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India-China

India and China have signed four agreements to strengthen cultural and people-to-people ties. The 4 agreements are on: Cultural Exchanges: To...

13 Aug 2019 News Analysis
PRS Capsule July 2019

Key Highlights of PRS Law and Justice Aadhaar and Other Laws (Amendment) Bill, 2019 Right to Information (Amendment) Bill, 2019 New Delhi...

12 Aug 2019 PRS Capsule
Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (Amendment) Bill, 2019 and related concerns

The article is based on the recent Amendments in the POCSO Act, 2012 and the concerns related to the newly introduced death penalty in the law as...

12 Aug 2019 News Editorials
Performance Indicators for Public Sector Banks

The Finance Ministry to closely monitor the Public Sector Banks (PSBs) achievements on 16 Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) at the branch, region,...

12 Aug 2019 News Analysis
Stimulus Package to Reverse Economic Slowdown

Recently, many economic indicators have pointed to a sharp slowdown in demand, both in rural and urban India. For instance, the automobile sector...

12 Aug 2019 News Analysis
Sabki Yojana Sabka Vikas Campaign

The central government has decided to launch the People's Plan Campaign, also known as “Sabki Yojana Sabka Vikas” from September...

12 Aug 2019 News Analysis
India’s First and Longest Sea Ropeway

India’s first and longest sea ropeway project that will connect Mumbai with the Elephanta Caves, is scheduled to start by the end of the year...

12 Aug 2019 News Analysis
Indian National Science Academy

Chandrima Shaha will be the first woman president of the Indian National Science Academy (INSA), taking up the position in January 2020. She was...

12 Aug 2019 News Analysis
Public Distribution System

For...

12 Aug 2019 Paper 3
Inverted-J Pattern in Education and Fertility

Recently released official data from 2017 on the Total Fertility Rate (TFR), reflects a complex relationship between literacy level and fertility...

12 Aug 2019 News Analysis
Mobile Application to Aid Farmers

Government to launch a new mobile application, “Uber for tractors”, which will help in hiring of expensive agricultural...

12 Aug 2019 News Analysis
Public Distribution System

Introduction The Public distribution system (PDS) is an Indian food Security System established under the Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food, and...

12 Aug 2019 Paper 3
Climate Change and Land

The article is based on the recent IPCC report “Climate change and Land” published on 8th August and an editorial “Climate on the...

10 Aug 2019 News Editorials
In Depth - Political Funding

Across the world, political parties need access to money in order to reach out to the electorate, explain their policies and receive inputs from...

10 Aug 2019 Lok Sabha & Rajya Sabha Discussions
77th Anniversary of Quit India movement

The 77th anniversary of the August Kranti Din, which is considered as one of the important milestones in the history of freedom struggle of our...

10 Aug 2019 News Analysis
Mercury Emission Versus its Concentration in Fishes

Recently researchers have found that despite a decrease in seawater concentration of methylmercury, the amount of mercury found in fish is different...

10 Aug 2019 News Analysis
Proposals to Change in CITES Listing

India has submitted proposals regarding changes to the listing of the smooth-coated otter, small-clawed otter, Indian star tortoise, Tokay gecko,...

10 Aug 2019 News Analysis
International Day of Indigenous Peoples

International day of indigenous people is observed on August 9 every year, in order to raise awareness of the needs of indigenous people. The first...

10 Aug 2019 News Analysis
India in US list on Drug Transit

Recently, US designated India among about 20 major drug transit or illicit drug-producing countries. However, it also noted that a country’s...

10 Aug 2019 News Analysis
The Motor Vehicles Bill for Road Safety

This article is based on the “The new Motor Vehicles bill paves the way for safer roads” that appeared in The Hindu Business Line on...

