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Operation Sankalp

The Indian Navy has launched ‘Operation Sankalp’ in the Persian Gulf and the Gulf of Oman as a measure to assure the safety and security...

21 Jun 2019 News Analysis
International Yoga Day

The fifth annual International Yoga Day will be observed on June 21. June 21 is observed as International Day of Yoga every year since the United...

21 Jun 2019 News Analysis
Deficiencies in Indian Policing

This editorial is based on the article “India’s police force among the world’s weakest” which appeared in Livemint on 20th...

20 Jun 2019 News Editorials
New Species of ‘Cat fox’

A new species of 'cat-fox' has been found in remote areas of the French island of Corsica. The cats are bigger than a typical house cat, and...

20 Jun 2019 News Analysis
QS World University Rankings

IIT-Bombay has been ranked India’s best university for the second year in a row, gaining a global ranking of 152 in the QS World University...

20 Jun 2019 News Analysis
Capital Gain Tax

Any profit or gain that arises from the sale of a ‘capital asset’ is a capital gain. This gain or profit comes under the category of...

20 Jun 2019 News Analysis
UNCCD Drought Tool Box

The United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) is currently testing a drought toolbox which uses a total of 15 to 30 different...

20 Jun 2019 News Analysis
AWaRe

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

19 Jun 2019 News Analysis
ICANN and NASSCOM Collaboration

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

19 Jun 2019 News Analysis
Coringa Mangroves

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

19 Jun 2019 News Analysis
Libra Cryptocurrency

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

19 Jun 2019 News Analysis
Cooperative and Competitive Federalism in India

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

19 Jun 2019 Paper 2
Concerns over Genetically Modified Brinjal

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

18 Jun 2019 News Editorials
Autonomous District Councils

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

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

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

18 Jun 2019 News Analysis
UN Report on Myanmar Rohingya Crisis

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

18 Jun 2019 News Analysis
NATO Ally Status to India

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

18 Jun 2019 News Analysis

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		(int) 0 => [
			'title' => 'Operation Sankalp',
			'catname' => 'News Analysis',
			'desc' => '<p><strong>The Indian Navy</strong> has launched <strong>&lsquo;Operation Sankalp&rsquo;</strong> in the <strong>Persian Gulf</strong> and the <strong>Gulf of Oman</strong> as a measure <strong>to assure the safety and security of the Indian vessels</strong>, following the recent maritime incidents in the region.</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The operation has been launched in the wake of <strong>escalating tension in the Gulf of Oman</strong>, where two oil tankers were attacked recently. <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/strait-of-hormuz-1" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>The U.S.</strong> considers <strong>Iran</strong> responsible for the attacks, heightening <strong>tensions between the two countries.</strong></a></li>
<li><strong>Indian Navy Ships Chennai and Sunayna</strong> have been deployed in the Gulf of Oman and Persian Gulf to undertake maritime security operations. In addition, aerial surveillance by IN aircraft is also being undertaken in the area.</li>
<li><strong>The <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/information-fusion-centre-of-indian-navy" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Information Fusion Centre - Indian Ocean Region</a></strong> is also keeping a close watch on the movement of ships in the Gulf region.</li>
</ul>
<h3>The Persian Gulf</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Also called the <strong>Arabian Gulf,</strong> it is a shallow marginal sea of the Indian Ocean that lies <strong>between the Arabian Peninsula and the southwestern Iran.</strong></li>
<li>Its length is around 990 km and its width varies from a maximum of around 340 km to a minimum of 55 km <strong>in the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/iran-threatens-to-close-strait-of-hormuz" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Strait of Hormuz.</a></strong></li>
<li>It is <strong>bordered</strong> on the north, northeast, and east by <strong>Iran</strong>; on the southeast and south by part of <strong>Oman</strong> and <strong>the United Arab Emirates</strong>; on the southwest and west by <strong>Qatar, Bahrain</strong>, and <strong>Saudi Arabia;</strong> and on the northwest by <strong>Kuwait</strong> and <strong>Iraq.</strong></li>
<li>The area has approximately two-thirds of the world&rsquo;s estimated proven oil reserves and one-third of the world&rsquo;s estimated proven natural gas reserves.</li>
<li><strong>A considerable amount of sea trade passes through the gulf,</strong> leading to heavy traffic in the region.</li>
<li>There remains an incessant traffic of large tankers that carry oil from the large marine terminals situated in Iran, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, United Arab Emirates and other locations to all parts of the world.</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/802image2.jpg" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/802image2.jpg" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" caption="false" width="600" height="338" /></a></p>
<h3>The Gulf of Oman</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The Gulf of Oman, northwest arm of the Arabian Sea, <strong>lies between</strong> the eastern portion of the <strong>Arabian Peninsula (Oman)</strong> and <strong>Iran.</strong></li>
<li>It is 560 km long and <strong>connects with the Persian Gulf</strong> through the Strait of Hormuz.</li>
<li>It is a shipping route for the oil-producing area around the Persian Gulf.</li>
<li>It offers the <strong>only entrance from the Arabian Sea and the Indian Ocean</strong> into the Persian Gulf, thus the world&rsquo;s major oil exporters and importers have a joint interest in its security.</li>
</ul>',
			'postdate' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenTime) {},
			'url' => 'https://www.drishtiias.com/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/operation-sankalp'
		],
		(int) 1 => [
			'title' => 'International Yoga Day',
			'catname' => 'News Analysis',
			'desc' => '<p>The fifth annual International Yoga Day will be observed on June 21.</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>June 21 is observed as International Day of Yoga every year since the <a href="/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-international-institution/united-nations-1" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>United Nations</strong></a> declared it in 2015.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Background</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The idea of International Day of Yoga was first proposed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi during his speech at the UN General Assembly (UNGA), on September 27, 2014.</li>
<li>A draft resolution on 'International Day of Yoga' introduced by India's Ambassador to UN received support from 177 nations, the highest number of co-sponsors for any UNGA resolution.</li>
<li>Thereafter, the <strong>United Nations</strong> proclaimed June 21 as the International Day of Yoga.</li>
</ul>
<h3>International Yoga Day 2019</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The theme for fifth International yoga 2019 day is <strong>'Yoga for Heart'.</strong></li>
<li>Jharkhand's capital <strong>Ranchi</strong> will be hosting the main yoga day event.</li>
<li>International yoga day coincides with the <strong>summer solstice.</strong></li>
<li>Yoga is inscribed in the list of UNESCO <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/important-facts-for-prelims-23rd-march-2019" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Intangible Cultural Heritage</a> of Humanity of India.</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Summer Solstice<a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/289image3.jpg" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/289image3.jpg" width="404" height="356" style="float: right;" caption="false" /></a></strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>In the Northern Hemisphere, the summer solstice occurs on June 21 with the longest period of daylight.</li>
<li>On June 21<sup>st</sup>, the Northern Hemisphere is tilted towards the sun and the rays of the sun fall directly on the <strong>Tropic of Cancer.</strong></li>
<li>As a consequence, areas exposed to sun rays receive extra heat and the areas near the poles get less heat (as the rays of the sun are slanting).</li>
<li>As a large area of the Northern Hemisphere is receiving light from the sun, it is summer in the regions north of the equator and longest day &amp; the shortest night at these places occur on 21<sup>st</sup> June.</li>
</ul>
</div>',
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		],
		(int) 2 => [
			'title' => 'Deficiencies in Indian Policing',
			'catname' => 'News Editorials',
			'desc' => '<div class="border">
<p>This editorial is based on the article &ldquo;<a href="https://www.livemint.com/news/india/india-s-police-force-among-the-world-s-weakest-1560925355383.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">India&rsquo;s police force among the world&rsquo;s weakest</a>&rdquo; which appeared in Livemint on 20th June 2019. The article talks about the &ldquo;Deficiencies in Indian Policing&rdquo; and suggests a way forward.</p>
</div>
<p>India&rsquo;s existing police system suffers a series of deficiencies from problems relating to a police <strong>organization, environment, infrastructure, and understaffing,</strong> to obsolete weaponry and intelligence gathering techniques to a shortage of manpower to corruption, the police force in the country is not in a good shape.</p>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Underreporting of crime in India</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>An expert committee under the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation has noted that there is significant <strong>under-reporting of crimes</strong> under the NCRB .<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) under the Ministry of Home Affairs annual report called Crime in India, that records crime on the basis of the FIRs registered in the police stations across the country.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>There could be suppression of data and low registration of crimes because the police know that their work is judged on the basis of this information.</li>
<li>Sometimes victims of crime may decide against reporting the incident with the police because they are afraid to approach the police, or think the crime is not serious enough, etc.</li>
</ul>
</div>
<h3>Major Deficiencies</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Understaffed and overburdened police force: The police-population ratio,</strong> currently 192 policemen per lakh population, is less than what is recommended by <strong>UN</strong> i.e. <strong>222 policemen per lakh population.</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>There are only 144 police officers for every 100,000 citizens (the commonly used measure of police strength), making India&rsquo;s police force one of the weakest in the world.</li>
<li><strong>Policing in India is a state subject</strong> which means there is significant variation across states.</li>
<li>Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Andhra Pradesh and West Bengal&rsquo;s police forces are all extremely understaffed with less than 100 police staff for 100,000 population.</li>
<li>The only states with police forces that meet the global standard are the insurgency-affected states in the North-East and Punjab.</li>
<li>Even as states have increased the sanctioned strength of their police forces, their populations have increased by even more -especially in states such as Uttar Pradesh and Bihar.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Understaffing</strong> in turn results into <strong>overburdening</strong> of work that not only reduces the <strong>effectiveness and efficiency</strong> of the police personnel (leading to poor quality of investigation) but also leads to <strong>psychological distress</strong> (which has been held responsible for various crimes committed by the policemen) and contributes to Pendency of cases.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>As a result of the overburdening of work, Police personnel discharges a range of functions related to:<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Crime prevention and response (e.g., intelligence collection, patrolling, investigation, production of witnesses in courts)</li>
<li>Maintenance of internal security and law and order (e.g., crowd control, riot control, anti-terrorist or anti-extremist operations)</li>
<li>Various miscellaneous duties (e.g., traffic management, disaster rescue and removal of encroachments).</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>An overburdened police force:</strong> A high percentage of vacancies within the police forces exacerbates an existing problem of overburdened police personnel.</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>86% of the state police comprises of the constabulary.</li>
<li>Crime per lakh population has increased by 28% over the last decade (2005-2015). However, convictions have been low.</li>
<li>In 2015, convictions were secured in 47% of the cases registered under the Indian Penal Code, 1860. The Law Commission has observed that one of the reasons behind this is the poor quality of investigations.</li>
</ul>
</div>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Pendency:</strong> 30% of all cases filed in 2016 were pending for investigation by the end of the year (this combined with the pendency in the judiciary means securing justice in India can take a very long time). Pendency in the police is driven by lack of resources.</li>
<li><strong>Decreased Expenditure</strong> on police in recent years is adding to the resource crunch. Between fiscal 2011 and 2015, states spent 4.4% of their budgeted expenditure on policing on average but this has reduced to 4% over the last four years.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>According to PRS Legislative Research, an <strong>under-resourced,</strong> overburdened police force means that both <strong>core police activities</strong> (enforcing daily law and order) and more long-term criminal investigations are compromised.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Police accountability:</strong> As per the police laws, both the Central and State police forces come under the superintendence and control of political executives. Police priorities are frequently altered based on the will of political executives. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>In this context, the Second Administrative Reforms Commission in 2007 had noted that politicians were unduly influencing police personnel to serve personal or political interests.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Police-Public Relations,</strong> which is an important concern in the effective policing is suffering from the great trust deficit.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>2018 survey across 22 states on <strong>perceptions about policing</strong>, found that <strong>less than 25%</strong> of Indians trust the police highly (as compared to 54% for the army) and the reason for the distrust is that interactions with the police can be frustrating, time-consuming and costly.</li>
<li>The <strong>Second Administrative Reforms Commission</strong> has noted that police-public relations is in an unsatisfactory state because people view the police as corrupt, inefficient, politically partisan and unresponsive.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Criminalization of Politics:</strong> improper implementation of police reforms could be attributed to lack of <strong>political will,</strong> which in turn could be linked to the growing criminalization of politics. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>A large number of lawmakers in the Parliament with serious criminal charges imply little incentive to professionalize the police force.</li>
<li>In each successive Lok Sabha election over the past twenty years, the proportion of candidates with serious criminal charges is rising.</li>
<li>Low police salaries increases the vulnerability of police personnels to form a deep nexus with the <strong>criminals and the politicians.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>History of Police Reforms</h3>
<h3><a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/355image1.webp" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/355image1.webp" width="726" height="140" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" /></a>Way Forward</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>SMART Police:</strong> <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/dgp-appointment" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Police reforms</a> are needed on three fronts:<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Improvement in capacity and infrastructure of police forces.</li>
<li>Revisiting the constitution of police forces in the country through legislative/ administrative changes.</li>
<li>Technological scaling-up.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Independent Complaints Authority:</strong> The Second Administrative Reforms Commission and the Supreme Court have observed that there is a need to have an independent complaints authority to inquire into cases of police misconduct.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>This may be because the political executive and internal police oversight mechanisms may favour law enforcement authorities, and not be able to form an independent and critical judgment.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Community Policing Model</strong> can help in reducing the trust deficit between police and public as it requires the police to work with the community for prevention and detection of crime, maintenance of public order, and resolving local conflicts, with the objective of providing a better quality of life and sense of security. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Various states have been experimenting with community policing including Kerala through<strong> &lsquo;Janamaithri Suraksha Project&rsquo;,</strong> Rajasthan through <strong>&lsquo;Joint Patrolling Committees&rsquo;</strong>, Assam through <strong>&lsquo;Meira Paibi&rsquo;</strong>, Tamil Nadu through <strong>&lsquo;Friends of Police&rsquo;</strong>, West Bengal through the <strong>&lsquo;Community Policing Project&rsquo;</strong>, Andhra Pradesh through <strong>&lsquo;Maithri&rsquo;</strong> and Maharashtra through<strong> &lsquo;Mohalla Committees&rsquo;.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>Binding powers must be conferred on <strong>State Security Commissions and the Police Establishment Boards</strong> as many of these Commissions did not have the power to issue binding recommendations.</li>
<li>Constitute <strong>Police Complaints Authorities</strong> at the state and district levels to inquire into allegations of serious misconduct and abuse of power by police personnel.</li>
<li>The CAG and the Bureau Of Police Research And Development (BPRD) have noted that modern policing requires strong communication support, state-of-art or modern weapons, and a high degree of mobility.</li>
<li>Proper utilization of center and states funds allocated for modernisation of state police forces as these funds are typically used for strengthening police infrastructure, by way of construction of police stations, purchase of weaponry, communication equipment and vehicles.</li>
</ul>
<p>Internal security is very much a prerogative of police and efficient policing is needed in order to tackle threats arising in the form of cyber-attacks, bank frauds, and organized crimes, which need to be tackled in a more specialized manner But for that, the police system needs to be efficient, effective and technologically sound.<br /><br /></p>
<table border="1" style="border-collapse: collapse; width: 100%;">
<tbody>
<tr>
<td style="width: 548.889px; background-color: #edc0c0;">
<p><em><strong>Drishti input</strong></em></p>
<p>Discuss deficiencies in Indian Policing system and suggest a way forward.</p>
</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>',
			'postdate' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenTime) {},
			'url' => 'https://www.drishtiias.com/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/deficiencies-in-indian-policing'
		],
		(int) 3 => [
			'title' => 'New Species of ‘Cat fox’',
			'catname' => 'News Analysis',
			'desc' => '<p>A new species of <strong>'cat-fox'</strong> has been found in remote areas of the <strong>French island of Corsica.</strong></p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/802image1.jpg" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/802image1.jpg" style="float: right;" width="334" height="188" caption="false" /></a></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The cats are bigger than a typical house cat, and have large, ringed tails and "highly developed" canine teeth. <strong>Because of their appearance</strong>, they are known locally as <strong>chat-renard</strong>, or <strong>"cat-fox".</strong></li>
<li>It is different from the <strong>European wildcat, Felis silvestris silvestris</strong>. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The DNA report confirms it is close to the <strong>African forest cat, Felis silvestris lybica,</strong> but its exact identity is still to be determined.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>',
			'postdate' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenTime) {},
			'url' => 'https://www.drishtiias.com/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/new-species-of-cat-fox'
		],
		(int) 4 => [
			'title' => 'QS World University Rankings',
			'catname' => 'News Analysis',
			'desc' => '<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>IIT-Bombay</strong> has been ranked <strong>India&rsquo;s best university</strong> for the second year in <strong>a row, gaining a global ranking of 152</strong> in the <strong>QS World University Rankings for 2020.</strong></li>
<li><strong>Massachusetts Institute of Technology topped the QS World University Rankings for the eighth consecutive year.</strong></li>
<li>Two other Indian universities &mdash; IIT Delhi (182) and the Indian Institute of Science, Bengaluru (184) &mdash; are now under 200.</li>
<li>Other Indian universities included in the top 500 list are IIT-Madras (271), IIT-Kharagpur (281), IIT- Kanpur (291), IIT-Roorkee (383), University of Delhi (474) and IIT-Guwahati (491).</li>
<li>There are a total of 23 Indian institutions in the top 1,000. While most are government-funded universities, <strong>five are privately funded.</strong></li>
<li>The <strong>Manipal Academy of Higher Education</strong>, which falls within the 701-750 ranking band, is the <strong>top private university</strong> in the country.</li>
<li><strong>For private institutions,</strong> it was the indicators such as <strong>teacher-student ratio</strong>, and <strong>international faculty and student populations</strong> that propelled them to the top.</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>QS World University Rankings</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>QS is a leading global career and education network</strong> for ambitious professionals looking to further their personal and professional development.</li>
<li>QS develops and successfully implements <strong>methods of comparative data collection</strong> and <strong>analysis</strong> used to highlight institutions&rsquo; strengths.</li>
<li><strong>The QS World University Rankings is an annual publication of university rankings</strong> which comprises the global overall and subject rankings.</li>
</ul>
</div>',
			'postdate' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenTime) {},
			'url' => 'https://www.drishtiias.com/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/qs-world-university-rankings'
		],
		(int) 5 => [
			'title' => 'Capital Gain Tax',
			'catname' => 'News Analysis',
			'desc' => '<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Any profit or gain that arises from the sale of a <strong>&lsquo;capital asset&rsquo;</strong> is a capital gain. This gain or profit comes under the category of &lsquo;income&rsquo;.</li>
<li>Hence, the capital gain tax will be required to be paid for that amount in the year in which the transfer of the capital asset takes place. This is called the capital gains tax, which can be both short-term or long-term.</li>
<li><strong>Long-term Capital Gains Tax:</strong> It is a levy on the profits from the sale of assets held for <strong>more than a year.</strong> The rates are 0%, 15%, or 20%, depending on tax bracket.</li>
<li><strong>Short-term Capital Gains Tax:</strong> It applies to assets <strong>held for a year or less</strong> and is taxed as ordinary income.</li>
<li>Capital gains can be reduced by deducting the capital losses that occur when a taxable asset is sold for less than the original purchase price. The total of capital gains minus any capital losses is known as the <strong>"net capital gains".</strong></li>
<li>Tax on capital gains is triggered only when an asset is <strong>sold</strong>, or <strong>"realized"</strong>. Stock shares that appreciate every year will not be taxed for capital gains until they are sold.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Capital Assets</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Land, building, house property, vehicles, patents, trademarks, leasehold rights, machinery, and jewellery are a few examples of capital assets. This includes having rights in or in relation to an Indian company. It also includes the rights of management or control or any other legal right.</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Realized Gain</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>It results from selling an asset at a price higher than the original purchase price. It occurs when an asset is sold at a level that exceeds its book value cost.</li>
<li>While an asset may be carried on a balance sheet at a level far above cost, any gains while the asset is still being held are considered unrealized as the asset is only being valued at fair market value.</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>Inherited property</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Capital gains are <strong>not applicable to an inherited property</strong> as there is no sale but only a transfer of ownership.</li>
<li>The Income Tax Act has specifically exempted assets received as gifts by way of an inheritance or will. However, if the person who inherited the asset decides to sell it, capital gains tax will be applicable.</li>
</ul>
</div>',
			'postdate' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenTime) {},
			'url' => 'https://www.drishtiias.com/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/capital-gain-tax'
		],
		(int) 6 => [
			'title' => 'UNCCD Drought Tool Box',
			'catname' => 'News Analysis',
			'desc' => '<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The United <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/world-day-to-combat-desertification-and-drought" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD)</strong></a> is currently testing a drought toolbox which uses a total of 15 to 30 different parameters to assess drought risk and vulnerability of a geographical region.</li>
<li>UN convention was given the task of developing such a tool by countries during the previous Conference of Parties (CoP) meeting at the Ordos in China in 2017.</li>
<li>The UNCCD has been working with other UN organisations including World <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/important-facts-for-prelims-7th-february-2019" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Meteorological Organisation (WMO)</a> and <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/important-facts-for-prelims-22nd-march-2019" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO)</a> and experts to design the toolbox.</li>
<li>Drought toolbox is an online web platform, a one-stop shop for all drought-preparedness measures with a link to the various relevant tools in other organisations.</li>
<li>The tools are categorised in line with <strong>three pillars of drought preparedness:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Monitoring, early warning and forecasting tools used by decision makers.</li>
<li>Vulnerability assessment tools for identifying hotspots.</li>
<li>Risk mitigation tools with key &ldquo;policy&rdquo; and &ldquo;technical&rdquo; measures.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>The current procedure for declaring drought is very complex in most countries. This tool can be used by countries to assess and evaluate drought vulnerability in their regions. This can help countries improve their preparedness for dealing with drought.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Drought Declaration in India</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Drought is generally considered as a deficiency in rainfall /precipitation over an extended period, usually a season or more, resulting in a water shortage causing adverse impacts on vegetation, animals, and/or people.</li>
