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G7 Summit

The three days G7 summit was concluded on August 26, 2019, at Biarritz, Nouvelle-Aquitaine, France. Although no joint communique was issued at the...

02 Sep 2019 News Analysis
Hurricane Dorian

Recently the Hurricane Dorian became the strongest storm in modern records to hit the northwestern Bahamas (a country in the Caribbean...

02 Sep 2019 News Analysis
General Assembly of the Association of World Election Bodies

The Election Commission of India is scheduled to host the 4th General Assembly of the Association of World Election Bodies (A-WEB) at Bengaluru on...

02 Sep 2019 News Analysis
Mamallapuram

Mamallapuram, Tamil Nadu is expected to be the venue for the second India-China informal summit. Besides holding talks, the leaders of both...

02 Sep 2019 News Analysis
Indonesia’s New Capital

Recently, Indonesia's President has announced that the country's capital (currently Jakarta) will be relocated to East Kalimantan province on Borneo...

02 Sep 2019 News Analysis
Citizenship of India

In the run-up to the publication of the final National Register of Citizens (NRC) in Assam, the Supreme Court, in August, 2019 rejected a plea to...

02 Sep 2019 Paper 2
RBI Surplus Transfer to the Government

The article is based on Spelling out the government’s RBI windfall that was published in The Hindu on 31st August. It talks about the recent...

31 Aug 2019 News Editorials
The Big Picture – Need to Modernise Indian Air Force

Amid escalating tension between India and Pakistan over the abrogation of the special status of Jammu and Kashmir, Air Chief Marshal BS Dhanoa has...

31 Aug 2019 Lok Sabha & Rajya Sabha Discussions
Indian Economy: Slowest Growth in Six Years

According to data released by the government, the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) grew 5% in the first quarter of the Financial Year (FY) 2019-20,...

31 Aug 2019 News Analysis
Australia Downgrades Great Barrier Reef to 'Very Poor' Status

Australia has downgraded the Great Barrier Reef's long-term outlook to "Very Poor" for the first time. Coral along large swathes of the...

31 Aug 2019 News Analysis
Amalgamation of National Banks

The Finance Minister has announced the biggest consolidation plan of Public sector Banks (PSBs)- merging 10 of them into just 4. New Banks After the...

31 Aug 2019 News Analysis
‘Mauritius Leaks’ and Need for Tax Reforms

The article is based on Mauritius leaks and need for tax reforms that was published in The Hindu BusinessLine on 30th August. It talks about the...

30 Aug 2019 News Editorials
Rise of Regional Parties In India

In a democracy, political parties provide an agency to the society to gather different views on various issues and to present these to the...

30 Aug 2019 Paper 2
50th Foundation Day of Bureau of Police Research and Development

On occasion of 50th foundation day of BPR&D, the Home Minister stressed upon modernising the police department and urged the security personnel...

30 Aug 2019 News Analysis
Electromagnetic Interference, Compatibility and Pulse

The Society for Applied Microwave Electronics Engineering and Research (SAMEER) with its vast experience in the areas of Electromagnetic...

30 Aug 2019 News Analysis
SKOCH Governance Gold Award for DAY-NULM

The Deendayal Antyodaya Yojana-National Urban Livelihoods Mission (DAY-NULM) has been conferred the prestigious SKOCH Governance Gold Award for its...

30 Aug 2019 News Analysis
Domestic Demand and Economy’s Animal Spirits

The Reserve Bank of India’s (RBI) annual report for the year 2018-19 has stated that the low domestic demand is holding back the animal spirits...

30 Aug 2019 News Analysis
Two New Species of Eels

Recently, two new species of Marine Eels have been discovered by Estuarine Biology Regional Centre (EBRC) of the Zoological Survey of India...

30 Aug 2019 News Analysis
Rise of Regional Parties in India

For...

30 Aug 2019 Paper 2
Reforming the Law Commission

The article is based on Reforming the Law Commission that was published in The Indian Express on 29th August. It talks about the needed reforms...

