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Year End Review: Department of Biotechnology (DBT)

Important Schemes and Policies UNATI Atal Jai Anusandhan Mission Programmes UNATI Atal Jai Anusandhan Mission has been implemented by DBT with a...

06 Feb 2021 Paper 3
Progress Report of Commission for Sub-categorisation of OBCs

Why in News Recently, the Centre has extended the tenure of the Rohini Commission until 31st July, 2021 to submit its report on Sub-categorisation...

06 Feb 2021 News Analysis
Coup D’etat in Myanmar

The article is based on “The Way Forward in Myanmar” which was published in ‘The Hindu’ on 05/02/2021. It talks about how...

05 Feb 2021 News Editorials
Increased Farm Exports

Why in News According to the Ministry of Commerce and Industry, farm exports have registered 9.8% growth for the period of April-December...

05 Feb 2021 News Analysis
Pandit Bhimsen Joshi Jayanti

Recently, the Prime Minister paid homage to Pandit Bhimsen Joshi, the classical music vocalist, on his centenary birth anniversary. Key...

05 Feb 2021 News Analysis
CCTNS Hackathon & Cyber Challenge

Why in News Recently, the inaugural function of the 2nd CCTNS Hackathon and Cyber Challenge 2020-21 of the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) was...

05 Feb 2021 News Analysis
Pradhan Mantri Matru Vandana Yojana

Why in News Recently, the government's maternity benefit scheme, or Pradhan Mantri Matru Vandana Yojana (PMMVY), has crossed 1.75 crore eligible...

05 Feb 2021 News Analysis
Smart Walls For Borders

Why in News Recently, an alternative Smart Wall has been proposed to replace the physical and armed patrolling with advanced surveillance technology...

05 Feb 2021 News Analysis
Taiwan Card Against China

This article is based on “Playing the Taiwan card” which was published in The Indian Express on 02/02/2021. It talks about the benefits...

04 Feb 2021 News Editorials
Curbing Unsolicited Commercial Communications

Why in News Recently, the Delhi High Court (HC) ordered the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) to ensure “complete and strict”...

04 Feb 2021 News Analysis
Military Coup in Myanmar

Why in News Recently, the Myanmar military has grabbed power in a coup - the third time in the nation’s history since its independence from...

04 Feb 2021 News Analysis
Fishing Cat Conservation Alliance

Why in News Recently, the Fishing Cat Conservation Alliance started a worldwide campaign to raise awareness for conservation of fishing cats. The...

04 Feb 2021 News Analysis
Centre for Wetland Conservation and Management

Why in News Recently, on the occasion of the World Wetland Day, the Minister of State for Environment, Forest and Climate Change announced the...

04 Feb 2021 News Analysis
Fiscal Activism

This article is based on “It’s goodbye to fiscal orthodoxy” which was published in The Hindu on 03/02/2021. It talks about...

03 Feb 2021 News Editorials
Budget 2021 Highlights: Minimum Government, Maximum Governance and Fiscal Position

Why in News Recently, the Minister of Finance presented the Union Budget 2021-22. This was the first digital budget. This section deals with the...

03 Feb 2021 News Analysis
Budget 2021 Highlights: Infrastructure

Why in News Recently, the Minister of Finance presented the Union Budget 2021-22. This was the first digital budget. This section deals with...

03 Feb 2021 News Analysis
Budget 2021 Highlights: Health and Wellbeing

Why in News Recently, the Minister of Finance presented the Union Budget 2021-22. This was the first ever digital Union Budget. It is based on...

03 Feb 2021 News Analysis
15th Finance Commission Recommendations: Resource Allocation

Why in News Recently, the government accepted the 15th Finance Commission’s recommendation to maintain the States’ share in the...

03 Feb 2021 News Analysis
India Role In African Recovery

This article is based on “Towards a ‘healthy’ India-Africa partnership” which was published in The Hindu Business line on...

02 Feb 2021 News Editorials
Regulations on FCRA Contributions

Why in News Recently, the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) issued new regulating guidelines to banks under Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Act,...

