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A Compromise Is Still Possible

(This editorial is based on the article "A Compromise Is Still Possible" which appeared in "The Hindu" on 12th March 2019. The article talks about...

12 Mar 2019 News Editorials
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			'title' => 'A Compromise Is Still Possible',
			'catname' => 'News Editorials',
			'desc' => '<div class="border">
<p>(This editorial is based on the article <a href="https://www.thehindu.com/opinion/lead/a-compromise-is-still-possible/article26502542.ece" target="_blank" rel="noopener">"A Compromise Is Still Possible"</a> which appeared in "The Hindu" on 12th March 2019. The article talks about recent Supreme Court judgement referring the long pending Babri Masjid-Ram Janmabhoomi land dispute case for mediation)</p>
</div>
<p>The Ram Janmabhoomi- Babri Masjid dispute has long been accompanied by a sense of apprehension.</p>
<p>The dispute has been historically charged, politically divisive and communally violent, putting both the nation and the Constitution at risk.</p>
<p>For many years the SC had stuck to conventional methods and abdicated its role and its recent admission that traditional legal and constitutional tools are powerless in the face of faith is only an acceptance of true socio-religious ground realities of the nation.</p>
<p><strong>The five judge constitutional bench therefore has referred the disputed case for mediation as in the eyes of CJI- the case is not about property, but about the mind, heart and healing-if possible.</strong></p>
<p>The mediation path however has attracted a few concerns like all other attempts made at resolving the issue has.</p>
<h3>Issue Through The Lens of Time</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>A section of Hindus claims that the disputed land in the present-day Ayodhya, Uttar Pradesh is the site of Rama's birthplace where the Babri Masjid once stood.</li>
<li>The mosque was constructed during 1528-29 by demolishing the Hindu shrine by Mir Baqi, a commander of the Mughal Emperor Babur.</li>
<li>The political, historical and socio-religious debate over the history and location of the Babri Mosque, and whether a previous temple was demolished or modified to create it, is known as the Ayodhya dispute.</li>
<li>In 1992, the demolition of Babri Masjid by Hindu nationalists triggered widespread Hindu-Muslim violence.</li>
<li><strong>Since then, the archaeological excavations have indicated the presence of a temple beneath the mosque rubble, but whether the structure was a Rama shrine (or a temple at all) remains disputed.</strong></li>
</ul>
<h3>The Judicial Path to Mediation</h3>
<p>Despite many groups opposing a negotiated settlement, the Supreme Court has made it clear that an attempt should be made to settle the dispute by mediation.</p>
<p>Supreme Court has power under<em><strong> Section 89 of the Code of Civil Procedure (CPC)</strong></em> which allows the court to refer any dispute to non-adjudicatory resolution processes.</p>
<p>The court under section 89 of CPC has four types of well established dispute resolution methods other than litigation, namely &ndash; <strong>arbitration, conciliation, judicial settlement</strong> (including settlement through Lok Adalat), or <strong>mediation</strong>.</p>
<p>The Supreme Court also overruled its previous two judge&rsquo;s judgment in <em><strong>Afcons infrastructure and Ors. v. Cherian Verkay Construction and Ors (2010),</strong></em> where it maintained that mediation cannot be done in a representative suit which involves public interest or the interest of large number of persons who are not represented in the court.</p>
<p>Supreme Court has ruled that it is free to consider and decide upon any non-adjudicatory resolution method other than arbitration such as <strong>judicial settlement or mediation</strong>.</p>
<h3>Significance of the SC&rsquo;s Decision</h3>
<p>The decision reflects that Babri Masjid dispute is not really an explosive issue affecting the religious sentiments of millions of Hindus and Muslims as has been portrayed.</p>
<p>Any such portrayal can only be called only an attempt at creating political myths of various kinds at the hustings for electoral advantage.</p>
<p>Handful of parties claiming to represent Hindus and Muslims are not the true representative of their communities as a lot of people in the nation feel that the issue is not a life-affirming issue for the masses, who are more concerned about jobs, poverty alleviation, affordable housing, health care and education.</p>
<p>The decision highlights the resolve of the judiciary to solve the Ayodhya dispute which for so long has stalled the country&rsquo;s socio-economic growth.</p>
<h3>Roadblocks in the Mediation Process</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>One of the biggest challenges faced by mediation process is the <strong>fear of minorities</strong> is that if they give up their claim on the Babri Masjid, Hindu groups would ask for other &ldquo;disputed&rdquo; lands to be handed over.</li>
<li>The question is also over <strong>the neutrality of the mediators</strong> which is of paramount importance in any type of mediation, as a mediator is a neutral third party who facilitates a negotiated settlement between adversarial contenders.</li>
<li>Any bias in favour of disputants belonging to one religion is bound to create communal ripples which will only corrode litigant parties&rsquo; trust from this entire exercise.</li>
<li>There is a chance that any <strong>decision arrived through the mediation process might not be welcomed</strong> by one or the other parties and could foster resentment.</li>
<li>The <strong>mandate of mediation is also unclear;</strong> any effort at reconciling parties would mean defeat of truth, justice or due process.</li>
</ul>
<h3>An Amicable Solution</h3>
<p><strong>An attempt at allaying the fears of minorities by Hindu groups</strong> would not only increase the chances of solving the long standing dispute but would also serve as an example of confidence building amongst the minorities.</p>
<p>Supreme Court should appoint <strong>mediators who are tested of their integrity</strong> and those who are well accepted by all the parties.</p>
<p>The issue inherently has religious angle, and to appease these sentiments there is a larger <strong>need to address the issue of communalism, concept of citizenship and nationhood</strong>.</p>
<p>Any attempt at <strong>mediation should be an expression of a common hope for the better future</strong> and not a reminder of sectarian divisions.</p>
<p>The mediation should <strong>overcome the limitation of its framing</strong> and should arrive at a solution where no one community emerges victorious but where <strong>Indian constitutional values and democratic secular ethos reign supreme</strong>.</p>',
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			'title' => 'World Bank Group',
			'catname' => 'International Institutions',
			'desc' => '<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>With <strong>189 member</strong> countries, the World Bank Group is a unique global partnership: <strong>five institutions</strong> working for sustainable solutions that reduce poverty and build shared prosperity in developing countries.</li>
<li>The Bank Group works with country governments, the private sector, civil society organizations, regional development banks, think tanks, and other international institutions on issues ranging from climate change, conflict, and food security to education, agriculture, finance, and trade.</li>
</ul>
<h3>A Group of Institutions</h3>
<p>Together, the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (IBRD) and International Development Association (IDA) form the World Bank, which provides financing, policy advice, and technical assistance to governments of developing countries. While the World Bank Group consists of <strong>five development institutions</strong>.</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (IBRD)</strong> provides loans, credits, and grants.</li>
<li><strong>International Development Association (IDA)</strong> provides low- or no-interest loans to low-income countries.</li>
<li>The<strong> International Finance Corporation (IFC)</strong> provides investment, advice, and asset management to companies and governments.</li>
<li>The <strong>Multilateral Guarantee Agency (MIGA)</strong> insures lenders and investors against political risk such as war.</li>
<li>The <strong>International Centre for the Settlement of Investment Disputes (ICSID)</strong> settles investment-disputes between investors and countries.</li>
</ul>
<p>All of these efforts support the <strong>Bank Group&rsquo;s twin goals of ending extreme poverty by 2030</strong> and boosting <strong>shared prosperity</strong> of the poorest 40% of the population in all countries.</p>
<h3>History</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>The Bretton Woods Conference,</strong> officially known as the <strong>United Nations Monetary and Financial Conference,</strong> was a gathering of delegates from 44 nations that met from July 1 to 22, 1944 in <strong>Bretton Woods, New Hampshire (USA),</strong> to agree upon a series of <strong>new rules for international financial and monetary order</strong> after the conclusion of World War II.</li>
<li>The two major accomplishments of the conference were the creation of the <strong>International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (IBRD) and <g class="gr_ gr_290 gr-alert gr_gramm gr_inline_cards gr_run_anim Grammar only-ins replaceWithoutSep" id="290" data-gr-id="290">International</g> Monetary Fund (IMF)</strong>.</li>
<li>Founded in 1944, the <strong>International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (IBRD) &mdash; soon called the World Bank &mdash; has expanded to a closely associated group of five development institutions</strong>.</li>
<li><strong>Originally,</strong> its loans helped <strong>rebuild countries devastated by World War II. In time, the focus shifted from reconstruction to development,</strong> with a heavy emphasis on <g class="gr_ gr_319 gr-alert gr_gramm gr_inline_cards gr_run_anim Grammar multiReplace" id="319" data-gr-id="319">infrastructure</g> such as dams, electrical grids, irrigation systems, and roads.</li>
<li>With the founding of the <strong>International Finance Corporation (IFC) in 1956,</strong> the institution became able to <strong>lend to private companies and financial institutions in developing countries</strong>.</li>
<li>Founding of the <strong>International Development Association (IDA) in 1960</strong> put greater emphasis on the <strong>poorest countries,</strong> part of a steady <strong>shift toward the eradication of poverty becoming the Bank Group&rsquo;s primary goal</strong>.</li>
<li><strong>International Centre for Settlement of Investment Disputes (ICSID)</strong> founded in <strong>1966</strong> settles <strong>investment disputes</strong> between investors and countries.</li>
<li><strong>Multilateral Investment Guarantee Agency (MIGA)</strong> founded in <strong>1988</strong> insures lenders and investors against <strong>political risk such as war</strong>.</li>
</ul>
<h3>International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (IBRD)</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Following the recovery from World War II, the International Bank of Reconstruction and Development broadened its mandate to increasing global economic growth and eliminating poverty.</li>
<li>The Bank only <strong>finances sovereign governments directly or projects backed</strong> by sovereign governments.</li>
<li>Today, the IBRD <strong>focuses its services on middle-income countries</strong> or countries where the <strong>per capita income ranges from $1,026 to $12,475 per year</strong>. These countries, like Indonesia, India, and Thailand, are often home to fast-growing economies that attract a lot of foreign investment and large infrastructure building projects.</li>
<li>At the same time, <strong>middle-income countries are home to 70% of the world&rsquo;s poor people,</strong> as the benefits of this economic growth are unevenly distributed across their populations.</li>
<li><strong>Governance of IBRD:</strong>
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>IBRD Boards of Governors:</strong> The Boards of Governors <g class="gr_ gr_343 gr-alert gr_gramm gr_inline_cards gr_run_anim Grammar multiReplace" id="343" data-gr-id="343">consist</g> of one Governor and one Alternate Governor appointed by each member country. The office is usually held by the country's minister of finance, governor of its central bank. The Board of Governors delegates most of its authority over daily matters such as lending and operations to the Board of Directors.</li>
<li><strong>IBRD Board of Directors:</strong> The Board of Directors consists of currently 25 executive directors and is chaired by the President of the World Bank Group. Executive Directors are appointed or elected by the Governors. Executive Directors select the World Bank President, who is the Chairman of the Board of Directors. Executive Directors are <g class="gr_ gr_340 gr-alert gr_spell gr_inline_cards gr_run_anim ContextualSpelling multiReplace" id="340" data-gr-id="340">authorised</g> for daily matters such as lending and operations.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>IBRD raises most of its funds in the world's financial markets.</strong> This has allowed it to provide more than $500 billion in loans to alleviate poverty around the world since 1946, with its shareholder governments paying in about $14 billion in <g class="gr_ gr_306 gr-alert gr_gramm gr_inline_cards gr_run_anim Grammar only-ins replaceWithoutSep" id="306" data-gr-id="306">capital</g>.</li>
<li>IBRD has maintained a <strong>triple-A rating since 1959. This high credit rating allows it to borrow at low cost</strong> and offer middle-income developing countries access to capital on <g class="gr_ gr_301 gr-alert gr_spell gr_inline_cards gr_run_anim ContextualSpelling multiReplace" id="301" data-gr-id="301">favourable</g> terms &mdash; helping ensure that development projects go forward in a more sustainable manner.</li>
<li><strong>IBRD earns income every year from the return on its equity and from the small margin it makes on lending.</strong> This pays for World Bank operating expenses, goes into reserves to strengthen the balance sheet, and provides an <strong>annual transfer of funds to IDA, the fund for the poorest countries</strong>.</li>
</ul>
<h3>International Finance Corporation (IFC)</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>IFC is the largest global development institution focused exclusively on the <strong>private sector in developing countries</strong>. The Bank Group has set two goals for the world to achieve by 2030: end extreme poverty and promote shared prosperity in every country.</li>
<li>It is <strong>a private-sector arm of the World Bank Group,</strong> to advance economic development by investing in for-profit and commercial projects for poverty reduction and promoting development.</li>
<li>IFC is also a leading mobilizer of third-party resources for projects.</li>
<li><strong>Governance of IFC</strong>
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>IFC Boards of Governors:</strong> The Boards of Governors <g class="gr_ gr_338 gr-alert gr_gramm gr_inline_cards gr_run_anim Grammar multiReplace" id="338" data-gr-id="338">consist</g> of one Governor and one Alternate Governor appointed by each member country. The office is usually held by the country's minister of finance, governor of its central bank. The Board of Governors delegates most of its authority over daily to the Board of Directors.</li>
<li><strong>IFC Board of Directors:</strong> The Board of Directors consists of executive directors and is chaired by the President of the World Bank Group. Executive Directors are appointed or elected by the Governors. Voting power on issues brought before <g class="gr_ gr_333 gr-alert gr_gramm gr_inline_cards gr_run_anim Grammar multiReplace" id="333" data-gr-id="333">them</g> is weighted according to the share capital each director represents. The directors meet regularly to review and decide on investments and provide overall strategic guidance to IFC management.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>IFC raises virtually all funds for lending activities through the issuance of <strong>debt obligations in international capital markets</strong>. Our borrowings are diversified by country, currency, source, and maturity in order to provide flexibility and cost-effectiveness.</li>
<li>Since first being rated in 1989, IFC has been <strong>rated triple-A every year by Standard and Poor's and by Moody's</strong>. Our high credit rating is essential for maintaining our ability to access markets globally and to maintain our low cost of funding.</li>
<li>IFC makes loans to businesses and private projects generally with maturities of seven to twelve years. It determines a suitable repayment schedule and grace period for each loan individually to meet borrowers' currency and cash flow requirements. It may provide longer-term loans or extend grace periods if a project is deemed to warrant it.</li>
<li>It does <strong>not have a policy of uniform interest rates for its investments</strong>. The <strong>interest rate is to be negotiated in each case</strong> in the light of all relevant factors, including the <strong>risks involved</strong> and any right to <g class="gr_ gr_447 gr-alert gr_spell gr_inline_cards gr_run_anim ContextualSpelling" id="447" data-gr-id="447">participation</g> in profits, etc.</li>
<li>Through its <strong>Global Trade Finance Program,</strong> the IFC <strong>guarantees trade payment obligations of more than 200 approved banks</strong> in over 80 countries to mitigate risk for international transactions. The Global Trade Finance Program provides <strong>guarantees to cover payment risks for emerging market banks</strong> regarding promissory notes, bills of exchange, letters of credit, bid and performance bonds, <strong>supplier credit for capital goods imports, and advance payments</strong>.</li>
<li>IFC attempts to <strong>guide businesses toward more sustainable practices</strong> particularly with regards to having good governance, supporting women in business, and proactively combating climate change.</li>
</ul>
<h3>International Development Association (IDA)</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>IDA is the part of the World Bank that <strong>helps the world&rsquo;s poorest countries</strong>. Overseen by 173 shareholder nations, IDA aims to reduce poverty by providing loans (called &ldquo;credits&rdquo;) and grants for programs that boost economic growth, reduce inequalities, and improve people&rsquo;s living conditions.</li>
<li>IDA is one of the largest sources of assistance for the world&rsquo;s 75 poorest countries, 39 of which are in Africa, and is the single largest source of donor funds for basic social services in these countries.</li>
<li>IDA supports a <strong>range of development activities</strong> that pave the way toward <strong>equality, economic growth, job creation, higher incomes, and better living conditions. IDA's work</strong> covers <strong>primary education, basic health services, clean water and sanitation, agriculture, business climate improvements, infrastructure, and institutional reforms</strong>.</li>
<li><strong>Governance of IDA:</strong>
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>IDA Boards of Governors:</strong> The Boards of Governors <g class="gr_ gr_336 gr-alert gr_gramm gr_inline_cards gr_run_anim Grammar multiReplace" id="336" data-gr-id="336">consist</g> of one Governor and one Alternate Governor appointed by each member country. The office is usually held by the country's minister of finance, governor of its central bank. The Board of Governors delegates most of its authority over daily matters such as lending and operations to the Board of Directors.</li>
<li><strong>IDA Board of Directors:</strong> The Board of Directors consists of executive directors and is chaired by the President of the World Bank Group. Executive Directors are appointed or elected by the Governors.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>IDA lends money on concessional terms. This means that IDA credits have a zero or very low-interest charge and repayments are stretched over 30 to 38 years, including a 5- to 10-year grace period. IDA also provides <strong>grants to countries at risk of debt distress</strong>.</li>
<li>To borrow from the <strong>IDA's concessional lending programs,</strong> a country's gross national income (GNI) <strong>per capita must not exceed $ 1,145 (the fiscal year 2019)</strong>.</li>
<li>IDA also provides significant levels of <strong>debt relief</strong> through the Heavily Indebted Poor Countries (HIPC) Initiative and the Multilateral Debt Relief Initiative (MDRI).</li>
</ul>
<h3>International Centre for Settlement of Investment Disputes (ICSID)</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>ICSID was established in 1966 by the Convention on the Settlement of Investment Disputes between States and Nationals of Other States (the ICSID Convention). The ICSID Convention is a multilateral treaty formulated by the Executive Directors of the World Bank to further the Bank&rsquo;s objective of promoting international investment.</li>
<li>States have agreed on ICSID as a forum for investor-State dispute settlement in most <strong>international investment treaties</strong> and in numerous <strong>investment laws and contracts</strong>.</li>
<li>Bilateral investment treaties (BITs) are proliferating, many such treaties contain text that <g class="gr_ gr_293 gr-alert gr_gramm gr_inline_cards gr_run_anim Grammar only-ins replaceWithoutSep" id="293" data-gr-id="293">refers</g> present and future investment disputes to the ICSID.</li>
<li>ICSID provides for settlement of disputes by conciliation, arbitration or fact-finding.</li>
<li>Governance of ICSID
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Administrative Council:</strong>
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>One representative of each Member State, and one vote per State.</li>
<li>Adopts ICSID arbitration, conciliation <g class="gr_ gr_264 gr-alert gr_gramm gr_inline_cards gr_run_anim Punctuation only-ins replaceWithoutSep" id="264" data-gr-id="264">and</g> fact-finding rules.</li>
<li>Adopts an annual budget and approves annual report.</li>
<li><strong>Elects Secretary-General and Deputy Secretaries-General.</strong></li>
<li>Each State designates persons to a list of arbitrators and conciliators.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Secretariat:</strong>
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Led by Secretary-General. Provides technical and administrative support to proceedings.</li>
<li>Offers training and technical assistance to governments and the public.</li>
<li>Contributes to the development of investment law through publishing and outreach.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>ICSID Panel of Arbitrators and Panel of Conciliators:</strong>
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Each ICSID Member State may designate four persons to each Panel.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Conciliation Commission or Arbitral Tribunal:</strong> an Arbitral tribunal or Conciliation Commission is constituted by Secretary-General. In most instances, the tribunals consist of <strong>three arbitrators:</strong> one appointed <strong>by the investor,</strong> another appointed <strong>by the State,</strong> and the third, <strong>presiding arbitrator</strong> appointed <strong>by agreement of both parties</strong>.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>Each case is considered by an <strong>independent Conciliation Commission</strong> or <strong>Arbitral Tribunal,</strong> after hearing evidence and legal arguments from the parties. A dedicated ICSID case team is assigned to each case and provides expert assistance throughout the process.</li>
<li>An ICSID award according to <strong>Article 53 of the ICSID Convention</strong> is final and binding and immune from appeal or annulment, other than as provided in the ICSID Convention.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Multilateral Investment Guarantee Agency (MIGA)</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>MIGA is a member of the <strong>World Bank Group</strong> and its mandate is to promote cross-border investment in developing countries by providing guarantees (<strong>political risk insurance</strong> and credit enhancement) to investors and lenders.</li>
<li>MIGA was created to <strong>complement public and private sources of investment insurance</strong> against <strong>non-commercial risks</strong> (currency inconvertibility and transfer restriction; government expropriation; <strong>war, terrorism,</strong> and <strong>civil disturbance; breaches of contract;</strong> and the <g class="gr_ gr_275 gr-alert gr_spell gr_inline_cards gr_run_anim ContextualSpelling multiReplace" id="275" data-gr-id="275">non-honouring</g> of financial obligations) in developing countries.</li>
<li><strong>MIGA convention</strong> that defined its core mission was <strong>submitted to the Board of Governors of the IBRD</strong> in 1985 and went into establishing MIGA as the newest member of the World Bank Group in 1988.</li>
<li>The Convention can be amended by the Council of Governors of MIGA.</li>
<li>The agency opened for business as a legally separate and financially independent entity. <strong>Membership was open to all IBRD members.</strong></li>
<li><strong>Governance of MIGA</strong>
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Council of Governors:</strong> MIGA is governed by its Council of Governors which represents its member countries. The Council of Governors holds corporate authority, but primarily delegates such powers to MIGA's Board of Directors.</li>
<li><strong>MIGA Board of Directors:</strong> The Board of Directors consists of directors and votes on matters brought before MIGA. Each director's vote is weighted in accordance with the total share capital of the member nations that the director represents.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>MIGA aims to <strong>promote foreign direct investment into developing countries</strong> to support <strong>economic growth, reduce poverty and improve people&rsquo;s lives</strong>.</li>
</ul>
<h3>World Bank Group Membership</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>To become a member of the Bank, under the <strong>IBRD Articles of Agreement,</strong> a country must first join the International Monetary Fund (IMF).</li>
<li>Membership in IDA, IFC, and MIGA are conditional on membership in IBRD.</li>
<li>Membership in ICSID is available to IBRD members, and those which are a <strong>party to the Statute of the International Court of Justice (ICJ),</strong> on the invitation of the ICSID Administrative Council by a vote of two-thirds of its members.</li>
</ul>
<h3>World Bank Group and India</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>India was one of the forty-four original signatories</strong> to the agreements reached <g class="gr_ gr_299 gr-alert gr_gramm gr_inline_cards gr_run_anim Grammar replaceWithoutSep" id="299" data-gr-id="299">at</g> <strong>Bretton Woods</strong> that established the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (IBRD) and the International Monetary Fund (IMF).</li>
<li>It was also one of the <strong>founding members of the IFC in 1956 and the IDA in 1960</strong>. India later became a member of the MIGA in January 1994.</li>
<li><strong>India is not a member of ICSID.</strong> India claimed ICSID <strong>Convention is not fair, convention's rules for arbitration leaned towards the developed countries</strong>. In ICSID, the Chairman of the Centre is the Chairman of the World Bank. The Chairman appoints the arbitrators. If the arbitration award is not satisfactory, then the aggrieved party would appeal to a panel, which will also be constituted by the ICSID. There is <strong>no scope for a review of the award by an Indian court, even if the award is against <g class="gr_ gr_346 gr-alert gr_gramm gr_inline_cards gr_run_anim Grammar only-ins replaceWithoutSep" id="346" data-gr-id="346">public</g> interest</strong>.</li>
<li>IBRD lending to India commenced in 1949 with a loan to the <strong>Indian railways;</strong> the first investment by the IFC in India took place in 1959, and by IDA in 1961 <strong>(a highway construction project)</strong>.</li>
<li>During the 1950s, the IBRD was India's sole source of World Bank borrowings.</li>
<li>By the end of the decade, India's mounting debt problems became an important factor in the launch of the IDA, the soft loan affiliate of the World Bank (WB) group.</li>
<li>By the end of the 1960s, the United States, until then India's largest source of external resources, sharply cut its bilateral aid program. Since then, the WB emerged as the most important source of official long-term finance.</li>
<li>During the 1960s and 1970s, the IDA accounted for nearly three-fourths of all WB lending to India and, in turn, India was by far the largest recipient of IDA funds, accounting for more than two-fifths of all its lending.</li>
<li>The subsequent decade, <strong>with China joining the WB in 1980</strong> and accordingly entering its own claims to limited IDA resources, the worsening economic fortunes of Africa, and India's better performance, saw a <strong>sharp decline in India's share in IDA</strong>.</li>
<li>Instead, its share of <strong>IBRD lending grew sharply in the 1980s,</strong> buoyed by its improving <strong>credit-worthiness</strong> and the Indian government's <strong>waning inhibitions</strong> with regard to <strong>non-concessional borrowing</strong>.</li>
<li><strong>During the 1980s,</strong> while the WB shifted its emphasis to <strong>stress</strong> policy reforms and<strong> greater economic liberalization,</strong> it continued to <strong>lend to poorly governed public sector institutions</strong> in India and was muted in its criticism of India's closed economy.</li>
<li>The <strong>lending portfolio changed sharply after the 1991 macroeconomic crisis</strong>. In the immediate aftermath, India became one of the last important WB borrowers to partake of <strong>structural adjustment lending,</strong> which <strong>supported policy reforms in finance, taxation, and the investment and trade regime</strong>.</li>
<li>India is currently classified as a &ldquo;blend&rdquo; country &mdash; defined as one in <strong><g class="gr_ gr_272 gr-alert gr_gramm gr_inline_cards gr_run_anim Grammar only-ins doubleReplace replaceWithoutSep" id="272" data-gr-id="272">transition</g> from <g class="gr_ gr_260 gr-alert gr_spell gr_inline_cards gr_run_anim ContextualSpelling ins-del multiReplace" id="260" data-gr-id="260">lower middle-income</g> to middle-income &mdash;</strong> and is creditworthy for lending from both IDA and IBRD.</li>
<li>India is the largest IBRD client of the World Bank. Between 2015 and 2018, the World Bank lent around $10.2 billion to India.</li>
<li>The World Bank Group (WBG) has approved a $25-30 billion commitment plan for India for the period 2019-22.</li>
<li><strong>MIGA Performance Standards</strong> are environmental and social standards which help to structure and implement sustainable projects. For <g class="gr_ gr_332 gr-alert gr_gramm gr_inline_cards gr_run_anim Grammar only-ins replaceWithoutSep" id="332" data-gr-id="332">Indian</g> market, one of the options is <strong>a breach of contract insurance</strong> which MIGA would offer to investors. <strong>In case the government doesn&rsquo;t perform its obligation,</strong> under the contract arrangement, <strong>then MIGA can come and cover that risk for investment</strong>.</li>
</ul>
<h3>World Bank Reforms</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Some critics have&nbsp;pointed out that the World Bank really caters to the agenda of World Capitalism in the garb of its <strong>&ldquo;Structural Adjustment Programme&rsquo; (SAP)</strong> and continues to be dominated by rich countries. SAP is a set of "free market" economic policy reforms imposed on developing countries by the World Bank as a condition for receipt of loans.</li>
<li>It is argued <strong>SAP policies have increased the gap between rich and poor</strong> in both local and global terms.</li>
<li>The <strong>emerging new economic powers,</strong> particularly<strong> India and China, and some other Asian and Latin American countries</strong> of the world should be given due place and role<g class="gr_ gr_266 gr-alert gr_gramm gr_inline_cards gr_run_anim Punctuation multiReplace" id="266" data-gr-id="266">..</g></li>
<li><strong>The leadership succession debate</strong> should be used to create space for reflection on the purpose of the multilateral body, the substantive role it should play in the future, the need to <strong>strengthen inclusive multilateralism,</strong> and the actions needed to <strong>bolster the position of emerging economies</strong> and developing countries.</li>
<li><strong>Failure of World Bank to adapt to the changing world order</strong> may see rising economies going their own way.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Eg. Establishment of <strong>the Asia Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB)</strong> by China.</li>
<li>Such a development would signify the emergence of multi-polarity without multilateralism, and create a climate of conflicting interests and values among a diverse group of countries.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>Deep reforms of the World Bank are necessary as part of rethinking the current world order, and giving rising powers and developing countries a meaningful voice in this institution.</li>
</ul>',
			'postdate' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenTime) {},
			'url' => 'https://www.drishtiias.com/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-international-institution/world-bank-group'
		],
		(int) 2 => [
			'title' => 'Important Facts For Prelims (12th March 2019)',
			'catname' => 'News Analysis',
			'desc' => '<h3>Girnar Wildlife Sanctuary</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>After declaring Gir Forests (Junagadh, Gujarat) as <g class="gr_ gr_129 gr-alert gr_gramm gr_inline_cards gr_run_anim Grammar only-ins replaceWithoutSep" id="129" data-gr-id="129">wildlife</g> sanctuary in 1965, more lion habitats in adjoining regions were also declared sanctuaries and ultimately <strong>Girnar Wildlife Sanctuary was created in 2007.</strong></li>
<li>According to the last census of Asiatic lions, which was conducted in 2015, there were 523 lions in and around Gir wildlife Sanctuary in Saurashtra region of Gujarat.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Out of the total 523 lions, 33 lions were reported from Girnar Wildlife Sanctuary. </strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>Asiatic Lions are cousins of African Lions who are believed to be separated 1,00,000 years ago. They are slightly smaller and have a distinctive fold of skin along their bellies. <strong>Gir sanctuary is the only wild population of Asiatic lions in the world.</strong>
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>They are listed in Schedule I of Wildlife (Protection) Act 1972 and Appendix I of CITES and also have been categorized as&rsquo; Endangered&rsquo; on IUCN Red List.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>India has launched<a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/asiatic-lion-conservation-project" target="_blank" rel="noopener"> &ldquo;The Asiatic Lion Conservation Project&rdquo;</a> to strengthen the ongoing measures for conservation and recovery of Asiatic Lion with the help of state-of-the-art techniques/ instruments, regular scientific research studies, disease management, Modern surveillance/ patrolling techniques.</li>
</ul>
<h3>ITU&rsquo;s First ever Innovation Centre in India</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The <strong>United Nations' telecom body &lsquo;International Telecommunication Union (ITU)&rsquo;</strong> has planned to set up its<strong> <g class="gr_ gr_204 gr-alert gr_spell gr_inline_cards gr_run_anim ContextualSpelling ins-del multiReplace" id="204" data-gr-id="204">first ever</g> Innovation Centre in India</strong> to incorporate technologies from South Asian countries and emerging economies in standards for technologies.</li>
<li>The Innovation Centre is expected to give the opportunity to Indian technology firms to make their case for being part of global standards, which has been largely influenced by companies from developed countries and have <g class="gr_ gr_123 gr-alert gr_gramm gr_inline_cards gr_run_anim Grammar only-ins replaceWithoutSep" id="123" data-gr-id="123">huge</g> influence on telecom businesses globally.</li>
<li>The center will also <strong>collaborate with firms for joint research in the field of standardization for 5G, artificial intelligence, and upcoming new technologies.</strong></li>
<li>Besides the Innovation Centre, <strong>ITU&rsquo;s first regional office for South Asia</strong> will also get established in India.</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p style="text-align: left;"><strong>International Telecommunication Union</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li style="text-align: left;">It is the United Nations specialized agency for information and communication technologies &ndash; ICTs. It is the oldest among all the 15 specialized agencies of UN.</li>
<li style="text-align: left;">Founded in 1865 to facilitate international connectivity in communications networks, it allocates global radio spectrum and satellite orbits, develops the technical standards that ensure networks and technologies seamlessly interconnect, and strive to improve access to ICTs to underserved communities worldwide.</li>
<li style="text-align: left;">Based in Geneva, Switzerland, it is also a member of the United Nations Development Group and has 12 regional and area offices in the world.</li>
<li style="text-align: left;">ITU has remained an intergovernmental public-private partnership organization since its inception. Its membership includes 193 Member States and around 800 public and private sector companies and academic institutions as well as international and regional telecommunication entities.</li>
<li style="text-align: left;">Recently, India got elected as a member of ITU Council for another 4-year term - from 2019 to 2022. India has remained a regular member since 1952.</li>
</ul>
</div>
<h3>Wood Snake</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>A species of wood snake that <strong>wasn&rsquo;t seen for 140 years (last seen in 1878)</strong> has resurfaced in a survey conducted by scientists in the Meghamalai Wildlife Sanctuary.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Meghamalai Wildlife Sanctuary</strong> in Meghamalai Wildlife Division spreads over 636 square kilometers in Theni district of Tamil Nadu bordering the Periyar Tiger Reserve in Kerala and thus <strong>an important buffer zone for tiger population in addition to an important elephant corridor.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>The species is <strong>endemic to the Meghamalai forests (Tamil Nadu)</strong> and the<strong> Periyar Tiger Reserve landscape (Kerala).</strong></li>
<li>The local population of wood snakes was last spotted and recorded by British military officer and naturalist Colonel Richard Henry Beddome in 1878, who went on to describe it as a new species, Xylophis indicus.</li>
</ul>
<h3>&ldquo;Sirsi Supari&rdquo; Gets GI Tag</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Arecanut (also known as supari or betel nut) is the latest entrant in the list of agricultural produce with a <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/potential-of-gis-is-waiting-to-be-tapped" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>geographical indication (GI) tag.</strong></a></li>
<li><strong>&lsquo;Sirsi Supari&rsquo; grown in Uttara Kannada district of Karnataka has received the Geographic Indication (GI) tag.</strong></li>
<li>The arecanut has unique <strong>features like a round and flattened coin shape, particular texture, taste and has a hard seed.</strong> These features are not seen in arecanut grown in any other regions.</li>
<li>It is cultivated in Yellapura, Siddapura and Sirsi taluks in Karnataka</li>
<li>Totgars&rsquo; Cooperative Sale Society Ltd., Sirsi, is the registered proprietor of the GI.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Phased Manufacturing Programmes for Electric Vehicles</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The government has notified phased <strong>increase in basic customs duty</strong> on parts of electric passenger vehicles to be assembled in India and imported lithium-ion cells to promote domestic manufacturing of EVs.</li>
<li>The notification is part of the road map under the <strong>phased manufacturing programme (PMP).</strong>
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The phased manufacturing programme is part of a road map wherein through <strong>graded duty structure</strong> indigenous manufacturing of<strong> electric vehicles, its assemblies and parts or inputs of the sub-assemblies shall be promoted over a period of time.</strong></li>
<li>The intention is to substantially increase value addition and capacity building within the country.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>The government is also promoting the mass adoption of EVs through<strong> schemes like <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/fame-india-phase-ii" target="_blank" rel="noopener">FAME II.</a></strong></li>
<li>Recently, the Union Cabinet has also approved the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/national-mission-on-transformative-mobility-and-battery-storage" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>'National Mission on Transformative Mobility and Battery Storage'</strong></a> to drive clean, connected, shared and sustainable mobility initiatives in the country.</li>
</ul>
<h3>PINAKA</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Defense Research and Defence Organisation (DRDO)</strong> successfully test fired indigenously developed Guided PINAKA rockets from Pokhran ranges in Rajasthan.</li>
<li>The weapon system is equipped with<strong> state-of-the-art guidance kit</strong> comprising of an advanced navigation and control system.</li>
<li>It will significantly boost the capability of the artillery to make precision hits.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Central Electricity Regulatory Commission&nbsp;</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The<strong> Central Electricity Regulatory Commission (CERC)</strong> has come up with revised regulations to encourage neighboring countries to buy more power from India&rsquo;s spot markets.</li>
<li><strong>Bangladesh is the largest buyer of Indian power.</strong></li>
<li>India signed a memorandum of understanding for establishing grid interconnection. between the members of the <a href="/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-international-institution/drishti-specials-important-international-bimstec" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation (BIMSTEC). </strong></a></li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>About CERC</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>CERC is a <strong>statutory body</strong> functioning under <strong>section - 76 of the Electricity Act 2003.</strong></li>
<li>Functions:&nbsp;
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>to regulate the<strong> tariff of generating companies.</strong></li>
<li>to determine<strong> tariff and regulate the inter-State</strong> transmission of electricity.</li>
<li>to issue licenses to persons to function as transmission licensee and electricity trader with respect to their inter-State operations.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</div>',
			'postdate' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenTime) {},
			'url' => 'https://www.drishtiias.com/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/important-facts-for-prelims-12th-march-2019'
		],
		(int) 3 => [
			'title' => 'Vice President Visit to Paraguay and Costa Rica',
			'catname' => 'News Analysis',
			'desc' => '<p>Recently, Vice President of Inda visited two countries Costa Rica and Paraguay.</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Paraguay and Costa Rica are important partners of India in Latin American and Caribbean region respectively.</li>
</ul>
<h3>India-Paraguay<a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1577087720_image11.png" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1577087720_image11.png" width="300" height="212" caption="false" style="float: right;" /></a></h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Political</strong>
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Diplomatic relations between India and Paraguay were established in 1961.</strong></li>
<li>During the visit, it was decided to strengthen the relations even more.</li>
<li>Paraguay has also condemned the terror attack on Indian security forces in Pulwama.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Economic</strong>
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Bilateral trade between India and Paraguay has been growing.</li>
<li><strong>It was $40 million ten years ago and today it stands close to $375 million.</strong></li>
<li>During the visit, it was decided that efforts will be made to diversify and expand the trade basket.</li>
<li>Discussion on<strong> India&rsquo;s engagement in MERCOSUR also took place during the visit.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Cooperation &amp; People-2-People Contact</strong>
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>New areas for collaboration were identified</strong> between the two countries like renewable energy, health, ICT, space, biotechnology, railways, and tourism-related infrastructure.</li>
<li>To build people to people contacts there was a <strong>discussion on how to make travel easier</strong> between two countries.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>MERCOSUR</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The <strong>Southern Common Market (MERCOSUR for its Spanish initials)</strong> is a regional integration process, initially established by <strong>Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay, and Uruguay, and subsequently joined by Venezuela and Bolivia.</strong></li>
<li>India has a <strong>preferential trade agreement</strong> with MERCOSUR.</li>
</ul>
</div>
<h3>India-Costa Rica<a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1577087786_image44.png" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1577087786_image44.png" width="300" caption="false" style="float: right;" /></a></h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>India appointed an<strong> Honorary Consul in San Jose, capital of Costa Rica in 1995.</strong> Costa Rica reciprocated by opening an Honorary Consulate in New Delhi in 1996.</li>
<li>India and Costa Rica enjoy long-standing relations of friendship and cooperation, which are being strengthened by the growing commercial engagement between the two countries.</li>
<li><strong>Costa Rica is the 13th leading Trading Partner of India in the Latin American and Carribean (LAC) region.</strong> Bilateral trade between India and Costa Rica is around USD 200 mn.</li>
<li><strong>Costa Rica has set a target to become a carbon-neutral country by 2021</strong> and has decided to join the<a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/first-assembly-of-international-solar-alliance" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong> International Solar Alliance.</strong></a></li>
</ul>
<h3>India- Latin American and Carribbean (LAC) Region</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Importance of LAC</strong>
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Food Security:</strong> India is importing pulses and from South American countries.</li>
<li><strong>Mineral Import:</strong> Latin America is also very rich in minerals such as copper, lithium, iron ore, gold, and silver. India has an opportunity to increase investments for its extraction as well as for its imports at cheaper rates.</li>
<li><strong>Energy Security:</strong> Latin America has huge reserves of crude oil (20% of global reserves). Currently, India sources 15% of its crude oil from LAC countries. India which has emerged as the second largest importer of crude oil from the region is also important for Latin American countries.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Challenges</strong>
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Political Challenges:</strong> India has good relations with countries like Brazil, Mexico, Chile but other countries lag behind. Rivalries between countries like Brazil and Argentina for regional dominance is also affecting India&rsquo;s relations with the region.]</li>
<li><strong>Economic Relations:</strong> Though trade has reached $46 billion in 2012-13, it is nothing compared to the Chinese trade of $250 billion. Bilateral investments between India and LAC are also relatively low. It is only four percent of India&rsquo;s total outward investment.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>',
			'postdate' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenTime) {},
			'url' => 'https://www.drishtiias.com/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/vice-president-visit-to-paraguay-and-costa-rica'
		],
		(int) 4 => [
			'title' => 'IIT-Mandi’s Proposals Selected under SPARC Initiative',
			'catname' => 'News Analysis',
			'desc' => '<p>Seven research proposals from the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT), Mandi have been selected under <strong>&lsquo;Scheme for Promotion of Academic and Research Collaboration&rsquo; (SPARC).</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>These research projects are in areas such as energy and water sustainability, advanced sensors, electronics and communication, infectious diseases and clinical research, humanities, and social sciences, nano, biotechnology and applications, and advanced functionality and metamaterials and basic sciences.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Benefits</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The SPARC grants will <strong>help IIT-Mandi to collaborate with international universities in the US, France, Germany, UK, and Taiwan (Republic of China),</strong> and researchers from across the globe to undertake joint research.</li>
<li>IIT Mandi will also be able to <strong>offer short term courses to</strong> students in these fields.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Scheme for Promotion of Academic and Research Collaboration (SPARC)</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>&ldquo;Scheme for Promotion of Academic and Research Collaboration (SPARC)&rdquo; is an <strong>initiative of the Ministry of Human Resource Development.</strong></li>
<li><strong>Indian Institute of Technology, Kharagpur</strong> is the National Coordinating Institute to implement the SPARC programme.</li>
</ul>
<h3>The Objective of the Scheme</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>SPARC aims at <strong>improving the research ecosystem of India&rsquo;s higher educational institutions by facilitating academic and research collaborations between Indian institutions and the best institutions in the world.</strong></li>
<li><strong>Institutes are selected from 28 selected nations</strong> to jointly solve problems of national and international relevance.</li>
<li>Under this Scheme, <strong>600 joint research proposals will be awarded for 2 years</strong> to facilitate research collaboration between Indian research groups with the best in class faculty and renowned research groups in the leading universities of the world, <strong>in areas that are at the cutting edge of science or with direct social relevance to the mankind, specifically India.</strong></li>
</ul>
<h3>Thrust Areas</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>A set of 5 Thrust Areas which are<strong> Fundamental Research, Emergent Areas of Impact, Convergence, Action-Oriented Research, and Innovation-Driven and sub-theme areas</strong> in each thrust area has been identified.</li>
<li>A set of <strong>Nodal Institutions (NI), from India, for each participating foreign country has been identified.</strong>
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>IIT Mandi is the&nbsp;nodal institute for Germany.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>The role of a NI is to<strong> help and coordinate with willing Participating Indian Institutions to forge an alliance with the Institutions of the concerned participating foreign country.</strong></li>
<li><strong>Intellectual Property Rights (IPR)</strong>
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The IPR developed out of the project<strong> will be decided as per norms of the participating Institutes.</strong> The Indian Institute will get the benefits out of Patents / Royalty, rather than the foreign institute or the individual faculty.</li>
<li><strong>All disputes will have Indian jurisdiction.</strong> Any special deviation will be resolved by MHRD through the SPARC Liaison cell and approved by the Apex Committee.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>',
			'postdate' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenTime) {},
			'url' => 'https://www.drishtiias.com/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/iit-mandis-proposals-selected-under-sparc-initiative'
		],
		(int) 5 => [
			'title' => 'Strategy Against the Threat of Influenza',
			'catname' => 'News Analysis',
			'desc' => '<p>The World Health Organization (WHO) has launched a <strong>Global Influenza Strategy for 2019-2030,</strong> which aims to prevent seasonal influenza, control the virus&rsquo;s spread from animals to humans and prepare for the next pandemic</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The WHO warned that new pandemics are <strong>&ldquo;inevitable&rdquo;.</strong></li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Pandemic</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>A pandemic is the<strong> worldwide spread of a new disease.</strong></li>
<li>An influenza pandemic occurs when a new influenza virus emerges and spreads around the world, and most people do not have immunity. Viruses that have caused past pandemics<strong> typically originated from animal influenza viruses.</strong></li>
<li>Influenza epidemics are <strong>largely seasonal</strong> and affect around one billion people and kill hundreds of thousands annually making it one of the <strong>world&rsquo;s greatest public health challenges.</strong> E.g.:
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>H5N1 (called avian influenza or "bird flu")</strong> is a type of influenza virus that causes a highly infectious, severe respiratory disease in birds.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</div>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The new strategy is the most comprehensive and far-reaching that WHO has ever developed for influenza.</li>
<li>The strategy meets one of WHO&rsquo;s mandates to improve<strong> core capacities for public health, and increase global preparedness.</strong></li>
<li>It outlines a path to protect populations every year and helps prepare for a pandemic through strengthening routine programmes. <strong>Features of the new strategy are:</strong>
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Every country should strengthen routine health programmes and develop tailor-made influenza programmes that strengthen disease surveillance, response, prevention, control, and preparedness.</li>
<li>WHO recommends annual flu vaccines as the most effective way to prevent the spread of the disease, especially for healthcare workers and people at higher risk of influenza complications.</li>
<li>Development of more effective and more accessible vaccines and antiviral treatments.</li>
<li>Due to its mutating strains, vaccine formulas must be regularly updated.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>The new influenza strategy builds on and benefits from successful WHO programmes like:
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Global Influenza Surveillance and Response System (GISRS):</strong> Launched in 1952, GISRS comprised of WHO Collaborating Centres and national influenza centres. It focuses on monitoring seasonal trends and potentially pandemic viruses. This system serves as the backbone of the global alert system for influenza.</li>