09 Aug 2019 News Editorials

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		(int) 0 => [
			'title' => 'India-China',
			'catname' => 'News Analysis',
			'desc' => '<p><a href="/loksabha-rajyasabha-discussions/the-big-picture-modi-xi-building-on-ties" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>India and China</strong></a> have signed<strong> four agreements</strong> to strengthen cultural and people-to-people ties.</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The 4 agreements are on:<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Cultural Exchanges:</strong> To promote <strong>cultural exchanges</strong> for the preservation of intangible cultural heritage, organisation of cultural activities and management of archaeological heritage sites.</li>
<li><strong>Healthcare:</strong> To enhance cooperation in the field of <strong>traditional medicine,</strong> where both India and China have a rich knowledge, accumulated over centuries.</li>
<li><strong>Sports:</strong> To promote exchanges between <strong>national sports associations, sports persons and youth</strong> for strengthening cooperation on international sports events.</li>
<li><strong>Cooperation in Museum Management:</strong> To promote <strong>collaboration between Hubei Provincial Museum,</strong> Wuhan <strong>and the National Museum, New Delhi</strong> in exhibitions, protection and restoration of collections and archaeological excavations.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>The <strong>Hubei Provincial Museum</strong> is one of the best known museums in China, with a large amount of state-level historic and cultural relics.</li>
<li>The <strong>National Museum</strong> is one of the largest museums in India. Established in 1949, it holds a variety of articles ranging from pre-historic era to modern works of art.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>China&rsquo;s Initiatives at Kailash Mansarovar</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>To improve the material comforts of the pilgrims to <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/kailash-mansarovar-in-tentative-list-of-world-heritage-sites" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Kailash Mansarovar</strong></a>, the chinese government has built accommodation facilities, called <strong>reception centres</strong>, at various points of the pilgrimage.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The reception centres, each with about 150 beds, have rooms with charging points, a common kitchen and a common washroom, and provide food for the pilgrims.</li>
<li>The Chinese government has spent <strong>$5.21 million</strong> in building these centres.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Ladakh and Line of Actual Control</h3>
<p><a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/995India-China%20Border (Final).png" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/995India-China Border (Final).png" width="603" height="352" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" /></a></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The External Affairs Minister has assured China that India&rsquo;s decision to <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/article-370-and-35-a-revoked" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>exercise greater administrative control over Ladakh</strong></a> would have no implications for India&rsquo;s external boundaries or the Line of Actual Control (LAC) with China.</li>
<li><strong>LAC is a 4,057-km porous border</strong> running through glaciers, snow deserts, mountains and rivers that separate India and China.</li>
<li>The LAC traverses three areas&mdash; <strong>Western (Ladakh, Kashmir), middle (Uttarakhand, Himachal) and eastern (Sikkim, Arunachal).</strong></li>
<li>In 1993, India and China signed an accord to reduce tensions along their border and respect the LAC. Three years later in 1996, the two countries agreed to delimit the LAC and institute confidence building measures.</li>
<li>In October 2013, the two sides signed the Boundary Defence Cooperation Agreement to prevent any flare up along the un-demarcated border. This encompasses both military and diplomat level dialogue mechanism.</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="https://www.business-standard.com/article/pti-stories/india-china-sign-4-agreements-to-strengthen-people-to-people-ties-119081200867_1.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Source: BS</strong></a></p>',
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		(int) 1 => [
			'title' => 'PRS Capsule July 2019',
			'catname' => 'PRS Capsule',
			'desc' => '<p><em><strong>Key Highlights of PRS</strong></em></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><a href="#1">Law and Justice</a>
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><a href="#2">Aadhaar and Other Laws (Amendment) Bill, 2019</a></li>
<li><a href="#3">Right to Information (Amendment) Bill, 2019</a></li>
<li><a href="#4">New Delhi International Arbitration Centre Bill, 2019</a></li>
<li><a href="#5">Muslim Women (Protection of Rights on Marriage) Bill, 2019</a></li>
<li><a href="#6">Arbitration and Conciliation (Amendment) Bill, 2019</a></li>
<li><a href="#7">The DNA Technology (Use and Application) Regulation Bill</a></li>
<li><a href="#8">Transgender (Protection of Rights) Bill, 2019</a></li>
<li><a href="#9">Consumer Protection Bill, 2019</a></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><a href="#10">Home Affairs</a>
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><a href="#11">Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Amendment Bill, 2019</a></li>
<li><a href="#12">The Jammu and Kashmir Reservation (Amendment) Bill, 2019</a></li>
<li><a href="#13">Protection of Human Rights (Amendment) Bill</a></li>
<li><a href="#14">The National Investigation Agency (Amendment) Bill, 2019</a></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><a href="#15">Health and Family Welfare</a>
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><a href="#16">The National Medical Commission Bill, 2019</a></li>
<li><a href="#17">The Surrogacy (Regulation) Bill, 2019</a></li>
</ul>
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;"></ul>
</li>
<li><a href="#20"></a><a href="#18">Labour and Employment</a></li>
<li style="list-style-type: none;">
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><a href="#19">The Code on Wages, 2019</a></li>
<li><a href="#20">Code on Occupational, Safety, Health and Working Conditions, 2019</a></li>
<li><a href="#21">Voluntary pension scheme for traders and shopkeepers notified</a></li>
</ul>
</ul>
</li>
<li><a href="#22">Corporate Affairs</a>
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><a href="#23">Companies (Amendment) Bill, 2019</a></li>
<li><a href="#24">Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code (Amendment) Bill, 2019</a></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><a href="#25">Road Transport and Highways</a>
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><a href="#26">Motor Vehicles (Amendment) Bill, 2019</a></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><a href="#27">Education</a>
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><a href="#28">The Central Educational Institutions (Reservation in Teacher&rsquo;s Cadre) Bill, 2019</a></li>
<li><a href="#29">The Central Universities (Amendment) Bill, 2019</a></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><a href="#30">Housing and Urban Affairs</a>
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><a href="#31">The Public Premises (Eviction of Unauthorised Occupants)</a></li>
<li><a href="#32">Draft Model Tenancy Act, 2019 released</a></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><a href="#33">Civil Aviation</a>
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><a href="#34">The Airports Economic Regulatory Authority of India (Amendment) Bill, 2019</a></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><a href="#35">Jal Shakti</a>
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><a href="#36">The Inter-State River Water Disputes (Amendment) Bill, 2019</a></li>
<li><a href="#37">The Dam Safety Bill, 2019</a></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><a href="#38">Defence</a>
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><a href="#39">Ministry introduces scheme for promotion of MSMEs in defence</a></li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h2 id="1">Law and Justice</h2>
<h3 id="2">Aadhaar and Other Laws (Amendment) Bill, 2019</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The Aadhaar and Other Laws (Amendment) Bill, 2019 was passed by Parliament to replace the Ordinance promulgated on March 2, 2019.</li>
<li>The Bill amends the Aadhaar (Targeted Delivery of Financial and Other Subsidies, Benefits and Services) Act, 2016, the Indian Telegraph Act, 1885, and the Prevention of Money Laundering Act, 2002.</li>
<li>The Aadhaar Act provides targeted delivery of subsidies and benefits to individuals residing in India by assigning them unique identity numbers, called <strong>Aadhaar numbers</strong>.</li>
<li><strong>Authentication:</strong> It involves submitting the Aadhaar number, their biometric and demographic information to the Central Identities Data Repository for verification.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Under the Aadhaar Act, an individual&rsquo;s identity may be verified by <strong>Aadhaar &lsquo;authentication&rsquo;</strong>.</li>
<li>The <strong>Bill additionally allows &lsquo;offline verification&rsquo;</strong> of an individual&rsquo;s identity, without authentication, through modes specified by the Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI) by regulations.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Voluntary use:</strong> The Act provides for the use of Aadhaar number as proof of identity of a person, subject to authentication.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The Bill replaces this provision to state that an <strong>individual may voluntarily use</strong> his Aadhaar number to establish his identity, by <strong>authentication or offline verification</strong>.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>The Bill states that authentication of an individual&rsquo;s identity via Aadhaar, for the provision of any service, may be made mandatory only by a law of Parliament.</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The Bill amends the <strong>Telegraph Act, 1885 and the Prevention of Money Laundering Act, 2002</strong> to state that telecom companies, banks and financial institutions may verify the identity of their clients by:
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>authentication or offline verification of Aadhaar, or</li>
<li>passport, or</li>
<li>any other documents notified by the central government.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>The person has the choice to use either mode to verify his identity and <strong>no person shall be denied any service for not having an Aadhaar number</strong>.</li>
</ul>
</div>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>UIDAI Fund:</strong> Under the Act, all fees and revenue collected by the UIDAI shall be credited to the Consolidated Fund of India. The Bill removes this provision and creates the <strong>Unique Identification Authority of India Fund</strong>. All fees, grants, and charges received by the UIDAI shall be credited to this fund. The fund shall be used for expenses of the UIDAI, including salaries and allowances of its employees.</li>
</ul>
<h3 id="3">Right to Information (Amendment) Bill, 2019</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The Right to Information (Amendment) Bill, 2019 was passed by Parliament. It seeks to amend the <strong>Right to Information Act, 2005</strong>.</li>
<li><strong>Key features of the Bill include:</strong>
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Term of Information Commissioners:</strong> Under the Act, Chief Information Commissioner (CIC) and Information Commissioners (ICs) are appointed at the national and state level to implement the provisions of the Act.
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>The Act states that the CIC and other ICs (appointed at the central and state level) will hold office for a term of five years. The <strong>Bill removes this provision</strong> and states that <strong>the central government will notify the term of office</strong> for the CIC and the ICs.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Determination of salary:</strong> The Act states that the salary of the CIC and ICs (at the central level) will be equivalent to the salary paid to the Chief Election Commissioner and Election Commissioners, respectively. Similarly, the salary of the CIC and ICs (at the state level) will be equivalent to the salary paid to the Election Commissioners and the Chief Secretary to the state government, respectively.
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>The Bill seeks to amend these provisions to <strong>state that the salaries, allowances, and other terms and conditions of service of the central and state CIC and ICs will be determined by the central government</strong>.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3 id="4">New Delhi International Arbitration Centre Bill, 2019</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The New Delhi International Arbitration Centre Bill, 2019 was passed by Parliament.</li>
<li>It seeks to establish an <strong>autonomous and independent institution</strong> for better management of arbitration in India.</li>
<li><strong>Key features of the Bill include:</strong>
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>New Delhi International Arbitration Centre (NDIAC):</strong> The Bill seeks to provide for the establishment of the NDIAC to conduct an <strong>arbitration, mediation</strong>&nbsp;and <strong>conciliation</strong> proceedings.</li>
<li><strong>International Centre for Alternative Dispute Resolution (ICADR):</strong> The ICADR is a <strong>registered society</strong> to promote the resolution of disputes through alternative dispute resolution methods (such as arbitration and mediation).
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>The Bill seeks to transfer the existing ICADR to the central government. Upon notification by the central government, all the rights, title, and interest in the ICADR will be transferred to the NDIAC.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Composition:</strong> Under the Bill, the NDIAC will consist of seven members including:
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li><strong>A chairperson</strong> who may be a Judge of the Supreme Court or a High Court or an eminent person with special knowledge and experience in the conduct or administration of arbitration.</li>
<li><strong>Two eminent persons</strong> having substantial knowledge and experience in institutional arbitration.</li>
<li><strong>Three ex-officio members,</strong> including a nominee from the Ministry of Finance.</li>
<li><strong>Chief Executive Officer</strong> (responsible for the day-to-day administration of the NDIAC).</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Key objectives of the NDIAC include:</strong>
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Promoting research, providing training and organising conferences and seminars in alternative dispute resolution matters.</li>
<li>Providing facilities and administrative assistance for the conduct of the arbitration, mediation, and conciliation proceedings.</li>
<li>Maintaining a panel of accredited professionals to conduct an arbitration, mediation, and conciliation proceedings.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Key functions include:</strong>
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Facilitating the conduct of arbitration and conciliation in a professional, timely, and cost-effective manner.</li>
<li>Promoting studies in the field of alternative dispute resolution.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3 id="5">Muslim Women (Protection of Rights on Marriage) Bill, 2019</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The Muslim Women (Protection of Rights on Marriage) Bill, 2019 was passed by Parliament.</li>
<li><strong>Key features of the Bill include:</strong>
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The Bill makes all declarations of talaq, including in written or electronic form, to be void (i.e. not enforceable in law) and illegal.</li>
<li>It defines <strong>talaq as talaq-e-biddat</strong> or any other similar form of talaq pronounced by a Muslim man resulting in instant and irrevocable divorce.
<div class="border-bg">
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li><strong>Talaq-e-biddat</strong> refers to the practice under Muslim personal laws where pronouncement of &lsquo;talaq&rsquo; thrice in one sitting by a Muslim man to his wife results in an instant and irrevocable divorce.</li>
</ul>
</div>
</li>
<li><strong>Offence and penalty:</strong> The Bill makes a declaration of talaq a <strong>cognizable offence,</strong> attracting up to <strong>three years imprisonment</strong> with a fine.
<div class="border-bg">
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>A cognizable offence is one for which a police officer may arrest an accused person without warrant.</li>
</ul>
</div>
</li>
<li>The offence will be cognizable only if information relating to the offence is given by:
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>The married woman (against whom talaq has been declared), or</li>
<li>Any person related to her by blood or marriage.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>The Bill provides that the <strong>Magistrate may grant bail to the accused</strong>. The bail may be granted only after hearing the woman (against whom talaq has been pronounced), and if the Magistrate is satisfied that there are reasonable grounds for granting bail.</li>
<li>The offence may be compounded by the Magistrate upon the request of the woman (against whom talaq has been declared).
<div class="border-bg">
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Compounding refers to the procedure where the two sides agree to stop legal proceedings, and settle the dispute. The terms and conditions of the compounding will be determined by the Magistrate.</li>
</ul>
</div>
</li>
<li><strong>Allowance and custody:</strong> A Muslim woman against whom talaq is declared is entitled to seek <strong>subsistence allowance</strong> from her husband for herself and for her dependent children. She is also entitled to seek custody of her minor children. The amount of allowance and manner of custody will be determined by the Magistrate.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3 id="6">Arbitration and Conciliation (Amendment) Bill, 2019</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The Arbitration and Conciliation (Amendment) Bill, 2019 was passed by Rajya Sabha. It seeks to <strong>amend the Arbitration and Conciliation Act, 1996</strong>.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The Act contains provisions to deal with domestic and international arbitration, and defines the law for conducting conciliation proceedings.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Key features of the Bill are:</strong>
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Arbitration Council of India:</strong> The Bill seeks to establish an independent body called the <strong>Arbitration Council of India (ACI)</strong> for the promotion of arbitration, mediation, conciliation and other alternative dispute redressal mechanisms.</li>
<li><strong>Its functions include:</strong>
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Framing policies for grading arbitral institutions and accrediting arbitrators.</li>
<li>Making policies for the establishment, operation and maintenance of uniform professional standards for all alternate dispute redressal matters.</li>
<li>Maintaining a depository of arbitral awards (judgments) made in India and abroad.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Appointment of arbitrators:</strong> Under the 1996 Act, parties were free to appoint arbitrators. In case of disagreement on an appointment, parties could request the Supreme Court, or the High Court, or any person or institution designated by such Court, to appoint an arbitrator.
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Under the Bill, the Supreme Court and High Courts may now designate <strong>arbitral institutions,</strong> which parties can approach for the appointment of arbitrators.</li>
<li>For <strong>international commercial arbitration,</strong> appointments will be made by the institution designated by the Supreme Court.</li>
<li>For <strong>domestic arbitration,</strong> appointments will be made by the institution designated by the concerned High Court.</li>
<li>In case there are no arbitral institutions available, the Chief Justice of the concerned High Court may maintain a panel of arbitrators to perform the functions of arbitral institutions.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Relaxation of time limits:</strong> Under the Act, arbitral tribunals are required to make their award within a period of 12 months for all arbitration proceedings.
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>The <strong>Bill seeks to remove this time restriction</strong> for international commercial arbitrations. It adds that tribunals must try to dispose of international arbitration matters within 12 months.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3 id="7">The DNA Technology (Use and Application) Regulation Bill</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The DNA Technology (Use and Application) Regulation Bill, 2019 was introduced in <strong>Lok Sabha</strong>.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The Bill provides for the regulation of the use of DNA technology for establishing the identity of certain persons.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Use of DNA data:</strong> Under the Bill, DNA testing is allowed only in respect of matters listed in the Schedule to the Bill.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>These include offences under the Indian Penal Code, 1860, and for civil matters such as paternity suits. Further, the Schedule includes DNA testing for matters related to establishment of individual identity.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Collection of DNA:</strong> While preparing a DNA profile, bodily substances of persons may be collected by the investigating authorities. Authorities are required to obtain consent for collection in certain situations.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>For arrested persons, authorities are required to obtain written consent if the offence carries a punishment of up to seven years. If the offence carries more than seven years of imprisonment or death, consent is not required.</li>
<li>Further, if the person is a victim, or relative of a missing person, or a minor or disabled person, the authorities are required to obtain their written consent.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>DNA Data Bank:</strong> The Bill provides for the establishment of a <strong>National DNA Data Bank and Regional DNA Data Banks,</strong> for every state, or two or more states.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>DNA laboratories are required to share DNA data prepared by them with the National and Regional DNA Data Banks. Every Data Bank will be required to maintain the following indices of DNA data:
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>A crime scene index</li>
<li>A suspect&rsquo;s or under trials&rsquo; index</li>
<li>An offenders&rsquo; index</li>
<li>A missing persons&rsquo; index</li>
<li>An unknown deceased persons&rsquo; index.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Removal of DNA profiles:</strong> The Bill provides for removal of the DNA profiles of the following persons:
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>A suspect if a police report is filed or court order given</li>
<li>An undertrial if a court order is given</li>
<li>On written request, for persons who are not a suspect, offender or under trial, from the crime scene or missing persons&rsquo; index</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>DNA Regulatory Board:</strong> The Bill provides for the establishment of a DNA Regulatory Board, which will supervise the DNA Data Banks and DNA laboratories. The functions of the Board include:&nbsp;
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Advising governments on all issues related to establishing DNA laboratories or Data Banks.</li>
<li>Ensuring that all information relating to DNA profiles is kept confidential.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3 id="8">Transgender (Protection of Rights) Bill, 2019</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The Transgender Persons (Protection of Rights) Bill, 2019 was introduced in Lok Sabha on July 19, 2019.</li>
<li><strong>Key features of the Bill include:</strong>
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Definition of a transgender person:</strong> The Bill defines a transgender person as one whose gender does not match the gender assigned at birth. It include transmen and trans-women, persons with intersex variations, gender-queers, and persons with socio-cultural identities, such as kinnar and hijra.
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Intersex variations is defined to mean a person who at birth shows variation in his or her primary sexual characteristics, external genitalia, chromosomes, or hormones from the normative standard of male or female body.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Prohibition against discrimination:</strong> The Bill prohibits the discrimination against a transgender person, including denial of service or unfair treatment in relation to:
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Education, employment, healthcare.</li>
<li>Access to or enjoyment of goods, facilities, opportunities available to the public.</li>
<li>Right to movement, right to reside, rent, or otherwise occupy property.</li>
<li>Opportunity to hold public or private office.</li>
<li>Access to a government or private establishment in whose care or custody a transgender person is.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Health care:</strong> The government must take steps to provide health facilities to transgender persons including separate HIV surveillance centres, and sex reassignment surgeries.
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>The government shall review medical curriculum to address health issues of transgender persons, and provide comprehensive medical insurance schemes for them.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Certificate of identity:</strong> A transgender person may make an application to the District Magistrate for a certificate of identity, indicating the gender as &lsquo;transgender&rsquo;.
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>A revised certificate may be obtained only if the individual undergoes surgery to change their gender either as a male or a female.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3 id="9">Consumer Protection Bill, 2019</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The Consumer Protection Bill, 2019 was passed by Lok Sabha. It replaces the <strong>Consumer Protection Act, 1986</strong>.</li>
<li><strong>Key features of the Bill include:</strong>
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Rights of consumers:</strong> Six consumer rights have been defined in the Bill, including the right to:
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Be protected against the marketing of goods and services which are hazardous to life and property.</li>
<li>Be informed of the quality, quantity, potency, purity, standard and price of goods or services.</li>
<li>Be assured of access to goods or services at competitive prices.</li>
<li>Seek redressal against unfair or restrictive trade practices.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Central Consumer Protection Authority:</strong> The central government will set up a Central Consumer Protection Authority (CCPA) to promote, protect and enforce the rights of consumers. It will regulate matters related to violation of consumer rights, unfair trade practices, and misleading advertisements.</li>
<li><strong>Penalties for misleading advertisement:</strong> The CCPA may impose a penalty on a manufacturer or an endorser of up to Rs 10 lakh and imprisonment for up to two years for a false or misleading advertisement. In case of a subsequent offence, the fine may extend to Rs 50 lakh and imprisonment of up to five years.</li>
<li><strong>Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission (CDRCs):</strong> CDRCs will be set up at the district, state, and national levels. A consumer can file a complaint with CDRCs in relation to:
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Unfair or restrictive trade practices</li>
<li>Defective goods or services</li>
<li>Overcharging or deceptive charging</li>
<li>The offering of goods or services for sale which may be hazardous to life and safety.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>Complaints against an unfair contract can be filed with only the State and National CDRCs.
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Appeals from a District CDRC will be heard by the State CDRC, and from State CDRC by the National CDRC. Final appeal will lie before the Supreme Court.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Product liability:</strong> Product liability means the liability of a product manufacturer, service provider, or seller to compensate a consumer for any harm or injury caused by a defective good or deficient service.
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>To claim compensation, a consumer has to prove any one of the conditions for defect or deficiency, as given in the Bill.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h2 id="10">Home Affairs</h2>
<h3 id="11">Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Amendment Bill, 2019</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The <strong>Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Amendment Bill, 2019</strong> was passed by Lok Sabha. It amends the <strong>Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, 1967</strong>. The Act provides special procedures to deal with terrorist activities, among other things.</li>
<li><strong>Key provisions of the Bill include:</strong>
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Who may commit terrorism:</strong> Under the Act, the central government may designate an organisation as a terrorist organisation if it:
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Commits or participates in acts of terrorism</li>
<li>Prepares for terrorism</li>
<li>Promotes terrorism, or</li>
<li>Is otherwise involved in terrorism.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>The Bill empowers the government to designate individuals as terrorists on the same grounds.</li>
<li><strong>Approval for seizure of property:</strong> Under the Act, an investigating officer is required to obtain the prior approval of the Director General of Police to seize properties that may be connected with terrorism.
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>The Bill adds that if the investigation is conducted by an officer of the <strong>National Investigation Agency (NIA),</strong> the approval of the Director General of NIA would be required for seizure of such property.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Investigation:</strong> Under the Act, investigation of cases may be conducted by officers of the rank of Deputy Superintendent or Assistant Commissioner of Police or above.
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>The Bill additionally empowers the officers of the NIA, of the rank of Inspector or above, to investigate cases.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Insertion to schedule of treaties:</strong> The Act defines terrorist acts to include acts committed within the scope of any of the treaties listed in a schedule to the Act.
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>The Schedule lists nine treaties, including the <strong>Convention for the Suppression of Terrorist Bombings (1997), and the Convention against Taking of Hostages (1979)</strong>.</li>
<li>The Bill adds another treaty to the list. This is the <strong>International Convention for Suppression of Acts of Nuclear Terrorism (2005)</strong>.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3 id="12">The Jammu and Kashmir Reservation (Amendment) Bill, 2019</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The Jammu and Kashmir Reservation (Amendment) Bill, 2019, was passed by Parliament. The <strong>Bill amends the Jammu and Kashmir Reservation Act, 2004</strong> and <strong>replaces an Ordinance</strong> promulgated on March 1, 2019.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The Act provides for <strong>reservation in appointment and promotions in state government posts</strong>, and admission to <strong>professional institutions</strong> for certain reserved categories. Professional institutions include government medical colleges, dental colleges, and polytechnics.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Key features of the Bill include:</strong>
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Extension of reservation:</strong> The Act provides for reservation in appointment and promotions in certain state government posts to persons belonging to <strong>socially and educationally backward classes</strong>. It defines socially and educationally backward classes to include persons living in areas adjoining the Actual Line of Control.
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>The Bill amends this to include those persons living in areas adjoining the International Border, within the ambit of this reservation.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>Further, the Act states that any person who has been appointed on the basis of residence in an area adjoining the Line of Control, must serve in such areas for at least seven years.
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>The Bill extends this condition to persons living in areas adjoining the International Border as well.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Exclusion from reservation:</strong> The Act states that any person whose annual income exceeds three lakh rupees or other amount as notified by the state government, would not be included within socially and educationally backward classes. However, this exclusion does not apply to persons living in areas adjoining the Actual Line of Control.
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>The Bill states that this exclusion will not apply to persons living in areas adjoining the International Border also.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3 id="13">Protection of Human Rights (Amendment) Bill</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The Protection of Human Rights (Amendment) Bill, 2019 was passed by Parliament. The Bill amends the <strong>Protection of Human Rights Act, 1993</strong>.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The Act provides for a <strong>National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), State Human Rights Commissions (SHRC),</strong> as well as <strong>Human Rights Courts</strong>.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Composition of NHRC:</strong> Under the Act, the chairperson of the NHRC is a person who has been a Chief Justice of the Supreme Court.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The Bill amends this to provide that a person who has been Chief Justice of the Supreme Court, or a Judge of the Supreme Court will be the chairperson of the NHRC.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>The Act provides for two persons having knowledge of human rights to be appointed as members of the NHRC.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The Bill amends this to allow three members to be appointed, of which at <strong>least one will be a woman</strong>.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>Under the Act, chairpersons of various commissions such as the National Commission for Scheduled Castes, and National Commission for Scheduled Tribes, are members of the NHRC.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The Bill includes the chairpersons of the National Commission for Backward Classes, the National Commission for the Protection of Child Rights, and the Chief Commissioner for Persons with Disabilities as members of the NHRC.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Chairperson of SHRC:</strong> Under the Act, the chairperson of the SHRC is a person who has been a Chief Justice of the High Court.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The Bill amends this to provide that a person who has been Chief Justice or Judge of the High Court will be chairperson of the SHRC.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Term of office:</strong> The Act states that the chairperson and members of the NHRC and SHRC will hold office for <strong>five years or till the age of seventy years,</strong> whichever is earlier.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The Bill <strong>reduces the term of office to three years or till the age of seventy years,</strong> whichever is earlier.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Powers of Secretary-General:</strong> The Act provides for a Secretary-General of the NHRC and a Secretary of a SHRC, who exercise powers as may be delegated to them.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The Bill amends this and allows the Secretary-General and Secretary to exercise all administrative and financial powers (except judicial functions), subject to the respective chairperson&rsquo;s control.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3 id="14">The National Investigation Agency (Amendment) Bill, 2019</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The National Investigation Agency (Amendment) Bill, 2019 was passed by Parliament. The Bill amends the <strong>National Investigation Agency (NIA) Act, 2008</strong>.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The Act provides for a national-level agency to investigate and prosecute offences listed in a schedule (scheduled offences).</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>Further, the Act allows for creation of Special Courts for the trial of scheduled offences.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Scheduled offences:</strong> The schedule to the Act specifies a list of offences which are to be investigated and prosecuted by the NIA.
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>These include offences under Acts such as the Atomic Energy Act, 1962, and the Unlawful Activities Prevention Act, 1967.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>The Bill seeks to allow the NIA to investigate the following additional offences:
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Human trafficking</li>
<li>Offences related to counterfeit currency or bank notes</li>
<li>Manufacture or sale of prohibited arms</li>
<li>Cyber-terrorism, and</li>
<li>Offences under the Explosive Substances Act, 1908</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Jurisdiction of the NIA:</strong> The Act provides for the creation of the NIA to investigate and prosecute offences specified in the schedule.
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>The officers of the NIA have the same powers as other police officers in relation to the investigation of such offences, across India.</li>
<li>The Bill states that in addition, officers of the NIA will have the power to investigate scheduled offences committed outside India, subject to international treaties and domestic laws of other countries.</li>
<li>The central government may direct the NIA to investigate such cases, as if the offence has been committed in India. The <strong>Special Court</strong> in New Delhi will have jurisdiction over these cases.</li>
<li><strong>Special Courts:</strong> The Act allows the central government to constitute Special Courts for the trial of scheduled offences. The Bill amends this to allow the central and state governments to designate Sessions Courts as Special Courts for such trials.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h2 id="15">Health and Family Welfare</h2>
<h3 id="16">The National Medical Commission Bill, 2019</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The National Medical Commission Bill, 2019 was introduced and passed by Lok Sabha.The Bill seeks to repeal the <strong>Indian Medical Council Act, 1956</strong> and provide for a medical education system which ensures:
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Availability of adequate and high quality medical professionals</li>
<li>Adoption of the latest medical research by medical professionals</li>
<li>Periodic assessment of medical institutions, and</li>
<li>An effective grievance redressal mechanism</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Key features of the Bill include:</strong>
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Constitution of the National Medical Commission:</strong> The Bill sets up the <strong>National Medical Commission (NMC)</strong>. Within three years of the passage of the Bill, state governments will establish <strong>State Medical Councils</strong> at the state level. The NMC will consist of 25 members, appointed by the central government.</li>
<li><strong>Members of the NMC will include:</strong>
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>The Chairperson (must be a medical practitioner)</li>
<li>Presidents of the Under-Graduate and Postgraduate Medical Education Boards</li>
<li>The Director General of Health Services, Directorate General of Health Services</li>
<li>The Director General, Indian Council of Medical Research, and</li>
<li>Five members (part-time) to be elected by registered medical practitioners from amongst themselves for two years.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Functions of the NMC include:</strong>
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Framing policies for regulating medical institutions and medical professionals</li>
<li>Assessing the requirements of healthcare related human resources and infrastructure</li>
<li>Ensuring compliance by the State Medical Councils of the regulations made under the Bill</li>
<li>Framing guidelines for determination of fees for up to 50% of the seats in the private medical institutions and deemed universities which are regulated as per the Bill.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Autonomous boards:</strong> The Bill sets up four autonomous boards under the supervision of the NMC. Each board will consist of a President and four members, appointed by the central government. These boards include:
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>The Under-Graduate Medical Education Board and the Post-Graduate Medical Education Board</li>
<li>The Medical Assessment and Rating Board, and</li>
<li>The Ethics and Medical Registration</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3 id="17">The Surrogacy (Regulation) Bill, 2019</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The Surrogacy (Regulation) Bill, 2019 was introduced in Lok Sabha.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The Bill defines surrogacy as a practice where a woman gives birth to a child for an intending couple and agrees to hand over the child to them after the birth.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Key features of the Bill include:</strong>
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Regulation of surrogacy:</strong> The Bill prohibits commercial surrogacy, but allows altruistic surrogacy.
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Altruistic surrogacy involves no monetary compensation to the surrogate mother other than the medical expenses and insurance coverage. Commercial surrogacy include surrogacy or its related procedures undertaken for a monetary benefit or reward (in cash or kind) exceeding the basic medical expenses and insurance coverage.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Eligibility criteria for intending couple:</strong> The intending couple should have a <strong>&lsquo;certificate of essentiality&rsquo;</strong> and a <strong>&lsquo;certificate of eligibility&rsquo;</strong> issued by the appropriate authority. A certificate of essentiality will be issued upon fulfilment of these conditions:
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>A medical certificate of proven infertility of one or both members of the intending couple</li>
<li>An order of parentage and custody of the surrogate child passed by a Magistrate&rsquo;s court, and</li>
<li>Insurance coverage for a period of 16 months covering postpartum delivery complications for the surrogate.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>The certificate of eligibility to the intending couple is issued upon fulfilment of the following conditions:
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>The couple being Indian citizens and married for at least five years</li>
<li>Between 23 to 50 years old (wife) and 26 to 55 years old (husband)</li>
<li>They do not have any surviving child (biological, adopted or surrogate)</li>
<li>Including a child who is mentally or physically challenged or suffers from life threatening disorder or fatal illness; and</li>
<li>Other conditions that may be specified by regulations.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Eligibility criteria for surrogate mother:</strong> To obtain a certificate of eligibility, the surrogate mother has to be:
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>A close relative of the intending couple</li>
<li>A married woman having a child of her own</li>
<li>25 to 35 years old</li>
<li>A surrogate only once in her lifetime</li>
<li>Possess a certificate of medical and psychological fitness for surrogacy. In addition, the surrogate mother cannot provide her own gametes for surrogacy.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h2 id="18">Labour and Employment</h2>
<h3 id="19">The Code on Wages, 2019</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The Code on Wages, 2019 was passed by Lok Sabha. It seeks to regulate wage and bonus payments in all employments where any industry, trade, business, or manufacturing is carried out. The Code replaces the following four laws:
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>The Payment of Wages Act, 1936</strong></li>
<li><strong>The Minimum Wages Act, 1948</strong></li>
<li><strong>The Payment of Bonus Act, 1965</strong></li>
<li><strong>The Equal Remuneration Act, 1976</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Coverage:</strong> The Code will apply to all employees. The central government will make wage-related decisions for employment such as railways, mines, and oil fields, among others. The state governments will make decisions for all other employments.</li>
<li><strong>Floor wage:</strong> According to the Code, the central government will fix a floor wage, taking into account the living standards of workers. Further, it may set different floor wages for different geographical areas.</li>
<li><strong>Fixing the minimum wage:</strong> The Code prohibits employers from paying wages less than the minimum wages. Minimum wages will be notified by the central or state governments. This will be based on time, or number of pieces produced.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The minimum wages will be revised and reviewed by the central or state governments at an interval of not more than five years.</li>
<li>While fixing minimum wages, the central or state governments may take into account factors such as: (i) skills of workers, and (ii) the difficulty of work.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Advisory boards:</strong> The central and state governments will constitute advisory boards. The Boards will advise the respective governments on various issues including:
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Fixation of minimum wages</li>
<li>Increasing employment opportunities for women</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3 id="20">Code on Occupational, Safety, Health and Working Conditions, 2019</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The Occupational Safety, Health and Working Conditions Code, 2019 was introduced in Lok Sabha. It applies to <strong>establishments employing at least 10 workers, and to all mines and docks</strong>.</li>
<li>The Code replaces 13 labour laws including the Factories Act, 1948, the Mines Act, 1952, and the Contract Labour (Regulation and Abolition) Act, 1970.</li>
<li><strong>Key features of the Code include:</strong>
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Duties of employers:</strong> The Code prescribes certain duties of the employer. These include:
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Providing a workplace that is free from hazards that may cause injury or diseases, and</li>
<li>Providing free annual health examinations to certain employees.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Working Hours:</strong> Work hours for different classes of establishment and employees will be provided as per the rules prescribed by the central or state government. Female workers, with their consent, may work past 7pm and before 6am, if approved by the central or state government.</li>
<li><strong>Leave:</strong> No employee may work for more than six days a week. Workers must receive paid annual leave for at least one in 20 days of the period spent on duty.</li>
<li><strong>Working conditions and welfare facilities:</strong> The employer is required to provide a hygienic work environment with ventilation, sufficient space, and clean drinking water. Welfare facilities include separate bathing places and locker rooms for male, female, and transgender employees and creches.</li>
<li><strong>Advisory Bodies:</strong> The central and state governments will set up <strong>Occupational Safety and Health Advisory Boards</strong> at the national and state level, respectively. These Boards will advise the central and state governments on the standards, rules, and regulations to be framed under the Code.</li>
<li><strong>Offences and penalties:</strong> Under the Code, an offence that leads to the death of an employee will be punishable with imprisonment of up to two years, or a fine up to five lakh rupees, or both. Further, courts may direct that at least 50% of such fine be given as compensation to the heirs of the victim. For any other violation where the penalty is not specified, the employer will be penalised with a fine between two and three lakh rupees.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3 id="21">Voluntary pension scheme for traders and shopkeepers notified</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The Ministry of Labour and Employment notified a voluntary pension scheme called the <strong>Pradhan Mantri Laghu Vyapari Maan-dhan, Yojana 2019</strong>. It intends to provide a minimum assured pension to self-employed persons.</li>
<li><strong>Key features of the scheme include:</strong>
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Eligibility:</strong> The Scheme will apply to shopkeepers, retail traders, and other self-employed persons with an annual turnover of less than Rs. 1.5 crore, between the ages of 18 and 40 years. In order to enrol, the subscriber must have a bank account and Aadhaar number.