29 Aug 2019 News Editorials

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			'title' => 'G7 Summit',
			'catname' => 'News Analysis',
			'desc' => '<p>The three days G7 summit was concluded on August 26, 2019, at Biarritz, Nouvelle-Aquitaine, France.</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Although <strong>no joint communique</strong> was issued at the end of the summit, the French President released a statement stating that the seven industrialized nations were committed to open and fair world trade, and global economic stability.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Key Takeaways</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Discussion on forest fires in the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/amazon-rainforest" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Amazon rainforests</strong></a>. G7 countries pledged $20 million help to fight fires in the Amazon rainforests.</li>
<li>US trade conflicts with France over <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/data-protection-law-in-the-united-states" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>GAFA tax</strong></a> &amp; other related issues, Iran over the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/us-reimposes-sanctions-on-iran" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA)</strong></a>, US-China <a href="/to-the-points/paper3/trade-war-6" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>trade wars.</strong></a></li>
<li>G7 leaders backed the existence and importance of the <strong>Sino-British Joint Declaration of 1984</strong> on Hong Kong and called for violence to be avoided.</li>
<li>The United States of America offered a better deal after UK&rsquo;s <a href="/loksabha-rajyasabha-discussions/brexit-deal-what-lies-ahead" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Brexit.</strong></a></li>
<li>There was a call for <strong>reinstating Russia</strong> back into the group. Russia was removed from the group after it <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/elections-in-ukraine" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>annexed Crimea in 2014.</strong></a> But the consensus for the same was not achieved.</li>
<li>As a reflection of <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/india-france-relations" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>strong bilateral relations between India &amp; France</strong></a>, a <strong>special invitation</strong> was sent to India to become a part of this summit.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>On the sidelines of this summit, India highlighted its large-scale efforts to address various environmental issues like, reducing biodiversity, climate change, water stress &amp; ocean pollution. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>India highlighted the steps taken in this regard which include, vow to <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/plastic-ban-incentivise-options-for-single-use-plastic-to-make-a-national-ban-possible" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>eliminate single-use plastic</strong></a>, harnessing solar energy, saving water, and protecting flora and fauna.</li>
<li>On a session on <strong>Digital transformation</strong> at G7 Summit, Indian PM remarked, &ldquo;India&rsquo;s usage of technology for enhanced &amp; innovative digital payment initiatives.&rdquo; India is putting enormous efforts in leveraging digital technology to fight social inequalities through empowerment and inclusion.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>Indian Prime Minister also had a brief discussion with the US President over the <a href="/loksabha-rajyasabha-discussions/in-depth-jammu-and-kashmir" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Kashmir</strong> </a>issue, reiterating that,<em> &lsquo;it is an internal matter of India &amp; any related issues on it will be resolved bilaterally with Pakistan&rsquo;.</em></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>The need for a dedicated multilateral <strong>Green Bank was</strong> demanded. The purpose of this bank would solely be to finance the projects supporting renewable energies and mitigating environmental challenges. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>This bank will complement and collaborate with other existing multilateral- regional &amp; national institutions in co-financing the projects.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>G7</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The Group of Seven (G7) is a forum of the <strong>world's seven largest developed economies</strong> whose government leaders <strong>meet annually</strong> to discuss international economic and monetary issues.</li>
<li>The G-7 has its roots in an <strong>informal meeting of the finance ministers</strong> of France, West Germany, the U.S, Great Britain, and Japan (the <strong>Group of Five</strong>) in the wake of the <strong>1973 oil crisis.</strong> That, in turn, inspired the French President to invite the leaders of those countries, and <strong>Italy,</strong> to Rambouillet in 1975 for further discussions on global oil.</li>
<li>The next year, <strong>Canada</strong> was also invited to join the group and the first meeting with all <strong>G-7 nations was hosted by the United States which was held in Puerto Rico in 1976.</strong></li>
<li>Summits are held annually and hosted on a rotation basis by the group's members.</li>
<li>The 2018 summit was hosted by Canada in Quebec from June 8-9.</li>
<li>The 45th G7 summit was hosted by France from August 24-26, 2019, in Biarritz in Nouvelle-Aquitaine, France.</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>Members</strong></p>
<p>The G7 members are recognized as the seven <strong>wealthiest</strong> and <strong>most advanced</strong> nations in the world. The members are:</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>France,</li>
<li>Germany,</li>
<li>The United Kingdom,</li>
<li>Italy,</li>
<li>The United States of America,</li>
<li>Canada,</li>
<li>Japan</li>
<li>The <a href="/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-international-institution/european-union" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>European Union</strong></a> is sometimes considered an eighth member of the G-7, since it holds all the rights and responsibilities of full members except to chair or host the meeting.</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>Expansion to G-8 (the Group of Eight)</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The G-7 responded as the global economy evolved. In 1991, the Soviet Union pledged to create an economy with freer markets and held its first direct presidential election.</li>
<li>Following the 1994 G7 meeting in Naples, Russian President held meetings with G-7 member countries, in what became known as the P-8 <strong>(Political 8).</strong></li>
<li>In 1998, after urging from leaders including U.S. President, Russia was added to the G-7 group as a full-time member, creating a formal G-8.</li>
<li>However, in 2014, Russia was suspended from the group after the annexation of Crimea and tensions in Ukraine.</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>Purpose</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The major purpose of the G-7 is to discuss and deliberate on <strong>international economic issues.</strong> It sometimes acts in concert to help resolve other global problems, with a special focus on economic issues.</li>
<li>G7 fills out numerous global top lists:<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Leading export countries,</li>
<li>Largest gold reserves,</li>
<li>Largest nuclear energy producers,</li>
<li>Top contributors to the UN budget.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</div>
<p><a href="https://www.thehindu.com/opinion/editorial/message-delivered/article29282081.ece" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Source: TH</strong></a></p>',
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		],
		(int) 1 => [
			'title' => 'Hurricane Dorian',
			'catname' => 'News Analysis',
			'desc' => '<p>Recently the Hurricane Dorian became the strongest storm in modern records to hit the northwestern <strong>Bahamas (a country in the Caribbean Islands).</strong></p>
<h3>Hurricane Dorian</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>It is an extremely powerful tropical cyclone currently affecting the Bahamas and threatening the Southeastern United States.</li>
<li>It is developed from a tropical wave in the Central Atlantic.</li>
<li>It is categorised as a <strong>Category 5 storm on Saffir&ndash;Simpson hurricane wind scale (SSHWS)</strong> with maximum sustained winds of 285 km per hour.</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/161image3.jpg" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/161image3.jpg" width="635" height="521" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" caption="false" /></a></p>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Hurricanes</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>A Hurricane is a <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/cyclone-idai" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>tropical cyclone</strong></a> that occurs in the Atlantic Ocean and the northeastern Pacific Ocean.</li>
<li>These are formed over the warm ocean waters near the equator.</li>
<li>Hurricanes typically form between 5 to 15 degrees latitude north and south of the equator.</li>
<li>Hurricanes are known to be one of nature's most destructive storms as they bring heavy rains, deadly waves and fierce winds.</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Wind Scale</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Wind Scale is a 1 to 5 rating based on a hurricane's sustained wind speed. This scale estimates potential property damage.</li>
</ul>
<table border="1" style="width: 100%; border-collapse: collapse; background-color: #f29b7e;">
<tbody>
<tr style="height: 35px;">
<td style="width: 11.088%; height: 35px;"><strong>Category</strong></td>
<td style="width: 16.3894%; height: 35px;"><strong>Sustained Winds</strong></td>
<td style="width: 45.2876%; height: 35px;"><strong>Types of Damage Due to Hurricane Winds</strong></td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 19px;">
<td style="width: 11.088%; height: 19px;">1</td>
<td style="width: 16.3894%; height: 19px;">119-153 km/h</td>
<td style="width: 45.2876%; height: 19px;">Very dangerous winds will produce some damage</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 19px;">
<td style="width: 11.088%; height: 19px;">2</td>
<td style="width: 16.3894%; height: 19px;">154-177 km/h</td>
<td style="width: 45.2876%; height: 19px;">Extremely dangerous winds will cause extensive damage</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 19px;">
<td style="width: 11.088%; height: 19px;">3&nbsp;(major)</td>
<td style="width: 16.3894%; height: 19px;">178-208 km/h</td>
<td style="width: 45.2876%; height: 19px;">Devastating damage will occur</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 19px;">
<td style="width: 11.088%; height: 19px;">4 (major)</td>
<td style="width: 16.3894%; height: 19px;">209-251 km/h</td>
<td style="width: 45.2876%; height: 19px;">Catastrophic damage will occur</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 19px;">
<td style="width: 11.088%; height: 19px;">5&nbsp;(major)</td>
<td style="width: 16.3894%; height: 19px;">252 km/h or higher</td>
<td style="width: 45.2876%; height: 19px;">Catastrophic damage will occur</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
</div>
<p><br /><a href="https://www.thehindu.com/news/international/catastrophic-hurricane-dorian-hits-bahamas/article29316410.ece" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Source: TH</strong></a></p>',
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			'url' => 'https://www.drishtiias.com/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/hurricane-dorian'
		],
		(int) 2 => [
			'title' => 'General Assembly of the Association of  World Election Bodies',
			'catname' => 'News Analysis',
			'desc' => '<p><a href="/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-national-institutions/election-commission-of-india" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>The Election Commission of India</strong></a> is scheduled to host the <strong>4<sup>th</sup> General Assembly of the Association of World Election Bodies (A-WEB)</strong> at Bengaluru on 3<sup>rd</sup> September 2019.</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>India will take over as <strong>A-WEB&rsquo;s Chair for the 2019-21 term.</strong></li>
<li>ECI has been its Executive Board Member since AWEB's inception for two consecutive terms (2013-15 and 2015-17).</li>
<li>During A-WEB General Assembly, 2017 ECI was unanimously elected as Vice-Chair of A-WEB 2017-19.</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Association of World Election Bodies (A-WEB)</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The Association of World Election Bodies(A-WEB) is the largest association of Election Management Bodies (EMBs) worldwide.</li>
<li>It was established on October 14, 2013 in South Korea.</li>
<li>The permanent secretariat of A-WEB is located in Seoul, South Korea.</li>
<li>It was founded with the shared vision among its members of achieving sustainable democracy around the world</li>
<li>A-WEB also undertakes Election Visitor and Observation Programmes in various countries to study various election management practices and share knowledge with other Member of EMBs.</li>
</ul>
</div>
<p><a href="https://pib.gov.in/PressReleseDetail.aspx?PRID=1583786" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Source: PIB</strong></a></p>',
			'postdate' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenTime) {},
			'url' => 'https://www.drishtiias.com/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/general-assembly-of-the-association-of-world-election-bodies'
		],
		(int) 3 => [
			'title' => 'Mamallapuram',
			'catname' => 'News Analysis',
			'desc' => '<p>Mamallapuram, Tamil Nadu is expected to be the venue for the <strong>second India-China informal summit.</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Besides holding talks, the leaders of both countries are likely to make a visit to the ancient monuments in the area.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The monuments in the area have been classified as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.</li>
<li>During the <a href="/loksabha-rajyasabha-discussions/the-big-picture-indias-china-pak-policy" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>first informal summit in Wuhan</strong></a> <strong>(in China) in April 2018,</strong> the leaders had made a visit to the Hubei provincial museum.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>Recently, Mamallapuram had also hosted the <strong>Defence Expo 2018,</strong> an annual event of the Union Defence Ministry.</li>
</ul>
<h3>About Mamallapuram<a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/522image2.jpg" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/522image2.jpg" width="233" height="233" style="float: right;" caption="false" /></a></h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Mamallapuram,</strong> also called <strong>Mahabalipuram</strong> or <strong>Seven Pagodas,</strong> is a town that lies along the Coromandel Coast of the Bay of Bengal, 60 km south of Chennai.</li>
<li>The town&rsquo;s religious centre was <strong>founded by a 7<sup>th</sup>-century Hindu Pallava</strong> <strong>King&mdash;Narasimhavarman,</strong> also known as Mamalla&mdash;for whom the town was named.</li>
<li>It contains many surviving 7<sup>th</sup>- and 8<sup>th</sup>-century Pallava temples and monuments, chief of which are the sculptured rock relief popularly known as <strong>&ldquo;Arjuna&rsquo;s Penance,&rdquo; or &ldquo;Descent of the Ganges,&rdquo;</strong> a series of sculptured cave temples, and a Shiva temple on the seashore.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The town&rsquo;s <strong>Five Rathas,</strong> or monolithic temples, are the remnants of seven temples, for which the town was known as Seven Pagodas. The entire assemblage collectively was designated a <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/kailash-mansarovar-in-tentative-list-of-world-heritage-sites" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>UNESCO World Heritage Site</strong></a><strong> in 1984.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/mamallapuram-to-host-narendra-modi-xi-jinping-meet-in-october/article29316612.ece" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Source: TH</strong></a></p>',
			'postdate' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenTime) {},
			'url' => 'https://www.drishtiias.com/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/mamallapuram'
		],
		(int) 4 => [
			'title' => 'Indonesia’s New Capital',
			'catname' => 'News Analysis',
			'desc' => '<p>Recently, Indonesia's President has announced that the <strong>country's capital (currently Jakarta)</strong> will be relocated to <strong>East Kalimantan province on Borneo island.</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Jakarta is the largest Indonesian city with a population of 1 crore people and is located on the North West coast of the <strong>most populous island in the world, Java.<a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/613image1.jpg" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/613image1.jpg" width="390" height="422" style="float: right;" caption="false" /></a></strong></li>
<li><strong>Reasons for Relocation:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Jakarta was built on a marsh, (already a few meters below sea level), thereby prone to be submerged.</li>
<li><strong>Due to climate change, the water levels in the Java Sea are rising and weather events are becoming more extreme.</strong></li>
<li>Jakarta is among the <strong>world&rsquo;s fastest sinking city.</strong></li>
<li>Moreover, the Jakarta is the centre for administration, governance, finance and trade, it has inevitably led to relentless construction in the city, due to which the water is not able to seep into the ground in many areas, leading to increased run-off.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Site of Relocation</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>East Kalimantan is located over 1,400 km from Jakarta, on the<strong> island of Borneo.</strong></li>
<li>Mineral-rich East Kalimantan was once almost completely covered by rainforests.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="https://indianexpress.com/article/explained/explained-why-is-indonesia-moving-its-capital-city-and-what-next-for-jakarta-5944268/" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Source: IE</strong></a></p>',
			'postdate' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenTime) {},
			'url' => 'https://www.drishtiias.com/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/indonesia-s-new-capital'
		],
		(int) 5 => [
			'title' => 'Citizenship of India',
			'catname' => 'Paper 2',
			'desc' => '<p>In the run-up to the publication of the final <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/final-national-register-of-citizens" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>National Register of Citizens (NRC)</strong></a> <strong>in Assam,</strong> the Supreme Court, in August, 2019 rejected a plea to include those born in India between <strong>after March 24, 1971 and before July 1, 1987</strong> in NRC unless they had <strong>ancestral links</strong> to India.</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>In any other Indian state, they would have been citizens by birth, but the <strong>law is different for Assam.</strong></li>
<li>In this context, citizenship has become the most talked about topic in the country.</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>National Register of Citizens (NRC)</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The National Register of Citizens, 1951 is a register prepared <strong>after the conduct of the Census of 1951</strong> in respect of each village, showing the houses or holdings in a serial order and indicating against each house or holding the number and names of persons staying therein.</li>
<li>The NRC was published <strong>only once in 1951.</strong></li>
<li>The NRC of 1951 and the Electoral Roll of 1971 (up to midnight of 24 March 1971) are together called <strong>Legacy Data.</strong></li>
<li>Persons and their descendants whose names appeared in these documents are certified as Indian citizens.</li>
</ul>
</div>
<h3>How is Citizenship Defined?</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Citizenship signifies the <strong>relationship between individual and state.</strong></li>
<li>Like any other modern state, India has <strong>two kinds of people&mdash;citizens and aliens.</strong> Citizens are full members of the Indian State and owe allegiance to it. They enjoy <strong>all civil and political rights.</strong></li>
<li>Citizenship is an <strong>idea of exclusion</strong> as it excludes non-citizens.</li>
<li>There are <strong>two well-known principles</strong> for the grant of citizenship:<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>While <strong>&lsquo;jus soli&rsquo;</strong> confers citizenship on the basis of place of birth,<strong> &lsquo;jus sanguinis&rsquo;</strong> gives recognition to blood ties.</li>
<li>From the time of the <strong>Motilal Nehru Committee (1928),</strong> the Indian leadership was in favour of the enlightened concept of jus soli.</li>
<li>The <strong>racial idea of jus sanguinis was also rejected by the Constituent Assembly</strong> as it was against the Indian ethos.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Constitutional Provisions</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Citizenship is listed in the <strong>Union List</strong> under the Constitution and thus is under the <strong>exclusive jurisdiction of Parliament.</strong></li>
<li>The <strong>Constitution does not define the term &lsquo;citizen&rsquo;</strong> but details of various categories of persons who are entitled to citizenship are given in <strong>Part 2 (Articles 5 to 11).</strong></li>
<li>Unlike other provisions of the Constitution, which came into being on January 26, 1950,<strong> these articles were enforced on November 26, 1949</strong> itself, when the Constitution was adopted.</li>
<li><strong>Article 5:</strong> It provided for <strong>citizenship on commencement of the Constitution.</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>All those <strong>domiciled and born in India</strong> were given citizenship.</li>
<li>Even those who were domiciled but not born in India, but <strong>either of whose parents was born in India,</strong> were considered citizens.</li>
<li>Anyone who had been an <strong>ordinary resident for more than five years,</strong> too, was entitled to apply for citizenship.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Article 6:</strong> It provided rights of citizenship of certain persons who have <strong>migrated to India from Pakistan.</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Since Independence was preceded by Partition and migration, Article 6 laid down that anyone who migrated to India <strong>before July 19, 1949,</strong> would automatically become an Indian citizen if either of his parents or grandparents was born in India.</li>
<li>But those who entered India after this date needed to register themselves.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Article 7:</strong> Provided Rights of citizenship of <strong>certain migrants to Pakistan.</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Those who had migrated to Pakistan after March 1, 1947 but subsequently returned on resettlement permits were included within the citizenship net.</li>
<li>The law was more sympathetic to those who migrated from Pakistan and called them refugees than to those who, in a state of confusion, were stranded in Pakistan or went there but decided to return soon.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Article 8:</strong> Provided Rights of citizenship of certain <strong>persons of Indian origin residing outside India.</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Any Person of Indian Origin residing outside India who, or either of whose parents or grandparents, was born in India could register himself or herself as an Indian citizen with Indian Diplomatic Mission.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Article 9:</strong> Provided that if any person <strong>voluntarily acquired the citizenship of a foreign State</strong> will no longer be a citizen of India.</li>
<li><strong>Article10:</strong> It says that every person who is or is deemed to be a citizen of India under any of the foregoing provisions of this Part shall, <strong>subject to the provisions of any law that may be made by Parliament,</strong> continue to be such citizen.</li>
<li><strong>Article 11:</strong> It empowers <strong>Parliament</strong> to make any provision with respect to the acquisition and termination of citizenship and all matters relating to it.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Acts and Amendments</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The Citizenship Act, 1955 provides for the <strong>acquisition and determination</strong> of Indian citizenship.</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Acquisition and Determination of Indian Citizenship</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>There are<strong> four ways</strong> in which Indian citizenship can be acquired: <strong>birth, descent, registration and naturalisation.</strong> The provisions are listed under the <strong>Citizenship Act, 1955.</strong></li>
<li><strong>By Birth:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Every person born in India on or after 26.01.1950 but before 01.07.1987 is an Indian citizen irrespective of the nationality of his/her parents.</li>
<li>Every person born in India between 01.07.1987 and 02.12.2004 is a citizen of India given either of his/her parents is a citizen of the country at the time of his/her birth.</li>
<li>Every person born in India on or after 3.12.2004 is a citizen of the country given both his/her parents are Indians or at least one parent is a citizen and the other is not an illegal migrant at the time of birth.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>By Registration:</strong> Citizenship can also be acquired by registration. Some of the mandatory rules are:<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>A person of <strong>Indian origin</strong> who has <strong>been a resident of India for 7 years</strong> before applying for registration.</li>
<li>A person of Indian origin who is a resident of any country outside undivided India.</li>
<li>A person <strong>who is married to an Indian citizen</strong> and is ordinarily <strong>resident for 7 years</strong> before applying for registration.</li>
<li><strong>Minor children</strong> of persons who are<strong> citizens of India.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>By Descent:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>A person born outside India on or after January 26, 1950 is a citizen of India by descent if <strong>his/her father was a citizen of India by birth.</strong></li>
<li>A person born outside India on or after December 10, 1992, but before December 3, 2004 if either of his/her parent was a citizen of India by birth.</li>
<li>If a person born outside India or or after December 3, 2004 has to acquire citizenship, his/her parents have to declare that the minor does not hold a passport of another country and his/her birth is registered at an Indian consulate within one year of birth.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>By Naturalisation:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>A person can acquire citizenship by naturalisation if <strong>he/she is ordinarily resident of India for 12 years</strong> (throughout 12 months preceding the date of application and 11 years in the aggregate) and fulfils all <strong>qualifications in the third schedule</strong> of the Citizenship Act.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>The Act does <strong>not provide for dual citizenship or dual nationality.</strong> It only allows citizenship for a person listed under the provisions above ie: by birth, descent, registration or naturalisation.</li>
</ul>
</div>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The act has been <strong>amended four times &mdash; in 1986, 2003, 2005, and 2015.</strong></li>
<li>Through these amendments Parliament has narrowed down the wider and universal principles of citizenship based on the fact of birth.</li>
<li>Moreover, the <strong>Foreigners Act</strong> places a heavy burden on the individual to prove that he/she is not a foreigner.</li>
<li><strong>1986 amendment:</strong> Unlike the constitutional provision and the original Citizenship Act that gave citizenship on the <strong>principle of jus soli</strong> to everyone born in India, the 1986 amendment to <strong>Section 3</strong> was less inclusive.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The amendment has added the condition that those who were born in India on or after January 26, 1950 but before July 1, 1987, shall be Indian citizen.</li>
<li>Those born after July 1, 1987 and before December 4, 2003, in addition to one&rsquo;s own birth in India, can get citizenship only if either of his parents was an Indian citizen at the time of birth.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>2003 amendment:</strong> The amendment made the above condition more stringent, keeping in view <strong>infiltration from Bangladesh.</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Now the law requires that for those born on or after December 4, 2004, in addition to the fact of their own birth, both parents should be Indian citizens or one parent must be Indian citizen and other <strong>should not be an illegal migrant.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>With these restrictive amendments, India has almost moved towards the <strong>narrow principle of jus sanguinis or blood relationship.</strong></li>
<li>This lays down that an <strong>illegal migrant cannot claim citizenship by naturalisation or registration</strong> even if he has been a resident of India for seven years.</li>
<li><a href="/to-the-points/Paper2/upsc-ias-gs-paper-2-polity-the-citizenship-amendment-bill-2016" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Citizenship (Amendment) Bill 2019</strong></a>: The amendment proposes to <strong>permit members of six communities &mdash; Hindus, Sikhs, Buddhists, Jains, Parsis and Christians</strong> from Pakistan, Bangladesh and Afghanistan &mdash; to continue to live in India if they entered India before December 14, 2014. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>It also reduces the requirement for citizenship from <strong>11 years to just 6 years.</strong></li>
<li>Two notifications also exempted these migrants from the Passport Act and Foreigners Act.</li>
<li>A large number of organisations in Assam protested against this Bill as it may grant citizenship to <strong>Bangladeshi Hindu illegal migrants.</strong></li>
<li>The justification given for the bill is that Hindus and Buddhists are minorities in Bangladesh, and fled to India to avoid religious persecution, but Muslims are a majority in Bangladesh and so the same cannot be said about them.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Different Scenario in Assam</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Assam witnessed large-scale <strong>illegal migration from erstwhile East Pakistan</strong> and, after 1971, from present-day Bangladesh.</li>
<li>This led to the six-year-long <strong>Assam movement from 1979 to 1985,</strong> for deporting illegal migrants.</li>
<li>The All Assam Students' Union (AASU) led the movement that <strong>demanded the updating of the NRC</strong> and the deportation of all illegal migrants who had entered Assam after 1951.</li>
<li>The Assam Movement against illegal immigration eventually led to the historic <a href="/to-the-points/Paper2/to-the-point-paper-2-national-register-of-citizens-nrc" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Assam Accord of 1985</strong></a>, signed by the Movement leaders and the Rajiv Gandhi government.</li>
<li>It set March 25, 1971, as the <strong>cut-off date</strong> for the deportation of illegal migrants.</li>
<li>Since the cut-off date prescribed under articles 5 and 6 of the Constitution was July 19, 1949 - to give force to the new date, an amendment was made to the Citizenship Act, 1955, and <strong>a new section (6A) was introduced.</strong></li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Section 6A</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The section was <strong>made applicable only to Assam.</strong></li>
<li>It laid down that all persons of Indian origin who entered Assam before January 1, 1966 and have been ordinary residents will be deemed Indian citizens.</li>
<li>Those who came after 1 January, 1966 but before March 25, 1971, and have been ordinary residents, will get <strong>citizenship at the expiry of 10 years</strong> from their detection as a foreigner.</li>
<li>During this interim period, they will not have the <strong>right to vote but can get an Indian passport.</strong></li>
<li>In Assam Sanmilita Mahasangha (2014) where the constitutionality of the 1986 amendment was challenged (the Mahasangha argues that the cutoff year for Assam should be 1951 instead of 1971), the court referred the matter to the Constitution Bench. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>To examine whether Section 6A is constitutional and valid though it prescribes a different cutoff date for Assam (1971) from the one prescribed in the Constitution for the rest of the country (1949).</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>A five-judge Bench of the <strong>Supreme Court is yet to examine the constitutionality of Section 6A</strong> under which the current NRC has been prepared.</li>
</ul>
</div>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Identification of foreigners as needed by Section 6A was to be done under the<strong> Illegal Migrants (Determination by Tribunal) Act, (IMDT Act), 1983,</strong> which was applicable only in Assam while the <strong>Foreigners Act, 1946</strong> was applicable in the rest of the country. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The provisions of the IMDT Act made it difficult to deport illegal immigrants.</li>
<li>On the petition of Sarbananda Sonowal (now the Chief Minister of Assam), the Act was held unconstitutional and struck down by the Supreme Court in 2005.</li>
<li>This was eventually replaced with the Foreigners (Tribunals for Assam) Order, 2006, which again was struck down in 2007.</li>