<li><strong>Pandemic Influenza Preparedness Framework</strong> is a unique access and benefit sharing system that supports the sharing of potentially pandemic viruses, provides access to life saving vaccines and treatments in the event of a pandemic and supports the building of pandemic preparedness capacities in countries through partnership contributions from industry.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>World Health Organisation</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The World Health Organisation (WHO) is a <strong>specialized agency of the United Nations</strong> that is concerned with international public health.</li>
<li>It is <strong>headquartered in Geneva, Switzerland</strong> and the WHO&rsquo;s constitution came into force on April 7, 1948&mdash;a date now celebrated every year as World Health Day.</li>
<li>The <strong>World Health Assembly</strong> is the <strong>supreme decision-making body in WHO.</strong> The assembly meets annually and is attended by delegations from 194 member states.</li>
</ul>
</div>',
			'postdate' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenTime) {},
			'url' => 'https://www.drishtiias.com/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/strategy-against-the-threat-of-influenza'
		],
		(int) 6 => [
			'title' => 'World Gold Council',
			'catname' => 'News Analysis',
			'desc' => '<p>According to the latest report by the World Gold Council (WGC), India, which is the world&rsquo;s largest consumer of gold, has the 11th largest gold reserve, with the current holding pegged at 607 tonnes.</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>India&rsquo;s overall position in terms of total gold holding would have been tenth had the list included only countries.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>International Monetary Fund (IMF) is included and is third on the list with total gold reserves of 2,814 tonnes.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>The U.S. tops the list with gold reserves of 8,133.5 tonnes, followed by Germany with 3,369.7 tonnes.</li>
<li>Among Asian countries, China and Japan have more reserves when compared to India.</li>
<li>The demand for gold was concentrated among emerging market central banks, with diversification the key driver in the face of ongoing geopolitical and economic uncertainty.</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>World Gold Council</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The World Gold Council (WGC) is a nonprofit association of the world's leading gold producers.</li>
<li>Headquartered in London, the WGC covers the markets which comprise about three-quarters of the world's annual gold consumption.</li>
<li>It is a market development organization for the gold industry which includes 25 members and many gold mining companies as well.</li>
<li>The WGC was established to promote the use of and demand for gold through marketing, research and lobbying.</li>
</ul>
</div>
<h3>Gold &amp; Economy</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>As Currency:</strong> Gold was used as the world reserve currency up through most of the 20th century. The United States used the gold standard until 1971.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The paper money had to be backed up by equal amount of gold in their reserves.</li>
<li>Although the gold standard has been discontinued, some economists feel that we should return to it due to the volatility of the U.S. dollar and other currencies.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>As a hedge against inflation:</strong> The demand for gold increases during inflationary times due to its inherent value and limited supply. As it cannot be diluted, gold is able to retain value much better than other forms of currency.</li>
<li><strong>Strength of Currency:</strong> When a country imports more than it exports, the value of its currency will decline. On the other hand, the value of its currency will increase when a country is a net exporter. Thus, a country that exports gold or has access to gold reserves will see an increase in the strength of its currency when gold prices increase, since this increases the value of the country's total exports.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Since, the central banks rely on printing more money to buy gold, they create an excess supply of the currency. This increases the supply and thereby reduces the value of the currency used to purchase it.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>',
			'postdate' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenTime) {},
			'url' => 'https://www.drishtiias.com/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/world-gold-council'
		],
		(int) 7 => [
			'title' => 'HIV: New Hope',
			'catname' => 'Lok Sabha & Rajya Sabha Discussions',
			'desc' => '<p style="text-align: center;"><iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/I8gKEBX7tKY" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe></p>
<p>Recently a person suffering from HIV has been treated in London called as &lsquo;London Patient&rsquo;. He is the second person after Timothy Ray Brown who got cured of HIV. He has been cured with CCR5-delta 32 technique, which is based on a stem cell transplant involving CCR5-delta 32 homozygous donor cells.</p>
<h3>Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV)</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>HIV attacks CD4, a type of White Blood Cell (T cells)</strong> in the body&rsquo;s immune system. T cells are those cells that move around the body detecting anomalies and infections in cells.</li>
<li>After entering body, <strong>HIV multiplies itself and destroys CD4 cells, thus severely damaging the human immune system</strong>. Once this virus enters the body, it can never be removed.</li>
<li>CD4 count of a person infected with HIV reduces significantly. In a healthy body, CD4 count is between 500- 1600, but in an infected body, it can go as low as 200.</li>
<li>Weak immune system makes a person prone to opportunistic infections and cancer. It becomes difficult for a person infected with this virus to recover from even a minor injury or sickness.</li>
<li>By receiving treatment, severe form of HIV can be prevented.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Transmission</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>HIV is transmitted from person to person <strong>through bodily fluids including blood, semen, vaginal secretions, anal fluids and breast milk</strong>.</li>
<li>To transmit HIV, bodily fluids must contain enough of the virus. A person with &lsquo;Undetectable HIV&rsquo; cannot transfer HIV to another person even after transfer of fluids.</li>
<li>&lsquo;Undetectable HIV&rsquo; is when the amount of HIV in the body is so low that a blood test cannot detect it. Treatment can make this possible. But regular monitoring of the same through blood tests is also required.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Symptoms</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Around 80% of people infected with HIV develop a set of symptoms known as <strong>Acute Retroviral Syndrome,</strong> around 2-6 weeks after the virus enters into body.</li>
<li>The early symptoms include fever, chills, joint pains, muscle aches, sore throat, sweats particularly at night, enlarged glands, a red rash, tiredness, weakness, unintentional weight loss and thrush.</li>
<li>A person can carry HIV even without experiencing any symptoms for a long time. During this time, the virus continues to develop and causes immune system and organ damage.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Global Stats</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Since the beginning of epidemic, more than 70 million people have got infected with HIV virus and about 35 million have died.</li>
<li>Globally, 36.9 million People were living with HIV at the end of 2017. Of these, 1.8 million were children under 15 years of age.</li>
<li>According to Global HIV &amp; AIDS statistics, only 59% of those infected with HIV are receiving the antiretroviral drugs.</li>
<li>The African Region is the most affected region with 1 in 25 adults living with HIV.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Indian Stats</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The total number of people living with HIV was estimated at 21.40 lakh in 2017.</li>
<li>India witnessed over 87,000 new cases in 2017 and saw a decline of 85% compared to 1995.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Treatment</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Anti-Retroviral Therapy:</strong>
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>It is a <strong>combination of daily medications that stop the virus from reproducing</strong>.</li>
<li>The therapy helps in protecting CD4 cells thus keeping the immune system strong enough to fight off the disease.</li>
<li>It, besides reducing the risk of transmission of HIV, also helps in stopping its progression to AIDS (a spectrum of conditions caused by infection due to HIV).</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Stem Cell Transplant:</strong>
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Under this, <strong>an infected person is treated with stem cell transplant from donors carrying a genetic mutation that prevents expression of an HIV receptor CCR5</strong>.</li>
<li>CCR5 is the most commonly used receptor by HIV-1. <strong>People who have mutated copies of CCR5 are resistant to HIV-1 virus strain</strong>.</li>
<li>It has been reported that till now, only two people have been cured of HIV by experts using this method of treatment. The first person is Timothy Ray Brown <strong>(Berlin Patient)</strong> who was cured in 2007 and the second is known as <strong>London Patient,</strong> who just got cured of HIV.</li>
<li>The difference in the treatment of both patients is that the Berlin Patient was given two transplants and he underwent total body irradiation while the London Patient received just one transplant and also less intensive chemotherapy.</li>
<li>Researchers find this method very complicated, expensive and risky.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS)</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>It is a set of symptoms or syndrome caused by HIV. But <strong>it is not necessary that a person infected with HIV will definitely develop AIDS</strong>.</li>
<li>A person infected with HIV is likely to develop symptoms of AIDS over a period of time when his/er immune system is too weak to fight HIV infection.</li>
<li><strong>This is the last stage of HIV when the infection is very advanced and if left untreated will lead to death.</strong></li>
<li>A person with HIV whose CD4 count falls below 200 per cubic millimetre is diagnosed with AIDS.</li>
<li>The risk of HIV progressing to AIDS varies widely between individuals and depends on many factors including:
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The age of the Individual</li>
<li>The body&rsquo;s ability to defend against HIV</li>
<li>Access to high quality sanitary healthcare</li>
<li>Presence of other infections</li>
<li>Individual&rsquo;s genetic resistance to certain strains of HIV</li>
<li>Drug-Resistant strains of HIV</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>Prevention</strong> includes safe sex, testing and counselling for HIV, voluntary medical male circumcision among other things.</p>
</div>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Timeline:</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Pre-1980:</strong>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>It was in early 1900s that a form of Simian Immunodeficiency Virus (SIV) was transmitted to humans in Central Africa. This virus went on to become the pandemic strain of HIV.</li>
<li>It is believed that HIV infection was originated in Kinshasa in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DR Congo) around year 1920 when HIV crossed species from chimpanzees to humans.</li>
<li>In 1959, the first known case of HIV in a human was confirmed in a man who died in Congo.</li>
<li>Research suggests that virus had arrived in USA around 1968.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>1980s:</strong>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>In September 1982, Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) (USA) used the term &lsquo;AIDS&rsquo; for the first time.</li>
<li>In 1983, World Health Organization (WHO) held its first meeting to assess global AIDS situation.</li>
<li>By the end of 1985, every region in the world had reported at least one case of AIDS with 20,303 cases in total.</li>
<li>In May 1986, the International Committee on the Taxonomy of Virus said that the virus that causes AIDS would officially be called HIV.</li>
<li>In February 1987, WHO launched the Global Program on AIDS</li>
<li>In March 1987, the first antiretroviral drug zidovudine was approved as treatment for AIDS.</li>
<li>In October 1987, AIDS became the first illness to be debated in United Nations General Assembly (UNGA).</li>
<li>In 1988, WHO declared 1st December as World AIDS Day</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>1990s:</strong>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>In 1991, the New York-based Visual AIDS Artists Caucus launched the &lsquo;Red Ribbon&rsquo; Project to create a symbol of compassion for people living with HIV. The Red Ribbon became an international symbol of AIDS awareness.</li>
<li>By the end of 1993, there were estimated 2.5 million AIDS cases globally.</li>
<li>In 1996, the Joint UN Program on AIDS (UNAIDS) was established.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>2000s:</strong>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>From 2001, drug manufacturers began producing discounted generic forms of HIV medicines for developing countries.</li>
<li>In January 2003, U.S. President George Bush announced the creation of &lsquo;US President&rsquo;s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief&rsquo;, a 15 billion dollar five year plan to combat AIDS primarily in the countries with high number of HIV infections.</li>
<li>In January 2010, the travel ban preventing HIV-positive people from entering USA was lifted.</li>
<li>In 2013, UNAIDS reported that AIDS- related deaths had fallen 30% since their peak in 2005.</li>
<li>In July 2015, UNAIDS announced that the Millennium Development Goal (MDG) related to HIV and AIDS was reached six months ahead of schedule. The target of MDG 6 was to halt the spread of AIDS by 2015 and to begin to reverse its spread.</li>
<li>In 2017, for the first time ever, more than half of the global population living with HIV was receiving the antiretroviral treatment.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</div>
<p><em>Based on two successful treatment cases, researchers are now considering several approaches to eliminate HIV from the human body. One such approach is Gene Therapy which will modify the CCR-5 gene in a person, but as per experts doing that will be difficult. The latest treatment case has boosted the confidence of researchers and they will continue to explore more and more till they find a proper and less risky treatment.</em></p>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Drishti Input</strong></p>
<p><strong>HIV-1 and HIV-2</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>There are two types of HIV: HIV-1 and HIV-2.</li>
<li>HIV-1 is considered the predominant type, representing the vast majority of infections worldwide, while HIV-2 is far less common and primarily concentrated in the west and central African regions.</li>
<li>While both of these HIV types can lead to AIDS, HIV-2 is much more difficult to transmit and far less virulent than HIV-1.</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>UNAIDS</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Established in 1996, UNAIDS has been leading and inspiring global, regional, national and local leadership, innovation and partnership to consign HIV to history.</li>
<li>It is headquartered in Geneva, Switzerland.</li>
<li>It places people living with HIV and people affected by the virus at the decision-making table and at the centre of designing, delivering and monitoring the AIDS response.</li>
<li>It charts paths for countries and communities to get on the fast-track to end AIDS and is a bold advocate for addressing the legal and policy barriers to the AIDS response.</li>
<li>Also, it is leading the global effort to end AIDS as a public health threat by 2030 as part of the Sustainable Development Goal-3 (SDG-3).</li>
<li>SDG-3 deals with ensuring healthy lives and promoting wellbeing for all at all ages (including universal access to HIV prevention services, sexual and reproductive health services and drug dependence treatment and harm reduction services).</li>
</ul>
</div>',
			'postdate' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenTime) {},
			'url' => 'https://www.drishtiias.com/loksabha-rajyasabha-discussions/hiv-new-hope'
		],
		(int) 8 => [
			'title' => 'Model Code of Conduct (MCC)',
			'catname' => 'News Analysis',
			'desc' => '<p>With the announcement of elections to the 17<sup>th</sup> Lok Sabha, the Model Code of Conduct has come into effect immediately.</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The MCC is a<strong> set of guidelines issued by the <a href="/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-national-institutions/election-commission-of-india" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Election Commission (EC)</a></strong> to regulate political parties and candidates prior to elections. Basically, the code spells out the do's and don&rsquo;ts for elections.</li>
<li><strong>This is in keeping with Article 324 of the Constitution</strong>, which mandates EC to conduct free and fair elections to the Parliament and State Legislatures.</li>
<li><strong>It is not statutory</strong> but Political Parties, Candidates and Polling Agents are expected to observe the norms, on matters ranging from the content of election manifestos, speeches and processions, to general conduct etc.</li>
<li><strong>The code comes into force on the announcement of the poll schedule and remains operational till the process is concluded. </strong></li>
<li>The EC has devised several mechanisms to take note of the violation of the code, which include joint task forces of enforcement agencies and flying squads. The latest is the introduction of the cVIGIL mobile app through which audio-visual evidence of malpractices can be reported.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The<strong><span>&nbsp;</span>cVIGIL App&nbsp;</strong>provides<strong><span>&nbsp;</span>time-stamped, evidence-based proof of the Model Code of Conduct / Expenditure Violation, having live photo/video</strong><span>&nbsp;</span>with<strong><span>&nbsp;</span>auto location data</strong>.</li>
<li>Any citizen can lodge a complaint through the Mobile App. Flying Squads will then investigate the matter and the Returning Officer takes the decision.</li>
<li>The status of cVIGIL can be shared with the cVIGIL complainant within a specified time limit.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p style="text-align: left;"><strong>MCC: Legal Enforcement</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li style="text-align: left;">Though MCC does not have any statutory backing, but the Code has come to acquire teeth in the past decade because of its strict enforcement by the EC.</li>
<li style="text-align: left;"><strong>Certain provisions of the MCC may be enforced through invoking corresponding provisions in other statutes such as the Indian Penal Code, 1860, Code of Criminal Procedure,1973, and Representation of the People Act, 1951.</strong>
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li style="text-align: left;">For Example; Inciting hatred through political speeches, Appealing to caste and community feelings of voters, Intimidating or bribing voters and distributing liquor or holding public meetings in the 48 hours preceding the close of polling, are all such offences for which candidates can be tried under the <strong>Indian Penal Code</strong> or the<strong> Representation of the People Act 1951.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li style="text-align: left;"><strong>In 2013, the Standing Committee on Personnel, Public Grievances, Law and Justice, recommended making the model code of conduct legally binding.</strong> The committee observed in a report on electoral reforms that most provisions of the code are already enforceable through corresponding provisions in other statutes. It recommended that the MCC be made a part of the Representation of the People Act, 1951.</li>
<li style="text-align: left;"><strong>The EC argues against making it legally binding.</strong> According to it, elections must be completed within a relatively short time or close to 45 days, and judicial proceedings typically take longer, therefore it is not feasible to make it enforceable by law.</li>
</ul>
</div>',
			'postdate' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenTime) {},
			'url' => 'https://www.drishtiias.com/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/model-code-of-conduct-1'
		],
		(int) 9 => [
			'title' => '“The Post-Balakot Challenge’’',
			'catname' => 'News Editorials',
			'desc' => '<div class="border">
<p>(This editorial is based on the article <a href="http://epaper.indianexpress.com/2063707/Delhi/March-11-2019#page/11/2" target="_blank" rel="noopener">&ldquo;The Post-Balakot Challenge&rsquo;&rsquo;</a> which appeared in the &lsquo;&rsquo;Indian Express&rsquo;&rsquo; on 11<sup>th</sup> March 2019. The article talks about India&rsquo;s marked departure from its traditional response to Pakistan based terrorism)</p>
</div>
<p>In the aftermath of recent Pulwama attack and the events set in motion by it, the nation has witnessed an increased demand to reshape India-Pakistan relations.</p>
<p>The ties between India-Pakistan are not only linked to India&rsquo;s external interest but also address nation&rsquo;s politics and social equation.</p>
<p>The domestic environment could well be understood through the prevalent reflexes of political parties, absence of serious discussion on Pakistani reality, and focusing on the politicisation of the entire episode.</p>
<p>However amidst all the charged up emotional response from national media houses and people, root cause of the problem, that is tackling terrorism has gone unnoticed.</p>
<h3>Pakistan as a Terror Launch Pad</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Pakistan has always refused any involvement in the region&rsquo;s instability due to terrorism or it acting as a safe haven to terrorism.</li>
<li>However it continues to remain a safe haven for terrorist organisations such as Jaish-e-Mohammad, Jammat-ud-dawa which continues to operate in Pakistan unabatedly.</li>
<li>Terrorist outfits have launched multiple attacks on Indian soil ranging from 2001 parliament attack, 26/11 Mumbai attack, and Uri attack in 2016 to the latest Pulwama attack in February 2019.</li>
<li>This attitude of shirking away from its responsibility has changed with Indian government building international pressure on Pakistani dispensation and providing proofs to both international community as well as Pakistani government wherever required.</li>
<li>International community too believes that Pakistan does harbour terrorist groups that act against India irrespective of whether the state facilitates them or not.</li>
</ul>
<h3>India&rsquo;s Traditional Response</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>India&rsquo;s most preferred and usual response has always been one of defence.</li>
<li>Outraged Indian sentiment has often been cooled down through sheer diplomacy and political management.</li>
<li>India has resorted to composite dialogue to promote cooperation, address outstanding issues and handle humanitarian concerns.</li>
<li>Indian conventional military considerations are belittled by Pakistan&rsquo;s nuclear threat overhang, paralysing any efforts towards military escalation.</li>
<li>Indian government has never considered the terrorism problem as a strategic challenge and has looked at it from the cross border infiltration angle.</li>
<li>Steps such as withdrawing Pakistan&rsquo;s status of most favoured nation, denial of visas to sports teams and the decision to use all the waters of the eastern rivers under the Indus Water Treaty have done little to no change in Pakistani stand.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Entering a New Phase</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The post &ndash; Uri attack surgical strikes had marked a major shift in India&rsquo;s response to Pakistani terror.</li>
<li>Indian military action in Pakistan controlled territory to destroy terrorist launch pad was seen as a major strategic win as it provided Pakistan an opportunity to deny them and therefore, limiting any possibility of military escalation.</li>
<li>It comes at the cost of <strong>erosion of Pakistan&rsquo;s nuclear overhang doctrine,</strong> with India downplaying any threat from its nuclear capable neighbour.</li>
<li>Air force strikes in Balakot are even a one step further in India&rsquo;s resolve to eliminate any foreign based terror camp as it not only crossed LOC but entered Pakistan mainland <strong>(the area falls about 50 km from the LoC and 81 km away from Uri, Jammu and Kashmir)</strong>.</li>
<li>India called these strikes as non-military pre emptive strike, with no intention on hitting military establishment and causing any civilian casualties.</li>
<li>Indian strikes marked not only the first intentional crossing by the IAF since the 1971 war between the two countries, but the first-ever use of conventional airpower by one nuclear-armed state against the territory of another nuclear-armed state.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Challenges</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Despite the breaking away from its traditional past there is no clarity if the new approach has been clearly defined with fully understanding the ramifications of engaging with a nuclear power.</li>
<li>India <strong>should not understate the possibility of full blown conventional war,</strong> and should exercise logical constraint in escalating things on military scale.</li>
<li>Instant Pakistani retaliation through counter air strikes challenges the <strong>potency of such measures</strong>.</li>
<li>Despite getting a favourable all round response from global world, India&rsquo;s giant neighbour China has maintained its silence on terrorism with emphasising the importance of nation&rsquo;s sovereignty.</li>
<li>Pakistan often under international pressure takes <strong>short term steps such as banning terrorist outfits</strong> however these organisations continue to operate under different names and continue getting foreign funding.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Way Forward</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>India in order to end cross border terrorism has to start considering the issue as a strategic challenge and use all elements of national power in sustained manner over a long period.</li>
<li>India should continue its recent <strong>policy of active engagement</strong> as all the previous measures however effective in bringing down Indian anger have done little in moderating Pakistani thinking or action.</li>
<li><strong>India should insist on complete eradication of terrorist launch pads</strong> and banning of terrorist outfits used for perpetrating crime and attacks on India from Pakistani soil before resuming any dialogue.</li>
<li>India should build <strong>international pressure and ensure a crack down on the funding</strong> of these institutions.</li>
<li>India should be clear about its position towards terrorism and should <strong>project the same to international community</strong> emphasising India&rsquo;s drying patience towards Pakistani terrorist misadventure.</li>
<li>There is a<strong> need to ensure a serious rethinking of India-Pakistan relationship</strong> which should look forward to India&rsquo;s interest and at the same time avoid any war-like aggression which is disastrous for India.</li>
</ul>',
			'postdate' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenTime) {},
			'url' => 'https://www.drishtiias.com/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/the-post-balakot-challenge-'
		],
		(int) 10 => [
			'title' => 'Saudi Investment in Strategic Oil Storage',
			'catname' => 'News Analysis',
			'desc' => '<p>India has invited Saudi Arabia to partner in building strategic oil reserves and further invest in India&rsquo;s refining and Petrochemical sectors.</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>India is concerned about global oil balance and supplies for the following reasons:
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>India&rsquo;s energy needs are primarily met through imports.</li>
<li>Concerns about rising international crude oil prices. The need for uninterrupted supplies of crude oil and LPG to India in view of the OPEC+ cuts.</li>
<li>Sanctions imposed by the US administration on state-owned oil company of Venezuela.</li>
<li>The US pull-out from 2015 accord with energy-rich Iran has limited the options for India to meet its energy demands.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Strategic Petroleum Reserves</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Strategic petroleum reserves are huge stockpiles of crude oil to deal with any crude oil-related crisis like the risk of supply disruption from natural disasters, war or other calamities.</li>
<li>India&rsquo;s strategic crude oil storages are currently located at Visakhapatnam (Andhra Pradesh), Mangaluru (Karnataka), and Padur (Karnataka).</li>
<li>Recently, the government had announced setting up of two additional facilities at Chandikhol (Odisha) and Padur (Karnataka).</li>
<li>The concept of dedicated strategic reserves was first mooted in 1973 in the US, after the first oil crisis.</li>
<li>The concept of massive caverns deep below the surface of the earth has been traditionally marketed as an energy security measure that can be a defence against shortage of oil supply in future due to an attack or invasion.</li>
<li>Underground storage is, by far the most economic method of storing petroleum products because the underground facility rules out the requirement of large swathes of land, ensures less evaporation and, since the caverns are built much below the sea level, it is easy to discharge crude into them from ships.</li>
</ul>
</div>
<h3>Need</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The IEA predicts that by 2020, India could well be the largest oil importer, increasing the country&rsquo;s vulnerability to threats of physical supply disruptions leading to sharp price fluctuations.</li>
<li>Besides the energy security, there is a commercial angle to it as well. Even as limited storage option would offer India the leverage to be a serious player in the international oil markets, with the option of releasing inventory when prices surge and recharging reservoirs whenever the crude is on a downcycle.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Way forward</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Experts point to the option of storage being leased out to West Asian refiners, especially since it reduces their freight costs into Southeast Asian markets.</li>
<li>The three storage facilities to be implemented in the first phase can hold 13 days of India&rsquo;s crude stock requirement where International Energy Agency (IEA) recommends 90 days.</li>
<li>Therefore, there is a need to build more stockpiles before oil prices rise back given that OPEC nations have recently decided to reduce oil production to bring stability in global oil prices, in a meet held recently.</li>
</ul>',
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		],
		(int) 11 => [
			'title' => 'Self Help Groups (SHGs)',
			'catname' => 'Paper 2',
			'desc' => '<p><a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/635Drishti_ias_Self-Help-Groups.jpg" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/635Drishti_ias_Self-Help-Groups.jpg" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" /></a></p>',
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		],
		(int) 12 => [
			'title' => 'Self Help Groups (SHGs)',
			'catname' => 'Paper 2',
			'desc' => '<h3>What are SHGs?</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Self-Help Groups (SHGs) are informal associations of people who choose to come together to find ways to improve their living conditions.</li>
<li>It can be defined as <g class="gr_ gr_182 gr-alert gr_spell gr_inline_cards gr_run_anim ContextualSpelling multiReplace" id="182" data-gr-id="182">self governed</g>, peer controlled information group of people with similar socio-economic background and having a desire to collectively perform common purpose.</li>
<li>Villages face numerous problems related to poverty, illiteracy, lack of skills, lack of formal credit etc. These problems cannot be tackled at an individual level and need collective efforts.</li>
<li>Thus SHG can become a vehicle of change for the poor and marginalized. SHG rely on the notion of &ldquo;Self Help&rdquo; to encourage self-employment and poverty alleviation.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Functions</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>It looks to <strong>build the functional capacity</strong> of the poor and the marginalized in the field of employment and <g class="gr_ gr_162 gr-alert gr_spell gr_inline_cards gr_run_anim ContextualSpelling ins-del multiReplace" id="162" data-gr-id="162">income generating</g> activities.</li>
<li>It <strong>resolves conflicts</strong> through collective leadership and mutual discussion.</li>
<li>It <strong>provides collateral free loan</strong> with terms decided by the group at the <g class="gr_ gr_160 gr-alert gr_spell gr_inline_cards gr_run_anim ContextualSpelling ins-del multiReplace" id="160" data-gr-id="160">market driven</g> rates.</li>
<li>Such groups <strong>work as a collective guarantee system</strong> for members who propose to borrow from <g class="gr_ gr_218 gr-alert gr_spell gr_inline_cards gr_run_anim ContextualSpelling multiReplace" id="218" data-gr-id="218">organised</g> sources. The poor collect their savings and save it in banks. In <g class="gr_ gr_217 gr-alert gr_gramm gr_inline_cards gr_run_anim Punctuation only-ins replaceWithoutSep" id="217" data-gr-id="217">return</g> they receive easy access to loans with a small rate of interest to start their micro unit enterprise.</li>
<li>Consequently, Self-Help Groups have emerged as the most effective mechanism for <strong><g class="gr_ gr_204 gr-alert gr_gramm gr_inline_cards gr_run_anim Grammar only-ins replaceWithoutSep" id="204" data-gr-id="204">delivery</g> of microfinance services</strong> to the poor.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Need for SHGs</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>One of the reasons for rural poverty in our country is low access to credit and financial services.</li>
<li>A Committee constituted under the chairmanship of <strong>Dr. C. Rangarajan</strong> to prepare a comprehensive report on <strong>'Financial Inclusion in the Country'</strong> identified four major reasons for lack of financial inclusion:
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Inability to provide collateral security,</li>
<li>Poor credit absorption capacity,</li>
<li><g class="gr_ gr_227 gr-alert gr_gramm gr_inline_cards gr_run_anim Grammar only-ins doubleReplace replaceWithoutSep" id="227" data-gr-id="227">Inadequate</g> reach of the institutions, and</li>
<li>Weak community network.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>The existence of sound community networks in villages is increasingly being <g class="gr_ gr_178 gr-alert gr_spell gr_inline_cards gr_run_anim ContextualSpelling multiReplace" id="178" data-gr-id="178">recognised</g> as one of the most important elements of credit linkage in the rural areas.</li>
<li>They help in accessing credit to the poor and thus, play a critical role in poverty alleviation.</li>
<li>They also help to build social capital among the poor, especially women. This empowers women and gives them <g class="gr_ gr_211 gr-alert gr_gramm gr_inline_cards gr_run_anim Grammar only-ins replaceWithoutSep" id="211" data-gr-id="211">greater</g> voice in <g class="gr_ gr_212 gr-alert gr_gramm gr_inline_cards gr_run_anim Grammar only-del replaceWithoutSep" id="212" data-gr-id="212">the society</g>.</li>
<li>Financial independence through self-employment has many externalities such as improved literacy levels, better health care and even better family planning.</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Genesis of SHG</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The Genesis of SHG in India can be traced to <g class="gr_ gr_215 gr-alert gr_gramm gr_inline_cards gr_run_anim Grammar only-ins replaceWithoutSep" id="215" data-gr-id="215">formation</g> of Self-Employed Women&rsquo;s Association (SEWA) in 1970.</li>
<li>The SHG Bank Linkage Project launched by NABARD in 1992 has blossomed into the world&rsquo;s largest microfinance project.</li>
<li>NABARD <g class="gr_ gr_167 gr-alert gr_spell gr_inline_cards gr_run_anim ContextualSpelling ins-del multiReplace" id="167" data-gr-id="167">alongwith</g> RBI permitted SHGs to have a savings account in banks from the year of 1993. This action gave a considerable boost to the SHG movement and paved the way for the SHG-Bank linkage program.</li>
<li>In 1999, Government of India, introduced Swarn Jayanti Gram Swarozgar Yojana (SGSY) to promote self-employment in rural areas through formation and skilling of SHGs.</li>
<li>The programme evolved as a national movement in 2011 and became National Rural Livelihoods Mission (NRLM) &ndash; world&rsquo;s largest poverty alleviation programme.</li>
<li>Today, State Rural Livelihood Missions (SRLMs) are operational in 29 states and 5 UTs (except Delhi and Chandigarh).</li>
<li>NRLM facilitated universal access to the affordable cost-effective reliable financial services to the poor like financial literacy, bank account, savings, credit, insurance, remittance, pension and <g class="gr_ gr_194 gr-alert gr_spell gr_inline_cards gr_run_anim ContextualSpelling multiReplace" id="194" data-gr-id="194">counselling</g> on financial services.</li>
</ul>
</div>
<h3>Benefits of SHGs</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Social integrity &ndash;</strong> SHGs encourages collective efforts for combating practices like dowry, alcoholism etc.</li>
<li><strong>Gender Equity &ndash;</strong> SHGs empowers women and inculcates leadership skill among them. Empowered women participate more actively in gram sabha and elections.</li>
<li>There is evidence in this country as well as elsewhere that formation of Self-Help Groups has a multiplier effect in improving women&rsquo;s status in society as well as in the family leading to improvement in their socio-economic condition and also enhances their self-esteem.</li>
<li><strong>Pressure Groups &ndash;</strong> their participation in <g class="gr_ gr_197 gr-alert gr_gramm gr_inline_cards gr_run_anim Grammar only-ins replaceWithoutSep" id="197" data-gr-id="197">governance</g> process enables them to highlight issues such as dowry, alcoholism, the menace of open defecation, primary health care etc and impact policy decision.</li>
<li><strong>Voice to marginalized section</strong> &ndash; Most of the beneficiaries of government schemes have been from weaker and marginalized communities and hence their participation through SHGs ensures social justice.</li>
<li><strong>Financial Inclusion &ndash;</strong> Priority Sector Lending norms and assurance of returns incentivize banks to lend to SHGs. The SHG-Bank linkage programme pioneered by NABARD has made access to credit easier and reduced the dependence on traditional money lenders and other non-institutional sources.</li>
<li><strong>Improving <g class="gr_ gr_188 gr-alert gr_gramm gr_inline_cards gr_run_anim Grammar only-ins replaceWithoutSep" id="188" data-gr-id="188">efficiency</g> of government schemes</strong> and reducing corruption through social audits.</li>
<li><g class="gr_ gr_169 gr-alert gr_gramm gr_inline_cards gr_run_anim Grammar only-ins doubleReplace replaceWithoutSep" id="169" data-gr-id="169">Alternate</g> source of employment &ndash; it eases dependency on agriculture by providing support in setting up micro-enterprises e.g. <g class="gr_ gr_172 gr-alert gr_spell gr_inline_cards gr_run_anim ContextualSpelling multiReplace" id="172" data-gr-id="172">personalised</g> business ventures like tailoring, grocery, and tool repair shops.</li>
<li><strong>Changes In Consumption Pattern &ndash;</strong> It has enabled the participating households to spend more on education, food <g class="gr_ gr_201 gr-alert gr_gramm gr_inline_cards gr_run_anim Punctuation only-ins replaceWithoutSep" id="201" data-gr-id="201">and</g> health than non-client households.</li>
<li><strong>Impact on Housing &amp; Health &ndash;</strong> The financial inclusion attained through SHGs has led to reduced child mortality, improved maternal health and the ability of the poor to combat disease through better nutrition, housing <g class="gr_ gr_192 gr-alert gr_gramm gr_inline_cards gr_run_anim Punctuation only-ins replaceWithoutSep" id="192" data-gr-id="192">and</g> health &ndash; especially among women and children.</li>
<li><strong>Banking literacy &ndash;</strong> It encourages and motivates its members to save and act as a conduit for formal banking services to reach them.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Opportunities</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>SHGs often appear to be instrumental in rural poverty alleviation.</li>
<li>Economic empowerment through <g class="gr_ gr_173 gr-alert gr_gramm gr_inline_cards gr_run_anim Punctuation only-del replaceWithoutSep" id="173" data-gr-id="173">SHGs,</g> provides women the confidence for participation in decision making affairs at the household-level as well as at the <g class="gr_ gr_165 gr-alert gr_spell gr_inline_cards gr_run_anim ContextualSpelling ins-del" id="165" data-gr-id="165">community-level</g>.</li>
<li><g class="gr_ gr_185 gr-alert gr_spell gr_inline_cards gr_run_anim ContextualSpelling multiReplace" id="185" data-gr-id="185">Un-utilised</g> and <g class="gr_ gr_186 gr-alert gr_spell gr_inline_cards gr_run_anim ContextualSpelling multiReplace" id="186" data-gr-id="186">underutilised</g> resources of the community can be <g class="gr_ gr_187 gr-alert gr_spell gr_inline_cards gr_run_anim ContextualSpelling multiReplace" id="187" data-gr-id="187">mobilised</g> effectively under different SHG-initiatives.</li>
<li>Leaders and members of successful SHGs bear the potentiality to act as resource persons for different community developmental initiatives.</li>
<li>Active involvement in different SHG-initiatives helps members to grow <g class="gr_ gr_166 gr-alert gr_spell gr_inline_cards gr_run_anim ContextualSpelling ins-del" id="166" data-gr-id="166">leadership-skills</g>. <g class="gr_ gr_209 gr-alert gr_gramm gr_inline_cards gr_run_anim Grammar multiReplace" id="209" data-gr-id="209">Evidences</g> also show that often women SHG leaders are chosen as potential candidates for Panchayat Pradhans or representatives to Panchayati Raj Institution (PRI).</li>
</ul>
<h3>Weaknesses of SHGs</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Members of a group do not come necessarily from the poorest families.</li>
<li>Though there has been social empowerment of the poor, the economic gain to bring about a qualitative change in their life has not been satisfactory.</li>
<li>Many of the activities undertaken by the SHGs are still based on primitive skills related mostly to primary sector enterprises. With poor value <g class="gr_ gr_205 gr-alert gr_spell gr_inline_cards gr_run_anim ContextualSpelling" id="205" data-gr-id="205">addition</g> per worker and prevalence of subsistence level wages, such activities often do not lead to any substantial increase in the income of group members.</li>
<li>There is a lack of qualified resource personnel in the rural areas who could help in skill <g class="gr_ gr_161 gr-alert gr_spell gr_inline_cards gr_run_anim ContextualSpelling" id="161" data-gr-id="161">upgradation</g> or acquisition of new skills by group members. Further, institutional mechanisms for capacity building and skill training have been lacking.</li>
<li>Poor accounting practices and incidents of misappropriation of funds.</li>
<li>Lack of resources and means to market their goods.</li>
<li>SHGs are heavily dependent on their promoter NGOs and government agencies. The withdrawal of support often leads to their collapse.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Challenges</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Lack of knowledge</strong> and proper orientation among SHG-members to take up suitable and profitable livelihood options.</li>
<li><strong>Patriarchal mindset &ndash;</strong> primitive thinking and social obligations discourages women from participating in SHGs thus limiting their economic avenues.</li>
<li><strong>Lack of rural banking facilities &ndash;</strong> There are about 1.2 lakh bank branches and over 6 lakh villages. Moreover, <strong>many public sector banks and micro-finance institutions are unwilling to provide financial services</strong> to the poor as the cost of servicing remains high.</li>
<li><strong>Sustainability</strong> and the quality of operations of the SHGs have been a matter of considerable debate.</li>
<li><strong>No Security &ndash;&nbsp;</strong>The SHGs work on mutual trust and confidence of the members. The deposits of the SHGs are not secured or safe</li>
<li>Only a minority of the Self-Help Groups are able to raise themselves from a level of micro-finance to that of micro-entrepreneurship.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Measures to Make SHGs Effective</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The Government should play the role of a <strong>facilitator and promoter,</strong> create a supportive environment for the growth and development of the SHG movement.</li>
<li><strong>Expanding SHG Movement</strong> to Credit Deficient Areas of the Country - such as Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, States of the North-East.</li>
<li><strong><g class="gr_ gr_176 gr-alert gr_gramm gr_inline_cards gr_run_anim Grammar only-ins doubleReplace replaceWithoutSep" id="176" data-gr-id="176">Rapid</g> expansion of financial infrastructure</strong> (including that of NABARD) and by adopting extensive <g class="gr_ gr_164 gr-alert gr_spell gr_inline_cards gr_run_anim ContextualSpelling ins-del multiReplace" id="164" data-gr-id="164">IT enabled</g> communication and capacity building measures in these States.</li>
<li><strong>Extension of Self-Help Groups to Urban/Peri-Urban Areas &ndash;</strong> efforts should be made to increase income generation abilities of the urban poor as there has been a rapid rise in <g class="gr_ gr_191 gr-alert gr_spell gr_inline_cards gr_run_anim ContextualSpelling multiReplace" id="191" data-gr-id="191">urbanisation</g> and many people remain financially excluded.</li>
<li><strong>Positive Attitude &ndash;</strong> Government functionaries should treat the poor and marginalized as viable and responsible customers and as possible entrepreneurs.</li>
<li><strong>Monitoring &ndash;</strong> Need to establish a separate SHG monitoring cell in every state. The cell should have direct links with <g class="gr_ gr_222 gr-alert gr_gramm gr_inline_cards gr_run_anim Grammar only-ins replaceWithoutSep" id="222" data-gr-id="222">district</g> and block level monitoring system. The cell should collect both quantitative and qualitative information.</li>
<li><strong><g class="gr_ gr_163 gr-alert gr_spell gr_inline_cards gr_run_anim ContextualSpelling ins-del multiReplace" id="163" data-gr-id="163">Need Based</g> Approach &ndash;</strong> Commercial Banks and NABARD in collaboration with the State Government need to continuously innovate and design new financial products for these groups.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Case studies</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Kudumbashree in Kerala</strong>
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<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., <strong>microcredit, entrepreneurship <g class="gr_ gr_229 gr-alert gr_gramm gr_inline_cards gr_run_anim Punctuation only-ins replaceWithoutSep" id="229" data-gr-id="229">and</g> empowerment</strong>. It has <g class="gr_ gr_168 gr-alert gr_spell gr_inline_cards gr_run_anim ContextualSpelling ins-del multiReplace" id="168" data-gr-id="168">three tier</g> structure - neighborhood groups (SHG), area development society (15-20 SHGs) and Community development society (federation of all groups). Kudumbashree is a government agency that has a budget and staff paid by the government. The three tiers are also managed by unpaid volunteers.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Mahila Arthik Vikas Mahamandal (MAVIM) in Maharashtra</strong>
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>SHGs in Maharashtra were unable to cope with <g class="gr_ gr_224 gr-alert gr_gramm gr_inline_cards gr_run_anim Grammar only-ins replaceWithoutSep" id="224" data-gr-id="224">growing</g> volume and financial transactions and needed professional help. Community managed resource <g class="gr_ gr_225 gr-alert gr_spell gr_inline_cards gr_run_anim ContextualSpelling multiReplace" id="225" data-gr-id="225">centre</g> (CMRC) under MAVIM was launched to provide financial and livelihood services to SHGs. CMRC is self-sustaining and provides need-based services.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/318Drishti_ias_Self-Help-Groups.png" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/318Drishti_ias_Self-Help-Groups.png" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" /></a></p>',
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			'url' => 'https://www.drishtiias.com/to-the-points/Paper2/self-help-groups-shgs'
		],
		(int) 13 => [
			'title' => 'PRS Capsule February 2019',
			'catname' => 'PRS Capsule',
			'desc' => '<p><em><strong>Key Highlights of PRS</strong></em></p>
<div class="border">
<ul class="ticklist" style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><a href="#1">Interim Union Budget 2019-20</a>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Interim Union Budget 2019-20 presented</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><a href="#2">Macroeconomic Development<br /></a>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>GDP grows at 6.6% in the third quarter of 2018-19</li>
<li>Repo and reverse repo rate reduced to 6.25% and 6% respectively</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><a href="#3">Cabinet<br /></a>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Union Cabinet approves promulgation of five Ordinances and the Constitution (Application to Jammu and Kashmir) Amendment Order, 2019</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><a href="#4">Finance<br /></a>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The International Financial Services Centres Authority Bill, 2019 introduced in Rajya Sabha</li>
<li>Standing Committee submits report on strengthening the credit rating framework</li>
<li>Cabinet approves abolition of income tax ombudsman and indirect tax ombudsman</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><a href="#5">Agriculture<br /></a>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>PM-KISAN scheme launched</li>
<li>CCEA approves creation of Agri-Market Infrastructure Fund</li>
<li>Draft National Inland Fisheries and Aquaculture Policy released</li>
<li>Rashtriya Kamdhenu Aayog constituted for conservation and development of cows</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><a href="#6">Commerce<br /></a>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Draft National e-Commerce Policy released for consultation</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><a href="#7">Law and Justice<br /></a>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The Registration of Marriage of Non-Resident Indian Bill, 2019 introduced in Rajya Sabha</li>
<li>Ordinance on triple talaq re-promulgated</li>
<li>The President of India notified a new circuit bench of the Calcutta High Court at Jalpaiguri (in West Bengal)</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><a href="#8">Tribal Affairs<br /></a>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>125th Constitutional Amendment Bill introduced in Rajya Sabha</li>
<li>Constitution (Scheduled Tribes) Order (Third Amendment) Bill, 2019 passed by Rajya Sabha to amend the list of Scheduled Tribes in Arunachal Pradesh</li>
<li>Union Cabinet approves revision in the list of Scheduled Tribes in Chhattisgarh</li>
<li>Ministry of Tribal Affairs launches various schemes</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><a href="#9">Health and Family Welfare<br /></a>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Cabinet approves setting up of new AIIMS in Haryana</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><a href="#10">Culture<br /></a>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Select Committee on Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Sites and Remains (Amendment) Bill submits report</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><a href="#11">Labour<br /></a>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Pradhan Mantri Shram Yogi Maan-dhan launched</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><a href="#12">Social Justice and Empowerment<br /></a>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Cabinet approves proposal of Board for De-notified, Nomadic and Semi-Nomadic Communities</li>
<li>Tenure of National Commission for Safai Karmacharis extended for three years</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><a href="#13">Food Processing<br /></a>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The National Institutes of Food Technology, Entrepreneurship and Management Bill, 2019 introduced in Rajya Sabha</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><a href="#14">Information Technology<br /></a>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Cabinet approves National Policy on Electronics 2019</li>
<li>Cabinet approves National Policy on Software Products 2019</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><a href="#15">Environment<br /></a>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Standing Committee submits report on the status of forests in India</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><a href="#16">Petroleum and Natural Gas<br /></a>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>CCEA approves PM JI-VAN Yojana for increasing ethanol supply</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><a href="#17">Power<br /></a>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Kisan Urja Suraksha evam Utthaan Mahabhiyan (KUSUM) approved</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><a href="#18">Housing and Urban Affairs<br /></a>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Lighthouse projects challenge launched</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><a href="#19">Textiles<br /></a>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Ministry of Textiles launches scheme for development of knitting and knitwear</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><a href="#20">External Affairs<br /></a>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>President of Argentina and Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia visit India</li>
<li>Prime Minister of India visits Republic of Korea</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</div>
<h3 id="1">Interim Union Budget 2019-20</h3>
<p>Interim Union Budget 2019-20 presented</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The Union Finance Minister presented the Interim Union Budget for 2019-20.</li>
<li>Key highlights include:
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The government proposes to spend <strong>Rs 27,84,200 crore</strong> in 2019-20, which is 13.3% above the revised estimate (Rs 24,57,235 crore) of 2018-19.</li>
<li><strong>The receipts</strong> (without borrowings) are expected to increase by <strong>14.1%</strong> from revised estimate <strong>(Rs 18,22,837 crore)</strong> of 2018-19 to <strong>Rs 20,80,201 crore, owing</strong> to higher estimated revenue from <strong>GST and income tax</strong>.</li>
<li><strong>The nominal GDP</strong> for BE 2019-2020 has been projected at Rs 21007439 crore assuming 11.5% growth over the estimated GDP of Rs 18840731 crore for 2018-19 (RE).</li>
<li>Fiscal deficit (Rs 7,03,999 crore) and revenue deficit (Rs 4,70,214 crore) are targeted at 3.4% of GDP and 2.2% of GDP respectively, same as the revised estimates for 2018-19.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>Key policy proposals in the budget speech include:
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Agriculture: PM-KISAN scheme</strong> will be launched under which <strong>Rs 6,000 per year</strong> will be directly transferred <strong>to farmers</strong> with cultivable land up to <strong>two hectares</strong>.
