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Seed Bill

This article is based on “The Seed Bill must be tweaked for better results” which was published in The Hindu Business Line on...

03 Dec 2019 News Editorials
The Big Picture- India, China Diplomatic Ties

In 2020, India and China will commemorate the 70th anniversary of the establishment of their diplomatic relations with 70 celebratory activities...

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Tanbo Art

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Organ Donation

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02 Dec 2019 News Editorials
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World AIDS Day

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Consumer Expenditure Survey

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State Party Status by Election Commission of India

Recently, the Jannayak Janta Party of Haryana has been granted the status of a recognised State party and has been allotted the symbol of...

30 Nov 2019 News Analysis

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			'title' => 'Seed Bill',
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<p>This article is based on <a href="https://www.thehindubusinessline.com/opinion/the-seed-bill-needs-to-be-tweaked-to-serve-the-interests-of-all-stakeholders-better/article30095614.ece" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>&ldquo;The Seed Bill must be tweaked for better results&rdquo;</strong></a> which was published in The Hindu Business Line on 02/12/2019. It highlights the provisions of the draft Seed Bill-2019 and issues associated with it.</p>
</div>
<p>Recently, the <strong>Ministry of Agriculture &amp; Farmers&rsquo; Welfare</strong> has finalized the <strong>draft Seed Bill 2019</strong> and is expected to table it in the ongoing winter session of Parliament. The Bill aims to <em><strong>regulate the quality of seeds sold and facilitate the production and supply of these seeds to farmers.</strong></em> It aims to <strong>foster competition</strong> by amending the<strong> Seed Act, 1966</strong> and <strong>Seed Rules, 1968.</strong> There are certain proposals in the Bill such as registration of seed varieties, powers granted to the government to fix prices inter-alia which suffer from certain drawbacks. In this regard, the <strong>seed industry</strong> has made certain observations and recommendations to the government.</p>
<h3>Highlights of the Seed Bill- 2019</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>It is an important legislation to ensure the supply of modern, high quality, cutting edge seed technologies to the farmers which will help them in <strong>enhancing their productivity and profitability.</strong></li>
<li><strong>Formation of Seed Committee</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The Bill authorizes the Central government to reconstitute a <strong>Central Seed Committee</strong> (based in <strong>New Delhi</strong>) that will be responsible for the effective implementation of its provisions.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Registration of Seed Varieties</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Draft Bill Provision:</strong> All varieties of seeds <strong>for sale</strong> have to be <strong>registered</strong> and are required to meet certain <strong>prescribed minimum standards.</strong> For instance, for transgenic varieties of seeds, registration is to be obtained under the <strong>Environment (Protection) Act, 1986.</strong> This can bring <strong>greater accountability</strong> to seed companies.</li>
<li><strong>Industry Recommendation:</strong> Make the registration process <strong>time-bound.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Exemptions</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Bill:</strong> Exempt farmers from obtaining registration for<strong> varieties developed by them.</strong> However, if the farmer sells such seeds for a monetary consideration, then that sale needs to be registered. This is to protect the interests of other farmers who buy seeds from such a farmer.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Also, farmers are allowed to sow, exchange or sell their farm seeds and planting material without having to conform to the prescribed minimum limits of germination, physical purity and genetic purity (as required by registered seeds). However, farmers cannot sell any seed under a brand name.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Recommendation:</strong> Exemption of <strong>export-oriented varieties</strong> from registration has been made. This will encourage <strong>custom production of seeds</strong> in India.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Research-based Companies</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Bill:</strong> In the proposed Bill, there is a differentiation between the seed producer, seed processor and seed dealer for the purpose of <strong>licensing.</strong> However, there is <strong>no recognition of National Level Integrated Seed Companies</strong> with R&amp;D capabilities.</li>
<li><strong>Recommendation:</strong> There must be a system of accreditation of national level research-based companies with integrated facilities for research, product testing, data analytics, seed production, seed quality control, seed processing, farmer extension and marketing. <strong>These companies need to be given a national licence</strong> that can be renewed at regular intervals based on fresh inspections and track record.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Truthfully labelled seeds</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Bill:</strong> Currently, a large percentage of seed is sold under a<strong> self-certification programme</strong> called Truthfully Labelled (TL) seeds. The certification process has been kept <strong>voluntary.</strong></li>
<li><strong>Recommendation:</strong> TL seeds category must continue, as the mandatory registration of seed varieties eliminates the risk of misuse of TL provision. The TL certification has helped the industry to grow and facilitated the supply of high-quality seeds to the farmer in the last 30 years.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Nurseries</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Bill:</strong> Licences/ registration of<strong> fruit nurseries.</strong></li>
<li><strong>Recommendation:</strong> Apply this provision to all nurseries and not just fruit nurseries.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Price Control</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Bill:</strong> Empowers<strong> the government to fix prices of selected varieties</strong> in case of &lsquo;emergent&rsquo; situations such as seed shortage, abnormal increase in price, monopolistic pricing, profiteering, etc. which are open to subjective interpretation.</li>
<li><strong>Recommendation:</strong> The industry opposes any kind of price control, as it can stifle innovation and result in a scale back of research investments.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Review of complaints</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Bill:</strong> <a href="/to-the-points/Paper2/the-consumer-protection-bill-2018-amendment-1986-act" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Consumer Protection Act, 1986</strong></a> to be used to deal with complaints related to the non-performance of seed.</li>
<li><strong>Recommendation:</strong> Seed performance is dependent on several <strong>agro-climatic and biological factors</strong> and is <strong>not always</strong> related to the<strong> quality of the seed.</strong> Hence, this aspect must be kept in mind while reviewing a complaint.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Penal Provisions</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Bill:</strong> Differentiates the agronomic performance of the seed, its physical quality and the supply of spurious seed, and consequently penalizes the offences and prescribes punishment.</li>
<li><strong>Recommendation:</strong> All offences are not criminal. <strong>Minor offences</strong> (unintended offences) <strong>and major offences</strong> (made intentionally) should be differentiated. The minor offences in the Bill must be made as compoundable.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Legislative Frameworks for Seeds in India</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Historically, the seed industry in India has been governed by several legislative &amp; policy frameworks such as Seed Act (1966), Seed Rules (1968), Seed (Control) Order (1983), New Policy on Seed Development (1988), Plants, Fruits &amp; Seeds (Regulation of Import into India) Order (1989), <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/pepsico-sues-potato-farmershttps://www.drishtiias.com/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/pepsico-sues-potato-farmers" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Protection of Plant Varieties and Farmers&rsquo; Right Act (2001)</strong></a>, and the <strong>Essential Commodities Act, 1955</strong> including Seeds (1955), National Seed Policy (2002), and Seed Bill (2004).<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>All of these legislations were passed to take care of <strong>seeds right from the production level to marking, labeling, and marketing levels</strong> so as to <strong>maintain</strong> the quality standards as prescribed by the Central Seed Committee (formed under the Seed Act, 1966).</li>
<li>These laws make <strong>quality seeds and planting material available</strong> to a common farmer and provide him a mechanism to approach concerned authority for justice.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>The Seed Bill (2004) was proposed to replace the Seed Act (1966), however, owing to several shortcomings it was not passed. The 2019 draft version tries to overcome the drawbacks of the 2004 Bill.</li>
</ul>
</div>
<h3>Way Forward</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Agriculture production is purely based on the basic input,i.e., <strong>seed.</strong> Until and unless the purity, quality and seed standards are maintained, production programme cannot be successful. Hence, to maintain these quality standards, legislations in this regard are equally important.</li>
<li>It is also necessary <strong>to disseminate the information</strong> regarding seed legislations to the farmers in order to make them <strong>aware of their rights.</strong></li>
<li>Companies with national licence and accreditation must be allowed to <strong>conduct trials for seed varieties and generate data</strong> (which is to be made acceptable for product registration purposes). This will help in speedy reach of new research products to the market for the timely benefit of the farmer.</li>
</ul>
<p>Overall, the seed law must have the <strong>twin objective</strong> of <strong>regulating the supply of seeds</strong> for the benefit of the farmers and, at the same time, <strong>enable the development</strong> of the seed industry.</p>
<table border="1" style="border-collapse: collapse; width: 100%;">
<tbody>
<tr style="height: 83px;">
<td style="width: 100%; border-style: dotted; border-color: #ff0000; background-color: #fffbd4; height: 83px;">
<p><em><strong><span style="color: #0000ff;">Drishti Mains Question</span><br /><br /></strong></em>Discuss the challenges faced by the seed industry in India and suggest steps that can be taken to overcome them.</p>
</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<p></p>',
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		(int) 1 => [
			'title' => 'The Big Picture- India, China Diplomatic Ties',
			'catname' => 'Lok Sabha & Rajya Sabha Discussions',
			'desc' => '<p style="text-align: center;"><iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/nXakvlu1MjU" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe></p>
<p>In 2020, India and China will commemorate the <strong>70<sup>th</sup> anniversary</strong> of the establishment of their diplomatic relations with 70 celebratory activities (like cultural, religious and trade promotion events). These events were finalized during the <strong>second India-China informal summit</strong> held at <strong>Mamallapuram</strong> on October 11-12, 2019. In 1950, India became the <strong>first non-socialist bloc country</strong> to establish diplomatic relations with the People&rsquo;s Republic of China.</p>
<p>Besides hosting parliamentary exchanges, the two countries will conduct activities to trace <strong>civilizational links.</strong> And to foster business and trade relations, China will hold an <strong>India-China Trade and Investment Cooperation Forum</strong> and organize the <strong>second India-China Drug Regulation Forum in India.</strong></p>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>India-China Drug Regulation</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The<strong> first forum</strong> was held in <strong>Shanghai, China on 21<sup>st</sup> June 2019.</strong></li>
<li>The major focus of this forum was to <strong>enhance cooperation in the pharmaceuticals sector</strong> with a focus on exports of Indian medicines to China.</li>
<li>China under its <strong>Healthy China 2030 policy</strong> is committed to provide quality drugs at affordable prices to its citizens. And, India <strong>has emerged as the pharmacy of the world</strong> (exported around $17.3 billion-worth drugs in 2017-18) by providing high-quality generic drugs at a very affordable price.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>In this backdrop, China is keen to strengthen ties with India in the field of pharmaceuticals sector.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</div>
<h3>Present Sino-Indian Ties</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The two emerging and enduring powers representing two modes of civilization signify a <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/india-china-relations-an-analysis%C2%A0" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>complex and dynamic relationship</strong></a> in world politics.</li>
<li>In the recent past, relations between India and China have broadened which can be exemplified by <strong>enhanced people-to-people cultural exchanges, improved commerce &amp; economic ties</strong> inter-alia.</li>
<li>At the official level, <strong>high-level exchanges</strong> have become regular in the form of recently organized <strong>two informal summits-</strong> <a href="/loksabha-rajyasabha-discussions/the-big-picture-indias-china-pak-policy" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Wuhan Summit (2018)</strong></a> <strong>&amp;</strong><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/india-china-2nd-informal-summit-mamallapuram-summit" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong> Chennai Connect (2019)</strong></a>, and frequent meetings on the bilateral/ multilateral fora.</li>
<li>The<strong> soft diplomacy</strong> practiced in the form of<strong> increased tourism</strong> (granting of multiple-entry visa for 5 years by India to Chinese travellers), frequent visits by <strong>armed forces &amp; naval activities, 10 pillar agreement</strong> (2018), finalizing of <strong>70 events</strong> in the second informal summit, etc. have given a <strong>cushioning effect-</strong> marking the progress in the relations.</li>
<li>This highlights the enhanced engagement between the two nations. However, issues on certain major parameters still persist.</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>10 Pillar Agreement</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>10 pillars of cooperation to enhance <strong>cultural and people-to-people exchanges</strong> were finalized between India and China in <strong>December 2018.</strong></li>
<li>These pillars are <em><strong>cultural exchange, cooperation in films and television, museum management, sports, youth exchanges, tourism, state and city-level exchanges, traditional medicine, yoga, and education (e.g. Chinese language teaching in India).</strong></em></li>
</ul>
</div>
<h3>Underlying Issues</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>There is a <strong>widening gulf</strong> between the two nations on certain<strong> core issues</strong> like:
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Ongoing <strong>border/territorial disputes</strong> (e.g. <strong>Pangong Tso</strong> Lake issue 2019, <strong>Doklam</strong> stand-off 2017,<strong> Asaphila</strong> issue of Arunachal Pradesh)</li>
<li>Chinese activism on <strong>Kashmir</strong> after abrogation of certain provisions of <a href="/to-the-points/Paper2/to-the-point-article-370" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Article 370</strong></a></li>
<li>Cross-border <strong>terrorism</strong></li>
<li>China&rsquo;s stand on <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/india-s-nsg-bid" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>India&rsquo;s entry to Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG)</strong></a>, <a href="/loksabha-rajyasabha-discussions/the-big-picture-unsc-and-permanent-seat-for-india" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>permanent seat in the United Nations Security Council (UNSC)</strong></a>, etc.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Concerns with India:</strong> China perceives itself as a leading power ruling the <strong>unipolar</strong> <strong>world</strong> by 2050. It is therefore not comfortable with the <strong>rise of India</strong> in the region as the potential competitive power.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>China follows a <strong>maximalist expectations approach</strong> towards India in which it demands much from the Indian side as can be seen from &lsquo;Hindi-Chini bhai bhai&rsquo; phase in the 1950s to the stable periphery demand, or demand to join <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/belt-and-road-initiative-perspectives-from-india" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Belt and Road Initiative (BRI)</strong></a>. However, China does not reciprocate the same by addressing India&rsquo;s concerns.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>China&rsquo;s Stance regarding Pakistan:</strong> For decades, China has used Pakistan as a wedge against India in order to confine India to the South Asia region and prevent India&rsquo;s rise as a global competitor. This can be substantiated by China&rsquo;s support to Pakistan on cross-border terrorism, resisting to designate certain terrorists globally, etc.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Challenges faced on the Global Platforms</h3>
<p>On the global stage, India and China are working together on different platforms where they display both convergence and divergence on the global issues.</p>
<p><strong>Convergence</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Climate Change:</strong> In the recently held <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/basic-environment-ministers-meet" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>BASIC (Brazil, South Africa, India and China) minister&rsquo;s meet</strong></a>, the ministers from these nations advocated the concept of <strong>equal but differentiated responsibility</strong> that acknowledges different capabilities and differing responsibilities of individual countries in addressing climate change.</li>
<li><strong>Economic:</strong> In the <strong>recent</strong> <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/11th-brics-summit" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>BRICS summit (Brasilia Declaration)</strong></a>, in the backdrop of trade war between China and the U.S. and rising protectionism, there was a call for supporting multilateralism, and appreciating the central role of the U.N. in international affairs.</li>
<li><strong>Multilateral Forum:</strong> Both countries believe in upholding of the <a href="/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-international-institution/united-nations-1" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>United Nations</strong></a> charter and its non-interference policy, <a href="/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-international-institution/important-international-institutions-shanghai-cooperation-organisation-sco" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO)</strong></a>, <a href="/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-international-institution/world-trade-organisation-wto" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>World Trade Organization (WTO)</strong></a>- where both fight for G7 countries, <a href="/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-international-institution/east-asia-summit" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>East Asian Summit.</strong></a></li>
</ul>
<p><strong>Divergence</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>In the recent <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/3rd-rcep-summit" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>3<sup>rd</sup> Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP)</strong></a>, China tried to trick on India in order to get access to the Indian markets.</li>
<li>China also has concerns about India&rsquo;s role (being a member of <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/quad-and-g-4-meet" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Quad</strong></a>) in the <strong>Indian Ocean region.</strong></li>
</ul>
<p><strong>Other Domestic Challenges</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Chinese economy is suffering due to the ongoing <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/global-trade-war-the-apology-of-protectionism" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>US-China trade war.</strong></a></li>
<li>Also, the domestic issues like <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/hongkong-protest" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Hongkong protests,</strong></a> issue of atrocities against <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/persecution-of-uighurs" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Uighur muslims</strong></a> in Xinjiang province is affecting China.</li>
<li>China is worried with concerns related to <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/viability-of-bri-and-cpec" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC)</strong></a> due to rising insurgency in Balochistan and Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa region.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Way Forward</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Strategic: </strong>There is a need for defining, demarcating and delineating the borders so as to remove fear from the minds of people residing in the vicinity and strengthen the ties.</li>
<li>On the<strong> economic</strong> front, China has a trade surplus of around <strong>$750 billion</strong> (in the last 10 years) with India, which it needs to bring down. Service sector can play a major role in reducing the trade deficit.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>China must<strong> create a level playing field</strong> by allowing Indian services such as in pharmaceuticals and software packages in its market. Also, in the RCEP, equitable distribution and differences between the two nations needs to be bridged.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>Both countries can effectively <strong>use their soft power</strong> (in the form of <strong>tourism</strong>) to further integrate their economies.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Tourism:</strong> More Indian nationals visit to China as compared to the Chinese tourists coming to India. This<strong> cultural cross connect must be increased</strong> so as to build up the co-constituencies and enhance businesses that can consequently lead to resolving of conflicts at the national level.</li>
<li><a href="/to-the-points/paper3/tourism-in-india" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Promotion of tourism</strong></a> through education, spiritual visits especially on the Buddhist circuit, etc. must be promoted.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<p>The problems between India and China are difficult to be resolved in the short run but by <strong>managing the relationship</strong> by minimising the existing strategic gap, narrowing the divergences and maintaining the status quo, it can be improved over time. For this purpose, <a href="/loksabha-rajyasabha-discussions/the-big-picture-india-china-ties-marching-on" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>increased engagement with China</strong> </a>at every level from government to people, academia, business, etc. has to be targeted.</p>',
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		],
		(int) 2 => [
			'title' => 'Tanbo Art',
			'catname' => 'News Analysis',
			'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>A progressive farmer in Kerala is using <strong>Tanbo Art (a 3D art form)</strong> to depict the celebrated Guruvayur temple elephant that died in 1976.</p>
<p><a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1575368703_Image5.jpg" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1575368703_Image5.jpg" width="479" height="269" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" caption="false" /></a></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The farmer used several indigenous varieties of rice like <strong>Krishna Kamod, Gandhakasala and Jeerakasala</strong> to give shape to the image.</li>
<li>Tanbo Art is a <strong>rice paddy art</strong> developed by the farmers of Inakadate village in <strong>Japan about three decades ago</strong> to beautify their paddy fields.</li>
<li>They drew huge replicas of famous paintings, including Mona Lisa, by growing rice crops with fronds of different colours.</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/kerala/guruvayur-kesavan-comes-alive-on-a-field-in-kerala/article30142043.ece" 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/tanbo-art'
		],
		(int) 3 => [
			'title' => 'Data Bank of Independent Directors',
			'catname' => 'News Analysis',
			'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>Recently, the <strong>Ministry of Corporate Affairs</strong> launched the <strong>Independent Directors Databank</strong> in accordance with the provisions of the <strong>Companies Act, 2013</strong> and the rules made thereunder.</p>
<h3>Background</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The ministry was working on ways to <strong>strengthen the framework for independent directors,</strong> who have an important role in ensuring good corporate governance practices at companies.</li>
<li>It seeks to make the process stringent because in many cases political appointees with standard financial background were also getting rehabilitated in several companies as independent directors.</li>
<li>Recent<strong> Infrastructure Leasing and Financial Services (IL&amp;FS) crisis</strong> highlighted the reckless grading by credit rating agencies who liberally granted and downgraded the companies as per their wish and got away with it.</li>
<li>Apart from the launch of <strong>Independent Directors Bank,</strong> the government has also decided to <strong>conduct examinations for appointments</strong> of independent directors in which a<strong> score of 60% marks</strong> will be mandatory criteria for qualification.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The change is in line with the amended <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/committee-to-review-the-offences-under-the-companies-act" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Companies Act.</strong></a> The government will also maintain a database of professionals qualifying in the test that can be used by companies looking to expand their board or making fresh appointments under the current regulations.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Significance</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Independent directors <strong>must not assume a passive role,</strong> merely reacting to ideas foreseen by the controlling shareholder or their appointees. They should be willing to question the status quo in the interest of shareholders not play a risk-free mute spectator limiting to attending just number of board meetings.</li>
<li><strong>Strict accountability and eligibility</strong> will curb promoters placing their own ineligible candidates and family members on the listed company boards.</li>