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Interested persons can enrol themselves through any Common Service Centre in the country, with a pension fund administered by the Life Insurance Corporation. A Common Service Centre is an access point for delivery of essential public utility services.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Minimum assured pension:</strong> Each subscriber under the scheme shall receive a minimum assured pension of Rs 3000 per month after attaining the age of 60 years. The central government will match the contribution made by the beneficiary.
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>The government has notified different monthly contribution amounts depending upon the age of joining. For example, a person entering the scheme at 29 years of age will be required to contribute Rs 100 per month.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Family pension:</strong> If the subscriber dies while receiving the pension, his spouse will be entitled to receive 50% of the pension as family pension. If he dies before the pension accrues (i.e. before the age of 60 years), his spouse may either join the scheme by paying the contribution or may exit the scheme.
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>If they choose to exit, the spouse will receive the beneficiary&rsquo;s contribution along with accumulated interest earned by the fund or interest at the savings bank interest rate, whichever is higher. If both the subscriber and spouse die, the entire corpus will be credited back to the fund.</li>
<li>If the beneficiary becomes disabled prior to completing 60 years of age, his spouse may continue the scheme or exit the scheme. On exiting, the spouse will receive the beneficiary&rsquo;s contribution with interest as actually earned by fund or at the savings bank interest rate, whichever is higher.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Exit and withdrawal:</strong> Any person may exit the scheme under the following conditions:
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>If he exits within 10 years, his share of contribution will be returned to him along with savings bank interest.</li>
<li>If he exits the scheme after 10 years but prior to completing 60 years of age, he will get his share along with the accumulated interest earned by the fund or at savings bank interest rate, whichever is higher.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h2 id="22">Corporate Affairs</h2>
<h3 id="23">Companies (Amendment) Bill, 2019</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The Companies (Amendment) Bill, 2019 was passed by Parliament. It amends the <strong>Companies Act, 2013</strong>.</li>
<li><strong>Key features of the Bill include:</strong>
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Issuance of dematerialised shares:</strong> Under the Act, certain classes of public companies are required to issue shares in dematerialised form only. The Bill states this may be prescribed for other classes of unlisted companies as well.</li>
<li><strong>Re-categorisation of certain Offences:</strong> The 2013 Act contains 81 compoundable offences punishable with fine or fine or imprisonment, or both. These offences are heard by courts. <strong>The Bill re-categorizes 16 of these offences as civil defaults,</strong> where adjudicating officers (appointed by the central government) may now levy penalties instead. These offences include:
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Issuance of shares at a discount</li>
<li>Failure to file an annual return.</li>
<li>Further, the Bill amends the penalties for some other offences.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR):</strong> Under the Act, if companies which have to provide for CSR, do not fully spend the funds, they must disclose the reasons for non-spending in their annual report.
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Under the Bill, any unspent annual CSR funds must be transferred to one of the funds under Schedule 7 of the Act (e.g., PM Relief Fund) within six months of the end of the financial year.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>However, if the CSR funds are committed to certain ongoing projects, then the unspent funds will have to be transferred to an <strong>Unspent CSR Account</strong> within 30 days of the of the financial year, and spent within three years.
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Any funds remaining unspent after three years will have to be transferred to one of the funds under Schedule 7 of the Act. Any violation may attract a fine between Rs 50,000 and Rs 25,00,000 and every defaulting officer may be punished with imprisonment of up to three years or fine in the same range as above.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Commencement of business:</strong> The Bill states that a company may not start business, unless it (i) files a declaration within 180 days of incorporation, confirming that every subscriber to the Memorandum of the company has paid for the shares agreed to be taken by him, and (ii) files a verification of its registered address within 30 days of incorporation.
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>If it fails to comply with these provisions and is found not to be carrying out business, the name of the company may be removed from the Register of Companies.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3 id="24">Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code (Amendment) Bill, 2019</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code (Amendment) Bill, 2019 was passed by Rajya Sabha. It amends the <strong>Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code, 2016</strong>.
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The Code provides a time-bound process for resolving insolvency in companies and among individuals.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Key features of the Bill include:</strong>
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Initiation of resolution process:</strong> The Code states that a financial creditor may file an application before the National Company Law Tribunal (NCLT) for initiating the insolvency resolution process.
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>The NCLT must find the existence of default within 14 days. Based on its findings, NCLT may accept or reject the application. The Bill states that in case the NCLT does not find the existence of default and has not passed an order within 14 days, it must record its reasons in writing.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Time-limit for resolution process:</strong> The Code states that the insolvency resolution process must be completed within 180 days, extendable by a period of up to 90 days. The Bill adds that the resolution process must be completed within 330 days.
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>This includes time for any extension granted and the time taken in legal proceedings in relation to the process. On the enactment of the Bill, if any case is pending for over 330 days, it must be resolved within 90 days.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Resolution plan:</strong> The Code provides that the resolution plan must ensure that the operational creditors receive an amount which should not be less than the amount they would receive in case of liquidation.
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>The Bill amends this to provide that the amounts to be paid to the operational creditor should be the higher of: (i) amounts receivable under liquidation, and (ii) the amount receivable under a resolution plan, if such amounts were distributed under the same order of priority (as for liquidation).</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Representative of financial creditors:</strong> The Code specifies that, in certain cases, such as when the debt is owed to a class of creditors beyond a specified number, the financial creditors will be represented on the committee of creditors by an authorised representative. These representatives will vote on behalf of the financial creditors as per instructions received from them.
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>The Bill states that such representative will vote on the basis of the decision taken by a majority of the voting shares of the creditors that they represent.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h2 id="25">Road Transport and Highways</h2>
<h3 id="26">Motor Vehicles (Amendment) Bill, 2019</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The Motor Vehicles (Amendment) Bill, 2019 was passed by Rajya Sabha. The Bill seeks to amend the <strong>Motor Vehicles Act, 1988</strong> to provide for road safety.
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The Act provides for grant of licenses and permits related to motor vehicles, standards for motor vehicles, and penalties for violation of these provisions.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Key features of the Bill include:</strong>
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Compensation for road accident victims:</strong> The Bill provides that the central government will develop a scheme for cashless treatment of road accident victims during the golden hour.
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li><strong>Golden hour</strong> is defined as the time period of up to one hour following a traumatic injury, during which the likelihood of preventing death through prompt medical care is the highest.</li>
<li>The central government may also make a scheme for providing interim relief to claimants seeking compensation under third party insurance.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Compulsory insurance:</strong> The Bill requires the central government to constitute <strong>Motor Vehicle Accident Fund,</strong> to provide compulsory insurance cover to all road users in India. It will be utilised for:
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Treatment of persons injured in road accidents as per the golden hour scheme.</li>
<li>Compensation to representatives of a person who died in a hit and run accident.</li>
<li>Compensation to a person grievously hurt in a hit and run accident, and</li>
<li>Compensation to any other persons as prescribed by the central government.</li>
<li>This Fund will be credited through: (i) payment of a nature notified by the central government, (ii) a grant or loan made by the central government, (iii) balance of the Solatium Fund (existing funds under the Act to provide compensation for hit and run accidents), or (iv) any other source as prescribed the central government.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Road Safety Board:</strong> The Bill provides for a <strong>National Road Safety Board,</strong> to be created by the central government through a notification. The Board will advise the central and state governments on all aspects of road safety and traffic management including:
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Standards of motor vehicles</li>
<li>Registration and licensing of vehicles</li>
<li>Standards for road safety</li>
<li>Promotion of new vehicle technology</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h2 id="27">Education</h2>
<h3 id="28">The Central Educational Institutions (Reservation in Teacher&rsquo;s Cadre) Bill, 2019</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The Central Educational Institutions (Reservation in Teachers Cadre) Bill, 2019 was passed by Parliament. It replaces an Ordinance promulgated in March 2019.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The Bill provides for reservation of teaching positions in central educational institutions for persons belonging to:
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Scheduled Castes</li>
<li>Scheduled Tribes</li>
<li>Socially and educationally backward classes</li>
<li>Economically weaker sections.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>The key features of the Bill include:</strong>
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Reservation of posts:</strong> The Bill provides for reservation of posts in direct recruitment of teachers (out of the sanctioned strength) in central educational institutions. For the purpose of such reservation, a central educational institution will be regarded as one unit.
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>This implies that the allocation of teaching posts for reserved categories would be done on the basis of all positions of the same level (such as assistant professor) across departments. Note that, under previous guidelines, each department was regarded as an individual unit for the purpose of reservation.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Coverage and exceptions:</strong> The Bill will apply to &lsquo;central educational institutions&rsquo; which include universities set up by Acts of Parliament, institutions deemed to be a university, institutions of national importance, and institutions receiving aid from the central government.
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>However, it excludes certain institutions of excellence, research institutions, and institutions of national and strategic importance which have been specified in the Bill. Further, it also excludes minority education institutions.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3 id="29">The Central Universities (Amendment) Bill, 2019</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The Central Universities (Amendment) Bill, 2019 was passed by Parliament. The Bill seeks to amend the <strong>Central Universities Act, 2009,</strong> which establishes universities for teaching and research in various states.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The Bill provides for the <strong>establishment of two central universities in Andhra Pradesh</strong> to be known as the Central University of Andhra Pradesh, and the <strong>Central Tribal University</strong> of Andhra Pradesh.</li>
<li>The Central Tribal University will take additional measures to provide higher educational and research facilities in tribal art, culture, and customs primarily to the tribal population of India.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h2 id="30">Housing and Urban Affairs</h2>
<h3 id="31">The Public Premises (Eviction of Unauthorised Occupants)</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The Public Premises (Eviction of Unauthorised Occupants) Amendment Bill, 2019 was introduced and passed by Lok Sabha. The Bill amends the <strong>Public Premises (Eviction of Unauthorised Occupants) Act, 1971</strong>.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The Act provides for the eviction of unauthorised occupants from public premises in certain cases.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Residential accommodation:</strong> The Bill defines <strong>&lsquo;residential accommodation occupation&rsquo;</strong> as the occupation of public premises by a person on the grant of a license for such an occupation. The license must be given for a fixed tenure, or for the period the person holds office.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Further, the occupation must be allowed under the rules made by the central, state or union territory government, or a statutory authority (such as Parliament Secretariat, or a central government company, or premises belonging to a state government).</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Notice for eviction:</strong> The Bill adds a provision laying down the procedure for eviction from residential accommodation. It requires an estate officer (an officer of the central government) to issue a written notice to a person if he is in unauthorised occupation of a residential accommodation.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The notice will require the person to show cause why an eviction order should not be made against him, within three working days. The written notice must be fixed to a conspicuous part of the accommodation, in a prescribed manner.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Order of eviction:</strong> After considering the cause shown, and making any other inquiries, the estate officer will make an order for eviction. If the person fails to comply with the order, the estate officer may evict such person from the residential accommodation, and take possession of it. For this purpose, the estate officer may also use such force as necessary.</li>
<li><strong>Payment of damages:</strong> If the person in unauthorised occupation of the residential accommodation challenges the eviction order passed by the estate officer in court, he will be required to pay damages for every month of such occupation.</li>
</ul>
<h3 id="32">Draft Model Tenancy Act, 2019 released</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The <strong>Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs</strong> released the <strong>draft Model Tenancy Act, 2019</strong>. The draft Act seeks to provide for the regulation and speedy adjudication of matters related to rental housing.</li>
<li>It also seeks to repeal the existing state/union territories (UTs) Rent Control Acts.</li>
<li>The final draft Model Tenancy Act will be circulated to states. States may enact a new tenancy law or amend their existing laws to align with the provisions of this Model Act.</li>
<li><strong>Key features of the draft Act include:</strong>
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Tenancy Agreement:</strong> The draft Act provides for a tenancy agreement to be signed between the landowner and the tenant (parties). The duration of tenancy, rent payable, and revision of rent will be as agreed upon between both parties and as specified in the agreement. No person will let out or rent any premises without such agreement.
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Further such agreement must be registered with the Rent Authority, in a form as specified in the schedule to the Act. This will include details such as name, address, PAN and Aadhaar numbers of the landowner and tenant, details of the premises, and the rent payable.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Rent Authority:</strong> The District Collector, with prior approval of the state/UT government, will appoint the Rent Authority (at the rank of Deputy Collector). The Rent Authority, on receiving information on a tenancy agreement, must upload details of the agreement on its website. The Authority may also, on application by the landowner or tenant, fix or revise the rent, and the date from which the revised rent will apply. Appeals against the Authority&rsquo;s orders will lie with the Rent Court, and must be made within 30 days from the date of the order.</li>
<li><strong>Rent Courts:</strong> The state government may constitute as many Rent Courts as it deems necessary. Two or more Courts can be constituted for any area. In such cases the state/UT government may regulate the distribution of business among them.
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>A Rent Court may consist of two members to be appointed by the state/UT government in consultation with the High Court. Appeals against a Rent Court&rsquo;s orders will lie with the Rent Tribunal, and must be made within 30 days from the date of the order.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Rent Tribunal:</strong> The state government may constitute as many Rent Tribunals as it deems necessary. In case an area has several such Tribunals, the state/UT government may notify one of them as the Principal Rent Tribunal.
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>The Rent Tribunal will be headed by a Principal Appellate Member (at the level of a High Court Judge), and comprise of two other members. The Rent Courts and Tribunals will seek to dispose of a case within 60 days.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h2 id="33">Civil Aviation</h2>
<h3 id="34" the="" strong="">Airports Economic Regulatory Authority of India (Amendment) Bill, 2019</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The Airports Economic Regulatory Authority of India (Amendment) Bill, 2019 was introduced in and passed by Rajya Sabha. It amends the <strong>Airports Economic Regulatory Authority of India Act, 2008</strong>.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The Act established the Airports Economic Regulatory Authority of India (AERA).</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>The AERA regulates tariffs and other charges for aeronautical services provided at civilian airports with annual traffic above 15 lakh passengers. It monitors the performance standard of services across these airports.</li>
</ul>
</div>
</li>
<li><strong>Definition of major airports:</strong> The Act defines a major airport as one with annual passenger traffic over 15 lakh, or any other airports as notified by the central government.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The Bill increases the threshold of annual passenger traffic for major airports to over 35 lakh.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Tariff determination by AERA:</strong> Under the Act, AERA is responsible for determining:
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The tariff for aeronautical services at different airports every five years</li>
<li>The development fees of major airports</li>
<li>The passengers service fee.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>It can also call for necessary information to determine tariffs and perform any other tariff-related functions, including amending the tariffs if necessary in the interim period.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The Bill adds that AERA will not determine: (i) the tariff, (ii) tariff structures, or (iii) the development fees, in certain cases.
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>These cases include those where such tariff amounts were a part of the bid document on the basis of which the airport operations were awarded. AERA will be consulted by the concessioning authority before incorporating such tariffs in the bid document, and such tariffs must be notified.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h2 id="35">Jal Shakti</h2>
<h3 id="36">The Inter-State River Water Disputes (Amendment) Bill, 2019</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The Inter-State River Water Disputes (Amendment) Bill, 2019 was introduced and passed by Lok Sabha. It amends the <strong>Inter-State River Water Disputes Act, 1956</strong>.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The Act provides for the adjudication of disputes relating to waters of inter-state rivers and river valleys.</li>
<li>Under the Act, a state government may request the central government to refer an inter-state river dispute to a Tribunal for adjudication. If the central government is of the opinion that the dispute cannot be settled through negotiations, it is required to set up a Water Disputes Tribunal for adjudication of the dispute, within a year of receiving such a complaint. The Bill seeks to replace this mechanism.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Disputes Resolution Committee:</strong> Under the Bill, when a state puts in a request regarding any water dispute, the central government will set up a <strong>Disputes Resolution Committee (DRC),</strong> to resolve the dispute amicably.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The DRC will comprise of a Chairperson, and experts with at least 15 years of experience in relevant sectors, to be nominated by the central government. It will also comprise one member from each state (at Joint Secretary level), who are party to the dispute, to be nominated by the concerned state government.</li>
<li>The DRC will seek to resolve the dispute through negotiations, within one year (extendable by six months), and submit its report to the central government. If a dispute cannot be settled by the DRC, the central government will refer it to the Inter-State River Water Disputes Tribunal. Such referral must be made within three months from the receipt of the report from the DRC.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Tribunal:</strong> The central government will set up an <strong>Inter-State River Water Disputes Tribunal,</strong> for the adjudication of water disputes. This Tribunal can have multiple benches. All existing Tribunals will be dissolved, and the water disputes pending adjudication before such existing Tribunals will be transferred to the new Tribunal.</li>
<li><strong>Composition of the Tribunal:</strong> The Tribunal will consist of a Chairperson, Vice-Chairperson, three judicial members, and three expert members.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>They will be appointed by the central government on the recommendation of a Selection Committee. Each Tribunal Bench will consist of a Chairperson or Vice-Chairperson, a judicial member, and an expert member. The central government may also appoint two experts serving in the Central Water Engineering Service as assessors to advise the Bench in its proceedings. The assessor should not be from the state which is a party to the dispute.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3 id="37">The Dam Safety Bill, 2019</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The Dam Safety Bill, 2019 was introduced in Lok Sabha. The Bill provides for the surveillance, inspection, operation, and maintenance of specified dams across the country. It also provides for an institutional mechanism to ensure the safety of such dams.</li>
<li><strong>Key features of the Bill include:</strong>
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Applicability of the Bill:</strong> The Bill applies to all specified dams in the country. These are dams with: (i) height more than 15 m, or (ii) height between 10 to 15 m and subject to certain design and structural conditions.</li>
<li><strong>National Committee on Dam Safety:</strong> The Bill provides for the constitution of a National Committee on Dam Safety. Its functions include: (i) formulating policies and regulations on dam safety standards, and (ii) analysing causes of dam failures.</li>
<li><strong>National Dam Safety Authority:</strong> The Bill provides for a National Dam Safety Authority. Functions of the Authority include: (i) implementing the policies formulated by the National Committee on Dam Safety, and (ii) resolving issues between State Dam Safety Organisations (SDSOs), or between a SDSO and any dam owner in that state.</li>
<li><strong>State Dam Safety Organisation (SDSO):</strong> State governments will establish State Dam Safety Organisations (SDSOs). All specified dams in a state will fall under the jurisdiction of that state&rsquo;s SDSO.
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>However, the National Dam Safety Authority will act as the SDSO in cases where a dam: (i) is owned by one state but situated in another state, (ii) extends over multiple states, or (iii) is owned by a central public sector undertaking.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Functions of the SDSOs include:</strong>
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Monitoring the operation and maintenance of dams</li>
<li>Keeping a database of dams, and</li>
<li>Recommending safety measures to dam owners</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>State Committee on Dam Safety:</strong> The Bill provides for the constitution of State Committees on Dam Safety by the state governments.</li>
<li><strong>Their functions include:</strong>
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Reviewing the work of the SDSO</li>
<li>Ordering dam safety investigations, and</li>
<li>Assessing the potential impact of dams on upstream and downstream states.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Obligations of dam owners:</strong> The Bill requires the owners of specified dams to provide a dam safety unit in each dam. This unit will inspect the dams: (i) before and after the monsoon session, and (ii) during and after every earthquake, flood, or any other calamity or sign of distress.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h2 id="38">Defence</h2>
<h3 id="39">Ministry introduces scheme for promotion of MSMEs in defence</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The Ministry of Defence has introduced a scheme for <strong>promotion of MSMEs in the defence sector</strong>.</li>
<li>The scheme <strong>aims to educate MSMEs in tier II and tier III cities</strong> across the country about the requirements of the defence sector, and the provisions introduced by the government to incentivise them.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>This will be done through organising various events such as conclaves, and workshops. These events will include industry and MSME presence along with the support of the Department of Defence Production.</li>
<li><strong>The objective of these events include:</strong>
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Providing MSMEs with relevant information about the government&rsquo;s &lsquo;Make in India&rsquo; programme</li>
<li>Giving impetus to defence production in the country for domestic needs and export to friendly countries, and</li>
<li>Providing knowledge to MSMEs active in the non-defence sector for their entry in the defence sector.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>Funding for the scheme will be provided by the central government in the following manner:
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Maximum sponsorship of Rs 2 lakh per event for national level events, and</li>
<li>Maximum sponsorship of Rs 1 lakh per event for state level events. An Empowered Committee consisting of three members will be constituted to review proposals under the scheme.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>',
			'postdate' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenTime) {},
			'url' => 'https://www.drishtiias.com/prs-capsule/prs-capsule-july-2019'
		],
		(int) 2 => [
			'title' => 'Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (Amendment) Bill, 2019 and related concerns',
			'catname' => 'News Editorials',
			'desc' => '<div class="border">
<p>The article is based on the recent Amendments in the POCSO Act, 2012 and the concerns related to the newly introduced death penalty in the law as pointed in the article <a href="https://www.thehindu.com/opinion/op-ed/a-point-to-ponder-over-in-the-pocso-bill/article28984831.ece" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>&ldquo;A Point to Ponder Over in the POCSO Bill&rdquo;</strong></a> published in The Hindu on 12<sup>th</sup> August.</p>
</div>
<h3>Context</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Recently the <strong>Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (Amendment) Bill, 2019</strong> was passed by both Houses of Parliament with an objective of stopping the rampant sexual abuse of children.</li>
<li>It seeks to provide more stringent punishment, including death penalty, for sexual crimes against children.</li>
<li>The present bill is welcome in certain respects as it specifically defines what &lsquo;child pornography&rsquo; is; &lsquo;using a child for pornographic purposes&rsquo; and for &lsquo;possessing or storing pornography involving a child&rsquo; is punishable. It has also widened the ambit of &lsquo;aggravated sexual assault&rsquo;.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Significance</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The amendment is expected to discourage the trend of child sexual abuse by acting as a deterrent due to strong penal provisions incorporated in the Act.</li>
<li>It intends to protect the interest of vulnerable children in times of distress and ensures their safety and dignity.</li>
<li>The amendment is aimed to establish clarity regarding the aspects of child abuse and punishment thereof.</li>
<li>It is <strong>gender-neutral</strong> and thus looks into the sexual assault of both minor boys and girls.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Introduction of Death Penalty</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The bill seeks for the death penalty for aggravated sexual assault on children to create deterent effect.</li>
<li>It refers to the judgments of the Supreme Court in <em><strong>Machhi Singh </strong></em><strong>(1983)</strong> and <em><strong>Devender Pal Singh </strong></em><strong>(2002)</strong> in which the court had held that the death penalty can be awarded only in rarest of rare cases.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Concerns over death penalty</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Often, the perpetrators of abuse are family members and having such penalty may discourage the registration of the crime itself. Also, it may threaten the life of the minor as the maximum punishment for murder is also the death sentence.</li>
<li>The Justice <em><strong>J.S. Verma Committee,</strong></em> which was constituted in 2013 in the aftermath of the Nirbhaya case, after due deliberations found itself against the imposition of death penalty in rape cases.</li>
<li>The <em><strong>262<sup>nd</sup> Report of the Law Commission of India, 2015,</strong></em> also provides for abolition of the death penalty except in terror cases.</li>
<li>It largely diverts attention from the core issues of infrastructural apathy, procedural lapses and trial delays and conveniently evades the fact that <em>&lsquo;it is the certainty of punishment rather than its severity which has deterrence in real sense&rsquo;.</em></li>
<li>Research at the global level has shown that despite stringent punishments, there is no fall in the rate of commission of crimes, thus showing the limitation of the deterrent theory.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Other Concerns</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>According to the <strong>National Crime Records Bureau(NCRB) data of 2016, the conviction rate in POCSO cases is 29.6%</strong> while <strong>pendency is as high as 89%.</strong> The prescribed time period of two months for trial in such cases is hardly complied with.</li>
<li>As per the NCRB data of 2016, less than three per cent of child rape cases that came up before the courts ended in convictions.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Way Forward</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Problems related to implementation of POCSO Act such as lack of adequate special courts, lack of sensitization for investigators and prosecutors in dealing with child victims, poor rate of convictions etc. need to be resolved urgently.</li>
<li>The Supreme Court direction to set up special courts within 60 days of the order in each district having more than 100 pending cases under the act must be complied with urgently.</li>
<li>The provision of death penalty should be widely discussed and debated and should be used only for the rarest of the rare cases.</li>
<li>Awareness and sensitization of people is equally important to prevent the crime itself.</li>
<li>There needs to be an overhaul of the criminal justice system in the country rather than emphasising on the death penalty.</li>
</ul>
<table border="1" style="border-collapse: collapse; background-color: #baf2f7; border-color: #00626b; border-style: dashed;" width="878" height="57">
<tbody>
<tr>
<td style="width: 877px; background-color: #daf1f2;">
<p><em><strong>Drishti Input</strong></em></p>
<p>Critically examine the provisions of &ldquo;Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (Amendment) Bill, 2019&rdquo;, alongwith gaps in criminal justice system of India, to effectively prevent child sexual abuse cases in India.</p>
</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>',
			'postdate' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenTime) {},
			'url' => 'https://www.drishtiias.com/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/protection-of-children-from-sexual-offences-amendment-bill-2019-and-related-concerns'
		],
		(int) 3 => [
			'title' => 'Performance Indicators for Public Sector Banks',
			'catname' => 'News Analysis',
			'desc' => '<p>The Finance Ministry to closely monitor the Public Sector Banks (PSBs) achievements on <strong>16 Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) at the branch, region, state and national level in order to address the continuing decline of PSBs shares in Indian banking.</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>PSBs&rsquo; market share is declining while that of private banks is rising. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>As of end-December 2018 PSBs accounted for 63% of the outstanding credit of scheduled commercial banks against 67% as of June-end 2017.</li>
<li>The fall comes in the backdrop of these banks facing asset quality issues since 2015.</li>
<li>Further, <strong>Non-Banking Financial Companies <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/A%20nuanced%20understanding%20of%20the%20NBFC%20sector" target="_blank" rel="noopener">(NBFCs)</a></strong> are borrowing from banks and are able to attract customers in spite of higher interest rates.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>The 16 KPIs include-</strong> Credit for infrastructure, Farm sector, Blue economy, Housing, MSMEs, Stand-Up India scheme, Education, Exports, Green economy, Cleanliness activities, Financial inclusion and women&rsquo;s empowerment; and others such as direct benefit transfer, digital economy, ATM usage and performance, ease of living and corporate social responsibility.</li>
<li>The banks will then be <strong>benchmarked against the 18 PSBs&rsquo; average.</strong> If found lagging, specific action will be taken after consultation at various levels to improve their performance.</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/954image4.jpg" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/954image4.jpg" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" caption="false" width="421" height="376" /></a></p>
<p><a href="https://www.thehindubusinessline.com/money-and-banking/finmin-plans-16-point-kra-to-push-psbs/article28988309.ece" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Source: BL</strong></a></p>',
			'postdate' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenTime) {},
			'url' => 'https://www.drishtiias.com/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/performance-indicators-for-public-sector-banks'
		],
		(int) 4 => [
			'title' => 'Stimulus Package to Reverse Economic Slowdown',
			'catname' => 'News Analysis',
			'desc' => '<p>Recently, many economic indicators have pointed to a sharp slowdown in demand, both in rural and urban India.</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>For instance, the automobile sector is facing a prolonged slump in demand, leading to massive job losses.</li>
<li>In this context, the government looks to reverse economic slowdown with a <strong>stimulus package.</strong></li>
</ul>
<h3>Reasons for the Slowdown</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>India&rsquo;s merchandise exports have contracted, signalling the impact of <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/us-china-trade-war-can-make-indian-products-competitive-cii" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>US-China trade war.</strong></a></li>
<li><strong>Poor sentiment</strong> in the <strong>equity markets</strong> and in the <strong>banking sector</strong> have led to <strong>stalling the investment</strong> in India.</li>
<li>With domestic <strong>economic activity remaining weak,</strong> while the <strong>global slowdown</strong> and <strong>trade tensions</strong> have intensified, there are further chances of intensification of this slowdown.</li>
<li>In this scenario, <strong>the industry has demanded a stimulus package of ₹1 trillion</strong> to initiate an investment cycle amid slowing global and domestic slowdown.</li>
</ul>
<p style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/780image3.jpg" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/780image3.jpg" width="617" height="374" caption="false" /></a></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The government realized that <strong>the tight fiscal policy is proving to be counterproductive</strong> and that <strong>monetary policy alone is not enough to spur economic growth.</strong>
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Therefore, it has laid down a set of measures <strong>including tax cuts and targeted sops,</strong> to reverse an economic downturn.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Proposed Measures</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The measures being considered are:
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The stimulus package will include <strong>Rs 100 trillion infrastructure investment</strong> over the next five years</li>
<li><strong>Goods and services tax (GST) relief</strong> to specific sectors, including the automobile sector, that could boost demand.</li>
<li><strong>Reduce Red tape</strong> on cross-border trade and improve <strong>ease of doing business.</strong></li>
<li>The government also held that, in an effort to boost exports, it is working on a <strong>new <a href="/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-international-institution/world-trade-organisation-wto" target="_blank" rel="noopener">World Trade Organization</a>-compliant duty reimbursement scheme.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Significance</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Earlier Fiscal Responsibility and Budget Management (FRBM) Act <strong>constrained</strong> the government from providing a fiscal push in the Union budget.</li>
<li>But the government is considering the use of <strong>escape clause</strong> (in the FRBM Act) for deviation in the fiscal deficit up to <strong>50 basis points.</strong>
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>It may give the government leeway to spend an <strong>additional ₹1.15 trillion</strong> in the current fiscal.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Escape Clause:</strong> The panel led by <strong>N.K. Singh</strong> to review the FRBM Act had suggested an escape clause, allowing deviations up to 0.5 percentage points of Gross Domestic Product, based on triggers including far-reaching structural reforms in the economy <strong>with unanticipated fiscal implications, acts of war and farm distress.</strong></li>
</ul>
<p><strong><a href="https://www.livemint.com/news/india/govt-looks-to-reverse-economic-slowdown-with-a-stimulus-package-1565545760249.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Source:Mint</a></strong></p>',
			'postdate' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenTime) {},
			'url' => 'https://www.drishtiias.com/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/stimulus-package-to-reverse-economic-slowdown-1'
		],
		(int) 5 => [
			'title' => 'Sabki Yojana Sabka Vikas Campaign',
			'catname' => 'News Analysis',
			'desc' => '<p>The central government has decided to launch the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/important-facts-for-prelims-03rd-october-2018" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>People's Plan Campaign,</strong></a> also known as <strong>&ldquo;Sabki Yojana Sabka Vikas&rdquo;</strong> from September 2019.</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>It aims to draw up <strong>Gram Panchayat Development Plans</strong> (GPDPs) in the country and <strong>place them on a website</strong> where anyone can see the status of the various government&rsquo;s flagship schemes.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Background</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>A pilot exercise conducted in 2018 suggests that a <strong>majority of the GPs scored between 41% and 50% on a scale of 100, showing glaring deficiencies.</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Merely 0.1% and 0.6% GPs fell in the high 91-100 and 81-90 score respectively.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>A comparison of the performance among the larger states shows that <strong>Kerala, Tamil Nadu, and Andhra Pradesh,</strong> in that order, were the top scorers, while GPs in <strong>Jharkhand, Assam, Bihar, and Madhya Pradesh were at the bottom.</strong></li>
<li>A recent study of 100 randomly chosen GPs by <strong>National Institute of Rural Development</strong> has shown that several GP has reported improvements while others have slipped down over the past year. A fresh survey is, therefore, significant.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Gram Panchayat Development Plans</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Gram Panchayats have been mandated for the <strong>preparation of GPDP for economic development and social justice</strong> utilizing the resources available to them.</li>
<li>The GPDP planning process will be comprehensive and participatory by involving <strong>full convergence</strong> with the schemes of all related Central Ministries / Line Departments.</li>
<li>The People's Plan Campaign initiated under "Sabki Yojana Sabka Vikas" is an intensive and structured exercise for planning at Gram Sabha through <strong>convergence between <a href="/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-national-institutions/panchayati-raj-institution-pri" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Panchayati Raj Institutions (PRIs)</a> and concerned departments of the State.</strong></li>
</ul>
<h3>About the process</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Gram Panchayat Development Plans (GPDPs) will include <strong>48 indicators</strong> covering various aspects such as health and sanitation, education etc.</li>
<li>After each GP is scored out of 100 &mdash; <strong>with 30 marks for infrastructure, 30 marks for human development, and 40 marks for economic activity</strong>&mdash; the GPs will be ranked.</li>
<li>The data on the 48 indicators would come from Census 2011 (for physical infrastructure), <strong>Socio-Economic Caste Census 2011</strong> (for Household-level deprivation data), and fresh survey starting in September 2019 that will be carried out by <strong>local facilitators.</strong></li>
<li>The score for each GP will reflect the <strong>local needs and priorities.</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>For instance, for a drought-prone area, water conservation would be accorded the highest priority.</li>
<li>Within this ranking, households suffering the worst deprivations would be prioritised further.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>The entire ranking exercise is <strong>meant to identify the gaps at the GP level, make an assessment of where it stands, and accordingly plan the interventions.</strong></li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>National Institute of Rural Development and Panchayati Raj</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The National Institute of Rural Development and Panchayati Raj (NIRD&amp;PR) is an <strong>autonomous organisation under the Union Ministry of Rural Development.</strong></li>
<li>It is recognized internationally as one of the <strong>United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/survey-2019-ambitions-beyond-growth-escap" target="_blank" rel="noopener">(UNESCAP)</a> Centres of Excellence.</strong></li>
<li>It <strong>builds capacities</strong> of rural development functionaries, elected representatives of PRIs, bankers, NGOs and other stakeholders through interrelated activities of training, research and consultancy.</li>
<li>Establishment in 1958, the Institute is <strong>located at Hyderabad in Telangana.</strong></li>
<li>In addition to the main campus at Hyderabad, this Institute has <strong>North-Eastern Regional Centre at Guwahati, Assam</strong> to meet the NE-regional needs.</li>
</ul>
</div>
<p><a href="https://indianexpress.com/article/india/coming-digital-push-to-gram-panchayats-5896818/" 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/sabki-yojana-sabka-vikas-campaign'
		],
		(int) 6 => [
			'title' => 'India’s First and Longest Sea Ropeway',
			'catname' => 'News Analysis',
			'desc' => '<p>India&rsquo;s first and longest sea ropeway project that will <strong>connect Mumbai with the Elephanta Caves,</strong> is scheduled to start by the end of the year 2019.</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The <strong>8-km ropeway</strong> will begin from Sewri in Mumbai&rsquo;s east coast and end at Raigad district&rsquo;s Elephanta Island.</li>
<li><strong>Need:</strong> The caves see an annual footfall of nearly seven lakh visitors and are one of the must-visit places around Mumbai. Presently, it takes around an hour for the 10-km cruise from Mumbai and vice versa.</li>
<li>The <strong>14-minute ride by 30-seater cable cars</strong> will give a major boost to tourism.</li>
<li>It is Rs. <strong>700 crore PPP (Public-Private Partnership) project</strong> which will be <strong>executed by the Mumbai Port Trust,</strong> under the Ministry of Shipping.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Elephanta Caves<a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/210image2.jpg" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/210image2.jpg" width="256" height="192" style="float: right;" caption="false" /></a></h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The <strong>Elephanta caves,</strong> located on the Elephanta Islands (in the Arabian Sea), off Mumbai, was declared a <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/kailash-mansarovar-in-tentative-list-of-world-heritage-sites" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>world heritage site</strong></a> by UNESCO in 1987.</li>
<li>Known locally as <strong>Gharapuri Caves,</strong> these were constructed about the mid-5<sup>th</sup> to 6<sup>th</sup> centuries AD.</li>
<li>The<strong> seven caves</strong> constitute one of the most striking collections of rock-art in India. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>There are two groups of caves. To the east, Stupa Hill (named because of a small brick Buddhist monument at the top) contains two caves, one of which is unfinished, and several cisterns.</li>
<li>To the west, the larger group consists of five rock-cut Hindu shrines.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>The main cave is universally famous for its <strong>carvings to the glory of Shiva,</strong> who is exalted in various forms and actions. The cave consists of a square plan mandapa whose sides measure about 27 m.</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="https://indianexpress.com/article/india/connecting-mumbai-to-the-elephanta-caves-final-clearance-for-indias-longest-ropeway-over-sea-project-to-be-issued-soon-5897144/" 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/india-s-first-and-longest-sea-ropeway'
		],
		(int) 7 => [
			'title' => 'Indian National Science Academy',
			'catname' => 'News Analysis',
			'desc' => '<p><strong>Chandrima Shaha</strong> will be the <strong>first woman president</strong> of the Indian National Science Academy (INSA), taking up the position in January 2020. She was formerly the Director of the National Institute of Immunology, Delhi.</p>
<h3>Indian National Science Academy</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The INSA, <strong>formerly known as National Institute of Sciences of India (NISI)</strong> was established in January <strong>1935</strong> with the object of promoting science in India and harnessing scientific knowledge for the cause of humanity and national welfare.</li>
<li>In October 1945, the then Government of India recognized the institute as the premier scientific society of India, representing all branches of science.</li>