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>This amount will be paid in three instalments.</li>
<li>Rs 20,000 crore has been allocated in 2018- 19 and Rs 75,000 crore in 2019-20.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>Under the <strong>Kisan Credit Card scheme,</strong> 2% interest subvention and 3% incentive for prompt repayment, which are available to agriculture, will be <strong>extended to animal husbandry and fisheries</strong>.</li>
<li>Earlier, farmers affected by natural calamities were provided interest subvention of 2% for one year. This will be extended to every year of the loan. Further, a 3% incentive will be provided for timely repayment of the loan.</li>
<li><strong>Labour: The Pradhan Mantri Shram-Yogi Maandhan scheme</strong> will be launched to provide social security coverage to workers in the unorganised sector with a monthly income of up to Rs 15,000.
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li><strong>A monthly pension of Rs 3,000</strong> will be provided from <strong>the age of 60 years</strong>.</li>
<li><strong>The monthly contribution</strong> of the worker will be <strong>matched by the central government</strong>.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>The major tax changes announced are:
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Rates:</strong> The surcharge on income tax has been raised from 3% to 4%.</li>
<li><strong>Deductions:</strong> For salaried individuals, standard tax deduction has been increased from Rs 40,000 to Rs 50,000.
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Individuals earning an annual income of <strong>up to five lakh rupees</strong> will <strong>not</strong> have to <strong>pay</strong> any tax.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Tax deducted at source:</strong> Exemption from TDS on rent has been increased from Rs 1.8 lakh to <strong>Rs. 2.4 lakh per year</strong>.
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>The threshold for <strong>TDS on interest on bank and post office deposits</strong> has been increased from <strong>Rs 10,000 to Rs 40,000</strong>.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Housing:</strong> Currently, there is no presumptive rent on one self-occupied house. Interest on housing loan is deductible for one house. On sale of a house, capital gains deduction is available if the gains are invested in buying a house.
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>For all these, the limit has been extended to two houses (<strong>capital gains benefit</strong> limited to <strong>two crore rupees</strong>).</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3 id="2">Macroeconomic Development</h3>
<p>GDP grows at 6.6% in the third quarter of 2018-19</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The Gross Domestic Product (GDP) (at constant prices) of the country grew at 6.6% in the third quarter of 2018-19, over the corresponding period a year ago.</li>
<li>This was lower than the 7% growth in the second quarter of 2018-19.</li>
<li>GDP growth across economic sectors is measured in terms of Gross Value Added (GVA).
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The growth rate of <strong>combined GVA by all sectors</strong> decreased from 7.3% in the third quarter of 2017-18 to<strong> 6.3%</strong> in the third quarter of 2018-19.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<p>Repo and reverse repo rate reduced to 6.25% and 6% respectively</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) released its sixth Bi-Monthly Monetary Policy Statement of 2018-19.</li>
<li><strong>The policy repo rate</strong> (the rate at which the RBI lends money to banks) was reduced from 6.5% to 6.25% by a majority vote of the members. Two of the six members voted to keep the rate unchanged.</li>
<li>The reverse repo rate (the rate at which the RBI borrows money from banks) was reduced from 6.25% to 6%.</li>
<li>The <strong>marginal standing facility rate</strong> (the rate at which banks can borrow additional money) and the <strong>bank rate</strong> (the rate at which the RBI buys or rediscounts bills of exchange) were reduced from 6.75% to 6.5%.</li>
</ul>
<h3 id="3">Cabinet</h3>
<p>Union Cabinet approves promulgation of five Ordinances and the Constitution (Application to Jammu and Kashmir) Amendment Order, 2019</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Aadhaar and Other Laws (Amendment) Ordinance, 2019:</strong>
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The Ordinance seeks to allow <strong>for voluntary use of the Aadhaar</strong> number by authentication or <strong>offline verification,</strong> with the consent of the Aadhaar number holder.</li>
<li>It would give an option to children who are Aadhaar number holders to <strong>cancel their Aadhaar number</strong> on reaching eighteen years of age.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Homeopathy Central Council (Amendment) Ordinance, 2019:</strong>
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The Homeopathy Central Council Act, 1973, was amended in 2018 to provide for <strong>supersession and reconstitution of the Central Council within one year</strong>.</li>
<li><strong>In the interim period,</strong> the central government was <strong>to constitute</strong> a Board of Governors.</li>
<li>The Ordinance seeks to extend the period of reconstitution of the Central Council from one year to two years.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>New Delhi International Arbitration Centre Ordinance, 2019:</strong>
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The Ordinance seeks to establish the New Delhi International Arbitration Centre (NDIAC), to create an independent and autonomous regime for institutionalised arbitration.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Special Economic Zones (Amendment) Ordinance, 2019:</strong>
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The Ordinance, among other provisions, seeks to amend the Special Economic Zones Act, 2005, <strong>to allow trusts to set up a unit in Special Economic Zones</strong>.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>The Jammu and Kashmir Reservation (Amendment) Ordinance, 2019:</strong>
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The Ordinance seeks to amend the Jammu and Kashmir Reservation Act, 2004.</li>
<li>The Act provides <strong>three percent reservation</strong> in <strong>state government jobs</strong> for people living <strong>within 6 km of the Line of Control</strong> in Jammu and Kashmir.</li>
<li>The Ordinance seeks to <strong>extend this reservation</strong> to persons residing in <strong>areas adjoining the International Border</strong> as well.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>The Constitution (Application to Jammu and Kashmir) Amendment Order, 2019:</strong>
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>It seeks to amend the Constitution (Application to Jammu and Kashmir) Order, 1954.</li>
<li>The Order makes various provisions of the Constitution of India applicable to Jammu and Kashmir.
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li><strong>The 103<sup>rd</sup> Constitutional Amendment Act</strong> provides for ten percent <strong>reservation for economically weaker sections</strong> in <strong>educational</strong> institutions and <strong>public employment</strong>.</li>
<li>The Amendment Order seeks to extend this reservation to Jammu and Kashmir.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>The benefits in <strong>promotions to Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes</strong> under the Constitution will also be made <strong>applicable to the state of Jammu and Kashmir</strong>.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3 id="4">Finance</h3>
<p>The International Financial Services Centres Authority Bill, 2019 introduced in Rajya Sabha</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The Bill provides for the establishment of an authority to <strong>develop and regulate</strong> the <strong>financial services market</strong> in the <strong>International Financial Services Centres</strong> set up in <strong>Special Economic Zones in India</strong>.</li>
<li>Key features of the Bill include:
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Constitution of the <strong>International Financial Services Centres Authority</strong>:
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>The Bill provides for the establishment of the International Financial Services Centres Authority.</li>
<li>The Authority will consist of <strong>nine members,</strong> including representation from RBI, SEBI, IRDA, PFRDA, and the Ministry of Finance.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Functions of the Authority:</strong> The Authority will <strong>regulate</strong> financial <strong>products,</strong> financial <strong>services,</strong> and financial <strong>institutions</strong> in IFSCs.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<p>Standing Committee submits report on strengthening the credit rating framework</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The Standing Committee on Finance submitted its report on <strong>&lsquo;Strengthening of the Credit Rating Framework in the country&rsquo;</strong>.
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>A rating agency is a company that assesses the financial strength of companies and government entities, especially their ability to meet principal and interest payments on their debts.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>Key observations and recommendations of the Committee include:
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Regulatory framework:</strong> The credit rating agencies in India have progressed from rating <strong>simple debt products</strong> to complex debt structures, covering a wide range of products and services like <strong>securities,</strong> bank loans, <strong>commercial papers,</strong> and fixed deposits.
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>In India, the SEBI primarily regulates credit rating agencies and their functioning.</li>
<li>However, certain other regulatory agencies, such as the RBI, IRDA, and PFRDA also regulate certain aspects of credit rating agencies under their sectoral jurisdiction.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>The SEBI (Credit Rating Agencies) Regulations, 1999</strong> provide for <strong>a disclosure-based regulatory regime,</strong> where the agencies are required to <strong>disclose</strong> their <strong>rating criteria,</strong> <strong>methodology,</strong> default recognition policy, and guidelines on dealing with conflict of interest.
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The SEBI is among the few regulators globally to mandate public disclosure of rating criteria and methodology by the agencies.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Change in regulations:</strong> The <strong>rating</strong> of an instrument or entity is being increasingly <strong>relied upon</strong> by <strong>capital markets, bankers</strong> and <strong>investors</strong> and constitutes a key input for financial decision-making.
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>In the Indian context, the credibility of credit rating has come into question in the <strong>crisis</strong> involving the Infrastructure Leasing and Financial Services Limited <strong>(IL&amp;FS)</strong>, a major infrastructure development and finance company of systemic importance, with a <strong>debt obligation of Rs 91,000 crore</strong>.</li>
<li>The credit rating agencies <strong>ignored the rising debt levels at IL&amp;FS,</strong> and continued rating it AAA, indicating the highest level of creditworthiness.</li>
<li>In this regard, the Committee recommended that <strong>the regulators should review their regulations</strong> and suitably modify them <strong>to ensure</strong> greater objectivity, <strong>transparency</strong> and credibility in the whole credit rating framework.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>The Committee also recommended that the Ministry of Finance should seek a <strong>factual report from the concerned regulators</strong> regarding the <strong>enforcement</strong> of the regulations.</li>
</ul>
<p>Cabinet approves abolition of income tax ombudsman and indirect tax ombudsman</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The Union Cabinet approved the <strong>proposal for abolition</strong> of institutions of <strong>income tax ombudsman</strong> and <strong>indirect tax ombudsman</strong>.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The institutions of tax ombudsman were <strong>created to deal with public grievances</strong> related to <strong>settlement of complaints</strong> on income tax and indirect tax matters.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>The decision to abolish them was taken due to:
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The decision to abolish them was taken due to preference of alternative complaint redressal mechanisms by the public like <strong>CPGRAMS</strong> (Centralized Public Grievance Redress and Monitoring System), <strong>Aaykar-Seva-Kendras</strong> and low effectiveness of the institutions of ombudsman as compared to these parallel channels of grievance redressal.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3 id="5">Agriculture</h3>
<p>PM-KISAN scheme launched</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The central government launched the Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi (PM-KISAN) scheme.</li>
<li>Under the scheme, small and marginal landholder farmer families, i.e. families with total cultivable holding of up to two hectares, will be provided income support of <strong>Rs 6,000 per year</strong>.
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The scheme seeks to supplement their <strong>financial needs in procuring inputs</strong> for appropriate crop health and yields.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>The amount is payable in <strong>three equal instalments,</strong> every four months, through <strong>direct benefit transfer</strong> to bank accounts.
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The first instalment is being provided for the four-month period from December 2018 to March 2019.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Eligibility:</strong> Farmer families collectively owning cultivable land of <strong>up to two hectares</strong> (as per land records of the concerned state or union territory) are eligible for the scheme. However, <strong>this excludes certain beneficiaries</strong> of higher economic status:
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>the institutional land holders,</li>
<li>families with one or more members as government employees,</li>
<li>families with one or more members as income tax payers.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Funding:</strong> The scheme will be <strong>funded by the central government,</strong> and is estimated to incur an expenditure of <strong>Rs 75,000 crore per year</strong>.
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The same amount has been allocated to the scheme in 2019-20.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<p>CCEA approves creation of Agri-Market Infrastructure Fund</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA) approved the creation of an Agri-Market Infrastructure Fund of Rs 2,000 crore.</li>
<li>This Fund is aimed for development and up-gradation of infrastructure in <strong>10,000 gramin agricultural markets</strong> and <strong>585 regulated wholesale markets</strong>.</li>
<li>This corpus fund will be created with the assistance of NABARD.</li>
<li>It will be used to <strong>provide subsidised loans to states</strong> and union territories against their <strong>proposals for development</strong> of infrastructure in <strong>gramin agricultural markets</strong> and <strong>regulated wholesale markets</strong>.</li>
<li>The Fund may also be used to <strong>provide assistance to states</strong> and union territories for <strong>innovative integrated market infrastructure projects</strong>.</li>
<li><strong>The National Rural Employment Guarantee scheme</strong> and other government schemes will be used <strong>to strengthen</strong> the <strong>physical</strong> and basic infrastructure in gramin agricultural markets.</li>
</ul>
<p>Draft National Inland Fisheries and Aquaculture Policy released</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare has released the draft National Inland Fisheries and Aquaculture Policy.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Aquaculture</strong> (or aqua-farming) refers to the farming of <strong>fish, algae</strong> and <strong>other aquatic organisms,</strong> and <strong>aquatic plants</strong>.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>Key features of the draft policy include:</li>
<li><strong>Inland fisheries:</strong> The policy measures recommended for inland fisheries include:
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>the <strong>conserving indigenous resources,</strong> and restoring natural ecosystem of rivers,</li>
<li><strong>transferring management of fisheries</strong> in man made reservoirs to the state fisheries departments for scientific enhancement and efficient governance,</li>
<li><strong>conserving and restoring ecosystem</strong> in natural wetlands, and bringing policies, law,</li>
<li>conservation programmes for <strong>development of fisheries in the Himalayan</strong> and north-eastern states.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Aquaculture:</strong> Measures recommended for development of aquaculture include:
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>the developing state and area-specific action plans,</li>
<li>redefining land use categories to include fisheries and aquaculture as components of agriculture,</li>
<li>developing separate programmes for small farmers,</li>
<li>simplifying requirements for registration and leasing of farms,</li>
<li>developing the required regulatory frameworks.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>Other policy measures include:
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>making registration of all aquaculture inputs compulsory,</li>
<li><strong>regulating exotic species,</strong></li>
<li>diversifying species,</li>
<li>developing post-harvest and marketing infrastructure,</li>
<li><strong>strengthening fisheries cooperatives</strong>.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<p>Rashtriya Kamdhenu Aayog constituted for conservation and development of cows</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare has constituted an apex advisory body, <strong>Rashtriya Kamdhenu Aayog</strong> for the <strong>conservation, protection</strong>&nbsp;and <strong>development</strong> of cows and their progeny.</li>
<li>Other objectives of the Aayog include:
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>the proper implementation of laws with respect to <strong>prohibition of slaughter and cruelty to cows</strong>,</li>
<li>providing direction to cattle development programmes and schemes,</li>
<li>enhancing dairy production and productivity,</li>
<li><strong>sustainable development</strong> and upgradation of <strong>genetic resources of cows</strong>.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3 id="6">Commerce</h3>
<p>Draft National e-Commerce Policy released for consultation</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade released the &lsquo;Draft National e-Commerce Policy: <strong>India&rsquo;s Data for India&rsquo;s Development&rsquo;,</strong> for consultation.</li>
<li>The policy addresses following <strong>six broad issues</strong> of the <strong>e-commerce ecosystem</strong>:
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Data</li>
<li>Infrastructure development</li>
<li>E-commerce marketplaces</li>
<li>Regulatory issues,</li>
<li>Stimulating the domestic digital economy,</li>
<li>Export promotion through e-commerce.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>Key features of the e-commerce policy include:
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Data:</strong> Creating a legal and technological framework for <strong>imposing restrictions on cross-border data flow</strong> from specified sources, including data generated by users in India on <strong>e-commerce platforms, social media</strong>&nbsp;and <strong>search engines</strong>.</li>
<li>It lays down <strong>certain conditions</strong> for <strong>businesses</strong> regarding <strong>collection or processing of sensitive data</strong> locally and <strong>storing it abroad</strong>. These are:
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>all data stored abroad shall not be made available to business entities outside India, even with the customer's consent;</li>
<li>such data should also not be made available to a third party,</li>
<li>and such data should <strong>not be shared with a foreign government,</strong> without the prior permission of Indian authorities.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Foreign direct investment:</strong> The policy aims at <strong>demarcating</strong> what constitutes a <strong>marketplace model</strong> and what comprises an <strong>inventory-based model</strong> of sale and distribution.
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>It aims at inviting and <strong>encouraging</strong> foreign investment in the <strong>&lsquo;marketplace&rsquo; model alone</strong>.</li>
<li>This implies that an <strong>e-commerce platform,</strong> in which <strong>foreign investment has been made, cannot</strong> exercise <strong>ownership</strong> or control <strong>over the inventory</strong> sold on its platform.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Custom duties:</strong> The draft policy recommends <strong>the current practice of not imposing custom duties</strong> on <strong>electronic transmissions</strong> must be reviewed.</li>
<li><strong>Export promotion:</strong> There is a <strong>need to incentivise exports</strong> and <strong>reduce administrative requirements</strong> and <strong>costs</strong> for outbound shipments.
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>The existing limit of Rs 25,000, above which products are exported through <strong>cargo mode,</strong> should <strong>be increased for courier mode</strong>.</li>
<li>This would make Indian e-commerce exports attractive even for <strong>high-value shipments through courier mode</strong>.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3 id="7">Law and Justice</h3>
<p>The Registration of Marriage of Non-Resident Indian Bill, 2019 introduced in Rajya Sabha</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Key features of the Bill include:
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Registration of marriages:</strong> Every Non-Resident Indian (NRI) who marries a citizen of India in India must get his marriage registered in India within thirty days.
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Every NRI who marries <strong>an Indian citizen or another NRI outside India,</strong> must get his marriage registered with the <strong>Marriage Officer,</strong> within <strong>thirty days</strong>.</li>
<li><strong>The Marriage Officer</strong> is <strong>appointed</strong> from among the <strong>diplomatic officers</strong> in a <strong>foreign country</strong>.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Impounding of passport:</strong> In case an NRI marries an Indian citizen or another NRI, and <strong>fails to register the marriage within thirty days,</strong> the <strong>passport authority</strong> may <strong>impound or revoke the passport</strong> of the NRI.</li>
<li><strong>Issue of summons and warrants:</strong> If the person summoned by a court, does not appear before it, it may issue and upload a warrant for arrest on the <strong>website</strong> of the <strong>Ministry of External Affairs</strong>.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<p>Ordinance on triple talaq re-promulgated</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>The Muslim Women (Protection of Rights on Marriage) Second Ordinance, 2019</strong> was promulgated on February 21, 2019.</li>
<li>A similar Bill, <strong>The Muslim Women (Protection of Rights on Marriage) Bill, 2018,</strong> was also passed by Lok Sabha in December 2018 and the government had approved amendments to be moved in Rajya Sabha.</li>
<li>The Ordinance makes <strong>all declaration of talaq,</strong> including in <strong>written</strong> or <strong>electronic</strong> form, to be void (i.e. not enforceable in law) and <strong>illegal</strong>.</li>
<li><strong>Offence and penalty:</strong> The Ordinance makes declaration of talaq a <strong>cognizable offence,</strong> attracting <strong>up to three years&rsquo; imprisonment</strong> with a fine.</li>
<li><strong>Allowance:</strong> A Muslim woman against whom talaq has been declared, <strong>is entitled</strong> to seek <strong>subsistence allowance</strong> from her husband for herself and for her dependent children.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The amount of the allowance will be determined by the Magistrate.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<p>The President of India notified a new circuit bench of the Calcutta High Court at Jalpaiguri (in West Bengal).</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The President of India after consultation with the Governor of West Bengal and the Chief Justice of Calcutta High Court issued the order. <strong>The Calcutta High Court (Establishment of Circuit Bench at Jalpaiguri) Order, 2019.</strong></li>
<li>The bench will comprise of judges of the Calcutta High Court, as decided by the Chief Justice of the High Court.</li>
<li>The bench will exercise jurisdiction over cases arising in the districts of Darjeeling, Kalimpong, Jalpaiguri, and Cooch Behar in West Bengal.</li>
</ul>
<h3 id="8">Tribal Affairs</h3>
<p>125<sup>th</sup> Constitutional Amendment Bill introduced in Rajya Sabha</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The Constitution (One Hundred and Twenty-Fifth Amendment) Bill, 2019 was introduced in Rajya Sabha.</li>
<li>The Bill amends <strong>provisions</strong> related to the <strong>Finance Commission and the Sixth Schedule</strong> of the Constitution.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The Sixth Schedule relates to the administration of tribal areas in the states of Assam, Meghalaya, Tripura and Mizoram.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>Key features of the Bill include:
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Village and Municipal Councils:</strong> The Sixth Schedule states that tribal areas in certain regions of these four states will be <strong>'autonomous districts'</strong>, each <strong>administered</strong> by a <strong>District Council</strong>.</li>
<li>Further, the <strong>Governor may divide</strong> an <strong>autonomous district</strong> into <strong>autonomous regions,</strong> each <strong>administered</strong> by a <strong>Regional Council</strong>.
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>The <strong>Bill amends</strong> this provision to <strong>provide</strong> for <strong>Village</strong> and <strong>Municipal Councils</strong> in addition to the District and Regional Councils.</li>
<li>Further, The District Councils may make laws on various issues, including:
<ol>
<li><strong>the number of Village</strong> and Municipal Councils to be formed, and their composition,</li>
<li><strong>delimitation of constituencies</strong> for election to the Village and Municipal Councils,</li>
<li>and the powers and functions of these Councils.</li>
</ol>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Finance Commission:</strong> The Bill empowers the Commission to make recommendations on measures to augment the Consolidated Fund of a state in order to provide resources to the District Councils, Village Councils, and Municipal Councils in tribal areas in the four states.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<p>Constitution (Scheduled Tribes) Order (Third Amendment) Bill, 2019 passed by Rajya Sabha to amend the list of Scheduled Tribes in Arunachal Pradesh</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The bill was introduced and passed by Rajya Sabha to amend <strong>the Constitution (Scheduled Tribes) Order, 1950</strong>&nbsp;in respect of <strong>Arunachal Pradesh</strong>.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>It will <strong>lapse upon the dissolution of the Lok Sabha</strong>.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>The Bill <strong>inserts five entries for granting Scheduled Tribe</strong> status to these communities. These are: (i) Galo, (ii) Mishmi-Kaman (Miju Mishmi), Idu (Mishmi), Taraon (Digaru, Mishmi), (iii) Monpa, Memba, Sartang, Sajolang (Miji) (iv) Nocte, Tangsa, Tutsa, Wancho, and (v) Tai Khamti.</li>
<li>The Bill <strong>removes reference to six tribes</strong>. These are: (i) Abor, (ii) Galong, (iii) Khampti, (iv) Mishmi (Idu, Taroon), (v) any Naga tribes, and (vi) Momba.</li>
</ul>
<p>Union Cabinet approves revision in the list of Scheduled Tribes in Chhattisgarh</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The Union Cabinet <strong>approves for certain amendments</strong> to the <strong>list of scheduled tribes</strong> in <strong>Chhatisgarh</strong> in <strong>the Constitution (Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes) Order (Amendment) Bill, 2016</strong>.</li>
<li>The 2016 Bill seeks to amend the <strong>Constitution (Scheduled Castes) Order, 1950</strong> and the <strong>Constitution (Scheduled Tribes) Order, 1950</strong>.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>The two Orders</strong> were issued by the President under the Constitution (<strong>Article 341</strong> for Schedule Castes, and <strong>Article 342</strong> for Schedule Tribes) specifying the Scheduled Castes (SCs) and the Scheduled Tribes (STs) of all states.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>For Chhatisgarh,</strong> the Bill seeks <strong>to clarify equivalent names</strong> of the following communities that are <strong>already mentioned in the list</strong> of STs:
<ul>
<li>Bhuinya, Bhuiyan, Bhuyan;</li>
<li>Dhanwar, Dhanuhar, Dhanuwar;</li>
<li>Nagesia, Nagasia, Kisan;</li>
<li>and Sawar, Sawara, Saunra, Saonra.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>It adds <strong>'Binjhia'</strong> to the list of STs in Chhattisgarh.</li>
</ul>
<p>Ministry of Tribal Affairs launches various schemes</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Schemes of Minimum Support Price and Value Addition:</strong> under the scheme the remunerative MSP will be increased from 30% to 40% for <strong>50 commercially viable items (MFP-Minor Forest Produce)</strong> to the tribals.</li>
<li><strong>The Van Dhan Scheme:</strong>
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The tribals presently get <strong>only 20-30%</strong> of the <strong>value chain</strong> of the MFPs. The Van Dhan scheme aims to take this share to 70 to 80%.</li>
<li>Approximately <strong>6000 Van Dan Vikas Kendras</strong> are proposed to be set up.
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>These Kendras are intended to provide employment to almost 45 lakh tribals.</li>
<li>Each Kendra will comprise 300 tribal gatherers.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>The TRIFOOD Scheme:</strong>
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The Scheme is a joint initiative of the Ministry of Food Processing Industries, the Ministry of Tribal Affairs and the Tribal Cooperative Marketing Development Federation of India (TRIFED).</li>
<li>Under the Scheme, <strong>a tertiary value addition center</strong> will be set up in <strong>Jagdalpur</strong> in Chhattisgarh and <strong>Raigad</strong> in Maharashtra.
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>The traditional Mahua tribal drink will be mainstreamed and marketed all over the Country under this project.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>The "Friends of Tribes" initiative.</strong> Under this initiative, TRIFED has tied up <strong>CSR</strong> (Corporate Social Responsibility) <strong>funds</strong> to promote tribal livelihoods.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Under the Companies Act, 2013, companies above a certain specified net worth, turnover or profits are required to spend 2% of their average net profits in the last three financial years, towards activities under its CSR policy.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3 id="9">Health and Family Welfare</h3>
<p>Cabinet approves setting up of new AIIMS in Haryana</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The Union Cabinet approved the <strong>establishment</strong> of a <strong>new</strong> All India Institute of Medical Sciences<strong> (AIIMS)</strong> in <strong>Manethi, Rewari, Haryana</strong>.</li>
</ul>
<h3 id="10">Culture</h3>
<p>Select Committee on Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Sites and Remains (Amendment) Bill submits report</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The Select Committee of Rajya Sabha examined the <strong>Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Sites and Remains (Amendment) Bill,</strong> 2018.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The Bill amends the Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Sites and Remains Act, 1958.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>Key observations and recommendations of the Committee include:
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Prohibited area:</strong> The Construction is not permitted in the prohibited area (area of <strong>100 metre</strong>) <strong>around a protected monument,</strong> except under certain conditions. The <strong>Bill seeks</strong> to <strong>permit construction of public works</strong> in prohibited areas for public purposes.
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>It recommended that a systematic study should be conducted by experts to <strong>determine a rational area limit</strong> (in some cases there is no reason to keep 100 metre as prohibited area) for prohibiting construction around a monument to ensure its preservation.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Public works:</strong> The Bill defines &lsquo;public works&rsquo; as construction of any infrastructure that is financed and carried out by the central government for public purposes.
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li><strong>Such infrastructure</strong> must be <strong>necessary for public safety and security,</strong> and must be based on a specific instance of danger to public safety.</li>
<li>The Committee recommended that this definition should cover <strong>public utility projects</strong> for providing <strong>convenience to the public</strong>.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3 id="11">Labour</h3>
<p>Pradhan Mantri Shram Yogi Maan-dhan launched</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The Ministry of Labour and Employment notified a <strong>voluntary pension scheme</strong> called the <strong>Pradhan Mantri Shram Yogi Maan-dhan,</strong> 2019.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>It intends to provide <strong>a minimum assured pension</strong> to workers in the <strong>unorganized sector</strong>.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>Key features of the scheme include:
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Eligibility:</strong> The Scheme will apply to unorganised workers between the ages of <strong>18 and 40 years</strong> with monthly income of up to Rs 15,000.
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>The subscriber should <strong>not be covered</strong> under the <strong>National Pension Scheme, Employees&rsquo; State Insurance Corporation Scheme</strong> or <strong>Employees&rsquo; Provident Fund Scheme</strong>.</li>
<li><strong>Unorganised workers</strong> include persons engaged as home-based workers, <strong>street vendors,</strong> or <strong>domestic workers</strong>.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Minimum assured pension:</strong> Each subscriber under the scheme shall receive a <strong>minimum assured pension of Rs 3000 per month</strong> after attaining the <strong>age of 60 years</strong>.
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>The central government will match the contribution made by the beneficiary.</li>
<li>The government has notified<strong> different monthly contribution</strong> amounts <strong>depending upon the age of joining</strong>. For example, a person entering the scheme at 29 years of age will be required to contribute <strong>Rs. 100 per month</strong>.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Family pension:</strong>
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li><strong>If the subscriber dies while receiving the pension,</strong> his <strong>spouse</strong> will be entitled to <strong>receive 50% of the pension</strong> as <strong>family pension</strong>.</li>
<li><strong>If he dies before the pension accrues</strong> (i.e. before the age of 60 years), his <strong>spouse</strong> may either <strong>join</strong> the scheme by paying the contribution or may <strong>exit the scheme</strong> with <strong>receiving</strong> beneficiary&rsquo;s <strong>contribution</strong> along with accumulated <strong>interest earned</strong>.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3 id="12">Social Justice and Empowerment</h3>
<p>Cabinet approves proposal of Board for De-notified, Nomadic and Semi-Nomadic Communities</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The Union Cabinet approved the constitution of a Development and Welfare Board for De-Notified, Nomadic and Semi-Nomadic Communities.</li>
<li>Previously, the National Commission for De-Notified, Nomadic, and Semi-Nomadic Communities had recommended that <strong>a Permanent Committee</strong> should <strong>be established</strong> for these communities.</li>
<li>This Board will be chaired by the Vice-Chairman, NITI Aayog and will be responsible for completing the <strong>process of identification</strong> of:
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>De-Notified</strong></li>
<li><strong>Nomadic</strong></li>
<li><strong>Semi-Nomadic</strong> Communities that have <strong>not yet been formally classified</strong>.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<p>Tenure of National Commission for Safai Karmacharis extended for three years</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The Union Cabinet approved the extension of the term of the National Commission for Safai Karamcharis for a period of three years starting from March 31, 2019.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Safai karamcharis</strong> refer to persons who are engaged in manually carrying, cleaning or disposing <strong>of human excreta</strong> or <strong>for any sanitation work</strong>.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>The Commission was set up as a statutory body under <strong>the National Commission for Safai Karamcharis Act, 1993</strong>.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The Act ceased to have effect from February, 2004. However, the tenure of the Commission has been extended as <strong>a non-statutory body</strong> under <strong>the Prohibition of Employment as Manual Scavengers and their Rehabilitation Act, 2013</strong> (MS Act, 2013).</li>
<li>The Commission seeks to:
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>monitor implementation,</li>
<li>enquire into complaints regarding the contravention of the MS Act, 2013,</li>
<li>advise central and state governments on effective implementation of the Act,</li>
<li>and take suo-motu notice of matters related to non-implementation of the Act.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3 id="13">Food Processing</h3>
<p>The National Institutes of Food Technology, Entrepreneurship and Management Bill, 2019 introduced in Rajya Sabha</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The Bill declares certain institutes of food technology, entrepreneurship, and management as institutions of national importance. These institutes are:
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>National Institute of Food Technology Entrepreneurship and Management, Kundli</li>
<li>Indian Institute of Food Processing Technology, Thanjavur.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3 id="14">Information Technology</h3>
<p>Cabinet approves National Policy on Electronics 2019</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The Union Cabinet approved the National Policy on Electronics 2019, proposed by the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology <strong>(MeitY)</strong>.</li>
<li>The policy aims <strong>to position India</strong> as <strong>a global hub</strong> for <strong>Electronics System Design and Manufacturing (ESDM),</strong> by enabling the industry to compete globally.</li>
<li>Key features of the approved policy include:
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Objectives:</strong>
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Promoting manufacturing and export in ESDM to achieve a turnover of USD 400 Billion by 2025</li>
<li>Improving ease of doing business for ESDM industry</li>
<li>Encouraging research and innovation in all sub-sectors of electronics</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Promoting competition:</strong> The policy seeks to create a competitive ESDM sector by <strong>incentivizing domestic manufacturing and exports</strong>. This will be achieved by:
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>providing <strong>suitable tax benefits</strong> to the ESDM sector,</li>
<li>providing support for micro, small and medium enterprises in the ESDM sector,</li>
<li>and <strong>exempting import duty</strong> on <strong>capital equipment</strong> that is <strong>not manufactured in India</strong>.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Standards: A standards development framework</strong> will be set up based on <strong>global benchmarks,</strong> for electronics, information technology, and e-governance.
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li><strong>An institutional mechanism</strong> will be set up within MeitY for mandating compliance with standards for electronics products.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Research and innovation:</strong>
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>creating <strong>an ecosystem</strong> for promoting <strong>design and Intellectual Property</strong>,</li>
<li>providing support for generation of <strong>patents</strong>,</li>
<li>and promoting research and start-ups in technology areas such as <strong>5G</strong> and <strong>artificial intelligence</strong>.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Cyber security:</strong> The policy proposes to:
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>enhance understanding of <strong>cyber security issues</strong> related to electronics products,</li>
<li>promote use of <strong>secure chips</strong>,</li>
<li>and promote <strong>a start-up ecosystem</strong> for the <strong>development of cyber security products</strong>.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<p>Cabinet approves National Policy on Software Products 2019</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The Union Cabinet approved the National Policy on Software Products 2019.</li>
<li>The policy aims to develop India as <strong>the global software product hub,</strong> driven by:
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>innovation,</li>
<li>improved commercialisation,</li>
<li>sustainable intellectual property,</li>
<li>and promoting technology start-ups.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>The policy has the following <strong>five Missions</strong>:
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>To promote the creation of a <strong>sustainable</strong> Indian software product industry, driven by <strong>intellectual property</strong>.</li>
<li>To nurture <strong>10,000 technology startups</strong> in the software product industry, including <strong>1,000 startups</strong> in <strong>Tier II and Tier III towns</strong>.</li>
<li>To create <strong>a talent pool for software product industry</strong> through:
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>up-skilling of 10 lakh IT professionals</li>
<li>motivating one lakh school and college students,</li>
<li>and generating <strong>10,000 specialised professionals</strong> to provide <strong>leadership</strong>.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>To build a <strong>cluster-based innovation driven ecosystem</strong> by developing 20 <strong>sectoral and strategically located</strong> software product development clusters.</li>
<li><strong>A National Software Products Mission</strong> will be set up with participation from government, academia, and industry, to monitor schemes and programmes for the implementation of this policy.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>An outlay of Rs 1,500 crore</strong> is estimated to implement the programmes and schemes under the policy, over the next seven years. This amount will be divided across two funds:
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Software Product Development Fund.</strong></li>
<li><strong>Research and Innovation Fund.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3 id="15">Environment</h3>
<p>Standing Committee submits report on the status of forests in India</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The Standing Committee on Science &amp; Technology, Environment &amp; Forests submitted its report on the <strong>&lsquo;Status of Forests in India&rsquo;</strong>.</li>
<li>Key observations and recommendations of the Committee include:
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Definition of Forest:</strong> The word &lsquo;Forest&rsquo; is not defined in the Draft <strong>National Forest Draft Policy 2018</strong>. The Ministry of Environment, Forest &amp; Climate Change <strong>(MoEF)</strong> uses the definition of the term as provided by the Supreme Court. The Court defined forests to include all forests statutorily recognised under the <strong>Forest (Conservation) Act, 1980</strong>.
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>This definition did <strong>not include</strong> ecosystems which don&rsquo;t have forest-like attributes, such as <strong>wetlands</strong> or <strong>grasslands</strong>. Therefore, it recommended that MoEF come out with a <strong>comprehensive and clear definition</strong> of the term &lsquo;Forest&rsquo;.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Forest cover:</strong> There is concern about the <strong>decline in the forest cover in the north-eastern states,</strong> which constitute 65.3% of its geographical area in comparison to the national forest cover of 21.5%.
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>It recommended that the concerned state governments and MoEF take necessary steps to ensure that the decline in forest cover in these states is curbed at the earliest.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Deforestation:</strong> The budget allocation to <strong>National Afforestation Programme</strong> has been insufficient.