<li>There is no single, legally accepted definition of drought in India. Some states resort to their own definitions of drought.<strong> State Government is the final authority</strong> when it comes to declaring a region as drought affected. Government of India has published two important documents in respect of managing a drought.</li>
<li>The <strong>first step</strong> is to look at two mandatory indicators:<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Rainfall deviation and dry spell.</strong> Depending on the extent of the deviation, and whether or not there is a dry spell, the manual specifies various situations that may or may not be considered a drought trigger.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>The <strong>second step</strong> is to look at four impact indicators &mdash; <strong>agriculture, vegetation indices based on remote sensing, soil moisture, and hydrology</strong>. Each impact can be assessed on the basis of various indices. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>The intensity of drought:</strong> The States may consider <strong>any three of the four types</strong> of the Impact Indicators (one from each) for assessment of drought, the intensity of the calamity and make a judgement.</li>
<li>If all three chosen indicators are in the &lsquo;severe&rsquo; category, it amounts to severe drought; and if two of the three chosen impact indicators are in the &lsquo;moderate&rsquo; or &lsquo;severe&rsquo; class, it amounts to moderate drought.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>The<strong> third step</strong> comes in after both previous triggers have been set off. In that event, &ldquo;States will conduct sample survey for ground in order to make a final determination of drought. The finding of field verification exercise will be the final basis for judging the intensity of drought as &lsquo;severe&rsquo; or &lsquo;moderate&rsquo;.</li>
<li>Once a drought is determined, the state government needs to issue a notification specifying the geographical extent. The notification is valid for six months unless de-notified earlier.</li>
</ul>',
			'postdate' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenTime) {},
			'url' => 'https://www.drishtiias.com/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/unccd-drought-tool-box'
		],
		(int) 7 => [
			'title' => 'AWaRe',
			'catname' => 'News Analysis',
			'desc' => '<p><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/global-leaders-adopt-delhi-declaration-on-digital-health" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>The World Health Organization</strong></a> (WHO) in its global campaign against <a href="/loksabha-rajyasabha-discussions/in-depth-drug-resistance" target="_blank" rel="noopener">antibiotics</a> has launched a new online tool called AWaRe.</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The campaign aims to achieve a 60% increase in the use of antibiotics under the Access group &mdash; cheap, &lsquo;narrow-spectrum&rsquo; drugs (that target a specific microorganism rather than several) and also <strong>lower the risk of resistance.</strong></li>
</ul>
<h3>AWaRe</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The AWaRe tool was developed by the <strong>WHO Essential Medicines List</strong> to contain <strong>rising resistance</strong> and make antibiotic use <strong>safer</strong> and more effective by providing guidelines (over the effective use of antibiotics) to the <strong>policy-makers</strong> and <strong>health workers</strong>.</li>
<li>It classifies antibiotics into three groups:<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Access</strong>&mdash; antibiotics used to treat the most common and serious infections.</li>
<li><strong>Watch&mdash;</strong> antibiotics available at all times in the healthcare system.</li>
<li><strong>Reserve&mdash;</strong> antibiotics to be used sparingly or preserved and used only as a last resort.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Significance</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>By classifying antibiotics into three distinct groups, and advising on when to use them, AWaRe makes it easier for <strong>policy-makers, prescribers and health workers</strong> to select the right antibiotic at the right time, and to protect endangered antibiotics.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Antimicrobial Resistance</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>With the emergence of infections that are untreatable by all classes of antibiotics, <a href="/to-the-points/paper3/to-the-point-paper-3-antimicrobial-resistance-amr" target="_blank" rel="noopener">antimicrobial resistance</a> is turning into an <strong>invisible pandemic</strong> and is estimated to kill <strong>50 million</strong> worldwide and <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/the-problem-of-drug-resistance-in-india" target="_blank" rel="noopener">10 million in India (by <strong>2050</strong>)</a>.</li>
<li>According to a report by the International Coordination Group on Antimicrobial Resistance, Antimicrobial resistance is a <strong>global health</strong> and <strong>development threat</strong> that continues to escalate globally and threatens to undo a century of medical progress.</li>
<li>It is estimated that more than 50% of antibiotics in many countries are used inappropriately, such as for <strong>treatment of viruses</strong> (when they only treat bacterial infections) or <strong>use of the wrong</strong> (broader spectrum) antibiotic, thus contributing to the spread of antimicrobial resistance.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Concern</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>One of the most pressing concerns is the spread of resistant <strong>gram-negative bacteria,</strong> including <strong>Acinetobacter, Escherichia coli and Klebsiella pneumoniae.</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>As these bacteria, which are commonly seen in hospitalized patients, cause infections like <strong>pneumonia, bloodstream infections, wound</strong> or surgical site infections and <strong>meningitis.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>Although over 100 countries have put in place national plans to tackle antimicrobial resistance, only about <strong>one-fifth</strong> of those plans are funded and implemented.</li>
<li>Antibiotic resistance (when antibiotics stop working effectively) increases health expenditure and makes <strong>accessibility and affordability</strong> of medicines an expensive affair.</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Gram-Negative Bacteria</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Bacteria are classified into two groups&mdash;Gram-positive or Gram-negative&mdash;depending on whether they retain a specific stain color.</li>
<li>Gram-positive bacteria retain a purple-colored stain, while Gram-negative bacteria appear pinkish or red.</li>
<li>Several species of gram negative bacteria including Escherichia coli, are common causes of foodborne disease and Vibrio cholerae&mdash;the bacteria responsible for cholera&mdash;is a waterborne pathogen.</li>
<li>Gram-negative bacteria can also cause respiratory infections, such as certain types of pneumonia, and sexually transmitted diseases, including gonorrhea.</li>
</ul>
</div>',
			'postdate' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenTime) {},
			'url' => 'https://www.drishtiias.com/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/aware'
		],
		(int) 8 => [
			'title' => 'Acute Encephalitis Syndrome: Causes and Lapses',
			'catname' => 'News Editorials',
			'desc' => '<div class="border">
<p><strong>This editorial is based on the article <a href="https://indianexpress.com/article/opinion/editorials/bihar-encephalitis-ase-deaths-muzaffarpur-5787254/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">"A failing state&rdquo;</a> which appeared in Indian Express on 19th June, 2019. The article talks about cause and lapses in dealing with Acute Encephalitis Syndrome and suggests a way forward.</strong></p>
</div>
<p>More than 100 children in Bihar&rsquo;s Muzaffarpur district have died of <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/acute-encephalitis-syndrome" target="_blank" rel="noopener">acute encephalitis syndrome (AES)</a>, with the state&rsquo;s medical authorities initially blaming the deaths on the heat wave, hypoglycemia (sudden drop in blood sugar levels) and <strong>lack of awareness.</strong> Now, belatedly, they have acknowledged the two most critical causes for the deaths &mdash; <strong>malnutrition</strong> and the <strong>inadequacy of primary health centres</strong> (PHCs).</p>
<p>The AES cases in Muzaffarpur, Bihar and adjoining <strong>litchi producing districts</strong> have been observed <strong>every year</strong> in summers(mostly from April to June), particularly in children who are <strong>undernourished</strong> with a history of visiting litchi orchards.</p>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>What makes region so vulnerable to AES?</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>It has been found that regions with high heat, humidity, unhygienic conditions and malnutrition, contribute to the rise in AES. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>AES has struck Muzaffarpur with regularity in the summers since 1995.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>Incidence is higher in litchi fields around which malnourished children live.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Malnutrition is high Bihar, and malnourished children are prone to infection.</li>
<li>National Family Health Survey-4 data show that in 2015-16, 48% children aged less than five in Bihar were stunted &mdash; the highest in India.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</div>
<p><strong>Causes:</strong> Litchi is being most commonly blamed for the Acute Encephalitis Syndrome (AES) outbreak in Bihar. However, experts are of the view that fruit is only a triggering factor for malnourished children as the toxin methylenecyclopropyl glycine (MCPG) can lead to <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/hypoglycaemia-and-acute-encephalitis-syndrome" target="_blank" rel="noopener">hypoglycaemia</a> (fall in sugar levels) in undernourished children that in turn results into unconsciousness, coma and even death.</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Malnutrition cause hypoglycaemia:</strong> Malnourished children have depleted glycogen store in the liver. So if there is no glycogen reserve, the glycogen breaks into glucose and when the shortage further increases, even fats start burning and this process produces by products like ketones and amino acids which are neurotoxic and are responsible for inflammation of the brain tissue.</li>
<li><strong>Heat waves:</strong> when temperature and humidity were recorded over consecutive days at more 38 degrees Celsius and 50% respectively, the epidemic had been at its worse. In other parts of northern India there is fluctuation in temperature and humidity, and the nights are cooler, but in Muzaffarpur humidity increases at night making it worse than the day, especially for children.</li>
<li>The main <strong>causative agents</strong> of acute encephalitis are the <strong>viruses</strong> like herpes viruses, enteroviruses, West Nile, Japanese encephalitis, Eastern equine viruses, tick-borne viruses etc.</li>
<li>Encephalitis is also caused due to <strong>bacteria, fungi or parasites, chemicals, toxins and non-infectious agents.</strong></li>
</ul>
<p>The death of children in Muzaffarpur due to AES, a preventable disease, shows the inaction of the state machinery, which has failed to take appropriate steps to prevent the seasonal outbreak of disease.</p>
<h3>Lapses</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Primary health centres:</strong> the first point of healthcare for most AES patients are <strong>ill-equipped</strong> to deal with the disease. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Most of them do not have, <strong>virology lab</strong> or adequate number of <strong>paediatric beds</strong> and <strong>glycometers</strong> to monitor blood sugar levels.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Standard operating procedure :</strong> to treat AES, have clearly not been implemented in Bihar, which mandates grassroots health workers, including auxiliary nurse-midwives, accredited social health activists, and anganwadi workers, to do daily <strong>household-level surveys</strong> to check children for JE/AES symptoms during the outbreak season from June to September.</li>
<li><strong>Lack of preparedness:</strong> of the state government in terms <strong>special nutrition programme</strong> for AES-prone areas (as undernourished children are more prone to the disease).</li>
<li><strong>Inadequate Machinery:</strong> Unavailability of <strong>doctors, beds, intensive care units, medical professionals</strong> to deal with an epidemic level situation which has resulted in more than 126 reported death of children in the state of Bihar particularly in Muzaffarpur and its adjoining areas.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Way Forward</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Surveillance and Monitoring:</strong> of AES vulnerable region ( for identifying AES prone cases) is necessary for <strong>early diagnosis and treatment</strong> of disease. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>AES can be contained if the child is administered dextrose within 4 hours of the onset of symptoms</li>
<li><strong>10% Dextrose infusion</strong> within the golden hours can speed up the pace of recovery.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Awareness campaigns and symptom management:</strong> as a <strong>pre-emptive</strong> measures must be put in place for dealing with the AES cases.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>State Government should learn from the <strong><em>dastak</em></strong> initiative (for treating Japanese Encephalitis) taken by Uttar Pradesh, that has brought together health, rural development and primary education officials to promote clean drinking water, sanitation, vaccination and early referral to hospitals for treatment through symptom management.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Infrastructural and Institutional set up:</strong> Primary Health Care centres must be equipped with all necessary equipments and amenities that are crucial for diagnosing and treating AES patients.</li>
<li><strong>Medical Research and Studies:</strong> conducted in AES prone regions that are crucial for establishing link between causes and symptoms of the disease must be taken into account for formulating <strong>treatment strategy.</strong></li>
<li><strong>Special Nutrition programmes:</strong> and <strong>mid day meals</strong> must be implemented in the AES prone regions as it has been identified that toxins in litchi is just a triggering factor in the already malnutritioned children.</li>
</ul>
<table border="1" style="border-collapse: collapse;">
<tbody>
<tr>
<td style="width: 1108.89px; background-color: #f7faa0; border-color: #ff0000;">
<p><em><strong>Drishti input</strong></em></p>
<p>Examine the failures at various levels that has led to the deaths of more than 100 children due to Acute Encephalitis Syndrome in Bihar.</p>
</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<p></p>',
			'postdate' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenTime) {},
			'url' => 'https://www.drishtiias.com/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/acute-encephalitis-syndrome-causes-and-lapses'
		],
		(int) 9 => [
			'title' => 'Seven Million Jobs Created in Formal Sector',
			'catname' => 'News Analysis',
			'desc' => '<p>The Indian Staffing Federation (ISF) has reported the formalisation of over seven million jobs between 2015-2018 <strong>due to reforms and initiatives taken by Indian government.</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>The report titled, &lsquo;Impact of key reforms on job formalisation and flexi-staffing&rsquo;</strong> mentioned that 1.2 million workers have been added to the flexi-workforce since 2015 and a further 1.53 million are to be added over the next three years.</li>
<li>The government&rsquo;s current agenda of job creation can be achieved by boosting the aggregate effective demand in the economy through formalisation, industrialisation, urbanisation, financialisation and skilling.</li>
<li>India will have a 6.1 million flexi-workforce by 2021. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Sectors such as logistics, banking, financial services and insurance <strong>(BFSI), IT/ ITeS, retail and government</strong> would be the <strong>top five sectors, employing over 55 per cent of the total flexi-workforce by 2021.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>The flexi staff space grew</strong> at a Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) of <strong>16.3 per cent in 2018</strong> and is expected to further accelerate to<strong> 22.7 per cent from 2018-2021.</strong></li>
<li>The report establishes <strong>flexi-staffing as a key job creation engine.</strong></li>
<li>The acceleration in momentum towards formal employment witnessed in the past three years clearly means the reforms such as the payment of wages act and EPF are having a positive impact.</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Flexi-staffing</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Flexible Staffing</strong> is an arrangement in an organization where the employees can be from <strong>temporary agencies, leased employees or contract workers.</strong></li>
<li>It is more commonly known as temporary staffing and predominantly focuses on the white collar industry.</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>Indian Staffing Federation (ISF)</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The ISF is the apex body representing the Staffing industry/Private Employment Services that is <strong>authorised to discuss with government agencies and other trade bodies on behalf of the staffing industry/ private employment services.</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>The Staffing / private employment services</strong> is an enabler <strong>to provide social security</strong> and long term <strong>medical</strong>, and <strong>retirement benefits to temp/flexi-staff.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>The purpose of ISF is to enhance long-term growth and ensure its continued ability to make positive contributions to the economy as well as the society<strong> through the services of the Staffing Industry.</strong></li>
<li><strong>Staffing Industry covers a meager 2% penetration of the possible employable size in India.</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Of the 400m employable in India, about 10% are employed in the organised sector, and while about 250m are self-employed.</li>
<li>This leaves <strong>almost 110m</strong> who are <strong>employed by the temp/ flexi-staffing and the unorganised sector.</strong> ISF is working towards growing this market.</li>
<li>To bring effect, <strong>the laws and regulations haven't taken Staffing industry/</strong> Private Employment Services <strong>into cognizance.</strong></li>
<li>ISF expects to interact with law making authorities to recognize Staffing industry / Private Employment Services and create adequate and appropriate laws to manage it.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</div>',
			'postdate' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenTime) {},
			'url' => 'https://www.drishtiias.com/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/seven-million-jobs-created-in-formal-sector'
		],
		(int) 10 => [
			'title' => 'RBI Panel's Recommendations on MSME',
			'catname' => 'News Analysis',
			'desc' => '<p>A Reserve Bank of India (RBI) expert committee on micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) has recommended doubling <strong>the cap on collateral-free loans to Rs 20 lakh</strong> from the current Rs 10 lakh.</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>This will be extended to borrowers falling under the Mudra scheme, self-help groups, and MSMEs.</li>
<li>The current limit of Rs 10 lakh on collateral-free loans was prescribed by RBI in June 2010.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>A collateral free loan</strong> means that borrowers do not have to offer any asset or pledge collateral to borrow against.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>The committee has also suggested various long-term solutions for the economic and financial sustainability of MSMEs.</li>
<li>The report has also <strong>recommended the mainstreaming the restructuring of stressed loans</strong>, considering the central bank had given a one-year window to banks to do so in January 2019.</li>
<li>The proposal is part of a report prepared <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/rbi-sets-up-msme-panel" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>by the eight-member RBI committee</strong></a> tasked with reviewing the current framework for the MSME sector.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The panel was <strong>headed</strong> by former Securities and Exchange Board of India chairman <strong>U K Sinha.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>The MSME definition</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The Micro Small &amp; Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) are defined under the Micro, Small &amp; Medium Enterprises Development <strong>(MSMED) Act, 2006</strong> on the basis of capital investment made in plant and machinery, excluding investments in land and building.</li>
<li>Manufacturing units having investment: <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>below Rs 25 lakh are termed as Micro,</li>
<li>those between Rs 25 lakh and Rs 5 crore as Small</li>
<li>and from Rs 5 crore to Rs 10 crore as Medium.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>Service units, corresponding investment thresholds are: <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>up to Rs 10 lakh are termed as Micro,</li>
<li>between Rs 10 lakh to Rs 2 crore as Small</li>
<li>and between Rs 2 crore to Rs 5 crore as Medium</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>However, the government is contemplating to change the definition of MSMEs.</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The proposed change under a new draft is that <strong>annual turnover, rather than investment size</strong>, should be the criterion for such units.</li>
<li>Under the draft, there would be <strong>no difference between a manufacturing and service unit.</strong></li>
<li>Micro can be up to Rs 5 crore of turnover, small up to Rs 75 crore, and medium up to Rs 250 crore of turnover should be considered.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>Pradhan Mantri MUDRA Yojana (PMMY)</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The PMMY is a scheme launched in 2015 for providing loans up to 10 lakh to the non-corporate, non-farm small/micro enterprises.</li>
<li>These loans are classified as MUDRA loans under PMMY.</li>
<li>These loans are given by Commercial Banks, RRBs, Small Finance Banks, Cooperative Banks, MFIs and NBFCs.</li>
<li>Under the aegis of PMMY, MUDRA has created three products namely 'Shishu', 'Kishore' and 'Tarun' to signify the stage funding needs of the beneficiary/entrepreneur and also provide a reference point for the next phase of graduation/growth. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Shishu:</strong> covering loans up to Rs.50,000</li>
<li><strong>Kishore:</strong> covering loans above Rs.50,000 and up to Rs.5,00,000</li>
<li><strong>Tarun:</strong> covering loans above Rs.5,00,000 and up to Rs.10,00,000</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>As of Feb 1, 2019, over 157 million loans amounting to Rs 7.59 trillion have been extended under PMMY since its inception.</li>
</ul>
</div>',
			'postdate' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenTime) {},
			'url' => 'https://www.drishtiias.com/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/rbi-panel-s-recommendations-on-msme'
		],
		(int) 11 => [
			'title' => 'ICANN and NASSCOM Collaboration',
			'catname' => 'News Analysis',
			'desc' => '<p>Global internet body <strong>Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers(ICANN) and Indian IT industry body NASSCOM</strong> to develop identifier technology that can be used for managing devices and infrastructure using the internet.</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Both the bodies will first focus on updating the Internet of Things (IoT) devices using domain name system (DNS) even in the situation when the manufacturer or supplier has closed down the business.</li>
<li>This collaboration provides a structure to jointly identify research projects, particularly in new technologies related to the internet's system of unique identifiers.</li>
<li>The first research project focuses on testing the use of the DNS to update IoT firmware and studying how the proposed technology could scale outside a lab environment.</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Internet of Thing (IoT)</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The Internet of Things is made up of devices from simple sensors to smartphones and wearables connected together.</li>
<li>IoT allows devices on closed <strong>private internet connections</strong> to communicate with others and the Internet of Things brings those networks together. It gives the opportunity for devices to communicate not only within close silos but across different networking types and creates a much more connected world.</li>
</ul>
</div>
<h3>Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN)</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>ICANN is a non-profit body that administers domain names and Internet protocol addresses (IPs) globally. It was formed in 1988 by the US Department of Commerce. It has become independent of US control since October 1st, 2016.</li>
<li>It also ensures that computers across the internet can find one another through defined unique pathways and identifiers.</li>
<li>It is responsible for coordinating the maintenance and methodologies of several databases, with unique identifiers, related to the namespaces of the Internet &ndash; and thereby, ensuring the network&rsquo;s stable and secure operation.</li>
<li>ICANN is governed by an internationally diverse Board of Directors overseeing the policy development process. ICANN&rsquo;s President directs an international staff, working from three continents, who ensure that ICANN meets its operational commitment to the Internet community.</li>
</ul>
<h3>National Association of Software and Services Companies (NASSCOM)</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>NASSCOM, a not-for-profit industry association, is the apex body for the IT industry in India.</li>
<li>Established in 1988, NASSCOM&rsquo;s relentless pursuit has been to constantly support the IT and BPO industry.</li>
<li>Members of NASSCOM are Indian Co software development, software services, IT-enabled/BPO services. NASSCOM role has primarily been to make sure that service quality and enforcement of Intellectual Property Rights have been properly implemented in the Indian software and BPO industry.</li>
</ul>',
			'postdate' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenTime) {},
			'url' => 'https://www.drishtiias.com/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/icann-and-nasscom-collaboration'
		],
		(int) 12 => [
			'title' => 'Coringa Mangroves',
			'catname' => 'News Analysis',
			'desc' => '<p>The Andhra Pradesh Government has constituted a seven-member committee for fulfilment of norms required <strong>for proposing the Godavari Mangroves</strong> (Mada forests), <strong>at Coringa, as a <a href="/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-international-institution/united-nations-1" target="_blank" rel="noopener">World Heritage Site.</a></strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Godavari Mangroves at the Coringa Wildlife Sanctuary (CWLS) are touted to be the <strong>second largest mangroves</strong> in India. The <strong>largest</strong> mangrove forest in the world is <strong>Sundarbans</strong>, West Bengal.</li>
<li>The <strong>mangrove forests in Andhra Pradesh</strong> are located in the <strong>estuaries of the Godavari and the Krishna rivers.</strong> The Godavari mangroves are located in Godavari estuary of East Godavari district.</li>
<li>Located in Andhra Pradesh, <strong>the CWLS</strong> is home to numerous <strong>endangered species</strong> including the <strong>fishing cat</strong>, otter, jackal, sea turtles, sea gull, pelican, stork, heron, snipes, flamingos among others.</li>
<li>Along with the mangrove forest, <strong>the Hope Island</strong>, a naturally formed sandy stretch amidst the sea that turned into a synonym for biodiversity, too comes under the purview of the sanctuary.</li>
<li>The sanctuary also has a site where <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/olive-ridley-turtles-hatching" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Olive Ridley Sea Turtles</strong></a> nest from January to March every year.</li>
<li>Once the Coringa sanctuary gets the heritage site tag, UNESCO will help develop tourism and protect the wildlife in the mangroves.</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Mangroves</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Mangroves are the plant communities occurring in <strong>inter-tidal zones</strong> along the coasts of <strong>tropical and subtropical countries</strong>.</li>
<li>Mangrove forests perform <strong>multiple ecological functions</strong> such as production of woody trees; provision of habitat, food, and spawning grounds for fin-fish and shellfish; provision of habitat for birds and other valuable fauna; protection of coastlines and accretion of sediment to form new land.</li>
<li>According to the India State of Forest Report, 2017, <strong>India has nearly 3.3% of the world&rsquo;s mangrove vegetation.</strong></li>
