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Maternity Scheme Exclusionary: PMMVY

Why in News The Pradhan Mantri Matru Vandana Yojana (PMMVY) which is a pan-India maternity benefit programme has been criticised for its...

17 Dec 2019 News Analysis
National Electronic Fund Transfer (NEFT)

Why in News The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has operationalised round-the-clock (24 X 7) availability of the National Electronic Fund Transfer...

17 Dec 2019 News Analysis
Privilege Motion

Why in News A Privilege Motion has been moved against the Union Textile Minister Smriti Irani in the Lok Sabha. Privilege Motion It is concerned...

17 Dec 2019 News Analysis
Opposition to Citizenship Amendment Act

This article is based on “The distinct cry of an imperilled frontier” which was published in the The Hindu on 16/12/2019. It talks...

16 Dec 2019 News Editorials
Credit Ratings

Context International ratings agency Moody's Investors Service downgraded India's outlook to negative from stable on concerns that country's...

16 Dec 2019 Paper 3
Fuel Cell Electric Vehicle

Why in News Recently, the Supreme Court of India has directed the government to look into the feasibility of Fuel Cell Electric Vehicle (FCEV) to...

16 Dec 2019 News Analysis
StrandHogg

Why in News The Union Home Ministry has alerted States, warning them about the vulnerability of the Android operating system to a bug called...

16 Dec 2019 News Analysis
Britain Elections

Why in News Britain elected Boris Johnson of the Conservative Party as its Prime Minister in the recently concluded elections. This victory gives...

16 Dec 2019 News Analysis
First Meeting of National Ganga Council

Why in News Recently, the Prime Minister chaired the first meeting of the National Ganga Council at Kanpur, Uttar Pradesh. The first meeting of...

16 Dec 2019 News Analysis
Ajanta and Ellora Caves

Why in News Two tourist visitor centres set up at Ajanta and Ellora caves by the Maharashtra government have been shut due to their pending water...

16 Dec 2019 News Analysis
Credit Ratings

For...

16 Dec 2019 Paper 3
Agrobiodiversity for India

This article is based on “India’s food basket must be enlarged” which was published in The Hindu on 29/11/2019. It talks about...

14 Dec 2019 News Editorials
National Energy Conservation Day

Why in News The National Energy Conservation Day is organized every year on 14th December by the Bureau of Energy Efficiency (BEE). It aims to...

14 Dec 2019 News Analysis
Essential Medicines

Why in News India’s drug pricing regulator, National Pharmaceutical Pricing Authority (NPPA), has allowed an increase in the maximum retail...

14 Dec 2019 News Analysis
Accessible India Campaign

Why in News The deadline for the government’s Accessible India Campaign (AIC) has been extended to March 2020 due to slow progress. AIC is...

14 Dec 2019 News Analysis
Medical Devices In India

Introduction The medical device industry is a unique blend of engineering and medicine. It involves the creation of machines that are used to...

13 Dec 2019 Paper 2
Medical Devices In India

For...

13 Dec 2019 Paper 2
PRS Capsule November 2019

Key Highlights of PRS Economy Chit Funds (Amendment) Bill, 2019 International Financial Services Authority Bill 15th Finance Commission Gets...

13 Dec 2019 PRS Capsule
Climate Diplomacy for India

This article is based on ‘Time to Practice Climate Change Diplomacy in India’s Neighborhood’ which was published in The Diplomat...

13 Dec 2019 News Editorials
Mullaperiyar Dam

Why in News The Ministry of Jal Shakti has constituted a three-member Supervisory Committee to settle the issue of Mullaperiyar dam between Kerala...