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>This has affected the achievement of the <strong>annual targeted</strong> area of <strong>afforestation</strong> during the last few years.</li>
<li><strong>The funding pattern</strong> for the Programme changed in 2015-16 from <strong>a 100% centrally sponsored scheme</strong> to a <strong>60-40 sharing scheme</strong> between the <strong>centre</strong> and <strong>state</strong>.</li>
<li>Therefore, the Committee recommended that the concerned state governments provide their share of the changed funding pattern to ensure the success of the Programme.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3 id="16">Petroleum and Natural Gas</h3>
<p>CCEA approves PM JI-VAN Yojana for increasing ethanol supply</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA) has approved the Pradhan Mantri JI-VAN <strong>(Jaiv Indhan - Vatavaran Anukool fasal awashesh Nivaran)</strong> Yojana.</li>
<li>Under the scheme, <strong>financial support</strong> in the form of <strong>viability gap funding (VGF)</strong> will be provided to <strong>integrated bioethanol projects</strong> which produce ethanol <strong>using dry plant biomass</strong> and other <strong>renewable feedstock</strong> like plant and algal materials.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Viability Gap Funding (VGF)</strong> means <strong>a grant to support projects</strong> that are economically justified but not financially viable.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>The scheme aims to <strong>incentivise the production</strong> of <strong>ethanol</strong> through these sources, and <strong>increase the supply of ethanol</strong>.</li>
<li>The Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas seeks <strong>to achieve 10% ethanol blending</strong> in petrol by 2022 under the <strong>Ethanol Blended Petrol (EBP) programme</strong>.</li>
<li>The ethanol produced by the <strong>scheme beneficiaries</strong> will be <strong>mandatorily supplied</strong> to oil <strong>marketing companies</strong> to increase the blending percentage.</li>
</ul>
<h3 id="17">Power</h3>
<p>Kisan Urja Suraksha evam Utthaan Mahabhiyan (KUSUM) approved</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs approved the launch of Kisan Urja Suraksha evam Utthaan Mahabhiyan (KUSUM).</li>
<li>The scheme seeks to provide <strong>financial</strong> and <strong>water security to farmers</strong>.</li>
<li>The scheme aims to <strong>add solar capacity</strong> of <strong>25,750 MW by 2022</strong>.</li>
<li>The proposed scheme consists of three components:
<ul>
<li><strong>Component-A:</strong> 10,000 MW of decentralised <strong>ground mounted</strong> grid connected renewable power plants.
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Under this component, renewable power plants of <strong>capacity 500 kW to 2 MW</strong> will be setup by individual <strong>farmers/cooperatives/panchayats/&nbsp;</strong>farmer producer <strong>organisations</strong> on their <strong>barren or cultivable lands</strong>.</li>
<li>The power generated will be <strong>purchased</strong> by the <strong>distribution companies</strong>.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Component-B:</strong> Installation of 17.5 lakh standalone solar powered agriculture pumps.
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Under this component, individual farmers will be supported to install standalone solar pumps of up to 7.5 HP capacity.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Component-C:</strong> Solarisation of <strong>10 lakh grid-connected solar powered</strong> agriculture pumps.
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Under this component, individual farmers will be supported to solarise pumps of up to 7.5 HP capacity.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3 id="18">Housing and Urban Affairs</h3>
<p>Lighthouse projects challenge launched</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Under <strong>Global Housing Technology Challenge-India (GHTC),</strong> the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs has launched a challenge for states and union territories (UTs) <strong>to select six sites across the country</strong> for the construction of <strong>lighthouse projects</strong>.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>These selected sites will be used as an <strong>'open laboratory'</strong> for live demonstration of housing technology.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>The winning states/UTs will receive <strong>central assistance</strong> to construct these lighthouse projects as per guidelines under the <strong>Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana - Urban</strong>.</li>
<li>A <strong>Technology Innovation Grant</strong> will be provided to the states/UTs <strong>to offset</strong> the impact of any <strong>additional cost</strong> implication due to the <strong>use of new technology</strong> and to provide for any other issues.</li>
</ul>
<h3 id="19">Textiles</h3>
<p>Ministry of Textiles launches scheme for development of knitting and knitwear</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The Ministry of Textiles launched a new scheme: <strong>The Development of knitting and knitwear sector.</strong></li>
<li>The main components of the scheme include:
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>creation of new service centers</strong> on Public Private Partnership <strong>(PPP)</strong> model by industry and associations in the <strong>knitting and knitwear clusters</strong>,</li>
<li><strong>modernization and upgradation</strong> of <strong>existing</strong> power loom service centres and institution run by <strong>Textile Research Associations</strong> and <strong>Export Promotion Councils Association</strong> in knitting and knitwear clusters,</li>
<li>and facilitation, awareness, studies, surveys, market development, and publicity for knitting and knitwear units.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>The knitting and knitwear sector is <strong>predominantly MSME</strong> in size and mainly located in <strong>decentralized sector</strong> and is one of the <strong>major employment generator sectors</strong>.</li>
<li>It also has a significant contribution on the exports of textiles. The knitted fabrics contribute to <strong>27% of the total fabric production</strong> in India and <strong>15% of knitted fabric is being exported</strong>.</li>
</ul>
<h3 id="20">External Affairs</h3>
<p>President of Argentina and Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia visit India</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Key agreements signed with the countries are:
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Argentina:</strong> India and Argentina signed 10 agreements in various sectors including: Defence, Tourism, Pharmaceuticals, Agriculture etc.</li>
<li><strong>Saudi Arabia:</strong> India and Saudi Arabia signed five agreements for cooperation in various fields including: Tourism, Housing, and bilateral investments.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<p>Prime Minister of India visits Republic of Korea</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The Prime Minister visited the Republic of Korea.</li>
<li>The countries signed six agreements in various areas including: Promoting collaboration among start-ups, Cooperation between law enforcement agencies, and facilitating exchange of knowledge in the field of road and transport.</li>
</ul>',
			'postdate' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenTime) {},
			'url' => 'https://www.drishtiias.com/prs-capsule/prs-capsule-february-2019'
		],
		(int) 14 => [
			'title' => 'How Does India Deal With Radicalisation?',
			'catname' => 'News Editorials',
			'desc' => '<div class="border">
<p>(This editorial is based on the article &ldquo;How Does India Deal with Radicalisation?&rdquo; which appeared in the &lsquo;&rsquo;Times of India&rsquo;&rsquo; on 9th March 2019.)</p>
</div>
<p>In the aftermath of recent terrorist attacks in Kashmir, executed by local militants owing allegiance to Jaish-e-Muhammed (JeM), debate surrounding <strong>home grown radicalisation</strong> has raised whose sources of inspiration may be abroad.</p>
<p>Recently NIA busted an Islamic State (IS) &lsquo;inspired&rsquo; module in Amroha, in conjunction with several other instances discovered earlier.</p>
<p><em><strong>A huge local population engulfed by systematic radicalisation can create a major challenge as there seems not much preparedness in this direction.</strong></em></p>
<h3>Types of Radicalisation</h3>
<p><strong>Right-Wing Extremism &ndash;</strong> It is characterized by the violent defence of a racial, ethnic or pseudo-national identity, and is also associated with radical hostility towards state authorities, minorities, immigrants and/or left-wing political groups.</p>
<p><strong>Politico-Religious Extremism</strong> <strong>&ndash;</strong> It results from political interpretation of religion and the defence, by violent means, of a religious identity perceived to be under attack (via international conflicts, foreign policy, social debates, etc.). Any religion may spawn this type of violent radicalization.</p>
<p><strong>Left-Wing Extremism</strong>&nbsp;<strong>&ndash;</strong> It focuses primarily on anti-capitalist demands and calls for the transformation of political systems considered responsible for producing social inequalities, and that may ultimately employ violent means to further its cause. It includes anarchist, maoist, Trotskyist and marxist&ndash;leninist groups that use violence to advocate for their cause.</p>
<h3>Spreading Radicalisation</h3>
<p>There are many different theories and models describing how radicalisation happens. However there is no single process in which someone becomes radicalised, and it is dependent on a number of different circumstances.</p>
<p>Extremist groups often try to recruit new young members online through the use of social media, people become radicalised because of the people they associate with, some are exposed to extremist views at home, sometimes it is completely based on one&rsquo;s understanding of events and experience.</p>
<h3>Instances of radicalisation in India</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Cases have revealed instances of internet-facilitated indoctrination and active radicalisation in multiple states.</li>
<li>Instances of Left Wing Extremism (LWE) have grown despite the continued government intervention. Encounters, ambushes and arrests still occur with regular frequency in the red corridor districts.</li>
<li>On the other end of the spectrum increased incidents of mob lynching, cow vigilantism and the string of assassinations of rationalists such as Narendra Dabholkar, Govind Pansare and Gauri Lankesh point towards rising extremism in the right wing cadres.</li>
<li>These instances signify the stark reality of the threats to internal security that stare India in the face, from both the right wing as well as the left.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Tackling Extremism</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The threat from radicalisation remains highly underestimated and understudied in India. In the absence of official Indian policy on radicalisation and de-radicalisation situation has turned even worse, aggravating the problem.</li>
<li>In order to face and counter such threats effectively and conclusively, policy addressing and trying to reverse the process of radicalisation that forces an individual or a group to idealise and act upon extremist ideas is needed.</li>
<li>The programme should focus upon the four aspects of the individual, family, religion and psychology and seeks to bring about a lasting change in the individual&rsquo;s belief system.</li>
<li>However, instead of seeing it as a rehabilitative, reformative and preventive approach it is looked with a security centric perspective severely undermining the gravity of the problem.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Challenges in Formulating a Policy</h3>
<p>Initiatives have been taken to counter the menace of growing radicalisation by state governments through their respective De-radicalisation programs; however the programs have turned out to be weak in many ways:</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Firstly, they aim only at those individuals who under goes radicalisation and does not deal with people who have not crossed the boundaries of law under the influence of the radical doctrine.</li>
<li>People or communities affected by radicalisation often belongs to marginalised and neglected section having little or no trust on law enforcement agencies, blocking any attempt at constructive dialogues with minority communities.</li>
<li>Any policy in isolation without a comprehensive policy or legal framework from the Centre makes policy weak and results in delays in intelligence gathering and swift action.</li>
<li>In the absence of a central policy or legal framework, any efforts at countering radicalisation will only be dealing with superficial aspects as radical content is primarily disseminated through the internet which requires greater cooperation from centre given the pan-Indian nature of the problem.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Way Forward</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Programme with respect to radicalisation must be based upon objectively researched conclusions based on strong evidence and not merely the subjective experience of an officer.</li>
<li>India&rsquo;s federal structure requires the Centre to develop an umbrella of legal framework aimed at facilitating, guiding and coordinating efforts of individual states to combat radicalisation therefore any such framework should not be limited to any one community or source of radicalisation.</li>
<li>The problem of radicalisation has seen an uptrend and in absence of any clear policy will continue to spread. It is important therefore to conduct meaningful research to aid the development of a framework that not only deals with de-radicalisation but also rehabilitate the misguided youth of the nation.</li>
</ul>',
			'postdate' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenTime) {},
			'url' => 'https://www.drishtiias.com/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/how-does-india-deal-with-radicalisation'
		],
		(int) 15 => [
			'title' => 'GI Website & Tutorial Video on IPR',
			'catname' => 'News Analysis',
			'desc' => '<h4>The Union Minister of Commerce and Industry has launched a tutorial video on <strong><a href="/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-international-institution/important-institutions-international-world-intellectual-property-organisation-wipo" target="_blank" rel="noopener">&ldquo;Intellectual Property Rights (IPR)&rdquo;</a> for school students and the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/potential-of-gis-is-waiting-to-be-tapped" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Geographical Indications (GI)</a> website.</strong></h4>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>I<strong>ndia is already a signatory to WTO&rsquo;s TRIPS Agreement</strong> and has enacted or amended the laws in harmony with the agreement.</li>
</ul>
<h3>GI Website</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The website <strong>showcases Indian GIs products,</strong> classified state wise as well as product category wise.</li>
<li>It includes specific and comprehensive details of geographical area, description of product, uniqueness, history, product process/ processing in addition to enlisting GI authorized users.</li>
<li>The website <strong>aims to promote creativity and motivate more of India&rsquo;s skilled artisans to apply for GI registration.</strong></li>
</ul>
<h3>Tutorial Video on IPR</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>A 20-minute tutorial video created by the Cell for IPR Promotion and Management (CIPAM), <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/dipp-renamed-as-dpiit" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT)</a></strong> in collaboration with Qualcomm <strong>deals with fundamentals of IPRs such as Patents, Copyrights and Trademarks.</strong></li>
<li>&lsquo;IP Nani&rsquo;, India&rsquo;s first IP Mascot features in the video that <strong>aims to spread awareness about the importance of IPRs amongst children.</strong></li>
<li>The tutorial video can be used in schools without any external intervention from teachers or experts and will aid in reaching a large number of schools and students, thereby overcoming issues of bandwidth and limited resources.</li>
<li>The video is available on CIPAM&rsquo;s YouTube Channel and will form part of the existing resource pool on CIPAM&rsquo;s official website www.cipam.gov.in which is freely available for public.</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Intellectual Property Rights</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>These are the rights that are given to persons/agencies for their creativity/innovations.</li>
<li><strong>The laws that govern IPRs in India are :</strong> The Copyright Act, 1957, Patents Act,1970, Trade Mark Act, 1999, The Designs Act, 2000, The Geographical Indications of Goods (Registration and Protection ) Act, 1999, The Protection of Plant Varieties and Farmers&rsquo; Rights Act, 2001 and The SemiConductor Integrated Circuits Layout Design Act, 2000.</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>IP Nani</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>IP Nani was <strong>launched by Ministry of Commerce and Industry in 2018.</strong></li>
<li>It is a tech-savvy grandmother who helps the government and enforcement agencies in combating IP crimes with the help of her grandson &ldquo;Chhotu&rdquo; aka Aditya.</li>
<li>The IP mascot will<strong> spread awareness about the importance of Intellectual Property Rights (IPRs) among people, especially children, in an interesting manner.</strong></li>
</ul>
<p><strong>WTO&rsquo;s TRIPS Agreement:</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The agreement that c<strong>ame into force from January 1, 1995 lays down minimum standards for protection and enforcement of intellectual property rights in WTO member countries</strong> with a view to reduce distortions and impediments to international trade.</li>
<li>The <strong>Agreement provides for norms and standards</strong> in respect of following areas of intellectual property: P<strong>atents, Trademarks, Copyrights, Geographical Indications, and Industrial Designs.</strong></li>
</ul>
<p><strong>Cell for IPR Promotion and Management</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The Cell for IPR Promotion and Management (CIPAM) was <strong>created in 2016</strong> <strong>under the aegis of the Department of Industrial Policy &amp; Promotion (DIPP), Ministry of Commerce &amp; Industry</strong> <strong>to take forward the implementation of the National IPR Policy.</strong></li>
<li>Since then, CIPAM is working towards creating public awareness about IPRs in the country, promoting the filing of IPRs through facilitation, providing inventors with a platform to commercialize their IP assets and coordinating the implementation of the National IPR Policy in collaboration with Government Ministries/Departments and other stakeholders.</li>
</ul>
</div>
<table border="1" style="border-collapse: collapse; width: 100%;">
<tbody>
<tr style="height: 20px;">
<td style="width: 33.3333%; text-align: center; height: 20px; background-color: #eb6e0e;"><strong>Trademark</strong></td>
<td style="width: 33.3333%; text-align: center; height: 20px; background-color: #eb6e0e;"><strong>Patent</strong></td>
<td style="width: 33.3333%; text-align: center; height: 20px; background-color: #eb6e0e;"><strong>Copyright</strong></td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 309px;">
<td style="width: 33.3333%; vertical-align: top; height: 309px; background-color: #f0bf99;">
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>A trademark is a word, phrase, symbol, and/or design that identifies and distinguishes the source of the goods of one party from those of others.</li>
<li>The term "trademark" is often used to refer to both trademarks and service marks.</li>
<li>Unlike patents and copyrights, trademarks do not expire after a set term of years. Instead, a trademark can last forever, so long as the owner continues to use the mark in commerce to indicate the source of goods and services.</li>
</ul>
</td>
<td style="width: 33.3333%; vertical-align: top; height: 309px; background-color: #f0bf99;">
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>A patent is a limited duration property right relating to an invention, granted by Trademark Office in exchange for public disclosure of the invention. Patentable materials include machines, manufactured articles, industrial processes, and chemical compositions. The duration of patent protection is 20 years in case of India.</li>
</ul>
<p></p>
</td>
<td style="width: 33.3333%; vertical-align: top; height: 309px; background-color: #f0bf99;">
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>A copyright protects works of authorship that have been tangibly expressed in a physical form.<br />Example - songs, books, movies, and works of art.</li>
</ul>
<p></p>
</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<p></p>',
			'postdate' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenTime) {},
			'url' => 'https://www.drishtiias.com/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/gi-website-and-tutorial-video-on-ipr'
		],
		(int) 16 => [
			'title' => 'Exclude Tree Cover from Forest Surveys',
			'catname' => 'News Analysis',
			'desc' => '<p>A high-power committee of Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC) recommended that <strong>Forest Surveys should explicitly demarcate trees grown in forests from those grown outside, that is, in plantations and private lands.</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The government also includes substantial patches of trees outside areas designated as forests, such as plantations or Greenlands, in its assessment.</li>
<li><strong>Forest Surveys(the biennial exercise by the government to estimate forest cover)&nbsp;</strong>count both plantations and private lands towards estimating the portion of India&rsquo;s geographical area covered by forest.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Including both is not ecologically sound.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>Getting India to have at least 33% of its area under forest is a long-standing goal of the government since 1988.</li>
<li>Various editions of the SFR have over the years reported the area under forests as hovering around 21%.</li>
</ul>
<h3>India State of Forest Report (SFR) 2017</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>A marginal 0.21% rise in the area under forest between 2015 and 2017.</li>
<li>India has about 7,08,273 sq. km. of forest(include Tree cover), which is 21.53% of the geographic area of the country (32,87,569 sq. km.).</li>
<li>The total tree cover, according to this assessment, was 93,815 sq. km. or a 2% rise from approximately 92,500 sq. km. in 2015.</li>
<li>Tree Cover improved from 2.82%(2015) to 2.95%(2017) of India&rsquo;s geographic area.</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Forest Survey of India (FSI)</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Forest Survey of India (FSI), is a<strong> premier national organization under the Union Ministry of Environment and Forests,</strong> <strong>responsible for assessment and monitoring of the forest resources</strong> of the country regularly.</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>Tree Cover &amp; Forest Cover </strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The Ministry of Environment, Forest &amp; Climate Change defines
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>&lsquo;Forest cover&rsquo; in India as &ldquo;<strong>all lands, more than one hectare in area with a tree canopy density of more than 10%</strong>&rdquo;.</li>
<li>&lsquo;Tree cover&rsquo; is defined as &ldquo;<strong>tree patches outside recorded forest areas exclusive of forest cover</strong> and less than the minimum mappable area of one hectare&rdquo;.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</div>',
			'postdate' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenTime) {},
			'url' => 'https://www.drishtiias.com/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/exclude-tree-cover-from-forest-surveys'
		],
		(int) 17 => [
			'title' => 'Andaman and Nicobar Command (ANC)',
			'catname' => 'Lok Sabha & Rajya Sabha Discussions',
			'desc' => '<p style="text-align: center;"><iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/RidOBIbsCR8" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe></p>
<p>Government of India has commissioned a full-fledged naval base INS Kohassa in the north Andaman Island. According to media reports, the government has also made a 10-year-long &ldquo;roll on&rdquo; plan to create facilities for additional troops, warships, aircraft and drones on Andaman and Nicobar Islands, thus strengthening the existing military facilities.</p>
<h3>Strategic Importance of Andaman and Nicobar Islands</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Importance due to its location in Indian Ocean Region (IOR):</strong>
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>One-Fourth of total world population and one-third of littoral states of the world are located around IOR.</li>
<li>Large volume of the World&rsquo;s trade, particularly oil and gas passes through this ocean.</li>
<li>Islands provide for 30% of India&rsquo;s total Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ).</li>
<li>Due to presence of islands in Indian Ocean, India is part of many maritime regional groupings.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Part of Trade Route:</strong> The ten degree channel (that separates the Andaman Islands and Nicobar Islands from each other in the Bay of Bengal) through which majority of trade passes from South China Sea and Pacific to Indian Ocean is between North and South Nicobar Islands.</li>
<li><strong>Buffer Zone:</strong> Andaman and Nicobar Islands act as a buffer zone between India and rest of the nations present in Indian Ocean Region (IOR).</li>
<li><strong>Strategic Outpost:</strong> Through these islands, India is able to defend its vital stakes in IOR. ANC has been set up for this reason only.</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Drishti Input</strong></p>
<p><strong>Andaman and Nicobar Command (ANC)</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>It is the first and only Tri-Service theatre command of the Indian Armed Forces, based at Port Blair in Andaman and Nicobar Islands of India.</li>
<li>It was created in 2001 to safeguard India's strategic interests in Southeast Asia and the Strait of Malacca by increasing rapid deployment of military assets in the islands.</li>
<li>It is commanded by a three star officer from Navy, under whom officers and men from all three services (Navy, Air Force, Army) work.</li>
<li>It conducts bi-annual coordinated patrols (CORPATs) with the navies of Thailand and Indonesia, the annual SIMBEX maritime exercise with Singapore, and the biennial Milan multilateral naval exercise.</li>
<li>It also patrols India's exclusive economic zone to suppress gun running, narcotics smuggling, piracy, and poaching, and conducts maritime surveillance, humanitarian assistance and disaster relief (HADR).</li>
<li>Vice Admiral Bimal Verma is its current Commander-in-Chief.</li>
</ul>
</div>
<h3>Concerns</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Islands are far from Indian mainland</strong> but are comparatively closer to places in Thailand, Indonesia and Myanmar. Indira Point, the southernmost tip of the great Nicobar Island is just 215 Km away from Banda Aceh on Sumatra Island.</li>
<li><strong>Sensitive ecology</strong> that surrounds islands.</li>
<li>Any sort of disturbance in IOR will directly affect India as the region falls in its backyard.</li>
<li>Many countries in neighbourhood consider India as a benign and benevolent power. Power Projection at islands will change this perception of India.</li>
<li><strong>Presence of Chinese submarines</strong> in Indian Ocean.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Way Forward</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>India continuously needs to collect lot of information on maritime domain to keep tab on activities that are going on in Indian Ocean.</li>
<li>Presence of all the three forces at the islands is required to avoid any possible war in future.</li>
<li>To defend islands from outside forces, four full-fledged air fields for surveillance are needed at Islands. India has only two, one at Port Blair and other at Car Nicobar.</li>
<li>Besides air fields, other things like Anti Access Area Denial Complex, sea bed sensors, land based missiles etc. are needed to physically defend against any attack.</li>
<li>ANC needs to be developed not only as Armed Forces strategic outpost but also as a business model. Once islands turn into commercial hub, countries in neighbourhood will perceive military deployment at islands as a protection force for economic assets established on the islands.</li>
<li>There is tremendous potential for fisheries, seabed mining, and tourism at the islands. India needs to exploit that to generate funds and provide employment opportunities to people.</li>
<li>While developing islands, India needs to ensure that ecology of the place remains preserved.</li>
</ul>
<p><em>Andaman and Nicobar Islands are not only strategically located but also strategically significant for India. Therefore, civil as well as military infrastructure development is required at the islands.</em></p>',
			'postdate' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenTime) {},
			'url' => 'https://www.drishtiias.com/loksabha-rajyasabha-discussions/andaman-and-nicobar-command-anc'
		],
		(int) 18 => [
			'title' => 'National Supercomputer Mission',
			'catname' => 'Paper 3',
			'desc' => '<h3>Why in News?</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>India recently awarded French technology firm <strong>Atos</strong> the contract to build a network of 70 supercomputers across India under the <strong>National Supercomputing Mission</strong>.</li>
<li>The first supercomputer designed and built under National Supercomputing Mission (NSM) by C-DAC at Indian Institute of Technology (BHU), Varanasi is named <strong>&ldquo;Param Shivay&rdquo;</strong>. It uses more than one lakh twenty thousand compute cores (CPU + GPU cores) to offer a peak computing power of <strong>833 TeraFlops</strong>.</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p>A teraflop is a measure of a computer's speed equivalent to a trillion floating point operations per second. <strong>It is a measure of the processing speed of computer</strong>.</p>
</div>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The <strong>Indian Institute of Technology, Kharagpur</strong> is the first academic institution to get a supercomputing facility under the National Supercomputing Mission (NSM). Others will be set up in <strong>IIT BHU</strong> and <strong>IIITM Pune</strong>. While IIT BHU will get a one Petaflop supercomputer, the other two institutes will have 650 Teraflops each.</li>
<li>This will provide large computational support to users to carry out both research and teaching activities that involve state-of-the-art <strong>High Performance Computing (HPC)</strong> at an estimated cost of Rs. 4500 crore over a period of seven years.</li>
</ul>
<h3>About The Mission</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The mission will nationally coordinate collaborative programme involving developers and users of supercomputing systems as well as academic and research institutions.</li>
<li>It looks to facilitate effective governance and monitoring mechanisms to build culture of supercomputing for solving complex R&amp;D problems and designing solutions addressing various country specific requirements for scientific, strategic and societal applications.</li>
<li>The Mission envisages empowering our national academic and R&amp;D institutions spread over the country by installing a vast supercomputing grid comprising of more than 70 high-performance computing facilities.</li>
<li>These supercomputers will also be networked on the National Supercomputing grid over the <strong>National Knowledge Network (NKN)</strong>.</li>
<li>The NKN is a central government initiative which connects academic institutions and R&amp;D labs over a high speed network.</li>
<li>Under NSM, the long-term plan is to build a strong base of 20,000 skilled persons. <strong>PARAM Shavak</strong> is one such machine that has been deployed to provide training.</li>
<li>The mission will be implemented by the Department of Science and Technology (Ministry of Science and Technology) and Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY), through the <strong>Centre for Development of Advanced Computing (C-DAC)</strong> and <strong>Indian Institute of Science (IISc), Bengaluru</strong>.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Introduction to NSM</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The first phase of the NSM is focused on assembling the supercomputers; the build element will be part of the second phase.</li>
<li>As per the initial plan, while some components would be imported, some like server-board assemblies, cooling solutions, power supply and storage systems would be manufactured in India with an aim to make 50% of the components locally over time.</li>
<li>The Centre for Development of Advanced Computing (C-DAC) is evaluating the technical bids by firms such as Acer, Fujitsu, IBM, HCL, TCS, Dell and Netweb and the contract is likely to be awarded soon.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Objective</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>To make India one of the world leaders in Supercomputing and to enhance India&rsquo;s capability in solving grand challenge problems of national and global relevance.</li>
<li>To empower our scientists and researchers with state-of-the-art supercomputing facilities and enable them to carry out cutting-edge research in their respective domains.</li>
<li>The Mission also includes development of <strong>High Performance Computing (HPC)</strong> aware human resource for meeting challenges of development of these applications.</li>
<li>To minimize redundancies and duplication of efforts, and optimize investments in supercomputing.</li>
<li>To attain global competitiveness and ensure self-reliance in the strategic area of supercomputing technology.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Application Areas</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Climate Modelling.</li>
<li>Weather Prediction.</li>
<li>Aerospace Engineering including CFD, CSM, CEM.</li>
<li>Computational Biology.</li>
<li>Molecular Dynamics.</li>
<li>Atomic Energy Simulations.</li>
<li>National Security/Defence Applications.</li>
<li>Seismic Analysis.</li>
<li>Disaster Simulations and Management.</li>
<li>Computational Chemistry.</li>
<li>Computational Material Science and Nanomaterials.</li>
<li>Discoveries beyond Earth (Astrophysics).</li>
<li>Large Complex Systems Simulations and Cyber Physical Systems.</li>
<li>Big Data Analytics.</li>
<li>Finance.</li>
<li>Information repositories/Government Information Systems.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Supercomputers in India</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>India's supercomputer program was started in <strong>late 1980s because Cray supercomputers</strong> could not be imported into India due to an <strong>arms embargo imposed on India,</strong> as it was a dual-use technology and could be used for developing nuclear weapons.</li>
<li>This led to setting up the <strong>Centre for Development of Advanced Computing (C-DAC) in March 1988</strong> with the clear mandate to develop an indigenous supercomputer to meet high-speed computational needs.</li>
<li><strong>PARAM 8000</strong>, considered to be India&rsquo;s first supercomputer was <strong>indigenously built in 1991</strong> by the Centre for Development of Advanced Computing (C-DAC).</li>
<li>Presently, <strong>Pratyush, a Cray XC40 system -</strong> an array of computers that can deliver a <strong>peak power of 6.8 petaflops,</strong> installed at the <strong>Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology (IITM), Pune,</strong> is the fastest supercomputer in India. Launched in January 2018, it is the <strong>fourth fastest High Performance Computer (HPC) dedicated to climate modelling in the world</strong>.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Global Rankings</h3>
<p>India has its 5 supercomputers in the <strong>TOP500 List</strong> - June 2018 (released twice-yearly), of the world&rsquo;s most powerful supercomputers</p>
<table border="1" style="height: 127px; border-collapse: collapse; background-color: #ebebeb;">
<tbody>
<tr style="height: 51px;">
<td style="width: 141px; height: 51px; vertical-align: top;">39<sup>th</sup> RANK</td>
<td style="width: 475px; height: 51px; vertical-align: top;">Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology<br />India</td>
<td style="width: 514px; height: 51px; vertical-align: top;">
<p><strong>Pratyush -</strong> Cray XC40, Xeon E5-2695v4 18C 2.1GHz, Aries interconnect<br />Cray Inc.</p>
</td>
<td style="width: 126px; height: 51px; vertical-align: top;">
<p>4,006.2<br />TFlop/s</p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 19px;">
<td style="width: 141px; height: 19px; vertical-align: top;">66<sup>th</sup> RANK</td>
<td style="width: 475px; height: 19px; vertical-align: top;">National Centre for Medium Range Weather Forecasting<br />India</td>
<td style="width: 514px; height: 19px; vertical-align: top;"><strong>Mihir -</strong> Cray XC40, Xeon E5-2695v4 18C 2.1GHz, Aries interconnect<br />Cray Inc.</td>
<td style="width: 126px; height: 19px; vertical-align: top;">
<p>2,808.7<br />TFlop/s</p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 19px;">
<td style="width: 141px; height: 19px; vertical-align: top;">206<sup>th</sup> RANK</td>
<td style="width: 475px; height: 19px; vertical-align: top;">
<p>Software Company (M)<br />India</p>
</td>
<td style="width: 514px; height: 19px; vertical-align: top;">
<p><strong>InC1 -</strong> Lenovo C1040, Xeon E5-2673v4 20C 2.3GHz, 40G Ethernet<br />Lenovo</p>
</td>
<td style="width: 126px; height: 19px; vertical-align: top;">
<p>1,413.1<br />TFlop/s</p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 19px;">
<td style="width: 141px; height: 19px; vertical-align: top;">327<sup>th</sup> RANK</td>
<td style="width: 475px; height: 19px; vertical-align: top;">
<p>Supercomputer Education and Research Centre (SERC), Indian Institute of Science<br />India</p>
</td>
<td style="width: 514px; height: 19px; vertical-align: top;">
<p><strong>SERC -</strong> Cray XC40, Xeon E5-2680v3 12C 2.5GHz, Aries interconnect<br />Cray Inc.</p>
</td>
<td style="width: 126px; height: 19px; vertical-align: top;">
<p>1,244.2<br />TFlop/s</p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 19px;">
<td style="width: 141px; height: 19px; vertical-align: top;">496<sup>th</sup> RANK</td>
<td style="width: 475px; height: 19px; vertical-align: top;">
<p>Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology<br />India</p>
</td>
<td style="width: 514px; height: 19px; vertical-align: top;">
<p><strong>iDataPlex</strong> DX360M4, Xeon E5-2670 8C 2.600GHz, Infiniband FDR<br />IBM</p>
</td>
<td style="width: 126px; height: 19px; vertical-align: top;">
<p>790.7<br />TFlop/s</p>
</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<p><br />The <em>fastest</em> computer of the world is in the USA called - <strong>SUMMIT</strong></p>
<table border="1" style="border-collapse: collapse; background-color: #ebebeb;">
<tbody>
<tr>
<td style="width: 95px;">1<sup>st</sup> RANK</td>
<td style="width: 290px;">
<p>DOE/SC/Oak Ridge National Laboratory<br />United States</p>
</td>
<td style="width: 414px;">
<p><strong>Summit -</strong> IBM Power System AC922, IBM POWER9 22C 3.07GHz, NVIDIA Volta GV100, Dual-rail Mellanox EDR Infiniband<br />IBM</p>
</td>
<td style="width: 95px;">
<p>187,659.3<br />TFlop/s</p>
</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<h3><br />Benefits</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>This mission will bring India, a step closer, to be in the select league of few top nations (USA, China, Japan, etc.), having a large supercomputing power and improve its presence in the world of supercomputers.</li>
<li>It supports the government's vision of <strong>'Digital India'</strong> and <strong>'Make in India'</strong> initiatives.</li>
<li>India&rsquo;s large Scientific &amp; Technology community will have access to SUPERCOMPUTING POWER necessary for developing applications in <strong>Artificial Intelligence, Big Data, Cyber security,</strong> etc.</li>
<li>These machines will be part of the National Supercomputing grid over the <strong>National Knowledge Network (NKN),</strong> which will have wide-scale applications in the fields of climate modelling, weather prediction, aerospace engineering, computational biology, molecular dynamics, atomic energy simulations, national security and defence applications.</li>
<li>NSM will improve the R&amp;D ecosystem of Science &amp; Technology within the country by satisfying the infrastructure need of the R&amp;D sector. It will increase foreign investment (FDI) in India in the R&amp;D (services) sector by attracting foreign research companies to invest in India, especially in Pharmaceutical sector.</li>
<li>Under NSM, the long-term plan is to build a strong base of 20,000 skilled persons who will be equipped to handle the complexities of supercomputers. They will be trained over the next five years and will become one of the largest ever dedicated human resource bases equipped to use these mighty computers.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Challenges</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Multiple Agencies Involved:</strong> There had been a number of delays over the past three years, largely because the project still doesn&rsquo;t have one dedicated person heading it. The NSM is to be jointly implemented by the Department of Science and Technology (DST) and Department of Electronics and Information Technology (DeitY) at an estimated cost of Rs 4,500 crore over a period of seven years. (2015-2022).</li>
<li><strong>Funding:</strong> Despite launching its supercomputer program in late 1980s, public awareness and interest has remained lukewarm, resulting in little funding in Research and development.</li>
<li><strong>Import Dependent:</strong> India&rsquo;s stronghold is in the field of software development, it has to depend on imports to procure the hardware components required for building supercomputers, and this is a drain on the resources.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Way Forward</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>High-performance computing is important if India wants to make significant progress in areas like weather forecasting, drug discovery, astrophysics and bioinformatics.</li>
<li>Favourable environment and funding in the field of science and technology will not only cut down India&rsquo;s dependence on foreign imports but will also bolster its goal of Make in India.</li>
<li>Developing indigenous facilities will ensure that applications are tailored to address problems that are specific to India.</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/512Drishti_ias_National-Supercomputer-Mission.png" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/512Drishti_ias_National-Supercomputer-Mission.png" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" /></a></p>',
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		(int) 19 => [
			'title' => 'Important Fact For Prelims (8th March 2019)',
			'catname' => 'News Analysis',
			'desc' => '<h3>I-STEM</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The web portal <strong>&ldquo;Indian Science, Technology and Engineering Facilities Map (I-STEM)&rdquo;</strong> has been developed by the <strong>Centre for Nano Science and Engineering (CeNSE)</strong> at the <strong>Indian Institute of Science, Bengaluru.</strong></li>
<li>I-STEM portal will enable <strong>easy and timely access of resources</strong> to researchers working anywhere in the country.</li>
<li>The portal is funded by <strong>Office of Principal Scientific Advisor to the Prime Minister Office</strong> also gives access to monitoring agencies including the Department of Science and Technology to evaluate how much the equipment funded by them are being used.</li>
<li>In the future, private laboratories and universities will also be included in the database, which could also benefit start-ups.</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Prime Minister&rsquo;s Science, Technology and Innovation Advisory Council (PM-STIAC)</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The <strong>PM-STIAC (Science, Technology, Innovation Advisory Committee), was constituted in August, 2018</strong> to advise the Prime Minister on all matters related to S&amp;T, innovation and monitor the implementation as well.</li>
<li>It is a<strong> 21-member committee, chaired by Principal Scientific Advisor (PSA) to the Government, presently K Vijay Raghavan.</strong>
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Dr. A. P. J. Abdul Kalam</strong> was the first <strong>PSA from 1999&mdash;2001 and Dr. R. Chidambaram from 2001-2018. </strong></li>
<li>Professor K. VijayRaghavan succeeded Dr. Chidambaram on April 3, 2018.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>PM-STIAC replaced the Scientific Advisory Committee (SAC) to PM and Cabinet.</strong></li>
</ul>
</div>
<h3>GI Tag for Erode Turmeric</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The Geographical Indication Registry of India has granted<strong> GI Tag to Erode manjal (Turmeric) under Spices Category (Class 30 of GI Classification).</strong></li>
<li>Erode Turmeric has been granted tag because of its <strong>uniqueness in terms of its size, color, quality and its resistance to pests after boiling.</strong></li>
<li>With the GI Tag, turmeric cultivated in some districts of Erode, parts of Coimbatore and whole of Tirupur (Tamil Nadu) will be recognised for its unique qualities derived from its place of origin.</li>
<li>Erode turmeric is a<strong> rhizome, both finger and bulb obtained from the Erode local cultivar.</strong> It is grown in <strong>hot moist conditions with temperature ranging from 20 degrees to 37.9 degrees Celsius</strong> with an average of 600 to 800 mm rainfall in a year.</li>
<li>It is a commercial spice crop which is sown in the months of June-July and is harvested in the months from January to March.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Renewable Status For Large Hydro Power Projects</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The government, under <strong>New Hydroelectricity Policy,</strong> has approved &lsquo;renewable energy status&rsquo; for large hydel projects. <strong>Earlier, only smaller projects of less than 25 MW</strong> in capacity were <strong>categorised as renewable energy. </strong></li>
<li>Large hydro projects will now be included as a separate category <strong>under the non-solar renewable purchase obligation policy,&nbsp;</strong>mandating power purchasers to source a portion of electricity from such projects.</li>
<li>The debt repayment period for hydro projects has been increased to 18 years from current 12 years with the provision to introduce an escalating tariff of 2%.</li>
<li>The policy also provides for additional funds separately for infrastructure development as well as separate funds for the costs of flood moderation.</li>
<li>These measures have been taken to<strong> reduce hydro power tariff</strong> and make the sector more competitive.</li>
<li>According to the government, India has a hydro-power potential of 1,45,320 MW, of which only about 45,400 MW has been utilised so far. Only about 10,000 MW of hydro-power has been added in the last 10 years.</li>
<li>Also, the share of hydro-power in the total generation capacity has declined from 50.36% in the 1960s to around 13% in 2018-19.</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Renewable Purchase Obligation&nbsp;</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Renewable Purchase Obligation refers to the <strong>obligation imposed by law</strong> on some entities to either buy electricity generated by specified &lsquo;green&rsquo; sources, or buy, in lieu of that, <strong>&lsquo;renewable energy certificates (RECs)&rsquo;</strong> from the market.</li>
<li>The &lsquo;obligated entities&rsquo; are mostly electricity distribution companies and large consumers of power. RECs are issued to companies that produce green power, who opt not to sell it at a preferable tariff to distribution companies.</li>
</ul>
</div>
<h3>Rebate on Embedded taxes for Garments Exports</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The Union Cabinet has approved a scheme to <strong>rebate State and Central Embedded Taxes</strong> for <strong>apparels</strong> and <strong>made-ups exports.</strong></li>
<li><strong>At present</strong>, apparel and made-ups segments are supported under the <strong>Scheme for Rebate of State Levies (RoSL).</strong></li>
<li>However, certain State, as well as Central Taxes, continued to be present in the cost of exports. Cabinet decision provides for a scheme to rebate all embedded State and Central Taxes/levies for apparel and made-ups which have a combined share of around 56% in India&rsquo;s textile export basket.</li>
<li>It is applicable for apparel and made-ups now and will be extended to yarn in the future.</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>Benefits</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The proposed measures are expected to <strong>make the textile sector competitive.</strong></li>
<li>Rebate of all Embedded State and Central taxes/levies for apparel and made-ups segments<strong> would make exports zero-rated, thereby boosting India&rsquo;s competitiveness in export markets</strong> and ensure equitable and inclusive growth of textile and apparel sector.</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>RoSL</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>It is to <strong>offset indirect taxes levied by states such as stamp duty, petroleum tax, electricity duty and mandi tax</strong> that were <strong>embedded in exports</strong>,</li>
<li>It is provided to<strong> textiles exporters.</strong></li>
</ul>
<p><strong>Made-ups</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>These are articles manufactured or stitched from any type of cloth, other than a garment such as bed-sheets, cushion covers, lamp-shades etc.</li>
</ul>
</div>
<h3>Divestment of CPSEs</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The Union Cabinet has decided to authorize the <strong>Finance Minister-led Alternative Mechanism (AM)</strong> to decide on strategic disinvestments.</li>
<li>Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA) has <strong>empowered the AM &mdash; set up in 2017</strong> to look into the strategic sale of Central Public Sector Enterprises (CPSEs).</li>
<li>AM has to decide on:
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The <strong>quantum of shares to be transacted,</strong></li>
<li>The mode of sale and the final pricing of the transaction, or lay down the principles/guidelines for such pricing,</li>
<li>Selection of strategic partner/buyer, and the terms and conditions of sale,</li>
<li>It can also decide on the timing of the sale and any other related issue regarding the transaction.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Disinvestment</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Disinvestment <strong>means selling of assets.</strong> In the case of Public Sector Undertakings, disinvestment means Government selling/ diluting its stake (share) in PSUs in which it has a majority holding.</li>
<li>Disinvestment is <strong>carried out as a budgetary exercise,</strong> under which the government announces yearly targets for disinvestment for selected PSUs.</li>
</ul>
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	(int) 0 => [
		'title' => 'A Compromise Is Still Possible',
		'catname' => 'News Editorials',
		'desc' => '<div class="border">
<p>(This editorial is based on the article <a href="https://www.thehindu.com/opinion/lead/a-compromise-is-still-possible/article26502542.ece" target="_blank" rel="noopener">"A Compromise Is Still Possible"</a> which appeared in "The Hindu" on 12th March 2019. The article talks about recent Supreme Court judgement referring the long pending Babri Masjid-Ram Janmabhoomi land dispute case for mediation)</p>
</div>
<p>The Ram Janmabhoomi- Babri Masjid dispute has long been accompanied by a sense of apprehension.</p>
<p>The dispute has been historically charged, politically divisive and communally violent, putting both the nation and the Constitution at risk.</p>
<p>For many years the SC had stuck to conventional methods and abdicated its role and its recent admission that traditional legal and constitutional tools are powerless in the face of faith is only an acceptance of true socio-religious ground realities of the nation.</p>
<p><strong>The five judge constitutional bench therefore has referred the disputed case for mediation as in the eyes of CJI- the case is not about property, but about the mind, heart and healing-if possible.</strong></p>
<p>The mediation path however has attracted a few concerns like all other attempts made at resolving the issue has.</p>
<h3>Issue Through The Lens of Time</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>A section of Hindus claims that the disputed land in the present-day Ayodhya, Uttar Pradesh is the site of Rama's birthplace where the Babri Masjid once stood.</li>
<li>The mosque was constructed during 1528-29 by demolishing the Hindu shrine by Mir Baqi, a commander of the Mughal Emperor Babur.</li>
<li>The political, historical and socio-religious debate over the history and location of the Babri Mosque, and whether a previous temple was demolished or modified to create it, is known as the Ayodhya dispute.</li>
<li>In 1992, the demolition of Babri Masjid by Hindu nationalists triggered widespread Hindu-Muslim violence.</li>
<li><strong>Since then, the archaeological excavations have indicated the presence of a temple beneath the mosque rubble, but whether the structure was a Rama shrine (or a temple at all) remains disputed.</strong></li>
</ul>
<h3>The Judicial Path to Mediation</h3>
<p>Despite many groups opposing a negotiated settlement, the Supreme Court has made it clear that an attempt should be made to settle the dispute by mediation.</p>
<p>Supreme Court has power under<em><strong> Section 89 of the Code of Civil Procedure (CPC)</strong></em> which allows the court to refer any dispute to non-adjudicatory resolution processes.</p>
<p>The court under section 89 of CPC has four types of well established dispute resolution methods other than litigation, namely &ndash; <strong>arbitration, conciliation, judicial settlement</strong> (including settlement through Lok Adalat), or <strong>mediation</strong>.</p>
