics into three groups:<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Access</strong>&mdash; antibiotics used to treat the most common and serious infections.</li>
<li><strong>Watch&mdash;</strong> antibiotics available at all times in the healthcare system.</li>
<li><strong>Reserve&mdash;</strong> antibiotics to be used sparingly or preserved and used only as a last resort.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Significance</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>By classifying antibiotics into three distinct groups, and advising on when to use them, AWaRe makes it easier for <strong>policy-makers, prescribers and health workers</strong> to select the right antibiotic at the right time, and to protect endangered antibiotics.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Antimicrobial Resistance</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>With the emergence of infections that are untreatable by all classes of antibiotics, <a href="/to-the-points/paper3/to-the-point-paper-3-antimicrobial-resistance-amr" target="_blank" rel="noopener">antimicrobial resistance</a> is turning into an <strong>invisible pandemic</strong> and is estimated to kill <strong>50 million</strong> worldwide and <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/the-problem-of-drug-resistance-in-india" target="_blank" rel="noopener">10 million in India (by <strong>2050</strong>)</a>.</li>
<li>According to a report by the International Coordination Group on Antimicrobial Resistance, Antimicrobial resistance is a <strong>global health</strong> and <strong>development threat</strong> that continues to escalate globally and threatens to undo a century of medical progress.</li>
<li>It is estimated that more than 50% of antibiotics in many countries are used inappropriately, such as for <strong>treatment of viruses</strong> (when they only treat bacterial infections) or <strong>use of the wrong</strong> (broader spectrum) antibiotic, thus contributing to the spread of antimicrobial resistance.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Concern</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>One of the most pressing concerns is the spread of resistant <strong>gram-negative bacteria,</strong> including <strong>Acinetobacter, Escherichia coli and Klebsiella pneumoniae.</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>As these bacteria, which are commonly seen in hospitalized patients, cause infections like <strong>pneumonia, bloodstream infections, wound</strong> or surgical site infections and <strong>meningitis.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>Although over 100 countries have put in place national plans to tackle antimicrobial resistance, only about <strong>one-fifth</strong> of those plans are funded and implemented.</li>
<li>Antibiotic resistance (when antibiotics stop working effectively) increases health expenditure and makes <strong>accessibility and affordability</strong> of medicines an expensive affair.</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Gram-Negative Bacteria</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Bacteria are classified into two groups&mdash;Gram-positive or Gram-negative&mdash;depending on whether they retain a specific stain color.</li>
<li>Gram-positive bacteria retain a purple-colored stain, while Gram-negative bacteria appear pinkish or red.</li>
<li>Several species of gram negative bacteria including Escherichia coli, are common causes of foodborne disease and Vibrio cholerae&mdash;the bacteria responsible for cholera&mdash;is a waterborne pathogen.</li>
<li>Gram-negative bacteria can also cause respiratory infections, such as certain types of pneumonia, and sexually transmitted diseases, including gonorrhea.</li>
</ul>
</div>',
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	(int) 1 => [
		'title' => 'Acute Encephalitis Syndrome: Causes and Lapses',
		'catname' => 'News Editorials',
		'desc' => '<div class="border">
<p><strong>This editorial is based on the article <a href="https://indianexpress.com/article/opinion/editorials/bihar-encephalitis-ase-deaths-muzaffarpur-5787254/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">"A failing state&rdquo;</a> which appeared in Indian Express on 19th June, 2019. The article talks about cause and lapses in dealing with Acute Encephalitis Syndrome and suggests a way forward.</strong></p>
</div>
<p>More than 100 children in Bihar&rsquo;s Muzaffarpur district have died of <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/acute-encephalitis-syndrome" target="_blank" rel="noopener">acute encephalitis syndrome (AES)</a>, with the state&rsquo;s medical authorities initially blaming the deaths on the heat wave, hypoglycemia (sudden drop in blood sugar levels) and <strong>lack of awareness.</strong> Now, belatedly, they have acknowledged the two most critical causes for the deaths &mdash; <strong>malnutrition</strong> and the <strong>inadequacy of primary health centres</strong> (PHCs).</p>
<p>The AES cases in Muzaffarpur, Bihar and adjoining <strong>litchi producing districts</strong> have been observed <strong>every year</strong> in summers(mostly from April to June), particularly in children who are <strong>undernourished</strong> with a history of visiting litchi orchards.</p>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>What makes region so vulnerable to AES?</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>It has been found that regions with high heat, humidity, unhygienic conditions and malnutrition, contribute to the rise in AES. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>AES has struck Muzaffarpur with regularity in the summers since 1995.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>Incidence is higher in litchi fields around which malnourished children live.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Malnutrition is high Bihar, and malnourished children are prone to infection.</li>
<li>National Family Health Survey-4 data show that in 2015-16, 48% children aged less than five in Bihar were stunted &mdash; the highest in India.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</div>
<p><strong>Causes:</strong> Litchi is being most commonly blamed for the Acute Encephalitis Syndrome (AES) outbreak in Bihar. However, experts are of the view that fruit is only a triggering factor for malnourished children as the toxin methylenecyclopropyl glycine (MCPG) can lead to <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/hypoglycaemia-and-acute-encephalitis-syndrome" target="_blank" rel="noopener">hypoglycaemia</a> (fall in sugar levels) in undernourished children that in turn results into unconsciousness, coma and even death.</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Malnutrition cause hypoglycaemia:</strong> Malnourished children have depleted glycogen store in the liver. So if there is no glycogen reserve, the glycogen breaks into glucose and when the shortage further increases, even fats start burning and this process produces by products like ketones and amino acids which are neurotoxic and are responsible for inflammation of the brain tissue.</li>
<li><strong>Heat waves:</strong> when temperature and humidity were recorded over consecutive days at more 38 degrees Celsius and 50% respectively, the epidemic had been at its worse. In other parts of northern India there is fluctuation in temperature and humidity, and the nights are cooler, but in Muzaffarpur humidity increases at night making it worse than the day, especially for children.</li>
<li>The main <strong>causative agents</strong> of acute encephalitis are the <strong>viruses</strong> like herpes viruses, enteroviruses, West Nile, Japanese encephalitis, Eastern equine viruses, tick-borne viruses etc.</li>
<li>Encephalitis is also caused due to <strong>bacteria, fungi or parasites, chemicals, toxins and non-infectious agents.</strong></li>
</ul>
<p>The death of children in Muzaffarpur due to AES, a preventable disease, shows the inaction of the state machinery, which has failed to take appropriate steps to prevent the seasonal outbreak of disease.</p>
<h3>Lapses</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Primary health centres:</strong> the first point of healthcare for most AES patients are <strong>ill-equipped</strong> to deal with the disease. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Most of them do not have, <strong>virology lab</strong> or adequate number of <strong>paediatric beds</strong> and <strong>glycometers</strong> to monitor blood sugar levels.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Standard operating procedure :</strong> to treat AES, have clearly not been implemented in Bihar, which mandates grassroots health workers, including auxiliary nurse-midwives, accredited social health activists, and anganwadi workers, to do daily <strong>household-level surveys</strong> to check children for JE/AES symptoms during the outbreak season from June to September.</li>
<li><strong>Lack of preparedness:</strong> of the state government in terms <strong>special nutrition programme</strong> for AES-prone areas (as undernourished children are more prone to the disease).</li>
<li><strong>Inadequate Machinery:</strong> Unavailability of <strong>doctors, beds, intensive care units, medical professionals</strong> to deal with an epidemic level situation which has resulted in more than 126 reported death of children in the state of Bihar particularly in Muzaffarpur and its adjoining areas.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Way Forward</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Surveillance and Monitoring:</strong> of AES vulnerable region ( for identifying AES prone cases) is necessary for <strong>early diagnosis and treatment</strong> of disease. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>AES can be contained if the child is administered dextrose within 4 hours of the onset of symptoms</li>
<li><strong>10% Dextrose infusion</strong> within the golden hours can speed up the pace of recovery.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Awareness campaigns and symptom management:</strong> as a <strong>pre-emptive</strong> measures must be put in place for dealing with the AES cases.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>State Government should learn from the <strong><em>dastak</em></strong> initiative (for treating Japanese Encephalitis) taken by Uttar Pradesh, that has brought together health, rural development and primary education officials to promote clean drinking water, sanitation, vaccination and early referral to hospitals for treatment through symptom management.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Infrastructural and Institutional set up:</strong> Primary Health Care centres must be equipped with all necessary equipments and amenities that are crucial for diagnosing and treating AES patients.</li>
<li><strong>Medical Research and Studies:</strong> conducted in AES prone regions that are crucial for establishing link between causes and symptoms of the disease must be taken into account for formulating <strong>treatment strategy.</strong></li>
<li><strong>Special Nutrition programmes:</strong> and <strong>mid day meals</strong> must be implemented in the AES prone regions as it has been identified that toxins in litchi is just a triggering factor in the already malnutritioned children.</li>
</ul>
<table border="1" style="border-collapse: collapse;">
<tbody>
<tr>
<td style="width: 1108.89px; background-color: #f7faa0; border-color: #ff0000;">
<p><em><strong>Drishti input</strong></em></p>
<p>Examine the failures at various levels that has led to the deaths of more than 100 children due to Acute Encephalitis Syndrome in Bihar.</p>
</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<p></p>',
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	],
	(int) 2 => [
		'title' => 'Seven Million Jobs Created in Formal Sector',
		'catname' => 'News Analysis',
		'desc' => '<p>The Indian Staffing Federation (ISF) has reported the formalisation of over seven million jobs between 2015-2018 <strong>due to reforms and initiatives taken by Indian government.</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>The report titled, &lsquo;Impact of key reforms on job formalisation and flexi-staffing&rsquo;</strong> mentioned that 1.2 million workers have been added to the flexi-workforce since 2015 and a further 1.53 million are to be added over the next three years.</li>
<li>The government&rsquo;s current agenda of job creation can be achieved by boosting the aggregate effective demand in the economy through formalisation, industrialisation, urbanisation, financialisation and skilling.</li>
<li>India will have a 6.1 million flexi-workforce by 2021. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Sectors such as logistics, banking, financial services and insurance <strong>(BFSI), IT/ ITeS, retail and government</strong> would be the <strong>top five sectors, employing over 55 per cent of the total flexi-workforce by 2021.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>The flexi staff space grew</strong> at a Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) of <strong>16.3 per cent in 2018</strong> and is expected to further accelerate to<strong> 22.7 per cent from 2018-2021.</strong></li>
<li>The report establishes <strong>flexi-staffing as a key job creation engine.</strong></li>
<li>The acceleration in momentum towards formal employment witnessed in the past three years clearly means the reforms such as the payment of wages act and EPF are having a positive impact.</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Flexi-staffing</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Flexible Staffing</strong> is an arrangement in an organization where the employees can be from <strong>temporary agencies, leased employees or contract workers.</strong></li>
<li>It is more commonly known as temporary staffing and predominantly focuses on the white collar industry.</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>Indian Staffing Federation (ISF)</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The ISF is the apex body representing the Staffing industry/Private Employment Services that is <strong>authorised to discuss with government agencies and other trade bodies on behalf of the staffing industry/ private employment services.</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>The Staffing / private employment services</strong> is an enabler <strong>to provide social security</strong> and long term <strong>medical</strong>, and <strong>retirement benefits to temp/flexi-staff.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>The purpose of ISF is to enhance long-term growth and ensure its continued ability to make positive contributions to the economy as well as the society<strong> through the services of the Staffing Industry.</strong></li>
<li><strong>Staffing Industry covers a meager 2% penetration of the possible employable size in India.</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Of the 400m employable in India, about 10% are employed in the organised sector, and while about 250m are self-employed.</li>
<li>This leaves <strong>almost 110m</strong> who are <strong>employed by the temp/ flexi-staffing and the unorganised sector.</strong> ISF is working towards growing this market.</li>
