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Search list matched with tags “class”

WTO Ministerial Meeting of Developing Countries

India will host a WTO ministerial meeting of developing countries in New Delhi on May 13 & 14, 2019. Key highlights The meeting is a run up...

11 May 2019 News Analysis
SC Upholds Karnataka Law Granting Reservation In Promotion For SC-ST

The Supreme Court has upheld the constitutional validity of the Karnataka Extension of Consequential Seniority to Government Servants Promoted on the...

11 May 2019 News Analysis
Cyclone Fani Creates Four New Mouths in Chilika Lake

The recent ‘Cyclone Fani’ which hit the eastern coast of India, has created four new mouths in Chilika Lake. Key points Before Fani...

11 May 2019 News Analysis
White-Throated Rail

The white-throated rail (Dryolimnas cuvieri) or Cuvier's rail is a species of bird in the family Rallidae. It is found in Comoros, Madagascar,...

11 May 2019 News Analysis
Important Facts For Prelims (11th May 2019)

Thirty Meter Telescope (TMT) Thirty Meter Telescope is a new class of extremely large telescopes that will allow us to see deeper into space and...

11 May 2019 News Analysis
The Big Picture – UN Security Council Reforms

The French envoy to the UN has recently said that India and nations like Germany, Brazil and Japan are “absolutely needed” as permanent...

11 May 2019 Lok Sabha & Rajya Sabha Discussions
Mission Shakti, ASAT and India

This editorial is based on the article “ASAT test: How India shifted gears to match changing geopolitical realities in space with Mission...

10 May 2019 News Editorials
BRS Conventions COP Meet in Geneva

The “Triple COPs” meeting is taking place in Geneva, Switzerland from April 29th to May 10th, 2019. Basel Convention...

10 May 2019 News Analysis
Pesticide Ban

California is banning a widely used pesticide that has been linked to brain damage in children. The state ban on Chlorpyrifos, a pesticide used on...

10 May 2019 News Analysis
Important Facts For Prelims (10th May 2019)

Barn Owl Campaign in Lakshadweep The Union Territory of Lakshadweep has recruited three pairs of barn owls from Kerala to hunt down rats...

10 May 2019 News Analysis
Supreme Court’s Strength

Recently, the Supreme Court Collegium recommended the names of four judges separately, to be elevated to the Supreme Court, out of which the...

10 May 2019 News Analysis
Group Sail Naval Drill

Recently, warships from India, the US, Japan and the Philippines conducted a six-day naval drill ‘Group Sail’ in the contentious South...

10 May 2019 News Analysis
Issues Related To Credit Rating Agencies In India

This editorial is based on the article “Singed by downgrades, NBFCs want rating agencies reined in” which appeared in 'The Hindu...

09 May 2019 News Editorials
Cities are turning into 'Lightening Magnets'

Scientists believe that as the world gets warmer and more polluted, the frequency and intensity of lightning may rise. Estimates suggest that...

09 May 2019 News Analysis
Rush for Rare Earths

Why in News? The Union Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEF&CC) agreed to a request by the Ministry of Mines (MoM), seeking...

09 May 2019 News Analysis
Important Facts For Prelims (9th May 2019)

Pattachitra Painting Cyclon Fani has damaged many pieces of Pattachitra paintings. Pattachitra style of painting is one of the oldest and most...

09 May 2019 News Analysis
WHO for Eliminating Industrially Produced Trans Fats by 2023

The World Health Organisation (WHO) is working with the International Food and Beverage Alliance (IFBA) to eliminate trans fat from industrially...

09 May 2019 News Analysis
Need to set up State Finance Commission

The 15th Finance Commission (headed by N K Singh) recently held a detailed meeting with RBI. Key issues that were discussed Continuity of the...

09 May 2019 News Analysis
In Depth: Basmati – Farming for all

The Delhi High Court has set aside the Central Government’s decision to restrict the production of Basmati rice to certain regions in the...

09 May 2019 Lok Sabha & Rajya Sabha Discussions
India-US Trade

India and the US agreed to deepen economic cooperation and resolve outstanding issues through regular official engagements in a recent meeting...