<li>The concept of the institution of Independent Director is of utmost importance for <strong>Corporate Governance</strong> who should act act as the trustees of stakeholders.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Data Bank</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>It has been developed and maintained by the <strong>Indian Institute for Corporate Affairs (IICA)</strong> under Ministry of Corporate Affairs.</li>
<li>It is a <strong>first of its kind initiative</strong> which provides for a wide array of <strong>e-learning courses</strong> on various topics including the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/final-report-on-penal-provisions-of-company-act-2013" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Companies Act</strong></a>, <strong>Securities laws, basic accountancy, board practices, board ethics and board effectiveness.</strong></li>
<li>It provides an <strong>easy to access navigation platform</strong> for the registration of existing <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/e-registration-for-independent-directors" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Independent Directors</strong> </a>as well as individuals aspiring to become independent directors.</li>
<li><strong>Companies can register</strong> themselves with the databank to search, select and connect with individuals aspiring to be Independent Directors.</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Independent Director</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>An <strong>Independent Director (also sometimes known as an outside director)</strong> is a director on a board of directors representing minority shareholders and <strong>who does not have a pecuniary relationship</strong> with the company or related persons, except for sitting fees.</li>
<li>Their role is to take a stand unambiguously and independently to have a check and balance on the exuberance of majority shareholders that may expose the company to unwarranted risks.</li>
<li>The Companies Act, 2013 has mandated all listed public companies to have <strong>at least one-third</strong> of the total Directors to be independent.</li>
<li>Their role requires them to be clinical while businesses expect them to be practical, that&rsquo;s the tight rope they walk on.</li>
</ul>
</div>
<p><a href="https://pib.gov.in/PressReleseDetail.aspx?PRID=1594558" 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/data-bank-of-independent-directors'
		],
		(int) 4 => [
			'title' => 'Exercise Hand-in-Hand',
			'catname' => 'News Analysis',
			'desc' => '<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The 8<sup>th</sup> <strong>India-China <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/important-facts-for-prelims-7th-december-2018" target="_blank" rel="noopener">joint training exercise</a> 'HAND-IN-HAND 2019'</strong> with the theme of &lsquo;Counter Terrorism&rsquo; under United Nations mandate is scheduled to be conduct at Umroi, <strong>Meghalaya</strong> from 7<sup>th</sup> to 20<sup>th</sup> December 2019.<a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1575368069_image3.png" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1575368069_image3.png" width="342" height="240" style="float: right;" caption="false" /></a></li>
<li>The aim of the exercise is to practice joint planning and conduct of counter terrorist operations in semi urban terrain.</li>
<li>In<strong> 2018,</strong> the exercise was held in <strong>Chengdu, China.</strong></li>
<li>The exercise <strong>didn&rsquo;t take place in 2017</strong> due to the 72-days long standoff between Indian and Chinese troops in <a href="/loksabha-rajyasabha-discussions/india-s-world-pm-modi-s-visit-to-bhutan" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Doklam.</strong></a></li>
</ul>
<p><a href="https://pib.gov.in/PressReleseDetail.aspx?PRID=1594600" 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/exercise-hand-in-hand'
		],
		(int) 5 => [
			'title' => 'Power of Siberia',
			'catname' => 'News Analysis',
			'desc' => '<p>Recently <strong>China and Russia</strong> have inaugurated cross border gas pipeline named <strong>&ldquo;Power of Siberia&rdquo;.<a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1575361775_image2.jpg" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1575361775_image2.jpg" width="235" height="235" style="float: right;" caption="false" /></a></strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>It is the <strong>first</strong> cross-border gas pipeline between Russia and China.</li>
<li>Under this pipeline project, <strong>Russia</strong> will <strong>deliver 1 trillion cubic meters of natural gas to China</strong> over the <strong>next 30 years.</strong></li>
<li>The pipeline will pass through the deltas of the <strong>Yangtze and Amur rivers</strong> of<strong> China.</strong></li>
<li>The new pipeline is an emblem of closer <strong>energy</strong> <strong>integration</strong> in <strong>Eurasia,</strong> with Russia and China as the key partners.</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="https://www.thehindu.com/business/Economy/putin-xi-launch-landmark-russian-gas-pipeline-to-china/article30137425.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/power-of-siberia'
		],
		(int) 6 => [
			'title' => 'Navy Gets its First Woman Pilot',
			'catname' => 'News Analysis',
			'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>Recently,<strong> Sub Lieutenant Shivangi Swaroop</strong> became the <strong>first pilot in the Indian navy</strong> after qualifying as a Dornier pilot.</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Earlier, Bhawana Kanth, Avani Chaturvedi and Mohana Singh became the first women fighter pilots in the <strong>Indian Air Force.</strong></li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Dornier aircraft</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>It is a <strong>multi-role Short Range Maritime Reconnaissance (SRMR) aircraft,</strong> with<strong> twin-engine</strong> manufactured by <strong>Hindustan Aeronautical Ltd. (HAL), Kanpur.</strong></li>
<li>The aircraft can be <strong>used for electronic warfare missions, maritime surveillance, search and rescue and to provide targeting data</strong> to weapon platform.</li>
<li>It is an important contribution towards indigenous development and self-reliance through <strong>&lsquo;Make in India&rsquo;,</strong> with state-of-the-art sensors and equipment including a glass cockpit, advanced surveillance radar, optical sensors and networking features.</li>
</ul>
</div>
<p><a href="https://pib.gov.in/PressReleseDetail.aspx?PRID=1594603" 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/navy-gets-its-first-woman-pilot'
		],
		(int) 7 => [
			'title' => 'COP25 Climate Summit',
			'catname' => 'News Analysis',
			'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>The <strong>25<sup>th</sup></strong> edition of the <strong>Conference of the Parties</strong> to the <a href="/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-international-institution/unfccc" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC)</strong></a> or COP25 has begun from December 2 in <strong>Madrid (Spain).</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Originally,</strong> the Summit was scheduled to be held at <strong>Chile (South America)</strong> but violent mass movement across the country made Chile reluctant from hosting the event.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The location of this conference is <strong>rotated every year</strong> in <strong>different regions</strong> of the world. This year it was the <strong>turn of South America</strong> to host the event.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Agenda for COP25</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The <strong>prime objective</strong> of the conference is to<strong> complete the rule-book to the 2015 Paris Agreement</strong> that will become <strong>effective</strong> in <strong>2020</strong> to <strong>replace</strong> the <strong>1997 Kyoto Protocol</strong> (comes to an end in 2020).<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The issues like the creation of new <strong>carbon markets,</strong> emission reduction targets, country&rsquo;s individual targets, etc. <strong>remained unresolved</strong> during <strong><a href="/to-the-points/paper3/cop24" target="_blank" rel="noopener">COP24 at Katowice (Poland) 2019</a>.</strong> Thus the rulebook under the Paris Agreement could not be finalized.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Kyoto Protocol</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The Kyoto Protocol is an <strong>international agreement</strong> linked to the UNFCCC, which commits its parties by setting <strong>internationally binding</strong> emission reduction targets.</li>
<li>The Kyoto Protocol was adopted in <strong>Kyoto, Japan</strong>&nbsp;in <strong>1997</strong> and entered into force in<strong> 2005.</strong></li>
<li>It recognized that developed countries are principally responsible for the current high levels of GHG emissions in the atmosphere as a result of more than 150 years of industrial activity.</li>
<li>The <strong>detailed rules</strong> for the implementation of the Protocol were <strong>adopted at COP-7 in Marrakesh, in 2001&nbsp;</strong>and are referred to as the <strong>Marrakesh Accords.</strong></li>
<li>Kyoto Protocol <strong>Phase-1 (2005-12)</strong> gave the target of cutting down emissions by 5%.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Phase- 2 (2013-20)</strong> gave the target of reducing emissions by at least 18% by the industrialized countries.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</div>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The summit will also discuss the functioning of international emissions trading systems, compensation for poor countries to deal with rising sea levels and other consequences of climate change.</li>
<li>It will consider the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/emission-gap-report-by-unep" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Annual Emissions Gap Report,</strong></a> produced by the <strong>UN Environment Programme</strong> <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/global-environment-outlook" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>(UNEP)</strong></a> and <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/special-report-on-climate-change-ipcc" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>a series of reports</strong></a> from the<strong> Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC).</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Both the reports summarise that the goal of keeping average temperatures within 1.5&deg;C from pre-industrial times is <strong>&ldquo;on the brink of becoming impossible.'' </strong>As the <strong>overall emissions</strong> are <strong>still increasing</strong> worldwide.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>The processes and methods of reporting information about climate change would be fixed during the summit. Specifically, the <strong>developing countries</strong> will try to ensure that there are greater <strong>appreciation and recognition</strong> of the <strong>issue of loss and damage</strong> due to climate change.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>There is a demand to institute a mechanism to compensate countries that suffer major losses due to climate change-induced events like <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/cyclone-kyarr" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>cyclones</strong></a> or floods.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>It puts into efforts for committing to a <strong>long-term action plan to fight climate change</strong>. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>So far only 71 countries, most of them small emitters, have committed themselves to achieve net-zero emissions by 2050.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>India&rsquo;s Agenda</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>India is <strong>unlikely</strong> to announce any<strong> enhanced targets</strong> during the summit.</li>
<li>India&rsquo;s current efforts are already much more compared to even rich and developed countries. Thus, India will reiterate its stand for &rdquo;<strong>Common but Differentiated Responsibilities&rdquo;.</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Developed countries are major contributors to climate change and they are doing proportionately less, especially when it comes to providing finance and technology to the less developed world.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Carbon Market</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>A carbon market allows countries, or industries, to earn carbon credits for emission reductions they make in excess of what is required of them.</li>
<li>These credits can be traded to the highest bidder in exchange for money.</li>
<li>The buyers of carbon credits can show the emission reductions as their own and use them to meet their own emission reduction targets.</li>
<li>A carbon market already existed under the 1997 Kyoto Protocol but several countries walked out of the Kyoto Protocol and thus the demand for carbon credits had waned.</li>
<li>As a result, developing countries like India, China and Brazil had accumulated huge amounts of carbon credits. These credits are now in danger of getting redundant.</li>
</ul>
</div>
<p><a href="https://www.thehindu.com/news/international/un-chief-warns-of-point-of-no-return-on-climate-change/article30135171.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/cop25-climate-summit'
		],
		(int) 8 => [
			'title' => 'India- Sri Lanka',
			'catname' => 'News Analysis',
			'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>The newly elected <strong>Sri Lankan President Gotabaya Rajapaksa</strong> visited India from 28<sup>th</sup>-30<sup>th</sup> November 2019.</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The Sri Lankan President played a major role in ending the country&rsquo;s <strong>civil war (1983-2009).</strong></li>
<li>The President&rsquo;s two brothers, Mahinda Rajapaksha and Chamal Rajapaksha, hold the position of the Prime Minister and Agricultural Minister respectively in Sri Lanka.</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Sri Lanka&rsquo;s Civil War</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Sri Lanka has been <strong>mired in ethnic conflict</strong> since the country, formerly known as Ceylon, became independent from British rule in 1948.</li>
<li>After independence, the Sinhalese majority immediately began to pass laws that discriminated against Tamils (Hindu in religion), particularly the Indian Tamils brought to the island by the British.</li>
<li>In 1972, the Sinhalese dominated government changed the country&rsquo;s name from Ceylon to Sri Lanka and made Buddhism the nation&rsquo;s primary religion.</li>
<li>As ethnic tension grew, in <strong>1976,</strong> the<strong> LTTE or the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam</strong> was formed under the leadership of Velupillai Prabhakaran, and it began to campaign for a Tamil homeland in northern and eastern Sri Lanka, where most of the island&rsquo;s Tamils reside.</li>
<li>The conflict between the Sri Lankan government and LTTE lasted nearly three decades,<strong> ending in 2009</strong>&nbsp;when the LTTE forces were finally defeated.</li>
<li>The war was one of the longest-running civil wars in Asia.</li>
</ul>
</div>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Issues Discussed:</strong> Strengthening of trade ties, boosting maritime security, addressing concerns of the fishermen, fulfilling aspirations of Tamil community in Sri Lanka and to fight against terrorism.</li>
<li><strong>Line of Credit</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>India extended a<strong> $400 million</strong> line of credit to Sri Lanka to help strengthen its infrastructure and economy.</li>
<li>An additional <strong>$50 million</strong> to help Sri Lanka combat terrorism.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>Sri Lankan President extended an <strong>invitation to the Prime Minister of India to visit Sri Lanka</strong> at a mutually convenient time.</li>
</ul>
<h3>India - Sri Lanka Relations<a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1575358264_image1.png" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1575358264_image1.png" width="297" height="210" style="float: right;" caption="false" /></a></h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>India is Sri Lanka's closest neighbour.</strong> The <a href="/to-the-points/Paper2/india-sri-lanka-relations" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>relationship</strong> </a>between the two countries is more than 2,500 years old and both sides have built upon a legacy of intellectual, cultural, religious and linguistic intercourse.</li>
<li>During the course of the civil war, India supported the right of the Government of Sri Lanka to act against terrorist forces.</li>
<li>The<strong> Indian Housing Project&nbsp;is Government of India&rsquo;s flagship project of developmental assistance to Sri Lanka. </strong>Its&nbsp;initial commitment is to build 50,000 houses for those affected by the civil war as well as for the estate workers in the plantation areas.</li>
<li>Given the proximity of the territorial waters of both countries, especially in the Palk Straits and the Gulf of Mannar, incidents of straying of fishermen are common. Both countries have agreed on <strong>certain practical arrangements to deal with the issue of bona fide fishermen</strong> of either side crossing the International Maritime Boundary Line.</li>
<li>India and Sri Lanka conduct joint <strong>Military ( 'Mitra Shakti')</strong> and <strong>Naval exercise (SLINEX)</strong>.</li>
<li>Recently, the <strong>Chennai (India) -Jaffna (Sri Lanka) flight service has resumed</strong> after a gap of 41 years.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The flight operations were suspended during the decades-old civil war in Sri Lanka.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="https://pib.gov.in/newsite/PrintRelease.aspx?relid=195186" 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/india-sri-lanka'
		],
		(int) 9 => [
			'title' => 'Organ Donation',
			'catname' => 'News Editorials',
			'desc' => '<div class="border">
<p>This article is based on <a href="https://www.thehindu.com/opinion/lead/getting-organ-donation-to-tick-again/article30118791.ece" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>&ldquo;Getting organ donation to tick again&rdquo;</strong> </a>which was published in The Hindu on 30/11/2019. It talks about the various issues related to organ donation in India.</p>
</div>
<p>Recently, the Government of India celebrated the <strong>10<sup>th</sup> Indian Organ Donation Day</strong> on 30<sup>th</sup> November. It was organised by the <strong>National Organ &amp; Tissue Transplant Organization (NOTTO).</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>It was observed with the primary objective of promoting organ donation and transplantation so that the number of people suffering from organ failure can get a new lease of life.</li>
<li>As per <strong>Global Observatory on Donation and Transplantation, India</strong> performs the <strong>second largest</strong> number of transplants in the world, after the USA.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Issues Related to Organ Donation</h3>
<p>India has a dismal <strong>0.65 per million population (PMP) organ donation rate</strong> and around<strong> 5 lakh</strong> people die every year in India due to unavailability of organs.</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Infrastructure:</strong> There is a huge scarcity of Organ Transplant and Retrieval Centres in the country.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>There are just 301 hospitals equipped to handle the transplant process and only 250 of them have been registered with <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/important-facts-for-prelims-28th-november-2018" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>National Organ and Tissue Transplant Organisation (NOTTO).</strong></a></li>
<li>Currently, for organ transplant, there exists only 1 fully equipped hospital for around 43 lakh people.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Trust Deficit: Altruistic donation</strong> has been the major source of organ transplant in the country. However, a false negative perception has been growing against private hospitals of their nexus related to organ transplant.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>A classic example of this negative publicity is seen in the steep drop in organ donation in Kerala &mdash; from 76 deceased donors in 2015 to 8 in 2018.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Inequality and Accessibility:</strong> A majority of donors are from the <strong>lower middle class and below,</strong> while the majority of organ recipients are from the small number of persons who can afford transplant surgery and costly lifetime medication thereafter. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>An organ comes free, as donated to the society, but the transplantation cost associated with it is around 5 to 25 lakh. This cost reduces the accessibility to organ transplant to the weaker section of the society.</li>
<li>The cost factor is the key reason why more than three quarters of donated hearts and lungs do not get taken.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Superstitions and Misconceptions:</strong> It is a common misconception that organ donation <strong>disfigures</strong> the deceased donor&rsquo;s body, which prevents people from enrolling into the donation.</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Altruistic Donation</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Altruism is acting out of concern for another&rsquo;s well-being. People behave altruistically when they see others in desperate circumstances and feel empathy and a desire to help.</li>
<li>Altruism is the ethical basis for the donation of bodily material and continues to play a central role in ethical thinking in organ donation.</li>
</ul>
</div>
<p><a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1575291225_pasted%20image 0.png" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1575291225_pasted image 0.png" width="458" height="381" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" caption="false" /></a></p>
<h3>Way Forward</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Affordability:</strong> For increasing accessibility of donated organs to weaker sections, the public hospitals need to increase the infrastructural capacity to carry out transplantation and provide affordable proper treatment to the poor.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Cross-subsidisation:</strong> It is suggested that cross-subsidization will increase accessibility to the weaker section. For every 3 or 4 transplants, the private hospitals should carry out free of cost transplantation to the section of the population that donates a majority of organs.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Targeting Low Priority Services:</strong> India spends around <strong>1.2% of GDP on health</strong> which is quite low, therefore focussing more on <strong>organ-failure prevention</strong> would generate better health outcomes.</li>
<li><strong>Regulation: The Transplantation of Human Organs Act, 1994,</strong> need to be amended to substitute the rigid bureaucratic procedure of hospitals by self-declaration and mandatory verification involving civil society. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Secondly,</strong> the Act also needs to address the issue of interference of the central government in organ distribution and should ensure full autonomy to States in matters related to organ transplant.</li>
<li>Transparency in organ transplant can be increased by making the organ distribution procedure online and making online availability of full details.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Transplantation of Human Organs Act, 1994</strong></p>
<p>Transplantation of Human Organs Act was passed in 1994. It provides various regulations for the removal of human organs and its storage.</p>
<p>It also regulates the transplantation of human organs for therapeutic purposes and for the prevention of commercial dealings in human organs.</p>
<p><strong>Main Provisions</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The act recognises brain death identified as a form of the death process and defines criteria for brain death.</li>
<li>It provides regulatory and advisory bodies for monitoring transplantation activity.</li>
<li>It also provides for maintenance of a registry of donors and recipients of human organs and tissues.</li>
</ul>
</div>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Awareness:</strong> Removing the misconceptions and myths about organ donation can play a significant role in addressing organ deficiency in the country.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>According to the BBC report, there would be no requirement of the living donor if 5% of deceased patients from road accident opt for organ donations in India.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<table border="1" style="border-collapse: collapse; width: 100%;">
<tbody>
<tr>
<td style="width: 100%; border-style: dotted; border-color: #7700ff; background-color: #ddedeb;"><span style="color: #000080;"><em><strong>Drishti Mains Question</strong></em></span><br /><br />Briefly mention various issues related to organ transplantation in India.</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>',
			'postdate' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenTime) {},
			'url' => 'https://www.drishtiias.com/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/organ-donation-1'
		],
		(int) 10 => [
			'title' => 'Saudi Arabia Becomes First Arab Nation to Head G20',
			'catname' => 'News Analysis',
			'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>Recently, <strong>Saudi Arabia became the first Arab nation</strong> to take over the <strong>G20 Presidency </strong>on<strong> December 1, 2019.<a href="http://www.operationworld.org/files/ow/maps/lgmap/saud-MMAP-md.png" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1575288344_saud-MMAP-md.png" width="358" height="252" style="float: right;" /></a></strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>It has taken over from <strong>Japan</strong> and it will host the <strong>G20 Summit</strong> in its capital, <strong>Riyadh</strong> on <strong>November 21 and 22, 2020.</strong></li>
<li>The <strong>theme</strong> of Summit-<strong> "Realising Opportunities of the 21<sup>st</sup> Century for All".</strong></li>
<li><strong>The three key aims of the G20 Presidency, 2020 are: </strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Empowering People</strong> by creating the conditions in which all people mainly women and youth can live, work and thrive.</li>
<li><strong>Safeguarding the Planet</strong> by fostering collective efforts to protect our global common-pool resources.</li>
<li><strong>Shaping New Frontiers</strong> by adopting long-term and bold strategies to share the benefits of innovation and technological advancement.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Challenges</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>As the presiding nation, Saudi Arabia has to <strong>work towards mitigating global risks</strong> like climate change, demographic issues, such as low birth rates, rising life expectancy and aging societies which requires coordinated efforts at global level. However,<strong> rising populism and nationalism</strong> may prevent the progress at the multilateral level.</li>
<li>It has promoted a<strong> liberalisation drive,</strong> including granting greater rights to women. However, incidents like the <strong>murder of journalist Jamal Khashoggi drew intense global criticism over human rights issues in Saudi Arabia.</strong></li>
<li>Therefore, G20 member states should <strong>exert pressure on the Saudi Arabia</strong> for its <strong>authoritative policies</strong> and hold it accountable for its human rights obligations.</li>
</ul>
<h3>G20</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>About</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The <a href="/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-international-institution/important-institution-upsc-ias-g20-significance-global-groupings-member-challenges-buenos-aires-gs-mains-paper-ii-2-international-relations" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>G20</strong></a> is an <strong>informal group of 19 countries and the European Union,</strong> with representatives of the <strong>International Monetary Fund</strong> and the <strong>World Bank.</strong></li>