<li>It was designated as the<strong> adhering organization in India to the International Council for Science (ICSU)</strong> on behalf of the Government of India in January 1968.</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Note:</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The International Council for Science (ICSU) and the International Social Science Council (ISSC) were merged to form the International Science Council (ISC) in 2018.</li>
<li>ISC is a <strong>non-governmental organization</strong> with a unique global membership that brings together 40 international scientific Unions and Associations and over 140 national and regional scientific organizations including Academies and Research Councils.</li>
<li>The vision of the Council is to advance science as a global public good.</li>
<li>ISC is headquartered in <strong>Paris, France.</strong></li>
</ul>
</div>
<p><a href="https://www.thehindu.com/sci-tech/science/science-needs-to-be-communicated-aggressively-among-people/article28984837.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/indian-national-science-academy'
		],
		(int) 8 => [
			'title' => 'Public Distribution System',
			'catname' => 'Paper 3',
			'desc' => '<p style="text-align: center;"><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/883Public Distribution System (Mind Map)_Artboard 1.jpg" width="426" height="1220" /></p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><em><a href="/to-the-points/paper3/public-distribution-system-1" target="_blank" rel="noopener">For TTP</a></em></p>',
			'postdate' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenTime) {},
			'url' => 'https://www.drishtiias.com/mind-map/gs-paper3/public-distribution-system-mindmap'
		],
		(int) 9 => [
			'title' => 'Inverted-J Pattern in Education and Fertility',
			'catname' => 'News Analysis',
			'desc' => '<p>Recently released official data from 2017 on the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/indias-falling-fertility-rate" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Total Fertility Rate (TFR)</strong></a>, reflects a complex relationship between<strong> literacy level and fertility rate.</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>According to <strong>conventional wisdom:</strong> The higher the educational level of a woman, the lower the fertility rate.</li>
<li>However, there&rsquo;s a consistent pattern across states of illiterate women and those with no formal education having lower fertility rates than those with below primary level education.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Culture of the state</strong> is believed to have a greater influence than <strong>education.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Pattern from TFR data</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The relationship between fertility and education resembles an <strong>inverted-J pattern.</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Usually, there is an <strong>inverse relationship</strong> between education or income and fertility, <strong>but it has been observed that fertility could go up with a slight increase in education or income level.</strong></li>
<li>But eventually, fertility declines with higher levels of education.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/522image1.jpg" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/522image1.jpg" width="500" height="364" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" caption="false" /></a></p>
<h3>Highlights of the Report</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>In Bihar, the TFR of women who have not completed primary schooling is 4.4 compared to 3.7 for illiterate women.</li>
<li>Similarly, in Odisha with an overall low fertility rate of just 1.9, the TFR of illiterate women was 2 compared to a TFR of 3.6-3.5 among those with primary level schooling or below.</li>
<li>At the <strong>all-India level,</strong> the TFR for women with below primary education was 3.1 compared to 2.9 for illiterate women and 2.4 for those without formal education.</li>
</ul>
<p>However, according to demographers and population experts, It is <strong>very early to come up with some conclusion.</strong> Similar pattern has to emerge for three or four years (above mentioned pattern is only for the year 2017), so that this Inverted J-curve can be approved as a theory.</p>
<p><a href="https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/in-reducing-fertility-a-little-education-may-be-worse-than-none-shows-data/articleshow/70635707.cms" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Source:TOI</strong></a></p>',
			'postdate' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenTime) {},
			'url' => 'https://www.drishtiias.com/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/inverted-j-pattern-in-education-and-fertility'
		],
		(int) 10 => [
			'title' => 'Mobile Application to Aid Farmers',
			'catname' => 'News Analysis',
			'desc' => '<p>Government to launch a new mobile application, <strong>&ldquo;Uber for tractors&rdquo;</strong>, which will help in <strong>hiring of expensive agricultural equipment.</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Customer Hiring Centres (CHCs)</strong> will be connected with the help of this app, just like the Uber connects an individual with cabs.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>There are now more than 38,000 custom hiring centres (CHCs) across the country, which rent out 2.5 lakh pieces of farm equipment every year.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>The app will show the CHCs which have the equipment available within <strong>5, 20 and 50 km of location,</strong> with their rates.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Benefits</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Informed Decisions:</strong> Feedback from both the CHC and the farmers will allow customers to make <strong>informed decisions.</strong></li>
<li><strong>Database:</strong> The app will also create an <strong>invaluable database for policy-makers,</strong> who can track the use and cost of equipment.</li>
<li><strong>Promotion of New Technology:</strong> The system would also help to <strong>track the usage of new technology</strong> that the government wants to promote, such as the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/crop-stubble-burning-challenge-in-punjab" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Happy Seeder</strong></a> that aims to prevent stubble burning that causes air pollution, or <strong>solar dryers</strong> that can help farmers process and preserve their produce.</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Solar Dryers</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Solar dryers uses solar energy in <strong>drying applications.</strong></li>
<li>They use air heated through <strong>solar energy collectors,</strong> which can be installed in modules according to the requirements of hot air.</li>
<li>They have numerous applications in industries such as <strong>textiles, <a href="/to-the-points/paper3/food-processing-in-india" target="_blank" rel="noopener">food processing</a>, paper, pharmaceutical, and agro-industries.</strong></li>
</ul>
</div>
<h3>Customer Hiring Centres</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Customer Hiring Centres (CHCs) are basically <strong>a unit comprising a set of farm machinery, implements and equipment meant for hiring by farmers. </strong></li>
<li><strong>Marginal farmers</strong> (Farmers whose land holdings are less than two hectares of land), by virtue of their economic condition are unable to own farm machinery on their own or through institutional credit. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Therefore in order to bring farm machinery available within the reach of small/marginal holdings, collective ownership or Custom Hiring Centres are being promoted in a big way.&nbsp;</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>Ideally, the CHCs should be located <strong>within a radius of 5 to 7 kms</strong> of land holdings. This will reduce the transport cost and time of transport of agricultural machinery.</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="https://www.thehindu.com/business/agri-business/uber-for-tractors-government-to-launch-app-to-aid-farmers/article28985433.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/mobile-application-to-aid-farmers'
		],
		(int) 11 => [
			'title' => 'Public Distribution System',
			'catname' => 'Paper 3',
			'desc' => '<h3>Introduction</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The Public distribution system (PDS) is an Indian <strong>food Security System</strong> established <strong>under the Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food, and Public Distribution.</strong></li>
<li>PDS evolved as a system of management of scarcity through distribution of food grains at affordable prices.</li>
<li>PDS is operated under the joint responsibility of the Central and the State Governments. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The <strong>Central Government,</strong> through Food Corporation of India (FCI), has assumed the responsibility for procurement, storage, transportation and bulk allocation of food grains to the State Governments.</li>
<li>The operational responsibilities including allocation within the State, identification of eligible families, issue of Ration Cards and supervision of the functioning of Fair Price Shops (FPSs) etc., rest with the <strong>State Governments.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>Under the PDS, presently the commodities namely <strong>wheat, rice, sugar and kerosene</strong> are being allocated to the States/UTs for distribution. Some States/UTs also distribute additional items of mass consumption through the PDS outlets such as pulses, edible oils, iodized salt, spices, etc.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Evolution of PDS in India</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>PDS was <strong>introduced around World War II</strong> as a war-time rationing measure. Before the 1960s, distribution through PDS was generally dependant on imports of food grains.</li>
<li>It was expanded in the 1960s as a response to the food shortages of the time; subsequently, the government set up the <strong>Agriculture Prices Commission</strong> and the <strong>FCI</strong> to improve domestic procurement and storage of food grains for PDS.</li>
<li>By the 1970s, PDS had evolved into a universal scheme for the distribution of subsidised food</li>
<li>Till 1992, PDS was a general entitlement scheme for all consumers without any specific target.</li>
<li>The <strong>Revamped Public Distribution System (RPDS)</strong> was launched in June, 1992 with a view to strengthen and streamline the PDS as well as to improve its reach in the far-flung, hilly, remote and inaccessible areas where a substantial section of the underprivileged classes lives.</li>
<li>In June, 1997, the Government of India launched the <strong>Targeted Public Distribution System (TPDS)</strong> with a focus on the poor.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Under TPDS, beneficiaries were divided into two categories: Households <strong>below the poverty line or BPL;</strong> and Households <strong>above the poverty line or APL.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Antyodaya Anna Yojana (AAY):</strong> AAY was a step in the direction of making TPDS aim at reducing hunger among the poorest segments of the BPL population. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>A National Sample Survey exercise pointed towards the fact that about 5% of the total population in the country sleeps without two square meals a day. In order to make TPDS more focused and targeted towards this category of population, the "Antyodaya Anna Yojana&rdquo; (AAY) was <strong>launched in December, 2000</strong> for one crore poorest of the poor families.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>In September 2013, Parliament enacted the <strong>National Food Security Act, 2013.</strong> The Act relies largely on the existing TPDS to deliver food grains as legal entitlements to poor households. This marks a shift by <strong>making the right to food a justiciable right.</strong></li>
</ul>
<h3>How PDS system functions?</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The Central and State Governments share responsibilities in order to provide food grains to the identified beneficiaries.</li>
<li>The centre procures food grains from farmers at a <strong>minimum support price (MSP)</strong> and sells it to states at <strong>central issue prices.</strong> It is responsible for transporting the grains to godowns in each state.</li>
<li>States bear the responsibility of transporting food grains from these godowns to each fair price shop (ration shop), where the <strong>beneficiary buys the food grains at the lower central issue price.</strong> Many states further subsidise the price of food grains before selling it to beneficiaries.</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1578479997_image52.png" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1578479997_image52.png" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="550" caption="false" /></a></p>
<h3>Importance of PDS</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>It helps in <strong>ensuring Food and Nutritional Security</strong> of the nation.</li>
<li>It has helped in <strong>stabilising food prices</strong> and making food available to the poor at affordable prices.</li>
<li>It <strong>maintains the buffer stock of food grains</strong> in the warehouse so that the flow of food remain active even during the period of less agricultural food production.</li>
<li>It has helped in <strong>redistribution of grains</strong> by supplying food from surplus regions of the country to deficient regions.</li>
<li>The system of minimum support price and procurement has contributed to the increase in food grain production.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Issues Associated with PDS System in India</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Identification of beneficiaries:</strong> Studies have shown that targeting mechanisms such as TPDS are prone to <strong>large inclusion and exclusion errors.</strong> This implies that entitled beneficiaries are not getting food grains while those that are ineligible are getting undue benefits. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>According to the estimation of an expert group set up in 2009, PDS suffers from nearly 61% error of exclusion and 25% inclusion of beneficiaries, i.e. the misclassification of the poor as non-poor and vice versa.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Leakage of food grains:</strong> (Transportation leakages + Black Marketing by FPS owners) TPDS suffers from large leakages of food grains during transportation to and from ration shops into the open market. In an evaluation of TPDS, the erstwhile Planning Commission found 36% leakage of PDS rice and wheat at the all-India level.</li>
<li><strong>Issue with procurement:</strong> Open-ended Procurement i.e., all incoming grains accepted even if buffer stock is filled, creates a shortage in the open market.</li>
<li><strong>Issues with storage:</strong> A performance audit by the <strong>CAG</strong> has revealed a serious <strong>shortfall in the government&rsquo;s storage capacity.</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Given the increasing procurement and incidents of <strong>rotting food grains,</strong> the lack of adequate covered storage is bound to be a cause for concern.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>The provision of <strong>minimum support price (MSP)</strong> has encouraged farmers to divert land from production of coarse grains that are consumed by the poor, to rice and wheat and thus, <strong>discourages crop diversification.</strong></li>
<li><strong>Environmental issues:</strong> The over-emphasis on attaining self-sufficiency and a surplus in food grains, which are water-intensive, has been found to be <strong>environmentally unsustainable.</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Procuring states such as Punjab and Haryana are under environmental stress, including <strong>rapid groundwater depletion, deteriorating soil and water conditions from overuse of fertilisers.</strong></li>
<li>It was found that due to cultivation of rice in north-west India, the water table went down by 33 cm per year during 2002-08.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>PDS Reforms</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Role of Aadhar:</strong> Integrating Aadhar with TPDS will help in better identification of beneficiaries and <strong>address the problem of inclusion and exclusion errors.</strong> According to a study by the Unique Identification Authority of India, using Aadhaar with TPDS would help eliminate duplicate and ghost (fake) beneficiaries, and make identification of beneficiaries more accurate.</li>
<li><strong>Technology-based reforms of TPDS implemented by states: Wadhwa Committee,</strong> appointed by the Supreme court, found that certain states had implemented computerisation and other technology-based reforms to TPDS. Technology-based reforms helped plug leakages of food grains during TPDS.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Tamil Nadu implements a <strong>universal PDS,</strong> such that every household is entitled to subsidised food grains.</li>
<li>States such as Chhattisgarh and Madhya Pradesh have implemented IT measures to streamline TPDS, through the digitisation of ration cards, the use of GPS tracking of delivery, and the use of SMS based monitoring by citizens.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<p><strong><em>Technology-based reforms to TPDS undertaken by some states</em><br /></strong></p>
<table border="1" style="height: 154px; width: 91.6688%; border-collapse: collapse;">
<tbody>
<tr style="height: 19px;">
<td style="width: 20.3178%; height: 19px; vertical-align: top; text-align: left; background-color: #dcf7f0;"><strong>Type of reform</strong></td>
<td style="width: 51.6459%; height: 19px; text-align: left; vertical-align: top; background-color: #dcf7f0;"><strong>Benefits of reform</strong></td>
<td style="width: 27.9228%; height: 19px; text-align: left; vertical-align: top; background-color: #dcf7f0;"><strong>States implementing reforms</strong></td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 35px;">
<td style="width: 20.3178%; height: 10px; text-align: left; vertical-align: top; background-color: #dcf7f0;">Digitisation of ration cards</td>
<td style="width: 51.6459%; height: 10px; text-align: left; vertical-align: top; background-color: #dcf7f0;">
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Allows for online entry and verification of beneficiary data</li>
<li>Online storing of monthly entitlement of beneficiaries, number of dependants, offtake of food grains by beneficiaries from FPS, etc.</li>
</ul>
</td>
<td style="width: 27.9228%; height: 10px; text-align: left; vertical-align: top; background-color: #dcf7f0;">Andhra Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Tamil Nadu, Madhya Pradesh, Karnataka, Gujarat, etc.</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 19px;">
<td style="width: 20.3178%; height: 10px; text-align: left; vertical-align: top; background-color: #dcf7f0;">Computerised allocation to FPS</td>
<td style="width: 51.6459%; height: 10px; text-align: left; vertical-align: top; background-color: #dcf7f0;">
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Computerises FPS allocation, declaration of stock balance, web-based truck challans, etc.</li>
<li>Allows for quick and efficient tracking of transactions</li>
</ul>
</td>
<td style="width: 27.9228%; height: 10px; text-align: left; vertical-align: top; background-color: #dcf7f0;">Chhattisgarh, Delhi, Madhya Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, etc.</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 19px;">
<td style="width: 20.3178%; height: 10px; text-align: left; vertical-align: top; background-color: #dcf7f0;">Issue of smart cards in place of ration cards</td>
<td style="width: 51.6459%; height: 10px; text-align: left; vertical-align: top; background-color: #dcf7f0;">
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Secure electronic devices used to store beneficiary data</li>
<li>Stores data such as name, address, biometrics, BPL/APL category and monthly entitlement of beneficiaries and family members</li>
<li>Prevents counterfeiting</li>
</ul>
</td>
<td style="width: 27.9228%; height: 10px; text-align: left; vertical-align: top; background-color: #dcf7f0;">Haryana, Andhra Pradesh, Odisha etc.</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 99px;">
<td style="width: 20.3178%; height: 10px; text-align: left; vertical-align: top; background-color: #dcf7f0;">Use of GPS technology</td>
<td style="width: 51.6459%; height: 10px; background-color: #dcf7f0; vertical-align: top;">
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Use of Global Positioning System (GPS) technology to track movement of trucks carrying food grains from state depots to FPS</li>
</ul>
</td>
<td style="width: 27.9228%; height: 10px; text-align: left; vertical-align: top; background-color: #dcf7f0;">Chhattisgarh, Tamil Nadu</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 51px;">
<td style="width: 20.3178%; height: 51px; text-align: left; vertical-align: top; background-color: #dcf7f0;">SMS based monitoring</td>
<td style="width: 51.6459%; height: 51px; text-align: left; vertical-align: top; background-color: #dcf7f0;">
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Allows monitoring by citizens so they can register their mobile numbers and send/receive SMS slerts during dispatch and arrival of TPDS commodities</li>
</ul>
</td>
<td style="width: 27.9228%; height: 51px; text-align: left; vertical-align: top; background-color: #dcf7f0;">Chhattisgarh, Uttar Pradesh, Tamil Nadu</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 35px;">
<td style="width: 20.3178%; height: 35px; text-align: left; vertical-align: top; background-color: #dcf7f0;">Use of web-based citizens' portal</td>
<td style="width: 51.6459%; height: 35px; text-align: left; vertical-align: top; background-color: #dcf7f0;">
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Publicises grievance redressal machinery, such as toll free number for call centres to register complaints or suggestions</li>
</ul>
</td>
<td style="width: 27.9228%; height: 35px; text-align: left; vertical-align: top; background-color: #dcf7f0;">Chhattisgarh</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<h3>PDS vs. Cash Transfers</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>National Food Security Act,2013 provides for reforms in the TPDS including schemes such as Cash transfers for provisioning of food entitlements.</li>
<li><strong>Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT)</strong> aims to: <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>reduce the need for huge physical movement of foodgrains</li>
<li>provide greater autonomy to beneficiaries to choose their consumption basket</li>
<li>enhance dietary diversity</li>
<li>reduce leakages</li>
<li>facilitate better targeting</li>
<li>promote financial inclusion</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<p><strong><em>Advantages and disadvantages of PDS and other delivery mechanisms</em></strong></p>
<table border="1" style="border-collapse: collapse; width: 100%;">
<tbody>
<tr style="height: 19px;">
<td style="width: 16.7013%; height: 19px; text-align: left; vertical-align: top; background-color: #dff2ef;"><strong>Machanism</strong></td>
<td style="width: 34.1717%; height: 19px; text-align: left; vertical-align: top; background-color: #dff2ef;"><strong>Advantages</strong></td>
<td style="width: 34.5876%; height: 19px; text-align: left; vertical-align: top; background-color: #dff2ef;"><strong>Disadvantages</strong></td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 83px;">
<td style="width: 16.7013%; height: 27px; text-align: left; vertical-align: top; background-color: #dff2ef;">PDS</td>
<td style="width: 34.1717%; height: 27px; text-align: left; vertical-align: top; background-color: #dff2ef;">
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Insulates beneficiaries from inflation and price volatility</li>
<li>Ensures entitlement is used for food grains only</li>
<li>Well-developed network of FPS ensures access to food grains even in remote areas</li>
</ul>
</td>
<td style="width: 34.5876%; height: 27px; text-align: left; vertical-align: top; background-color: #dff2ef;">
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Low offtake of food grains from each household&nbsp;</li>
<li>High leakage and diversion of subsidised food grain&nbsp;</li>
<li>Adulteration of food grain</li>
<li>Lack of viability of FPS due to low margins</li>
</ul>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 19px;">
<td style="width: 16.7013%; height: 19px; text-align: left; vertical-align: top; background-color: #dff2ef;">Cash transfers</td>
<td style="width: 34.1717%; height: 19px; text-align: left; vertical-align: top; background-color: #dff2ef;">
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Cash in the hands of poor increases their choicess</li>
<li>Cash may relieve financial constraints faced by the poor, make it possible to form thrift societies and access credit</li>
<li>Administrative costs of cash transfer programmes may be significantly lesser than that of other schemes</li>
<li>Potential for making electronic transfer</li>
</ul>
</td>
<td style="width: 34.5876%; height: 19px; text-align: left; vertical-align: top; background-color: #dff2ef;">
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Cash can be used buy non-food items</li>
<li>May expose recipients to price volatility and inflation</li>
<li>There is poor access to banks and post offices in some areas</li>
</ul>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 19px;">
<td style="width: 16.7013%; height: 10px; text-align: left; vertical-align: top; background-color: #dff2ef;">Food coupons</td>
<td style="width: 34.1717%; height: 10px; text-align: left; vertical-align: top; background-color: #dff2ef;">
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Household is given the freedom to choose where it buys food</li>
<li>Increases incentive for competitive prices and assured quality of food grains among PDS stores</li>
<li>Ration shops get full food grains from the poor, no incentive to turn the poor away</li>
</ul>
</td>
<td style="width: 34.5876%; height: 10px; text-align: left; vertical-align: top; background-color: #dff2ef;">
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Food coupons are not indexed for inflation; may expose recipients to inflation</li>
<li>Difficult to administer; there have known to be delays in issuing food coupons and reimbursing shops</li>
</ul>
</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<h3>Way Forward</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>PDS is one of the biggest welfare programmes of the government, helping farmers sell their produce at remunerative prices as well as the poorer sections of society to buy food grains at affordable rates.</li>
<li>Its effectiveness can be enhanced with <strong>technology based solutions</strong> as is evident from some of the states&rsquo; successes towards the same. Shifting towards DBT is another idea, but with caution. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>In its report on State finances, the <strong>Reserve Bank of India (RBI)</strong> has advised States that are planning to shift to cash transfer to be cautious while effecting the migration.</li>
<li><strong>Economic survey 2016-17</strong> also highlighted the need for more caution and better infrastructure while replacing subsidised PDS supplies with DBT.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>Strengthening of the existing TPDS system by capacity building and training of the implementing authorities along with efforts to plug leakages is the best way forward.</li>
<li>It can be further strengthened by the increased public participation through <strong>social audits</strong> and participation of SHGs, Cooperatives and NGOs in ensuring the transparency of PDS system at ground level.</li>
<li>To enhance the nutritional level of masses, <strong>bio-fortified foods</strong> need to be distributed through the PDS that will make it more relevant in the backdrop of prevalent malnutrition in India.</li>
</ul>
<p><em><a href="/mind-map/gs-paper3/public-distribution-system-mindmap" target="_blank" rel="noopener">For Mind Map</a></em></p>',
			'postdate' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenTime) {},
			'url' => 'https://www.drishtiias.com/to-the-points/paper3/public-distribution-system-1'
		],
		(int) 12 => [
			'title' => 'Climate Change and Land',
			'catname' => 'News Editorials',
			'desc' => '<div class="border">
<p>The article is based on the recent IPCC report <a href="https://www.ipcc.ch/report/srccl/" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>&ldquo;Climate change and Land&rdquo;</strong> </a>published on 8<sup>th</sup> August and an editorial <a href="https://indianexpress.com/article/opinion/editorials/climate-change-ipcc-report-global-warming-un-5893072/" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>&ldquo;Climate on the Farm&rdquo;</strong></a> published in The Indian Express on 10<sup>th</sup> August regarding the same.</p>
</div>
<h3>Context</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) recently, on 8th August, released <strong>Special Report on <em>Climate Change and Land</em> (SRCCL)</strong> which finds that we must dramatically change the way we use land to limit global warming to safe levels by 2030.</li>
<li>It is alarmed about the <strong>degrading land resources globally</strong> and its impact on furthering negative effects of climate change. It concluded that better management of the world&rsquo;s farms and forests is necessary to tackle climate change.</li>
<li>The IPCC report warns that clean energy, clean transport and reduction emissions alone will not cut global emissions enough to avoid dangerous warming beyond 2 degrees Celsius.</li>
<li>It points out that the global food system is responsible for 21 to 37 per cent of the world&rsquo;s GHG emissions.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Land Use and Climate change</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>About a quarter of the Earth&rsquo;s ice-free land area is subjected to <em><strong>&ldquo;human-induced degradation''</strong></em> according to the <strong>IPCC report.</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Rapid agricultural expansion</strong> has led to destruction of forests, wetlands and grasslands and other ecosystems thus boosting global warming.</li>
<li><strong>Soil erosion</strong> from agricultural fields, the report estimates, is 10 to 100 times higher than the soil formation rate.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>Land degradation is both cause and consequence of climate change. When land is degraded, it becomes <strong>less productive,</strong> restricting what can be grown and reducing the soil&rsquo;s ability to absorb carbon. This exacerbates climate change, while climate change in turn exacerbates land degradation.</li>
<li><strong>Land serves as a sink for carbon,</strong> because healthy ecosystems and soils can absorb carbon from the atmosphere. Between 2007-2016, these sinks removed 28% of total human carbon dioxide emissions from the air &mdash; an important barrier to even more severe climate change.</li>
<li>However, <strong>degraded land does not have the capacity to absorb carbon; it can actually release carbon.</strong> And it&rsquo;s possible that climate change and human activities could damage land to the point where it becomes a net source of carbon emissions.</li>
<li><strong>Agriculture, forestry and other types of land use</strong> account for 23% of human greenhouse gas emissions. At the same time natural land processes <strong>absorb carbon dioxide equivalent to almost a third of carbon dioxide emissions</strong> from fossil fuels and industry.</li>
<li>Land must remain productive to maintain food security as the population increases as well as the negative impacts of climate change on vegetation increase.</li>
<li>Food security will be increasingly affected by future climate change through yield declines &ndash; especially in the tropics &ndash; increased prices, reduced nutrient quality, and supply chain disruptions.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Mitigation Strategies</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The report shows that <em><strong>sustainable land management</strong></em> can contribute to tackling climate change, but is not the only solution. <strong>Reducing greenhouse gas emissions</strong> from all sectors is essential if global warming is to be kept to well below 2&ordm;C, if not 1.5&ordm;C.</li>
<li>Coordinated action to address climate change can simultaneously <strong>improve land, food security and nutrition, and help to end hunger.</strong></li>
<li>The report highlights that climate change is affecting all <strong>four pillars of food security:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>availability (yield and production),</li>
<li>access (prices and ability to obtain food),</li>
<li>utilization (nutrition and cooking), and</li>
<li>stability (disruptions to availability).</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>More sustainable land use, reducing over-consumption and waste of food, eliminating the clearing and burning of forests, preventing over-harvesting of fuelwood, and reducing greenhouse gas emissions will help to address land related climate change issues.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Significance of the Report</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The report is expected to be a key scientific input into forthcoming climate negotiations, such as the Conference of the Parties of the <strong>UN Convention to Combat Desertification</strong> in Delhi in September and the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change Conference <strong>(COP25)</strong> in Santiago, Chile, in December.</li>
<li>The report could spur moves to pressure developing countries like India to ramp up their global warming mitigation targets.</li>
<li>Countries, including India, could do well to pay heed to the IPCC report&rsquo;s recommendations on curbing land degradation and soil erosion by improving knowledge systems.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Way Forward</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The IPCC report presents another alarming picture regarding climate change effects on agriculture and food systems by emphasising its deleterious effects on land use. It also presents some solutions towards sustainable development strategies to effectively mitigate climate change.</li>
<li>There needs an enhanced commitment from nations more than their pledged <strong>INDCs</strong> (Intended Nationally Determined Contributions) under <strong>Paris Climate Deal.</strong> However, it must not be used to pressurize developing countries to ramp up their global warming mitigation targets.</li>
<li>India, which seems well on course to meeting its Paris Climate Pact targets, should be careful about taking up commitments that hobble its agriculture sector.</li>
</ul>
<table border="1" style="border-collapse: collapse; width: 100%;" height="75">
<tbody>
<tr>
<td style="width: 518px; border-style: dotted; border-color: #002fff; background-color: #faf7d4;">
<p><span style="color: #ff0000;"><em><strong>Drishti Input</strong></em></span></p>
<p><em>&ldquo;Examine the relationship between land use and climate change in the light of food security and global warming&rdquo;</em></p>
</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<p></p>',
			'postdate' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenTime) {},
			'url' => 'https://www.drishtiias.com/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/climate-change-and-land-1'
		],
		(int) 13 => [
			'title' => 'In Depth - Political Funding',
			'catname' => 'Lok Sabha & Rajya Sabha Discussions',
			'desc' => '<p style="text-align: center;"><iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/JYI3V64FcMI" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe></p>
<p>Across the world, political parties need access to money in order to reach out to the electorate, explain their policies and receive inputs from people. And in order to do the same, parties resort to political party funding. One of the primary sources of this funding is voluntary contributions made by individuals. Besides this, corporates pay hefty donations to parties in different forms. Foreign aid is another source.&nbsp;</p>
<h3>What is Political Funding?</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Political Funding implies the methods that political parties use to raise funds to finance their campaign and routine activities.</li>
<li>A political party needs money to pitch itself, its objectives, its intended actions to get votes for itself.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Statutory Provisions</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Section 29B</strong> of the <strong>Representation of the People Act (RPA)</strong> entitles parties to accept voluntary contributions by any person or company, except a Government Company.</li>
<li><strong>Section 29C</strong> of the RPA mandates political parties to declare donations that exceed 20,000 rupees. Such a declaration is made by making a report and submitting the same to the EC. Failure to do so on time disentitles a party from tax relief under the Income Tax Act, 1961.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Methods that Indian Political Parties use to raise the funds</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Individual Persons:</strong> Section 29B of RPA allows political parties to receive donations from individual persons.</li>
<li><strong>State/Public Funding:</strong> Here, the government provides funds to parties for election related purposes. State Funding is of two types:
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Direct Funding:</strong> The government provides funds directly to the political parties. <strong>Direct funding by tax is prohibited in India.</strong></li>
<li><strong>Indirect Funding:</strong> It includes other methods except direct funding, like free access to media, free access to public places for rallies, free or subsidized transport facilities. <strong>It is allowed in India in a regulated manner.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Corporate Funding:</strong> In India, donations by corporate bodies are governed under the <strong>Companies Act, 2013</strong>. Section 182 of the Act provides that:
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>A company needs to be at least three years old to be able to donate to a political party.</li>
<li>Companies can donate up to 7.5% of average net profits made during three simultaneous preceding financial years.</li>
<li>Such contributions must be disclosed in the company&rsquo;s profit and loss account.</li>
<li>Approval of the Board of Directors needs to be obtained for the contribution.</li>
<li>If a company violates said provisions, it may have to pay a fine up to 5 times the amount contributed and every officer of the company who is in default shall be punishable with imprisonment for a term which may extend to six months.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Note:</strong> The government has removed the cap of 7.5% (seven point five percent) on corporate contributions to the political parties with the <strong>Finance Act, 2017</strong>. The same Act also removed the obligation to report such contributions in the company&rsquo;s profit and loss account.</p>
</div>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Electoral Trusts:</strong> A non-profit company created in India for orderly receipt of voluntary contributions from any person like an individual or a domestic company.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>According to the Election Commission Guidelines, all electoral trusts formed after January 2013 are required to declare details of the money received and disbursed.</li>
<li>The Central Government rules mandate these firms to donate 95% of their total income to registered political parties in a financial year.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Issues with Political Funding</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>One of the biggest disadvantages of the corporate funding is the use of fake companies to route black money.</li>
<li>Influence of people and companies over political parties to which they provide funds.</li>
<li>There are various gaps in Indian rules, the benefit of which political parties take to avoid any kind of reporting.</li>
<li>Hidden sources of funding lead to more spending of funds in election campaigns, thus impacting the economy of the country.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Recent Steps Taken</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>In March, 2018, the government passed a key amendment to the <strong>Foreign Contribution Regulation Act, 2010</strong> allowing foreign companies to fund political parties in India.</li>
<li><strong>Introduction of Electoral Bonds:</strong> The government notified the Electoral Bond Scheme on 2<sup>nd</sup> January, 2018 to establish and cleanse the system of political funding in the country.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>An electoral bond is a bearer instrument like a Promissory Note. It can be purchased by any citizen of India or a body incorporated in India to donate to the political party of their choice. Donor&rsquo;s name is not there on the bond.</li>
<li>These bonds can be used for making donations to the political parties registered under <strong>Section 29A of the Representation of the People Act, 1951</strong> and which have secured not less than one per cent of the votes polled in the last general election to the House of the People or a Legislative Assembly.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Way Forward</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>A party&rsquo;s expenditure limit should be 50% or less of the combined maximum spend prescribed for all of its candidates.</li>
<li>Individual spending needs to be capped based on whether a candidate has stood for an assembly or a general election.</li>
<li>Anonymous donations should be limited to 20% of a party&rsquo;s total collections</li>
</ul>',
			'postdate' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenTime) {},
			'url' => 'https://www.drishtiias.com/loksabha-rajyasabha-discussions/in-depth-political-funding'
		],
		(int) 14 => [
			'title' => '77th Anniversary of Quit India movement',
			'catname' => 'News Analysis',
			'desc' => '<p>The 77<sup>th</sup> anniversary of the <strong>August Kranti Din</strong>, which is considered as one of the important milestones in the history of freedom struggle of our country, was observed on <strong>August 8, 2019.</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>On 8<sup>th</sup> August 1942, <a href="/to-the-points/paper4/gandhian-ideologies" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Mahatma Gandhi</strong></a> gave a clarion call to end the British rule and launched the <strong>Quit India Movement</strong> at the session of the All-India Congress Committee in Mumbai.</li>
<li>The movement had begun from Gawalia Tank Maidan in Mumbai and the day is observed as August Kranti Day every year. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>After the failure of the <strong>Cripps Mission,</strong> Gandhiji gave the call <strong>&ldquo;Do or Die&rdquo;&rsquo;</strong> in his speech delivered at the <strong>Gowalia Tank Maidan,</strong> now popularly known as August Kranti Maidan.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>Gandhiji was soon imprisoned at <strong>Aga Khan Palace in Pune</strong> and almost all leaders were arrested.</li>
<li>New leaders like <strong>Aruna Asaf Ali</strong> emerged out of the vacuum of leadership.</li>
<li>The Britishers declared the INC to be an<strong> unlawful association.</strong></li>
<li>Over 100000 people were arrested and the <strong>government resorted to violence</strong> in order to crush the agitation.</li>
<li>Gandhiji was released in 1944 on health grounds. However, in the absence of any central leadership, there were <strong>some incidences of violence.</strong></li>
<li><strong>Muslim League, the Communist Party of India and the Hindu Mahasabha did not support the movement.</strong> The Indian bureaucracy also did not support the movement.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The League was not in favour of the British leaving India without partitioning the country first.</li>
<li>The Communist party supported the British since they were allied with the Soviet Union.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>Meanwhile, Subhas Chandra Bose, organised the <strong>Indian National Army</strong> and the Azad Hind government from outside the country.</li>
<li>As, <strong>C Rajagopalachari</strong> was not in favour of complete independence he resigned from the INC.</li>
<li>There were <strong>strikes and demonstrations</strong> all over the country and workers provided the support by not working in the factories.</li>
<li>At some places (Ballia, Tamluk, Satara etc.) <strong>parallel governments</strong> were also set up.</li>
<li>Women took active participation in the movement. Female leaders like <strong>Usha Mehta</strong> has helped set up an underground radio station which led to the awakening about the movement.</li>
<li><strong>Aruna Asaf Ali</strong> popularly known as the 'Grand Old Lady' of the Independence Movement is known for hoisting the Indian flag at the Gowalia Tank Maidan in Mumbai during the Quit India Movement.</li>
<li>While the Quit India campaign was <strong>crushed in 1944,</strong> with the British refusing to grant immediate independence, saying it could happen only after the war had ended, they came to the important realization that <strong>India was ungovernable in the long run</strong> due to the cost of World War II.</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Cripps Mission</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Japanese aggression</strong> in South-East Asia, keenness of British Government to secure the <strong>full participation of India in the war,</strong> mounting <strong>pressure from China and the United States,</strong> as well as from the <strong>Labour Party</strong> in Britain, led Britsh Prime Minister <strong>Winston Churchill</strong> to send Cripps Mission to India in March 1942.</li>
<li>Under Stafford Cripps, the mission was sent to <strong>resolve the Indian question of a new constitution and self-government.</strong></li>
<li><strong>Main proposals</strong> of the mission were:<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>An Indian Union with a <strong>dominion status</strong> would be set up; it would be free to decide its relations with the Commonwealth and free to participate in the United Nations and other international bodies.</li>
<li><strong>A constituent assembly</strong> would be convened after the war to frame a new constitution.</li>
<li>Members of the assembly <strong>partly elected</strong> by the provincial assemblies and partly nominated by the princes.</li>
<li>Any province not willing to accept the constitution would be given <strong>&lsquo;the same full status as the Indian Union&rsquo;,</strong> - designed to appease the Muslim League&rsquo;s call for Pakistan.</li>
<li>The constitution making body and the British Government would negotiate a<strong> treaty to effect the transfer of power</strong> and to safeguard racial and religious minorities.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>The Indian National Congress, however, was not satisfied as its <strong>demand for immediate complete independence had been rejected.</strong></li>
<li>Mahatma Gandhi said that Cripps offer of Dominion Status after the war was a <strong>"post-dated cheque drawn on a failing bank&rsquo;&rsquo;.</strong></li>
</ul>
</div>
<p><a href="http://pib.nic.in/newsite/PrintRelease.aspx?relid=124656" 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/77th-anniversary-of-quit-india-movement'
		],
		(int) 15 => [
			'title' => 'Mercury Emission Versus its Concentration in Fishes',
			'catname' => 'News Analysis',
			'desc' => '<p>Recently researchers have found that despite a decrease in <strong>seawater concentration of methylmercury,</strong> the amount of mercury found in fish is different among different species</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>A joint research conducted by the <strong>Indian Institute of Technology, Hyderabad (IIT-H), Harvard University,</strong> and <strong>Fisheries and Oceans Canada</strong> (a Canadian government agency) has found that though there has been a decrease in the levels of mercury emission, the concentration of mercury in fish varies across different species.</li>
<li>Some species of fish have <strong>less mercury</strong> than before, while others have a very <strong>high concentration</strong> of mercury (tuna, salmon and swordfish).</li>
<li>The researchers warn that human exposure to the toxin (methylmercury) through <strong>fish consumption</strong> is bound to increase as a result of <a href="/loksabha-rajyasabha-discussions/the-big-picture-climate-change-act-now" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>climate change.</strong></a></li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Key Facts</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Mercury is a naturally occurring element that is found in air, water and soil.</li>
<li>Exposure to mercury &ndash; even small amounts &ndash; may cause serious health problems, and is a threat to the development of the child in utero and early in life.</li>
<li>Mercury may have toxic effects on the <strong>nervous, digestive</strong> and <strong>immune systems,</strong> and on lungs, kidneys, skin and eyes.</li>
<li>Mercury is considered by <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/strategy-against-the-threat-of-influenza" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>World Health Organisation (WHO)</strong></a> as one of the top ten chemicals or groups of chemicals of major public health concern.</li>
<li>People are mainly exposed to <strong>methylmercury,</strong> (an organic compound) when they eat fish and shellfish and are more vulnerable to Minamata disease.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Minimata Disease:</strong> A disorder caused by <strong>methyl mercury poisoning</strong> that was first described in the inhabitants of <strong>Minamata Bay, Japan</strong> and resulted from their eating fish contaminated with mercury industrial waste.</li>
<li>The disease is characterized by <strong>peripheral sensory loss, tremors, dysarthria, ataxia, and both hearing and visual loss.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Methylmercury</strong> is very different to ethylmercury. Ethylmercury is used as a preservative in some vaccines and does not pose a health risk.</li>
</ul>
</div>
<p><strong>Variation in Mercury Accumulation in Fish:</strong> Three factors that can be attributed to the variation in accumulation of mercury in fish are:<a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/338Images3.jpg" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/338Images3.jpg" width="265" height="531" style="float: right;" caption="false" /></a></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Overfishing:</strong> Leads to <strong>dietary changes</strong> among marine animals.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Cod relied more on lobsters and other large invertebrates (which are low in mercury), while the dogfish went for more squid and other cephalopods (which tend to be high in mercury).</li>