13 Dec 2019 News Analysis

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		(int) 0 => [
			'title' => 'Maternity Scheme Exclusionary: PMMVY',
			'catname' => 'News Analysis',
			'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/pradhan-mantri-matru-vandana-yojana" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Pradhan Mantri Matru Vandana Yojana (PMMVY)</strong></a> which is a pan-India maternity benefit programme has been criticised for its <strong>exclusionary nature.</strong> It has led to <strong>single women and young brides</strong> being left out of its purview.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Issues with the Scheme</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Registration for the scheme requires an applicant to <strong>provide her husband&rsquo;s Aadhaar details</strong> along with her own. It affects <strong>single women, including unwed mothers, deserted wives and widows.</strong><a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1576577907_drishti_pmmvy.PNG" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1576577907_drishti_pmmvy.PNG" style="float: right;" caption="false" width="300" height="358" /></a>
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The form also requires separate undertakings on<strong> &ldquo;the first living child&rdquo;</strong> from the <strong>woman and her husband.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>A mother seeking benefits needs to provide <strong>address proof of her marital home.</strong> It is <strong>challenging for a newlywed</strong> expecting a child and often residing in her natal home during pregnancy.</li>
<li>The scheme requires an applicant to be <strong>at least 19 years old</strong> which leaves out younger brides, who get married at the legal age of 18 years but hesitate in getting their marriages registered.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>30-35% of first-time mothers are under the age of 18 years.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>The documentation work <strong>leaves out many women living on the margins</strong> such as sex workers, women in custody, migrant and those living in post-conflict situations. They all are unable to claim benefits even though<strong> they are most in need of monetary compensation.</strong></li>
<li>Women have to pay a<strong> hefty bribe</strong> during the application process. It goes as high as ₹500/- for each of the three forms so it is not easy for the women coming from financially weaker sections.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Suggestions</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>There is a need for reviewing the scheme and m<strong>aking it universal by removing restrictions</strong> on the number of children as well as including all women, whether they are in the formal or informal sector, engaged in paid or unpaid work.</li>
<li>The sum promised should be at least <strong>on par with minimum wages for women in self-employment</strong>, unpaid work, or working for less than minimum wages.</li>
<li>Activists and grassroots workers must make a formal representation to the government highlighting their concerns so that corrective actions can be taken.</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/other-states/maternity-scheme-exclusionary-need-benefits-for-all/article30314030.ece" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Source: TH</strong></a></p>',
			'postdate' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenTime) {},
			'url' => 'https://www.drishtiias.com/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/maternity-scheme-exclusionary-pmmvy'
		],
		(int) 1 => [
			'title' => 'National Electronic Fund Transfer (NEFT) ',
			'catname' => 'News Analysis',
			'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<h3></h3>
<p>The <a href="/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-national-institutions/important-institutions-national-institution-reserve-bank-of-india" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Reserve Bank of India (RBI)</strong> </a>has operationalised<strong> round-the-clock (24 X 7) availability of the National Electronic Fund Transfer (NEFT).</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The RBI has also asked banks not to levy any charges from savings bank account holders for funds transfers done through NEFT system which are initiated online (internet banking and/ or mobile apps of the banks).</li>
</ul>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Through this move, the <strong>RBI has joined an elite club of countries</strong> having payment systems which enable round-the-clock fund transfer and settlement of any value.</li>
<li><strong>Benefit to Customers:</strong> Customers can now transfer money through NEFT without paying any charges any time of the day whereas banks charge a fee for fund transfer through cheques and Demand Draft (DD).</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Background</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The NEFT system,<strong> introduced in 2005</strong>, has seen exponential growth in recent years reflecting its popularity as well as increasing customer acceptance. Despite such growth, many banks continued to levy the maximum permissible charges to their customers.</li>
<li>It was desirable that the benefits accruing on account of increasing volume of transactions are passed on to the customers so as to <strong>incentivise greater use of the electronic payment system</strong> in place of cumbersome paper-based mechanism like cheques/DDs.</li>
</ul>
</div>
<h3>National Electronic Fund Transfer</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>National Electronic Funds Transfer (NEFT)</strong> is a nation-wide payment system facilitating one-to-one funds transfer. Under this Scheme, individuals, firms and corporates can electronically transfer funds from any bank branch to any individual, firm or corporate having an account with any other bank branch in the country participating in the Scheme.</li>
<li>NEFT is <strong>different from Real Time Gross Settlement (RTGS).</strong> RTGS can be explained as a system where there is continuous and real-time settlement of fund-transfers, individually on a transaction by transaction basis.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>NEFT settlements happen in batches, so there might be a slight delay for the actual transfer to take place RTGS transactions, on the other hand, happen in real time.</li>
<li>There is no limit &ndash; either minimum or maximum &ndash; on the amount of funds that could be transferred using NEFT. However, the maximum amount per transaction is limited to ₹ 50,000/- for cash-based remittances within India and also for remittances to Nepal under the Indo-Nepal Remittance Facility Scheme.</li>
<li>The minimum amount to be remitted through RTGS is ₹ 2,00,000/- with no upper or maximum ceiling.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="https://indianexpress.com/article/business/banking-and-finance/rbi-operationalises-24x7-neft-fund-transfer-asks-banks-to-waive-charges-6170719/" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Source: IE</strong></a></p>',
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			'url' => 'https://www.drishtiias.com/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/national-electronic-fund-transfer-neft'
		],
		(int) 2 => [
			'title' => 'Privilege Motion',
			'catname' => 'News Analysis',
			'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>A Privilege Motion has been moved against the Union Textile Minister Smriti Irani in the Lok Sabha.</p>
<h3>Privilege Motion</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>It is concerned with the <strong>breach of parliamentary privileges</strong> by a minister.</li>
<li><strong>Breach of Privileges</strong>
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Parliamentary Privileges are <strong>certain rights and immunities</strong> enjoyed by members of Parliament, individually and collectively, so that they can &ldquo;effectively discharge their functions&rdquo;.</li>
<li>When any of these rights and immunities are disregarded, the offence is called a breach of privilege and is<strong> punishable under law of Parliament. </strong></li>
<li><strong>A notice is moved in the form of a motion</strong> by any member of either House against those being held guilty of breach of privilege.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Role of the Speaker/Rajya Sabha (RS) Chair</strong>
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The Speaker/RS chairperson is the<strong> first level of scrutiny</strong> of a privilege motion.</li>
<li>The Speaker/Chair can decide on the privilege motion himself or herself or refer it to the<strong> privileges committee</strong> of Parliament. If the Speaker/Chair gives consent under relevant rules, the member concerned is given an opportunity to make a short statement.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Rules governing Privilege</strong>
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Rule No 222 in Chapter 20 of the Lok Sabha Rule Book and correspondingly Rule 187 in Chapter 16 of the Rajya Sabha rulebook governs privilege.</li>
<li>Rules say that a member may, with the consent of the Speaker or the Chairperson, raise a question involving a breach of privilege either of a member or of the House or a committee thereof.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Parliamentary Privileges</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Parliamentary privileges are special rights, immunities and exemptions enjoyed by the two Houses of Parliament, their committees and their members.</li>
<li>The Constitution also extends the parliamentary privileges to those persons who are entitled to speak and take part in the proceedings of a House of Parliament or any of its committees. These include the <strong>Attorney General of India and Union ministers.</strong></li>
<li>The parliamentary privileges <strong>do not extend to the President</strong> who is also an integral part of the Parliament. <strong>Article 361</strong> of the Constitution provides for privileges for the President.</li>
<li><strong>Article 105</strong> of the Constitution expressly mentions two privileges, that is, freedom of speech in Parliament and right of publication of its proceedings.</li>
<li>Apart from the privileges as specified in the Constitution, <strong>the Code of Civil Procedure, 1908</strong>, provides for freedom from arrest and detention of members under civil process during the continuance of the meeting of the House or of a committee thereof and forty days before its commencement and forty days after its conclusion.</li>
<li>It needs to be noted that the <strong>Parliament, till now, has not made any special law</strong> to exhaustively codify all the privileges.</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>Privilege Committee</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>It is a <strong>Standing Committee</strong>. It examines the cases of breach of the privileges of the House and its members and recommends appropriate action.</li>
<li>The <strong>Lok Sabha</strong> committee has <strong>15</strong> members, while the<strong> Rajya Sabha</strong> committee has <strong>10 members.</strong></li>
</ul>
</div>
<p><a href="https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/congress-mp-seeks-privilege-proceedings-against-smriti-irani/article30319306.ece" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Source: IE</strong></a></p>',
			'postdate' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenTime) {},
			'url' => 'https://www.drishtiias.com/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/privilege-motion-1'
		],
		(int) 3 => [
			'title' => 'Opposition to Citizenship Amendment Act',
			'catname' => 'News Editorials',
			'desc' => '<div class="border">
<p>This article is based on <a href="https://www.thehindu.com/opinion/lead/the-distinct-cry-of-an-imperilled-frontier/article30313850.ece" target="_blank" rel="noopener">&ldquo;The distinct cry of an imperilled frontier&rdquo;</a> which was published in the The Hindu on 16/12/2019. It talks about the implication of the Citizenship Amendment Act.</p>
</div>
<p>Recently, there have been protests against the passing of the Citizenship Amendment Act (2019) in many parts of India.</p>
<p>The Act has been opposed, mainly on two grounds:</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>One, exclusion of Muslim immigrants as Indian citizens while accepting all other communities from Pakistan, Afghanistan and Bangladesh on the grounds of persecution.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>This is the major reason for protests against the Act in Northeast India.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>Second, the promise to introduce a <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/new-citizenship-regime" target="_blank" rel="noopener">nationwide National Register of Citizens (NRC)</a>.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>This move will render stateless all those Muslims immigrants who do not have the necessary documents to prove their Indian ancestry, even though they could have been born in India and have lived in India for decades.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Implication of the Act</h3>
<p><strong>Challenge on Foreign Policy Front</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The biggest negative impact of this Act is on India&rsquo;s relations with Bangladesh.</li>
<li>India&rsquo;s relations with Bangladesh have been very cordial on various fronts like the economic and strategic.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>For example, Bangladesh has shown an unfettered commitment to India&rsquo;s national security by showing zero-tolerance to all forms of terrorist activity against India on its soil.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>The question of illegal immigration, however has always been a deeply divisive issue between India and Bangladesh.</li>
<li>The Indian government has antagonised Bangladesh by framing religious persecution of the Hindu minority in Bangladesh as one of the motivations for the Citizenship Amendment Act.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>This had led to the cancellation of Bangladesh's Prime Minister&rsquo;s visit to India.</li>
<li>This signals a jeopardising of the bilateral partnership with Bangladesh, that will lead to undermining of the only successful example of India's neighbourhood first policy.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>Threat to India&rsquo;s Constitutional Values</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Beyond Bangladesh, India&rsquo;s long-standing reputation as a constitutional democracy is taking a hit.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The US, for example, has urged India to respect religious freedom.</li>
<li>In this context, India&rsquo;s founding values were <strong>equality</strong>, including religious equality, <strong>diversity</strong> and <strong>tolerance</strong>.</li>
<li>However, the Citizenship Amendment Act sought to discriminate amongst the people on the basis of religion, which may be <strong>violative of Article 14</strong> of the Indian Constitution.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>Stalwarts of the Indian freedom struggle Gandhi, Nehru and Ambedkar also had never envisioned India as a Hindu homeland.</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>Harming the Interest of a Particular Minority</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>It is patently clear that (using citizenship amendments) if the existing Muslim citizens of India are unable to produce documents of Indian ancestry, the National Register later, can easily make them non-citizens.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>In contrast, if Hindus face similar documentary deficit, they would neither be interned nor expelled.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>If the question is of persecution of some religious groups, then the Act must also encompass Srilanka (Tamils) and China (Tibetans).</li>
<li>Most importantly, this Act will seek to deepen the communal divide that remains ever-present within the social fabric of South Asia.</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>Destabilising India&rsquo;s Northeast</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The Citizenship Amendment Act is against the <a href="/to-the-points/Paper2/to-the-point-paper-2-national-register-of-citizens-nrc" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Assam Accord</a> of 1985.</li>
<li>The granting of citizenship to illegal migrants (excluding Muslims), has created anxiety among the original habitants of the region.</li>
<li>Moreover, the response in the Northeast to the Citizenship Amendment Act is not merely <em>&lsquo;tribal xenophobia&rsquo;</em> but a pursuit to preserve one&rsquo;s culture.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Going by UNESCO&rsquo;s definition of endangered languages, all of the 200 and more languages spoken in the Northeast, with the exception of Assamese and Bengali, are in the vulnerable category.</li>
<li>Even in the case of Assamese, though it is the language of the majority in the State with about 15 million speakers (Census 2011), they are still a tiny minority when the larger region of Bangladesh, Bengal and Assam is considered.</li>
<li>Bengali speakers in Assam total about 9 million (Census 2011); however, neighbouring Bangladesh alone has 164 million speakers of the same language.</li>
<li>The fear in Assam of being overwhelmed by an unceasing influx of people from Bangladesh therefore is nothing beyond legitimacy. <strong>This is a peculiar situation often described as "a majority with a minority complex"</strong>; its consequences have resurfaced in the region time and again, yet few take cognisance of it, perpetuating the phenomenon.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>Demographic changes due to mass immigration, can lead to dilution of native culture, which in turn can pose a threat to the very existence of a language and when a language dies, a world view dies with it.</li>
<li>The Northeast is inhabited by diverse populations, sharing borders with several neighbours and granting citizenship to migrants in the region, will aggravate the ethnic tension in the region (which is a relic of colonial legacy).</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>UNESCO classification of endangered languages</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>If a language is <strong>vulnerable</strong> because of the small size of the number of speakers, it becomes more so if the language is spoken only in certain domains &mdash; for instance at home, but not at schools and offices, etc.</li>
<li>It becomes <strong>definitely endangered</strong> if parents speak the language and children only know the language but do not speak it as mother tongue.</li>
<li>It becomes <strong>critically endangered</strong> if the grandparents&rsquo; generation speak the language, parents know it but do not use it, and children do not know it any more.</li>
<li><strong>Extinct</strong> languages are those languages which no longer have any speakers.</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>Conflict in North east : A Colonial Legacy</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Assam was separated from Bengal and made a separate chief commissioner&rsquo;s province in <strong>1874</strong>.</li>
<li>In <strong>1912</strong> after Curzon&rsquo;s 1905 partition of Bengal was withdrawn, Sylhet didn&rsquo;t wanted to be part of Bengal province.</li>
<li>At the time of <strong>Partition</strong>, Sylhet&rsquo;s chance of remaining with India was for it to be treated as a part of Assam. The then Assamese leadership refused this as Assam would then have become Bengali majority.</li>
<li><strong>Sylhet</strong> had to face a referendum separately and by a thin Muslim majority was <strong>awarded to Pakistan</strong>.</li>
<li>The current migration issue is thus a consequence of this bitter politics of antagonism of the past.</li>
</ul>
</div>
<h3>Conclusion</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The trust deficit among India&rsquo;s vulnerable communities doesn&rsquo;t augur well with India&rsquo;s ambitions of becoming a superpower.</li>
<li>It is also essential to underscore that in no civilised country can religion be the basis of citizenship, specifically if the founding principles of such nation-states championed secular ideals and equality before the law.</li>
<li>Therefore, the best way forward has to be on the path of truth and reconciliation as shown by great leaders like Mahatma Gandhi and Nelson Mandela.</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Drishti Mains Question</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Citizenship Amendment Act, 2019 gets into conflict with India&rsquo;s constitutional values and poses a challenge on foreign policy and internal security front. Comment.</span></p>
</div>
<p></p>',
			'postdate' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenTime) {},
			'url' => 'https://www.drishtiias.com/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/opposition-to-citizenship-amendment-act'
		],
		(int) 4 => [
			'title' => 'Credit Ratings',
			'catname' => 'Paper 3',
			'desc' => '<h3>Context</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>International ratings agency Moody's Investors Service <strong>downgraded India's outlook</strong> to negative from stable on concerns that country's economic growth will remain lower than in the past.</li>
<li>The agency said prolonged financial stress among rural households, weak job creation, and a credit crunch among non-bank financial institutions (NBFIs), have increased the probability of a more &ldquo;entrenched slowdown&rdquo;.</li>
<li>While Moody&rsquo;s has <strong>maintained the country ratings</strong> and only lowered the outlook, it still poses risks of capital flight unless the government improves its fiscal health.</li>
</ul>
<h3>What is a Credit Rating?</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>A credit rating is a quantified assessment of the creditworthiness of a borrower in general terms or with respect to a particular debt or financial obligation.</li>
<li>A credit rating can be assigned to any entity that seeks to borrow money&mdash;an individual, corporation, state or provincial authority, or sovereign government.</li>
<li>A <strong>sovereign credit rating</strong> is an independent assessment of the creditworthiness of a country or sovereign entity. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Sovereign credit ratings can give investors insights into the level of risk associated with investing in the debt of a particular country, including any political risk.</li>
<li>Investors use sovereign credit ratings as a way to assess the riskiness of a particular country's bonds.</li>
<li>Obtaining good sovereign credit rating is usually essential for developing countries in order to access funding in international bond markets.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Rating Agencies</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>A rating agency is a company that assesses the financial strength of companies and government entities, especially their ability to meet principal and interest payments on their debts.</li>
<li>The rating assigned to a given debt shows an agency&rsquo;s level of confidence that the borrower will honour its debt obligations as agreed.</li>
<li><strong>The Big Three Credit Rating Agencies:</strong> Fitch Ratings, Moody&rsquo;s Investors Service and Standard &amp; Poor&rsquo;s (S&amp;P) are the big three international credit rating agencies controlling approximately 95% of global ratings business.</li>
<li>In India, there are six credit rating agencies registered under SEBI namely, CRISIL, ICRA, CARE, SMERA, Fitch India and Brickwork Ratings.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Role of Rating Agencies in Capital Markets</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Rating agencies <strong>assess the credit risk of specific debt securities</strong> and the borrowing entities. In the bond market, a rating agency provides an independent evaluation of the creditworthiness of debt securities issued by governments and corporations.</li>
<li>Rating agencies also <strong>give ratings to sovereign borrowers,</strong> who are the largest borrowers in most financial markets. Sovereign borrowers include national governments, state governments, municipalities, and other sovereign-supported institutions. The sovereign ratings given by a rating agency shows a sovereign&rsquo;s ability to repay its debt.</li>
<li>The ratings <strong>help governments from emerging and developing countries to issue bonds</strong> to domestic and international investors. Governments sell bonds to obtain financing from other governments and Bretton Woods institutions such as the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Benefits of Rating Agencies</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Investors rely on the ratings given by the credit rating agencies to <strong>make investment decisions</strong>.</li>
<li>Many countries sell their securities in the international market, and a good credit rating can help them <strong>access high-value investors</strong>.</li>
<li>A favourable rating may also attract other forms of investments like foreign direct investments to a country.</li>
<li>A <strong>low credit rating</strong> or relegation of a country from a high rating to a low rating can discourage investors from purchasing the bonds or making direct investments in the country. For example, the downgrading of Greece, Portugal, and Ireland by S&amp;P in 2010 worsened the <strong>European sovereign debt crisis</strong>.</li>
<li>The ratings provided by rating agencies also serve as a <strong>benchmark for financial market regulations</strong>.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Concerns Regarding Rating Agencies<a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1576498148_image1.png" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1576498148_image1.png" width="514" height="388" style="float: right; margin: 5px;" caption="false" /></a></h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The big three agencies came under heavy criticism after the global financial crisis of 2008 for giving favourable ratings to insolvent institutions like Lehman Brothers. They were also blamed for <strong>failing to detect risky mortgage-backed securities</strong> that led to the collapse of the real estate market in the United States.</li>
<li><a href="/to-the-points/paper3/credit-rating-in-india" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Credit rating agencies of India</a> too have come <strong>under attack,</strong> and also faced regulatory action, besides a probe by central investigating agencies after they had assigned top ratings to borrowings by firms that were part of the IL&amp;FS group in 2018.</li>
<li><strong>Conflict of Interest:</strong> The rating given to any debt shows the agency's level of confidence about the borrower's ability to honour the obligation. Ironically, their <strong>primary source of revenue is the fees paid by the company being rated by them</strong>.</li>
<li><strong>Biasness:</strong> India often complains that countries with higher levels of debt and a weak fiscal have managed better ratings.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Conclusion</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Despite the sovereign ratings being what they have been for a long time, India has attracted plenty of portfolio and flows into both government and corporate debt, besides Foreign Direct Investment.</li>
<li>India has not issued a bond or raised money directly in the international market so far, which means that to a good extent, a downgrade has limited impact.</li>
<li>In fact, the government has responded to the change in outlook by saying that India&rsquo;s fundamentals are robust and that other macroeconomic indicators such as inflation are still low, which is reflected in low bond yields, with growth prospects strong both in the near and long terms.</li>
<li>However, India should take the ratings seriously and should engage proactively with the financial market stakeholders to allay their fears and boost the confidence of investors to invest in the Indian economy.</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="/mind-map/gs-paper3/credit-ratings-mindmap" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><em>For Mind Map</em></a></p>',
			'postdate' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenTime) {},
			'url' => 'https://www.drishtiias.com/to-the-points/paper3/credit-ratings-1'
		],
		(int) 5 => [
			'title' => 'Fuel Cell Electric Vehicle',
			'catname' => 'News Analysis',
			'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>Recently, the <a href="/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-national-institutions/supreme-court-of-india" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Supreme Court</strong></a> of India has directed the government to look into the feasibility of <strong>Fuel Cell Electric Vehicle (FCEV)</strong> to deal with air pollution.</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Research is ongoing at the <strong>International Research Center for Hydrogen Energy at Kyushu University, Japan</strong> on FCEVs based on <strong>hydrogen cell technology</strong>, also known as <strong>'fuel cells'</strong>.</li>
<li>In this context the Indian government is the The research is being studied closely by the as it readies a hydrogen-fuelled blueprint.</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Fuel Cell</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Fuel cells and batteries convert chemical energy into electrical energy and are very useful forms of galvanic cell. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>A galvanic or voltaic cell is an electrochemical cell that converts chemical energy into electrical energy through the redox reactions that occur within the cell.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>Galvanic cells that are designed to convert the energy of combustion of fuels like hydrogen, methane, methanol, etc. directly into electrical energy are called fuel cells. One of the most successful fuel cells uses the reaction of hydrogen with oxygen to form water.</li>
</ul>
</div>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Mechanism:</strong> The <strong>Fuel Cell Electric Vehicle (FCEV)</strong> combines hydrogen and oxygen to generate an electric current and <strong>water is the only byproduct</strong>.</li>
</ul>
<p style="text-align: center;"><strong>Hydrogen + Oxygen = Electricity + Water Vapour</strong><br /><strong>2H<sub>2</sub> (g) + O<sub>2</sub> (g) &rarr; 2 H<sub>2</sub>O (l)</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Fuel Cell Electric Vehicle (FCEV)</strong> engines are <strong>similar to the conventional internal combustion engines</strong> because they also <strong>rely on a constant supply</strong> of fuel (hydrogen) and oxygen.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>However, there are <strong>no moving parts</strong> in the fuel cell, so they are <strong>more efficient and reliable</strong>.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Stationary fuel</strong> <strong>cells</strong> are the <strong>largest and most powerful</strong> fuel cells. These are being designed to provide a cleaner, reliable source of on-site power to hospitals, banks, airports and homes.</li>
<li>The successful development of the technology would <strong>provide energy for transportation and electric power</strong>.</li>
<li><strong>Hydrogen fuel tanks</strong> are made from <strong>highly durable carbon fibre</strong>. Some FCEVs have a triple-layer hydrogen tank made of woven carbon fibre.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Advantages</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>FCEVs produce much <strong>smaller quantities of <a href="/infographics/info-paper3/greenhouse-gas-emission" target="_blank" rel="noopener">greenhouse gases</a></strong> and none of the air pollutants that cause health problems.</li>
<li>Fuel cells <strong>emit only heat and water as a byproduct</strong> and are <strong>far more energy-efficient</strong> than traditional combustion technologies.</li>
<li>FCEVs <strong>do not need to be plugged in for charging</strong>, like battery-powered EVs.</li>
<li>There is a <strong>wide availability of resources for producing hydrogen</strong>.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Disadvantages</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The <strong>process of making hydrogen needs energy</strong>, often from <strong>fossil fuel</strong> sources, which raises questions over hydrogen&rsquo;s green credentials.</li>
<li>Handling of hydrogen is a safety concern because it is<strong> more explosive</strong> than petrol.</li>
<li>These vehicles are expensive and fuel dispensing pumps are scarce.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Status in India</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>In India, so far, the definition of <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/nine-science-and-technology-missions" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Electric Vehicles</strong></a> <strong>only covers Battery Electric Vehicles (BEVs)</strong>.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>BEVs have <strong>no internal combustion engine or fuel tank</strong> and run on a <strong>fully electric drivetrain powered by rechargeable batteries</strong>.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>The Government of India has launched <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/fame-ii-1" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>FAME India Scheme</strong></a> with the objective to support hybrid/electric vehicles market development and manufacturing ecosystem. It also covers Hybrid &amp; Electric technologies like Mild Hybrid, Strong Hybrid, Plug in Hybrid &amp; BEVs.</li>
<li>The <strong>Ministry of New and Renewable Energy,</strong> under its <strong>Research, Development and Demonstration (RD&amp;D) Programme</strong>, has been supporting various projects on hydrogen and fuel cells.</li>
<li>The <strong>Ministry of Science and Technology</strong> has supported two networked centres on <strong>hydrogen storage</strong> led by IIT Bombay and Nonferrous Materials Technology Development Centre, Hyderabad.</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="https://indianexpress.com/article/explained/hydrogen-cars-electric-vehicle-supreme-court-how-cars-can-run-on-hydrogen-6168796/" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Source: IE</strong></a></p>',
			'postdate' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenTime) {},
			'url' => 'https://www.drishtiias.com/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/fuel-cell-electric-vehicle'
		],
		(int) 6 => [
			'title' => 'StrandHogg',
			'catname' => 'News Analysis',
			'desc' => '<h3>Why in News<img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1576493942_image2.png" width="203" height="203" style="float: right;" /></h3>
<p>The Union Home Ministry has alerted States, warning them about the vulnerability of the <strong>Android operating system</strong> to a bug called <strong>'StrandHogg'</strong>.</p>
<h3>About StrandHogg</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>It is a vulnerability in android which allows <strong>real-time malware applications</strong> to pose as genuine applications and access user data of all kinds.</li>
<li>It can <strong>listen</strong> to the conversations, access photo album, read/send messages, <strong>make calls</strong>, <strong>record</strong> conversations, <strong>get login credentials</strong> to various accounts, access private images, files, contact details, call logs and location information without being apparent to the affected users.</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/android-vulnerable-to-cyberattack-union-home-ministry/article30314842.ece" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Source: TH</strong></a></p>',
			'postdate' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenTime) {},
			'url' => 'https://www.drishtiias.com/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/strandhogg'
		],
		(int) 7 => [
			'title' => 'Britain Elections',
			'catname' => 'News Analysis',
			'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>Britain elected Boris Johnson of the Conservative Party as its Prime Minister in the recently concluded elections. This victory gives Boris Johnson a clear mandate to take the United Kingdom out of the <a href="/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-international-institution/european-union" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>European Union</strong></a> without any delay.</p>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Johnson called for an early election after reaching a new <strong>divorce deal</strong> with the EU. He turned the poll into a de facto <a href="/loksabha-rajyasabha-discussions/the-big-picture-uk-s-constitutional-crisis" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Brexit </strong>referendum</a>.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>His strategy was to consolidate the pro-Brexit vote, get a fresh mandate in Parliament and then quicken the Brexit process.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p>The Brexit Financial Settlement (Divorce Bill) is a sum of money UK needs to pay to the EU for settling all shares of the financial obligations undertaken while being a member of the EU.</p>