<li>To bring effect, <strong>the laws and regulations haven't taken Staffing industry/</strong> Private Employment Services <strong>into cognizance.</strong></li>
<li>ISF expects to interact with law making authorities to recognize Staffing industry / Private Employment Services and create adequate and appropriate laws to manage it.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</div>',
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	],
	(int) 3 => [
		'title' => 'RBI Panel's Recommendations on MSME',
		'catname' => 'News Analysis',
		'desc' => '<p>A Reserve Bank of India (RBI) expert committee on micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) has recommended doubling <strong>the cap on collateral-free loans to Rs 20 lakh</strong> from the current Rs 10 lakh.</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>This will be extended to borrowers falling under the Mudra scheme, self-help groups, and MSMEs.</li>
<li>The current limit of Rs 10 lakh on collateral-free loans was prescribed by RBI in June 2010.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>A collateral free loan</strong> means that borrowers do not have to offer any asset or pledge collateral to borrow against.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>The committee has also suggested various long-term solutions for the economic and financial sustainability of MSMEs.</li>
<li>The report has also <strong>recommended the mainstreaming the restructuring of stressed loans</strong>, considering the central bank had given a one-year window to banks to do so in January 2019.</li>
<li>The proposal is part of a report prepared <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/rbi-sets-up-msme-panel" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>by the eight-member RBI committee</strong></a> tasked with reviewing the current framework for the MSME sector.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The panel was <strong>headed</strong> by former Securities and Exchange Board of India chairman <strong>U K Sinha.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>The MSME definition</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The Micro Small &amp; Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) are defined under the Micro, Small &amp; Medium Enterprises Development <strong>(MSMED) Act, 2006</strong> on the basis of capital investment made in plant and machinery, excluding investments in land and building.</li>
<li>Manufacturing units having investment: <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>below Rs 25 lakh are termed as Micro,</li>
<li>those between Rs 25 lakh and Rs 5 crore as Small</li>
<li>and from Rs 5 crore to Rs 10 crore as Medium.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>Service units, corresponding investment thresholds are: <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>up to Rs 10 lakh are termed as Micro,</li>
<li>between Rs 10 lakh to Rs 2 crore as Small</li>
<li>and between Rs 2 crore to Rs 5 crore as Medium</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>However, the government is contemplating to change the definition of MSMEs.</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The proposed change under a new draft is that <strong>annual turnover, rather than investment size</strong>, should be the criterion for such units.</li>
<li>Under the draft, there would be <strong>no difference between a manufacturing and service unit.</strong></li>
<li>Micro can be up to Rs 5 crore of turnover, small up to Rs 75 crore, and medium up to Rs 250 crore of turnover should be considered.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>Pradhan Mantri MUDRA Yojana (PMMY)</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The PMMY is a scheme launched in 2015 for providing loans up to 10 lakh to the non-corporate, non-farm small/micro enterprises.</li>
<li>These loans are classified as MUDRA loans under PMMY.</li>
<li>These loans are given by Commercial Banks, RRBs, Small Finance Banks, Cooperative Banks, MFIs and NBFCs.</li>
<li>Under the aegis of PMMY, MUDRA has created three products namely 'Shishu', 'Kishore' and 'Tarun' to signify the stage funding needs of the beneficiary/entrepreneur and also provide a reference point for the next phase of graduation/growth. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Shishu:</strong> covering loans up to Rs.50,000</li>
<li><strong>Kishore:</strong> covering loans above Rs.50,000 and up to Rs.5,00,000</li>
<li><strong>Tarun:</strong> covering loans above Rs.5,00,000 and up to Rs.10,00,000</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>As of Feb 1, 2019, over 157 million loans amounting to Rs 7.59 trillion have been extended under PMMY since its inception.</li>
</ul>
</div>',
		'postdate' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenTime) {},
		'url' => 'https://www.drishtiias.com/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/rbi-panel-s-recommendations-on-msme'
	],
	(int) 4 => [
		'title' => 'ICANN and NASSCOM Collaboration',
		'catname' => 'News Analysis',
		'desc' => '<p>Global internet body <strong>Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers(ICANN) and Indian IT industry body NASSCOM</strong> to develop identifier technology that can be used for managing devices and infrastructure using the internet.</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Both the bodies will first focus on updating the Internet of Things (IoT) devices using domain name system (DNS) even in the situation when the manufacturer or supplier has closed down the business.</li>
<li>This collaboration provides a structure to jointly identify research projects, particularly in new technologies related to the internet's system of unique identifiers.</li>
<li>The first research project focuses on testing the use of the DNS to update IoT firmware and studying how the proposed technology could scale outside a lab environment.</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Internet of Thing (IoT)</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The Internet of Things is made up of devices from simple sensors to smartphones and wearables connected together.</li>
<li>IoT allows devices on closed <strong>private internet connections</strong> to communicate with others and the Internet of Things brings those networks together. It gives the opportunity for devices to communicate not only within close silos but across different networking types and creates a much more connected world.</li>
</ul>
</div>
<h3>Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN)</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>ICANN is a non-profit body that administers domain names and Internet protocol addresses (IPs) globally. It was formed in 1988 by the US Department of Commerce. It has become independent of US control since October 1st, 2016.</li>
<li>It also ensures that computers across the internet can find one another through defined unique pathways and identifiers.</li>
<li>It is responsible for coordinating the maintenance and methodologies of several databases, with unique identifiers, related to the namespaces of the Internet &ndash; and thereby, ensuring the network&rsquo;s stable and secure operation.</li>
<li>ICANN is governed by an internationally diverse Board of Directors overseeing the policy development process. ICANN&rsquo;s President directs an international staff, working from three continents, who ensure that ICANN meets its operational commitment to the Internet community.</li>
</ul>
<h3>National Association of Software and Services Companies (NASSCOM)</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>NASSCOM, a not-for-profit industry association, is the apex body for the IT industry in India.</li>
<li>Established in 1988, NASSCOM&rsquo;s relentless pursuit has been to constantly support the IT and BPO industry.</li>
<li>Members of NASSCOM are Indian Co software development, software services, IT-enabled/BPO services. NASSCOM role has primarily been to make sure that service quality and enforcement of Intellectual Property Rights have been properly implemented in the Indian software and BPO industry.</li>
</ul>',
		'postdate' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenTime) {},
		'url' => 'https://www.drishtiias.com/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/icann-and-nasscom-collaboration'
	],
	(int) 5 => [
		'title' => 'Coringa Mangroves',
		'catname' => 'News Analysis',
		'desc' => '<p>The Andhra Pradesh Government has constituted a seven-member committee for fulfilment of norms required <strong>for proposing the Godavari Mangroves</strong> (Mada forests), <strong>at Coringa, as a <a href="/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-international-institution/united-nations-1" target="_blank" rel="noopener">World Heritage Site.</a></strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Godavari Mangroves at the Coringa Wildlife Sanctuary (CWLS) are touted to be the <strong>second largest mangroves</strong> in India. The <strong>largest</strong> mangrove forest in the world is <strong>Sundarbans</strong>, West Bengal.</li>
<li>The <strong>mangrove forests in Andhra Pradesh</strong> are located in the <strong>estuaries of the Godavari and the Krishna rivers.</strong> The Godavari mangroves are located in Godavari estuary of East Godavari district.</li>
<li>Located in Andhra Pradesh, <strong>the CWLS</strong> is home to numerous <strong>endangered species</strong> including the <strong>fishing cat</strong>, otter, jackal, sea turtles, sea gull, pelican, stork, heron, snipes, flamingos among others.</li>
<li>Along with the mangrove forest, <strong>the Hope Island</strong>, a naturally formed sandy stretch amidst the sea that turned into a synonym for biodiversity, too comes under the purview of the sanctuary.</li>
<li>The sanctuary also has a site where <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/olive-ridley-turtles-hatching" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Olive Ridley Sea Turtles</strong></a> nest from January to March every year.</li>
<li>Once the Coringa sanctuary gets the heritage site tag, UNESCO will help develop tourism and protect the wildlife in the mangroves.</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Mangroves</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Mangroves are the plant communities occurring in <strong>inter-tidal zones</strong> along the coasts of <strong>tropical and subtropical countries</strong>.</li>
<li>Mangrove forests perform <strong>multiple ecological functions</strong> such as production of woody trees; provision of habitat, food, and spawning grounds for fin-fish and shellfish; provision of habitat for birds and other valuable fauna; protection of coastlines and accretion of sediment to form new land.</li>
<li>According to the India State of Forest Report, 2017, <strong>India has nearly 3.3% of the world&rsquo;s mangrove vegetation.</strong></li>
</ul>
</div>
<p><a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/678image1.jpg" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/678image1.jpg" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" caption="false" width="396" height="477" /></a></p>',
		'postdate' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenTime) {},
		'url' => 'https://www.drishtiias.com/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/coringa-mangroves'
	],
	(int) 6 => [
		'title' => 'Libra Cryptocurrency',
		'catname' => 'News Analysis',
		'desc' => '<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Facebook has unveiled its own <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/cryptocurrencies-will-boost-illegal-transactions-rbi" target="_blank" rel="noopener">cryptocurrency</a> named <strong>&ldquo;Libra&rdquo;</strong>. Based on the Libra <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/important-facts-for-prelims-24-august-2018" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Blockchain</a>, it&rsquo;s backed by the <strong>Libra Reserve.<a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/281image2.jpg" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/281image2.jpg" style="float: right;" caption="false" width="198" height="254" /></a></strong></li>
<li>It has also officially announced a <strong>digital wallet service named Calibra.</strong> The company managing this wallet is going to be a subsidiary and will be operating independently from Facebook. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Calibra is going to be available as a standalone app on the App Store and Play Store. Apart from that, users can also use Libra within Facebook&rsquo;s own messaging apps including WhatsApp and Messenger, making it much more accessible.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>The name is inspired by the origins of money in Ancient Rome, where the Libra was a unit of weight used to mint coins.</li>
<li>Libra also evokes the French libre (&ldquo;free&rdquo;) and reflects the corresponding astrological symbol&mdash;the scales of justice, relevant in theory because the crypto is meant to make financial inclusion standard around the globe.</li>
<li>The new crypto&rsquo;s symbol, a wave, &ldquo;represents the energy that flows between us, the borderless nature of water, and the movement between people, places, and money.</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Cryptocurrency</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>A cryptocurrency is a digital or virtual currency that uses cryptography for security.</li>
<li>Cryptocurrencies use decentralized technology to let users make secure payments and store money without the need to use their name or go through a bank.</li>
<li>They run on a distributed public ledger called blockchain, which is a record of all transactions updated and held by currency holders.</li>
<li>The most common cryptocurrencies are Bitcoin, Ethereum, Ripple, and Litecoin.</li>
</ul>
</div>',
		'postdate' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenTime) {},
		'url' => 'https://www.drishtiias.com/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/libra-cryptocurrency'
	],
	(int) 7 => [
		'title' => 'Cooperative and Competitive Federalism in India',
		'catname' => 'Paper 2',
		'desc' => '<h3>Context</h3>
<p>Federalism is derived from the Latin world foedus, which means agreement. In fact federation is an agreement between two types of governments sharing power and controlling their respective spheres. Thus a federation is a system of national and local governments, combined under a common sovereignty with both national as well as federating units having autonomous spheres assigned to them by the constitution.</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>India opted for quasi-federal structure after independence. The term &ldquo;federal&rdquo; has not been mentioned in the constitution but the working of Indian democracy is essentially federal in structure. However, it is the practical working style of federalism, which brought the concept of cooperative federalism and competitive federalism in India.</li>
<li>The present government is stressing on the need to leverage the potential of cooperative and competitive federalism for achieving all round inclusive development in India. In this context there is a need to examine the concepts of cooperative and competitive federalism.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Cooperative vs Competitive Federalism</h3>