<li>In the IMDT case, the court considered classification based on geographical considerations to be a <strong>violation of the right to equality under Article 14.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Conclusion</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Giving concession of six years for residence based only on religion is against the tenets of secularism. This should be dropped to stand the test of<strong> &lsquo;basic structure doctrine&rsquo;.</strong></li>
<li>India, as a country which follows the ideology of <strong>&lsquo;Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam&rsquo;,</strong> should not be hasty in taking decisions that can disenfranchise her citizens &ndash; contradicting its centuries-followed values.</li>
<li>The need of the hour is that the Union Government should clearly chart out the course of action regarding the fate of excluded people from final NRC of Assam and political parties should refrain from colouring the entire NRC process through electoral prospects that may <strong>snowball into communal violence.</strong></li>
<li>An <strong>overly legal approach will only produce more tension, insecurity and anxiety.</strong></li>
</ul>',
			'postdate' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenTime) {},
			'url' => 'https://www.drishtiias.com/to-the-points/Paper2/citizenship-of-india'
		],
		(int) 6 => [
			'title' => 'RBI Surplus Transfer to the Government',
			'catname' => 'News Editorials',
			'desc' => '<div class="border">
<p>The article is based on <a href="https://www.thehindu.com/opinion/lead/spelling-out-the-governments-rbi-windfall/article29302743.ece" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Spelling out the government&rsquo;s RBI windfall</strong></a> that was published in The Hindu on 31<sup>st</sup> August. It talks about the recent surplus transfer by the RBI to the Government and its implications.</p>
</div>
<h3>Context</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The Central Board of the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) on 26th August decided to <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/transfer-of-surplus-from-rbi" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>transfer</strong></a> a sum of ₹1,76,051 crore to the Government comprising of ₹1,23,414 crore of surplus for the year 2018-19 and ₹52,637 crore of excess provisions identified <strong>as per the revised Economic Capital Framework (ECF)</strong> adopted at the meeting of the Central Board.</li>
<li>The Surplus Distribution Policy of RBI that was finalized is in line with the recommendations of the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/bimal-jalan-panel-on-economic-capital-framework" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Bimal Jalan committee</strong></a> that was formed by the RBI, in consultation with the Government, to review the extant Economic Capital Framework of the RBI.</li>
<li>The Committee&rsquo;s recommendations were based on the consideration of the role of central banks&rsquo; financial resilience, cross-country practices, statutory provisions and the impact of the RBI&rsquo;s public policy mandate and operating environment on its balance sheet and the risks involved.</li>
<li>In view of the RBI&rsquo;s function as a lender of last resort, it needs to maintain some <strong>Contingent Risk Buffer (CRB)</strong> to insure the economy against any tail risk of financial stability crisis.</li>
<li>The Jalan Committee recommended that the CRB needs to be maintained at a range of 5.5% to 6.5% of the RBI&rsquo;s balance sheet.</li>
<li>The surplus transfer policy is now formula based and thus transparent, which is an important departure from the past.</li>
<li>The formula-based CRB will take care of the <strong>risk provisioning</strong> and the central board of RBI will decide on the level of risk provisioning.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Why this huge transfer</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Overcapitalised RBI:</strong> The narrative that the RBI is an overcapitalised institution has been in discussions for some time. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The <strong>Economic Survey of 2016-17</strong> found that the RBI is one of the most capitalised central banks in the world and noted, &ldquo;There is no particular reason why this extra capital should be kept with the RBI&rdquo;.</li>
<li>Some central banks around the world (like the US and UK) keep 13% to 14% of their assets as a reserve compared to RBI&rsquo;s 27% and some (like Russia) more than that.</li>
<li>Economists in the past have argued for RBI releasing &lsquo;extra&rsquo; capital that can be put to productive use by the government. <strong>The Malegam Committee</strong> estimated the excess (in 2013) at ₹1.49 lakh crore.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>RBI Surplus Transfer: Why and How</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>RBI&rsquo;s Earning:</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Returns earned on its foreign currency assets,</strong> which could be in the form of bonds and treasury bills of other central banks or top-rated securities, and deposits with other central banks.</li>
<li><strong>Interest on its holdings of local rupee-denominated government bonds</strong> or securities, and while lending to banks for very short tenures, such as overnight.</li>
<li><strong>Management commission</strong> on handling the borrowings of state governments and the central government.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>RBI&rsquo;s Expenditure:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Printing of currency notes and on staff,</strong> besides the commission it gives to banks for undertaking transactions on behalf of the government across the country, and to primary dealers, including banks, for underwriting some of these borrowings.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</div>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Surplus Transfer:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>RBI transfers the surplus &ndash; that is, the excess of income over expenditure &ndash; to the government, in accordance with <strong>Section 47</strong> (Allocation of Surplus Profits) of the <strong>Reserve Bank of India Act, 1934.</strong></li>
<li>A technical Committee of the RBI Board headed by <strong>Y H Malegam (2013),</strong> which reviewed the adequacy of reserves and surplus distribution policy, recommended a higher transfer to the government.</li>
<li>By and large, with a few exceptions, the quantum of surplus transfer averages around 0.5% of the GDP.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Implications</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>It would help the government to go for <strong>bank recapitalisation</strong> in a big way given the economic slowdown, when channels of credit disbursements are choked because of a <strong>lack of capital with the commercial banks.</strong></li>
<li>The transfer of the additional surplus from the RBI could enable the government to pursue efforts towards <strong>stimulating the economy while maintaining budget discipline.</strong></li>
<li>The government, in the case of revenue shortages, would be able <strong>to meet the fiscal deficit target without cutting expenditures</strong> on important sectors.</li>
<li>It would give the Government necessary <strong>fiscal space to maneuver structural reforms</strong> to boost economic growth.</li>
<li>The surplus transfer from the RBI has implications for the central bank&rsquo;s balance sheet, government budget, financial market and, above all, monetary policy and debt management by the RBI.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Way Forward</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The decision of the RBI Board must be welcomed as it would help the government in combating the economic slowdown and to conform to the fiscal targets.</li>
<li>It is hoped that the government will be prudent in using these funds.</li>
<li>However, the RBI dividend transfer is not a panacea. India&rsquo;s economy needs sustained structural reforms to boost potential growth.</li>
</ul>
<table border="1" style="border-collapse: collapse; width: 100%;">
<tbody>
<tr>
<td style="width: 100%; border-style: dotted; border-color: #ff0000; background-color: #f7f4e1;">
<p><span style="color: #000080;"><em><strong>Drishti Input</strong></em></span></p>
<p>&ldquo;Critically analyse the implications of the recent surplus transfer by the RBI to the government. Will it be helpful in the recovery of the economy that is undergoing a slowdown?&rdquo;</p>
</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>',
			'postdate' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenTime) {},
			'url' => 'https://www.drishtiias.com/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/rbi-surplus-transfer-to-the-government'
		],
		(int) 7 => [
			'title' => 'The Big Picture – Need to Modernise Indian Air Force',
			'catname' => 'Lok Sabha & Rajya Sabha Discussions',
			'desc' => '<p style="text-align: center;"><iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/fGwOwFY9KCg" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe></p>
<p>Amid escalating tension between India and Pakistan over the abrogation of the special status of Jammu and Kashmir, Air Chief Marshal BS Dhanoa has said that the Indian Air Force (IAF) is still flying 44-year-old MiG-21 Russian fighter jets. MiG-21s have been the most accident-prone of all IAF fighter jets, thus earning the name <strong>"flying coffin&rdquo;</strong>. From 1963-2015, the MiG-21 had a total of 210 accidents. Of these, a maximum of 16 accidents took place in 1999. India is currently the largest operator of MiG-21 Bison, with an estimated 100+ aircraft on duty.</p>
<p>Speaking at an IAF seminar in New Delhi, Dhanoa said that the basic version of the Russian fighter jet would be phased out in 2019. He also said that the IAF is replacing high-end obsolete weapons with indigenously developed ones that will boost in-house defence manufacturing, however, to win a war, the country also needs high-end, high-tech items, which need to be imported.</p>
<h3>Factors Deciding Modernisation</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Modernisation need for the IAF is derivative of the <strong>threat perception</strong> as well as the kind of wars the country will fight.</li>
<li>Modernisation is not only limited to fighter aircraft. There is a need to think whether <strong>Force Multipliers like air to air refuelers, communication networks etc. also to be upgraded</strong>.</li>
<li>The <strong>offensive operations capability of the warfare equipment</strong> also need to be looked upon.</li>
<li>Other things that need to be considered include <strong>country&rsquo;s war policy turning into two-front war policy</strong> (considering neighbours Pakistan and China), network centric warfare, aerospace i.e. the IAF including space assets into its war domain.</li>
<li>The <strong>induction rate</strong> and the <strong>retirement rate</strong> is another factor. In the IAF, induction rate of fighter jets is much slower than their retirement rate.</li>
<li>It needs to be considered <strong>what kind of aircraft country need</strong> i.e. whether all of rafale type, or some lightweight etc.</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Note:</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The term <strong>&ldquo;network-centric warfare&rdquo;</strong> broadly describes the combination of emerging tactics, techniques, and procedures that a fully or even partially networked force can employ to create a decisive warfighting advantage.</li>
<li>NCW essentially focuses on using computers, high speed data links, and networking software to link military personnel, platforms, and formations in the battlespace, into highly integrated local and global networks.</li>
</ul>
</div>
<h3>Progress So Far</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The IAF has implemented <strong>Integrated Materials Management Online System (IMMOLS)</strong>.</li>
<li>As far as the net centricity is concerned, the IAF has <strong>Integrated Air Command and Control System (IACCS)</strong>, which integrates all ground and air sensors.</li>
<li>The IAF is taking care of Force Multipliers like <strong>Flight Refuelling Aircraft (FRA), Airborne Warning and Control System (AWACS)</strong> etc.</li>
<li>On the missile front, India has got a strategic missile segment in which the country is doing well: <strong><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/successful-test-firing-of-agni-v" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Agni 1- V</a> and the Prithvi,</strong> for the layered defense, it has got <strong>Long Range Surface to Air Missiles (<a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/important-facts-for-prelims-25th-october-2018" target="_blank" rel="noopener">LR-SAM</a>), Medium Range Surface to Air Missiles (MR-SAMs),</strong> etc. India also has <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/brahmos-tested-in-extreme-weather-conditions" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>BrahMos</strong></a>, a missile which has been indigenously manufactured.</li>
<li>India has added <strong>heavy lift helicopters like <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/important-facts-for-prelims-26th-march-2019" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Chinook</a></strong> and <strong>attack helicopters like <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/important-facts-for-prelims-13th-may-2019-" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Apache</a></strong>.</li>
<li>The IAF now also has a <strong>dedicated satellite</strong> for its operations.</li>
<li>On the infrastructure front, the IAF had a project called <strong>Modernisation of AirField Infrastructure (MAFI)</strong>. 30 of the airfields have been upgraded into all weather 24X7 flying capabilities.</li>
<li>Other initiatives include <strong>Indian (Designed, Developed and Manufactured)- IDDM</strong>, strategic partnership policy in <strong><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/indian-army-inducts-major-artillery-gun-systems" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Defence Procurement Procedure (DPP)</a></strong>, etc.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Challenges</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The immediate short term worry is <strong>shortage of fighter jets</strong> in the coming future.</li>
<li>India has a perspective plan in its place, i.e. the IAF is aware of calendar life of its aircraft but <strong>has not been able to execute it yet</strong>.</li>
<li>India has an <strong>additional challenge of talent</strong> which is needed to manufacture high tech aircraft.</li>
<li>India does not have a &lsquo;technology development roadmap for an aircraft&rsquo; i.e. there is <strong>no plan to upgrade the technology in existing aircraft timely</strong>.</li>
<li>Challenges <strong>in &lsquo;Industry or Manufacturing Aspect&rsquo;</strong> include: <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Access To Technology and Talent</li>
<li>Large Capital Expenditure (Capex) and the long gestation period required for return on investment.</li>
<li>Enabling Ecosystem</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>The greatest challenge for the country is <strong>to have indigenous inventory</strong>. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Financial burden:</strong> India is not able to bear the cost of indigenisation. For instance, Su-30 is more than 1.8 times costlier than Su-30 which can be bought directly from Russia.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>As of now, the IAF has to follow a <strong>lengthy process for procuring an equipment,</strong> which takes about 4-5 years.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) and the Private Industry</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>HAL is one of the biggest companies that India has. However, it does not have enough manufacturing orders today.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>For instance, HAL Kanpur has a large manufacturing base. It has all the requirements that any aerospace industry needs, manufacturing set up, proper infrastructure etc. but no manufacturing orders.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>The <strong>government needs to have a collaborative approach</strong> where the private industry is allowed to take available facilities, on lease.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>HAL trusts private industry as it outsourced some products of LCA Tejas to private companies and received the same timely.</li>
<li>The Ministry of Defence has also given permission to the private industry for usage of its facility whether in ordnance factories, or in public sector units.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>The government can let HAL tie up with the foreign vendor or a foreign manufacturers.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Way Forward</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>There is a <strong>need to form a National Aeronautic Commission</strong> so that the industry, armed forces, and the government can sit together to discuss related issues.</li>
<li><strong>Private companies</strong> are doing well as thus the government needs to encourage them.</li>
<li><strong>The modernisation needs to be coupled with indigenous capability.</strong> India cannot be a superpower without having the indigenous capability to manufacture and service its own fleet.</li>
<li>To cut the procurement time, the IAF should be allowed to choose what fits best for it and then the government should go for government to government deals. Also, procurement should be done timely.</li>
</ul>
<p><em>Modernisation has indeed taken place and there are several aspects that have been addressed in the recent past as well. However, India still needs to do more.</em></p>',
			'postdate' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenTime) {},
			'url' => 'https://www.drishtiias.com/loksabha-rajyasabha-discussions/the-big-picture-need-to-modernise-indian-air-force'
		],
		(int) 8 => [
			'title' => 'Indian Economy: Slowest Growth in Six Years',
			'catname' => 'News Analysis',
			'desc' => '<p>According to data released by the government, the <strong>Gross Domestic Product (GDP) grew 5%</strong> in the first quarter of the Financial Year (FY) 2019-20, significantly lower than 8% recorded in the same quarter last year.</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>It is the <strong>slowest growth in over six years</strong> since 2013.</li>
<li>It marked the <strong>fifth straight quarterly decline</strong> <strong>in growth</strong> &mdash; the <strong>first time</strong> since June 1997 that such a prolonged slump has been recorded.</li>
<li>The <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/stimulus-package-to-reverse-economic-slowdown-1" target="_blank" rel="noopener">slowdown</a> is because of a sharp <strong>deceleration in consumer demand and tepid investment</strong>.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Consumption which was the bedrock of growth in the past few years, collapsed to an 18-quarter low of <strong>3.1% from 10.6%</strong> in the March quarter of 2018-19.</li>
<li>Investments grew only <strong>4%, up from 3.6%</strong> in the previous quarter.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>This slowdown in investment and consumer demand have further derailed manufacturing, <strong>which grew just 0.6%</strong>.</li>
<li>A meagre <strong>2% rise in farm sector</strong> added to the demand slowdown.</li>
<li><a href="/loksabha-rajyasabha-discussions/the-big-picture-speed-bump-for-auto-sector" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Automobile sales,</a><strong> a barometer of the economy,</strong> have declined sharply in recent months, forcing production cuts and jobs losses.</li>
<li><strong>Weak global economy and trade tensions</strong> have kept export growth subdued.</li>
<li>According to the <strong><a href="/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-national-institutions/important-institutions-national-institution-reserve-bank-of-india" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Reserve Bank of India (RBI)</a></strong>, the <strong>slowdown is cyclical, rather than structural,</strong> which would have required deeper reforms.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The experts believe that policies such as demonetisation and Goods and Services Tax (GST) only worsened things for the informal sector which in turn gave a structural blow to aggregate demand in the economy.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>Recently, the government had already announced a <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/economic-measures-to-boost-economy" target="_blank" rel="noopener">series of measures</a> as part of its efforts to put growth back on track.</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/357image2.png" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/357image2.png" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" /></a></p>
<p><a href="https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/economic-growth-falls-to-lowest-in-over-6-years/story-Yp20948oIW6y22bjpVYqpK.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Source: HT</strong></a></p>',
			'postdate' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenTime) {},
			'url' => 'https://www.drishtiias.com/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/indian-economy-slowest-growth-in-six-years'
		],
		(int) 9 => [
			'title' => 'Australia Downgrades Great Barrier Reef to 'Very Poor' Status',
			'catname' => 'News Analysis',
			'desc' => '<p>Australia has <strong>downgraded</strong> the Great Barrier Reef's long-term outlook to <strong>"Very Poor"</strong> for the first time.</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Coral along large swathes of the 2,300-kilometre reef have been killed by rising sea temperatures linked to climate change, leaving behind skeletal remains in a process known as <a href="/to-the-points/paper3/coral-bleaching" target="_blank" rel="noopener">coral bleaching</a>.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Great Barrier Reef<img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/886image3.jpg" width="243" height="164" style="float: right;" /></h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The Great Barrier Reef is the world&rsquo;s largest coral reef system composed of over 2,900 individual reefs and 900 islands.</li>
<li>The reef is located in the Coral Sea (North-East Coast), off the coast of Queensland, Australia.</li>
<li>The Great Barrier Reef can be seen from outer space and is the world&rsquo;s biggest single structure made by living organisms.</li>
<li>This reef structure is composed of and built by billions of tiny organisms, known as <strong>coral polyps</strong>.</li>
<li>It was selected as a <strong>World Heritage Site in 1981</strong>.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Implications of &ldquo;Very Poor&rdquo; Status</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The report published by The Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority-An Australian Agency will be a major input into UNESCO&rsquo;s Committee.</li>
<li>There are high chances that Great barrier reef to be considered for &ldquo; List of World Heritage in Danger&rdquo;</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>World Heritage in Danger</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The List of World Heritage in Danger is designed to inform the international community of conditions which threaten the very characteristics for which a property was inscribed on the World Heritage List.</li>
<li>It also encourages corrective action.</li>
<li>Armed conflict and war, natural disasters, pollution, poaching, uncontrolled urbanization pose major problems to World Heritage sites.</li>
<li>Dangers can be &lsquo;ascertained&rsquo;, referring to specific and proven imminent threats, or &lsquo;potential&rsquo;, when a property is faced with threats which could have negative effects on its World Heritage values.</li>
</ul>
</div>
<p><a href="https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/international/world-news/australia-downgrades-the-outlook-for-great-barrier-reef-to-very-poor/great-barrier-reefs-long-term-outlook-downgraded/slideshow/70909493.cms" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Source: The Economic Times</strong></a></p>',
			'postdate' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenTime) {},
			'url' => 'https://www.drishtiias.com/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/australia-downgrades-great-barrier-reef-to-very-poor-status'
		],
		(int) 10 => [
			'title' => 'Amalgamation of National Banks',
			'catname' => 'News Analysis',
			'desc' => '<p>The Finance Minister has announced the biggest consolidation plan of Public sector Banks (PSBs)- merging 10 of them into just 4.</p>
<h3>New Banks After the Merger</h3>
<table border="1" style="border-collapse: collapse; width: 100%;">
<tbody>
<tr style="height: 19px;">
<td style="width: 6.18361%; text-align: center; height: 19px; background-color: #542e70;"><span style="color: #ffffff;"><strong>Sr. No.</strong></span></td>
<td style="width: 55.3205%; height: 19px; background-color: #542e70;"><span style="color: #ffffff;"><strong>Amalgamated Banks</strong></span></td>
<td style="width: 16.202%; height: 19px; background-color: #542e70;"><span style="color: #ffffff;"><strong>Anchor Banks</strong></span></td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 19px;">
<td style="width: 6.18361%; text-align: center; height: 19px; background-color: #cfbfdb;">1</td>
<td style="width: 55.3205%; height: 19px; background-color: #cfbfdb;">Punjab National Bank (PNB), Oriental Bank of Commerce (OBC), and United Bank of India</td>
<td style="width: 16.202%; height: 19px; background-color: #cfbfdb;">PNB</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 19px;">
<td style="width: 6.18361%; text-align: center; height: 19px; background-color: #cfbfdb;">2</td>
<td style="width: 55.3205%; height: 19px; background-color: #cfbfdb;">Canara Bank and Syndicate Bank</td>
<td style="width: 16.202%; height: 19px; background-color: #cfbfdb;">Canara Bank</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 19px;">
<td style="width: 6.18361%; text-align: center; height: 19px; background-color: #cfbfdb;">3</td>
<td style="width: 55.3205%; height: 19px; background-color: #cfbfdb;">Union Bank of India, Andhra Bank, and Corporation Bank</td>
<td style="width: 16.202%; height: 19px; background-color: #cfbfdb;">Union Bank of India</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 19px;">
<td style="width: 6.18361%; text-align: center; height: 19px; background-color: #cfbfdb;">4</td>
<td style="width: 55.3205%; height: 19px; background-color: #cfbfdb;">Indian Bank and Allahabad Bank</td>
<td style="width: 16.202%; height: 19px; background-color: #cfbfdb;">Indian Bank</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Now, the total number of PSBs after consolidation has come down to 12 from 27 in 2017. The <strong>earlier mergers</strong> were:
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/amalgamation-of-three-public-sector-banks" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Vijaya Bank and Dena Bank with Bank of Baroda (BoB)</a> &ndash; effective from April 01, 2019.</li>
<li>State Bank of India absorbed five of its associates and the Bharatiya Mahila Bank in 2017.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Current Scenario of PSBs</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>After entire merger exercises, the next-generation PSBs of India can now be ranked according to their business size, as follows:</li>
</ul>
<table border="1" style="border-collapse: collapse; width: 100%;">
<tbody>
<tr style="height: 19px;">
<td style="width: 6.68254%; height: 19px; text-align: center; background-color: #007ea8; border-color: #000000;"><span style="color: #ffffff;"><strong>Sr. No.</strong></span></td>
<td style="width: 18.445%; height: 19px; background-color: #007ea8; border-color: #000000;"><span style="color: #ffffff;"><strong>Bank Name</strong></span></td>
<td style="width: 13.5947%; height: 19px; background-color: #007ea8; border-color: #000000;"><span style="color: #ffffff;"><strong>PSB Rank by size</strong></span></td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 19px;">
<td style="width: 6.68254%; height: 19px; text-align: center; border-color: #000000; background-color: #d7f1fa;">1</td>
<td style="width: 18.445%; height: 19px; border-color: #000000; background-color: #d7f1fa;">State Bank of India</td>
<td style="width: 13.5947%; height: 19px; border-color: #000000; background-color: #d7f1fa;">Largest</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 19px;">
<td style="width: 6.68254%; height: 19px; text-align: center; border-color: #000000; background-color: #d7f1fa;">2</td>
<td style="width: 18.445%; height: 19px; border-color: #000000; background-color: #d7f1fa;">Punjab National Bank</td>
<td style="width: 13.5947%; height: 19px; border-color: #000000; background-color: #d7f1fa;">2nd largest</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 19px;">
<td style="width: 6.68254%; height: 19px; text-align: center; border-color: #000000; background-color: #d7f1fa;">3</td>
<td style="width: 18.445%; height: 19px; border-color: #000000; background-color: #d7f1fa;">Bank of Baroda</td>
<td style="width: 13.5947%; height: 19px; border-color: #000000; background-color: #d7f1fa;">3rd largest</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 19px;">
<td style="width: 6.68254%; height: 19px; text-align: center; border-color: #000000; background-color: #d7f1fa;">4</td>
<td style="width: 18.445%; height: 19px; border-color: #000000; background-color: #d7f1fa;">Canara Bank</td>
<td style="width: 13.5947%; height: 19px; border-color: #000000; background-color: #d7f1fa;">4th largest</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 19px;">
<td style="width: 6.68254%; height: 19px; text-align: center; border-color: #000000; background-color: #d7f1fa;">5</td>
<td style="width: 18.445%; height: 19px; border-color: #000000; background-color: #d7f1fa;">Union Bank of India</td>
<td style="width: 13.5947%; height: 19px; border-color: #000000; background-color: #d7f1fa;">5th largest</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 19px;">
<td style="width: 6.68254%; height: 19px; text-align: center; border-color: #000000; background-color: #d7f1fa;">6</td>
<td style="width: 18.445%; height: 19px; border-color: #000000; background-color: #d7f1fa;">Bank of India</td>
<td style="width: 13.5947%; height: 19px; border-color: #000000; background-color: #d7f1fa;">6th largest</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 19px;">
<td style="width: 6.68254%; height: 19px; text-align: center; border-color: #000000; background-color: #d7f1fa;">7</td>
<td style="width: 18.445%; height: 19px; border-color: #000000; background-color: #d7f1fa;">Indian Bank</td>
<td style="width: 13.5947%; height: 19px; border-color: #000000; background-color: #d7f1fa;">7th largest</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 19px;">
<td style="width: 6.68254%; height: 19px; text-align: center; border-color: #000000; background-color: #d7f1fa;">8</td>
<td style="width: 18.445%; height: 19px; border-color: #000000; background-color: #d7f1fa;">Central Bank of India</td>
<td style="width: 13.5947%; height: 19px; border-color: #000000; background-color: #d7f1fa;">8th largest</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 19px;">
<td style="width: 6.68254%; height: 19px; text-align: center; border-color: #000000; background-color: #d7f1fa;">9</td>
<td style="width: 18.445%; height: 19px; border-color: #000000; background-color: #d7f1fa;">Indian Overseas Bank</td>
<td style="width: 13.5947%; height: 19px; border-color: #000000; background-color: #d7f1fa;">9th largest</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 19px;">
<td style="width: 6.68254%; height: 19px; text-align: center; border-color: #000000; background-color: #d7f1fa;">10</td>
<td style="width: 18.445%; height: 19px; border-color: #000000; background-color: #d7f1fa;">UCO Bank</td>
<td style="width: 13.5947%; height: 19px; border-color: #000000; background-color: #d7f1fa;">10th largest</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 19px;">
<td style="width: 6.68254%; height: 19px; text-align: center; border-color: #000000; background-color: #d7f1fa;">11</td>
<td style="width: 18.445%; height: 19px; border-color: #000000; background-color: #d7f1fa;">Bank of Maharashtra</td>
<td style="width: 13.5947%; height: 19px; border-color: #000000; background-color: #d7f1fa;">11th largest</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 19px;">
<td style="width: 6.68254%; height: 19px; text-align: center; border-color: #000000; background-color: #d7f1fa;">12</td>
<td style="width: 18.445%; height: 19px; border-color: #000000; background-color: #d7f1fa;">Punjab &amp; Sind Bank</td>
<td style="width: 13.5947%; height: 19px; border-color: #000000; background-color: #d7f1fa;">12th largest</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<h3>Benefits of Merger</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Competetive:</strong> The consolidation of PSBs helps in <strong>strengthening its presence globally, nationally and regionally</strong>.<a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/335pib%20infograph.jpg" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/335pib infograph.jpg" width="447" height="316" style="float: right;" /></a></li>
<li><strong>Capital and Governance:</strong> The government's intention is not just to give capital but also give good governance. Hence, post-consolidation, boards will be given the <strong>flexibility to introduce the chief general manager level</strong> as per business needs. They will also recruit chief risk officer at market-linked compensation to attract the best talent.</li>
<li><strong>Efficiency:</strong> It has the potential to reduce operational costs due to the presence of shared overlapping networks. And this enhanced operational efficiency will reduce the lending costs of the banks.</li>
<li><strong>Technological Synergy:</strong> All merged banks in a particular bucket share common<strong> Core Banking Solutions (CBS)</strong> platform synergizing them technologically.</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Core Banking Solutions</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Core Banking Solutions (CBS)</strong> can be defined as a solution that enables banks to offer a multitude of customer-centric services on a 24x7 basis from a single location, supporting retail as well as corporate banking activities.</li>