02 Feb 2021 News Analysis

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			'title' => 'Year End Review: Department of Biotechnology (DBT)',
			'catname' => 'Paper 3',
			'desc' => '<h3>Important Schemes and Policies</h3>
<p><strong>UNATI Atal Jai Anusandhan Mission Programmes</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>UNATI Atal Jai Anusandhan Mission has been implemented by DBT with a major focus on improved agriculture, affordable healthcare, clean energy and cutting-edge frontier science as per details given below:</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>GARBH-ini (interdisciplinary Group for Advanced Research in BirtH outcomes- DBT India Initiative) study</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>It aims to discover molecular risk-markers and generate a risk-prediction algorithm for preterm birth which will facilitate timely referral and care for at-risk mothers, thus saving children&rsquo;s lives and reducing morbidity. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>This programme has established a unique pregnancy cohort comprising more than 8000 women to study Pre Term Birth (PTB). </li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>The GARBH-ini platform comprises a bio-repository (Rakshita) of well characterized clinical phenotypes.</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) Mission</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>It will focus on development of new antibiotics, alternatives to antibiotics and diagnostics. </li>
<li>To address the rising threat of <a href="/to-the-points/paper3/to-the-point-paper-3-antimicrobial-resistance-amr" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>antimicrobial resistance (AMR)</strong></a> with a holistic and multi-sectoral (One Health) approach, &ldquo;India&rsquo;s One Health Initiative&rdquo; to combat problems associated with AMR was launched.</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>Ind-CEPI Mission</strong> </p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>It is an India centric collaborative mission of DBT aligned to the global initiatives of <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/thsti-part-of-vaccine-assessment-project" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>CEPI (Coalition of Epidemic Preparedness Innovations)</strong></a>. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>DBT is supporting the implementation of the Ind-CEPIs mission &ldquo;Epidemic preparedness through rapid vaccine development.</li>
<li>Support of Indian vaccine development is aligned with the global initiative of the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI)&rdquo;, at BIRAC, PSU of DBT.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>UNATI Mission</strong> </p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Clean Technologies for Swachh Bharat:</strong> DBT has developed various technology platforms designed to convert different solid, liquid and gaseous wastes into renewable fuels, energy and useful products such as food, feed, polymers and chemicals. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Under the UNATI Mission, 10 promising clean technologies have been identified for demonstration with DBT support at different sites across India, in collaboration with local stakeholders such as municipalities and other urban local bodies. </li>
<li>The identified technologies include<strong> bio-methanation, constructed wetland, bio-toilets, chemical &amp; membrane free water purification</strong> etc.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>Mission COVID Suraksha</strong> </p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/mission-covid-suraksha" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Mission COVID Suraksha</strong></a> is India&rsquo;s targeted effort to enable the development of indigenous, affordable and accessible vaccines for the country and will complement the ongoing mission of <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/atma-nirbhar-bharat-abhiyan-challenges" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Atmanirbhar Bharat</strong></a>.</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>Partnerships for Accelerating Clinical Trials (PACT)</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The <strong>PACT (Partnerships for Accelerating Clinical Trials)</strong> programme has been launched for supporting COVID-19 vaccine development activities in partnering countries. </li>
<li>The initiative is being implemented by<a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/making-india-a-biotech-hub" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong> Biotechnology Industry Research Assistance Council (BIRAC)</strong> </a>and Clinical Development Services Agency (CDSA) under the aegis of the National Biopharma Mission and Ind-CEPI Mission of DBT.</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>National Biopharma Mission</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>It is the first ever Industry-Academia mission &ldquo;Industry-Academia Collaboration <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/national-biopharma-mission#:~:text=The%20National%20Biopharma%20Mission%20(NBM,funded%20by%20World%20Bank%20loan." target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>National Biopharma mission</strong></a>. The mission aims for Accelerating Discovery Research to Early Development for Biopharmaceuticals.</li>
<li>&ldquo;Innovate in India (i3) Empowering biotech entrepreneurs &amp; accelerating inclusive innovation &ldquo; to accelerate biopharmaceutical development in India.</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>Unique Methods of Management of Inherited Disorders (UMMID) Initiative</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The Department launched the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/ummid-initiative" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>&lsquo;UMMID&rsquo; initiative</strong></a> to tackle inherited genetic diseases in newborns.</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1612594025_image1.jpg" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1612594025_image1.jpg" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="500" caption="false" /></a></p>
<p><strong>Pan India Genome India</strong> </p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/genome-india-initiative" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Genome India</strong></a> was initiated for cataloguing the genetic variation in Indian population with a goal for whole genome sequencing and subsequent data analysis of 10,000 individuals representing the country&rsquo;s diverse population to help build an exhaustive catalogue of genetic variations in Indian population, and to aid in the design of a genome wide association chip for Indian population.</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>LOTUS HR Project</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/india-netherlands" target="_blank" rel="noopener">LOTUS HR project</a>:</strong> In collaboration with Netherlands, a toolbox of wastewater treatment technologies has been established on site at Barapullah drain to facilitate selection of treatment combinations for optimum treatment of wastewater.</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>Indian Bioresource Information Network (IBIN)</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>It was created to bring together all the available databases and information on the bio-resources and biodiversity of the country in one platform. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The <strong>satellite telemetry tracking of Jacobin Cuckoo</strong> is a part of IBIN project in collaboration with Wildlife Institute of India to monitor the changes in Indian monsoon patterns and could help in planning the conservation and climate monitoring programmes.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>Indian Biological Data Centre (IBDC)</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>It was established by DBT for deposition, storage, annotation and sharing of biological data generated in the country through extensive funding from various Government Organizations. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The IBDC will enable life science researchers to deposit biological data in a central repository and thus safeguard data generated using public resources from loss. It will perform quality control, curation, and annotation of data. </li>
<li>These efforts will help establish benchmarks for the quality of data deposited and thus improve the quality of experimental research conducted in the country.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1612594052_image%203.jpg" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1612594052_image 3.jpg" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="650" caption="false" /></a></p>
<p><strong>GenoVault</strong> </p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>GenoVault (Cloud based Genomics Repository) was launched in the Accelerating Biology 2020. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>This cloud-based genomic repository enables quick archival and retrieval tools along with extremely powerful analytical engines. </li>
<li>GenoVault is a first India&rsquo;s Genomics Repository based on OpenStack cloud. This centralized repository would be of enormous importance for healthcare and would have great use in personalized medicine.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>Bio-liposome mediated CRISPR-Cas9 delivery system</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>A novel bio-inspired lipid nanocarrier system for efficient intracellular delivery of <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/crispr-technology" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>CRISPR-Cas9</strong> </a>based genome editing tools has been developed. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The development of bio-inspired lipid nanocarrier delivery systems would open new vistas for devising novel gene therapy-based therapeutic solutions for various rare and genetic diseases.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>Biotech-KISAN</strong> </p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/biotech-kisan-programme" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Biotech-KISAN</strong></a> has created a platform in each of <strong>15 agro-climatic zones of the country,</strong> which aims to connect farmers and scientists to promote Agriculture Innovation and take the new interventions to the farmers and farms.</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>International Cooperation</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The department of biotechnology has strengthened its partnership with the Academy of Medical Sciences (AMS), UK to launch the AMS-DBT Newton International Fellowship (NIF). </li>
<li>Focusing on the threat of climate change, the department collaborated with European Union for the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/eu-green-deal" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>&ldquo;Green Deal&rdquo;</strong> </a>under the <strong>Horizon 2020 framework</strong> to help build a low-carbon, climate-resilient future.</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>Biotechnology Industry Research Assistant Council (BIRAC)</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>BIRAC launched i4 (Intensifying the Impact of Industrial Innovation) to support biotechnological product/technology development by strengthening R&amp;D capabilities of start-ups/companies/LLPs. The programme provides impetus for pulling the translational ideas past PoC and taking them further along the innovation chain for validation, scale-up, demonstration and pre-commercialization of products and technologies.</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>Wheat Straw Polysaccharide</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>DBT-National Agri-Food Biotechnology Institute (DBT-NABI)</strong> has developed a <strong>wheat straw polysaccharide</strong> derived novel edible coating formulation to prevent the <strong>post-harvest shelf-life</strong> of perishable fruit crops such as Apple, Peach and Banana. </li>
<li>In addition to that,<strong> antibody assisted graphene oxide coated gold nanoparticles</strong> for rapid bacterial detection and near infrared light enhanced antibacterial activity has been developed which detects food borne pathogens.</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>DBT-National Brain Research Institute (DBT-NBRC) Research</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/japanese-encephalitis-je" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Japanese Encephalitis virus (JEV)</strong></a> infection was found to induce classical activation (M1) of microglia that drives the production of pro-inflammatory cytokines, while suppressing alternative activation (M2) that could serve to dampen the inflammatory response, thereby inducing inflammatory response, microglial activation, and neuronal apoptosis.</li>
<li>&lsquo;DALI&rsquo; a tool in Indian languages for dyslexia assessment in children developed at NBRC remains in high demand and is being increasingly adopted countrywide.</li>
<li><strong>BRAHMA and ANSH:</strong> NBRC scientists have developed specialized tools named BRAHMA and ANSH for integrating inputs from neuroimaging data and the clinical information to help in diagnosis of various brain diseases such as Alzheimer&rsquo;s and Parkinson&rsquo;s. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The tool is standardized on a robust Indian brain template that is representative of the Indian population-specific brain anatomy.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Further Reading</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><a href="/to-the-points/paper3/biotechnology-and-its-applications" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Biotechnology and its Applications</strong></a></li>
<li><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/bradykinin-storm-covid-19" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Bradykinin Storm</strong></a></li>
<li><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/covid-19-specific-memory-t-cells" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Covid-19 Specific Memory T Cells</strong></a></li>
<li><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/genetically-modified-seeds" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Genetically Modified Seeds</strong></a></li>
<li><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/microrna" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>microRNA</strong></a></li>
<li><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/bbx11-gene-greening-of-plants" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>BBX11 Gene</strong></a></li>
<li><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/intentional-genomic-alteration" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Intentional Genomic Alteration</strong></a></li>
<li><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/the-cancer-genome-atlas-2020-conference" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Cancer Genome Atlas</strong></a></li>
<li><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/saviour-sibling" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Saviour Sibling</strong></a></li>
<li><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/production-of-saffron-and-heeng-in-india" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Himalayan Bioresources Mission</strong></a></li>
</ul>',
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		(int) 1 => [
			'title' => 'Progress Report of Commission for Sub-categorisation of OBCs',
			'catname' => 'News Analysis',
			'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>Recently, the<strong> Centre has extended the tenure of the Rohini Commission</strong> until 31<sup>st</sup> July, 2021 to submit its report on <strong>Sub-categorisation of Other Backward Classes (OBCs).</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The <strong>Rohini Commission was constituted in October 2017</strong> under<strong> Article 340 of the Constitution.</strong> At that time, it was given 12 weeks to submit its report, but has been given several extensions since, the latest one being the 10<sup>th</sup>.</li>
<li><a href="/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-national-institutions/national-commission-for-backward-classes-ncbc" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Article 340</strong></a> deals with the appointment of a commission to investigate the conditions of backward classes.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Need for Committee for Sub-categorisation of OBCs:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Ensuring Equality:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>It had been constituted to complete the task of <strong>sub-categorising 5000-odd castes in the central OBC.</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/extension-to-obc-sub-categorisation-commission" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>OBCs are granted 27% reservation</strong></a> in jobs and education under the central government.</li>
<li>The need for sub-categorisation arises out of the perception that <strong>only a few affluent communities among the over 2,600 included in the Central List of OBCs</strong> have secured a major part of this 27% reservation.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>Sub-categorisation would <strong>ensure more equitable distribution of opportunities</strong> in central government jobs and educational institutions.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Recommended by NCBC:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>In 2015, the <strong><a href="/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-national-institutions/national-commission-for-backward-classes-ncbc" target="_blank" rel="noopener">National Commission for Backward Classes</a> (NCBC)</strong> had recommended that OBCs should be <strong>categorised into extremely backward classes, more backward classes and backward classes.</strong></li>
<li>The benefits of the<a href="/to-the-points/Paper2/reservation-in-india" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong> reservation</strong></a> in OBCs are being cornered mostly by the dominant OBC groups over the years so there is a need to recognise sub-quotas for the extremely backward classes within the OBCs.</li>
<li>NCBC has the authority to <strong>examine complaints and welfare measures regarding socially and educationally backward classes.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Commission&rsquo;s Terms of Reference (ToR):</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Examining Inequality:</strong> To examine the extent of inequitable distribution of benefits of reservation among the castes or communities included in the broad category of OBCs with reference to such classes included in the Central List.</li>
<li><strong>Determining Parameters:</strong> To work out the mechanism, criteria, norms and parameters in a scientific approach for sub-categorisation within such OBCs.</li>
<li><strong>Classification:</strong> To take up the exercise of identifying the respective castes or communities or sub-castes or synonyms in the Central List of OBCs and classifying them into their respective sub-categories.</li>
<li><strong>Eliminating Errors:</strong> To study the various entries in the Central List of OBCs and recommend correction of any repetitions, ambiguities, inconsistencies and errors of spelling or transcription.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Challenges Before the Commision: </strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Data Deficiency:</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Absence of data for the population of various communities to compare with their representation in jobs and admissions.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Delaying of Survey:</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>It was decided in <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/census-2021" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Census 2021</strong></a>, data of OBCs will also be collected, but no consensus has been reached regarding enumeration of OBCs in the Census.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Findings of the Commision Until Now:</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>In 2018, the Commission <strong>analysed the data of 1.3 lakh central jobs</strong> given under OBC quota over the preceding five years.</li>
<li>It<strong> also analysed OBC admissions to central higher education institutions,</strong> including universities, IITs, NITs, IIMs and AIIMS, over the preceding three years. The<strong> findings</strong> were: <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li><strong>97% of all jobs and educational seats have gone to just 25%</strong> of all sub-castes classified as OBCs.</li>
<li><strong>24.95% of these jobs and seats have gone to just 10 OBC communities.</strong></li>
<li><strong>983 OBC communities (37% of the total) have zero representation</strong> in jobs and educational institutions.</li>
<li><strong>994 OBC sub-castes have a total representation of only 2.68%</strong> in recruitment and admissions.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>In<strong> mid- 2019,</strong> the Commission informed that it is <strong>ready with the draft report</strong> (on sub-categorisation). It is widely understood that the report could have huge political consequences and face a judicial review so it's <strong>still not released. </strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>OBC Recruitment in the Central Government Jobs</strong> (as per the Report submitted by the Department of Personnel and Training to NCBC in 2020): <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>From the data of<strong> 42 ministries/departments,</strong> OBC representation in Central government jobs was found out to be: <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li><strong>16.51 % in Group-A</strong> central government services.</li>
<li><strong>13.38 % in Group-B</strong> central government services.</li>
<li><strong>21.25 % in Group-C</strong> (excluding safai karamcharis).</li>
<li><strong>17.72 % in Group-C</strong> (safai karamcharis).</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Regarding NFS:</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>NCBC also found out that a <strong>number of posts reserved for OBCs were being filled by people of general category</strong> as OBC candidates were declared <strong>&ldquo;NFS&rdquo; (None Found Suitable). </strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Revision of Creamy Layer:</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Even the <strong>revision of the income limit for the creamy layer for the OBCs</strong> is under consideration.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Note</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Recently, the <strong>Supreme Court of India</strong> has reopened a similar legal debate on <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/sub-classification-of-reserved-classes" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>sub-categorisation of Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes for reservations</strong></a>, what is commonly referred to as<strong> &ldquo;quota within quota&rdquo; for SCs and STs.</strong></li>
</ul>
</div>
<p><a href="https://indianexpress.com/article/explained/obc-sub-categorisation-commission-7175056/" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Source:IE</strong></a></p>',
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		(int) 2 => [
			'title' => 'Coup D’etat in Myanmar',
			'catname' => 'News Editorials',
			'desc' => '<div class="border">
<p>The article is based on<a href="https://www.thehindu.com/opinion/op-ed/the-way-forward-in-myanmar/article33753759.ece" target="_blank" rel="noopener"> &ldquo;The Way Forward in Myanmar&rdquo;</a> which was published in &lsquo;The Hindu&rsquo; on 05/02/2021. It talks about how the nascent democracy established in Myanmar is again overthrown by Military Junta and how India, the world&rsquo;s largest democracy, is a stakeholder in the country&rsquo;s internal issue.</p>
</div>
<p>Democracy is a form of government in which a substantial proportion of the citizenry participates in ruling the state and the representatives elected by the people run the country on their behalf.</p>
<p>However, this ideal statement is not being followed everywhere. Turning the attention to international affairs and diving deep into Myanmar, the military has once again taken over the country, declaring a year-long state of emergency and placing elected leaders under detention.</p>
<p>In this predicament, it is a tightrope walk for India. Being itself the world&rsquo;s largest democracy, India has to back democracy in Myanmar but it must secure its security and developmental interests too.</p>
<h3>Coup in Myanmar</h3>
<p>The <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/military-coup-in-myanmar" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Myanmar military has grabbed power in a coup</strong></a> for the third time in the nation&rsquo;s history since its independence (1948).</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>However, the military officials, in their defence, denied it as a coup and claimed the fraud as &ldquo;obstruction in the path to democracy&rdquo;.</li>
<li><strong>State of emergency</strong> has been declared, transferring all powers to <strong>Commander-in-Chief Min Aung Hlaing</strong>.</li>
</ul>
<h3>The Torturous Politics of Myanmar</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Double Standards of the Junta:</strong> The<strong> Constitution of Myanmar</strong> was drafted in <strong>2008</strong> by the military with the intent to remain in power behind a civilian party.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>In 2015, the <strong>Union Solidarity and Development Party (USDP)</strong> lost the election which disappointed the military, and was concerned with the new democratic Myanmar that could emerge with the victory of the <strong>National League for Democracy (NLD)</strong>.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Hostility Towards the Rohingyas:</strong> The 2020 elections were held after the Army launched a brutal crackdown on Rohingya in <strong>Rakhine State</strong> in the name of fighting terrorism, which forced over <strong>700,000 Rohingya Muslims</strong> to flee Myanmar to neighbouring countries, mainly <strong>Bangladesh</strong>.</li>
<li><strong>Null Foreign Intervention:</strong> Myanmar has always preferred solving its internal conflicts by itself letting negligible interference from any Foreign or International Power.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Many <strong>international mechanisms</strong> comprising Western and Asian countries that were formed to coordinate strategies on Myanmar were <strong>disbanded after the 2015 election</strong>.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Divided Myanmarese Communities:</strong> The military understands the people&rsquo;s psyche well.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The divide between the <strong>Burmans</strong>, the majority group, and the <strong>ethnic minorities remains wide</strong>. The latter are generally opposed to a strong Central government.</li>
<li>In the recent military coup, the <strong>Burmans are supportive of <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/aung-san-suu-kyi-to-defend-myanmar-in-icj" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Aung San Suu Kyi</a></strong> but it will be true only up to a point.
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>They are largely Buddhists and peace-loving. Hence, they might accept the grabbing of power from elected representatives by the army.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Gist of the Issue</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The November 2020 election of Myanmar resulted in a landslide victory for the <strong>National League for Democracy (NLD)</strong>, which won over <strong>82% of parliamentary seats</strong> at the union, regional and state levels</li>
<li>The army-backed<strong> Union Solidarity and Development Party (USDP)</strong> claimed the elections as a widespread fraud.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Without offering any concrete evidence, the military has overthrown the winning party and has detained the political leader including Myanmar&rsquo;s <strong><em>de facto</em> head</strong> Aung San Suu Kyi.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>The activists used social media to oppose the military coup and organise protests.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Myanmar's junta blocked Facebook and WhatsApp in the name of ensuring stability even as street protests were reported from some cities.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Global Responses</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The <strong><a href="/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-international-institution/united-nations-1" target="_blank" rel="noopener">UN</a> Secretary-General</strong> has <strong>vowed</strong> to mobilise the international community to put enough pressure on Myanmar to ensure that the <strong>military coup in the country "fails"</strong>.</li>
<li><strong>China and Russia</strong> have taken a <strong>non-committal approach</strong> to the coup.</li>
<li><a href="/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-international-institution/asean" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>ASEAN</strong></a> made a muted call for "dialogue, reconciliation and return to normalcy while Japan has called it a "coup"</li>
<li>The Western countries including <strong>Australia and the US</strong> have issued strong statements with <strong>threats of sanctions</strong>.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The US President has referred to the action as a <strong>coup</strong> and has called on the military <strong>"to relinquish seized power&rdquo;</strong>, free all officials and advocates detained, lift the restrictions on telecommunications and refrain from violence.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1612529680_image1.png" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1612529680_image1.png" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" /></a></p>
<h3>India as a Stakeholder</h3>
<p><strong>India&rsquo;s Stand</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>India is engaged on the Myanmar issue as a member of the UN Security Council.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Soon after the coup, India had expressed concern and said the rule of law and democratic process must be upheld.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>Though India has expressed deep concern over recent developments in Myanmar, <strong>cutting off from the Myanmar military is not a viable option</strong> as India has <strong>significant economic and strategic interests in Myanmar</strong> and its neighbourhood.</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>Myanmar&rsquo;s Significance to India</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>India-Myanmar Ties:</strong> <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/india-myanmar-relationship" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>India and Myanmar</strong></a> are neighbours with close cultural and people-to-people ties, bolstered by trade, economic, security and defence-related exchanges.</li>
<li><strong>India&rsquo;s aid to Myanmar in Pandemic:</strong> India has extended assistance to Myanmar in its fight against <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/covid-19-and-medical-solutions" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Covid-19</strong></a> by providing medicines, test kits and <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/covid-19-vaccine-distribution" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>vaccines</strong></a>.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>India has committed to continuing its humanitarian support for the people in Myanmar in mitigating the health and economic impact of the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/future-pandemics-and-reduction-measures" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>pandemic</strong></a>.</li>
<li>India has also sent 15 lakh doses of the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/covishield-and-covaxin-approved-for-restricted-use" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Covishield vaccine</strong></a> to assist Myanmar in fighting the pandemic.
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Myanmar has begun to vaccinate itself with Covid vaccine sent by India, while putting <strong>China&rsquo;s 300,000</strong> <strong>doses</strong> on hold.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>The Submarine Gift:</strong> India handed over a kilo-class submarine<strong> INS Sindhuvir (UMS Minye Theinkhathu)</strong> to the Myanmar navy.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The Indian gift is the first and only submarine of the Myanmar navy.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Myanmar as India&rsquo;s Cornerstone:</strong> India&rsquo;s military-diplomatic outreach to Myanmar became a cornerstone of its <a href="/loksabha-rajyasabha-discussions/the-big-picture-india-s-act-east-policy" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Act East policy</strong></a>.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>India&rsquo;s security relationship with the Myanmar military has become <strong>extremely close</strong>, and it would be difficult to <strong>&ldquo;burn bridges&rdquo;</strong> with them given their assistance in securing the <strong>North East frontiers from insurgent groups</strong>.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Infrastructure and Developmental Projects:</strong> Apart from strategic concerns, India has cultivated <strong>several infrastructure and development projects</strong> with Myanmar, which it sees as the <strong>&ldquo;gateway to the East&rdquo;</strong> and ASEAN countries.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>These include the India-Myanmar-Thailand Trilateral highway and the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/presidents-visit-to-myanmar" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Kaladan Multi-Modal Transit Transport Project</strong></a> as well as a plan for a Special Economic Zone at the Sittwe deep-water port.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Way Forward</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Reducing the Gap Among Different Communities:</strong> Adhering to the communal division among the people of Myanmar, jumping to the conclusion that Myanmar will see a nationwide protest against the military coup, is not correct.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>In the current scenario, the military will continue to exploit ethnic and religious fault lines.</li>
<li><strong>Engagement with domestic stakeholders,</strong> including ethnic minorities, especially from the north, <strong>should be pursued by the international community</strong>.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Threatening with the Imposition of Sanctions is not a Solution:</strong> The Myanmar military has always been able to economically withstand sanctions by striking deals with Asian countries in the past, therefore imposing sanctions is unlikely to bring any major political change.</li>
<li><strong>Criticising the Military is not Wise for India:</strong> India must want to remain engaged in Myanmar for quite a few reasons. Many insurgent groups find haven in Myanmar which means India needs its help to counter them.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>For India, engagement with Myanmar is vital. It shall maintain a two-track engagement, acknowledging the primacy of the army in Myanmar's affairs.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Conclusion</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>In a country where military leadership has scripted the meaning of democracy, tensions are most likely to prevail.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>In such cases, domestic forces and geopolitics often fail to deter its actions and impulses to rule.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>It is likely for India to feel concerned when democracy in a country is threatened.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>But the country must be committed to its policy of non-interference in another state&rsquo;s internal affairs.</li>
<li>Keeping the national interest of the country in mind, India shall astutely balance its principles, values, interests and geopolitical realities.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<table border="1" style="width: 100%; border-collapse: collapse; background-color: #c9f5f5; border-color: #18abab;">
<tbody>
<tr>
<td style="width: 100%;"><em><strong>Drishti Mains Question</strong></em><br /><br />Myanmar is the cornerstone in India&rsquo;s Act East Policy. comment</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<p style="text-align: center;"></p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/GeG6MaW8tjI" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe></p>
<p>This editorial is based on <strong><a href="https://indianexpress.com/article/opinion/editorials/covid-19-economy-imf-gdp-growth-7165745/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">&ldquo;On The Upswing&rdquo;</a></strong> which was published in The Indian Express on 29 January, 2021. Now watch this on our Youtube Channel.</p>',
			'postdate' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenTime) {},
			'url' => 'https://www.drishtiias.com/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/coup-d-etat-in-myanmar'
		],
		(int) 3 => [
			'title' => 'Increased Farm Exports',
			'catname' => 'News Analysis',
			'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>According to the Ministry of Commerce and Industry, <strong>farm exports have registered 9.8% growth</strong> for the period of April-December 2020.</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Previously, the government of India launched the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/remission-of-duties-or-taxes-on-export-product" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Remission of Duties or Taxes on Export Product (RoDTEP)</strong></a> scheme replacing <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/capping-of-meis-scheme-benefits" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Merchandise Exports from India Scheme (MEIS)</strong></a> to further improve exports.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Data for April-December 2020:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Overall merchandise exports:</strong> Registered 15.5% fall.</li>
<li><strong>Farm exports:</strong> Registered 9.8% growth.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Overall merchandise exports include all the goods manufactured in India while Farm exports include only the agricultural products.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Reasons For Growth in Farm Exports:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Rising International Prices:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li><strong>Normalisation of Demands:</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Due to steady normalisation of demand with most countries unlocking their economies after May 2020 and, at the same time, <strong>restoration of supply chains</strong> post-<a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/covid-19-vaccine-policy#:~:text=Although%20India%20will%20not%20need,vaccines%20need%20a%20booster%20dose." target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Covid</strong></a> not keeping pace has made exports of many farm products from India competitive.</li>
<li>That includes <strong>non-basmati rice, sugar, oilseed meals, cotton and even <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/india-s-potential-to-increase-cereals-export#:~:text=Rice%20(including%20Basmati%20and%20Non,during%20the%20year%202019%2D20." target="_blank" rel="noopener">wheat and other cereals (mainly maize)</a></strong>.</li>
<li>Earlier, the <a href="/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-international-institution/united-nations-1" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>United Nations (UN) Food and Agricultural Organization (FAO)</strong></a>, released its latest <strong>Food Price Index (FPI)</strong> for January 2021, which showed that the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/world-food-price-index-fao" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>FPI has increased from a 48-month-low to a 78-month-high</strong></a>.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Chinese Stockpiling:</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Global prices have also been increased by Chinese stockpiling.</li>
<li>It had stepped up imports of everything &ndash; from maize, wheat, soyabean and barely to sugar and milk powder &ndash; <strong>to build strategic food reserves amid geopolitical tensions</strong>.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Dry Weather of Different Countries:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>The current export revival is equally a result of<strong> dry weather conditions</strong> in major producing countries such as <strong>Argentina, Brazil, Ukraine, Thailand and Vietnam</strong>.</li>
<li><strong>Russia</strong> (world&rsquo;s largest wheat exporter) and <strong>Argentina</strong> (No. 1 in soybean meal and No. 3 in maize) have even <strong>announced temporary suspension or taxes on grain shipments in response to high domestic food inflation</strong>.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>India&rsquo;s Surplus Monsoon:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>India, on the other hand, hasn&rsquo;t faced serious weather issues; both 2019 and 2020 <strong>recorded surplus monsoon rainfall</strong> along with <strong>timely onset of winter</strong>.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Agriculture Exempted from Lockdown:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Farmers harvested a bumper rabi crop during April-June, enabled by the government exempting agriculture-related activities from <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/covid-19-and-lockdown#:~:text=The%20Government%20of%20India%20has,every%20country%20across%20the%20globe." target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>lockdown</strong></a> restrictions.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Significance of Rising Exports:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>If it sustains, it can help<strong> increase crop prices</strong> when the next rabi harvest is due from March 2021. This may be <strong>politically useful</strong> in a context of <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/farmer-s-protest" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>farm unrest</strong></a>.</li>
<li>It will help in achieving the USD <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/india-to-become-fifth-largest-economy#:~:text=A%20recent%20report%20has%20revealed,GDP)%20by%20surpassing%20Japanese%20GDP." target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>5-trillion economy</strong></a> goal by India.</li>
<li>It will help achieve an ambitious target of <a href="/to-the-points/paper3/doubling-farmers-income-a-promise-to-be-fulfilled-by-2022" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>doubling farmers' income</strong></a> by 2022.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1612523182_image1.png" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1612523182_image1.png" width="741" height="404" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" /></a></p>
<p><a href="https://indianexpress.com/article/india/farm-exports-india-covid-19-2020-7175200/" 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/increased-farm-exports'
		],
		(int) 4 => [
			'title' => 'Pandit Bhimsen Joshi Jayanti',
			'catname' => 'News Analysis',
			'desc' => '<p>Recently, the <strong>Prime Minister paid homage to Pandit Bhimsen Joshi</strong>, the classical music vocalist, on his centenary <strong>birth anniversary</strong>.</p>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>About:</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Pandit Bhimsen Joshi</strong> was born on February 4, 1922.</li>
<li><strong>Important Recognition:</strong> He received the <strong><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/important-facts-for-prelims-28th-january-2019" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Bharat Ratna</a> in 2008</strong>.</li>
<li><strong>Work:</strong> He is remembered for his famous ragas including <strong>Shuddha Kalyan, Miyan Ki Todi, Puriya Dhanashri and Multani etc</strong>. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>He belonged to the <strong>Kirana Gharana</strong>.</li>
<li><strong>Kirana Gharana</strong> got its name from a small town called Kerana in Uttar Pradesh. It was founded by Ustad Abdul Karim Khan. Famous artists such as Abdul Wahid Khan, Suresh Babu Mane, Hira Bai Badodekar and Roshanara Begum belong to this Gharana.</li>
<li>He belonged to the school of <strong>Hindustani classical music</strong>.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Hindustani Music:</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Origin:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Hindustani Music is one of the<strong> two distinct schools of Indian Classical Music</strong> practiced mainly in North India. The other school of Indian Classical Music is <a href="/to-the-points/paper1/carnatic-music" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Carnatic music</strong></a> which is practiced mainly in Southern India.</li>
<li>The historical roots of both the music types belong to the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/natyashastra" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Bharata&rsquo;s Natyasastra</strong></a>.</li>