08 May 2019 News Analysis

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			'title' => ' WTO Ministerial Meeting of Developing Countries',
			'catname' => 'News Analysis',
			'desc' => '<p>India will host a <strong>WTO ministerial meeting of developing countries</strong> in <strong>New Delhi</strong> on May 13 &amp; 14, 2019.</p>
<h3>Key highlights</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The meeting is a run up to the <strong>twelfth Ministerial Conference of the WTO to be held in Kazakhstan in 2020.</strong></li>
<li>The meeting is an effort to bring together the developing countries and the Least Developed Countries on a platform for sharing <strong>common concerns on various issues affecting the WTO</strong> and to address the following <strong>issues:</strong>
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>WTO&rsquo;s appellate body</strong> has <strong>shrunk over the last two years from its required strength of seven members to three</strong>.</li>
<li>At present, <strong>the appellate body takes a year to hear appeals</strong>, whereas the time to dispose off the appeals is 90 days.</li>
<li><strong>Special and differential treatment of developing countries</strong> in the WTO is a concern for some other countries.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>The<strong> increased unilateral measures </strong>and<strong> counter-measures</strong> by member countries, as well as <strong>deadlock in key areas</strong> of negotiations and the <strong>impasse in the WTO's appellate body</strong> has given rise to demands to<strong> reform</strong> the organization.</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>The World Trade Organization (WTO)</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>It is the <strong>only global international organization dealing with the rules of trade between nations</strong>.</li>
<li>It came into existence on January 1, 1995 and has its <strong>headquarters in Geneva, Switzerland</strong>.</li>
<li>All major decisions are made by the WTO's member governments, either by ministers (who usually meet at least every two years) or by their ambassadors or delegates (who meet regularly in Geneva).</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>Special and Differential Treatment provisions</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The WTO Agreements contain special provisions which <strong>give developing countries special rights</strong> and developed countries the possibility to treat developing countries more favourably than other WTO Members.</li>
<li>The special provisions include:
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>longer time periods for implementing Agreements and commitments</li>
<li>measures to increase trading opportunities for developing countries</li>
<li>provisions requiring all WTO members to safeguard the trade interests of developing countries</li>
<li>support to help developing countries build the capacity to carry out WTO work, handle disputes, and implement technical standards</li>
<li>provisions related to least-developed country (LDC) members</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</div>',
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		(int) 1 => [
			'title' => 'SC Upholds Karnataka Law Granting Reservation In Promotion For SC-ST',
			'catname' => 'News Analysis',
			'desc' => '<p>The Supreme Court has upheld the constitutional validity of the <strong>Karnataka Extension of Consequential Seniority to Government Servants Promoted on the Basis of Reservation (to the Posts in the Civil Services of the State) Act 2018.</strong></p>
<h3>Background of this Judgement</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>In <strong>Indra Sawhney vs Union of India</strong>, the Supreme Court had held that reservations under <strong>Article 16(4)</strong> could only be provided at the time of entry into government service but not in matters of promotion.</li>
<li>In 1995, Parliament, acting in its constituent capacity, adopted the 77<sup>th</sup> amendment by which clause (4A) was inserted into Article 16 to enable reservation to be made in promotion for SCs and STs.</li>
<li>The validity of the 77<sup>th</sup> and 85<sup>th</sup> amendments to the Constitution and of the legislation enacted in pursuance of those amendments was challenged before the Supreme Court in the <strong>Nagaraj case</strong>. The SC upheld the constitutional validity of these amendments and ruled that:
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>If the state &ldquo;wished to exercise their discretion and make provision (for reservation in promotions for SCs/STs), the <strong>State has to collect quantifiable data showing backwardness</strong> of the class and inadequacy of representation and compliance to Article 335&rdquo;.</li>
<li>It will have to see that its reservation provision does not breach the <strong>ceiling-limit of 50%</strong>.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>The <strong>Karnataka Determination of Seniority of the Government Servants Promoted on the Basis of the Reservation Act 2002</strong> was held to be unconstitutional <strong>[in BK Pavitra CASE]</strong> on the ground that an exercise for determining 'inadequacy of representation', 'backwardness' and the impact on 'overall efficiency' had not preceded the enactment of the law.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Why this is Significant</h3>
<p>This Supreme Court order is significant because it underlines &ldquo;a <strong>&lsquo;meritorious&rsquo; candidate</strong> is not merely one who is &lsquo;talented &lsquo;or &lsquo;successful&rsquo; but also one <strong>whose appointment fulfils the constitutional goals of uplifting members of the SCs and STs</strong> and ensuring a diverse and representative administration&rdquo;.</p>
<h3>Basis for the Judgement</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The providing of reservation for SCs and STs is <strong>not at odds with the principle of meritocracy</strong>. Merit must not be limited to narrow and inflexible criteria such as one&rsquo;s rank in a standardised exam, but rather must flow from the actions a society seeks to reward, including the promotion of equality in society and diversity in public administration.</li>
<li><strong>Article 335</strong> recognises that special measures need to be adopted for considering the claims of SCs and STs in order to bring them to a level-playing field. Centuries of discrimination and prejudice suffered by the SCs and STs in a feudal, caste-oriented societal structure poses real barriers of access to opportunity.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Judges Verdict on Efficiency</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Efficiency of administration</strong> in the affairs of the Union or of a State <strong>must be defined in an inclusive sense</strong>, where diverse segments of society find representation as a true aspiration of governance by and for the people.</li>
<li>The <strong>Constitution mandates realisation of substantive equality</strong> in the engagement of the fundamental rights with the directive principles, inclusion, together with the <strong>recognition of the plurality and diversity of the nation</strong> constitutes a valid constitutional basis for defining efficiency.</li>
<li>If efficiency is grounded in exclusion, it will produce a pattern of governance which is skewed against the marginalised.</li>
</ul>',
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		(int) 2 => [
			'title' => 'Cyclone Fani Creates Four New Mouths in Chilika Lake',
			'catname' => 'News Analysis',
			'desc' => '<p>The recent &lsquo;Cyclone Fani&rsquo; which hit the eastern coast of India, has created four new mouths in Chilika Lake.</p>
<h3>Key points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Before Fani hit the Odisha coast, <strong>Chilika lake had only two active mouths - the point where it meets the sea.</strong> But, now four new mouths have opened due to wave energy with high tidal prism.</li>
<li>With the opening of new mouths, a lot of sea water is entering Chilika Lake and, thereby increasing salinity of Chilika lagoon.</li>
<li>Chilika lake has a brackish water (mixture of saline and fresh water), however increasing salinity may alter Chilika&rsquo;s ecosystem.</li>
<li>Generally, if sea water ingression goes up, fish migration will increase and the biodiversity will get richer. However, its long term impact needs a proper vigil.</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Chilika Lake</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>It is a brackish water lagoon, spread over the Puri, Khurda and Ganjam districts of Odisha State on the east coast of India.</li>
<li>It is the largest coastal lagoon in India, located at the mouth of the Daya River which is flowing into the Bay of Bengal, covering an area of over 1,100 km<sup>2</sup>.</li>
<li>It is designated as &lsquo;wetland of international importance under the Ramsar convention.</li>
</ul>
</div>
<h3>Cyclone Fani</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>It is categorized as an <strong>extremely severe cyclone (ESC)</strong>.</li>
<li>The name of the cyclone fani (pronounced as Foni) was suggested by Bangladesh. It means <strong>&lsquo;snake&rsquo;</strong> or <strong>&lsquo;hood of snake&rsquo;</strong>.</li>
<li>Data from the India Meteorological Department (IMD) show that the last time an extremely severe cyclone hit India in May was in 2004.</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>NOTE:</strong> The cyclones are classified as <strong>severe (MSW of 48-63 knots), very severe (MSW of 64-89 knots), extremely severe (MSW of 90-119 knots) </strong>and<strong> super cyclonic storm (MSW of 120 knots or more).</strong> One knot is equal to 1.8 kmph.</p>
</div>
<h3>What makes Cyclone Fani special?</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Timing</strong> and <strong>strength</strong> are two factors that make Cyclone Fani, different from most other tropical cyclones at this time of the year.</li>
<li>It is the <strong>second severe cyclone which formed in April and made landfall in India in the last 128 years.</strong></li>
<li>It was the <strong>longest-lived cyclone in the Bay of Bengal ever observed.</strong> The elongated time period of the storm went on for <strong>11 days in the sea and land put together.</strong></li>
</ul>
<p style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1567748863_image3%20new.jpg" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1567748863_image3 new.jpg" width="560" height="817" caption="false" /></a></p>
<h3>Preparedness</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The IMD tracked the storm and <strong>issued numerous yellow warnings</strong> for much of the south-eastern portion of India when the cyclone started to intensify.</li>
<li>Doppler radars at Paradip and Gopalpur ports helped in tracking the cyclone accurately.</li>
<li><strong>'Early Warning Dissemination System (EWDS) project&rsquo;</strong> which was commissioned in 2018, addresses the existing gap in disseminating disaster warning up to the community level.</li>
<li>Odisha <strong>evacuated over 1.2 million residents from vulnerable coastal areas</strong> and moved them to higher ground and into cyclone shelters built a few miles inland.</li>
<li>Teams of National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), Odisha Disaster Rapid Action Force (ODRAF) along with State fire service personnel have been deployed. Defence forces were on high alert to meet any eventuality.</li>
<li>On account of this, the number of casualties contained to minimal. However, there was extensive damage to the infrastructure especially, power and telecommunications.</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Early Warning Dissemination System (EWDS):</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>It aims at establishing a <strong>fool-proof communication system</strong> to disseminate disaster warning up to the community level.</li>
<li>It is a first of its kind automatic public address system in the country, implemented under national Cyclone Risk Mitigation project with the help of World Bank.</li>
</ul>
</div>
<h3>Way Forward</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Cyclone Fani has left behind a trail of devastation and acute suffering in Odisha. The challenge now is to restore the livelihood of people.</li>
<li>Administrations are on full throttle in repair and relief measures. However, repairs and rehabilitation work needs to be done quickly owing to the upcoming monsoon season.</li>
</ul>',
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		],
		(int) 3 => [
			'title' => 'White-Throated Rail',
			'catname' => 'News Analysis',
			'desc' => '<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The <strong>white-throated rail</strong> <em>(Dryolimnas cuvieri)</em> or <strong>Cuvier's rail</strong> is a species of bird in the family <strong>Rallidae</strong>. It is found in <strong>Comoros, Madagascar, Mayotte, and Seychelles</strong>.<a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1567749009_image1.jpg" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1567749009_image1.jpg" width="312" height="175" style="float: right;" caption="false" /></a>
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>A flightless subspecies, <strong>Aldabra rail</strong>, inhabits Aldabra, while&nbsp;another <strong>Assumption rail</strong> from Assumption went extinct in the early 20<sup>th</sup> century due to introduced predators.</li>
<li>It is now the last living member of the genus <em>Dryolimnas</em> and believed to be the last flightless bird in the Indian Ocean.</li>
<li>Its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical moist lowland forest and subtropical or tropical mangrove forest.</li>
<li>It has a <strong>least concerned status in IUCN Red List</strong>.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>History of Evolution</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>According to research, it is found that <strong>white-throated rail came</strong> back after extinction, through a process called <strong>&ldquo;iterative evolution&rdquo;</strong>. This is the first time it has been seen in rails, and one of the most significant seen birds.</li>
<li>On two separate occasions tens of thousands of years apart, the species of rail was able to colonise called <strong>Aldabra</strong>. In both cases it eventually became flightless, and those birds from the latter time can still be found on the island now.</li>
</ul>
<div class=" border-bg">
<p><strong>Iterative evolution</strong> happens when the same or similar structures evolve out of the same common ancestor, but at different times. It means that the animal actually comes about twice over, completely separately.</p>
</div>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The rail's return to Aldabra is not the only time in its lineage that it has escaped extinction.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The parent species of the rail, indigenous to Madagascar, would frequently see its population explode, forcing the birds to migrate in great numbers from the island off the coast of East Africa.</li>
<li>Many of those that flew north or south drowned in the Indian Ocean, and those that went west landed in Africa, where they were eaten by predators. But the lucky few who went east ended up on islands including Mauritius, R&eacute;union and <strong>Aldabra</strong>.</li>
<li>The rails on Aldabra lost the ability to fly over time, because of the lack of predators made it unnecessary, just as the <strong>dodo of Mauritius</strong> did.</li>
<li>Unfortunately, that gave them no means of escape when the island was submerged and all its flora and fauna were wiped out.</li>
<li>But unlike the dodo, which became extinct in the 17<sup>th</sup> century, the white-throated rail was resurrected to tell the tale once the island re-emerged and birds started migrating to the destination again.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>Researchers found <strong>similar fossils</strong> from before and after that event, showing that the chicken-sized bird re-appeared when sea levels fell again a few thousand years later, <strong>re-colonized</strong> the island and again lost the ability to fly.</li>
<li>Aldabra, which has the oldest <strong>palaeontological record</strong> of any oceanic island within the Indian Ocean region, the fossil evidence available demonstrates the effects of changing sea levels on extinction and recolonization events.</li>
<li>Fossil evidence presented here is unique for rails and epitomizes the ability of these birds to successfully colonize isolated islands and evolve flightlessness on multiple occasions.</li>
</ul>',
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		(int) 4 => [
			'title' => 'Important Facts For Prelims (11th May 2019)',
			'catname' => 'News Analysis',
			'desc' => '<h3>Thirty Meter Telescope (TMT)</h3>
<h3><a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1567749352_image2.jpg" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1567749352_image2.jpg" width="424" height="289" style="float: right;" caption="false" /></a></h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Thirty Meter Telescope is a new class of extremely large telescopes that will allow us to see deeper into space and observe cosmic objects with unprecedented sensitivity. It is getting built at <strong>Mauna Kea, Hawaii, USA</strong>.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>With its 30 m prime mirror diameter, TMT will be three times as wide, with nine times more area than the largest currently existing visible-light telescope in the world.</li>
<li>This will provide unparalleled resolution with TMT images more than 12 times sharper than those from the Hubble Space Telescope. When operational, TMT will provide new observational opportunities in essentially every field of astronomy and astrophysics.</li>
<li>The <strong>TMT International Observatory LLC (TIO)</strong>, a non-profit organization, was established in May 2014 to carry out the construction and operation phases of the TMT Project.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>The partner members of TIO</strong> are:
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Caltech, the University of <strong>California, US</strong>.</li>
<li>The National Institutes of Natural Sciences of <strong>Japan</strong>.</li>
<li>The National Astronomical Observatories of the <strong>Chinese Academy of Sciences</strong>.</li>
<li>The Department of Science and Technology of <strong>India</strong>.</li>
<li>National Research Council, <strong>Canada</strong>.</li>
<li>The Association of Universities for Research in Astronomy, <strong>US</strong>.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Indian government:</strong> has given its approval for India&rsquo;s participation in the TMT project at a total cost of Rs. 1299.8 crores from 2014-2023.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>From the Indian side, this will be a joint project of the Department of Science and Technology (DST) and the Department of Atomic Energy (DAE).</li>
<li><strong>Inter-University Centre for Astronomy and Astrophysics, Pune; Indian Institute of Astrophysics, Banglore; Aryabhatta Research Institute of Observational Sciences, Nainital</strong> are involved in TMT project.</li>
<li>The Indian industries are making the telescope&rsquo;s sensors, actuators and its mechanical support structure.</li>
<li>The project will also provide state-of-the-art high-end technologies to the country, which would benefit a number of industries and R&amp;D centres.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Lunar Lander: Blue Moon</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The space company <strong>'Blue Origin&rsquo;</strong> has unveiled its lunar lander called the <strong>Blue Moon</strong> that would be used to <strong>transport equipment</strong>, and possibly <strong>human beings</strong>, to the South Pole of the Moon by 2024.</li>
<li>The lander will be capable of <strong>carrying scientific instruments</strong> and also <strong>rovers for humans</strong>.</li>
<li>The goal is to land on the Moon's south pole, where there is ice. <strong>Water can be exploited to produce hydrogen, which in turn could fuel future exploration of the solar system.</strong></li>
<li>The lander will be part of Blue Origin&rsquo;s broader vision to build an infrastructure that would sustain the colonization of space by future generations of humans and shift polluting industries off the Earth.</li>
<li>Blue Origin is working on two other major projects: <strong>New Shepard</strong>, a suborbital rocket to fly tourists into space; and <strong>New Glenn</strong>, a partly reusable launch rocket.</li>
</ul>
<p style="text-align: center;"><iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/hmk1oHzvNKA" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe></p>
<h3>Chandrayaan-2</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>A recent update from ISRO has stated that the planned <strong>'Chandrayaan-2&rsquo;</strong> mission will have 14 Indian payloads or study devices.<a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1567749484_image4.jpg" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1567749484_image4.jpg" width="457" height="390" style="float: right;" caption="false" /></a></li>
<li>Chandrayaan-2 will be <strong>India&rsquo;s second mission</strong> to the moon.</li>
<li>The Chandrayaan-2 will be launched during July 9 to July 16, 2019, with an expected Moon landing on September 6, 2019.</li>
<li>The 3,800-kg spacecraft includes an <strong>orbiter</strong> which will circle the moon at 100 km; a five-legged lander called <strong>Vikram</strong> that will descend on the moon; and a robotic rover, <strong>Pragyan</strong>, that will probe the lunar terrain around it. <strong>ISRO will send the mission on its heavy lift booster &ndash; GSLV MkIII.</strong></li>
<li>ISRO has chosen a landing area at the unexplored lunar south pole. <strong>If the mission succeeds, India will be the first to touch down at the south pole.</strong> Only China&rsquo;s Chang&rsquo;e 4 spacecraft had recently landed on the moon's far side, also known as the dark side because it faces away from the Earth and remains comparatively unknown.</li>
<li>In October 2008, ISRO launched its orbiter mission <strong>Chandrayaan-1</strong>.</li>
<li>The spacecraft had 11 payloads. One of the US payloads shares credit with Chandrayaan-1 for confirming the presence of water ice on the moon.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Recyclable Plastic</h3>
<p>According to a study published in the journal &lsquo;Nature Chemistry&rsquo;, <strong>scientists have created a plastic that can be repeatedly recycled without any loss of quality.</strong></p>
<p><strong>Key points</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>A new material called <strong>poly (diketoenamine) or PDK</strong> can, unlike normal plastics, have its monomers separated by a highly acidic solution.</li>
<li>The material can be <strong>fully broken down into its component parts by dunking it in a highly acidic solution.</strong></li>
<li>The acid separates the monomers from additives that give plastics distinctive look and feel.</li>
<li>The <strong>monomers</strong> can be recovered for reuse for as long as possible or <strong>upcycled to make another product</strong>.</li>
<li>Scientists believe that this recyclable plastic could be an <strong>alternative to non-recyclable plastics</strong> in use today. Conventional plastics generally have immutable bonds whereas PDK has reversible bonds that allow the plastic to be recycled more effectively.</li>
<li>Materials like PDK will help in making the <strong>lifecycle of plastics circular</strong> and help countries in <strong>reducing the plastic pollution</strong>. At present, the world produces about 300 million tonnes of plastic waste every year.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Monkeypox Virus</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Singapore</strong> has reported its <strong>first ever case of rare monkeypox virus</strong>.</li>
<li><strong>Monkeypox virus (MPXV)</strong> is an <strong>orthopoxvirus</strong> that causes a viral disease with symptoms in humans similar, but milder, to those seen in smallpox patients. Symptoms include lesions, fever, muscle aches and chills.</li>
<li><strong>Transmission</strong> is usually via close <strong>contact with infected animals</strong> such as rodents and monkeys but is limited between people.</li>
<li>Human monkeypox is <strong>endemic in villages of Central and West Africa.</strong></li>
<li>Outside Africa, human monkeypox infections had only been previously reported in the United States, Britain and Israel.</li>
<li>There are <strong>no specific treatments or vaccines available for monkeypox virus infection,</strong> but outbreaks can be controlled.</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>NOTE:</strong> Vaccination against smallpox has been proven to be 85% effective in preventing monkeypox in the past but the vaccine is no longer available to the general public after it was discontinued following global smallpox eradication.</p>
</div>
<p></p>',
			'postdate' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenTime) {},
			'url' => 'https://www.drishtiias.com/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/important-facts-for-prelims-11th-may-2019'
		],
		(int) 5 => [
			'title' => 'The Big Picture – UN Security Council Reforms',
			'catname' => 'Lok Sabha & Rajya Sabha Discussions',
			'desc' => '<p style="text-align: center;"><iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/VS-1zNirF88" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe></p>
<p>The French envoy to the UN has recently said that India and nations like Germany, Brazil and Japan are &ldquo;absolutely needed&rdquo; as permanent members of a reformed and enlarged UN Security Council to better reflect contemporary realities. India has always remained at the forefront of efforts at the UN to push for the long-pending reform of the Security Council, emphasising that it rightly deserves a place at the UN high table as a permanent member.</p>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Drishti Input:</strong></p>
<p><em><strong>United Nations Security Council</strong></em></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Established by the United Nations charter in 1945, the Security Council has primary responsibility of maintaining international peace and security.</li>
<li>The Security Council has <strong>15 members</strong>.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>There are <strong>five permanent members:</strong> the United States, the Russian Federation, France, China and the United Kingdom.</li>
<li>The non-permanent members of the Security Council are elected for a term of two years.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Each member of the Security Council has one vote. Decisions</strong> of the Security Council on matters are made by an <strong>affirmative vote of nine members including the concurring votes of the permanent members. A "No" vote from one of the five permanent members blocks the passage of the resolution.</strong></li>
<li>Any member of the United Nations which is not a member of the Security Council may participate, without vote, in the discussion of any question brought before the Security Council whenever the latter considers that the interests of that member are specially affected.</li>
</ul>
</div>
<h3>Need for UN Security Council Reforms</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>UN represents a larger world</strong> and the irony is that it has <strong>only 5 permanent members</strong> in its such an important body.</li>
<li>Current composition of the Security Council represents the post World War II realities and thus is <strong>not in pace with the changing balance of power</strong> in the world.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>At the time of the formation of UNSC, big powers were given privileges to make them part of the council. This was necessary for its proper functioning as well as to avoid the failure like that of the organization &lsquo;League of Nations&rsquo;.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>The <strong>regions like far East Asia, South America, Africa have no representation in the permanent membership</strong> of the council.</li>
<li><strong>Rise of fora like G4</strong> (India, Brazil, Germany, and Japan) as important economies and emerging world powers are pushing after quick UN Security Council reforms.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Impediments in the expansion of UN Security Council</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The <strong>five permanent members</strong> themselves <strong>don&rsquo;t want anyone to come on board with them</strong>. The world has no evidence in the history where countries have given up such a status quo on their own.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>In the year 2005, when G4 came with a resolution for the expansion of the council, U.S. and China lobbied very hard with African countries to ensure that they do not vote for the resolution.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>One country opposing another country&rsquo;s bid</strong> for the permanent membership from a region. For example:
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Pakistan does not want India to be the permanent member of the council.</li>
<li>China has serious objections to Japan being there in the Security Council.</li>
<li>Italy trying to compete with Germany in Europe for a place in the Security Council.</li>
<li>Argentia does not agree with the fact that Brazil should represent South America in the UNSC as a permanent representative.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>In Africa, there is still no consensus</strong> on which country should represent the region as a permanent member.</li>
<li>There are <strong>no parameters</strong> in the UN Security Council <strong>for considering</strong> the countries for <strong>permanent membership</strong>.</li>
<li>There is a <strong>concern</strong> that expansion of the council may lead to a <strong>decline in its efficiency and functioning</strong>.</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Coffee Club/Uniting for Consensus</strong></p>
<p>An informal <strong>"coffee club"</strong>, comprising 40-odd members states, has been instrumental in holding back reforms to the United Nations Security Council. Most members of the club are middle-sized states who oppose bigger regional powers grabbing permanent seats in the UN Security Council.</p>
<p>The prime movers of the club include <strong>Italy, Spain, Australia, Canada, South Korea, Argentina</strong> and <strong>Pakistan</strong>. While Italy and Spain are opposed to Germany's bid for Security Council's permanent membership, Pakistan is opposed to India's bid.</p>
<p>Similarly, Argentina is against Brazil's bid and Australia opposes Japan's. Canada and South Korea are opposed to developing countries, often dependent on their aid, wielding more power than them at the UN.</p>
</div>
<h3>India and its demand for permanent membership</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>For the first 40 years of the UN Security Council formation, India never asked for the permanent membership.</li>
<li>Even in 1993 when India submitted its written proposal to the UN as response to the General Assembly resolution related to reforms, it did not specifically state that it wants permanent membership for itself.</li>
<li>It is only from the last few years that India has started asking for a permanent membership in the council.</li>
<li>India deserves a permanent place in the council considering the size of its economy, population and the fact that it is the largest democracy in the world.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>India has become a major player not only in the Asia but also in the world.</li>
<li>The Security Council would be a more representative body if India would be there in it as a permanent member.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Benefits for India</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>By having a veto power, one can enjoy <strong>enormous powers</strong>.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>This is clear from the recent case of Masood Azhar. Since 2009, India was trying to get him designated as a global terrorist. One veto power of China kept delaying it.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>India will be able to <strong>work better for its interests</strong>.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>There was a time when USSR actually started boycotting the UNSC and that was the time when US managed to get the resolution passed for the Korean War. From that time onwards USSR realized that it doesn&rsquo;t make sense to boycott the UN. It <strong>needs to keep veto if at all resolution is against them</strong>.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>India&rsquo;s presence as a permanent member will be an <strong>acknowledgment of its rise as a global power,</strong> ready to play a key role in the council&rsquo;s objectives of international peace and security.</li>
<li>India will be able to enjoy the <strong>'prestige&rsquo;</strong> associated with the permanent membership of the council.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Is India ready?</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>By remaining silent on contentious issues, <strong>India has always remained in a safe zone</strong>. Once India becomes a permanent member, it has to give its views on every issue.</li>
<li>India&rsquo;s foreign policy machinery is not geared with the kind of deal making that permanent five do all the time.</li>
</ul>
<p><em>Besides expansion, issues like whether a country having a veto power should be allowed to lock a motion or not, should be taken into consideration. As far as India&rsquo;s membership is considered, all five permanent members including China are more or less on board. India just needs to prepare itself for the permanent position in the council.</em><a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/639image2.png" target="_blank" rel="noopener"></a></p>',
			'postdate' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenTime) {},
			'url' => 'https://www.drishtiias.com/loksabha-rajyasabha-discussions/the-big-picture-un-security-council-reforms'
		],
		(int) 6 => [
			'title' => 'Mission Shakti, ASAT and India',
			'catname' => 'News Editorials',
			'desc' => '<div class="border">
<p>This editorial is based on the article <a href="https://www.financialexpress.com/defence/asat-test-how-india-shifted-gears-to-match-changing-geopolitical-realities-in-space-with-mission-shakti/1573253/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">&ldquo;ASAT test: How India shifted gears to match changing geopolitical realities in space with Mission Shakti&rdquo;</a> which appeared in "Financial Express" on 9<sup>th</sup> May, 2019. The article talks about how the India&rsquo; space programme is in line with the changing geopolitical realities in Asia and beyond.</p>
</div>
<h3>Mission Shakti</h3>
<p>On march 27<sup>th</sup>, India completed its first successful attempt at shooting a satellite in lower earth orbit (LEO). In doing so, India has become the fourth country after the US, Russia and China to acquire the capability of space warfare.</p>
<h3>What is Mission Shakti and ASAT Missile?</h3>
<p>Mission Shakti was undertaken to develop highly-potent Anti-satellite weapons (ASAT). It is a joint programme of the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) and the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO). Anti-satellite (ASAT) System is missile-based system to attack moving satellites. <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/mission-shakti" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Read More...</a></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>ASAT propels India to the coveted <strong>space-superpower league</strong>.</li>
<li><strong>India will now have the power to decimate satellites for pure military and strategic purpose.</strong></li>
<li>With this missile, India will have the capability to interfere with satellites or engage in direct attacks.</li>
<li><strong>ASAT missile can be air, sea or land-based.</strong></li>
</ul>
<h3>Why is there a need to destroy Satellite?</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Satellites assume a great importance now-a days, because it is a part of critical civil and defence infrastructure of any country, manifested in the fact that a large number of crucial applications are dependent on it.</li>
<li>These include navigation systems, communication networks, broadcasting, banking systems, stock markets, weather forecasting, disaster management, land and ocean mapping and monitoring tools, and military applications.</li>
<li>Destroying a satellite would render these applications useless. It can cripple enemy infrastructure without causing any threat to human lives.</li>
<li><strong>Outer space is also emerging as the fourth arena of warfare.</strong> Hostile state and non-state actors can therefore damage Indian space assets.</li>
<li>The ASAT capability has created some deterrence against potential hostile behaviour against Indian interests.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Why it is a big achievement for India</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>In USA, it is often called that success in ASAT mission is equivalent to hitting a bullet with another bullet.</li>
<li>It requires very advanced capabilities in both space and missile technologies for achieving success in an ASAT mission.</li>
<li>A satellite travels at an amazing speed of 28 times that of the speed of sound, on a predictable path. Destroying such a satellite, using ballistic missile is an important milestone for any country space security.</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>Further, ASAT can also help in creating nuclear missile deterrence.</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>The idea is to blind the enemy country of its navigation powers.</strong></li>
<li>Moreover, an incoming missile can also be destroyed using ASAT.</li>
</ul>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>A History of Ballistic Missile Defence System in India</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>A Ballistic Missile Defence system (BMD) is a missile defence system that acts as a shield against ballistic missile attacks.</li>
<li><strong>India&rsquo;s BMD development began in 1999, after the Kargil war.</strong></li>
<li><strong>The primary aim was to augment India&rsquo;s defence against possible nuclear attack from Pakistan.</strong> It holds a place of prime importance especially when India follows a &lsquo;No first use&rsquo; policy.</li>
<li><strong>India seeks to deploy a functional &lsquo;iron dome&rsquo; ballistic missile defence (BMD), incorporating both low-altitude and high-altitude interceptor missiles.</strong></li>
<li>India&rsquo;s BMD is primarily developed by DRDO with help of many public and private firms like BEL, Astra Microwave, L&amp;T, etc.</li>
</ul>
</div>
<h3>Geopolitical Implication of Mission Shakti</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>With the establishment of India as a space power, India will be accorded a place in any future international treaty that relates to the governance or usage of Space.</li>
<li>In case of Pakistan, a terrestrial power, the use of nuclear arsenal can now come at a heavy cost.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>As of now Pakistan presumes that the no first use doctrine of India gives it an advantage, but with the development of ASAT capabilities, India would be able to destroy an incoming Pakistani nuclear missile.</li>
<li>This will create a significant deterrence vis-a-vis the position of Pakistan.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>In case of China, which is a significant space power, counter-space capabilities of India will provide a critical balancing deterrent.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Challenges to Mission Shakti</h3>
<p><strong>Third Party satellites:</strong> Since nations use third-party satellites for their various needs, even striking down every satellite of a nation might not disable military communication of that nation entirely because that nation will simply use another nation&rsquo;s satellite to communicate.</p>
<p><strong>Deterrence</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>As all major nations have hundreds of dual-use satellites in orbit, it is near to impossible for any nation to stick down these satellites by such missiles.</strong></li>
<li>Also, if the situation comes when nations are striking down the satellites of adversary nations then the world has already reached the nuclear threshold.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Convention on Space</h3>
<p><strong>Outer Space Treaty of 1967 (United Nations):</strong> It prohibits countries from placing into orbit around the Earth &ldquo;any objects carrying nuclear weapons or any other kinds of weapons of mass destruction&rdquo;.</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>It also prohibits the stationing of such weapons on celestial bodies, like the moon, or in outer space. &ldquo;The moon and other celestial bodies shall be used by all state parties to the treaty exclusively for peaceful purposes.&rdquo;
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>However, what should be noted is that, India violated no treaties, in pursuance of Mission Shakti. As, the ASAT mission, generates the energy by the velocity of the missile and not by a blasting of explosives.
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>ASATs take many shapes, but the clearest examples follow kinetic-kill models, in which an object in space or on the ground is sent to collide with an orbiting satellite, destroying both object and target with the energy of the crash.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>However, in pursuance of destroying a satellite, space debris is generated, which can be very detrimental for operational satellite.&nbsp;</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg"><strong>The Issue of Space Debris</strong>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Space debris consists of pieces of non-functional spacecraft, and can vary in size from tiny paint flecks to an entire &ldquo;dead&rdquo; satellite. </strong></li>
<li>Space debris orbits from hundreds to thousands of kilometres above Earth.</li>
<li>The presence of space debris increases the likelihood of operational satellites being damaged. The threat from the space debris is that it could collide with the operational satellites and render them dysfunctional.</li>
<li>Mission Shakti created around forty-five debris, in the LEO, and the test was done in the lower atmosphere to ensure that there was no space debris.</li>
<li>According to ISRO, Whatever debris that was generated will decay and fall back on to the earth within a week.</li>
<li>However it is alleged by the NASA that Mission Shakti created debris which can impact the International Space Station (ISS). But such allegations are rejected by Pentagon.</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>Kessler Syndrome</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The Kessler syndrome (also called the Kessler effect, collisional cascading or ablation cascade), proposed by the NASA scientist Donald J. Kessler in 1978, is a scenario in which the density of objects in low Earth orbit (LEO) is high enough that collisions between objects could cause a cascade where each collision generates space debris that increases the likelihood of further collisions.</li>
<li>One implication is that the distribution of debris in orbit could render space activities and the use of satellites in specific orbital ranges impractical for many generations.</li>
</ul>
</div>
<h3>Militarization and Weaponization of Space</h3>
<p>Mission Shakti can start a race towards militarization and weaponization of space.</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>As of now only four countries possess ASAT technology, but the test by India will start a race among many countries to possess the ASAT capacity (including countries like Pakistan).</li>
<li>But, what has to be observed is that Space has always been militarized.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Since the time of the Cold War Space was militarized (i.e space-base military satellites; spy-satellites, etc.) if not weaponized.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>If it has to be stopped, then the world has to come together so that, such aggressive tendencies and arm race stops.</strong></li>
</ul>
<h3>Way Forward</h3>
<p><strong>Alternative technologies</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>There are alternative technologies such as jamming which are more effective then kinetic kill (of an ASAT system).</li>
<li><strong>India should not lose sight of the larger goal, namely to completely de-militarise space and only use it for peaceful non-commercial exploration.</strong></li>
<li><strong>ASAT Mission opens up new vistas for India for collaborative ventures</strong> in space with a number of other key space powers such as the US, Japan, and France, in area of New Space Dynamics.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>New Space Dynamics is an unfolding and complex phenomenon encompassing various trends, including technological, political, and commercial trends that are together contributing to an increasingly more prominent role for private actors&rsquo; involvement in space.</li>
<li>It will act as an enabler to expand capacity and capability for the industry to offer end-to-end products and services.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<table border="1" style="width: 100%; border-collapse: collapse; border-color: #112e9e; background-color: #b8e9f5;">
<tbody>
<tr>
<td style="width: 100%;">
<p><strong>Drishti Input:</strong></p>
<p>Apart from establishing India as a space power, Mission Shakti has significant geostrategic importance. Discuss.</p>
</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<p><strong>Mission Shakti makes India a Space Power: 10 FAQs on DRDO's ASAT answered <a href="https://www.livemint.com/news/india/mission-shakti-makes-india-a-space-power-10-faqs-on-drdo-s-asat-answered-1553683467751.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">(Read more...)</a></strong></p>',
			'postdate' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenTime) {},
			'url' => 'https://www.drishtiias.com/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/mission-shakti-asat-and-india'