<li>The centralisation thus makes a <strong>&ldquo;one-stop&rdquo; shop for financial services</strong> a reality. Using CBS, customers can access their accounts from any branch, anywhere, irrespective of where they have physically opened their accounts. The customer is no more the customer of a Branch. He becomes the Bank&rsquo;s Customer.</li>
</ul>
</div>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Self-Sufficiency:</strong> Larger banks have a better ability to raise resources from the market rather than relying on State exchequer.</li>
<li><strong>Recovery:</strong> The loan tracking mechanism in PSU banks is being improved for the benefit of customers.</li>
<li><strong>Monitoring:</strong> With the number of PSBs coming down after the process of merger &ndash; <strong>capital allocation, performance milestones, and monitoring would become easier</strong> for the government.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Challenges</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Decision Making:</strong> The banks that are getting merged are expected to see a <strong>slowdown in decision making</strong> at the top level as senior officials of such banks would put all the decisions on the back-burner and it will lead to a drop in credit delivery in the system.</li>
<li><strong>Geographical Synergy:</strong> During the process of merger, the <strong>geographical synergy</strong> between the merged banks is <strong>somewhat missing</strong>. In three of the four merger cases, the merged banks serve only one specific region of the country.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>However, the merger of <strong>Allahabad Bank (having a presence in East &amp; North region) with the Indian Bank (having a presence in South)</strong> increases its geographical spread.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Slowdown in Economy:</strong> The move is a good one but the timings are not just apt. There is <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/domestic-demand-and-economy-s-animal-spirits" target="_blank" rel="noopener">already a slowdown in the economy</a>, and <strong>private consumption and investments are on a declining trend</strong>. Hence, there is a need to lift the economy and increase the credit flow in the short-term, &amp; this decision will block that credit in the short-term.</li>
<li><strong>Weak Banks:</strong> A complex merger with a weaker and under-capitalized PSB would stall the bank&rsquo;s recovery efforts as <a href="/to-the-points/paper3/merger-of-psbs" target="_blank" rel="noopener">the weaknesses of one bank may get transferred </a>and the merged entity may become weak.</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="https://pib.gov.in/PressReleseDetailm.aspx?PRID=1583661" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Source: PIB </strong></a></p>',
			'postdate' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenTime) {},
			'url' => 'https://www.drishtiias.com/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/amalgamation-of-national-banks'
		],
		(int) 11 => [
			'title' => '‘Mauritius Leaks’ and Need for Tax Reforms',
			'catname' => 'News Editorials',
			'desc' => '<div class="border">
<p>The article is based on <a href="https://www.thehindubusinessline.com/opinion/mauritius-leaks-and-need-for-tax-reforms/article29297032.ece" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Mauritius leaks and need for tax reforms</strong></a> that was published in The Hindu BusinessLine on 30<sup>th</sup> August. It talks about the Mauritius Leaks and the need for strengthening tax treaty to avoid tax evasion.</p>
</div>
<h3>Context</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>In July 2019, the <strong>International Consortium of International Journalists</strong> published over 200,000 confidential documents from the offices of Conyers Dill &amp; Pearman, a Bermuda-based law firm that allegedly aids large Western businesses to set up <strong>letterbox companies</strong> in Mauritius aimed at making <strong>tax-motivated investments</strong> in Africa and Asia.</li>
<li><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/mauritius-leaks" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>The leak</strong></a> has reignited the debate on <strong>multinational tax avoidance</strong> and how businesses use tax-friendly jurisdictions to channel funds from one country to another in order to minimise their overall corporate tax liability.</li>
<li>The &lsquo;Mauritius Leaks&rsquo; comprise names of some of the most popular brands in India and globally.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Concerns regarding India-Mauritius Tax Treaty</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The <strong>India-Mauritius tax treaty</strong> has been a subject matter of controversy and debate ever since it was signed over 30 years ago.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Before 2017, <strong>Article 13(4) of the tax treaty exempted</strong> <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/capital-gain-tax" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>capital gains</strong></a> arising from sale of shares in an Indian company at the hands of Mauritian residents.</li>
<li>And the effective capital gains tax rate in Mauritius was zero percent, which is why a majority of the largest foreign incorporated corporations that invested in India over the last decade did so through Mauritius.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>The <strong>capital gains exemption in the treaty was plugged in 2017 by amending Double Taxation Avoidance Agreement (DTAA) with Mauritius,</strong> paving the way for India to levy capital gains tax involving sale of shares in an Indian company.</li>
<li>However, till date, <strong>the tax treaty does not contain a general anti-abuse clause</strong> to tackle round tripping of funds or treaty-shopping arrangements.</li>
<li>While India&rsquo;s tax treaty with Mauritius contains provisions for <strong>exchange of tax information,</strong> any information requested has to be &ldquo;foreseeably relevant&rdquo; for giving effect to the tax treaty or the Income Tax Act.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>In the absence of extensive, worldwide information-sharing network, wealth is usually not repatriated to India where it belongs, but shifted to new, non-collaborating secrecy jurisdictions.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>OECD framework on Base Erosion and Profit Shifting</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>As part of the <strong>base erosion and profit shifting (BEPS)</strong> project, the OECD recommended that countries adopt a <strong>principal purpose test</strong> in their tax treaties to deny inappropriate treaty benefits.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Under the principal purpose test, the tax authority may deny tax benefits if obtaining a tax benefit was &ldquo;one of the principal purposes&rdquo; of a tax arrangement.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>Both India and Mauritius have signed the <strong>OECD&rsquo;s Multilateral Instrument (MLI)</strong> designed to implement some of the BEPS recommendations.</li>
<li>However, Mauritius has conveniently kept India outside the network of tax treaties that are covered under the MLI by keeping the bilateral treaty with India outside the scope of the multilateral deal.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Renegotiating India-Mauritius Tax Treaty</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>It is vital for India to put pressure on Mauritius and <strong>renegotiate its tax treaty to include a principal purpose test</strong> to deny tax arrangements that do not have any genuine commercial substance and are primarily meant to obtain a treaty benefit.</li>
<li>In the absence of such a provision, Indian courts, who are bound by the principle of <em><strong>pacta sunt servanda</strong></em> (agreements must be kept), would be hesitant to endorse claims of treaty abuse.</li>
<li>Some of these arrangements would get captured under the newly incorporated <strong>general anti-avoidance rule (GAAR)</strong> in the Income Tax Act.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>However, India&rsquo;s domestic GAAR is narrower that the OECD-recommended &ldquo;principal purpose test&rdquo; as GAAR uses the &ldquo;main purpose&rdquo; test.</li>
<li>The safeguards available under the Income Tax Act before invoking GAAR are not available in case of the principal purpose test.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Way Forward: Strengthening India&rsquo;s Tax Administration</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Supplement India&rsquo;s domestic GAAR regime with a mandatory tax disclosure regime for tax advisers such as accounting firms, law firms, banks who assist businesses in aggressive international tax avoidance.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Countries such as the United Kingdom, South Africa, Canada, among others, already have in place detailed tax disclosure rules for tax advisers.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>It is necessary for India to mull over a range of policy options to target corporate tax avoidance and allocate separate funds for addressing challenges faced by tax officers in enforcing anti-abuse rules.</li>
<li>It is important to cooperate under the aegis of the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development and the United Nations to develop global jurisprudence to counter base erosion and profit shifting.</li>
<li>Companies registered in Mauritius are the <strong>largest source of foreign direct investment (FDI) into India,</strong> making it crucial for India to <strong>upgrade its bilateral tax treaty,</strong> adopting the latest international practices that prevent multinational companies from artificially shifting profits to low tax countries.</li>
</ul>
<table border="1" style="border-collapse: collapse; width: 100%;">
<tbody>
<tr>
<td style="width: 100%; border-style: dotted; border-color: #ff0000; background-color: #faf7de;"><span style="color: #0000ff;"><em><strong>Drishti Input</strong></em></span><br /><br />&ldquo;Critically analyse the India-Mauritius Bilateral Tax treaty and its role in avoiding tax evasion and profit shifting by Multinational Corporations in the backdrop of recent Mauritius leaks.&rdquo;</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>',
			'postdate' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenTime) {},
			'url' => 'https://www.drishtiias.com/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/mauritius-leaks-and-need-for-tax-reforms'
		],
		(int) 12 => [
			'title' => 'Rise of Regional Parties In India',
			'catname' => 'Paper 2',
			'desc' => '<p>In a democracy, political parties provide an agency to the society to gather different views on various issues and to present these to the government. They bring various representatives together so that a responsible government could be formed. They provide a mechanism to support or restrain the government, make policies, justify or oppose them. <strong>India has a multi-party system.</strong></p>
<h3>Political Parties in India</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Every political party in India has to register with the <a href="/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-national-institutions/election-commission-of-india" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Election Commission.</strong></a></li>
<li>The Election Commission registers political parties for the purpose of elections and grants them <strong>recognition as national or state parties</strong> on the basis of their poll performance</li>
<li><strong>Recognised Parties:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Are given a unique symbol &ndash; only the official candidates of that party can use that election symbol</li>
<li><strong>National Parties:</strong> A party that secures at least 6% of the total votes in Lok Sabha elections or Assembly elections in four States and wins at least four seats in the Lok Sabha is recognised as a national party.</li>
<li><strong>State Parties:</strong> A party that secures at least 6% of the total votes in an election to the Legislative Assembly of a State and wins at least two seats is recognised as a State party.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>According to the <strong>Election Commission of India,</strong> there are <strong>over 2000 political parties in India, which include eight "recognized national" and more than 50 "recognized state"</strong> parties.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Regional Parties in India</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Other than the <strong>8 national parties-</strong> Indian National Congress, Bharatiya Janata Party, Nationalist Congress Party, Communist Parties, Bahujan Samaj Party, Rashtriya Janata Dal, All India Trinamool Congress and National People's Party; most of the major parties of the country are classified by the Election Commission as <strong>&lsquo;State parties&rsquo;. These are commonly referred to as regional parties.</strong></li>
<li>Yet these parties need not be regional in their ideology or outlook. Some of these parties are all India parties that happen to have succeeded only in some states .</li>
<li>The presence of a number of <strong>ethnic, cultural, linguistic, religious and caste groups</strong> within the Indian society is greatly responsible for the origin and growth of regional parties.</li>
<li>In India regional parties are based on themes like&ndash; <strong>Identity, Statehood, Autonomy and Development etc.</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Autonomy</strong> consists of demanding greater powers to the states (like the National Conference in Jammu and Kashmir).</li>
<li><strong>Statehood</strong> consists of fighting for an independent state within the country (like the Telangana Rastra Samiti demanded a separate state of Telangana).</li>
<li><strong>Identity</strong> consists of fighting for recognition of cultural rights of a group (like the Shiv Sena in Maharashtra or the DMK fighting for the identity of the Dalits).</li>
<li><strong>Development</strong> consists of regional parties believing that only they can bring development to the people of a particular region.</li>
<li>Sometimes regional parties create these <strong>&lsquo;cultural specificities&rsquo;</strong> for <strong>electoral gains.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Evolution of Regional Party</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Over the last four decades, the number and strength of regional parties has expanded.</li>
<li>This has made the Parliament of India <strong>politically more diverse.</strong> Regional political parties have emerged to <strong>fulfill regional aspirations.</strong></li>
<li>No one national party is able to secure on its own a majority in Lok Sabha. As a result, the national parties are compelled to form alliances with State parties. The regional political parties started playing a crucial role in coalition politics since 1989.</li>
<li>It is because of the regional political parties that our <strong>party-system has been federalized.</strong> The Centre has begun to address their problems and respond their aspirations through accommodation.</li>
<li>The evolving nature of our party system has <strong>strengthened the cooperative trends of our federal system.</strong></li>
</ul>
<h3>Various Stages of Indian Party System</h3>
<p><strong>1952-64 :The Nehruvian era of national consensus</strong></p>
<p><strong>The Congress Party was the dominant party</strong> and Indian democracy was essentially a <strong>one party system</strong> also <strong>termed as &lsquo;Congress system&rsquo;.</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Congress evolved as the party that was like a <strong>big umbrella</strong> under which all communities and interests and ideologies sought and got a place.</li>
<li>There were <strong>many small parties competing with the Congress</strong> but they acted mainly <strong>as a kind of pressure groups.</strong></li>
</ul>
<p><strong>1964-77: An Uneasy Transition</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>With the <strong>death of Jawahar Lal Nehru,</strong> and <strong>1967 elections</strong> posed challenge to dominance of the congress system. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The Congress <strong>failed to secure majorities in eight states</strong> and its majority in the Lok Sabha was reduced to very narrow 54% of the seats.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Regional parties started growing all over the country.</strong></li>
<li>The dismal performance of the Congress led to a series of <strong>power struggles with in congress.</strong></li>
<li>Ultimately, the party was split in 1969 and Indira Gandhi&rsquo;s supremacy was established both in the party and the government.</li>
<li>However, some leaders like Morarji Desai in Gujarat and JP (Jaiprakash Narain) in Bihar carried out a <strong>successful movement against Congress</strong> corruption and arbitrary rule.</li>
<li>Their movement peaked in 1975 when <strong>Indira Gandhi for the first and only time in Indian history decided to impose in Internal emergency.</strong></li>
</ul>
<p><strong>1977-80: A Period of a New Consensus and Increasing Inter-Party Conflict</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>New coalition emerged led by <strong>Janata Party</strong> in 1977.</li>
<li>This led to <strong>Emergence of a Multi-Party System in India.</strong></li>
<li>Many <strong>smaller parties</strong> had come together to fight the Congress dominance rather than any ideological consensus.</li>
<li>But, the lack of ideologically coherent policy led to <strong>fall of Janata party</strong> and congress gained rise of power in 1980.</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>1980-89: Tussle between the Congress at the centre and the newly emerged regional parties at the state level</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Frivolous use of <strong>President's rule under Article 356.</strong></li>
<li>However, the regional parties got strengthened and started playing a more assertive role in centre politics.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>In the eighth Lok Sabha Elections (1984), <strong>the Telugu Desam</strong>, a regional party of Andhra Pradesh, <strong>emerged as the main opposition party.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>1989 to 2014: Multi-party system and Coalition politics</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The death of Rajiv Gandhi, corruption cases (Bofors scandal), economic crisis, all set the tone for an <strong>era of coalitions</strong> that has lasted for almost <strong>twenty five years</strong> of coalition governments.</li>
<li>The <strong>modern era of coalition politics</strong> has come into being as a consequence of the <strong>development of the multi-party system.</strong></li>
<li>However,this period is marred by <strong>compulsions of coalition.</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Growth of Regional Parties also lead to<strong> &lsquo;rainbow&rsquo; coalitions,</strong> so called because like the rainbow, they last only a short time. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li><strong>The period of 1996 &ndash; 1999 had 3 general elections, which cost a lot of public money.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Policy paralysis</strong> and delay in decision making and bills all result from coalitions.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>In times of emergency, coalition coordination can lead to <strong>unacceptable delays.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>Coalition government can <strong>obstruct the process of decision making</strong> and the conduct of decision implementation.</li>
<li>Coalition government has turned politics of north India into one of <strong>competition for vote banks</strong> based on caste and community etc.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>On the contrary,</strong> during times of coalitions, regional parties served as a <strong>moderating force upon exclusionary national parties.</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Regional parties fill a vacuum for <strong>protecting minorities.</strong></li>
<li>The coalition politics has led to empowerment for regional parties from the states and has added to India&rsquo;s search for<strong> true federalism.</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Thus, it paves the way for a kind of <strong>&lsquo;electoral federalism&rsquo;.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>Since 1996, twenty three regional parties have been sharing power at the national level. there is a strong sense of Indianness, or what is called a <strong>federal unifier.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>2014 to now: Resurgence of One-party System?</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Two general elections 2014 and 2019, saw a single party (BJP) on its own getting the full majority, <strong>breaking the 25 years of compulsions of coalition politics.</strong></li>
<li>However the Government is still formed out of alliance of many political parties.</li>
<li>But the outlook of regional parties, now appears to be changing from <strong>conflictual orientation to a tendency of co-operative bargaining</strong> in respect of Centre-state relations.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Now the<strong> financial problems</strong> in the Centre-State relations are the main focus of attention.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>Today, the regional parties have provided <strong>a new dimension to the process of national integration and nation building</strong></li>
</ul>
<p>The regional parties have made a strong impact on the nature of Centre-State relations in India. They are a natural <strong>consequence of a democratic system</strong> based on adult franchise in multi-ethnic, multi-racial, multi-religious and multi-linguistic societies like India. <strong>Thus, their growth is in synergy with entire spirit of democracy.</strong></p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><a href="/mind-map/gs-paper2/rise-of-regional-parties-in-india-1" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><em>For Mind Map</em></a></p>',
			'postdate' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenTime) {},
			'url' => 'https://www.drishtiias.com/to-the-points/Paper2/rise-of-regional-parties-in-india'
		],
		(int) 13 => [
			'title' => '50th Foundation Day of Bureau of Police Research and Development',
			'catname' => 'News Analysis',
			'desc' => '<p>On occasion of 50<sup>th</sup> foundation day of BPR&amp;D, the Home Minister <strong>stressed upon modernising the police department</strong> and urged the security personnel to carry out their duties with responsibility.</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The Home Minister also made following announcements:<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Police University and Forensic Science University</strong> will be set up at the national level.</li>
<li><strong>Correctional Administration</strong> and Prison Reforms should adopt reformative approach and become centres of rehabilitation.</li>
<li>Indian Penal Code (IPC) and the Criminal Procedure Code (CrPC) require a <strong>complete review</strong> and changes in keeping with the present day requirements.</li>
<li>Need to strengthen the <strong>human intelligence (Khabri System)</strong> at the &ldquo;Thana&rdquo; level.</li>
<li>The police machinery should give away third degree methods and <strong>adopt scientific investigation.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Bureau of Police Research and Development (BPR&amp;D)</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The Government of India established the Bureau of Police Research and Development (BPR&amp;D), under the <strong>Ministry of Home Affairs in 1970s.</strong></li>
<li>It replaced <strong>Police Research and Advisory Council (1966),</strong> with the primary objective of modernization of police force.</li>
<li>In 1995 Government of India decided to entrust issues relating to Correctional Administration Work to the BPR&amp;D.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Thereby BPR&amp;D has to ensure the implementation of prison reforms as well.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>The Government of India further decided to create <strong>National Police Mission</strong> under the administrative control of BPR&amp;D to transform the police forces in the country.</li>
</ul>
</div>
<p><strong><a href="https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/age-of-third-degree-over-amit-shah-tells-police/article29277519.ece" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Source:TH</a></strong></p>',
			'postdate' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenTime) {},
			'url' => 'https://www.drishtiias.com/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/50th-foundation-day-of-bureau-of-police-research-and-development'
		],
		(int) 14 => [
			'title' => 'Electromagnetic Interference, Compatibility and Pulse',
			'catname' => 'News Analysis',
			'desc' => '<p>The Society for Applied Microwave Electronics Engineering and Research (SAMEER) with its vast experience in the areas of Electromagnetic Interference, Compatibility and Pulse (EMI/EMC/EMP) can help Defence Services, academic institutions, public and private industries to evolve better.</p>
<h3>Electromagnetic Pulse (EMP)</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>It is a <strong>short burst of electromagnetic energy.</strong></li>
<li>A pulse's origin may be a natural or man-made in occurrence.</li>
<li>It has the potential to disrupt, degrade, and damage technology and critical infrastructure systems.</li>
<li>At higher energy levels a powerful EMP event such as a lightning strike can damage physical objects such as buildings and aircraft structures.</li>
<li>It can also affect large geographic areas, disrupting elements critical to the nation&rsquo;s security and economic prosperity and could adversely affect global commerce and stability</li>
<li>In a world ridden with conflicts, electromagnetism can be <strong>misused and weaponised.</strong></li>
<li><strong>Smart cities</strong> which are run on Information and Communication Technologies are also <strong>extremely vulnerable to EMP.</strong></li>
<li>It could also directly or indirectly permeate the <strong>national security establishment,</strong> including the <strong>military and intelligence community,</strong> undermining their ability to respond to the national command authority and provide for the country&rsquo;s security.</li>
<li>To avert threats like <strong>Electromagnetic Pulse (EMP) attacks,</strong> developing <strong>futuristic defence mechanisms</strong> and <strong>creation of EMP- resistant infrastructure</strong> is necessary.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Electromagnetic Interference (EMI)</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>When the radio frequency spectrum is disturbed by an external source it affects an electrical circuit by electromagnetic induction,it is called as Electromagnetic Interference.</li>
<li>The disturbance may degrade the performance of the circuit or even stop it from functioning.</li>
<li>Both <strong>man-made and natural sources can be generated by changing electrical currents and voltages</strong> which can create EMI.</li>
<li>It <strong>can be used intentionally for radio jamming</strong> especially in electronic warfare.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Electromagnetic Compatibility (EMC)</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>It is the <strong>ability of electrical equipment and systems to function acceptably in their electromagnetic environment.</strong></li>
<li>It works by limiting the unintentional generation, propagation and reception of electromagnetic energy which may cause unwanted effects such as electromagnetic interference (EMI) or even physical damage in operational equipment.</li>
<li>The goal of EMC is <strong>to maintain regular operation of different equipment in a common electromagnetic environment.</strong></li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>The Society for Applied Microwave Electronics Engineering and Research (SAMEER)</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>It was set up as an autonomous R &amp; D laboratory under the then Department of Electronics, Government of India.</li>
<li>It aims to undertake R &amp; D work in the areas of Microwave Engineering and Electromagnetic Engineering Technology.</li>
<li>It has R&amp;D centres at Mumbai,Chennai and Kolkata.</li>
<li>It has developed:<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>India's first MST Radar which is also the 2nd largest in the world.</li>
<li>India's first indigenously developed Linear Accelerator for Cancer treatment.</li>
<li>Energy efficient Drying/Heating System for textile, Food, Ceramic, Chemical, Pharma, Rubber applications through RF/Microwave.</li>
<li>Microwave dis-infection system for hazardous hospital waste.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</div>
<p><a href="https://pib.gov.in/PressReleaseIframePage.aspx?PRID=1583410" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Source: PIB</strong></a></p>',
			'postdate' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenTime) {},
			'url' => 'https://www.drishtiias.com/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/electromagnetic-interference-compatibility-and-pulse'
		],
		(int) 15 => [
			'title' => 'SKOCH Governance Gold Award for DAY-NULM',
			'catname' => 'News Analysis',
			'desc' => '<p>The Deendayal Antyodaya Yojana-National Urban Livelihoods Mission (DAY-NULM) has been conferred the prestigious <strong>SKOCH Governance Gold Award</strong> for its <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/important-facts-for-prelims-27th-november-2018" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Portal for Affordable Credit and Interest Subvention Access (PAiSA).</strong></a></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>DAY-NULM is a flagship mission under the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Deendayal Antyodaya Yojana-National Urban Livelihoods Mission (DAY-NULM)</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The mission was<strong> launched in 2014</strong>&nbsp;and is being implemented by the<strong> Urban&nbsp;Ministry of Housing &amp; Poverty Alleviation.</strong></li>
<li>It aims to uplift urban poor by enhancing sustainable livelihood opportunities through skill development.</li>
<li>It is <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/proposal-to-hike-monthly-pensions" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Centrally Sponsored Scheme.</strong></a><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Funding will be shared between the <strong>Centre and the States in the ratio of 75:25</strong>. For <strong>North Eastern and Special Category</strong> &ndash; the <strong>ratio will be 90:10.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>Its intended beneficiaries are <strong>urban poor</strong> <strong>(street vendors, slum dwellers, homeless, rag pickers),</strong>&nbsp;<strong>unemployed and differently-abled.</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Skill Training and Employment:&nbsp;</strong>It provides for the development of <strong>vendor markets and also the promotion of skills</strong> for vendors through setting up infrastructure and special projects for rag picker and differently-abled, etc.
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>It provides for employment through <strong>Skill Training and Placement through City Livelihood Centres</strong> to reduce poverty and vulnerability.</li>
<li>It also provides subsidy to urban poor i.e. <strong>interest subsidy of 5% &ndash; 7% for setting up individual micro-enterprises</strong> with the loan of up to 2 lakhs and for group enterprises with a loan limit of up to Rs.10 lakhs.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Self-Help Groups:&nbsp;</strong>It also provides social mobilization and institution development through the formation of <a href="/mind-map/gs-paper2/self-help-groups-shgs-mind-map" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Self-Help Groups (SHG)</strong></a> for training members and hand holding, initial support of 10, 000 is given for each group.</li>
<li><strong>Shelters:&nbsp;</strong>It fully funds the cost of <strong>construction of shelters for the urban homeless.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li style="list-style-type: none;"></li>
</ul>
<h3>Portal for Affordable Credit and Interest Subvention Access (PAiSA).</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>It is a centralized IT platform which simplifies and streamlines the release of<strong> interest subvention under the DAY-NULM.</strong></li>
<li>It offers end to end online solution for processing, payment, monitoring and tracking of interest subvention claims from banks on a monthly basis.</li>
<li>The portal has been designed and developed through the<strong> Allahabad Bank.</strong></li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>SKOCH Awards</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>It was <strong>instituted in 2003</strong> and recognises people, projects and institutions that go the extra mile to make India a better nation.</li>
<li>It recognises the best of efforts in the area of digital, financial and social inclusion, governance, inclusive growth, excellence in technology and applications, change management, corporate leadership, corporate governance, citizen service delivery, capacity building and empowerment.</li>
</ul>
</div>
<p><a href="https://pib.gov.in/newsite/PrintRelease.aspx?relid=192886" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Source:PIB</strong></a></p>',
			'postdate' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenTime) {},
			'url' => 'https://www.drishtiias.com/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/skoch-governance-gold-award-for-day-nulm'
		],
		(int) 16 => [
			'title' => 'Domestic Demand and Economy’s Animal Spirits',
			'catname' => 'News Analysis',