<p>Based on the relationship between the central and state government&ndash;the concept of federalism is divided into- Co-operative federalism and Competitive federalism.</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>In Cooperative federalism</strong> the Centre and states share a horizontal relationship, where they &ldquo;cooperate&rdquo; in the larger public interest.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>It is an important tool to enable states&rsquo; participation in the formulation and implementation of national policies.</li>
<li>Union and the states are constitutionally obliged to cooperate with each other on the matters specified in Schedule VII of the constitution.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>In Competitive federalism</strong> the relationship between the Central and state governments is vertical and between state governments is horizontal.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>This idea of Competitive federalism gained significance in India post 1990s economic reforms.</li>
<li>In a free-market economy, the endowments of states, available resource base and their comparative advantages all foster a spirit of competition. Increasing globalisation, however, increased the existing inequalities and imbalances between states.</li>
<li>In Competitive federalism States need to compete among themselves and also with the Centre for benefits.</li>
<li>States compete with each other to attract funds and investment, which facilitates efficiency in administration and enhances developmental activities.</li>
<li>The investors prefer more developed states for investing their money. Union government devolves funds to the states on the basis of usage of previously allocated funds.</li>
<li>Healthy competition strives to improve physical and social infrastructure within the state.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>Competitive federalism is not part of the basic structure of Indian constitution. It is the decision of executives.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Constitutional Position</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Article 1 of the Constitution</strong> states, &ldquo;India, that is Bharat, shall be a Union of States&rdquo;. While the Constitution doesn&rsquo;t mention the term &ldquo;federal&rdquo;, it does provide for a governance structure primarily federal in nature.</li>
<li>It provides for <strong>separate governments at the Union and in the states.</strong> Further, it specifies and demarcates the powers, functions and jurisdictions of the two governments. Lastly, it details the legislative, administrative and financial relations between the Union and the states.</li>
<li>The distribution of legislative powers has been divided into three lists: the Union List, the State List and the Concurrent List. The Union List, comprising the &ldquo;vital interests of the State&rdquo;, is the longest.'</li>
<li>On the Union List, Parliament has exclusive powers to legislate. While the state has exclusive powers to legislate on the State List, in certain situations, Parliament can also do so.</li>
<li>As per the Concurrent List, the issue is more complex.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>In case of a conflict between a state and a Central legislation, the parliamentary legislation shall prevail.</li>
<li>This, coupled with the fact that residuary powers of legislation are vested in the Union, gives a <strong>&ldquo;unitary&rdquo; tilt to federalism in India.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>A disconcerting trend has been observed since 1950. <strong>While the Union and Concurrent Lists have expanded, the State List seems to have shrunk.</strong> This has led many to question the structure of Indian federalism and to propose its remodelling.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Steps toward Competitive Federalism</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The acceptance of the 14th Finance Commission&rsquo;s recommendations, apart from significantly enhanced devolution ( devolution of 42% of the divisible pool to states during 20015-16 to 2019-20, against 32% suggested by the previous commission), enables states to design and implement programmes better suited to their needs.</li>
<li>Competitive federalism is not yet embraced by all the states. But a handful of states are clearly taking steps to strengthen their business environments, including initiating difficult reforms on land acquisition and labour flexibility.</li>
<li>Federalism is no longer the fault line of Centre-State relations but the definition of a new partnership of team India.</li>
<li>The Central government has promised decentralisation of power and minimum interference in the State affairs. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>With the roll out of the GST, this federal structure is further cemented.</li>
<li>Government has abolished Planning Commission and replaced it with NITI Aayog. One of the mandates of the NITI Aayog is to develop competitive federalism. Under it;</li>
<li>State governments would not look towards centre for policy guidelines and fiscal resources.</li>
<li>Share of states in central tax revenue has been increased from 32% to 42% after the recommendation of the finance commission.</li>
<li>States have freedom to plan their expenditure based on their own priorities.</li>
<li>States would work with centre on a shared vision of national objectives.</li>
<li>Restructuring of centrally sponsored schemes.</li>
<li>Financial sector bailout programme under UDAY scheme.</li>
<li>Swachh Bharat Ranking system.</li>
<li>Most of the state now organizes investors meet to showcase facilities in their state to attract business and investment. This has lead to improvement in business environment in various states.</li>
<li><strong>State wise Ease of Doing Business ranking</strong> to build a huge sense of competition.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Role of NITI Aayog in Promoting Co-Operative, Competitive Federalism</strong></p>
<p>In 2017, the Niti Aayog called out for competitive &ldquo;cooperative federalism&rdquo; stressing that this formula would redefine the relationship between the Centre and the States.</p>
<p>Former vice chairman of Niti Aayog Arvind Panagariya put the onus on the States to reimagine brand India.</p>
<p>Chief secretaries of States in one of the meetings even showcased the best practices being incorporated in their respective States, a move aimed at promoting cross fertilisation of ideas.</p>
<p>There appears to be a silver lining in the functioning of the Aayog in enabling states competing with each other to promote governance initiatives in the spirit of &ldquo;co-operative, competitive federalism&rdquo;.</p>
<p>An important objective of NITI Aayog is to establish a dynamic institutional mechanisms where &lsquo;eminent individuals outside the government system&rsquo; could contribute to policy making.</p>
<p>The priorities for the Aayog are evident with the suggestions for rationalisation of 66 central schemes on skill development and making Clean India a continuous program leading to the formation of three CM sub-committees.</p>
<p>In a subtle manner, NITI Aayog not only puts the onus on Chief Ministers to hasten implementation of projects for the betterment of the state, but also make the state an attractive investment destination &ndash; a kind of competitive federalism.</p>
<p>Given the greater scope for states to work together and learn from each other, it is obvious that for federalism to work well, these states must also fulfil their role in promoting the shared national objectives.</p>
<p>It is true that India cannot advance without all its states advancing in tandem but it may so happen that by not granting the statutory status for the NITI Aayog, government has made it vulnerable to future ambush under a different political dispensation.</p>
</div>
<h3></h3>
<h3>Hindrances for Competitive federalism</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Several issues such as <strong>trust deficit and shrinkage of divisible pools</strong> plague Centre-State relations. Together, they make total cooperation difficult</li>
<li>Trust deficit between Centre and States is widening. Most state governments believe the thrust on federalism is limited to lofty ideas and big talks. Many States have shown their displeasure with the way the Centre has been dealing with the States.</li>
<li>On one hand the Centre has increased the States&rsquo; share of the divisible pool but in reality States are getting a lesser share. The allocation towards various social welfare schemes has also come down, affecting the States&rsquo; health in turn.</li>
<li>The present <strong>inter-state competition</strong> in attracting investment is too early to determine whether it will really encourage competitive patterns of investment on a continuous basis.</li>
<li>The <strong>socio-economic parameters and development of each State in India is different</strong> and while a few have made substantial progress in terms of employment, literacy and creating a conducive environment for doing business and investments, there are a few which are lagging.</li>
<li>There are varied <strong>economic patterns</strong> in different states. There are deficit states or the backward regions or the states under debt. Those states should not be treated on par with the well-off states.</li>
<li>The states like West Bengal, Bihar, Orissa, and Assam have protested against the uniform approach in funding because of their special situations in which the central government has to provide special funds to these states. Without special funding these states cannot imagine their participation in competitive federalism.</li>
<li>Though the states are provided with financial independence, it is a fallacy to assume that all the states would perform uniformly in the process of development because while some states have favourable factors like skilled labour, capital and infrastructure, innovative service industries other states lagging behind.</li>
<li>The opposition of few well-off states with respect to <strong>revenue loss in implementation of GST system</strong> points that there is a lack of will in participating in the process of competitive federalism.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Suggestions</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Efforts at cooperative and competitive federalism have commenced but need to be strengthened.</li>
<li>NITI Aayog concentrates on the broader policy framework instead of micro resource-allocated functions. So there is a need to take some further steps.</li>
<li><strong>Reactivation of the Centre-State Council:</strong> Under <strong>Article 263</strong>, this council is expected to inquire and advice on disputes, discuss subjects common to all states and make recommendations for better policy coordination.</li>
<li>The NITI Aayog can&rsquo;t replace the council&rsquo;s functions as it is the only recognised constitutional entity for harmonising the actions of the Centre and states. Its effective utilisation would lend legitimacy to cooperative federalism.</li>
<li>On contentious issues like land, labour and natural resources, the state should promote best practices.</li>
<li>This will enable greater investment and economic activity in states with a favourable regulatory framework. Enactment by states must secure expeditious Central approval.</li>
<li>The World Bank&rsquo;s Ease of Doing Business index reflected competition between states has generated interest, this must be a continuing exercise.</li>
<li>But states not doing well on the index complain of infirmities of process and procedure. These needs to be made more acceptable and transparent.</li>
<li>On issues like international treaties, WTO obligations, or the environment an institutional mechanism must be evolved where important decisions are appropriately discussed with states.</li>
<li>As India becomes globally more interdependent, these potential contentious issues must be resolved.</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>India needs a mix of Competitive and Cooperative federalism</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>There needs to be a mix of competitive and cooperative federalism for India to move ahead.</li>
<li>The future for India is cooperative and competitive federalism. Competitive federalism provides the dynamism that needs to be unleashed.</li>
<li>We need cooperative federalism to balance competitive federalism.</li>
<li>Constitution needed to catch up with economics to &ldquo;favour integration over granting sovereignty" to promote Indian internal integration.</li>
<li>GST which seeks to introduce the concept of one nation-one tax, in order to economically unify the country for the first time, is described this as &ldquo;pooled sovereignty", which would bring a big change in the working of federalism in the country.</li>
</ul>
</div>
<h3>Way Forward</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Cooperative and competitive federalism are not mutually exclusive. They have the same basic principle underlying i.e. development of the nation as a whole.</li>
<li>Cooperative and competitive federalism may be two sides of the same coin as the competition alone cannot give the best results, it is competition with cooperation that will drive the real change.</li>
<li>Centre&rsquo;s support would be required by some states to participate in competitive federalism. Strong states make strong nation and to realise this vision, it requires a &ldquo;Team India&rdquo; approach to work for India&rsquo;s development.</li>
<li>The passage of GST Bill does usher in a new era in cooperative fiscal federalism and a growing political consensus for economic reforms.</li>
<li>Further, the government&rsquo;s structural reforms particularly for land and labour, are now widely seen as necessary for realising the potential of the economy.</li>
<li>While all policy-makers and economists believe that &ldquo;true&rdquo; cooperative federalism is the way forward, they underline the need for the Centre to include states more aggressively in the decision-making process.</li>
<li>Most state finance ministers also feel that the Centre&rsquo;s fund allocation to States must be done more judiciously.</li>
</ul>',
		'postdate' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenTime) {},
		'url' => 'https://www.drishtiias.com/to-the-points/Paper2/cooperative-and-competitive-federalism-in-india'
	],
	(int) 8 => [
		'title' => 'Concerns over Genetically Modified Brinjal',
		'catname' => 'News Editorials',
		'desc' => '<div class="border">
<p><strong>This article is based on the editorial <a href="https://www.thehindu.com/opinion/op-ed/serious-concerns-over-bt-brinjal/article28022577.ece" target="_blank" rel="noopener">&ldquo;Serious concerns over Bt brinjal&rdquo;</a> which appeared in The Hindu on 18th June 2019. It talks about concerns over Genetically Modified Brinjal and suggests a way forward in this context. </strong></p>
</div>