</ul>
</div>
<p><a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/678image1.jpg" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/678image1.jpg" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" caption="false" width="396" height="477" /></a></p>',
			'postdate' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenTime) {},
			'url' => 'https://www.drishtiias.com/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/coringa-mangroves'
		],
		(int) 13 => [
			'title' => 'Libra Cryptocurrency',
			'catname' => 'News Analysis',
			'desc' => '<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Facebook has unveiled its own <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/cryptocurrencies-will-boost-illegal-transactions-rbi" target="_blank" rel="noopener">cryptocurrency</a> named <strong>&ldquo;Libra&rdquo;</strong>. Based on the Libra <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/important-facts-for-prelims-24-august-2018" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Blockchain</a>, it&rsquo;s backed by the <strong>Libra Reserve.<a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/281image2.jpg" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/281image2.jpg" style="float: right;" caption="false" width="198" height="254" /></a></strong></li>
<li>It has also officially announced a <strong>digital wallet service named Calibra.</strong> The company managing this wallet is going to be a subsidiary and will be operating independently from Facebook. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Calibra is going to be available as a standalone app on the App Store and Play Store. Apart from that, users can also use Libra within Facebook&rsquo;s own messaging apps including WhatsApp and Messenger, making it much more accessible.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>The name is inspired by the origins of money in Ancient Rome, where the Libra was a unit of weight used to mint coins.</li>
<li>Libra also evokes the French libre (&ldquo;free&rdquo;) and reflects the corresponding astrological symbol&mdash;the scales of justice, relevant in theory because the crypto is meant to make financial inclusion standard around the globe.</li>
<li>The new crypto&rsquo;s symbol, a wave, &ldquo;represents the energy that flows between us, the borderless nature of water, and the movement between people, places, and money.</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Cryptocurrency</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>A cryptocurrency is a digital or virtual currency that uses cryptography for security.</li>
<li>Cryptocurrencies use decentralized technology to let users make secure payments and store money without the need to use their name or go through a bank.</li>
<li>They run on a distributed public ledger called blockchain, which is a record of all transactions updated and held by currency holders.</li>
<li>The most common cryptocurrencies are Bitcoin, Ethereum, Ripple, and Litecoin.</li>
</ul>
</div>',
			'postdate' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenTime) {},
			'url' => 'https://www.drishtiias.com/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/libra-cryptocurrency'
		],
		(int) 14 => [
			'title' => 'Cooperative and Competitive Federalism in India',
			'catname' => 'Paper 2',
			'desc' => '<h3>Context</h3>
<p>Federalism is derived from the Latin world foedus, which means agreement. In fact federation is an agreement between two types of governments sharing power and controlling their respective spheres. Thus a federation is a system of national and local governments, combined under a common sovereignty with both national as well as federating units having autonomous spheres assigned to them by the constitution.</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>India opted for quasi-federal structure after independence. The term &ldquo;federal&rdquo; has not been mentioned in the constitution but the working of Indian democracy is essentially federal in structure. However, it is the practical working style of federalism, which brought the concept of cooperative federalism and competitive federalism in India.</li>
<li>The present government is stressing on the need to leverage the potential of cooperative and competitive federalism for achieving all round inclusive development in India. In this context there is a need to examine the concepts of cooperative and competitive federalism.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Cooperative vs Competitive Federalism</h3>
<p>Based on the relationship between the central and state government&ndash;the concept of federalism is divided into- Co-operative federalism and Competitive federalism.</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>In Cooperative federalism</strong> the Centre and states share a horizontal relationship, where they &ldquo;cooperate&rdquo; in the larger public interest.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>It is an important tool to enable states&rsquo; participation in the formulation and implementation of national policies.</li>
<li>Union and the states are constitutionally obliged to cooperate with each other on the matters specified in Schedule VII of the constitution.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>In Competitive federalism</strong> the relationship between the Central and state governments is vertical and between state governments is horizontal.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>This idea of Competitive federalism gained significance in India post 1990s economic reforms.</li>
<li>In a free-market economy, the endowments of states, available resource base and their comparative advantages all foster a spirit of competition. Increasing globalisation, however, increased the existing inequalities and imbalances between states.</li>
<li>In Competitive federalism States need to compete among themselves and also with the Centre for benefits.</li>
<li>States compete with each other to attract funds and investment, which facilitates efficiency in administration and enhances developmental activities.</li>
<li>The investors prefer more developed states for investing their money. Union government devolves funds to the states on the basis of usage of previously allocated funds.</li>
<li>Healthy competition strives to improve physical and social infrastructure within the state.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>Competitive federalism is not part of the basic structure of Indian constitution. It is the decision of executives.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Constitutional Position</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Article 1 of the Constitution</strong> states, &ldquo;India, that is Bharat, shall be a Union of States&rdquo;. While the Constitution doesn&rsquo;t mention the term &ldquo;federal&rdquo;, it does provide for a governance structure primarily federal in nature.</li>
<li>It provides for <strong>separate governments at the Union and in the states.</strong> Further, it specifies and demarcates the powers, functions and jurisdictions of the two governments. Lastly, it details the legislative, administrative and financial relations between the Union and the states.</li>
<li>The distribution of legislative powers has been divided into three lists: the Union List, the State List and the Concurrent List. The Union List, comprising the &ldquo;vital interests of the State&rdquo;, is the longest.'</li>
<li>On the Union List, Parliament has exclusive powers to legislate. While the state has exclusive powers to legislate on the State List, in certain situations, Parliament can also do so.</li>
<li>As per the Concurrent List, the issue is more complex.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>In case of a conflict between a state and a Central legislation, the parliamentary legislation shall prevail.</li>
<li>This, coupled with the fact that residuary powers of legislation are vested in the Union, gives a <strong>&ldquo;unitary&rdquo; tilt to federalism in India.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>A disconcerting trend has been observed since 1950. <strong>While the Union and Concurrent Lists have expanded, the State List seems to have shrunk.</strong> This has led many to question the structure of Indian federalism and to propose its remodelling.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Steps toward Competitive Federalism</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The acceptance of the 14th Finance Commission&rsquo;s recommendations, apart from significantly enhanced devolution ( devolution of 42% of the divisible pool to states during 20015-16 to 2019-20, against 32% suggested by the previous commission), enables states to design and implement programmes better suited to their needs.</li>
<li>Competitive federalism is not yet embraced by all the states. But a handful of states are clearly taking steps to strengthen their business environments, including initiating difficult reforms on land acquisition and labour flexibility.</li>
<li>Federalism is no longer the fault line of Centre-State relations but the definition of a new partnership of team India.</li>
<li>The Central government has promised decentralisation of power and minimum interference in the State affairs. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>With the roll out of the GST, this federal structure is further cemented.</li>
<li>Government has abolished Planning Commission and replaced it with NITI Aayog. One of the mandates of the NITI Aayog is to develop competitive federalism. Under it;</li>
<li>State governments would not look towards centre for policy guidelines and fiscal resources.</li>
<li>Share of states in central tax revenue has been increased from 32% to 42% after the recommendation of the finance commission.</li>
<li>States have freedom to plan their expenditure based on their own priorities.</li>
<li>States would work with centre on a shared vision of national objectives.</li>
<li>Restructuring of centrally sponsored schemes.</li>
<li>Financial sector bailout programme under UDAY scheme.</li>
<li>Swachh Bharat Ranking system.</li>
<li>Most of the state now organizes investors meet to showcase facilities in their state to attract business and investment. This has lead to improvement in business environment in various states.</li>
<li><strong>State wise Ease of Doing Business ranking</strong> to build a huge sense of competition.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Role of NITI Aayog in Promoting Co-Operative, Competitive Federalism</strong></p>
<p>In 2017, the Niti Aayog called out for competitive &ldquo;cooperative federalism&rdquo; stressing that this formula would redefine the relationship between the Centre and the States.</p>
<p>Former vice chairman of Niti Aayog Arvind Panagariya put the onus on the States to reimagine brand India.</p>
<p>Chief secretaries of States in one of the meetings even showcased the best practices being incorporated in their respective States, a move aimed at promoting cross fertilisation of ideas.</p>
<p>There appears to be a silver lining in the functioning of the Aayog in enabling states competing with each other to promote governance initiatives in the spirit of &ldquo;co-operative, competitive federalism&rdquo;.</p>
<p>An important objective of NITI Aayog is to establish a dynamic institutional mechanisms where &lsquo;eminent individuals outside the government system&rsquo; could contribute to policy making.</p>
<p>The priorities for the Aayog are evident with the suggestions for rationalisation of 66 central schemes on skill development and making Clean India a continuous program leading to the formation of three CM sub-committees.</p>
<p>In a subtle manner, NITI Aayog not only puts the onus on Chief Ministers to hasten implementation of projects for the betterment of the state, but also make the state an attractive investment destination &ndash; a kind of competitive federalism.</p>
<p>Given the greater scope for states to work together and learn from each other, it is obvious that for federalism to work well, these states must also fulfil their role in promoting the shared national objectives.</p>
<p>It is true that India cannot advance without all its states advancing in tandem but it may so happen that by not granting the statutory status for the NITI Aayog, government has made it vulnerable to future ambush under a different political dispensation.</p>
</div>
<h3></h3>
<h3>Hindrances for Competitive federalism</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Several issues such as <strong>trust deficit and shrinkage of divisible pools</strong> plague Centre-State relations. Together, they make total cooperation difficult</li>
<li>Trust deficit between Centre and States is widening. Most state governments believe the thrust on federalism is limited to lofty ideas and big talks. Many States have shown their displeasure with the way the Centre has been dealing with the States.</li>
<li>On one hand the Centre has increased the States&rsquo; share of the divisible pool but in reality States are getting a lesser share. The allocation towards various social welfare schemes has also come down, affecting the States&rsquo; health in turn.</li>
<li>The present <strong>inter-state competition</strong> in attracting investment is too early to determine whether it will really encourage competitive patterns of investment on a continuous basis.</li>
<li>The <strong>socio-economic parameters and development of each State in India is different</strong> and while a few have made substantial progress in terms of employment, literacy and creating a conducive environment for doing business and investments, there are a few which are lagging.</li>
<li>There are varied <strong>economic patterns</strong> in different states. There are deficit states or the backward regions or the states under debt. Those states should not be treated on par with the well-off states.</li>
<li>The states like West Bengal, Bihar, Orissa, and Assam have protested against the uniform approach in funding because of their special situations in which the central government has to provide special funds to these states. Without special funding these states cannot imagine their participation in competitive federalism.</li>
<li>Though the states are provided with financial independence, it is a fallacy to assume that all the states would perform uniformly in the process of development because while some states have favourable factors like skilled labour, capital and infrastructure, innovative service industries other states lagging behind.</li>
<li>The opposition of few well-off states with respect to <strong>revenue loss in implementation of GST system</strong> points that there is a lack of will in participating in the process of competitive federalism.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Suggestions</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Efforts at cooperative and competitive federalism have commenced but need to be strengthened.</li>
<li>NITI Aayog concentrates on the broader policy framework instead of micro resource-allocated functions. So there is a need to take some further steps.</li>
<li><strong>Reactivation of the Centre-State Council:</strong> Under <strong>Article 263</strong>, this council is expected to inquire and advice on disputes, discuss subjects common to all states and make recommendations for better policy coordination.</li>
<li>The NITI Aayog can&rsquo;t replace the council&rsquo;s functions as it is the only recognised constitutional entity for harmonising the actions of the Centre and states. Its effective utilisation would lend legitimacy to cooperative federalism.</li>
<li>On contentious issues like land, labour and natural resources, the state should promote best practices.</li>
<li>This will enable greater investment and economic activity in states with a favourable regulatory framework. Enactment by states must secure expeditious Central approval.</li>
<li>The World Bank&rsquo;s Ease of Doing Business index reflected competition between states has generated interest, this must be a continuing exercise.</li>
<li>But states not doing well on the index complain of infirmities of process and procedure. These needs to be made more acceptable and transparent.</li>
<li>On issues like international treaties, WTO obligations, or the environment an institutional mechanism must be evolved where important decisions are appropriately discussed with states.</li>
<li>As India becomes globally more interdependent, these potential contentious issues must be resolved.</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>India needs a mix of Competitive and Cooperative federalism</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>There needs to be a mix of competitive and cooperative federalism for India to move ahead.</li>
<li>The future for India is cooperative and competitive federalism. Competitive federalism provides the dynamism that needs to be unleashed.</li>
<li>We need cooperative federalism to balance competitive federalism.</li>
<li>Constitution needed to catch up with economics to &ldquo;favour integration over granting sovereignty" to promote Indian internal integration.</li>
<li>GST which seeks to introduce the concept of one nation-one tax, in order to economically unify the country for the first time, is described this as &ldquo;pooled sovereignty", which would bring a big change in the working of federalism in the country.</li>
</ul>
</div>
<h3>Way Forward</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Cooperative and competitive federalism are not mutually exclusive. They have the same basic principle underlying i.e. development of the nation as a whole.</li>
<li>Cooperative and competitive federalism may be two sides of the same coin as the competition alone cannot give the best results, it is competition with cooperation that will drive the real change.</li>
<li>Centre&rsquo;s support would be required by some states to participate in competitive federalism. Strong states make strong nation and to realise this vision, it requires a &ldquo;Team India&rdquo; approach to work for India&rsquo;s development.</li>
<li>The passage of GST Bill does usher in a new era in cooperative fiscal federalism and a growing political consensus for economic reforms.</li>
<li>Further, the government&rsquo;s structural reforms particularly for land and labour, are now widely seen as necessary for realising the potential of the economy.</li>
<li>While all policy-makers and economists believe that &ldquo;true&rdquo; cooperative federalism is the way forward, they underline the need for the Centre to include states more aggressively in the decision-making process.</li>
<li>Most state finance ministers also feel that the Centre&rsquo;s fund allocation to States must be done more judiciously.</li>
</ul>',
			'postdate' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenTime) {},
			'url' => 'https://www.drishtiias.com/to-the-points/Paper2/cooperative-and-competitive-federalism-in-india'
		],
		(int) 15 => [
			'title' => 'Concerns over Genetically Modified Brinjal',
			'catname' => 'News Editorials',
			'desc' => '<div class="border">
<p><strong>This article is based on the editorial <a href="https://www.thehindu.com/opinion/op-ed/serious-concerns-over-bt-brinjal/article28022577.ece" target="_blank" rel="noopener">&ldquo;Serious concerns over Bt brinjal&rdquo;</a> which appeared in The Hindu on 18th June 2019. It talks about concerns over Genetically Modified Brinjal and suggests a way forward in this context. </strong></p>
</div>
<p><strong>Genetic modification</strong> of crops has been a controversial issue since the first commercial production of a <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/supermarkets-flooded-with-foreign-gm-foods-despite-ban" target="_blank" rel="noopener">genetically modified crop</a>. India has banned the cultivation of Bt brinjal in 2010, but GM crops still find its way into the fields through the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/illegal-cultivation-of-bt-brinjal" target="_blank" rel="noopener">illegal supply of seeds</a> specifically in the region of <strong>Haryana, Maharashtra, and Andhra Pradesh</strong> where farmers are indulged in <strong>unapproved sowing and cultivation</strong> of Bt brinjal owing to its advantages of being pest resistant, lower cost, and higher yield.</p>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>GM Crops in India</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Bt cotton is India's <strong>first genetically modified crop,</strong> to be approved for commercialization.</li>
<li>India has the world&rsquo;s <strong>5th largest</strong> GM crop acreage after the USA, Brazil, Argentina, and Canada</li>
<li>Presently <strong>majority</strong> of India&rsquo;s cotton cultivation area is under Bt cotton crops.</li>
<li><strong>Bt brinjal</strong> was developed by <strong>Mahyco</strong> (Maharashtra Hybrid Seeds Company) in collaboration with the Dharwad University of Agricultural Sciences and the Tamil Nadu Agricultural University.</li>
</ul>
</div>
<p>Benefits of increased <strong>shelf life</strong> and<strong> high yield</strong> attached with the cultivation of Bt Brinjal cannot outweigh the multiple concerns arising out of the unapproved and half prepared release of Bt brinjal like :</p>
<h3>Major Concerns</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Environmental impact:</strong> Sowing of Bt brinjal or GM foods can give rise to serious environmental concerns like:<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Cross-pollination</strong> in GM crops paves the way for <strong>herbicide-resistant super weeds</strong> that can further threaten the sustenance of other crops and pests because of its uncontrolled growth.</li>
<li>Pest-resistant Bt crops can lead to the <strong>extinction</strong> of a few <strong>species</strong> that in turn can affect the <strong>food chain</strong> also.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Implications for consumers and farmers: National Institute of Agricultural Economics and Policy Research&rsquo;s</strong> anticipation that Bt brinjal&rsquo;s high yield and increased shelf life will benefit consumers and farmers owing to cut in retail price of brinjals ignores the scenario that companies might charge premium prices for Bt brinjal seeds, in which case farmers may not benefit at all.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Critics claim that patent laws give developers of the GM crops a dangerous degree of control/ <strong>dominance</strong> over the food supply that results in the over domination of world food production by a few companies.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Biosafety Issues:</strong> Crops like rice, <strong>brinjal</strong>, and mustard, among others, have their <strong>origin in India</strong> and introducing genetically modified versions of these crops could be a major threat to the vast number of domestic and wild varieties of these crops (GM crops because of their pest resistance characteristics could eliminate important species of pests that are responsible for sustaining domestic varieties and can pose serious threats to biodiversity).<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Biodiversity</strong> is critical for nutrition and sustainability, and the government&rsquo;s task force on biotechnology (2004) had recommended that no GM crop be allowed in biodiversity-rich areas.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Nutrition issues:</strong> Bt brinjal poses risks to human health as their resistance to <strong>antibiotics</strong> can turn medicines ineffective and may result in the formation of <strong>new toxins and allergens.</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Toxins produced by GM crops can not only affect <strong>non target organisms</strong> but also pose the danger of unintentionally introducing allergens and other <strong>anti-nutrition</strong> factors in foods.</li>
<li>Indian agricultural scientist <strong>M.S. Swaminathan</strong> (who had described <strong>Bt cotton as a &lsquo;failure&rsquo;</strong>) had asked for <strong>independent&nbsp;</strong>(instead of relying exclusively on Mahyco for data) <strong>long-term (chronic) toxicity studies,</strong> of Bt brinjal before going for commercialization and cultivation of Bt brinjal.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Inefficient Regulatory system:</strong> Seeing the lapses in the regulatory system and irregularities in the assessment of Bt brinjal (in terms of <strong>labeling</strong> and unapproved and illegal sowing of GM crops) Parliamentary Standing Committee on Agriculture and the Committee on Science &amp; Technology, Environment and Forests recommended:<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>A thorough probe</strong> by a team of eminent independent scientists and environmentalists for commercialization of GM crops.</li>
<li>Endorsed <strong>labeling GM</strong> foods to protect a consumer&rsquo;s right to know.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Labeling GM crops</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Most GM foods in the study did <strong>not disclose GM on their</strong> labels and 15% made false claims saying they were GM-free.</li>
<li>Retailing being largely an <strong>unorganized sector</strong>, enforcing truthful labeling is not pragmatic.</li>
<li>Two of the eight infant food samples, imported from the US and the Netherlands, were GM positive, but the labels did not disclose this.</li>
<li>Under Section 22 of the <strong>Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006,</strong> GM foods are not allowed to be manufactured, imported or sold in India unless approved under the Act.</li>
</ul>
</div>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>No scientific consensus:</strong> Lack of scientific consensus on the safety and efficacy of GM crops.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Pests have developed <strong>resistance to Bt cotton</strong>, forcing farmers to spray lethal pesticides. This led to over 50 deaths by pesticide-poisoning in Vidarbha in 2017.</li>
<li>A GM-based strategy of pest control is <strong>unsustainable</strong>, all the more so since farmers, already pressed for land, ignore the government&rsquo;s recommendation to plant refuge crops.</li>
<li>The government&rsquo;s task forces and expert committees on GM crops are of the view that Bt brinjal runs counter to the framework for <strong>agricultural development and farmers&rsquo; welfare.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Way Forward</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Environmental Impact Assessment:</strong> must be carried out by independent environmentalist, as farmers do not and cannot assess the long-term impact of GM crops on ecology and health.</li>
<li>The government must detail the steps it has taken since the ban of Bt brinjal (2010) to address the scientific gap for commercialization of Bt brinjal.</li>
<li>The government should bring a clear report on benefits accrued by Bt brinjal to the farming community and demonstrate how Bt brinjal fits in with <strong>sustainable farming and biodiversity conservation.</strong></li>
<li>Ensure efficient infrastructural and institutional set up in order to ensure labeling of GM crops and bring more efficacy into the regulatory system of GM crops.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Mandatory labeling of products from GM crops.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Unchecked import</strong> of GM products should be stopped.</li>
<li>In order to curb the <strong>illegal cultivation</strong> of Bt brinjal, the <strong><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/geac-seeks-information-from-bangladesh-on-bt-brinjal" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Genetic Engineering Appraisal Committee</a> (GEAC)</strong> must:<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Collaborate with state governments and launch a nation-wide investigation drive.</li>
<li>Take action on threats of deliberate Bt brinjal and Bt cotton cultivation.</li>
<li>Investigate and prosecute those involved in the illegal supply of Bt brinjal seeds.</li>
<li>Organic farming should be encouraged.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<p>The government should go for commercialization of Bt brinjal only after the core and deep research on the long term prospects and benefits of commercialization of Bt crops in India. In that context, India can learn from Bangladesh&rsquo;s example where farmers have been growing the Bt Brinjal since 2013.</p>
<table border="1" style="border-collapse: collapse;">
<tbody>
<tr style="height: 76px;">
<td style="width: 961px; background-color: #f5d3d3; height: 76px;">
<p><em><strong>Drishti Input:</strong></em></p>
<p>Discuss the concerns and challenges associated with the GM crops in context of its varied advantages over traditional crops.</p>
</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<p></p>',
			'postdate' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenTime) {},
			'url' => 'https://www.drishtiias.com/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/concerns-over-genetically-modified-brinjal'
		],
		(int) 16 => [
			'title' => 'Autonomous District Councils',
			'catname' => 'National Institutions',
			'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>In January 2019, Cabinet approved <strong>amendment to Article 280</strong> and Sixth Schedule of the Constitution to increase autonomy, financial resources and powers of the autonomous district councils in Assam, Meghalaya, Mizoram and Tripura.</li>
<li>The <strong>three Autonomous District Councils (ADC) of Meghalaya</strong> have urged the <strong>National Commission for Scheduled Tribe</strong> to direct the State government not to interfere into their affairs.</li>