			'desc' => '<p>The <a href="/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-national-institutions/important-institutions-national-institution-reserve-bank-of-india" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Reserve Bank of India&rsquo;s (RBI)</strong></a> annual report for the year 2018-19 has stated that the low domestic demand is holding back the animal spirits of the economy.</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>The 'animal spirit'</strong> is a term coined by the famous British economist,<strong> John Maynard Keynes,</strong> to describe how people arrive at financial decisions, including buying and selling securities, in times of economic stress or uncertainty.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Insights from the Report</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The report emphasized the need for the <strong>revival of consumption</strong> and <strong>investment</strong> pattern in the economy during 2019-20.</li>
<li>It claimed that the slowdown could be <strong>cyclical</strong> in nature rather than a deep structural one. But there are some crucial <strong>structural issues in land, labour, &amp; agricultural marketing</strong> that require urgent reforms.</li>
<li>Banks are recovering, but <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/shadow-banking-and-the-crisis-in-the-indian-economy" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Non-banking financial companies (NBFCs)</strong></a> have irrational exuberance and considerable overleveraging.</li>
<li>Cases of frauds reported by banks saw a 15% jump in 2018-19 on a year-on-year basis.</li>
</ul>
<h3>State of the Economy</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>There is a broad-based <strong>cyclical downturn</strong> in several sectors of the economy like, manufacturing, hotels, trade, transport, communication and broadcasting, construction, and agriculture, which <strong>need urgent structural reforms.</strong></li>
<li><strong>Farm sector</strong> also requires crucial intense reforms such as reforms in cold storage facilities and the market mechanism, in order to <a href="/summary-of-important-reports/strategy-for-new-india-at-75" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>double the farmer&rsquo;s income by 2022.</strong></a></li>
<li>The <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/Investment-deficiency-in-india-and-its-implications" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>investment rate</strong></a> (measured by the ratio of gross capital formation to GDP) had <strong>fallen</strong> to 32.3% in 2017-18, which is a cause of worry and needs grave attention.</li>
<li>The <strong>Gross <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/solving-the-npa-crisis-in-india" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Non-Performing Assets</a> (GNPA)</strong> ratio of the banking system declined to 9.1% in March this year from 11.2% in the previous year, which is a healthy sign for the financial system.</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Gross Non-Performing Assets</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>An asset, including a leased asset, becomes non-performing when it ceases to generate income for the bank. A Non-Performing Asset (NPA) is a loan for which the principal or interest payment remained overdue for a period of 90 days.</li>
<li>Gross NPA is the <strong>summation of all loan assets that are classified as NPA</strong> as per RBI guidelines. When the NPA occurs, it is not just an interest income loss to the bank, but a principal loss as well.</li>
<li>Banks are required to classify NPAs further into<strong> Substandard, Doubtful and Loss assets.</strong>
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Substandard Assets:&nbsp;</strong>A substandard asset would be one, which has remained NPA for a <strong>period less than or equal to 12 months</strong>. Such an asset will have well-defined credit weaknesses that jeopardize the liquidation of the debt and are characterised by the distinct possibility that the banks will sustain some loss if deficiencies are not corrected.</li>
<li><strong>Doubtful Asset:&nbsp;</strong>An asset would be classified as doubtful if it has remained in the <strong>substandard category for a period of 12 months.</strong> A loan classified as doubtful has all the weaknesses inherent in assets that were classified as substandard, with the added characteristic that the weaknesses make collection or liquidation in full, - on the basis of currently known facts, conditions and values - <strong>highly questionable and improbable.</strong></li>
<li><strong>Loss Asset:&nbsp;</strong>A loss asset is one where loss has been identified by the bank or internal or external auditors or the RBI inspection but the amount has not been written off wholly. In other words, such an asset is considered uncollectible and of <strong>such little value that its continuance as a bankable asset is not warranted although there may be some salvage or recovery value.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</div>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Banks are <strong>staging recovery</strong> because of several reforms initiated in the past such as, <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/status-paper-on-government-debt" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Recapitalization</strong></a>, &amp; <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/insolvency-and-bankruptcy-code-second%20amendment-bill-2018" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code (IBC).</strong></a></li>
<li>In 2018-19, retail electronic payment transactions increased by 59% to Rs 23.3 billion from Rs 14.6 billion in the previous year, resulting in an <strong>increase in the share of electronic transactions</strong> in the volume of retail payments.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Required Reforms</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Reviving <strong>consumption demand</strong> and <strong>private investment</strong> is the need of the hour. It may involve:</li>
<li>Strengthening the banking and non-banking sectors,</li>
<li>Increased spending on infrastructure,</li>
<li>Implementation of much <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/stimulus-package-to-reverse-economic-slowdown-1" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>needed structural reforms</strong></a> in the areas of labour laws &amp; taxation.</li>
<li>Other legal reforms, which will enhance the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/world-banks-ease-of-doing-business-report-2019" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Ease of Doing Business</strong></a> in India.</li>
<li>Faster implementation of capital expenditures by public authorities and <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/economic-measures-to-boost-economy" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>similar other measures as announced by the Finance Ministry</strong></a> recently in this regard have the potential to inject growth impulses into the economy.</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="https://www.thehindu.com/business/Economy/rbi-says-lack-of-domestic-demand-affecting-animal-spirits-of-economy/article29289701.ece" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Source: TH</strong></a></p>',
			'postdate' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenTime) {},
			'url' => 'https://www.drishtiias.com/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/domestic-demand-and-economy-s-animal-spirits'
		],
		(int) 17 => [
			'title' => 'Two New Species of Eels',
			'catname' => 'News Analysis',
			'desc' => '<p>Recently, two new species of Marine Eels have been discovered by Estuarine Biology Regional Centre (EBRC) of the <strong>Zoological Survey of India (ZSI).</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>One of them, a short brown un-patterned Moray Eel, named <strong>Gymnothorax andamanensesis,</strong> is found near the south Andaman coast.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>10 species of short brown unpatterned moray eels have been discovered in the world, out of which<strong> two were found in Indian waters.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>Another is a new white-spotted Moray Eel, now named <strong>Gymnothorax smithi.</strong></li>
</ul>
<h3>Moray Eels</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Moray Eels occur in <strong>all tropical and subtropical seas,</strong> they live in shallow water among reefs and rocks.</li>
<li>They are known for <strong>two types of jaws:</strong> one is regular (oral) jaws with big teeth and the second jaw is called the pharyngeal jaw (which drags prey inside the eels stomach).</li>
<li>There <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/iucn-red-list" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>IUCN red list</strong></a> status is <strong>Least Concern.</strong></li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Zoological Survey of India</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The Zoological Survey of India (ZSI), a subordinate organization of the <strong>Ministry of Environment and Forests</strong> was <strong>established in 1916.</strong></li>
<li>It is a national centre for <strong>faunistic survey</strong> and exploration of the resources leading to the <strong>advancement of knowledge</strong> on the exceptionally<strong> rich faunal diversity of the country.</strong></li>
<li>It has its headquarters at <strong>Kolkata</strong> and 16 regional stations located in different geographic locations of the country.</li>
</ul>
</div>
<p><a href="https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/other-states/two-new-species-of-eels-discovered/article29292101.ece" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Source: TH</strong></a></p>',
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		],
		(int) 18 => [
			'title' => 'Rise of Regional Parties in India',
			'catname' => 'Paper 2',
			'desc' => '<p><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1568012445_Rise of Regional Parties in India (Mind Map).png" width="432" height="1114" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" /></p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><a href="/to-the-points/Paper2/rise-of-regional-parties-in-india" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><em>For TTP</em></a></p>',
			'postdate' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenTime) {},
			'url' => 'https://www.drishtiias.com/mind-map/gs-paper2/rise-of-regional-parties-in-india-1'
		],
		(int) 19 => [
			'title' => 'Reforming the Law Commission',
			'catname' => 'News Editorials',
			'desc' => '<div class="border">
<p>The article is based on <a href="https://indianexpress.com/article/opinion/columns/reforming-the-law-commission-of-india-cji-5945797/" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Reforming the Law Commission</strong></a> that was published in The Indian Express on 29<sup>th</sup> August. It talks about the needed reforms related to the law commission of India.</p>
</div>
<h3>Context</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><a href="/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-national-institutions/law-commission-of-india-1" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Law Commission of India</strong></a> is a prominent advisory body to study, research and report on legal matters specified in their terms of reference.</li>
<li>The Government of India established the First Law Commission of Independent India in 1955 with the then Attorney-General of India, Mr. M.C. Setalvad, as its Chairman. Since then twenty one more Law Commissions have been appointed, each with a three-year term and with different terms of reference.</li>
<li>The Law Commission of India &mdash; the oldest amongst the national-level parastatal bodies &mdash; remains an odd one even in its 65<sup>th</sup> year. Unlike its sister organisations, it has <strong>no fixed composition, no defined eligibility criteria for its chair and members, </strong>and <strong>no set functions &mdash;</strong> everything rests on the government&rsquo;s will.</li>
<li>The <strong>terms of reference are specified afresh each time</strong> it is reconstituted as if it were an ad hoc body.</li>
<li>Three of the other national commissions, those for the Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes and Backward Classes, are now regulated by the Constitution and there is a parliamentary charter for each of the national commissions for human rights, minorities, women, children and safai karamcharis.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Role of Law Commission in Legal reforms</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>It plays a crucial role&mdash;from suggesting new laws to changing outdated colonial laws and updating them to present times.</li>
<li>It has worked to ensure the statutory obligations of India under many international treaties of which India is a signatory.</li>
<li>Occasionally, the Commission also takes up matters <strong>suo motu.</strong> For example, the 20<sup>th</sup> Commission worked on leprosy affected persons and their treatment in society, which it recognised as a human rights issue.</li>
<li>The various Law Commissions have been able to make important contributions towards the progressive development and codification of the laws of the country. The law commissions so far have submitted 277 reports on diverse range of topics.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Reforms required to strengthen Law Commission</h3>
<p>Justice A. P. Shah, chairman of the 20<sup>th</sup> law commission, advocated numerous reforms to strengthen the law commission.</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Statutory status:</strong> It must be a statutory commission. This is essential to ensure the strength and independence of the body.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>In most countries, particularly western democracies, Law Commissions are statutory bodies.</li>
<li>If it becomes statutory, it must be answerable only to Parliament, and not to the Executive.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Continuity:</strong> It is important to ensure continuity. Presently, every Commission has a three-year term, and every time, there is a gap in the constitution of the Commission. The three year term of the 21<sup>st</sup> Law commission ended on 31<sup>st</sup> August 2018, but 22<sup>nd</sup> Law Commission has still not been constituted.</li>
<li><strong>Appointment:</strong> The members of the Com&shy;mission should be appointed only in consultation with the chairperson. Present system has drawn allegations of favouritism on numerous occasions.</li>
<li><strong>Independence:</strong> The presence of the law secretary and secretary, Legislative Department (who are presently ex-officio members of the Commission), affects its independence. They should not be a party to the Commission.</li>
<li><strong>Funding:</strong> It needs sufficient funding, proper resources, tie-ups with law institutions and more assistance and support.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Recent attempts to Reform law commission</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>In 2015, a proposal was mooted to make the law panel into a <strong>permanent body</strong> either through an Act of Parliament or an executive order (resolution of the Union Cabinet). The move was shelved after the Prime Minister&rsquo;s Office felt that the present system should continue.</li>
<li>In 2010 also, the then UPA government had prepared a draft Cabinet note to give statutory status to the Law Commission, and the Law Ministry had mooted to bring the Law Commission of India Bill, 2010. But the idea was shelved.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Way forward</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Law Commission of India, though an advisory body, has been a key instrumentality in the process of legal reforms in India.</li>
<li>Law commission provides the intellectual depth to the law ministry as well as to other legal institutions including the Supreme Court. In a number of decisions the Supreme Court has referred to the work done by the Law Commission and followed its recommendations.</li>
<li>It should be given a statutory status with sufficient funding and independence to work towards bringing bold and much needed legal reforms in the country.</li>
</ul>
<table border="1" style="border-collapse: collapse; width: 100%;" height="84">
<tbody>
<tr>
<td style="width: 513px; border-style: dotted; border-color: #ff7575; background-color: #ffefe6;"><span style="color: #0000ff;"><em><strong>Drishti input</strong></em></span><br /><br />&ldquo;Discuss the role of the Law Commission of India in bringing legal reforms in the country. What reforms are required to strengthen the Law Commission of India?&ldquo;</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<p></p>',
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	(int) 0 => [
		'title' => 'G7 Summit',
		'catname' => 'News Analysis',
		'desc' => '<p>The three days G7 summit was concluded on August 26, 2019, at Biarritz, Nouvelle-Aquitaine, France.</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Although <strong>no joint communique</strong> was issued at the end of the summit, the French President released a statement stating that the seven industrialized nations were committed to open and fair world trade, and global economic stability.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Key Takeaways</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Discussion on forest fires in the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/amazon-rainforest" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Amazon rainforests</strong></a>. G7 countries pledged $20 million help to fight fires in the Amazon rainforests.</li>
<li>US trade conflicts with France over <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/data-protection-law-in-the-united-states" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>GAFA tax</strong></a> &amp; other related issues, Iran over the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/us-reimposes-sanctions-on-iran" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA)</strong></a>, US-China <a href="/to-the-points/paper3/trade-war-6" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>trade wars.</strong></a></li>
<li>G7 leaders backed the existence and importance of the <strong>Sino-British Joint Declaration of 1984</strong> on Hong Kong and called for violence to be avoided.</li>
<li>The United States of America offered a better deal after UK&rsquo;s <a href="/loksabha-rajyasabha-discussions/brexit-deal-what-lies-ahead" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Brexit.</strong></a></li>
<li>There was a call for <strong>reinstating Russia</strong> back into the group. Russia was removed from the group after it <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/elections-in-ukraine" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>annexed Crimea in 2014.</strong></a> But the consensus for the same was not achieved.</li>
<li>As a reflection of <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/india-france-relations" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>strong bilateral relations between India &amp; France</strong></a>, a <strong>special invitation</strong> was sent to India to become a part of this summit.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>On the sidelines of this summit, India highlighted its large-scale efforts to address various environmental issues like, reducing biodiversity, climate change, water stress &amp; ocean pollution. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>India highlighted the steps taken in this regard which include, vow to <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/plastic-ban-incentivise-options-for-single-use-plastic-to-make-a-national-ban-possible" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>eliminate single-use plastic</strong></a>, harnessing solar energy, saving water, and protecting flora and fauna.</li>
<li>On a session on <strong>Digital transformation</strong> at G7 Summit, Indian PM remarked, &ldquo;India&rsquo;s usage of technology for enhanced &amp; innovative digital payment initiatives.&rdquo; India is putting enormous efforts in leveraging digital technology to fight social inequalities through empowerment and inclusion.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>Indian Prime Minister also had a brief discussion with the US President over the <a href="/loksabha-rajyasabha-discussions/in-depth-jammu-and-kashmir" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Kashmir</strong> </a>issue, reiterating that,<em> &lsquo;it is an internal matter of India &amp; any related issues on it will be resolved bilaterally with Pakistan&rsquo;.</em></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>The need for a dedicated multilateral <strong>Green Bank was</strong> demanded. The purpose of this bank would solely be to finance the projects supporting renewable energies and mitigating environmental challenges. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>This bank will complement and collaborate with other existing multilateral- regional &amp; national institutions in co-financing the projects.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>G7</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The Group of Seven (G7) is a forum of the <strong>world's seven largest developed economies</strong> whose government leaders <strong>meet annually</strong> to discuss international economic and monetary issues.</li>
<li>The G-7 has its roots in an <strong>informal meeting of the finance ministers</strong> of France, West Germany, the U.S, Great Britain, and Japan (the <strong>Group of Five</strong>) in the wake of the <strong>1973 oil crisis.</strong> That, in turn, inspired the French President to invite the leaders of those countries, and <strong>Italy,</strong> to Rambouillet in 1975 for further discussions on global oil.</li>
<li>The next year, <strong>Canada</strong> was also invited to join the group and the first meeting with all <strong>G-7 nations was hosted by the United States which was held in Puerto Rico in 1976.</strong></li>
<li>Summits are held annually and hosted on a rotation basis by the group's members.</li>
<li>The 2018 summit was hosted by Canada in Quebec from June 8-9.</li>
<li>The 45th G7 summit was hosted by France from August 24-26, 2019, in Biarritz in Nouvelle-Aquitaine, France.</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>Members</strong></p>
<p>The G7 members are recognized as the seven <strong>wealthiest</strong> and <strong>most advanced</strong> nations in the world. The members are:</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>France,</li>
<li>Germany,</li>
<li>The United Kingdom,</li>
<li>Italy,</li>
<li>The United States of America,</li>
<li>Canada,</li>
<li>Japan</li>
<li>The <a href="/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-international-institution/european-union" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>European Union</strong></a> is sometimes considered an eighth member of the G-7, since it holds all the rights and responsibilities of full members except to chair or host the meeting.</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>Expansion to G-8 (the Group of Eight)</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The G-7 responded as the global economy evolved. In 1991, the Soviet Union pledged to create an economy with freer markets and held its first direct presidential election.</li>
<li>Following the 1994 G7 meeting in Naples, Russian President held meetings with G-7 member countries, in what became known as the P-8 <strong>(Political 8).</strong></li>
<li>In 1998, after urging from leaders including U.S. President, Russia was added to the G-7 group as a full-time member, creating a formal G-8.</li>
<li>However, in 2014, Russia was suspended from the group after the annexation of Crimea and tensions in Ukraine.</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>Purpose</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The major purpose of the G-7 is to discuss and deliberate on <strong>international economic issues.</strong> It sometimes acts in concert to help resolve other global problems, with a special focus on economic issues.</li>
<li>G7 fills out numerous global top lists:<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Leading export countries,</li>
<li>Largest gold reserves,</li>
<li>Largest nuclear energy producers,</li>
<li>Top contributors to the UN budget.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</div>
<p><a href="https://www.thehindu.com/opinion/editorial/message-delivered/article29282081.ece" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Source: TH</strong></a></p>',
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	(int) 1 => [
		'title' => 'Hurricane Dorian',
		'catname' => 'News Analysis',
		'desc' => '<p>Recently the Hurricane Dorian became the strongest storm in modern records to hit the northwestern <strong>Bahamas (a country in the Caribbean Islands).</strong></p>
<h3>Hurricane Dorian</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>It is an extremely powerful tropical cyclone currently affecting the Bahamas and threatening the Southeastern United States.</li>
<li>It is developed from a tropical wave in the Central Atlantic.</li>
<li>It is categorised as a <strong>Category 5 storm on Saffir&ndash;Simpson hurricane wind scale (SSHWS)</strong> with maximum sustained winds of 285 km per hour.</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/161image3.jpg" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/161image3.jpg" width="635" height="521" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" caption="false" /></a></p>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Hurricanes</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>A Hurricane is a <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/cyclone-idai" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>tropical cyclone</strong></a> that occurs in the Atlantic Ocean and the northeastern Pacific Ocean.</li>
<li>These are formed over the warm ocean waters near the equator.</li>
<li>Hurricanes typically form between 5 to 15 degrees latitude north and south of the equator.</li>
<li>Hurricanes are known to be one of nature's most destructive storms as they bring heavy rains, deadly waves and fierce winds.</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Wind Scale</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Wind Scale is a 1 to 5 rating based on a hurricane's sustained wind speed. This scale estimates potential property damage.</li>
</ul>
<table border="1" style="width: 100%; border-collapse: collapse; background-color: #f29b7e;">
<tbody>
<tr style="height: 35px;">
<td style="width: 11.088%; height: 35px;"><strong>Category</strong></td>
<td style="width: 16.3894%; height: 35px;"><strong>Sustained Winds</strong></td>
<td style="width: 45.2876%; height: 35px;"><strong>Types of Damage Due to Hurricane Winds</strong></td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 19px;">
<td style="width: 11.088%; height: 19px;">1</td>
<td style="width: 16.3894%; height: 19px;">119-153 km/h</td>
<td style="width: 45.2876%; height: 19px;">Very dangerous winds will produce some damage</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 19px;">
<td style="width: 11.088%; height: 19px;">2</td>
<td style="width: 16.3894%; height: 19px;">154-177 km/h</td>
<td style="width: 45.2876%; height: 19px;">Extremely dangerous winds will cause extensive damage</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 19px;">
<td style="width: 11.088%; height: 19px;">3&nbsp;(major)</td>
<td style="width: 16.3894%; height: 19px;">178-208 km/h</td>
<td style="width: 45.2876%; height: 19px;">Devastating damage will occur</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 19px;">
<td style="width: 11.088%; height: 19px;">4 (major)</td>
<td style="width: 16.3894%; height: 19px;">209-251 km/h</td>
<td style="width: 45.2876%; height: 19px;">Catastrophic damage will occur</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 19px;">
<td style="width: 11.088%; height: 19px;">5&nbsp;(major)</td>
<td style="width: 16.3894%; height: 19px;">252 km/h or higher</td>
<td style="width: 45.2876%; height: 19px;">Catastrophic damage will occur</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
</div>
<p><br /><a href="https://www.thehindu.com/news/international/catastrophic-hurricane-dorian-hits-bahamas/article29316410.ece" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Source: TH</strong></a></p>',
		'postdate' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenTime) {},
		'url' => 'https://www.drishtiias.com/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/hurricane-dorian'
	],
	(int) 2 => [
		'title' => 'General Assembly of the Association of  World Election Bodies',
		'catname' => 'News Analysis',
		'desc' => '<p><a href="/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-national-institutions/election-commission-of-india" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>The Election Commission of India</strong></a> is scheduled to host the <strong>4<sup>th</sup> General Assembly of the Association of World Election Bodies (A-WEB)</strong> at Bengaluru on 3<sup>rd</sup> September 2019.</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>India will take over as <strong>A-WEB&rsquo;s Chair for the 2019-21 term.</strong></li>
<li>ECI has been its Executive Board Member since AWEB's inception for two consecutive terms (2013-15 and 2015-17).</li>
<li>During A-WEB General Assembly, 2017 ECI was unanimously elected as Vice-Chair of A-WEB 2017-19.</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Association of World Election Bodies (A-WEB)</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The Association of World Election Bodies(A-WEB) is the largest association of Election Management Bodies (EMBs) worldwide.</li>
<li>It was established on October 14, 2013 in South Korea.</li>
<li>The permanent secretariat of A-WEB is located in Seoul, South Korea.</li>
<li>It was founded with the shared vision among its members of achieving sustainable democracy around the world</li>
<li>A-WEB also undertakes Election Visitor and Observation Programmes in various countries to study various election management practices and share knowledge with other Member of EMBs.</li>
</ul>
</div>
<p><a href="https://pib.gov.in/PressReleseDetail.aspx?PRID=1583786" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Source: PIB</strong></a></p>',
		'postdate' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenTime) {},
		'url' => 'https://www.drishtiias.com/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/general-assembly-of-the-association-of-world-election-bodies'
	],
	(int) 3 => [
		'title' => 'Mamallapuram',
		'catname' => 'News Analysis',
		'desc' => '<p>Mamallapuram, Tamil Nadu is expected to be the venue for the <strong>second India-China informal summit.</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Besides holding talks, the leaders of both countries are likely to make a visit to the ancient monuments in the area.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The monuments in the area have been classified as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.</li>
<li>During the <a href="/loksabha-rajyasabha-discussions/the-big-picture-indias-china-pak-policy" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>first informal summit in Wuhan</strong></a> <strong>(in China) in April 2018,</strong> the leaders had made a visit to the Hubei provincial museum.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>Recently, Mamallapuram had also hosted the <strong>Defence Expo 2018,</strong> an annual event of the Union Defence Ministry.</li>
</ul>
<h3>About Mamallapuram<a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/522image2.jpg" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/522image2.jpg" width="233" height="233" style="float: right;" caption="false" /></a></h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Mamallapuram,</strong> also called <strong>Mahabalipuram</strong> or <strong>Seven Pagodas,</strong> is a town that lies along the Coromandel Coast of the Bay of Bengal, 60 km south of Chennai.</li>
<li>The town&rsquo;s religious centre was <strong>founded by a 7<sup>th</sup>-century Hindu Pallava</strong> <strong>King&mdash;Narasimhavarman,</strong> also known as Mamalla&mdash;for whom the town was named.</li>
<li>It contains many surviving 7<sup>th</sup>- and 8<sup>th</sup>-century Pallava temples and monuments, chief of which are the sculptured rock relief popularly known as <strong>&ldquo;Arjuna&rsquo;s Penance,&rdquo; or &ldquo;Descent of the Ganges,&rdquo;</strong> a series of sculptured cave temples, and a Shiva temple on the seashore.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The town&rsquo;s <strong>Five Rathas,</strong> or monolithic temples, are the remnants of seven temples, for which the town was known as Seven Pagodas. The entire assemblage collectively was designated a <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/kailash-mansarovar-in-tentative-list-of-world-heritage-sites" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>UNESCO World Heritage Site</strong></a><strong> in 1984.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/mamallapuram-to-host-narendra-modi-xi-jinping-meet-in-october/article29316612.ece" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Source: TH</strong></a></p>',
		'postdate' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenTime) {},
		'url' => 'https://www.drishtiias.com/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/mamallapuram'
	],
	(int) 4 => [
		'title' => 'Indonesia’s New Capital',
		'catname' => 'News Analysis',
		'desc' => '<p>Recently, Indonesia's President has announced that the <strong>country's capital (currently Jakarta)</strong> will be relocated to <strong>East Kalimantan province on Borneo island.</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Jakarta is the largest Indonesian city with a population of 1 crore people and is located on the North West coast of the <strong>most populous island in the world, Java.<a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/613image1.jpg" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/613image1.jpg" width="390" height="422" style="float: right;" caption="false" /></a></strong></li>
<li><strong>Reasons for Relocation:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Jakarta was built on a marsh, (already a few meters below sea level), thereby prone to be submerged.</li>
<li><strong>Due to climate change, the water levels in the Java Sea are rising and weather events are becoming more extreme.</strong></li>
<li>Jakarta is among the <strong>world&rsquo;s fastest sinking city.</strong></li>
<li>Moreover, the Jakarta is the centre for administration, governance, finance and trade, it has inevitably led to relentless construction in the city, due to which the water is not able to seep into the ground in many areas, leading to increased run-off.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Site of Relocation</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>East Kalimantan is located over 1,400 km from Jakarta, on the<strong> island of Borneo.</strong></li>