</div>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Brexit:</strong> In 2016, a referendum was held by the U.K. government and the nation voted to leave the EU. Now the process is under the U.K. Parliament for formal withdrawal from the EU.</li>
<li><a href="/loksabha-rajyasabha-discussions/brexit-deal-what-lies-ahead" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Brexit</a> supporters wanted Britain to take back full control of its borders and reduce the number of people coming here to live and/or work.</li>
<li><strong>Impact on Britain:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>It will give a boost to the nationalism with tougher laws on immigration.</li>
<li>Britain will also have to deal with Brexit&rsquo;s effect on its economy, including the long process of new bilateral trade agreements with many other countries, including India.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Challenges</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The road ahead is not smooth even after a timely exit. The <strong>Brexit agreement</strong> itself is <strong>controversial</strong> and it could <strong>erect an effective customs border</strong> between <strong>Britain</strong> and the <strong>island of Ireland</strong> after implementation.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>It raises the concern on Brexit&rsquo;s impact on the <strong>Good Friday Agreement</strong>.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>The Good Friday Agreement or the Belfast Agreement:</strong> It was a peace agreement between the British and Irish governments and most of the political parties in Northern Ireland, on how Northern Ireland should be governed.</p>
</div>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Negotiating an agreement</strong> on the U.K.&rsquo;s future relationship with the EU is an equally challenging task.</li>
<li>The <strong>Scottish National Party</strong> swept Scotland&rsquo;s seats which might revive pro-independence sentiments in Scotland.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Scotland had a <strong>referendum in 2014</strong> on whether it should stay in the U.K. or be independent of it. The referendum <strong>rejected independence</strong> and the Scottish population was in favour of remaining in the European Union.</li>
<li>Scotland rejected independence by <strong>55% to 45%</strong>.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="https://www.thehindu.com/opinion/editorial/the-day-of-boris/article30300269.ece" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Source: TH</strong></a></p>',
			'postdate' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenTime) {},
			'url' => 'https://www.drishtiias.com/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/britain-elections'
		],
		(int) 8 => [
			'title' => 'First Meeting of National Ganga Council',
			'catname' => 'News Analysis',
			'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>Recently, the Prime Minister chaired the <strong>first meeting of the National Ganga Council</strong> at <strong>Kanpur, Uttar Pradesh</strong>.</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The <strong>first meeting</strong> of the Council was aimed at reinforcing the importance of a <strong>&lsquo;Ganga-centric&rsquo; approach</strong> in all departments of the concerned states as well as relevant Central Ministries.</li>
<li>The National Ganga Council, also known as the National Council for Rejuvenation, Protection, and Management of River Ganga was set up in <strong>2016</strong>. It <strong>replaced the National River Ganga Basin Authority (NRGBA)</strong>.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The <strong>'Namami Gange'</strong> should holistically evolve to <strong>'Arth Ganga'</strong> i.e. a sustainable development model with a focus on economic <strong>activities related to Ganga</strong>.</li>
<li><strong>Setting up of a digital dashboard</strong> where data from villages and urban bodies to be <strong>monitored</strong> on a daily basis by <strong>NITI Ayog and Ministry of Jal Shakti</strong>.</li>
<li>The need to increase the efficiency of <strong>district Ganga committees</strong> for effective implementation of the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/15-point-directive-to-clean-ganga" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Namami Gange Programme</strong></a>.</li>
<li>The<strong> potential of religious and adventure tourism</strong> in the Ganga river basin area to be explored in future. As the income generated from tourism activities would help to generate sustainable income for cleaning the Ganga.</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>National Ganga Council</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The National Ganga Council is <strong>chaired</strong> by <strong>Prime Minister</strong>.</li>
<li>The National Ganga Council is formed under the <strong>Environment (Protection) Act (EPA),1986</strong>.</li>
<li>It has been given overall responsibility for the superintendence of pollution prevention and rejuvenation of River Ganga Basin, including Ganga and its tributaries.</li>
<li>National Mission for Clean Ganga(NMCG) acts as an implementation arm of the National Ganga Council.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>NMCG was established in the year 2011 as a registered society.</li>
<li>It has a two-tier management structure and comprises of Governing Council and Executive Committee.</li>
<li>The aims and objectives of NMCG are:<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>To ensure effective control of pollution and rejuvenation of the river Ganga by adopting a river basin approach to promote inter-sectoral coordination for comprehensive planning and management.</li>
<li>To maintain minimum ecological flows in the river Ganga with the aim of ensuring water quality and environmentally sustainable development.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</div>
<p><a href="https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/pm-arrives-in-kanpur-to-chair-first-meeting-of-national-ganga-council/article30304992.ece" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Source: TH</strong></a></p>',
			'postdate' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenTime) {},
			'url' => 'https://www.drishtiias.com/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/first-meeting-of-national-ganga-council'
		],
		(int) 9 => [
			'title' => 'Ajanta and Ellora Caves',
			'catname' => 'News Analysis',
			'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>Two tourist visitor centres set up at Ajanta and Ellora caves by the Maharashtra government have been shut due to their pending water and electricity dues worth ₹5 crore.</p>
<h3>Ajanta Caves<a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1576485286_image1.jpg" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1576485286_image1.jpg" width="300" height="200" style="float: right;" caption="false" /></a></h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Location:</strong> Ajanta is a series of rock-cut caves in the <strong>Sahyadri ranges (Western Ghats)</strong> on Waghora river near Aurangabad in <strong>Maharashtra</strong>.</li>
<li><strong>Number of Caves:</strong> There are a total of <strong>29 caves</strong> (all buddhist) of which 25 were used as Viharas or residential caves while 4 were used as Chaitya or prayer halls.</li>
<li><strong>Time of Development</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The caves were developed in the period between <strong>200 B.C. to 650 A.D</strong>.</li>
<li>The Ajanta caves were inscribed by the Buddhist monks, under the patronage of the <strong>Vakataka kings</strong> &ndash; Harishena being a prominent one.</li>
<li>Reference of the Ajanta caves can be found in the travel accounts of <strong>Chinese Buddhist travellers Fa Hien</strong> (during the reign of Chandragupta II; 380- 415 CE) and <strong>Hieun Tsang</strong> (during the reign of emperor Harshavardhana; 606 - 647 CE). .</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Painting</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The figures in these caves were done using <strong>fresco painting</strong>.</li>
<li>The outlines of the paintings were done in red colour. One of the striking features is the <strong>absence of blue colour</strong> in the paintings.</li>
<li>The paintings are generally <strong>themed around Buddhism</strong> &ndash; the life of Buddha and Jataka stories.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>UNESCO Site:</strong> The caves were designated a <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/kailash-mansarovar-in-tentative-list-of-world-heritage-sites" target="_blank" rel="noopener">UNESCO World Heritage site</a> in <strong>1983</strong>.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Ellora Caves<img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1576485402_image2.jpg" width="300" height="200" style="float: right;" caption="false" /></h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Location:</strong> It is located nearly 100 Kms away from Ajanta caves in the <strong>Sahyadri range of Maharashtra</strong>.</li>
<li><strong>Number of Caves:</strong> It is a group of <strong>34 caves</strong> &ndash; 17 <strong>Brahmanical</strong>, 12 <strong>Buddhist</strong> and 5 <strong>Jain</strong>.</li>
<li><strong>Time of Development</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>These set of caves were developed during the period between the <strong>5<sup>th</sup> and 11<sup>th</sup> centuries A.D.</strong> (newer as compared to Ajanta Caves) by various guilds from Vidarbha, Karnataka and Tamil Nadu.</li>
<li>That is why the caves reflect a natural diversity in terms of theme and architectural styles.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>UNESCO Site:</strong> The Ellora complex was designated a UNESCO World Heritage site in 1983.</li>
<li>The most remarkable of the cave temples is Kailasa <strong>(Kailasanatha; cave 16)</strong>, named for the mountain in the Kailasa Range of the Himalayas where the Hindu god Shiva resides.</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Sahyadri Range</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Western Ghats are locally known by different names such as <strong>Sahyadri in Maharashtra, Nilgiri hills in Karnataka</strong> and <strong>Tamil Nadu</strong> and <strong>Anaimalai hills and Cardamom hills</strong> in <strong>Kerala</strong>.</li>
<li>The Western Ghats are a north-south chain of mountains or hills that mark the western edge of the Deccan plateau region.</li>
<li>Western Ghats are comparatively higher in elevation and more continuous than the Eastern Ghats. Their average elevation is about 1,500 m with the height increasing from north to south.</li>
<li><strong>Anaimudi (2,695 m),</strong> the highest peak of Peninsular plateau is located on the Anaimalai hills of the Western Ghats followed by Dodabetta (2,637 m) on the Nilgiri hills.</li>
<li>Most of the Peninsular rivers such as <strong>Krishna and Cauvery</strong> have their origin in the Western Ghats.</li>
</ul>
</div>
<p><a href="https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/other-states/visitor-centres-at-ajanta-ellora-shut-due-to-pending-dues/article30310749.ece" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Source: TH</strong></a></p>',
			'postdate' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenTime) {},
			'url' => 'https://www.drishtiias.com/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/ajanta-and-ellora-caves'
		],
		(int) 10 => [
			'title' => 'Credit Ratings',
			'catname' => 'Paper 3',
			'desc' => '<p style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1577425290_Credit%20Ratings (Mind Map).png" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1577425290_Credit Ratings (Mind Map).png" width="387" height="1135" /></a></p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><a href="/to-the-points/paper3/credit-ratings-1" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><em>For TTP</em></a></p>',
			'postdate' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenTime) {},
			'url' => 'https://www.drishtiias.com/mind-map/gs-paper3/credit-ratings-mindmap'
		],
		(int) 11 => [
			'title' => 'Agrobiodiversity for India',
			'catname' => 'News Editorials',
			'desc' => '<div class="border">
<p>This article is based on <a href="https://www.thehindu.com/opinion/lead/indias-food-basket-must-be-enlarged/article30109818.ece" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>&ldquo;India&rsquo;s food basket must be enlarged&rdquo;</strong></a> which was published in The Hindu on 29/11/2019. It talks about Agrobiodiversity and its significance for India.</p>
</div>
<p>Recently, the Ministry of Human Resources Development brought out school <strong>&lsquo;Nutrition Garden&rsquo;</strong> guidelines, encouraging students to identify fruits and vegetables best suited to topography, soil and climate.</p>
<p>Nutrition Garden envisages providing students lifelong social, numerical and presentation skills, care for living organisms and teamwork, besides being used in the Mid-Day meal scheme.</p>
<p>Based on Nutrition Garden, <strong>agrobiodiversity can be contemplated all across India,</strong> to address India&rsquo;s hunger issues.</p>
<h3>What is Agrobiodiversity?</h3>
<p>Agrobiodiversity is the result of the interaction between the environment, genetic resources and management systems and practices used by culturally diverse people.</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>It comprises the diversity of genetic resources (varieties, breeds) and species used for food, fodder, fibre, fuel and pharmaceuticals.</li>
<li>It also includes the diversity of non-harvested species that support production (soil microorganisms, predators, pollinators), and those in the wider environment that support agro-ecosystems (agricultural, pastoral, forest and aquatic) as well as the diversity of the agro-ecosystems.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Benefits of Agrobiodiversity</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Increases productivity, food security, and economic returns.</li>
<li>Reduces the pressure of agriculture on fragile areas, forests and endangered species.</li>
<li>Makes farming systems more stable, robust, and sustainable.</li>
<li>Contributes to sound pest and disease management</li>
<li>Conserves soil and increase natural soil fertility and health.</li>
<li>Reduces dependency on external inputs.</li>
<li>Improves human nutrition and provides sources of medicines and vitamins.</li>
<li>Conserve ecosystem structure and stability of species diversity.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Significance of Agrobiodiversity for India</h3>
<p>India&rsquo;s promising genetic resources include rice from Tamil Nadu (Konamani), Assam (Agni bora) and Kerala (Pokkali), Bhalia Wheat and mushroom (Guchhi) from Himachal Pradesh and rich farm animal native breeds &mdash; cattle (42), buffaloes (15), goat (34), sheep (43) and chicken (19). Since, genetic diversity of crops, livestock and their wild relatives, are fundamental to improve crop varieties and livestock breeds, this can help in the following ways:</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>In combating hunger:</strong> India is ranked 102 in the <strong>Global Hunger Index (GHI) out of 117</strong> qualified countries.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Hunger is defined by caloric deprivation; protein hunger; hidden hunger by the deficiency of micronutrients.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Malnutrition:</strong> Nearly 47 million or four out of 10 children in India do not meet their potential because of chronic undernutrition or stunting. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>This leads to diminished learning capacity, increased chronic diseases, low birth-weight infants from malnourished parents.</li>
<li>The global nutrition report pegs 614 million women and more than half the women in India aged 15-49 as being anaemic.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Agrobiodiversity can help in</strong> nutrition-sensitive farming and bio-fortified foods.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>For instance, moringa (drumstick) has micronutrients and sweet potato is rich in Vitamin A. There are varieties of pearl millet and sorghum rich in iron and zinc.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>This will help India achieve <strong>UN Sustainable Development Goal 2</strong> (Zero Hunger) and the <strong>Aichi Biodiversity Target</strong> (focuses on countries conserving the genetic diversity of plants, farm livestock and wild relatives).</li>
</ul>
<h3>Agrobiodiversity In India</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Across the world, 37 sites are designated as <strong>Globally Important Agricultural Heritage Systems (GIAHS),</strong> of which three are Indian &mdash; Kashmir (saffron), Koraput (traditional agriculture) and Kuttanad (below sea-level farming).</li>
<li>In India, over 811 cultivated plants and 902 of their wild relatives have been documented.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Challenges to Agrobiodiversity</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Loss of crop genetic resources due to <strong>adopting new crop varieties without conserving traditional varieties.</strong> For example, Bt cotton.</li>
<li>Similarly, there are concerns on<strong> high output breeds</strong> for production of meat, milk and eggs. Crossbreeding of foreign breeds with indigenous breeds leads to erosion of genetically diverse pool.</li>
<li>Out of 2,50,000 globally identified plant species, about 7,000 have historically been used in human diets. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Today, <strong>only 30 crops form the basis of the world&rsquo;s agriculture</strong> and just three species of maize, rice and wheat supply more than half the world&rsquo;s daily calories.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Way Forward</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>There is a need for a <strong>comprehensive policy on &lsquo;ecological agriculture&rsquo;</strong> to enhance native pest and pollinator population providing ecosystem services for the agricultural landscape.</li>
<li><strong>Bio-village concept:</strong> Ecologically sensitive farming can be done by conserving crop wild relatives of cereals, millets, oilseeds, fibres, forages, fruits and nuts, vegetables, spices etc. for crop genetic diversity healthier food.</li>
<li><strong>Providing incentives for farmers</strong> cultivating native varieties and those conserving indigenous breeds of livestock and poultry varieties.</li>
<li><strong>Community seed banks</strong> should be encouraged in each agro-climatic zone.</li>
<li>Developing a <strong>national level invasive alien species policy</strong> is required to identify pathways, mapping, monitoring, managing, controlling and eradicating invasive species.</li>
<li>The <strong>consumption pattern and culinary diversity</strong> must be enlarged to increase India&rsquo;s food basket.</li>
</ul>
<table border="1" style="border-collapse: collapse; width: 100%;">
<tbody>
<tr>
<td style="width: 100%; border-style: dotted; border-color: #ff0303; background-color: #dffacf;"><span style="color: #000080;"><em><strong>Drishti Mains Question</strong></em></span><br /><br />What do you understand by agrobiodiversity? Examine its significance in light of climate change, sustainable agriculture and poverty.</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>',
			'postdate' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenTime) {},
			'url' => 'https://www.drishtiias.com/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/agrobiodiversity-for-india'
		],
		(int) 12 => [
			'title' => 'National Energy Conservation Day',
			'catname' => 'News Analysis',
			'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>The National Energy Conservation Day is organized every year on 14<sup>th</sup> December by the <strong>Bureau of Energy Efficiency</strong> (<a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/electric-vehicle-charging-guidelines-and-specifications" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>BEE</strong></a>).</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>It <strong>aims</strong> to showcase India&rsquo;s achievements in energy efficiency and conservation while working for its ambition of holistic development as part of the nation&rsquo;s overall effort towards climate change mitigation.</li>
<li>BEE is observing <strong>National Energy Conservation Week</strong> from 9<sup>th</sup> to 14<sup>th</sup> December 2019 in order to drive mass awareness about the importance of energy efficiency and conservation.</li>
<li>In order to realize the development goals,<strong> India&rsquo;s energy demand</strong> is <strong>expected to double between 2013 and 2030,</strong> to <strong>approximately 1500 million tons</strong> of oil equivalent.</li>
<li>The <strong>mission of BEE</strong> is to assist in developing policies and strategies that will help reduce this energy demand by promoting widespread adoption of energy efficiency measures.</li>
</ul>
<h3>National Energy Conservation Awards Programme</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>It recognizes the <strong>energy efficiency achievements in 56 sub-sectors</strong> across industry, establishments and institutions.</li>
<li>Ministry of Power is implementing various policies and schemes viz The Perform, Achieve and Trade <strong>(PAT) Scheme, Standard and Labelling</strong> and <strong>Demand Side Management.</strong> These programmes are helpful in achieving significant energy savings and also, in promotion of the efficient use of energy across society.</li>
<li>Furthermore, the development of <strong>Energy Conservation Guidelines</strong> and <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/bee-introduces-state-energy-efficiency-index" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>State Energy Efficiency Preparedness Index</strong> </a>are complemented within different sectors of Industries and States for implementing energy efficiency programmes more effectively. <strong>Energy Conservation Building Codes</strong> for the residential sector is also being developed for curtailing the rising energy demand of the country.</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Perform, Achieve and Trade Scheme</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>It is a market-based mechanism to further accelerate as well as incentivize energy efficiency in the large energy-intensive industries.</li>
<li>The scheme provides the option to trade any additional certified energy savings with other designated consumers to comply with the Specific Energy Consumption reduction targets.</li>
<li>The <strong>Energy Savings Certificates (ESCerts)</strong> so issued will be tradable on special trading platforms to be created in the two power exchanges -- Indian Energy Exchange and Power Exchange India.</li>
<li>The scheme is unique in many ways, particularly from a developing country's perspective since it creates a market for energy efficiency through tradable certificates ESCerts, by allowing them to be used for meeting energy reduction targets.</li>
</ul>
</div>
<p><a href="https://pib.gov.in/PressReleseDetailm.aspx?PRID=1596314" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Source: PIB</strong></a></p>',
			'postdate' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenTime) {},
			'url' => 'https://www.drishtiias.com/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/national-energy-conservation-day'
		],
		(int) 13 => [
			'title' => 'Essential Medicines',
			'catname' => 'News Analysis',
			'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>India&rsquo;s drug pricing regulator, <strong>National Pharmaceutical Pricing Authority (NPPA),</strong> has allowed an increase in the maximum retail prices of 21 drugs currently under price control by as much as 50%.</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The decision has been taken by invoking<strong> paragraph 19 of the Drug Prices Control Order (DPCO), 2013</strong> which until now has been used only to reduce the prices of stents and knee implants.</li>
<li>Most of these drugs are used as the first line of treatment and are crucial to the public health program of the country.</li>
<li>The decision by the NPPA will apply to formulations like the BCG vaccine for tuberculosis, vitamin C, antibiotics like metronidazole and benzylpenicillin, antimalarial drug chloroquine and leprosy medication dapsone.</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Drug Prices Control Order, 2013</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Under the provisions of DPCO 2013, only the prices of drugs that figure in the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/medical-%20device-margins-to-be-capped" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>National List of Essential Medicines (NLEM)</strong></a> are monitored and controlled by the regulator, the National Pharmaceutical Pricing Authority. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Essential medicines are those that satisfy the priority healthcare needs of the majority of the population. The primary purpose of NLEM is to promote rational use of medicines considering the three important aspects i.e. cost, safety and efficacy.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>Paragraph 19 of the DPCO, 2013, deals with <strong>increase or decrease in drug prices under extraordinary circumstances.</strong> However, there is neither a precedent nor any formula prescribed for upward revision of ceiling prices.</li>
</ul>
</div>
<h3>Background</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Manufacturers have been citing <strong>difficulties in supplying these drugs</strong> and many companies even have applied for discontinuation of the product on account of unviability.</li>
<li>NPPA has been receiving applications for upward price revision under para 19 of DPCO, 2013, since last two years citing reasons like &ldquo;increase in <strong>Active Pharmaceutical Ingredient - API (key ingredient) cost,</strong> increase in cost of production, exchange rates etc. resulting in unviability in sustainable production and marketing of the drugs.</li>
<li><strong>India is dependent on China for over 60% of its API requirement,</strong> higher API costs for price-controlled medicines reduce profits and sometimes even make production of these drugs unviable in India. For instance, the cost of ingredients to make vitamin C went up as much as 250%, leading to a 25-30% shortage of this drug in India in 2019.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The decision has been taken to ensure that the<strong> life saving essential drugs must remain available</strong> to the general public at all times. This is to avoid a situation where these drugs become unavailable in the market and the public is forced to switch to costly alternatives.</li>
<li>This is the first time the NPPA &mdash; which is known to slash prices of essential and life-saving medicines &mdash; is increasing prices in public interest.</li>
</ul>
<p>On a longer term, <strong>India needs to build capabilities to manufacture the key ingredients</strong> for these medicines.</p>
<p><a href="https://indianexpress.com/article/india/in-a-first-regulator-hikes-prices-of-essential-drugs-6166019/" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Source: IE</strong></a></p>',
			'postdate' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenTime) {},
			'url' => 'https://www.drishtiias.com/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/essential-medicines'
		],
		(int) 14 => [
			'title' => 'Accessible India Campaign',
			'catname' => 'News Analysis',
			'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>The deadline for the government&rsquo;s <strong>Accessible India Campaign (AIC)</strong> has been extended to March 2020 due to slow progress.</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>AIC is the nationwide flagship campaign of the Department of Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities (DEPwD), <strong>Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment.</strong></li>
<li>The aim of the Campaign is to make a <strong>barrier-free and conducive environment for Divyangjans</strong> (Persons with Disabilities - PwDs) all over the country.</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1576306605_image1.jpg" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1576306605_image1.jpg" width="656" height="328" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" caption="false" /></a></p>
<h3>Accessible India Campaign</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Launched by</strong> the Prime Minister of India on International Day of Persons with Disabilities on 3rd December 2015.</li>
<li><strong>Background</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Persons with Disabilities (Equal Opportunities, Protection of Rights and Full Participation) Act, 1995</strong> categorically provided for non-discrimination in transport and in the built environment. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>It needs to be noted that <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/status-on-implementation-of-the-rights-of-persons-with-disabilities-act-2016" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act, 2016</strong></a> replaced the PwD Act, 1995.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UNCRPD),</strong> to which <strong>India is a signatory,</strong> under Article 9 casts obligations on the Governments for ensuring to PwDs accessibility to (a) Information, (b) Transportation, (c) Physical Environment, (d) Communication Technology and (e) Accessibility to Services as well as emergency services.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Three Components of AIC</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Built Environment Accessibility</li>
<li>Transportation System Accessibility</li>
<li>Information and Communication Eco-System Accessibility</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Targets entailed under the three components</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Making 50% of all the government buildings of National Capital and all the State capitals fully accessible by December 2018.</li>
<li>Completing accessibility audit of 50% of government buildings and making them fully accessible in 10 most important cities/towns of States by December 2019.</li>
<li>Ensuring that 50% of railway stations in the country are converted into fully accessible railway stations by March 2018.</li>
<li>Ensuring that 25% of Government owned public transport carriers in the country are converted into fully accessible carriers by March 2018.</li>
<li>Conducting accessibility audit of 50% of all government (both Central and State Governments) websites and converting them into fully accessible websites by March 2017.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/targets-missed-accessible-india-campaigns-deadline-extended/article30300230.ece" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Source: TH</strong></a></p>',
			'postdate' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenTime) {},
			'url' => 'https://www.drishtiias.com/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/accessible-india-campaign'
		],
		(int) 15 => [
			'title' => 'Medical Devices In India',
			'catname' => 'Paper 2',
			'desc' => '<h3>Introduction</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The medical device industry is a unique blend of engineering and medicine. It involves the creation of machines that are used to support life within the human body.</li>
<li>Medical devices include&nbsp;<strong>Surgical Equipment, Diagnostic equipment</strong> like Cardiac imaging, CT scans, X-ray, Molecular Imaging, MRI and Ultrasound-imaging including hand - held devices; <strong>Life Support equipment</strong> like ventilator, etc. as well as <strong>Implants</strong> and <strong>Disposables.</strong></li>
<li>Medical devices, unlike pharmaceuticals, are dependent on a mix of technologies such as engineering, electronics, material sciences and information technology.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Medical Devices Sector in India</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Medical devices sector in India <strong>is very small in size</strong> as compared to the rest of the manufacturing industry, though India is one of the top twenty markets for medical devices in the world and is the <strong>4<sup>th</sup> largest market</strong> in Asia after Japan, China, and South Korea.</li>
<li>India currently <strong>imports 80-90% of medical devices</strong> of the $15 billion market, the vast majority of which are unregulated for quality and safety.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Factors Driving the Growth of Medical Devices Sector</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Market Factors&ndash;</strong> Growing population, ageing, income base and associated disposable income, increasing socio-economic inclusion of rural and deprived in mainstream economy, heightened manufacturing innovation to create customized products to meet the needs of all income segments, changing disease prevalence pattern (e.g. early onset of diabetes and heart diseases) and growing awareness among the middle class to focus on early detection and disease prevention.</li>
<li><strong>Non-market Factors&ndash;</strong> Development of infrastructure, favorable regulations, FDI inflow, outsourcing of manufacturing and R&amp;D activities to India, government initiatives to improve healthcare access through insurance schemes such as Rashtriya Swasthya Bima Yojana (RSBY), Aarogyasri, etc.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Issues Regarding Medical Devices Sector in India</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Underdeveloped:</strong> The industry is still at a nascent stage with sub-optimal penetration and usage of medical devices. This demands innovation and R&amp;D from the medical device industry in order to push for indigenisation.</li>
<li><strong>Regulatory Loopholes/deficit:</strong> The lack of regulatory systems, harmonized standards, accreditation, legal requirements, proper guidance on quality and best practices etc. are affecting the medical devices industry adversely. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Medical devices continue to be under the <strong>Drugs and Cosmetics Act 1940</strong> and industry representatives are pushing for a comprehensive regulation that views medical devices separately, through the entire life-cycle of the product, from design to tests on patients, incorporating doctor feedback, and surveillance of patients in whom the implants are used, etc.</li>
<li>The four draft notifications issued by the health ministry recently has notified all medical devices as &lsquo;medicines&rsquo; under the Drugs Act from December 2019.</li>
<li>However, experts and device manufacturers are demanding to bring a separate law, Medical Devices Act, to regulate the medical devices industry in India. At present only 24 out of over 6,000 devices are regulated.</li>
<li>The Drugs Act itself needs reforms as it does not uniformly and equitably regulate quality from state-to-state in the absence of a national singular regulatory authority. The recent J&amp;J episode showed the limitations of the Drugs Act and the Drugs Controller was seen to be handicapped to discipline overseas manufacturers.</li>
<li>Presently, India does not have any legal provisions to compensate patients facing health problems due to implants or the use of faulty medical devices. Under the law, companies are liable to pay compensation only when something goes wrong during a clinical trial.</li>
<li>The <strong>Johnson and Johnson&rsquo;s faulty hip implant device case</strong> is symptomatic of the failure of regulatory mechanisms to counter corporate forgery, lack of administrative accountability, breach of business/medical ethics of big pharma, and the lack of consumer/patient awareness.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>Investors shy away from an unpredictable, incomplete and incorrect regulatory environment. In the absence of norms, domestic manufacturing suffers as a surgeon is unsure of trying an unregulated device from a startup on a patient.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Major Recommendations of Task Force on the Medical Devices Sector In India (2015)</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Formulate &ldquo;Medical Device Regulatory Act&rdquo;:</strong> Medical devices should be treated distinctly from drugs and a separate chapter for medical devices should be made in the existing Drugs &amp; Cosmetics Act.</li>