<li><strong>Hindustani Music is vocal-centric.</strong> The major vocal forms associated with Hindustani classical music are the <strong>khayal, Ghazal, dhrupad, dhammar, Tarana and thumri</strong>.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Most of the Hindustani musicians trace their descent to Tansen.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Gharanas:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>A Gharana is <strong>a system of social organisation linking musicians</strong> or dancers by lineage or apprenticeship, and by adherence to a particular musical style.</li>
<li>Function in <strong>guru-shishya parampara</strong>, i.e. disciples learning under a particular guru, transmitting his musical knowledge and style.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<table border="1" style="height: 133px; width: 100%; border-collapse: collapse; background-color: #2cb8d1;">
<tbody>
<tr style="height: 19px;">
<td style="width: 10.4205%; height: 19px;"><span style="color: #ffffff;"><strong>Gharana</strong></span></td>
<td style="width: 10.4543%; height: 19px;"><span style="color: #ffffff;"><strong>Place</strong></span></td>
<td style="width: 14.162%; height: 19px;"><span style="color: #ffffff;"><strong>Founder</strong></span></td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 19px;">
<td style="width: 10.4205%; height: 19px; background-color: #f2e7ce;">Gwalior</td>
<td style="width: 10.4543%; height: 19px; background-color: #f2e7ce;">Gwalior</td>
<td style="width: 14.162%; height: 19px; background-color: #f2e7ce;">Nanthan Khan</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 19px;">
<td style="width: 10.4205%; height: 19px; background-color: #f2e7ce;">Agra</td>
<td style="width: 10.4543%; height: 19px; background-color: #f2e7ce;">Agra</td>
<td style="width: 14.162%; height: 19px; background-color: #f2e7ce;">Hajisujan Khan</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 19px;">
<td style="width: 10.4205%; height: 19px; background-color: #f2e7ce;">Rangeela</td>
<td style="width: 10.4543%; height: 19px; background-color: #f2e7ce;">Agra</td>
<td style="width: 14.162%; height: 19px; background-color: #f2e7ce;">Faiyyaz Khan</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 19px;">
<td style="width: 10.4205%; height: 19px; background-color: #f2e7ce;">Jaipur Atrauli</td>
<td style="width: 10.4543%; height: 19px; background-color: #f2e7ce;">Jaipur</td>
<td style="width: 14.162%; height: 19px; background-color: #f2e7ce;">Alladiya Khan</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 19px;">
<td style="width: 10.4205%; height: 19px; background-color: #f2e7ce;">Kirana</td>
<td style="width: 10.4543%; height: 19px; background-color: #f2e7ce;">Awadh</td>
<td style="width: 14.162%; height: 19px; background-color: #f2e7ce;">Abdul Wahid Khan</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 19px;">
<td style="width: 10.4205%; height: 19px; background-color: #f2e7ce;">Banaras</td>
<td style="width: 10.4543%; height: 19px; background-color: #f2e7ce;">Varanasi</td>
<td style="width: 14.162%; height: 19px; background-color: #f2e7ce;">Ram Sahai</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<p><br /><a href="https://pib.gov.in/PressReleseDetail.aspx?PRID=1695158#:~:text=The%20Prime%20Minister%2C%20Shri%20Narendra,world%20of%20culture%20and%20music." 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/pandit-bhimsen-joshi-jayanti'
		],
		(int) 5 => [
			'title' => 'CCTNS Hackathon & Cyber Challenge',
			'catname' => 'News Analysis',
			'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>Recently, the inaugural function of the <strong>2<sup>nd</sup> CCTNS Hackathon and Cyber Challenge</strong> 2020-21 of the <strong>National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB)</strong> was held in New Delhi.</p>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Background:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>This hackathon is <strong>in continuation to the Hackathon &amp; Cyber Challenge</strong> which concluded in March 2020.</li>
<li>It aimed to <strong>deepen understanding and enhance skills</strong> of the law enforcement personnel across all ranks and file, empowering them to adopt <strong>smart strategies for effectively addressing the evolving threats</strong>.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>About the 2<sup>nd</sup> CCTNS Hackathon and Cyber Challenge:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Police officials</strong> especially those from the cutting edge level, <strong>academia, industry, students and others</strong> are being invited <strong>to help improve existing IT applications</strong> as well as help identify new IT applications <strong>to improve the CCTNS ecosystem</strong>.</li>
<li>The Mobile App: &ldquo;Locate Nearest Police Station&rdquo; was also launched at the function.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>This App will help various users including women commuters, interstate travelers, domestic and foreign tourists etc. especially during any emergency and has the facility to dial 112. This is <strong>another step towards improving accessibility of the police to the citizens</strong>.</li>
<li>This will <strong>add to <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/citizen-centric-services-of-ncrb" target="_blank" rel="noopener">other Central Citizen Services being provided by the NCRB</a></strong> such as <strong>&ldquo;Missing Person Search&rdquo;, &ldquo;Generate Vehicle NOC&rdquo;, </strong>&ldquo;Proclaimed Offenders Information&rdquo; and various other services being provided by the State Citizen Police Portals.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Crime and Criminal Tracking Network &amp; Systems</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Background:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Crime and Criminal Tracking Network &amp; Systems (CCTNS)</strong> is a plan scheme conceived in the light of experience of a non-plan scheme namely - <strong>Common Integrated Police Application (CIPA)</strong>.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Launch:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>CCTNS is a <strong>Mission Mode Project</strong> under the <strong><a href="/to-the-points/Paper2/e-governance-1#:~:text=National%20e%2DGovernance%20Plan%20(NeGP,integrated%20into%20Digital%20India%20Program." target="_blank" rel="noopener">National e-Governance Plan</a> (NeGP)</strong> of the <strong>Ministry of Home Affairs</strong>.</li>
<li>Approx. 14,000 Police Stations throughout the country have been proposed to be automated besides 6000 higher offices in the police hierarchy.</li>
<li>It was approved in <strong>2009</strong>.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Objectives:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Make the Police functioning <strong>citizen friendly</strong> and <strong>more transparent</strong> by automating the functioning of Police Stations.</li>
<li>Improve delivery of <strong>citizen-centric services</strong> through effective usage of <strong>ICT</strong>.</li>
<li>Provide the Investigating Officers of the Civil Police with <strong>tools, technology and information</strong> to facilitate investigation of crime and detection of criminals.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Recent Initiatives:</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>A <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/mou-between-natgrid-and-ncrb" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Memorandum of Understanding (MoU)</strong></a> was signed between <strong>National Intelligence Grid (NATGRID)</strong> and <strong>National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB)</strong> for the access of the <strong>CCTNS database</strong>.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>National Crime Records Bureau</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>NCRB, <strong>headquartered in New Delhi, was set-up in 1986</strong> under the <strong>Ministry of Home Affairs</strong> to function as a repository of information on crime and criminals so as to assist the investigators in linking crime to the perpetrators.</li>
<li>It was set up based on the recommendations of the National Police Commission (1977-1981) and the MHA&rsquo;s Task Force (1985).</li>
<li>NCRB brings out the annual comprehensive statistics of crime across the country <strong>(<a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/crime-in-india-2019-report-ncrb" target="_blank" rel="noopener">&lsquo;Crime in India&rsquo;</a> report)</strong>.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Being <strong>published since 1953,</strong> the report serves as a crucial tool in understanding the law and order situation across the country.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</div>
<p><a href="https://pib.gov.in/PressReleaseIframePage.aspx?PRID=1694909" 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/cctns-hackathon-cyber-challenge'
		],
		(int) 6 => [
			'title' => 'Pradhan Mantri Matru Vandana Yojana',
			'catname' => 'News Analysis',
			'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>Recently, the government's maternity benefit scheme, or <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/pradhan-mantri-matru-vandana-yojana" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Pradhan Mantri Matru Vandana Yojana (PMMVY)</strong></a>, has crossed 1.75 crore eligible women till the financial year 2020.</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>A total sum of Rs. 5,931.95 crore</strong> was paid to <strong>1.75 crore eligible beneficiaries</strong> between financial year 2018 and 2020.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>About:<a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1612515755_image1.png" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1612515755_image1.png" style="float: right; margin: 10px;" width="564" height="365" caption="false" /></a></strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>PMMVY is a <strong>maternity benefit programme</strong> being implemented in all districts of the country with effect from 1st January, 2017.</li>
<li>It is a <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/data-governance-quality-index-niti-aayog" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>centrally sponsored scheme</strong></a> being executed by the Ministry of Women and Child Development.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Direct Benefit Transfer Scheme:</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Cash benefits are provided to pregnant women in their bank account directly to meet enhanced nutritional needs and partially compensate for wage loss.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Target Beneficiaries:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>All <strong>Pregnant Women and Lactating Mothers (PW&amp;LM)</strong>, excluding those who are in regular employment with the Central Government or the State Governments or PSUs or those who are in receipt of similar benefits under any law for the time being in force.</li>
<li>All eligible Pregnant Women and Lactating Mothers who have their <strong>pregnancy on or after 1<sup>st</sup> January 2017 for the first child in the family</strong>.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Benefits under the Scheme:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Beneficiaries receive a <strong>cash benefit of Rs. 5,000 in three installments</strong> on fulfilling the following conditions:<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Early registration of pregnancy</li>
<li>Ante-natal check-up</li>
<li>Registration of the birth of the child and completion of first cycle of vaccination for the first living child of the family.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>The eligible beneficiaries also receive cash incentive under <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/national-health-mission-and-janani-suraksha-yojana" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Janani Suraksha Yojana (JSY)</strong></a>. Thus, on an average, a woman gets Rs. 6,000.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Distinctive Feature:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Implementation of the scheme is closely monitored by the central and state governments through the <strong>Pradhan Mantri Matru Vandana Yojana - Common Application Software (PMMVY-CAS)</strong>.</li>
<li>PMMVY-CAS is a web based software application that <strong>enables tracking the status of each beneficiary under the scheme,</strong> resulting in expedited, accountable and better grievance redressal.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Janani Suraksha Yojana</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>About:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>It is a <strong>100% centrally sponsored scheme</strong> which is being implemented with the objective of<strong> reducing maternal and infant mortality</strong> by promoting institutional delivery among pregnant women.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>As per the data of <a href="/to-the-points/Paper2/national-family-health-survey-5-1#:~:text=Infant%20Mortality%20Rate%20(IMR)%20is,and%2023%20for%20urban%20areas." target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>National Family Health Survey-5</strong></a>:<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li><strong>Infant and child mortality rates</strong> across most Indian states have declined.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Bihar registered the highest prevalence of neonatal mortality rate (NMR-34), infant mortality rate (IMR-47), and under-five mortality rate (U5MR-56) across 22 surveyed states and Union territories while Kerala reported the lowest death rates.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>The <strong>Maternal Mortality Ratio (MMR)</strong> in India has declined to <strong>113 (per 1,00,000 live births)</strong> in 2016-18 from 122 in 2015-17 and 130 in 2014-2016, according to the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/decline-in-maternal-mortality-ratio" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>special bulletin on Maternal Mortality in India 2016-18</strong></a>, released by the Office of the Registrar General's Sample Registration System (SRS).</li>
<li>The<strong> target 3.1 of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)</strong> set by the United Nations aims at reducing the global maternal mortality ratio to less than <strong>70 per 1,00,000 live births</strong>.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>Basically, it is a safe motherhood intervention under the <strong>National Health Mission (NHM)</strong>.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Benefit:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Under the JSY, <strong>eligible pregnant women are entitled for cash assistance irrespective of the age of mother and number of children,</strong> for giving birth in a government or accredited private health facility.</li>
<li>The scheme also provides performance based incentives to women health volunteers known as <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/national-institute-of-health-family-welfare" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Accredited Social Health Activist (ASHA)</strong></a> for promoting institutional delivery among pregnant women.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</div>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Other Schemes Focussing on Nutritional and Health Aspects of Women:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/malnutrition-in-india-1" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Indira Gandhi Matritva Sahyog Yojna (IGMSY)</a>:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>The scheme aims to contribute to a better enabling environment by providing cash incentives for improved health and nutrition to pregnant and lactating mothers.</li>
<li>It is being implemented by the Ministry of Women and Child Development.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong><a href="/to-the-points/Paper2/self-help-groups-shgs" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Kudumbashree in Kerala</a>:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>It was launched in Kerala in 1998 to wipe out absolute poverty through community action. It is the largest women empowering project in the country. It has three components i.e., microcredit, entrepreneurship and empowerment.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Poshan Abhiyaan:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Launched in March 2018, the goal of<a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/poshan-abhiyaan" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong> Poshan Abhiyaan</strong></a> is to achieve improvement in the nutritional status of Children (0-6 years) and Pregnant Women and Lactating Mothers in a time-bound manner.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/malnutrition-in-india-1" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS) Scheme</a>:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>The scheme provides specific interventions targeted towards the vulnerable groups including children below 6 years and <strong>women</strong>.</li>
<li>It is being implemented by the Ministry of Women and Child Development.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/pmmvy-beneficiaries-cross-175-crore/article33750096.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/pradhan-mantri-matru-vandana-yojana-2'
		],
		(int) 7 => [
			'title' => 'Smart Walls For Borders',
			'catname' => 'News Analysis',
			'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>Recently, an alternative <strong>Smart Wall</strong> has been proposed to replace the physical and armed patrolling with advanced surveillance technology at the <strong>USA-Mexico border</strong>.</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Earlier in 2019, the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/national-emergency-declared-in-united-states" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>USA declared a national emergency</strong></a> to fund construction of a border wall along the USA-Mexico Border citing "invasion" of drugs and criminals from Mexico.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Key Points<a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1612504380_image1.png" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1612504380_image1.png" style="float: right; margin: 10px;" caption="false" width="416" height="212" /></a></h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>About Smart Wall:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>There is no one single definition for this recently-conceived solution, however It is <strong>a collection of discrete technologies</strong> that work together to prevent illegal entry, smuggling, and all the various threats posed by a porous border.</li>
<li>It uses <strong><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/sea-guardian-drones-from-us" target="_blank" rel="noopener">drones</a>, scanners,</strong> and <strong>sensors</strong> to create a <strong>technological barrier</strong> too high to climb over, too wide to go around, and too deep to burrow under.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Using <strong><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/india-must-get-on-the-iot-highway-fast" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Internet-of-Things</a> (IoT)</strong> technologies like in-ground sensors, security cameras and software solutions, a smart wall could <strong>empower border officials with enhanced situational awareness</strong> to prevent illicit activity.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Benefits of Smart Wall:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Reduces Cost:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>A smart wall can accomplish the same goals as a physical wall with a much smaller price.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Decreases Deployment Time:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Physical boundaries take years to build but smart border technology is ready to go.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Low Maintenance Costs:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Unlike a physical barrier, a smart wall would <strong>allow border security officials to continuously adjust tactics to changing conditions</strong>.</li>
<li>Ground sensors and IoT devices are <strong>quick and easy to deploy and inexpensive to move and update</strong>.</li>
<li>They require only a <strong>fraction of the costs to maintain,</strong> and can be implemented gradually and as needed.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Decreases Environmental Concerns:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>A smart wall raises <strong>minimal environmental concerns,</strong> allowing wildlife and rainwater to pass freely through the area.</li>
<li>Most smart devices can tell the difference between people and animals, <strong>alerting officers when a human attempts to cross the border illegally</strong> while leaving wildlife alone.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Overcomes the Limitations of Terrain:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Rough terrain is difficult to patrol, which could leave portions of the wall vulnerable to breaches.</li>
<li>Digital technology, however, allows for <strong>enhanced surveillance across vast terrain</strong>. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li><strong>Devices</strong> like cameras and in-ground sensors <strong>allow patrolmen to survey hundreds of miles at once,</strong> and take informed action should the need arise.</li>
<li><strong>Real-time alerts</strong> make it easy to respond to activity from immigrants approaching the border or to a lost hiker looking for supplies.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Reduces Land Requirement:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>To construct a border wall, the government would need to seize property from local landowners.</li>
<li>However, Small and relatively non-invasive, smart wall technologies would require far fewer land seizures.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1612504653_image2.png" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1612504653_image2.png" width="557" height="346" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" /></strong></a></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Need of Smart Wall in India:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>A critical factor that must be considered to enable the usage of such a system along Indian borders is that the<strong> terrain in the region is rugged, and, furthermore, not even clearly defined</strong>.</li>
<li>Such a system, even if not feasible for India&rsquo;s long boundaries, may still be <strong>deployed to enhance critical security establishments</strong> of the country and complement the already existing physical fencing and walls.</li>
<li>It is <strong>imperative for Indian armed forces to be well equipped and simultaneously have the latest technological</strong> advantage over its enemies.</li>
<li>Experts should explore this idea to <strong>effectively counter the problem of border infiltration</strong>.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Smart Fencing in India:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Two pilot projects covering about 71 Kms on Indo-Pakistan Border (10 Kms) and Indo-Bangladesh Border (61 Kms) of <strong>Comprehensive Integrated Border Management System (CIBMS)</strong> have been completed.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>CIBMS involves deployment of a range of state-of-the-art surveillance technologies &mdash; <strong>thermal imagers, infra-red and laser-based intruder alarms, aerostats for aerial surveillance, unattended ground sensors</strong> that can help detect intrusion bids, <strong>radars, sonar systems</strong> to secure riverine borders, <strong>fibre-optic sensors</strong> and a command and control system that shall receive data from all surveillance devices in real time.</li>
<li><strong><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/bold-qit-project" target="_blank" rel="noopener">BOLD-QIT</a></strong> (Border Electronically Dominated QRT Interception Technique) under CIBMS on Indo- Bangladesh border in Dhubri district of Assam is also being used.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="https://www.thehindu.com/opinion/op-ed/smart-walls-for-indian-borders/article33744239.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/smart-walls-for-borders'
		],
		(int) 8 => [
			'title' => 'Taiwan Card Against China',
			'catname' => 'News Editorials',
			'desc' => '<div class="border">
<p>This article is based on<a href="https://indianexpress.com/article/opinion/playing-the-taiwan-card-7171528/" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong> &ldquo;Playing the Taiwan card&rdquo;</strong> </a>which was published in The Indian Express on 02/02/2021. It talks about the benefits and issues of establishing formal diplomatic ties between India and Taiwan.</p>
</div>
<p>The standoff at the Ladakh border between India and China continues amid failing talks. Moreover, the Chinese regime undertook several measures that may jeopardize the diplomatic solution.</p>
<p>While the Indian government and the armed forces make it clear that they will do whatever it takes to protect India&rsquo;s sovereignty and integrity, it should also explore options on the foreign policy front.</p>
<p>On the foreign policy front, India has shown its intent to be a part of the Quad security group (which China refers to as &ldquo;Asian NATO&rdquo;). However, the Quad continues to suffer from indecisiveness to evolve as a formal military bloc to counter China.</p>
<p>In such a situation, it is imperative that India explore alternate diplomatic and militaristic routes to counter China. One such viable option is establishing formal diplomatic ties with Taiwan.</p>
<h3>Background</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>In 1949 Chiang Kai Shek, the former Chinese president and former head of state who fled to the island of Formosa (former name for the island of Taiwan) following the victory of Mao Zedong in the long-drawn Chinese civil war.</li>
<li>Since then Relations between China and Taiwan started improving in the 1980s. China put forward a formula, known as "one country, two systems", under which Taiwan would be given significant autonomy if it accepted Chinese reunification.</li>
<li>In Taiwan, the offer was rejected, but China insists on concurrence to the One China Policy in all its foreign relations deliberations.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Rationale of Strong Indo-Taiwan Ties</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Deft Diplomacy:</strong> Though India does not have formal diplomatic relations with the island democracy that Beijing considers a breakaway province, it has slowly been increasing bilateral engagements in the economic, cultural and educational spheres.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>This can, with some deft diplomacy, become a bargaining chip at future negotiations.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Balancing Pakistan as China&rsquo;s Satellite State:</strong> Some retired diplomats feel India should leverage its relations with Taiwan to balance its ties with China and negate the latter&rsquo;s &ldquo;alliance&rdquo; with its all-weather friend Pakistan, which is now dangerously close to becoming China&rsquo;s satellite.</li>
<li><strong>Act East &amp; New Southbound Policy:</strong> There is scope for convergence between the Indian government&rsquo;s Act East policy, which advocates closer economic, strategic, and diplomatic engagement with countries in the Indo-Pacific, and Taiwan&rsquo;s New Southbound Policy, which seeks to enhance cooperation and exchange between Taiwan and 18 countries in Southeast Asia, South Asia, and Australasia.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Both policies aim to increase regional influence and gain political and economic benefits from their partners in the region.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Benefits of Establishing Diplomatic Ties with Taiwan</h3>
<p>Recognizing Taiwan will entail a lot of benefits for India&rsquo;s foreign policy regime.</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>India as Leader of Democratic World:</strong> Taiwan is a robust democracy with a booming economy.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>By establishing formal diplomatic ties with Taiwan, India can bolster its legitimacy as the leader of the democratic world, especially at a time when the role of US has been undermined.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Expanding Alliance To Counter China:</strong> India can get the support of another powerful ally in its attempt to carve out a new supply chain alliance which India-Japan-Australia formalized recently.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Further, the Quad security grouping can be extended to include new members.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Pay Back China in the Same Coin:</strong> China in many repeated efforts has tried to nudge the United Nations Security Council to discuss the Kashmir question.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>By institutionalizing formal diplomatic relations with Taiwan, India can clearly send a message to China that if it does not respect &ldquo;One India policy&rdquo;, then India will not also follow &ldquo;One China&rdquo; policy.</li>
<li>Further, recognizing Taiwan will make it clear to China that India is very assertive and that if the need arises, India will not back down from sending dedicated naval and air assets in the disputed South China Sea region to enforce the freedom of navigation principle.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Associated Issues</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Every Indian approach towards Taiwan has met with sharp reactions from China. This has considerably constrained the development of broad-based ties between the two countries beyond the realms of culture, education, and investments.</li>
<li>As not even the mighty US has so far established formal diplomatic relations with Taiwan, the recognition of Taiwan may invite severe ramifications for India. For example:
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>China is our second-largest bilateral trade partner and a key export partner of India with regard to raw materials and goods.</li>
<li>According to a FICCI report, India imports more than 40% of several important goods like the API (active pharmaceutical ingredients), television, chemicals, chips, textiles and many more, from China.</li>
<li>As a possible retaliatory measure, China can stop exports of these items.</li>
<li>It can also activate its terror financing networks which, for years, remained a chronic internal security issue for India in the Northeast.</li>
<li>China will also collaborate with Pakistan by intensifying terrorism in the Kashmir valley and the northeast of India.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Conclusion</h3>
<p>While both China and India have developed considerable military and economic strength, the former has surpassed India to become an economic powerhouse. It has now embraced aggressiveness to enforce an expansionist outlook. In such a situation, providing legitimacy to the existence of Taiwan may be dubbed as a necessary step.</p>
<table border="1" style="border-collapse: collapse; width: 100%;">
<tbody>
<tr>
<td style="width: 100%; border-style: dotted; border-color: #ff0000; background-color: #f3ffed;">
<p><span style="color: #000080;"><em><strong>Drishti Mains Question</strong></em></span></p>
<p>Establishing formal diplomatic ties with Taiwan will send a strong message to China. Critically Analyse.</p>
</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<p style="text-align: center;"><iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/bCt1wavUUdU" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe></p>
<p>This editorial is based on<a href="https://www.thehindu.com/opinion/editorial/setback-in-myanmar/article33734307.ece" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong> &ldquo;Setback in Myanmar: on military coup&rdquo;</strong> </a>published in The Hindu on February 3<sup>rd</sup>, 2020. Now watch this on our Youtube channel.</p>',
			'postdate' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenTime) {},
			'url' => 'https://www.drishtiias.com/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/taiwan-card-against-china'
		],
		(int) 9 => [
			'title' => 'Curbing Unsolicited Commercial Communications',
			'catname' => 'News Analysis',
			'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>Recently, the Delhi High Court (HC) ordered the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/telecom-firms-oppose-trai%E2%80%99s-public-wi-fi-model" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI)</strong> </a>to ensure &ldquo;complete and strict&rdquo; implementation of the regulation issued by it in 2018 for curbing <strong>Unsolicited Commercial Communications (UCC).</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>UCC</strong> means any Commercial Communication which a <strong>subscriber opts not to receive,</strong> but does <strong>not include</strong>- any transactional message or any message transmitted on the directions of the Central Government or State Government or agencies authorized by it.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Background:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>A plea was filed by a company in the HC claiming that millions of its customers have been defrauded by the <strong><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/multi-state-phishing-scam" target="_blank" rel="noopener">phishing</a> activities over the mobile networks and the failure of the telecom companies</strong> to prevent the same has <strong>caused financial and reputational loss.</strong>
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>It claimed that under the regulations, <strong>the telecom companies are required to verify purported telemarketers seeking registration</strong> (called registered telemarketers or RTMs) with them before granting access to their customer data and also take action immediately against all fraudulent RTMs.</li>
<li><strong>Phishing</strong> is a <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/rising-cybercrimes" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>cybercrime</strong></a> in which a target or <strong>targets are contacted by email, telephone or text message</strong> by someone posing as a legitimate institution<strong> to lure individuals into providing sensitive data</strong> such as personally identifiable information, banking and credit card details, and passwords.</li>
<li>It contended that the telecom companies are violating their obligations under the <strong>Telecom Commercial Communications Customer Preferences Regulations (TCCCPR) 2018,</strong> to curb the problem of unsolicited commercial communications.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>High Courts Direction:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>To TRAI:</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Ensure &ldquo;complete and strict&rdquo; implementation of the regulation issued by it in 2018 for curbing UCC.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>To Telecom Service Providers (TSPs):</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Ensure strict compliance with the TCCCPR 2018 issued by TRAI.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Telecom Commercial Communications Customer Preferences Regulations (TCCCPR) 2018</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>It replaced the <strong>Telecom Commercial Communications Customer Preference Regulations, 2010 (2010 Regulations).</strong></li>
<li>It was issued by the TRAI to provide a revised regulatory framework<strong> aimed at regulating 'unsolicited commercial communication' (UCC) in India.</strong></li>
<li>The new regulatory framework has devolved<strong> control and regulatory powers to access providers,</strong> who are now required to<strong> establish their own codes of practice (CoPs)</strong> to deal with UCC.</li>
<li>It provides for a wide range of customer preferences which are to be implemented in near real time using <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/bitcoins" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Distributed Ledger Technology (DLT)</strong> </a>to make communications traceable and capable of being controlled effectively.</li>
<li>It also provides for the use of <strong>cloud-based solutions for handling complaints, the registration of headers and preferences,</strong> and use of smart contracts for automated allocation of roles between entities in the commercial communication ecosystem. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The technology-based solutions are required to be tested in <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/sandbox-for-fintech" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>regulatory sandboxes</strong></a> under the oversight of the TRAI.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</div>
<p><a href="https://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/Delhi/strictly-implement-regulations-to-curb-unsolicited-commercial-calls-hc-tells-trai/article33740060.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/curbing-unsolicited-commercial-communications'
		],
		(int) 10 => [
			'title' => 'Military Coup in Myanmar',
			'catname' => 'News Analysis',
			'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>Recently, the <strong>Myanmar military has grabbed power in a coup -</strong> the <strong>third time in the nation&rsquo;s history</strong> since its independence from British rule in 1948.</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>A <strong>one-year state of emergency</strong> has been imposed and <strong>democratically elected leader <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/aung-san-suu-kyi-to-defend-myanmar-in-icj" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Aung San Suu Kyi</a> has been detained.</strong></li>
<li><strong>&lsquo;Coup&rsquo;</strong> is generally described as a sudden, violent, and illegal seizure of power from a government.</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Myanmar</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Location:</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Myanmar, also known as Burma, is in South East Asia and neighbours Thailand, Laos, Bangladesh, China and India.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Demography:</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>It has a population of about 54 million, most of whom are Burmese speakers, although other languages are also spoken. The biggest city is Yangon (Rangoon) but the capital is Nay Pyi Taw.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Religion:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The main religion is <strong>Buddhism.</strong> There are many ethnic groups in the country, including <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/un-report-on-myanmar-rohingya-crisis" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Rohingya Muslims</strong></a>.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Polity:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The country <strong>gained independence from Britain in 1948.</strong> It was ruled by the armed forces from 1962 until 2011, when a new government began ushering in a return to civilian rule.</li>
<li>In the 2010s, <strong>the military regime decided to transition the country towards democracy.</strong> Although the armed forces remained powerful, political opponents were freed and elections were allowed to be held.</li>
<li><strong>The NLD won the 2015 election,</strong> the country&rsquo;s first free and fair election participated by multiple parties, and formed the government, raising hopes that the country is on its way to full transition to democracy.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1612430526_image3.png" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1612430526_image3.png" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="400" caption="false" /></a></p>
</div>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>About the Military Coup:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>In the<strong> November 2020 parliamentary election,</strong> Suu Kyi&rsquo;s party <strong>National League for Democracy (NLD)</strong> secured the majority of the seats.</li>
<li>In the Myanmars&rsquo; Parliament, <strong>the military holds 25% of the total seats according to the 2008 military-drafted constitution</strong> and several key ministerial positions are also reserved for military appointees.</li>
<li>When the newly elected Myanmar lawmakers were to<strong> hold the first session of Parliament in 2021,</strong> the<strong> military imposed a state of emergency</strong> for one year <strong>citing massive voting fraud</strong> in the parliamentary elections.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Global Reaction:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>China: &lsquo;All parties in Myanmar will properly handle their differences</strong> under the constitution and legal framework to maintain political and social stability&rsquo;.</li>
<li><strong>USA:</strong> The USA President<strong> threatened to reimpose sanctions on Myanmar</strong> following a coup by the country&rsquo;s military leaders and called for a <strong>concerted international response</strong> to press them to relinquish power.</li>
<li><strong>ASEAN Countries: <a href="/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-international-institution/asean" target="_blank" rel="noopener">ASEAN</a></strong>&rsquo;s current chair, Brunei, called for &lsquo;dialogue among parties, reconciliation and the return to normalcy&rsquo;. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Singapore, Malaysia and Indonesia expressed concern, while Thailand, Cambodia, and the Philippines noted that this was Myanmar&rsquo;s &lsquo;internal affair&rsquo;.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>India&rsquo;s Reaction:</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>India supports the process of democratic transition in Myanmar.</li>
<li>Though India has expressed deep concern over recent developments in Myanmar, <strong>cutting off from the Myanmar military is not a viable option</strong> as India has significant economic and strategic interests in Myanmar and its neighbourhood.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>India&rsquo;s Strategic interests in Myanmar and its relations with Myanmar Military: </strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>India&rsquo;s Relationship with Myanmar Military:</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>India&rsquo;s military-diplomatic outreach to Myanmar became a <strong>cornerstone of its <a href="/loksabha-rajyasabha-discussions/the-big-picture-india-s-act-east-policy" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Act East policy</a>.</strong></li>
<li>On the eve of the recent visit of the Foreign Secretary Chief of the Army Staff to Myanmar in 2020, <strong>Myanmar handed over 22 Indian insurgents from across the border</strong> and it was decided to ramp up the sale of military hardware to Myanmar, including 105 mm light artillery guns, naval gunboats and more recently, lightweight torpedoes.</li>
<li>Recent example of cooperation is that <strong>Myanmar has begun to vaccinate itself with the 1.5 million doses of <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/india-s-vaccine-diplomacy" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Covid vaccine sent by India</a>,</strong> while putting China&rsquo;s 3,00,000 doses on hold.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>India&rsquo;s Interests in Myanmar:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li><strong>Infrastructure and Connectivity:</strong> India has cultivated several infrastructure and development projects with Myanmar, which it sees as the &ldquo;gateway to the East&rdquo; and <strong>ASEAN</strong> countries: <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li><strong>Operationalisation of the crucial Sittwe</strong> port in Myanmar&rsquo;s Rakhine state by 2021 is committed.</li>
<li>India assists infrastructure projects such as the <strong>India-Myanmar-Thailand trilateral highway</strong> and the <strong><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/presidents-visit-to-myanmar" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Kaladan Multi-Modal Transit Transport Project.</a></strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>The Kaladan project will link <strong>Kolkata to Sittwe</strong> in Myanmar and then from Myanmar&rsquo;s Kaladan river to India&rsquo;s north-east.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>The two countries signed the <strong>Land Border Crossing Agreement in 2018,</strong> which allowed bona fide travellers with valid documents to cross the border at two international points of entry/exit- Moreh-Tamu and Zokhawthar-Rih.<a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1612430982_image2.png" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1612430982_image2.png" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" caption="false" width="570" height="290" /></a></li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Security:</strong> India has been concerned over some militant groups like the <strong>United National Liberation Front (UNLF)</strong> and <strong>National Democratic Front of Bodoland (NDFB)</strong> from the North-East region taking shelter in Myanmar.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Indian needs perpetual support and coordination from Myanmar for the<strong> maintenance of security and stability along its North East border areas.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Rohingya Issues:</strong> India is committed to ensuring safe, sustainable and speedy return of Rohingya refugees from refugee camps of India and Bangladesh.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Building on the progress made under the<a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/rakhine-state-development-programme" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong> Rakhine State Development Programme (RSDP)</strong></a>, India has recently proposed to finalise projects under phase-III of the programme, including setting up of a skills training centre and upgrading of agricultural mechanisation.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Investment:</strong> With Indian investments of over USD 1.2 billion, Myanmar holds considerable importance than any other country in South Asia.</li>