<p>The Supreme Court also overruled its previous two judge&rsquo;s judgment in <em><strong>Afcons infrastructure and Ors. v. Cherian Verkay Construction and Ors (2010),</strong></em> where it maintained that mediation cannot be done in a representative suit which involves public interest or the interest of large number of persons who are not represented in the court.</p>
<p>Supreme Court has ruled that it is free to consider and decide upon any non-adjudicatory resolution method other than arbitration such as <strong>judicial settlement or mediation</strong>.</p>
<h3>Significance of the SC&rsquo;s Decision</h3>
<p>The decision reflects that Babri Masjid dispute is not really an explosive issue affecting the religious sentiments of millions of Hindus and Muslims as has been portrayed.</p>
<p>Any such portrayal can only be called only an attempt at creating political myths of various kinds at the hustings for electoral advantage.</p>
<p>Handful of parties claiming to represent Hindus and Muslims are not the true representative of their communities as a lot of people in the nation feel that the issue is not a life-affirming issue for the masses, who are more concerned about jobs, poverty alleviation, affordable housing, health care and education.</p>
<p>The decision highlights the resolve of the judiciary to solve the Ayodhya dispute which for so long has stalled the country&rsquo;s socio-economic growth.</p>
<h3>Roadblocks in the Mediation Process</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>One of the biggest challenges faced by mediation process is the <strong>fear of minorities</strong> is that if they give up their claim on the Babri Masjid, Hindu groups would ask for other &ldquo;disputed&rdquo; lands to be handed over.</li>
<li>The question is also over <strong>the neutrality of the mediators</strong> which is of paramount importance in any type of mediation, as a mediator is a neutral third party who facilitates a negotiated settlement between adversarial contenders.</li>
<li>Any bias in favour of disputants belonging to one religion is bound to create communal ripples which will only corrode litigant parties&rsquo; trust from this entire exercise.</li>
<li>There is a chance that any <strong>decision arrived through the mediation process might not be welcomed</strong> by one or the other parties and could foster resentment.</li>
<li>The <strong>mandate of mediation is also unclear;</strong> any effort at reconciling parties would mean defeat of truth, justice or due process.</li>
</ul>
<h3>An Amicable Solution</h3>
<p><strong>An attempt at allaying the fears of minorities by Hindu groups</strong> would not only increase the chances of solving the long standing dispute but would also serve as an example of confidence building amongst the minorities.</p>
<p>Supreme Court should appoint <strong>mediators who are tested of their integrity</strong> and those who are well accepted by all the parties.</p>
<p>The issue inherently has religious angle, and to appease these sentiments there is a larger <strong>need to address the issue of communalism, concept of citizenship and nationhood</strong>.</p>
<p>Any attempt at <strong>mediation should be an expression of a common hope for the better future</strong> and not a reminder of sectarian divisions.</p>
<p>The mediation should <strong>overcome the limitation of its framing</strong> and should arrive at a solution where no one community emerges victorious but where <strong>Indian constitutional values and democratic secular ethos reign supreme</strong>.</p>',
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	(int) 1 => [
		'title' => 'World Bank Group',
		'catname' => 'International Institutions',
		'desc' => '<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>With <strong>189 member</strong> countries, the World Bank Group is a unique global partnership: <strong>five institutions</strong> working for sustainable solutions that reduce poverty and build shared prosperity in developing countries.</li>
<li>The Bank Group works with country governments, the private sector, civil society organizations, regional development banks, think tanks, and other international institutions on issues ranging from climate change, conflict, and food security to education, agriculture, finance, and trade.</li>
</ul>
<h3>A Group of Institutions</h3>
<p>Together, the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (IBRD) and International Development Association (IDA) form the World Bank, which provides financing, policy advice, and technical assistance to governments of developing countries. While the World Bank Group consists of <strong>five development institutions</strong>.</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (IBRD)</strong> provides loans, credits, and grants.</li>
<li><strong>International Development Association (IDA)</strong> provides low- or no-interest loans to low-income countries.</li>
<li>The<strong> International Finance Corporation (IFC)</strong> provides investment, advice, and asset management to companies and governments.</li>
<li>The <strong>Multilateral Guarantee Agency (MIGA)</strong> insures lenders and investors against political risk such as war.</li>
<li>The <strong>International Centre for the Settlement of Investment Disputes (ICSID)</strong> settles investment-disputes between investors and countries.</li>
</ul>
<p>All of these efforts support the <strong>Bank Group&rsquo;s twin goals of ending extreme poverty by 2030</strong> and boosting <strong>shared prosperity</strong> of the poorest 40% of the population in all countries.</p>
<h3>History</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>The Bretton Woods Conference,</strong> officially known as the <strong>United Nations Monetary and Financial Conference,</strong> was a gathering of delegates from 44 nations that met from July 1 to 22, 1944 in <strong>Bretton Woods, New Hampshire (USA),</strong> to agree upon a series of <strong>new rules for international financial and monetary order</strong> after the conclusion of World War II.</li>
<li>The two major accomplishments of the conference were the creation of the <strong>International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (IBRD) and <g class="gr_ gr_290 gr-alert gr_gramm gr_inline_cards gr_run_anim Grammar only-ins replaceWithoutSep" id="290" data-gr-id="290">International</g> Monetary Fund (IMF)</strong>.</li>
<li>Founded in 1944, the <strong>International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (IBRD) &mdash; soon called the World Bank &mdash; has expanded to a closely associated group of five development institutions</strong>.</li>
<li><strong>Originally,</strong> its loans helped <strong>rebuild countries devastated by World War II. In time, the focus shifted from reconstruction to development,</strong> with a heavy emphasis on <g class="gr_ gr_319 gr-alert gr_gramm gr_inline_cards gr_run_anim Grammar multiReplace" id="319" data-gr-id="319">infrastructure</g> such as dams, electrical grids, irrigation systems, and roads.</li>
<li>With the founding of the <strong>International Finance Corporation (IFC) in 1956,</strong> the institution became able to <strong>lend to private companies and financial institutions in developing countries</strong>.</li>
<li>Founding of the <strong>International Development Association (IDA) in 1960</strong> put greater emphasis on the <strong>poorest countries,</strong> part of a steady <strong>shift toward the eradication of poverty becoming the Bank Group&rsquo;s primary goal</strong>.</li>
<li><strong>International Centre for Settlement of Investment Disputes (ICSID)</strong> founded in <strong>1966</strong> settles <strong>investment disputes</strong> between investors and countries.</li>
<li><strong>Multilateral Investment Guarantee Agency (MIGA)</strong> founded in <strong>1988</strong> insures lenders and investors against <strong>political risk such as war</strong>.</li>
</ul>
<h3>International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (IBRD)</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Following the recovery from World War II, the International Bank of Reconstruction and Development broadened its mandate to increasing global economic growth and eliminating poverty.</li>
<li>The Bank only <strong>finances sovereign governments directly or projects backed</strong> by sovereign governments.</li>
<li>Today, the IBRD <strong>focuses its services on middle-income countries</strong> or countries where the <strong>per capita income ranges from $1,026 to $12,475 per year</strong>. These countries, like Indonesia, India, and Thailand, are often home to fast-growing economies that attract a lot of foreign investment and large infrastructure building projects.</li>
<li>At the same time, <strong>middle-income countries are home to 70% of the world&rsquo;s poor people,</strong> as the benefits of this economic growth are unevenly distributed across their populations.</li>
<li><strong>Governance of IBRD:</strong>
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>IBRD Boards of Governors:</strong> The Boards of Governors <g class="gr_ gr_343 gr-alert gr_gramm gr_inline_cards gr_run_anim Grammar multiReplace" id="343" data-gr-id="343">consist</g> of one Governor and one Alternate Governor appointed by each member country. The office is usually held by the country's minister of finance, governor of its central bank. The Board of Governors delegates most of its authority over daily matters such as lending and operations to the Board of Directors.</li>
<li><strong>IBRD Board of Directors:</strong> The Board of Directors consists of currently 25 executive directors and is chaired by the President of the World Bank Group. Executive Directors are appointed or elected by the Governors. Executive Directors select the World Bank President, who is the Chairman of the Board of Directors. Executive Directors are <g class="gr_ gr_340 gr-alert gr_spell gr_inline_cards gr_run_anim ContextualSpelling multiReplace" id="340" data-gr-id="340">authorised</g> for daily matters such as lending and operations.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>IBRD raises most of its funds in the world's financial markets.</strong> This has allowed it to provide more than $500 billion in loans to alleviate poverty around the world since 1946, with its shareholder governments paying in about $14 billion in <g class="gr_ gr_306 gr-alert gr_gramm gr_inline_cards gr_run_anim Grammar only-ins replaceWithoutSep" id="306" data-gr-id="306">capital</g>.</li>
<li>IBRD has maintained a <strong>triple-A rating since 1959. This high credit rating allows it to borrow at low cost</strong> and offer middle-income developing countries access to capital on <g class="gr_ gr_301 gr-alert gr_spell gr_inline_cards gr_run_anim ContextualSpelling multiReplace" id="301" data-gr-id="301">favourable</g> terms &mdash; helping ensure that development projects go forward in a more sustainable manner.</li>
<li><strong>IBRD earns income every year from the return on its equity and from the small margin it makes on lending.</strong> This pays for World Bank operating expenses, goes into reserves to strengthen the balance sheet, and provides an <strong>annual transfer of funds to IDA, the fund for the poorest countries</strong>.</li>
</ul>
<h3>International Finance Corporation (IFC)</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>IFC is the largest global development institution focused exclusively on the <strong>private sector in developing countries</strong>. The Bank Group has set two goals for the world to achieve by 2030: end extreme poverty and promote shared prosperity in every country.</li>
<li>It is <strong>a private-sector arm of the World Bank Group,</strong> to advance economic development by investing in for-profit and commercial projects for poverty reduction and promoting development.</li>
<li>IFC is also a leading mobilizer of third-party resources for projects.</li>
<li><strong>Governance of IFC</strong>
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>IFC Boards of Governors:</strong> The Boards of Governors <g class="gr_ gr_338 gr-alert gr_gramm gr_inline_cards gr_run_anim Grammar multiReplace" id="338" data-gr-id="338">consist</g> of one Governor and one Alternate Governor appointed by each member country. The office is usually held by the country's minister of finance, governor of its central bank. The Board of Governors delegates most of its authority over daily to the Board of Directors.</li>
<li><strong>IFC Board of Directors:</strong> The Board of Directors consists of executive directors and is chaired by the President of the World Bank Group. Executive Directors are appointed or elected by the Governors. Voting power on issues brought before <g class="gr_ gr_333 gr-alert gr_gramm gr_inline_cards gr_run_anim Grammar multiReplace" id="333" data-gr-id="333">them</g> is weighted according to the share capital each director represents. The directors meet regularly to review and decide on investments and provide overall strategic guidance to IFC management.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>IFC raises virtually all funds for lending activities through the issuance of <strong>debt obligations in international capital markets</strong>. Our borrowings are diversified by country, currency, source, and maturity in order to provide flexibility and cost-effectiveness.</li>
<li>Since first being rated in 1989, IFC has been <strong>rated triple-A every year by Standard and Poor's and by Moody's</strong>. Our high credit rating is essential for maintaining our ability to access markets globally and to maintain our low cost of funding.</li>
<li>IFC makes loans to businesses and private projects generally with maturities of seven to twelve years. It determines a suitable repayment schedule and grace period for each loan individually to meet borrowers' currency and cash flow requirements. It may provide longer-term loans or extend grace periods if a project is deemed to warrant it.</li>
<li>It does <strong>not have a policy of uniform interest rates for its investments</strong>. The <strong>interest rate is to be negotiated in each case</strong> in the light of all relevant factors, including the <strong>risks involved</strong> and any right to <g class="gr_ gr_447 gr-alert gr_spell gr_inline_cards gr_run_anim ContextualSpelling" id="447" data-gr-id="447">participation</g> in profits, etc.</li>
<li>Through its <strong>Global Trade Finance Program,</strong> the IFC <strong>guarantees trade payment obligations of more than 200 approved banks</strong> in over 80 countries to mitigate risk for international transactions. The Global Trade Finance Program provides <strong>guarantees to cover payment risks for emerging market banks</strong> regarding promissory notes, bills of exchange, letters of credit, bid and performance bonds, <strong>supplier credit for capital goods imports, and advance payments</strong>.</li>
<li>IFC attempts to <strong>guide businesses toward more sustainable practices</strong> particularly with regards to having good governance, supporting women in business, and proactively combating climate change.</li>
</ul>
<h3>International Development Association (IDA)</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>IDA is the part of the World Bank that <strong>helps the world&rsquo;s poorest countries</strong>. Overseen by 173 shareholder nations, IDA aims to reduce poverty by providing loans (called &ldquo;credits&rdquo;) and grants for programs that boost economic growth, reduce inequalities, and improve people&rsquo;s living conditions.</li>
<li>IDA is one of the largest sources of assistance for the world&rsquo;s 75 poorest countries, 39 of which are in Africa, and is the single largest source of donor funds for basic social services in these countries.</li>
<li>IDA supports a <strong>range of development activities</strong> that pave the way toward <strong>equality, economic growth, job creation, higher incomes, and better living conditions. IDA's work</strong> covers <strong>primary education, basic health services, clean water and sanitation, agriculture, business climate improvements, infrastructure, and institutional reforms</strong>.</li>
<li><strong>Governance of IDA:</strong>
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>IDA Boards of Governors:</strong> The Boards of Governors <g class="gr_ gr_336 gr-alert gr_gramm gr_inline_cards gr_run_anim Grammar multiReplace" id="336" data-gr-id="336">consist</g> of one Governor and one Alternate Governor appointed by each member country. The office is usually held by the country's minister of finance, governor of its central bank. The Board of Governors delegates most of its authority over daily matters such as lending and operations to the Board of Directors.</li>
<li><strong>IDA Board of Directors:</strong> The Board of Directors consists of executive directors and is chaired by the President of the World Bank Group. Executive Directors are appointed or elected by the Governors.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>IDA lends money on concessional terms. This means that IDA credits have a zero or very low-interest charge and repayments are stretched over 30 to 38 years, including a 5- to 10-year grace period. IDA also provides <strong>grants to countries at risk of debt distress</strong>.</li>
<li>To borrow from the <strong>IDA's concessional lending programs,</strong> a country's gross national income (GNI) <strong>per capita must not exceed $ 1,145 (the fiscal year 2019)</strong>.</li>
<li>IDA also provides significant levels of <strong>debt relief</strong> through the Heavily Indebted Poor Countries (HIPC) Initiative and the Multilateral Debt Relief Initiative (MDRI).</li>
</ul>
<h3>International Centre for Settlement of Investment Disputes (ICSID)</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>ICSID was established in 1966 by the Convention on the Settlement of Investment Disputes between States and Nationals of Other States (the ICSID Convention). The ICSID Convention is a multilateral treaty formulated by the Executive Directors of the World Bank to further the Bank&rsquo;s objective of promoting international investment.</li>
<li>States have agreed on ICSID as a forum for investor-State dispute settlement in most <strong>international investment treaties</strong> and in numerous <strong>investment laws and contracts</strong>.</li>
<li>Bilateral investment treaties (BITs) are proliferating, many such treaties contain text that <g class="gr_ gr_293 gr-alert gr_gramm gr_inline_cards gr_run_anim Grammar only-ins replaceWithoutSep" id="293" data-gr-id="293">refers</g> present and future investment disputes to the ICSID.</li>
<li>ICSID provides for settlement of disputes by conciliation, arbitration or fact-finding.</li>
<li>Governance of ICSID
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Administrative Council:</strong>
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>One representative of each Member State, and one vote per State.</li>
<li>Adopts ICSID arbitration, conciliation <g class="gr_ gr_264 gr-alert gr_gramm gr_inline_cards gr_run_anim Punctuation only-ins replaceWithoutSep" id="264" data-gr-id="264">and</g> fact-finding rules.</li>
<li>Adopts an annual budget and approves annual report.</li>
<li><strong>Elects Secretary-General and Deputy Secretaries-General.</strong></li>
<li>Each State designates persons to a list of arbitrators and conciliators.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Secretariat:</strong>
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Led by Secretary-General. Provides technical and administrative support to proceedings.</li>
<li>Offers training and technical assistance to governments and the public.</li>
<li>Contributes to the development of investment law through publishing and outreach.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>ICSID Panel of Arbitrators and Panel of Conciliators:</strong>
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Each ICSID Member State may designate four persons to each Panel.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Conciliation Commission or Arbitral Tribunal:</strong> an Arbitral tribunal or Conciliation Commission is constituted by Secretary-General. In most instances, the tribunals consist of <strong>three arbitrators:</strong> one appointed <strong>by the investor,</strong> another appointed <strong>by the State,</strong> and the third, <strong>presiding arbitrator</strong> appointed <strong>by agreement of both parties</strong>.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>Each case is considered by an <strong>independent Conciliation Commission</strong> or <strong>Arbitral Tribunal,</strong> after hearing evidence and legal arguments from the parties. A dedicated ICSID case team is assigned to each case and provides expert assistance throughout the process.</li>
<li>An ICSID award according to <strong>Article 53 of the ICSID Convention</strong> is final and binding and immune from appeal or annulment, other than as provided in the ICSID Convention.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Multilateral Investment Guarantee Agency (MIGA)</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>MIGA is a member of the <strong>World Bank Group</strong> and its mandate is to promote cross-border investment in developing countries by providing guarantees (<strong>political risk insurance</strong> and credit enhancement) to investors and lenders.</li>
<li>MIGA was created to <strong>complement public and private sources of investment insurance</strong> against <strong>non-commercial risks</strong> (currency inconvertibility and transfer restriction; government expropriation; <strong>war, terrorism,</strong> and <strong>civil disturbance; breaches of contract;</strong> and the <g class="gr_ gr_275 gr-alert gr_spell gr_inline_cards gr_run_anim ContextualSpelling multiReplace" id="275" data-gr-id="275">non-honouring</g> of financial obligations) in developing countries.</li>
<li><strong>MIGA convention</strong> that defined its core mission was <strong>submitted to the Board of Governors of the IBRD</strong> in 1985 and went into establishing MIGA as the newest member of the World Bank Group in 1988.</li>
<li>The Convention can be amended by the Council of Governors of MIGA.</li>
<li>The agency opened for business as a legally separate and financially independent entity. <strong>Membership was open to all IBRD members.</strong></li>
<li><strong>Governance of MIGA</strong>
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Council of Governors:</strong> MIGA is governed by its Council of Governors which represents its member countries. The Council of Governors holds corporate authority, but primarily delegates such powers to MIGA's Board of Directors.</li>
<li><strong>MIGA Board of Directors:</strong> The Board of Directors consists of directors and votes on matters brought before MIGA. Each director's vote is weighted in accordance with the total share capital of the member nations that the director represents.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>MIGA aims to <strong>promote foreign direct investment into developing countries</strong> to support <strong>economic growth, reduce poverty and improve people&rsquo;s lives</strong>.</li>
</ul>
<h3>World Bank Group Membership</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>To become a member of the Bank, under the <strong>IBRD Articles of Agreement,</strong> a country must first join the International Monetary Fund (IMF).</li>
<li>Membership in IDA, IFC, and MIGA are conditional on membership in IBRD.</li>
<li>Membership in ICSID is available to IBRD members, and those which are a <strong>party to the Statute of the International Court of Justice (ICJ),</strong> on the invitation of the ICSID Administrative Council by a vote of two-thirds of its members.</li>
</ul>
<h3>World Bank Group and India</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>India was one of the forty-four original signatories</strong> to the agreements reached <g class="gr_ gr_299 gr-alert gr_gramm gr_inline_cards gr_run_anim Grammar replaceWithoutSep" id="299" data-gr-id="299">at</g> <strong>Bretton Woods</strong> that established the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (IBRD) and the International Monetary Fund (IMF).</li>
<li>It was also one of the <strong>founding members of the IFC in 1956 and the IDA in 1960</strong>. India later became a member of the MIGA in January 1994.</li>
<li><strong>India is not a member of ICSID.</strong> India claimed ICSID <strong>Convention is not fair, convention's rules for arbitration leaned towards the developed countries</strong>. In ICSID, the Chairman of the Centre is the Chairman of the World Bank. The Chairman appoints the arbitrators. If the arbitration award is not satisfactory, then the aggrieved party would appeal to a panel, which will also be constituted by the ICSID. There is <strong>no scope for a review of the award by an Indian court, even if the award is against <g class="gr_ gr_346 gr-alert gr_gramm gr_inline_cards gr_run_anim Grammar only-ins replaceWithoutSep" id="346" data-gr-id="346">public</g> interest</strong>.</li>
<li>IBRD lending to India commenced in 1949 with a loan to the <strong>Indian railways;</strong> the first investment by the IFC in India took place in 1959, and by IDA in 1961 <strong>(a highway construction project)</strong>.</li>
<li>During the 1950s, the IBRD was India's sole source of World Bank borrowings.</li>
<li>By the end of the decade, India's mounting debt problems became an important factor in the launch of the IDA, the soft loan affiliate of the World Bank (WB) group.</li>
<li>By the end of the 1960s, the United States, until then India's largest source of external resources, sharply cut its bilateral aid program. Since then, the WB emerged as the most important source of official long-term finance.</li>
<li>During the 1960s and 1970s, the IDA accounted for nearly three-fourths of all WB lending to India and, in turn, India was by far the largest recipient of IDA funds, accounting for more than two-fifths of all its lending.</li>
<li>The subsequent decade, <strong>with China joining the WB in 1980</strong> and accordingly entering its own claims to limited IDA resources, the worsening economic fortunes of Africa, and India's better performance, saw a <strong>sharp decline in India's share in IDA</strong>.</li>
<li>Instead, its share of <strong>IBRD lending grew sharply in the 1980s,</strong> buoyed by its improving <strong>credit-worthiness</strong> and the Indian government's <strong>waning inhibitions</strong> with regard to <strong>non-concessional borrowing</strong>.</li>
<li><strong>During the 1980s,</strong> while the WB shifted its emphasis to <strong>stress</strong> policy reforms and<strong> greater economic liberalization,</strong> it continued to <strong>lend to poorly governed public sector institutions</strong> in India and was muted in its criticism of India's closed economy.</li>
<li>The <strong>lending portfolio changed sharply after the 1991 macroeconomic crisis</strong>. In the immediate aftermath, India became one of the last important WB borrowers to partake of <strong>structural adjustment lending,</strong> which <strong>supported policy reforms in finance, taxation, and the investment and trade regime</strong>.</li>
<li>India is currently classified as a &ldquo;blend&rdquo; country &mdash; defined as one in <strong><g class="gr_ gr_272 gr-alert gr_gramm gr_inline_cards gr_run_anim Grammar only-ins doubleReplace replaceWithoutSep" id="272" data-gr-id="272">transition</g> from <g class="gr_ gr_260 gr-alert gr_spell gr_inline_cards gr_run_anim ContextualSpelling ins-del multiReplace" id="260" data-gr-id="260">lower middle-income</g> to middle-income &mdash;</strong> and is creditworthy for lending from both IDA and IBRD.</li>
<li>India is the largest IBRD client of the World Bank. Between 2015 and 2018, the World Bank lent around $10.2 billion to India.</li>
<li>The World Bank Group (WBG) has approved a $25-30 billion commitment plan for India for the period 2019-22.</li>
<li><strong>MIGA Performance Standards</strong> are environmental and social standards which help to structure and implement sustainable projects. For <g class="gr_ gr_332 gr-alert gr_gramm gr_inline_cards gr_run_anim Grammar only-ins replaceWithoutSep" id="332" data-gr-id="332">Indian</g> market, one of the options is <strong>a breach of contract insurance</strong> which MIGA would offer to investors. <strong>In case the government doesn&rsquo;t perform its obligation,</strong> under the contract arrangement, <strong>then MIGA can come and cover that risk for investment</strong>.</li>
</ul>
<h3>World Bank Reforms</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Some critics have&nbsp;pointed out that the World Bank really caters to the agenda of World Capitalism in the garb of its <strong>&ldquo;Structural Adjustment Programme&rsquo; (SAP)</strong> and continues to be dominated by rich countries. SAP is a set of "free market" economic policy reforms imposed on developing countries by the World Bank as a condition for receipt of loans.</li>
<li>It is argued <strong>SAP policies have increased the gap between rich and poor</strong> in both local and global terms.</li>
<li>The <strong>emerging new economic powers,</strong> particularly<strong> India and China, and some other Asian and Latin American countries</strong> of the world should be given due place and role<g class="gr_ gr_266 gr-alert gr_gramm gr_inline_cards gr_run_anim Punctuation multiReplace" id="266" data-gr-id="266">..</g></li>
<li><strong>The leadership succession debate</strong> should be used to create space for reflection on the purpose of the multilateral body, the substantive role it should play in the future, the need to <strong>strengthen inclusive multilateralism,</strong> and the actions needed to <strong>bolster the position of emerging economies</strong> and developing countries.</li>
<li><strong>Failure of World Bank to adapt to the changing world order</strong> may see rising economies going their own way.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Eg. Establishment of <strong>the Asia Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB)</strong> by China.</li>
<li>Such a development would signify the emergence of multi-polarity without multilateralism, and create a climate of conflicting interests and values among a diverse group of countries.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>Deep reforms of the World Bank are necessary as part of rethinking the current world order, and giving rising powers and developing countries a meaningful voice in this institution.</li>
</ul>',
		'postdate' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenTime) {},
		'url' => 'https://www.drishtiias.com/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-international-institution/world-bank-group'
	],
	(int) 2 => [
		'title' => 'Important Facts For Prelims (12th March 2019)',
		'catname' => 'News Analysis',
		'desc' => '<h3>Girnar Wildlife Sanctuary</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>After declaring Gir Forests (Junagadh, Gujarat) as <g class="gr_ gr_129 gr-alert gr_gramm gr_inline_cards gr_run_anim Grammar only-ins replaceWithoutSep" id="129" data-gr-id="129">wildlife</g> sanctuary in 1965, more lion habitats in adjoining regions were also declared sanctuaries and ultimately <strong>Girnar Wildlife Sanctuary was created in 2007.</strong></li>
<li>According to the last census of Asiatic lions, which was conducted in 2015, there were 523 lions in and around Gir wildlife Sanctuary in Saurashtra region of Gujarat.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Out of the total 523 lions, 33 lions were reported from Girnar Wildlife Sanctuary. </strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>Asiatic Lions are cousins of African Lions who are believed to be separated 1,00,000 years ago. They are slightly smaller and have a distinctive fold of skin along their bellies. <strong>Gir sanctuary is the only wild population of Asiatic lions in the world.</strong>
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>They are listed in Schedule I of Wildlife (Protection) Act 1972 and Appendix I of CITES and also have been categorized as&rsquo; Endangered&rsquo; on IUCN Red List.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>India has launched<a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/asiatic-lion-conservation-project" target="_blank" rel="noopener"> &ldquo;The Asiatic Lion Conservation Project&rdquo;</a> to strengthen the ongoing measures for conservation and recovery of Asiatic Lion with the help of state-of-the-art techniques/ instruments, regular scientific research studies, disease management, Modern surveillance/ patrolling techniques.</li>
</ul>
<h3>ITU&rsquo;s First ever Innovation Centre in India</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The <strong>United Nations' telecom body &lsquo;International Telecommunication Union (ITU)&rsquo;</strong> has planned to set up its<strong> <g class="gr_ gr_204 gr-alert gr_spell gr_inline_cards gr_run_anim ContextualSpelling ins-del multiReplace" id="204" data-gr-id="204">first ever</g> Innovation Centre in India</strong> to incorporate technologies from South Asian countries and emerging economies in standards for technologies.</li>
<li>The Innovation Centre is expected to give the opportunity to Indian technology firms to make their case for being part of global standards, which has been largely influenced by companies from developed countries and have <g class="gr_ gr_123 gr-alert gr_gramm gr_inline_cards gr_run_anim Grammar only-ins replaceWithoutSep" id="123" data-gr-id="123">huge</g> influence on telecom businesses globally.</li>
<li>The center will also <strong>collaborate with firms for joint research in the field of standardization for 5G, artificial intelligence, and upcoming new technologies.</strong></li>
<li>Besides the Innovation Centre, <strong>ITU&rsquo;s first regional office for South Asia</strong> will also get established in India.</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p style="text-align: left;"><strong>International Telecommunication Union</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li style="text-align: left;">It is the United Nations specialized agency for information and communication technologies &ndash; ICTs. It is the oldest among all the 15 specialized agencies of UN.</li>
<li style="text-align: left;">Founded in 1865 to facilitate international connectivity in communications networks, it allocates global radio spectrum and satellite orbits, develops the technical standards that ensure networks and technologies seamlessly interconnect, and strive to improve access to ICTs to underserved communities worldwide.</li>
<li style="text-align: left;">Based in Geneva, Switzerland, it is also a member of the United Nations Development Group and has 12 regional and area offices in the world.</li>
<li style="text-align: left;">ITU has remained an intergovernmental public-private partnership organization since its inception. Its membership includes 193 Member States and around 800 public and private sector companies and academic institutions as well as international and regional telecommunication entities.</li>
<li style="text-align: left;">Recently, India got elected as a member of ITU Council for another 4-year term - from 2019 to 2022. India has remained a regular member since 1952.</li>
</ul>
</div>
<h3>Wood Snake</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>A species of wood snake that <strong>wasn&rsquo;t seen for 140 years (last seen in 1878)</strong> has resurfaced in a survey conducted by scientists in the Meghamalai Wildlife Sanctuary.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Meghamalai Wildlife Sanctuary</strong> in Meghamalai Wildlife Division spreads over 636 square kilometers in Theni district of Tamil Nadu bordering the Periyar Tiger Reserve in Kerala and thus <strong>an important buffer zone for tiger population in addition to an important elephant corridor.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>The species is <strong>endemic to the Meghamalai forests (Tamil Nadu)</strong> and the<strong> Periyar Tiger Reserve landscape (Kerala).</strong></li>
<li>The local population of wood snakes was last spotted and recorded by British military officer and naturalist Colonel Richard Henry Beddome in 1878, who went on to describe it as a new species, Xylophis indicus.</li>
</ul>
<h3>&ldquo;Sirsi Supari&rdquo; Gets GI Tag</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Arecanut (also known as supari or betel nut) is the latest entrant in the list of agricultural produce with a <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/potential-of-gis-is-waiting-to-be-tapped" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>geographical indication (GI) tag.</strong></a></li>
<li><strong>&lsquo;Sirsi Supari&rsquo; grown in Uttara Kannada district of Karnataka has received the Geographic Indication (GI) tag.</strong></li>
<li>The arecanut has unique <strong>features like a round and flattened coin shape, particular texture, taste and has a hard seed.</strong> These features are not seen in arecanut grown in any other regions.</li>
<li>It is cultivated in Yellapura, Siddapura and Sirsi taluks in Karnataka</li>
<li>Totgars&rsquo; Cooperative Sale Society Ltd., Sirsi, is the registered proprietor of the GI.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Phased Manufacturing Programmes for Electric Vehicles</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The government has notified phased <strong>increase in basic customs duty</strong> on parts of electric passenger vehicles to be assembled in India and imported lithium-ion cells to promote domestic manufacturing of EVs.</li>
<li>The notification is part of the road map under the <strong>phased manufacturing programme (PMP).</strong>
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The phased manufacturing programme is part of a road map wherein through <strong>graded duty structure</strong> indigenous manufacturing of<strong> electric vehicles, its assemblies and parts or inputs of the sub-assemblies shall be promoted over a period of time.</strong></li>
<li>The intention is to substantially increase value addition and capacity building within the country.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>The government is also promoting the mass adoption of EVs through<strong> schemes like <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/fame-india-phase-ii" target="_blank" rel="noopener">FAME II.</a></strong></li>
<li>Recently, the Union Cabinet has also approved the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/national-mission-on-transformative-mobility-and-battery-storage" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>'National Mission on Transformative Mobility and Battery Storage'</strong></a> to drive clean, connected, shared and sustainable mobility initiatives in the country.</li>
</ul>
<h3>PINAKA</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Defense Research and Defence Organisation (DRDO)</strong> successfully test fired indigenously developed Guided PINAKA rockets from Pokhran ranges in Rajasthan.</li>
<li>The weapon system is equipped with<strong> state-of-the-art guidance kit</strong> comprising of an advanced navigation and control system.</li>
<li>It will significantly boost the capability of the artillery to make precision hits.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Central Electricity Regulatory Commission&nbsp;</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The<strong> Central Electricity Regulatory Commission (CERC)</strong> has come up with revised regulations to encourage neighboring countries to buy more power from India&rsquo;s spot markets.</li>
<li><strong>Bangladesh is the largest buyer of Indian power.</strong></li>
<li>India signed a memorandum of understanding for establishing grid interconnection. between the members of the <a href="/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-international-institution/drishti-specials-important-international-bimstec" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation (BIMSTEC). </strong></a></li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>About CERC</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>CERC is a <strong>statutory body</strong> functioning under <strong>section - 76 of the Electricity Act 2003.</strong></li>
<li>Functions:&nbsp;
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>to regulate the<strong> tariff of generating companies.</strong></li>
<li>to determine<strong> tariff and regulate the inter-State</strong> transmission of electricity.</li>
<li>to issue licenses to persons to function as transmission licensee and electricity trader with respect to their inter-State operations.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</div>',
		'postdate' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenTime) {},
		'url' => 'https://www.drishtiias.com/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/important-facts-for-prelims-12th-march-2019'
	],
	(int) 3 => [
		'title' => 'Vice President Visit to Paraguay and Costa Rica',
		'catname' => 'News Analysis',
		'desc' => '<p>Recently, Vice President of Inda visited two countries Costa Rica and Paraguay.</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Paraguay and Costa Rica are important partners of India in Latin American and Caribbean region respectively.</li>
</ul>
<h3>India-Paraguay<a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1577087720_image11.png" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1577087720_image11.png" width="300" height="212" caption="false" style="float: right;" /></a></h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Political</strong>
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Diplomatic relations between India and Paraguay were established in 1961.</strong></li>
<li>During the visit, it was decided to strengthen the relations even more.</li>
<li>Paraguay has also condemned the terror attack on Indian security forces in Pulwama.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Economic</strong>
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Bilateral trade between India and Paraguay has been growing.</li>
<li><strong>It was $40 million ten years ago and today it stands close to $375 million.</strong></li>
<li>During the visit, it was decided that efforts will be made to diversify and expand the trade basket.</li>
<li>Discussion on<strong> India&rsquo;s engagement in MERCOSUR also took place during the visit.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Cooperation &amp; People-2-People Contact</strong>
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>New areas for collaboration were identified</strong> between the two countries like renewable energy, health, ICT, space, biotechnology, railways, and tourism-related infrastructure.</li>
<li>To build people to people contacts there was a <strong>discussion on how to make travel easier</strong> between two countries.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>MERCOSUR</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The <strong>Southern Common Market (MERCOSUR for its Spanish initials)</strong> is a regional integration process, initially established by <strong>Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay, and Uruguay, and subsequently joined by Venezuela and Bolivia.</strong></li>
<li>India has a <strong>preferential trade agreement</strong> with MERCOSUR.</li>
</ul>
</div>
<h3>India-Costa Rica<a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1577087786_image44.png" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1577087786_image44.png" width="300" caption="false" style="float: right;" /></a></h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>India appointed an<strong> Honorary Consul in San Jose, capital of Costa Rica in 1995.</strong> Costa Rica reciprocated by opening an Honorary Consulate in New Delhi in 1996.</li>
<li>India and Costa Rica enjoy long-standing relations of friendship and cooperation, which are being strengthened by the growing commercial engagement between the two countries.</li>
<li><strong>Costa Rica is the 13th leading Trading Partner of India in the Latin American and Carribean (LAC) region.</strong> Bilateral trade between India and Costa Rica is around USD 200 mn.</li>
<li><strong>Costa Rica has set a target to become a carbon-neutral country by 2021</strong> and has decided to join the<a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/first-assembly-of-international-solar-alliance" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong> International Solar Alliance.</strong></a></li>
</ul>
<h3>India- Latin American and Carribbean (LAC) Region</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Importance of LAC</strong>
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Food Security:</strong> India is importing pulses and from South American countries.</li>
<li><strong>Mineral Import:</strong> Latin America is also very rich in minerals such as copper, lithium, iron ore, gold, and silver. India has an opportunity to increase investments for its extraction as well as for its imports at cheaper rates.</li>
<li><strong>Energy Security:</strong> Latin America has huge reserves of crude oil (20% of global reserves). Currently, India sources 15% of its crude oil from LAC countries. India which has emerged as the second largest importer of crude oil from the region is also important for Latin American countries.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Challenges</strong>
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Political Challenges:</strong> India has good relations with countries like Brazil, Mexico, Chile but other countries lag behind. Rivalries between countries like Brazil and Argentina for regional dominance is also affecting India&rsquo;s relations with the region.]</li>
<li><strong>Economic Relations:</strong> Though trade has reached $46 billion in 2012-13, it is nothing compared to the Chinese trade of $250 billion. Bilateral investments between India and LAC are also relatively low. It is only four percent of India&rsquo;s total outward investment.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>',
		'postdate' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenTime) {},
		'url' => 'https://www.drishtiias.com/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/vice-president-visit-to-paraguay-and-costa-rica'
	],
	(int) 4 => [
		'title' => 'IIT-Mandi’s Proposals Selected under SPARC Initiative',
		'catname' => 'News Analysis',
		'desc' => '<p>Seven research proposals from the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT), Mandi have been selected under <strong>&lsquo;Scheme for Promotion of Academic and Research Collaboration&rsquo; (SPARC).</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>These research projects are in areas such as energy and water sustainability, advanced sensors, electronics and communication, infectious diseases and clinical research, humanities, and social sciences, nano, biotechnology and applications, and advanced functionality and metamaterials and basic sciences.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Benefits</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The SPARC grants will <strong>help IIT-Mandi to collaborate with international universities in the US, France, Germany, UK, and Taiwan (Republic of China),</strong> and researchers from across the globe to undertake joint research.</li>
<li>IIT Mandi will also be able to <strong>offer short term courses to</strong> students in these fields.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Scheme for Promotion of Academic and Research Collaboration (SPARC)</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>&ldquo;Scheme for Promotion of Academic and Research Collaboration (SPARC)&rdquo; is an <strong>initiative of the Ministry of Human Resource Development.</strong></li>
<li><strong>Indian Institute of Technology, Kharagpur</strong> is the National Coordinating Institute to implement the SPARC programme.</li>
</ul>
<h3>The Objective of the Scheme</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>SPARC aims at <strong>improving the research ecosystem of India&rsquo;s higher educational institutions by facilitating academic and research collaborations between Indian institutions and the best institutions in the world.</strong></li>
<li><strong>Institutes are selected from 28 selected nations</strong> to jointly solve problems of national and international relevance.</li>
<li>Under this Scheme, <strong>600 joint research proposals will be awarded for 2 years</strong> to facilitate research collaboration between Indian research groups with the best in class faculty and renowned research groups in the leading universities of the world, <strong>in areas that are at the cutting edge of science or with direct social relevance to the mankind, specifically India.</strong></li>
</ul>
<h3>Thrust Areas</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>A set of 5 Thrust Areas which are<strong> Fundamental Research, Emergent Areas of Impact, Convergence, Action-Oriented Research, and Innovation-Driven and sub-theme areas</strong> in each thrust area has been identified.</li>
<li>A set of <strong>Nodal Institutions (NI), from India, for each participating foreign country has been identified.</strong>
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>IIT Mandi is the&nbsp;nodal institute for Germany.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>The role of a NI is to<strong> help and coordinate with willing Participating Indian Institutions to forge an alliance with the Institutions of the concerned participating foreign country.</strong></li>
<li><strong>Intellectual Property Rights (IPR)</strong>
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The IPR developed out of the project<strong> will be decided as per norms of the participating Institutes.</strong> The Indian Institute will get the benefits out of Patents / Royalty, rather than the foreign institute or the individual faculty.</li>
<li><strong>All disputes will have Indian jurisdiction.</strong> Any special deviation will be resolved by MHRD through the SPARC Liaison cell and approved by the Apex Committee.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>',
		'postdate' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenTime) {},
		'url' => 'https://www.drishtiias.com/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/iit-mandis-proposals-selected-under-sparc-initiative'
	],
	(int) 5 => [
		'title' => 'Strategy Against the Threat of Influenza',
		'catname' => 'News Analysis',
		'desc' => '<p>The World Health Organization (WHO) has launched a <strong>Global Influenza Strategy for 2019-2030,</strong> which aims to prevent seasonal influenza, control the virus&rsquo;s spread from animals to humans and prepare for the next pandemic</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The WHO warned that new pandemics are <strong>&ldquo;inevitable&rdquo;.</strong></li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Pandemic</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>A pandemic is the<strong> worldwide spread of a new disease.</strong></li>
<li>An influenza pandemic occurs when a new influenza virus emerges and spreads around the world, and most people do not have immunity. Viruses that have caused past pandemics<strong> typically originated from animal influenza viruses.</strong></li>
<li>Influenza epidemics are <strong>largely seasonal</strong> and affect around one billion people and kill hundreds of thousands annually making it one of the <strong>world&rsquo;s greatest public health challenges.</strong> E.g.:
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>H5N1 (called avian influenza or "bird flu")</strong> is a type of influenza virus that causes a highly infectious, severe respiratory disease in birds.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</div>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The new strategy is the most comprehensive and far-reaching that WHO has ever developed for influenza.</li>
<li>The strategy meets one of WHO&rsquo;s mandates to improve<strong> core capacities for public health, and increase global preparedness.</strong></li>
<li>It outlines a path to protect populations every year and helps prepare for a pandemic through strengthening routine programmes. <strong>Features of the new strategy are:</strong>
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Every country should strengthen routine health programmes and develop tailor-made influenza programmes that strengthen disease surveillance, response, prevention, control, and preparedness.</li>
<li>WHO recommends annual flu vaccines as the most effective way to prevent the spread of the disease, especially for healthcare workers and people at higher risk of influenza complications.</li>
<li>Development of more effective and more accessible vaccines and antiviral treatments.</li>
<li>Due to its mutating strains, vaccine formulas must be regularly updated.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>The new influenza strategy builds on and benefits from successful WHO programmes like:
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Global Influenza Surveillance and Response System (GISRS):</strong> Launched in 1952, GISRS comprised of WHO Collaborating Centres and national influenza centres. It focuses on monitoring seasonal trends and potentially pandemic viruses. This system serves as the backbone of the global alert system for influenza.</li>
<li><strong>Pandemic Influenza Preparedness Framework</strong> is a unique access and benefit sharing system that supports the sharing of potentially pandemic viruses, provides access to life saving vaccines and treatments in the event of a pandemic and supports the building of pandemic preparedness capacities in countries through partnership contributions from industry.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>World Health Organisation</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The World Health Organisation (WHO) is a <strong>specialized agency of the United Nations</strong> that is concerned with international public health.</li>
<li>It is <strong>headquartered in Geneva, Switzerland</strong> and the WHO&rsquo;s constitution came into force on April 7, 1948&mdash;a date now celebrated every year as World Health Day.</li>
<li>The <strong>World Health Assembly</strong> is the <strong>supreme decision-making body in WHO.</strong> The assembly meets annually and is attended by delegations from 194 member states.</li>
</ul>
</div>',
		'postdate' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenTime) {},
		'url' => 'https://www.drishtiias.com/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/strategy-against-the-threat-of-influenza'
	],
	(int) 6 => [
		'title' => 'World Gold Council',
		'catname' => 'News Analysis',
		'desc' => '<p>According to the latest report by the World Gold Council (WGC), India, which is the world&rsquo;s largest consumer of gold, has the 11th largest gold reserve, with the current holding pegged at 607 tonnes.</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>India&rsquo;s overall position in terms of total gold holding would have been tenth had the list included only countries.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>International Monetary Fund (IMF) is included and is third on the list with total gold reserves of 2,814 tonnes.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>The U.S. tops the list with gold reserves of 8,133.5 tonnes, followed by Germany with 3,369.7 tonnes.</li>