<li><strong>Create necessary bodies to drive the policies:</strong> Set up an independent body with a permanent office and support staff to promote and facilitate the medical device industry with representatives from all related government departments as well as Industry.</li>
<li>Department of Pharmaceuticals should be strengthened and rechristened as the Department of Pharmaceuticals and Medical Devices.</li>
<li><strong>Preferential treatment in government procurement:</strong> Preference may be given to medical devices that are being manufactured in India with an additional preference for medical devices manufactured under the MSME sector.</li>
<li>Medical device testing centers should be set up preferably in the PPP model.</li>
<li>Designate &ldquo;Centers of Excellence&rdquo; (CoE) for supporting product development and validation.</li>
<li>Set up a Skill development committee with representatives from the Medical devices industry, academia (NIPERs) and Healthcare Sector Skill Council (HSSC) under the National Skill Development Council (NSDC).</li>
<li>Separate price control order for medical devices.</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1576238418_image1.png" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1576238418_image1.png" width="485" height="522" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" caption="false" /></a></p>
<h3>Recent Government Steps</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The government has approved setting up <strong>four medical device parks</strong> with a view to support Make in India initiative and provide world-class treatment at affordable prices. The parks will be set up in Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Tamil Nadu and Kerala. Uttarakhand and Gujarat have also approached the Centre for such parks.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>These parks will provide the necessary infrastructure, where companies can easily plug and play.</li>
<li>This will not only cut import bills but will also help in easy access to standard testing facilities and reduce the cost of production.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>Government of India in November 2018 approved formula for determination of<strong> compensation for those patients who had received</strong> (prior to August 2010) <strong>faulty</strong> Articular Surface Replacement (ASR) <strong>hip implants</strong> manufactured<strong> by</strong> M/s. DePuy International Limited, U.K (M/S <strong>Johnson &amp; Johnson</strong> Pvt Ltd).<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>New provisions will be added to the Drugs and Cosmetics Act to introduce a compensation plan for faulty medical devices having adverse impacts on patients.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Conclusion</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>There is a difference between medical devices and drugs so it would be a grave mistake to apply the same regulatory framework for both of them. A targeted and different approach is needed to regulate these complex devices.</li>
<li>Medical devices sector, being a critical sector dealing with human lives, needs to be given sufficient attention on an urgent basis to make the sector effective and transparent with the aim to make healthcare devices affordable and accessible to the masses.</li>
<li>India being a large market for medical devices should tap the potential generated by the Medical Devices Industry by strengthening its domestic framework that would greatly help in realising the vision of &ldquo;Make in India&rdquo;.</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="/mind-map/gs-paper2/medical-devices-in-india-mindmap" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><em>For Mind Map</em></a></p>',
			'postdate' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenTime) {},
			'url' => 'https://www.drishtiias.com/to-the-points/Paper2/medical-devices-in-india-1'
		],
		(int) 16 => [
			'title' => 'Medical Devices In India',
			'catname' => 'Paper 2',
			'desc' => '<p><a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1577359169_Medical%20Devices In India (Mind Map).png" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1577359169_Medical Devices In India (Mind Map).png" width="454" height="1389" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" /></a></p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><a href="/to-the-points/Paper2/medical-devices-in-india-1" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><em>For TTP</em></a></p>',
			'postdate' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenTime) {},
			'url' => 'https://www.drishtiias.com/mind-map/gs-paper2/medical-devices-in-india-mindmap'
		],
		(int) 17 => [
			'title' => 'PRS Capsule November 2019',
			'catname' => 'PRS Capsule',
			'desc' => '<p><em><strong>Key Highlights of PRS</strong></em></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><a href="#1">Economy</a>
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><a href="#2">Chit Funds (Amendment) Bill, 2019</a></li>
<li><a href="#3">International Financial Services Authority Bill</a></li>
<li><a href="#4">15<sup>th</sup> Finance Commission Gets One-year Extension</a></li>
<li><a href="#5">Regulatory Sandbox</a></li>
<li><a href="#6">RBI Revises Liquidity Risk Management Framework for NBFCs</a></li>
<li><a href="#7">The Industrial Relations Code, 2019</a></li>
<li><a href="#8">Company Law Committee Releases Report</a></li>
<li><a href="#9">TRAI releases recommendations on platform services by DTH operators</a></li>
<li><a href="#10">Steel Scrap Recycling Policy</a></li>
<li><a href="#11">Recycling of Ships Bill, 2019</a></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><a href="#12">Polity</a>
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><a href="#13">The Transgender Persons (Protection of Rights) Bill, 2019</a></li>
<li><a href="#14">Restructuring of Tribunals</a></li>
<li><a href="#15">Chief Justice of India under the Right to Information Act, 2005</a></li>
<li><a href="#16">Supreme Court upholds disqualification of 17 Karnataka MLAs</a></li>
<li><a href="#17">The Surrogacy (Regulation) Bill, 2019</a></li>
<li><a href="#18">Arms (Amendment) Bill, 2019</a></li>
<li><a href="#19">Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Daman and Diu (Merger of Union Territories) Bill, 2019</a></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><a href="#20">Culture</a>
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><a href="#21">The Jallianwala Bagh National Memorial (Amendment) Bill, 2019</a></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><a href="#22">External Affairs</a>
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><a href="#23">11<sup>th</sup> BRICS summit</a></li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h2 id="1">Economy</h2>
<h3 id="2">Chit Funds (Amendment) Bill, 2019</h3>
<p><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/chit-funds-amendment-bill-2019" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Chit Funds (Amendment) Bill, 2019</strong></a> has been passed by the Parliament. The Bill seeks to amend the Chit Funds Act, 1982. The Act regulates chit funds and prohibits a fund from being created without prior sanction of the state government.</p>
<p><strong>Chit Fund</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Under a chit fund, people agree to pay a certain amount from time to time into a fund. Periodically, one of the subscribers is chosen by drawing a chit to receive the prize amount from the fund.</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>Key Features of the Bill</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Names for a Chit Fund:</strong> The Act specifies various names which may be used to refer to a chit fund.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>These include chit, chit fund, and kuri.</li>
<li>It additionally inserts<strong> &lsquo;fraternity fund&rsquo;</strong> and <strong>&lsquo;rotating savings and credit institution&rsquo;</strong> to this list.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Presence of Subscribers through Video-Conferencing:</strong> The Act specifies that a chit will be drawn in the presence of at least two subscribers.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The Bill seeks to allow these subscribers to join via video-conferencing.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Foreman&rsquo;s Commission:</strong> The &lsquo;foreman&rsquo; is responsible for managing the chit fund. He is entitled to a maximum commission of 5% of the chit amount.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The Bill seeks to increase the commission to 7%.</li>
<li>Further, the Bill allows the foreman a right to lien against the credit balance from subscribers.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Aggregate Amount of Chits:</strong> Under the Act, chits may be conducted by firms, associations or individuals.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The Act specifies the maximum amount of chit funds which may be collected.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Application of the Act:</strong> Currently, the Act does not apply to: (i) any chit started before it was enacted, and (ii) any chit (or multiple chits being managed by the same foreman) where the amount is less than Rs 100.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The Bill removes the limit of Rs 100 and allows the state governments to specify the base amount over which the provisions of the Act will apply.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Lien</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>A lien is a claim or legal right against assets that are typically used as collateral to satisfy a debt.</li>
<li>If the underlying obligation is not satisfied, the creditor may be able to seize the asset that is the subject of the lien.</li>
</ul>
</div>
<h3 id="3">International Financial Services Authority Bill</h3>
<p>The Bill provides for the establishment of an Authority to develop and regulate the financial services market in the International Financial Services Centres in India.</p>
<p><strong>Key features of the Bill</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Coverage:</strong> The Bill will apply to all <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/international-financial-services-centres-authority-bill-2019" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>International Financial Services Centres</strong> </a>(IFSCs) set up under the Special Economic Zones Act, 2005.</li>
<li><strong>Constitution of the International Financial Services Centres Authority:</strong> The Bill sets up the International Financial Services Centres Authority.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The Authority will consist of nine members (including a chairperson), appointed by the central government.</li>
<li>Members of the Authority will include representation from the RBI, SEBI, the Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority of India, the Pension Fund Regulatory Development Authority, and the Ministry of Finance.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Functions of the Authority include:</strong>
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Regulating financial products (such as securities, deposits or contracts of insurance), financial services, and financial institutions in an IFSC which have been approved by any regulator (such as the RBI or SEBI), before the enactment of this Act.</li>
<li>Regulating any other financial products, financial services, or financial institutions in an IFSC, which may be notified by the central government.</li>
<li>Recommending to the central government, any other financial services, products, or financial institutions which may be permitted in an IFSC.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>International Financial Services Centres Authority Fund:</strong> The Bill sets up the International Financial Services Centres Authority Fund.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Grants, fees and charges received by the Authority and sums received by the Authority from various sources will be credited to the Fund.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Transaction in foreign currency:</strong> As per the Bill, all transactions of financial services in IFSCs will be in such foreign currency as specified by the Authority, in consultation with the central government.</li>
</ul>
<h3 id="4">15<sup>th</sup> Finance Commission Gets One-year Extension</h3>
<p>The President extended the period of the 15<sup>th</sup> Finance Commission (the period for which it is required to give its recommendations) by one year, from 2020-25 to 2020-26.</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Earlier, the Commission was required to submit its report by November 2019, consisting of recommendations for the period 2020-21 to 2024-25.</li>
<li>This extension was given, due to the <a href="/current-affairs-news-analysis-editorials/news-analysis/05-08-2019#2719" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>change in the status of Jammu &amp; Kashmir&rsquo;s statehood</strong></a> as the Fifteenth Finance Commission will have to rework its calculations for interstate distribution of central resources among different states.</li>
</ul>
<h3 id="5">Regulatory Sandbox</h3>
<p>The <a href="/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-national-institutions/important-institutions-national-institution-reserve-bank-of-india" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Reserve Bank of India (RBI)</strong> </a>had released the enabling framework for <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/sandbox-for-fintech" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>regulatory sandbox</strong></a> in August 2019.</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The sandbox provides an environment which allows market participants to test new products, services or business models with customers in a controlled environment.</li>
<li>RBI has called for applications for the following products/services under the above theme:
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Offline payment solutions</li>
<li>Contactless payments</li>
<li>Feature phone-based payment services</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3 id="6">RBI Revises Liquidity Risk Management Framework for NBFCs</h3>
<p>RBI issued final guidelines on the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/nbfc-liquidity-norms" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>asset-liability management and liquidity coverage ratio framework</strong></a> for Non-Banking Financial Companies (NBFCs).</p>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>NBFC</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>An NBFC is a company which engages in the acquisition of government securities and shares, and business of loans or advances.</li>
<li>It does not accept demand deposits and cannot issue payment instruments.</li>
<li>Further, more than half of its assets should comprise of financial assets (investment in equity shares, securities or loans).</li>
<li>Category 1 NBFCs include all deposit-taking NBFCs and non-deposit taking with an asset size of Rs 10,000 crore and above.</li>
<li>Category 2 NBFCs include non-deposit taking NBFCs with an asset size between Rs 5,000 crore and Rs 10,000 crore.</li>
</ul>
</div>
<p><strong>Liquidity Risk management Framework</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>It aims to ensure adequate liquidity (NBFCs capacity to meet unexpected cash and collateral obligations without incurring unacceptable losses).</li>
<li>This is done through high-quality liquid assets (assets that can be readily sold or converted to cash, or used as collateral to obtain funds in the situation of stress).</li>
<li>The revised guidelines have also introduced the Liquidity Coverage Ratio (LCR) as an added measure for liquidity risk management for certain categories of NBFCs.</li>
<li>As per the guidelines, all public deposits taking NBFCs and non-deposit taking (with an asset size of Rs 5,000 crore and above) will have to maintain a minimum LCR, in order to sustain acute liquidity stress scenarios (stress lasting for 30 days).
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>LCR is the ratio of the stock of high-quality liquid assets to the total cash outflows of the NBFC, for a period of 30 days.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>These requirements would be binding on the NBFCs from December 1, 2020.</li>
</ul>
<h3 id="7">The Industrial Relations Code, 2019</h3>
<p>The Industrial Relations Code, 2019 was introduced in Lok Sabha. It seeks to replace three labour laws:</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The Industrial Disputes Act, 1947</li>
<li>The Trade Unions Act, 1926</li>
<li>The Industrial Employment (Standing Orders) Act, 1946.</li>
</ul>
<p>Key features of the Bill include:</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Trade unions:</strong>
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Under the Code, seven or more members of a trade union can apply to register it.</li>
<li>Trade unions that have a membership of at least 10% of the workers or 100 workers, whichever is less, will be registered.</li>
<li>Further, the central or state government may recognise a trade union or a federation of trade unions as Central or State Trade Unions respectively.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Negotiating unions:</strong>
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The Code provides for a negotiation union in an industrial establishment for negotiating with the employer.</li>
<li>If there is only one trade union in an industrial establishment, then the employer is required to recognise such trade union as the sole negotiating union of the workers.</li>
<li>In case of multiple trade unions, the trade union with the support of at least 75% of workers will be recognised as the negotiating union by the government.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Lay-off and retrenchment:</strong>
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The Code defines lay-off as the inability of an employer, due to shortage of coal, power, or breakdown of machinery, from giving employment to a worker. It also provides for employers to terminate the services of a worker, i.e., retrenchment.</li>
<li>Employers of industrial establishments with at least 100 workers are required to take prior permission of the central or state government before lay-off, retrenchment or closure of an establishment.</li>
<li>The central or state government can modify this threshold number of workers by notification. Any person who contravenes this provision is punishable with a fine between one lakh rupees and Rs 10 lakh.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Resolution of industrial disputes:</strong>
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The central or state governments may appoint conciliation officers to mediate and promote settlement of industrial disputes.</li>
<li>These officers will investigate the dispute and hold conciliation proceedings to arrive at a fair and amicable settlement of the dispute.</li>
<li>If no settlement is arrived at, then any party to the dispute can make an application to an Industrial Tribunal set up under the Code.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3 id="8">Company Law Committee Releases Report</h3>
<p>The <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/committee-to-review-the-offences-under-the-companies-act" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Company Law Committee</strong> </a>headed by Mr. Injeti Srinivas submitted its report to the Ministry of Corporate Affairs.</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The Committee made recommendations to the government about the re-categorisation of certain criminal offences in the Companies Act, 2013. It also suggested certain other changes to facilitate the ease of doing business.</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>Key observations and recommendations include:</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Rationale for re-categorisation:</strong> The Committee observed that a balance must be struck between civil and criminal sanctions when dealing with corporate conduct.</li>
<li>Serious violations of the law, especially wrongful conduct involving fraudulent elements, should be dealt with under criminal law. However, procedural, technical, and minor non-compliance may be dealt with through civil jurisdiction.</li>
<li><strong>Offences to be omitted or dealt with under alternative frameworks:</strong> The Committee believed that certain offences could be dealt with through other laws or alternative mechanisms. It recommended that seven offences be omitted.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>These offences may be omitted from the Act. These include those relating to noncompliance with National Company Law Tribunal orders regarding failure to redeem debentures.</li>
<li>The Committee also recommended that five offences be dealt with under alternative frameworks such as the Insolvency and Banking Code.</li>
<li>These offences included those relating to noncooperation of promoters or directors with the company liquidator.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Offences restricted to fine only:</strong> The Committee noted that certain offences were severe enough to warrant criminal liability but not necessitate incarceration.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The imposition of a penalty as punishment would suffice. These offences included those relating to non-compliance of companies with charitable objects (such as the promotion of social welfare) with the requirements imposed on them.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Ease of living related changes:</strong> The Committee suggested certain changes relating to improving the ease of living in the country for corporates.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>These include enabling the centre to enhance limits on Corporate Social Responsibility obligation thresholds to help improve CSR compliance.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3 id="9">TRAI releases recommendations on platform services by DTH operators</h3>
<p>TRAI has released recommendations on platform services offered by Direct to Home (DTH) operators.There are different types of distribution service providers of TV channels based on the technology used for distribution including <a href="/loksabha-rajyasabha-discussions/the-big-picture-dth-v-s-ott" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>DTH services</strong></a>, local cable operators, and Internet Protocol Television Services.</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>All distribution service providers offer certain programs which are specific to each platform and are not obtained from satellite-based broadcasters. These programs are referred to as platform services. Platform services provide the operators with an additional source of revenue through subscription of such services as well as advertisements on these services.</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>Key recommendations are as follows:</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Definition of platform services:</strong> Platform services have been defined as the programs transmitted by operators exclusively to their own subscribers. They do not include Doordarshan channels, registered satellite TV channels, or foreign TV channels not registered in India.</li>
<li><strong>Registration:</strong> The DTH operator will be required to register the platform service channel with the appropriate authority, and pay Rs 10,000 for every such channel.</li>
<li><strong>Sharing of platform services:</strong> The platform services provided by one operator will be exclusive to itself, and will not be shared with another operator.</li>
<li>Violation of this provision may lead to cancellation of registration of the platform service channel which was shared.</li>
<li><strong>Cap on number of platform services:</strong> The total number of platform services that an operator can offer will be 3% of total channel carrying capacity of the operator platform, or 15, whichever is higher.</li>
</ul>
<h3 id="10">Steel Scrap Recycling Policy</h3>
<p>The Ministry of Steel released the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/steel-scrap-recycling-policy" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Steel Scrap Recycling Policy.</strong> </a>The policy seeks to provide a framework to <strong>promote the establishment of metal scrapping centres for processing and recycling of steel scrap</strong> generated from various sources such as appliances and vehicles. The policy provides guidelines for collection, dismantling and shredding activities in an organised, safe, and environment-friendly manner. It describes the roles and responsibilities of collection centres, dismantling centres, scrap processing centres, and the government as follows:</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Collection centres:</strong> Collection centres include individuals, local scrap dealers, and distributors engaged in the collection of scrap.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The collection centres may also assist the processing centres in initial segregation and sorting of scraps.</li>
<li>The collection centres may work closely with processing centres for compliance to the scrap specifications and codes prescribed by the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS).</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Dismantling and processing centres:</strong> The dismantling and scrap processing centres will be required to adhere to the existing rules related to factories and other industrial norms.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>These centres will be required to comply with various regulations related to environment, pollution control, occupational safety, and management of waste including hazardous waste, among others.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>The Ministry of Steel will work towards promoting:
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Ease of doing business in setting up scrapping centres.</li>
<li>Research and development</li>
<li>Skill development</li>
<li>Development of quality standards</li>
<li>Creation of a competitive market in the steel scrap sector.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>An Inter-Ministerial Coordination Committee will be set up with representation from various Ministries and Departments including: (i) steel, (ii) road transport and highways, (iii) heavy industry, (iv) environment, and (v) Labour. The Committee will monitor the operationalization of the policy and enforcement of related regulations.</li>
</ul>
<h3 id="11">Recycling of Ships Bill, 2019</h3>
<p><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/hong-kong-convention-for-ship-recycling" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>The Recycling of Ships Bill, 2019</strong></a> was introduced in Lok Sabha. The Bill restricts the use of hazardous material on ships and regulates the recycling of ships.</p>
<p><strong>Key features include:</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Applicability of the Bill:</strong> The Bill will apply to:
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Any new or existing ship which is registered in India</li>
<li>Ships entering a port or terminal in India, or the territorial waters of India,</li>
<li>Any warship, or other ship owned and operated by an administration and used on government noncommercial service.</li>
<li>Ship recycling facilities operating in India.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Ship recycling:</strong> The Bill defines ship recycling as the dismantling of a ship at a facility to recover the components and materials for reuse, and taking care of the hazardous material so produced.</li>
<li><strong>Requirements for ships:</strong> Ships should not use prohibited hazardous materials as notified. The central government may exempt certain categories of ships from this requirement.</li>
<li>The National Authority will carry out periodic surveys to verify the prescribed requirements. This Authority will be notified by the central government to administer, supervise and monitor all activities related to ship recycling.</li>
</ul>
<h2 id="12">Polity</h2>
<h3 id="13">The Transgender Persons (Protection of Rights) Bill, 2019</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Definition of a transgender person:</strong> <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/the-transgender-persons-protection-of-rights-bill-2019" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>The Bill</strong></a> defines a transgender person as one whose gender does not match the gender assigned at birth.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>It includes transmen and trans-women, persons with intersex variations, gender-queers, and persons with socio-cultural identities, such as kinnar and hijra.</li>
<li>Intersex variations is defined to mean a person who at birth shows the variation in his or her primary sexual characteristics, external genitalia, chromosomes, or hormones from the normative standard of the male or female body.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Prohibition against discrimination:</strong> The Bill prohibits discrimination against a transgender person, including denial of service or unfair treatment in relation to:
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Education</li>
<li>Employment</li>
<li>Healthcare</li>
<li>Access to, or enjoyment of goods, facilities, opportunities available to the public</li>
<li>Right to movement</li>
<li>Right to reside, rent, or otherwise occupy the property</li>
<li>Opportunity to hold public or private office</li>
<li>Access to a government or private establishment in whose care or custody a transgender person is.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Health care:</strong> The government must take steps to provide health facilities to transgender persons including separate HIV surveillance centres, and sex reassignment surgeries.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The government shall review the medical curriculum to address health issues of transgender persons, and provide comprehensive medical insurance schemes for them.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Certificate of identity:</strong> A transgender person may make an application to the District Magistrate for a certificate of identity, indicating the gender as &lsquo;transgender&rsquo;.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>A revised certificate may be obtained only if the individual undergoes surgery to change their gender either as a male or a female.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>National Council for Transgender persons (NCT)</strong> will advise the central government as well as monitor the impact of policies, legislation and projects with respect to transgender persons. It will also redress the grievances of transgender persons.</li>
</ul>
<h3 id="14">Restructuring of Tribunals</h3>
<p>The Supreme Court passed a <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/supreme-court-ruling-on-finance-act-2017" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>judgement regarding various provisions of the Finance Act, 2017</strong></a> that pertained to the restructuring of Tribunals.</p>
<p>The issues before the Supreme Court included:</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Whether the Finance Act, 2017 satisfies the requirements of a Money Bill under the Constitution.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Certain provisions of the Finance Act, 2017 provide for the conditions of service of chairpersons and other members of Tribunals, and amend certain Acts to merge Tribunals.</li>
<li>The Court did not decide on whether such provisions could be passed in a Money Bill and referred the issue to a seven judge bench.</li>
<li>In particular, the reference was to interpret Article 110 of the Constitution, and to decide whether the word &ldquo;only&rdquo; in the definition of Money Bill means that any item other than those related to taxation or expenditure could be included.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>Whether the Rules on Tribunals notified under the Act amount to excessive delegation.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Section 184 of the Finance Act, 2017 allows the central government to make rules regarding qualifications, appointment, terms of services, and salary of chairperson, and other members of Tribunals and other authorities.</li>
<li>The Court said that this does not amount to excessive delegation, and upheld the section.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>Whether the Rules are compatible with the Constitution and various decisions of the Supreme Court.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The Court struck down the Tribunal, Appellate Tribunal and other Authorities (Qualifications, Experience and other Conditions of Service of Members) Rules, 2017.</li>
<li>It held that these Rules were in conflict with the principles of the Constitution which have been settled through various judgements of the Supreme Court.</li>
<li>Therefore, the Court held that these Rules amount to excessive interference of the executive in appointment of members of Tribunals and would be detrimental to the independence of the judiciary.</li>
<li>It would undermine the principle of separation of powers between the executive and the judiciary.</li>
<li>The Court directed the central government to reframe these rules in accordance with previous judgements of the Supreme Court related to working of Tribunals.</li>
<li>The Court also passed an interim order that appointments to the Tribunals shall be in terms of the respective Acts before the enactment of the Finance Act, 2017.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3 id="15">Chief Justice of India under the Right to Information Act, 2005</h3>
<p>In the last decade, some pleas had been filed in the Delhi High Court and the Supreme Court&rsquo;s Central Public Information Officer (CPIO) seeking details of judges&rsquo; appointments, assets and correspondences.</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>In 2010, the Delhi High Court held that the office of Chief Justice of India will come under the Right to Information Act, 2005 (RTI Act, 2005).</li>
<li>Consequently, CPIO, Supreme Court filed an appeal against the decision of the Delhi High Court.</li>
<li>The questions before the Supreme Court included:
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Whether the office of Chief Justice of India would come under the RTI Act, 2005.</li>
<li>Whether sharing such information would undermine judicial independence, and</li>
<li>whether there are any exceptions to the sharing of information.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>The Supreme Court upheld the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/chief-justice-of-india-under-the-ambit-of-the-rti-act" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>2010 judgement of the Delhi High Court</strong></a> and held that the office of the CJI comes under the definition of &ldquo;public authority&rdquo; under the RTI Act, 2005.</li>
<li>The Court further noted that while the independence of the judiciary forms part of the basic structure of the Constitution, bringing the office of the CJI under the RTI Act would not undermine the independence of the judiciary.</li>
<li>However, the Court stressed that when public interest demands the disclosure of information, judicial independence must be kept in mind.</li>
</ul>
<h3 id="16">Supreme Court upholds disqualification of 17 Karnataka MLAs</h3>
<p>The Supreme Court upheld the decision of former <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/disqualification-of-karnataka-mlas" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Karnataka Speaker for disqualification of 17 MLAs.</strong></a> However, it allowed them to contest in re-elections.</p>
<p>In July 2019, the then Karnataka Speaker disqualified 17 MLAs till the end of the Assembly term, under the anti-defection law. 15 of these MLAs had submitted their resignations before the decision of their disqualification.</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>These MLAs argued that they have the right to resign and the Speaker should accept their resignations immediately as they personally informed him that the resignation is voluntary and genuine.</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>The questions before the Supreme Court</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>What is the role of the Speaker in deciding whether to accept or reject a resignation.</li>
<li>Whether the order of the Speaker rejecting the resignation and disqualifying the MLAs is valid.</li>
<li>Whether the Speaker can disqualify the MLAs till the end of the term of the Assembly.</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>Observations held the Supreme Court</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The Court held that the Speaker&rsquo;s role with regard to acceptance or rejection of a resignation is limited to examining whether such a resignation is voluntary or genuine.</li>