<li>Mineral-rich East Kalimantan was once almost completely covered by rainforests.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="https://indianexpress.com/article/explained/explained-why-is-indonesia-moving-its-capital-city-and-what-next-for-jakarta-5944268/" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Source: IE</strong></a></p>',
		'postdate' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenTime) {},
		'url' => 'https://www.drishtiias.com/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/indonesia-s-new-capital'
	],
	(int) 5 => [
		'title' => 'Citizenship of India',
		'catname' => 'Paper 2',
		'desc' => '<p>In the run-up to the publication of the final <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/final-national-register-of-citizens" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>National Register of Citizens (NRC)</strong></a> <strong>in Assam,</strong> the Supreme Court, in August, 2019 rejected a plea to include those born in India between <strong>after March 24, 1971 and before July 1, 1987</strong> in NRC unless they had <strong>ancestral links</strong> to India.</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>In any other Indian state, they would have been citizens by birth, but the <strong>law is different for Assam.</strong></li>
<li>In this context, citizenship has become the most talked about topic in the country.</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>National Register of Citizens (NRC)</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The National Register of Citizens, 1951 is a register prepared <strong>after the conduct of the Census of 1951</strong> in respect of each village, showing the houses or holdings in a serial order and indicating against each house or holding the number and names of persons staying therein.</li>
<li>The NRC was published <strong>only once in 1951.</strong></li>
<li>The NRC of 1951 and the Electoral Roll of 1971 (up to midnight of 24 March 1971) are together called <strong>Legacy Data.</strong></li>
<li>Persons and their descendants whose names appeared in these documents are certified as Indian citizens.</li>
</ul>
</div>
<h3>How is Citizenship Defined?</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Citizenship signifies the <strong>relationship between individual and state.</strong></li>
<li>Like any other modern state, India has <strong>two kinds of people&mdash;citizens and aliens.</strong> Citizens are full members of the Indian State and owe allegiance to it. They enjoy <strong>all civil and political rights.</strong></li>
<li>Citizenship is an <strong>idea of exclusion</strong> as it excludes non-citizens.</li>
<li>There are <strong>two well-known principles</strong> for the grant of citizenship:<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>While <strong>&lsquo;jus soli&rsquo;</strong> confers citizenship on the basis of place of birth,<strong> &lsquo;jus sanguinis&rsquo;</strong> gives recognition to blood ties.</li>
<li>From the time of the <strong>Motilal Nehru Committee (1928),</strong> the Indian leadership was in favour of the enlightened concept of jus soli.</li>
<li>The <strong>racial idea of jus sanguinis was also rejected by the Constituent Assembly</strong> as it was against the Indian ethos.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Constitutional Provisions</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Citizenship is listed in the <strong>Union List</strong> under the Constitution and thus is under the <strong>exclusive jurisdiction of Parliament.</strong></li>
<li>The <strong>Constitution does not define the term &lsquo;citizen&rsquo;</strong> but details of various categories of persons who are entitled to citizenship are given in <strong>Part 2 (Articles 5 to 11).</strong></li>
<li>Unlike other provisions of the Constitution, which came into being on January 26, 1950,<strong> these articles were enforced on November 26, 1949</strong> itself, when the Constitution was adopted.</li>
<li><strong>Article 5:</strong> It provided for <strong>citizenship on commencement of the Constitution.</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>All those <strong>domiciled and born in India</strong> were given citizenship.</li>
<li>Even those who were domiciled but not born in India, but <strong>either of whose parents was born in India,</strong> were considered citizens.</li>
<li>Anyone who had been an <strong>ordinary resident for more than five years,</strong> too, was entitled to apply for citizenship.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Article 6:</strong> It provided rights of citizenship of certain persons who have <strong>migrated to India from Pakistan.</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Since Independence was preceded by Partition and migration, Article 6 laid down that anyone who migrated to India <strong>before July 19, 1949,</strong> would automatically become an Indian citizen if either of his parents or grandparents was born in India.</li>
<li>But those who entered India after this date needed to register themselves.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Article 7:</strong> Provided Rights of citizenship of <strong>certain migrants to Pakistan.</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Those who had migrated to Pakistan after March 1, 1947 but subsequently returned on resettlement permits were included within the citizenship net.</li>
<li>The law was more sympathetic to those who migrated from Pakistan and called them refugees than to those who, in a state of confusion, were stranded in Pakistan or went there but decided to return soon.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Article 8:</strong> Provided Rights of citizenship of certain <strong>persons of Indian origin residing outside India.</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Any Person of Indian Origin residing outside India who, or either of whose parents or grandparents, was born in India could register himself or herself as an Indian citizen with Indian Diplomatic Mission.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Article 9:</strong> Provided that if any person <strong>voluntarily acquired the citizenship of a foreign State</strong> will no longer be a citizen of India.</li>
<li><strong>Article10:</strong> It says that every person who is or is deemed to be a citizen of India under any of the foregoing provisions of this Part shall, <strong>subject to the provisions of any law that may be made by Parliament,</strong> continue to be such citizen.</li>
<li><strong>Article 11:</strong> It empowers <strong>Parliament</strong> to make any provision with respect to the acquisition and termination of citizenship and all matters relating to it.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Acts and Amendments</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The Citizenship Act, 1955 provides for the <strong>acquisition and determination</strong> of Indian citizenship.</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Acquisition and Determination of Indian Citizenship</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>There are<strong> four ways</strong> in which Indian citizenship can be acquired: <strong>birth, descent, registration and naturalisation.</strong> The provisions are listed under the <strong>Citizenship Act, 1955.</strong></li>
<li><strong>By Birth:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Every person born in India on or after 26.01.1950 but before 01.07.1987 is an Indian citizen irrespective of the nationality of his/her parents.</li>
<li>Every person born in India between 01.07.1987 and 02.12.2004 is a citizen of India given either of his/her parents is a citizen of the country at the time of his/her birth.</li>
<li>Every person born in India on or after 3.12.2004 is a citizen of the country given both his/her parents are Indians or at least one parent is a citizen and the other is not an illegal migrant at the time of birth.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>By Registration:</strong> Citizenship can also be acquired by registration. Some of the mandatory rules are:<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>A person of <strong>Indian origin</strong> who has <strong>been a resident of India for 7 years</strong> before applying for registration.</li>
<li>A person of Indian origin who is a resident of any country outside undivided India.</li>
<li>A person <strong>who is married to an Indian citizen</strong> and is ordinarily <strong>resident for 7 years</strong> before applying for registration.</li>
<li><strong>Minor children</strong> of persons who are<strong> citizens of India.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>By Descent:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>A person born outside India on or after January 26, 1950 is a citizen of India by descent if <strong>his/her father was a citizen of India by birth.</strong></li>
<li>A person born outside India on or after December 10, 1992, but before December 3, 2004 if either of his/her parent was a citizen of India by birth.</li>
<li>If a person born outside India or or after December 3, 2004 has to acquire citizenship, his/her parents have to declare that the minor does not hold a passport of another country and his/her birth is registered at an Indian consulate within one year of birth.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>By Naturalisation:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>A person can acquire citizenship by naturalisation if <strong>he/she is ordinarily resident of India for 12 years</strong> (throughout 12 months preceding the date of application and 11 years in the aggregate) and fulfils all <strong>qualifications in the third schedule</strong> of the Citizenship Act.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>The Act does <strong>not provide for dual citizenship or dual nationality.</strong> It only allows citizenship for a person listed under the provisions above ie: by birth, descent, registration or naturalisation.</li>
</ul>
</div>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The act has been <strong>amended four times &mdash; in 1986, 2003, 2005, and 2015.</strong></li>
<li>Through these amendments Parliament has narrowed down the wider and universal principles of citizenship based on the fact of birth.</li>
<li>Moreover, the <strong>Foreigners Act</strong> places a heavy burden on the individual to prove that he/she is not a foreigner.</li>
<li><strong>1986 amendment:</strong> Unlike the constitutional provision and the original Citizenship Act that gave citizenship on the <strong>principle of jus soli</strong> to everyone born in India, the 1986 amendment to <strong>Section 3</strong> was less inclusive.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The amendment has added the condition that those who were born in India on or after January 26, 1950 but before July 1, 1987, shall be Indian citizen.</li>
<li>Those born after July 1, 1987 and before December 4, 2003, in addition to one&rsquo;s own birth in India, can get citizenship only if either of his parents was an Indian citizen at the time of birth.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>2003 amendment:</strong> The amendment made the above condition more stringent, keeping in view <strong>infiltration from Bangladesh.</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Now the law requires that for those born on or after December 4, 2004, in addition to the fact of their own birth, both parents should be Indian citizens or one parent must be Indian citizen and other <strong>should not be an illegal migrant.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>With these restrictive amendments, India has almost moved towards the <strong>narrow principle of jus sanguinis or blood relationship.</strong></li>
<li>This lays down that an <strong>illegal migrant cannot claim citizenship by naturalisation or registration</strong> even if he has been a resident of India for seven years.</li>
<li><a href="/to-the-points/Paper2/upsc-ias-gs-paper-2-polity-the-citizenship-amendment-bill-2016" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Citizenship (Amendment) Bill 2019</strong></a>: The amendment proposes to <strong>permit members of six communities &mdash; Hindus, Sikhs, Buddhists, Jains, Parsis and Christians</strong> from Pakistan, Bangladesh and Afghanistan &mdash; to continue to live in India if they entered India before December 14, 2014. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>It also reduces the requirement for citizenship from <strong>11 years to just 6 years.</strong></li>
<li>Two notifications also exempted these migrants from the Passport Act and Foreigners Act.</li>
<li>A large number of organisations in Assam protested against this Bill as it may grant citizenship to <strong>Bangladeshi Hindu illegal migrants.</strong></li>
<li>The justification given for the bill is that Hindus and Buddhists are minorities in Bangladesh, and fled to India to avoid religious persecution, but Muslims are a majority in Bangladesh and so the same cannot be said about them.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Different Scenario in Assam</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Assam witnessed large-scale <strong>illegal migration from erstwhile East Pakistan</strong> and, after 1971, from present-day Bangladesh.</li>
<li>This led to the six-year-long <strong>Assam movement from 1979 to 1985,</strong> for deporting illegal migrants.</li>
<li>The All Assam Students' Union (AASU) led the movement that <strong>demanded the updating of the NRC</strong> and the deportation of all illegal migrants who had entered Assam after 1951.</li>
<li>The Assam Movement against illegal immigration eventually led to the historic <a href="/to-the-points/Paper2/to-the-point-paper-2-national-register-of-citizens-nrc" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Assam Accord of 1985</strong></a>, signed by the Movement leaders and the Rajiv Gandhi government.</li>
<li>It set March 25, 1971, as the <strong>cut-off date</strong> for the deportation of illegal migrants.</li>
<li>Since the cut-off date prescribed under articles 5 and 6 of the Constitution was July 19, 1949 - to give force to the new date, an amendment was made to the Citizenship Act, 1955, and <strong>a new section (6A) was introduced.</strong></li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Section 6A</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The section was <strong>made applicable only to Assam.</strong></li>
<li>It laid down that all persons of Indian origin who entered Assam before January 1, 1966 and have been ordinary residents will be deemed Indian citizens.</li>
<li>Those who came after 1 January, 1966 but before March 25, 1971, and have been ordinary residents, will get <strong>citizenship at the expiry of 10 years</strong> from their detection as a foreigner.</li>
<li>During this interim period, they will not have the <strong>right to vote but can get an Indian passport.</strong></li>
<li>In Assam Sanmilita Mahasangha (2014) where the constitutionality of the 1986 amendment was challenged (the Mahasangha argues that the cutoff year for Assam should be 1951 instead of 1971), the court referred the matter to the Constitution Bench. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>To examine whether Section 6A is constitutional and valid though it prescribes a different cutoff date for Assam (1971) from the one prescribed in the Constitution for the rest of the country (1949).</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>A five-judge Bench of the <strong>Supreme Court is yet to examine the constitutionality of Section 6A</strong> under which the current NRC has been prepared.</li>
</ul>
</div>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Identification of foreigners as needed by Section 6A was to be done under the<strong> Illegal Migrants (Determination by Tribunal) Act, (IMDT Act), 1983,</strong> which was applicable only in Assam while the <strong>Foreigners Act, 1946</strong> was applicable in the rest of the country. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The provisions of the IMDT Act made it difficult to deport illegal immigrants.</li>
<li>On the petition of Sarbananda Sonowal (now the Chief Minister of Assam), the Act was held unconstitutional and struck down by the Supreme Court in 2005.</li>
<li>This was eventually replaced with the Foreigners (Tribunals for Assam) Order, 2006, which again was struck down in 2007.</li>
<li>In the IMDT case, the court considered classification based on geographical considerations to be a <strong>violation of the right to equality under Article 14.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Conclusion</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Giving concession of six years for residence based only on religion is against the tenets of secularism. This should be dropped to stand the test of<strong> &lsquo;basic structure doctrine&rsquo;.</strong></li>
<li>India, as a country which follows the ideology of <strong>&lsquo;Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam&rsquo;,</strong> should not be hasty in taking decisions that can disenfranchise her citizens &ndash; contradicting its centuries-followed values.</li>
<li>The need of the hour is that the Union Government should clearly chart out the course of action regarding the fate of excluded people from final NRC of Assam and political parties should refrain from colouring the entire NRC process through electoral prospects that may <strong>snowball into communal violence.</strong></li>
<li>An <strong>overly legal approach will only produce more tension, insecurity and anxiety.</strong></li>
</ul>',
		'postdate' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenTime) {},
		'url' => 'https://www.drishtiias.com/to-the-points/Paper2/citizenship-of-india'
	],
	(int) 6 => [
		'title' => 'RBI Surplus Transfer to the Government',
		'catname' => 'News Editorials',
		'desc' => '<div class="border">
<p>The article is based on <a href="https://www.thehindu.com/opinion/lead/spelling-out-the-governments-rbi-windfall/article29302743.ece" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Spelling out the government&rsquo;s RBI windfall</strong></a> that was published in The Hindu on 31<sup>st</sup> August. It talks about the recent surplus transfer by the RBI to the Government and its implications.</p>
</div>
<h3>Context</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The Central Board of the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) on 26th August decided to <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/transfer-of-surplus-from-rbi" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>transfer</strong></a> a sum of ₹1,76,051 crore to the Government comprising of ₹1,23,414 crore of surplus for the year 2018-19 and ₹52,637 crore of excess provisions identified <strong>as per the revised Economic Capital Framework (ECF)</strong> adopted at the meeting of the Central Board.</li>
<li>The Surplus Distribution Policy of RBI that was finalized is in line with the recommendations of the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/bimal-jalan-panel-on-economic-capital-framework" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Bimal Jalan committee</strong></a> that was formed by the RBI, in consultation with the Government, to review the extant Economic Capital Framework of the RBI.</li>
<li>The Committee&rsquo;s recommendations were based on the consideration of the role of central banks&rsquo; financial resilience, cross-country practices, statutory provisions and the impact of the RBI&rsquo;s public policy mandate and operating environment on its balance sheet and the risks involved.</li>
<li>In view of the RBI&rsquo;s function as a lender of last resort, it needs to maintain some <strong>Contingent Risk Buffer (CRB)</strong> to insure the economy against any tail risk of financial stability crisis.</li>
<li>The Jalan Committee recommended that the CRB needs to be maintained at a range of 5.5% to 6.5% of the RBI&rsquo;s balance sheet.</li>
<li>The surplus transfer policy is now formula based and thus transparent, which is an important departure from the past.</li>
<li>The formula-based CRB will take care of the <strong>risk provisioning</strong> and the central board of RBI will decide on the level of risk provisioning.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Why this huge transfer</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Overcapitalised RBI:</strong> The narrative that the RBI is an overcapitalised institution has been in discussions for some time. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The <strong>Economic Survey of 2016-17</strong> found that the RBI is one of the most capitalised central banks in the world and noted, &ldquo;There is no particular reason why this extra capital should be kept with the RBI&rdquo;.</li>
<li>Some central banks around the world (like the US and UK) keep 13% to 14% of their assets as a reserve compared to RBI&rsquo;s 27% and some (like Russia) more than that.</li>
<li>Economists in the past have argued for RBI releasing &lsquo;extra&rsquo; capital that can be put to productive use by the government. <strong>The Malegam Committee</strong> estimated the excess (in 2013) at ₹1.49 lakh crore.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>RBI Surplus Transfer: Why and How</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>RBI&rsquo;s Earning:</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Returns earned on its foreign currency assets,</strong> which could be in the form of bonds and treasury bills of other central banks or top-rated securities, and deposits with other central banks.</li>
<li><strong>Interest on its holdings of local rupee-denominated government bonds</strong> or securities, and while lending to banks for very short tenures, such as overnight.</li>
<li><strong>Management commission</strong> on handling the borrowings of state governments and the central government.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>RBI&rsquo;s Expenditure:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Printing of currency notes and on staff,</strong> besides the commission it gives to banks for undertaking transactions on behalf of the government across the country, and to primary dealers, including banks, for underwriting some of these borrowings.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</div>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Surplus Transfer:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>RBI transfers the surplus &ndash; that is, the excess of income over expenditure &ndash; to the government, in accordance with <strong>Section 47</strong> (Allocation of Surplus Profits) of the <strong>Reserve Bank of India Act, 1934.</strong></li>
<li>A technical Committee of the RBI Board headed by <strong>Y H Malegam (2013),</strong> which reviewed the adequacy of reserves and surplus distribution policy, recommended a higher transfer to the government.</li>
<li>By and large, with a few exceptions, the quantum of surplus transfer averages around 0.5% of the GDP.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Implications</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>It would help the government to go for <strong>bank recapitalisation</strong> in a big way given the economic slowdown, when channels of credit disbursements are choked because of a <strong>lack of capital with the commercial banks.</strong></li>
<li>The transfer of the additional surplus from the RBI could enable the government to pursue efforts towards <strong>stimulating the economy while maintaining budget discipline.</strong></li>
<li>The government, in the case of revenue shortages, would be able <strong>to meet the fiscal deficit target without cutting expenditures</strong> on important sectors.</li>
<li>It would give the Government necessary <strong>fiscal space to maneuver structural reforms</strong> to boost economic growth.</li>
<li>The surplus transfer from the RBI has implications for the central bank&rsquo;s balance sheet, government budget, financial market and, above all, monetary policy and debt management by the RBI.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Way Forward</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The decision of the RBI Board must be welcomed as it would help the government in combating the economic slowdown and to conform to the fiscal targets.</li>
<li>It is hoped that the government will be prudent in using these funds.</li>
<li>However, the RBI dividend transfer is not a panacea. India&rsquo;s economy needs sustained structural reforms to boost potential growth.</li>
</ul>
<table border="1" style="border-collapse: collapse; width: 100%;">
<tbody>
<tr>
<td style="width: 100%; border-style: dotted; border-color: #ff0000; background-color: #f7f4e1;">
<p><span style="color: #000080;"><em><strong>Drishti Input</strong></em></span></p>
<p>&ldquo;Critically analyse the implications of the recent surplus transfer by the RBI to the government. Will it be helpful in the recovery of the economy that is undergoing a slowdown?&rdquo;</p>
</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>',
		'postdate' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenTime) {},
		'url' => 'https://www.drishtiias.com/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/rbi-surplus-transfer-to-the-government'
	],
	(int) 7 => [
		'title' => 'The Big Picture – Need to Modernise Indian Air Force',
		'catname' => 'Lok Sabha & Rajya Sabha Discussions',
		'desc' => '<p style="text-align: center;"><iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/fGwOwFY9KCg" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe></p>
<p>Amid escalating tension between India and Pakistan over the abrogation of the special status of Jammu and Kashmir, Air Chief Marshal BS Dhanoa has said that the Indian Air Force (IAF) is still flying 44-year-old MiG-21 Russian fighter jets. MiG-21s have been the most accident-prone of all IAF fighter jets, thus earning the name <strong>"flying coffin&rdquo;</strong>. From 1963-2015, the MiG-21 had a total of 210 accidents. Of these, a maximum of 16 accidents took place in 1999. India is currently the largest operator of MiG-21 Bison, with an estimated 100+ aircraft on duty.</p>
<p>Speaking at an IAF seminar in New Delhi, Dhanoa said that the basic version of the Russian fighter jet would be phased out in 2019. He also said that the IAF is replacing high-end obsolete weapons with indigenously developed ones that will boost in-house defence manufacturing, however, to win a war, the country also needs high-end, high-tech items, which need to be imported.</p>
<h3>Factors Deciding Modernisation</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Modernisation need for the IAF is derivative of the <strong>threat perception</strong> as well as the kind of wars the country will fight.</li>
<li>Modernisation is not only limited to fighter aircraft. There is a need to think whether <strong>Force Multipliers like air to air refuelers, communication networks etc. also to be upgraded</strong>.</li>
<li>The <strong>offensive operations capability of the warfare equipment</strong> also need to be looked upon.</li>
<li>Other things that need to be considered include <strong>country&rsquo;s war policy turning into two-front war policy</strong> (considering neighbours Pakistan and China), network centric warfare, aerospace i.e. the IAF including space assets into its war domain.</li>
<li>The <strong>induction rate</strong> and the <strong>retirement rate</strong> is another factor. In the IAF, induction rate of fighter jets is much slower than their retirement rate.</li>
<li>It needs to be considered <strong>what kind of aircraft country need</strong> i.e. whether all of rafale type, or some lightweight etc.</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Note:</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The term <strong>&ldquo;network-centric warfare&rdquo;</strong> broadly describes the combination of emerging tactics, techniques, and procedures that a fully or even partially networked force can employ to create a decisive warfighting advantage.</li>
<li>NCW essentially focuses on using computers, high speed data links, and networking software to link military personnel, platforms, and formations in the battlespace, into highly integrated local and global networks.</li>
</ul>
</div>
<h3>Progress So Far</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The IAF has implemented <strong>Integrated Materials Management Online System (IMMOLS)</strong>.</li>
<li>As far as the net centricity is concerned, the IAF has <strong>Integrated Air Command and Control System (IACCS)</strong>, which integrates all ground and air sensors.</li>
<li>The IAF is taking care of Force Multipliers like <strong>Flight Refuelling Aircraft (FRA), Airborne Warning and Control System (AWACS)</strong> etc.</li>
<li>On the missile front, India has got a strategic missile segment in which the country is doing well: <strong><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/successful-test-firing-of-agni-v" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Agni 1- V</a> and the Prithvi,</strong> for the layered defense, it has got <strong>Long Range Surface to Air Missiles (<a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/important-facts-for-prelims-25th-october-2018" target="_blank" rel="noopener">LR-SAM</a>), Medium Range Surface to Air Missiles (MR-SAMs),</strong> etc. India also has <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/brahmos-tested-in-extreme-weather-conditions" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>BrahMos</strong></a>, a missile which has been indigenously manufactured.</li>
<li>India has added <strong>heavy lift helicopters like <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/important-facts-for-prelims-26th-march-2019" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Chinook</a></strong> and <strong>attack helicopters like <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/important-facts-for-prelims-13th-may-2019-" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Apache</a></strong>.</li>
<li>The IAF now also has a <strong>dedicated satellite</strong> for its operations.</li>
<li>On the infrastructure front, the IAF had a project called <strong>Modernisation of AirField Infrastructure (MAFI)</strong>. 30 of the airfields have been upgraded into all weather 24X7 flying capabilities.</li>
<li>Other initiatives include <strong>Indian (Designed, Developed and Manufactured)- IDDM</strong>, strategic partnership policy in <strong><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/indian-army-inducts-major-artillery-gun-systems" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Defence Procurement Procedure (DPP)</a></strong>, etc.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Challenges</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The immediate short term worry is <strong>shortage of fighter jets</strong> in the coming future.</li>
<li>India has a perspective plan in its place, i.e. the IAF is aware of calendar life of its aircraft but <strong>has not been able to execute it yet</strong>.</li>
<li>India has an <strong>additional challenge of talent</strong> which is needed to manufacture high tech aircraft.</li>
<li>India does not have a &lsquo;technology development roadmap for an aircraft&rsquo; i.e. there is <strong>no plan to upgrade the technology in existing aircraft timely</strong>.</li>
<li>Challenges <strong>in &lsquo;Industry or Manufacturing Aspect&rsquo;</strong> include: <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Access To Technology and Talent</li>
<li>Large Capital Expenditure (Capex) and the long gestation period required for return on investment.</li>
<li>Enabling Ecosystem</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>The greatest challenge for the country is <strong>to have indigenous inventory</strong>. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Financial burden:</strong> India is not able to bear the cost of indigenisation. For instance, Su-30 is more than 1.8 times costlier than Su-30 which can be bought directly from Russia.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>As of now, the IAF has to follow a <strong>lengthy process for procuring an equipment,</strong> which takes about 4-5 years.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) and the Private Industry</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>HAL is one of the biggest companies that India has. However, it does not have enough manufacturing orders today.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>For instance, HAL Kanpur has a large manufacturing base. It has all the requirements that any aerospace industry needs, manufacturing set up, proper infrastructure etc. but no manufacturing orders.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>The <strong>government needs to have a collaborative approach</strong> where the private industry is allowed to take available facilities, on lease.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>HAL trusts private industry as it outsourced some products of LCA Tejas to private companies and received the same timely.</li>
<li>The Ministry of Defence has also given permission to the private industry for usage of its facility whether in ordnance factories, or in public sector units.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>The government can let HAL tie up with the foreign vendor or a foreign manufacturers.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Way Forward</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>There is a <strong>need to form a National Aeronautic Commission</strong> so that the industry, armed forces, and the government can sit together to discuss related issues.</li>
<li><strong>Private companies</strong> are doing well as thus the government needs to encourage them.</li>
<li><strong>The modernisation needs to be coupled with indigenous capability.</strong> India cannot be a superpower without having the indigenous capability to manufacture and service its own fleet.</li>
<li>To cut the procurement time, the IAF should be allowed to choose what fits best for it and then the government should go for government to government deals. Also, procurement should be done timely.</li>
</ul>
<p><em>Modernisation has indeed taken place and there are several aspects that have been addressed in the recent past as well. However, India still needs to do more.</em></p>',
		'postdate' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenTime) {},
		'url' => 'https://www.drishtiias.com/loksabha-rajyasabha-discussions/the-big-picture-need-to-modernise-indian-air-force'
	],
	(int) 8 => [
		'title' => 'Indian Economy: Slowest Growth in Six Years',
		'catname' => 'News Analysis',