<li>Among Asian countries, China and Japan have more reserves when compared to India.</li>
<li>The demand for gold was concentrated among emerging market central banks, with diversification the key driver in the face of ongoing geopolitical and economic uncertainty.</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>World Gold Council</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The World Gold Council (WGC) is a nonprofit association of the world's leading gold producers.</li>
<li>Headquartered in London, the WGC covers the markets which comprise about three-quarters of the world's annual gold consumption.</li>
<li>It is a market development organization for the gold industry which includes 25 members and many gold mining companies as well.</li>
<li>The WGC was established to promote the use of and demand for gold through marketing, research and lobbying.</li>
</ul>
</div>
<h3>Gold &amp; Economy</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>As Currency:</strong> Gold was used as the world reserve currency up through most of the 20th century. The United States used the gold standard until 1971.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The paper money had to be backed up by equal amount of gold in their reserves.</li>
<li>Although the gold standard has been discontinued, some economists feel that we should return to it due to the volatility of the U.S. dollar and other currencies.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>As a hedge against inflation:</strong> The demand for gold increases during inflationary times due to its inherent value and limited supply. As it cannot be diluted, gold is able to retain value much better than other forms of currency.</li>
<li><strong>Strength of Currency:</strong> When a country imports more than it exports, the value of its currency will decline. On the other hand, the value of its currency will increase when a country is a net exporter. Thus, a country that exports gold or has access to gold reserves will see an increase in the strength of its currency when gold prices increase, since this increases the value of the country's total exports.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Since, the central banks rely on printing more money to buy gold, they create an excess supply of the currency. This increases the supply and thereby reduces the value of the currency used to purchase it.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>',
		'postdate' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenTime) {},
		'url' => 'https://www.drishtiias.com/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/world-gold-council'
	],
	(int) 7 => [
		'title' => 'HIV: New Hope',
		'catname' => 'Lok Sabha & Rajya Sabha Discussions',
		'desc' => '<p style="text-align: center;"><iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/I8gKEBX7tKY" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe></p>
<p>Recently a person suffering from HIV has been treated in London called as &lsquo;London Patient&rsquo;. He is the second person after Timothy Ray Brown who got cured of HIV. He has been cured with CCR5-delta 32 technique, which is based on a stem cell transplant involving CCR5-delta 32 homozygous donor cells.</p>
<h3>Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV)</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>HIV attacks CD4, a type of White Blood Cell (T cells)</strong> in the body&rsquo;s immune system. T cells are those cells that move around the body detecting anomalies and infections in cells.</li>
<li>After entering body, <strong>HIV multiplies itself and destroys CD4 cells, thus severely damaging the human immune system</strong>. Once this virus enters the body, it can never be removed.</li>
<li>CD4 count of a person infected with HIV reduces significantly. In a healthy body, CD4 count is between 500- 1600, but in an infected body, it can go as low as 200.</li>
<li>Weak immune system makes a person prone to opportunistic infections and cancer. It becomes difficult for a person infected with this virus to recover from even a minor injury or sickness.</li>
<li>By receiving treatment, severe form of HIV can be prevented.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Transmission</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>HIV is transmitted from person to person <strong>through bodily fluids including blood, semen, vaginal secretions, anal fluids and breast milk</strong>.</li>
<li>To transmit HIV, bodily fluids must contain enough of the virus. A person with &lsquo;Undetectable HIV&rsquo; cannot transfer HIV to another person even after transfer of fluids.</li>
<li>&lsquo;Undetectable HIV&rsquo; is when the amount of HIV in the body is so low that a blood test cannot detect it. Treatment can make this possible. But regular monitoring of the same through blood tests is also required.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Symptoms</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Around 80% of people infected with HIV develop a set of symptoms known as <strong>Acute Retroviral Syndrome,</strong> around 2-6 weeks after the virus enters into body.</li>
<li>The early symptoms include fever, chills, joint pains, muscle aches, sore throat, sweats particularly at night, enlarged glands, a red rash, tiredness, weakness, unintentional weight loss and thrush.</li>
<li>A person can carry HIV even without experiencing any symptoms for a long time. During this time, the virus continues to develop and causes immune system and organ damage.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Global Stats</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Since the beginning of epidemic, more than 70 million people have got infected with HIV virus and about 35 million have died.</li>
<li>Globally, 36.9 million People were living with HIV at the end of 2017. Of these, 1.8 million were children under 15 years of age.</li>
<li>According to Global HIV &amp; AIDS statistics, only 59% of those infected with HIV are receiving the antiretroviral drugs.</li>
<li>The African Region is the most affected region with 1 in 25 adults living with HIV.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Indian Stats</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The total number of people living with HIV was estimated at 21.40 lakh in 2017.</li>
<li>India witnessed over 87,000 new cases in 2017 and saw a decline of 85% compared to 1995.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Treatment</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Anti-Retroviral Therapy:</strong>
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>It is a <strong>combination of daily medications that stop the virus from reproducing</strong>.</li>
<li>The therapy helps in protecting CD4 cells thus keeping the immune system strong enough to fight off the disease.</li>
<li>It, besides reducing the risk of transmission of HIV, also helps in stopping its progression to AIDS (a spectrum of conditions caused by infection due to HIV).</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Stem Cell Transplant:</strong>
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Under this, <strong>an infected person is treated with stem cell transplant from donors carrying a genetic mutation that prevents expression of an HIV receptor CCR5</strong>.</li>
<li>CCR5 is the most commonly used receptor by HIV-1. <strong>People who have mutated copies of CCR5 are resistant to HIV-1 virus strain</strong>.</li>
<li>It has been reported that till now, only two people have been cured of HIV by experts using this method of treatment. The first person is Timothy Ray Brown <strong>(Berlin Patient)</strong> who was cured in 2007 and the second is known as <strong>London Patient,</strong> who just got cured of HIV.</li>
<li>The difference in the treatment of both patients is that the Berlin Patient was given two transplants and he underwent total body irradiation while the London Patient received just one transplant and also less intensive chemotherapy.</li>
<li>Researchers find this method very complicated, expensive and risky.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS)</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>It is a set of symptoms or syndrome caused by HIV. But <strong>it is not necessary that a person infected with HIV will definitely develop AIDS</strong>.</li>
<li>A person infected with HIV is likely to develop symptoms of AIDS over a period of time when his/er immune system is too weak to fight HIV infection.</li>
<li><strong>This is the last stage of HIV when the infection is very advanced and if left untreated will lead to death.</strong></li>
<li>A person with HIV whose CD4 count falls below 200 per cubic millimetre is diagnosed with AIDS.</li>
<li>The risk of HIV progressing to AIDS varies widely between individuals and depends on many factors including:
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The age of the Individual</li>
<li>The body&rsquo;s ability to defend against HIV</li>
<li>Access to high quality sanitary healthcare</li>
<li>Presence of other infections</li>
<li>Individual&rsquo;s genetic resistance to certain strains of HIV</li>
<li>Drug-Resistant strains of HIV</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>Prevention</strong> includes safe sex, testing and counselling for HIV, voluntary medical male circumcision among other things.</p>
</div>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Timeline:</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Pre-1980:</strong>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>It was in early 1900s that a form of Simian Immunodeficiency Virus (SIV) was transmitted to humans in Central Africa. This virus went on to become the pandemic strain of HIV.</li>
<li>It is believed that HIV infection was originated in Kinshasa in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DR Congo) around year 1920 when HIV crossed species from chimpanzees to humans.</li>
<li>In 1959, the first known case of HIV in a human was confirmed in a man who died in Congo.</li>
<li>Research suggests that virus had arrived in USA around 1968.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>1980s:</strong>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>In September 1982, Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) (USA) used the term &lsquo;AIDS&rsquo; for the first time.</li>
<li>In 1983, World Health Organization (WHO) held its first meeting to assess global AIDS situation.</li>
<li>By the end of 1985, every region in the world had reported at least one case of AIDS with 20,303 cases in total.</li>
<li>In May 1986, the International Committee on the Taxonomy of Virus said that the virus that causes AIDS would officially be called HIV.</li>
<li>In February 1987, WHO launched the Global Program on AIDS</li>
<li>In March 1987, the first antiretroviral drug zidovudine was approved as treatment for AIDS.</li>
<li>In October 1987, AIDS became the first illness to be debated in United Nations General Assembly (UNGA).</li>
<li>In 1988, WHO declared 1st December as World AIDS Day</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>1990s:</strong>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>In 1991, the New York-based Visual AIDS Artists Caucus launched the &lsquo;Red Ribbon&rsquo; Project to create a symbol of compassion for people living with HIV. The Red Ribbon became an international symbol of AIDS awareness.</li>
<li>By the end of 1993, there were estimated 2.5 million AIDS cases globally.</li>
<li>In 1996, the Joint UN Program on AIDS (UNAIDS) was established.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>2000s:</strong>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>From 2001, drug manufacturers began producing discounted generic forms of HIV medicines for developing countries.</li>
<li>In January 2003, U.S. President George Bush announced the creation of &lsquo;US President&rsquo;s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief&rsquo;, a 15 billion dollar five year plan to combat AIDS primarily in the countries with high number of HIV infections.</li>
<li>In January 2010, the travel ban preventing HIV-positive people from entering USA was lifted.</li>
<li>In 2013, UNAIDS reported that AIDS- related deaths had fallen 30% since their peak in 2005.</li>
<li>In July 2015, UNAIDS announced that the Millennium Development Goal (MDG) related to HIV and AIDS was reached six months ahead of schedule. The target of MDG 6 was to halt the spread of AIDS by 2015 and to begin to reverse its spread.</li>
<li>In 2017, for the first time ever, more than half of the global population living with HIV was receiving the antiretroviral treatment.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</div>
<p><em>Based on two successful treatment cases, researchers are now considering several approaches to eliminate HIV from the human body. One such approach is Gene Therapy which will modify the CCR-5 gene in a person, but as per experts doing that will be difficult. The latest treatment case has boosted the confidence of researchers and they will continue to explore more and more till they find a proper and less risky treatment.</em></p>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Drishti Input</strong></p>
<p><strong>HIV-1 and HIV-2</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>There are two types of HIV: HIV-1 and HIV-2.</li>
<li>HIV-1 is considered the predominant type, representing the vast majority of infections worldwide, while HIV-2 is far less common and primarily concentrated in the west and central African regions.</li>
<li>While both of these HIV types can lead to AIDS, HIV-2 is much more difficult to transmit and far less virulent than HIV-1.</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>UNAIDS</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Established in 1996, UNAIDS has been leading and inspiring global, regional, national and local leadership, innovation and partnership to consign HIV to history.</li>
<li>It is headquartered in Geneva, Switzerland.</li>
<li>It places people living with HIV and people affected by the virus at the decision-making table and at the centre of designing, delivering and monitoring the AIDS response.</li>
<li>It charts paths for countries and communities to get on the fast-track to end AIDS and is a bold advocate for addressing the legal and policy barriers to the AIDS response.</li>
<li>Also, it is leading the global effort to end AIDS as a public health threat by 2030 as part of the Sustainable Development Goal-3 (SDG-3).</li>
<li>SDG-3 deals with ensuring healthy lives and promoting wellbeing for all at all ages (including universal access to HIV prevention services, sexual and reproductive health services and drug dependence treatment and harm reduction services).</li>
</ul>
</div>',
		'postdate' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenTime) {},
		'url' => 'https://www.drishtiias.com/loksabha-rajyasabha-discussions/hiv-new-hope'
	],
	(int) 8 => [
		'title' => 'Model Code of Conduct (MCC)',
		'catname' => 'News Analysis',
		'desc' => '<p>With the announcement of elections to the 17<sup>th</sup> Lok Sabha, the Model Code of Conduct has come into effect immediately.</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The MCC is a<strong> set of guidelines issued by the <a href="/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-national-institutions/election-commission-of-india" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Election Commission (EC)</a></strong> to regulate political parties and candidates prior to elections. Basically, the code spells out the do's and don&rsquo;ts for elections.</li>
<li><strong>This is in keeping with Article 324 of the Constitution</strong>, which mandates EC to conduct free and fair elections to the Parliament and State Legislatures.</li>
<li><strong>It is not statutory</strong> but Political Parties, Candidates and Polling Agents are expected to observe the norms, on matters ranging from the content of election manifestos, speeches and processions, to general conduct etc.</li>
<li><strong>The code comes into force on the announcement of the poll schedule and remains operational till the process is concluded. </strong></li>
<li>The EC has devised several mechanisms to take note of the violation of the code, which include joint task forces of enforcement agencies and flying squads. The latest is the introduction of the cVIGIL mobile app through which audio-visual evidence of malpractices can be reported.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The<strong><span>&nbsp;</span>cVIGIL App&nbsp;</strong>provides<strong><span>&nbsp;</span>time-stamped, evidence-based proof of the Model Code of Conduct / Expenditure Violation, having live photo/video</strong><span>&nbsp;</span>with<strong><span>&nbsp;</span>auto location data</strong>.</li>
<li>Any citizen can lodge a complaint through the Mobile App. Flying Squads will then investigate the matter and the Returning Officer takes the decision.</li>
<li>The status of cVIGIL can be shared with the cVIGIL complainant within a specified time limit.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p style="text-align: left;"><strong>MCC: Legal Enforcement</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li style="text-align: left;">Though MCC does not have any statutory backing, but the Code has come to acquire teeth in the past decade because of its strict enforcement by the EC.</li>
<li style="text-align: left;"><strong>Certain provisions of the MCC may be enforced through invoking corresponding provisions in other statutes such as the Indian Penal Code, 1860, Code of Criminal Procedure,1973, and Representation of the People Act, 1951.</strong>
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li style="text-align: left;">For Example; Inciting hatred through political speeches, Appealing to caste and community feelings of voters, Intimidating or bribing voters and distributing liquor or holding public meetings in the 48 hours preceding the close of polling, are all such offences for which candidates can be tried under the <strong>Indian Penal Code</strong> or the<strong> Representation of the People Act 1951.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li style="text-align: left;"><strong>In 2013, the Standing Committee on Personnel, Public Grievances, Law and Justice, recommended making the model code of conduct legally binding.</strong> The committee observed in a report on electoral reforms that most provisions of the code are already enforceable through corresponding provisions in other statutes. It recommended that the MCC be made a part of the Representation of the People Act, 1951.</li>
<li style="text-align: left;"><strong>The EC argues against making it legally binding.</strong> According to it, elections must be completed within a relatively short time or close to 45 days, and judicial proceedings typically take longer, therefore it is not feasible to make it enforceable by law.</li>
</ul>
</div>',
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	],
	(int) 9 => [
		'title' => '“The Post-Balakot Challenge’’',
		'catname' => 'News Editorials',
		'desc' => '<div class="border">
<p>(This editorial is based on the article <a href="http://epaper.indianexpress.com/2063707/Delhi/March-11-2019#page/11/2" target="_blank" rel="noopener">&ldquo;The Post-Balakot Challenge&rsquo;&rsquo;</a> which appeared in the &lsquo;&rsquo;Indian Express&rsquo;&rsquo; on 11<sup>th</sup> March 2019. The article talks about India&rsquo;s marked departure from its traditional response to Pakistan based terrorism)</p>
</div>
<p>In the aftermath of recent Pulwama attack and the events set in motion by it, the nation has witnessed an increased demand to reshape India-Pakistan relations.</p>
<p>The ties between India-Pakistan are not only linked to India&rsquo;s external interest but also address nation&rsquo;s politics and social equation.</p>
<p>The domestic environment could well be understood through the prevalent reflexes of political parties, absence of serious discussion on Pakistani reality, and focusing on the politicisation of the entire episode.</p>
<p>However amidst all the charged up emotional response from national media houses and people, root cause of the problem, that is tackling terrorism has gone unnoticed.</p>
<h3>Pakistan as a Terror Launch Pad</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Pakistan has always refused any involvement in the region&rsquo;s instability due to terrorism or it acting as a safe haven to terrorism.</li>
<li>However it continues to remain a safe haven for terrorist organisations such as Jaish-e-Mohammad, Jammat-ud-dawa which continues to operate in Pakistan unabatedly.</li>
<li>Terrorist outfits have launched multiple attacks on Indian soil ranging from 2001 parliament attack, 26/11 Mumbai attack, and Uri attack in 2016 to the latest Pulwama attack in February 2019.</li>
<li>This attitude of shirking away from its responsibility has changed with Indian government building international pressure on Pakistani dispensation and providing proofs to both international community as well as Pakistani government wherever required.</li>
<li>International community too believes that Pakistan does harbour terrorist groups that act against India irrespective of whether the state facilitates them or not.</li>
</ul>
<h3>India&rsquo;s Traditional Response</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>India&rsquo;s most preferred and usual response has always been one of defence.</li>
<li>Outraged Indian sentiment has often been cooled down through sheer diplomacy and political management.</li>
<li>India has resorted to composite dialogue to promote cooperation, address outstanding issues and handle humanitarian concerns.</li>
<li>Indian conventional military considerations are belittled by Pakistan&rsquo;s nuclear threat overhang, paralysing any efforts towards military escalation.</li>
<li>Indian government has never considered the terrorism problem as a strategic challenge and has looked at it from the cross border infiltration angle.</li>
<li>Steps such as withdrawing Pakistan&rsquo;s status of most favoured nation, denial of visas to sports teams and the decision to use all the waters of the eastern rivers under the Indus Water Treaty have done little to no change in Pakistani stand.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Entering a New Phase</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The post &ndash; Uri attack surgical strikes had marked a major shift in India&rsquo;s response to Pakistani terror.</li>
<li>Indian military action in Pakistan controlled territory to destroy terrorist launch pad was seen as a major strategic win as it provided Pakistan an opportunity to deny them and therefore, limiting any possibility of military escalation.</li>
<li>It comes at the cost of <strong>erosion of Pakistan&rsquo;s nuclear overhang doctrine,</strong> with India downplaying any threat from its nuclear capable neighbour.</li>
<li>Air force strikes in Balakot are even a one step further in India&rsquo;s resolve to eliminate any foreign based terror camp as it not only crossed LOC but entered Pakistan mainland <strong>(the area falls about 50 km from the LoC and 81 km away from Uri, Jammu and Kashmir)</strong>.</li>
<li>India called these strikes as non-military pre emptive strike, with no intention on hitting military establishment and causing any civilian casualties.</li>
<li>Indian strikes marked not only the first intentional crossing by the IAF since the 1971 war between the two countries, but the first-ever use of conventional airpower by one nuclear-armed state against the territory of another nuclear-armed state.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Challenges</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Despite the breaking away from its traditional past there is no clarity if the new approach has been clearly defined with fully understanding the ramifications of engaging with a nuclear power.</li>
<li>India <strong>should not understate the possibility of full blown conventional war,</strong> and should exercise logical constraint in escalating things on military scale.</li>
<li>Instant Pakistani retaliation through counter air strikes challenges the <strong>potency of such measures</strong>.</li>
<li>Despite getting a favourable all round response from global world, India&rsquo;s giant neighbour China has maintained its silence on terrorism with emphasising the importance of nation&rsquo;s sovereignty.</li>
<li>Pakistan often under international pressure takes <strong>short term steps such as banning terrorist outfits</strong> however these organisations continue to operate under different names and continue getting foreign funding.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Way Forward</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>India in order to end cross border terrorism has to start considering the issue as a strategic challenge and use all elements of national power in sustained manner over a long period.</li>
<li>India should continue its recent <strong>policy of active engagement</strong> as all the previous measures however effective in bringing down Indian anger have done little in moderating Pakistani thinking or action.</li>
<li><strong>India should insist on complete eradication of terrorist launch pads</strong> and banning of terrorist outfits used for perpetrating crime and attacks on India from Pakistani soil before resuming any dialogue.</li>
<li>India should build <strong>international pressure and ensure a crack down on the funding</strong> of these institutions.</li>
<li>India should be clear about its position towards terrorism and should <strong>project the same to international community</strong> emphasising India&rsquo;s drying patience towards Pakistani terrorist misadventure.</li>
<li>There is a<strong> need to ensure a serious rethinking of India-Pakistan relationship</strong> which should look forward to India&rsquo;s interest and at the same time avoid any war-like aggression which is disastrous for India.</li>
</ul>',
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	],
	(int) 10 => [
		'title' => 'Saudi Investment in Strategic Oil Storage',
		'catname' => 'News Analysis',
		'desc' => '<p>India has invited Saudi Arabia to partner in building strategic oil reserves and further invest in India&rsquo;s refining and Petrochemical sectors.</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>India is concerned about global oil balance and supplies for the following reasons:
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>India&rsquo;s energy needs are primarily met through imports.</li>
<li>Concerns about rising international crude oil prices. The need for uninterrupted supplies of crude oil and LPG to India in view of the OPEC+ cuts.</li>
<li>Sanctions imposed by the US administration on state-owned oil company of Venezuela.</li>
<li>The US pull-out from 2015 accord with energy-rich Iran has limited the options for India to meet its energy demands.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Strategic Petroleum Reserves</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Strategic petroleum reserves are huge stockpiles of crude oil to deal with any crude oil-related crisis like the risk of supply disruption from natural disasters, war or other calamities.</li>
<li>India&rsquo;s strategic crude oil storages are currently located at Visakhapatnam (Andhra Pradesh), Mangaluru (Karnataka), and Padur (Karnataka).</li>
<li>Recently, the government had announced setting up of two additional facilities at Chandikhol (Odisha) and Padur (Karnataka).</li>
<li>The concept of dedicated strategic reserves was first mooted in 1973 in the US, after the first oil crisis.</li>
<li>The concept of massive caverns deep below the surface of the earth has been traditionally marketed as an energy security measure that can be a defence against shortage of oil supply in future due to an attack or invasion.</li>
<li>Underground storage is, by far the most economic method of storing petroleum products because the underground facility rules out the requirement of large swathes of land, ensures less evaporation and, since the caverns are built much below the sea level, it is easy to discharge crude into them from ships.</li>
</ul>
</div>
<h3>Need</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The IEA predicts that by 2020, India could well be the largest oil importer, increasing the country&rsquo;s vulnerability to threats of physical supply disruptions leading to sharp price fluctuations.</li>
<li>Besides the energy security, there is a commercial angle to it as well. Even as limited storage option would offer India the leverage to be a serious player in the international oil markets, with the option of releasing inventory when prices surge and recharging reservoirs whenever the crude is on a downcycle.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Way forward</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Experts point to the option of storage being leased out to West Asian refiners, especially since it reduces their freight costs into Southeast Asian markets.</li>
<li>The three storage facilities to be implemented in the first phase can hold 13 days of India&rsquo;s crude stock requirement where International Energy Agency (IEA) recommends 90 days.</li>
<li>Therefore, there is a need to build more stockpiles before oil prices rise back given that OPEC nations have recently decided to reduce oil production to bring stability in global oil prices, in a meet held recently.</li>
</ul>',
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	],
	(int) 11 => [
		'title' => 'Self Help Groups (SHGs)',
		'catname' => 'Paper 2',
		'desc' => '<p><a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/635Drishti_ias_Self-Help-Groups.jpg" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/635Drishti_ias_Self-Help-Groups.jpg" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" /></a></p>',
		'postdate' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenTime) {},
		'url' => 'https://www.drishtiias.com/mind-map/gs-paper2/self-help-groups-shgs-mind-map'
	],
	(int) 12 => [
		'title' => 'Self Help Groups (SHGs)',
		'catname' => 'Paper 2',
		'desc' => '<h3>What are SHGs?</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Self-Help Groups (SHGs) are informal associations of people who choose to come together to find ways to improve their living conditions.</li>
<li>It can be defined as <g class="gr_ gr_182 gr-alert gr_spell gr_inline_cards gr_run_anim ContextualSpelling multiReplace" id="182" data-gr-id="182">self governed</g>, peer controlled information group of people with similar socio-economic background and having a desire to collectively perform common purpose.</li>
<li>Villages face numerous problems related to poverty, illiteracy, lack of skills, lack of formal credit etc. These problems cannot be tackled at an individual level and need collective efforts.</li>
<li>Thus SHG can become a vehicle of change for the poor and marginalized. SHG rely on the notion of &ldquo;Self Help&rdquo; to encourage self-employment and poverty alleviation.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Functions</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>It looks to <strong>build the functional capacity</strong> of the poor and the marginalized in the field of employment and <g class="gr_ gr_162 gr-alert gr_spell gr_inline_cards gr_run_anim ContextualSpelling ins-del multiReplace" id="162" data-gr-id="162">income generating</g> activities.</li>
<li>It <strong>resolves conflicts</strong> through collective leadership and mutual discussion.</li>
<li>It <strong>provides collateral free loan</strong> with terms decided by the group at the <g class="gr_ gr_160 gr-alert gr_spell gr_inline_cards gr_run_anim ContextualSpelling ins-del multiReplace" id="160" data-gr-id="160">market driven</g> rates.</li>
<li>Such groups <strong>work as a collective guarantee system</strong> for members who propose to borrow from <g class="gr_ gr_218 gr-alert gr_spell gr_inline_cards gr_run_anim ContextualSpelling multiReplace" id="218" data-gr-id="218">organised</g> sources. The poor collect their savings and save it in banks. In <g class="gr_ gr_217 gr-alert gr_gramm gr_inline_cards gr_run_anim Punctuation only-ins replaceWithoutSep" id="217" data-gr-id="217">return</g> they receive easy access to loans with a small rate of interest to start their micro unit enterprise.</li>
<li>Consequently, Self-Help Groups have emerged as the most effective mechanism for <strong><g class="gr_ gr_204 gr-alert gr_gramm gr_inline_cards gr_run_anim Grammar only-ins replaceWithoutSep" id="204" data-gr-id="204">delivery</g> of microfinance services</strong> to the poor.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Need for SHGs</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>One of the reasons for rural poverty in our country is low access to credit and financial services.</li>
<li>A Committee constituted under the chairmanship of <strong>Dr. C. Rangarajan</strong> to prepare a comprehensive report on <strong>'Financial Inclusion in the Country'</strong> identified four major reasons for lack of financial inclusion:
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Inability to provide collateral security,</li>
<li>Poor credit absorption capacity,</li>
<li><g class="gr_ gr_227 gr-alert gr_gramm gr_inline_cards gr_run_anim Grammar only-ins doubleReplace replaceWithoutSep" id="227" data-gr-id="227">Inadequate</g> reach of the institutions, and</li>
<li>Weak community network.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>The existence of sound community networks in villages is increasingly being <g class="gr_ gr_178 gr-alert gr_spell gr_inline_cards gr_run_anim ContextualSpelling multiReplace" id="178" data-gr-id="178">recognised</g> as one of the most important elements of credit linkage in the rural areas.</li>
<li>They help in accessing credit to the poor and thus, play a critical role in poverty alleviation.</li>
<li>They also help to build social capital among the poor, especially women. This empowers women and gives them <g class="gr_ gr_211 gr-alert gr_gramm gr_inline_cards gr_run_anim Grammar only-ins replaceWithoutSep" id="211" data-gr-id="211">greater</g> voice in <g class="gr_ gr_212 gr-alert gr_gramm gr_inline_cards gr_run_anim Grammar only-del replaceWithoutSep" id="212" data-gr-id="212">the society</g>.</li>
<li>Financial independence through self-employment has many externalities such as improved literacy levels, better health care and even better family planning.</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Genesis of SHG</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The Genesis of SHG in India can be traced to <g class="gr_ gr_215 gr-alert gr_gramm gr_inline_cards gr_run_anim Grammar only-ins replaceWithoutSep" id="215" data-gr-id="215">formation</g> of Self-Employed Women&rsquo;s Association (SEWA) in 1970.</li>
<li>The SHG Bank Linkage Project launched by NABARD in 1992 has blossomed into the world&rsquo;s largest microfinance project.</li>
<li>NABARD <g class="gr_ gr_167 gr-alert gr_spell gr_inline_cards gr_run_anim ContextualSpelling ins-del multiReplace" id="167" data-gr-id="167">alongwith</g> RBI permitted SHGs to have a savings account in banks from the year of 1993. This action gave a considerable boost to the SHG movement and paved the way for the SHG-Bank linkage program.</li>
<li>In 1999, Government of India, introduced Swarn Jayanti Gram Swarozgar Yojana (SGSY) to promote self-employment in rural areas through formation and skilling of SHGs.</li>
<li>The programme evolved as a national movement in 2011 and became National Rural Livelihoods Mission (NRLM) &ndash; world&rsquo;s largest poverty alleviation programme.</li>
<li>Today, State Rural Livelihood Missions (SRLMs) are operational in 29 states and 5 UTs (except Delhi and Chandigarh).</li>
<li>NRLM facilitated universal access to the affordable cost-effective reliable financial services to the poor like financial literacy, bank account, savings, credit, insurance, remittance, pension and <g class="gr_ gr_194 gr-alert gr_spell gr_inline_cards gr_run_anim ContextualSpelling multiReplace" id="194" data-gr-id="194">counselling</g> on financial services.</li>
</ul>
</div>
<h3>Benefits of SHGs</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Social integrity &ndash;</strong> SHGs encourages collective efforts for combating practices like dowry, alcoholism etc.</li>
<li><strong>Gender Equity &ndash;</strong> SHGs empowers women and inculcates leadership skill among them. Empowered women participate more actively in gram sabha and elections.</li>
<li>There is evidence in this country as well as elsewhere that formation of Self-Help Groups has a multiplier effect in improving women&rsquo;s status in society as well as in the family leading to improvement in their socio-economic condition and also enhances their self-esteem.</li>
<li><strong>Pressure Groups &ndash;</strong> their participation in <g class="gr_ gr_197 gr-alert gr_gramm gr_inline_cards gr_run_anim Grammar only-ins replaceWithoutSep" id="197" data-gr-id="197">governance</g> process enables them to highlight issues such as dowry, alcoholism, the menace of open defecation, primary health care etc and impact policy decision.</li>
<li><strong>Voice to marginalized section</strong> &ndash; Most of the beneficiaries of government schemes have been from weaker and marginalized communities and hence their participation through SHGs ensures social justice.</li>
<li><strong>Financial Inclusion &ndash;</strong> Priority Sector Lending norms and assurance of returns incentivize banks to lend to SHGs. The SHG-Bank linkage programme pioneered by NABARD has made access to credit easier and reduced the dependence on traditional money lenders and other non-institutional sources.</li>
<li><strong>Improving <g class="gr_ gr_188 gr-alert gr_gramm gr_inline_cards gr_run_anim Grammar only-ins replaceWithoutSep" id="188" data-gr-id="188">efficiency</g> of government schemes</strong> and reducing corruption through social audits.</li>
<li><g class="gr_ gr_169 gr-alert gr_gramm gr_inline_cards gr_run_anim Grammar only-ins doubleReplace replaceWithoutSep" id="169" data-gr-id="169">Alternate</g> source of employment &ndash; it eases dependency on agriculture by providing support in setting up micro-enterprises e.g. <g class="gr_ gr_172 gr-alert gr_spell gr_inline_cards gr_run_anim ContextualSpelling multiReplace" id="172" data-gr-id="172">personalised</g> business ventures like tailoring, grocery, and tool repair shops.</li>
<li><strong>Changes In Consumption Pattern &ndash;</strong> It has enabled the participating households to spend more on education, food <g class="gr_ gr_201 gr-alert gr_gramm gr_inline_cards gr_run_anim Punctuation only-ins replaceWithoutSep" id="201" data-gr-id="201">and</g> health than non-client households.</li>
<li><strong>Impact on Housing &amp; Health &ndash;</strong> The financial inclusion attained through SHGs has led to reduced child mortality, improved maternal health and the ability of the poor to combat disease through better nutrition, housing <g class="gr_ gr_192 gr-alert gr_gramm gr_inline_cards gr_run_anim Punctuation only-ins replaceWithoutSep" id="192" data-gr-id="192">and</g> health &ndash; especially among women and children.</li>
<li><strong>Banking literacy &ndash;</strong> It encourages and motivates its members to save and act as a conduit for formal banking services to reach them.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Opportunities</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>SHGs often appear to be instrumental in rural poverty alleviation.</li>
<li>Economic empowerment through <g class="gr_ gr_173 gr-alert gr_gramm gr_inline_cards gr_run_anim Punctuation only-del replaceWithoutSep" id="173" data-gr-id="173">SHGs,</g> provides women the confidence for participation in decision making affairs at the household-level as well as at the <g class="gr_ gr_165 gr-alert gr_spell gr_inline_cards gr_run_anim ContextualSpelling ins-del" id="165" data-gr-id="165">community-level</g>.</li>
<li><g class="gr_ gr_185 gr-alert gr_spell gr_inline_cards gr_run_anim ContextualSpelling multiReplace" id="185" data-gr-id="185">Un-utilised</g> and <g class="gr_ gr_186 gr-alert gr_spell gr_inline_cards gr_run_anim ContextualSpelling multiReplace" id="186" data-gr-id="186">underutilised</g> resources of the community can be <g class="gr_ gr_187 gr-alert gr_spell gr_inline_cards gr_run_anim ContextualSpelling multiReplace" id="187" data-gr-id="187">mobilised</g> effectively under different SHG-initiatives.</li>
<li>Leaders and members of successful SHGs bear the potentiality to act as resource persons for different community developmental initiatives.</li>
<li>Active involvement in different SHG-initiatives helps members to grow <g class="gr_ gr_166 gr-alert gr_spell gr_inline_cards gr_run_anim ContextualSpelling ins-del" id="166" data-gr-id="166">leadership-skills</g>. <g class="gr_ gr_209 gr-alert gr_gramm gr_inline_cards gr_run_anim Grammar multiReplace" id="209" data-gr-id="209">Evidences</g> also show that often women SHG leaders are chosen as potential candidates for Panchayat Pradhans or representatives to Panchayati Raj Institution (PRI).</li>
</ul>
<h3>Weaknesses of SHGs</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Members of a group do not come necessarily from the poorest families.</li>
<li>Though there has been social empowerment of the poor, the economic gain to bring about a qualitative change in their life has not been satisfactory.</li>
<li>Many of the activities undertaken by the SHGs are still based on primitive skills related mostly to primary sector enterprises. With poor value <g class="gr_ gr_205 gr-alert gr_spell gr_inline_cards gr_run_anim ContextualSpelling" id="205" data-gr-id="205">addition</g> per worker and prevalence of subsistence level wages, such activities often do not lead to any substantial increase in the income of group members.</li>
<li>There is a lack of qualified resource personnel in the rural areas who could help in skill <g class="gr_ gr_161 gr-alert gr_spell gr_inline_cards gr_run_anim ContextualSpelling" id="161" data-gr-id="161">upgradation</g> or acquisition of new skills by group members. Further, institutional mechanisms for capacity building and skill training have been lacking.</li>
<li>Poor accounting practices and incidents of misappropriation of funds.</li>
<li>Lack of resources and means to market their goods.</li>
<li>SHGs are heavily dependent on their promoter NGOs and government agencies. The withdrawal of support often leads to their collapse.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Challenges</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Lack of knowledge</strong> and proper orientation among SHG-members to take up suitable and profitable livelihood options.</li>
<li><strong>Patriarchal mindset &ndash;</strong> primitive thinking and social obligations discourages women from participating in SHGs thus limiting their economic avenues.</li>
<li><strong>Lack of rural banking facilities &ndash;</strong> There are about 1.2 lakh bank branches and over 6 lakh villages. Moreover, <strong>many public sector banks and micro-finance institutions are unwilling to provide financial services</strong> to the poor as the cost of servicing remains high.</li>
<li><strong>Sustainability</strong> and the quality of operations of the SHGs have been a matter of considerable debate.</li>
<li><strong>No Security &ndash;&nbsp;</strong>The SHGs work on mutual trust and confidence of the members. The deposits of the SHGs are not secured or safe</li>
<li>Only a minority of the Self-Help Groups are able to raise themselves from a level of micro-finance to that of micro-entrepreneurship.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Measures to Make SHGs Effective</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The Government should play the role of a <strong>facilitator and promoter,</strong> create a supportive environment for the growth and development of the SHG movement.</li>
<li><strong>Expanding SHG Movement</strong> to Credit Deficient Areas of the Country - such as Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, States of the North-East.</li>
<li><strong><g class="gr_ gr_176 gr-alert gr_gramm gr_inline_cards gr_run_anim Grammar only-ins doubleReplace replaceWithoutSep" id="176" data-gr-id="176">Rapid</g> expansion of financial infrastructure</strong> (including that of NABARD) and by adopting extensive <g class="gr_ gr_164 gr-alert gr_spell gr_inline_cards gr_run_anim ContextualSpelling ins-del multiReplace" id="164" data-gr-id="164">IT enabled</g> communication and capacity building measures in these States.</li>
<li><strong>Extension of Self-Help Groups to Urban/Peri-Urban Areas &ndash;</strong> efforts should be made to increase income generation abilities of the urban poor as there has been a rapid rise in <g class="gr_ gr_191 gr-alert gr_spell gr_inline_cards gr_run_anim ContextualSpelling multiReplace" id="191" data-gr-id="191">urbanisation</g> and many people remain financially excluded.</li>
<li><strong>Positive Attitude &ndash;</strong> Government functionaries should treat the poor and marginalized as viable and responsible customers and as possible entrepreneurs.</li>
<li><strong>Monitoring &ndash;</strong> Need to establish a separate SHG monitoring cell in every state. The cell should have direct links with <g class="gr_ gr_222 gr-alert gr_gramm gr_inline_cards gr_run_anim Grammar only-ins replaceWithoutSep" id="222" data-gr-id="222">district</g> and block level monitoring system. The cell should collect both quantitative and qualitative information.</li>
<li><strong><g class="gr_ gr_163 gr-alert gr_spell gr_inline_cards gr_run_anim ContextualSpelling ins-del multiReplace" id="163" data-gr-id="163">Need Based</g> Approach &ndash;</strong> Commercial Banks and NABARD in collaboration with the State Government need to continuously innovate and design new financial products for these groups.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Case studies</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Kudumbashree in Kerala</strong>
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<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., <strong>microcredit, entrepreneurship <g class="gr_ gr_229 gr-alert gr_gramm gr_inline_cards gr_run_anim Punctuation only-ins replaceWithoutSep" id="229" data-gr-id="229">and</g> empowerment</strong>. It has <g class="gr_ gr_168 gr-alert gr_spell gr_inline_cards gr_run_anim ContextualSpelling ins-del multiReplace" id="168" data-gr-id="168">three tier</g> structure - neighborhood groups (SHG), area development society (15-20 SHGs) and Community development society (federation of all groups). Kudumbashree is a government agency that has a budget and staff paid by the government. The three tiers are also managed by unpaid volunteers.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Mahila Arthik Vikas Mahamandal (MAVIM) in Maharashtra</strong>
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>SHGs in Maharashtra were unable to cope with <g class="gr_ gr_224 gr-alert gr_gramm gr_inline_cards gr_run_anim Grammar only-ins replaceWithoutSep" id="224" data-gr-id="224">growing</g> volume and financial transactions and needed professional help. Community managed resource <g class="gr_ gr_225 gr-alert gr_spell gr_inline_cards gr_run_anim ContextualSpelling multiReplace" id="225" data-gr-id="225">centre</g> (CMRC) under MAVIM was launched to provide financial and livelihood services to SHGs. CMRC is self-sustaining and provides need-based services.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/318Drishti_ias_Self-Help-Groups.png" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/318Drishti_ias_Self-Help-Groups.png" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" /></a></p>',
		'postdate' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenTime) {},
		'url' => 'https://www.drishtiias.com/to-the-points/Paper2/self-help-groups-shgs'
	],
	(int) 13 => [
		'title' => 'PRS Capsule February 2019',
		'catname' => 'PRS Capsule',
		'desc' => '<p><em><strong>Key Highlights of PRS</strong></em></p>
<div class="border">
<ul class="ticklist" style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><a href="#1">Interim Union Budget 2019-20</a>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Interim Union Budget 2019-20 presented</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><a href="#2">Macroeconomic Development<br /></a>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>GDP grows at 6.6% in the third quarter of 2018-19</li>
<li>Repo and reverse repo rate reduced to 6.25% and 6% respectively</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><a href="#3">Cabinet<br /></a>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Union Cabinet approves promulgation of five Ordinances and the Constitution (Application to Jammu and Kashmir) Amendment Order, 2019</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><a href="#4">Finance<br /></a>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The International Financial Services Centres Authority Bill, 2019 introduced in Rajya Sabha</li>
<li>Standing Committee submits report on strengthening the credit rating framework</li>
<li>Cabinet approves abolition of income tax ombudsman and indirect tax ombudsman</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><a href="#5">Agriculture<br /></a>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>PM-KISAN scheme launched</li>
<li>CCEA approves creation of Agri-Market Infrastructure Fund</li>
<li>Draft National Inland Fisheries and Aquaculture Policy released</li>
<li>Rashtriya Kamdhenu Aayog constituted for conservation and development of cows</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><a href="#6">Commerce<br /></a>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Draft National e-Commerce Policy released for consultation</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><a href="#7">Law and Justice<br /></a>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The Registration of Marriage of Non-Resident Indian Bill, 2019 introduced in Rajya Sabha</li>
<li>Ordinance on triple talaq re-promulgated</li>
<li>The President of India notified a new circuit bench of the Calcutta High Court at Jalpaiguri (in West Bengal)</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><a href="#8">Tribal Affairs<br /></a>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>125th Constitutional Amendment Bill introduced in Rajya Sabha</li>
<li>Constitution (Scheduled Tribes) Order (Third Amendment) Bill, 2019 passed by Rajya Sabha to amend the list of Scheduled Tribes in Arunachal Pradesh</li>
<li>Union Cabinet approves revision in the list of Scheduled Tribes in Chhattisgarh</li>
<li>Ministry of Tribal Affairs launches various schemes</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><a href="#9">Health and Family Welfare<br /></a>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Cabinet approves setting up of new AIIMS in Haryana</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><a href="#10">Culture<br /></a>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Select Committee on Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Sites and Remains (Amendment) Bill submits report</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><a href="#11">Labour<br /></a>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Pradhan Mantri Shram Yogi Maan-dhan launched</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><a href="#12">Social Justice and Empowerment<br /></a>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Cabinet approves proposal of Board for De-notified, Nomadic and Semi-Nomadic Communities</li>
<li>Tenure of National Commission for Safai Karmacharis extended for three years</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><a href="#13">Food Processing<br /></a>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The National Institutes of Food Technology, Entrepreneurship and Management Bill, 2019 introduced in Rajya Sabha</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><a href="#14">Information Technology<br /></a>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Cabinet approves National Policy on Electronics 2019</li>
<li>Cabinet approves National Policy on Software Products 2019</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><a href="#15">Environment<br /></a>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Standing Committee submits report on the status of forests in India</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><a href="#16">Petroleum and Natural Gas<br /></a>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>CCEA approves PM JI-VAN Yojana for increasing ethanol supply</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><a href="#17">Power<br /></a>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Kisan Urja Suraksha evam Utthaan Mahabhiyan (KUSUM) approved</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><a href="#18">Housing and Urban Affairs<br /></a>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Lighthouse projects challenge launched</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><a href="#19">Textiles<br /></a>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Ministry of Textiles launches scheme for development of knitting and knitwear</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><a href="#20">External Affairs<br /></a>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>President of Argentina and Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia visit India</li>
<li>Prime Minister of India visits Republic of Korea</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</div>
<h3 id="1">Interim Union Budget 2019-20</h3>
<p>Interim Union Budget 2019-20 presented</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The Union Finance Minister presented the Interim Union Budget for 2019-20.</li>
<li>Key highlights include:
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The government proposes to spend <strong>Rs 27,84,200 crore</strong> in 2019-20, which is 13.3% above the revised estimate (Rs 24,57,235 crore) of 2018-19.</li>
<li><strong>The receipts</strong> (without borrowings) are expected to increase by <strong>14.1%</strong> from revised estimate <strong>(Rs 18,22,837 crore)</strong> of 2018-19 to <strong>Rs 20,80,201 crore, owing</strong> to higher estimated revenue from <strong>GST and income tax</strong>.</li>
<li><strong>The nominal GDP</strong> for BE 2019-2020 has been projected at Rs 21007439 crore assuming 11.5% growth over the estimated GDP of Rs 18840731 crore for 2018-19 (RE).</li>
<li>Fiscal deficit (Rs 7,03,999 crore) and revenue deficit (Rs 4,70,214 crore) are targeted at 3.4% of GDP and 2.2% of GDP respectively, same as the revised estimates for 2018-19.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>Key policy proposals in the budget speech include:
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Agriculture: PM-KISAN scheme</strong> will be launched under which <strong>Rs 6,000 per year</strong> will be directly transferred <strong>to farmers</strong> with cultivable land up to <strong>two hectares</strong>.