<li>Further, it held that disqualification proceedings can be continued even if members have submitted resignations, when the act resulting in disqualification has arisen prior to the resignation.</li>
<li>It upheld the order of the Speaker to the extent of disqualification of the 17 MLAs. However, it held that the Speaker has no power to disqualify the members till the end of the Assembly term.</li>
<li>The Court noted that the Constitution provides for certain sanctions for disqualified members.</li>
<li>These include a bar from being appointed as a Minister or holding any remunerative political post from the date of disqualification till the date of expiry of office, or re-election to the legislature, whichever is earlier.</li>
</ul>
<h3 id="17">The Surrogacy (Regulation) Bill, 2019</h3>
<p>The Surrogacy (Regulation) Bill, 2019 was referred to a Rajya Sabha Select Committee after being passed by Lok Sabha in August 2019.</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The Bill defines surrogacy as a practice where a woman gives birth to a child for an intending couple and agrees to hand over the child to them after the birth.</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>Key features of the Bill include, as passed by Lok Sabha, include:</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Regulation of surrogacy:</strong> The Bill prohibits commercial surrogacy, but allows altruistic surrogacy.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Altruistic surrogacy</strong> involves no monetary compensation to the surrogate mother other than the medical expenses and insurance coverage.</li>
<li><strong>Commercial surrogacy</strong> includes surrogacy or its related procedures undertaken for a monetary benefit or reward (in cash or kind) exceeding the basic medical expenses and insurance coverage.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>The intending couple should have a &lsquo;certificate of essentiality&rsquo; and a &lsquo;certificate of eligibility&rsquo; issued by the appropriate authority.</li>
<li>Apart from this, a surrogate mother is needed to obtain a certificate of eligibility.</li>
<li>The surrogate mother has to be:
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>A close relative of the intending couple; 25 to 35 years old.</li>
<li>A married woman having a child of her own</li>
<li>Possess a certificate of medical and psychological fitness for surrogacy.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3 id="18">Arms (Amendment) Bill, 2019</h3>
<p>The Arms (Amendment) Bill, 2019 was introduced in Lok Sabha by the Minister of Home Affairs. The Bill amends the Arms Act, 1959.</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>It seeks to decrease the number of licensed firearms allowed per person and increases penalties for certain offences under the Act.</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>Key features include:</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>License for acquiring firearms:</strong> The Bill reduces the number of permitted firearms from three to one. This includes licenses given on inheritance or heirloom basis.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The Bill provides a time period of one year to deposit excess firearms.</li>
<li>The Bill also increases the duration of a firearm license from three years to five years.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Increase in punishment:</strong> The Bill enhances the punishment for various offences. For example, the Act specifies the punishment for:
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Dealing in unlicensed firearms.</li>
<li>Shortening or converting a firearm without a licence.</li>
<li>Importing or exporting banned firearms.</li>
<li>The punishment for these offences is between three years and seven years, along with a fine.</li>
<li>The Bill increases the punishment to between seven years and life imprisonment, along with a fine.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>New offences:</strong> The Bill adds news offences. These include:
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Forcefully taking a firearm from police or armed forces, punishable with imprisonment between 10 years and life imprisonment, and a fine.</li>
<li>Using firearms in a celebratory gunfire which endangers human life or personal safety of others, punishable with imprisonment of up to two years or a fine of up to one lakh rupees, or both.</li>
<li>The Bill also defines offences committed by organised crime syndicates and illicit trafficking. Possession of firearms or ammunition by a member of a syndicate, in violation of the Act, will be punishable with imprisonment between 10 years and life, along with a fine.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3 id="19">Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Daman and Diu (Merger of Union Territories) Bill, 2019</h3>
<p><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/dadra-and-nagar-haveli-and-daman-and-diu-merger-of-union-territories-bill-2019" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Daman and Diu (Merger of Union Territories) Bill, 2019</strong></a> was passed by Lok Sabha.</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The Bill provides for the merger of the Union Territories (UTs) of Dadra and Nagar Haveli, and Daman and Diu into a single UT.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The Bill makes consequential amendments including retaining the representation in Lok Sabha, the jurisdiction of the High Court of Bombay, and provisionally allotting all officials of the two UTs to the merged UT.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h2 id="20">Culture</h2>
<h3 id="21">The Jallianwala Bagh National Memorial (Amendment) Bill, 2019</h3>
<p>The <a href="/prs-capsule/prs-capsule-august-2019" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Jallianwala Bagh National Memorial (Amendment) Bill, 2019</strong></a> was passed by Parliament. It amends the Jallianwala Bagh National Memorial Act, 1951.</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The Act provides for the erection of a National Memorial in memory of those killed or wounded on April 13, 1919, in Jallianwala Bagh, Amritsar. It creates a Trust to manage the National Memorial.</li>
<li>The Bill amends this provision to remove the President of the Indian National Congress as a Trustee.</li>
</ul>
<h2 id="22">External Affairs</h2>
<h3 id="23">11<sup>th</sup> BRICS summit</h3>
<p>Brasilia Declaration released after the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/11th-brics-summit" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>11<sup>th</sup> BRICS summit</strong> </a>India participated in the 11<sup>th</sup> BRICS summit held on November 14, 2019.</p>
<p><strong>Key features of the Declaration include:</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Strengthening multilateral systems:</strong> The Declaration addressed the need for inclusivity in the multilateral system, including the United Nations, its Security Council, the International Monetary Fund, and the World Trade Organisation.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Further, observing the importance of sustainable development goals and the Paris agreement on climate change, it addressed the need for developed countries to provide resources and other assistance to developing countries.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Economic cooperation:</strong> The Declaration highlighted the importance of trade between BRICS nations.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Further, it observed the need for investment and infrastructure to improve trade. It condemned unilateral and protectionist measures, and recommended open markets and fair business and trade environment.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Regional conflicts:</strong> The Declaration observed regional conflicts in Syria, Yemen, Israel-Palestine, the Gulf region, Libya, and Afghanistan.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>It recognised the need for collective efforts for peaceful settlement of disputes, and the role of the UN Security Council as bearing the primary responsibility for maintaining international peace and security.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Intra-BRICS cooperation:</strong> The Declaration acknowledged cooperation among BRICS nations on various subjects such as security, science, technology, industrial growth, environment, energy, finance, trade, and fighting corruption.</li>
</ul>',
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		],
		(int) 18 => [
			'title' => 'Climate Diplomacy for India',
			'catname' => 'News Editorials',
			'desc' => '<div class="border">
<p>This article is based on <a href="https://thediplomat.com/2019/12/time-to-practice-climate-change-diplomacy-in-indias-neighborhood/" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>&lsquo;Time to Practice Climate Change Diplomacy in India&rsquo;s Neighborhood&rsquo;</strong></a> which was published in The Diplomat on 07/12/2019. It highlights the significance of climate diplomacy for India.</p>
</div>
<p>Global carbon system is an interlocked system. The global transition to low carbon systems has spillover effects -from changes in one economy to changes in another economy, changes in politics in one place to changes in politics in another place. Hence, the manner of transition is important for a low carbon economy.</p>
<p>If one country is honourable in the extreme and cuts its carbon emissions to the bone, that is going to be of little use if the others do not follow suit. They will suffer the consequences of climate change despite the extent of their sacrifice or effort. Equally, at the same time waiting for others to do something and not doing something oneself, is also not an option, especially in terms of adaptation. It is in this context that global leadership gets shaped by the policies and governance approach of a nation that is conscious of the significant impact of climate change.</p>
<h3>India&rsquo;s Role and Responsibility on Climate Change Diplomacy</h3>
<p>India is a large economy, market, has the second largest population and it can play an important role in being part of these positive spillover effects.</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>India needs to move climate change, global warming to the top of its foreign policy agenda. It is in this way that India can draw benefits from its own climate actions.</li>
<li>India&rsquo;s stance on climate diplomacy has evolved from highlighting the issue of environmental colonialism in the 1990s through the principle of <strong>&ldquo;common but differentiated responsibilities&rdquo; (CBDR)</strong> to pushing for the establishment of an institution like <strong>International Solar Alliance</strong> in 2015.</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Environmental Colonialism</strong></p>
<p>Developed countries blaming developing countries like India and China for the rise in global temperatures. Resisting the pressure from developed countries, the developing countries then put forth the principle of &ldquo;common but differentiated responsibilities&rdquo; so that their developmental needs would not be made to pay for the excesses of the developed world.</p>
</div>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>India&rsquo;s climate diplomacy needs to <strong>construct a development model that takes into account all its needs, including climate change,</strong> that is focussed on adaptation, and encourages the responsible engagement from the West on issues like finance and technology.</li>
<li>A country&rsquo;s economic gain from technological cooperation for the environment can ensure its sustainable engagement with another country, which can, in turn, have a spillover effect on global engagement. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The fall in renewable energy prices, driven by Germany&rsquo;s domestic programme that basically supported global prices for renewables, is an example.</li>
<li>Therefore, if <strong>India can frame its national priorities</strong> more accurately and correctly, it can have a more reasonable engagement with the international process in climate change.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Steps towards better Climate Diplomacy</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Maritime Security:</strong> SAGAR (translated as &ldquo;sea&rdquo; or &ldquo;ocean&rdquo;) &ndash; Security and Growth for All in the Region &ndash; is at the centre of India&rsquo;s maritime strategy. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>While India attempts to tap into its <a href="http://www.ris.org.in/sites/default/files/Final_Blue_Economy_Report_2015-Website.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>blue economy</strong></a> potential along with its regional partners in the Indian Ocean Region (IOR), it also needs to undertake elaborate steps &ndash; technical, logistical, technological and regulatory &ndash; <strong>to develop climate-resilient ports in the region,</strong> an effort that could be steered by climate diplomacy.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Strategic relations:</strong> Rising sea levels and sinking cities, number of tsunamis, cyclones, and floods have strategic concerns as well. India needs to align all its foreign policies with the issues of climate change. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>For eg- India has taken a step toward cooperating with Sri Lanka on climate change. This initiative needs to be pushed further for India to gain an advantage over China, especially in the Indo-pacific region.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Food security:</strong> Climate-resilient agriculture can be pushed by India in its bilateral and multilateral dialogues. Encouraging trade in sustainable agricultural products can create demand for the same and can also help address the issue of global food security.</li>
<li><strong>Trade:</strong> Economic engagements in climate supporting technology for instance in the renewable energy sector with Germany can promote climate change conscious global trade.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Conclusion</h3>
<p>It is important for India to prioritize climate change as one of the instruments of its foreign policy. Climate change should not be just considered from the environmental and economic point of view; it also stands to affect strategic considerations. India can start focusing on its neighbourhood to play a constructive role in the area of climate change through its <strong>Neighbourhood First policy.</strong> Making climate change an integral part of its foreign policy ethics and moving towards climate diplomacy can project India as a sensitive and responsible global leader.</p>
<table border="1" style="border-collapse: collapse; width: 100%;" height="51">
<tbody>
<tr>
<td style="width: 100%; border-style: dotted; border-color: #ff00f7; background-color: #fff7cc;"><span style="color: #000080;"><em><strong>Drishti Mains Question</strong></em></span><br /><br />Explain the significance of climate diplomacy for India. (250 words)</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
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		(int) 19 => [
			'title' => 'Mullaperiyar Dam',
			'catname' => 'News Analysis',
			'desc' => '<h3>Why in News<a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1576225283_image4.jpg" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1576225283_image4.jpg" style="float: right;" width="280" height="298" caption="false" /></a></h3>
<p>The <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/jal-shakti-mantralaya" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Ministry of Jal Shakti</strong></a> has constituted a <strong>three-member Supervisory Committee</strong> to settle the issue of <strong>Mullaperiyar dam</strong> between <strong>Kerala and Tamil Nadu.</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The tension between the two states over the issue has persisted since the <strong>1960s,</strong> with Kerala citing concerns regarding the <a href="/to-the-points/Paper2/dam-safety-bill-2018" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>dam&rsquo;s safety</strong></a> and arguing for the reduction of the dam&rsquo;s water levels.</li>
<li>But with the water from the dam being diverted to five districts in Tamil Nadu and its importance in the state&rsquo;s irrigation and power production practices, Tamil Nadu has consistently opposed this.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Mullaperiyar Dam</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The Mullaperiyar dam is located on the <strong>confluence</strong> of the <strong>Mullayar and Periyar rivers</strong> in <strong>Kerala&rsquo;s Idukki district.</strong></li>
<li>It is <strong>operated and maintained</strong> by the <strong>Tamil Nadu</strong> for meeting the drinking water and irrigation requirements of five of its southern districts. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>According to a 999-year lease agreement made during the British rule the operational rights were handed over to Tamil Nadu.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>The dam intends to divert the waters of the <strong>west-flowing river Periyar</strong> eastward to the arid rain shadow regions of the Tamil Nadu.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Periyar River</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The Periyar River is the <strong>longest river in the state of Kerala</strong> with a length of 244 km.</li>
<li>It is also known as <strong>&lsquo;Lifeline of Kerala&rsquo;</strong> as it is one of the few <strong>perennial rivers</strong> in the state.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>A perennial river is a channel that has continuous flow in parts of its stream bed all year round.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>Periyar River <strong>originates</strong> from <strong>Sivagiri hills of Western Ghats</strong> and flows through the<strong> Periyar National Park.</strong></li>
<li>The <strong>main tributaries</strong> of Periyar are Muthirapuzha, Mullayar, Cheruthoni, Perinjankutti.</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="https://pib.gov.in/PressReleseDetail.aspx?PRID=1596261" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Source: PIB</strong></a></p>',
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	(int) 0 => [
		'title' => 'Maternity Scheme Exclusionary: PMMVY',
		'catname' => 'News Analysis',
		'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/pradhan-mantri-matru-vandana-yojana" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Pradhan Mantri Matru Vandana Yojana (PMMVY)</strong></a> which is a pan-India maternity benefit programme has been criticised for its <strong>exclusionary nature.</strong> It has led to <strong>single women and young brides</strong> being left out of its purview.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Issues with the Scheme</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Registration for the scheme requires an applicant to <strong>provide her husband&rsquo;s Aadhaar details</strong> along with her own. It affects <strong>single women, including unwed mothers, deserted wives and widows.</strong><a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1576577907_drishti_pmmvy.PNG" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1576577907_drishti_pmmvy.PNG" style="float: right;" caption="false" width="300" height="358" /></a>
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The form also requires separate undertakings on<strong> &ldquo;the first living child&rdquo;</strong> from the <strong>woman and her husband.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>A mother seeking benefits needs to provide <strong>address proof of her marital home.</strong> It is <strong>challenging for a newlywed</strong> expecting a child and often residing in her natal home during pregnancy.</li>
<li>The scheme requires an applicant to be <strong>at least 19 years old</strong> which leaves out younger brides, who get married at the legal age of 18 years but hesitate in getting their marriages registered.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>30-35% of first-time mothers are under the age of 18 years.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>The documentation work <strong>leaves out many women living on the margins</strong> such as sex workers, women in custody, migrant and those living in post-conflict situations. They all are unable to claim benefits even though<strong> they are most in need of monetary compensation.</strong></li>
<li>Women have to pay a<strong> hefty bribe</strong> during the application process. It goes as high as ₹500/- for each of the three forms so it is not easy for the women coming from financially weaker sections.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Suggestions</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>There is a need for reviewing the scheme and m<strong>aking it universal by removing restrictions</strong> on the number of children as well as including all women, whether they are in the formal or informal sector, engaged in paid or unpaid work.</li>
<li>The sum promised should be at least <strong>on par with minimum wages for women in self-employment</strong>, unpaid work, or working for less than minimum wages.</li>
<li>Activists and grassroots workers must make a formal representation to the government highlighting their concerns so that corrective actions can be taken.</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/other-states/maternity-scheme-exclusionary-need-benefits-for-all/article30314030.ece" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Source: TH</strong></a></p>',
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	(int) 1 => [
		'title' => 'National Electronic Fund Transfer (NEFT) ',
		'catname' => 'News Analysis',
		'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<h3></h3>
<p>The <a href="/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-national-institutions/important-institutions-national-institution-reserve-bank-of-india" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Reserve Bank of India (RBI)</strong> </a>has operationalised<strong> round-the-clock (24 X 7) availability of the National Electronic Fund Transfer (NEFT).</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The RBI has also asked banks not to levy any charges from savings bank account holders for funds transfers done through NEFT system which are initiated online (internet banking and/ or mobile apps of the banks).</li>
</ul>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Through this move, the <strong>RBI has joined an elite club of countries</strong> having payment systems which enable round-the-clock fund transfer and settlement of any value.</li>
<li><strong>Benefit to Customers:</strong> Customers can now transfer money through NEFT without paying any charges any time of the day whereas banks charge a fee for fund transfer through cheques and Demand Draft (DD).</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Background</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The NEFT system,<strong> introduced in 2005</strong>, has seen exponential growth in recent years reflecting its popularity as well as increasing customer acceptance. Despite such growth, many banks continued to levy the maximum permissible charges to their customers.</li>
<li>It was desirable that the benefits accruing on account of increasing volume of transactions are passed on to the customers so as to <strong>incentivise greater use of the electronic payment system</strong> in place of cumbersome paper-based mechanism like cheques/DDs.</li>
</ul>
</div>
<h3>National Electronic Fund Transfer</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>National Electronic Funds Transfer (NEFT)</strong> is a nation-wide payment system facilitating one-to-one funds transfer. Under this Scheme, individuals, firms and corporates can electronically transfer funds from any bank branch to any individual, firm or corporate having an account with any other bank branch in the country participating in the Scheme.</li>
<li>NEFT is <strong>different from Real Time Gross Settlement (RTGS).</strong> RTGS can be explained as a system where there is continuous and real-time settlement of fund-transfers, individually on a transaction by transaction basis.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>NEFT settlements happen in batches, so there might be a slight delay for the actual transfer to take place RTGS transactions, on the other hand, happen in real time.</li>
<li>There is no limit &ndash; either minimum or maximum &ndash; on the amount of funds that could be transferred using NEFT. However, the maximum amount per transaction is limited to ₹ 50,000/- for cash-based remittances within India and also for remittances to Nepal under the Indo-Nepal Remittance Facility Scheme.</li>
<li>The minimum amount to be remitted through RTGS is ₹ 2,00,000/- with no upper or maximum ceiling.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="https://indianexpress.com/article/business/banking-and-finance/rbi-operationalises-24x7-neft-fund-transfer-asks-banks-to-waive-charges-6170719/" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Source: IE</strong></a></p>',
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	(int) 2 => [
		'title' => 'Privilege Motion',
		'catname' => 'News Analysis',
		'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>A Privilege Motion has been moved against the Union Textile Minister Smriti Irani in the Lok Sabha.</p>
<h3>Privilege Motion</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>It is concerned with the <strong>breach of parliamentary privileges</strong> by a minister.</li>
<li><strong>Breach of Privileges</strong>
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Parliamentary Privileges are <strong>certain rights and immunities</strong> enjoyed by members of Parliament, individually and collectively, so that they can &ldquo;effectively discharge their functions&rdquo;.</li>
<li>When any of these rights and immunities are disregarded, the offence is called a breach of privilege and is<strong> punishable under law of Parliament. </strong></li>
<li><strong>A notice is moved in the form of a motion</strong> by any member of either House against those being held guilty of breach of privilege.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Role of the Speaker/Rajya Sabha (RS) Chair</strong>
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The Speaker/RS chairperson is the<strong> first level of scrutiny</strong> of a privilege motion.</li>
<li>The Speaker/Chair can decide on the privilege motion himself or herself or refer it to the<strong> privileges committee</strong> of Parliament. If the Speaker/Chair gives consent under relevant rules, the member concerned is given an opportunity to make a short statement.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Rules governing Privilege</strong>
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Rule No 222 in Chapter 20 of the Lok Sabha Rule Book and correspondingly Rule 187 in Chapter 16 of the Rajya Sabha rulebook governs privilege.</li>
<li>Rules say that a member may, with the consent of the Speaker or the Chairperson, raise a question involving a breach of privilege either of a member or of the House or a committee thereof.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Parliamentary Privileges</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Parliamentary privileges are special rights, immunities and exemptions enjoyed by the two Houses of Parliament, their committees and their members.</li>
<li>The Constitution also extends the parliamentary privileges to those persons who are entitled to speak and take part in the proceedings of a House of Parliament or any of its committees. These include the <strong>Attorney General of India and Union ministers.</strong></li>
<li>The parliamentary privileges <strong>do not extend to the President</strong> who is also an integral part of the Parliament. <strong>Article 361</strong> of the Constitution provides for privileges for the President.</li>
<li><strong>Article 105</strong> of the Constitution expressly mentions two privileges, that is, freedom of speech in Parliament and right of publication of its proceedings.</li>
<li>Apart from the privileges as specified in the Constitution, <strong>the Code of Civil Procedure, 1908</strong>, provides for freedom from arrest and detention of members under civil process during the continuance of the meeting of the House or of a committee thereof and forty days before its commencement and forty days after its conclusion.</li>
<li>It needs to be noted that the <strong>Parliament, till now, has not made any special law</strong> to exhaustively codify all the privileges.</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>Privilege Committee</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>It is a <strong>Standing Committee</strong>. It examines the cases of breach of the privileges of the House and its members and recommends appropriate action.</li>
<li>The <strong>Lok Sabha</strong> committee has <strong>15</strong> members, while the<strong> Rajya Sabha</strong> committee has <strong>10 members.</strong></li>
</ul>
</div>
<p><a href="https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/congress-mp-seeks-privilege-proceedings-against-smriti-irani/article30319306.ece" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Source: IE</strong></a></p>',
		'postdate' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenTime) {},
		'url' => 'https://www.drishtiias.com/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/privilege-motion-1'
	],
	(int) 3 => [
		'title' => 'Opposition to Citizenship Amendment Act',
		'catname' => 'News Editorials',
		'desc' => '<div class="border">
<p>This article is based on <a href="https://www.thehindu.com/opinion/lead/the-distinct-cry-of-an-imperilled-frontier/article30313850.ece" target="_blank" rel="noopener">&ldquo;The distinct cry of an imperilled frontier&rdquo;</a> which was published in the The Hindu on 16/12/2019. It talks about the implication of the Citizenship Amendment Act.</p>
</div>
<p>Recently, there have been protests against the passing of the Citizenship Amendment Act (2019) in many parts of India.</p>
<p>The Act has been opposed, mainly on two grounds:</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>One, exclusion of Muslim immigrants as Indian citizens while accepting all other communities from Pakistan, Afghanistan and Bangladesh on the grounds of persecution.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>This is the major reason for protests against the Act in Northeast India.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>Second, the promise to introduce a <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/new-citizenship-regime" target="_blank" rel="noopener">nationwide National Register of Citizens (NRC)</a>.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>This move will render stateless all those Muslims immigrants who do not have the necessary documents to prove their Indian ancestry, even though they could have been born in India and have lived in India for decades.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Implication of the Act</h3>
<p><strong>Challenge on Foreign Policy Front</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The biggest negative impact of this Act is on India&rsquo;s relations with Bangladesh.</li>
<li>India&rsquo;s relations with Bangladesh have been very cordial on various fronts like the economic and strategic.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>For example, Bangladesh has shown an unfettered commitment to India&rsquo;s national security by showing zero-tolerance to all forms of terrorist activity against India on its soil.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>The question of illegal immigration, however has always been a deeply divisive issue between India and Bangladesh.</li>
<li>The Indian government has antagonised Bangladesh by framing religious persecution of the Hindu minority in Bangladesh as one of the motivations for the Citizenship Amendment Act.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>This had led to the cancellation of Bangladesh's Prime Minister&rsquo;s visit to India.</li>
<li>This signals a jeopardising of the bilateral partnership with Bangladesh, that will lead to undermining of the only successful example of India's neighbourhood first policy.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>Threat to India&rsquo;s Constitutional Values</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Beyond Bangladesh, India&rsquo;s long-standing reputation as a constitutional democracy is taking a hit.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The US, for example, has urged India to respect religious freedom.</li>
<li>In this context, India&rsquo;s founding values were <strong>equality</strong>, including religious equality, <strong>diversity</strong> and <strong>tolerance</strong>.</li>
<li>However, the Citizenship Amendment Act sought to discriminate amongst the people on the basis of religion, which may be <strong>violative of Article 14</strong> of the Indian Constitution.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>Stalwarts of the Indian freedom struggle Gandhi, Nehru and Ambedkar also had never envisioned India as a Hindu homeland.</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>Harming the Interest of a Particular Minority</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>It is patently clear that (using citizenship amendments) if the existing Muslim citizens of India are unable to produce documents of Indian ancestry, the National Register later, can easily make them non-citizens.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>In contrast, if Hindus face similar documentary deficit, they would neither be interned nor expelled.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>If the question is of persecution of some religious groups, then the Act must also encompass Srilanka (Tamils) and China (Tibetans).</li>
<li>Most importantly, this Act will seek to deepen the communal divide that remains ever-present within the social fabric of South Asia.</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>Destabilising India&rsquo;s Northeast</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The Citizenship Amendment Act is against the <a href="/to-the-points/Paper2/to-the-point-paper-2-national-register-of-citizens-nrc" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Assam Accord</a> of 1985.</li>
<li>The granting of citizenship to illegal migrants (excluding Muslims), has created anxiety among the original habitants of the region.</li>
<li>Moreover, the response in the Northeast to the Citizenship Amendment Act is not merely <em>&lsquo;tribal xenophobia&rsquo;</em> but a pursuit to preserve one&rsquo;s culture.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Going by UNESCO&rsquo;s definition of endangered languages, all of the 200 and more languages spoken in the Northeast, with the exception of Assamese and Bengali, are in the vulnerable category.</li>
<li>Even in the case of Assamese, though it is the language of the majority in the State with about 15 million speakers (Census 2011), they are still a tiny minority when the larger region of Bangladesh, Bengal and Assam is considered.</li>
<li>Bengali speakers in Assam total about 9 million (Census 2011); however, neighbouring Bangladesh alone has 164 million speakers of the same language.</li>
<li>The fear in Assam of being overwhelmed by an unceasing influx of people from Bangladesh therefore is nothing beyond legitimacy. <strong>This is a peculiar situation often described as "a majority with a minority complex"</strong>; its consequences have resurfaced in the region time and again, yet few take cognisance of it, perpetuating the phenomenon.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>Demographic changes due to mass immigration, can lead to dilution of native culture, which in turn can pose a threat to the very existence of a language and when a language dies, a world view dies with it.</li>
<li>The Northeast is inhabited by diverse populations, sharing borders with several neighbours and granting citizenship to migrants in the region, will aggravate the ethnic tension in the region (which is a relic of colonial legacy).</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>UNESCO classification of endangered languages</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>If a language is <strong>vulnerable</strong> because of the small size of the number of speakers, it becomes more so if the language is spoken only in certain domains &mdash; for instance at home, but not at schools and offices, etc.</li>
<li>It becomes <strong>definitely endangered</strong> if parents speak the language and children only know the language but do not speak it as mother tongue.</li>
<li>It becomes <strong>critically endangered</strong> if the grandparents&rsquo; generation speak the language, parents know it but do not use it, and children do not know it any more.</li>