<li><strong>Energy:</strong> The two countries are also expanding partnership in the area of energy cooperation.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Recently, India approved an investment of over USD 120 million in the <strong>Shwe Oil and Gas project.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Way Forward</h3>
<p>India should continue to engage with the present regime in Myanmar working towards mutual development of people of both the countries while it should support sharing experiences in constitutionalism and federalism to assist Myanmar in resolving the prevailing stalemate.</p>
<p><a href="https://www.thehindu.com/news/international/news-analysis-with-myanmars-military-coup-the-tightrope-between-idealism-and-realpolitik-returns-for-new-delhi/article33720952.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/military-coup-in-myanmar'
		],
		(int) 11 => [
			'title' => 'Fishing Cat Conservation Alliance',
			'catname' => 'News Analysis',
			'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>Recently,<strong> the Fishing Cat Conservation Alliance</strong> started a worldwide campaign to raise awareness for conservation of fishing cats.</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>The Fishing Cat Conservation Alliance</strong> is a team of <strong>conservationists, researchers and enthusiasts</strong> working to achieve functioning floodplains and <strong>coastal ecosystems that ensure survival of the fishing cat.</strong></li>
</ul>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<p><a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1612429829_image1.png" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1612429829_image1.png" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="350" caption="false" /></a></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Scientific Name:</strong> <em>Prionailurus viverrinus.</em></li>
<li><strong>Description:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>It is twice the size of a house cat.</strong></li>
<li>The<strong> fishing cat is nocturnal</strong> (active at night) and apart from fish also preys on frogs, crustaceans, snakes, birds, and scavenges on carcasses of larger animals.</li>
<li>The species breed all year round.</li>
<li>They spend most of their lives in areas of dense vegetation close to water bodies and are excellent swimmers.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Habitat:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Fishing cats have a patchy distribution along the<strong> Eastern Ghats.</strong> They abound in estuarine floodplains, tidal mangrove forests and also inland freshwater habitats.</li>
<li>Apart from <strong>Sundarbans</strong> in West Bengal and Bangladesh, fishing cats inhabit the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/odisha-s-lake-conservation" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Chilika lagoon</strong></a> and surrounding wetlands in Odisha, Coringa and Krishna mangroves in Andhra Pradesh.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Threats:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Wetland degradation</strong> and conversion for aquaculture and other<strong> commercial projects,</strong> sand mining along river banks, agricultural intensification resulting in loss of riverine buffer and conflict with humans in certain areas resulting in targeted hunting and retaliatory killings.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Protection Status:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/iucn-red-list" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>IUCN Red List</strong></a>: Vulnerable. Despite multiple threats, the Fishing Cat was recently <strong>downlisted to &ldquo;Vulnerable&rdquo; from &ldquo;Endangered&rdquo;</strong> in the IUCN Red List species assessment.</li>
<li><a href="/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-international-institution/cites" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>CITES</strong></a>: Appendix II</li>
<li><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/wild-life-protection-act-implementation-and-failure" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Indian Wildlife Protection Act, 1972</strong></a>: Schedule I</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Conservation Efforts:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Recently,<strong> the Fishing Cat Conservation Alliance</strong> has initiated a study of the<strong> bio-geographical distribution of the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/fishing-cats" target="_blank" rel="noopener">fishing cat</a></strong> in the unprotected and human-dominated <strong>landscapes of the northeastern Ghats of Andhra Pradesh.</strong></li>
<li>In 2012, the <strong>West Bengal government officially declared the Fishing Cat as the State Animal</strong> and the Calcutta Zoo has two big enclosures dedicated to them.</li>
<li>In Odisha, many NGOs and wildlife conservation Societies are involved in Fishing Cat research and conservation work.</li>
<li><strong>The Fishing Cat Project,</strong> launched in 2010 started raising awareness about the Cat in West Bengal.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="https://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-features/tp-metroplus/a-whisker-away/article33745359.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/fishing-cat-conservation-alliance'
		],
		(int) 12 => [
			'title' => 'Centre for Wetland Conservation and Management',
			'catname' => 'News Analysis',
			'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>Recently, on the occasion of the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/world-wetlands-day-1" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>World Wetland Day</strong></a>, the Minister of State for Environment, Forest and Climate Change announced the establishment of a <strong>Centre for Wetland Conservation and Management (CWCM),</strong> as a part of the <strong><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/national-centre-for-sustainable-coastal-management" target="_blank" rel="noopener">National Centre for Sustainable Coastal Management (NCSCM)</a></strong>.</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>World Wetlands Day</strong> is celebrated every year on the <strong>2<sup>nd</sup> of February.</strong></li>
<li>The year 2021 also commemorates the <strong>50<sup>th</sup> anniversary</strong> of the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/world-wetlands-day" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Convention on Wetlands</strong></a> signed on 2<sup>nd</sup> February 1971 in the Iranian city of Ramsar.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The theme for 2021 is <strong>'Wetlands and Water'.</strong></li>
<li>It was first celebrated in <strong>1997.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Significance of Centre for Wetland Conservation and Management (CWCM):</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The dedicated Centre would<strong> address specific research needs and knowledge gaps and will aid in the application of integrated approaches for conservation, management</strong> and wise use of the wetlands.</li>
<li>It will help in <strong>building partnerships</strong> and <strong>networks</strong> with relevant national and international agencies.</li>
<li>It would serve as a<strong> knowledge hub</strong> and enable exchange between State/ UT Wetland Authorities, wetland users, managers, researchers, policy-makers and practitioners.</li>
<li>It would also <strong>assist the national and State/UT Governments</strong> in the design and implementation of policy and regulatory frameworks, management planning, monitoring and targeted research for wetlands conservation.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Wetlands:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/wetlands-restoration" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Wetlands</strong> </a>are ecosystems saturated with water, either seasonally or permanently. They include <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/coringa-mangroves" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>mangroves</strong></a>, marshes, rivers, lakes, deltas, floodplains and flooded forests, rice-fields, <a href="/to-the-points/paper3/coral-bleaching" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>coral reefs</strong></a>, marine areas no deeper than 6 metres at low tide, as well as human-made wetlands such as waste-water treatment ponds and reservoirs.</li>
<li>Though they cover only around<strong> 6% of the Earth&rsquo;s land</strong> surface, <strong>40% of all plant and animal species live or breed in wetlands.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Significance of Wetlands:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Wetlands are a critical part of our natural environment. They<strong> mitigate <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/flood-management-in-india" target="_blank" rel="noopener">floods</a>, protect coastlines</strong> and build community resilience to disasters, absorb pollutants and improve water quality.</li>
<li>Wetlands are<strong> critical to human and planet life.</strong> More than <strong>1 billion people depend on them for a living.</strong></li>
<li>They are a <strong>vital source for food, raw materials, genetic resources for medicines, and hydropower.</strong></li>
<li>30% of land-based <strong>carbon</strong> is stored in peatland (a type of wetlands).</li>
<li>They play an important role in <strong>transport, tourism</strong> and the <strong>cultural and spiritual well-being</strong> of people.</li>
<li>Many wetlands are areas of <strong>natural beauty</strong> and many are important to Aboriginal people.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Threats:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>As per the IPBES <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/world-wetlands-day-1" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>(Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services)&rsquo;s</strong></a> global assessment, wetlands are the most threatened ecosystem.</li>
<li>Wetlands are <strong>disappearing 3 times faster than forests</strong> due to human activities and global warming.</li>
<li>According to <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/world-heritage-week-2019" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>UNESCO</strong></a>, the threat to wetlands will have an adverse impact on 40% of the world&rsquo;s flora and fauna that live or breed in wetlands.</li>
<li><strong>Major threats:</strong> Agriculture, development, pollution and <strong><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/climate-change-and-development-in-india" target="_blank" rel="noopener">climate change</a>.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Status of Wetlands in India:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>India has nearly <strong>4.6% of its land as wetlands,</strong> covering an <strong>area of 15.26 million hectares</strong> and has <strong>42 sites designated as Wetlands of International Importance (Ramsar Sites)</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Wetlands declared as Ramsar sites are protected under strict guidelines of the convention.</li>
<li>There are currently over 2,300 Ramsar Sites around the world.</li>
<li>Recently, India has added <strong><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/ladakh-s-tso-kar-wetland-complex-ramsar-site" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Tso Kar Wetland Complex</a></strong> in Ladakh as its 42<sup>nd</sup> Ramsar site.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>Wetlands are regulated under the <strong>Wetlands (Conservation and Management) Rules, 2017.</strong></li>
<li>The 2010 version of the Rules provided for a<strong> Central Wetland Regulatory Authority,</strong> but new Rules of 2017 replaced it with state-level bodies and created a National Wetland Committee, which functions in an advisory role.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>The <strong>newer regulations removed some items</strong> from the definition of &ldquo;wetlands&rdquo; including backwaters, lagoons, creeks, and estuaries.</li>
<li>Under the 2017 regulations, process to <strong>identify the wetlands has been delegated to the States.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>National Centre for Sustainable Coastal Management</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Location:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>It is located at<strong> Chennai,</strong> Tamil Nadu.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Divisions:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>It has various research divisions including, Geospatial Sciences, Remote Sensing and Geographic Information Systems (GIS), Coastal environmental impact assessment, Conservation of Coastal &amp; Marine Resources, etc.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Objective:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>It aims to <strong>promote integrated and sustainable management of the coastal and marine areas</strong> in India for the benefit and wellbeing of the traditional coastal and island communities.</li>
<li>It also intends to promote <strong>sustainable</strong> coasts through increased partnership, conservation practices, scientific research and <strong>knowledge benefit</strong> and well being of the current and future generation.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Role:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/sahyog-app-survey-of-india" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Survey of India</strong> </a>and NCSCM have <strong>mapped the Hazard Line for the entire coast of India,</strong> which includes vulnerability mapping of flood, erosion and sea-level rise.</li>
<li>It also <strong>advises the Union and State Governments and other associated stakeholders</strong> on policy, and scientific matters related to<a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/integrated-coastal-zone-management-plan" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong> Integrated Coastal Zone Management (ICZM).</strong></a></li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</div>
<p><a href="https://pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=1694463#:~:text=and%20Climate%20Change-,On%20World%20Wetlands%20Day%20India%20gets%20its,for%20Wetland%20Conservation%20and%20Management.&amp;text=by%20PIB%20Delhi-,On%20the%20occasion%20of%20the%20World%20Wetland%20Day%20and%20as,Forest%20and%20Climate%20Change%2C%20Sh." 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/centre-for-wetland-conservation-and-management'
		],
		(int) 13 => [
			'title' => 'Fiscal Activism',
			'catname' => 'News Editorials',
			'desc' => '<div class="border">
<p>This article is based on <a href="https://www.thehindu.com/opinion/op-ed/its-goodbye-to-fiscal-orthodoxy/article33734312.ece" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>&ldquo;It&rsquo;s goodbye to fiscal orthodoxy&rdquo;</strong> </a>which was published in The Hindu on 03/02/2021. It talks about government departure from rigid adherence to fiscal consolidation.</p>
</div>
<p>Affected by the Covid-19 pandemic, the flailing Indian economy is marked by contracting GDP requiring a push from the government. In this scenario, the government has resorted to Keynesian economics (government&rsquo;s spending rather than the free hand of the market).</p>
<p>The<a href="/current-affairs-news-analysis-editorials/news-analysis/03-02-2021#7605" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong> Budget 2021</strong></a> is a selective departure from the principles of the free market. The government adheres to market orthodoxy elements, such as privatization and a greater role for foreign direct investment but sought to spend more to spur growth.</p>
<p>This can be reflected by the fact that the Finance Minister&rsquo;s speech pledges to lower the fiscal deficit to 4.5% of GDP by 2025-26 and promised to introduce an amendment to the FRBM Act to formalize the new targets (the present target as per the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/flexibility-under-the-frbm-act" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>FRBM Act</strong></a> is of 3%).</p>
<p>Thus, the Budget marks an important departure from one of the key tenets of the Washington Consensus, the framework for market-oriented economics that has dominated policy-making in most parts of the world. Though this is a step in the right direction, it has some key macroeconomic stability concerns.</p>
<p><a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1612355811_image%200.png" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1612355811_image 0.png" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="500" caption="false" /></a></p>
<h3>Departure From The Principles of Free-Market Economics</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Budget 2021 rests on six pillars:</strong> Health and well-being, physical &amp; financial capital and infrastructure, inclusive development for aspirational India, reinvigorating human capital, innovation, and R&amp;D, and minimum government-maximum governance.</li>
<li>This will require a major increase in funding, not only from the Central Government but also from the states and the private sector. This can be reflected in some of the following highlights of the budget:
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The present budget presents <strong>a whopping 34.5% increase</strong> in budget allocation &mdash; Rs 5.54 lakh crore.</li>
<li>The Budget has proposed a new bad bank framework to deal with the problem of non-performing assets. Given the magnitude of NPA, a huge amount of capital will be required to finance it.</li>
<li>The government also announced the setting up of a development finance institution to provide long-term financing for infrastructure projects.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Reasons for Departure From Fiscal Orthodoxy</h3>
<p><strong>Departure From Rigid Adherence To Fiscal Consolidation</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The Economic Survey that preceded the Budget laid the groundwork for a departure from rigid adherence to fiscal consolidation.</li>
<li>It has a quote from <strong>economist Olivier Blanchard,</strong> &ldquo;If the interest rate paid by the government is less than the growth rate, then the intertemporal budget constraint facing the government no longer binds.&rdquo;</li>
<li>According to the Economic Survey, in the current situation, expansionary fiscal policy will boost growth, and given India&rsquo;s growth potential, we do not have to worry about debt sustainability until 2030.</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Intertemporal Budget Constraint</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The &ldquo;intertemporal budget constraint&rdquo; means that any debt outstanding today must be offset by a future source of revenue of income.</li>
<li>Blanchard was saying that intertemporal budget constraint doesn&rsquo;t apply if the Interest Rate-Growth Differential (IRGD), the difference between the interest rate and growth rate, becomes negative.</li>
<li>In the advanced economies, as interest rates have turned negative, Blanchard&rsquo;s condition has been met. So governments there do not have to worry that deficits will render public debt unsustainable.</li>
</ul>
</div>
<p><strong>Idea Supported By IMF &amp; World Bank</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the World Bank, both flag-bearers of the Washington Consensus, have been urging a departure from fiscal orthodoxy in the wake of the pandemic.</li>
<li>Both these institutions used to be wary of any increase in the public debt to GDP ratio beyond 100%.</li>
<li>Today, they are urging the advanced economies to spend more by running up deficits even when the debt to GDP ratio is poised to rise to 125% by the end of 2021.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Key Macroeconomic Stability Issues</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Inflation May Rise:</strong> There is a concern that a large fiscal deficit can fuel a rise in inflation.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Further, it is more than likely that a change in the fiscal consolidation targets will require a change in the inflation target of 4% set for India&rsquo;s Reserve Bank. However, the Budget makes no mention of such a possibility.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Low Tax-to GDP Ratio:</strong> Another concern is that, with the tax to GDP ratio not rising as expected, the government has to focus on garnering more non-tax revenues through strategic disinvestment, privatization, and monetization of non-core assets.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>However, these measures have their own issues.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Disinvestment, A High-Risk Strategy:</strong> The sale of public assets has become crucial to a reduction in fiscal deficits in the years ahead. However, this is a high-risk strategy.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>For years now, revenues from disinvestment have fallen short of targets. For example, Air India&rsquo;s sale, which was begun in 2018, is still dragging on.</li>
<li>Moreover, selling public assets is politically contentious due to public sector unions and job losses.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Downgrade of Ratings:</strong> An important consideration is a fear that the rating agencies would downgrade India if total public debt crossed say, 10%-11% of GDP.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>That is a risk that cannot be wished away unless the rating agencies have decided to toe the IMF-World Bank line on fiscal deficits.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Conflicting With AtmaNirbharta:</strong> Moreover, large-scale privatization almost always involves substantial FDI. Increasing FDI will result in a large rise in foreign presence in the domestic economies.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>However, a rise in FDI may not reconcile with Atmanirbhar Bharat which connotes greater self-reliance and stronger Indian companies.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Crowding Out Effect:</strong> As the government adopts an expansionary fiscal policy stance and increases its spending to boost economic activity.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>This leads to an increase in interest rates. Increased interest rates affect private investment decisions.</li>
<li>A high magnitude of the crowding-out effect may even lead to lesser income in the economy.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Conclusion</h3>
<p>A departure from fiscal orthodoxy is welcome. But the government needs to think of ways to make it more sustainable.</p>
<table border="1" style="border-collapse: collapse; width: 100%;">
<tbody>
<tr>
<td style="width: 100%; border-style: dotted; border-color: #ff0000; background-color: #fdfff2;">
<p><span style="color: #000080;"><em><strong>Drishti Mains Question</strong></em></span></p>
<p>Budget 2021 is a departure from a key tenet of the Washington Consensus. Analyze.</p>
</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<p style="text-align: center;"><iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/THnDWC5xQEs" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe></p>
<p>This editorial is based on <a href="https://www.thehindu.com/opinion/editorial/getting-back-on-track/article33721360.ece" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>&ldquo;Getting back on track: on Union Budget 2021&rdquo;</strong></a> published in The Hindu on February 2<sup>nd</sup>, 2020. Now watch this on our Youtube channel.</p>',
			'postdate' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenTime) {},
			'url' => 'https://www.drishtiias.com/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/fiscal-activism'
		],
		(int) 14 => [
			'title' => 'Budget 2021 Highlights: Minimum Government, Maximum Governance and Fiscal Position',
			'catname' => 'News Analysis',
			'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>Recently, the Minister of Finance presented the Union <a href="/to-the-points/paper3/government-budgeting#:~:text=According%20to%20Article%20112%20of,Annual%20Financial%20Statement%20(AFS).&amp;text=The%20economic%20and%20financial%20policy,introduction%20of%20new%20schemes%2Fprojects." target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Budget</strong></a> 2021-22. This was the <strong>first digital budget.</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>This section deals with the theme<strong> &lsquo;Minimum Government, Maximum Governance&rsquo;</strong> and <strong>Fiscal Position of the government.</strong></li>
</ul>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Minimum Government, Maximum Governance:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>National Commission for Allied Healthcare Professionals</strong> already introduced to ensure transparent and efficient regulation of the 56 allied healthcare professions.</li>
<li>The<strong> National Nursing and Midwifery Commission Bill</strong> introduced for the same in the nursing profession.</li>
<li><strong>Proposed Conciliation Mechanism</strong> with mandate for quick resolution of contractual disputes with Central Public Sector Enterprises (CPSEs).</li>
<li>Rs. 3,768 crore allocated for<strong> first digital census in the history of India.</strong></li>
<li>Rs. 300 crore grant to the Government of Goa for the diamond jubilee celebrations of the <strong>state&rsquo;s liberation from Portuguese.</strong></li>
<li>Rs. 1,000 crore for the <strong>welfare of Tea workers</strong> especially women and their children in Assam and West Bengal through a special scheme.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Fiscal Position:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/increased-fiscal-deficit" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Fiscal deficit</strong></a> stands at 9.5% of the<a href="/printpdf/base-year-for-gdp-calculations#:~:text=GDP%20calculation%20in%20India,difference%20between%20exports%20and%20imports)." target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong> Gross Domestic Product (GDP)</strong></a>, and is estimated to be 6.8% in 2021-22.</li>
<li>Plan <strong>to continue on the path of fiscal consolidation,</strong> achieving a fiscal deficit level below 4.5% of GDP by 2025-2026 with a fairly steady decline over the period.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Amendment to <a href="/to-the-points/paper3/government-budgeting" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Fiscal Responsibility and Budget Management (FRBM) Act</strong></a> proposed to achieve targeted Fiscal Deficit levels.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>The<a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/mp-s-salaries-cut-and-mplads-suspended" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong> Contingency Fund of India</strong> </a>is to be augmented from Rs. 500 crore to Rs. 30,000 crore through Finance Bill.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1612424389_drishti_ias_budget.jpeg" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1612424389_drishti_ias_budget.jpeg" width="566" height="319" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" caption="false" /></a></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Recommendations of Fifteenth Finance Commission:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The final report covering 2021-26 was submitted to the President, retaining vertical <strong>shares of states at 41%.</strong></li>
<li>Funds to UTs of Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh would be provided by the Centre.</li>
<li>On the Commission&rsquo;s recommendation, <strong>Rs. 1,18,452 crore have been provided as Revenue Deficit Grant to 17 states in 2021-22,</strong> as against Rs. 74,340 crore to 14 states in 2020-21.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Tax Proposals:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>No exemption on interest,</strong> if Provident Fund PF contribution is more than Rs. 2.5 lakh.</li>
<li><strong>Exemption from filing tax returns for senior citizens</strong> over 75 years of age and having only pension and interest income; tax to be deducted by paying the bank.</li>
<li><strong>Income Tax settlement commission</strong> abolished.</li>
<li><strong>Higher Tax Collection</strong> at Source rate for <strong>non-filers.</strong></li>
<li>Reducing time to file belated returns.</li>
<li><strong>Agriculture Infrastructure and Development Cess (AIDC)</strong> on a small number of items.</li>
<li><strong>Dispute Resolution Committee</strong> to be set up for taxpayers with taxable income up to Rs. 50 lakh and disputed income up to Rs. 10 lakh.</li>
<li><strong>National Faceless Income Tax Appellate Tribunal Centre</strong> to be established.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="https://pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=1693907" 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/budget-2021-highlights-minimum-government-maximum-governance-and-fiscal-position'
		],
		(int) 15 => [
			'title' => 'Budget 2021 Highlights: Infrastructure',
			'catname' => 'News Analysis',
			'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>Recently, the Minister of Finance presented the Union <a href="/to-the-points/paper3/government-budgeting#:~:text=According%20to%20Article%20112%20of,Annual%20Financial%20Statement%20(AFS).&amp;text=The%20economic%20and%20financial%20policy,introduction%20of%20new%20schemes%2Fprojects." target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Budget</strong> </a>2021-22. This was the <strong>first digital budget.</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>This section deals with proposals related to <strong>Infrastructure.</strong></li>
</ul>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Production Linked Incentive scheme (PLI):</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Rs. 1.97 lakh crore in next 5 years for <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/expansion-of-production-linked-incentive-scheme" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>PLI schemes</strong> </a>in 13 Sectors to create and nurture manufacturing global champions for an <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/atmanirbhar-bharat-and-economic-stimulus" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>AatmaNirbhar Bharat.</strong></a></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Textiles:<a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1612346861_image6.jpg" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1612346861_image6.jpg" style="float: right;" width="350" caption="false" /></a></strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Mega Investment Textiles Parks (MITRA) scheme</strong> to be introduced.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Infrastructure:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><a href="/loksabha-rajyasabha-discussions/the-big-picture-national-infrastructure-pipeline-nip-dashboard" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>National Infrastructure Pipeline (NIP)</strong></a> expanded to 7,400 projects.</li>
<li>Measures in three thrust areas to <strong>increase funding</strong> for NIP:<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li><strong>Creation of institutional structures:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Set up and capitalise a<strong> Development Financial Institution (DFI).</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>Big thrust on <strong>monetizing assets.</strong></li>
<li>Enhancing the <strong>share of capital expenditure.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Roads and Highways Infrastructure:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Rs. 1,18,101 lakh crore, <strong>highest ever outlay,</strong> for Ministry of Road Transport and Highways.</li>
<li>New <a href="/to-the-points/paper3/industrial-corridors-2" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Economic corridors</strong></a> and <strong>Expressways</strong> being planned.</li>
<li><strong>Advanced Traffic management system</strong> in all new 4 and 6-lane highways.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Railway Infrastructure:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>National Rail Plan for India (2030)</strong> to create a &ldquo;future ready‟ Railway system by 2030.</li>
<li><strong>100%<a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/electrification-of-railways#:~:text=Indian%20Railways%20has%20set%20a,as%20compared%20to%202009%2D2014." target="_blank" rel="noopener"> electrification of Broad-Gauge routes</a></strong> to be completed by December, 2023.</li>
<li><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/dedicated-freight-corridor-1" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Western Dedicated Freight Corridor (DFC) and Eastern DFC</strong></a> to be commissioned by June 2022.</li>
<li>Measures for <strong>passenger convenience and safety:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li><strong>Aesthetically designed Vista Dome Linke Hofmann Busch (LHB) coach</strong> on tourist routes for better travel.</li>
<li>High density network and highly utilized network routes to have an<strong> indigenously developed automatic train protection system,</strong> eliminating train collision due to human error.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Urban Infrastructure:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Expansion of <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/india-s-first-fully-automated-metro" target="_blank" rel="noopener">metro rail</a></strong> network and<strong> augmentation of city bus service.</strong></li>
<li><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/metro-neo" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>&lsquo;MetroLite&rsquo; and &lsquo;MetroNeo&rsquo;</strong></a> technologies will be used to provide metro rail systems at much lesser cost with similar experience.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Power Infrastructure:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>A comprehensive <strong>National Hydrogen Energy Mission 2021-22</strong> to be launched.</li>
<li>Rs. 3,05,984 crore over 5 years for a revamped, reforms-based and result-linked <strong>new power distribution sector scheme.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Ports, Shipping, Waterways:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Rs. 2,000 crore worth 7 projects to be offered in <a href="/to-the-points/paper3/ppp-investment-model#:~:text=Public%2DPrivate%20Partnership%20Model%3A%20PPP,be%20completed%20with%20private%20funding." target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Public Private Partnership (PPP)</strong></a>-mode in <strong>Financial Year (FY)</strong> 2021-22 for operation of major ports.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Petroleum &amp; Natural Gas:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Extension of<a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/important-facts-for-prelims" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong> Ujjwala Scheme</strong></a> to cover 1 crore more beneficiaries.</li>
<li>A new <strong>gas pipeline</strong> project in Jammu &amp; Kashmir.</li>
<li>An independent<strong> Gas Transport System Operator</strong> to be set up for facilitation and coordination of booking of common carrier capacity in all-natural gas pipelines on a non-discriminatory open access basis.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="https://pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=1693907" 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/budget-2021-highlights-infrastructure'
		],
		(int) 16 => [
			'title' => 'Budget 2021 Highlights: Health and Wellbeing',
			'catname' => 'News Analysis',
			'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>Recently, the Minister of Finance presented the Union <a href="/to-the-points/paper3/government-budgeting#:~:text=According%20to%20Article%20112%20of,Annual%20Financial%20Statement%20(AFS).&amp;text=The%20economic%20and%20financial%20policy,introduction%20of%20new%20schemes%2Fprojects." target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Budget</strong></a> 2021-22. This was the <strong>first ever digital Union Budget.</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>It is based on<strong> six pillars -</strong> health and well-being, physical and financial capital and infrastructure, inclusive development for aspirational India, reinvigorating human capital, innovation and R&amp;D, and 'Minimum Government, Maximum Governance'.</li>
<li>This section deals with the proposals for the Health and Wellbeing Sector.</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Budget and Constitutional Provisions</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>According to<strong> Article 112</strong> of the Indian Constitution, the Union Budget of a year is referred to as the <strong>Annual Financial Statement (AFS).</strong></li>
<li>It is a statement of the estimated receipts and expenditure of the Government in a <strong>Financial Year</strong> (which begins on 1<sup>st</sup> April of the current year and ends on 31<sup>st</sup> March of the following year).</li>
<li>Overall, the Budget contains:<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Estimates of revenue and capital receipts,</li>
<li>Ways and means to raise the revenue,</li>
<li>Estimates of expenditure,</li>
<li>Details of the actual receipts and expenditure of the closing financial year and the reasons for any deficit or surplus in that year, and</li>
<li>The economic and financial policy of the coming year, i.e., taxation proposals, prospects of revenue, spending programme and introduction of new schemes/projects.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>In Parliament, the Budget goes through<strong> six stages:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Presentation of Budget.</li>
<li>General discussion.</li>
<li>Scrutiny by <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/extension-of-tenure-of-standing-committees" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Departmental Committees</strong></a>.</li>
<li>Voting on Demands for Grants.</li>
<li>Passing an Appropriation Bill.</li>
<li>Passing of Finance Bill.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>The <strong>Budget Division of the Department of Economic Affairs</strong> in the Ministry of Finance is the nodal body responsible for preparing the Budget.</li>
<li>The <strong>first Budget</strong> of Independent India was presented in <strong>1947.</strong></li>
</ul>
</div>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<p><a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1612347348_image11.jpg" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1612347348_image11.jpg" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="600" caption="false" /></a></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Budget Outlay:</strong> Outlay for Health and Wellbeing in 2021-22 as against 2020-21 is an <strong>increase of 137%.</strong></li>
<li><strong>Major Steps:</strong> Steps being taken for improving health and wellbeing:<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong><strong>Vaccines:<a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1612350951_image12.jpg" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1612350951_image12.jpg" style="float: right;" width="350" caption="false" /></a></strong></strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Rs. 35,000 crore for <strong><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/covid-19-vaccine-distribution" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Covid-19 vaccine</a></strong> in Budget Expenditure (BE) 2021-22.</li>
<li>The Made-in-India <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/pneumococcal-conjugate-vaccine-1" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Pneumococcal Vaccine</strong></a> to be rolled out across the country.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Health Systems:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>PM <strong>AatmaNirbhar Swasth Bharat Yojana &ndash;</strong> a new centrally sponsored scheme to be launched, in addition to <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/national-health-mission-and-janani-suraksha-yojana" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>National Health Mission</strong></a> (NHM).</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Nutrition:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li><strong><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/poshan-abhiyaan" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Mission Poshan</a> 2.0</strong> to be launched to improve nutritional outcomes across 112 aspirational districts.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Universal Coverage of Water Supply:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li><strong><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/jal-jeevan-mission-2" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Jal Jeevan Mission</a> (Urban) - to be launched</strong> - to bring safe water to 2.86 crore households through tap connection.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Swachch Bharat, Swasth Bharat:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Strengthening of<strong> Urban <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/Swachh%20Bharat%20Mission#:~:text=The%20Swachh%20Bharat%20Mission%20(Grameen,launched%20on%20October%202%2C%202014.&amp;text=Together%2C%20they%20aim%20to%20achieve,on%20his%20150th%20Birth%20Anniversary." target="_blank" rel="noopener">Swachh Bharat Mission</a> 2.0.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Clean Air:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li><strong>Rs. 2,217 crore to tackle air pollution,</strong> for 42 urban centers with a million plus population.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Scrapping Policy:</strong>
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li><strong>Voluntary</strong> vehicle scrapping policy<strong> to phase out old and unfit vehicles.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="https://pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=1693907" 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/budget-2021-highlights-health-and-wellbeing'
		],
		(int) 17 => [
			'title' => '15th Finance Commission Recommendations: Resource Allocation',
			'catname' => 'News Analysis',
			'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>Recently, the<strong> government accepted the 15<sup>th</sup><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/j-k-and-15th-finance-commission" target="_blank" rel="noopener"> Finance Commission</a>&rsquo;s recommendation to maintain the States&rsquo; share in the divisible pool of taxes to 41%</strong> for the five-year period starting 2021-22.</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The Commission&rsquo;s Report was tabled in the Parliament.</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>15<sup>th</sup> Finance Commission</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The <strong>Finance Commission (FC)</strong> is a<strong> constitutional body,</strong> that determines the method and formula for <strong>distributing the <a href="/to-the-points/paper3/goods-and-services-tax-gst-1" target="_blank" rel="noopener">tax</a> proceeds between the Centre and states,</strong> and among the states as per the constitutional arrangement and present requirements.</li>
<li>Under<strong> Article 280 of the Constitution, the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/president-s-powers-to-pardon#:~:text=Pardoning%20Power%20of%20the%20President%20in%20India%3A,is%20a%20sentence%20of%20death." target="_blank" rel="noopener">President of India</a></strong> is required to constitute a Finance Commission at an interval of five years or earlier.</li>
<li>The 15<sup>th</sup> Finance Commission was constituted by the President of India in November 2017, <strong>under the chairmanship of NK Singh.</strong> Its recommendations will cover a <strong>period of five years from the year 2021-22 to 2025-26.</strong></li>
</ul>
</div>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Vertical Devolution (Devolution of Taxes of the Union to States):</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>It has recommended<strong> maintaining the vertical devolution at 41% -</strong> the same as in its<a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/j-k-and-15th-finance-commission" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong> interim report for 2020-21.</strong></a> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>It is<strong> at the same level of 42% of the divisible pool</strong> as recommended by the <strong>14<sup>th</sup> Finance Commission.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>It has <strong>made the required adjustment of about 1%</strong> due to the changed status of the erstwhile State of Jammu and Kashmir into the new <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/uts-j-k-and-ladakh#:~:text=The%20two%20new%20UTs%2C%20Ladakh,into%20the%20Union%20of%20India." target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Union Territories of Ladakh and Jammu and Kashmir.</strong></a></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Horizontal Devolution (Allocation Between the States):</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>For horizontal devolution, it has suggested <strong>12.5% weightage to demographic performance, 45% to income, 15% each to population and area, 10% to forest and ecology and 2.5% to tax and fiscal efforts.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Revenue Deficit Grants to States:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Revenue deficit grants <strong>emanate from the requirement to meet the fiscal needs of the States</strong> on their revenue accounts that remain to be met, even after considering their own tax and non-tax resources and tax devolution to them.</li>