<p><strong>Genetic modification</strong> of crops has been a controversial issue since the first commercial production of a <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/supermarkets-flooded-with-foreign-gm-foods-despite-ban" target="_blank" rel="noopener">genetically modified crop</a>. India has banned the cultivation of Bt brinjal in 2010, but GM crops still find its way into the fields through the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/illegal-cultivation-of-bt-brinjal" target="_blank" rel="noopener">illegal supply of seeds</a> specifically in the region of <strong>Haryana, Maharashtra, and Andhra Pradesh</strong> where farmers are indulged in <strong>unapproved sowing and cultivation</strong> of Bt brinjal owing to its advantages of being pest resistant, lower cost, and higher yield.</p>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>GM Crops in India</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Bt cotton is India's <strong>first genetically modified crop,</strong> to be approved for commercialization.</li>
<li>India has the world&rsquo;s <strong>5th largest</strong> GM crop acreage after the USA, Brazil, Argentina, and Canada</li>
<li>Presently <strong>majority</strong> of India&rsquo;s cotton cultivation area is under Bt cotton crops.</li>
<li><strong>Bt brinjal</strong> was developed by <strong>Mahyco</strong> (Maharashtra Hybrid Seeds Company) in collaboration with the Dharwad University of Agricultural Sciences and the Tamil Nadu Agricultural University.</li>
</ul>
</div>
<p>Benefits of increased <strong>shelf life</strong> and<strong> high yield</strong> attached with the cultivation of Bt Brinjal cannot outweigh the multiple concerns arising out of the unapproved and half prepared release of Bt brinjal like :</p>
<h3>Major Concerns</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Environmental impact:</strong> Sowing of Bt brinjal or GM foods can give rise to serious environmental concerns like:<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Cross-pollination</strong> in GM crops paves the way for <strong>herbicide-resistant super weeds</strong> that can further threaten the sustenance of other crops and pests because of its uncontrolled growth.</li>
<li>Pest-resistant Bt crops can lead to the <strong>extinction</strong> of a few <strong>species</strong> that in turn can affect the <strong>food chain</strong> also.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Implications for consumers and farmers: National Institute of Agricultural Economics and Policy Research&rsquo;s</strong> anticipation that Bt brinjal&rsquo;s high yield and increased shelf life will benefit consumers and farmers owing to cut in retail price of brinjals ignores the scenario that companies might charge premium prices for Bt brinjal seeds, in which case farmers may not benefit at all.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Critics claim that patent laws give developers of the GM crops a dangerous degree of control/ <strong>dominance</strong> over the food supply that results in the over domination of world food production by a few companies.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Biosafety Issues:</strong> Crops like rice, <strong>brinjal</strong>, and mustard, among others, have their <strong>origin in India</strong> and introducing genetically modified versions of these crops could be a major threat to the vast number of domestic and wild varieties of these crops (GM crops because of their pest resistance characteristics could eliminate important species of pests that are responsible for sustaining domestic varieties and can pose serious threats to biodiversity).<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Biodiversity</strong> is critical for nutrition and sustainability, and the government&rsquo;s task force on biotechnology (2004) had recommended that no GM crop be allowed in biodiversity-rich areas.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Nutrition issues:</strong> Bt brinjal poses risks to human health as their resistance to <strong>antibiotics</strong> can turn medicines ineffective and may result in the formation of <strong>new toxins and allergens.</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Toxins produced by GM crops can not only affect <strong>non target organisms</strong> but also pose the danger of unintentionally introducing allergens and other <strong>anti-nutrition</strong> factors in foods.</li>
<li>Indian agricultural scientist <strong>M.S. Swaminathan</strong> (who had described <strong>Bt cotton as a &lsquo;failure&rsquo;</strong>) had asked for <strong>independent&nbsp;</strong>(instead of relying exclusively on Mahyco for data) <strong>long-term (chronic) toxicity studies,</strong> of Bt brinjal before going for commercialization and cultivation of Bt brinjal.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Inefficient Regulatory system:</strong> Seeing the lapses in the regulatory system and irregularities in the assessment of Bt brinjal (in terms of <strong>labeling</strong> and unapproved and illegal sowing of GM crops) Parliamentary Standing Committee on Agriculture and the Committee on Science &amp; Technology, Environment and Forests recommended:<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>A thorough probe</strong> by a team of eminent independent scientists and environmentalists for commercialization of GM crops.</li>
<li>Endorsed <strong>labeling GM</strong> foods to protect a consumer&rsquo;s right to know.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Labeling GM crops</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Most GM foods in the study did <strong>not disclose GM on their</strong> labels and 15% made false claims saying they were GM-free.</li>
<li>Retailing being largely an <strong>unorganized sector</strong>, enforcing truthful labeling is not pragmatic.</li>
<li>Two of the eight infant food samples, imported from the US and the Netherlands, were GM positive, but the labels did not disclose this.</li>
<li>Under Section 22 of the <strong>Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006,</strong> GM foods are not allowed to be manufactured, imported or sold in India unless approved under the Act.</li>
</ul>
</div>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>No scientific consensus:</strong> Lack of scientific consensus on the safety and efficacy of GM crops.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Pests have developed <strong>resistance to Bt cotton</strong>, forcing farmers to spray lethal pesticides. This led to over 50 deaths by pesticide-poisoning in Vidarbha in 2017.</li>
<li>A GM-based strategy of pest control is <strong>unsustainable</strong>, all the more so since farmers, already pressed for land, ignore the government&rsquo;s recommendation to plant refuge crops.</li>
<li>The government&rsquo;s task forces and expert committees on GM crops are of the view that Bt brinjal runs counter to the framework for <strong>agricultural development and farmers&rsquo; welfare.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Way Forward</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Environmental Impact Assessment:</strong> must be carried out by independent environmentalist, as farmers do not and cannot assess the long-term impact of GM crops on ecology and health.</li>
<li>The government must detail the steps it has taken since the ban of Bt brinjal (2010) to address the scientific gap for commercialization of Bt brinjal.</li>
<li>The government should bring a clear report on benefits accrued by Bt brinjal to the farming community and demonstrate how Bt brinjal fits in with <strong>sustainable farming and biodiversity conservation.</strong></li>
<li>Ensure efficient infrastructural and institutional set up in order to ensure labeling of GM crops and bring more efficacy into the regulatory system of GM crops.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Mandatory labeling of products from GM crops.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Unchecked import</strong> of GM products should be stopped.</li>
<li>In order to curb the <strong>illegal cultivation</strong> of Bt brinjal, the <strong><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/geac-seeks-information-from-bangladesh-on-bt-brinjal" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Genetic Engineering Appraisal Committee</a> (GEAC)</strong> must:<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Collaborate with state governments and launch a nation-wide investigation drive.</li>
<li>Take action on threats of deliberate Bt brinjal and Bt cotton cultivation.</li>
<li>Investigate and prosecute those involved in the illegal supply of Bt brinjal seeds.</li>
<li>Organic farming should be encouraged.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<p>The government should go for commercialization of Bt brinjal only after the core and deep research on the long term prospects and benefits of commercialization of Bt crops in India. In that context, India can learn from Bangladesh&rsquo;s example where farmers have been growing the Bt Brinjal since 2013.</p>
<table border="1" style="border-collapse: collapse;">
<tbody>
<tr style="height: 76px;">
<td style="width: 961px; background-color: #f5d3d3; height: 76px;">
<p><em><strong>Drishti Input:</strong></em></p>
<p>Discuss the concerns and challenges associated with the GM crops in context of its varied advantages over traditional crops.</p>
</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<p></p>',
		'postdate' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenTime) {},
		'url' => 'https://www.drishtiias.com/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/concerns-over-genetically-modified-brinjal'
	],
	(int) 9 => [
		'title' => 'Autonomous District Councils',
		'catname' => 'National Institutions',
		'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>In January 2019, Cabinet approved <strong>amendment to Article 280</strong> and Sixth Schedule of the Constitution to increase autonomy, financial resources and powers of the autonomous district councils in Assam, Meghalaya, Mizoram and Tripura.</li>
<li>The <strong>three Autonomous District Councils (ADC) of Meghalaya</strong> have urged the <strong>National Commission for Scheduled Tribe</strong> to direct the State government not to interfere into their affairs.</li>
<li>The three ADCs have also apprised the 15th Finance Commission that the revenue collected is barely sufficient to carry out their day- to-day administrative activities and primary duties as envisaged in the sixth schedule leaving virtually no funds for development work.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Background</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>India&rsquo;s population consists of 100 million tribal people who have constitutionally been addressed via two distinct avenues i.e <strong>Fifth and Sixth Schedule.</strong></li>
<li>Fifth and Sixth Schedules were discussed and passed by Constituent Assembly between September 5-7, 1949.</li>
<li>The <strong>Fifth Schedule applies to the overwhelming majority of India&rsquo;s tribes in nine States</strong>, while the <strong>Sixth Schedule</strong> covers areas that are settled in the <strong>northeastern States bordering China and Myanmar.</strong></li>
<li>The Sixth Schedule gives tribal communities considerable autonomy; the States of Assam, Tripura, Meghalaya, and Mizoram are autonomous regions under the Sixth Schedule.</li>
<li>The <strong>District Council</strong> and the <strong>Regional Council</strong> under the Sixth Schedule have real power to make laws, possibility on the various legislative subjects, receiving grants-in-aid from the Consolidated Fund of India to meet the costs of schemes for development, health care, education, roads and regulatory powers to state control.</li>
<li>The mandate towards devolution, deconcentration and divestment determines the protection of their customs, better economic development and most importantly ethnic security.</li>
<li>However, the Sixth Schedule has its own shortcomings; breakdown of law and order, elections not being contested, rather than empowerment there is exclusion that fails to provide much-needed protection to tribes in the absence of political will, and live by the mercy of government funds.</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Sixth Schedule</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The Sixth Schedule of the Constitution deals with the administration of the tribal areas in the four northeastern states of Assam, Meghalaya, Tripura and Mizoram as per <strong>Article 244.</strong></li>
<li>The Governor is empowered to increase or decrease the areas or change the names of the autonomous districts. While executive powers of the Union extend in Scheduled areas with respect to their administration in Vth schedule, the <strong>VI<sup>th</sup> schedule areas remain within executive authority of the state.</strong></li>
<li>The acts of Parliament or the state legislature do not apply to autonomous districts and autonomous regions or apply with specified modifications and exceptions.</li>
<li>The Councils have also been endowed with <strong>wide civil and criminal judicial powers,</strong> for example establishing village courts etc. However, the jurisdiction of these councils is subject to the <strong>jurisdiction of the concerned High Court.</strong></li>
<li>The sixth schedule to the Constitution includes <strong>10 autonomous district</strong> councils in <strong>4 states</strong>. These are:<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Assam: Bodoland Territorial Council, Karbi Anglong Autonomous Council and Dima Hasao Autonomous District Council.</li>
<li>Meghalaya:Garo Hills Autonomous District Council, Jaintia Hills Autonomous District Council and Khasi Hills Autonomous District Council.</li>
<li>Tripura: Tripura Tribal Areas Autonomous District Council.</li>
<li>Mizoram: Chakma Autonomous District Council, Lai Autonomous District Council, Mara Autonomous District Council.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</div>
<h3>Major Issues</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Granting special provisions to certain minority tribal groups have led to further demands by other groups for such provisions under the 6th schedule. This has created disparity among the people and resulted in the rise of conflict between various groups.</li>
<li>In terms of financial autonomy, the members across the ADCs in North Eastern states share the same view that the ADCs are at the mercy of the state governments. There exists a huge gap between the approved budget and the funds received from the State Government which has had a direct impact on the development of these tribal communities.</li>
<li>They are also dependent upon state governments for decisions regarding undertaking of developmental activities in their region.</li>
<li>Due to the extensive corruption, development in these regions is seen to be a non-existing phenomena.</li>
<li>Lack of coordination between the States governments and Department of Planning and Development, Hill Areas Department and the Autonomous councils has resulted in the lackadaisical implementation of the development work.</li>
<li>Absence of any efficient Committee for the purpose of monitoring, evaluation and keeping a record of the funds received and utilized has led to extensive corruption and under development of these regions under the Autonomous Councils.</li>
<li>Members of the Chakma, Lai and Mara Councils of Mizoram are of the view that funds coming from the Central Government is not sufficient enough, and believes that funds should be granted to different councils on the basis of backwardness of the councils and not on the basis of population.</li>