		],
		(int) 7 => [
			'title' => 'BRS Conventions COP Meet in Geneva',
			'catname' => 'News Analysis',
			'desc' => '<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The <strong>&ldquo;Triple COPs&rdquo;</strong>&nbsp; meeting is taking place in Geneva, Switzerland from April 29th to May 10th, 2019.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>B</strong>asel Convention (COP-14)</li>
<li><strong>R</strong>otterdam Convention (COP-9)</li>
<li><strong>S</strong>tockholm Convention (COP-9)</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>The &ldquo;Triple COPs&rdquo; are being convened under the theme, <strong>'Clean Planet, Healthy People: Sound Management of Chemicals and Waste&rsquo;.</strong></li>
</ul>
<h3>Issues under discussion</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>BRS &ldquo;Triple COPs&rdquo;:</strong> is discussing issues relating to microplastics, waste containing nanomaterials, and legal, compliance and governance matters, among others.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The meeting is also considering further development of technical guidelines on e-waste as well as persistent organic pollutants wastes, incineration on land and specially engineered landfills and additions to the Convention&rsquo;s Toolkit on Environmentally Sound Management of Wastes.</li>
<li>It is taking up various matters related to the implementation of the Convention, including the strategic framework, entry into force of the <strong>Ban Amendment</strong>, and <strong>the Cartagena Declaration</strong> on the Prevention, Minimization and Recovery of Hazardous Wastes and Other Wastes.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>The Basel Convention:</strong> came into force in 1992, intends to <strong>reduce transboundary movements of hazardous waste</strong> from developed to less developed countries (LDCs), and ensure their safe disposal as closely as possible to the source of generation.</p>
<p><strong>Rotterdam Convention:</strong> was adopted on 10th September 1998 by a <strong>Conference of Plenipotentiaries in Rotterdam, Netherlands</strong> and entered into force on 24th February 2004.</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>It covers <strong>pesticides and industrial chemicals</strong> that have been banned or severely restricted for health or environmental reasons by Parties and which have been notified by Parties for inclusion in the Prior Informed Consent (PIC) procedure. The Convention creates <strong>legally binding obligations</strong> for the implementation of the Prior Informed Consent (PIC) procedure.</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>The Stockholm Convention:</strong> is a global treaty to protect human health and the environment from <strong>persistent organic pollutants (POPs)</strong>. POPs are chemicals that remain intact in the environment for long periods, become widely distributed geographically, accumulate in the fatty tissue of living organisms and are toxic to humans and wildlife.</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>The objectives of the Stockholm Convention are:</strong>
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Support the transition to safer alternatives</li>
<li>Target additional POPs for action</li>
<li>Cleanup old stockpiles and equipment containing POPs</li>
<li>Work together for a POPs-free future</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>The Global Environmental Facility (GEF) is the designated interim financial mechanism for the Stockholm Convention.</li>
</ul>
</div>',
			'postdate' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenTime) {},
			'url' => 'https://www.drishtiias.com/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/brs-conventions-cop-meet-in-geneva'
		],
		(int) 8 => [
			'title' => 'Pesticide Ban',
			'catname' => 'News Analysis',
			'desc' => '<p>California is banning a widely used pesticide that has been linked to brain damage in children. The state ban on <strong>Chlorpyrifos</strong>, a pesticide used on almonds, citrus, cotton, grapes, walnuts and other crops, follows years of research finding the chemical causes serious health effects in children, including impaired brain and neurological development.</p>
<h3>Status of pesticide ban in India</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>With the increasing number of farmer deaths due to pesticide poisoning and submission of <strong>Anupam Verma Committee report</strong> the Union Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare had notified <strong>Pesticides (Prohibition) Order, 2018</strong> under which use of <strong>18 pesticides was banned</strong>.</li>
<li>Of these 18, 12 pesticides have been banned from immediate effect (from August 9, 2018) and ban on another six will be implemented from December 31, 2020. The ban applies to registration, import, manufacture, formulation, transport, sale and use of all these pesticides.</li>
</ul>
<p style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1567763256_image4.jpg" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1567763256_image4.jpg" width="574" height="480" caption="false" /></a></p>
<h3>Why class 1 pesticide should be banned India?</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Pesticides whose handling and application require the use of personal protective equipment that is uncomfortable, expensive or not readily available should be avoided, especially in the case of small-scale users and farm workers in hot climates.</li>
<li>It is impossible to ensure use of personal protective equipment by small-scale farmers and farm workers in India.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Other reasons</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Every year, there are about 10,000 reported cases of pesticide poisoning in India.</li>
<li>Lack of awareness, no initiative by govt agriculture depart to teach how to use pesticide.</li>
<li>Unapproved use of pesticides&mdash;spraying a particular pesticide on a crop for which it is not allowed&mdash; continues to be a big problem in the country.</li>
</ul>
<h3>How pesticide can impact humans?</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Endocrine disruptors:</strong> The term endocrine disruptor refers to substances that interfere with hormones and hormone balance.</li>
<li>Hormones are the chemical messengers of the body. They are necessary to regulate different functions, in particular growth and reproductive functions.</li>
<li>The endocrine effects can be activated by very low concentrations of chemicals. They can manifest as:
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>reduced semen quality with consequent decreased fertility, genital malformations, testicular and prostate cancer</li>
<li>early puberty, appearance of cysts in the ovaries, uterus anomalies, breast cancer, pregnancy complications with early abortions, decreased fertility</li>
<li>diabetes and obesity</li>
<li>neurological disorders, especially disorders in brain development, and degenerative diseases in the brain, such as Parkinson&rsquo;s disease</li>
<li>hyper and hypo thyroidism and thyroid tumours.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Acute toxicity</h3>
<p>Pesticides can be acutely toxic. This means that they can cause harmful or lethal effects after one single episode of ingestion, inhalation or skin contact. The symptoms are evident shortly after exposure or can arise within 48 hours. They can present as:</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>respiratory tract irritation, sore throat and/or cough</li>
<li>allergic sensitisation</li>
<li>eye and skin irritation</li>
<li>nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea</li>
<li>headache, loss of consciousness</li>
<li>extreme weakness, seizures and/or death</li>
</ul>
<h3>Long term (or chronic) toxicity</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Pesticides can cause harmful effects over an extended period, usually following repeated or continuous exposure at low levels. Low doses don&rsquo;t always cause immediate effects, but over time, they can cause very serious illnesses.</li>
<li>Long term pesticide exposure has been linked to the development of Parkinson&rsquo;s disease; asthma; depression and anxiety; cancer, including leukaemia and non-Hodgkin lymphoma; and attention deficit and hyperactivity disorder (ADHD).</li>
</ul>',
			'postdate' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenTime) {},
			'url' => 'https://www.drishtiias.com/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/pesticide-ban'
		],
		(int) 9 => [
			'title' => 'Important Facts For Prelims (10th May 2019)',
			'catname' => 'News Analysis',
			'desc' => '<h3>Barn Owl Campaign in Lakshadweep</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The Union Territory of <strong>Lakshadweep</strong> has recruited <strong>three pairs of barn owls</strong> from Kerala <strong>to hunt down rats</strong> responsible for <strong>deteriorating its coconut yield</strong>.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Coconut is an important money-spinner for the islands; pesky rodents account for 30 to 40% of the yield loss.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>The three pairs of barn owls will gradually be released into the coconut plantations under a closely monitored breeding and rodent management programme.</li>
<li>In Lakshadweep islands, <strong>rats live on the treetops.</strong> In fact, the fronds overlap, allowing the rodents to <strong>move easily from one tree to another.</strong> This is the reason for <strong>not employing</strong> accomplished rat hunters like <strong>cats or rat snake</strong> for the purpose.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Barn owl is a natural rat hunter, armed with a powerful auditory mechanism.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>The Union Territory of Lakshadweep has gone for this <strong>biocontrol measure </strong>as <strong>islands are a designated organic zone,</strong> where the use of chemicals for pest control is not allowed.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Biological control</strong> is an environmentally sound and effective means of <strong>reducing or mitigating pests</strong> and pest effects <strong>through</strong> the <strong>use of natural enemies</strong>.</li>
<li>Basically, it is an action of parasites, predators, or pathogens in maintaining another organism's population density at a lower average than would occur in their absence.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg" p=""><strong>Barn Owl</strong>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The common barn-owl (Tyto alba) belongs to the family of owls, Tytonidae.</li>
<li>The species are <strong>distributed</strong> in Indian subcontinent, Australia, Africa, Europe, Southeast Asia, Middle-East, Europe, North America, South America and Caribbean Islands.</li>
<li>It is listed as <strong>'least concern&rsquo; in the IUCN red list.</strong></li>
<li><strong>It comes under Schedule IV of the Indian Wildlife Protection Act, 1972.</strong></li>
</ul>
</div>
<h3>Grizzled Giant Squirrel</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Researchers have sighted nests of the <strong>grizzled giant squirrel(Ratufa macroura), </strong>at<strong> Pakkamalai Reserve Forest</strong> near Gingee, Tamil Nadu, in the Eastern Ghats.<a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1567763399_image2.jpg" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1567763399_image2.jpg" width="343" height="250" style="float: right;" caption="false" /></a></li>
<li>Earlier it has also been spotted in <strong>Tiruvannamalai forest, TN</strong> in the Eastern Ghats.</li>
<li>The grizzled giant squirrel is endemic to western ghats, usually known to nest in the region ranging from <strong>Chinnar Wildlife sanctuary</strong> in Kerala to <strong>Anamalai Tiger Reserve</strong> and <strong>Palani hills</strong> in Tamil Nadu.</li>
<li>Grizzled giant squirrels are named for the white flecks of hair that cover their greyish-brown bodies, giving them a grizzled look.</li>
<li>Grizzled Squirrel Wildlife Sanctuary is located in <strong>Srivilliputtur, Tamil Nadu</strong>.</li>
<li><strong>Status</strong> of Grizzled Squirrel- It is listed as
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Near threatened category in IUCN Red List.</strong></li>
<li>Listed under <strong>Schedule II of CITES.</strong></li>
<li>Listed under <strong>Schedule I of the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>The threat:</strong> to the population by increased predator pressure and the extremely low regeneration of its preferred food plant species due to heavy grazing by cattle.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Habitat loss coupled with hunting for its fur and bushmeat by the locals are said to be the major threats to this species.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Tuila: One-Stringed Instrument</h3>
<p><em>Tuila</em> is a <strong>one-stringed instrument</strong> native to the <strong>tribal communities of Jharkhand and Odisha</strong>. It belongs to the <strong>chordophone category,</strong> which is a class of musical instruments in which a stretched, vibrating string produces the initial sound.</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><em>Tuila</em> is also known as <em><strong>Uhila, Como Ohila</strong></em> and <strong></strong><em><strong>Toila</strong></em>.<a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1567763751_image7.jpg" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1567763751_image7.jpg" style="float: right;" caption="false" width="245" height="152" /></a></li>
<li>It is made of <strong>bamboo - Mundari Pani Bansu</strong>.</li>
<li>A piece of wood known as <em><strong>Ghoda</strong></em> is attached to one end.</li>
<li>The upper end of the instrument is tied loosely to a half-sliced gourd resonator, usually pumpkin, which produces a unique sound.</li>
<li>The resonator is tightened via a short tubular <em><strong>Khimki</strong></em> by using a chord. This is made of horse hair and is attached to short pieces of wood on the inside.</li>
<li>The string, which is usually made up of cotton yarn or silk, is tied to the instrument. It is fixed directly to the pipe with a loop and several windings.</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>How is it Played?</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The playing technique is unique with only three fingers being used to play the notes.</li>
<li><em><strong>Tuila</strong></em><strong> is generally played by men,</strong> while <strong><em>Kendra</em> (female compatriot of Tuila)</strong> is played by women.</li>
<li><em>Tuila</em> is played as an accompaniment for vocal performances in the folk communities of Odisha and Jharkhand.</li>
<li>The women sing and the men play the <em>Tuila</em>. The instrument is also part of the wedding bands in the tribal region.</li>
<li>Lord Siva can be seen holding this instrument in the sculpture on the Dharmaraja Ratha at Mahabalipuram. It is also found at the Kailasanathar and Vaikuntha Perumal temples.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Gopal Krishna Gokhale</h3>
<p>The Prime Minister of India on 9<sup>th</sup> May, 2019 paid a tribute to the freedom fighter Gopal Krishna Gokhale on his 153<sup>rd</sup> birth anniversary.</p>
<p>Some Facts about Gopal Krishna Gokhale</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>He was born on May 9, 1866 in Ratnagiri, Maharashtra.</li>
<li>He <strong>joined the Indian National Congress in 1889</strong>.</li>
<li>In <strong>1905,</strong> Gokhale was elected as the <strong>President of the Indian National Congress</strong>.</li>
<li>He founded the <strong>Servants of Indian Society in 1905</strong>. The main objective of this society was to train Indians to raise their voice against social evils and serve their country.</li>
<li>He is known to be a <strong>mentor to Mahatma Gandhi</strong>. Mahatma Gandhi even wrote a book called, 'Gokhale, My Political Guru'.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Double Asteroid Redirection Test (DART)<a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1567763455_image6.jpg" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1567763455_image6.jpg" width="440" height="276" style="float: right;" caption="false" /></a></h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>NASA is planning to launch a DART mission by a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket that will hit a small moonlet in the binary near-earth asteroid system Didymos in September 2022.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>It is a <strong>planetary defence technique,</strong> scheduled to be launched in mid-2021.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>DART mission will be the first ever space mission to demonstrate asteroid deflection by a kinetic impactor. It is planned to intercept the secondary member of the Didymos system.</li>
<li>By using solar electric propulsion, it will intercept the target when the asteroid will be within 11 million km of Earth.</li>
</ul>',
			'postdate' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenTime) {},
			'url' => 'https://www.drishtiias.com/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/important-facts-for-prelims-10th-may-2019'
		],
		(int) 10 => [
			'title' => 'Supreme Court’s Strength',
			'catname' => 'News Analysis',
			'desc' => '<p>Recently, the Supreme Court Collegium recommended the names of four judges separately, to be elevated to the Supreme Court, out of which the <strong>government disapproved the elevation of two judges</strong> (Jharkhand High Court Chief Justice <strong>Aniruddha Bose</strong> and Gauhati High Court Chief Justice <strong>A.S. Bopanna</strong>).</p>
<p>However, the Collegium refused to reconsider its recommendation and resent the file to the government for final approval.</p>
<p>If the four judges are elevated, the Supreme Court would reach the <strong>full sanctioned strength of 31</strong>.</p>
<h3>Strength of Supreme Court</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The original Constitution of 1950 envisaged a Supreme Court with a Chief Justice and 7 puisne Judges - leaving it to the Parliament to increase this number.</li>
<li>As the work of the Court increased and arrears of cases began to cumulate, the Parliament increased the number of Judges from 8 in 1950 to 11 in 1956, 14 in 1960, 18 in 1978 and 26 in 1986.</li>
<li>In February 2009, the number of Supreme Court judges increased from 26 to 31, including the Chief Justice of India.</li>
<li>However, <strong>strength of Supreme Court is rarely full due to the following reasons:</strong>
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Difficulty in finding judges</strong></li>
<li><strong>Courts&rsquo; mandatory retirement ages:</strong> High Court judges retire at the age of 62, and Supreme Court judges at 65, which, by global standards, are low retirement ages. In the UK, Supreme Court judges retire at 75, in Australia at 70 and in the US, there is no mandatory retirement age. Low retirement ages create short tenures and frequent vacancies.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Supreme Court is Rarely Full</h3>
<h3><a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1567763060_image5.jpg" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1567763060_image5.jpg" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" caption="false" width="548" height="353" /></a></h3>
<p style="text-align: center;"></p>
<div class=" border-bg">
<p><strong>What is Collegium System?</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The Collegium System is a system under which appointments/elevation of judges/lawyers to the Supreme Court and transfers of judges of the High Courts are decided by a forum of the Chief Justice of India and the four senior-most judges of the Supreme Court.</li>
<li>The Collegiums System of appointment of judges finds its genesis from the<strong> &ldquo;Three Judges Case, 1998&rdquo;.</strong></li>
<li>The Central Government may require the Collegium to reconsider its recommendations only once, as the recommendations are binding on the Central Government if the Collegium sends the names of the judges/lawyers to the government for the second time.</li>
</ul>
</div>',
			'postdate' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenTime) {},
			'url' => 'https://www.drishtiias.com/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/supreme-courts-strength'
		],
		(int) 11 => [
			'title' => 'Group Sail Naval Drill',
			'catname' => 'News Analysis',
			'desc' => '<p>Recently, warships from India, the US, Japan and the Philippines conducted a six-day naval drill &lsquo;Group Sail&rsquo; in the contentious South China Sea.</p>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The Group Sail was aimed<strong> to deepen the existing partnership</strong> and<strong> foster mutual understanding</strong> among the participating navies.</li>
<li>It showcased India&rsquo;s commitment to operating with like-minded nations to <strong>ensure safe maritime environment through enhanced interoperability.</strong></li>
<li>In the backdrop of China&rsquo;s aggressive and expansionist behaviour in the South China Sea, India has consistently reiterated the need for all countries to respect the freedom of navigation in international waters and overflight consistent with international law, including the <strong>United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) of 1982.</strong></li>
<li>The strategically important waterway is claimed almost in its entirety by China, but this is hotly disputed by Beijing&rsquo;s neighbours like Vietnam, Philippines, Indonesia, etc. The sea is estimated to have a vast reserve of hydrocarbons.</li>
<li>In July 2016, the Permanent Court of Arbitration at the Hague issued its ruling on a claim brought against China by the Philippines under UNCLOS, ruling in favour of the Philippines on almost every count.</li>
<li>While China is a signatory to the treaty, which established the Court, it refuses to accept the court&rsquo;s authority.</li>
</ul>
<p style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1567763154_image1.jpg" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1567763154_image1.jpg" width="546" height="326" caption="false" /></a></p>
<h3>Issues Involved</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The exercise comes at a time when India has been warily looking at <strong>increased Chinese activity in the northern Indian Ocean,</strong> traditionally seen as India&rsquo;s backyard. The presence of Chneise ships and submarines has been on the rise.</li>
<li>In 2017, China opened its first overseas <strong>military facility in Djibouti</strong> and has also been investing heavily in infrastructure along Africa&rsquo;s eastern coast &ndash; in Tanzania and Kenya &ndash; as part of its ambitious Belt and Road Initiative (BRI).</li>
<li>These activities reflect China&rsquo;s attempt to encircle India through different base around its neighbouring countries, popularly known as <strong>"String of Pearls"</strong>.</li>
<li>The String of Pearls is a geopolitical theory related to potential Chinese intentions in the Indian Ocean region. It refers to the network of Chinese military and commercial facilities and relationships along its sea lines of communication, which extend from the Chinese mainland to the Sudan Port.</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS)</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The 'Law of the Sea Treaty&rsquo;, formally known as the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) was adopted in 1982 to establish jurisdictional limits over the ocean areas.</li>
<li>The Law of the Sea Convention introduced a number of provisions and covered the most significant issues such as <strong>setting limits, navigation, archipelagic status and transit regimes, exclusive economic zones, jurisdiction of continental shelf, deep seabed mining, exploitation regime, protection of the marine environment, scientific research, </strong>and <strong>settlement of disputes.</strong></li>
<li>India became a signatory to the UNCLOS in 1982.</li>
<li>UNCLOS created three new institutions:
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea:</strong> It is an independent judicial body established by UNCLOS to adjudicate disputes arising out of the convention.</li>
<li><strong>International Seabed Authority:</strong> It is a UN body set up to regulate the exploration and exploitation of marine non-living resources of oceans in international waters.</li>
<li><strong>Commission on the Limits of the Continental Shelf:</strong> It facilitates the implementation of the UNCLOS in respect of the establishment of the outer limits of the continental shelf beyond 200 nautical miles.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>The convention defines the distance of 12 nautical miles from the baseline as Territorial Sea limit and a distance of 200 nautical miles as Exclusive Economic Zone limit.</li>
</ul>
</div>
<p style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1567763195_image3.jpg" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1567763195_image3.jpg" caption="false" width="527" height="186" /></a></p>',
			'postdate' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenTime) {},
			'url' => 'https://www.drishtiias.com/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/group-sail-naval-drill'
		],
		(int) 12 => [
			'title' => 'Issues Related To Credit Rating Agencies In India',
			'catname' => 'News Editorials',
			'desc' => '<div class="border">
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">This editorial is based on the article </span><b>&ldquo;</b><b><a href="https://www.thehindubusinessline.com/money-and-banking/singed-by-downgrades-nbfcs-want-rating-agencies-reined-in/article27072705.ece" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Singed by downgrades, NBFCs want rating agencies reined in</a>&rdquo;&nbsp;</b><span style="font-weight: 400;">which appeared in 'The Hindu Business Line' on 8th May, 2019. The article talks about problems with Credit &nbsp;Rating Agencies (CRAs), and how these agencies can be regulated.</span></p>
</div>
<h3><span style="font-weight: 400;">What Is A Rating Agency?</span></h3>
<p><b>Credit rating is an informed opinion of a recognised entity on the relative creditworthiness of an issuer or instrument</b><span style="font-weight: 400;">. </span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">In other words, it is an opinion &ldquo;on the relative degree of risk associated with timely payment of interest and principal on a debt instrument&rdquo;. Such recognised entity is known as Credit Rating Agencies (CRAs).</span></p>
<h3><span style="font-weight: 400;">On What Basis Do CRAs Rate?</span></h3>
<p><b>CRAs typically rate on various parameters which is different for &lsquo;companies&rsquo; and &lsquo;countries&rsquo;.</b></p>
<h3><b><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/586Drishti IAS_Issues Related To Credit Rating Agencies In India.png" width="494" height="494" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" /></b><b></b>What are the problems associated with CRAs?<br /><b></b></h3>
<p><strong>Internationally</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li style="font-weight: 400;"><b>Ideological biases: </b><span style="font-weight: 400;">CRAs might favour certain political ideologies to limit negative policy and market surprises as they strive to keep ratings stable over the medium term.</span>
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li style="font-weight: 400;">For e.g. &nbsp;a panel analysis of Standard &amp; Poor&rsquo;s, Moody&rsquo;s, and Fitch&rsquo;s rating actions for 23 Organisation for Economic Co-Operation and Development (OECD) countries from 1995 to 2014 shows that left executives and the electoral victory of non-incumbent left executives are associated with significantly higher probabilities of negative rating changes.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;"><b>Conflict of interests: </b><span style="font-weight: 400;">CRAs are funded by the very companies they rate.</span></li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;"><b>Lack of ability to predict: </b><span style="font-weight: 400;">CRAs follow the market, so the markets alert the agencies of trouble. This happens post-market and after something has happened. This is the reason for CRAs inability to predict frequent near default, default, and financial disasters. </span></li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;"><b>Negligence &amp; incompetence: </b><span style="font-weight: 400;">Methodology &nbsp;of CRAs has come under question. For example, even after using different methodologies, the result for sovereign debts comes the same. It is also alleged that, CRAs can make sound judgement on rating, but they didn&rsquo;t make an effort to do it.</span>
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li style="font-weight: 400;"><b>For e.g. Moody accepted that it did not have a good model on which it could have estimated a correlation between mortgages backed securities, so they made them up</b><span>.</span></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;"><b>Politically motivated: </b><span style="font-weight: 400;">It has also been alleged that CRAs, through their rating mechanism forces the govt to follow the path prescribed by them.</span>
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li style="font-weight: 400;"><span></span><span>For e.g. during the turmoil in Tunisia, S&amp;P issued a report warning of "downward ratings pressures" on neighbouring governments if they tried to calm social unrest with "populist" tax cuts or spending increases.</span></li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Further, after Crimea annexation rating agencies downgraded the rating of Russia.</span></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><b>Policy meddling:</b><span> In 2003, to stop predatory lending, state of Georgia brought a law. Other states of USA were to follow the suit, until S&amp;P retaliated. And it is well known that </span><b>predatory lending</b><span> is responsible for financial crisis of 2008-09. [</span><i><span>definition</span></i><i><span>: </span></i><i><span>predatory lending includes any unscrupulous actions carried out by a lender to entice, induce and assist a borrower in taking a loan that carries high fees, a high-interest rate, strips the borrower of equity</span></i><span>]</span></li>
</ul>
<p><a href="/to-the-points/paper3/credit-rating-in-india" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><span>National Credit Rating In India</span></a><br /><span style="font-weight: 400;"></span></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li style="font-weight: 400;"><b>No uniformity among rating companies in India:</b><span style="font-weight: 400;"> An average investor in India is not able to understand the different credit ratings prevailing in India as there is no uniformity among the credit rating agencies. </span></li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">No standardization in rating and no standardized fee structure for rating agencies in India is one of the other issues.</span></li>
</ul>
<h3><span style="font-weight: 400;">Why Credit Rating Agency Is Required?</span></h3>
<p><b>From the 80s onwards, as the financial system became more deregulated, companies started borrowing more and more from the globalised debt markets, and so the opinion of the credit ratings agencies became more and more relevant.</b></p>
<p><strong>Role of CRAs</strong></p>
<p><b>Reduce information asymmetry </b></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li style="font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Since CRAs get access to the management of the company, and confidential information about its working, they can give an informed opinion about the ability of an instrument to meet its obligations. </span></li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Utility for issuers Issuer concisely communicate the quality of their issue through the rating of the CRAs which help it established its creditworthiness. </span></li>
</ul>
<p><b>Gatekeepers for financial markets </b></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li style="font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">CRAs provide tangible benefits to financial market regulators by reducing the costs of regulation. </span></li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Regulators such as RBI use CRAs to improve the awareness and decision-making of their regulated entities. </span></li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">For instance, credit ratings are used to determine the capital adequacy of banks, the resolution of stressed assets. </span></li>
</ul>
<p><b>Purveyors of regulatory licenses </b></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li style="font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Some financial regulators mandate that certain instruments must be rated mandatorily before they are issued. </span></li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Extensive integration of CRAs into the financial system transforms their role as purveyors. </span></li>
</ul>
<p><b>Moral Suasion</b></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li style="font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">It compels developing countries to pursue more prudent and sensible monetary and fiscal policies.</span></li>
</ul>
<h3><span style="font-weight: 400;">Instances When Rating Agency Failed </span></h3>
<p><b></b></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><b>World-wide </b></li>
<li><span style="font-weight: 400;">Enron scandal-2001</span></li>
<li><span style="font-weight: 400;">Global Financial Crisis-2007-08</span></li>
<li><span style="font-weight: 400;">During the </span>global financial crisis<span style="font-weight: 400;">, hundreds of billions of dollars&rsquo; worth of triple-A-rated mortgage-backed securities were abruptly downgraded from triple-A to &ldquo;junk&rdquo; (the lowest possible rating) within two years of the issue of the original rating (2007-08).</span></li>
<li><strong>India</strong></li>
<li><span style="font-weight: 400;">The collapse of Satyam-2009</span></li>
<li><span style="font-weight: 400;">PNB crisis</span></li>
<li><span style="font-weight: 400;">IL&amp;FS (Even with AAA ratings</span></li>
</ul>
<h3><span style="font-weight: 400;">Why CRAs Should Be Regulated?</span></h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li style="font-weight: 400;"><b>Rating shopping</b><span style="font-weight: 400;">: It has often been seen that both issuer and investor are involved in rating shopping. </span></li>
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li style="font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">CRAs inflate the rating particularly for structured product market for getting more market &nbsp;share and profit margins. Issuers want higher ratings for their products, so they look safer and can be sold at a higher price. Higher rated securities allow investor less security, which in turn allows investor to take greater risk. </span></li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">I</span><span style="font-weight: 400;">nvestors also wanted inflated ratings due to regulatory requirements and investment mandates.</span></li>
</ul>
<li style="font-weight: 400;"><b>Oligopolistic Tendencies</b><span style="font-weight: 400;">: Around 95% of market is controlled by only 3 CRAs VIZ. </span><b>S&amp;P , MOODY&rsquo;S and &nbsp;FITCH</b><span style="font-weight: 400;">. Further they use expansionist marketing. </span></li>
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li style="font-weight: 400;"><b>For e.g. Hannover Re lost a big chunk of market share when it didn&rsquo;t pay up service fee (it was initially promised a free service by CRAs)</b><span style="font-weight: 400;">.</span></li>
</ul>
<li><b>Hegemonic Control: </b><span>As the big three CRAs are located in North America, America exerts a great control on the functioning of CRAs.</span></li>
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li style="font-weight: 400;"><b>When CRAs downgraded USA, CRAs were fined</b><span style="font-weight: 400;">. </span></li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">UK was rated lower than USA, even when the fiscal deficit of UK was lower than USA. Thus, rating of countries was not done in an objective way. </span></li>
</ul>
<li><b>CRAs have great control on the world economy as their ratings can result in the flight of capital from any given country</b><span>.</span></li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;"><b>CRAs are not accountable to any country and moreover their functioning is not transparent</b><span style="font-weight: 400;">.</span></li>
</ul>
<h3><span style="font-weight: 400;">Way Forward</span></h3>
<p><strong>International</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li style="font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">In response to the Global Financial Crisis of 2008-2009, US Congress passed the </span><b>Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform</b><span style="font-weight: 400;"> and Consumer Protection Act in July 2010.</span>
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li style="font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Legal liability of credit rating agencies should be increased.</span></li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Use of credit ratings in regulations that set capital requirements and restrict asset holdings for financial institutions should be removed or replaced. </span></li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;"><b>With the help of technology, open source models, such as Credit Risk Initiative of National University of Singapore Risk Management Institute, with fully transparent inputs and outputs should be created and promoted</b><span style="font-weight: 400;">.</span></li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;"><b>It encouraged CRAs to invest in due diligence, strengthen internal controls and corporate governance, and improve their methodology</b><span style="font-weight: 400;">. But some of the following &nbsp;provision of it are still unimplemented:</span></li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>National</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li style="font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">The Indian regulators (such as SEBI and RBI) should review their regulations and suitably modify them to ensure greater objectivity, transparency and credibility in the whole credit rating framework. </span></li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">For resolving conflict of interest</span><span style="font-weight: 400;"> disclosures being made by credit rating agencies should also include important determinants such as: </span></li>
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li style="font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Extent of promoter support</span></li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Linkages with subsidiaries</span></li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Liquidity position for meeting near-term payment obligations</span></li>
</ul>
<li style="font-weight: 400;"><b>Regulators in India may consider other options as well, such as &lsquo;investor pays model&rsquo; or &lsquo;regulator pays model&rsquo; after weighing the relevant pros and cons</b><span style="font-weight: 400;">.</span></li>
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li style="font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Alternately, within the existing framework, the appropriate rating fee structure, payable by the issuer may be decided by SEBI, in consultation with RBI and the credit rating agencies. </span></li>
</ul>
<li><span style="font-weight: 400;">&nbsp;</span><b>Rotation of credit rating agencies:</b><span> Under the current framework, there is no provision for the rotation of credit rating agencies.</span></li>
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li style="font-weight: 400;"><b>Mandatory rotation of rating agencies should be explored</b><span style="font-weight: 400;">. [</span><span style="font-weight: 400;">definition</span><span style="font-weight: 400;">:</span><i><span style="font-weight: 400;">mandatory audit rotation imposes periodical breaks to audit engagements and is intended to avoid excessively long relationships between the auditor and the client</span></i><span style="font-weight: 400;">] </span></li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">This would aid in avoiding negative consequences of long term associations between the issuer and the credit rating agency. &nbsp;This is particularly significant considering the recent instances of failure of credit rating agencies identifying trouble in their client-entities.</span>&nbsp;</li>
</ul>
</ul>
<table border="1" style="width: 100%; border-collapse: collapse; background-color: #dccef0; border-color: #3d0091; border-style: solid;">
<tbody>
<tr>
<td style="width: 100%;">
<p><em><b>Drishti Input:<br /><br /></b></em><span style="font-weight: 400;">Despite all the problems of credit rating agencies, it remains a necessary evil. Discuss.</span></p>
</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;"></span></p>',
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		],
		(int) 13 => [
			'title' => 'Cities are turning into 'Lightening Magnets'',
			'catname' => 'News Analysis',
			'desc' => '<p>Scientists believe that as the world gets warmer and more polluted, the frequency and intensity of lightning may rise. Estimates suggest that lightning kills over 2500 people annually in India.</p>
<h3>Factors that contribute</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Urban heat</strong>
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The concretization of urban areas, paired with a decrease in open, green spaces turns cities into <strong>heat sinks</strong>.</li>
<li>As this warm air from cities rises, cooler air rushes in to fill the space. This can form <strong>convective clouds</strong> if sufficient moisture is available, leading to <strong>unstable weather</strong>.</li>
<li><strong>Convective clouds</strong> are often associated with <strong>increased lightning</strong>.</li>
<li>The <strong>heat island effect</strong> was the main reason for a five-fold increase in lightning activity during pre-monsoon months in Delhi.</li>
<li>The recent findings also show that global warming could lead to stronger thunderstorms.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Pollution</strong>
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>High concentration of aerosols</strong> (pollutants suspended in the atmosphere) pumps up the incidence of lightning.</li>
<li>Aerosols reduce the size of cloud droplets, turning more water into ice, which increases the electrical conductivity of clouds by up to 50%.</li>
<li>Research says that <strong>pre-monsoon rainfall is accompanied by more lightning flash counts than monsoonal rains</strong>. The main reason for this is pollution.
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>The pre-monsoon season has higher concentration of suspended air pollutants. By comparison, the monsoon sees inflows of clean air from the ocean, which reduces pollution levels.</li>
<li>Also, since the clouds are at a much lower height during monsoon, it reduces convective energy within the cloud, thus abating lightning.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>Lightning flashes also create <strong>pollutants - Ozone &amp; Nitrogen Oxides -</strong> that can damage lung tissue and aggravate asthma. Nitrogen oxides get mixed with other gases in the atmosphere to produce ozone.</li>
<li>Therefore, the risk of lightning is thus much bigger than what&rsquo;s visible: the electrocution that causes death and injury. With pollution and global warming on the rise, an increase in the frequency of lightning seems inevitable.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>What is Lightning?</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Lightning is the <strong>visible discharge of electricity</strong> that occurs when a region of a cloud acquires an <strong>excess electrical charge,</strong> either positive or negative, that is sufficient to <strong>break down the resistance of air</strong>.</li>
<li>Lightning is usually associated with <strong>cumulonimbus clouds,</strong> but it also occurs in stratiform clouds (layered clouds with a large horizontal extent), in <strong>snowstorms</strong> and <strong>dust storms,</strong> and sometimes in the dust and gases emitted by erupting volcanoes.</li>
<li>During a thunderstorm, lightning can <strong>occur within the cloud, between clouds, between the cloud and the air,</strong> or <strong>between the cloud and the ground</strong>.</li>
<li>Lightning occurs when regions of <strong>excess positive and negative charge develop within the cloud</strong>.</li>
<li>Typically, there is a large volume of positive charge in the upper regions of the cloud, a large negative charge in the centre, and a small positive charge in the lower regions. These charges reside on water drops, ice particles, or both.</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1567773337_image1.jpg" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1567773337_image1.jpg" width="720" height="336" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" caption="false" /></a></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Thereby, sudden and violent <strong>electrostatic discharges</strong> within the cloud created the visible lightening.</li>
<li>About one-third of the lightning flashes travel from the cloud to the ground.</li>
<li>The potential difference between cloud and ground is of the order of 10 to 100 million volts.</li>
<li><strong>Thunder</strong> is produced by <strong>rapid heating of the air in the lightning channel</strong> and a consequent increase in air pressure. The overpressure causes the channel to expand at supersonic speeds, which ultimately produces a sound wave heard as thunder.</li>
</ul>
<h3>What is Urban Heat Island Effect?</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The <strong>elevated temperature in urban areas as compared to rural, less developed areas</strong> is referred to as the urban heat island effect. The process of urban development leads to this phenomenon.</li>
<li>Urban climates are distinguished from those of less built-up areas by differences in air temperature, humidity, wind speed and direction, and amount of precipitation.</li>