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>This amount will be paid in three instalments.</li>
<li>Rs 20,000 crore has been allocated in 2018- 19 and Rs 75,000 crore in 2019-20.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>Under the <strong>Kisan Credit Card scheme,</strong> 2% interest subvention and 3% incentive for prompt repayment, which are available to agriculture, will be <strong>extended to animal husbandry and fisheries</strong>.</li>
<li>Earlier, farmers affected by natural calamities were provided interest subvention of 2% for one year. This will be extended to every year of the loan. Further, a 3% incentive will be provided for timely repayment of the loan.</li>
<li><strong>Labour: The Pradhan Mantri Shram-Yogi Maandhan scheme</strong> will be launched to provide social security coverage to workers in the unorganised sector with a monthly income of up to Rs 15,000.
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li><strong>A monthly pension of Rs 3,000</strong> will be provided from <strong>the age of 60 years</strong>.</li>
<li><strong>The monthly contribution</strong> of the worker will be <strong>matched by the central government</strong>.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>The major tax changes announced are:
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Rates:</strong> The surcharge on income tax has been raised from 3% to 4%.</li>
<li><strong>Deductions:</strong> For salaried individuals, standard tax deduction has been increased from Rs 40,000 to Rs 50,000.
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Individuals earning an annual income of <strong>up to five lakh rupees</strong> will <strong>not</strong> have to <strong>pay</strong> any tax.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Tax deducted at source:</strong> Exemption from TDS on rent has been increased from Rs 1.8 lakh to <strong>Rs. 2.4 lakh per year</strong>.
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>The threshold for <strong>TDS on interest on bank and post office deposits</strong> has been increased from <strong>Rs 10,000 to Rs 40,000</strong>.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Housing:</strong> Currently, there is no presumptive rent on one self-occupied house. Interest on housing loan is deductible for one house. On sale of a house, capital gains deduction is available if the gains are invested in buying a house.
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>For all these, the limit has been extended to two houses (<strong>capital gains benefit</strong> limited to <strong>two crore rupees</strong>).</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3 id="2">Macroeconomic Development</h3>
<p>GDP grows at 6.6% in the third quarter of 2018-19</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The Gross Domestic Product (GDP) (at constant prices) of the country grew at 6.6% in the third quarter of 2018-19, over the corresponding period a year ago.</li>
<li>This was lower than the 7% growth in the second quarter of 2018-19.</li>
<li>GDP growth across economic sectors is measured in terms of Gross Value Added (GVA).
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The growth rate of <strong>combined GVA by all sectors</strong> decreased from 7.3% in the third quarter of 2017-18 to<strong> 6.3%</strong> in the third quarter of 2018-19.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<p>Repo and reverse repo rate reduced to 6.25% and 6% respectively</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) released its sixth Bi-Monthly Monetary Policy Statement of 2018-19.</li>
<li><strong>The policy repo rate</strong> (the rate at which the RBI lends money to banks) was reduced from 6.5% to 6.25% by a majority vote of the members. Two of the six members voted to keep the rate unchanged.</li>
<li>The reverse repo rate (the rate at which the RBI borrows money from banks) was reduced from 6.25% to 6%.</li>
<li>The <strong>marginal standing facility rate</strong> (the rate at which banks can borrow additional money) and the <strong>bank rate</strong> (the rate at which the RBI buys or rediscounts bills of exchange) were reduced from 6.75% to 6.5%.</li>
</ul>
<h3 id="3">Cabinet</h3>
<p>Union Cabinet approves promulgation of five Ordinances and the Constitution (Application to Jammu and Kashmir) Amendment Order, 2019</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Aadhaar and Other Laws (Amendment) Ordinance, 2019:</strong>
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The Ordinance seeks to allow <strong>for voluntary use of the Aadhaar</strong> number by authentication or <strong>offline verification,</strong> with the consent of the Aadhaar number holder.</li>
<li>It would give an option to children who are Aadhaar number holders to <strong>cancel their Aadhaar number</strong> on reaching eighteen years of age.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Homeopathy Central Council (Amendment) Ordinance, 2019:</strong>
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The Homeopathy Central Council Act, 1973, was amended in 2018 to provide for <strong>supersession and reconstitution of the Central Council within one year</strong>.</li>
<li><strong>In the interim period,</strong> the central government was <strong>to constitute</strong> a Board of Governors.</li>
<li>The Ordinance seeks to extend the period of reconstitution of the Central Council from one year to two years.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>New Delhi International Arbitration Centre Ordinance, 2019:</strong>
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The Ordinance seeks to establish the New Delhi International Arbitration Centre (NDIAC), to create an independent and autonomous regime for institutionalised arbitration.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Special Economic Zones (Amendment) Ordinance, 2019:</strong>
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The Ordinance, among other provisions, seeks to amend the Special Economic Zones Act, 2005, <strong>to allow trusts to set up a unit in Special Economic Zones</strong>.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>The Jammu and Kashmir Reservation (Amendment) Ordinance, 2019:</strong>
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The Ordinance seeks to amend the Jammu and Kashmir Reservation Act, 2004.</li>
<li>The Act provides <strong>three percent reservation</strong> in <strong>state government jobs</strong> for people living <strong>within 6 km of the Line of Control</strong> in Jammu and Kashmir.</li>
<li>The Ordinance seeks to <strong>extend this reservation</strong> to persons residing in <strong>areas adjoining the International Border</strong> as well.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>The Constitution (Application to Jammu and Kashmir) Amendment Order, 2019:</strong>
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>It seeks to amend the Constitution (Application to Jammu and Kashmir) Order, 1954.</li>
<li>The Order makes various provisions of the Constitution of India applicable to Jammu and Kashmir.
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li><strong>The 103<sup>rd</sup> Constitutional Amendment Act</strong> provides for ten percent <strong>reservation for economically weaker sections</strong> in <strong>educational</strong> institutions and <strong>public employment</strong>.</li>
<li>The Amendment Order seeks to extend this reservation to Jammu and Kashmir.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>The benefits in <strong>promotions to Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes</strong> under the Constitution will also be made <strong>applicable to the state of Jammu and Kashmir</strong>.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3 id="4">Finance</h3>
<p>The International Financial Services Centres Authority Bill, 2019 introduced in Rajya Sabha</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The Bill provides for the establishment of an authority to <strong>develop and regulate</strong> the <strong>financial services market</strong> in the <strong>International Financial Services Centres</strong> set up in <strong>Special Economic Zones in India</strong>.</li>
<li>Key features of the Bill include:
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Constitution of the <strong>International Financial Services Centres Authority</strong>:
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>The Bill provides for the establishment of the International Financial Services Centres Authority.</li>
<li>The Authority will consist of <strong>nine members,</strong> including representation from RBI, SEBI, IRDA, PFRDA, and the Ministry of Finance.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Functions of the Authority:</strong> The Authority will <strong>regulate</strong> financial <strong>products,</strong> financial <strong>services,</strong> and financial <strong>institutions</strong> in IFSCs.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<p>Standing Committee submits report on strengthening the credit rating framework</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The Standing Committee on Finance submitted its report on <strong>&lsquo;Strengthening of the Credit Rating Framework in the country&rsquo;</strong>.
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>A rating agency is a company that assesses the financial strength of companies and government entities, especially their ability to meet principal and interest payments on their debts.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>Key observations and recommendations of the Committee include:
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Regulatory framework:</strong> The credit rating agencies in India have progressed from rating <strong>simple debt products</strong> to complex debt structures, covering a wide range of products and services like <strong>securities,</strong> bank loans, <strong>commercial papers,</strong> and fixed deposits.
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>In India, the SEBI primarily regulates credit rating agencies and their functioning.</li>
<li>However, certain other regulatory agencies, such as the RBI, IRDA, and PFRDA also regulate certain aspects of credit rating agencies under their sectoral jurisdiction.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>The SEBI (Credit Rating Agencies) Regulations, 1999</strong> provide for <strong>a disclosure-based regulatory regime,</strong> where the agencies are required to <strong>disclose</strong> their <strong>rating criteria,</strong> <strong>methodology,</strong> default recognition policy, and guidelines on dealing with conflict of interest.
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The SEBI is among the few regulators globally to mandate public disclosure of rating criteria and methodology by the agencies.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Change in regulations:</strong> The <strong>rating</strong> of an instrument or entity is being increasingly <strong>relied upon</strong> by <strong>capital markets, bankers</strong> and <strong>investors</strong> and constitutes a key input for financial decision-making.
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>In the Indian context, the credibility of credit rating has come into question in the <strong>crisis</strong> involving the Infrastructure Leasing and Financial Services Limited <strong>(IL&amp;FS)</strong>, a major infrastructure development and finance company of systemic importance, with a <strong>debt obligation of Rs 91,000 crore</strong>.</li>
<li>The credit rating agencies <strong>ignored the rising debt levels at IL&amp;FS,</strong> and continued rating it AAA, indicating the highest level of creditworthiness.</li>
<li>In this regard, the Committee recommended that <strong>the regulators should review their regulations</strong> and suitably modify them <strong>to ensure</strong> greater objectivity, <strong>transparency</strong> and credibility in the whole credit rating framework.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>The Committee also recommended that the Ministry of Finance should seek a <strong>factual report from the concerned regulators</strong> regarding the <strong>enforcement</strong> of the regulations.</li>
</ul>
<p>Cabinet approves abolition of income tax ombudsman and indirect tax ombudsman</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The Union Cabinet approved the <strong>proposal for abolition</strong> of institutions of <strong>income tax ombudsman</strong> and <strong>indirect tax ombudsman</strong>.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The institutions of tax ombudsman were <strong>created to deal with public grievances</strong> related to <strong>settlement of complaints</strong> on income tax and indirect tax matters.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>The decision to abolish them was taken due to:
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The decision to abolish them was taken due to preference of alternative complaint redressal mechanisms by the public like <strong>CPGRAMS</strong> (Centralized Public Grievance Redress and Monitoring System), <strong>Aaykar-Seva-Kendras</strong> and low effectiveness of the institutions of ombudsman as compared to these parallel channels of grievance redressal.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3 id="5">Agriculture</h3>
<p>PM-KISAN scheme launched</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The central government launched the Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi (PM-KISAN) scheme.</li>
<li>Under the scheme, small and marginal landholder farmer families, i.e. families with total cultivable holding of up to two hectares, will be provided income support of <strong>Rs 6,000 per year</strong>.
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The scheme seeks to supplement their <strong>financial needs in procuring inputs</strong> for appropriate crop health and yields.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>The amount is payable in <strong>three equal instalments,</strong> every four months, through <strong>direct benefit transfer</strong> to bank accounts.
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The first instalment is being provided for the four-month period from December 2018 to March 2019.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Eligibility:</strong> Farmer families collectively owning cultivable land of <strong>up to two hectares</strong> (as per land records of the concerned state or union territory) are eligible for the scheme. However, <strong>this excludes certain beneficiaries</strong> of higher economic status:
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>the institutional land holders,</li>
<li>families with one or more members as government employees,</li>
<li>families with one or more members as income tax payers.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Funding:</strong> The scheme will be <strong>funded by the central government,</strong> and is estimated to incur an expenditure of <strong>Rs 75,000 crore per year</strong>.
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The same amount has been allocated to the scheme in 2019-20.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<p>CCEA approves creation of Agri-Market Infrastructure Fund</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA) approved the creation of an Agri-Market Infrastructure Fund of Rs 2,000 crore.</li>
<li>This Fund is aimed for development and up-gradation of infrastructure in <strong>10,000 gramin agricultural markets</strong> and <strong>585 regulated wholesale markets</strong>.</li>
<li>This corpus fund will be created with the assistance of NABARD.</li>
<li>It will be used to <strong>provide subsidised loans to states</strong> and union territories against their <strong>proposals for development</strong> of infrastructure in <strong>gramin agricultural markets</strong> and <strong>regulated wholesale markets</strong>.</li>
<li>The Fund may also be used to <strong>provide assistance to states</strong> and union territories for <strong>innovative integrated market infrastructure projects</strong>.</li>
<li><strong>The National Rural Employment Guarantee scheme</strong> and other government schemes will be used <strong>to strengthen</strong> the <strong>physical</strong> and basic infrastructure in gramin agricultural markets.</li>
</ul>
<p>Draft National Inland Fisheries and Aquaculture Policy released</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare has released the draft National Inland Fisheries and Aquaculture Policy.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Aquaculture</strong> (or aqua-farming) refers to the farming of <strong>fish, algae</strong> and <strong>other aquatic organisms,</strong> and <strong>aquatic plants</strong>.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>Key features of the draft policy include:</li>
<li><strong>Inland fisheries:</strong> The policy measures recommended for inland fisheries include:
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>the <strong>conserving indigenous resources,</strong> and restoring natural ecosystem of rivers,</li>
<li><strong>transferring management of fisheries</strong> in man made reservoirs to the state fisheries departments for scientific enhancement and efficient governance,</li>
<li><strong>conserving and restoring ecosystem</strong> in natural wetlands, and bringing policies, law,</li>
<li>conservation programmes for <strong>development of fisheries in the Himalayan</strong> and north-eastern states.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Aquaculture:</strong> Measures recommended for development of aquaculture include:
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>the developing state and area-specific action plans,</li>
<li>redefining land use categories to include fisheries and aquaculture as components of agriculture,</li>
<li>developing separate programmes for small farmers,</li>
<li>simplifying requirements for registration and leasing of farms,</li>
<li>developing the required regulatory frameworks.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>Other policy measures include:
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>making registration of all aquaculture inputs compulsory,</li>
<li><strong>regulating exotic species,</strong></li>
<li>diversifying species,</li>
<li>developing post-harvest and marketing infrastructure,</li>
<li><strong>strengthening fisheries cooperatives</strong>.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<p>Rashtriya Kamdhenu Aayog constituted for conservation and development of cows</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare has constituted an apex advisory body, <strong>Rashtriya Kamdhenu Aayog</strong> for the <strong>conservation, protection</strong>&nbsp;and <strong>development</strong> of cows and their progeny.</li>
<li>Other objectives of the Aayog include:
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>the proper implementation of laws with respect to <strong>prohibition of slaughter and cruelty to cows</strong>,</li>
<li>providing direction to cattle development programmes and schemes,</li>
<li>enhancing dairy production and productivity,</li>
<li><strong>sustainable development</strong> and upgradation of <strong>genetic resources of cows</strong>.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3 id="6">Commerce</h3>
<p>Draft National e-Commerce Policy released for consultation</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade released the &lsquo;Draft National e-Commerce Policy: <strong>India&rsquo;s Data for India&rsquo;s Development&rsquo;,</strong> for consultation.</li>
<li>The policy addresses following <strong>six broad issues</strong> of the <strong>e-commerce ecosystem</strong>:
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Data</li>
<li>Infrastructure development</li>
<li>E-commerce marketplaces</li>
<li>Regulatory issues,</li>
<li>Stimulating the domestic digital economy,</li>
<li>Export promotion through e-commerce.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>Key features of the e-commerce policy include:
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Data:</strong> Creating a legal and technological framework for <strong>imposing restrictions on cross-border data flow</strong> from specified sources, including data generated by users in India on <strong>e-commerce platforms, social media</strong>&nbsp;and <strong>search engines</strong>.</li>
<li>It lays down <strong>certain conditions</strong> for <strong>businesses</strong> regarding <strong>collection or processing of sensitive data</strong> locally and <strong>storing it abroad</strong>. These are:
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>all data stored abroad shall not be made available to business entities outside India, even with the customer's consent;</li>
<li>such data should also not be made available to a third party,</li>
<li>and such data should <strong>not be shared with a foreign government,</strong> without the prior permission of Indian authorities.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Foreign direct investment:</strong> The policy aims at <strong>demarcating</strong> what constitutes a <strong>marketplace model</strong> and what comprises an <strong>inventory-based model</strong> of sale and distribution.
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>It aims at inviting and <strong>encouraging</strong> foreign investment in the <strong>&lsquo;marketplace&rsquo; model alone</strong>.</li>
<li>This implies that an <strong>e-commerce platform,</strong> in which <strong>foreign investment has been made, cannot</strong> exercise <strong>ownership</strong> or control <strong>over the inventory</strong> sold on its platform.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Custom duties:</strong> The draft policy recommends <strong>the current practice of not imposing custom duties</strong> on <strong>electronic transmissions</strong> must be reviewed.</li>
<li><strong>Export promotion:</strong> There is a <strong>need to incentivise exports</strong> and <strong>reduce administrative requirements</strong> and <strong>costs</strong> for outbound shipments.
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>The existing limit of Rs 25,000, above which products are exported through <strong>cargo mode,</strong> should <strong>be increased for courier mode</strong>.</li>
<li>This would make Indian e-commerce exports attractive even for <strong>high-value shipments through courier mode</strong>.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3 id="7">Law and Justice</h3>
<p>The Registration of Marriage of Non-Resident Indian Bill, 2019 introduced in Rajya Sabha</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Key features of the Bill include:
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Registration of marriages:</strong> Every Non-Resident Indian (NRI) who marries a citizen of India in India must get his marriage registered in India within thirty days.
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Every NRI who marries <strong>an Indian citizen or another NRI outside India,</strong> must get his marriage registered with the <strong>Marriage Officer,</strong> within <strong>thirty days</strong>.</li>
<li><strong>The Marriage Officer</strong> is <strong>appointed</strong> from among the <strong>diplomatic officers</strong> in a <strong>foreign country</strong>.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Impounding of passport:</strong> In case an NRI marries an Indian citizen or another NRI, and <strong>fails to register the marriage within thirty days,</strong> the <strong>passport authority</strong> may <strong>impound or revoke the passport</strong> of the NRI.</li>
<li><strong>Issue of summons and warrants:</strong> If the person summoned by a court, does not appear before it, it may issue and upload a warrant for arrest on the <strong>website</strong> of the <strong>Ministry of External Affairs</strong>.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<p>Ordinance on triple talaq re-promulgated</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>The Muslim Women (Protection of Rights on Marriage) Second Ordinance, 2019</strong> was promulgated on February 21, 2019.</li>
<li>A similar Bill, <strong>The Muslim Women (Protection of Rights on Marriage) Bill, 2018,</strong> was also passed by Lok Sabha in December 2018 and the government had approved amendments to be moved in Rajya Sabha.</li>
<li>The Ordinance makes <strong>all declaration of talaq,</strong> including in <strong>written</strong> or <strong>electronic</strong> form, to be void (i.e. not enforceable in law) and <strong>illegal</strong>.</li>
<li><strong>Offence and penalty:</strong> The Ordinance makes declaration of talaq a <strong>cognizable offence,</strong> attracting <strong>up to three years&rsquo; imprisonment</strong> with a fine.</li>
<li><strong>Allowance:</strong> A Muslim woman against whom talaq has been declared, <strong>is entitled</strong> to seek <strong>subsistence allowance</strong> from her husband for herself and for her dependent children.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The amount of the allowance will be determined by the Magistrate.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<p>The President of India notified a new circuit bench of the Calcutta High Court at Jalpaiguri (in West Bengal).</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The President of India after consultation with the Governor of West Bengal and the Chief Justice of Calcutta High Court issued the order. <strong>The Calcutta High Court (Establishment of Circuit Bench at Jalpaiguri) Order, 2019.</strong></li>
<li>The bench will comprise of judges of the Calcutta High Court, as decided by the Chief Justice of the High Court.</li>
<li>The bench will exercise jurisdiction over cases arising in the districts of Darjeeling, Kalimpong, Jalpaiguri, and Cooch Behar in West Bengal.</li>
</ul>
<h3 id="8">Tribal Affairs</h3>
<p>125<sup>th</sup> Constitutional Amendment Bill introduced in Rajya Sabha</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The Constitution (One Hundred and Twenty-Fifth Amendment) Bill, 2019 was introduced in Rajya Sabha.</li>
<li>The Bill amends <strong>provisions</strong> related to the <strong>Finance Commission and the Sixth Schedule</strong> of the Constitution.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The Sixth Schedule relates to the administration of tribal areas in the states of Assam, Meghalaya, Tripura and Mizoram.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>Key features of the Bill include:
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Village and Municipal Councils:</strong> The Sixth Schedule states that tribal areas in certain regions of these four states will be <strong>'autonomous districts'</strong>, each <strong>administered</strong> by a <strong>District Council</strong>.</li>
<li>Further, the <strong>Governor may divide</strong> an <strong>autonomous district</strong> into <strong>autonomous regions,</strong> each <strong>administered</strong> by a <strong>Regional Council</strong>.
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>The <strong>Bill amends</strong> this provision to <strong>provide</strong> for <strong>Village</strong> and <strong>Municipal Councils</strong> in addition to the District and Regional Councils.</li>
<li>Further, The District Councils may make laws on various issues, including:
<ol>
<li><strong>the number of Village</strong> and Municipal Councils to be formed, and their composition,</li>
<li><strong>delimitation of constituencies</strong> for election to the Village and Municipal Councils,</li>
<li>and the powers and functions of these Councils.</li>
</ol>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Finance Commission:</strong> The Bill empowers the Commission to make recommendations on measures to augment the Consolidated Fund of a state in order to provide resources to the District Councils, Village Councils, and Municipal Councils in tribal areas in the four states.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<p>Constitution (Scheduled Tribes) Order (Third Amendment) Bill, 2019 passed by Rajya Sabha to amend the list of Scheduled Tribes in Arunachal Pradesh</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The bill was introduced and passed by Rajya Sabha to amend <strong>the Constitution (Scheduled Tribes) Order, 1950</strong>&nbsp;in respect of <strong>Arunachal Pradesh</strong>.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>It will <strong>lapse upon the dissolution of the Lok Sabha</strong>.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>The Bill <strong>inserts five entries for granting Scheduled Tribe</strong> status to these communities. These are: (i) Galo, (ii) Mishmi-Kaman (Miju Mishmi), Idu (Mishmi), Taraon (Digaru, Mishmi), (iii) Monpa, Memba, Sartang, Sajolang (Miji) (iv) Nocte, Tangsa, Tutsa, Wancho, and (v) Tai Khamti.</li>
<li>The Bill <strong>removes reference to six tribes</strong>. These are: (i) Abor, (ii) Galong, (iii) Khampti, (iv) Mishmi (Idu, Taroon), (v) any Naga tribes, and (vi) Momba.</li>
</ul>
<p>Union Cabinet approves revision in the list of Scheduled Tribes in Chhattisgarh</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The Union Cabinet <strong>approves for certain amendments</strong> to the <strong>list of scheduled tribes</strong> in <strong>Chhatisgarh</strong> in <strong>the Constitution (Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes) Order (Amendment) Bill, 2016</strong>.</li>
<li>The 2016 Bill seeks to amend the <strong>Constitution (Scheduled Castes) Order, 1950</strong> and the <strong>Constitution (Scheduled Tribes) Order, 1950</strong>.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>The two Orders</strong> were issued by the President under the Constitution (<strong>Article 341</strong> for Schedule Castes, and <strong>Article 342</strong> for Schedule Tribes) specifying the Scheduled Castes (SCs) and the Scheduled Tribes (STs) of all states.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>For Chhatisgarh,</strong> the Bill seeks <strong>to clarify equivalent names</strong> of the following communities that are <strong>already mentioned in the list</strong> of STs:
<ul>
<li>Bhuinya, Bhuiyan, Bhuyan;</li>
<li>Dhanwar, Dhanuhar, Dhanuwar;</li>
<li>Nagesia, Nagasia, Kisan;</li>
<li>and Sawar, Sawara, Saunra, Saonra.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>It adds <strong>'Binjhia'</strong> to the list of STs in Chhattisgarh.</li>
</ul>
<p>Ministry of Tribal Affairs launches various schemes</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Schemes of Minimum Support Price and Value Addition:</strong> under the scheme the remunerative MSP will be increased from 30% to 40% for <strong>50 commercially viable items (MFP-Minor Forest Produce)</strong> to the tribals.</li>
<li><strong>The Van Dhan Scheme:</strong>
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The tribals presently get <strong>only 20-30%</strong> of the <strong>value chain</strong> of the MFPs. The Van Dhan scheme aims to take this share to 70 to 80%.</li>
<li>Approximately <strong>6000 Van Dan Vikas Kendras</strong> are proposed to be set up.
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>These Kendras are intended to provide employment to almost 45 lakh tribals.</li>
<li>Each Kendra will comprise 300 tribal gatherers.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>The TRIFOOD Scheme:</strong>
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The Scheme is a joint initiative of the Ministry of Food Processing Industries, the Ministry of Tribal Affairs and the Tribal Cooperative Marketing Development Federation of India (TRIFED).</li>
<li>Under the Scheme, <strong>a tertiary value addition center</strong> will be set up in <strong>Jagdalpur</strong> in Chhattisgarh and <strong>Raigad</strong> in Maharashtra.
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>The traditional Mahua tribal drink will be mainstreamed and marketed all over the Country under this project.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>The "Friends of Tribes" initiative.</strong> Under this initiative, TRIFED has tied up <strong>CSR</strong> (Corporate Social Responsibility) <strong>funds</strong> to promote tribal livelihoods.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Under the Companies Act, 2013, companies above a certain specified net worth, turnover or profits are required to spend 2% of their average net profits in the last three financial years, towards activities under its CSR policy.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3 id="9">Health and Family Welfare</h3>
<p>Cabinet approves setting up of new AIIMS in Haryana</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The Union Cabinet approved the <strong>establishment</strong> of a <strong>new</strong> All India Institute of Medical Sciences<strong> (AIIMS)</strong> in <strong>Manethi, Rewari, Haryana</strong>.</li>
</ul>
<h3 id="10">Culture</h3>
<p>Select Committee on Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Sites and Remains (Amendment) Bill submits report</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The Select Committee of Rajya Sabha examined the <strong>Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Sites and Remains (Amendment) Bill,</strong> 2018.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The Bill amends the Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Sites and Remains Act, 1958.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>Key observations and recommendations of the Committee include:
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Prohibited area:</strong> The Construction is not permitted in the prohibited area (area of <strong>100 metre</strong>) <strong>around a protected monument,</strong> except under certain conditions. The <strong>Bill seeks</strong> to <strong>permit construction of public works</strong> in prohibited areas for public purposes.
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>It recommended that a systematic study should be conducted by experts to <strong>determine a rational area limit</strong> (in some cases there is no reason to keep 100 metre as prohibited area) for prohibiting construction around a monument to ensure its preservation.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Public works:</strong> The Bill defines &lsquo;public works&rsquo; as construction of any infrastructure that is financed and carried out by the central government for public purposes.
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li><strong>Such infrastructure</strong> must be <strong>necessary for public safety and security,</strong> and must be based on a specific instance of danger to public safety.</li>
<li>The Committee recommended that this definition should cover <strong>public utility projects</strong> for providing <strong>convenience to the public</strong>.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3 id="11">Labour</h3>
<p>Pradhan Mantri Shram Yogi Maan-dhan launched</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The Ministry of Labour and Employment notified a <strong>voluntary pension scheme</strong> called the <strong>Pradhan Mantri Shram Yogi Maan-dhan,</strong> 2019.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>It intends to provide <strong>a minimum assured pension</strong> to workers in the <strong>unorganized sector</strong>.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>Key features of the scheme include:
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Eligibility:</strong> The Scheme will apply to unorganised workers between the ages of <strong>18 and 40 years</strong> with monthly income of up to Rs 15,000.
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>The subscriber should <strong>not be covered</strong> under the <strong>National Pension Scheme, Employees&rsquo; State Insurance Corporation Scheme</strong> or <strong>Employees&rsquo; Provident Fund Scheme</strong>.</li>
<li><strong>Unorganised workers</strong> include persons engaged as home-based workers, <strong>street vendors,</strong> or <strong>domestic workers</strong>.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Minimum assured pension:</strong> Each subscriber under the scheme shall receive a <strong>minimum assured pension of Rs 3000 per month</strong> after attaining the <strong>age of 60 years</strong>.
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>The central government will match the contribution made by the beneficiary.</li>
<li>The government has notified<strong> different monthly contribution</strong> amounts <strong>depending upon the age of joining</strong>. For example, a person entering the scheme at 29 years of age will be required to contribute <strong>Rs. 100 per month</strong>.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Family pension:</strong>
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li><strong>If the subscriber dies while receiving the pension,</strong> his <strong>spouse</strong> will be entitled to <strong>receive 50% of the pension</strong> as <strong>family pension</strong>.</li>
<li><strong>If he dies before the pension accrues</strong> (i.e. before the age of 60 years), his <strong>spouse</strong> may either <strong>join</strong> the scheme by paying the contribution or may <strong>exit the scheme</strong> with <strong>receiving</strong> beneficiary&rsquo;s <strong>contribution</strong> along with accumulated <strong>interest earned</strong>.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3 id="12">Social Justice and Empowerment</h3>
<p>Cabinet approves proposal of Board for De-notified, Nomadic and Semi-Nomadic Communities</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The Union Cabinet approved the constitution of a Development and Welfare Board for De-Notified, Nomadic and Semi-Nomadic Communities.</li>
<li>Previously, the National Commission for De-Notified, Nomadic, and Semi-Nomadic Communities had recommended that <strong>a Permanent Committee</strong> should <strong>be established</strong> for these communities.</li>
<li>This Board will be chaired by the Vice-Chairman, NITI Aayog and will be responsible for completing the <strong>process of identification</strong> of:
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>De-Notified</strong></li>
<li><strong>Nomadic</strong></li>
<li><strong>Semi-Nomadic</strong> Communities that have <strong>not yet been formally classified</strong>.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<p>Tenure of National Commission for Safai Karmacharis extended for three years</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The Union Cabinet approved the extension of the term of the National Commission for Safai Karamcharis for a period of three years starting from March 31, 2019.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Safai karamcharis</strong> refer to persons who are engaged in manually carrying, cleaning or disposing <strong>of human excreta</strong> or <strong>for any sanitation work</strong>.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>The Commission was set up as a statutory body under <strong>the National Commission for Safai Karamcharis Act, 1993</strong>.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The Act ceased to have effect from February, 2004. However, the tenure of the Commission has been extended as <strong>a non-statutory body</strong> under <strong>the Prohibition of Employment as Manual Scavengers and their Rehabilitation Act, 2013</strong> (MS Act, 2013).</li>
<li>The Commission seeks to:
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>monitor implementation,</li>
<li>enquire into complaints regarding the contravention of the MS Act, 2013,</li>
<li>advise central and state governments on effective implementation of the Act,</li>
<li>and take suo-motu notice of matters related to non-implementation of the Act.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3 id="13">Food Processing</h3>
<p>The National Institutes of Food Technology, Entrepreneurship and Management Bill, 2019 introduced in Rajya Sabha</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The Bill declares certain institutes of food technology, entrepreneurship, and management as institutions of national importance. These institutes are:
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>National Institute of Food Technology Entrepreneurship and Management, Kundli</li>
<li>Indian Institute of Food Processing Technology, Thanjavur.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3 id="14">Information Technology</h3>
<p>Cabinet approves National Policy on Electronics 2019</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The Union Cabinet approved the National Policy on Electronics 2019, proposed by the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology <strong>(MeitY)</strong>.</li>
<li>The policy aims <strong>to position India</strong> as <strong>a global hub</strong> for <strong>Electronics System Design and Manufacturing (ESDM),</strong> by enabling the industry to compete globally.</li>
<li>Key features of the approved policy include:
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Objectives:</strong>
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Promoting manufacturing and export in ESDM to achieve a turnover of USD 400 Billion by 2025</li>
<li>Improving ease of doing business for ESDM industry</li>
<li>Encouraging research and innovation in all sub-sectors of electronics</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Promoting competition:</strong> The policy seeks to create a competitive ESDM sector by <strong>incentivizing domestic manufacturing and exports</strong>. This will be achieved by:
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>providing <strong>suitable tax benefits</strong> to the ESDM sector,</li>
<li>providing support for micro, small and medium enterprises in the ESDM sector,</li>
<li>and <strong>exempting import duty</strong> on <strong>capital equipment</strong> that is <strong>not manufactured in India</strong>.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Standards: A standards development framework</strong> will be set up based on <strong>global benchmarks,</strong> for electronics, information technology, and e-governance.
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li><strong>An institutional mechanism</strong> will be set up within MeitY for mandating compliance with standards for electronics products.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Research and innovation:</strong>
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>creating <strong>an ecosystem</strong> for promoting <strong>design and Intellectual Property</strong>,</li>
<li>providing support for generation of <strong>patents</strong>,</li>
<li>and promoting research and start-ups in technology areas such as <strong>5G</strong> and <strong>artificial intelligence</strong>.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Cyber security:</strong> The policy proposes to:
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>enhance understanding of <strong>cyber security issues</strong> related to electronics products,</li>
<li>promote use of <strong>secure chips</strong>,</li>
<li>and promote <strong>a start-up ecosystem</strong> for the <strong>development of cyber security products</strong>.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<p>Cabinet approves National Policy on Software Products 2019</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The Union Cabinet approved the National Policy on Software Products 2019.</li>
<li>The policy aims to develop India as <strong>the global software product hub,</strong> driven by:
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>innovation,</li>
<li>improved commercialisation,</li>
<li>sustainable intellectual property,</li>
<li>and promoting technology start-ups.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>The policy has the following <strong>five Missions</strong>:
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>To promote the creation of a <strong>sustainable</strong> Indian software product industry, driven by <strong>intellectual property</strong>.</li>
<li>To nurture <strong>10,000 technology startups</strong> in the software product industry, including <strong>1,000 startups</strong> in <strong>Tier II and Tier III towns</strong>.</li>
<li>To create <strong>a talent pool for software product industry</strong> through:
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>up-skilling of 10 lakh IT professionals</li>
<li>motivating one lakh school and college students,</li>
<li>and generating <strong>10,000 specialised professionals</strong> to provide <strong>leadership</strong>.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>To build a <strong>cluster-based innovation driven ecosystem</strong> by developing 20 <strong>sectoral and strategically located</strong> software product development clusters.</li>
<li><strong>A National Software Products Mission</strong> will be set up with participation from government, academia, and industry, to monitor schemes and programmes for the implementation of this policy.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>An outlay of Rs 1,500 crore</strong> is estimated to implement the programmes and schemes under the policy, over the next seven years. This amount will be divided across two funds:
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Software Product Development Fund.</strong></li>
<li><strong>Research and Innovation Fund.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3 id="15">Environment</h3>
<p>Standing Committee submits report on the status of forests in India</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The Standing Committee on Science &amp; Technology, Environment &amp; Forests submitted its report on the <strong>&lsquo;Status of Forests in India&rsquo;</strong>.</li>
<li>Key observations and recommendations of the Committee include:
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Definition of Forest:</strong> The word &lsquo;Forest&rsquo; is not defined in the Draft <strong>National Forest Draft Policy 2018</strong>. The Ministry of Environment, Forest &amp; Climate Change <strong>(MoEF)</strong> uses the definition of the term as provided by the Supreme Court. The Court defined forests to include all forests statutorily recognised under the <strong>Forest (Conservation) Act, 1980</strong>.
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>This definition did <strong>not include</strong> ecosystems which don&rsquo;t have forest-like attributes, such as <strong>wetlands</strong> or <strong>grasslands</strong>. Therefore, it recommended that MoEF come out with a <strong>comprehensive and clear definition</strong> of the term &lsquo;Forest&rsquo;.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Forest cover:</strong> There is concern about the <strong>decline in the forest cover in the north-eastern states,</strong> which constitute 65.3% of its geographical area in comparison to the national forest cover of 21.5%.
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>It recommended that the concerned state governments and MoEF take necessary steps to ensure that the decline in forest cover in these states is curbed at the earliest.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Deforestation:</strong> The budget allocation to <strong>National Afforestation Programme</strong> has been insufficient.