<li>The three ADCs have also apprised the 15th Finance Commission that the revenue collected is barely sufficient to carry out their day- to-day administrative activities and primary duties as envisaged in the sixth schedule leaving virtually no funds for development work.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Background</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>India&rsquo;s population consists of 100 million tribal people who have constitutionally been addressed via two distinct avenues i.e <strong>Fifth and Sixth Schedule.</strong></li>
<li>Fifth and Sixth Schedules were discussed and passed by Constituent Assembly between September 5-7, 1949.</li>
<li>The <strong>Fifth Schedule applies to the overwhelming majority of India&rsquo;s tribes in nine States</strong>, while the <strong>Sixth Schedule</strong> covers areas that are settled in the <strong>northeastern States bordering China and Myanmar.</strong></li>
<li>The Sixth Schedule gives tribal communities considerable autonomy; the States of Assam, Tripura, Meghalaya, and Mizoram are autonomous regions under the Sixth Schedule.</li>
<li>The <strong>District Council</strong> and the <strong>Regional Council</strong> under the Sixth Schedule have real power to make laws, possibility on the various legislative subjects, receiving grants-in-aid from the Consolidated Fund of India to meet the costs of schemes for development, health care, education, roads and regulatory powers to state control.</li>
<li>The mandate towards devolution, deconcentration and divestment determines the protection of their customs, better economic development and most importantly ethnic security.</li>
<li>However, the Sixth Schedule has its own shortcomings; breakdown of law and order, elections not being contested, rather than empowerment there is exclusion that fails to provide much-needed protection to tribes in the absence of political will, and live by the mercy of government funds.</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Sixth Schedule</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The Sixth Schedule of the Constitution deals with the administration of the tribal areas in the four northeastern states of Assam, Meghalaya, Tripura and Mizoram as per <strong>Article 244.</strong></li>
<li>The Governor is empowered to increase or decrease the areas or change the names of the autonomous districts. While executive powers of the Union extend in Scheduled areas with respect to their administration in Vth schedule, the <strong>VI<sup>th</sup> schedule areas remain within executive authority of the state.</strong></li>
<li>The acts of Parliament or the state legislature do not apply to autonomous districts and autonomous regions or apply with specified modifications and exceptions.</li>
<li>The Councils have also been endowed with <strong>wide civil and criminal judicial powers,</strong> for example establishing village courts etc. However, the jurisdiction of these councils is subject to the <strong>jurisdiction of the concerned High Court.</strong></li>
<li>The sixth schedule to the Constitution includes <strong>10 autonomous district</strong> councils in <strong>4 states</strong>. These are:<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Assam: Bodoland Territorial Council, Karbi Anglong Autonomous Council and Dima Hasao Autonomous District Council.</li>
<li>Meghalaya:Garo Hills Autonomous District Council, Jaintia Hills Autonomous District Council and Khasi Hills Autonomous District Council.</li>
<li>Tripura: Tripura Tribal Areas Autonomous District Council.</li>
<li>Mizoram: Chakma Autonomous District Council, Lai Autonomous District Council, Mara Autonomous District Council.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</div>
<h3>Major Issues</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Granting special provisions to certain minority tribal groups have led to further demands by other groups for such provisions under the 6th schedule. This has created disparity among the people and resulted in the rise of conflict between various groups.</li>
<li>In terms of financial autonomy, the members across the ADCs in North Eastern states share the same view that the ADCs are at the mercy of the state governments. There exists a huge gap between the approved budget and the funds received from the State Government which has had a direct impact on the development of these tribal communities.</li>
<li>They are also dependent upon state governments for decisions regarding undertaking of developmental activities in their region.</li>
<li>Due to the extensive corruption, development in these regions is seen to be a non-existing phenomena.</li>
<li>Lack of coordination between the States governments and Department of Planning and Development, Hill Areas Department and the Autonomous councils has resulted in the lackadaisical implementation of the development work.</li>
<li>Absence of any efficient Committee for the purpose of monitoring, evaluation and keeping a record of the funds received and utilized has led to extensive corruption and under development of these regions under the Autonomous Councils.</li>
<li>Members of the Chakma, Lai and Mara Councils of Mizoram are of the view that funds coming from the Central Government is not sufficient enough, and believes that funds should be granted to different councils on the basis of backwardness of the councils and not on the basis of population.</li>
<li>The State government justifies this position by stating that the ADCs have been holding on to their traditional roles of protecting the tribal identity in the region which abstains the State from various developmental activities.</li>
<li>At the same time the ADCs have small amount of funds which they receive as taxes and land revenues, however they have to depend on the Central government for more funds.</li>
<li>In terms of representation of members in the Autonomous Council, Bodoland Territorial Councilis the only council which has 46 members, which is the highest representation and also the only council which has members from the Non-tribal community represented in the Council.</li>
<li>Time to time different ADCs have demanded an increase in the number of members in the ADCs.</li>
<li>Unlike the Panchayati Raj System where the 73rd amendment allows reservation of one third of all the Panchayat seats for women at different levels, both Fifth and Sixth Schedules have no mention of women representation and gender equality.</li>
<li>The relationship to land is the basis of tribal or indigenous identity and that the culture and identity of indigenous people cannot be preserved without maintaining control over land and natural resources, as these factors to a large extent determines the lifestyle and culture of the indigenous people.</li>
<li>Generally tribal or indigenous cultural practices community land ownership, while some other tribes practice individual with clan ownership,however modern land relations and formal law recognizes only individual ownership of land.</li>
<li>It was under colonial rule that the process of turning land into commodity began for their own interest, in the name of development. Post independence, large tracts of lands were given away to the immigrants and other settlers.</li>
<li>The autonomy and power of the District Councils lie in the hands of a small group of elites who govern the functioning of the Autonomous DistrictCouncils.</li>
<li>There is clear lack of interest and pursuit on the part of the District Council members in taking initiative and planning and monitoring developmental activities at the micro level.</li>
<li>The absence of involvement of local stakeholders in the process of development and in the decision making process has deprived the common masses from their democratic rights.</li>
<li>The Sixth Schedule also vests enormous powers to the Governor. Members of the various ADCs, in this context are of the opinion that the Governors are mere puppets in the hands of the Ministers.</li>
<li>A major gap in the functioning of the ADCs is the lack of interaction at the village and field level.There is an absence of efficient village councils or regional councils.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Suggestions</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The government and other agencies need to win the confidence of non scheduled area population and bring a sense of security and belongingness to them.</li>
<li>There has to be a proper coordination or adjustment between traditional practices and usages with changes that have occurred within the tribal society today.</li>
<li>The issue on representation needs to be seriously reconsidered, which still has limited participation of women in the decision making process, and also excludes the non-tribals of the State.</li>
<li>Adequate accountability and transparency of funds generated should be entrusted to authorities such as the Comptroller-General and Auditor-General of Accounts to prevent misuse.</li>
<li>Documentation and codification of traditional laws is an essential step through which actual aim of the Sixth Schedule that is protection of tribal cultural identity can be fulfilled.</li>
<li>Measures should be taken in order to ensure that the Autonomous Councils have well defined legislations which clearly identify the powers of the village level bodies,release of funds by the government, transparency in the allocation and utilization of funds.</li>
<li>Stringent laws regarding frequent reviewing of financial position of the ADCs like the Panchayati Raj System will enhance the status of the ADCs.</li>
<li>There is a need for inclusive development and capacity building of ADCs by introducing ideas from the PRI setup.</li>
<li>Strengthening and empowering the local self-governance, which would also include Village and Tribal Councils.</li>
<li>Empowerment of civil society bodies would contribute immensely in the monitoring of the developmental activities and progress rate across diverse sectors undertaken by the councils.</li>
<li>Traditional forms of governance must be promoted with self governance.</li>
<li>To make ADCs platform of governance broader and capable of dealing with a changing world at both the national and international levels, there is a need for inclusion of democratic elements like gender justice into these institutions.</li>
<li>To get a positive outcome the members of the ADCs should be trained, as capacity building of the ADCs members is vital for healthy governance and helps one to be more alert about the responsibilities assigned and the overall functioning.</li>
<li>The functioning of the ADCs should be amended to make them accountable through the insertion of a clause that makes mandatory the creation of village councils/ bodies with a degree of representation to the traditional institutions of chiefs.</li>
<li>Creation of effective watch dog with the powers of Lokayukta in monitoring and keeping a track of the activities undertaken by the ADCs should be given priority as this will help in maintaining transparency in matters of finance and other developmental plans and activities.</li>
<li>Regular and assured financial assistance from governments an efficient monitoring system are two major factors which will determine the success of such provisions,along with awareness and active participation of the other stakeholders.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Way forward</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The ADCs in the past decades have been successful to a certain extent in preserving the tribal identity and attained statehood for some of the tribes who had been struggling for a separate state in the North Eastern part of India.</li>
<li>However, in the present context where the states have been witnessing various changes in terms of development, upgradation of administrative setups, welfare programmes and policies and also changes in the demographic structure it is time that the provisions under the Sixth Schedule needs to be enhanced in order to cope up with the changing mechanisms and demands of the local communities.</li>
<li>Under the prevailing setup, not only the existing powers and functions of the traditional bodies are extremely limited, but also their access to resource allocation is severely poor.</li>
<li>The tribes in other parts of India are faced with problems of development as well as identity. Hence it is worth exploring extension of such systems in other parts of tribal India.</li>
</ul>',
			'postdate' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenTime) {},
			'url' => 'https://www.drishtiias.com/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-national-institutions/autonomous-district-councils'
		],
		(int) 17 => [
			'title' => 'World Day to Combat Desertification and Drought',
			'catname' => 'News Analysis',
			'desc' => '<p>The World Day to Combat Desertification and Drought is observed every year on <strong>17<sup>th</sup> June</strong>. India for the first time will host the 14th session of the Conference of Parties (COP-14) of the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) in September, 2019.<a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/959image1.jpg" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/959image1.jpg" width="307" height="319" style="float: right;" caption="false" /></a></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The World Day to Combat Desertification and Drought is observed every year to promote public awareness of international efforts to combat desertification.</li>
<li>The day is a unique moment to remind everyone that land degradation neutrality is achievable through problem-solving, strong community involvement and cooperation at all levels.</li>
<li><strong>The Theme</strong> of 2019 is &ldquo;Let&rsquo;s Grow the Future Together&rdquo;</li>
</ul>
<h3>United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD)</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>It was established in 1994, the <strong>sole legally binding international agreement</strong> linking environment and development to sustainable land management. The Convention addresses specifically the arid, semi-arid and dry sub-humid areas, known as the drylands, where some of the most vulnerable ecosystems and peoples can be found.</li>
<li><strong>UNCCD 2018-2030 Strategic Framewor</strong>k: It is the most comprehensive global commitment to achieve Land Degradation Neutrality (LDN) in order to restore the productivity of vast expanses of degraded land, improve the livelihoods of more than 1.3 billion people, and reduce the impacts of drought on vulnerable populations to build.</li>
<li>The Convention&rsquo;s 197 parties work together to improve the living conditions for people in drylands, to maintain and restore land and soil productivity, and to mitigate the effects of drought.</li>
<li>The UNCCD is particularly committed to a bottom-up approach, encouraging the participation of local people in combating desertification and land degradation. The UNCCD secretariat facilitates cooperation between developed and developing countries, particularly around knowledge and technology transfer for sustainable land management.</li>
<li>As the dynamics of land, climate and biodiversity are intimately connected, to meet these complex challenges with an integrated approach and the best possible use of natural resources. The UNCCD collaborates closely with the other <strong>two Rio Conventions</strong>:<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>The Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD).</strong></li>
<li><strong>The United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC).</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>The Conference of the Parties (COP)</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The COP was established by the Convention as the supreme decision-making body. It comprises ratifying governments and regional economic integration organizations, such as the European Union.</li>
<li><strong>Functions of COP:</strong> One of the main functions of the COP is to review reports submitted by the Parties detailing how they are carrying out their commitments.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The COP makes recommendations on the basis of these reports.</li>
<li>It also has the power to make amendments to the Convention or to adopt new annexes, such as additional regional implementation annexes.</li>
<li>The COP can guide the Convention as global circumstances and national needs change.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>UNCCD Estimate of Desertification</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Land &amp; Drought:</strong> By 2025, 1.8 billion people will experience absolute water scarcity, and 2/3 of the world will be living under water-stressed conditions. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>A complex and slowly encroaching natural hazard with significant and pervasive socio-economic and environmental impacts to cause more deaths and displace more people than any other natural disaster.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Land &amp; Human Security:</strong> By 2045 some 135 million people may be displaced as a result of desertification.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Achieving land degradation neutrality -by rehabilitating already degraded land, scaling up sustainable land management and accelerating restoration initiatives- is a pathway to greater resilience and security for all.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Land &amp; Climate:</strong> Restoring the soils of degraded ecosystems has the potential to store up to 3 billion tons of carbon annually.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The land use sector represents almost 25% of total global emissions. Its rehabilitation and sustainable management are critical to combating climate change.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>UNCCD and Sustainable Development</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Goal 15 of Sustainable Development Goals(SDG), 2030</strong> declares that &ldquo;we are determined to protect the planet from degradation, including through sustainable consumption and production, sustainably managing its natural resources and taking urgent action on climate change, so that it can support the needs of the present and future generations&rdquo;.</li>
</ul>
<h3>India and UNCCD</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The Union Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC) in partnership with the <strong>International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN)</strong> also launched a flagship project on enhancing capacity on <strong>forest Landscape Restoration (FLR) and Bonn Challenge</strong> in India, through a pilot phase of 3.5 years implemented in the States of Haryana, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Nagaland and Karnataka.</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Desertification</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>It is the degradation of land in arid, semi-arid and dry sub-humid areas. It is caused primarily by human activities and climatic variations. Desertification does not refer to the expansion of existing deserts.</li>
<li>It occurs because dryland ecosystems, which cover over one-third of the world&lsquo;s land area, are extremely vulnerable to overexploitation and inappropriate land use.</li>
<li>Poverty, political instability, deforestation, overgrazing and bad irrigation practices can all undermine the productivity of the land</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>Bonn challenge</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The Bonn Challenge is a global effort to bring 150 million hectares of the world&rsquo;s deforested and degraded land into restoration by 2020, and 350 million hectares by 2030.</li>
<li>At the UNFCCC Conference of the Parties (COP) 2015 in Paris, India also joined the <strong>voluntary Bonn Challenge</strong> pledge to bring into restoration 13 million hectares of degraded and deforested land by the year 2020, an additional 8 million hectares by 2030.</li>
<li>India&rsquo;s pledge is one of the largest in Asia.</li>
</ul>
</div>',
			'postdate' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenTime) {},
			'url' => 'https://www.drishtiias.com/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/world-day-to-combat-desertification-and-drought'
		],
		(int) 18 => [
			'title' => 'UN Report on Myanmar Rohingya Crisis',
			'catname' => 'News Analysis',
			'desc' => '<p>The UN secretary-general has accepted an independent report on how the UN System operated in Myanmar, leading up to the mass exodus of the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/wrong-on-the-rohingya" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Rohingyas</a> following serious human rights abuses.</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The report concluded that there were <strong>&ldquo;systemic and structural failures&rdquo;</strong> that prevented a unified strategy from being implemented.</li>
<li>It covers the period 2010-2018, encompassing the UN&rsquo;s response to the systematic and brutal abuse of hundreds-of-thousands of mainly &ndash;&nbsp;<strong>Muslim Rohingya in Rakhine state,</strong> by the national army and security forces, which began in August 2017.</li>
<li>It was described by the UN human rights chief at the time as a textbook example of ethnic cleansing.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Findings of Report</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Fragmented strategy:</strong> The report has expressed displeasure over the functioning of the UN agency in handling the violence against the Rohingya. It observes that serious errors were committed and opportunities were lost in the UN system following a <strong>fragmented strategy</strong> rather than a common plan of action.</li>
<li><strong>Improper reporting:</strong> There appear to have been instances of <strong>deliberately de-dramatizing events</strong> in reports prepared by the Resident Coordinator, as well as instances of various UN entities, including the Office <strong>for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA),</strong> of not sharing their analysis with other entities of the UN System.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The report also emphasises the impact of competing strategies between some UN agencies and individuals while dealing with the Rohingya crisis.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Polarisation:</strong> It appears that the increasing polarisation among officials and staff was fuelled, at least in part, by the emotional reactions to the horrific events taking place on the ground.</li>
<li>The foundations of <strong>systemic and structural shortcomings</strong> in the UN&rsquo;s presence in Myanmar.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Insufficient inter-governmental support.</li>
<li>The absence of a clear and unifying strategy.</li>
<li>The weakness of a clear nodal point for coordination.</li>
<li>Dysfunctional actions at the level of the Country Team.</li>
<li>Shortcomings of systematic and unified analysis from the field</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Conclusion and Recommendations</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Shared responsibility:</strong> It was the shared responsibility on the part of all parties to protect the Rohingya&rsquo;;s. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The agencies involved have not been able to accompany the Government&rsquo;s political process with constructive actions.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>The report says that the UN Security Council should bear some responsibility, &ldquo;for not providing enough support to the Secretariat when such backing was required and continues to be essential.</li>
<li><strong>The key lesson</strong> was to foster an environment encouraging different entities of the UN System to work together to reinforce a <strong>&ldquo;broader, system-wide strategy&rdquo;</strong>.</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Rohingya people</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The <strong>Rohingya people</strong> are stateless, Indo-Aryan ethnic group who reside in Rakhine State, Myanmar.</li>
<li>There were an estimated 1 million Rohingya living in Myanmar before the 2016&ndash;17 crisis. An estimated 625,000 refugees from Rakhine, Myanmar, had crossed the border into Bangladesh since August 2017. The majority are Muslim while a minority are Hindu.</li>
<li>Described by the United Nations as one of the most persecuted minorities in the world. The Rohingya population is denied citizenship under the 1982 Myanmar nationality law. They have denied the Rohingya the possibility of acquiring a nationality. Although Rohingya history in the region can be traced back to the 8th century, Myanmar law does not recognize the ethnic minority as one of the eight national indigenous races.</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA)</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>OCHA is the part of the United Nations Secretariat responsible for bringing together humanitarian actors to ensure a coherent response to emergencies. OCHA also ensures there is a framework within which each actor can contribute to the overall response effort.</li>
<li>It works to overcome obstacles that impede humanitarian assistance from reaching people affected by crises, and it provides leadership in mobilizing assistance and resources on behalf of the humanitarian system. OCHA is not an operational agency directly engaged in the delivery of humanitarian programmes, and its added value is as an honest broker, facilitator, thought leader and global advocate, providing support to the humanitarian system.</li>
</ul>
</div>',
			'postdate' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenTime) {},
			'url' => 'https://www.drishtiias.com/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/un-report-on-myanmar-rohingya-crisis'
		],
		(int) 19 => [
			'title' => 'NATO Ally Status to India',
			'catname' => 'News Analysis',
			'desc' => '<p>Two top American lawmakers have moved a key legislation in the Senate which seeks to advance the US-India strategic relationship.</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The legislation will amend the Arms Control Export Act to bring India at par with the US&rsquo; NATO allies&ndash; Israel, Australia, New Zealand and South Korea for purposes of selling military items under the ITAR (International Traffic in Arms Regulations) list.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Background</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>There are two technology control lists in the US system &ndash; one is under the Export Administration Regulations, which places controls on the sale of dual-use items that have both civil and military uses and the second is the ITAR list.</li>
<li>The civil nuclear deal paved the way for India to access items on the first set of lists, i.e. those under the Export Administration Regulations.</li>
<li>The Arms Control Export (AEC) Act governs the ITAR list. The amendment, therefore, will make it possible for the US to fulfil India&rsquo;s operational requirements in quick time, thus improving its reliability on supplies.</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>North Atlantic Treaty Organization</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) is a military alliance established by the North Atlantic Treaty (also called the Washington Treaty) of April 4, 1949, by the United States, Canada, and several Western European nations to provide collective security against the Soviet Union.</li>
<li>A key provision of the treaty, the so-called Article 5, states that if one member of the alliance is attacked in Europe or North America, it is to be considered an attack on all members. That effectively put Western Europe under the "nuclear umbrella" of the US.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>NATO has only once invoked Article 5, on September 12, 2001 following the 9/11 attacks on the World Trade Center in the US.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>As of 2019, there are 29 member states, with Montenegro becoming the latest member to join the alliance in 2017. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>France withdrew from the integrated military command of NATO in 1966 but remained a member of the organization. However, it resumed its position in NATO&rsquo;s military command in 2009.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>Recent Issues</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>A big source of the internal strain is American President Donald Trump's recurrent demand that countries devote an amount equal to at least two percent of GDP to defence spending In 2018.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>However, only seven of NATO's 29 member states hit the two-percent target.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>Strained relationship over selling of defence equipments.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The US has halted delivery of equipment related to its F-35 fighter jets to Turkey over its plans to buy <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/india-going-ahead-with-purchase-of-S-400-air-defence-systems" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Russia&rsquo;s S-400 missile defence system</a>.</li>
<li>U.S. wants Turkey to buy the Patriot defence system of the USA, instead of Russia&rsquo;s S-400s.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>Recently, the Republic of Macedonia changed its name to the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/macedonias-new-name" target="_blank" rel="noopener">&ldquo;Republic of North Macedonia&rdquo;</a> to enter the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) and the <a href="/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-international-institution/european-union" target="_blank" rel="noopener">European Union (EU)</a> as its accession to both organizations was vetoed by Greece.</li>
</ul>