<li>The State government justifies this position by stating that the ADCs have been holding on to their traditional roles of protecting the tribal identity in the region which abstains the State from various developmental activities.</li>
<li>At the same time the ADCs have small amount of funds which they receive as taxes and land revenues, however they have to depend on the Central government for more funds.</li>
<li>In terms of representation of members in the Autonomous Council, Bodoland Territorial Councilis the only council which has 46 members, which is the highest representation and also the only council which has members from the Non-tribal community represented in the Council.</li>
<li>Time to time different ADCs have demanded an increase in the number of members in the ADCs.</li>
<li>Unlike the Panchayati Raj System where the 73rd amendment allows reservation of one third of all the Panchayat seats for women at different levels, both Fifth and Sixth Schedules have no mention of women representation and gender equality.</li>
<li>The relationship to land is the basis of tribal or indigenous identity and that the culture and identity of indigenous people cannot be preserved without maintaining control over land and natural resources, as these factors to a large extent determines the lifestyle and culture of the indigenous people.</li>
<li>Generally tribal or indigenous cultural practices community land ownership, while some other tribes practice individual with clan ownership,however modern land relations and formal law recognizes only individual ownership of land.</li>
<li>It was under colonial rule that the process of turning land into commodity began for their own interest, in the name of development. Post independence, large tracts of lands were given away to the immigrants and other settlers.</li>
<li>The autonomy and power of the District Councils lie in the hands of a small group of elites who govern the functioning of the Autonomous DistrictCouncils.</li>
<li>There is clear lack of interest and pursuit on the part of the District Council members in taking initiative and planning and monitoring developmental activities at the micro level.</li>
<li>The absence of involvement of local stakeholders in the process of development and in the decision making process has deprived the common masses from their democratic rights.</li>
<li>The Sixth Schedule also vests enormous powers to the Governor. Members of the various ADCs, in this context are of the opinion that the Governors are mere puppets in the hands of the Ministers.</li>
<li>A major gap in the functioning of the ADCs is the lack of interaction at the village and field level.There is an absence of efficient village councils or regional councils.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Suggestions</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The government and other agencies need to win the confidence of non scheduled area population and bring a sense of security and belongingness to them.</li>
<li>There has to be a proper coordination or adjustment between traditional practices and usages with changes that have occurred within the tribal society today.</li>
<li>The issue on representation needs to be seriously reconsidered, which still has limited participation of women in the decision making process, and also excludes the non-tribals of the State.</li>
<li>Adequate accountability and transparency of funds generated should be entrusted to authorities such as the Comptroller-General and Auditor-General of Accounts to prevent misuse.</li>
<li>Documentation and codification of traditional laws is an essential step through which actual aim of the Sixth Schedule that is protection of tribal cultural identity can be fulfilled.</li>
<li>Measures should be taken in order to ensure that the Autonomous Councils have well defined legislations which clearly identify the powers of the village level bodies,release of funds by the government, transparency in the allocation and utilization of funds.</li>
<li>Stringent laws regarding frequent reviewing of financial position of the ADCs like the Panchayati Raj System will enhance the status of the ADCs.</li>
<li>There is a need for inclusive development and capacity building of ADCs by introducing ideas from the PRI setup.</li>
<li>Strengthening and empowering the local self-governance, which would also include Village and Tribal Councils.</li>
<li>Empowerment of civil society bodies would contribute immensely in the monitoring of the developmental activities and progress rate across diverse sectors undertaken by the councils.</li>
<li>Traditional forms of governance must be promoted with self governance.</li>
<li>To make ADCs platform of governance broader and capable of dealing with a changing world at both the national and international levels, there is a need for inclusion of democratic elements like gender justice into these institutions.</li>
<li>To get a positive outcome the members of the ADCs should be trained, as capacity building of the ADCs members is vital for healthy governance and helps one to be more alert about the responsibilities assigned and the overall functioning.</li>
<li>The functioning of the ADCs should be amended to make them accountable through the insertion of a clause that makes mandatory the creation of village councils/ bodies with a degree of representation to the traditional institutions of chiefs.</li>
<li>Creation of effective watch dog with the powers of Lokayukta in monitoring and keeping a track of the activities undertaken by the ADCs should be given priority as this will help in maintaining transparency in matters of finance and other developmental plans and activities.</li>
<li>Regular and assured financial assistance from governments an efficient monitoring system are two major factors which will determine the success of such provisions,along with awareness and active participation of the other stakeholders.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Way forward</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The ADCs in the past decades have been successful to a certain extent in preserving the tribal identity and attained statehood for some of the tribes who had been struggling for a separate state in the North Eastern part of India.</li>
<li>However, in the present context where the states have been witnessing various changes in terms of development, upgradation of administrative setups, welfare programmes and policies and also changes in the demographic structure it is time that the provisions under the Sixth Schedule needs to be enhanced in order to cope up with the changing mechanisms and demands of the local communities.</li>
<li>Under the prevailing setup, not only the existing powers and functions of the traditional bodies are extremely limited, but also their access to resource allocation is severely poor.</li>
<li>The tribes in other parts of India are faced with problems of development as well as identity. Hence it is worth exploring extension of such systems in other parts of tribal India.</li>
</ul>',
		'postdate' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenTime) {},
		'url' => 'https://www.drishtiias.com/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-national-institutions/autonomous-district-councils'
	],
	(int) 10 => [
		'title' => 'World Day to Combat Desertification and Drought',
		'catname' => 'News Analysis',
		'desc' => '<p>The World Day to Combat Desertification and Drought is observed every year on <strong>17<sup>th</sup> June</strong>. India for the first time will host the 14th session of the Conference of Parties (COP-14) of the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) in September, 2019.<a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/959image1.jpg" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/959image1.jpg" width="307" height="319" style="float: right;" caption="false" /></a></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The World Day to Combat Desertification and Drought is observed every year to promote public awareness of international efforts to combat desertification.</li>
<li>The day is a unique moment to remind everyone that land degradation neutrality is achievable through problem-solving, strong community involvement and cooperation at all levels.</li>
<li><strong>The Theme</strong> of 2019 is &ldquo;Let&rsquo;s Grow the Future Together&rdquo;</li>
</ul>
<h3>United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD)</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>It was established in 1994, the <strong>sole legally binding international agreement</strong> linking environment and development to sustainable land management. The Convention addresses specifically the arid, semi-arid and dry sub-humid areas, known as the drylands, where some of the most vulnerable ecosystems and peoples can be found.</li>
<li><strong>UNCCD 2018-2030 Strategic Framewor</strong>k: It is the most comprehensive global commitment to achieve Land Degradation Neutrality (LDN) in order to restore the productivity of vast expanses of degraded land, improve the livelihoods of more than 1.3 billion people, and reduce the impacts of drought on vulnerable populations to build.</li>
<li>The Convention&rsquo;s 197 parties work together to improve the living conditions for people in drylands, to maintain and restore land and soil productivity, and to mitigate the effects of drought.</li>
<li>The UNCCD is particularly committed to a bottom-up approach, encouraging the participation of local people in combating desertification and land degradation. The UNCCD secretariat facilitates cooperation between developed and developing countries, particularly around knowledge and technology transfer for sustainable land management.</li>
<li>As the dynamics of land, climate and biodiversity are intimately connected, to meet these complex challenges with an integrated approach and the best possible use of natural resources. The UNCCD collaborates closely with the other <strong>two Rio Conventions</strong>:<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>The Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD).</strong></li>
<li><strong>The United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC).</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>The Conference of the Parties (COP)</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The COP was established by the Convention as the supreme decision-making body. It comprises ratifying governments and regional economic integration organizations, such as the European Union.</li>
<li><strong>Functions of COP:</strong> One of the main functions of the COP is to review reports submitted by the Parties detailing how they are carrying out their commitments.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The COP makes recommendations on the basis of these reports.</li>
<li>It also has the power to make amendments to the Convention or to adopt new annexes, such as additional regional implementation annexes.</li>
<li>The COP can guide the Convention as global circumstances and national needs change.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>UNCCD Estimate of Desertification</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Land &amp; Drought:</strong> By 2025, 1.8 billion people will experience absolute water scarcity, and 2/3 of the world will be living under water-stressed conditions. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>A complex and slowly encroaching natural hazard with significant and pervasive socio-economic and environmental impacts to cause more deaths and displace more people than any other natural disaster.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Land &amp; Human Security:</strong> By 2045 some 135 million people may be displaced as a result of desertification.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Achieving land degradation neutrality -by rehabilitating already degraded land, scaling up sustainable land management and accelerating restoration initiatives- is a pathway to greater resilience and security for all.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Land &amp; Climate:</strong> Restoring the soils of degraded ecosystems has the potential to store up to 3 billion tons of carbon annually.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The land use sector represents almost 25% of total global emissions. Its rehabilitation and sustainable management are critical to combating climate change.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>UNCCD and Sustainable Development</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Goal 15 of Sustainable Development Goals(SDG), 2030</strong> declares that &ldquo;we are determined to protect the planet from degradation, including through sustainable consumption and production, sustainably managing its natural resources and taking urgent action on climate change, so that it can support the needs of the present and future generations&rdquo;.</li>
</ul>
<h3>India and UNCCD</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The Union Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC) in partnership with the <strong>International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN)</strong> also launched a flagship project on enhancing capacity on <strong>forest Landscape Restoration (FLR) and Bonn Challenge</strong> in India, through a pilot phase of 3.5 years implemented in the States of Haryana, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Nagaland and Karnataka.</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Desertification</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>It is the degradation of land in arid, semi-arid and dry sub-humid areas. It is caused primarily by human activities and climatic variations. Desertification does not refer to the expansion of existing deserts.</li>
<li>It occurs because dryland ecosystems, which cover over one-third of the world&lsquo;s land area, are extremely vulnerable to overexploitation and inappropriate land use.</li>
<li>Poverty, political instability, deforestation, overgrazing and bad irrigation practices can all undermine the productivity of the land</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>Bonn challenge</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The Bonn Challenge is a global effort to bring 150 million hectares of the world&rsquo;s deforested and degraded land into restoration by 2020, and 350 million hectares by 2030.</li>
<li>At the UNFCCC Conference of the Parties (COP) 2015 in Paris, India also joined the <strong>voluntary Bonn Challenge</strong> pledge to bring into restoration 13 million hectares of degraded and deforested land by the year 2020, an additional 8 million hectares by 2030.</li>
<li>India&rsquo;s pledge is one of the largest in Asia.</li>
</ul>
</div>',
		'postdate' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenTime) {},
		'url' => 'https://www.drishtiias.com/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/world-day-to-combat-desertification-and-drought'
	],
	(int) 11 => [
		'title' => 'UN Report on Myanmar Rohingya Crisis',
		'catname' => 'News Analysis',