<li>Hence cod ended up with lower mercury levels than the dogfish.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Variations in the Temperature of the Seawater:</strong> Seawater temperatures may also alter mercury accumulation.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Fish metabolism</strong> is temperature-dependent, so as <strong>ocean temperature increases,</strong> fish experience higher metabolism and more energy obtained from food are spent on maintenance rather than growth, leading to more methylmercury getting concentrated in predatory fish.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Changes in the amounts of mercury</strong> found in seawater as a result of pollution.</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>The Minamata Convention</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The Minamata Convention on Mercury is a global treaty to protect human health and the environment from the adverse effects of mercury and its compounds.</li>
<li>It was agreed at the fifth session of the Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee in Geneva, Switzerland 2013.</li>
<li>Controlling the anthropogenic releases of mercury throughout its lifecycle is one of the key obligations under the Convention.</li>
<li>The Convention also addresses interim storage of mercury and its disposal once it becomes waste, sites contaminated by mercury as well as health issues.</li>
<li>More than 140 countries including <strong>India</strong> have ratified the Convention.</li>
</ul>
</div>
<p><a href="https://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/Hyderabad/iit-h-harvard-university-study-mercury-accumulation-in-fish/article28969597.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/mercury-emission-versus-its-concentration-in-fishes'
		],
		(int) 16 => [
			'title' => 'Proposals to Change in CITES Listing',
			'catname' => 'News Analysis',
			'desc' => '<p>India has submitted proposals regarding changes to the listing of the <strong>smooth-coated otter, small-clawed otter, Indian star tortoise, Tokay gecko, wedgefish and Indian rosewood</strong> in the <a href="/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-international-institution/cites" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>CITES</strong></a> secretariat meeting, scheduled in August 2019 in Geneva (Switzerland).</p>
<h3>Smooth-coated otter and Small-clawed otter</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong><a href="/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-international-institution/cites" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Otters</a></strong> are found world over, except in Australia, New Zealand, Madagascar, and other oceanic islands.</li>
<li>India is home to 3 of the 13 species of otters found worldwide. These are - Eurasian Otter (Lutra lutra); <strong>Smooth-coated Otter</strong> (Lutra perspicillata) and <strong>Small-clawed otter</strong> (Aonyx cinereus).</li>
<li>The Smooth-coated Otter is distributed throughout the country from the <strong>Himalayas southward.</strong></li>
<li>But the Common Otter and the Small-clawed Otter are <strong>restricted to the Himalayas, to the north of the Ganges and to southern India.</strong></li>
<li>These otters have generally been described as fish specialist.</li>
<li>Major threats to Asian otter population are <strong>loss of <a href="/to-the-points/paper3/wetlands-1" target="_blank" rel="noopener">wetland</a> habitats</strong> due to construction of large scale hydroelectric projects, conversion of wetlands for settlements and agriculture, reduction in prey biomass, poaching and contamination of waterways by pesticides.</li>
<li>The <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/iucn-red-list" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN)</strong></a> has listed these otters under the <strong>vulnerable category.</strong></li>
<li>India, Nepal and the Philippines have proposed that the listing of these otters should be <strong>moved from CITES Appendix II to Appendix I.</strong></li>
</ul>
<p><a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/598Image5.jpg" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/598Image5.jpg" width="478" height="247" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" caption="false" /></a></p>
<h3>Indian star tortoise</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/important-facts-for-prelims-9th-november-2018" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Indian star tortoise</strong></a> is found across the Indian sub-continent, more specifically, in the Central and Southern parts of India, in West Pakistan and in Sri Lanka.<a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/822Image2.jpg" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/822Image2.jpg" width="199" height="176" style="float: right;" caption="false" /></a></li>
<li>Star Tortoises are protected under <strong>Schedule IV of Wild Life Protection Act, 1972</strong> and Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES) of Wild Fauna and Flora.</li>
<li>The IUCN has listed it under the vulnerable category.</li>
<li>The species faces two threats: <strong>loss of habitat to agriculture and illegal harvesting</strong> for the pet trade.</li>
<li>India is among the parties proposing the re-listing of the star tortoise<strong> from CITES Appendix II to Appendix I.</strong></li>
</ul>
<h3>Tokay gecko</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The Tokay Gecko or <strong>Gekko gecko</strong> is one of the largest geckos (Lizard) in the country and the world.<a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/779image10.jpg" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/779image10.jpg" style="float: right;" width="164" height="119" caption="false" /></a></li>
<li>This is a <strong>nocturnal arboreal gecko,</strong> ranging from northeast India, Nepal and Bangladesh, throughout Southeast Asia.</li>
<li>Occurring in the <strong>rainforests,</strong> it is primarily a tree-dweller.</li>
<li>It&rsquo;s use as a<strong> traditional Asian medicine</strong> &mdash;everything from energy drinks to treatments for diabetes, cancer, and HIV/AIDS (there is <strong>no proof of efficacy</strong> in any of these uses), make it prone to illegal trade across borders.</li>
<li>The <strong>IUCN has listed it under Least Concern category.</strong></li>
<li>India has proposed it&rsquo;s listing should be <strong>moved from CITES Appendix II to Appendix I.</strong></li>
</ul>
<h3>Wedgefish</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Wedgefish are <strong>shallow water coastal species,</strong> found in northern Indian Ocean and northwestern Pacific Ocean.<a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/291image6.jpg" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/291image6.jpg" style="float: right;" width="196" height="122" caption="false" /></a></li>
<li>Alongwith giant <strong><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/iucn-red-list" target="_blank" rel="noopener">guitarfishes</a></strong>, they are collectively known as <strong>Rhino Rays</strong> because of their elongated snouts.</li>
<li>They have been listed as the <strong>&lsquo;most imperilled marine fish families in the world&rsquo;.</strong></li>
<li>The main drivers of the decline are the <strong>loss of free flowing rivers and increasing agricultural and urban pollution.</strong></li>
<li>The IUCN has listed it under <strong>vulnerable category.</strong></li>
<li>Indian proposed to <strong>include Wedgefish in Appendix II of CITES.</strong></li>
</ul>
<h3>Indian rosewood</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>It is <strong>deciduous rosewood tree</strong> native to the Indian subcontinent, also grown in Nigeria, Kenya, Vietnam, the Philippines, and other parts of tropical Africa.</li>
<li>It is used for <strong>making furniture, plywood,</strong> and decorative wood products.</li>
<li>The species grows at a very fast rate and has the capacity to become naturalised outside its native range, it is<strong> invasive</strong> in other parts of the world as well.</li>
<li>India has proposed to <strong>remove rosewood from Appendix II of CITES.</strong></li>
<li>Its IUCN Red List status is <strong>&lsquo;vulnerable&rsquo;.</strong></li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>CITES Appendices</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Appendices I, II and III to the Convention are lists of species afforded different levels or types of protection from over-exploitation.</li>
<li><strong>Appendix I</strong>
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>It lists species that are the <strong>most endangered</strong> among CITES-listed animals and plants.</li>
<li>Examples include gorillas, sea turtles, most lady slipper orchids, and giant pandas. Currently 931 species are listed.</li>
<li>They are <strong>threatened with extinction</strong> and CITES <strong>prohibits international trade</strong> in specimens of these species except when the purpose of the import is not commercial, for instance for scientific research.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Appendix II</strong>
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>It lists species that are <strong>not necessarily now threatened with extinction but that may become so unless trade is closely controlled.</strong></li>
<li>International trade in specimens of Appendix-II species may be authorized by the granting of an export permit or re-export certificate.</li>
<li>No import permit is necessary for these species under CITES (although a permit is needed in some countries that have taken stricter measures than CITES requires).</li>
<li>Permits or certificates should only be granted if the relevant authorities are satisfied that certain conditions are met, above all that trade will not be detrimental to the survival of the species in the wild.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Appendix III</strong>
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>It is a list of species <strong>included at the request of a Party that already regulates trade in the species</strong> and that needs the cooperation of other countries to prevent unsustainable or illegal exploitation.</li>
<li>Examples include map turtles, walruses and Cape stag beetles. Currently 147 species are listed.</li>
<li>International trade in specimens of species listed in this Appendix is allowed only on presentation of the appropriate permits or certificates.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>Species may be added to or removed from Appendix I and II, or moved between them, only by the Conference of the Parties.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>However, species may be added to or removed from Appendix III at any time and by any Party unilaterally.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/833image8.jpg" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/833image8.jpg" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" caption="false" width="557" height="268" /></a></p>
</div>
<p><a href="https://www.thehindu.com/sci-tech/energy-and-environment/indian-seeks-change-of-status-of-several-species-like-star-tortoise-otters-in-cites/article28917079.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/proposals-to-change-in-cites-listing'
		],
		(int) 17 => [
			'title' => 'International Day of Indigenous Peoples',
			'catname' => 'News Analysis',
			'desc' => '<p>International day of indigenous people is observed on August 9 every year, in order to raise awareness of the needs of indigenous people. The first meeting of the <strong>UN Working Group on Indigenous Populations</strong> was held in Geneva in 1982.</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The <strong>theme of 2019</strong> is <strong>Indigenous People&rsquo;s Languages</strong> in view of 2019 being marked as the <strong>International Year of Indigenous Languages</strong> by the United Nations.</li>
</ul>
<h3>International Day of Indigenous Peoples in India</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>On International day of indigenous people, the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/important-facts-for-prelims-7th-may-2019" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Khadi and Village Industry Commission (KVIC)</strong></a> has launched a new programme <strong>&lsquo;Leather Mission&rsquo;.</strong></li>
<li>It has distributed as many as 50 leather kits and 350 Bee-Boxes with live bee colonies in tribal-dominated village in Sirohi district of Rajasthan, one of the <a href="/summary-of-important-reports/NITI-AAYOG-2018-transformation-of-aspirational-districts-baseline-ranking-and-real-time-monitoring-programme" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>aspirational districts</strong></a> in India identified by the NITI Aayog.</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Indigenous people</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>They are inheritors and practitioners of unique cultures and ways of relating to people and the environment.</li>
<li>They have retained social, cultural, economic and political characteristics that are distinct from those of the dominant societies in which they live. Despite their cultural differences, indigenous peoples from around the world share common problems related to the protection of their rights as distinct peoples.</li>
<li>The indigenous people in the world make up less than 5 percent of the total population, but fall in the 15 percent of the poorest, according to the UN website. They represent as many as 5,000 different cultures.</li>
</ul>
</div>
<h3>International Year of Indigenous Languages</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Languages play a crucially important role in the daily lives of all people. They are pivotal in the areas of human rights protection, peace building and sustainable development, through ensuring cultural diversity and intercultural dialogue. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>However, despite their immense value, languages around the world continue to disappear at an alarming rate due to a variety of factors. Many of them are indigenous languages.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>Indigenous languages in particular are a significant factor in a wide range of other indigenous issues, notably education, scientific and technological development, the biosphere and the environment, freedom of expression, employment and social inclusion.</li>
<li>The <strong>International Year of Indigenous Languages</strong> is a United Nations observance in 2019. It aims to raise awareness of the consequences of the endangerment of indigenous languages across the world, with an aim to establish a link between language, development, peace, and reconciliation.</li>
</ul>
<p><strong><a href="https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/6-of-the-worlds-languages-are-spoken-in-india/article28851168.ece" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Source: TH,</a></strong><a href="https://www.un.org/en/events/indigenousday/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">UN</a></p>',
			'postdate' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenTime) {},
			'url' => 'https://www.drishtiias.com/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/international-day-of-indigenous-peoples'
		],
		(int) 18 => [
			'title' => 'India in US list on Drug Transit',
			'catname' => 'News Analysis',
			'desc' => '<p>Recently, US designated India among about 20 major drug transit or illicit drug-producing countries.</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>However, it also noted that a country&rsquo;s presence on the list is not necessarily a reflection of its government&rsquo;s counter-narcotic efforts.</li>
<li>Apart from India, the countries identified in the list are Afghanistan, The Bahamas, Belize, Bolivia, Burma, Colombia, Costa Rica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Guatemala, Haiti, Honduras, Jamaica, Laos, Mexico, Nicaragua, Pakistan, Panama, Peru and Venezuela.</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/912image4.jpg" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/912image4.jpg" width="613" height="290" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" caption="false" /></a></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>There are a combination of <a href="/loksabha-rajyasabha-discussions/the-big-picture-fighting-drug-menace" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>geographic, commercial, and economic factors</strong></a> that allow drugs to transit or be produced, even if the government has engaged in robust and diligent narcotics control measures.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>For instance, India is in the middle of two major illicit opium production region in the world the Golden Crescent (Iran-Afghanistan-Pakistan) in the west and the Golden Triangle (South-East Asia) in the east.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/386image1.jpg" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/386image1.jpg" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="565" height="160" caption="false" /></a></p>
<p><a href="https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/india-in-us-list-on-drug-transit/story-k38UkOlpMQ8C9JPDvTPx7K.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Source:HT</strong></a></p>',
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		(int) 19 => [
			'title' => 'The Motor Vehicles Bill for Road Safety',
			'catname' => 'News Editorials',
			'desc' => '<div class="border">
<p>This article is based on the <a href="https://www.thehindubusinessline.com/opinion/editorial/the-new-motor-vehicles-bill-paves-the-way-for-safer-roads/article28917169.ece" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>&ldquo;The new Motor Vehicles bill paves the way for safer roads&rdquo;</strong></a> that appeared in The Hindu Business Line on 8<sup>th</sup> August. It talks about the provisions of the <strong>Motor Vehicles (Amendment) Bill, 2019</strong> and their utility in making India&rsquo;s Road safer.</p>
</div>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><em><strong>India sees more than five lakh road accidents a year leading to 1.5 lakh deaths.</strong> </em>According to the Union Transport Minister, this could come down by half if the provisions of this Bill are implemented.</li>
<li>The <strong>Motor Vehicles (Amendment) Bill, 2019</strong> is based on the recommendations of the Group of Transport Ministers (GoM) of States constituted by the Ministry of Road Transport &amp; Highways to address the issue of road safety and to improve the access of the citizens while dealing with transport departments.</li>
<li>The <strong>amendments</strong> in the Bill mainly focus on issues relating to improving road safety, citizens&rsquo; facilitation while dealing with the transport department, strengthening rural transport, last mile connectivity and public transport, automation and computerization and enabling online services.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Key Features of the bill</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Road safety:</strong> Bill proposes to <strong>increase penalties</strong> to act as a deterrent against traffic violations.</li>
<li><strong>Compensation for road accident victims:</strong> Cashless treatment of road accident victims during the golden hour (first 1 hour after accident). The minimum compensation for death or grievous injury due to hit and run has been moved up substantially to ₹2 lakh and ₹50,000, respectively.</li>
<li><strong>Road Safety Board:</strong> The Bill provides for a National Road Safety Board, to be created by the central government through a notification. The Board will advise the central and state governments on all aspects of road safety and traffic management.</li>
<li><strong>Protection of Good Samaritan:</strong> To help road accident victims, Good Samaritan guidelines have been incorporated in the Bill. They will not be liable for any civil or criminal action for any injury to or death of an accident victim, caused due to their negligence in providing assistance to the victim.</li>
<li><strong>Motor Vehicle Accident Fund:</strong> The Bill requires the central government to constitute a Motor Vehicle Accident Fund, to provide compulsory insurance cover to all road users in India.</li>
<li><strong>Third-party insurance</strong> terms are friendlier with no cap on liability of insurers and quicker claims processing.</li>
<li>To <strong>reduce scope for manipulation and corruption</strong> in transport departments, vehicle fitness tests will be automated and driving tests, computerised. Also, the driver training process for commercial driving will be strengthened and more training schools set up.</li>
<li><strong>Recall of vehicles:</strong> The Bill allows the central government to order for recall of motor vehicles if a defect in the vehicle may cause damage to the environment, or the driver, or other road users.</li>
<li><strong>National Transportation Policy:</strong> The central government may develop a National Transportation Policy, in consultation with state governments.</li>
<li><strong>Taxi aggregators:</strong> The Bill defines aggregators as digital intermediaries or market places which can be used by passengers to connect with a driver for transportation purposes (taxi services). These aggregators will be issued licenses by state. Further, they must <strong>comply with the Information Technology Act, 2000.</strong></li>
</ul>
<h3>Issues and challenges</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>There will be implementation challenges at all-India level.</li>
<li>Road transport being a subject on the <strong>Concurrent List,</strong> State governments are also free to make their own laws and rules. Some states feel that the amendment infringes upon the rights of the states.</li>
<li>For effective monitoring of traffic violations and accidents and ensuring that the perpetrators don&rsquo;t go scot-free, <strong>electronic surveillance</strong> is essential that needs installation of CCTVs, Speed guns, and other equipments.This could involve substantial investment, and it is not clear who will bear the cost.</li>
<li>Laxity of vehicle-manufacturers in implementing safety features is also a concern.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Road safety Initiatives in India</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Ministry of Road Transport and highways took several steps in the past to improve road safety:<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><em>National Road Safety Policy</em> outlines various policy measures such as promoting awareness, establishing road safety information database, encouraging safer road infrastructure including application of intelligent transport, enforcement of safety laws etc.</li>
<li><em><strong>National Road Safety Council</strong></em> as the apex body to take policy decisions in matters of road safety.</li>
<li>A <strong>dashboard for road accident data,</strong> through which people can access related data and other information both state-wise and the national averages, has been introduced.</li>
<li>Comic books <em><strong>Swachha Safar</strong></em> and <em><strong>Surakshit Yatra</strong></em> have been been released, with an aim to create awareness among children about road safety.</li>
<li><strong>VAHAN</strong> (an ICT-based solution for vehicle registration) and <strong>SARATHI</strong> (for licencing) app to curb malpractices in issuing licences and vehicle registration.</li>
<li><strong>Setu Bharatam programme</strong> to make all national highways free of railway crossings by 2019.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Tamil Nadu model of integrated data-driven road safety initiatives:</strong> the Supreme Court-appointed three-member road safety committee led by <strong>Justice (retd) KS Radhakrishnan</strong> praised Tamil Nadu&rsquo;s efforts in reducing fatalities in road accidents. NCRB data reveals that road accident deaths in TN came down in 2018 by 24.39%, the biggest decrease recorded in the country.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Way forward</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Strict and effective enforcement of the amended rules in Motor Vehicle Act would surely help in curbing road-accident related deaths in India.</li>
<li>The central and state governments should work out proper plans to effectively implement the rules.</li>
<li>State governments should ensure transparency and provide a hassle-free experience for citizens at the Regional Transport Offices.</li>
<li>Vehicle manufacturers should update their technologies and adopt the best global practices regarding vehicles&rsquo; and passengers&rsquo; safety.</li>
<li>Simultaneously, the rise of Internet of Things-enabled, connected cars in India, which international auto majors are heavily investing in currently, can give a digital edge to road safety. With an array of embedded sensors informing drivers of other on-road cars, onboard analytics can give them real-time driving suggestions to avoid collisions.</li>
<li>The unprecedented pace of construction and infrastructure improvement is one more link in the journey to safer roads.</li>
</ul>
<table border="1" style="border-collapse: collapse; width: 100%;" height="83">
<tbody>
<tr>
<td style="width: 100%; border-style: dotted; background-color: #e3ffe0; border-color: #ff0000;">
<p><span style="color: #000080;"><em><strong>Drishti Input</strong></em></span><br /><br />"Recently the government had introduced the Motor Vehicles (Amendment) Bill 2019, with special focus on road safety. Critically examine if it will be able to address the issue of road safety in India?&rdquo;</p>
</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
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	(int) 0 => [
		'title' => 'India-China',
		'catname' => 'News Analysis',
		'desc' => '<p><a href="/loksabha-rajyasabha-discussions/the-big-picture-modi-xi-building-on-ties" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>India and China</strong></a> have signed<strong> four agreements</strong> to strengthen cultural and people-to-people ties.</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The 4 agreements are on:<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Cultural Exchanges:</strong> To promote <strong>cultural exchanges</strong> for the preservation of intangible cultural heritage, organisation of cultural activities and management of archaeological heritage sites.</li>
<li><strong>Healthcare:</strong> To enhance cooperation in the field of <strong>traditional medicine,</strong> where both India and China have a rich knowledge, accumulated over centuries.</li>
<li><strong>Sports:</strong> To promote exchanges between <strong>national sports associations, sports persons and youth</strong> for strengthening cooperation on international sports events.</li>
<li><strong>Cooperation in Museum Management:</strong> To promote <strong>collaboration between Hubei Provincial Museum,</strong> Wuhan <strong>and the National Museum, New Delhi</strong> in exhibitions, protection and restoration of collections and archaeological excavations.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>The <strong>Hubei Provincial Museum</strong> is one of the best known museums in China, with a large amount of state-level historic and cultural relics.</li>
<li>The <strong>National Museum</strong> is one of the largest museums in India. Established in 1949, it holds a variety of articles ranging from pre-historic era to modern works of art.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>China&rsquo;s Initiatives at Kailash Mansarovar</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>To improve the material comforts of the pilgrims to <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/kailash-mansarovar-in-tentative-list-of-world-heritage-sites" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Kailash Mansarovar</strong></a>, the chinese government has built accommodation facilities, called <strong>reception centres</strong>, at various points of the pilgrimage.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The reception centres, each with about 150 beds, have rooms with charging points, a common kitchen and a common washroom, and provide food for the pilgrims.</li>
<li>The Chinese government has spent <strong>$5.21 million</strong> in building these centres.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Ladakh and Line of Actual Control</h3>
<p><a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/995India-China%20Border (Final).png" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/995India-China Border (Final).png" width="603" height="352" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" /></a></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The External Affairs Minister has assured China that India&rsquo;s decision to <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/article-370-and-35-a-revoked" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>exercise greater administrative control over Ladakh</strong></a> would have no implications for India&rsquo;s external boundaries or the Line of Actual Control (LAC) with China.</li>
<li><strong>LAC is a 4,057-km porous border</strong> running through glaciers, snow deserts, mountains and rivers that separate India and China.</li>
<li>The LAC traverses three areas&mdash; <strong>Western (Ladakh, Kashmir), middle (Uttarakhand, Himachal) and eastern (Sikkim, Arunachal).</strong></li>
<li>In 1993, India and China signed an accord to reduce tensions along their border and respect the LAC. Three years later in 1996, the two countries agreed to delimit the LAC and institute confidence building measures.</li>
<li>In October 2013, the two sides signed the Boundary Defence Cooperation Agreement to prevent any flare up along the un-demarcated border. This encompasses both military and diplomat level dialogue mechanism.</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="https://www.business-standard.com/article/pti-stories/india-china-sign-4-agreements-to-strengthen-people-to-people-ties-119081200867_1.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Source: BS</strong></a></p>',
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	],
	(int) 1 => [
		'title' => 'PRS Capsule July 2019',
		'catname' => 'PRS Capsule',
		'desc' => '<p><em><strong>Key Highlights of PRS</strong></em></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><a href="#1">Law and Justice</a>
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><a href="#2">Aadhaar and Other Laws (Amendment) Bill, 2019</a></li>
<li><a href="#3">Right to Information (Amendment) Bill, 2019</a></li>
<li><a href="#4">New Delhi International Arbitration Centre Bill, 2019</a></li>
<li><a href="#5">Muslim Women (Protection of Rights on Marriage) Bill, 2019</a></li>
<li><a href="#6">Arbitration and Conciliation (Amendment) Bill, 2019</a></li>
<li><a href="#7">The DNA Technology (Use and Application) Regulation Bill</a></li>
<li><a href="#8">Transgender (Protection of Rights) Bill, 2019</a></li>
<li><a href="#9">Consumer Protection Bill, 2019</a></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><a href="#10">Home Affairs</a>
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><a href="#11">Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Amendment Bill, 2019</a></li>
<li><a href="#12">The Jammu and Kashmir Reservation (Amendment) Bill, 2019</a></li>
<li><a href="#13">Protection of Human Rights (Amendment) Bill</a></li>
<li><a href="#14">The National Investigation Agency (Amendment) Bill, 2019</a></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><a href="#15">Health and Family Welfare</a>
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><a href="#16">The National Medical Commission Bill, 2019</a></li>
<li><a href="#17">The Surrogacy (Regulation) Bill, 2019</a></li>
</ul>
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;"></ul>
</li>
<li><a href="#20"></a><a href="#18">Labour and Employment</a></li>
<li style="list-style-type: none;">
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><a href="#19">The Code on Wages, 2019</a></li>
<li><a href="#20">Code on Occupational, Safety, Health and Working Conditions, 2019</a></li>
<li><a href="#21">Voluntary pension scheme for traders and shopkeepers notified</a></li>
</ul>
</ul>
</li>
<li><a href="#22">Corporate Affairs</a>
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><a href="#23">Companies (Amendment) Bill, 2019</a></li>
<li><a href="#24">Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code (Amendment) Bill, 2019</a></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><a href="#25">Road Transport and Highways</a>
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><a href="#26">Motor Vehicles (Amendment) Bill, 2019</a></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><a href="#27">Education</a>
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><a href="#28">The Central Educational Institutions (Reservation in Teacher&rsquo;s Cadre) Bill, 2019</a></li>
<li><a href="#29">The Central Universities (Amendment) Bill, 2019</a></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><a href="#30">Housing and Urban Affairs</a>
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><a href="#31">The Public Premises (Eviction of Unauthorised Occupants)</a></li>
<li><a href="#32">Draft Model Tenancy Act, 2019 released</a></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><a href="#33">Civil Aviation</a>
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><a href="#34">The Airports Economic Regulatory Authority of India (Amendment) Bill, 2019</a></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><a href="#35">Jal Shakti</a>
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><a href="#36">The Inter-State River Water Disputes (Amendment) Bill, 2019</a></li>
<li><a href="#37">The Dam Safety Bill, 2019</a></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><a href="#38">Defence</a>
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><a href="#39">Ministry introduces scheme for promotion of MSMEs in defence</a></li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h2 id="1">Law and Justice</h2>
<h3 id="2">Aadhaar and Other Laws (Amendment) Bill, 2019</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The Aadhaar and Other Laws (Amendment) Bill, 2019 was passed by Parliament to replace the Ordinance promulgated on March 2, 2019.</li>
<li>The Bill amends the Aadhaar (Targeted Delivery of Financial and Other Subsidies, Benefits and Services) Act, 2016, the Indian Telegraph Act, 1885, and the Prevention of Money Laundering Act, 2002.</li>
<li>The Aadhaar Act provides targeted delivery of subsidies and benefits to individuals residing in India by assigning them unique identity numbers, called <strong>Aadhaar numbers</strong>.</li>
<li><strong>Authentication:</strong> It involves submitting the Aadhaar number, their biometric and demographic information to the Central Identities Data Repository for verification.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Under the Aadhaar Act, an individual&rsquo;s identity may be verified by <strong>Aadhaar &lsquo;authentication&rsquo;</strong>.</li>
<li>The <strong>Bill additionally allows &lsquo;offline verification&rsquo;</strong> of an individual&rsquo;s identity, without authentication, through modes specified by the Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI) by regulations.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Voluntary use:</strong> The Act provides for the use of Aadhaar number as proof of identity of a person, subject to authentication.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The Bill replaces this provision to state that an <strong>individual may voluntarily use</strong> his Aadhaar number to establish his identity, by <strong>authentication or offline verification</strong>.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>The Bill states that authentication of an individual&rsquo;s identity via Aadhaar, for the provision of any service, may be made mandatory only by a law of Parliament.</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The Bill amends the <strong>Telegraph Act, 1885 and the Prevention of Money Laundering Act, 2002</strong> to state that telecom companies, banks and financial institutions may verify the identity of their clients by:
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>authentication or offline verification of Aadhaar, or</li>
<li>passport, or</li>
<li>any other documents notified by the central government.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>The person has the choice to use either mode to verify his identity and <strong>no person shall be denied any service for not having an Aadhaar number</strong>.</li>
</ul>
</div>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>UIDAI Fund:</strong> Under the Act, all fees and revenue collected by the UIDAI shall be credited to the Consolidated Fund of India. The Bill removes this provision and creates the <strong>Unique Identification Authority of India Fund</strong>. All fees, grants, and charges received by the UIDAI shall be credited to this fund. The fund shall be used for expenses of the UIDAI, including salaries and allowances of its employees.</li>
</ul>
<h3 id="3">Right to Information (Amendment) Bill, 2019</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The Right to Information (Amendment) Bill, 2019 was passed by Parliament. It seeks to amend the <strong>Right to Information Act, 2005</strong>.</li>
<li><strong>Key features of the Bill include:</strong>
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Term of Information Commissioners:</strong> Under the Act, Chief Information Commissioner (CIC) and Information Commissioners (ICs) are appointed at the national and state level to implement the provisions of the Act.
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>The Act states that the CIC and other ICs (appointed at the central and state level) will hold office for a term of five years. The <strong>Bill removes this provision</strong> and states that <strong>the central government will notify the term of office</strong> for the CIC and the ICs.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Determination of salary:</strong> The Act states that the salary of the CIC and ICs (at the central level) will be equivalent to the salary paid to the Chief Election Commissioner and Election Commissioners, respectively. Similarly, the salary of the CIC and ICs (at the state level) will be equivalent to the salary paid to the Election Commissioners and the Chief Secretary to the state government, respectively.
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>The Bill seeks to amend these provisions to <strong>state that the salaries, allowances, and other terms and conditions of service of the central and state CIC and ICs will be determined by the central government</strong>.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3 id="4">New Delhi International Arbitration Centre Bill, 2019</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The New Delhi International Arbitration Centre Bill, 2019 was passed by Parliament.</li>
<li>It seeks to establish an <strong>autonomous and independent institution</strong> for better management of arbitration in India.</li>
<li><strong>Key features of the Bill include:</strong>
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>New Delhi International Arbitration Centre (NDIAC):</strong> The Bill seeks to provide for the establishment of the NDIAC to conduct an <strong>arbitration, mediation</strong>&nbsp;and <strong>conciliation</strong> proceedings.</li>
<li><strong>International Centre for Alternative Dispute Resolution (ICADR):</strong> The ICADR is a <strong>registered society</strong> to promote the resolution of disputes through alternative dispute resolution methods (such as arbitration and mediation).
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>The Bill seeks to transfer the existing ICADR to the central government. Upon notification by the central government, all the rights, title, and interest in the ICADR will be transferred to the NDIAC.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Composition:</strong> Under the Bill, the NDIAC will consist of seven members including:
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li><strong>A chairperson</strong> who may be a Judge of the Supreme Court or a High Court or an eminent person with special knowledge and experience in the conduct or administration of arbitration.</li>
<li><strong>Two eminent persons</strong> having substantial knowledge and experience in institutional arbitration.</li>
<li><strong>Three ex-officio members,</strong> including a nominee from the Ministry of Finance.</li>
<li><strong>Chief Executive Officer</strong> (responsible for the day-to-day administration of the NDIAC).</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Key objectives of the NDIAC include:</strong>
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Promoting research, providing training and organising conferences and seminars in alternative dispute resolution matters.</li>
<li>Providing facilities and administrative assistance for the conduct of the arbitration, mediation, and conciliation proceedings.</li>
<li>Maintaining a panel of accredited professionals to conduct an arbitration, mediation, and conciliation proceedings.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Key functions include:</strong>
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Facilitating the conduct of arbitration and conciliation in a professional, timely, and cost-effective manner.</li>
<li>Promoting studies in the field of alternative dispute resolution.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3 id="5">Muslim Women (Protection of Rights on Marriage) Bill, 2019</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The Muslim Women (Protection of Rights on Marriage) Bill, 2019 was passed by Parliament.</li>
<li><strong>Key features of the Bill include:</strong>
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The Bill makes all declarations of talaq, including in written or electronic form, to be void (i.e. not enforceable in law) and illegal.</li>
<li>It defines <strong>talaq as talaq-e-biddat</strong> or any other similar form of talaq pronounced by a Muslim man resulting in instant and irrevocable divorce.
<div class="border-bg">
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li><strong>Talaq-e-biddat</strong> refers to the practice under Muslim personal laws where pronouncement of &lsquo;talaq&rsquo; thrice in one sitting by a Muslim man to his wife results in an instant and irrevocable divorce.</li>
</ul>
</div>
</li>
<li><strong>Offence and penalty:</strong> The Bill makes a declaration of talaq a <strong>cognizable offence,</strong> attracting up to <strong>three years imprisonment</strong> with a fine.
<div class="border-bg">
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>A cognizable offence is one for which a police officer may arrest an accused person without warrant.</li>
</ul>
</div>
</li>
<li>The offence will be cognizable only if information relating to the offence is given by:
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>The married woman (against whom talaq has been declared), or</li>
<li>Any person related to her by blood or marriage.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>The Bill provides that the <strong>Magistrate may grant bail to the accused</strong>. The bail may be granted only after hearing the woman (against whom talaq has been pronounced), and if the Magistrate is satisfied that there are reasonable grounds for granting bail.</li>
<li>The offence may be compounded by the Magistrate upon the request of the woman (against whom talaq has been declared).
<div class="border-bg">
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Compounding refers to the procedure where the two sides agree to stop legal proceedings, and settle the dispute. The terms and conditions of the compounding will be determined by the Magistrate.</li>
</ul>
</div>
</li>
<li><strong>Allowance and custody:</strong> A Muslim woman against whom talaq is declared is entitled to seek <strong>subsistence allowance</strong> from her husband for herself and for her dependent children. She is also entitled to seek custody of her minor children. The amount of allowance and manner of custody will be determined by the Magistrate.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3 id="6">Arbitration and Conciliation (Amendment) Bill, 2019</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The Arbitration and Conciliation (Amendment) Bill, 2019 was passed by Rajya Sabha. It seeks to <strong>amend the Arbitration and Conciliation Act, 1996</strong>.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The Act contains provisions to deal with domestic and international arbitration, and defines the law for conducting conciliation proceedings.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Key features of the Bill are:</strong>
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Arbitration Council of India:</strong> The Bill seeks to establish an independent body called the <strong>Arbitration Council of India (ACI)</strong> for the promotion of arbitration, mediation, conciliation and other alternative dispute redressal mechanisms.</li>
<li><strong>Its functions include:</strong>
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Framing policies for grading arbitral institutions and accrediting arbitrators.</li>
<li>Making policies for the establishment, operation and maintenance of uniform professional standards for all alternate dispute redressal matters.</li>
<li>Maintaining a depository of arbitral awards (judgments) made in India and abroad.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Appointment of arbitrators:</strong> Under the 1996 Act, parties were free to appoint arbitrators. In case of disagreement on an appointment, parties could request the Supreme Court, or the High Court, or any person or institution designated by such Court, to appoint an arbitrator.
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Under the Bill, the Supreme Court and High Courts may now designate <strong>arbitral institutions,</strong> which parties can approach for the appointment of arbitrators.</li>
<li>For <strong>international commercial arbitration,</strong> appointments will be made by the institution designated by the Supreme Court.</li>
<li>For <strong>domestic arbitration,</strong> appointments will be made by the institution designated by the concerned High Court.</li>
<li>In case there are no arbitral institutions available, the Chief Justice of the concerned High Court may maintain a panel of arbitrators to perform the functions of arbitral institutions.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Relaxation of time limits:</strong> Under the Act, arbitral tribunals are required to make their award within a period of 12 months for all arbitration proceedings.
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>The <strong>Bill seeks to remove this time restriction</strong> for international commercial arbitrations. It adds that tribunals must try to dispose of international arbitration matters within 12 months.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3 id="7">The DNA Technology (Use and Application) Regulation Bill</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The DNA Technology (Use and Application) Regulation Bill, 2019 was introduced in <strong>Lok Sabha</strong>.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The Bill provides for the regulation of the use of DNA technology for establishing the identity of certain persons.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Use of DNA data:</strong> Under the Bill, DNA testing is allowed only in respect of matters listed in the Schedule to the Bill.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>These include offences under the Indian Penal Code, 1860, and for civil matters such as paternity suits. Further, the Schedule includes DNA testing for matters related to establishment of individual identity.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Collection of DNA:</strong> While preparing a DNA profile, bodily substances of persons may be collected by the investigating authorities. Authorities are required to obtain consent for collection in certain situations.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>For arrested persons, authorities are required to obtain written consent if the offence carries a punishment of up to seven years. If the offence carries more than seven years of imprisonment or death, consent is not required.</li>
<li>Further, if the person is a victim, or relative of a missing person, or a minor or disabled person, the authorities are required to obtain their written consent.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>DNA Data Bank:</strong> The Bill provides for the establishment of a <strong>National DNA Data Bank and Regional DNA Data Banks,</strong> for every state, or two or more states.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>DNA laboratories are required to share DNA data prepared by them with the National and Regional DNA Data Banks. Every Data Bank will be required to maintain the following indices of DNA data:
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>A crime scene index</li>
<li>A suspect&rsquo;s or under trials&rsquo; index</li>
<li>An offenders&rsquo; index</li>
<li>A missing persons&rsquo; index</li>
<li>An unknown deceased persons&rsquo; index.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Removal of DNA profiles:</strong> The Bill provides for removal of the DNA profiles of the following persons:
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>A suspect if a police report is filed or court order given</li>
<li>An undertrial if a court order is given</li>
<li>On written request, for persons who are not a suspect, offender or under trial, from the crime scene or missing persons&rsquo; index</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>DNA Regulatory Board:</strong> The Bill provides for the establishment of a DNA Regulatory Board, which will supervise the DNA Data Banks and DNA laboratories. The functions of the Board include:&nbsp;
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Advising governments on all issues related to establishing DNA laboratories or Data Banks.</li>
<li>Ensuring that all information relating to DNA profiles is kept confidential.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3 id="8">Transgender (Protection of Rights) Bill, 2019</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The Transgender Persons (Protection of Rights) Bill, 2019 was introduced in Lok Sabha on July 19, 2019.</li>
<li><strong>Key features of the Bill include:</strong>
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Definition of a transgender person:</strong> The Bill defines a transgender person as one whose gender does not match the gender assigned at birth. It include transmen and trans-women, persons with intersex variations, gender-queers, and persons with socio-cultural identities, such as kinnar and hijra.
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Intersex variations is defined to mean a person who at birth shows variation in his or her primary sexual characteristics, external genitalia, chromosomes, or hormones from the normative standard of male or female body.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Prohibition against discrimination:</strong> The Bill prohibits the discrimination against a transgender person, including denial of service or unfair treatment in relation to:
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Education, employment, healthcare.</li>
<li>Access to or enjoyment of goods, facilities, opportunities available to the public.</li>
<li>Right to movement, right to reside, rent, or otherwise occupy property.</li>
<li>Opportunity to hold public or private office.</li>
<li>Access to a government or private establishment in whose care or custody a transgender person is.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Health care:</strong> The government must take steps to provide health facilities to transgender persons including separate HIV surveillance centres, and sex reassignment surgeries.
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>The government shall review medical curriculum to address health issues of transgender persons, and provide comprehensive medical insurance schemes for them.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Certificate of identity:</strong> A transgender person may make an application to the District Magistrate for a certificate of identity, indicating the gender as &lsquo;transgender&rsquo;.
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>A revised certificate may be obtained only if the individual undergoes surgery to change their gender either as a male or a female.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3 id="9">Consumer Protection Bill, 2019</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The Consumer Protection Bill, 2019 was passed by Lok Sabha. It replaces the <strong>Consumer Protection Act, 1986</strong>.</li>
<li><strong>Key features of the Bill include:</strong>
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Rights of consumers:</strong> Six consumer rights have been defined in the Bill, including the right to:
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Be protected against the marketing of goods and services which are hazardous to life and property.</li>
<li>Be informed of the quality, quantity, potency, purity, standard and price of goods or services.</li>
<li>Be assured of access to goods or services at competitive prices.</li>
<li>Seek redressal against unfair or restrictive trade practices.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Central Consumer Protection Authority:</strong> The central government will set up a Central Consumer Protection Authority (CCPA) to promote, protect and enforce the rights of consumers. It will regulate matters related to violation of consumer rights, unfair trade practices, and misleading advertisements.</li>
<li><strong>Penalties for misleading advertisement:</strong> The CCPA may impose a penalty on a manufacturer or an endorser of up to Rs 10 lakh and imprisonment for up to two years for a false or misleading advertisement. In case of a subsequent offence, the fine may extend to Rs 50 lakh and imprisonment of up to five years.</li>
<li><strong>Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission (CDRCs):</strong> CDRCs will be set up at the district, state, and national levels. A consumer can file a complaint with CDRCs in relation to:
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Unfair or restrictive trade practices</li>
<li>Defective goods or services</li>
<li>Overcharging or deceptive charging</li>
<li>The offering of goods or services for sale which may be hazardous to life and safety.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>Complaints against an unfair contract can be filed with only the State and National CDRCs.
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Appeals from a District CDRC will be heard by the State CDRC, and from State CDRC by the National CDRC. Final appeal will lie before the Supreme Court.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Product liability:</strong> Product liability means the liability of a product manufacturer, service provider, or seller to compensate a consumer for any harm or injury caused by a defective good or deficient service.
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>To claim compensation, a consumer has to prove any one of the conditions for defect or deficiency, as given in the Bill.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h2 id="10">Home Affairs</h2>
<h3 id="11">Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Amendment Bill, 2019</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The <strong>Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Amendment Bill, 2019</strong> was passed by Lok Sabha. It amends the <strong>Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, 1967</strong>. The Act provides special procedures to deal with terrorist activities, among other things.</li>
<li><strong>Key provisions of the Bill include:</strong>
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Who may commit terrorism:</strong> Under the Act, the central government may designate an organisation as a terrorist organisation if it:
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Commits or participates in acts of terrorism</li>
<li>Prepares for terrorism</li>
<li>Promotes terrorism, or</li>
<li>Is otherwise involved in terrorism.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>The Bill empowers the government to designate individuals as terrorists on the same grounds.</li>
<li><strong>Approval for seizure of property:</strong> Under the Act, an investigating officer is required to obtain the prior approval of the Director General of Police to seize properties that may be connected with terrorism.
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>The Bill adds that if the investigation is conducted by an officer of the <strong>National Investigation Agency (NIA),</strong> the approval of the Director General of NIA would be required for seizure of such property.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Investigation:</strong> Under the Act, investigation of cases may be conducted by officers of the rank of Deputy Superintendent or Assistant Commissioner of Police or above.
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>The Bill additionally empowers the officers of the NIA, of the rank of Inspector or above, to investigate cases.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Insertion to schedule of treaties:</strong> The Act defines terrorist acts to include acts committed within the scope of any of the treaties listed in a schedule to the Act.
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>The Schedule lists nine treaties, including the <strong>Convention for the Suppression of Terrorist Bombings (1997), and the Convention against Taking of Hostages (1979)</strong>.</li>
<li>The Bill adds another treaty to the list. This is the <strong>International Convention for Suppression of Acts of Nuclear Terrorism (2005)</strong>.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3 id="12">The Jammu and Kashmir Reservation (Amendment) Bill, 2019</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The Jammu and Kashmir Reservation (Amendment) Bill, 2019, was passed by Parliament. The <strong>Bill amends the Jammu and Kashmir Reservation Act, 2004</strong> and <strong>replaces an Ordinance</strong> promulgated on March 1, 2019.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The Act provides for <strong>reservation in appointment and promotions in state government posts</strong>, and admission to <strong>professional institutions</strong> for certain reserved categories. Professional institutions include government medical colleges, dental colleges, and polytechnics.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Key features of the Bill include:</strong>
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Extension of reservation:</strong> The Act provides for reservation in appointment and promotions in certain state government posts to persons belonging to <strong>socially and educationally backward classes</strong>. It defines socially and educationally backward classes to include persons living in areas adjoining the Actual Line of Control.
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>The Bill amends this to include those persons living in areas adjoining the International Border, within the ambit of this reservation.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>Further, the Act states that any person who has been appointed on the basis of residence in an area adjoining the Line of Control, must serve in such areas for at least seven years.
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>The Bill extends this condition to persons living in areas adjoining the International Border as well.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Exclusion from reservation:</strong> The Act states that any person whose annual income exceeds three lakh rupees or other amount as notified by the state government, would not be included within socially and educationally backward classes. However, this exclusion does not apply to persons living in areas adjoining the Actual Line of Control.
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>The Bill states that this exclusion will not apply to persons living in areas adjoining the International Border also.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3 id="13">Protection of Human Rights (Amendment) Bill</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The Protection of Human Rights (Amendment) Bill, 2019 was passed by Parliament. The Bill amends the <strong>Protection of Human Rights Act, 1993</strong>.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The Act provides for a <strong>National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), State Human Rights Commissions (SHRC),</strong> as well as <strong>Human Rights Courts</strong>.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Composition of NHRC:</strong> Under the Act, the chairperson of the NHRC is a person who has been a Chief Justice of the Supreme Court.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The Bill amends this to provide that a person who has been Chief Justice of the Supreme Court, or a Judge of the Supreme Court will be the chairperson of the NHRC.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>The Act provides for two persons having knowledge of human rights to be appointed as members of the NHRC.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The Bill amends this to allow three members to be appointed, of which at <strong>least one will be a woman</strong>.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>Under the Act, chairpersons of various commissions such as the National Commission for Scheduled Castes, and National Commission for Scheduled Tribes, are members of the NHRC.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The Bill includes the chairpersons of the National Commission for Backward Classes, the National Commission for the Protection of Child Rights, and the Chief Commissioner for Persons with Disabilities as members of the NHRC.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Chairperson of SHRC:</strong> Under the Act, the chairperson of the SHRC is a person who has been a Chief Justice of the High Court.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The Bill amends this to provide that a person who has been Chief Justice or Judge of the High Court will be chairperson of the SHRC.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Term of office:</strong> The Act states that the chairperson and members of the NHRC and SHRC will hold office for <strong>five years or till the age of seventy years,</strong> whichever is earlier.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The Bill <strong>reduces the term of office to three years or till the age of seventy years,</strong> whichever is earlier.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Powers of Secretary-General:</strong> The Act provides for a Secretary-General of the NHRC and a Secretary of a SHRC, who exercise powers as may be delegated to them.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The Bill amends this and allows the Secretary-General and Secretary to exercise all administrative and financial powers (except judicial functions), subject to the respective chairperson&rsquo;s control.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3 id="14">The National Investigation Agency (Amendment) Bill, 2019</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The National Investigation Agency (Amendment) Bill, 2019 was passed by Parliament. The Bill amends the <strong>National Investigation Agency (NIA) Act, 2008</strong>.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The Act provides for a national-level agency to investigate and prosecute offences listed in a schedule (scheduled offences).</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>Further, the Act allows for creation of Special Courts for the trial of scheduled offences.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Scheduled offences:</strong> The schedule to the Act specifies a list of offences which are to be investigated and prosecuted by the NIA.
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>These include offences under Acts such as the Atomic Energy Act, 1962, and the Unlawful Activities Prevention Act, 1967.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>The Bill seeks to allow the NIA to investigate the following additional offences:
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Human trafficking</li>
<li>Offences related to counterfeit currency or bank notes</li>
<li>Manufacture or sale of prohibited arms</li>
<li>Cyber-terrorism, and</li>
<li>Offences under the Explosive Substances Act, 1908</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Jurisdiction of the NIA:</strong> The Act provides for the creation of the NIA to investigate and prosecute offences specified in the schedule.
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>The officers of the NIA have the same powers as other police officers in relation to the investigation of such offences, across India.</li>
<li>The Bill states that in addition, officers of the NIA will have the power to investigate scheduled offences committed outside India, subject to international treaties and domestic laws of other countries.</li>
<li>The central government may direct the NIA to investigate such cases, as if the offence has been committed in India. The <strong>Special Court</strong> in New Delhi will have jurisdiction over these cases.</li>
<li><strong>Special Courts:</strong> The Act allows the central government to constitute Special Courts for the trial of scheduled offences. The Bill amends this to allow the central and state governments to designate Sessions Courts as Special Courts for such trials.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h2 id="15">Health and Family Welfare</h2>
<h3 id="16">The National Medical Commission Bill, 2019</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The National Medical Commission Bill, 2019 was introduced and passed by Lok Sabha.The Bill seeks to repeal the <strong>Indian Medical Council Act, 1956</strong> and provide for a medical education system which ensures:
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Availability of adequate and high quality medical professionals</li>
<li>Adoption of the latest medical research by medical professionals</li>
<li>Periodic assessment of medical institutions, and</li>
<li>An effective grievance redressal mechanism</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Key features of the Bill include:</strong>
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Constitution of the National Medical Commission:</strong> The Bill sets up the <strong>National Medical Commission (NMC)</strong>. Within three years of the passage of the Bill, state governments will establish <strong>State Medical Councils</strong> at the state level. The NMC will consist of 25 members, appointed by the central government.</li>
<li><strong>Members of the NMC will include:</strong>
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>The Chairperson (must be a medical practitioner)</li>
<li>Presidents of the Under-Graduate and Postgraduate Medical Education Boards</li>
<li>The Director General of Health Services, Directorate General of Health Services</li>
<li>The Director General, Indian Council of Medical Research, and</li>
<li>Five members (part-time) to be elected by registered medical practitioners from amongst themselves for two years.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Functions of the NMC include:</strong>
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Framing policies for regulating medical institutions and medical professionals</li>
<li>Assessing the requirements of healthcare related human resources and infrastructure</li>
<li>Ensuring compliance by the State Medical Councils of the regulations made under the Bill</li>
<li>Framing guidelines for determination of fees for up to 50% of the seats in the private medical institutions and deemed universities which are regulated as per the Bill.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Autonomous boards:</strong> The Bill sets up four autonomous boards under the supervision of the NMC. Each board will consist of a President and four members, appointed by the central government. These boards include:
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>The Under-Graduate Medical Education Board and the Post-Graduate Medical Education Board</li>
<li>The Medical Assessment and Rating Board, and</li>
<li>The Ethics and Medical Registration</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3 id="17">The Surrogacy (Regulation) Bill, 2019</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The Surrogacy (Regulation) Bill, 2019 was introduced in Lok Sabha.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The Bill defines surrogacy as a practice where a woman gives birth to a child for an intending couple and agrees to hand over the child to them after the birth.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Key features of the Bill include:</strong>
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Regulation of surrogacy:</strong> The Bill prohibits commercial surrogacy, but allows altruistic surrogacy.
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Altruistic surrogacy involves no monetary compensation to the surrogate mother other than the medical expenses and insurance coverage. Commercial surrogacy include surrogacy or its related procedures undertaken for a monetary benefit or reward (in cash or kind) exceeding the basic medical expenses and insurance coverage.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Eligibility criteria for intending couple:</strong> The intending couple should have a <strong>&lsquo;certificate of essentiality&rsquo;</strong> and a <strong>&lsquo;certificate of eligibility&rsquo;</strong> issued by the appropriate authority. A certificate of essentiality will be issued upon fulfilment of these conditions:
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>A medical certificate of proven infertility of one or both members of the intending couple</li>
<li>An order of parentage and custody of the surrogate child passed by a Magistrate&rsquo;s court, and</li>
<li>Insurance coverage for a period of 16 months covering postpartum delivery complications for the surrogate.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>The certificate of eligibility to the intending couple is issued upon fulfilment of the following conditions:
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>The couple being Indian citizens and married for at least five years</li>
<li>Between 23 to 50 years old (wife) and 26 to 55 years old (husband)</li>
<li>They do not have any surviving child (biological, adopted or surrogate)</li>
<li>Including a child who is mentally or physically challenged or suffers from life threatening disorder or fatal illness; and</li>
<li>Other conditions that may be specified by regulations.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Eligibility criteria for surrogate mother:</strong> To obtain a certificate of eligibility, the surrogate mother has to be:
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>A close relative of the intending couple</li>
<li>A married woman having a child of her own</li>
<li>25 to 35 years old</li>
<li>A surrogate only once in her lifetime</li>
<li>Possess a certificate of medical and psychological fitness for surrogacy. In addition, the surrogate mother cannot provide her own gametes for surrogacy.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h2 id="18">Labour and Employment</h2>
<h3 id="19">The Code on Wages, 2019</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The Code on Wages, 2019 was passed by Lok Sabha. It seeks to regulate wage and bonus payments in all employments where any industry, trade, business, or manufacturing is carried out. The Code replaces the following four laws:
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>The Payment of Wages Act, 1936</strong></li>
<li><strong>The Minimum Wages Act, 1948</strong></li>
<li><strong>The Payment of Bonus Act, 1965</strong></li>
<li><strong>The Equal Remuneration Act, 1976</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Coverage:</strong> The Code will apply to all employees. The central government will make wage-related decisions for employment such as railways, mines, and oil fields, among others. The state governments will make decisions for all other employments.</li>
<li><strong>Floor wage:</strong> According to the Code, the central government will fix a floor wage, taking into account the living standards of workers. Further, it may set different floor wages for different geographical areas.</li>
<li><strong>Fixing the minimum wage:</strong> The Code prohibits employers from paying wages less than the minimum wages. Minimum wages will be notified by the central or state governments. This will be based on time, or number of pieces produced.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The minimum wages will be revised and reviewed by the central or state governments at an interval of not more than five years.</li>
<li>While fixing minimum wages, the central or state governments may take into account factors such as: (i) skills of workers, and (ii) the difficulty of work.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Advisory boards:</strong> The central and state governments will constitute advisory boards. The Boards will advise the respective governments on various issues including:
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Fixation of minimum wages</li>
<li>Increasing employment opportunities for women</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3 id="20">Code on Occupational, Safety, Health and Working Conditions, 2019</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The Occupational Safety, Health and Working Conditions Code, 2019 was introduced in Lok Sabha. It applies to <strong>establishments employing at least 10 workers, and to all mines and docks</strong>.</li>
<li>The Code replaces 13 labour laws including the Factories Act, 1948, the Mines Act, 1952, and the Contract Labour (Regulation and Abolition) Act, 1970.</li>
<li><strong>Key features of the Code include:</strong>
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Duties of employers:</strong> The Code prescribes certain duties of the employer. These include:
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Providing a workplace that is free from hazards that may cause injury or diseases, and</li>
<li>Providing free annual health examinations to certain employees.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Working Hours:</strong> Work hours for different classes of establishment and employees will be provided as per the rules prescribed by the central or state government. Female workers, with their consent, may work past 7pm and before 6am, if approved by the central or state government.</li>
<li><strong>Leave:</strong> No employee may work for more than six days a week. Workers must receive paid annual leave for at least one in 20 days of the period spent on duty.</li>
<li><strong>Working conditions and welfare facilities:</strong> The employer is required to provide a hygienic work environment with ventilation, sufficient space, and clean drinking water. Welfare facilities include separate bathing places and locker rooms for male, female, and transgender employees and creches.</li>
<li><strong>Advisory Bodies:</strong> The central and state governments will set up <strong>Occupational Safety and Health Advisory Boards</strong> at the national and state level, respectively. These Boards will advise the central and state governments on the standards, rules, and regulations to be framed under the Code.</li>
<li><strong>Offences and penalties:</strong> Under the Code, an offence that leads to the death of an employee will be punishable with imprisonment of up to two years, or a fine up to five lakh rupees, or both. Further, courts may direct that at least 50% of such fine be given as compensation to the heirs of the victim. For any other violation where the penalty is not specified, the employer will be penalised with a fine between two and three lakh rupees.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3 id="21">Voluntary pension scheme for traders and shopkeepers notified</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The Ministry of Labour and Employment notified a voluntary pension scheme called the <strong>Pradhan Mantri Laghu Vyapari Maan-dhan, Yojana 2019</strong>. It intends to provide a minimum assured pension to self-employed persons.</li>
<li><strong>Key features of the scheme include:</strong>
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Eligibility:</strong> The Scheme will apply to shopkeepers, retail traders, and other self-employed persons with an annual turnover of less than Rs. 1.5 crore, between the ages of 18 and 40 years. In order to enrol, the subscriber must have a bank account and Aadhaar number.
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Interested persons can enrol themselves through any Common Service Centre in the country, with a pension fund administered by the Life Insurance Corporation. A Common Service Centre is an access point for delivery of essential public utility services.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Minimum assured pension:</strong> Each subscriber under the scheme shall receive a minimum assured pension of Rs 3000 per month after attaining the age of 60 years. The central government will match the contribution made by the beneficiary.
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>The government has notified different monthly contribution amounts depending upon the age of joining. For example, a person entering the scheme at 29 years of age will be required to contribute Rs 100 per month.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Family pension:</strong> If the subscriber dies while receiving the pension, his spouse will be entitled to receive 50% of the pension as family pension. If he dies before the pension accrues (i.e. before the age of 60 years), his spouse may either join the scheme by paying the contribution or may exit the scheme.
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>If they choose to exit, the spouse will receive the beneficiary&rsquo;s contribution along with accumulated interest earned by the fund or interest at the savings bank interest rate, whichever is higher. If both the subscriber and spouse die, the entire corpus will be credited back to the fund.</li>
<li>If the beneficiary becomes disabled prior to completing 60 years of age, his spouse may continue the scheme or exit the scheme. On exiting, the spouse will receive the beneficiary&rsquo;s contribution with interest as actually earned by fund or at the savings bank interest rate, whichever is higher.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Exit and withdrawal:</strong> Any person may exit the scheme under the following conditions:
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>If he exits within 10 years, his share of contribution will be returned to him along with savings bank interest.</li>
<li>If he exits the scheme after 10 years but prior to completing 60 years of age, he will get his share along with the accumulated interest earned by the fund or at savings bank interest rate, whichever is higher.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h2 id="22">Corporate Affairs</h2>
<h3 id="23">Companies (Amendment) Bill, 2019</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The Companies (Amendment) Bill, 2019 was passed by Parliament. It amends the <strong>Companies Act, 2013</strong>.</li>
<li><strong>Key features of the Bill include:</strong>
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Issuance of dematerialised shares:</strong> Under the Act, certain classes of public companies are required to issue shares in dematerialised form only. The Bill states this may be prescribed for other classes of unlisted companies as well.</li>
<li><strong>Re-categorisation of certain Offences:</strong> The 2013 Act contains 81 compoundable offences punishable with fine or fine or imprisonment, or both. These offences are heard by courts. <strong>The Bill re-categorizes 16 of these offences as civil defaults,</strong> where adjudicating officers (appointed by the central government) may now levy penalties instead. These offences include:
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Issuance of shares at a discount</li>
<li>Failure to file an annual return.</li>
<li>Further, the Bill amends the penalties for some other offences.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR):</strong> Under the Act, if companies which have to provide for CSR, do not fully spend the funds, they must disclose the reasons for non-spending in their annual report.
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Under the Bill, any unspent annual CSR funds must be transferred to one of the funds under Schedule 7 of the Act (e.g., PM Relief Fund) within six months of the end of the financial year.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>However, if the CSR funds are committed to certain ongoing projects, then the unspent funds will have to be transferred to an <strong>Unspent CSR Account</strong> within 30 days of the of the financial year, and spent within three years.
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Any funds remaining unspent after three years will have to be transferred to one of the funds under Schedule 7 of the Act. Any violation may attract a fine between Rs 50,000 and Rs 25,00,000 and every defaulting officer may be punished with imprisonment of up to three years or fine in the same range as above.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Commencement of business:</strong> The Bill states that a company may not start business, unless it (i) files a declaration within 180 days of incorporation, confirming that every subscriber to the Memorandum of the company has paid for the shares agreed to be taken by him, and (ii) files a verification of its registered address within 30 days of incorporation.
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>If it fails to comply with these provisions and is found not to be carrying out business, the name of the company may be removed from the Register of Companies.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3 id="24">Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code (Amendment) Bill, 2019</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code (Amendment) Bill, 2019 was passed by Rajya Sabha. It amends the <strong>Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code, 2016</strong>.
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The Code provides a time-bound process for resolving insolvency in companies and among individuals.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Key features of the Bill include:</strong>
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Initiation of resolution process:</strong> The Code states that a financial creditor may file an application before the National Company Law Tribunal (NCLT) for initiating the insolvency resolution process.
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>The NCLT must find the existence of default within 14 days. Based on its findings, NCLT may accept or reject the application. The Bill states that in case the NCLT does not find the existence of default and has not passed an order within 14 days, it must record its reasons in writing.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Time-limit for resolution process:</strong> The Code states that the insolvency resolution process must be completed within 180 days, extendable by a period of up to 90 days. The Bill adds that the resolution process must be completed within 330 days.
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>This includes time for any extension granted and the time taken in legal proceedings in relation to the process. On the enactment of the Bill, if any case is pending for over 330 days, it must be resolved within 90 days.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Resolution plan:</strong> The Code provides that the resolution plan must ensure that the operational creditors receive an amount which should not be less than the amount they would receive in case of liquidation.
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>The Bill amends this to provide that the amounts to be paid to the operational creditor should be the higher of: (i) amounts receivable under liquidation, and (ii) the amount receivable under a resolution plan, if such amounts were distributed under the same order of priority (as for liquidation).</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Representative of financial creditors:</strong> The Code specifies that, in certain cases, such as when the debt is owed to a class of creditors beyond a specified number, the financial creditors will be represented on the committee of creditors by an authorised representative. These representatives will vote on behalf of the financial creditors as per instructions received from them.
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>The Bill states that such representative will vote on the basis of the decision taken by a majority of the voting shares of the creditors that they represent.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h2 id="25">Road Transport and Highways</h2>
<h3 id="26">Motor Vehicles (Amendment) Bill, 2019</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The Motor Vehicles (Amendment) Bill, 2019 was passed by Rajya Sabha. The Bill seeks to amend the <strong>Motor Vehicles Act, 1988</strong> to provide for road safety.
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The Act provides for grant of licenses and permits related to motor vehicles, standards for motor vehicles, and penalties for violation of these provisions.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Key features of the Bill include:</strong>
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Compensation for road accident victims:</strong> The Bill provides that the central government will develop a scheme for cashless treatment of road accident victims during the golden hour.
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li><strong>Golden hour</strong> is defined as the time period of up to one hour following a traumatic injury, during which the likelihood of preventing death through prompt medical care is the highest.</li>
<li>The central government may also make a scheme for providing interim relief to claimants seeking compensation under third party insurance.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Compulsory insurance:</strong> The Bill requires the central government to constitute <strong>Motor Vehicle Accident Fund,</strong> to provide compulsory insurance cover to all road users in India. It will be utilised for:
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Treatment of persons injured in road accidents as per the golden hour scheme.</li>
<li>Compensation to representatives of a person who died in a hit and run accident.</li>
<li>Compensation to a person grievously hurt in a hit and run accident, and</li>
<li>Compensation to any other persons as prescribed by the central government.</li>
<li>This Fund will be credited through: (i) payment of a nature notified by the central government, (ii) a grant or loan made by the central government, (iii) balance of the Solatium Fund (existing funds under the Act to provide compensation for hit and run accidents), or (iv) any other source as prescribed the central government.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Road Safety Board:</strong> The Bill provides for a <strong>National Road Safety Board,</strong> to be created by the central government through a notification. The Board will advise the central and state governments on all aspects of road safety and traffic management including:
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Standards of motor vehicles</li>
<li>Registration and licensing of vehicles</li>
<li>Standards for road safety</li>
<li>Promotion of new vehicle technology</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h2 id="27">Education</h2>
<h3 id="28">The Central Educational Institutions (Reservation in Teacher&rsquo;s Cadre) Bill, 2019</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The Central Educational Institutions (Reservation in Teachers Cadre) Bill, 2019 was passed by Parliament. It replaces an Ordinance promulgated in March 2019.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The Bill provides for reservation of teaching positions in central educational institutions for persons belonging to:
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Scheduled Castes</li>
<li>Scheduled Tribes</li>
<li>Socially and educationally backward classes</li>
<li>Economically weaker sections.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>The key features of the Bill include:</strong>
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Reservation of posts:</strong> The Bill provides for reservation of posts in direct recruitment of teachers (out of the sanctioned strength) in central educational institutions. For the purpose of such reservation, a central educational institution will be regarded as one unit.
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>This implies that the allocation of teaching posts for reserved categories would be done on the basis of all positions of the same level (such as assistant professor) across departments. Note that, under previous guidelines, each department was regarded as an individual unit for the purpose of reservation.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Coverage and exceptions:</strong> The Bill will apply to &lsquo;central educational institutions&rsquo; which include universities set up by Acts of Parliament, institutions deemed to be a university, institutions of national importance, and institutions receiving aid from the central government.
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>However, it excludes certain institutions of excellence, research institutions, and institutions of national and strategic importance which have been specified in the Bill. Further, it also excludes minority education institutions.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3 id="29">The Central Universities (Amendment) Bill, 2019</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The Central Universities (Amendment) Bill, 2019 was passed by Parliament. The Bill seeks to amend the <strong>Central Universities Act, 2009,</strong> which establishes universities for teaching and research in various states.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The Bill provides for the <strong>establishment of two central universities in Andhra Pradesh</strong> to be known as the Central University of Andhra Pradesh, and the <strong>Central Tribal University</strong> of Andhra Pradesh.</li>
<li>The Central Tribal University will take additional measures to provide higher educational and research facilities in tribal art, culture, and customs primarily to the tribal population of India.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h2 id="30">Housing and Urban Affairs</h2>
<h3 id="31">The Public Premises (Eviction of Unauthorised Occupants)</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The Public Premises (Eviction of Unauthorised Occupants) Amendment Bill, 2019 was introduced and passed by Lok Sabha. The Bill amends the <strong>Public Premises (Eviction of Unauthorised Occupants) Act, 1971</strong>.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The Act provides for the eviction of unauthorised occupants from public premises in certain cases.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Residential accommodation:</strong> The Bill defines <strong>&lsquo;residential accommodation occupation&rsquo;</strong> as the occupation of public premises by a person on the grant of a license for such an occupation. The license must be given for a fixed tenure, or for the period the person holds office.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Further, the occupation must be allowed under the rules made by the central, state or union territory government, or a statutory authority (such as Parliament Secretariat, or a central government company, or premises belonging to a state government).</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Notice for eviction:</strong> The Bill adds a provision laying down the procedure for eviction from residential accommodation. It requires an estate officer (an officer of the central government) to issue a written notice to a person if he is in unauthorised occupation of a residential accommodation.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The notice will require the person to show cause why an eviction order should not be made against him, within three working days. The written notice must be fixed to a conspicuous part of the accommodation, in a prescribed manner.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Order of eviction:</strong> After considering the cause shown, and making any other inquiries, the estate officer will make an order for eviction. If the person fails to comply with the order, the estate officer may evict such person from the residential accommodation, and take possession of it. For this purpose, the estate officer may also use such force as necessary.</li>
<li><strong>Payment of damages:</strong> If the person in unauthorised occupation of the residential accommodation challenges the eviction order passed by the estate officer in court, he will be required to pay damages for every month of such occupation.</li>
</ul>
<h3 id="32">Draft Model Tenancy Act, 2019 released</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The <strong>Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs</strong> released the <strong>draft Model Tenancy Act, 2019</strong>. The draft Act seeks to provide for the regulation and speedy adjudication of matters related to rental housing.</li>
<li>It also seeks to repeal the existing state/union territories (UTs) Rent Control Acts.</li>
<li>The final draft Model Tenancy Act will be circulated to states. States may enact a new tenancy law or amend their existing laws to align with the provisions of this Model Act.</li>
<li><strong>Key features of the draft Act include:</strong>
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Tenancy Agreement:</strong> The draft Act provides for a tenancy agreement to be signed between the landowner and the tenant (parties). The duration of tenancy, rent payable, and revision of rent will be as agreed upon between both parties and as specified in the agreement. No person will let out or rent any premises without such agreement.
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Further such agreement must be registered with the Rent Authority, in a form as specified in the schedule to the Act. This will include details such as name, address, PAN and Aadhaar numbers of the landowner and tenant, details of the premises, and the rent payable.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Rent Authority:</strong> The District Collector, with prior approval of the state/UT government, will appoint the Rent Authority (at the rank of Deputy Collector). The Rent Authority, on receiving information on a tenancy agreement, must upload details of the agreement on its website. The Authority may also, on application by the landowner or tenant, fix or revise the rent, and the date from which the revised rent will apply. Appeals against the Authority&rsquo;s orders will lie with the Rent Court, and must be made within 30 days from the date of the order.</li>
<li><strong>Rent Courts:</strong> The state government may constitute as many Rent Courts as it deems necessary. Two or more Courts can be constituted for any area. In such cases the state/UT government may regulate the distribution of business among them.
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>A Rent Court may consist of two members to be appointed by the state/UT government in consultation with the High Court. Appeals against a Rent Court&rsquo;s orders will lie with the Rent Tribunal, and must be made within 30 days from the date of the order.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Rent Tribunal:</strong> The state government may constitute as many Rent Tribunals as it deems necessary. In case an area has several such Tribunals, the state/UT government may notify one of them as the Principal Rent Tribunal.
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>The Rent Tribunal will be headed by a Principal Appellate Member (at the level of a High Court Judge), and comprise of two other members. The Rent Courts and Tribunals will seek to dispose of a case within 60 days.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h2 id="33">Civil Aviation</h2>
<h3 id="34" the="" strong="">Airports Economic Regulatory Authority of India (Amendment) Bill, 2019</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The Airports Economic Regulatory Authority of India (Amendment) Bill, 2019 was introduced in and passed by Rajya Sabha. It amends the <strong>Airports Economic Regulatory Authority of India Act, 2008</strong>.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The Act established the Airports Economic Regulatory Authority of India (AERA).</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>The AERA regulates tariffs and other charges for aeronautical services provided at civilian airports with annual traffic above 15 lakh passengers. It monitors the performance standard of services across these airports.</li>
</ul>
</div>
</li>
<li><strong>Definition of major airports:</strong> The Act defines a major airport as one with annual passenger traffic over 15 lakh, or any other airports as notified by the central government.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The Bill increases the threshold of annual passenger traffic for major airports to over 35 lakh.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Tariff determination by AERA:</strong> Under the Act, AERA is responsible for determining:
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The tariff for aeronautical services at different airports every five years</li>
<li>The development fees of major airports</li>
<li>The passengers service fee.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>It can also call for necessary information to determine tariffs and perform any other tariff-related functions, including amending the tariffs if necessary in the interim period.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The Bill adds that AERA will not determine: (i) the tariff, (ii) tariff structures, or (iii) the development fees, in certain cases.
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>These cases include those where such tariff amounts were a part of the bid document on the basis of which the airport operations were awarded. AERA will be consulted by the concessioning authority before incorporating such tariffs in the bid document, and such tariffs must be notified.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h2 id="35">Jal Shakti</h2>
<h3 id="36">The Inter-State River Water Disputes (Amendment) Bill, 2019</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The Inter-State River Water Disputes (Amendment) Bill, 2019 was introduced and passed by Lok Sabha. It amends the <strong>Inter-State River Water Disputes Act, 1956</strong>.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The Act provides for the adjudication of disputes relating to waters of inter-state rivers and river valleys.</li>
<li>Under the Act, a state government may request the central government to refer an inter-state river dispute to a Tribunal for adjudication. If the central government is of the opinion that the dispute cannot be settled through negotiations, it is required to set up a Water Disputes Tribunal for adjudication of the dispute, within a year of receiving such a complaint. The Bill seeks to replace this mechanism.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Disputes Resolution Committee:</strong> Under the Bill, when a state puts in a request regarding any water dispute, the central government will set up a <strong>Disputes Resolution Committee (DRC),</strong> to resolve the dispute amicably.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The DRC will comprise of a Chairperson, and experts with at least 15 years of experience in relevant sectors, to be nominated by the central government. It will also comprise one member from each state (at Joint Secretary level), who are party to the dispute, to be nominated by the concerned state government.</li>
<li>The DRC will seek to resolve the dispute through negotiations, within one year (extendable by six months), and submit its report to the central government. If a dispute cannot be settled by the DRC, the central government will refer it to the Inter-State River Water Disputes Tribunal. Such referral must be made within three months from the receipt of the report from the DRC.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Tribunal:</strong> The central government will set up an <strong>Inter-State River Water Disputes Tribunal,</strong> for the adjudication of water disputes. This Tribunal can have multiple benches. All existing Tribunals will be dissolved, and the water disputes pending adjudication before such existing Tribunals will be transferred to the new Tribunal.</li>
<li><strong>Composition of the Tribunal:</strong> The Tribunal will consist of a Chairperson, Vice-Chairperson, three judicial members, and three expert members.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>They will be appointed by the central government on the recommendation of a Selection Committee. Each Tribunal Bench will consist of a Chairperson or Vice-Chairperson, a judicial member, and an expert member. The central government may also appoint two experts serving in the Central Water Engineering Service as assessors to advise the Bench in its proceedings. The assessor should not be from the state which is a party to the dispute.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3 id="37">The Dam Safety Bill, 2019</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The Dam Safety Bill, 2019 was introduced in Lok Sabha. The Bill provides for the surveillance, inspection, operation, and maintenance of specified dams across the country. It also provides for an institutional mechanism to ensure the safety of such dams.</li>
<li><strong>Key features of the Bill include:</strong>
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Applicability of the Bill:</strong> The Bill applies to all specified dams in the country. These are dams with: (i) height more than 15 m, or (ii) height between 10 to 15 m and subject to certain design and structural conditions.</li>