<li><strong>Extinct</strong> languages are those languages which no longer have any speakers.</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>Conflict in North east : A Colonial Legacy</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Assam was separated from Bengal and made a separate chief commissioner&rsquo;s province in <strong>1874</strong>.</li>
<li>In <strong>1912</strong> after Curzon&rsquo;s 1905 partition of Bengal was withdrawn, Sylhet didn&rsquo;t wanted to be part of Bengal province.</li>
<li>At the time of <strong>Partition</strong>, Sylhet&rsquo;s chance of remaining with India was for it to be treated as a part of Assam. The then Assamese leadership refused this as Assam would then have become Bengali majority.</li>
<li><strong>Sylhet</strong> had to face a referendum separately and by a thin Muslim majority was <strong>awarded to Pakistan</strong>.</li>
<li>The current migration issue is thus a consequence of this bitter politics of antagonism of the past.</li>
</ul>
</div>
<h3>Conclusion</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The trust deficit among India&rsquo;s vulnerable communities doesn&rsquo;t augur well with India&rsquo;s ambitions of becoming a superpower.</li>
<li>It is also essential to underscore that in no civilised country can religion be the basis of citizenship, specifically if the founding principles of such nation-states championed secular ideals and equality before the law.</li>
<li>Therefore, the best way forward has to be on the path of truth and reconciliation as shown by great leaders like Mahatma Gandhi and Nelson Mandela.</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Drishti Mains Question</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Citizenship Amendment Act, 2019 gets into conflict with India&rsquo;s constitutional values and poses a challenge on foreign policy and internal security front. Comment.</span></p>
</div>
<p></p>',
		'postdate' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenTime) {},
		'url' => 'https://www.drishtiias.com/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/opposition-to-citizenship-amendment-act'
	],
	(int) 4 => [
		'title' => 'Credit Ratings',
		'catname' => 'Paper 3',
		'desc' => '<h3>Context</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>International ratings agency Moody's Investors Service <strong>downgraded India's outlook</strong> to negative from stable on concerns that country's economic growth will remain lower than in the past.</li>
<li>The agency said prolonged financial stress among rural households, weak job creation, and a credit crunch among non-bank financial institutions (NBFIs), have increased the probability of a more &ldquo;entrenched slowdown&rdquo;.</li>
<li>While Moody&rsquo;s has <strong>maintained the country ratings</strong> and only lowered the outlook, it still poses risks of capital flight unless the government improves its fiscal health.</li>
</ul>
<h3>What is a Credit Rating?</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>A credit rating is a quantified assessment of the creditworthiness of a borrower in general terms or with respect to a particular debt or financial obligation.</li>
<li>A credit rating can be assigned to any entity that seeks to borrow money&mdash;an individual, corporation, state or provincial authority, or sovereign government.</li>
<li>A <strong>sovereign credit rating</strong> is an independent assessment of the creditworthiness of a country or sovereign entity. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Sovereign credit ratings can give investors insights into the level of risk associated with investing in the debt of a particular country, including any political risk.</li>
<li>Investors use sovereign credit ratings as a way to assess the riskiness of a particular country's bonds.</li>
<li>Obtaining good sovereign credit rating is usually essential for developing countries in order to access funding in international bond markets.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Rating Agencies</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>A rating agency is a company that assesses the financial strength of companies and government entities, especially their ability to meet principal and interest payments on their debts.</li>
<li>The rating assigned to a given debt shows an agency&rsquo;s level of confidence that the borrower will honour its debt obligations as agreed.</li>
<li><strong>The Big Three Credit Rating Agencies:</strong> Fitch Ratings, Moody&rsquo;s Investors Service and Standard &amp; Poor&rsquo;s (S&amp;P) are the big three international credit rating agencies controlling approximately 95% of global ratings business.</li>
<li>In India, there are six credit rating agencies registered under SEBI namely, CRISIL, ICRA, CARE, SMERA, Fitch India and Brickwork Ratings.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Role of Rating Agencies in Capital Markets</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Rating agencies <strong>assess the credit risk of specific debt securities</strong> and the borrowing entities. In the bond market, a rating agency provides an independent evaluation of the creditworthiness of debt securities issued by governments and corporations.</li>
<li>Rating agencies also <strong>give ratings to sovereign borrowers,</strong> who are the largest borrowers in most financial markets. Sovereign borrowers include national governments, state governments, municipalities, and other sovereign-supported institutions. The sovereign ratings given by a rating agency shows a sovereign&rsquo;s ability to repay its debt.</li>
<li>The ratings <strong>help governments from emerging and developing countries to issue bonds</strong> to domestic and international investors. Governments sell bonds to obtain financing from other governments and Bretton Woods institutions such as the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Benefits of Rating Agencies</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Investors rely on the ratings given by the credit rating agencies to <strong>make investment decisions</strong>.</li>
<li>Many countries sell their securities in the international market, and a good credit rating can help them <strong>access high-value investors</strong>.</li>
<li>A favourable rating may also attract other forms of investments like foreign direct investments to a country.</li>
<li>A <strong>low credit rating</strong> or relegation of a country from a high rating to a low rating can discourage investors from purchasing the bonds or making direct investments in the country. For example, the downgrading of Greece, Portugal, and Ireland by S&amp;P in 2010 worsened the <strong>European sovereign debt crisis</strong>.</li>
<li>The ratings provided by rating agencies also serve as a <strong>benchmark for financial market regulations</strong>.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Concerns Regarding Rating Agencies<a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1576498148_image1.png" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1576498148_image1.png" width="514" height="388" style="float: right; margin: 5px;" caption="false" /></a></h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The big three agencies came under heavy criticism after the global financial crisis of 2008 for giving favourable ratings to insolvent institutions like Lehman Brothers. They were also blamed for <strong>failing to detect risky mortgage-backed securities</strong> that led to the collapse of the real estate market in the United States.</li>
<li><a href="/to-the-points/paper3/credit-rating-in-india" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Credit rating agencies of India</a> too have come <strong>under attack,</strong> and also faced regulatory action, besides a probe by central investigating agencies after they had assigned top ratings to borrowings by firms that were part of the IL&amp;FS group in 2018.</li>
<li><strong>Conflict of Interest:</strong> The rating given to any debt shows the agency's level of confidence about the borrower's ability to honour the obligation. Ironically, their <strong>primary source of revenue is the fees paid by the company being rated by them</strong>.</li>
<li><strong>Biasness:</strong> India often complains that countries with higher levels of debt and a weak fiscal have managed better ratings.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Conclusion</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Despite the sovereign ratings being what they have been for a long time, India has attracted plenty of portfolio and flows into both government and corporate debt, besides Foreign Direct Investment.</li>
<li>India has not issued a bond or raised money directly in the international market so far, which means that to a good extent, a downgrade has limited impact.</li>
<li>In fact, the government has responded to the change in outlook by saying that India&rsquo;s fundamentals are robust and that other macroeconomic indicators such as inflation are still low, which is reflected in low bond yields, with growth prospects strong both in the near and long terms.</li>
<li>However, India should take the ratings seriously and should engage proactively with the financial market stakeholders to allay their fears and boost the confidence of investors to invest in the Indian economy.</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="/mind-map/gs-paper3/credit-ratings-mindmap" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><em>For Mind Map</em></a></p>',
		'postdate' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenTime) {},
		'url' => 'https://www.drishtiias.com/to-the-points/paper3/credit-ratings-1'
	],
	(int) 5 => [
		'title' => 'Fuel Cell Electric Vehicle',
		'catname' => 'News Analysis',
		'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>Recently, the <a href="/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-national-institutions/supreme-court-of-india" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Supreme Court</strong></a> of India has directed the government to look into the feasibility of <strong>Fuel Cell Electric Vehicle (FCEV)</strong> to deal with air pollution.</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Research is ongoing at the <strong>International Research Center for Hydrogen Energy at Kyushu University, Japan</strong> on FCEVs based on <strong>hydrogen cell technology</strong>, also known as <strong>'fuel cells'</strong>.</li>
<li>In this context the Indian government is the The research is being studied closely by the as it readies a hydrogen-fuelled blueprint.</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Fuel Cell</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Fuel cells and batteries convert chemical energy into electrical energy and are very useful forms of galvanic cell. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>A galvanic or voltaic cell is an electrochemical cell that converts chemical energy into electrical energy through the redox reactions that occur within the cell.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>Galvanic cells that are designed to convert the energy of combustion of fuels like hydrogen, methane, methanol, etc. directly into electrical energy are called fuel cells. One of the most successful fuel cells uses the reaction of hydrogen with oxygen to form water.</li>
</ul>
</div>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Mechanism:</strong> The <strong>Fuel Cell Electric Vehicle (FCEV)</strong> combines hydrogen and oxygen to generate an electric current and <strong>water is the only byproduct</strong>.</li>
</ul>
<p style="text-align: center;"><strong>Hydrogen + Oxygen = Electricity + Water Vapour</strong><br /><strong>2H<sub>2</sub> (g) + O<sub>2</sub> (g) &rarr; 2 H<sub>2</sub>O (l)</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Fuel Cell Electric Vehicle (FCEV)</strong> engines are <strong>similar to the conventional internal combustion engines</strong> because they also <strong>rely on a constant supply</strong> of fuel (hydrogen) and oxygen.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>However, there are <strong>no moving parts</strong> in the fuel cell, so they are <strong>more efficient and reliable</strong>.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Stationary fuel</strong> <strong>cells</strong> are the <strong>largest and most powerful</strong> fuel cells. These are being designed to provide a cleaner, reliable source of on-site power to hospitals, banks, airports and homes.</li>
<li>The successful development of the technology would <strong>provide energy for transportation and electric power</strong>.</li>
<li><strong>Hydrogen fuel tanks</strong> are made from <strong>highly durable carbon fibre</strong>. Some FCEVs have a triple-layer hydrogen tank made of woven carbon fibre.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Advantages</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>FCEVs produce much <strong>smaller quantities of <a href="/infographics/info-paper3/greenhouse-gas-emission" target="_blank" rel="noopener">greenhouse gases</a></strong> and none of the air pollutants that cause health problems.</li>
<li>Fuel cells <strong>emit only heat and water as a byproduct</strong> and are <strong>far more energy-efficient</strong> than traditional combustion technologies.</li>
<li>FCEVs <strong>do not need to be plugged in for charging</strong>, like battery-powered EVs.</li>
<li>There is a <strong>wide availability of resources for producing hydrogen</strong>.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Disadvantages</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The <strong>process of making hydrogen needs energy</strong>, often from <strong>fossil fuel</strong> sources, which raises questions over hydrogen&rsquo;s green credentials.</li>
<li>Handling of hydrogen is a safety concern because it is<strong> more explosive</strong> than petrol.</li>
<li>These vehicles are expensive and fuel dispensing pumps are scarce.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Status in India</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>In India, so far, the definition of <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/nine-science-and-technology-missions" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Electric Vehicles</strong></a> <strong>only covers Battery Electric Vehicles (BEVs)</strong>.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>BEVs have <strong>no internal combustion engine or fuel tank</strong> and run on a <strong>fully electric drivetrain powered by rechargeable batteries</strong>.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>The Government of India has launched <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/fame-ii-1" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>FAME India Scheme</strong></a> with the objective to support hybrid/electric vehicles market development and manufacturing ecosystem. It also covers Hybrid &amp; Electric technologies like Mild Hybrid, Strong Hybrid, Plug in Hybrid &amp; BEVs.</li>
<li>The <strong>Ministry of New and Renewable Energy,</strong> under its <strong>Research, Development and Demonstration (RD&amp;D) Programme</strong>, has been supporting various projects on hydrogen and fuel cells.</li>
<li>The <strong>Ministry of Science and Technology</strong> has supported two networked centres on <strong>hydrogen storage</strong> led by IIT Bombay and Nonferrous Materials Technology Development Centre, Hyderabad.</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="https://indianexpress.com/article/explained/hydrogen-cars-electric-vehicle-supreme-court-how-cars-can-run-on-hydrogen-6168796/" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Source: IE</strong></a></p>',
		'postdate' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenTime) {},
		'url' => 'https://www.drishtiias.com/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/fuel-cell-electric-vehicle'
	],
	(int) 6 => [
		'title' => 'StrandHogg',
		'catname' => 'News Analysis',
		'desc' => '<h3>Why in News<img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1576493942_image2.png" width="203" height="203" style="float: right;" /></h3>
<p>The Union Home Ministry has alerted States, warning them about the vulnerability of the <strong>Android operating system</strong> to a bug called <strong>'StrandHogg'</strong>.</p>
<h3>About StrandHogg</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>It is a vulnerability in android which allows <strong>real-time malware applications</strong> to pose as genuine applications and access user data of all kinds.</li>
<li>It can <strong>listen</strong> to the conversations, access photo album, read/send messages, <strong>make calls</strong>, <strong>record</strong> conversations, <strong>get login credentials</strong> to various accounts, access private images, files, contact details, call logs and location information without being apparent to the affected users.</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/android-vulnerable-to-cyberattack-union-home-ministry/article30314842.ece" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Source: TH</strong></a></p>',
		'postdate' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenTime) {},
		'url' => 'https://www.drishtiias.com/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/strandhogg'
	],
	(int) 7 => [
		'title' => 'Britain Elections',
		'catname' => 'News Analysis',
		'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>Britain elected Boris Johnson of the Conservative Party as its Prime Minister in the recently concluded elections. This victory gives Boris Johnson a clear mandate to take the United Kingdom out of the <a href="/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-international-institution/european-union" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>European Union</strong></a> without any delay.</p>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Johnson called for an early election after reaching a new <strong>divorce deal</strong> with the EU. He turned the poll into a de facto <a href="/loksabha-rajyasabha-discussions/the-big-picture-uk-s-constitutional-crisis" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Brexit </strong>referendum</a>.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>His strategy was to consolidate the pro-Brexit vote, get a fresh mandate in Parliament and then quicken the Brexit process.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p>The Brexit Financial Settlement (Divorce Bill) is a sum of money UK needs to pay to the EU for settling all shares of the financial obligations undertaken while being a member of the EU.</p>
</div>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Brexit:</strong> In 2016, a referendum was held by the U.K. government and the nation voted to leave the EU. Now the process is under the U.K. Parliament for formal withdrawal from the EU.</li>
<li><a href="/loksabha-rajyasabha-discussions/brexit-deal-what-lies-ahead" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Brexit</a> supporters wanted Britain to take back full control of its borders and reduce the number of people coming here to live and/or work.</li>
<li><strong>Impact on Britain:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>It will give a boost to the nationalism with tougher laws on immigration.</li>
<li>Britain will also have to deal with Brexit&rsquo;s effect on its economy, including the long process of new bilateral trade agreements with many other countries, including India.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Challenges</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The road ahead is not smooth even after a timely exit. The <strong>Brexit agreement</strong> itself is <strong>controversial</strong> and it could <strong>erect an effective customs border</strong> between <strong>Britain</strong> and the <strong>island of Ireland</strong> after implementation.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>It raises the concern on Brexit&rsquo;s impact on the <strong>Good Friday Agreement</strong>.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>The Good Friday Agreement or the Belfast Agreement:</strong> It was a peace agreement between the British and Irish governments and most of the political parties in Northern Ireland, on how Northern Ireland should be governed.</p>
</div>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Negotiating an agreement</strong> on the U.K.&rsquo;s future relationship with the EU is an equally challenging task.</li>
<li>The <strong>Scottish National Party</strong> swept Scotland&rsquo;s seats which might revive pro-independence sentiments in Scotland.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Scotland had a <strong>referendum in 2014</strong> on whether it should stay in the U.K. or be independent of it. The referendum <strong>rejected independence</strong> and the Scottish population was in favour of remaining in the European Union.</li>
<li>Scotland rejected independence by <strong>55% to 45%</strong>.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="https://www.thehindu.com/opinion/editorial/the-day-of-boris/article30300269.ece" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Source: TH</strong></a></p>',
		'postdate' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenTime) {},
		'url' => 'https://www.drishtiias.com/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/britain-elections'
	],
	(int) 8 => [
		'title' => 'First Meeting of National Ganga Council',
		'catname' => 'News Analysis',
		'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>Recently, the Prime Minister chaired the <strong>first meeting of the National Ganga Council</strong> at <strong>Kanpur, Uttar Pradesh</strong>.</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The <strong>first meeting</strong> of the Council was aimed at reinforcing the importance of a <strong>&lsquo;Ganga-centric&rsquo; approach</strong> in all departments of the concerned states as well as relevant Central Ministries.</li>
<li>The National Ganga Council, also known as the National Council for Rejuvenation, Protection, and Management of River Ganga was set up in <strong>2016</strong>. It <strong>replaced the National River Ganga Basin Authority (NRGBA)</strong>.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The <strong>'Namami Gange'</strong> should holistically evolve to <strong>'Arth Ganga'</strong> i.e. a sustainable development model with a focus on economic <strong>activities related to Ganga</strong>.</li>
<li><strong>Setting up of a digital dashboard</strong> where data from villages and urban bodies to be <strong>monitored</strong> on a daily basis by <strong>NITI Ayog and Ministry of Jal Shakti</strong>.</li>
<li>The need to increase the efficiency of <strong>district Ganga committees</strong> for effective implementation of the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/15-point-directive-to-clean-ganga" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Namami Gange Programme</strong></a>.</li>
<li>The<strong> potential of religious and adventure tourism</strong> in the Ganga river basin area to be explored in future. As the income generated from tourism activities would help to generate sustainable income for cleaning the Ganga.</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>National Ganga Council</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The National Ganga Council is <strong>chaired</strong> by <strong>Prime Minister</strong>.</li>
<li>The National Ganga Council is formed under the <strong>Environment (Protection) Act (EPA),1986</strong>.</li>
<li>It has been given overall responsibility for the superintendence of pollution prevention and rejuvenation of River Ganga Basin, including Ganga and its tributaries.</li>
<li>National Mission for Clean Ganga(NMCG) acts as an implementation arm of the National Ganga Council.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>NMCG was established in the year 2011 as a registered society.</li>
<li>It has a two-tier management structure and comprises of Governing Council and Executive Committee.</li>
<li>The aims and objectives of NMCG are:<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>To ensure effective control of pollution and rejuvenation of the river Ganga by adopting a river basin approach to promote inter-sectoral coordination for comprehensive planning and management.</li>
<li>To maintain minimum ecological flows in the river Ganga with the aim of ensuring water quality and environmentally sustainable development.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</div>
<p><a href="https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/pm-arrives-in-kanpur-to-chair-first-meeting-of-national-ganga-council/article30304992.ece" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Source: TH</strong></a></p>',
		'postdate' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenTime) {},
		'url' => 'https://www.drishtiias.com/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/first-meeting-of-national-ganga-council'
	],
	(int) 9 => [
		'title' => 'Ajanta and Ellora Caves',
		'catname' => 'News Analysis',
		'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>Two tourist visitor centres set up at Ajanta and Ellora caves by the Maharashtra government have been shut due to their pending water and electricity dues worth ₹5 crore.</p>
<h3>Ajanta Caves<a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1576485286_image1.jpg" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1576485286_image1.jpg" width="300" height="200" style="float: right;" caption="false" /></a></h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Location:</strong> Ajanta is a series of rock-cut caves in the <strong>Sahyadri ranges (Western Ghats)</strong> on Waghora river near Aurangabad in <strong>Maharashtra</strong>.</li>
<li><strong>Number of Caves:</strong> There are a total of <strong>29 caves</strong> (all buddhist) of which 25 were used as Viharas or residential caves while 4 were used as Chaitya or prayer halls.</li>
<li><strong>Time of Development</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The caves were developed in the period between <strong>200 B.C. to 650 A.D</strong>.</li>
<li>The Ajanta caves were inscribed by the Buddhist monks, under the patronage of the <strong>Vakataka kings</strong> &ndash; Harishena being a prominent one.</li>
<li>Reference of the Ajanta caves can be found in the travel accounts of <strong>Chinese Buddhist travellers Fa Hien</strong> (during the reign of Chandragupta II; 380- 415 CE) and <strong>Hieun Tsang</strong> (during the reign of emperor Harshavardhana; 606 - 647 CE). .</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Painting</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The figures in these caves were done using <strong>fresco painting</strong>.</li>
<li>The outlines of the paintings were done in red colour. One of the striking features is the <strong>absence of blue colour</strong> in the paintings.</li>
<li>The paintings are generally <strong>themed around Buddhism</strong> &ndash; the life of Buddha and Jataka stories.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>UNESCO Site:</strong> The caves were designated a <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/kailash-mansarovar-in-tentative-list-of-world-heritage-sites" target="_blank" rel="noopener">UNESCO World Heritage site</a> in <strong>1983</strong>.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Ellora Caves<img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1576485402_image2.jpg" width="300" height="200" style="float: right;" caption="false" /></h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Location:</strong> It is located nearly 100 Kms away from Ajanta caves in the <strong>Sahyadri range of Maharashtra</strong>.</li>
<li><strong>Number of Caves:</strong> It is a group of <strong>34 caves</strong> &ndash; 17 <strong>Brahmanical</strong>, 12 <strong>Buddhist</strong> and 5 <strong>Jain</strong>.</li>
<li><strong>Time of Development</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>These set of caves were developed during the period between the <strong>5<sup>th</sup> and 11<sup>th</sup> centuries A.D.</strong> (newer as compared to Ajanta Caves) by various guilds from Vidarbha, Karnataka and Tamil Nadu.</li>
<li>That is why the caves reflect a natural diversity in terms of theme and architectural styles.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>UNESCO Site:</strong> The Ellora complex was designated a UNESCO World Heritage site in 1983.</li>
<li>The most remarkable of the cave temples is Kailasa <strong>(Kailasanatha; cave 16)</strong>, named for the mountain in the Kailasa Range of the Himalayas where the Hindu god Shiva resides.</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Sahyadri Range</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Western Ghats are locally known by different names such as <strong>Sahyadri in Maharashtra, Nilgiri hills in Karnataka</strong> and <strong>Tamil Nadu</strong> and <strong>Anaimalai hills and Cardamom hills</strong> in <strong>Kerala</strong>.</li>
<li>The Western Ghats are a north-south chain of mountains or hills that mark the western edge of the Deccan plateau region.</li>
<li>Western Ghats are comparatively higher in elevation and more continuous than the Eastern Ghats. Their average elevation is about 1,500 m with the height increasing from north to south.</li>
<li><strong>Anaimudi (2,695 m),</strong> the highest peak of Peninsular plateau is located on the Anaimalai hills of the Western Ghats followed by Dodabetta (2,637 m) on the Nilgiri hills.</li>
<li>Most of the Peninsular rivers such as <strong>Krishna and Cauvery</strong> have their origin in the Western Ghats.</li>
</ul>
</div>
<p><a href="https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/other-states/visitor-centres-at-ajanta-ellora-shut-due-to-pending-dues/article30310749.ece" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Source: TH</strong></a></p>',
		'postdate' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenTime) {},
		'url' => 'https://www.drishtiias.com/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/ajanta-and-ellora-caves'
	],
	(int) 10 => [
		'title' => 'Credit Ratings',
		'catname' => 'Paper 3',
		'desc' => '<p style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1577425290_Credit%20Ratings (Mind Map).png" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1577425290_Credit Ratings (Mind Map).png" width="387" height="1135" /></a></p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><a href="/to-the-points/paper3/credit-ratings-1" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><em>For TTP</em></a></p>',
		'postdate' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenTime) {},
		'url' => 'https://www.drishtiias.com/mind-map/gs-paper3/credit-ratings-mindmap'
	],
	(int) 11 => [
		'title' => 'Agrobiodiversity for India',
		'catname' => 'News Editorials',
		'desc' => '<div class="border">
<p>This article is based on <a href="https://www.thehindu.com/opinion/lead/indias-food-basket-must-be-enlarged/article30109818.ece" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>&ldquo;India&rsquo;s food basket must be enlarged&rdquo;</strong></a> which was published in The Hindu on 29/11/2019. It talks about Agrobiodiversity and its significance for India.</p>
</div>
<p>Recently, the Ministry of Human Resources Development brought out school <strong>&lsquo;Nutrition Garden&rsquo;</strong> guidelines, encouraging students to identify fruits and vegetables best suited to topography, soil and climate.</p>
<p>Nutrition Garden envisages providing students lifelong social, numerical and presentation skills, care for living organisms and teamwork, besides being used in the Mid-Day meal scheme.</p>
<p>Based on Nutrition Garden, <strong>agrobiodiversity can be contemplated all across India,</strong> to address India&rsquo;s hunger issues.</p>
<h3>What is Agrobiodiversity?</h3>
<p>Agrobiodiversity is the result of the interaction between the environment, genetic resources and management systems and practices used by culturally diverse people.</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>It comprises the diversity of genetic resources (varieties, breeds) and species used for food, fodder, fibre, fuel and pharmaceuticals.</li>
<li>It also includes the diversity of non-harvested species that support production (soil microorganisms, predators, pollinators), and those in the wider environment that support agro-ecosystems (agricultural, pastoral, forest and aquatic) as well as the diversity of the agro-ecosystems.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Benefits of Agrobiodiversity</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Increases productivity, food security, and economic returns.</li>
<li>Reduces the pressure of agriculture on fragile areas, forests and endangered species.</li>
<li>Makes farming systems more stable, robust, and sustainable.</li>
<li>Contributes to sound pest and disease management</li>
<li>Conserves soil and increase natural soil fertility and health.</li>
<li>Reduces dependency on external inputs.</li>
<li>Improves human nutrition and provides sources of medicines and vitamins.</li>
<li>Conserve ecosystem structure and stability of species diversity.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Significance of Agrobiodiversity for India</h3>
<p>India&rsquo;s promising genetic resources include rice from Tamil Nadu (Konamani), Assam (Agni bora) and Kerala (Pokkali), Bhalia Wheat and mushroom (Guchhi) from Himachal Pradesh and rich farm animal native breeds &mdash; cattle (42), buffaloes (15), goat (34), sheep (43) and chicken (19). Since, genetic diversity of crops, livestock and their wild relatives, are fundamental to improve crop varieties and livestock breeds, this can help in the following ways:</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>In combating hunger:</strong> India is ranked 102 in the <strong>Global Hunger Index (GHI) out of 117</strong> qualified countries.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Hunger is defined by caloric deprivation; protein hunger; hidden hunger by the deficiency of micronutrients.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Malnutrition:</strong> Nearly 47 million or four out of 10 children in India do not meet their potential because of chronic undernutrition or stunting. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>This leads to diminished learning capacity, increased chronic diseases, low birth-weight infants from malnourished parents.</li>
<li>The global nutrition report pegs 614 million women and more than half the women in India aged 15-49 as being anaemic.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Agrobiodiversity can help in</strong> nutrition-sensitive farming and bio-fortified foods.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>For instance, moringa (drumstick) has micronutrients and sweet potato is rich in Vitamin A. There are varieties of pearl millet and sorghum rich in iron and zinc.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>This will help India achieve <strong>UN Sustainable Development Goal 2</strong> (Zero Hunger) and the <strong>Aichi Biodiversity Target</strong> (focuses on countries conserving the genetic diversity of plants, farm livestock and wild relatives).</li>
</ul>
<h3>Agrobiodiversity In India</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Across the world, 37 sites are designated as <strong>Globally Important Agricultural Heritage Systems (GIAHS),</strong> of which three are Indian &mdash; Kashmir (saffron), Koraput (traditional agriculture) and Kuttanad (below sea-level farming).</li>
<li>In India, over 811 cultivated plants and 902 of their wild relatives have been documented.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Challenges to Agrobiodiversity</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Loss of crop genetic resources due to <strong>adopting new crop varieties without conserving traditional varieties.</strong> For example, Bt cotton.</li>
<li>Similarly, there are concerns on<strong> high output breeds</strong> for production of meat, milk and eggs. Crossbreeding of foreign breeds with indigenous breeds leads to erosion of genetically diverse pool.</li>
<li>Out of 2,50,000 globally identified plant species, about 7,000 have historically been used in human diets. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Today, <strong>only 30 crops form the basis of the world&rsquo;s agriculture</strong> and just three species of maize, rice and wheat supply more than half the world&rsquo;s daily calories.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Way Forward</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>There is a need for a <strong>comprehensive policy on &lsquo;ecological agriculture&rsquo;</strong> to enhance native pest and pollinator population providing ecosystem services for the agricultural landscape.</li>
<li><strong>Bio-village concept:</strong> Ecologically sensitive farming can be done by conserving crop wild relatives of cereals, millets, oilseeds, fibres, forages, fruits and nuts, vegetables, spices etc. for crop genetic diversity healthier food.</li>
<li><strong>Providing incentives for farmers</strong> cultivating native varieties and those conserving indigenous breeds of livestock and poultry varieties.</li>