		'desc' => '<p>The UN secretary-general has accepted an independent report on how the UN System operated in Myanmar, leading up to the mass exodus of the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/wrong-on-the-rohingya" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Rohingyas</a> following serious human rights abuses.</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The report concluded that there were <strong>&ldquo;systemic and structural failures&rdquo;</strong> that prevented a unified strategy from being implemented.</li>
<li>It covers the period 2010-2018, encompassing the UN&rsquo;s response to the systematic and brutal abuse of hundreds-of-thousands of mainly &ndash;&nbsp;<strong>Muslim Rohingya in Rakhine state,</strong> by the national army and security forces, which began in August 2017.</li>
<li>It was described by the UN human rights chief at the time as a textbook example of ethnic cleansing.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Findings of Report</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Fragmented strategy:</strong> The report has expressed displeasure over the functioning of the UN agency in handling the violence against the Rohingya. It observes that serious errors were committed and opportunities were lost in the UN system following a <strong>fragmented strategy</strong> rather than a common plan of action.</li>
<li><strong>Improper reporting:</strong> There appear to have been instances of <strong>deliberately de-dramatizing events</strong> in reports prepared by the Resident Coordinator, as well as instances of various UN entities, including the Office <strong>for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA),</strong> of not sharing their analysis with other entities of the UN System.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The report also emphasises the impact of competing strategies between some UN agencies and individuals while dealing with the Rohingya crisis.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Polarisation:</strong> It appears that the increasing polarisation among officials and staff was fuelled, at least in part, by the emotional reactions to the horrific events taking place on the ground.</li>
<li>The foundations of <strong>systemic and structural shortcomings</strong> in the UN&rsquo;s presence in Myanmar.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Insufficient inter-governmental support.</li>
<li>The absence of a clear and unifying strategy.</li>
<li>The weakness of a clear nodal point for coordination.</li>
<li>Dysfunctional actions at the level of the Country Team.</li>
<li>Shortcomings of systematic and unified analysis from the field</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Conclusion and Recommendations</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Shared responsibility:</strong> It was the shared responsibility on the part of all parties to protect the Rohingya&rsquo;;s. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The agencies involved have not been able to accompany the Government&rsquo;s political process with constructive actions.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>The report says that the UN Security Council should bear some responsibility, &ldquo;for not providing enough support to the Secretariat when such backing was required and continues to be essential.</li>
<li><strong>The key lesson</strong> was to foster an environment encouraging different entities of the UN System to work together to reinforce a <strong>&ldquo;broader, system-wide strategy&rdquo;</strong>.</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Rohingya people</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The <strong>Rohingya people</strong> are stateless, Indo-Aryan ethnic group who reside in Rakhine State, Myanmar.</li>
<li>There were an estimated 1 million Rohingya living in Myanmar before the 2016&ndash;17 crisis. An estimated 625,000 refugees from Rakhine, Myanmar, had crossed the border into Bangladesh since August 2017. The majority are Muslim while a minority are Hindu.</li>
<li>Described by the United Nations as one of the most persecuted minorities in the world. The Rohingya population is denied citizenship under the 1982 Myanmar nationality law. They have denied the Rohingya the possibility of acquiring a nationality. Although Rohingya history in the region can be traced back to the 8th century, Myanmar law does not recognize the ethnic minority as one of the eight national indigenous races.</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA)</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>OCHA is the part of the United Nations Secretariat responsible for bringing together humanitarian actors to ensure a coherent response to emergencies. OCHA also ensures there is a framework within which each actor can contribute to the overall response effort.</li>
<li>It works to overcome obstacles that impede humanitarian assistance from reaching people affected by crises, and it provides leadership in mobilizing assistance and resources on behalf of the humanitarian system. OCHA is not an operational agency directly engaged in the delivery of humanitarian programmes, and its added value is as an honest broker, facilitator, thought leader and global advocate, providing support to the humanitarian system.</li>
</ul>
</div>',
		'postdate' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenTime) {},
		'url' => 'https://www.drishtiias.com/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/un-report-on-myanmar-rohingya-crisis'
	],
	(int) 12 => [
		'title' => 'NATO Ally Status to India',
		'catname' => 'News Analysis',
		'desc' => '<p>Two top American lawmakers have moved a key legislation in the Senate which seeks to advance the US-India strategic relationship.</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The legislation will amend the Arms Control Export Act to bring India at par with the US&rsquo; NATO allies&ndash; Israel, Australia, New Zealand and South Korea for purposes of selling military items under the ITAR (International Traffic in Arms Regulations) list.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Background</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>There are two technology control lists in the US system &ndash; one is under the Export Administration Regulations, which places controls on the sale of dual-use items that have both civil and military uses and the second is the ITAR list.</li>
<li>The civil nuclear deal paved the way for India to access items on the first set of lists, i.e. those under the Export Administration Regulations.</li>
<li>The Arms Control Export (AEC) Act governs the ITAR list. The amendment, therefore, will make it possible for the US to fulfil India&rsquo;s operational requirements in quick time, thus improving its reliability on supplies.</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>North Atlantic Treaty Organization</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) is a military alliance established by the North Atlantic Treaty (also called the Washington Treaty) of April 4, 1949, by the United States, Canada, and several Western European nations to provide collective security against the Soviet Union.</li>
<li>A key provision of the treaty, the so-called Article 5, states that if one member of the alliance is attacked in Europe or North America, it is to be considered an attack on all members. That effectively put Western Europe under the "nuclear umbrella" of the US.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>NATO has only once invoked Article 5, on September 12, 2001 following the 9/11 attacks on the World Trade Center in the US.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>As of 2019, there are 29 member states, with Montenegro becoming the latest member to join the alliance in 2017. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>France withdrew from the integrated military command of NATO in 1966 but remained a member of the organization. However, it resumed its position in NATO&rsquo;s military command in 2009.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>Recent Issues</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>A big source of the internal strain is American President Donald Trump's recurrent demand that countries devote an amount equal to at least two percent of GDP to defence spending In 2018.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>However, only seven of NATO's 29 member states hit the two-percent target.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>Strained relationship over selling of defence equipments.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The US has halted delivery of equipment related to its F-35 fighter jets to Turkey over its plans to buy <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/india-going-ahead-with-purchase-of-S-400-air-defence-systems" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Russia&rsquo;s S-400 missile defence system</a>.</li>
<li>U.S. wants Turkey to buy the Patriot defence system of the USA, instead of Russia&rsquo;s S-400s.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>Recently, the Republic of Macedonia changed its name to the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/macedonias-new-name" target="_blank" rel="noopener">&ldquo;Republic of North Macedonia&rdquo;</a> to enter the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) and the <a href="/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-international-institution/european-union" target="_blank" rel="noopener">European Union (EU)</a> as its accession to both organizations was vetoed by Greece.</li>
</ul>
</div>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The move comes after India and the US signed the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/india-us-2-plus-2-talks" target="_blank" rel="noopener">COMCASA (Communications, Compatibility and Security Agreement) in 2018</a>.</li>
<li>The two countries are also in advance discussion to sign another foundational agreement of the BECA <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/india-us-mini-2-plus-2-talks" target="_blank" rel="noopener">(Basic Exchange Cooperation Agreement).</a></li>
<li>It also comes ahead of President Donald Trump&rsquo;s scheduled meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi on the sidelines of the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/g20-and-marine-plastic-waste" target="_blank" rel="noopener">G20 Summit in Osaka, Japan.</a></li>
</ul>
<h3>Importance</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The amendment is moved as part of the National Defense Authorization Act 2020 of the USA, giving a big boost to India-US defence trade.</li>
<li>This would remove current legislative barriers to export of major high-tech defence equipment to India which is normally shared with only a few countries.</li>
<li>Although, it is an important signal of US political support for enhancing defense ties but is unlikely to have tangible impact on trade flows in the near term.</li>
<li>The amendment needs to be passed by both the Senate and the House of Representatives before it can be signed by the US President into law.</li>
</ul>',
		'postdate' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenTime) {},
		'url' => 'https://www.drishtiias.com/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/nato-ally-status-to-india'
	],
	(int) 13 => [
		'title' => ''Fewer but Newer' Nuclear Arms: SIPRI',
		'catname' => 'News Analysis',
		'desc' => '<p><strong>The Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI)</strong> has reported that the world is witnessing less nuclear arms but with modernising and increasing size.</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>At the start of 2019,</strong> the United States, Russia, Britain, France, China, India, Pakistan, Israel and North Korea had a total of some <strong>13,865 nuclear weapons</strong> with a <strong>decrease of 600</strong> from previous year.</li>
<li>The drop in recent years can mainly be attributed to the <strong>US and Russia,</strong> whose combined arsenals still make up more than <strong>90 percent of the world's nuclear weapons</strong>.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>It is partly a result of the <strong>New START treaty&nbsp;</strong>&ndash; that was signed between the United States and the Russian Federation in 2010 which puts a cap on the number of deployed warheads as well as getting rid of obsolete warheads from the Cold War era.</li>
<li>There is a concern on the future of treaty as it will expire in 2021 and there is no serious discussion on its extension.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>The Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT)</strong> has also played a vital role in controlling proliferation of nuclear arms.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Because of the NPT, the number of nuclear arms has been drastically reduced since a peak <strong>in the mid-1980s when there were some 70,000 nuclear warheads</strong> in the world.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>This decrease in number of nuclear arms is observed with <strong>modernisation of nuclear arms coupled with increasing size of arms</strong> especially by China, India, and Pakistan.</li>
<li>The report has shown worry over the <strong>build-up of nuclear arms</strong> on both sides of the border <strong>between India and Pakistan,</strong> and the danger of a conventional conflict escalating to a nuclear one.</li>
<li>Global disarmament efforts also suffered a blow when the United States announced in February, 2019 that it would withdraw from the <strong>Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces (INF) treaty,</strong> prompting Russia to say it would also suspend its participation.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces (INF) treaty</strong> was signed by the United States and the Soviet Union in 1987 to eliminate and permanently forgo all of their nuclear and conventional ground-launched ballistic and cruise missiles with ranges of <strong>500 to 5,500 kilometers</strong>.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>The Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI)</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The SIPRI is an independent international institute dedicated to research into conflict, armaments, arms control and disarmament.</li>
<li>Established in 1966 at Stockholm, SIPRI provides data, analysis and recommendations, based on open sources, to policymakers, researchers, media and the interested public.</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>The Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT)</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The NPT is a landmark international treaty whose objective is:
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>to prevent the spread of nuclear weapons and weapons technology,</li>
<li>to promote cooperation in the peaceful uses of nuclear energy,</li>
<li>and to further the goal of achieving nuclear disarmament.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>The Treaty represents the only binding commitment in a multilateral treaty to the goal of disarmament by the nuclear-weapon States.</li>
<li>Opened for signature in 1968, the Treaty entered into force in 1970.</li>
<li>A total of 191 States have joined the Treaty, including the five nuclear-weapon States.</li>
</ul>
</div>',
		'postdate' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenTime) {},