<li>These differences are attributable in large part to the altering of the natural terrain through the construction of artificial structures and surfaces.&nbsp;</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1567773390_image8.jpg" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1567773390_image8.jpg" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="576" height="373" caption="false" /></a></p>
<p><a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1567773402_image7.jpg" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1567773402_image7.jpg" width="556" height="309" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" caption="false" /></a></p>',
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		],
		(int) 14 => [
			'title' => 'Rush for Rare Earths',
			'catname' => 'News Analysis',
			'desc' => '<h3>Why in News?</h3>
<p>The Union Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEF&amp;CC) agreed to a request by the Ministry of Mines (MoM), seeking that clearances to private companies for mining beach sand minerals(rare earth minerals) be stopped.</p>
<h3>What are rare earth minerals?</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Rare earths are a series of <strong>chemical elements found in the Earth&rsquo;s</strong> crust that are vital to many modern technologies, including consumer electronics, computers and networks, communications, clean energy, advanced transportation, health care, environmental mitigation, national defense, and many others.</li>
<li>Because of their <strong>unique magnetic, luminescent, and electrochemical properties,</strong> these elements help make many technologies perform with reduced weight, reduced emissions, and energy consumption; or give them greater efficiency, performance, miniaturization, speed, durability, and thermal stability.</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1567768125_image4.jpg" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1567768125_image4.jpg" width="703" height="479" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" caption="false" /></a></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Along with these one other important constituent of beach sand mineral is <strong>Monazite</strong>. Monazite is the primary ore for thorium, a nuclear fuel. Its presence brings beach sand mining under the <strong>Atomic Minerals Concession Rules</strong>.</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1567768153_image9.jpg" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1567768153_image9.jpg" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="640" height="436" caption="false" /></a></p>
<h3>Mining rules for atomic mining</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The State Governments were given permission to grant mineral concessions, where <strong>Monazite</strong> is less than the prescribed threshold values (00.75%), to the private sector by auction or competitive bidding, in accordance <strong>with the Atomic Minerals Concession Rules, 2016</strong>.</li>
<li>However, in a notification this threshold limit was reduced to 0%.As monazite is found in various concentrations in all the beaches, this amendment essentially meant a ban on mining by private companies.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Problems caused by beach sand mining</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Destruction of natural beaches and the ecosystems they protect (e.g. dunes, wetlands),</li>
<li>Habitat loss for globally important species (e.g. turtles, shorebirds),</li>
<li>Destruction of nearshore marine ecosystems,</li>
<li>Increased shoreline erosion rates, reduced protection from storms, tsunamis, and wave events,</li>
<li>Economic losses through tourist abandonment and loss of coastal aesthetics</li>
</ul>
<h3>How is the mining industry regulated?</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The mining industry is regulated both at the central and state level.</li>
<li>The states have the power to regulate mines and mineral development. However, this power is subject to the federal laws and regulations on mining.</li>
<li>Minerals are classified into two types &ndash; <strong>major</strong> and <strong>minor</strong>. All State governments have the power to frame policy and regulate the exploration, extraction and processing of all minor minerals such as building stones, clay and sand.</li>
<li>Minerals (other than the minor minerals) are automatically classified as major minerals. The <strong>Central government</strong> has the power of revision, fixing of royalty, issuing regulations, etc, in respect of <strong>major minerals</strong>. Metallic minerals are largely classified as major minerals.</li>
<li>The <strong>Central government also has ownership over all offshore minerals</strong> (ie, minerals extracted from the sea or ocean floor in the Indian maritime zones such as the territorial waters, continental shelf and exclusive economic zones). The central government has the right to allot concessions and collect royalty for mining offshore minerals.</li>
</ul>',
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		],
		(int) 15 => [
			'title' => 'Important Facts For Prelims (9th May 2019)',
			'catname' => 'News Analysis',
			'desc' => '<h3>Pattachitra Painting</h3>
<p>Cyclon Fani has damaged many pieces of <strong>Pattachitra paintings</strong>. Pattachitra style of painting is one of the oldest and most popular art forms of Odisha.</p>
<p><strong>Key points<a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1567773702_image3.jpg" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1567773702_image3.jpg" width="250" height="169" style="float: right;" caption="false" /></a></strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The name Pattachitra has evolved from the Sanskrit words Patta, meaning canvas, and Chitra, meaning <em>picture</em>. Pattachitra is a painting done on canvas and is manifested by rich colourful application, creative motifs and designs, and portrayal of simple themes, mostly mythological in depiction.</li>
<li>Some of the popular themes represented through this art form are <strong>Thia Badhia</strong> - depiction of the temple of Jagannath; <strong>Krishna Lila</strong> - enactment of Jagannath as Lord Krishna displaying his powers as a child; <strong>Dasabatara Patti</strong> - the ten incarnations of Lord Vishnu; <strong>Panchamukhi</strong> - depiction of Lord Ganesh as a five-headed deity.</li>
<li>The Pattachitra, when painted on cloth, follows a traditional process of preparation of the canvas. First, the <strong>base is prepared by coating the cloth with the soft, white, stone powder of chalk and glue made from tamarind seeds</strong>.</li>
<li>It is a tradition to complete the borders of the painting first. The painter then starts making a rough sketch directly with the brush using light red and yellow. The colours used are normally white, red, yellow, and black.</li>
<li>When the painting is completed it is held over a charcoal fire and lacquer is applied to the surface. This makes the painting water resistant and durable, besides giving it a shining finish.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Arunachal Pit Viper</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li style="text-align: left;">Herpetologists have discovered a new species of reddish brown pit viper with unique heat-sensing system from the forest of <strong>West Kameng district of Arunachal Pradesh</strong>.</li>
<li>A new species of pit viper, <strong>Trimeresurus arunachalensis</strong> is described based on a single specimen. It differs from all known pit vipers in India.<a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1567773753_image5.jpg" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1567773753_image5.jpg" width="355" height="186" style="float: right;" caption="false" /></a><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>It is the first species of pit viper to be named after state.</li>
<li>It is the rarest of all known pit vipers in the world.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>Other known pit viper in India are:<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Malabar Pit Viper <strong>(Trimeresurus malabaricus)</strong></li>
<li>Horseshoe Pit Viper <strong>(Trimeresurus strigatus Gray)</strong></li>
<li>Hump-Nosed Pit Viper <strong>(Hypnale hypnale Merrem)</strong></li>
<li>Himalayan Pit Viper <strong>(Protobothrops himalayanus)</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Location:</strong> The new species is presently known from a single locality &mdash; <strong>Ramda, West Kameng, Arunachal Pradesh,</strong> northeastern India.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Basvanna Jayanti</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Basvanna (Lord Basaveshwara) was a 12th-century poet-philosopher, and the founding saint of the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/center-refuses-to-recognize-lingayat-as-separate-religion" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Lingayat sect</strong></a>.<a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1567773996_image2.jpg" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1567773996_image2.jpg" width="277" height="312" style="float: right;" caption="false" /></a></li>
<li><strong>Basvanna Jayanti (Basava Jayanthi)</strong> is celebrated on his birth anniversary, particularly in state of <strong>Karnataka and Maharashtra</strong>.</li>
<li><strong>Early life:</strong> Basaveshwara was born in <strong>Bagevadi</strong> (of undivided Bijapur district in Karnataka) during 1131 AD. His father was Madarasa and Madalambike was his mother. They belonged to the Brahmin community. As a religious tradition, he was initiated with the holy thread <strong>&lsquo;janivara&rsquo;</strong> in Upanayana, (thread ceremony) at the early age of eight years. Basavanna revolted against this tradition, cut threw his janivara, left home and went to Kudalasangama from where he was educated in all respects.</li>
<li>Later he went to Kalyana, where the <strong>Kalchuri king Bijjala (1157-1167, AD)</strong> was ruling. Because of his highly intellectual personality, he was appointed as a karanika (Accountant) in the initial stage, in the court of king Bijjala and later he became the Prime Minister of Bijjala after proving his administrative ability.</li>
<li><strong>The ideas of Basavanna:</strong> is scripted in a novel form of literature called <strong>Vachana</strong> (poetry). This innovative literary form is the main contribution of <strong>&ldquo;Sharanas movement&rdquo;</strong> through which they express their revolutionary and reformist ideology in a very simple Kannada language.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Thus the main aim of Vachana (poetry) movement, led by Basaveshwara was welfare of all. He proclaimed this as&ndash; <strong>"Sakala jeevatmarige lesu" (welfare of all)</strong>.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>He gave two important and innovative concepts called <strong>"Sthavara"&nbsp;</strong>and <strong>"Jangama"</strong>, the meaning of which is &ldquo;Static&rsquo;&rsquo; and &lsquo;&rsquo;Dynamic&rsquo;&rsquo;- respectively. Both of these concepts are the main foundation stones of his revolutionary ideology.</li>
<li><strong>He was born progressive activist:</strong> Revolted against all the social evils of the traditionalistic society and brought a drastic change in various facets. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>He gave an idea of <strong>Socialistic and Democratic system</strong>. He talked about <strong>human rights</strong> in the twelfth century.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Religious reforms:</strong> He tried to change the <strong>concept of Temple</strong> which was the main centre of various types of harassment. Priests and rich people were exploiting the common folk in the name of God and temple.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>He gave a new dimension to the human body and soul (inner spirit), by which the self respect of all human beings was boosted.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>Basvanna was first Kannadiga in whose honour a commemorative coin has been minted in recognition of his social reforms.</li>
<li>Indian Prime Minister inaugurated his <strong>statue of along the bank of the river Thames at Lambeth in 2015</strong>.</li>
</ul>
<h3>20<sup>th</sup> Conference of the Regional Heads of Customs Administration</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs <strong>(CBIC)</strong> has <strong>organised</strong> a <strong>meeting</strong> of the <strong>Regional Heads of Customs Administration of Asia Pacific Region of the World Customs Organisation (WCO)</strong> in May 2019.</li>
<li><strong>India</strong> assumed the role as <strong>Vice Chair of the Asia Pacific region</strong> for a two-year period.</li>
<li>The meeting takes stock of the progress being made to promote, facilitate and secure the cross-border trade in the region and the capacity building and technical assistance required to achieve this goal.</li>
<li>Recognising the importance of the collaborative approach between Customs and trade, a Trade Day was organised.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Quick customs clearance</strong> always remains a key issue for both exporters and importers.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>World Customs Organisation (WCO)</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The World Customs Organization (WCO), established in 1952 as the Customs Co-operation Council (CCC) is an <strong>independent intergovernmental body</strong> whose mission is to enhance the effectiveness and efficiency of Customs administrations.</li>
<li>At present, it represents <strong>183 Customs administrations</strong> across the globe that collectively process approximately 98% of world trade.</li>
<li>It is the only international organization with competence in Customs matters and which can rightly call itself the voice of the international Customs community.</li>
<li>It has its <strong>headquarters</strong> in <strong>Brussels, Belgium</strong>.</li>
</ul>
</div>
<h3>Red cross day</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>World Red Cross Day is celebrated on the <strong>8<sup>th</sup> of Ma</strong>y every year as the birthday anniversary of the founder of the Red Cross, Henry Dunant. He is also founder of the <strong>International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC)</strong>. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>He became the recipient of <strong>1<sup>st</sup> Nobel Peace Prize</strong>.</li>
<li>World Red Cross Day <strong>2019 theme is "#love:"</strong>.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>About Red Cross:</strong> Red Cross was introduced as a major contributor to the peace after World War I by an international commission at 14th International Conference of the Red Cross.</li>
<li>The<strong> International Red Cross</strong> is a non profit organisation. It is an international humanitarian movement with approximately 17 million volunteers, members and staff worldwide which was founded to protect human life and health, to ensure respect for all human beings, and to prevent and alleviate human suffering.</li>
<li><strong>Working of Red cross:</strong> Volunteering-serves as a means in helping the society to bridge the gap between the crisis and the crisis management.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Various blood donation camps are organized at various places across the country and the organization.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Locking Carbon Dioxide into a Rock</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Swiss scientists,</strong> through a study, are trying to find out <strong>if carbon dioxide (CO<sub>2</sub>) can be locked into a rock</strong>.</li>
<li>Scientists believe that a layer of impermeable clay inside Mont Terri in the Jura Mountains could potentially trap carbon dioxide, the main greenhouse gas causing global warming.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Scientists want to see that <strong>if the rock has a fault in it, whether CO<sub>2</sub> will come up through it or not</strong>.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>The study is aimed at<strong> geological storage of CO</strong><sub><strong>2</strong>&nbsp;</sub>in a densely populated region of Switzerland.</li>
<li><strong>At present, geological storage of CO<sub>2</sub> exists in uninhabited places,</strong> such as the Algerian desert or under the Norwegian North Sea etc.</li>
<li><strong>Environmental organizations</strong> like Greenpeace <strong>are worried</strong> that the <strong>findings from the study, could turn into a "right to pollute"</strong> and distract people from efforts of emission reduction, which are driving a disastrous rise in global temperatures</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Carbon Storage</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS) involves capturing carbon dioxide (CO<sub>2</sub>)</strong> from large emission sources and then transporting and storing or <strong>burying it in a suitable deep geological formation</strong>.</li>
<li>CO<sub>2</sub> can be stored in three main ways:<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>in formations like rocks</li>
<li>in deep ocean water &mdash; ocean storage</li>
<li>in the form of mineral carbonates &mdash; mineral storage</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>Deep ocean storage can increase ocean acidification, a problem that also stems from the excess of carbon dioxide already in the atmosphere and oceans.</li>
</ul>
</div>
<h3>India gets re-elected as observer to Arctic Council</h3>
<p>India has been re-elected as an observer to the Arctic Council.</p>
<p><strong>About arctic council</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The Arctic Council is formed of circumpolar countries of <strong>Russia, United States, Canada, Norway, Demark, Sweden, Iceland</strong> and <strong>Finland</strong>.</li>
<li>The Arctic Council is a <strong>high-level intergovernmental body set up in 1996</strong> by the <strong>Ottawa declaration</strong> to promote cooperation, coordination and interaction among the Arctic States together with the indigenous communities and other Arctic inhabitants.</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Observer Status</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>India along with China, South Korea, Singapore, Italy and Japan has Observer status at the Council. India was given observer status through <strong>Kiruna Declaration</strong>.</li>
<li>Observers are not allowed to take part in the active meetings. They usually participate in side events.</li>
<li>Observer status in the Arctic Council is open to Non-governmental organizations, Non-littoral states as well as to Intergovernmental and Inter-Parliamentary organizations.</li>
</ul>
</div>',
			'postdate' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenTime) {},
			'url' => 'https://www.drishtiias.com/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/important-facts-for-prelims-9th-may-2019'
		],
		(int) 16 => [
			'title' => 'WHO for Eliminating Industrially Produced Trans Fats by 2023',
			'catname' => 'News Analysis',
			'desc' => '<p>The World Health Organisation (WHO) is working with the International Food and Beverage Alliance (IFBA) to eliminate trans fat from industrially produced global food supply by 2023.</p>
<h3>Key points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The WHO stressed the value of regulatory action on labelling, marketing and urged industry for full adherence to the WHO code of marketing of breast milk substitutes.</li>
<li>The IFBA committed to limit the amount of industrial trans fat in their products below 2 grams per 100 grams fat/oil globally by 2023.</li>
<li>Industrially produced trans fat is responsible for more than 5,00,000 deaths globally from coronary heart disease each year. Increased intake of trans fat is associated with increased risk of coronary heart disease mortality and events.</li>
<li>The WHO recommendation is that people consume less than 1% of their energy from trans fat. This translates to 2.2 grams for a 2,000 calorie diet.</li>
<li>Elimination of industrially-produced trans fats from the global food supply has been identified as one of the priority targets of WHO&rsquo;s strategic plan, the draft 13th General</li>
<li>Programme of Work (GPW13) which will guide the work of WHO in 2019 - 2023.</li>
<li>WHO also released <strong>REPLACE,</strong> a step-by-step guide in 2018, for the elimination of industrially-produced trans-fatty acids from the global food supply.</li>
<li>As part of the U.N.&rsquo;s Sustainable Development Goals, the global community has committed to <strong>reducing premature death from non-communicable diseases by one-third by 2030</strong>. Global elimination of industrially-produced trans fats can help achieve this goal.</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>International Food and Beverage Alliance (IFBA)</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>IFBA was founded in 2008 by the CEOs of leading food and non-alcoholic beverage companies to empower consumers to eat balanced diets and live healthier lives, in support of the World Health Organization&rsquo;s efforts to improve global public health.</li>
</ul>
</div>
<h3>13<sup>th</sup> General Programme of Work</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The WHO 13<sup>th</sup> General Programme of Work (GPW 13) was adopted by the Member States in May 2018.</li>
<li>It has three interconnected strategic priorities to ensure healthy lives and well-being for all ages &mdash; <strong>achieving universal health coverage, addressing health emergencies </strong>and<strong> promoting healthier populations</strong>.</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1567773617_image6.jpg" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1567773617_image6.jpg" width="353" height="331" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" caption="false" /></a></p>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>REPLACE</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>REPLACE provides six <strong>strategic actions</strong> to ensure the prompt, complete, and sustained elimination of industrially-produced trans fats from the food supply:<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>REview</strong> dietary sources of industrially-produced trans fats and the landscape for required policy change.</li>
<li><strong>Promote</strong> the replacement of industrially-produced trans fats with healthier fats and oils.</li>
<li><strong>Legislate</strong> or enact regulatory actions to eliminate industrially-produced trans fats.</li>
<li><strong>Assess</strong> and monitor trans fats content in the food supply and changes in trans fat consumption in the population.</li>
<li><strong>Create</strong> awareness of the negative health impact of trans fats among policymakers, producers, suppliers, and the public.</li>
<li><strong>Enforce</strong> compliance of policies and regulations.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</div>
<h3>What is India&rsquo;s position?</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>India has set targets to reduce the industrially produced trans fat to less than 2% by the year 2022 in a phased manner, a year ahead of the WHO target.</li>
<li>To achieve the target, the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) launched two initiatives: <strong>Eat Right Movement</strong> and <strong>Heart Attack Rewind</strong> mass media campaign.</li>
<li><strong>Eat Right Movement:</strong> Launched in 2018, the programme is built on two broad pillars of &lsquo;Eat Healthy&rsquo; and &lsquo;Eat Safe&rsquo;. It aims to cut down on salt, sugar and oil consumption by 30% in three years. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Swachh Bharat Yatra,</strong> a Pan-India cyclothon, was launched under the movement to aware the citizens on issues of food safety, combating food adulteration and healthy diets.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Heart Attack Rewind:</strong> It is a 30-second public service announcement which was broadcasted in 17 languages on social media platforms. The objective of the campaign was to warn citizens about the health hazards of consuming trans fats and offer strategies to avoid them through healthier alternatives.</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI)</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>FSSAI has been established under the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006 which consolidates various acts &amp; orders that have handled food related issues in various Ministries and Departments.</li>
<li>Ministry of Health &amp; Family Welfare is the administrative Ministry for the implementation of FSSAI.</li>
<li>FSSAI has been created for laying down science-based standards for articles of food and to regulate their manufacture, storage, distribution, sale, and import to ensure availability of safe and wholesome food for human consumption.</li>
</ul>
</div>',
			'postdate' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenTime) {},
			'url' => 'https://www.drishtiias.com/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/who-for-eliminating-industrially-produced-trans-fats-by-2023'
		],
		(int) 17 => [
			'title' => 'Need to set up State Finance Commission',
			'catname' => 'News Analysis',
			'desc' => '<p>The <strong>15<sup>th</sup> Finance Commission</strong> (headed by N K Singh) recently held a detailed meeting with RBI.</p>
<h3>Key issues that were discussed</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Continuity of the Finance Commission: A permanent status to Finance Commission</strong> and a robust expenditure planning is the need of the hour. This is required, in view of the fiscal management requirements of the States, especially given the <strong>absence of mid-term reviews of awards granted by the Finance Commission</strong>.</li>
<li><strong>State Finance Commissions (SFCs):</strong> States have not been setting up their State Finance Commissions every five years as mandated by <strong>73<sup>rd</sup> Constitutional Amendment Act</strong>. Therefore, they discussed the necessity of SFCs to rationalize and systematize State/sub-state fiscal relations in India.</li>
<li><strong>Expenditure codes:</strong> Expenditure norms <strong>vary from state to state;</strong> therefore there is a need of <strong>uniform standard expenditure codes</strong> across the country.</li>
<li><strong>Public Sector Borrowing Requirement (PSBR):</strong> It is defined as borrowing by not just Central and State governments but also by all public sector corporations and agencies. This consolidated figure will more or less put an end to the manipulation the fiscal deficit by the government. The main issues discussed are the <strong>increasing orientation of State governments&rsquo; borrowing from markets, improving secondary market liquidity and cash management</strong>.</li>
<li><strong>Importance of States in the economy:</strong> The role of states in the growth of Indian economy has increased given the <strong>&lsquo;shift in composition of government finances&rsquo;</strong>. States are now getting much higher share of transfer <strong>(devolution of 42%)</strong> from Centre, on the recommendation of 15<sup>th</sup> FC.</li>
<li><strong>Factors driving fiscal slippage:</strong> These factors include <strong>UDA, farm loan waivers</strong> and <strong>income support schemes; rising outstanding debt as a percentage of GDP</strong> despite moderation in interest payments as a percentage of revenue receipts.</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>15<sup>th</sup> Finance Commission (FC)</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Finance Commission is a <strong>constitutional body under Article 280</strong> created every five years to recommend the transfer of financial resources from the Centre to the States.</li>
<li>The Commission also decides the principles on which grants-in-aid will be given to the States.</li>
<li>The 15th FC was constituted on November 27, 2017 and is headed by <strong>Mr. N.K. Singh</strong>.</li>
<li>The recommendations, to be observed for a period of five years, will kick in from April 1, 2020.</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>State Finance Commissions (SFCs)</strong></p>
<p>The State Finance Commission (SFC) is an institution created by the 73rd and 74th Constitutional Amendments (CAs) to rationalize and systematize State/sub-State-level fiscal relations in India.</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Article 243I of the Constitution</strong> mandated the State Governor to constitute a Finance Commission every five years.</li>
<li><strong>Article 243Y of the Constitution</strong> states that the Finance Commission constituted under article 243 I shall also review the financial position of the Municipalities and make recommendations to the Governor.</li>
<li><strong>Concerns:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>States have not been setting up their SFCs regularly as mandated.</li>
<li>They are not submitting the reports in time, lacking the proficiency.</li>
<li>They have huge task of considering large number of local governments.</li>
<li>They face a crucial problem of reliable data.</li>
<li>SFCs and local governments are seen to be of inferior constitutional status than the Union FC.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</div>',
			'postdate' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenTime) {},
			'url' => 'https://www.drishtiias.com/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/need-to-set-up-state-finance-commission'
		],
		(int) 18 => [
			'title' => 'In Depth: Basmati – Farming for all',
			'catname' => 'Lok Sabha & Rajya Sabha Discussions',
			'desc' => '<p style="text-align: center;"><iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/NpsoUXNzwNk" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe></p>
<p>The <strong>Delhi High Court has set aside the Central Government&rsquo;s decision to restrict the production of <em>Basmati</em> rice to certain regions</strong> in the Indo-Gangetic plain. It has also <strong>struck down</strong> the decision to <strong>restrict the registration</strong> of <em><strong>Basmati</strong> </em>varieties for certified and foundation <strong>seeds</strong> to areas under the Geographical Indication <strong>(GI) for <em>Basmati</em> rice</strong> i.e <strong>certain areas</strong> in the Indo-Gangetic plain. The High Court&rsquo;s verdict came on the <strong>Madhya Pradesh government's plea</strong> to include 13 districts in the State under the Geographical Indications (GI) category for basmati rice.</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The <strong>Ministry of Agriculture</strong> had through <strong>two</strong> Office Memorandums <strong>(OM)</strong> of May 2008 and February 2014 <strong>confined the GI certification for basmati to the rice</strong> grown in the Indo-Gangetic plains <strong>in the states of</strong> Punjab, Haryana, Delhi, Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand and parts of Uttar Pradesh and Jammu and Kashmir.</li>
<li><strong>OM-I</strong> expressly provided that it would be necessary to ensure the linkage between the variety and the Geographical Indication and only Basmati varieties with prescribed characteristic grown in Indo-Gangetic region would qualify for such description.</li>
<li><strong>OM-II</strong> ensured that the registration of Basmati varieties for certified and foundation seeds is not undertaken outside geographical area detained under the GI for Basmati rice.</li>
<li>The <strong>Madhya Pradesh government argued that both orders were outside the scope of the Seeds Act, 1966</strong>. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>There is no power which is given to any authority including the Agriculture ministry under the Seeds Act to limit somebody from producing a certain quality of seed.</li>
<li>Any part of the country can produce Basmati Rice using Basmati seeds. However, whether they can call it basmati rice or not is a question which is to be addressed under the GI act.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>The government also contended that the center&rsquo;s order encroach upon its power to pass laws in relation to <strong>Agriculture, which is a state subject</strong>.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Basmati Rice</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>It is one of the best known varieties of rice all across the globe.</li>
<li>It is a <strong>long grain rice which has its origin from India and some parts of Pakistan</strong>.</li>
<li>It has a unique position in the rice world due to its price, fragrance, grain morphology as well as quality.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Basmati rice has a <strong>unique fragrance and flavour</strong> caused due to the presence of a chemical called <strong>2-acetyl-1-pyrroline</strong>.</li>
<li>This chemical is found in basmati rice at about 90 parts per million (ppm) which is 12 times more than non-basmati rice varieties.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>Basmati rice needs <strong>specific climatic conditions</strong> to grow which is why it is cultivated in selected regions of India. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>It is cultivated in the states of Himachal Pradesh, Punjab, Haryana, Delhi, Uttarakhand, Madhya Pradesh, Jammu and kashmir and western Uttar Pradesh.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>Basmati vs Non-Basmati Rice</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Basmati</strong> is a <strong>long grain</strong> rice. The <strong>non-basmati rice comes in all different shapes and sizes &ndash;</strong> long, slender, short and thick, bead and round.</li>
<li><strong>Basmati</strong> has a characteristic <strong>fragrance</strong> and flavor while <strong>non-basmati</strong> varieties, do <strong>not have an aroma</strong>.</li>
<li><strong>Basmati</strong> is also available in <strong>white and brown versions</strong> depending on the extent of the milling process. Like wine and cheese, the older basmati gets the better its flavor and aroma. Hence the <strong>aged Basmati costs higher</strong> than the recent productions.</li>
<li><strong>Basmati</strong> rice <strong>becomes almost double its size on cooking</strong>. Such a significant increase in size <strong>cannot be seen in non-basmati varieties</strong>. This makes basmati variety one of the highly demanded rice in the world.</li>
<li><strong>Yield of Basmati rice from the agricultural land is almost half the non-basmati varieties.</strong> This is also one of the reasons for Basmati&rsquo;s higher costs.</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>Production of Basmati Rice in India</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>India is the largest producer of Basmati rice</strong> with about 70 per cent share in global production.</li>
<li>Basmati rice constitutes one of <strong>India&rsquo;s significant exports</strong> both in terms of <strong>soft power and hard money</strong>.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>India is leading exporter of Basmati rice in the global market.</li>
<li>During 2016-17, India exported 40,00,471.56 MT of Basmati Rice.</li>
<li>Major Export Destinations in 2016-17 included Saudi Arabia, Iran, United Arab Emirates, Iraq and Kuwait.</li>
<li>According to a report, the Indian Basmati rice industry is on the verge of clocking its highest ever export of around 30,000 crore rupees in the financial year 2019.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>India has always been involved in protecting the name Basmati as a geographic indicator. In other words, Basmati is a term that should be restricted to the product from its geographic location.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Geographical Indication(GI)</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>It is an <strong>insignia on products</strong> having a unique geographical origin and evolution over centuries with regard to its special quality or reputed attributes.</li>
<li>It is a <strong>mark of authenticity</strong> and ensures that registered authorized users or at least those residing inside the geographic territory are allowed to use the popular product names.</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>Benefits of GI Tag</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>It provides <strong>legal protection</strong> to Indian Geographical Indications thus preventing unauthorized use of the registered GIs by others.</li>
<li>It <strong>promotes economic prosperity</strong> of producers of goods produced in a geographical territory.</li>
<li>The GI protection in India leads to <strong>recognition of the product in other countries thus boosting exports</strong>.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Seeds Act, 1966</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The Parliament passed the Seeds Act in the year 1966 to provide legal framework around <strong>seed certification</strong> and make good quality seeds available to the cultivators.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>It was effectively promulgated under the <strong>entry 33 of the concurrent list of the Constitution</strong>.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>Under this act, seed rules were framed and notified in the year 1968 and systematic seed certification got started in India in the year 1969.</li>
<li>It is part of the list of laws which are <strong>part of the Essential Commodities Act</strong>. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Paddy is treated as an essential commodity.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>It <strong>applies to the whole of India including Jammu &amp; Kashmir</strong>.</li>
<li>It states the definition of a seed and a crop.</li>
<li>The act <strong>covers seeds of food crops and oil crops</strong>.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>It also covers cotton seeds and seeds of cattle fodder and all types of vegetative propagating material.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>The act provides for establishment of a Central Seed Committee to advise states in seed related matters.</li>
<li>It also provides for establishment of Seed Certification Agencies in the states, Seed Certification Boards and State Seed Testing Laboratories.</li>
<li>It sets out what shall be a seed variety which is notified legally under the act.</li>
<li>The act <strong>imposes restrictions on import and export of seeds</strong> of notified varieties which means any variety imported or exported should meet the <strong>minimum limits of seed germination and purity</strong>.</li>
<li>It also frames <strong>rules for the sale of certified seeds of declared crops and their varieties</strong> and appoints Seed Analysts and Crop Inspectors to check quality in the field.</li>
<li>The act also <strong>provides for actions to be taken against individuals</strong> and companies that violate the provisions of the act and interfere in the work of Seed Inspectors.</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>The Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA)</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>It was established by the Government of India under the <strong>Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority Act,</strong> passed by the Parliament in December, 1985.</li>
<li>It is a statutory body under the <strong>Ministry of Commerce and Industry</strong> and is the apex organization engaged in work related to the development of export of agricultural products and processed food from India.</li>
<li>It is <strong>responsible for putting in place a system for administration of GI</strong> and authentication of the product in India and abroad.</li>
</ul>
</div>',
			'postdate' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenTime) {},
			'url' => 'https://www.drishtiias.com/loksabha-rajyasabha-discussions/in-depth-basmati-farming-for-all'
		],
		(int) 19 => [
			'title' => 'India-US Trade',
			'catname' => 'News Analysis',
			'desc' => '<p>India and the US agreed to <strong>deepen economic cooperation and resolve outstanding issues through regular official engagements</strong> in a <strong>recent meeting</strong> between the US commerce secretary Wilbur Ross and Indian trade minister Suresh Prabhu.</p>
<p>While the <strong>US is India&rsquo;s largest export destination, India is only the 13<sup>th</sup> largest for the US</strong> due to <strong>&ldquo;restrictive market access barriers&rdquo;</strong>.</p>
<h3>Major Issues</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Tariffs</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Bilateral tensions have increased over each side&rsquo;s tariff policies. These include the US 25% steel and 10% aluminum tariffs.</li>
<li>India is considering the retaliatory tariffs.</li>
<li>According to US, market barriers in Indian market include both tariff and non-tariff barriers, as well as multiple practices and regulations that disadvantage foreign companies.</li>
<li>India is considering challenging the US tariff increases in the World Trade Organization (WTO).</li>
<li>President Trump has called India &ldquo;a very high-tariff nation&rdquo; and criticized tariff imbalances.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Generalised System of Preferences (GSP) Programme</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Recently, the US has decided to <strong>withdraw duty-free benefits to Indian exporters under the GSP programme</strong>.</li>
<li>India is GSP&rsquo;s top beneficiary. In 2018, GSP represented 11% ($6.3 billion) of US merchandise imports from India, such as chemicals, auto parts, and tableware. GSP removal would reinstate US tariffs.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Services</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>A key issue for India is US&rsquo;s temporary visa policies, which affect Indian nationals working in the United States. India is challenging US fees for worker visas in the WTO, and monitoring potential US action to revise the H-1B visa program.</li>
<li>India also continues to seek a <strong>&ldquo;totalization agreement&rdquo;</strong> to coordinate social security protection for workers who split their careers between the two countries.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Agriculture</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Sanitary and phytosanitary (SPS) barriers in India limit US agricultural exports.</li>
<li>Each side also sees the other&rsquo;s agricultural support programs as market-distorting.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Intellectual Property (IP)</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The two sides differ on how to balance IP protection to incentivize innovation and support other policy goals, such as access to medicines.</li>
<li>India remains on the <strong>&ldquo;Special 301&rdquo; Priority Watch List for 2018,</strong> based on such concerns as its treatment of patents, infringement rates, and protection of trade secrets.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>"Forced" Localization</strong>
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The United States continues to press India on its &ldquo;forced&rdquo; localization practices.</li>
<li>Initiatives to grow India&rsquo;s manufacturing base and support jobs include requirements for in-country data storage, domestic content (such as laws protecting India&rsquo;s solar sector), and domestic testing in some sectors.</li>
<li><strong>India&rsquo;s new data localization requirements for electronic payment service suppliers</strong> such as MasterCard, Visa, etc.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Investment</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>US concerns about investment barriers remain nevertheless, heightened by new Indian restrictions on how e-commerce platforms such as Amazon and Walmart owned Flipkart conduct business.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Defense Trade</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The United States urges more reforms in <strong>India&rsquo;s defense offsets policy</strong> and higher FDI caps in its defense sector.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Generalized System of Preferences (GSP)</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The GSP is a US trade program designed to promote economic growth in the developing world by providing preferential duty-free entry for up to 4,800 products from 129 designated beneficiary countries and territories.</li>
<li>GSP was instituted on January 1, 1976, by the Trade Act of 1974.</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>Totalization Agreement</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>A Totalization Agreement is a convention between two countries preventing duplicate social security contributions for the same income.</li>
<li>India had signed Social Security Agreements (SSAs)/Totalization Agreement with several countries (presently 18 countries).</li>
<li>US has also signed the totalization agreements with 24 countries.</li>
<li>India has been trying to sign such agreements with US since 2007.</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>Defence Offset Policy 2016</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>It is a part of Defence Procurement and Procedure (DPP) 2016.</li>
<li>The offset policy mandates foreign suppliers to spend at least 30% of the contract value in India.</li>
<li>The key objectives of the Defence Offset Policy is to leverage the capital acquisitions to develop Indian defence industry by fostering the development of internationally competitive enterprises; augmenting capacity for research and development in defence sector and to encourage development of synergistic sectors like civil aerospace and internal security.</li>
<li>The offset can be discharged by many means such as direct purchase of eligible products/services, FDI in joint ventures and investment towards equipment and transfer of technology.</li>
<li>The foreign Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) is free to select any Indian company as its offset partner.</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>&ldquo;Special 301&rdquo; Priority Watch List</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The Office of the United States Trade Representative (USTR) releases its annual Special 301 Report on the adequacy and effectiveness of trading partners&rsquo; protection of intellectual property rights and the findings of its Notorious Markets List.</li>
<li>The 2018 report has placed India on &lsquo;Priority Watch List&rsquo; over challenges in India&rsquo;s IP framework.</li>
</ul>
</div>',
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	(int) 0 => [
		'title' => ' WTO Ministerial Meeting of Developing Countries',