<li>The G20 membership comprises a mix of the world&rsquo;s largest advanced and emerging economies, representing about two-thirds of the world&rsquo;s population, 85% of global gross domestic product, 80% of global investment and over 75% of global trade.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Headquarter</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The G20 operates as a forum and not as an organisation. Therefore, it <strong>does not have any permanent secretariat or management and administrative structure.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Origin</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>1997-1999 Asian Financial Crisis:</strong> This was a <strong>ministerial-level forum</strong> which emerged after G7 invited both developed and developing economies. The finance ministers and central bank governors began meeting in 1999.</li>
<li><strong>Amid 2008 Financial Crisis</strong> the world saw the need for a new consensus-building at the highest political level. It was decided that the G20 leaders would begin meeting once annually.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Members</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The members of the G20 are <strong>Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Canada, China, France, Germany, India, Indonesia, Italy, Japan, Republic of Korea, Mexico, Russia, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, Turkey, the United Kingdom, the United States, and the European Union.</strong></li>
<li>One nation holds the Chair every year, known as <strong>'G20 Presidency'.</strong> Argentina chaired the G20 summit of 2018 and Japan for 2019.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="https://www.newindianexpress.com/world/2019/dec/01/saudi-arabia-takes-over-g20-presidency-from-japan-2069844.html" 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/saudi-arabia-becomes-first-arab-nation-to-head-g20'
		],
		(int) 11 => [
			'title' => 'Operation ‘Clean Art’ to Crackdown on Illegal Trade in Mongoose Hair',
			'catname' => 'News Analysis',
			'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>Recently, there has been a widespread crackdown on factories making <strong>paint brushes with mongoose hair</strong> across the country.</p>
<h3>Key points.</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Brushes made of mongoose hair are preferred because they are <strong>superior and hold colour better.</strong></li>
<li>Mongoose is listed in <strong>Schedule II Part 2 of the</strong> <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/wild-life-protection-act-implementation-and-failure" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Wildlife Protection Act, 1972</strong></a> and any smuggling or possession of its body part is a non-bailable offence.</li>
<li><strong><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/iucn-red-list" target="_blank" rel="noopener">IUCN Red List</a> status- Least Concerned.</strong></li>
<li><strong>All six species</strong> are listed on <strong><a href="/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-international-institution/cites" target="_blank" rel="noopener">CITES</a> Appendix III</strong> with a zero quota for commercial trade.</li>
<li>There are<strong> six species of mongoose found in India-</strong> Indian grey mongoose, Small Indian mongoose, Ruddy mongoose, Crab-eating mongoose, Stripe-necked mongoose and Brown mongoose. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The <strong>Indian grey mongoose</strong> is the <strong>most commonly found</strong> species and also the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/important-facts-for-prelims-24th-december-2018" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>most hunted.</strong></a></li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1575276014_Image1.png" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1575276014_Image1.png" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" caption="false" width="615" height="262" /></strong></a></p>
<h3>Operation Clean Art</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>It was the <strong>first pan India operation</strong> to crackdown on the smuggling of mongoose hair in the country.</li>
<li>It was conceived by <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/not-all-animals-migrate-by-choice-campaign" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Wildlife Crime Control Bureau (WCCB)</strong></a> with the singular <strong>aim of ensuring that the mongoose hair brush trade should be closed down across the country.</strong></li>
</ul>
<p><a href="https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/operation-clean-art-to-crackdown-on-illegal-trade-in-mongoose-hair/article30131621.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/operation-clean-art-to-crackdown-on-illegal-trade-in-mongoose-hair'
		],
		(int) 12 => [
			'title' => 'World AIDS Day',
			'catname' => 'News Analysis',
			'desc' => '<p>The World AIDS Day is observed on <strong>1<sup>st</sup> December</strong> every year all over the world.</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Founded in 1988, World AIDS Day was the first ever global health day.</li>
<li>The main motto behind celebrating the day is to raise public awareness about AIDS.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong><a href="/loksabha-rajyasabha-discussions/hiv-new-hope" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Acquired Immuno Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS)</a>,</strong> is a pandemic disease caused due to the infection of Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV), which causes damage to the immune system.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>The<strong> theme</strong> for the year 2019 is <strong>&lsquo;Communities make the difference&rsquo;.</strong></li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Note</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The <strong>National AIDS Control Organisation (NACO)</strong> is a division of the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare that provides leadership to HIV/AIDS control programme in India through 35 HIV/AIDS Prevention and Control Societies.</li>
<li>The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare has implemented<strong> the Human Immunodeficiency Virus and Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (Prevention and Control) Act, 2017 (HIV/AIDS Act, 2017)</strong> to prevent and control the spread of HIV and AIDS and creates mechanisms for redressing the complaints of persons infected with HIV and AIDS.</li>
</ul>
</div>
<p><a href="https://pib.gov.in/PressReleseDetail.aspx?PRID=1594420" 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/world-aids-day-1'
		],
		(int) 13 => [
			'title' => 'Pathalgarhi Movement',
			'catname' => 'News Analysis',
			'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>Recently, the Union government withdrew amendments to the <a href="/to-the-points/Paper2/forest-rights-act-2006" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Forest Rights Act (FRA), 2006</strong></a> which would have diluted tribal rights over forests. These amendments evoked sustained protests by tribal and environmental activists.</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The state government of<strong> Jharkhand</strong> tried to amend the <strong>Chotanagpur Tenancy Act, 1908</strong> and <strong>Santhal Parganas Tenancy Act, 1876</strong> to facilitate easier land acquisition norms which added to the problem. They were also withdrawn later on.</li>
<li>However, these decisions gave rise to the <strong>Pathalgarhi incidents</strong> in the tribal belt demanding implementation of the FRA and provisions of the <strong>Panchayats (Extension of Scheduled Areas) Act (PESA), 1996.</strong></li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/jharkhand-foundation-day" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Birsa Munda&rsquo;s</strong></a> struggle against the exploitation and discrimination against tribals led to the passing of the <strong>Chotanagpur Tenancy Act in 1908</strong> which restricted the passing of land from the tribal people to non-tribals.</li>
<li>The <strong>Santhal Parganas Tenancy Act, 1876</strong> prohibits the sale of Adivasi land to non-Adivasis in Santhal Pargana region along Jharkhand's border with Bengal.</li>
</ul>
</div>
<h3>Pathalgarhi Rebellion</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>It is a <strong>protest</strong> in which tribal people embed stone slabs (pathals) on the outskirts of a village or area, demarcating the limits of where their writ runs, prohibiting the entry of any institution connected to the state.</li>
<li>It is mainly concentrated in the four districts in the State&mdash; namely <strong>Khunti, Gumla, Simdega and West Singhbhum.</strong></li>
<li>In Munda tribal custom, placement of a huge stone marks the death of a person. The Pathalgadi movement draws on this tradition of honouring the community&rsquo;s ancestors.</li>
</ul>
<h3>The Panchayats (Extension to the Scheduled Area) Act, 1996</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>It <strong>safeguards and preserves</strong> the traditions and customs of the people, and their cultural identity, community resources, customary mode of dispute resolution.</li>
<li>PESA <strong>empowers</strong> Gram Sabha/Panchayat at an appropriate level with the right to mandatory consultation in land acquisition, resettlement and rehabilitation of displaced persons.</li>
<li>It seeks to <strong>reduce alienation</strong> in tribal areas as they will have better control over the utilisation of public resources.</li>
<li>It will help<strong> minimise exploitation</strong> of tribal population as they will be able to control and manage money lending, consumption and sale of liquor and also village markets.</li>
<li>It <strong>promotes cultural heritage</strong> through the preservation of traditions, customs and cultural identity of tribal population.</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="https://www.thehindu.com/elections/jharkhand/bjp-puts-up-a-brave-face-amid-tribal-discomfort/article30131419.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/pathalgarhi-movement'
		],
		(int) 14 => [
			'title' => 'Consumer Expenditure Survey',
			'catname' => 'News Analysis',
			'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>The Government has decided <strong>not to release the results of the all-India household Consumer Expenditure Survey (CES),</strong> conducted during 2017-18, due to data quality issues.</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The Government is now examining the feasibility of conducting the next Consumer Expenditure Survey (CES) in 2020-2021 and 2021-22 after incorporating all data quality refinements in the survey process.</li>
<li>According to a leaked version of the 2017-18 survey, the country has witnessed the first such drop in the <strong>Monthly Per Capita Consumer Expenditure (MPCE)</strong> since 1972-73.</li>
<li>Previous survey on consumer expenditure was conducted during the period : July 2011 to June 2012.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Consumer Expenditure Survey</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Time Interval:</strong> Traditionally, a <strong>quinquennial (recurring every five years)</strong> survey conducted by the <strong>National Sample Survey Office - NSSO</strong> (comes under the National Statistical Office), Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation.</li>
<li><strong>Scope</strong>: Collects information on the <strong>consumption spending patterns of households</strong> across the country, both <strong>urban and rural.</strong></li>
<li><strong>Information Generated</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Reveals the average expenditure on <strong>goods (food and non-food) and services.</strong></li>
<li>Helps generate estimates of household <strong>Monthly Per Capita Consumer Expenditure (MPCE)</strong> as well as the distribution of households and persons over the MPCE classes.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Significance in General</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Helps in calculating the <strong>demand dynamics</strong> of the economy.</li>
<li>Helps in understanding the shifting priorities in terms of baskets of goods and services, thus provides <strong>pointers to the producers of goods and providers of services.</strong></li>
<li>To<strong> assess living standards</strong> and growth trends across multiple strata.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Significance for Policymakers</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The CES is an analytical as well as a forecasting tool which helps the Government in <strong>planning required interventions and policies.</strong></li>
<li>To spot and address possible structural anomalies that may cause demand to shift in a particular manner in a specific socio-economic or regional division of the population.</li>
<li>To <strong>rebase the Gross Domestic Product (GDP)</strong> and other macro-economic indicators.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Findings of CES (2011-12)</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Urban and Rural Expenditure</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Average urban MPCE (at ₹2,630) was about 84% higher than average rural MPCE (₹1,430) for the country as a whole.</li>
<li>The most noticeable rural-urban differences in the 2011-12 survey related to spending on cereals (urban share: 6.7%, rural share: 10.8%), rent (urban: 6.2%, rural: 0.5%) and education (urban: 7%, rural: 3.5%).</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Expenditure on Food</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Food accounted for about 53% of the value of the average rural Indian household&rsquo;s consumption during 2011-12.</li>
<li>In the case of urban households, it accounted for 42.6% of the average consumption budget.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Inequalities</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Sharp variations between States with better socio-economic indices and those still aiming to improve.</li>
<li>The urban-rural divide.</li>
<li>The gap between the highest spending and lowest spending groups.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</div>
<h3>Consequences of Not Releasing the Data</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Instead of a six-year gap, the next survey&rsquo;s findings &mdash; depending on when the Ministry decides to actually undertake it, 2020-21 or 2021-22 &mdash; would end up coming after 9 or 10 years after the 2011-12 round.</li>
<li>As the survey forms the basis of the estimation of inequality in India, and is used for adjusting the consumer price index as well as the GDP data, scrapping the survey means further <strong>delays in updating these key statistics.</strong></li>
<li><span style="font-weight: bold;">Against IMF&rsquo;s Obligations</span><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>India is a subscriber to the<strong><a href="/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-international-institution/international-monetary-fund-imf" target="_blank" rel="noopener"> International Monetary Fund&rsquo;s</a> Special Data Dissemination Standard (SDDS).</strong></li>
<li>Thus, India is obliged to follow good practices in <strong>four areas in disseminating macroeconomic statistics</strong> to the public. These comprise:<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>The coverage, periodicity, and timeliness of data;</li>
<li>Public access to those data;</li>
<li>Data integrity;</li>
<li>Data quality.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>IMF&rsquo;s <strong>&lsquo;Annual Observance Report&rsquo; for 2018</strong> has already flagged concerns about India&rsquo;s delays in releasing economic data. By not releasing the CES data, the country risks contravening its SDDS obligations.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Way Forward</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The Government can release the data while acknowledging its limitations. Suppressing data will only further erode its credibility.</li>
<li>The Government should realise that reliable and timely availability of data form the bedrock of sound policy-making and any doubts over official data weaken the credibility of the entire institutional set-up.</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="https://www.thehindu.com/business/Economy/what-is-consumer-expenditure-survey-and-why-was-its-2017-2018-data-withheld/article30063708.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/consumer-expenditure-survey'
		],
		(int) 15 => [
			'title' => 'DCAT Magazine Class Test',
			'catname' => 'Downloads',
			'desc' => '<p><a href="/prelims-test-series" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1591010390_DCAT Magazine Class Test (Strip)-011.png" /></a></p>
<p><span style="color: #04a3b8;"><strong><span style="font-size: 18px;"><a href="https://drishtiias.com/estore/magazine/magazine-subscription-english" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Monthly DCAT Magazine Test for English Classroom Programme (Click To Subscribe)</a><br /><br /></span></strong></span></p>
<h3><span style="color: #000000;"><strong>What are the sections being covered in the Magazine Test?</strong></span></h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li style="text-align: justify;">Primarily, the Magazine Test covers current affairs which includes important events related to constitutional provisions, administrative decisions, international events, India and the world, science and technology, environment and ecology, social issues, centre and states, and topics involving art and culture.</li>
</ul>
<h3><strong>What is the purpose of providing Magazine Test on the website?</strong></h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li style="text-align: justify;">Making the Magazine Test available on the website will help those aspirants who are unable to take the test in the classroom as well as the aspirants living in remote areas of the country.</li>
</ul>
<h3><strong>Why is the Magazine Test useful for aspirants?</strong></h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li style="text-align: justify;">It is well known that current affairs has a very important role in this examination. A significant&nbsp;number of questions are asked directly from this section. Besides, a number of other questions are indirectly linked to it. Therefore, it is necessary for aspirants to have an in-depth knowledge of issues from current affairs.</li>
<li style="text-align: justify;">In this regard, the monthly test based on the Drishti Current Affairs Today magazine becomes very useful as aspirants will be able to thoroughly prepare and revise each topic of current affairs. Additionally, this test will also help aspirants understand the nature of probable questions that might be asked in the examination.</li>
</ul>
<table style="width: 91%; border-collapse: collapse;" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="5" bordercolor="#aeaeae" border="1px">
<tbody>
<tr style="height: 35px;">
<td colspan="3" style="background-color: #daeaf7; height: 35px; width: 99.9393%;" align="center">
<p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 20px;"><strong>Current Affairs Today Magazine Test</strong></span></p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 27px;">
<td style="height: 27px; width: 41.6262%;">
<p style="text-align: center; font-size: 14px; color: #08287f; font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-size: 14px;">Test Date</span></p>
</td>
<td style="height: 27px; width: 29.4903%;" align="center">
<p style="text-align: center; font-size: 14px; color: #08287f; font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-size: 14px;">Qs. Paper</span></p>
</td>
<td style="height: 27px; width: 28.8228%;" align="center">
<p style="text-align: center; font-size: 14px; color: #08287f; font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-size: 14px;">Ans. Key</span></p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 27px;">
<td style="width: 41.6262%; height: 27px;">
<p style="text-align: center; font-size: 14px; color: #08287f; font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-size: 14px;"><span style="color: #000000; font-size: 12px;"><strong>July, 2021</strong></span></span></p>
</td>
<td style="width: 29.4903%; height: 27px;">
<p style="text-align: center; font-size: 14px; color: #08287f; font-weight: bold;"><a href="/images/uploads/1627463329_6.%20Magazine%20Test-DCAT%20(July%202021)_2.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><span style="font-size: 14px;"><span style="font-size: 12px;"><span style="color: #333333;"><span style="color: #ff0000;"><strong>Download</strong></span></span></span></span></a></p>
</td>
<td style="width: 28.8228%; height: 27px;">
<p style="text-align: center; font-size: 14px; color: #08287f; font-weight: bold;"><a href="/images/uploads/1627463337_6.%20Magazine%20Test-DCAT%20(July%202021)-Answer%20Key.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><span style="font-size: 14px;"><span style="font-size: 12px;"><span style="color: #333333;"><span style="color: #ff0000;"><strong>Download</strong></span></span></span></span></a></p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 27px;">
<td style="width: 41.6262%; height: 27px;">
<p style="text-align: center; font-size: 14px; color: #08287f; font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-size: 14px;"><span style="color: #000000; font-size: 12px;"><strong>June, 2021</strong></span></span></p>
</td>
<td style="width: 29.4903%; height: 27px;">
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<p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 12px;"><strong>April, 2020</strong></span></p>
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<p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 12px;"><strong>March, 2020</strong></span></p>
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<p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 12px;"><strong>February, 2020</strong></span></p>
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</tbody>
</table>
<!-- Class Table End -->
<p></p>',
			'postdate' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenTime) {},
			'url' => 'https://www.drishtiias.com/downloads/dcat-magazine-class-test'
		],
		(int) 16 => [
			'title' => 'Phases of Indian Foreign Policy',
			'catname' => 'Paper 2',
			'desc' => '<p>Recently, the External Affairs Minister of India delivered the 4th Ramnath Goenka Memorial Lecture on Indian foreign policy.</p>
<h3>Key Highlights</h3>
<p>The very structure of the international order is undergoing a profound transformation. This can be attributed by various geopolitical events.</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>USA's unilateralism under America First policy.</li>
<li>Re-balancing of the global economy: The rise of China, India etc.</li>
<li>Return of old empires: Resurgence of Russia, Iran or Turkey.</li>
<li>Geopolitical Flux in the Middle East: Crisis in Syria &amp; Afghanistan, Reign of terrorism by Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS).</li>
<li>Africa which was earlier called the lost continent is now being called as the continent of hope.</li>
<li>Technology, connectivity and trade are now the new notions of power.</li>
<li>Climate change is a factor, contributing to geopolitics amongst others by the opening of an Arctic passage (a sea route from the Pacific Ocean to the Atlantic ocean, through the Arctic Ocean).</li>
</ul>
<p>In order to contemplate a challenging road ahead in this phase of geopolitical transformation, India can learn from its foreign policy since Independence.</p>
<p><a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1575268958_image2.jpg" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1575268958_image2.jpg" width="537" height="302" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" caption="false" /></a></p>
<h3>Indian foreign policy can be understood by dividing it into six broad phases:</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>The first phase (1947-62): Optimistic Non-Alignment</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>This period is marked with a setting of a bipolar world, with camps led by the United States and the USSR.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>India&rsquo;s objectives in this phase were to resist dilution of its sovereignty, rebuild its economy and consolidate its integrity.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>India was one of the first countries to be decolonized. Thus, it was natural for India to lead Asia and Africa in a quest for a more equitable world order.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>In pursuit of this, India played a critical role in the establishment of the Non-Alignment Movement (NAM) (1961), which marked the peak of Third World solidarity.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>However, the 1962 conflict with China not only brought this period to an end but in a manner that significantly damaged India&rsquo;s standing on NAM.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>The second phase (1962-71): Decade of Realism and Recovery</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>After the 1962 war, India made pragmatic choices on security and political challenges.</li>
<li>It looked beyond non-alignment in the interest of national security, concluding a now largely forgotten defence agreement with the US in 1964.</li>
<li>However, India faced external pressures on Kashmir (Tashkent agreement 1965) from the US and UK.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Through Tashkent agreement both India and Pakistan agreed to withdraw all armed forces to pre-war positions, to restore diplomatic relations; and to discuss economic, refugee, and other questions.</li>
<li>However, the agreement did not contain a no-war pact or any renunciation of Pakistan's aggression in Kashmir (as Pakistan was an ally of the US).</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>Therefore, India now started tilting towards USSR.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>The third phase (1971-91): Greater Indian Regional Assertion</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>India showed remarkable use of hard power when it liberated Bangladesh in the India-Pakistan war in 1971.</li>
<li>However, it was a particularly complex phase as the US-China-Pakistan axis that came into being at this time seriously threatened India&rsquo;s prospects,as a regional power.</li>
<li>India also faced sanctions from US and it allies after conducting a Peaceful nuclear explosion test in 1974 (Pokhran I).</li>
<li>Further, the collapse of the USSR, India&rsquo;s close ally, and the economic crisis in 1991 compelled India to look again at the first principles of both domestic and foreign policy.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>The combination of events as diverse as the Gulf War (1991-1992), the break-up of USSR (1991), long standing economic stagnation and domestic turbulence came together in 1991, creating a balance of payment crisis in India.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>The fourth phase (1991-98): Safeguarding Strategic Autonomy</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The emergence of a unipolar world (led by the USA), encouraged India to change its approach to world affairs.</li>
<li>This quest for strategic autonomy was particularly focused on securing its nuclear weapon option (Pokhran II 1998).</li>
<li>This is a period where India reached out to engage the US, Israel and ASEAN countries more intensively.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>This fifth phase (1998-2013): India, a Balancing Power</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>In this period, India gradually acquired the attributes of a balancing power (against the rise of China).</li>
<li>It is reflected in the India-US nuclear deal (123 Agreement).</li>