<li>Revenue Deficit is <strong>defined as</strong> the difference between revenue or current expenditure and revenue receipts, that includes tax and non-tax.</li>
<li>It has recommended post-devolution <strong>revenue deficit grants amounting to about Rs. 3 trillion over the five-year period</strong> ending FY26. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>The <strong>number of states qualifying</strong> for the revenue deficit grants<strong> decreases from 17 in FY22,</strong> the first year of the award period to 6 in<strong> FY26,</strong> the last year.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Performance Based Incentives and Grants to States:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>These grants <strong>revolve around four main themes.</strong></li>
<li>The first is the<strong> social sector,</strong> where it has focused on <strong>health and education.</strong></li>
<li>Second is the<strong> rural economy,</strong> where it has focused on <strong>agriculture and the maintenance of rural roads.</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>The rural economy plays a significant role in the country as it <strong>encompasses two-thirds of the country's population, 70% of the total workforce</strong> and<strong> 46% of national income.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>Third,<strong> governance and administrative reforms</strong> under which it has recommended grants for<strong> judiciary, statistics and <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/aspirational-districts-programme#:~:text=Aspirational%20Districts%20are%20those%20districts,in%20human%20development%20in%20India." target="_blank" rel="noopener">aspirational districts</a> and blocks.</strong></li>
<li>Fourth, it has developed<strong> a performance-based incentive system for the power sector,</strong> which is not linked to grants but provides an important, additional borrowing window for States.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Fiscal Space for Centre:</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Total <strong>15<sup>th</sup> Finance Commission transfers (devolution + grants)</strong> constitutes about <strong>34% of estimated Gross Revenue Receipts</strong> to the Union, <strong>leaving adequate fiscal space</strong> to meet its resource requirements and spending obligations on national development priorities.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Grants to Local Governments:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Along with grants for municipal services and local government bodies, it includes <strong>performance-based grants for incubation of new cities</strong> and <strong>health grants</strong> to local governments.</li>
<li>In grants for Urban local bodies, <strong>basic grants are proposed only for cities/towns having a population of less than a million.</strong> For <strong>Million-Plus cities,</strong> 100% of the grants are performance-linked through the <strong>Million-Plus Cities Challenge Fund</strong> (MCF).
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>MCF amount is linked to the performance of these cities in <strong>improving their air quality</strong> and meeting the service level benchmarks for <strong>urban drinking water supply, sanitation and solid waste management.</strong><strong></strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Criticism</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Performance based incentives disincentivizes independent decision-making.</strong> Any conditions on the state's ability to borrow will have an adverse effect on the spending by the state, particularly on development thus,<strong> undermines cooperative fiscal federalism.</strong></li>
<li>It <strong>does not hold the Union government accountable for its own fiscal prudence</strong> and dilutes the joint responsibility that the Union and States have.</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Horizontal Devolution Criteria</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Population:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The population of a State<strong> represents the needs of the State to undertake expenditure</strong> for providing services to its residents.</li>
<li>It is also <strong>a simple and transparent indicator</strong> that has a significant equalising impact.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Area:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The <strong>larger the area, greater is the expenditure requirement</strong> for providing comparable services.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Forest and Ecology:</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>By taking into account the share of dense forest of each state in the aggregate dense forest of all the states, the share on this criteria is determined.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Income Distance:</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Income distance is the <strong>distance of the Gross State Domestic Product (GSDP) of a particular state from the state with the highest GSDP.</strong></li>
<li>To maintain inter state equity, the <strong>states with lower per capita income would be given a higher share. </strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Demographic Performance: </strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>It<strong> rewards efforts made by states in controlling their population.</strong></li>
<li>This criterion has been computed by <strong>using the reciprocal of the total fertility ratio of each state,</strong> scaled by 1971 population data.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>This has been done to <strong>assuage the fears of southern States</strong> about losing some share in tax transfers due to the reliance on the 2011 Census data instead of the 1971 census, which could penalise States that did better on managing demographics.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>States with a lower fertility ratio will be scored higher</strong> on this criterion. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/indias-falling-fertility-rate#:~:text=India's%20total%20fertility%20rate%20(TFR,2.3%20between%202013%20and%202016." target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>The Total Fertility Ratio</strong> </a>in a specific year is defined as the total number of children that would be born to each woman if she/they were to pass through the childbearing years bearing children according to a current schedule of age-specific fertility rates.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Tax Effort:</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>This criterion has been <strong>used to reward states with higher tax collection efficiency.</strong></li>
<li>It has been computed as the ratio of the average per capita own tax revenue and the average per capita state GDP during the three-year period between 2016-17 and 2018-19.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1612339962_image15.png" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1612339962_image15.png" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="500" caption="false" /></a></p>
</div>
<p><a href="https://pib.gov.in/PressReleaseIframePage.aspx?PRID=1693868" 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/15th-finance-commission-recommendations-resource-allocation'
		],
		(int) 18 => [
			'title' => 'India Role In African Recovery',
			'catname' => 'News Editorials',
			'desc' => '<div class="border">
<p>This article is based on <a href="https://www.thehindubusinessline.com/opinion/columns/towards-a-healthy-india-africa-partnership/article33709946.ece" target="_blank" rel="noopener">&ldquo;Towards a &lsquo;healthy&rsquo; India-Africa partnership&rdquo;</a> which was published in The Hindu Business line on 01/02/2021. It talks about India-Africa cooperation to combat devastation caused by the Covid-19 pandemic.</p>
</div>
<p>With regular high-level visits, increasing diplomatic footprint, diversified engagement across sectors, and a vibrant diaspora, the India-Africa relationship has picked up momentum in the recent past.</p>
<p>However, on the economic front, Africa has been deeply affected by the pandemic due to reduced trade and other markets causing a supply-and-demand shock. This disruption may cause a setback to the years of progress made in India-Africa relations.</p>
<p>Therefore, in the light of India&rsquo;s stakes in Africa, India should reach out to African nations in a variety of ways to help them deal with the Covid devastation.</p>
<h3>Areas of Cooperation</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Social Infrastructure:</strong> Already, the India-Africa social infrastructure (education, health, skills) cooperation is multidimensional, comprehensive, and involves national, state, and subnational actors working toward augmenting African institutional and individual capacities.</li>
<li><strong>Common Geo-Political Interests:</strong> India and Africa have common interests on international issues; UN reforms, counter-terrorism, peacekeeping, cybersecurity, and energy security.</li>
<li><strong>Economic Cooperation:</strong> India&rsquo;s economic engagement with Africa is substantive.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>In the last decade and a half, trade between India and Africa has multiplied and diversified&ndash;bilateral trade of $63.3 billion in 2018-19 made India the third-largest trading partner for the continent.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Support in Fight Against Covid-19:</strong> Under the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/vice-president-s-visit-to-comoros-and-sierra-leone" target="_blank" rel="noopener">e-ITEC initiative</a>, India has shared Covid-19 management strategies, training webinars exclusively to train healthcare professionals from Africa by Indian health experts.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>India is also sending consignments of essential medicines, including hydroxychloroquine (HCQ) and paracetamol, to many African countries in addition to doctors and paramedics.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Combating Neo-Colonialism:</strong> China has a longer and deeper association in the continent, but it is facing a backlash over the pandemic worldwide.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>China has gained a reputation as an economic colonizer&ndash;exploiting the need for capital by under-developed economies to hand over big infrastructure projects to China.</li>
<li>Therefore, Chinese investment is seen as neo-colonial as it focuses on money, political influence, hard-infrastructure projects, and resource extraction.</li>
<li>On the other hand, India&rsquo;s approach focuses on building local capacities and an equal partnership with Africans and not merely with African elites concerned.</li>
<li>In this context, though Africa has been actively engaged with China, it wants India to act as a balancer and net security provider.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Way Forward</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Vaccine Diplomacy:</strong> As the &ldquo;pharmacy of the world,&rdquo; a priority area of collaboration would be to ensure direct participation in Covid-19 relief and equitable vaccine access efforts followed by a plan for comprehensive strengthening of Africa&rsquo;s health systems.</li>
<li><strong>Economic Convergence:</strong> The Free Trade Agreement has been negotiated within Africa. It&rsquo;s a matter of time for it to be implemented and will be a game-changer.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>In this context, creating a market for 1.3 billion people in Africa would provide Indian manufacturers with economies of scale and scope to compete internationally.</li>
<li>It could also lead to generations of employment, facilitate skill and technology transfers, and help bridge the existing knowledge gap.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>India Becoming Voice of Africa:</strong> India can also take the lead in initiating and pushing for more multilateral efforts by stakeholders like the WHO or the UN to do more for African recovery.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>India and Africa should plan to expand their multi-faceted partnership by jointly combating the Covid and focusing on their strengths to address global challenges -- climate change, extremism, counter-terrorism, transnational crimes, and maritime security.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Conclusion</h3>
<p>While it can be argued that the Covid-19 crisis has had serious implications for India and the country has huge domestic obligations to deal with, partnering with Africa at this critical juncture in our shared reality will add immense value to the rich historicity of India-Africa solidarity.</p>
<table border="1" style="width: 100%; border-collapse: collapse; background-color: #e3fbfc; border-color: #01858a;">
<tbody>
<tr>
<td style="width: 100%;"><em><strong>Drishti Mains Question<br /><br /></strong></em>Partnering with Africa to combat the devastation caused by the Covid-19 pandemic will add immense value to India-Africa solidarity&rsquo;s rich historicity. Discuss.</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<p style="text-align: center;"></p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/_EZ14ohTnik" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe></p>
<p>This editorial is based on <a href="https://www.thehindu.com/opinion/editorial/growth-with-inequality-the-hindu-editorial-on-economic-survey-2021/article33711489.ece" target="_blank" rel="noopener">"Growth with inequality: On Economic Survey 2021"</a> published in The Hindu on February,1st 2020. Now watch this on our Youtube channel.</p>',
			'postdate' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenTime) {},
			'url' => 'https://www.drishtiias.com/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/india-role-in-african-recovery'
		],
		(int) 19 => [
			'title' => 'Regulations on FCRA Contributions',
			'catname' => 'News Analysis',
			'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>Recently, the <strong>Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA)</strong> issued <strong>new regulating guidelines to banks under <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/fcra-clearance-of-6-ngos-suspended" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Act, 2010</a></strong>. It states that the <strong>donations received in Indian rupees by <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/fcra-clearance-of-6-ngos-suspended" target="_blank" rel="noopener">non-governmental organisations (NGOs)</a></strong> and associations <strong>from any foreign source</strong> (even if that source is located in India at the time of such donation) should be treated as <strong>foreign contribution</strong>.</p>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>About the New Guidelines:</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Widening the Scope of Foreign Contribution:</strong> Under the issued regulations, donations given in Indian rupees (INR) by any foreigner/foreign source including foreigners of Indian origin like <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/overseas-citizenship-of-india" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Overseas Citizen of India (OCI)</strong></a> <strong>or Person of India Origin (PIO)</strong> cardholders should also be treated as foreign contribution.</li>
<li><strong>Meeting the Standards of FATF:</strong> The guidelines mandate that good practices should be followed by NGOs in accordance with standards of global financial watchdog- <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/financial-action-task-force-1" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Financial Action Task Force (FATF)</strong></a>. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>It asked NGOs to inform the Ministry about &ldquo;suspicious activities&rdquo; of any donor or recipient and &ldquo;take due diligence of its employees at the time of recruitment.&rdquo;</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Existing Rules:</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Mandatory Reporting by Banks:</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>All banks have to report the receipt or utilisation of any<strong> foreign contribution by any NGO,</strong> association or person to the Central government <strong>within 48 hours,</strong> whether or not they are registered or granted prior permission under the <strong>Foreign Contribution Regulation Act (FCRA) 2010</strong>.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Prescribed Banking Channels:</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>In September 2020, the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/foreign-contribution-regulation-amendment-bill-2020" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Amendment Act (FCRA), 2020</strong></a> was passed by the Parliament.</li>
<li>A new provision that<strong> makes it mandatory for all NGOs to receive foreign funds in a designated bank account at the State Bank of India&rsquo;s New Delhi branch</strong> was inserted.</li>
<li>All NGOs seeking foreign donations have to open a designated FCRA account at the SBI branch or link their existing account to it.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Reasons for FCRA Regulations:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The annual inflow of foreign contribution has almost doubled between the years 2010 and 2019, but many recipients of foreign contribution <strong>are being not utilised the same for the purpose for which they were registered or granted prior permission</strong> under amended provisions of the FCRA 2010.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Recently, the Union Home Ministry has <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/fcra-clearance-of-6-ngos-suspended" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>suspended licenses of the six (NGOs)</strong></a> who were alleged to have used foreign contributions for religious conversion.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>To ensure that such contributions <strong>do not adversely affect the internal security</strong> of the country.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Recently the <strong>National Investigation Agency (NIA)</strong> registered a case against a foreign based group that provides funds for secessionist and pro-Khalistani activities in India.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>These regulations <strong>could enhance transparency and accountability</strong> in the receipt and utilisation of foreign contributions.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Controversies Related to FCRA:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Scope not defined:</strong> It prohibits the receipt of foreign contributions &ldquo;for any activities detrimental to the national interest&rdquo; or the &ldquo;economic interest of the state&rdquo;.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>However, there is no clear guidance on what constitutes &ldquo;public interest&rdquo;.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Limits Fundamental Rights:</strong> The FCRA restrictions have <strong>serious consequences on both the rights to free speech</strong> and <strong>freedom of association</strong> under <strong>Articles 19(1)(a) and 19(1)(c)</strong> of the Constitution.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Act (FCRA), 2010</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Foreign funding of persons in India is regulated under FCRA Act and is implemented by <strong>the Ministry of Home Affairs</strong>.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Individuals are permitted to accept foreign contributions without permission of MHA. However, the monetary limit for acceptance of such <strong>foreign contributions shall be less than Rs. 25,000</strong>.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>The Act ensures that the recipients of foreign contributions <strong>adhere to the stated purpose for which such contribution has been obtained</strong>.</li>
<li>Under the Act, organisations are required to register themselves <strong>every five years</strong>.</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Amendment Act, 2020</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Prohibition to accept foreign contribution:</strong> The Act bars public servants from receiving foreign contributions. Public servant includes any person who is in service or pay of the government, or remunerated by the government for the performance of any public duty.</li>
<li><strong>Transfer of foreign contribution:</strong> The Act prohibits the transfer of foreign contribution to any other person not registered to accept foreign contributions.</li>
<li><strong>Aadhaar for registration:</strong> The Act makes Aadhaar number mandatory for all office bearers, directors or key functionaries of a person receiving foreign contribution, as an identification document.</li>
<li><strong>FCRA account:</strong> The Act states that foreign contribution must be received only in an account designated by the bank as FCRA account in such branches of the State Bank of India, New Delhi.</li>
<li><strong>Reduction in use of foreign contribution for administrative purposes:</strong> The Act proposes that not more than 20% of the total foreign funds received could be defrayed for administrative expenses. In FCRA 2010 the limit was 50%.</li>
<li><strong>Surrender of certificate:</strong> The Act allows the central government to permit a person to surrender their registration certificate.</li>
</ul>
</div>
<h3>Way Forward</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Excessive regulation on foreign contribution may affect working of the NGOs</strong> which are helpful in implementing government schemes at the grassroots. They fill the gaps, where the government fails to do their jobs.</li>
<li>The regulation <strong>should not hamper sharing of resources across national boundaries</strong> essential to the functioning of a global community, and should not be discouraged unless there is reason to believe the funds are being used to aid illegal activities.</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/india-tightens-oversight-on-funds-received-by-ngos/article33699682.ece#:~:text=The%20Ministry%20of%20Home%20Affairs%20(MHA)%20has%20laid%20down%20a,treated%20as%20%E2%80%9Cforeign%20contribution%E2%80%9D." target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Source: TH</strong></a></p>',
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	(int) 0 => [
		'title' => 'Year End Review: Department of Biotechnology (DBT)',
		'catname' => 'Paper 3',
		'desc' => '<h3>Important Schemes and Policies</h3>
<p><strong>UNATI Atal Jai Anusandhan Mission Programmes</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>UNATI Atal Jai Anusandhan Mission has been implemented by DBT with a major focus on improved agriculture, affordable healthcare, clean energy and cutting-edge frontier science as per details given below:</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>GARBH-ini (interdisciplinary Group for Advanced Research in BirtH outcomes- DBT India Initiative) study</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>It aims to discover molecular risk-markers and generate a risk-prediction algorithm for preterm birth which will facilitate timely referral and care for at-risk mothers, thus saving children&rsquo;s lives and reducing morbidity. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>This programme has established a unique pregnancy cohort comprising more than 8000 women to study Pre Term Birth (PTB). </li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>The GARBH-ini platform comprises a bio-repository (Rakshita) of well characterized clinical phenotypes.</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) Mission</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>It will focus on development of new antibiotics, alternatives to antibiotics and diagnostics. </li>
<li>To address the rising threat of <a href="/to-the-points/paper3/to-the-point-paper-3-antimicrobial-resistance-amr" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>antimicrobial resistance (AMR)</strong></a> with a holistic and multi-sectoral (One Health) approach, &ldquo;India&rsquo;s One Health Initiative&rdquo; to combat problems associated with AMR was launched.</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>Ind-CEPI Mission</strong> </p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>It is an India centric collaborative mission of DBT aligned to the global initiatives of <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/thsti-part-of-vaccine-assessment-project" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>CEPI (Coalition of Epidemic Preparedness Innovations)</strong></a>. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>DBT is supporting the implementation of the Ind-CEPIs mission &ldquo;Epidemic preparedness through rapid vaccine development.</li>
<li>Support of Indian vaccine development is aligned with the global initiative of the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI)&rdquo;, at BIRAC, PSU of DBT.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>UNATI Mission</strong> </p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Clean Technologies for Swachh Bharat:</strong> DBT has developed various technology platforms designed to convert different solid, liquid and gaseous wastes into renewable fuels, energy and useful products such as food, feed, polymers and chemicals. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Under the UNATI Mission, 10 promising clean technologies have been identified for demonstration with DBT support at different sites across India, in collaboration with local stakeholders such as municipalities and other urban local bodies. </li>
<li>The identified technologies include<strong> bio-methanation, constructed wetland, bio-toilets, chemical &amp; membrane free water purification</strong> etc.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>Mission COVID Suraksha</strong> </p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/mission-covid-suraksha" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Mission COVID Suraksha</strong></a> is India&rsquo;s targeted effort to enable the development of indigenous, affordable and accessible vaccines for the country and will complement the ongoing mission of <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/atma-nirbhar-bharat-abhiyan-challenges" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Atmanirbhar Bharat</strong></a>.</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>Partnerships for Accelerating Clinical Trials (PACT)</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The <strong>PACT (Partnerships for Accelerating Clinical Trials)</strong> programme has been launched for supporting COVID-19 vaccine development activities in partnering countries. </li>
<li>The initiative is being implemented by<a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/making-india-a-biotech-hub" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong> Biotechnology Industry Research Assistance Council (BIRAC)</strong> </a>and Clinical Development Services Agency (CDSA) under the aegis of the National Biopharma Mission and Ind-CEPI Mission of DBT.</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>National Biopharma Mission</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>It is the first ever Industry-Academia mission &ldquo;Industry-Academia Collaboration <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/national-biopharma-mission#:~:text=The%20National%20Biopharma%20Mission%20(NBM,funded%20by%20World%20Bank%20loan." target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>National Biopharma mission</strong></a>. The mission aims for Accelerating Discovery Research to Early Development for Biopharmaceuticals.</li>
<li>&ldquo;Innovate in India (i3) Empowering biotech entrepreneurs &amp; accelerating inclusive innovation &ldquo; to accelerate biopharmaceutical development in India.</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>Unique Methods of Management of Inherited Disorders (UMMID) Initiative</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The Department launched the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/ummid-initiative" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>&lsquo;UMMID&rsquo; initiative</strong></a> to tackle inherited genetic diseases in newborns.</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1612594025_image1.jpg" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1612594025_image1.jpg" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="500" caption="false" /></a></p>
<p><strong>Pan India Genome India</strong> </p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/genome-india-initiative" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Genome India</strong></a> was initiated for cataloguing the genetic variation in Indian population with a goal for whole genome sequencing and subsequent data analysis of 10,000 individuals representing the country&rsquo;s diverse population to help build an exhaustive catalogue of genetic variations in Indian population, and to aid in the design of a genome wide association chip for Indian population.</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>LOTUS HR Project</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/india-netherlands" target="_blank" rel="noopener">LOTUS HR project</a>:</strong> In collaboration with Netherlands, a toolbox of wastewater treatment technologies has been established on site at Barapullah drain to facilitate selection of treatment combinations for optimum treatment of wastewater.</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>Indian Bioresource Information Network (IBIN)</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>It was created to bring together all the available databases and information on the bio-resources and biodiversity of the country in one platform. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The <strong>satellite telemetry tracking of Jacobin Cuckoo</strong> is a part of IBIN project in collaboration with Wildlife Institute of India to monitor the changes in Indian monsoon patterns and could help in planning the conservation and climate monitoring programmes.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>Indian Biological Data Centre (IBDC)</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>It was established by DBT for deposition, storage, annotation and sharing of biological data generated in the country through extensive funding from various Government Organizations. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The IBDC will enable life science researchers to deposit biological data in a central repository and thus safeguard data generated using public resources from loss. It will perform quality control, curation, and annotation of data. </li>
<li>These efforts will help establish benchmarks for the quality of data deposited and thus improve the quality of experimental research conducted in the country.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1612594052_image%203.jpg" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1612594052_image 3.jpg" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="650" caption="false" /></a></p>
<p><strong>GenoVault</strong> </p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>GenoVault (Cloud based Genomics Repository) was launched in the Accelerating Biology 2020. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>This cloud-based genomic repository enables quick archival and retrieval tools along with extremely powerful analytical engines. </li>
<li>GenoVault is a first India&rsquo;s Genomics Repository based on OpenStack cloud. This centralized repository would be of enormous importance for healthcare and would have great use in personalized medicine.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>Bio-liposome mediated CRISPR-Cas9 delivery system</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>A novel bio-inspired lipid nanocarrier system for efficient intracellular delivery of <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/crispr-technology" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>CRISPR-Cas9</strong> </a>based genome editing tools has been developed. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The development of bio-inspired lipid nanocarrier delivery systems would open new vistas for devising novel gene therapy-based therapeutic solutions for various rare and genetic diseases.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>Biotech-KISAN</strong> </p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/biotech-kisan-programme" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Biotech-KISAN</strong></a> has created a platform in each of <strong>15 agro-climatic zones of the country,</strong> which aims to connect farmers and scientists to promote Agriculture Innovation and take the new interventions to the farmers and farms.</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>International Cooperation</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The department of biotechnology has strengthened its partnership with the Academy of Medical Sciences (AMS), UK to launch the AMS-DBT Newton International Fellowship (NIF). </li>
<li>Focusing on the threat of climate change, the department collaborated with European Union for the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/eu-green-deal" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>&ldquo;Green Deal&rdquo;</strong> </a>under the <strong>Horizon 2020 framework</strong> to help build a low-carbon, climate-resilient future.</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>Biotechnology Industry Research Assistant Council (BIRAC)</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>BIRAC launched i4 (Intensifying the Impact of Industrial Innovation) to support biotechnological product/technology development by strengthening R&amp;D capabilities of start-ups/companies/LLPs. The programme provides impetus for pulling the translational ideas past PoC and taking them further along the innovation chain for validation, scale-up, demonstration and pre-commercialization of products and technologies.</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>Wheat Straw Polysaccharide</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>DBT-National Agri-Food Biotechnology Institute (DBT-NABI)</strong> has developed a <strong>wheat straw polysaccharide</strong> derived novel edible coating formulation to prevent the <strong>post-harvest shelf-life</strong> of perishable fruit crops such as Apple, Peach and Banana. </li>
<li>In addition to that,<strong> antibody assisted graphene oxide coated gold nanoparticles</strong> for rapid bacterial detection and near infrared light enhanced antibacterial activity has been developed which detects food borne pathogens.</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>DBT-National Brain Research Institute (DBT-NBRC) Research</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/japanese-encephalitis-je" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Japanese Encephalitis virus (JEV)</strong></a> infection was found to induce classical activation (M1) of microglia that drives the production of pro-inflammatory cytokines, while suppressing alternative activation (M2) that could serve to dampen the inflammatory response, thereby inducing inflammatory response, microglial activation, and neuronal apoptosis.</li>
<li>&lsquo;DALI&rsquo; a tool in Indian languages for dyslexia assessment in children developed at NBRC remains in high demand and is being increasingly adopted countrywide.</li>
<li><strong>BRAHMA and ANSH:</strong> NBRC scientists have developed specialized tools named BRAHMA and ANSH for integrating inputs from neuroimaging data and the clinical information to help in diagnosis of various brain diseases such as Alzheimer&rsquo;s and Parkinson&rsquo;s. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The tool is standardized on a robust Indian brain template that is representative of the Indian population-specific brain anatomy.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Further Reading</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><a href="/to-the-points/paper3/biotechnology-and-its-applications" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Biotechnology and its Applications</strong></a></li>
<li><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/bradykinin-storm-covid-19" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Bradykinin Storm</strong></a></li>
<li><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/covid-19-specific-memory-t-cells" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Covid-19 Specific Memory T Cells</strong></a></li>
<li><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/genetically-modified-seeds" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Genetically Modified Seeds</strong></a></li>
<li><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/microrna" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>microRNA</strong></a></li>
<li><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/bbx11-gene-greening-of-plants" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>BBX11 Gene</strong></a></li>
<li><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/intentional-genomic-alteration" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Intentional Genomic Alteration</strong></a></li>
<li><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/the-cancer-genome-atlas-2020-conference" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Cancer Genome Atlas</strong></a></li>
<li><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/saviour-sibling" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Saviour Sibling</strong></a></li>
<li><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/production-of-saffron-and-heeng-in-india" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Himalayan Bioresources Mission</strong></a></li>
</ul>',
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	(int) 1 => [
		'title' => 'Progress Report of Commission for Sub-categorisation of OBCs',
		'catname' => 'News Analysis',
		'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>Recently, the<strong> Centre has extended the tenure of the Rohini Commission</strong> until 31<sup>st</sup> July, 2021 to submit its report on <strong>Sub-categorisation of Other Backward Classes (OBCs).</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The <strong>Rohini Commission was constituted in October 2017</strong> under<strong> Article 340 of the Constitution.</strong> At that time, it was given 12 weeks to submit its report, but has been given several extensions since, the latest one being the 10<sup>th</sup>.</li>
<li><a href="/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-national-institutions/national-commission-for-backward-classes-ncbc" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Article 340</strong></a> deals with the appointment of a commission to investigate the conditions of backward classes.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Need for Committee for Sub-categorisation of OBCs:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Ensuring Equality:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>It had been constituted to complete the task of <strong>sub-categorising 5000-odd castes in the central OBC.</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/extension-to-obc-sub-categorisation-commission" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>OBCs are granted 27% reservation</strong></a> in jobs and education under the central government.</li>
<li>The need for sub-categorisation arises out of the perception that <strong>only a few affluent communities among the over 2,600 included in the Central List of OBCs</strong> have secured a major part of this 27% reservation.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>Sub-categorisation would <strong>ensure more equitable distribution of opportunities</strong> in central government jobs and educational institutions.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Recommended by NCBC:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>In 2015, the <strong><a href="/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-national-institutions/national-commission-for-backward-classes-ncbc" target="_blank" rel="noopener">National Commission for Backward Classes</a> (NCBC)</strong> had recommended that OBCs should be <strong>categorised into extremely backward classes, more backward classes and backward classes.</strong></li>
<li>The benefits of the<a href="/to-the-points/Paper2/reservation-in-india" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong> reservation</strong></a> in OBCs are being cornered mostly by the dominant OBC groups over the years so there is a need to recognise sub-quotas for the extremely backward classes within the OBCs.</li>
<li>NCBC has the authority to <strong>examine complaints and welfare measures regarding socially and educationally backward classes.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Commission&rsquo;s Terms of Reference (ToR):</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Examining Inequality:</strong> To examine the extent of inequitable distribution of benefits of reservation among the castes or communities included in the broad category of OBCs with reference to such classes included in the Central List.</li>
<li><strong>Determining Parameters:</strong> To work out the mechanism, criteria, norms and parameters in a scientific approach for sub-categorisation within such OBCs.</li>
<li><strong>Classification:</strong> To take up the exercise of identifying the respective castes or communities or sub-castes or synonyms in the Central List of OBCs and classifying them into their respective sub-categories.</li>
<li><strong>Eliminating Errors:</strong> To study the various entries in the Central List of OBCs and recommend correction of any repetitions, ambiguities, inconsistencies and errors of spelling or transcription.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Challenges Before the Commision: </strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Data Deficiency:</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Absence of data for the population of various communities to compare with their representation in jobs and admissions.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Delaying of Survey:</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>It was decided in <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/census-2021" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Census 2021</strong></a>, data of OBCs will also be collected, but no consensus has been reached regarding enumeration of OBCs in the Census.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Findings of the Commision Until Now:</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>In 2018, the Commission <strong>analysed the data of 1.3 lakh central jobs</strong> given under OBC quota over the preceding five years.</li>
<li>It<strong> also analysed OBC admissions to central higher education institutions,</strong> including universities, IITs, NITs, IIMs and AIIMS, over the preceding three years. The<strong> findings</strong> were: <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li><strong>97% of all jobs and educational seats have gone to just 25%</strong> of all sub-castes classified as OBCs.</li>
<li><strong>24.95% of these jobs and seats have gone to just 10 OBC communities.</strong></li>
<li><strong>983 OBC communities (37% of the total) have zero representation</strong> in jobs and educational institutions.</li>
<li><strong>994 OBC sub-castes have a total representation of only 2.68%</strong> in recruitment and admissions.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>In<strong> mid- 2019,</strong> the Commission informed that it is <strong>ready with the draft report</strong> (on sub-categorisation). It is widely understood that the report could have huge political consequences and face a judicial review so it's <strong>still not released. </strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>OBC Recruitment in the Central Government Jobs</strong> (as per the Report submitted by the Department of Personnel and Training to NCBC in 2020): <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>From the data of<strong> 42 ministries/departments,</strong> OBC representation in Central government jobs was found out to be: <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li><strong>16.51 % in Group-A</strong> central government services.</li>
<li><strong>13.38 % in Group-B</strong> central government services.</li>
<li><strong>21.25 % in Group-C</strong> (excluding safai karamcharis).</li>
<li><strong>17.72 % in Group-C</strong> (safai karamcharis).</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Regarding NFS:</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>NCBC also found out that a <strong>number of posts reserved for OBCs were being filled by people of general category</strong> as OBC candidates were declared <strong>&ldquo;NFS&rdquo; (None Found Suitable). </strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Revision of Creamy Layer:</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Even the <strong>revision of the income limit for the creamy layer for the OBCs</strong> is under consideration.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Note</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Recently, the <strong>Supreme Court of India</strong> has reopened a similar legal debate on <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/sub-classification-of-reserved-classes" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>sub-categorisation of Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes for reservations</strong></a>, what is commonly referred to as<strong> &ldquo;quota within quota&rdquo; for SCs and STs.</strong></li>