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>This has affected the achievement of the <strong>annual targeted</strong> area of <strong>afforestation</strong> during the last few years.</li>
<li><strong>The funding pattern</strong> for the Programme changed in 2015-16 from <strong>a 100% centrally sponsored scheme</strong> to a <strong>60-40 sharing scheme</strong> between the <strong>centre</strong> and <strong>state</strong>.</li>
<li>Therefore, the Committee recommended that the concerned state governments provide their share of the changed funding pattern to ensure the success of the Programme.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3 id="16">Petroleum and Natural Gas</h3>
<p>CCEA approves PM JI-VAN Yojana for increasing ethanol supply</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA) has approved the Pradhan Mantri JI-VAN <strong>(Jaiv Indhan - Vatavaran Anukool fasal awashesh Nivaran)</strong> Yojana.</li>
<li>Under the scheme, <strong>financial support</strong> in the form of <strong>viability gap funding (VGF)</strong> will be provided to <strong>integrated bioethanol projects</strong> which produce ethanol <strong>using dry plant biomass</strong> and other <strong>renewable feedstock</strong> like plant and algal materials.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Viability Gap Funding (VGF)</strong> means <strong>a grant to support projects</strong> that are economically justified but not financially viable.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>The scheme aims to <strong>incentivise the production</strong> of <strong>ethanol</strong> through these sources, and <strong>increase the supply of ethanol</strong>.</li>
<li>The Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas seeks <strong>to achieve 10% ethanol blending</strong> in petrol by 2022 under the <strong>Ethanol Blended Petrol (EBP) programme</strong>.</li>
<li>The ethanol produced by the <strong>scheme beneficiaries</strong> will be <strong>mandatorily supplied</strong> to oil <strong>marketing companies</strong> to increase the blending percentage.</li>
</ul>
<h3 id="17">Power</h3>
<p>Kisan Urja Suraksha evam Utthaan Mahabhiyan (KUSUM) approved</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs approved the launch of Kisan Urja Suraksha evam Utthaan Mahabhiyan (KUSUM).</li>
<li>The scheme seeks to provide <strong>financial</strong> and <strong>water security to farmers</strong>.</li>
<li>The scheme aims to <strong>add solar capacity</strong> of <strong>25,750 MW by 2022</strong>.</li>
<li>The proposed scheme consists of three components:
<ul>
<li><strong>Component-A:</strong> 10,000 MW of decentralised <strong>ground mounted</strong> grid connected renewable power plants.
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Under this component, renewable power plants of <strong>capacity 500 kW to 2 MW</strong> will be setup by individual <strong>farmers/cooperatives/panchayats/&nbsp;</strong>farmer producer <strong>organisations</strong> on their <strong>barren or cultivable lands</strong>.</li>
<li>The power generated will be <strong>purchased</strong> by the <strong>distribution companies</strong>.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Component-B:</strong> Installation of 17.5 lakh standalone solar powered agriculture pumps.
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Under this component, individual farmers will be supported to install standalone solar pumps of up to 7.5 HP capacity.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Component-C:</strong> Solarisation of <strong>10 lakh grid-connected solar powered</strong> agriculture pumps.
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Under this component, individual farmers will be supported to solarise pumps of up to 7.5 HP capacity.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3 id="18">Housing and Urban Affairs</h3>
<p>Lighthouse projects challenge launched</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Under <strong>Global Housing Technology Challenge-India (GHTC),</strong> the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs has launched a challenge for states and union territories (UTs) <strong>to select six sites across the country</strong> for the construction of <strong>lighthouse projects</strong>.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>These selected sites will be used as an <strong>'open laboratory'</strong> for live demonstration of housing technology.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>The winning states/UTs will receive <strong>central assistance</strong> to construct these lighthouse projects as per guidelines under the <strong>Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana - Urban</strong>.</li>
<li>A <strong>Technology Innovation Grant</strong> will be provided to the states/UTs <strong>to offset</strong> the impact of any <strong>additional cost</strong> implication due to the <strong>use of new technology</strong> and to provide for any other issues.</li>
</ul>
<h3 id="19">Textiles</h3>
<p>Ministry of Textiles launches scheme for development of knitting and knitwear</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The Ministry of Textiles launched a new scheme: <strong>The Development of knitting and knitwear sector.</strong></li>
<li>The main components of the scheme include:
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>creation of new service centers</strong> on Public Private Partnership <strong>(PPP)</strong> model by industry and associations in the <strong>knitting and knitwear clusters</strong>,</li>
<li><strong>modernization and upgradation</strong> of <strong>existing</strong> power loom service centres and institution run by <strong>Textile Research Associations</strong> and <strong>Export Promotion Councils Association</strong> in knitting and knitwear clusters,</li>
<li>and facilitation, awareness, studies, surveys, market development, and publicity for knitting and knitwear units.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>The knitting and knitwear sector is <strong>predominantly MSME</strong> in size and mainly located in <strong>decentralized sector</strong> and is one of the <strong>major employment generator sectors</strong>.</li>
<li>It also has a significant contribution on the exports of textiles. The knitted fabrics contribute to <strong>27% of the total fabric production</strong> in India and <strong>15% of knitted fabric is being exported</strong>.</li>
</ul>
<h3 id="20">External Affairs</h3>
<p>President of Argentina and Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia visit India</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Key agreements signed with the countries are:
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Argentina:</strong> India and Argentina signed 10 agreements in various sectors including: Defence, Tourism, Pharmaceuticals, Agriculture etc.</li>
<li><strong>Saudi Arabia:</strong> India and Saudi Arabia signed five agreements for cooperation in various fields including: Tourism, Housing, and bilateral investments.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<p>Prime Minister of India visits Republic of Korea</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The Prime Minister visited the Republic of Korea.</li>
<li>The countries signed six agreements in various areas including: Promoting collaboration among start-ups, Cooperation between law enforcement agencies, and facilitating exchange of knowledge in the field of road and transport.</li>
</ul>',
		'postdate' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenTime) {},
		'url' => 'https://www.drishtiias.com/prs-capsule/prs-capsule-february-2019'
	],
	(int) 14 => [
		'title' => 'How Does India Deal With Radicalisation?',
		'catname' => 'News Editorials',
		'desc' => '<div class="border">
<p>(This editorial is based on the article &ldquo;How Does India Deal with Radicalisation?&rdquo; which appeared in the &lsquo;&rsquo;Times of India&rsquo;&rsquo; on 9th March 2019.)</p>
</div>
<p>In the aftermath of recent terrorist attacks in Kashmir, executed by local militants owing allegiance to Jaish-e-Muhammed (JeM), debate surrounding <strong>home grown radicalisation</strong> has raised whose sources of inspiration may be abroad.</p>
<p>Recently NIA busted an Islamic State (IS) &lsquo;inspired&rsquo; module in Amroha, in conjunction with several other instances discovered earlier.</p>
<p><em><strong>A huge local population engulfed by systematic radicalisation can create a major challenge as there seems not much preparedness in this direction.</strong></em></p>
<h3>Types of Radicalisation</h3>
<p><strong>Right-Wing Extremism &ndash;</strong> It is characterized by the violent defence of a racial, ethnic or pseudo-national identity, and is also associated with radical hostility towards state authorities, minorities, immigrants and/or left-wing political groups.</p>
<p><strong>Politico-Religious Extremism</strong> <strong>&ndash;</strong> It results from political interpretation of religion and the defence, by violent means, of a religious identity perceived to be under attack (via international conflicts, foreign policy, social debates, etc.). Any religion may spawn this type of violent radicalization.</p>
<p><strong>Left-Wing Extremism</strong>&nbsp;<strong>&ndash;</strong> It focuses primarily on anti-capitalist demands and calls for the transformation of political systems considered responsible for producing social inequalities, and that may ultimately employ violent means to further its cause. It includes anarchist, maoist, Trotskyist and marxist&ndash;leninist groups that use violence to advocate for their cause.</p>
<h3>Spreading Radicalisation</h3>
<p>There are many different theories and models describing how radicalisation happens. However there is no single process in which someone becomes radicalised, and it is dependent on a number of different circumstances.</p>
<p>Extremist groups often try to recruit new young members online through the use of social media, people become radicalised because of the people they associate with, some are exposed to extremist views at home, sometimes it is completely based on one&rsquo;s understanding of events and experience.</p>
<h3>Instances of radicalisation in India</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Cases have revealed instances of internet-facilitated indoctrination and active radicalisation in multiple states.</li>
<li>Instances of Left Wing Extremism (LWE) have grown despite the continued government intervention. Encounters, ambushes and arrests still occur with regular frequency in the red corridor districts.</li>
<li>On the other end of the spectrum increased incidents of mob lynching, cow vigilantism and the string of assassinations of rationalists such as Narendra Dabholkar, Govind Pansare and Gauri Lankesh point towards rising extremism in the right wing cadres.</li>
<li>These instances signify the stark reality of the threats to internal security that stare India in the face, from both the right wing as well as the left.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Tackling Extremism</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The threat from radicalisation remains highly underestimated and understudied in India. In the absence of official Indian policy on radicalisation and de-radicalisation situation has turned even worse, aggravating the problem.</li>
<li>In order to face and counter such threats effectively and conclusively, policy addressing and trying to reverse the process of radicalisation that forces an individual or a group to idealise and act upon extremist ideas is needed.</li>
<li>The programme should focus upon the four aspects of the individual, family, religion and psychology and seeks to bring about a lasting change in the individual&rsquo;s belief system.</li>
<li>However, instead of seeing it as a rehabilitative, reformative and preventive approach it is looked with a security centric perspective severely undermining the gravity of the problem.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Challenges in Formulating a Policy</h3>
<p>Initiatives have been taken to counter the menace of growing radicalisation by state governments through their respective De-radicalisation programs; however the programs have turned out to be weak in many ways:</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Firstly, they aim only at those individuals who under goes radicalisation and does not deal with people who have not crossed the boundaries of law under the influence of the radical doctrine.</li>
<li>People or communities affected by radicalisation often belongs to marginalised and neglected section having little or no trust on law enforcement agencies, blocking any attempt at constructive dialogues with minority communities.</li>
<li>Any policy in isolation without a comprehensive policy or legal framework from the Centre makes policy weak and results in delays in intelligence gathering and swift action.</li>
<li>In the absence of a central policy or legal framework, any efforts at countering radicalisation will only be dealing with superficial aspects as radical content is primarily disseminated through the internet which requires greater cooperation from centre given the pan-Indian nature of the problem.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Way Forward</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Programme with respect to radicalisation must be based upon objectively researched conclusions based on strong evidence and not merely the subjective experience of an officer.</li>
<li>India&rsquo;s federal structure requires the Centre to develop an umbrella of legal framework aimed at facilitating, guiding and coordinating efforts of individual states to combat radicalisation therefore any such framework should not be limited to any one community or source of radicalisation.</li>
<li>The problem of radicalisation has seen an uptrend and in absence of any clear policy will continue to spread. It is important therefore to conduct meaningful research to aid the development of a framework that not only deals with de-radicalisation but also rehabilitate the misguided youth of the nation.</li>
</ul>',
		'postdate' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenTime) {},
		'url' => 'https://www.drishtiias.com/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/how-does-india-deal-with-radicalisation'
	],
	(int) 15 => [
		'title' => 'GI Website & Tutorial Video on IPR',
		'catname' => 'News Analysis',
		'desc' => '<h4>The Union Minister of Commerce and Industry has launched a tutorial video on <strong><a href="/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-international-institution/important-institutions-international-world-intellectual-property-organisation-wipo" target="_blank" rel="noopener">&ldquo;Intellectual Property Rights (IPR)&rdquo;</a> for school students and the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/potential-of-gis-is-waiting-to-be-tapped" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Geographical Indications (GI)</a> website.</strong></h4>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>I<strong>ndia is already a signatory to WTO&rsquo;s TRIPS Agreement</strong> and has enacted or amended the laws in harmony with the agreement.</li>
</ul>
<h3>GI Website</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The website <strong>showcases Indian GIs products,</strong> classified state wise as well as product category wise.</li>
<li>It includes specific and comprehensive details of geographical area, description of product, uniqueness, history, product process/ processing in addition to enlisting GI authorized users.</li>
<li>The website <strong>aims to promote creativity and motivate more of India&rsquo;s skilled artisans to apply for GI registration.</strong></li>
</ul>
<h3>Tutorial Video on IPR</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>A 20-minute tutorial video created by the Cell for IPR Promotion and Management (CIPAM), <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/dipp-renamed-as-dpiit" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT)</a></strong> in collaboration with Qualcomm <strong>deals with fundamentals of IPRs such as Patents, Copyrights and Trademarks.</strong></li>
<li>&lsquo;IP Nani&rsquo;, India&rsquo;s first IP Mascot features in the video that <strong>aims to spread awareness about the importance of IPRs amongst children.</strong></li>
<li>The tutorial video can be used in schools without any external intervention from teachers or experts and will aid in reaching a large number of schools and students, thereby overcoming issues of bandwidth and limited resources.</li>
<li>The video is available on CIPAM&rsquo;s YouTube Channel and will form part of the existing resource pool on CIPAM&rsquo;s official website www.cipam.gov.in which is freely available for public.</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Intellectual Property Rights</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>These are the rights that are given to persons/agencies for their creativity/innovations.</li>
<li><strong>The laws that govern IPRs in India are :</strong> The Copyright Act, 1957, Patents Act,1970, Trade Mark Act, 1999, The Designs Act, 2000, The Geographical Indications of Goods (Registration and Protection ) Act, 1999, The Protection of Plant Varieties and Farmers&rsquo; Rights Act, 2001 and The SemiConductor Integrated Circuits Layout Design Act, 2000.</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>IP Nani</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>IP Nani was <strong>launched by Ministry of Commerce and Industry in 2018.</strong></li>
<li>It is a tech-savvy grandmother who helps the government and enforcement agencies in combating IP crimes with the help of her grandson &ldquo;Chhotu&rdquo; aka Aditya.</li>
<li>The IP mascot will<strong> spread awareness about the importance of Intellectual Property Rights (IPRs) among people, especially children, in an interesting manner.</strong></li>
</ul>
<p><strong>WTO&rsquo;s TRIPS Agreement:</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The agreement that c<strong>ame into force from January 1, 1995 lays down minimum standards for protection and enforcement of intellectual property rights in WTO member countries</strong> with a view to reduce distortions and impediments to international trade.</li>
<li>The <strong>Agreement provides for norms and standards</strong> in respect of following areas of intellectual property: P<strong>atents, Trademarks, Copyrights, Geographical Indications, and Industrial Designs.</strong></li>
</ul>
<p><strong>Cell for IPR Promotion and Management</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The Cell for IPR Promotion and Management (CIPAM) was <strong>created in 2016</strong> <strong>under the aegis of the Department of Industrial Policy &amp; Promotion (DIPP), Ministry of Commerce &amp; Industry</strong> <strong>to take forward the implementation of the National IPR Policy.</strong></li>
<li>Since then, CIPAM is working towards creating public awareness about IPRs in the country, promoting the filing of IPRs through facilitation, providing inventors with a platform to commercialize their IP assets and coordinating the implementation of the National IPR Policy in collaboration with Government Ministries/Departments and other stakeholders.</li>
</ul>
</div>
<table border="1" style="border-collapse: collapse; width: 100%;">
<tbody>
<tr style="height: 20px;">
<td style="width: 33.3333%; text-align: center; height: 20px; background-color: #eb6e0e;"><strong>Trademark</strong></td>
<td style="width: 33.3333%; text-align: center; height: 20px; background-color: #eb6e0e;"><strong>Patent</strong></td>
<td style="width: 33.3333%; text-align: center; height: 20px; background-color: #eb6e0e;"><strong>Copyright</strong></td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 309px;">
<td style="width: 33.3333%; vertical-align: top; height: 309px; background-color: #f0bf99;">
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>A trademark is a word, phrase, symbol, and/or design that identifies and distinguishes the source of the goods of one party from those of others.</li>
<li>The term "trademark" is often used to refer to both trademarks and service marks.</li>
<li>Unlike patents and copyrights, trademarks do not expire after a set term of years. Instead, a trademark can last forever, so long as the owner continues to use the mark in commerce to indicate the source of goods and services.</li>
</ul>
</td>
<td style="width: 33.3333%; vertical-align: top; height: 309px; background-color: #f0bf99;">
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>A patent is a limited duration property right relating to an invention, granted by Trademark Office in exchange for public disclosure of the invention. Patentable materials include machines, manufactured articles, industrial processes, and chemical compositions. The duration of patent protection is 20 years in case of India.</li>
</ul>
<p></p>
</td>
<td style="width: 33.3333%; vertical-align: top; height: 309px; background-color: #f0bf99;">
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>A copyright protects works of authorship that have been tangibly expressed in a physical form.<br />Example - songs, books, movies, and works of art.</li>
</ul>
<p></p>
</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<p></p>',
		'postdate' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenTime) {},
		'url' => 'https://www.drishtiias.com/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/gi-website-and-tutorial-video-on-ipr'
	],
	(int) 16 => [
		'title' => 'Exclude Tree Cover from Forest Surveys',
		'catname' => 'News Analysis',
		'desc' => '<p>A high-power committee of Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC) recommended that <strong>Forest Surveys should explicitly demarcate trees grown in forests from those grown outside, that is, in plantations and private lands.</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The government also includes substantial patches of trees outside areas designated as forests, such as plantations or Greenlands, in its assessment.</li>
<li><strong>Forest Surveys(the biennial exercise by the government to estimate forest cover)&nbsp;</strong>count both plantations and private lands towards estimating the portion of India&rsquo;s geographical area covered by forest.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Including both is not ecologically sound.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>Getting India to have at least 33% of its area under forest is a long-standing goal of the government since 1988.</li>
<li>Various editions of the SFR have over the years reported the area under forests as hovering around 21%.</li>
</ul>
<h3>India State of Forest Report (SFR) 2017</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>A marginal 0.21% rise in the area under forest between 2015 and 2017.</li>
<li>India has about 7,08,273 sq. km. of forest(include Tree cover), which is 21.53% of the geographic area of the country (32,87,569 sq. km.).</li>
<li>The total tree cover, according to this assessment, was 93,815 sq. km. or a 2% rise from approximately 92,500 sq. km. in 2015.</li>
<li>Tree Cover improved from 2.82%(2015) to 2.95%(2017) of India&rsquo;s geographic area.</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Forest Survey of India (FSI)</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Forest Survey of India (FSI), is a<strong> premier national organization under the Union Ministry of Environment and Forests,</strong> <strong>responsible for assessment and monitoring of the forest resources</strong> of the country regularly.</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>Tree Cover &amp; Forest Cover </strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The Ministry of Environment, Forest &amp; Climate Change defines
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>&lsquo;Forest cover&rsquo; in India as &ldquo;<strong>all lands, more than one hectare in area with a tree canopy density of more than 10%</strong>&rdquo;.</li>
<li>&lsquo;Tree cover&rsquo; is defined as &ldquo;<strong>tree patches outside recorded forest areas exclusive of forest cover</strong> and less than the minimum mappable area of one hectare&rdquo;.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</div>',
		'postdate' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenTime) {},
		'url' => 'https://www.drishtiias.com/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/exclude-tree-cover-from-forest-surveys'
	],
	(int) 17 => [
		'title' => 'Andaman and Nicobar Command (ANC)',
		'catname' => 'Lok Sabha & Rajya Sabha Discussions',
		'desc' => '<p style="text-align: center;"><iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/RidOBIbsCR8" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe></p>
<p>Government of India has commissioned a full-fledged naval base INS Kohassa in the north Andaman Island. According to media reports, the government has also made a 10-year-long &ldquo;roll on&rdquo; plan to create facilities for additional troops, warships, aircraft and drones on Andaman and Nicobar Islands, thus strengthening the existing military facilities.</p>
<h3>Strategic Importance of Andaman and Nicobar Islands</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Importance due to its location in Indian Ocean Region (IOR):</strong>
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>One-Fourth of total world population and one-third of littoral states of the world are located around IOR.</li>
<li>Large volume of the World&rsquo;s trade, particularly oil and gas passes through this ocean.</li>
<li>Islands provide for 30% of India&rsquo;s total Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ).</li>
<li>Due to presence of islands in Indian Ocean, India is part of many maritime regional groupings.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Part of Trade Route:</strong> The ten degree channel (that separates the Andaman Islands and Nicobar Islands from each other in the Bay of Bengal) through which majority of trade passes from South China Sea and Pacific to Indian Ocean is between North and South Nicobar Islands.</li>
<li><strong>Buffer Zone:</strong> Andaman and Nicobar Islands act as a buffer zone between India and rest of the nations present in Indian Ocean Region (IOR).</li>
<li><strong>Strategic Outpost:</strong> Through these islands, India is able to defend its vital stakes in IOR. ANC has been set up for this reason only.</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Drishti Input</strong></p>
<p><strong>Andaman and Nicobar Command (ANC)</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>It is the first and only Tri-Service theatre command of the Indian Armed Forces, based at Port Blair in Andaman and Nicobar Islands of India.</li>
<li>It was created in 2001 to safeguard India's strategic interests in Southeast Asia and the Strait of Malacca by increasing rapid deployment of military assets in the islands.</li>
<li>It is commanded by a three star officer from Navy, under whom officers and men from all three services (Navy, Air Force, Army) work.</li>
<li>It conducts bi-annual coordinated patrols (CORPATs) with the navies of Thailand and Indonesia, the annual SIMBEX maritime exercise with Singapore, and the biennial Milan multilateral naval exercise.</li>
<li>It also patrols India's exclusive economic zone to suppress gun running, narcotics smuggling, piracy, and poaching, and conducts maritime surveillance, humanitarian assistance and disaster relief (HADR).</li>
<li>Vice Admiral Bimal Verma is its current Commander-in-Chief.</li>
</ul>
</div>
<h3>Concerns</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Islands are far from Indian mainland</strong> but are comparatively closer to places in Thailand, Indonesia and Myanmar. Indira Point, the southernmost tip of the great Nicobar Island is just 215 Km away from Banda Aceh on Sumatra Island.</li>
<li><strong>Sensitive ecology</strong> that surrounds islands.</li>
<li>Any sort of disturbance in IOR will directly affect India as the region falls in its backyard.</li>
<li>Many countries in neighbourhood consider India as a benign and benevolent power. Power Projection at islands will change this perception of India.</li>
<li><strong>Presence of Chinese submarines</strong> in Indian Ocean.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Way Forward</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>India continuously needs to collect lot of information on maritime domain to keep tab on activities that are going on in Indian Ocean.</li>
<li>Presence of all the three forces at the islands is required to avoid any possible war in future.</li>
<li>To defend islands from outside forces, four full-fledged air fields for surveillance are needed at Islands. India has only two, one at Port Blair and other at Car Nicobar.</li>
<li>Besides air fields, other things like Anti Access Area Denial Complex, sea bed sensors, land based missiles etc. are needed to physically defend against any attack.</li>
<li>ANC needs to be developed not only as Armed Forces strategic outpost but also as a business model. Once islands turn into commercial hub, countries in neighbourhood will perceive military deployment at islands as a protection force for economic assets established on the islands.</li>
<li>There is tremendous potential for fisheries, seabed mining, and tourism at the islands. India needs to exploit that to generate funds and provide employment opportunities to people.</li>
<li>While developing islands, India needs to ensure that ecology of the place remains preserved.</li>
</ul>
<p><em>Andaman and Nicobar Islands are not only strategically located but also strategically significant for India. Therefore, civil as well as military infrastructure development is required at the islands.</em></p>',
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	],
	(int) 18 => [
		'title' => 'National Supercomputer Mission',
		'catname' => 'Paper 3',
		'desc' => '<h3>Why in News?</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>India recently awarded French technology firm <strong>Atos</strong> the contract to build a network of 70 supercomputers across India under the <strong>National Supercomputing Mission</strong>.</li>
<li>The first supercomputer designed and built under National Supercomputing Mission (NSM) by C-DAC at Indian Institute of Technology (BHU), Varanasi is named <strong>&ldquo;Param Shivay&rdquo;</strong>. It uses more than one lakh twenty thousand compute cores (CPU + GPU cores) to offer a peak computing power of <strong>833 TeraFlops</strong>.</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p>A teraflop is a measure of a computer's speed equivalent to a trillion floating point operations per second. <strong>It is a measure of the processing speed of computer</strong>.</p>
</div>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The <strong>Indian Institute of Technology, Kharagpur</strong> is the first academic institution to get a supercomputing facility under the National Supercomputing Mission (NSM). Others will be set up in <strong>IIT BHU</strong> and <strong>IIITM Pune</strong>. While IIT BHU will get a one Petaflop supercomputer, the other two institutes will have 650 Teraflops each.</li>
<li>This will provide large computational support to users to carry out both research and teaching activities that involve state-of-the-art <strong>High Performance Computing (HPC)</strong> at an estimated cost of Rs. 4500 crore over a period of seven years.</li>
</ul>
<h3>About The Mission</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The mission will nationally coordinate collaborative programme involving developers and users of supercomputing systems as well as academic and research institutions.</li>
<li>It looks to facilitate effective governance and monitoring mechanisms to build culture of supercomputing for solving complex R&amp;D problems and designing solutions addressing various country specific requirements for scientific, strategic and societal applications.</li>
<li>The Mission envisages empowering our national academic and R&amp;D institutions spread over the country by installing a vast supercomputing grid comprising of more than 70 high-performance computing facilities.</li>
<li>These supercomputers will also be networked on the National Supercomputing grid over the <strong>National Knowledge Network (NKN)</strong>.</li>
<li>The NKN is a central government initiative which connects academic institutions and R&amp;D labs over a high speed network.</li>
<li>Under NSM, the long-term plan is to build a strong base of 20,000 skilled persons. <strong>PARAM Shavak</strong> is one such machine that has been deployed to provide training.</li>
<li>The mission will be implemented by the Department of Science and Technology (Ministry of Science and Technology) and Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY), through the <strong>Centre for Development of Advanced Computing (C-DAC)</strong> and <strong>Indian Institute of Science (IISc), Bengaluru</strong>.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Introduction to NSM</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The first phase of the NSM is focused on assembling the supercomputers; the build element will be part of the second phase.</li>
<li>As per the initial plan, while some components would be imported, some like server-board assemblies, cooling solutions, power supply and storage systems would be manufactured in India with an aim to make 50% of the components locally over time.</li>
<li>The Centre for Development of Advanced Computing (C-DAC) is evaluating the technical bids by firms such as Acer, Fujitsu, IBM, HCL, TCS, Dell and Netweb and the contract is likely to be awarded soon.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Objective</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>To make India one of the world leaders in Supercomputing and to enhance India&rsquo;s capability in solving grand challenge problems of national and global relevance.</li>
<li>To empower our scientists and researchers with state-of-the-art supercomputing facilities and enable them to carry out cutting-edge research in their respective domains.</li>
<li>The Mission also includes development of <strong>High Performance Computing (HPC)</strong> aware human resource for meeting challenges of development of these applications.</li>
<li>To minimize redundancies and duplication of efforts, and optimize investments in supercomputing.</li>
<li>To attain global competitiveness and ensure self-reliance in the strategic area of supercomputing technology.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Application Areas</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Climate Modelling.</li>
<li>Weather Prediction.</li>
<li>Aerospace Engineering including CFD, CSM, CEM.</li>
<li>Computational Biology.</li>
<li>Molecular Dynamics.</li>
<li>Atomic Energy Simulations.</li>
<li>National Security/Defence Applications.</li>
<li>Seismic Analysis.</li>
<li>Disaster Simulations and Management.</li>
<li>Computational Chemistry.</li>
<li>Computational Material Science and Nanomaterials.</li>
<li>Discoveries beyond Earth (Astrophysics).</li>
<li>Large Complex Systems Simulations and Cyber Physical Systems.</li>
<li>Big Data Analytics.</li>
<li>Finance.</li>
<li>Information repositories/Government Information Systems.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Supercomputers in India</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>India's supercomputer program was started in <strong>late 1980s because Cray supercomputers</strong> could not be imported into India due to an <strong>arms embargo imposed on India,</strong> as it was a dual-use technology and could be used for developing nuclear weapons.</li>
<li>This led to setting up the <strong>Centre for Development of Advanced Computing (C-DAC) in March 1988</strong> with the clear mandate to develop an indigenous supercomputer to meet high-speed computational needs.</li>
<li><strong>PARAM 8000</strong>, considered to be India&rsquo;s first supercomputer was <strong>indigenously built in 1991</strong> by the Centre for Development of Advanced Computing (C-DAC).</li>
<li>Presently, <strong>Pratyush, a Cray XC40 system -</strong> an array of computers that can deliver a <strong>peak power of 6.8 petaflops,</strong> installed at the <strong>Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology (IITM), Pune,</strong> is the fastest supercomputer in India. Launched in January 2018, it is the <strong>fourth fastest High Performance Computer (HPC) dedicated to climate modelling in the world</strong>.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Global Rankings</h3>
<p>India has its 5 supercomputers in the <strong>TOP500 List</strong> - June 2018 (released twice-yearly), of the world&rsquo;s most powerful supercomputers</p>
<table border="1" style="height: 127px; border-collapse: collapse; background-color: #ebebeb;">
<tbody>
<tr style="height: 51px;">
<td style="width: 141px; height: 51px; vertical-align: top;">39<sup>th</sup> RANK</td>
<td style="width: 475px; height: 51px; vertical-align: top;">Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology<br />India</td>
<td style="width: 514px; height: 51px; vertical-align: top;">
<p><strong>Pratyush -</strong> Cray XC40, Xeon E5-2695v4 18C 2.1GHz, Aries interconnect<br />Cray Inc.</p>
</td>
<td style="width: 126px; height: 51px; vertical-align: top;">
<p>4,006.2<br />TFlop/s</p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 19px;">
<td style="width: 141px; height: 19px; vertical-align: top;">66<sup>th</sup> RANK</td>
<td style="width: 475px; height: 19px; vertical-align: top;">National Centre for Medium Range Weather Forecasting<br />India</td>
<td style="width: 514px; height: 19px; vertical-align: top;"><strong>Mihir -</strong> Cray XC40, Xeon E5-2695v4 18C 2.1GHz, Aries interconnect<br />Cray Inc.</td>
<td style="width: 126px; height: 19px; vertical-align: top;">
<p>2,808.7<br />TFlop/s</p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 19px;">
<td style="width: 141px; height: 19px; vertical-align: top;">206<sup>th</sup> RANK</td>
<td style="width: 475px; height: 19px; vertical-align: top;">
<p>Software Company (M)<br />India</p>
</td>
<td style="width: 514px; height: 19px; vertical-align: top;">
<p><strong>InC1 -</strong> Lenovo C1040, Xeon E5-2673v4 20C 2.3GHz, 40G Ethernet<br />Lenovo</p>
</td>
<td style="width: 126px; height: 19px; vertical-align: top;">
<p>1,413.1<br />TFlop/s</p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 19px;">
<td style="width: 141px; height: 19px; vertical-align: top;">327<sup>th</sup> RANK</td>
<td style="width: 475px; height: 19px; vertical-align: top;">
<p>Supercomputer Education and Research Centre (SERC), Indian Institute of Science<br />India</p>
</td>
<td style="width: 514px; height: 19px; vertical-align: top;">
<p><strong>SERC -</strong> Cray XC40, Xeon E5-2680v3 12C 2.5GHz, Aries interconnect<br />Cray Inc.</p>
</td>
<td style="width: 126px; height: 19px; vertical-align: top;">
<p>1,244.2<br />TFlop/s</p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 19px;">
<td style="width: 141px; height: 19px; vertical-align: top;">496<sup>th</sup> RANK</td>
<td style="width: 475px; height: 19px; vertical-align: top;">
<p>Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology<br />India</p>
</td>
<td style="width: 514px; height: 19px; vertical-align: top;">
<p><strong>iDataPlex</strong> DX360M4, Xeon E5-2670 8C 2.600GHz, Infiniband FDR<br />IBM</p>
</td>
<td style="width: 126px; height: 19px; vertical-align: top;">
<p>790.7<br />TFlop/s</p>
</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<p><br />The <em>fastest</em> computer of the world is in the USA called - <strong>SUMMIT</strong></p>
<table border="1" style="border-collapse: collapse; background-color: #ebebeb;">
<tbody>
<tr>
<td style="width: 95px;">1<sup>st</sup> RANK</td>
<td style="width: 290px;">
<p>DOE/SC/Oak Ridge National Laboratory<br />United States</p>
</td>
<td style="width: 414px;">
<p><strong>Summit -</strong> IBM Power System AC922, IBM POWER9 22C 3.07GHz, NVIDIA Volta GV100, Dual-rail Mellanox EDR Infiniband<br />IBM</p>
</td>
<td style="width: 95px;">
<p>187,659.3<br />TFlop/s</p>
</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<h3><br />Benefits</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>This mission will bring India, a step closer, to be in the select league of few top nations (USA, China, Japan, etc.), having a large supercomputing power and improve its presence in the world of supercomputers.</li>
<li>It supports the government's vision of <strong>'Digital India'</strong> and <strong>'Make in India'</strong> initiatives.</li>
<li>India&rsquo;s large Scientific &amp; Technology community will have access to SUPERCOMPUTING POWER necessary for developing applications in <strong>Artificial Intelligence, Big Data, Cyber security,</strong> etc.</li>
<li>These machines will be part of the National Supercomputing grid over the <strong>National Knowledge Network (NKN),</strong> which will have wide-scale applications in the fields of climate modelling, weather prediction, aerospace engineering, computational biology, molecular dynamics, atomic energy simulations, national security and defence applications.</li>
<li>NSM will improve the R&amp;D ecosystem of Science &amp; Technology within the country by satisfying the infrastructure need of the R&amp;D sector. It will increase foreign investment (FDI) in India in the R&amp;D (services) sector by attracting foreign research companies to invest in India, especially in Pharmaceutical sector.</li>
<li>Under NSM, the long-term plan is to build a strong base of 20,000 skilled persons who will be equipped to handle the complexities of supercomputers. They will be trained over the next five years and will become one of the largest ever dedicated human resource bases equipped to use these mighty computers.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Challenges</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Multiple Agencies Involved:</strong> There had been a number of delays over the past three years, largely because the project still doesn&rsquo;t have one dedicated person heading it. The NSM is to be jointly implemented by the Department of Science and Technology (DST) and Department of Electronics and Information Technology (DeitY) at an estimated cost of Rs 4,500 crore over a period of seven years. (2015-2022).</li>
<li><strong>Funding:</strong> Despite launching its supercomputer program in late 1980s, public awareness and interest has remained lukewarm, resulting in little funding in Research and development.</li>
<li><strong>Import Dependent:</strong> India&rsquo;s stronghold is in the field of software development, it has to depend on imports to procure the hardware components required for building supercomputers, and this is a drain on the resources.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Way Forward</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>High-performance computing is important if India wants to make significant progress in areas like weather forecasting, drug discovery, astrophysics and bioinformatics.</li>
<li>Favourable environment and funding in the field of science and technology will not only cut down India&rsquo;s dependence on foreign imports but will also bolster its goal of Make in India.</li>
<li>Developing indigenous facilities will ensure that applications are tailored to address problems that are specific to India.</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/512Drishti_ias_National-Supercomputer-Mission.png" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/512Drishti_ias_National-Supercomputer-Mission.png" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" /></a></p>',
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	],
	(int) 19 => [
		'title' => 'Important Fact For Prelims (8th March 2019)',
		'catname' => 'News Analysis',
		'desc' => '<h3>I-STEM</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The web portal <strong>&ldquo;Indian Science, Technology and Engineering Facilities Map (I-STEM)&rdquo;</strong> has been developed by the <strong>Centre for Nano Science and Engineering (CeNSE)</strong> at the <strong>Indian Institute of Science, Bengaluru.</strong></li>
<li>I-STEM portal will enable <strong>easy and timely access of resources</strong> to researchers working anywhere in the country.</li>
<li>The portal is funded by <strong>Office of Principal Scientific Advisor to the Prime Minister Office</strong> also gives access to monitoring agencies including the Department of Science and Technology to evaluate how much the equipment funded by them are being used.</li>
<li>In the future, private laboratories and universities will also be included in the database, which could also benefit start-ups.</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Prime Minister&rsquo;s Science, Technology and Innovation Advisory Council (PM-STIAC)</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The <strong>PM-STIAC (Science, Technology, Innovation Advisory Committee), was constituted in August, 2018</strong> to advise the Prime Minister on all matters related to S&amp;T, innovation and monitor the implementation as well.</li>
<li>It is a<strong> 21-member committee, chaired by Principal Scientific Advisor (PSA) to the Government, presently K Vijay Raghavan.</strong>
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Dr. A. P. J. Abdul Kalam</strong> was the first <strong>PSA from 1999&mdash;2001 and Dr. R. Chidambaram from 2001-2018. </strong></li>
<li>Professor K. VijayRaghavan succeeded Dr. Chidambaram on April 3, 2018.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>PM-STIAC replaced the Scientific Advisory Committee (SAC) to PM and Cabinet.</strong></li>
</ul>
</div>
<h3>GI Tag for Erode Turmeric</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The Geographical Indication Registry of India has granted<strong> GI Tag to Erode manjal (Turmeric) under Spices Category (Class 30 of GI Classification).</strong></li>
<li>Erode Turmeric has been granted tag because of its <strong>uniqueness in terms of its size, color, quality and its resistance to pests after boiling.</strong></li>
<li>With the GI Tag, turmeric cultivated in some districts of Erode, parts of Coimbatore and whole of Tirupur (Tamil Nadu) will be recognised for its unique qualities derived from its place of origin.</li>
<li>Erode turmeric is a<strong> rhizome, both finger and bulb obtained from the Erode local cultivar.</strong> It is grown in <strong>hot moist conditions with temperature ranging from 20 degrees to 37.9 degrees Celsius</strong> with an average of 600 to 800 mm rainfall in a year.</li>
<li>It is a commercial spice crop which is sown in the months of June-July and is harvested in the months from January to March.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Renewable Status For Large Hydro Power Projects</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The government, under <strong>New Hydroelectricity Policy,</strong> has approved &lsquo;renewable energy status&rsquo; for large hydel projects. <strong>Earlier, only smaller projects of less than 25 MW</strong> in capacity were <strong>categorised as renewable energy. </strong></li>
<li>Large hydro projects will now be included as a separate category <strong>under the non-solar renewable purchase obligation policy,&nbsp;</strong>mandating power purchasers to source a portion of electricity from such projects.</li>
<li>The debt repayment period for hydro projects has been increased to 18 years from current 12 years with the provision to introduce an escalating tariff of 2%.</li>
<li>The policy also provides for additional funds separately for infrastructure development as well as separate funds for the costs of flood moderation.</li>
<li>These measures have been taken to<strong> reduce hydro power tariff</strong> and make the sector more competitive.</li>
<li>According to the government, India has a hydro-power potential of 1,45,320 MW, of which only about 45,400 MW has been utilised so far. Only about 10,000 MW of hydro-power has been added in the last 10 years.</li>
<li>Also, the share of hydro-power in the total generation capacity has declined from 50.36% in the 1960s to around 13% in 2018-19.</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Renewable Purchase Obligation&nbsp;</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Renewable Purchase Obligation refers to the <strong>obligation imposed by law</strong> on some entities to either buy electricity generated by specified &lsquo;green&rsquo; sources, or buy, in lieu of that, <strong>&lsquo;renewable energy certificates (RECs)&rsquo;</strong> from the market.</li>
<li>The &lsquo;obligated entities&rsquo; are mostly electricity distribution companies and large consumers of power. RECs are issued to companies that produce green power, who opt not to sell it at a preferable tariff to distribution companies.</li>
</ul>
</div>
<h3>Rebate on Embedded taxes for Garments Exports</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The Union Cabinet has approved a scheme to <strong>rebate State and Central Embedded Taxes</strong> for <strong>apparels</strong> and <strong>made-ups exports.</strong></li>
<li><strong>At present</strong>, apparel and made-ups segments are supported under the <strong>Scheme for Rebate of State Levies (RoSL).</strong></li>
<li>However, certain State, as well as Central Taxes, continued to be present in the cost of exports. Cabinet decision provides for a scheme to rebate all embedded State and Central Taxes/levies for apparel and made-ups which have a combined share of around 56% in India&rsquo;s textile export basket.</li>
<li>It is applicable for apparel and made-ups now and will be extended to yarn in the future.</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>Benefits</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The proposed measures are expected to <strong>make the textile sector competitive.</strong></li>
<li>Rebate of all Embedded State and Central taxes/levies for apparel and made-ups segments<strong> would make exports zero-rated, thereby boosting India&rsquo;s competitiveness in export markets</strong> and ensure equitable and inclusive growth of textile and apparel sector.</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>RoSL</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>It is to <strong>offset indirect taxes levied by states such as stamp duty, petroleum tax, electricity duty and mandi tax</strong> that were <strong>embedded in exports</strong>,</li>
<li>It is provided to<strong> textiles exporters.</strong></li>
</ul>
<p><strong>Made-ups</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>These are articles manufactured or stitched from any type of cloth, other than a garment such as bed-sheets, cushion covers, lamp-shades etc.</li>
</ul>
</div>
<h3>Divestment of CPSEs</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The Union Cabinet has decided to authorize the <strong>Finance Minister-led Alternative Mechanism (AM)</strong> to decide on strategic disinvestments.</li>
<li>Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA) has <strong>empowered the AM &mdash; set up in 2017</strong> to look into the strategic sale of Central Public Sector Enterprises (CPSEs).</li>
<li>AM has to decide on:
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The <strong>quantum of shares to be transacted,</strong></li>
<li>The mode of sale and the final pricing of the transaction, or lay down the principles/guidelines for such pricing,</li>
<li>Selection of strategic partner/buyer, and the terms and conditions of sale,</li>
<li>It can also decide on the timing of the sale and any other related issue regarding the transaction.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Disinvestment</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Disinvestment <strong>means selling of assets.</strong> In the case of Public Sector Undertakings, disinvestment means Government selling/ diluting its stake (share) in PSUs in which it has a majority holding.</li>
<li>Disinvestment is <strong>carried out as a budgetary exercise,</strong> under which the government announces yearly targets for disinvestment for selected PSUs.</li>
</ul>
</div>',
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		'articles__updatedby' => 'integer',
		'articles.updatedby' => 'integer',
		'updatedby' => 'integer',
		'articles__added' => 'timestamp',
		'articles.added' => 'timestamp',
		'added' => 'timestamp',
		'articles__modified' => 'timestamp',
		'articles.modified' => 'timestamp',
		'modified' => 'timestamp',
		'articles__whatsnewid' => 'integer',
		'articles.whatsnewid' => 'integer',
		'whatsnewid' => 'integer',
		'articles__display_printpdf' => 'integer',
		'articles.display_printpdf' => 'integer',
		'display_printpdf' => 'integer',
		'articles__display_comments' => 'integer',
		'articles.display_comments' => 'integer',
		'display_comments' => 'integer',
		'articles__pdf_name' => 'string',
		'articles.pdf_name' => 'string',
		'pdf_name' => 'string',
		'articles__display_archive' => 'integer',
		'articles.display_archive' => 'integer',
		'display_archive' => 'integer'
	],
	'decorators' => (int) 0,
	'executed' => false,
	'hydrate' => true,
	'buffered' => true,
	'formatters' => (int) 0,
	'mapReducers' => (int) 0,
	'contain' => [],
	'matching' => [],
	'extraOptions' => [],
	'repository' => object(App\Model\Table\ArticlesTable) {}

}
$page = (int) 238
$search = 'class'
$totalPages = (float) 303
$title = 'Search'
$lastyear = (int) 2018
$year = '2021'
$i = (int) 2017
$selected = ''
$m = (int) 13
$month = 'December'

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

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