<li>At the same time, India could also make common cause with China on climate change and trade, and consolidate further ties with Russia while helping to fashion BRICS into a major global forum.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>The sixth phase (2013-until now): Energetic Engagement</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>In this phase of transitional geopolitics, India's policy of Non-Alignment has turned into Multi Alignment.</li>
<li>Moreover, India is now more aware of its own capabilities and the expectations that the world has of India.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>That India is among the major economies of the world is one factor.</li>
<li>The relevance of India&rsquo;s talent in creating and sustaining global technology, is also likely to grow in time.</li>
<li>India's willingness to shape key global negotiations (such as conference in Paris on climate change) is equally significant.</li>
<li>India has been able to assert itself beyond South Asia, through its approach towards the Indian Ocean Region (SAGAR initiative) and the extended neighbourhood (Act East policy and Think West policy).</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1575269136_image1.jpg" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1575269136_image1.jpg" width="535" height="301" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" caption="false" /></a></p>
<h3>The following lessons that can be learnt from this historical study of Indian foreign policy:</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Need for greater realism in policy: India needs to change the image of a reluctant power.</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>In the phase of optimistic non-alignment (or even later), India's focus on diplomatic visibility sometimes led to an overlooking the harsher realities of hard security. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Discomfort with hard power can be reflected in the lack of adequate consultation with the military.</li>
<li>This led to an early misreading of Pakistan&rsquo;s and China's intentions (Indo-Pak war 1948 &amp; Sino-India war 1962), led to Gilgit-Baltistan &amp; part of Kashmir and Aksai Chin region now being under the effective control of Pakistan and China respectively.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>India realized that soft power diplomacy is not sufficient for protecting the country.</li>
<li>Therefore, the creation of the post of Chief of Defence Staff shows a step in the right direction.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Need for Strong economy: An expansionary foreign policy cannot be built on the margins of the global economy.</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>China's assertiveness today in international politics (reflected in the Belt and Road initiative) is derived from its economic power. Similar is the case for the rise of Asian &lsquo;tiger economies' (ASEAN countries) and Japan.</li>
<li>There is a need for India to build a strong economic foundation to fulfil the aspiration of global power.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Need for Multi alignment: Any quest to maximize options and expand space naturally requires engaging multiple players.</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Today's world is characterized by complex interdependence (where countries are competing on geostrategic issues and cooperating on geo economic issues). Therefore, Indian foreign policy requires strategic hedging.</li>
<li>However, it is difficult to reconcile between Howdy Modi &amp; Mamallapuram (informal meeting of Indian Prime minister with US and Chinese counterparts respectively), RIC (Russia-India-China) &amp; JAI (Japan-America-India), Quad &amp; SCO (Shanghai Cooperation Organization), Iran &amp; Saudis and Israel &amp; Palestine.</li>
<li>Therefore, &ldquo;Hedging&rdquo; is going to be a delicate exercise.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Need for Greater Risk: Low-risk foreign policy is only likely to produce limited rewards.</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>India&rsquo;s emphasis on sovereignty has not prevented India from responding to human rights situations in its neighbourhood. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>The humanitarian assistance and disaster relief operations undertaken in Yemen, Nepal, Iraq, Sri Lanka, Maldives, Fiji and Mozambique are statements of India&rsquo;s capability as much it is of India&rsquo;s responsibility.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>Also, India&rsquo;s enthusiasm for shaping global conversations on climate change, terrorism, connectivity and maritime security is already having an impact.</li>
<li>However, India needs to have more assertive participation in events of geopolitical significance.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>As Rabindranath Tagore declared, you can't cross the sea merely by standing and staring at the water.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Need for reading into things right: Foreign policy is all about dealing with global contradictions.</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Foreign policy of all nations reflects an assessment of opportunities and compulsions, and of risks and rewards. Even a slight misreading of the larger landscape can prove costly. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>For example, India going to the United Nations on Jammu &amp; Kashmir clearly misread the intent of the Anglo-American alliance then and of the seriousness of the Cold War. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>India went to the United Nations, with a view that the international community will take notice of Pakistan&rsquo;s aggression on Kashmir.</li>
<li>However, the United Nations Security Council announced a ceasefire which created the PoK problem which we are still struggling to solve.</li>
<li>At the same time the occupation of Kashmir by Pakistan (PoK) also geographically separated India from the energy rich Central Asian countries.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>In the 1960s, 1980s and again after 2001 (9/11 attack on US), India grossly underestimated the relevance of Pakistan to American and Chinese global strategy.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>In present times, an appreciation of world politics must include a proper understanding of Sino-US contradictions, of growing multi-polarity, of weaker multilateralism, of larger economic and political rebalancing, of greater space for regional powers, and of a world of convergence.</li>
<li>A clearer definition of interests is therefore the next step.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<p>To conclude, in this phase of geopolitical transformation, India needs to follow an approach of working with multiple partners on different agendas. Therefore, Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas, Sabka Vishwas is relevant in foreign policy.</p>',
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		],
		(int) 17 => [
			'title' => 'Antibiotics- Contaminating the Rivers',
			'catname' => 'News Editorials',
			'desc' => '<div class="border">
<p>This article is based on <a href="https://www.livemint.com/opinion/columns/opinion-antibiotics-are-contaminating-rivers-and-posing-health-risks-11574878217623.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>&ldquo;Antibiotics are contaminating rivers and posing health risks&rdquo;</strong> </a>which was published in Livemint on 28/11/2019. It talks about the risks antibiotics pose to water resources in the form of antimicrobial resistance.</p>
</div>
<p>According to various reports on the presence of high amount of <strong>pharmaceutical effluent residues</strong> in water bodies, several rivers in the world including those in India, have been<strong> reported to have high concentrations of antibiotics.</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>This poses a serious threat to the <strong>marine ecosystem</strong> as well as adversely impacts <strong>human health.</strong></li>
<li>It also affects the <strong>Biomes</strong> (distinct communities of flora and fauna) and <strong>tissue-specific microbiomes</strong> (a mix of organisms that coexist in tissues) that have an intimate link with each other.</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Antimicrobial Resistance</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Antimicrobial Resistance</strong> (AMR) is the <strong>resistance acquired</strong> by any microorganism (bacteria, viruses, fungi, parasites, etc.) against antimicrobial drugs (such as antibiotics, antifungals, antivirals, antimalarials, and anthelmintics) that are <strong>used to treat infections.</strong></li>
<li>The wastewater effluents from pharmaceutical industries especially the antibiotic manufacturing units contain a substantial amount of antibiotics, leading to contamination of rivers and lakes. This antibiotic present in water bodies generates AMR in the residing living organisms.</li>
<li>As pharmaceuticals are designed to interact with living organisms at low doses, even their low concentrations affect the<strong> freshwater ecosystems</strong> (rivers, streams, wetlands, etc). According to an <strong>OECD report,</strong> 10% of pharmaceuticals (especially related to hormones, painkillers, and antidepressants) have the potential to cause <strong>environmental harm.</strong></li>
<li>Also, according to a report by the <strong>United Nations' Interagency Coordination Group on Antimicrobial Resistance,</strong> drug-resistant diseases cause at least 700,000 deaths globally a year.</li>
</ul>
</div>
<h3>Causes of Water Contamination</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The common causes of poor water quality in rivers are-<strong> industrial discharge, open defecation, untreated waste from chemical and pharmaceutical industries, waste generated by hospitals, clinics, and animal husbandry units.</strong></li>
<li>In India, several rivers have been reported to have <em><strong>high concentrations of antibiotics such as ciprofloxacin, norfloxacin, oxytetracycline, and ofloxacin.</strong></em></li>
</ul>
<h3>Impact of High Concentration of Chemicals in Water-bodies</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Various researches have highlighted the reason and impact of contaminated water on human health:</li>
</ul>
<table border="1" style="border-collapse: collapse;">
<tbody>
<tr style="height: 19px;">
<td style="height: 19px; text-align: center; background-color: #ff0303; border-style: dotted; border-color: #ff0000; width: 118px; vertical-align: top;"><span style="color: #ffffff;"><strong>Sr. No.</strong></span></td>
<td style="height: 19px; text-align: center; background-color: #ff0303; border-style: dotted; border-color: #ff0000; width: 283px; vertical-align: top;"><span style="color: #ffffff;"><strong>Research</strong></span></td>
<td style="height: 19px; text-align: center; background-color: #ff0303; border-style: dotted; border-color: #ff0000; width: 497px; vertical-align: top;"><span style="color: #ffffff;"><strong>Outcome</strong></span></td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 19px;">
<td style="height: 19px; background-color: #eeffc7; width: 118px; text-align: center; vertical-align: top;">1.</td>
<td style="height: 19px; background-color: #eeffc7; width: 283px; vertical-align: top;">London&rsquo;s &ldquo;Broad Street cholera outbreak" in 1854</td>
<td style="height: 19px; background-color: #eeffc7; width: 497px; vertical-align: top;">
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>It was due to the <strong>leakage of sewage</strong> full of fecal bacteria into a public well that posed a severe health hazard in the form of cholera.</li>
</ul>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 19px;">
<td style="height: 19px; background-color: #eeffc7; width: 118px; text-align: center; vertical-align: top;">2.</td>
<td style="height: 19px; background-color: #eeffc7; width: 283px; vertical-align: top;">Brandon and Homman in 1995 (Expert Team from World Bank)</td>
<td style="height: 19px; background-color: #eeffc7; width: 497px; vertical-align: top;">
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Estimated the <strong>impact of domestic water pollution on illness in India.</strong></li>
<li>It found that providing clean water supply and sanitation to the whole of India would save around<strong> $ 3-8 billion annually.</strong></li>
<li>In particular, it suggested that 59% of annual <strong>environmental costs</strong> (costs associated with the actual or potential deterioration of natural assets due to economic activities) in India are incurred on treating <strong>surface water pollution.</strong></li>
</ul>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 19px;">
<td style="height: 19px; background-color: #eeffc7; width: 118px; text-align: center; vertical-align: top;">3.</td>
<td style="height: 19px; background-color: #eeffc7; width: 283px; vertical-align: top;">Cifuentes et al (2000)</td>
<td style="height: 19px; background-color: #eeffc7; width: 497px; vertical-align: top;">
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Identified<strong> irrigation</strong> as a link between water pollution and health. Other water contamination pathways include source of vegetables from farms and households, sanitation and hygiene.</li>
</ul>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 19px;">
<td style="height: 19px; background-color: #eeffc7; width: 118px; text-align: center; vertical-align: top;">4.</td>
<td style="height: 19px; background-color: #eeffc7; width: 283px; vertical-align: top;">Fewtrell and Bartram, 2001</td>
<td style="height: 19px; background-color: #eeffc7; width: 497px; vertical-align: top;">
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Infants are highly susceptible to <strong>water-borne pathogens</strong> leading to <strong>high <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/national-health-profile-2019" target="_blank" rel="noopener">infant mortality rate.</a></strong></li>
<li>Infant mortality serves as a good yardstick in India where infant mortality rate <strong>(32 per 1,000 live births in 2017)</strong> remains higher than the global average (29 deaths per 1000 live births in 2017).</li>
</ul>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 19px;">
<td style="height: 19px; background-color: #eeffc7; width: 118px; text-align: center; vertical-align: top;">5.</td>
<td style="height: 19px; background-color: #eeffc7; width: 283px; vertical-align: top;">Ebenstein in 2010</td>
<td style="height: 19px; background-color: #eeffc7; width: 497px; vertical-align: top;">
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Reported that deterioration in Chinese river water quality was associated with a 9.7% increase in <strong>digestive cancer incidents.</strong></li>
</ul>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 19px;">
<td style="height: 19px; background-color: #eeffc7; width: 118px; text-align: center; vertical-align: top;">6.</td>
<td style="height: 19px; background-color: #eeffc7; width: 283px; vertical-align: top;">Brainerd and Menon in 2011</td>
<td style="height: 19px; background-color: #eeffc7; width: 497px; vertical-align: top;">
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Reported that pregnant women being exposed to a 10%<strong> increase in agrochemical levels in Indian rivers</strong> during their first month of conception was associated with an 11% increase in the likelihood of one-year mortality among newborns.</li>
</ul>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 19px;">
<td style="height: 19px; background-color: #eeffc7; width: 118px; text-align: center; vertical-align: top;">7.</td>
<td style="height: 19px; background-color: #eeffc7; width: 283px; vertical-align: top;">Quy-Toan Do (The World Bank), 2014</td>
<td style="height: 19px; background-color: #eeffc7; width: 497px; vertical-align: top;">
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>This research found that the average effect of a <strong>1% increase in fecal coliforms</strong> (organisms present in the environment and in the feces of animals and humans) <strong>in river Ganga leads to an additional 3-5 deaths per 100,000 births</strong> in a given month.</li>
</ul>
</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>It has been observed that industries in India often discharge<strong> untreated or partially treated water</strong> into nearby water bodies or rivers, leading to severe water pollution and water toxicity.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Continuous discharge of such fluids gradually pollutes river water and makes it useless for drinking, agriculture, and further industrial use.</li>
<li>It also leads to enhanced cases of <a href="/to-the-points/paper3/to-the-point-paper-3-antimicrobial-resistance-amr" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>antimicrobial resistance.</strong></a></li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Government Initiatives</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>To tackle Water Pollution:</strong>
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>In <strong>1985,</strong> the government launched the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/15-point-directive-to-clean-ganga" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Ganga Action Plan</strong></a> (GAP) to clean up the river Ganga.
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Later GAP was extended to cover all the major rivers of India and was named as the <strong>National River Conservation Plan (NRCP)-</strong> India&rsquo;s flagship water pollution clean-up policy.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>National Water Policy (2002):</strong> started by the then Ministry of Water Resources, highlighted the importance of water for human existence as well as for economic development related activities. It addresses the problem of scarcity of water and the need to conserve this resource through optimal, economical, sustainable and equitable means.</li>
<li><a href="/to-the-points/Paper2/national-action-plan-on-climate-change" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>National Water Mission (2010):</strong> </a>To ensure <strong>integrated water resource management</strong> leading to <strong>water conservation, less wastage, equitable distribution</strong> forming better policies.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>To control AMR:</strong>
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>National Action Plan (NAP) for AMR</strong> was released in April 2017 by the <strong>Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare.</strong>
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>The objectives of the NAP include improving awareness, enhancing surveillance measures, strengthening infection prevention and control, research and development, promoting investments, and collaborative activities to control AMR.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Conclusion</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The use of pharmaceuticals has risen in the recent past with ageing populations, advances in healthcare, rising meat and fish production, and the increased use of antibiotics for livestock.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The negative impacts of pharmaceuticals are evident from laboratory and field tests showing traces of oral contraceptives causing <strong>feminization in fish and amphibians</strong> (pollutants in water bodies sometimes cause male fish/amphibians to produce eggs which is a female characteristic; this might lead to decline in their population), and residues of psychiatric drugs altering the fish behaviour.</li>
<li>Therefore, there is a need for<strong> timely intervention</strong> so as to<strong> manage</strong> the associated risks and <strong>control</strong> the worsening situation.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>Data is one of the keys to understand the scope of freshwater antibiotic concentrations. Getting an accurate picture of the environmental risks of pharmaceuticals around the world depends on the availability of data, which is currently limited. The global fraternity needs to collaborate with each other to overcome this challenge.</li>
</ul>
<table border="1" style="border-collapse: collapse; width: 100%;">
<tbody>
<tr>
<td style="width: 515px; border-style: dotted; border-color: #2f00ff; background-color: #e3f8ff;">
<p><span style="color: #000080;"><em><strong>Drishti Mains Question</strong></em></span></p>
<p>In addition to generic water pollution, rivers now face the problem of antibiotic contamination. Discuss.</p>
</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<p></p>',
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		(int) 18 => [
			'title' => 'India’s Core Cold Wave Zone',
			'catname' => 'News Analysis',
			'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>Recently, the<strong> Indian Meteorological Department (IMD)</strong> has predicted average <strong>minimum temperatures</strong> to be <strong>&ldquo;warmer than average&rdquo;</strong> in winters for most parts of the country.</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>India&rsquo;s <strong>&lsquo;core cold wave&rsquo; zone</strong> is expected to experience higher minimum temperature during winters.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>A trigger for this phenomena is the <strong>warm surface waters of the equatorial Pacific ocean.</strong></li>
<li><strong>Core cold wave&rsquo; zone</strong> covers Punjab, Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Delhi, Haryana, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Bihar, Jharkhand, West Bengal, Odisha and Telangana.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>The warm winters in the country and overall rising global temperature is a sign of <a href="/to-the-points/paper3/un-climate-action-summit-2019" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>global warming.</strong></a><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>India on an average is 0.5 degree celsius warmer than 50 years ago.</li>
<li>Rising temperatures lead to warmer than average ground temperatures and consequently a rise in minimum temperatures.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>The global temperature is expected to rise 3.2 degrees celsius by the end of the century and intensify severe weather events.</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>India Meteorological Department (IMD)</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>IMD was established in 1875.</li>
<li>It is an agency of the Ministry of Earth Sciences of the Government of India.</li>
<li>It is the principal agency responsible for meteorological observations, weather forecasting and seismology.</li>
</ul>
</div>
<p><a href="https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/winter-to-be-warmer-than-normal-imd/article30116910.ece" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Source:TH</strong></a></p>',
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		],
		(int) 19 => [
			'title' => 'State Party Status by Election Commission of India',
			'catname' => 'News Analysis',
			'desc' => '<p>Recently, the <strong>Jannayak Janta Party of Haryana</strong> has been granted the status of a<strong> recognised State party</strong> and has been allotted the <strong>symbol of &ldquo;key&rdquo;</strong> by <a href="/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-national-institutions/election-commission-of-india" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Election Commission of India.</strong></a></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Other two recognised state parties of Haryana are <strong>Haryana Janhit Congress </strong>and <strong>Indian National Lok Dal.</strong></li>
</ul>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Political parties are registered by the election commission for the purpose of elections and granted recognition as national or state parties <strong>on the basis of their poll performance.</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The other parties are simply declared as <strong>registered-unrecognised parties.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>The recognition determines their <strong>right to certain privileges</strong> like allocation of the party <strong>symbols,</strong> provision of time for<strong> political broadcasts</strong> on television and radio stations and access to electoral rolls.</li>
<li>Every national party and every state party is allotted a symbol exclusively reserved for its use throughout the country and the states respectively. In other words, the Commission specifies certain symbols as <strong>&lsquo;reserved symbols&rsquo;</strong> which are meant for the candidates set up by the recognised parties.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Conditions for Recognition as a State Party</h3>
<p>A party is recognised as a state party in a state if any of the following conditions is fulfilled:</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>If it <strong>secures 6% of the valid votes polled</strong> in the state at a general election to the legislative assembly of the state concerned and in <strong>addition, it wins 2 seats</strong> in the assembly of the state concerned or</li>
<li>If it secures 6% of the valid votes polled in the state at a general election to the Lok Sabha from the state concerned and in addition, it wins 1 seat in the Lok Sabha from the state concerned or</li>
<li>If it wins 3% of seats in the legislative assembly at a general election to the legislative assembly of the state concerned or 3 seats in the assembly, whichever is more or</li>
<li>If it wins 1 seat in the Lok Sabha for every 25 seats or any fraction thereof allotted to the state at a general election to the Lok Sabha from the state concerned or</li>
<li>If it secures 8% of the total valid votes polled in the state at a General Election to the Lok Sabha from the state or to the legislative assembly of the state. This condition was added in 2011.</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Conditions for Recognition as a National Party</strong></p>
<p>A party is recognised as a national party if any of the following conditions is fulfilled:</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>If it<strong> secures 6% of valid votes polled</strong> in any<strong> four or more states</strong> at a general election to the Lok Sabha or to the legislative assembly and in addition, it wins four seats in the Lok Sabha from any state or states, or</li>
<li>If it <strong>wins 2% of seats in the Lok Sabha</strong> at a general election and these candidates are elected from three states, or</li>
<li>If it is recognised as a <strong>state party in four states.</strong></li>
</ul>
</div>
<p><a href="https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/other-states/jjp-gets-state-party-status/article30118172.ece" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Source: TH</strong></a></p>',
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		'title' => 'Seed Bill',
		'catname' => 'News Editorials',
		'desc' => '<div class="border">
<p>This article is based on <a href="https://www.thehindubusinessline.com/opinion/the-seed-bill-needs-to-be-tweaked-to-serve-the-interests-of-all-stakeholders-better/article30095614.ece" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>&ldquo;The Seed Bill must be tweaked for better results&rdquo;</strong></a> which was published in The Hindu Business Line on 02/12/2019. It highlights the provisions of the draft Seed Bill-2019 and issues associated with it.</p>
</div>
<p>Recently, the <strong>Ministry of Agriculture &amp; Farmers&rsquo; Welfare</strong> has finalized the <strong>draft Seed Bill 2019</strong> and is expected to table it in the ongoing winter session of Parliament. The Bill aims to <em><strong>regulate the quality of seeds sold and facilitate the production and supply of these seeds to farmers.</strong></em> It aims to <strong>foster competition</strong> by amending the<strong> Seed Act, 1966</strong> and <strong>Seed Rules, 1968.</strong> There are certain proposals in the Bill such as registration of seed varieties, powers granted to the government to fix prices inter-alia which suffer from certain drawbacks. In this regard, the <strong>seed industry</strong> has made certain observations and recommendations to the government.</p>
<h3>Highlights of the Seed Bill- 2019</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>It is an important legislation to ensure the supply of modern, high quality, cutting edge seed technologies to the farmers which will help them in <strong>enhancing their productivity and profitability.</strong></li>