</div>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The move comes after India and the US signed the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/india-us-2-plus-2-talks" target="_blank" rel="noopener">COMCASA (Communications, Compatibility and Security Agreement) in 2018</a>.</li>
<li>The two countries are also in advance discussion to sign another foundational agreement of the BECA <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/india-us-mini-2-plus-2-talks" target="_blank" rel="noopener">(Basic Exchange Cooperation Agreement).</a></li>
<li>It also comes ahead of President Donald Trump&rsquo;s scheduled meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi on the sidelines of the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/g20-and-marine-plastic-waste" target="_blank" rel="noopener">G20 Summit in Osaka, Japan.</a></li>
</ul>
<h3>Importance</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The amendment is moved as part of the National Defense Authorization Act 2020 of the USA, giving a big boost to India-US defence trade.</li>
<li>This would remove current legislative barriers to export of major high-tech defence equipment to India which is normally shared with only a few countries.</li>
<li>Although, it is an important signal of US political support for enhancing defense ties but is unlikely to have tangible impact on trade flows in the near term.</li>
<li>The amendment needs to be passed by both the Senate and the House of Representatives before it can be signed by the US President into law.</li>
</ul>',
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	(int) 0 => [
		'title' => 'Operation Sankalp',
		'catname' => 'News Analysis',
		'desc' => '<p><strong>The Indian Navy</strong> has launched <strong>&lsquo;Operation Sankalp&rsquo;</strong> in the <strong>Persian Gulf</strong> and the <strong>Gulf of Oman</strong> as a measure <strong>to assure the safety and security of the Indian vessels</strong>, following the recent maritime incidents in the region.</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The operation has been launched in the wake of <strong>escalating tension in the Gulf of Oman</strong>, where two oil tankers were attacked recently. <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/strait-of-hormuz-1" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>The U.S.</strong> considers <strong>Iran</strong> responsible for the attacks, heightening <strong>tensions between the two countries.</strong></a></li>
<li><strong>Indian Navy Ships Chennai and Sunayna</strong> have been deployed in the Gulf of Oman and Persian Gulf to undertake maritime security operations. In addition, aerial surveillance by IN aircraft is also being undertaken in the area.</li>
<li><strong>The <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/information-fusion-centre-of-indian-navy" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Information Fusion Centre - Indian Ocean Region</a></strong> is also keeping a close watch on the movement of ships in the Gulf region.</li>
</ul>
<h3>The Persian Gulf</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Also called the <strong>Arabian Gulf,</strong> it is a shallow marginal sea of the Indian Ocean that lies <strong>between the Arabian Peninsula and the southwestern Iran.</strong></li>
<li>Its length is around 990 km and its width varies from a maximum of around 340 km to a minimum of 55 km <strong>in the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/iran-threatens-to-close-strait-of-hormuz" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Strait of Hormuz.</a></strong></li>
<li>It is <strong>bordered</strong> on the north, northeast, and east by <strong>Iran</strong>; on the southeast and south by part of <strong>Oman</strong> and <strong>the United Arab Emirates</strong>; on the southwest and west by <strong>Qatar, Bahrain</strong>, and <strong>Saudi Arabia;</strong> and on the northwest by <strong>Kuwait</strong> and <strong>Iraq.</strong></li>
<li>The area has approximately two-thirds of the world&rsquo;s estimated proven oil reserves and one-third of the world&rsquo;s estimated proven natural gas reserves.</li>
<li><strong>A considerable amount of sea trade passes through the gulf,</strong> leading to heavy traffic in the region.</li>
<li>There remains an incessant traffic of large tankers that carry oil from the large marine terminals situated in Iran, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, United Arab Emirates and other locations to all parts of the world.</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/802image2.jpg" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/802image2.jpg" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" caption="false" width="600" height="338" /></a></p>
<h3>The Gulf of Oman</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The Gulf of Oman, northwest arm of the Arabian Sea, <strong>lies between</strong> the eastern portion of the <strong>Arabian Peninsula (Oman)</strong> and <strong>Iran.</strong></li>
<li>It is 560 km long and <strong>connects with the Persian Gulf</strong> through the Strait of Hormuz.</li>
<li>It is a shipping route for the oil-producing area around the Persian Gulf.</li>
<li>It offers the <strong>only entrance from the Arabian Sea and the Indian Ocean</strong> into the Persian Gulf, thus the world&rsquo;s major oil exporters and importers have a joint interest in its security.</li>
</ul>',
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	(int) 1 => [
		'title' => 'International Yoga Day',
		'catname' => 'News Analysis',
		'desc' => '<p>The fifth annual International Yoga Day will be observed on June 21.</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>June 21 is observed as International Day of Yoga every year since the <a href="/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-international-institution/united-nations-1" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>United Nations</strong></a> declared it in 2015.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Background</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The idea of International Day of Yoga was first proposed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi during his speech at the UN General Assembly (UNGA), on September 27, 2014.</li>
<li>A draft resolution on 'International Day of Yoga' introduced by India's Ambassador to UN received support from 177 nations, the highest number of co-sponsors for any UNGA resolution.</li>
<li>Thereafter, the <strong>United Nations</strong> proclaimed June 21 as the International Day of Yoga.</li>
</ul>
<h3>International Yoga Day 2019</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The theme for fifth International yoga 2019 day is <strong>'Yoga for Heart'.</strong></li>
<li>Jharkhand's capital <strong>Ranchi</strong> will be hosting the main yoga day event.</li>
<li>International yoga day coincides with the <strong>summer solstice.</strong></li>
<li>Yoga is inscribed in the list of UNESCO <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/important-facts-for-prelims-23rd-march-2019" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Intangible Cultural Heritage</a> of Humanity of India.</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Summer Solstice<a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/289image3.jpg" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/289image3.jpg" width="404" height="356" style="float: right;" caption="false" /></a></strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>In the Northern Hemisphere, the summer solstice occurs on June 21 with the longest period of daylight.</li>
<li>On June 21<sup>st</sup>, the Northern Hemisphere is tilted towards the sun and the rays of the sun fall directly on the <strong>Tropic of Cancer.</strong></li>
<li>As a consequence, areas exposed to sun rays receive extra heat and the areas near the poles get less heat (as the rays of the sun are slanting).</li>
<li>As a large area of the Northern Hemisphere is receiving light from the sun, it is summer in the regions north of the equator and longest day &amp; the shortest night at these places occur on 21<sup>st</sup> June.</li>
</ul>
</div>',
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	(int) 2 => [
		'title' => 'Deficiencies in Indian Policing',
		'catname' => 'News Editorials',
		'desc' => '<div class="border">
<p>This editorial is based on the article &ldquo;<a href="https://www.livemint.com/news/india/india-s-police-force-among-the-world-s-weakest-1560925355383.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">India&rsquo;s police force among the world&rsquo;s weakest</a>&rdquo; which appeared in Livemint on 20th June 2019. The article talks about the &ldquo;Deficiencies in Indian Policing&rdquo; and suggests a way forward.</p>
</div>
<p>India&rsquo;s existing police system suffers a series of deficiencies from problems relating to a police <strong>organization, environment, infrastructure, and understaffing,</strong> to obsolete weaponry and intelligence gathering techniques to a shortage of manpower to corruption, the police force in the country is not in a good shape.</p>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Underreporting of crime in India</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>An expert committee under the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation has noted that there is significant <strong>under-reporting of crimes</strong> under the NCRB .<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) under the Ministry of Home Affairs annual report called Crime in India, that records crime on the basis of the FIRs registered in the police stations across the country.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>There could be suppression of data and low registration of crimes because the police know that their work is judged on the basis of this information.</li>
<li>Sometimes victims of crime may decide against reporting the incident with the police because they are afraid to approach the police, or think the crime is not serious enough, etc.</li>
</ul>
</div>
<h3>Major Deficiencies</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Understaffed and overburdened police force: The police-population ratio,</strong> currently 192 policemen per lakh population, is less than what is recommended by <strong>UN</strong> i.e. <strong>222 policemen per lakh population.</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>There are only 144 police officers for every 100,000 citizens (the commonly used measure of police strength), making India&rsquo;s police force one of the weakest in the world.</li>
<li><strong>Policing in India is a state subject</strong> which means there is significant variation across states.</li>
<li>Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Andhra Pradesh and West Bengal&rsquo;s police forces are all extremely understaffed with less than 100 police staff for 100,000 population.</li>
<li>The only states with police forces that meet the global standard are the insurgency-affected states in the North-East and Punjab.</li>
<li>Even as states have increased the sanctioned strength of their police forces, their populations have increased by even more -especially in states such as Uttar Pradesh and Bihar.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Understaffing</strong> in turn results into <strong>overburdening</strong> of work that not only reduces the <strong>effectiveness and efficiency</strong> of the police personnel (leading to poor quality of investigation) but also leads to <strong>psychological distress</strong> (which has been held responsible for various crimes committed by the policemen) and contributes to Pendency of cases.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>As a result of the overburdening of work, Police personnel discharges a range of functions related to:<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Crime prevention and response (e.g., intelligence collection, patrolling, investigation, production of witnesses in courts)</li>
<li>Maintenance of internal security and law and order (e.g., crowd control, riot control, anti-terrorist or anti-extremist operations)</li>
<li>Various miscellaneous duties (e.g., traffic management, disaster rescue and removal of encroachments).</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>An overburdened police force:</strong> A high percentage of vacancies within the police forces exacerbates an existing problem of overburdened police personnel.</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>86% of the state police comprises of the constabulary.</li>
<li>Crime per lakh population has increased by 28% over the last decade (2005-2015). However, convictions have been low.</li>
<li>In 2015, convictions were secured in 47% of the cases registered under the Indian Penal Code, 1860. The Law Commission has observed that one of the reasons behind this is the poor quality of investigations.</li>
</ul>
</div>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Pendency:</strong> 30% of all cases filed in 2016 were pending for investigation by the end of the year (this combined with the pendency in the judiciary means securing justice in India can take a very long time). Pendency in the police is driven by lack of resources.</li>
<li><strong>Decreased Expenditure</strong> on police in recent years is adding to the resource crunch. Between fiscal 2011 and 2015, states spent 4.4% of their budgeted expenditure on policing on average but this has reduced to 4% over the last four years.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>According to PRS Legislative Research, an <strong>under-resourced,</strong> overburdened police force means that both <strong>core police activities</strong> (enforcing daily law and order) and more long-term criminal investigations are compromised.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Police accountability:</strong> As per the police laws, both the Central and State police forces come under the superintendence and control of political executives. Police priorities are frequently altered based on the will of political executives. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>In this context, the Second Administrative Reforms Commission in 2007 had noted that politicians were unduly influencing police personnel to serve personal or political interests.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Police-Public Relations,</strong> which is an important concern in the effective policing is suffering from the great trust deficit.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>2018 survey across 22 states on <strong>perceptions about policing</strong>, found that <strong>less than 25%</strong> of Indians trust the police highly (as compared to 54% for the army) and the reason for the distrust is that interactions with the police can be frustrating, time-consuming and costly.</li>
<li>The <strong>Second Administrative Reforms Commission</strong> has noted that police-public relations is in an unsatisfactory state because people view the police as corrupt, inefficient, politically partisan and unresponsive.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Criminalization of Politics:</strong> improper implementation of police reforms could be attributed to lack of <strong>political will,</strong> which in turn could be linked to the growing criminalization of politics. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>A large number of lawmakers in the Parliament with serious criminal charges imply little incentive to professionalize the police force.</li>
<li>In each successive Lok Sabha election over the past twenty years, the proportion of candidates with serious criminal charges is rising.</li>
<li>Low police salaries increases the vulnerability of police personnels to form a deep nexus with the <strong>criminals and the politicians.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>History of Police Reforms</h3>
<h3><a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/355image1.webp" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/355image1.webp" width="726" height="140" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" /></a>Way Forward</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>SMART Police:</strong> <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/dgp-appointment" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Police reforms</a> are needed on three fronts:<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Improvement in capacity and infrastructure of police forces.</li>
<li>Revisiting the constitution of police forces in the country through legislative/ administrative changes.</li>
<li>Technological scaling-up.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Independent Complaints Authority:</strong> The Second Administrative Reforms Commission and the Supreme Court have observed that there is a need to have an independent complaints authority to inquire into cases of police misconduct.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>This may be because the political executive and internal police oversight mechanisms may favour law enforcement authorities, and not be able to form an independent and critical judgment.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Community Policing Model</strong> can help in reducing the trust deficit between police and public as it requires the police to work with the community for prevention and detection of crime, maintenance of public order, and resolving local conflicts, with the objective of providing a better quality of life and sense of security. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Various states have been experimenting with community policing including Kerala through<strong> &lsquo;Janamaithri Suraksha Project&rsquo;,</strong> Rajasthan through <strong>&lsquo;Joint Patrolling Committees&rsquo;</strong>, Assam through <strong>&lsquo;Meira Paibi&rsquo;</strong>, Tamil Nadu through <strong>&lsquo;Friends of Police&rsquo;</strong>, West Bengal through the <strong>&lsquo;Community Policing Project&rsquo;</strong>, Andhra Pradesh through <strong>&lsquo;Maithri&rsquo;</strong> and Maharashtra through<strong> &lsquo;Mohalla Committees&rsquo;.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>Binding powers must be conferred on <strong>State Security Commissions and the Police Establishment Boards</strong> as many of these Commissions did not have the power to issue binding recommendations.</li>
<li>Constitute <strong>Police Complaints Authorities</strong> at the state and district levels to inquire into allegations of serious misconduct and abuse of power by police personnel.</li>
<li>The CAG and the Bureau Of Police Research And Development (BPRD) have noted that modern policing requires strong communication support, state-of-art or modern weapons, and a high degree of mobility.</li>
<li>Proper utilization of center and states funds allocated for modernisation of state police forces as these funds are typically used for strengthening police infrastructure, by way of construction of police stations, purchase of weaponry, communication equipment and vehicles.</li>
</ul>
<p>Internal security is very much a prerogative of police and efficient policing is needed in order to tackle threats arising in the form of cyber-attacks, bank frauds, and organized crimes, which need to be tackled in a more specialized manner But for that, the police system needs to be efficient, effective and technologically sound.<br /><br /></p>
<table border="1" style="border-collapse: collapse; width: 100%;">
<tbody>
<tr>
<td style="width: 548.889px; background-color: #edc0c0;">
<p><em><strong>Drishti input</strong></em></p>
<p>Discuss deficiencies in Indian Policing system and suggest a way forward.</p>
</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>',
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	],
	(int) 3 => [
		'title' => 'New Species of ‘Cat fox’',
		'catname' => 'News Analysis',
		'desc' => '<p>A new species of <strong>'cat-fox'</strong> has been found in remote areas of the <strong>French island of Corsica.</strong></p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/802image1.jpg" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/802image1.jpg" style="float: right;" width="334" height="188" caption="false" /></a></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The cats are bigger than a typical house cat, and have large, ringed tails and "highly developed" canine teeth. <strong>Because of their appearance</strong>, they are known locally as <strong>chat-renard</strong>, or <strong>"cat-fox".</strong></li>
<li>It is different from the <strong>European wildcat, Felis silvestris silvestris</strong>. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The DNA report confirms it is close to the <strong>African forest cat, Felis silvestris lybica,</strong> but its exact identity is still to be determined.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>',
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	],
	(int) 4 => [
		'title' => 'QS World University Rankings',
		'catname' => 'News Analysis',
		'desc' => '<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>IIT-Bombay</strong> has been ranked <strong>India&rsquo;s best university</strong> for the second year in <strong>a row, gaining a global ranking of 152</strong> in the <strong>QS World University Rankings for 2020.</strong></li>
<li><strong>Massachusetts Institute of Technology topped the QS World University Rankings for the eighth consecutive year.</strong></li>
<li>Two other Indian universities &mdash; IIT Delhi (182) and the Indian Institute of Science, Bengaluru (184) &mdash; are now under 200.</li>
<li>Other Indian universities included in the top 500 list are IIT-Madras (271), IIT-Kharagpur (281), IIT- Kanpur (291), IIT-Roorkee (383), University of Delhi (474) and IIT-Guwahati (491).</li>
<li>There are a total of 23 Indian institutions in the top 1,000. While most are government-funded universities, <strong>five are privately funded.</strong></li>
<li>The <strong>Manipal Academy of Higher Education</strong>, which falls within the 701-750 ranking band, is the <strong>top private university</strong> in the country.</li>
<li><strong>For private institutions,</strong> it was the indicators such as <strong>teacher-student ratio</strong>, and <strong>international faculty and student populations</strong> that propelled them to the top.</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>QS World University Rankings</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>QS is a leading global career and education network</strong> for ambitious professionals looking to further their personal and professional development.</li>
<li>QS develops and successfully implements <strong>methods of comparative data collection</strong> and <strong>analysis</strong> used to highlight institutions&rsquo; strengths.</li>
<li><strong>The QS World University Rankings is an annual publication of university rankings</strong> which comprises the global overall and subject rankings.</li>
</ul>
</div>',
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	],
	(int) 5 => [
		'title' => 'Capital Gain Tax',
		'catname' => 'News Analysis',
		'desc' => '<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Any profit or gain that arises from the sale of a <strong>&lsquo;capital asset&rsquo;</strong> is a capital gain. This gain or profit comes under the category of &lsquo;income&rsquo;.</li>
<li>Hence, the capital gain tax will be required to be paid for that amount in the year in which the transfer of the capital asset takes place. This is called the capital gains tax, which can be both short-term or long-term.</li>
<li><strong>Long-term Capital Gains Tax:</strong> It is a levy on the profits from the sale of assets held for <strong>more than a year.</strong> The rates are 0%, 15%, or 20%, depending on tax bracket.</li>
<li><strong>Short-term Capital Gains Tax:</strong> It applies to assets <strong>held for a year or less</strong> and is taxed as ordinary income.</li>
<li>Capital gains can be reduced by deducting the capital losses that occur when a taxable asset is sold for less than the original purchase price. The total of capital gains minus any capital losses is known as the <strong>"net capital gains".</strong></li>
<li>Tax on capital gains is triggered only when an asset is <strong>sold</strong>, or <strong>"realized"</strong>. Stock shares that appreciate every year will not be taxed for capital gains until they are sold.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Capital Assets</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Land, building, house property, vehicles, patents, trademarks, leasehold rights, machinery, and jewellery are a few examples of capital assets. This includes having rights in or in relation to an Indian company. It also includes the rights of management or control or any other legal right.</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Realized Gain</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>It results from selling an asset at a price higher than the original purchase price. It occurs when an asset is sold at a level that exceeds its book value cost.</li>
<li>While an asset may be carried on a balance sheet at a level far above cost, any gains while the asset is still being held are considered unrealized as the asset is only being valued at fair market value.</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>Inherited property</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Capital gains are <strong>not applicable to an inherited property</strong> as there is no sale but only a transfer of ownership.</li>
<li>The Income Tax Act has specifically exempted assets received as gifts by way of an inheritance or will. However, if the person who inherited the asset decides to sell it, capital gains tax will be applicable.</li>
</ul>
</div>',
		'postdate' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenTime) {},
		'url' => 'https://www.drishtiias.com/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/capital-gain-tax'
	],
	(int) 6 => [
		'title' => 'UNCCD Drought Tool Box',
		'catname' => 'News Analysis',
		'desc' => '<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The United <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/world-day-to-combat-desertification-and-drought" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD)</strong></a> is currently testing a drought toolbox which uses a total of 15 to 30 different parameters to assess drought risk and vulnerability of a geographical region.</li>
<li>UN convention was given the task of developing such a tool by countries during the previous Conference of Parties (CoP) meeting at the Ordos in China in 2017.</li>
<li>The UNCCD has been working with other UN organisations including World <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/important-facts-for-prelims-7th-february-2019" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Meteorological Organisation (WMO)</a> and <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/important-facts-for-prelims-22nd-march-2019" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO)</a> and experts to design the toolbox.</li>
<li>Drought toolbox is an online web platform, a one-stop shop for all drought-preparedness measures with a link to the various relevant tools in other organisations.</li>
<li>The tools are categorised in line with <strong>three pillars of drought preparedness:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Monitoring, early warning and forecasting tools used by decision makers.</li>
<li>Vulnerability assessment tools for identifying hotspots.</li>
<li>Risk mitigation tools with key &ldquo;policy&rdquo; and &ldquo;technical&rdquo; measures.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>The current procedure for declaring drought is very complex in most countries. This tool can be used by countries to assess and evaluate drought vulnerability in their regions. This can help countries improve their preparedness for dealing with drought.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Drought Declaration in India</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Drought is generally considered as a deficiency in rainfall /precipitation over an extended period, usually a season or more, resulting in a water shortage causing adverse impacts on vegetation, animals, and/or people.</li>
<li>There is no single, legally accepted definition of drought in India. Some states resort to their own definitions of drought.<strong> State Government is the final authority</strong> when it comes to declaring a region as drought affected. Government of India has published two important documents in respect of managing a drought.</li>
<li>The <strong>first step</strong> is to look at two mandatory indicators:<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Rainfall deviation and dry spell.</strong> Depending on the extent of the deviation, and whether or not there is a dry spell, the manual specifies various situations that may or may not be considered a drought trigger.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>The <strong>second step</strong> is to look at four impact indicators &mdash; <strong>agriculture, vegetation indices based on remote sensing, soil moisture, and hydrology</strong>. Each impact can be assessed on the basis of various indices. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>The intensity of drought:</strong> The States may consider <strong>any three of the four types</strong> of the Impact Indicators (one from each) for assessment of drought, the intensity of the calamity and make a judgement.</li>
<li>If all three chosen indicators are in the &lsquo;severe&rsquo; category, it amounts to severe drought; and if two of the three chosen impact indicators are in the &lsquo;moderate&rsquo; or &lsquo;severe&rsquo; class, it amounts to moderate drought.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>The<strong> third step</strong> comes in after both previous triggers have been set off. In that event, &ldquo;States will conduct sample survey for ground in order to make a final determination of drought. The finding of field verification exercise will be the final basis for judging the intensity of drought as &lsquo;severe&rsquo; or &lsquo;moderate&rsquo;.</li>