</ul>
</div>
<p><a href="https://indianexpress.com/article/explained/obc-sub-categorisation-commission-7175056/" 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/progress-report-of-commission-for-sub-categorisation-of-obcs'
	],
	(int) 2 => [
		'title' => 'Coup D’etat in Myanmar',
		'catname' => 'News Editorials',
		'desc' => '<div class="border">
<p>The article is based on<a href="https://www.thehindu.com/opinion/op-ed/the-way-forward-in-myanmar/article33753759.ece" target="_blank" rel="noopener"> &ldquo;The Way Forward in Myanmar&rdquo;</a> which was published in &lsquo;The Hindu&rsquo; on 05/02/2021. It talks about how the nascent democracy established in Myanmar is again overthrown by Military Junta and how India, the world&rsquo;s largest democracy, is a stakeholder in the country&rsquo;s internal issue.</p>
</div>
<p>Democracy is a form of government in which a substantial proportion of the citizenry participates in ruling the state and the representatives elected by the people run the country on their behalf.</p>
<p>However, this ideal statement is not being followed everywhere. Turning the attention to international affairs and diving deep into Myanmar, the military has once again taken over the country, declaring a year-long state of emergency and placing elected leaders under detention.</p>
<p>In this predicament, it is a tightrope walk for India. Being itself the world&rsquo;s largest democracy, India has to back democracy in Myanmar but it must secure its security and developmental interests too.</p>
<h3>Coup in Myanmar</h3>
<p>The <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/military-coup-in-myanmar" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Myanmar military has grabbed power in a coup</strong></a> for the third time in the nation&rsquo;s history since its independence (1948).</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>However, the military officials, in their defence, denied it as a coup and claimed the fraud as &ldquo;obstruction in the path to democracy&rdquo;.</li>
<li><strong>State of emergency</strong> has been declared, transferring all powers to <strong>Commander-in-Chief Min Aung Hlaing</strong>.</li>
</ul>
<h3>The Torturous Politics of Myanmar</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Double Standards of the Junta:</strong> The<strong> Constitution of Myanmar</strong> was drafted in <strong>2008</strong> by the military with the intent to remain in power behind a civilian party.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>In 2015, the <strong>Union Solidarity and Development Party (USDP)</strong> lost the election which disappointed the military, and was concerned with the new democratic Myanmar that could emerge with the victory of the <strong>National League for Democracy (NLD)</strong>.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Hostility Towards the Rohingyas:</strong> The 2020 elections were held after the Army launched a brutal crackdown on Rohingya in <strong>Rakhine State</strong> in the name of fighting terrorism, which forced over <strong>700,000 Rohingya Muslims</strong> to flee Myanmar to neighbouring countries, mainly <strong>Bangladesh</strong>.</li>
<li><strong>Null Foreign Intervention:</strong> Myanmar has always preferred solving its internal conflicts by itself letting negligible interference from any Foreign or International Power.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Many <strong>international mechanisms</strong> comprising Western and Asian countries that were formed to coordinate strategies on Myanmar were <strong>disbanded after the 2015 election</strong>.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Divided Myanmarese Communities:</strong> The military understands the people&rsquo;s psyche well.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The divide between the <strong>Burmans</strong>, the majority group, and the <strong>ethnic minorities remains wide</strong>. The latter are generally opposed to a strong Central government.</li>
<li>In the recent military coup, the <strong>Burmans are supportive of <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/aung-san-suu-kyi-to-defend-myanmar-in-icj" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Aung San Suu Kyi</a></strong> but it will be true only up to a point.
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>They are largely Buddhists and peace-loving. Hence, they might accept the grabbing of power from elected representatives by the army.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Gist of the Issue</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The November 2020 election of Myanmar resulted in a landslide victory for the <strong>National League for Democracy (NLD)</strong>, which won over <strong>82% of parliamentary seats</strong> at the union, regional and state levels</li>
<li>The army-backed<strong> Union Solidarity and Development Party (USDP)</strong> claimed the elections as a widespread fraud.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Without offering any concrete evidence, the military has overthrown the winning party and has detained the political leader including Myanmar&rsquo;s <strong><em>de facto</em> head</strong> Aung San Suu Kyi.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>The activists used social media to oppose the military coup and organise protests.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Myanmar's junta blocked Facebook and WhatsApp in the name of ensuring stability even as street protests were reported from some cities.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Global Responses</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The <strong><a href="/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-international-institution/united-nations-1" target="_blank" rel="noopener">UN</a> Secretary-General</strong> has <strong>vowed</strong> to mobilise the international community to put enough pressure on Myanmar to ensure that the <strong>military coup in the country "fails"</strong>.</li>
<li><strong>China and Russia</strong> have taken a <strong>non-committal approach</strong> to the coup.</li>
<li><a href="/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-international-institution/asean" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>ASEAN</strong></a> made a muted call for "dialogue, reconciliation and return to normalcy while Japan has called it a "coup"</li>
<li>The Western countries including <strong>Australia and the US</strong> have issued strong statements with <strong>threats of sanctions</strong>.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The US President has referred to the action as a <strong>coup</strong> and has called on the military <strong>"to relinquish seized power&rdquo;</strong>, free all officials and advocates detained, lift the restrictions on telecommunications and refrain from violence.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1612529680_image1.png" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1612529680_image1.png" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" /></a></p>
<h3>India as a Stakeholder</h3>
<p><strong>India&rsquo;s Stand</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>India is engaged on the Myanmar issue as a member of the UN Security Council.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Soon after the coup, India had expressed concern and said the rule of law and democratic process must be upheld.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>Though India has expressed deep concern over recent developments in Myanmar, <strong>cutting off from the Myanmar military is not a viable option</strong> as India has <strong>significant economic and strategic interests in Myanmar</strong> and its neighbourhood.</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>Myanmar&rsquo;s Significance to India</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>India-Myanmar Ties:</strong> <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/india-myanmar-relationship" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>India and Myanmar</strong></a> are neighbours with close cultural and people-to-people ties, bolstered by trade, economic, security and defence-related exchanges.</li>
<li><strong>India&rsquo;s aid to Myanmar in Pandemic:</strong> India has extended assistance to Myanmar in its fight against <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/covid-19-and-medical-solutions" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Covid-19</strong></a> by providing medicines, test kits and <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/covid-19-vaccine-distribution" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>vaccines</strong></a>.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>India has committed to continuing its humanitarian support for the people in Myanmar in mitigating the health and economic impact of the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/future-pandemics-and-reduction-measures" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>pandemic</strong></a>.</li>
<li>India has also sent 15 lakh doses of the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/covishield-and-covaxin-approved-for-restricted-use" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Covishield vaccine</strong></a> to assist Myanmar in fighting the pandemic.
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Myanmar has begun to vaccinate itself with Covid vaccine sent by India, while putting <strong>China&rsquo;s 300,000</strong> <strong>doses</strong> on hold.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>The Submarine Gift:</strong> India handed over a kilo-class submarine<strong> INS Sindhuvir (UMS Minye Theinkhathu)</strong> to the Myanmar navy.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The Indian gift is the first and only submarine of the Myanmar navy.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Myanmar as India&rsquo;s Cornerstone:</strong> India&rsquo;s military-diplomatic outreach to Myanmar became a cornerstone of its <a href="/loksabha-rajyasabha-discussions/the-big-picture-india-s-act-east-policy" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Act East policy</strong></a>.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>India&rsquo;s security relationship with the Myanmar military has become <strong>extremely close</strong>, and it would be difficult to <strong>&ldquo;burn bridges&rdquo;</strong> with them given their assistance in securing the <strong>North East frontiers from insurgent groups</strong>.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Infrastructure and Developmental Projects:</strong> Apart from strategic concerns, India has cultivated <strong>several infrastructure and development projects</strong> with Myanmar, which it sees as the <strong>&ldquo;gateway to the East&rdquo;</strong> and ASEAN countries.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>These include the India-Myanmar-Thailand Trilateral highway and the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/presidents-visit-to-myanmar" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Kaladan Multi-Modal Transit Transport Project</strong></a> as well as a plan for a Special Economic Zone at the Sittwe deep-water port.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Way Forward</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Reducing the Gap Among Different Communities:</strong> Adhering to the communal division among the people of Myanmar, jumping to the conclusion that Myanmar will see a nationwide protest against the military coup, is not correct.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>In the current scenario, the military will continue to exploit ethnic and religious fault lines.</li>
<li><strong>Engagement with domestic stakeholders,</strong> including ethnic minorities, especially from the north, <strong>should be pursued by the international community</strong>.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Threatening with the Imposition of Sanctions is not a Solution:</strong> The Myanmar military has always been able to economically withstand sanctions by striking deals with Asian countries in the past, therefore imposing sanctions is unlikely to bring any major political change.</li>
<li><strong>Criticising the Military is not Wise for India:</strong> India must want to remain engaged in Myanmar for quite a few reasons. Many insurgent groups find haven in Myanmar which means India needs its help to counter them.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>For India, engagement with Myanmar is vital. It shall maintain a two-track engagement, acknowledging the primacy of the army in Myanmar's affairs.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Conclusion</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>In a country where military leadership has scripted the meaning of democracy, tensions are most likely to prevail.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>In such cases, domestic forces and geopolitics often fail to deter its actions and impulses to rule.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>It is likely for India to feel concerned when democracy in a country is threatened.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>But the country must be committed to its policy of non-interference in another state&rsquo;s internal affairs.</li>
<li>Keeping the national interest of the country in mind, India shall astutely balance its principles, values, interests and geopolitical realities.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<table border="1" style="width: 100%; border-collapse: collapse; background-color: #c9f5f5; border-color: #18abab;">
<tbody>
<tr>
<td style="width: 100%;"><em><strong>Drishti Mains Question</strong></em><br /><br />Myanmar is the cornerstone in India&rsquo;s Act East Policy. comment</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<p style="text-align: center;"></p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/GeG6MaW8tjI" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe></p>
<p>This editorial is based on <strong><a href="https://indianexpress.com/article/opinion/editorials/covid-19-economy-imf-gdp-growth-7165745/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">&ldquo;On The Upswing&rdquo;</a></strong> which was published in The Indian Express on 29 January, 2021. Now watch this on our Youtube Channel.</p>',
		'postdate' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenTime) {},
		'url' => 'https://www.drishtiias.com/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/coup-d-etat-in-myanmar'
	],
	(int) 3 => [
		'title' => 'Increased Farm Exports',
		'catname' => 'News Analysis',
		'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>According to the Ministry of Commerce and Industry, <strong>farm exports have registered 9.8% growth</strong> for the period of April-December 2020.</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Previously, the government of India launched the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/remission-of-duties-or-taxes-on-export-product" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Remission of Duties or Taxes on Export Product (RoDTEP)</strong></a> scheme replacing <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/capping-of-meis-scheme-benefits" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Merchandise Exports from India Scheme (MEIS)</strong></a> to further improve exports.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Data for April-December 2020:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Overall merchandise exports:</strong> Registered 15.5% fall.</li>
<li><strong>Farm exports:</strong> Registered 9.8% growth.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Overall merchandise exports include all the goods manufactured in India while Farm exports include only the agricultural products.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Reasons For Growth in Farm Exports:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Rising International Prices:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li><strong>Normalisation of Demands:</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Due to steady normalisation of demand with most countries unlocking their economies after May 2020 and, at the same time, <strong>restoration of supply chains</strong> post-<a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/covid-19-vaccine-policy#:~:text=Although%20India%20will%20not%20need,vaccines%20need%20a%20booster%20dose." target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Covid</strong></a> not keeping pace has made exports of many farm products from India competitive.</li>
<li>That includes <strong>non-basmati rice, sugar, oilseed meals, cotton and even <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/india-s-potential-to-increase-cereals-export#:~:text=Rice%20(including%20Basmati%20and%20Non,during%20the%20year%202019%2D20." target="_blank" rel="noopener">wheat and other cereals (mainly maize)</a></strong>.</li>
<li>Earlier, the <a href="/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-international-institution/united-nations-1" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>United Nations (UN) Food and Agricultural Organization (FAO)</strong></a>, released its latest <strong>Food Price Index (FPI)</strong> for January 2021, which showed that the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/world-food-price-index-fao" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>FPI has increased from a 48-month-low to a 78-month-high</strong></a>.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Chinese Stockpiling:</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Global prices have also been increased by Chinese stockpiling.</li>
<li>It had stepped up imports of everything &ndash; from maize, wheat, soyabean and barely to sugar and milk powder &ndash; <strong>to build strategic food reserves amid geopolitical tensions</strong>.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Dry Weather of Different Countries:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>The current export revival is equally a result of<strong> dry weather conditions</strong> in major producing countries such as <strong>Argentina, Brazil, Ukraine, Thailand and Vietnam</strong>.</li>
<li><strong>Russia</strong> (world&rsquo;s largest wheat exporter) and <strong>Argentina</strong> (No. 1 in soybean meal and No. 3 in maize) have even <strong>announced temporary suspension or taxes on grain shipments in response to high domestic food inflation</strong>.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>India&rsquo;s Surplus Monsoon:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>India, on the other hand, hasn&rsquo;t faced serious weather issues; both 2019 and 2020 <strong>recorded surplus monsoon rainfall</strong> along with <strong>timely onset of winter</strong>.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Agriculture Exempted from Lockdown:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Farmers harvested a bumper rabi crop during April-June, enabled by the government exempting agriculture-related activities from <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/covid-19-and-lockdown#:~:text=The%20Government%20of%20India%20has,every%20country%20across%20the%20globe." target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>lockdown</strong></a> restrictions.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Significance of Rising Exports:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>If it sustains, it can help<strong> increase crop prices</strong> when the next rabi harvest is due from March 2021. This may be <strong>politically useful</strong> in a context of <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/farmer-s-protest" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>farm unrest</strong></a>.</li>
<li>It will help in achieving the USD <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/india-to-become-fifth-largest-economy#:~:text=A%20recent%20report%20has%20revealed,GDP)%20by%20surpassing%20Japanese%20GDP." target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>5-trillion economy</strong></a> goal by India.</li>
<li>It will help achieve an ambitious target of <a href="/to-the-points/paper3/doubling-farmers-income-a-promise-to-be-fulfilled-by-2022" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>doubling farmers' income</strong></a> by 2022.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1612523182_image1.png" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1612523182_image1.png" width="741" height="404" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" /></a></p>
<p><a href="https://indianexpress.com/article/india/farm-exports-india-covid-19-2020-7175200/" 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/increased-farm-exports'
	],
	(int) 4 => [
		'title' => 'Pandit Bhimsen Joshi Jayanti',
		'catname' => 'News Analysis',
		'desc' => '<p>Recently, the <strong>Prime Minister paid homage to Pandit Bhimsen Joshi</strong>, the classical music vocalist, on his centenary <strong>birth anniversary</strong>.</p>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>About:</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Pandit Bhimsen Joshi</strong> was born on February 4, 1922.</li>
<li><strong>Important Recognition:</strong> He received the <strong><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/important-facts-for-prelims-28th-january-2019" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Bharat Ratna</a> in 2008</strong>.</li>
<li><strong>Work:</strong> He is remembered for his famous ragas including <strong>Shuddha Kalyan, Miyan Ki Todi, Puriya Dhanashri and Multani etc</strong>. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>He belonged to the <strong>Kirana Gharana</strong>.</li>
<li><strong>Kirana Gharana</strong> got its name from a small town called Kerana in Uttar Pradesh. It was founded by Ustad Abdul Karim Khan. Famous artists such as Abdul Wahid Khan, Suresh Babu Mane, Hira Bai Badodekar and Roshanara Begum belong to this Gharana.</li>
<li>He belonged to the school of <strong>Hindustani classical music</strong>.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Hindustani Music:</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Origin:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Hindustani Music is one of the<strong> two distinct schools of Indian Classical Music</strong> practiced mainly in North India. The other school of Indian Classical Music is <a href="/to-the-points/paper1/carnatic-music" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Carnatic music</strong></a> which is practiced mainly in Southern India.</li>
<li>The historical roots of both the music types belong to the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/natyashastra" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Bharata&rsquo;s Natyasastra</strong></a>.</li>
<li><strong>Hindustani Music is vocal-centric.</strong> The major vocal forms associated with Hindustani classical music are the <strong>khayal, Ghazal, dhrupad, dhammar, Tarana and thumri</strong>.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Most of the Hindustani musicians trace their descent to Tansen.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Gharanas:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>A Gharana is <strong>a system of social organisation linking musicians</strong> or dancers by lineage or apprenticeship, and by adherence to a particular musical style.</li>
<li>Function in <strong>guru-shishya parampara</strong>, i.e. disciples learning under a particular guru, transmitting his musical knowledge and style.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<table border="1" style="height: 133px; width: 100%; border-collapse: collapse; background-color: #2cb8d1;">
<tbody>
<tr style="height: 19px;">
<td style="width: 10.4205%; height: 19px;"><span style="color: #ffffff;"><strong>Gharana</strong></span></td>
<td style="width: 10.4543%; height: 19px;"><span style="color: #ffffff;"><strong>Place</strong></span></td>
<td style="width: 14.162%; height: 19px;"><span style="color: #ffffff;"><strong>Founder</strong></span></td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 19px;">
<td style="width: 10.4205%; height: 19px; background-color: #f2e7ce;">Gwalior</td>
<td style="width: 10.4543%; height: 19px; background-color: #f2e7ce;">Gwalior</td>
<td style="width: 14.162%; height: 19px; background-color: #f2e7ce;">Nanthan Khan</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 19px;">
<td style="width: 10.4205%; height: 19px; background-color: #f2e7ce;">Agra</td>
<td style="width: 10.4543%; height: 19px; background-color: #f2e7ce;">Agra</td>
<td style="width: 14.162%; height: 19px; background-color: #f2e7ce;">Hajisujan Khan</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 19px;">
<td style="width: 10.4205%; height: 19px; background-color: #f2e7ce;">Rangeela</td>
<td style="width: 10.4543%; height: 19px; background-color: #f2e7ce;">Agra</td>
<td style="width: 14.162%; height: 19px; background-color: #f2e7ce;">Faiyyaz Khan</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 19px;">
<td style="width: 10.4205%; height: 19px; background-color: #f2e7ce;">Jaipur Atrauli</td>
<td style="width: 10.4543%; height: 19px; background-color: #f2e7ce;">Jaipur</td>
<td style="width: 14.162%; height: 19px; background-color: #f2e7ce;">Alladiya Khan</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 19px;">
<td style="width: 10.4205%; height: 19px; background-color: #f2e7ce;">Kirana</td>
<td style="width: 10.4543%; height: 19px; background-color: #f2e7ce;">Awadh</td>
<td style="width: 14.162%; height: 19px; background-color: #f2e7ce;">Abdul Wahid Khan</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 19px;">
<td style="width: 10.4205%; height: 19px; background-color: #f2e7ce;">Banaras</td>
<td style="width: 10.4543%; height: 19px; background-color: #f2e7ce;">Varanasi</td>
<td style="width: 14.162%; height: 19px; background-color: #f2e7ce;">Ram Sahai</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<p><br /><a href="https://pib.gov.in/PressReleseDetail.aspx?PRID=1695158#:~:text=The%20Prime%20Minister%2C%20Shri%20Narendra,world%20of%20culture%20and%20music." 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/pandit-bhimsen-joshi-jayanti'
	],
	(int) 5 => [
		'title' => 'CCTNS Hackathon & Cyber Challenge',
		'catname' => 'News Analysis',
		'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>Recently, the inaugural function of the <strong>2<sup>nd</sup> CCTNS Hackathon and Cyber Challenge</strong> 2020-21 of the <strong>National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB)</strong> was held in New Delhi.</p>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Background:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>This hackathon is <strong>in continuation to the Hackathon &amp; Cyber Challenge</strong> which concluded in March 2020.</li>
<li>It aimed to <strong>deepen understanding and enhance skills</strong> of the law enforcement personnel across all ranks and file, empowering them to adopt <strong>smart strategies for effectively addressing the evolving threats</strong>.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>About the 2<sup>nd</sup> CCTNS Hackathon and Cyber Challenge:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Police officials</strong> especially those from the cutting edge level, <strong>academia, industry, students and others</strong> are being invited <strong>to help improve existing IT applications</strong> as well as help identify new IT applications <strong>to improve the CCTNS ecosystem</strong>.</li>
<li>The Mobile App: &ldquo;Locate Nearest Police Station&rdquo; was also launched at the function.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>This App will help various users including women commuters, interstate travelers, domestic and foreign tourists etc. especially during any emergency and has the facility to dial 112. This is <strong>another step towards improving accessibility of the police to the citizens</strong>.</li>
<li>This will <strong>add to <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/citizen-centric-services-of-ncrb" target="_blank" rel="noopener">other Central Citizen Services being provided by the NCRB</a></strong> such as <strong>&ldquo;Missing Person Search&rdquo;, &ldquo;Generate Vehicle NOC&rdquo;, </strong>&ldquo;Proclaimed Offenders Information&rdquo; and various other services being provided by the State Citizen Police Portals.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Crime and Criminal Tracking Network &amp; Systems</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Background:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Crime and Criminal Tracking Network &amp; Systems (CCTNS)</strong> is a plan scheme conceived in the light of experience of a non-plan scheme namely - <strong>Common Integrated Police Application (CIPA)</strong>.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Launch:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>CCTNS is a <strong>Mission Mode Project</strong> under the <strong><a href="/to-the-points/Paper2/e-governance-1#:~:text=National%20e%2DGovernance%20Plan%20(NeGP,integrated%20into%20Digital%20India%20Program." target="_blank" rel="noopener">National e-Governance Plan</a> (NeGP)</strong> of the <strong>Ministry of Home Affairs</strong>.</li>
<li>Approx. 14,000 Police Stations throughout the country have been proposed to be automated besides 6000 higher offices in the police hierarchy.</li>
<li>It was approved in <strong>2009</strong>.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Objectives:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Make the Police functioning <strong>citizen friendly</strong> and <strong>more transparent</strong> by automating the functioning of Police Stations.</li>
<li>Improve delivery of <strong>citizen-centric services</strong> through effective usage of <strong>ICT</strong>.</li>
<li>Provide the Investigating Officers of the Civil Police with <strong>tools, technology and information</strong> to facilitate investigation of crime and detection of criminals.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Recent Initiatives:</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>A <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/mou-between-natgrid-and-ncrb" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Memorandum of Understanding (MoU)</strong></a> was signed between <strong>National Intelligence Grid (NATGRID)</strong> and <strong>National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB)</strong> for the access of the <strong>CCTNS database</strong>.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>National Crime Records Bureau</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>NCRB, <strong>headquartered in New Delhi, was set-up in 1986</strong> under the <strong>Ministry of Home Affairs</strong> to function as a repository of information on crime and criminals so as to assist the investigators in linking crime to the perpetrators.</li>
<li>It was set up based on the recommendations of the National Police Commission (1977-1981) and the MHA&rsquo;s Task Force (1985).</li>
<li>NCRB brings out the annual comprehensive statistics of crime across the country <strong>(<a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/crime-in-india-2019-report-ncrb" target="_blank" rel="noopener">&lsquo;Crime in India&rsquo;</a> report)</strong>.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Being <strong>published since 1953,</strong> the report serves as a crucial tool in understanding the law and order situation across the country.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</div>
<p><a href="https://pib.gov.in/PressReleaseIframePage.aspx?PRID=1694909" 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/cctns-hackathon-cyber-challenge'
	],
	(int) 6 => [
		'title' => 'Pradhan Mantri Matru Vandana Yojana',
		'catname' => 'News Analysis',
		'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>Recently, the government's maternity benefit scheme, or <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/pradhan-mantri-matru-vandana-yojana" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Pradhan Mantri Matru Vandana Yojana (PMMVY)</strong></a>, has crossed 1.75 crore eligible women till the financial year 2020.</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>A total sum of Rs. 5,931.95 crore</strong> was paid to <strong>1.75 crore eligible beneficiaries</strong> between financial year 2018 and 2020.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>About:<a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1612515755_image1.png" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1612515755_image1.png" style="float: right; margin: 10px;" width="564" height="365" caption="false" /></a></strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>PMMVY is a <strong>maternity benefit programme</strong> being implemented in all districts of the country with effect from 1st January, 2017.</li>
<li>It is a <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/data-governance-quality-index-niti-aayog" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>centrally sponsored scheme</strong></a> being executed by the Ministry of Women and Child Development.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Direct Benefit Transfer Scheme:</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Cash benefits are provided to pregnant women in their bank account directly to meet enhanced nutritional needs and partially compensate for wage loss.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Target Beneficiaries:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>All <strong>Pregnant Women and Lactating Mothers (PW&amp;LM)</strong>, excluding those who are in regular employment with the Central Government or the State Governments or PSUs or those who are in receipt of similar benefits under any law for the time being in force.</li>
<li>All eligible Pregnant Women and Lactating Mothers who have their <strong>pregnancy on or after 1<sup>st</sup> January 2017 for the first child in the family</strong>.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Benefits under the Scheme:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Beneficiaries receive a <strong>cash benefit of Rs. 5,000 in three installments</strong> on fulfilling the following conditions:<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Early registration of pregnancy</li>
<li>Ante-natal check-up</li>
<li>Registration of the birth of the child and completion of first cycle of vaccination for the first living child of the family.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>The eligible beneficiaries also receive cash incentive under <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/national-health-mission-and-janani-suraksha-yojana" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Janani Suraksha Yojana (JSY)</strong></a>. Thus, on an average, a woman gets Rs. 6,000.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Distinctive Feature:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Implementation of the scheme is closely monitored by the central and state governments through the <strong>Pradhan Mantri Matru Vandana Yojana - Common Application Software (PMMVY-CAS)</strong>.</li>
<li>PMMVY-CAS is a web based software application that <strong>enables tracking the status of each beneficiary under the scheme,</strong> resulting in expedited, accountable and better grievance redressal.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Janani Suraksha Yojana</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>About:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>It is a <strong>100% centrally sponsored scheme</strong> which is being implemented with the objective of<strong> reducing maternal and infant mortality</strong> by promoting institutional delivery among pregnant women.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>As per the data of <a href="/to-the-points/Paper2/national-family-health-survey-5-1#:~:text=Infant%20Mortality%20Rate%20(IMR)%20is,and%2023%20for%20urban%20areas." target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>National Family Health Survey-5</strong></a>:<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li><strong>Infant and child mortality rates</strong> across most Indian states have declined.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Bihar registered the highest prevalence of neonatal mortality rate (NMR-34), infant mortality rate (IMR-47), and under-five mortality rate (U5MR-56) across 22 surveyed states and Union territories while Kerala reported the lowest death rates.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>The <strong>Maternal Mortality Ratio (MMR)</strong> in India has declined to <strong>113 (per 1,00,000 live births)</strong> in 2016-18 from 122 in 2015-17 and 130 in 2014-2016, according to the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/decline-in-maternal-mortality-ratio" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>special bulletin on Maternal Mortality in India 2016-18</strong></a>, released by the Office of the Registrar General's Sample Registration System (SRS).</li>
<li>The<strong> target 3.1 of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)</strong> set by the United Nations aims at reducing the global maternal mortality ratio to less than <strong>70 per 1,00,000 live births</strong>.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>Basically, it is a safe motherhood intervention under the <strong>National Health Mission (NHM)</strong>.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Benefit:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Under the JSY, <strong>eligible pregnant women are entitled for cash assistance irrespective of the age of mother and number of children,</strong> for giving birth in a government or accredited private health facility.</li>
<li>The scheme also provides performance based incentives to women health volunteers known as <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/national-institute-of-health-family-welfare" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Accredited Social Health Activist (ASHA)</strong></a> for promoting institutional delivery among pregnant women.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</div>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Other Schemes Focussing on Nutritional and Health Aspects of Women:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/malnutrition-in-india-1" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Indira Gandhi Matritva Sahyog Yojna (IGMSY)</a>:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>The scheme aims to contribute to a better enabling environment by providing cash incentives for improved health and nutrition to pregnant and lactating mothers.</li>
<li>It is being implemented by the Ministry of Women and Child Development.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong><a href="/to-the-points/Paper2/self-help-groups-shgs" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Kudumbashree in Kerala</a>:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>It was launched in Kerala in 1998 to wipe out absolute poverty through community action. It is the largest women empowering project in the country. It has three components i.e., microcredit, entrepreneurship and empowerment.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Poshan Abhiyaan:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Launched in March 2018, the goal of<a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/poshan-abhiyaan" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong> Poshan Abhiyaan</strong></a> is to achieve improvement in the nutritional status of Children (0-6 years) and Pregnant Women and Lactating Mothers in a time-bound manner.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/malnutrition-in-india-1" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS) Scheme</a>:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>The scheme provides specific interventions targeted towards the vulnerable groups including children below 6 years and <strong>women</strong>.</li>
<li>It is being implemented by the Ministry of Women and Child Development.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/pmmvy-beneficiaries-cross-175-crore/article33750096.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/pradhan-mantri-matru-vandana-yojana-2'
	],
	(int) 7 => [
		'title' => 'Smart Walls For Borders',
		'catname' => 'News Analysis',
		'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>Recently, an alternative <strong>Smart Wall</strong> has been proposed to replace the physical and armed patrolling with advanced surveillance technology at the <strong>USA-Mexico border</strong>.</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Earlier in 2019, the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/national-emergency-declared-in-united-states" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>USA declared a national emergency</strong></a> to fund construction of a border wall along the USA-Mexico Border citing "invasion" of drugs and criminals from Mexico.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Key Points<a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1612504380_image1.png" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1612504380_image1.png" style="float: right; margin: 10px;" caption="false" width="416" height="212" /></a></h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>About Smart Wall:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>There is no one single definition for this recently-conceived solution, however It is <strong>a collection of discrete technologies</strong> that work together to prevent illegal entry, smuggling, and all the various threats posed by a porous border.</li>
<li>It uses <strong><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/sea-guardian-drones-from-us" target="_blank" rel="noopener">drones</a>, scanners,</strong> and <strong>sensors</strong> to create a <strong>technological barrier</strong> too high to climb over, too wide to go around, and too deep to burrow under.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Using <strong><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/india-must-get-on-the-iot-highway-fast" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Internet-of-Things</a> (IoT)</strong> technologies like in-ground sensors, security cameras and software solutions, a smart wall could <strong>empower border officials with enhanced situational awareness</strong> to prevent illicit activity.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Benefits of Smart Wall:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Reduces Cost:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>A smart wall can accomplish the same goals as a physical wall with a much smaller price.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Decreases Deployment Time:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Physical boundaries take years to build but smart border technology is ready to go.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Low Maintenance Costs:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Unlike a physical barrier, a smart wall would <strong>allow border security officials to continuously adjust tactics to changing conditions</strong>.</li>
<li>Ground sensors and IoT devices are <strong>quick and easy to deploy and inexpensive to move and update</strong>.</li>
<li>They require only a <strong>fraction of the costs to maintain,</strong> and can be implemented gradually and as needed.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Decreases Environmental Concerns:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>A smart wall raises <strong>minimal environmental concerns,</strong> allowing wildlife and rainwater to pass freely through the area.</li>
<li>Most smart devices can tell the difference between people and animals, <strong>alerting officers when a human attempts to cross the border illegally</strong> while leaving wildlife alone.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Overcomes the Limitations of Terrain:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Rough terrain is difficult to patrol, which could leave portions of the wall vulnerable to breaches.</li>
<li>Digital technology, however, allows for <strong>enhanced surveillance across vast terrain</strong>. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li><strong>Devices</strong> like cameras and in-ground sensors <strong>allow patrolmen to survey hundreds of miles at once,</strong> and take informed action should the need arise.</li>
<li><strong>Real-time alerts</strong> make it easy to respond to activity from immigrants approaching the border or to a lost hiker looking for supplies.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Reduces Land Requirement:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>To construct a border wall, the government would need to seize property from local landowners.</li>
<li>However, Small and relatively non-invasive, smart wall technologies would require far fewer land seizures.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1612504653_image2.png" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1612504653_image2.png" width="557" height="346" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" /></strong></a></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Need of Smart Wall in India:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>A critical factor that must be considered to enable the usage of such a system along Indian borders is that the<strong> terrain in the region is rugged, and, furthermore, not even clearly defined</strong>.</li>
<li>Such a system, even if not feasible for India&rsquo;s long boundaries, may still be <strong>deployed to enhance critical security establishments</strong> of the country and complement the already existing physical fencing and walls.</li>
<li>It is <strong>imperative for Indian armed forces to be well equipped and simultaneously have the latest technological</strong> advantage over its enemies.</li>