		'catname' => 'News Analysis',
		'desc' => '<p>India will host a <strong>WTO ministerial meeting of developing countries</strong> in <strong>New Delhi</strong> on May 13 &amp; 14, 2019.</p>
<h3>Key highlights</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The meeting is a run up to the <strong>twelfth Ministerial Conference of the WTO to be held in Kazakhstan in 2020.</strong></li>
<li>The meeting is an effort to bring together the developing countries and the Least Developed Countries on a platform for sharing <strong>common concerns on various issues affecting the WTO</strong> and to address the following <strong>issues:</strong>
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>WTO&rsquo;s appellate body</strong> has <strong>shrunk over the last two years from its required strength of seven members to three</strong>.</li>
<li>At present, <strong>the appellate body takes a year to hear appeals</strong>, whereas the time to dispose off the appeals is 90 days.</li>
<li><strong>Special and differential treatment of developing countries</strong> in the WTO is a concern for some other countries.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>The<strong> increased unilateral measures </strong>and<strong> counter-measures</strong> by member countries, as well as <strong>deadlock in key areas</strong> of negotiations and the <strong>impasse in the WTO's appellate body</strong> has given rise to demands to<strong> reform</strong> the organization.</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>The World Trade Organization (WTO)</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>It is the <strong>only global international organization dealing with the rules of trade between nations</strong>.</li>
<li>It came into existence on January 1, 1995 and has its <strong>headquarters in Geneva, Switzerland</strong>.</li>
<li>All major decisions are made by the WTO's member governments, either by ministers (who usually meet at least every two years) or by their ambassadors or delegates (who meet regularly in Geneva).</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>Special and Differential Treatment provisions</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The WTO Agreements contain special provisions which <strong>give developing countries special rights</strong> and developed countries the possibility to treat developing countries more favourably than other WTO Members.</li>
<li>The special provisions include:
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>longer time periods for implementing Agreements and commitments</li>
<li>measures to increase trading opportunities for developing countries</li>
<li>provisions requiring all WTO members to safeguard the trade interests of developing countries</li>
<li>support to help developing countries build the capacity to carry out WTO work, handle disputes, and implement technical standards</li>
<li>provisions related to least-developed country (LDC) members</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</div>',
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	(int) 1 => [
		'title' => 'SC Upholds Karnataka Law Granting Reservation In Promotion For SC-ST',
		'catname' => 'News Analysis',
		'desc' => '<p>The Supreme Court has upheld the constitutional validity of the <strong>Karnataka Extension of Consequential Seniority to Government Servants Promoted on the Basis of Reservation (to the Posts in the Civil Services of the State) Act 2018.</strong></p>
<h3>Background of this Judgement</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>In <strong>Indra Sawhney vs Union of India</strong>, the Supreme Court had held that reservations under <strong>Article 16(4)</strong> could only be provided at the time of entry into government service but not in matters of promotion.</li>
<li>In 1995, Parliament, acting in its constituent capacity, adopted the 77<sup>th</sup> amendment by which clause (4A) was inserted into Article 16 to enable reservation to be made in promotion for SCs and STs.</li>
<li>The validity of the 77<sup>th</sup> and 85<sup>th</sup> amendments to the Constitution and of the legislation enacted in pursuance of those amendments was challenged before the Supreme Court in the <strong>Nagaraj case</strong>. The SC upheld the constitutional validity of these amendments and ruled that:
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>If the state &ldquo;wished to exercise their discretion and make provision (for reservation in promotions for SCs/STs), the <strong>State has to collect quantifiable data showing backwardness</strong> of the class and inadequacy of representation and compliance to Article 335&rdquo;.</li>
<li>It will have to see that its reservation provision does not breach the <strong>ceiling-limit of 50%</strong>.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>The <strong>Karnataka Determination of Seniority of the Government Servants Promoted on the Basis of the Reservation Act 2002</strong> was held to be unconstitutional <strong>[in BK Pavitra CASE]</strong> on the ground that an exercise for determining 'inadequacy of representation', 'backwardness' and the impact on 'overall efficiency' had not preceded the enactment of the law.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Why this is Significant</h3>
<p>This Supreme Court order is significant because it underlines &ldquo;a <strong>&lsquo;meritorious&rsquo; candidate</strong> is not merely one who is &lsquo;talented &lsquo;or &lsquo;successful&rsquo; but also one <strong>whose appointment fulfils the constitutional goals of uplifting members of the SCs and STs</strong> and ensuring a diverse and representative administration&rdquo;.</p>
<h3>Basis for the Judgement</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The providing of reservation for SCs and STs is <strong>not at odds with the principle of meritocracy</strong>. Merit must not be limited to narrow and inflexible criteria such as one&rsquo;s rank in a standardised exam, but rather must flow from the actions a society seeks to reward, including the promotion of equality in society and diversity in public administration.</li>
<li><strong>Article 335</strong> recognises that special measures need to be adopted for considering the claims of SCs and STs in order to bring them to a level-playing field. Centuries of discrimination and prejudice suffered by the SCs and STs in a feudal, caste-oriented societal structure poses real barriers of access to opportunity.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Judges Verdict on Efficiency</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Efficiency of administration</strong> in the affairs of the Union or of a State <strong>must be defined in an inclusive sense</strong>, where diverse segments of society find representation as a true aspiration of governance by and for the people.</li>
<li>The <strong>Constitution mandates realisation of substantive equality</strong> in the engagement of the fundamental rights with the directive principles, inclusion, together with the <strong>recognition of the plurality and diversity of the nation</strong> constitutes a valid constitutional basis for defining efficiency.</li>
<li>If efficiency is grounded in exclusion, it will produce a pattern of governance which is skewed against the marginalised.</li>
</ul>',
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	(int) 2 => [
		'title' => 'Cyclone Fani Creates Four New Mouths in Chilika Lake',
		'catname' => 'News Analysis',
		'desc' => '<p>The recent &lsquo;Cyclone Fani&rsquo; which hit the eastern coast of India, has created four new mouths in Chilika Lake.</p>
<h3>Key points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Before Fani hit the Odisha coast, <strong>Chilika lake had only two active mouths - the point where it meets the sea.</strong> But, now four new mouths have opened due to wave energy with high tidal prism.</li>
<li>With the opening of new mouths, a lot of sea water is entering Chilika Lake and, thereby increasing salinity of Chilika lagoon.</li>
<li>Chilika lake has a brackish water (mixture of saline and fresh water), however increasing salinity may alter Chilika&rsquo;s ecosystem.</li>
<li>Generally, if sea water ingression goes up, fish migration will increase and the biodiversity will get richer. However, its long term impact needs a proper vigil.</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Chilika Lake</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>It is a brackish water lagoon, spread over the Puri, Khurda and Ganjam districts of Odisha State on the east coast of India.</li>
<li>It is the largest coastal lagoon in India, located at the mouth of the Daya River which is flowing into the Bay of Bengal, covering an area of over 1,100 km<sup>2</sup>.</li>
<li>It is designated as &lsquo;wetland of international importance under the Ramsar convention.</li>
</ul>
</div>
<h3>Cyclone Fani</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>It is categorized as an <strong>extremely severe cyclone (ESC)</strong>.</li>
<li>The name of the cyclone fani (pronounced as Foni) was suggested by Bangladesh. It means <strong>&lsquo;snake&rsquo;</strong> or <strong>&lsquo;hood of snake&rsquo;</strong>.</li>
<li>Data from the India Meteorological Department (IMD) show that the last time an extremely severe cyclone hit India in May was in 2004.</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>NOTE:</strong> The cyclones are classified as <strong>severe (MSW of 48-63 knots), very severe (MSW of 64-89 knots), extremely severe (MSW of 90-119 knots) </strong>and<strong> super cyclonic storm (MSW of 120 knots or more).</strong> One knot is equal to 1.8 kmph.</p>
</div>
<h3>What makes Cyclone Fani special?</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Timing</strong> and <strong>strength</strong> are two factors that make Cyclone Fani, different from most other tropical cyclones at this time of the year.</li>
<li>It is the <strong>second severe cyclone which formed in April and made landfall in India in the last 128 years.</strong></li>
<li>It was the <strong>longest-lived cyclone in the Bay of Bengal ever observed.</strong> The elongated time period of the storm went on for <strong>11 days in the sea and land put together.</strong></li>
</ul>
<p style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1567748863_image3%20new.jpg" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1567748863_image3 new.jpg" width="560" height="817" caption="false" /></a></p>
<h3>Preparedness</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The IMD tracked the storm and <strong>issued numerous yellow warnings</strong> for much of the south-eastern portion of India when the cyclone started to intensify.</li>
<li>Doppler radars at Paradip and Gopalpur ports helped in tracking the cyclone accurately.</li>
<li><strong>'Early Warning Dissemination System (EWDS) project&rsquo;</strong> which was commissioned in 2018, addresses the existing gap in disseminating disaster warning up to the community level.</li>
<li>Odisha <strong>evacuated over 1.2 million residents from vulnerable coastal areas</strong> and moved them to higher ground and into cyclone shelters built a few miles inland.</li>
<li>Teams of National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), Odisha Disaster Rapid Action Force (ODRAF) along with State fire service personnel have been deployed. Defence forces were on high alert to meet any eventuality.</li>
<li>On account of this, the number of casualties contained to minimal. However, there was extensive damage to the infrastructure especially, power and telecommunications.</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Early Warning Dissemination System (EWDS):</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>It aims at establishing a <strong>fool-proof communication system</strong> to disseminate disaster warning up to the community level.</li>
<li>It is a first of its kind automatic public address system in the country, implemented under national Cyclone Risk Mitigation project with the help of World Bank.</li>
</ul>
</div>
<h3>Way Forward</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Cyclone Fani has left behind a trail of devastation and acute suffering in Odisha. The challenge now is to restore the livelihood of people.</li>
<li>Administrations are on full throttle in repair and relief measures. However, repairs and rehabilitation work needs to be done quickly owing to the upcoming monsoon season.</li>
</ul>',
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		'url' => 'https://www.drishtiias.com/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/cyclone-fani-creates-four-new-mouths-in-chilika-lake'
	],
	(int) 3 => [
		'title' => 'White-Throated Rail',
		'catname' => 'News Analysis',
		'desc' => '<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The <strong>white-throated rail</strong> <em>(Dryolimnas cuvieri)</em> or <strong>Cuvier's rail</strong> is a species of bird in the family <strong>Rallidae</strong>. It is found in <strong>Comoros, Madagascar, Mayotte, and Seychelles</strong>.<a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1567749009_image1.jpg" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1567749009_image1.jpg" width="312" height="175" style="float: right;" caption="false" /></a>
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>A flightless subspecies, <strong>Aldabra rail</strong>, inhabits Aldabra, while&nbsp;another <strong>Assumption rail</strong> from Assumption went extinct in the early 20<sup>th</sup> century due to introduced predators.</li>
<li>It is now the last living member of the genus <em>Dryolimnas</em> and believed to be the last flightless bird in the Indian Ocean.</li>
<li>Its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical moist lowland forest and subtropical or tropical mangrove forest.</li>
<li>It has a <strong>least concerned status in IUCN Red List</strong>.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>History of Evolution</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>According to research, it is found that <strong>white-throated rail came</strong> back after extinction, through a process called <strong>&ldquo;iterative evolution&rdquo;</strong>. This is the first time it has been seen in rails, and one of the most significant seen birds.</li>
<li>On two separate occasions tens of thousands of years apart, the species of rail was able to colonise called <strong>Aldabra</strong>. In both cases it eventually became flightless, and those birds from the latter time can still be found on the island now.</li>
</ul>
<div class=" border-bg">
<p><strong>Iterative evolution</strong> happens when the same or similar structures evolve out of the same common ancestor, but at different times. It means that the animal actually comes about twice over, completely separately.</p>
</div>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The rail's return to Aldabra is not the only time in its lineage that it has escaped extinction.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The parent species of the rail, indigenous to Madagascar, would frequently see its population explode, forcing the birds to migrate in great numbers from the island off the coast of East Africa.</li>
<li>Many of those that flew north or south drowned in the Indian Ocean, and those that went west landed in Africa, where they were eaten by predators. But the lucky few who went east ended up on islands including Mauritius, R&eacute;union and <strong>Aldabra</strong>.</li>
<li>The rails on Aldabra lost the ability to fly over time, because of the lack of predators made it unnecessary, just as the <strong>dodo of Mauritius</strong> did.</li>
<li>Unfortunately, that gave them no means of escape when the island was submerged and all its flora and fauna were wiped out.</li>
<li>But unlike the dodo, which became extinct in the 17<sup>th</sup> century, the white-throated rail was resurrected to tell the tale once the island re-emerged and birds started migrating to the destination again.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>Researchers found <strong>similar fossils</strong> from before and after that event, showing that the chicken-sized bird re-appeared when sea levels fell again a few thousand years later, <strong>re-colonized</strong> the island and again lost the ability to fly.</li>
<li>Aldabra, which has the oldest <strong>palaeontological record</strong> of any oceanic island within the Indian Ocean region, the fossil evidence available demonstrates the effects of changing sea levels on extinction and recolonization events.</li>
<li>Fossil evidence presented here is unique for rails and epitomizes the ability of these birds to successfully colonize isolated islands and evolve flightlessness on multiple occasions.</li>
</ul>',
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	(int) 4 => [
		'title' => 'Important Facts For Prelims (11th May 2019)',
		'catname' => 'News Analysis',
		'desc' => '<h3>Thirty Meter Telescope (TMT)</h3>
<h3><a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1567749352_image2.jpg" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1567749352_image2.jpg" width="424" height="289" style="float: right;" caption="false" /></a></h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Thirty Meter Telescope is a new class of extremely large telescopes that will allow us to see deeper into space and observe cosmic objects with unprecedented sensitivity. It is getting built at <strong>Mauna Kea, Hawaii, USA</strong>.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>With its 30 m prime mirror diameter, TMT will be three times as wide, with nine times more area than the largest currently existing visible-light telescope in the world.</li>
<li>This will provide unparalleled resolution with TMT images more than 12 times sharper than those from the Hubble Space Telescope. When operational, TMT will provide new observational opportunities in essentially every field of astronomy and astrophysics.</li>
<li>The <strong>TMT International Observatory LLC (TIO)</strong>, a non-profit organization, was established in May 2014 to carry out the construction and operation phases of the TMT Project.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>The partner members of TIO</strong> are:
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Caltech, the University of <strong>California, US</strong>.</li>
<li>The National Institutes of Natural Sciences of <strong>Japan</strong>.</li>
<li>The National Astronomical Observatories of the <strong>Chinese Academy of Sciences</strong>.</li>
<li>The Department of Science and Technology of <strong>India</strong>.</li>
<li>National Research Council, <strong>Canada</strong>.</li>
<li>The Association of Universities for Research in Astronomy, <strong>US</strong>.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Indian government:</strong> has given its approval for India&rsquo;s participation in the TMT project at a total cost of Rs. 1299.8 crores from 2014-2023.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>From the Indian side, this will be a joint project of the Department of Science and Technology (DST) and the Department of Atomic Energy (DAE).</li>
<li><strong>Inter-University Centre for Astronomy and Astrophysics, Pune; Indian Institute of Astrophysics, Banglore; Aryabhatta Research Institute of Observational Sciences, Nainital</strong> are involved in TMT project.</li>
<li>The Indian industries are making the telescope&rsquo;s sensors, actuators and its mechanical support structure.</li>
<li>The project will also provide state-of-the-art high-end technologies to the country, which would benefit a number of industries and R&amp;D centres.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Lunar Lander: Blue Moon</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The space company <strong>'Blue Origin&rsquo;</strong> has unveiled its lunar lander called the <strong>Blue Moon</strong> that would be used to <strong>transport equipment</strong>, and possibly <strong>human beings</strong>, to the South Pole of the Moon by 2024.</li>
<li>The lander will be capable of <strong>carrying scientific instruments</strong> and also <strong>rovers for humans</strong>.</li>
<li>The goal is to land on the Moon's south pole, where there is ice. <strong>Water can be exploited to produce hydrogen, which in turn could fuel future exploration of the solar system.</strong></li>
<li>The lander will be part of Blue Origin&rsquo;s broader vision to build an infrastructure that would sustain the colonization of space by future generations of humans and shift polluting industries off the Earth.</li>
<li>Blue Origin is working on two other major projects: <strong>New Shepard</strong>, a suborbital rocket to fly tourists into space; and <strong>New Glenn</strong>, a partly reusable launch rocket.</li>
</ul>
<p style="text-align: center;"><iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/hmk1oHzvNKA" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe></p>
<h3>Chandrayaan-2</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>A recent update from ISRO has stated that the planned <strong>'Chandrayaan-2&rsquo;</strong> mission will have 14 Indian payloads or study devices.<a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1567749484_image4.jpg" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1567749484_image4.jpg" width="457" height="390" style="float: right;" caption="false" /></a></li>
<li>Chandrayaan-2 will be <strong>India&rsquo;s second mission</strong> to the moon.</li>
<li>The Chandrayaan-2 will be launched during July 9 to July 16, 2019, with an expected Moon landing on September 6, 2019.</li>
<li>The 3,800-kg spacecraft includes an <strong>orbiter</strong> which will circle the moon at 100 km; a five-legged lander called <strong>Vikram</strong> that will descend on the moon; and a robotic rover, <strong>Pragyan</strong>, that will probe the lunar terrain around it. <strong>ISRO will send the mission on its heavy lift booster &ndash; GSLV MkIII.</strong></li>
<li>ISRO has chosen a landing area at the unexplored lunar south pole. <strong>If the mission succeeds, India will be the first to touch down at the south pole.</strong> Only China&rsquo;s Chang&rsquo;e 4 spacecraft had recently landed on the moon's far side, also known as the dark side because it faces away from the Earth and remains comparatively unknown.</li>
<li>In October 2008, ISRO launched its orbiter mission <strong>Chandrayaan-1</strong>.</li>
<li>The spacecraft had 11 payloads. One of the US payloads shares credit with Chandrayaan-1 for confirming the presence of water ice on the moon.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Recyclable Plastic</h3>
<p>According to a study published in the journal &lsquo;Nature Chemistry&rsquo;, <strong>scientists have created a plastic that can be repeatedly recycled without any loss of quality.</strong></p>
<p><strong>Key points</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>A new material called <strong>poly (diketoenamine) or PDK</strong> can, unlike normal plastics, have its monomers separated by a highly acidic solution.</li>
<li>The material can be <strong>fully broken down into its component parts by dunking it in a highly acidic solution.</strong></li>
<li>The acid separates the monomers from additives that give plastics distinctive look and feel.</li>
<li>The <strong>monomers</strong> can be recovered for reuse for as long as possible or <strong>upcycled to make another product</strong>.</li>
<li>Scientists believe that this recyclable plastic could be an <strong>alternative to non-recyclable plastics</strong> in use today. Conventional plastics generally have immutable bonds whereas PDK has reversible bonds that allow the plastic to be recycled more effectively.</li>
<li>Materials like PDK will help in making the <strong>lifecycle of plastics circular</strong> and help countries in <strong>reducing the plastic pollution</strong>. At present, the world produces about 300 million tonnes of plastic waste every year.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Monkeypox Virus</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Singapore</strong> has reported its <strong>first ever case of rare monkeypox virus</strong>.</li>
<li><strong>Monkeypox virus (MPXV)</strong> is an <strong>orthopoxvirus</strong> that causes a viral disease with symptoms in humans similar, but milder, to those seen in smallpox patients. Symptoms include lesions, fever, muscle aches and chills.</li>
<li><strong>Transmission</strong> is usually via close <strong>contact with infected animals</strong> such as rodents and monkeys but is limited between people.</li>
<li>Human monkeypox is <strong>endemic in villages of Central and West Africa.</strong></li>
<li>Outside Africa, human monkeypox infections had only been previously reported in the United States, Britain and Israel.</li>
<li>There are <strong>no specific treatments or vaccines available for monkeypox virus infection,</strong> but outbreaks can be controlled.</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>NOTE:</strong> Vaccination against smallpox has been proven to be 85% effective in preventing monkeypox in the past but the vaccine is no longer available to the general public after it was discontinued following global smallpox eradication.</p>
</div>
<p></p>',
		'postdate' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenTime) {},
		'url' => 'https://www.drishtiias.com/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/important-facts-for-prelims-11th-may-2019'
	],
	(int) 5 => [
		'title' => 'The Big Picture – UN Security Council Reforms',
		'catname' => 'Lok Sabha & Rajya Sabha Discussions',
		'desc' => '<p style="text-align: center;"><iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/VS-1zNirF88" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe></p>
<p>The French envoy to the UN has recently said that India and nations like Germany, Brazil and Japan are &ldquo;absolutely needed&rdquo; as permanent members of a reformed and enlarged UN Security Council to better reflect contemporary realities. India has always remained at the forefront of efforts at the UN to push for the long-pending reform of the Security Council, emphasising that it rightly deserves a place at the UN high table as a permanent member.</p>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Drishti Input:</strong></p>
<p><em><strong>United Nations Security Council</strong></em></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Established by the United Nations charter in 1945, the Security Council has primary responsibility of maintaining international peace and security.</li>
<li>The Security Council has <strong>15 members</strong>.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>There are <strong>five permanent members:</strong> the United States, the Russian Federation, France, China and the United Kingdom.</li>
<li>The non-permanent members of the Security Council are elected for a term of two years.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Each member of the Security Council has one vote. Decisions</strong> of the Security Council on matters are made by an <strong>affirmative vote of nine members including the concurring votes of the permanent members. A "No" vote from one of the five permanent members blocks the passage of the resolution.</strong></li>
<li>Any member of the United Nations which is not a member of the Security Council may participate, without vote, in the discussion of any question brought before the Security Council whenever the latter considers that the interests of that member are specially affected.</li>
</ul>
</div>
<h3>Need for UN Security Council Reforms</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>UN represents a larger world</strong> and the irony is that it has <strong>only 5 permanent members</strong> in its such an important body.</li>
<li>Current composition of the Security Council represents the post World War II realities and thus is <strong>not in pace with the changing balance of power</strong> in the world.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>At the time of the formation of UNSC, big powers were given privileges to make them part of the council. This was necessary for its proper functioning as well as to avoid the failure like that of the organization &lsquo;League of Nations&rsquo;.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>The <strong>regions like far East Asia, South America, Africa have no representation in the permanent membership</strong> of the council.</li>
<li><strong>Rise of fora like G4</strong> (India, Brazil, Germany, and Japan) as important economies and emerging world powers are pushing after quick UN Security Council reforms.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Impediments in the expansion of UN Security Council</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The <strong>five permanent members</strong> themselves <strong>don&rsquo;t want anyone to come on board with them</strong>. The world has no evidence in the history where countries have given up such a status quo on their own.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>In the year 2005, when G4 came with a resolution for the expansion of the council, U.S. and China lobbied very hard with African countries to ensure that they do not vote for the resolution.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>One country opposing another country&rsquo;s bid</strong> for the permanent membership from a region. For example:
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Pakistan does not want India to be the permanent member of the council.</li>
<li>China has serious objections to Japan being there in the Security Council.</li>
<li>Italy trying to compete with Germany in Europe for a place in the Security Council.</li>
<li>Argentia does not agree with the fact that Brazil should represent South America in the UNSC as a permanent representative.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>In Africa, there is still no consensus</strong> on which country should represent the region as a permanent member.</li>
<li>There are <strong>no parameters</strong> in the UN Security Council <strong>for considering</strong> the countries for <strong>permanent membership</strong>.</li>
<li>There is a <strong>concern</strong> that expansion of the council may lead to a <strong>decline in its efficiency and functioning</strong>.</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Coffee Club/Uniting for Consensus</strong></p>
<p>An informal <strong>"coffee club"</strong>, comprising 40-odd members states, has been instrumental in holding back reforms to the United Nations Security Council. Most members of the club are middle-sized states who oppose bigger regional powers grabbing permanent seats in the UN Security Council.</p>
<p>The prime movers of the club include <strong>Italy, Spain, Australia, Canada, South Korea, Argentina</strong> and <strong>Pakistan</strong>. While Italy and Spain are opposed to Germany's bid for Security Council's permanent membership, Pakistan is opposed to India's bid.</p>
<p>Similarly, Argentina is against Brazil's bid and Australia opposes Japan's. Canada and South Korea are opposed to developing countries, often dependent on their aid, wielding more power than them at the UN.</p>
</div>
<h3>India and its demand for permanent membership</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>For the first 40 years of the UN Security Council formation, India never asked for the permanent membership.</li>
<li>Even in 1993 when India submitted its written proposal to the UN as response to the General Assembly resolution related to reforms, it did not specifically state that it wants permanent membership for itself.</li>
<li>It is only from the last few years that India has started asking for a permanent membership in the council.</li>
<li>India deserves a permanent place in the council considering the size of its economy, population and the fact that it is the largest democracy in the world.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>India has become a major player not only in the Asia but also in the world.</li>
<li>The Security Council would be a more representative body if India would be there in it as a permanent member.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Benefits for India</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>By having a veto power, one can enjoy <strong>enormous powers</strong>.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>This is clear from the recent case of Masood Azhar. Since 2009, India was trying to get him designated as a global terrorist. One veto power of China kept delaying it.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>India will be able to <strong>work better for its interests</strong>.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>There was a time when USSR actually started boycotting the UNSC and that was the time when US managed to get the resolution passed for the Korean War. From that time onwards USSR realized that it doesn&rsquo;t make sense to boycott the UN. It <strong>needs to keep veto if at all resolution is against them</strong>.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>India&rsquo;s presence as a permanent member will be an <strong>acknowledgment of its rise as a global power,</strong> ready to play a key role in the council&rsquo;s objectives of international peace and security.</li>
<li>India will be able to enjoy the <strong>'prestige&rsquo;</strong> associated with the permanent membership of the council.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Is India ready?</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>By remaining silent on contentious issues, <strong>India has always remained in a safe zone</strong>. Once India becomes a permanent member, it has to give its views on every issue.</li>
<li>India&rsquo;s foreign policy machinery is not geared with the kind of deal making that permanent five do all the time.</li>
</ul>
<p><em>Besides expansion, issues like whether a country having a veto power should be allowed to lock a motion or not, should be taken into consideration. As far as India&rsquo;s membership is considered, all five permanent members including China are more or less on board. India just needs to prepare itself for the permanent position in the council.</em><a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/639image2.png" target="_blank" rel="noopener"></a></p>',
		'postdate' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenTime) {},
		'url' => 'https://www.drishtiias.com/loksabha-rajyasabha-discussions/the-big-picture-un-security-council-reforms'
	],
	(int) 6 => [
		'title' => 'Mission Shakti, ASAT and India',
		'catname' => 'News Editorials',
		'desc' => '<div class="border">
<p>This editorial is based on the article <a href="https://www.financialexpress.com/defence/asat-test-how-india-shifted-gears-to-match-changing-geopolitical-realities-in-space-with-mission-shakti/1573253/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">&ldquo;ASAT test: How India shifted gears to match changing geopolitical realities in space with Mission Shakti&rdquo;</a> which appeared in "Financial Express" on 9<sup>th</sup> May, 2019. The article talks about how the India&rsquo; space programme is in line with the changing geopolitical realities in Asia and beyond.</p>
</div>
<h3>Mission Shakti</h3>
<p>On march 27<sup>th</sup>, India completed its first successful attempt at shooting a satellite in lower earth orbit (LEO). In doing so, India has become the fourth country after the US, Russia and China to acquire the capability of space warfare.</p>
<h3>What is Mission Shakti and ASAT Missile?</h3>
<p>Mission Shakti was undertaken to develop highly-potent Anti-satellite weapons (ASAT). It is a joint programme of the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) and the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO). Anti-satellite (ASAT) System is missile-based system to attack moving satellites. <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/mission-shakti" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Read More...</a></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>ASAT propels India to the coveted <strong>space-superpower league</strong>.</li>
<li><strong>India will now have the power to decimate satellites for pure military and strategic purpose.</strong></li>
<li>With this missile, India will have the capability to interfere with satellites or engage in direct attacks.</li>
<li><strong>ASAT missile can be air, sea or land-based.</strong></li>
</ul>
<h3>Why is there a need to destroy Satellite?</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Satellites assume a great importance now-a days, because it is a part of critical civil and defence infrastructure of any country, manifested in the fact that a large number of crucial applications are dependent on it.</li>
<li>These include navigation systems, communication networks, broadcasting, banking systems, stock markets, weather forecasting, disaster management, land and ocean mapping and monitoring tools, and military applications.</li>
<li>Destroying a satellite would render these applications useless. It can cripple enemy infrastructure without causing any threat to human lives.</li>
<li><strong>Outer space is also emerging as the fourth arena of warfare.</strong> Hostile state and non-state actors can therefore damage Indian space assets.</li>
<li>The ASAT capability has created some deterrence against potential hostile behaviour against Indian interests.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Why it is a big achievement for India</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>In USA, it is often called that success in ASAT mission is equivalent to hitting a bullet with another bullet.</li>
<li>It requires very advanced capabilities in both space and missile technologies for achieving success in an ASAT mission.</li>
<li>A satellite travels at an amazing speed of 28 times that of the speed of sound, on a predictable path. Destroying such a satellite, using ballistic missile is an important milestone for any country space security.</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>Further, ASAT can also help in creating nuclear missile deterrence.</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>The idea is to blind the enemy country of its navigation powers.</strong></li>
<li>Moreover, an incoming missile can also be destroyed using ASAT.</li>
</ul>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>A History of Ballistic Missile Defence System in India</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>A Ballistic Missile Defence system (BMD) is a missile defence system that acts as a shield against ballistic missile attacks.</li>
<li><strong>India&rsquo;s BMD development began in 1999, after the Kargil war.</strong></li>
<li><strong>The primary aim was to augment India&rsquo;s defence against possible nuclear attack from Pakistan.</strong> It holds a place of prime importance especially when India follows a &lsquo;No first use&rsquo; policy.</li>
<li><strong>India seeks to deploy a functional &lsquo;iron dome&rsquo; ballistic missile defence (BMD), incorporating both low-altitude and high-altitude interceptor missiles.</strong></li>
<li>India&rsquo;s BMD is primarily developed by DRDO with help of many public and private firms like BEL, Astra Microwave, L&amp;T, etc.</li>
</ul>
</div>
<h3>Geopolitical Implication of Mission Shakti</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>With the establishment of India as a space power, India will be accorded a place in any future international treaty that relates to the governance or usage of Space.</li>
<li>In case of Pakistan, a terrestrial power, the use of nuclear arsenal can now come at a heavy cost.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>As of now Pakistan presumes that the no first use doctrine of India gives it an advantage, but with the development of ASAT capabilities, India would be able to destroy an incoming Pakistani nuclear missile.</li>
<li>This will create a significant deterrence vis-a-vis the position of Pakistan.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>In case of China, which is a significant space power, counter-space capabilities of India will provide a critical balancing deterrent.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Challenges to Mission Shakti</h3>
<p><strong>Third Party satellites:</strong> Since nations use third-party satellites for their various needs, even striking down every satellite of a nation might not disable military communication of that nation entirely because that nation will simply use another nation&rsquo;s satellite to communicate.</p>
<p><strong>Deterrence</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>As all major nations have hundreds of dual-use satellites in orbit, it is near to impossible for any nation to stick down these satellites by such missiles.</strong></li>
<li>Also, if the situation comes when nations are striking down the satellites of adversary nations then the world has already reached the nuclear threshold.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Convention on Space</h3>
<p><strong>Outer Space Treaty of 1967 (United Nations):</strong> It prohibits countries from placing into orbit around the Earth &ldquo;any objects carrying nuclear weapons or any other kinds of weapons of mass destruction&rdquo;.</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>It also prohibits the stationing of such weapons on celestial bodies, like the moon, or in outer space. &ldquo;The moon and other celestial bodies shall be used by all state parties to the treaty exclusively for peaceful purposes.&rdquo;
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>However, what should be noted is that, India violated no treaties, in pursuance of Mission Shakti. As, the ASAT mission, generates the energy by the velocity of the missile and not by a blasting of explosives.
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>ASATs take many shapes, but the clearest examples follow kinetic-kill models, in which an object in space or on the ground is sent to collide with an orbiting satellite, destroying both object and target with the energy of the crash.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>However, in pursuance of destroying a satellite, space debris is generated, which can be very detrimental for operational satellite.&nbsp;</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg"><strong>The Issue of Space Debris</strong>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Space debris consists of pieces of non-functional spacecraft, and can vary in size from tiny paint flecks to an entire &ldquo;dead&rdquo; satellite. </strong></li>
<li>Space debris orbits from hundreds to thousands of kilometres above Earth.</li>
<li>The presence of space debris increases the likelihood of operational satellites being damaged. The threat from the space debris is that it could collide with the operational satellites and render them dysfunctional.</li>
<li>Mission Shakti created around forty-five debris, in the LEO, and the test was done in the lower atmosphere to ensure that there was no space debris.</li>
<li>According to ISRO, Whatever debris that was generated will decay and fall back on to the earth within a week.</li>
<li>However it is alleged by the NASA that Mission Shakti created debris which can impact the International Space Station (ISS). But such allegations are rejected by Pentagon.</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>Kessler Syndrome</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The Kessler syndrome (also called the Kessler effect, collisional cascading or ablation cascade), proposed by the NASA scientist Donald J. Kessler in 1978, is a scenario in which the density of objects in low Earth orbit (LEO) is high enough that collisions between objects could cause a cascade where each collision generates space debris that increases the likelihood of further collisions.</li>
<li>One implication is that the distribution of debris in orbit could render space activities and the use of satellites in specific orbital ranges impractical for many generations.</li>
</ul>
</div>
<h3>Militarization and Weaponization of Space</h3>
<p>Mission Shakti can start a race towards militarization and weaponization of space.</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>As of now only four countries possess ASAT technology, but the test by India will start a race among many countries to possess the ASAT capacity (including countries like Pakistan).</li>
<li>But, what has to be observed is that Space has always been militarized.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Since the time of the Cold War Space was militarized (i.e space-base military satellites; spy-satellites, etc.) if not weaponized.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>If it has to be stopped, then the world has to come together so that, such aggressive tendencies and arm race stops.</strong></li>
</ul>
<h3>Way Forward</h3>
<p><strong>Alternative technologies</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>There are alternative technologies such as jamming which are more effective then kinetic kill (of an ASAT system).</li>
<li><strong>India should not lose sight of the larger goal, namely to completely de-militarise space and only use it for peaceful non-commercial exploration.</strong></li>
<li><strong>ASAT Mission opens up new vistas for India for collaborative ventures</strong> in space with a number of other key space powers such as the US, Japan, and France, in area of New Space Dynamics.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>New Space Dynamics is an unfolding and complex phenomenon encompassing various trends, including technological, political, and commercial trends that are together contributing to an increasingly more prominent role for private actors&rsquo; involvement in space.</li>
<li>It will act as an enabler to expand capacity and capability for the industry to offer end-to-end products and services.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<table border="1" style="width: 100%; border-collapse: collapse; border-color: #112e9e; background-color: #b8e9f5;">
<tbody>
<tr>
<td style="width: 100%;">
<p><strong>Drishti Input:</strong></p>
<p>Apart from establishing India as a space power, Mission Shakti has significant geostrategic importance. Discuss.</p>
</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<p><strong>Mission Shakti makes India a Space Power: 10 FAQs on DRDO's ASAT answered <a href="https://www.livemint.com/news/india/mission-shakti-makes-india-a-space-power-10-faqs-on-drdo-s-asat-answered-1553683467751.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">(Read more...)</a></strong></p>',
		'postdate' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenTime) {},
		'url' => 'https://www.drishtiias.com/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/mission-shakti-asat-and-india'