<li>Once a drought is determined, the state government needs to issue a notification specifying the geographical extent. The notification is valid for six months unless de-notified earlier.</li>
</ul>',
		'postdate' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenTime) {},
		'url' => 'https://www.drishtiias.com/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/unccd-drought-tool-box'
	],
	(int) 7 => [
		'title' => 'AWaRe',
		'catname' => 'News Analysis',
		'desc' => '<p><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/global-leaders-adopt-delhi-declaration-on-digital-health" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>The World Health Organization</strong></a> (WHO) in its global campaign against <a href="/loksabha-rajyasabha-discussions/in-depth-drug-resistance" target="_blank" rel="noopener">antibiotics</a> has launched a new online tool called AWaRe.</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The campaign aims to achieve a 60% increase in the use of antibiotics under the Access group &mdash; cheap, &lsquo;narrow-spectrum&rsquo; drugs (that target a specific microorganism rather than several) and also <strong>lower the risk of resistance.</strong></li>
</ul>
<h3>AWaRe</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The AWaRe tool was developed by the <strong>WHO Essential Medicines List</strong> to contain <strong>rising resistance</strong> and make antibiotic use <strong>safer</strong> and more effective by providing guidelines (over the effective use of antibiotics) to the <strong>policy-makers</strong> and <strong>health workers</strong>.</li>
<li>It classifies antibiotics into three groups:<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Access</strong>&mdash; antibiotics used to treat the most common and serious infections.</li>
<li><strong>Watch&mdash;</strong> antibiotics available at all times in the healthcare system.</li>
<li><strong>Reserve&mdash;</strong> antibiotics to be used sparingly or preserved and used only as a last resort.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Significance</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>By classifying antibiotics into three distinct groups, and advising on when to use them, AWaRe makes it easier for <strong>policy-makers, prescribers and health workers</strong> to select the right antibiotic at the right time, and to protect endangered antibiotics.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Antimicrobial Resistance</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>With the emergence of infections that are untreatable by all classes of antibiotics, <a href="/to-the-points/paper3/to-the-point-paper-3-antimicrobial-resistance-amr" target="_blank" rel="noopener">antimicrobial resistance</a> is turning into an <strong>invisible pandemic</strong> and is estimated to kill <strong>50 million</strong> worldwide and <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/the-problem-of-drug-resistance-in-india" target="_blank" rel="noopener">10 million in India (by <strong>2050</strong>)</a>.</li>
<li>According to a report by the International Coordination Group on Antimicrobial Resistance, Antimicrobial resistance is a <strong>global health</strong> and <strong>development threat</strong> that continues to escalate globally and threatens to undo a century of medical progress.</li>
<li>It is estimated that more than 50% of antibiotics in many countries are used inappropriately, such as for <strong>treatment of viruses</strong> (when they only treat bacterial infections) or <strong>use of the wrong</strong> (broader spectrum) antibiotic, thus contributing to the spread of antimicrobial resistance.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Concern</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>One of the most pressing concerns is the spread of resistant <strong>gram-negative bacteria,</strong> including <strong>Acinetobacter, Escherichia coli and Klebsiella pneumoniae.</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>As these bacteria, which are commonly seen in hospitalized patients, cause infections like <strong>pneumonia, bloodstream infections, wound</strong> or surgical site infections and <strong>meningitis.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>Although over 100 countries have put in place national plans to tackle antimicrobial resistance, only about <strong>one-fifth</strong> of those plans are funded and implemented.</li>
<li>Antibiotic resistance (when antibiotics stop working effectively) increases health expenditure and makes <strong>accessibility and affordability</strong> of medicines an expensive affair.</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Gram-Negative Bacteria</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Bacteria are classified into two groups&mdash;Gram-positive or Gram-negative&mdash;depending on whether they retain a specific stain color.</li>
<li>Gram-positive bacteria retain a purple-colored stain, while Gram-negative bacteria appear pinkish or red.</li>
<li>Several species of gram negative bacteria including Escherichia coli, are common causes of foodborne disease and Vibrio cholerae&mdash;the bacteria responsible for cholera&mdash;is a waterborne pathogen.</li>
<li>Gram-negative bacteria can also cause respiratory infections, such as certain types of pneumonia, and sexually transmitted diseases, including gonorrhea.</li>
</ul>
</div>',
		'postdate' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenTime) {},
		'url' => 'https://www.drishtiias.com/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/aware'
	],
	(int) 8 => [
		'title' => 'Acute Encephalitis Syndrome: Causes and Lapses',
		'catname' => 'News Editorials',
		'desc' => '<div class="border">
<p><strong>This editorial is based on the article <a href="https://indianexpress.com/article/opinion/editorials/bihar-encephalitis-ase-deaths-muzaffarpur-5787254/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">"A failing state&rdquo;</a> which appeared in Indian Express on 19th June, 2019. The article talks about cause and lapses in dealing with Acute Encephalitis Syndrome and suggests a way forward.</strong></p>
</div>
<p>More than 100 children in Bihar&rsquo;s Muzaffarpur district have died of <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/acute-encephalitis-syndrome" target="_blank" rel="noopener">acute encephalitis syndrome (AES)</a>, with the state&rsquo;s medical authorities initially blaming the deaths on the heat wave, hypoglycemia (sudden drop in blood sugar levels) and <strong>lack of awareness.</strong> Now, belatedly, they have acknowledged the two most critical causes for the deaths &mdash; <strong>malnutrition</strong> and the <strong>inadequacy of primary health centres</strong> (PHCs).</p>
<p>The AES cases in Muzaffarpur, Bihar and adjoining <strong>litchi producing districts</strong> have been observed <strong>every year</strong> in summers(mostly from April to June), particularly in children who are <strong>undernourished</strong> with a history of visiting litchi orchards.</p>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>What makes region so vulnerable to AES?</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>It has been found that regions with high heat, humidity, unhygienic conditions and malnutrition, contribute to the rise in AES. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>AES has struck Muzaffarpur with regularity in the summers since 1995.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>Incidence is higher in litchi fields around which malnourished children live.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Malnutrition is high Bihar, and malnourished children are prone to infection.</li>
<li>National Family Health Survey-4 data show that in 2015-16, 48% children aged less than five in Bihar were stunted &mdash; the highest in India.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</div>
<p><strong>Causes:</strong> Litchi is being most commonly blamed for the Acute Encephalitis Syndrome (AES) outbreak in Bihar. However, experts are of the view that fruit is only a triggering factor for malnourished children as the toxin methylenecyclopropyl glycine (MCPG) can lead to <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/hypoglycaemia-and-acute-encephalitis-syndrome" target="_blank" rel="noopener">hypoglycaemia</a> (fall in sugar levels) in undernourished children that in turn results into unconsciousness, coma and even death.</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Malnutrition cause hypoglycaemia:</strong> Malnourished children have depleted glycogen store in the liver. So if there is no glycogen reserve, the glycogen breaks into glucose and when the shortage further increases, even fats start burning and this process produces by products like ketones and amino acids which are neurotoxic and are responsible for inflammation of the brain tissue.</li>
<li><strong>Heat waves:</strong> when temperature and humidity were recorded over consecutive days at more 38 degrees Celsius and 50% respectively, the epidemic had been at its worse. In other parts of northern India there is fluctuation in temperature and humidity, and the nights are cooler, but in Muzaffarpur humidity increases at night making it worse than the day, especially for children.</li>
<li>The main <strong>causative agents</strong> of acute encephalitis are the <strong>viruses</strong> like herpes viruses, enteroviruses, West Nile, Japanese encephalitis, Eastern equine viruses, tick-borne viruses etc.</li>
<li>Encephalitis is also caused due to <strong>bacteria, fungi or parasites, chemicals, toxins and non-infectious agents.</strong></li>
</ul>
<p>The death of children in Muzaffarpur due to AES, a preventable disease, shows the inaction of the state machinery, which has failed to take appropriate steps to prevent the seasonal outbreak of disease.</p>
<h3>Lapses</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Primary health centres:</strong> the first point of healthcare for most AES patients are <strong>ill-equipped</strong> to deal with the disease. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Most of them do not have, <strong>virology lab</strong> or adequate number of <strong>paediatric beds</strong> and <strong>glycometers</strong> to monitor blood sugar levels.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Standard operating procedure :</strong> to treat AES, have clearly not been implemented in Bihar, which mandates grassroots health workers, including auxiliary nurse-midwives, accredited social health activists, and anganwadi workers, to do daily <strong>household-level surveys</strong> to check children for JE/AES symptoms during the outbreak season from June to September.</li>
<li><strong>Lack of preparedness:</strong> of the state government in terms <strong>special nutrition programme</strong> for AES-prone areas (as undernourished children are more prone to the disease).</li>
<li><strong>Inadequate Machinery:</strong> Unavailability of <strong>doctors, beds, intensive care units, medical professionals</strong> to deal with an epidemic level situation which has resulted in more than 126 reported death of children in the state of Bihar particularly in Muzaffarpur and its adjoining areas.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Way Forward</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Surveillance and Monitoring:</strong> of AES vulnerable region ( for identifying AES prone cases) is necessary for <strong>early diagnosis and treatment</strong> of disease. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>AES can be contained if the child is administered dextrose within 4 hours of the onset of symptoms</li>
<li><strong>10% Dextrose infusion</strong> within the golden hours can speed up the pace of recovery.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Awareness campaigns and symptom management:</strong> as a <strong>pre-emptive</strong> measures must be put in place for dealing with the AES cases.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>State Government should learn from the <strong><em>dastak</em></strong> initiative (for treating Japanese Encephalitis) taken by Uttar Pradesh, that has brought together health, rural development and primary education officials to promote clean drinking water, sanitation, vaccination and early referral to hospitals for treatment through symptom management.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Infrastructural and Institutional set up:</strong> Primary Health Care centres must be equipped with all necessary equipments and amenities that are crucial for diagnosing and treating AES patients.</li>
<li><strong>Medical Research and Studies:</strong> conducted in AES prone regions that are crucial for establishing link between causes and symptoms of the disease must be taken into account for formulating <strong>treatment strategy.</strong></li>
<li><strong>Special Nutrition programmes:</strong> and <strong>mid day meals</strong> must be implemented in the AES prone regions as it has been identified that toxins in litchi is just a triggering factor in the already malnutritioned children.</li>
</ul>
<table border="1" style="border-collapse: collapse;">
<tbody>
<tr>
<td style="width: 1108.89px; background-color: #f7faa0; border-color: #ff0000;">
<p><em><strong>Drishti input</strong></em></p>
<p>Examine the failures at various levels that has led to the deaths of more than 100 children due to Acute Encephalitis Syndrome in Bihar.</p>
</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<p></p>',
		'postdate' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenTime) {},
		'url' => 'https://www.drishtiias.com/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/acute-encephalitis-syndrome-causes-and-lapses'
	],
	(int) 9 => [
		'title' => 'Seven Million Jobs Created in Formal Sector',
		'catname' => 'News Analysis',
		'desc' => '<p>The Indian Staffing Federation (ISF) has reported the formalisation of over seven million jobs between 2015-2018 <strong>due to reforms and initiatives taken by Indian government.</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>The report titled, &lsquo;Impact of key reforms on job formalisation and flexi-staffing&rsquo;</strong> mentioned that 1.2 million workers have been added to the flexi-workforce since 2015 and a further 1.53 million are to be added over the next three years.</li>
<li>The government&rsquo;s current agenda of job creation can be achieved by boosting the aggregate effective demand in the economy through formalisation, industrialisation, urbanisation, financialisation and skilling.</li>
<li>India will have a 6.1 million flexi-workforce by 2021. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Sectors such as logistics, banking, financial services and insurance <strong>(BFSI), IT/ ITeS, retail and government</strong> would be the <strong>top five sectors, employing over 55 per cent of the total flexi-workforce by 2021.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>The flexi staff space grew</strong> at a Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) of <strong>16.3 per cent in 2018</strong> and is expected to further accelerate to<strong> 22.7 per cent from 2018-2021.</strong></li>
<li>The report establishes <strong>flexi-staffing as a key job creation engine.</strong></li>
<li>The acceleration in momentum towards formal employment witnessed in the past three years clearly means the reforms such as the payment of wages act and EPF are having a positive impact.</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Flexi-staffing</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Flexible Staffing</strong> is an arrangement in an organization where the employees can be from <strong>temporary agencies, leased employees or contract workers.</strong></li>
<li>It is more commonly known as temporary staffing and predominantly focuses on the white collar industry.</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>Indian Staffing Federation (ISF)</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The ISF is the apex body representing the Staffing industry/Private Employment Services that is <strong>authorised to discuss with government agencies and other trade bodies on behalf of the staffing industry/ private employment services.</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>The Staffing / private employment services</strong> is an enabler <strong>to provide social security</strong> and long term <strong>medical</strong>, and <strong>retirement benefits to temp/flexi-staff.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>The purpose of ISF is to enhance long-term growth and ensure its continued ability to make positive contributions to the economy as well as the society<strong> through the services of the Staffing Industry.</strong></li>
<li><strong>Staffing Industry covers a meager 2% penetration of the possible employable size in India.</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Of the 400m employable in India, about 10% are employed in the organised sector, and while about 250m are self-employed.</li>
<li>This leaves <strong>almost 110m</strong> who are <strong>employed by the temp/ flexi-staffing and the unorganised sector.</strong> ISF is working towards growing this market.</li>
<li>To bring effect, <strong>the laws and regulations haven't taken Staffing industry/</strong> Private Employment Services <strong>into cognizance.</strong></li>
<li>ISF expects to interact with law making authorities to recognize Staffing industry / Private Employment Services and create adequate and appropriate laws to manage it.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</div>',
		'postdate' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenTime) {},
		'url' => 'https://www.drishtiias.com/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/seven-million-jobs-created-in-formal-sector'
	],
	(int) 10 => [
		'title' => 'RBI Panel's Recommendations on MSME',
		'catname' => 'News Analysis',
		'desc' => '<p>A Reserve Bank of India (RBI) expert committee on micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) has recommended doubling <strong>the cap on collateral-free loans to Rs 20 lakh</strong> from the current Rs 10 lakh.</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>This will be extended to borrowers falling under the Mudra scheme, self-help groups, and MSMEs.</li>
<li>The current limit of Rs 10 lakh on collateral-free loans was prescribed by RBI in June 2010.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>A collateral free loan</strong> means that borrowers do not have to offer any asset or pledge collateral to borrow against.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>The committee has also suggested various long-term solutions for the economic and financial sustainability of MSMEs.</li>
<li>The report has also <strong>recommended the mainstreaming the restructuring of stressed loans</strong>, considering the central bank had given a one-year window to banks to do so in January 2019.</li>
<li>The proposal is part of a report prepared <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/rbi-sets-up-msme-panel" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>by the eight-member RBI committee</strong></a> tasked with reviewing the current framework for the MSME sector.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The panel was <strong>headed</strong> by former Securities and Exchange Board of India chairman <strong>U K Sinha.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>The MSME definition</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The Micro Small &amp; Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) are defined under the Micro, Small &amp; Medium Enterprises Development <strong>(MSMED) Act, 2006</strong> on the basis of capital investment made in plant and machinery, excluding investments in land and building.</li>
<li>Manufacturing units having investment: <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>below Rs 25 lakh are termed as Micro,</li>
<li>those between Rs 25 lakh and Rs 5 crore as Small</li>
<li>and from Rs 5 crore to Rs 10 crore as Medium.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>Service units, corresponding investment thresholds are: <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>up to Rs 10 lakh are termed as Micro,</li>
<li>between Rs 10 lakh to Rs 2 crore as Small</li>
<li>and between Rs 2 crore to Rs 5 crore as Medium</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>However, the government is contemplating to change the definition of MSMEs.</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The proposed change under a new draft is that <strong>annual turnover, rather than investment size</strong>, should be the criterion for such units.</li>
<li>Under the draft, there would be <strong>no difference between a manufacturing and service unit.</strong></li>
<li>Micro can be up to Rs 5 crore of turnover, small up to Rs 75 crore, and medium up to Rs 250 crore of turnover should be considered.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>Pradhan Mantri MUDRA Yojana (PMMY)</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The PMMY is a scheme launched in 2015 for providing loans up to 10 lakh to the non-corporate, non-farm small/micro enterprises.</li>
<li>These loans are classified as MUDRA loans under PMMY.</li>
<li>These loans are given by Commercial Banks, RRBs, Small Finance Banks, Cooperative Banks, MFIs and NBFCs.</li>
<li>Under the aegis of PMMY, MUDRA has created three products namely 'Shishu', 'Kishore' and 'Tarun' to signify the stage funding needs of the beneficiary/entrepreneur and also provide a reference point for the next phase of graduation/growth. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Shishu:</strong> covering loans up to Rs.50,000</li>
<li><strong>Kishore:</strong> covering loans above Rs.50,000 and up to Rs.5,00,000</li>
<li><strong>Tarun:</strong> covering loans above Rs.5,00,000 and up to Rs.10,00,000</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>As of Feb 1, 2019, over 157 million loans amounting to Rs 7.59 trillion have been extended under PMMY since its inception.</li>
</ul>
</div>',
		'postdate' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenTime) {},
		'url' => 'https://www.drishtiias.com/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/rbi-panel-s-recommendations-on-msme'
	],
	(int) 11 => [
		'title' => 'ICANN and NASSCOM Collaboration',
		'catname' => 'News Analysis',
		'desc' => '<p>Global internet body <strong>Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers(ICANN) and Indian IT industry body NASSCOM</strong> to develop identifier technology that can be used for managing devices and infrastructure using the internet.</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Both the bodies will first focus on updating the Internet of Things (IoT) devices using domain name system (DNS) even in the situation when the manufacturer or supplier has closed down the business.</li>
<li>This collaboration provides a structure to jointly identify research projects, particularly in new technologies related to the internet's system of unique identifiers.</li>
<li>The first research project focuses on testing the use of the DNS to update IoT firmware and studying how the proposed technology could scale outside a lab environment.</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Internet of Thing (IoT)</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The Internet of Things is made up of devices from simple sensors to smartphones and wearables connected together.</li>
<li>IoT allows devices on closed <strong>private internet connections</strong> to communicate with others and the Internet of Things brings those networks together. It gives the opportunity for devices to communicate not only within close silos but across different networking types and creates a much more connected world.</li>
</ul>
</div>
<h3>Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN)</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>ICANN is a non-profit body that administers domain names and Internet protocol addresses (IPs) globally. It was formed in 1988 by the US Department of Commerce. It has become independent of US control since October 1st, 2016.</li>
<li>It also ensures that computers across the internet can find one another through defined unique pathways and identifiers.</li>
<li>It is responsible for coordinating the maintenance and methodologies of several databases, with unique identifiers, related to the namespaces of the Internet &ndash; and thereby, ensuring the network&rsquo;s stable and secure operation.</li>
<li>ICANN is governed by an internationally diverse Board of Directors overseeing the policy development process. ICANN&rsquo;s President directs an international staff, working from three continents, who ensure that ICANN meets its operational commitment to the Internet community.</li>
</ul>
<h3>National Association of Software and Services Companies (NASSCOM)</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>NASSCOM, a not-for-profit industry association, is the apex body for the IT industry in India.</li>
<li>Established in 1988, NASSCOM&rsquo;s relentless pursuit has been to constantly support the IT and BPO industry.</li>
<li>Members of NASSCOM are Indian Co software development, software services, IT-enabled/BPO services. NASSCOM role has primarily been to make sure that service quality and enforcement of Intellectual Property Rights have been properly implemented in the Indian software and BPO industry.</li>
</ul>',
		'postdate' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenTime) {},
		'url' => 'https://www.drishtiias.com/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/icann-and-nasscom-collaboration'
	],
	(int) 12 => [
		'title' => 'Coringa Mangroves',
		'catname' => 'News Analysis',
		'desc' => '<p>The Andhra Pradesh Government has constituted a seven-member committee for fulfilment of norms required <strong>for proposing the Godavari Mangroves</strong> (Mada forests), <strong>at Coringa, as a <a href="/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-international-institution/united-nations-1" target="_blank" rel="noopener">World Heritage Site.</a></strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Godavari Mangroves at the Coringa Wildlife Sanctuary (CWLS) are touted to be the <strong>second largest mangroves</strong> in India. The <strong>largest</strong> mangrove forest in the world is <strong>Sundarbans</strong>, West Bengal.</li>
<li>The <strong>mangrove forests in Andhra Pradesh</strong> are located in the <strong>estuaries of the Godavari and the Krishna rivers.</strong> The Godavari mangroves are located in Godavari estuary of East Godavari district.</li>
<li>Located in Andhra Pradesh, <strong>the CWLS</strong> is home to numerous <strong>endangered species</strong> including the <strong>fishing cat</strong>, otter, jackal, sea turtles, sea gull, pelican, stork, heron, snipes, flamingos among others.</li>
<li>Along with the mangrove forest, <strong>the Hope Island</strong>, a naturally formed sandy stretch amidst the sea that turned into a synonym for biodiversity, too comes under the purview of the sanctuary.</li>
<li>The sanctuary also has a site where <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/olive-ridley-turtles-hatching" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Olive Ridley Sea Turtles</strong></a> nest from January to March every year.</li>
<li>Once the Coringa sanctuary gets the heritage site tag, UNESCO will help develop tourism and protect the wildlife in the mangroves.</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Mangroves</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Mangroves are the plant communities occurring in <strong>inter-tidal zones</strong> along the coasts of <strong>tropical and subtropical countries</strong>.</li>
<li>Mangrove forests perform <strong>multiple ecological functions</strong> such as production of woody trees; provision of habitat, food, and spawning grounds for fin-fish and shellfish; provision of habitat for birds and other valuable fauna; protection of coastlines and accretion of sediment to form new land.</li>
<li>According to the India State of Forest Report, 2017, <strong>India has nearly 3.3% of the world&rsquo;s mangrove vegetation.</strong></li>
</ul>
</div>
<p><a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/678image1.jpg" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/678image1.jpg" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" caption="false" width="396" height="477" /></a></p>',
		'postdate' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenTime) {},
		'url' => 'https://www.drishtiias.com/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/coringa-mangroves'
	],
	(int) 13 => [
		'title' => 'Libra Cryptocurrency',
		'catname' => 'News Analysis',
		'desc' => '<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Facebook has unveiled its own <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/cryptocurrencies-will-boost-illegal-transactions-rbi" target="_blank" rel="noopener">cryptocurrency</a> named <strong>&ldquo;Libra&rdquo;</strong>. Based on the Libra <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/important-facts-for-prelims-24-august-2018" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Blockchain</a>, it&rsquo;s backed by the <strong>Libra Reserve.<a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/281image2.jpg" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/281image2.jpg" style="float: right;" caption="false" width="198" height="254" /></a></strong></li>
<li>It has also officially announced a <strong>digital wallet service named Calibra.</strong> The company managing this wallet is going to be a subsidiary and will be operating independently from Facebook. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Calibra is going to be available as a standalone app on the App Store and Play Store. Apart from that, users can also use Libra within Facebook&rsquo;s own messaging apps including WhatsApp and Messenger, making it much more accessible.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>The name is inspired by the origins of money in Ancient Rome, where the Libra was a unit of weight used to mint coins.</li>