<li>Experts should explore this idea to <strong>effectively counter the problem of border infiltration</strong>.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Smart Fencing in India:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Two pilot projects covering about 71 Kms on Indo-Pakistan Border (10 Kms) and Indo-Bangladesh Border (61 Kms) of <strong>Comprehensive Integrated Border Management System (CIBMS)</strong> have been completed.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>CIBMS involves deployment of a range of state-of-the-art surveillance technologies &mdash; <strong>thermal imagers, infra-red and laser-based intruder alarms, aerostats for aerial surveillance, unattended ground sensors</strong> that can help detect intrusion bids, <strong>radars, sonar systems</strong> to secure riverine borders, <strong>fibre-optic sensors</strong> and a command and control system that shall receive data from all surveillance devices in real time.</li>
<li><strong><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/bold-qit-project" target="_blank" rel="noopener">BOLD-QIT</a></strong> (Border Electronically Dominated QRT Interception Technique) under CIBMS on Indo- Bangladesh border in Dhubri district of Assam is also being used.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="https://www.thehindu.com/opinion/op-ed/smart-walls-for-indian-borders/article33744239.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/smart-walls-for-borders'
	],
	(int) 8 => [
		'title' => 'Taiwan Card Against China',
		'catname' => 'News Editorials',
		'desc' => '<div class="border">
<p>This article is based on<a href="https://indianexpress.com/article/opinion/playing-the-taiwan-card-7171528/" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong> &ldquo;Playing the Taiwan card&rdquo;</strong> </a>which was published in The Indian Express on 02/02/2021. It talks about the benefits and issues of establishing formal diplomatic ties between India and Taiwan.</p>
</div>
<p>The standoff at the Ladakh border between India and China continues amid failing talks. Moreover, the Chinese regime undertook several measures that may jeopardize the diplomatic solution.</p>
<p>While the Indian government and the armed forces make it clear that they will do whatever it takes to protect India&rsquo;s sovereignty and integrity, it should also explore options on the foreign policy front.</p>
<p>On the foreign policy front, India has shown its intent to be a part of the Quad security group (which China refers to as &ldquo;Asian NATO&rdquo;). However, the Quad continues to suffer from indecisiveness to evolve as a formal military bloc to counter China.</p>
<p>In such a situation, it is imperative that India explore alternate diplomatic and militaristic routes to counter China. One such viable option is establishing formal diplomatic ties with Taiwan.</p>
<h3>Background</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>In 1949 Chiang Kai Shek, the former Chinese president and former head of state who fled to the island of Formosa (former name for the island of Taiwan) following the victory of Mao Zedong in the long-drawn Chinese civil war.</li>
<li>Since then Relations between China and Taiwan started improving in the 1980s. China put forward a formula, known as "one country, two systems", under which Taiwan would be given significant autonomy if it accepted Chinese reunification.</li>
<li>In Taiwan, the offer was rejected, but China insists on concurrence to the One China Policy in all its foreign relations deliberations.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Rationale of Strong Indo-Taiwan Ties</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Deft Diplomacy:</strong> Though India does not have formal diplomatic relations with the island democracy that Beijing considers a breakaway province, it has slowly been increasing bilateral engagements in the economic, cultural and educational spheres.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>This can, with some deft diplomacy, become a bargaining chip at future negotiations.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Balancing Pakistan as China&rsquo;s Satellite State:</strong> Some retired diplomats feel India should leverage its relations with Taiwan to balance its ties with China and negate the latter&rsquo;s &ldquo;alliance&rdquo; with its all-weather friend Pakistan, which is now dangerously close to becoming China&rsquo;s satellite.</li>
<li><strong>Act East &amp; New Southbound Policy:</strong> There is scope for convergence between the Indian government&rsquo;s Act East policy, which advocates closer economic, strategic, and diplomatic engagement with countries in the Indo-Pacific, and Taiwan&rsquo;s New Southbound Policy, which seeks to enhance cooperation and exchange between Taiwan and 18 countries in Southeast Asia, South Asia, and Australasia.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Both policies aim to increase regional influence and gain political and economic benefits from their partners in the region.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Benefits of Establishing Diplomatic Ties with Taiwan</h3>
<p>Recognizing Taiwan will entail a lot of benefits for India&rsquo;s foreign policy regime.</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>India as Leader of Democratic World:</strong> Taiwan is a robust democracy with a booming economy.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>By establishing formal diplomatic ties with Taiwan, India can bolster its legitimacy as the leader of the democratic world, especially at a time when the role of US has been undermined.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Expanding Alliance To Counter China:</strong> India can get the support of another powerful ally in its attempt to carve out a new supply chain alliance which India-Japan-Australia formalized recently.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Further, the Quad security grouping can be extended to include new members.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Pay Back China in the Same Coin:</strong> China in many repeated efforts has tried to nudge the United Nations Security Council to discuss the Kashmir question.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>By institutionalizing formal diplomatic relations with Taiwan, India can clearly send a message to China that if it does not respect &ldquo;One India policy&rdquo;, then India will not also follow &ldquo;One China&rdquo; policy.</li>
<li>Further, recognizing Taiwan will make it clear to China that India is very assertive and that if the need arises, India will not back down from sending dedicated naval and air assets in the disputed South China Sea region to enforce the freedom of navigation principle.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Associated Issues</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Every Indian approach towards Taiwan has met with sharp reactions from China. This has considerably constrained the development of broad-based ties between the two countries beyond the realms of culture, education, and investments.</li>
<li>As not even the mighty US has so far established formal diplomatic relations with Taiwan, the recognition of Taiwan may invite severe ramifications for India. For example:
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>China is our second-largest bilateral trade partner and a key export partner of India with regard to raw materials and goods.</li>
<li>According to a FICCI report, India imports more than 40% of several important goods like the API (active pharmaceutical ingredients), television, chemicals, chips, textiles and many more, from China.</li>
<li>As a possible retaliatory measure, China can stop exports of these items.</li>
<li>It can also activate its terror financing networks which, for years, remained a chronic internal security issue for India in the Northeast.</li>
<li>China will also collaborate with Pakistan by intensifying terrorism in the Kashmir valley and the northeast of India.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Conclusion</h3>
<p>While both China and India have developed considerable military and economic strength, the former has surpassed India to become an economic powerhouse. It has now embraced aggressiveness to enforce an expansionist outlook. In such a situation, providing legitimacy to the existence of Taiwan may be dubbed as a necessary step.</p>
<table border="1" style="border-collapse: collapse; width: 100%;">
<tbody>
<tr>
<td style="width: 100%; border-style: dotted; border-color: #ff0000; background-color: #f3ffed;">
<p><span style="color: #000080;"><em><strong>Drishti Mains Question</strong></em></span></p>
<p>Establishing formal diplomatic ties with Taiwan will send a strong message to China. Critically Analyse.</p>
</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<p style="text-align: center;"><iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/bCt1wavUUdU" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe></p>
<p>This editorial is based on<a href="https://www.thehindu.com/opinion/editorial/setback-in-myanmar/article33734307.ece" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong> &ldquo;Setback in Myanmar: on military coup&rdquo;</strong> </a>published in The Hindu on February 3<sup>rd</sup>, 2020. Now watch this on our Youtube channel.</p>',
		'postdate' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenTime) {},
		'url' => 'https://www.drishtiias.com/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/taiwan-card-against-china'
	],
	(int) 9 => [
		'title' => 'Curbing Unsolicited Commercial Communications',
		'catname' => 'News Analysis',
		'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>Recently, the Delhi High Court (HC) ordered the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/telecom-firms-oppose-trai%E2%80%99s-public-wi-fi-model" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI)</strong> </a>to ensure &ldquo;complete and strict&rdquo; implementation of the regulation issued by it in 2018 for curbing <strong>Unsolicited Commercial Communications (UCC).</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>UCC</strong> means any Commercial Communication which a <strong>subscriber opts not to receive,</strong> but does <strong>not include</strong>- any transactional message or any message transmitted on the directions of the Central Government or State Government or agencies authorized by it.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Background:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>A plea was filed by a company in the HC claiming that millions of its customers have been defrauded by the <strong><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/multi-state-phishing-scam" target="_blank" rel="noopener">phishing</a> activities over the mobile networks and the failure of the telecom companies</strong> to prevent the same has <strong>caused financial and reputational loss.</strong>
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>It claimed that under the regulations, <strong>the telecom companies are required to verify purported telemarketers seeking registration</strong> (called registered telemarketers or RTMs) with them before granting access to their customer data and also take action immediately against all fraudulent RTMs.</li>
<li><strong>Phishing</strong> is a <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/rising-cybercrimes" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>cybercrime</strong></a> in which a target or <strong>targets are contacted by email, telephone or text message</strong> by someone posing as a legitimate institution<strong> to lure individuals into providing sensitive data</strong> such as personally identifiable information, banking and credit card details, and passwords.</li>
<li>It contended that the telecom companies are violating their obligations under the <strong>Telecom Commercial Communications Customer Preferences Regulations (TCCCPR) 2018,</strong> to curb the problem of unsolicited commercial communications.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>High Courts Direction:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>To TRAI:</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Ensure &ldquo;complete and strict&rdquo; implementation of the regulation issued by it in 2018 for curbing UCC.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>To Telecom Service Providers (TSPs):</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Ensure strict compliance with the TCCCPR 2018 issued by TRAI.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Telecom Commercial Communications Customer Preferences Regulations (TCCCPR) 2018</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>It replaced the <strong>Telecom Commercial Communications Customer Preference Regulations, 2010 (2010 Regulations).</strong></li>
<li>It was issued by the TRAI to provide a revised regulatory framework<strong> aimed at regulating 'unsolicited commercial communication' (UCC) in India.</strong></li>
<li>The new regulatory framework has devolved<strong> control and regulatory powers to access providers,</strong> who are now required to<strong> establish their own codes of practice (CoPs)</strong> to deal with UCC.</li>
<li>It provides for a wide range of customer preferences which are to be implemented in near real time using <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/bitcoins" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Distributed Ledger Technology (DLT)</strong> </a>to make communications traceable and capable of being controlled effectively.</li>
<li>It also provides for the use of <strong>cloud-based solutions for handling complaints, the registration of headers and preferences,</strong> and use of smart contracts for automated allocation of roles between entities in the commercial communication ecosystem. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The technology-based solutions are required to be tested in <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/sandbox-for-fintech" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>regulatory sandboxes</strong></a> under the oversight of the TRAI.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</div>
<p><a href="https://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/Delhi/strictly-implement-regulations-to-curb-unsolicited-commercial-calls-hc-tells-trai/article33740060.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/curbing-unsolicited-commercial-communications'
	],
	(int) 10 => [
		'title' => 'Military Coup in Myanmar',
		'catname' => 'News Analysis',
		'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>Recently, the <strong>Myanmar military has grabbed power in a coup -</strong> the <strong>third time in the nation&rsquo;s history</strong> since its independence from British rule in 1948.</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>A <strong>one-year state of emergency</strong> has been imposed and <strong>democratically elected leader <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/aung-san-suu-kyi-to-defend-myanmar-in-icj" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Aung San Suu Kyi</a> has been detained.</strong></li>
<li><strong>&lsquo;Coup&rsquo;</strong> is generally described as a sudden, violent, and illegal seizure of power from a government.</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Myanmar</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Location:</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Myanmar, also known as Burma, is in South East Asia and neighbours Thailand, Laos, Bangladesh, China and India.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Demography:</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>It has a population of about 54 million, most of whom are Burmese speakers, although other languages are also spoken. The biggest city is Yangon (Rangoon) but the capital is Nay Pyi Taw.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Religion:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The main religion is <strong>Buddhism.</strong> There are many ethnic groups in the country, including <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/un-report-on-myanmar-rohingya-crisis" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Rohingya Muslims</strong></a>.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Polity:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The country <strong>gained independence from Britain in 1948.</strong> It was ruled by the armed forces from 1962 until 2011, when a new government began ushering in a return to civilian rule.</li>
<li>In the 2010s, <strong>the military regime decided to transition the country towards democracy.</strong> Although the armed forces remained powerful, political opponents were freed and elections were allowed to be held.</li>
<li><strong>The NLD won the 2015 election,</strong> the country&rsquo;s first free and fair election participated by multiple parties, and formed the government, raising hopes that the country is on its way to full transition to democracy.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1612430526_image3.png" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1612430526_image3.png" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="400" caption="false" /></a></p>
</div>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>About the Military Coup:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>In the<strong> November 2020 parliamentary election,</strong> Suu Kyi&rsquo;s party <strong>National League for Democracy (NLD)</strong> secured the majority of the seats.</li>
<li>In the Myanmars&rsquo; Parliament, <strong>the military holds 25% of the total seats according to the 2008 military-drafted constitution</strong> and several key ministerial positions are also reserved for military appointees.</li>
<li>When the newly elected Myanmar lawmakers were to<strong> hold the first session of Parliament in 2021,</strong> the<strong> military imposed a state of emergency</strong> for one year <strong>citing massive voting fraud</strong> in the parliamentary elections.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Global Reaction:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>China: &lsquo;All parties in Myanmar will properly handle their differences</strong> under the constitution and legal framework to maintain political and social stability&rsquo;.</li>
<li><strong>USA:</strong> The USA President<strong> threatened to reimpose sanctions on Myanmar</strong> following a coup by the country&rsquo;s military leaders and called for a <strong>concerted international response</strong> to press them to relinquish power.</li>
<li><strong>ASEAN Countries: <a href="/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-international-institution/asean" target="_blank" rel="noopener">ASEAN</a></strong>&rsquo;s current chair, Brunei, called for &lsquo;dialogue among parties, reconciliation and the return to normalcy&rsquo;. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Singapore, Malaysia and Indonesia expressed concern, while Thailand, Cambodia, and the Philippines noted that this was Myanmar&rsquo;s &lsquo;internal affair&rsquo;.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>India&rsquo;s Reaction:</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>India supports the process of democratic transition in Myanmar.</li>
<li>Though India has expressed deep concern over recent developments in Myanmar, <strong>cutting off from the Myanmar military is not a viable option</strong> as India has significant economic and strategic interests in Myanmar and its neighbourhood.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>India&rsquo;s Strategic interests in Myanmar and its relations with Myanmar Military: </strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>India&rsquo;s Relationship with Myanmar Military:</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>India&rsquo;s military-diplomatic outreach to Myanmar became a <strong>cornerstone of its <a href="/loksabha-rajyasabha-discussions/the-big-picture-india-s-act-east-policy" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Act East policy</a>.</strong></li>
<li>On the eve of the recent visit of the Foreign Secretary Chief of the Army Staff to Myanmar in 2020, <strong>Myanmar handed over 22 Indian insurgents from across the border</strong> and it was decided to ramp up the sale of military hardware to Myanmar, including 105 mm light artillery guns, naval gunboats and more recently, lightweight torpedoes.</li>
<li>Recent example of cooperation is that <strong>Myanmar has begun to vaccinate itself with the 1.5 million doses of <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/india-s-vaccine-diplomacy" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Covid vaccine sent by India</a>,</strong> while putting China&rsquo;s 3,00,000 doses on hold.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>India&rsquo;s Interests in Myanmar:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li><strong>Infrastructure and Connectivity:</strong> India has cultivated several infrastructure and development projects with Myanmar, which it sees as the &ldquo;gateway to the East&rdquo; and <strong>ASEAN</strong> countries: <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li><strong>Operationalisation of the crucial Sittwe</strong> port in Myanmar&rsquo;s Rakhine state by 2021 is committed.</li>
<li>India assists infrastructure projects such as the <strong>India-Myanmar-Thailand trilateral highway</strong> and the <strong><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/presidents-visit-to-myanmar" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Kaladan Multi-Modal Transit Transport Project.</a></strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>The Kaladan project will link <strong>Kolkata to Sittwe</strong> in Myanmar and then from Myanmar&rsquo;s Kaladan river to India&rsquo;s north-east.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>The two countries signed the <strong>Land Border Crossing Agreement in 2018,</strong> which allowed bona fide travellers with valid documents to cross the border at two international points of entry/exit- Moreh-Tamu and Zokhawthar-Rih.<a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1612430982_image2.png" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1612430982_image2.png" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" caption="false" width="570" height="290" /></a></li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Security:</strong> India has been concerned over some militant groups like the <strong>United National Liberation Front (UNLF)</strong> and <strong>National Democratic Front of Bodoland (NDFB)</strong> from the North-East region taking shelter in Myanmar.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Indian needs perpetual support and coordination from Myanmar for the<strong> maintenance of security and stability along its North East border areas.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Rohingya Issues:</strong> India is committed to ensuring safe, sustainable and speedy return of Rohingya refugees from refugee camps of India and Bangladesh.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Building on the progress made under the<a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/rakhine-state-development-programme" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong> Rakhine State Development Programme (RSDP)</strong></a>, India has recently proposed to finalise projects under phase-III of the programme, including setting up of a skills training centre and upgrading of agricultural mechanisation.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Investment:</strong> With Indian investments of over USD 1.2 billion, Myanmar holds considerable importance than any other country in South Asia.</li>
<li><strong>Energy:</strong> The two countries are also expanding partnership in the area of energy cooperation.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Recently, India approved an investment of over USD 120 million in the <strong>Shwe Oil and Gas project.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Way Forward</h3>
<p>India should continue to engage with the present regime in Myanmar working towards mutual development of people of both the countries while it should support sharing experiences in constitutionalism and federalism to assist Myanmar in resolving the prevailing stalemate.</p>
<p><a href="https://www.thehindu.com/news/international/news-analysis-with-myanmars-military-coup-the-tightrope-between-idealism-and-realpolitik-returns-for-new-delhi/article33720952.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/military-coup-in-myanmar'
	],
	(int) 11 => [
		'title' => 'Fishing Cat Conservation Alliance',
		'catname' => 'News Analysis',
		'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>Recently,<strong> the Fishing Cat Conservation Alliance</strong> started a worldwide campaign to raise awareness for conservation of fishing cats.</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>The Fishing Cat Conservation Alliance</strong> is a team of <strong>conservationists, researchers and enthusiasts</strong> working to achieve functioning floodplains and <strong>coastal ecosystems that ensure survival of the fishing cat.</strong></li>
</ul>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<p><a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1612429829_image1.png" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1612429829_image1.png" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="350" caption="false" /></a></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Scientific Name:</strong> <em>Prionailurus viverrinus.</em></li>
<li><strong>Description:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>It is twice the size of a house cat.</strong></li>
<li>The<strong> fishing cat is nocturnal</strong> (active at night) and apart from fish also preys on frogs, crustaceans, snakes, birds, and scavenges on carcasses of larger animals.</li>
<li>The species breed all year round.</li>
<li>They spend most of their lives in areas of dense vegetation close to water bodies and are excellent swimmers.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Habitat:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Fishing cats have a patchy distribution along the<strong> Eastern Ghats.</strong> They abound in estuarine floodplains, tidal mangrove forests and also inland freshwater habitats.</li>
<li>Apart from <strong>Sundarbans</strong> in West Bengal and Bangladesh, fishing cats inhabit the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/odisha-s-lake-conservation" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Chilika lagoon</strong></a> and surrounding wetlands in Odisha, Coringa and Krishna mangroves in Andhra Pradesh.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Threats:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Wetland degradation</strong> and conversion for aquaculture and other<strong> commercial projects,</strong> sand mining along river banks, agricultural intensification resulting in loss of riverine buffer and conflict with humans in certain areas resulting in targeted hunting and retaliatory killings.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Protection Status:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/iucn-red-list" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>IUCN Red List</strong></a>: Vulnerable. Despite multiple threats, the Fishing Cat was recently <strong>downlisted to &ldquo;Vulnerable&rdquo; from &ldquo;Endangered&rdquo;</strong> in the IUCN Red List species assessment.</li>
<li><a href="/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-international-institution/cites" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>CITES</strong></a>: Appendix II</li>
<li><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/wild-life-protection-act-implementation-and-failure" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Indian Wildlife Protection Act, 1972</strong></a>: Schedule I</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Conservation Efforts:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Recently,<strong> the Fishing Cat Conservation Alliance</strong> has initiated a study of the<strong> bio-geographical distribution of the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/fishing-cats" target="_blank" rel="noopener">fishing cat</a></strong> in the unprotected and human-dominated <strong>landscapes of the northeastern Ghats of Andhra Pradesh.</strong></li>
<li>In 2012, the <strong>West Bengal government officially declared the Fishing Cat as the State Animal</strong> and the Calcutta Zoo has two big enclosures dedicated to them.</li>
<li>In Odisha, many NGOs and wildlife conservation Societies are involved in Fishing Cat research and conservation work.</li>
<li><strong>The Fishing Cat Project,</strong> launched in 2010 started raising awareness about the Cat in West Bengal.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="https://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-features/tp-metroplus/a-whisker-away/article33745359.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/fishing-cat-conservation-alliance'
	],
	(int) 12 => [
		'title' => 'Centre for Wetland Conservation and Management',
		'catname' => 'News Analysis',
		'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>Recently, on the occasion of the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/world-wetlands-day-1" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>World Wetland Day</strong></a>, the Minister of State for Environment, Forest and Climate Change announced the establishment of a <strong>Centre for Wetland Conservation and Management (CWCM),</strong> as a part of the <strong><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/national-centre-for-sustainable-coastal-management" target="_blank" rel="noopener">National Centre for Sustainable Coastal Management (NCSCM)</a></strong>.</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>World Wetlands Day</strong> is celebrated every year on the <strong>2<sup>nd</sup> of February.</strong></li>
<li>The year 2021 also commemorates the <strong>50<sup>th</sup> anniversary</strong> of the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/world-wetlands-day" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Convention on Wetlands</strong></a> signed on 2<sup>nd</sup> February 1971 in the Iranian city of Ramsar.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The theme for 2021 is <strong>'Wetlands and Water'.</strong></li>
<li>It was first celebrated in <strong>1997.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Significance of Centre for Wetland Conservation and Management (CWCM):</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The dedicated Centre would<strong> address specific research needs and knowledge gaps and will aid in the application of integrated approaches for conservation, management</strong> and wise use of the wetlands.</li>
<li>It will help in <strong>building partnerships</strong> and <strong>networks</strong> with relevant national and international agencies.</li>
<li>It would serve as a<strong> knowledge hub</strong> and enable exchange between State/ UT Wetland Authorities, wetland users, managers, researchers, policy-makers and practitioners.</li>
<li>It would also <strong>assist the national and State/UT Governments</strong> in the design and implementation of policy and regulatory frameworks, management planning, monitoring and targeted research for wetlands conservation.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Wetlands:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/wetlands-restoration" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Wetlands</strong> </a>are ecosystems saturated with water, either seasonally or permanently. They include <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/coringa-mangroves" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>mangroves</strong></a>, marshes, rivers, lakes, deltas, floodplains and flooded forests, rice-fields, <a href="/to-the-points/paper3/coral-bleaching" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>coral reefs</strong></a>, marine areas no deeper than 6 metres at low tide, as well as human-made wetlands such as waste-water treatment ponds and reservoirs.</li>
<li>Though they cover only around<strong> 6% of the Earth&rsquo;s land</strong> surface, <strong>40% of all plant and animal species live or breed in wetlands.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Significance of Wetlands:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Wetlands are a critical part of our natural environment. They<strong> mitigate <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/flood-management-in-india" target="_blank" rel="noopener">floods</a>, protect coastlines</strong> and build community resilience to disasters, absorb pollutants and improve water quality.</li>
<li>Wetlands are<strong> critical to human and planet life.</strong> More than <strong>1 billion people depend on them for a living.</strong></li>
<li>They are a <strong>vital source for food, raw materials, genetic resources for medicines, and hydropower.</strong></li>
<li>30% of land-based <strong>carbon</strong> is stored in peatland (a type of wetlands).</li>
<li>They play an important role in <strong>transport, tourism</strong> and the <strong>cultural and spiritual well-being</strong> of people.</li>
<li>Many wetlands are areas of <strong>natural beauty</strong> and many are important to Aboriginal people.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Threats:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>As per the IPBES <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/world-wetlands-day-1" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>(Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services)&rsquo;s</strong></a> global assessment, wetlands are the most threatened ecosystem.</li>
<li>Wetlands are <strong>disappearing 3 times faster than forests</strong> due to human activities and global warming.</li>
<li>According to <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/world-heritage-week-2019" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>UNESCO</strong></a>, the threat to wetlands will have an adverse impact on 40% of the world&rsquo;s flora and fauna that live or breed in wetlands.</li>
<li><strong>Major threats:</strong> Agriculture, development, pollution and <strong><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/climate-change-and-development-in-india" target="_blank" rel="noopener">climate change</a>.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Status of Wetlands in India:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>India has nearly <strong>4.6% of its land as wetlands,</strong> covering an <strong>area of 15.26 million hectares</strong> and has <strong>42 sites designated as Wetlands of International Importance (Ramsar Sites)</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Wetlands declared as Ramsar sites are protected under strict guidelines of the convention.</li>
<li>There are currently over 2,300 Ramsar Sites around the world.</li>
<li>Recently, India has added <strong><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/ladakh-s-tso-kar-wetland-complex-ramsar-site" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Tso Kar Wetland Complex</a></strong> in Ladakh as its 42<sup>nd</sup> Ramsar site.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>Wetlands are regulated under the <strong>Wetlands (Conservation and Management) Rules, 2017.</strong></li>
<li>The 2010 version of the Rules provided for a<strong> Central Wetland Regulatory Authority,</strong> but new Rules of 2017 replaced it with state-level bodies and created a National Wetland Committee, which functions in an advisory role.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>The <strong>newer regulations removed some items</strong> from the definition of &ldquo;wetlands&rdquo; including backwaters, lagoons, creeks, and estuaries.</li>
<li>Under the 2017 regulations, process to <strong>identify the wetlands has been delegated to the States.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>National Centre for Sustainable Coastal Management</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Location:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>It is located at<strong> Chennai,</strong> Tamil Nadu.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Divisions:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>It has various research divisions including, Geospatial Sciences, Remote Sensing and Geographic Information Systems (GIS), Coastal environmental impact assessment, Conservation of Coastal &amp; Marine Resources, etc.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Objective:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>It aims to <strong>promote integrated and sustainable management of the coastal and marine areas</strong> in India for the benefit and wellbeing of the traditional coastal and island communities.</li>
<li>It also intends to promote <strong>sustainable</strong> coasts through increased partnership, conservation practices, scientific research and <strong>knowledge benefit</strong> and well being of the current and future generation.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Role:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/sahyog-app-survey-of-india" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Survey of India</strong> </a>and NCSCM have <strong>mapped the Hazard Line for the entire coast of India,</strong> which includes vulnerability mapping of flood, erosion and sea-level rise.</li>
<li>It also <strong>advises the Union and State Governments and other associated stakeholders</strong> on policy, and scientific matters related to<a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/integrated-coastal-zone-management-plan" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong> Integrated Coastal Zone Management (ICZM).</strong></a></li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</div>
<p><a href="https://pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=1694463#:~:text=and%20Climate%20Change-,On%20World%20Wetlands%20Day%20India%20gets%20its,for%20Wetland%20Conservation%20and%20Management.&amp;text=by%20PIB%20Delhi-,On%20the%20occasion%20of%20the%20World%20Wetland%20Day%20and%20as,Forest%20and%20Climate%20Change%2C%20Sh." 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/centre-for-wetland-conservation-and-management'
	],
	(int) 13 => [
		'title' => 'Fiscal Activism',
		'catname' => 'News Editorials',
		'desc' => '<div class="border">
<p>This article is based on <a href="https://www.thehindu.com/opinion/op-ed/its-goodbye-to-fiscal-orthodoxy/article33734312.ece" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>&ldquo;It&rsquo;s goodbye to fiscal orthodoxy&rdquo;</strong> </a>which was published in The Hindu on 03/02/2021. It talks about government departure from rigid adherence to fiscal consolidation.</p>
</div>
<p>Affected by the Covid-19 pandemic, the flailing Indian economy is marked by contracting GDP requiring a push from the government. In this scenario, the government has resorted to Keynesian economics (government&rsquo;s spending rather than the free hand of the market).</p>
<p>The<a href="/current-affairs-news-analysis-editorials/news-analysis/03-02-2021#7605" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong> Budget 2021</strong></a> is a selective departure from the principles of the free market. The government adheres to market orthodoxy elements, such as privatization and a greater role for foreign direct investment but sought to spend more to spur growth.</p>
<p>This can be reflected by the fact that the Finance Minister&rsquo;s speech pledges to lower the fiscal deficit to 4.5% of GDP by 2025-26 and promised to introduce an amendment to the FRBM Act to formalize the new targets (the present target as per the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/flexibility-under-the-frbm-act" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>FRBM Act</strong></a> is of 3%).</p>
<p>Thus, the Budget marks an important departure from one of the key tenets of the Washington Consensus, the framework for market-oriented economics that has dominated policy-making in most parts of the world. Though this is a step in the right direction, it has some key macroeconomic stability concerns.</p>
<p><a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1612355811_image%200.png" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1612355811_image 0.png" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="500" caption="false" /></a></p>
<h3>Departure From The Principles of Free-Market Economics</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Budget 2021 rests on six pillars:</strong> Health and well-being, physical &amp; financial capital and infrastructure, inclusive development for aspirational India, reinvigorating human capital, innovation, and R&amp;D, and minimum government-maximum governance.</li>
<li>This will require a major increase in funding, not only from the Central Government but also from the states and the private sector. This can be reflected in some of the following highlights of the budget:
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The present budget presents <strong>a whopping 34.5% increase</strong> in budget allocation &mdash; Rs 5.54 lakh crore.</li>
<li>The Budget has proposed a new bad bank framework to deal with the problem of non-performing assets. Given the magnitude of NPA, a huge amount of capital will be required to finance it.</li>
<li>The government also announced the setting up of a development finance institution to provide long-term financing for infrastructure projects.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Reasons for Departure From Fiscal Orthodoxy</h3>
<p><strong>Departure From Rigid Adherence To Fiscal Consolidation</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The Economic Survey that preceded the Budget laid the groundwork for a departure from rigid adherence to fiscal consolidation.</li>
<li>It has a quote from <strong>economist Olivier Blanchard,</strong> &ldquo;If the interest rate paid by the government is less than the growth rate, then the intertemporal budget constraint facing the government no longer binds.&rdquo;</li>
<li>According to the Economic Survey, in the current situation, expansionary fiscal policy will boost growth, and given India&rsquo;s growth potential, we do not have to worry about debt sustainability until 2030.</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Intertemporal Budget Constraint</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The &ldquo;intertemporal budget constraint&rdquo; means that any debt outstanding today must be offset by a future source of revenue of income.</li>
<li>Blanchard was saying that intertemporal budget constraint doesn&rsquo;t apply if the Interest Rate-Growth Differential (IRGD), the difference between the interest rate and growth rate, becomes negative.</li>
<li>In the advanced economies, as interest rates have turned negative, Blanchard&rsquo;s condition has been met. So governments there do not have to worry that deficits will render public debt unsustainable.</li>
</ul>
</div>
<p><strong>Idea Supported By IMF &amp; World Bank</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the World Bank, both flag-bearers of the Washington Consensus, have been urging a departure from fiscal orthodoxy in the wake of the pandemic.</li>
<li>Both these institutions used to be wary of any increase in the public debt to GDP ratio beyond 100%.</li>
<li>Today, they are urging the advanced economies to spend more by running up deficits even when the debt to GDP ratio is poised to rise to 125% by the end of 2021.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Key Macroeconomic Stability Issues</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Inflation May Rise:</strong> There is a concern that a large fiscal deficit can fuel a rise in inflation.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Further, it is more than likely that a change in the fiscal consolidation targets will require a change in the inflation target of 4% set for India&rsquo;s Reserve Bank. However, the Budget makes no mention of such a possibility.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Low Tax-to GDP Ratio:</strong> Another concern is that, with the tax to GDP ratio not rising as expected, the government has to focus on garnering more non-tax revenues through strategic disinvestment, privatization, and monetization of non-core assets.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>However, these measures have their own issues.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Disinvestment, A High-Risk Strategy:</strong> The sale of public assets has become crucial to a reduction in fiscal deficits in the years ahead. However, this is a high-risk strategy.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>For years now, revenues from disinvestment have fallen short of targets. For example, Air India&rsquo;s sale, which was begun in 2018, is still dragging on.</li>
<li>Moreover, selling public assets is politically contentious due to public sector unions and job losses.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Downgrade of Ratings:</strong> An important consideration is a fear that the rating agencies would downgrade India if total public debt crossed say, 10%-11% of GDP.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>That is a risk that cannot be wished away unless the rating agencies have decided to toe the IMF-World Bank line on fiscal deficits.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Conflicting With AtmaNirbharta:</strong> Moreover, large-scale privatization almost always involves substantial FDI. Increasing FDI will result in a large rise in foreign presence in the domestic economies.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>However, a rise in FDI may not reconcile with Atmanirbhar Bharat which connotes greater self-reliance and stronger Indian companies.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Crowding Out Effect:</strong> As the government adopts an expansionary fiscal policy stance and increases its spending to boost economic activity.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>This leads to an increase in interest rates. Increased interest rates affect private investment decisions.</li>