<li><strong>Community seed banks</strong> should be encouraged in each agro-climatic zone.</li>
<li>Developing a <strong>national level invasive alien species policy</strong> is required to identify pathways, mapping, monitoring, managing, controlling and eradicating invasive species.</li>
<li>The <strong>consumption pattern and culinary diversity</strong> must be enlarged to increase India&rsquo;s food basket.</li>
</ul>
<table border="1" style="border-collapse: collapse; width: 100%;">
<tbody>
<tr>
<td style="width: 100%; border-style: dotted; border-color: #ff0303; background-color: #dffacf;"><span style="color: #000080;"><em><strong>Drishti Mains Question</strong></em></span><br /><br />What do you understand by agrobiodiversity? Examine its significance in light of climate change, sustainable agriculture and poverty.</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>',
		'postdate' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenTime) {},
		'url' => 'https://www.drishtiias.com/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/agrobiodiversity-for-india'
	],
	(int) 12 => [
		'title' => 'National Energy Conservation Day',
		'catname' => 'News Analysis',
		'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>The National Energy Conservation Day is organized every year on 14<sup>th</sup> December by the <strong>Bureau of Energy Efficiency</strong> (<a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/electric-vehicle-charging-guidelines-and-specifications" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>BEE</strong></a>).</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>It <strong>aims</strong> to showcase India&rsquo;s achievements in energy efficiency and conservation while working for its ambition of holistic development as part of the nation&rsquo;s overall effort towards climate change mitigation.</li>
<li>BEE is observing <strong>National Energy Conservation Week</strong> from 9<sup>th</sup> to 14<sup>th</sup> December 2019 in order to drive mass awareness about the importance of energy efficiency and conservation.</li>
<li>In order to realize the development goals,<strong> India&rsquo;s energy demand</strong> is <strong>expected to double between 2013 and 2030,</strong> to <strong>approximately 1500 million tons</strong> of oil equivalent.</li>
<li>The <strong>mission of BEE</strong> is to assist in developing policies and strategies that will help reduce this energy demand by promoting widespread adoption of energy efficiency measures.</li>
</ul>
<h3>National Energy Conservation Awards Programme</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>It recognizes the <strong>energy efficiency achievements in 56 sub-sectors</strong> across industry, establishments and institutions.</li>
<li>Ministry of Power is implementing various policies and schemes viz The Perform, Achieve and Trade <strong>(PAT) Scheme, Standard and Labelling</strong> and <strong>Demand Side Management.</strong> These programmes are helpful in achieving significant energy savings and also, in promotion of the efficient use of energy across society.</li>
<li>Furthermore, the development of <strong>Energy Conservation Guidelines</strong> and <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/bee-introduces-state-energy-efficiency-index" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>State Energy Efficiency Preparedness Index</strong> </a>are complemented within different sectors of Industries and States for implementing energy efficiency programmes more effectively. <strong>Energy Conservation Building Codes</strong> for the residential sector is also being developed for curtailing the rising energy demand of the country.</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Perform, Achieve and Trade Scheme</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>It is a market-based mechanism to further accelerate as well as incentivize energy efficiency in the large energy-intensive industries.</li>
<li>The scheme provides the option to trade any additional certified energy savings with other designated consumers to comply with the Specific Energy Consumption reduction targets.</li>
<li>The <strong>Energy Savings Certificates (ESCerts)</strong> so issued will be tradable on special trading platforms to be created in the two power exchanges -- Indian Energy Exchange and Power Exchange India.</li>
<li>The scheme is unique in many ways, particularly from a developing country's perspective since it creates a market for energy efficiency through tradable certificates ESCerts, by allowing them to be used for meeting energy reduction targets.</li>
</ul>
</div>
<p><a href="https://pib.gov.in/PressReleseDetailm.aspx?PRID=1596314" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Source: PIB</strong></a></p>',
		'postdate' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenTime) {},
		'url' => 'https://www.drishtiias.com/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/national-energy-conservation-day'
	],
	(int) 13 => [
		'title' => 'Essential Medicines',
		'catname' => 'News Analysis',
		'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>India&rsquo;s drug pricing regulator, <strong>National Pharmaceutical Pricing Authority (NPPA),</strong> has allowed an increase in the maximum retail prices of 21 drugs currently under price control by as much as 50%.</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The decision has been taken by invoking<strong> paragraph 19 of the Drug Prices Control Order (DPCO), 2013</strong> which until now has been used only to reduce the prices of stents and knee implants.</li>
<li>Most of these drugs are used as the first line of treatment and are crucial to the public health program of the country.</li>
<li>The decision by the NPPA will apply to formulations like the BCG vaccine for tuberculosis, vitamin C, antibiotics like metronidazole and benzylpenicillin, antimalarial drug chloroquine and leprosy medication dapsone.</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Drug Prices Control Order, 2013</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Under the provisions of DPCO 2013, only the prices of drugs that figure in the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/medical-%20device-margins-to-be-capped" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>National List of Essential Medicines (NLEM)</strong></a> are monitored and controlled by the regulator, the National Pharmaceutical Pricing Authority. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Essential medicines are those that satisfy the priority healthcare needs of the majority of the population. The primary purpose of NLEM is to promote rational use of medicines considering the three important aspects i.e. cost, safety and efficacy.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>Paragraph 19 of the DPCO, 2013, deals with <strong>increase or decrease in drug prices under extraordinary circumstances.</strong> However, there is neither a precedent nor any formula prescribed for upward revision of ceiling prices.</li>
</ul>
</div>
<h3>Background</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Manufacturers have been citing <strong>difficulties in supplying these drugs</strong> and many companies even have applied for discontinuation of the product on account of unviability.</li>
<li>NPPA has been receiving applications for upward price revision under para 19 of DPCO, 2013, since last two years citing reasons like &ldquo;increase in <strong>Active Pharmaceutical Ingredient - API (key ingredient) cost,</strong> increase in cost of production, exchange rates etc. resulting in unviability in sustainable production and marketing of the drugs.</li>
<li><strong>India is dependent on China for over 60% of its API requirement,</strong> higher API costs for price-controlled medicines reduce profits and sometimes even make production of these drugs unviable in India. For instance, the cost of ingredients to make vitamin C went up as much as 250%, leading to a 25-30% shortage of this drug in India in 2019.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The decision has been taken to ensure that the<strong> life saving essential drugs must remain available</strong> to the general public at all times. This is to avoid a situation where these drugs become unavailable in the market and the public is forced to switch to costly alternatives.</li>
<li>This is the first time the NPPA &mdash; which is known to slash prices of essential and life-saving medicines &mdash; is increasing prices in public interest.</li>
</ul>
<p>On a longer term, <strong>India needs to build capabilities to manufacture the key ingredients</strong> for these medicines.</p>
<p><a href="https://indianexpress.com/article/india/in-a-first-regulator-hikes-prices-of-essential-drugs-6166019/" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Source: IE</strong></a></p>',
		'postdate' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenTime) {},
		'url' => 'https://www.drishtiias.com/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/essential-medicines'
	],
	(int) 14 => [
		'title' => 'Accessible India Campaign',
		'catname' => 'News Analysis',
		'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>The deadline for the government&rsquo;s <strong>Accessible India Campaign (AIC)</strong> has been extended to March 2020 due to slow progress.</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>AIC is the nationwide flagship campaign of the Department of Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities (DEPwD), <strong>Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment.</strong></li>
<li>The aim of the Campaign is to make a <strong>barrier-free and conducive environment for Divyangjans</strong> (Persons with Disabilities - PwDs) all over the country.</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1576306605_image1.jpg" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1576306605_image1.jpg" width="656" height="328" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" caption="false" /></a></p>
<h3>Accessible India Campaign</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Launched by</strong> the Prime Minister of India on International Day of Persons with Disabilities on 3rd December 2015.</li>
<li><strong>Background</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Persons with Disabilities (Equal Opportunities, Protection of Rights and Full Participation) Act, 1995</strong> categorically provided for non-discrimination in transport and in the built environment. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>It needs to be noted that <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/status-on-implementation-of-the-rights-of-persons-with-disabilities-act-2016" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act, 2016</strong></a> replaced the PwD Act, 1995.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UNCRPD),</strong> to which <strong>India is a signatory,</strong> under Article 9 casts obligations on the Governments for ensuring to PwDs accessibility to (a) Information, (b) Transportation, (c) Physical Environment, (d) Communication Technology and (e) Accessibility to Services as well as emergency services.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Three Components of AIC</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Built Environment Accessibility</li>
<li>Transportation System Accessibility</li>
<li>Information and Communication Eco-System Accessibility</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Targets entailed under the three components</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Making 50% of all the government buildings of National Capital and all the State capitals fully accessible by December 2018.</li>
<li>Completing accessibility audit of 50% of government buildings and making them fully accessible in 10 most important cities/towns of States by December 2019.</li>
<li>Ensuring that 50% of railway stations in the country are converted into fully accessible railway stations by March 2018.</li>
<li>Ensuring that 25% of Government owned public transport carriers in the country are converted into fully accessible carriers by March 2018.</li>
<li>Conducting accessibility audit of 50% of all government (both Central and State Governments) websites and converting them into fully accessible websites by March 2017.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/targets-missed-accessible-india-campaigns-deadline-extended/article30300230.ece" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Source: TH</strong></a></p>',
		'postdate' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenTime) {},
		'url' => 'https://www.drishtiias.com/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/accessible-india-campaign'
	],
	(int) 15 => [
		'title' => 'Medical Devices In India',
		'catname' => 'Paper 2',
		'desc' => '<h3>Introduction</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The medical device industry is a unique blend of engineering and medicine. It involves the creation of machines that are used to support life within the human body.</li>
<li>Medical devices include&nbsp;<strong>Surgical Equipment, Diagnostic equipment</strong> like Cardiac imaging, CT scans, X-ray, Molecular Imaging, MRI and Ultrasound-imaging including hand - held devices; <strong>Life Support equipment</strong> like ventilator, etc. as well as <strong>Implants</strong> and <strong>Disposables.</strong></li>
<li>Medical devices, unlike pharmaceuticals, are dependent on a mix of technologies such as engineering, electronics, material sciences and information technology.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Medical Devices Sector in India</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Medical devices sector in India <strong>is very small in size</strong> as compared to the rest of the manufacturing industry, though India is one of the top twenty markets for medical devices in the world and is the <strong>4<sup>th</sup> largest market</strong> in Asia after Japan, China, and South Korea.</li>
<li>India currently <strong>imports 80-90% of medical devices</strong> of the $15 billion market, the vast majority of which are unregulated for quality and safety.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Factors Driving the Growth of Medical Devices Sector</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Market Factors&ndash;</strong> Growing population, ageing, income base and associated disposable income, increasing socio-economic inclusion of rural and deprived in mainstream economy, heightened manufacturing innovation to create customized products to meet the needs of all income segments, changing disease prevalence pattern (e.g. early onset of diabetes and heart diseases) and growing awareness among the middle class to focus on early detection and disease prevention.</li>
<li><strong>Non-market Factors&ndash;</strong> Development of infrastructure, favorable regulations, FDI inflow, outsourcing of manufacturing and R&amp;D activities to India, government initiatives to improve healthcare access through insurance schemes such as Rashtriya Swasthya Bima Yojana (RSBY), Aarogyasri, etc.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Issues Regarding Medical Devices Sector in India</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Underdeveloped:</strong> The industry is still at a nascent stage with sub-optimal penetration and usage of medical devices. This demands innovation and R&amp;D from the medical device industry in order to push for indigenisation.</li>
<li><strong>Regulatory Loopholes/deficit:</strong> The lack of regulatory systems, harmonized standards, accreditation, legal requirements, proper guidance on quality and best practices etc. are affecting the medical devices industry adversely. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Medical devices continue to be under the <strong>Drugs and Cosmetics Act 1940</strong> and industry representatives are pushing for a comprehensive regulation that views medical devices separately, through the entire life-cycle of the product, from design to tests on patients, incorporating doctor feedback, and surveillance of patients in whom the implants are used, etc.</li>
<li>The four draft notifications issued by the health ministry recently has notified all medical devices as &lsquo;medicines&rsquo; under the Drugs Act from December 2019.</li>
<li>However, experts and device manufacturers are demanding to bring a separate law, Medical Devices Act, to regulate the medical devices industry in India. At present only 24 out of over 6,000 devices are regulated.</li>
<li>The Drugs Act itself needs reforms as it does not uniformly and equitably regulate quality from state-to-state in the absence of a national singular regulatory authority. The recent J&amp;J episode showed the limitations of the Drugs Act and the Drugs Controller was seen to be handicapped to discipline overseas manufacturers.</li>
<li>Presently, India does not have any legal provisions to compensate patients facing health problems due to implants or the use of faulty medical devices. Under the law, companies are liable to pay compensation only when something goes wrong during a clinical trial.</li>
<li>The <strong>Johnson and Johnson&rsquo;s faulty hip implant device case</strong> is symptomatic of the failure of regulatory mechanisms to counter corporate forgery, lack of administrative accountability, breach of business/medical ethics of big pharma, and the lack of consumer/patient awareness.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>Investors shy away from an unpredictable, incomplete and incorrect regulatory environment. In the absence of norms, domestic manufacturing suffers as a surgeon is unsure of trying an unregulated device from a startup on a patient.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Major Recommendations of Task Force on the Medical Devices Sector In India (2015)</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Formulate &ldquo;Medical Device Regulatory Act&rdquo;:</strong> Medical devices should be treated distinctly from drugs and a separate chapter for medical devices should be made in the existing Drugs &amp; Cosmetics Act.</li>
<li><strong>Create necessary bodies to drive the policies:</strong> Set up an independent body with a permanent office and support staff to promote and facilitate the medical device industry with representatives from all related government departments as well as Industry.</li>
<li>Department of Pharmaceuticals should be strengthened and rechristened as the Department of Pharmaceuticals and Medical Devices.</li>
<li><strong>Preferential treatment in government procurement:</strong> Preference may be given to medical devices that are being manufactured in India with an additional preference for medical devices manufactured under the MSME sector.</li>
<li>Medical device testing centers should be set up preferably in the PPP model.</li>
<li>Designate &ldquo;Centers of Excellence&rdquo; (CoE) for supporting product development and validation.</li>
<li>Set up a Skill development committee with representatives from the Medical devices industry, academia (NIPERs) and Healthcare Sector Skill Council (HSSC) under the National Skill Development Council (NSDC).</li>
<li>Separate price control order for medical devices.</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1576238418_image1.png" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1576238418_image1.png" width="485" height="522" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" caption="false" /></a></p>
<h3>Recent Government Steps</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The government has approved setting up <strong>four medical device parks</strong> with a view to support Make in India initiative and provide world-class treatment at affordable prices. The parks will be set up in Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Tamil Nadu and Kerala. Uttarakhand and Gujarat have also approached the Centre for such parks.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>These parks will provide the necessary infrastructure, where companies can easily plug and play.</li>
<li>This will not only cut import bills but will also help in easy access to standard testing facilities and reduce the cost of production.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>Government of India in November 2018 approved formula for determination of<strong> compensation for those patients who had received</strong> (prior to August 2010) <strong>faulty</strong> Articular Surface Replacement (ASR) <strong>hip implants</strong> manufactured<strong> by</strong> M/s. DePuy International Limited, U.K (M/S <strong>Johnson &amp; Johnson</strong> Pvt Ltd).<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>New provisions will be added to the Drugs and Cosmetics Act to introduce a compensation plan for faulty medical devices having adverse impacts on patients.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Conclusion</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>There is a difference between medical devices and drugs so it would be a grave mistake to apply the same regulatory framework for both of them. A targeted and different approach is needed to regulate these complex devices.</li>
<li>Medical devices sector, being a critical sector dealing with human lives, needs to be given sufficient attention on an urgent basis to make the sector effective and transparent with the aim to make healthcare devices affordable and accessible to the masses.</li>
<li>India being a large market for medical devices should tap the potential generated by the Medical Devices Industry by strengthening its domestic framework that would greatly help in realising the vision of &ldquo;Make in India&rdquo;.</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="/mind-map/gs-paper2/medical-devices-in-india-mindmap" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><em>For Mind Map</em></a></p>',
		'postdate' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenTime) {},
		'url' => 'https://www.drishtiias.com/to-the-points/Paper2/medical-devices-in-india-1'
	],
	(int) 16 => [
		'title' => 'Medical Devices In India',
		'catname' => 'Paper 2',
		'desc' => '<p><a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1577359169_Medical%20Devices In India (Mind Map).png" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1577359169_Medical Devices In India (Mind Map).png" width="454" height="1389" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" /></a></p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><a href="/to-the-points/Paper2/medical-devices-in-india-1" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><em>For TTP</em></a></p>',
		'postdate' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenTime) {},
		'url' => 'https://www.drishtiias.com/mind-map/gs-paper2/medical-devices-in-india-mindmap'
	],
	(int) 17 => [
		'title' => 'PRS Capsule November 2019',
		'catname' => 'PRS Capsule',
		'desc' => '<p><em><strong>Key Highlights of PRS</strong></em></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><a href="#1">Economy</a>
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><a href="#2">Chit Funds (Amendment) Bill, 2019</a></li>
<li><a href="#3">International Financial Services Authority Bill</a></li>
<li><a href="#4">15<sup>th</sup> Finance Commission Gets One-year Extension</a></li>
<li><a href="#5">Regulatory Sandbox</a></li>
<li><a href="#6">RBI Revises Liquidity Risk Management Framework for NBFCs</a></li>
<li><a href="#7">The Industrial Relations Code, 2019</a></li>
<li><a href="#8">Company Law Committee Releases Report</a></li>
<li><a href="#9">TRAI releases recommendations on platform services by DTH operators</a></li>
<li><a href="#10">Steel Scrap Recycling Policy</a></li>
<li><a href="#11">Recycling of Ships Bill, 2019</a></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><a href="#12">Polity</a>
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><a href="#13">The Transgender Persons (Protection of Rights) Bill, 2019</a></li>
<li><a href="#14">Restructuring of Tribunals</a></li>
<li><a href="#15">Chief Justice of India under the Right to Information Act, 2005</a></li>
<li><a href="#16">Supreme Court upholds disqualification of 17 Karnataka MLAs</a></li>
<li><a href="#17">The Surrogacy (Regulation) Bill, 2019</a></li>
<li><a href="#18">Arms (Amendment) Bill, 2019</a></li>
<li><a href="#19">Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Daman and Diu (Merger of Union Territories) Bill, 2019</a></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><a href="#20">Culture</a>
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><a href="#21">The Jallianwala Bagh National Memorial (Amendment) Bill, 2019</a></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><a href="#22">External Affairs</a>
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><a href="#23">11<sup>th</sup> BRICS summit</a></li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h2 id="1">Economy</h2>
<h3 id="2">Chit Funds (Amendment) Bill, 2019</h3>
<p><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/chit-funds-amendment-bill-2019" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Chit Funds (Amendment) Bill, 2019</strong></a> has been passed by the Parliament. The Bill seeks to amend the Chit Funds Act, 1982. The Act regulates chit funds and prohibits a fund from being created without prior sanction of the state government.</p>
<p><strong>Chit Fund</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Under a chit fund, people agree to pay a certain amount from time to time into a fund. Periodically, one of the subscribers is chosen by drawing a chit to receive the prize amount from the fund.</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>Key Features of the Bill</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Names for a Chit Fund:</strong> The Act specifies various names which may be used to refer to a chit fund.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>These include chit, chit fund, and kuri.</li>
<li>It additionally inserts<strong> &lsquo;fraternity fund&rsquo;</strong> and <strong>&lsquo;rotating savings and credit institution&rsquo;</strong> to this list.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Presence of Subscribers through Video-Conferencing:</strong> The Act specifies that a chit will be drawn in the presence of at least two subscribers.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The Bill seeks to allow these subscribers to join via video-conferencing.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Foreman&rsquo;s Commission:</strong> The &lsquo;foreman&rsquo; is responsible for managing the chit fund. He is entitled to a maximum commission of 5% of the chit amount.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The Bill seeks to increase the commission to 7%.</li>
<li>Further, the Bill allows the foreman a right to lien against the credit balance from subscribers.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Aggregate Amount of Chits:</strong> Under the Act, chits may be conducted by firms, associations or individuals.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The Act specifies the maximum amount of chit funds which may be collected.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Application of the Act:</strong> Currently, the Act does not apply to: (i) any chit started before it was enacted, and (ii) any chit (or multiple chits being managed by the same foreman) where the amount is less than Rs 100.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The Bill removes the limit of Rs 100 and allows the state governments to specify the base amount over which the provisions of the Act will apply.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Lien</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>A lien is a claim or legal right against assets that are typically used as collateral to satisfy a debt.</li>
<li>If the underlying obligation is not satisfied, the creditor may be able to seize the asset that is the subject of the lien.</li>
</ul>
</div>
<h3 id="3">International Financial Services Authority Bill</h3>
<p>The Bill provides for the establishment of an Authority to develop and regulate the financial services market in the International Financial Services Centres in India.</p>
<p><strong>Key features of the Bill</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Coverage:</strong> The Bill will apply to all <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/international-financial-services-centres-authority-bill-2019" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>International Financial Services Centres</strong> </a>(IFSCs) set up under the Special Economic Zones Act, 2005.</li>
<li><strong>Constitution of the International Financial Services Centres Authority:</strong> The Bill sets up the International Financial Services Centres Authority.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The Authority will consist of nine members (including a chairperson), appointed by the central government.</li>
<li>Members of the Authority will include representation from the RBI, SEBI, the Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority of India, the Pension Fund Regulatory Development Authority, and the Ministry of Finance.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Functions of the Authority include:</strong>
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Regulating financial products (such as securities, deposits or contracts of insurance), financial services, and financial institutions in an IFSC which have been approved by any regulator (such as the RBI or SEBI), before the enactment of this Act.</li>
<li>Regulating any other financial products, financial services, or financial institutions in an IFSC, which may be notified by the central government.</li>
<li>Recommending to the central government, any other financial services, products, or financial institutions which may be permitted in an IFSC.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>International Financial Services Centres Authority Fund:</strong> The Bill sets up the International Financial Services Centres Authority Fund.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Grants, fees and charges received by the Authority and sums received by the Authority from various sources will be credited to the Fund.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Transaction in foreign currency:</strong> As per the Bill, all transactions of financial services in IFSCs will be in such foreign currency as specified by the Authority, in consultation with the central government.</li>
</ul>
<h3 id="4">15<sup>th</sup> Finance Commission Gets One-year Extension</h3>
<p>The President extended the period of the 15<sup>th</sup> Finance Commission (the period for which it is required to give its recommendations) by one year, from 2020-25 to 2020-26.</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Earlier, the Commission was required to submit its report by November 2019, consisting of recommendations for the period 2020-21 to 2024-25.</li>
<li>This extension was given, due to the <a href="/current-affairs-news-analysis-editorials/news-analysis/05-08-2019#2719" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>change in the status of Jammu &amp; Kashmir&rsquo;s statehood</strong></a> as the Fifteenth Finance Commission will have to rework its calculations for interstate distribution of central resources among different states.</li>
</ul>
<h3 id="5">Regulatory Sandbox</h3>
<p>The <a href="/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-national-institutions/important-institutions-national-institution-reserve-bank-of-india" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Reserve Bank of India (RBI)</strong> </a>had released the enabling framework for <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/sandbox-for-fintech" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>regulatory sandbox</strong></a> in August 2019.</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The sandbox provides an environment which allows market participants to test new products, services or business models with customers in a controlled environment.</li>
<li>RBI has called for applications for the following products/services under the above theme:
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Offline payment solutions</li>
<li>Contactless payments</li>
<li>Feature phone-based payment services</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3 id="6">RBI Revises Liquidity Risk Management Framework for NBFCs</h3>
<p>RBI issued final guidelines on the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/nbfc-liquidity-norms" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>asset-liability management and liquidity coverage ratio framework</strong></a> for Non-Banking Financial Companies (NBFCs).</p>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>NBFC</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>An NBFC is a company which engages in the acquisition of government securities and shares, and business of loans or advances.</li>
<li>It does not accept demand deposits and cannot issue payment instruments.</li>
<li>Further, more than half of its assets should comprise of financial assets (investment in equity shares, securities or loans).</li>
<li>Category 1 NBFCs include all deposit-taking NBFCs and non-deposit taking with an asset size of Rs 10,000 crore and above.</li>
<li>Category 2 NBFCs include non-deposit taking NBFCs with an asset size between Rs 5,000 crore and Rs 10,000 crore.</li>
</ul>
</div>
<p><strong>Liquidity Risk management Framework</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>It aims to ensure adequate liquidity (NBFCs capacity to meet unexpected cash and collateral obligations without incurring unacceptable losses).</li>
<li>This is done through high-quality liquid assets (assets that can be readily sold or converted to cash, or used as collateral to obtain funds in the situation of stress).</li>
<li>The revised guidelines have also introduced the Liquidity Coverage Ratio (LCR) as an added measure for liquidity risk management for certain categories of NBFCs.</li>
<li>As per the guidelines, all public deposits taking NBFCs and non-deposit taking (with an asset size of Rs 5,000 crore and above) will have to maintain a minimum LCR, in order to sustain acute liquidity stress scenarios (stress lasting for 30 days).
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>LCR is the ratio of the stock of high-quality liquid assets to the total cash outflows of the NBFC, for a period of 30 days.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>These requirements would be binding on the NBFCs from December 1, 2020.</li>
</ul>
<h3 id="7">The Industrial Relations Code, 2019</h3>
<p>The Industrial Relations Code, 2019 was introduced in Lok Sabha. It seeks to replace three labour laws:</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The Industrial Disputes Act, 1947</li>
<li>The Trade Unions Act, 1926</li>
<li>The Industrial Employment (Standing Orders) Act, 1946.</li>
</ul>
<p>Key features of the Bill include:</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Trade unions:</strong>
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Under the Code, seven or more members of a trade union can apply to register it.</li>
<li>Trade unions that have a membership of at least 10% of the workers or 100 workers, whichever is less, will be registered.</li>
<li>Further, the central or state government may recognise a trade union or a federation of trade unions as Central or State Trade Unions respectively.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Negotiating unions:</strong>
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The Code provides for a negotiation union in an industrial establishment for negotiating with the employer.</li>
<li>If there is only one trade union in an industrial establishment, then the employer is required to recognise such trade union as the sole negotiating union of the workers.</li>
<li>In case of multiple trade unions, the trade union with the support of at least 75% of workers will be recognised as the negotiating union by the government.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Lay-off and retrenchment:</strong>
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The Code defines lay-off as the inability of an employer, due to shortage of coal, power, or breakdown of machinery, from giving employment to a worker. It also provides for employers to terminate the services of a worker, i.e., retrenchment.</li>
<li>Employers of industrial establishments with at least 100 workers are required to take prior permission of the central or state government before lay-off, retrenchment or closure of an establishment.</li>
<li>The central or state government can modify this threshold number of workers by notification. Any person who contravenes this provision is punishable with a fine between one lakh rupees and Rs 10 lakh.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Resolution of industrial disputes:</strong>
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The central or state governments may appoint conciliation officers to mediate and promote settlement of industrial disputes.</li>
<li>These officers will investigate the dispute and hold conciliation proceedings to arrive at a fair and amicable settlement of the dispute.</li>