<li>Libra also evokes the French libre (&ldquo;free&rdquo;) and reflects the corresponding astrological symbol&mdash;the scales of justice, relevant in theory because the crypto is meant to make financial inclusion standard around the globe.</li>
<li>The new crypto&rsquo;s symbol, a wave, &ldquo;represents the energy that flows between us, the borderless nature of water, and the movement between people, places, and money.</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Cryptocurrency</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>A cryptocurrency is a digital or virtual currency that uses cryptography for security.</li>
<li>Cryptocurrencies use decentralized technology to let users make secure payments and store money without the need to use their name or go through a bank.</li>
<li>They run on a distributed public ledger called blockchain, which is a record of all transactions updated and held by currency holders.</li>
<li>The most common cryptocurrencies are Bitcoin, Ethereum, Ripple, and Litecoin.</li>
</ul>
</div>',
		'postdate' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenTime) {},
		'url' => 'https://www.drishtiias.com/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/libra-cryptocurrency'
	],
	(int) 14 => [
		'title' => 'Cooperative and Competitive Federalism in India',
		'catname' => 'Paper 2',
		'desc' => '<h3>Context</h3>
<p>Federalism is derived from the Latin world foedus, which means agreement. In fact federation is an agreement between two types of governments sharing power and controlling their respective spheres. Thus a federation is a system of national and local governments, combined under a common sovereignty with both national as well as federating units having autonomous spheres assigned to them by the constitution.</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>India opted for quasi-federal structure after independence. The term &ldquo;federal&rdquo; has not been mentioned in the constitution but the working of Indian democracy is essentially federal in structure. However, it is the practical working style of federalism, which brought the concept of cooperative federalism and competitive federalism in India.</li>
<li>The present government is stressing on the need to leverage the potential of cooperative and competitive federalism for achieving all round inclusive development in India. In this context there is a need to examine the concepts of cooperative and competitive federalism.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Cooperative vs Competitive Federalism</h3>
<p>Based on the relationship between the central and state government&ndash;the concept of federalism is divided into- Co-operative federalism and Competitive federalism.</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>In Cooperative federalism</strong> the Centre and states share a horizontal relationship, where they &ldquo;cooperate&rdquo; in the larger public interest.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>It is an important tool to enable states&rsquo; participation in the formulation and implementation of national policies.</li>
<li>Union and the states are constitutionally obliged to cooperate with each other on the matters specified in Schedule VII of the constitution.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>In Competitive federalism</strong> the relationship between the Central and state governments is vertical and between state governments is horizontal.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>This idea of Competitive federalism gained significance in India post 1990s economic reforms.</li>
<li>In a free-market economy, the endowments of states, available resource base and their comparative advantages all foster a spirit of competition. Increasing globalisation, however, increased the existing inequalities and imbalances between states.</li>
<li>In Competitive federalism States need to compete among themselves and also with the Centre for benefits.</li>
<li>States compete with each other to attract funds and investment, which facilitates efficiency in administration and enhances developmental activities.</li>
<li>The investors prefer more developed states for investing their money. Union government devolves funds to the states on the basis of usage of previously allocated funds.</li>
<li>Healthy competition strives to improve physical and social infrastructure within the state.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>Competitive federalism is not part of the basic structure of Indian constitution. It is the decision of executives.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Constitutional Position</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Article 1 of the Constitution</strong> states, &ldquo;India, that is Bharat, shall be a Union of States&rdquo;. While the Constitution doesn&rsquo;t mention the term &ldquo;federal&rdquo;, it does provide for a governance structure primarily federal in nature.</li>
<li>It provides for <strong>separate governments at the Union and in the states.</strong> Further, it specifies and demarcates the powers, functions and jurisdictions of the two governments. Lastly, it details the legislative, administrative and financial relations between the Union and the states.</li>
<li>The distribution of legislative powers has been divided into three lists: the Union List, the State List and the Concurrent List. The Union List, comprising the &ldquo;vital interests of the State&rdquo;, is the longest.'</li>
<li>On the Union List, Parliament has exclusive powers to legislate. While the state has exclusive powers to legislate on the State List, in certain situations, Parliament can also do so.</li>
<li>As per the Concurrent List, the issue is more complex.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>In case of a conflict between a state and a Central legislation, the parliamentary legislation shall prevail.</li>
<li>This, coupled with the fact that residuary powers of legislation are vested in the Union, gives a <strong>&ldquo;unitary&rdquo; tilt to federalism in India.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>A disconcerting trend has been observed since 1950. <strong>While the Union and Concurrent Lists have expanded, the State List seems to have shrunk.</strong> This has led many to question the structure of Indian federalism and to propose its remodelling.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Steps toward Competitive Federalism</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The acceptance of the 14th Finance Commission&rsquo;s recommendations, apart from significantly enhanced devolution ( devolution of 42% of the divisible pool to states during 20015-16 to 2019-20, against 32% suggested by the previous commission), enables states to design and implement programmes better suited to their needs.</li>
<li>Competitive federalism is not yet embraced by all the states. But a handful of states are clearly taking steps to strengthen their business environments, including initiating difficult reforms on land acquisition and labour flexibility.</li>
<li>Federalism is no longer the fault line of Centre-State relations but the definition of a new partnership of team India.</li>
<li>The Central government has promised decentralisation of power and minimum interference in the State affairs. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>With the roll out of the GST, this federal structure is further cemented.</li>
<li>Government has abolished Planning Commission and replaced it with NITI Aayog. One of the mandates of the NITI Aayog is to develop competitive federalism. Under it;</li>
<li>State governments would not look towards centre for policy guidelines and fiscal resources.</li>
<li>Share of states in central tax revenue has been increased from 32% to 42% after the recommendation of the finance commission.</li>
<li>States have freedom to plan their expenditure based on their own priorities.</li>
<li>States would work with centre on a shared vision of national objectives.</li>
<li>Restructuring of centrally sponsored schemes.</li>
<li>Financial sector bailout programme under UDAY scheme.</li>
<li>Swachh Bharat Ranking system.</li>
<li>Most of the state now organizes investors meet to showcase facilities in their state to attract business and investment. This has lead to improvement in business environment in various states.</li>
<li><strong>State wise Ease of Doing Business ranking</strong> to build a huge sense of competition.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Role of NITI Aayog in Promoting Co-Operative, Competitive Federalism</strong></p>
<p>In 2017, the Niti Aayog called out for competitive &ldquo;cooperative federalism&rdquo; stressing that this formula would redefine the relationship between the Centre and the States.</p>
<p>Former vice chairman of Niti Aayog Arvind Panagariya put the onus on the States to reimagine brand India.</p>
<p>Chief secretaries of States in one of the meetings even showcased the best practices being incorporated in their respective States, a move aimed at promoting cross fertilisation of ideas.</p>
<p>There appears to be a silver lining in the functioning of the Aayog in enabling states competing with each other to promote governance initiatives in the spirit of &ldquo;co-operative, competitive federalism&rdquo;.</p>
<p>An important objective of NITI Aayog is to establish a dynamic institutional mechanisms where &lsquo;eminent individuals outside the government system&rsquo; could contribute to policy making.</p>
<p>The priorities for the Aayog are evident with the suggestions for rationalisation of 66 central schemes on skill development and making Clean India a continuous program leading to the formation of three CM sub-committees.</p>
<p>In a subtle manner, NITI Aayog not only puts the onus on Chief Ministers to hasten implementation of projects for the betterment of the state, but also make the state an attractive investment destination &ndash; a kind of competitive federalism.</p>
<p>Given the greater scope for states to work together and learn from each other, it is obvious that for federalism to work well, these states must also fulfil their role in promoting the shared national objectives.</p>
<p>It is true that India cannot advance without all its states advancing in tandem but it may so happen that by not granting the statutory status for the NITI Aayog, government has made it vulnerable to future ambush under a different political dispensation.</p>
</div>
<h3></h3>
<h3>Hindrances for Competitive federalism</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Several issues such as <strong>trust deficit and shrinkage of divisible pools</strong> plague Centre-State relations. Together, they make total cooperation difficult</li>
<li>Trust deficit between Centre and States is widening. Most state governments believe the thrust on federalism is limited to lofty ideas and big talks. Many States have shown their displeasure with the way the Centre has been dealing with the States.</li>
<li>On one hand the Centre has increased the States&rsquo; share of the divisible pool but in reality States are getting a lesser share. The allocation towards various social welfare schemes has also come down, affecting the States&rsquo; health in turn.</li>
<li>The present <strong>inter-state competition</strong> in attracting investment is too early to determine whether it will really encourage competitive patterns of investment on a continuous basis.</li>
<li>The <strong>socio-economic parameters and development of each State in India is different</strong> and while a few have made substantial progress in terms of employment, literacy and creating a conducive environment for doing business and investments, there are a few which are lagging.</li>
<li>There are varied <strong>economic patterns</strong> in different states. There are deficit states or the backward regions or the states under debt. Those states should not be treated on par with the well-off states.</li>
<li>The states like West Bengal, Bihar, Orissa, and Assam have protested against the uniform approach in funding because of their special situations in which the central government has to provide special funds to these states. Without special funding these states cannot imagine their participation in competitive federalism.</li>
<li>Though the states are provided with financial independence, it is a fallacy to assume that all the states would perform uniformly in the process of development because while some states have favourable factors like skilled labour, capital and infrastructure, innovative service industries other states lagging behind.</li>
<li>The opposition of few well-off states with respect to <strong>revenue loss in implementation of GST system</strong> points that there is a lack of will in participating in the process of competitive federalism.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Suggestions</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Efforts at cooperative and competitive federalism have commenced but need to be strengthened.</li>
<li>NITI Aayog concentrates on the broader policy framework instead of micro resource-allocated functions. So there is a need to take some further steps.</li>
<li><strong>Reactivation of the Centre-State Council:</strong> Under <strong>Article 263</strong>, this council is expected to inquire and advice on disputes, discuss subjects common to all states and make recommendations for better policy coordination.</li>
<li>The NITI Aayog can&rsquo;t replace the council&rsquo;s functions as it is the only recognised constitutional entity for harmonising the actions of the Centre and states. Its effective utilisation would lend legitimacy to cooperative federalism.</li>
<li>On contentious issues like land, labour and natural resources, the state should promote best practices.</li>
<li>This will enable greater investment and economic activity in states with a favourable regulatory framework. Enactment by states must secure expeditious Central approval.</li>
<li>The World Bank&rsquo;s Ease of Doing Business index reflected competition between states has generated interest, this must be a continuing exercise.</li>
<li>But states not doing well on the index complain of infirmities of process and procedure. These needs to be made more acceptable and transparent.</li>
<li>On issues like international treaties, WTO obligations, or the environment an institutional mechanism must be evolved where important decisions are appropriately discussed with states.</li>
<li>As India becomes globally more interdependent, these potential contentious issues must be resolved.</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>India needs a mix of Competitive and Cooperative federalism</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>There needs to be a mix of competitive and cooperative federalism for India to move ahead.</li>
<li>The future for India is cooperative and competitive federalism. Competitive federalism provides the dynamism that needs to be unleashed.</li>
<li>We need cooperative federalism to balance competitive federalism.</li>
<li>Constitution needed to catch up with economics to &ldquo;favour integration over granting sovereignty" to promote Indian internal integration.</li>
<li>GST which seeks to introduce the concept of one nation-one tax, in order to economically unify the country for the first time, is described this as &ldquo;pooled sovereignty", which would bring a big change in the working of federalism in the country.</li>
</ul>
</div>
<h3>Way Forward</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Cooperative and competitive federalism are not mutually exclusive. They have the same basic principle underlying i.e. development of the nation as a whole.</li>
<li>Cooperative and competitive federalism may be two sides of the same coin as the competition alone cannot give the best results, it is competition with cooperation that will drive the real change.</li>
<li>Centre&rsquo;s support would be required by some states to participate in competitive federalism. Strong states make strong nation and to realise this vision, it requires a &ldquo;Team India&rdquo; approach to work for India&rsquo;s development.</li>
<li>The passage of GST Bill does usher in a new era in cooperative fiscal federalism and a growing political consensus for economic reforms.</li>
<li>Further, the government&rsquo;s structural reforms particularly for land and labour, are now widely seen as necessary for realising the potential of the economy.</li>
<li>While all policy-makers and economists believe that &ldquo;true&rdquo; cooperative federalism is the way forward, they underline the need for the Centre to include states more aggressively in the decision-making process.</li>
<li>Most state finance ministers also feel that the Centre&rsquo;s fund allocation to States must be done more judiciously.</li>
</ul>',
		'postdate' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenTime) {},
		'url' => 'https://www.drishtiias.com/to-the-points/Paper2/cooperative-and-competitive-federalism-in-india'
	],
	(int) 15 => [
		'title' => 'Concerns over Genetically Modified Brinjal',
		'catname' => 'News Editorials',
		'desc' => '<div class="border">
<p><strong>This article is based on the editorial <a href="https://www.thehindu.com/opinion/op-ed/serious-concerns-over-bt-brinjal/article28022577.ece" target="_blank" rel="noopener">&ldquo;Serious concerns over Bt brinjal&rdquo;</a> which appeared in The Hindu on 18th June 2019. It talks about concerns over Genetically Modified Brinjal and suggests a way forward in this context. </strong></p>
</div>
<p><strong>Genetic modification</strong> of crops has been a controversial issue since the first commercial production of a <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/supermarkets-flooded-with-foreign-gm-foods-despite-ban" target="_blank" rel="noopener">genetically modified crop</a>. India has banned the cultivation of Bt brinjal in 2010, but GM crops still find its way into the fields through the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/illegal-cultivation-of-bt-brinjal" target="_blank" rel="noopener">illegal supply of seeds</a> specifically in the region of <strong>Haryana, Maharashtra, and Andhra Pradesh</strong> where farmers are indulged in <strong>unapproved sowing and cultivation</strong> of Bt brinjal owing to its advantages of being pest resistant, lower cost, and higher yield.</p>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>GM Crops in India</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Bt cotton is India's <strong>first genetically modified crop,</strong> to be approved for commercialization.</li>
<li>India has the world&rsquo;s <strong>5th largest</strong> GM crop acreage after the USA, Brazil, Argentina, and Canada</li>
<li>Presently <strong>majority</strong> of India&rsquo;s cotton cultivation area is under Bt cotton crops.</li>
<li><strong>Bt brinjal</strong> was developed by <strong>Mahyco</strong> (Maharashtra Hybrid Seeds Company) in collaboration with the Dharwad University of Agricultural Sciences and the Tamil Nadu Agricultural University.</li>
</ul>
</div>
<p>Benefits of increased <strong>shelf life</strong> and<strong> high yield</strong> attached with the cultivation of Bt Brinjal cannot outweigh the multiple concerns arising out of the unapproved and half prepared release of Bt brinjal like :</p>
<h3>Major Concerns</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Environmental impact:</strong> Sowing of Bt brinjal or GM foods can give rise to serious environmental concerns like:<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Cross-pollination</strong> in GM crops paves the way for <strong>herbicide-resistant super weeds</strong> that can further threaten the sustenance of other crops and pests because of its uncontrolled growth.</li>
<li>Pest-resistant Bt crops can lead to the <strong>extinction</strong> of a few <strong>species</strong> that in turn can affect the <strong>food chain</strong> also.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Implications for consumers and farmers: National Institute of Agricultural Economics and Policy Research&rsquo;s</strong> anticipation that Bt brinjal&rsquo;s high yield and increased shelf life will benefit consumers and farmers owing to cut in retail price of brinjals ignores the scenario that companies might charge premium prices for Bt brinjal seeds, in which case farmers may not benefit at all.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Critics claim that patent laws give developers of the GM crops a dangerous degree of control/ <strong>dominance</strong> over the food supply that results in the over domination of world food production by a few companies.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Biosafety Issues:</strong> Crops like rice, <strong>brinjal</strong>, and mustard, among others, have their <strong>origin in India</strong> and introducing genetically modified versions of these crops could be a major threat to the vast number of domestic and wild varieties of these crops (GM crops because of their pest resistance characteristics could eliminate important species of pests that are responsible for sustaining domestic varieties and can pose serious threats to biodiversity).<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Biodiversity</strong> is critical for nutrition and sustainability, and the government&rsquo;s task force on biotechnology (2004) had recommended that no GM crop be allowed in biodiversity-rich areas.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Nutrition issues:</strong> Bt brinjal poses risks to human health as their resistance to <strong>antibiotics</strong> can turn medicines ineffective and may result in the formation of <strong>new toxins and allergens.</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Toxins produced by GM crops can not only affect <strong>non target organisms</strong> but also pose the danger of unintentionally introducing allergens and other <strong>anti-nutrition</strong> factors in foods.</li>
<li>Indian agricultural scientist <strong>M.S. Swaminathan</strong> (who had described <strong>Bt cotton as a &lsquo;failure&rsquo;</strong>) had asked for <strong>independent&nbsp;</strong>(instead of relying exclusively on Mahyco for data) <strong>long-term (chronic) toxicity studies,</strong> of Bt brinjal before going for commercialization and cultivation of Bt brinjal.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Inefficient Regulatory system:</strong> Seeing the lapses in the regulatory system and irregularities in the assessment of Bt brinjal (in terms of <strong>labeling</strong> and unapproved and illegal sowing of GM crops) Parliamentary Standing Committee on Agriculture and the Committee on Science &amp; Technology, Environment and Forests recommended:<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>A thorough probe</strong> by a team of eminent independent scientists and environmentalists for commercialization of GM crops.</li>
<li>Endorsed <strong>labeling GM</strong> foods to protect a consumer&rsquo;s right to know.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Labeling GM crops</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Most GM foods in the study did <strong>not disclose GM on their</strong> labels and 15% made false claims saying they were GM-free.</li>
<li>Retailing being largely an <strong>unorganized sector</strong>, enforcing truthful labeling is not pragmatic.</li>
<li>Two of the eight infant food samples, imported from the US and the Netherlands, were GM positive, but the labels did not disclose this.</li>
<li>Under Section 22 of the <strong>Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006,</strong> GM foods are not allowed to be manufactured, imported or sold in India unless approved under the Act.</li>
</ul>
</div>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>No scientific consensus:</strong> Lack of scientific consensus on the safety and efficacy of GM crops.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Pests have developed <strong>resistance to Bt cotton</strong>, forcing farmers to spray lethal pesticides. This led to over 50 deaths by pesticide-poisoning in Vidarbha in 2017.</li>
<li>A GM-based strategy of pest control is <strong>unsustainable</strong>, all the more so since farmers, already pressed for land, ignore the government&rsquo;s recommendation to plant refuge crops.</li>
<li>The government&rsquo;s task forces and expert committees on GM crops are of the view that Bt brinjal runs counter to the framework for <strong>agricultural development and farmers&rsquo; welfare.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Way Forward</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Environmental Impact Assessment:</strong> must be carried out by independent environmentalist, as farmers do not and cannot assess the long-term impact of GM crops on ecology and health.</li>
<li>The government must detail the steps it has taken since the ban of Bt brinjal (2010) to address the scientific gap for commercialization of Bt brinjal.</li>
<li>The government should bring a clear report on benefits accrued by Bt brinjal to the farming community and demonstrate how Bt brinjal fits in with <strong>sustainable farming and biodiversity conservation.</strong></li>
<li>Ensure efficient infrastructural and institutional set up in order to ensure labeling of GM crops and bring more efficacy into the regulatory system of GM crops.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Mandatory labeling of products from GM crops.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Unchecked import</strong> of GM products should be stopped.</li>
<li>In order to curb the <strong>illegal cultivation</strong> of Bt brinjal, the <strong><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/geac-seeks-information-from-bangladesh-on-bt-brinjal" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Genetic Engineering Appraisal Committee</a> (GEAC)</strong> must:<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Collaborate with state governments and launch a nation-wide investigation drive.</li>
<li>Take action on threats of deliberate Bt brinjal and Bt cotton cultivation.</li>
<li>Investigate and prosecute those involved in the illegal supply of Bt brinjal seeds.</li>
<li>Organic farming should be encouraged.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<p>The government should go for commercialization of Bt brinjal only after the core and deep research on the long term prospects and benefits of commercialization of Bt crops in India. In that context, India can learn from Bangladesh&rsquo;s example where farmers have been growing the Bt Brinjal since 2013.</p>
<table border="1" style="border-collapse: collapse;">
<tbody>
<tr style="height: 76px;">
<td style="width: 961px; background-color: #f5d3d3; height: 76px;">
<p><em><strong>Drishti Input:</strong></em></p>
<p>Discuss the concerns and challenges associated with the GM crops in context of its varied advantages over traditional crops.</p>
</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<p></p>',
		'postdate' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenTime) {},
		'url' => 'https://www.drishtiias.com/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/concerns-over-genetically-modified-brinjal'
	],
	(int) 16 => [
		'title' => 'Autonomous District Councils',
		'catname' => 'National Institutions',
		'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>In January 2019, Cabinet approved <strong>amendment to Article 280</strong> and Sixth Schedule of the Constitution to increase autonomy, financial resources and powers of the autonomous district councils in Assam, Meghalaya, Mizoram and Tripura.</li>
<li>The <strong>three Autonomous District Councils (ADC) of Meghalaya</strong> have urged the <strong>National Commission for Scheduled Tribe</strong> to direct the State government not to interfere into their affairs.</li>
<li>The three ADCs have also apprised the 15th Finance Commission that the revenue collected is barely sufficient to carry out their day- to-day administrative activities and primary duties as envisaged in the sixth schedule leaving virtually no funds for development work.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Background</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>India&rsquo;s population consists of 100 million tribal people who have constitutionally been addressed via two distinct avenues i.e <strong>Fifth and Sixth Schedule.</strong></li>
<li>Fifth and Sixth Schedules were discussed and passed by Constituent Assembly between September 5-7, 1949.</li>
<li>The <strong>Fifth Schedule applies to the overwhelming majority of India&rsquo;s tribes in nine States</strong>, while the <strong>Sixth Schedule</strong> covers areas that are settled in the <strong>northeastern States bordering China and Myanmar.</strong></li>
<li>The Sixth Schedule gives tribal communities considerable autonomy; the States of Assam, Tripura, Meghalaya, and Mizoram are autonomous regions under the Sixth Schedule.</li>
<li>The <strong>District Council</strong> and the <strong>Regional Council</strong> under the Sixth Schedule have real power to make laws, possibility on the various legislative subjects, receiving grants-in-aid from the Consolidated Fund of India to meet the costs of schemes for development, health care, education, roads and regulatory powers to state control.</li>
<li>The mandate towards devolution, deconcentration and divestment determines the protection of their customs, better economic development and most importantly ethnic security.</li>