<li><strong>Formation of Seed Committee</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The Bill authorizes the Central government to reconstitute a <strong>Central Seed Committee</strong> (based in <strong>New Delhi</strong>) that will be responsible for the effective implementation of its provisions.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Registration of Seed Varieties</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Draft Bill Provision:</strong> All varieties of seeds <strong>for sale</strong> have to be <strong>registered</strong> and are required to meet certain <strong>prescribed minimum standards.</strong> For instance, for transgenic varieties of seeds, registration is to be obtained under the <strong>Environment (Protection) Act, 1986.</strong> This can bring <strong>greater accountability</strong> to seed companies.</li>
<li><strong>Industry Recommendation:</strong> Make the registration process <strong>time-bound.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Exemptions</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Bill:</strong> Exempt farmers from obtaining registration for<strong> varieties developed by them.</strong> However, if the farmer sells such seeds for a monetary consideration, then that sale needs to be registered. This is to protect the interests of other farmers who buy seeds from such a farmer.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Also, farmers are allowed to sow, exchange or sell their farm seeds and planting material without having to conform to the prescribed minimum limits of germination, physical purity and genetic purity (as required by registered seeds). However, farmers cannot sell any seed under a brand name.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Recommendation:</strong> Exemption of <strong>export-oriented varieties</strong> from registration has been made. This will encourage <strong>custom production of seeds</strong> in India.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Research-based Companies</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Bill:</strong> In the proposed Bill, there is a differentiation between the seed producer, seed processor and seed dealer for the purpose of <strong>licensing.</strong> However, there is <strong>no recognition of National Level Integrated Seed Companies</strong> with R&amp;D capabilities.</li>
<li><strong>Recommendation:</strong> There must be a system of accreditation of national level research-based companies with integrated facilities for research, product testing, data analytics, seed production, seed quality control, seed processing, farmer extension and marketing. <strong>These companies need to be given a national licence</strong> that can be renewed at regular intervals based on fresh inspections and track record.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Truthfully labelled seeds</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Bill:</strong> Currently, a large percentage of seed is sold under a<strong> self-certification programme</strong> called Truthfully Labelled (TL) seeds. The certification process has been kept <strong>voluntary.</strong></li>
<li><strong>Recommendation:</strong> TL seeds category must continue, as the mandatory registration of seed varieties eliminates the risk of misuse of TL provision. The TL certification has helped the industry to grow and facilitated the supply of high-quality seeds to the farmer in the last 30 years.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Nurseries</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Bill:</strong> Licences/ registration of<strong> fruit nurseries.</strong></li>
<li><strong>Recommendation:</strong> Apply this provision to all nurseries and not just fruit nurseries.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Price Control</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Bill:</strong> Empowers<strong> the government to fix prices of selected varieties</strong> in case of &lsquo;emergent&rsquo; situations such as seed shortage, abnormal increase in price, monopolistic pricing, profiteering, etc. which are open to subjective interpretation.</li>
<li><strong>Recommendation:</strong> The industry opposes any kind of price control, as it can stifle innovation and result in a scale back of research investments.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Review of complaints</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Bill:</strong> <a href="/to-the-points/Paper2/the-consumer-protection-bill-2018-amendment-1986-act" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Consumer Protection Act, 1986</strong></a> to be used to deal with complaints related to the non-performance of seed.</li>
<li><strong>Recommendation:</strong> Seed performance is dependent on several <strong>agro-climatic and biological factors</strong> and is <strong>not always</strong> related to the<strong> quality of the seed.</strong> Hence, this aspect must be kept in mind while reviewing a complaint.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Penal Provisions</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Bill:</strong> Differentiates the agronomic performance of the seed, its physical quality and the supply of spurious seed, and consequently penalizes the offences and prescribes punishment.</li>
<li><strong>Recommendation:</strong> All offences are not criminal. <strong>Minor offences</strong> (unintended offences) <strong>and major offences</strong> (made intentionally) should be differentiated. The minor offences in the Bill must be made as compoundable.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Legislative Frameworks for Seeds in India</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Historically, the seed industry in India has been governed by several legislative &amp; policy frameworks such as Seed Act (1966), Seed Rules (1968), Seed (Control) Order (1983), New Policy on Seed Development (1988), Plants, Fruits &amp; Seeds (Regulation of Import into India) Order (1989), <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/pepsico-sues-potato-farmershttps://www.drishtiias.com/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/pepsico-sues-potato-farmers" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Protection of Plant Varieties and Farmers&rsquo; Right Act (2001)</strong></a>, and the <strong>Essential Commodities Act, 1955</strong> including Seeds (1955), National Seed Policy (2002), and Seed Bill (2004).<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>All of these legislations were passed to take care of <strong>seeds right from the production level to marking, labeling, and marketing levels</strong> so as to <strong>maintain</strong> the quality standards as prescribed by the Central Seed Committee (formed under the Seed Act, 1966).</li>
<li>These laws make <strong>quality seeds and planting material available</strong> to a common farmer and provide him a mechanism to approach concerned authority for justice.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>The Seed Bill (2004) was proposed to replace the Seed Act (1966), however, owing to several shortcomings it was not passed. The 2019 draft version tries to overcome the drawbacks of the 2004 Bill.</li>
</ul>
</div>
<h3>Way Forward</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Agriculture production is purely based on the basic input,i.e., <strong>seed.</strong> Until and unless the purity, quality and seed standards are maintained, production programme cannot be successful. Hence, to maintain these quality standards, legislations in this regard are equally important.</li>
<li>It is also necessary <strong>to disseminate the information</strong> regarding seed legislations to the farmers in order to make them <strong>aware of their rights.</strong></li>
<li>Companies with national licence and accreditation must be allowed to <strong>conduct trials for seed varieties and generate data</strong> (which is to be made acceptable for product registration purposes). This will help in speedy reach of new research products to the market for the timely benefit of the farmer.</li>
</ul>
<p>Overall, the seed law must have the <strong>twin objective</strong> of <strong>regulating the supply of seeds</strong> for the benefit of the farmers and, at the same time, <strong>enable the development</strong> of the seed industry.</p>
<table border="1" style="border-collapse: collapse; width: 100%;">
<tbody>
<tr style="height: 83px;">
<td style="width: 100%; border-style: dotted; border-color: #ff0000; background-color: #fffbd4; height: 83px;">
<p><em><strong><span style="color: #0000ff;">Drishti Mains Question</span><br /><br /></strong></em>Discuss the challenges faced by the seed industry in India and suggest steps that can be taken to overcome them.</p>
</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<p></p>',
		'postdate' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenTime) {},
		'url' => 'https://www.drishtiias.com/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/seed-bill'
	],
	(int) 1 => [
		'title' => 'The Big Picture- India, China Diplomatic Ties',
		'catname' => 'Lok Sabha & Rajya Sabha Discussions',
		'desc' => '<p style="text-align: center;"><iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/nXakvlu1MjU" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe></p>
<p>In 2020, India and China will commemorate the <strong>70<sup>th</sup> anniversary</strong> of the establishment of their diplomatic relations with 70 celebratory activities (like cultural, religious and trade promotion events). These events were finalized during the <strong>second India-China informal summit</strong> held at <strong>Mamallapuram</strong> on October 11-12, 2019. In 1950, India became the <strong>first non-socialist bloc country</strong> to establish diplomatic relations with the People&rsquo;s Republic of China.</p>
<p>Besides hosting parliamentary exchanges, the two countries will conduct activities to trace <strong>civilizational links.</strong> And to foster business and trade relations, China will hold an <strong>India-China Trade and Investment Cooperation Forum</strong> and organize the <strong>second India-China Drug Regulation Forum in India.</strong></p>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>India-China Drug Regulation</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The<strong> first forum</strong> was held in <strong>Shanghai, China on 21<sup>st</sup> June 2019.</strong></li>
<li>The major focus of this forum was to <strong>enhance cooperation in the pharmaceuticals sector</strong> with a focus on exports of Indian medicines to China.</li>
<li>China under its <strong>Healthy China 2030 policy</strong> is committed to provide quality drugs at affordable prices to its citizens. And, India <strong>has emerged as the pharmacy of the world</strong> (exported around $17.3 billion-worth drugs in 2017-18) by providing high-quality generic drugs at a very affordable price.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>In this backdrop, China is keen to strengthen ties with India in the field of pharmaceuticals sector.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</div>
<h3>Present Sino-Indian Ties</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The two emerging and enduring powers representing two modes of civilization signify a <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/india-china-relations-an-analysis%C2%A0" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>complex and dynamic relationship</strong></a> in world politics.</li>
<li>In the recent past, relations between India and China have broadened which can be exemplified by <strong>enhanced people-to-people cultural exchanges, improved commerce &amp; economic ties</strong> inter-alia.</li>
<li>At the official level, <strong>high-level exchanges</strong> have become regular in the form of recently organized <strong>two informal summits-</strong> <a href="/loksabha-rajyasabha-discussions/the-big-picture-indias-china-pak-policy" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Wuhan Summit (2018)</strong></a> <strong>&amp;</strong><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/india-china-2nd-informal-summit-mamallapuram-summit" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong> Chennai Connect (2019)</strong></a>, and frequent meetings on the bilateral/ multilateral fora.</li>
<li>The<strong> soft diplomacy</strong> practiced in the form of<strong> increased tourism</strong> (granting of multiple-entry visa for 5 years by India to Chinese travellers), frequent visits by <strong>armed forces &amp; naval activities, 10 pillar agreement</strong> (2018), finalizing of <strong>70 events</strong> in the second informal summit, etc. have given a <strong>cushioning effect-</strong> marking the progress in the relations.</li>
<li>This highlights the enhanced engagement between the two nations. However, issues on certain major parameters still persist.</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>10 Pillar Agreement</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>10 pillars of cooperation to enhance <strong>cultural and people-to-people exchanges</strong> were finalized between India and China in <strong>December 2018.</strong></li>
<li>These pillars are <em><strong>cultural exchange, cooperation in films and television, museum management, sports, youth exchanges, tourism, state and city-level exchanges, traditional medicine, yoga, and education (e.g. Chinese language teaching in India).</strong></em></li>
</ul>
</div>
<h3>Underlying Issues</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>There is a <strong>widening gulf</strong> between the two nations on certain<strong> core issues</strong> like:
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Ongoing <strong>border/territorial disputes</strong> (e.g. <strong>Pangong Tso</strong> Lake issue 2019, <strong>Doklam</strong> stand-off 2017,<strong> Asaphila</strong> issue of Arunachal Pradesh)</li>
<li>Chinese activism on <strong>Kashmir</strong> after abrogation of certain provisions of <a href="/to-the-points/Paper2/to-the-point-article-370" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Article 370</strong></a></li>
<li>Cross-border <strong>terrorism</strong></li>
<li>China&rsquo;s stand on <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/india-s-nsg-bid" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>India&rsquo;s entry to Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG)</strong></a>, <a href="/loksabha-rajyasabha-discussions/the-big-picture-unsc-and-permanent-seat-for-india" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>permanent seat in the United Nations Security Council (UNSC)</strong></a>, etc.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Concerns with India:</strong> China perceives itself as a leading power ruling the <strong>unipolar</strong> <strong>world</strong> by 2050. It is therefore not comfortable with the <strong>rise of India</strong> in the region as the potential competitive power.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>China follows a <strong>maximalist expectations approach</strong> towards India in which it demands much from the Indian side as can be seen from &lsquo;Hindi-Chini bhai bhai&rsquo; phase in the 1950s to the stable periphery demand, or demand to join <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/belt-and-road-initiative-perspectives-from-india" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Belt and Road Initiative (BRI)</strong></a>. However, China does not reciprocate the same by addressing India&rsquo;s concerns.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>China&rsquo;s Stance regarding Pakistan:</strong> For decades, China has used Pakistan as a wedge against India in order to confine India to the South Asia region and prevent India&rsquo;s rise as a global competitor. This can be substantiated by China&rsquo;s support to Pakistan on cross-border terrorism, resisting to designate certain terrorists globally, etc.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Challenges faced on the Global Platforms</h3>
<p>On the global stage, India and China are working together on different platforms where they display both convergence and divergence on the global issues.</p>
<p><strong>Convergence</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Climate Change:</strong> In the recently held <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/basic-environment-ministers-meet" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>BASIC (Brazil, South Africa, India and China) minister&rsquo;s meet</strong></a>, the ministers from these nations advocated the concept of <strong>equal but differentiated responsibility</strong> that acknowledges different capabilities and differing responsibilities of individual countries in addressing climate change.</li>
<li><strong>Economic:</strong> In the <strong>recent</strong> <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/11th-brics-summit" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>BRICS summit (Brasilia Declaration)</strong></a>, in the backdrop of trade war between China and the U.S. and rising protectionism, there was a call for supporting multilateralism, and appreciating the central role of the U.N. in international affairs.</li>
<li><strong>Multilateral Forum:</strong> Both countries believe in upholding of the <a href="/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-international-institution/united-nations-1" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>United Nations</strong></a> charter and its non-interference policy, <a href="/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-international-institution/important-international-institutions-shanghai-cooperation-organisation-sco" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO)</strong></a>, <a href="/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-international-institution/world-trade-organisation-wto" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>World Trade Organization (WTO)</strong></a>- where both fight for G7 countries, <a href="/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-international-institution/east-asia-summit" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>East Asian Summit.</strong></a></li>
</ul>
<p><strong>Divergence</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>In the recent <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/3rd-rcep-summit" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>3<sup>rd</sup> Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP)</strong></a>, China tried to trick on India in order to get access to the Indian markets.</li>
<li>China also has concerns about India&rsquo;s role (being a member of <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/quad-and-g-4-meet" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Quad</strong></a>) in the <strong>Indian Ocean region.</strong></li>
</ul>
<p><strong>Other Domestic Challenges</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Chinese economy is suffering due to the ongoing <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/global-trade-war-the-apology-of-protectionism" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>US-China trade war.</strong></a></li>
<li>Also, the domestic issues like <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/hongkong-protest" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Hongkong protests,</strong></a> issue of atrocities against <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/persecution-of-uighurs" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Uighur muslims</strong></a> in Xinjiang province is affecting China.</li>
<li>China is worried with concerns related to <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/viability-of-bri-and-cpec" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC)</strong></a> due to rising insurgency in Balochistan and Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa region.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Way Forward</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Strategic: </strong>There is a need for defining, demarcating and delineating the borders so as to remove fear from the minds of people residing in the vicinity and strengthen the ties.</li>
<li>On the<strong> economic</strong> front, China has a trade surplus of around <strong>$750 billion</strong> (in the last 10 years) with India, which it needs to bring down. Service sector can play a major role in reducing the trade deficit.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>China must<strong> create a level playing field</strong> by allowing Indian services such as in pharmaceuticals and software packages in its market. Also, in the RCEP, equitable distribution and differences between the two nations needs to be bridged.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>Both countries can effectively <strong>use their soft power</strong> (in the form of <strong>tourism</strong>) to further integrate their economies.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Tourism:</strong> More Indian nationals visit to China as compared to the Chinese tourists coming to India. This<strong> cultural cross connect must be increased</strong> so as to build up the co-constituencies and enhance businesses that can consequently lead to resolving of conflicts at the national level.</li>
<li><a href="/to-the-points/paper3/tourism-in-india" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Promotion of tourism</strong></a> through education, spiritual visits especially on the Buddhist circuit, etc. must be promoted.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<p>The problems between India and China are difficult to be resolved in the short run but by <strong>managing the relationship</strong> by minimising the existing strategic gap, narrowing the divergences and maintaining the status quo, it can be improved over time. For this purpose, <a href="/loksabha-rajyasabha-discussions/the-big-picture-india-china-ties-marching-on" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>increased engagement with China</strong> </a>at every level from government to people, academia, business, etc. has to be targeted.</p>',
		'postdate' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenTime) {},
		'url' => 'https://www.drishtiias.com/loksabha-rajyasabha-discussions/the-big-picture-india-china-diplomatic-ties'
	],
	(int) 2 => [
		'title' => 'Tanbo Art',
		'catname' => 'News Analysis',
		'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>A progressive farmer in Kerala is using <strong>Tanbo Art (a 3D art form)</strong> to depict the celebrated Guruvayur temple elephant that died in 1976.</p>
<p><a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1575368703_Image5.jpg" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1575368703_Image5.jpg" width="479" height="269" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" caption="false" /></a></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The farmer used several indigenous varieties of rice like <strong>Krishna Kamod, Gandhakasala and Jeerakasala</strong> to give shape to the image.</li>
<li>Tanbo Art is a <strong>rice paddy art</strong> developed by the farmers of Inakadate village in <strong>Japan about three decades ago</strong> to beautify their paddy fields.</li>
<li>They drew huge replicas of famous paintings, including Mona Lisa, by growing rice crops with fronds of different colours.</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/kerala/guruvayur-kesavan-comes-alive-on-a-field-in-kerala/article30142043.ece" 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/tanbo-art'
	],
	(int) 3 => [
		'title' => 'Data Bank of Independent Directors',
		'catname' => 'News Analysis',
		'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>Recently, the <strong>Ministry of Corporate Affairs</strong> launched the <strong>Independent Directors Databank</strong> in accordance with the provisions of the <strong>Companies Act, 2013</strong> and the rules made thereunder.</p>
<h3>Background</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The ministry was working on ways to <strong>strengthen the framework for independent directors,</strong> who have an important role in ensuring good corporate governance practices at companies.</li>
<li>It seeks to make the process stringent because in many cases political appointees with standard financial background were also getting rehabilitated in several companies as independent directors.</li>
<li>Recent<strong> Infrastructure Leasing and Financial Services (IL&amp;FS) crisis</strong> highlighted the reckless grading by credit rating agencies who liberally granted and downgraded the companies as per their wish and got away with it.</li>
<li>Apart from the launch of <strong>Independent Directors Bank,</strong> the government has also decided to <strong>conduct examinations for appointments</strong> of independent directors in which a<strong> score of 60% marks</strong> will be mandatory criteria for qualification.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The change is in line with the amended <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/committee-to-review-the-offences-under-the-companies-act" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Companies Act.</strong></a> The government will also maintain a database of professionals qualifying in the test that can be used by companies looking to expand their board or making fresh appointments under the current regulations.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Significance</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Independent directors <strong>must not assume a passive role,</strong> merely reacting to ideas foreseen by the controlling shareholder or their appointees. They should be willing to question the status quo in the interest of shareholders not play a risk-free mute spectator limiting to attending just number of board meetings.</li>
<li><strong>Strict accountability and eligibility</strong> will curb promoters placing their own ineligible candidates and family members on the listed company boards.</li>
<li>The concept of the institution of Independent Director is of utmost importance for <strong>Corporate Governance</strong> who should act act as the trustees of stakeholders.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Data Bank</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>It has been developed and maintained by the <strong>Indian Institute for Corporate Affairs (IICA)</strong> under Ministry of Corporate Affairs.</li>
<li>It is a <strong>first of its kind initiative</strong> which provides for a wide array of <strong>e-learning courses</strong> on various topics including the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/final-report-on-penal-provisions-of-company-act-2013" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Companies Act</strong></a>, <strong>Securities laws, basic accountancy, board practices, board ethics and board effectiveness.</strong></li>
<li>It provides an <strong>easy to access navigation platform</strong> for the registration of existing <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/e-registration-for-independent-directors" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Independent Directors</strong> </a>as well as individuals aspiring to become independent directors.</li>
<li><strong>Companies can register</strong> themselves with the databank to search, select and connect with individuals aspiring to be Independent Directors.</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Independent Director</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>An <strong>Independent Director (also sometimes known as an outside director)</strong> is a director on a board of directors representing minority shareholders and <strong>who does not have a pecuniary relationship</strong> with the company or related persons, except for sitting fees.</li>
<li>Their role is to take a stand unambiguously and independently to have a check and balance on the exuberance of majority shareholders that may expose the company to unwarranted risks.</li>
<li>The Companies Act, 2013 has mandated all listed public companies to have <strong>at least one-third</strong> of the total Directors to be independent.</li>
<li>Their role requires them to be clinical while businesses expect them to be practical, that&rsquo;s the tight rope they walk on.</li>
</ul>
</div>
<p><a href="https://pib.gov.in/PressReleseDetail.aspx?PRID=1594558" 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/data-bank-of-independent-directors'
	],
	(int) 4 => [
		'title' => 'Exercise Hand-in-Hand',
		'catname' => 'News Analysis',