		'desc' => '<p>According to data released by the government, the <strong>Gross Domestic Product (GDP) grew 5%</strong> in the first quarter of the Financial Year (FY) 2019-20, significantly lower than 8% recorded in the same quarter last year.</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>It is the <strong>slowest growth in over six years</strong> since 2013.</li>
<li>It marked the <strong>fifth straight quarterly decline</strong> <strong>in growth</strong> &mdash; the <strong>first time</strong> since June 1997 that such a prolonged slump has been recorded.</li>
<li>The <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/stimulus-package-to-reverse-economic-slowdown-1" target="_blank" rel="noopener">slowdown</a> is because of a sharp <strong>deceleration in consumer demand and tepid investment</strong>.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Consumption which was the bedrock of growth in the past few years, collapsed to an 18-quarter low of <strong>3.1% from 10.6%</strong> in the March quarter of 2018-19.</li>
<li>Investments grew only <strong>4%, up from 3.6%</strong> in the previous quarter.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>This slowdown in investment and consumer demand have further derailed manufacturing, <strong>which grew just 0.6%</strong>.</li>
<li>A meagre <strong>2% rise in farm sector</strong> added to the demand slowdown.</li>
<li><a href="/loksabha-rajyasabha-discussions/the-big-picture-speed-bump-for-auto-sector" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Automobile sales,</a><strong> a barometer of the economy,</strong> have declined sharply in recent months, forcing production cuts and jobs losses.</li>
<li><strong>Weak global economy and trade tensions</strong> have kept export growth subdued.</li>
<li>According to the <strong><a href="/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-national-institutions/important-institutions-national-institution-reserve-bank-of-india" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Reserve Bank of India (RBI)</a></strong>, the <strong>slowdown is cyclical, rather than structural,</strong> which would have required deeper reforms.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The experts believe that policies such as demonetisation and Goods and Services Tax (GST) only worsened things for the informal sector which in turn gave a structural blow to aggregate demand in the economy.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>Recently, the government had already announced a <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/economic-measures-to-boost-economy" target="_blank" rel="noopener">series of measures</a> as part of its efforts to put growth back on track.</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/357image2.png" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/357image2.png" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" /></a></p>
<p><a href="https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/economic-growth-falls-to-lowest-in-over-6-years/story-Yp20948oIW6y22bjpVYqpK.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Source: HT</strong></a></p>',
		'postdate' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenTime) {},
		'url' => 'https://www.drishtiias.com/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/indian-economy-slowest-growth-in-six-years'
	],
	(int) 9 => [
		'title' => 'Australia Downgrades Great Barrier Reef to 'Very Poor' Status',
		'catname' => 'News Analysis',
		'desc' => '<p>Australia has <strong>downgraded</strong> the Great Barrier Reef's long-term outlook to <strong>"Very Poor"</strong> for the first time.</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Coral along large swathes of the 2,300-kilometre reef have been killed by rising sea temperatures linked to climate change, leaving behind skeletal remains in a process known as <a href="/to-the-points/paper3/coral-bleaching" target="_blank" rel="noopener">coral bleaching</a>.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Great Barrier Reef<img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/886image3.jpg" width="243" height="164" style="float: right;" /></h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The Great Barrier Reef is the world&rsquo;s largest coral reef system composed of over 2,900 individual reefs and 900 islands.</li>
<li>The reef is located in the Coral Sea (North-East Coast), off the coast of Queensland, Australia.</li>
<li>The Great Barrier Reef can be seen from outer space and is the world&rsquo;s biggest single structure made by living organisms.</li>
<li>This reef structure is composed of and built by billions of tiny organisms, known as <strong>coral polyps</strong>.</li>
<li>It was selected as a <strong>World Heritage Site in 1981</strong>.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Implications of &ldquo;Very Poor&rdquo; Status</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The report published by The Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority-An Australian Agency will be a major input into UNESCO&rsquo;s Committee.</li>
<li>There are high chances that Great barrier reef to be considered for &ldquo; List of World Heritage in Danger&rdquo;</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>World Heritage in Danger</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The List of World Heritage in Danger is designed to inform the international community of conditions which threaten the very characteristics for which a property was inscribed on the World Heritage List.</li>
<li>It also encourages corrective action.</li>
<li>Armed conflict and war, natural disasters, pollution, poaching, uncontrolled urbanization pose major problems to World Heritage sites.</li>
<li>Dangers can be &lsquo;ascertained&rsquo;, referring to specific and proven imminent threats, or &lsquo;potential&rsquo;, when a property is faced with threats which could have negative effects on its World Heritage values.</li>
</ul>
</div>
<p><a href="https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/international/world-news/australia-downgrades-the-outlook-for-great-barrier-reef-to-very-poor/great-barrier-reefs-long-term-outlook-downgraded/slideshow/70909493.cms" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Source: The Economic Times</strong></a></p>',
		'postdate' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenTime) {},
		'url' => 'https://www.drishtiias.com/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/australia-downgrades-great-barrier-reef-to-very-poor-status'
	],
	(int) 10 => [
		'title' => 'Amalgamation of National Banks',
		'catname' => 'News Analysis',
		'desc' => '<p>The Finance Minister has announced the biggest consolidation plan of Public sector Banks (PSBs)- merging 10 of them into just 4.</p>
<h3>New Banks After the Merger</h3>
<table border="1" style="border-collapse: collapse; width: 100%;">
<tbody>
<tr style="height: 19px;">
<td style="width: 6.18361%; text-align: center; height: 19px; background-color: #542e70;"><span style="color: #ffffff;"><strong>Sr. No.</strong></span></td>
<td style="width: 55.3205%; height: 19px; background-color: #542e70;"><span style="color: #ffffff;"><strong>Amalgamated Banks</strong></span></td>
<td style="width: 16.202%; height: 19px; background-color: #542e70;"><span style="color: #ffffff;"><strong>Anchor Banks</strong></span></td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 19px;">
<td style="width: 6.18361%; text-align: center; height: 19px; background-color: #cfbfdb;">1</td>
<td style="width: 55.3205%; height: 19px; background-color: #cfbfdb;">Punjab National Bank (PNB), Oriental Bank of Commerce (OBC), and United Bank of India</td>
<td style="width: 16.202%; height: 19px; background-color: #cfbfdb;">PNB</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 19px;">
<td style="width: 6.18361%; text-align: center; height: 19px; background-color: #cfbfdb;">2</td>
<td style="width: 55.3205%; height: 19px; background-color: #cfbfdb;">Canara Bank and Syndicate Bank</td>
<td style="width: 16.202%; height: 19px; background-color: #cfbfdb;">Canara Bank</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 19px;">
<td style="width: 6.18361%; text-align: center; height: 19px; background-color: #cfbfdb;">3</td>
<td style="width: 55.3205%; height: 19px; background-color: #cfbfdb;">Union Bank of India, Andhra Bank, and Corporation Bank</td>
<td style="width: 16.202%; height: 19px; background-color: #cfbfdb;">Union Bank of India</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 19px;">
<td style="width: 6.18361%; text-align: center; height: 19px; background-color: #cfbfdb;">4</td>
<td style="width: 55.3205%; height: 19px; background-color: #cfbfdb;">Indian Bank and Allahabad Bank</td>
<td style="width: 16.202%; height: 19px; background-color: #cfbfdb;">Indian Bank</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Now, the total number of PSBs after consolidation has come down to 12 from 27 in 2017. The <strong>earlier mergers</strong> were:
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/amalgamation-of-three-public-sector-banks" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Vijaya Bank and Dena Bank with Bank of Baroda (BoB)</a> &ndash; effective from April 01, 2019.</li>
<li>State Bank of India absorbed five of its associates and the Bharatiya Mahila Bank in 2017.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Current Scenario of PSBs</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>After entire merger exercises, the next-generation PSBs of India can now be ranked according to their business size, as follows:</li>
</ul>
<table border="1" style="border-collapse: collapse; width: 100%;">
<tbody>
<tr style="height: 19px;">
<td style="width: 6.68254%; height: 19px; text-align: center; background-color: #007ea8; border-color: #000000;"><span style="color: #ffffff;"><strong>Sr. No.</strong></span></td>
<td style="width: 18.445%; height: 19px; background-color: #007ea8; border-color: #000000;"><span style="color: #ffffff;"><strong>Bank Name</strong></span></td>
<td style="width: 13.5947%; height: 19px; background-color: #007ea8; border-color: #000000;"><span style="color: #ffffff;"><strong>PSB Rank by size</strong></span></td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 19px;">
<td style="width: 6.68254%; height: 19px; text-align: center; border-color: #000000; background-color: #d7f1fa;">1</td>
<td style="width: 18.445%; height: 19px; border-color: #000000; background-color: #d7f1fa;">State Bank of India</td>
<td style="width: 13.5947%; height: 19px; border-color: #000000; background-color: #d7f1fa;">Largest</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 19px;">
<td style="width: 6.68254%; height: 19px; text-align: center; border-color: #000000; background-color: #d7f1fa;">2</td>
<td style="width: 18.445%; height: 19px; border-color: #000000; background-color: #d7f1fa;">Punjab National Bank</td>
<td style="width: 13.5947%; height: 19px; border-color: #000000; background-color: #d7f1fa;">2nd largest</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 19px;">
<td style="width: 6.68254%; height: 19px; text-align: center; border-color: #000000; background-color: #d7f1fa;">3</td>
<td style="width: 18.445%; height: 19px; border-color: #000000; background-color: #d7f1fa;">Bank of Baroda</td>
<td style="width: 13.5947%; height: 19px; border-color: #000000; background-color: #d7f1fa;">3rd largest</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 19px;">
<td style="width: 6.68254%; height: 19px; text-align: center; border-color: #000000; background-color: #d7f1fa;">4</td>
<td style="width: 18.445%; height: 19px; border-color: #000000; background-color: #d7f1fa;">Canara Bank</td>
<td style="width: 13.5947%; height: 19px; border-color: #000000; background-color: #d7f1fa;">4th largest</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 19px;">
<td style="width: 6.68254%; height: 19px; text-align: center; border-color: #000000; background-color: #d7f1fa;">5</td>
<td style="width: 18.445%; height: 19px; border-color: #000000; background-color: #d7f1fa;">Union Bank of India</td>
<td style="width: 13.5947%; height: 19px; border-color: #000000; background-color: #d7f1fa;">5th largest</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 19px;">
<td style="width: 6.68254%; height: 19px; text-align: center; border-color: #000000; background-color: #d7f1fa;">6</td>
<td style="width: 18.445%; height: 19px; border-color: #000000; background-color: #d7f1fa;">Bank of India</td>
<td style="width: 13.5947%; height: 19px; border-color: #000000; background-color: #d7f1fa;">6th largest</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 19px;">
<td style="width: 6.68254%; height: 19px; text-align: center; border-color: #000000; background-color: #d7f1fa;">7</td>
<td style="width: 18.445%; height: 19px; border-color: #000000; background-color: #d7f1fa;">Indian Bank</td>
<td style="width: 13.5947%; height: 19px; border-color: #000000; background-color: #d7f1fa;">7th largest</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 19px;">
<td style="width: 6.68254%; height: 19px; text-align: center; border-color: #000000; background-color: #d7f1fa;">8</td>
<td style="width: 18.445%; height: 19px; border-color: #000000; background-color: #d7f1fa;">Central Bank of India</td>
<td style="width: 13.5947%; height: 19px; border-color: #000000; background-color: #d7f1fa;">8th largest</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 19px;">
<td style="width: 6.68254%; height: 19px; text-align: center; border-color: #000000; background-color: #d7f1fa;">9</td>
<td style="width: 18.445%; height: 19px; border-color: #000000; background-color: #d7f1fa;">Indian Overseas Bank</td>
<td style="width: 13.5947%; height: 19px; border-color: #000000; background-color: #d7f1fa;">9th largest</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 19px;">
<td style="width: 6.68254%; height: 19px; text-align: center; border-color: #000000; background-color: #d7f1fa;">10</td>
<td style="width: 18.445%; height: 19px; border-color: #000000; background-color: #d7f1fa;">UCO Bank</td>
<td style="width: 13.5947%; height: 19px; border-color: #000000; background-color: #d7f1fa;">10th largest</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 19px;">
<td style="width: 6.68254%; height: 19px; text-align: center; border-color: #000000; background-color: #d7f1fa;">11</td>
<td style="width: 18.445%; height: 19px; border-color: #000000; background-color: #d7f1fa;">Bank of Maharashtra</td>
<td style="width: 13.5947%; height: 19px; border-color: #000000; background-color: #d7f1fa;">11th largest</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 19px;">
<td style="width: 6.68254%; height: 19px; text-align: center; border-color: #000000; background-color: #d7f1fa;">12</td>
<td style="width: 18.445%; height: 19px; border-color: #000000; background-color: #d7f1fa;">Punjab &amp; Sind Bank</td>
<td style="width: 13.5947%; height: 19px; border-color: #000000; background-color: #d7f1fa;">12th largest</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<h3>Benefits of Merger</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Competetive:</strong> The consolidation of PSBs helps in <strong>strengthening its presence globally, nationally and regionally</strong>.<a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/335pib%20infograph.jpg" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/335pib infograph.jpg" width="447" height="316" style="float: right;" /></a></li>
<li><strong>Capital and Governance:</strong> The government's intention is not just to give capital but also give good governance. Hence, post-consolidation, boards will be given the <strong>flexibility to introduce the chief general manager level</strong> as per business needs. They will also recruit chief risk officer at market-linked compensation to attract the best talent.</li>
<li><strong>Efficiency:</strong> It has the potential to reduce operational costs due to the presence of shared overlapping networks. And this enhanced operational efficiency will reduce the lending costs of the banks.</li>
<li><strong>Technological Synergy:</strong> All merged banks in a particular bucket share common<strong> Core Banking Solutions (CBS)</strong> platform synergizing them technologically.</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Core Banking Solutions</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Core Banking Solutions (CBS)</strong> can be defined as a solution that enables banks to offer a multitude of customer-centric services on a 24x7 basis from a single location, supporting retail as well as corporate banking activities.</li>
<li>The centralisation thus makes a <strong>&ldquo;one-stop&rdquo; shop for financial services</strong> a reality. Using CBS, customers can access their accounts from any branch, anywhere, irrespective of where they have physically opened their accounts. The customer is no more the customer of a Branch. He becomes the Bank&rsquo;s Customer.</li>
</ul>
</div>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Self-Sufficiency:</strong> Larger banks have a better ability to raise resources from the market rather than relying on State exchequer.</li>
<li><strong>Recovery:</strong> The loan tracking mechanism in PSU banks is being improved for the benefit of customers.</li>
<li><strong>Monitoring:</strong> With the number of PSBs coming down after the process of merger &ndash; <strong>capital allocation, performance milestones, and monitoring would become easier</strong> for the government.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Challenges</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Decision Making:</strong> The banks that are getting merged are expected to see a <strong>slowdown in decision making</strong> at the top level as senior officials of such banks would put all the decisions on the back-burner and it will lead to a drop in credit delivery in the system.</li>
<li><strong>Geographical Synergy:</strong> During the process of merger, the <strong>geographical synergy</strong> between the merged banks is <strong>somewhat missing</strong>. In three of the four merger cases, the merged banks serve only one specific region of the country.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>However, the merger of <strong>Allahabad Bank (having a presence in East &amp; North region) with the Indian Bank (having a presence in South)</strong> increases its geographical spread.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Slowdown in Economy:</strong> The move is a good one but the timings are not just apt. There is <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/domestic-demand-and-economy-s-animal-spirits" target="_blank" rel="noopener">already a slowdown in the economy</a>, and <strong>private consumption and investments are on a declining trend</strong>. Hence, there is a need to lift the economy and increase the credit flow in the short-term, &amp; this decision will block that credit in the short-term.</li>
<li><strong>Weak Banks:</strong> A complex merger with a weaker and under-capitalized PSB would stall the bank&rsquo;s recovery efforts as <a href="/to-the-points/paper3/merger-of-psbs" target="_blank" rel="noopener">the weaknesses of one bank may get transferred </a>and the merged entity may become weak.</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="https://pib.gov.in/PressReleseDetailm.aspx?PRID=1583661" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Source: PIB </strong></a></p>',
		'postdate' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenTime) {},
		'url' => 'https://www.drishtiias.com/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/amalgamation-of-national-banks'
	],
	(int) 11 => [
		'title' => '‘Mauritius Leaks’ and Need for Tax Reforms',
		'catname' => 'News Editorials',
		'desc' => '<div class="border">
<p>The article is based on <a href="https://www.thehindubusinessline.com/opinion/mauritius-leaks-and-need-for-tax-reforms/article29297032.ece" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Mauritius leaks and need for tax reforms</strong></a> that was published in The Hindu BusinessLine on 30<sup>th</sup> August. It talks about the Mauritius Leaks and the need for strengthening tax treaty to avoid tax evasion.</p>
</div>
<h3>Context</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>In July 2019, the <strong>International Consortium of International Journalists</strong> published over 200,000 confidential documents from the offices of Conyers Dill &amp; Pearman, a Bermuda-based law firm that allegedly aids large Western businesses to set up <strong>letterbox companies</strong> in Mauritius aimed at making <strong>tax-motivated investments</strong> in Africa and Asia.</li>
<li><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/mauritius-leaks" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>The leak</strong></a> has reignited the debate on <strong>multinational tax avoidance</strong> and how businesses use tax-friendly jurisdictions to channel funds from one country to another in order to minimise their overall corporate tax liability.</li>
<li>The &lsquo;Mauritius Leaks&rsquo; comprise names of some of the most popular brands in India and globally.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Concerns regarding India-Mauritius Tax Treaty</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The <strong>India-Mauritius tax treaty</strong> has been a subject matter of controversy and debate ever since it was signed over 30 years ago.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Before 2017, <strong>Article 13(4) of the tax treaty exempted</strong> <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/capital-gain-tax" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>capital gains</strong></a> arising from sale of shares in an Indian company at the hands of Mauritian residents.</li>
<li>And the effective capital gains tax rate in Mauritius was zero percent, which is why a majority of the largest foreign incorporated corporations that invested in India over the last decade did so through Mauritius.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>The <strong>capital gains exemption in the treaty was plugged in 2017 by amending Double Taxation Avoidance Agreement (DTAA) with Mauritius,</strong> paving the way for India to levy capital gains tax involving sale of shares in an Indian company.</li>
<li>However, till date, <strong>the tax treaty does not contain a general anti-abuse clause</strong> to tackle round tripping of funds or treaty-shopping arrangements.</li>
<li>While India&rsquo;s tax treaty with Mauritius contains provisions for <strong>exchange of tax information,</strong> any information requested has to be &ldquo;foreseeably relevant&rdquo; for giving effect to the tax treaty or the Income Tax Act.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>In the absence of extensive, worldwide information-sharing network, wealth is usually not repatriated to India where it belongs, but shifted to new, non-collaborating secrecy jurisdictions.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>OECD framework on Base Erosion and Profit Shifting</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>As part of the <strong>base erosion and profit shifting (BEPS)</strong> project, the OECD recommended that countries adopt a <strong>principal purpose test</strong> in their tax treaties to deny inappropriate treaty benefits.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Under the principal purpose test, the tax authority may deny tax benefits if obtaining a tax benefit was &ldquo;one of the principal purposes&rdquo; of a tax arrangement.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>Both India and Mauritius have signed the <strong>OECD&rsquo;s Multilateral Instrument (MLI)</strong> designed to implement some of the BEPS recommendations.</li>
<li>However, Mauritius has conveniently kept India outside the network of tax treaties that are covered under the MLI by keeping the bilateral treaty with India outside the scope of the multilateral deal.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Renegotiating India-Mauritius Tax Treaty</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>It is vital for India to put pressure on Mauritius and <strong>renegotiate its tax treaty to include a principal purpose test</strong> to deny tax arrangements that do not have any genuine commercial substance and are primarily meant to obtain a treaty benefit.</li>
<li>In the absence of such a provision, Indian courts, who are bound by the principle of <em><strong>pacta sunt servanda</strong></em> (agreements must be kept), would be hesitant to endorse claims of treaty abuse.</li>
<li>Some of these arrangements would get captured under the newly incorporated <strong>general anti-avoidance rule (GAAR)</strong> in the Income Tax Act.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>However, India&rsquo;s domestic GAAR is narrower that the OECD-recommended &ldquo;principal purpose test&rdquo; as GAAR uses the &ldquo;main purpose&rdquo; test.</li>
<li>The safeguards available under the Income Tax Act before invoking GAAR are not available in case of the principal purpose test.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Way Forward: Strengthening India&rsquo;s Tax Administration</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Supplement India&rsquo;s domestic GAAR regime with a mandatory tax disclosure regime for tax advisers such as accounting firms, law firms, banks who assist businesses in aggressive international tax avoidance.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Countries such as the United Kingdom, South Africa, Canada, among others, already have in place detailed tax disclosure rules for tax advisers.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>It is necessary for India to mull over a range of policy options to target corporate tax avoidance and allocate separate funds for addressing challenges faced by tax officers in enforcing anti-abuse rules.</li>
<li>It is important to cooperate under the aegis of the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development and the United Nations to develop global jurisprudence to counter base erosion and profit shifting.</li>
<li>Companies registered in Mauritius are the <strong>largest source of foreign direct investment (FDI) into India,</strong> making it crucial for India to <strong>upgrade its bilateral tax treaty,</strong> adopting the latest international practices that prevent multinational companies from artificially shifting profits to low tax countries.</li>
</ul>
<table border="1" style="border-collapse: collapse; width: 100%;">
<tbody>
<tr>
<td style="width: 100%; border-style: dotted; border-color: #ff0000; background-color: #faf7de;"><span style="color: #0000ff;"><em><strong>Drishti Input</strong></em></span><br /><br />&ldquo;Critically analyse the India-Mauritius Bilateral Tax treaty and its role in avoiding tax evasion and profit shifting by Multinational Corporations in the backdrop of recent Mauritius leaks.&rdquo;</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>',
		'postdate' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenTime) {},
		'url' => 'https://www.drishtiias.com/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/mauritius-leaks-and-need-for-tax-reforms'
	],
	(int) 12 => [
		'title' => 'Rise of Regional Parties In India',
		'catname' => 'Paper 2',
		'desc' => '<p>In a democracy, political parties provide an agency to the society to gather different views on various issues and to present these to the government. They bring various representatives together so that a responsible government could be formed. They provide a mechanism to support or restrain the government, make policies, justify or oppose them. <strong>India has a multi-party system.</strong></p>
<h3>Political Parties in India</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Every political party in India has to register with the <a href="/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-national-institutions/election-commission-of-india" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Election Commission.</strong></a></li>
<li>The Election Commission registers political parties for the purpose of elections and grants them <strong>recognition as national or state parties</strong> on the basis of their poll performance</li>
<li><strong>Recognised Parties:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Are given a unique symbol &ndash; only the official candidates of that party can use that election symbol</li>
<li><strong>National Parties:</strong> A party that secures at least 6% of the total votes in Lok Sabha elections or Assembly elections in four States and wins at least four seats in the Lok Sabha is recognised as a national party.</li>
<li><strong>State Parties:</strong> A party that secures at least 6% of the total votes in an election to the Legislative Assembly of a State and wins at least two seats is recognised as a State party.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>According to the <strong>Election Commission of India,</strong> there are <strong>over 2000 political parties in India, which include eight "recognized national" and more than 50 "recognized state"</strong> parties.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Regional Parties in India</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Other than the <strong>8 national parties-</strong> Indian National Congress, Bharatiya Janata Party, Nationalist Congress Party, Communist Parties, Bahujan Samaj Party, Rashtriya Janata Dal, All India Trinamool Congress and National People's Party; most of the major parties of the country are classified by the Election Commission as <strong>&lsquo;State parties&rsquo;. These are commonly referred to as regional parties.</strong></li>
<li>Yet these parties need not be regional in their ideology or outlook. Some of these parties are all India parties that happen to have succeeded only in some states .</li>
<li>The presence of a number of <strong>ethnic, cultural, linguistic, religious and caste groups</strong> within the Indian society is greatly responsible for the origin and growth of regional parties.</li>
<li>In India regional parties are based on themes like&ndash; <strong>Identity, Statehood, Autonomy and Development etc.</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Autonomy</strong> consists of demanding greater powers to the states (like the National Conference in Jammu and Kashmir).</li>
<li><strong>Statehood</strong> consists of fighting for an independent state within the country (like the Telangana Rastra Samiti demanded a separate state of Telangana).</li>
<li><strong>Identity</strong> consists of fighting for recognition of cultural rights of a group (like the Shiv Sena in Maharashtra or the DMK fighting for the identity of the Dalits).</li>
<li><strong>Development</strong> consists of regional parties believing that only they can bring development to the people of a particular region.</li>
<li>Sometimes regional parties create these <strong>&lsquo;cultural specificities&rsquo;</strong> for <strong>electoral gains.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Evolution of Regional Party</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Over the last four decades, the number and strength of regional parties has expanded.</li>
<li>This has made the Parliament of India <strong>politically more diverse.</strong> Regional political parties have emerged to <strong>fulfill regional aspirations.</strong></li>
<li>No one national party is able to secure on its own a majority in Lok Sabha. As a result, the national parties are compelled to form alliances with State parties. The regional political parties started playing a crucial role in coalition politics since 1989.</li>
<li>It is because of the regional political parties that our <strong>party-system has been federalized.</strong> The Centre has begun to address their problems and respond their aspirations through accommodation.</li>
<li>The evolving nature of our party system has <strong>strengthened the cooperative trends of our federal system.</strong></li>
</ul>
<h3>Various Stages of Indian Party System</h3>
<p><strong>1952-64 :The Nehruvian era of national consensus</strong></p>
<p><strong>The Congress Party was the dominant party</strong> and Indian democracy was essentially a <strong>one party system</strong> also <strong>termed as &lsquo;Congress system&rsquo;.</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Congress evolved as the party that was like a <strong>big umbrella</strong> under which all communities and interests and ideologies sought and got a place.</li>
<li>There were <strong>many small parties competing with the Congress</strong> but they acted mainly <strong>as a kind of pressure groups.</strong></li>
</ul>
<p><strong>1964-77: An Uneasy Transition</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>With the <strong>death of Jawahar Lal Nehru,</strong> and <strong>1967 elections</strong> posed challenge to dominance of the congress system. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The Congress <strong>failed to secure majorities in eight states</strong> and its majority in the Lok Sabha was reduced to very narrow 54% of the seats.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Regional parties started growing all over the country.</strong></li>
<li>The dismal performance of the Congress led to a series of <strong>power struggles with in congress.</strong></li>
<li>Ultimately, the party was split in 1969 and Indira Gandhi&rsquo;s supremacy was established both in the party and the government.</li>
<li>However, some leaders like Morarji Desai in Gujarat and JP (Jaiprakash Narain) in Bihar carried out a <strong>successful movement against Congress</strong> corruption and arbitrary rule.</li>
<li>Their movement peaked in 1975 when <strong>Indira Gandhi for the first and only time in Indian history decided to impose in Internal emergency.</strong></li>
</ul>
<p><strong>1977-80: A Period of a New Consensus and Increasing Inter-Party Conflict</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>New coalition emerged led by <strong>Janata Party</strong> in 1977.</li>
<li>This led to <strong>Emergence of a Multi-Party System in India.</strong></li>
<li>Many <strong>smaller parties</strong> had come together to fight the Congress dominance rather than any ideological consensus.</li>
<li>But, the lack of ideologically coherent policy led to <strong>fall of Janata party</strong> and congress gained rise of power in 1980.</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>1980-89: Tussle between the Congress at the centre and the newly emerged regional parties at the state level</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Frivolous use of <strong>President's rule under Article 356.</strong></li>