	],
	(int) 7 => [
		'title' => 'BRS Conventions COP Meet in Geneva',
		'catname' => 'News Analysis',
		'desc' => '<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The <strong>&ldquo;Triple COPs&rdquo;</strong>&nbsp; meeting is taking place in Geneva, Switzerland from April 29th to May 10th, 2019.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>B</strong>asel Convention (COP-14)</li>
<li><strong>R</strong>otterdam Convention (COP-9)</li>
<li><strong>S</strong>tockholm Convention (COP-9)</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>The &ldquo;Triple COPs&rdquo; are being convened under the theme, <strong>'Clean Planet, Healthy People: Sound Management of Chemicals and Waste&rsquo;.</strong></li>
</ul>
<h3>Issues under discussion</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>BRS &ldquo;Triple COPs&rdquo;:</strong> is discussing issues relating to microplastics, waste containing nanomaterials, and legal, compliance and governance matters, among others.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The meeting is also considering further development of technical guidelines on e-waste as well as persistent organic pollutants wastes, incineration on land and specially engineered landfills and additions to the Convention&rsquo;s Toolkit on Environmentally Sound Management of Wastes.</li>
<li>It is taking up various matters related to the implementation of the Convention, including the strategic framework, entry into force of the <strong>Ban Amendment</strong>, and <strong>the Cartagena Declaration</strong> on the Prevention, Minimization and Recovery of Hazardous Wastes and Other Wastes.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>The Basel Convention:</strong> came into force in 1992, intends to <strong>reduce transboundary movements of hazardous waste</strong> from developed to less developed countries (LDCs), and ensure their safe disposal as closely as possible to the source of generation.</p>
<p><strong>Rotterdam Convention:</strong> was adopted on 10th September 1998 by a <strong>Conference of Plenipotentiaries in Rotterdam, Netherlands</strong> and entered into force on 24th February 2004.</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>It covers <strong>pesticides and industrial chemicals</strong> that have been banned or severely restricted for health or environmental reasons by Parties and which have been notified by Parties for inclusion in the Prior Informed Consent (PIC) procedure. The Convention creates <strong>legally binding obligations</strong> for the implementation of the Prior Informed Consent (PIC) procedure.</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>The Stockholm Convention:</strong> is a global treaty to protect human health and the environment from <strong>persistent organic pollutants (POPs)</strong>. POPs are chemicals that remain intact in the environment for long periods, become widely distributed geographically, accumulate in the fatty tissue of living organisms and are toxic to humans and wildlife.</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>The objectives of the Stockholm Convention are:</strong>
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Support the transition to safer alternatives</li>
<li>Target additional POPs for action</li>
<li>Cleanup old stockpiles and equipment containing POPs</li>
<li>Work together for a POPs-free future</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>The Global Environmental Facility (GEF) is the designated interim financial mechanism for the Stockholm Convention.</li>
</ul>
</div>',
		'postdate' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenTime) {},
		'url' => 'https://www.drishtiias.com/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/brs-conventions-cop-meet-in-geneva'
	],
	(int) 8 => [
		'title' => 'Pesticide Ban',
		'catname' => 'News Analysis',
		'desc' => '<p>California is banning a widely used pesticide that has been linked to brain damage in children. The state ban on <strong>Chlorpyrifos</strong>, a pesticide used on almonds, citrus, cotton, grapes, walnuts and other crops, follows years of research finding the chemical causes serious health effects in children, including impaired brain and neurological development.</p>
<h3>Status of pesticide ban in India</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>With the increasing number of farmer deaths due to pesticide poisoning and submission of <strong>Anupam Verma Committee report</strong> the Union Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare had notified <strong>Pesticides (Prohibition) Order, 2018</strong> under which use of <strong>18 pesticides was banned</strong>.</li>
<li>Of these 18, 12 pesticides have been banned from immediate effect (from August 9, 2018) and ban on another six will be implemented from December 31, 2020. The ban applies to registration, import, manufacture, formulation, transport, sale and use of all these pesticides.</li>
</ul>
<p style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1567763256_image4.jpg" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1567763256_image4.jpg" width="574" height="480" caption="false" /></a></p>
<h3>Why class 1 pesticide should be banned India?</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Pesticides whose handling and application require the use of personal protective equipment that is uncomfortable, expensive or not readily available should be avoided, especially in the case of small-scale users and farm workers in hot climates.</li>
<li>It is impossible to ensure use of personal protective equipment by small-scale farmers and farm workers in India.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Other reasons</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Every year, there are about 10,000 reported cases of pesticide poisoning in India.</li>
<li>Lack of awareness, no initiative by govt agriculture depart to teach how to use pesticide.</li>
<li>Unapproved use of pesticides&mdash;spraying a particular pesticide on a crop for which it is not allowed&mdash; continues to be a big problem in the country.</li>
</ul>
<h3>How pesticide can impact humans?</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Endocrine disruptors:</strong> The term endocrine disruptor refers to substances that interfere with hormones and hormone balance.</li>
<li>Hormones are the chemical messengers of the body. They are necessary to regulate different functions, in particular growth and reproductive functions.</li>
<li>The endocrine effects can be activated by very low concentrations of chemicals. They can manifest as:
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>reduced semen quality with consequent decreased fertility, genital malformations, testicular and prostate cancer</li>
<li>early puberty, appearance of cysts in the ovaries, uterus anomalies, breast cancer, pregnancy complications with early abortions, decreased fertility</li>
<li>diabetes and obesity</li>
<li>neurological disorders, especially disorders in brain development, and degenerative diseases in the brain, such as Parkinson&rsquo;s disease</li>
<li>hyper and hypo thyroidism and thyroid tumours.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Acute toxicity</h3>
<p>Pesticides can be acutely toxic. This means that they can cause harmful or lethal effects after one single episode of ingestion, inhalation or skin contact. The symptoms are evident shortly after exposure or can arise within 48 hours. They can present as:</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>respiratory tract irritation, sore throat and/or cough</li>
<li>allergic sensitisation</li>
<li>eye and skin irritation</li>
<li>nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea</li>
<li>headache, loss of consciousness</li>
<li>extreme weakness, seizures and/or death</li>
</ul>
<h3>Long term (or chronic) toxicity</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Pesticides can cause harmful effects over an extended period, usually following repeated or continuous exposure at low levels. Low doses don&rsquo;t always cause immediate effects, but over time, they can cause very serious illnesses.</li>
<li>Long term pesticide exposure has been linked to the development of Parkinson&rsquo;s disease; asthma; depression and anxiety; cancer, including leukaemia and non-Hodgkin lymphoma; and attention deficit and hyperactivity disorder (ADHD).</li>
</ul>',
		'postdate' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenTime) {},
		'url' => 'https://www.drishtiias.com/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/pesticide-ban'
	],
	(int) 9 => [
		'title' => 'Important Facts For Prelims (10th May 2019)',
		'catname' => 'News Analysis',
		'desc' => '<h3>Barn Owl Campaign in Lakshadweep</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The Union Territory of <strong>Lakshadweep</strong> has recruited <strong>three pairs of barn owls</strong> from Kerala <strong>to hunt down rats</strong> responsible for <strong>deteriorating its coconut yield</strong>.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Coconut is an important money-spinner for the islands; pesky rodents account for 30 to 40% of the yield loss.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>The three pairs of barn owls will gradually be released into the coconut plantations under a closely monitored breeding and rodent management programme.</li>
<li>In Lakshadweep islands, <strong>rats live on the treetops.</strong> In fact, the fronds overlap, allowing the rodents to <strong>move easily from one tree to another.</strong> This is the reason for <strong>not employing</strong> accomplished rat hunters like <strong>cats or rat snake</strong> for the purpose.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Barn owl is a natural rat hunter, armed with a powerful auditory mechanism.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>The Union Territory of Lakshadweep has gone for this <strong>biocontrol measure </strong>as <strong>islands are a designated organic zone,</strong> where the use of chemicals for pest control is not allowed.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Biological control</strong> is an environmentally sound and effective means of <strong>reducing or mitigating pests</strong> and pest effects <strong>through</strong> the <strong>use of natural enemies</strong>.</li>
<li>Basically, it is an action of parasites, predators, or pathogens in maintaining another organism's population density at a lower average than would occur in their absence.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg" p=""><strong>Barn Owl</strong>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The common barn-owl (Tyto alba) belongs to the family of owls, Tytonidae.</li>
<li>The species are <strong>distributed</strong> in Indian subcontinent, Australia, Africa, Europe, Southeast Asia, Middle-East, Europe, North America, South America and Caribbean Islands.</li>
<li>It is listed as <strong>'least concern&rsquo; in the IUCN red list.</strong></li>
<li><strong>It comes under Schedule IV of the Indian Wildlife Protection Act, 1972.</strong></li>
</ul>
</div>
<h3>Grizzled Giant Squirrel</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Researchers have sighted nests of the <strong>grizzled giant squirrel(Ratufa macroura), </strong>at<strong> Pakkamalai Reserve Forest</strong> near Gingee, Tamil Nadu, in the Eastern Ghats.<a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1567763399_image2.jpg" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1567763399_image2.jpg" width="343" height="250" style="float: right;" caption="false" /></a></li>
<li>Earlier it has also been spotted in <strong>Tiruvannamalai forest, TN</strong> in the Eastern Ghats.</li>
<li>The grizzled giant squirrel is endemic to western ghats, usually known to nest in the region ranging from <strong>Chinnar Wildlife sanctuary</strong> in Kerala to <strong>Anamalai Tiger Reserve</strong> and <strong>Palani hills</strong> in Tamil Nadu.</li>
<li>Grizzled giant squirrels are named for the white flecks of hair that cover their greyish-brown bodies, giving them a grizzled look.</li>
<li>Grizzled Squirrel Wildlife Sanctuary is located in <strong>Srivilliputtur, Tamil Nadu</strong>.</li>
<li><strong>Status</strong> of Grizzled Squirrel- It is listed as
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Near threatened category in IUCN Red List.</strong></li>
<li>Listed under <strong>Schedule II of CITES.</strong></li>
<li>Listed under <strong>Schedule I of the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>The threat:</strong> to the population by increased predator pressure and the extremely low regeneration of its preferred food plant species due to heavy grazing by cattle.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Habitat loss coupled with hunting for its fur and bushmeat by the locals are said to be the major threats to this species.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Tuila: One-Stringed Instrument</h3>
<p><em>Tuila</em> is a <strong>one-stringed instrument</strong> native to the <strong>tribal communities of Jharkhand and Odisha</strong>. It belongs to the <strong>chordophone category,</strong> which is a class of musical instruments in which a stretched, vibrating string produces the initial sound.</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><em>Tuila</em> is also known as <em><strong>Uhila, Como Ohila</strong></em> and <strong></strong><em><strong>Toila</strong></em>.<a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1567763751_image7.jpg" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1567763751_image7.jpg" style="float: right;" caption="false" width="245" height="152" /></a></li>
<li>It is made of <strong>bamboo - Mundari Pani Bansu</strong>.</li>
<li>A piece of wood known as <em><strong>Ghoda</strong></em> is attached to one end.</li>
<li>The upper end of the instrument is tied loosely to a half-sliced gourd resonator, usually pumpkin, which produces a unique sound.</li>
<li>The resonator is tightened via a short tubular <em><strong>Khimki</strong></em> by using a chord. This is made of horse hair and is attached to short pieces of wood on the inside.</li>
<li>The string, which is usually made up of cotton yarn or silk, is tied to the instrument. It is fixed directly to the pipe with a loop and several windings.</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>How is it Played?</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The playing technique is unique with only three fingers being used to play the notes.</li>
<li><em><strong>Tuila</strong></em><strong> is generally played by men,</strong> while <strong><em>Kendra</em> (female compatriot of Tuila)</strong> is played by women.</li>
<li><em>Tuila</em> is played as an accompaniment for vocal performances in the folk communities of Odisha and Jharkhand.</li>
<li>The women sing and the men play the <em>Tuila</em>. The instrument is also part of the wedding bands in the tribal region.</li>
<li>Lord Siva can be seen holding this instrument in the sculpture on the Dharmaraja Ratha at Mahabalipuram. It is also found at the Kailasanathar and Vaikuntha Perumal temples.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Gopal Krishna Gokhale</h3>
<p>The Prime Minister of India on 9<sup>th</sup> May, 2019 paid a tribute to the freedom fighter Gopal Krishna Gokhale on his 153<sup>rd</sup> birth anniversary.</p>
<p>Some Facts about Gopal Krishna Gokhale</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>He was born on May 9, 1866 in Ratnagiri, Maharashtra.</li>
<li>He <strong>joined the Indian National Congress in 1889</strong>.</li>
<li>In <strong>1905,</strong> Gokhale was elected as the <strong>President of the Indian National Congress</strong>.</li>
<li>He founded the <strong>Servants of Indian Society in 1905</strong>. The main objective of this society was to train Indians to raise their voice against social evils and serve their country.</li>
<li>He is known to be a <strong>mentor to Mahatma Gandhi</strong>. Mahatma Gandhi even wrote a book called, 'Gokhale, My Political Guru'.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Double Asteroid Redirection Test (DART)<a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1567763455_image6.jpg" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1567763455_image6.jpg" width="440" height="276" style="float: right;" caption="false" /></a></h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>NASA is planning to launch a DART mission by a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket that will hit a small moonlet in the binary near-earth asteroid system Didymos in September 2022.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>It is a <strong>planetary defence technique,</strong> scheduled to be launched in mid-2021.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>DART mission will be the first ever space mission to demonstrate asteroid deflection by a kinetic impactor. It is planned to intercept the secondary member of the Didymos system.</li>
<li>By using solar electric propulsion, it will intercept the target when the asteroid will be within 11 million km of Earth.</li>
</ul>',
		'postdate' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenTime) {},
		'url' => 'https://www.drishtiias.com/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/important-facts-for-prelims-10th-may-2019'
	],
	(int) 10 => [
		'title' => 'Supreme Court’s Strength',
		'catname' => 'News Analysis',
		'desc' => '<p>Recently, the Supreme Court Collegium recommended the names of four judges separately, to be elevated to the Supreme Court, out of which the <strong>government disapproved the elevation of two judges</strong> (Jharkhand High Court Chief Justice <strong>Aniruddha Bose</strong> and Gauhati High Court Chief Justice <strong>A.S. Bopanna</strong>).</p>
<p>However, the Collegium refused to reconsider its recommendation and resent the file to the government for final approval.</p>
<p>If the four judges are elevated, the Supreme Court would reach the <strong>full sanctioned strength of 31</strong>.</p>
<h3>Strength of Supreme Court</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The original Constitution of 1950 envisaged a Supreme Court with a Chief Justice and 7 puisne Judges - leaving it to the Parliament to increase this number.</li>
<li>As the work of the Court increased and arrears of cases began to cumulate, the Parliament increased the number of Judges from 8 in 1950 to 11 in 1956, 14 in 1960, 18 in 1978 and 26 in 1986.</li>
<li>In February 2009, the number of Supreme Court judges increased from 26 to 31, including the Chief Justice of India.</li>
<li>However, <strong>strength of Supreme Court is rarely full due to the following reasons:</strong>
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Difficulty in finding judges</strong></li>
<li><strong>Courts&rsquo; mandatory retirement ages:</strong> High Court judges retire at the age of 62, and Supreme Court judges at 65, which, by global standards, are low retirement ages. In the UK, Supreme Court judges retire at 75, in Australia at 70 and in the US, there is no mandatory retirement age. Low retirement ages create short tenures and frequent vacancies.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Supreme Court is Rarely Full</h3>
<h3><a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1567763060_image5.jpg" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1567763060_image5.jpg" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" caption="false" width="548" height="353" /></a></h3>
<p style="text-align: center;"></p>
<div class=" border-bg">
<p><strong>What is Collegium System?</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The Collegium System is a system under which appointments/elevation of judges/lawyers to the Supreme Court and transfers of judges of the High Courts are decided by a forum of the Chief Justice of India and the four senior-most judges of the Supreme Court.</li>
<li>The Collegiums System of appointment of judges finds its genesis from the<strong> &ldquo;Three Judges Case, 1998&rdquo;.</strong></li>
<li>The Central Government may require the Collegium to reconsider its recommendations only once, as the recommendations are binding on the Central Government if the Collegium sends the names of the judges/lawyers to the government for the second time.</li>
</ul>
</div>',
		'postdate' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenTime) {},
		'url' => 'https://www.drishtiias.com/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/supreme-courts-strength'
	],
	(int) 11 => [
		'title' => 'Group Sail Naval Drill',
		'catname' => 'News Analysis',
		'desc' => '<p>Recently, warships from India, the US, Japan and the Philippines conducted a six-day naval drill &lsquo;Group Sail&rsquo; in the contentious South China Sea.</p>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The Group Sail was aimed<strong> to deepen the existing partnership</strong> and<strong> foster mutual understanding</strong> among the participating navies.</li>
<li>It showcased India&rsquo;s commitment to operating with like-minded nations to <strong>ensure safe maritime environment through enhanced interoperability.</strong></li>
<li>In the backdrop of China&rsquo;s aggressive and expansionist behaviour in the South China Sea, India has consistently reiterated the need for all countries to respect the freedom of navigation in international waters and overflight consistent with international law, including the <strong>United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) of 1982.</strong></li>
<li>The strategically important waterway is claimed almost in its entirety by China, but this is hotly disputed by Beijing&rsquo;s neighbours like Vietnam, Philippines, Indonesia, etc. The sea is estimated to have a vast reserve of hydrocarbons.</li>
<li>In July 2016, the Permanent Court of Arbitration at the Hague issued its ruling on a claim brought against China by the Philippines under UNCLOS, ruling in favour of the Philippines on almost every count.</li>
<li>While China is a signatory to the treaty, which established the Court, it refuses to accept the court&rsquo;s authority.</li>
</ul>
<p style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1567763154_image1.jpg" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1567763154_image1.jpg" width="546" height="326" caption="false" /></a></p>
<h3>Issues Involved</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The exercise comes at a time when India has been warily looking at <strong>increased Chinese activity in the northern Indian Ocean,</strong> traditionally seen as India&rsquo;s backyard. The presence of Chneise ships and submarines has been on the rise.</li>
<li>In 2017, China opened its first overseas <strong>military facility in Djibouti</strong> and has also been investing heavily in infrastructure along Africa&rsquo;s eastern coast &ndash; in Tanzania and Kenya &ndash; as part of its ambitious Belt and Road Initiative (BRI).</li>
<li>These activities reflect China&rsquo;s attempt to encircle India through different base around its neighbouring countries, popularly known as <strong>"String of Pearls"</strong>.</li>
<li>The String of Pearls is a geopolitical theory related to potential Chinese intentions in the Indian Ocean region. It refers to the network of Chinese military and commercial facilities and relationships along its sea lines of communication, which extend from the Chinese mainland to the Sudan Port.</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS)</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The 'Law of the Sea Treaty&rsquo;, formally known as the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) was adopted in 1982 to establish jurisdictional limits over the ocean areas.</li>
<li>The Law of the Sea Convention introduced a number of provisions and covered the most significant issues such as <strong>setting limits, navigation, archipelagic status and transit regimes, exclusive economic zones, jurisdiction of continental shelf, deep seabed mining, exploitation regime, protection of the marine environment, scientific research, </strong>and <strong>settlement of disputes.</strong></li>
<li>India became a signatory to the UNCLOS in 1982.</li>
<li>UNCLOS created three new institutions:
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea:</strong> It is an independent judicial body established by UNCLOS to adjudicate disputes arising out of the convention.</li>
<li><strong>International Seabed Authority:</strong> It is a UN body set up to regulate the exploration and exploitation of marine non-living resources of oceans in international waters.</li>
<li><strong>Commission on the Limits of the Continental Shelf:</strong> It facilitates the implementation of the UNCLOS in respect of the establishment of the outer limits of the continental shelf beyond 200 nautical miles.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>The convention defines the distance of 12 nautical miles from the baseline as Territorial Sea limit and a distance of 200 nautical miles as Exclusive Economic Zone limit.</li>
</ul>
</div>
<p style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1567763195_image3.jpg" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1567763195_image3.jpg" caption="false" width="527" height="186" /></a></p>',
		'postdate' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenTime) {},
		'url' => 'https://www.drishtiias.com/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/group-sail-naval-drill'
	],
	(int) 12 => [
		'title' => 'Issues Related To Credit Rating Agencies In India',
		'catname' => 'News Editorials',
		'desc' => '<div class="border">
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">This editorial is based on the article </span><b>&ldquo;</b><b><a href="https://www.thehindubusinessline.com/money-and-banking/singed-by-downgrades-nbfcs-want-rating-agencies-reined-in/article27072705.ece" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Singed by downgrades, NBFCs want rating agencies reined in</a>&rdquo;&nbsp;</b><span style="font-weight: 400;">which appeared in 'The Hindu Business Line' on 8th May, 2019. The article talks about problems with Credit &nbsp;Rating Agencies (CRAs), and how these agencies can be regulated.</span></p>
</div>
<h3><span style="font-weight: 400;">What Is A Rating Agency?</span></h3>
<p><b>Credit rating is an informed opinion of a recognised entity on the relative creditworthiness of an issuer or instrument</b><span style="font-weight: 400;">. </span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">In other words, it is an opinion &ldquo;on the relative degree of risk associated with timely payment of interest and principal on a debt instrument&rdquo;. Such recognised entity is known as Credit Rating Agencies (CRAs).</span></p>
<h3><span style="font-weight: 400;">On What Basis Do CRAs Rate?</span></h3>
<p><b>CRAs typically rate on various parameters which is different for &lsquo;companies&rsquo; and &lsquo;countries&rsquo;.</b></p>
<h3><b><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/586Drishti IAS_Issues Related To Credit Rating Agencies In India.png" width="494" height="494" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" /></b><b></b>What are the problems associated with CRAs?<br /><b></b></h3>
<p><strong>Internationally</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li style="font-weight: 400;"><b>Ideological biases: </b><span style="font-weight: 400;">CRAs might favour certain political ideologies to limit negative policy and market surprises as they strive to keep ratings stable over the medium term.</span>
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li style="font-weight: 400;">For e.g. &nbsp;a panel analysis of Standard &amp; Poor&rsquo;s, Moody&rsquo;s, and Fitch&rsquo;s rating actions for 23 Organisation for Economic Co-Operation and Development (OECD) countries from 1995 to 2014 shows that left executives and the electoral victory of non-incumbent left executives are associated with significantly higher probabilities of negative rating changes.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;"><b>Conflict of interests: </b><span style="font-weight: 400;">CRAs are funded by the very companies they rate.</span></li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;"><b>Lack of ability to predict: </b><span style="font-weight: 400;">CRAs follow the market, so the markets alert the agencies of trouble. This happens post-market and after something has happened. This is the reason for CRAs inability to predict frequent near default, default, and financial disasters. </span></li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;"><b>Negligence &amp; incompetence: </b><span style="font-weight: 400;">Methodology &nbsp;of CRAs has come under question. For example, even after using different methodologies, the result for sovereign debts comes the same. It is also alleged that, CRAs can make sound judgement on rating, but they didn&rsquo;t make an effort to do it.</span>
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li style="font-weight: 400;"><b>For e.g. Moody accepted that it did not have a good model on which it could have estimated a correlation between mortgages backed securities, so they made them up</b><span>.</span></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;"><b>Politically motivated: </b><span style="font-weight: 400;">It has also been alleged that CRAs, through their rating mechanism forces the govt to follow the path prescribed by them.</span>
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li style="font-weight: 400;"><span></span><span>For e.g. during the turmoil in Tunisia, S&amp;P issued a report warning of "downward ratings pressures" on neighbouring governments if they tried to calm social unrest with "populist" tax cuts or spending increases.</span></li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Further, after Crimea annexation rating agencies downgraded the rating of Russia.</span></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><b>Policy meddling:</b><span> In 2003, to stop predatory lending, state of Georgia brought a law. Other states of USA were to follow the suit, until S&amp;P retaliated. And it is well known that </span><b>predatory lending</b><span> is responsible for financial crisis of 2008-09. [</span><i><span>definition</span></i><i><span>: </span></i><i><span>predatory lending includes any unscrupulous actions carried out by a lender to entice, induce and assist a borrower in taking a loan that carries high fees, a high-interest rate, strips the borrower of equity</span></i><span>]</span></li>
</ul>
<p><a href="/to-the-points/paper3/credit-rating-in-india" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><span>National Credit Rating In India</span></a><br /><span style="font-weight: 400;"></span></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li style="font-weight: 400;"><b>No uniformity among rating companies in India:</b><span style="font-weight: 400;"> An average investor in India is not able to understand the different credit ratings prevailing in India as there is no uniformity among the credit rating agencies. </span></li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">No standardization in rating and no standardized fee structure for rating agencies in India is one of the other issues.</span></li>
</ul>
<h3><span style="font-weight: 400;">Why Credit Rating Agency Is Required?</span></h3>
<p><b>From the 80s onwards, as the financial system became more deregulated, companies started borrowing more and more from the globalised debt markets, and so the opinion of the credit ratings agencies became more and more relevant.</b></p>
<p><strong>Role of CRAs</strong></p>
<p><b>Reduce information asymmetry </b></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li style="font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Since CRAs get access to the management of the company, and confidential information about its working, they can give an informed opinion about the ability of an instrument to meet its obligations. </span></li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Utility for issuers Issuer concisely communicate the quality of their issue through the rating of the CRAs which help it established its creditworthiness. </span></li>
</ul>
<p><b>Gatekeepers for financial markets </b></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li style="font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">CRAs provide tangible benefits to financial market regulators by reducing the costs of regulation. </span></li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Regulators such as RBI use CRAs to improve the awareness and decision-making of their regulated entities. </span></li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">For instance, credit ratings are used to determine the capital adequacy of banks, the resolution of stressed assets. </span></li>
</ul>
<p><b>Purveyors of regulatory licenses </b></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li style="font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Some financial regulators mandate that certain instruments must be rated mandatorily before they are issued. </span></li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Extensive integration of CRAs into the financial system transforms their role as purveyors. </span></li>
</ul>
<p><b>Moral Suasion</b></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li style="font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">It compels developing countries to pursue more prudent and sensible monetary and fiscal policies.</span></li>
</ul>
<h3><span style="font-weight: 400;">Instances When Rating Agency Failed </span></h3>
<p><b></b></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><b>World-wide </b></li>
<li><span style="font-weight: 400;">Enron scandal-2001</span></li>
<li><span style="font-weight: 400;">Global Financial Crisis-2007-08</span></li>
<li><span style="font-weight: 400;">During the </span>global financial crisis<span style="font-weight: 400;">, hundreds of billions of dollars&rsquo; worth of triple-A-rated mortgage-backed securities were abruptly downgraded from triple-A to &ldquo;junk&rdquo; (the lowest possible rating) within two years of the issue of the original rating (2007-08).</span></li>
<li><strong>India</strong></li>
<li><span style="font-weight: 400;">The collapse of Satyam-2009</span></li>
<li><span style="font-weight: 400;">PNB crisis</span></li>
<li><span style="font-weight: 400;">IL&amp;FS (Even with AAA ratings</span></li>
</ul>
<h3><span style="font-weight: 400;">Why CRAs Should Be Regulated?</span></h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li style="font-weight: 400;"><b>Rating shopping</b><span style="font-weight: 400;">: It has often been seen that both issuer and investor are involved in rating shopping. </span></li>
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li style="font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">CRAs inflate the rating particularly for structured product market for getting more market &nbsp;share and profit margins. Issuers want higher ratings for their products, so they look safer and can be sold at a higher price. Higher rated securities allow investor less security, which in turn allows investor to take greater risk. </span></li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">I</span><span style="font-weight: 400;">nvestors also wanted inflated ratings due to regulatory requirements and investment mandates.</span></li>
</ul>
<li style="font-weight: 400;"><b>Oligopolistic Tendencies</b><span style="font-weight: 400;">: Around 95% of market is controlled by only 3 CRAs VIZ. </span><b>S&amp;P , MOODY&rsquo;S and &nbsp;FITCH</b><span style="font-weight: 400;">. Further they use expansionist marketing. </span></li>
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li style="font-weight: 400;"><b>For e.g. Hannover Re lost a big chunk of market share when it didn&rsquo;t pay up service fee (it was initially promised a free service by CRAs)</b><span style="font-weight: 400;">.</span></li>
</ul>
<li><b>Hegemonic Control: </b><span>As the big three CRAs are located in North America, America exerts a great control on the functioning of CRAs.</span></li>
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li style="font-weight: 400;"><b>When CRAs downgraded USA, CRAs were fined</b><span style="font-weight: 400;">. </span></li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">UK was rated lower than USA, even when the fiscal deficit of UK was lower than USA. Thus, rating of countries was not done in an objective way. </span></li>
</ul>
<li><b>CRAs have great control on the world economy as their ratings can result in the flight of capital from any given country</b><span>.</span></li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;"><b>CRAs are not accountable to any country and moreover their functioning is not transparent</b><span style="font-weight: 400;">.</span></li>
</ul>
<h3><span style="font-weight: 400;">Way Forward</span></h3>
<p><strong>International</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li style="font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">In response to the Global Financial Crisis of 2008-2009, US Congress passed the </span><b>Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform</b><span style="font-weight: 400;"> and Consumer Protection Act in July 2010.</span>
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li style="font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Legal liability of credit rating agencies should be increased.</span></li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Use of credit ratings in regulations that set capital requirements and restrict asset holdings for financial institutions should be removed or replaced. </span></li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;"><b>With the help of technology, open source models, such as Credit Risk Initiative of National University of Singapore Risk Management Institute, with fully transparent inputs and outputs should be created and promoted</b><span style="font-weight: 400;">.</span></li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;"><b>It encouraged CRAs to invest in due diligence, strengthen internal controls and corporate governance, and improve their methodology</b><span style="font-weight: 400;">. But some of the following &nbsp;provision of it are still unimplemented:</span></li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>National</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li style="font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">The Indian regulators (such as SEBI and RBI) should review their regulations and suitably modify them to ensure greater objectivity, transparency and credibility in the whole credit rating framework. </span></li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">For resolving conflict of interest</span><span style="font-weight: 400;"> disclosures being made by credit rating agencies should also include important determinants such as: </span></li>
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li style="font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Extent of promoter support</span></li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Linkages with subsidiaries</span></li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Liquidity position for meeting near-term payment obligations</span></li>
</ul>
<li style="font-weight: 400;"><b>Regulators in India may consider other options as well, such as &lsquo;investor pays model&rsquo; or &lsquo;regulator pays model&rsquo; after weighing the relevant pros and cons</b><span style="font-weight: 400;">.</span></li>
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li style="font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Alternately, within the existing framework, the appropriate rating fee structure, payable by the issuer may be decided by SEBI, in consultation with RBI and the credit rating agencies. </span></li>
</ul>
<li><span style="font-weight: 400;">&nbsp;</span><b>Rotation of credit rating agencies:</b><span> Under the current framework, there is no provision for the rotation of credit rating agencies.</span></li>
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li style="font-weight: 400;"><b>Mandatory rotation of rating agencies should be explored</b><span style="font-weight: 400;">. [</span><span style="font-weight: 400;">definition</span><span style="font-weight: 400;">:</span><i><span style="font-weight: 400;">mandatory audit rotation imposes periodical breaks to audit engagements and is intended to avoid excessively long relationships between the auditor and the client</span></i><span style="font-weight: 400;">] </span></li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">This would aid in avoiding negative consequences of long term associations between the issuer and the credit rating agency. &nbsp;This is particularly significant considering the recent instances of failure of credit rating agencies identifying trouble in their client-entities.</span>&nbsp;</li>
</ul>
</ul>
<table border="1" style="width: 100%; border-collapse: collapse; background-color: #dccef0; border-color: #3d0091; border-style: solid;">
<tbody>
<tr>
<td style="width: 100%;">
<p><em><b>Drishti Input:<br /><br /></b></em><span style="font-weight: 400;">Despite all the problems of credit rating agencies, it remains a necessary evil. Discuss.</span></p>
</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;"></span></p>',
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	],
	(int) 13 => [
		'title' => 'Cities are turning into 'Lightening Magnets'',
		'catname' => 'News Analysis',
		'desc' => '<p>Scientists believe that as the world gets warmer and more polluted, the frequency and intensity of lightning may rise. Estimates suggest that lightning kills over 2500 people annually in India.</p>
<h3>Factors that contribute</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Urban heat</strong>
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The concretization of urban areas, paired with a decrease in open, green spaces turns cities into <strong>heat sinks</strong>.</li>
<li>As this warm air from cities rises, cooler air rushes in to fill the space. This can form <strong>convective clouds</strong> if sufficient moisture is available, leading to <strong>unstable weather</strong>.</li>
<li><strong>Convective clouds</strong> are often associated with <strong>increased lightning</strong>.</li>
<li>The <strong>heat island effect</strong> was the main reason for a five-fold increase in lightning activity during pre-monsoon months in Delhi.</li>
<li>The recent findings also show that global warming could lead to stronger thunderstorms.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Pollution</strong>
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>High concentration of aerosols</strong> (pollutants suspended in the atmosphere) pumps up the incidence of lightning.</li>
<li>Aerosols reduce the size of cloud droplets, turning more water into ice, which increases the electrical conductivity of clouds by up to 50%.</li>
<li>Research says that <strong>pre-monsoon rainfall is accompanied by more lightning flash counts than monsoonal rains</strong>. The main reason for this is pollution.
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>The pre-monsoon season has higher concentration of suspended air pollutants. By comparison, the monsoon sees inflows of clean air from the ocean, which reduces pollution levels.</li>
<li>Also, since the clouds are at a much lower height during monsoon, it reduces convective energy within the cloud, thus abating lightning.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>Lightning flashes also create <strong>pollutants - Ozone &amp; Nitrogen Oxides -</strong> that can damage lung tissue and aggravate asthma. Nitrogen oxides get mixed with other gases in the atmosphere to produce ozone.</li>
<li>Therefore, the risk of lightning is thus much bigger than what&rsquo;s visible: the electrocution that causes death and injury. With pollution and global warming on the rise, an increase in the frequency of lightning seems inevitable.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>What is Lightning?</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Lightning is the <strong>visible discharge of electricity</strong> that occurs when a region of a cloud acquires an <strong>excess electrical charge,</strong> either positive or negative, that is sufficient to <strong>break down the resistance of air</strong>.</li>
<li>Lightning is usually associated with <strong>cumulonimbus clouds,</strong> but it also occurs in stratiform clouds (layered clouds with a large horizontal extent), in <strong>snowstorms</strong> and <strong>dust storms,</strong> and sometimes in the dust and gases emitted by erupting volcanoes.</li>
<li>During a thunderstorm, lightning can <strong>occur within the cloud, between clouds, between the cloud and the air,</strong> or <strong>between the cloud and the ground</strong>.</li>
<li>Lightning occurs when regions of <strong>excess positive and negative charge develop within the cloud</strong>.</li>
<li>Typically, there is a large volume of positive charge in the upper regions of the cloud, a large negative charge in the centre, and a small positive charge in the lower regions. These charges reside on water drops, ice particles, or both.</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1567773337_image1.jpg" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1567773337_image1.jpg" width="720" height="336" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" caption="false" /></a></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Thereby, sudden and violent <strong>electrostatic discharges</strong> within the cloud created the visible lightening.</li>
<li>About one-third of the lightning flashes travel from the cloud to the ground.</li>
<li>The potential difference between cloud and ground is of the order of 10 to 100 million volts.</li>
<li><strong>Thunder</strong> is produced by <strong>rapid heating of the air in the lightning channel</strong> and a consequent increase in air pressure. The overpressure causes the channel to expand at supersonic speeds, which ultimately produces a sound wave heard as thunder.</li>
</ul>
<h3>What is Urban Heat Island Effect?</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The <strong>elevated temperature in urban areas as compared to rural, less developed areas</strong> is referred to as the urban heat island effect. The process of urban development leads to this phenomenon.</li>
<li>Urban climates are distinguished from those of less built-up areas by differences in air temperature, humidity, wind speed and direction, and amount of precipitation.</li>
<li>These differences are attributable in large part to the altering of the natural terrain through the construction of artificial structures and surfaces.&nbsp;</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1567773390_image8.jpg" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1567773390_image8.jpg" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="576" height="373" caption="false" /></a></p>