		'desc' => '<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The 8<sup>th</sup> <strong>India-China <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/important-facts-for-prelims-7th-december-2018" target="_blank" rel="noopener">joint training exercise</a> 'HAND-IN-HAND 2019'</strong> with the theme of &lsquo;Counter Terrorism&rsquo; under United Nations mandate is scheduled to be conduct at Umroi, <strong>Meghalaya</strong> from 7<sup>th</sup> to 20<sup>th</sup> December 2019.<a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1575368069_image3.png" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1575368069_image3.png" width="342" height="240" style="float: right;" caption="false" /></a></li>
<li>The aim of the exercise is to practice joint planning and conduct of counter terrorist operations in semi urban terrain.</li>
<li>In<strong> 2018,</strong> the exercise was held in <strong>Chengdu, China.</strong></li>
<li>The exercise <strong>didn&rsquo;t take place in 2017</strong> due to the 72-days long standoff between Indian and Chinese troops in <a href="/loksabha-rajyasabha-discussions/india-s-world-pm-modi-s-visit-to-bhutan" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Doklam.</strong></a></li>
</ul>
<p><a href="https://pib.gov.in/PressReleseDetail.aspx?PRID=1594600" 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/exercise-hand-in-hand'
	],
	(int) 5 => [
		'title' => 'Power of Siberia',
		'catname' => 'News Analysis',
		'desc' => '<p>Recently <strong>China and Russia</strong> have inaugurated cross border gas pipeline named <strong>&ldquo;Power of Siberia&rdquo;.<a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1575361775_image2.jpg" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1575361775_image2.jpg" width="235" height="235" style="float: right;" caption="false" /></a></strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>It is the <strong>first</strong> cross-border gas pipeline between Russia and China.</li>
<li>Under this pipeline project, <strong>Russia</strong> will <strong>deliver 1 trillion cubic meters of natural gas to China</strong> over the <strong>next 30 years.</strong></li>
<li>The pipeline will pass through the deltas of the <strong>Yangtze and Amur rivers</strong> of<strong> China.</strong></li>
<li>The new pipeline is an emblem of closer <strong>energy</strong> <strong>integration</strong> in <strong>Eurasia,</strong> with Russia and China as the key partners.</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="https://www.thehindu.com/business/Economy/putin-xi-launch-landmark-russian-gas-pipeline-to-china/article30137425.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/power-of-siberia'
	],
	(int) 6 => [
		'title' => 'Navy Gets its First Woman Pilot',
		'catname' => 'News Analysis',
		'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>Recently,<strong> Sub Lieutenant Shivangi Swaroop</strong> became the <strong>first pilot in the Indian navy</strong> after qualifying as a Dornier pilot.</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Earlier, Bhawana Kanth, Avani Chaturvedi and Mohana Singh became the first women fighter pilots in the <strong>Indian Air Force.</strong></li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Dornier aircraft</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>It is a <strong>multi-role Short Range Maritime Reconnaissance (SRMR) aircraft,</strong> with<strong> twin-engine</strong> manufactured by <strong>Hindustan Aeronautical Ltd. (HAL), Kanpur.</strong></li>
<li>The aircraft can be <strong>used for electronic warfare missions, maritime surveillance, search and rescue and to provide targeting data</strong> to weapon platform.</li>
<li>It is an important contribution towards indigenous development and self-reliance through <strong>&lsquo;Make in India&rsquo;,</strong> with state-of-the-art sensors and equipment including a glass cockpit, advanced surveillance radar, optical sensors and networking features.</li>
</ul>
</div>
<p><a href="https://pib.gov.in/PressReleseDetail.aspx?PRID=1594603" 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/navy-gets-its-first-woman-pilot'
	],
	(int) 7 => [
		'title' => 'COP25 Climate Summit',
		'catname' => 'News Analysis',
		'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>The <strong>25<sup>th</sup></strong> edition of the <strong>Conference of the Parties</strong> to the <a href="/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-international-institution/unfccc" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC)</strong></a> or COP25 has begun from December 2 in <strong>Madrid (Spain).</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Originally,</strong> the Summit was scheduled to be held at <strong>Chile (South America)</strong> but violent mass movement across the country made Chile reluctant from hosting the event.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The location of this conference is <strong>rotated every year</strong> in <strong>different regions</strong> of the world. This year it was the <strong>turn of South America</strong> to host the event.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Agenda for COP25</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The <strong>prime objective</strong> of the conference is to<strong> complete the rule-book to the 2015 Paris Agreement</strong> that will become <strong>effective</strong> in <strong>2020</strong> to <strong>replace</strong> the <strong>1997 Kyoto Protocol</strong> (comes to an end in 2020).<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The issues like the creation of new <strong>carbon markets,</strong> emission reduction targets, country&rsquo;s individual targets, etc. <strong>remained unresolved</strong> during <strong><a href="/to-the-points/paper3/cop24" target="_blank" rel="noopener">COP24 at Katowice (Poland) 2019</a>.</strong> Thus the rulebook under the Paris Agreement could not be finalized.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Kyoto Protocol</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The Kyoto Protocol is an <strong>international agreement</strong> linked to the UNFCCC, which commits its parties by setting <strong>internationally binding</strong> emission reduction targets.</li>
<li>The Kyoto Protocol was adopted in <strong>Kyoto, Japan</strong>&nbsp;in <strong>1997</strong> and entered into force in<strong> 2005.</strong></li>
<li>It recognized that developed countries are principally responsible for the current high levels of GHG emissions in the atmosphere as a result of more than 150 years of industrial activity.</li>
<li>The <strong>detailed rules</strong> for the implementation of the Protocol were <strong>adopted at COP-7 in Marrakesh, in 2001&nbsp;</strong>and are referred to as the <strong>Marrakesh Accords.</strong></li>
<li>Kyoto Protocol <strong>Phase-1 (2005-12)</strong> gave the target of cutting down emissions by 5%.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Phase- 2 (2013-20)</strong> gave the target of reducing emissions by at least 18% by the industrialized countries.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</div>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The summit will also discuss the functioning of international emissions trading systems, compensation for poor countries to deal with rising sea levels and other consequences of climate change.</li>
<li>It will consider the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/emission-gap-report-by-unep" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Annual Emissions Gap Report,</strong></a> produced by the <strong>UN Environment Programme</strong> <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/global-environment-outlook" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>(UNEP)</strong></a> and <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/special-report-on-climate-change-ipcc" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>a series of reports</strong></a> from the<strong> Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC).</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Both the reports summarise that the goal of keeping average temperatures within 1.5&deg;C from pre-industrial times is <strong>&ldquo;on the brink of becoming impossible.'' </strong>As the <strong>overall emissions</strong> are <strong>still increasing</strong> worldwide.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>The processes and methods of reporting information about climate change would be fixed during the summit. Specifically, the <strong>developing countries</strong> will try to ensure that there are greater <strong>appreciation and recognition</strong> of the <strong>issue of loss and damage</strong> due to climate change.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>There is a demand to institute a mechanism to compensate countries that suffer major losses due to climate change-induced events like <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/cyclone-kyarr" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>cyclones</strong></a> or floods.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>It puts into efforts for committing to a <strong>long-term action plan to fight climate change</strong>. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>So far only 71 countries, most of them small emitters, have committed themselves to achieve net-zero emissions by 2050.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>India&rsquo;s Agenda</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>India is <strong>unlikely</strong> to announce any<strong> enhanced targets</strong> during the summit.</li>
<li>India&rsquo;s current efforts are already much more compared to even rich and developed countries. Thus, India will reiterate its stand for &rdquo;<strong>Common but Differentiated Responsibilities&rdquo;.</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Developed countries are major contributors to climate change and they are doing proportionately less, especially when it comes to providing finance and technology to the less developed world.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Carbon Market</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>A carbon market allows countries, or industries, to earn carbon credits for emission reductions they make in excess of what is required of them.</li>
<li>These credits can be traded to the highest bidder in exchange for money.</li>
<li>The buyers of carbon credits can show the emission reductions as their own and use them to meet their own emission reduction targets.</li>
<li>A carbon market already existed under the 1997 Kyoto Protocol but several countries walked out of the Kyoto Protocol and thus the demand for carbon credits had waned.</li>
<li>As a result, developing countries like India, China and Brazil had accumulated huge amounts of carbon credits. These credits are now in danger of getting redundant.</li>
</ul>
</div>
<p><a href="https://www.thehindu.com/news/international/un-chief-warns-of-point-of-no-return-on-climate-change/article30135171.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/cop25-climate-summit'
	],
	(int) 8 => [
		'title' => 'India- Sri Lanka',
		'catname' => 'News Analysis',
		'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>The newly elected <strong>Sri Lankan President Gotabaya Rajapaksa</strong> visited India from 28<sup>th</sup>-30<sup>th</sup> November 2019.</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The Sri Lankan President played a major role in ending the country&rsquo;s <strong>civil war (1983-2009).</strong></li>
<li>The President&rsquo;s two brothers, Mahinda Rajapaksha and Chamal Rajapaksha, hold the position of the Prime Minister and Agricultural Minister respectively in Sri Lanka.</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Sri Lanka&rsquo;s Civil War</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Sri Lanka has been <strong>mired in ethnic conflict</strong> since the country, formerly known as Ceylon, became independent from British rule in 1948.</li>
<li>After independence, the Sinhalese majority immediately began to pass laws that discriminated against Tamils (Hindu in religion), particularly the Indian Tamils brought to the island by the British.</li>
<li>In 1972, the Sinhalese dominated government changed the country&rsquo;s name from Ceylon to Sri Lanka and made Buddhism the nation&rsquo;s primary religion.</li>
<li>As ethnic tension grew, in <strong>1976,</strong> the<strong> LTTE or the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam</strong> was formed under the leadership of Velupillai Prabhakaran, and it began to campaign for a Tamil homeland in northern and eastern Sri Lanka, where most of the island&rsquo;s Tamils reside.</li>
<li>The conflict between the Sri Lankan government and LTTE lasted nearly three decades,<strong> ending in 2009</strong>&nbsp;when the LTTE forces were finally defeated.</li>
<li>The war was one of the longest-running civil wars in Asia.</li>
</ul>
</div>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Issues Discussed:</strong> Strengthening of trade ties, boosting maritime security, addressing concerns of the fishermen, fulfilling aspirations of Tamil community in Sri Lanka and to fight against terrorism.</li>
<li><strong>Line of Credit</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>India extended a<strong> $400 million</strong> line of credit to Sri Lanka to help strengthen its infrastructure and economy.</li>
<li>An additional <strong>$50 million</strong> to help Sri Lanka combat terrorism.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>Sri Lankan President extended an <strong>invitation to the Prime Minister of India to visit Sri Lanka</strong> at a mutually convenient time.</li>
</ul>
<h3>India - Sri Lanka Relations<a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1575358264_image1.png" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1575358264_image1.png" width="297" height="210" style="float: right;" caption="false" /></a></h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>India is Sri Lanka's closest neighbour.</strong> The <a href="/to-the-points/Paper2/india-sri-lanka-relations" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>relationship</strong> </a>between the two countries is more than 2,500 years old and both sides have built upon a legacy of intellectual, cultural, religious and linguistic intercourse.</li>
<li>During the course of the civil war, India supported the right of the Government of Sri Lanka to act against terrorist forces.</li>
<li>The<strong> Indian Housing Project&nbsp;is Government of India&rsquo;s flagship project of developmental assistance to Sri Lanka. </strong>Its&nbsp;initial commitment is to build 50,000 houses for those affected by the civil war as well as for the estate workers in the plantation areas.</li>
<li>Given the proximity of the territorial waters of both countries, especially in the Palk Straits and the Gulf of Mannar, incidents of straying of fishermen are common. Both countries have agreed on <strong>certain practical arrangements to deal with the issue of bona fide fishermen</strong> of either side crossing the International Maritime Boundary Line.</li>
<li>India and Sri Lanka conduct joint <strong>Military ( 'Mitra Shakti')</strong> and <strong>Naval exercise (SLINEX)</strong>.</li>
<li>Recently, the <strong>Chennai (India) -Jaffna (Sri Lanka) flight service has resumed</strong> after a gap of 41 years.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The flight operations were suspended during the decades-old civil war in Sri Lanka.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="https://pib.gov.in/newsite/PrintRelease.aspx?relid=195186" 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/india-sri-lanka'
	],
	(int) 9 => [
		'title' => 'Organ Donation',
		'catname' => 'News Editorials',
		'desc' => '<div class="border">
<p>This article is based on <a href="https://www.thehindu.com/opinion/lead/getting-organ-donation-to-tick-again/article30118791.ece" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>&ldquo;Getting organ donation to tick again&rdquo;</strong> </a>which was published in The Hindu on 30/11/2019. It talks about the various issues related to organ donation in India.</p>
</div>
<p>Recently, the Government of India celebrated the <strong>10<sup>th</sup> Indian Organ Donation Day</strong> on 30<sup>th</sup> November. It was organised by the <strong>National Organ &amp; Tissue Transplant Organization (NOTTO).</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>It was observed with the primary objective of promoting organ donation and transplantation so that the number of people suffering from organ failure can get a new lease of life.</li>
<li>As per <strong>Global Observatory on Donation and Transplantation, India</strong> performs the <strong>second largest</strong> number of transplants in the world, after the USA.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Issues Related to Organ Donation</h3>
<p>India has a dismal <strong>0.65 per million population (PMP) organ donation rate</strong> and around<strong> 5 lakh</strong> people die every year in India due to unavailability of organs.</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Infrastructure:</strong> There is a huge scarcity of Organ Transplant and Retrieval Centres in the country.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>There are just 301 hospitals equipped to handle the transplant process and only 250 of them have been registered with <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/important-facts-for-prelims-28th-november-2018" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>National Organ and Tissue Transplant Organisation (NOTTO).</strong></a></li>
<li>Currently, for organ transplant, there exists only 1 fully equipped hospital for around 43 lakh people.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Trust Deficit: Altruistic donation</strong> has been the major source of organ transplant in the country. However, a false negative perception has been growing against private hospitals of their nexus related to organ transplant.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>A classic example of this negative publicity is seen in the steep drop in organ donation in Kerala &mdash; from 76 deceased donors in 2015 to 8 in 2018.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Inequality and Accessibility:</strong> A majority of donors are from the <strong>lower middle class and below,</strong> while the majority of organ recipients are from the small number of persons who can afford transplant surgery and costly lifetime medication thereafter. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>An organ comes free, as donated to the society, but the transplantation cost associated with it is around 5 to 25 lakh. This cost reduces the accessibility to organ transplant to the weaker section of the society.</li>
<li>The cost factor is the key reason why more than three quarters of donated hearts and lungs do not get taken.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Superstitions and Misconceptions:</strong> It is a common misconception that organ donation <strong>disfigures</strong> the deceased donor&rsquo;s body, which prevents people from enrolling into the donation.</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Altruistic Donation</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Altruism is acting out of concern for another&rsquo;s well-being. People behave altruistically when they see others in desperate circumstances and feel empathy and a desire to help.</li>
<li>Altruism is the ethical basis for the donation of bodily material and continues to play a central role in ethical thinking in organ donation.</li>
</ul>
</div>
<p><a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1575291225_pasted%20image 0.png" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1575291225_pasted image 0.png" width="458" height="381" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" caption="false" /></a></p>
<h3>Way Forward</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Affordability:</strong> For increasing accessibility of donated organs to weaker sections, the public hospitals need to increase the infrastructural capacity to carry out transplantation and provide affordable proper treatment to the poor.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Cross-subsidisation:</strong> It is suggested that cross-subsidization will increase accessibility to the weaker section. For every 3 or 4 transplants, the private hospitals should carry out free of cost transplantation to the section of the population that donates a majority of organs.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Targeting Low Priority Services:</strong> India spends around <strong>1.2% of GDP on health</strong> which is quite low, therefore focussing more on <strong>organ-failure prevention</strong> would generate better health outcomes.</li>
<li><strong>Regulation: The Transplantation of Human Organs Act, 1994,</strong> need to be amended to substitute the rigid bureaucratic procedure of hospitals by self-declaration and mandatory verification involving civil society. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Secondly,</strong> the Act also needs to address the issue of interference of the central government in organ distribution and should ensure full autonomy to States in matters related to organ transplant.</li>
<li>Transparency in organ transplant can be increased by making the organ distribution procedure online and making online availability of full details.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Transplantation of Human Organs Act, 1994</strong></p>
<p>Transplantation of Human Organs Act was passed in 1994. It provides various regulations for the removal of human organs and its storage.</p>
<p>It also regulates the transplantation of human organs for therapeutic purposes and for the prevention of commercial dealings in human organs.</p>
<p><strong>Main Provisions</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The act recognises brain death identified as a form of the death process and defines criteria for brain death.</li>
<li>It provides regulatory and advisory bodies for monitoring transplantation activity.</li>
<li>It also provides for maintenance of a registry of donors and recipients of human organs and tissues.</li>
</ul>
</div>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Awareness:</strong> Removing the misconceptions and myths about organ donation can play a significant role in addressing organ deficiency in the country.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>According to the BBC report, there would be no requirement of the living donor if 5% of deceased patients from road accident opt for organ donations in India.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<table border="1" style="border-collapse: collapse; width: 100%;">
<tbody>
<tr>
<td style="width: 100%; border-style: dotted; border-color: #7700ff; background-color: #ddedeb;"><span style="color: #000080;"><em><strong>Drishti Mains Question</strong></em></span><br /><br />Briefly mention various issues related to organ transplantation in India.</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>',
		'postdate' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenTime) {},
		'url' => 'https://www.drishtiias.com/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/organ-donation-1'
	],
	(int) 10 => [
		'title' => 'Saudi Arabia Becomes First Arab Nation to Head G20',
		'catname' => 'News Analysis',
		'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>Recently, <strong>Saudi Arabia became the first Arab nation</strong> to take over the <strong>G20 Presidency </strong>on<strong> December 1, 2019.<a href="http://www.operationworld.org/files/ow/maps/lgmap/saud-MMAP-md.png" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1575288344_saud-MMAP-md.png" width="358" height="252" style="float: right;" /></a></strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>It has taken over from <strong>Japan</strong> and it will host the <strong>G20 Summit</strong> in its capital, <strong>Riyadh</strong> on <strong>November 21 and 22, 2020.</strong></li>
<li>The <strong>theme</strong> of Summit-<strong> "Realising Opportunities of the 21<sup>st</sup> Century for All".</strong></li>
<li><strong>The three key aims of the G20 Presidency, 2020 are: </strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Empowering People</strong> by creating the conditions in which all people mainly women and youth can live, work and thrive.</li>
<li><strong>Safeguarding the Planet</strong> by fostering collective efforts to protect our global common-pool resources.</li>
<li><strong>Shaping New Frontiers</strong> by adopting long-term and bold strategies to share the benefits of innovation and technological advancement.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Challenges</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>As the presiding nation, Saudi Arabia has to <strong>work towards mitigating global risks</strong> like climate change, demographic issues, such as low birth rates, rising life expectancy and aging societies which requires coordinated efforts at global level. However,<strong> rising populism and nationalism</strong> may prevent the progress at the multilateral level.</li>
<li>It has promoted a<strong> liberalisation drive,</strong> including granting greater rights to women. However, incidents like the <strong>murder of journalist Jamal Khashoggi drew intense global criticism over human rights issues in Saudi Arabia.</strong></li>
<li>Therefore, G20 member states should <strong>exert pressure on the Saudi Arabia</strong> for its <strong>authoritative policies</strong> and hold it accountable for its human rights obligations.</li>
</ul>
<h3>G20</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>About</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The <a href="/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-international-institution/important-institution-upsc-ias-g20-significance-global-groupings-member-challenges-buenos-aires-gs-mains-paper-ii-2-international-relations" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>G20</strong></a> is an <strong>informal group of 19 countries and the European Union,</strong> with representatives of the <strong>International Monetary Fund</strong> and the <strong>World Bank.</strong></li>
<li>The G20 membership comprises a mix of the world&rsquo;s largest advanced and emerging economies, representing about two-thirds of the world&rsquo;s population, 85% of global gross domestic product, 80% of global investment and over 75% of global trade.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Headquarter</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The G20 operates as a forum and not as an organisation. Therefore, it <strong>does not have any permanent secretariat or management and administrative structure.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Origin</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>1997-1999 Asian Financial Crisis:</strong> This was a <strong>ministerial-level forum</strong> which emerged after G7 invited both developed and developing economies. The finance ministers and central bank governors began meeting in 1999.</li>
<li><strong>Amid 2008 Financial Crisis</strong> the world saw the need for a new consensus-building at the highest political level. It was decided that the G20 leaders would begin meeting once annually.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Members</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The members of the G20 are <strong>Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Canada, China, France, Germany, India, Indonesia, Italy, Japan, Republic of Korea, Mexico, Russia, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, Turkey, the United Kingdom, the United States, and the European Union.</strong></li>
<li>One nation holds the Chair every year, known as <strong>'G20 Presidency'.</strong> Argentina chaired the G20 summit of 2018 and Japan for 2019.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="https://www.newindianexpress.com/world/2019/dec/01/saudi-arabia-takes-over-g20-presidency-from-japan-2069844.html" 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/saudi-arabia-becomes-first-arab-nation-to-head-g20'
	],
	(int) 11 => [
		'title' => 'Operation ‘Clean Art’ to Crackdown on Illegal Trade in Mongoose Hair',
		'catname' => 'News Analysis',
		'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>Recently, there has been a widespread crackdown on factories making <strong>paint brushes with mongoose hair</strong> across the country.</p>