<li><strong>National Committee on Dam Safety:</strong> The Bill provides for the constitution of a National Committee on Dam Safety. Its functions include: (i) formulating policies and regulations on dam safety standards, and (ii) analysing causes of dam failures.</li>
<li><strong>National Dam Safety Authority:</strong> The Bill provides for a National Dam Safety Authority. Functions of the Authority include: (i) implementing the policies formulated by the National Committee on Dam Safety, and (ii) resolving issues between State Dam Safety Organisations (SDSOs), or between a SDSO and any dam owner in that state.</li>
<li><strong>State Dam Safety Organisation (SDSO):</strong> State governments will establish State Dam Safety Organisations (SDSOs). All specified dams in a state will fall under the jurisdiction of that state&rsquo;s SDSO.
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>However, the National Dam Safety Authority will act as the SDSO in cases where a dam: (i) is owned by one state but situated in another state, (ii) extends over multiple states, or (iii) is owned by a central public sector undertaking.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Functions of the SDSOs include:</strong>
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Monitoring the operation and maintenance of dams</li>
<li>Keeping a database of dams, and</li>
<li>Recommending safety measures to dam owners</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>State Committee on Dam Safety:</strong> The Bill provides for the constitution of State Committees on Dam Safety by the state governments.</li>
<li><strong>Their functions include:</strong>
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Reviewing the work of the SDSO</li>
<li>Ordering dam safety investigations, and</li>
<li>Assessing the potential impact of dams on upstream and downstream states.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Obligations of dam owners:</strong> The Bill requires the owners of specified dams to provide a dam safety unit in each dam. This unit will inspect the dams: (i) before and after the monsoon session, and (ii) during and after every earthquake, flood, or any other calamity or sign of distress.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h2 id="38">Defence</h2>
<h3 id="39">Ministry introduces scheme for promotion of MSMEs in defence</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The Ministry of Defence has introduced a scheme for <strong>promotion of MSMEs in the defence sector</strong>.</li>
<li>The scheme <strong>aims to educate MSMEs in tier II and tier III cities</strong> across the country about the requirements of the defence sector, and the provisions introduced by the government to incentivise them.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>This will be done through organising various events such as conclaves, and workshops. These events will include industry and MSME presence along with the support of the Department of Defence Production.</li>
<li><strong>The objective of these events include:</strong>
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Providing MSMEs with relevant information about the government&rsquo;s &lsquo;Make in India&rsquo; programme</li>
<li>Giving impetus to defence production in the country for domestic needs and export to friendly countries, and</li>
<li>Providing knowledge to MSMEs active in the non-defence sector for their entry in the defence sector.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>Funding for the scheme will be provided by the central government in the following manner:
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Maximum sponsorship of Rs 2 lakh per event for national level events, and</li>
<li>Maximum sponsorship of Rs 1 lakh per event for state level events. An Empowered Committee consisting of three members will be constituted to review proposals under the scheme.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>',
		'postdate' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenTime) {},
		'url' => 'https://www.drishtiias.com/prs-capsule/prs-capsule-july-2019'
	],
	(int) 2 => [
		'title' => 'Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (Amendment) Bill, 2019 and related concerns',
		'catname' => 'News Editorials',
		'desc' => '<div class="border">
<p>The article is based on the recent Amendments in the POCSO Act, 2012 and the concerns related to the newly introduced death penalty in the law as pointed in the article <a href="https://www.thehindu.com/opinion/op-ed/a-point-to-ponder-over-in-the-pocso-bill/article28984831.ece" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>&ldquo;A Point to Ponder Over in the POCSO Bill&rdquo;</strong></a> published in The Hindu on 12<sup>th</sup> August.</p>
</div>
<h3>Context</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Recently the <strong>Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (Amendment) Bill, 2019</strong> was passed by both Houses of Parliament with an objective of stopping the rampant sexual abuse of children.</li>
<li>It seeks to provide more stringent punishment, including death penalty, for sexual crimes against children.</li>
<li>The present bill is welcome in certain respects as it specifically defines what &lsquo;child pornography&rsquo; is; &lsquo;using a child for pornographic purposes&rsquo; and for &lsquo;possessing or storing pornography involving a child&rsquo; is punishable. It has also widened the ambit of &lsquo;aggravated sexual assault&rsquo;.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Significance</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The amendment is expected to discourage the trend of child sexual abuse by acting as a deterrent due to strong penal provisions incorporated in the Act.</li>
<li>It intends to protect the interest of vulnerable children in times of distress and ensures their safety and dignity.</li>
<li>The amendment is aimed to establish clarity regarding the aspects of child abuse and punishment thereof.</li>
<li>It is <strong>gender-neutral</strong> and thus looks into the sexual assault of both minor boys and girls.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Introduction of Death Penalty</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The bill seeks for the death penalty for aggravated sexual assault on children to create deterent effect.</li>
<li>It refers to the judgments of the Supreme Court in <em><strong>Machhi Singh </strong></em><strong>(1983)</strong> and <em><strong>Devender Pal Singh </strong></em><strong>(2002)</strong> in which the court had held that the death penalty can be awarded only in rarest of rare cases.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Concerns over death penalty</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Often, the perpetrators of abuse are family members and having such penalty may discourage the registration of the crime itself. Also, it may threaten the life of the minor as the maximum punishment for murder is also the death sentence.</li>
<li>The Justice <em><strong>J.S. Verma Committee,</strong></em> which was constituted in 2013 in the aftermath of the Nirbhaya case, after due deliberations found itself against the imposition of death penalty in rape cases.</li>
<li>The <em><strong>262<sup>nd</sup> Report of the Law Commission of India, 2015,</strong></em> also provides for abolition of the death penalty except in terror cases.</li>
<li>It largely diverts attention from the core issues of infrastructural apathy, procedural lapses and trial delays and conveniently evades the fact that <em>&lsquo;it is the certainty of punishment rather than its severity which has deterrence in real sense&rsquo;.</em></li>
<li>Research at the global level has shown that despite stringent punishments, there is no fall in the rate of commission of crimes, thus showing the limitation of the deterrent theory.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Other Concerns</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>According to the <strong>National Crime Records Bureau(NCRB) data of 2016, the conviction rate in POCSO cases is 29.6%</strong> while <strong>pendency is as high as 89%.</strong> The prescribed time period of two months for trial in such cases is hardly complied with.</li>
<li>As per the NCRB data of 2016, less than three per cent of child rape cases that came up before the courts ended in convictions.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Way Forward</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Problems related to implementation of POCSO Act such as lack of adequate special courts, lack of sensitization for investigators and prosecutors in dealing with child victims, poor rate of convictions etc. need to be resolved urgently.</li>
<li>The Supreme Court direction to set up special courts within 60 days of the order in each district having more than 100 pending cases under the act must be complied with urgently.</li>
<li>The provision of death penalty should be widely discussed and debated and should be used only for the rarest of the rare cases.</li>
<li>Awareness and sensitization of people is equally important to prevent the crime itself.</li>
<li>There needs to be an overhaul of the criminal justice system in the country rather than emphasising on the death penalty.</li>
</ul>
<table border="1" style="border-collapse: collapse; background-color: #baf2f7; border-color: #00626b; border-style: dashed;" width="878" height="57">
<tbody>
<tr>
<td style="width: 877px; background-color: #daf1f2;">
<p><em><strong>Drishti Input</strong></em></p>
<p>Critically examine the provisions of &ldquo;Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (Amendment) Bill, 2019&rdquo;, alongwith gaps in criminal justice system of India, to effectively prevent child sexual abuse cases in India.</p>
</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>',
		'postdate' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenTime) {},
		'url' => 'https://www.drishtiias.com/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/protection-of-children-from-sexual-offences-amendment-bill-2019-and-related-concerns'
	],
	(int) 3 => [
		'title' => 'Performance Indicators for Public Sector Banks',
		'catname' => 'News Analysis',
		'desc' => '<p>The Finance Ministry to closely monitor the Public Sector Banks (PSBs) achievements on <strong>16 Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) at the branch, region, state and national level in order to address the continuing decline of PSBs shares in Indian banking.</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>PSBs&rsquo; market share is declining while that of private banks is rising. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>As of end-December 2018 PSBs accounted for 63% of the outstanding credit of scheduled commercial banks against 67% as of June-end 2017.</li>
<li>The fall comes in the backdrop of these banks facing asset quality issues since 2015.</li>
<li>Further, <strong>Non-Banking Financial Companies <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/A%20nuanced%20understanding%20of%20the%20NBFC%20sector" target="_blank" rel="noopener">(NBFCs)</a></strong> are borrowing from banks and are able to attract customers in spite of higher interest rates.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>The 16 KPIs include-</strong> Credit for infrastructure, Farm sector, Blue economy, Housing, MSMEs, Stand-Up India scheme, Education, Exports, Green economy, Cleanliness activities, Financial inclusion and women&rsquo;s empowerment; and others such as direct benefit transfer, digital economy, ATM usage and performance, ease of living and corporate social responsibility.</li>
<li>The banks will then be <strong>benchmarked against the 18 PSBs&rsquo; average.</strong> If found lagging, specific action will be taken after consultation at various levels to improve their performance.</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/954image4.jpg" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/954image4.jpg" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" caption="false" width="421" height="376" /></a></p>
<p><a href="https://www.thehindubusinessline.com/money-and-banking/finmin-plans-16-point-kra-to-push-psbs/article28988309.ece" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Source: BL</strong></a></p>',
		'postdate' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenTime) {},
		'url' => 'https://www.drishtiias.com/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/performance-indicators-for-public-sector-banks'
	],
	(int) 4 => [
		'title' => 'Stimulus Package to Reverse Economic Slowdown',
		'catname' => 'News Analysis',
		'desc' => '<p>Recently, many economic indicators have pointed to a sharp slowdown in demand, both in rural and urban India.</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>For instance, the automobile sector is facing a prolonged slump in demand, leading to massive job losses.</li>
<li>In this context, the government looks to reverse economic slowdown with a <strong>stimulus package.</strong></li>
</ul>
<h3>Reasons for the Slowdown</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>India&rsquo;s merchandise exports have contracted, signalling the impact of <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/us-china-trade-war-can-make-indian-products-competitive-cii" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>US-China trade war.</strong></a></li>
<li><strong>Poor sentiment</strong> in the <strong>equity markets</strong> and in the <strong>banking sector</strong> have led to <strong>stalling the investment</strong> in India.</li>
<li>With domestic <strong>economic activity remaining weak,</strong> while the <strong>global slowdown</strong> and <strong>trade tensions</strong> have intensified, there are further chances of intensification of this slowdown.</li>
<li>In this scenario, <strong>the industry has demanded a stimulus package of ₹1 trillion</strong> to initiate an investment cycle amid slowing global and domestic slowdown.</li>
</ul>
<p style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/780image3.jpg" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/780image3.jpg" width="617" height="374" caption="false" /></a></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The government realized that <strong>the tight fiscal policy is proving to be counterproductive</strong> and that <strong>monetary policy alone is not enough to spur economic growth.</strong>
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Therefore, it has laid down a set of measures <strong>including tax cuts and targeted sops,</strong> to reverse an economic downturn.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Proposed Measures</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The measures being considered are:
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The stimulus package will include <strong>Rs 100 trillion infrastructure investment</strong> over the next five years</li>
<li><strong>Goods and services tax (GST) relief</strong> to specific sectors, including the automobile sector, that could boost demand.</li>
<li><strong>Reduce Red tape</strong> on cross-border trade and improve <strong>ease of doing business.</strong></li>
<li>The government also held that, in an effort to boost exports, it is working on a <strong>new <a href="/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-international-institution/world-trade-organisation-wto" target="_blank" rel="noopener">World Trade Organization</a>-compliant duty reimbursement scheme.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Significance</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Earlier Fiscal Responsibility and Budget Management (FRBM) Act <strong>constrained</strong> the government from providing a fiscal push in the Union budget.</li>
<li>But the government is considering the use of <strong>escape clause</strong> (in the FRBM Act) for deviation in the fiscal deficit up to <strong>50 basis points.</strong>
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>It may give the government leeway to spend an <strong>additional ₹1.15 trillion</strong> in the current fiscal.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Escape Clause:</strong> The panel led by <strong>N.K. Singh</strong> to review the FRBM Act had suggested an escape clause, allowing deviations up to 0.5 percentage points of Gross Domestic Product, based on triggers including far-reaching structural reforms in the economy <strong>with unanticipated fiscal implications, acts of war and farm distress.</strong></li>
</ul>
<p><strong><a href="https://www.livemint.com/news/india/govt-looks-to-reverse-economic-slowdown-with-a-stimulus-package-1565545760249.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Source:Mint</a></strong></p>',
		'postdate' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenTime) {},
		'url' => 'https://www.drishtiias.com/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/stimulus-package-to-reverse-economic-slowdown-1'
	],
	(int) 5 => [
		'title' => 'Sabki Yojana Sabka Vikas Campaign',
		'catname' => 'News Analysis',
		'desc' => '<p>The central government has decided to launch the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/important-facts-for-prelims-03rd-october-2018" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>People's Plan Campaign,</strong></a> also known as <strong>&ldquo;Sabki Yojana Sabka Vikas&rdquo;</strong> from September 2019.</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>It aims to draw up <strong>Gram Panchayat Development Plans</strong> (GPDPs) in the country and <strong>place them on a website</strong> where anyone can see the status of the various government&rsquo;s flagship schemes.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Background</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>A pilot exercise conducted in 2018 suggests that a <strong>majority of the GPs scored between 41% and 50% on a scale of 100, showing glaring deficiencies.</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Merely 0.1% and 0.6% GPs fell in the high 91-100 and 81-90 score respectively.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>A comparison of the performance among the larger states shows that <strong>Kerala, Tamil Nadu, and Andhra Pradesh,</strong> in that order, were the top scorers, while GPs in <strong>Jharkhand, Assam, Bihar, and Madhya Pradesh were at the bottom.</strong></li>
<li>A recent study of 100 randomly chosen GPs by <strong>National Institute of Rural Development</strong> has shown that several GP has reported improvements while others have slipped down over the past year. A fresh survey is, therefore, significant.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Gram Panchayat Development Plans</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Gram Panchayats have been mandated for the <strong>preparation of GPDP for economic development and social justice</strong> utilizing the resources available to them.</li>
<li>The GPDP planning process will be comprehensive and participatory by involving <strong>full convergence</strong> with the schemes of all related Central Ministries / Line Departments.</li>
<li>The People's Plan Campaign initiated under "Sabki Yojana Sabka Vikas" is an intensive and structured exercise for planning at Gram Sabha through <strong>convergence between <a href="/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-national-institutions/panchayati-raj-institution-pri" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Panchayati Raj Institutions (PRIs)</a> and concerned departments of the State.</strong></li>
</ul>
<h3>About the process</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Gram Panchayat Development Plans (GPDPs) will include <strong>48 indicators</strong> covering various aspects such as health and sanitation, education etc.</li>
<li>After each GP is scored out of 100 &mdash; <strong>with 30 marks for infrastructure, 30 marks for human development, and 40 marks for economic activity</strong>&mdash; the GPs will be ranked.</li>
<li>The data on the 48 indicators would come from Census 2011 (for physical infrastructure), <strong>Socio-Economic Caste Census 2011</strong> (for Household-level deprivation data), and fresh survey starting in September 2019 that will be carried out by <strong>local facilitators.</strong></li>
<li>The score for each GP will reflect the <strong>local needs and priorities.</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>For instance, for a drought-prone area, water conservation would be accorded the highest priority.</li>
<li>Within this ranking, households suffering the worst deprivations would be prioritised further.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>The entire ranking exercise is <strong>meant to identify the gaps at the GP level, make an assessment of where it stands, and accordingly plan the interventions.</strong></li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>National Institute of Rural Development and Panchayati Raj</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The National Institute of Rural Development and Panchayati Raj (NIRD&amp;PR) is an <strong>autonomous organisation under the Union Ministry of Rural Development.</strong></li>
<li>It is recognized internationally as one of the <strong>United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/survey-2019-ambitions-beyond-growth-escap" target="_blank" rel="noopener">(UNESCAP)</a> Centres of Excellence.</strong></li>
<li>It <strong>builds capacities</strong> of rural development functionaries, elected representatives of PRIs, bankers, NGOs and other stakeholders through interrelated activities of training, research and consultancy.</li>
<li>Establishment in 1958, the Institute is <strong>located at Hyderabad in Telangana.</strong></li>
<li>In addition to the main campus at Hyderabad, this Institute has <strong>North-Eastern Regional Centre at Guwahati, Assam</strong> to meet the NE-regional needs.</li>
</ul>
</div>
<p><a href="https://indianexpress.com/article/india/coming-digital-push-to-gram-panchayats-5896818/" 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/sabki-yojana-sabka-vikas-campaign'
	],
	(int) 6 => [
		'title' => 'India’s First and Longest Sea Ropeway',
		'catname' => 'News Analysis',
		'desc' => '<p>India&rsquo;s first and longest sea ropeway project that will <strong>connect Mumbai with the Elephanta Caves,</strong> is scheduled to start by the end of the year 2019.</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The <strong>8-km ropeway</strong> will begin from Sewri in Mumbai&rsquo;s east coast and end at Raigad district&rsquo;s Elephanta Island.</li>
<li><strong>Need:</strong> The caves see an annual footfall of nearly seven lakh visitors and are one of the must-visit places around Mumbai. Presently, it takes around an hour for the 10-km cruise from Mumbai and vice versa.</li>
<li>The <strong>14-minute ride by 30-seater cable cars</strong> will give a major boost to tourism.</li>
<li>It is Rs. <strong>700 crore PPP (Public-Private Partnership) project</strong> which will be <strong>executed by the Mumbai Port Trust,</strong> under the Ministry of Shipping.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Elephanta Caves<a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/210image2.jpg" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/210image2.jpg" width="256" height="192" style="float: right;" caption="false" /></a></h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The <strong>Elephanta caves,</strong> located on the Elephanta Islands (in the Arabian Sea), off Mumbai, was declared a <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/kailash-mansarovar-in-tentative-list-of-world-heritage-sites" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>world heritage site</strong></a> by UNESCO in 1987.</li>
<li>Known locally as <strong>Gharapuri Caves,</strong> these were constructed about the mid-5<sup>th</sup> to 6<sup>th</sup> centuries AD.</li>
<li>The<strong> seven caves</strong> constitute one of the most striking collections of rock-art in India. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>There are two groups of caves. To the east, Stupa Hill (named because of a small brick Buddhist monument at the top) contains two caves, one of which is unfinished, and several cisterns.</li>
<li>To the west, the larger group consists of five rock-cut Hindu shrines.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>The main cave is universally famous for its <strong>carvings to the glory of Shiva,</strong> who is exalted in various forms and actions. The cave consists of a square plan mandapa whose sides measure about 27 m.</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="https://indianexpress.com/article/india/connecting-mumbai-to-the-elephanta-caves-final-clearance-for-indias-longest-ropeway-over-sea-project-to-be-issued-soon-5897144/" 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/india-s-first-and-longest-sea-ropeway'
	],
	(int) 7 => [
		'title' => 'Indian National Science Academy',
		'catname' => 'News Analysis',
		'desc' => '<p><strong>Chandrima Shaha</strong> will be the <strong>first woman president</strong> of the Indian National Science Academy (INSA), taking up the position in January 2020. She was formerly the Director of the National Institute of Immunology, Delhi.</p>
<h3>Indian National Science Academy</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The INSA, <strong>formerly known as National Institute of Sciences of India (NISI)</strong> was established in January <strong>1935</strong> with the object of promoting science in India and harnessing scientific knowledge for the cause of humanity and national welfare.</li>
<li>In October 1945, the then Government of India recognized the institute as the premier scientific society of India, representing all branches of science.</li>
<li>It was designated as the<strong> adhering organization in India to the International Council for Science (ICSU)</strong> on behalf of the Government of India in January 1968.</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Note:</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The International Council for Science (ICSU) and the International Social Science Council (ISSC) were merged to form the International Science Council (ISC) in 2018.</li>
<li>ISC is a <strong>non-governmental organization</strong> with a unique global membership that brings together 40 international scientific Unions and Associations and over 140 national and regional scientific organizations including Academies and Research Councils.</li>
<li>The vision of the Council is to advance science as a global public good.</li>
<li>ISC is headquartered in <strong>Paris, France.</strong></li>
</ul>
</div>
<p><a href="https://www.thehindu.com/sci-tech/science/science-needs-to-be-communicated-aggressively-among-people/article28984837.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/indian-national-science-academy'
	],
	(int) 8 => [
		'title' => 'Public Distribution System',
		'catname' => 'Paper 3',
		'desc' => '<p style="text-align: center;"><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/883Public Distribution System (Mind Map)_Artboard 1.jpg" width="426" height="1220" /></p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><em><a href="/to-the-points/paper3/public-distribution-system-1" target="_blank" rel="noopener">For TTP</a></em></p>',
		'postdate' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenTime) {},
		'url' => 'https://www.drishtiias.com/mind-map/gs-paper3/public-distribution-system-mindmap'
	],
	(int) 9 => [
		'title' => 'Inverted-J Pattern in Education and Fertility',
		'catname' => 'News Analysis',
		'desc' => '<p>Recently released official data from 2017 on the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/indias-falling-fertility-rate" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Total Fertility Rate (TFR)</strong></a>, reflects a complex relationship between<strong> literacy level and fertility rate.</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>According to <strong>conventional wisdom:</strong> The higher the educational level of a woman, the lower the fertility rate.</li>
<li>However, there&rsquo;s a consistent pattern across states of illiterate women and those with no formal education having lower fertility rates than those with below primary level education.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Culture of the state</strong> is believed to have a greater influence than <strong>education.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Pattern from TFR data</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The relationship between fertility and education resembles an <strong>inverted-J pattern.</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Usually, there is an <strong>inverse relationship</strong> between education or income and fertility, <strong>but it has been observed that fertility could go up with a slight increase in education or income level.</strong></li>
<li>But eventually, fertility declines with higher levels of education.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/522image1.jpg" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/522image1.jpg" width="500" height="364" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" caption="false" /></a></p>
<h3>Highlights of the Report</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>In Bihar, the TFR of women who have not completed primary schooling is 4.4 compared to 3.7 for illiterate women.</li>
<li>Similarly, in Odisha with an overall low fertility rate of just 1.9, the TFR of illiterate women was 2 compared to a TFR of 3.6-3.5 among those with primary level schooling or below.</li>
<li>At the <strong>all-India level,</strong> the TFR for women with below primary education was 3.1 compared to 2.9 for illiterate women and 2.4 for those without formal education.</li>
</ul>
<p>However, according to demographers and population experts, It is <strong>very early to come up with some conclusion.</strong> Similar pattern has to emerge for three or four years (above mentioned pattern is only for the year 2017), so that this Inverted J-curve can be approved as a theory.</p>
<p><a href="https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/in-reducing-fertility-a-little-education-may-be-worse-than-none-shows-data/articleshow/70635707.cms" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Source:TOI</strong></a></p>',
		'postdate' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenTime) {},
		'url' => 'https://www.drishtiias.com/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/inverted-j-pattern-in-education-and-fertility'
	],
	(int) 10 => [
		'title' => 'Mobile Application to Aid Farmers',
		'catname' => 'News Analysis',
		'desc' => '<p>Government to launch a new mobile application, <strong>&ldquo;Uber for tractors&rdquo;</strong>, which will help in <strong>hiring of expensive agricultural equipment.</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Customer Hiring Centres (CHCs)</strong> will be connected with the help of this app, just like the Uber connects an individual with cabs.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>There are now more than 38,000 custom hiring centres (CHCs) across the country, which rent out 2.5 lakh pieces of farm equipment every year.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>The app will show the CHCs which have the equipment available within <strong>5, 20 and 50 km of location,</strong> with their rates.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Benefits</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Informed Decisions:</strong> Feedback from both the CHC and the farmers will allow customers to make <strong>informed decisions.</strong></li>
<li><strong>Database:</strong> The app will also create an <strong>invaluable database for policy-makers,</strong> who can track the use and cost of equipment.</li>
<li><strong>Promotion of New Technology:</strong> The system would also help to <strong>track the usage of new technology</strong> that the government wants to promote, such as the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/crop-stubble-burning-challenge-in-punjab" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Happy Seeder</strong></a> that aims to prevent stubble burning that causes air pollution, or <strong>solar dryers</strong> that can help farmers process and preserve their produce.</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Solar Dryers</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Solar dryers uses solar energy in <strong>drying applications.</strong></li>
<li>They use air heated through <strong>solar energy collectors,</strong> which can be installed in modules according to the requirements of hot air.</li>
<li>They have numerous applications in industries such as <strong>textiles, <a href="/to-the-points/paper3/food-processing-in-india" target="_blank" rel="noopener">food processing</a>, paper, pharmaceutical, and agro-industries.</strong></li>
</ul>
</div>
<h3>Customer Hiring Centres</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Customer Hiring Centres (CHCs) are basically <strong>a unit comprising a set of farm machinery, implements and equipment meant for hiring by farmers. </strong></li>
<li><strong>Marginal farmers</strong> (Farmers whose land holdings are less than two hectares of land), by virtue of their economic condition are unable to own farm machinery on their own or through institutional credit. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Therefore in order to bring farm machinery available within the reach of small/marginal holdings, collective ownership or Custom Hiring Centres are being promoted in a big way.&nbsp;</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>Ideally, the CHCs should be located <strong>within a radius of 5 to 7 kms</strong> of land holdings. This will reduce the transport cost and time of transport of agricultural machinery.</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="https://www.thehindu.com/business/agri-business/uber-for-tractors-government-to-launch-app-to-aid-farmers/article28985433.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/mobile-application-to-aid-farmers'
	],
	(int) 11 => [
		'title' => 'Public Distribution System',
		'catname' => 'Paper 3',
		'desc' => '<h3>Introduction</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The Public distribution system (PDS) is an Indian <strong>food Security System</strong> established <strong>under the Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food, and Public Distribution.</strong></li>
<li>PDS evolved as a system of management of scarcity through distribution of food grains at affordable prices.</li>
<li>PDS is operated under the joint responsibility of the Central and the State Governments. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The <strong>Central Government,</strong> through Food Corporation of India (FCI), has assumed the responsibility for procurement, storage, transportation and bulk allocation of food grains to the State Governments.</li>
<li>The operational responsibilities including allocation within the State, identification of eligible families, issue of Ration Cards and supervision of the functioning of Fair Price Shops (FPSs) etc., rest with the <strong>State Governments.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>Under the PDS, presently the commodities namely <strong>wheat, rice, sugar and kerosene</strong> are being allocated to the States/UTs for distribution. Some States/UTs also distribute additional items of mass consumption through the PDS outlets such as pulses, edible oils, iodized salt, spices, etc.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Evolution of PDS in India</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>PDS was <strong>introduced around World War II</strong> as a war-time rationing measure. Before the 1960s, distribution through PDS was generally dependant on imports of food grains.</li>
<li>It was expanded in the 1960s as a response to the food shortages of the time; subsequently, the government set up the <strong>Agriculture Prices Commission</strong> and the <strong>FCI</strong> to improve domestic procurement and storage of food grains for PDS.</li>
<li>By the 1970s, PDS had evolved into a universal scheme for the distribution of subsidised food</li>
<li>Till 1992, PDS was a general entitlement scheme for all consumers without any specific target.</li>
<li>The <strong>Revamped Public Distribution System (RPDS)</strong> was launched in June, 1992 with a view to strengthen and streamline the PDS as well as to improve its reach in the far-flung, hilly, remote and inaccessible areas where a substantial section of the underprivileged classes lives.</li>
<li>In June, 1997, the Government of India launched the <strong>Targeted Public Distribution System (TPDS)</strong> with a focus on the poor.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Under TPDS, beneficiaries were divided into two categories: Households <strong>below the poverty line or BPL;</strong> and Households <strong>above the poverty line or APL.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Antyodaya Anna Yojana (AAY):</strong> AAY was a step in the direction of making TPDS aim at reducing hunger among the poorest segments of the BPL population. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>A National Sample Survey exercise pointed towards the fact that about 5% of the total population in the country sleeps without two square meals a day. In order to make TPDS more focused and targeted towards this category of population, the "Antyodaya Anna Yojana&rdquo; (AAY) was <strong>launched in December, 2000</strong> for one crore poorest of the poor families.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>In September 2013, Parliament enacted the <strong>National Food Security Act, 2013.</strong> The Act relies largely on the existing TPDS to deliver food grains as legal entitlements to poor households. This marks a shift by <strong>making the right to food a justiciable right.</strong></li>
</ul>
<h3>How PDS system functions?</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The Central and State Governments share responsibilities in order to provide food grains to the identified beneficiaries.</li>
<li>The centre procures food grains from farmers at a <strong>minimum support price (MSP)</strong> and sells it to states at <strong>central issue prices.</strong> It is responsible for transporting the grains to godowns in each state.</li>
<li>States bear the responsibility of transporting food grains from these godowns to each fair price shop (ration shop), where the <strong>beneficiary buys the food grains at the lower central issue price.</strong> Many states further subsidise the price of food grains before selling it to beneficiaries.</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1578479997_image52.png" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1578479997_image52.png" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="550" caption="false" /></a></p>
<h3>Importance of PDS</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>It helps in <strong>ensuring Food and Nutritional Security</strong> of the nation.</li>
<li>It has helped in <strong>stabilising food prices</strong> and making food available to the poor at affordable prices.</li>
<li>It <strong>maintains the buffer stock of food grains</strong> in the warehouse so that the flow of food remain active even during the period of less agricultural food production.</li>
<li>It has helped in <strong>redistribution of grains</strong> by supplying food from surplus regions of the country to deficient regions.</li>
<li>The system of minimum support price and procurement has contributed to the increase in food grain production.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Issues Associated with PDS System in India</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Identification of beneficiaries:</strong> Studies have shown that targeting mechanisms such as TPDS are prone to <strong>large inclusion and exclusion errors.</strong> This implies that entitled beneficiaries are not getting food grains while those that are ineligible are getting undue benefits. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>According to the estimation of an expert group set up in 2009, PDS suffers from nearly 61% error of exclusion and 25% inclusion of beneficiaries, i.e. the misclassification of the poor as non-poor and vice versa.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Leakage of food grains:</strong> (Transportation leakages + Black Marketing by FPS owners) TPDS suffers from large leakages of food grains during transportation to and from ration shops into the open market. In an evaluation of TPDS, the erstwhile Planning Commission found 36% leakage of PDS rice and wheat at the all-India level.</li>
<li><strong>Issue with procurement:</strong> Open-ended Procurement i.e., all incoming grains accepted even if buffer stock is filled, creates a shortage in the open market.</li>
<li><strong>Issues with storage:</strong> A performance audit by the <strong>CAG</strong> has revealed a serious <strong>shortfall in the government&rsquo;s storage capacity.</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Given the increasing procurement and incidents of <strong>rotting food grains,</strong> the lack of adequate covered storage is bound to be a cause for concern.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>The provision of <strong>minimum support price (MSP)</strong> has encouraged farmers to divert land from production of coarse grains that are consumed by the poor, to rice and wheat and thus, <strong>discourages crop diversification.</strong></li>
<li><strong>Environmental issues:</strong> The over-emphasis on attaining self-sufficiency and a surplus in food grains, which are water-intensive, has been found to be <strong>environmentally unsustainable.</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Procuring states such as Punjab and Haryana are under environmental stress, including <strong>rapid groundwater depletion, deteriorating soil and water conditions from overuse of fertilisers.</strong></li>
<li>It was found that due to cultivation of rice in north-west India, the water table went down by 33 cm per year during 2002-08.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>PDS Reforms</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Role of Aadhar:</strong> Integrating Aadhar with TPDS will help in better identification of beneficiaries and <strong>address the problem of inclusion and exclusion errors.</strong> According to a study by the Unique Identification Authority of India, using Aadhaar with TPDS would help eliminate duplicate and ghost (fake) beneficiaries, and make identification of beneficiaries more accurate.</li>
<li><strong>Technology-based reforms of TPDS implemented by states: Wadhwa Committee,</strong> appointed by the Supreme court, found that certain states had implemented computerisation and other technology-based reforms to TPDS. Technology-based reforms helped plug leakages of food grains during TPDS.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Tamil Nadu implements a <strong>universal PDS,</strong> such that every household is entitled to subsidised food grains.</li>
<li>States such as Chhattisgarh and Madhya Pradesh have implemented IT measures to streamline TPDS, through the digitisation of ration cards, the use of GPS tracking of delivery, and the use of SMS based monitoring by citizens.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<p><strong><em>Technology-based reforms to TPDS undertaken by some states</em><br /></strong></p>
<table border="1" style="height: 154px; width: 91.6688%; border-collapse: collapse;">
<tbody>
<tr style="height: 19px;">
<td style="width: 20.3178%; height: 19px; vertical-align: top; text-align: left; background-color: #dcf7f0;"><strong>Type of reform</strong></td>
<td style="width: 51.6459%; height: 19px; text-align: left; vertical-align: top; background-color: #dcf7f0;"><strong>Benefits of reform</strong></td>
<td style="width: 27.9228%; height: 19px; text-align: left; vertical-align: top; background-color: #dcf7f0;"><strong>States implementing reforms</strong></td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 35px;">
<td style="width: 20.3178%; height: 10px; text-align: left; vertical-align: top; background-color: #dcf7f0;">Digitisation of ration cards</td>
<td style="width: 51.6459%; height: 10px; text-align: left; vertical-align: top; background-color: #dcf7f0;">
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Allows for online entry and verification of beneficiary data</li>
<li>Online storing of monthly entitlement of beneficiaries, number of dependants, offtake of food grains by beneficiaries from FPS, etc.</li>
</ul>
</td>
<td style="width: 27.9228%; height: 10px; text-align: left; vertical-align: top; background-color: #dcf7f0;">Andhra Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Tamil Nadu, Madhya Pradesh, Karnataka, Gujarat, etc.</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 19px;">
<td style="width: 20.3178%; height: 10px; text-align: left; vertical-align: top; background-color: #dcf7f0;">Computerised allocation to FPS</td>
<td style="width: 51.6459%; height: 10px; text-align: left; vertical-align: top; background-color: #dcf7f0;">
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Computerises FPS allocation, declaration of stock balance, web-based truck challans, etc.</li>
<li>Allows for quick and efficient tracking of transactions</li>
</ul>
</td>
<td style="width: 27.9228%; height: 10px; text-align: left; vertical-align: top; background-color: #dcf7f0;">Chhattisgarh, Delhi, Madhya Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, etc.</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 19px;">
<td style="width: 20.3178%; height: 10px; text-align: left; vertical-align: top; background-color: #dcf7f0;">Issue of smart cards in place of ration cards</td>
<td style="width: 51.6459%; height: 10px; text-align: left; vertical-align: top; background-color: #dcf7f0;">
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Secure electronic devices used to store beneficiary data</li>
<li>Stores data such as name, address, biometrics, BPL/APL category and monthly entitlement of beneficiaries and family members</li>
<li>Prevents counterfeiting</li>
</ul>
</td>
<td style="width: 27.9228%; height: 10px; text-align: left; vertical-align: top; background-color: #dcf7f0;">Haryana, Andhra Pradesh, Odisha etc.</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 99px;">
<td style="width: 20.3178%; height: 10px; text-align: left; vertical-align: top; background-color: #dcf7f0;">Use of GPS technology</td>
<td style="width: 51.6459%; height: 10px; background-color: #dcf7f0; vertical-align: top;">
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Use of Global Positioning System (GPS) technology to track movement of trucks carrying food grains from state depots to FPS</li>
</ul>
</td>
<td style="width: 27.9228%; height: 10px; text-align: left; vertical-align: top; background-color: #dcf7f0;">Chhattisgarh, Tamil Nadu</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 51px;">
<td style="width: 20.3178%; height: 51px; text-align: left; vertical-align: top; background-color: #dcf7f0;">SMS based monitoring</td>
<td style="width: 51.6459%; height: 51px; text-align: left; vertical-align: top; background-color: #dcf7f0;">
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Allows monitoring by citizens so they can register their mobile numbers and send/receive SMS slerts during dispatch and arrival of TPDS commodities</li>
</ul>
</td>
<td style="width: 27.9228%; height: 51px; text-align: left; vertical-align: top; background-color: #dcf7f0;">Chhattisgarh, Uttar Pradesh, Tamil Nadu</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 35px;">
<td style="width: 20.3178%; height: 35px; text-align: left; vertical-align: top; background-color: #dcf7f0;">Use of web-based citizens' portal</td>
<td style="width: 51.6459%; height: 35px; text-align: left; vertical-align: top; background-color: #dcf7f0;">
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Publicises grievance redressal machinery, such as toll free number for call centres to register complaints or suggestions</li>
</ul>
</td>
<td style="width: 27.9228%; height: 35px; text-align: left; vertical-align: top; background-color: #dcf7f0;">Chhattisgarh</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<h3>PDS vs. Cash Transfers</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>National Food Security Act,2013 provides for reforms in the TPDS including schemes such as Cash transfers for provisioning of food entitlements.</li>
<li><strong>Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT)</strong> aims to: <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>reduce the need for huge physical movement of foodgrains</li>
<li>provide greater autonomy to beneficiaries to choose their consumption basket</li>
<li>enhance dietary diversity</li>
<li>reduce leakages</li>
<li>facilitate better targeting</li>
<li>promote financial inclusion</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<p><strong><em>Advantages and disadvantages of PDS and other delivery mechanisms</em></strong></p>
<table border="1" style="border-collapse: collapse; width: 100%;">
<tbody>
<tr style="height: 19px;">
<td style="width: 16.7013%; height: 19px; text-align: left; vertical-align: top; background-color: #dff2ef;"><strong>Machanism</strong></td>
<td style="width: 34.1717%; height: 19px; text-align: left; vertical-align: top; background-color: #dff2ef;"><strong>Advantages</strong></td>
<td style="width: 34.5876%; height: 19px; text-align: left; vertical-align: top; background-color: #dff2ef;"><strong>Disadvantages</strong></td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 83px;">
<td style="width: 16.7013%; height: 27px; text-align: left; vertical-align: top; background-color: #dff2ef;">PDS</td>
<td style="width: 34.1717%; height: 27px; text-align: left; vertical-align: top; background-color: #dff2ef;">
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Insulates beneficiaries from inflation and price volatility</li>
<li>Ensures entitlement is used for food grains only</li>
<li>Well-developed network of FPS ensures access to food grains even in remote areas</li>
</ul>
</td>
<td style="width: 34.5876%; height: 27px; text-align: left; vertical-align: top; background-color: #dff2ef;">
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Low offtake of food grains from each household&nbsp;</li>
<li>High leakage and diversion of subsidised food grain&nbsp;</li>
<li>Adulteration of food grain</li>
<li>Lack of viability of FPS due to low margins</li>
</ul>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 19px;">
<td style="width: 16.7013%; height: 19px; text-align: left; vertical-align: top; background-color: #dff2ef;">Cash transfers</td>
<td style="width: 34.1717%; height: 19px; text-align: left; vertical-align: top; background-color: #dff2ef;">
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Cash in the hands of poor increases their choicess</li>
<li>Cash may relieve financial constraints faced by the poor, make it possible to form thrift societies and access credit</li>
<li>Administrative costs of cash transfer programmes may be significantly lesser than that of other schemes</li>
<li>Potential for making electronic transfer</li>
</ul>
</td>
<td style="width: 34.5876%; height: 19px; text-align: left; vertical-align: top; background-color: #dff2ef;">
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Cash can be used buy non-food items</li>
<li>May expose recipients to price volatility and inflation</li>
<li>There is poor access to banks and post offices in some areas</li>
</ul>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 19px;">