<p><a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1567773402_image7.jpg" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1567773402_image7.jpg" width="556" height="309" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" caption="false" /></a></p>',
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	],
	(int) 14 => [
		'title' => 'Rush for Rare Earths',
		'catname' => 'News Analysis',
		'desc' => '<h3>Why in News?</h3>
<p>The Union Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEF&amp;CC) agreed to a request by the Ministry of Mines (MoM), seeking that clearances to private companies for mining beach sand minerals(rare earth minerals) be stopped.</p>
<h3>What are rare earth minerals?</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Rare earths are a series of <strong>chemical elements found in the Earth&rsquo;s</strong> crust that are vital to many modern technologies, including consumer electronics, computers and networks, communications, clean energy, advanced transportation, health care, environmental mitigation, national defense, and many others.</li>
<li>Because of their <strong>unique magnetic, luminescent, and electrochemical properties,</strong> these elements help make many technologies perform with reduced weight, reduced emissions, and energy consumption; or give them greater efficiency, performance, miniaturization, speed, durability, and thermal stability.</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1567768125_image4.jpg" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1567768125_image4.jpg" width="703" height="479" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" caption="false" /></a></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Along with these one other important constituent of beach sand mineral is <strong>Monazite</strong>. Monazite is the primary ore for thorium, a nuclear fuel. Its presence brings beach sand mining under the <strong>Atomic Minerals Concession Rules</strong>.</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1567768153_image9.jpg" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1567768153_image9.jpg" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="640" height="436" caption="false" /></a></p>
<h3>Mining rules for atomic mining</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The State Governments were given permission to grant mineral concessions, where <strong>Monazite</strong> is less than the prescribed threshold values (00.75%), to the private sector by auction or competitive bidding, in accordance <strong>with the Atomic Minerals Concession Rules, 2016</strong>.</li>
<li>However, in a notification this threshold limit was reduced to 0%.As monazite is found in various concentrations in all the beaches, this amendment essentially meant a ban on mining by private companies.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Problems caused by beach sand mining</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Destruction of natural beaches and the ecosystems they protect (e.g. dunes, wetlands),</li>
<li>Habitat loss for globally important species (e.g. turtles, shorebirds),</li>
<li>Destruction of nearshore marine ecosystems,</li>
<li>Increased shoreline erosion rates, reduced protection from storms, tsunamis, and wave events,</li>
<li>Economic losses through tourist abandonment and loss of coastal aesthetics</li>
</ul>
<h3>How is the mining industry regulated?</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The mining industry is regulated both at the central and state level.</li>
<li>The states have the power to regulate mines and mineral development. However, this power is subject to the federal laws and regulations on mining.</li>
<li>Minerals are classified into two types &ndash; <strong>major</strong> and <strong>minor</strong>. All State governments have the power to frame policy and regulate the exploration, extraction and processing of all minor minerals such as building stones, clay and sand.</li>
<li>Minerals (other than the minor minerals) are automatically classified as major minerals. The <strong>Central government</strong> has the power of revision, fixing of royalty, issuing regulations, etc, in respect of <strong>major minerals</strong>. Metallic minerals are largely classified as major minerals.</li>
<li>The <strong>Central government also has ownership over all offshore minerals</strong> (ie, minerals extracted from the sea or ocean floor in the Indian maritime zones such as the territorial waters, continental shelf and exclusive economic zones). The central government has the right to allot concessions and collect royalty for mining offshore minerals.</li>
</ul>',
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	],
	(int) 15 => [
		'title' => 'Important Facts For Prelims (9th May 2019)',
		'catname' => 'News Analysis',
		'desc' => '<h3>Pattachitra Painting</h3>
<p>Cyclon Fani has damaged many pieces of <strong>Pattachitra paintings</strong>. Pattachitra style of painting is one of the oldest and most popular art forms of Odisha.</p>
<p><strong>Key points<a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1567773702_image3.jpg" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1567773702_image3.jpg" width="250" height="169" style="float: right;" caption="false" /></a></strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The name Pattachitra has evolved from the Sanskrit words Patta, meaning canvas, and Chitra, meaning <em>picture</em>. Pattachitra is a painting done on canvas and is manifested by rich colourful application, creative motifs and designs, and portrayal of simple themes, mostly mythological in depiction.</li>
<li>Some of the popular themes represented through this art form are <strong>Thia Badhia</strong> - depiction of the temple of Jagannath; <strong>Krishna Lila</strong> - enactment of Jagannath as Lord Krishna displaying his powers as a child; <strong>Dasabatara Patti</strong> - the ten incarnations of Lord Vishnu; <strong>Panchamukhi</strong> - depiction of Lord Ganesh as a five-headed deity.</li>
<li>The Pattachitra, when painted on cloth, follows a traditional process of preparation of the canvas. First, the <strong>base is prepared by coating the cloth with the soft, white, stone powder of chalk and glue made from tamarind seeds</strong>.</li>
<li>It is a tradition to complete the borders of the painting first. The painter then starts making a rough sketch directly with the brush using light red and yellow. The colours used are normally white, red, yellow, and black.</li>
<li>When the painting is completed it is held over a charcoal fire and lacquer is applied to the surface. This makes the painting water resistant and durable, besides giving it a shining finish.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Arunachal Pit Viper</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li style="text-align: left;">Herpetologists have discovered a new species of reddish brown pit viper with unique heat-sensing system from the forest of <strong>West Kameng district of Arunachal Pradesh</strong>.</li>
<li>A new species of pit viper, <strong>Trimeresurus arunachalensis</strong> is described based on a single specimen. It differs from all known pit vipers in India.<a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1567773753_image5.jpg" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1567773753_image5.jpg" width="355" height="186" style="float: right;" caption="false" /></a><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>It is the first species of pit viper to be named after state.</li>
<li>It is the rarest of all known pit vipers in the world.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>Other known pit viper in India are:<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Malabar Pit Viper <strong>(Trimeresurus malabaricus)</strong></li>
<li>Horseshoe Pit Viper <strong>(Trimeresurus strigatus Gray)</strong></li>
<li>Hump-Nosed Pit Viper <strong>(Hypnale hypnale Merrem)</strong></li>
<li>Himalayan Pit Viper <strong>(Protobothrops himalayanus)</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Location:</strong> The new species is presently known from a single locality &mdash; <strong>Ramda, West Kameng, Arunachal Pradesh,</strong> northeastern India.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Basvanna Jayanti</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Basvanna (Lord Basaveshwara) was a 12th-century poet-philosopher, and the founding saint of the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/center-refuses-to-recognize-lingayat-as-separate-religion" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Lingayat sect</strong></a>.<a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1567773996_image2.jpg" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1567773996_image2.jpg" width="277" height="312" style="float: right;" caption="false" /></a></li>
<li><strong>Basvanna Jayanti (Basava Jayanthi)</strong> is celebrated on his birth anniversary, particularly in state of <strong>Karnataka and Maharashtra</strong>.</li>
<li><strong>Early life:</strong> Basaveshwara was born in <strong>Bagevadi</strong> (of undivided Bijapur district in Karnataka) during 1131 AD. His father was Madarasa and Madalambike was his mother. They belonged to the Brahmin community. As a religious tradition, he was initiated with the holy thread <strong>&lsquo;janivara&rsquo;</strong> in Upanayana, (thread ceremony) at the early age of eight years. Basavanna revolted against this tradition, cut threw his janivara, left home and went to Kudalasangama from where he was educated in all respects.</li>
<li>Later he went to Kalyana, where the <strong>Kalchuri king Bijjala (1157-1167, AD)</strong> was ruling. Because of his highly intellectual personality, he was appointed as a karanika (Accountant) in the initial stage, in the court of king Bijjala and later he became the Prime Minister of Bijjala after proving his administrative ability.</li>
<li><strong>The ideas of Basavanna:</strong> is scripted in a novel form of literature called <strong>Vachana</strong> (poetry). This innovative literary form is the main contribution of <strong>&ldquo;Sharanas movement&rdquo;</strong> through which they express their revolutionary and reformist ideology in a very simple Kannada language.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Thus the main aim of Vachana (poetry) movement, led by Basaveshwara was welfare of all. He proclaimed this as&ndash; <strong>"Sakala jeevatmarige lesu" (welfare of all)</strong>.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>He gave two important and innovative concepts called <strong>"Sthavara"&nbsp;</strong>and <strong>"Jangama"</strong>, the meaning of which is &ldquo;Static&rsquo;&rsquo; and &lsquo;&rsquo;Dynamic&rsquo;&rsquo;- respectively. Both of these concepts are the main foundation stones of his revolutionary ideology.</li>
<li><strong>He was born progressive activist:</strong> Revolted against all the social evils of the traditionalistic society and brought a drastic change in various facets. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>He gave an idea of <strong>Socialistic and Democratic system</strong>. He talked about <strong>human rights</strong> in the twelfth century.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Religious reforms:</strong> He tried to change the <strong>concept of Temple</strong> which was the main centre of various types of harassment. Priests and rich people were exploiting the common folk in the name of God and temple.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>He gave a new dimension to the human body and soul (inner spirit), by which the self respect of all human beings was boosted.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>Basvanna was first Kannadiga in whose honour a commemorative coin has been minted in recognition of his social reforms.</li>
<li>Indian Prime Minister inaugurated his <strong>statue of along the bank of the river Thames at Lambeth in 2015</strong>.</li>
</ul>
<h3>20<sup>th</sup> Conference of the Regional Heads of Customs Administration</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs <strong>(CBIC)</strong> has <strong>organised</strong> a <strong>meeting</strong> of the <strong>Regional Heads of Customs Administration of Asia Pacific Region of the World Customs Organisation (WCO)</strong> in May 2019.</li>
<li><strong>India</strong> assumed the role as <strong>Vice Chair of the Asia Pacific region</strong> for a two-year period.</li>
<li>The meeting takes stock of the progress being made to promote, facilitate and secure the cross-border trade in the region and the capacity building and technical assistance required to achieve this goal.</li>
<li>Recognising the importance of the collaborative approach between Customs and trade, a Trade Day was organised.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Quick customs clearance</strong> always remains a key issue for both exporters and importers.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>World Customs Organisation (WCO)</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The World Customs Organization (WCO), established in 1952 as the Customs Co-operation Council (CCC) is an <strong>independent intergovernmental body</strong> whose mission is to enhance the effectiveness and efficiency of Customs administrations.</li>
<li>At present, it represents <strong>183 Customs administrations</strong> across the globe that collectively process approximately 98% of world trade.</li>
<li>It is the only international organization with competence in Customs matters and which can rightly call itself the voice of the international Customs community.</li>
<li>It has its <strong>headquarters</strong> in <strong>Brussels, Belgium</strong>.</li>
</ul>
</div>
<h3>Red cross day</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>World Red Cross Day is celebrated on the <strong>8<sup>th</sup> of Ma</strong>y every year as the birthday anniversary of the founder of the Red Cross, Henry Dunant. He is also founder of the <strong>International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC)</strong>. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>He became the recipient of <strong>1<sup>st</sup> Nobel Peace Prize</strong>.</li>
<li>World Red Cross Day <strong>2019 theme is "#love:"</strong>.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>About Red Cross:</strong> Red Cross was introduced as a major contributor to the peace after World War I by an international commission at 14th International Conference of the Red Cross.</li>
<li>The<strong> International Red Cross</strong> is a non profit organisation. It is an international humanitarian movement with approximately 17 million volunteers, members and staff worldwide which was founded to protect human life and health, to ensure respect for all human beings, and to prevent and alleviate human suffering.</li>
<li><strong>Working of Red cross:</strong> Volunteering-serves as a means in helping the society to bridge the gap between the crisis and the crisis management.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Various blood donation camps are organized at various places across the country and the organization.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Locking Carbon Dioxide into a Rock</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Swiss scientists,</strong> through a study, are trying to find out <strong>if carbon dioxide (CO<sub>2</sub>) can be locked into a rock</strong>.</li>
<li>Scientists believe that a layer of impermeable clay inside Mont Terri in the Jura Mountains could potentially trap carbon dioxide, the main greenhouse gas causing global warming.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Scientists want to see that <strong>if the rock has a fault in it, whether CO<sub>2</sub> will come up through it or not</strong>.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>The study is aimed at<strong> geological storage of CO</strong><sub><strong>2</strong>&nbsp;</sub>in a densely populated region of Switzerland.</li>
<li><strong>At present, geological storage of CO<sub>2</sub> exists in uninhabited places,</strong> such as the Algerian desert or under the Norwegian North Sea etc.</li>
<li><strong>Environmental organizations</strong> like Greenpeace <strong>are worried</strong> that the <strong>findings from the study, could turn into a "right to pollute"</strong> and distract people from efforts of emission reduction, which are driving a disastrous rise in global temperatures</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Carbon Storage</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS) involves capturing carbon dioxide (CO<sub>2</sub>)</strong> from large emission sources and then transporting and storing or <strong>burying it in a suitable deep geological formation</strong>.</li>
<li>CO<sub>2</sub> can be stored in three main ways:<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>in formations like rocks</li>
<li>in deep ocean water &mdash; ocean storage</li>
<li>in the form of mineral carbonates &mdash; mineral storage</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>Deep ocean storage can increase ocean acidification, a problem that also stems from the excess of carbon dioxide already in the atmosphere and oceans.</li>
</ul>
</div>
<h3>India gets re-elected as observer to Arctic Council</h3>
<p>India has been re-elected as an observer to the Arctic Council.</p>
<p><strong>About arctic council</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The Arctic Council is formed of circumpolar countries of <strong>Russia, United States, Canada, Norway, Demark, Sweden, Iceland</strong> and <strong>Finland</strong>.</li>
<li>The Arctic Council is a <strong>high-level intergovernmental body set up in 1996</strong> by the <strong>Ottawa declaration</strong> to promote cooperation, coordination and interaction among the Arctic States together with the indigenous communities and other Arctic inhabitants.</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Observer Status</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>India along with China, South Korea, Singapore, Italy and Japan has Observer status at the Council. India was given observer status through <strong>Kiruna Declaration</strong>.</li>
<li>Observers are not allowed to take part in the active meetings. They usually participate in side events.</li>
<li>Observer status in the Arctic Council is open to Non-governmental organizations, Non-littoral states as well as to Intergovernmental and Inter-Parliamentary organizations.</li>
</ul>
</div>',
		'postdate' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenTime) {},
		'url' => 'https://www.drishtiias.com/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/important-facts-for-prelims-9th-may-2019'
	],
	(int) 16 => [
		'title' => 'WHO for Eliminating Industrially Produced Trans Fats by 2023',
		'catname' => 'News Analysis',
		'desc' => '<p>The World Health Organisation (WHO) is working with the International Food and Beverage Alliance (IFBA) to eliminate trans fat from industrially produced global food supply by 2023.</p>
<h3>Key points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The WHO stressed the value of regulatory action on labelling, marketing and urged industry for full adherence to the WHO code of marketing of breast milk substitutes.</li>
<li>The IFBA committed to limit the amount of industrial trans fat in their products below 2 grams per 100 grams fat/oil globally by 2023.</li>
<li>Industrially produced trans fat is responsible for more than 5,00,000 deaths globally from coronary heart disease each year. Increased intake of trans fat is associated with increased risk of coronary heart disease mortality and events.</li>
<li>The WHO recommendation is that people consume less than 1% of their energy from trans fat. This translates to 2.2 grams for a 2,000 calorie diet.</li>
<li>Elimination of industrially-produced trans fats from the global food supply has been identified as one of the priority targets of WHO&rsquo;s strategic plan, the draft 13th General</li>
<li>Programme of Work (GPW13) which will guide the work of WHO in 2019 - 2023.</li>
<li>WHO also released <strong>REPLACE,</strong> a step-by-step guide in 2018, for the elimination of industrially-produced trans-fatty acids from the global food supply.</li>
<li>As part of the U.N.&rsquo;s Sustainable Development Goals, the global community has committed to <strong>reducing premature death from non-communicable diseases by one-third by 2030</strong>. Global elimination of industrially-produced trans fats can help achieve this goal.</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>International Food and Beverage Alliance (IFBA)</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>IFBA was founded in 2008 by the CEOs of leading food and non-alcoholic beverage companies to empower consumers to eat balanced diets and live healthier lives, in support of the World Health Organization&rsquo;s efforts to improve global public health.</li>
</ul>
</div>
<h3>13<sup>th</sup> General Programme of Work</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The WHO 13<sup>th</sup> General Programme of Work (GPW 13) was adopted by the Member States in May 2018.</li>
<li>It has three interconnected strategic priorities to ensure healthy lives and well-being for all ages &mdash; <strong>achieving universal health coverage, addressing health emergencies </strong>and<strong> promoting healthier populations</strong>.</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1567773617_image6.jpg" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1567773617_image6.jpg" width="353" height="331" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" caption="false" /></a></p>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>REPLACE</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>REPLACE provides six <strong>strategic actions</strong> to ensure the prompt, complete, and sustained elimination of industrially-produced trans fats from the food supply:<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>REview</strong> dietary sources of industrially-produced trans fats and the landscape for required policy change.</li>
<li><strong>Promote</strong> the replacement of industrially-produced trans fats with healthier fats and oils.</li>
<li><strong>Legislate</strong> or enact regulatory actions to eliminate industrially-produced trans fats.</li>
<li><strong>Assess</strong> and monitor trans fats content in the food supply and changes in trans fat consumption in the population.</li>
<li><strong>Create</strong> awareness of the negative health impact of trans fats among policymakers, producers, suppliers, and the public.</li>
<li><strong>Enforce</strong> compliance of policies and regulations.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</div>
<h3>What is India&rsquo;s position?</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>India has set targets to reduce the industrially produced trans fat to less than 2% by the year 2022 in a phased manner, a year ahead of the WHO target.</li>
<li>To achieve the target, the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) launched two initiatives: <strong>Eat Right Movement</strong> and <strong>Heart Attack Rewind</strong> mass media campaign.</li>
<li><strong>Eat Right Movement:</strong> Launched in 2018, the programme is built on two broad pillars of &lsquo;Eat Healthy&rsquo; and &lsquo;Eat Safe&rsquo;. It aims to cut down on salt, sugar and oil consumption by 30% in three years. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Swachh Bharat Yatra,</strong> a Pan-India cyclothon, was launched under the movement to aware the citizens on issues of food safety, combating food adulteration and healthy diets.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Heart Attack Rewind:</strong> It is a 30-second public service announcement which was broadcasted in 17 languages on social media platforms. The objective of the campaign was to warn citizens about the health hazards of consuming trans fats and offer strategies to avoid them through healthier alternatives.</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI)</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>FSSAI has been established under the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006 which consolidates various acts &amp; orders that have handled food related issues in various Ministries and Departments.</li>
<li>Ministry of Health &amp; Family Welfare is the administrative Ministry for the implementation of FSSAI.</li>
<li>FSSAI has been created for laying down science-based standards for articles of food and to regulate their manufacture, storage, distribution, sale, and import to ensure availability of safe and wholesome food for human consumption.</li>
</ul>
</div>',
		'postdate' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenTime) {},
		'url' => 'https://www.drishtiias.com/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/who-for-eliminating-industrially-produced-trans-fats-by-2023'
	],
	(int) 17 => [
		'title' => 'Need to set up State Finance Commission',
		'catname' => 'News Analysis',
		'desc' => '<p>The <strong>15<sup>th</sup> Finance Commission</strong> (headed by N K Singh) recently held a detailed meeting with RBI.</p>
<h3>Key issues that were discussed</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Continuity of the Finance Commission: A permanent status to Finance Commission</strong> and a robust expenditure planning is the need of the hour. This is required, in view of the fiscal management requirements of the States, especially given the <strong>absence of mid-term reviews of awards granted by the Finance Commission</strong>.</li>
<li><strong>State Finance Commissions (SFCs):</strong> States have not been setting up their State Finance Commissions every five years as mandated by <strong>73<sup>rd</sup> Constitutional Amendment Act</strong>. Therefore, they discussed the necessity of SFCs to rationalize and systematize State/sub-state fiscal relations in India.</li>
<li><strong>Expenditure codes:</strong> Expenditure norms <strong>vary from state to state;</strong> therefore there is a need of <strong>uniform standard expenditure codes</strong> across the country.</li>
<li><strong>Public Sector Borrowing Requirement (PSBR):</strong> It is defined as borrowing by not just Central and State governments but also by all public sector corporations and agencies. This consolidated figure will more or less put an end to the manipulation the fiscal deficit by the government. The main issues discussed are the <strong>increasing orientation of State governments&rsquo; borrowing from markets, improving secondary market liquidity and cash management</strong>.</li>
<li><strong>Importance of States in the economy:</strong> The role of states in the growth of Indian economy has increased given the <strong>&lsquo;shift in composition of government finances&rsquo;</strong>. States are now getting much higher share of transfer <strong>(devolution of 42%)</strong> from Centre, on the recommendation of 15<sup>th</sup> FC.</li>
<li><strong>Factors driving fiscal slippage:</strong> These factors include <strong>UDA, farm loan waivers</strong> and <strong>income support schemes; rising outstanding debt as a percentage of GDP</strong> despite moderation in interest payments as a percentage of revenue receipts.</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>15<sup>th</sup> Finance Commission (FC)</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Finance Commission is a <strong>constitutional body under Article 280</strong> created every five years to recommend the transfer of financial resources from the Centre to the States.</li>
<li>The Commission also decides the principles on which grants-in-aid will be given to the States.</li>
<li>The 15th FC was constituted on November 27, 2017 and is headed by <strong>Mr. N.K. Singh</strong>.</li>
<li>The recommendations, to be observed for a period of five years, will kick in from April 1, 2020.</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>State Finance Commissions (SFCs)</strong></p>
<p>The State Finance Commission (SFC) is an institution created by the 73rd and 74th Constitutional Amendments (CAs) to rationalize and systematize State/sub-State-level fiscal relations in India.</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Article 243I of the Constitution</strong> mandated the State Governor to constitute a Finance Commission every five years.</li>
<li><strong>Article 243Y of the Constitution</strong> states that the Finance Commission constituted under article 243 I shall also review the financial position of the Municipalities and make recommendations to the Governor.</li>
<li><strong>Concerns:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>States have not been setting up their SFCs regularly as mandated.</li>
<li>They are not submitting the reports in time, lacking the proficiency.</li>
<li>They have huge task of considering large number of local governments.</li>
<li>They face a crucial problem of reliable data.</li>
<li>SFCs and local governments are seen to be of inferior constitutional status than the Union FC.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</div>',
		'postdate' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenTime) {},
		'url' => 'https://www.drishtiias.com/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/need-to-set-up-state-finance-commission'
	],
	(int) 18 => [
		'title' => 'In Depth: Basmati – Farming for all',
		'catname' => 'Lok Sabha & Rajya Sabha Discussions',
		'desc' => '<p style="text-align: center;"><iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/NpsoUXNzwNk" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe></p>
<p>The <strong>Delhi High Court has set aside the Central Government&rsquo;s decision to restrict the production of <em>Basmati</em> rice to certain regions</strong> in the Indo-Gangetic plain. It has also <strong>struck down</strong> the decision to <strong>restrict the registration</strong> of <em><strong>Basmati</strong> </em>varieties for certified and foundation <strong>seeds</strong> to areas under the Geographical Indication <strong>(GI) for <em>Basmati</em> rice</strong> i.e <strong>certain areas</strong> in the Indo-Gangetic plain. The High Court&rsquo;s verdict came on the <strong>Madhya Pradesh government's plea</strong> to include 13 districts in the State under the Geographical Indications (GI) category for basmati rice.</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The <strong>Ministry of Agriculture</strong> had through <strong>two</strong> Office Memorandums <strong>(OM)</strong> of May 2008 and February 2014 <strong>confined the GI certification for basmati to the rice</strong> grown in the Indo-Gangetic plains <strong>in the states of</strong> Punjab, Haryana, Delhi, Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand and parts of Uttar Pradesh and Jammu and Kashmir.</li>
<li><strong>OM-I</strong> expressly provided that it would be necessary to ensure the linkage between the variety and the Geographical Indication and only Basmati varieties with prescribed characteristic grown in Indo-Gangetic region would qualify for such description.</li>
<li><strong>OM-II</strong> ensured that the registration of Basmati varieties for certified and foundation seeds is not undertaken outside geographical area detained under the GI for Basmati rice.</li>
<li>The <strong>Madhya Pradesh government argued that both orders were outside the scope of the Seeds Act, 1966</strong>. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>There is no power which is given to any authority including the Agriculture ministry under the Seeds Act to limit somebody from producing a certain quality of seed.</li>
<li>Any part of the country can produce Basmati Rice using Basmati seeds. However, whether they can call it basmati rice or not is a question which is to be addressed under the GI act.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>The government also contended that the center&rsquo;s order encroach upon its power to pass laws in relation to <strong>Agriculture, which is a state subject</strong>.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Basmati Rice</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>It is one of the best known varieties of rice all across the globe.</li>
<li>It is a <strong>long grain rice which has its origin from India and some parts of Pakistan</strong>.</li>
<li>It has a unique position in the rice world due to its price, fragrance, grain morphology as well as quality.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Basmati rice has a <strong>unique fragrance and flavour</strong> caused due to the presence of a chemical called <strong>2-acetyl-1-pyrroline</strong>.</li>
<li>This chemical is found in basmati rice at about 90 parts per million (ppm) which is 12 times more than non-basmati rice varieties.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>Basmati rice needs <strong>specific climatic conditions</strong> to grow which is why it is cultivated in selected regions of India. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>It is cultivated in the states of Himachal Pradesh, Punjab, Haryana, Delhi, Uttarakhand, Madhya Pradesh, Jammu and kashmir and western Uttar Pradesh.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>Basmati vs Non-Basmati Rice</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Basmati</strong> is a <strong>long grain</strong> rice. The <strong>non-basmati rice comes in all different shapes and sizes &ndash;</strong> long, slender, short and thick, bead and round.</li>
<li><strong>Basmati</strong> has a characteristic <strong>fragrance</strong> and flavor while <strong>non-basmati</strong> varieties, do <strong>not have an aroma</strong>.</li>
<li><strong>Basmati</strong> is also available in <strong>white and brown versions</strong> depending on the extent of the milling process. Like wine and cheese, the older basmati gets the better its flavor and aroma. Hence the <strong>aged Basmati costs higher</strong> than the recent productions.</li>
<li><strong>Basmati</strong> rice <strong>becomes almost double its size on cooking</strong>. Such a significant increase in size <strong>cannot be seen in non-basmati varieties</strong>. This makes basmati variety one of the highly demanded rice in the world.</li>
<li><strong>Yield of Basmati rice from the agricultural land is almost half the non-basmati varieties.</strong> This is also one of the reasons for Basmati&rsquo;s higher costs.</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>Production of Basmati Rice in India</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>India is the largest producer of Basmati rice</strong> with about 70 per cent share in global production.</li>
<li>Basmati rice constitutes one of <strong>India&rsquo;s significant exports</strong> both in terms of <strong>soft power and hard money</strong>.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>India is leading exporter of Basmati rice in the global market.</li>
<li>During 2016-17, India exported 40,00,471.56 MT of Basmati Rice.</li>
<li>Major Export Destinations in 2016-17 included Saudi Arabia, Iran, United Arab Emirates, Iraq and Kuwait.</li>
<li>According to a report, the Indian Basmati rice industry is on the verge of clocking its highest ever export of around 30,000 crore rupees in the financial year 2019.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>India has always been involved in protecting the name Basmati as a geographic indicator. In other words, Basmati is a term that should be restricted to the product from its geographic location.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Geographical Indication(GI)</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>It is an <strong>insignia on products</strong> having a unique geographical origin and evolution over centuries with regard to its special quality or reputed attributes.</li>
<li>It is a <strong>mark of authenticity</strong> and ensures that registered authorized users or at least those residing inside the geographic territory are allowed to use the popular product names.</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>Benefits of GI Tag</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>It provides <strong>legal protection</strong> to Indian Geographical Indications thus preventing unauthorized use of the registered GIs by others.</li>
<li>It <strong>promotes economic prosperity</strong> of producers of goods produced in a geographical territory.</li>
<li>The GI protection in India leads to <strong>recognition of the product in other countries thus boosting exports</strong>.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Seeds Act, 1966</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The Parliament passed the Seeds Act in the year 1966 to provide legal framework around <strong>seed certification</strong> and make good quality seeds available to the cultivators.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>It was effectively promulgated under the <strong>entry 33 of the concurrent list of the Constitution</strong>.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>Under this act, seed rules were framed and notified in the year 1968 and systematic seed certification got started in India in the year 1969.</li>
<li>It is part of the list of laws which are <strong>part of the Essential Commodities Act</strong>. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Paddy is treated as an essential commodity.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>It <strong>applies to the whole of India including Jammu &amp; Kashmir</strong>.</li>
<li>It states the definition of a seed and a crop.</li>
<li>The act <strong>covers seeds of food crops and oil crops</strong>.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>It also covers cotton seeds and seeds of cattle fodder and all types of vegetative propagating material.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>The act provides for establishment of a Central Seed Committee to advise states in seed related matters.</li>
<li>It also provides for establishment of Seed Certification Agencies in the states, Seed Certification Boards and State Seed Testing Laboratories.</li>
<li>It sets out what shall be a seed variety which is notified legally under the act.</li>
<li>The act <strong>imposes restrictions on import and export of seeds</strong> of notified varieties which means any variety imported or exported should meet the <strong>minimum limits of seed germination and purity</strong>.</li>
<li>It also frames <strong>rules for the sale of certified seeds of declared crops and their varieties</strong> and appoints Seed Analysts and Crop Inspectors to check quality in the field.</li>
<li>The act also <strong>provides for actions to be taken against individuals</strong> and companies that violate the provisions of the act and interfere in the work of Seed Inspectors.</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>The Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA)</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>It was established by the Government of India under the <strong>Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority Act,</strong> passed by the Parliament in December, 1985.</li>
<li>It is a statutory body under the <strong>Ministry of Commerce and Industry</strong> and is the apex organization engaged in work related to the development of export of agricultural products and processed food from India.</li>
<li>It is <strong>responsible for putting in place a system for administration of GI</strong> and authentication of the product in India and abroad.</li>
</ul>
</div>',
		'postdate' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenTime) {},
		'url' => 'https://www.drishtiias.com/loksabha-rajyasabha-discussions/in-depth-basmati-farming-for-all'
	],
	(int) 19 => [
		'title' => 'India-US Trade',
		'catname' => 'News Analysis',
		'desc' => '<p>India and the US agreed to <strong>deepen economic cooperation and resolve outstanding issues through regular official engagements</strong> in a <strong>recent meeting</strong> between the US commerce secretary Wilbur Ross and Indian trade minister Suresh Prabhu.</p>
<p>While the <strong>US is India&rsquo;s largest export destination, India is only the 13<sup>th</sup> largest for the US</strong> due to <strong>&ldquo;restrictive market access barriers&rdquo;</strong>.</p>
<h3>Major Issues</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Tariffs</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Bilateral tensions have increased over each side&rsquo;s tariff policies. These include the US 25% steel and 10% aluminum tariffs.</li>
<li>India is considering the retaliatory tariffs.</li>
<li>According to US, market barriers in Indian market include both tariff and non-tariff barriers, as well as multiple practices and regulations that disadvantage foreign companies.</li>
<li>India is considering challenging the US tariff increases in the World Trade Organization (WTO).</li>
<li>President Trump has called India &ldquo;a very high-tariff nation&rdquo; and criticized tariff imbalances.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Generalised System of Preferences (GSP) Programme</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Recently, the US has decided to <strong>withdraw duty-free benefits to Indian exporters under the GSP programme</strong>.</li>
<li>India is GSP&rsquo;s top beneficiary. In 2018, GSP represented 11% ($6.3 billion) of US merchandise imports from India, such as chemicals, auto parts, and tableware. GSP removal would reinstate US tariffs.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Services</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>A key issue for India is US&rsquo;s temporary visa policies, which affect Indian nationals working in the United States. India is challenging US fees for worker visas in the WTO, and monitoring potential US action to revise the H-1B visa program.</li>
<li>India also continues to seek a <strong>&ldquo;totalization agreement&rdquo;</strong> to coordinate social security protection for workers who split their careers between the two countries.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Agriculture</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Sanitary and phytosanitary (SPS) barriers in India limit US agricultural exports.</li>
<li>Each side also sees the other&rsquo;s agricultural support programs as market-distorting.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Intellectual Property (IP)</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The two sides differ on how to balance IP protection to incentivize innovation and support other policy goals, such as access to medicines.</li>
<li>India remains on the <strong>&ldquo;Special 301&rdquo; Priority Watch List for 2018,</strong> based on such concerns as its treatment of patents, infringement rates, and protection of trade secrets.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>"Forced" Localization</strong>
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The United States continues to press India on its &ldquo;forced&rdquo; localization practices.</li>
<li>Initiatives to grow India&rsquo;s manufacturing base and support jobs include requirements for in-country data storage, domestic content (such as laws protecting India&rsquo;s solar sector), and domestic testing in some sectors.</li>
<li><strong>India&rsquo;s new data localization requirements for electronic payment service suppliers</strong> such as MasterCard, Visa, etc.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Investment</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>US concerns about investment barriers remain nevertheless, heightened by new Indian restrictions on how e-commerce platforms such as Amazon and Walmart owned Flipkart conduct business.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Defense Trade</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The United States urges more reforms in <strong>India&rsquo;s defense offsets policy</strong> and higher FDI caps in its defense sector.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Generalized System of Preferences (GSP)</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The GSP is a US trade program designed to promote economic growth in the developing world by providing preferential duty-free entry for up to 4,800 products from 129 designated beneficiary countries and territories.</li>
<li>GSP was instituted on January 1, 1976, by the Trade Act of 1974.</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>Totalization Agreement</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>A Totalization Agreement is a convention between two countries preventing duplicate social security contributions for the same income.</li>
<li>India had signed Social Security Agreements (SSAs)/Totalization Agreement with several countries (presently 18 countries).</li>
<li>US has also signed the totalization agreements with 24 countries.</li>
<li>India has been trying to sign such agreements with US since 2007.</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>Defence Offset Policy 2016</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>It is a part of Defence Procurement and Procedure (DPP) 2016.</li>
<li>The offset policy mandates foreign suppliers to spend at least 30% of the contract value in India.</li>
<li>The key objectives of the Defence Offset Policy is to leverage the capital acquisitions to develop Indian defence industry by fostering the development of internationally competitive enterprises; augmenting capacity for research and development in defence sector and to encourage development of synergistic sectors like civil aerospace and internal security.</li>
<li>The offset can be discharged by many means such as direct purchase of eligible products/services, FDI in joint ventures and investment towards equipment and transfer of technology.</li>
<li>The foreign Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) is free to select any Indian company as its offset partner.</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>&ldquo;Special 301&rdquo; Priority Watch List</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The Office of the United States Trade Representative (USTR) releases its annual Special 301 Report on the adequacy and effectiveness of trading partners&rsquo; protection of intellectual property rights and the findings of its Notorious Markets List.</li>
<li>The 2018 report has placed India on &lsquo;Priority Watch List&rsquo; over challenges in India&rsquo;s IP framework.</li>
</ul>
</div>',
		'postdate' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenTime) {},
		'url' => 'https://www.drishtiias.com/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/india-us-trade'
	]
]
$updates = object(Cake\ORM\Query) {