<h3>Key points.</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Brushes made of mongoose hair are preferred because they are <strong>superior and hold colour better.</strong></li>
<li>Mongoose is listed in <strong>Schedule II Part 2 of the</strong> <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/wild-life-protection-act-implementation-and-failure" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Wildlife Protection Act, 1972</strong></a> and any smuggling or possession of its body part is a non-bailable offence.</li>
<li><strong><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/iucn-red-list" target="_blank" rel="noopener">IUCN Red List</a> status- Least Concerned.</strong></li>
<li><strong>All six species</strong> are listed on <strong><a href="/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-international-institution/cites" target="_blank" rel="noopener">CITES</a> Appendix III</strong> with a zero quota for commercial trade.</li>
<li>There are<strong> six species of mongoose found in India-</strong> Indian grey mongoose, Small Indian mongoose, Ruddy mongoose, Crab-eating mongoose, Stripe-necked mongoose and Brown mongoose. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The <strong>Indian grey mongoose</strong> is the <strong>most commonly found</strong> species and also the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/important-facts-for-prelims-24th-december-2018" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>most hunted.</strong></a></li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1575276014_Image1.png" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1575276014_Image1.png" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" caption="false" width="615" height="262" /></strong></a></p>
<h3>Operation Clean Art</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>It was the <strong>first pan India operation</strong> to crackdown on the smuggling of mongoose hair in the country.</li>
<li>It was conceived by <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/not-all-animals-migrate-by-choice-campaign" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Wildlife Crime Control Bureau (WCCB)</strong></a> with the singular <strong>aim of ensuring that the mongoose hair brush trade should be closed down across the country.</strong></li>
</ul>
<p><a href="https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/operation-clean-art-to-crackdown-on-illegal-trade-in-mongoose-hair/article30131621.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/operation-clean-art-to-crackdown-on-illegal-trade-in-mongoose-hair'
	],
	(int) 12 => [
		'title' => 'World AIDS Day',
		'catname' => 'News Analysis',
		'desc' => '<p>The World AIDS Day is observed on <strong>1<sup>st</sup> December</strong> every year all over the world.</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Founded in 1988, World AIDS Day was the first ever global health day.</li>
<li>The main motto behind celebrating the day is to raise public awareness about AIDS.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong><a href="/loksabha-rajyasabha-discussions/hiv-new-hope" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Acquired Immuno Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS)</a>,</strong> is a pandemic disease caused due to the infection of Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV), which causes damage to the immune system.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>The<strong> theme</strong> for the year 2019 is <strong>&lsquo;Communities make the difference&rsquo;.</strong></li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Note</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The <strong>National AIDS Control Organisation (NACO)</strong> is a division of the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare that provides leadership to HIV/AIDS control programme in India through 35 HIV/AIDS Prevention and Control Societies.</li>
<li>The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare has implemented<strong> the Human Immunodeficiency Virus and Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (Prevention and Control) Act, 2017 (HIV/AIDS Act, 2017)</strong> to prevent and control the spread of HIV and AIDS and creates mechanisms for redressing the complaints of persons infected with HIV and AIDS.</li>
</ul>
</div>
<p><a href="https://pib.gov.in/PressReleseDetail.aspx?PRID=1594420" 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/world-aids-day-1'
	],
	(int) 13 => [
		'title' => 'Pathalgarhi Movement',
		'catname' => 'News Analysis',
		'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>Recently, the Union government withdrew amendments to the <a href="/to-the-points/Paper2/forest-rights-act-2006" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Forest Rights Act (FRA), 2006</strong></a> which would have diluted tribal rights over forests. These amendments evoked sustained protests by tribal and environmental activists.</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The state government of<strong> Jharkhand</strong> tried to amend the <strong>Chotanagpur Tenancy Act, 1908</strong> and <strong>Santhal Parganas Tenancy Act, 1876</strong> to facilitate easier land acquisition norms which added to the problem. They were also withdrawn later on.</li>
<li>However, these decisions gave rise to the <strong>Pathalgarhi incidents</strong> in the tribal belt demanding implementation of the FRA and provisions of the <strong>Panchayats (Extension of Scheduled Areas) Act (PESA), 1996.</strong></li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/jharkhand-foundation-day" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Birsa Munda&rsquo;s</strong></a> struggle against the exploitation and discrimination against tribals led to the passing of the <strong>Chotanagpur Tenancy Act in 1908</strong> which restricted the passing of land from the tribal people to non-tribals.</li>
<li>The <strong>Santhal Parganas Tenancy Act, 1876</strong> prohibits the sale of Adivasi land to non-Adivasis in Santhal Pargana region along Jharkhand's border with Bengal.</li>
</ul>
</div>
<h3>Pathalgarhi Rebellion</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>It is a <strong>protest</strong> in which tribal people embed stone slabs (pathals) on the outskirts of a village or area, demarcating the limits of where their writ runs, prohibiting the entry of any institution connected to the state.</li>
<li>It is mainly concentrated in the four districts in the State&mdash; namely <strong>Khunti, Gumla, Simdega and West Singhbhum.</strong></li>
<li>In Munda tribal custom, placement of a huge stone marks the death of a person. The Pathalgadi movement draws on this tradition of honouring the community&rsquo;s ancestors.</li>
</ul>
<h3>The Panchayats (Extension to the Scheduled Area) Act, 1996</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>It <strong>safeguards and preserves</strong> the traditions and customs of the people, and their cultural identity, community resources, customary mode of dispute resolution.</li>
<li>PESA <strong>empowers</strong> Gram Sabha/Panchayat at an appropriate level with the right to mandatory consultation in land acquisition, resettlement and rehabilitation of displaced persons.</li>
<li>It seeks to <strong>reduce alienation</strong> in tribal areas as they will have better control over the utilisation of public resources.</li>
<li>It will help<strong> minimise exploitation</strong> of tribal population as they will be able to control and manage money lending, consumption and sale of liquor and also village markets.</li>
<li>It <strong>promotes cultural heritage</strong> through the preservation of traditions, customs and cultural identity of tribal population.</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="https://www.thehindu.com/elections/jharkhand/bjp-puts-up-a-brave-face-amid-tribal-discomfort/article30131419.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/pathalgarhi-movement'
	],
	(int) 14 => [
		'title' => 'Consumer Expenditure Survey',
		'catname' => 'News Analysis',
		'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>The Government has decided <strong>not to release the results of the all-India household Consumer Expenditure Survey (CES),</strong> conducted during 2017-18, due to data quality issues.</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The Government is now examining the feasibility of conducting the next Consumer Expenditure Survey (CES) in 2020-2021 and 2021-22 after incorporating all data quality refinements in the survey process.</li>
<li>According to a leaked version of the 2017-18 survey, the country has witnessed the first such drop in the <strong>Monthly Per Capita Consumer Expenditure (MPCE)</strong> since 1972-73.</li>
<li>Previous survey on consumer expenditure was conducted during the period : July 2011 to June 2012.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Consumer Expenditure Survey</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Time Interval:</strong> Traditionally, a <strong>quinquennial (recurring every five years)</strong> survey conducted by the <strong>National Sample Survey Office - NSSO</strong> (comes under the National Statistical Office), Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation.</li>
<li><strong>Scope</strong>: Collects information on the <strong>consumption spending patterns of households</strong> across the country, both <strong>urban and rural.</strong></li>
<li><strong>Information Generated</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Reveals the average expenditure on <strong>goods (food and non-food) and services.</strong></li>
<li>Helps generate estimates of household <strong>Monthly Per Capita Consumer Expenditure (MPCE)</strong> as well as the distribution of households and persons over the MPCE classes.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Significance in General</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Helps in calculating the <strong>demand dynamics</strong> of the economy.</li>
<li>Helps in understanding the shifting priorities in terms of baskets of goods and services, thus provides <strong>pointers to the producers of goods and providers of services.</strong></li>
<li>To<strong> assess living standards</strong> and growth trends across multiple strata.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Significance for Policymakers</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The CES is an analytical as well as a forecasting tool which helps the Government in <strong>planning required interventions and policies.</strong></li>
<li>To spot and address possible structural anomalies that may cause demand to shift in a particular manner in a specific socio-economic or regional division of the population.</li>
<li>To <strong>rebase the Gross Domestic Product (GDP)</strong> and other macro-economic indicators.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Findings of CES (2011-12)</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Urban and Rural Expenditure</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Average urban MPCE (at ₹2,630) was about 84% higher than average rural MPCE (₹1,430) for the country as a whole.</li>
<li>The most noticeable rural-urban differences in the 2011-12 survey related to spending on cereals (urban share: 6.7%, rural share: 10.8%), rent (urban: 6.2%, rural: 0.5%) and education (urban: 7%, rural: 3.5%).</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Expenditure on Food</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Food accounted for about 53% of the value of the average rural Indian household&rsquo;s consumption during 2011-12.</li>
<li>In the case of urban households, it accounted for 42.6% of the average consumption budget.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Inequalities</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Sharp variations between States with better socio-economic indices and those still aiming to improve.</li>
<li>The urban-rural divide.</li>
<li>The gap between the highest spending and lowest spending groups.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</div>
<h3>Consequences of Not Releasing the Data</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Instead of a six-year gap, the next survey&rsquo;s findings &mdash; depending on when the Ministry decides to actually undertake it, 2020-21 or 2021-22 &mdash; would end up coming after 9 or 10 years after the 2011-12 round.</li>
<li>As the survey forms the basis of the estimation of inequality in India, and is used for adjusting the consumer price index as well as the GDP data, scrapping the survey means further <strong>delays in updating these key statistics.</strong></li>
<li><span style="font-weight: bold;">Against IMF&rsquo;s Obligations</span><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>India is a subscriber to the<strong><a href="/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-international-institution/international-monetary-fund-imf" target="_blank" rel="noopener"> International Monetary Fund&rsquo;s</a> Special Data Dissemination Standard (SDDS).</strong></li>
<li>Thus, India is obliged to follow good practices in <strong>four areas in disseminating macroeconomic statistics</strong> to the public. These comprise:<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>The coverage, periodicity, and timeliness of data;</li>
<li>Public access to those data;</li>
<li>Data integrity;</li>
<li>Data quality.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>IMF&rsquo;s <strong>&lsquo;Annual Observance Report&rsquo; for 2018</strong> has already flagged concerns about India&rsquo;s delays in releasing economic data. By not releasing the CES data, the country risks contravening its SDDS obligations.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Way Forward</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The Government can release the data while acknowledging its limitations. Suppressing data will only further erode its credibility.</li>
<li>The Government should realise that reliable and timely availability of data form the bedrock of sound policy-making and any doubts over official data weaken the credibility of the entire institutional set-up.</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="https://www.thehindu.com/business/Economy/what-is-consumer-expenditure-survey-and-why-was-its-2017-2018-data-withheld/article30063708.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/consumer-expenditure-survey'
	],
	(int) 15 => [
		'title' => 'DCAT Magazine Class Test',
		'catname' => 'Downloads',
		'desc' => '<p><a href="/prelims-test-series" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1591010390_DCAT Magazine Class Test (Strip)-011.png" /></a></p>
<p><span style="color: #04a3b8;"><strong><span style="font-size: 18px;"><a href="https://drishtiias.com/estore/magazine/magazine-subscription-english" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Monthly DCAT Magazine Test for English Classroom Programme (Click To Subscribe)</a><br /><br /></span></strong></span></p>
<h3><span style="color: #000000;"><strong>What are the sections being covered in the Magazine Test?</strong></span></h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li style="text-align: justify;">Primarily, the Magazine Test covers current affairs which includes important events related to constitutional provisions, administrative decisions, international events, India and the world, science and technology, environment and ecology, social issues, centre and states, and topics involving art and culture.</li>
</ul>
<h3><strong>What is the purpose of providing Magazine Test on the website?</strong></h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li style="text-align: justify;">Making the Magazine Test available on the website will help those aspirants who are unable to take the test in the classroom as well as the aspirants living in remote areas of the country.</li>
</ul>
<h3><strong>Why is the Magazine Test useful for aspirants?</strong></h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li style="text-align: justify;">It is well known that current affairs has a very important role in this examination. A significant&nbsp;number of questions are asked directly from this section. Besides, a number of other questions are indirectly linked to it. Therefore, it is necessary for aspirants to have an in-depth knowledge of issues from current affairs.</li>
<li style="text-align: justify;">In this regard, the monthly test based on the Drishti Current Affairs Today magazine becomes very useful as aspirants will be able to thoroughly prepare and revise each topic of current affairs. Additionally, this test will also help aspirants understand the nature of probable questions that might be asked in the examination.</li>
</ul>
<table style="width: 91%; border-collapse: collapse;" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="5" bordercolor="#aeaeae" border="1px">
<tbody>
<tr style="height: 35px;">
<td colspan="3" style="background-color: #daeaf7; height: 35px; width: 99.9393%;" align="center">
<p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 20px;"><strong>Current Affairs Today Magazine Test</strong></span></p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 27px;">
<td style="height: 27px; width: 41.6262%;">
<p style="text-align: center; font-size: 14px; color: #08287f; font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-size: 14px;">Test Date</span></p>
</td>
<td style="height: 27px; width: 29.4903%;" align="center">
<p style="text-align: center; font-size: 14px; color: #08287f; font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-size: 14px;">Qs. Paper</span></p>
</td>
<td style="height: 27px; width: 28.8228%;" align="center">
<p style="text-align: center; font-size: 14px; color: #08287f; font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-size: 14px;">Ans. Key</span></p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 27px;">
<td style="width: 41.6262%; height: 27px;">
<p style="text-align: center; font-size: 14px; color: #08287f; font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-size: 14px;"><span style="color: #000000; font-size: 12px;"><strong>July, 2021</strong></span></span></p>
</td>
<td style="width: 29.4903%; height: 27px;">
<p style="text-align: center; font-size: 14px; color: #08287f; font-weight: bold;"><a href="/images/uploads/1627463329_6.%20Magazine%20Test-DCAT%20(July%202021)_2.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><span style="font-size: 14px;"><span style="font-size: 12px;"><span style="color: #333333;"><span style="color: #ff0000;"><strong>Download</strong></span></span></span></span></a></p>
</td>
<td style="width: 28.8228%; height: 27px;">
<p style="text-align: center; font-size: 14px; color: #08287f; font-weight: bold;"><a href="/images/uploads/1627463337_6.%20Magazine%20Test-DCAT%20(July%202021)-Answer%20Key.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><span style="font-size: 14px;"><span style="font-size: 12px;"><span style="color: #333333;"><span style="color: #ff0000;"><strong>Download</strong></span></span></span></span></a></p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 27px;">
<td style="width: 41.6262%; height: 27px;">
<p style="text-align: center; font-size: 14px; color: #08287f; font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-size: 14px;"><span style="color: #000000; font-size: 12px;"><strong>June, 2021</strong></span></span></p>
</td>
<td style="width: 29.4903%; height: 27px;">
<p style="text-align: center; font-size: 14px; color: #08287f; font-weight: bold;"><a href="/images/uploads/1627463318_5.%20Magazine%20Test-DCAT%20(June%202021)_2.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><span style="font-size: 14px;"><span style="font-size: 12px;"><span style="color: #333333;"><span style="color: #ff0000;"><strong>Download</strong></span></span></span></span></a></p>
</td>
<td style="width: 28.8228%; height: 27px;">
<p style="text-align: center; font-size: 14px; color: #08287f; font-weight: bold;"><a href="/images/uploads/1627463324_5.%20Magazine%20Test-DCAT%20(June%202021)-Answer%20Key_2.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><span style="font-size: 14px;"><span style="font-size: 12px;"><span style="color: #333333;"><span style="color: #ff0000;"><strong>Download</strong></span></span></span></span></a></p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 27px;">
<td style="width: 41.6262%; height: 27px;">
<p style="text-align: center; font-size: 14px; color: #08287f; font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-size: 14px;"><span style="color: #000000; font-size: 12px;"><strong>May, 2021</strong></span></span></p>
</td>
<td style="width: 29.4903%; height: 27px;">
<p style="text-align: center; font-size: 14px; color: #08287f; font-weight: bold;"><a href="/images/uploads/1627463302_4.%20Magazine%20Test-DCAT%20(May%202021)_3.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><span style="font-size: 14px;"><span style="font-size: 12px;"><span style="color: #333333;"><span style="color: #ff0000;"><strong>Download</strong></span></span></span></span></a></p>
</td>
<td style="width: 28.8228%; height: 27px;">
<p style="text-align: center; font-size: 14px; color: #08287f; font-weight: bold;"><a href="/images/uploads/1627463309_4.%20Magazine%20Test-DCAT%20(May%202021)-Answer%20Key_3.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><span style="font-size: 14px;"><span style="font-size: 12px;"><span style="color: #333333;"><span style="color: #ff0000;"><strong>Download</strong></span></span></span></span></a></p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 27px;">
<td style="width: 41.6262%; height: 27px;">
<p style="text-align: center; font-size: 14px; color: #08287f; font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-size: 14px;"><span style="color: #000000; font-size: 12px;"><strong>April, 2021</strong></span></span></p>
</td>
<td style="width: 29.4903%; height: 27px;">
<p style="text-align: center; font-size: 14px; color: #08287f; font-weight: bold;"><a href="/images/uploads/1627463284_3.%20Magazine%20Test-DCAT%20(April%202021)_2.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><span style="font-size: 12px;"><span style="color: #333333;"><span style="color: #ff0000;"><strong>Download</strong></span></span></span></a></p>
</td>
<td style="width: 28.8228%; height: 27px;">
<p style="text-align: center; font-size: 14px; color: #08287f; font-weight: bold;"><a href="/images/uploads/1627463295_3.%20Magazine%20Test-DCAT%20(April%202021)-Answer%20Key_2.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><span style="font-size: 14px;"><span style="font-size: 12px;"><span style="color: #333333;"><span style="color: #ff0000;"><strong>Download</strong></span></span></span></span></a></p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 27px;">
<td style="width: 41.6262%; height: 27px;">
<p style="text-align: center; font-size: 14px; color: #08287f; font-weight: bold;"><span style="color: #000000; font-size: 12px;"><strong>March, 2021</strong></span></p>
</td>
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<p style="text-align: center; font-size: 14px; color: #08287f; font-weight: bold;"><span style="color: #000000; font-size: 12px;"><strong>November, 2020</strong></span></p>
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<p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 12px;"><strong>July, 2020</strong></span></p>
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<p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 12px;"><strong>June, 2020</strong></span></p>
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<p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 12px;"><strong>April, 2020</strong></span></p>
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<p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 12px;"><strong>March, 2020</strong></span></p>
</td>
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<td style="height: 27px; width: 41.6262%;" align="center">
<p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 12px;"><strong>February, 2020</strong></span></p>
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</tbody>
</table>
<!-- Class Table End -->
<p></p>',
		'postdate' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenTime) {},
		'url' => 'https://www.drishtiias.com/downloads/dcat-magazine-class-test'
	],
	(int) 16 => [
		'title' => 'Phases of Indian Foreign Policy',
		'catname' => 'Paper 2',
		'desc' => '<p>Recently, the External Affairs Minister of India delivered the 4th Ramnath Goenka Memorial Lecture on Indian foreign policy.</p>
<h3>Key Highlights</h3>
<p>The very structure of the international order is undergoing a profound transformation. This can be attributed by various geopolitical events.</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>USA's unilateralism under America First policy.</li>
<li>Re-balancing of the global economy: The rise of China, India etc.</li>
<li>Return of old empires: Resurgence of Russia, Iran or Turkey.</li>
<li>Geopolitical Flux in the Middle East: Crisis in Syria &amp; Afghanistan, Reign of terrorism by Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS).</li>
<li>Africa which was earlier called the lost continent is now being called as the continent of hope.</li>
<li>Technology, connectivity and trade are now the new notions of power.</li>
<li>Climate change is a factor, contributing to geopolitics amongst others by the opening of an Arctic passage (a sea route from the Pacific Ocean to the Atlantic ocean, through the Arctic Ocean).</li>
</ul>
<p>In order to contemplate a challenging road ahead in this phase of geopolitical transformation, India can learn from its foreign policy since Independence.</p>
<p><a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1575268958_image2.jpg" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1575268958_image2.jpg" width="537" height="302" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" caption="false" /></a></p>
<h3>Indian foreign policy can be understood by dividing it into six broad phases:</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>The first phase (1947-62): Optimistic Non-Alignment</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>This period is marked with a setting of a bipolar world, with camps led by the United States and the USSR.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>India&rsquo;s objectives in this phase were to resist dilution of its sovereignty, rebuild its economy and consolidate its integrity.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>India was one of the first countries to be decolonized. Thus, it was natural for India to lead Asia and Africa in a quest for a more equitable world order.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>In pursuit of this, India played a critical role in the establishment of the Non-Alignment Movement (NAM) (1961), which marked the peak of Third World solidarity.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>However, the 1962 conflict with China not only brought this period to an end but in a manner that significantly damaged India&rsquo;s standing on NAM.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>The second phase (1962-71): Decade of Realism and Recovery</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>After the 1962 war, India made pragmatic choices on security and political challenges.</li>
<li>It looked beyond non-alignment in the interest of national security, concluding a now largely forgotten defence agreement with the US in 1964.</li>
<li>However, India faced external pressures on Kashmir (Tashkent agreement 1965) from the US and UK.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Through Tashkent agreement both India and Pakistan agreed to withdraw all armed forces to pre-war positions, to restore diplomatic relations; and to discuss economic, refugee, and other questions.</li>
<li>However, the agreement did not contain a no-war pact or any renunciation of Pakistan's aggression in Kashmir (as Pakistan was an ally of the US).</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>Therefore, India now started tilting towards USSR.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>The third phase (1971-91): Greater Indian Regional Assertion</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>India showed remarkable use of hard power when it liberated Bangladesh in the India-Pakistan war in 1971.</li>
<li>However, it was a particularly complex phase as the US-China-Pakistan axis that came into being at this time seriously threatened India&rsquo;s prospects,as a regional power.</li>
<li>India also faced sanctions from US and it allies after conducting a Peaceful nuclear explosion test in 1974 (Pokhran I).</li>