		'url' => 'https://www.drishtiias.com/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/fewer-but-newer-nuclear-arms-sipri'
	],
	(int) 14 => [
		'title' => 'Piped Water Connection by 2024',
		'catname' => 'News Analysis',
		'desc' => '<p>The Prime Minister has recently said that the <strong>government will provide piped water to every household</strong> in the next five years i.e. <strong>by 2024.</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>This is the <strong>12<sup>th</sup> time</strong> that India has set a deadline to take water at the household-level.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Challenges</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>It would be an <strong>enormous exercise:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Some 8.43 million households, currently without drinking water facilities, have to be connected to piped water in the next five years.</li>
<li>Some 4,620 households would have to be added to the network every day for the next five years, at the rate of 40 litres per day.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/815image2.jpg" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/815image2.jpg" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="790" height="381" caption="false" /></a></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>India remains haunted by what is known as the <strong>&ldquo;slippage&rdquo; problem</strong>. It means <strong>villages/habitations covered</strong> with safe drinking water facilities <strong>slip back to 'not-covered'</strong> status <strong>due to</strong> various reasons that include <strong>drying up of the source</strong> or collapse of the facilities due to non-maintenances.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Currently, India is facing a <a href="/loksabha-rajyasabha-discussions/india-s-water-crisis-every-drop-counts" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>water stressed situation</strong></a>, two major reasons being, drying reservoirs and <a href="/to-the-points/paper3/groundwater-crisis-in-india" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>dipping groundwater levels</strong></a>.</li>
<li>It is to be seen from where the piped water supply scheme would draw water as currently the country is going through a <a href="/loksabha-rajyasabha-discussions/water-leaving-no-one-behind" target="_blank" rel="noopener">water crisis situation</a>.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>The quality of water sources</strong> &mdash; both surface and ground sources &mdash; is hardly suited to drinking. According to NITI Aayog, nearly 70 per cent of all of the country&rsquo;s fresh water sources are contaminated.</li>
<li><strong>Water, being a state subject,</strong> the scope of the centre's intervention is therefore limited.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Way Forward</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>There is an urgent need to <strong>create awareness among the people</strong> for the conservation of water.</li>
<li><strong>The Jal Shakti Ministry needs to work with states</strong> to ensure piped water to every household in the country.</li>
<li>The <strong>sources as well as the quality of water</strong> in the country needs to be maintained on an urgent basis.</li>
</ul>',
		'postdate' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenTime) {},
		'url' => 'https://www.drishtiias.com/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/piped-water-connection-by-2024'
	],
	(int) 15 => [
		'title' => 'Artificial Intelligence and Deepfakes- Misuse and Way Forward',
		'catname' => 'News Editorials',
		'desc' => '<div class="border">
<p>This article is based on the editorial, <a href="https://www.livemint.com/opinion/online-views/opinion-the-dangers-posed-by-ai-driven-deepfakes-1560444219701.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">The dangers posed by AI-driven &lsquo;deepfakes&rsquo;</a>,that appeared in live Mint on 13th June 2019. It talks about Artificial Intelligence and its misuse and suggests a way forward.</p>
</div>
<p>We are stepping into the age of AI where machines and computers might control our very existence. The world of cyber crime has already entered a new era where computers will take much of the decisions on both the sides. Use of AI to <strong>manipulate appearances and voices of people into real-looking footage highlights</strong> the need to question the rise of <strong>Artificial Intelligence and its misuse.</strong></p>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Artificial intelligence,</strong> or AI, involves using computers to perform tasks normally requiring human intelligence, such as taking decisions or recognizing text, speech or visual images.</p>
</div>
<h3><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/negative-impacts-of-artificial-intelligence" target="_blank" rel="noopener">How can AI become a danger?</a></h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Deepfakes:</strong> AI-powered algorithms that manipulate appearances and voices of people into real-looking footage.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>As deepfakes are created through AI, they don't require the considerable skill that it would take to create a realistic video otherwise, which implies that just about anyone could create a deepfake to promote their chosen agenda.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Cyber crime:</strong> AI can be exploited to mount automated hacking attacks, commit financial frauds, cut through a nation&rsquo;s security framework, can even facilitate terrorism and radicalisation.</li>
<li><strong>Invasion of privacy and social grading:</strong> governments can use the data to govern through AI, people&rsquo;s social media habits, introduce policies to police people with the help of Face IDs, like it&rsquo;s done in countries such as China.</li>
<li><strong>Existential risk</strong> from artificial intelligence is the hypothesis that substantial progress in artificial intelligence could someday result in human extinction or some other unrecoverable global catastrophe because of its "super intelligent" powers that could become difficult to control in future.</li>
<li><strong>Social manipulation:</strong> Cambridge Analytica and others associated with the firm who used the data from 50 million Facebook users to try to sway the outcome of the 2016 U.S. presidential election and the U.K.'s Brexit referendum, illustrate AI's power for social manipulation.</li>
</ul>
<p>Several researchers have revealed that the malicious use of AI poses imminent threats to <strong>digital, physical and political security by allowing for large-scale, finely targeted, highly efficient attacks.</strong></p>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Social Grading through AI:</strong> A process through which authorities can use AI to analyze people's behavioral patterns and model hypothetical situations. It can be used for surveillance over the internet.</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>AI can be applied for dating, recruiting, advertising, prevention of terrorism and suicides, fraud detection and other tasks.</li>
<li>Social Credit Score system assigns a certain grade to every citizen. It is based on economic, social and online activity. This score can influence access to transport, credits, employment, permission to leave the country and other public services. <strong><br /></strong></li>
</ul>
</div>
<h3>Significance of Artificial Intelligence</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>From software to smart devices, <strong>Artificial Intelligence is present in our day to day</strong>, in the form of smartphones, cameras, Internet of Things (IoT) devices, voice assistant to biometrics.</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Key Terms</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Internet of Things</strong>
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>It is a network of physical devices, vehicles, home appliances, and other items embedded with electronics, software, sensors, actuators, and connectivity which enables these things to connect, collect and exchange data.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Virtual Reality (VR)</strong> is the use of computer technology to create a <strong>simulated environment.</strong>
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Unlike traditional user interfaces, VR places the user inside an experience i.e Instead of viewing a screen in front of them, users are immersed and able to interact with 3D worlds.</li>
<li>VR Enables simulation of as many senses as possible, such as vision, hearing, touch, even smell.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Augmented Reality</strong> is the use of sensors and algorithms by computer to determine the position and orientation of a camera.</li>
</ul>
</div>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>AI in conjunction with</strong> Internet of Things (sensors and wearables), robotics, virtual reality (VR) and augmented reality (AR) is playing a very important role.</li>
<li><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/a-prescription-for-the-future" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>AI in Healthcare</strong></a>
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Diagnosis:</strong> AI systems helps radiologists in improving their ability to diagnose and track <strong>prostate cancer</strong> and Google researchers used a deep learning neural network (a machine learning technique, which itself is considered a subset of AI) that trained on retinal images to identify <strong>cardiovascular risk factors.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Machine learning</strong> is an application of artificial intelligence (AI) that provides systems the ability to <strong>automatically learn and improve from experience</strong> without being explicitly programmed.</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The process of learning begins with observations or data, such as examples, direct experience, or instruction, in order to look for patterns in data and make better decisions in the future based on the examples that we provide.</li>
<li>The primary aim is to allow the computers to learn automatically, without human intervention or assistance and adjust actions accordingly.</li>
</ul>
</div>
<p>Nowadays, artificial intelligence is used for many good causes including to help us make better <strong>medical diagnoses,</strong> find new ways to <strong>cure cancer</strong> and make our <strong>cars safer</strong>. Unfortunately, as our AI capabilities expand we will also see it being used for <strong>dangerous or malicious purposes.</strong> Since AI technology is advancing so rapidly, it is vital for us to develop best ways for positive adaptation to AI while <strong>minimizing its destructive potential.</strong></p>
<h3>Way Forward</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Policy-makers and technical researchers</strong> need to work together now to understand and prepare for its possible misuse.</li>
<li>Government should incentivise <strong>core and advance research in AI.</strong> Offering incentives for <strong>manufacturers, creating regional innovation clusters for manufacturing automation and robotics</strong> in partnership with universities and start-ups.</li>
<li><strong>Machine intelligence</strong> is a critical element of <strong>national security strategy</strong>, hence governments should evaluate models of defense research in collaboration with the private sector and universities that are dealing with AI.</li>
</ul>
<table border="1" style="border-collapse: collapse;">
<tbody>
<tr>
<td style="width: 961px; background-color: #f2e7b6;">
<p><em><strong>Drishti input:</strong></em></p>
<p>In the era of fourth industrial revolution, one cannot isolate oneself from the impact of Artificial Intelligence. However, the benefits can be maximized and losses can be minimized by putting necessary infrastructure and policy in place. Comment.</p>
</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>',
		'postdate' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenTime) {},
		'url' => 'https://www.drishtiias.com/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/artificial-intelligence-and-deepfakes-misuse-and-way-forward'
	],
	(int) 16 => [
		'title' => 'Selenium-Graphene based Catalyst in Fuel Cell',
		'catname' => 'News Analysis',
		'desc' => '<p>A multi-institutional team of scientists from India has developed a <strong>selenium-graphene&ndash;based catalyst</strong> which is more <strong>efficient in terms of cost and performance</strong>. It also remains stable for longer than the usual platinum-based catalysts.</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Modern energy technology, for example, fuel cells which are used commercially in hydrogen fuel&ndash;based cars, require good catalysts that are efficient as well as cost-effective.</li>
<li>Normally, fuel cells use expensive elements like <strong>platinum</strong>. These expensive metal-based technologies perform excellently for initial few cycles, but then get degraded in performance due to many reasons:<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Graphene modified with selenium atoms in very low amounts can perform like platinum in a demonstrated reaction.</li>
<li>The oxygen reduction reaction is a key step in the functioning of the fuel cell. Graphene by itself is a &ldquo;poor&rdquo; catalyst of this reaction. It involves the reduction of oxygen in two steps, each of which consumes two electrons. This is not very useful either for fuel cells or metal-air batteries.</li>
<li>Neither selenium nor graphene are useful by themselves, the combination of both works efficiently.</li>
<li><strong>Poisoning-resistant:</strong> Methanol fuel cells, a common form of fuel cell used, suffer from a <strong>&ldquo;poisoning&rdquo; effect</strong>. It is found that the catalyst that is developed has a high tolerance for poisoning.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Poisoning effect</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>This is a part of the process where the methanol reaches the negative electrode and coats it, the electrode becomes ineffective after some cycles. This is especially problematic when expensive catalysts like platinum are used.</li>
</ul>
</div>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Selenium</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Selenium is a non-metallic chemical element, member of the group XVI of the periodic table. In chemical activity and physical properties, it resembles sulfur and tellurium.</li>
<li>Selenium has <strong>good photovoltaic and photoconductive properties</strong>, and it is used extensively in electronics, such as photocells, light meters and solar cells.</li>
</ul>
<p><strong><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/e-tattoos-to-help-monitor-health" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Graphene</a>:</strong> it is a one-atom-thick layer of carbon atoms arranged in a hexagonal lattice. It is the building-block of Graphite (which is used, among other things, in pencil tips).</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Graphene is the thinnest material known to man at one atom thick, and also incredibly strong - about 200 times stronger than steel.</li>