	'(help)' => 'This is a Query object, to get the results execute or iterate it.',
	'sql' => 'SELECT articles.article_id AS `articles__article_id`, articles.category_id AS `articles__category_id`, articles.title AS `articles__title`, articles.description AS `articles__description`, articles.shortdescription AS `articles__shortdescription`, articles.featuredimage AS `articles__featuredimage`, articles.tag_id AS `articles__tag_id`, articles.secondary_tag AS `articles__secondary_tag`, articles.type AS `articles__type`, articles.publishon AS `articles__publishon`, articles.posturl AS `articles__posturl`, articles.metatitle AS `articles__metatitle`, articles.metadescription AS `articles__metadescription`, articles.metakeyword AS `articles__metakeyword`, articles.status AS `articles__status`, articles.sort_order AS `articles__sort_order`, articles.addedby AS `articles__addedby`, articles.updatedby AS `articles__updatedby`, articles.added AS `articles__added`, articles.modified AS `articles__modified`, articles.whatsnewid AS `articles__whatsnewid`, articles.display_printpdf AS `articles__display_printpdf`, articles.display_comments AS `articles__display_comments`, articles.pdf_name AS `articles__pdf_name`, articles.display_archive AS `articles__display_archive`, articles.star_rating AS `articles__star_rating` FROM articles articles WHERE status = :c0 ORDER BY publishon desc LIMIT 10',
	'params' => [
		':c0' => [
			[maximum depth reached]
		]
	],
	'defaultTypes' => [
		'articles__article_id' => 'integer',
		'articles.article_id' => 'integer',
		'article_id' => 'integer',
		'articles__category_id' => 'integer',
		'articles.category_id' => 'integer',
		'category_id' => 'integer',
		'articles__title' => 'string',
		'articles.title' => 'string',
		'title' => 'string',
		'articles__description' => 'text',
		'articles.description' => 'text',
		'description' => 'text',
		'articles__shortdescription' => 'string',
		'articles.shortdescription' => 'string',
		'shortdescription' => 'string',
		'articles__featuredimage' => 'string',
		'articles.featuredimage' => 'string',
		'featuredimage' => 'string',
		'articles__tag_id' => 'integer',
		'articles.tag_id' => 'integer',
		'tag_id' => 'integer',
		'articles__secondary_tag' => 'text',
		'articles.secondary_tag' => 'text',
		'secondary_tag' => 'text',
		'articles__type' => 'integer',
		'articles.type' => 'integer',
		'type' => 'integer',
		'articles__publishon' => 'datetime',
		'articles.publishon' => 'datetime',
		'publishon' => 'datetime',
		'articles__posturl' => 'string',
		'articles.posturl' => 'string',
		'posturl' => 'string',
		'articles__metatitle' => 'string',
		'articles.metatitle' => 'string',
		'metatitle' => 'string',
		'articles__metadescription' => 'string',
		'articles.metadescription' => 'string',
		'metadescription' => 'string',
		'articles__metakeyword' => 'text',
		'articles.metakeyword' => 'text',
		'metakeyword' => 'text',
		'articles__status' => 'integer',
		'articles.status' => 'integer',
		'status' => 'integer',
		'articles__sort_order' => 'integer',
		'articles.sort_order' => 'integer',
		'sort_order' => 'integer',
		'articles__addedby' => 'integer',
		'articles.addedby' => 'integer',
		'addedby' => 'integer',
		'articles__updatedby' => 'integer',
		'articles.updatedby' => 'integer',
		'updatedby' => 'integer',
		'articles__added' => 'timestamp',
		'articles.added' => 'timestamp',
		'added' => 'timestamp',
		'articles__modified' => 'timestamp',
		'articles.modified' => 'timestamp',
		'modified' => 'timestamp',
		'articles__whatsnewid' => 'integer',
		'articles.whatsnewid' => 'integer',
		'whatsnewid' => 'integer',
		'articles__display_printpdf' => 'integer',
		'articles.display_printpdf' => 'integer',
		'display_printpdf' => 'integer',
		'articles__display_comments' => 'integer',
		'articles.display_comments' => 'integer',
		'display_comments' => 'integer',
		'articles__pdf_name' => 'string',
		'articles.pdf_name' => 'string',
		'pdf_name' => 'string',
		'articles__display_archive' => 'integer',
		'articles.display_archive' => 'integer',
		'display_archive' => 'integer',
		'articles__star_rating' => 'integer',
		'articles.star_rating' => 'integer',
		'star_rating' => 'integer'
	],
	'decorators' => (int) 0,
	'executed' => false,
	'hydrate' => true,
	'buffered' => true,
	'formatters' => (int) 0,
	'mapReducers' => (int) 0,
	'contain' => [],
	'matching' => [],
	'extraOptions' => [],
	'repository' => object(App\Model\Table\ArticlesTable) {}

}
$page = (int) 254
$search = 'class'
$totalPages = (float) 334
$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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