<li>Further, the collapse of the USSR, India&rsquo;s close ally, and the economic crisis in 1991 compelled India to look again at the first principles of both domestic and foreign policy.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>The combination of events as diverse as the Gulf War (1991-1992), the break-up of USSR (1991), long standing economic stagnation and domestic turbulence came together in 1991, creating a balance of payment crisis in India.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>The fourth phase (1991-98): Safeguarding Strategic Autonomy</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The emergence of a unipolar world (led by the USA), encouraged India to change its approach to world affairs.</li>
<li>This quest for strategic autonomy was particularly focused on securing its nuclear weapon option (Pokhran II 1998).</li>
<li>This is a period where India reached out to engage the US, Israel and ASEAN countries more intensively.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>This fifth phase (1998-2013): India, a Balancing Power</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>In this period, India gradually acquired the attributes of a balancing power (against the rise of China).</li>
<li>It is reflected in the India-US nuclear deal (123 Agreement).</li>
<li>At the same time, India could also make common cause with China on climate change and trade, and consolidate further ties with Russia while helping to fashion BRICS into a major global forum.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>The sixth phase (2013-until now): Energetic Engagement</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>In this phase of transitional geopolitics, India's policy of Non-Alignment has turned into Multi Alignment.</li>
<li>Moreover, India is now more aware of its own capabilities and the expectations that the world has of India.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>That India is among the major economies of the world is one factor.</li>
<li>The relevance of India&rsquo;s talent in creating and sustaining global technology, is also likely to grow in time.</li>
<li>India's willingness to shape key global negotiations (such as conference in Paris on climate change) is equally significant.</li>
<li>India has been able to assert itself beyond South Asia, through its approach towards the Indian Ocean Region (SAGAR initiative) and the extended neighbourhood (Act East policy and Think West policy).</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1575269136_image1.jpg" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1575269136_image1.jpg" width="535" height="301" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" caption="false" /></a></p>
<h3>The following lessons that can be learnt from this historical study of Indian foreign policy:</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Need for greater realism in policy: India needs to change the image of a reluctant power.</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>In the phase of optimistic non-alignment (or even later), India's focus on diplomatic visibility sometimes led to an overlooking the harsher realities of hard security. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Discomfort with hard power can be reflected in the lack of adequate consultation with the military.</li>
<li>This led to an early misreading of Pakistan&rsquo;s and China's intentions (Indo-Pak war 1948 &amp; Sino-India war 1962), led to Gilgit-Baltistan &amp; part of Kashmir and Aksai Chin region now being under the effective control of Pakistan and China respectively.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>India realized that soft power diplomacy is not sufficient for protecting the country.</li>
<li>Therefore, the creation of the post of Chief of Defence Staff shows a step in the right direction.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Need for Strong economy: An expansionary foreign policy cannot be built on the margins of the global economy.</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>China's assertiveness today in international politics (reflected in the Belt and Road initiative) is derived from its economic power. Similar is the case for the rise of Asian &lsquo;tiger economies' (ASEAN countries) and Japan.</li>
<li>There is a need for India to build a strong economic foundation to fulfil the aspiration of global power.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Need for Multi alignment: Any quest to maximize options and expand space naturally requires engaging multiple players.</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Today's world is characterized by complex interdependence (where countries are competing on geostrategic issues and cooperating on geo economic issues). Therefore, Indian foreign policy requires strategic hedging.</li>
<li>However, it is difficult to reconcile between Howdy Modi &amp; Mamallapuram (informal meeting of Indian Prime minister with US and Chinese counterparts respectively), RIC (Russia-India-China) &amp; JAI (Japan-America-India), Quad &amp; SCO (Shanghai Cooperation Organization), Iran &amp; Saudis and Israel &amp; Palestine.</li>
<li>Therefore, &ldquo;Hedging&rdquo; is going to be a delicate exercise.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Need for Greater Risk: Low-risk foreign policy is only likely to produce limited rewards.</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>India&rsquo;s emphasis on sovereignty has not prevented India from responding to human rights situations in its neighbourhood. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>The humanitarian assistance and disaster relief operations undertaken in Yemen, Nepal, Iraq, Sri Lanka, Maldives, Fiji and Mozambique are statements of India&rsquo;s capability as much it is of India&rsquo;s responsibility.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>Also, India&rsquo;s enthusiasm for shaping global conversations on climate change, terrorism, connectivity and maritime security is already having an impact.</li>
<li>However, India needs to have more assertive participation in events of geopolitical significance.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>As Rabindranath Tagore declared, you can't cross the sea merely by standing and staring at the water.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Need for reading into things right: Foreign policy is all about dealing with global contradictions.</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Foreign policy of all nations reflects an assessment of opportunities and compulsions, and of risks and rewards. Even a slight misreading of the larger landscape can prove costly. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>For example, India going to the United Nations on Jammu &amp; Kashmir clearly misread the intent of the Anglo-American alliance then and of the seriousness of the Cold War. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>India went to the United Nations, with a view that the international community will take notice of Pakistan&rsquo;s aggression on Kashmir.</li>
<li>However, the United Nations Security Council announced a ceasefire which created the PoK problem which we are still struggling to solve.</li>
<li>At the same time the occupation of Kashmir by Pakistan (PoK) also geographically separated India from the energy rich Central Asian countries.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>In the 1960s, 1980s and again after 2001 (9/11 attack on US), India grossly underestimated the relevance of Pakistan to American and Chinese global strategy.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>In present times, an appreciation of world politics must include a proper understanding of Sino-US contradictions, of growing multi-polarity, of weaker multilateralism, of larger economic and political rebalancing, of greater space for regional powers, and of a world of convergence.</li>
<li>A clearer definition of interests is therefore the next step.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<p>To conclude, in this phase of geopolitical transformation, India needs to follow an approach of working with multiple partners on different agendas. Therefore, Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas, Sabka Vishwas is relevant in foreign policy.</p>',
		'postdate' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenTime) {},
		'url' => 'https://www.drishtiias.com/to-the-points/Paper2/phases-of-indian-foreign-policy'
	],
	(int) 17 => [
		'title' => 'Antibiotics- Contaminating the Rivers',
		'catname' => 'News Editorials',
		'desc' => '<div class="border">
<p>This article is based on <a href="https://www.livemint.com/opinion/columns/opinion-antibiotics-are-contaminating-rivers-and-posing-health-risks-11574878217623.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>&ldquo;Antibiotics are contaminating rivers and posing health risks&rdquo;</strong> </a>which was published in Livemint on 28/11/2019. It talks about the risks antibiotics pose to water resources in the form of antimicrobial resistance.</p>
</div>
<p>According to various reports on the presence of high amount of <strong>pharmaceutical effluent residues</strong> in water bodies, several rivers in the world including those in India, have been<strong> reported to have high concentrations of antibiotics.</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>This poses a serious threat to the <strong>marine ecosystem</strong> as well as adversely impacts <strong>human health.</strong></li>
<li>It also affects the <strong>Biomes</strong> (distinct communities of flora and fauna) and <strong>tissue-specific microbiomes</strong> (a mix of organisms that coexist in tissues) that have an intimate link with each other.</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Antimicrobial Resistance</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Antimicrobial Resistance</strong> (AMR) is the <strong>resistance acquired</strong> by any microorganism (bacteria, viruses, fungi, parasites, etc.) against antimicrobial drugs (such as antibiotics, antifungals, antivirals, antimalarials, and anthelmintics) that are <strong>used to treat infections.</strong></li>
<li>The wastewater effluents from pharmaceutical industries especially the antibiotic manufacturing units contain a substantial amount of antibiotics, leading to contamination of rivers and lakes. This antibiotic present in water bodies generates AMR in the residing living organisms.</li>
<li>As pharmaceuticals are designed to interact with living organisms at low doses, even their low concentrations affect the<strong> freshwater ecosystems</strong> (rivers, streams, wetlands, etc). According to an <strong>OECD report,</strong> 10% of pharmaceuticals (especially related to hormones, painkillers, and antidepressants) have the potential to cause <strong>environmental harm.</strong></li>
<li>Also, according to a report by the <strong>United Nations' Interagency Coordination Group on Antimicrobial Resistance,</strong> drug-resistant diseases cause at least 700,000 deaths globally a year.</li>
</ul>
</div>
<h3>Causes of Water Contamination</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The common causes of poor water quality in rivers are-<strong> industrial discharge, open defecation, untreated waste from chemical and pharmaceutical industries, waste generated by hospitals, clinics, and animal husbandry units.</strong></li>
<li>In India, several rivers have been reported to have <em><strong>high concentrations of antibiotics such as ciprofloxacin, norfloxacin, oxytetracycline, and ofloxacin.</strong></em></li>
</ul>
<h3>Impact of High Concentration of Chemicals in Water-bodies</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Various researches have highlighted the reason and impact of contaminated water on human health:</li>
</ul>
<table border="1" style="border-collapse: collapse;">
<tbody>
<tr style="height: 19px;">
<td style="height: 19px; text-align: center; background-color: #ff0303; border-style: dotted; border-color: #ff0000; width: 118px; vertical-align: top;"><span style="color: #ffffff;"><strong>Sr. No.</strong></span></td>
<td style="height: 19px; text-align: center; background-color: #ff0303; border-style: dotted; border-color: #ff0000; width: 283px; vertical-align: top;"><span style="color: #ffffff;"><strong>Research</strong></span></td>
<td style="height: 19px; text-align: center; background-color: #ff0303; border-style: dotted; border-color: #ff0000; width: 497px; vertical-align: top;"><span style="color: #ffffff;"><strong>Outcome</strong></span></td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 19px;">
<td style="height: 19px; background-color: #eeffc7; width: 118px; text-align: center; vertical-align: top;">1.</td>
<td style="height: 19px; background-color: #eeffc7; width: 283px; vertical-align: top;">London&rsquo;s &ldquo;Broad Street cholera outbreak" in 1854</td>
<td style="height: 19px; background-color: #eeffc7; width: 497px; vertical-align: top;">
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>It was due to the <strong>leakage of sewage</strong> full of fecal bacteria into a public well that posed a severe health hazard in the form of cholera.</li>
</ul>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 19px;">
<td style="height: 19px; background-color: #eeffc7; width: 118px; text-align: center; vertical-align: top;">2.</td>
<td style="height: 19px; background-color: #eeffc7; width: 283px; vertical-align: top;">Brandon and Homman in 1995 (Expert Team from World Bank)</td>
<td style="height: 19px; background-color: #eeffc7; width: 497px; vertical-align: top;">
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Estimated the <strong>impact of domestic water pollution on illness in India.</strong></li>
<li>It found that providing clean water supply and sanitation to the whole of India would save around<strong> $ 3-8 billion annually.</strong></li>
<li>In particular, it suggested that 59% of annual <strong>environmental costs</strong> (costs associated with the actual or potential deterioration of natural assets due to economic activities) in India are incurred on treating <strong>surface water pollution.</strong></li>
</ul>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 19px;">
<td style="height: 19px; background-color: #eeffc7; width: 118px; text-align: center; vertical-align: top;">3.</td>
<td style="height: 19px; background-color: #eeffc7; width: 283px; vertical-align: top;">Cifuentes et al (2000)</td>
<td style="height: 19px; background-color: #eeffc7; width: 497px; vertical-align: top;">
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Identified<strong> irrigation</strong> as a link between water pollution and health. Other water contamination pathways include source of vegetables from farms and households, sanitation and hygiene.</li>
</ul>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 19px;">
<td style="height: 19px; background-color: #eeffc7; width: 118px; text-align: center; vertical-align: top;">4.</td>
<td style="height: 19px; background-color: #eeffc7; width: 283px; vertical-align: top;">Fewtrell and Bartram, 2001</td>
<td style="height: 19px; background-color: #eeffc7; width: 497px; vertical-align: top;">
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Infants are highly susceptible to <strong>water-borne pathogens</strong> leading to <strong>high <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/national-health-profile-2019" target="_blank" rel="noopener">infant mortality rate.</a></strong></li>
<li>Infant mortality serves as a good yardstick in India where infant mortality rate <strong>(32 per 1,000 live births in 2017)</strong> remains higher than the global average (29 deaths per 1000 live births in 2017).</li>
</ul>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 19px;">
<td style="height: 19px; background-color: #eeffc7; width: 118px; text-align: center; vertical-align: top;">5.</td>
<td style="height: 19px; background-color: #eeffc7; width: 283px; vertical-align: top;">Ebenstein in 2010</td>
<td style="height: 19px; background-color: #eeffc7; width: 497px; vertical-align: top;">
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Reported that deterioration in Chinese river water quality was associated with a 9.7% increase in <strong>digestive cancer incidents.</strong></li>
</ul>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 19px;">
<td style="height: 19px; background-color: #eeffc7; width: 118px; text-align: center; vertical-align: top;">6.</td>
<td style="height: 19px; background-color: #eeffc7; width: 283px; vertical-align: top;">Brainerd and Menon in 2011</td>
<td style="height: 19px; background-color: #eeffc7; width: 497px; vertical-align: top;">
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Reported that pregnant women being exposed to a 10%<strong> increase in agrochemical levels in Indian rivers</strong> during their first month of conception was associated with an 11% increase in the likelihood of one-year mortality among newborns.</li>
</ul>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 19px;">
<td style="height: 19px; background-color: #eeffc7; width: 118px; text-align: center; vertical-align: top;">7.</td>
<td style="height: 19px; background-color: #eeffc7; width: 283px; vertical-align: top;">Quy-Toan Do (The World Bank), 2014</td>
<td style="height: 19px; background-color: #eeffc7; width: 497px; vertical-align: top;">
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>This research found that the average effect of a <strong>1% increase in fecal coliforms</strong> (organisms present in the environment and in the feces of animals and humans) <strong>in river Ganga leads to an additional 3-5 deaths per 100,000 births</strong> in a given month.</li>
</ul>
</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>It has been observed that industries in India often discharge<strong> untreated or partially treated water</strong> into nearby water bodies or rivers, leading to severe water pollution and water toxicity.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Continuous discharge of such fluids gradually pollutes river water and makes it useless for drinking, agriculture, and further industrial use.</li>
<li>It also leads to enhanced cases of <a href="/to-the-points/paper3/to-the-point-paper-3-antimicrobial-resistance-amr" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>antimicrobial resistance.</strong></a></li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Government Initiatives</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>To tackle Water Pollution:</strong>
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>In <strong>1985,</strong> the government launched the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/15-point-directive-to-clean-ganga" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Ganga Action Plan</strong></a> (GAP) to clean up the river Ganga.
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Later GAP was extended to cover all the major rivers of India and was named as the <strong>National River Conservation Plan (NRCP)-</strong> India&rsquo;s flagship water pollution clean-up policy.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>National Water Policy (2002):</strong> started by the then Ministry of Water Resources, highlighted the importance of water for human existence as well as for economic development related activities. It addresses the problem of scarcity of water and the need to conserve this resource through optimal, economical, sustainable and equitable means.</li>
<li><a href="/to-the-points/Paper2/national-action-plan-on-climate-change" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>National Water Mission (2010):</strong> </a>To ensure <strong>integrated water resource management</strong> leading to <strong>water conservation, less wastage, equitable distribution</strong> forming better policies.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>To control AMR:</strong>
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>National Action Plan (NAP) for AMR</strong> was released in April 2017 by the <strong>Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare.</strong>
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>The objectives of the NAP include improving awareness, enhancing surveillance measures, strengthening infection prevention and control, research and development, promoting investments, and collaborative activities to control AMR.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Conclusion</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The use of pharmaceuticals has risen in the recent past with ageing populations, advances in healthcare, rising meat and fish production, and the increased use of antibiotics for livestock.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The negative impacts of pharmaceuticals are evident from laboratory and field tests showing traces of oral contraceptives causing <strong>feminization in fish and amphibians</strong> (pollutants in water bodies sometimes cause male fish/amphibians to produce eggs which is a female characteristic; this might lead to decline in their population), and residues of psychiatric drugs altering the fish behaviour.</li>
<li>Therefore, there is a need for<strong> timely intervention</strong> so as to<strong> manage</strong> the associated risks and <strong>control</strong> the worsening situation.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>Data is one of the keys to understand the scope of freshwater antibiotic concentrations. Getting an accurate picture of the environmental risks of pharmaceuticals around the world depends on the availability of data, which is currently limited. The global fraternity needs to collaborate with each other to overcome this challenge.</li>
</ul>
<table border="1" style="border-collapse: collapse; width: 100%;">
<tbody>
<tr>
<td style="width: 515px; border-style: dotted; border-color: #2f00ff; background-color: #e3f8ff;">
<p><span style="color: #000080;"><em><strong>Drishti Mains Question</strong></em></span></p>
<p>In addition to generic water pollution, rivers now face the problem of antibiotic contamination. Discuss.</p>
</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<p></p>',
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		'url' => 'https://www.drishtiias.com/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/antibiotics-contaminating-the-rivers'
	],
	(int) 18 => [
		'title' => 'India’s Core Cold Wave Zone',
		'catname' => 'News Analysis',
		'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>Recently, the<strong> Indian Meteorological Department (IMD)</strong> has predicted average <strong>minimum temperatures</strong> to be <strong>&ldquo;warmer than average&rdquo;</strong> in winters for most parts of the country.</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>India&rsquo;s <strong>&lsquo;core cold wave&rsquo; zone</strong> is expected to experience higher minimum temperature during winters.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>A trigger for this phenomena is the <strong>warm surface waters of the equatorial Pacific ocean.</strong></li>
<li><strong>Core cold wave&rsquo; zone</strong> covers Punjab, Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Delhi, Haryana, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Bihar, Jharkhand, West Bengal, Odisha and Telangana.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>The warm winters in the country and overall rising global temperature is a sign of <a href="/to-the-points/paper3/un-climate-action-summit-2019" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>global warming.</strong></a><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>India on an average is 0.5 degree celsius warmer than 50 years ago.</li>
<li>Rising temperatures lead to warmer than average ground temperatures and consequently a rise in minimum temperatures.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>The global temperature is expected to rise 3.2 degrees celsius by the end of the century and intensify severe weather events.</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>India Meteorological Department (IMD)</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>IMD was established in 1875.</li>
<li>It is an agency of the Ministry of Earth Sciences of the Government of India.</li>
<li>It is the principal agency responsible for meteorological observations, weather forecasting and seismology.</li>
</ul>
</div>
<p><a href="https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/winter-to-be-warmer-than-normal-imd/article30116910.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/india-s-core-cold-wave-zone'
	],
	(int) 19 => [
		'title' => 'State Party Status by Election Commission of India',
		'catname' => 'News Analysis',
		'desc' => '<p>Recently, the <strong>Jannayak Janta Party of Haryana</strong> has been granted the status of a<strong> recognised State party</strong> and has been allotted the <strong>symbol of &ldquo;key&rdquo;</strong> by <a href="/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-national-institutions/election-commission-of-india" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Election Commission of India.</strong></a></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Other two recognised state parties of Haryana are <strong>Haryana Janhit Congress </strong>and <strong>Indian National Lok Dal.</strong></li>
</ul>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Political parties are registered by the election commission for the purpose of elections and granted recognition as national or state parties <strong>on the basis of their poll performance.</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The other parties are simply declared as <strong>registered-unrecognised parties.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>The recognition determines their <strong>right to certain privileges</strong> like allocation of the party <strong>symbols,</strong> provision of time for<strong> political broadcasts</strong> on television and radio stations and access to electoral rolls.</li>
<li>Every national party and every state party is allotted a symbol exclusively reserved for its use throughout the country and the states respectively. In other words, the Commission specifies certain symbols as <strong>&lsquo;reserved symbols&rsquo;</strong> which are meant for the candidates set up by the recognised parties.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Conditions for Recognition as a State Party</h3>
<p>A party is recognised as a state party in a state if any of the following conditions is fulfilled:</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>If it <strong>secures 6% of the valid votes polled</strong> in the state at a general election to the legislative assembly of the state concerned and in <strong>addition, it wins 2 seats</strong> in the assembly of the state concerned or</li>
<li>If it secures 6% of the valid votes polled in the state at a general election to the Lok Sabha from the state concerned and in addition, it wins 1 seat in the Lok Sabha from the state concerned or</li>
<li>If it wins 3% of seats in the legislative assembly at a general election to the legislative assembly of the state concerned or 3 seats in the assembly, whichever is more or</li>
<li>If it wins 1 seat in the Lok Sabha for every 25 seats or any fraction thereof allotted to the state at a general election to the Lok Sabha from the state concerned or</li>
<li>If it secures 8% of the total valid votes polled in the state at a General Election to the Lok Sabha from the state or to the legislative assembly of the state. This condition was added in 2011.</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Conditions for Recognition as a National Party</strong></p>
<p>A party is recognised as a national party if any of the following conditions is fulfilled:</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>If it<strong> secures 6% of valid votes polled</strong> in any<strong> four or more states</strong> at a general election to the Lok Sabha or to the legislative assembly and in addition, it wins four seats in the Lok Sabha from any state or states, or</li>
<li>If it <strong>wins 2% of seats in the Lok Sabha</strong> at a general election and these candidates are elected from three states, or</li>
<li>If it is recognised as a <strong>state party in four states.</strong></li>
</ul>
</div>
<p><a href="https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/other-states/jjp-gets-state-party-status/article30118172.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/state-party-status-by-election-commission-of-india'
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