<li>A high magnitude of the crowding-out effect may even lead to lesser income in the economy.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Conclusion</h3>
<p>A departure from fiscal orthodoxy is welcome. But the government needs to think of ways to make it more sustainable.</p>
<table border="1" style="border-collapse: collapse; width: 100%;">
<tbody>
<tr>
<td style="width: 100%; border-style: dotted; border-color: #ff0000; background-color: #fdfff2;">
<p><span style="color: #000080;"><em><strong>Drishti Mains Question</strong></em></span></p>
<p>Budget 2021 is a departure from a key tenet of the Washington Consensus. Analyze.</p>
</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<p style="text-align: center;"><iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/THnDWC5xQEs" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe></p>
<p>This editorial is based on <a href="https://www.thehindu.com/opinion/editorial/getting-back-on-track/article33721360.ece" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>&ldquo;Getting back on track: on Union Budget 2021&rdquo;</strong></a> published in The Hindu on February 2<sup>nd</sup>, 2020. Now watch this on our Youtube channel.</p>',
		'postdate' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenTime) {},
		'url' => 'https://www.drishtiias.com/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/fiscal-activism'
	],
	(int) 14 => [
		'title' => 'Budget 2021 Highlights: Minimum Government, Maximum Governance and Fiscal Position',
		'catname' => 'News Analysis',
		'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>Recently, the Minister of Finance presented the Union <a href="/to-the-points/paper3/government-budgeting#:~:text=According%20to%20Article%20112%20of,Annual%20Financial%20Statement%20(AFS).&amp;text=The%20economic%20and%20financial%20policy,introduction%20of%20new%20schemes%2Fprojects." target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Budget</strong></a> 2021-22. This was the <strong>first digital budget.</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>This section deals with the theme<strong> &lsquo;Minimum Government, Maximum Governance&rsquo;</strong> and <strong>Fiscal Position of the government.</strong></li>
</ul>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Minimum Government, Maximum Governance:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>National Commission for Allied Healthcare Professionals</strong> already introduced to ensure transparent and efficient regulation of the 56 allied healthcare professions.</li>
<li>The<strong> National Nursing and Midwifery Commission Bill</strong> introduced for the same in the nursing profession.</li>
<li><strong>Proposed Conciliation Mechanism</strong> with mandate for quick resolution of contractual disputes with Central Public Sector Enterprises (CPSEs).</li>
<li>Rs. 3,768 crore allocated for<strong> first digital census in the history of India.</strong></li>
<li>Rs. 300 crore grant to the Government of Goa for the diamond jubilee celebrations of the <strong>state&rsquo;s liberation from Portuguese.</strong></li>
<li>Rs. 1,000 crore for the <strong>welfare of Tea workers</strong> especially women and their children in Assam and West Bengal through a special scheme.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Fiscal Position:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/increased-fiscal-deficit" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Fiscal deficit</strong></a> stands at 9.5% of the<a href="/printpdf/base-year-for-gdp-calculations#:~:text=GDP%20calculation%20in%20India,difference%20between%20exports%20and%20imports)." target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong> Gross Domestic Product (GDP)</strong></a>, and is estimated to be 6.8% in 2021-22.</li>
<li>Plan <strong>to continue on the path of fiscal consolidation,</strong> achieving a fiscal deficit level below 4.5% of GDP by 2025-2026 with a fairly steady decline over the period.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Amendment to <a href="/to-the-points/paper3/government-budgeting" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Fiscal Responsibility and Budget Management (FRBM) Act</strong></a> proposed to achieve targeted Fiscal Deficit levels.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>The<a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/mp-s-salaries-cut-and-mplads-suspended" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong> Contingency Fund of India</strong> </a>is to be augmented from Rs. 500 crore to Rs. 30,000 crore through Finance Bill.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1612424389_drishti_ias_budget.jpeg" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1612424389_drishti_ias_budget.jpeg" width="566" height="319" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" caption="false" /></a></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Recommendations of Fifteenth Finance Commission:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The final report covering 2021-26 was submitted to the President, retaining vertical <strong>shares of states at 41%.</strong></li>
<li>Funds to UTs of Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh would be provided by the Centre.</li>
<li>On the Commission&rsquo;s recommendation, <strong>Rs. 1,18,452 crore have been provided as Revenue Deficit Grant to 17 states in 2021-22,</strong> as against Rs. 74,340 crore to 14 states in 2020-21.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Tax Proposals:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>No exemption on interest,</strong> if Provident Fund PF contribution is more than Rs. 2.5 lakh.</li>
<li><strong>Exemption from filing tax returns for senior citizens</strong> over 75 years of age and having only pension and interest income; tax to be deducted by paying the bank.</li>
<li><strong>Income Tax settlement commission</strong> abolished.</li>
<li><strong>Higher Tax Collection</strong> at Source rate for <strong>non-filers.</strong></li>
<li>Reducing time to file belated returns.</li>
<li><strong>Agriculture Infrastructure and Development Cess (AIDC)</strong> on a small number of items.</li>
<li><strong>Dispute Resolution Committee</strong> to be set up for taxpayers with taxable income up to Rs. 50 lakh and disputed income up to Rs. 10 lakh.</li>
<li><strong>National Faceless Income Tax Appellate Tribunal Centre</strong> to be established.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="https://pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=1693907" 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/budget-2021-highlights-minimum-government-maximum-governance-and-fiscal-position'
	],
	(int) 15 => [
		'title' => 'Budget 2021 Highlights: Infrastructure',
		'catname' => 'News Analysis',
		'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>Recently, the Minister of Finance presented the Union <a href="/to-the-points/paper3/government-budgeting#:~:text=According%20to%20Article%20112%20of,Annual%20Financial%20Statement%20(AFS).&amp;text=The%20economic%20and%20financial%20policy,introduction%20of%20new%20schemes%2Fprojects." target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Budget</strong> </a>2021-22. This was the <strong>first digital budget.</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>This section deals with proposals related to <strong>Infrastructure.</strong></li>
</ul>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Production Linked Incentive scheme (PLI):</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Rs. 1.97 lakh crore in next 5 years for <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/expansion-of-production-linked-incentive-scheme" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>PLI schemes</strong> </a>in 13 Sectors to create and nurture manufacturing global champions for an <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/atmanirbhar-bharat-and-economic-stimulus" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>AatmaNirbhar Bharat.</strong></a></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Textiles:<a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1612346861_image6.jpg" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1612346861_image6.jpg" style="float: right;" width="350" caption="false" /></a></strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Mega Investment Textiles Parks (MITRA) scheme</strong> to be introduced.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Infrastructure:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><a href="/loksabha-rajyasabha-discussions/the-big-picture-national-infrastructure-pipeline-nip-dashboard" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>National Infrastructure Pipeline (NIP)</strong></a> expanded to 7,400 projects.</li>
<li>Measures in three thrust areas to <strong>increase funding</strong> for NIP:<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li><strong>Creation of institutional structures:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Set up and capitalise a<strong> Development Financial Institution (DFI).</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>Big thrust on <strong>monetizing assets.</strong></li>
<li>Enhancing the <strong>share of capital expenditure.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Roads and Highways Infrastructure:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Rs. 1,18,101 lakh crore, <strong>highest ever outlay,</strong> for Ministry of Road Transport and Highways.</li>
<li>New <a href="/to-the-points/paper3/industrial-corridors-2" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Economic corridors</strong></a> and <strong>Expressways</strong> being planned.</li>
<li><strong>Advanced Traffic management system</strong> in all new 4 and 6-lane highways.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Railway Infrastructure:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>National Rail Plan for India (2030)</strong> to create a &ldquo;future ready‟ Railway system by 2030.</li>
<li><strong>100%<a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/electrification-of-railways#:~:text=Indian%20Railways%20has%20set%20a,as%20compared%20to%202009%2D2014." target="_blank" rel="noopener"> electrification of Broad-Gauge routes</a></strong> to be completed by December, 2023.</li>
<li><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/dedicated-freight-corridor-1" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Western Dedicated Freight Corridor (DFC) and Eastern DFC</strong></a> to be commissioned by June 2022.</li>
<li>Measures for <strong>passenger convenience and safety:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li><strong>Aesthetically designed Vista Dome Linke Hofmann Busch (LHB) coach</strong> on tourist routes for better travel.</li>
<li>High density network and highly utilized network routes to have an<strong> indigenously developed automatic train protection system,</strong> eliminating train collision due to human error.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Urban Infrastructure:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Expansion of <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/india-s-first-fully-automated-metro" target="_blank" rel="noopener">metro rail</a></strong> network and<strong> augmentation of city bus service.</strong></li>
<li><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/metro-neo" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>&lsquo;MetroLite&rsquo; and &lsquo;MetroNeo&rsquo;</strong></a> technologies will be used to provide metro rail systems at much lesser cost with similar experience.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Power Infrastructure:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>A comprehensive <strong>National Hydrogen Energy Mission 2021-22</strong> to be launched.</li>
<li>Rs. 3,05,984 crore over 5 years for a revamped, reforms-based and result-linked <strong>new power distribution sector scheme.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Ports, Shipping, Waterways:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Rs. 2,000 crore worth 7 projects to be offered in <a href="/to-the-points/paper3/ppp-investment-model#:~:text=Public%2DPrivate%20Partnership%20Model%3A%20PPP,be%20completed%20with%20private%20funding." target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Public Private Partnership (PPP)</strong></a>-mode in <strong>Financial Year (FY)</strong> 2021-22 for operation of major ports.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Petroleum &amp; Natural Gas:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Extension of<a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/important-facts-for-prelims" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong> Ujjwala Scheme</strong></a> to cover 1 crore more beneficiaries.</li>
<li>A new <strong>gas pipeline</strong> project in Jammu &amp; Kashmir.</li>
<li>An independent<strong> Gas Transport System Operator</strong> to be set up for facilitation and coordination of booking of common carrier capacity in all-natural gas pipelines on a non-discriminatory open access basis.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="https://pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=1693907" 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/budget-2021-highlights-infrastructure'
	],
	(int) 16 => [
		'title' => 'Budget 2021 Highlights: Health and Wellbeing',
		'catname' => 'News Analysis',
		'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>Recently, the Minister of Finance presented the Union <a href="/to-the-points/paper3/government-budgeting#:~:text=According%20to%20Article%20112%20of,Annual%20Financial%20Statement%20(AFS).&amp;text=The%20economic%20and%20financial%20policy,introduction%20of%20new%20schemes%2Fprojects." target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Budget</strong></a> 2021-22. This was the <strong>first ever digital Union Budget.</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>It is based on<strong> six pillars -</strong> health and well-being, physical and financial capital and infrastructure, inclusive development for aspirational India, reinvigorating human capital, innovation and R&amp;D, and 'Minimum Government, Maximum Governance'.</li>
<li>This section deals with the proposals for the Health and Wellbeing Sector.</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Budget and Constitutional Provisions</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>According to<strong> Article 112</strong> of the Indian Constitution, the Union Budget of a year is referred to as the <strong>Annual Financial Statement (AFS).</strong></li>
<li>It is a statement of the estimated receipts and expenditure of the Government in a <strong>Financial Year</strong> (which begins on 1<sup>st</sup> April of the current year and ends on 31<sup>st</sup> March of the following year).</li>
<li>Overall, the Budget contains:<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Estimates of revenue and capital receipts,</li>
<li>Ways and means to raise the revenue,</li>
<li>Estimates of expenditure,</li>
<li>Details of the actual receipts and expenditure of the closing financial year and the reasons for any deficit or surplus in that year, and</li>
<li>The economic and financial policy of the coming year, i.e., taxation proposals, prospects of revenue, spending programme and introduction of new schemes/projects.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>In Parliament, the Budget goes through<strong> six stages:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Presentation of Budget.</li>
<li>General discussion.</li>
<li>Scrutiny by <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/extension-of-tenure-of-standing-committees" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Departmental Committees</strong></a>.</li>
<li>Voting on Demands for Grants.</li>
<li>Passing an Appropriation Bill.</li>
<li>Passing of Finance Bill.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>The <strong>Budget Division of the Department of Economic Affairs</strong> in the Ministry of Finance is the nodal body responsible for preparing the Budget.</li>
<li>The <strong>first Budget</strong> of Independent India was presented in <strong>1947.</strong></li>
</ul>
</div>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<p><a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1612347348_image11.jpg" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1612347348_image11.jpg" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="600" caption="false" /></a></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Budget Outlay:</strong> Outlay for Health and Wellbeing in 2021-22 as against 2020-21 is an <strong>increase of 137%.</strong></li>
<li><strong>Major Steps:</strong> Steps being taken for improving health and wellbeing:<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong><strong>Vaccines:<a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1612350951_image12.jpg" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1612350951_image12.jpg" style="float: right;" width="350" caption="false" /></a></strong></strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Rs. 35,000 crore for <strong><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/covid-19-vaccine-distribution" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Covid-19 vaccine</a></strong> in Budget Expenditure (BE) 2021-22.</li>
<li>The Made-in-India <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/pneumococcal-conjugate-vaccine-1" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Pneumococcal Vaccine</strong></a> to be rolled out across the country.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Health Systems:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>PM <strong>AatmaNirbhar Swasth Bharat Yojana &ndash;</strong> a new centrally sponsored scheme to be launched, in addition to <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/national-health-mission-and-janani-suraksha-yojana" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>National Health Mission</strong></a> (NHM).</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Nutrition:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li><strong><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/poshan-abhiyaan" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Mission Poshan</a> 2.0</strong> to be launched to improve nutritional outcomes across 112 aspirational districts.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Universal Coverage of Water Supply:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li><strong><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/jal-jeevan-mission-2" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Jal Jeevan Mission</a> (Urban) - to be launched</strong> - to bring safe water to 2.86 crore households through tap connection.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Swachch Bharat, Swasth Bharat:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Strengthening of<strong> Urban <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/Swachh%20Bharat%20Mission#:~:text=The%20Swachh%20Bharat%20Mission%20(Grameen,launched%20on%20October%202%2C%202014.&amp;text=Together%2C%20they%20aim%20to%20achieve,on%20his%20150th%20Birth%20Anniversary." target="_blank" rel="noopener">Swachh Bharat Mission</a> 2.0.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Clean Air:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li><strong>Rs. 2,217 crore to tackle air pollution,</strong> for 42 urban centers with a million plus population.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Scrapping Policy:</strong>
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li><strong>Voluntary</strong> vehicle scrapping policy<strong> to phase out old and unfit vehicles.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="https://pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=1693907" 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/budget-2021-highlights-health-and-wellbeing'
	],
	(int) 17 => [
		'title' => '15th Finance Commission Recommendations: Resource Allocation',
		'catname' => 'News Analysis',
		'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>Recently, the<strong> government accepted the 15<sup>th</sup><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/j-k-and-15th-finance-commission" target="_blank" rel="noopener"> Finance Commission</a>&rsquo;s recommendation to maintain the States&rsquo; share in the divisible pool of taxes to 41%</strong> for the five-year period starting 2021-22.</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The Commission&rsquo;s Report was tabled in the Parliament.</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>15<sup>th</sup> Finance Commission</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The <strong>Finance Commission (FC)</strong> is a<strong> constitutional body,</strong> that determines the method and formula for <strong>distributing the <a href="/to-the-points/paper3/goods-and-services-tax-gst-1" target="_blank" rel="noopener">tax</a> proceeds between the Centre and states,</strong> and among the states as per the constitutional arrangement and present requirements.</li>
<li>Under<strong> Article 280 of the Constitution, the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/president-s-powers-to-pardon#:~:text=Pardoning%20Power%20of%20the%20President%20in%20India%3A,is%20a%20sentence%20of%20death." target="_blank" rel="noopener">President of India</a></strong> is required to constitute a Finance Commission at an interval of five years or earlier.</li>
<li>The 15<sup>th</sup> Finance Commission was constituted by the President of India in November 2017, <strong>under the chairmanship of NK Singh.</strong> Its recommendations will cover a <strong>period of five years from the year 2021-22 to 2025-26.</strong></li>
</ul>
</div>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Vertical Devolution (Devolution of Taxes of the Union to States):</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>It has recommended<strong> maintaining the vertical devolution at 41% -</strong> the same as in its<a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/j-k-and-15th-finance-commission" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong> interim report for 2020-21.</strong></a> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>It is<strong> at the same level of 42% of the divisible pool</strong> as recommended by the <strong>14<sup>th</sup> Finance Commission.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>It has <strong>made the required adjustment of about 1%</strong> due to the changed status of the erstwhile State of Jammu and Kashmir into the new <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/uts-j-k-and-ladakh#:~:text=The%20two%20new%20UTs%2C%20Ladakh,into%20the%20Union%20of%20India." target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Union Territories of Ladakh and Jammu and Kashmir.</strong></a></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Horizontal Devolution (Allocation Between the States):</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>For horizontal devolution, it has suggested <strong>12.5% weightage to demographic performance, 45% to income, 15% each to population and area, 10% to forest and ecology and 2.5% to tax and fiscal efforts.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Revenue Deficit Grants to States:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Revenue deficit grants <strong>emanate from the requirement to meet the fiscal needs of the States</strong> on their revenue accounts that remain to be met, even after considering their own tax and non-tax resources and tax devolution to them.</li>
<li>Revenue Deficit is <strong>defined as</strong> the difference between revenue or current expenditure and revenue receipts, that includes tax and non-tax.</li>
<li>It has recommended post-devolution <strong>revenue deficit grants amounting to about Rs. 3 trillion over the five-year period</strong> ending FY26. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>The <strong>number of states qualifying</strong> for the revenue deficit grants<strong> decreases from 17 in FY22,</strong> the first year of the award period to 6 in<strong> FY26,</strong> the last year.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Performance Based Incentives and Grants to States:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>These grants <strong>revolve around four main themes.</strong></li>
<li>The first is the<strong> social sector,</strong> where it has focused on <strong>health and education.</strong></li>
<li>Second is the<strong> rural economy,</strong> where it has focused on <strong>agriculture and the maintenance of rural roads.</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>The rural economy plays a significant role in the country as it <strong>encompasses two-thirds of the country's population, 70% of the total workforce</strong> and<strong> 46% of national income.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>Third,<strong> governance and administrative reforms</strong> under which it has recommended grants for<strong> judiciary, statistics and <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/aspirational-districts-programme#:~:text=Aspirational%20Districts%20are%20those%20districts,in%20human%20development%20in%20India." target="_blank" rel="noopener">aspirational districts</a> and blocks.</strong></li>
<li>Fourth, it has developed<strong> a performance-based incentive system for the power sector,</strong> which is not linked to grants but provides an important, additional borrowing window for States.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Fiscal Space for Centre:</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Total <strong>15<sup>th</sup> Finance Commission transfers (devolution + grants)</strong> constitutes about <strong>34% of estimated Gross Revenue Receipts</strong> to the Union, <strong>leaving adequate fiscal space</strong> to meet its resource requirements and spending obligations on national development priorities.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Grants to Local Governments:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Along with grants for municipal services and local government bodies, it includes <strong>performance-based grants for incubation of new cities</strong> and <strong>health grants</strong> to local governments.</li>
<li>In grants for Urban local bodies, <strong>basic grants are proposed only for cities/towns having a population of less than a million.</strong> For <strong>Million-Plus cities,</strong> 100% of the grants are performance-linked through the <strong>Million-Plus Cities Challenge Fund</strong> (MCF).
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>MCF amount is linked to the performance of these cities in <strong>improving their air quality</strong> and meeting the service level benchmarks for <strong>urban drinking water supply, sanitation and solid waste management.</strong><strong></strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Criticism</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Performance based incentives disincentivizes independent decision-making.</strong> Any conditions on the state's ability to borrow will have an adverse effect on the spending by the state, particularly on development thus,<strong> undermines cooperative fiscal federalism.</strong></li>
<li>It <strong>does not hold the Union government accountable for its own fiscal prudence</strong> and dilutes the joint responsibility that the Union and States have.</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Horizontal Devolution Criteria</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Population:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The population of a State<strong> represents the needs of the State to undertake expenditure</strong> for providing services to its residents.</li>
<li>It is also <strong>a simple and transparent indicator</strong> that has a significant equalising impact.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Area:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The <strong>larger the area, greater is the expenditure requirement</strong> for providing comparable services.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Forest and Ecology:</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>By taking into account the share of dense forest of each state in the aggregate dense forest of all the states, the share on this criteria is determined.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Income Distance:</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Income distance is the <strong>distance of the Gross State Domestic Product (GSDP) of a particular state from the state with the highest GSDP.</strong></li>
<li>To maintain inter state equity, the <strong>states with lower per capita income would be given a higher share. </strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Demographic Performance: </strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>It<strong> rewards efforts made by states in controlling their population.</strong></li>
<li>This criterion has been computed by <strong>using the reciprocal of the total fertility ratio of each state,</strong> scaled by 1971 population data.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>This has been done to <strong>assuage the fears of southern States</strong> about losing some share in tax transfers due to the reliance on the 2011 Census data instead of the 1971 census, which could penalise States that did better on managing demographics.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>States with a lower fertility ratio will be scored higher</strong> on this criterion. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/indias-falling-fertility-rate#:~:text=India's%20total%20fertility%20rate%20(TFR,2.3%20between%202013%20and%202016." target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>The Total Fertility Ratio</strong> </a>in a specific year is defined as the total number of children that would be born to each woman if she/they were to pass through the childbearing years bearing children according to a current schedule of age-specific fertility rates.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Tax Effort:</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>This criterion has been <strong>used to reward states with higher tax collection efficiency.</strong></li>
<li>It has been computed as the ratio of the average per capita own tax revenue and the average per capita state GDP during the three-year period between 2016-17 and 2018-19.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1612339962_image15.png" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1612339962_image15.png" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="500" caption="false" /></a></p>
</div>
<p><a href="https://pib.gov.in/PressReleaseIframePage.aspx?PRID=1693868" 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/15th-finance-commission-recommendations-resource-allocation'
	],
	(int) 18 => [
		'title' => 'India Role In African Recovery',
		'catname' => 'News Editorials',
		'desc' => '<div class="border">
<p>This article is based on <a href="https://www.thehindubusinessline.com/opinion/columns/towards-a-healthy-india-africa-partnership/article33709946.ece" target="_blank" rel="noopener">&ldquo;Towards a &lsquo;healthy&rsquo; India-Africa partnership&rdquo;</a> which was published in The Hindu Business line on 01/02/2021. It talks about India-Africa cooperation to combat devastation caused by the Covid-19 pandemic.</p>
</div>
<p>With regular high-level visits, increasing diplomatic footprint, diversified engagement across sectors, and a vibrant diaspora, the India-Africa relationship has picked up momentum in the recent past.</p>
<p>However, on the economic front, Africa has been deeply affected by the pandemic due to reduced trade and other markets causing a supply-and-demand shock. This disruption may cause a setback to the years of progress made in India-Africa relations.</p>
<p>Therefore, in the light of India&rsquo;s stakes in Africa, India should reach out to African nations in a variety of ways to help them deal with the Covid devastation.</p>
<h3>Areas of Cooperation</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Social Infrastructure:</strong> Already, the India-Africa social infrastructure (education, health, skills) cooperation is multidimensional, comprehensive, and involves national, state, and subnational actors working toward augmenting African institutional and individual capacities.</li>
<li><strong>Common Geo-Political Interests:</strong> India and Africa have common interests on international issues; UN reforms, counter-terrorism, peacekeeping, cybersecurity, and energy security.</li>
<li><strong>Economic Cooperation:</strong> India&rsquo;s economic engagement with Africa is substantive.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>In the last decade and a half, trade between India and Africa has multiplied and diversified&ndash;bilateral trade of $63.3 billion in 2018-19 made India the third-largest trading partner for the continent.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Support in Fight Against Covid-19:</strong> Under the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/vice-president-s-visit-to-comoros-and-sierra-leone" target="_blank" rel="noopener">e-ITEC initiative</a>, India has shared Covid-19 management strategies, training webinars exclusively to train healthcare professionals from Africa by Indian health experts.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>India is also sending consignments of essential medicines, including hydroxychloroquine (HCQ) and paracetamol, to many African countries in addition to doctors and paramedics.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Combating Neo-Colonialism:</strong> China has a longer and deeper association in the continent, but it is facing a backlash over the pandemic worldwide.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>China has gained a reputation as an economic colonizer&ndash;exploiting the need for capital by under-developed economies to hand over big infrastructure projects to China.</li>
<li>Therefore, Chinese investment is seen as neo-colonial as it focuses on money, political influence, hard-infrastructure projects, and resource extraction.</li>
<li>On the other hand, India&rsquo;s approach focuses on building local capacities and an equal partnership with Africans and not merely with African elites concerned.</li>
<li>In this context, though Africa has been actively engaged with China, it wants India to act as a balancer and net security provider.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Way Forward</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Vaccine Diplomacy:</strong> As the &ldquo;pharmacy of the world,&rdquo; a priority area of collaboration would be to ensure direct participation in Covid-19 relief and equitable vaccine access efforts followed by a plan for comprehensive strengthening of Africa&rsquo;s health systems.</li>
<li><strong>Economic Convergence:</strong> The Free Trade Agreement has been negotiated within Africa. It&rsquo;s a matter of time for it to be implemented and will be a game-changer.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>In this context, creating a market for 1.3 billion people in Africa would provide Indian manufacturers with economies of scale and scope to compete internationally.</li>
<li>It could also lead to generations of employment, facilitate skill and technology transfers, and help bridge the existing knowledge gap.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>India Becoming Voice of Africa:</strong> India can also take the lead in initiating and pushing for more multilateral efforts by stakeholders like the WHO or the UN to do more for African recovery.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>India and Africa should plan to expand their multi-faceted partnership by jointly combating the Covid and focusing on their strengths to address global challenges -- climate change, extremism, counter-terrorism, transnational crimes, and maritime security.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Conclusion</h3>
<p>While it can be argued that the Covid-19 crisis has had serious implications for India and the country has huge domestic obligations to deal with, partnering with Africa at this critical juncture in our shared reality will add immense value to the rich historicity of India-Africa solidarity.</p>
<table border="1" style="width: 100%; border-collapse: collapse; background-color: #e3fbfc; border-color: #01858a;">
<tbody>
<tr>
<td style="width: 100%;"><em><strong>Drishti Mains Question<br /><br /></strong></em>Partnering with Africa to combat the devastation caused by the Covid-19 pandemic will add immense value to India-Africa solidarity&rsquo;s rich historicity. Discuss.</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<p style="text-align: center;"></p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/_EZ14ohTnik" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe></p>
<p>This editorial is based on <a href="https://www.thehindu.com/opinion/editorial/growth-with-inequality-the-hindu-editorial-on-economic-survey-2021/article33711489.ece" target="_blank" rel="noopener">"Growth with inequality: On Economic Survey 2021"</a> published in The Hindu on February,1st 2020. Now watch this on our Youtube channel.</p>',
		'postdate' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenTime) {},
		'url' => 'https://www.drishtiias.com/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/india-role-in-african-recovery'
	],
	(int) 19 => [
		'title' => 'Regulations on FCRA Contributions',
		'catname' => 'News Analysis',
		'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>Recently, the <strong>Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA)</strong> issued <strong>new regulating guidelines to banks under <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/fcra-clearance-of-6-ngos-suspended" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Act, 2010</a></strong>. It states that the <strong>donations received in Indian rupees by <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/fcra-clearance-of-6-ngos-suspended" target="_blank" rel="noopener">non-governmental organisations (NGOs)</a></strong> and associations <strong>from any foreign source</strong> (even if that source is located in India at the time of such donation) should be treated as <strong>foreign contribution</strong>.</p>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>About the New Guidelines:</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Widening the Scope of Foreign Contribution:</strong> Under the issued regulations, donations given in Indian rupees (INR) by any foreigner/foreign source including foreigners of Indian origin like <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/overseas-citizenship-of-india" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Overseas Citizen of India (OCI)</strong></a> <strong>or Person of India Origin (PIO)</strong> cardholders should also be treated as foreign contribution.</li>
<li><strong>Meeting the Standards of FATF:</strong> The guidelines mandate that good practices should be followed by NGOs in accordance with standards of global financial watchdog- <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/financial-action-task-force-1" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Financial Action Task Force (FATF)</strong></a>. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>It asked NGOs to inform the Ministry about &ldquo;suspicious activities&rdquo; of any donor or recipient and &ldquo;take due diligence of its employees at the time of recruitment.&rdquo;</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Existing Rules:</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Mandatory Reporting by Banks:</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>All banks have to report the receipt or utilisation of any<strong> foreign contribution by any NGO,</strong> association or person to the Central government <strong>within 48 hours,</strong> whether or not they are registered or granted prior permission under the <strong>Foreign Contribution Regulation Act (FCRA) 2010</strong>.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Prescribed Banking Channels:</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>In September 2020, the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/foreign-contribution-regulation-amendment-bill-2020" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Amendment Act (FCRA), 2020</strong></a> was passed by the Parliament.</li>
<li>A new provision that<strong> makes it mandatory for all NGOs to receive foreign funds in a designated bank account at the State Bank of India&rsquo;s New Delhi branch</strong> was inserted.</li>
<li>All NGOs seeking foreign donations have to open a designated FCRA account at the SBI branch or link their existing account to it.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Reasons for FCRA Regulations:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The annual inflow of foreign contribution has almost doubled between the years 2010 and 2019, but many recipients of foreign contribution <strong>are being not utilised the same for the purpose for which they were registered or granted prior permission</strong> under amended provisions of the FCRA 2010.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Recently, the Union Home Ministry has <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/fcra-clearance-of-6-ngos-suspended" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>suspended licenses of the six (NGOs)</strong></a> who were alleged to have used foreign contributions for religious conversion.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>To ensure that such contributions <strong>do not adversely affect the internal security</strong> of the country.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Recently the <strong>National Investigation Agency (NIA)</strong> registered a case against a foreign based group that provides funds for secessionist and pro-Khalistani activities in India.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>These regulations <strong>could enhance transparency and accountability</strong> in the receipt and utilisation of foreign contributions.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Controversies Related to FCRA:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Scope not defined:</strong> It prohibits the receipt of foreign contributions &ldquo;for any activities detrimental to the national interest&rdquo; or the &ldquo;economic interest of the state&rdquo;.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>However, there is no clear guidance on what constitutes &ldquo;public interest&rdquo;.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Limits Fundamental Rights:</strong> The FCRA restrictions have <strong>serious consequences on both the rights to free speech</strong> and <strong>freedom of association</strong> under <strong>Articles 19(1)(a) and 19(1)(c)</strong> of the Constitution.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Act (FCRA), 2010</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Foreign funding of persons in India is regulated under FCRA Act and is implemented by <strong>the Ministry of Home Affairs</strong>.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Individuals are permitted to accept foreign contributions without permission of MHA. However, the monetary limit for acceptance of such <strong>foreign contributions shall be less than Rs. 25,000</strong>.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>The Act ensures that the recipients of foreign contributions <strong>adhere to the stated purpose for which such contribution has been obtained</strong>.</li>
<li>Under the Act, organisations are required to register themselves <strong>every five years</strong>.</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Amendment Act, 2020</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Prohibition to accept foreign contribution:</strong> The Act bars public servants from receiving foreign contributions. Public servant includes any person who is in service or pay of the government, or remunerated by the government for the performance of any public duty.</li>
<li><strong>Transfer of foreign contribution:</strong> The Act prohibits the transfer of foreign contribution to any other person not registered to accept foreign contributions.</li>
<li><strong>Aadhaar for registration:</strong> The Act makes Aadhaar number mandatory for all office bearers, directors or key functionaries of a person receiving foreign contribution, as an identification document.</li>
<li><strong>FCRA account:</strong> The Act states that foreign contribution must be received only in an account designated by the bank as FCRA account in such branches of the State Bank of India, New Delhi.</li>
<li><strong>Reduction in use of foreign contribution for administrative purposes:</strong> The Act proposes that not more than 20% of the total foreign funds received could be defrayed for administrative expenses. In FCRA 2010 the limit was 50%.</li>
<li><strong>Surrender of certificate:</strong> The Act allows the central government to permit a person to surrender their registration certificate.</li>
</ul>
</div>
<h3>Way Forward</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Excessive regulation on foreign contribution may affect working of the NGOs</strong> which are helpful in implementing government schemes at the grassroots. They fill the gaps, where the government fails to do their jobs.</li>
<li>The regulation <strong>should not hamper sharing of resources across national boundaries</strong> essential to the functioning of a global community, and should not be discouraged unless there is reason to believe the funds are being used to aid illegal activities.</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/india-tightens-oversight-on-funds-received-by-ngos/article33699682.ece#:~:text=The%20Ministry%20of%20Home%20Affairs%20(MHA)%20has%20laid%20down%20a,treated%20as%20%E2%80%9Cforeign%20contribution%E2%80%9D." target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Source: TH</strong></a></p>',
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