<td style="width: 16.7013%; height: 10px; text-align: left; vertical-align: top; background-color: #dff2ef;">Food coupons</td>
<td style="width: 34.1717%; height: 10px; text-align: left; vertical-align: top; background-color: #dff2ef;">
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Household is given the freedom to choose where it buys food</li>
<li>Increases incentive for competitive prices and assured quality of food grains among PDS stores</li>
<li>Ration shops get full food grains from the poor, no incentive to turn the poor away</li>
</ul>
</td>
<td style="width: 34.5876%; height: 10px; text-align: left; vertical-align: top; background-color: #dff2ef;">
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Food coupons are not indexed for inflation; may expose recipients to inflation</li>
<li>Difficult to administer; there have known to be delays in issuing food coupons and reimbursing shops</li>
</ul>
</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<h3>Way Forward</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>PDS is one of the biggest welfare programmes of the government, helping farmers sell their produce at remunerative prices as well as the poorer sections of society to buy food grains at affordable rates.</li>
<li>Its effectiveness can be enhanced with <strong>technology based solutions</strong> as is evident from some of the states&rsquo; successes towards the same. Shifting towards DBT is another idea, but with caution. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>In its report on State finances, the <strong>Reserve Bank of India (RBI)</strong> has advised States that are planning to shift to cash transfer to be cautious while effecting the migration.</li>
<li><strong>Economic survey 2016-17</strong> also highlighted the need for more caution and better infrastructure while replacing subsidised PDS supplies with DBT.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>Strengthening of the existing TPDS system by capacity building and training of the implementing authorities along with efforts to plug leakages is the best way forward.</li>
<li>It can be further strengthened by the increased public participation through <strong>social audits</strong> and participation of SHGs, Cooperatives and NGOs in ensuring the transparency of PDS system at ground level.</li>
<li>To enhance the nutritional level of masses, <strong>bio-fortified foods</strong> need to be distributed through the PDS that will make it more relevant in the backdrop of prevalent malnutrition in India.</li>
</ul>
<p><em><a href="/mind-map/gs-paper3/public-distribution-system-mindmap" target="_blank" rel="noopener">For Mind Map</a></em></p>',
		'postdate' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenTime) {},
		'url' => 'https://www.drishtiias.com/to-the-points/paper3/public-distribution-system-1'
	],
	(int) 12 => [
		'title' => 'Climate Change and Land',
		'catname' => 'News Editorials',
		'desc' => '<div class="border">
<p>The article is based on the recent IPCC report <a href="https://www.ipcc.ch/report/srccl/" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>&ldquo;Climate change and Land&rdquo;</strong> </a>published on 8<sup>th</sup> August and an editorial <a href="https://indianexpress.com/article/opinion/editorials/climate-change-ipcc-report-global-warming-un-5893072/" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>&ldquo;Climate on the Farm&rdquo;</strong></a> published in The Indian Express on 10<sup>th</sup> August regarding the same.</p>
</div>
<h3>Context</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) recently, on 8th August, released <strong>Special Report on <em>Climate Change and Land</em> (SRCCL)</strong> which finds that we must dramatically change the way we use land to limit global warming to safe levels by 2030.</li>
<li>It is alarmed about the <strong>degrading land resources globally</strong> and its impact on furthering negative effects of climate change. It concluded that better management of the world&rsquo;s farms and forests is necessary to tackle climate change.</li>
<li>The IPCC report warns that clean energy, clean transport and reduction emissions alone will not cut global emissions enough to avoid dangerous warming beyond 2 degrees Celsius.</li>
<li>It points out that the global food system is responsible for 21 to 37 per cent of the world&rsquo;s GHG emissions.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Land Use and Climate change</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>About a quarter of the Earth&rsquo;s ice-free land area is subjected to <em><strong>&ldquo;human-induced degradation''</strong></em> according to the <strong>IPCC report.</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Rapid agricultural expansion</strong> has led to destruction of forests, wetlands and grasslands and other ecosystems thus boosting global warming.</li>
<li><strong>Soil erosion</strong> from agricultural fields, the report estimates, is 10 to 100 times higher than the soil formation rate.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>Land degradation is both cause and consequence of climate change. When land is degraded, it becomes <strong>less productive,</strong> restricting what can be grown and reducing the soil&rsquo;s ability to absorb carbon. This exacerbates climate change, while climate change in turn exacerbates land degradation.</li>
<li><strong>Land serves as a sink for carbon,</strong> because healthy ecosystems and soils can absorb carbon from the atmosphere. Between 2007-2016, these sinks removed 28% of total human carbon dioxide emissions from the air &mdash; an important barrier to even more severe climate change.</li>
<li>However, <strong>degraded land does not have the capacity to absorb carbon; it can actually release carbon.</strong> And it&rsquo;s possible that climate change and human activities could damage land to the point where it becomes a net source of carbon emissions.</li>
<li><strong>Agriculture, forestry and other types of land use</strong> account for 23% of human greenhouse gas emissions. At the same time natural land processes <strong>absorb carbon dioxide equivalent to almost a third of carbon dioxide emissions</strong> from fossil fuels and industry.</li>
<li>Land must remain productive to maintain food security as the population increases as well as the negative impacts of climate change on vegetation increase.</li>
<li>Food security will be increasingly affected by future climate change through yield declines &ndash; especially in the tropics &ndash; increased prices, reduced nutrient quality, and supply chain disruptions.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Mitigation Strategies</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The report shows that <em><strong>sustainable land management</strong></em> can contribute to tackling climate change, but is not the only solution. <strong>Reducing greenhouse gas emissions</strong> from all sectors is essential if global warming is to be kept to well below 2&ordm;C, if not 1.5&ordm;C.</li>
<li>Coordinated action to address climate change can simultaneously <strong>improve land, food security and nutrition, and help to end hunger.</strong></li>
<li>The report highlights that climate change is affecting all <strong>four pillars of food security:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>availability (yield and production),</li>
<li>access (prices and ability to obtain food),</li>
<li>utilization (nutrition and cooking), and</li>
<li>stability (disruptions to availability).</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>More sustainable land use, reducing over-consumption and waste of food, eliminating the clearing and burning of forests, preventing over-harvesting of fuelwood, and reducing greenhouse gas emissions will help to address land related climate change issues.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Significance of the Report</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The report is expected to be a key scientific input into forthcoming climate negotiations, such as the Conference of the Parties of the <strong>UN Convention to Combat Desertification</strong> in Delhi in September and the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change Conference <strong>(COP25)</strong> in Santiago, Chile, in December.</li>
<li>The report could spur moves to pressure developing countries like India to ramp up their global warming mitigation targets.</li>
<li>Countries, including India, could do well to pay heed to the IPCC report&rsquo;s recommendations on curbing land degradation and soil erosion by improving knowledge systems.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Way Forward</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The IPCC report presents another alarming picture regarding climate change effects on agriculture and food systems by emphasising its deleterious effects on land use. It also presents some solutions towards sustainable development strategies to effectively mitigate climate change.</li>
<li>There needs an enhanced commitment from nations more than their pledged <strong>INDCs</strong> (Intended Nationally Determined Contributions) under <strong>Paris Climate Deal.</strong> However, it must not be used to pressurize developing countries to ramp up their global warming mitigation targets.</li>
<li>India, which seems well on course to meeting its Paris Climate Pact targets, should be careful about taking up commitments that hobble its agriculture sector.</li>
</ul>
<table border="1" style="border-collapse: collapse; width: 100%;" height="75">
<tbody>
<tr>
<td style="width: 518px; border-style: dotted; border-color: #002fff; background-color: #faf7d4;">
<p><span style="color: #ff0000;"><em><strong>Drishti Input</strong></em></span></p>
<p><em>&ldquo;Examine the relationship between land use and climate change in the light of food security and global warming&rdquo;</em></p>
</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<p></p>',
		'postdate' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenTime) {},
		'url' => 'https://www.drishtiias.com/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/climate-change-and-land-1'
	],
	(int) 13 => [
		'title' => 'In Depth - Political Funding',
		'catname' => 'Lok Sabha & Rajya Sabha Discussions',
		'desc' => '<p style="text-align: center;"><iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/JYI3V64FcMI" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe></p>
<p>Across the world, political parties need access to money in order to reach out to the electorate, explain their policies and receive inputs from people. And in order to do the same, parties resort to political party funding. One of the primary sources of this funding is voluntary contributions made by individuals. Besides this, corporates pay hefty donations to parties in different forms. Foreign aid is another source.&nbsp;</p>
<h3>What is Political Funding?</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Political Funding implies the methods that political parties use to raise funds to finance their campaign and routine activities.</li>
<li>A political party needs money to pitch itself, its objectives, its intended actions to get votes for itself.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Statutory Provisions</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Section 29B</strong> of the <strong>Representation of the People Act (RPA)</strong> entitles parties to accept voluntary contributions by any person or company, except a Government Company.</li>
<li><strong>Section 29C</strong> of the RPA mandates political parties to declare donations that exceed 20,000 rupees. Such a declaration is made by making a report and submitting the same to the EC. Failure to do so on time disentitles a party from tax relief under the Income Tax Act, 1961.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Methods that Indian Political Parties use to raise the funds</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Individual Persons:</strong> Section 29B of RPA allows political parties to receive donations from individual persons.</li>
<li><strong>State/Public Funding:</strong> Here, the government provides funds to parties for election related purposes. State Funding is of two types:
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Direct Funding:</strong> The government provides funds directly to the political parties. <strong>Direct funding by tax is prohibited in India.</strong></li>
<li><strong>Indirect Funding:</strong> It includes other methods except direct funding, like free access to media, free access to public places for rallies, free or subsidized transport facilities. <strong>It is allowed in India in a regulated manner.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Corporate Funding:</strong> In India, donations by corporate bodies are governed under the <strong>Companies Act, 2013</strong>. Section 182 of the Act provides that:
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>A company needs to be at least three years old to be able to donate to a political party.</li>
<li>Companies can donate up to 7.5% of average net profits made during three simultaneous preceding financial years.</li>
<li>Such contributions must be disclosed in the company&rsquo;s profit and loss account.</li>
<li>Approval of the Board of Directors needs to be obtained for the contribution.</li>
<li>If a company violates said provisions, it may have to pay a fine up to 5 times the amount contributed and every officer of the company who is in default shall be punishable with imprisonment for a term which may extend to six months.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Note:</strong> The government has removed the cap of 7.5% (seven point five percent) on corporate contributions to the political parties with the <strong>Finance Act, 2017</strong>. The same Act also removed the obligation to report such contributions in the company&rsquo;s profit and loss account.</p>
</div>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Electoral Trusts:</strong> A non-profit company created in India for orderly receipt of voluntary contributions from any person like an individual or a domestic company.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>According to the Election Commission Guidelines, all electoral trusts formed after January 2013 are required to declare details of the money received and disbursed.</li>
<li>The Central Government rules mandate these firms to donate 95% of their total income to registered political parties in a financial year.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Issues with Political Funding</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>One of the biggest disadvantages of the corporate funding is the use of fake companies to route black money.</li>
<li>Influence of people and companies over political parties to which they provide funds.</li>
<li>There are various gaps in Indian rules, the benefit of which political parties take to avoid any kind of reporting.</li>
<li>Hidden sources of funding lead to more spending of funds in election campaigns, thus impacting the economy of the country.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Recent Steps Taken</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>In March, 2018, the government passed a key amendment to the <strong>Foreign Contribution Regulation Act, 2010</strong> allowing foreign companies to fund political parties in India.</li>
<li><strong>Introduction of Electoral Bonds:</strong> The government notified the Electoral Bond Scheme on 2<sup>nd</sup> January, 2018 to establish and cleanse the system of political funding in the country.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>An electoral bond is a bearer instrument like a Promissory Note. It can be purchased by any citizen of India or a body incorporated in India to donate to the political party of their choice. Donor&rsquo;s name is not there on the bond.</li>
<li>These bonds can be used for making donations to the political parties registered under <strong>Section 29A of the Representation of the People Act, 1951</strong> and which have secured not less than one per cent of the votes polled in the last general election to the House of the People or a Legislative Assembly.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Way Forward</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>A party&rsquo;s expenditure limit should be 50% or less of the combined maximum spend prescribed for all of its candidates.</li>
<li>Individual spending needs to be capped based on whether a candidate has stood for an assembly or a general election.</li>
<li>Anonymous donations should be limited to 20% of a party&rsquo;s total collections</li>
</ul>',
		'postdate' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenTime) {},
		'url' => 'https://www.drishtiias.com/loksabha-rajyasabha-discussions/in-depth-political-funding'
	],
	(int) 14 => [
		'title' => '77th Anniversary of Quit India movement',
		'catname' => 'News Analysis',
		'desc' => '<p>The 77<sup>th</sup> anniversary of the <strong>August Kranti Din</strong>, which is considered as one of the important milestones in the history of freedom struggle of our country, was observed on <strong>August 8, 2019.</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>On 8<sup>th</sup> August 1942, <a href="/to-the-points/paper4/gandhian-ideologies" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Mahatma Gandhi</strong></a> gave a clarion call to end the British rule and launched the <strong>Quit India Movement</strong> at the session of the All-India Congress Committee in Mumbai.</li>
<li>The movement had begun from Gawalia Tank Maidan in Mumbai and the day is observed as August Kranti Day every year. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>After the failure of the <strong>Cripps Mission,</strong> Gandhiji gave the call <strong>&ldquo;Do or Die&rdquo;&rsquo;</strong> in his speech delivered at the <strong>Gowalia Tank Maidan,</strong> now popularly known as August Kranti Maidan.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>Gandhiji was soon imprisoned at <strong>Aga Khan Palace in Pune</strong> and almost all leaders were arrested.</li>
<li>New leaders like <strong>Aruna Asaf Ali</strong> emerged out of the vacuum of leadership.</li>
<li>The Britishers declared the INC to be an<strong> unlawful association.</strong></li>
<li>Over 100000 people were arrested and the <strong>government resorted to violence</strong> in order to crush the agitation.</li>
<li>Gandhiji was released in 1944 on health grounds. However, in the absence of any central leadership, there were <strong>some incidences of violence.</strong></li>
<li><strong>Muslim League, the Communist Party of India and the Hindu Mahasabha did not support the movement.</strong> The Indian bureaucracy also did not support the movement.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The League was not in favour of the British leaving India without partitioning the country first.</li>
<li>The Communist party supported the British since they were allied with the Soviet Union.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>Meanwhile, Subhas Chandra Bose, organised the <strong>Indian National Army</strong> and the Azad Hind government from outside the country.</li>
<li>As, <strong>C Rajagopalachari</strong> was not in favour of complete independence he resigned from the INC.</li>
<li>There were <strong>strikes and demonstrations</strong> all over the country and workers provided the support by not working in the factories.</li>
<li>At some places (Ballia, Tamluk, Satara etc.) <strong>parallel governments</strong> were also set up.</li>
<li>Women took active participation in the movement. Female leaders like <strong>Usha Mehta</strong> has helped set up an underground radio station which led to the awakening about the movement.</li>
<li><strong>Aruna Asaf Ali</strong> popularly known as the 'Grand Old Lady' of the Independence Movement is known for hoisting the Indian flag at the Gowalia Tank Maidan in Mumbai during the Quit India Movement.</li>
<li>While the Quit India campaign was <strong>crushed in 1944,</strong> with the British refusing to grant immediate independence, saying it could happen only after the war had ended, they came to the important realization that <strong>India was ungovernable in the long run</strong> due to the cost of World War II.</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Cripps Mission</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Japanese aggression</strong> in South-East Asia, keenness of British Government to secure the <strong>full participation of India in the war,</strong> mounting <strong>pressure from China and the United States,</strong> as well as from the <strong>Labour Party</strong> in Britain, led Britsh Prime Minister <strong>Winston Churchill</strong> to send Cripps Mission to India in March 1942.</li>
<li>Under Stafford Cripps, the mission was sent to <strong>resolve the Indian question of a new constitution and self-government.</strong></li>
<li><strong>Main proposals</strong> of the mission were:<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>An Indian Union with a <strong>dominion status</strong> would be set up; it would be free to decide its relations with the Commonwealth and free to participate in the United Nations and other international bodies.</li>
<li><strong>A constituent assembly</strong> would be convened after the war to frame a new constitution.</li>
<li>Members of the assembly <strong>partly elected</strong> by the provincial assemblies and partly nominated by the princes.</li>
<li>Any province not willing to accept the constitution would be given <strong>&lsquo;the same full status as the Indian Union&rsquo;,</strong> - designed to appease the Muslim League&rsquo;s call for Pakistan.</li>
<li>The constitution making body and the British Government would negotiate a<strong> treaty to effect the transfer of power</strong> and to safeguard racial and religious minorities.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>The Indian National Congress, however, was not satisfied as its <strong>demand for immediate complete independence had been rejected.</strong></li>
<li>Mahatma Gandhi said that Cripps offer of Dominion Status after the war was a <strong>"post-dated cheque drawn on a failing bank&rsquo;&rsquo;.</strong></li>
</ul>
</div>
<p><a href="http://pib.nic.in/newsite/PrintRelease.aspx?relid=124656" 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/77th-anniversary-of-quit-india-movement'
	],
	(int) 15 => [
		'title' => 'Mercury Emission Versus its Concentration in Fishes',
		'catname' => 'News Analysis',
		'desc' => '<p>Recently researchers have found that despite a decrease in <strong>seawater concentration of methylmercury,</strong> the amount of mercury found in fish is different among different species</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>A joint research conducted by the <strong>Indian Institute of Technology, Hyderabad (IIT-H), Harvard University,</strong> and <strong>Fisheries and Oceans Canada</strong> (a Canadian government agency) has found that though there has been a decrease in the levels of mercury emission, the concentration of mercury in fish varies across different species.</li>
<li>Some species of fish have <strong>less mercury</strong> than before, while others have a very <strong>high concentration</strong> of mercury (tuna, salmon and swordfish).</li>
<li>The researchers warn that human exposure to the toxin (methylmercury) through <strong>fish consumption</strong> is bound to increase as a result of <a href="/loksabha-rajyasabha-discussions/the-big-picture-climate-change-act-now" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>climate change.</strong></a></li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Key Facts</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Mercury is a naturally occurring element that is found in air, water and soil.</li>
<li>Exposure to mercury &ndash; even small amounts &ndash; may cause serious health problems, and is a threat to the development of the child in utero and early in life.</li>
<li>Mercury may have toxic effects on the <strong>nervous, digestive</strong> and <strong>immune systems,</strong> and on lungs, kidneys, skin and eyes.</li>
<li>Mercury is considered by <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/strategy-against-the-threat-of-influenza" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>World Health Organisation (WHO)</strong></a> as one of the top ten chemicals or groups of chemicals of major public health concern.</li>
<li>People are mainly exposed to <strong>methylmercury,</strong> (an organic compound) when they eat fish and shellfish and are more vulnerable to Minamata disease.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Minimata Disease:</strong> A disorder caused by <strong>methyl mercury poisoning</strong> that was first described in the inhabitants of <strong>Minamata Bay, Japan</strong> and resulted from their eating fish contaminated with mercury industrial waste.</li>
<li>The disease is characterized by <strong>peripheral sensory loss, tremors, dysarthria, ataxia, and both hearing and visual loss.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Methylmercury</strong> is very different to ethylmercury. Ethylmercury is used as a preservative in some vaccines and does not pose a health risk.</li>
</ul>
</div>
<p><strong>Variation in Mercury Accumulation in Fish:</strong> Three factors that can be attributed to the variation in accumulation of mercury in fish are:<a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/338Images3.jpg" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/338Images3.jpg" width="265" height="531" style="float: right;" caption="false" /></a></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Overfishing:</strong> Leads to <strong>dietary changes</strong> among marine animals.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Cod relied more on lobsters and other large invertebrates (which are low in mercury), while the dogfish went for more squid and other cephalopods (which tend to be high in mercury).</li>
<li>Hence cod ended up with lower mercury levels than the dogfish.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Variations in the Temperature of the Seawater:</strong> Seawater temperatures may also alter mercury accumulation.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Fish metabolism</strong> is temperature-dependent, so as <strong>ocean temperature increases,</strong> fish experience higher metabolism and more energy obtained from food are spent on maintenance rather than growth, leading to more methylmercury getting concentrated in predatory fish.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Changes in the amounts of mercury</strong> found in seawater as a result of pollution.</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>The Minamata Convention</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The Minamata Convention on Mercury is a global treaty to protect human health and the environment from the adverse effects of mercury and its compounds.</li>
<li>It was agreed at the fifth session of the Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee in Geneva, Switzerland 2013.</li>
<li>Controlling the anthropogenic releases of mercury throughout its lifecycle is one of the key obligations under the Convention.</li>
<li>The Convention also addresses interim storage of mercury and its disposal once it becomes waste, sites contaminated by mercury as well as health issues.</li>
<li>More than 140 countries including <strong>India</strong> have ratified the Convention.</li>
</ul>
</div>
<p><a href="https://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/Hyderabad/iit-h-harvard-university-study-mercury-accumulation-in-fish/article28969597.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/mercury-emission-versus-its-concentration-in-fishes'
	],
	(int) 16 => [
		'title' => 'Proposals to Change in CITES Listing',
		'catname' => 'News Analysis',
		'desc' => '<p>India has submitted proposals regarding changes to the listing of the <strong>smooth-coated otter, small-clawed otter, Indian star tortoise, Tokay gecko, wedgefish and Indian rosewood</strong> in the <a href="/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-international-institution/cites" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>CITES</strong></a> secretariat meeting, scheduled in August 2019 in Geneva (Switzerland).</p>
<h3>Smooth-coated otter and Small-clawed otter</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong><a href="/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-international-institution/cites" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Otters</a></strong> are found world over, except in Australia, New Zealand, Madagascar, and other oceanic islands.</li>
<li>India is home to 3 of the 13 species of otters found worldwide. These are - Eurasian Otter (Lutra lutra); <strong>Smooth-coated Otter</strong> (Lutra perspicillata) and <strong>Small-clawed otter</strong> (Aonyx cinereus).</li>
<li>The Smooth-coated Otter is distributed throughout the country from the <strong>Himalayas southward.</strong></li>
<li>But the Common Otter and the Small-clawed Otter are <strong>restricted to the Himalayas, to the north of the Ganges and to southern India.</strong></li>
<li>These otters have generally been described as fish specialist.</li>
<li>Major threats to Asian otter population are <strong>loss of <a href="/to-the-points/paper3/wetlands-1" target="_blank" rel="noopener">wetland</a> habitats</strong> due to construction of large scale hydroelectric projects, conversion of wetlands for settlements and agriculture, reduction in prey biomass, poaching and contamination of waterways by pesticides.</li>
<li>The <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/iucn-red-list" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN)</strong></a> has listed these otters under the <strong>vulnerable category.</strong></li>
<li>India, Nepal and the Philippines have proposed that the listing of these otters should be <strong>moved from CITES Appendix II to Appendix I.</strong></li>
</ul>
<p><a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/598Image5.jpg" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/598Image5.jpg" width="478" height="247" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" caption="false" /></a></p>
<h3>Indian star tortoise</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/important-facts-for-prelims-9th-november-2018" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Indian star tortoise</strong></a> is found across the Indian sub-continent, more specifically, in the Central and Southern parts of India, in West Pakistan and in Sri Lanka.<a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/822Image2.jpg" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/822Image2.jpg" width="199" height="176" style="float: right;" caption="false" /></a></li>
<li>Star Tortoises are protected under <strong>Schedule IV of Wild Life Protection Act, 1972</strong> and Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES) of Wild Fauna and Flora.</li>
<li>The IUCN has listed it under the vulnerable category.</li>
<li>The species faces two threats: <strong>loss of habitat to agriculture and illegal harvesting</strong> for the pet trade.</li>
<li>India is among the parties proposing the re-listing of the star tortoise<strong> from CITES Appendix II to Appendix I.</strong></li>
</ul>
<h3>Tokay gecko</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The Tokay Gecko or <strong>Gekko gecko</strong> is one of the largest geckos (Lizard) in the country and the world.<a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/779image10.jpg" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/779image10.jpg" style="float: right;" width="164" height="119" caption="false" /></a></li>
<li>This is a <strong>nocturnal arboreal gecko,</strong> ranging from northeast India, Nepal and Bangladesh, throughout Southeast Asia.</li>
<li>Occurring in the <strong>rainforests,</strong> it is primarily a tree-dweller.</li>
<li>It&rsquo;s use as a<strong> traditional Asian medicine</strong> &mdash;everything from energy drinks to treatments for diabetes, cancer, and HIV/AIDS (there is <strong>no proof of efficacy</strong> in any of these uses), make it prone to illegal trade across borders.</li>
<li>The <strong>IUCN has listed it under Least Concern category.</strong></li>
<li>India has proposed it&rsquo;s listing should be <strong>moved from CITES Appendix II to Appendix I.</strong></li>
</ul>
<h3>Wedgefish</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Wedgefish are <strong>shallow water coastal species,</strong> found in northern Indian Ocean and northwestern Pacific Ocean.<a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/291image6.jpg" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/291image6.jpg" style="float: right;" width="196" height="122" caption="false" /></a></li>
<li>Alongwith giant <strong><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/iucn-red-list" target="_blank" rel="noopener">guitarfishes</a></strong>, they are collectively known as <strong>Rhino Rays</strong> because of their elongated snouts.</li>
<li>They have been listed as the <strong>&lsquo;most imperilled marine fish families in the world&rsquo;.</strong></li>
<li>The main drivers of the decline are the <strong>loss of free flowing rivers and increasing agricultural and urban pollution.</strong></li>
<li>The IUCN has listed it under <strong>vulnerable category.</strong></li>
<li>Indian proposed to <strong>include Wedgefish in Appendix II of CITES.</strong></li>
</ul>
<h3>Indian rosewood</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>It is <strong>deciduous rosewood tree</strong> native to the Indian subcontinent, also grown in Nigeria, Kenya, Vietnam, the Philippines, and other parts of tropical Africa.</li>
<li>It is used for <strong>making furniture, plywood,</strong> and decorative wood products.</li>
<li>The species grows at a very fast rate and has the capacity to become naturalised outside its native range, it is<strong> invasive</strong> in other parts of the world as well.</li>
<li>India has proposed to <strong>remove rosewood from Appendix II of CITES.</strong></li>
<li>Its IUCN Red List status is <strong>&lsquo;vulnerable&rsquo;.</strong></li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>CITES Appendices</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Appendices I, II and III to the Convention are lists of species afforded different levels or types of protection from over-exploitation.</li>
<li><strong>Appendix I</strong>
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>It lists species that are the <strong>most endangered</strong> among CITES-listed animals and plants.</li>
<li>Examples include gorillas, sea turtles, most lady slipper orchids, and giant pandas. Currently 931 species are listed.</li>
<li>They are <strong>threatened with extinction</strong> and CITES <strong>prohibits international trade</strong> in specimens of these species except when the purpose of the import is not commercial, for instance for scientific research.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Appendix II</strong>
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>It lists species that are <strong>not necessarily now threatened with extinction but that may become so unless trade is closely controlled.</strong></li>
<li>International trade in specimens of Appendix-II species may be authorized by the granting of an export permit or re-export certificate.</li>
<li>No import permit is necessary for these species under CITES (although a permit is needed in some countries that have taken stricter measures than CITES requires).</li>
<li>Permits or certificates should only be granted if the relevant authorities are satisfied that certain conditions are met, above all that trade will not be detrimental to the survival of the species in the wild.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Appendix III</strong>
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>It is a list of species <strong>included at the request of a Party that already regulates trade in the species</strong> and that needs the cooperation of other countries to prevent unsustainable or illegal exploitation.</li>
<li>Examples include map turtles, walruses and Cape stag beetles. Currently 147 species are listed.</li>
<li>International trade in specimens of species listed in this Appendix is allowed only on presentation of the appropriate permits or certificates.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>Species may be added to or removed from Appendix I and II, or moved between them, only by the Conference of the Parties.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>However, species may be added to or removed from Appendix III at any time and by any Party unilaterally.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/833image8.jpg" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/833image8.jpg" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" caption="false" width="557" height="268" /></a></p>
</div>
<p><a href="https://www.thehindu.com/sci-tech/energy-and-environment/indian-seeks-change-of-status-of-several-species-like-star-tortoise-otters-in-cites/article28917079.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/proposals-to-change-in-cites-listing'
	],
	(int) 17 => [
		'title' => 'International Day of Indigenous Peoples',
		'catname' => 'News Analysis',
		'desc' => '<p>International day of indigenous people is observed on August 9 every year, in order to raise awareness of the needs of indigenous people. The first meeting of the <strong>UN Working Group on Indigenous Populations</strong> was held in Geneva in 1982.</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The <strong>theme of 2019</strong> is <strong>Indigenous People&rsquo;s Languages</strong> in view of 2019 being marked as the <strong>International Year of Indigenous Languages</strong> by the United Nations.</li>
</ul>
<h3>International Day of Indigenous Peoples in India</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>On International day of indigenous people, the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/important-facts-for-prelims-7th-may-2019" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Khadi and Village Industry Commission (KVIC)</strong></a> has launched a new programme <strong>&lsquo;Leather Mission&rsquo;.</strong></li>
<li>It has distributed as many as 50 leather kits and 350 Bee-Boxes with live bee colonies in tribal-dominated village in Sirohi district of Rajasthan, one of the <a href="/summary-of-important-reports/NITI-AAYOG-2018-transformation-of-aspirational-districts-baseline-ranking-and-real-time-monitoring-programme" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>aspirational districts</strong></a> in India identified by the NITI Aayog.</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Indigenous people</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>They are inheritors and practitioners of unique cultures and ways of relating to people and the environment.</li>
<li>They have retained social, cultural, economic and political characteristics that are distinct from those of the dominant societies in which they live. Despite their cultural differences, indigenous peoples from around the world share common problems related to the protection of their rights as distinct peoples.</li>
<li>The indigenous people in the world make up less than 5 percent of the total population, but fall in the 15 percent of the poorest, according to the UN website. They represent as many as 5,000 different cultures.</li>
</ul>
</div>
<h3>International Year of Indigenous Languages</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Languages play a crucially important role in the daily lives of all people. They are pivotal in the areas of human rights protection, peace building and sustainable development, through ensuring cultural diversity and intercultural dialogue. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>However, despite their immense value, languages around the world continue to disappear at an alarming rate due to a variety of factors. Many of them are indigenous languages.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>Indigenous languages in particular are a significant factor in a wide range of other indigenous issues, notably education, scientific and technological development, the biosphere and the environment, freedom of expression, employment and social inclusion.</li>
<li>The <strong>International Year of Indigenous Languages</strong> is a United Nations observance in 2019. It aims to raise awareness of the consequences of the endangerment of indigenous languages across the world, with an aim to establish a link between language, development, peace, and reconciliation.</li>
</ul>
<p><strong><a href="https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/6-of-the-worlds-languages-are-spoken-in-india/article28851168.ece" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Source: TH,</a></strong><a href="https://www.un.org/en/events/indigenousday/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">UN</a></p>',
		'postdate' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenTime) {},
		'url' => 'https://www.drishtiias.com/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/international-day-of-indigenous-peoples'
	],
	(int) 18 => [
		'title' => 'India in US list on Drug Transit',
		'catname' => 'News Analysis',
		'desc' => '<p>Recently, US designated India among about 20 major drug transit or illicit drug-producing countries.</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>However, it also noted that a country&rsquo;s presence on the list is not necessarily a reflection of its government&rsquo;s counter-narcotic efforts.</li>
<li>Apart from India, the countries identified in the list are Afghanistan, The Bahamas, Belize, Bolivia, Burma, Colombia, Costa Rica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Guatemala, Haiti, Honduras, Jamaica, Laos, Mexico, Nicaragua, Pakistan, Panama, Peru and Venezuela.</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/912image4.jpg" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/912image4.jpg" width="613" height="290" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" caption="false" /></a></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>There are a combination of <a href="/loksabha-rajyasabha-discussions/the-big-picture-fighting-drug-menace" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>geographic, commercial, and economic factors</strong></a> that allow drugs to transit or be produced, even if the government has engaged in robust and diligent narcotics control measures.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>For instance, India is in the middle of two major illicit opium production region in the world the Golden Crescent (Iran-Afghanistan-Pakistan) in the west and the Golden Triangle (South-East Asia) in the east.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/386image1.jpg" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/386image1.jpg" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="565" height="160" caption="false" /></a></p>
<p><a href="https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/india-in-us-list-on-drug-transit/story-k38UkOlpMQ8C9JPDvTPx7K.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/india-in-us-list-on-drug-transit'
	],
	(int) 19 => [
		'title' => 'The Motor Vehicles Bill for Road Safety',
		'catname' => 'News Editorials',
		'desc' => '<div class="border">
<p>This article is based on the <a href="https://www.thehindubusinessline.com/opinion/editorial/the-new-motor-vehicles-bill-paves-the-way-for-safer-roads/article28917169.ece" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>&ldquo;The new Motor Vehicles bill paves the way for safer roads&rdquo;</strong></a> that appeared in The Hindu Business Line on 8<sup>th</sup> August. It talks about the provisions of the <strong>Motor Vehicles (Amendment) Bill, 2019</strong> and their utility in making India&rsquo;s Road safer.</p>
</div>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><em><strong>India sees more than five lakh road accidents a year leading to 1.5 lakh deaths.</strong> </em>According to the Union Transport Minister, this could come down by half if the provisions of this Bill are implemented.</li>
<li>The <strong>Motor Vehicles (Amendment) Bill, 2019</strong> is based on the recommendations of the Group of Transport Ministers (GoM) of States constituted by the Ministry of Road Transport &amp; Highways to address the issue of road safety and to improve the access of the citizens while dealing with transport departments.</li>
<li>The <strong>amendments</strong> in the Bill mainly focus on issues relating to improving road safety, citizens&rsquo; facilitation while dealing with the transport department, strengthening rural transport, last mile connectivity and public transport, automation and computerization and enabling online services.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Key Features of the bill</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Road safety:</strong> Bill proposes to <strong>increase penalties</strong> to act as a deterrent against traffic violations.</li>
<li><strong>Compensation for road accident victims:</strong> Cashless treatment of road accident victims during the golden hour (first 1 hour after accident). The minimum compensation for death or grievous injury due to hit and run has been moved up substantially to ₹2 lakh and ₹50,000, respectively.</li>
<li><strong>Road Safety Board:</strong> The Bill provides for a National Road Safety Board, to be created by the central government through a notification. The Board will advise the central and state governments on all aspects of road safety and traffic management.</li>
<li><strong>Protection of Good Samaritan:</strong> To help road accident victims, Good Samaritan guidelines have been incorporated in the Bill. They will not be liable for any civil or criminal action for any injury to or death of an accident victim, caused due to their negligence in providing assistance to the victim.</li>
<li><strong>Motor Vehicle Accident Fund:</strong> The Bill requires the central government to constitute a Motor Vehicle Accident Fund, to provide compulsory insurance cover to all road users in India.</li>
<li><strong>Third-party insurance</strong> terms are friendlier with no cap on liability of insurers and quicker claims processing.</li>
<li>To <strong>reduce scope for manipulation and corruption</strong> in transport departments, vehicle fitness tests will be automated and driving tests, computerised. Also, the driver training process for commercial driving will be strengthened and more training schools set up.</li>
<li><strong>Recall of vehicles:</strong> The Bill allows the central government to order for recall of motor vehicles if a defect in the vehicle may cause damage to the environment, or the driver, or other road users.</li>
<li><strong>National Transportation Policy:</strong> The central government may develop a National Transportation Policy, in consultation with state governments.</li>
<li><strong>Taxi aggregators:</strong> The Bill defines aggregators as digital intermediaries or market places which can be used by passengers to connect with a driver for transportation purposes (taxi services). These aggregators will be issued licenses by state. Further, they must <strong>comply with the Information Technology Act, 2000.</strong></li>
</ul>
<h3>Issues and challenges</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>There will be implementation challenges at all-India level.</li>
<li>Road transport being a subject on the <strong>Concurrent List,</strong> State governments are also free to make their own laws and rules. Some states feel that the amendment infringes upon the rights of the states.</li>
<li>For effective monitoring of traffic violations and accidents and ensuring that the perpetrators don&rsquo;t go scot-free, <strong>electronic surveillance</strong> is essential that needs installation of CCTVs, Speed guns, and other equipments.This could involve substantial investment, and it is not clear who will bear the cost.</li>
<li>Laxity of vehicle-manufacturers in implementing safety features is also a concern.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Road safety Initiatives in India</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Ministry of Road Transport and highways took several steps in the past to improve road safety:<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><em>National Road Safety Policy</em> outlines various policy measures such as promoting awareness, establishing road safety information database, encouraging safer road infrastructure including application of intelligent transport, enforcement of safety laws etc.</li>
<li><em><strong>National Road Safety Council</strong></em> as the apex body to take policy decisions in matters of road safety.</li>
<li>A <strong>dashboard for road accident data,</strong> through which people can access related data and other information both state-wise and the national averages, has been introduced.</li>
<li>Comic books <em><strong>Swachha Safar</strong></em> and <em><strong>Surakshit Yatra</strong></em> have been been released, with an aim to create awareness among children about road safety.</li>
<li><strong>VAHAN</strong> (an ICT-based solution for vehicle registration) and <strong>SARATHI</strong> (for licencing) app to curb malpractices in issuing licences and vehicle registration.</li>
<li><strong>Setu Bharatam programme</strong> to make all national highways free of railway crossings by 2019.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Tamil Nadu model of integrated data-driven road safety initiatives:</strong> the Supreme Court-appointed three-member road safety committee led by <strong>Justice (retd) KS Radhakrishnan</strong> praised Tamil Nadu&rsquo;s efforts in reducing fatalities in road accidents. NCRB data reveals that road accident deaths in TN came down in 2018 by 24.39%, the biggest decrease recorded in the country.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Way forward</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Strict and effective enforcement of the amended rules in Motor Vehicle Act would surely help in curbing road-accident related deaths in India.</li>
<li>The central and state governments should work out proper plans to effectively implement the rules.</li>
<li>State governments should ensure transparency and provide a hassle-free experience for citizens at the Regional Transport Offices.</li>
<li>Vehicle manufacturers should update their technologies and adopt the best global practices regarding vehicles&rsquo; and passengers&rsquo; safety.</li>
<li>Simultaneously, the rise of Internet of Things-enabled, connected cars in India, which international auto majors are heavily investing in currently, can give a digital edge to road safety. With an array of embedded sensors informing drivers of other on-road cars, onboard analytics can give them real-time driving suggestions to avoid collisions.</li>
<li>The unprecedented pace of construction and infrastructure improvement is one more link in the journey to safer roads.</li>
</ul>
<table border="1" style="border-collapse: collapse; width: 100%;" height="83">
<tbody>
<tr>
<td style="width: 100%; border-style: dotted; background-color: #e3ffe0; border-color: #ff0000;">
<p><span style="color: #000080;"><em><strong>Drishti Input</strong></em></span><br /><br />"Recently the government had introduced the Motor Vehicles (Amendment) Bill 2019, with special focus on road safety. Critically examine if it will be able to address the issue of road safety in India?&rdquo;</p>
</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
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