<li>If no settlement is arrived at, then any party to the dispute can make an application to an Industrial Tribunal set up under the Code.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3 id="8">Company Law Committee Releases Report</h3>
<p>The <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/committee-to-review-the-offences-under-the-companies-act" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Company Law Committee</strong> </a>headed by Mr. Injeti Srinivas submitted its report to the Ministry of Corporate Affairs.</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The Committee made recommendations to the government about the re-categorisation of certain criminal offences in the Companies Act, 2013. It also suggested certain other changes to facilitate the ease of doing business.</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>Key observations and recommendations include:</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Rationale for re-categorisation:</strong> The Committee observed that a balance must be struck between civil and criminal sanctions when dealing with corporate conduct.</li>
<li>Serious violations of the law, especially wrongful conduct involving fraudulent elements, should be dealt with under criminal law. However, procedural, technical, and minor non-compliance may be dealt with through civil jurisdiction.</li>
<li><strong>Offences to be omitted or dealt with under alternative frameworks:</strong> The Committee believed that certain offences could be dealt with through other laws or alternative mechanisms. It recommended that seven offences be omitted.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>These offences may be omitted from the Act. These include those relating to noncompliance with National Company Law Tribunal orders regarding failure to redeem debentures.</li>
<li>The Committee also recommended that five offences be dealt with under alternative frameworks such as the Insolvency and Banking Code.</li>
<li>These offences included those relating to noncooperation of promoters or directors with the company liquidator.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Offences restricted to fine only:</strong> The Committee noted that certain offences were severe enough to warrant criminal liability but not necessitate incarceration.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The imposition of a penalty as punishment would suffice. These offences included those relating to non-compliance of companies with charitable objects (such as the promotion of social welfare) with the requirements imposed on them.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Ease of living related changes:</strong> The Committee suggested certain changes relating to improving the ease of living in the country for corporates.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>These include enabling the centre to enhance limits on Corporate Social Responsibility obligation thresholds to help improve CSR compliance.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3 id="9">TRAI releases recommendations on platform services by DTH operators</h3>
<p>TRAI has released recommendations on platform services offered by Direct to Home (DTH) operators.There are different types of distribution service providers of TV channels based on the technology used for distribution including <a href="/loksabha-rajyasabha-discussions/the-big-picture-dth-v-s-ott" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>DTH services</strong></a>, local cable operators, and Internet Protocol Television Services.</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>All distribution service providers offer certain programs which are specific to each platform and are not obtained from satellite-based broadcasters. These programs are referred to as platform services. Platform services provide the operators with an additional source of revenue through subscription of such services as well as advertisements on these services.</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>Key recommendations are as follows:</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Definition of platform services:</strong> Platform services have been defined as the programs transmitted by operators exclusively to their own subscribers. They do not include Doordarshan channels, registered satellite TV channels, or foreign TV channels not registered in India.</li>
<li><strong>Registration:</strong> The DTH operator will be required to register the platform service channel with the appropriate authority, and pay Rs 10,000 for every such channel.</li>
<li><strong>Sharing of platform services:</strong> The platform services provided by one operator will be exclusive to itself, and will not be shared with another operator.</li>
<li>Violation of this provision may lead to cancellation of registration of the platform service channel which was shared.</li>
<li><strong>Cap on number of platform services:</strong> The total number of platform services that an operator can offer will be 3% of total channel carrying capacity of the operator platform, or 15, whichever is higher.</li>
</ul>
<h3 id="10">Steel Scrap Recycling Policy</h3>
<p>The Ministry of Steel released the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/steel-scrap-recycling-policy" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Steel Scrap Recycling Policy.</strong> </a>The policy seeks to provide a framework to <strong>promote the establishment of metal scrapping centres for processing and recycling of steel scrap</strong> generated from various sources such as appliances and vehicles. The policy provides guidelines for collection, dismantling and shredding activities in an organised, safe, and environment-friendly manner. It describes the roles and responsibilities of collection centres, dismantling centres, scrap processing centres, and the government as follows:</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Collection centres:</strong> Collection centres include individuals, local scrap dealers, and distributors engaged in the collection of scrap.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The collection centres may also assist the processing centres in initial segregation and sorting of scraps.</li>
<li>The collection centres may work closely with processing centres for compliance to the scrap specifications and codes prescribed by the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS).</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Dismantling and processing centres:</strong> The dismantling and scrap processing centres will be required to adhere to the existing rules related to factories and other industrial norms.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>These centres will be required to comply with various regulations related to environment, pollution control, occupational safety, and management of waste including hazardous waste, among others.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>The Ministry of Steel will work towards promoting:
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Ease of doing business in setting up scrapping centres.</li>
<li>Research and development</li>
<li>Skill development</li>
<li>Development of quality standards</li>
<li>Creation of a competitive market in the steel scrap sector.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>An Inter-Ministerial Coordination Committee will be set up with representation from various Ministries and Departments including: (i) steel, (ii) road transport and highways, (iii) heavy industry, (iv) environment, and (v) Labour. The Committee will monitor the operationalization of the policy and enforcement of related regulations.</li>
</ul>
<h3 id="11">Recycling of Ships Bill, 2019</h3>
<p><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/hong-kong-convention-for-ship-recycling" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>The Recycling of Ships Bill, 2019</strong></a> was introduced in Lok Sabha. The Bill restricts the use of hazardous material on ships and regulates the recycling of ships.</p>
<p><strong>Key features include:</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Applicability of the Bill:</strong> The Bill will apply to:
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Any new or existing ship which is registered in India</li>
<li>Ships entering a port or terminal in India, or the territorial waters of India,</li>
<li>Any warship, or other ship owned and operated by an administration and used on government noncommercial service.</li>
<li>Ship recycling facilities operating in India.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Ship recycling:</strong> The Bill defines ship recycling as the dismantling of a ship at a facility to recover the components and materials for reuse, and taking care of the hazardous material so produced.</li>
<li><strong>Requirements for ships:</strong> Ships should not use prohibited hazardous materials as notified. The central government may exempt certain categories of ships from this requirement.</li>
<li>The National Authority will carry out periodic surveys to verify the prescribed requirements. This Authority will be notified by the central government to administer, supervise and monitor all activities related to ship recycling.</li>
</ul>
<h2 id="12">Polity</h2>
<h3 id="13">The Transgender Persons (Protection of Rights) Bill, 2019</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Definition of a transgender person:</strong> <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/the-transgender-persons-protection-of-rights-bill-2019" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>The Bill</strong></a> defines a transgender person as one whose gender does not match the gender assigned at birth.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>It includes transmen and trans-women, persons with intersex variations, gender-queers, and persons with socio-cultural identities, such as kinnar and hijra.</li>
<li>Intersex variations is defined to mean a person who at birth shows the variation in his or her primary sexual characteristics, external genitalia, chromosomes, or hormones from the normative standard of the male or female body.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Prohibition against discrimination:</strong> The Bill prohibits discrimination against a transgender person, including denial of service or unfair treatment in relation to:
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Education</li>
<li>Employment</li>
<li>Healthcare</li>
<li>Access to, or enjoyment of goods, facilities, opportunities available to the public</li>
<li>Right to movement</li>
<li>Right to reside, rent, or otherwise occupy the property</li>
<li>Opportunity to hold public or private office</li>
<li>Access to a government or private establishment in whose care or custody a transgender person is.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Health care:</strong> The government must take steps to provide health facilities to transgender persons including separate HIV surveillance centres, and sex reassignment surgeries.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The government shall review the medical curriculum to address health issues of transgender persons, and provide comprehensive medical insurance schemes for them.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Certificate of identity:</strong> A transgender person may make an application to the District Magistrate for a certificate of identity, indicating the gender as &lsquo;transgender&rsquo;.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>A revised certificate may be obtained only if the individual undergoes surgery to change their gender either as a male or a female.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>National Council for Transgender persons (NCT)</strong> will advise the central government as well as monitor the impact of policies, legislation and projects with respect to transgender persons. It will also redress the grievances of transgender persons.</li>
</ul>
<h3 id="14">Restructuring of Tribunals</h3>
<p>The Supreme Court passed a <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/supreme-court-ruling-on-finance-act-2017" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>judgement regarding various provisions of the Finance Act, 2017</strong></a> that pertained to the restructuring of Tribunals.</p>
<p>The issues before the Supreme Court included:</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Whether the Finance Act, 2017 satisfies the requirements of a Money Bill under the Constitution.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Certain provisions of the Finance Act, 2017 provide for the conditions of service of chairpersons and other members of Tribunals, and amend certain Acts to merge Tribunals.</li>
<li>The Court did not decide on whether such provisions could be passed in a Money Bill and referred the issue to a seven judge bench.</li>
<li>In particular, the reference was to interpret Article 110 of the Constitution, and to decide whether the word &ldquo;only&rdquo; in the definition of Money Bill means that any item other than those related to taxation or expenditure could be included.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>Whether the Rules on Tribunals notified under the Act amount to excessive delegation.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Section 184 of the Finance Act, 2017 allows the central government to make rules regarding qualifications, appointment, terms of services, and salary of chairperson, and other members of Tribunals and other authorities.</li>
<li>The Court said that this does not amount to excessive delegation, and upheld the section.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>Whether the Rules are compatible with the Constitution and various decisions of the Supreme Court.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The Court struck down the Tribunal, Appellate Tribunal and other Authorities (Qualifications, Experience and other Conditions of Service of Members) Rules, 2017.</li>
<li>It held that these Rules were in conflict with the principles of the Constitution which have been settled through various judgements of the Supreme Court.</li>
<li>Therefore, the Court held that these Rules amount to excessive interference of the executive in appointment of members of Tribunals and would be detrimental to the independence of the judiciary.</li>
<li>It would undermine the principle of separation of powers between the executive and the judiciary.</li>
<li>The Court directed the central government to reframe these rules in accordance with previous judgements of the Supreme Court related to working of Tribunals.</li>
<li>The Court also passed an interim order that appointments to the Tribunals shall be in terms of the respective Acts before the enactment of the Finance Act, 2017.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3 id="15">Chief Justice of India under the Right to Information Act, 2005</h3>
<p>In the last decade, some pleas had been filed in the Delhi High Court and the Supreme Court&rsquo;s Central Public Information Officer (CPIO) seeking details of judges&rsquo; appointments, assets and correspondences.</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>In 2010, the Delhi High Court held that the office of Chief Justice of India will come under the Right to Information Act, 2005 (RTI Act, 2005).</li>
<li>Consequently, CPIO, Supreme Court filed an appeal against the decision of the Delhi High Court.</li>
<li>The questions before the Supreme Court included:
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Whether the office of Chief Justice of India would come under the RTI Act, 2005.</li>
<li>Whether sharing such information would undermine judicial independence, and</li>
<li>whether there are any exceptions to the sharing of information.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>The Supreme Court upheld the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/chief-justice-of-india-under-the-ambit-of-the-rti-act" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>2010 judgement of the Delhi High Court</strong></a> and held that the office of the CJI comes under the definition of &ldquo;public authority&rdquo; under the RTI Act, 2005.</li>
<li>The Court further noted that while the independence of the judiciary forms part of the basic structure of the Constitution, bringing the office of the CJI under the RTI Act would not undermine the independence of the judiciary.</li>
<li>However, the Court stressed that when public interest demands the disclosure of information, judicial independence must be kept in mind.</li>
</ul>
<h3 id="16">Supreme Court upholds disqualification of 17 Karnataka MLAs</h3>
<p>The Supreme Court upheld the decision of former <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/disqualification-of-karnataka-mlas" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Karnataka Speaker for disqualification of 17 MLAs.</strong></a> However, it allowed them to contest in re-elections.</p>
<p>In July 2019, the then Karnataka Speaker disqualified 17 MLAs till the end of the Assembly term, under the anti-defection law. 15 of these MLAs had submitted their resignations before the decision of their disqualification.</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>These MLAs argued that they have the right to resign and the Speaker should accept their resignations immediately as they personally informed him that the resignation is voluntary and genuine.</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>The questions before the Supreme Court</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>What is the role of the Speaker in deciding whether to accept or reject a resignation.</li>
<li>Whether the order of the Speaker rejecting the resignation and disqualifying the MLAs is valid.</li>
<li>Whether the Speaker can disqualify the MLAs till the end of the term of the Assembly.</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>Observations held the Supreme Court</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The Court held that the Speaker&rsquo;s role with regard to acceptance or rejection of a resignation is limited to examining whether such a resignation is voluntary or genuine.</li>
<li>Further, it held that disqualification proceedings can be continued even if members have submitted resignations, when the act resulting in disqualification has arisen prior to the resignation.</li>
<li>It upheld the order of the Speaker to the extent of disqualification of the 17 MLAs. However, it held that the Speaker has no power to disqualify the members till the end of the Assembly term.</li>
<li>The Court noted that the Constitution provides for certain sanctions for disqualified members.</li>
<li>These include a bar from being appointed as a Minister or holding any remunerative political post from the date of disqualification till the date of expiry of office, or re-election to the legislature, whichever is earlier.</li>
</ul>
<h3 id="17">The Surrogacy (Regulation) Bill, 2019</h3>
<p>The Surrogacy (Regulation) Bill, 2019 was referred to a Rajya Sabha Select Committee after being passed by Lok Sabha in August 2019.</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The Bill defines surrogacy as a practice where a woman gives birth to a child for an intending couple and agrees to hand over the child to them after the birth.</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>Key features of the Bill include, as passed by Lok Sabha, include:</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Regulation of surrogacy:</strong> The Bill prohibits commercial surrogacy, but allows altruistic surrogacy.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Altruistic surrogacy</strong> involves no monetary compensation to the surrogate mother other than the medical expenses and insurance coverage.</li>
<li><strong>Commercial surrogacy</strong> includes surrogacy or its related procedures undertaken for a monetary benefit or reward (in cash or kind) exceeding the basic medical expenses and insurance coverage.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>The intending couple should have a &lsquo;certificate of essentiality&rsquo; and a &lsquo;certificate of eligibility&rsquo; issued by the appropriate authority.</li>
<li>Apart from this, a surrogate mother is needed to obtain a certificate of eligibility.</li>
<li>The surrogate mother has to be:
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>A close relative of the intending couple; 25 to 35 years old.</li>
<li>A married woman having a child of her own</li>
<li>Possess a certificate of medical and psychological fitness for surrogacy.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3 id="18">Arms (Amendment) Bill, 2019</h3>
<p>The Arms (Amendment) Bill, 2019 was introduced in Lok Sabha by the Minister of Home Affairs. The Bill amends the Arms Act, 1959.</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>It seeks to decrease the number of licensed firearms allowed per person and increases penalties for certain offences under the Act.</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>Key features include:</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>License for acquiring firearms:</strong> The Bill reduces the number of permitted firearms from three to one. This includes licenses given on inheritance or heirloom basis.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The Bill provides a time period of one year to deposit excess firearms.</li>
<li>The Bill also increases the duration of a firearm license from three years to five years.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Increase in punishment:</strong> The Bill enhances the punishment for various offences. For example, the Act specifies the punishment for:
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Dealing in unlicensed firearms.</li>
<li>Shortening or converting a firearm without a licence.</li>
<li>Importing or exporting banned firearms.</li>
<li>The punishment for these offences is between three years and seven years, along with a fine.</li>
<li>The Bill increases the punishment to between seven years and life imprisonment, along with a fine.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>New offences:</strong> The Bill adds news offences. These include:
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Forcefully taking a firearm from police or armed forces, punishable with imprisonment between 10 years and life imprisonment, and a fine.</li>
<li>Using firearms in a celebratory gunfire which endangers human life or personal safety of others, punishable with imprisonment of up to two years or a fine of up to one lakh rupees, or both.</li>
<li>The Bill also defines offences committed by organised crime syndicates and illicit trafficking. Possession of firearms or ammunition by a member of a syndicate, in violation of the Act, will be punishable with imprisonment between 10 years and life, along with a fine.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3 id="19">Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Daman and Diu (Merger of Union Territories) Bill, 2019</h3>
<p><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/dadra-and-nagar-haveli-and-daman-and-diu-merger-of-union-territories-bill-2019" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Daman and Diu (Merger of Union Territories) Bill, 2019</strong></a> was passed by Lok Sabha.</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The Bill provides for the merger of the Union Territories (UTs) of Dadra and Nagar Haveli, and Daman and Diu into a single UT.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The Bill makes consequential amendments including retaining the representation in Lok Sabha, the jurisdiction of the High Court of Bombay, and provisionally allotting all officials of the two UTs to the merged UT.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h2 id="20">Culture</h2>
<h3 id="21">The Jallianwala Bagh National Memorial (Amendment) Bill, 2019</h3>
<p>The <a href="/prs-capsule/prs-capsule-august-2019" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Jallianwala Bagh National Memorial (Amendment) Bill, 2019</strong></a> was passed by Parliament. It amends the Jallianwala Bagh National Memorial Act, 1951.</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The Act provides for the erection of a National Memorial in memory of those killed or wounded on April 13, 1919, in Jallianwala Bagh, Amritsar. It creates a Trust to manage the National Memorial.</li>
<li>The Bill amends this provision to remove the President of the Indian National Congress as a Trustee.</li>
</ul>
<h2 id="22">External Affairs</h2>
<h3 id="23">11<sup>th</sup> BRICS summit</h3>
<p>Brasilia Declaration released after the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/11th-brics-summit" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>11<sup>th</sup> BRICS summit</strong> </a>India participated in the 11<sup>th</sup> BRICS summit held on November 14, 2019.</p>
<p><strong>Key features of the Declaration include:</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Strengthening multilateral systems:</strong> The Declaration addressed the need for inclusivity in the multilateral system, including the United Nations, its Security Council, the International Monetary Fund, and the World Trade Organisation.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Further, observing the importance of sustainable development goals and the Paris agreement on climate change, it addressed the need for developed countries to provide resources and other assistance to developing countries.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Economic cooperation:</strong> The Declaration highlighted the importance of trade between BRICS nations.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Further, it observed the need for investment and infrastructure to improve trade. It condemned unilateral and protectionist measures, and recommended open markets and fair business and trade environment.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Regional conflicts:</strong> The Declaration observed regional conflicts in Syria, Yemen, Israel-Palestine, the Gulf region, Libya, and Afghanistan.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>It recognised the need for collective efforts for peaceful settlement of disputes, and the role of the UN Security Council as bearing the primary responsibility for maintaining international peace and security.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Intra-BRICS cooperation:</strong> The Declaration acknowledged cooperation among BRICS nations on various subjects such as security, science, technology, industrial growth, environment, energy, finance, trade, and fighting corruption.</li>
</ul>',
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		'url' => 'https://www.drishtiias.com/prs-capsule/prs-capsule-november-2019'
	],
	(int) 18 => [
		'title' => 'Climate Diplomacy for India',
		'catname' => 'News Editorials',
		'desc' => '<div class="border">
<p>This article is based on <a href="https://thediplomat.com/2019/12/time-to-practice-climate-change-diplomacy-in-indias-neighborhood/" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>&lsquo;Time to Practice Climate Change Diplomacy in India&rsquo;s Neighborhood&rsquo;</strong></a> which was published in The Diplomat on 07/12/2019. It highlights the significance of climate diplomacy for India.</p>
</div>
<p>Global carbon system is an interlocked system. The global transition to low carbon systems has spillover effects -from changes in one economy to changes in another economy, changes in politics in one place to changes in politics in another place. Hence, the manner of transition is important for a low carbon economy.</p>
<p>If one country is honourable in the extreme and cuts its carbon emissions to the bone, that is going to be of little use if the others do not follow suit. They will suffer the consequences of climate change despite the extent of their sacrifice or effort. Equally, at the same time waiting for others to do something and not doing something oneself, is also not an option, especially in terms of adaptation. It is in this context that global leadership gets shaped by the policies and governance approach of a nation that is conscious of the significant impact of climate change.</p>
<h3>India&rsquo;s Role and Responsibility on Climate Change Diplomacy</h3>
<p>India is a large economy, market, has the second largest population and it can play an important role in being part of these positive spillover effects.</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>India needs to move climate change, global warming to the top of its foreign policy agenda. It is in this way that India can draw benefits from its own climate actions.</li>
<li>India&rsquo;s stance on climate diplomacy has evolved from highlighting the issue of environmental colonialism in the 1990s through the principle of <strong>&ldquo;common but differentiated responsibilities&rdquo; (CBDR)</strong> to pushing for the establishment of an institution like <strong>International Solar Alliance</strong> in 2015.</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Environmental Colonialism</strong></p>
<p>Developed countries blaming developing countries like India and China for the rise in global temperatures. Resisting the pressure from developed countries, the developing countries then put forth the principle of &ldquo;common but differentiated responsibilities&rdquo; so that their developmental needs would not be made to pay for the excesses of the developed world.</p>
</div>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>India&rsquo;s climate diplomacy needs to <strong>construct a development model that takes into account all its needs, including climate change,</strong> that is focussed on adaptation, and encourages the responsible engagement from the West on issues like finance and technology.</li>
<li>A country&rsquo;s economic gain from technological cooperation for the environment can ensure its sustainable engagement with another country, which can, in turn, have a spillover effect on global engagement. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The fall in renewable energy prices, driven by Germany&rsquo;s domestic programme that basically supported global prices for renewables, is an example.</li>
<li>Therefore, if <strong>India can frame its national priorities</strong> more accurately and correctly, it can have a more reasonable engagement with the international process in climate change.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Steps towards better Climate Diplomacy</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Maritime Security:</strong> SAGAR (translated as &ldquo;sea&rdquo; or &ldquo;ocean&rdquo;) &ndash; Security and Growth for All in the Region &ndash; is at the centre of India&rsquo;s maritime strategy. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>While India attempts to tap into its <a href="http://www.ris.org.in/sites/default/files/Final_Blue_Economy_Report_2015-Website.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>blue economy</strong></a> potential along with its regional partners in the Indian Ocean Region (IOR), it also needs to undertake elaborate steps &ndash; technical, logistical, technological and regulatory &ndash; <strong>to develop climate-resilient ports in the region,</strong> an effort that could be steered by climate diplomacy.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Strategic relations:</strong> Rising sea levels and sinking cities, number of tsunamis, cyclones, and floods have strategic concerns as well. India needs to align all its foreign policies with the issues of climate change. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>For eg- India has taken a step toward cooperating with Sri Lanka on climate change. This initiative needs to be pushed further for India to gain an advantage over China, especially in the Indo-pacific region.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Food security:</strong> Climate-resilient agriculture can be pushed by India in its bilateral and multilateral dialogues. Encouraging trade in sustainable agricultural products can create demand for the same and can also help address the issue of global food security.</li>
<li><strong>Trade:</strong> Economic engagements in climate supporting technology for instance in the renewable energy sector with Germany can promote climate change conscious global trade.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Conclusion</h3>
<p>It is important for India to prioritize climate change as one of the instruments of its foreign policy. Climate change should not be just considered from the environmental and economic point of view; it also stands to affect strategic considerations. India can start focusing on its neighbourhood to play a constructive role in the area of climate change through its <strong>Neighbourhood First policy.</strong> Making climate change an integral part of its foreign policy ethics and moving towards climate diplomacy can project India as a sensitive and responsible global leader.</p>
<table border="1" style="border-collapse: collapse; width: 100%;" height="51">
<tbody>
<tr>
<td style="width: 100%; border-style: dotted; border-color: #ff00f7; background-color: #fff7cc;"><span style="color: #000080;"><em><strong>Drishti Mains Question</strong></em></span><br /><br />Explain the significance of climate diplomacy for India. (250 words)</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>',
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		'url' => 'https://www.drishtiias.com/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/climate-diplomacy-for-india'
	],
	(int) 19 => [
		'title' => 'Mullaperiyar Dam',
		'catname' => 'News Analysis',
		'desc' => '<h3>Why in News<a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1576225283_image4.jpg" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1576225283_image4.jpg" style="float: right;" width="280" height="298" caption="false" /></a></h3>
<p>The <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/jal-shakti-mantralaya" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Ministry of Jal Shakti</strong></a> has constituted a <strong>three-member Supervisory Committee</strong> to settle the issue of <strong>Mullaperiyar dam</strong> between <strong>Kerala and Tamil Nadu.</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The tension between the two states over the issue has persisted since the <strong>1960s,</strong> with Kerala citing concerns regarding the <a href="/to-the-points/Paper2/dam-safety-bill-2018" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>dam&rsquo;s safety</strong></a> and arguing for the reduction of the dam&rsquo;s water levels.</li>
<li>But with the water from the dam being diverted to five districts in Tamil Nadu and its importance in the state&rsquo;s irrigation and power production practices, Tamil Nadu has consistently opposed this.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Mullaperiyar Dam</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The Mullaperiyar dam is located on the <strong>confluence</strong> of the <strong>Mullayar and Periyar rivers</strong> in <strong>Kerala&rsquo;s Idukki district.</strong></li>
<li>It is <strong>operated and maintained</strong> by the <strong>Tamil Nadu</strong> for meeting the drinking water and irrigation requirements of five of its southern districts. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>According to a 999-year lease agreement made during the British rule the operational rights were handed over to Tamil Nadu.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>The dam intends to divert the waters of the <strong>west-flowing river Periyar</strong> eastward to the arid rain shadow regions of the Tamil Nadu.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Periyar River</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The Periyar River is the <strong>longest river in the state of Kerala</strong> with a length of 244 km.</li>
<li>It is also known as <strong>&lsquo;Lifeline of Kerala&rsquo;</strong> as it is one of the few <strong>perennial rivers</strong> in the state.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>A perennial river is a channel that has continuous flow in parts of its stream bed all year round.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>Periyar River <strong>originates</strong> from <strong>Sivagiri hills of Western Ghats</strong> and flows through the<strong> Periyar National Park.</strong></li>
<li>The <strong>main tributaries</strong> of Periyar are Muthirapuzha, Mullayar, Cheruthoni, Perinjankutti.</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="https://pib.gov.in/PressReleseDetail.aspx?PRID=1596261" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Source: PIB</strong></a></p>',
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$updates = object(Cake\ORM\Query) {

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

}
$page = (int) 190
$search = 'class'
$totalPages = (float) 336
$title = 'Search'
$lastyear = (int) 2018
$year = '2021'
$i = (int) 2017
$selected = ''
$m = (int) 13
$month = 'December'

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

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