<li>However, the Sixth Schedule has its own shortcomings; breakdown of law and order, elections not being contested, rather than empowerment there is exclusion that fails to provide much-needed protection to tribes in the absence of political will, and live by the mercy of government funds.</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Sixth Schedule</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The Sixth Schedule of the Constitution deals with the administration of the tribal areas in the four northeastern states of Assam, Meghalaya, Tripura and Mizoram as per <strong>Article 244.</strong></li>
<li>The Governor is empowered to increase or decrease the areas or change the names of the autonomous districts. While executive powers of the Union extend in Scheduled areas with respect to their administration in Vth schedule, the <strong>VI<sup>th</sup> schedule areas remain within executive authority of the state.</strong></li>
<li>The acts of Parliament or the state legislature do not apply to autonomous districts and autonomous regions or apply with specified modifications and exceptions.</li>
<li>The Councils have also been endowed with <strong>wide civil and criminal judicial powers,</strong> for example establishing village courts etc. However, the jurisdiction of these councils is subject to the <strong>jurisdiction of the concerned High Court.</strong></li>
<li>The sixth schedule to the Constitution includes <strong>10 autonomous district</strong> councils in <strong>4 states</strong>. These are:<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Assam: Bodoland Territorial Council, Karbi Anglong Autonomous Council and Dima Hasao Autonomous District Council.</li>
<li>Meghalaya:Garo Hills Autonomous District Council, Jaintia Hills Autonomous District Council and Khasi Hills Autonomous District Council.</li>
<li>Tripura: Tripura Tribal Areas Autonomous District Council.</li>
<li>Mizoram: Chakma Autonomous District Council, Lai Autonomous District Council, Mara Autonomous District Council.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</div>
<h3>Major Issues</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Granting special provisions to certain minority tribal groups have led to further demands by other groups for such provisions under the 6th schedule. This has created disparity among the people and resulted in the rise of conflict between various groups.</li>
<li>In terms of financial autonomy, the members across the ADCs in North Eastern states share the same view that the ADCs are at the mercy of the state governments. There exists a huge gap between the approved budget and the funds received from the State Government which has had a direct impact on the development of these tribal communities.</li>
<li>They are also dependent upon state governments for decisions regarding undertaking of developmental activities in their region.</li>
<li>Due to the extensive corruption, development in these regions is seen to be a non-existing phenomena.</li>
<li>Lack of coordination between the States governments and Department of Planning and Development, Hill Areas Department and the Autonomous councils has resulted in the lackadaisical implementation of the development work.</li>
<li>Absence of any efficient Committee for the purpose of monitoring, evaluation and keeping a record of the funds received and utilized has led to extensive corruption and under development of these regions under the Autonomous Councils.</li>
<li>Members of the Chakma, Lai and Mara Councils of Mizoram are of the view that funds coming from the Central Government is not sufficient enough, and believes that funds should be granted to different councils on the basis of backwardness of the councils and not on the basis of population.</li>
<li>The State government justifies this position by stating that the ADCs have been holding on to their traditional roles of protecting the tribal identity in the region which abstains the State from various developmental activities.</li>
<li>At the same time the ADCs have small amount of funds which they receive as taxes and land revenues, however they have to depend on the Central government for more funds.</li>
<li>In terms of representation of members in the Autonomous Council, Bodoland Territorial Councilis the only council which has 46 members, which is the highest representation and also the only council which has members from the Non-tribal community represented in the Council.</li>
<li>Time to time different ADCs have demanded an increase in the number of members in the ADCs.</li>
<li>Unlike the Panchayati Raj System where the 73rd amendment allows reservation of one third of all the Panchayat seats for women at different levels, both Fifth and Sixth Schedules have no mention of women representation and gender equality.</li>
<li>The relationship to land is the basis of tribal or indigenous identity and that the culture and identity of indigenous people cannot be preserved without maintaining control over land and natural resources, as these factors to a large extent determines the lifestyle and culture of the indigenous people.</li>
<li>Generally tribal or indigenous cultural practices community land ownership, while some other tribes practice individual with clan ownership,however modern land relations and formal law recognizes only individual ownership of land.</li>
<li>It was under colonial rule that the process of turning land into commodity began for their own interest, in the name of development. Post independence, large tracts of lands were given away to the immigrants and other settlers.</li>
<li>The autonomy and power of the District Councils lie in the hands of a small group of elites who govern the functioning of the Autonomous DistrictCouncils.</li>
<li>There is clear lack of interest and pursuit on the part of the District Council members in taking initiative and planning and monitoring developmental activities at the micro level.</li>
<li>The absence of involvement of local stakeholders in the process of development and in the decision making process has deprived the common masses from their democratic rights.</li>
<li>The Sixth Schedule also vests enormous powers to the Governor. Members of the various ADCs, in this context are of the opinion that the Governors are mere puppets in the hands of the Ministers.</li>
<li>A major gap in the functioning of the ADCs is the lack of interaction at the village and field level.There is an absence of efficient village councils or regional councils.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Suggestions</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The government and other agencies need to win the confidence of non scheduled area population and bring a sense of security and belongingness to them.</li>
<li>There has to be a proper coordination or adjustment between traditional practices and usages with changes that have occurred within the tribal society today.</li>
<li>The issue on representation needs to be seriously reconsidered, which still has limited participation of women in the decision making process, and also excludes the non-tribals of the State.</li>
<li>Adequate accountability and transparency of funds generated should be entrusted to authorities such as the Comptroller-General and Auditor-General of Accounts to prevent misuse.</li>
<li>Documentation and codification of traditional laws is an essential step through which actual aim of the Sixth Schedule that is protection of tribal cultural identity can be fulfilled.</li>
<li>Measures should be taken in order to ensure that the Autonomous Councils have well defined legislations which clearly identify the powers of the village level bodies,release of funds by the government, transparency in the allocation and utilization of funds.</li>
<li>Stringent laws regarding frequent reviewing of financial position of the ADCs like the Panchayati Raj System will enhance the status of the ADCs.</li>
<li>There is a need for inclusive development and capacity building of ADCs by introducing ideas from the PRI setup.</li>
<li>Strengthening and empowering the local self-governance, which would also include Village and Tribal Councils.</li>
<li>Empowerment of civil society bodies would contribute immensely in the monitoring of the developmental activities and progress rate across diverse sectors undertaken by the councils.</li>
<li>Traditional forms of governance must be promoted with self governance.</li>
<li>To make ADCs platform of governance broader and capable of dealing with a changing world at both the national and international levels, there is a need for inclusion of democratic elements like gender justice into these institutions.</li>
<li>To get a positive outcome the members of the ADCs should be trained, as capacity building of the ADCs members is vital for healthy governance and helps one to be more alert about the responsibilities assigned and the overall functioning.</li>
<li>The functioning of the ADCs should be amended to make them accountable through the insertion of a clause that makes mandatory the creation of village councils/ bodies with a degree of representation to the traditional institutions of chiefs.</li>
<li>Creation of effective watch dog with the powers of Lokayukta in monitoring and keeping a track of the activities undertaken by the ADCs should be given priority as this will help in maintaining transparency in matters of finance and other developmental plans and activities.</li>
<li>Regular and assured financial assistance from governments an efficient monitoring system are two major factors which will determine the success of such provisions,along with awareness and active participation of the other stakeholders.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Way forward</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The ADCs in the past decades have been successful to a certain extent in preserving the tribal identity and attained statehood for some of the tribes who had been struggling for a separate state in the North Eastern part of India.</li>
<li>However, in the present context where the states have been witnessing various changes in terms of development, upgradation of administrative setups, welfare programmes and policies and also changes in the demographic structure it is time that the provisions under the Sixth Schedule needs to be enhanced in order to cope up with the changing mechanisms and demands of the local communities.</li>
<li>Under the prevailing setup, not only the existing powers and functions of the traditional bodies are extremely limited, but also their access to resource allocation is severely poor.</li>
<li>The tribes in other parts of India are faced with problems of development as well as identity. Hence it is worth exploring extension of such systems in other parts of tribal India.</li>
</ul>',
		'postdate' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenTime) {},
		'url' => 'https://www.drishtiias.com/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-national-institutions/autonomous-district-councils'
	],
	(int) 17 => [
		'title' => 'World Day to Combat Desertification and Drought',
		'catname' => 'News Analysis',
		'desc' => '<p>The World Day to Combat Desertification and Drought is observed every year on <strong>17<sup>th</sup> June</strong>. India for the first time will host the 14th session of the Conference of Parties (COP-14) of the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) in September, 2019.<a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/959image1.jpg" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/959image1.jpg" width="307" height="319" style="float: right;" caption="false" /></a></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The World Day to Combat Desertification and Drought is observed every year to promote public awareness of international efforts to combat desertification.</li>
<li>The day is a unique moment to remind everyone that land degradation neutrality is achievable through problem-solving, strong community involvement and cooperation at all levels.</li>
<li><strong>The Theme</strong> of 2019 is &ldquo;Let&rsquo;s Grow the Future Together&rdquo;</li>
</ul>
<h3>United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD)</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>It was established in 1994, the <strong>sole legally binding international agreement</strong> linking environment and development to sustainable land management. The Convention addresses specifically the arid, semi-arid and dry sub-humid areas, known as the drylands, where some of the most vulnerable ecosystems and peoples can be found.</li>
<li><strong>UNCCD 2018-2030 Strategic Framewor</strong>k: It is the most comprehensive global commitment to achieve Land Degradation Neutrality (LDN) in order to restore the productivity of vast expanses of degraded land, improve the livelihoods of more than 1.3 billion people, and reduce the impacts of drought on vulnerable populations to build.</li>
<li>The Convention&rsquo;s 197 parties work together to improve the living conditions for people in drylands, to maintain and restore land and soil productivity, and to mitigate the effects of drought.</li>
<li>The UNCCD is particularly committed to a bottom-up approach, encouraging the participation of local people in combating desertification and land degradation. The UNCCD secretariat facilitates cooperation between developed and developing countries, particularly around knowledge and technology transfer for sustainable land management.</li>
<li>As the dynamics of land, climate and biodiversity are intimately connected, to meet these complex challenges with an integrated approach and the best possible use of natural resources. The UNCCD collaborates closely with the other <strong>two Rio Conventions</strong>:<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>The Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD).</strong></li>
<li><strong>The United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC).</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>The Conference of the Parties (COP)</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The COP was established by the Convention as the supreme decision-making body. It comprises ratifying governments and regional economic integration organizations, such as the European Union.</li>
<li><strong>Functions of COP:</strong> One of the main functions of the COP is to review reports submitted by the Parties detailing how they are carrying out their commitments.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The COP makes recommendations on the basis of these reports.</li>
<li>It also has the power to make amendments to the Convention or to adopt new annexes, such as additional regional implementation annexes.</li>
<li>The COP can guide the Convention as global circumstances and national needs change.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>UNCCD Estimate of Desertification</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Land &amp; Drought:</strong> By 2025, 1.8 billion people will experience absolute water scarcity, and 2/3 of the world will be living under water-stressed conditions. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>A complex and slowly encroaching natural hazard with significant and pervasive socio-economic and environmental impacts to cause more deaths and displace more people than any other natural disaster.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Land &amp; Human Security:</strong> By 2045 some 135 million people may be displaced as a result of desertification.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Achieving land degradation neutrality -by rehabilitating already degraded land, scaling up sustainable land management and accelerating restoration initiatives- is a pathway to greater resilience and security for all.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Land &amp; Climate:</strong> Restoring the soils of degraded ecosystems has the potential to store up to 3 billion tons of carbon annually.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The land use sector represents almost 25% of total global emissions. Its rehabilitation and sustainable management are critical to combating climate change.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>UNCCD and Sustainable Development</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Goal 15 of Sustainable Development Goals(SDG), 2030</strong> declares that &ldquo;we are determined to protect the planet from degradation, including through sustainable consumption and production, sustainably managing its natural resources and taking urgent action on climate change, so that it can support the needs of the present and future generations&rdquo;.</li>
</ul>
<h3>India and UNCCD</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The Union Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC) in partnership with the <strong>International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN)</strong> also launched a flagship project on enhancing capacity on <strong>forest Landscape Restoration (FLR) and Bonn Challenge</strong> in India, through a pilot phase of 3.5 years implemented in the States of Haryana, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Nagaland and Karnataka.</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Desertification</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>It is the degradation of land in arid, semi-arid and dry sub-humid areas. It is caused primarily by human activities and climatic variations. Desertification does not refer to the expansion of existing deserts.</li>
<li>It occurs because dryland ecosystems, which cover over one-third of the world&lsquo;s land area, are extremely vulnerable to overexploitation and inappropriate land use.</li>
<li>Poverty, political instability, deforestation, overgrazing and bad irrigation practices can all undermine the productivity of the land</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>Bonn challenge</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The Bonn Challenge is a global effort to bring 150 million hectares of the world&rsquo;s deforested and degraded land into restoration by 2020, and 350 million hectares by 2030.</li>
<li>At the UNFCCC Conference of the Parties (COP) 2015 in Paris, India also joined the <strong>voluntary Bonn Challenge</strong> pledge to bring into restoration 13 million hectares of degraded and deforested land by the year 2020, an additional 8 million hectares by 2030.</li>
<li>India&rsquo;s pledge is one of the largest in Asia.</li>
</ul>
</div>',
		'postdate' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenTime) {},
		'url' => 'https://www.drishtiias.com/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/world-day-to-combat-desertification-and-drought'
	],
	(int) 18 => [
		'title' => 'UN Report on Myanmar Rohingya Crisis',
		'catname' => 'News Analysis',
		'desc' => '<p>The UN secretary-general has accepted an independent report on how the UN System operated in Myanmar, leading up to the mass exodus of the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/wrong-on-the-rohingya" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Rohingyas</a> following serious human rights abuses.</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The report concluded that there were <strong>&ldquo;systemic and structural failures&rdquo;</strong> that prevented a unified strategy from being implemented.</li>
<li>It covers the period 2010-2018, encompassing the UN&rsquo;s response to the systematic and brutal abuse of hundreds-of-thousands of mainly &ndash;&nbsp;<strong>Muslim Rohingya in Rakhine state,</strong> by the national army and security forces, which began in August 2017.</li>
<li>It was described by the UN human rights chief at the time as a textbook example of ethnic cleansing.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Findings of Report</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Fragmented strategy:</strong> The report has expressed displeasure over the functioning of the UN agency in handling the violence against the Rohingya. It observes that serious errors were committed and opportunities were lost in the UN system following a <strong>fragmented strategy</strong> rather than a common plan of action.</li>
<li><strong>Improper reporting:</strong> There appear to have been instances of <strong>deliberately de-dramatizing events</strong> in reports prepared by the Resident Coordinator, as well as instances of various UN entities, including the Office <strong>for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA),</strong> of not sharing their analysis with other entities of the UN System.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The report also emphasises the impact of competing strategies between some UN agencies and individuals while dealing with the Rohingya crisis.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Polarisation:</strong> It appears that the increasing polarisation among officials and staff was fuelled, at least in part, by the emotional reactions to the horrific events taking place on the ground.</li>
<li>The foundations of <strong>systemic and structural shortcomings</strong> in the UN&rsquo;s presence in Myanmar.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Insufficient inter-governmental support.</li>
<li>The absence of a clear and unifying strategy.</li>
<li>The weakness of a clear nodal point for coordination.</li>
<li>Dysfunctional actions at the level of the Country Team.</li>
<li>Shortcomings of systematic and unified analysis from the field</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Conclusion and Recommendations</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Shared responsibility:</strong> It was the shared responsibility on the part of all parties to protect the Rohingya&rsquo;;s. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The agencies involved have not been able to accompany the Government&rsquo;s political process with constructive actions.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>The report says that the UN Security Council should bear some responsibility, &ldquo;for not providing enough support to the Secretariat when such backing was required and continues to be essential.</li>
<li><strong>The key lesson</strong> was to foster an environment encouraging different entities of the UN System to work together to reinforce a <strong>&ldquo;broader, system-wide strategy&rdquo;</strong>.</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Rohingya people</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The <strong>Rohingya people</strong> are stateless, Indo-Aryan ethnic group who reside in Rakhine State, Myanmar.</li>
<li>There were an estimated 1 million Rohingya living in Myanmar before the 2016&ndash;17 crisis. An estimated 625,000 refugees from Rakhine, Myanmar, had crossed the border into Bangladesh since August 2017. The majority are Muslim while a minority are Hindu.</li>
<li>Described by the United Nations as one of the most persecuted minorities in the world. The Rohingya population is denied citizenship under the 1982 Myanmar nationality law. They have denied the Rohingya the possibility of acquiring a nationality. Although Rohingya history in the region can be traced back to the 8th century, Myanmar law does not recognize the ethnic minority as one of the eight national indigenous races.</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA)</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>OCHA is the part of the United Nations Secretariat responsible for bringing together humanitarian actors to ensure a coherent response to emergencies. OCHA also ensures there is a framework within which each actor can contribute to the overall response effort.</li>
<li>It works to overcome obstacles that impede humanitarian assistance from reaching people affected by crises, and it provides leadership in mobilizing assistance and resources on behalf of the humanitarian system. OCHA is not an operational agency directly engaged in the delivery of humanitarian programmes, and its added value is as an honest broker, facilitator, thought leader and global advocate, providing support to the humanitarian system.</li>
</ul>
</div>',
		'postdate' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenTime) {},
		'url' => 'https://www.drishtiias.com/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/un-report-on-myanmar-rohingya-crisis'
	],
	(int) 19 => [
		'title' => 'NATO Ally Status to India',
		'catname' => 'News Analysis',
		'desc' => '<p>Two top American lawmakers have moved a key legislation in the Senate which seeks to advance the US-India strategic relationship.</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The legislation will amend the Arms Control Export Act to bring India at par with the US&rsquo; NATO allies&ndash; Israel, Australia, New Zealand and South Korea for purposes of selling military items under the ITAR (International Traffic in Arms Regulations) list.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Background</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>There are two technology control lists in the US system &ndash; one is under the Export Administration Regulations, which places controls on the sale of dual-use items that have both civil and military uses and the second is the ITAR list.</li>
<li>The civil nuclear deal paved the way for India to access items on the first set of lists, i.e. those under the Export Administration Regulations.</li>
<li>The Arms Control Export (AEC) Act governs the ITAR list. The amendment, therefore, will make it possible for the US to fulfil India&rsquo;s operational requirements in quick time, thus improving its reliability on supplies.</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>North Atlantic Treaty Organization</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) is a military alliance established by the North Atlantic Treaty (also called the Washington Treaty) of April 4, 1949, by the United States, Canada, and several Western European nations to provide collective security against the Soviet Union.</li>
<li>A key provision of the treaty, the so-called Article 5, states that if one member of the alliance is attacked in Europe or North America, it is to be considered an attack on all members. That effectively put Western Europe under the "nuclear umbrella" of the US.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>NATO has only once invoked Article 5, on September 12, 2001 following the 9/11 attacks on the World Trade Center in the US.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>As of 2019, there are 29 member states, with Montenegro becoming the latest member to join the alliance in 2017. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>France withdrew from the integrated military command of NATO in 1966 but remained a member of the organization. However, it resumed its position in NATO&rsquo;s military command in 2009.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>Recent Issues</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>A big source of the internal strain is American President Donald Trump's recurrent demand that countries devote an amount equal to at least two percent of GDP to defence spending In 2018.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>However, only seven of NATO's 29 member states hit the two-percent target.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>Strained relationship over selling of defence equipments.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The US has halted delivery of equipment related to its F-35 fighter jets to Turkey over its plans to buy <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/india-going-ahead-with-purchase-of-S-400-air-defence-systems" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Russia&rsquo;s S-400 missile defence system</a>.</li>
<li>U.S. wants Turkey to buy the Patriot defence system of the USA, instead of Russia&rsquo;s S-400s.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>Recently, the Republic of Macedonia changed its name to the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/macedonias-new-name" target="_blank" rel="noopener">&ldquo;Republic of North Macedonia&rdquo;</a> to enter the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) and the <a href="/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-international-institution/european-union" target="_blank" rel="noopener">European Union (EU)</a> as its accession to both organizations was vetoed by Greece.</li>
</ul>
</div>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The move comes after India and the US signed the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/india-us-2-plus-2-talks" target="_blank" rel="noopener">COMCASA (Communications, Compatibility and Security Agreement) in 2018</a>.</li>
<li>The two countries are also in advance discussion to sign another foundational agreement of the BECA <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/india-us-mini-2-plus-2-talks" target="_blank" rel="noopener">(Basic Exchange Cooperation Agreement).</a></li>
<li>It also comes ahead of President Donald Trump&rsquo;s scheduled meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi on the sidelines of the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/g20-and-marine-plastic-waste" target="_blank" rel="noopener">G20 Summit in Osaka, Japan.</a></li>
</ul>
<h3>Importance</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The amendment is moved as part of the National Defense Authorization Act 2020 of the USA, giving a big boost to India-US defence trade.</li>
<li>This would remove current legislative barriers to export of major high-tech defence equipment to India which is normally shared with only a few countries.</li>
<li>Although, it is an important signal of US political support for enhancing defense ties but is unlikely to have tangible impact on trade flows in the near term.</li>
<li>The amendment needs to be passed by both the Senate and the House of Representatives before it can be signed by the US President into law.</li>
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Cake\View\View::_evaluate() - CORE/src/View/View.php, line 1196
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Cake\View\View::_render() - CORE/src/View/View.php, line 1157
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