<li>It is an excellent conductor of heat and electricity and has interesting light absorption abilities.</li>
</ul>
</div>
<h3>Fuel cell</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Fuel cells are <strong>electrochemical devices</strong> that <strong>convert chemical energy from the reactants directly into electricity and heat</strong>. <a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/802image3.jpg" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/802image3.jpg" width="537" height="437" style="float: right;" caption="false" /></a><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The device consists of an electrolyte layer in contact with a porous anode and cathode on either side.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>In a standard fuel cell, gaseous fuels are fed continuously to the anode (negative electrode), while an oxidant (oxygen from the air) is fed continuously to the cathode (positive electrode). Electrochemical reactions take place at the electrodes to produce an electric current.</li>
<li><strong>Advantages of fuel cell systems are:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>High operating efficiency is not a function of system size.</li>
<li>A highly scalable design.</li>
<li>Several types of potential fuel sources are available.</li>
<li>Zero or near-zero greenhouse emissions.</li>
<li>There are no moving parts in the fuel cell stack, which provides reliable, vibration-free operation.</li>
<li>Nearly instantaneous recharge capability when compared to batteries.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Limitations of fuel cell systems are:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Cost-effective, mass-produced pure hydrogen storage and delivery technology.</li>
<li>Fuel Reformation technology may need to be considered if pure fuel is not used.</li>
<li>Fuel cell performance may gradually decrease over time due to catalyst degradation and electrolyte poisoning if pure fuel is not used.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Comparison of the fuel cell with Battery</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The lifetime of a <strong>primary battery</strong> is limited due to the following:<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>The battery stops producing electricity when the chemical reactants stored in a battery runs out.</li>
<li>When a battery is not being used, a very slow electrochemical reaction takes place that limits the lifetime of the battery.</li>
<li>The battery life is dependent on the lifetime of the electrode.</li>
<li><strong>Advantage:</strong> A fuel cell is an energy conversion device where the reactants are supplied. The fuels are stored outside the fuel cell. A fuel cell can supply electrical energy as long as fuel and oxidant are supplied. Also, <strong>no &ldquo;leakage&rdquo; occurs</strong> in a fuel cell, and <strong>no corrosion</strong> of cell components occurs when the system is not in use.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Comparison of the fuel cell with Heat Engine</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>A heat engine also converts chemical energy into electric energy, but through intermediate steps. The chemical energy is first converted into thermal energy through combustion. Thermal energy is then converted into mechanical energy by the heat engine; and Finally, the mechanical energy is converted into electric energy by an electric generator.</li>
<li>The process also involves moving parts, which implies that they wear over time. Regular maintenance of moving components is required for proper operation of the mechanical components.</li>
<li><strong>Advantage:</strong> Since fuel cells do not have any moving parts during operation, they are <strong>more reliable</strong> than heat engines and <strong>have less noise</strong>. This results in lower <strong>maintenance costs</strong>, which make them especially advantageous for space and underwater missions.</li>
<li>The efficiency of fuel cells is not strongly dependent on operating power. It is their <strong>inherently high efficiency</strong> that makes fuel cells an excellent option for a broad range of applications, including automobiles, buses, distributed electricity, and portable systems.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>',
		'postdate' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenTime) {},
		'url' => 'https://www.drishtiias.com/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/selenium-graphene-based-catalyst-in-fuel-cell'
	],
	(int) 17 => [
		'title' => 'Payment and Settlement Systems in India: Vision 2019–2021',
		'catname' => 'News Analysis',
		'desc' => '<p>The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has released its statement on &lsquo;<strong>Payment and Settlement Systems in India: Vision 2019&ndash;2021</strong>&rsquo;, which outlines the measures needed to be undertaken to foster innovation, cybersecurity, financial inclusion, customer protection, and competition.</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The Payment Systems Vision 2021 envisages achieving a <strong>&lsquo;highly digital&rsquo;</strong> and <strong>&lsquo;cash-lite&rsquo;</strong> society through the goalposts of competition, cost-effectiveness, convenience, and confidence.<a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/244image5.jpg" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/244image5.jpg" width="262" height="334" style="float: right;" caption="false" /></a></li>
<li><strong>The need for a self-regulatory organisation:</strong> for the digital payment space, which can serve as a <strong>two-way communication channel</strong> between the players and the regulator. The organisation will also work towards establishing minimum benchmarks, standards, and help discipline rogue behaviour.</li>
<li><strong>Potential gains:</strong> The number of digital transactions is expected to increase more than four times, from 20.69 billion in December 2018 to 87.07 billion in December 2021. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The digital payment transaction turnover vis-&agrave;-vis gross domestic product (at current market prices) is expected to further increase to 10.37 per cent in 2019, 12.29 per cent in 2020, and 14.80 per cent in 2021.</li>
<li>The RBI expects accelerated growth in individual retail electronic payment systems, both in terms of the number of transactions and increased availability.</li>
<li>Payment systems like <strong>Unified Payments Interface&nbsp;</strong>(Immediate Payment Service) are likely to register average annualised growth of over 100 per cent and <strong>National Electronic Funds Transfer</strong> at 40 per cent over the vision period.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Measures to be taken:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The RBI will take measures to increase the <strong>penetration of acceptance infrastructure</strong> in the country.</li>
<li>The infrastructure will be upscaled to at least six times the present levels in the next three years&rsquo; time.</li>
<li>In order to have a coordinated approach towards regulation, the RBI shall <strong>engage with the other sectoral regulators</strong> like Securities and Exchange Board of India, Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority, Telecom Regulatory Authority of India, etc to remove friction in regulation and ease system operator and customer comfort.</li>
<li>It will also consider the implementation of e-mandates/standing instructions for retail payment systems, subject to customer protection and adequate safeguards like authenticating payment instrument registration, mandating transaction limits, segments, etc.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Cash-lite economy</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>It is an economy whereby there is a reduction in the high usage/volume of cash in circulation, thereby encouraging the use of electronic payment channels and reducing the cost of cash production and transportation. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>A Cash-lite society is a Society where most of the purchases of goods or services are made by credit card or electronic funds transfer rather than with cash or cheques, it is an environment where the money is spent without being physically carried from one person to the other.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>Unified Payments Interface (UPI)</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>It is a system that powers multiple bank accounts into a single mobile application (of any participating bank), merging several banking features, seamless fund routing &amp; merchant payments into one hood.</li>
<li>It also caters to the &ldquo;Peer to Peer&rdquo; collect request which can be scheduled and paid as per requirement and convenience.</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>National Electronic Funds Transfer (NEFT)</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>It is an electronic funds transfer system maintained by the Reserve Bank of India (RBI). it was started in November 2005, the setup was established and maintained by the Institute for Development and Research in Banking Technology.</li>
<li>NEFT enables bank customers in India to transfer funds between any two NEFT-enabled bank accounts on a one-to-one basis. It is done via electronic messages. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Unlike Real-time gross settlement, fund transfers through the NEFT system do not occur on a real-time basis. NEFT settles fund transfers in half-hourly batches with 23 settlements occurring between 8:00 AM and 7:00 PM on weekdays and the 1st, 3rd and 5th Saturday of the calendar month.</li>
<li>Transfers initiated outside this time period are settled at the next available window. No settlements are made on the second and fourth Saturday of the month, or on Sundays, or on public holidays.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</div>',
		'postdate' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenTime) {},
		'url' => 'https://www.drishtiias.com/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/payment-and-settlement-systems-in-india-vision-2019-2021-1'
	],
	(int) 18 => [
		'title' => 'GST Council and National Anti-profiteering Authority',
		'catname' => 'News Analysis',
		'desc' => '<p>The <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/important-facts-for-prelims-11th-january-2019" target="_blank" rel="noopener">GST Council</a> in its recent meeting has discussed the proposal of extending the tenure of the <strong>National Anti-profiteering Authority (NAA)</strong> to one more year (till 30 November 2020).</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>National Anti-profiteering Authority (NAA)</strong> came into existence ( just after the rollout of GST) for<strong> two years</strong> to deal with complaints by consumers against companies for not <strong>passing on GST rate cut benefits.</strong></li>
<li>Extension for NAA, (before its two-year sunset clause) is being seen necessary as there are many <strong>pending cases</strong> that need to be resolved before its dissolution.</li>
</ul>
<h3>National Anti-profiteering Authority</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The National Anti-Profiteering Authority (NAA) was constituted under <strong>Section 171 of the Central Goods and Services Tax Act, 2017.</strong></li>
</ul>
<h3>Background<a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/324image4.jpg" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/324image4.jpg" width="473" height="361" style="float: right;" caption="false" /></a></h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The formation of NAA comes in the background of <strong>rate-reduction</strong> of a large number of items by GST Council which has made tremendous price reduction effect but the consumers will be benefited only if the traders are making the quick reduction of prices of respective items.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Functions of National Anti-profiteering Authority</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>The anti-profiteering clause</strong> under the Goods And Services Tax (GST) Act mentions that any reduction in the rate of tax on any goods or services or the benefit of input tax credit must be passed on to the consumer by way of commensurate reduction in the prices of the respective goods or services.</li>
<li>The Authority&rsquo;s main function is to ensure that traders are not realizing an <strong>unfair profit</strong> by charging high price from consumers in the name of GST and to examine and check such profiteering activities and recommend <strong>punitive actions</strong> including the <strong>cancellation of Registration.</strong></li>
</ul>
<h3>Governance</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>NAA comprises of <strong>Chairman, four Technical members</strong>, a <strong>Standing Committee, Screening Committees</strong> in every State and the <strong>Directorate General of Safeguards</strong> in the Central Board of Excise &amp; Customs (CBEC).</li>
<li>The orders of the NAA can be appealed against only in the high court.</li>
</ul>',
		'postdate' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenTime) {},
		'url' => 'https://www.drishtiias.com/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/gst-council-and-national-anti-profiteering-authority'
	],
	(int) 19 => [
		'title' => '“Operation Sunrise 2”',
		'catname' => 'News Analysis',
		'desc' => '<p><strong>&ldquo;Operation Sunrise 2&rdquo;</strong> is a coordinated operation by armies of India and Myanmar. It is a three-week-long operation carried out in their respective border areas, targeting several militant groups operating in Manipur, Nagaland and Assam.<a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/283image1.jpg" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/283image1.jpg" width="364" height="260" style="float: right;" caption="false" /></a><a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/713image1.webp" target="_blank" rel="noopener"></a></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The first phase of <strong>&ldquo;Operation Sunrise&rdquo;</strong> was conducted three months ago along the Indo-Myanmar border, during which, the Indian Army targeted members of the Arakan Army, an insurgent group in Myanmar, who were opposed to the <strong><a href="/to-the-points/Paper2/india-myanmar-relations" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Kaladan multi-modal transit transport project</a></strong>. The project is viewed as India&rsquo;s gateway to Southeast Asia.</li>
<li>In &ldquo;Operation Sunrise 2&rdquo;, the armies coordinated with each other to bust camps of militant outfits, including the Kamtapur Liberation Organisation, the National Socialist Council of Nagaland(Khaplang), the United Liberation Front of Assam (I) and the National Democratic Front of Boroland.</li>
<li>Myanmar is one of the strategic neighbours of India and shares a 1,640-km border with a number of north-eastern states, including the militancy-hit Nagaland and Manipur.</li>
</ul>',
		'postdate' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenTime) {},
		'url' => 'https://www.drishtiias.com/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/operation-sunrise-2'
	]
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