<li>However, the regional parties got strengthened and started playing a more assertive role in centre politics.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>In the eighth Lok Sabha Elections (1984), <strong>the Telugu Desam</strong>, a regional party of Andhra Pradesh, <strong>emerged as the main opposition party.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>1989 to 2014: Multi-party system and Coalition politics</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The death of Rajiv Gandhi, corruption cases (Bofors scandal), economic crisis, all set the tone for an <strong>era of coalitions</strong> that has lasted for almost <strong>twenty five years</strong> of coalition governments.</li>
<li>The <strong>modern era of coalition politics</strong> has come into being as a consequence of the <strong>development of the multi-party system.</strong></li>
<li>However,this period is marred by <strong>compulsions of coalition.</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Growth of Regional Parties also lead to<strong> &lsquo;rainbow&rsquo; coalitions,</strong> so called because like the rainbow, they last only a short time. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li><strong>The period of 1996 &ndash; 1999 had 3 general elections, which cost a lot of public money.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Policy paralysis</strong> and delay in decision making and bills all result from coalitions.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>In times of emergency, coalition coordination can lead to <strong>unacceptable delays.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>Coalition government can <strong>obstruct the process of decision making</strong> and the conduct of decision implementation.</li>
<li>Coalition government has turned politics of north India into one of <strong>competition for vote banks</strong> based on caste and community etc.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>On the contrary,</strong> during times of coalitions, regional parties served as a <strong>moderating force upon exclusionary national parties.</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Regional parties fill a vacuum for <strong>protecting minorities.</strong></li>
<li>The coalition politics has led to empowerment for regional parties from the states and has added to India&rsquo;s search for<strong> true federalism.</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Thus, it paves the way for a kind of <strong>&lsquo;electoral federalism&rsquo;.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>Since 1996, twenty three regional parties have been sharing power at the national level. there is a strong sense of Indianness, or what is called a <strong>federal unifier.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>2014 to now: Resurgence of One-party System?</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Two general elections 2014 and 2019, saw a single party (BJP) on its own getting the full majority, <strong>breaking the 25 years of compulsions of coalition politics.</strong></li>
<li>However the Government is still formed out of alliance of many political parties.</li>
<li>But the outlook of regional parties, now appears to be changing from <strong>conflictual orientation to a tendency of co-operative bargaining</strong> in respect of Centre-state relations.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Now the<strong> financial problems</strong> in the Centre-State relations are the main focus of attention.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>Today, the regional parties have provided <strong>a new dimension to the process of national integration and nation building</strong></li>
</ul>
<p>The regional parties have made a strong impact on the nature of Centre-State relations in India. They are a natural <strong>consequence of a democratic system</strong> based on adult franchise in multi-ethnic, multi-racial, multi-religious and multi-linguistic societies like India. <strong>Thus, their growth is in synergy with entire spirit of democracy.</strong></p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><a href="/mind-map/gs-paper2/rise-of-regional-parties-in-india-1" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><em>For Mind Map</em></a></p>',
		'postdate' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenTime) {},
		'url' => 'https://www.drishtiias.com/to-the-points/Paper2/rise-of-regional-parties-in-india'
	],
	(int) 13 => [
		'title' => '50th Foundation Day of Bureau of Police Research and Development',
		'catname' => 'News Analysis',
		'desc' => '<p>On occasion of 50<sup>th</sup> foundation day of BPR&amp;D, the Home Minister <strong>stressed upon modernising the police department</strong> and urged the security personnel to carry out their duties with responsibility.</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The Home Minister also made following announcements:<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Police University and Forensic Science University</strong> will be set up at the national level.</li>
<li><strong>Correctional Administration</strong> and Prison Reforms should adopt reformative approach and become centres of rehabilitation.</li>
<li>Indian Penal Code (IPC) and the Criminal Procedure Code (CrPC) require a <strong>complete review</strong> and changes in keeping with the present day requirements.</li>
<li>Need to strengthen the <strong>human intelligence (Khabri System)</strong> at the &ldquo;Thana&rdquo; level.</li>
<li>The police machinery should give away third degree methods and <strong>adopt scientific investigation.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Bureau of Police Research and Development (BPR&amp;D)</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The Government of India established the Bureau of Police Research and Development (BPR&amp;D), under the <strong>Ministry of Home Affairs in 1970s.</strong></li>
<li>It replaced <strong>Police Research and Advisory Council (1966),</strong> with the primary objective of modernization of police force.</li>
<li>In 1995 Government of India decided to entrust issues relating to Correctional Administration Work to the BPR&amp;D.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Thereby BPR&amp;D has to ensure the implementation of prison reforms as well.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>The Government of India further decided to create <strong>National Police Mission</strong> under the administrative control of BPR&amp;D to transform the police forces in the country.</li>
</ul>
</div>
<p><strong><a href="https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/age-of-third-degree-over-amit-shah-tells-police/article29277519.ece" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Source:TH</a></strong></p>',
		'postdate' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenTime) {},
		'url' => 'https://www.drishtiias.com/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/50th-foundation-day-of-bureau-of-police-research-and-development'
	],
	(int) 14 => [
		'title' => 'Electromagnetic Interference, Compatibility and Pulse',
		'catname' => 'News Analysis',
		'desc' => '<p>The Society for Applied Microwave Electronics Engineering and Research (SAMEER) with its vast experience in the areas of Electromagnetic Interference, Compatibility and Pulse (EMI/EMC/EMP) can help Defence Services, academic institutions, public and private industries to evolve better.</p>
<h3>Electromagnetic Pulse (EMP)</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>It is a <strong>short burst of electromagnetic energy.</strong></li>
<li>A pulse's origin may be a natural or man-made in occurrence.</li>
<li>It has the potential to disrupt, degrade, and damage technology and critical infrastructure systems.</li>
<li>At higher energy levels a powerful EMP event such as a lightning strike can damage physical objects such as buildings and aircraft structures.</li>
<li>It can also affect large geographic areas, disrupting elements critical to the nation&rsquo;s security and economic prosperity and could adversely affect global commerce and stability</li>
<li>In a world ridden with conflicts, electromagnetism can be <strong>misused and weaponised.</strong></li>
<li><strong>Smart cities</strong> which are run on Information and Communication Technologies are also <strong>extremely vulnerable to EMP.</strong></li>
<li>It could also directly or indirectly permeate the <strong>national security establishment,</strong> including the <strong>military and intelligence community,</strong> undermining their ability to respond to the national command authority and provide for the country&rsquo;s security.</li>
<li>To avert threats like <strong>Electromagnetic Pulse (EMP) attacks,</strong> developing <strong>futuristic defence mechanisms</strong> and <strong>creation of EMP- resistant infrastructure</strong> is necessary.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Electromagnetic Interference (EMI)</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>When the radio frequency spectrum is disturbed by an external source it affects an electrical circuit by electromagnetic induction,it is called as Electromagnetic Interference.</li>
<li>The disturbance may degrade the performance of the circuit or even stop it from functioning.</li>
<li>Both <strong>man-made and natural sources can be generated by changing electrical currents and voltages</strong> which can create EMI.</li>
<li>It <strong>can be used intentionally for radio jamming</strong> especially in electronic warfare.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Electromagnetic Compatibility (EMC)</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>It is the <strong>ability of electrical equipment and systems to function acceptably in their electromagnetic environment.</strong></li>
<li>It works by limiting the unintentional generation, propagation and reception of electromagnetic energy which may cause unwanted effects such as electromagnetic interference (EMI) or even physical damage in operational equipment.</li>
<li>The goal of EMC is <strong>to maintain regular operation of different equipment in a common electromagnetic environment.</strong></li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>The Society for Applied Microwave Electronics Engineering and Research (SAMEER)</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>It was set up as an autonomous R &amp; D laboratory under the then Department of Electronics, Government of India.</li>
<li>It aims to undertake R &amp; D work in the areas of Microwave Engineering and Electromagnetic Engineering Technology.</li>
<li>It has R&amp;D centres at Mumbai,Chennai and Kolkata.</li>
<li>It has developed:<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>India's first MST Radar which is also the 2nd largest in the world.</li>
<li>India's first indigenously developed Linear Accelerator for Cancer treatment.</li>
<li>Energy efficient Drying/Heating System for textile, Food, Ceramic, Chemical, Pharma, Rubber applications through RF/Microwave.</li>
<li>Microwave dis-infection system for hazardous hospital waste.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</div>
<p><a href="https://pib.gov.in/PressReleaseIframePage.aspx?PRID=1583410" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Source: PIB</strong></a></p>',
		'postdate' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenTime) {},
		'url' => 'https://www.drishtiias.com/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/electromagnetic-interference-compatibility-and-pulse'
	],
	(int) 15 => [
		'title' => 'SKOCH Governance Gold Award for DAY-NULM',
		'catname' => 'News Analysis',
		'desc' => '<p>The Deendayal Antyodaya Yojana-National Urban Livelihoods Mission (DAY-NULM) has been conferred the prestigious <strong>SKOCH Governance Gold Award</strong> for its <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/important-facts-for-prelims-27th-november-2018" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Portal for Affordable Credit and Interest Subvention Access (PAiSA).</strong></a></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>DAY-NULM is a flagship mission under the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Deendayal Antyodaya Yojana-National Urban Livelihoods Mission (DAY-NULM)</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The mission was<strong> launched in 2014</strong>&nbsp;and is being implemented by the<strong> Urban&nbsp;Ministry of Housing &amp; Poverty Alleviation.</strong></li>
<li>It aims to uplift urban poor by enhancing sustainable livelihood opportunities through skill development.</li>
<li>It is <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/proposal-to-hike-monthly-pensions" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Centrally Sponsored Scheme.</strong></a><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Funding will be shared between the <strong>Centre and the States in the ratio of 75:25</strong>. For <strong>North Eastern and Special Category</strong> &ndash; the <strong>ratio will be 90:10.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>Its intended beneficiaries are <strong>urban poor</strong> <strong>(street vendors, slum dwellers, homeless, rag pickers),</strong>&nbsp;<strong>unemployed and differently-abled.</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Skill Training and Employment:&nbsp;</strong>It provides for the development of <strong>vendor markets and also the promotion of skills</strong> for vendors through setting up infrastructure and special projects for rag picker and differently-abled, etc.
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>It provides for employment through <strong>Skill Training and Placement through City Livelihood Centres</strong> to reduce poverty and vulnerability.</li>
<li>It also provides subsidy to urban poor i.e. <strong>interest subsidy of 5% &ndash; 7% for setting up individual micro-enterprises</strong> with the loan of up to 2 lakhs and for group enterprises with a loan limit of up to Rs.10 lakhs.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Self-Help Groups:&nbsp;</strong>It also provides social mobilization and institution development through the formation of <a href="/mind-map/gs-paper2/self-help-groups-shgs-mind-map" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Self-Help Groups (SHG)</strong></a> for training members and hand holding, initial support of 10, 000 is given for each group.</li>
<li><strong>Shelters:&nbsp;</strong>It fully funds the cost of <strong>construction of shelters for the urban homeless.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li style="list-style-type: none;"></li>
</ul>
<h3>Portal for Affordable Credit and Interest Subvention Access (PAiSA).</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>It is a centralized IT platform which simplifies and streamlines the release of<strong> interest subvention under the DAY-NULM.</strong></li>
<li>It offers end to end online solution for processing, payment, monitoring and tracking of interest subvention claims from banks on a monthly basis.</li>
<li>The portal has been designed and developed through the<strong> Allahabad Bank.</strong></li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>SKOCH Awards</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>It was <strong>instituted in 2003</strong> and recognises people, projects and institutions that go the extra mile to make India a better nation.</li>
<li>It recognises the best of efforts in the area of digital, financial and social inclusion, governance, inclusive growth, excellence in technology and applications, change management, corporate leadership, corporate governance, citizen service delivery, capacity building and empowerment.</li>
</ul>
</div>
<p><a href="https://pib.gov.in/newsite/PrintRelease.aspx?relid=192886" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Source:PIB</strong></a></p>',
		'postdate' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenTime) {},
		'url' => 'https://www.drishtiias.com/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/skoch-governance-gold-award-for-day-nulm'
	],
	(int) 16 => [
		'title' => 'Domestic Demand and Economy’s Animal Spirits',
		'catname' => 'News Analysis',
		'desc' => '<p>The <a href="/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-national-institutions/important-institutions-national-institution-reserve-bank-of-india" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Reserve Bank of India&rsquo;s (RBI)</strong></a> annual report for the year 2018-19 has stated that the low domestic demand is holding back the animal spirits of the economy.</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>The 'animal spirit'</strong> is a term coined by the famous British economist,<strong> John Maynard Keynes,</strong> to describe how people arrive at financial decisions, including buying and selling securities, in times of economic stress or uncertainty.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Insights from the Report</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The report emphasized the need for the <strong>revival of consumption</strong> and <strong>investment</strong> pattern in the economy during 2019-20.</li>
<li>It claimed that the slowdown could be <strong>cyclical</strong> in nature rather than a deep structural one. But there are some crucial <strong>structural issues in land, labour, &amp; agricultural marketing</strong> that require urgent reforms.</li>
<li>Banks are recovering, but <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/shadow-banking-and-the-crisis-in-the-indian-economy" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Non-banking financial companies (NBFCs)</strong></a> have irrational exuberance and considerable overleveraging.</li>
<li>Cases of frauds reported by banks saw a 15% jump in 2018-19 on a year-on-year basis.</li>
</ul>
<h3>State of the Economy</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>There is a broad-based <strong>cyclical downturn</strong> in several sectors of the economy like, manufacturing, hotels, trade, transport, communication and broadcasting, construction, and agriculture, which <strong>need urgent structural reforms.</strong></li>
<li><strong>Farm sector</strong> also requires crucial intense reforms such as reforms in cold storage facilities and the market mechanism, in order to <a href="/summary-of-important-reports/strategy-for-new-india-at-75" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>double the farmer&rsquo;s income by 2022.</strong></a></li>
<li>The <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/Investment-deficiency-in-india-and-its-implications" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>investment rate</strong></a> (measured by the ratio of gross capital formation to GDP) had <strong>fallen</strong> to 32.3% in 2017-18, which is a cause of worry and needs grave attention.</li>
<li>The <strong>Gross <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/solving-the-npa-crisis-in-india" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Non-Performing Assets</a> (GNPA)</strong> ratio of the banking system declined to 9.1% in March this year from 11.2% in the previous year, which is a healthy sign for the financial system.</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Gross Non-Performing Assets</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>An asset, including a leased asset, becomes non-performing when it ceases to generate income for the bank. A Non-Performing Asset (NPA) is a loan for which the principal or interest payment remained overdue for a period of 90 days.</li>
<li>Gross NPA is the <strong>summation of all loan assets that are classified as NPA</strong> as per RBI guidelines. When the NPA occurs, it is not just an interest income loss to the bank, but a principal loss as well.</li>
<li>Banks are required to classify NPAs further into<strong> Substandard, Doubtful and Loss assets.</strong>
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Substandard Assets:&nbsp;</strong>A substandard asset would be one, which has remained NPA for a <strong>period less than or equal to 12 months</strong>. Such an asset will have well-defined credit weaknesses that jeopardize the liquidation of the debt and are characterised by the distinct possibility that the banks will sustain some loss if deficiencies are not corrected.</li>
<li><strong>Doubtful Asset:&nbsp;</strong>An asset would be classified as doubtful if it has remained in the <strong>substandard category for a period of 12 months.</strong> A loan classified as doubtful has all the weaknesses inherent in assets that were classified as substandard, with the added characteristic that the weaknesses make collection or liquidation in full, - on the basis of currently known facts, conditions and values - <strong>highly questionable and improbable.</strong></li>
<li><strong>Loss Asset:&nbsp;</strong>A loss asset is one where loss has been identified by the bank or internal or external auditors or the RBI inspection but the amount has not been written off wholly. In other words, such an asset is considered uncollectible and of <strong>such little value that its continuance as a bankable asset is not warranted although there may be some salvage or recovery value.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</div>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Banks are <strong>staging recovery</strong> because of several reforms initiated in the past such as, <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/status-paper-on-government-debt" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Recapitalization</strong></a>, &amp; <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/insolvency-and-bankruptcy-code-second%20amendment-bill-2018" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code (IBC).</strong></a></li>
<li>In 2018-19, retail electronic payment transactions increased by 59% to Rs 23.3 billion from Rs 14.6 billion in the previous year, resulting in an <strong>increase in the share of electronic transactions</strong> in the volume of retail payments.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Required Reforms</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Reviving <strong>consumption demand</strong> and <strong>private investment</strong> is the need of the hour. It may involve:</li>
<li>Strengthening the banking and non-banking sectors,</li>
<li>Increased spending on infrastructure,</li>
<li>Implementation of much <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/stimulus-package-to-reverse-economic-slowdown-1" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>needed structural reforms</strong></a> in the areas of labour laws &amp; taxation.</li>
<li>Other legal reforms, which will enhance the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/world-banks-ease-of-doing-business-report-2019" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Ease of Doing Business</strong></a> in India.</li>
<li>Faster implementation of capital expenditures by public authorities and <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/economic-measures-to-boost-economy" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>similar other measures as announced by the Finance Ministry</strong></a> recently in this regard have the potential to inject growth impulses into the economy.</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="https://www.thehindu.com/business/Economy/rbi-says-lack-of-domestic-demand-affecting-animal-spirits-of-economy/article29289701.ece" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Source: TH</strong></a></p>',
		'postdate' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenTime) {},
		'url' => 'https://www.drishtiias.com/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/domestic-demand-and-economy-s-animal-spirits'
	],
	(int) 17 => [
		'title' => 'Two New Species of Eels',
		'catname' => 'News Analysis',
		'desc' => '<p>Recently, two new species of Marine Eels have been discovered by Estuarine Biology Regional Centre (EBRC) of the <strong>Zoological Survey of India (ZSI).</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>One of them, a short brown un-patterned Moray Eel, named <strong>Gymnothorax andamanensesis,</strong> is found near the south Andaman coast.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>10 species of short brown unpatterned moray eels have been discovered in the world, out of which<strong> two were found in Indian waters.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>Another is a new white-spotted Moray Eel, now named <strong>Gymnothorax smithi.</strong></li>
</ul>
<h3>Moray Eels</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Moray Eels occur in <strong>all tropical and subtropical seas,</strong> they live in shallow water among reefs and rocks.</li>
<li>They are known for <strong>two types of jaws:</strong> one is regular (oral) jaws with big teeth and the second jaw is called the pharyngeal jaw (which drags prey inside the eels stomach).</li>
<li>There <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/iucn-red-list" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>IUCN red list</strong></a> status is <strong>Least Concern.</strong></li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Zoological Survey of India</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The Zoological Survey of India (ZSI), a subordinate organization of the <strong>Ministry of Environment and Forests</strong> was <strong>established in 1916.</strong></li>
<li>It is a national centre for <strong>faunistic survey</strong> and exploration of the resources leading to the <strong>advancement of knowledge</strong> on the exceptionally<strong> rich faunal diversity of the country.</strong></li>
<li>It has its headquarters at <strong>Kolkata</strong> and 16 regional stations located in different geographic locations of the country.</li>
</ul>
</div>
<p><a href="https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/other-states/two-new-species-of-eels-discovered/article29292101.ece" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Source: TH</strong></a></p>',
		'postdate' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenTime) {},
		'url' => 'https://www.drishtiias.com/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/two-new-species-of-eels'
	],
	(int) 18 => [
		'title' => 'Rise of Regional Parties in India',
		'catname' => 'Paper 2',
		'desc' => '<p><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1568012445_Rise of Regional Parties in India (Mind Map).png" width="432" height="1114" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" /></p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><a href="/to-the-points/Paper2/rise-of-regional-parties-in-india" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><em>For TTP</em></a></p>',
		'postdate' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenTime) {},
		'url' => 'https://www.drishtiias.com/mind-map/gs-paper2/rise-of-regional-parties-in-india-1'
	],
	(int) 19 => [
		'title' => 'Reforming the Law Commission',
		'catname' => 'News Editorials',
		'desc' => '<div class="border">
<p>The article is based on <a href="https://indianexpress.com/article/opinion/columns/reforming-the-law-commission-of-india-cji-5945797/" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Reforming the Law Commission</strong></a> that was published in The Indian Express on 29<sup>th</sup> August. It talks about the needed reforms related to the law commission of India.</p>
</div>
<h3>Context</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><a href="/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-national-institutions/law-commission-of-india-1" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Law Commission of India</strong></a> is a prominent advisory body to study, research and report on legal matters specified in their terms of reference.</li>
<li>The Government of India established the First Law Commission of Independent India in 1955 with the then Attorney-General of India, Mr. M.C. Setalvad, as its Chairman. Since then twenty one more Law Commissions have been appointed, each with a three-year term and with different terms of reference.</li>
<li>The Law Commission of India &mdash; the oldest amongst the national-level parastatal bodies &mdash; remains an odd one even in its 65<sup>th</sup> year. Unlike its sister organisations, it has <strong>no fixed composition, no defined eligibility criteria for its chair and members, </strong>and <strong>no set functions &mdash;</strong> everything rests on the government&rsquo;s will.</li>
<li>The <strong>terms of reference are specified afresh each time</strong> it is reconstituted as if it were an ad hoc body.</li>
<li>Three of the other national commissions, those for the Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes and Backward Classes, are now regulated by the Constitution and there is a parliamentary charter for each of the national commissions for human rights, minorities, women, children and safai karamcharis.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Role of Law Commission in Legal reforms</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>It plays a crucial role&mdash;from suggesting new laws to changing outdated colonial laws and updating them to present times.</li>
<li>It has worked to ensure the statutory obligations of India under many international treaties of which India is a signatory.</li>
<li>Occasionally, the Commission also takes up matters <strong>suo motu.</strong> For example, the 20<sup>th</sup> Commission worked on leprosy affected persons and their treatment in society, which it recognised as a human rights issue.</li>
<li>The various Law Commissions have been able to make important contributions towards the progressive development and codification of the laws of the country. The law commissions so far have submitted 277 reports on diverse range of topics.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Reforms required to strengthen Law Commission</h3>
<p>Justice A. P. Shah, chairman of the 20<sup>th</sup> law commission, advocated numerous reforms to strengthen the law commission.</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Statutory status:</strong> It must be a statutory commission. This is essential to ensure the strength and independence of the body.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>In most countries, particularly western democracies, Law Commissions are statutory bodies.</li>
<li>If it becomes statutory, it must be answerable only to Parliament, and not to the Executive.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Continuity:</strong> It is important to ensure continuity. Presently, every Commission has a three-year term, and every time, there is a gap in the constitution of the Commission. The three year term of the 21<sup>st</sup> Law commission ended on 31<sup>st</sup> August 2018, but 22<sup>nd</sup> Law Commission has still not been constituted.</li>
<li><strong>Appointment:</strong> The members of the Com&shy;mission should be appointed only in consultation with the chairperson. Present system has drawn allegations of favouritism on numerous occasions.</li>
<li><strong>Independence:</strong> The presence of the law secretary and secretary, Legislative Department (who are presently ex-officio members of the Commission), affects its independence. They should not be a party to the Commission.</li>
<li><strong>Funding:</strong> It needs sufficient funding, proper resources, tie-ups with law institutions and more assistance and support.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Recent attempts to Reform law commission</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>In 2015, a proposal was mooted to make the law panel into a <strong>permanent body</strong> either through an Act of Parliament or an executive order (resolution of the Union Cabinet). The move was shelved after the Prime Minister&rsquo;s Office felt that the present system should continue.</li>
<li>In 2010 also, the then UPA government had prepared a draft Cabinet note to give statutory status to the Law Commission, and the Law Ministry had mooted to bring the Law Commission of India Bill, 2010. But the idea was shelved.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Way forward</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Law Commission of India, though an advisory body, has been a key instrumentality in the process of legal reforms in India.</li>
<li>Law commission provides the intellectual depth to the law ministry as well as to other legal institutions including the Supreme Court. In a number of decisions the Supreme Court has referred to the work done by the Law Commission and followed its recommendations.</li>
<li>It should be given a statutory status with sufficient funding and independence to work towards bringing bold and much needed legal reforms in the country.</li>
</ul>
<table border="1" style="border-collapse: collapse; width: 100%;" height="84">
<tbody>
<tr>
<td style="width: 513px; border-style: dotted; border-color: #ff7575; background-color: #ffefe6;"><span style="color: #0000ff;"><em><strong>Drishti input</strong></em></span><br /><br />&ldquo;Discuss the role of the Law Commission of India in bringing legal reforms in the country. What reforms are required to strengthen the Law Commission of India?&ldquo;</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<p></p>',
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		'articles__sort_order' => 'integer',
		'articles.sort_order' => 'integer',
		'sort_order' => 'integer',
		'articles__addedby' => 'integer',
		'articles.addedby' => 'integer',
		'addedby' => 'integer',
		'articles__updatedby' => 'integer',
		'articles.updatedby' => 'integer',
		'updatedby' => 'integer',
		'articles__added' => 'timestamp',
		'articles.added' => 'timestamp',
		'added' => 'timestamp',
		'articles__modified' => 'timestamp',
		'articles.modified' => 'timestamp',
		'modified' => 'timestamp',
		'articles__whatsnewid' => 'integer',
		'articles.whatsnewid' => 'integer',
		'whatsnewid' => 'integer',
		'articles__display_printpdf' => 'integer',
		'articles.display_printpdf' => 'integer',
		'display_printpdf' => 'integer',
		'articles__display_comments' => 'integer',
		'articles.display_comments' => 'integer',
		'display_comments' => 'integer',
		'articles__pdf_name' => 'string',
		'articles.pdf_name' => 'string',
		'pdf_name' => 'string',
		'articles__display_archive' => 'integer',
		'articles.display_archive' => 'integer',
		'display_archive' => 'integer',
		'articles__star_rating' => 'integer',
		'articles.star_rating' => 'integer',
		'star_rating' => 'integer'
	],
	'decorators' => (int) 0,
	'executed' => false,
	'hydrate' => true,
	'buffered' => true,
	'formatters' => (int) 0,
	'mapReducers' => (int) 0,
	'contain' => [],
	'matching' => [],
	'extraOptions' => [],
	'repository' => object(App\Model\Table\ArticlesTable) {}

}
$page = (int) 219
$search = 'class'
$totalPages = (float) 333
$title = 'Search'
$lastyear = (int) 2018
$year = '2021'
$i = (int) 2017
$selected = ''
$m = (int) 13
$month = 'December'

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

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